《Dominate the Super Bowl》


 Chapter 1: 001 I am a genius

    "Li Wei?"


    "Please wait a moment on the side, the principal is on a call and will be with you shortly."


    The African American secretary sitting behind the dark brown desk flashed a businesslike smile, and without waiting for Li Wei to respond, she lowered her head and continued with her work.


    Li Wei wasn¡¯t surprised, after all, he wasn¡¯t here to receive an award¡ª


    Although it wasn¡¯t exactly a scolding, today¡¯s meeting was indeed about finding a solution.


    Ten whole days ago, Li Wei had traveled through time, from Hua Xia in 2023 to... Tuscaloosa in 2016, and despite putting in some effort, he still couldn¡¯t figure out the exact location of the city on the North American continent.


    At that moment, right after traveling through time and before he could even process what was happening or who he was and where he was, he heard cries of "robbery, robbery" at his side, and out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a figure rushing by, instinctively reacting with his well-trained reflexes for cross-country running.


    With a push off the ground, he caught up to the thief in two or three strides¡ª


    And pounced.


    Li Wei swore, it was just a gentle pounce, like swatting a fly, without expecting the robber¡¯s arm to snap like a dry branch lacking moisture in autumn¡ª


    "Crack," it broke.


    Incredibly, it broke... it just broke like that.


    Only later did Li Wei find out that the body he had traveled into was trained in mixed martial arts, not only was it taller and bigger in size, but the strength was entirely different too. He had just traveled through time and wasn¡¯t yet fully in control of his body. He accidentally used too much force, and then... that¡¯s how things ended up.


    But at the scene, standing in front of the University of Alabama Library, Li Wei looked at the little guy lying on the ground, wailing and rolling around, as confounded as if he had been beaten up by Hulk, resembling Loki at his worst.


    He himself was so astonished, let alone the onlookers coming in and out of the library.


    Then, a bald man with a sunburned M-shaped hairline emerged, eyes shining with golden light, grabbed Li Wei, and looked at him with a face that seemed to say, "The old man sees something astonishing in your bones, a once in a century talent." The next second, he seemed ready to shove a secret martial arts manual into Li Wei¡¯s arms, issuing the invitation with emotional eyes¡ª


    He sincerely invited Li Wei to join the university¡¯s football team.


    It took Li Wei a little time to realize that the "football" referred to here was not the "soccer" he was familiar with.


    This was a completely new sport, esteemed as the number one sport in North America, with the famed Super Bowl being the highest honor in professional football events.


    He declined firmly.


    Whether it was football or soccer, Li Wei, who practiced cross-country running, had nothing to do with these sports, having no knowledge or interest in them whatsoever.


    Originally, Li Wei thought that would be the end of it, and he should concentrate on digesting the fact of his time travel, and seriously contemplate ways to get rich¡ª


    The year 2016, not much time away from his original life in 2023, missing countless opportunities to make money. The advantages of traveling through time were only so little after all, so how should he unfold the future?


    He thought time travel was like a pie falling from the sky, but then he realized it seemed more like a test of fate.


    He never imagined that there was more to come!


    The robber sued both the University of Alabama and Li Wei, claiming he had suffered excessive violence and injury within the jurisdiction of the University of Alabama. He demanded not only medical compensation but also damages for emotional distress.


    With a swift turn, the story took another direction.


    Just as Li Wei was worried about how to deal with legal issues in a far and unfamiliar place, the University of Alabama indicated their willingness to help:


    If Li Wei agreed to join the school¡¯s football team, then the school would take care of the lawsuit.


    This Chinese-American teenager was clearly born to play football, yet they had missed such a promising prospect. He could already visualize him sprinting across the field. After returning, he had checked the young man¡¯s background¡ª


    Born in November 1995, he was a sophomore now. He had been practicing mixed martial arts all his life and never played football. When applying to schools, he had perfectly evaded the radar of all the football powerhouses; but his academic performance was outstanding, a straight-A student who was already interning in preparation for his future.


    Thinking about it, it wasn¡¯t surprising.


    Football¡¯s promotion and popularity among Chinese communities was still far from adequate.


    And it wasn¡¯t just football; all competitive sports were the same. It was a profession where talent and ability were pressed to the forefront, and thousands competed for that one-in-a-million chance. Chinese parents still believed more in a stable 9-to-5 job, earnestly and diligently creating a life with their own hands.


    The Li Wei before him, like an unpolished jade, just needed a bit of refinement to shine brilliantly. Burns trusted his judgment, and he could hardly contain his excitement.


    Pff.


    Burns rubbed his hands together, took a seat opposite Li Wei, and one could clearly hear the groan of the chair, as though it could collapse at any moment, while the soft belly fat piled up. Then he beamed a bright smile, like a creepy uncle wielding a lollipop.


    "Wei-Li?"


    However, as soon as he spoke, it was evident that this uncle had done his homework.


    Because Li Wei¡¯s name was very close to "Levi," his fellow students had always struggled to pronounce it correctly. They could manage "Lee" easily enough, but saying "Wei" seemed to ask their very lives of them; they always ended up with "Wayne" or some other strange pronunciation.


    For the Asian immigrants born after 1995, one of the distinguishing features was that schools encouraged students to use their original names. There was no need for a special English name, in an effort to preserve their cultural traditions as much as possible¡ª


    Wei, that was "Wei."


    Originally, Li Wei had an English name, but he stopped using it after elementary school. Instead, his friends gradually got used to calling him by his full name. Over time, they couldn¡¯t even distinguish between his first and last name.


    But Burns got it right.


    The pronunciation was a bit awkward, but he indeed distinguished Li Wei¡¯s first and last name clearly.


    It was a pleasant little surprise.


    After receiving a positive response from Li Wei, Burns broke into a wide grin, looking like a contented Buddha, "We may have had some misunderstandings when we last met; everything was too rushed. Today, we start over."


    "Let me introduce myself first."


    "Burton Burns, assistant head coach of the University of Alabama¡¯s Crimson Tide Storm. I¡¯ve been working here for a full decade and believe I will continue to work here for years to come."


    "I love football!"


    As he spoke, Burns couldn¡¯t contain himself and became animated, clearly pouring all his passion into football.


    "I¡¯m serious. I believe you have extraordinary talent, absolutely born for football. Your height, weight, your instantaneous start speed, acceleration, and agility would all shine on the football field,"


    "Your control over your body and your ability to predict your opponent¡¯s running routes are hidden talents. They are unseen, yet can change the game. I noticed you used to practice mixed martial arts, but clearly, martial arts can¡¯t showcase your talent, only football will allow you to perform to your fullest."


    "You are a genius."


    "Believe me, you¡¯re a natural-born running back."


    Wait a minute, that was a new term.


    If you don¡¯t understand, just ask. Li Wei looked at Burns, "Running back, what is that? Defensive backfield?"


    Burns: ... The smile gradually stiffened.

 Chapter 2: 002 Fair Trade

    Burns looked into Li Wei¡¯s clear eyes, "Not knowing is not knowing¡ªclearly, Li Wei knows nothing about football."


    So, how should he explain it?


    Before, Burns had already scared Li Wei away once, and this time, he absolutely couldn¡¯t make the same mistake.


    Absolutely!


    With that thought, Burns hit the brakes hard, showing a smile like that of Maitreya Buddha, as if gazing at a lost lamb, and began with a smile, "No, a running back is an offensive player; we¡¯re a little bit different from soccer."


    While speaking, Burns pinched the air with his index finger and thumb, his entire face straining to emphasize the slight difference.


    "But believe me, it¡¯s really not difficult."


    His hands moved back and forth quickly like the fluttering ears of Dumbo.


    "I truly believe you can shine on the field. You should trust my judgment¡ªyou are a genius."


    It was clear that Burns was an honest man; even his flattery was awkward, repeating the same few lines over, clearly lacking in the art of persuasion.


    But Li Wei kept his composure, not rushing to express his views or opinions, watching quietly, and then, the office door on the right opened.


    "Coach Burns."


    As he turned to look, a kind-looking elderly man with flecks of gray hair appeared, his scholarly demeanor reflecting that of an engineering professor, exuding both competence and charm.


    This must be the new university president who took office last July, Stuart Bell. According to the information on the university¡¯s official website, he was fifty-nine years old and had joined the University of Alabama back in 1986.


    Bell appeared vigorous, his wrinkles unable to mask the brightness of his eyes. After greeting Burns, he turned and saw Li Wei.


    "So, this must be... Li?"


    Unlike Burns, Bell was less familiar with Li Wei¡¯s name, but he opted for the safe route, addressing him directly with the easily pronounced surname.


    Li Wei politely stood up, ready to shake hands.


    However, as Bell¡¯s gaze followed Li Wei¡¯s rising form,


    one moment, he seemed a diligent student with aspirations, presumably with a future in academia or broadcasting; the next, like Hulk transforming, the imposing presence brought on by his stature pressed down in layers, and before Li Wei could even speak, Bell had already expressed his awe.


    Li Wei turned to look at Coach Burns, then thought about that system in his mind.


    Although he had already made a judgment, Li Wei did not rush to jump to a conclusion, instead looking at Coach Burns, "Coach, I really know nothing about football, are you sure? I don¡¯t understand football, but at least I¡¯ve seen soccer and basketball, an amateur who knows nothing can¡¯t just go and play NCAA right away."


    Coach Burns nodded slightly¡ª¡ª


    Calm. Wise. Objective.


    Truly a top student, still able to analyze the situation in the face of difficulties and challenges, a rare bonus for a professional player.


    In fact, ball sports often require game intelligence; and football not only requires it but also places it in a very important position because football is known for its tactical complexity, with a team possibly having over twenty thousand tactics, and players not only need to memorize them but also need to apply them flexibly.


    The more he understood, the more satisfied he became.


    Coach Burns also looked at Li Wei.


    "Of course, if you know nothing, it will take some time."


    "If it¡¯s a position requiring particularly high skills, indeed a foundation in training is needed, and an amateur rushing in might not work out, but in reality, the barriers in football are not as exaggerated as imagined. It¡¯s common to change positions not only in college but also when entering the professional arena; the real key is still tactical coordination."


    Coach Burns did his best to downplay the complexity, and it was evident that he was really trying to make things seem simple, emphasizing as much as possible that football was not difficult.


    Really!


    "I can say, without exaggeration, that football is the sport among all team events that most tests tactical cooperation. Maybe in soccer or basketball, you can see one individual perform a hero deed to change the game, but in football, it¡¯s almost impossible."


    "So, for a newcomer like you who¡¯s taking on the running back challenge, you are completely ready at the technical level and the physical confrontation level."


    "The only thing you need to learn is tactics."


    "I believe in your ability."


    "Not just here, but also here."


    At the front, he patted his heart.


    In the back, he pointed at his brain.


    Coach Burns seemed exceptionally excited, his eyes the size of green beans shining brightly.

 Chapter 3: 003 Personality Guarantee

    ```


    Not only Li Wei, Bell was also full of enthusiasm as he looked toward Burns, sharing the same concerns:


    Can a complete outsider really make it in football?


    Of course, in the NCAA, multi-sport athletes are not uncommon, including those in basketball, football, baseball, hockey, track and field, etc. More than a few excel in two, even three disciplines and receive draft invitations from more than one professional league due to their astonishing talent and outstanding performance.


    But.


    Fighting?


    Was Burns truly convinced, or was he mistaking the invitation for Li Wei to join the team in a fistfight?


    Burns could feel the gaze of Li Wei and Bell. He grew somewhat flustered and anxious, sweat beading on his forehead. Awkwardly adjusting his posture, he hastily tried to explain his thoughts, but once he entered into the professional topic, he spoke ceaselessly, unable to stop.


    "To be honest, we are currently in a positive cycle, everything is in optimal condition."


    "After reaching the pinnacle of national championships in ¡¯11 and ¡¯12, we were stopped in the semifinals in both ¡¯13 and ¡¯14, followed by reclaiming our throne last year."


    "The key is the running back."


    "Everyone knows that the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm is a traditional powerhouse for running backs¡ªright, I¡¯m the team¡¯s running back coach. Last year, Derrick Henry, after two seasons of development, finally exploded in his junior year."


    "His season tally of 2,219 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns would be top-tier at any time, and he undisputedly won the highest NCAA honor, the Heisman Trophy."


    "Then."


    "After the season ended, Henry entered the draft in April and officially joined the Professional League."


    "The upcoming season in September without our leading running back is not good news. Without great care, we could miss the championship just like in ¡¯13 and ¡¯14."


    "If that were the only issue, then it wouldn¡¯t be so serious. This is the NCAA; every year we face students graduating or turning professional. We have been through all of this. We are aware of the difficulties we will face, and we always find a solution. But the situation is far more severe than this."


    "During this month¡¯s spring training camp, we had three running backs injured in succession. Now, there are only two running backs left on the team; we can¡¯t even fill the bench."


    "Although our leading running back is still healthy and ready to play, and the second running back¡¯s injury may take about six months to heal¡ªa conservative estimate would be a mid-season return¡ªwe can¡¯t rely on chance. Not only can we not rely on it, but we also need to be fully prepared. We are in urgent need of running backs."


    "If we start the season without four running backs at the ready, I¡¯m already panicking, and now, we have only two."


    "I..."


    Burns was both agitated and embarrassed¡ª


    A clever wife cannot cook without rice.


    Burns was the assistant head coach, and above him, there was the head coach of the team. They were an excellent partnership, this year marking their tenth season working together at the University of Alabama, so Burns¡¯s status within the team was extraordinary.


    But even so, Burns wasn¡¯t the head coach, the real authority over life and death of the team laid in the hands of the head coach.


    "Of course, President, the coach is aware of our meeting today."


    "I won¡¯t say that this kid is the missing piece in our championship puzzle, but if we want to defend the title, we must replenish our running back resources."


    "I know what I¡¯m doing."


    Confident, yet sincere.


    Burns was a down-to-earth character; he didn¡¯t make grandiose promises or claim easy title defenses¡ªnone of that.


    But his words were very persuasive.


    Bell nodded slightly in understanding.


    "You¡¯re responsible for evaluating his performance, while we will evaluate yours. You need to know that from now on, you¡¯re his guarantor."


    "Coach, I understand that defending the title isn¡¯t just something you talk about¡ªit¡¯s complicated and tough. So, I won¡¯t say what¡¯ll happen if we don¡¯t defend it, but I need our games to be nationally televised."


    "You know how important that is for the school."


    "Last season, we had ten games nationally televised; the season before that, the number was eight. I know this year we¡¯ve faced some difficulties, so I¡¯m not making an unreasonable demand¡ªseven games, at least."


    "Coach, seven games."


    "If it¡¯s less than that, then before I sit down to talk with this young man, I¡¯ll need to talk with you first. Of course, I¡¯ll confirm this matter with the head coach too; I need an answer from him."


    "Hold on, you¡¯re supposed to take him to tryouts soon, right?"


    Seven games, no simple feat¡ª


    Because in the NCAA regular season, there are only twelve games in total, and if you add playoff games, bowl games, and the national championship, that makes only fifteen.


    In other words, it¡¯s necessary to make it into the post-regular season games as well.


    Burns didn¡¯t respond rashly, but took a deep breath and nodded seriously.


    Creak.


    The door to the president¡¯s office opened again, and Burns emerged with a brilliant smile for Li Wei waiting at the doorway.


    "How about it, want to come with me to see the team? They should already be waiting."

 Chapter 4: 004 Team Trials

    "Hey, hey! Did you hear? Coach Burns dug up a gem from the school, saying he¡¯s a once-in-a-lifetime talent who¡¯s never played football before. The coach is putting a lot of stock in him, sought him out several times."


    "That¡¯s perfect, just let me give him a proper lesson, training day shock education, to show him who¡¯s boss."


    "Hahaha."


    "Maybe that¡¯s not necessary. We¡¯re actually short on running backs; relying solely on Josh, that freshman, I think our offense might struggle to get going this year."


    "Josh is pretty good, Damian¡¯s injury isn¡¯t serious, he¡¯ll be back soon. I don¡¯t think we need any more running backs. What, do you think the coach randomly picked up a vagrant from the street and then made him out to be our Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s savior?"


    "A savior, not to that extent..."


    "I don¡¯t know what Coach Burns is thinking, when did the Crimson Tide Storm become so casual, letting any Tom, Dick, or Harry join? If my grandpa knew about this, he¡¯d probably drop dead of a heart attack."


    "I heard it¡¯s an Asian kid..."


    "Really?"


    "No way?"


    "How come I never knew Asia played football?"


    "Idiot, didn¡¯t you hear what was said before? The kid¡¯s never played football before. You¡¯d better shut up, or you¡¯ll lower the average IQ of the whole field."


    It was April 2016, with just under half a year to the September kickoff of the new season, but the team was in the middle of spring training camp, the last chance to gather before the summer break.


    Rustling sounds swirled among the warming-up players, whispering back and forth. Through the exchanges of glances, the surge of youthful hormones was palpable, each of them too restless to contain themselves, their minds disturbed by the morning¡¯s rumors.


    Not just in Tuscaloosa, but across the whole state of Alabama, the University of Alabama football team had an unparalleled popularity. With no other professional league teams, the football teams from the University of Alabama and Auburn University unquestionably captured the hearts of all residents. The viewership for their games even surpassed that of professional matches.


    As you can imagine, the players¡¯ pride and euphoria were beyond imagination, every one of them thrilled to be part of the Crimson Tide Storm, especially the locals.


    But now, suddenly, an outsider¡ªa monk from elsewhere¡ª


    Subconsciously, they grew wary.


    However.


    Height. Physique. Weight.


    More than the outward appearance, what truly caught the eye was his calm and introspective aura, naturally exuding an air of erudition. On the surface, he seemed calm, but Saban could see from the lines of the muscles on his arms and calves, they held power, ready to burst forth.


    If anyone underestimated this young man because he seemed somewhat slender or judged him by the color of his skin, they would surely stumble.


    Saban knew of Burns¡¯s capability in selecting promising players, having a keener eye than him, not just for running backs but for other positions as well. The bond of trust he had with this assistant head coach was entirely different from that with anyone else.


    But on the surface, it was still unapparent.


    "What?" Saban withdrew his gaze and called out.


    Li Wei repeated his self-introduction, "Just call me Li Wei."


    "Li Wei, good," Saban nodded slightly in acknowledgement, avoiding any small talk, and turned to look at the field, "Why don¡¯t we get down to business right now...


    After a brief pause, Saban scanned the field and could see on those young and naive faces an array of unguarded expressions: curiosity, inquiry, contempt, amusement, provocation. Young people are always so passionate.


    Saban seriously considered that he should indeed see what this young man was made of. Only by understanding the upper and lower limits of his capability and grasping his potential could he make plans for the season¡ª


    The running back position, currently held by freshman Josh Jacobs.


    Of course, Jacobs secured the role through his performance and strength, and his potential was highly regarded by the coaching staff; but the decision to put a freshman as the main player also revealed the difficult situation of the running back position.


    If Li Wei could be a pleasant surprise...


    Therefore, he should choose a main player to compete against to see the depth. There was no need to go all out at the start, first to assess the young man¡¯s basic physical quality. The choice of players should be mixed and matched a bit.


    Then, Saban made his selection.


    "Foster, Humphrey, Allen, Jackson, the four of you step forward."


    Roar.


    Roar roar roar.


    Hearing their names called, the other players immediately began to jeer, with whistles even, their excitement to see the show blatantly aflame.

 Chapter 5: 005 Basic Framework

    Roar!


    Awooo!


    A chorus of ghostly howls and wolfish cries erupted as a group of hormone-fueled youths began jeering, instantly turning the atmosphere of the field into a clamorous one.


    Burns was somewhat worried about Li Wei, concerned that he might scare him off again. He quickly turned to look at Li Wei and unexpectedly found not a trace of nervousness, but instead a spark of eager combativeness in his eyes.


    "Coach, so how should I go about the trial?"


    Scared?


    Impossible!


    Challenging oneself, the opponent, and the limits is the essence of competitive sports, and Li Wei, both past and present, relished these challenges, constantly striving to surpass himself and showcase the brilliance of life.


    Moreover, officially joining the team through the trial would not only resolve the issues with the lawsuit but also meant that there was a new player¡¯s gift package awaiting to be opened.


    Watching those confident figures, Li Wei was rubbing his hands together in anticipation, wishing they would be even more arrogant, disdainful, and showy. That way, when he proved them wrong, the impact would be doubled.


    He was looking forward to it a little.


    Burns looked at Li Wei; he had been rolling in the world of football for most of his life, and everything was second nature to him. Now, suddenly having to explain the basic rules to someone completely ignorant of the game, he wasn¡¯t sure where to begin.


    After some thought.


    "You have seen soccer and basketball, right?"


    "Their goal is to move the ball across the field and then shoot it into the target, a soccer goal, or a basketball hoop, and football is essentially the same."


    "Our objective is also to carry the ball across the field and get it into the end zone, oh, that¡¯s the end zone over there, as long as you carry the ball over the end zone line, that¡¯s a score, what we call a touchdown."


    The rules, of course, are not limited to that, but the core of the sport is indeed such.


    Following Burns¡¯ gesture, the entire vast expanse of the field unfolded before them¡ª


    The whole field is a hundred yards long and fifty-three yards wide (one yard is equal to 0.9144 meters).


    At each end of the field, there is an end zone, which is ten yards long and fifty-three yards wide.


    So like soccer, football involves carrying the ball across the entire field and over the end zone line to score; it appears to be not very complicated.


    But.


    That smile, like the Big Bad Wolf grinning at Little Red Riding Hood while trying to hide its fangs, made a smile emerge from the depths of Li Wei¡¯s eyes.


    "Yes. Just one."


    Li Wei looked at the patiently guiding Burns.


    "Whether it¡¯s passing or running the ball, it¡¯s all done with hands, so why is it called ¡¯Football¡¯?"


    Burns: ...


    Burns blinked, momentarily stumped by the question, and then Li Wei didn¡¯t linger, turning on his heels and jogging onto the field.


    Pfft.


    Burns could hear the laughter, turned his head to look, and then saw Saban¡¯s smiling face. The sincere man didn¡¯t mind that he had just been playfully tricked a bit, "Coach, what do you think of him?"


    The corners of Saban¡¯s mouth curved up slightly, "I¡¯m a bit excited."


    In front of him, the field had cleared, and the other players had all retreated to the sidelines.


    Only then did he understand why a football team was so large. Offensive group, Defensive group, and Special Duty Group¡ªall had their distinct roles, separated. Forget basketball, even compared to soccer, the scale of the team is not on the same level¡ª


    The NFL Professional League allows a football team to have fifty-three people, while the NCAA allows eighty-five, and in some cases, the number is permitted to reach one hundred and five.


    No wonder!


    Now, the players had dispersed, and including Li Wei, there were only five people left on the field, making the whole place feel eerily empty, as if a chill wind blew over the calm waters.


    So.


    Since the running back is a member of the Offensive group, were the four people before him part of the Defensive group?


    Compared to basketball, the scene indeed looked more like soccer, not only because of the field of view but also because the four players were completely spread out.


    The four men were staggered in their positions, from near to far.


    Li Wei guessed that such positioning probably represented different roles, with those in the back focusing more on pass defense and those in front more on run defense.


    And since it was clear they were testing Li Wei¡¯s running abilities, the four didn¡¯t space themselves out but watched him intently, ready for action.


    Li Wei was the picture of composure, moving his hands and ankles slightly, as if preparing for a cross-country run, his first instinct was to scope out the space on the field and positions of the obstacles.


    The big guy in front had already approached with a nasty grin, "Hey, kid, think you¡¯ve got enough gear? Sure you don¡¯t want to put on some armor? Be careful you might not be able to take it and fall apart."

 Chapter 6: 006 First Attempt

    If one were to introduce each player¡¯s position in detail, Li Wei might be completely confused, not to mention recognizing those positions, the players in front of him would mean nothing at all.


    But at least, Li Wei knew one thing, the four players in front of him were certainly not pushovers, as could be told from the whistles and jeers of the other spectators.


    Reuben Foster, a sophomore, 2017 first-round pick.


    Marlon Humphrey, a sophomore, 2017 first-round pick, three-time Pro Bowl, one-time All-America First Team.


    Eddie Jackson, a sophomore, 2017 fourth-round pick, two-time Pro Bowl, one-time All-America First Team.


    Jonathan Allen, a sophomore, 2017 first-round pick, two-time Pro Bowl.


    Even setting aside their future professional performances, as of now, in the NCAA, they were among the top and most outstanding players in their respective positions. In the upcoming September season, they were undoubtedly the main lineup for the current Crimson Tide Storm Team.


    Oh, and Jonathan Allen was the captain of the Defensive group.


    Burns had high expectations for Li Wei, and so did Saban, showing no mercy by immediately assigning his main lineup to thoroughly test him.


    Saban gave Burns another look, Burns, upon seeing these four players, showed no worry, nor did he voice any objections; his calm demeanor further piqued Saban¡¯s curiosity. Could Li Wei really bring a surprise?


    In just a glance, Li Wei could feel the pressure coming from Allen.


    Part of it was the mental suppression formed by the confidence emitted, and the other part was the physical oppression due to the difference in stature.


    Direct and fierce.


    ¡ªJonathan Allen, 6.3 feet (191 cm), 300 pounds (136 kg).


    Like a black bear, he wobbled in front of Li Wei. Initially, Li Wei had thought the body he had crossed into was tall and strong, a stark contrast to his own cross-country running self; but standing in front of Allen, without comparison, there was no harm, he suddenly appeared miniature.


    Allen intentionally lifted his chin slightly, adopting a condescending posture, looking at Li Wei through his nostrils, the smile on his lips exceptionally friendly.


    "Hey, kid, is this equipment enough? Are you sure you don¡¯t want to wear armor? Be careful, it might not hold up and fall apart."


    Football is a sport with very intense confrontations, and even daily training requires the wearing of armor, let alone during matches.


    In ancient times, there were cases of deaths on the football field, not just rumors but actual occurrences. Although modern football has amended rules, added equipment, and limited tactics to protect player safety, deaths have not occurred for over half a century, but injuries are still common.


    For this reason, whether it¡¯s the NFL or the NCAA, there are strict regulations on player equipment, not just for matches, but for daily training as well.


    Li Wei had already put on his equipment in the locker room just now, but honestly¡ª


    It felt uncomfortable.


    Cross-country running is a sport that requires light gear, any superfluous burden is a hindrance; mixed martial arts is the same, except for gloves, there are no other pieces of equipment.


    But how to start, just attack suddenly?


    Li Wei was startled, "Coach, do we start like this?"


    Ha!


    A burst of laughter, other players laughing uproariously without any restraint.


    Burns couldn¡¯t hold back either. After the laughter died down a bit, he shouted, "Attack. Just shout ¡¯Attack¡¯, and then you can start."


    Li Wei immediately understood; the initiative to start the offense was in the hands of the Offensive group, and he could imagine that surprise tactics would definitely emerge here.


    Shifting his gaze, Li Wei had calmed down, his focus sharpened, he glanced at Allen and without any hesitation, loudly announced the start of the play.


    "Attack!"


    Li Wei was unclear on how exactly football was supposed to start, so his stance now was like that of a sprinter at the start of a hundred-meter dash, bursting out as soon as the word was spoken.


    Pushing off the ground.


    Starting.


    The power of his calf muscles was fully released, and he surged forward like an arrow leaving the bow.


    Though Li Wei was trained in cross-country running, not focusing on explosive starts, the instant explosive power of his body was exceptional. In just ten days, Li Wei had slowly adapted, and this trial was also a process of exploring his own body¡¯s abilities and strength¡ª


    The people before him were his touchstones.


    Push.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t hold back; the moment he released his strength, he could feel an explosive energy pushing against the ground and rebounding back at a blinding speed, propelling his body forward.


    Thump, thump, thump.


    Not just once, but continuously, rapidly executing in a high-frequency mode, the scenery on both sides of his vision turning into a streak of light flashing past his peripheral vision.


    Here it comes!


    His pupils captured Allen charging toward him from his front left, arms wide in a horizontal dive to intercept, the big and strong figure instantly blocking the light, his mouth wide open as he smashed down, the roaring air wildly slapping at his cheeks.


    But, pushing off, sprinting, accelerating¡ª


    Whoosh.


    Li Wei, like a gust of wind, forcefully accelerated, effortlessly overtaking Allen in one swift move.

 Chapter 7: 007 Absolute Explosion

    Allen, as the first gate in the Defensive group, was already prepared and didn¡¯t rush forward like a naive rookie. Instead, he bent his knees to lower his center of gravity and slightly adjusted his steps to warm up his body.


    "Attack!"


    The moment Li Wei started, Allen stepped diagonally inwards, pouncing forward like a tiger descending the mountains. He felt he had the upper hand¡ª


    because in official games, the Defensive group emphasizes coordination while the Offensive group emphasizes blocking. In other words, there should have been someone covering the running back, making a coordinated play; but Li Wei had none, which meant there were no barriers between Li Wei and Allen, allowing Allen to intercept him directly.


    Allen: Sorry, rookie. Bear with me; I¡¯ve got a lot of strength.


    With one step forward and a cruel smile on his lips, he spread his arms, leaned forward, and pressed down hard as he pounced fiercely.


    However.


    In his eyes, a figure could be seen accelerating, accelerating, and then accelerating some more.


    Whoosh.


    Turned into a streak of light and dashed out of sight.


    What happened?


    Allen hadn¡¯t even had time to react, still caught up in his joy, when he lunged at nothing. Due to the ferocity of the forward lunge, he lost his balance and tumbled forward like a somersaulting onion.


    Missed?


    He actually missed!


    Allan, with a face full of perplexity.


    Li Wei continued moving forward.


    Directly ahead, about three or four steps behind Allen, were Foster to the left and Humphrey to the right. They appeared directly ahead.


    Both were black, but unlike Allen, their heights and builds were similar to that of Li Wei, with Foster being slightly bulkier, though not noticeably so.


    From their footsteps and movements, it was evident that they were much more agile than Allen. However, they both thought that Allen¡¯s block was enough to trouble Li Wei. Even if Li Wei could change directions and dodge Allen, he would need to take a roundabout route, so they blocked the path one on either side.


    But they hadn¡¯t expected Li Wei to opt for a frontal breakthrough, forcibly speeding through.


    Not only that, but he also succeeded.


    In a moment of carelessness, Foster was a half-beat slow to react. Just as he was beginning to move, the silhouette in his pupils had already accelerated out of the speed zone, reaching top speed and completing an evolution, growing bigger as it passed by the field of vision to take the lead, and then continued to enlarge. He stood no chance.


    Damn!


    Realizing he had been slow to react, Foster stopped in frustration and didn¡¯t pursue any further, but saw Humphrey determinedly chasing after Li Wei.


    From the positions on the field, Humphrey¡¯s explosive power and acceleration were indeed superior. Although he, like Foster, had underestimated the situation and was slow to start, he didn¡¯t give up on following up.


    In his view, Li Wei accelerated in a burst, shaking off Allen, then used sheer speed to break through the sandwiched defense of Foster and Humphrey.


    Everything happened in the blink of an eye.


    Sprinted.


    With a light step, he shook off Jackson¡¯s desperate hands, the path ahead now completely clear, no longer blocked by any obstacles to Li Wei.


    All the way, he ran wild.


    Burns watched as Li Wei unreservedly unleashed his speed, Foster had just drawn close, not yet within embrace range, and then could only watch helplessly as Li Wei ran faster and faster.


    The distance widened visibly.


    A long-distance raid.


    And just like that, he entered the end zone¡ª


    Touchdown.


    Li Wei stood in the end zone, turned around, gently tossed the football into the air, then stylishly caught it again, his face bearing an expression of easy grace:


    Is that all?


    Looking ahead, Foster gave up the chase, Jackson and Allen both fell to the ground, and Humphrey floundered for a while, rolling on the ground before he managed to stand up again, scattering debris all along the way like broken metal.


    The entire field was astonished.


    All noise disappeared.


    Saban turned to Burns, "Is that what you saw just now?"


    Bursting power?


    Not just that. After the initial burst, there was also a second burst of power and, in terms of restarting after an emergency break, he delivered a top-level answer.


    Simply put, it was a domination by speed, an overtaking by sheer power.


    Of course, the underestimation by the four defensive players was also a very important factor; they had completely not anticipated Li Wei¡¯s astonishing vertical speed, and one by one they collapsed; despite that, Li Wei¡¯s capability was beyond question.


    But in Saban¡¯s words, amidst the surprise, there was also some disappointment¡ª


    If that was all, it wouldn¡¯t be enough to make Li Wei a top running back.


    Absolute speed is very important, crucial even, but in the sport of football, confrontation is more important, and relying solely on absolute speed cannot solve many problems.


    In the history of the NFL, there have been running backs with impressive forty-yard dash times, competitive even in the Olympics, but could those running backs become top players?


    It¡¯s difficult.


    Even if Usain Bolt came to the football field, he wouldn¡¯t be able to become a top running back.


    That is to say, Li Wei¡¯s performance was a pleasant surprise, but still not enough.


    Burns looked at Saban, his smile at the corners of his mouth already uncontrollably curling up, then he shook his head, "No, this, I saw it for the first time today too; it¡¯s a surprise for me as well."


    Saban gently raised an eyebrow, things, it seemed, were getting more interesting.

 Chapter 8: 008 biting off more than one can chew

    Throw. Catch.


    Throw. Catch.


    The brown, oval football flipped up and down in Li Wei¡¯s hands like a yo-yo a child plays with. Without any sign of disdain for the scattered debris he passed by, Li Wei returned with a tranquil expression, his face brimming with a smile as refreshing as a spring breeze.


    He even nodded lightly in acknowledgment, much like a superstar responding to enthusiastic fans at a concert.


    That recent sprint wasn¡¯t far, starting from the midfield line to the end zone, about fifty yards. Li Wei casually tested himself.


    His explosive power and sprinting ability were indeed outstanding, but he felt there was still potential to be unearthed. Li Wei found himself tiptoeing slightly, like a boxer gearing up for a match, looking forward to the growth and transformation that would come with professional training.


    Before long, Li Wei had reached Allen¡¯s side. Spotting Allen¡¯s slightly disheveled appearance, with his jersey dirtied in contrast to Li Wei¡¯s cleanliness, he saw Li Wei¡¯s genuinely sincere smile and felt it to be particularly earnest.


    "Sorry, I didn¡¯t keep my promise. I assure you, next time the dance will definitely happen," Li Wei said with a smile.


    Allen: ...


    Is it okay for him to swear?


    But Allen ended up laughing, "Ha, that was just a careless mistake. This time, there won¡¯t be any rookie benefits, oh. If you want to make me dance, you might need to put in a bit more effort."


    Li Wei revealed a row of neat teeth, smiling radiantly.


    It was only now that Allen truly sized up Li Wei¡ª


    With a refreshing visage, clear-cut features, he stood apart from the typical burly brutes. Instead, he had the grace of fine calligraphy, exuding an effortless scholarly air that was sunny and carefree. Wherever he stood became a highlight.


    Allen had indeed judged a book by its cover, completely caught off guard by Li Wei; but not this time. He was ready for a strong counter, almost foreseeing the crumpled end coming for Li Wei, with a smirk creeping up his lips.


    "Come on, scholar. Let¡¯s see how well you can dance ballet," Allen beckoned, moving back to his position while still displaying his magnanimity, giving Li Wei a step of distance¡ªalbeit slightly wider this time around.


    But now, fully on guard, his mental state was devoid of any contempt.


    Li Wei turned around, returning to the midfield line, looking ahead. The first thing he did was to habitually grasp the spatial positioning; the four players¡¯ positions were not drastically different, just a slight tightening of the formation, hardly noticeable¡ªperhaps a step or a half-step forward at most, trivial in such a spacious field.


    But Li Wei didn¡¯t take it lightly.


    Being on his own without cover meant that a tighter formation would signify faster starts for hits and interceptions, and denser defense.


    He needed to be cautious.


    Li Wei glanced at the sidelines. Now that he had decided to take on the challenge, true to his nature, he was all in. He wanted to see the limits of his abilities, so impressing coaches like Burns and Saban was the first step. Perhaps now was the time to show a different side of himself.


    This...


    Was too painful to watch.


    Some players, unable to bear it, averted their eyes, not wanting to witness the impending tragedy, yet they never expected the cries of surprise that followed right after.


    It wasn¡¯t shock or sorrow but a voice mixed with astonishment and joy.


    Those who had looked away or shut their eyes quickly opened them in disbelief:


    What just happened?


    How could Li Wei possibly think to use an egg against a rock, when even those with no knowledge of football knew he stood no chance against Allen head-on?


    During the head-on rush, Li Wei could even see the excitement in Allen¡¯s eyes, clearly such events were not rare in formal games, resembling a hawk swooping down on a chick.


    However!


    Just as the head-on collision was about to occur, Li Wei took a half step to the right¡ª


    Capturing the split-second difference in timing, he shifted his position, turning what would have been a head-on collision into a glancing touch of the left shoulder.


    Allen, still powerfully strong, but due to the last-moment misalignment before the collision, his bulk became a hindrance, entirely unable to adjust his center of force in such a small range, resulting in an inadequate charge from his left shoulder.


    Hmph.


    With a grunt, Allen felt Li Wei¡¯s charge; there was no retreat, no fear, like the horn of a rhinoceros he charged without hesitation and without diverting from Allen¡¯s intent, his left shoulder becoming the pivot, the two forces offsetting one another¡ª


    One force from Li Wei¡¯s left shoulder moving upward.


    One force from Allen¡¯s own right shoulder pushing forward.


    Without any time to react, the next second Allen spun around clockwise like a top.


    Ah, ah, ah.


    Is this ballet?


    Allen felt the world spin, turning clumsily, the world rotating rapidly, he was dizzy and disoriented, flailing his arms as though performing a traditional Russian dance, moving his hands and feet in an attempt to grasp balance, but still he fell down with a crash.


    Damn it!


    Allen, utterly disheartened.

 Chapter 9: 009 Continuous Change of Direction

    Over there, Allen finally started moving.


    Here, Li Wei was also having a tough time.


    His left shoulder bore immense pressure; the burst of power and impact possessed destructive energy, concentrated ferociously at the pivot point of his left shoulder.


    Boom!


    His muscles tensed up as he forcefully endured it. At that moment, the function of his equipment became apparent¡ªthe armor on his left shoulder distributed the impact forces, allowing his entire shoulder to absorb the shock, preventing his body¡¯s balance from being completely overturned.


    Li Wei had mentally prepared in advance; he knew what he was up against in this seemingly desperate situation, actually seizing the initiative himself.


    Also, his body, having practiced combat from a young age, possessed excellent resilience to strikes and pain tolerance, which helped Li Wei keep his mind cool.


    A turn.


    With premeditation facing unpreparedness, Li Wei also began to rotate as he followed the force of Allen¡¯s strike, turning counterclockwise. Unlike Allen, Li Wei¡¯s footwork and power followed the counterclockwise motion quickly, completing a 360-degree turn and already rushing toward the right amidst the swaying center of gravity.


    Then¡ª


    Humphrey.


    In his sight, the high-flying, hands-raised Humphrey lunged at him.


    Unlike the first time, his entire reaction, initiation, and stepping up improved a notch, and with that, the sense of pressing urgency and impact force also increased.


    Danger.


    Danger danger danger!


    Every cell in Li Wei¡¯s body was sounding the alarm, but he was not surprised; far from retreating in fear, his adrenaline burst forth completely. In his excitement, he became even calmer, instantly grasping the situation.


    He saw not only Humphrey but also Foster coming from the left side for a wraparound.


    In the blink of an eye, Li Wei had already sprung into action.


    His right leg pushed off, slamming on the brakes urgently.


    The burst of power fiercely plunged into the ground; his muscles nearly burst as the surging reactionary force propelled his body to make an urgent change of direction toward the left.


    A flash, a retreat.


    Sudden stop and sharp turn, along a diagonal line to the forward left, he took a large stride without hesitation, the sudden change of direction briefly staggering Humphrey.


    Humphrey: ???


    A pause.


    Humphrey, completely unprepared for this, didn¡¯t expect that Li Wei could still change direction amid such chaotic circumstances. He was not ready and then just watched as Li Wei brushed past his right arm and dashed forward.


    Damn!


    Astounding.


    Stunned, the whole field stunned.


    The first time was underestimating, also a fluke.


    So what about the second time?


    Incredible!


    Including Burns, no exception.


    The agility and explosive power in Li Wei¡¯s direction changes were what Burns most valued for his potential, but he didn¡¯t expect more surprises. Although the four defensive players still underestimated Li Wei, leading to such ludicrous and comical situations, Li Wei¡¯s performance breaking expectations and showcasing even more potential was undeniable.


    Heart, just stuck in the throat, uncontrollably began to soar.


    Saban also revealed a smile, "Burton, you really picked up a treasure to bring back."


    However, Saban had not finished the tryouts but began shouting loudly.


    "Allen, use your brain."


    Saban pointed to his head, his face serious¡ª


    Delighting in Li Wei¡¯s performance was one thing, but the performance of his own defensive group¡¯s four main players was another. If this happened in a match, not to mention defending the championship, they might lose everything.


    Once might be an accident, twice could be overlooked, but not a third time.


    Saban wouldn¡¯t accept a third mistake.


    "Pull yourselves together, observe, anticipate, coordinate. Don¡¯t tell me that you four, facing a rookie, could really allow two runs of fifty yards each resulting in touchdowns, and then let a third happen?"


    "If there¡¯s a third time, today¡¯s training will consist of you running laps until you puke."


    Saban was not joking.


    Allan¡¯s face was full of shame as he quickly gathered the other three together, uncommonly starting to discuss tactics, determined not to underestimate the situation again.


    Indeed, the third time, Li Wei faced unprecedented resistance and challenges.


    On one hand, Li Wei himself, having thrice exerted high intensity in one-on-four situations, was somewhat unable to keep up with his explosive capabilities.


    On the other hand, the four defensive players really gritted their teeth this time, showing a completely different demeanor and intensity right from the start.


    Li Wei, with all his might, darted and dodged, but this time he ultimately couldn¡¯t escape.


    After being tripped by Allen, he encountered a pincer attack from Foster and Humphrey, managed to charge forward a few steps with great effort, but was finally held back by the two burly men, unable to break through and then felt a third force coming down on him, the proverbial last straw that broke the camel¡¯s back, and fell with regret.


    Damn!


    Li Wei was somewhat frustrated with his performance, dissatisfied with himself, yet unaware that upon standing up, he would see that the whole field was in shock, not a sound to be heard, jaws and glasses all over the floor.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t understand: What¡¯s happening?

 Chapter 10: 010 Position confrontation

    Strategically despise the opponent, but tactically value them.


    Li Wei¡¯s nerves were completely tense too.


    From the start, Li Wei used a move similar to the Marseille Turn to stop abruptly and shake off Allen, actively breaking toward the left side where Foster was, but this time Allen¡¯s second reaction was outstanding. Even though he was off-balance, he managed to trip Li Wei¡¯s lower leg with his arm, sending Li Wei¡¯s forward momentum into disarray.


    Stumbling about, he failed to shake off Foster immediately. Even though Li Wei reacted quickly, changing direction, he still got caught in the pincer between Foster and Humphrey. This was where Li Wei truly felt frustrated.


    He saw a gap. With a prompt brake to control his steps, he tried to make Foster and Humphrey collide into a heap, then he tried to circle around Humphrey¡¯s outside, knowing that even if Jackson had stepped up to intercept, there was still a chance.


    However, it was this fleeting opportunity that he couldn¡¯t control with his sudden stop, resulting in Foster and Humphrey getting a solid hold on him.


    After being surrounded, Li Wei still tried to break free and continue charging forward. Seeing that Foster and Humphrey¡¯s unsteady center of gravity didn¡¯t allow them to fully capture him, with him possibly breaking free at any moment, it was Jackson who arrived in haste that eliminated Li Wei¡¯s last struggle, and finally Li Wei fell regretfully to the ground.


    Three big guys piled on in this spot.


    Li Wei was still clenching his fist in frustration¡ª


    Even in this play, he still had a chance, just a little bit, just a tiny bit more.


    But it had to be admitted, the impacts of football, the breakthroughs, and the offense against defense were truly tough and explosive. The solid and meaty collisions made resounding thuds with each hit, and the confrontations of strength fully ignited the adrenaline.


    Quite interesting.


    Yet unexpectedly when Li Wei stood up and turned around, what he saw was a sight of people picking up their jaws all over the field, the silent scene seemed to have pressed the pause button, which made Li Wei stunned. Was he in a ¡¯Flash¡¯ state because his speed was too fast that it made everyone else seem to have stopped?


    Li Wei gave an apologetic smile and shouted to Burns, "Sorry, Coach, I didn¡¯t perform too well this time."


    Allen: Cough.


    Almost choked on his spit, "Rookie, are you serious or is this trash talk?"


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t help but smile, "If this is trash talk, isn¡¯t your reaction a bit..."


    Too dumb?


    Even though Li Wei didn¡¯t speak out, Allen caught on immediately, looked to the sky sheepishly and coughed twice, then looked down at Li Wei again, "If that¡¯s you not performing well, then our defensive group has some serious reflecting to do."


    Despite the embarrassment, Allen started to explain in all seriousness, and then Li Wei began to understand.


    Burns had said that football is a turn-based game, so how should turns be defined?


    "Third, if the offensive team is tackled in their own end zone by the opponent, not only does possession change hands, but it also results in a safety, two points."


    "Oh, right, after each touchdown, there¡¯s a chance for extra points, two options."


    "Choose to kick, place the ball on the fifteen-yard line in front of the end zone line and then kick it; succeed, and you add one point. Choose to go for a touchdown, place the ball two yards in front of the end zone line and then score a touchdown; succeed, and you add two points."


    This time, Allen¡¯s explanation was much clearer.


    Li Wei had another realization. "So, football does actually involve using the foot... wait, field goals and kicks should be done with the foot, right?"


    "Haha." Allen laughed heartily. "Right, and there are also punts and kickoffs, all done with the foot."


    So that¡¯s how it is. It seems football can retain the word "foot" in its name, no need to compete with handball for a title.


    Humphrey looked at Allen, then at Li Wei, and couldn¡¯t hold back. "Hey, so now you realize why we were so surprised, right?"


    Li Wei blinked, the picture of innocence.


    Humphrey clutched his head and let out a cry, "Rookie, we only need to advance ten yards on each offensive play, and the average gain for a running back is less than five yards. But you, on your first two attempts, had fifty-yard rush touchdowns, and on the third attempt, while we went all out, you actually forced out a new first down!"


    Li Wei slightly lifted his chin. "So ¡¯first down¡¯ means a new set of four offensive opportunities, right?"


    Looking at Li Wei¡¯s eager, casually inquisitive expression, Humphrey looked skyward as a wave of helplessness washed over him, then he slumped his shoulders, "Right."


    That was the reason for the astonishment in the stadium¡ª


    In that third instance, Li Wei weaved and dodged his way through heavy collisions and forcefully advanced ten yards, a display of strength and ferocity that was decidedly impressive.


    Li Wei waived it off modestly, "Just occasionally, occasionally."


    Foster¡¯s face wore a mournful expression. "It better be. If it happened often, I think you¡¯d be the nightmare of every defensive lineman and linebacker."


    Before he finished speaking, Foster saw the eager look on Li Wei¡¯s face and slapped his forehead, "Sorry, you don¡¯t know what a defensive line and a linebacker are, right? My bad."


    An awkward yet polite smile.


    Allen laughed again, "You delivered as promised, I really danced three times in a row. Rookie, well done, welcome to the Crimson Tide Storm."


    With that, Allen raised his right fist for a fist bump, facing Li Wei squarely¡ª


    Open and honest in the face of his own defeat.

 Chapter 11: The Art of War by Sun Tzu

    Casual, sincere, and straightforward.


    Without any needless chatter or crafty excuses, Allen demonstrated the magnanimity and attitude of a professional player as he opened his arms to welcome Li Wei to the team.


    Li Wei was a bit surprised, and looking at Allen¡¯s open and honest expression, he also showed a smile and raised his fist to heavily bump against Allen¡¯s.


    "Sorry for making you dance ballet this time, how about we try tango next time?"


    That confidently beaming smile caused Humphrey and Foster to shiver involuntarily, Why did Li Wei¡¯s smile give off a seemingly devilish vibe?


    Jackson looked up silently, secretly relieved that his position was in the backfield and he wouldn¡¯t have many chances to face the running back head-on.


    Allen¡¯s ambitious spirit was instantly ignited, he switched his fist to an open hand, grasped Li Wei¡¯s right hand, pulled it with a jerk, and the two men heavily bumped shoulders before bursting into hearty laughter, "Then let¡¯s give it a try, you are always welcome."


    Having said that, Allen turned his head to look at the other three teammates.


    "Jackson, stop looking at the sky, it¡¯s embarrassing under everyone¡¯s gaze, and looking up won¡¯t help."


    "Now that the rookie has thrown down the gauntlet, we have nothing to say, the defensive group¡¯s performance was indeed poor, we need to do extra training today."


    "Since the coach mentioned running laps, let¡¯s do that, how about we start with thirty laps?"


    Ah!


    Alas!


    Help!


    Amidst a chorus of groans, Allen didn¡¯t give them any time to protest, turned around, and led the run, with the other three following dejectedly, like a string of tails, amazingly they actually began running laps.


    And that wasn¡¯t all.


    Allen, leading the three tails running by the side of the field, called out powerfully, "Defensive group, follow up."


    Then, with a whoosh, a large group of players added themselves behind Allen, each obediently joining the lap-running line.


    Li Wei watched this scene with a face full of curiosity and when they reached where Li Wei was standing, cries of "Thanks, rookie" and jeers came one after another.


    Li Wei waved cheerfully just as if he were on the balcony of Buckingham Palace waving to the pilgrim masses.


    This also sets them apart from professional athletes.


    As such, even if they cannot transition into professional leagues after graduation, they can still obtain a diploma.


    Thus, the NCAA has minimum credit requirements for all players; failure to meet them results in suspension from play; there are also strict regulations on training time.


    Summer is a break, and colleges cannot organize training, so spring training camp is the last chance for these student-athletes to fiercely boost their competitiveness.


    In Burns¡¯s view¡ª


    This is perfect.


    There¡¯s still some time before the new season starts in September, Li Wei can properly train in the basics and learn fundamental knowledge; most importantly, he must learn tactics.


    "...You¡¯re definitely more familiar with ¡¯The Art of War by Sun Tzu¡¯ than I am, right?"


    "Actually, football is like going to war. We need to apply ¡¯The Art of War by Sun Tzu¡¯ and strategize our play.


    In the NFL, there are over twenty thousand offensive and defensive tactics; of course, in college, the tactics aren¡¯t that exaggerated not because it¡¯s impossible, but because we are limited by training time, and the players don¡¯t have as much time to learn tactics, so we keep it relatively simple."


    "Even so, you still need to learn tactics. Learning offensive tactics is understanding your job; additionally, you also need to learn defensive tactics, so you can decode the opponents¡¯ strategies."


    "We need time, a lot of it, but I believe you can do it. Perhaps, you even have some advantages, given how smart you are."


    As he spoke, Burns realized that he might have accidentally said too much again.


    Looking up at Li Wei, "How about we first handle the enrollment procedure, and discuss the rest later?"


    Li Wei could immediately read the awkward and anxious expression on Burns¡¯s face and couldn¡¯t help but smile, "Sure."


    Burns let out a long breath, truly worried about scaring Li Wei away, as the new season in September could indeed become a disaster.


    Burns kept his mouth firmly shut, eagerly watching Li Wei fill out the enrollment form, until everything was completed and set in black and white; only then did he slightly relax and show a smile.


    "By the way, you need to choose a jersey number, pick any you like, the team will try to accommodate your wishes. Do you have a preferred number?"


    "99." Li Wei had never chosen a personal jersey number before, but if he was to choose, it had to be unique.


    Burns showed an awkward smile, "Uh, that won¡¯t work."

 Chapter 12: 012 Newbie Gift Pack

    Burns was somewhat embarrassed, having just boasted a second ago that Li Wei could choose any number he wanted, and now he was stuck; the authority of the coach was completely gone.


    Ahem.


    Burns cleared his throat tactically and revealed a broad smile, "You see, in football, different positions have their own duties, from offense to defense. We¡¯ve got nearly twenty different positions and seventy to eighty players. To make it easy for referees to identify players, there are regulations for jersey numbers."


    "For running backs, cornerbacks, and safeties, your jersey number must be between 20 and 49."


    Burns rubbed his hands together, looking cautiously towards Li Wei.


    "Li Wei, how about you pick from these?"


    No wonder.


    However, Li Wei¡¯s attention had shifted onto another matter, "Cornerbacks and safeties?"


    Burns quickly and eagerly explained, "Humphrey is a cornerback; they usually stand near the front line of the defensive group, close to the sidelines at the two corners. Jackson is a safety; they usually stand at the back near the end zone, and they are the last line of defense for the defensive group."


    Li Wei blinked¡ª


    He wasn¡¯t good at remembering names.


    It wasn¡¯t a joke, but a fact. He often couldn¡¯t match names with faces; his mind appeared to have an eraser that specifically wiped out all the names.


    Truly, a big problem.


    Just when Li Wei was about to ask who Humphrey was, Burns explained the positions, and that made it much more vivid for him.


    So Humphrey was the one who missed two tackles in a row and almost fell flat on his face.


    Humphrey: ??? I didn¡¯t offend you!


    After some thought, a number popped up in Li Wei¡¯s mind, "Then, number 23."


    Not because of the basketball superstar Michael Jordan, but because Li Wei¡¯s seat number in both middle school and high school was 23.


    Burns exhaled a long breath, "No problem, 23 it is." He quickly scanned the roster and revealed a pleased smile, "Good, no other player is using that number."


    Thus, Burns filled in the jersey number on the team application form¡ª


    Number 23.


    The moment Burns finished, a notification sound echoed in Li Wei¡¯s mind, like a computer booting up. Was this the activation signal for the system?


    So having a number also meant having a player identity, indicating that Li Wei¡¯s admittance to the team was complete, and he officially became a member of the Crimson Tide Storm.


    He was a bit excited¡ª


    What exactly was the system like?


    What surprises would the newbie gift pack bring?


    Name: Li Wei


    Date of Birth: November 11, 1995


    Height: 6.1 feet (185 cm)


    Weight: 216 pounds (98 kg)


    Position on Field: Running Back


    Jersey Number: 23


    Team: Alabama Crimson Tide Storm


    That was all.


    Differing slightly from what he envisioned, there were no personal attributes, nor were any physical or ability stats quantified. This was unlike any system Li Wei knew of.


    The button in the upper right was the message box, which reminded him that there was a rookie gift pack still unclaimed.


    Then... there was no more.


    Without another moment¡¯s hesitation, Li Wei clicked on the rookie gift pack. A ripple of blue light gently spread, and right in the center of the interface, three cards appeared, all covered, waiting to be revealed. Each card had a small question mark in the top right corner, with a consistent explanation upon clicking.


    "System Reward, may contain player templates, function cards, etc., with random probabilities."


    So, it was time to test his luck as a "chosen one."


    Li Wei leaped to his feet, heading to the bathroom to wash his face and hands. He turned on the speakers and played Beethoven¡¯s "Symphony of Destiny". Its majestic melody swirled throughout the dorm, calming his mood completely.


    Time to spend some money!


    Without stopping, he flipped all three cards at once. The blue light shimmered again, revealing the true form of the three cards.


    "Card: Training Effect Doubling Card (Two Times)"


    "Card: Injury Impact Reduction Card (10%)"


    "Template: Adrian Peterson (S-class)"


    Jackpot!


    The moment he saw the word "S-class", Li Wei clenched his fists.


    Even a rookie like Li Wei, who rarely played games and knew little about them, recognized that "S-class" usually signifies high quality, possibly even the highest quality.


    Without a doubt, this was a top-quality player template.


    Setting aside that Li Wei didn¡¯t yet know how to use the template or whether the other rewards were of good quality, just this one template alone was worth it.


    But what exactly was the level of this Adrian Peterson, and was there anyone who could explain?

 Chapter 13: 013 Training System

    Adrian Peterson, widely considered one of the greatest running backs in history, is currently playing for the NFL¡¯s Minnesota Vikings.


    Born in 1985, this player has remained active on the professional field for nine seasons in the NFL, although he was out for the 2014 season due to injury. He played in eight seasons, surpassing one thousand rushing yards in seven of those seasons, the only exception being the 2011 season where he ran for 970 yards.


    Additionally, in 2012, he rushed for over two thousand yards and effortlessly picked up the regular-season MVP, becoming the only non-quarterback in the past decade to win the MVP.


    Moreover, he¡¯s been selected to the All-America First Team four times, the All-America Second Team three times, and the Pro Bowl seven times, leading the league in rushing yards in three seasons.


    Efficient! Stable! Enduring!


    Not only is he one of the five running backs in history to rush for over three thousand yards in their first two professional seasons, but he also became the third fastest running back in history to break ten thousand rushing yards.


    Just this past season, Adrian Peterson still maintained his top form, making him the first running back over thirty to enter the All-America First Team.


    Historical, splendid, and ongoing.


    Undoubtedly, Peterson is currently one of the most elite and outstanding running backs in the League, and he remains so even when considering the lengthy history of the sport.


    Li Wei¡¯s starter package revealed a template of such a legendary star, a truly lucky draw.


    Although Li Wei was completely unaware of Peterson¡¯s illustrious achievements, the "S" rating didn¡¯t lie; for Li Wei, that symbol was enough.


    But how should a player template be used?


    His gaze returned to the interface, and he used his brain signals to direct the player template into the template area on the left. The card naturally fitted into the first slot, and a figure of Peterson with the ball in a sprint lit up.


    He continued sending signals, attempting to click on the Peterson template.


    Whoosh!


    The whole page transformed into a three-dimensional space that was more vivid than AR technology. His body was still outside, but his consciousness created a truly immersive feeling. He could genuinely feel gravity, and all other senses and perceptions felt extremely real.


    An interface floated in front of him, neatly indexing a series of thumbnails by year, crowded together.


    Second, the match recording didn¡¯t have the latest season, updates only went up to two years ago, cutting off the possibility for players to explore professional team tactics by experiencing matches, serving only as a mere training system function.


    So that¡¯s how it is!


    Exiting the player template training mode, Li Wei didn¡¯t forget to check the time; the system to real-time ratio was roughly "5:1," which means five minutes passed in the system while only one minute went by in reality.


    Now, with a clear idea about the player template, what about the other two cards?


    The first card, Training Effect Doubling Card (twice).


    After reading the card description in detail, it¡¯s a card specifically effective for real-life training results, just by wearing the card, the effect of the training could be doubled.


    Although doubling might not sound like much, combined with the player template, it could form a complement, one online and one offline, ensuring enhanced training effects.


    Of course, the prerequisite is that the player is willing to train, to spend time and energy, then the system can perform its functions, otherwise, the system is just a decoration, and that¡¯s the ultimate essence of the Football Training System.


    The second card, Injury Negative Impact Reduction Card (10%).


    After carefully reading the card description, Li Wei suddenly realized, this is the real jackpot¡ª


    A passive aura, automatically coming into effect when injuries happen, mitigating the impact of injuries on the body, and with the percentage increase, fatal injuries could be reduced to serious injuries, and possibly to moderate or minor injuries.


    In competitive sports, injuries are the most daunting obstacles; countless geniuses and stars could not escape the impacts of injuries, but the problem is, injuries are a brutal reality in competitive sports that no one can avoid, the difference is only in severity.


    All sports, all professional players face trouble from injuries when they retire because competitive sports ultimately are about challenging the limits of physical and mental endurance.


    And in Football, with such intense confrontation, one could even say the sport is excessively brutal; injuries are common and play a pivotal role in a professional career.


    Now, this card plays the role of a goalkeeper, armoring Li Wei with a layer of protection, although Li Wei¡¯s understanding of the running back role was superficial, he still needed to gradually deepen his understanding, but Li Wei had an intuition:


    Perhaps, this card is the trump card, the key capable of completely changing the game.


    So, the question arises, is a 10% effect considered high or low?


    Furthermore, more importantly, the newbie package has been used up, how should the next chance to draw cards be won?

 Chapter 14: 014 The First Step

    Thud. Thud. Thud.


    Brisk and even footsteps shattered the pale golden sunlight that pierced through the tree canopy, winding through the University of Alabama campus.


    Accustomed to the exhaust fumes and dust of big cities, at this moment Li Wei could distinctly feel the green oxygen filling every alveolus, lightening his steps considerably.


    In the quiet campus that was just waking up in the early morning, some early birds hurriedly clutching books rushed toward their classrooms, while others, dragging their heavy bodies unrested from the whole night, left the library. Some bathed in the sunlight in the middle of the grass to practice yoga, slowing down the otherwise busy and crowded life.


    Li Wei, jogging slowly, made his way among them.


    Around a corner, he entered a straight, shaded avenue, then sprinted at full speed.


    Sprinting, picking up speed, sprinting at full force, continuously accelerating, without reservation.


    Slow jogging wasn¡¯t just slow jogging; it was the variable speed running often practiced in cross-country, focusing on sudden changes in speed, breath regulation, and rhythm to maintain a steady pace amidst the variations.


    This was a test¡ª


    It was a test of the potential of this body and also a test of the system¡¯s operation.


    According to the system¡¯s instructions, the progress bar at the bottom is another daily function of the system, which can be filled through training and competition. When the progress bar is full, you can win a chance to draw cards again.


    Among these, Li Wei noticed that the two sides at the top of the page were slightly different: the template on the left seemed more spacious while the right had only three card slots.


    Therefore, it was not yet clear whether there was a limit to the number of templates and card slots; if there were, could one gain extra through the card draw chances? And if not, would the three card slots each represent three different functions?


    The novice gift pack gave Li Wei two cards, which he had already equipped. There was still one slot empty, sparking his curiosity and competitive spirit, making him eager to fill the progress bar quickly to win a chance to draw cards.


    So, "through training and competition," is there an underlying pattern?


    Is it based on time?


    On quality?


    On in-game performance? Does better performance in games give extra bonuses? And what about training¡ªdo internal scrimmages and system template training performances count?


    All of this awaited Li Wei¡¯s exploration.


    From the experiments yesterday afternoon and this morning, everything counted¡ª


    Holy crap!


    Humphrey, feeling as though he¡¯d seen a ghost, sped up at once, breaking into a sprint. He hadn¡¯t expected Li Wei to stick to him like a shadow, with his own speed skyrocketing as well.


    A gust of wind, then another, the two figures entered the field one after the other.


    Ronnie Clark was diligently setting up training equipment¡ª


    Football is a sport with intense collisions, recklessness, and brutal aggression, and the daily training is no exception. The players need to go through various collision training, anti-collision exercises, and agility training for changing direction and evading.


    These are just the common basic training drills that everyone on the team must practice. After the basic drills are over, there¡¯s specialized training for different positions, which is more professional and detailed.


    Everything mentioned above is just the morning¡¯s physical training.


    Beyond this, there¡¯s also gym training and the vitally important tactical training.


    NFL professional players train four days a week, ten hours a day, a true test of both mental and physical strength, definitely not something just anyone can endure.


    But the NCAA is different. Officially, weekly training time cannot exceed twenty hours, plus players are required to spend no less than seven hours studying in a professional study hall.


    This is why NCAA games often focus more on physicality, and the tactics tend to be relatively simple.


    Right now, Clark was moving the training equipment onto the field in preparation for the morning training.


    Then,


    Clark saw two figures rush in, Humphrey and the rookie from yesterday?


    Humphrey was accelerating, trying to shake off the rookie.


    After failing to shake him, Humphrey tried to change his speed to tire out the rookie through the rhythm change, but he never expected that the rookie would stick to him relentlessly.


    The two of them began running laps around the field, chasing each other with no distance growing between.


    One lap. Two laps. Three laps.


    Without any warning, the rookie started to accelerate, instantly creating a gap; Humphrey didn¡¯t notice for a second and failed to keep up. Then he could no longer catch up, watching helplessly as the gap widened.


    Humphrey: What¡¯s going on?

 Chapter 15: 015 Rookie Partner

    Pff!


    Humphrey stopped in his tracks, hands on his hips, sauntering as leisurely as an old man. Watching the rookie ahead picking up speed, his figure swiftly shrinking into the distance, Humphrey blinked and the gap had widened significantly. Unable to keep up, not in the slightest, Humphrey suddenly felt like shutting down.


    Originally, he only wanted to toy with the rookie, but now, he had lost even his underwear.


    He wanted to curse.


    "Rookie, where on earth did you pop up from, damn, are you some kind of monster?"


    Heading his way, Li Wei approached with a refreshing smile and bright eyes, nodding his head, "Ah, you¡¯ve caught me. Actually, I am Cthulhu. You need to always be mindful of your San points, or you might be in grave danger."


    That serious demeanor actually flustered Humphrey, leaving him unsure how to respond for a moment.


    Turning his head slowly, Humphrey looked towards Clark¡ª


    Clark was struggling to hold back his laughter but managed to say with an innocent face, "Cthulhu is from a science fiction myth..."


    Humphrey¡¯s head filled with a single black line, "I know what Cthulhu is!" He paused, then looked uncertainly at Li Wei, "It¡¯s like a vampire, right?"


    Li Wei nodded earnestly, "Very close."


    Humphrey immediately straightened up, "See, I told you, I know." He raised his voice again, "Rookie, where have you been hiding all this time? The coach said you were into fighting, that confrontation is your forte, and so are burst and strength, but what¡¯s the deal with this change of pace running? I¡¯m not just anybody."


    Clark bobbed his head vigorously like pounding garlic, "Marlon was a five-star high schooler, not in football but in cross-country running."


    Li Wei¡¯s eyes lit up¡ª


    A fellow professional!


    Just as the NCAA has its own competitions and training, high schools also have their games and practice sessions. Each year, four specialized media outlets, including ESPN, along with scouting organizations assess high school players.


    Based on physical fitness, personal skills, and game performance, players are rated up to five stars, with one star being the lowest. This list serves as a reference for colleges and even the Professional League.


    Unexpectedly meeting a fellow professional in the middle of the Crimson Tide Storm, it seems Li Wei wasn¡¯t the first nor the last player to switch fields.


    Clark continued, "When Marlon was applying for colleges, countless schools reached out to him¡ªour football team, baseball, basketball, cross-country running, and more. In terms of change of pace running, nobody on our team could outrun him."


    Uh.


    Clark paused briefly, then glanced at Li Wei: Until now.


    Li Wei caught Clark¡¯s look, returned a zip-the-lip gesture, and the two silently exchanged glances before Li Wei turned to Humphrey¡ª


    Through perseverance and hard work, Clark eventually made his dream come true and became a member of the Crimson Tide Storm. Even though he hadn¡¯t played in a game yet, he relished it. He liked his life as it was, being a part of the Crimson Tide Storm and the football team, even if just as a backup, accompanying the starters in practice¡ªhe enjoyed it thoroughly.


    He was living in his dream.


    Of course, if¡ªand it was just an if¡ªone day, he could step onto the field at Bryant Denny Stadium wearing the Crimson Tide Storm jersey, that would be better than anything.


    He hoped for it, but didn¡¯t dare to expect too much.


    So, in Clark¡¯s view, he was the same as Li Wei, and indeed, not even comparable to Li Wei. Judging from yesterday¡¯s tryout, Li Wei had something special.


    But Li Wei didn¡¯t mind, "Hey, you¡¯re the fifth backup, I¡¯m a rookie, not even counted as a backup, so I think you¡¯re a bit more awesome than me."


    While saying this, Li Wei pinched his thumb and forefinger together to show a tiny gap.


    Clark¡¯s smile immediately blossomed. Looking at Li Wei¡¯s sincere face, he wanted to say, "If you have any issues, you can ask me anytime." But the words got stuck in his throat out of shyness; he just smiled awkwardly instead.


    Li Wei patted Clark¡¯s shoulder, "Looks like you¡¯re busy, so, can I help?"


    Clark nodded his head repeatedly, "Of course, let¡¯s do it together. I¡¯m just bringing out the training equipment, nothing special. Marlon, are you joining too?"


    Humphrey didn¡¯t refuse, lost in his thoughts for a long time before suddenly exclaiming, "Good looks!"


    Li Wei and Clark didn¡¯t understand.


    Humphrey danced over to them, "Good looks, that¡¯s the third good!"


    Li Wei blinked, "Tell me again, what are the three goods?"


    Humphrey, wide-eyed and speechless, was actually at a loss for words: The first two goods, he had just made them up on the spot.


    Li Wei laughed heartily, "Mr. Nice Guy, wanna help carry stuff?"


    Humphrey stood there disheveled by the wind, but in the end, he followed them and helped with the embarrassment of defeat written all over his face.


    One after another, the players also started to arrive at the field and voluntarily joined in to help carry the equipment out.


    Li Wei thought it should be the freshmen¡¯s job according to the college¡¯s tradition, but Clark told him that the Crimson Tide Storm did things a bit differently.


    Indeed, it was the freshmen¡¯s job, but they wanted to start training as soon as possible, valuing the NCAA¡¯s regulated training time. So when they arrived at the training field in the morning, basically whoever got there first would start moving the equipment; and after training ended, the freshmen would be responsible for putting it back.


    A small detail like this demonstrated why the Crimson Tide Storm had been one of the most competitive teams in the NCAA over the past few years.


    In fact, moving the equipment could already be considered simple strength training, as each of these big beasts looked like siege engines.


    Training hadn¡¯t even started, but Li Wei had already experienced a taste of the scale that was different in football.

 Chapter 16: 016 Practical Exercise

    Bang! Bang bang bang!


    The muffled sound of hand-to-hand combat reverberated above the field, instantly reeling back to an era of cold weapons¡ªalthough without any weapons, relying solely on physical combat.


    Two armies clashed, bayonets stained red.


    At that moment, a seven-man drill was underway on the field¡ª


    Tactical drills.


    The morning¡¯s basic training had already ended, novelty was indeed novel, and Football, unlike other sports, encouraged physical confrontations and even emphasized them. Speed, strength, resilience, explosiveness, endurance, etc., tested in every aspect, continuously probing one¡¯s limits.


    But seen from another angle, although training methods and equipment differed, competitive sports shared commonality among disciplines by triggering one¡¯s potential in different ways, gradually reaching and even breaking through one¡¯s ceiling, thus turning strengths into lethal weapons.


    So, Li Wei was no stranger to this, from cross-country running he personally experienced to the soul-level realism of mixed martial arts, though never personally experienced, he had undergone various training programs, ultimately converging to the same essence.


    After a brief adaptation, Li Wei had already entered the zone¡ª


    Repetitive, tedious training, immersing himself in his own world, constantly challenging his limits, was routine for Li Wei.


    After basic training, the running back group headed to the gym to pump iron for strength training, where Li Wei met another running back:


    Josh Jacobs.


    A high school senior who would only officially join the University of Alabama in September, not yet considered a "freshman."


    In NCAA, considering the prohibition of team training in summer before the new season starts, the only collective training time available was the April spring training camp, which meant that freshmen entering in September could not participate in the camp, hence NCAA had a special enrollment window in February each year.


    In February, based on ESPN¡¯s high school rankings, universities could extend invitations to their favored players to join the spring training camp¡ª


    This was also known as "National Signing Day."


    As a traditional football powerhouse, the University of Alabama had exceptional appeal, signing all nineteen high school students on lists like ESPN¡¯s, including Ben Davis who ranked second on the ESPN list and Charles Baldwin, who was jointly first on three different lists as an offensive tackle.


    Jacobs was ranked thirty-sixth on the list.


    After witnessing Derrick Henry dominate as the starting running back for the Crimson Tide Storm last season, Jacobs, amidst various surprises during the spring training camp, took over the role of premier running back, bearing the burden of the new season¡¯s ground offense for the Crimson Tide Storm.


    Which is to say, he was facing Derrick Henry as a model¡ª


    The entire lineup was like two armies facing off, each forming a line at the forefront, helmets nearly colliding, gazes clashing.


    Accompanied by Hertz¡¯s shout, the Defensive group immediately pressed forward while the front line of the Offensive group advanced to meet them, resulting in a fierce real battle collision.


    Hertz took the football from the Center, turned around without hesitation, and reached back to pass the football to Jacobs.


    Jacobs didn¡¯t hesitate, stepped forward immediately, and, completing the handoff with Hertz, reached out to receive the ball.


    However!


    Before the handoff was complete, a Defensive player had already torn through the line, cutting into the Offensive side, with arms spread wide, lunging towards Hertz.


    Danger!


    Just then, Hertz and Jacobs misdirected¡ª


    Li Wei noticed that Jacobs hadn¡¯t taken the football; the two had just made a feint handoff movement before diverting their paths.


    Jacobs advanced, heading straight for the defending player.


    Bang!


    Helmet harshly striking against helmet, a ripple of shock from head to body.


    Hertz continued to surge forward a few steps, skillfully pivoting counterclockwise, then turned again to face the field ahead, Jacobs¡¯ block buying him precious breathing time.


    Indeed, the football was still in his possession!


    He quickly scanned, adjusted his step, and his right hand already launched the football towards the forward diagonal of the field, casting a rainbow arc across the sky.


    Forward diagonal, about fifteen yards out, an Offensive player kept changing his center of gravity with nimble small steps, bobbing to shake Humphrey but unable to get rid of him. So, he simply backed into Humphrey, pushing hard against him to stubbornly secure the position, extended his arms, and plucked the football from the air.


    Connection, successful!


    Fifteen yards, advanced.


    Thus, first down achieved¡ª


    Beautiful!

 Chapter 17: 017 Three-dimensional Deconstruction

    Prediction, layout, setting traps.


    That¡¯s the game before each play begins.


    Blocking, interception, coordination.


    That¡¯s the confrontation after each play starts.


    Bit by bit, Li Wei savored the different charms of football, because as a turn-based game, there was time to discuss and layout anew after each offense and defense, meaning that every offensive and defensive effort needed the formulation of tactics to engage, and tactics could vary greatly depending on the situation.


    No wonder Burns said¡ª


    Football requires physicality and confrontation, but if one only has these, they will never become an excellent player, let alone a top legend.


    So, Li Wei began to observe and deconstruct, attempting to establish a framework of football through his own understanding, amidst the series of offensive and defensive plays.


    As a running back, he naturally began with the offensive group.


    Within the offensive group, there were eleven players that could be divided into three parts.


    The first part, the quarterback.


    The quarterback is the field commander of the team, with the coach communicating through a headset built into the helmet, setting the tactics for each play, which the quarterback then relays to the teammates.


    Responsible not only for executing tactics, choosing whether to pass the ball or to give it to the running back to carry; the quarterback is also tasked with interpreting the opponent¡¯s defensive tactics. Top quarterbacks are often able to decipher the strategy of the opponents within three to five seconds and can make on-the-spot changes to the tactics, completing the final push forward.


    The second part, the offensive line.


    This is a "defensive line" composed of five people, with the center in the middle, guards to each side¡ªleft and right guard respectively¡ªand tackles at both ends¡ªleft tackle and right tackle.


    The task of these five players is to block the opposing team¡¯s players, buying time for the quarterback; their capabilities determine the range of space the quarterback has for thinking and adjustments.


    The protective net constructed by the offensive line is known as the "pocket," and from it, types of quarterbacks emerge:


    Pocket quarterback, which is the traditional quarterback, staying entirely within the pocket, relying on the brain to control the game, with passing as their ultimate weapon.


    Clark, with a face full of surprise, said, "How did you know?"


    Li Wei felt that it couldn¡¯t be that difficult. "Then, when executing a fake pass and a real run, are there also players who need to help clear the way for the running back?"


    Clark nodded, "Generally speaking, after discussing the running routes, the tackle on that side will coordinate movements to complete the block, and at the same time, the tight end will help dismantle the block. The tight end rams ahead like a bulldozer, and the running back follows in their footsteps behind them, then bursts through to continue advancing."


    So that¡¯s how it is.


    Within the short passing area, the tight end not only has to receive passes but also has to play the role of dismantling blocks and covering.


    "Short passing area," that was also a piece of knowledge Li Wei had just learned.


    Based on the quarterback¡¯s passing distance, anything within ten yards falls into the short passing area, emphasizing quick and frequent passes; between ten and twenty yards is the medium passing range, which calls for more tactical coordination; passes over twenty yards fall into the deep pass range, and such long-range strikes often rely more on the individual ability of the players, including the quarterback and wide receivers.


    In the NFL, there is no lack of uniquely gifted quarterbacks who can throw a pass sixty yards, covering half the field; but generally, accuracy drops sharply for throws over thirty to forty yards. Also, players need more time to build up their throwing power, which means the pocket protection provided by the offensive line has to be even more solid.


    Without a doubt, Football is a team sport¡ª


    Even though the quarterback is the core of the offensive group, without the running back sharing the pressure, without wide receivers and tight ends to catch passes, without the offensive line providing cover and clearing the path, individual ability alone is just for show.


    Only when the team works together does Football progress forward.


    The same goes for the running back.


    If there weren¡¯t the quarterback¡¯s cover on passes, the offensive intents of ground attacks would be exposed early, and the defensive group from the opposite side would press forward immediately, using a swarm tactic to block the path, making it difficult for even a Hulk-like running back to break through.


    Also, during a ground advance, the offensive line and the tight end need to block, and the wide receivers need to run routes to distract the defense. Only then can the running back search for openings to advance.


    The fundamental reason is that while the offensive group is strategizing, the defensive group on the opposite side of the field also initiates a comprehensive confrontation.


    Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.


    If one wishes to understand the coordination of the offensive group more comprehensively and in more depth, it is necessary to understand how the defensive group operates and to decipher their tactics.


    Without offense, there would be no defense, and without defense, there would be no offense. The two are both opposing and unified forms, just like in Go or chess, which is the ultimate charm of Football.


    Who says that running backs don¡¯t need to understand defense?

 Chapter 18: 018 Ready to go at it with great eagerness

    Unlike the offensive group, the defensive group needs to cover the entire field, so their teamwork is even more crucial¡ªboth specialized and comprehensive.


    Thus, the structure of the defensive group is a bit clearer and can be simply divided into four lines, spreading across the field layer by layer from near to far.


    The first line, the defensive line.


    As the name suggests, corresponding to the offensive line, they stand at the very front of the team. Their task is very simple: break through the offensive line and stop the quarterback.


    It may be interference or it may be applying pressure, but the best case is a sack, which is wrestling the quarterback to the ground to end the offensive play right there.


    The second line, the linemen.


    They stand behind the defensive line, two to three steps back, divided into inside and outside linemen according to their positions, with two main tasks.


    One is to defend against short passes.


    The other is to defend against running plays.


    In other words, according to the official tactical manual, "lineman vs running back" is the standard matchup.


    Of course, the actual game may see many variations.


    In the tactical systems of the NFL and NCAA, there are two defensive systems: "4-3" and "3-4".


    "4-3" means four defensive linemen paired with three linemen, focusing more on pocket pressure, hence the defensive line has two defensive ends and two defensive tackles.


    "3-4" has three defensive linemen paired with four linemen, focusing more on defending the short pass area, with the defensive line featuring one defensive tackle and two defensive ends. Here, the defensive tackle is the sole point of attack, hence also known as the spearhead.


    Both defensive systems have their pros and cons; their success depends entirely on the coaching level.


    The University of Alabama employs the "3-4" tactic.


    The third line, the cornerbacks.


    They are like wings, each positioned at the edges of the defensive line near the sidelines; their specific positions are not fixed and are generally adjusted according to the wide receiver.


    From here, it can be seen that their task is to tie up the wide receivers, covering short and intermediate pass areas; but occasionally, they also need to match up with the tight end and running back.


    The fourth line, the safeties.


    They stand behind the team¡¯s main camp, the last line of defense, but unlike the goalkeeper in soccer, they can move freely in the backfield, ready to fill in any gaps.


    One piece. Then another piece.


    First, deconstruct the offense and defense into scattered pieces, understand the role and duty of each piece, and then put them back together again.


    In a Football game, everything is interconnected.


    If one only focuses on oneself and fails to see the bigger tactical picture, one often falls into the dilemma of "not seeing the true nature of Mount Lu", hitting wall after wall without knowing why, thus unable to solve the problem.


    Of course, seeing the bigger picture doesn¡¯t necessarily mean the problem will be solved, but at least it means one won¡¯t be trapped in a vicious cycle.


    Initially, Li Wei thought he would just come to work and clock in, but now he had changed his mind. It was as if he had received a complex Rubik¡¯s cube. Restoring it to its original state was fun, but nowhere near as fascinating as exploring the principles to reveal the mystery, which made Li Wei eager to start.


    This spring was getting interesting.


    Bang!


    Another loud noise, Allen embraced Jacobs and took him down hard with a scissor-takedown move, just like in a video game.


    Li Wei licked his lips, as if he could sense the scent of blood, "Wait, why did the pocket collapse so quickly this time?"


    Clark caught Li Wei¡¯s slightly upturned mouth corner and the excitement in his eyes, blinking: Is this guy a vampire?


    "Fifth substitute?" Li Wei called out, receiving no response.


    It was then that Clark snapped back to reality, took a deep breath, "Oh, because of the blitz. The Defensive group chose to blitz."


    "Blitz?" Li Wei savored the word carefully¡ª


    The lineman, who should be waiting for the running back or a short pass, took the initiative to move forward, converging with the Defensive line, and using their numerical superiority to forcefully breach through, causing the offensive line¡¯s Pocket to collapse directly. Hertz was like a lamb surrounded by wolves, with no chance at all.


    In haste, Hertz hurriedly threw the football to Jacobs, trying to avoid being sacked.


    But Allen read the play, relaunched from his spot, and gave Jacobs no escape as he intercepted him fully, ending that offensive drive.


    "Heh, interesting." Li Wei showed a smile.


    It seems that the Defensive group isn¡¯t entirely passive; they could also lay out plans and take the initiative. This is a clear difference between Football and sports like soccer or basketball.


    In soccer and basketball, the defense is often in a passive situation, with their goal/basket on the other side of the field, needing to cross halfcourt again to attack; but in a Football game, defense can mount an "offensive" right from their position, turning passivity into activity, and even score¡ª


    Yes, the Defensive group can score too, and this is what makes the turn-based territorial game so interesting.


    Seeing Li Wei¡¯s smile, Clark shivered and gulped nervously: there¡¯s something a little off about you.

 Chapter 19: 019 Warm-up within the team

    Spring Training Camp, it ended¡ª


    Or rather, it was about to end.


    Three weeks flashed by in the blink of an eye, toggling between studying and training every day; each day was exceptionally fulfilling. Before one knew it, time had slipped through the fingers, and without a chance to react, the training camp had reached its conclusion.


    Today, the intrasquad game was about to take place, with the starters going up against the reserves.


    Then, after summarizing the practice game¡¯s gains and losses, next Sunday would be the long-awaited warm-up match, officially drawing a close to training camp.


    Although it was just an intrasquad scrimmage, the standards and treatment were no different from an official match. Just like on a game day, the residents of the entire town poured out, greeting the match with the exuberance of a carnival party, and even more delighted¡ª


    After all, this was an intrasquad game. Whether dealing with the palm or the back of one¡¯s hand, it¡¯s all one¡¯s flesh. To the residents, rather than the outcome, they were more eager to see their children step onto the field.


    So.


    This was a party, with beer, popcorn, horns, jerseys, and cheering sticks, all present. The town had descended into a frenzy much earlier on.


    "Fight! Fight! Fight!


    Remember the Rose Bowl, and we shall be crowned!


    Aim for victory, full speed ahead!


    You are the pride of Dixie Football, Crimson Tide Storm, let the tidal roar! Roar!"


    The singing hovered over Bryant Denny Stadium, and the power of thousands singing in unison pulsed through the air, raising wave upon wave of heat.


    Incredible¡ª


    Was this really just an intrasquad scrimmage?


    Standing by the field and looking up around the stands, filled to the brim as far as the eye could see, were countless faces beaming with happiness and excitement, vigorously waving all sorts of cheering items¡ªthe sea of red jerseys transforming into a Crimson Tide.


    This was the power of home turf.


    And involuntarily, it set the heart surging, the blood boiling.


    The match hadn¡¯t even started yet, but one could already feel this wave of heat, silently becoming one of the many spectators in the stands, then contributing their own voice, amalgamating into the stadium¡¯s presence.


    In reality, a practice game was still just that, a practice game. The stadium wasn¡¯t completely filled¡ªa seat capacity of a hundred thousand had about seventy thousand seated¡ªbut the view was packed tight, making the air itself feel crowded.


    The starters, taking the offense.


    The reserves, beginning to defend.


    Since it was a practice game, neither starters nor reserves were assigned coaches to set up strategies; it was all up to the players themselves.


    In official games, pre-match strategy is the job of the head coach, but calling strategies on the spot according to the changing circumstances is not necessarily so.


    In most teams, the head coach calls the strategies, but they also specialize in either offense or defense based on their strengths, and it¡¯s rare for a head coach to be responsible for calling both offensive and defensive plays.


    Because the team also has specialized offensive and defensive coaches to assist the head coach in making strategic calls on the field.


    There are also a few teams where the head coach does not call strategies on the field, leaving it entirely up to the offensive and defensive coaches to perform their respective duties.


    The core reason is that strategies are complex and the game is ever-changing, just like in battle, where a general also relies on different talents among his subordinates.


    Today, Saban would not call the plays; it was a test of the players¡¯ understanding and application of tactics, and more importantly, it was a test of the results of the spring training camp.


    The starting team¡¯s first offensive attempt was to no avail. They only managed to get a first down, then found themselves at a loss, unable to cope with the pressing pressure of the defensive group in the front field.


    At the University of Alabama Crimson Tide Storm, the offense is strong, but the defense is even stronger. As a player, head coach Saban was a defensive back, that is, safety/cornerback, and he has always had his own understanding of defense.


    And the offense?


    Saban is not a coach who excels at developing quarterbacks, thus he relies heavily on Burns, using the ground game to break open the situation, which then opens up the entire set of offensive plays, solid in tactics and grounded in practicality.


    No wonder, since 2007, despite the University of Alabama¡¯s outstanding achievements, there hasn¡¯t been a single quarterback worth mentioning, while the position of running back has been continuously supplying talent; of course, even more so for the defensive group.


    Right from the start, the reserve team¡¯s defensive group gave the young Hertz a good lesson¡ª


    A practice game and practice may seem similar, but the intensity is entirely different.


    This rookie, who hadn¡¯t even graduated high school, was still a bit too green after just the spring training camp and had not fully adapted to the intensity of NCAA football.


    Unable to find a target in the fully blocked short-pass area, he panicked instantly, unable to accurately decode the defensive layout to find openings for passing.


    As a result, his passes were too slow, which put tremendous pressure on his offensive line, repeatedly being breached and giving the increasingly aggressive defensive group the opportunity, leading to a failed offense in all three downs.


    Helplessly, on fourth down, the starting team couldn¡¯t afford to take the risk, and chose to punt.


    What did this mean?


    The ball possession shifted to the reserve team¡¯s side, and Li Wei, along with his fellow reserve team members, took the field.

 Chapter 20: 020 Sharpening knives vigorously

    The so-called punt is where the special duty group¡¯s punter of the offensive team directly kicks the football out, forcefully kicking the ball; while the special duty group of the defensive team prepares to catch the ball on the other half of the field.


    After the defensive player catches the football, they can continue to advance forward, which is called a "return."


    The offensive special duty group must stop this receiver because the position where the receiver¡¯s knee touches the ground will then be the starting point for the opponent¡¯s offensive group when they take the field.


    The most spectacular punt can pin the opponent¡¯s starting point at the one-yard line of the opposite end zone.


    The worst punt allows the opponent¡¯s returner to traverse the entire field unimpeded and reach their own end zone to score a touchdown, which is called a "return touchdown."


    Of course, there are other scenarios for punting.


    When the punter kicks off powerfully, either kicking the ball directly out of bounds, or flying out of the back of the opposite end zone, or falling inside the opposite end zone, the result is the same:


    The opponent¡¯s offensive group will automatically start their offense from their own twenty-five-yard line, which is called the "standard offensive starting position."


    In the past, the standard offensive starting position was at one¡¯s own twenty-yard line, but starting from 2016, the league changed the rules, moving it forward five yards to the twenty-five-yard line, so the NCAA also adjusted the rules accordingly.


    Just now,


    The main team failed on all three offensive attempts, ending up near their own thirty-five-yard line, and in order to avoid a failed fourth-down attempt giving the substitute team a closer offensive position to their own end zone, they could only choose to punt.


    The main team¡¯s football was directly kicked out of the back of the end zone, which means that the substitute team will start from their own twenty-five-yard line.


    Roar!


    Roar, roar, roar!


    Though the game had just started, Bryant Denny Stadium was already able to deeply feel the surge of the crowd, with fans cheering not only for the main team but also for the substitute team¡ª


    Who knows? Perhaps when the new season starts in September, someone from the substitute team might make it into the main lineup?


    Li Wei took the field.


    It was different.


    It was truly different.


    Li Wei, who had always been accustomed to fighting alone, could immediately sense the imposing presence of the field, a starkly different experience.


    This was "merely" the power of seventy thousand people; one could only imagine what a grand and imposing sight it would be if a stadium filled with a hundred thousand was fully seated?


    Just thinking about it made his blood boil with excitement.


    "Haha." Allen and the others around him burst into laughter.


    Allen, indeed, needed to be cautious, but Li Wei¡¯s attention was all on another person¡ª


    Number ten.


    To be precise, Reuben Foster.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t remember his name, but he remembered that this ordinary number ten was the linebacker from the tryouts, who initially didn¡¯t seem special, but within just three weeks of training, Li Wei realized Foster¡¯s excellence.


    Low-key. Focused. Serious. Steady.


    Although Foster was usually silent, he was also one of the captains of the defensive group, and moreover, the linebacker position was akin to the quarterback for the defensive group.


    In terms of positions, linebacker and quarterback were mirror positions, the linebacker was also a position in the defensive group with a built-in headset inside the helmet, responsible for communicating with the defensive coordinator, observing the offensive group¡¯s layout and making judgments, and if necessary, he might adjust the defensive tactics¡ª


    Though not frequently. After all, the initiative was held by the offensive group, and the defensive group was mostly reactive.


    Foster¡¯s strength lay in his calmness, and he had his own ideas for tactical layouts.


    Furthermore, the linebacker was the real natural enemy of the running back.


    The defensive setup for Crimson Tide Storm was a "3-4," which meant a setup of four linebackers, and Saban had his strengths in coaching linebackers.


    At this moment, Foster wasn¡¯t particularly focusing on Li Wei, but Li Wei could feel the attention from the number ten, a hint of murderous intent locking onto him.


    The fighting spirit and combativeness were already aflame.


    Apparently, not just Allen, Foster had also quietly targeted Li Wei.


    Turning his gaze away, Li Wei looked towards Beteman, whose eyes betrayed a touch of uncertainty, thinking he couldn¡¯t really blame Allen and Foster for being cautious, as they were all from the same team, all too familiar with each other¡¯s strengths and weaknesses.


    Besides, they had been sharpening their knives eagerly for three full weeks.


    It was time.


    Li Wei took a deep breath, looking at Beteman.


    "Okay."


    Without hesitation, he agreed bravely to face the challenge¡ª


    Ready to tackle it head-on!

 Chapter 21: 021 Breaking out of Chaos

    Li Wei met Beteman¡¯s gaze, his eyes shining with determination.


    "The main team thinks they can easily suppress us. They are the privileged, they have bright futures, and their careers are full of promise."


    "But they forget that this is competitive sports where anything is possible. Until the game is over, the outcome must always be questioned; this is football, a sport that relies on the power of unity to determine its course."


    "Yes, perhaps their individual skills are superior to ours, but in terms of understanding tactics and studying opponents, we may not necessarily be at a disadvantage. This is the key to changing the game."


    "Hey, Batman, since it started, we have to see it through to the end. Maybe we can¡¯t make it to the professional arena, maybe we don¡¯t even stand a chance, but this is our youth, our life, and we should be the ones to write its ending."


    "Whether to choose to dwell in sadness and bitterness, hesitating, or to choose to burn brightly without reservations and without regrets, the choice is in our hands."


    "So, let¡¯s truly enjoy it."


    Li Wei extended his right hand.


    Beteman felt a surge of passion. He had almost given up, running alone without seeing any goals or direction, and even began to question the meaning of continuing to practice and strive in his senior year.


    But now, he knew.


    Maybe, he was just seeking an ending for himself, to put a period at the end of his youth, then say goodbye to football and face new challenges in life.


    So, this practice match was his last stage to shine unreservedly.


    Beteman looked at Li Wei and placed his right hand on top, his smile blossoming.


    One hand, two hands, soon, eleven hands were all stacked together, shouting in unison.


    "Roar! Roar! Crimson Tide Roar!"


    The fighting spirit was high.


    Then.


    Li Wei pulled Beteman aside and lowered his voice, "They¡¯re all watching me now, almost everyone believes we¡¯ll definitely start with a running play."


    After all, they were the Crimson Tide Storm, and just like the main team, Jacobs had started with a running play, but it hadn¡¯t worked well because they were too familiar with each other, using the same playbook, the defensive group had seen through it right away.


    Beteman was stunned, "What should we do?"


    Li Wei laughed, "You¡¯re the quarterback, you should be asking yourself that."


    Beteman was a bit sheepish.


    Li Wei patted his shoulder, "Fake a pass and really run. You need to trust yourself. After the ball is snapped, make a quick short pass gesture to catch them off guard, then you decide on the spot. If there¡¯s a chance, don¡¯t hesitate and just go for it; if not, don¡¯t panic, I¡¯ll appear on the right side, and you can just toss it to me."


    The handoff between the quarterback and the running back doesn¡¯t always need to be hand-to-hand; sometimes it can be a short lob over some distance. This is a fundamental aspect of a diversified offensive strategy.


    After all, if the running back always immediately takes the football from the quarterback¡¯s hands, the defensive group¡¯s judgment and response become much more straightforward; they wouldn¡¯t need to worry about the wide receivers and could simply shut down the running back.


    Maybe even less than half a second.


    Beteman turned around, with no time to carefully find a passing target in his haste, took a quick glance and then turned his gaze toward Li Wei.


    Li Wei: Oh no.


    From the corner of his eye, he captured the immediate change in Allen¡¯s expression and movements.


    Beteman¡¯s feint was too superficial, hastily executed; the quick turn and direction of his gaze betrayed his intentions, Allen, intensely focused, immediately picked up on the slightest hint despite facing some obstruction, his second reaction was very fast¡ª


    Li Wei.


    The killing intent from Allen, firmly locking on Li Wei.


    Li Wei was waiting for Beteman, his speed not fully unleashed, taking small adjusting steps, though he noticed Allen, he had no time left to change the tactic.


    A pause, a turn.


    Li Wei stood on the midpoint of the right side of the field, looking toward Beteman, who tossed the football to him; Li Wei smoothly caught the football into his arms.


    A thrust.


    Power, ignition, the strength of his calf muscles fully unleashed, with a burst of energy pushing off the ground to propel his body forward.


    Ahead, the narrowing gap was chaotic and crowded.


    But through Li Wei¡¯s eyes, he could see a fleeting gap.


    Ignition, acceleration, exertion¡ª


    On his left, he could see a figure stumbling and sprawling with open arms, lunging towards him.


    It was Allen.


    Li Wei was both calm and composed.


    A step, lunging forward.


    A step, thrusting off the ground.


    Watching as Allen¡¯s figure enlarged in his pupils, then Li Wei had already used the momentum of his run-up to leap into the air.


    A jump.


    Soaring!


    Allen was dumbfounded, watching as Li Wei entered within his grappling range, but the next second Li Wei made a vertical leap, escaping the grappling crisis.


    Damn.

 Chapter 22: 022 A sensational success

    Li Wei, very calm, immediately noticed Allen¡¯s unstable center of gravity, for the substitute offensive line had been charging to the right all along. Even if they hadn¡¯t locked down every position precisely, that line of players continued to ram forward like a train, unreasonably disrupting Allen¡¯s balance.


    Allen¡¯s second reaction was prompt and quick, but when he lunged at Li Wei, his center of gravity was still unstable and off-balance, with his body leaning forward too quickly. The brief moment of vulnerability became a breakthrough opportunity.


    Start running, sprint, take off.


    With the posture of a hurdler, Li Wei leaped into the air with a light and agile bound.


    Allen dove low, and though he flailed with all his might above his head, he failed to grasp anything, swiping at empty air.


    Whoosh.


    A gust of wind.


    Allen hit the ground.


    Above and below, a misalignment.


    Li Wei had already completed the breakthrough.


    Gasps.


    Exclamations echoed as Bryant Denny Stadium, unprepared for such a scene, collectively gasped, shocked and dumbfounded.


    Li Wei, landing.


    His steps light as a cheetah; at this moment, his weight became an advantage. Although he looked slimmer than Beteman, he gained the advantage of agility, forging a path through a tear in the defense.


    Step.


    A push-off, a leap.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t hesitate. He crouched his knees to cushion the force of the jump, then surged forward without pause.


    In his peripheral vision, he could see Cornerback Humphrey attempting to move forward to defend, but his steps were blocked by a substitute team player in the white away jerseys.


    It must be a Wide Receiver.


    This provided Li Wei with precious space because on his left side he could see the massive "train" that had disrupted Allen¡¯s balance, and now the entangled train of the offensive and defensive groups was headed straight for Li Wei.


    Calmness.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t speed up; instead, he slowed his steps, weaving through the clash of offense and defense, spinning through the red and white tangle, as if entering a bullet-time state, looking for an opportunity to the right among the narrow spaces in close quarters¡ª


    Humphrey was tied up, leaving a small gap on the right side.


    If Li Wei could break through first, the field behind him would be wide open.


    But then.


    Foster appeared.


    Composed, yet decisively lethal.


    He tried to shake off the substitute Tight End Hale Hentges, who was attempting to block him, keeping his eyes fixed unwaveringly on the figure before him.


    Unstoppable.


    Hentges was putting in great effort, but he had to avoid fouling; he couldn¡¯t hold or hit. That¡¯s when Foster showcased the abilities of a main lineman and joint team captain, with a misstep and a sudden burst of speed.


    A flash.


    But now?


    Damn it!


    He was played again.


    What differed this time was that Foster was mentally prepared, and though flustered, he hadn¡¯t collapsed. He clutched Li Wei¡¯s left arm like a lifeline to keep his balance and then clung to Li Wei¡¯s arm, refusing to be thrown off.


    Pull. Pull, pull, pull.


    Foster turned himself into a tire, dragging down Li Wei¡¯s speed.


    One more moment, just one moment longer and the other defensive players could close in.


    Li Wei also realized the imminent danger, as a sea of red swarmed around him in his vision¡ª


    He made a split-second decision.


    For the second time, the Straight Arm Block.


    A push, a hammer.


    Strength, fully unleashed.


    Foster: Ugh.


    Accompanied by a muffled grunt, Foster crumbled, the entire world spinning around him.


    The entire stadium gasped.


    Li Wei had broken free.


    Li Wei had actually exerted his strength twice in a row to forcefully escape Foster¡¯s clutches, winning space again, restarting, and preparing to sprint.


    One step. Two steps.


    He had just taken two steps when he saw another lineman lunging at him, desperately trying to cut him off at an angle. It seemed inevitable that he would be tackled by Li Wei.


    In the nick of time, Li Wei came to an emergency stop, a quick sidestep, and watched as the lineman flashed by in front of him like a gust of wind.


    However, Li Wei¡¯s feet did not stop. He continued charging forward along the left side, a stop, a change of direction, his calves propelling his body forward swiftly.


    Breakaway!


    Burst through!


    Blink, and you might miss this moment.


    Thus.


    It was an open field ahead.


    The entire stadium stood frozen in disbelief, watching as Li Wei forcibly cut through the thicket, breaking free from the melee, shaking off embrace after embrace three times in succession, and single-handedly turning the defensive group¡¯s line upside down by his own strength.


    Then¡ª


    The figure wearing jersey number twenty-three burst forth like the tip of an arrow.


    Rip.


    The defensive line, torn open.

 Chapter 23: 023 Charge straight in

    Twisting and twirling, dancing gracefully¡ª


    Light and nimble footsteps move freely amid the chaotic battle, the elegant dance unstoppable even amidst the fiercest flames.


    A leap, a confrontation, a change in direction.


    All of it happens in just a few seconds, the oxygen barely processed in the lungs before the blade is drawn.


    Sharp as a dagger.


    Number twenty-three breaks out from the disarray, leaving the surging heat waves far behind, and then, Li Wei fully accelerates.


    Stomp.


    Power up.


    Take off.


    Only now is the speed completely unleashed without any reservations.


    But!


    Having encountered too many impacts and obstructions in the dense formation, with a shaky center of gravity and disordered breathing, the start is slightly slower, and two red figures loom like a storm, rapidly closing in from both sides.


    What to do?


    In the midst of the tumult, Li Wei makes a snap decision and pushes off with his left leg, pivoting to the right.


    Amid the chaos and jolting impacts, he continues to push off the ground, the power from the depths of his Dantian erupting from below, casting off the red figure to the left and cutting to the outside of the red figure to the right¡ªthat is, the narrow passage between him and the sidelines¡ªaccelerating all out.


    Stomp.


    With a burst, Li Wei can see Jackson¡¯s face enlarging in his pupils, the cost of shaking off another player is a head-on collision with Jackson.


    But Li Wei doesn¡¯t panic.


    Stomp.


    As Li Wei is about to use his speed to forcefully overtake, Jackson makes his move, lunging forward a step earlier¡ª


    Arms outstretched, attempting a grab,


    And secures a solid embrace, "Got him," Jackson thinks with joy.


    However, before the joy can rise to his heart, Jackson feels a force smash down upon him.


    Li Wei is moving forward.


    Not just charging, but the instantly erupting force hits Jackson head-on, continuously driving him back and forcing him into a panicked retreat. Jackson tries to plant his legs to brake urgently, but Li Wei¡¯s sudden burst of power prevails.


    Ah!


    Like a bulldozer.


    Even though strength is not Li Wei¡¯s forte, it isn¡¯t Jackson¡¯s either. They are similar in height and build, and Li Wei takes the lead with speed and positioning. He catches Jackson off-guard in the moment of his tackle, counteracting with a frontal collision that sends Jackson staggering from his own force.


    Ah, ah, ah!


    Li Wei seizes the opportunity and continues to push forward.


    "A race for speed!"


    "Number twenty-three and Harrison are side by side in a race for speed, Harrison is closing in strongly, showing an excellent burst of energy, visibly narrowing the gap between them."


    "Thirty yards!"


    "Harrison, oh, Harrison! Humphrey is also closing in!"


    "Thirty-five yards!"


    "What? What!"


    "Number twenty-three is accelerating, he¡¯s reached his top speed, Harrison can¡¯t keep up, he¡¯s falling behind, unable to close the distance that hadn¡¯t been completely narrowed, now only Humphrey is left."


    "Humphrey just got tangled up, but after breaking free, he¡¯s chasing with all his might."


    "God!"


    "Forty-five yards! Fifty yards!"


    "Number twenty-three is running faster and faster, Humphrey can only barely keep up, unable to close the gap, with only an arm¡¯s length space between them."


    "Humphrey is accelerating, Humphrey is pushing hard to speed up, closer now, even closer."


    "Opportunity!"


    "This is the opportunity!"


    "Humphrey goes for a diving tackle, putting all his eggs in one basket."


    "Beautiful!"


    "Number twenty-three high-steps, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, noticing Humphrey¡¯s desperate lunge, he evades the tackle with a high step."


    "Eluding!"


    "Humphrey was so close, just a hair away, but a hair¡¯s breadth away from success, he came up short."


    "No one can stop him now, no one! Dusting the competition! Breaking away!"


    "End zone!"


    "Touchdown!"


    "A seventy-five-yard rushing touchdown, unbelievable! Incredible! An entire seventy-five yards, having shed a total of five tackles, breaking through the encirclement."


    "The White Team scores the first points with a seventy-five-yard ground rush into the end zone, wow! Unbelievable!"


    Pash was just tingling with excitement, unable to control himself any longer, he stood up from his seat, erupting with joy like a volcano.


    "Who is he, number twenty-three, who is he really?"


    In the end zone, Li Wei finally stopped running, panting heavily, his face flushed, but turning around to see the chaos and devastation he left behind, a smile crept across his lips¡ª


    That wreckage was his accomplishment.


    Then, raising his hands high, he shot straight up into the sky.


    It is the official touchdown gesture in football, mimicking the goalpost¡¯s forks, arms straight out and facing up to the sky, signaling a successful touchdown.


    The Bryant Denny Stadium went mad, completely insane; without any mental preparation, the first climax set off the Crimson Tide Storm.

 Chapter 24: 024 First to reach the end zone

    Touchdown!


    Touchdown!


    Touchdown!


    The entire stadium erupted into frenzy. They were not yet mentally prepared, yet the touchdown had already come, from the reserve team, and in such a way; it was the familiar recipe of the Crimson Tide Storm, an unexpected surprise catching everyone off guard.


    The entire place was boiling over.


    Li Wei stood still, a smile crawling over his lips, so this was the taste of scoring a touchdown, so sudden, so thrilling, he felt he might get addicted to it.


    Why not score a few more?


    "Li Wei, aaah!"


    "Touchdown!"


    One by one, the reserve offensive group members who had just walked shoulder to shoulder with Li Wei, helping clear the blocks, swarmed over, enveloping Li Wei in their midst.


    Even Beteman was no exception.


    Normally, a quarterback would patiently stand in the pocket and watch the chaos ahead, but he couldn¡¯t contain his excitement and followed the offensive line in the charge.


    Li Wei looked at Beteman¡¯s face, so overjoyed he was speechless, and bumped him hard on the shoulder, "How about it, are you ready now?"


    Beteman touched his helmet and laughed sheepishly, "Ready."


    On the edge of the field, Burns couldn¡¯t hold back either, throwing his arms up in the air, and then clenching his fists, shouting, "Well done, well done, well done," in passionate celebration.


    Turning around, Burns saw Saban with a smile but a hint of helplessness, "Burns, is this really okay? The kids are watching."


    Burns curled his lip, "A little excitement is good. The Red Team¡¯s offense didn¡¯t come through, they need to learn from the White Team¡¯s spirit."


    Saban took a deep look at the field, as Li Wei and Allen exchanged a gaze. Even without any special movement, the tension of strong forces clashing already filled the air, "Who do you think planned that last offensive play for the White Team?"


    "Beteman, who else?" Burns said as if it were obvious.


    Li Wei continued his impressive performance, but relying solely on him proved ineffective. Ultimately, the Achilles¡¯ heel was quarterback Beteman¡¯s lack of precision in clutch passing situations. Without the ability to open up the game through passing, they resorted to ground attacks again and again, only to metaphorically run into a wall¡ª


    Because the opponents knew that Beteman¡¯s passing couldn¡¯t break through, they correctly guessed a ground attack was likely. The defensive group¡¯s strategy then became much simpler, just needing to crowd the short-pass area and the front line.


    A numbers game in football can be a decisive advantage.


    Hertz performed mediocrely under pressure while Beteman fared even worse.


    Li Wei... shouldering the team¡¯s offense alone meant he couldn¡¯t go far. After all, the opponents were the main team, and the main team¡¯s absolute strength eventually suppressed the substitutes.


    Nevertheless, Li Wei still shone in this game, with a total ground advance of two hundred yards. Even after deducting the seventy-five yards from the first long run, he still easily broke past the one-hundred-yard mark, securing nine first downs for the White Team¡¯s offensive group with his exceptional performance.


    Unfortunately, the standoff between the two teams continued¡ª


    At this point, one could see the shortcomings of NCAA football, where tactics are not as varied. Without the guidance of a coach, the players have too few options, which leads them to repeatedly hit the same wall.


    And Li Wei?


    Smart as he was, his study of football had been a mere three weeks, and much of his knowledge was still at a beginner¡¯s level, so he had no immediate solutions.


    Then, amidst the standoff, Hertz finally brought out his talent, alternatively pushing on the ground himself and making consecutive short passes to open up the play. Somehow, he managed to cross midfield through a series of stumbles.


    In the end, the White Team¡¯s defensive group narrowly intercepted Hertz near their own twenty-five-yard line, but the Red Team¡¯s Special Duty Group easily kicked a field goal, putting the main team on the scoreboard at last.


    "3:7".


    They had finally broken the deadlock.


    The Red Team¡¯s morale soared with ample time left in the game. If Hertz could maintain his performance, they still had a chance.


    Ah!


    Hertz finally let out a roar, showing the fearlessness of a green cow, proving with his actions that there was a reason he could serve as the main quarterback.


    The air was ablaze.


    Li Wei immediately felt the shift in the atmosphere; although the main team had only scored a field goal, it shouldn¡¯t be forgotten that the substitute team¡¯s offense had also been hitting a wall. Now, with the main team¡¯s momentum rising, the dazzling red sea seemed to turn into their energy.


    The crisis was subtly creeping in.

 Chapter 25: 025 Steady and Steadfast

    Fury! Roar!


    Fury! Roar!


    The voices of seventy thousand people lingered in the air above Bryant Denny Stadium for a long time. Although Li Wei knew that the Crimson Tide in front of him wasn¡¯t their enemy, merely glancing at his own white jersey made him feel the layers of pressure pouring down, making him feel incredibly small.


    However, it was precisely because of this that a sense of pride surged within him.


    A storm, what of it?


    Let the storm rage fiercer then!


    The more difficult it got, the calmer he became, the more dangerous, the more exhilarated he felt, and Li Wei¡¯s thought process became clearer. Then he realized he had been too hasty.


    Because the first drive was too seamless and straightforward, and given that there had been no real challenge in spring training camps, Li Wei had been overly assumptive. Although he continuously emphasized that Football was a team sport, he hadn¡¯t fully realized the pressure and impact brought about by a united Defensive group.


    Naturally, he appeared too eager for quick results, always desiring significant yardage.


    But Clark had told Li Wei that a running back¡¯s ground advancement always faced numerous difficulties, gaining a yard or two was normal, and getting tackled behind the line of scrimmage, losing yards was also common, which would be negative one yard or negative two yards. Therefore, the average yardage gain for a running back was typically three to four yards.


    If they could surpass five yards, they were among the elite of the elite.


    In other words, small yardages were normal, and fierce head-to-head collisions were commonplace.


    The mindset needed a slight adjustment.


    "Hey, Batman, are you ready? It¡¯s our turn to go on."


    Beteman lacked confidence and was somewhat parched. Now that the starting team had burst with energy and displayed their true strength, while the whole stadium was cheering them on, could they possibly not stop the starters¡¯ momentum?


    Hearing Li Wei¡¯s words, Beteman turned to look and instantly saw Li Wei¡¯s bright eyes and calm smile, exuding a confident and easy aura from within, which made him involuntarily swallow his saliva.


    Li Wei met Beteman¡¯s gaze, "This time, we fake a run and go for a real pass, how about that?"


    Beteman blinked; although he lacked confidence, looking into Li Wei¡¯s eyes, he replied, "Alright."


    Li Wei noticed Beteman¡¯s uncertainty, revealed a big smile, and stretched lazily, "Hey, buddy, you¡¯re not fighting alone."


    Beteman felt a bit more at ease.


    Then, the White Team¡¯s Offensive group took the field.


    At the twenty-five-yard line.


    First down.


    Besides, this was a passing offense.


    Just as the Red Team found their unstable footing, they immediately settled down, while the White Team also found some focus.


    Beteman exhaled softly and high-fived Li Wei to celebrate.


    Perhaps some might wonder, why not focus on passing when a single pass can move thirty or fifty yards, while a running attempt might make a sluggish three to five yards?


    In today¡¯s NFL, passing offenses are increasingly valued, yet the truly smart top coaches still won¡¯t overlook ground attacks.


    That¡¯s the reason.


    Depending on the running game to restrain the Defensive group, so as to create opportunities for passing; conversely, depending on passing offenses to disrupt the Defensive group¡¯s layout, thus opening spaces for ground advancement.


    Balanced pass-run.


    That is the correct way to initiate offense; otherwise, relying solely on passing or running would face considerable difficulties in football matches.


    This short pass, although it did not secure a first down, had opened up new avenues in the passing game, necessitating a slight adjustment in the Red Team¡¯s defensive judgment and setup.


    Beteman quietly eyed the opposing Defensive group, trying to discern Allen and number ten Foster¡¯s tactical intentions, but it didn¡¯t yield much as they still followed the original pattern. So, how should their next offensive tactic be arranged?


    Returning his gaze to Li Wei, Beteman then saw a warrior¡¯s resolve in Li Wei¡¯s eyes.


    Unspoken understanding.


    As a quarterback, though lacking creativity, Beteman¡¯s reservoir of tactics within the framework was still adequate. He promptly called the Offensive group together, quickly finalizing the tactical setup before the forty-second countdown ended¡ª


    Ready to proceed.


    Li Wei, standing behind Beteman, couldn¡¯t actually see anything in front of him other than Beteman¡¯s back, but similarly, the Defensive group couldn¡¯t see Li Wei, thus could not predict his next move.


    Attention intensely focused.


    "Attack!"


    Upon hearing the command, Li Wei propelled forward along a straight line towards Beteman¡¯s position without hesitation.


    As they were about to collide, Beteman stepped aside to the left, ball in his right hand, extended flat, passing the football to Li Wei.


    Li Wei smoothly secured the football and continued his full-speed charge straight ahead without stopping or slowing down.


    The Offensive line ahead, in perfect synergy, pushed the Defensive line aside, creating a path that opened up like the Red Sea parting for Moses, straight and clear.


    The gates were wide open!

 Chapter 26: 026 A game

    Running back or quarterback, their outstanding performances are always indebted to a stellar offensive line.


    In a football game, the offensive line is responsible for protection and for clearing the path. Their blocking shields intercept the enemy¡¯s first wave of assault, thereby creating opportunities for the running back and quarterback.


    Thus, when evaluating the performance of running backs and quarterbacks, one can never ignore the role of the offensive line:


    If there is a top-tier offensive line, a running back or quarterback scoring 60 points turning in an 80-point performance is not unexpected. Their evaluation requires discounting.


    Conversely, if they face a badly perforated offensive line, and a 60-point running back or quarterback turns in an 80-point performance, it¡¯s considered a miracle. That means they are carrying the entire offensive group forward.


    The Crimson Tide Storm has a decent offensive line; although not top-tier, it¡¯s among the first tier in the NCAA, which is why their running back frequently gains ground.


    At that moment, it was the same.


    Beteman set the tactics: the running back was to break through the middle, that is, to advance from the heart of the defensive group¡¯s territory. Relying solely on the running back¡¯s physical collision was an impossible mission as he would quickly get stuck in a melee; the running back needed the offensive line to clear the way and provide cover.


    The Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s offensive line did just that ¡ª


    Whoosh.


    The five offensive linemen, like pushing open a thousand-pound gate, split to the left and right, forcibly pushing back the opposing defensive line.


    Then, a fine, straight path appeared before Li Wei.


    Li Wei, feet pushing off, burst forth in an instant, dashing out rapidly, crossing the scrimmage line in just two or three steps.


    Whoosh!


    A step forward, sideways charge, embodying the mode of a bulldozer forcefully advancing.


    In a football game, the middle path is often the area heavily packed with troops. If a running back chooses to advance through the middle, it¡¯s about forcefully pushing through using strength and body. Though clumsy, it could lead to surprising effects¡ª


    Especially when advancing one or two yards, jokingly referred to as "plowing one yard," like a pig foraging through cabbages.


    Li Wei wasn¡¯t a power-type running back; his routes typically focused more on flanking or even the sidelines, using his vision and explosive power to find breakthroughs. But for this reason, this play was about bucking the stereotypical expectation and seeking a breakthrough in the middle.


    From the start, the goal was clear¡ª


    Don¡¯t be greedy. Just two yards was sufficient, just to secure the first down, then they could continue their strategy, steadily and systematically proceeding.


    Feet on the ground.


    Thus, Li Wei was prepared.


    He knew overpowering strength wasn¡¯t his forte, so from the start, he bent over, tucked in his shoulders, adopting a defensive posture to withstand the impact, facing the difficulty head-on, pushing past the scrimmage line and continuing forward.


    One yard.


    Two yards.


    That is, a swift glance; positions of the crimson shadows entered his view, faces unclear but still able to depict the moving trends of the red halos, Li Wei¡¯s brain quickly kicked into gear, seizing the spatial aspect¡ª


    To the right side horizontally, Foster was approaching.


    To the frontal left diagonally, another lineman rapidly returning starts a fast cross-cut.


    To the rear right diagonally, an unclear defensive lineman was turning around.


    To the rear left side, the lineman he had just knocked open was attempting to pull at Li Wei, risking the penalty of holding to prevent Li Wei from getting away easily.


    Directly in front, two safeties were approaching, with Strong Safety Harrison leading.


    Behind, out of sight yet still sensible, a wave of heat and pressure crashed against his back like a massive wave, skin burning.


    Surrounded by adversaries, ambushed from all sides.


    But it was not unexpected, this is what one encounters when advancing through the middle.


    So, what would NFL legend running back, Adrian Peterson, do at this time?


    Three weeks of celebrity template training experience, making Li Wei exceptionally calm, judgment and choice made in a flash¡ª


    Since the first attack was already secured, why not let them play around a bit, right?


    A smile, crept up the corners of his mouth.


    He could taste a hint of blood, adrenaline bursting and blossoming in his blood, the game had begun.


    All of it, just a moment in his mind, he hadn¡¯t even had time to breathe out, and Li Wei¡¯s steps had already controlled themselves.


    Forward one step, but not merely a casual step, it was to the left then circling and finally to the right, like a waltz step, maneuvering past the lineman on the rear left diagonal and then past Foster on the horizontal right, finishing at the spot right behind that earlier lineman.


    A loop around.


    Treat that poor lineman as a pillar, just now Li Wei was in front of the pillar, now escaping Foster¡¯s dive, he moved behind the pillar.


    It looked simple, yet complicated.


    It looked flashy, yet clean.


    Foster¡¯s eyes, hidden behind his helmet, widened nearly popping out¡ª


    How... what happened?


    He hadn¡¯t anticipated Li Wei breaking through the middle, nor did he expect Li Wei¡¯s advanced dodging skills, completely treating the two linemen as if they were playing monkey in the middle.


    ESPN commentator Pash revealed the truth.


    "Adrian Peterson!"

 Chapter 27: 027 One falls, another rises

    ESPN commentator Pash was searching for his jaw as pieces of his glasses scattered across the table.


    It goes without saying that Adrian Peterson of the NFL Minnesota Vikings, a running back, is exceptional. Though he hasn¡¯t retired, he had already secured a spot in the Hall of Fame and even possessed the qualifications to compete for the title of greatest running back in history.


    There are running backs with different styles and types, but Peterson belongs to one category:


    Sudden bursts and sharp changes of direction.


    This was Peterson¡¯s forte; he excelled at using his explosiveness and agility in tight spaces to shake off defenders, create mismatches, and then break away to regain ground.


    Peterson was not afraid of confrontation, nor did he fear gang-tackling.


    His ability to stay calm amidst tight defenses, meticulously interpret the situation, and find a route to tear through the defense ranked among the very best in NFL history.


    He was a player who perfectly combined personal talent and game intelligence, and his 2012 regular season MVP was well-deserved.


    This was also why people were willing to consider Peterson among the greatest running backs in history¡ªhe could change the game without needing the offensive line¡¯s protection.


    Once in a decade, or even once in half a century.


    Until now, the league had seen many rookies modeled after Peterson, but none had reached his height.


    And now?


    Pash doubted his eyes; he really didn¡¯t want to jump to conclusions too hastily, but this number twenty-three, seemed to possibly...


    Really feel a bit like Peterson.


    A dodge, a shake, a twist.


    Such complex and advanced technical moves, yet Li Wei executed them fluidly, not only shaking off Foster¡¯s grasp but also creating a gap, and finally using that lineman as a shield to block the approaching defensive line players.


    Done in one go!


    Then, he burst forward.


    His steps moved forward along the left side, but he had only taken one step before he changed direction¡ª


    One dive.


    Two dives.


    Three dives.


    It was at that moment, Li Wei shook off tackles coming from the front-left diagonal, back-left diagonal, and back-right diagonal.


    The pairs of arms, like ghosts from hell, lunged at Li Wei, but were shaken off by his quick double change of direction, missing entirely.


    However.


    Thump.


    Fourth dive¡ª


    In the midst of concentrated gang-tackling, Li Wei¡¯s space was ultimately too limited, and he finally felt a heavy hit to his shoulder.


    It was Foster.


    Foster clenched his teeth, used his left leg for support, forcibly turned and stepped up, spinning incredibly like a ballet dancer, his right hand reaching out to the limit and harshly pulling down.


    Caught!


    Foster grabbed Li Wei¡¯s shoulder, and the explosive power and body weight rapidly dragged Li Wei down, like a falling mountain.


    Ah, ah, ah!


    At that moment, Li Wei still hadn¡¯t stabilized his center of gravity and couldn¡¯t muster the strength to counter, so he simply took a step forward, slightly distancing himself from the entanglement behind, then stopped in front of Robinson¡ª


    Dodge left.


    Swing right.


    The center of gravity, continuously shifting amidst the turbulence, confused Robinson¡¯s judgment.


    Robinson moved forward while swaying and then, seizing the right moment, lunged.


    Right side!


    That meant Li Wei¡¯s left side, but Li Wei merely paused on the left just as Robinson launched, then his feet shifted, and he surged toward the right.


    Change direction!


    The split-second ability to change direction, the ultimate control of tightly tensed muscles, utterly outmaneuvered Robinson, creating a misalignment.


    Calm. Composed. Alert.


    And with that, Li Wei had already shaken off Robinson.


    "God!"


    Pash was left speechless.


    "Robinson has missed!"


    "Robinson¡¯s sure tackle astonishingly missed, as number twenty-three used a pendulum-like maneuver to shake off Robinson¡¯s grab."


    "Alert! Red Team¡¯s alert."


    "Foster, Foster is still not giving up, miraculously catching up even after losing balance, charging towards Li Wei¡¯s back."


    Wave after wave.


    A continuous onslaught.


    The assault from the Defensive group never ceased.


    "Oh!"


    "Jesus Christ!"


    "Foster¡¯s full body weight crashed into number twenty-three¡¯s back, Foster went all in, clenching his teeth and making a desperate attempt to stop number twenty-three."


    "It was a collision, akin to that of a freight truck."


    "Number twenty-three was sent flying."


    "God!"


    Pash himself didn¡¯t realize it, but his heart had surreptitiously risen, bit by bit, then stuck in his throat, nearly breathless.


    Unconsciously, his butt had left the chair, slowly standing up, following the actions of number twenty-three on the field, his blood racing wildly.


    "Wait!"


    "Wait, number twenty-three is surging forward, he hasn¡¯t given up, he still hasn¡¯t given up, he¡¯s turning Foster¡¯s collision force into propelling force."


    "Incredibly, what am I witnessing? God, Peterson, I¡¯m at Bryant Denny Stadium witnessing a Peterson-like miracle once again."


    "Number twenty-three is up, his speed is picking up, amidst the instability and chaos, the speed that had been impossible to activate suddenly sprang to life, number twenty-three is running."


    "Unbelievable!"

 Chapter 28: 028 kill the game

    ```


    Bang!


    A collision, a surge.


    Li Wei could feel a force from behind, like a shockwave from "Dragon Ball," slamming directly in front of him, propelling his body out of control forward.


    Bumps, chaos.


    Entirely on instinct, his body¡¯s reflexes adjusted amidst the ferocious turmoil, taking consecutive short steps to stabilize and continue rushing forward to dissipate the tail force of the collision, teetering and staggering as he barely maintained his balance, like walking on a high-wire in a gale, moving forward on inertia.


    Push off the ground.


    Push off the ground!


    Strength, sinking from the core, traveling down from the thighs to the calves before crashing into the ground, repeatedly pushing off like pedaling a bicycle, he surged forth.


    One step, two steps, three, four, five steps.


    Just as he seemed about to fall forward, just as he seemed about to tumble down, he clenched his teeth in the precarious predicament, tensing his body and maintaining his balance.


    Footsteps, from unsteady to solid, and then, entering the acceleration phase.


    Panting.


    Lungs, burning, every breath like molten lava.


    But.


    He couldn¡¯t relax, couldn¡¯t feel relieved, the ambush of tight spots had only just begun to open a gap, and he was still surrounded on three sides.


    In 1999, there was such a movie, "Bachelor."


    In the movie, the male lead inherited a hundred million US Dollars on the condition that he married before his thirtieth birthday, which was only twenty-four hours away, so he issued a notice searching for a bride.


    Then, the movie depicted a legendary scene where, as the male lead walked down the street, brides in wedding gowns emerged continuously from different corners, eventually forming a wave that surrounded him from all sides and chased him through the streets.


    The movie, not so great.


    But that scene became a classic.


    The same was happening now.


    Li Wei was that bachelor, and the burly men on the field were the "brides" ready to capture and take down Li Wei¡ª


    Coming at him like a tide.


    Li Wei, with faltering steps, stumbled past the forty-yard line, then wobbled toward the fifty-yard line, as the overwhelming pressure surged toward him.


    Just as Li Wei was about to break free, Jackson¡¯s figure appeared right in front of him.


    Jackson was very calm and decisive. He knew of Li Wei¡¯s abilities and his cool-headedness, so he had to act first and decisively.


    A rush, a dive.


    Jackson charged forward, but as he was about to close in, he saw Li Wei shifting directions towards the opposite side.


    He guessed it!


    The fifty-yard line, past midfield, the forty-yard line of the opposite half was within reach.


    "Roar!"


    Forty-yard line.


    The rolling Crimson Tide surged powerfully, but the streak of white was like golden sunlight atop the wave, sprinting all the way.


    "Roar!"


    Thirty-yard line.


    Not just Tyree, but the entire Bryant Denny Stadium had fallen into a frenzy, one by one standing up, with no distinction between starters and substitutes; at this moment, they were all part of the Crimson Tide Storm, following the trail of Number 23, chasing the sunlight upon the wave.


    "Roar!"


    Twenty-yard line.


    The whole field, in madness, wave after wave, each higher than the last.


    Although they didn¡¯t know the name of Number 23, it didn¡¯t stop them from becoming one entity, the entire stadium¡¯s wave of red passion roared for him, united in a mighty chorus, the University of Alabama¡¯s legendary team once again unleashing a soul-deep tidal roar.


    "Roar!"


    Ten-yard line.


    Number 23 finally found his pace, running faster and faster, leaving the rolling tide far behind, single-handedly cutting across the field, with the entire sky-filled Crimson Tide Storm serving merely as a backdrop, the collective will converging into an explosive force.


    Then.


    A piercing arrow to the heart.


    End zone, touchdown.


    Roar!


    Madness, complete and utter madness.


    Li Wei, fiercely slamming the football to the ground, releasing his passion anew, raising his right fist high, clenched and released, no longer needing to hold back.


    "Ah!"


    Touchdown, secured.


    "Ah! Ah! Ah!"


    An accident, a breakthrough, but Li Wei did not panic, did not give up, and ultimately turned the inadvertent mismatch between the offensive group and the defensive group into his own opportunity.


    Boom!


    Tyree had completely lost his mind, fists raised high, jumping, cheering, roaring, rejoicing for the white figure on the field.


    "Roar! Roar! Roar!"


    The entire field, subdued¡ª


    Was there anyone who could be an exception, or who could be an exception?


    This is the most passionate and exhilarating moment in competitive sports, not because of winning or losing, but because of the struggle, the fight, the will to never give up!

 Chapter 29: 029 All thanks to good looks

    "Oh, God."


    Pash was stunned, completely stunned, with only one thought in his entire brain:


    Incredible!


    The game opened with a seventy-five-yard long march run for a touchdown to take the lead; it ended with a sixty-seven-yard ground offensive touchdown to kill the game.


    A total of 287 yards advanced on the ground for the entire game.


    Dominating the scene.


    Shining throughout the game.


    What, exactly, was going on?


    Last season, Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s Derrick Henry shocked the NCAA with an astounding thirty-six touchdown runs, and even though everyone knew the University of Alabama has always been strong in the running back department, they were still impressed by Henry. With Henry turning pro, how Saban would coach the team became the biggest question of the new season.


    Yet, no one expected that a completely unfamiliar face would emerge in the style of Adrian Peterson, sweeping through the field like a tornado.


    Of course, this was an intrasquad scrimmage, not enough to prove much, and they still needed to be patient, there was no need to rush to conclusions.


    But¡ª


    Pash¡¯s jaw was so agape it seemed it might not snap back into place.


    "Li."


    "Is this number twenty-three¡¯s name... Li. Wei?"


    "Li Wei?"


    "No star rating in high school, he is a player from a mixed martial arts background who only registered as a Football player for the first time during spring training camp."


    "Jesus Christ!"


    As he reviewed the information, the more he read, the more shocked he became. It seemed his jaw wouldn¡¯t return to normal anytime soon. Pash even began to suspect he was developing presbyopia prematurely.


    Could all of this really be possible?


    "And he is Chinese?"


    "So, is he some kind of Monkey King that leaped out from a crack in a rock? Making a huge scene in his debut, stirring up a Crimson Tide Storm at the University of Alabama."


    "Wow! I mean, wow!"


    "Impressive."


    Pash found himself at a loss for words. No language could express the shock and awe he felt at the moment. His brain had shut down, turning him into a relentless exclamation machine.


    Just then¡ª


    Ah!


    A scream came from the stands behind them, so frenzied and piercing that a group of players all reflexively looked back.


    Then they saw three girls crowded together, their smiles fully blooming, eyes brimming with love, screaming one after another.


    "Hey, handsome!"


    Just then, Humphrey came over to shake hands with Li Wei, his face radiating joy as he waved to the stands, "Hey, beauties!"


    The games of the Crimson Tide Storm weren¡¯t only attended by men; for the town¡¯s residents and university students, it was a communal event for all¡ªmen, women, young, and old alike¡ªand naturally included the young college girls, whose enthusiasm and frenzy were second to none.


    Consequently, the bold and passionate girl waved off Humphrey, vigorously shaking her head, "No, not you, but the one next to you, number twenty-three. Hey, that¡¯s right, you, handsome! What¡¯s your name?"


    Suddenly, the other boys started to tease.


    Unbothered, Humphrey tossed his head proudly, "You don¡¯t appreciate my charm; that¡¯s your loss. It turns out you like this type. This is Li Wei, my brother."


    "The brother you steamrolled again and again?" someone teased from the side.


    Ha ha.


    Laughter erupted.


    In the midst of the chaos, Li Wei spread his hands: Why does no one seem to care when the concerned party is right here?


    A gentle breeze blew, and the setting sun filled the sky.


    The dazzling sunset reflected off Li Wei¡¯s sweat-drenched face. His features, which lacked the fierceness of battle, instead radiated an air of scholarship. Even his wet hair glinted under the sunset, and his expression was captivating.


    He didn¡¯t seem particularly striking with his helmet on, but once he took it off and you got a closer look, his looks easily stood out, and it was no wonder the girls screamed.


    "Hey, Li Wei, catch."


    The bold and passionate girl folded a paper airplane and threw it, which fluttered into Li Wei¡¯s arms. Then with a "call me" gesture, she and her giggling friends turned and left.


    Those nearby were hardly inferior¡ª


    Bearing the brunt.


    Roars and laughter filled the air, and Li Wei felt his ears might go deaf.


    Then Allen¡¯s voice came from behind, "Now we¡¯re in trouble. He doesn¡¯t just crush us with skill; he¡¯s also way ahead in looks. The girls at the University of Alabama only have eyes for Li Wei now; there¡¯s no room for us to survive."


    "Guys, let¡¯s go teach this guy a lesson!"


    Boom!

 Chapter 30: 030 New Hope

    The dawn broke, heralding a new day.


    Saban arrived at the office early in the morning. Others saw Saban as having written countless legendary histories in the NCAA, and they assumed he could just sit back and enjoy the fruits of his labor, listening to praises and adulations. However, the reality was that he had never allowed his work to slacken for even a day.


    Because Saban knew that in the world of competitive sports, coaches and players were alike; slacking off for even a day could mean being left behind.


    In lower-level competitions, one could dominate merely by talent, but in higher and more professional events, talent became just an entry requirement. Everyone was a genius, every individual a powerhouse. At that point, what mattered were effort and focus. This was true in any competitive sport; those at the peak were geniuses, each one more relentless than the last.


    This was also why Saban disliked the NFL¡ª


    Managing a superstar with an annual salary of ten million US dollars was a challenge in itself; let alone managing twenty such millionaires along with thirty others earning a million dollars each, and all having bigger egos than the coach.


    They always found various excuses to skip training, or would act according to their own whims like Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who brought along his personal physical trainer and tactical coach to stay with the team, making it impossible for the coach to fully exercise his authority.


    Are profits important?


    Absolutely.


    Without profits, there would be no league, and professional events could not operate.


    But if one only focuses on money, losing sight of professional integrity, it would be a disaster for competitive sports. It¡¯s not about not discussing or needing benefits, but one should not forget their original intention¡ª


    Profits come from performance on the field.


    All players in the professional realm are geniuses, top talents with exceptional gifts. Yet, those who still strive hard and stick to their initial aspirations are few and far between.


    Saban¡¯s personality was too straightforward and genuine; he was not suited for that world of interest trading. Therefore, after trying three times, he still chose to stay with the NCAA.


    Of course, the NCAA also involved interests, not inferior to those in the Professional League, but at least these kids still believed in their dreams. They still possessed passion and hope, and they were still willing to sweat it out, not just for the sake of profits.


    Barely stepping into the office, he could see a figure from the floor-to-ceiling windows, sprinting under the brilliant golden sunshine of the south.


    Saban paused, drew closer for a better look, and immediately recognized it as Li Wei.


    The spring training camp had already passed three weeks, and Li Wei had been training on his own every day without fail. Initially, Saban and his team thought that Li Wei was just making an impression with a burst of enthusiasm, but unexpectedly, this persistence lasted throughout the entire spring training camp.


    Further, Li Wei also recognized his shortcomings: his grasp of Football needed to be built and experienced through actual skirmishes bit by bit, even template training couldn¡¯t replace his personal experience.


    Li Wei hoped that when the new season started, he would get more playtime, so he didn¡¯t have time to waste. Compared to other players, he still had many courses to catch up on.


    Thus, this morning, he woke naturally with his biological clock and once again immersed himself in training.


    "Early in the morning, what are you watching with that strange smile on your face?"


    The office door swung open, and without looking back, Saban knew it was Burns. He didn¡¯t answer, just stood there with his arms crossed.


    Sure enough, Burns came over.


    Standing at the window, Burns hesitated slightly, and his words were a bit stuttered.


    "Is that... Li Wei?"


    Saban nodded, "Earlier than me. And as always, he has a plan, not just blind training. Disciplined, professional, smart, persistent, Burton, maybe you¡¯ve really uncovered the second Derrick Henry."


    Burns¡¯ eyes were full of satisfaction, a smile creeping onto his lips, "But I wonder who would win if he were to compete with Derrick?"


    Saban remained rational, "At this stage? Derrick, of course. Li Wei is still too naive; he doesn¡¯t even know the rules of Football; last time, I saw him learning basic strategies and rules from Clark."


    Burns tilted his head, "But I think his understanding of the game is better than Derrick¡¯s. Give him some time, and then the results might be up for debate."


    Saban chuckled, "No wonder people always say that the human heart is biased. How long has Li Wei been in the team, and you¡¯ve already completely set Derrick aside?"


    Burns faced it openly, "Li Wei is uncut jade, knowing nothing about Football. I pulled him in with my own hands, so naturally, I need to look after him."


    Completely unashamed of his partiality, "Nick, do you think we need to reconsider who starts at running back?"


    He even dared to ask for more!


    Saban laughed speechlessly, momentarily unable to sort out his emotions, but significantly, his first reaction wasn¡¯t to dispute it.


    Hmm? What¡¯s going on here?

 Chapter 31: 031 The world is bustling

    To tell the truth, the running back position for the new season of Crimson Tide Storm was fraught with difficulties, and injuries were a major obstacle, beyond even the best coach¡¯s ability to manage.


    Behind the decision to appoint Jacobs as the starting running back, one could faintly perceive the coaching staff¡¯s helplessness.


    However, from another perspective, even though Jacobs was just a high school student, he indeed possessed outstanding talent and ability. Relying on his own strength, he stood out from the fierce competition and secured the starting position; in the current team setup, he was the best choice for the starting running back.


    As for Li Wei?


    He was indeed excellent, without a doubt; but starting from scratch, with only three weeks of football experience, the time was simply too short.


    In Saban¡¯s original plan, he had hoped to use Li Wei as a secret weapon, to achieve victory through unexpected strategies.


    However, yesterday¡¯s practice game had shaken Saban¡¯s thoughts, and upon hearing Burns¡¯s words, his first reaction was not to object.


    Thoughts surged in his mind.


    Ultimately, Saban was somewhat more experienced and rational. Although Burns¡¯s suggestion was very tempting, he still applied the emergency brakes and controlled himself¡ª


    He had to consider the overall situation.


    After all, yesterday was merely an internal practice game. Given Li Wei¡¯s intelligence, he knew the main team¡¯s defensive strategies like the back of his hand, giving him the upper hand; but what about against external teams? Could Li Wei still deliver such a performance?


    "Let¡¯s see in the preseason games," Saban suggested.


    Burns was not surprised; regardless of who was the starting running back, everyone needed to play in the preseason games anyway, as they needed a comprehensive assessment of their capabilities.


    Football¡¯s warm-up and preseason games are all like this, not just in the NCAA, but in the NFL as well; they are the best opportunities to test team lineups.


    Win or lose?


    It¡¯s not important, not indicative at all.


    With four quarters in a football game, during the warm-up and preseason games, the lineup usually changes after the first half to test the team¡¯s tactic integration and players¡¯ form. Ultimately, it is the stage for coaches to integrate tactics, adjust strategies, and match lineups,


    It is noteworthy that NCAA football consistently ranked top in nationwide viewership, easily surpassing other professional leagues like the NBA, NHL, MLB, and although it generally fell short of the NFL, some NFL regular season games couldn¡¯t match the viewership of classic NCAA football school matchups¡ª


    This could be seen from ESPN¡¯s willingness to broadcast live the intra-squad games of the University of Alabama.


    The Big Ten Network was not satisfied with its success alone; it wanted to expand its territory. Thus, breaking the NCAA¡¯s tradition of geographic alignment, they added the football powerhouse University of Nebraska in 2010 and later Maryland and Rutgers in 2015¡ª


    Although these two colleges weren¡¯t strong in football, one was in New York and the other in Washington, thus the densely populated areas of the East Coast also fell within the subscriber base of the Big Ten, making it the most powerful league in NCAA.


    Naturally, other leagues couldn¡¯t just sit by and do nothing.


    The Southeastern Conference was the first to react.


    Southern schools had an intense passion for football, consistently leading in viewership, with powerhouse traditional teams like Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, and Georgia. The fan base was solid, they too established their own TV channel, and started to attract other schools.


    The University of Texas was key.


    Because Texas was the second most populated state in North America.


    The University of Texas, located in the Big Twelve, tried to establish its own television network, leveraging its wealthy and powerful status. After a disappointing failure, in 2010, it threatened to leave in frustration, although it didn¡¯t succeed in leaving at that time, it triggered a series of tumults¡ª


    The other schools in the Big Twelve stood firm, indicating they refused to be dominated by the University of Texas.


    Then.


    The University of Nebraska left the Big Twelve for the Big Ten, Texas A&M and Missouri left the Big Twelve for the Southeastern Conference, and Colorado left the Big Twelve for the Pac-12.


    As a result, the Big Twelve could only rely on their traditional powerhouse schools, the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma, to barely stay afloat, with their chances of national broadcast dwindling increasingly.


    All endeavors move forward for profit; the moment the Big Ten broke the balance, the commercialization of the NCAA became unstoppable. Like the NFL, NBA, and other professional leagues, the quest for profits began to alter the entire league structure.


    And Texas, as always, played a pivotal role in the NCAA¡¯s historical transition this time around, acting as a turning point.


    As usual.

 Chapter 32: 032 Everyone is bustling about

    On one hand, the Big Ten Conference and the Southeastern Conference are expanding more aggressively with rapidly growing revenue gaps, not only increasing their own cable channel subscriptions by leaps and bounds; but also as their influence widens, the proportion of their games broadcast nationwide visibly increases.


    Without a doubt, the balance of power has shifted accordingly.


    On the other hand, the University of Texas once again plays a pivotal role in changing the landscape. Dissatisfied with Texas A&M University joining the Southeastern Conference after years of being suppressed by them and flourishing financially, Texas A&M¡¯s recruitment becomes increasingly dominant, creating a virtuous cycle.


    In 2021, the University of Texas joined forces with Oklahoma to move to the Southeastern Conference.


    The Big Twelve Conference, faced with dire straits.


    Subsequently, traditional power teams on the West Coast couldn¡¯t sit idle ¨C the University of Southern California, dissatisfied with the weakness of the Pacific-12 Conference, joined the Big Ten Conference, along with the University of California, Los Angeles, the following year in 2022, thereby significantly strengthening the Big Ten, which now enjoys vast markets on both coasts.


    The cost, however, was that both the Big Twelve and the Pacific-12 Conferences faced the prospect of disintegration.


    The Big Twelve Conference was the first to attempt self-rescue, frantically recruiting schools, and after pulling in Arizona, Colorado, and others, barely managed to stabilize.


    The Pacific-12 Conference was on shaky ground and, after the University of Washington and the University of Oregon joined the Big Ten, the once-glorious Pacific-12 was virtually non-existent.


    By 2023, the Pacific-12 Conference was down to just Stanford, the University of California, Berkeley, Oregon State University, and Washington State University. They sought help far and wide but faced repeated rejections, until eventually Stanford and the University of California, Berkeley found a place in the Atlantic Coast Conference¡ª


    Oregon State and Washington State remain homeless, their futures uncertain.


    The NCAA, driven by interests, entered a new era.


    A century of tradition, gone up in smoke.


    Take the intrastate rivalry, for instance, where the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of California, Berkeley, both part of the University of California system, had competed against each other for over a century, but now being in different conferences, the annual fixtures would no longer take place.


    Regarding home and away games, the divisions used to be regional, so even away games weren¡¯t far, but now the divisions disregard geographical boundaries, meaning away games could require flying from the West Coast to the East Coast, which not only affects students¡¯ daily routines but might also prevent alumni and fans from attending away games.


    Clemson and Alabama are well-known archrivals. The two schools, both located in the South, have a historical enmity dating back to the distant year of 1900, and in the subsequent century, they¡¯ve faced each other time and again.


    Logically, the two teams should meet only every few years, as they belong to two different conferences, but curiously, their every encounter has been explosive, either at their peaks or in their troughs, such that each clash has been a fierce battle, continuously writing history.


    The collisions between the Crimson Tide Storm and the Tigers always witness large scores in NCAA history. The Tigers once won "35:0," sweeping to victory, and the Crimson Tide Storm also once humiliated their opponents with a score of "74:7." Such dramatic scorelines have led to increasingly intense rows between fans, almost to the point of a fight to the death.


    In 1975, the Crimson Tide Storm crushed the Tigers "56:0." The Tigers have been seeking revenge ever since, but fate played a cruel trick¡ªwhen the two teams met again, it was in 2008, marking the beginning of a new era of peak performance for both teams under Saban and Swinney.


    The last encounter between the two teams came from the previous season¡ª


    The nationwide championship game.


    The Crimson Tide Storm and the Tigers met in the finals, unfolding a Huashan Swordsmanship Meeting-like pinnacle showdown, with the final score "45:40." In a rollercoaster of a game, the Crimson Tide Storm got the last laugh, defeating the Tigers to be crowned the nationwide champions.


    Up to this season, the Crimson Tide Storm has led in their head-to-head record with twelve wins to three losses, leaving the Tigers without any fond memories of this formidable rival. The Tigers¡¯ last victory over the Crimson Tide goes back to the distant year of 1905, more than a century ago.


    But history is history, and the present is decidedly different.


    It was precisely because of last year¡¯s spectacular nationwide championship final that when Saban announced this year¡¯s spring training camp finale warm-up opponent would be Clemson, all media went wild.


    So, straight away, they¡¯re using strong medicine?


    Before the season even begins, are the top two performers of the last season going to clash, setting the tone for the upcoming new season?


    One could guess with their knees that the ratings for this match would definitely be explosive.


    So, what exactly was Saban thinking?


    Looking at it from another angle, what was Swinney thinking? Saban might propose, but Swinney would also need to agree, so what are the two coaches up to?


    It¡¯s still just spring training camp¡ªIs it really okay to be this stimulating?

 Chapter 33: 033 Warm-up Opponent

    ```


    Generally speaking, ultimate rivals like Crimson Tide Storm and Tigers, to avoid leaking tactical secrets, are better off keeping their distance before the start of the new season.


    A bit of mystery benefits both teams, after all, they¡¯re both holding back major moves, waiting to compete again in the nationwide championship.


    However, Saban wasn¡¯t an old fool, and Sweeney wasn¡¯t impulsive, one dared to invite, and the other dares to accept, behind it all were their own calculations.


    Both coaches knew, historical performance could only serve as a reference, not to mention before the new millennium, even the 2008 game wasn¡¯t much referential, now the teams they had were completely new, with different styles and types, last year¡¯s nationwide championship game was the best proof.


    Saban excelled in defense.


    And Sweeney?


    This coach, who hailed from Wide Receiver, excelled in offense, especially in passing offense, with unpredictable tactics unleashing top-level firepower for the Tigers on the offensive end.


    One, a sharp spear; the other, a thick shield.


    In this "conflict of the clash," the tactical intentions of both coaches converged, they both hoped to confirm the new season¡¯s tactical playbook through the warm-up match¡ª


    Only by facing the strongest opponent could they test their strongest state to prepare for the new season.


    Without question, both teams aimed to top the nationwide championship this new season, even though their warm-up match might be against their greatest rival for the title; but honestly, on the road to next January¡¯s nationwide championship final in Tampa, they needed to clear the path bristling with obstacles.


    Additionally, Saban had his own little schemes.


    The Clemson Tigers¡¯ defensive system was a "4-3," meaning four Defensive linemen and three linebackers, focusing on front line pressure and ground defense.


    In last year¡¯s nationwide championship final, Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s Derrick Henry faced a severe challenge, but Henry found a way, using his individual ability to break through and laying the foundation for their championship; this year, without Henry¡¯s heavy artillery, Crimson Tide Storm needed to change offensive strategies.


    Here, it¡¯s important to note that Derrick Henry was a typical tank-style running back, 6¡¯2" (191 cm), 247 pounds (112 kg), like a tank, relying on his own strength and size to forcefully advance, which also later earned him the title "Emperor Henry."


    Selected in the first round by the Houston Texans in 2017, Watson delivered top performances from the 2018 to 2020 seasons, earning Pro Bowl selections three years in a row, with his passing yards leading the league in 2020.


    Despite later being embroiled in scandals involving harassment, violence, and assault, becoming the target of public condemnation, and facing lawsuits from twenty-two women, making him the most high-profile off-field news during the 2023 off-season, Watson¡¯s popularity in the quarterback-scarce league remained undiminished.


    This was a new generation dual-threat quarterback, capable of passing and running, his excellent physical fitness laying the foundation for his agile playing style.


    Currently, Watson was the star of the Clemson Tigers, the absolute core of the team whenever Clemson was mentioned, but to think that Clemson had only Watson was clearly the mistake of someone who knows nothing about football.


    Wide Receiver Mike Williams, Tight End Jordan Leggett, Running Back Wayne Gallman, and a top-level NCAA offensive line joined forces to form a first-tier college offensive powerhouse.


    However.


    It was undeniable that a prodigy like Watson remained the absolute focus.


    The Crimson Tide Storm team members were all discussing how they should contain Watson, whether Watson, entering his junior year, would further improve, and though the Tigers¡¯ offensive group hadn¡¯t gone through major changes and should be better after spring training camp, no one knew how much they had progressed.


    And so on.


    Clark noticed Li Wei¡¯s calm amidst the buzz, though Li Wei usually maintained an "Who are you talking about" or "I don¡¯t recognize any of the names you¡¯re saying" expression, with spring training camp nearly over and everyone extra excited, Li Wei¡¯s composure stood out even more.


    "Li Wei, aren¡¯t you curious?" Clark couldn¡¯t contain his own fervor and soon became eager to try.


    The usually stern-faced Jacobs even glanced at Clark.


    Li Wei remained utterly composed, "Not curious. After all, that Mr. Watson isn¡¯t our problem. I¡¯m more curious if they have any popular players or rising stars on their defensive line or among their linemen. I¡¯m looking forward to sitting down and having a heart-to-heart with them."


    Pfft.


    Clark couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud, "Of course there are, their defensive line is also very impressive, with top individual talents."


    Jacobs, seeing Li Wei¡¯s indifferent expression, couldn¡¯t resist mentioning, "Maybe Coach Sweeney isn¡¯t known for defense, but the Tigers¡¯ defensive line is indeed of All-America First Team caliber, not to be underestimated. Even last year when Henry was still here, we had our struggles."


    Li Wei, "Oh."

 Chapter 34: 034 Black-faced Yama

    "Yo! Yo! Yo!"


    Throughout Bryant Denny Stadium, boos rose up like a surging crimson tide that roared towards the end zone with fangs and claws bared, the sound waves rolling. Yet DeShaun Watson was completely unaffected, standing in the end zone dancing¡ª


    Literally.


    Moving to the rhythm of the boos, Watson imitated Drake¡¯s latest hit "Hotline Bling" with sultry dance moves, twisting his hips within a small range. Although his facial expression couldn¡¯t be seen because of the helmet, the mocking dance was highly provocative.


    The louder the boos, the more spirited Watson became.


    For the visiting Clemson, this was the best kind of encouragement.


    In fact, Clemson had come prepared for today¡¯s warm-up match. Although it was just a warm-up, both coaches, Saban and Sweeney, had their own plans and were firmly executing them.


    In the first half, Clemson Tigers fielded their main players, going all out to open up the game; the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm, however, held back a little, taking the field with the main offensive group and backup defensive group, forming the opposition.


    Saban had his considerations¡ª


    For one, in the team¡¯s internal practice game, the backup defensive group had performed exceptionally well, only allowing eight first downs throughout the game, leaving Hertz¡¯s main offensive group disoriented. Saban had more expectations for the backup players.


    Secondly, the strategy was to focus on offense in the first half and then switch tactics in the second half to polish the defense; so in the first half, Saban almost lured Sweeney into offense while he continuously observed Clemson¡¯s offensive tactics.


    The strategy was sound, even clever.


    But Saban had underestimated the resolve of everyone at Clemson, from Sweeney to Watson. They were all sharpening their weapons for revenge after their defeat in the nationwide championship game last January, starting very aggressively from the onset.


    Watson, truly an NCAA star, was not only the main contender for the upcoming Heisman Trophy but also a leading candidate for next year¡¯s NFL draft top pick.


    Watson hadn¡¯t forgotten that this warm-up match was being broadcast nationwide, a perfect opportunity¡ª


    NFL teams usually don¡¯t have the time to watch NCAA games. All teams are the same; they rely on professional scouts to gather information. So what lands on the desk of the head coach and team manager is just a bunch of scouting reports. Unless they are interested, they won¡¯t bother to look up game footage.


    But today was different.


    Saban was familiar with Watkins as they had clashed the year before. Here was a blue-collar player, hardworking and diligent; although lacking some explosiveness, he rarely missed tackles and completed each defensive task with reliability and stability, like a linchpin.


    The real highlights, however, were the two youngsters, Wilkins and Lawrence, strong enough and ferocious enough to have the qualifications of a first-round pick in terms of talent and ability.


    Football is different from other sports, mainly because of the sheer number of players, so those who make it to the first round of the draft are all freaks of nature, not to mention first-rounders¡ª all prospects in the top three rounds are exceptional talents.


    "First-round pick," that is the highest praise.


    Furthermore, since there are many positions on a football field, during the draft, teams often won¡¯t choose the most talented but will select what they need the most, which makes it even more remarkable for players at certain positions to make it into the first round.


    This was the case with defensive linemen.


    In Saban¡¯s view, Wilkins and Lawrence indeed had the potential to be first-round picks.


    The two of them, one responsible for the inside and the other for the outside, were like Black-faced Yamas, completely strangling the running game. Jacobs and Clark couldn¡¯t make any headway with their rushing.


    As a result, when Hertz tried to pass, his intentions were repeatedly anticipated in advance, leading to severe fluctuations in his passing accuracy, and the offense was thus cornered.


    Pressure formed a vicious cycle.


    To Saban, it was still a matter of momentum.


    Jacobs, as well as Clark, they were both aware of Derrick Henry¡¯s deterrence from the previous season. With Henry on the field, the opponent¡¯s defensive group could be intimidated, and deep down, they knew they couldn¡¯t match Henry, yet subconsciously they tried to prove that they could fill his shoes¡ª


    That was contradictory.


    And because of such a contradictory mindset, when it came to pushing forward on the ground, they lacked observation and lacked thought, hitting the wall over and over in frustration.


    Jacobs was somewhat irritable. Still young.


    The current situation had reasons stemming from the opposition as well as from themselves. Saban was very calm, always observing the big picture.


    Now, let¡¯s talk about the defense of the Crimson Tide Storm.


    The core issue was still Watson¡¯s growth; the Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s defensive group could never decipher Watson¡¯s tactical choices, and this athletically gifted quarterback single-handedly carried the Tigers¡¯ offensive flag.

 Chapter 35: 035 Clock out from work

    The advantage of a pocket quarterback lies in their wisdom¡ªthey can always penetrate the defensive group¡¯s layout, gaining a step ahead in the tactical gameplay, and their accuracy in passing has also traditionally been a key strength.


    The advantage of a running quarterback lies in their dual threat; while they might fall slightly short in passing capabilities and reading defenses, their ability to carry the ball increases the threat in offense, disrupting the defensive group¡¯s strategic arrangement.


    Each has its strengths.


    Watson was an outstanding running quarterback, possessing excellent passing and running skills, using his physicality to restrain the defense group, thereby carving out passing space for himself. Thus, in 2020, this running quarterback could lead the League in passing yards.


    The Watson before us had not completely matured yet, but compared to the national championship game in January, he had already undergone transformation.


    He was more mature and more composed¡ªhe could calmly face the onrush and pressure from the defensive group, and make correct decisions in moments of crisis.


    Even when the Crimson Tide Storm defense front created opportunities and clamped down on Watson in pressured and collision scenarios, Watson was still able to keep his cool, complete passes, and rely on wide receivers and tight ends to tear through the defense line.


    Such exceptional athletic talent indeed possessed the potential to turn the tide¡ª


    Following Wilkins and Lawrence, Black-faced Yama needed to add a Watson to the list.


    No wonder professional leagues always emphasize that experience is the most vital weapon for a quarterback. With accumulating experience, they become more adept and mature in interpreting tactics and managing crises, finding solutions in swiftly changing predicaments.


    Of course, the premise is that the quarterback has such business acumen.


    From January to April, just a short three months, Watson¡¯s growth was visibly evident.


    To be precise, it wasn¡¯t that the Crimson Tide Storm backup defensive group performed poorly, but rather that Watson had upgraded, bringing more threats in both passing and running.


    Once one element unlocked, the entire team¡¯s strategy also came to life.


    Unlike the Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s offense, the pressure they faced on the defensive front was mainly from a well-performing Watson¡ªSweeney and his Clemson Tigers were indeed well-prepared.


    So, how should Saban respond?


    In the end zone, Watson was particularly exhilarated. Unsatisfied after finishing a dance, he pushed away teammates who came to celebrate, sprinting towards the side of the field where the Crimson Tide Storm was, jogging along the sideline in front of the Crimson Tide Storm players, took off his helmet, spread his arms wide, like a glider.


    "Fly, spread your wings and soar! Towards the sky!


    Hurry, Josephine, jump into my airplane! Charge! Fly high all the way!"


    Whoosh.


    Humphrey, completely astonished, didn¡¯t snap out of it for a moment, turning his head to Li Wei, "What¡¯s he singing? Rap?"


    With little time left in the first half, even if the play on fourth down failed, it would leave very limited time for the Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s offense. Sweeney boldly decided to waste game time on a fourth-down play, squeezing the Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s Offensive space; but if successful, the Tigers could enter halftime with a three-touchdown advantage.


    This move could not have been more provocative.


    Bryant Denny Stadium erupted with boos and waves of cheering surged like a tsunami.


    Facing such circumstances, Watson once again showcased his talent and strength, calmly executing a fake pass and real run play, and using the Tigers¡¯ running back as a decoy. In fact, relying on the running back as a lead blocker, he ran with the ball himself.


    The running back knocked open Allen, the Crimson Tide Storm Defense Team Captain intent on a sure tackle, and amid crowding and collisions, Watson forced his way into the End zone.


    Touchdown!


    In disbelief, it was astounding; not only flawlessly crafting a tactical plan but also executing a robust performance under comprehensive defensive pressure. Watson scored his second rushing touchdown of the first half, perfectly capping off the scrimmage¡¯s opening half.


    In the ESPN commentary booth, there was an uproar.


    "Wow, Watson really showed off his fiery form; the first half completely turned into his solo show."


    "Wait, he..."


    Pash, who had handled the commentary for the Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s intrasquad game last time and continued today with the scrimmage, relaxed and couldn¡¯t help but show a smile.


    "Ha, Watson really... he just made a ¡¯clocking off¡¯ gesture in the End zone, a provocative way to challenge the Crimson Tide Storm."


    "The Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s response in the second half¡ª"


    Pash was briefly reminded of the White Team¡¯s number twenty-three, pausing mid-sentence with a somewhat playful expression.


    "Should be very interesting."


    Watson stood in the End zone, high-fiving his teammates, brazenly and boldly saying, "Time to clock off, great job everyone, clocking off!"


    "21:0".


    The Tigers not only led by three touchdowns but also shut out their opponent.


    For Watson, the game seemed to be over ahead of time, and they could now rest, even without regarding the Crimson Tide side, he casually turned and left with his teammates.


    Sensing this, Humphrey saw red, and then he heard Li Wei¡¯s characteristically lazy voice, "Get ready, time to clock in."


    That usually annoyingly lax voice suddenly seemed somewhat pleasant?

 Chapter 36: 036 Nameless Pawn

    Todd Blackledge, a former professional quarterback, attended Pennsylvania State University and played for both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers before and after turning pro. Although his career as a quarterback wasn¡¯t marked by success, he made a brilliant transition to broadcasting after retiring.


    He served as a long-term commentator for ABC and CBS, winning over many fans, and in 2006, signed with ESPN, where he stayed for a solid decade.


    Today, partnered with Pash, Blackledge is commentating on this highly-anticipated preseason game, interpreting the match from the perspective of a professional quarterback.


    "The situation is somewhat unexpected, but not entirely surprising,"


    "The Tigers¡¯ tactics today are very targeted. Thanks to Watson¡¯s outstanding performance, they firmly took the initiative and comprehensively suppressed the Crimson Tide Storm."


    "Of course, the Crimson Tide Storm still have a chance in the second half, but the predicament is obvious. After the absence of Derrick Henry¡¯s dominant ground game, the weaknesses in the Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s offense may be amplified."


    "The second half will start with the Crimson Tide Storm on offense. Perhaps we can see what adjustments Saban will make."


    In football, the coin toss at the beginning of the game allows the correct guesser to choose to either start on offense or pick the side of the field. Most teams choose the field, deferring the offensive opportunity to the opponent, because this means they get to start the second half on offense, taking control of the game¡¯s outcome.


    Today is no different.


    The Crimson Tide Storm guessed the coin toss right, they chose the field, and thus the Tigers started on offense in the first half; the second half will start with the Crimson Tide Storm on offense.


    Blackledge carefully reviewed the roster, then his eyes fell on a name¡ª


    Not because it was unfamiliar. In a preseason game, NCAA teams often field a lot of unknown players, and even professional commentators can¡¯t claim to know everyone; unfamiliarity is actually the norm.


    But because of the combination of sounds in the name.


    Li Wei?


    Blackledge was uncertain, "Is this... an Asian-American player?"


    In football, from the NFL to the NCAA, Asian faces are still a rare sight.


    Pash looked at Blackledge¡¯s expression, a satisfied smile spreading across his face, as if relishing the moment his own little secret treasure had been discovered¡ª


    On one hand, there was anticipation for the treasure to finally shine.


    On the other hand, there was a reluctance to let go of the secret that was once his alone.


    Moreover, Pash was also curious. After all, the previous warm-up game was just an intra-squad scrimmage, and he was very curious to see how number twenty-three would perform today.


    "Yes, Asian-American."


    Indeed, it was the case.


    Li Wei was extremely focused; the more the cheering from Bryant Denny Stadium surged, the more focused he became, and as the tension and pressure of the entire game swelled, the more focused he was, able to hear the sound of his blood burning above his eardrums.


    He was ready.


    During the first half, Li Wei had been observing, not merely watching the game, but interpreting the opponent¡¯s defensive strategies, and understanding the reasons for their own offensive stumbling blocks, as if analyzing a chess game¡ª silence didn¡¯t mean his mind was empty.


    Now was the time for practical training.


    Wearing jersey number ninety-nine, Clelin Ferrell, nearly bursting with eagerness, the moment he had agonizingly waited and waited for was about to arrive¡ª


    The college game field.


    Even though he wasn¡¯t officially enrolled until September, Ferrell was ready to prove himself. He had an outstanding high school career and believed in his talent and abilities.


    Ranked 101st nationwide, a three-star high school athlete, in Ferrell¡¯s view, was not enough to reflect his talent; being the seventh-ranked high school defensive end in the country also underestimated his ability.


    But no matter, he would prove himself.


    He, Ferrell, would become an NFL first-round pick and one of the greatest defensive ends of all time: at 6.4 feet (193 cm) and 265 pounds (120 kg), aiming for current League leading defensive player JJ Watt as his target, he believed he could match Watt, or even outperform him. He was determined to show his dominance on the field¡ª


    The Crimson Tide Storm would become his first stage for entering the view of the Professional League.


    Sorry, number eighteen quarterback and number twenty-three running back, you guys are going to be the sacrificial offerings. He would use them as stepping stones to become a starting defensive end.


    Ferrell was a bit excited.


    Thump thump.


    Thump thump.


    Ferrell was ready, and as the quarterback¡¯s number eighteen starting signal reached his ears, he reacted swiftly, charging out like an arrow released from its bow¡ª


    Pressure.


    Pressure.


    Pressure!


    This was the core strategy of the Tigers¡¯ defense, having dominated the game in the first half this way, and now, not only did Ferrell need to apply pressure, but he also intended to outdo it, rushing at full speed and then immediately detecting the opponent¡¯s intention to run the ball.


    Number twenty-three, target locked!

 Chapter 37: 037 Bloody Storm

    "Attack!"


    Beteman called the kickoff. Li Wei didn¡¯t rush but adjusted his steps forward. For the first time, he faced a defensive group outside of the Crimson Tide Storm, wholly unfamiliar, from players to tactics and game style without exception. He wasn¡¯t about to recklessly run into the wall, especially after the first half.


    He needed to be calm and observant.


    If someone thought that a running back was just about holding the ball and ruthlessly charging forward, they were wildly mistaken. At least, Li Wei didn¡¯t see the role of running back that way.


    Handoff.


    Even before his fingertips felt the leather texture of the football, Li Wei moved to avoid Beteman¡¯s back, instantly seeing the layers of pressure piling on¡ª


    As expected.


    Then, Li Wei spotted number 99, whose name seemed to be Farrell or something. He couldn¡¯t remember, but Li Wei hadn¡¯t forgotten this jersey number because he initially wanted to choose this number, and because Burns had mentioned it during tactical analysis.


    Although number 99 was just a three-star high school player, his physique still had growing potential, and his style of play was much like Watt¡¯s, the NFL superstar.


    Watt, what exactly is his level?


    2012, 2014, 2015¡ªhe had been the league¡¯s best defensive player of the seasons; moreover, when other defensive players had single-digit quarterback sacks for an entire season, Watt had consecutive seasons of double-digit sacks, even reaching as many as 20.5 in 2012 and 2015¡ª


    0.5 of those sacks were along with other players.


    Stats, hardly enough to showcase the dominance of Watt, whose very presence continuously redefined the limits of defensive players. In a football world that revered offense, Watt was the first defensive megastar to break the bias over fifteen years, undeniably the best defender in the league.


    Of course, this wasn¡¯t to say that number 99 possessed Watt¡¯s potential or ability, but his style of play was similar, aggressive, and dominating. Being a defensive player, yet displaying a striking offensive presence.


    Number 99 always chose to strike proactively.


    Indeed!


    Number 99¡¯s step-in pressure, not only fully utilized the advantage of his physique but also unleashed a powerful, overwhelming force.


    A burst of violent storm and bloodshed, right in the face.


    And!


    His second reaction was agile, instantly spotting the handoff between Beteman and Li Wei. Twisting his body, his robust belly inflated rapidly like a pufferfish, and with a spin, he was already speeding toward Li Wei.


    Fast!


    A single word, that was fast.


    Damn it!


    Meanwhile, Li Wei could feel a burst of air behind him, but had no time to look back. He paused his steps and, without any hesitation, dashed straight, trying to break through.


    But just as he took a step, Li Wei immediately felt the pressure again.


    One layer.


    Then another.


    Literally, he could see the defensive shields layering before his eyes.


    In the Crimson Tide Storm, there were four linebackers, so the pressure near the scrimmage line was slightly relieved. It usually took Li Wei crossing the scrimmage line to feel the pressure, which also meant he had enough room to start and accelerate, allowing him to always find gaps to breach whenever he faced Allen and Foster.


    But now facing the Tigers, they had four defensive linemen, and the oppression and confrontation already extended from the scrimmage line. Regardless of whether they could break through the offensive line¡¯s pocket protection, the momentum and pressure were there, presenting an obstacle for the quarterback and the running back.


    Now, before Li Wei could even start accelerating, he first encountered the impact from Number Ninety-Nine and then felt a crowd swarming up ahead, dense and impenetrable, completely obscuring the far end.


    It was definitely different.


    So, what would Adrian Peterson do?


    Li Wei was very calm, having experienced similar defensive pressure multiple times in system model training¡ªthere was no need for alarm; but real combat slightly differed from simulation. The sharp and scorching sensations on his skin permeated into his blood vessels through his pores, and then his blood blazed up.


    Excited, thrilled, yet remained calm.


    His gaze swiftly scanned the field, his brain working at high-speed, and he had already completed observation and judgment in a flash.


    He could opt to weave through gaps, adept at moving between them, but the density of the Tigers¡¯ front-line defense was beyond imagination; even maneuvering through would lead him into a dead-end¡ª


    It would be laborious and thankless.


    Li Wei made a split-second decision to abandon such an idea, not trying to look for gaps but instead ran straight at the linebacker coming towards him.


    No dodging, a full-on collision.


    Walking right into a trap!


    But was it really that foolish?


    Pushing off the ground, turning sideways, with his left shoulder as the pivot, like battering a fortress gate, he unleashed his strength and speed, slamming hard.


    Bang!


    A loud noise echoed, with tumultuous air waves rolling.

 Chapter 38: 038 Overcoming Tough Problems

    Tiger number six safety Dorian O¡¯Daniel didn¡¯t see it coming, not at all. He had expected to take one more step forward to complete the tackle, but now he was abruptly hit head-on. There wasn¡¯t enough time to adjust his footing and strength for the action.


    Subconsciously, in a conditioned reflex, O¡¯Daniel managed to execute the tackle.


    But then!


    Bang!


    Power, surging, cascading, hitting him straight in the face like a torrential downpour.


    Uh.


    O¡¯Daniel let out a muffled grunt!


    Block! Hit! Push!


    Before O¡¯Daniel¡¯s arms could fully close in for the tackle, a burst of powerful force slammed into his chest. A stifled grunt got stuck in his throat. He staggered back in a chain of faltering steps, unable to come to a stop.


    He was half a beat too slow to realize he had become a meat shield; wave after wave of impact came from behind, all of which he inadvertently absorbed, his faltering steps causing him to completely lose balance while retreating.


    Damn!


    O¡¯Daniel¡¯s heart contracted sharply, but it was already too late to resist.


    Li Wei suddenly exerted force again, tossing aside O¡¯Daniel¡ªwho weighed 220 pounds (100 kilograms)¡ªas if he were nothing, clearing the space for Li Wei as if he were a heavy weapon, sweeping through swiftly like rainstorm pear flowers needles.


    His steps, unceasing, even took advantage of the centrifugal force to surge forward, changing direction and accelerating to the right in the blink of an eye.


    Instant start! Instant burst!


    Crack!


    A figure appeared just in time at the dense frontline, the art of using a sea of people in tactics fully displayed, leaving no space for Li Wei to begin his run. He was immediately grappled around the waist and pulled down in one fluid motion.


    Solid. Substantial.


    Li Wei realized he was caught, seemingly about to run out of strength, but instead of falling, he continued to push off the ground with inertia, propelling himself forward.


    Strength, fully unleashed, without any reservation.


    Ah!


    The breath sank to the Dantian.


    Ah!


    Strength released.


    One step, two steps.


    Without warning, Li Wei exerted his force and actually dragged along the weight on his waist, continuing to move forward, astonishingly close to breaking free from the tackle and regaining space to advance!


    Beteman¡¯s heart skipped a beat, "What¡¯s wrong? Got played dirty?"


    Li Wei shook his head, "No, just finding the game kind of interesting."


    Even though the system template training had faced him against different top defenses more than once, it was still his first time dealing with a "4-3" defense in real combat. The difference between theoretical knowledge and actual practice was laid bare like this.


    After the collision of strength, readjusting one¡¯s center of gravity and restarting was a challenge; it was also a challenge to face the defensive pressure. Although the Tigers Defense Squad was down one linebacker, their strong safety in the safety position stepped up faster and completed the encirclement.


    Without the wide receivers and tight ends blocking, the running back would face even more ferocious collisions and squeezes in the area near the line of scrimmage to the short pass range.


    However, once the running back managed to break through the short pass area, the vacant backfield would become a deadly weakness.


    Therefore, during the nationwide championship finals earlier in the year, Derrick Henry fully utilized his ability to pierce through the tough collisions, but after breaking through, his ability to carry the ball long distance was not as strong, forcing Henry to repeatedly return and continue the hard work, naturally exhausting him.


    Today, in the first half of the game, Jacobs and Clark repeatedly hit the wall, resulting from unsuccessful ground attacks.


    In fact, Li Wei wasn¡¯t adept at attrition warfare; his strengths lay in his explosive power and agility, but Li Wei wasn¡¯t afraid of confrontation. The Tigers weren¡¯t even among the NCAA¡¯s strongest defensive teams, and the two ¡¯Black-faced Yamas¡¯ weren¡¯t on the field. If he couldn¡¯t break through such defense, he might as well go home and farm sweet potatoes.


    Li Wei had some ideas, and he was ready to give them a try¡ª


    After all, the game was quite interesting.


    Beteman blinked and, seeing Li Wei¡¯s smile, involuntarily shuddered and swallowed hard, "Li Wei, what should we do?"


    Li Wei¡¯s smiled fully blossomed, "Follow the coach¡¯s plan, I just have a little personal idea, that¡¯s all, very little."


    Turning his head, Li Wei looked over and saw number ninety-nine looking his way. Li Wei raised his right hand in greeting, "Hey."


    Farrell was taken aback: What did number twenty-three mean by that? He was mocking him, right? That was obviously ridicule and contempt, he¡¯d show him!


    Dammit!


    Farrell cursed fiercely.


    Crimson Tide half-field, thirty-five-yard line, first down.


    Saban wasn¡¯t planning on wearing out Li Wei; instead, he switched in another running back, Emmons, to change the rhythm.


    Physical confrontation is the main theme of football, and it can be extremely draining on the body, almost every position requires rotation, and the game has no substitution limits¡ª


    Quarterbacks are an exception because they usually stand in the pocket to avoid collisions; generally, the starting quarterback will play the entire game.


    It is most apparent with the position of running back, where every rush involves physically charging and breaking through, and almost no running back can last the entire game, which is why different attacks require rotating running backs.


    One reason is to manage stamina; the other is to change the rhythm, as different running backs have different styles, and ground advance tactics might vary accordingly.


    In the NFL, there¡¯s even selection of running backs based on down numbers; a first-down running back and a fourth-down running back could have contrasting styles.


    That¡¯s why, initially, Burns was so eager to recruit Li Wei, as relying solely on one or two running backs was not feasible for an entire season.


    ```

 Chapter 39: 039 A mix-up of yin and yang

    Emmons and Jacobs, like all high school students, entered in September, but their performance at the spring training camp was mediocre. Not to mention competing to start, even in the reserve team, they were the second option for running back.


    Saban sent Emmons onto the field, primarily hoping to change the rhythm by using different ground attack styles, and also to give Li Wei some time to rest and adjust.


    As Li Wei left the field, Saban¡¯s eye caught Li Wei walking towards Burns; the two exchanged ideas by the sidelines, with Burns covering his mouth with the playbook and nodding repeatedly, then sharing his own ideas with Li Wei.


    After their brief exchange, Li Wei¡¯s face remained calm, revealing no emotions, but Saban knew that Li Wei was ready.


    This thought made Saban pause slightly. Since when had he started trusting Li Wei so much?


    Turning his gaze back to the field, Saban continued to watch the ongoing play.


    Emmons¡¯s ground advance was mediocre; the Tigers Defense Squad¡¯s frontline pressure remained fierce. Even though this lineup was missing two main Black-faced Yamas, reducing the intensity slightly, they were still very aggressive, posing a severe test to the Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s offensive line.


    However, the deterrence of Li Wei¡¯s recent ground advancement had the Tigers Defense Squad uneasy, with a clear focus on the frontline. Emmons¡¯s mediocre ground progress meant that Beteman¡¯s passes connected successfully.


    The Crimson Tide Storm gained another first down and approached midfield.


    Unfortunately, under pressure, Beteman¡¯s accuracy faltered, and a subsequent simple short pass failed to connect, forcing the Crimson Tide Storm to confront a second down with ten yards to go. Emmons barely pushed forward two yards, plunging the home team into the mire of third down with eight yards.


    Midfield was in close reach.


    The Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s offense finally showed some improvement in the second half, opening up the play. They just needed two more first downs to attempt a field goal, but instead, they got stuck here¡ª


    The difficulty of a football field goal is slightly less than that of a soccer, but it is still challenging.


    Like in soccer, football field goals also use a wall of players. The defensive group would pressure and penetrate as usual, disrupting the kicker¡¯s rhythm; however, since there is no goalkeeper, and as the goalposts face the sky with no boundaries, the success rate of field goals is relatively high but still dependent on distance.


    The closer to the goal, the higher the success rate.


    The shooting distance should include three parts: the length of the end zone itself, ten yards, because the goalposts are at the end line of the end zone; the second part is the length between the football and the front line of the end zone; the third part is the kicker¡¯s run-up distance, usually about eight yards.


    Hence, for an extra point field goal after a touchdown, with the football placed fifteen yards from the front of the end zone, the shooting distance would be about thirty-three yards combining the ten yards plus fifteen yards plus eight yards.


    Generally, field goals around forty or forty-five yards show excellent success rates, often nearing 99%; however, once the field goal distance exceeds fifty yards, the success rate dramatically drops.


    Therefore, NCAA and NFL traditionally consider the opposing team¡¯s thirty-five-yard line as entering the "field goal range."


    Of course, if the advance stops at the opponent¡¯s forty-yard line, the offensive team can still attempt a field goal, facing a fifty-eight-yard field goal which is not impossible.


    However, the thirty-five-yard line is safer.


    Having missed the tackle twice during their last head-to-head confrontation was a humiliation for Farrell. He didn¡¯t care about any tactic or formation, his focus was entirely on Li Wei, with the impulsiveness and stubbornness of a high schooler, but he unexpectedly discovered¡ª


    Number twenty-three wasn¡¯t moving with the team toward the same side but was heading in the opposite direction, that is, toward the right side of the Crimson Tide Storm and the left side of the Tigers.


    What¡¯s going on?


    Farrell didn¡¯t have time to ponder, sounded the alarm, his body¡¯s center of gravity had just started shifting right when he quickly halted and turned back, rushing to his left.


    In that moment, Farrell had broken away from the team, but without time to observe, he saw the Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s quarterback turn around, casually tossing the football.


    Smoothly, straight into the arms of number twenty-three.


    False pass, real run!


    The Crimson Tide Storm daringly executed a deceptive quick short pass play in the tough situation of third gear and eight yards.


    Had Farrell not noticed number twenty-three...


    But at this moment, there were no what-ifs.


    Farrell immediately rushed forward, keeping his eyes locked on number twenty-three.


    He was nearing.


    Getting even closer.


    Farrell¡¯s muscles were completely tensed because he had seen number twenty-three just charge head-on into O¡¯Daniel and skillfully turn using the momentum. He absolutely wouldn¡¯t make the same mistake, even devoid of impulsiveness, remaining calm, always watching number twenty-three¡¯s footsteps and center of gravity movement.


    Here it comes!


    As number twenty-three came within reach, Farrell brightened, readying to spring forward, but unexpectedly¡ª


    A flicker.


    A blur in front of his eyes.


    A pause.


    There, stopped right in front of him, was that figure which seemed not so robust and even slightly thinner compared to a typical running back. Farrell couldn¡¯t stop and charged past.


    Farrell: ???

 Chapter 40: 040 Leisurely Stroll

    This was a mind game¡ª


    Farrell was calculating Li Wei¡¯s move; Li Wei was also calculating Farrell¡¯s.


    In the blink of an eye, both players had shifted their centers of gravity several times and swayed, fake moves clashing against fake moves, each trying to dodge and capture the other. In an instant, they had exchanged the roles of aggressor and defender multiple times, the distance between them still closing, the air still heating up.


    Here it came!


    As the defensive player, Farrell had to strike first, to reverse his passive position and seize the initiative. A push off the ground, and his strong, hefty body was already thrown into motion.


    However.


    In that fleeting moment, Li Wei¡¯s figure flickered and stopped, braking abruptly without warning, completely controlling his body, hitting the pause button.


    Brake!


    Halt!


    ¡ªMisalignment.


    Farrell¡¯s grasp misfired by just a fraction, brushing past Li Wei¡¯s front, his target almost within reach yet blurring into an indistinct shadow as it brushed past.


    Farrell was startled, his heart contracting sharply, no time for surprise, no time for panic. Just before his body¡¯s center of gravity completely toppled, he forcibly shifted, sidestepping slightly to his right, a Thousand Pounds Drop descending toward the spot where Li Wei had braked, his excellent physical talent fully displaying in this secondary reaction, trying to cut off Li Wei¡¯s path.


    After all, whether Li Wei could shake off the tackle, or whether Farrell¡¯s panicked secondary reaction could effectively capture him, Farrell, like a mountain of flesh, blocked the way forward, physically stopping any progress.


    Farrell clenched his teeth, all his strength and speed focused in his body, fiercely pressing down.


    Leaning forward, compressing, dominating.


    Heavy pressure!


    Seeing Farrell physically intercept and successfully cut off the offense, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a sparkle in the helmet opposite him; he couldn¡¯t tell if it was the eyes, a smile, or just a reflection, but with just a fleeting glance, he caught a hint of calmness, a grasp of control over the entire situation.


    Farrell: Damn.


    The next second, Farrell felt darkness flash before his eyes as a figure charged head-on at him.


    Not dodging, not evading, but instead moving forward to meet it¡ª


    Head-on breakthrough.


    Subconsciously, Farrell¡¯s entire body tensed up, O¡¯Daniel¡¯s recent experience having prepared him mentally; he was not only fearless, but also burst with power.


    How did this happen?


    Ferrell couldn¡¯t figure it out.


    And Li Wei?


    Using the shoulder collision as the center, Li Wei also felt the oppression of weight and force with his whole body, the heavy impact pressing on his left shoulder. He didn¡¯t simply endure it but let his shoulder sink with the force of the impact and then spun clockwise, successfully dissipating the remaining force.


    Waiting for the 360-degree turn to complete, Li Wei didn¡¯t pause. According to his own plan, he unconsciously pulled his body to the upper right side, continuing his breakthrough.


    One step.


    Only then did he have time to survey his surroundings. As expected, the defensive group¡¯s main forces surged to the other side of the field, leaving the right half completely open.


    Two steps.


    The cornerback and safety were still on this side, not fully pulled away; but the previously dense crowd tactic had scattered, leaving an open path ahead.


    All as Li Wei had just observed and judged, also approved by Burns, the Tigers¡¯ defense piled heavily in the middle, both in numbers and in strength, creating immense pressure on the offensive line¡¯s pocket and ground cover; but comparatively, the flanks were weaker.


    As the cornerback and safety had to focus on the wide receiver, if Li Wei could use his speed to shake off the first tackle from the defensive line and divert the lineman¡¯s attention, the gateway on the side would open up.


    This was the situation now.


    Three steps.


    It was Number 99¡¯s collision that, although Li Wei managed to escape the grasp, still delayed him slightly, and the defensive group was already reacting.


    The passage, opening up in front of him, created an opportunity through the misalignment of offense and defense; but visibly, this corridor was now noisily closing again.


    Opportunity knocks but once.


    Making a snap decision, before continuing forward, his calves burst with strength, launching him in a sprinter¡¯s starting stance and he dashed forward instantly.


    Amidst the wobbling, Li Wei¡¯s ground pushing power was solid and steady, and within just two or three steps, he had grabbed his center of gravity, quickly picking up speed.


    The Tigers¡¯ cornerback was closing in, about to complete a head-on interception, when just then, a figure emerged on the right side, directly crashing into the cornerback¡ª


    The wide receiver, number one from the Crimson Tide Storm, Foster, made a return after initially running ten yards out, coming back to block.


    A crash, a block.


    The passage had not yet managed to close, and the obstruction was already cleared, once again opening up the field of view ahead.

 Chapter 41: 041 First Time Drawing the Sword

    A block from Wide Receiver number one, Foster, once again widened Li Wei¡¯s field of vision, allowing him to continue on without any hindrance, his speed still increasing.


    Bit by bit, Li Wei¡¯s speed was unleashed.


    Just then, a figure appeared on his left, leading by four or five steps ahead of Li Wei in a diagonal direction¡ªit was Tight End Hentges, who quickly glanced back at Li Wei.


    Although the two men didn¡¯t speak, Hentges immediately understood his job. With a turn of his head, he charged at the two linemen flying towards him, taking them both on in a block.


    In an instant.


    Hentges was just one person and simply couldn¡¯t stop the two linemen charging down like tigers, only managing to create a fleeting moment for Li Wei.


    However, that was enough.


    Pick up speed.


    Run.


    Sprint.


    Li Wei¡¯s speed entered the high-speed running phase through the start and acceleration zone, his light footsteps continuously breaking forward, moving from the five-yard to the ten-yard line in the blink of an eye.


    First down, achieved.


    The entire field, stunned.


    While some fans had already witnessed the capabilities of number twenty-three in the team scrimmage, it was still a novelty for others.


    Moreover, this was against the Clemson Tigers, the Tiger Team who had been rubbing their offensive group into the ground in the first half.


    In the stadium, there was silence, even the exclamations had completely disappeared.


    With Hentges¡¯ blocking clearing the obstacles, Li Wei smoothly broke through the ten yards to complete the first down conversion, then from the corner of his eye he could see O¡¯Daniel¡¯s flying tackle, but this move was useless against Li Wei.


    Push off the ground.


    Lift a leg.


    With a light leap, Li Wei¡¯s footsteps landed delicately and agilely, his cheetah-like speed and posture cleverly maintaining balance, utterly undisturbed, continuing to sprint at high speed, crossing into the Tiger¡¯s half at the forty-five-yard line in just a few short steps.


    This, still wasn¡¯t the end.


    Run.


    Full-on sprint.


    Free from restraint, Li Wei¡¯s speed was completely unleashed.


    Forty-yard line.


    The Safety appeared.


    Tanner Muse knew he was the last line of defense for the Tigers, he couldn¡¯t miss the tackle.


    But the problem was, for the entire first half today, the Tigers¡¯ backfield almost hadn¡¯t been challenged at all, the safeties were practically strolling around, and when Muse rotated on during the second half, he thought he was just there to go through the motions. But unexpectedly, a shockwave came out of nowhere and hit him face first.


    What if he missed the tackle?


    Charge.


    Ten yards.


    Dive.


    Five yards!


    Barely maintaining balance, knees unable to continue supporting, but Li Wei, with the momentum of his run-up, leapt into the air, his whole body lunging forward like a flying fish surging upwards.


    Soaring, gliding.


    Crossing the End Zone Line, landing in a vast and dazzling expanse.


    Touchdown.


    Blackley couldn¡¯t believe his eyes; this unknown number twenty-three had shed the Tiger Safety¡¯s coverage with sheer speed¡ª


    Absolute speed.


    An explosive sprint akin to Sonic the Hedgehog! And Blackley, a professional, would never forget the series of swift stops and turns that shook off the Defensive End earlier, the true beginning of everything, the dazzling moves that created an opportunity for the Crimson Tide Storm on third gear.


    Third and eight?


    No, number twenty-three transformed the third-down challenge into a fifty-two-yard long touchdown run with an inconceivable performance.


    Though this wasn¡¯t the Tiger Team¡¯s starting Defensive group, they were still substitutes; but don¡¯t forget, the Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s Offensive group was completely unable to open up the game in the first half but reversed the situation entirely in the second half because of a running back.


    Blackley turned to look at Pash: ???


    Pash wore a satisfied smile.


    Ah!


    Ah! Ah! Ah!


    At last, Bryant Denny Stadium exploded with energy, the long-awaited touchdown finally came, and in such an exuberant manner.


    "Roar!"


    "Roar!"


    The University of Alabama¡¯s Crimson Tide Storm began to roar!


    The roar reverberated, hovering over the stadium.


    Allen, the Defensive group captain, exchanged a look with another Defensive Captain, number ten Foster¡ª


    Their nightmare was now the opponent¡¯s.


    What was this slight sense of schadenfreude?


    Allan¡¯s lips curved up, "The rookie proved himself this way; he¡¯s slapping us in the face, showing disdain for our Defensive group¡¯s poor performance. So, what now?"


    Foster, a man of few words, shrugged slightly, "Hit back."


    In the first half, the Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s vaunted defense didn¡¯t perform well, getting completely outplayed by Watson; now their main force was finally on stage, and Watson shouldn¡¯t be playing anymore. If they still didn¡¯t perform well, in front of that rookie, Li Wei, they might lose face completely.


    Allen was eager to try, were those young Tiger cubs ready to face the real Crimson Tide Storm?

 Chapter 42: 042 Ground Threat

    "Hey, tough guy."


    Li Wei still didn¡¯t remember Allen¡¯s name. He genuinely didn¡¯t mean to forget, but he just couldn¡¯t remember it. Anyway, Allen really liked the nickname. Right before the Defensive group was about to take the field, he called out to Allen.


    Not just Allen, but number ten Foster, Humphrey, and the others, all stopped in their tracks.


    Li Wei flashed a smile, "Did you guys see that? Mr. Watsons over there."


    Following Li Wei¡¯s gaze, the players from the Defensive group all looked towards the Clemson rest area across the field, spotting the relaxed-looking Watson¡ª


    His helmet and gear were off, and at the moment he was just in a tight moisture-wicking shirt, hands spread out on the back of a chair, his legs crossed, chatting and laughing with his teammates as if he were on vacation in Cancun.


    Even though the Crimson Tide Storm had just scored a touchdown, he seemed unaffected.


    "That gentleman is on vacation, thinking it¡¯s impossible for us to threaten their victory. Even if their Tigers Defense Squad gave up a touchdown, he still believes their backup Offensive group can maintain the lead."


    "Hey, gentlemen, how about we prove ourselves with action, make that gentleman hop on his feet, and then get him back in gear and on the field."


    "What do you think?"


    More than words, this scene was far more effective.


    One by one, the players from the Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s Defensive group¡¯s blood began to boil with burning fighting spirit.


    Allen turned to look at Li Wei, his eyes revealing a supreme confidence, "How about we see who can make that Mr. Watsons jump first?"


    Li Wei gave a thumbs up, "Be careful now, our Offensive group is already one point ahead."


    Without saying much more, Allen swung his arm, and the Defensive group took the field.


    It¡¯s true that in the training game, the backup team had won, and the main Defensive group had given up a touchdown at the beginning and end of the game, performing poorly; but don¡¯t forget, whether it¡¯s the main players or the backups, the overall performance of the Defensive group was very strong. The only uncertain factor was Li Wei.


    In the first half of today¡¯s game, the Defensive group lacked solutions for dealing with Watson¡¯s individual performance, but now that the main Defensive group had finally taken the field, they were also holding back their breath.


    The Tigers¡¯ Offensive group didn¡¯t put Watson on for the second half, but instead followed the tradition of warm-up games, using different formations to test different strategic combinations, but Li Wei was right ¡ª they should see Watson as the target¡ª


    Win or lose, sparring with the strongest opponent and challenging your own limits is the most thrilling part of competitive sports.


    Allen was ready.


    In the internal competition of the Crimson Tide Storm, "Offensive Group VS Defensive Group": "1:1".


    When the Crimson Tide Storm Offensive Group took the field again, one could observe the tactical changes in the Tigers Defense Squad, with Sweeney showing his mettle.


    Sweeney had also noticed Li Wei¡¯s excellent performance, and the University of Alabama had always been a traditional powerhouse for running backs, their ground attack truly impressive. Li Wei alone had successfully rung the alarm bell in Sweeney¡¯s mind.


    Therefore, the Tigers Defense Squad tightened up their ground defense at the front, with number ninety-nine Farrell and other defensive players narrowing their pocket positions. As soon as the running back took the ball, day after day, the defensive players stepped forward to form a wall tactic, their solid defense cutting off the ground routes.


    Li Wei faced many difficulties.


    As mentioned before, Li Wei wasn¡¯t the kind of powerhouse quarterback like Derrick Henry who could breach fortifications; it was hard for him to leverage his strengths within layers upon layers of bulk shielding, including Jacobs, Clark, Emmons, and so on, who were all not of this type. This was Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s dilemma.


    The most direct reason Burns noticed Li Wei initially was Li Wei¡¯s explosive burst of speed over short distances, which gave him the capacity to break through quickly¡ª


    The distance wasn¡¯t far, perhaps just two or three yards, unleashed in an instant and then encountering a block. He might not be as forceful as Derrick Henry, yet he could still make up for the gaps in the Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s ground attack.


    Moreover, Li Wei always managed to make the right choice using his observation and judgement, two or three yards possibly becoming four or five yards or even more.


    At the same time!


    The Crimson Tide Storm leveraged Li Wei¡¯s individual ability¡ªoccasionally switching up with Emmons, the threat of the ground offense solidly capturing the attention of the Tigers¡¯ Defensive Squad.


    Caught off guard.


    Consequently, the Crimson Tide Storm broke open the game on the passing end.


    Sweeney firmly believed that the Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s passing offense was weak and, with Beteman¡¯s average passing accuracy, the Defensive line and linemen focused more attention on the ground offense, relatively giving more space to the pass. The frontfield pressure and close-marking tactics also didn¡¯t exert enough pressure¡ª


    Even if they allowed Beteman to pass, the passing offense might not be able to unleash its firepower.


    However, Sweeney miscalculated.


    "Touchdown!"


    Pash once again raised his hands, cheering with surging passion that continuously erupted.


    "Touchdown, Beteman connects with Hentges, this is the first passing touchdown for the Crimson Tide Storm in this game, and now the home team¡¯s offense has broken open the field."


    "The Clemson Tigers face immense pressure, their lead now barely holding."

 Chapter 43: 043 Eager to Move

    Indeed, Beteman¡¯s passing accuracy truly was average, but don¡¯t forget, Beteman had become the second quarterback for a traditional powerhouse like Crimson Tide Storm. Maybe his ability ceiling was lower, but he certainly wasn¡¯t incompetent.


    The short passes often relied on teamwork. As long as the ball¡¯s trajectory wasn¡¯t too outrageous, and the wide receiver and tight end didn¡¯t misunderstand the tactics, then the connections could be successful.


    While the Crimson Tide offensive line attracted a substantial amount of fire on the ground, Saban arranged a series of short-pass tactics to progressively penetrate the opposing defense¡ª


    Was the tactic original?


    No. Saban¡¯s passing tactics were always by the book.


    Did the tactic work?


    Yes.


    That was already enough.


    Alternating between passing and running plays, Saban¡¯s abundant experience and astuteness once again showed their edge, consuming a total of eight minutes and thirty-seven seconds, finally scoring a touchdown in the red zone facing a third and three¡ª


    A play-action pass.


    Beteman pretended to hand off the football to Li Wei, who drew the defense in, but then turned and found the tight end Hentges.


    Hentges, with his back to the end zone, caught the ball and after securing it, encountered a tackle; yet, he used his physical advantage to barrel into the end zone.


    Touchdown, secured!


    After the extra point was successfully scored, "14:21".


    The home team, Crimson Tide Storm, further closed the gap in the score, now just one touchdown away, and Bryant Denny Stadium erupted with incredible energy.


    "Roar!"


    "Roar!"


    Although this was just a warm-up game, unrelated to winning or losing; considering the history of both teams and their clash at the national championship final earlier this year, everyone from the players to the fans exploded with incredible enthusiasm, wholeheartedly engaging in the game, no less intense than in official matches.


    The Tigers, too, were no exception.


    Whoosh.


    Suddenly, one of the "Black-faced Yamas," Dexter Lawrence stood up. Compared to players like Watkins and Wilkins, the high schooler Lawrence was still full of youthful zeal¡ª


    Ready at all times to prove himself, never missing an opportunity.


    Moreover, with Lawrence and another high schooler, number ninety-nine Farrell, competing within the team, seeing Farrell fall short of the coach¡¯s expectations sparked Lawrence¡¯s excitement as he intently looked towards the coach.


    "24:14."


    The gap in the score widened again, and with most of the fourth quarter already ticked away, it pushed the Crimson Tide Storm into a challenging position.


    Watson, once again settled, resumed joking with his teammates.


    Watkins and Wilkins regained their composure, with only Lawrence still eager, trying to prove himself in such a game.


    The balance of victory subtly tilted toward the Tigers. Although slight, the change in situation had indeed altered the mood; one could feel a tragic pressure settling on their shoulders when the Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s offensive group took the field again.


    Li Wei felt it too.


    Although it wasn¡¯t an official match, the exhilaration of victory and defeat filled his heart. Unlike cross-country running, unlike mixed martial arts, a burden of united resolve heavily descended, tensing people up while also invigorating them.


    This was his first time.


    Both the Crimson Tide Storm and the Tigers felt it; the first gear of offense sparked flames¡ª


    Roar!


    Farrell entered like a sumo wrestler, moving his feet while squatting down as if entering the ring, using such celebration moves to taunt the Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s offensive group.


    "Sorry."


    On the offensive line, right tackle Lester Cotton offered his right hand to Li Wei, his face full of remorse.


    Just then, Cotton hadn¡¯t secured his position and was instantly broken through by Farrell, such that as soon as Li Wei caught the football from Beteman, he was faced with Farrell¡¯s tackle and went down without any chance to move.


    It was very awkward.


    Cotton knew it was entirely his fault, and he needed to take full responsibility.


    Li Wei caught Cotton¡¯s right hand, pulling himself up, then patted Cotton on the shoulder, "Good effort, just don¡¯t make the same mistake next time."


    With a joke, Cotton touched his helmet.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t mind, even though Cotton¡¯s failure to secure his position was an unacceptable error. What mattered more was that their offensive tactics had been anticipated by the opponent, with the Tigers¡¯ defensive group taking the upper hand. That was the crux.


    Moreover, in football, escaping impacts was impossible.


    This recent impact left Li Wei tasting the metallic flavor of blood on his tongue¡ª


    It was a bit stimulating, a bit exhilarating.


    Overpowering felt good, joyful, but crushing without a fight was too boring. Only the crushing and destruction after a contest were truly interesting.


    Li Wei thought, it seems number ninety-nine was well-prepared then.

 Chapter 44: 044 Bring the horse over

    ```


    Third and thirteen.


    The situation was dire; on the first down, a running attack, Li Wei was tackled behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of three yards; this directly led to substantial pressure on the subsequent offense, and on the second down, Beteman attempted a medium pass, but unfortunately, the offensive line once again faced immense pressure, forcing Beteman to throw hurriedly, and the connection failed.


    Then, they arrived at the current position.


    But this is football, with offense and defense constantly alternating, the result of each offensive play could change the tactics of the follow-up plays, and the situation was always evolving.


    The maturity of Sweeney could be seen from the Tigers¡¯ previous offensive series and the current defensive series: focusing on a war of attrition to run down the clock, with the defense clamping down and creating opportunities for themselves.


    In response to the passive situation of the third quarter, Sweeney still came up with some countermeasures.


    Now, on a long third down, even the Crimson Tide Storm couldn¡¯t rely on a running play, given that the efficiency was too low and it was easily overwhelmed by the opponent¡¯s defensive flood.


    Unless Saban decided to give up on this offensive series to avoid making a mistake on their own end zone¡¯s frontier, tactically using the running back to advance some distance to vie for a better punt position¡ª


    But could that be possible?


    Now still trailing by ten points and with little time remaining in the game, the Crimson Tide Storm couldn¡¯t afford to waste any offensive down.


    So, a passing play?


    The pressure, all on Beteman¡¯s shoulders.


    Beteman could feel all the bustling eyes in the stadium fixated on him, burning through his gear to scald his skin, his fingertips tingling and slightly moist; but turning his head to look at Li Wei, he noticed the brightness in Li Wei¡¯s eyes.


    "We can."


    Li Wei¡¯s eyes emitted that signal, causing Beteman¡¯s fingers to clench into fists, silently psyching himself up.


    Then, ready for the snap.


    On their own 22-yard line, Beteman was prepared.


    "Hike!"


    At the signal, Beteman took the football from the center, turned around, and Li Wei had already appeared; the two executed a misdirection.


    A running play?


    No way, the Crimson Tide Storm opting for a run on third and thirteen?


    Or was it a fake run and real pass?


    In a flash, through the feigned and real movements between Li Wei and Beteman, the Tigers Defense Squad was faked out, albeit slightly.


    Subconsciously, they created space, prepared to defend against the pass, especially medium and long passes, hence the need to start dropping back; but no sooner had they started than they perceived the movement between Li Wei and Beteman and hesitated.


    It was precisely this hesitation that left everyone with their own judgment and choices, and thus the standoff between offense and defense unfurled across various corners of the field.


    Farrell immediately lost his balance and lurched forward, but he still tenaciously surged forward once more, winning a bit of space for himself, pouncing towards Li Wei¡¯s lower body with a posture like paying tribute to a pillar, arms stretched out, squeezing tight¡ª


    Tackle!


    Direct hit!


    Farrell rejoiced, watching as Li Wei went down with his lunge, but amidst the chaos and tumult, Farrell¡¯s grip couldn¡¯t tighten, he had already lost control before touching the ground, and the next second he saw Li Wei¡¯s legs pull out, pressing on, moving forward.


    Farrell: ???


    What¡¯s happening?


    I definitely tackled him, didn¡¯t I?


    Indeed, Farrell did tackle Li Wei.


    Li Wei realized there was a net waiting for him ahead, he didn¡¯t have time to continue a lateral sprint to open space and then surge forward; he had to seize the quickest and most direct route to step up before the net tightened, and that¡¯s when he collided with the formidable Farrell.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t manage to shake off the tackle.


    But he didn¡¯t give up either.


    Farrell¡¯s tackle wasn¡¯t solid; Cotton¡¯s disruption played a significant role, so even though Li Wei lost his balance, he didn¡¯t lose control of his body.


    With a forward dive, before hitting the ground, Li Wei pulled out his left hand to support the ground, his strength pouring down like a landslide, quickly utilizing the reactive force from the support point to win the kinetic energy for a secondary start.


    Force off the ground, exerting power.


    With a thrust of his waist and abdominal power, he stood up, not waiting for his body to fully stabilize; continuous thrusting strides had already propelled his body rushing forward.


    One step, two steps.


    Amidst staggering and chaos, Li Wei incredibly managed to stand up again, his wavering balance gradually returning, and in a blink he had rushed out five yards.


    But this time, there was no space; defensive players standing more than ten yards away were approaching from all directions, the gaps and passages visibly closing one after another.


    Li Wei was very calm; he noticed the earlier yellow flag, but he needed more than just the penalty yards; the offensive run with the ball wasn¡¯t over yet! He was prepared to firmly grasp the initiative of the attack in his hands!


    Not just calm, but also fired up¡ª


    "Through hell and high water, bring it on."


    His gaze swiftly scanned ahead, not recklessly accelerating, noting a gap and gauging the surrounding situation; only then did he firmly break through.


    One step, two steps...


    Just as he started his second step, a fierce force came from the right side laterally, like a high-speed train, directly knocking Li Wei sideways.


    Bang!


    A muffled sound, and all his insides began to churn.

 Chapter 45: Pulling chestnuts out of the fire

    Encirclement, predicament, rapid contraction.


    Third Gear with a sizeable yardage is just so challenging¡ªif you choose to pass, you might face intensive marking; if you choose to run, then you¡¯re ambushed from all sides.


    Compared to the ground offense of the first and second gears, running on Third Gear often wins some space at the start, but after bursting through five yards, you¡¯re surrounded.


    Right now, that was the case. Everywhere the eye could see, there were Tigers players¡¯ silhouettes piercing through the Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s defense like a dam giving way to a flood.


    Li Wei had just found a breakthrough path and was stepping forward diagonally to the right.


    Right behind him, a collision from the same direction was already crushing over him head-on.


    Bang.


    His innards were tossed into turmoil.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t take the hit head-on; it wasn¡¯t his strong suit. He played to his strengths, quickly adjusting along the force of the impact, changing direction, and dashing diagonally to the left.


    It took a split second to realize the collision had come from a cornerback, who was also tangled with Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s number one wide receiver Foster, such that he couldn¡¯t tackle, only collide. No sooner had they collided than both lost their balance and tumbled away like rolling gourds.


    Li Wei¡¯s staggering steps persisted along the diagonal, taking just two or three short steps, and then he could see two safeties quickly stepping up, along with a lineman trying to shake off Hentges¡¯s entanglement. An unfinished pocket thus appeared before his eyes.


    Right then¡ª


    A side dive, Li Wei continued to lift his legs high and leapt into the air, pressing onward.


    A frontal interception, Li Wei raised his left arm, stretched it out straight, and delivered a powerful straight arm block.


    But this time, the force did not establish dominance. The safety before him must be the Tigers¡¯ strong safety¡ªboth his weight and strength seemed formidable, and he wasn¡¯t shaken off by Li Wei¡¯s initial resistance,


    Li Wei didn¡¯t panic, watching as the other safety, Mus, was drawing near.


    So, Li Wei simply used the straight arm block to push the safety before him as a meat shield, taking a step up, another step up, and lifted the shield to charge at Mus.


    A block.


    The Tigers¡¯ dense defense became a disadvantage; everyone piled up, hindering their own players, and then the two safeties collided with each other.


    Clang!


    Helmet crashed against helmet, a dizzying whirl.


    Then, Li Wei had already broken free, using the reaction force of his pushing momentum to shift his balance, and dashed again toward the right sideline area¡ª


    There, was the gap.


    The cornerback who was originally defending that area had fallen to the ground tangled up with Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s Foster. Even if he got up to pursue now, it was already too late.


    Ahead, lay the passage.


    But it wasn¡¯t that simple; Li Wei¡¯s peripheral vision caught a large force from the left rapidly closing in, and he had to find his center of gravity within the shaking balance.


    Stamp the ground.


    Stamp the ground!


    In the midst of turbulence and chaos, Li Wei held his breath, fully entering an anaerobic state, his speed increasing, continually increasing, while remaining fully alert, watching in all directions, his feet swiftly sprinting out.


    Heh!


    Li Wei, in the midst of high-speed running, came to an emergency stop and somehow managed to maintain control, his body swaying left and right as if he were a dragonfly perched precariously on the tip of a newly emerged lotus leaf, its wings trembling slightly.


    However, Mus just flew past, drifting in front of Li Wei and lunging at thin air.


    Mus had anticipated he needed to account for one step ahead, expecting Li Wei to continue moving so they could collide, but did not foresee this scene.


    Their gaze crossed.


    They brushed past each other.


    Mus uncontrollably rushed towards the Crimson Tide Storm players on the side.


    But by then, the Crimson Tide Storm players had no time to pay attention to him, their focus entirely on Li Wei, unable to restrain themselves from shouting along.


    Listen, those were the roars circling above Bryant Denny Stadium.


    "Roar!"


    Li Wei¡¯s feet entered the opposing field, the forty-five-yard line.


    "Roar!"


    After restarting, Li Wei regained his balance, then accelerated again, his speed incrementally increasing, the forty-yard line.


    "Roar!"


    Gradually, the Tigers Defense Squad players swarmed towards the sideline, one after another, in relentless pursuit, all the fervor in the stadium clawing its way towards Li Wei in a wave.


    The thirty-five-yard line.


    "Roar!"


    Blood boiling, passion surging, no one could resist as the entire stadium turned into a sea of flames, even Blackley and Pash who watched Li Wei, with the tip of his toes on the sideline, sprinting forward and accelerating, like a breeze blowing past.


    The thirty-yard line.


    Behind him, an awe-inspiring tide of people spread out like a peacock¡¯s grand tail.


    Ahead, Li Wei ran like a solitary arrow let loose, running faster and faster.


    Whoosh whoosh, the howling wind, the overwhelming Crimson Tide announced its release, then enveloped Li Wei as he stepped into the end zone, detonating entirely.


    Boom!


    The whole stadium stood, united in shouting and roaring, liberating their joy.


    "Roar!"


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    Crimson Tide Storm, sweeping across the stadium.


    The Tigers, in stunned silence.


    Incredible, beyond belief, yet this was all happening right before their eyes.


    "24:21", Crimson Tide Storm scored again, narrowing the gap in the score¡ª


    Watson, could he continue to sit comfortably at his leisure?

 Chapter 46: 046 Change of possession

    Watson couldn¡¯t sit still anymore.


    He was jittering his leg.


    When Farrell missed the tackle, he had started jittering his leg and biting his nails, completely losing the relaxed and arrogant demeanor he had during the halftime break, his heart crumpled like scrap paper.


    Everyone knew that the Crimson Tide Storm relied on defense; their offense completely depended on Derrick Henry. Without their main player this year, their offensive capability had been halved. The Tigers were leading with three touchdowns and had kept the Crimson Tide Storm scoreless in the first half, comfortably positioned to secure a victory.


    However¡ª


    Where did that number twenty-three even come from?


    Damn.


    Watson knew it was just a warm-up game, but for the Tigers, it was not only a chance for revenge for last season¡¯s nationwide championship final but also an opportunity to declare their championship ambitions to the Crimson Tide Storm and the entire league before the new season began. He was craving a victory.


    And preferably a big one.


    Watching the Crimson Tide Storm score two touchdowns, Watson thought, maybe not a big win, but at least a victory, since he hadn¡¯t played in the second half yet.


    But now?


    Forget about a big win; even victory was in jeopardy.


    Damn!


    Watson abruptly stood up; he didn¡¯t care if it was only a warm-up game. They had to win, there were no excuses.


    Not just Watson, but Watkins, Wilkins, Lawrence, and the other Black-faced Yamas couldn¡¯t contain themselves either, all standing up and looking towards Sweeney.


    Sweeney noticed the looks. Although his disciples hadn¡¯t said anything, he knew that the team was united in their desire to build confidence for a solid start to the new season.


    Sweeney guessed Saban was likely focusing on testing the second and third string lineups, knowing Saban¡¯s cunning, he definitely wouldn¡¯t care about the outcome of a warm-up game; perfect, they could use Saban¡¯s mindset to secure a victory¡ª


    At a psychological level, gain the upper hand.


    However, now...


    Sweeney also had a headache, hesitated for a moment, but then made up his mind.


    "Watson, get ready to go in."


    A "sack" is when the quarterback is tackled to the ground while holding the ball; though it doesn¡¯t result in a loss of possession, it does lead to a loss of yards and involves a direct hit, which makes the quarterback highly susceptible to injuries since quarterbacks aren¡¯t as resilient to physical impact as other positions.


    Too eager to prove himself, Watson attempted a pass on the first down and ten yards, only to fall into Saban¡¯s trap. All possible pass targets were locked down. By the time Watson realized, Allen had already lunged in front of him. Watson tried to use his legs to escape, but Allen didn¡¯t let the cooked duck fly away.


    Sack, +1.


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    The momentum of the Crimson Tide Storm Defensive group had also been unleashed, as the reserve team had been drilled into a sieve by Watson in the first half, and Allen and his team were also holding back their breath.


    But that wasn¡¯t enough¡ª


    Watson still excelled. Despite the sack, he was able to create opportunities with his skills, earning the Tigers two first downs just as the Tigers¡¯ morale was about to rise; then the Crimson Tide Storm Defensive group demonstrated their strength again.


    "Interception!"


    "God, Watson has just thrown the first interception of the game for both teams¡¯ quarterbacks, handing over possession. Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s number ten lineman Foster snatches it, completing this stunning turnover!"


    "Now, the offensive opportunity is in the hands of the Tigers."


    "The outcome of the match is still unclear; anything is possible! As expected from the rematch of last season¡¯s Nationwide Championship peak battle, it¡¯s indeed thrilling!"


    An interception corresponds to a reception.


    If the quarterback passes the football into the hands of a teammate, it¡¯s called a completed pass.


    But if the quarterback passes the football into the hands of an opponent, it¡¯s called an interception, directly changing the possession right where it happened.


    Defensive players can vie with wide receivers and tight ends, and as long as they don¡¯t commit any fouls, completing the catch marks an interception; and after an interception, they can also initiate a return. Wherever the knee touches the ground, that¡¯s where the next offensive wave starts, and if they drive straight into the opponent¡¯s end zone, it is an interception return touchdown.


    This is also one way the Defensive group can change the game.


    Thus, the quarterback¡¯s passes also need to be exceedingly cautious.


    Watson...was still too aggressive, failing to clearly discern the position placements of the offensive and defensive players, he ended up mistakenly sending the football to the wrong spot, where Foster immediately intercepted it, achieving the interception.


    An interception, a turnover¡ª


    The Crimson Tide Storm Defensive group made Watson leave the field again less than three minutes after he entered, taking back possession and securing two minutes and seven seconds of offensive time for the Crimson Tide Storm Offensive group.


    The situation had completely turned around.

 Chapter 47: 047 Pseudo-reality

    "Roar!"


    Rarely seen, Foster let out a roar, this normally silent and honest man during training showed his mettle in such a game, smashing the football onto the ground, igniting cheers from the entire field.


    Opposite, Watson simply could not believe this scene, angrily taking off his helmet, cursing and muttering to himself all the way to the Tigers¡¯ rest area, his dark complexion could rival the bottom of a pot, the swearing wouldn¡¯t stop.


    The situation, once again, quietly shifted.


    At this moment, Sweeney also realized his mistake, but it was too late for regrets. Turning around, he saw Lawrence and the others¡¯ eager looks, hesitated no more, waved his hand boldly, and the main players took to the field¡ª


    If it had come to this, then victory was a must.


    In competitive sports, there was nothing that a victory couldn¡¯t solve; if they won, all mistakes would vanish like smoke, and the Tigers¡¯ spring preparations could conclude with a perfect ending.


    Sweeney¡¯s eyes radiated determination:


    "Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s offense VS Tigers¡¯ Defense Squad."


    The weak points of the two teams could be the key to deciding the outcome of the game, but Sweeney was confident, as long as they could stop this offensive wave, Watson would take the field again to clinch the victory.


    Everything hinged on this moment.


    Lawrence didn¡¯t think twice; seeing the coach¡¯s signal, he pushed off the ground and rushed out, returning to the field in a sprinter¡¯s burst, scanning the crowd, he instantly caught sight of that figure¡ª


    Number twenty-three.


    A smile appeared on Lawrence¡¯s lips, was that guy ready? He wasn¡¯t Farrell; he was about to show what a real defensive line was, and that the starting position wasn¡¯t earned through backdoors¡ªFarrell couldn¡¯t even carry his shoes.


    Li Wei felt a chill on the back of his neck, goosebumps erupting uncontrollably, turning reflexively to spot Lawrence¡¯s figure in the crowd.


    Clearly, Lawrence made no attempt to conceal his intentions; not only that, but when their eyes clashed, he raised his right thumb, gently dragged it across his throat, and revealed a set of white teeth with a wide grin.


    "Haha.


    Hahaha.


    You will remember me well, my name will become your nightly nightmare, waking each night from fear and shame¡ªI¡¯ll take good care of you."


    Indeed, Sweeney needed to apply pressure at the front line. Beteman was not a player who could walk through pressure with ease. This was also the fundamental reason Saban chose Hertz as the main quarterback¡ªthough Hertz too was still young and needed more polishing. The Tigers¡¯ front-line pressure and rushing tactics were correct.


    But the young defensive players¡¯ attention was completely captured by Li Wei.


    This was still correct, at least the tactics hadn¡¯t deviated from Sweeney¡¯s plan, but the details were not precise enough, leaving room for Saban to exploit. Explore stories at §Þ??


    The tactic, issue the command¡ª


    "Attack!"


    Beteman signaled the start of play, took the football from the center, and immediately turned around. Within two crossover steps, he was already converging with the advancing Li Wei. Beteman stuffed the football into Li Wei¡¯s arms.


    Lawrence: Got you!


    Stamping the ground, starting, sprinting.


    Lawrence¡¯s advance was very firm, watching number twenty-three intently, who clearly sensed the heightened intensity of the defense. He made a feint, first swaying towards the middle but it was just a bluff; he then swiftly cut to the right. His speed exploded after the feint.


    In today¡¯s game, both instances of significant ground gains were made through the right.


    Lawrence wasn¡¯t fooled. He planted his feet, came to a sudden halt, then quickly changed direction with a sharp lateral move. He shook off the opposing Cotton instantly, demonstrating abilities far superior to Farrell¡¯s, at least at the current stage¡ªmore mature and more dominant. He tore through the offensive line¡¯s blocking with a single yank.


    With a push, Lawrence broke free from Cotton¡¯s grasp and dove forward like lightning. He wasn¡¯t taking things lightly. His focus was entirely on the technique of the tackle; he wasn¡¯t going to miss the grab like that idiot Farrell.


    Number twenty-three was within reach.


    Lawrence was elated.


    It was only half a beat too late when he realized something was amiss. Number twenty-three seemed to be crashing into him in an embrace.


    So, was it Lawrence who tackled number twenty-three, or was it number twenty-three who tackled Lawrence?


    At that moment, in the corner of Lawrence¡¯s eye, he caught a glimpse of a deep brown rainbow arc streaking across the sky¡ª


    What... what¡¯s going on? Why was the football up there?


    Turning his gaze back to the front, Lawrence saw number twenty-three¡¯s face magnify in his pupils. Everything went dark as his whole body was flipped:


    Surprise!

 Chapter 48: 048 Time Control

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    Lawrence¡¯s vision went black, an overwhelming force nearly shattered his organs, and his body was flipped over onto the ground like a bag of rice.


    He thought he had tackled No. 23 accurately, but No. 23 had been ready, seizing the moment Lawrence was distracted to knock him over with a robust and decisive frontal collision, his robust and hefty body flipping over head first, cutting off all sounds at the throat.


    A backward fall.


    In front of him, a chaos of footsteps filled his vision, and amidst the dizziness, he only saw a flash of red cutting a bloody path through the turmoil.


    Then¡ª


    "Roar, Crimson Tide!"


    "Roar, Crimson Tide!"


    Bryant Denny Stadium erupted with incredible energy.


    Lawrence clenched his fists: a fake run for a real pass! Damn it!


    Now, Lawrence finally realized this was a tactic of faking a run for a real pass; No. 23 completely drew their attention, causing a gap in the defense as the quarterback of Crimson Tide Storm quickly executed a short pass, not just gaining the first down but also vigorously advancing fifteen yards.


    The field goal range was within reach.


    The Tigers Defense Squad united their will, trying to strike out the Crimson Tide Storm, but didn¡¯t expect to be immediately met with severe rebuke as soon as they entered the game, the situation looking grim.


    Lawrence stood up, looking towards Watkins and Wilkins; their faces were already dark, indistinguishable, but the exchange of looks made it clear, they were too focused on No. 23¡¯s ground advancing ability, causing them to lose focus elsewhere, resulting in significant defensive gaps.


    The situation was grim.


    If they couldn¡¯t stop the Crimson Tide Storm here, once within the field goal range, the control over the game¡¯s outcome would fall into the hands of the Crimson Tide Storm.


    Damn it!


    Below the field, Watson could no longer sit still, standing straight at the sideline, his expression alternating between clouds and sunshine, unable to suppress the overwhelming irritability and anger¡ª


    If it weren¡¯t for that interception just now...


    The defensive group had regained their focus, not making the same mistake twice.


    So, what strategy would the Crimson Tide Storm deploy next in the offense, and how were the Tigers Defense Squad preparing to intercept the opponents near the midfield?


    "Attack!"


    Beteman commanded without moving his feet, grabbing the Football and standing in place, stepping aside to leave room for Li Wei to approach.


    Then, Li Wei took the Football from Beteman, but didn¡¯t change his running direction, instead plunging headlong into the surging offensive line¡ª


    Through the center!


    Even though there was no running play or advancement, number twenty-three¡¯s decoy action and disruption created space, laying the foundation for the Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s short pass connections¡ª


    Sweeney was somewhat annoyed.


    At that moment, he finally realized he had acted too hastily, his impatience exposing his tactical intentions which not only gave Saban an edge but also misjudged number twenty-three¡¯s role twice in succession. Beyond ground advances, number twenty-three¡¯s targeted patching against the defense was undoubtedly crucial.


    So, what to do next?


    Taking a deep breath, Sweeney calmed down; even if they entered the field goal area, it didn¡¯t matter. It¡¯s fine to lose the field goal; as long as the Tigers could quickly strike out the Crimson Tide Storm, Watson could still come back and kill the game.


    Sweeney glanced at the game time, one minute fifteen seconds.


    Alright, the time might not be enough for Watson to kill the game, but it didn¡¯t matter; a tie going into the overtime was just as good, as the game held many possibilities.


    The urgent need was to stop the Crimson Tide Storm; they couldn¡¯t allow a touchdown.


    With this shift in thoughts, Sweeney immediately started arranging the tactics¡ª


    The focus changed.


    Sweeney no longer pursued completely stopping the Crimson Tide Storm but preventing them from scoring a touchdown; so they only needed to cut off long passes and intensively defend the short pass area.


    Even if the pass was connected, they could intercept the receiver immediately and also consume game time.


    That would be enough.


    Sweeney incorporated time management into his considerations, as ground attacks consumed a lot of time. In a time-critical situation, passing was the only option. After he changed the tactical objective, the entire defensive strategy soon became efficient, and the pressure exerted by the three Black-faced Yamas in the short pass area also took effect.


    As expected.


    The Crimson Tide Storm chose to pass twice in a row, trying to control the time, but after wasting two timeouts, they advanced a total of five yards.


    After a new first down, they faced a second down and eight yards situation, and their advance was trapped at the twenty-six-yard line; the closer to the red zone, the more difficult it became.


    Game time, only fifty-five seconds left, Crimson Tide Storm had only one timeout left.


    The situation was a bit awkward.


    If the Crimson Tide Storm couldn¡¯t get a new first down, they would have to choose a field goal, then leaving about forty seconds for Watson to re-enter the game¡ª


    As long as Watson entered, then everything was possible.


    This time the second down and eight yards, even to third down, the offensive strategy suddenly became tricky, especially since Beteman¡¯s last two passing plays hadn¡¯t gone well, and the ground attack was not conducive to time management, even potentially disastrous.


    What to do?


    In an emergency, Saban didn¡¯t hesitate; he had already finished setting up the strategy, and the Crimson Tide Storm offensive group quickly lined up, ready in no time.


    "Attack!"


    Beteman¡¯s voice tore through the sky.

 Chapter 49: 0.49%

    Fifty-five seconds left, twenty-six yards from the end zone, second and eight.


    Under such circumstances, what would one choose?


    Clearly, the safest choice was to run down the clock, kick a field goal, tie the score, and then head into overtime.


    If that had been the case, Saban and Sweeney would have been in perfect harmony, playing a game of give and take, comradely walking into overtime with their arms around each other¡¯s shoulders in mutual agreement.


    So, what was Saban thinking?


    Li Wei, change your position.


    All along, the offensive group of the Crimson Tide Storm had mostly been using the pistol formation¡ª


    The offensive line would spread out in a line, the quarterback four yards behind the center, and the running back another four yards behind the quarterback, all three players in the same vertical column; additionally, on a horizontal line relative to the offensive line, there were two wide receivers on the left and one wide receiver paired with a tight end on the right.


    This tactic was greatly developed in the NCAA, mainly aimed at mobile quarterbacks.


    With the overlapping positions of the quarterback and the running back offering concealment, the quarterback could observe and choose whether to pass, hand off the ball, or run it himself.


    In 2005, the University of Nevada popularized this tactic, and in the 2009 season, it became the first team in history to have three players with over 1000 yards rushing in a single season, including two running backs and the quarterback, Colin Kaepernick.


    The quarterbacks of the Crimson Tide Storm, Hertz and Beteman, were mobile quarterbacks, so Saban very frequently employed the pistol formation.


    However, at this moment, the Crimson Tide Storm lined up in the shotgun formation¡ª


    Its basic setup was consistent with the pistol formation, with a difference in the running back¡¯s position.


    The running back was not positioned behind the quarterback but parallel to him, and spaced apart from the quarterback, which meant that the running back also acted as a potential receiver; some teams might even take it a step further, placing the running back near the line of scrimmage in line with the wide receivers and tight end.


    Therefore, the answer was clear, if you regard the running back as the fifth receiving option, the tactical intent of the shotgun formation as a primarily passing setup couldn¡¯t be more obvious.


    Compared to NCAA, the use of the shotgun formation was very frequent in the pass-centric NFL, and it was one of the best formations to exploit the abilities of traditional pocket quarterbacks, fully unleashing their firepower.


    Legendary quarterback Peyton Manning¡¯s usage of the shotgun formation was simply masterful, his reading of the defensive group accurate and sharp, and his layout of the offensive running routes truly at a master¡¯s level.


    In the 2013 season with the Denver Broncos, Manning took the power of this formation to its limit, setting all-time records with 5477 passing yards and 55 touchdown passes in a single season, and leading the Denver Broncos to become the first team in history to score over 600 points in a season.


    The focus returns to the Crimson Tide Storm.


    From Li Wei¡¯s position, one could tell that Saban was abandoning the pistol formation for the rare choice of the shotgun formation, a clear indicator that a pass was imminent.


    A single-stroke battle.


    Saban knew that ground attacks took time, but perhaps Li Wei could bring a surprise? Even if it failed, as long as they secured the first attack, they only needed to use their last timeout and would still have three more chances to attack.


    A mismatch in game strategy had created space for Li Wei, who remained highly focused.


    Ahead of him, Tight End Hentges and Wide Receiver number one Foster were clearing the way for him, but their respective opponents were a lineman and a cornerback. Before cutting into the short pass zone, Li Wei still had to deal with the defensive line near the kickoff line¡ª


    Here it comes!


    Lawrence, quick on the second reaction.


    Offensive Tackle Cotton tried to stop Lawrence and he did, his hands on Lawrence¡¯s shoulders, halting his steps.


    But Lawrence had captured the trajectory of Beteman¡¯s pass at the first opportunity, a thrust of his foot, a quick start, and he had completely shaken off Cotton.


    Cotton, cautious of committing a penalty and wasting the carefully arranged strategy, was somewhat hesitant, and in that slight hesitation, Lawrence had already gained distance.


    In terms of physical condition and reactivity, Lawrence truly excelled, deserving of his potential top draft pick status even when he was just in high school, showing enough potential and strength. He held his breath, pouncing over with the ferocity of a tiger descending the mountain.


    Li Wei was extra calm.


    Left pull, right lean.


    A flicker, a flash, his center of gravity shifting continuously, his steps dizzyingly nimble, like a Flamenco dance, constantly unbalancing Lawrence.


    But Lawrence no longer had time to hesitate, clenching his teeth, he lunged forward with heavy force, aiming to envelop Li Wei, his arms wide like a condor spreading its wings to increase his reach.


    However, to Li Wei, Lawrence¡¯s all-or-nothing attempt was in vain.


    Left fake, right dodge.


    His light and agile steps shifted his center of gravity again, and just as Lawrence seemed to close in, Li Wei burst forward with a rapid right side-step, elegantly and smoothly sidestepping, his upper body gliding past Lawrence¡¯s left arm. The two had completely missed each other.


    Li Wei had left Lawrence behind without a sound, the intended surefire tackle hitting nothing but air, and the flailing hands failing to control the plummeting center of gravity.


    And Li Wei?


    His steps as smooth as flowing clouds and water, completely under his control. Just after evading, his legs pushed off the ground, and his body was already driven forward.


    Start, accelerate¡ª


    Sprint.


    Lawrence was just like that, desolately left behind.

 Chapter 50: 050 Edgerunner

    Fuck!


    Fuck fuck fuck!


    After Lawrence missed his target and lost his balance, gravity pulled his body downward. Shame and anger collided and burned in his mind, but they all turned into reluctance. He gritted his teeth and forcibly started spinning counterclockwise as if he were rebalancing his center of gravity in "Inception"¡ªwith his body sinking, he floundered.


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    His hands slapped forcefully, mixed with a fierce storm of blood and fury, making a desperate dash towards Li Wei.


    At that moment, Lawrence truly showcased his talent and ability. While leaning backward, he managed to stop his body from sinking with sheer core strength, reminiscent of "Air" Michael Jordan. Unbelievably, he paused mid-air, and was even able to react again, slapping at Li Wei when he was unguarded.


    Hit!


    Li Wei felt a heavy blow on his left shoulder, taken aback. He thought he had escaped Lawrence but didn¡¯t expect Lawrence to have a backup move. The potential of a first-round pick burst forth at that moment. Before he could even start moving, his balance was disrupted again, and his left shoulder sunk as if it were anchoring down.


    Bend the knees, squat, disperse the force.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t brace against it. Instead, he went with the momentum, lowering his center of gravity and shedding all the impact force, maintaining a squatting posture as he burst forward, instantly breaking free.


    Lawrence: Damn it!


    So, that¡¯s a first-round pick, just this?


    Lawrence¡¯s desperate strike didn¡¯t stop Li Wei. However, football is a team sport, and the Tigers Defense Squad isn¡¯t made up of one Lawrence alone. Li Wei had already left Lawrence behind:


    Thank you, next.


    Before Li Wei could fully straighten his knees, he already spotted two other players charging towards him from the left¡ª


    A linebacker. A defensive lineman.


    With a glance, that Black-faced Yama turned out to be Wilkins, grinding his teeth, eager to teach Crimson Tide Storm¡¯s number twenty-three a lesson, to let him feel the power of the Tigers. Yet, he ended up utterly humiliated.


    Not to mention teaching number twenty-three a lesson, he hadn¡¯t even touched a single skin flake of number twenty-three so far.


    Wilkins was also frustrated. After being feinted, he relentlessly pursued, stumbling as he lunged towards number twenty-three.


    In his eyes, in his mind, there was only that one figure, totally disregarding everything else.


    In the blink of an eye, Li Wei caught the desperation and frenzy in Wilkins, also noting that Wilkins completely squeezed onto the linebacker¡¯s path¡ª


    He stole the lane.


    Even though he had to face two defenders, Li Wei could use their momentum against them.


    Pushing off, stepping forward, and observing while accelerating, the truly threatening Mus, staring intently from directly ahead, posed more of a challenge than other figures diving towards him from the left.


    Mus was stepping forward, not waiting for Li Wei to continue accelerating but already smartly taking the initiative, blocking Li Wei¡¯s path on the left and swiftly moving to intercept.


    Li Wei, caught between a rock and a hard place¡ª


    On the left, a sea of people, where he could see at least three players from three different directions closing in.


    On the right, a sheer cliff, a slight step out would mean stepping out of bounds.


    It was as tough as climbing to heaven, surrounded and ambushed on all sides, with no space left to accelerate further, then Mus had already pounced.


    Aiming for Li Wei¡¯s left shoulder.


    Clearly, Mus intended to tackle him from the left, and even if the tackle failed, he could still use his body to force Li Wei out of bounds from the right side.


    Clever, smart.


    Li Wei held his breath and concentrated fully, shifting slightly to the right by a quarter position, not having time to fully adjust when their shoulders collided.


    Bang!


    With a muffled sound, Mus tried to complete a tackle amidst the chaos and turbulence but grabbed at air; Li Wei slickly used the collision force to execute a dazzling Marseille Turn, spinning counterclockwise, not only shedding the force but also pulling out the support of the shoulder, causing Mus, who had stepped forward fully, to continue pressing but then fell down.


    Ha!


    Blackley gasped, not expecting to hear a similar exclamation from Pash beside him, and could no longer control himself and shouted aloud.


    "He dodged him!"


    "Incredible!"


    "He just dodged him! Number twenty-three from Crimson Tide Storm just eluded Tigers¡¯ Mus¡¯s surefire tackle, his body almost losing balance, nearly unable to stand, but Crimson Tide Storm has now taken the initiative, this running back is nearing the fifteen-yard line!"


    "Wait, wait a minute!"


    "Number twenty-three is still advancing, still finding his balance, with the sideline right at his feet, but he still managed to control his center of gravity, showing acrobatic balance, his steps continuing along the sideline, pushing forward, he¡¯s still sprinting! This isn¡¯t the first time, the Tigers¡¯ left-wing defense is torn open again, as if number twenty-three is just like... just like..."


    Pash¡¯s mind went blank for a moment.


    Blackley couldn¡¯t resist interjecting and shouted, "Edgerunner!"


    Pash¡¯s eyes lit up, "Edgerunner!"


    "He¡¯s just like an edgerunner, dancing nimbly along the dangerous and dark boundary, both elegant and deadly, sharply piercing into the heart of the Tigers!"

 Chapter 51: Give it your all in one go

    Li Wei is not Derrick Henry.


    Li Wei isn¡¯t cut out for head-on confrontations, but his speed, agility, lightness, and nimbleness are a starkly different style for a running back, and today¡¯s game fully showcased these traits. Relying on his observation, judgment, and quick on-the-spot reactions, he repeatedly found weaknesses in the opponent¡¯s flanks to open up the game.


    This was already the third time.


    His soft and light, agile and nimble steps moved along the edge of danger, carving a path to survival from what looked like a dead end, comparable to an assassin, like a shadow.


    He was an Edgerunner.


    The footsteps hugged the sideline, seemingly about to step out of bounds, but within the dizzying footwork, he managed to maintain his balance; just as he seemed on the verge of losing his center of gravity, he used the forward momentum to keep sprinting, the silky smooth moves were practically an art performance, eliciting nothing but amazement.


    All spectators, one after another, turned into avid fans, watching the ¡¯masterpiece¡¯ before them with their eyes wide and mouths agape in awe.


    The nickname that Blackley casually coined was perfectly apt in showcasing Li Wei¡¯s characteristics, pushing Pash¡¯s excitement to a whole new peak.


    The flushed cheeks, as if drunk, and the rising high pitch nearly shattered the heavens.


    "Ten-yard line!"


    "Red Zone!"


    "God, he didn¡¯t stop, he¡¯s still not stopping."


    "Ah... hah!"


    All the shouting was abruptly cut off, both Pash and Blackley were stunned, their mouths slightly open, gawking at the spectacle unfolding before them.


    Austin Jackson, another Safety from the Tigers, 6.2 feet tall (190 cm), 220 pounds (120 kg), not fast, even a bit cumbersome, like a black bear. But he didn¡¯t give up.


    When Mus¡¯s grappling failed, it also meant that the last line of defense in the Tigers¡¯ backfield was breached.


    Jackson couldn¡¯t give up.


    With clenched teeth, he charged at full speed and, as Li Wei entered the Red Zone, Jackson tried to catch up, his eyes flashing murderously, teeth gritted, clearly showing he intended not to tackle but to push Li Wei out of bounds, using his weight, momentum, and the force of his charge to fulfill his mission.


    With all his might.


    With great force and weight.


    However!


    Unexpectedly, Li Wei didn¡¯t dodge; instead, he collided head-on with Jackson,


    "Power VS Power"!


    Jackson, like the drifting plastic bag in "American Beauty," pitifully discarded, lifelessly crumpling to the ground.


    And Li Wei?


    His legs, already inside the end zone, boldly breaching the gates of heaven, turning the impossible into reality, slicing through the opposition to reach the far side of the end zone.


    Face aglow with ardor, drenched in sweat, veins bulging, power surging through his muscles, unleashed without restraint, like the Hulk incarnate, furiously slamming the football to the ground.


    Ah!


    A shout.


    Ahhhh!


    The whole stadium explodes.


    No one is an exception, no one can control themselves.


    All Pash could hear was a roaring in his ears, his own voice hammering continuously against his eardrums like a drumstick, his temples nearly bursting, and he could hear his own voice coming from the other side of a distant valley.


    "Incredible!"


    "Incredible!"


    A tsunami of cheers swirling and raging in Bryant Denny Stadium, indecipherable for a moment whether it¡¯s the burning blood that dyes one¡¯s own eyes red, or the entire boiling Crimson Tide Storm diving into madness¡ª


    Red, the world dyed in red, overwhelmingly consuming the white of the trembling, pitiful Tigers, completely showcasing the home field advantage of the Crimson Tide Storm.


    "Unbelievable!"


    "The Crimson Tide Storm not only seized the chance to score a touchdown, but also used their ground game to consume all the remaining game time."


    "The game is over, ladies and gentlemen, the game has ended, the Crimson Tide Storm with a last second victory over the Tigers, no need for the extra point, the game is killed, ¡¯27:24¡¯, the final score frozen at this figure."


    According to football rules, when there is no more game time left and one side has secured victory, they may opt not to kick the extra point; however, if a touchdown is scored as time expires and the outcome remains undecided, the scoring side may still attempt an extra point at zero seconds, be it one or two points.


    Of course, the Crimson Tide Storm no longer needs to.


    "The Tigers were ahead by three touchdowns at halftime and had shut out the Crimson Tide Storm on their home field, everyone thought the game was already over, just a time for tactical exercises, but nobody expected the Crimson Tide Storm would turn the second half into showtime for number twenty-three."


    "An incredible ground offense throughout the game, advancing an unbelievable three hundred fifty-seven yards and securing three rushing touchdowns, undoubtedly the highlight of the game, displaying incredible dominance that left Tigers¡¯ star quarterback Watson in the shadows."


    Ahhhh!


    Ahhhh!


    The scene has gone mad, even though this is just a warm-up game, but considering the grudge between the two teams and Watson¡¯s arrogance in the first half of today¡¯s game, this moment of victory is as sweet as the nationwide championship win at the start of the year, the entire stadium a frenzy, coloring the sky with a brilliant shade of red.

 Chapter 52: Group Mocking Skill

    The field, the Crimson Tide, even the sky was dyed red. Despite the season not having started yet, the Crimson Tide Storm marked the end of the spring training camp with such a victory, making the hope for the new season shine brighter than ever before.


    Perhaps, defending the championship, was still a possibility?


    The players were no exception¡ª


    They needed moments like this.


    After Derrick Henry transitioned to the professional arena, the team was beset by unease and anxiety; the running backs'' successive injuries during spring training camp meant that a high school student had to step up as the starting running back, leaving everyone within the team permeated with a sense of uncertain bewilderment, up until now.


    They had found the answer!


    One by one, they all swarmed onto the field, bustling towards Li Wei.


    Clark was the first to charge, and although he was also a running back and in a competitive position, he was more aware than anyone of the effort Li Wei had put in. Starting from scratch, earnestly seeking advice and training diligently, he not only improved himself but also helped Clark improve along with him.


    As a running back, Li Wei upheld the fine tradition of the Crimson Tide Storm, making Clark happier than anyone else.


    Leading the way, Clark had already rushed up, but before he could get close, he saw Li Wei take off his helmet, revealing a broad smile. Clark was momentarily dazed, and Li Wei had already turned and ran off.


    Clark: ???


    Not just Clark, other Crimson Tide Storm players also followed with question marks over their heads, calling out one after another, yet unable to stop Li Wei.


    From one end zone to the other, Li Wei came to stand on the side where the Tigers players were gathered, stopped, and after a brief pause of eye contact, he placed his right hand to his ear, as if listening to a seashell¡ª


    Any more trash talk?


    Come on, I''m listening.


    Watson''s cheeks flushed a deep red, all swear words and curses lodged in his throat. Nowhere to be seen was the arrogance he displayed casually walking around the field in the first half. He thought about retorting, given that he had barely played in the second half, and this warm-up game''s result didn''t count. But when he looked at the twenty-three in front of him:


    He didn''t even know the name of this number twenty-three, not even Sweeney''s pre-game investigation had information on this player. Yet he was rubbed into the ground by him, any excuse or rebuttal would only seem to betray his own guilty conscience.


    A complete embarrassment.


    Fuming with embarrassment and anger, Watson grabbed his helmet and fiercely slammed it into the ground.


    Jacobs''s expression was slightly serious as he took off his helmet to look at Li Wei, his hair wet with sweat and sticking to his head, looking a bit disheveled.


    Li Wei knew they were competitors, rivals competing for the starting running back position. In regular training, the usually silent Jacobs didn''t talk much, always training quietly. But whenever Li Wei had questions, Jacobs never withheld information, sharing generously. They were competitors and teammates, making their relationship a bit more complex.


    After today, the competition for the starting position could only get more intense.


    During the brief moment of Li Wei''s rushing thoughts, Jacobs had already boldly extended his right hand, "An amazing game, you deserve these honors."


    Jacobs looked around at the Crimson Tide Storm that was bubbling up with excitement again. Even though the game had ended, the wild party was just beginning.


    Li Wei also took Jacobs''s right hand, ready to say a few words, but was caught off guard as Jacobs tightened his grip, prompting Li Wei to also tighten unintentionally, creating a standoff.


    Jacobs stared at Li Wei, "But this doesn''t mean I''ll give up. I will keep working hard and compete openly for the starting spot. I will continue to measure up against you until the last moment of the season. Until then, the competition isn''t over."


    His stance was honorable, his eyes filled with a belief that was as firm as it was dazzling.


    Li Wei responded seriously, shaking Jacobs''s hand, "I''m ready at all times. Until the final moment of the game, nothing is over, right?"


    In fact, in football, the starting position isn''t all that important because players can be substituted at any time and without a limit to the number of times, which is different from soccer and basketball.


    Moreover, football is an intense contact sport, and aside from the quarterback, who usually plays the entire game, other positions often have some rotation and adjustment, with the running back being a typical example.


    Never mind starting, the running back for the first and second offensive drives might be different. In one game, three to four running backs might take turns playing, which is normal, so starting isn''t as important as one might think.


    Nevertheless, whether it''s Li Wei or Jacobs, including Clark and Emmons, they were all competing for the main position, creating a healthy competition.


    After all, the Crimson Tide Storm is a traditional powerhouse for running backs, and teams from the Professional League often keep an eye on the University of Alabama''s main/starting running backs, which could determine their future prospects in turning professional.


    The competition and rivalry destined for them was just beginning.


    Under the sun, Li Wei and Jacobs exchanged their resolution with a handshake.


    Off to the side of the field, the neglected Watson''s face was as black as the bottom of a pot, he glared fiercely at Li Wei and Jacobs, looking at the gleefully cheering Bryant Denny Stadium, the awful memory of early January surfaced again¡ª


    The Crimson Tide Storm had better pray they don''t encounter the Tigers in this year''s nationwide championship. Otherwise, Watson vowed, he''d reclaim all the honor and dignity lost today; next time he wouldn''t be merciful.


    Then, he would make sure they wouldn''t be able to laugh.

 Chapter 53: 053 Fame rising rapidly

    "Yo, yo, yo."


    Li Wei and Jacobs had only just approached when the players from Crimson Tide Storm began to tease and make a racket. The two, not knowing why, looked over, and it was Clark who eagerly explained.


    "They''re betting on who will be the headliner on tomorrow''s ''Crimson Tide White Wave'' front page."


    ''Crimson Tide White Wave'' is the University of Alabama''s school newspaper, and from its name, it''s clear that it carries on the school''s tradition as a sports powerhouse, providing comprehensive coverage of the school''s athletic teams'' performances in various NCAA events.


    Although today was just a warm-up match, there was no doubt it would spark a heated discussion, not just on campus, but likely throughout the whole town as well.


    "I''m voting for Foster, intercepting Watson, changing the course of the game."


    "Hey, have you considered Allen''s feelings, who missed sacking Watson?"


    The named Allen silently raised his middle finger, followed by laughter all around.


    "I''m voting for Li Wei. Li Wei is a beast, an absolute beast. Hey, buddy, I really don''t mean you''re worse than a pig or dog, really."


    "Haha."


    The laughter was wild, and before Li Wei could speak, the chattering words couldn''t be held back.


    "Exactly, exactly, a ground advance of three hundred yards? That''s just savage."


    "Did you guys see the expressions of the Tigers Defense Squad? It was hilarious."


    "No, no, no, those weren''t Tigers, those were sick cats."


    Everyone burst into collective laughter.


    Their gazes gradually turned toward Li Wei, who nonchalantly shrugged, "They can''t stop me; I really do feel anxious for them."


    Whistles, jeers, and cheers followed one after another.


    Having said that, Li Wei also offered a smile, "Guys, I get what you''re trying to do, just using me as a shield to draw the fire and pave the way for Hertz and Beteman. I understand the principle, ''Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown,'' so I''ll just suffer and wear it for a while."


    The laughter erupted like thunder.


    Then someone called out Hertz, who had been quietly standing in the crowd, suddenly pushed into the spotlight, his expression somewhat helpless¡ª


    As a quarterback, he should have been the leader shouldering the team''s progress. In the NFL, quarterbacks are undeniably the superstars, always standing at the center of attention, but in today''s game, the quarterback had become just a supporting player.


    With a face of honest loyalty, Hertz said, "I also think it should be Li Wei."


    Li Wei waved his hands repeatedly, "No, no, no, I think tomorrow''s front page should feature you."


    One octave, two octaves, three octaves¡ª


    They burst forth with unbelievable energy.


    To a frenzied extent.


    Li Wei: ?


    Li Wei still thought he was a nobody, having joined the Crimson Tide Storm for just three weeks, he guessed that people hardly knew how to pronounce his name right; but Li Wei forgot, this was the University of Alabama, this was Tuscaloosa, where football held an unimaginable status.


    Last time, during an intra-team match of the Crimson Tide Storm, Li Wei had conquered the fans with his unparalleled performance; and today, he once again dominated the game, changing his status with every step he took.


    And that wasn''t all.


    The other fans around, noticing the commotion, the burly men too gathered on both sides of the player''s tunnel, frantically pounding on the advertising boards to create a thunderous noise, shouting with fervent and distorted faces.


    "Li Wei! Li Wei! Li Wei!"


    The chants were ragged and interspersed, but the scorching, burning momentum was exceptionally unified, coalescing into a force that, swept up by the vast sunset sky and the vast Crimson Tide Storm, crashed down overwhelmingly.


    Wave after wave.


    One crest higher than the last.


    Even Allen, the slick veteran who touted himself as having weathered many storms, was taken aback by the sight of such fervent enthusiasm up close.


    Clearly, the answer to who would be tomorrow''s front-page headline of "Crimson Tide White Wave" was unveiled.


    The fact was just so¡ª


    "The successor to Emperor Henry Derrick? No, he is Li Wei, a unique and incomparable ''Edgerunner''."


    Front page, headline news.


    "Crimson Tide White Wave" featured a photo of Li Wei sprinting at high speed along the sideline for its front-page headline, filling the entire page, with all other people and scenery blurred into trailing lights, showcasing the ultimate in speed; and used the nickname mentioned by Pash and Blackley during the live broadcast as the title, officially announcing Li Wei''s debut with the Crimson Tide Storm.


    Whether or not people had seen the practice or warm-up matches, what was certain was that everyone now knew a bright comet had made its entrance with the Crimson Tide Storm.


    Derrick Henry''s powerful performance had made the Crimson Tide Storm shine for the past two years, securing the second Heisman Trophy in the history of the University of Alabama after running back Mark Ingram II (Mark-Ingram) in 2009; but with Henry turning pro, who would unfurl the banner of the Crimson Tide Storm''s excellent ground attack tradition became without a doubt the biggest question of the new season.


    Maybe, now they''ve found the answer?


    At least, that''s what the editorial department of "Crimson Tide White Wave" thought.


    And ESPN concurred!

 Chapter 54: 054 Emerges Horizontally

    "...indeed, we need to keep watching; this young player still needs to prove himself, but I must admit I was blown away."


    The next day, when Blackley was a guest on an ESPN football show, he couldn''t wait to share what he had witnessed the day before.


    The NFL was in its offseason, but the Professional League was still busy. They had just finished the draft, and immediately it was time for the free agency market during the offseason.


    This is why professionals temporarily shifted their focus from college players to the league teams'' re-signings, releases, and signings.


    However, Blackley couldn''t contain his joy; moments later, he realized he wasn''t the only one¡ª


    Even though it was just an NCAA warm-up game, ESPN''s live broadcast ratings exploded, easily attracting over twenty-five million viewers, thoroughly outperforming the first round NBA playoff game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Brooklyn Nets, once again demonstrating the power of football.


    Blackley mentioned one scene, and a chattering excitement instantly flooded the studio.


    "Right, number twenty-three, right? He was phenomenal, really remarkable."


    "I must say, typical Crimson Tide Storm, Saban has coached another excellent running back."


    "That ground attack fifty-five seconds before the game ended was so slick¡ª the sharp stops and turns, the continuous change in direction, the head-on collision, he showed his skill, his talent, his cleverness; it was truly impressive."


    Praise followed, one after another¡ª


    Who would have thought that a college student could dominate the discussion in the professional transfer market for a whole sixty seconds? And still, it wasn''t enough?


    Sure enough, offseason college football always manages to capture countless eyes.


    Inspired, Blackley continued to throw out his exclusive news.


    "This young player is of Chinese descent, eighteen years old, and only started playing football three weeks ago. As of now, he still has some rough edges..."


    He couldn''t finish his sentence, not even starting the "but" when he was interrupted, and the clamor exploded like a volcanic eruption.


    Additionally, in the 1998 draft, Hines Ward, a wide receiver picked by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round, was hailed as one of the greatest offensive players in Steelers history. He was the MVP of Super Bowl XL and left behind countless illustrious achievements in his career. His father was African American, while his mother was Korean.


    In the 1962 draft, Roman Gabriel was selected second overall by the Los Angeles Rams. His mother was Irish, and his father was Filipino; he was the first Asian player to be chosen in the first round of the NFL, named the regular season MVP in 1969 and was one of the best quarterbacks during the 1960s and 1970s.


    Of course, these are not all.


    As of 2016, there have been eleven Asian players in the history of the NFL, each with their own story. Although there are not a small number of Asian players on the football field, they also aren''t numerous. Overall, the sport of football is still alien to Asians, and participation is low.


    It was against this backdrop that Li Wei made his debut, emerging in a spectacularly attention-grabbing manner.


    Originally, Blackley had wanted to "be modest" and not put too much pressure on the young man, considering it was only a preseason game so far, perhaps adding one practice match. Praising him too early might backfire and inadvertently put him under pressure; but he had not anticipated¡ª


    Three weeks into football.


    This keyword alone was enough, no need to be understated or critical, everyone could feel the impact behind this word.


    Even Blackley''s chest puffed up slightly, "Compared to Crimson Tide Storm''s Derrick Henry who crafted legends last season, this young player has a completely different style. I personally think his model should be Patrick Peterson..."


    "Yes, exactly," before Blackley could finish, someone immediately chimed in.


    "We don''t need to talk about acceleration or agility. Personally, I think his observation and interpretation of defensive formations, compared to Peterson, are not just very similar but identical."


    "More than his abilities, what impressed me more was his calmness under pressure in crucial moments. Considering he had only been in contact with football for three weeks, and to perform like that in his debut at Bryant Denny Stadium in front of a hundred thousand people, it''s simply incredible," they all knew how intense a stadium of that size could get.


    Their words one after another, ESPN''s praise was no less impressive than the "Crimson Tide White Wave," which left Blackley somewhat sidelined¡ª


    A bit lonely.


    Thankfully, the focus eventually returned to Blackley, "What''s this young man''s name again?"


    Blackley put on a proud smile, "Li Wei, his name is Li Wei. Scouts, team managers, head coaches, you all better take out your notebooks and remember this name. This upcoming season, you wouldn''t want to miss it."

 Chapter 55: Barter

    A girl, carrying her high heels, tiptoeing and stepping quietly like a cat, opened her room door with a wobbly silhouette that could barely stand, her disheveled hair, smudged eyeliner, and dilated pupils faintly recording last night''s craziness.


    The stench of vomit could be smelled on her sequined short skirt, and a surge in her stomach forced her to take a couple of deep breaths to control herself.


    Then,


    she carefully closed the door again, ensuring that it didn''t make too much noise, before she let out a long sigh. Her throbbing head felt like it was about to explode. As her heels touched the ground again, before she could steady herself, she turned around to see the figure in front of her, and her heart stopped beating for a second.


    Her heels, once again, tiptoed.


    "Oh, Jesus Christ."


    The girl clutched at her chest, the vomit she had managed to push down threatened to surge up again as she looked at Li Wei, her knees going weak.


    Li Wei revealed a smile, lifted his eyes to gesture at his short hair, "Still look like it? I thought after the haircut I wouldn''t resemble it anymore."


    The girl was momentarily stunned.


    One second, two seconds, then she finally caught on to Li Wei''s teasing, and couldn''t help chuckling, stealthily casting a glance at Li Wei¡ª


    Despite the early morning, Li Wei had already finished his morning routine training, a thin layer of sweat glowed on his forehead, his black hair slightly damp, his eyes brimming with the first ray of morning light, clear and bright, a stark contrast to his aggressive dominance on the field.


    Unconsciously, her heartstrings were gently plucked.


    Her heartbeat lost its rhythm, she hastily lowered her gaze, "The game, uh, I mean, good luck with your training. Go Crimson Tide!"


    Li Wei, "Thank you." His eyes noticed the mug in the girl''s hand, held alongside high heels, "Ah, that mug..."


    Before he could finish his sentence, the girl glanced at the mug she was holding up, let out a scream, covered her face in embarrassment, and fled lightning-fast, with sprinting ability that could rival an Olympic 100-meter finalist, vanishing before one could even blink.


    Only her voice resonated in the air: Aaah...


    Li Wei blinked, "...It''s not mine." The rest of the sentence just got stuck in his throat, despite the "Li Wei" label stuck on the mug, that really wasn''t his cup.


    Shaking his head in resignation, Li Wei pushed open the dorm room door, and was met with a wave of stale air mixed with alcohol. He walked over to the opposite side, pulled up the blinds, and pushed open the window, letting fresh air rush in. The figure curled up on the bed groaned with difficulty.


    However,


    he did not get up.


    He knew his mission; he needed to perform well in the new season to prove himself, or else he faced a lawsuit and potential compensation, especially since his secret weapon was exposed on nationwide live broadcasts after the warm-up games, which meant he might face even more challenges.


    In just three short weeks, the content he learned was still far from enough, whether it was real-life training or system simulations.


    Training, improvement, progress, those were the urgencies at hand.


    As for other matters, they could wait.


    But Hunter had firmly seized the opportunity and enjoyed a truly "fortunate" period recently, which then led to Li Wei''s personal items disappearing every now and then.


    Initially, Li Wei didn''t understand and thought it was just him being forgetful, having mentioned it to Hunter inadvertently; later on, Hunter had made a bunch of mugs. Whenever a girl followed him back to the dorm, he''d sneakily place his self-printed mugs on Li Wei''s desk.


    Over the past three days, Li Wei stopped losing things.


    Seeing Hunter''s blissful face as he flopped back onto his bed left Li Wei with mixed feelings, "Simon, does that really not bother you?"


    Those girls seemed to be using him as a stepping stone.


    Hunter let out a long moan, "Why should it? It''s a case of mutual benefit, a barter. If they can''t have you, yet they don''t mind settling for me, why would I refuse? The more the merrier, the more the merrier; it''s been this way since Ancient Babylon."


    "You have to give something to get what you want. If you can''t have it directly, taking another route is also viable."


    As he talked, Hunter''s voice faded, and he fell back into slumber.


    Just when Li Wei thought Hunter had passed out, Hunter spoke again without warning.


    "Hey, buddy, you''re really outstanding, staying true to yourself despite so many temptations; I certainly couldn''t do it one hundred percent."


    "If you weren''t aware of this, I just wanted to tell you; if you already knew..."


    The rest of his words were lost, replaced only by the sound of even breathing, a sure sign he must have passed out again.


    Li Wei didn''t bother with Hunter anymore.


    The reason he could continue to persevere was partly due to self-discipline and partly because of the existence of the system, which not only quantified the gains from each training session and game but also allowed clear visualization of tangible improvements and benefits.


    Just like now¡ª


    He could finally flip the card again, at last!

 Chapter 56: 056 second template

    Kobe Bryant said, "Do you know what Los Angeles looks like at four o''clock in the morning?"


    Everybody knows that athletic sports require talent.


    But in fact, talent is just the threshold. Every player who can enter the Professional League is a genius. Don''t think they seem like rookies on the professional field; actually, without exception, they are all geniuses¡ªmajor geniuses, minor geniuses, once-in-a-decade geniuses, once-in-a-century geniuses.


    A bunch of freaks.


    If you want to stand out, hard work and struggle are the only ways.


    Success is made of ninety-nine percent perspiration plus one percent inspiration. Usually, the one percent of inspiration is the most important; however, the threshold of the profession has already filtered out that one percent of inspiration, leaving the remainder to depend on the ninety-nine percent of perspiration, depending on who knows what Los Angeles looks like early in the morning.


    Of course, Li Wei hadn''t yet decided whether to go professional. The short three weeks of spring training camp had opened a door, allowing him to glimpse a whole new world; but there was no need to rush into a conclusion. Nevertheless, Li Wei admitted that he had become somewhat curious and had slowly begun to explore.


    From intramural games to warm-up matches, Li Wei was understanding the charm of football in all aspects, and involuntarily, he began to develop a faint anticipation for the new season.


    The Football Training System sent out reminders every day, urging Li Wei to complete his daily training; it also alerted Li Wei to the daily upper limit of his training¡ª


    Not to overtrain beyond capacity.


    If he could persist in completing the daily training, the progress bar would gain extra reward boosts, moving towards the one hundred percent indicator at a faster pace.


    It must be said that after the system quantified everything, not only could he clearly see the gains from each day''s training, but there was also a mysterious reward waiting ahead. It felt like leveling up in a game after defeating monsters. The monotonous daily training became full of anticipation, motivating him each day.


    Now, it was only May. There were four whole months until the unveiling of the new season in September¡ª


    Four months, enough to change many, many things.


    Li Wei thought that his secret weapon had already been exposed. Someone must have begun to study it, believing they had understood this secret weapon in all aspects. By the time he displayed a brand-new performance, giving everyone a surprise, it would be interesting to see the expressions of those Black-faced Yamas in the Defensive group.


    A mischievous and delightful psychology became an additional motivation for Li Wei to persist in completing his daily training.


    However, as of now, the first wave of rewards had already arrived.


    At 5.9 feet (180 centimeters) and 210 pounds (95 kilograms), McCoy seems almost miniaturized among the strongmen and giants of football, even more slender than Li Wei, but such running backs have their own place in the Professional League; speed and agility are their professional skills.


    In fact, if anyone underestimates McCoy because of his "short and skinny" appearance, then McCoy would use his fleet-footed skills to give them a good lesson.


    McCoy is a typical "scatback" style running back. Players of this sort are often shorter and thinner; they are used to making the most of their size, speed, and agility advantages, making it difficult for defenders to catch them and easily breaking away from tackles or outpacing them with sheer speed.


    Furthermore, McCoy is exceptionally good at dodging left and right, considered to be a simplified version of the Hall of Fame legendary running back Barry Sanders. McCoy admits that he regards Sanders as his idol, grew up watching Sanders'' games, and consciously imitates Sanders.


    After joining the Professional League in 2009 and after two years of brief adjustment, McCoy underwent his transformation¡ª


    Except for the 2012 season, when he missed most of it due to a concussion, he was selected for the Pro Bowl in 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015, without a doubt one of the most popular running backs in the League at present.


    During which, in 2011 he led the League in touchdown rushes, in 2013 he led in rushing yards, and he became the Philadelphia Eagles'' all-time leading rusher.


    It''s clear that McCoy, like Adrian Peterson, is in his prime and is one of the top and most outstanding running backs in the League.


    So, what are the differences between the two?


    Peterson excels at changing directions, breaking tackles, and even has the ability to push forward forcefully amidst strong opposition.


    McCoy excels at speed, relying on speed to break away, and finding gaps in tight defenses to advance.


    At least from the current stage, Li Wei''s playing style is more similar to McCoy, tending to rely on speed for breaking away and penetration even if, occasionally, he can also draw inspiration from Peterson''s games to find game-changing routes; however, for now, his ability to resist tackles and break away still needs further improvement.


    That''s precisely why, in the warm-up match against the Tigers, his two successive sideline breakthroughs were so astonishing, earning him the nickname "Edgerunner".


    Speed. Agility. Gaps.


    These are what Li Wei is most familiar with and best at.


    From now until the new season kicks off, Li Wei needs to boost his competitiveness in a short time, and starting with his strong points would be the most effective and immediate.


    Using the Peterson template for training, there were still many things that Li Wei only half understood and couldn''t see the big picture, but the McCoy template should be much easier to work with.


    Li Wei couldn''t help rubbing his hands together, ready to take action immediately and enter the template training mode.

 Chapter 57: Season 057 Opener

    Texas, Arlington, AT&T Stadium.


    This stadium, which can accommodate eighty thousand people, is the home field of the NFL''s Dallas Cowboys and also plays host to a series of NCAA bowl and championship games.


    Today, the curtain will slowly rise here for the 2016 to 2017 NCAA season.


    With the NFL season set to kick off next Thursday, and professional games not yet in play, the NCAA games, taking the stage a step ahead, have attracted nationwide attention¡ª


    Since 2009, AT&T Stadium has had the honor of hosting the annual NCAA season opener, known as the "Cowboys Classic," which has gradually evolved into a brand-new festival, heralding the arrival of a new football season, much like a carnival.


    Each year, AT&T Stadium negotiates with the NCAA to invite teams with topical matchups for the season opener. Maybe not a clash of titans or a battle of seeded teams, but it''s guaranteed to ensure viewership and focus.


    Last year, the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm faced off against the Wisconsin Badgers, with the Crimson Tide Storm defeating their opponents "35:17," embarking on a strong season.


    This year, the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm was once again invited and was set to clash with the traditional power of the Pacific-12 Conference, the University of Southern California Trojans.


    Although the two teams don''t have much historical heritage, as traditional sports powerhouses, they both have a broad and deep fan base¡ª


    Viewership guaranteed.


    Moreover, on September third, Saturday, the Cowboys Classic was about to take the stage, right in the weekend, and countless fans from California and Alabama headed to Texas to watch the game live, with ticket sales skyrocketing.


    According to box office statistics, this was the second time that ticket sales for the annual Cowboys Classic hosted by AT&T Stadium surpassed eighty thousand.


    The number of seats at AT&T Stadium is eighty thousand. To accommodate special circumstances, some stands can be dismantled to add seats, increasing the capacity by ten thousand¡ªAT&T Stadium was now undergoing this work, meaning that today''s attendance could approach ninety thousand.


    People streamed in, bustling and swarming, and a brilliant sea of red was in sight¡ª


    The Crimson Tide Storm''s jersey is red; the Trojans'' jersey is also red.


    The Crimson Tide''s red is scarlet; the Trojans'' is closer to maroon, and the biggest difference between them is in the shorts, with the Crimson Tide Storm wearing white and the Trojans gold.


    Data, so meager that it barely filled a thin A4 sheet; height and weight left isolated, as if the warm-up and internal game statistics were mocking any fool who tried analyzing them.


    The most absurd and amusing was that since number twenty-three registered late, Crimson Tide Storm didn''t submit the photo in time, causing the NCAA system to temporarily lack a photo of number twenty-three.


    Such a situation is impossible in the NFL, but in the NCAA, where rosters are massively oversized and cuts are possible at any time, it''s not unusual. Anyway, when the season''s data is updated, it will eventually be added.


    Thus, a small portion of the public who didn''t watch ESPN''s live broadcast of the warm-up match truly didn''t know what number twenty-three looked like; another part who watched the live broadcast with helmets on the entire game, talked about number twenty-three with great excitement yet couldn''t recall his appearance.


    In an era dominated by social media, this rare sense of mystery was an incredible existence, adding a touch of legend to number twenty-three.


    Anticipating, yet not anticipating.


    Feelings are just that contradictory; anticipation is based on trust in Saban''s vision and ability. Not anticipating, there are a myriad of reasons, so many they''re hard to count.


    So, could number twenty-three take up the mantle left by Derrick Henry and continue to lead the Crimson Tide Storm''s offensive group in a charge for the championship?


    Confusion. Curiosity. Skepticism. Inquiry. Provocation. Disdain.


    With different emotions and sentiments, the discussions were ignited this year as even the NFL joined the hoopla at the classic Cowboys kickoff.


    It must be said, the NCAA played a smart hand; they didn''t care about making stars or how number twenty-three performed, the hype, promotion, and marketing tactics were ferocious enough to ensure their coffers were brimming.


    As it were, tickets sold out, and launching a 90,000-person stadium at the Cowboys kickoff classic for the first time in eight years was inevitable, with countless fans unable to procure tickets yet loitering outside, unwilling to leave, holding signs begging for tickets.


    Meanwhile, ABC television station, having secured the exclusive broadcast rights, was also on the front line¡ª


    Number twenty-three, number twenty-three, number twenty-three.


    Clack.


    The bus door opened and, after a brief wait, a figure appeared unhurriedly.

 Chapter 58: 058 World Famous Paintings

    If someone were to interview Li Wei, a complete novice in the world of football who stepped into this realm just in April, what would he regard as the most important lesson he had learned?


    Li Wei would reply, "The atmosphere of the game."


    Whether as a former cross-country runner or a mixed martial arts fighter, the atmospheres he had experienced were different, especially in cross-country running, which often required battling alone in solitude.


    However, football was not like that.


    The sight of a hundred thousand people in frenzy at Bryant Denny Stadium needs no further description, and even during regular training sessions, one could feel the fervor of the town and university¡ªcheers and screams everywhere, a constant shock for someone used to the sounds of wind, water, and leaves as a cross-country runner.


    His roommate, Hunter, gave Li Wei a valuable piece of advice¡ª


    Noise-cancelling headphones.


    Hunter did it to look cool, admiring the swimmers or soccer players who took the field with headphones on; but Li Wei took the advice seriously for the noise cancellation, and he''d grown accustomed to the company of headphones.


    Today was no exception.


    After learning from Mr. Know-It-All Humphrey that the AT&T Stadium was likely to hit a new record in attendance, Li Wei brought along his recent treasure number one.


    He put on his headphones early, ignoring the clamor outside the bus, yet he could still feel the fervor of the scene through the slight vibrations of the seat.


    Compared to intrasquad games and warm-ups, today Li Wei was more composed. Over the past four months, the continuous training through the McCoy and Peterson templates at different fields and home grounds, combined with the accumulation of virtual game experiences, was not entirely ineffective.


    Arrival.


    Li Wei waited briefly, but seeing that the other players were all quietly seated and motionless, he turned back to look at everyone.


    Given the large number of players in a football team, they usually boarded the bus in groups¡ªtwo buses for the offensive group, two for the defensive group, mixed with members of the Special Duty Group across four buses; some teams even needed five buses, mixing some special duty personnel or main players into the coaches'' bus.


    At that moment, Li Wei didn''t see the joker Humphrey; Clark, sitting to his right, was nervously swallowing. Li Wei didn''t think too much about it and stood up to lead the way off the bus¡ª


    There were still three buses waiting to unload.


    Clark''s eyes widened as he called out anxiously, "Li Wei!"


    "Ronnie!" Hertz called out.


    Maybe Pond wasn''t a top player, but this quarterback, who joined the League in 2011, was a genuinely decent guy with many friends in the League. By association, everyone was also on good terms with Samantha and willing to show her some favor.


    The young man before her wore sunglasses, his palm-sized cheeks covering most of his face; he wore headphones, his head nearly swallowed by gear, completely obscuring his face.


    But in that hurried moment, Samantha Pond couldn''t care less. The NCAA teams had too many staff, and she had to be decisive and focus on her priorities, or else the interview was going to turn into a disaster.


    "What are your expectations for the new season? How do you view the team''s prospects for defending the championship? With Derrick Henry gone, can Li Wei take up the team''s ground offensive mantle, and can he inherit Henry''s mantle?"


    Li Wei slightly lifted his chin¡ª


    So, was this the scene everyone was anticipating?


    He didn''t need to look back; probably every guy on the bus had become a meerkat glued to the windows, eagerly watching the show unfold.


    Not just the first bus, but the doors of a second bus had also opened, revealing Humphrey''s head stealthily peeking around.


    It seemed, the well-informed Humphrey might have caught wind of something.


    Yet, Li Wei had no particular reaction, his expression calm, he gestured behind him with his hand, "He''s in the back."


    Having said that, he pulled his headphone back down and proceeded forward.


    Cool and composed, unflustered. Chapter Discover:


    Samantha didn''t doubt or stop the player from leaving, signaling the camera crew to continue focusing on the bus door, aiming for the next player.


    And Li Wei?


    He didn''t linger or hesitate, re-entering his world, leaving behind a solitary, brisk figure. Fans on either side of the player''s tunnel entrance surged like a tide, shouts and screams interspersed, the swelling heatwave enveloping that figure, submitting to him entirely.


    The world, thus, lay prostrate at his feet.


    Despite the noisy, tumultuous scene, there erupted a solemn and mournful atmosphere, as if from scenes of "I am Legend" with Will Smith and his dog setting out alone, vividly coming to mind.


    This scene, like a world-renowned painting.


    Humphrey: Damn, tricked by him again.

 Chapter 59: Unspoken mutual understanding

    Inside the bus: ???


    As they watched Li Wei''s dashing departure, the fans on both sides of the player''s tunnel erupted in incredulous cheers and roars. The entire world was smitten with him, but inside the first bus, there were only question marks. No one understood what had happened: Chapter Continue:


    Is it over?


    Humphrey had said that all the media were waiting to ambush¡ªoh, no, interview¡ªinterview Li Wei?


    And then, this was it?


    Hertz didn''t understand and was the first to rush out, his face full of confusion as he looked towards Samantha Pond. Pointing towards the back of Li Wei, ready to ask some questions, Samantha beat him to it, trying to dig up some inside information from this rookie starting high school quarterback of the Crimson Tide Storm.


    Hertz: Huh? What? Li Wei? Didn''t he just walk right past you?


    Samantha looked at Hertz''s bewildered face and quickly refined her question, "Is number twenty-three still behind? And you, what are your thoughts?"


    Hertz: ...


    After a while, baffled and utterly confused, he also said, "Li Wei is at the back."


    A fellow sufferer spares his mates.


    How Hertz responded afterward, he couldn''t even remember. His mind was just filled with shock, as he stumbled along following Li Wei''s steps.


    Then.


    One after another took the stage, filled with question marks, their faces either stifling a laugh or showing confusion or curiosity, but unspoken and unanimously, the baton simply continued like that.


    Anyway, it was a prank. They hadn''t caught Li Wei, but eventually, they''d catch someone.


    Until Jacobs showed up¡ª


    This high school newcomer who had just enrolled in September was also a fresh face.


    Samantha glanced at the empty bus. Because of her position, she couldn''t see clearly and wasn''t 100% sure, but it seemed like nobody was left. Just then, the bus driver released the handbrake, and the bus just went off, leaving the person in front of her.


    Samantha was startled: Wasn''t Li Wei supposed to be of Chinese descent? What''s going on here?


    But instinctively, Samantha still asked, "Do you have the confidence to take on Derrick Henry''s mantle and bear the offensive burden for Crimson Tide Storm?"


    Jacobs: ??? Who? Who is supposed to take over Henry''s mantle?


    Before the season began, Burns had a talk with each of the running backs separately, confirming the key positions. Li Wei would be the lead running back for Crimson Tide Storm, while Jacobs would be the second. Although their styles differed, they were to jointly tackle the team''s ground offensive.


    The next second, Humphrey made faces at the camera and kept gesturing:


    It''s him, it''s him, it''s definitely him.


    The figure removed his headphones and sunglasses, and only then did Samantha recognize him¡ªit was Li Wei.


    The only Asian face among all the main lineups in this year''s NCAA, how could she mistake him!


    Samantha couldn''t help but facepalm. What on earth had just happened?


    From fifty or sixty yards away, Li Wei raised his right hand, his index and middle fingers together, making a salute gesture towards the camera lens, his smile turning upwards.


    Because of the distance, Samantha couldn''t make out Li Wei''s facial features clearly, but she could see the gesture, and seemed to also see the unrestrained and bold smile on that face. Involuntarily, her own lips curled up into a smile, turning all that annoyance and gloom, all that astonishment and panic into laughter¡ª


    Maybe this was better.


    Instead of Li Wei standing in front of the camera exchanging pleasantries, such a small prank better showcased Li Wei''s personality.


    Without even having met face to face, Samantha was already somewhat looking forward to number 23''s performance.


    Now, Samantha somewhat understood why everyone was talking about number 23; in fact, tonight''s opposing team was no exception.


    The head coach of the University of Southern California Trojans, Clay Helton, was a bit nervous¡ª


    Although this was his sixth season with the Trojans, it was only his first season as head coach.


    Last season, the Trojans performed poorly, finishing the season ranked twentieth nationwide, failing to enter any bowl games¡ªa result unacceptable for a traditional powerhouse of the West Coast. Therefore, the head coach was fired, and Helton, after a competitive internal interview, took over the position.


    A new season, a new start.


    Naturally, Helton hoped his team would start off with a victory to welcome his first battle as head coach, but his opponents were the defending champions¡ª


    And it was the seasoned Saban.


    Gulp.


    Helton swallowed hard, trying his best to hide his nervousness, his words coming out extremely cautious, "Regarding Li Wei, we have very limited information, and I don''t think it''s appropriate to comment right now; but no matter what the situation, we are prepared, we will be ready."


    The first statement was "are," the second was "will be."


    The contradiction in his words exposed Helton''s unease, typical of a new coach in a new position.


    However, seeing their head coach being so cautious and timid, the youthful and spirited hot blood of the Trojans'' players couldn''t be contained, and immediately someone stepped forward to boost morale¡ª


    Juju Smith Schuster.

 Chapter 60: 060 Verbal spat

    Juju Smith Schuster, Wide Receiver, junior, is currently the biggest star on the Trojans team.


    Last season, when Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler''s performance was poor, and the offensively-oriented team always struggled to make headway, it became the core reason for the unsatisfactory team results. During the offseason, Offensive Coordinator Hayden became the head coach through an internal team interview.


    Nevertheless, even with an underperforming quarterback, nicknamed "Juju," Schuster still performed exceptionally, reversing the situation with his own efforts several times. He finished the season with one thousand four hundred receiving yards and ten touchdowns, becoming the only spotlight in the dismal state of the Trojans.


    This year, Kessler has turned professional, selected in the third round as the ninetieth pick by the Cleveland Browns, and the Trojans welcomed a brand new quarterback¡ª


    Sam Darnold, who enrolled last year but donned a redshirt.


    Redshirt is a special status in the NCAA.


    Normally, college athletes are eligible to play in four seasons of college games, but they can choose to become a redshirt during one year of their college tenure, thus extending their college athletic career to five years.


    During the redshirt year, students can attend classes and participate in training, and even sit on the sidelines during games, but they are not allowed to compete for the team.


    Thanks to the redshirt system, there emerged the phenomenon of "fifth-year seniors" in American colleges.


    There are many reasons to choose a redshirt, the primary one being to take a year off from competition to focus on improving one''s abilities to vie for a starting spot, a common occurrence in football.


    Because the physical confrontations and body impacts in football are significantly tougher, players can use the redshirt year to improve their physique; additionally, since football tactics are much more complex than in high school, players need time to adapt to different styles of play. After all, there are no redshirt exemptions in professional leagues.


    It''s worth mentioning that if a redshirt player enters any game during the season, then the redshirt status is automatically forfeited, without exception.


    The identity of a redshirt player is granted by the head coach, but only until the end of the season does the NCAA give affirmation.


    What does that mean?


    The head coach, based on his own judgment, grants a player redshirt status, but it doesn''t mean the player won''t appear in games during the season. If a player outperforms expectations in training, or if the team faces a severe spate of injuries, the head coach can rescind the player''s redshirt status, allowing them to play in the remaining season games.


    Once the player enters the field during a game, they are automatically forfeiting their redshirt status for that season, even if it''s only for one play or one second, with no exceptions.


    Therefore, only at the end of the season, after confirming that the player hasn''t participated in any games, does the NCAA affirm the redshirt status.


    "It''s all hype, that clown is just a puppet, a Pinocchio, nobody cares about him. He''s just a tool the Crimson Tide Storm uses to divert attention. A rookie who just got into football this year, a complete outsider turned savior, haha, what do you think this is, a superhero movie?"


    "It must be DC, not Marvel, haha."


    Zhu Zhu was incredibly arrogant, his trash talk flowing nonstop.


    Still patient, Samantha said, "But Sam Darnold was the same. A redshirt rookie who had never practiced as a quarterback before. What''s the difference between him and Li Wei?"


    Zhu Zhu''s face split open: Don''t hit a man in the face, okay?


    His expression turned sour in an instant, no longer in the mood for jokes, "Let me tell you, the game will prove everything. We''ll expose that guy for what he really is; we''ll let him experience what real football is. We''ll win the game."


    "Not just win, but crush them."


    "You understand? Crush them!"


    Having just hit a wall with Crimson Tide Storm, Samantha finally regained her reporter''s dignity standing before Zhu Zhu, "You mean against last year''s nationwide number one defensive group of Crimson Tide Storm?"


    The Trojans were good at offense, while the Crimson Tide Storm excelled at defense¡ª


    Just like that warm-up game, it was a clash of contradictions.


    Experience tales at M V L


    Zhu Zhu''s face turned the color of liver, looking like he might explode at any moment. After all, he was still young, just eighteen, and still a kid, "Yes, yes, yes, yes. We''ll win."


    "We''ll win."


    "We''ll win! Ahh!"


    And then... there was no and then. Zhu Zhu stormed off, eyes red, mouth full of foul language, cursing all the way to the field, his beautiful dreadlocks as if they were on fire.


    With a professional smile, Samantha said to the camera, "The Trojans are determined to win."

 Chapter 61: 061 Spotlight

    ```


    Boom, boom-boom-boom¡ª


    The noise rolled on; the heat, blazing.


    AT&T Stadium was packed to the brim with not a single seat to spare. All ninety thousand seats were sold out, heralding the new football season''s start in the most grandiose and raucous fashion.


    Historically, the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm and the USC Trojans had no deep-seated rivalry, mainly because the two schools were quite a distance apart. In their hundred-year history, they had faced each other only seven times, the last encounter being way back in 1985, with the Crimson Tide Storm prevailing.


    If it weren''t for this "Cowboy Kickoff Classic," neither team would have found themselves under the spotlight together.


    So, what was it that drew such a massive audience?


    "East vs. West."


    On the North American continent, a full-scale rivalry showcased itself between the East Coast, led by New York, and the West Coast, spearheaded by Los Angeles. They competed in various aspects including culture, politics, and economy, a fierce, vibrant, and comprehensive rivalry that mirrored the "North vs. South" in its craftsmanship but was even more exciting.


    The Trojans, representing the West Coast, embodied the elite, the white-collar workers, the middle class.


    The Crimson Tide Storm, representing the East Coast, stood for the blue-collar workers, the laborers, the general public.


    Such a collision, such an opposition, in the mere eight years since the "Cowboy Kickoff Classic" began, was unprecedented.


    The topic ignited interest on all fronts.


    Then there were the fan bases of both teams, along with countless football fans from NCAA and NFL, eagerly welcoming the new season. This is what led to the scene at hand.


    Unlike the warm-up match at Bryant-Denny Stadium, which was Crimson Tide Storm''s home ground¡ªwith the entire town turning out in support of their team¡ªtoday''s venue was neutral territory. Every side brought their best efforts to the field, not only supporters of the two teams but also countless neutral fans showed up.


    And so, the atmosphere became charged¡ª


    "Go, Trojans, go!"


    "Roar, Tide!"


    A back-and-forth battle, head-to-head.


    If you listened closely, you could hear the voices of all the fans in the stadium, each cheering for their team, creating an overwhelming wave that clashed and swirled above the massive AT&T Stadium. Amidst it all, a grand and powerful passion began to burn.


    Although AT&T Stadium was slightly smaller than Bryant-Denny Stadium, today, here was where it all began:


    The first official game.


    The starting point of the new season.


    The noisier, the more excited; the tenser, the more thrilled; the more turbulent, the more focused¡ªLi Wei loved this burning sensation. He had fallen in love with the taste of competing on a stage of a hundred thousand people.


    Haha!


    Zhu Zhu was on the verge of bursting into laughter. This scrawny, unimpressive figure was supposed to replace Derrick Henry?


    The Crimson Tide Storm must be insane, Saban must have gone senile, trying to use a smoke bomb to divert attention should at least involve someone presentable.


    Zhu Zhu couldn''t help himself, his smile bloomed fully, and he completely relaxed, turning to his teammates, chatting and laughing, his mood brighter than the June sun.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, audiences around the world, the first game of the NCAA 2016 season is about to kick off, with the defending champions Alabama Crimson Tide Storm facing the USC Trojans."


    "During this offseason, both teams have gone through some adjustments. From what we''ve seen on paper, the Trojans have finally changed quarterbacks, with Hayden choosing redshirt freshman Danord. Based on the information we have now, he''s the only noteworthy newcomer. Can the Trojans find their offensive firepower again?"


    "Meanwhile, the defensive group of the Crimson Tide Storm remains outstanding, which is Saban''s biggest basis for contending for the championship this season. Of course, their already weak offensive group took a further hit with Derrick Henry turning pro, and the starter to replace Henry is a new face."


    "He was once... uh, sorry for the pause, I''m checking the information, a mixed martial arts fighter?"


    "Oh, God."


    "Despite the running joke that football is like boxing, football is not about getting into a fight. Saban is making a mixed martial arts fighter the starting running back, Jesus Christ, this might be Old Nick''s biggest gamble since coaching the Miami Dolphins."


    In the studio, there was laughter¡ª


    Clearly, coaching the Miami Dolphins is still a "black spot" in Saban''s career, a not so pleasant and even humiliating experience.


    Experience tales at M V L


    But now, it seems people have found a fresh topic to discuss.


    "The game is about to start."


    "The Trojans, who won the coin toss, have chosen the field position, which means the Crimson Tide Storm will be taking the offense first."


    "So now we''ll get to see just what kind of offensive strategy Old Nick has prepared. Maybe we''ll finally get a Rocky in football too?"


    On the field, the offensive group of the Crimson Tide Storm had already taken the stage, huddled in a circle, with Offensive Captain Cam Robinson speaking¡ª


    In football, the captain isn''t that important; he doesn''t necessarily have to be the core of the team, often playing the role of bringing the team together.


    So, the offensive captain isn''t necessarily the quarterback.


    Robinson is an offensive tackle, and a left tackle at that. Since Hertz throws right-handed, the left side is the blind side. That''s why the blind side tackle is even more crucial; he must provide the quarterback with full support and make the quarterback dare to turn his whole back to him.


    That''s Robinson''s position on the team.


    "Hey, guys, our goal isn''t just the Trojans, it''s the championship. And the Trojans are just the first step."


    ```

 Chapter 62: 062 Shock Education

    Robinson was tall and sturdy, his 320-pound (145 kg) frame coupled with his nearly two-meter height made him stand like a hellish envoy, his fierce and malicious face with horizontal flesh that could scare a child to tears if he walked the streets at nightfall. At this moment, his stern expression was particularly terrifying.


    But once you calmed down and looked him in the eyes, you could see the fervor and passion in that fierce visage, entirely devoted to football.


    "Brothers, everyone is watching us, everyone is eager to beat us, because they fear, because they are afraid, because we are the strongest!"


    "If they think we can be easily defeated, if they think we''ve become vulnerable, then they should pay for their foolishness."


    "We are the Crimson Tide Storm, we are the defending champions, not because we were born champions, but because we were born to fight for victory!"


    Each word he spoke was forceful and resonant, Robinson''s gaze so determined and intense that it seemed as if one could see the boiling passion and exuberance.


    Then, looking around the circle, Robinson stretched out his right hand and placed it in the center.


    "Count to three!"


    One hand after another, the palms of all eleven players stacked together, with Robinson''s shout ringing in their ears.


    "Crimson Tide!"


    "Roar!"


    Call and response, back and forth.


    After three consecutive cries, accompanied by the shouts of "Roar!" their arms all stretched to the sky, the players of the Crimson Tide Storm roared to the heavens and turned towards the twenty-five-yard line¡ª


    The game began, the USC Trojans'' special duty group had completed the kickoff, a steady and conservative kick with no waves, and the Crimson Tide Storm would start their offense from their own twenty-five-yard line.


    Phew.


    Hertz took a deep breath, feeling a little nervous, and subconsciously turned his head and saw the only person in the offensive group who stood in the pocket with the quarterback:


    The running back.


    Li Wei was not nervous at all; not only was he not nervous, but he also seemed eager to try. He looked forward, carefully sizing up the Trojans'' defensive positions.


    Sensing Hertz''s gaze, Li Wei turned his head and showed Hertz a smile, "How does it feel, are you ready?"


    Hertz instinctively wanted to deny it, but looking into Li Wei''s eyes, he couldn''t help but tell the truth, "I''m not sure. God, I''m a little nervous."


    After all, he was still a child born in 1998, a high schooler just a few months ago.


    It was a gamble: using a rigid defensive routine in the hope of ensuring the team''s baseline, so the defense wouldn''t collapse too much, then trying to secure victory through offense.


    Whether the gamble would pay off could only be proven through the game.


    For Hayden, facing off against Crimson Tide Storm wasn''t exactly good news, but it could also be beneficial since Crimson Tide Storm''s offense was relatively weak, focusing more on the ground game. The "5-2" formation was the perfect counter, and without the powerful weapon Derrick Henry, perhaps the Trojans really had a chance to win.


    The only variable was, how would Saban respond?


    Or to be more precise, what abilities did a series of entirely new faces in the running back lineup, consisting of Li Wei, Jacobs, and Clark, possess?


    A rookie, a high schooler, and a backup''s backup¡ªsuch a combination left everyone baffled.


    Now, the answer was about to be unveiled.


    Li Wei was a little bit excited.


    A new season, a new lineup, a new game, so at the start, both sides didn''t resort to tricks. They needed to test their own tactics and get used to the pace of the match. It was natural to face the battle with their strongest formation.


    First and ten.


    Crimson Tide Storm lined up in the classic pistol formation, with Li Wei standing behind Hertz. Although his view was obstructed, the formations at both sides were still clearly visible.


    At this moment, it was evident that the Trojans'' defense was heavy at the front line, looking top-heavy. Not just the defensive line, but even the safeties'' positions were advanced, clearly weakening pass defense to focus on rushing the quarterback and cutting off the ground defense.


    The entire tactic was clear and direct.


    For the young Hertz, reading the defense became much simpler.


    "Hike!"


    Hertz''s snap call cut through the air, and Crimson Tide Storm''s entire offensive line moved to the right side in unison. The thuds of helmets clashing echoed dully, focusing all eyes on Crimson Tide Storm''s right flank where the collision of force against force stirred up waves of heat.


    It was like a meat grinder.


    Bodies tangled with bodies, forming an impenetrable wall.


    But just then, a figure emerged from the mess of offensive and defensive linemen, dancing lightly with graceful steps amidst the chaos.


    That was... wait, was that number twenty-three?


    What!

 Chapter 63: Break out of the armor

    Li Wei was extremely focused¡ª


    The Trojans thought the Crimson Tide Storm would opt for a ground attack to kick off the season, and indeed, the Crimson Tide Storm did start with a ground offensive.


    On the tactical level, there were no secrets.


    But what about the execution level?


    Li Wei had been sizing up the Trojans'' defensive line. Even though it was merely one person more than a normal "4-3" formation, the pressure near the line of scrimmage felt completely different.


    "Attack!"


    Hertz announced the snap.


    Li Wei didn''t start moving immediately. Instead, he uncharacteristically paused in place, his vision of the Crimson passing through like automatic doors sliding to the right.


    The view across the line of scrimmage unfolded slowly like a scroll, and he promptly noticed his offensive line teammates performing their duties superbly, securing their positions one-on-one and engaging in the first line of confrontation.


    Just like venetian blinds.


    Maintaining their matchups and moving laterally, yet as they moved, differences in speed and strength caused their rhythms to misalign, and gaps appeared¡ª


    There it was!


    His feet started moving, stepping forward to Hertz''s left. Pretending to pass to the right, Hertz retracted his motion and stretched out his right hand, completing the handoff to Li Wei, and the football nestled securely into Li Wei''s embrace, tightly controlled.


    Step up.


    But he didn''t accelerate; instead, he slowed down his pace, keeping his mind clear.


    This was a clear difference between McCoy''s training template and that of Peterson. People often thought that McCoy, relying on speed, would always opt for raw pace, charging forward without thinking. But that wasn''t the case.


    The calm observation and careful judgement before starting were the foundations of McCoy''s ground offense because once he started, his speed would be pushed to the limit, rarely changing direction even when hitting a wall, but rather advancing forcefully due to speed.


    Therefore, Peterson could often break free from tackles and continue pushing forward, while McCoy, unless he could evade the grab with his speed and agility, would find it difficult to break free once tackled.


    Now, in a straightforward contest, the Trojans were clearly prepared with their net spread out, waiting for the running back to crash into it, so naturally Li Wei wouldn''t act rashly.


    Patience, calmness, waiting¡ª


    For the opportunity.


    Li Wei paused his steps just a bit to adjust, watching as the venetian blinds kept moving, and when the gap appeared again, he started moving.


    His foot pushed off, releasing his speed in a flash.


    Before him was the meat grinder of layers upon layers; ten players from the offensive and defensive lines clashed and grappled with one another, like dragon''s flame, a rolling heat wave spread out, and his vision was filled with smoke.


    However, Li Wei''s calmness and patience paid off. He caught sight of a gap between the matchups and, with his burst of speed, he was already charging through.


    One step.


    Two steps.


    Three steps.


    Ah!


    A roar of fury.


    Ahhhhh!


    Full force.


    The power to push off the ground transformed into the energy to keep pushing against the opponent, driving the shield before him to keep moving forward.


    A hit, a push.


    And then, overturn!


    Ah! Ahhhhh!


    The lineman before him was flipped sprawling, the rolling surge of qi scattering grass debris, the power bursting out from within Li Wei didn''t stop, it turned into acceleration, and he immediately took off.


    The entire field, stunned.


    Zhu Zhu: ???


    A sharp inhale of astonishment swirled through the air.


    After the first layer of defense, the second layer had also collapsed to the ground.


    To describe it, it seemed like he had conquered five passes and slain six generals; in reality, Li Wei had only advanced less than five yards, just crossing the kickoff line and breaking through the lineman''s embrace, about five yards away from achieving the first down, attracting the eyes of the entire field, hearts nearly bursting in their throats.


    As a running back, could he continue to advance further?


    At least Li Wei had no intention of stopping his steps.


    Push off the ground!


    Push off the ground!


    Push off the ground!


    Speed, fully unleashed.


    As he was about to cross the first down line, out of the corner of his eye, he could see another linebacker adjusting his balance for a second takeoff to leap forward.


    The reason was simple, Crimson Tide Storm had set up a shotgun formation, with Hertz moving along the offensive line to the right, starting to look for a right-side pass target, an action that drew the attention of the Trojans'' defense, making the linebackers have to cover, thus only now making the second attempt to defend.


    Close.


    Even closer.


    Although slightly slower, the defensive routine of the Trojans was set, even if anticipated, their second reaction was quick enough, with the second linebacker immediately on coverage¡ª


    There!


    Impact, embrace!


    With a leap, that linebacker sprang into the air, actually soaring up.

 Chapter 64: 064 So Easy

    Wave after wave.


    Gusts of wind, one stronger than the last.


    However,


    Li Wei, unshaken, continued to accelerate, fully focused on pushing off the ground, speeding up, and sprinting, his calf muscles fully exploding, energy continuously released.


    From five yards to ten yards, in just three to five steps, in the blink of an eye, he reached¡ª


    First down, secured.


    At the same time, the second safety''s tackle was also in place.


    But what neither the Trojans nor anyone else anticipated was that this was only the beginning of a nightmare.


    "Five yards, break the tackle!"


    "Oh God!"


    "Crimson Tide Storm''s number 23 is extremely fierce and dominant, completely relying on the momentum of the run to break the tackle, flipping the opponent, and regaining space to advance."


    "McCoy, that''s completely LeSean McCoy!"


    "Even without the advantage in strength and size, he''s still able to fully utilize his speed to engage."


    "Ten yards, absolute speed!"


    "Wow!"


    "I mean, wow! Number 23 incredibly conquers with absolute speed, instantly accelerating, making the Trojans'' number 35 dive at the air."


    "Incredible!"


    "The Trojans'' frontline defense is so dense and dominant, yet now, Crimson Tide Storm''s number 23 has already broken through."


    "Fifteen yards!"


    "Twenty yards!"


    "What are we witnessing?"


    "The midfield line is now within reach, the Trojans'' secondary defense is rapidly tightening, the safety and cornerback are both trying to encircle, but they are being hindered."


    "Crimson Tide Storm seems very familiar with this tactic, the wide receiver and tight end appear perfectly on the route, preventing the defensive group from shrinking the encirclement, creating space for their number 23, perfectly coordinated, the Trojans'' secondary defense couldn''t tighten the pocket quickly enough."


    "Wait."


    "Wait, what was that sound?"


    A wave of heat, a wave of Crimson Tide, a storm, all converging energy at AT&T Stadium.


    Tyree Clark: I''ve seen this episode! We''ve all seen it!


    This gentleman is Ronnie Clark''s father, Crimson Tide Storm Running Back, and although his child is only the third running back, this is likely Ronnie''s first professional appearance for Crimson Tide Storm, a crowning glory for their family, and naturally, Tyree couldn''t miss it.


    "Despite the ''5-2'' formation being stereotypical and hackneyed by stacking numbers in the front line, it is indeed effective. In football, a numerical advantage is the only absolute advantage that can neither be broken nor overturned. Li Wei was not taking his opponents lightly; he was even more serious than when he faced Clemson."


    After all, against Clemson, focusing on personal performance was enough; but now, against USC, he was facing a whole team.


    Li Wei had mentally prepared to keep hitting a wall continuously, but then¡ª


    That''s it?


    He was genuinely just aiming for the first down, thinking of playing it safe and secure, just getting a first down before anything else, but how did it turn into a touchdown?


    Li Wei felt this wasn''t quite right; what was supposed to be a team effort had turned into a solo game.


    With a turn, Li Wei could see all his teammates, smiling broadly, charging towards him. He quickly raised his right hand and pressed it down:


    Keep it low-key.


    In the crowd, a burning and intense gaze flew over, and even though Li Wei wanted to ignore it, he still felt a burn on the back of his neck.


    As a reflex, Li Wei looked over and then saw that number nine.


    Wait, what was number nine''s name again?


    From Coach to Humphrey, they had mentioned him more than once, but Li Wei genuinely didn''t remember; he just knew he was an offensive player, not someone he needed to be wary of.


    Despite this, but hospitable and friendly, these are the traditional virtues of Hua Xia, so, Li Wei smiled at that number nine and even waved a gesture:


    Cheer up, Meng Meng.


    Zhu Zhu saw Li Wei''s action, and his face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot; was that guy provoking him? What was with that clenched fist and wave?


    Damn!


    Zhu Zhu: Dammit, dammit, dammit.


    He had thought that number twenty-three was just a pretty boy, purely a smoke bomb released by Saban, not expecting to score a touchdown with the first offensive play?


    To score a touchdown?


    It''s considered rude to hit someone in the face, yet that guy not only hit them in the face but also did it so abruptly and fiercely that they were left breathless. Despite the Trojans being weak in defense, the "5-2" formation, combined with recognizing the opponent''s ground offense from the start, still let the opponent break through and score a touchdown.


    What now?


    They must strike back, they must strike back.


    Zhu Zhu snapped out of it instantly, furiously tossing the towel in his hands onto the ground; as long as they score a touchdown right away, wouldn''t that solve everything?


    Although Zhu Zhu and Li Wei were both from the offensive group, they would never face each other directly, but as offensive players who weren''t quarterbacks, they clashed in their respective roles.


    Zhu Zhu''s expression suddenly brightened, and he knew how to make a comeback.


    "Sam?"


    "Sam!"


    Zhu Zhu called out to Danord enthusiastically and earnestly, his eyes full of emotion.

 Chapter 65: 065 A Stick to the Head

    A question, just how good are Zhu Zhu and Danord?


    Danord, the third overall pick of the 2018 draft, unfortunately, although high expectations were placed on him, he never performed to the level expected in the professional league. However, no one can deny that being selected with the third overall pick in the draft is because of his outstanding performance in the NCAA, earning unanimous praise and affirmation.


    Zhu Zhu, a second-round selection at seventy-second overall in 2017, became the first player in history to achieve five touchdowns before his twenty-first birthday, and he also became the youngest player in history to catch for over 150 yards in a single game and the first to reach 2500 receiving yards. In the 2018 season, he recorded over 1400 yards, becoming an absolute rising star in the league.


    However.


    Afterward, a series of not serious but incredibly troublesome injuries continued to disrupt Zhu Zhu''s professional career. He never again showed the vigor of his early days in the league, and his career never again featured a thousand-yard season. Like a meteor streaking across the sky, he quickly faded from view, bouncing between three teams in three years.


    Still, in the present, on the college football field, Zhu Zhu''s confidence wasn''t unfounded.


    Looking at the historical trajectory, the USC Trojans started the season ranked twentieth nationwide and ended it ranked third, under Hayden''s coaching the offensive group became one of the most efficient and outstanding in the NCAA, solidifying Hayden''s position as head coach.


    Now, at the season''s opening game, Hayden, with a mix of hope and nervousness, watched as the Trojans'' offensive group set off on their journey for the first time.


    Unlike the simplicity and brutality of defensive tactics, Hayden, with a background as an offensive coordinator, demonstrated his abilities in the offensive segment. The Trojans'' offensive tactics were mature and balanced.


    ¡ª A balance of passing and running.


    This is the perfect offensive mode that all NFL teams strive for but often fail to fully execute due to the limitations of their player''s lineup. But Hayden could do it.


    In the passing game, the pairing of Danord and Zhu Zhu, along with several other wide receivers and tight ends, offered a well-coordinated mix of tactics.


    In the running game, Donald Jones II was a reliable player, rushing for 983 yards last season, just shy of the thousand-yard mark.


    Therefore, Hayden could rely on the running attack to stabilize the situation and use the passing game to break it open, using the run to set up the pass and the pass to assist the run.


    The entire offense played beautifully, in stark contrast to the Clemson Tigers where it was all the Watson show, the Trojans still emphasized team cooperation.


    Saban calmly responded to his opponents, and the Crimson Tide Storm''s defensive group was no pushover. They won the championship last year because they had top-tier NCAA players on all four lines of their defense, and without a doubt, Saban''s defensive tactics and his ability to respond on the fly were among the very best.


    Even though the Trojans continuously managed to advance by combining passing and running, the Crimson Tide Storm always reacted promptly, tackling to prevent the continuation of the Trojans'' advances, avoiding missed tackles that resulted in giving up large chunks of yardage. This forced the Trojans to consistently deal with third-down situations.


    At the critical moment, Zhu Zhu stepped up, making key receptions on three consecutive third downs to convert and gain first downs, slowly but firmly helping the Trojans cross midfield.


    Humphrey was very, very unhappy with his performance; he was matched against Zhu Zhu and although he managed to tackle every time, preventing big losses, his continuous failure to hold his position on third down and let Zhu Zhu successfully complete receptions was unacceptable to him.


    At the moment of takeoff, Humphrey noticed something different about Zhu Zhu, who didn''t try to shake off the defense but released his speed immediately.


    Humphrey reacted swiftly, trying to block his position, but Zhu Zhu slipped away like an eel, and Humphrey closely followed Zhu Zhu''s steps.


    He didn''t rush to accelerate, but instead used continuous impacts to disrupt Zhu Zhu''s speed and balance, clenching his teeth and clinging on, while doing a Rhino watches the Moon¡ªtwisting his head to look backward, watching as he charged forward.


    Thump thump thump.


    Five yards.


    Thump thump thump.


    Ten yards.


    In the blink of an eye, Humphrey and Zhu Zhu had rushed out about fifteen yards, and just as they were approaching the thirty-yard line in the middle of the field:


    Here it comes!


    The football, spinning at high speed like a shuttle, came piercing through the air.


    Humphrey was half a step behind, so he simply used his shoulder against Zhu Zhu, taking a lateral misstep and blatantly used his back to block Zhu Zhu completely.


    Stay calm.


    Stay calm!


    Humphrey didn''t rush to jump.


    Only when Zhu Zhu forcefully tried to break free and jump did Humphrey push back and fall, using his weight to disrupt Zhu Zhu''s jump and trajectory.


    As the football rapidly descended, Zhu Zhu, amidst the chaos and jostling, forcefully raised his hands high to welcome the reddish-brown arc into his embrace.


    But just as his hands were about to touch the leather, a pair of hands, shaky yet firm, reached across and intercepted the football midway.


    Zhu Zhu''s mind thundered, a precise blow struck him on the head.


    Time seemed to freeze at that moment¡ª


    Interception.

 Chapter 66: Stunned like a wooden chicken

    ```


    "Kickoff, dropping back, Danord is observing, Danord is stepping back, Danord is looking for a passing target, this time he didn''t release the ball quickly."


    "The Trojan''s offensive tactics fooled the Crimson Tide Storm, the defensive line didn''t step up to apply pressure, which gave Danord enough time to observe."


    "A long pass?"


    "A medium pass!"


    "Danord chooses his most trusted target, number nine Schuster, trying to complete a twenty-yard pass connection for a deep strike."


    "Schuster is getting free, Humphrey is not budging, once Schuster can shake off Humphrey''s defense, the entire backfield will be wide open."


    "Schuster and Humphrey are completely entangled, Schuster unable to break free, could only make a forced jump, Humphrey couldn''t support his body."


    "Schuster breaks free!"


    "Schuster!"


    "Juju Smith Schuster!"


    "Ah..."


    "Interception!"


    "Unbelievable! While losing his balance, Humphrey yanked the tooth from the tiger''s mouth, and before Schuster could complete the catch, snatched the ball away first."


    "That''s an interception!"


    "God, the Trojans moving step by step, with a solid offense actually hit a brick wall head-on. After consecutive steady advances and readying a sudden strike in the backfield, the Trojan''s most reliable wide receiver Schuster failed to secure the position, and watched helplessly as the football was snatched from his palms, Humphrey completing an impressive interception."


    "Wait, oh, wait, Humphrey is still on the return."


    "Interception return!"


    Humphrey, fully focused, was calm and concentrated. Even though he didn''t have the upper hand in the skirmish and entanglement, he firmly secured his position.


    Patience, then more patience.


    Even though Juju had already made the first jump, Humphrey didn''t hurry, using his body in a backward lean to press down, relying on Juju''s body to come from behind.


    He jumps!


    He raises his hand!


    Yanking the tooth from the tiger''s mouth.


    He firmly plucked the football between Juju''s hands ahead of time, protecting the ball tightly amid collisions and bumps.


    Falling.


    Landing.


    A bout of turbulence.


    Humphrey wisely put his center of gravity entirely on Juju, using him as a cushion to absorb the shock, with his feet feeling the solid ground once again.


    Then.


    Turning his back to Zhu Zhu, Humphrey started shaking his butt like Crayon Shin-chan, humming and singing cheerfully.


    "Elephant, elephant, why is your nose so long?"


    Zhu Zhu turned pale with anger: Damn.


    The Crimson Tide Storm''s defensive group players watched this scene with their jaws dropped, totally unprepared for Humphrey''s celebration dance, then all their eyes turned to Li Wei.


    Li Wei, who was laughing carefree on the sideline, noticed all eyes on him, raised his hands innocently in a gesture of surrender:


    I have no idea, really, more real than gold.


    The next second, Humphrey turned around and rushed towards Li Wei, raising his right hand high for a celebratory high five.


    Li Wei was as stunned as a wooden chicken: Great, now I''m caught with mud in my pants, it''s definitely that, even if it''s not that.


    Humphrey, not caring, bounced around contently and even performed an encore of the "Elephant Dance."


    Forcing Zhu Zhu to go through third-gear changes three times in a row wasn''t something good for Humphrey, but now it''s all erased, an interception saving everything.


    Now, they were even.


    Zhu Zhu watched Humphrey continuing to shake his butt, nearly choked on his breath, and couldn''t swallow. He saw the beginning of the story but did not anticipate its development. He opened his mouth, wanting to swear back, but Humphrey simply ignored him and walked off.


    He actually... just... left...


    Zhu Zhu hung out to dry, his expression hidden inside the helmet one of total dismay.


    Then, Zhu Zhu witnessed the scene:


    Humphrey finally ended his celebration, high-fiving Li Wei, Hertz, and others, then took on a dashing pose of a fadeaway shot right in front of Li Wei, as if gesturing for Li Wei to take an open shot and seize the opportunity to extend their lead.


    Zhu Zhu: Do you think our end zone is a public bus? Easy to hop on and off as you please?


    Damn!


    No, no, no, absolutely not!


    If the Trojans were intercepted and then the Crimson Tide Storm scored right away, with under five minutes into the game both ends being utterly defeated, how could they continue the match? Could the defending champions bully them just like that?


    It''s okay, there''s still a chance to salvage the situation. If, in the next round of offense and defense, the Trojans could stop the Crimson Tide Storm, keeping the impact of the interception under control and cutting their losses in time, then the direction of the game would still be unknown.


    In a football game, even if Zhu Zhu wanted to counterattack on the spot, the rules wouldn''t allow it. The Trojans'' offensive group wasted their chance, now they must pray for their defensive group to do their job, striking out the Crimson Tide Storm''s offensive group so that Danord and Zhu Zhu could take the field again.


    And now?


    Even if Zhu Zhu was raring to go, he had to hold it in.


    But what if the Trojans'' defensive group couldn''t stop the Crimson Tide Storm''s offensive group from continuing to score?


    No, no, no, absolutely not!


    That''s not how the story should go, he hadn''t shown his strength yet, hadn''t fully dominated, and hadn''t properly crushed the opposition.


    Dammit!

 Chapter 67: 067 Alternate Appearances

    Zhu Zhu was panicking.


    Clearly, the start of today''s game had gone completely off track. Even though Trojan''s head coach Hayden had emphasized never to underestimate the defending champions, the Crimson Tide Storm was now dominating both the offense and defense, not only gaining the upper hand but also showing absolute dominance.


    A crisis gripped his heart tightly.


    However.


    There was still a chance for a turnaround; in the midst of the absolute chaos, the only silver lining was that everything had happened so quickly that not much game time had been used up. This meant that as long as the Trojans could stabilize their footing soon, there was still a chance to salvage the situation.


    Taking a deep breath, Zhu Zhu managed to steady himself and ran back to the resting area with quick, small steps, eagerly looking towards the Defensive group and continuously clenching his fists to cheer them on¡ª


    We are all Trojans, fighting side by side; now it''s your turn to shine.


    "Come on! You can do it!"


    "Keep going, keep going, keep going!"


    To the side, Danord was somewhat stunned.


    It was his first time playing as a quarterback in his career, and before he could catch his breath, he had already been intercepted. So this was what the Crimson Tide Storm was like?


    The game continued.


    Since the Crimson Tide Storm had just completed an interception and thus secured the ball on the spot, there was no need for the Special Duty Group to enter. The Offensive group took over directly, starting from their own 37-yard line.


    The running back, Jacobs, entered the game.


    In the season opener, Saban also hoped that the running backs could get their chance to adapt to the game atmosphere; they couldn''t put all the pressure on Li Wei alone.


    Actually, during the first ground attack of the game, including Saban, everyone was quite surprised. It was a regular run, but it relied on Li Wei''s individual ability to break free from tackles and ultimately turn into a seventy-five-yard touchdown dash.


    It''s not to say that this was bad, but it left no opportunity for other running backs to feel the game.


    No worries, Saban, being experienced, quickly adjusted for the second wave of the offense.


    Saban consciously arranged a more stable and tactically coordinated run, to cover for the passing offense, hoping that Hertz''s passes could also open up the game. Jacobs and Li Wei took turns entering the game, steadily advancing.


    At the same time, the solid thickness of the Trojan''s ''5-2'' formation also came into effect, not just for Jacobs but also Li Wei''s ground advances which were continuously caught in encirclements, as the Trojans fully utilized their numerical advantage on defense.


    This was the norm; massive yardage gains in ground offense were after all in the minority.


    In the back-and-forth confrontation, the Crimson Tide Storm consumed a total of five minutes and thirty-three seconds and finally reached the edge of the Red Zone, thirteen yards from the end zone.


    Until now.


    Tyree knew he was like a madman, his vision blurred with hot tears, but it didn''t matter, none of it mattered.


    Because he knew, he wasn''t alone.


    On the sidelines, Li Wei was also waving a towel and cheering for Clark, and other offensive group players joined Li Wei, shouting together.


    "Roar, master!"


    "Roar!"


    Clark was a bit stunned, but he still took a deep breath and controlled himself, concentrating as he listened to Hertz''s tactical arrangement, then lined up behind Hertz.


    Saban called it once... a fake run and true pass strategy.


    Clark played the decoy, and Hertz confused the Trojans'' defensive group with a fake hand-off, turning around to pass the ball, connecting with wide receiver Calvin Ridley to advance.


    Immediately, Clark quickly stepped up, blocking any gaps in the offensive line, standing in front of Hertz, ready to intercept any escaping opponents.


    Even though this time, the Trojans did not opt for a blitz, the pocket wasn''t torn, but Clark still diligently maintained a hundred percent focus until he caught the parabolic flight of the football with his peripheral vision, then his heart soared with the trajectory of the football.


    Touchdown?


    Could Crimson Tide Storm achieve a touchdown?


    In his sight, figures intermingled, forces collided.


    Ridley, successfully caught the football and with a turn, continued to advance forward, gaining a little space in the short-pass area with a very firm step.


    However.


    Regrettably, within the Red Zone, the Trojans'' dense defense didn''t falter, tightly covering the whole area, firmly securing the channels. Three players converged, stopping Ridley at the one-yard line.


    No touchdown.


    Then.


    In a daze, Clark was once again taken off the field¡ª


    He still had not grasped what had happened.


    This, was it already over?

 Chapter 68: 068 Online code

    Clark was somewhat dazed.


    His long-awaited debut had arrived in such a muddled way and ended just as confusedly, like a dream.


    It ended even before he had a chance to fully savor the moment.


    Despite this, a smile still fully bloomed on Clark''s face as he cheered for Li Wei who was taking the field, clenching his fists and leaping into the air.


    "Ah! Ahhhhhh!"


    There were no words, just an unrelenting scream, but that was enough¡ª


    He, Ronnie Clark, had finally made his debut for the Crimson Tide Storm after two whole years, not in a practice match, not in a warm-up, but in an official game.


    The season opener at AT&T Stadium.


    Even though he didn''t know what the future held, that moment was the happiest time for Clark.


    Tyree was the same, raising his fists high into the air and steadfastly chanting amidst the overwhelming shouts of the crowd.


    "Ronnie! Good job!"


    "Ronnie! Excellent work!"


    This, this is Football¡ª


    There are players who stand in the spotlight and receive applause, players who change the course of the game with their own strength, and also players who work in the shadows, dealing with the dirty and tiring jobs to ensure the smooth execution of the tactics.


    They should clap for those superstars, but they should also cheer for these blue-collar workers because football is a team sport, and every single player is indispensable.


    Tyree, like Clark, was jumping up and down on the spot.


    With a shift of tone, his smile bloomed at the corner of his mouth, switching channels.


    "Go! Li Wei! Go!"


    Li Wei high-fived Clark as they crossed paths, a swift exchange completed without any time for conversation, and Li Wei had already joined the team to quickly get into formation.


    In football games, trench warfare is the norm, and the Red Zone is especially calamitous. The struggle over a single yard on the line often decides the outcome of the game, and more often than not, the defense has the upper hand.


    At this moment, the offensive group was on the one-yard line before the End Zone, meaning all the defenders were congregated in the End Zone, guarding this narrow and crowded space, leaving little room for the offense to adjust.


    Like the penalty area in soccer, the closer and more dangerous it gets, the more difficult it is.


    First Gear and one yard.


    Saban tried to change up the rhythm. Hertz chose a quick short pass to starting Tight End O.J. Howard, attempting to break through with Howard''s personal ability, but the Trojan''s Defensive Line performed exceptionally well.


    The Defensive End managed to slap away Hertz''s pass while being blocked, as it was a short pass within five yards; Hertz couldn''t arc it, and the low pass trajectory was directly intercepted by the opponent.


    The connection failed.


    The crowd gasped¡ª


    Two steps, near the line of scrimmage, the collision of power with power, muscle with muscle, and the temperature of blood and sweat filled the tight space, grasping at Li Wei with wild desperation.


    Three steps¡ª


    Bang!


    The collision had arrived, oppressive like a bulldozer, leaving no space for Li Wei to adjust in the confined area.


    However!


    As the clashing forces on either side were about to shut him in, Li Wei leaped sideways, nimbly squeezing through the gap. His staggering steps had yet to find balance when, in the next second, he could feel multiple forces hammering from different directions.


    He held his breath.


    He touched down, turned, and evaded.


    His actions smooth as silk, he surged through the opposing forces, his upper body once again feeling the rush of cold fresh air, while his lower body was still trapped in a pile of flesh.


    Lunging forward, he fell to the ground.


    Without hesitation, he executed a Thousand Pounds Drop¡ªLi Wei firmly grasped gravity and rapidly descended, his weight tearing through the force of the tackle to reach the ground.


    Then, release¡ª


    Ah!


    The piercing chill of the air exploded around him like a tidal wave, and the dense walls opened up to reveal a whole new world in his field of vision.


    Boom, buzz buzz buzz.


    After the roar, a surge of excitement.


    "Touchdown!"


    "Touchdown!"


    "Touch... down... (Tooooooooooooooouchdown)!"


    The prolonged, resonant tail of the word set the air ablaze with excitement, and the AT&T Stadium went wild.


    Tyree could clearly hear his own voice harshly striking his eardrums. This touchdown was unlike any touchdown for the Crimson Tide Storm before¡ª


    Because his Clark was a part of it.


    "Roar, Crimson Tide!"


    "Roar, Crimson Tide!"


    The AT&T Stadium became an ocean boiling with magma.


    Indeed, the Crimson Tide Storm were the defending champions, their strength naturally anticipated; while the Trojans were the underdogs, having performed poorly last season.


    But in the first quarter of the game, the Crimson Tide Storm dominated the Trojans on both offense and defense with an absolute show of strength, leaving no room to breathe in the midst of a violent storm, a raw massacre and steamrolling that no one expected, epitomized by the confrontation on the one-yard line in the End Zone.


    The Crimson Tide roared, filling the sky and earth.

 Chapter 69: 069 Sudden Wind and Rain

    "Touchdown!"


    "Number twenty-three, rushing touchdown!"


    "Crimson Tide Storm, often criticized for their offense, firmly seized the opportunity to switch the ball from the defense''s interception finally turning it into a touchdown, continuing to expand their lead and extending the strong and fluid play they had shown since the opening kickoff, scoring their second rushing touchdown of the season''s opening game."


    "Wow."


    "Can you believe it? I mean, wow!"


    "After last season ended, Derrick Henry turned professional, and everyone began to worry about the Crimson Tide Storm''s ground game, especially when the new season started, and Crimson Tide Storm unveiled their running back lineup, a rookie, a freshman, and a backup''s backup, the voices of doubt were relentless."


    "Now, Saban and his disciples have responded in such a way."


    "Never underestimate Crimson Tide Storm''s ground game. Never!"


    ABC and ESPN alike, went from skepticism to surprise to admiration in just less than a quarter, all acclaiming in awe.


    Perhaps some might say, just two touchdowns, what''s the big deal?


    But in ABC''s commentary booth, opinions differed.


    "Number twenty-three of the Crimson Tide Storm executed a gamble on the one-yard line in the Red Zone, his nimble and agile steps finding a sliver of a gap amidst a dense mangle, a mere gasp of breathing space, yet it evolved into a touchdown."


    "Beautiful!"


    "Maybe this number twenty-three isn''t Derrick Henry; they are two very different players, but now number twenty-three is still opening up the ground game with his skills, staying cool, sensible, sharp, and knowing how to use his advantages¡ªhis intelligence is truly impressive."


    "Two rushing touchdowns, yet in vastly different styles, the performance of this number twenty-three also promises to be exciting, clearly we haven''t seen all of his facets yet, which makes the upcoming games full of fun."


    "Undoubtedly, the defending champions have maintained their continuous output of firepower on both offense and defense."


    "Now, Crimson Tide Storm has thrown a difficult problem to the Trojans."


    "With such strong defense, how should Saban''s offensive group shine next?"


    ABC, staying neutral as the broadcaster, naturally hopes for the game to be as thrilling as possible to boost the ratings.


    "The Trojans need to find their footing, they need to calm down, focus on themselves, start with their strengths on the offensive end, stabilize the game situation; now is the time to let the new offensive group show their talent, from the head coach to the quarterback to the wide receivers, they need to perk up."


    "A single score would do."


    "Whether it''s a field goal or a touchdown, that''s what the Trojans need right now; there''s no need to worry about their Defensive group, just focus on playing their game and finding their rhythm."


    Sack!


    Allen, with an absolutely dominant and sudden manner, violently broke through the Trojans'' offensive line''s block as if the pocket were merely made of paper. With just one step forward, he leaped towards Danord and fiercely pinned this young player to the ground.


    Friction.


    And more friction.


    Caught off guard, Danord was left dazed, every bone in his body howling in pain, darkness curtained his eyes, and the entire world seemed to fracture before him.


    Not just Danord¡ªthe slightest tremble touched Hertz''s knees as he watched from the side of the field, seeing Allen roar ferociously like the Hulk.


    Zhu Zhu: ...


    He had just started getting ready to contend with Humphrey once more and then witnessed this tragic scene, ending up petrified on the spot.


    Meanwhile, the young Trojans attempted to sound a counterattack.


    On the other hand, the savvy Crimson Tide Storm promptly snuffed out the glimmer of resistance.


    First down ten yards, a sack, not only failing to gain yardage but also forcing the Trojans to lose five yards.


    Second down fifteen yards, everyone thought the Trojans would opt for a pass, but Hayden unexpectedly chose to run the ball. The Crimson Tide Storm defensive group stayed alert, with number ten Foster making a beautiful tackle close to the scrimmage line, pinning the running back down and allowing only two yards of advance.


    Third down thirteen yards, cornered, the Trojans had no choice but to go for a pass, not even bothering with a decoy run.


    Nevertheless, Hayden made a tactical adjustment, using Zhu Zhu to draw attention, attempting to connect with other wide receivers, relying on Danord''s strong arm to turn the tide.


    The Crimson Tide Storm executed an unmatched secondary defense, denying Danord''s pass, a clean and powerful performance that struck the Trojans out.


    Wave after wave, a fierce flurry of attacks left the Trojans gasping for air, bewildered as they left the field, each one dumbstruck.


    Young Danord''s eyes were filled with confusion, unable to focus.


    Total suppression, total domination.


    The game, and the scenario they had envisioned, was completely different. So, what should they do next?


    As the Crimson Tide Storm''s offensive group was gearing up yet again for the slaughter.


    Wait, the Crimson Tide Storm''s offensive group isn''t going to score again, are they?


    No way!

 Chapter 70: 070 Rabbit Bites

    The Crimson Tide Storm went into a frenzy¡ª


    Of course, part of the reason was that the young Trojans hadn''t recovered, and their rigid, changeless defensive strategy was starkly exposed; the wily Saban firmly grasped their weakness, and the gap suddenly became evident.


    When the Crimson Tide Storm''s offensive group took the field again, Hertz''s passing fully opened up the game, and outside of Li Wei, Jacobs''s running back play also found its rhythm. With a full opening of firepower on both the passing and running fronts, they aggressively pushed past midfield like a burst bamboo.


    Before you could even blink, the Crimson Tide Storm was already standing at the opposing team''s thirty-five-yard line, quietly entering field goal range, with the Trojans as fragile and defenseless as dodder in a storm.


    Seeing that the Crimson Tide Storm''s giant wave was about to whoosh over once again and overwhelm with a fifth seamless rush since the start of the game, Hayden finally showed his mettle and displayed the wisdom and demeanor of a head coach.


    Everything happened very suddenly.


    The Crimson Tide Storm continued methodically, insisting on advancing with their own tactics and rhythm. The running backs continued to rotate, including Clark, who won more opportunities to play, and it was Li Wei''s turn this time, with nothing special about it.


    First down, ten yards.


    Saban decided to catch the opponents off guard with a pass. Li Wei entered the field to play the decoy role, employing a fake-run-real-pass tactic that allowed Hertz to boldly aim for a distant area and strike the end zone with a risk at the thirty-five-yard line.


    Compared with the substitute quarterback Beteman, Hertz had a slight edge in individual ability, including the long pass. Though still young and inexperienced and needing improvement under high-pressure moments, his ability was already notable.


    In front of them, the offense was smooth sailing, and the Trojans'' defensive group was completely disorganized. Throwing a long pass to shatter the equilibrium for a lethal blow was a logical gamble.


    Li Wei, then, played the role of drawing fire, pretending to make a handoff and then helping the offensive line with blocking to further consolidate the pocket and buy time for Hertz.


    However!


    It was in such an offensive and defensive play that the Trojans displayed their youth and vigor¡ª


    Youth is about boiling blood.


    Blitz.


    For the first time in the game, the Trojans'' defensive group launched an unannounced blitz, breaking their usual defensive routine and going all out with a gamble.


    Just now, the Crimson Tide Storm had opted for a six-man blitz that completely dominated. In a football game with such intense confrontation, even a single person''s advantage can be valuable and break the standoff equilibrium.


    And the Trojans?


    In the "5-2" formation, with already five defensive linemen, they launched a blitz by all, and both linebackers also stepped up, fierce as tigers descending a mountain.


    Seven-man blitz.


    This was truly a gamble of all or nothing.


    In Hayden''s view, should the blitz fail, it would not make much difference¡ªthey''d lose the first down and possibly the touchdown; but if it were to succeed, it could completely turn the situation around and shift the momentum; they needed just such audacity.


    In fact, it was reckless.


    Running back vs. defensive line.


    You can''t just muscle through; otherwise, it''s undeniable that the defensive line crushing the running back would continue to cut into the pocket.


    If sacrificing himself could buy Hertz time and space to pass, Li Wei would willingly do so; but now the pocket was like a sieve, and for the first time since the start, Hertz faced such aggressive pressure.


    Danger.


    In a flash, Li Wei had made his judgment.


    Step up, hit, replace.


    He had his duties and should still fulfill them, trusting the coach and teammates¡ªthat maybe his move would buy time, and Hertz would then complete his pass?


    Bang!


    Li Wei shifted sideways, not crashing headlong into the opponent, but using his left shoulder as a pivot, not passively absorbing the blow, but actively colliding misaligned with the opponent''s right shoulder, without compromise.


    Boom!


    Force, a tidal wave of power erupted, but Li Wei was not entirely passive; instead, he exploited the distraction of the opponent''s full concentration on Hertz, using his shoulder as a fulcrum to upend the mountain of flesh before him and break the balance.


    Boom... boom boomed...


    At a glance, the flesh mountain was unprepared for Li Wei''s surprise attack, faltering in his continuous forward stride but capsizing like a clumsy sunfish.


    The dam was starting to burst¡ª


    The line of scrimmage, a dam between the offensive line and the defensive line, was already crumbing, and the fall of the sunfish further broke the balance.


    Teetering on the brink, hanging by a thread.


    Power, bursting forth.


    But Li Wei did not.


    Having mentally prepared in advance and leveraging the sunfish with his left shoulder, he didn''t stop; instead, he turned clockwise in one smooth motion, simultaneously moving laterally and rotating sideways to look for Hertz.


    Just when his back was fully turned to the line of scrimmage, Li Wei saw Hertz, whose pupils shook violently, looking around in panic, but his gaze was unfocused¡ªhe couldn''t find a passing target at all.


    The overwhelming pressure of the dam collapsed onto him, forcing Hertz to retreat continuously with nowhere to escape, surrounded by figures on all sides.


    Chaos, danger, a desperate situation.


    At that moment,


    Hertz finally saw it¡ªin the split second he felt his knees weaken and his steps falter, as two figures hurled towards him, he lightly tossed the football away.


    Li Wei!

 Chapter 71: 071 Iron-hearted

    Block shedding task, cleared.


    Advancement task, ready!


    Amidst utter chaos, Li Wei calmly completed his block shedding task and used the momentum from a hit to spin, shouldering a new task.


    A glance back¡ª


    Just as expected!


    Li Wei saw the panic and terror in Hertz''s eyes, revealing a sense of despair with nowhere to turn. In the moment their gazes intersected, Hertz desperately clung to a lifeline, subconsciously tossing the hot potato to Li Wei. The football had barely left his fingertips, and the tackle was already barreling down on him.


    An overwhelming force!


    Hertz, sandwiched by two defenders, had no chance, hit the ground hard, and the world plunged into chaos, with only one thought in his mind:


    Li Wei!


    Like a torrential wave stirred up by the Trojans, the Crimson Tide Storm was engulfed, disintegrated, everything teetering on the brink of collapse.


    So, what about Li Wei?


    Focused. Concentrated. Calm.


    No time for fear, not even time for excitement, his attention remained 100% focused, his mind and body''s responses pushed to the utmost.


    Plant feet, spin.


    Despite his center of gravity shifting and his steps faltering, this was undoubtedly the most dangerous and difficult situation Li Wei had encountered in his brief football career. He had thought the Trojan''s defensive group was fragile, but now he truly understood the power of tactical coordination; however, his resolve did not waver.


    Spinning with the momentum, he continued the rotational movement until he was fully-turned 360 degrees, facing forward once more, the disarray unraveling before his eyes.


    Advance? Break through?


    No.


    Li Wei did the opposite, retreating as a way to advance.


    He did not blindly charge forward into a wall, but instead, took two small backsteps.


    Firstly, to adjust his center of gravity, maintain balance, and recharge his power.


    Secondly, to calmly observe.


    Without a doubt, the Trojans had disrupted the equilibrium, senselessly overturning all the Crimson Tide Storm''s offensive strategies. After Hertz was thrown into disarray, the wide receivers and the tight end were equally confused. The current match-up of offense and defense was a convoluted mess with no discernible patterns or structure.


    So, how to find victory in chaos?


    In the blink of an eye, Li Wei''s gaze quickly swept across, ready to capture the figures in white jerseys as well as the red figures trying to find direction. It was hard to accurately grasp the movements and patterns amid the chaos and disaster, but conversely, they could not anticipate Li Wei''s movements either.


    Counter every move, cover every angle.


    All of this happened in the fleeting milliseconds, and then, Li Wei launched into action.


    In the studio, they sucked in a breath of cold air, eyes widened, not daring to blink and miss any detail.


    In the chaos and the dire straits, the guts, courage, calm, and talent displayed by Li Wei quieted down the entire AT&T Stadium:


    Including the Crimson Tide Storm fans.


    "...Number twenty-three, in an impending sack, Hertz barely throws the football to his running back, player number twenty-three, Li Wei."


    "However, Li Wei himself is in trouble now. He just helped the offensive line execute a block, then after a frontal collision, he could hardly stand steady, spinning like a top with high velocity. The desperate choice of Hertz is not wise, but at least it helped him dodge a sack..."


    "Uh."


    "Is this... the Marseille Turn?"


    "Hah!"


    "The second Marseille Turn!"


    "The third!"


    "God!"


    "Li Wei shakes off tackles with three consecutive Marseille Turns within an impenetrable defensive matrix, showing off top-tier abilities of stopping and turning on a dime. Jesus Christ, what are we witnessing?"


    "Sideline!"


    "Li Wei is breaking down the sideline! Oh, the flying tackle, Trojans'' safety McQuay is trying to make up for it; he was just shaken on the spot by Li Wei''s emergency brake, like a stake, but his secondary reaction is timely, trying to push Li Wei out of bounds, but!"


    "Li Wei!"


    "Beautiful, an acceleration, a sprint, a stride, Li Wei barely dodges McQuay''s tackle by a hair''s breadth, shaking him off with sheer speed."


    "Unbelievable!"


    "Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei is moving forward."


    "The twenty-five-yard line!"


    "Danger, Li Wei''s center of gravity is out of control; after multiple Marseille Turns and then a sudden burst of speed, Li Wei''s balance is unhinged; and now Li Wei is walking a tightrope, his feet charging along the sideline, teetering on the edge, ready to fall out at any moment."


    "The twenty-yard line!"


    "But Li Wei hasn''t given up, Li Wei is still sprinting, Li Wei is still advancing."


    "Li Wei!"


    "Whoa, severe lean, perfectly replicating Michael Jackson''s 45-degree slant against gravity, but Li Wei maintains his body with speed and continues forward, running wildly on a tightrope, sprinting on the line between life and death."


    "The fifteen-yard line!"


    "Ten-yard line, oh, oh oh oh, God, the Trojans have finally caught up, the leap! The flying tackle!"

 Chapter 72: 072 Dominating the Game

    Teetering on the brink.


    On the verge of collapse.


    Li Wei was sprinting.


    He knew he was like a stack of blocks about to topple, everything had already fallen apart, merely maintaining balance by the inertia of speed. Any slight touch of force, any little imbalance in speed, and he would scatter all over the ground, like a dismantled skeleton.


    Not even one more second.


    Accelerate. Accelerate. Accelerate more.


    Now, like a runaway train, his body was burning, speed soaring, the speed even slightly exceeding what his body could endure. Yet, there was no way to stop, only to keep accelerating, stumbling into destruction amid layers of speed.


    The only hope was that he would cross the End Zone Line before he was engulfed in destruction.


    But.


    The Trojans'' Defensive group hadn''t given up.


    Marvell Tell, playing as Free Safety¡ªthe last line of defense for the Trojans¡ªshould have been the first to step up to defend, but another Safety, Strong Safety Leon McQuay, took the initiative to try to force out of bounds.


    Unfortunately, he failed.


    As a result, Tell was still the last line of defense for the Trojans.


    Just five seconds ago, Tell had been joking with McQuay that in today''s game they might just be lounging around, but the Defensive group''s performance was truly terrible; they should seriously consider stepping up early and joining the ranks of the Cornerbacks and Linemen¡ª


    At least, the front line could help out.


    After all, the quarterback of the Crimson Tide Storm didn''t dare try a long pass.


    Unexpectedly, the opportunity appeared right then.


    Tell, of course, hadn''t forgotten the opening rush of the ground offense¡ªit was number twenty-three who took everyone by surprise, charging straight forward to score. But that was the beginning when they weren''t prepared, which allowed number twenty-three to exploit an opening. The same mistake wouldn''t happen twice.


    This time, Tell was ready.


    Stomp, sprint, exert force.


    Tell''s eyes flashed with a fierce killing intent, ruthless and ferocious, unreserved, charging toward number twenty-three like a rhinoceros, completely indiscriminate.


    Charge! Charge, charge!


    Leap, dive, crash.


    Tell broke free from gravity''s hold, soaring through the air.


    However!


    Once again, Li Wei performed a ground run with unmatched courage, dancing on a tightrope, testing the edge between life and death. He perfectly combined skill and strength, his tiptoeing feet and fluid movement weaving through the Defensive group''s encirclement, piercing their hearts.


    Danger and thrill, toughness and strength, stimulation and spectacle.


    A performance, a feast.


    Then, one after another, countless shouts joined Tyree''s, instantly igniting the madness and passion of the scene.


    In the studio, after exchanging another look, they realized they lacked much information. They should have been fully prepared for this game, ready to take control and educate the audience, but now they looked like confused fledgling birds.


    "Is AT&T Stadium now shouting for ''Edgerunner''?"


    Someone asked, but no one answered, as everyone had a "you''re asking me? How should I know?" expression and frantically started flipping through their documents.


    But seeing Li Wei''s pitifully brief personal file ended too quickly on a mere sheet of A4 paper, which had never seemed so spacious.


    "Edgerunner!"


    "Edgerunner!"


    The roar, overwhelming, rising like a tide.


    In the end zone, after spinning head over heels, Li Wei stood up from a forward roll, standing tall and firm like a war god.


    Quietly, directly, he watched the Trojans'' fans in the stands. His fierce aura alone pressed down the tens of thousands of fans, grinding their cheers to the ground without a clenched fist, a roar, or a venting scream¡ªa single glance was enough, filling the entire stadium with his presence.


    Tough, dominant, and mighty, everything was perfect.


    Three touchdowns, three different methods.


    Li Wei completely dominated the game with his performance, cutting off all worries and doubts about Derrick Henry transitioning to a profession by rewriting the game.


    Especially that recent touchdown.


    Were the Trojans ineffective? Was Hayden caught empty-handed? Did the Trojans'' Defensive group fail miserably? Was the capability of this team insufficient?


    No, none of the above.


    The Trojans had already created opportunities through surprise attacks, and their airtight short-pass defensive zone was like a maze blocking the path.


    But!


    Li Wei still relied on his individual abilities to forcefully carve open a path of survival, his continual stunning directional changes combined with the Edgerunner''s breakthrough and final dive over the top created jaw-dropping "wow moments" one after another, truly elevating the game to a whole new level.


    Everything else was just a backdrop.


    This was simply "showtime" ¡ª


    Wait, are they sure? They just used showtime to describe Crimson Tide Storm''s Offensive group, not the Defensive group, this Offensive group?

 Chapter 73: 073 Sprint All the Way

    Zhu Zhu was a bit stunned.


    "Is this still the Crimson Tide Storm?"


    The Crimson Tide Storm that built its dynasty on defense? The Crimson Tide Storm that hobbles without Derrick Henry on offense? The Crimson Tide Storm that relied solely on ground assaults for its running game?


    "Are you sure?"


    Since the start of the game, the Crimson Tide Storm offensive group had made three appearances and scored three touchdowns, displaying absolute dominance that left the Trojans'' defensive group unable to cope.


    Originally, after winning the coin toss, Hayden had unhesitatingly chosen to let the Crimson Tide Storm start on offense; but now, the Crimson Tide Storm had firmly seized the opportunity to increase their advantage, their overwhelming offensive overwhelming the Trojans'' morale, not even waiting for a second-half comeback¡ª their focus was already scattering.


    Once or twice might be called luck, but three consecutive times left no room for excuses; the Crimson Tide Storm offensive group showed incredible strength, working in tandem with the already excellent defensive group.


    "How can we even play this game?"


    Zhu Zhu turned his head to look around, trying to find a footing or a lifeline, anything or anyone that could help settle the floating anxiety and confusion, and regain focus and balance.


    Then, Zhu Zhu saw Danord¡ª


    Poor Danord, staring blankly ahead, devastated to the point of shutdown.


    Zhu Zhu: "..."


    It wasn''t just Zhu Zhu and Danord to blame, even the broadcast studio was left speechless and dumbstruck by the Crimson Tide Storm''s first, second, and third waves of furious output, resembling rookies watching a football game for the first time.


    At that moment, Zhu Zhu''s blank gaze caught a figure:


    Humphrey.


    It was Humphrey again!


    There he was, standing across the field, dancing the elephant dance again amidst the cheers of the Crimson Tide Storm players, his twisting butt particularly provocative.


    From afar, the sound of laughter and singing carried.


    "...Elephant, why is your nose so long."


    Now, Zhu Zhu was shutting down too.


    "So what if we''re behind by forty-two points? We can still play our own style of football. Once we score one touchdown, then another, the game will change."


    "Don''t forget, in competitive sports, anything is possible!"


    Young and passionate.


    Hayden''s call finally awakened the Trojan''s fighting spirit. They returned to AT&T Stadium, perhaps for the first time since the start of the game, they stood their ground and managed to regain their composure amidst the instability.


    But football is a contact sport, and while Hayden had his strategies, Saban was no exception.


    In the second half, Li Wei did not play.


    The season was long and football was highly physical. Injuries were inevitable, and Saban needed to consider the bigger picture for the entire season. With such a substantial lead, there really wasn''t any need to continue depleting Li Wei''s energy.


    In his place, the team''s fourth running back, Emmons, who also partnered with Li Wei in the reserve team, got the chance to play.


    At the same time, the defensive group also rotated their players.


    Saban didn''t replace all the starters; he mixed half starters with half reserves, then rotated the lineup. Does this scene seem familiar?


    The season opener was forcibly turned into a preseason warm-up game.


    Because of this, the Trojans finally got a bit of breathing space. Though limited, the spirit lifted during the halftime break helped them to stand their ground and recover some form. The confrontation in the second half was noticeably more intense.


    However¡ª


    Experience still counts.


    Even with only half of the starting lineup, Saban''s ability to deploy his players was still among the elite in the NCAA. Even in relatively simple tactical situations, Saban could still fully leverage individual player skills and rely on excellent strategic movements to achieve team coordination.


    The youth and inexperience of the Trojans were fully exposed.


    Whether it was Danord or Zhu Zhu, they had talent, but how to translate that talent into performance on the field was still a subject that required deep study.


    In the second half, the Trojans had some opportunities but wasted even more. The young Hayden and players paid their tuition in front of Saban, and with the last attempt of three yards on fourth down failing, the entire game ended.


    "55:3".


    The merciful Crimson Tide Storm, allowing the Trojans only one field goal while their own offensive group continued to score relentlessly. Without Li Wei''s help, they still secured one touchdown and two field goals, firmly taking control in their hands.


    The game ended, and Crimson Tide Storm began their title defense with a crushing victory.

 Chapter 74: 074 Hot Topics

    On the field, the Trojans and the Crimson Tide Storm were shaking hands after the game to show respect, regardless of the outcome¡ªmanners are always mandatory.


    Zhu Zhu took a deep breath, calmed down, and mustered the courage, continually telling himself that he was the bigger man and that he could face a minor setback calmly. He needed to confront number twenty-three and then challenge him head-on:


    Next time they met, he would defeat him.


    Imagining the scene, Zhu Zhu suddenly felt elevated in stature. If the media caught this, he was sure to receive widespread praise from netizens. Head held high, chest out, even his walk seemed to carry the breeze.


    However, after searching through the crowd, Zhu Zhu was unable to spot that figure.


    Zhu Zhu began to panic. His perfect plan covered every detail, yet he had overlooked the most critical one. As he watched reporters start to leave one after another, he began to sweat anxiously.


    He ran around the field like a tadpole searching for its mother, looping round and round.


    Still, he found no one.


    Where was he?


    Zhu Zhu was exhausted and drenched in sweat. Things weren''t going as he had pictured. What was going on? Wait, what about the media? Social networks? Netizens'' praise?


    What was he to do?


    So, what about Li Wei?


    Li Wei was checking the system.


    As the game ended, a notification of a completed task chimed in his mind, which intrigued Li Wei since the training system had not issued any tasks before the game. It had always been a purely training-assistive system.


    During the post-game handshake, Li Wei also went onto the field, but traditionally, all the focus was on the head coach and the quarterback''s handshakes after the game. The other players'' interactions were more casual, so Li Wei greeted briefly and left, walking away... nonchalantly.


    Upon checking, the system indeed hadn''t issued any tasks; Li Wei''s memory was accurate.


    The notification indicated that the system automatically recorded Li Wei''s growth trajectory. This was Li Wei''s first official football game, and he achieved his first ground advance and his first running touchdown, among others. Correspondingly, he was given experience rewards¡ª


    That was what the progress bar at the bottom signified; it had risen a notch.


    After careful analysis, Li Wei concluded:


    The tougher the game, the more outstanding the performance, the faster the progress.


    Every milestone reached also comes with bonus rewards.


    For example, ground advances of five hundred yards, a thousand yards, three thousand yards.


    Like ten, thirty, fifty running touchdowns.


    But the problem is, Li Wei''s expression was too calm, too sincere, and too peaceful, with no arrogance, no provocation, no mockery, nothing at all. For a while, the reporters couldn''t figure out what this guy was up to.


    Li Wei himself also looked puzzled.


    To be honest, he had no concept of football scores, and it was college games that were prone to lopsided scores, which could easily happen if one wasn''t careful, and he just assumed such scores were commonplace; besides, in the land of Oriental etiquette, humility is paramount, even in victory one must keep a low profile.


    Now looking at the reporters'' expressions, he was even more innocent:


    What, he was just telling the truth, was there anything wrong with that?


    As everyone looked at each other in bewilderment, finally, a reporter broke the silence, one after another getting up after falling down.


    "Li Wei, ''The Dallas Morning News''."


    "Before the season began, everyone was worried about how Crimson Tide Storm''s offensive group would perform without Derrick Henry. Do you think today''s running back group performance has filled the void left by Derrick Henry?"


    Pfft.


    Li Wei laughed¡ª


    The whole room was shocked.


    This question was clearly a trap, difficult for any player to answer.


    After all, Derrick Henry left behind a peak last year at the NCAA that was hard to surpass, and whoever took over the position he left behind was stepping into a thorny path.


    Unexpectedly, Li Wei actually laughed.


    Reporter: ???


    This guy is definitely an expert, mysterious and unpredictable!


    But Li Wei remained full of sincerity, "Why do you speak as if Derrick Henry has ascended to paradise early? Derrick has just turned to the professional league and is embarking on all-new challenges. We all look forward to his performance in the league, so please don''t use expressions that can easily lead to misunderstandings, okay?"


    Haha.


    That was the reason why Li Wei laughed out loud.


    "As for Crimson Tide Storm, we don''t intend to replace Derrick''s position because nobody can replace him, believe me, we tried, but the result was very bad. So, we will work together to create a new offense."


    "We fight side by side, aiming for victory as a team and facing difficulties as a team as well."


    Brilliant!


    Without a doubt, Derrick Henry''s void was the most difficult and dangerous issue, yet Li Wei nonchalantly resolved it.


    The whole room was silent as the grave.

 Chapter 75: 075 Golden Quotes Frequently Emerge

    ```


    The court fell silent.


    In an instant, the reporters felt they had been ambushed.


    They had been attacked! They had been blindsided! They had been set up!


    Not only did they know nothing about Li Wei, the running back, but they also knew nothing about Li Wei, the person. They thought they were in for a bare-knuckled brawl, yet Li Wei stepped in with a machine gun, rattling off a barrage that left the unguarded reporters with no chance to retaliate, effectively annihilated.


    It was brutal, truly brutal.


    The atmosphere turned slightly bizarre.


    But would the reporters surrender just like that?


    Of course not!


    Many hands make light work. As one reporter fell, another stood up, silently united¡ªthe reporters themselves unaware of their own camaraderie¡ª


    to bully an eighteen-year-old; a young man facing the professional media for the first time.


    "May I ask what you think of the Trojans'' offensive group''s performance?"


    "This season, the Trojans'' offensive group has been praised for their outstanding talent and high expectations. Sam Darnold, Donald Jones, and Juju Smith Schuster, all boast potential first-round draft prospects. This team is considered to be one of the most noteworthy in NCAA this year and likely to spring surprises."


    "What do you think of their performance?"


    Who?


    This was the first question that popped into Li Wei''s mind, but it didn''t matter that all those names were unfamiliar; he could consider them as a whole.


    Li Wei thought that, given the strong and impressive defensive group of the Crimson Tide Storm, this young offensive group hadn''t collapsed¡ªat least they hadn''t been shut out¡ªand had fought until the end. Their performance wasn''t bad, and for a young team, their fighting spirit was the most valuable asset.


    So.


    "Not bad," Li Wei said.


    Looking into Li Wei''s clear, bright eyes, full of honesty, the reporters, however, felt a tsunami of emotions. Could they curse?


    In the second half, the Crimson Tide Storm had almost treated it like a warm-up, substituting more than half of its main players and ending the game in a leisurely fashion. As a result, the Trojans only managed to score a free kick, with their young and inexperienced offensive group showing a collective breakdown of focus.


    And what did Li Wei say?


    Reporter: Beast.


    "Li Wei, may I ask, how do you think Juju performed?"


    "So far so good."


    At last, Li Wei didn''t just respond with a "not bad." The profound look in his eyes and his confident smile endowed the concise words with tremendous energy.


    Confident and calm, poised and graceful.


    So¡ª


    Was Li Wei truly a once-in-a-century football genius?


    Just then, Burns made his entrance, like a hen protecting her chicks, shielding the big and strong Li Wei behind him, and scolded the media to back off.


    "Players are not giving interviews."


    "If you have questions, please ask the head coach."


    "Please do not harass my players."


    Burns signaled to Li Wei with a look to return to the locker room, then he blocked the way, dispersing the reporters, allowing the other players to leave as well.


    Although the reporters were reluctant, they had already completed the real scoop, so they only went through the motions before eventually stopping their pursuit.


    However, that was already enough¡ª


    Highlight moments felt almost too numerous to keep up with. For a while, they didn''t know whether to be more astonished by Li Wei''s attitude towards Juju Smith Schuster or by his confidence in the Crimson Tide Storm. But in the end, all the focus paled in comparison to the two phrases uttered by Li Wei that were already considered classic.


    One "not bad," one "so far so good"¡ª


    Absolute catchphrases.


    If it had been just about winning a game, it would not have been news. The defending champions, Crimson Tide Storm, winning a game, wasn''t that to be expected?


    Even with a score of "55:3"¡ªokay, indeed, the score seemed a bit crazy, but considering the strength of the Crimson Tide Storm, it wasn''t something to make a big fuss over. Yet, the key was in Li Wei''s response.


    Not bad.


    The Crimson Tide Storm performed not bad, the Trojans didn''t do poorly?


    Then everyone fell silent.


    Those who didn''t follow football might think this was some usual tactic.


    But those who followed football didn''t recognize this twenty-third number player of the Crimson Tide Storm at all. Given that there are many players in the NCAA, it''s normal not to know one or two players, and it''s common for an unknown player to suddenly have an explosive game, but for this player to have an Asian face, that was not normal.


    Very much not normal.


    Wait, he only started playing football last April, and he''s saying that so far, it "feels good"?


    This...

 Chapter 76: Listing Remarks

    Brief version:


    It¡¯s live, please subscribe, please enable auto-subscription, with a hundred chapters in reserve, seeking monthly tickets, seeking rewards.


    Verbose version:


    Dear time-precious readers, there¡¯s no need to go further; for those who have time to spare, feel free to casually flip through.


    Finally, it has gone live.


    If all goes well, the book will officially launch tomorrow at noon.


    As mentioned earlier, after the launch, I plan to burst update, and I¡¯ve already prepared the manuscripts for it.


    The additional update rules are as follows:


    Alliance Hierarch, ten thousand words; Helmsman, one thousand words; Hall Master, two thousand words. Every ten-thousand reward, add an extra thousand words, and so on.


    Monthly tickets, one hundred tickets equal a thousand words, and this includes all the monthly tickets up to now.


    Let the eruption be even more ferocious!


    Lastly, once again, thank you to every reader who supports this book. Thank you, I truly appreciate it!

 Chapter 77: 760,000 people are watching

    Football, North America''s number one sport, outshines baseball, hockey, and basketball in market share, making it the absolute ruler.


    Not only are the NFL''s professional games dominant, but the NCAA''s college competitions also boast unparalleled supremacy, causing envy among other professional leagues.


    Numbers don''t lie¡ª


    "Crimson Tide Storm VS Trojans" this season''s opening game not only set new records for in-person attendance, but ABC''s TV viewership numbers also easily surpassed twenty million.


    It was 2016, and with the rise of online streaming, social media, and varied entertainment options, television ratings across all categories¡ªincluding dramas, sports, and talk shows¡ªwere in decline. Ten million viewers had already become a significant threshold.


    Yet, in such circumstances, the NCAA''s 2016 season opener still attracted over twenty million viewers, blowing away all other shows.


    Result!


    In such a high-profile battle, who was dominating the front pages of major newspapers and becoming the darling of social media? A stranger?


    A completely unfamiliar face.


    Moreover, it was an Asian face!


    What was going on?


    Although the spring training camp''s warm-up games were televised on ESPN and indeed drew some attention to Li Wei, at the end of the day, it was just a warm-up match, its value limited and its subsequent impact equally limited. The name "Li Wei" and that face still remained unfamiliar in the world of football.


    Li Wei didn''t know them, and they didn''t know Li Wei¡ª


    Mutually unknown, perfect!


    But now, the situation was utterly different; in the season opener, Li Wei, by the strength of one man, decided the game, undoubtedly becoming the most dazzling player.


    "177 yards, three touchdowns."


    As people read these stats, they couldn''t help but be dazzled; it was truly a dominant performance, enough to make anyone''s heart race.


    When people read the note that said, "only played in the first half," excitement turned to frenzy, brains went offline, completely losing the ability to think.


    So, who was he?


    Not just the NCAA, but also the NFL''s attention was drawn. A player who could advance 177 yards and score three touchdowns in just one half was absolutely sensational; but more importantly, professional team scouts'' reports had no record of this player at all, which was utterly unacceptable.


    Draft, crucial for the NFL.


    After entering the new millennium, the league changed a series of rules under the premise of "preventing injuries," increasing protection for the quarterback; even though this reason was indeed factual, the real motive was television broadcast revenue.


    After all, compared to the cumbersome and slow ground offensives, in the twenty-first century¡ªwhere the pace of life kept increasing and the visual stimuli grew more numb¡ªthe dazzling and thrilling passing attacks, akin to the Galactic Battleship, were the ones that could win the cheers of the audience, somewhat similar to the development of soccer.


    Once, there were no shortages of top teams focusing on defense, but gradually, the fans'' preference shifted to favor offense over defense, causing the value of offensive players to soar.


    Though the scenarios were not exactly the same, the essence was similar.


    After the league changed its rules, more space was given to passing, reducing the difficulty of breaking through with passing attacks, and teams'' tactical playbooks gradually began to shift; after 2010, it distinctly entered the "era of passing attacks," with no signs of diminishing but only intensifying over time.


    Naturally, the quarterback and associated passing positions soared in value; for example, the wide receiver and the offensive guard.


    Conversely, the running back was the victim.


    Ground attacks were undervalued in all the teams, leading to a drastic decline in both value and status of the running backs.


    Second, the injury scenario.


    Although in football, every position except the quarterback must endure countless impacts¡ªit''s part of the game¡ªno position endures them like the running back.


    The running back must constantly use his body to absorb impacts to forge new territories, making it the most wear-prone position in football.


    According to statistical data, the average professional career span across all positions in the NFL is 3.3 years, whereas for running backs, it''s only 2.57 years, ranking last among all positions.


    And those Hall of Fame legendary running backs have somewhat longer careers, but their peak performance often lasts only three to four years, and without injuries, they start to decline due to the deterioration of physical functions.


    Moreover, countless legendary running backs have fallen from grace due to injuries.


    That is to say, the cost-effectiveness is not high.


    If a team signs a running back with a high salary and he gets injured the next year, then that salary turns into bad debts, completely wasting the salary cap space.


    Combining these two situations, along with various other factors, the league has left less and less development space for running backs.


    In reality, the best coaches knew this:


    Without ground attacks, passing offenses couldn''t open up the game; without excellent running backs, offensive tactics couldn''t proceed effectively.


    However, reality is just that harsh.


    So much so that when team managers saw "running back" as the position, their boiling blood also cooled down.

 Chapter 78: 077 Cruel Reality

    Rome wasn''t built in a day, and the difficult situation of running backs in the League also wasn''t caused overnight, but rather by various contributing factors.


    Firstly, after top running backs deliver a top-season performance, securing a lucrative contract becomes increasingly challenging.


    Teams worry that running backs can''t sustain top performances and also believe their contribution to the offense is limited. Therefore, while quarterbacks, wide receivers, and offensive line players keep landing record-breaking contracts, star running backs are often left "begging for crumbs."


    It''s hard to renew contracts, especially long-term or high-value ones.


    Secondly, the draft prospects for rookie running backs are getting worse.


    The NFL has strict regulations for rookie contracts, specifying clear-cut minimum wages for each round and each draft position, which means teams must consider cost-effectiveness¡ªwhether to choose running backs or players at other positions with the same amount of money.


    Instead of selecting running backs in the first three rounds, professional leagues have gradually started to favor choosing running backs in the sixth or seventh rounds, or even from undrafted rookies¡ªas if bargain hunting.


    A real value for money, since running backs are treated just as "draft animals."


    What if the rookie running backs aren''t skilled enough?


    No worries, after all, it''s just a sixth or seventh-round pick; it''s cheap, no harm in wasting, and after being discarded, it''s always easy to pick up some blue-collar backups.


    As a matter of fact, the current League still lacks excellent running backs or top running backs. Many teams struggle with insufficient running back capabilities, which hampers their offensive performance, but due to cost-effectiveness and salary cap issues, team managers often refuse to admit this and are even more reluctant to spend big money on top running backs.


    They would rather focus on other positions in the offensive group to change the situation than be seen as the sucker who gives a top contract to a top running back.


    Naturally, the prospects of running backs at the draft are getting dimmer, and as time progresses, there seem to be no signs of improvement.


    The same is true now.


    "Crimson Tide Storm vs. Trojans" ended, and Li Wei made a strong impression, with team managers'' eyes lighting up at the data. If this had been a quarterback, or perhaps a wide receiver or a tight end, that would have been considered a treasure trove, attracting attention even from teams that don''t need players at those positions.


    However, taking a closer look, realizing it''s a running back, their enthusiasm quickly waned; besides, this running back had only risen to prominence in one single game, providing limited reference value. It wasn''t even necessary to keep watching him¡ªmore than half of the team managers had already closed their eyes and threw his resume straight into the trash.


    Reality is just that cruel.


    Take, for example, the Carolina Panthers.


    This is a strong team, a very, very good team that became a major league competitor ever since they picked Cam Newton, a quarterback from the University of Alabama at Auburn in 2011 with their first overall pick. Since the 2012 season, they have made it to the playoffs four consecutive times, their formidable performance consistently on display.


    Last season they had an outstanding record of fifteen wins to one loss, entered the playoffs as the number one seed, and charged all the way to the Super Bowl; unfortunately, they performed poorly on the Super Bowl stage and were completely dominated by Peyton Manning-led Denver Broncos, sadly missing out on the championship.


    Now, under the leadership of Coach Ron Rivera, the Carolina Panthers are still seen as strong contenders this coming season.


    But Rivera knows his own issues, he is worried about the condition of quarterback Cam Newton.


    Newton is a typical mobile quarterback, ranked alongside Russell Wilson, Robert Griffin III, and Colin Kaepernick as one of the new generation''s top four mobile quarterbacks. Last season, Newton clinched the regular season MVP award and topped the NFL''s Top 100 Players list for the first time, perfectly riding the crest of success.


    So, what is Rivera worried about?


    Injuries.


    New generation mobile quarterbacks, having the ability to pass and run, pose a dual threat, but just like running backs, mobile quarterbacks need to carry the ball themselves, which means collisions, confrontations, and a high risk of injuries.


    Look at Griffin, who had suffered four severe injuries over the past three seasons. The 2011 Offensive Rookie of the Year has completely turned into a spent force, and last year he was entirely ruled out for the season.


    Back in the day, the Washington Redskins (renamed Washington Commanders in 2022) paid a hefty price of three first-round picks and one second-round pick to secure Griffin as the second overall pick, but this offseason they offloaded him to the Cleveland Browns like a clearance sale.


    Rivera doesn''t want to see this happen; after all, he believes a quarterback''s job should be passing, while running should be left to the running backs.


    Rivera thinks the team needs an excellent running back to support Newton, however... the team''s General Manager David Gettleman disagrees.


    This year at the draft, Gettleman completely ignored Rivera''s request; he didn''t pick a running back for the team by the end of the draft, which infuriated Rivera; this on top of having just renewed Newton''s contract last year, a five-year deal worth $103.8 million US dollars, leaving no salary cap room to pick up players from the free market.


    Thus.


    Rivera''s plans had to be shelved.


    When Rivera saw Li Wei, his mind became active once again.

 Chapter 79: 078 Eight Directions View

    Ron Rivera urgently needed a running back.


    At the beginning of this year, during the 50th Super Bowl, the Black Panthers¡¯ offensive group was brutally dominated by the Broncos¡¯ defensive group, getting thrashed to the point of helplessness.


    The general criticism outside was that the Black Panthers¡¯ offensive line provided poor pocket protection, and quarterback Newton¡¯s tactical choices at critical moments were also questionable.


    But as the head coach, Rivera¡¯s thinking was very clear; he knew that they couldn¡¯t always rely on Newton¡¯s legs¡ªnot only because Griffin¡¯s predicament was a warning from the past but also because the team¡¯s offensive strategy relied too heavily on Newton¡¯s read option. Once it was figured out, they would be doomed.


    They needed an excellent running back to share the pressure, shift the focus, and enrich the tactics.


    Li Wei was just right.


    The reason was very direct; those unfavorable factors on Li Wei, in Rivera¡¯s eyes, were advantages¡ªwhat being Asian, what only getting in touch with football in April, what lacking in match experience.


    These factors that might affect the draft position were actually advantages that Rivera could use to convince Gettleman to pick a running back through the draft¡ªperhaps in the sixth or seventh round, they could select a running back with an exceptionally high cost-performance ratio.


    They needed to seize such an opportunity.


    The only thing to consider was whether this running back truly possessed potential?


    Rivera trusted Saban¡¯s ability; what was more important was his trust in Burns¡¯s judgment. Li Wei¡¯s emergence and his mysterious aura were backed by the trust of these two fine judges of talent. If they didn¡¯t believe in Li Wei¡¯s ability, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to become the main running back of the Crimson Tide Storm.


    Immediately, Rivera felt a surge of excitement and picked up the phone.


    "Connect me to the scouting office."


    Meanwhile.


    In the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ general manager¡¯s office, David Caldwell couldn¡¯t contain his excitement and agitation as he examined the document more closely, feeling more and more satisfied with it.


    Knock knock.


    Right at that moment, someone knocked on the door. Upon Caldwell¡¯s permission, a figure pushed the door open¡ªit was none other than the head coach, Gus Bradley.


    "David?" Bradley¡¯s expression was somewhat serious, and seeing Caldwell¡¯s excited face upon entering, an ominous premonition arose within him.


    Caldwell slid the document toward him, "What do you think about us selecting a running back next year?"


    "How did you find him?" Bradley looked up and asked.


    Caldwell revealed a smile, "It appears you haven¡¯t read today¡¯s newspaper. NCAA opening game, also today¡¯s hot topic in football, this kid is the running back for Crimson Tide Storm."


    Bradley¡¯s eyes lit up, "Saban!"


    Caldwell nodded, "More importantly, this is a Hua Xia native."


    Bradley was stunned: So what?


    Caldwell expressed regret and frustration at Bradley¡¯s lack of comprehension, "The Hua Xia market."


    Bradley: ...Can he curse?


    The Jacksonville Jaguars had been performing terribly for several seasons in a row now, the team never showed improvement, the roster was a complete mess, filled with either veterans past their prime or young troublemakers. Those players who truly had ambition and aspiration did not want to stay here any longer, it was simply a disaster.


    As a result, the team manager didn¡¯t contemplate how to build a competitive roster, instead considering how to market the team, trying to get a piece of the big pie¡ª


    No wonder!


    No wonder the League pushed for the expansion of the overseas market, holding regular-season games in cities like London, Munich, Mexico City, Tottenham, and the Jacksonville Jaguars were the first to respond enthusiastically, signing a series of participation contracts with the League!


    Now, Caldwell had set his sights on the world¡¯s largest market.


    Bradley was so choked up he almost passed out.


    But Bradley still controlled himself¡ª


    Maybe his calculations differed from Caldwell¡¯s, but as long as the final effect was the same, there was no problem.


    Bradley decided to ignore Caldwell, as long as the running back could satisfy.


    "Haha, a smart move." Bradley said with a plastic smile, then quickly shifted the subject, "But if we can think of it, so can others. We need to move quickly."


    Caldwell smiled mysteriously, not at all hiding his smugness, "Of course. I¡¯ve already made the calls. Scouts nearby are on their way; we must seize the opportunity."


    When Joshua Brand stood at the entrance of Bryant Denny Stadium, he looked around and let out a long sigh:


    Weren¡¯t they saying running backs didn¡¯t get much attention? So what was with this spectacle before him?

 Chapter 80: 079 Charge forward with a high song

    Joshua Brand, a Baltimore Ravens scout, had been in the league for a full twenty years, having seen many storms and endured countless challenges. His keen and critical eyes were well known within the industry.


    This year, from spring training camp to the kickoff of the new NCAA season, he had been keeping an eye on quarterbacks, noting a few young players worth marking:


    Louisville¡¯s Lamar-Jackson, Wyoming¡¯s Josh-Allen, Oklahoma¡¯s Baker-Mayfield, among others.


    Result!


    A sudden phone call, and he had to travel thousands of miles to Alabama to observe a running back.


    A running back?


    Brand rolled his eyes, not out of disrespect for running backs¡ªhe, as a scout, cared little about position, as long as the player had potential; rather, this particular running back had played so few games that his data didn¡¯t hold much value, hardly necessitating any fuss.


    They were all professionals, they all knew that shining in one or two games meant nothing; some players exploded in their contract year only to blend back into the crowd after securing a lucrative deal. This was not uncommon. How could anyone get overly excited about one game? It was utterly unprofessional.


    Who knew? Perhaps the next game would reveal his true colors? Maybe after three or five games, he would disappear without a trace?


    In Brand¡¯s view¡ª


    Interest was the original sin.


    From what he heard, the media craved novelty, while the league aimed at the big cake of the Hua Xia market. It seemed that the teams were the same.


    "Chinese descent."


    Everything hinged on that keyword.


    Since 2005, the NFL had been positioning itself in the Hua Xia Market. After ten whole years, results were finally showing. Now, all they needed was a superstar to boost the entire market, just as the NBA had done years ago, to land the final kick, culminating in a complete transformation.


    So, as long as this running back wasn¡¯t a total flop, a third or fourth-round pick should be achievable. After all, the public¡¯s interest was already there.


    If so, what was the need for a scout? Wouldn¡¯t it be enough simply to look at the post-game statistical data, since it was all just a show?


    Last season, the Baltimore Ravens prioritized filling other gaps in the draft, giving up the competition for Derrick Henry, and only chose a running back in the fourth round; this year, they could make room for that.


    Moreover, that was the Crimson Tide Storm, Coach Saban¡¯s team, Harbaugh thought it deserved special attention.


    Then.


    Joshua Brand packed his bags and came here first thing.


    Standing at the entrance of Bryant Denny Stadium, Brand looked around and could spot at least seven or eight other scouts.


    Seven or eight scouts may not sound like many, but Brand knew that this setup was significant; after all, it was just one game, yet it attracted so much attention, largely due to its Chinese heritage¡ª


    Just like a panda had arrived.


    Brand took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a deep drag.


    For the next while, it was probably going to be bustling, yet it was uncertain how much real talent would be seen.


    But on second thought, the Crimson Tide Storm defensive group was worth paying attention to. Right here, there were several defensive group players that needed careful observation, so he might as well switch modes and see how the quarterbacks perform against the formidable Crimson Tide Storm defense.


    Maybe, things might not be as dull as imagined.


    As it turned out, Brand¡¯s prediction was correct.


    The Crimson Tide Storm indeed demonstrated their powerful dominance, singing all the way to a six-game winning streak after a victorious season opener, firmly holding their position as the NCAA¡¯s top seed.


    The defensive group was still the star, with an average of only 14.33 points lost per game, undoubtedly the most dominant team in the NCAA at the moment, truly intimidating.


    Indeed!


    Saban was still Saban, the Crimson Tide Storm was still the Crimson Tide Storm, relying solely on the defensive group to become a strong candidate for champion, and clinching a six-win streak without any suspense.


    However, the real surprise was the offensive group, scoring an average of 45.8 points per game across six games, leaving other traditional offensive powerhouses behind and leading by a wide margin as the NCAA¡¯s highest-scoring team this season, truly astounding¡ª


    Is this still the defensive powerhouse Crimson Tide Storm they knew?

 Chapter 81: Like taking something out of a bag

    Crimson Tide Storm?


    By the seventh week of NCAA games, the number one defense was the Crimson Tide Storm, but surprisingly, the number one offense also belonged to the Crimson Tide Storm.


    Is that certain?


    Are the statistics correct?


    But no matter how many times one rubbed their eyes and checked, the result was the same.


    Logically, with such a dominant offense, the quarterback would undoubtedly be in the spotlight, but this is the Crimson Tide Storm, where the running back is the focal point.


    Li Wei! Jacobs!


    The twin stars shine.


    Jacobs, a highly-regarded four-star high school athlete, proved his worth. Appointed as the starting running back during spring training camp, he was far from being unworthy of his reputation and under Burns'' guidance, he rapidly grew, undergoing a splendid transformation to become an essential part of Crimson Tide Storm''s top-tier ground offense.


    Averaging 88.3 yards on the ground per game, he amassed seven rushing touchdowns across six games, a powerful performance that attracted a lot of attention.


    However, without comparison there is no harm.


    Jacobs'' performance was already impressive, but Li Wei was even better.


    This rookie, who seemingly emerged from the cracks in the rocks, like an alien bursting onto the football field, continued to bring surprise after surprise with his incomparable performance, proving with his actions that the opening game had not fully unleashed his energy.


    Averaging 133.8 yards on the ground per game, he had already scored thirteen touchdowns in six games.


    Though slightly less than Derrick Henry''s beast-like performance last year, he was almost there, displaying an unbelievable dominance with a completely different style, perfectly filling the void left by Derrick Henry''s departure and pushing Crimson Tide Storm''s ground offense to new heights.


    So far, Crimson Tide Storm''s toughest and most dangerous game had been against the NCAA''s nineteenth-ranked University of Mississippi.


    Initially, everyone thought it would be an easy win without any suspense, but the University of Mississippi made its voice heard.


    Without the lead of a star player, this team playing at home showed the right way to play football, relying on teamwork. They performed divinely on offense, severely challenging Crimson Tide Storm''s formidable defensive group, and kept the score close and unresolved throughout the game.


    The deadlock continued until the fourth quarter.


    In the end, Li Wei stepped forward.


    A third gear, four-yard ground attack turned into a seventeen-yard rushing touchdown, and a successful fourth down, two-yard strong play with a fake run turned into a real pass for a cover touchdown, helping Hertz complete a passing touchdown.


    "Lamar, people generally believe that Li Wei is a better and more outstanding player, and it seems that his Heisman calls are catching up to you. What do you think?"


    Lamar Jackson looked at the recorders poking into his nostrils and the corners of his mouth with a face full of desolation.


    Wait a minute.


    Is it Jackson who''s appearing before the reporters at this moment? Not Li Wei, but Jackson? Are you sure you''re not at the wrong place?


    Of course not.


    After all, Li Wei was in Alabama, and Jackson in Kentucky, with a Tennessee in between¡ª even if the navigation was wrong, it could not possibly be so wildly off course.


    Lamar Jackson, the quarterback of the Louisville Cardinals, a sophomore this year, is widely considered the frontrunner for the 2016 Heisman Trophy.


    Why?


    Naturally, it''s due to his performance on the field.


    In the season opener against the Charlotte 49ers, Jackson set an NCAA record with eight touchdowns in a single game, becoming the player with the most touchdowns in a single game.


    For reference, the personal record for the most touchdowns in a single NFL game is still seven touchdowns as of 2023.


    Moreover, what''s more astounding is that all eight of Jackson''s touchdowns came in the first half, clocking out early from work, a scene that was very similar to someone else''s.


    At that time, people did not compare Li Wei and Jackson:


    One quarterback and one running back, one already hailed as a potential new star since last season and one who only popped out this season, one from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the other from the Southeastern Conference, one the darling of the heavens and the other a rookie rising from grassroots¡ª there was no basis for comparison between the two, no need to force a connection.


    But!


    As time went by, attention gradually converged, and the names of both players began appearing frequently in Heisman Trophy discussions, with talk becoming more and more heated.


    Week 3, the third-ranked Louisville Cardinals against the second-ranked Florida State University, this game was also touted as the battle for the contender for the Crimson Tide Storm''s throne.


    Jackson played like a man possessed, completing 13 of 20 passing attempts for 216 yards, scoring one passing touchdown, and giving one interception; while rushing for 146 yards on the ground, scoring four rushing touchdowns, dominating the game in the manner of a king, and completely taking control of the outcome.


    "63:20," the Louisville Cardinals demolished Florida State University.


    It was precisely because of this game that Jackson''s odds in the Heisman Trophy prediction jumped to first, becoming the frontrunner of NCAA this year.


    And on that list, one could also see the name of Li Wei.

 Chapter 82: 081 Sowing discord

    The NCAA season kicked off, and with it, the Heisman Trophy competition officially began.


    In the third week, Louisville Cardinals'' quarterback Jackson made a name for himself in one battle, suddenly becoming the strongest contender for the Heisman Trophy and leading the pack.


    In the fourth week, Crimson Tide Storm faced an unexpected tough battle against the University of Mississippi, but Li Wei remained calm in the crisis and turned the tide, once again igniting a media frenzy.


    This caused Li Wei''s odds in the Heisman Trophy competition to skyrocket, currently ranking fourth, only behind Lamar Jackson, DeShaun Watson, and Baker Mayfield¡ª


    Fourth, not very high.


    But the focus is that the top three are all quarterbacks, and Li Wei, as a running back, rose to fourth place, and as the dark horse of this season, he easily attracted all firepower, with reporters nationwide watching his every move.


    All eyes are on him, layer upon layer.


    Naturally, as Crimson Tide Storm continued their triumphant advance, maintaining their Undefeated Golden Body, Li Wei''s popularity continued to rise, and Jackson also felt the crisis.


    "Lamar, people now generally think Li Wei is a more excellent and outstanding player, and his call for the Heisman Trophy seems to be catching up with you. What''s your take?"


    Jackson lowered his lids, glanced at the recorder pressed against his cheek, and showed a slight smile, unhurried, not even bothering to lift his eyelids.


    "Congratulations. I''ve also noticed his performance."


    "However, perhaps because of position, I''m more concerned about Jalen Hurts'' performance; I think Crimson Tide Storm found their quarterback."


    Running back?


    Please, any sane person knows that in football, you should pay attention to the quarterback, and only the quarterback. As for the running back, no matter how well they perform, they are ultimately just... a running back.


    Those who know, know.


    From start to finish, Jackson had never truly cared about that running back''s performance. Could he surpass Derrick Henry? Last year was because he was just a freshman, not yet mature, which is why the Heisman Trophy went to Henry.


    Don''t even think about it this year, not to mention that the Heisman Trophy definitely won''t go to a running back two years in a row, especially when there''s him this year.


    To Jackson, he needed to keep an eye on quarterbacks like Clemson''s Watson, Oklahoma''s Mayfield, and others who could really challenge him; other players weren''t worth his time and energy.


    Running back?


    Haha, what a joke. Let''s not talk about that again.


    However, the reporters still caught the disdain and mockery in Jackson''s words¡ª


    Then, Jackson had already walked away, no longer paying attention to the reporters.


    The contrast in attitudes before and after speaks for itself.


    With a turn, the reporters surrounded Li Wei at Bryant Denny Stadium, who was about to head to an away game, and quickly threw out the question.


    "Li Wei, who do you think will win this week between Jackson and Watson? What will be the outcome of this direct confrontation between two Heisman favorites?"


    Li Wei: Huh?


    Not catching on, Li Wei couldn''t keep up; who were those two again? He remembered hearing something about Heisman runners-up, so they are... quarterbacks?


    Seeing Li Wei''s confusion, the reporters had to explain the backstory, "Jackson thinks that the Crimson Tide Storm has been playing spectacular games continuously, but he believes Hertz''s performance deserves more recognition than yours."


    So that''s it¡ª


    Stirring the pot.


    Suddenly, Li Wei saw through these reporters'' ambiguous words and realized that the media battle for the Heisman Trophy had already started, even though the season wasn''t halfway over yet?


    Everything, is just a game.


    "They need to fight for their victory, and we also need to fight for ours. I think, games shouldn''t be played with mouths, otherwise, I should be preparing for the Super Bowl right now."


    Pfft.


    Watching the words come out of Li Wei, confident and poised, diverting attention with a turn of phrase, his final quip caused low laughter.


    However, the reporters weren''t easily fooled. One fell, another stood up, immediately asking further.


    "In a previous warm-up match, you faced Watson. What do you think of his level, how does he compare to Hertz? Could he contend for the Heisman Trophy? Do you think Watson could beat Jackson?"


    Undoubtedly, this season''s Jackson was indeed sizzling hot, exhibiting top tier capabilities in both passing and running, even surpassing last year''s Watson, who led the Clemson Tigers to the nationwide championship final¡ªcountless reporters put the two quarterbacks in the same discussion.


    Now, it was Li Wei''s turn.


    Li Wei slightly raised his eyebrows, "Hey, give me a beer and a plate of peanuts, and I''ll stand on the same line with you."


    Spectators united front.


    With that, Li Wei had already turned and boarded the bus, leaving behind a crowd shouting "Li Wei" with no response.

 Chapter 83: 082 A Fine Line

    The seventh week of the 2016 NCAA regular season saw one marquee game after another, with the smoke of battle thick in the air and excitement running high, easily matching the NFL.


    The current top-ranked Alabama faced off against seventh-ranked Tennessee, as the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm, after six straight wins against weak opponents, faced doubts about the quality of their victories and met a strong adversary for the first time.


    Before the game started, there was endless bustling discussion and analysis. Although Alabama was still favored to win, experts generally believed that the University of Tennessee, in good form this season, could cause trouble for Saban''s team and become a test for Li Wei.


    However.


    "49:10".


    Alabama in front, Tennessee behind.


    The game was a blowout, and the defending champions responded to all skepticism with an absolutely dominant performance, extending their winning streak to seven games.


    Li Wei, quietly standing under the spotlight, once again turned in a perfect performance:


    180 yards rushing. Three rushing touchdowns.


    Li Wei, along with Jacobs and Clark, completely destroyed Tennessee''s run defense. Everyone knows the Crimson Tide Storm is a traditional powerhouse for running backs, but only those who have experienced it firsthand know what it feels like to face the Crimson Tide Storm''s running back corps¡ª


    It''s truly terrifying.


    The Crimson Tide Storm''s running back group scored a total of five rushing touchdowns, their overwhelming display leaving Tennessee''s defense dazed and breathless.


    People were expecting a hard-fought battle, or at least a test of how Alabama would fare under pressure.


    But the game turned out to be completely one-sided, with the suspense lost by halftime. The Crimson Tide Storm was a whole level above in both offense and defense, making the seventh-ranked Tennessee look like mere children.


    The crowd waiting for an entertaining game left disappointed.


    Fortunately, this week offered more than one game of interest, and the real focus wasn''t here. People always have faith in a "Jackson vs. Watson" showdown.


    Watson, a junior, was already a Heisman Trophy favorite last season, finishing just third, and this season he improved even more. Clemson, strong in the last few seasons, took another step up becoming a super team, boldly aiming for the championship from the start of the season.


    Jackson, a sophomore, a rising star, transformed spectacularly this season like a comet, his style of passing and running absolutely delightful to watch. He won countless fans'' hearts, and solely through his efforts, has brought the previously unranked University of Louisville to the pinnacle of the pyramid, making them favorites to win it all.


    Currently, the rankings of both teams in the NCAA were close, one third and the other fifth; but to challenge Saban''s team for the throne, they had to test the mettle of their quarterbacks¡ª


    Offense, whose can break through Alabama''s shield?


    After all, there''s only a thin line between heaven and hell.


    Now, the reporters couldn''t wait to completely infuriate Jackson.


    "In week seven''s games, the Crimson Tide Storm won, Li Wei scored three rushing touchdowns, and the top seed crushed the University of Tennessee with an absolutely dominant performance. What''s your take on that?"


    Jackson gasped, this... this was utterly unreasonable!


    He was ready to talk about Watson, he was ready to discuss his and Watson''s upcoming showdown, he was prepared to discuss the outcome of this game and his feelings, he planned to talk about the prospects for the Heisman Trophy, he intended to discuss the outlook going forward.


    But Li Wei?


    What the hell is this?


    The rational strings in the mind of the hot-headed Jackson snapped because it was too absurd; he couldn''t hold back and burst into a mocking laugh.


    "That was just Tennessee. There''s no need to make such a fuss, right? Alabama didn''t face Florida State or Clemson. I don''t think their victory is worth discussing."


    "Let me tell you, I don''t think Alabama is the favorite for the championship. NCAA rankings have never been of any reference value, you guys should know that."


    "Don''t forget, the last time they faced that team, the one ranked seventeenth or nineteenth, they almost capsized in the gutter, right? In the upcoming games, their so-called strong offensive team label will soon be exposed. Trust me, you won''t have to wait long."


    To University of Mississippi, Jackson truly didn''t mean it¡ª


    He really hadn''t paid attention, and he truly didn''t care.


    And because of this, bombarded with questions about Li Wei at this moment, Jackson became increasingly absurd and angrier, unable to believe his ears.


    His eardrums echoed with the sound of burning anger, and Jackson had to use all his strength to control the urge to explode, pulling back at the last minute.


    "Just for now?"


    "I don''t care about other teams or other players. We will focus on ourselves, sum up the experience from this game, continue to improve and progress, growing into a strong team."


    "By the end of the season, the championship will be ours."


    He spoke lightly, but with a resounding conviction.


    Jackson was truly sincere, one hundred percent sincere.

 Chapter 84: 083 Hit someone in the face

    He rattled off a barrage of bombshells, but Jackson still controlled his urge to curse and didn''t fall into the reporter''s trap by engaging directly¡ª


    Running back?


    Honestly, he didn''t want to bother, didn''t want to have anything to do with that running back, and he even refused to comment on that name coming from his own mouth.


    It was an outright insult.


    Everybody knew there was a wall between quarterbacks and running backs, and it was a wall visible to the naked eye, as solid as the East African Rift Valley.


    Unless you were blind, how could you not see it?


    Even though the swear words were on the tip of his tongue, Jackson still shut his mouth; he truly didn''t want to ruin his public image over a running back and affect his draft prospects.


    Jackson knew the NFL didn''t like loudmouthed quarterbacks.


    So, Jackson restrained himself, treated that running back like filth, invisible and unheard, refusing to comment and completely ignoring him.


    Having said that, Jackson didn''t pay the reporters any more attention and quickly turned and left.


    Watson couldn''t escape unscathed either.


    "Watson, the Crimson Tide Storm won again, and Li Wei scored three rushing touchdowns once more, overpowering the currently seventh-ranked University of Tennessee with an absolutely dominant performance. What are your thoughts on this?"


    Watson and Jackson were in the same predicament, but unlike Jackson, Watson didn''t hide his disdain and revulsion, his face full of loathing.


    "I don''t think he''s anything special, everyone says he''s the second Derrick Henry, haha, if Derrick Henrys could be mass-produced, then he wouldn''t be Derrick Henry."


    "Stats?"


    "Of course, the stats look great. But we all know what those NCAA stat padders are all about, they''re simply to boost draft rankings, the result of the whole team''s effort being directed towards one player. How much weight they truly carry will be revealed soon enough, even without waiting for Rookie Training Camp."


    "So far, the Crimson Tide Storm has never faced a real defensive powerhouse. I don''t think their offensive group''s stats are of any reference value."


    Arrogant, direct, tough.


    Watson showed a completely different face, not beating around the bush because of draft positions, and didn''t hide his contempt in his words.


    However, the reporter immediately touched on a sore point, "But you lost to the Crimson Tide Storm in the warm-up game."


    That Von Miller hailed from Texas A&M.


    Moreover, in recent years, Texas A&M had consistently produced outstanding defensive players for the professional league, and this season was no exception¡ª


    Myles Garrett, a junior, played as a defensive end.


    In the 2015 season, Garrett racked up 59 tackles, 19.5 effective pressures, 12.5 sacks, and one interception, displaying dominant performance on the defensive line, winning a series of awards and attracting attention from numerous professional teams as the strongest defensive lineman in the NCAA.


    This season, he continued to be powerful. His exceptional talent, diligent attitude, and modest demeanor secured him as a first-round pick early on, and many professionals even believed he had the merit to be the overall top pick.


    Unfortunately, he sprained his ankle in week four, missed two games, and only returned last week, still in the process of getting back into shape. However, his attitude in the game continued to be praised unanimously.


    This week, the clash between the strong defensive teams of Texas A&M and Alabama was doubtlessly a highlight.


    Specifically, the collision between "Alabama''s offensive group vs. Texas A&M''s defensive group" was to be watched even closer; in particular, potential top draft pick Garrett would be the litmus test.


    Up until now, under Saban''s leadership, Alabama''s offensive group, historically a weak spot, had been performing almost perfectly. They had exhibited top-level capabilities in both passing and rushing. The only downside was that they hadn''t faced any real powerhouses and hadn''t felt the pressure of a first-rate defensive group; their victories lacked a bit of persuasive power.


    Finally, finally!


    Texas A&M and Garrett had arrived.


    Not just the NCAA, but the NFL was also casting its gaze, with numerous focal points in this game that carried countless concerns and curiosities.


    Compared to Tennessee, sixth-ranked Texas A&M had a superior combined strength in both offense and defense and was undoubtedly one of the seed teams contending for this season''s nationwide championship. They would be Alabama''s toughest and most troublesome opponent so far this season.


    Everyone was looking forward to a clash as explosive as Mars hitting Earth, to test the mettle of Alabama''s offensive group; Watson''s views were those of a professional.


    However.


    Alabama Crimson Tide Storm made their own statement: there was no need to make such a fuss, seriously, no need.


    "14:40".


    The full game ended, with the visiting team in front, the home team behind.


    The field in sight was the familiar Bryant Denny Stadium.


    ```

 Chapter 85: 084 Strong Defensive Team

    "14:40."


    The whistle blew, and the game ended.


    Playing at home, Alabama Crimson Tide Storm once again swept through Texas A&M with an unmatched performance, extending their winning streak to eight games.


    The spectators who had come in high spirits left disappointed, destined to be let down:


    In this game, the Texas A&M Defensive group failed to exert enough pressure on the Alabama Offensive group. Although they showed the style of a traditionally strong Defensive team in the first and second gear defenses, indeed causing troubles for the Crimson Tide Storm Offensive group, their intensity faltered when it came to Third Gear.


    The reasons were twofold.


    Firstly, Garrett was still apprehensive. Clearly hesitant due to an ankle injury, his Third Gear defense did not exert enough pressure.


    Secondly, the Crimson Tide Storm''s ground game was strong. Li Wei once again showed top-tier skills, breaking through difficulties with several spectacular ground advances.


    Thirdly, the Texas A&M Defensive group did not provide enough support for Garrett. Caught in a situation where he was unable to continue single-handedly, as football after all is a team sport.


    Back and forth, the Crimson Tide Storm''s offense kept going.


    Throughout the game, Garrett, despite being troubled by injuries, still turned in an impressive stat sheet: seven tackles, three effective hits, and one sack; but his invisibility during the critical moments of the game was something the statistics did not show, making it hard to imagine just how embarrassingly Texas A&M lost without watching the game.


    And Li Wei?


    160 yards in ground advances, three rushing touchdowns.


    Still stable and strong, continuing to produce like clocking in for a job; also not visible in the statistics was Li Wei''s Third Gear conversion success rate¡ª


    100%.


    In the game, the Crimson Tide Storm faced Third Gear situations thirteen times, among which Saban chose to hand the football to Li Wei six times plus one unexpected situation where Hertz passed it to Li Wei at the last minute. Li Wei successfully completed all advances, securing the first down every time.


    His robust performance at critical moments became Texas A&M Defensive group''s nightmare and laid the foundation for the Crimson Tide Storm''s victory.


    Firstly, this was the last stretch of Alabama''s three-week series of tough games against formidable opponents, and after sweeping victories against Tennessee and Texas A&M, the end was within sight, which could lead to a vulnerable state of complacency.


    Secondly, the Louisiana State University Tigers were also a strong defensive team, and unlike any previous opponents, they were essentially another version of... the Crimson Tide Storm.


    Simply put, they had both individual skills and team strength.


    Unlike Clemson, who relied entirely on team tactical coordination, they were replete with players of exceptional individual skill; nor were they like Texas A&M, which shone only through Garrett, and had a tacit team strategy.


    Both individually and as a team, they could produce a result where the sum was greater than its parts.


    Like the Crimson Tide Storm, this was a very formidable defensive group.


    But why was such a strong team currently only ranked thirteenth? This didn''t make sense.


    The reason was the offense.


    At the start of the season, LSU was the fifth seed and also a favorite to win the championship, but their performance was very struggling after the season began, and even their victories seemed sloppy and disorganized, with their offense a complete mess.


    In the fourth week, they lost to their sworn enemy, Auburn University, a loss that ignited a powder keg and directly led to the firing of the head coach Les Miles, who had led the team for twelve seasons, along with the offensive coordinator, while the defensive coordinator, Ed Orgeron, was promoted.


    Orgeron, who had originally come from a defensive line background and had been coaching in the college arena for many years, had just joined Louisiana State last season and had never served as a head coach. However, when the opportunity arose, Orgeron grabbed it and showcased his capabilities, revamping Louisiana State anew.


    Being skilled in defense, Orgeron started from there, and in just three weeks, he successfully unleashed the defensive group''s potential of Louisiana State, not only securing a three-game winning streak but also drastically improving their performance¡ª


    In these three games, the average points lost were controlled to below 13. Although still unable to match the Crimson Tide Storm, taking over mid-season and showing immediate results still established Orgeron''s authority.


    At the same time!


    Orgeron was bold in offense as well, collaborating with his newly appointed offensive coordinator, Steve Ensminger, to explore possibilities. Over three games, the team''s average score soared to 41.67, more than doubling the score under the former head coach Miles.


    Stimulating offense with defense and driving defense through offense, Orgeron managed to quickly get Louisiana State back on the winning track in minimal time.


    Perhaps, as of now, Louisiana State is only ranked thirteenth, but in Brand''s view, a combination of various factors clashing together made Louisiana State an even more dangerous opponent. Crimson Tide Storm had to be extra cautious, otherwise, there could be an upset.


    Indeed, this was proven to be true.

 Chapter 86: 085 Copper and Iron Walls

    Bang!


    Violently, heavily, Li Wei felt as if he had been hit by a truck¡ªa ruthless force blindsided him, causing his organs to churn tumultuously, involuntarily making him groan.


    But!


    Before he had a chance to steady himself, a second force came crashing down head-on, toppling the last bit of strength supporting Li Wei''s body, then his control was lost, and he collapsed with a boom.


    Boom, he hit the ground heavily, like a meteor crashing into Earth.


    Pain, like a tidal wave, instantly engulfed his brain; every muscle, every cell in his body felt the impact and the pressure, and all surging emotions were compressed into his chest¡ªoppressed, further oppressed¡ª


    Muffled, stifled, angry.


    Huff!


    His lungs, blazing.


    His blood, boiling.


    Yet he couldn''t vent it out, hitting the wall, again and again, all the passion suppressed, making him seem clumsy and somber.


    Li Wei had never been so miserable.


    Since his first step onto the football field at the spring training camp, this was a first.


    Although Saban had anticipated a tough and bitter fight, the reality still exceeded expectations; it was undoubtedly the toughest test for the Crimson Tide Storm this season, surpassing even the fierce battle against the University of Mississippi.


    Of course, the situation wasn''t that simple¡ª


    With eight consecutive victories, the team might have grown a bit complacent, plus both mentally and physically they had reached a tipping point; the effects of dopamine and adrenaline were waning, fatigue began to show, steps became heavier, reactions slower, and even high spirits were hollow.


    In the long season, fluctuations in performance were inevitable.


    But to Li Wei, there was no need for excuses; so far, the opponent had performed better, not only well-prepared but also executed brilliantly; it was that simple.


    The Louisiana State University Tigers, like the Crimson Tide Storm, chose a "3-4" defensive formation, with three defensive linemen and four linebackers.


    Moreover, when adding the possibility of a sudden attack from the defensive line, that is to say, Orgeron used at least three and sometimes even four players to mark the running back, piling up airtight numbers for defense, thoroughly severing the ground offense, and in such a manner, forcing Crimson Tide Storm to pass.


    Orgeron was betting that Crimson Tide Storm''s passing offense couldn''t break the deadlock.


    First, he bet that Hertz wouldn''t dare to go long.


    Therefore, both safeties moved up their positions, effectively abandoning the deep pass zone altogether, desperately deploying heavy forces at the confrontation line.


    Second, he bet that Hertz''s short passes might be challenged¡ª


    Orgeron was not casually letting Hertz pass the ball. Cornerback Tre''Davious White had first-round talent, and Cornerback Donte Jackson, slightly inferior but still presenting third-round level, were responsible for man coverage.


    Unlike run defense, in pass defense, Orgeron relied more on the individual abilities of his players, relying on them to stick to their assignments in man coverage.


    Even if the defense failed, it did not matter; they needed to tightly mark Hertz''s intended targets, forcing him to pass under pressure.


    Third, he bet that Hertz would fluster under pressure.


    Orgeron played to the strength of his four linebackers; besides two of them covering the run, the other two''s positions were unpredictable.


    Sometimes, they assisted in short pass defense; sometimes, they supported run defense; sometimes, they would merge with the defensive line to launch a blitz, applying enough pressure to Hertz.


    Under such a strategy, Hertz''s inexperience and naivety were starkly exposed, and his pass defense faced a series of serious challenges.


    In the past, Crimson Tide Storm always resolved problems with their ground offense, relying on the running back to advance and disrupt the formation, easing the pressure on Hertz and thereby carving out space for the passing offense; but today, Orgeron''s specifically targeted mass strategy completely blocked the ground offense, and Crimson Tide Storm''s offense was paralyzed.


    Whether it was individual ability or team coordination, Louisiana State University truly demonstrated a resolve that was unified in spirit and purpose.


    "0:0".


    The second half had already started, but the score remained stuck in place.


    Although Louisiana State University''s offensive group also hit wall after wall, facing the fierce treatment of Alabama''s defensive group and being aggressively ground into the turf; similarly, Alabama''s offensive group was unable to find a breakthrough.


    Just now.


    Li Wei''s run was blocked again, double-teamed, the standard setup, over and over again.

 Chapter 87 086 Morale is low

    "Li Wei, sorry..."


    Jonah Williams, the starting right tackle for Crimson Tide Storm, extended his right hand to Li Wei and helped him up.


    On his face, Williams wore guilt and embarrassment, discomfort and frustration, with a thousand words on the tip of his tongue, not knowing how to express them.


    So, in the end, it all turned into one sentence.


    "Sorry."


    Clearly, Williams felt that he had not done his job; he should have blocked the lineman, at least held him off for a moment, instead of letting Li Wei constantly be exposed to the opposition''s hunting circle. Besides anger and annoyance, what was more prevalent was a sense of powerlessness and helplessness, his cheeks written with irritation and disappointment.


    Li Wei tried to comfort Williams¡ª


    It wasn''t his fault. Louisiana State University really came prepared today and executed impeccably, following through with their plan from the start.


    Everything was, in a word, perfect.


    But as Li Wei was about to speak, he noticed that not only Williams, but the other members of the offensive group too were panting heavily, their gazes slightly lost.


    The atmosphere was oppressive.


    Crimson Tide Storm was not a team that couldn''t handle pressure. Under Saban''s ironclad management, this team''s mental fortitude was supposed to be unbreakable. Otherwise, they would not have been able to turn the tide with just Li Wei alone against the University of Mississippi; the triumph had still come from teamwork.


    The issue was, having had a smooth season so far, the team didn''t get discouraged after hitting a sudden wall at the start. Instead, they were spurred with high morale to mount a frontal assault, presuming that the opponent surely wouldn''t withstand their charge, only to run into consecutive walls again.


    A forceful effort could wane after a while, and be exhausted at the third encounter.


    Crimson Tide Storm didn''t just hit the wall once, twice, or three times, but multiple times over a dozen until now, from the first until the second half of the game, and even after half-time adjustments, they still hadn''t managed to find a breakthrough.


    Even the most steadfast and resilient will could not help but waver, as the seeds of self-doubt silently took root and sprouted; the situation and the mindset had begun to change imperceptibly.


    How should they break the deadlock?


    They racked their brains, but no answers came. They were trapped like this, even seeking Saban''s help yielded no solution¡ª


    Saban wasn''t adept at offense.


    Even though Saban was always seeking changes and trying, he was ultimately just a coach; the game still had to be played by the players.


    Far from it, his eyes sparkled with excitement and joy, like a cheetah, his tongue tinged with the scent of blood, his murderous intent flowing forth.


    ¡ªSeven times.


    A total of seven times, that was how many times Li Wei had hit the wall head-on, and that was just the first half of the game, already surpassing the number of times in any game this season; to be exact, it was more than the total of the last three games combined. Stay connected with empire


    Running into a wall was not the same as being tackled.


    Being tackled was part of a running back''s daily grind, encountering double-digit tackles in a game was not uncommon; but running into a wall was different, it meant the running back met an unyielding barrier head-on without being able to advance, unable to start, break through, or dodge, being firmly denied by the defensive group.


    Without a doubt, these were very ugly and dire numbers.


    For an average player, they might have been so demoralized by hitting the wall that their confidence collapsed, even becoming afraid to look the opposing defenders in the eye, developing a heart demon.


    However, Li Wei hadn''t.


    For the better part of the season, things had gone smoothly for Li Wei, and he had come to think that football was simply like this, but now, a new challenge had arisen before him¡ª


    Things were finally getting interesting.


    A formidable opponent?


    Yes, a formidable opponent, how exhilarating, how exciting, the world of competitive sports is about continually challenging powerful adversaries, pushing limits, challenging oneself¡ªit''s the most interesting part, differing disciplines and sports all lead to the same path, interpreting the meaning of life in such a way.


    Strong, truly strong, but beautifully so, marvelously so, they needed just such an opponent!


    If Crimson Tide Storm wanted to compete for the championship, wanted to become an even better team, they had to face such trials and tests.


    Li Wei noticed Robinson''s gaze, looked up, and his smile gently lifted at the corners of his mouth, only then noticing the taste of blood on his tongue, probably from being hit in the lips during the double tackle. Li Wei couldn''t help but savor it, his smile becoming even more radiant and bright.


    Involuntarily, Robinson was taken aback.


    Strangely, without uttering a word, Li Wei''s gaze and actions seemed to steady Robinson''s wavering spirit, serving as a pillar.


    Then Li Wei walked toward Hertz, bumped him with his shoulder, encouraged Hertz with his eyes, reminding him to get into formation.


    Robinson took a deep breath, called for his teammates to prepare for formation, but found there was no need to speak; the Crimson Tide Storm''s offensive group was already spontaneously starting to form up. No one spoke, yet the air was filled with a subdued and tragically beautiful atmosphere.


    The wind howls, Yao waters are chilled!

 Chapter 88 Human sea tactics

    The air, ablaze; the heatwave, surging.


    Tiger Stadium was showcasing its devil''s home field power to the visiting Crimson Tide Storm, not only with unique and varied rallying cries for each and every offensive and defensive play but also with a jam-packed stadium of a hundred thousand seats, all taken, reflecting a splendid peacock blue in the sky with its overwhelming sea of purple.


    The roar, the surge, clawed violently at the Crimson Tide Storm, descending upon them without mercy. Clearly, the Tigers'' fans particularly reveled in moments like these¡ª


    Alabama Crimson Tide Storm and the Louisiana State University Tigers were mortal enemies, the kind that could not coexist under the same sky.


    Since 1960, the two teams have met annually, gradually turning the event into an annual extravaganza. The Louisiana State University Tigers once maintained a fifteen-game home-winning streak at Tiger Stadium against the Crimson Tide Storm, a record that is one of the NCAA''s most astonishing and difficult to surpass.


    Tigers'' fans took pride in it, and even now, they would bring it up frequently to mock the Crimson Tide Storm.


    However, as a traditional powerhouse, the Crimson Tide Storm still held a lead in the overall record¡ªfifty-five wins, twenty-seven losses, and five ties¡ªand maintained an absolute advantage in key matches such as the Conference Championship and nationwide Championships, always blocking the Tigers'' path to championship glory.


    Among a series of fierce rivalries, Crimson Tide Storm had a longer and more entangled history, and deeper roots with Auburn University and the University of Tennessee; but, in 2007, the shift happened when Nick Saban, the acclaimed coach from Louisiana State University, joined the rival Crimson Tide Storm.


    Since then, each encounter between Alabama and Louisiana State University has been explosive and has grown increasingly heated as Saban led the Crimson Tide Storm to defeat the Tigers repeatedly, peaking after the 2012 Conference Championship victory over the Tigers to claim the title.


    Now, "Crimson Tide Storm vs. Tigers" has evolved into a fierce, die-hard duel in the Southeastern Conference of the NCAA.


    Today was no exception.


    Top to bottom, the Louisiana State University Tigers were as if injected with chicken blood, displaying 120% of their capability, and have brutally oppressed their opponents since the kickoff.


    The hundred thousand fans at Tiger Stadium also refused to be outdone, summoning the Crimson Tide Storm''s painful memories of the fifteen straight losses they suffered on this field.


    "Tigers, charge (Tiger-Bait)"


    "Tigers, charge!"


    The chanting, relentless and omnipresent, transitioned from offense to defense, from defense back to offense. Throughout nearly two hours, the home fans'' energy was incredibly explosive, ruthlessly overwhelming the visiting team.


    The heat, wildly dancing upon the eardrums, skin nearly melting.


    Clearly, in such a predicament, this game environment did nothing to aid the Crimson Tide Storm; it only trapped them in irritation and oppression.


    To remain calm, to stay rational, became exponentially difficult.


    Originally, the passing offense of the Crimson Tide Storm was not very rich, consisting of just a few plays, and now, with the ground offense being restricted, it was even more difficult.


    Football is like a chain, with each link connected to the next, and a problem in one area often leads to trouble throughout.


    Saban was adjusting and trying as well, but in the end, Li Wei still needed to break through head-on¡ª Explore stories at empire


    The offense of the Crimson Tide Storm couldn''t do without the ground offense.


    So, they could no longer wait and no longer avoid, they needed to reverse the situation through direct confrontation.


    Li Wei was ready.


    Third and six.


    This was the predicament that the Crimson Tide Storm had found itself in time and again, repeatedly facing third and long, and if the pass failed, it was time for a fourth down punt.


    The offense was completely unable to unravel the situation.


    There were no exceptions this time either.


    Slowly, Li Wei bent down, placed his hands on his knees, and stood behind Hertz, bringing the defensive groups'' positions on both sides into his field of vision.


    The Tigers, responding to unchanging circumstances, had not changed their entire defensive formation much.


    Li Wei couldn''t see Beckwith''s face but could see Riley.


    Generally speaking, the position of the linebackers would overlap with the defensive line, clear to the quarterback, but obscured to the running back due to their position.


    However, Riley was different, deliberately standing out and not caring about the other players, fixating his gaze on Li Wei, a hunter clearly targeting his prey.


    Riley, a lineman with the strength of a third-round pick, though not a genius, if his only task was one thing and he could get the support of two or even three teammates as a backup, then the confrontation would turn into a cat and mouse game, and he was absolutely confident.


    Looking at Li Wei, Riley''s eyes were like Tom''s, eyeing Li Wei the Jerry, revealing a cruel smile, eagerly ready to step forward.


    He had already made Li Wei hit the wall more than once, and this time would be no different, so the Crimson Tide Storm had better come up with some new tactics, like a fake run and real pass, otherwise, he would not be polite.


    "Attack!"


    The sound of Hertz starting the play filled the air, and Li Wei took off.

 Chapter 89 088 Head-to-head confrontation

    ```


    What is the core strategy of the Louisiana State University Tigers'' ground defense against Li Wei?


    Speed.


    Because they knew Li Wei excelled in speed and burst, but his weakness was in confrontations and strength, they adopted a double-linebacker man-marking tactic, with Riley and Beckwith providing double insurance, disrupting Li Wei''s acceleration front and back, ultimately outnumbering him and piling up like sandbags to complete the stack.


    This was also the conclusion they drew from all the games of the Crimson Tide Storm thus far.


    It must be said, they conducted an all-around analysis of Li Wei and came up with targeted tactics, even considering the offensive line and tight end''s blocking assignments and so on, going all in to cut off this point.


    Indeed, whether it was the Peterson training template or the McCoy training template, Li Wei''s acceleration and speed truly became key to changing the game; but don''t forget, when Burns first took notice of Li Wei, there was another key talent he saw:


    Change of direction.


    Now, Li Wei was ready to enter "Super Saiyan" mode and take it on head-first.


    "Attack!"


    Hertz''s kickoff voice exploded in his ear, and Li Wei instantly accelerated, pausing slightly past Hertz before successfully completing the reception.


    Saban, faced with the dilemma of Third Gear and six yards, still chose a ground attack, still trusted Li Wei, placing this heavy burden squarely on Li Wei''s shoulders¡ª


    After all, the score was still "0:0"; the Crimson Tide Storm might be in a sorry state, but they weren''t behind, they still had capital, and they should be planning for what came next.


    Li Wei held the ball but did not immediately accelerate.


    If he sought speed blindly, given that Riley had already completely locked on to Li Wei, it would still be difficult for Li Wei to break away; it would be better to create space by pulling back.


    Not accelerating immediately was not about standing there like an idiot, but about taking continuous small, quick steps to adjust the center of gravity while waiting for an opportunity to move laterally and pull apart the defense.


    Because Li Wei knew that once he created space, Beckwith and Adams would follow; they knew the Edgerunner''s breakthrough ability on the sidelines. Three players, three barriers, were like the ancient tomb channels from an Indiana Jones adventure, with layers of mechanisms swiftly established.


    Today, Li Wei also tried to break through from the side, but the effect was mediocre.


    The core reason lay in the rapid follow-up speed of Beckwith and Adams, leaving no space for Li Wei to rely on speed for a breakthrough.


    Now, Li Wei was ready to try a different method.


    If the opponent didn''t leave him any space, then he would create his own.


    His footsteps continuously shifted laterally behind the kickoff line, calm and collected, and after two sideways crossover steps, Riley had already taken the bait and rushed up.


    ¡ªProactive. Forceful. Aggressive.


    This was also a feature of the Tigers'' ground defense today, pressuring to quickly snuff out the Crimson Tide Storm''s ground game, and because of previous successes, the confidence of these young men tended to become more aggressive, prouder, and what was once a meticulous and organized defense would start to show cracks.


    In the first step, Riley took the bait.


    He pounced towards Li Wei like a tiger descending the mountain.


    The other linebacker, Beckwith, subtly sensed something was amiss but couldn''t immediately put his finger on it. He was half a beat late and also subconsciously followed.


    Li Wei: Ah!


    One was active and the other passive, Li Wei reversed the situation, letting out his power in a burst that kept burning, and from deep within his Dantian, energy erupted.


    "Aaaaah!"


    One step, and another.


    Li Wei harshly pushed Beckwith right out of the way.


    Beckwith only felt as if a bullet train crushed his chest, losing his balance completely, and without even the chance to resist, he was already sent flying with a muffled grunt.


    Ripping through like a hot knife through butter!


    Beckwith could hardly believe his own eyes, who said Li Wei''s strength was a weak point? Damn!


    And Li Wei?


    Still vigilant.


    With a bump and a shove, he flopped Beckwith, the world in front brightened, but Li Wei didn''t let his guard down because he knew it wasn''t over yet.


    As expected, with a lunge and a wrap, Adams precisely grasped Li Wei''s waist¡ª


    Got him!


    Adams, truly the star player of Louisiana State University, the core of the defensive group, had noticed the space for acceleration created by Li Wei straight away, his step was clearly faster than Beckwith''s, so by the time Beckwith was flipped, Adams had already rushed over.


    Taking advantage of Li Wei''s unstable center of gravity, Adams had already completed the tackle.


    Fast. Accurate. Ruthless.


    Tackle, hitting its mark.


    But would Li Wei just surrender meekly?


    Of course not.


    Li Wei was mentally prepared as well, having just flipped Beckwith when he already felt the force bearing down on him, and not only did he not shrink back, he met it head-on.


    After all, this wasn''t the first time in this game a situation like this had occurred, and if Li Wei hadn''t learned his lesson, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes.


    Push off, collision, head-on charge.


    Bang!


    Be it Li Wei or Adams, both exerting force, the clash of power made both wobble, chests heaving, blood boiling.


    But this time, Li Wei, who had been advancing and exerting and pushing, held a slight edge.


    The strength, originating from the Dantian, flowing into the legs, driving against the ground¡ª


    Release the power.


    Ah! Aaah!

 Chapter 90 Steel Body 089

    Against Riley, skill triumphed.


    Against Beckwith, leverage prevailed.


    Against Adams, a head-on clash.


    Three challenges in a row, three methods, three strategies, from changing directions to speed and then to strength, Li Wei entered a state of total focus, displaying all of his ace abilities. In the end, he collided with Adams fiercely, with no fancy footwork, no tricks, and no cover¡ªjust a straight confrontation to decide the winner.


    Crash into a wall!


    Stomp the ground!


    Exert strength!


    Even if a mountain like the Taihang Mountains stood before him, Li Wei wouldn''t flinch. The raging energy within his Dantian surged into his legs, erupting in full force.


    Ah!


    One step.


    Ah!


    Two steps.


    Ah Ah Ah!


    Unbelievably, Adams held on tightly to Li Wei, refusing to let go. But with Li Wei pushing against Adams¡ªan attempt akin to a Guinness World Record strongman pushing a truck forward, friction between his soles and the ground flung up layers of turf, with billowing gun smoke rising from his heels as he continued to advance.


    Adams still didn''t release his grip, the entire world shaking violently around them. In the chaos, his footing went out of control, retreating helplessly like a rootless duckweed, unable to grab hold for support or exert full strength. In the tumbling mess, Adams firmly grabbed Li Wei''s waist and forced himself to exert strength.


    ¡ªLean back, exert strength.


    Adams attempted a complex judo throw, using his waist and abdominal strength to forcefully arch back, clasping Li Wei in a move that would result in an over-the-shoulder throw.


    Hmph.


    A muffled grunt.


    Adams'' power wasn''t fully unleashed. Instead, Li Wei managed to perform a Thousand Pounds Drop, appearing to be pried off balance but then settling back down. The direct collision of strength broke the equilibrium, and both men lost their footing, tumbling to the ground.


    Li Wei realized this, continuously stamping the ground, constantly pushing, both he and Adams collapsing forward with a thunderous fall.


    Boom!


    A wave of air billowed, exploding into a mushroom cloud.


    The stadium fell silent.


    Even the fans at Tiger Stadium were stunned, their voices stuck in their throats by the unreserved clash they had witnessed.


    Then¡ª


    "Beautiful!"


    "We can do it!"


    One by two by three... even Robinson was no exception, shaking hands and bumping shoulders with Li Wei, celebrating with such gestures and awakening their passion.


    Hertz, too, was visibly thrilled, unable to help but clench his fist and cheer.


    Li Wei noticed Hertz and looked at his teammates, his gaze finally settling on Hertz.


    "Hey, I know I''m outstanding, but we are a team. Don''t forget, we win games as a team and face difficulties as a team."


    "I do my part, and you all need to do yours."


    "Now, their focus is further concentrated on me. Good, I''ll be the bait, making their defensive group''s layout seriously imbalanced."


    "We should make the most of this opportunity."


    Hertz noticed Li Wei''s gaze turning entirely towards him and instinctively replied, "Fake run, real pass?"


    Li Wei nodded in agreement, "We must open up our offense completely, so we can catch the opponent off guard." He also wanted to ease the pressure on the running game.


    Li Wei was aware of his condition. The running just now had taken a heavy toll on his stamina and concentration. At his current level, two or three times weren''t a problem, but any more than that, and the impact would significantly diminish, leaving Crimson Tide Storm''s offense in trouble again. They needed to open up the game.


    "But not now," Li Wei said, leaving his sentence unfinished, with a twist that drew all attention back to him.


    "If we start using the fake run, real pass strategy right away, such a straightforward tactic could easily be exposed, and the opponent''s defensive group isn''t a bunch of fools."


    "As it stands, we need to disrupt the opponent''s predictions, create chaos, and avoid falling into their rhythm. Instead, we need to get into our rhythm."


    "The key lies with you."


    The focus shifted to Hertz, whose pupils shook violently with panic, "Me?"


    Before Hertz could object, Li Wei swiftly continued.


    "Yes, you."


    "We need to figure out how to open the running game routes. Maybe we should try a fake run, real run."


    "Pretend it''s me running the ball, but actually, it''s you."


    ¡ª¡ªThe real or fake Monkey King?


    Hertz was taken aback. As a quarterback, he understood the play, "Wait, isn''t that the Read Option Offense?"


    No sooner had he spoken than Hertz realized Li Wei might not be familiar with the Read Option Offense, given his limited experience with football, and was about to explain.


    However, Li Wei flashed a smile, "I know what the Read Option Offense is. That strategy that Mr. Watsons had us on the defensive end, running around like headless chickens during the warm-up match, right?"


    When it came to learning, Li Wei had never feared anyone.


    "In the first half of the game, we also tried the Read Option Offense, but it was mediocre, right? Here, we''re not going for the Read Option."

 Chapter 91 090 Fight side by side

    Here, it''s necessary to explain, what is the Read Option Offense?


    First, the Read Option and Read Defense are two different things.


    Read Defense is the job every quarterback has to complete before the snap, like Peyton Manning, a top strategic master, can often break down the opponent''s tactics by reading the defense and temporarily modify his tactics ten or fifteen seconds before the snap, thereby creating passing opportunities for himself.


    This action occurs before the snap.


    But the Read Option occurs after the snap.


    The so-called Read Option means the quarterback, by closely watching the movements of the opposing linebackers after the snap, decides his offensive strategy in a flash:


    If the linebacker covers the running back, then the quarterback will carry the ball and advance on the ground himself.


    If the linebacker covers the quarterback, then the quarterback will hand the football to the running back, who will then advance on the ground.


    Additionally, there''s a special situation; if the quarterback chooses to carry the ball but discovers that the opposing Defensive group has concentrated its forces in the short pass area, often the midfield and backfield will be relatively empty, and the quarterback can still choose to pass, temporarily finding a reception point to complete the advance with a medium to long pass.


    Simply put, the "Read Option" is actually about reading the linebacker''s options to formulate an offensive strategy.


    This tactic is only applicable to the new generation of mobile quarterbacks¡ª


    It capitalizes on the strengths and avoids the weaknesses, sidestepping the quarterback''s weak Read Defense capability, and uses the quarterback''s own athletic talents to make choices after the snap based on the situation.


    Overall, this tactic is very rough and very aggressive, extremely common in the NCAA, but scorned in the Professional League.


    Not until Robert Griffin III, Cam Newton, Colin Kaepernick, and Russell Wilson, the four top new generation mobile quarterbacks, entered the league did the Read Option Offense begin to flourish in the NFL.


    Last season, Newton''s Read Option Offense was very successful, even earning him the regular season MVP honors.


    But the prowess of the Professional League lies in its complex tactics; coaches are always able to devise ways to counter them, and in the Super Bowl, the Denver Broncos relied on linebacker Von Miller and the Defensive line''s exceptional performance to completely cut off Newton''s Read Option Offense, ultimately becoming Super Bowl Champions.


    Of course, in the college games, as opposed to the complicated tactics, relying on physical fitness and innate ability is still mainstream, and the Read Option Offense remains a puzzle¡ª


    From Lamar Jackson to DeShaun Watson to Baker Mayfield, all current Heisman Trophy front runners are mobile quarterbacks, and the Read Option Offense is a very important part of their games, with Jackson, who has the best physical fitness, undoubtedly being the most formidable.


    Hertz, the starting quarterback for Crimson Tide Storm, is also a mobile quarterback.


    After all, football is a team sport. It''s impractical for him to carry the whole team forward alone, at least not at this stage.


    He needed to get Hertz involved and to bring creativity to their ground offense.


    "Hey, Shorty," he called out.


    This was Li Wei''s nickname for Hertz, who wasn''t actually short at 6.1 feet (185 cm), the same height as Li Wei, but for a quarterback, it was slightly on the shorter side.


    In the game, once the ball was snapped, the offensive line and defensive line collided like grinders, and the quarterback needed to navigate around barriers to control the field. Vision was crucial; otherwise, finding a passing target was impossible.


    At 6.1 feet, he wasn''t short, but it still wasn''t enough.


    In the NFL, Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints, at 6 feet (183 cm), was one of the few shorter quarterbacks who still managed to create miracles and achieve brilliance, his read defense and passing accuracy, among other skills, were top-notch.


    Hertz, clearly, did not yet possess the abilities of Brees.


    "I''m not prepared to replace the coach and tell you what to do, nor am I prepared to replace your job and make decisions. I''m just reminding you not to forget your abilities," he said.


    "Brain. Right hand. Legs," he listed.


    "We need all of them working to stand a chance against the iron wall in front of us, you got that?" he said.


    Li Wei knew that a quarterback and running back''s roles were different, as were their ways of thinking and responding. He couldn''t make decisions for Hertz, but importantly, he and Hertz were fighting shoulder to shoulder; they should be each other''s support.


    Hertz''s thoughts finally cleared, he took a deep breath, and nodded firmly at Li Wei.


    Li Wei bumped Hertz''s shoulder with his own, "Roar."


    It wasn''t a scream, nor was it a release, but this simple phrase reignited the Crimson Tide Storm within their blood.


    First down, ten yards.


    Hertz, through the headset, carefully communicated his thoughts to Saban¡ª


    Saban''s eyes lit up slightly, giving Hertz a look but focused more on Li Wei, flashing a hint of surprise.


    His shoulders widened slightly:


    This kid is growing faster than he thought.

 Chapter 92 091 The True and Fake Monkey King

    The atmosphere among the Louisville State University Tigers Defense Squad subtly changed, not just because of Li Wei''s recent advance.


    Clearly, they had not expected Li Wei to complete a frontal breakthrough through their tight coverage and forcefully push forward for eight yards with such ferocity.


    As they exchanged glances, one could distinctly sense the murderous intent in Adams''s eyes. He didn''t make any special gestures, but his gaze towards Li Wei became more focused, more profound. Those familiar with Adams knew he was getting serious. Not just Riley and Beckwith, but the other two linemen also tensed up, with a cold, deadly atmosphere spreading throughout the defensive group.


    Everyone in the Tigers knew about the Crimson Tide Storm''s dominant performance this season, but they would not back down; instead, their fighting spirit was aroused, ready to join forces to halt the Crimson Tide Storm''s winning streak. They were prepared.


    Adams and Riley exchanged a look¡ª


    One, a spiritual leader; the other, a tactical captain. Their gazes met in mid-air.


    Then, both clenched their fists, arranged in battle formation without saying a word, and their momentum rose.


    Their gazes, firmly locked on Li Wei¡ª


    "Attack!"


    Hertz announced the kickoff, and Riley sprang into action immediately, targeting Li Wei without any hesitation, while Beckwith was slightly slower, observing the formation.


    Adams was even a beat slower, watching Crimson Tide Storm''s offensive tactics.


    Li Wei and Hertz brushed past each other, performing a deceptive handoff that fooled Beckwith, who failed to see clearly. His footsteps launched instantly, subconsciously charging toward Li Wei, as fear of Li Wei''s intimidation prevailed, instinctively looking to assist Riley with the defense.


    But not Adams.


    Adams was cooler, clearer-headed. He admitted that much of his attention was on Li Wei, but it was precisely for this reason that he was prone to being deceived by a fake run and real pass. They needed to cut off the Crimson Tide Storm''s ground offense and also prevent their passing attack from taking off.


    Adams hit the brakes on his forward charge, his eyes scanning wide.


    Wait a minute!


    Adams noticed it¡ªthe handoff was fake, Li Wei and Hertz had not completed the exchange. It was a pass, a fake run and real pass, and he had guessed right.


    Find your next read at empire


    First, Li Wei used his personal ability to open up the ground game.


    Then, Li Wei immediately became a decoy to cover for the passing offense.


    Adams wouldn''t be fooled.


    Halting his forward charge, he quickly scanned the surroundings for potential passing targets and made a split-second judgment, pouncing toward the Tight End Howard.


    Adams''s steps were decisive, with all the other Wide Receivers having their respective man-to-man coverage. Only the Tight End stood out like a Hulk in the short pass area, and with this being a ten-yard play, opting for a short pass to the Tight End to open up the game was another one of Crimson Tide Storm''s typical fake run and real pass tactics.


    Thump, thump!


    Pass or continue with the run?


    Suddenly, Crimson Tide Storm''s offense found its rhythm, the flow becoming smooth again, and the struggle between the opposing teams'' offense and defense once more intensified.


    On the sidelines, both head coaches were busy moving their pieces and trying to seize the initiative.


    First and ten, at the opposing forty-eight-yard line.


    "Attack!"


    Hertz had regained some confidence. Without hesitation, he declared the ball in play, immediately straightened his knees, straightened his back, raised his hand to pass, and looked straight in the direction of Tight End Howard as the likely receiver.


    The pass was not only just a pass but a rapid, short pass that stressed speed over distance.


    Such a short pass focused on completion rate¡ªthe two or three-yard connections that put the ball in the tight end''s hands before the defensive group could react, then relying on the tight end''s abilities to gain yards.


    In some ways, this bore a similarity to running the ball with no frills, just relying on pure strength for a head-on collision.


    Crimson Tide Storm aimed to catch the Tigers unprepared and take the tactical lead once again.


    But this time, Orgeron made an accurate prediction.


    From Riley to Beckwith to Adams, even though their sights were still set on Li Wei, they ensured their attention was sharp and redirected their forward momentum, swerving immediately towards Howard.


    For a moment, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation.


    However.


    Just then!


    Adams was shocked, wait, wait!


    Hertz hadn''t thrown the ball.


    Despite Hertz''s passing action being convincingly deceptive, as though he had already let the football fly, in the last moment before the release, Hertz drew the football back.


    In the blink of an eye, Hertz spun around and lightly tossed the football¡ª


    Li Wei.


    Still Li Wei.


    But crucially, Li Wei wasn''t positioned on the left wing but remained on the right wing.


    Adams'' gaze followed the action like a puppet on strings, his attention shifting from Hertz to Howard and back to Hertz and then to Li Wei in less than a second.


    The change was too sudden; his feet had yet to adjust, his mind hadn''t caught up with the Crimson Tide Storm''s tactical play, and his body tensed in anticipation.


    Li Wei, advancing with the ball.

 Chapter 93 Icebreaker Collision

    Strategy, countermeasure¡ª


    Orgeron and Saban, the two head coaches, engaged in a tactical duel, but this time the seasoned Saban had the upper hand. Taking advantage of two consecutive ground advancements, he created an opportunity using quick short passes concealed as fake runs, seizing the initiative.


    The Tigers Defense Squad immediately realized that the Crimson Tide Storm''s offense seemed to be breaking through, causing their reaction speed to lag and vulnerabilities to emerge.


    However!


    But!


    After enduring the grind of the first half, the Tigers Defense Squad also faced a severe test. True gold is not afraid of fire, and the tactics ingrained in them had a quick secondary response. Riley immediately charged forward.


    Li Wei.


    In Riley''s eyes, there was only Li Wei, firmly remembering his task. The tricks and smoke bombs had not fully deceived him.


    Step forward, sprint, a tiger descending the mountain.


    Riley had completely locked onto Li Wei, and with two big steps, he had already sprung forward to pounce, a flash of surprise in his pupils. They had uncovered the Crimson Tide Storm''s different smoke bomb attempts with this tactic in the first half, and this time was no exception; he would tackle Li Wei, just as before.


    ¡ªBang!


    A figure burst out from Riley''s left side, blocking him mid-tackle with the force of a truck collision, flipping Riley off balance with a mountainous force, the surging centrifugal force flinging his body away.


    Riley: ...


    What happened?


    In sports, situations change in the blink of an eye; even a slight hesitation or doubt in start-up speed could alter the situation. The Crimson Tide Storm''s quick short pass for cover hadn''t changed Riley''s motion but created a moment of stupor, and then¡ª


    Tight End Howard, with calculated ease, successfully executed a block.


    Riley was directly hit and sent flying by Howard.


    The Tigers'' first barrier to stopping Li Wei disappeared.


    The field closed up, Orgeron''s heart contracted: bad news, the first gate controlling Li Wei''s explosive speed failed, and the pressure on the Tigers Defense Squad instantly intensified.


    Indeed, that was the case.


    Li Wei moved laterally, relying on Howard''s cover, and with a flick to the right, a clear path of five to seven yards opened up in front of him, completely empty, a plane could take off.


    Sprung from the ground, step forward, sprint.


    In an instant, Li Wei''s continuous powerful steps burst his speed out like a gust of wind, moving forward vertically, accelerating within two to three steps.


    Brain, stay calm.


    Vision, stay clear.


    Li Wei hadn''t forgotten the continuous struggle of hitting walls in the entire first half. Even though they had opened the first gate, the Tigers Defense Squad surely had contingency plans. He couldn''t be complacent; he had to seize every hard-earned opportunity.


    Sure enough!


    The same trick again?


    Was Li Wei planning to deceive Adams with the same move he used on Beckwith?


    This time, however, Adams was prepared and had already moved to collide with Li Wei before he could take a step.


    A leap, a grab, a collision!


    Bang!


    A loud noise.


    Li Wei and Adams collided.


    However, one could see Adams flying out like a kite with its string cut.


    Aha!


    The entire field gasped in shock.


    But instead of avoiding, Li Wei met Adams head-on in a collision, but he braced with his left hand, performing a Straight Arm Block upon contact, and instantly exerted force.


    Everyone knows about the NCAA''s highest honor, the Heisman Trophy, but few notice that the pose of the Heisman Trophy, is the iconic action of John Heisman holding the ball and finishing a block with a Straight Arm Block.


    This, indeed, is one of the souls of football.


    Adams collided; Li Wei exerted force.


    Both players were trying to take the initiative, trying to exert force first. This time, Li Wei got there first¡ª


    The Straight Arm Block, not just for support, but also combined the weight and power from above in the collision.


    His teeth clenched, fully erupting.


    "Power VS Power."


    Li Wei instantly broke through head-on in a brute-force manner, overturning Adams.


    Adams''s shoulder took a heavy hit, lost balance, and his body was thrown off, panic and fear swirling in his eyes. However, his body lost control, spinning rapidly like a top, a brilliant halo of light dispersing forcefully in a tempest, with nothing but a roar.


    Boom.


    A muffled sound exploded between Li Wei and Adams, blood surged and the earth shook.


    Then,


    a solid, copper wall that had staunchly blocked the Crimson Tide Storm was finally forcefully broken through, much like ice breaking, and the heavy solid iron arm opened up.


    A sliver of light fell, and a whole new world was slowly unfolding before his eyes, limitless vistas just ahead.


    At last!


    Li Wei could see that splendid and magnificent scene on the distant horizon.

 Chapter 94 093 Qi and Blood Churning

    "Power vs. Power."


    "Collision vs. Block."


    No fancy moves, no tricks, just pure frontal crash, the shockwave instantly detonated, sending Li Wei and Adams flying backward due to the recoil.


    Adams fell to the ground, Li Wei staggered.


    Neither was any better off.


    Even though Adams was completely suppressed, twisting like a ballet dancer, totally losing his balance, Li Wei, who remained standing, was not faring much better.


    His entire left hand numb, the surging force so intense that even the football cradled in his right arm began to violently tumble and roll, his chest boiling with blood, his knees trembling as if drunk, his steps floating mid-air, shaky, with centrifugal force pulling his body outward.


    But still.


    In the chaotic whirl of the wind, Li Wei did not give up, kept thrusting his feet down, kept squatting, trying to regain his center of gravity and balance, tightly grasping the direction.


    Step. Step, step, step.


    His steps were as if treading on marshmallows, unevenly flying to the right, barely time to breathe when the sideline was already just a couple of steps away.


    Finally!


    He caught his center of gravity but did not brake, instead following the centrifugal force he had flung out, his body naturally pulled forward, already charging along the sideline.


    Thrust the ground.


    His lungs burned, his blood boiled, his muscles exploded, but Li Wei had entered a completely forgetful state, the murderous look in his eyes no longer suppressible.


    The thirty-five-yard line.


    Thrust the ground.


    Speeding ever faster, but from the corner of his eye, he could see another purple figure sprinting horizontally from the left¡ª


    Corey Thompson, another Safety for the Tigers.


    The twenty-five-yard line.


    Thrust the ground.


    Li Wei didn''t slow down, not only did he not, but he was also continuing to accelerate, as the preceding sprinting and recent head-on collision left him with no strength to withstand more impacts, he continued speeding up by following the inertia, the only way.


    Meanwhile, Li Wei had noticed Thompson.


    Thompson did not take risks, nor was he in a hurry, but sprinted alongside Li Wei, then gradually closed in, trying to overtake and squeeze the space for Li Wei''s sprint.


    Nearer, ever nearer, Thompson''s presence was a threat, even without any action, exerting physical and psychological pressure on Li Wei.


    For that second, time stopped, and everything paused.


    Then, just before gravity pulled his body back to embrace the earth, he reached out with the football to touch the pole.


    Clack.


    The pole fell over.


    Immediately after, Thompson lost his balance over Li Wei, and the two, like a whirlwind of sand, rushed out, crashing harshly outside the boundary of the field.


    A tumultuous force engulfed both men, with only the football and the pole rolling on the ground.


    The entire stadium was silent, the vast Tiger Stadium even lacked the sound of breathing, amidst the deadly quiet, all eyes hectically gathered on the referee, time seemed to pause in a gap, the air was still, all waiting for the referee''s verdict-


    In football, crossing into the end zone usually means a touchdown, but there are special cases.


    For instance, if the player''s hand holding the ball crosses the end zone line, then his knee touches ground, it is also a touchdown, even if the feet don''t enter the end zone.


    Or, if a player loses balance or is tackled, but before his knee hits the ground, if the football touches one of the small orange poles at the four corners of the end zone, it is also a touchdown.


    Just like what Li Wei had just done.


    Even though his upper body was already out of bounds and he was losing his balance, before his feet or knees touched ground, the football had first touched the pole.


    The pole, not very large, merely about the height of two palm lengths and a rectangular prism, was used to mark the boundaries of the end zone. At that moment, it played a crucial role.


    Li Wei chose a risk.


    And now the referee needed to decide:


    First, whether Li Wei had accurately used the football to touch the pole; if the body had knocked it over but the football hadn''t touched it, it would be ruled a foul.


    Second, whether Li Wei had touched the pole with the football before his knee touched ground. Otherwise, it would be out of bounds, not counting as a touchdown, and the play would continue from the spot where he stepped out.


    Eagerly, millions of eyes intensely fell upon the referee''s shoulders.


    Until the referee came back to his senses-


    Raised his hands high, towards the sky, and blew his whistle.


    Whistle!


    Clear, piercing, cutting through the skies.


    Then, a heatwave cascaded from the sky, plunging into frenzy, and the entire Tiger Stadium was swallowed by a roar and chaos, pupils filled with incredible panic and astonishment. The world exploded with energy between the rising and falling tides, instantly pushing the whole game to its climax.


    Touchdown.


    Undoubtedly, a touchdown!

 Chapter 95 094 Surging Emotions

    ```


    Whoosh!


    Suddenly, Clark raised his arms high, making the touchdown gesture for the first time, his face full of intense longing as he shot a look at the referee, his ears ringing with the clear, heavy collision, his heart climbing beat by beat, nearly bursting from his chest like exploding fireworks.


    He used all his strength to contain his excitement and elation, but his knees still twitched eager to spring like coils.


    One second, which felt like a century.


    It wasn''t until the referee also raised his arms high, confirming Clark''s guess with a mirrored gesture, that reason was utterly consumed.


    "Ah!"


    Clark leaped into the air, shouting wildly, then turned to his teammates, mindlessly repeating.


    "Touchdown!"


    "Touchdown!"


    Over and over again, time and again.


    Not only Clark but every player of the Crimson Tide Storm had lost their reason; including Jacobs, one by one, they all raised their arms to make the touchdown signal, caught in a frenzy, they hopped and shouted and celebrated, their pent-up emotions erupting like a volcanic geyser.


    Finally!


    With the game entering the second half, and more than half of the third quarter''s time gone by, the Crimson Tide Storm had finally found their rhythm, a continuous three-minute and forty-seven-second offense finally pushed into the opposing end zone, breaking the deadlock, becoming the first to score in this fierce rivalry, seizing the initiative on the away ground.


    It was so difficult.


    The clash of "defense vs defense," both teams exerted their abilities and talents to the utmost, the game utterly intense.


    However!


    Li Wei, after all the twists and turns, still Li Wei, the biggest anomaly and highlight of Crimson Tide Storm''s offensive group this season, broke the balance.


    His unparalleled performance silenced the entire Tiger Stadium.


    Whoosh.


    Hertz was the first to charge toward the end zone, pulling Thompson aside to dig out Li Wei and hug him fiercely, continually shouting.


    "Touchdown. Touchdown! It''s a touchdown!"


    Not just Hertz, the entire offensive group without exception, the emotions suppressed for a whole half finally found release, one after another, they roared.


    Lined up in a row, they raised their right hands.


    Li Wei jogged over, high-fiving his teammates one by one in celebration. Finally, he made his way to the defensive group''s side and saw an antsy Allen and the others.


    Next, the Special Duty Group would kick the extra point, then they''d kick off, followed by the entrance of the defensive group, but clearly, they could hardly wait.


    Allen bumped shoulders with Li Wei and gave him a hearty slap on the back, "Well done. You did your job, we''ll do ours. Trust me, I won''t let them succeed. Let those scouts see their true strength, and they''ll realize how wrong they''ve been."


    What exactly was he talking about?


    Running back Leonard Fournette.


    Before Li Wei burst onto the scene, there were several running backs who had garnered attention this season, including Christian McCaffrey, who was just behind Derrick Henry in last year''s Heisman voting, and Louisiana State University''s own Fournette.


    Last season, Fournette showed a dominating performance with 1,953 rushing yards, but unfortunately, he was overshadowed by the even more phenomenal Henry and McCaffrey.


    This season, Fournette was widely considered the strongest contender for the Heisman Trophy, but then he suffered a series of injuries. Starting before the season, he was injured three times in just two months, disrupting his gameplay, which is why he was now absent from the Heisman odds.


    However, the key point is Fournette''s exceptional physical fitness. Even with three injuries in two months, he quickly returned to the field and always managed to perform well. Perhaps the injuries cast a shadow over his draft prospects, but at the same time, they confirmed Fournette''s resilience.


    As it stood, even though Crimson Tide Storm was advancing victoriously, Li Wei was still ranked fourth in the Heisman predictions and had not managed to climb further. The primary reason was that experts generally believed Fournette was a better running back than Li Wei and had more promising draft prospects.


    Clearly, Allen did not agree¡ª


    In the first half, Fournette also faced the fierce storm of Crimson Tide Defensive Group and lacked standout performances.


    Now, having finally blazed his own trail of blood, Li Wei would definitely provoke Fournette, as both were running backs, and this was their first head-to-head confrontation; but Allen had already anticipated this.


    Thus, there had been that conversation just now. Li Wei had finished his job, and next, it was the defensive group''s turn.


    "7:0."


    After the Crimson Tide Special Duty Group steadied the extra point, the defensive group took the field once again.


    Tiger Stadium erupted with incredible energy again, cheering on their offensive group. However, Saban, the old fox, was clearly fully prepared.


    Unlike the Tigers Defense Squad, which focused heavily on ground defense to completely cut off Li Wei, the Crimson Tide Defensive Group showed their dominance in the short pass area¡ª


    Fournette took the ball and rushed forward.


    Yet, before he could even get started, Allen had already shaken off his marker, pouncing like a tiger with a precise and vicious tackle, grasping Fournette tight.


    Down!


    Fournette was slammed to the ground like a heavy sandbag.


    Allen dashed forward, cutting off hope: This route is closed.

 Chapter 96 095 Supreme Hero

    ```


    Nightmare.


    The nightmare returned once more for Louisiana State University quarterback Brandon Harris.


    The offensive group had been under immense pressure due to the dismal performance in the first four weeks of the season. They had finally found a breather after a change in leadership, only to face a devastating blow today. The confidence they had painfully built was once again in disarray and hanging by a thread.


    The slight trembling of his knees did not lie.


    "Brandon..."


    "Brandon!"


    The calls exploded next to his ear, and Harris was abruptly pulled back to reality; turning his head, he saw Fournette''s sweat-drenched but resolute face capturing his senses amid the chaos.


    "We can do it."


    Harris''s gaze was still wavering. Just moments ago, Fournette had hit a wall. He could understand Fournette''s fighting spirit, but today was different, really different. The Crimson Tide Storm defense showed no mercy, with every move lethal and the onrush leaving no room to breathe.


    Fournette noticed the uncertainty in Harris''s eyes and understood his thoughts. It was precisely because he had just experienced Allen''s crushing tackle and running straight into a wall that a sense of humiliation erupted, making his will more determined than ever. He repeated himself.


    "Believe me, we can do it!"


    Fournette patted Harris''s shoulder forcefully and turned to line up¡ª


    There was no other choice; it had to work.


    Up until now, Fournette had never taken Li Wei seriously. He believed that he was the number one collegiate running back and that not even McCaffrey was worth mentioning.


    In Fournette''s view, Li Wei''s impressive performance was simply due to novelty; debuting this season, NCAA teams were not familiar with Li Wei, which allowed him to have his way. Once they got used to him, Li Wei''s aura of mystery would dissipate, posing no threat.


    The Tiger Defense Squad had already proved this point in today''s first half.


    However!


    Just moments ago, Li Wei''s spectacular performance had silenced Tiger Stadium, and with the sense of crisis never feeling so acute, it lay heavily upon the chest. Fournette''s entire fighting spirit had changed.


    He needed to prove himself.


    If Li Wei could do it, so could he. Despite close defense and thorny paths, like Li Wei, he could carve out his domain with his own legs.


    There was no room for maneuvering, no space to retreat. He had to outperform, he had to defeat that kid in a head-to-head battle.


    For himself, and for the Tigers.


    It was that simple.


    Taking a deep breath and exhaling forcefully, Fournette was ready.


    But then¡ª


    Blitz.


    The Crimson Tide Storm chose to blitz.


    He was unstoppable, marching forward bravely.


    Foster''s eyes were blood-red with fury as he leaned his left shoulder forward to clear the path ahead, pushing off the ground, exerting force, and exploding with the momentum of a deity.


    Tiger Stadium went wild.


    Five yards!


    Ten yards!


    The home crowd, unable to contain themselves, cried out together, "Hold that Tiger," clearly a boast of victory.


    "Hold that Tiger!"


    "Hold that Tiger!"


    Cheers of support became the power that drove Foster into a state of frenzy, his body steaming hot, like a killing god, single-handedly breaking through.


    Fifteen yards!


    Behind him lay a trail of destruction left in his wake, and after the missed opportunity to take down Harris, the Crimson Tide Storm''s surprise tactic fell into a passive state, as the short pass area''s players had all moved forward to the offensive line, in addition to Saban not forgetting pass defense, leaving space for Foster.


    And so, Foster started to run, unleashing the full power of a bulldozer, quickly securing the first strike, and continuing on.


    At that moment, the defensive players for mid-range and long-range passes from the Crimson Tide Storm finally caught up, a bustling white storm surrounding that single streak of purple.


    Ambush from all sides.


    But who could stop the Hulk in front of them?


    If anyone acted rashly, they might end up like Loki, being swatted aside by the Hulk without standing a chance.


    It was in that instant of hesitation that number ten, Foster, another captain of the Defensive group, stepped up.


    But instead of rushing forward for a head-on collision, he dashed slightly forward, getting half a body length ahead and circled around into a half-moon shape, charging back in from the oblique front.


    Squatting at the knees, anchoring his center of gravity, he aimed to grapple Foster''s waist and lower body, fusing his own weight into the collision and the final push to complete the tackle.


    Bang!


    The clash of strength against strength exploded in an instant.


    Meanwhile, Foster''s right hand targeted the football cradled in Foster''s arms, poking upward from beneath.


    In the midst of surging waves and earth-shattering forces, when power and balance slipped out of control, and the world seemed to shatter, a reddish-brown blur flew out.


    The relentless chanting of Tiger Stadium instantly plunged into an icy silence, the whole place frozen¡ª


    Fumble.


    Against all expectations, Foster had fumbled the ball.


    The very next second, a white figure had already charged forward, sweeping up the reddish-brown blur like a gust of autumn wind.


    The boiling point, abruptly returning to freezing, left the entire stadium in dead silence.

 Chapter 97 096 Momentum like a rainbow

    Humphrey was furious.


    He''d noticed Fournette right away and tried to shake off the wide receiver covering him, moving up quickly to reinforce the defense. The opponent clung to him like glue, even verging on holding¡ªa penalty. This irritation sounded an alarm for Humphrey, but also made him quickly calm down.


    Mustn''t commit a foul. Keep cool.


    With a sudden stop, Humphrey forced his opponent to overshoot due to inertia, allowing their positions to diverge. He immediately took off again, eyes locked on Fournette, and he could tell in an instant that Fournette was in a state of transcendent excitement, unstoppable.


    As a cornerback, Humphrey''s main task was to cover wide receivers, and occasionally, running backs.


    Humphrey could see at a glance that Fournette, in such a state, couldn''t likely be stopped by just one or two players¡ªthey needed to cooperate.


    What else?


    Since the second line of defense was weak, the Crimson Tide Storm probably couldn''t mobilize enough players, so was there no way to stop Fournette?


    No.


    There was a way, one way.


    Humphrey remembered the trick Derrick Henry had told them about: facing a running back with blood in their eyes, an ordinary tackle simply wouldn''t do. So instead of a frontal collision that would be giving away a free score, better to disrupt the running back''s control of the football.


    Running backs undergo specialized training to protect the ball, and maintaining possession under pressure is a critical measure of a running back''s ability.


    Running backs must constantly be under pressure and confrontation. If they can''t protect the ball and fumble frequently, not only failing to advance but also losing possession, then no team would like such a running back.


    As a team with a tradition of strong running backs, the Crimson Tide Storm was all too aware of this. Burns would organize drills during practice to disrupt ball possession, where players would hit the ball-carrying hand of the running back from above, below, and the side to train running backs to protect the football under various impacts.


    So, if you can''t stop the running back, stop the football.


    Even if they didn''t cause a fumble, the running back would sound the alarm, momentarily distracted, and almost instinctively try to shield the ball. Their unstoppable running pose would slow down just a bit, or even show a gap, increasing the defensive player''s chance of successfully intercepting the play.


    And then¡ª


    Foster!


    A light went on in Humphrey''s eyes.


    Indeed, the thoughts of a genius were the same¡ªFoster, that kid, was on the same wavelength as him.


    Humphrey immediately moved forward, ready to assist Foster with the tackle, but unexpectedly, just as he started moving, he saw a flash darting out.


    Crimson brown!


    Closer.


    Even closer.


    All the way, unhindered, Humphrey opened his arms and leaped into the end zone, putting a period on this counterattack.


    The entire field fell utterly silent.


    The same situation, a different state of mind.


    The home crowd had anticipated the start of this offensive wave, but they had not foreseen the final result.


    Foster''s fumble meant the ball was a free for all, open for contention¡ªif the Tigers managed to grab it, it would still be considered a successful conversion of possession.


    However, Humphrey secured the ball, and before his knees hit the ground, he could continue carrying the ball on a counterattack, all the way until he was downed, reached the end zone, or fumbled himself¡ªif he also lost the ball, the same rules would apply, the ball would be free for all again, and whoever seized the offensive rights would take it.


    Luckily, Humphrey avoided a repeat of the chaos, and with a clean and decisive move, he scored a touchdown for Crimson Tide Storm''s defensive group¡ª


    A fumble return for a touchdown.


    Ah!


    Ahhhh!


    The players of Crimson Tide Storm were immersed in madness, raising their hands high one by one in the touchdown gesture, setting ablaze surging passions. Find exclusive stories on empire


    Yet, Tiger Stadium was silent.


    The bone-chilling cold of the home ground seemed never-ending, only the small flames of the away team players burning, weak but tenacious, solitary yet fierce.


    The game was completely overturned within a mere five minutes.


    Crimson Tide Storm completely turned the tide, first with the offensive group bearing the pressure to break through the impregnable defense, opening up the game with a siege-like offensive, breaking the deadlock between the teams.


    Then came a forceful counterattack from the offensive group of the Tigers, but Crimson Tide Storm''s defensive group displayed their dominant quality at the critical moment, not only stopping the opponents but also completing a possession turnover, finishing with a touchdown.


    Without even time to catch their breath, the evenly matched game that had been deadlocked for three quarters was completely shifted.


    Seeing their arch-rivals singing and dancing in their own end zone, the home crowd''s hearts turned to ash, struck by the heavy blows and momentarily lost.


    But Humphrey didn''t care.


    After finishing his celebration in the end zone, Humphrey turned around and found Fournette in the crowd, lifted the football to point at him, then jogged to the side of the field, shoving the football into Li Wei''s arms, the first to lead the ruckus.


    "Roar! Roar, roar, roar!"

 Chapter 98 097 Like falling into an ice cellar

    Fournette was stunned.


    Everything was so unexpected, so sudden, so surprising that he stood rooted to the spot as if struck by lightning. He even forgot to chase back, standing foolishly in the wind, his mind reeling with shock and astonishment, tempering his anger for the moment.


    How did this happen?


    He was dominating the game and was on the verge of breaking through Crimson Tide Storm''s defense. Images of post-touchdown celebrations had already formed in his head, where he, like a peerless hero, saves the Tigers from doom, with the entire stadium cheering, prostrating at his feet in worship.


    He was going to prove himself in an absolutely dominant and dazzling manner.


    Li Wei? Hmph, who is that?


    But...


    But!


    How had everything turned around so completely, heading in a totally different direction?


    A gentle breeze blew, and Fournette felt the pain in his ankle flare up again. The next second, he saw Humphrey, so arrogant, so conceited, that it was hard to overlook. His gaze followed Humphrey''s movements, and finally he saw the football being tucked into Li Wei''s arms.


    His blood rushed to his brain and instantly froze into ice.


    Fournette felt his cheeks burning with a fierce pain.


    He caught Li Wei''s gaze briefly in midair, a flame of rage igniting in Fournette''s eyes, wishing he could tear Li Wei apart. But Li Wei, with composure, nonchalantly tossed the football up and caught it, juggling it as if to mock Fournette''s pride and dignity.


    And then he turned and walked away... just turned away... like that...


    As if Fournette wasn''t worth mentioning at all.


    Fournette couldn''t hold back any longer: Fuck!


    "14:0."


    With Crimson Tide Storm confidently scoring the extra point, the visiting Alabama team extended their lead and finally found their footing.


    The audience, witnessing this, almost believed the game had lost its suspense:


    The Louisville State Tigers seemed destined to crumble in defeat just like the other teams that faced Crimson Tide Storm earlier in the season, including powerhouse teams like Tennessee and Texas A&M, falling one by one, offering their heads in a procession of despair amidst Crimson Tide Storm''s crushing power.


    However.


    Orgeron and his Tigers said no.


    The ball was back in the hands of the visiting team.


    Tense, deadlocked, fierce.


    Saban, on the other hand, calmed down. The fourth quarter was already halfway through, leaving the opponent with less and less time. As long as they could maintain the score advantage, the scales of victory would slowly tilt towards the visitors.


    Saban, experienced as he was, knew that choosing a ground attack to consume game time was the most economical and effective strategy at that moment. The purpose of the ground attack was not to advance the yards but to keep the game clock moving. This was the safest and simplest method.


    Including Orgeron as well.


    Clearly, Orgeron was somewhat shaken and uncontrollably anxious. Time was running out for the Tigers, and their offensive group was not known for its explosive power. Hopes for victory were fading. Stay tuned to empire


    Then, just at that moment, Saban sent Li Wei back on the field.


    Orgeron was alert immediately, but it was different from the first half.


    In Orgeron''s opinion, Saban might be using a smoke bomb because everyone believed Li Wei''s ground attack was a threat. As long as Li Wei was on the field, the Tigers Defense Squad would inevitably focus on him. Then Saban would opt for a pass.


    Meaning Li Wei was a decoy.


    The reason was very straightforward. After consecutive ground attacks to consume time, the Crimson Tide now needed to convert on first down to get three more offensive plays and then continue with ground attacks to consume time and snuff out any hopes of a Tigers comeback.


    Thus, Li Wei took the field.


    Thinking this, Orgeron took a deep breath and quickly gestured to Adams and Riley, deploying tactics. They had to make a change.


    "Attack!"


    Orgeron''s gaze was locked on Hertz. Seeing Hertz quickly backpedal, turning around to hand off to Li Wei, but the handoff was completely unobscured, an obvious play-act meant for the linemen and safety to see¡ª


    A fake run, true pass!


    Orgeron was delighted and immediately looked towards Adams and Riley, hoping his proteges could see through Saban''s ruse. He had already warned them.


    Perhaps they could stop the Crimson Tide Storm this time, as long as they defended this second down with ten yards to go. Then it would be third down with ten yards, and the chances of the Tigers Defense Squad''s success would soar, and then it would be time for the home team''s offensive group to take the field.


    Indeed, both Riley and Adams noticed. Riley didn''t step up right away but, for once, dropped back to coordinate with the pass defense.


    So what about Hertz? Which pass target would Hertz choose?


    Gaze shifting toward the pocket¡ª


    Wait, where''s Hertz?

 Chapter 99 Gentle Cut 098

    Adams was fully focused.


    As a safety, positioned slightly to the back, he could see everything in front of him clearly. He had all movements under control and noticed Li Wei and Hertz''s exaggerated "fake run and real pass" performance immediately, and then he saw Hertz leave the pocket.


    Shock!


    Generally, a quarterback wouldn''t leave the pocket, for without the protection of the offensive line, he becomes extremely vulnerable, totally exposed to the defense; mobile quarterbacks, however, are an exception. When they leave the pocket, their field of vision opens up, and the dual threat of passing and running kicks in fully.


    However, Hertz did not choose the read option, yet he still left the pocket, which meant¡ª


    His gaze quickly swept the field.


    Li Wei!


    Hertz and Li Wei split up, each making a dash as if to run.


    The double running back tactic, Crimson Tide Storm actually employed this strategy again, using Hertz as a second running back in such a critical moment.


    It was neither a passing offense nor a simple running play.


    The Tigers Defense Squad would never forget the first play that broke the deadlock in the second half of the game when the Crimson Tide Storm, relying on Hertz''s feigned running play¡ªnot a read option but a true or false running back¡ªcaught the Tigers completely off guard, and now they were using the same tactic again.


    Saban played a trick, but this wasn''t typical of Saban. How could that old fox take such a risk at this critical juncture? What was going on?


    But now there was no time to ponder Saban''s behavior pattern because the Tigers Defense Squad was indeed facing a serious test¡ª


    Hertz to the left, Li Wei to the right, how should they decide, how should they defend?


    Thoughts churned in his mind, yet it was only a fleeting moment, and the players of the offensive and defensive groups had already sprung into action.


    Adams immediately noticed that Riley''s steps had shifted with Hertz''s lateral movement; Beckwith kept his eyes glued to Li Wei without blinking.


    The other two linebackers scattered, following the running routes of the wide receivers to stay in close coverage.


    The compact formation of the Tigers'' defensive front thus dispersed.


    Clearly, Crimson Tide Storm''s offense, with its indistinguishable reality from feint, had caused a difference in judgment among the defense squad that was hanging by a thread.


    Adams didn''t even have time to curse; he needed to stay calm and react.


    Pumping the brakes, Adams didn''t rush to start; after all, this was at least second down and ten yards. If it was a ground play, the defensive group still had some space to fall back; if it was a passing play and the defensive group recklessly moved forward, leaving behind a vulnerable second line, they would fall right into the opponent''s trap. He needed to observe.


    Hertz?


    No, it was Li Wei.


    A grip, a hug.


    The tackle, successful!


    Adams rejoiced.


    But this time, Li Wei had braked hard to control his body, finding his balance and center of gravity again, and without missing a beat, he started moving again, pushing off the ground forcefully.


    One step, two steps.


    Li Wei intentionally collided with Adams, pressing against him as he continued to move forward, unable to achieve a firm grasp amidst the jostling and bumping.


    Staggering unsteadily, just as Li Wei was about to break free from the tackle, Adams, in a moment of desperation and no longer caring for the rules¡ª


    Pulling.


    The yellow flag made its appearance, the referees did not miss this scene.


    But the game did not stop.


    Li Wei felt the pull and collision of the force, not only did he not fall, but he also pushed off the ground more fully, once again increasing his power and speed.


    Thump, thump, thump, thump.


    Jostling, colliding, pulling, squeezing, entangling.


    Li Wei and Adams were completely tangled up, with Adams refusing to let go, working hard to accelerate, trying to match Li Wei''s pace, their speed escalating.


    Stride, running, speeding up.


    In the midst of shoving each other, the speed of both men had picked up.


    Ten yards.


    Fifteen yards.


    Twenty yards.


    In the blink of an eye, the two men had tangled and charged some distance, the first down already in hand.


    Thompson, the Tigers'' other safety, had an extremely ugly look on his face, not because Adams failed to stop Li Wei, but because Adams had become confused, completely forgetting the most important thing at hand¡ª


    Time, the game clock, that was what mattered most right now.


    Damnit!

 Chapter 100 099 Talk Through a Mountain

    Indeed, intercepting Li Wei was crucial; if the Crimson Tide Storm scored again, whether by field goal or touchdown, it would virtually be a death sentence for the Tigers.


    But while intercepting Li Wei, they couldn''t forget another task, controlling the game time; otherwise, even if they stopped Li Wei, the Tiger''s offensive group wouldn''t have another chance to take the field.


    Adams occupied his position and had already committed a foul, so he must bring down Li Wei by any means, stopping this ground attack right there. Only then could the Tigers use timeouts to halt the clock and stop wasting time.


    However, Adams didn''t do that.


    In Thompson''s view, the usually calm Adams lost his reason to pride, stirred by Li Wei''s outstanding performance, acting recklessly. Compared to controlling the game time, Adams wanted to defeat Li Wei more, even throwing the Tigers'' last hope for victory to the back of his mind.


    But what if Adams failed?


    Not only would the Crimson Tide Storm be able to score, but they could also consume game time, killing two birds with one stone.


    Damn! Damn, damn, damn!


    Thompson acted immediately, his only thought now was to stop the game clock, no matter how proud Adams was.


    Watching the footsteps of Li Wei and Adams move just beyond two steps from the sideline, Thompson made a decision¡ª


    Stop the clock by going out of bounds.


    In football, besides the head coach having three timeouts, there are other ways to stop the game time, and going out of bounds is one of them.


    Thompson charged like a raging bull, sprinting with all his might.


    Because Thompson knew he could not hesitate or show weakness; giving Li Wei any space could lead to an unpredictable situation, a scenario they couldn''t afford to face right now.


    Twenty-five yards!


    From the kickoff line, Li Wei had already advanced twenty-five yards, reaching the midfield line, entering the Tigers'' half. Thompson knew he could not hesitate any longer.


    Stomp the ground, exert force, embrace, collide¡ª


    In that moment, Thompson showed enough decisiveness, accurately embracing Li Wei and using the momentum of his run to complete a lateral collision.


    Hmm!


    A muffled grunt.


    It was Thompson, and it was Adams.


    Li Wei became the filling of a sandwich.


    On the left was Thompson, and on the right was Adams, with the force coming from the left side, slicing laterally like an unreasonably charging truck.


    His steps were like a mad dance on a tightrope, but the force and speed propelled his body forward relentlessly, tiptoeing, lightly and softly riding the wind, feeling the howling gale with every pore of his being.


    By his ears, he seemed to hear the distinctive support of the Crimson Tide Storm''s home crowd, adrenaline continuously bursting forth, miraculously pulling back his swaying center of gravity, speed increasing more and more rapidly.


    Keep pushing off, fifteen-yard line.


    In the corner of his vision, he could see the splendid and boiling purple mist ferociously steaming toward him, engulfing the space in his field of view, but in Li Wei''s eyes, it was as though in slow motion, those figures striving their utmost to run could not catch up.


    Thus, when his steps entered the Red Zone, he looked back once, turned around once.


    With his back to the end zone, Li Wei slowed down, carefully, slowly feeling this moment ¡ª the burning in his lungs, the boiling of his blood, the soreness of his muscles, and the calls swirling silently above Tiger Stadium, along with the relentless Clark rushing over.


    "Roar! Li Wei, roar!"


    Thump, thump, thump.


    His steps had completely slowed down, leisurely strolling past the End Zone Line, quietly standing in place, then pulling out the football, placing it in his palm, lightly tossing it up, catching it, tossing it again, catching it once more.


    Touchdown, within easy reach.


    Smile, just like that crept across his lips, quietly savoring the silent purple sea in front of him.


    The crowd, stunned and disoriented.


    This time, they were rendered voiceless once again; even their anger became void, as the Crimson Tide Storm extinguished the Tigers'' last sliver of hope for a comeback with their unparalleled performance, putting the final punctuation mark on the game¡ª


    Li Wei, who had been hitting walls in front of the Tigers'' formidable defense the entire first half, finally rediscovered his form from this season, a breath-taking seventy-five-yard dash straight to the heart, cutting off the suspense with unstoppable sharpness.


    The third touchdown, killing the game.


    Clark was the first to rush into the end zone, heedlessly embracing Li Wei, jumping and shouting in celebration, followed by all the other Crimson Tide Storm players joining in.


    Then, Humphrey was the first one in the end zone, mimicking Li Wei''s action, placing his right hand at his ear, provocatively listening to the sounds of the scene.


    Deadly rivals are indeed deadly rivals, and Tiger Stadium surged tumultuously with a wave of curses.


    Unfortunately, it did not last long, unable to gather any momentum, and just dispersed feeble and thin.


    The fiercer the curse, the more heartbroken; the angrier, the more embarrassed.


    Tiger Stadium fell into bewilderment, looking at each other without finding an answer, hardly believing that they were defeated by the Crimson Tide Storm once again.


    And moreover, at Tiger Stadium.


    This stadium, which had witnessed the Tigers defeating the Crimson Tide Storm fifteen times in a row, now witnessed one of the most crushing defeats between these two rivals in thirty years.

 Chapter 101 100 Stand tall and proud

    "21:0".


    The game ended, and everything came to a stop, drawing to a period.


    Adams stood in place, staring at the giant scoreboard above the field.


    That group of numbers twinkled as if they were mocking all their efforts throughout the game as futile; the overwhelming purple wave of Tiger Stadium''s crowd remained, loyally standing by, just like when they had lost to Auburn University before.


    Memories surged like a tide.


    The scene before him, under the reflection of the scoreboard numbers, became increasingly jumbled and uncomfortable.


    There was a bitter taste in his mouth.


    Yet, this is the nature of competitive sports¡ª


    The joy of victory is as intense as the pain of defeat.


    And this time, it was against a bitter rival.


    Before the game started, they truly believed they could defeat the Crimson Tide Storm, not just to beat their archenemy but also to salvage a season fraught with hardship. But dreams are plush, reality is skeletal.


    They not only lost the game but were shut out, right there in Tiger Stadium.


    Adams couldn''t remember the last time Louisiana State was shut out in Tiger Stadium; not to mention, by the Crimson Tide Storm.


    This was a true disgrace.


    His nose felt sore.


    But¡ª


    Taking a deep breath, Adams had already started walking, having locked onto Li Wei''s position from the start. He wouldn''t run away or deny it, like a coward, he would face defeat head-on.


    Perhaps they lost to Auburn University, and then suffered a crushing defeat against the University of Alabama, but that didn''t mean they would keep losing. Absolutely not.


    He could face the opponents who defeated him with his head held high.


    In a blink, Adams had already stopped in front of Li Wei.


    Li Wei was about to leave; his time with the Crimson Tide Storm was too short. When it came to the enmity of archrivals, he still lacked some resonance. Let his teammates do the gloating, Humphrey was good at that¡ª


    "Oh, so that was Adams."


    Adams nearly stumbled over nothing at all, almost performing a fall right where he stood, but he managed to control himself, only one thought in his mind:


    Get away from here, the faster the better.


    Yet his body did not cooperate with his brain, and his steps halted; he even turned back for another look at Li Wei. Adams had a feeling they might cross paths again in the future.


    Rivals though they might be, after the game, the greetings between the two sides were more sincere and careful. Precisely because they were rivals, intense matchups bred feelings of familiarity among the players, each one looking forward to the next encounter, leaving what happened on the field on the field, to the bitter end.


    From the current situation, the Crimson Tide Storm''s advance to the subsequent bowl games and the nationwide championship seemed highly likely, while the Tigers needed to push harder.


    So, what exactly happened in this match? And how did things develop to this point?


    The Crimson Tide Storm shut out the Tigers and won this defensive showdown with an absolute advantage, taking away a perfect victory from Tiger Stadium¡ªan outcome that nobody had predicted at the start of the game.


    NCAA: ...


    Without watching the game, if one only glanced at the score, they might sneer and say that the Louisiana State University Tigers were paper tigers after all. What Tennessee and Texas A&M couldn''t do, they naturally couldn''t manage either. Saban should have had a very easy victory; there was nothing noteworthy about this game. Your journey continues on empire


    But those who actually watched this game would vehemently disagree.


    The score simply couldn''t show the intensity of the match. Without a doubt, the Tigers put incredible pressure on the Crimson Tide Storm, making it their most difficult and dangerous game of the season, even tougher than the one against Mississippi. The Crimson Tide Storm stood up to the test.


    The suspense over the victory lingered until the last quarter. If it wasn''t for Li Wei''s seventy-five-yard dash to score a touchdown and crush the Tigers'' hopes, Orgeron and his Tigers had not planned to give up without a fight.


    Behind the seemingly wide score difference, not only did the Crimson Tide Storm''s defensive group show their dominance again, but also their offensive group withstood the test, facing off against one of the NCAA''s top defensive groups and continuing their outstanding performance.


    The controversy and doubt, having developed to such a state, could now take a breather.


    After three consecutive weeks of facing tough opponents in a devilish schedule, the Crimson Tide Storm claimed three straight wins with unparalleled performances, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Clemson Tigers as the only two undefeated teams in the NCAA so far this season.


    Prior to this, Clemson, because of weaker opponents, remained unbeaten but hovered around fifth place nationwide. However, with consecutive victories over tough teams, including one led by Jackson of Louisville, their ranking continued to climb. After defeating Florida State, which had slipped to twelfth place, their ranking had risen to second place by this week.


    The two teams that faced off in last season''s national championship remained dominant this season.


    With the season more than halfway through, the hustle and bustle of battle pervaded, and the challenges for the reigning champions kept increasing. Louisiana State was not just one hurdle, but undoubtedly, this battle had brought even more confidence to the defending champions.


    Fierce battles. Bitter struggles. Bloody fights.


    This is the right way to build a strong team.


    And it is for this very reason that Li Wei became famous in one battle.

 Chapter 102 101 One Battle to Fame

    The more anxious the competition, often the more exciting; the more difficult the game, often the more precious.


    It is precisely because of this that in such games, where thousands of eyes are fixed, it is easy for a superstar to emerge.


    This time, it was Li Wei.


    A review of the game would show that Crimson Tide Storm indeed faced stern pressure this week, and the ultimate victory was not easy to come by.


    Li Wei played a key role¡ª


    148 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.


    The statistics are impressive, but compared to Li Wei''s average performance for the season, they appear slightly inferior; however, it''s what the statistics don''t show that is the focal point.


    Whether it was the run that bulldozed through an ironclad defense in the third quarter, or the run that killed the suspense in the fourth quarter, all were breathtaking and showcased the full range of Li Wei''s abilities, truly outstanding.


    Tough enough, determined enough, smart enough, amidst the struggles when NCAA teams began to adapt and strategize against his speed and explosiveness, Li Wei demonstrated through his actions that he did not rely solely on novelty to capture attention.


    If there were to be a vote for the best player of the game afterward, there is no doubt, Li Wei would be the unanimous choice.


    Unlike Derrick Henry, Li Wei is still green; his short tenure in football cannot be denied¡ªnor does it need to be. Even now, Li Wei''s interpretation of the game, his grasp of opportunities, and his masterful balance of technique and power have already demonstrated first-class standards.


    Just imagine, Li Wei already possesses such talent without fully understanding football and can perform at such a level and quality during critical moments. Given more time, where might he grow to be?


    Discover hidden tales at empire


    The season is already halfway through.


    Li Wei had already burst onto the scene, but there was no shortage of controversy surrounding him:


    Some thought his excellent performance was just a fleeting meteor; some credited it more to other teams'' lack of familiarity with him; some believed Crimson Tide Storm''s offensive line was the true reason for the outstanding ground offense, among other critiques and scrutiny always directed at Li Wei¡ª


    When it comes to running backs, the NCAA and the NFL alike are always stricter¡ªnot just stricter than quarterback, but in fact stricter than any other position¡ªthis has become a kind of trend in the League.


    Yet, it was hard not to feel a tinge of disappointment and bitterness.


    Before his emotions could even begin to ferment, Hertz saw Humphrey take a step forward and intercept Li Wei with a solemn nod to the reporters.


    "I know you''ve come to interview me, and I''m very grateful, but sadly, I can''t accept all interviews. So here''s what we''ll do: those willing to interview Li Wei can interview me. Let''s take care of the newcomer and let him bask in the starlight for a bit."


    Ha ha.


    The whole place erupted in laughter.


    Hertz couldn''t resist joining in the laughter.


    Seeing Li Wei standing there with an innocent face playing a supporting role, one by one the reporters gave face, as Humphrey was also a major contributor to today''s game and was a star of the Crimson Tide Storm defensive group.


    Bustling about, Humphrey ended the interview proactively, signaling to the reporters not to be harsh and adopting the look of a veteran taking care of a rookie, swaggering off the stage and heading towards Hertz, shaking his head and sighing.


    "Ah, it''s a young man''s world now."


    Hertz: ???


    Unable to contain his brightening mood, as he looked at Li Wei again, Hertz clenched his fist in determination. The attention and treatment Li Wei received were all earned through his performances. He too should continue to work hard and strive, trying to keep up with Li Wei''s pace, and win his own applause through his performance.


    And Li Wei, surrounded by reporters and faced with an ambush of microphones, looked calm.


    "Li Wei, brilliant game, brilliant victory. It seemed like you had extra motivation this game, was it because of Fournette from the Tiger Team?"


    "Currently, Fournette, McCaffrey, and you are recognized as the top three running backs in the college league, and direct competitors for this year''s Heisman Trophy. This was a head-to-head match today, did that give you extra motivation?"


    "What do you think of Fournette''s performance in this game?"


    With countless microphones and recorders all thrust towards Li Wei.


    Li Wei blinked, his eyes the picture of innocence, "Who?"

 Chapter 103 102 Its the taking part that counts

    "Who?"


    The whole place was dead silent.


    The reporters could hardly believe their own ears¡ªwhat had they just heard?


    Was Li Wei adding fuel to the fire of hatred between Crimson Tide Storm and the Tigers, as if their rivalry wasn''t intense enough already?


    Some reporters thought the noise at the scene was too loud, so Li Wei might not have heard clearly. They kindly repeated the name, trying to save him from embarrassment.


    "Fournette, Leonard Fournette."


    Li Wei''s face was the picture of innocence¡ªhe swore he wasn''t targeting anyone, he genuinely had no idea who that was, no matter how many times the reporters repeated it.


    Not far away, Hertz and Humphrey were struggling to contain their laughter watching this unfold. If it weren''t for the fear of causing a misunderstanding that might prevent them from leaving Tiger Stadium, they would likely have burst out laughing because they knew Li Wei was not playing a prank¡ª


    In Crimson Tide Storm, Li Wei also referred to players by their jersey numbers or nicknames.


    At first, the team thought Li Wei was joking, but when he candidly admitted that he was not good with names and was naturally indifferent to them, over time, the players realized he was serious and didn''t mean to offend anyone.


    Everyone was a no-name.


    Just then, seeing that Li Wei was about to infuriate the biggest star of the rival''s offensive group at Tiger Stadium, Hertz, looking at Humphrey''s face filled with a spectator''s delight, couldn''t bear it and raised his voice to hint, "The running back, that running back."


    Li Wei caught the crucial piece of information, "Ah, that running back?"


    Reporter: ...


    How did the top NCAA running back contender become a no-name in Li Wei''s mouth?


    "That running back"?


    No matter how you hear it, it sounded extremely derogatory.


    Yet, Li Wei still wore a face full of sincerity; and finally matched the name to the face, "I believe he did his best in this game."


    As a fellow running back, Li Wei knew, setting aside his own fluctuating performance, that Fournette''s injuries and the Crimson Tide Storm''s targeted defense could affect his performance, but at least Fournette had given it his all¡ª


    Even till the fourth quarter, Fournette hadn''t given up, continuously battering against the wall but still trying and striving, which was commendable.


    However.


    Li Wei''s words, filled with encouragement, landed on the reporters'' ears and felt more like an adult''s condescending praise for a child.


    Is this normal?


    "He did his best," wasn''t this implying that Fournette''s potential was limited?


    Initially, the reporters had laid a trap for Li Wei.


    Shortly thereafter, Li Wei dug a collective grave for the reporters.


    The atmosphere became somewhat awkward.


    During the awkward glances, the reporters dared not look directly into Li Wei''s eyes.


    Unexpectedly, Li Wei did not continue to attack the reporters but instead changed the subject, "As for the others, do you want me to evaluate their rushing ability, or their passing ability?"


    "If it''s about passing ability, sorry, I know nothing about passing."


    "If it''s about rushing ability," Li Wei shrugged slightly, "hey, I do know a bit about ground offense."


    In a light and casual manner, a sense of sarcasm and jest overflowed, which is also a current point of controversy discussed in both the NCAA and NFL:


    For the new generation of running quarterbacks, are they really quarterbacks or running backs?


    However, even up to now, the debate has not been resolved. With a shift of concept, Li Wei once again posed a tough question for all the reporters in the room.


    Right after that, Li Wei prepared to leave nonchalantly.


    The reporters immediately panicked. How could the interview end like this? Li Wei pushes them towards a proverbial grave and just leaves so casually? And they only asked a few questions?


    Hurriedly, the reporters surrounded Li Wei, stepping in unison, and quickly another reporter threw out another focus topic.


    "Li Wei, although this is only your first season in NCAA, we have to notice that you''re already a junior, so, are you planning to enter the draft next year?"


    "Or perhaps, you plan to play another year as a senior?"


    The draft?


    Indeed, this was a blind spot.


    When Li Wei suddenly emerged, people naturally assumed he would enter the draft; on one hand, people also discussed Li Wei''s greenness, his relatively short experience with football. If he enters the draft next year, the market is unclear, especially considering that he is a running back.


    Now, as the season progresses, Li Wei''s performances are clear for all to see.


    If Li Wei were to declare for the draft now, not to mention in which round he might be chosen, but the number of teams interested in inviting Li Wei to their training camps should not be few.


    Thus, the "blind spot" was laid out¡ª


    What does the person himself think?


    Unexpectedly, Li Wei had no hesitation at all, as if the reporters asked not about the draft but rather what he suggested for tonight''s dinner.


    "Oh, that question is not currently within my considerations."


    What, what?!

 Chapter 104 103 Think in the long term

    Eyes excited and fluttering, the gazes on Li Wei were so intense they were almost melting him as everyone began to eagerly fill in the blanks in anticipation.


    Surrounded on all sides, Li Wei nevertheless remained calm and gave an utterly unexpected answer.


    "Oh, I haven''t considered that question for the time being."


    What?


    The reporters were so shocked and taken aback that they experienced a brief moment of blankness. Not within the scope of consideration? What does that mean, ''not within the scope of consideration''?


    It was this moment of astonishment that left the encircling reporters'' formation loose, and Li Wei, as if entering a realm devoid of people, walked away composedly.


    Just a moment behind, the reporters finally snapped out of it and surged toward Li Wei like a tide.


    From a distance, Burns and Saban were watching this scene unfold.


    Initially, Burns was prepared to step forward to assist, but then he saw Li Wei suddenly take off, signaling Humphrey and Hertz, who were watching the drama unfold, to escape with him.


    Humphrey, seeing Li Wei and Hertz running off, started to run as well but was completely baffled and kept shouting, "Why am I running? Wait, can someone tell me why I''m running?"


    Questioning while running.


    In no time, the three young men had shaken off the reporters, and the reporters with larger bellies were left gasping for air, unable to keep up.


    Burns couldn''t help but laugh, "It looks like he doesn''t need any help after all."


    Saban''s lips curved into a slight smile, "No, a little bit of help is still needed."


    Burns: ?


    Saban didn''t keep him in suspense, "We''re at nine consecutive victories, with three more regular-season games left, then the League championship, the bowl games, and possibly the nationwide championship. The media, already frenzied, will only intensify from here. I''m worried about the level of pressure these young people are facing."


    Suddenly, Burns understood.


    Just look at last season.


    Last year, the Crimson Tide Storm kicked off the season amidst high expectations as the number three seed, only to lose early in week three, shedding their pressure prematurely.


    The Clemson Tigers, however, were unstoppable. Starting the season as the twelfth seed and maintaining an undefeated streak to the top, they became the number one seed. All of North America''s focus was swarming over the young DeShaun Watson as they carried a fourteen-game winning streak into the nationwide championship game, maintaining their Undefeated Golden Body.


    Saban lowered his voice, talking to himself. "Maybe, we really have unearthed a treasure. I don''t want our greed or haste to ruin him."


    Burns heard him. "Nick, do you think he should enter the draft next year?"


    Saban didn''t answer, but fell into deep thought.


    The draft was indeed a significant topic because participating in the draft meant turning professional and truly entering a higher level of expertise.


    Even though the reporters didn''t believe it, all of Li Wei''s answers were genuine¡ª


    He truly hadn''t thought about it.


    At least, not so far.


    The season was gradually moving into its latter half, and Li Wei had no reference points¡ªhe didn''t know how Derrick Henry performed last year because he hadn''t paid special attention; he believed his performance was sufficiently outstanding, probably meeting the president''s expectations. However, the season had not ended yet, had it?


    Furthermore, the more he observed, the more convinced Li Wei became that there must have been some kind of deal between Burns and the president, although he did not know if they had met their standards.


    Though his entry into the football team was just a transaction at first, Burns''s whole-hearted efforts had not escaped Li Wei''s notice, and neither had Saban''s. They didn''t treat Li Wei merely as a tool or a chess piece, but truly helped him grow incrementally based on his situation.


    If possible, Li Wei also hoped to help Saban and Burns achieve their goals.


    So, for now, the draft really wasn''t something Li Wei needed to consider.


    But...


    Entering the Professional League through the draft, experiencing confrontation, facing challenges, sprinting to the limit¡ªit all sounded quite intriguing, and Li Wei was curious about his ceiling too. With the help of the Football Training System, just how high could he reach, and how many top-tier competitors could he face in peak duels?


    Imagining the sound of helmets clashing and the strategic play of offense and defense got his blood pumping.


    But no rush, there was no need to hurry. The draft and going professional required long-term planning.


    Here, Li Wei was unhurried and methodical.


    There, the Professional League was already a burgeoning whirlwind, even ahead of the media¡ª


    One fact was clear: when team managers saw the media focusing on the potential of Li Wei entering next year''s draft, it meant the entire League already knew.


    If they were only now belatedly paying attention, they would already be several steps behind their competitors.

 Chapter 105: 104 Act on Hearing Wind

    ```


    "...Without a doubt, Li Wei and Derrick Henry are two completely different types of running backs, and Saban has proven himself capable not only of training a powerhouse running back like Henry, but also a nimble one like Li Wei who relies on wit to breach defenses."


    "Oh, it¡¯s rare to see you praise a running back so highly."


    "Believe me, because he¡¯s worth it. I see shades of McCoy in him, and a bit of Peterson. I think he¡¯s a gem that¡¯s already shining, yet silently waiting to be polished and sculpted; he still has room to grow..."


    Blah blah blah.


    Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh grabbed the remote and aimed it at the screen, pressing mute, and said into the receiver, "Did you hear the commentary? What do you think, do you agree?"


    "Inside-NFL," a professional football program, is rich in content and highly specialized. It not only focuses on weekly games, battle reports, injuries, and team rumors, and so on, but also has a dedicated segment focusing on NCAA events, ensuring the league stays updated with news about the rookies.


    Which means, from the moment players step onto the NCAA field, they have already entered a vast stage enveloped in spotlight.


    The hot topic this week, once again, is Li Wei.


    This magically talented Chinese-American running back suddenly became the center of attention, dominating the hot-discussion vortex for weeks on end.


    However, in Harbaugh¡¯s view, these comments were somewhat watered down. He didn¡¯t believe for a second that the league wasn¡¯t behind it all, pushing to open the doors of the Hua Xia Market.


    He only trusted the information collected by his scouts and his own judgment.


    "Yes, but also no," Brand¡¯s voice came through the other side of the handset.


    Harbaugh was a bit interested, "Have you started to pick up the media¡¯s turn of phrase now?"


    Brand outright laughed, "Of course, Li Wei¡¯s speed, explosive power, and agility¡ªthese are talents that you can see. Compared to McCoy, he¡¯s closer to the Peterson mold."


    "But personally, I think what truly distinguishes Li Wei is his brain¡ªhis learning capability and his analytical abilities."


    Harbaugh was somewhat surprised, "Oh? Do go on, elaborate."


    Over here, Brand was reporting to Harbaugh.


    Over there, Carolina Panthers head coach Rivera was also browsing through Li Wei¡¯s information.


    If Rivera could hear what Brand was saying, he would have had an epiphany.


    Firstly, Li Wei¡¯s development in just half a year was beyond imagining. It was hard to believe he had no prior experience with football whatsoever; this was Li Wei¡¯s learning ability.


    However, that is not the case.


    Running backs who understand how to read defenses, adapt on the fly, and use their brains to play the game are not rare, and Barry Sanders is the cream of the crop.


    This running back, who possessed brain, body, and speed, played for the Detroit Lions for merely ten years but was recognized by countless insiders as the greatest running back in history, completely rewriting the stereotype of running backs, as well as the perceived ceiling of their abilities.


    In the modern football fields, running backs who rely solely on physical confrontation won¡¯t get far¡ª


    Physical talent is the lower limit; brain power is the upper limit.


    Fournette sneezed: Is someone cursing me?


    From Brand¡¯s description and comments, the image of the legendary Sanders immediately emerged in Harbaugh¡¯s mind, absolutely a deity.


    Brand, however, flatly denied it, "No good. Li Wei¡¯s current ability to withstand physical confrontations is still weak. Not to mention the peak Sanders, even the freshman Sanders was better than Li Wei."


    "But,"


    "We should not forget, this is only after Li Wei has been playing football for six months..."


    The rest of the sentence was unnecessary, Harbaugh already understood.


    Li Wei is already exceptional now, but his growth and transformation in the coming time is what¡¯s truly exciting, maybe in the future, he really could become a legend like Sanders.


    Whew.


    Harbaugh exhaled heavily, "Now, we might be facing a problem." Stay updated via empire


    Li Wei, being too excellent and in too high demand, is also a problem.


    Brand immediately caught the deeper meaning in Harbaugh¡¯s words, "I originally thought that running backs weren¡¯t in high demand, now every team in the league needs a running back, but there are only a few teams that are truly willing to risk betting on a running back in the first three rounds of the draft."


    "Coach, do you know who I saw at Tiger Stadium?"


    Rarely, Brand played coy.


    Harbaugh was startled, "Jacksonville?"


    Brand laughed heartily, "Cleveland."


    Harbaugh: ..."Fuck!"

 Chapter 106: 105 Determined to Win

    Unlike other sports, football, with its numerous on-field positions, makes drafting strategies more complex. In short, there are two types of strategies.


    First, choose what you urgently need.


    Perhaps the most outstanding player in the draft is a quarterback, but the team holding the draft pick already has a trustworthy cornerstone quarterback. So, even if the rookie is exceptional, they won¡¯t choose a quarterback.


    Matching your needs and selecting the best player available for your required positions, or filling in the gaps in your lineup, is the best policy.


    What is poison to one, may be honey to another.


    Drafting should not be about following trends, picking whoever is the hot topic, but should be about managing your situation. The players with high discussion heat may not necessarily be the best choice for the team. Those top-popular and outstanding players could turn out to be either honey or poison, so teams must stay calm.


    Second, choose the best player available.


    Often, the player a team needs most has been picked by another team. In such cases, picking the best player available among the rookies can also be an emergency measure.


    Either, trade the player away for greater benefits.


    Or, keep the player, adjust the team¡¯s own lineup, then head to the free market to patch things up, and build a completely new lineup.


    However, this strategy is much more complicated because it involves assessing the market value of the rookie¡¯s position and examining your team¡¯s salary cap and contract renewal situations. Otherwise, a single mistake could lead to a redundant situation in the team¡¯s configuration.


    Before the draft, every team conducts mock drafts to prepare for different scenarios, not just second or third plans, but even up to the sixth or seventh plans; yet even so, the draft is full of surprises and unpredictable on-site conditions.


    Therefore, the NFL draft has always been especially exciting, like a roller-coaster blockbuster, full of twists and turns and unforeseen developments.


    Stories of top draft prospects falling out of the first round, training camp darlings that everyone loves ending up ignored, wild picks like kickers in the first three rounds, or finding superstars in the trash heap of the sixth or seventh rounds are not uncommon.


    Until the last moment, no one knows what will happen.


    In fact, sometimes, even team managers and head coaches don¡¯t understand what¡¯s happening.


    It is against this backdrop that the NFL regularly has some off-the-wall wildcards. Baffling picks and sudden trade positions can disrupt the entire draft, causing a domino effect and catching other teams off guard, basically playing on a whim.


    For example, the New York Jets.


    Caldwell, "We need Li Wei, and it just so happens he¡¯s a running back, that¡¯s all."


    "You know? In the latest Heisman Trophy odds, Li Wei officially surpassed Mayfield and Watson, currently trailing behind Jackson, ranked second."


    "There are three weeks left in the NCAA regular season, and although Jackson¡¯s performance is still outstanding, ferocious even, his team¡¯s record can¡¯t compare to Crimson Tide Storm."


    "If Crimson Tide Storm makes it to the nationwide championship, but Louisville doesn¡¯t, it means that Li Wei overtaking Jackson to win the Heisman Trophy is not out of the question."


    "Hey, Gus, once Li Wei wins the Heisman Trophy, he will not only be the first Hua Xia, but also the first Asian to ever win the Heisman Trophy."


    "Do you understand what this means?"


    Caldwell¡¯s gaze turned to the world map, landing on that vast land shaped like a proud rooster¡ª


    Fourteen years ago, the NBA had its first team to take the plunge, which resulted in an incredible business success.


    And now, it was the NFL¡¯s turn.


    Caldwell didn¡¯t want to miss out. If the Jacksonville Jaguars wanted to seize this opportunity, they had to act quickly and plan well.


    The NFL and NCAA strictly prohibit teams and agents from personal contacts with players before the draft; but they didn¡¯t prohibit scouts from watching games.


    Imagine, whether it¡¯s training or a game, a line of scouts wearing Jacksonville Jaguars jerseys watching from the front rows. Crimson Tide Storm sees them, the reporters see them, and naturally, Li Wei notices too. People would definitely be curious about the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ plans.


    But they didn¡¯t need to be overly eager. Instead, they should build momentum bit by bit, raising suspense and appetites. Everyone would know that the Jacksonville Jaguars were eyeing a star player from Crimson Tide Storm early on, yet no one would know their true target.


    In the future, waiting for the right moment, Caldwell would find an appropriate opportunity to reveal the answer¡ª


    Praising Li Wei no end.


    Imagine, what would Li Wei feel at that moment?


    Sincerity doesn¡¯t need face-to-face contact to be conveyed. Even if the NFL and NCAA prohibit them from contacting players, Caldwell could still make a big deal out of it.


    The more fanfare, the louder, the grander, the more it would showcase the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ commitment to victory.


    Caldwell¡¯s eyes were full of anticipation.

 Chapter 107 106 is pure nonsense.

    If the opponent was the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Baltimore Ravens would still be able to manage.


    Harbaugh also had his own considerations, should they choose a running back? Or should they continue the tradition of the past two years and further strengthen the defensive group?


    After ascending to the Super Bowl Champions in the 2012 season, Harbaugh had been working on filling the mess left by the retirement of Ray Lewis, rebuilding that traditionally strong defense team, and returning to a path of winning games through defense, while Flacco''s offensive group had been patched up over three years.


    In the past three seasons, with two eight-win, eight-loss records missing the playoffs, the 2014 season saw them make the playoffs but they lost to the New England Patriots in the second round.


    So, should they start strengthening the offensive group now?


    If the answer was positive, how much was Harbaugh willing to spend to acquire a running back?


    If the opponent was the Jacksonville Jaguars, things would be simpler.


    However.


    Harbaugh doubted his ears, "Who?"


    Bran repeated, "Cleveland."


    Harbaugh: ... "Damn!"


    Who could tell him what Cleveland Browns were doing joining in the hustle?


    Harbaugh took a deep breath, it was too absurd not to laugh, he burst out laughing, "Do they even lack a running back now?"


    Bran shrugged, "Is there any position they don''t lack?"


    Harbaugh, unable to rebut, "Shouldn''t they be properly picking a quarterback? Watson, maybe they should consider Watson."


    Bran, "Coach, next year is the big year for quarterbacks, Jackson, Mayfield they should all be drafted next year, I mean the year after next, what do you think?"


    Reason, they all understood it, clearly Cleveland Browns had their own calculations, even if it was a bad deal.


    But when it really came down to the facts, Harbaugh just found it funny, unable to comprehend the thought process of Cleveland Browns'' management, were they sure they didn''t need to collectively schedule an MRI?


    In a moment of speechlessness, Harbaugh exclaimed, "When did running backs become so in demand?"


    Originally, Harbaugh was simply venting, but Bran answered seriously, "Coach, it''s not just any running back, he''s a running back of Chinese descent."


    Harbaugh choked a bit, his lips curling up, "And such an outstanding running back at that." He took a deep breath and then exhaled long, "Alright, I got it."


    They needed a comprehensive plan and to think long-term, drafting was obviously not a simple matter, but that was also one of the charms of football.


    Brand couldn''t resist, and he shared his personal opinion about Li Wei, because of love and admiration.


    Even though he didn''t say much, just a simple sentence, it was of immense weight to Harbaugh, far more significant than a scout''s report.


    Standing there, Harbaugh was somewhat spellbound¡ª


    What is so special about this Li Wei, isn''t he just a running back?


    And, what''s the deal with the Cleveland Browns?


    ...


    The Cleveland Browns, a "powerful" team on a path of deliberate losing that scarcely sees a rival, whose terrible management and utterly foolish team-building strategies ensure the team leads far ahead on the track of collapse and losing, to a degree that makes competitors bow down in respect, a true master of tanking.


    Since the merging of the two major leagues into the NFL in 1966, ushering in the Super Bowl era, until 2023, only four teams have never reached the pinnacle of becoming Super Bowl Champions:


    The Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and... the Cleveland Browns.


    Moreover, considering the current situation, the Cleveland Browns'' dream of reaching the Super Bowl might need to be shelved for a while longer.


    Since 1999, the Cleveland Browns have only had two seasons with more wins than losses, in 2002 and 2007; and they only made it to the playoffs in 2002.


    In fact, forget playoffs, even winning is a challenge, as they are almost always the favorite candidates for last place.


    The dregs among dross, a classic example of the bottom feeders.


    This season is no exception.


    After losing to the Dallas Cowboys last week, the Cleveland Browns became the only team this season to not have a single win so far.


    Nine consecutive losses.


    If you add up the three consecutive losses at the end of last season, it results in twelve continuous defeats, a deeply miserable plight with no end in sight.


    Even other people feel too pained to sprinkle salt on Browns fans'' wounds.


    Currently, the Cleveland Browns are at the very bottom among the NFL''s thirty-two teams, leading far ahead in the race for the top draft pick next year, while other contenders are not even in the same league, like the Chicago Bears or the Jacksonville Jaguars who can only follow behind and eat their dust.


    So, the question arises¡ª


    Who should the Cleveland Browns pick with their top draft choice?


    Could it be... Li Wei?

 Chapter 108 107 Professional Troublemaker

    "Quarterback, of course it''s the quarterback. The quarterback is the cornerstone of building a football team."


    "That''s obviously true, but my issue is, are we ready to overhaul and rebuild again? It was just two years ago that we last did this, and now another one? Are we ready to start from scratch with a brand-new quarterback? Then what was the point of our moves in the free agency during the offseason?"


    "Jesus Christ, you should understand that all the quarterbacks in the team right now are transitional. We need our own cornerstone quarterback."


    "Who''s to say they can''t become our cornerstone quarterback? Drew Brees''s transfer from San Diego Chargers to the New Orleans Saints was a godsend. I think we should continue to give Griffin a chance."


    "Giving Griffin more chances, you say that as though we haven''t given him any, yet if we''re not choosing a quarterback, what do you think we should pick? A wide receiver?"


    "I don''t know, maybe the offensive line? Our quarterback needs a solid pocket to protect him. Or perhaps a cornerback..."


    "A cornerback? What are you saying, a cornerback? Are you out of your mind? No one uses a top three round pick on a cornerback!"


    Sashi Brown, the Vice President and General Manager of the Cleveland Browns.


    At this moment, he was also sitting at the epicenter of the office debacle without intervening, fully aware of the mess in front of him.


    During this offseason, the Cleveland Browns became the laughingstock of the league, for the thousand and first time¡ª


    And this time, it was because of the quarterback.


    Two years ago at the draft, it was a lean year for quarterbacks, with very few noteworthy quarterbacks available; Johnny Manziel from Texas A&M, having authored numerous miracles, was considered a standout with potential for a top-three pick, even possibly the top overall.


    After all, Manziel was the first freshman in NCAA history to win the Heisman Trophy, such a quarterback entering the league was definitely a hot commodity.


    However,


    when the draft began, to everyone''s surprise, Manziel''s name was not called early on. Teams that needed a quarterback all avoided Manziel like a plague, with all sorts of theories, speculations, and gossip flying around, making the scene extremely lively.


    Under immense scrutiny, Manziel''s draft stock plummeted until the twenty-second pick of the first round; it was the Cleveland Browns, having completed a trade for that draft spot, who finally called Manziel''s name, ending the excruciating embarrassment.


    At that moment, Manziel took the stage and performed his signature touchdown celebration¡ª


    Finger-twirling money counting.


    Outshining the rest.


    Quarterback? Your next chapter is on empire


    Of course, that is the cornerstone of the team, but the problem is, in the past fifteen years, the Cleveland Browns have tried too many times and failed each time; and they had just shaken off the burden of Manziel this offseason. Are they really prepared to take a risk on a small year for quarterbacks?


    Defense?


    This makes sense too, compared to the premium level of offensive group players, defensive group players seem much more economically viable and could perhaps help the Cleveland Browns quickly stabilize their footing, considering they don''t really have a tradition to uphold, and their offense is just as bad as their defense, starting the rebuild with defense might be an option.


    Moreover, it is widely believed that this year is a big year for defense, with many excellent defensive stalwarts about to join the league.


    But Sashi Brown had an even bolder idea.


    "How about we make some splashes?" Brown opened, drawing everyone''s attention. Someone asked, "Sashi, what do you mean?"


    Brown shrugged.


    "You''re all right. We need to rebuild the team, there are problems everywhere, you have your reasons, he has his rationale, and we can''t please everyone."


    "So, why don''t we step back, switch strategies, and make some splashes to completely shake things up and make fans take notice of us again. Regardless of how the team performs, at least we can rejuvenate our spectator market and give fans a glimpse of hope, even if it''s false hope."


    "Whoever is the most talked about, whoever is the most popular, we choose them."


    Around him, confusion still reigned; no one was able to follow Brown''s train of thought.


    But finally, someone asked outright, "So, what do you plan to do?"


    Brown flashed a smile and uttered a key word, "Li Wei."


    Who says there are only two strategies in drafting? The Cleveland Browns decidedly carve out a third route¡ª


    Being disruptive.


    Thoroughly, completely, selflessly... Go crazy and with one ground-breaking move, disrupt all conventions.

 Chapter 109 108 Tutoring

    ```


    Another training session had ended, but the players of the Crimson Tide Storm hadn''t immediately left, instead clustering together, cheeks flushed and voices raised passionately as they argued. It seemed as though any second, sleeves would be rolled up and fists would fly.


    Listening closely, it became clear¡ª


    They weren''t gearing up for a brawl, but rather, they were heatedly defending Li Wei.


    This season, Li Wei''s exceptional performance was clear for all to see, dominating the ground offense of the Crimson Tide Storm with an unexpectedly powerful debut, not at all inferior to last year''s Derrick Henry.


    However!


    It was precisely because last year''s running back had just won the Heisman Trophy, that this year''s expectations for running backs were particularly harsh. Until now, Li Wei''s odds for the Heisman Trophy were still trailing behind Jackson''s, currently ranked second.


    In response, the players of the Crimson Tide Storm were indignant and could barely contain their fury.


    "Come on, let''s play a game!"


    Humphrey threw down the gauntlet.


    "Us against Louisville, Li Wei against Jackson, let''s have a head-to-head match to settle the score once and for all, so all those experts will shut up," he said.


    "I''ll give Jackson a proper welcome, let him experience firsthand the century-old defensive techniques of the Crimson Tide Storm. It''ll be absolutely refreshing, an experience he''ll never forget."


    Boom!


    A wave of laughter ensued.


    Then Humphrey saw player number twenty-three, Li Wei, slowly getting ready to leave and called out, "Li Wei, what do you say, ready for a game?"


    Humphrey had meant to ask Li Wei if he wanted to have a straight-up arm-wrestling match with Jackson. Explore more stories at empire


    Unexpectedly, Li Wei just stood there for a moment, then silently started rolling up his sleeves and looked at Humphrey lazily, "With gloves on or off?"


    Humphrey''s muscles tensed, and his smile froze, as he waved his hands dismissively, "No, no, not like that, let me explain..."


    But the crowd around, who loved stirring up trouble, chanted one after another, "Humphrey! Humphrey! Humphrey!"


    Humphrey''s face turned the color of beetroot as he tried to signal to his teammates:


    Do you beasts have amnesia? Have you forgotten Li Wei is trained in mixed martial arts?


    "Li Wei, we were just discussing the Heisman Trophy, what are your thoughts?"


    A major feature of the NCAA is that academics can''t be neglected.


    First, apart from training, students have to attend regular classes, and there is a minimum weekly attendance requirement; to make sure that classes don''t clash with training, every university arranges a special time in a designated space for athletes to complete their attendance hours without slacking off.


    Secondly, there''s a minimum GPA requirement, which can''t be below 2.0. In truth, this means just passing every course, but for some athletes, it''s still a tough challenge.


    In the blink of an eye, the NCAA regular season was nearing its end, and the season was about to close, which also meant that players needed to pick up their forgotten student identities and prepare for the final exams before Christmas.


    Compared to training, this was true hell.


    Li Wei, always addressing the most inconvenient truth.


    Of course, not all players struggled with academics; but that didn''t mean they were all willing to sit quietly in the library and study.


    The scene was quite brutal.


    However, before Li Wei could get far, he noticed a figure lurking behind the bleachers like a mole in the corner of his eye.


    Didn''t they know that the space beneath the bleachers was hollow and one could see right through it?


    And these big guys, no matter how they tried, couldn''t possibly hide themselves there.


    Li Wei was somewhat exasperated¡ª


    After the game against Louisiana State University, Li Wei noticed that the progress bar at the bottom of the training system page was almost full, and indeed, after today''s training, it reached 100%. The system alerted him that he had another chance for a card flip, and he was about to start spending money on it.


    So, should he honor others'' good intentions, pretend he had not seen this group of moles, and leave, first checking out what rewards the card flip would bring?


    "You go," "You," "I''m not familiar with him"...


    There was rustling and chattering, and seeing the moles at it, Li Wei couldn''t bear to watch. He cleared his throat softly, indicating their cover was blown.


    Thud.


    A figure was pushed out¡ª


    Howard.


    Tight End, a big guy with dreadlocks, now stood in front of Li Wei in an awkward posture, like a child bursting to pee but too afraid to tell an adult.


    "OJ." Li Wei showed a smile.


    Howard''s name was one of the few Li Wei could remember because OJ, an abbreviation for Orange-Juice, was the nickname everyone used for him in the team. Nobody really remembered what those two letters originally stood for anymore.


    Howard took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and with a pained expression as if resigned to his fate, bellowed, "Please, please help us with tutoring! Thank you! And sorry!"

 Chapter 110: 109 Academic Problems

    Howard was a little nervous, just a tad.


    Read latest chapters at empire


    With his eyes firmly shut, his entire face scrunched up, he looked the picture of misery, as if uttering such a simple sentence had sapped him of all his primal force.


    Li Wei said, "Good."


    Subconsciously, Howard¡¯s shoulders shrank, weak and helpless.


    He still vividly remembered the fear of being dominated by Li Wei in the "thirty-yard shuttle run." As a tight end, bursts of speed and sheer strength were his forte, so it was to be expected that he would lose the fifty-yard shuttle run to Li Wei, but at thirty yards, Howard thought he could compete with Li Wei.


    However, fifteen battles, fifteen defeats.


    The most outrageous time, Howard was even lapped by Li Wei.


    Lapped!


    Impossible! Howard knelt, and from then on, aside from in matches, he would walk around Li Wei.


    But now, Howard needed Li Wei¡¯s help, or else his final exams for this semester were in jeopardy!


    Howard knew he was like a lamb entering a tiger¡¯s den; after his body was crushed, his brain felt the same, an experience so daunting he shook his head at the mere thought of it; but still, he mustered the courage to stand before Li Wei, so he didn¡¯t hear clearly.


    "What?" Howard sneakily opened a sliver of his eyes to peek, but his facial nerves seemed to twitch, causing his mouth to crack open as well.


    Li Wei struggled to contain his laughter, "Why do you need my help?"


    Howard was taken aback, "I want to play football."


    This line sounded familiar.


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and burst into roaring laughter, "Hahaha."


    Originally, Li Wei wondered why Howard, who hadn¡¯t had any academic troubles in his first two years, suddenly needed extra help this time, but Howard gave a nonsensical yet hilarious answer.


    Howard, puzzled, stared at Li Wei.


    But a smile is a good thing, right?


    Howard quickly turned and waved over, "Come, come, Li Wei has agreed."


    Whoosh¡ªa group of five moles scurried out from the corner.


    Even Li Wei, prepared as he was, was startled by the number, and then he saw Jacobs trying hard to hide himself at the back of the crowd.


    Jacobs hardly dared to raise his head, his usually expressionless face betraying a hint of awkwardness and embarrassment.


    Looking more closely, including Jacobs, Hertz, and the others, they were all freshmen. What was going on was self-explanatory.


    Howard himself was also puzzled: hadn¡¯t he explained clearly?


    Allen held his forehead.


    But it was Foster, with his jersey number ten, who was more composed and calm, "Of course we know that. But your coursework is so light, aside from your intelligence, you must have some techniques, we just wanted to ask you about study techniques, that¡¯s all."


    "My economics class requires me to read ten papers and then write a short paper. God, I really don¡¯t have time to read ten papers right now."


    So that was it.


    Li Wei himself let out a long sigh, "Of course, no problem. There are indeed techniques to reading papers, just grasp a few key points and you can speed-read a paper in five to ten minutes. It might not help you understand, but at least you¡¯ll get the core of what the paper is discussing."


    Foster nodded slightly, "That¡¯s exactly what we need."


    Allen wiped the nonexistent sweat from his forehead, "Thank God. Li Wei, we really need a brain urgently."


    Li Wei could not help but laugh, "What about the one on top of your neck?"


    Allen looked up, "Oh, this? Not much use." His candid expression set off a round of roaring laughter from the others, "I got into college because of my football skills, otherwise, just relying on my brain? No, I don¡¯t trust it at all."


    Haha.


    Laughter thundered around.


    Allen looked at Li Wei again, "We need some guidance, some techniques, you know, so we can get over the nightmare of finals quick, and have more time to train. Roar! Roar! Roar!"


    Li Wei thought seriously, "Well, that¡¯s true, I do need some training partners."


    Allen: Uh, buddy, you seem to have a little misunderstanding, what I meant wasn¡¯t to train with you, wait, should I clarify this misunderstanding?


    However, Li Wei was no longer paying attention to Allen.


    Allen: Hey, brother.


    Li Wei scanned the surroundings, it seemed they needed to spend some time at the library today.


    So, Li Wei quickly got things sorted, they needed to return to their dorms first, bring their study materials, jackets, and any snacks they might need, then meet up at the library entrance after dinner.


    Allen: Hey, brother.


    But seeing the others had already scattered, Allen also hurried to make his escape, he didn¡¯t want to be stuck with Li Wei and dragged off to the gym to lift weights, now did he?


    Finally, the pandemonium surrounding Li Wei dispersed, and the world fell silent once again.


    Today, there probably wouldn¡¯t be time for a bath and incense burning. Summing the training system in his mind, Li Wei couldn¡¯t wait to use the card-drawing opportunity he had just obtained¡ª


    Recovery Effect Doubling Card, five times.


    There it was, the third type of card!

 Chapter 111: 110 conversation opportunities

    Everyone knew that the biggest obstacle in competitive sports was injuries, yet injuries couldn¡¯t wait to be dealt with until they occurred. Regular maintenance and prevention were necessary.


    The most direct example was that after each game, players needed to engage in restorative training and treatments, which included but were not limited to cycling to relax muscles, ice baths, massage therapy, and more. Just like muscles needed to be warmed up before a game, they also required a similar process to cool down afterward to prevent inflammation and potential problems.


    It¡¯s no exaggeration to say that post-game recovery was as important as pre-game warm-ups.


    This Recovery Effect Doubling Card played such a role.


    Initially, Li Wei had thought it was meant for recovery after sustaining an injury, but a careful reading of the instructions revealed that it was used to enhance the effects of recovery training after each training session or game.


    It could simply be understood as a card that amplified injury prevention.


    A small surprise!


    Although he hadn¡¯t drawn a player template card, which was slightly disappointing, Li Wei was actually more satisfied with this Recovery Effect Doubling Card.


    Firstly, it resolved a long-standing doubt of Li Wei¡ª


    The third card slot did indeed introduce cards with new functions.


    Secondly, this card was exactly what Li Wei needed most urgently now, and its importance was no less than that of a card that reduced injury risk.


    With the season nearing its end, both body and mind were facing severe challenges, and for Li Wei, who was stepping onto the Football field for the first time, the intensity, tension, strain, and pressure were beyond his imagination. Neither mixed martial arts nor cross-country running had ever brought on such conditions.


    What physical stamina truly meant was becoming gradually clearer.


    Especially after the last game against Louisiana State, the feeling of over-exertion and fatigue was something Li Wei was experiencing for the first time. Experience new stories on empire


    No wonder, be it soccer or basketball, injuries were more likely to occur closer to the latter half of the season, and for a contact sport as fierce as Football, this was even more the case.


    It was at such a juncture that Li Wei drew this Recovery Effect Doubling Card, which came not a moment too soon, perfectly addressing Li Wei¡¯s hidden risks.


    Moreover, five times more effective!


    Even without a reference for comparison, by contrasting it with the other two amplification cards, it was clear that this Recovery Effect Doubling Card was likely to be of extraordinary value.


    If, just hypothetically, Li Wei really was preparing to enter the Professional League and start a new life with this sport, then an agent would become very important.


    As mentioned before, the prospects for running backs in the League were generally bleak. If Li Wei wanted to break the shackles and the entrenched interests, his own excellent performance wouldn¡¯t be enough; he needed an outstanding agent.


    An agent who was top-notch and trustworthy.


    Li Wei was in no hurry.


    He believed that as long as he continued to perform well, more and more outstanding agents would approach him; real top-tier players were the ones who held the power of choice.


    And here was one now.


    Li Wei was slightly surprised that the agent was of Asian descent.


    In the entire realm of football, from the field to off-field, it was rare to see an Asian face; let alone a player, this was the first time he had seen an agent.


    Li Wei carefully read the business card, showed a polite smile, and then slipped the card into his pocket, "Thank you, I will consider it."


    After that, Li Wei continued walking and didn¡¯t stop because the person was an Asian, showing no extra special interest.


    "No problem, Li Wei, feel free to call me anytime, 24/7."


    The gray-haired gentleman did not follow him but just stood there and called out to Li Wei.


    Then... there was no follow-up.


    Li Wei was very surprised; despite reminding himself not to fall easily for tricks, he still stopped in his tracks, then saw the gray-haired gentleman standing still, smiling at Li Wei, waving casually as if he had anticipated Li Wei would stop and turn around.


    Seeing that smile, Li Wei chuckled, stood still for a moment, and eventually couldn¡¯t resist, "So, was that just a provocation tactic?"


    The gray-haired gentleman spread his hands, "Old trick, but effective."


    That was an admission.


    With no shyness or evasion, the gray-haired gentleman stood there, meeting Li Wei¡¯s gaze, "At least, now we have a chance to talk, right?"

 Chapter 112 111 Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage

    The breeze was gentle, and the sunlight warm.


    The gray-haired gentleman stood there calmly and composedly, unflustered and dignified, unlike any agent Li Wei had encountered before.


    Curiosity arose naturally, and Li Wei couldn''t help but ask, "What if I had just kept on walking without turning back?"


    The gray-haired gentleman replied, "You would have called me."


    Li Wei didn''t believe him, "And what if I hadn''t called you either?"


    The gray-haired gentleman said, "I would still be here at the same time, same place next week, waiting for you."


    Without waiting for Li Wei to speak, the gray-haired gentleman continued to explain, "I would repeat today''s actions, and if you still didn''t respond, the week after next, at the same time and place, I would be here on time."


    A smile had already crept onto Li Wei''s lips.


    The gray-haired gentleman knew Li Wei had understood, "Zhuge Kongming was worth the Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage, and so are you."


    Li Wei thought this gentleman was indeed interesting, "If I am Zhuge Kongming, then you are..."


    The gray-haired gentleman waved his hands dismissively, "No, no, no, who I am is not important. What matters is that I know your worth and believe that you deserve the best treatment."


    Li Wei silently observed the gray-haired gentleman, exploring the sincerity behind his words and expressions, then spread his hands, "Well, I admit, I am fooled... Jesus Christ..."


    Without any warning, Li Wei sighed.


    The gray-haired gentleman asked, "What''s the matter?"


    Li Wei waved his hand, "Nothing, just remembered a cliche? line, ''Woman, you caught my attention,'' goosebumps all over, no, no! Stop the association there."


    The gray-haired gentleman paused, a beat too slow before finally understanding Li Wei''s meaning, a smile crawled up to his lips, "Has anyone ever complimented your sense of humor?"


    Li Wei shrugged slightly, his face lazy, appearing harmless, a far cry from the dominative presence on the Football field, "Do scouts need to check a box for humor when they are scouting players?"


    The gray-haired gentleman realized and chuckled softly, not probing further and switching the topic, "I believe, I''m not the first agent to have approached you, nor will I be the last."


    "Also, I believe, you should know the numerical disadvantage Asians face in Football, but you should also know that this disadvantage can become an advantage."


    "Before me, agents more eloquent than me, with shinier resumes, and with greater advantages might have already drawn you a magnificent blueprint, but I have my judgments, I have my advantages, I just need a chance, a fair dialogue with you."


    Li Wei slightly lifted his chin, "So, your last name?"


    "Indeed, they all hope to replicate the success of the woman entering the NBA, but Football and basketball are entirely different ball games."


    "In basketball, there are only five people on the court; no matter how well or poorly you play, the spotlight is always on you. The promotional effect for the woman was naturally good; but in Football, a team has over fifty people, and even if you excel, it''s hard to ensure the spotlight is always focused on you."


    "So, if they are hoping to use you to attract the Hua Xia Market, I believe they will soon grow impatient because it''s not that simple."


    "You need time to grow, and the Hua Xia Market also needs time to be nurtured. Things can''t be accomplished overnight."


    "We need to stay patient and build it up slowly."


    Li Wei didn''t rush to express his opinion, nor did he interrupt, just patiently listening quietly.


    Then, at just the right moment, Li Wei spoke, "What about you?"


    The gentleman with gray hair exuded a confident demeanor, "In my eyes, you are first and foremost a running back. I see the value of a running back in you, and only secondary do I see a Hua Xia player."


    "We all know that the treatment of running backs in the League is indeed hitting a wall. I won''t paint a rosy picture and tell you that we can break through this barrier, because that''s too unrealistic."


    "But if you ask me who has the potential to break through that barrier, I can give you the answer now."


    The gentleman with gray hair stayed silent, quietly looking at Li Wei¡ª


    The answer was self-evident.


    Li Wei smiled, fully understanding.


    The gentleman with gray hair continued, "In the world of competitive sports, the market is important, but ability is even more so."


    "If you make it to the NFL, but end up sitting on the bench, or only sporadically getting to play, believe me, the Asian Market won''t go all out for you either."


    "So, before we discuss other factors, you are firstly a running back, a good running back and you will continue to grow to become a running back that others can''t easily reach. When you have sufficient strength, the labels on you can be fully utilized, transforming into your power to speak."


    "When that time comes, I will be both your support and your partner, and together we will break the barriers that stand before running backs."


    He spoke at length, but his thoughts were clear.


    There were no impassioned speeches or boiling blood, yet through his steady conversations, one could feel his resilience and confidence.


    This agent indeed had a way with words, well-prepared for today.


    Li Wei met the gaze of the gentleman with gray hair and boldly inquired, "So, where does your confidence come from?"

 Chapter 113 112 Invisible Tycoon

    Donald Yee looked at Li Wei in front of him, admiration evident in his eyes.


    Even when faced with enticing but deceptive enticements, Li Wei had always remained calm. That was one aspect.


    Moreover, throughout the entire conversation, the two had been subtly vying for control. He thought he had dominated the situation, but Li Wei, seemingly passive, had not been drawn into his pace and continued to act according to his own rhythm. That was the second aspect.


    In just a short meeting, he had already left a deep impression.


    Donald Yee further confirmed his assessment of Li Wei.


    However, the more so it was, the more it necessitated calm and patience; otherwise, a slight oversight could lead to a total loss.


    Faced with Li Wei''s question, Donald Yee instead settled down and revealed a smile.


    "My confidence does not come from me, but from you," he said.


    "I''ve watched all your match recordings, including the spring training camp games and the intra-squad matches, more than once."


    "I can see your naivety, your growth, your wisdom; clearly, for you, football is not just about physical confrontation, right?"


    Li Wei did not answer, but curiously gazed into the eyes of the gentleman in front of him, waiting for an answer.


    "Chess match."


    Donald Yee provided an answer, causing a smile to surface in Li Wei''s eyes.


    "Football requires strategizing, needs bargaining, needs patience. Confrontation is the foundation of everything, but what truly influences the outcome is the intellect of the brain."


    "Just like a chess match, and just like a battlefield."


    "Now, you''ve only been exposed to football for six months, and you have absorbed knowledge and transformed like a sponge. What about in another six months?"


    "I look forward to it."


    Undoubtedly, the gray-haired gentleman in front of him was sincere, and at the same time, cunning¡ª


    Li Wei guessed that this meeting today must have been meticulously orchestrated by him, with every aspect simulated in his mind to ensure perfection.


    In other words, the effect in front of him was all planned out.


    If this were true, one must admire the other party''s thorough and meticulous preparation, right?


    All of a sudden, without any warning, an idea popped into Li Wei''s mind, and he blurted it out, disrupting both his and his opponent''s plans.


    "So, do you suggest I stay with Crimson Tide Storm for another year, or should I enter the profession through the draft?"


    Even Li Wei himself had not seriously considered this issue, but now he had thrown it out.


    But Donald Yee calmed himself down, "Is that the standard pronunciation of my surname? Can you teach me?"


    "Yu."


    "You."


    "Old Yu."


    "Old woman? Wait, why is there an extra syllable in front?"


    "Goodbye, Old Yu."


    Li Wei didn''t stop his pace; he moved further and further away, continuously retreating, then just like that, disappeared at the dormitory entrance, leaving Donald Yee standing alone.


    He had thought he was in full control, perfectly strategizing, and as Li Wei stopped, everything was going according to his plan, but in the end, Li Wei had upset the chessboard.


    Yet he wasn''t disheartened, rather, he became even more exhilarated¡ª


    That kid was smarter than he had imagined; things were getting more interesting.


    And Li Wei?


    After turning a corner and ensuring he was out of sight, Li Wei pulled out his phone and turned to a search engine.


    Forgive Li Wei, for his knowledge of football was indeed minimal; even now-famous stars didn''t seem special to him, let alone agents hidden behind the players.


    Li Wei thought, a Chinese agent in the football field was either unknown or hugely famous.


    However, the search results were somewhat unexpected.


    Donald Yee, indeed, was a professional football agent, and he had registered his own agency in 1999, but he wasn''t merely a nobody, nor was he a well-known figure in the industry, creating a somewhat middling impression, which didn''t match what Li Wei had in mind.


    What was going on?


    He successfully found the homepage of Donald Yee''s agency¡ª


    Clean, simple, modest.


    Compared to those agencies that seem to stuff the homepage with their star clients, this plain website was excessively tidy.


    So, what other clients did Donald Yee have?


    Finding the button on the webpage, he clicked on clients, and besides football, there were also golf and baseball; clicking on football, he could finally see the list of clients of this agency¡ª


    Kevin Anderson, the tennis player Kevin Anderson he had heard of, but he hadn''t expected there to be another with the same name in football.


    Josh Boyce, likewise, he hadn''t heard of, and the face was completely unfamiliar.


    Tom Brady, wait, this name seemed familiar.

 Chapter 114 113 Make money quietly

    Donald Yee, aged forty-six this year, is a professional sports agent.


    In 1998, he was just a minor legal adviser at a sports agency, handling paperwork for professional players while trying to find a breakthrough in his career.


    At that time, a college scout recommended Tom Brady, the star quarterback of the Michigan Wolverines who had just become a senior, opening a window of opportunity for the legal consultant.


    But Donald Yee did not rush. He watched every one of Brady''s games, including the Orange Bowl that year, where the Michigan Wolverines came from fourteen points behind to overturn the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm.


    Although Brady performed well with the Michigan Wolverines that year and was dubbed the "Comeback Kid" by the media for repeatedly leading his team in dramatic comebacks, his slender build and average performance in training camps raised concerns about his ability to withstand the physical challenges of the Professional League, leading to a pessimistic draft outlook.


    Over time, various agents had approached Brady, but ultimately he chose Donald Yee.


    The following year at the draft, Brady was indeed not highly regarded and was only selected in the sixth round, the 199th pick, by the New England Patriots.


    However, fifteen years later, Brady led the New England Patriots to seven Super Bowl appearances and won four championships.


    All this proved Donald Yee''s keen insight and decision-making at the time.


    Undoubtedly, Brady is currently a top superstar at the pinnacle of the NFL.


    But!


    Donald Yee has always maintained a low profile, silently making a fortune without much publicity.


    In 2007, as an agent on behalf of Brady, Donald Yee announced the addition of a new member to their family, a boy.


    In the midst of the fervent public discussion, many in the football industry, including professionals specializing in studying agents, expressed their confusion:


    Donald Yee, who is he?


    Imagine, in the technologically advanced year of 2016, in an era where social networks are universally prevalent, Li Wei couldn''t find a single photo of Donald Yee with Tom Brady.


    Is that possible?


    There are two possibilities.


    First, Li Wei might have encountered a fraudster, someone using Donald Yee''s name to deceive others. Find adventures on empire


    Second, it might be possible that someone unintentionally captured a photo of Donald Yee with Brady, but no one could recognize Donald, with all the focus on Brady. Without the correct keywords, finding such a photo would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.


    The age of "the fragrance of wine is not afraid of the depths of the alley" has passed; Li Wei is now used to frequently seeing agents'' names appear in various sports news:


    Jeff Schwartz, Jorge Mendes, Jonathan Barnett, Scott Boras, Rich Paul, among others.


    Hunter casually pretended nothing had happened and waved his hands dismissively, "No need, no need. The Crimson Tide Storm are the pride of the University of Alabama now; wherever you go, there are whistles and cheers."


    "When you guys head to the library, people will naturally offer you their spots."


    "Even if there aren''t any, you can always go to the study rooms specially prepared by the school. Those are there to ensure players have a place to study."


    Li Wei, "OK. Happy studying."


    Hunter, "Happy studying."


    The two high-fived and then went their separate ways.


    While the successful Crimson Tide Storm struggled with academics on one side,


    Lamar Jackson was on the verge of exploding on the other.


    "Calm down, Lamar, you just fell asleep, it was just a nightmare, stay calm, don''t panic, it was all just a nightmare."


    The bustling crowd around him was trying to bring Jackson back to his senses.


    Jackson wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, only then realizing he had actually dozed off while reading in the library. So, what had happened?


    "Lamar, it was all just a nightmare, you''re awake now, relax, the nightmare won''t become reality."


    "So, what did you dream about just now? Why do you look like you''ve just seen Cthulhu and your sanity hit rock bottom?"


    Talking about the elephant in the room.


    The image of Li Wei instantly re-emerged in Jackson''s mind¡ª


    Damn!


    The game "Alabama Crimson Tide Storm vs Louisiana State University Tigers" had been over for three full days, yet Li Wei continued to haunt him.


    Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei...


    The endless, relentless Li Wei.


    Even though he was Lamar Jackson, almost everyone he met was talking about Li Wei; the reporters, the coaches, and his teammates were sick of him, and now he couldn''t even escape in his sleep?


    "Lamar, don''t tell me you dreamt about Li Wei?"


    Jackson: Damn.

 Chapter 115 114 lingering spirit

    "Lamar, you didn''t dream of Li Wei, did you?"


    "Ha ha ha, haha..."


    It was all in jest, of course, just a lighthearted taunt to ease the tension because Jackson had startled everyone by leaping up from sleep in an outburst, scaring all the students studying in the library. They needed a change of atmosphere, so someone cracked a joke.


    The tall boy who spoke wore a satisfied grin, thoroughly pleased with his own wit, his face practically begging:


    Come on, praise me; come on, praise me.


    But when he looked up, he saw Jackson''s furious gaze akin to a wrathful King Kong, the murderous aura in his eyes seemingly leaping out at him.


    The laughter was snuffed out immediately.


    Watching Jackson charge toward him with anger, one moment standing yards away and in the next face-to-face, eye-to-eye.


    Belch.


    So frightened was the boy that he didn''t even have time to tremble; instead, he let out a burp and froze, unable to move.


    Jackson was like a lion fixated on its prey.


    "No one is allowed to mention that name again. No one!"


    He squeezed out every word through clenched teeth.


    Then, with a spin, Jackson stormed out like a tornado.


    From outside the library, a roar could be heard.


    "Ah! Aahh!"


    The entire space seemed to shake, individuals within sight hunched their shoulders and exchanged glances, yet no one dared to speak.


    Even without Jackson''s warning, one could feel the pressure throughout the campus of the University of Louisville¡ª


    The University of Louisville wasn''t considered a traditional powerhouse but wasn''t too bad either, having topped their division eight times in history, yet they had never won a league championship or even made it to the national championship game, nor had they ever produced a Heisman Trophy winner.


    A team typically strong in interdivision games but weak in interleague play.


    That was until this year when things started to change. Under the leadership of sophomore quarterback Lamar Jackson, they were basking in unprecedented attention.


    Not only were they advancing victoriously, breaking NCAA records left and right; Jackson was also leading the odds for the Heisman Trophy, with a very good chance of becoming the team''s first player to win the NCAA''s top honor.


    Despite a sobering loss to the Clemson Tigers in a direct confrontation, they quickly regained their footing and returned to the path of victory.


    At first, Jackson tried to deflect the topic, but in the end, the conversation always circled back to Li Wei, and eventually, Jackson lost his cool.


    "I will defeat him."


    Jackson made his declaration.


    The reporters, like sharks smelling blood, swarmed him and asked, "Do you mean the nationwide championship game, or the Heisman Trophy selection?"


    During the regular season, Alabama and Louisville had no chance to meet and were unlikely to encounter each other in the bowl games; the only possibility remained the nationwide championship game. Including their two teams along with Clemson, these were likely the main contenders for this season''s nationwide championship.


    Jackson, "Both."


    The reporters got excited all at once, "What?"


    Jackson answered almost with a roar, "We will have the last laugh in both the nationwide championship and the Heisman Trophy. Believe me, we are the true champions."


    Finally, after dropping several bombshells, Jackson managed to extricate himself.


    Later, eager to stir the pot, reporters conveyed Jackson''s words to Li Wei, hoping for a response.


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    "Oh."


    The reporters doubted their hearing, but they had not misheard; Li Wei simply nodded, indicating that he understood.


    Waiting for the reporters to follow up, Li Wei explained, "What we need to consider now isn''t the nationwide championship or the bowl games, but our next opponent, Mississippi State University."


    "As for the nationwide championship, we can think about that when our opponents are determined and the game approaches. We need to prepare for each game with our feet firmly on the ground. After all, the regular season has three more weeks, and anything can happen. The situation could be completely overturned, and no team can afford to relax and bask in the sun."


    This was a traditional virtue from the ancient East: humility.


    In fact, the underlying reason was that Saban had called an internal team meeting to sound the alarm¡ª


    With numerous strong teams in the NCAA, a single game could disrupt the rankings, bowl matchups, and qualifying for the nationwide championship, among others.


    Even with Crimson Tide Storm''s nine-game winning streak, complacency was forbidden, otherwise, last season''s Clemson served as a cautionary tale.


    When Li Wei''s words reached Jackson''s ears through the reporters, they took on an entirely different meaning.


    "Li Wei doesn''t take Lamar Jackson seriously. Let''s see if the Louisville Cardinals make it to the nationwide championship game."


    No further words were needed; Jackson was already seething:


    Argh! Aargh!

 Chapter 116 The difference between heaven and earth

    ```No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Fuming with anger, Jackson stormed out of the library. Standing at the door, he took several deep breaths of fresh air, but still couldn''t calm down.


    Ah!


    In the end, he couldn''t hold it in and let out a long howl to the sky.


    Ahhh!


    After a few roars, clenching his fists and exerting all his strength, the murky and scorching feelings accumulated in his chest were finally vented, allowing him to catch his breath a little.


    But it still wasn''t enough¡ª


    Ah!


    He shouted again, and all the birds on the tree branches were startled away. The students who were coming in and out of the building also consciously made a detour, leaving some space and looking at the school''s football team''s most shining star quarterback, turned beast, with faces full of fear and confusion. Was he roaring at the sun?


    Unconsciously, an empty zone had formed around Jackson, but at that moment, he truly had no mind to care about those stares.


    He wanted to be alone with his thoughts.


    He simply sat down on the steps, with his head hanging low, Jackson began to think seriously: How had things developed to this point?


    Running back. Running back? Running back!


    Jackson still couldn''t believe it, "Ha, running back?"


    Actually, it wasn''t fair to blame Jackson for being arrogant because the reality was just like that.


    Looking at the salaries of the thirty-two NFL teams in 2023, here, we''re not discussing the top-tier superstars because once they enter the real elite ranks, their salary structures cannot be viewed with ordinary standards; it is very hard to accurately evaluate the market value of different positions in a football team.


    Here, looking at the average salary of all players, one can assess the league''s overall valuation of offense, defense, and different positions.


    The highest average salary among all positions... is not the quarterback, but the offensive left tackle, who is the gatekeeper for the quarterback''s blind side.


    Perhaps when it comes to top-tier superstars and highest salaries, quarterbacks definitely take the lead, but in terms of average salary, offensive left tackles are the most expensive position, with an average annual salary of eight hundred nineteen thousand US dollars.


    Secondly, comes the quarterback, with an average annual salary of six hundred eleven thousand US dollars.


    At the bottom is undoubtedly the Special Duty Group''s holder, which is the player in the Special Duty Group specifically responsible for setting up the ball and waiting for the kicker to kick the ball.


    As for the Crimson Tide Storm, quarterback Hertz is just a high-schooler who hasn''t even grown all his hair yet. They rely completely on defense to win games. Their so-called offensive group only scores on the premise that the defense has already subdued the opponent.


    It''s no different in the game against the Louisville State Tigers; if it weren''t for the Crimson Tide Storm defensive group''s first-half shutout giving the struggling offense a chance, the game would have already been a mess. It wouldn''t have been a running back''s place to turn the tides.


    In Jackson''s view, even if the Louisville Cardinals went head-to-head with the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm, the spotlight should still be on him facing that defensive group. It should never fall on an insignificant running back.


    However!


    The media just wouldn''t leave him alone¡ª


    Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei, endlessly.


    Now, with the Louisville Cardinals having lost and the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm having won, as one rises and the other falls, Li Wei''s prospects are being viewed more favorably. In the Heisman Trophy odds, he''s surpassed Watson to move up to second and closed the gap with Jackson. The three of them aren''t very far apart.


    The pressure has suddenly mounted.


    Whether Jackson likes it or not, the hot topic of NCAA discussions is now "Jackson VS Watson VS Li Wei," and it will continue to be so.


    "Li Wei doesn''t see Lamar Jackson as a threat. Let''s talk when the Louisville Cardinals make it into the nationwide championship."


    Thinking back on this statement, Jackson felt his anger flare:


    He never saw Li Wei as a threat, okay? He was the one who said it first, when did it become Li Wei''s turn to show off?


    The anger blazed to its peak, but Jackson managed to grasp a thread of rationality.


    Fine, since they love spectating the drama, he''ll just have to prove them all wrong, wouldn''t he? If they beat the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm in the nationwide championship, all the chatter will have to shut up, right?


    Initially, Jackson had been looking forward to defeating Watson in the nationwide championship, not just for revenge over the regular season''s defeat, but also to prove that he was the most talented running back of the year. But now, with Li Wei officially surpassing Watson, he became Jackson''s ultimate target to beat in the nationwide championship.


    When the result of the game comes out, that guy''s face will definitely be a sight to see. He will thoroughly enjoy that moment, imprinting that guy''s expression in his mind. Then he''ll see if that guy can still talk tough; he''ll stuff those trashy words right back into his mouth.


    Just picturing the scene made Jackson burst into laughter.


    Perfect timing. The Louisville Cardinals'' next game was against their historic rivals, the Kentucky Wildcats.


    You could have chosen heaven but you didn''t, and now there''s no door to hell, yet here you come.


    Sorry, Kentucky Wildcats, he just happens to have a fury he can''t vent, so he''ll warm up with you first, giving a crushing blow, a thrashing, and then grinding you down.


    ```

 Chapter 117 116 Sideline Scenery

    "Crimson Tide, roar!"


    "Crimson Tide, roar!"


    Another week, a new event. Crimson Tide Storm were hosting Mississippi State University at home. After three tough battles in a row, they finally had a chance to catch their breath, as their opponents this week were not ranked in the NCAA and were considered a weaker team.


    But never underestimate the opponent. Louisville Cardinals'' shocking loss last week was a lesson learned. There was no need for Saban to overemphasize it; the captains of the Crimson Tide Storm had already made sure to remind everyone not to get cocky or underestimate the enemy.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Bryant-Denny Stadium was packed, a surge of red as far as the eye could see.


    The noise of the crowd was deafening.


    With the host''s buildup and the growing excitement, the stadium''s atmosphere soared, igniting the crowd, and then Li Wei was ready to take the field with his teammates¡ª


    At the entrance of the players'' tunnel, an inflatable archway was set up, with cheerleaders on both sides welcoming Allen-led Crimson Tide Storm to the field amidst the support of the team mascot.


    This was a special treatment for the home team, a specific part of every home game, which made every game day feel like a joyous festival.


    "Li Wei."


    Clark turned and called out, but seeing Li Wei''s questioning look made him somewhat nervous. Li Wei gave him a perplexed look, which made Clark even more nervous, stuttering without being able to get words out.


    Jacobs, unable to watch, said, "They''re calling you from the front."


    Jacobs nodded his chin forward, and Li Wei saw Humphrey waving his hands and shouting, "Rookie, rookie, come here."


    The season was almost over, and Li Wei''s nickname in the Crimson Tide Storm was still "rookie." There was no helping it; after all, he was a mid-season rookie.


    Li Wei nodded at Humphrey and gave Clark a puzzled look, "Master, you okay?"


    Clark nodded repeatedly but couldn''t speak.


    Jacobs had an exasperated look on his face, "He''s got the wind knocked out of him."


    Clark nodded vigorously.


    Li Wei tilted his head, "Master, you''re acting a bit strange." But he didn''t think much of it and walked forward as Humphrey wrapped an arm around him.


    Watching Li Wei walk away, Clark finally began to breathe, "Thanks, you saved me there. Otherwise, I would''ve blown my cover."


    Jacobs rolled his eyes: Are you sure?


    Meanwhile, Li Wei followed Humphrey forward, thinking there was some issue, but Humphrey was just the messenger. The real person looking for him was Allen.


    "He''s here, he''s there, he''s everywhere, he is the Edgerunner, Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei!"


    Massive, overwhelming.


    Along with high songs and clapping, and when shouting Li Wei''s name, they even jumped and stomped three times in a row, gathering the energy of a hundred thousand people into a storm that made Bryant Denny Stadium shiver.


    Whoosh.


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    In his field of vision, waves of the Crimson Tide Storm moved like wind-ruffled wheat, a giant white wave sweeping across, and the white jerseys of the away team spelled out a line of words in the boundless red encircling the entire stadium.


    "Happy. Birthday. Li. Wei."


    Li Wei was stunned, caught unawares, and his eyes filled with warmth. He quickly looked up at the sky, trying to control himself, but the sound waves still lingered in his ears.


    Today, November 12, just happened to be the day after Li Wei''s birthday.


    Normally, fans would always remember the birthdays of their favorite players and celebrate for them. In this small town, the Crimson Tide Storm players were like the children of the entire town''s residents, particularly cherished.


    But usually, such grandiose celebration would not occur without some sort of catalyst.


    First, the Crimson Tide Storm won a hard-fought battle last week, with Li Wei once again playing a key role.


    Second, today was a home game.


    Third, this was Li Wei''s twenty-first birthday. In the United States, it''s rare to celebrate turning eighteen or twenty; it''s the twenty-first birthday that is more often celebrated, symbolizing the coming of age since sixteen allows you to get a driver''s license and twenty-one allows you to drink.


    All these factors collided to create the scene before him.


    Li Wei was caught completely off guard.


    Li Wei had no expectation of this, as his original parents traditionally celebrated his birthday according to the lunar calendar, which wasn''t particularly special at twenty-one in Hua Xia culture. So they had already wished him happy birthday over the phone two weeks ago.


    Naturally, Li Wei hadn''t connected anything to his birthday and was utterly in the dark. The rest of the Crimson Tide Storm players must have all come together to help the townspeople prepare this gift.


    At the start of the season, everyone was worried about how challenging the Crimson Tide Storm''s defense of their title would be without Derrick Henry; but now, they had found the answer. Even without Derrick Henry, a young man named Li Wei emerged to dominate the game.


    The Crimson Tide Storm was still that terrifying, daunting force!


    The entire stadium, roaring, the overwhelming crash of the rolling waves surrounded Li Wei.


    Standing in the center of the field, he seemed so small, an insignificant figure; but with the whole stadium bowing before him, screaming his name at the top of their lungs, that figure became majestic, towering to the skies.

 Chapter 118 Go south by driving the chariot north

    "He''s here, he''s there, he''s everywhere, he is the Edgerunner, Li Wei Li Wei Li Wei!"


    Bryant Denny Stadium was shaking, the whole world was shaking, and the deafening chants erupted like a volcano, incessantly blasting; one could even clearly feel the boiling heat and fervor of the blood. Being in the midst of it all, one couldn''t help but get swept away by the surging tide of hearts.


    Donald Yee was no exception.


    He knew that Li Wei''s outstanding performance as a running back couldn''t be separated from his teammates'' support; from the snippets of the game sidelines, it was clear that Li Wei had a good relationship with the Defensive group, and today he felt the warmth of the audience''s passion on site.


    It seemed that in just half a year, Li Wei had also won the hearts of this small town.


    Even though Donald Yee had witnessed Tom Brady reach the pinnacle at the Super Bowl stage more than once and had deeply felt the frenzy of North America''s top celebrations, he was still brought to his knees by the fervor and splendor present here and now.


    But as for cheering and shouting, Donald Yee was ultimately not quite used to it, appearing somewhat restrained, and the enthusiastic faces all around him seemed out of place.


    Soon, Donald Yee discovered that he was not alone.


    Diagonally in front, one could spot a small phalanx of about twenty to thirty people, sitting right behind the coaching staff of the Crimson Tide Storm.


    Usually, a small phalanx of twenty to thirty people in a stadium of a hundred thousand wouldn''t be worth mentioning, even if they were sitting right behind the coaching staff; but the key point was, they were all dressed in black jerseys¡ª


    Among the sea of red and white jerseys, the color clash immediately caught the eye.


    "Men in Black 3" had been out for years, and even if it were a performance art, it seemed out of place at Bryant Denny Stadium.


    A closer look revealed that this small phalanx was not wearing suits but jerseys. Could they be fans of another team specifically here to cause trouble?


    Because the home and away jerseys of the Mississippi State Bulldogs are not black either.


    Making trouble at Bryant Denny Stadium, aren''t they worried about their safety?


    That was...


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    Donald finally saw clearly, those were unmistakably the home jerseys of the Jacksonville Jaguars.


    No wonder they weren''t afraid of getting mobbed, clearly NFL team fans didn''t worry about safety in an NCAA stadium; and Jacksonville is not far from Tuscaloosa, 470 miles, about a seven-hour drive, truly a next-door neighbor.


    But why were the fans of the Jacksonville Jaguars here?


    More importantly, they were organized, disciplined, so showy yet so neat, anyone with clear sight could tell they were openly displaying, as if they feared others might not notice, this must be a declaration to the world.


    Involuntarily, Donald recalled a rumor.


    If Li Wei had wanted to, he could have easily padded the stats in this game, reaching over two hundred yards on the ground was not a difficult feat, but Crimson Tide Storm didn''t.


    Li Wei, clocked out.


    In the second half, Jacobs and Clark took over as the main force for the ground pushing, but Crimson Tide Storm still dominated the game, killing any suspense early on.


    "63:3".


    Crimson Tide Storm swept through Mississippi State Bulldogs at home, continuing their season''s Undefeated Golden Body.


    After the game, the exuberant journalists couldn''t wait to interview Li Wei, but found all channels blocked as Saban had issued a no-interview order, starting from this game, Crimson Tide Storm refused any form of interview before and after matches.


    The journalists, dumbfounded.


    Now, how could they continue to watch the drama unfold?


    Nevertheless, there was a journalist who took the opportunity through a gap in the iron railing and shouted a question at Li Wei.


    "Li Wei, Jackson says he will beat you, both in the nationwide championship and for the Heisman Trophy."


    Li Wei flashed a brilliant smile, "Good luck, Meng Meng."


    And then... there was no more...


    The journalists watched as Li Wei walked away, powerless to do anything.


    At the post-game press conference, the journalists confronted Saban with righteous indignation; however, Saban simply didn''t care, stating that the players would not accept any form of interviews, and all interview sessions could only proceed at the official press conferences, where he would respond as a representative.


    The journalists were at a loss.


    Had it been the NFL, this would have been a violation of League rules, as it''s mandatory for players to attend the post-game press conferences, with even specific timing regulations; but here in the NCAA, there are no such rules.


    The journalists had no leverage over Saban, so they had to turn their attention to others, particularly Jackson¡ª


    Why Jackson?


    He was the leading contender for the Heisman Trophy odds, so naturally, the media targeted Jackson first, leaving Watson more often in the background of disputes this season.


    The entire Louisville Cardinals, from top to bottom, united in their hope for a victory to stop their losing streak and return to the championship contention, and not just any victory, but a resounding one, and Jackson needed to prove he could beat the doubts.


    However.


    Louisville Cardinals, lost the game.

 Chapter 119 118 Sudden Changes

    ```


    "41:38".


    Whistle! Whistle-whistle!


    The game was over, and the away team, the Kentucky Wildcats, won a buzzer-beater field goal against their century-old arch-rivals, the Louisville Cardinals, taking home a victory.


    The game was definitely a roller-coaster ride filled with dramatic twists and turns, but in the end, the Louisville Cardinals lost in a last-second defeat for the second week in a row.


    "Ah, ah ah ah!"


    The Kentucky Wildcats players all went crazy, completely crazy, cheering, jumping, roaring, and celebrating their victory without restraint.


    Jackson''s knees gave way, and he knelt down straight away:


    What happened?


    How could they have lost? Not only had they lost two weeks in a row, but also to teams currently unranked in the NCAA?


    However, his eyes were blank, and he couldn''t find an answer. His brain buzzed and buzzed, stretching on and on, with countless question marks nearly overflowing.


    After the game, the stats comparison¡ª


    Kentucky Wildcats quarterback, Stephen Johnson, made 27 passes with 16 completions, 338 passing yards, three touchdown passes, and one interception.


    Louisville quarterback, Lamar Jackson, made 25 passes with 16 completions, 281 passing yards; attempted 25 rushes, rushing for 171 yards, and scored two touchdown passes and two rushing touchdowns, with three interceptions.


    The answer was clear.


    Success and downfall were both Jackson''s.


    Throughout the game, Jackson tried to prove himself with an all-out assault, both passing and rushing, balancing twenty-five passing attempts with twenty-five rushing attempts, but his passing yardage fell far short of the virtually unknown Johnson, the main reason being his long passes were inaccurate.


    Not only reckless but also lacking in passing skills, his errors directly contributed to three interceptions, leading to three turnovers and squandering the team''s every effort.


    But no one could blame Jackson.


    This was the Louisville Cardinals'' way of playing, with all the pressure of victory and defeat squarely on Jackson.


    At the very least, they no longer hold the initiative.


    An abrupt turn of events!


    Just two weeks ago, the Louisville Cardinals were hot favorites to win the title, but now they have completely lost the initiative, and whether they can advance to the nationwide championship relies on others¡ªsuch a stark contrast from heaven to hell can hardly describe Jackson''s feelings at this moment.


    Of course, the season hasn''t ended yet; there are still two weeks of games left, and each victory or defeat can upend the situation. At the very least, the Louisville Cardinals cannot give up hope; they first need to win these two games to qualify for discussing other possibilities.


    Countless gazes are, once again, converging on Jackson.


    Yet.


    Kneeling on the grass, Jackson can''t afford to pay attention to others at this moment¡ªhis mind and sight are filled with Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei. So, what will Li Wei say this time?


    In the post-game interview, when Jackson learned that Li Wei had clenched a fist to cheer for him, he almost spat out a mouthful of blood, gritting his teeth with red eyes.


    Humiliation.


    True humiliation!


    On the one hand, Jackson has been completely wrapped up by the media, his mind preoccupied with Li Wei.


    On the other, thanks to Saban''s decisive actions, the harassment and attention of the media were completely blocked from the doors of Crimson Tide Storm, allowing the players to settle their minds.


    Clearly, Li Wei''s mind doesn''t have any room for Jackson¡ªhe doesn''t care about Jackson or the situation of the Louisville Cardinals. It''s one step at a time, one game after another, with the only focus being the next opponent and giving it his all.


    What Jackson, what Watson, what Heisman Trophy selection¡ªthey all take a back seat.


    Top to bottom, Crimson Tide Storm is united, marching forward with conviction.


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    In week eleven, facing Chattanooga Campus of University of Tennessee, ranked thirteenth in the NCAA, Crimson Tide Storm continued their good form, easily defeating their opponents with a score of "31:3".


    In week twelve, the season finale, which is also the most attentively followed and discussed game in NCAA, not only affects whether Crimson Tide Storm can maintain their Undefeated Golden Body and complete a perfect season, but because of the prominence of the opponent, it effortlessly raises the game''s value to new heights.


    This game is the most historic and the most complicated rivalry game in the Southeastern Conference, with Alabama Crimson Tide Storm hosting Auburn Tigers at home¡ª


    Once again, it''s the Tigers.


    This matchup is the famously known "Iron Bowl."

 Chapter 120 119 is not worth mentioning

    Auburn University and the University of Alabama, both located in the state of Alabama, have garnered the undivided affection of football fans due to the absence of NFL teams in the state. The two traditional powerhouses are undoubtedly the most important presences with the broadest fan base and the most enduring history in the state.


    Naturally, the two teams meet each year, more than once. Initially, their games were held in Birmingham, Alabama, which for a long time at the turn of the 20th century, was a steel city that could rival Pittsburgh. This is the origin of the name "Iron Bowl."


    As of 2016, the two teams have faced each other a total of eighty times, with the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm leading with a record of forty-four wins, thirty-five losses, and one tie.


    And now, the eighty-first Iron Bowl is about to unfold.


    The Iron Bowl is not only steeped in history but also features countless iconic matchups that are worthy of entering the history books, sparking controversies, entanglement, and hatred that have persisted for a long time.


    Aside from history, the recent Iron Bowls have also continued to intensify.


    ¡ª The 2010 Iron Bowl.


    The Crimson Tide Storm once led "24:0" at home, but Cam Newton, Auburn Tigers'' Heisman Trophy recipient, led his team to the greatest comeback in the history of the Southeastern Conference. They won "28:27" at Bryant Denny Stadium, maintaining an undefeated season and claiming the Southeastern Conference championship.


    After the game, Auburn Tigers fans put a Cam Newton jersey on the statue of the legendary Crimson Tide Storm coach Bryant at the entrance of Bryant Denny Stadium, thoroughly infuriating the Crimson Tide Storm fans; subsequently, Crimson Tide Storm fans went to Auburn and poisoned a famous old oak tree in the town.


    Even now, fans on both sides continue to argue endlessly about the other''s controversial actions.


    ¡ª The 2013 Iron Bowl.


    With only one second left in the game, the two teams were tied "28:28." Adam Griffith, a freshman kicker for the Crimson Tide Storm, was ready to attempt a fifty-seven-yard field goal for a game-winning kick.


    Unfortunately, the field goal fell short by just a few yards, nearly grazing past the post.


    At that moment, Chris Davis, a cornerback for Auburn University, cleverly positioned himself in the end zone and caught Griffith''s field-goal attempt just inside the baseline, then launched a counterattack.


    Davis fought through all obstacles and ultimately completed an inconceivable 109-yard return touchdown¡ª


    A game-winning play.


    "34:28".


    Auburn Tigers claimed that year''s Iron Bowl victory.


    The match won the ESPY Award for the Best Game of the following year¡ªa competition that encompasses all sports and games worldwide.


    "I''ll be looking forward to that."


    By the end of the game, Saban indeed got quite a scare¡ªand not a minor one at that¡ª


    Where on earth did that guy''s pre-game confidence come from?


    R-Kelly?


    "I believe I can fly?"


    The 80th Iron Bowl has ended, and the final score settled above "42:6", with the Crimson Tide Storm claiming an easy victory.


    The gap was obvious.


    Since that incredible comeback in 2010, the Auburn Tigers had not again managed a victory at Bryant-Denny Stadium; this match also set the largest score difference in the Iron Bowl since 2012.


    Actually, if it hadn''t been for Saban resting his main players for the series of championship games that followed, starting rotations in the third quarter and having substitutes play in the fourth, the score difference could''ve been even larger, and the Auburn Tigers might''ve faced a shutout.


    The entire game was basically a one-sided crushing, with the Crimson Tide Storm displaying absolute power, tightly suppressing the opponent on both offense and defense, covering their century-old arch-rival in dust and dirt.


    The more arrogant they were before the game, the more deflated they appeared during it.


    From Saban''s movements in the second half, it was clear that he did not deign to humiliate the Auburn Tigers.


    While the Auburn Tigers were hopping around, Saban''s gaze was already fixed on more important games; humiliating the Auburn Tigers held no value.


    This was the real humiliation.


    Auburn Tigers'' quarterback White was nearly invisible the whole game, with 32 passes and only 15 completions, advancing just 98 yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions¡ªtruly pitiful statistics.


    In stark contrast was Li Wei, who strolled through the game as if walking in his own backyard, advancing 187 yards on the run, scoring twice, and clocking off work early.


    The Auburn Tigers simply could not stop Li Wei; not to mention Li Wei, even Jacobs and Clark ran through them as if through empty space.


    Thus.


    After a slicing through defenses like cutting vegetables, the Crimson Tide Storm comfortably won the Iron Bowl, ending the season with a victory, undefeated through twelve games, continuing their position at the top of the NCAA.

 Chapter 121 120 Absolute Rule

    In 2016, the NCAA regular season had ended, but the real highlight was just beginning.


    Unlike the NFL, the NCAA is divided into many leagues, so the playoffs are also divided into two stages:


    The first stage, the championship games within each league.


    The second stage, the nationwide championship.


    The duration of the events was quite extended, with the first stage taking place immediately after the regular season, usually scheduled for the first week of December.


    Then, after a three-week break, which was also the time for college final exams, the second stage wouldn''t commence until after the Christmas holidays.


    Leading off were the league championship games.


    The Southeastern Conference games had all concluded, and the league was divided into two divisions:


    The East and the South.


    Regardless of their individual win-loss records, it always came down to the champions of the East and the South competing for the Southeastern Conference championship.


    That year, the Eastern champion was the University of Florida, with a season record of nine wins and three losses; the Southern champion was the University of Alabama, which had remained undefeated throughout the season.


    The two teams would meet in the Southeastern Conference championship game.


    This was the University of Alabama''s third consecutive year advancing to the Southeastern Conference championship under Saban, and it was also the second undefeated season since 2009. As the top seed in the NCAA, the Crimson Tide Storm was naturally the more favored side before the game.


    But the University of Florida was not to be underestimated.


    This was a team that lacked stars but relied on team strength to win games, and it was entirely dependent on their defense for victories.


    In other words, the performance of the University of Florida was relatively stable throughout the season, with little fluctuation, and their status remained consistent. Although they were not highly ranked in the NCAA, always hovering around the twentieth position, their lack of a high ceiling was compensated for by an excellent floor.


    They absolutely should not be underestimated.


    And that was indeed the case.


    The University of Florida drew inspiration from the fierce game between Louisiana State University and Alabama, focusing tightly on Li Wei with their defensive formation, starting with the ground defense and launching a front-field press.


    It was evident that the University of Florida had seriously studied the game tapes and made detailed pre-game preparations; they were not prepared to play a mere supporting role. Though understated, their goal was still to aim for the league championship.


    However!


    The Crimson Tide Storm was well-prepared.


    Not just Saban, but the entire offensive group had gained experience, and after a whole season of training, everyone had grown to varying degrees. Facing the University of Florida''s targeted defensive strategy once again, their performance this time was much more composed.


    He coughed twice, and the noise immediately quieted down as everyone looked toward the door.


    "Coach Burns!"


    The shouts rose in waves, bringing a smile to Burns''s face.


    "Be mindful of your diet over Christmas at home, I don''t want any of you coming back out of shape, as we won''t have time to adjust slowly. We''ve still got two championships to go after."


    The locker room erupted in noise.


    "Yes, sir!"


    "Yes!"


    "Don''t worry."


    Burns couldn''t help but laugh again, then looked around the crowd.


    "Li Wei, come over here a second."


    Immediately¡ª


    "Haha, Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei!"


    Everyone became boisterous again, buzzing with excitement.


    Li Wei didn''t mind, spreading his arms and embracing the cheer, even nodding slightly like a superstar on the red carpet, enjoying the cheers and applause.


    The locker room was filled with noise.


    As Li Wei left, the others began to roughhouse again.


    Clark was curious, "What does Coach Burns want with Li Wei at this time?"


    Jacobs shook his head, "Not sure, might just be some last-minute instructions on the training plan."


    Clark agreed, "Right, since Li Wei didn''t train systematically before, he probably doesn''t know how to plan his training over the Christmas break."


    Thinking it over, with Christmas approaching and the nationwide stage just ahead, Clark became even more excited, "I wonder who we''ll be facing in the bowl game."


    Meanwhile, Li Wei was also curious about why Burns wanted to see him, vaguely suspecting it might relate to an agreement made before the season started. Was the principal checking on the agreement''s outcomes now?


    Unexpectedly, they didn''t head towards the principal''s office but instead approached the entrance to the head coach''s office. With a reassuring smile towards Li Wei, Burns knocked and without waiting for a response, entered.


    Inside, Saban was sitting behind his desk watching game footage.

 Chapter 122 121 Sincere Heart

    Clean, tidy, with windows shining clear.


    Everything, just like Saban himself presented, was well-organized in the office. Behind the desk was a bookshelf, tightly and densely packed, which from afar seemed to be filled with books, but upon closer inspection, turned out to be game recordings.


    Around the corner and against the wall stood a smaller bookshelf, equally full. Deep blue binders were neatly arranged, labeled on the outside beginning from the year 2015 and going backwards.


    Saban noticed Li Wei''s gaze and glanced over.


    "Those are the strategic manuals from over the years. Not just our own, but also from other NCAA teams and some NFL teams."


    "Football tactical manuals are crucial, NFL teams keep them highly confidential. New season''s tactical manuals are updated every year to prevent tactics from being decoded by rivals after player transfers, but they are only made public five years later. This is just a small part of my collection."


    Wow.


    Li Wei was astonished.


    Saban showed a hint of a smile and gestured to the spot in front of him.


    "Sit."


    Li Wei shifted his gaze and noticed Burns was already sitting beside him; if Burns hadn''t been smiling, the assembly might have seemed a bit too grand.


    Saban said calmly,


    "Don''t worry, you haven''t done anything wrong. We''re not here to train you today."


    It was quite rare, normally Saban never joked around.


    Li Wei took a seat, deliberately let out an exaggerated sigh, "Then I''m relieved."


    Though he didn''t respond with a joke, the relaxed posture lightened the atmosphere.


    Saban, not good at joking, did not continue teasing, "Today, we wanted to talk about your situation, with Coach Burns here as well."


    "We all know, coming to the football team this season was an accident, Coach Burns virtually kidnapped you into joining, against your will..."


    Li Wei dumbfoundedly chuckled, "Coach..."


    Saban waved his hand, "No need to feel embarrassed, that''s the truth; but I don''t regret it. In fact, I want to thank Coach Burns and thank you for helping the team tackle the urgent problems."


    "Initially, we just hoped you could help us transition, but now it seems we''ve struck gold."


    Li Wei hadn''t anticipated this, but he didn''t speculate wildly, slightly straightened his back, and looked at Saban, indicating he was listening attentively. Discover hidden tales at empire


    Appreciation flashed in Saban''s eyes; despite Li Wei''s usual laziness and penchant for jokes, he was never careless when it came to serious matters.


    Strictly speaking, it was not just about not being careless. In Saban''s view, Li Wei was the smartest one in the Crimson Tide Storm. This season, because of Li Wei''s presence, tactical training within the team went much smoother, and even Allen, Foster, and other team captains completely respected Li Wei.


    This was also a key factor in the transformation of Crimson Tide Storm''s competitive demeanor this season.


    Saban signaled for Li Wei to relax, not playing coy, and directly started on the main topic.


    "We know you transitioned into football purely by accident, having had no previous knowledge or understanding of it before," Saban started.


    "But after observing you for the past six months, both Coach Burns and I believe you are very suited to football, that you can reach heights in this sport that others can''t easily achieve."


    "Crimson Tide Storm has always been a center of attention, not just in the NCAA, the Professional League has also been watching you for a while. I believe agents must have already approached you."


    Burns curiously interjected, "There probably haven''t been any teams contacting you yet, right?"


    Li Wei shook his head.


    Saban was not surprised, "Teams aren''t in a rush. The Jacksonville Jaguars release a smoke bomb every week there, thinking they''re smart, trying to deceive everyone; little do they know everyone has already guessed they''re aiming for you."


    Burns burst out laughing, "They just play those little tricks. However, the Jacksonville Jaguars would be a fine choice. Although their results might not be very good, at least they''re willing to value you, and you would get more space to play, and presumably a good salary."


    Before anything was final, Burns was already worrying about the future.


    Saban called out, "Burton."


    Burns immediately realized he was worrying too much and gave Li Wei a reassuring smile.


    Saban continued, "What Coach Burns means is, if you''re willing, you can go professional now."


    In an effort to recover the previous topic, Burns quickly said, "We called you here today to ask about your intentions. Are you planning to continue playing football? Do you have any intentions to go professional?"


    Saban glanced at Burns, "Since we brought you aboard this ship, we can''t do much, but at least we should show some responsibility."


    Burns, feeling somewhat embarrassed, scratched his head and looked at Saban, "Coach, I just think that when you see a good sapling, you shouldn''t easily pass it by."


    Saban flashed a light smile, "The person in question is right here, and you''re still running your mouth."


    Burns turned to Li Wei and chuckling, which made Li Wei unable to hold back, joking, "Coach, I can testify that Coach Burns didn''t kidnap me, at least he didn''t put a knife to my throat."

 Chapter 123 122 Considerate Suggestions

    "Coach, I can testify that Coach Burns didn''t kidnap me, at least he didn''t put a knife to my neck,"


    Li Wei joked there but didn''t expect Burns to look at Saban and start nodding and shaking his head proudly, muttering, "Look, Li Wei has spoken."


    Saban shook his head slightly, showing a hint of helplessness, "You gasp even when called fat."


    Burns silently looked down at his chubby belly.


    Haha, the atmosphere lightened immediately.


    Through their rambling speech, Li Wei could feel the deep concern in the voices of Saban and Burns; they genuinely had Li Wei''s best interests at heart.


    A couple of jokes strayed off-topic, but Saban quickly refocused their attention.


    "Li Wei."


    "If you''re not interested in football, and you''re not planning to turn professional, then you need to plan for your senior year and your future. The world doesn''t only offer a career as a professional player."


    "I''ve looked at your grades, and you could have a promising future in the journalism industry. I know some people in the newspaper and television industries, if needed, I could make a few calls, start with an internship, and then find a job. New York is good; there are more opportunities in the journalism industry there."


    "However,"


    "If you want to continue playing football, we also need to plan ahead."


    "Although you have only been playing football for one year, you are now a junior, and the reality of when to enter the draft is a pressing issue."


    "Actually, if possible, Coach Burns and I would like to keep you for another year; but we don''t want to be so selfish."


    Pausing his words, Burns nodded in agreement and continued seamlessly from Saban''s point, "Objectively speaking, even if you stay in school for another year, the improvement will be very limited. Your talent, your brain, your abilities, everything is already prepared."


    "Of course, if you enter the NFL now, I won''t lie, it would probably be a bit tough, especially in terms of combating strength, you''re not quite there yet; also, such a weakness will become more apparent as the season progresses, and if you''re not careful, the risk of injury will increase."


    "But overall, you are a player who dares to face challenges and can withstand pressure. We have seen your growth and transformation over this past half year, not just in regular training but also in your own personal studies, including offense and defense. Honestly, your understanding of football has now surpassed that of most of your team members."


    "So, after discussing it for a long time, the coach and I think it would be more appropriate for you to enter the professional competition next year, there''s no need to waste your youth."


    It was evident that they sincerely believed Li Wei was a promising player and genuinely hoped he would have a bright and successful future.


    Perhaps, in their hearts, they truly loved the sport of football.


    Saban''s words were not yet over.


    "Today, I wanted you to come over so you can head home during the Christmas break and talk things over with your parents. There''s no need to hurry your decision, just discuss the situation with your family first, then take some time to think it over quietly for yourself," he said.


    "Things are slightly different from our plans, but no worries, there''s still time."


    "Whatever decision you make, what matters most is that it aligns with your own ideas and desires."


    Heart for heart.


    Looking at the two coaches before him, Li Wei felt a warmth in his heart, "Coach, if I turn professional, what about the team?"


    Saban''s smile slightly curled up, "Don''t worry, Jacobs has grown quite a bit. Next year, he will be fit to take over as the main running back."


    Burns added, "The other injured running backs have also returned."


    "This season, because of your presence, Coach Saban and I were considering whether to fight for them to get redshirt status; otherwise, it would waste a year."


    "Next season, they will need to put in more effort. First Derrick, then you, they need to uphold the Crimson Tide Storm''s tradition of excellent running backs; effort is essential." Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire


    Saban nodded in agreement, "Plus, next year we''ll continue to bring in a batch of freshmen. College football won''t stop moving forward; people graduate every year, and new people come in every year. We''ve gotten used to it; that''s our job."


    "Li Wei, remember, whether it''s the NFL or the NCAA, team interests are always greater than individual interests. You shouldn''t sacrifice your own interests for the team. It''s not necessary nor worthwhile.


    If the team wants you to sacrifice your own interests for the group, they should first show enough sincerity and sacrifice enough for you before they have the right to ask you to consider this matter."


    "Otherwise, never trust the promises of the team manager, understand?"


    "So, you need not worry about the team; just focus on thinking about your future. If you need help or have any doubts, feel free to ask me."


    "Alright, we two old guys won''t worry about you anymore. Go ahead and take your holiday break, and remember to give my regards to your parents."

 Chapter 124 123 Christmas holiday

    Ding Dong!


    The door to the Li Family Restaurant swung open, the wind chime clinked, and a hearty greeting followed.


    "Welcome, how many of you are there, do you have a reservation?"


    "Just one, no reservation. How long would the wait be?"


    "Around thirty minutes. If you''re in a hurry, we do offer delivery..."


    Jiang Yin finally took her gaze off the cash register and looked up at the customer. Despite being busy enough to have broken out in a light sweat on her forehead, she maintained a warm smile that instantly left a good impression.


    However, the smile on Jiang Yin''s lips paused for a moment, her eyes filled with incredible disbelief, then quickly replaced with joy and happiness.


    "Xiao Wei, how did you get here so soon? Didn''t you say you''d land at four in the afternoon? Your dad and I were going to pick you up from the airport. How come you''re back by yourself?"


    Standing before her was none other than Li Wei.


    Jiang Yin was clearly caught off guard, seeing her son''s face hours ahead of schedule. She quickly rounded the cash register, and with a briskness that betrayed her excitement, stood before Li Wei, holding his hands and looking him up and down. Her gaze kept returning to Li Wei''s face, and though a thousand words whirled in her chest, they all condensed into a single phrase.


    "You''ve lost weight."


    Li Wei couldn''t help but give a wry smile. Indeed, all Hua Xia parents were the same.


    In the six months with the team, he had actually gained weight, but to his parents'' eyes, he had lost it.


    Li Wei didn''t argue, "The restaurant''s busy now, I''ll get to helping first."


    Jiang Yin held onto her son, "No matter how busy, we''ve always managed, we don''t need an extra hand. Go rest, rest."


    Li Wei felt a bit helpless, "Mom, if we stand here, the customers will think I''m here to collect protection money. I''m not that frail. You handle the cash; I''ll take the orders."


    Li Wei handed his backpack to Jiang Yin and turned towards the bustling restaurant. With a quick scan, he immediately headed to a table that had yet to place their order.


    "When did you get here, you rascal?"


    Li Wei chuckled, "The customers are waiting, and there''s a line outside. We''ve got to keep the turnover rate up, so keep up the hard work, Master Li."


    Li Yi could hear the mischief in his son''s voice and his lips curled up in a smile. Pretending to be stern, he chided, "With your klutziness, you''d better be careful not to break the customers'' arms."


    Li Wei laughed heartily, turned, and went back out to attend to the diners.


    Life is indeed a little strange.


    Not long ago, Li Wei had been caught up in the fervor of the Bryant Denny Stadium, taking part in the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm, where the passionate cheers and shouts lingered in the air, as if the world cowered in tremors before him.


    Today, he attends to guests in the modest Li Family Restaurant, honestly doing his part, no longer Crimson Tide Storm''s number twenty-three, just a waiter with no applause or cheers, only the solid ground of everyday life.


    If anyone thought that the daily grind of a football player was tough and that running around in a restaurant was a piece of cake, they would be mistaken; the hardship and fatigue of waiting tables far exceeded expectations, and a single lunch rush could leave one''s back aching and sore.


    It wasn''t until two in the afternoon that the rush subsided. After seeing off the last table and hanging the "Closed for break" sign, the family of three, along with their sole waiter Jack Perry, finally got to sit down for a lunch break.


    Jack Perry, a twenty-year-old New York University student, had started his part-time job at the Li Family Restaurant only in October and was meeting Li Wei for the first time.


    Previously, Li Wei had greeted Perry briefly, but the restaurant was too busy for a real conversation; now that they were seated, they finally had a chance to talk.


    After a good look at Li Wei, Perry couldn''t resist studying him further, scratching his head with a puzzled expression on his face.


    Li Wei offered a smile and teased, "What''s the matter, don''t I look like my parents?"


    Perry chuckled awkwardly, "No, no, it''s not that. I just thought ... no, it can''t be, probably just my mistake."


    Just then, Jiang Yin joined in, "What are you young folks chatting about?"


    Perry scratched his head, "Nothing really, I just thought your son looks a lot like a football star, the star running back for the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm. Haha, but it must be a mistake."


    Could it be?

 Chapter 125 124 Open and Honest

    Uh, Li Wei blinked in disbelief.


    Unnoticed by Perry, who was flashing a big smile as he approached Jiang Yin, "Running back, it''s a position in football, super cool and incredibly strong. Even though it''s not highly regarded in the League now, I always believe that the running back is the original and most essential soul of football."


    As he spoke, Perry scratched his head, "Oh, you guys probably aren''t interested, sorry."


    Jiang Yin waved his hand dismissively while bringing a bowl of beef soup to the table, "University of Alabama? My son studies there, you can ask him if he knows anyone."


    Perry''s eyes widened as he looked at Li Wei, "You''re also at the University of Alabama?"


    Now, looking closely again, Perry suddenly covered his mouth.


    Li Wei offered an awkward smile, "Nice to meet you, thanks for watching my game."


    Perry was startled, a chill raced from his soles to his scalp followed by a tingling sensation, and his jaw dislocated, "Jesus Christ!"


    Just then, Li Yi also came out, carrying two dishes of stir-fry, "Lunch is just casual, we''ll prepare a big dinner tonight."


    Seeing Perry''s expression, Li Yi was confused, "What did you see, Jack?"


    Just then, Li Wei was thinking about how to discuss football with his parents, now that the opportunity had arisen, might as well be straightforward about it.


    "I play for the school team, there are live broadcasts on TV, Jack must have recognized me," Li Wei said nonchalantly.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Realizing suddenly, Li Yi looked at Perry, "Oh, that''s his extracurricular activity at school, huh, those games are broadcast nationwide?"


    In the spring, Li Wei had switched to football because he didn''t want to worry his parents and wasn''t sure how to explain the situation, so he simply mentioned casually that the coach had noticed him and asked him to join football as an extracurricular activity, and that he would participate outside of study time.


    Li Yi and Jiang Yin didn''t think much of it¡ª


    "Football," they thought it was soccer, so they didn''t inquire further.


    Meanwhile, Perry had a ghostly expression, "Extracurricular activities?" he could hardly believe his own ears, "No, Li Wei is now the most outstanding running back in college football in the United States, number one, understand? Nationwide number one."


    Jiang Yin looked at Li Wei with a proud smile and jokingly said, "So being number one nationwide, got any trophies?"


    Perry: Jaw dislocated, heart stopped.


    "You see the professional players looking glamorous, but don''t realize how hard they train. Don''t think just because you practice mixed martial arts, you understand the hardship involved."


    "Those professional players, each more formidable than the last, each one a genius, each one a monster. Professional matches aren''t something just anyone can participate in; it''s not just about talent, but also about sweating unimaginable amounts."


    "Not to mention injuries."


    "One injury could ruin all your efforts, this path is not that easy."


    "I thought you were going to college to study well and later on become a journalist; instead, you improperly want to become a professional player? Besides, what about mixed martial arts? Are you just giving it up to kick around a soccer ball?"


    "Others work their entire lives and may still not become professional players. You casually practice for six months to a year, someone flatters you a few times, and you really think you''re a genius?"


    Amidst a flurry of rapid and intense words,


    the speech was disjointed, furious and reckless tirade, but the core message could not have been clearer; Li Yi was obviously very, very upset.


    Jiang Yin was stunned, finally understanding what they were discussing.


    Instinctively, Jiang Yin defended her son, "Why are you losing your temper without any reason? Xiao Wei just asked for our opinions, he didn''t say he really wants to go, what are you jumping around for?"


    Li Yi glared fiercely at Jiang Yin, "You always spoil him; whatever he says, you agree. Too much motherly love spoils a child, and that''s exactly how you''ve spoiled him."


    Jiang Yin was not about to give in, "What do you mean I spoil him? Xiao Wei has always been sensible. He knows what he''s doing and never worries us. Even if you don''t like it, at least listen to what your son has to say about it."


    Jiang Yin ignored Li Yi, turned her head to Li Wei, and though anxiety showed in her eyes, she still tried to remain calm and slowed her tone and pace.


    "Xiao Wei, what''s going on? Speak up, your dad and I are listening."


    Instinctively, a reflexive desire to rebel and respond defiantly arose, making it hard to sit down calmly for a proper talk; but Li Wei still managed to control himself.


    After experiencing unbelievable things like time travel and systems, he had become more rational and more objective, subtly shifting his mindset toward matters.


    Although Li Yi was hot-tempered with harsh words, Li Wei could still hear the concern behind that taunting, sincerely caring for his child''s future.


    For Li Yi and Jiang Yin, grounding oneself in making a living seemed the proper path, while being a professional player in competitive sports seemed impractical and ephemeral.


    They were worried for Li Wei.


    This, in turn, calmed Li Wei down and cleared his thoughts.

 Chapter 126 125 Crossroads

    Actually, as rough as it may sound, Li Yi was right. No matter the emotions or attitude, his words were indeed factual; that''s the simple truth.


    Li Wei himself came from a sports background; how could he possibly not understand this?


    The path of professional sports might look glamorous, but it''s actually fraught with thorns and twists, and only one in a million can emerge as a superstar; moreover, he had hurriedly switched from one sport to another, preparing to enter the professional realm and take on the challenge in less than a year.


    It''s like a fantasy.


    But everything became possible with the existence of the Football Training System.


    Li Wei wasn''t in a hurry or panicked; instead, he calmly faced Li Yi''s gaze, using his eyes and posture to show his conviction, patiently waiting for the tense atmosphere to ease slightly, ensuring that it wasn''t anger being exchanged, and that emotions weren''t dominating the conversation.


    Then, he spoke again.


    "I know how ridiculous it seems."


    "Actually, at first, I was indeed just helping the team''s coach out, making occasional appearances as a substitute. None of us expected such a development."


    "I grew to love this sport, truly love it."


    "I found football very interesting. Outside of classwork and routine training, I''d take the initiative to train, to learn strategies, to watch game recordings on my own; the more I understood, the more interesting it became, like a brand new hobby."


    "And, I love playing in the games, feeling especially excited and enjoying every match. Standing on the field, I love that atmosphere and the competition."


    Li Yi was about to interject with a rebuttal, but before he could speak, Jiang Yin interrupted, "Let Xiao Wei finish first."


    Li Wei gave Jiang Yin a smile.


    "And it''s not just about liking it, I''m also quite good at it."


    "Really, I''m doing very well."


    Rarely, Li Wei boasted about himself a bit, then he looked towards Perry.


    That was because Li Wei knew that his own words wouldn''t be persuasive enough without the objective stance of a third party.


    Perry, whose brain was in a muddle and who was trying hard to eliminate his own presence, became the center of attention; not only Li Wei but also Li Yi and Jiang Yin both looked towards him.


    A little nervous.


    Perry swallowed but still mustered the courage to speak up, "It''s true."


    Jiang Yin''s emotions were a complex mixture¡ªworry, joy, relief, and more. Her eyes began to warm slightly, and in a fluster, she diverted her gaze to compose herself.


    Li Yi was stunned, silent for a long time before he finally let out a long sigh, "You know what professional competition means, right?"


    "It''s different from before, it may be ten times, a hundred times harder, no room for laziness or slackness, this is a profession; you will also face countless difficulties, and once you start you can''t give up, even hard work may not pay off."


    "Maybe you''re a star in college, but everyone who makes it into the Professional League is a genius, is a star, not every college star can continue to shine professionally, are you also ready for that?"


    His voice was heavy with concern, bittersweet, subtly revealing a touch of seriousness.


    Li Wei nodded slightly, simply, but with determination.


    Li Yi quietly watched Li Wei, and though Li Wei didn''t verbally respond, his gaze and expression said everything, finally convincing Li Yi.


    "Okay. I understand."


    "I won''t try to dissuade you, I only have one request¡ªgive yourself another month to think about it seriously, to prove it''s not just a whim. If after a month your mind is unchanged, then go for it."


    Experience new tales on empire


    After a pause, Li Yi added.


    "Mom and Dad may not have the means to guarantee you a life of riches, but at least you''ll have a meal to eat."


    "If being a professional player doesn''t work out, then come back and take over the family store, at least you won''t starve to death."


    "So, you''re grown up now, if you want to go out and make your way, then go bravely."


    The plain words lost their edge from before, showing a helpless warmth, which made Li Wei''s nose tingle slightly.


    He thought he wouldn''t care, after all, it was another soul inside this body; but at this moment, he could feel the blood connection between souls, the warmth in his chest swelling.


    Li Wei didn''t say much, just nodded firmly.


    Silently, Jiang Yin, who had been sitting beside them without a word, sniffled, trying to control herself and attempting a smile to comfort Li Wei, but as she spoke, her voice trembled slightly.


    "Take care of your health..."


    Jiang Yin took a deep breath.


    "I don''t know much about professional players, but I do know you need to look after your body, watch out for injuries. Mom doesn''t care about championships, I just hope you stay healthy and safe from injuries¡ªthat''s the most important thing..."


    As she spoke, her eyes once again reddened, and Jiang Yin awkwardly lowered her head, rubbing her eyes fiercely with the back of her hand, trying her best to hide her tears.

 Chapter 127 126 Introduction Teaching

    Continue your saga on empire


    His gaze fell on Jiang Yin, and Li Wei''s nose tingled slightly.


    He had always thought he should keep a distance from Li Yi and Jiang Yin. After all, he was already an adult, and children should eventually grow up and have their own space.


    But witnessing this scene, he was reminded of his own parents and also the vanished original inhabitant of the body. Regardless, he was now Li Wei, and he should continue on as Li Wei.


    The words reached his lips and, to his surprise, they were easier to say than he had imagined.


    "Mom, don''t worry about me. I will take care of myself."


    Jiang Yin rubbed her eyes haphazardly, straightened her back, and looked at Li Wei again.


    "How could I not worry?"


    "No matter how old you are, in your mother''s eyes, you will always be a child. Worrying about you is my job, and it will be the same even when I''m old."


    "Since you''re ready, then go ahead and be brave. Mom believes in you. Anyway, no matter what happens, Mom will be waiting for you right here."


    Calm, yet strong, she was like a harbor, quietly protecting Li Wei.


    Li Wei also nodded emphatically.


    Jiang Yin showed a smile and called out, "Let''s eat, let''s eat, or everything will get cold."


    "Ah, Jack, did you just say the game can be watched on TV too?"


    Perry was a bit perplexed.


    In front of him, the family of three mixed English and Chinese in a rapid-fire conversation. He could only understand parts of it but realized the situation might be a bit complicated. He held his breath, trying to make himself invisible¡ª


    He felt a bit guilty and had a vague sensation that it might all be because of him, that he had inadvertently stirred up a hornet''s nest. He wanted to apologize, but the whole atmosphere felt off, so he obediently swallowed his words.


    Then.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    The topic suddenly turned to himself, and Perry blinked, nodding eagerly.


    "Yes, yes, yes, and there''s also..."


    The team''s leading running back, Kenneth Dixon, only managed a meager 57 rushing yards, and his fumble further compounded Baltimore''s already struggling offense.


    After the game, Baltimore Ravens head coach Harbaugh was rarely seen in such a fury, clearly dissatisfied with the season ending in such a fashion. This also meant that in the four seasons since their Super Bowl victory in 2012, they had missed the playoffs three times.


    Later that night, the game between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs was one-sided.


    After winning the Super Bowl last season, legendary quarterback Peyton Manning chose to retire, ending his illustrious 18-year career in the Professional League.


    Rumors said that the head coach believed Manning was not suitable for his ground game-focused strategy, and the team had already entered a mode of winning through defense¡ªthe way they had topped the Super Bowl. The opinion was endorsed by the team''s general manager, and together they pressured Manning into retirement.


    It was either a dignified end or an embarrassing new season.


    Manning chose the former.


    After Manning''s retirement, the Denver Broncos'' season did not enter a winning mode. The departure of Manning, whom the head coach and general manager considered a hindrance to the team, left the offensive group in complete disarray.


    They went from being one of the most powerful and top-ranked offenses in the league over the past five seasons to the team with the least efficient offense this season, completely losing their way.


    In this game, facing the Kansas City Chiefs, the Denver Broncos continued their season-long offensive woes, scoring less than ten points for the third consecutive game and ultimately getting thrashed by the Chiefs away from home.


    "10:33".


    With this loss, the Denver Broncos were officially out of the playoffs, breaking a streak of five consecutive seasons advancing to the playoffs and missing the chance to defend their title.


    Meanwhile, even though the Kansas City Chiefs secured an easy victory and a playoff spot, head coach Andy Reid couldn''t muster a smile¡ª


    During week 8 of the season, the team''s leading running back, Jamaal Charles, was sidelined for the rest of the season with a knee injury, plunging the team''s ground game into a slump, with all four running backs underperforming.


    In this game, Spencer Ware, who took over as the main running back in Charles'' absence, continued to perform poorly, advancing less than thirty yards, practically crippling the Chiefs'' running game.


    Reid was so desperate that he had to use rookie wide receiver Tyreek Hill as a makeshift running back to avoid crippling their running game and consequently stalling the passing offense.


    Victory was assured, but Reid was still filled with worries.


    This way, even with a spot in the playoffs, they might have a hard time making it far.


    As the Christmas holiday came to an end, some celebrated while others mourned. With only one more week left in the NFL regular season, the final sprint for the playoffs, with all its intensity, was officially underway.


    Meanwhile, the 2016 NCAA season had also reached its final stage, with major bowl games and the nationwide championship about to begin, finally ushering in the battle for the title!

 Chapter 128 127 Set out on a journey

    Just like the NFL, the NCAA also has playoffs, but NCAA football and basketball are slightly different. The basketball playoffs are almost no different from professional leagues, while football uses the more traditional invitational bowl games¡ª


    In North America, many large stadiums are bowl-shaped, hence the term "bowl games".


    So, how exactly does the invitation system work?


    It''s based on NCAA rankings and the internal rankings within each league.


    The NCAA has numerous divisions and teams, but there are only twelve regular season games, nearly half of which are within a team''s league. This means teams from different leagues may not play against each other for decades, which makes it impossible to solely rely on records for the overall North American rankings.


    In a season, there may be more than one undefeated team, and there might be seven or eight teams with only one loss. Therefore, the league uses two authoritative polls along with six methods to create a composite computer ranking¡ªconsidering team records, schedule strength, game performance, and other data to determine the NCAA''s nationwide rankings for each season.


    Then, based on the nationwide rankings and the various league outcomes, invitations to the playoffs are issued.


    In 2006, the NCAA underwent a major reform and readjusted the playoff system, officially dividing the playoffs into two parts: the bowl games and the national championship tournaments.


    First, the bowl games.


    In 2016, the NCAA held forty bowl games across different divisions, meaning eighty teams participated in the playoffs; of those, the Division I''s top-tier bowl games included six events: the Sugar Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl, the Rose Bowl, the Orange Bowl, the Cotton Bowl, and the Peach Bowl.


    Each bowl game has its own tradition, such as the Sugar Bowl belongs to the Southeastern Conference, and it often features the champion of the Southeast facing another team; the Fiesta Bowl is for the Big Twelve Conference, the Rose Bowl is for the Pacific-12 Conference and the Big Ten Conference, and the Orange Bowl is for the Atlantic Coast Conference.


    And so on and so forth.


    Second, the national championship tournaments.


    According to the NCAA rankings, the top four ranked teams compete in the national championship tournaments, which involve two rounds of knockout matches: the first round is the semi-finals and the second round is the final to determine the national champion.


    The semi-finals are actually bowl games, with this year''s locations being the Fiesta Bowl and the Peach Bowl.


    That is to say, the champions of the Fiesta Bowl and the Peach Bowl will advance to the national championship game finals, contending for the 2016 season''s ultimate national championship.


    This year, the Fiesta Bowl is contested by the Atlantic Coast Conference champion, Clemson University, against the Big Ten Conference champion, Ohio State University, matching up second and third in the nation.


    The Peach Bowl, on the other hand, pits the Southeastern Conference champion, the University of Alabama, against the Pacific-12 Conference champion, the University of Washington, in a clash of first and fourth nationwide.


    In a daze, Li Wei''s words still echoed in his ears:


    "Let''s talk about it when he makes it to the national championship."


    Jackson still thought, not only would he defeat Li Wei and claim the championship, but he would also decisively secure the Heisman Trophy. But now, he didn''t even have the chance to face off against Li Wei.


    It turned out, he was the fool.


    How did things develop into this situation?


    Yet, the nightmare was still not over.


    At the Citrus Bowl, the Louisiana State University Tigers were united and full of fighting spirit, showcasing their top-notch defensive prowess. They thoroughly dominated Jackson throughout the game, causing the rising star to completely lose himself.


    "29:9."


    The Louisiana State University Tigers ended their season with a bowl championship, while Jackson, who had burst onto the scene at the beginning of the season, concluded his season without any accolades, dimmed and desolate, a classic case of starting strong and finishing weak.


    But does anyone care?


    No, not at all.


    After the loss, Jackson thought the reporters would swarm him again, endlessly and irritatingly discussing Li Wei and Watson. But looking at the sparse few waiting in the players'' tunnel, Jackson felt an unexpected sense of loss. Was this normal?


    So, where is everybody?


    "Li Wei, are you planning to enter the draft?"


    "Li Wei, who do you consider the biggest opponent for Crimson Tide Storm in the national championship?"


    "Li Wei, do you think the final of the national championship this year will be a repeat of last year?"


    Amidst the bustling crowd and chirping voices, countless microphones surrounded Li Wei, making it impossible for him to get through the bus door.


    Looking around in amazement, Li Wei exclaimed, "There''s so many people."

 Chapter 129 128 Target of public criticism

    Packed to the brim, a sea of people.


    As far as the eye could see, a daunting, endless crowd made even the Peach Bowl venue, the Georgia Dome, seem miniature by comparison. The surging throng had encircled the site, making it completely inaccessible.


    Nothing but people, still more people.


    This was the home field of the NFL team the Atlanta Falcons, and it had also been the site of the Peach Bowl for the past twenty-three years.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    This year was a little different.


    This would be the Georgia Dome''s last year hosting any event, as the structure was scheduled for demolition ten months later, turning this city landmark laden with countless memories into history.


    The match¡ªone less to watch with each game played¡ªhad drawn an unbelievable turnout today. Nearly half of Atlanta had mobilized; coupled with the fact that it was New Year''s Eve, the last day of 2016, countless citizens had chosen to spend this commemorative day at the Georgia Dome.


    The scene was spectacular.


    Li Wei thought they had been seasoned by a season''s worth of home games at the hundred-thousand-capacity stadium, and should have been able to handle any situation with ease. But upon arriving at the site, he couldn''t help but exclaim:


    This was different. Truly different.


    The Bowl Game, it had arrived.


    "Li Wei, are you planning to stay in the NCAA for another year?"


    "Next season, do you still intend to play football or are you thinking of going back to mixed martial arts?"


    "Do you think you''re ready for the challenge of the Professional League? After all, the NFL is a different level of competition. Do you think Chinese players can adapt to the intensity?"


    "Who do you think is the biggest rival to the Crimson Tide Storm''s title defense, Watson-led Clemson?"


    "Do you have confidence against the University of Washington?"


    Chattering, bustling.


    The microphone was thrust unhesitatingly into Li Wei''s throat, as if yearning to reach his stomach, and the media reporters encircling him brought to mind scenes of ''The Walking Dead''.


    Clearly, Li Wei remained the center of attention; everyone tried to get a piece of him. The media, ever fond of novelty, had already cast Lamar Jackson aside; the Professional League indeed proved to be a cruel world following the adage ''laugh at the new while ignoring the old''s tears.'' Read latest stories on empire


    However,


    Just as Li Wei was about to speak, a plump figure squeezed through from behind, guarding him fiercely, and shoved the reporters aside as rudely and brutally as a mother hen protecting her chick, baring his teeth and shouting.


    "Back off, all of you back off!"


    "Pretty face"¡ªthe insult was extremely strong, and the subtext of the implication went without saying.


    Indeed, Li Wei stopped in his tracks.


    Clark was somewhat concerned, "Li Wei."


    But Jacobs had a calm expression on his face; handling this kind of trash talk was a breeze for Li Wei.


    "Thank you."


    The air carried Li Wei''s voice.


    Not only were the reporters stunned, but even Clark and Jacobs were taken aback. Had Li Wei not understood the subtext of Baker''s nickname?


    No way...


    "But no, I''m not interested."


    Li Wei continued to speak, and without pausing his stride, he turned and walked away at a steady pace.


    Snort.


    Allen was the first to lose control, bursting out laughing. Li Wei was just too clever; he insulted without using a single swear word. The reporters hadn''t even caught on, looking at the confused and hesitant faces around. The Crimson Tide Storm players were laughing very arrogantly and unrestrained¡ª


    Baker said Li Wei was all show and no substance.


    Li Wei suggested that Baker''s praise of his looks was because of a secret crush, an admission of affection discreetly rejected.


    There''s always someone better.


    It must be admitted that in the art of trash-talking, others clearly lagged behind Li Wei.


    The reporters were slow to catch on, but once they did, they laughed even more heartily.


    Entering the bowl game and stepping onto the nationwide stage, both the level of scrutiny and intensity of competition rose a notch. Li Wei, who had dominated the college and Professional League conversations this season, naturally became the target of all competitors; everyone wanted to beat Alabama, everyone wanted to beat Li Wei.


    It wasn''t just Baker, the quarterback from the University of Washington was also ready with his ammunition.


    "No, I''m not concerned about Li Wei. In my view, he is not a threat. The only thing we need to focus on is the Crimson Tide Storm Defensive group, Allen, Foster, Humphrey, they are the true heroes of Crimson Tide Storm."


    "In my opinion, the media should pay attention to the players who truly brought the Crimson Tide Storm to where it is now, not create unnecessary hype just because of his identity and skin color. Honestly, he''s just a pretty face, that''s all."


    Roar, roar, roar, this move was brilliant¡ªseemingly complimentary and not overly sharp, but in fact, it was¡ª


    A divide and conquer strategy?

 Chapter 130 129 Formidable

    ```


    Generally, these young NCAA players don''t have much cunning, and even when they trash talk, it''s straightforward without much guile.


    But the young sophomore quarterback from the University of Washington was quite clever.


    The focus wasn''t on Li Wei, but rather a cunning praise of the Crimson Tide Storm defensive group, even though the University of Alabama relied on their defense to win games. But why was everyone talking about Li Wei?


    A seed of doubt was planted, then all one had to do was wait for it to take root and sprout.


    If it had been another team, this move might really have caused some ripples; unfortunately, they were up against the united Crimson Tide Storm.


    Allen and Foster couldn''t be bothered to respond, but Humphrey couldn''t help himself and shot back a comment to the reporters.


    "Who is he, again?"


    The reporter from Seattle was taken aback¡ª


    The University of Washington is not located in Washington, D.C., but in Seattle, Washington State, on the West Coast, so they are a Pacific-12 Conference team.


    Humphrey, seeing the reporter''s astonished face, couldn''t contain his glee, "Haha, Li Wei''s move is indeed powerful, I should start using it."


    Jake Browning, the quarterback of the University of Washington, heard the response and scowled, nearly grinding his teeth to bits.


    Yet, as Humphrey said¡ª


    Who is Browning?


    This year, as a sophomore, Browning served as the quarterback for the University of Washington. He had a remarkable season, was selected as the first-team quarterback of the Pacific-12 Conference, and led the University of Washington to an 11-1 record, culminating in a victory over the University of Colorado to claim the conference championship.


    Ultimately, under underrated circumstances, the University of Washington ranked 4th in the NCAA, gaining a spot in the nationwide championship and is about to compete with the University of Alabama for a seat in the finals.


    It''s hard to imagine that this season, the University of Washington only lost to the University of Southern California in one game, quietly yet steadily overtaking others in the rankings, while the flamboyant University of Louisville crashed out of the competition in a spectacular tumble.


    The ambitious young Browning was clearly not satisfied with the NCAA''s disregard for him. Why were quarterbacks like Jackson, Watson, and Mayfield let off the hook, while even running backs like Li Wei and Fournette received more recognition and praise?


    In the Heisman Trophy selection, Browning''s name wasn''t even mentioned.


    It''s a perfect mismatch.


    The University of Alabama can be said to be the nemesis of the University of Washington, and this game is going to be very difficult for the latter, with a bleak outlook.


    The key to this game is whether the University of Washington can contain Alabama''s ground attack; falling behind from the start can lead to a very passive situation and may even decide the winner in the first quarter.


    Not just Brand, but a series of professionals have also expressed similar views¡ª


    The defending champions are favored, garnering countless supports, and speculation about Alabama and Clemson meeting in the finals for the second consecutive year is already surging.


    However, the "underdog" University of Washington is coming on strong, and they are also well-prepared.


    At the start, the University of Washington confidently chose to attack first and showed their patience and belief in their very first offensive drive.


    Quarterback Browning was calm and resolute, sticking solely to ground running to distract, decisive in passing against opponents, successively using tactical movements to create openings, connecting successfully, with very accurate throws.


    In an offense that lasted four minutes and thirty-seven seconds, Browning achieved six first downs, and it ended with a thirteen-yard mid-pass connected to the team''s number one wide receiver, John Ross III, who advanced to the end zone for a touchdown. Continue reading at empire


    The University of Washington took the lead at the start of the game.


    Firm, bold, and meticulous, Browning indeed exhibited an impressive state, delivering a blow to the University of Alabama and displaying a belief in victory.


    "Ah!"


    After confirming Ross''s touchdown, Browning let out a lion''s roar at Humphrey, who failed to secure his position and continued without respite, turning to charge towards Alabama''s sideline seeking Li Wei in the crowd, who was eating a banana, and continued his roar.


    "Aaaah!"


    Li Wei was full of question marks, as it wasn''t he who had provoked Browning before the match; what was this guy jumping about for.


    But Li Wei didn''t react and continued eating his banana, watching Browning, who was beating his chest like a great ape, handing over the banana with a questioning look:


    Want some?


    As if watching an ape in a zoo.


    Browning exploded, "Ah! Aaaah!"


    The Peach Bowl had only just begun, and the atmosphere was already pushed to the boiling point, exploding.

 Chapter 131 130 Heavy Strike

    "Crimson Tide, roar!"


    "Salute to Washington!"


    "Crimson Tide, roar!"


    "Salute to Washington!"


    Heatwaves rolled and thunder struck with immense force, as echoes vibrated through the air above the Georgia Dome, and the supportive chants from both sides clashed, releasing an unbelievable energy. It seemed as if the whole city of Atlanta trembled slightly with the reverberation.


    The University of Washington fans shouted till their voices were hoarse, showing their fighting spirit and will to win without backing down an inch in face of the NCAA top seed, the University of Alabama. The air was thick with an aggressive aura, spreading in every direction.


    At kickoff, they indeed demonstrated their prowess, with the often overlooked, underestimated, and forgotten Offensive group firmly suppressing the Crimson Tide Storm''s highly coveted Defensive group of the season, scoring the first point. Their spectacular performance ignited passion¡ª


    Fans, having lost all reason, were caught up in fervor.


    "7:0".


    Clearly, such a start, breaking expectations, was something nobody had anticipated.


    In the broadcasting booth, the commentators couldn''t help but exclaim.


    "Indeed, a bowl game is a bowl game; the whole atmosphere, feeling, and state of play is completely different. The University of Washington, standing on this stage, isn''t content with being a side character. They long for the championship and are proving with their actions that they aren''t here at the Georgia Dome just to play around.


    The defending champions need to watch out; their opponents aren''t just Clemson."


    Before the game, almost all media unanimously focused on the University of Alabama and Clemson University, speculating whether both teams could meet for the second year in a row at the nationwide championship. But now, the University of Washington wasn''t content to be forgotten:


    Don''t act as if we don''t exist.


    The fires of battle had been lit.


    Humphrey''s face was filled with frustration.


    In the first wave of offense and defense, Humphrey was too wound up. That''s the thing with competitive sports: being too tense might lead to poor performance, and the same goes for being overly excited. Humphrey just couldn''t find his rhythm, failing to defend his position at two critical moments.


    Directly opposite him, Humphrey saw Li Wei waiting on the sidelines with his helmet, ready to come on after the Special Duty Group''s kickoff, his cheeks slightly red, somewhat restrained.


    Li Wei bumped Humphrey''s shoulder with his helmet, displaying a smile, "No worries, Little Humph, watch us. We''ll let them feel the full force of the Crimson Tide Storm. Don''t forget, we''re a team."


    Hertz believed in Li Wei, even if Li Wei was referred to as a "rookie"; as long as Li Wei stood behind him, he knew they were ready to face all challenges.


    Li Wei just shrugged lightly. "Ah, being too charming is such a hassle."


    "Haha." Hertz burst out laughing.


    Anyone with clear eyes could see that the offensive group of the Crimson Tide Storm was at ease.


    Then, both sides took their formation, and the air tensed up.


    So, how would the Crimson Tide Storm commence their attack?


    In the first half of the season, the Crimson Tide Storm often started with a ground attack, steadily breaking open the situation. As their ground attack developed reputation, the Crimson Tide Storm would often begin with passing plays; Hertz''s passing ability had visibly improved, which gave Saban even more confidence.


    But facing the University of Washington, would the Crimson Tide Storm dare to engage in a direct assault with passing plays against the University of Washington?


    "Attack!"


    Hertz announced the kickoff, and suddenly, the game changed¡ª


    Blitz!


    The University of Washington paid no regard to the University of Alabama''s offensive tactics; like their first wave of offense, their first wave of defense was also proactive. They chose to blitz, pressuring with full force all at once.


    Undoubtedly, the University of Washington was brave and bold, fully prepared, once again demonstrating their confidence in victory and the championship.


    This was, indeed, an unexpected move¡ª


    The University of Washington, like the University of Alabama, employed a "3-4" defensive formation, with three defensive linemen and four linebackers. Such a defense did not often blitz.


    Especially at the beginning of the game?


    Generally, the opening is according to pre-game tactical deployment, playing with one''s best tactics. There''s no need for surprise victories, but the University of Washington''s unconventional start aimed to firmly seize the opening and reverse the situation.


    Five-man rush.


    The University of Washington capitalized on their numerical advantage, like tigers descending from the mountains, breaking the balance.


    For a moment, it was almost an illusion¡ªwere the University of Washington the undefeated top seed of the season?

 Chapter 132 131 Gorgeous Steps

    Bang!


    With a fierce rush of five men, the University of Washington aggressively took the initiative, instantly tearing through the University of Alabama''s offensive line pocket protection and gaining the upper hand, stirring up a storm at the Georgia Dome.


    Hertz''s heart tightened, and no sooner had he started to backpedal than he could feel the successive waves of air clawing towards him. If it were early in the season, Hertz would likely have panicked, but now, despite a slight trembling in his knees betraying his inner turmoil, his brain remained calm and he turned and handed off the ball immediately.


    The University of Washington was scheming, and the University of Alabama was doing the same.


    The experienced and crafty Saban chose to start with a very unexpected tactic¡ª


    Read Option Offense.


    How about that, unexpected, right?


    This season, they hadn''t often used the Read Option Offense, but on the occasions they did, it always brought a touch of surprise. The tactic cleverly combined Hertz and Li Wei''s abilities, showcasing the Crimson Tide Storm''s existing offensive versatility perfectly.


    Everyone knew of Li Wei''s outstanding ability; everyone knew that Jackson and Watson were good at the Read Option Offense, but often overlooked Hertz''s presence.


    This had its pros and cons.


    The biggest advantage was that with Li Wei as a decoy, Hertz could pass the ball; when Hertz drew attention, Li Wei could play to his strengths.


    And now was the latter''s turn.


    After receiving the ball, Hertz immediately noticed the ferocity of the University of Washington. Continuing to backpedal, the opposing defensive line realized that Hertz still had the ball and the rushers relentlessly closed in on him.


    So, with decisive action, he handed off the football.


    Hertz had already tucked the football into Li Wei''s embrace and quickly stepped back¡ªNo?v(el)B\\jnn


    Ready to watch the show.


    Li Wei was somewhat excited.


    Over the three weeks of the Christmas holiday, despite still training, nothing could match the intensity and excitement of a game. He eagerly awaited his return to the field.


    He looked forward to the challenge, the intensity, and the continued growth.


    If the University of Washington was intimidated and surrendered without a fight, it would be too dull. The national championship game was all about intensity; such stimulation was what he craved, and now at last, he could properly face a strong opponent.


    Football, secured in his embrace.


    Li Wei could also feel the overwhelming heat wave clawing towards him, but he didn''t rush. Instead, he paused his steps briefly, his gaze quickly sweeping over, taking in the chaos unfolding before him.


    Even closer!


    Ah!


    Just as Li Wei seemed about to become trapped, a gleam of surprise shone in the eyes of Jones and Victor¡ªthey stretched their arms out, ready to make the tackle.


    However, at that moment, Li Wei took two strides to further accelerate, his sprinting figure turning into a streak of light, leaving behind lingering afterimages.


    Bang.


    A muffled sound of helmet against helmet echoed through the Georgia Dome.


    Only to see Jones and Victor both diving towards a blur of afterimages and colliding head-on, the force of the impact was so fierce that both men were sent flying into the air, landing heavily, kicking up a cloud of grass and dust.


    Ha.


    The entire arena let out a gasp, grimacing as if they could physically feel the pain of the head-on collision, a dizzying sensation as every muscle cried out in agony.


    And Li Wei?


    Li Wei had already broken out of the encirclement, continually making short, quick changes in direction like Sonic the Hedgehog, running an "S" curve forward, disrupting the University of Washington''s heavily fortified short-pass zone, continuing his advance amidst the chaos of shifted centers of gravity and scrambled footsteps.


    Five yards.


    Ten yards.


    Before anyone had time to blink, Li Wei had already broken through the short-pass defense, continuing his onslaught amidst the gasps and astonishment of the University of Washington fans.


    Baker was on the move.


    "Stay calm, keep calm,"


    Baker reminded himself, not to get too excited and miss the tackle, just like that idiot Humphrey. He knew he could stop Li Wei¡ª


    It was not belief, but clarity, crystal clear understanding.


    With continued short steps for adjustment, Baker bent his knees to lower his center of gravity and quickly moved forward, not acting rashly, waiting until he had completely determined Li Wei''s running direction and center of gravity before moving in.


    Stepped, stomped, exerted force.


    Tackle!


    ¡ªBoom.

 Chapter 133 132 Fierce face

    Ten yards.


    Fifteen yards.


    Li Wei was sprinting at full speed, his pace with the ball already fully accelerated. Directly ahead, he could see Baker spreading his arms like a hawk swooping down on a chick, intercepting and cutting off the path forward.


    Closer.


    Even closer.


    It seemed as though the two players were about to collide near the midfield line of the Crimson Tide Storm, neither Li Wei nor Baker shifting directions, both like runaway trains with no brakes, about to clash in a catastrophic confrontation.


    The stadium was silent, with everyone holding their breath, fixated on the impending event.


    Just a second ago, they witnessed the "car crash" between Jones and Victor, and now, they were about to witness a second one.


    Even the air seemed to freeze.


    Baker was extremely calm and focused, needing all his effort to control himself and suppress his excitement, avoiding a missed tackle due to over-eagerness, attacking only when he was one hundred percent sure of his position.


    He lowered his center of gravity and took a leap from the ground.


    Got him.


    Baker intercepted Li Wei with precision, a surge of elation just about to ignite when it was abruptly extinguished.


    Hmph.


    A muffled grunt from Baker.


    His chest felt like it was being hit and run over by a hundred-ton train, his blood churning, the strings of reason in his mind instantly snapping, his vision darkening before he could even contemplate what had happened, the strength and balance of his body uncontrollably torn away.


    Ugh.


    The next second, Baker felt as if his body became weightless, no longer bound by gravity, only hearing the whistling of the raging wind in his ears.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    He was sent flying.


    How... how did this happen?


    The whole stadium was in shock.


    Just as Li Wei was about to collide with Baker, he bent his knees to lower his center of gravity, slightly shifted his position, and forcefully rammed his shoulder into Baker''s chest, striking before Baker could complete his tackle.


    From running up to accelerating and then to exerting force, Li Wei''s brazen strength instantly shattered Baker''s tackle; it was the clash of power against power, with speed as the fuel to break the balance and thoroughly overturn Baker.


    Baker, significantly smaller than Li Wei in both height and weight, was powerless to fight back, all techniques and intelligence crumbling in the face of absolute power.


    Exactly three seconds later, the Georgia Dome echoed with uniform chanting.


    "There he is, here he is, he''s everywhere, he''s the Edgerunner, Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei!"


    Once, then again, overwhelmingly, the entire stadium prostrates in worship before Li Wei, drowning out even the commentator''s voice in the broadcast booth.


    Fierce! Formidable! Dominating!


    From the beginning, the University of Washington took the initiative, asserting their claim over the game, unaware that such a move would awaken the slumbering beast early, and with one flick of its tail, the Crimson Tide Storm crushed whatever momentum the University of Washington had managed to build up.


    Li Wei, the number twenty-three of the Crimson Tide Storm, with a seventy-five-yard long rush to the end zone, broke through the encirclement of four defensive players, leveling the playing field in just under thirty seconds after the University of Washington had painstakingly established an advantage.


    Such dread!


    The University of Washington players, both Browning and Baker, were panicked; how could they continue this match? It''s not that they hadn''t tried their hardest or lacked a strategy; they had indeed put forth all their tactics with all their might, yet they were still so easily taken down?


    So, what now?


    Boom!


    Boom boom boom!


    At that moment, the Georgia Dome transformed into Bryant Denny Stadium, the roaring Crimson Tide Storm completely overpowered the support for the University of Washington, with their overwhelming presence causing the confident, united defensive group of the University of Washington to stand lost and disoriented.


    Baker remained seated on the ground, unable to stand for a long time: weak, helpless, trembling.


    In the end zone, Li Wei, hardly sweating, took off his helmet, celebrated with high-fives to his offensive group buddies, tossed the football to a teammate from the Special Duty Group taking the field, and walked effortlessly towards the sidelines, handing over to the defensive group.


    Humphrey finally regained his smile, looking at Li Wei with a broad grin, "Beast, you''re a beast. They tremble under your claws, haha, I love it."


    Li Wei high-fived Humphrey, "The true beast of the Crimson Tide Storm is the defensive group, Coach Saban is watching you guys. You should make them tremble under your claws."


    Allen also joined in, patting Humphrey on the back, "Did you hear that? Anyone who didn''t know better would think our Crimson Tide Storm has switched to offense, just like that a ten-year defensive legacy gone, not good."


    A little joke immediately made Humphrey''s face contort as if he were constipated. He looked again across the field, couldn''t help but crack his knuckles¡ª


    Crackling sound.


    Clearly, the University of Washington was not ready to surrender. Since they dared to challenge the University of Alabama, it meant they were psychologically prepared.


    Moreover, didn''t the University of Washington smoothly score a touchdown in their opening offensive?


    Browning rallied his spirits.


    Taking the field once more, Browning stood erect, ready to enter the second round of the battle with the king, but just as he stepped onto the field, he immediately felt a different atmosphere; all those eyes and gazes fell upon him like a pack of wolves setting their sights on a little rabbit.


    Heh heh, those smiles, each more ferocious than the last.

 Chapter 134 133 In vain

    Knees, slightly trembling.


    Browning took a deep breath, straightened his knees, and clenched his fists silently telling himself:


    This is an illusion, it''s all just a frightening illusion. There''s no need to fear the Crimson Tide Storm; the opponents are merely paper tigers bluffing their power¡ªthey are capable and ready to defeat them.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    They were ready.


    However, the Crimson Tide Storm had its doubts: Really?


    Sometimes, you think you''re ready but you''re not actually ready because self-comfort can lead to deception making you blind to the truth, at which point an observer is needed to remind you of the reality.


    Like now, the Crimson Tide Storm was prepared to play such a rational role.


    First gear, ten yards, Browning''s "face lost its color", feeling his knees tighten.


    ¡ªThe Crimson Tide Storm, too, chose to blitz.


    Just a simple four-man blitz without a numerical advantage, but the entire momentum and intensity were completely different. Barely after the kickoff, Browning could already see Allen''s crimson eyes tightly focusing on him like a shadow.


    Browning did not give up.


    Dodging left and right, shifting and moving.


    Browning tried to shake off the crisis and enact a miraculous comeback, using his own legs to carve out his path. He still hadn''t given up on the possibility of passing; but hardly had he started moving when he felt a mountainous force crashing down on him, rendering all his adjustments and movements ineffective.


    Boom.


    The world plunged into darkness¡ª


    Sack!


    Allen sacked Browning, cleanly cutting off the University of Washington''s offensive opportunity with a violent and brutal blitz, forecefully pinning Browning to the ground.


    Browning was left dazed and confused.


    In such a storm, there wasn''t even room to breathe.


    First gear ten yards turned into second gear eighteen yards, instantly doubling the pressure.


    The key question now was, how could they wake up from this nightmare?


    It was as difficult as ascending to heaven.


    For the University of Washington, the real difficulty lay in the offense, which had been highly praised within the Pacific-12 Conference this season but was completely exposed before the Defensive group of the University of Alabama, with both their passing and running games ineffective and unable to open up the situation.


    Browning was in a very embarrassing position, even he was puzzled:


    How had the first wave of offense been conducted?


    If they couldn''t open up the situation on offense, it also meant the University of Washington had to constantly deal with the pressure of a scoring deficit, increasing the pressure on their Defensive group because they couldn''t afford any mistakes, otherwise they would fall into an even worse predicament.


    Moreover, since the University of Washington typically had stronger pass defense than run defense, they now had to face the multi-faceted ground attacks from Li Wei, Jacobs, and Hertz of the Crimson Tide Storm, consistently losing balance.


    Little by little, they fell into a vicious cycle.


    Baker, as a Safety, was also helpless, he couldn''t freely change positions and defensive tactics like Jamal Adams, the Safety from Louisiana State University; he could only fret in the backfield.


    Unable to defend, even though Baker was desperate to support his teammates, if they couldn''t defend, they simply couldn''t. He watched helplessly as the University of Washington''s defensive formation was devoured and overrun, ultimately losing all advantage.


    All their efforts and struggles seemed like vain flailing, even though they didn''t want to admit it, everything was in vain.


    "28:7".


    By halftime, the defending champion had already taken a significant lead in controlling the game.


    Nevertheless, Saban didn''t make extensive substitutions like he did during the regular season, as this was a bowl game, not only was the opponent different, but the nature of the match was different as well; in the second half, he still kept the main lineup on the field to continue controlling the game.


    However, Saban''s tactics were relatively less aggressive and less risky, focusing more on consuming time to control the game, gradually pushing the University of Washington into dire straits, defeating them as if slowly boiling a frog.


    The University of Washington only managed to exploit a lapse in the University of Alabama''s focus to score another touchdown in the fourth quarter, but it was already too late; the game had lost all suspense and just drifted to an end.


    "37:14".


    The full game ended, the defending champions defeating the University of Washington effortlessly and advancing to the nationwide championship finals for the second consecutive year¡ª


    The season remained undefeated.


    So, the question arises, who will the University of Alabama face in the finals?

 Chapter 135 134 Key Figures

    "The game is over, the whole match is over, University of Alabama easily beats University of Washington to advance, advancing to the final showdown of the national championship for the second consecutive year, Saban''s team still remains undefeated this season..."


    "In this game, the rookie running back Li Wei continued his excellent performance for the Crimson Tide Storm with 193 yards on the ground and two touchdowns, continuing his strong season."


    "Last season, Crimson Tide Storm running back Derrick Henry recorded historic figures, amassing 2,219 yards on the ground in fifteen games and scoring an astonishing 28 touchdowns, completely rewriting the Southeastern Conference records."


    "Among those, Henry''s most incredible record was scoring at least one touchdown in each of the fifteen games throughout the season, which was truly remarkable."


    "However."


    "No one had anticipated that just one year later, Henry''s incredible historic record, believed by many to be unbreakable and unrepeatable within the next decade, would potentially be broken."


    "Li Wei, up to this point in fourteen games, has already pushed for 2,003 yards on the ground, not only continuing Derrick Henry''s miraculous record of scoring at least one rush touchdown per game of the season but has also accumulated 26 touchdowns so far, just two shy of the record."


    "There is one game left, and anything is possible."


    "But in my opinion, whether he breaks the record is no longer the point, because the biggest difference between Li Wei and Henry is that Li Wei is not only an excellent running back but also an outstanding decoy and strategist; his presence enriches the Crimson Tide Storm''s offensive tactics, allowing players like Jacobs, Hertz, and others to excel."


    "This Crimson Tide Storm is not only the most dominant offensive group in the NCAA this season but also the most authoritative in the history of the University of Alabama, setting new highs with average points per game and their multi-faceted offense possessing unbelievable explosive power."


    "For a team, a player like Li Wei has far greater value..."


    Blah blah blah.


    The Peach Bowl is over, and the University of Alabama Crimson Tide Storm convincingly beat the University of Washington to claim the championship, facing the fourth-ranked team of the season in NCAA, Saban''s team still demonstrated powerful dominion, which was impressive; yet, in the post-game discussions, Li Wei still dominated the hot topics, which speaks volumes.


    In front of the TV.


    Rivera''s expression was stern, his brows furrowed as he stared at the screen, hands crossed over his chest, silent and unblinking, until a knock on the door came.


    "Come in," Rivera yelled.


    Noticing Shula''s arrival, Rivera still didn''t shift his gaze. "Mike, what do you think? How about this running back?"


    Although Shula had been the head coach at the University of Alabama ten years ago, he was primarily a quarterback coach, with his skills and talent centered around quarterbacks, not running backs. Frankly, he didn''t think he was qualified to comment.


    However, as the offensive coordinator, Shula was aware of the problems the Carolina Panthers had faced this season; Newton was taking on too much pressure and firepower¡ª


    Newton needed a pressure release or a decoy.


    Shula thought for a moment, "Personally, I prefer Fournette from Louisiana State."


    Rivera slightly lifted his chin, revealing a hint of confusion.


    Shula explained, "Fournette makes a good meat shield."


    Rivera laughed, "No, Mike, we don''t need a meat shield; we need a weapon that can bring out the diversity of our offensive tactics."


    Shula, "You mean Running Back Levi is that weapon?"


    Rivera nodded, "Look at Hertz''s abilities; he is still too young and too green. Not to speak of the future, at least for now, he isn''t even a third of what Cam is. But with Levi''s presence, Hertz''s abilities would be fully unleashed. If Levi were alongside Cam, our offense would undergo revolutionary changes."


    Shula could hear the excitement in the coach''s words, "Coach?"


    Rivera nodded again in affirmation, "We need to get him. No, we must."


    Shula read between the lines, "Coach, then the question now is, should we win against Tampa Bay or lose?"


    A win or lose, for the Carolina Panthers at this moment, was beside the point, but when it came to draft position, that was a different story.


    Rivera understood, he took a deep breath, "Mike, could you find out Jacksonville''s intentions? I see they''re also getting restless."


    The NFL season hadn''t ended yet, but a storm revolving around the draft was already brewing.

 Chapter 136 135 Gold Supporting Actor

    The NFL Draft is more complex and thrilling than any other sport, due to the multitude of positions and the hard salary cap that leaves no room for adjustment.


    Now, with a full four months until the draft, and the competition for NFL playoff spots sprinting to the finish, the focus should rightfully be on the Super Bowl, yet in reality, the strategies surrounding the draft are already in full swing, featuring not only overt maneuvers but also conspiracies and traps.


    Rivera is a cunning fox, knowing how to leverage Shula''s experience working with the Jacksonville Jaguars to gather intelligence for their draft.


    Shula was no exception, "Coach, at the Jaguars, General Manager Caldwell places a greater emphasis on market appeal. Even if they are interested in Li Wei, it''s not because of his skills. So, all we need to do is slightly steer the rumor mill and make Caldwell take notice of Watson''s charismatic influence."


    Rivera''s eyebrows twitched slightly, "DeShaun Watson?"


    After a pause, Rivera shook his head, "Instead of promoting Watson, it''s better to hype up Lamar Jackson, who has a higher market value than Watson does."


    Shula came up with another idea, "If that''s the case, should we maybe push for Watson to win the Heisman Trophy buzz, to prevent Caldwell from setting his sights on Li Wei because of the Heisman?"


    Rivera shook his head again, saying something profound, "We need to guard not only against the outside but also not forget the inside."


    Enough said.


    But Shula instantly understood¡ª


    Carolina Panthers General Manager David Gettleman, he has no interest in running backs.


    Just this past April at the draft, Rivera had a heated debate with Gettleman; it wasn''t just the first round where they didn''t pick a running back, they even missed Derrick Henry in the second round.


    As a result, the Carolina Panthers paid a heavy price that season.


    Now, with the next draft just around the corner, will Gettleman be willing to take Rivera''s advice and choose a running back this time?


    If they want to get Gettleman''s attention on Li Wei, then the Heisman Trophy is an important bonus.


    So, if the Carolina Panthers want to compete with the Jacksonville Jaguars at the draft, they need to increase the weight of their bargaining chips¡ª


    Such as, improving their draft position.


    After all, every spot in the first round of the NFL can be worth millions of US dollars.


    tragically and pitifully, the Clemson Tigers were strong throughout the season, defeating formidable opponents and closely following the undefeated golden run of the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm, leaving the Louisville Cardinals led by Jackson right behind, becoming the nationwide top-tier team.


    But!


    They stumbled right before the finish line, similarly to the Louisville Cardinals¡ªfacing the unranked University of Pittsburgh, Watson experienced a harrowing three minutes and eventually lost "43-42" at home, failing to carry their undefeated golden run to the end.


    Luckily within the misfortune, the Clemson Tigers'' outstanding performance throughout the season meant that this loss did not wreak further damage. They managed to stop the bleeding and finished second in the NCAA rankings, advancing smoothly to the nationwide championship stage.


    Even so, Watson broke out in a cold sweat.


    From Jackson to Watson, the two favorites for the Heisman Trophy stumbled one after the other, suffering great embarrassment, which also led both to take their anger out on Li Wei.


    Jackson was already out of contention, with no chance to prove himself; but Watson still had a chance. He was eager to prove himself, with a desire and passion stronger and more intense than ever before.


    He needed to make his voice heard, he needed to prove his existence¡ª


    He was not a supporting character.


    If the 2016 NCAA season had only one superstar, it would be him, DeShaun Watson.


    He would defeat Li Wei, he would climb to the top on Li Wei''s shoulders, he would rightfully take the championship from Li Wei''s hands, and he would make all the media realize their folly and ignorance.


    On December thirty-first, at nine in the morning, the Peach Bowl kicked off first.


    The University of Alabama crushed the University of Washington effortlessly, and after witnessing Li Wei''s still dominant and steady performance, the spirits of Clemson University were elevated to their peak, uniting the team without any need for the head coach to rally them.


    At three in the afternoon, the Fiesta Bowl began at the University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, where the second-ranked Clemson University faced the third-ranked Ohio State University.


    It was the clash of titans, like fire meeting flint.


    Both teams had a season record of twelve wins and one loss and were both showing top-tier competitive form, which meant the outcome could be very close, depending on their performance. Both had opportunities for the win.


    However, no one could have imagined¡ª


    Watson said, I beg to differ.

 Chapter 137 Shouting across the space 136

    Unlike the Peach Bowl where the University of Alabama held the advantage, the outcome of the Fiesta Bowl was closer, more intense, and harder to predict.


    Before the game, Las Vegas set the odds slightly in favor of Ohio State University, believing that the victory would come within a field goal, with Ohio State University edging out Clemson University to win the Fiesta Bowl and advance to the nationwide championship finals.


    But, undoubtedly, no matter who the victor was, it was going to be a very close and intense confrontation, and as of now, the goddess of victory seemed to slightly favor Ohio State University.


    However.


    Watson, shouldering a mission, said, "I beg to differ¡ª"


    The game, turned wild.


    Under the leadership of Watson, the Clemson Tigers went completely berserk, not just on offense, but also on defense, displaying a determination to win at all costs. They went all out in both attack and defense, fiercely suppressing their opponents from the very beginning, brutally grinding Ohio State University into the ground.


    Ohio State University was directly stunned; their momentum completely crushed as if they were a small rabbit shivering under the tiger''s paw, completely disoriented, throwing their formation into disarray, making mistake after mistake. One wrong move led to another, and they never recovered throughout the game, leading to a complete collapse.


    Originally, this was supposed to be a clash of titans, but it turned into a one-sided steamrolling.


    "31:0".


    The Clemson Tigers slaughtered Ohio State University in a convincing victory, asserting their dominance as the second-ranked team, advancing to the nationwide championship finals for the second consecutive year, and setting up a rematch with the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm from last season''s final.


    2016 NCAA nationwide champion, the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm, or the Clemson Tigers?


    Exciting!


    One hundred percent captivating, bursting with hot topics, the focus is guaranteed.


    Earlier, the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm had casually and stylishly defeated the University of Washington, defending their honor and once again proving themselves as this season''s finest NCAA team.


    Immediately after, the Clemson Tigers used a crushing victory over Ohio State University to make a strong and authoritative statement.


    "What, you won a ''37:14''? Heh, we won a ''31:0'', not only showcasing top-level offense but defense as well. So, how does the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm feel about that?"


    All eyes, bustling with excitement, shifted focus¡ª


    After the game, reporters surrounded Watson so tightly that he couldn''t escape, shoving microphones and recorders at him, effectively enclosing him within their midst.


    While people incessantly discussed Jackson and Li Wei night and day, Watson, consistently ranked third this season, was secretly sharpening his knives in the dark. Now, finally, it was time to show his edge, and the entire room erupted in astonishment.


    Watson could see the shock and surprise on the reporters'' faces; he was extremely pleased because this was exactly the effect he wanted, beyond expectation¡ª


    The only pity was that he couldn''t see Li Wei''s expression at that moment.


    But Watson was destined not to see it, as the Crimson Tide Storm still maintained a blockade on news. Saban had banned interviews and prevented the players from reading about other opponents'' interviews; Li Wei had no idea what Watson had said. Poor Watson was essentially winking at the blind.


    Nevertheless, Watson was content, the reporters'' noisy commotion and agitation perfectly aligned with his imagination, even better than expected.


    However, the reporters were not Barbie dolls; they wouldn''t just stand there and let Watson have his say without challenge. They immediately opened old wounds.


    "Uh, Watson, are you sure?"


    "Last season, in the nationwide championship final, you lost to this adversary; this season at the spring training camp, you lost to them again."


    "Clearly, you haven''t mastered the secret to defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm, so why do you think the outcome will be different this time?"


    Rubbing salt in the wound, that''s what reporters do. No reporter had mentioned this to Watson for an entire season, yet now they suddenly remembered.


    Watson''s face stiffened, visibly flustered.


    "It was just a warm-up match!"


    "Besides, I only played half the game; that match holds no reference value!"


    Watson took several deep breaths, barely managing to stay calm.


    "Of course, we know Alabama is strong. But that''s exactly why we relish defeating them even more. We are the Clemson Tigers, and we''ll ascend to the pinnacle of the nationwide championship over their bodies."


    "Additionally."


    "I will prove to everyone whether I am a quarterback or a running back. The fact is, whether I''m a quarterback or a running back, victory belongs to me. I''m not the idiot who ruins his own chances carelessly; I will defeat you, and I will watch you cry with a smile."


    Even though he didn''t mention names, his message couldn''t have been clearer.


    Jackson: Achoo!


    Li Wei: My nose feels itchy, what''s going on?

 Chapter 138 137 Summit Showdown

    Spotlight, hot debate, the center of attention¡ª


    Originally, the annual NCAA nationwide championship''s final battle is a definite hot ticket, with average viewership reaching up to fifty million or even more; this year, due to the opposing teams, the popularity has skyrocketed even further.


    The University of Alabama and Clemson University meet in the finals for the second year in a row, clashing at the Summit of the Forbidden, where old grudges and new enmities will play out once again.


    Moreover,


    The two teams are ranked first and second in this season''s NCAA and have both shown astonishing form in the semifinals, crushing their opponents to defend their reputation and status as the season''s strongest.


    Without a doubt, this is the pinnacle of competition.


    No one wants to miss it, nor should they.


    So, who will reach the top?


    To tell it straight, the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm truly displayed absolute dominance, maintaining an unbeaten record for the season, showing convincing strength and stability throughout, and demonstrating top-tier skills on both offense and defense. Many people consider it to be Saban''s most perfect team to date.


    So, is the University of Alabama perfect?No?v(el)B\\jnn


    No, of course not.


    Avid fans will notice that the University of Alabama''s sole weakness this season has been that they have never faced a true top-tier quarterback.


    Without Jackson, without Watson, without Mayfield, and so on¡ªdespite the University of Alabama also facing some traditionally strong offensive teams, they have never directly clashed with a powerful passing team; Allen''s defensive group hasn''t faced the stern test of a formidable quarterback.


    Until now.


    Regardless of whether people like Watson or approve of what Watson says, the undeniable fact before us is that Watson indeed presents the University of Alabama''s most serious and most difficult ultimate challenge this season.


    If one were to choose a team from this season''s college teams that''s most likely to defeat the University of Alabama, Watson''s Clemson Tigers would undoubtedly be the best choice¡ªperhaps even more suitable than Jackson''s Louisville Cardinals.


    Last year, the Clemson Tigers came close to doing it¡ªoh, so close.


    This year, the fully upgraded and developed Clemson Tigers will challenge the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm once again.


    From the games at the Peach Bowl and Fiesta Bowl, we can glean some indications.


    Clemson Tigers'' young head coach, Sweeney, took a deep breath, clenched his fists in the dark, and regained his composure.


    He hadn''t forgotten that scrimmage, or, to be more precise, constantly reviewing the game footage reminded him never to forget the humiliation.


    In that game, not only did they lose, but they also squandered a twenty-one-point lead, and even bringing on the starting players in the fourth quarter was to no avail.


    He had always been waiting for a chance at revenge, and an opportunity to defeat Saban in an official game. Watson''s thought had lingered in his mind:


    He hoped that Alabama wouldn''t lose. If anyone was to beat them, it had to be Clemson; he had been praying for this day and night.


    Now, his wish had finally come true.


    He wouldn''t let the nightmare happen again; he was going to defeat them, and in a convincing manner. They had been preparing for this day all season long.


    He looked up. He puffed out his chest.


    Sweeney clenched his fists in determination, his eyes sparking with the bright light of belief.


    At eight o''clock in the evening, the referee officially blew the whistle, announcing the start of the game.


    In the coin toss, Clemson Tigers, who had correctly guessed heads, did not hesitate to choose their side of the field, giving the first chance to attack in the first half to the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm, meaning that Watson and the Tigers would commence the offense in the second half.


    The gambit had begun.


    Zhang Yang!


    Intense!


    Overwhelming!


    The atmosphere at the Richmond-James Stadium erupted with unbelievable energy. The championship game was indeed a battle; the whole mood and feeling were utterly different, allowing one to sense the tension and urgency of the finals even before taking the field.


    Then, amidst deafening cheers and the roar of opposition, Hertz led the offensive group onto the field.


    Li Wei was among them, looking up at the stands, the dazzling surge sending waves of burning echoes against his eardrum. He knew he was ready.


    The battle horn had sounded.

 Chapter 139 138 Difficult to distinguish and solve

    The final battle begins!


    Before the game, the analysis from those experts, those fans, and those betting odds did make sense:


    The Alabama Crimson Tide Storm and the Clemson Tigers truly were the two teams with the best overall strength and competitive condition in the NCAA at the moment. They thoroughly deserved their spots in the nationwide championship final, and both teams were ready to ascend the champion''s throne.


    There was no warm-up, no hesitation; from the start, the game got on the right track.


    The first wave of offense and defense saw the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm attacking and the Clemson Tigers defending.


    Clemson Tigers head coach Sweeney understood defending was not his team''s strength. Plus, this season''s common problem faced by all teams battling the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm was how to limit the running back group led by Li Wei, a problem the Clemson Tigers defense team likely couldn''t avoid either.


    However, this did not mean the Clemson Tigers gave up on defense completely.


    In fact, Sweeney also made strategic adjustments, actively adopting the defensive tactics from Louisiana State University and modifying them according to their situation.


    The Clemson Tigers implemented a "4-3" formation, which, thanks to the presence of four defensive linemen, often allowed them to exert more pressure on the front and disrupt the quarterback through rushing, but today Sweeney changed the strategy.


    The work of pressuring from the front line and rushing was still essential; but the specific strategy shifted slightly¡ªthey didn''t seek to sack the quarterback but maintained enough pressure at the front to disrupt the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm''s seamless transition between passing and running, creating some chaos.


    At the same time, they were not in a hurry to step up; not rushing to engage in man-to-man defense right away but instead transformed their defense into a series of staggered gates. Each gate had a slight adjustment space in front, waiting for the opponents to decide on their offensive tactic before they made specific defensive moves.


    What does that mean?


    Simply put, Sweeney knew defense was not his strength, so he didn''t aim for immediate close-range defense or to cut off the offense right away, whether it was a pass or a run. They were willing to let go of some yards, then block and cut off, relying on a series of gates to coordinate aid, using the time difference to accumulate a numerical advantage and stop the offense.


    While this method was somewhat inelegant, and almost always conceded yards, at least it didn''t lead to major errors nor did it fail by overly focusing on defending passes or runs, risking defensive gaps as the University of Washington had in their last game by being too aggressive and risky.


    The goal of defense was to wear out, confront, and delay, gradually weakening the offensive power of the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm bit by bit.


    When the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm''s defensive line broke through the pocket, short and medium passing areas tended to be empty, and Watson danced dangerously on the blade''s edge to find pass spaces.


    When the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm applied pressure without breaking through, Watson simply took advantage of the ample time and space to attempt long passes, striking deep into the backfield because the backfield usually involved one-on-one matchups between wide receivers and safeties, with the defense less dense than in the short pass areas.


    Undoubtedly, Watson was bold, even crazy; and indeed, he truly showcased his passing abilities as a quarterback¡ª


    Short pass. Medium pass. Long pass. He displayed an impressive accuracy.


    It reminded people of Watson''s words before the game, where he said he was ready to prove whether he was a running back or a quarterback, he wasn''t afraid to pass, and he made full use of his footwork to create passing opportunities.


    It must be said, a top-tier quarterback can indeed change the game. In college-level matches where offensive and defensive tactics are relatively less complex, the physical superiority of a quarterback further stands out. Watson seized the opportunity to turn this nationwide championship game into his own stage, presenting his credentials to all NFL teams.


    The Alabama Crimson Tide Storm''s defense indeed faced a stern test.


    Watson, coming fiercely¡ª


    In four minutes and seventeen seconds, Watson again used his footwork to run out of the pocket, attracting a large defensive force, and then threw a twelve-yard pass to Clemson Tigers'' top wide receiver, Mike Williams.


    This talented receiver, widely regarded as having first-round pick potential, got the best of cornerback Humphrey, caught the football, and spun into the end zone.


    Touchdown!


    Despite the danger, despite the thrill, and although Watson continually flirted with disaster, eventually, the Clemson Tigers still ended their first offensive wave with a touchdown, striking back with no less force.


    "7:7".


    As expected, it lived up to everyone''s expectations!


    Before the game, people had anticipated that it would be an exciting match; and now, both teams genuinely exhibited a Huashan Swordsmanship Meeting attitude, sparking intensely from the very start, launching into attacks without giving an inch.


    The excitement had indeed taken center stage.

 Chapter 140 139 interlocking like canine teeth

    The pinnacle showdown truly lives up to its name, with a fierce clashing of equals, neither granting an inch, making for an exhilarating spectacle. Both teams are strategizing and combating, igniting sparks in a head-on confrontation, boiling the air around them¡ª


    "You have your Zhang Liang''s tactics, I have my ladder over the wall."


    Throughout the entire first half, the tactical duel between coaches Saban and Sweeney captivated the audience, with Sweeney''s audacious strategies particularly dazzling, leveraging his offensive group''s advantages while skirting its defensive vulnerabilities, boldly dragging the match into their preferred pace.


    "24:24".


    At the end of the first half, no one held an advantage¡ª


    Both teams secured three touchdowns and a field goal each, never managing to pull away; more importantly, the offensive groups of both sides scored on every possession, ensuring a spectacular show without a dull moment, eliciting gasps of amazement from the crowd the entire half.


    From the current situation, the match has plunged into an interlocked, fever-pitch state, where any mistake, or failure to score by the offense, could break the balance and overturn the situation.


    In other words, every minute could be the decisive moment.


    Thrilling!


    Indeed worthy of the Huashan Swordsmanship Meeting, the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm and the Clemson Tigers are without a doubt the two teams with the best combined strength and competitive form in NCAA over the past two seasons.


    Last season''s championship battle was tight to the very end, the two teams scoring a combined forty points in the fourth quarter, with a final score of "45:40", Alabama Crimson Tide Storm narrowly winning. This season has continued in the same vein.


    Truly thrilling!


    Coming back for the second half, the tension and anxiety of the match climbed even higher.


    On one hand, with spirits elevated, both youthful teams displayed their mettle, their longing for the championship and victory pushed to the back of their minds, simply wishing to defeat the opponent.


    On the other hand, there was a fluctuation in physical endurance; the first half''s fierce confrontations inevitably led the players of both teams to face physical uncertainties.


    Inevitably, mistakes would occur, making the duel even tenser and more thrilling.


    The Clemson Tigers started the second half with the offensive, with Watson once again showing the poise of a team leader. On two occasions facing third and long, he incredibly converted, capping it off with a touchdown run, sending out the strongest challenge for the championship once again.


    Similarly, the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm didn''t back down. Saban boldly and crazily attempted a fourth and four power play. This all-or-nothing gamble found success through Li Wei''s divinely inspired running, breathing new life into the team and finishing once more with a touchdown, voicing their presence without weakness.


    The standoff continued.


    "37:37".


    "Later on, keep an eye out, there might be more opportunities on the left wing..."


    With a tactical board in hand, moving the Clemson Tigers'' pieces around, Burns showed Li Wei how the opponent''s defensive positions were changing, indicating the need for on-the-spot adjustments.


    Just then, they were interrupted by a series of muffled helmet collision sounds, and both Li Wei and Burns looked up¡ª


    Bang!


    At a glance, Li Wei could see a helmet breaking free and flying into the air, the force of the fierce collision sending it straight off.


    It was Jacobs!


    A head-on collision with the wall.


    Immediately, Burns and Li Wei both stood up, then saw Jacobs crash to the ground like a sack, the tangled crowd obstructing the view, making it impossible to see clearly, only Jacobs could be seen lying behind the cross of lower legs, the scene chaotic for a moment.


    Thwack!


    Fumble.


    Jacobs suffered a fatal fumble after the head-on collision; players from both teams pounced instantly, scrambling for possession of the ball.


    Then¡ª


    Carlos Watkins, number ninety-four Defensive Tackle of the Clemson Tigers, clutched the football as if he were a turtle securely covering its shell.


    The whole stadium, erupted.


    "Fumble!"


    "Clemson Tigers create a fumble, Watkins secures possession."


    "God, the first turnover of the entire game, Clemson Tigers'' unsung Defensive Tackle Watkins becomes the hero who changed the game. Possession goes to Clemson, they push the defending champions to the brink..."


    "Turnover!"


    However, amidst the hustle and bustle of the entire stadium, Li Wei''s first thought was¡ª


    Jacobs, hadn''t gotten up.

 Chapter 141 140 Turning point of destiny

    "God, Rover."


    In the midst of the hustle and bustle, Li Wei immediately noticed Jacobs, who was down and not getting up amid the chaotic scramble for the ball. This wasn''t Jacobs; this absolutely was not the reaction that should have come from Jacobs.


    Few knew that Jacobs had been abandoned by his parents and had been shuttling between different institutions ever since elementary school. In high school, he even became homeless and roamed the streets. He had lived the life of a vagrant for a whole ten months.


    He had to fight with others for food and also to defend his cardboard shelter, which was the only way he could avoid not seeing the next day''s sun during the cold winter.


    Had he not met a benefactor in the foster system who insisted that Jacobs return to school and also urged him to apply to college, Jacobs would have likely been found dead on the streets long ago; then later, he met Saban and Burns, who were willing to give him a chance to join Crimson Tide Storm.


    So, all along, Jacobs was taciturn and just quietly trained. That was the only way he could repay his coaches and the only way he could change his life; he was more focused and more invested than anyone else.


    To drop the ball, such a mistake was not something anyone wished to see, but if it ever happened, Jacobs''s first reaction was always to scramble for it right there and regain control of the ball.


    However, today he hadn''t.


    The silent yet resilient, stubborn yet combative Jacobs hadn''t done so.


    Li Wei''s heart clenched tightly, an ominous premonition overshadowing his mind.


    "Jesus Christ."


    Li Wei cursed and immediately ran onto the field, quickly rushing over, parting the crowd, and then saw Jacobs clutching his knee, drenched in sweat and curled up on the ground like a shrimp, his heart sank.


    "Medics."


    "Medics!"


    Jacobs clenched his teeth tightly, holding onto his knee with all his strength. Even though his forehead was sweating, his face was as pale as paper.


    "Football, Li Wei, football!"


    There was only one thought in Jacobs''s mind as he looked at Li Wei desperately, pleadingly, hoping Li Wei would tell him that they hadn''t lost possession of the ball.


    He couldn''t bear the harsh reality of having lost control of the ball himself.


    But Li Wei knew, not only was he tired, but Jacobs too had reached his limit. They shouldn''t forget that Jacobs was just an eighteen-year-old kid, still a high school student a few months ago, and this was just his first season. He had burned himself out just like everyone else in this game.


    A mistake was never just a simple mistake.


    However.


    Looking at the sweating Jacobs, behind them came the wanton celebration noises of the Clemson Tigers, causing Howard and Hertz and their sanity to snap, tumultuously pushing and shoving with the opponents.


    Their expressions were grave as they immediately called for the stretcher cart¡ª


    The situation was very bad, worse than imagined.


    Jacobs couldn''t even stand up on his own anymore and had already lost sensation to pain. Intense pain had flooded his brain to the point where his pain nerves had become numb and unresponsive.


    Ligaments.


    That was Li Wei''s first thought, and he knew all too well what that meant. Jacobs likely wouldn''t be able to return to the field for the rest of the game, and what was worse, this was just the beginning¡ªno one knew what was to come or what else they would have to face.


    In a flurry, the medical team lifted Jacobs onto the stretcher.


    Jacobs sat on the stretcher, no longer showing the pain and bewilderment, but instead looked up proudly, calmly surveying the surroundings, and meeting his teammates'' eyes.


    He was clapping, cheering his teammates on.


    "Roar, Crimson Tide, roar!"


    Clap clap clap.


    Jacobs clapped hard, conveying a firm belief through his gaze, repeatedly, trying hard to widen his eyes to look at every single teammate.


    Then the cart slowly left the field, and it was visible that the entire Crimson Tide Storm crowd collectively stood up, chanting in a heavy yet resolute tone.


    "Josh! Roar!"


    "Josh! Roar!"


    Over and over, the stadium erupted.


    This scene left Jacobs dumbfounded, staring blankly like a fool at the tumultuous Crimson Tide Storm crowd, and then he couldn''t hold on any longer. He buried his face in his hands and began to cry out loud, his shaking shoulders no longer able to bear any weight, crumbling apart.


    The Jacobs who never revealed any emotion, the Jacobs who never showed the slightest hint of vulnerability, the Jacobs known for his icy demeanor, was now crying like a child. His head and shoulders sagged, allowing scalding tears to wet his cheeks, and his silhouette revealed a touch of despair.


    Unbidden, Li Wei heard again the whisper from Jacobs earlier, just before he was lifted onto the stretcher, while in his embrace.


    "I''m sorry. Li Wei. I''m sorry sorry sorry, I''m really sorry."


    He kept murmuring to himself over and over, pulled into the abyss by the anguish of self-blame and the despair of injury.


    A bitter taste spread on Li Wei''s tongue.


    So, what comes next?

 Chapter 142 141 Standing by the abyss

    "Josh! Roar!"


    "Josh! Roar!"


    Even though Jacobs had left the field, the cheers of the Crimson Tide Storm supporters still echoed in Richmond James Stadium¡ª


    the game was not over yet.


    Clemson Tigers'' Defensive Tackle Watkins had seized the ball, securing an excellent offensive position at the opponent''s end zone front line at the thirty-five-yard line for his offensive group, giving Watson the chance to kill the game.


    And Watson didn''t miss it.


    Cool, resolute, and decisive, Watson, like an assassin, showed his big heart. After coming back to the field, he swiftly cut down the hopes of the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm with another touchdown pass.


    Moreover, after firmly kicking in the extra point, he continued to widen the lead.


    "51:37."


    Before you could even blink, the score gap had already grown to fourteen points; what''s worse, the consumption of time pushed the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm towards an abyss.


    Four minutes and seven seconds.


    Now, that''s all the time left for the defending champions in the whole game.


    "The goddess of victory is now standing in the Clemson Tigers'' end zone waving her hand, in the closing moments of the game, there''s been a significant turn of events, Clemson Tigers have created and firmly grasped an opportunity."


    "From a local perspective, this was a mistake, a fatal fumble, but from an overall viewpoint, this was a victory for Sweeney''s tactical strategy. Starting from the kick-off, a war of attrition had been waged; while preserving defensive group energy, it kept depleting the ground offensive strength of the Crimson Tide Storm.


    In the clash of titans towards the end of the game, a vulnerability finally emerged."


    "Sweeney''s roundabout tactics have achieved an unbelievably effective result!"


    "From the defensive group''s strict execution of tactics to the offensive group''s continued perfect performance, the Clemson Tigers have indeed proven themselves as the only team in the league capable of beating the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm; they were truly prepared."


    "Now, the Clemson Tigers are just four minutes and seven seconds away from defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm."


    "The defending champions are hanging by a thread!"


    Watson finally found his smile; after scoring again, he jogged along the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm''s sideline, not doing any particular gesture, just waving casually and beaming with joy. He looked as if he was admiring a group of dejected losers, easily proceeding with his victory lap.


    They didn''t know how bad Jacobs''s situation was, they were completely outstripped in the rapidly changing match, and the ongoing tension and exhaustion made it hard to catch their breath. For a brief moment, their eyes seemed a bit lost.


    These young men in front of him, after all was said and done, were still just college students, too young, showing a brief dip in spirits and a sense of loss after a series of sudden storms, which was only natural.


    But Li Wei wasn''t.


    Having experienced something as miraculous as transmigration, as absurd as dealing with the system, and transitioning from cross-country running to mixed martial arts and then to football, Li Wei had grown more mature and more composed. The more difficult and dangerous the time, the more focused his attention. That was what he loved most about competitive sports:


    Challenge. Limits. Desperation.


    At this moment, they needed to face their opponents, and they also needed to face themselves. The only one in the world who could defeat them was themselves.


    "The game is not over,"


    When the Offensive group huddled together in a circle, Li Wei scanned those faces and spoke.


    "The moment you choose to give up, whether you''re ahead or behind, no matter how much time is left in the game, that''s when the game is truly over."


    "But I''m not prepared to give up."


    "We are the Crimson Tide Storm, we fought strenuously all season to come to Richmond James Stadium, not to surrender here."


    "Yes, the Clemson Tigers think the game has ended, they''ve started celebrating victory, they''ve become complacent; they''ve begun to slack. It''s foolish, but I won''t remind them because I''m going to seize the opportunity, to show them with actions not to celebrate too early."


    "Not to mention the game hasn''t even reached the two-minute warning, there are still four minutes left. They''ve played all their cards, taking pride in a minor mistake because that''s all they have. They need luck, they''re hoping for sheer chance, deep down, they''re apprehensive, they don''t believe they can beat us."


    "But we don''t need that."


    "Remember how we got here? How did we make every Defensive group in the NCAA tremble at the sight of us?"


    Every word resonated with determination.


    It''s hard to imagine that this was Li Wei''s first football season.


    But on the other hand, precisely because it was Li Wei''s first season¡ªignorant and fearless, bold and daring¡ªhe wouldn''t be afraid, he wouldn''t back down or stop, even if standing on the edge of a cliff, he would still aim for the goal and sprint with all his might.


    However, in a football game, relying on Li Wei charging alone isn''t enough. He needed his teammates, to stand shoulder to shoulder in battle with him.


    The game is not over.


    To be precise, the real game was just beginning now.

 Chapter 143 142 Never Walk Alone

    Their gazes swept over the faces of their teammates in the offensive group, each youthful expression now reigniting with faith, passion shining in their eyes.


    Finally, all eyes turned to Li Wei.


    "The game is not over."


    "Because we are not fighting alone, there''s the Rover, the other teammates standing at the edge of the field, and the millions of Crimson Tide Storm supporters."


    "I can''t predict the final outcome, I can''t guarantee that victory will be ours, we might lose, we might win, but that''s not what matters."


    "What''s important is that we should look at our comrades beside us."


    "After the season ends, we will each go our separate ways, some entering professions, some returning to ordinary life, some continue to battle on, life doesn''t make it easy for us, it always presents us with one challenge after another."


    "But we won''t forget that once we were part of the Crimson Tide Storm, we stood on the field, we created miracle after miracle, we marched valiantly towards Richmond James Stadium and fought until the end."


    "We will never walk alone!"


    Deliberate and firm, yet resonant.


    In the howling wind, it seemed one could hear the blood boiling.


    "I don''t want any regrets, I don''t care about winning or losing, but I want to fight to the very last moment."


    "I want to face any outcome head-on with my chest out the moment the game whistle blows, I want to hold you, hold us in my memory forever. This is a game, yet it''s more than just a game, it''s our battle."


    "No one can take away this memory."


    A pause.


    "I''m ready to keep fighting, who''s with me?"


    Calm, composed, sincere, passionate.


    The blood boils.


    Li Wei stretched out his right hand, his gaze firm, a slight smile on his lips, his face sweaty and fatigued, yet his whole being radiated immense energy.


    Clap.


    Immediately, Cam Robinson, the captain and wide receiver of the offensive group, placed his right hand on the back of Li Wei''s hand, his heart swelling uncontrollably.


    Then came Hertz, then Howard.


    One by one, all the palms of the offensive group piled together, their gazes focusing on Li Wei.


    This was a dilemma, set up in advance by the Clemson Tigers¡ªa net laid from sky to ground, and now it was finally the moment to close the net, tightly grasping onto Saban''s lack of diversity in offensive tactics at a critical juncture, and securing for themselves some precious breathing room.


    So, what to do?


    Second down, ten yards.


    After coming back onto the field, the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm chose to pass five times in a row out of necessity, as time was pressing. They had to pick up the tempo. Out of five passes, three were successful, and they secured two first downs, pushing the Crimson Tide Storm''s offensive group into midfield.


    However, the situation was very, very severe¡ª


    There were two minutes and fifty-five seconds left in the game.


    While the Clemson Tigers could afford a war of attrition, the Alabama Crimson Tide could not; their offensive group had to unleash the explosive power they''d shown throughout the season.


    After the kickoff was announced, Hertz stepped back repeatedly, once again making a gesture to pass. From any angle, the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm had no other choice but to pass, as ground attacks would take up more time; this made Clemson''s defense much easier.


    Step. Step. Step.


    Three steps back, Hertz turned and handed the football to Li Wei.


    If the Alabama Crimson Tide''s offense wanted to display explosive power, they either had to opt for a long pass or a running play. Since Hertz''s previous long pass attempt had failed, Saban once again placed the offensive burden on Li Wei''s shoulders.


    Li Wei was very calm.


    No need for additional observation, the focus of Clemson''s defense was clear as day¡ª


    On the front, they still maintained four men rushing to pressure Hertz.


    At the back, the linebackers and cornerbacks had slightly retreated, focusing on defending against medium and long passes. If Hertz attempted a short pass, they would swarm like locusts, pinning down the receiver immediately.


    Whether defending against passing or running, it was actually the same; Clemson firmly controlled the game, they had already secured a victorious position.


    Now was no exception.


    At this moment, Hertz handed the football to Li Wei. Clemson''s secondary defense was caught off guard because Alabama Crimson Tide''s wide receivers and tight ends all scattered and dashed out, sprinting toward deep field areas. From any angle, it looked like a passing offense¡ª


    And it was a deep pass; Hertz was ready to strike deep, causing all secondary defensive players to closely chase after the wide receivers and tight ends.


    The area for a short pass was completely opened up.


    Instead, the football ended up in Li Wei''s embrace.


    Immediately, Li Wei saw the defensive line close at hand, pouncing like fierce tigers.


    Li Wei didn''t evade; not only did he not evade, but he also faced them head-on without hesitation.

 Chapter 144 143 Ballet dancing

    ```


    The airwave surged¡ª


    The offensive and defensive linemen collided and intertwined like a meat grinder, turning the area near the kickoff line into a disaster zone, impenetrable.


    However.


    A figure in a red uniform with the number twenty-three on his back didn''t avoid the disaster zone, instead moving lightly and nimbly between the fierce collisions of his opponents.


    Like a wild dance of knife tips.


    Touching the ground. Jumping. Turning. Breaking through.


    Behind him, he left a lingering shadow that drew a dreamlike trail of movement, with the all-surrounding surged airwaves utterly unable to keep up with his steps.


    Until the emergence of that figure.


    Number ninety-four. Watkins.


    In the final stretch of the game, Watkins indeed showed a splendid athletic form, not only strong but also nimble, completely overpowering the offensive lineman he was facing, breaking through again, laterally intercepting.


    This time, Watkins''s target was another running back¡ª


    Li Wei.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Watkins spread his arms wide, with the howling wind sounding between his hands, his face behind the helmet displaying a cruel smile on his fleshy cheeks.


    A step forward.


    Got him!


    Watkins felt a surge of excitement. Li Wei, who had seemed to move with such a light step, appeared to have exhausted his strength and couldn''t turn again, falling within Watkins''s controlling range.


    Strength burst forth in an instant, as a huge black shadow firmly enveloped Li Wei.


    Then, the collision.


    Hmph.


    Watkins''s smile froze at the corner of his mouth as the force hitting his chest misplaced at the last moment, heavily and solidly landing on the shoulder. A dull hammer blow penetrated the shoulder, and there was a brief pause¡ª


    The brain, a thundering roar.


    The next second, the world spun.


    Watkins started to whirl, like a ballet dancer, gracefully dancing, but regrettably, the cumbersome and slow steps lacked any lightness or elegance, making him look more like a bear on ice skates than a ballerina.


    Whirr.


    Watkins''s ears buzzed with noise, but he could no longer see Li Wei in his field of vision.


    Wait, where''s Li Wei?


    Li Wei had already broken free.


    Bring on any storm!


    Taking a deep breath, Hertz led the offensive group to line up once more.


    First down, ten yards.


    "Attack!"


    The opening call from Hertz cut through the air. Just as his fingertips barely touched the football, he immediately felt the surging waves of air assaulting him.


    Blitz!


    The Clemson Tigers, shockingly, had chosen the blitz tactic. Not to mention during the fourth quarter, they had rarely blitzed the entire game today. Sweeney, having tailored his strategy against the Crimson Tide Storm, did not need to blitz the quarterback to control the game surreptitiously.


    Yet now, without any warning, the Clemson Tigers chose to break through.


    Hertz was caught completely off guard. Not just Hertz, Saban too, turned a slight shade of pale, realizing that this offensive and defensive play was indeed Sweeney''s successful gamble against him. And in such a high-level confrontation, it''s often such details that determine the victory or defeat.


    Roar!


    The Clemson Tigers boldly and wildly chose a six-man rush, blitzing forward, with four linemen and two linebackers unreasonably tearing through the offensive line pocket, engaging in battle at the front lines without any regard for caution.


    Hertz, retreating, kept retreating, his steps somewhat chaotic and tense. His mind was still on the passing tactics, his vision tightly blocked by the meat grinder on the front line, unable to see any openings for a pass for the time being.


    Retreating, and continuing to retreat.


    Hertz tried to calm down, relying on his own legs to run out of the pocket. After all, he was a running quarterback, and there was no need to stand still and wait for fate. But the Clemson Tigers defense team was hell-bent on taking him down.


    Forceful. Tough, and aggressive.


    Hertz''s continuous retreat failed to create distance; the pocket was already shattered, with two players closing in on him from left and right, severing his escape routes.


    "Don''t give up. Don''t give up!"


    Hertz kept shouting to himself, then caught a glimpse of a flash of red out of the corner of his eye. With a flick of his right hand, he sent the football flying.


    ¡ª¡ª The gaze of the whole stadium followed the football as it flew past the defenders.


    Ha!


    A hand reached up high, intercepting the trajectory of the football. It was none other than a player from the Clemson Tigers, which caused the entire stadium to gasp in shock.


    Interception?


    Was it an interception?


    Just by a hair''s breadth, as fingertips grazed the football, altering its trajectory, but failing to intercept or knock down the pass¡ªjust a fraction off.


    The football wobbled as it fell, its flight path took a steep plunge.


    Li Wei quickly stepped forward in two quick strides. He had to change his running momentum to go back, reaching down in a swooping motion to catch the football into his arms.


    Ha, the stadium fell silent, the scene cutting off everyone''s breath. Following a brief exclamation, it fell into silence, not a single sound to be heard.


    Dead silence.

 Chapter 145 144 A Stroke at the Throat

    ```


    Chaos, danger, shock.


    Li Wei''s heart also raced with shock. His steps, originally prepared to launch, were disrupted, startling a cold sweat from his skin, but his second reaction was agile enough to step forward and scoop up the football before it hit the ground.


    However, this unexpected deviation once again plunged Li Wei into trouble. Not only had he lost his position, but also his balance and center of gravity were thrown off; he needed to adjust his footsteps before he could restart.


    Li Wei was not panicked.


    Essentially, the Clemson Tigers were in the advantage now. Sensing the rising momentum of the Crimson Tide Storm, Sweeney reacted immediately, adopting an aggressive passing posture to preemptively disrupt the entire game plan of the Crimson Tide Storm. Now, the Crimson Tide Storm was indeed pushed to the edge of a cliff.


    The more this was the case, the more necessary it was to remain calm.


    His footsteps paused. Before he could shake his head to observe the situation ahead, he immediately saw a figure in a white jersey lunging at him.


    Like a tornado.


    Stopping abruptly and pivoting, Li Wei hit the brakes hard, controlling his body and turning counterclockwise with the momentum, narrowly avoiding the tackle¡ª


    Brushing past.


    Quite literally, Li Wei could even sense the expansion and burst of the muscles on his back, the rolling heat waves oscillating in the gap between the two bodies, scalding his skin as if he had just grazed a blade''s edge.


    With a push from his right leg, he was about to break laterally to the right. His teetering center of gravity not yet fully under control, he was swept into a bright white halo the next second.


    Tackled!


    Li Wei was caught in the hold.


    It was Watkins.


    Bang!


    Li Wei immediately felt a force trying to compress and clamp him. A crisis loomed overhead, the sunlight began to vanish, and his heart clenched tightly.


    Left hand, bracing.


    Strong arm.


    With a push, Li Wei reflexively straightened his left arm, making it the last barrier for Watkins to complete the tackle.


    Ah, Watkins roared in rage.


    A head-on confrontation of "strength VS strength."


    Watkins, 6.3 feet (191 centimeters), 305 pounds (138 kilograms), like a mountain of flesh.


    From height to weight to strength, he completely overpowered Li Wei.


    Not a chance.


    Wait, really not a chance?


    Li Wei could feel the wobble of Watkins''s center of gravity and the instability of his feet during the abrupt stopping and turning, his eagerness leading to a less secure tackle.


    Without hesitation, Li Wei exerted force with his left hand.


    A shove.


    And another shove.


    Not just the left hand, his feet stomped the ground in quick succession, pushing forward continuously like a bulldozer, jabbing with his left hand.


    Straight Arm Block, three successive shoves later¡ª


    The forty-yard line.


    In just three large strides, Li Wei had already surged forward, stumbling, and it seemed the first down was within reach. But it wasn''t enough, far from enough.


    Hanging around in the pocket had wasted too much time, and if he just settled for the first down, then the Clemson Tigers'' strategy could still be considered successful.


    They needed more.


    Li Wei, in a mad dash.


    "Roar!"


    A classic scene from Bryant Denny Stadium was playing out at Richmond James Stadium, where countless Crimson Tide Storm fans united, watching number twenty-three, swift as the wind, and making their voices heard.


    The thirty-five-yard line.


    "Roar!"


    As the last barrier of the Clemson Tigers defense team approached, Tanner Muse.


    Muse, do you remember the fear of being dominated by Li Wei?


    Muse was closing in, rapidly, and the other Clemson Tigers players were also converging, realizing that their risk of full pressure was facing the most terrible backlash.


    The thirty-yard line.


    "Roar!"


    Not just the Crimson Tide Storm, but also the Clemson Tigers fans stood up uncontrollably shouting, hoping Muse could stop Li Wei.


    In their sight, Li Wei ran faster and faster, so much so that one could almost see his figure ignite, leaving behind a sweeping red afterimage.


    The twenty-five-yard line.


    "Roar!"


    Muse, catching up rapidly, was not planning to tackle but to directly knock Li Wei out of bounds.


    Muse''s speed had peaked, and his strength was fully unleashed¡ª


    Bang.


    Wait, the expected collision didn''t happen.


    A flicker of astonishment crossed Muse''s eyes as he watched Li Wei slam on the brakes to control his body, that calm gaze landing on him like looking at a fool, before he helplessly flew past Li Wei.


    Unable to stop, sliding as if on ice.


    Time, at that moment, froze.


    Still at the twenty-five-yard line.


    But when Li Wei started up again, there were no more obstacles in sight, a wide-open field, with all the dust and clamor of thousands of horses left behind.


    The shouts from Richmond James Stadium came faster and louder, ultimately transforming into an unrestrained roar of cheers and jubilation, thundering throughout the arena.


    "Roar! Roar! Roar!"


    "Aaah!"


    And then, just like that, they watched Li Wei charge into the end zone, unrivaled.


    A swift strike to the throat, a smooth touchdown.


    And so, it all happened.

 Chapter 146 145 fight side by side

    "God, God God God, oh, God!"


    "On the very brink of an interception, Li Wei catches the football before it hits the ground, dodges a tackle, shakes off another¡ªflipping Watkins over in the process¡ªand then evades a second grab, breaking away for the end zone like a frenzied dance on the blade''s edge."


    "Touchdown!"


    "A forty-three-yard rushing touchdown!"


    "Incredible, simply incredible!"


    "The game is not over, God, the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm come back from the dead with an unparalleled performance, bringing suspense back into the game."


    "Saban''s Crimson Tide Storm shows the quality of kings once again, proving they are still the team that all NCAA teams desperately want to defeat but find so difficult to beat. The Clemson Tigers were very, very close, but now Saban has thrown another challenge to Sweeney."


    "With the next offense, should they play conservatively and wind down the clock waiting for victory, or should they take a risk and seize the initiative?"


    Madness.


    The entire Richmond James Stadium is in utter frenzy, engulfed in a sea of red, with roaring support echoing to the skies, and the inside and outside of the stadium trembling and shaking as if it were a lone canoe amidst tumultuous waves.


    However.


    Li Wei does not celebrate; he merely glances over at the gathering of Clemson Tigers players, a hurried glance, his gaze landing on Watson¡ª


    The game, it''s still not over.


    Li Wei''s eyes are so resolute and bright, flashing with a hint of murderous intent.


    Watson: Crap.


    He was nearly out of control, ready to slam his helmet, but Watson managed to keep it together, focusing as much as he could on himself.


    The advantage is still with the Clemson Tigers; they absolutely will not let the scene from the spring training camp happen again.


    Not a chance.


    Watson almost bit through his teeth.


    And Li Wei has already turned back towards his team, stuffs the football he had just carried into the end zone into the arms of the Alabama defensive group captain, Allen¡ª


    They, are a team.


    Relying solely on offense or solely on defense, they could not win; they need to come together. The offense has done its part, now it''s the defense''s turn.


    Allen understands.


    Taking the football from Li Wei, he straightens his back, his eyes also flashing with determination.


    "It''s our turn now."


    Just a simple phrase, but weighty as a thousand jun.


    Watson.


    Blitz!


    At the most critical and dangerous moment, Saban''s defense also chose a bold strategy to break the impasse, rarely seen rushing to apply pressure on the quarterback.


    Stomp, stomp, stomp.


    Allen moved forward without hesitation, pushing away the offensive lineman he was facing as if they were made of paper, stepping forward, and immediately spotting Watson, who was still holding the ball, observing.


    That''s right.


    Saban guessed that Sweeney would take a risk, still trusting in Watson''s capabilities, after all, today Watson indeed displayed an incredible competitive state. Relying on Watson''s individual abilities to complete a pass or a run, attempting to make the third-down conversion.


    The Clemson Tigers still had a way out, didn''t they?


    Thus, the Crimson Tide Storm chose to blitz.


    Allen clenched his teeth, the whole game had been suffocating, frustrating, and oppressive, but he never lost faith or focus.


    Take a step, extend arms, sack.


    Allen kept his attention highly focused, seizing every slight advantage from the tactics to preempt, launching himself at Watson the moment he observed and read the defense.


    Wait, Watson tried to escape, his footsteps shuffling.


    Today, they had been eluded and fooled by Watson too many times, but not this time.


    Allen reacted quickly, following Watson''s movements. Just as Watson was about to change direction again, Allen didn''t give him the chance, capitalizing on the slight tactical advantage to step forward and sack him.


    Grapple!


    Tackle!


    Bang¡ª¡ª


    The world was reduced to a single noise, stretched out and lengthened.


    Ah, ah, ahhh!


    From the depths of Allen''s Dantian, an astonishing energy burst forth, forcefully bringing Watson down, who seemed as delicate as a boneless rose crushed to the ground.


    The next second.


    Fumble!


    A football, like a sprite, shot out, followed by a figure who dashed forward swiftly, leaping and surging before the chaotic encirclement tightened, securing the football firmly in his embrace. He curled up, protecting the football with his body, blocking all the raging wind and torrential rain outside.


    In Humphrey''s mind, there was only one belief¡ª


    Ball possession, Marlon, ball possession!

 Chapter 147 146 The Battle of Beliefs

    "Roar, Crimson Tide!"


    "Roar, Crimson Tide!"


    The whole Richmond James Stadium was submerged, enveloped, seized, shaken, spreading mightily across the entire Tampa Bay.


    Just when everyone thought the young Sweeney had successfully outsmarted Saban, Saban showed his cunning and wisdom once again.


    The suspense, came back, the suspense over victory and defeat truly returned.


    Humphrey leaped, fiercely guarding the football, protecting the possession with his life¡ª


    Suppressed throughout the game, he had been holding it in.


    Humphrey was also very dissatisfied with his performance, from the game against the University of Washington to this one against Clemson University, his performance had not reached the level of regular season. In addition to anxiety, he also felt some self-reproach.


    Until now, standing on the edge of a cliff, he finally seized the opportunity for a small act of self-redemption.


    Find more to read at empire


    Ah! Ah ah ah!


    But this time, Humphrey didn''t celebrate excessively; once the crowd dispersed, he was the first to grab the football and rush to the sideline, thrusting the football into Jacobs'' arms, his smile bursting forth.


    "Josh, the game''s not over,"


    They were still fighting side by side, including the effort that was Jacobs'' part.


    Jacobs, holding the football, stood there as if petrified.


    But Humphrey had already turned to face Li Wei, giving him a big hug, "Buddy, it''s up to you guys now."


    The heart, it pounded wildly in the chest.


    Finally!


    The defensive group finally caught up at a critical moment, creating opportunities for the offensive group. Humphrey looked at Li Wei, with so many things to say but not knowing how to start, in the end, he just clenched his fist and hit Li Wei''s shoulder hard, "We fight together."


    And the captain of the defensive group, Allen, was at the back, arriving belatedly. He still felt somewhat guilty; if the defensive group had found their form earlier, would they have avoided this predicament?


    Looking up, Allen saw Li Wei.


    Li Wei held out his fist, waiting.


    Immediately after, Hertz unhesitatingly spiked the ball to stop the clock, wasting a down but exchanging it for a pause in the game time, giving Saban time to strategize.


    At this moment, the Crimson Tide Storm had reached just eleven yards from the End Zone, a step away from the Red Zone, and also had to face the previously unseen dense defense of the Clemson Tigers defense team.


    The difficulty increased drastically.


    And with it, the whole situation changed.


    Fifty-three seconds left in the game time, and with no timeouts remaining, it meant that this spike was their last chance to strategize. After this, there would be no more opportunities; they had to give it their all in one single push.


    The air grew tenser and tenser.


    Second and ten.


    Hertz attempted to find Tight End Howard, hoping to take advantage of the Tight End''s size matchup in the short-pass area to overpower the defense. However, the pass was too low, and Howard, catching the football below the knee and thigh level, was unable to turn around and advance. He had no choice but to quickly go down to avoid wasting time.


    Here again, one could see the cunning of Sweeney¡ª


    In fact, the Defensive group could disrupt the pass, but by doing so, they would automatically help Alabama Crimson Tide Storm stop the game time. Therefore, they deliberately did not close in immediately, instead allowing Howard to make the catch and then completing the encirclement and interception, letting the time continue to tick away.


    The Alabama Crimson Tide Storm didn''t have any time to catch their breath, they immediately stood up, lined up, and started the play, everything going into high-speed operation.


    Third and seven.


    Hertz handed the ball to Li Wei, who attempted to break through the bustling defense, but the Clemson Tigers were mentally prepared for this, using their sheer numbers tactic to completely cut off Li Wei''s hopes.


    He forced his way through for five yards, but still lacked support afterwards.


    Fourth and two.


    This was the real desperate situation.


    Actually, the choices left for Alabama Crimson Tide Storm were quite clear now; they didn''t need to try for a field goal because making it would be meaningless. Going for it on fourth down was the only option, success or failure hinging on this single play.


    Yet, time kept flowing away, twenty-five seconds, twenty-four seconds...


    With each hesitation and each tension, the door of hope closed a bit more, twenty-three seconds, twenty-two seconds...


    Sweeney and Saban were continuously giving hand signals, competing for every precious second to unfold their plans, the suspense of the entire season''s victory or defeat hinged on this moment.


    Under the watchful eyes of thousands, Clark took the stage.


    Everyone: ???

 Chapter 148 147 Surprise Tactics

    Your next chapter awaits on empire


    The crowd: Huh?


    A state of surprise, a buzzing chaos, yet in the midst of mutual glances, directions were lost, no one could find an answer, only absurdity and curiosity prevailed.


    Amid the bustling scrutiny of the crowd, Clark took the field.


    Unbelievably, at this very moment, Saban chose to replace a wide receiver with the Double running back tactic. So, was the Double running back tactic a smoke bomb or a true ace up the sleeve?


    Looking back over the season, the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm used the Double running back tactic not infrequently, mainly to confuse their opponents'' judgments, to protect Hertz and Li Wei and to achieve considerable success.


    But now?


    At this moment?


    Double running back tactic, was Saban serious?


    In the blink of an eye, both Sweeney and the Clemson Tigers defense team had no time to think.


    Sweeney kept shouting, "Do not get distracted, do not let them influence you, stick to the plan."


    Sweeney believed this was Saban''s tactic to mess with the defenders'' mindset, all this talk of secret weapons, special tactics, pulling surprises, breaking the mold was just nonsense. Saban just hoped to shift all attention to Clark, causing confusion; they needed to hold their ground.


    Actually, Clark was a bit dazed.


    He himself was confused, unsure of how things had come to this. In such a game, at such a moment, he was chosen to play?


    Could he?


    Lost in a haze, he stepped onto the field, only to be immediately drowned out by the roar of the bustling crowd, his heart nearly bursting.


    Fourth down, two yards, twenty-one seconds, twenty seconds...


    Time passed still, the crisis clearly unprecedented, hanging by a thread, every pore on his body sensing the sharpness and heat. What exactly was Crimson Tide Storm playing at?


    Honestly, even Clark himself didn''t understand.


    Actually, he had already realized his dream this season, not just once representing Crimson Tide Storm; but it was through this season''s trials that Clark truly recognized his limits¡ªwhich were clear.


    He wasn''t cut out for this sport.


    Even in NCAA, he had already seen his limits, let alone the NFL.


    Once, being a professional player was the dream he fervently chased, but now, the dream should end, he needed to return to reality, to stand on firm ground.


    After much struggle and deep thought, Clark had already decided that he would not enter the draft after the season ended.


    Of course, he would still remain on the team next year as a senior, but that would be a farewell to his football career. After graduation, he would leave the football scene, take his college diploma, find a job, and return to an ordinary life.


    Regrets?


    No, he had none.


    Now, the opportunity had come.


    Clark didn''t speak but exchanged a look with Li Wei.


    Then, they aligned¡ª


    The Alabama Crimson Tide Storm lined up in one of football''s most retro and classic formations.


    Double running back.


    Li Wei, Clark, Hertz, and the center stood in a vertical line, evenly spaced, with Li Wei as the fullback, about seven yards away from Hertz; Clark as the halfback, standing between Li Wei and Hertz, about three yards from Hertz.


    Before the 1980s, nearly all football teams used this offensive formation, where the fullback and halfback were skilled in different styles of ground attacks.


    However, entering the 21st century, the tank-like running back, the fullback, gradually disappeared, and such traditional offensive formations increasingly became less common.


    Unexpectedly, today the Crimson Tide Storm revived it.


    The wind howled fiercely.


    The Clemson Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide Storm had completed their alignments, and time continued to slowly tick away, nineteen seconds, eighteen seconds...


    Then.


    "Attack!"


    Hertz''s voice pierced the sky, and in an instant, players from both sides began to move swiftly.


    If one observed carefully, one could notice that the front line of the Clemson Tigers'' defense team didn''t make any rash movements, while the second line closely followed the wide receivers, quickly retreating.


    Clearly, their focus was on Hertz, worried about whether Hertz would pass or run the ball, fourth and two yards, and also three yards from the end zone line, the quarterback had different opportunities to kill the game.


    Hertz was retreating, passing by Clark, making a handoff motion.


    Just then, Li Wei cut from behind towards the right side.


    Suddenly, the situation drastically changed.


    The focus of the Clemson Tigers'' defense team was instantly split, part on Hertz, part firmly tracking Li Wei''s footsteps.


    Bang, bang, bang.


    Collisions on the front line, matchups on the second line, movement in the short pass area all occurred simultaneously, a dizzying spectacle, impossible to clear one''s mind.


    Where was the football?


    In whose hands was the football?


    Li Wei?


    No, wrong, Hertz!


    But, was it really? Had you really seen clearly? Don''t blink; just a slight blink and the magic might just happen right before your eyes.

 Chapter 149 148 Brazen

    Collision, impact, offense and defense players intertwined, the focus of everyone''s vision shifted from Li Wei to Hertz in an instant.


    Hertz!


    The football, in Hertz''s arms!


    One could easily see, Hertz was running along the left side out of the pocket, attempting to push forward with the ball himself.


    The strategy of Crimson Tide Storm was clear, using Li Wei as bait and Clark to distract, Hertz was to complete the advance with the ball.


    Sweeney was confident of victory, he hadn''t forgotten how the Crimson Tide Storm had turned around the game against Louisville State University in the second half.


    Swarming.


    Clemson Tigers'' defenders rushed towards Hertz in a swarm.


    However, in Clark''s mind there was only one belief:


    Focus.


    Even though it was fourth and two, if failure came here, it would be a complete defeat, and Alabama Crimson Tide Storm''s entire season''s effort would come to an end; despite such thoughts spreading broadly in his mind, tension and fear intensely constricting his chest making it hard to breathe; despite slightly sweaty fingertips, trembling knees, and his guts burning...


    But.


    The belief in his mind overshadowed everything, like walking on a high-wire rope, he had to focus.


    Push off, start.


    Covertly, Clark took the football from Hertz''s hand and tucked it into his arms¡ª


    Gasp.


    Subconsciously, Clark held his breath.


    "Focus, Ronnie, focus!"


    With a pause, Clark had already followed Li Wei''s figure, stepping on the interval and rushing out, holding his breath completely, his attention sharply focused.


    Just a moment ago, Clark could see a bustling crowd ahead, making his heart tighten.


    The next second, the dark shadows moved like a tide to the left, opening up his vision.


    Opportunity!


    Clark hurriedly started, accelerating forward, seeing Li Wei knocking Watkins away, the two grappling into a tangle, a gap appearing on the right.


    Step up, sprint.


    Just having crossed the kick-off line, he could see Mus''s frontal collision ahead.


    Danger!


    Alarm!


    But strangely, Clark wasn''t nervous; instead, adrenaline continuously surged because he knew he was not fighting alone.


    That was not a smoke bomb.


    Who could believe that Clark''s entry was not a smoke bomb ¨C a surprise move indeed. Saban had laid the tactics right out in the open, but then feinted?


    Sweeney: ...


    He couldn''t believe his eyes and was so frustrated and pained that he could not even swear, hands on his head, standing there stunned.


    "Five seconds!"


    "With only five seconds left in the game, the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm managed the unthinkable touchdown that brought the game back from the dead."


    "God, the game isn''t over, this peak showdown isn''t over yet."


    "If the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm can kick this next extra point, we will go into overtime."


    "This will be the first time since the NCAA''s reorganization in 2006 that an overtime is needed to decide the championship; it''s also the second nationwide championship overtime since the 2001 season when Ohio State University defeated the University of Miami in double overtime, making it undoubtedly a historic moment we are witnessing."


    "Wait."


    "Oh, Jesus Christ. Wait, excuse my language, but!"


    There was a brief silence in the studio, no words needed to clearly feel the shock and astonishment rippling through the air.


    "God, what am I seeing, what am I witnessing!"


    "Two-point conversion, the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm chose a two-point conversion. God, Saban didn''t opt for a one-point kick, but for a two-point conversion."


    Shock, astonishment, impact.


    After each touchdown, the offensive team gets a chance for extra points.


    One point, kick from the fifteen-yard line before the end zone, if successful, counts as one point.


    Two points, another offense from the two-yard line before the end zone, if it''s a touchdown, counts as two points.


    The difficulty is obvious.


    A two-point conversion requires the offensive group to score another touchdown from the two-yard line. The closer to the end zone, the more advantageous it is for the defensive group''s tactical layout, so the difficulty of a two-point conversion is evident; hence, both NFL and NCAA usually opt for a one-point extra point, as two-point conversions are not common.


    Of course, there are exceptions, with the trailing team choosing a risky two-point conversion to quickly close the score gap, which is also a tactical choice.


    However, the problem is¡ª


    "51:50."


    Look at the score, now the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm are just one point behind, could securely kick a one-point extra point, tie the score, consume the remaining game time, and enter overtime, essentially securing a no-loss situation, waiting for overtime to restart on equal footing.


    But with a two-point conversion, it''s either heaven or hell, either the conversion succeeds and the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm clinches the nationwide championship in a final move, or the conversion fails, handing victory over to the Clemson Tigers, falling just short after back-to-back touchdowns that closed the score gap at the final moment.


    Saban, to take such a risk?


    Suddenly, Richmond James Stadium went mad, the game''s dramatic twists and turns culminating in such a tense and thrilling ending.


    In the next five seconds, they would witness the crowning of the 2016 season''s NCAA nationwide champion, akin to soccer''s golden goal rule, abruptly ending, instant death, even more thrilling than a penalty shootout, as the rationality of the entire audience instantly vanished, plunging into madness.

 Chapter 150 149 convert to minutes

    Saban certainly wasn''t crazy.


    More accurately, Saban was clear about what he was doing, and it was the result of careful calculation and mature deliberation¡ª


    Overtime games were disadvantageous for the Crimson Tide Storm.


    Everyone knew that football''s golden-goal sudden death was extremely harsh and unreasonable, prompting many controversies, and was officially abolished in 2004; in fact, the overtime rule in football was even more ruthless.


    In a football game, if both sides end the regular game in a tie, then they enter overtime, which consists of two fifteen-minute halves.


    In overtime, if one team reaches the end zone first, then they win the game outright, just like in football''s sudden-death system; if one team kicks a field goal first, then the other team still has a chance to win on offense, and here lie three possibilities:


    First, if they reach the end zone, then they win immediately, sudden death style.


    Second, if they kick a field goal, then the game is tied, and the opposing offensive group takes the field again, starting the cycle anew.


    Third, if they fail to score, then they lose the game outright.


    From this, one can see that the team that attacks first in overtime has a huge advantage, as they firmly grasp the initiative, but the choice for the right to attack in overtime is reliant on... a coin toss.


    In other words, once you enter overtime, luck plays a key role.


    For coaches, overtime often means that the situation is out of control.


    The above describes the NFL overtime rules, while NCAA''s overtime rules are slightly different, closer to football''s penalty shootout.


    Both offensive groups take turns attacking in the opponent''s red zone, and both sides have the opportunity to take the field; if one round decides the winner, then that decides the game, like if one side reaches the end zone and the other only kicks a field goal, then the team that reached the end zone wins; but if both sides score the same, then the round continues.


    Beginning from the third round, field goals don''t count, it''s either reaching the end zone or not scoring at all, so this set of rules also avoids a final result of a tie.


    In the 2018 season, on the last week of the regular season, Louisiana State University and Texas A&M University played a historic endurance battle, with both sides waging seven overtimes, and ultimately Texas A&M won "74:72" on their home field against Louisiana State.


    It was breathtaking!


    Incredible!


    Even though in the NCAA''s overtime rules, the element of luck is somewhat less; the physical toll is more intense, and there is less margin for error for the offensive group.


    And now, the Crimson Tide Storm indeed couldn''t afford such an expenditure of energy.


    Saban knew that if they entered overtime, the Crimson Tide Storm might get caught in a vicious cycle; and giving Watson another opportunity to take the field could tilt the scale of victory slightly towards the Clemson Tigers.


    Overtime was a gamble. Going for the two-point conversion was also a gamble; but to Saban, the two-point conversion allowed him to take control and keep Watson sitting quietly on the bench¡ª


    More precisely, standing on the sidelines as a spectator.


    The calculations of pros and cons this time were not difficult for Saban.


    After all, if not now, there would be no need later.


    On the field, whether it was Clark or Hertz, they tried their best to control themselves but could not suppress the slight trembling of their fingertips. The pressure of uncertainty regarding victory or defeat overwhelmed them at this moment, causing their knees to weaken.


    But not Li Wei.


    Li Wei''s face was composed, his gaze firm. He knew they could win.


    Not believe, but know, as if he had already foreseen the outcome sixty seconds later. All his spirit and will were focused on this moment.


    The time-out ended, and it seemed like only a couple of breaths before it was over.


    The players of the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm and the Clemson Tigers lined up again, a tight formation at the two-yard line in front of the end zone. The stadium roared with intense winds, and the heat wave poured down like a torrential rain. Miraculously, however, the air seemed to freeze.


    The Crimson Tide Storm''s formation remained unchanged¡ª


    Hertz stood behind the center, Clark stood behind Hertz, and Li Wei stood behind Clark. Their figures overlapped to the extent that the defensive group couldn''t see Li Wei at all, and naturally, they couldn''t anticipate ahead of time.


    Tension, pressure, excitement.


    Not just the Crimson Tide Storm, but the Clemson Tigers were also stretched to their limit. The air was thick with gunpowder, and a tiny spark could ignite the entire stadium.


    Perhaps, Li Wei was the sole exception.


    Without a single thought, his mind as tranquil as still water, he calmly eyed the defensive formation before him, and then, the sound of the wind carried Hertz''s slightly trembling voice.


    "Attack!"


    The outcome of the game hung by a thread.


    A figure moved, Clark to the right.


    Another figure moved, Hertz to the left.


    Li Wei, however, stepped straight ahead. None of them sped up their steps; they adjusted with small, quick steps, and could see the Clemson Tigers defense team ignoring everything to press forward fully.


    An ambush?


    No, at least not quite. But undisputedly intense pressure.


    The Clemson Tigers decided to take the initiative. Their defensive line released a powerful energy, crowding the space around the kickoff line like dark clouds descending upon a village.


    Right then, the football began to move¡ª


    The handoff.


    Hertz gave the football to Li Wei.

 Chapter 151 150 Instant Kill Moment

    The Clemson Tigers'' Defensive Tackle Watkins was also highly focused, and in today''s fourth quarter, his confidence was off the charts¡ª


    If he could tackle Jacobs and cause a fumble to turn the tide once, he believed he could tackle Li Wei and force another fumble to kill the game a second time.


    Stomp. Stomp.


    The right foot, like a bull, kept stamping the ground, gathering strength and fueling himself up.


    "Attack!"


    The moment Hertz shouted the kick-off slogan, Watkins had already charged forward, accompanied by a muffled "bang," his shoulder collided with the mountain of flesh before him, and his peripheral vision quickly scanned the field.


    Everything happened in the blink of an eye.


    Five seconds, only five seconds left in the match.


    Hertz handed the football to Li Wei, Watkins'' heart clenched tightly, adrenaline surged relentlessly, energy burst forth from the depths of his Dantian, preparing to breach the protective pocket of the offensive line, and then he noticed the change within the pocket.


    Four seconds.


    Just a second ago, Hertz and Clark, who had been pulling to the outside left and right, both turned back sharply, converging behind the offensive line like a bulldozer.


    "Damn, it''s a one-yard push."


    Watkins'' heart squeezed¡ª


    In football games, it''s common to face situations like third-and-one or fourth-and-one, where among many strategies, there''s one that is the most primitive and heaviest: gathering all the offensive players to push forward, driving through the one-yard distance like a bulldozer.


    Like pigs rooting through the cabbage.


    It was ugly, but very effective, as it was simply the raw power breaking through the front; if the defensive group failed to predict and lacked the piled strength on the kickoff line, the offense could easily push the yard through.


    The Crimson Tide Storm''s running back unit was still primarily agile and nimble this season, with fewer head-to-head encounters of pure strength, and the one-yard push tactic was even rarer.


    But now!


    Unexpectedly, it was deployed at this moment.


    Even though this required a two-yard push, which was more difficult, the Crimson Tide Storm completely caught the Clemson Tigers off guard, with the offensive group holding the advantage.


    The Crimson Tide Storm first used multiple players to disperse the offensive firepower, confusing the defensive group''s judgment, then had Hertz and Clark create decoys pulling defensive strength, before launching the one-yard push with a deliberate trap, seizing that split-second difference. By the time the Clemson Tigers reacted, the two-point conversion was already theirs.


    Damn it!


    In the flash of a moment, Watkins realized he had also made a mistake in his judgment.


    The one holding the ball was indeed Li Wei, but if Watkins stepped forward trying to tackle and dispersed the defensive line''s strength, he would fall right into the Crimson Tide Storm''s trap.


    Damn!


    Three seconds.


    Watkins immediately reacted, bending down, bending his knees, lowering his center of gravity, and forming a flesh and blood wall with his Defensive group teammates, confronting head-on.


    Watkins could not believe his eyes, he tilted his head slightly towards the sky only to see a vast expanse of red, a gust of wind sweeping like a humpback whale, brilliant light pouring down everywhere.


    Suddenly, his eyes stung, and Watkins involuntarily shut them tight.


    The world plunged into darkness.


    One second.


    Li Wei hurdled the fence, facing straight on was a white hurricane blocking his path¡ªMus.


    But Li Wei didn''t dodge; instead, he curled up his body, using his shoulder as a cushion for landing, and charged into Mus''s chest, hearing a roar in his ears.


    Bang, clatter clatter.


    The sounds of destruction echoed.


    Immediately after, Li Wei had rolled forward and dashed out swiftly.


    Jostling, turmoil, the brilliant spectacle of summer thunder boomed beside his ears.


    Protect the ball, protect the ball!


    That was the only thought in Li Wei''s mind amidst the whirl. His hands and body, despite being jolted about, firmly controlled the football through the turmoil, and after a roll, he used the momentum to quickly stand up again.


    Panting, panting.


    His chest heaved; his breath burned.


    Li Wei stood tall and proud, clutching the football tightly in his right hand. Behind him was a scene of disarray and chaos. All eyes were riveted on him as his unconquerable spirit blazed like a warrior reborn. The entire Richmond James Stadium prostrated before him, worshipping and trembling.


    Until¡ª


    The whistle sounded.


    The head referee confirmed, the two-point conversion was successful.


    Zero seconds, the game clock ran out, and the match was over.


    "My God, my God, my God!"


    "Alabama Crimson Tide Storm''s two-point conversion is successful, with the Crimson Tide Storm''s number twenty-three running back, Li Wei, entering the end zone with a hurdle jump for an incomparable and astounding two-point conversion."


    "Victory belongs to the Crimson Tide Storm."


    "In the fourth quarter, the Clemson Tigers were leading by fourteen points with two touchdowns, but in the final moments, the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm once again demonstrated their explosive power on both offense and defense, completing an epic comeback and sealing the game with a buzzer-beating two-point conversion."


    "Incredible, incredible!"


    "The final score ''52:51'', the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm defeats the Clemson Tigers to defend their title in a historic game¡ªit was a great match, and we have witnessed history at the Richmond James Stadium."


    "Alabama Crimson Tide Storm, champions!"


    ```

 Chapter 152 151 defending champion

    The fierce wind howled, and the entire Crimson Tide Storm froze in the crevices of time, as Richmond James Stadium fell completely silent, caught in a stagnant shock, unconsciously holding its breath.


    Li Wei stood in the end zone, behind him was a complete mess, the chaotic and shambolic defeat scattered all around. He stood tall and resolute like a war god, holding up the splendid sky, then he turned around¡ª


    Looking towards the other side, he found Watson in the Clemson Tigers'' resting area amidst the stunned and despairing crowd, raised his right index finger, and gently shook it while his smile slightly lifted.


    Watson felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.


    Even the clarity of anger and despair briefly froze in his veins, losing all ability to react, standing there dumfounded as if turned to stone.


    Then, his knees weakened uncontrollably and he collapsed to the ground.


    Boom!


    In an instant, Richmond James Stadium finally snapped back to reality, and joy, happiness, madness, and passion gushed enthusiastically through everyone''s minds.


    Ah! Ah! Ah!


    Champions!


    The Crimson Tide Storm are the champions!


    For the second consecutive year, Alabama Crimson Tide Storm completely dominated the nationwide championship; since 2009, Alabama Crimson Tide Storm filed another perfect season, unbeaten in fifteen games, sweeping all championships available!


    Ronnie Clark could hardly believe it. He rushed towards Li Wei, jumped and hugged him like a koala, shouting uncontrollably.


    "We won, we won! We''ve won!"


    As he shouted, Ronnie''s eyes could no longer hold the tears back, he burst into heavy sobs, overwhelmed with joy, emotion, bitterness, and confusion, his mind went blank, still unable to believe that it had really happened.


    In his not-so-stellar and not-so-bright NCAA career, he had witnessed Derrick Henry lead Alabama Crimson Tide Storm to their first championship, he had personally participated and became part of the defending champions Alabama Crimson Tide Storm, what more could he ask for?


    Even if his college career ended here, he had no regrets.


    Ronnie cried like a child.


    Li Wei firmly patted Ronnie on the back, set him down, and pushed through teammates who came to celebrate, like Hertz, Howard, Robinson, and others, walking briskly towards the side of the field. He was soon facing the incredulous Humphrey, who ran towards him with open arms.


    "Champion!"


    All the way to today, to this moment.


    Danny watched his brother on the field, watched the Crimson Tide Storm supporting each other and fighting together, yet his heart uncontrollably ripped open, a mix of indescribable envy and jealousy swelling within him.


    Then, the tireless shouting of Tyree Clark reached his ears.


    "Hey, that''s my son! Clark, number five, that''s my son!"


    Unwillingly, Danny''s vision blurred with tears¡ª


    Perhaps the significance of a dream isn''t about whether it can be achieved, but about a belief, a hope, a motivation that makes life bearable.


    So,


    Danny straightened his back and started shouting towards the field.


    "Roar, Crimson Tide!"


    This time, completely genuine, he believed his brother had achieved his dream and finally understood that he was the very person he despised the most.


    Again and again, transforming all emotions into an overwhelming shout.


    Tyree turned his head and saw Danny, tears streaming freely but unhidden, and sighed softly.


    Actually, among the Clark brothers, Danny was the one with the talent. He had been a Wide Receiver, a prominent figure from elementary to high school, almost universally praised by coaches and scouts, everyone unanimously agreed that Danny could enter the NFL and have a career there.


    Ronnie had always looked up to Danny as he grew up and followed in Danny''s footsteps to become a football player.


    But, after a knee injury, Danny couldn''t endure the day-after-day rehabilitation and practice. After the injury healed, he tried for a while but couldn''t find his former condition, and then... there was no afterwards.


    Danny chose to give up, choosing the more sensible and realistic option, enrolling in university, preparing for a job, and neatly returning to the ordinary professional track.


    Since then, Danny had never stepped foot on the football field again.


    But today...


    Perhaps Danny regretted it, perhaps not, perhaps Danny finally understood that life sometimes needs a bit of foolishness, maybe Danny could understand that the meaning of a dream was never about whether it could meet the eye.


    After a long, deep breath, Tyree didn''t say much else, turned his head back to the field, joined Danny''s ranks, liberally expressing his regrets, his eyes also slightly damp.


    "Roar, Crimson Tide!"

 Chapter 153 152 Let loose and revel to the fullest

    "Roar, Crimson Tide!"


    Bit by bit, what started as a spark of starlight spread like a wildfire until it transformed into an overwhelming force that burst down like a torrential downpour, causing the entire Richmond James Stadium to tremble slightly amidst the cheers.


    Whoosh.


    As Saban raised the 2016 Season''s Nationwide Championship trophy high, the sky above the stadium exploded, a sea of red confetti symbolizing the triumph of Alabama Crimson Tide Storm filling the air, and the entire world surged with a brilliant and scorching wave of heat, witnessing together the moment history was written.


    Before the season kicked off, whether the Crimson Tide Storm could defend their title was the biggest question, with both doubters and supporters, but even the most die-hard and loyal fans of Crimson Tide Storm never imagined that the University of Alabama would defend their title in such a gut-wrenching manner, reaching the pinnacle of the season.


    "We are witnessing history!"


    "This is the moment of the Crimson Tide Storm''s defense, completing a fifteen-point comeback in the final moments to claim the championship, capping off a perfect season."


    "The ''52:51'' scoreline also set a new historic high for the Nationwide Championship game, with both teams displaying unparalleled form, but the Crimson Tide Storm, led by Saban, proved to be the superior team, clinching the ultimate victory."


    "Up until the two-minute official timeout before the end of the game, no one could predict the outcome, not even when the Crimson Tide Storm was about to tie the score with consecutive touchdowns, which was once again thrown into suspense by Saban''s choice for a two-point conversion."


    "However!"


    "The Crimson Tide Storm ultimately did it."


    "Two years in a row, the same stage, the same opponent, a similar process, and the same result, the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm defeat the Clemson Tigers and ascend to the championship!"


    According to post-game statistics, ESPN broadcasted the match and attracted a whopping thirty-five million viewers across North America. It created a mythical viewership rating of 16.2, easily dominating all other professional events and beating out the NFL playoffs'' first week, taking an absolute lead as the champion of both viewership numbers and ratings in North America this week.


    Peak topic.


    During the two-minute official timeout, ESPN conducted two polls.


    First, who would win the final championship?


    In a poll with over eight hundred thousand voters, 81% chose the Clemson Tigers.


    Yet, this time, the truth was in the minority''s hands.


    After a night of revelry, waking up from sleep, still somewhat dazed, it was hard to differentiate between reality and dreams for a moment, the echoes of those stirring roars still resonated on the eardrum, leaving energy that made steps unsteady, as if walking on cotton.


    Even so, Li Wei still got up on time as his biological clock suggested and started his morning warm-up exercises.


    Li Wei knew that it was especially at times like this that he needed to maintain his training routine¡ª


    Training is often most effective when one touches their limits, and it''s exactly at the most painful, difficult, unbearable moments when one wants to give up that a watershed is drawn. The choice between giving up and persisting dictates two completely different outcomes; persistence is the path of a champion.


    Of course, after a game as intense as yesterday''s, training needed to be moderate to avoid injury, with some basic and recovery training; but precisely because of yesterday''s strenuous exertion, today''s training can challenge the limits of spirit and body.


    The existence of the system also validated this theory¡ª


    One could visibly see the growth of the progress bar.


    So even though every cell in his body resisted training, Li Wei still clenched his teeth, got up according to his biological clock, and dived back into training.


    What''s more, he had just received a system reward, which was the best motivation.


    It was still a flip card opportunity, but this time it wasn''t an enhancement card, but a template card.


    The third template card he had received up to now, and it was in a completely different style than Peterson and McCoy¡ª


    Template: Marshawn Lynch (A-rank).


    Like McCoy''s, it was an A-rank template, but the style was completely different¡ªLynch was a typical power running back.


    5.9 feet (180 cm), 215 pounds (98 kg).


    Height and weight-wise, he was quite similar to Li Wei, but a bit shorter, with a weight similar to Li Wei''s¡ªthis weight was all muscle; moreover, while Lynch possessed explosive power and absolute strength, he was not cumbersome. Maybe his speed wasn''t outstanding, but it was definitely not a weakness.


    This running back attended the traditional football powerhouse, University of California, Berkeley, and in 2007, he was selected in the first round, twelfth overall, by the Buffalo Bills to enter the League.


    However, during his time with the Buffalo Bills, his performance was not very distinguished until he was transferred to the Seattle Seahawks in the 2010 season. Only then did he find a system that suited him and grew into one of the most dominant running backs in the professional arena.


    Lynch, amidst the plethora of NFL talent, bore an intimidating nickname, "Beast Mode."

 Chapter 154 Where theres a will, theres a way.

    As a running back, Marshawn Lynch''s on-field honors were not as plentiful as one might imagine:


    In 2013 and 2014, he was the NFL rushing yardage leader for two consecutive years, a five-time Pro Bowl selectee, once on the All-America First Team, and once on the second team¡ªthat was all.


    Because of this, according to the system''s assessment, Lynch and McCoy were both rated ''A'', not in the same league as Peterson.


    However, in terms of popularity, fame, hype, and breaking into the mainstream, Lynch was undeniably one of the most prominent NFL players of the past decade, even more widely known than most quarterbacks, to the extent that it would not be an exaggeration to call him the "king of buzz". The reason lies in his style of play:


    Beast Mode.


    In the 2010 season, Lynch''s first season after being transferred to the Seattle Seahawks, he had an average performance in the regular season, just an ordinary rotational running back.


    But in the first round of the playoffs, against the New Orleans Saints, with three minutes and thirty-nine seconds left in the game and the Seattle Seahawks still trailing, the rotational Lynch erupted with unbelievable energy.


    He started his offensive run from his own thirty-three-yard line, breaking through the defense of nine players, including a formidable display where he flipped cornerback Tracy Porter with one hand, and charged straight into the end zone for a touchdown, helping the Seattle Seahawks defeat the New Orleans Saints.


    Lynch became famous in one battle.


    The celebration of the victory at the Seattle Seahawks'' home ground was indeed too crazy, even causing nearby seismographs to mistakenly record a minor earthquake.


    From that time on, Lynch also earned a nickname, Beast Mode.


    During the peak of his career from 2011 to 2014, maybe his average performance belied his true potential, but no one could be sure when he would suddenly enter Beast Mode and explode with the energy to overturn the game; he always acted as the unpredictable factor in the Seattle Seahawks'' games.


    Without a doubt, Lynch''s explosive power and his brute force made him a hot topic outside the NFL circle. Even if the team lost the game, a single god-like surge from him could easily become the focus of everyone''s shares on social media, winning him an unbelievably high popularity.


    Unfortunately, such a style of play inevitably relied heavily on physicality, and Lynch''s entire professional career was plagued with injuries.


    He missed most of the 2015 season due to injuries, and then, during the garbage time of the fourth quarter of the 50th Super Bowl, while sitting at home watching the Denver Broncos play against the Carolina Panthers, Lynch captured all attention in an unexpected way¡ª


    He posted a picture of his cleats hanging on social media, announcing his retirement in such a manner.


    Now.


    Lynch had become the third template in Li Wei''s training system.


    The reason, quite apparent, was that Li Wei needed to increase his physical confrontation abilities.


    "Sorry, you''re too late. I already signed with an agent yesterday," Li Wei said with a feigned regret, "You should''ve come earlier."


    Donald was momentarily taken aback, truly thrown off by Li Wei''s words, but as a professional, he quickly regained his composure. "Even if you''ve signed, contracts can be broken and agents can be changed. I''m willing to pay the penalty. Besides, I don''t believe you''ve signed with anyone."


    Li Wei raised his eyebrows slightly. "Oh, why''s that?"


    Donald couldn''t read anything from Li Wei''s expression, but he knew Li Wei and trusted his own instincts. "I believe that after yesterday''s game, countless agents must have come looking for you; but you''re smart enough and calm enough to know they''re just scavengers joining in on the flurry."


    "Haha, scavengers? Then what about you?" Li Wei asked with curiosity.


    Donald replied, "A cheetah. You might overlook it if you''re not careful, but if you look closely, the difference is quite clear."


    Li Wei burst into laughter, not expecting Donald Yee to have a sense of humor.


    Indeed, after yesterday''s game, the agents visiting Li Wei were too numerous to count, with business cards alone filling half a drawer, like a pile of snowflakes.


    Until now, Li Wei had not yet announced whether he would enter the draft, and according to NCAA rules, agents still couldn''t contact him privately; but the point was, if they didn''t contact him now, it would be too late, and they swarmed him en masse like sharks smelling blood.


    Scavengers?


    Despite the unpleasant image, it was the truth¡ªthey were only there for the potential profit¡ª


    That was the crux of the issue. Li Wei didn''t think there was anything wrong with seeking profit; after all, people are driven by it, and Donald Yee was no exception.


    If Donald Yee had come here selling dreams to Li Wei, that would be a true deception.


    So, if they were all here for profit, what made Donald Yee different from the others?


    It had to be more than just patience and sincerity, right?


    Last time they met, it was just a brief chat. Donald Yee made a strong impression on Li Wei, but Li Wei was not in a hurry to decide.


    So, what about today?


    Li Wei looked at Donald Yee and said loudly, "Hey, Old Yu, if I tell you I''ve decided to sign with another agent, but now I''m giving you a chance to change my mind, what would you say?"


    Donald Yee replied, "I would tell you, Li Wei, that you''re making a mistake."

 Chapter 155 154 Gold and stone are ready to be carved (or unlocked).

    January in Tuscaloosa was not cold, with a gentle breeze blowing and the sun lazily spilling over, exhibiting the leisurely and relaxed atmosphere of the Southern climate.


    The students at the University of Alabama went about their business, starting a brand-new day in an orderly fashion, while the fervor of yesterday''s Crimson Tide Storm championship win still spread throughout the campus, with traces of the celebration lingering in the air.


    However, Donald Yee was highly focused, intently watching Li Wei in front of him, undisturbed by the surrounding environment.


    After yesterday''s game, Donald saw a quality in Li Wei, a distinctive temperament he had been searching for, ardently desiring.


    It made Donald believe that he should sign Li Wei at all costs.


    But because of that very desire, because of his urgency, he needed to stay calm, steady, and rational, aware that this young man wouldn''t be easy to fool¡ª


    He liked that. He liked players who could think, who used their brains.


    So, Donald met Li Wei''s gaze, still maintaining his smile.


    "I will tell you, Li Wei, you are making a mistake,"


    "You should choose me."


    Donald said calmly, noticing the smile in Li Wei''s eyes that held a hint of teasing, but he didn''t mind.


    "Do you know why I am here?"


    "Because I believe in you, because I believe in your uniqueness and singularity."


    "Do you know why I am neither hurried nor anxious?"


    "Because I know about your reasoning and intelligence, even as we speak right now, you are not overwhelmed, you are clearly aware of what is happening, and you can analyze the situation calmly."


    Li Wei was somewhat surprised, even Saban and Burns hadn''t shown this level of trust. In their eyes, they always regarded him as a child¡ª


    Not that it was bad, both Saban and Burns, as well as his parents, considered his welfare; but they had not seen the deep, intrinsic change in his soul.


    But Donald had.


    Li Wei''s mouth quirked slightly, making a joke, "Should I be happy, or should I worry about a stalker?"


    Donald understood right away, rarely showing a smile, "No need to worry, I just watched the Peach Bowl and yesterday''s game a dozen times. Just the highlights."


    So that''s how it was.


    "Once you show even a small flaw, or even just fall slightly short of expectations, you will be attacked, betrayed, slandered, humiliated, and devastated, those forces will come crashing down trying to completely destroy your existence."


    "You''ll face all of that."


    "Countless people manage to climb to the pinnacle of fame and fortune, but what really destroys them are the downhill slopes, the setbacks, the difficulties, and the bumps because those will be the moments you fight alone and also the moments that test your soul."


    "Great achievements come at great cost."


    "The countless skeletal remains that have fallen on the downhill path, in the Abyss, they can''t even be counted, but what will you do?"


    "Can you muster the courage to overcome the obstacles, continue to fight and climb back to the top?"


    "''Who are you, Li Wei?'' This is the question that will define your life."


    "I think you already know the answer, that''s why I''m here. Yesterday''s final, you gave your answer through your performance, giving me conviction and determination."


    Taking a deep breath, Donald''s gaze was firmer than ever, looking straight at Li Wei."


    "Li Wei, I am nothing."


    "To put it bluntly, I''m just an agent, a normal person without any special abilities, only having value standing by your side."


    "Whether it''s me or other agents, we''re all nobodies, we need your existence to give our lives meaning, to enable us to touch greatness."


    "Let me tell you, me and those agents¡ªthose agents who talk a good game¡ªwe''re all the same, we all will be forgotten after we die, but you won''t be."


    "You will be remembered because some things are eternal and unchanging, you are Li Wei, and your story will inspire us to fight and chase our dreams,"


    "Not just Clark, not just Jacobs, but every ordinary person."


    "Now, Li Wei, I invite you to let me be the one standing behind greatness, to complete this journey with you."


    Hum.


    The air, stirring, the lazy January sunshine of Alabama falling on the skin, yet one could clearly feel that golden light burning and boiling in the blood.


    Then.


    Li Wei looked at Donald, without bombast or spewing passion, but his calm words carried an unyielding strength; he reached out his right hand, his smile gently rising at the corners of his mouth.


    "Please guide me well, Mr. Agent."

 Chapter 156 155 Life Choices

    "Please guide me generously, Mr. Agent."


    Donald looked at Li Wei''s outstretched right hand but didn''t hurry to shake it. Instead, he calmed down and scrutinized Li Wei''s gaze intently.


    Calm and resolute, a faint smile played on his lips.


    Then, Donald knew that Li Wei''s nod wasn''t an impulsive reaction but a result of rational judgment, just as he had guessed¡ª


    While players choose their agents, aren''t agents also choosing their players?


    This was especially true for Donald; he always prioritized quality over quantity with his clients, which allowed him to maintain long-term relationships and maximize their benefits within his capability.


    For Donald, Li Wei''s performance was nothing short of perfect.


    Therefore.


    Donald reached out his right hand and solemnly completed the handshake of collaboration.


    "Pleased to work with you, Mr. Li Wei."


    The campus of the University of Alabama still buzzed with vibrant life, but at the dormitory entrance, a partnership that would change history was taking place.


    Releasing his right hand, Donald smoothly transitioned into his role as an agent.


    "So, since you''ve decided to hire an agent, does that mean you are ready to enter the draft this year? Otherwise, I would be fined by the league."


    Is this the humor of an honest man?


    A smile flickered in Li Wei''s eyes, "Don''t worry, I don''t plan on facing the NCAA disciplinary committee either; nobody wants to go through what Reggie Bush did."


    In the past, when USC Trojans running back Reggie Bush''s dealings with taking bribes from agents were exposed, he was taken to court. Ultimately, Bush was found guilty, not only fined and stripped of his Heisman Trophy but also causing USC to be fined and recruitment restricted.


    To date, Bush has yet to apologize to the USC Trojans.


    Donald was quite surprised, "Oh, you know about Reggie Bush too?"


    According to Donald''s research, Li Wei was supposed to know nothing about football.


    As Donald said, if Li Wei was preparing for the draft, he would need to hurry.


    Li Wei''s performance this season is evident for all to see, and undoubtedly, many teams are interested; however, at the same time, there are many issues to address, given that Li Wei''s college career lasted only one season. From scouts to coaches to team managers, they will need to consider a wide range of complex issues.


    "First things first, we need to train to increase your competitiveness."


    "The NCAA is already highly competitive, but the NFL is two to three times tougher. You need to undergo comprehensive tests, both physically and mentally. There are countless players who stand out in the NCAA but become just another face in the NFL."


    "My advice is that you don''t need to attend those smaller training camps. It might make you seem too desperate, or alternatively, picking and choosing only certain camps while declining others could come off as arrogant for a rookie like you."


    "For you, the data and results are already there; they are the proof. Moving forward, we need to maintain mystique and train in seclusion."


    "During this process, I will promote you and touch base with some suitable teams to probe their intentions and gauge the situation."


    "Wait for the league''s Rookie Training Camp to start. You just focus on being prepared. By then, we will answer all doubts with practical actions."


    "During this time, just focus on your training."


    "Here is a list of training personnel."


    Snap.


    Donald pulled out a neatly arranged document from his briefcase, all on A4 paper¡ª


    Apparently, that briefcase wasn''t just for show.


    Clearly, Donald had everything planned out, from the list of training personnel to the training schedule, and he arranged it all in a document with perfect spacing.


    Li Wei saw it at a glance.


    Curiously, Li Wei looked at Donald, "What if I hadn''t signed with you? Would all this have been a waste of time?"


    Donald, face unruffled, "I told you last time, if not this time, there will be a next time; if not the next time, the time after that. I am prepared."


    "Besides, I trust you more than I trust myself, I believe you will make the right decision, so you will definitely choose me."


    Looking up, Donald met Li Wei''s gaze, "Now, it appears that your decision was the right one, and so was mine, a win-win situation."

 Chapter 157 156 Future Blueprint

    Donald was still the same Donald, showing no particular expression, even appearing slightly introverted and shy, yet confidence seemed to radiate from within.


    Li Wei''s lips slightly curled up, his head tilting, "Do I sense a ''boarding a bandit ship'' feeling right now? Is that normal?"


    With a calm demeanor, Donald nodded his head, his response steady, "It''s normal. It shows that you also realize you''re making a major life decision."


    A smile crept across his lips as Li Wei held up the A4 paper in his hand, "Free?"


    The training plan included a professional trainer, a nutritionist, and a masseuse ¡ª essentially a small training team ¡ª


    Clearly, they were not volunteers. So, where would the funds to hire them come from?


    Donald shook his head, "In this world, what is often free turns out to be the most expensive. I will advance these costs, and we''ll settle after the draft is over."


    Li Wei: Great, the "debt" from the University of Alabama had just been cleared not long ago, and here I am, taking on new debt and heading into battle light.


    However, Donald was right. Compared to freebies, relationships where both parties lend and borrow, and brothers tally clear accounts prove to be more enduring.


    After confirming the partnership, their first "negotiation" reached a consensus, marking a positive beginning.


    After everything was explained, Donald left.


    In the upcoming period, both Li Wei and Donald would be busy, with one final battle awaiting them on their path to the NFL.


    Perhaps there were no gunsmoke, no flashing blades, nor confrontations, but the importance of this battle was no less significant than any championship contest.


    ...


    "Knock knock!"


    Li Wei patiently waited for a while, but when no response came from inside, he did not expect that the next second, the office door would open and Saban would appear before him.


    Li Wei was somewhat surprised, "Coach."


    Saban flashed a smile, peering outside left and right, "Aren''t your fervent followers coming along?"


    He cracked a rare joke.


    Li Wei also relaxed a bit, "They stopped at the entrance to the stadium, thank God. They haven''t yet managed to conquer our locker room."


    "But my opinion is, there''s no need."


    "Not a single one."


    "Your popularity is already sufficient, joining more mini-training camps would be just monkey business; rather than wasting time and effort traveling around to camps, better to focus on training and then show your true capabilities at Rookie Training Camp."


    Sincere, down-to-earth, friendly.


    One could tell, Saban truly cared for Li Wei''s well-being.


    Li Wei felt warmed inside, "Alright, coach, actually, my agent just gave me the same advice."


    Donald and Saban''s opinions coincided.


    Saban nodded slightly, but his expression showed a hint of concern, "Agent?"


    Li Wei thought Saban was worried about breaking rules, "I haven''t officially signed yet, I''ve accepted no bribes, it''s just verbal for now."


    Saban waved it off, "I trust you, I mean, who is the agent? Those agents are vampires, be careful not to be fooled easily."


    His tone was earnest, like that of an elder.


    Li Wei showed a smile, "Donald Yee. If coach has time, maybe you could find out more for me."


    Saban made no pleasantries, "I''ll make a few calls to check up on it."


    Li Wei then handed Saban the training list Donald had just given him, "He suggested I start training on my own before Rookie Training Camp."


    Saban took the sheet, glanced over it, his eyes revealing a hint of a smile, "It''s Nash, I''ll call him in a bit."


    Seeing Li Wei''s puzzled look, Saban remembered Li Wei knew almost nothing about football and explained, "Harold Nash, not much of a player, but top-notch in training."


    "Since 2005, he''s been the trainer for the New England Patriots, a full ten years now. He was supposed to take a break this off-season, hasn''t yet, and already at least four teams have offered him opportunities, why would he agree to train a rookie?"


    Those names on the sheet meant little to Li Wei, but now it seemed he was dealing with a big shot.


    Li Wei could tell, Saban was very pleased with the list, "Oh, Donald is Tom Brady''s agent."


    Saban was taken aback, unable to hide his surprise, and then burst into laughter.

 Chapter 158 157 No Regrets

    Li Wei left.


    Saban stood at the office window, watching Li Wei''s receding figure, and noticed Clark approaching head-on to enthusiastically greet him.


    It seemed they must have arranged to meet in advance for some training, with Clark serving as Li Wei''s training partner, and Li Wei had already started his preparations for the draft.


    Once players enter the Professional League, their fates slip out of the head coach''s control; after all, the Professional League is a game of capital, where individual power is ultimately insignificant in front of vast capital. And now, from the NFL to the NCAA, the plight of running backs is just the same from the top down.


    Last year, Saban worried about Derrick Henry¡ªand sure enough, Henry hit the rookie wall, not showing much performance during his rookie season.


    This year, Saban was beginning to worry about Li Wei.


    But this time, Saban had a hunch, a premonition that Li Wei''s NFL career might be slightly different; now, as a football enthusiast rather than a coach, he was quietly observing the development of events and the march of history, fortunate to be able to watch from up close.


    The second act of the battle had just begun.


    ...


    On the training field, dull thuds and rapid breathing intertwined, finally ending another set of exercises, and Clark collapsed to the ground.


    He looked up, seeing Li Wei''s relaxed face as he pressed his legs to stretch and relax his muscles; Clark couldn''t help chuckling to himself, "We''re all humans, so why is the gap between people so pronounced?"


    A pause.


    "Oh, sorry, my bad, you''re not human; you''re a beast. A beast."


    Clark''s muttering to himself made Li Wei turn his head, "Master, have you finally learned how to joke?"


    That tone was clearly teasing Clark for his lack of humor.


    Clark rubbed his head and let out a sheepish chuckle, his mood settling slowly among the heated breathing, "Huh, I wonder how Josh''s check-up is going."


    Jacobs went to the hospital for a follow-up today.


    In competitive sports, knee injuries are always one of the most complex and troublesome issues. From football to basketball, volleyball, tennis, and more, countless athletes have sunk into obscurity due to knee injuries, and football is no exception. Jacobs'' situation was truly concerning.


    Li Wei, "What about your college major, Master?"


    Clark, "Ah, I''d forgotten, I''m a college student, right? I even have a diploma, hmm, maybe I should rethink this."


    Li Wei gently shook his head, "We''re literally at the University of Alabama, I don''t think the other students would appreciate your attitude."


    Clark, "Haha, sorry, sorry."


    "But graduation isn''t until next year. No need to hurry for now; at least, next season, the Rover still needs your help, and the ground attack of the Crimson Tide Storm relies on you guys."


    "Going round in circles for a year, we''re back to where we started, facing the same situation again, right? But this time, there''s no second Li Wei. Otherwise, Li Wei, you shouldn''t enter the draft, oh no no, sorry, forget what I just said, you should go to the draft."


    "Oh, why?"


    "Last year we had Derrick Henry, this year we have you, with you guys as the face of the team, more and more talented individuals will apply to our school, creating a virtuous cycle."


    "Hmm, last year we had Henry, this year we have me, next year it''s the Master''s turn, right? Threepeat."


    "Haha, even in my dreams, I wouldn''t indulge in such wild fantasies."


    "What? Don''t dare to dream? You should still have dreams; what if they come true?"


    "Of course, I still believe in dreams, Li Wei. I believe in the existence of dreams and that they can come true. I will continue to root for you and Henry; it''s just that for me, the football dream should end now. I''ve persisted and fought long enough, and what should have been achieved has been achieved. As for what hasn''t been accomplished, I''ll leave it as a distant dream. I''m content."


    The sunlight fell softly and brightly on Clark, and the sadness and bitterness, the sighs and losses were dissolved in the warmth of the glow along with his smile.


    Then, Clark found his smile and confidence again.


    Maybe they would embark on different life journeys, but they would all continue to move forward in their own ways.


    Clark looked at Li Wei, "Even if I switch tracks, I can go all the way. Have you forgotten? I''m also a part of the Crimson Tide Storm."


    He clenched his fist lightly, his smile blooming, "Roar, Crimson Tide."


    Youth, with no regrets.

 Chapter 159 158 Heisman Trophy

    ```


    The NCAA season has come to a close, and as teams begin preparations for the new season during the offseason, the League awards and nationwide accolades are announced, serving as a summary of the NCAA season and as a prelude to the upcoming NFL Draft.


    Among these, the Heisman Trophy, the NCAA''s highest honor, is undoubtedly the jewel in the crown (Note 1).


    Like football''s Ballon d''Or, the Heisman Trophy is decided by votes from professional journalists, previous award recipients, and additionally, the sponsor of the Heisman Trophy, Nissan, which has one vote. They conduct fan voting on ESPN, where fans make their selections, ultimately accounting for one vote in the evaluation process.


    Each voter can select three players as candidates, and must rank them in order. The first place gets 3 points, second place 2 points, and third place 1 point. The winner is determined by tallying these points.


    Since its inception in 1935, the Heisman Trophy has reached its eighty-first year in the blink of an eye. As the most historically significant and authoritative award in college sports, countless college players regard the Heisman as their ultimate goal.


    This year is no exception.


    Li Wei, Lamar Jackson, DeShaun Watson, Baker Mayfield, Christian McCaffrey, Jake Browning, and many others fiercely competed throughout the season. Their performances even drew the attention of the NFL, with professional players casting their gazes and monitoring their progress.


    Yet, the reality is that college football and professional football are two different systems. It''s not an exaggeration to say they are "quite distinct" or "quite distant" from each other. A strong performance on the college field does not guarantee success in the professional arena. Often, the expectations that come with the Heisman Trophy become a shackle limiting performance.


    Since the new millennium, the Heisman Trophy has been turning into a "curse".


    In 2000, quarterback Chris Weinke won the Heisman Trophy and was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fourth round of the following year''s draft. After winning his first starting game, he lost seventeen consecutive games. Once he lost his starting spot, he faded into obscurity.


    In 2003, quarterback Jason White clinched the Heisman Trophy but went undrafted in 2005. He didn''t even have the chance to try out for an NFL team, making him the only Heisman recipient in history without a professional football opportunity¡ª


    Incidentally, he''s also the third Heisman winner in history to go undrafted.


    Eventually, the Tennessee Titans expressed interest in signing White, but he declined, citing knee injuries, and subsequently retired.


    In 2006, quarterback Troy Smith won the Heisman Trophy with a historic 91.63% of the vote. However, a loss in the national championship game and his 6-foot (180 cm) height sent his draft stock plummeting. He wasn''t picked until the fifth round by the Baltimore Ravens. His entire professional career was a struggle between starting and being a backup, with injuries making him bounce between multiple teams.


    In 2007, quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow was once the unparalleled college football prodigy, even Cam Newton was his backup. But after turning pro, he couldn''t adapt to the complex tactical systems, and his inherent lack of passing ability became his ceiling¡ª


    Latterly, he retired early, ventured into commentating, baseball, and other areas, becoming a very vocal figure.


    Beyond that, Sam Bradford of 2008, Mark Ingram of 2009, and Robert Griffin III of 2011 all had their careers wax and wane due to serious injuries. Johnny Manziel of 2012 became an example of what not to do, as he couldn''t grasp tactics.


    The Maxwell Award, Associated Press Player of the Year, Walter Camp Player of the Year, CBS Sports Person of the Year, Southeastern Conference Rookie of the Year, and Player of the Year along with nine All-America First Team appearances across various platforms and channels, displaying sheer domination.


    From the Southeastern Conference to the entire NCAA, Li Wei exhibited supreme domination, extinguishing any suspense about the Heisman Trophy bit by bit.


    Yet, the actual voting outcome was what truly shocked and astounded everyone.


    93.8%, 2608 points.


    Li Wei swept the voting with an overwhelmingly dominant display. Whether it was Jackson or Watson, they hardly stood a chance against him, and in the end, Li Wei surpassed both Reggie Bush and Troy Smith to set the record for the highest voting percentage in the eighty-one-year history of the Heisman Trophy.


    What does domination look like?


    What does it mean to sweep all before you?


    Initially, many speculated that there would be a fierce battle among Li Wei, Jackson, and Watson, with a potentially very close vote.


    The result? This?


    A stunned silence fell.


    After the Heisman Trophy results were announced, Li Wei also officially declared for the first time that he would enter the 2017 draft.


    A single stone caused a thousand ripples!


    This decision was not unexpected. People were prepared for it, simply waiting for Li Wei to make the announcement. After all, the level of dominance he demonstrated was truly frightening, even breaking a series of records set by Derrick Henry last year. His move to the Professional League was the natural next step.


    But people wondered¡ª


    Could Li Wei break the "Heisman curse"?


    Especially as a rookie like him, who had been involved in football for only a short year and was now transitioning from the NCAA to the NFL, the situation was even more difficult and challenging. Could Li Wei handle the pressure?


    The suspense slowly started to unfold.


    Note: The Heisman Trophy results are announced in early December each year. To fit the narrative needs, some adjustments have been made here.

 Chapter 160 159 Rookies Galore

    Li Wei turned his head and quietly looked at the cityscape outside the car window, with a bit of curiosity and inquiry, trying to find some features and personality in the uniform ordinary buildings, but still, he failed.


    He had heard before that the central part of the North American continent was barren and ordinary without much difference, without distinctive planning, without distinctive architecture, and without distinctive life either, everything seemed quiet and mediocre¡ª


    This is also why people are so enthusiastic about competitive sports, after all, there are not many forms of entertainment.


    Li Wei thought Tuscaloosa was ordinary enough, but he did not expect that Indianapolis before him was even more so, without any hint of color.


    Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana.


    Located in the midwest of the North American continent, it is a transportation hub connecting the east and west coasts and the major cities in the middle, with developed railways and highways, known as "The Crossroads of America". It is the fourth-largest state capital in the United States, undoubtedly one of the most prosperous first-tier cities in the Midwest.


    However, the reality is different.


    This is a typical midwestern city, where loyal Catholic followers hold an absolute advantage, conservative and stubborn, introverted and dull, lacking in drama, without amateur life or entertainment, working at sunrise and resting at sunset, vividly interpreting the simplicity and plainness of "big rural areas".


    All the craze and fervor of Indianapolis were given to only one team:


    NFL''s Indianapolis Colts.


    Since the Colts chose to settle in Indianapolis in 1984, they have won all the favor of this city; entering the new millennium, under the leadership of legendary quarterback Peyton Manning, they wrote their glory, advancing to the playoffs for eight consecutive years and finally reaching the top in the 2006 season to win the Super Bowl, thoroughly igniting the passion and blood that lie beneath the calm surface of Indianapolis.


    It is no exaggeration to say that the Indianapolis Colts have become the soul and pride of this city. On every game day, the entire city is deserted, just like Tuscaloosa.


    In 1987, the NFL made an important decision¡ªthe Rookie Training Camp, which had been changing venues every year, officially found its home in Indianapolis and became an important annual event that attracted nationwide attention.


    This year was no exception.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    The Rookie Training Camp started on February 15th at the Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, lasting for a full four days.


    However, to his surprise, the driver with the explosive haircut was completely flustered. A simple reverse parking maneuver proved impossible to line up with the parking space lines. The more he struggled, the more nervous he became, and the more nervous he got, the less able he was to succeed, falling into a vicious cycle.


    In no time, he had tried five times and was still stuck in the same spot, repeating his efforts.


    From a distance, Li Wei could see the sweat on the forehead of the man with the explosive haircut, his cheeks puffed out like a pufferfish, every cell in his body trembling with anxiety. Noticing Li Wei''s gaze, he looked up with an awkward smile but lowered his head to reveal a panicked expression, as if he were about to burst into tears.


    In fact, it wasn''t fair to blame the man with the explosive haircut.


    Being nervous was one thing, but having a Ferrari on one side and a Porsche on the other of the parking spot didn''t help either.


    Even though they were all rookies preparing for the draft, no one knew what their draft prospects were. At this point, they were just college students with empty pockets, and it was natural to be cautious around such luxurious sports cars; not only did they have to worry about scratches or dings, but they also had to consider whether the car belonged to a team executive, which could affect their draft prospects¡ªa true disaster.


    This explosive-haired guy was clearly a simple and naive good kid.


    Li Wei rolled down the window and leaned out to ask.


    "Need a hand?"


    The man with the explosive haircut lit up with surprise, immediately opening his door as if ready to get out.


    Li Wei was startled and quickly gestured for him to apply the handbrake to avoid an unnecessary tragedy. He then got out of his car to help and parked the vehicle in a few swift moves before returning to his own seat and quickly finding a spot for his car as well.


    Stepping out of his car, Li Wei could see the explosive-haired guy standing nearby, looking obedient, which brought a smile to Li Wei''s face.


    "What''s this, planning to treat me to dinner?"


    It was just a joke, but surprisingly, the explosive-haired man nodded earnestly, "Dinner, no problem. I''ve heard the chicken breast here is really good."


    A smile appeared in Li Wei''s eyes, "Traveling all the way to Indianapolis just to eat chicken breast? That''s a choice."


    The explosive-haired man chuckled sheepishly, quite frankly, "Well, I am preparing to become a professional player, after all. You''re here for the training camp, too, right? So am I. Patrick Mahomes."

 Chapter 161 160 Full of Fighting Spirit

    The laughter was hearty, and the man with the explosive hairstyle enthusiastically introduced himself, all the while turning to show the back of his jersey¨D


    Normally, there should have been a name on it, but the problem was, he was wearing a baseball jacket.


    "Hawkins?" Li Wei read the name on the jacket. "I thought you were Mahomes."


    Mahomes was startled, looked down, and realized, "Ah, I forgot, this is my godfather LaTroy-Hawkins''s jacket. I hope it brings some good luck; he used to be an MLB player, playing for the Minnesota Twins along with my father."


    Li Wei nodded lightly, "So, you didn''t choose to play baseball?"


    Mahomes scratched his head, "In high school, I played both baseball and football, but in the end, I chose football. Just like you. But I can''t compare to you; we all suspect you''re from another planet. Haha."


    "Me?" Li Wei was taken aback.


    Mahomes flashed a shy smile, "Now in the NCAA, who doesn''t know you? I saw the nationwide championship, the final moments were truly amazing. I can''t do that; I definitely can''t do that, I still have so much to learn."


    "Not being able to do it now doesn''t mean it can''t be done later. We''re just college students, right?" Li Wei showed a smile, looking at Mahomes.


    Mahomes was a bit startled, then nodded, nodding vigorously, "Of course, of course!" As he spoke, he began clenching his fists involuntarily.


    Mahomes''s high school and college didn''t show exceptional talent, although he performed well, his talents didn''t shine, so his college was very ordinary¡ªTexas Tech University, part of the Big Twelve Conference, but not a traditional powerhouse.


    The just-ended season saw Mahomes perform very impressively, yet he couldn''t carry his team forward, and Texas Tech University ended the season with only six wins and seven losses, which is just mediocre in the NCAA.


    Heisman Trophy?


    It never even included Mahomes in the discussions.


    As of now, professionals generally predict that Mahomes might be a second-round pick, with a slight hope of being picked in the first round¡ª


    There''s no way around it, this year the quarterbacks are in low demand, as most teams are targeting the defensive group.


    In this moment, facing Li Wei, who had performed amazingly last season and swept the awards, Mahomes couldn''t help but feel nervous, but sensing Li Wei''s approachability, his mood brightened.


    "Sorry, I forgot to properly introduce myself, Li Wei, running back."


    Friendly, calm, genuine.


    A body cut across, a mountain of flesh stood in front of Li Wei and Mahomes, taller and more muscular than them¡ªactually, the difference wasn''t that big, but the other guy still looked down from a tale of giants as if he was gazing at ants, peering at Li Wei with his nostrils.


    "So, you''re Li Wei?"


    "The only Asian face here, definitely can''t be wrong."


    "You... just like this? Seem so fragile, like I could snap you with a little pinch, you sure that''s no problem?"


    His face full of provocation.


    Mahomes was about to step forward, but Li Wei beat him to it, "Why not give it a try?"


    Casual and smiling, he faced the challenging gaze with a smile, not only unflustered but also with an adult''s demeanor as if watching a child throw a tantrum on the floor, not nervous even under the scrutinizing gaze all around him.


    The other was about to speak, but Li Wei deftly used his interrupting skills.


    "If you still think football is about who is bigger, taller, or stronger, I think you better not attend the draft, to avoid embarrassing yourself."


    Pffft, hahaha.


    Laughter erupted all around.


    The muscular man''s face darkened, full of embarrassment and anger. He was about to speak again, but another figure rushed from the side, grabbing him and swiftly leaving.


    "God, Solomon, what are you doing!"


    "Sorry, Li Wei, really sorry, Solomon didn''t mean anything by it."


    "You are really great, I loved your performance in that game against Louisiana State, amazing!"


    As he spoke, he moved away, and with a swoosh of wind, disappeared from sight.


    Li Wei didn''t even have time to respond, but he could recognize the figure fading into the distance¡ª


    Christian McCaffrey.


    One of the top three running backs in this year''s NCAA, although Li Wei didn''t remember the name, he still recognized the face.


    So, who was that guy before?

 Chapter 162 161 Embroidered Pillow

    Li Wei swore he had no recollection of that face¡ªit seemed to belong to McCaffrey''s teammate. So Stanford University had such a figure too?


    Mahomes edged a bit closer and lightly bumped Li Wei with his shoulder, "Don''t mind it, Solomon Thomas is also a Defensive End, and he''s been using Garrett as his imagined adversary. Since Garrett couldn''t hold you back, now those on the defensive line and the linemen have set their sights on you. As long as they can defend against you, they can prove themselves, and their draft ranking might even surpass Garrett''s."


    So that''s how it was¡ª


    A stepping stone.


    From the nationwide champion MVP to making history with the Heisman Trophy, especially with the overwhelming historical voting rate, everything had placed Li Wei in the spotlight, where everyone was waiting to defeat him to prove themselves.


    After the national championship ended, Li Wei mysteriously disappeared¡ªhe didn''t attend any training camps, which only fueled the rumors about him, leaving his competitors red-eyed one after another.


    Now, Li Wei had finally appeared at the training camp, naturally becoming the target everyone was eager to defeat.


    Li Wei, however, was not worried.


    They hoped to beat Li Wei to prove themselves, and Li Wei was equally eager to embrace all challenges to refute the skepticism¡ªwho would be whose stepping stone still remained to be seen.


    Li Wei didn''t take those provocations to heart¡ª


    Attention is good, it proves you''re worth the attention.


    Li Wei was looking for his teammates.


    This year, University of Alabama''s draft participants were not just one or two; this batch of juniors had turned professionals and entered the Rookie Training Camp''s view. As the backbone of back-to-back NCAA national champions, they were undoubtedly the targets actively sought after by various teams.


    Then, a figure passed by Li Wei; his gaze inadvertently caught Li Wei''s, and as their eyes met, he paused and walked back, standing in front of Li Wei with a polite smile.


    The smile bloomed.


    "So you''re here."


    So, was this a fan?


    "I''ll defeat you."


    The next sentence was a declaration of challenge.


    "You''re no match for Derrick Henry. Derrick Henry has both speed and power, while you just rely on speculation and luck. Everyone knows about the Crimson Tide Storm''s dominant offensive line¡ªyou owe your numbers to their protection. At least half of your achievements should be credited to your offensive group teammates."


    "It''s just because the League saw the commercial value of the Asian Market and pushed you from behind, continually promoting you, determined to award you the Heisman Trophy. Those media that sway with the wind were all too eager to flatter you."


    "But you''re nothing more than just a face."


    He was in a real predicament!


    Just then, "Rookie!"


    A cheer rang out, and without turning around, he knew it was Humphrey, that guy.


    Rustling softly, all eyes in the hall converged on Li Wei¡ª


    Heisman Trophy winner, nationwide championship MVP, yet called a rookie; was this serious?


    Suddenly, not just Humphrey but Allen, Howard, Foster, Robinson, and a bunch of others from Crimson Tide Storm''s championship team gathered around.


    Li Wei turned and greeted his teammates with enthusiasm, and after a slight delay, he turned to introduce Mahomes, "Oh, and another guy, said he''s from Tennessee..."


    Upon turning around, however, he found that Kamara had vanished, having left at some unknown point.


    Not just Kamara, there was now a noticeable gap around Crimson Tide Storm.


    Without a doubt, Crimson Tide Storm had performed so well, so remarkably, that there was a clear barrier between them and other teams.


    Perhaps only Clemson remained unimpressed, not sparing them a glance, as Watson strode forward toward the elevator.


    Mahomes, mixed in with the champion team, looked somewhat embarrassed; he had missed the right moment to leave and ended up amidst Crimson Tide Storm.


    Mahomes: Maybe, I should hide under a car?


    Amidst the bustle, Humphrey took the initiative to help Li Wei with the check-in, and a swarm escorted Li Wei and Mahomes upstairs, where they were staying in adjacent rooms. Li Wei used his keycard to open his room door and stepped inside.


    "Meet downstairs in a while? I''m planning to go for a jog in the gym."


    Outside, there were groans and protests, but Li Wei had already developed his training habits.


    "I can''t do a full workout today, but I should still keep up with my daily aerobic exercise."


    Amid a chorus of complaints, Li Wei turned around only to see a face full of vitality but tinged with a bit of embarrassment, arms akimbo, striking a pose next to the bed, having been waiting for Li Wei to turn around.


    Finally, Li Wei turned around.


    The eager, waiting smile on the face before him blossomed once more.


    "Can I join in on the training, too?"


    Unexpectedly, with a turn, he encountered him again¡ªChristian McCaffrey.

 Chapter 163 162 Attracting attention from all directions

    Rookie Training Camp began.


    On the first day, they grouped players by position, quarterbacks with quarterbacks, running backs with running backs, and so on, and then carried out the basic tests.


    After the grouping, the position allocation of this year''s rookies became clear at a glance.


    The position with the most players was Cornerback, with a total of forty players; followed by linemen, thirty-six players; and then Defensive Ends, who were the fourth most numerous with twenty-nine players; it''s no wonder everyone said it was a year dominated by defense. Not to mention the quality, the quantity alone was overwhelmingly superior.


    As for running backs, there were also twenty-nine players¡ª


    The competition was extremely fierce, unbelievably intense.


    Imagine, among these twenty-nine running backs, there might only be one or two positions available in the first round, and the second round might have only two to three positions as well. The rest of the players had to squeeze into the third round or might even go undrafted, making the extent of competition beyond imagination.


    After entering their groups, the players received their jersey numbers within the groups; McCaffrey got number twenty-two, Li Wei got twenty-three. Could this be considered a coincidence?


    In the morning, the group of running backs first underwent basic physical parameter testing, then proceeded with the Cybex test¡ª


    This was a professional assessment designed to evaluate the players'' flexibility and joint mobility, particularly crucial for assessing those with injuries or a history of injuries; the coaching staff and evaluators paid close attention to the data from this test.


    This was followed by an injury assessment, which complemented the Cybex test.


    If the Cybex test examined the current state after injuries, then the injury assessment was about evaluating the history of injuries, the recovery status, and the potential risk of future injuries.


    NFL teams took the injury conditions of the players they were interested in very seriously; no team wanted to sign a player who was either prone to injuries or was a liability due to constant injuries.


    Especially the running backs.


    Basically, the running back position was full of confrontations; it was akin to competing by burning one''s body, making injury almost inevitable. Now, with running backs being at a disadvantage in the League, any team looking to choose or sign a running back had to consider even more factors.


    Li Wei once again stood under the spotlight.


    From a factual analysis, having been a mixed martial arts fighter, Li Wei''s body likely had both visible and hidden injuries, leaving potential problems; the past season he had surprisingly carried the banner for Crimson Tide Storm''s offense throughout the season, facing football''s impacts for the first time, and becoming the targeted player by all NCAA teams.


    Naturally, both the Cybex test and the injury assessment needed to be handled with care.


    Unexpectedly, the new head coach of the Eagles, Reed, who took over in Philadelphia, gave them a chance to reapply and retained four coaches, including Harbaugh.


    From then on, Harbaugh learned under Reed for a full nine years until 2008, when he became the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.


    That year, Harbaugh was not the first choice for Baltimore because he lacked experience as an Offensive or Defensive Coordinator, and he had not even been a head coach in college leagues; despite being forty-six, he was still a relatively inexperienced rookie coach.


    But, with recommendations from Andy Reed and New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, Harbaugh still got the job.


    Even though they evolved from mentor to competitors, Reed and Harbaugh remained on good terms.


    As Harbaugh''s most trusted scout, Brand also knew Reed.


    "Hey, Joshua, good morning." Reed took a seat one spot over, slowly and gently beginning to exhale, like Baymax from "Big Hero 6".


    Brand flashed a smile, "Great timing, I just spoke with John on the phone, he''s planning to come over tomorrow."


    Reed pulled out a packet of candies from his pocket, held them in both hands against his chest, and leisurely began to unwrap them, "So, have you discovered anything interesting here?"


    Friends are friends, business is business.


    Brand naturally wouldn''t easily divulge the Baltimore Ravens'' draft strategies, but there was no need to hide overly; being too deliberate could easily give away too much. Just then, it was the running backs'' turn to appear up front, and Brand casually remarked, "This year''s batch of running backs seems quite interesting."


    Reed chuckled softly, "Oh, really? Can you elaborate?"


    Brand wasn''t taken in, "Coach Reed, you have Jamaal Charles, a top-tier running back in the league. Why are you interested in running backs? Wait, is Charles''s injury that serious that he might not play next season?"


    Reed could immediately detect the probing in Brand''s words but kept his composure, speaking slowly, "No need to be so anxious, I was just asking casually. Who''s after the running backs, the quarterback group?"


    Brand felt a twinge of suspicion; the Kansas City Chiefs weren''t lacking quarterbacks, and moreover, this year was not strong for quarterbacks. What was Reed playing at with this smoke bomb?


    Here, Brand and Reed were each trying to outmaneuver the other.


    However, this scene caught the eye of Revis, not far away, holding a freshly prepared test report from Li Wei; he temporarily couldn''t address it, and couldn''t help but speculate:


    What sort of deal were the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs making? Were they planning to trade draft positions?

 Chapter 164 163 IQ Test

    Over here, all thirty-two NFL teams gathered at Lucas Oil Stadium. Even though it was just the Rookie Training Camp, the undercurrents of the draft had already begun to quietly spread.


    Over there, the young players, under the gaze of millions, continued their tests in an orderly fashion.


    After completing urine tests, the group of running backs moved to the next room in a bustling crowd, and in the distance, one could see the bottleneck of quarterbacks in the corridor.


    In front of them, they were about to partake in a test unique to Football¡ª


    The Frederick Test.


    This is a highly credible and concise general intelligence assessment tool that measures verbal, numerical, and spatial abilities as well as problem-solving skills.


    The entire test lasts twelve minutes and consists of fifty questions, with a perfect score being fifty.


    Similar to the commonly known IQ tests in everyday life, this test is simpler and more targeted. A score of twenty indicates average intelligence, equivalent to the hundred point mark in IQ tests.


    In Professional Football, the playbook is complex and varied, with as many as twenty thousand tactics involved. An offensive and defensive play might involve a multitude of tactical combinations, requiring every player to fully master the playbook¡ªnot just reading or rote memorization.


    The Frederick Test examines this ability, including spatial reading, understanding questions, problem-solving, and logical reasoning.


    Among them, the quarterback is undoubtedly of the utmost importance.


    Because the quarterback is the core position of the entire team, he is the only one required to master the entire playbook, from offense to defense. Of course, defense is only about reading, while offense requires full comprehension.


    In the NCAA, talent reigns supreme; in the NFL, it''s all about the brain.


    In the Professional League, quarterbacks who cannot master the playbook or keep up with the team''s tactical changes and end up being cut or even retired are not a new phenomenon. Johnny Manziel wasn''t the first one. For this reason, the Frederick Test could directly impact the draft position of quarterbacks.


    Of course, this is just a metric.


    A perfect score of fifty doesn''t imply a genius-type quarterback; similarly, scoring below the average of twenty doesn''t spell the end of a professional career. Each case requires specific analysis, and in the end, it varies from person to person.


    After many years of testing, there is an average score for each position on the field. As long as a player reaches such a standard, there is basically no problem.


    Interestingly, the position with the highest average score isn''t the quarterback but the offensive tackle, with an average score of twenty-six, while the average score for quarterbacks is twenty-four.


    The position with the lowest average score is the running back, with fullbacks averaging seventeen points and halfbacks averaging sixteen.


    Noticing Li Wei''s expression, Mahomes waved his hands again and again, "I just never liked studying or tests, that''s why I chose sports. No worries, no worries, at least I hit the quarterback average, that''s like just passing, right? Haha, I never thought I could pass."


    This is also a perspective.


    A smile appeared in Li Wei''s eyes as he nodded in agreement, "Perform well in the athletic tests coming up, and we''ll see the real deal when we compete."


    Mahomes, with a face full of smiles and nodding vigorously, looked ready to go, "The Frederick Test results this year are generally bad, scouts look pretty down, the stands are gloomy, the situation is serious. What about you? How did your test go? Ah, I shouldn''t worry about you, you probably aced the test with ease."


    Li Wei gave a light laugh, "It seems my performance on the field isn''t intimidating enough, making you all think that I play with my brains, right?"


    Mahomes blinked, "Isn''t that a good thing? You''re not one of those players who only have muscles and no brains."


    Five steps behind, diagonally in the rear.


    Fournette felt as if his back was full of arrows, like a porcupine, as he looked down at his Frederick Test result¡ª


    Eleven points.


    That number was so glaring that he felt like tearing the test result to shreds.


    A bit ahead, Kamara also glanced at his own Frederick Test result, twenty-four points, and a smile couldn''t help but creep onto his face.


    As a running back, his Frederick Test was far above the average, even matching the quarterback average, which immediately straightened Kamara''s back.


    Kamara had just sneakily inquired about his rival running backs¡ªCook scored eleven points, Mixon twelve, similar to Fournette.


    Birds of a feather.


    His gaze flicked to Li Wei, who was laughing and talking with Mahomes. Yet, Li Wei had never mentioned his own test results. Could it be that Li Wei had also blundered?


    With this thought, Kamara felt a secret thrill. He planned to go up and throw it in Li Wei''s face, to take him down a peg. As long as he could defeat Li Wei face-to-face at the Rookie Training Camp, with data and performance thoroughly surpassing Li Wei, the teams would see his value, and his draft stock would surely soar.


    Taking a deep breath, Kamara stepped forward.


    Just then, McCaffrey walked out of the room, heading straight for Li Wei and Mahomes, standing behind Li Wei. He peered over his shoulder to look at the test result in Li Wei''s hand, his eyes went wide, and he couldn''t help but exclaim.


    "Jesus Christ, perfect score!"


    The air grew a bit quieter.

 Chapter 165 164 Wise and capable

    It was just for a brief moment, all the noise, all the discussions, all the excitement suddenly went silent, and every gaze in the narrow corridor fell on Li Wei.


    Not far away, the cornerback group was bustling closer, their clamor highlighting the stark silence before them, even the sound of breathing was abruptly cut off.


    A perfect score?


    A perfect score!


    This was the second player to achieve a perfect score on the Frederick Test in the NFL since Wide Receiver Pat McInally in 1975.


    A full forty-one years had passed.


    Shocking as this news was, it lacked some impact, serving merely as fodder for casual conversation; after all, the Frederick Test was just a piece of reference data. McInally hadn''t been selected until the fifth round after scoring perfectly, so it wasn''t something to fuss over.


    But this time, the player with a perfect Frederick Test score was a running back¡ªa "muscles without brains" running back?


    This...


    Stirred up a thousand ripples with a single stone.


    The news sprouted wings and in an instant had spread throughout the entire Lucas Oil Stadium, and once-quiet glances were directed once more at Li Wei.


    In fact, from his performance during the regular season, it was clear that Li Wei was not a rigid player, but now, seeing the actual test results, one couldn''t help but be pleasantly surprised.


    Kamara glanced down at his own test results again, the numbers that had just made him feel so proud now seemed too hot to handle. Muttering a curse under his breath, he was just about to step forward when he decisively halted and quietly retreated, hiding his tracks before he could be humiliated.


    As Kamara took his first step away, he saw Fournette. Their gazes inadvertently collided in the air.


    Fournette felt a bit embarrassed, held his breath, and silently shifted his gaze away, looking up into the sky, withdrawing from the commotion around him, transforming into a ninja.


    Kamara also tactfully turned his head away, looking to the other side, where the cornerback group was coming right at him. He silently began to count¡ª


    One. Two. Three...


    Meanwhile, the instigator of it all, McCaffrey, was completely oblivious to the stir around him, eyes wide with amazement, looking the alien up and down with a face full of curiosity.


    "Wow!"


    In addition, there are some specialized events beyond the basic test items tailored for different positions, as in football, different positions face entirely different situations and challenges.


    In the running back group, Fournette was undoubtedly the most widely noticed among the players who finished all test events first, as his physical capability was his strongest weapon, and it had been proven.


    However, Fournette, who was plagued by injuries on and off throughout the season, still hadn''t reached his 100% condition, and his performance in the tests was mediocre.


    Forty-yard dash in 4.51 seconds, twenty-yard shuttle run in 4.53, three-cone drill in 7.27, vertical jump at 30.5 inches (77 centimeters), broad jump at 2.95 meters, bench press 25 times.


    Stay tuned with empire


    The only impressive performance was the bench press, where he ranked first among the running backs at present.


    Initially, people speculated that Fournette, hindered by injuries, might not participate in all of the physical tests, as he had already proven himself over the past two seasons, and there was no need to force himself to do the physical tests with a body not yet fully recovered, which could potentially harm his drafting prospects with poor data.


    But obviously, feeling the impending crisis from the pincer attack of Li Wei and McCaffrey, Fournette decided to join the physical testing.


    Now that the results were out, it was hard to discern Fournette''s expression from his dark complexion, but one could vaguely catch a hint of bewilderment from the scattered focus of his eyes.


    And then¡ª


    Whoa!


    Gasps rose from the crowd before they could even catch a glimpse of the physical test data on the big screen, the next second they saw a figure somersaulting like a gymnast, performing handstands, aerial twists, and dizzying acrobatic maneuvers that wowed the entire auditorium.


    Thump.


    Landing firmly, Kamara raised his head and puffed out his chest with a proud stance, immediately drawing a chorus of whistles, applause, and cheers.


    It was flashy and arrogant.


    Even the staff responsible for compiling the physical testing data couldn''t help but smile.


    Kamara lifted his chin high, his eyes gleaming as they darted a quick glance at Fournette, brimming with vigor yet without lingering, confidently resting on Li Wei¡ª


    How about it, are you ready?


    Fournette didn''t have time to gauge Li Wei''s response; he turned his head towards the big screen, and his face changed instantly:


    Damn.

 Chapter 166 165 Retreat Achievements

    Forty yards in 4.56 seconds, twenty-yard shuttle in 4.35 seconds, three-cone drill in 7.09 seconds, vertical jump reaching 39.5 inches (100 cm), standing broad jump at 3.33 meters, bench press 15 times.


    Kamara, performed excellently in the physical tests.


    Not only did he surpass Fournette in speed and burst, but he also excelled in the bench press, which was considered his weak spot¡ªwhile he naturally can''t compare with Fournette purely in terms of numbers, the fact that he could still exhibit such strength while maintaining a lightweight frame was indeed impressive.


    His figures were striking across the board.


    Upon closer examination, Kamara''s forty-yard dash time was slightly inferior to Fournette''s, but note that within those forty yards, Kamara led Fournette in both the ten-yard and twenty-yard splits.


    This also proved that Kamara had superior short-range explosiveness to Fournette, albeit with slightly less endurance, but this wasn''t a serious issue since the running back''s primary range of action is still within ten to twenty yards.


    Scouts and head coaches at the Lucas Oil Stadium turned their attention to him, as everyone was initially focused on the performances of the three top running backs, but Kamara then delivered the first surprise.


    Then, looking at Kamara''s Frederick Test results, another surprise¡ª Your next chapter awaits on empire


    Twenty-four points, quite remarkable for a running back.


    In an instant, the "low-key yet underdog" Kamara burst into everyone''s sight.


    No wonder Kamara was so excited.


    It was clear that he had been eagerly waiting for this moment, his confidence, his pride, his brilliance, were not unfounded. From the moment he arrived in Indianapolis, he had set his sights on defeating the trio of running backs to prove himself.


    This was also the highlight of the Rookie Training Camp, setting aside team factors, each player had the chance to showcase their abilities on this stage.


    And truly stand in the spotlight, seen by all the teams.


    Kamara seized his opportunity.


    Unsatisfied, Kamara performed a series of somersaults and acrobatic jumps to showcase his flexibility and coordination, proving he still had unshown aces up his sleeve.


    Then, like a victor, he jogged half a circle around the field, finally slowing down in front of Li Wei and McCaffrey.


    Knowing that all scouts and teams were watching him, Kamara made no overtly provocative gestures, just a mimed telephone gesture, thumb as the receiver and little finger as the microphone, placed by his ear, gazing unblinkingly at Li Wei, a confident smile slowly spreading across his lips.


    That look, that gaze, that expression seemed to say:


    Do you hear that? That''s the sound of NFL teams calling my agent, the lines are so busy, can''t keep up!


    As he spoke, he high-fived Li Wei in celebration, let out a long breath, regretful but not sad, McCaffrey remained positive.


    Immediately afterward, McCaffrey clenched his fist to cheer Li Wei on, "Come on, come on!" His eyes sparkled with anticipation as he clapped and cheered without sitting down, he stood beside him and watched quietly¡ª


    Genuinely excited.


    Clearly, McCaffrey wasn''t the only one. Other running backs who weren''t undergoing testing also turned their gazes one after another, truly the center of attention.


    Not just the players, it was palpable in the spacious stadium as rustling gazes all gathered towards Li Wei, everyone was waiting for this moment.


    In just over a month, numerous training camps sprung up, with information about rookie players flying all over, real or false, nearly all NCAA juniors and seniors were mobilized, and the focus of all football fans swarmed towards the rookies.


    However, Li Wei, the biggest mystery of the season, did not shine in public but continued on his mysterious path, disappearing from sight entirely.


    NFL: Is this really okay?


    Was Li Wei really prepared for the draft? Hiding like this, did he have some secret? Was his refusal to be scouted by teams due to some unspeakable reason?


    All at once, various speculations gathered.


    Everything was just as Donald Yee said, the better Li Wei''s performance during the season, the more intense and savage the attention, suspicion, and attacks became.


    Strangely, Li Wei always remained low-key and steady, not just his agent, but Saban and Burns also did not express any opinion.


    This mystery only fueled more and more speculation, no wonder Li Wei became everyone''s imagined enemy upon his arrival in Indianapolis, but the attention and expectations only grew, undoubtedly making him the hottest focus in the Rookie Training Camp this year.


    Until now.


    Finally!


    Li Wei, finally took the stage, finally unveiled the mystery, was finally about to display his poise once more in the nationally broadcast Rookie Training Camp, was finally about to showcase the results of his secluded training¡ª


    Clearly, this was a double-edged sword.


    The aura of mystery drove the NFL''s expectations higher and higher, the focus around Li Wei had now reached new heights, and yet, if Li Wei failed to meet those expectations¡ªeven if his physical test results were good, but fell short of expectations, with people hoping for a score of ninety-five but he only scored ninety-two, it would still be disappointing.


    Backlash was then inevitable and could even directly impact his draft order.


    So, could Li Wei meet the expectations? Was the secluded training really worth the hype?

 Chapter 167 166 Far ahead

    In the stadium stands, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Bradley glanced at general manager Caldwell.


    Caldwell had already stood up, his gaze fixed intently on the field, making no effort to conceal his concern, but Bradley knew this was just a show. Your journey continues with empire


    For Caldwell, creating market effects was what mattered most, and he had already started to promote Li Wei for the Jacksonville Jaguars.


    Although Bradley did not plan to oppose the choice of a running back, and he genuinely hoped to select a running back, Caldwell''s blind action was truly unsettling.


    The only thing he could pray for now was:


    Please, Li Wei, be impressive.


    Wow.


    A gasp of amazement, a wave of admiration.


    Wave after wave, the expressions of the other running backs were clearly visible, and Bradley''s heart climbed bit by bit¡ª


    Li Wei did not disappoint.


    To be precise, it was far more than just "not disappointing"; it even brought surprises.


    The intense training after the nationwide championship finally made its mark.


    Forty yards in 4.38 seconds, twenty-yard shuttle in 4.21 seconds, three-cone drill in 6.48 seconds, vertical jump reaching 40 inches (102 cm), broad jump of 3.37 meters, bench press 13 times.


    The admiration simply couldn''t stop.


    In the regular season, everyone knew that speed and agility were Li Wei''s strengths, and many scouts had evaluated him using Adrian Peterson as a template; but no one expected the actual data to be so eye-opening, more direct and more formidable, surpassing the competition in every aspect.


    Completely ahead!


    By a whole length!


    At forty yards, Li Wei was the only rookie this year to break the 4.40 barrier, and he was not far off the NFL rookie forty-yard dash record of 4.32. His start, acceleration, dash, and other data were all impressively vivid, including his explosive power, which was among the top in this year''s rookie running backs.


    All the data in the ten and twenty-yard intervals were leading, not only surpassing Kamara but also making McCaffrey''s data pale in comparison.


    Horizontally speaking, Li Wei stood in the first tier among this year''s running backs in terms of all-around quality, reaffirming his capability as a Heisman Trophy and nationwide championship MVP.


    "Ha. Hahaha."


    Brown shook his head, seemingly unaware of Bradley''s suddenly pale face.


    Bradley had only one thought in his mind: troublemaker!


    On the field, the players were completely oblivious to the metaphorical swords and shadows in the stands, the turbulent undercurrents out of their sight due to the vast expanse of the stadium.


    McCaffrey was the first to clap for Li Wei, even whistling, "Wow, roar roar roar," a ghostly howl followed by a bright smile¡ª


    At least for now, Li Wei remained the most outstanding running back in this batch of rookies, leading in all aspects.


    The light of combat burned fiercely in McCaffrey''s eyes: Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!


    Upon hearing the ghostly howls, Li Wei turned around and saw McCaffrey, as well as Kamara, who was trying to conceal his stiff expression.


    Li Wei met Kamara''s gaze, and instead of any flashy celebration, just raised his right hand, miming a phone call gesture, gently swinging his wrist as if mimicking the vibration of a ringing phone.


    Then, he hung up.


    Kamara: ...


    Ha ha, Hahaha!


    The surrounding running backs burst into laughter; they meant no ill towards Kamara. There was no feud between them, they just found it amusing.


    But to Kamara, it didn''t seem that way. His cheeks burned hot, unable to discern whether it was anger or embarrassment.


    Not just the running backs, but coaches, team managers, and scouts in the stands also witnessed the scene. They hadn''t foreseen Kamara''s provocation or Li Wei''s response, making things suddenly interesting, adding some extra flair to the otherwise dull rookie training camp.


    For Kamara, it was a nightmare. Everything had gone off the rails, not to mention beating Li Wei to improve his draft position¡ªnow, his continuous blunders might even cause his draft position to slip, filling Kamara with fear and anxiety as if sleepwalking.


    Until the final test event for the running back group approached, Kamara finally regained his senses¡ª


    A lifeline, at last.


    The catching test.


    Wait, was there a mistake? A catching test? This was the running back group, not the wide receivers or the tight ends. Why did the running back group need a catching test?

 Chapter 168 167 Catching Test

    In the 2015 season, Derrick Henry swept through the NCAA with an unbelievable performance, strongly defeating McCaffrey and Watson to take home the Heisman Trophy.


    After the season ended, Henry declared for the 2016 draft. Your next journey awaits at empire


    From various analyses and indications, Henry, who showed absolute dominance on the college field, should have been naturally a highly sought-after player.


    However, reality begged to differ.


    First, Henry''s large build and obvious target made him easy to catch by opponents; his high center of gravity made him prone to losing balance.


    Secondly, in the NCAA, Henry could always break through with explosive power, but in the NFL, where the defensive intensity was notably higher, this move was not necessarily effective.


    Lastly, based on past experience, large, strong running backs like Henry, such as Brandon Jacobs, LeGarrette Blount, Marshawn Lynch, and so on, tended to be used as one-dimensional power backs. When the ground attack strategies were recognized in the second and third gears, their strength advantages often got lost in the crowd tactics.


    The so-called one-dimensional running backs mentioned here not only refer to their rushing style but also to the fact that they could run but not catch.


    With this in view, Henry''s weaknesses seemed more apparent than his strengths. After the nationwide championship ended, NFL scouts generally predicted his draft position to be around the fourth or fifth rounds, or even lower. Fortunately, Henry conquered the scouts with outstanding performances at the Rookie Training Camp and Alabama Crimson Tide Storm''s internal training day.


    In the end, in the second round at pick forty-five, the Tennessee Titans selected Henry.


    However.


    In March before the draft, the Tennessee Titans had already signed Pro Bowl running back DeMarco Murray as the starter, which meant Henry''s rookie season would have to start from the bench.


    The quarterback for the Tennessee Titans was the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, a mobile quarterback whose strength lay in running the ball on the ground, with average passing ability; coupled with the fact that both Murray and Henry had similar styles, being running backs who excelled in rushing but not in receiving, their roles on the field completely overlapped.


    Thus, Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt could only use Henry when Murray was exhausted.


    Throughout his rookie season, Henry merely managed 490 rushing yards and five touchdowns, a figure that was just a fifth of his Heisman season the year before.


    This, is the current situation.


    The entire NFL has fully entered the era of passing dominance, with traditional power fullbacks gradually being phased out, while versatile halfbacks are increasingly becoming the main type of running back.


    Huh.


    Kamara let out a long breath; he had no way out now.


    His plan had been completely disrupted, things had spiraled out of control long ago. He wanted to swear but had no mood for it. If he still wanted to use Li Wei as a stepping stone to prove himself, if he still wanted to improve his draft position, this was his last chance, he had to seize it.


    The receiving skills test wasn''t about timing but about testing agility and precision.


    The starting point was a cross-shaped block set on the ground, about twenty centimeters high, with the player standing in one quadrant. They then had to hop on one foot to the next quadrant, the second foot then hopping into the same quadrant, ensuring one foot, then the other each entered before finally both standing in the quadrant. They would continue in the same manner to the next quadrant.


    Whether clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on the player''s personal preference, they would start and end in the same quadrant, completing one full round.


    Then, they would take off.


    Ahead were three horizontal barriers, twenty centimeters high and arranged longitudinally, which the players needed to traverse in the same fashion before charging forward.


    Then, three circular air-filled sandbags were set up in a Y-shaped pattern with each having a coach behind. The coaches would swing the sandbags to simulate a defender''s block. The running back had to find the correct lane between the Y-shaped gaps to push through¡ª


    At the same time, they could not touch the sandbags and had to successfully dodge them.


    Continuing straight ahead, another coach stood empty-handed; he would raise his hands, indicating left or right. It wasn''t about dodging this time but about following the directions, with the player running a lateral parabola according to the instruction, ending near the sideline to be ready to catch the ball.


    The one passing the ball would still be a coach.


    After catching the Football, the players would continue down the sideline and into the End zone.


    The whole process seemed simple, but it was actually quite complex.


    It tested footwork, judgment, the ability to react on the spot, changing direction, catching, control of the center of gravity after catching, and the final sprint.


    Time wasn''t important, no one tested for time, but everyone could see the agility of the steps, the on-the-spot judgment, the smoothness of the breakthrough, and the secondary reactions, and so on. It was a comprehensive assessment of the running back and Wide Receiver''s capabilities.


    It was hard, very hard, but Kamara was ready.

 Chapter 169 168 Light and Silky

    ```


    Ah!


    At the scene, a chorus of gasps¡ª


    Kamara, on the verge of losing his balance.


    His footsteps in the first half were somewhat hasty, and the more he wanted to showcase himself, the more he lost his rhythm. The on-the-spot decision-making in the air-cushion sandbag area clearly threw him off, and by the time he neared the sidelines preparing to catch the ball, centrifugal force was pulling his body outward, almost throwing him off balance.


    However, at the critical moment!


    Kamara indeed demonstrated his formidable catching ability, forcibly hitting the brakes to stop his steps, striking a Look Back at the Moon pose, with his upper body and lower body twisting in different directions, as he launched into the air.


    In that instant, gravity seemed to vanish.


    Kamara stretched his body to its limits to grab the football, managing, just barely, to catch it, but he ultimately ran out of strength and completely lost control of his body.


    Then, gravity immediately made its strong presence felt.


    Discover hidden content at empire


    Kamara fell straight down, hitting the ground hard like a sandbag.


    At the scene, gasps rose once more.


    The only thought in Kamara''s mind was:


    Embarrassing! Really, really, truly embarrassing!


    The more he rushed to make an impression, the more things went contrary to his wishes. The more arrogant and proud he had been earlier, the more despair and awkwardness he felt now. He wanted to dig a hole and leave this place.


    Despite his saving catch at the last moment, this performance had ultimately been botched.


    Damn it.


    Taking a deep breath, Kamara eventually mustered up the courage to stand up, casually tossed the football back to the coach as if nothing had happened, and turned to walk toward the running backs¡ª


    It''s fine, as long as I don''t think I''m embarrassing, nobody can think I''m embarrassing.


    Kamara didn''t even have the mind to observe Li Wei''s expression anymore. He just looked straight ahead, held his head up, and puffed out his chest, pretending as if nothing had happened.


    "Uh, Alvin, it looks like you''re bleeding from your nose..."


    "No. You''re mistaken."


    "But..."


    "You''re mistaken!"


    Again, the air fell silent.


    The gaze turned back to the field.


    Fournette did not participate in this test, for as a traditional power running back, catching wasn''t his forte. He had tried to prove himself in the physical tests prior, but it seemed too forced, and he wisely chose to abandon the remaining tests to minimize any damage from the Rookie Training Camp.


    And McCaffrey?


    Smooth as chocolate.


    Li Wei, like an arrow released from a bow, cut through the wind all the way.


    Taking a step ahead, Li Wei kept his eyes fixed on the three air-filled sandbags in front of him¡ª


    Left, center, right.


    His pupils contracted slightly.


    Left, then right.


    Center, then left.


    Right, then right.


    The right passage was the green light.


    Li Wei keenly caught the coaches'' movements, his footsteps came to a complete halt, maintaining his forward momentum, his right leg slightly reached out to the right, pulling his body forward, not slowing down but rather gaining speed.


    Like a breath of fresh air.


    With a swish, he had already passed through the right passage, leaving a whirlwind behind him.


    Then, he saw a coach raise his right hand, which was on Li Wei''s left¡ª


    A little test.


    In the regular season, Li Wei still preferred to break through from the right, and obviously, the coaches from the thirty-two teams at Rookie Training Camp had studied his game footage. Now it was time to see Li Wei''s capability on the left.


    And it was also his receiving ability.


    His right foot pushed off, his left foot steered, and his body drew a flat, sideway parabola towards the sidelines, approaching at lightning speed.


    Change direction. Explode.


    Silky smooth, and before anyone could blink, Li Wei had already approached the sideline. The coach responsible for the pass stayed composed, launching a rainbow.


    Five yards!


    Ten yards!


    Fifteen yards!


    Twenty yards!


    This was a twenty-five-yard-long pass, like a bullet, headed straight for Li Wei''s position.


    Certainly, this wasn''t Li Wei''s strongest position, neither his running route nor his role, everything was unfamiliar to him, which led to a slight deviation.


    The timing of his judgment was not accurate.


    Li Wei was awaiting the pass, slowing down in anticipation; whereas the passing coach thought Li Wei would maintain high speed to reach the spot, resulting in the ball''s trajectory being a little too far.


    If it was a teammate, this situation could be avoided through practice and coordination, but obviously, it was the first time the two had worked together, so deviations were inevitable.


    Li Wei was not nervous.


    He quickly judged his own position¡ª the sideline, the end zone, and the trajectory of the football¡ªthree points in his mind connected to form a three-dimensional image, like a constellation that popped up in his brain¡ª


    Got it!

 Chapter 170 169 Stunning the Crowd with Skill

    Strictly speaking, wide receivers and running backs are two distinctly different positions, with the former focusing on breakthroughs, positioning, timing, and teamwork with the quarterback.


    Obviously, Li Wei and the passing coach, who had never worked together before, experienced some slight misalignments, slowing down his steps slightly to adjust, and realizing that the pass trajectory continued over his head¡ª


    It went somewhat over.


    Li Wei was very calm, accurately judging the three-dimensional space before stomping, jumping, and leaning back.


    In his line of sight, one could see Li Wei display unparalleled core strength as his waist bent into a beautifully curved arch, and his upper body extended backward, akin to a fully drawn bow.


    He!


    The entire field erupted in astonishment.


    But then, Li Wei''s body fully extended. Due to his standing position, it was impossible to catch the ball with both hands, and because he was turned with his back to the end zone on the left side of the field, his right hand was close to the sideline, away from the pass trajectory of the football¡ª


    How would he catch the ball?


    Could it be, with his left hand?


    Isn''t Li Wei right-handed?


    Before thoughts could unravel, at the critical moment, Li Wei''s left arm rose high, appearing right in the falling arc of the football''s trajectory.


    Lightly, nimbly, accurately.


    He completed the catch.


    Incredibly, with a one-handed catch!


    And with his left hand no less!


    The crowd was in awe, the stadium fell silent, shocked and stirred, unable to believe their own eyes. Even Burns, watching the live broadcast on television, was completely flabbergasted and turned to ask Saban.


    A flicker of admiration passed through Saban''s eyes, "This kid..."


    But it still wasn''t over.


    Kamara: "Falling. Falling. Falling."


    Watson: "Faceplant. Faceplant. Faceplant."


    Different perspectives crowded around Li Wei, projecting their thoughts onto him.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Setting aside Odell Beckham Jr.''s real abilities, but he definitely had the topics, the popularity, the traffic, so much so that the team had to consider market influences when pondering contract renewals.


    They each saw what they wanted to see, becoming unprecedentedly resolute.


    But what about Brown, what was he selling in his gourd?


    Meanwhile, across the field, at a distance in the stands that Caldwell and his colleagues did not notice, Harbaugh was also watching this unfold.


    Reed, standing by his side, bearing a kind and benevolent look akin to Maitreya, smiled at the sight of Harbaugh being simultaneously excited and bothered, chuckled silently, "What, not satisfied?"


    Harbaugh looked towards Reed, somewhat helplessly, "It''s no longer about whether I''m satisfied, it''s about whether we can even pick him."


    The Baltimore Ravens, although they didn''t make the playoffs, didn''t have a bad season either, ending up with the sixteenth pick in the draft.


    The Jacksonville Jaguars seemed determined to get their target, the Cleveland Browns were like a ticking time bomb, Harbaugh had just noticed Rivera with a pensive expression on his low-key face, not knowing if the Carolina Panthers were preparing to join the fray. Considering they held the eighth pick, it was simply... a mess.


    Involuntarily, Harbaugh also felt a headache¡ª


    Lack of ability was disappointing; too much ability was equally thorny.


    On the other hand, the relaxed Reed, an observer in this, said, "That might not necessarily be the case. There aren''t many teams in the league willing to use a first-round pick on a running back, let alone the top three or top ten picks; you still have a chance."


    "The question is, what pick do you think he''s worth?"


    The principle, Harbaugh naturally understood, he also needed to weigh.


    At this moment, his talk with Reed was casual, "So, what about you? What are your thoughts?"


    Reed shrugged slightly, "You know me, I''m waiting for a wide receiver."


    Reed was a renowned offensive master in the NFL, and his best and most exceptional skill was in coaching quarterbacks, turning even mediocre ones into stars with his focus predominantly on passing over running.


    Thus, don''t be fooled that the Ravens relied on defense to win the Super Bowl; Harbaugh''s approach to offense was also based on philosophies directly from Reed.


    Harbaugh knew, Reed wasn''t entirely speaking the truth, but it wasn''t a lie either. The Kansas City Chiefs indeed needed another excellent wide receiver to support their leading wide receiver Hill; however, this was not their most urgent position, as the protection from the offensive line''s pocket and the running back were more crucial¡ª


    The Chiefs'' leading running back, Jamaal Charles, was out for the season due to an injury, and what lay ahead was uncertain, so Reed''s draft strategy was largely dependent on the offseason negotiations with Charles and a few other key players; at this time, decisions could not be precisely made.


    As expected.


    Reed added, "But I''ll admit, Li Wei is an interesting player. However, if you can''t pick him, chances are even slimmer for us."


    This year, the Kansas City Chiefs had the twenty-seventh pick, ranked behind the Baltimore Ravens.


    Harbaugh showed a rueful smile, though he anticipated Li Wei being in high demand, he had not anticipated it to this extent.

 Chapter 171 170 League Upheaval

    The 2017 Rookie Training Camp was nearing its end, and although this year was generally considered an off-year compared to the comprehensive breakout of rookies in 2012, the camp still saw a number of promising new players emerge, keeping scouts and teams busy.


    After the physical tests, the Rookie Training Camp had one final phase:No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Interviews.


    Representatives from all thirty-two teams would arrive at Lucas Oil Stadium, armed with a list compiled from the camp results and scout reports.


    This list had limited slots; with so many players at the Rookie Training Camp, teams couldn''t interview everyone. They mainly focused on those prospects they were interested in but still had more questions about, inviting these players to the team''s hotel rooms for conversations.


    The interviews often lasted only ten to fifteen minutes, and sometimes even five, a very brief and efficient exchange of opinions.


    Perhaps some may wonder, can such a brief interview really change anything?


    The answer is yes.


    In the 2005 draft, Aaron Rodgers, a quarterback from the University of California, Berkeley, was widely considered the strongest contender for the first overall pick. His talent, ability, and position as a quarterback all seemed to indicate that he could be the next big star.


    However, the draft unfolded in one of the most awkward scenes in history: Rodgers''s name wasn''t called for the first, second, or even third pick, causing the broadcast cameras to focus on Rodgers each time a pick was made, as if interrogating him with their lenses.


    It wasn''t until the twenty-fourth pick of the first round that Rodgers was finally selected by the Green Bay Packers, ending his excruciating three-hour wait.


    After the draft, there were numerous rumors, but it took a long time for team managers to admit that Rodgers''s poor performance in the final interview of the Rookie Training Camp was to blame. They thought he was arrogant, aloof, conceited, difficult to get along with, and not leadership material.


    Of course, it turned out that this view was wrong.


    Now, Rodgers is universally regarded as one of the four elite quarterbacks in the League, a four-time regular season MVP, and unquestionably a leading figure.


    Heading to a strong team has its benefits, and likewise, heading to a struggling team has its own advantages.


    The most prominent point is that the NFL has a salary cap, a hard salary cap¡ª Discover stories at empire


    That is, there''s no wiggle room, no cap space, no exceptions.


    Rookies, like professional players, all have a hard cap, and every round''s cap and signing bonuses are strictly regulated.


    Generally speaking, rookie contracts are for four years, with the option to negotiate an extension starting in the third year; the cap for the first overall pick is four years thirty-five million US dollars, while the cap for the thirty-second pick in the first round is four years ten million US dollars.


    This is just the first round, and you can already see a clear disparity, let alone the second or third rounds.


    Naturally, teams are interviewing players, and players also have their own calculations when heading to interviews; everyone has their own dream team.


    As expected, defensive end Garrett, running back Fournette, quarterback Watson, and other sought-after players became hot candidates for interviews, each holding at least five invitations, signaling their draft prospects and to some extent, they also have some choice in the matter.


    And this year''s Rookie Training Camp standout McCaffrey did not disappoint, breaking the shackles of being a running back, earning six team interview invitations for himself.


    But the real surprise was Mahomes.


    It was widely believed to be a weak year for quarterbacks, with only ten quarterbacks attending the Rookie Training Camp. Watson from Clemson and Mitchell Trubisky from South Carolina were the reluctant choices among the less impressive lot.


    Unexpectedly, Mahomes, who was thought to be at best third-round material, displayed outstanding talent, and attractive combine results caught the attention of many.


    The Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Chicago Bears all extended interview invitations.


    Not only did teams like the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears, with top three draft picks, hand out invites, but even teams like the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers, which aren''t lacking a quarterback, truly demonstrate the demand for quarterbacks in the league and the desire of teams for a cornerstone quarterback.


    So, what about the other focus, Li Wei?

 Chapter 172 171 Turbulent Undercurrents

    Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons.


    All these teams had issued interview invitations to Li Wei, with draft picks ranging from high to low, covering every base.


    Undoubtedly, Li Wei became the busiest figure in the entire training camp, barely touching the ground, unable to stop even to drink water.


    This was indeed a bit of a surprise, shocking perhaps too strong a word. People could foresee the league''s curiosity about Li Wei, but to this extent?


    Before the Rookie Training Camp, discussions about Li Wei in the NFL were certainly not few, and one particular view was very popular:


    It wasn''t that Li Wei wasn''t exceptional, but that Saban''s system fully utilized Li Wei''s capabilities.


    There are many reasons why the position of running back is in decline in the Professional League, including injuries, the dominance of passing, and others, such as the offensive system.


    Running back is a position highly dependent on teamwork; a good offensive line is responsible for paving the way for the running back, and wide receivers and tight ends are responsible for breaking up the play, allowing a running back to forge a path through packed defenses. Otherwise, even a powerhouse like Henry can be overwhelmed.


    For this reason, a strong ground attack team usually has a top-tier offensive line and tactics laid out by coaches to facilitate breaking up the field.


    Alabama Crimson Tide Storm was just such a team.


    Li Wei''s excellence was undeniable; but was this excellence wholly reliant on the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm''s offensive system? After switching to a different team and system, would Li Wei struggle to adapt, then expose all his weaknesses? Wouldn''t any average running back perform outstandingly within the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm?


    Ultimately, having entered the football field for just a single season, with such few reference samples, these concerns were only natural.


    Kamara''s provocation stemmed from this view.


    Especially since Li Wei missed other training camps, remaining a mystery, which only fueled this opinion. People generally believed that Li Wei feared that exposure of his weaknesses would affect his draft position and thus uniformly declined all training camp invitations.


    But!


    In the Rookie Training Camp, Li Wei fully demonstrated his abilities, from injury assessment to the Frederick Test, from physical data to reception tests, finally revealing the brilliance that Burns initially saw in him, making Li Wei once again the undisputed focus among the rookies.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Then, chaos ensued.


    In fact, not only the teams, but NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was also in action¡ª


    Since taking over in 2006, in just ten years, Goodell had doubled the market value of the NFL, and the worth of the thirty-two teams had also risen with the tide; and with foresight, he had laid out his strategy in the global market early on, ambitiously wanting to start a craze worldwide.


    In 2016, among the world''s wealthiest professional clubs, the NFL cornered half of the top fifty slots, with twenty-six teams making it into the top fifty, and the Dallas Cowboys were champions for three consecutive years.


    No wonder Goodell''s support rate among team owners had reached a new high.


    It was obvious to any ordinary team manager, and Goodell had no reason to miss it; he was also behind the scenes, fanning the flames. Everywhere one could see news about Li Wei, his exposure reaching an unbelievable level, but Goodell''s real cleverness was not in these efforts.


    ¡ªRunning back.


    Goodell packaged the sale, pushing the rivalry of the three great running backs¡ªFournette, Li Wei, and McCaffrey¡ªto the pinnacle.


    Because Goodell knew that in recent years, the League had completely focused on the passing game, causing the value of running backs to continuously decline, with teams becoming increasingly stingy in using high draft picks on running backs; but now, Goodell needed the teams to be braver and bolder in choosing Li Wei, relying solely on Li Wei''s strength might not be enough.


    Thus, they needed to reawaken the value of running backs, make fans believe that a running back is an indispensable piece in the struggle for the Super Bowl, and give team managers the courage to boldly use high draft selections on running backs.


    In no time, there were intense debates surrounding the three great running backs, and consequently, other running backs also received more attention.


    Simultaneously, Goodell once again personally visited Hua Xia, generously issuing a call to heroes, enthusiastically inviting Chinese media to Philadelphia, the venue for this year''s draft, to broadcast the draft up close, witnessing history¡ª


    All of this, everything was in promotion for this year''s draft.


    Without any surprises, Li Wei was certain to be picked, and once picked, it would be a historical moment.


    The only suspense now lay in whether he could be selected in the first round, or to be more precise, at what position and by which team he would be selected?


    The heat was rising, growing more intense, and now that the atmosphere had been built up to this point, it should... not... flop, right?

 Chapter 173 172 Weighing Pros and Cons

    The drizzle was relentless, and a fine mist enveloped the city outside the window. Although it was already April, the cold was still piercing to the bone, like a sharp wind playfully drilling into one''s neck.


    Li Wei''s gaze drifted beyond the car window, where the urban landscape of Philadelphia spread out before him, shrouded in greyness, every corner bearing the traces of a steel city''s past history.


    Among the series of big cities on the East Coast, Philadelphia was not very conspicuous; cities like New York, Boston, Miami, and others easily garnered attention. The understated and ancient Philadelphia, therefore, was forgotten.


    But in fact, Philadelphia played an important role in the history of the North American continent. In 2015, Philadelphia became the first city in the United States to be included as a World Cultural Heritage Site, highlighting its profound legacy.


    The NBA''s Philadelphia 76ers, NFL''s Philadelphia Eagles, MLB''s Philadelphians, NHL''s Philadelphia Flyers, this city is one of the few to have professional teams in all four major sports leagues due to its large market and deep heritage; not only that, it even has a soccer team, Philadelphia Union, leading by far in terms of diversity and range.


    That''s why, this year, the NFL draft returned to Philadelphia for the first time since 1961, leaving New York and about to commence here.


    The live broadcast of the NFL draft was, without a doubt, a nationwide focus, attracting over fifteen million viewers every year. Based on a series of evaluations, the league would invite around thirty-six players to the Little Green House on-site, waiting patiently for teams to announce their draft selections.


    Occasionally, players would refuse to attend and choose to wait at home.


    But Li Wei couldn''t do that. Even if Donald agreed, Goodell wouldn''t. They needed Li Wei to be present at the event, regardless of whether he would be selected in the first round or not, as the league needed him to boost viewership ratings in Asia¡ª


    History could be written at any moment.


    Most players would go to the Little Green House with their parents'' company, but Li Wei knew his parents wouldn''t be comfortable there. Waiting for three or four hours in the Green Room was torturous enough, being surrounded by countless cameras and scrutinized down to every move was even more excruciating.


    So, accompanied by Donald Yee, Li Wei arrived in Philadelphia.


    Donald turned his head, observing Li Wei calmly admiring the scenery outside the window. Although he had grown accustomed to Li Wei''s usual composure, Li Wei was still a college student after all. To remain so calm at such a destiny-defining moment was surprising to Donald. "Aren''t you nervous?"


    "No, I''m incredibly nervous," Li Wei replied with a smile on his face.


    Donald was momentarily taken aback, unable to discern whether Li Wei was serious or joking.


    Li Wei chuckled, "I''m serious. I''ve already put in all the effort I could. Now, I must entrust my fate to others; it''s impossible not to be nervous."


    "Moreover," he continued, "there are more than a few players who have waited in the Green Room until the end and weren''t called. Rodgers could drop to twenty-fourth in the first round, Henry could only be selected in the second round, and Brady wasn''t picked up until the sixth round. Anything could happen."


    Then, Li Wei saw his fellow draft classmates, members from the Crimson Tide Storm like Allen, Foster, Humphrey, Howard, and others, all invited to the Little Green House, undoubtedly one of the colleges with the most players present at the venue today; also, there were familiar faces like Mahomes, McCaffrey, Fournette, Garrett, Watson, and so on.


    Compared to Li Wei, they were much more nervous, infected by the atmosphere at the site.


    Here, the Philadelphia Museum of Art was ready to burst with energy.


    Over there, the real nerve center was the large rear guard of the thirty-two teams.


    Team managers, head coaches, offensive coordinators, defensive coordinators, salary cap analysis assistants, and so on, all gathered in the war room, analyzing and making decisions based on every dynamic at the front.


    Strictly speaking, it was calm here, but even more tense and busier than the frontline.


    One would assume the team managers had already made their decisions; but in fact, even now they were still deliberating, weighing, and calculating¡ªthis was the norm.


    Teams were still probing and trading with one another, and this morning was busier than any before.


    The Baltimore Ravens were no exception.


    Harbaugh was watching game footage, over and over again, so much so that when team manager Ozzie Newsome came in, he didn''t notice.


    Newsome glanced at the computer screen without conveying any change in expression, "John, can''t you let go?"


    Harbaugh didn''t immediately respond, waiting for the current wave of footage to finish before shaking his head, "No, we''ve discussed it and made a decision, I''m not going to change my mind."


    "Li Wei is good, Li Wei is very good, but the price is too high if we need to trade up, it''s not worth it. I know the cost of building a championship team."


    Harbaugh was conflicted and regretful, but he had to face the objective reality¡ª


    The Jacksonville Jaguars, the Carolina Panthers, both expressing great interest in Li Wei, one with the fourth pick, the other with the eighth, and also the Cleveland Browns, who could go off the deep end at any time. If the Baltimore Ravens wanted to snatch him, it would cost too much.


    After weighing their options, they reached a consensus to focus on the defensive group first.


    Just then, someone pushed the door open and spoke directly.


    "... Coach, Andy Reid is on line three."

 Chapter 174 173 The So-Called Cost

    Harbaugh appreciated Li Wei, and genuinely believed Li Wei could make a place for himself in the League; the Baltimore Ravens could use such a player. However, the issue was what they could afford to give up for a running back¡ªthat was the stark reality they had to consider.


    Although reluctant to admit, Harbaugh had to show the determination of a head coach¡ª


    Instead of spending a lot on a running back, it would be better to pick several defensive players and continue to refine the Baltimore Ravens'' defensive lineup.


    Of course, if it were Baltimore''s turn and Li Wei was still not selected, Harbaugh would not hesitate to use the first-round pick to choose Li Wei.


    At least, Li Wei deserved a first-round show.


    About this, Harbaugh and team manager Newsome had already reached a consensus, but reason was one thing and emotions were another. Harbaugh still couldn''t resist wanting to watch Li Wei''s game footage, as a final lingering thought.


    Then, "knock knock," after the knocking, the office door was pushed open directly.


    "...Coach, Andy Reid is on line three."


    Harbaugh and Newsome exchanged looks, Newsome''s first reaction was, "Could he be preparing a trade?"


    "It should be Brett who contacts you," Harbaugh had a different thought.


    Brett Veach, Kansas City Chief''s team manager¡ªnegotiating trade picks should be a manager''s job, not something a head coach should handle, after all, their professional fields are different.


    Harbaugh didn''t say much else, picked up the receiver, and directly pressed the number three button, "Hey, coach, a beautiful morning."


    "Hehe, John, a busy morning," came Reid''s hearty laugh.


    Harbaugh made a casual remark, "What made you suddenly decide to call me, coach?"


    Reid did not beat around the bush, "John, what do you think of Li Wei?"


    "What?" Harbaugh was surprised.


    Reid just laughed out loud, "I''ve heard it. I''m not asking about any scouting reports or physical data, I know your scouts have followed the Crimson Tide Storm all season, what is Li Wei like privately?"


    Harbaugh''s thoughts raced¡ª


    At the end of February, Kansas City Chiefs'' premier running back, Jamaal Charles, had officially terminated his contract, the last one on the free market, and then signed with the Denver Broncos.


    Obviously, the Kansas City Chiefs'' starting running back position was suddenly vacant, which necessitated some recalculations.


    Harbaugh gently tapped the desktop, sighed softly, "How can you be so sure I wouldn''t choose him?"


    Reid chuckled softly twice, "So you mean if there''s a chance, you would like to pick him?"


    Harbaugh laughed wryly, "Coach, if I give you information, what do I get in return?"


    In the process of observing Watson, Reed had noticed Li Wei.


    A running back.


    And not just any running back, but a disciplined, capable one with leadership qualities, a game-changer.


    Originally, when watching the nationwide championship final game video, Reed should have been observing Watson, but Li Wei repeatedly captured all his attention.


    As a veteran coach, Reed was very aware of the current value of running backs in the league; due to the trio of top running backs and the league''s background promotion, their value was slightly overpriced this year, making it unworthy to choose a quarterback next year.


    Honestly speaking, the logical choice would be to avoid the muddle this year, and even if opting for a running back, it was unnecessary to vie for the top three in the first round.


    But understanding all this, Reed still couldn''t get Li Wei out of his mind.


    After hanging up the phone, Reed opened the game video again to watch repeatedly, so engrossed that even when team manager Veach knocked and entered, it did not interrupt him. Discover hidden tales at empire


    "Coach, the war room is ready," Veach said.


    With one glance, Veach saw the game video on the screen and couldn''t help but sigh lightly¡ª


    In the Kansas City Chiefs, Veach controlled the final say in drafting and trading, but he respected Reed''s opinions and truly believed that the team manager and head coach needed to work together to build an excellent team.


    Veach thought their draft strategy was set, but he hadn''t expected Reed to still be hesitating. Reluctantly, he felt compelled to remind him, "Coach, we''re not Cleveland, nor Jacksonville, we can''t afford to be wasteful, running backs aren''t worth the risk."


    "We need a quarterback, we need to find a successor for Alex. We can''t afford to take the risk next year like Denver did, caught off guard. We must prepare now."


    Reed did not respond, hands crossed in front of his chest, watching the same clip over and over again.


    Veach said, "Coach..."


    Reed interrupted Veach, "What if we''re discussing a once-in-a-decade superstar?"


    Veach couldn''t believe his ears, "What?"


    Reed repeated, "Once in a decade."


    Veach took a deep breath, "Even Adrian Peterson wouldn''t be worth it."


    Reed gently shook his head, "I''m talking about a player even better than Peterson, like Barry Sanders, a leader, a key player who can change the game."


    Veach was in disbelief, staring blankly at Reed: ???


    Reed was completely serious, "I mean it, see for yourself."


    As he spoke, he pointed to the screen and replayed the game video.

 Chapter 175 174 Once every ten years

    The NCAA championship game footage has been watched over and over again by the entire league, with team managers and head coaches poring over it countless times. Could Reed still find something new in it?


    Veach had also watched this footage no less than ten or twenty times, and what struck him most was the second-to-last touchdown of the game¡ª


    Li Wei dodged tackles in succession, even managing to shake them off when already in their grasp, and, solely through his own effort, miraculously burst into the end zone.


    Honestly, such a player is indeed the object of envy for every team; but to be objective, there are more rookies worth paying attention to in this draft, and the value of a running back really needs careful consideration.


    Managing a team recklessly, just look at the Washington Redskins and what happened when they bet everything on Robert Griffin III¡ªthat''s a lesson from history.


    "Coach, we''ve already seen this part," Veach had to remind him.


    Reed shook his head, "No, we all saw it wrong."


    "In the last offensive drive, Li Wei clearly had the chance to score the touchdown himself, but instead, he created a diversion for Clark, helping his teammate effortlessly secure the touchdown and catching the opponents off guard."


    Veach nodded, "Right, I know, this is Coach Saban''s decoy tactic, setting up for the two-point conversion that followed. They tried to use Clark and Hertz as decoys to disrupt Clemson''s defensive group''s judgment."


    "That''s correct," Reed nodded and fast-forwarded to the last two-point conversion, "We could only tell this after analyzing post-game, but did anyone anticipate this at the time of the match?"


    "No."


    "The Crimson Tide Storm had a quarterback who could run and pass; tight end Howard was right there in a slant, capable of catching short passes; plus Clark, who had just scored, giving them three, or even four offensive options."


    "However."


    "Saban didn''t hesitate for even a second, and even before the touchdown, he had already picked the strategy for the two-point conversion, Hertz, Clark, and Howard were all decoys¡ªfrom the beginning, Li Wei was in charge of this game-winning play."


    "Hey, let''s calm down and think about the whole situation."


    "With five seconds left in the game, the Crimson Tide Storm could have chosen to kick the extra point to tie the game, but Saban opted for the riskier two-point conversion."


    "Moreover, from the start, he chose to trust Li Wei with this critical task."


    "Has Saban lost his mind?"


    "No, of course not."


    After a pause, Reed turned to Veach, "Now we''re very certain that all the tactics revolve around Li Wei, everyone else is just a decoy, and then, look at Li Wei again."


    Your next chapter is on empire


    All eyes were focused¡ª


    No one knew what choice Cleveland Browns would actually make.


    Quarterback? Running back? Or perhaps the strongest defensive group in this year''s draft?


    Right up until the draft, the team''s general manager, Sashi Brown, remained an enigma. It wasn''t that there wasn''t any buzz; rather, there were so many rumors that it was dizzying.


    One moment, there was talk about Li Wei, the next about Watson, then rumors about them scouting wide receivers followed by attention on defensive players¡ªit was a circus juggling act that made it impossible even for experts to pinpoint a starting point for analysis.


    But unexpectedly, the Cleveland Browns didn''t delay much, submitting their list in less than a minute. This also meant that they already had a plan in mind and a player they truly wanted to select, hence they hadn''t shopped around willing to cash in heavily on their top pick.


    On further thought, it finally made sense why the Cleveland Browns'' performance at the end of the season showed some promising improvements, suggesting early signs of a solid plan for the new season.


    So, the player tasked with carrying the weight of the entire team and moving forward to Cleveland was¡ª


    "Myles Garrett, Defensive End, Texas A&M University."


    What?


    What!


    There was surprise all around.


    Not because Garrett wasn''t good¡ªon the contrary, he was widely regarded as the most well-rounded player of the year, particularly outstanding even in a year heavy on defense, plug-and-play, capable of instantly becoming an asset to the team. Many professionals thought he was worthy of a top three pick, if not the very first.


    But because it was rare for the Cleveland Browns to not throw a curveball, they actually followed the experts'' advice and chose Garrett, which left everyone wondering what all those brow-raising moves by the Browns in the previous period were for?


    Inside the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Cleveland Browns fans were celebrating wildly, one after another, cheering for the wise choice made by the team:


    Finally! Has the team finally stopped tanking?


    In the Little Green House, Garrett glanced at Li Wei through the crowd:


    Next up, entering the league for another battle!


    However, the draft had to continue, and with the second overall pick this year was the San Francisco 49ers, who had experienced a plummet this season. No one expected that before the countdown even had a chance to start, Goodell dropped another bombshell.


    "The San Francisco 49ers have just completed a trade. The Kansas City Chiefs now have the second overall draft rights. The countdown starts now."


    What?


    Wait, what?

 Chapter 176 175 Draft Day

    What, the Kansas City Chiefs?


    But why? Wait, the Kansas City Chiefs, what?


    The whole room, stunned.


    The 2017 NFL Draft had just begun, and it was this thrilling already?


    Just a second ago, the Cleveland Browns had made no unexpected moves, choosing Garrett, the year''s strongest defensive player, as expected. For once, they did not chase after sensational headlines and calmly settled on a practical decision based on team needs, finally showing some strategy.


    The next moment, the always steady and low-key Kansas City Chiefs unimaginably broke the deadlock, becoming the first team to make a move at this year''s draft, instantly disrupting the balance. From the third pick onward, the original plans of all the teams were thrown into disarray, causing everyone to become anxious.


    ¡ª Why?


    No amount of pondering yielded an answer.


    According to pre-draft analyses, the San Francisco 49ers were likely to strengthen their defense, probably choosing Solomon Thomas, the defensive end from Stanford University.


    The Kansas City Chiefs, on the other hand, had been circling around wide receivers and cornerbacks. White, the cornerback from Louisiana State University, and Howard, the tight end from the University of Alabama, were likely their targets, given their position at the twenty-seventh pick¡ªthey had to play by other teams'' rules.


    But now?


    In the Baltimore Ravens'' war room, Newsome was equally astonished, exclaiming, "What?"


    With surprise and confusion written all over his face, Newsome turned to Harbaugh, "John, could it be? Has Andy Reid gone mad, and Brett Veach along with him?"


    "Choosing Li Wei with the second pick?"


    It made no sense, incomprehensible.


    Newsome knew that Li Wei was an outstanding player, no doubt about it; but looking at the big picture, somewhere around the tenth pick would have been most appropriate and fitting:


    If the Carolina Panthers chose Li Wei with the eighth pick, Newsome would applaud them; if the Jacksonville Jaguars picked Li Wei with the fourth pick, Newsome would only say the buyers had more money than sense; if the Cleveland Browns chose Li Wei with the top pick, they would be beyond critique for their foolishness.


    And now, the Kansas City Chiefs had traded to get the second overall pick, which made it even less worthwhile, as they had to pay an extra price to get this spot. It was equivalent to overpaying for a running back in 2016, a move nobody would endorse.


    Harbaugh couldn''t help but gulp, but then he calmed down, a shiver running from his feet to his scalp, "Wait, no, they''re preparing to choose a quarterback."


    A quarterback?


    Newsome was startled, but as all the details came together, everything made sense¡ª


    If the Kansas City Chiefs had traded up for the second pick to select their future cornerstone quarterback, then it was worth it. Even though this wasn''t a strong year for quarterbacks, a weak class often meant a team could sign a satisfactory player at a reasonable price.


    Quarterback, the Kansas City Chiefs were finally going to have their own rookie quarterback; how many years had it been since they last selected a quarterback in the first round of the draft?


    Even though the decision was made, adrenaline couldn''t be controlled from surging wildly; but he needed to calm down because they were on the clock. They had to submit their list within ten minutes, or they would become the next day''s headline news for all the wrong reasons due to being overly excited and seeing the draft pick they traded dearly for getting wasted.


    Taking a deep breath, Veach turned to Reed, "Coach, what''s your opinion?"


    Reed was sitting with his arms folded across his chest, chewing gum, calmly sitting still with a contemplative expression showing that his brain was also engaged in a tug of war¡ª


    Sense and Sensibility.


    In the end, emotion prevailed, "Li Wei."


    Huh!


    The entire war room went silent instantly, all discussions stopped, and everyone looked towards Reed as if they had seen a ghost, their heads filled with question marks that nearly filled the entire space to the brink of explosion.


    What had they just heard?


    Reed knew he was taking a risk; using a first-round pick on a running back was already considered a gamble, let alone a top-three pick. But he trusted his judgment, upending all previous plans completely.


    He wanted to take a gamble.


    The others were surprised because there had been no such plan for the team¡ªsure, they scouted running backs, but their focus was always on quarterbacks. Then Reed threw them a curveball.


    Veach wasn''t surprised. Still, his heart ached. To trade away three consecutive first-round picks and this year''s second-rounder just to pick a running back¡ªit was imaginable that they would become the laughingstock of the entire league.


    Even if they really wanted to trade up for Li Wei, they didn''t need to deal with the San Francisco 49ers. A trade with the Chicago Bears to get ahead of the Jacksonville Jaguars for the draft pick would have sufficed.


    So, they were wasting a bunch of draft picks and nearly twenty million US dollars in salary cap space¡ªwhat exactly was this all about?


    Taking a deep breath, Veach remained calm, "Coach, we must pick a quarterback, Trubisky or Watson?"


    Reed didn''t answer immediately, as if he was asleep, deep in thought.


    Tick-tock, tick-tock, the countdown clock kept ticking.


    "Brett..."


    "What!"


    "Chicago is on line four."


    "Hmm?"


    "Chicago Bears'' general manager Ryan Pace is on line four."

 Chapter 177 176 Peaks twist and turn

    It was chaos, total chaos¡ª


    The Chicago Bears were in complete disarray during combat.


    Immediately, they realized the crisis: what should they do if the Kansas City Chiefs chose their target keystone quarterback?


    Of course, there were other quarterbacks to choose from among the rookies but the problem was:


    This year was already a weak year for quarterbacks. They had repeatedly scrutinized, judged, and consulted, turning over every detail of the main quarterbacks inside out. Based on their system and their team configuration, they had finally decided on their draft target and identified their keystone quarterback.


    This was Ryan Pace''s second year as the Chicago Bears'' team manager, still a rookie, still a newbie. The last thing he wanted was to repeatedly make foolish mistakes like the Cleveland Browns and become a laughingstock. Once he chose the keystone quarterback, he was ready to build an entirely new team around this rookie player.


    Pace believed this quarterback was the dream lover of the Chicago Bears.


    If their targeted man was snatched away by someone else, it was not just their draft plan that would be disrupted, but possibly the entire off-season''s new team-building plan. Right now, switching to another rookie quarterback was absolutely not an option Pace wanted to consider.


    Damn it!


    Damn it damn it damn it!


    Pace was completely flustered, "Does anyone know which quarterback Kansas actually wants to pick?"


    A silence ensued; no one could provide an answer.


    Until someone broke the silence and hinted quietly, "Kansas hasn''t interviewed any quarterback at this year''s Rookie Training Camp. What if they aren''t planning to pick a quarterback?"


    Pace''s brow furrowed as he looked around, "If not a quarterback, then who are they planning to pick?"


    Dead silence.


    Defensive end? Cornerback? Safety? Or running back?


    Pace tried his best to calm down, his brain rapidly processing, recalling each figure in a carousel of images, yet denying all of them.


    Running back?


    Ha, how could that be possible!


    No, he cannot hesitate, he cannot doubt, he cannot falter like a rookie. With Cutler''s departure, this also meant that the Chicago Bears were fully entering a rebuilding phase, a chance for Pace to take complete control in building a team that would mark a starting point for his own squad. He needed to seize the opportunity.


    Resolutely, "Get me Brett Veach''s phone number."


    Pace made a decision.


    ...


    "What''s happening?"


    Watson said.


    Short, but clear.


    Perhaps in the Heisman Trophy race, Watson lost to Li Wei, but entering the NFL, the value between a quarterback and a running back was incomparable.


    Li Wei''s mouth turned up slightly, casually replying, "Wait and see."


    Then.


    Rustling, rustling, a commotion stirred¡ª


    Goodell finally took the stage, with only a minute and forty-nine seconds left on the ten-minute countdown, Goodell finally appeared with an envelope.


    "The Kansas City Chiefs just completed a trade, and now the Chicago Bears hold the top pick..."


    What?


    Inside the Philadelphia Museum of Art, there was shock, not even having processed it, Goodell''s speech continued and already revealed the answer.


    "Their choice is... Mitchell Trubisky, quarterback, University of South Carolina."


    Buzz.


    Agitation, commotion, chaos.


    The brain couldn''t keep up, wait, what just happened?


    The Kansas City Chiefs had just traded for the top pick and traded it away again?


    The Chicago Bears didn''t choose Watson, but Trubisky?


    What, what was this maneuver?


    The Little Green House was also in shock, as like Li Wei, Trubisky had only one complete season¡ª


    Trubisky, redshirt in his first season, backup in nine games his sophomore year, and his only full season in his junior year, yet he beat Watson who had been a top three finalist in the Heisman Trophy for two consecutive years.


    After a series of shocks, all the teams panicked, with only one thought in their minds: What''s wrong with Watson?


    Watson himself was also dumbfounded, what, what''s wrong with me?


    After the Kansas City Chiefs had traded up to the second highest pick, he could almost be one hundred percent sure he would have been selected second, but now what was happening?


    Thoughts hadn''t even had the chance to catch up when Goodell was already on stage again with an envelope, could it be... another trade of pick positions?


    "Kansas City Chiefs, third pick, they choose... Li Wei, running back, University of Alabama."

 Chapter 178 177 Xiao Li Top Scholar

    Roger Goodell opened the envelope, pulled out the card, glanced at the name on it, and a fleeting light inadvertently shone in his usually unimpressed eyes; satisfaction briefly peeked before quietly hiding away¡ª


    The door to the Hua Xia Market had finally been pushed open, marking a historic moment.


    Yet outwardly, he remained composed, maintaining stability as he continued to fulfill his role.


    "...Li Wei, running back, University of Alabama."


    Witness, history.


    This was the first time since 2012 that a running back from the University of Alabama, Trent Richardson, had been selected in the top three of the first round, a whole five years, truly a long absence.


    This was the first Hua Xia player to be selected in the first round in NFL history, and the first among all Asian players to create such history.


    This was the first time a college freshman had been selected in the first round of the NFL draft¡ªalthough Li Wei was a junior, he indeed had only one year of playing experience.


    Li Wei, a player destined to make history, every step he took was filled with firsts, every move he made was about creating new history.


    Inside the Little Green House, the atmosphere was electrifying.


    Watson, stunned as if struck by lightning, was rooted to the spot, completely unable to move, unable to discern whether he was more shocked by being consistently overlooked by the Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs, or by Li Wei''s draft position being higher than his own. His brain had completely lost the ability to react.


    Staring dumbfounded at the Crimson Tide Storm players swarming and patting Li Wei''s shoulder, Watson felt as if he was thrown back to that nightmarish night in early January at Tampa Bay, the night pressing on his mind like a tight hoop.


    Li Wei: ?


    He didn''t catch on, it wasn''t modesty, he truly hadn''t anticipated this; from Saban to Henry to Donald, as an outsider, he had gradually come to understand the reality of the League. He was neither discouraged nor needed to be, knowing his place and ready to meet the challenges step by step was already enough, same for his expectations regarding the draft.


    No matter the draft order or round, as long as he could enter the Professional League, he was ready to face the challenges.


    Li Wei had not at all anticipated his name being called out so early. What happened to the devaluation of running backs? What was going on?


    Before he could react, Li Wei was already overwhelmed by a wave of cheers.


    Mahomes, closest to Li Wei, was the first to leap up and hug him, "Congratulations! God, you deserve it, absolutely deserving!"


    "Ah, ah, ah! You''re the Top Scholar, brother, you''re this year''s Top Scholar."


    Their excitement and elation were even crazier than Li Wei''s, persisting until Li Wei was pulled out of the crowd by Donald, as they had to go up on stage to receive their jerseys. Only then did Mahomes look around and realize he was surrounded by the Crimson Tide.


    What was going on again?No?v(el)B\\jnn


    All doubts, speculations, and worries could be put to rest for now. Li Wei did not fall out of the first round unnoticed but was instead surprisingly picked third overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in a dark horse maneuver.


    The top third pick of the 2017 NFL Draft was thus settled.


    Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire


    Buzz, buzz, buzzing.


    The applause was thunderous, mixed with whistles and screams. The cheering just couldn''t stop. After the NCAA, a door to a whole new world opened in front of Li Wei.


    Gradually, a clear sense of reality emerged, and fighting spirit began to stir within his chest. Having finally stepped onto a more prestigious stage, what challenges lay ahead?


    He was somewhat impatient.


    Ahead, Clark Hunt, the CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs, stood smiling broadly, holding a red number one jersey, waiting.


    "Welcome to the Kansas City Chiefs," he said.


    Hunt looked energetic, despite the team not selecting a quarterback, which was somewhat disappointing. But right after the draft list was announced, Goodell had come over to shake hands and offer congratulations, allowing Hunt to realize immediately:


    The market value of Li Wei.


    Not to mention anything else, the support and favor from the League were already apparent, which was undoubtedly good news for the Kansas City Chiefs, a team not top-ranked in terms of market.


    Listen, they didn''t even need to return to Kansas City; the present was already enough.


    "Rookie! Rookie! Rookie!"


    The shouts from the Kansas City Chiefs fans were completely drowned out by the overwhelming calls from the crowd. The lively spectators were also welcoming Li Wei into the NFL in this manner, skyrocketing his attention and discussion.


    When had the Kansas City Chiefs ever received such treatment?


    This was indeed an unprecedented event.


    Looking at Li Wei before him, Hunt seemed to be considering the vast Hua Xia Market, radiating joy from within, and growing more satisfied the more he looked.


    Li Wei first took the cap from Hunt and put it on, looking at the familiar red jersey in his hands, continuing from the Crimson Tide Storm to the Chieftains, his smile quietly brightened. He and Hunt, each holding a corner of the jersey, posed side by side for the cameras as flashlights flooded in.


    The entire Philadelphia Museum of Art turned into a seething red sea, but inside the Jacksonville Jaguars'' war room, it was chillingly cold and breezy.


    Caldwell: Fuck!

 Chapter 179 178 Chain Reaction

    "Rookie! Rookie! Rookie!"


    On the TV screen, the live broadcast was abuzz with excitement.


    However, the reactions of the other teams varied and they descended into chaos. A running back? The Kansas City Chiefs had unbelievably chosen a running back? Not a quarterback, but a running back? What kind of senseless, lavish move was this? Had the whole team at the Chiefs collectively taken mushrooms and not yet sobered up?


    In the Chicago Bears'' war room, there was dead silence.


    A second ago, they had been preparing to pop champagne and celebrate securing their cornerstone quarterback.


    The next second, the atmosphere of midsummer was plunged into the harsh winter cold, as if falling into an ice cellar, everyone frozen in place.


    Ryan Pace stared blankly at the broadcast screen, his mind stopped working, he malfunctioned, even forgetting to curse, devoid of any thoughts:


    Running back.


    Had the Kansas City Chiefs been aiming to choose a running back from the start?


    So, everyone thought the Kansas City Chiefs were foolish and extravagant, but in fact, it was the Chicago Bears who were really foolish and extravagant. They could have gotten a quarterback with the third pick they originally had, but they ended up paying a high price to snatch it from the Chiefs, footing the bill for Veach''s madness.


    Damn.


    Pace stood there, disheveled in the wind, wanting a moment of peace.


    In the Carolina Panthers'' war room, there was a slight stir, but Rivera controlled the situation.


    "Stay calm!"


    Disappointed as he was, Rivera was prepared.


    He hadn''t expected the Kansas City Chiefs to barge in and disrupt the plan, but honestly, if it wasn''t the Chiefs, the Jacksonville Jaguars would certainly have chosen Li Wei with the fourth pick; and the Carolina Panthers would never have traded up to get a running back with the third pick anyway.


    Now what?


    Missing out on Li Wei was extremely painful, painfully suffocating, but Rivera still regained his composure and decided to make full use of this opportunity to achieve his goal.


    Turning around, Rivera looked at the team manager, "See? Kansas is ready to pay any price to pick a running back. I''ll bet with you, next up Jacksonville will also choose a running back."


    "If my prediction is correct, then when it''s our turn, you follow my plan and pick a running back; but if I''m wrong, then I''ll shut up, and we go according to your plan, okay?"


    However.


    Chicago Bears or Carolina Panthers, neither was the focus now. The focus was on the Jacksonville Jaguars¡ª


    The situation for running backs in the league was deteriorating, as evident from the draft, but this year, Li Wei broke the mold, becoming the first running back to be selected in the top three in five years, igniting hope among the other running backs, and subtly stirring up competition among them.


    Who would be the next running back selected after Li Wei?


    This was also a characteristic of the NFL, not only competing over draft picks, but also comparing the order of picks within the same position.


    Just like with quarterbacks, Trubisky surpassing Watson to be the first quarterback picked caused other teams in need of a quarterback to scrutinize Watson more when they considered him again, creating a nightmare for Watson, one he desperately wanted to escape.


    Fournette quietly stared at the big screen, from the NCAA to the Heisman Trophy and now to the draft, facing Li Wei, it was like experiencing three consecutive defeats.


    Originally, Fournette thought the 2016 season would be his, but in reality, Li Wei showed up and everything turned upside down.


    Then, Goodell''s voice came from the live broadcast, temporarily calming the bustle and chaos in the Little Green House, and Watson also returned indoors.


    The attention in the hall refocused on the screen.


    "...Leonard Fournette, running back, Louisiana State University."


    Watson: Damn!


    Fournette then confidently rose to his feet, his gaze more resolute than ever: he would beat Li Wei, the next time they met.


    In the end, the Jacksonville Jaguars fulfilled coach Bradley''s wish by picking a running back, and Fournette became the second running back selected after Li Wei, finally making the discussions about running backs at this year''s draft come to fruition¡ªperhaps, this was the beginning of a change?


    However, the surprises didn''t stop there, but rather intensified because the teams with the top four picks all ignored Watson, completely messing up the subsequent plans.


    The wide receiver from Clemson University, Mike Williams, was even selected before Watson, with the Chargers, who had moved from San Diego to Los Angeles, picking him at the seventh spot.


    The Little Green House was filled with exclamations again.


    One could only imagine how long and difficult this night would be for Watson.


    The Carolina Panthers, in the eighth spot, picked up Stanford University running back Christian McCaffrey, which was a moderate surprise.


    This meant that all three top running backs were selected before the tenth pick, also signifying that up until now, the most selected position was surprisingly the running back.


    It was completely unexpected, entirely unexpected, before the draft began, nobody would''ve anticipated such a scenario.


    Then, the stakes rose again, and another surprise came around.


    This time, the Kansas City Chiefs stole the spotlight again, completing a three-way trade with the San Francisco 49ers and the Buffalo Bills, acquiring the tenth pick.


    And Veach chose, "...Patrick Mahomes, quarterback..." Stay tuned to empire

 Chapter 180 179 The Biggest Winner

    Missouri, Kansas City, Old Oak Tavern.


    Undoubtedly, it was the city''s most loyal and popular Chiefs fan base. On game days, the tavern would be packed with fans, making the exciting matches even more enjoyable due to the shared atmosphere; if the Chiefs were playing away, then the tavern would be completely swamped.


    Today was no exception.


    Even though it was just the Draft Day, fans were still dressed to the nines in anticipation, each wearing jerseys gathered together to watch the live event.


    However, the mood in the tavern was somewhat subdued.


    David Anderson, the owner of the Old Oak Tavern, could have retired long ago, but he loved staying at the bar, loved discussing everything about the Chiefs with the fans, loved sharing the joy of victory and the bitterness of defeat with everyone.


    Together, they waited, waited for the team''s second Super Bowl Championship Trophy since 1969. Forty-seven years, almost half a century was about to pass, but Anderson still vividly remembered that night¡ª


    He was eight years old, not even knowing what football meant, but he witnessed the Kansas City Chiefs beating the Minnesota Vikings and winning the Super Bowl with his dad, grandpa, brothers, and sisters.


    That was the Kansas City Chiefs'' first and so far only Super Bowl.


    From that day on, they had been waiting, they had been fighting.


    "Hey, cheer up, everyone cheer up!" Anderson banged heavily on the bar counter, shouting, "We did great work, we chose a fine player, a player capable of shouldering the team''s responsibilities, we should trust Coach Reed''s judgment."


    In the crowd¡ª


    "Yes, David, I know, yes, Li Wei is an excellent player..."


    "But a running back?"


    "Exactly. We used our top draft pick on a running back? It''s not about being disappointed, but was it really necessary? And at such a high cost."


    "What about the salary cap? The cap for the third overall pick isn''t a small number."


    "Moreover, I can''t understand, do we really need a running back? To the extent of a first-round pick? To the extent of trading up? Without Charles, the other backup running backs could take on the responsibilities."


    Chattering away, armchair coaches, everyone had their own opinions.


    This was a very common view among Kansas City Chiefs fans:


    Li Wei is good, without a doubt an excellent choice, but at such a cost? And for a unique first-round pick, is this really okay?


    Even if Veach maneuvered, shifting the cost of trading up onto the Chicago Bears, in the end, the salary cap for the third pick still fell on the shoulders of the Kansas City Chiefs. In the different plans discussed during the offseason, choosing a running back in the first round wasn''t even part of the blueprint.


    Now, the Kansas City Chiefs'' move was final, today''s draft had nothing to do with them anymore¡ªround two and three were tomorrow, rounds four through seven the day after. However, precisely because of this, having the first round of the draft end so anticlimactically sparked even more debate.


    Profit, a real windfall.


    By this time, the Old Oak Tavern finally realized¡ª


    Everything was planned.


    Clearly, the Kansas City Chiefs were considering both the present and the future, preparing to build around Li Wei and Mahomes.


    Now, looking back at the Kansas City Chiefs'' choice of Li Wei with the third pick, things finally started to make sense.


    Anderson raised his glass high; he didn''t intend to say the nonsense like "I told you so" or "We should have trusted Coach Reed." He simply stated,


    "To Li Wei and Mahomes!"


    The tavern erupted into cheers.


    In the Baltimore Ravens'' war room, Harbaugh turned to Newsome, unable to suppress his laughter.


    It wasn''t until now that Reed''s grand blueprint was finally fully revealed. They had hoped to pick up Li Wei later, not realizing someone else had bigger plans.


    "Indeed, the older the ginger, the spicier it gets."


    Newsome couldn''t help but rub his hands together, "But, Watson still hasn''t been chosen."


    One draft strategy is to select the best remaining player.


    Does that now mean Watson?


    But Harbaugh was very calm, "The Kansas City Chiefs passed over Watson to choose Mahomes. I trust Reed''s judgment, even if Watson falls into our lap, there''s no need to choose him. Let''s stick to the original plan."


    "Besides, I feel that other teams are probably secretly delighted thinking they can snatch him up. I... wish them luck."


    This time, Harbaugh was right¡ª


    With the twelfth pick, the Houston Texans finally declared Watson''s name, ending his nightmarish evening. Braving further descent into the abyss, Watson arrived late, becoming the third quarterback selected.


    Even though he was finally chosen, Watson could not muster a smile, really couldn''t smile, with his shoulders slumped and a dejected face as he took the stage. He was like a puppet left to be manipulated; he couldn''t understand how he had slipped so far.


    Everyone''s focus was on Watson, so much so that Solomon Thomas was quietly forgotten.


    Thomas, the defensive end from Stanford University, once predicted to be a top-three pick, was now completely overlooked.


    Confusion was written all over Thomas''s face: The rookie Li Wei got picked early, but what about me? What about me!

 Chapter 181 180 a question mark

    The 2017 NFL Draft concluded, leaving behind a settling smoke but an unforgettable echo; the real reverberations had just begun.


    It marked the end of the NCAA''s last season and the unveiling of the new NFL season.


    Without a doubt, the University of Alabama emerged as the biggest winner from the NCAA, having eleven players selected, leading the pack.


    It wasn''t just about the quantity; the quality was also noteworthy. In the first round alone, five players were chosen: Li Wei by the Kansas City Chiefs as the third pick, Humphrey by the Baltimore Ravens as the sixteenth, Allen by the Washington Redskins as the seventeenth, Howard by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the nineteenth, and Foster by the San Francisco 49ers as the thirty-first.


    These five, unarguably leading among the colleges, were true to their status as the strongest in last season''s NCAA, both in individual skills and team cooperation, brilliantly putting a perfect end to the season.


    It''s worth mentioning, if someone thought Watson''s fall to the twelfth pick as the third quarterback selected was the biggest surprise of the draft, they weren''t looking at the whole picture¡ª


    The real tragedy was Solomon Thomas, who was widely expected to be selected within the top three but ended up in a heartbreaking scenario.


    Labeled a defensive year, the draft saw a burst in the defensive ends, unprecedentedly dominating the Green Room with eight players making their way there.


    In fact, including top pick Garrett and Allen from Crimson Tide Storm, seven defensive ends were chosen in the first round, confirming speculations.


    However, the sole exception was Thomas.


    He nosedived into the third round, only to be picked up by the San Francisco 49ers at the sixty-sixth pick.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Not just an upset, it was considered the biggest tragedy of the 2017 draft.


    For the NFL, at the conclusion of the first day of the draft, the Kansas City Chiefs were undoubtedly the biggest winners. Every year the draft unveils major moves by teams, but this year, it was the Chiefs, who, with minimal cost, selected both Li Wei and Mahomes, showcasing a blueprint focused on training future talent.


    Of course, Veach''s choices were not without criticism.


    For instance, was it really necessary to pick Li Wei third?


    And with Mahomes, what hidden gem had sprung from the stone cracks that they would pass up Watson? If physical tests were considered, Trubisky was no less impressive, and Veach had the chance to snatch Trubisky from the Chicago Bears, yet he chose Li Wei? Discover more stories at empire


    Was the third pick selection of Li Wei really necessary?


    Not just Li Wei, but also Trubisky, including Mahomes, though they all certainly have strengths, their weaknesses need more attention than their strengths.


    Li Wei, Trubisky, they have only one complete season, it is unknown if they can consistently perform strongly under NCAA-level intensity, let alone step up to the other dimension of the Professional League.


    Mahomes, judging merely from college performance, is at best a second or third round pick despite eye-catching physical test results, with industry professionals generally considering him only third or fourth best among this year''s quarterbacks.


    And the result?


    The Kansas City Chiefs went around in circles, expending a lot of effort, to choose these two? And moreover, one running back wasn''t enough, they added another on top of that?


    What is this draft strategy?


    Fire, concentrated on Top Scholar Li Wei.


    After all, he had the most vulnerabilities¡ªrecords, experience, race, position, all were focal points of contention. When it comes to attracting criticism, no one could surpass him this year.


    In the NBA, there is a saying, "the top two picks one shall fail," which means among the two players, typically only one will succeed, while the other will become a draft bust, much like sleeping dragons and young phoenixes.


    In the NFL, when the top spots of draft picks are monopolized by quarterbacks, typically only one player will succeed. The most famous instance is the 1998 draft, where top pick Peyton Manning and second pick Ryan Leaf formed a stark contrast, with Leaf being criticized almost every year.


    This year, the top three draft picks were defensive end, quarterback, and running back¡ªdifferent positions hence lack comparability, but the operations of the Kansas City Chiefs were fierce like a tiger, instantly pushing the third pick, Li Wei, into the limelight.


    "I have a strong feeling that perhaps one of the top three draft picks this year might turn out to be a bust."


    "No doubt, the NFL isn''t the NCAA, every rookie inevitably faces challenges, and the rookie wall is definitely not just a rumor."


    "However."


    "I believe in Garrett, I look forward to Trubisky. That''s all."


    ESPN''s professional commentator Blair Butt, all smiles, without naming names, appearing fair and just.

 Chapter 182 181 Small Town Stories

    Kansas City, at first hearing, people often think that this city is located in Kansas, but that''s not the case.


    This small city is located at the border of Kansas and Missouri and falls under the jurisdiction of Missouri.


    Like Tuscaloosa, it is a typical Midwestern city, with only Tennessee separating Missouri and Alabama ¡ª quiet, vast, remote, devoid of the hustle and bustle of the East and West coasts, primarily focused on agriculture and industry, and the entire city has only six hundred and fifty thousand people.


    It''s a very, very small city, more a town than a city really.


    In terms of sports, Kansas City can''t compete with top-tier metropolitan cities like New York and Los Angeles, nor can it compare with small sports-centric cities with rich histories and legends like Green Bay; in fact, even within Missouri, Kansas City isn''t the first choice for professional teams¡ª


    All the professional leagues like NHL, MLB, MLS have chosen St. Louis for their teams, including the NFL''s St. Louis Rams, which relocated from Los Angeles to St. Louis in 1995, and then moved back to Los Angeles in 2015, now known as the Los Angeles Rams.


    The reason is clear, for the larger market in Los Angeles.


    That''s why the Chieftain, founded in Dallas in 1959 and moved to Kansas City in 1963, never leaving again, is all the more precious.


    Since the subprime mortgage crisis erupted in 2008, Kansas City''s economic industry has been severely hit, the city slowly sinking into quicksand, with a high unemployment rate, the Kansas City Chiefs became the only faith of the local residents, guiding them towards the light out of the darkness.


    Indeed, there are only six hundred and fifty thousand permanent residents in the city, but every time there is a home game for the Chiefs, the entire city empties into festive mode, like Tuscaloosa, with genuine and earnest people becoming the backbone of the team with their enthusiasm and passion.


    Tranquility.


    This was Li Wei''s first impression as he arrived in Kansas City.


    Driving from Tuscaloosa to Kansas City, although Li Wei might have chosen to fly, the road trip had its own charm, dividing the true ten-hour journey into three days, taking in the sights along the way, saying goodbye to his college life, and starting a new chapter.


    Low bungalows, wide-open vistas, wheat and corn infinitely stretching beside the road, the water-blue sky hanging low overhead, clouds like tufts of cotton candy seemingly within reach, and the golden sunlight sketching out a vibrant, colorful watercolor.


    Then¡ª


    Uh.


    Sputter, sputter, sputter, the engine protested, and Li Wei quickly pulled over. Before he could even turn off the ignition, a destructive bursting sound came from under the hood, but just when Li Wei was worried about what might happen next, the noise under the hood quieted down.


    Absolute silence.


    He got out to check, only to find the hood was extremely hot, clearly, something was wrong.


    He was seriously considering whether he should remind the greasy-haired man, "Hey, the person involved is right here, why not turn around and have a face-to-face conversation?"


    But he decided against it, only to be interrupted.


    "...so, did you ever love me?"


    A piercing shout drew the entire bar''s attention.


    A man in a floral shirt was getting ready to leave, but a black-haired girl at the opposite booth stopped him, her face full of sadness, her voice heartbreakingly earnest as she focused unblinkingly on the back of the floral shirt man, trying her best to control herself, yet tears still swirled uncontrollably in her eyes.


    "For three years, you never once said you loved me, so, do you love that woman? Have you ever told her ''I love you''?"


    The floral shirt man finally turned back, facing the black-haired girl again.


    Then, he strode forward, stopping right in front of the black-haired girl.


    "I have loved."


    "I loved the girl who dreamed of becoming a baker, loved the girl who visited every bakery in Kansas City to create the best cakes, loved the girl who smelled of flour and cream, but my love stops there..."


    Slap.


    A cup of water was splashed over the floral shirt, abruptly interrupting his heartfelt words.


    Another blond girl sitting in the corner booth stepped up, protecting the black-haired girl behind her, her face cold as she looked at the man in the floral shirt.


    "Bullshit."


    "For three whole years, you did nothing but live off Jenny, using everything of Jenny''s. Jenny scrimped and saved to start her own bakery, working day and night, while you were out spending Jenny''s credit card on lavish parties and even using Jenny''s money for motel rooms to meet other women."


    "Ha, ''once loved'', I think it''s your love for Jenny''s savings that has ended."


    A direct hit.


    The floral shirt clenched his fist in anger, too enraged to care for sweet talk, tearing off his mask, ready to throw a punch, on the verge of exploding¡ª


    Danger!

 Chapter 183 182 Hero Saves the Beauty

    ```


    Ha!


    Danger.


    Without a word, hands were thrown, and the tavern had obviously not anticipated this turn of events, the air tightened, faces changed color, and for a moment, no one reacted.


    Only Li Wei reflexively stepped forward¡ª


    Playing the hero?


    However, just as he made his move, he saw the blonde girl had already counterattacked.


    In a split second, the blonde girl was exceptionally calm, lifted her right hand, and quickly chopped the printed shirt''s wrist with her hand, then smoothly twisted the wrist and pushed downward, like a Tai Chi push hands motion, using softness to overcome strength, and propelled him away in one fluid sequence of moves.


    Her refined face naturally revealed a brisk valiancy, and those beautiful azure eyes sparkled with determination, firmly retaliating head-on.


    The man in the printed shirt, caught off guard, lost his balance, and stumbled backward two steps, clearly uncentered.


    The printed shirt curled his lips in anger, glaring at the blonde girl, "You!"


    The blonde girl stood her ground, glaring back just as fiercely, "My dad raised me like a boy since I was young, I don''t mind teaching a girl a lesson."


    The printed shirt''s complexion changed.


    "Ha, hahaha," a man with a buzz cut by the bar whistled, "Pete, someone called you a girl."


    Immediately, others in the tavern joined in, pounding the tables with their glasses or fists, creating an uproar, their gazes all turning in that direction.


    The printed shirt looked around, and quickly noticed the tall and solid Li Wei¡ª


    On the surface, Li Wei''s muscles were not apparent, he even seemed a bit lean, but that physique still gave off a sense of pressure.


    Swallowing nervously, the man in the printed shirt suppressed the coarse words that were on the tip of his tongue.


    Li Wei flashed a smile, showing off a row of neat, white teeth, slightly sidestepped to gesture toward the door, and the printed shirt took the hint, touched his nose sheepishly, said no more, and quickly left. Laughter and jeering filled the tavern.


    Li Wei redirected his gaze toward the two girls.


    The dark-haired girl quietly shed tears, but defiantly kept her backbone straight, clumsily wiping away her tears with her palms, and let out an indistinct murmur.


    The blonde girl had no time for anything else, quickly grabbed their backpacks, took the dark-haired girl''s wrist, and briskly left the tavern.


    As she passed by Li Wei, the blonde girl looked up at him and gave a polite quick nod to show her thanks, but didn''t say anything further. Her gaze paused momentarily before she withdrew it and kept on going.


    In a blink, they were gone.


    The commotion, a brief climax, quickly subdued.


    Plop.


    A single stone caused a thousand ripples.


    Li Wei raised his right hand, showing a polite smile, "I am one hundred percent certain I''m not child labor."


    Wow!


    In an instant, there was a clamor, a round of applause.


    "Welcome," "God, you''re actually showing up at the Old Oak," "We''ve been looking forward to you," "Looking forward to you taking over Charles''s responsibilities," "I''ve started liking you already"...


    The crowd was bustling, kind and enthusiastic, but not overstepping.


    The bartender named David didn''t say much either; with a thump, he placed a beer on the counter, "This one''s on me."


    "Hoorah!" everyone in the bar shouted in unison.


    From beginning to end, Li Wei couldn''t find an opportunity to speak up, faced with all the friendly faces in front of him, respectfully accepting their hospitality, he lifted the beer and drank it all in one go.


    Glug. Glug.


    Until the beer glass was empty.


    "Roar! Roar roooar!"


    The whole bar erupted.


    Li Wei then said, "I need to use the phone, my car broke down."


    The rock youth looked at Li Wei, "Oh, that car across the street, that''s yours? The engine is smoking."


    Li Wei felt like he was hit with a critical blow, "It''s not going to explode, is it?"


    Ha ha, laughter erupted.


    The rock youth also started laughing, "No, no, it won''t, don''t worry. I happen to be good with cars, if you don''t mind, I can take a look for you."


    Li Wei was somewhat hesitant, looking at David, wasn''t the rock youth just starting his shift?


    David patted the rock youth''s back, showing a big smile, "It''s our honor to be able to help out a Chieftain."


    The rock youth wiped his hands and turned to leave the bar.


    The whole place was noisy, one by one they looked as if they were watching a giant panda at the zoo. David left the counter, acting like an agent to help Li Wei by keeping the crowd in check, "Next time, next time, you can always go to the training base to watch the practice, much better than here."


    Then, he personally escorted Li Wei out of the bar, standing at the door, they could see the rock youth busily working under the hood of the car.


    Li Wei was about to step away when he heard someone say, "Sorry, I apologize for the offensive words Chris said earlier."

 Chapter 184 183 Next-door Neighbor

    The breeze was gentle, and the streets of Kansas City were just slightly touched by the coolness of spring, yet the restlessness of summer was already stirring in the street corners.


    Li Wei was somewhat surprised. He didn''t expect the other party to escort him away personally, nor did he anticipate such profound significance, and he couldn''t help but laugh softly, "Don''t worry, I''m also a fan myself. I understand the deep emotions fans have for their team, the deeper the love, the harsher the criticism."


    David chewed over the words carefully, "The deeper the love, the harsher the criticism?" Then he laughed lightly, "Yes, that''s exactly it, just like one big family."


    After a brief pause, he continued.


    "Chris, he just needs to find a job, he can''t stand it, his head is about to explode just because he can''t pay the bills."


    "Charles..."


    He lifted his chin to gesture towards the rock youth.


    "Last week, his wife packed her bags and left him overnight because he had been unemployed for six months, and he''s almost unable to pay next month''s rent; ever since his brother died in Iraq three months ago, he hasn''t quite recovered, besides working here, he''s also doing odd jobs at a garage, just hoping to pull through."


    "Just hold on for a little while, just a little longer."


    "Maybe, for us, the Chieftains are the only hope. The hope that helps us get through tough times."


    Li Wei looked up and saw a kind of resilience in this man he was meeting for the first time, a belief that never went out even amidst the lows and setbacks.


    The spring wind dressed the city in a touch of green, but the depression and loneliness that pervaded the city still lingered in the bone-chilling cold of a long winter.


    Discover exclusive tales on empire


    Beneath the ordinary and calm daily life, sorrow and decay were still slowly eating away at the bones, and they stood, struggling and persevering in the mire.


    He, with a smile, though bitter and sighing, still curled the corners of his mouth upwards.


    "Just one playoff victory is enough. Just one."


    Quietly, he looked at the city before him, which revealed glimpses of decay amid the tranquility, as the sadness and bitterness on his tongue slowly spread.


    "Maybe, you might say, what''s one playoff victory? Shouldn''t we be looking forward to the Super Bowl Championship?"


    "Yeah, what''s a game''s win or loss? When we were young, we always thought, matches were about life and death, a victory or a defeat could sway our lives; but as we grow up, we finally understand, life is much more complicated, much more so."


    Charles Vester, the long-haired rocker, watched Li Wei get out of the car; he didn''t turn off the engine and instead shouted from the driver''s seat.


    "Hey, buddy, even though I still can''t pronounce your name correctly, we''re learning. By the time the new season starts, we''ll get it right," he declared with eyes full of sincerity.


    Li Wei joked, "Do I have to wait for the new season? I thought preseason would be enough."


    Vester blinked, then chuckled merrily, "Welcome to Kansas City."


    As Vester was about to leave, Li Wei couldn''t help but call out again, "Won''t you stay a bit longer? My next-door neighbor is also a Chieftain."


    Vester glanced in his rearview mirror and gently shook his head, "We''ll meet on the training field. I''m already late today, and I owe David too much to let him handle the bar alone."


    "Goodbye!"


    Vester''s farewell carried on the wind as he stepped on the gas and drove off.


    "Li Wei!"


    Mahomes looked out from the living room window, spotted Li Wei immediately, and came running out excitedly, just in time to see the back of Vester''s departing vehicle, his head full of question marks.


    "Did you hitch a ride all the way here?"


    Knowing that he too had been chosen by the Kansas City Chiefs and was about to become teammates with Li Wei, Mahomes was both excited and nervous. As neighbors, the two could travel to training together and discuss games, and as rookies, they could help each other quickly adapt to the League''s intensity.


    Unlike Li Wei, who was solitary, Mahomes had been in a stable relationship with his girlfriend, Brittany Matthews, since high school. Although they weren''t married yet, their parents were already friends and the couple was living together.


    During the rookie season, to ensure Mahomes could focus, Brittany decided not to move to Kansas City. However, Mahomes'' place was completely set up by Brittany, resulting in the grand setup in front of them; Mahomes had already informed Li Wei about it via text message in advance.


    At that moment, Brittany had also come to the door, her long hair tied back with a headband, wearing a beige floral shirt paired with jeans, her petite frame exuding youthful vigor.


    Without waiting for Mahomes to introduce her, she noticed Li Wei''s gaze and confidently introduced herself, "Li Wei, I''m Brittany. Patrick has talked to me more than once about Rookie Training Camp."


    Li Wei responded with a smile, "Oh, I hope he didn''t mention that night''s incident."


    Mahomes: ???


    Brittany: ???

 Chapter 185 184 Blue Collar Wishes

    Brittany showed a curious expression, "So, what about that night?"


    Mahomes blinked, "Nothing, what happened? Li Wei? What night, what happened? I don''t remember at all."


    Li Wei widened his eyes, looking astonished, "Did you completely forget?"


    Mahomes became anxious, scratching his ears and cheeks like the Monkey King; whereas Brittany appeared calm and composed.


    Li Wei gently lifted his chin, "It was that night when we all played the football game, and McCaffrey rolled on the floor throwing a tantrum after losing ''0:6''. We still need to protect our buddy''s image a little."


    McCaffrey: Achoo! Who is cursing me? Who is secretly bad-mouthing me?


    Mahomes: ...just this?


    But Brittany had already caught on, realizing Li Wei was joking, and effortlessly played them both for a fool.


    After the draft, people kept discussing whether picking Li Wei was the right choice, from his physique, confrontations, skills, and so forth. But now to Brittany, they had missed a crucial point:


    Wisdom.


    A full score on the Frederick Test definitely wasn''t just a reference data.


    However, looking at Mahomes'' carefree, clumsy demeanor, the words Brittany almost uttered ended up being swallowed back, and Brittany turned to look at Li Wei.


    "Patrick is an idiot, sold out and still dutifully counting money. Since you''re entering the team together, I''m counting on you to look after him." Explore more stories at empire


    Li Wei: ??? This works?


    Li Wei looked at Mahomes, who seemed to fully agree, which made Li Wei laugh in disbelief, "Aren''t you guys mistaken? This guy here is the quarterback, I''m the running back, I rely on the quarterback."


    Brittany was undeterred, saying meaningfully, "It''s good that you believe that."


    Then, Brittany took a step forward, "I''m very pleased to meet you, Li Wei. I''ll cook dinner at my place sometime and treat you properly."


    Li Wei smiled along, "Then I''m really looking forward to it."


    In just a short meeting, Brittany turned and walked towards the moving van to continue her busyness. Li Wei''s gaze followed Brittany''s figure, slightly overwhelmed by the size of the truck, with its dazzling array of furniture filling the entire carriage¡ª


    A true moving process, bringing the whole house over.


    From the 1994 season all the way to the 2014 season, for a full twenty-one years, the playoff curse became a tight spellbinding curse over the Chieftain''s minds, even Andy Reid''s arrival hadn''t turned around such a situation, making it the second-longest playoff losing streak in the league¡ª


    An inglorious record.


    Only behind the Cincinnati Bengals, who from the 1991 season to the 2021 season, went thirty-one seasons without a playoff victory, until finally breaking the streak in the 2022 season.


    Of course, the Kansas City Chieftains also ended their embarrassing record in the 2015 season, defeating the Houston Texans in the first round of the playoffs, finally securing a victory.


    However.


    In the 2015 postseason, they turned around and lost to the New England Patriots, failing to welcome consecutive wins; In the 2016 season, they again lost their first playoff game to the Pittsburgh Steelers and were promptly eliminated.


    The nightmare awakened once again.


    After waiting a full twenty-one years before finally embracing a playoff victory, could Kansas City really wait another twenty-one years?


    When other teams aimed for the Super Bowl and pursued the championship, Kansas City, mired in an economic crisis, had the simplest of wishes:


    Just one playoff victory would do.


    Of course, they could hope for Super Bowl Championships, they could proudly mention claiming the championship, but reality was both brutal and cold.


    They weren''t like the New York Giants, the Los Angeles Rams with their huge market and robust box office, not like the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers with their rich historical heritage, nor were they like the Green Bay Packers, enjoying unique support and backing in a town of a hundred thousand people.


    They were just an ordinary small town, a group of farmers and workers, struggling daily on the edge of poverty and persisting through gritted teeth.


    In fact, their wishes were really simple¡ª


    On game days, they''d go to the stadium or to the bar to enjoy a beer and a game, and then use a victory to ignite a glimmer of dawn in the darkness, guiding them to keep going through the mire and quicksand.


    This, was already enough.


    They truly hoped not to have to wait another twenty-one years for the next playoff victory.


    Now, the heavy responsibility fell on this generation of young people.


    Could they do it?


    Li Wei looked at Mahomes, "But, the starting point toward the championship summit begins with a victory. How about it, are you ready?"

 Chapter 186 185 Team Report

    In 1966, the American Football League (AFL) officially merged with the National Football League (NFL), and each year, the champions of the respective leagues climbed to the top of Huashan to duel, with the victor becoming the season''s overall champion. This was the birth of the Super Bowl.


    That year, football officially entered the Super Bowl era.


    The Kansas City Chiefs, unquestionably a team with a long-standing football tradition, although not established until 1959¡ªa full half-century behind those traditional powerhouses¡ªwere a strong team from the start.


    Everything was because of the team''s founder, Lamar Hunt.


    This businessman not only founded the Kansas City Chiefs but was also one of the founders of the American Football League (AFL). Interestingly, he was inspired by his daughter''s super ball toy, hence the championship game between the two leagues became known as the Super Bowl.


    Without a doubt, he was a significant figure with a lasting impact on modern football.


    Due to Hunt''s reputation, the Kansas City Chiefs were a strong team from their inception, crowned American Football League champions in 1962 and 1966, and went a step further by winning the fourth Super Bowl in 1969.


    When people talk about Super Bowl champions, they should not forget the champions of the first and second Super Bowls, the Green Bay Packers, yet often overlook that the Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the first Super Bowl showdown.


    However, that was all¡ª Find your next adventure on empire


    Since the 1969 season, the Kansas City Chiefs had not been able to recapture their glory days. Not to mention Super Bowl Champions, even the threshold of the playoffs had become insurmountable, fluctuating in the lows for many years.


    It was not until 2012 that the team finally found direction when former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid took over the Kansas City Chiefs and, from a trade with the San Francisco 49ers, acquired former first overall pick quarterback Alex Smith, gradually bringing the Kansas City Chiefs back into the competitor''s row.


    As mentioned earlier, the NFL is divided into the National and American leagues, and each league is further divided into four divisions: North, South, East, and West, with four teams per division.


    Currently, the Kansas City Chiefs are in the AFC West, alongside teams such as the Los Angeles Chargers, the Oakland Raiders, and the Denver Broncos.


    In the previous seasons, the Denver Broncos, undoubtedly led by Manning, were the divisional overlords, but the other three teams also possessed strong competitiveness. This was undoubtedly one of the most contentious divisions in the American League, until Manning retired, leading to a reshuffling of the division overnight.


    In the past two seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs have consecutively topped the AFC West, prompting speculation that perhaps the reign of the divisional overlord was finally changing hands?


    However, the playoff curse still plagued the Kansas City Chiefs and even head coach Reid faced mounting skepticism:


    Reed had made his choice, taking unimaginable huge risks, yet he did not know whether these risks were wise or foolish¡ªonly time could prove that.


    From the current situation, the Kansas City Chiefs, because of their risky moves, were taking fire from the entire league, and many believed Reed was sensing a crisis in his position as head coach so he recklessly made a last-ditch effort; however, it was merely a death struggle, very likely becoming Reed''s death knell.


    If the season''s performance is poor, or if they fail to win in the playoffs again, Reed might be the next one the Chiefs fire.


    Reed was hanging by a thread.


    It was in such a tense and unstable atmosphere that the NFL spring training camp began.


    The Kansas City Chiefs'' spring training camp had been held since 2010 in the small town of Saint Joseph, Missouri, at the Missouri Western State University training base, far from Kansas City and away from the media''s noise and clamor, with only a few of the most dedicated fans making their way to Saint Joseph to cheer for the team.


    Squeak.


    Mahomes parked the car in the parking lot and patted Li Wei, who was sleeping in the passenger seat, "Li Wei, we''re here. Help grab the luggage; I can''t carry it all by myself."


    The two had traveled together to Saint Joseph, so Li Wei hadn''t driven; one car was enough for Mahomes and they had arrived at Missouri Western State University without any issues.


    Just as he opened the car door, Li Wei was stretching when he saw another car enter the parking lot and reflexively looked over.


    A brand new cobalt blue BMW shone under the sunlight, clearly just picked up from the dealership without needing any words to describe it.


    "Beep!"


    Mahomes let out a whistle.


    The car door opened, and Kareem Hunt, wearing sunglasses, stepped down, seemingly not noticing Li Wei and Mahomes at all, walking past them with an expressionless face toward the direction of the training camp¡ª


    The attitude could not have been clearer.


    Li Wei and Mahomes exchanged a look, and Mahomes chuckled, "Li Wei, the training camp hasn''t even started, and you''re already being watched."


    Li Wei, however, remained unfazed, "I think it''s not just this one."

 Chapter 187 The frog at the bottom of the well

    The offseason training schedule of the thirty-two NFL teams is largely similar, typically organizing both a spring training camp and a summer training camp.


    The summer training camp is mandatory for all team members, where the team will train on tactics, conduct actual combat drills, and select the final fifty-three-man roster as well as an additional ten-man practice squad.


    On the other hand, the spring training camp is voluntary and focuses on recovery training, physical fitness, and basic skills, with the emphasis on integrating rookies into the team.


    This is also known as Rookie Training Camp. First, the team will seize these opportunities to give undrafted rookies a chance to fill the required positions; second, the team will test all rookies and, if they''re not suitable, will dismiss them after the spring training camp ends. For those rookies who don''t make it to the summer training camp, it''s as if they never joined the team.


    Despite this, players generally do not miss spring training camp.


    Football is a sport that emphasizes team coordination and tactical training; they also need to get acquainted with rookies and players who transferred during the offseason, even if it''s just getting adjusted to life together.


    Therefore, unless they are plagued by injuries or are actively trying to negotiate contract renewals, transfers, or salary increases¡ªexpressing their stance by skipping training¡ªthe players generally will attend spring training camp to demonstrate their commitment to the coaching staff.


    Moreover, the cutoff date for teams to sign contracts with rookies is just before the start of spring training camp¡ª


    During the period from the draft to the spring training camp, rookies need to undergo physical examinations, and their agents also need to discuss contract details with the team.


    Rookie contracts are such that the NFL has detailed regulations for contract duration, salary caps, and signing bonus caps, with different figures for each draft spot, all declining at a set ratio; however, the details are subject to discussion between the rookie''s agent and the team.


    Firstly, not all rookie contracts guarantee the full salary. The higher the draft pick, the more likely it is to be fully guaranteed¡ªbut this is not 100% certain; rookies drafted in the second round and later often can''t secure a fully guaranteed contract and may have a host of performance clauses.


    Secondly, signing bonuses also vary. The League has set firm upper limits for each draft position, but teams may not be willing to pay in full.


    In history, it is not common for teams to choose a rookie and then fail to complete the signing before spring training camp, resulting in the rookie missing the camp, or for the team and the rookie to part ways after the camp¡ªbut it happens almost every year¡ª


    And not just rookies drafted after the second round, even first-round rookies are not exempt.


    Because of this, when rookie players arrive at spring training camp, they are often already signed, and they transform from ordinary college students to millionaires and even multimillionaires, so how they use their first pot of gold can often reveal their personalities.


    Li Wei?


    Not long ago, under the negotiation of Donald Yee, he successfully completed his contract signing with the Kansas City Chiefs, becoming the seventh first-round rookie to sign¡ª


    A four-year contract for twenty-seven million four hundred thousand US dollars.


    A flashy new car marked the confident start of his spring training camp.


    Clearly, as a running back, Hunt didn''t see himself as friends with Li Wei; on the contrary, with the spot for the starting running back on the Kansas City Chiefs up for grabs, Hunt was ready to compete.


    The moment he arrived, Hunt issued a challenge.


    Mahomes nudged Li Wei with his shoulder, "Looks like someone''s unhappy about being an afterthought post-draft and needs to make his presence felt."


    After the draft, the whole League was questioning the Kansas City Chiefs'' puzzling move to pick two running backs, with all the attention focused on Li Wei, making Hunt, who was selected in the third round, completely fade into the background¡ª


    Even though he was there, it was as if he was invisible.


    However, Li Wei didn''t take it to heart, "The world outside is vast. He should go out and see more. There''s no need to stay trapped in a well. Quack. Quack."


    Mahomes burst into laughter, "Are you insinuating he''s a frog in a well? Ha ha, ha ha ha."


    It turned out that Li Wei was right¡ª


    Joining a team meant being a part of it, and they should set their sights on the entire team, rather than dwelling on trivial rookie matters.


    After all, once the season starts and they step onto the field, no one is going to take it easy on them just because they''re rookies. With the situation akin to entering the African savannah surrounded by wolves, there''s no point in fussing over one''s position amongst the rookies.


    On the first day of spring training camp, during the first lesson, the rookies felt the full force.


    The veterans didn''t pay much attention to the newcomers; professional players go through this routine every year with new faces joining and old teammates leaving. If they made a big deal with a welcome ceremony each time, it would be too much trouble, so much so that there wasn''t even time for formal greetings.


    Quietly, the rookies naturally gravitated together, standing on the outskirts.


    Then training class began, without any time for the rookies to introduce themselves.


    By the first lesson, Li Wei was questioning life, so exhausted that his brain ceased to function. If it wasn''t for the fact that all the players trained together, he would have suspected that the coaches were trying to haze the rookies specifically¡ª


    So, if it wasn''t targeted specifically at rookies, then it was a wake-up call for all players ending their off-season, ringing the alarm for everyone:


    Hey, sleepyheads, the new season has started.

 Chapter 188 187" rings the alarm bell

    "One. Two. Three. Four."


    Physical trainer Barry Rubin didn''t use a whistle, relying solely on his raw voice to roar out commands, coarse and explosive, covering the entire training field. Every player, without exception, had to follow the cadence, each command prompting a specific movement.


    The basic stance was marching in place, toes had to constantly touch the ground lightly and nimbly as the feet alternated touching down, and then corresponding actions were completed according to the commands.


    One, keep the upper body still, swivel both knees to the left, then return to the original position.


    Two, keep the upper body still, swivel both knees to the right, then return to the original position.


    Three, lie down.


    Four, push off the ground with the legs in a planking position, with the left knee raised toward the stomach.


    Five, same position, with the right knee pushing toward the stomach.


    Six and seven, repeat the movements of four and five.


    Eight, stand up.


    Nine, jump with legs apart.


    Ten, return to the initial movement.


    From one to ten, each command triggered a movement, engaging all the muscles in the body in exercises that improved on the foundation of the burpee, intended as a simple warm-up to get the body moving as much as possible.


    It looked simple, but the focus was on¡ª


    Persisting for a full thirty minutes?


    In fact, nobody needed thirty minutes; around the ten-minute mark, the players from the offensive line and defensive line started to falter.


    The linemen often were the heaviest and slowest players on the team, like mountains of flesh, and they had very poor endurance. This kind of physical training was sheer torture for them.


    One mountain of flesh removed his helmet, looking as if he had just been fished out of water, steam rising from his head, directing angry eyes toward head coach Reed at the front of the line, silently protesting with his gaze.


    Then, several more flesh mountains likewise removed their helmets and joined the ranks.


    However, Reed remained expressionless.


    Rubin''s rebuke was swift to follow, "What the hell are you doing? Put your helmets back on right now, and keep moving! Or else, after training is over, you''ll do an extra thirty minutes, I mean what I say, do it immediately!"


    Spittle flying, in the sunlight you could clearly see Rubin''s saliva spray onto the face of one of those mountains of flesh, with a ferocious expression that seemed ready to devour him whole, the atmosphere instantly becoming tense¡ª


    "The question is, are you ready?"


    "One! Two!"


    Thud, thud, thud thud thud.


    There was no other sound on the training field except for the disorderly footsteps and heavy breathing. Rubin''s cold and rough voice did not falter, mercilessly dragging all the players towards hell.


    "Three! Four!"


    Sweat boiled; muscles burned.


    Li Wei was extremely focused, a hundred percent so. He thought his physical reserves were sufficient, but clearly, he had underestimated professional competition¡ª


    One by one, most players had already fallen and were being dragged off the field by medical staff. Surrounding the center, the field gradually emptied. Unexpectedly, Smith stayed behind.


    Alex Smith, the quarterback.


    Smith had always appeared "mediocre," whether it was his lack of toughness in critical moments or his absence of killer long throws, he never stood out as a superstar yet never seemed awful.


    But deep down, Smith had his perseverance.


    Clenching his teeth tightly, a rare flash of ferocity sparked in his eyes.


    Unfortunately, he ultimately didn''t last. His knees gave way, and he fell forward onto them.


    "Alex!"


    Someone exclaimed. Smith, however, lifted his head and refused the help of the approaching medical staff, forcing himself to stand on shaking legs. Although he was trembling all over, he eventually stood up, unsteady, to a surrounding gaze of admiration, and made his way to the side to grab a water bottle and start guzzling it down.


    Before long, only three people remained on the training field¡ª


    Li Wei. Hunter.


    Travis Kelce.


    Two rookies and one veteran.


    Actually, Mahomes had also held on until the very end, but he lacked a little something, falling just a bit before Smith did. It was less about his physical ability to endure and more about not being mentally prepared, leading to slight deviations and his knees not holding up.


    After falling, Mahomes still appeared energetic, relying on himself to get to the sideline where he sat with the other rookies, cheering energetically.


    Unintentionally, this training session had evolved into a competition between rookies and veterans, and the situation subtly became tense.

 Chapter 189 188 Tripartite Standoff

    Hunter held his breath tightly¡ª


    Both being running backs, why was there such a huge disparity in treatment?


    Hunter and Kamara were alike; they didn''t deny Li Wei''s excellence. Getting picked in the second or third round was not a problem; but they didn''t think themselves inferior to Li Wei, nor did they believe that Li Wei deserved a higher pick than Fournette or McCaffrey.


    In Hunter''s eyes, Li Wei''s outstanding performance in the NCAA was credited to the University of Alabama''s unparalleled offensive line, as well as Saban''s array of strategic deployments around the ground attack, creating inherent conditions for the success of a running back. Any running back would perform well in that system.


    And the draft?


    In reality, the draft was also a commercial performance, to see who could market themselves better. Even though Li Wei was a first-round pick and Hunter was third-round, he didn''t believe that represented the real difference in their abilities.


    Hunter had made up his mind.


    He would prove himself, he would beat Li Wei, he would become the starting running back.


    Thump. Thump-thump.


    Hunter was mobilizing all the energy in his body.


    "One!"


    His calf muscles were a bit tight, Hunter noticed right away, but with a glance from the corner of his eye, he could see the other two steady figures; taking a deep breath, he gritted his teeth and continued to maintain the rhythm.


    "Two!"


    A period of stiffness, and the only thought in Hunter''s mind was to persist, to keep on persisting, just a little longer would be fine. A burst of powerful energy erupted from his body, his gaze fixed fanatically ahead.


    Roar roar roar!


    The sporadic cheers from the training field grew rowdy as the new recruits rooted for Li Wei and Hunter, while the veterans cheered for Kelce.


    In fact, anyone with a clear sight could see that Hunter and Li Wei were budding rivals. Although there were three other running backs on the Kansas City Chiefs, the action of the personnel team picking two running backs in the draft couldn''t be more obvious¡ªlikely, the starting running back would emerge from these two rookies.


    Originally, people generally thought that Li Wei, the topic of much discussion, would be the first choice, but now it seemed that Hunter was sending a signal; he had no intention of giving up the competition.


    The scene suddenly came alive¡ª


    It was, after all, summer training camp; it was a bit more relaxed.


    "Three!"


    Hunter clenched his teeth tightly; his goal wasn''t lofty, he just wanted to hold on longer than Li Wei. As for the rivalry between newcomers and veterans, it wasn''t even in his consideration at all; he was just holding his breath, trying to prove himself.


    Just a bit longer, just another moment, how could he possibly be inferior to that skinny, weak stick of a guy?


    Ah, Hunter didn''t even have time to react when his body tilted without warning and he fell out of view, lying flat and disappearing instantly.


    Kelce''s pace had quietly picked up, managing to push on even when his physical strength was close to its limit, clearly driven by sheer willpower.


    And what was more astonishing was that Li Wei actually kept up with Kelce.


    "Seven!"


    Rubin began to quicken the pace as well.


    "Eight!"


    Under the blazing sun, drops of scorching sweat fell one after another, giving extra moisture to the grass beneath their feet, which was being trampled all the more fiercely. It was clear that both Kelce and Li Wei were biting down hard, sprinting to the end.


    Even the onlookers couldn''t help but grit their teeth, finding it hard to imagine the state Li Wei and Kelce were in.


    Li Wei was persevering.


    Competitive sports are just like this. When you''re feeling the most difficult, the most tormented, the most vulnerable, on the verge of collapse, from spirit to body ready to fall apart¡ªsuch moments such thresholds define the line between greatness and excellence.


    The more you feel you can''t hold on, the more you need to grit your teeth and persist.


    Sweat poured down like rain, steam rising, but Li Wei''s eyes sparked with a killer instinct¡ª


    This was the NFL he had been looking forward to.


    Not to compete with Hunter or Kelce, but to challenge himself, his limits, and the higher plane of the impossible.


    Front foot, Kelce was speeding up.


    Back foot, Li Wei was actually picking up speed again.


    Thud, thud, thud, the sound of footsteps became more and more rapid, as shouts from the depths of the Dantian burst forth with full vigor, echoing explosively over the practice field.


    "Hah! Hah!"


    Then, it was Kelce''s turn to catch up to Li Wei''s pace.


    Thump. Thump.


    Forget the players¡ªeven Rubin''s heart was pounding uncontrollably, the rhythm getting faster and faster, until their legs could no longer keep up¡ª


    Hmph.


    With a grunt, Kelce fell to the ground.


    However, Li Wei still did not stop!


    The field fell silent, with only the rustling of footsteps echoing around.

 Chapter 190 189 full of youthful energy

    "One!"


    "Huh!"


    "Two!"


    "Huh!"


    Rubin continued to chant slogans, and every time after the slogan, there followed a roar from Li Wei, an energy bursting from the depth of his Dantian unleashed completely, his whole body burning with a fierce fighting spirit, making even the sunlight seem dim.


    The whole field fell silent.


    A few players did not like Li Wei''s behavior. It was just a warm-up training, what was the point of taking it so seriously? Li Wei was putting on a show by himself, and seeing the coaching staff''s satisfied admiration meant that the rest of them had to face the coaches'' disapproval. The spring training camp had just started; what were they to do with the upcoming training sessions?


    Were they really supposed to go all out?


    There was still the summer training camp to come!


    In the air, the exchanged glances were somewhat irritated:


    Indeed, rookies have their downsides, being too passionate and too active.


    But slowly, very slowly, the gazes couldn''t help but gather towards him, the burning youth and proud spirit making their hearts surge.


    Until Li Wei himself had reached his limit, he stopped of his own accord, but did not collapse on the ground. Instead, he stood his ground, fists clenched, standing tall and proud, howling up to the sky.


    "Ah!"


    Release to his heart''s content.


    "Aaahhh!"


    The young blood and youthful boldness fully ignited in that moment, like a war god bathed in blood, shining brightly under the golden sunlight, releasing energy.


    Mahomes was the first to leap high, roaring and cheering with Li Wei, and Smith was the first to lead the applause for Li Wei.


    Perhaps, Hunter was the exception.


    He hadn''t expected to lose, and even less so by such a clear margin.


    Damn it!


    Not far away, Childres took off his sunglasses, turned to look at Reed, his face full of surprise, "Coach."


    Reed too couldn''t hide his amazement, his face breaking into a joyful smile¡ª


    It seemed they had indeed unearthed a treasure.


    Not just because of the composure and the breadth of vision during the nationwide championship''s last moments of clutch play, but also because of the leadership quality that radiated from within, making people think the Kansas City Chiefs were foolish to choose two running backs, but Reed believed, they chose the future of the team as well as a running back.


    Stunning!


    A single appearance, and she effortlessly seized everyone''s gaze.


    It wasn''t just because the field was filled with males and suddenly there was a female; it was genuinely because of her stunning presence, becoming a gorgeous scenery in the vast view.


    Even with Reed present, he couldn''t contain these animals.


    Roar, roar, roar.


    The whistle continued.


    The blonde beauty didn''t panic, followed the sound of the whistles with her gaze, confidently meeting the eyes that appraised her, and she scoped out the crowd herself.


    One. Then another.


    Finally, her gaze landed on Li Wei and Kelsey. She, too, blew a whistle.


    Smiles crept onto their lips, like roses with thorns blooming in the depths of a desert.


    The crowd paused, then all at once realized what was happening. One by one they began to cheer, both for Li Wei and Kelsey and teasing those who''d had their advances rejected.


    "Frog dreaming of eating swan meat."


    "What to do, she thinks you''re too ugly."


    A wave of laughter.


    Both Kelsey and Li Wei started to laugh as well.


    At that moment, the blonde beauty joined Reed, holding a folder, showing it to him, and began an in-depth conversation.


    Li Wei was a bit surprised; seeing a woman on the football field wasn''t common, "Who is she?"


    Having been with the team for many years, Kelsey had more sources of information, "A new member of the medical team, responsible for monitoring and analyzing each player''s physical data to prevent injuries before they happen by providing targeted training; additionally, she gives medical advice for enhancing specific abilities and conducts targeted training."


    "I saw her once before at the Kansas City training base, didn''t expect her to come to Saint Joseph this time."


    Li Wei slightly lifted his chin, acknowledging how the profession of sports had increasingly become more specialized and data-driven, and without a doubt, preventing injuries was an extremely important matter.


    The conversation didn''t last long before Rubin''s voice came through again.


    "You''d better get it together. With the way you''re all looking so sloppy now, trust me, no woman will think you''re sexy. For looks, they should look at Kelsey and Li Wei, even their sweat could be said to be fragrant by women."


    Ha, a burst of laughter.


    "So, bring back your attention, stretch properly, you''ll have more chances to show off your muscles later."


    "After all, you''ve already missed the chance to show off your brains as the new sexy like Benedict Cumberbatch, muscles are your last line of defense, don''t miss out."

 Chapter 191 190 Rookie Classroom

    It was just a warm-up, yet it lasted a full two hours.


    In the past at the NCAA, even though warming up was also very important, because training time was strictly scheduled, timing was extremely crucial, including the warm-up time; now, I finally experienced what NFL-level training was like, and the difference between professional and non-professional became instantly apparent.


    Of course, this was the first training session of the spring training camp, so the situation was different; still, it felt different.


    More exaggerated than the time was the intensity.


    Everyone looked as if they had just been fished out of water, drenched in sweat, with no exceptions¡ªtruly feeling their bodies completely open up, with every nook and cranny warmed up; yet when you really think about it, this was just a warm-up, not even the official training, which still seemed somewhat amusing.


    Childres stepped forward, waving his hands repeatedly.


    "Gather around, everyone gather around."


    Rubin didn''t leave but returned to Reed''s side; the two discussed the just-completed warm-up briefly, but both also looked towards Childres.


    At this moment, one could distinguish between the rookies and the veterans.


    Although the training intensity was beyond expectations, affecting everyone equally, the veterans, who had undergone at least a year or even longer of professional matches, appeared more stable and adapted better; while the rookies, just transitioned from college games to professional, were merely relying on youthful vigor to keep up, but their level of exhaustion was more severe.


    Li Wei took a deep breath, straightened his back, and gathered towards Childres.


    "Defensive group stand on the left. Offensive group stand on the right."


    "Everyone stand according to your position on the field."


    Mahomes was also gasping for air, staring at the small arena in front of him, his eyes filled with question marks¡ª


    The coaching staff''s assistants brought over a pile of sponge mats, but rather than laying them in the central area, they placed them around the edges, more like a protective net, using the sponge mats at the periphery to encircle a square arena in the center.


    Strangely, the image of a coliseum sprung to mind.


    And now, they were all standing around the square field created with sponge mats, outside the boundary, divided into two sides by Childres:


    Defensive group and offensive group.


    Mahomes turned to Li Wei, too exhausted to speak with his usual vigor, "What are we preparing to do?"


    Li Wei simply shrugged his shoulders; like him, everyone was a rookie here, everything was new, clearly, he and Mahomes were both completely baffled at the moment.


    Li Wei turned to Kelsey, "A completely new training?"


    Kelsey shook his head, "Bullfighting."


    Roar.


    Roar, roar.


    Instantly, everyone starts jeering.


    One can tell Bailey is up to no good¡ª


    He had just come back from injury, and being heavy and not very enduring, today''s warm-up training had him sweating because the rookie Li Wei was overly excited, causing him to sweat along, feeling like he was burning up with sweat inside his helmet, almost like a heatstroke.


    Moreover, without comparison, there''s no harm done.


    During the warm-up training, he was caught slacking off stealthily, resulting in him getting a severe scolding from the Defensive line coach, all thanks to that rookie.


    Great, since the rookie wants to show off and increase the intensity, he would let the rookie experience what NFL-level intensity feels like, letting him continue to foolishly jump around.


    Around him, the crowd jeers.


    There isn''t a small number of eyes that dislike the rookie''s prancing, but not all feel the same; those who have no issues with the rookie are indifferent to the newcomer, instead, some are curious to see what these new recruits are really made of.


    So, one after another, they start shouting.


    Anyway, watching the excitement never becomes too big of a deal.


    Alex Smith''s face darkened, he disapproved of such provocation, he tried to restrain Bailey, but as a person who dislikes showing off, he hesitated, and in that moment, another voice came through, "Hey Allen, if you''re so brave, you should pick someone your own size."


    It''s Kelsey.


    Bailey didn''t even lift his eyelids, disdainfully curling his lip, "No need to rush, you''re next in line, just stand there."


    Now it''s 2017, professional teams no longer have the tradition of maliciously teaching rookies lessons, and the secrets in the locker room also seem to no longer be secrets; but since when did teaching the rookies a lesson in training need to be nitpicked?


    Bailey didn''t care about Kelsey, "If he can''t handle it, then he might as well go back to college, I believe he can continue to dominate there."


    Boom.


    A burst of laughter.


    Mahomes looked at Bailey with eyes full of concern, Bailey''s height and weight were much greater than Li Wei''s, he had an absolute advantage in strength and build, that''s why boxing matches need weight classes, because the advantages of different levels are hard to overturn.


    However, in football, there are no weight classes.


    "Li Wei..." Mahomes had just managed to call out when Li Wei already stepped forward, leaving the circle of Offensive group players, appearing in the ring.

 Chapter 192 191 Solo Bullfighting

    No matter Bailey''s motive and attitude, there''s at least one point where he''s correct¡ª


    In the professional Football arena, no one goes easy on someone else because of a difference in weight class.


    In fact, quite the opposite, utilizing mismatches to overpower opponents with size and weight differences is a very common tactic in Football''s offensive and defensive strategies.


    For instance, the Offensive group using the Tight End to overpower the Cornerback.


    For instance, the Defensive group using the Defensive End to overpower the running back.


    There''s a maxim on the Football field that only numbers and strength are irreversible advantages.


    During the NCAA period, including when he faced the Crimson Tide Storm''s Defensive End Allen, Li Wei had more than one or two head-to-heads with Defensive Ends, and entering the professional games should be no different.


    Just right, Bailey could help Li Wei genuinely experience the intensity level of the NFL, he believed that his future opponents would definitely not show any mercy, and he also believed that there were many who were eagerly waiting to step on the Top Scholar of the 2017 draft and prove themselves.


    Thus.


    Li Wei stepped out.


    So, what exactly is this bullfighting in Football?


    "Li Wei, just shake off the tackle," Childres''s reminding voice came from beside him.


    That''s how it is.


    In a sense, just like in basketball, Football''s bullfighting is a one-on-one, with the difference that Football tests your tackling and collision skills.


    No need for an actual Football, truly, just like in a bullfight.


    "Ready. Get set."


    Bailey, woke up.


    The eyes that had remained unawakened behind his helmet finally opened, and as the two men faced each other, crouched, bent at the waist, one hand supporting the ground, somewhat similar to the starting stance of a 100-meter sprint, Bailey''s gaze pierced through the helmet and fell upon Li Wei, with a bloody aura.


    The beast, awakened.


    Around them, a roar erupted¡ª


    "Go, Bailey, show him some color."


    "Rookie! Rookie!"


    A collection of ferocious faces twisted grimly, the air filled with the smell of gunpowder as if in a coliseum, feet tapping the ground, slowly beginning to gather force.


    This was slightly different from the mode Li Wei was familiar with.


    In the past, on the college field, he often had some initial space whether to accelerate or change direction, always able to create opportunities to avoid size disadvantages and leverage his strengths, even when facing the team captain and Defensive End Allen from his own team.


    But this was different.


    "Poor kid."


    The mocking laughter and jeering came down like a pouring rain, ruthlessly bombarding Li Wei''s eardrums with furious rage.


    Li Wei felt dizzy, and just as he was trying to stand up, Bailey slammed his shoulder hard, sending him back down to the foam pads, "Stay down."


    Cruel. Furious. Venting.


    Caught off guard, Li Wei was thrown back like a paper figure.


    Bailey, watching Li Wei spin, finally let out a breath, pounding his chest like King Kong, his piercing gaze sweeping the field¡ª


    Mahomes. Kelsey. Hunter.


    Those "overenthusiastic and overzealous" players all entered Bailey''s radar, and he made his presence felt in his own way, silencing them a bit.


    Today was just the first day of spring training camp; there really was no need to go all out, and he believed these guys would calm down after this.


    Bailey turned his head to the side, spat, and was about to take off his helmet for a rest when he heard a voice.


    "How about it, got the strength for another go?"


    Wait, that voice was...


    Quietly, the commotion died down, all eyes turning in one direction, Bailey turned to look and then saw Li Wei, catching his breath in great gasps.


    No disarray, no shame, no anger.


    Not only was there none, but the smile at the corner of his mouth was even lifting, his eyes sparkling with a lively and cheerful light, seemingly more excited than before, eagerly rubbing his hands together as if he relished the collision and couldn''t wait to have another go.


    The onlookers'' knees went weak: Could this guy be an M?


    Damn!


    Bailey''s heart also skipped a beat.


    But Bailey quickly regained his composure; since someone was volunteering to get hit, how could he refuse such generosity? Naturally, he had to reward the other party properly.


    "Heh, you haven''t been knocked silly, have you?" Bailey couldn''t help but quip.


    Li Wei cracked his neck, the bones making a creaking sound, "Haha, probably need a few more times for that."


    Despite the smile on his lips, the bloody scent that wafted between them spread, chilling to the bone, and the surrounding noise and cheering died down a bit.


    Even the usually lively Mahomes calmed down, watching the scene before him with unease.


    Then, Bailey and Li Wei lined up again, just like before, in a space less than a yard apart, almost feeling each other''s breath.


    "Whistle!"


    Childres blew the whistle once more.

 Chapter 193 192 ants shake the tree

    Cool-headed.


    This was the only thought in Li Wei''s mind.


    Li Wei recalled a discussion with Allen, the Crimson Tide Storm Defense Team Captain, where everyone agreed that football was a physically confrontational sport¡ªthis was true. However, if it were merely physical confrontation, the sport wouldn''t be so captivating.


    Like boxing, it seemed to be about strength, about the physical, about confrontation, but in reality, the brain played an important role both in the boxing ring and on the football field.


    Observe. Capture. Judge. React.


    This was the core.


    If one could have a strong body like Derrick Henry or Marshawn Lynch, sweeping through the opponents effortlessly, that would naturally be ideal. However, neither Henry nor Lynch could reach the height of Adrian Peterson, and it all boiled down to the use of the brain.


    Of course, it wasn''t that Henry and Lynch did not know how to use their brains. In fact, reaching such heights in the professional arena among a group of freaks also depended on brain usage; it was just that their talents were more physical, and comparatively, their observational skills on the field were somewhat weaker.


    The running back, much like the quarterback, because both their starting positions were in the pocket, needed to observe, to watch the defensive formation, to see the defenders'' movements, or else the running back''s fate would just be to hit walls repeatedly, foolishly using their bodies to meet the Defensive group head-on.


    At the NCAA, Li Wei had developed the habit of observing, which was a critical factor in his success, but that was predicated on having the time and space to observe.


    What if there wasn''t?


    Like now, the situation where Li Wei faced off against Bailey.


    "Then you must learn to read body language,"


    Those were Allen''s exact words.


    "In a fraction of a second, you observe, read, judge, solve, and then respond,"


    "Occasionally you will succeed, but most of the time you will fail,"


    "That''s okay, the point is to keep trying, to gradually turn it into an instinct, and through countless games, accumulate it into a kind of experience, a kind of intuition, which ultimately becomes the key to turning the tide in crucial games, crucial moments. Perhaps it is that one in ten thousand second, yet it becomes the moment that determines fate,"


    "Just like a beast."


    As a top Defensive End in the NCAA, Allen had shared some tricks with Li Wei¡ª


    the tricks to reading a Defensive End.


    Now, Li Wei was reading.


    After running into a wall for the first time, Li Wei was not discouraged, knowing well that this was the professional league. All players who start in the professional league have significant skills; never underestimate anyone, this was also one of his reasons for choosing to enter the professional league through the draft, to continue pushing his limits.


    Running into walls, it did not matter, as long as he did not foolishly continue to the end.


    The second time, Li Wei immediately learned.


    If there was no way to use speed and agility to their advantage, and they were at a disadvantage in terms of strength and size, then the correct way to confront was¡ª


    Li Wei also charged forward, just one step, merely one step, closing a one-yard gap in the blink of an eye. He feigned a head-on collision, but as helmet clashed with helmet, his body shifted aside.


    A deft shift of weight, his body angling to the right, his hands pushing against Bailey''s shoulders, executing a maneuver light as air, yet forceful.


    Graceful and skillful, akin to Tai Chi.


    Bang!


    The collision occurred in the blink of an eye.


    "Get up, rookie!"


    "Bailey! Bailey!"


    Amidst the roars and bellows, the two figures collided head-on, watching as Bailey''s entire strength and weight bore down, the face inside the helmet contorting viciously from effort, his eyes flashing murderously.


    But in an instant, that murderous intent turned to panic.


    Li Wei simply went with the flow, using the opposing force to his advantage, requiring no effort of his own. Bailey, having exerted all his strength, could no longer control himself; missing the frontal tackle, he spiraled into a weightless state and then flew out like autumn leaves swept by the wind.


    Boom!


    Nearly three hundred pounds of body smashed against the black iron griddle, giving off a dull... thud of flesh.


    Ah!


    Enjoy new chapters from empire


    The bystanders hadn''t even had time to gasp as they grimaced, shouting in pain for Bailey; the force of the collision likely dislodged a jaw or two.


    Like an ant moving a tree, who would have thought, the ant would triumph. Bailey, like an elephant crashing down, stirred up dust and ripples, sending the crowd into turmoil.


    Roar!


    A gasp, unanimous.


    In an instant, seeing Bailey crumpled in a heap and Li Wei casually standing, they couldn''t believe their eyes.


    The other defensive players burst forth in fury, shouting angrily at Bailey.


    "Damn it!"


    "Are you freaking dancing?"


    And Mahomes was the first to initiate applause, his voice resonating from deep within his core, "Well done, rookie! Well done!"


    Turning around, Mahomes high-fived Kelsey, celebrated with a fist bump as other members of the offensive group also cheered exuberantly.


    The atmosphere was subtly heating up.

 Chapter 194 193 Rookie Stands Tall

    Childres revealed a touch of surprise, not expecting Li Wei''s adaptability to be so quick, playing to his strengths and avoiding his weaknesses, and immediately finding a way to deal with the situation.


    Involuntarily, Childres turned to look at Reed.


    Reed still had a poker face, but his gaze clearly rested on Li Wei, and a small movement had betrayed his surprise as well.


    Generally speaking, a running back can be plug and play, and there is no shortage of running backs who have performed well in their rookie season; but the key is, how should coaches utilize the running back''s capacity?


    Just like last season with the Tennessee Titans, Henry had impressive skills but wasn''t used to his full potential, a sheer waste of talent.


    Now, Reed''s brain began to spin rapidly.


    And in the ring, Bailey was furious.


    If it had been a mere displeasure before, devoid of personal emotion; now, having been embarrassed in front of everyone, Bailey''s anger soared instantly.


    Damn it!


    Getting up on his hands and knees, Bailey couldn''t bother to straighten his jersey, and after a dizzying moment, he reoriented himself towards Li Wei''s position.


    "How about it, do you dare to go another round?"


    "But if you''re scared, just say so, this is just training after all, no need to take it too seriously, after all, you''re a rookie, we''ll go easy on you."


    A fury like a sudden storm raged and snapped, but evidently, Bailey worried that Li Wei might refuse, so he used reverse psychology to corner Li Wei into a difficult position, to prevent him from walking away and losing face that he just lost, his eyes fiercely fixed on Li Wei.


    And Li Wei?


    This was perfect timing.


    A free punching bag, a free sparring partner, couldn''t be more perfect. If it were private training, he would even need to pay extra for such a sparring partner, but now one was presenting himself, Li Wei welcomed the opportunity with open arms and feet, how could he possibly refuse?


    So, who is the hunter, and who is the prey?


    Li Wei didn''t reply, but directly stepped into the ring, lined up for the third time, ready¡ª


    Bending down, kneeling, propping one hand on the ground, his eyes bright with determination as he looked at Bailey. His entire demeanor, burning with fighting spirit, was a clear challenge.


    Bailey had been worried that Li Wei would refuse, but was instead provoked by Li Wei: Damn it, this rookie made a fool of him.


    Around him, the noise was deafening, with people eagerly stirring up trouble.


    Reed''s concerns were valid.


    Push off, start, sprint.


    In his field of vision he could see Bailey, like a mountain of flesh stretching before him, cutting off all sight, his arms reaching forward, ready early on to meet Li Wei''s charge,


    But instead, Li Wei bent his knees, lowered his center of gravity, even more than usual.


    Usually, the position to aim for a tackle is at the waist, the most appropriate spot to exert force; but now, Li Wei dropped to the level of Bailey''s knees.


    The answer had emerged¡ª¡ª


    It wasn''t to collide, but to tackle.


    Li Wei took the initiative, when usually it''s the players on defense who tackle the offensive players. Now it was an offensive player tackling a defensive one, and lowering his center of gravity.


    Crack. He gripped Bailey''s knees.


    Bailey panicked. Everything happened too fast. He hadn''t anticipated that Li Wei would go for a tackle, let alone that Li Wei would lower his center of gravity to tackle at the knees. Bailey''s arms, prepared to block Li Wei''s charge, now flailed helplessly like inflatable tube men outside a supermarket, utterly useless.


    Boom. Exerting force, colliding, pushing forward.


    Then, Li Wei hoisted Bailey up like a wrestler, over his shoulder, tossing and dropping him.


    Ah!


    Ah! Ah! Ah!


    Bailey landed on his back in a 360-degree arc like a sandbag, lying immobile on the ground, immediately swallowed by humiliation.


    Whoosh.


    The entire field erupted into a roar. Continue your story on empire


    Whether it was the offensive group or the defensive group, everyone was stunned, even Mahomes gaped in disbelief at what Li Wei had just accomplished¡ª¡ª


    A shoulder throw. It was actually a shoulder throw.


    Reed''s shoulders slackened slightly. One had to admit, Li Wei''s performance was unexpectedly outstanding, perfectly adapting to professional-level confrontation. Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, an unexpected turn happened again.


    Bailey flipped over, clumsily but swiftly standing up, burning with anger and embarrassment. Now he really lashed out in fury, clenching his fist and charging at Li Wei.


    The surrounding players and coaches had not foreseen this scene, hadn''t had time to stop it, and even the cries of alarm got stuck, hearts jammed in throats.


    Damn!


    ```

 Chapter 195 194 Charismatic Leadership

    "Li Wei!"


    This sudden turn of events caught everyone off guard; Mahomes only had time to call out before he was beaten to the punch by Bailey.


    "Shit," Childres couldn''t hold back and blurted out the curse, "Grab them, for God''s sake, what are you doing standing there, grab that guy!"


    Everything happened in the blink of an eye; someone''s anger flared up uncontrollably, and everyone else was a step behind, unable to catch up with Bailey.


    Perhaps, Li Wei was the only exception.


    Facing Bailey directly, Li Wei immediately noticed Bailey''s embarrassed and angry expression, his face drenched in sweat, dark and dirty, showing fatigue and rage. In an instant, it seemed as if one could hear the sound of reason snapping, and his clumsy, slow movements suddenly became agile.


    Let him pass?


    No, Li Wei did not dodge or give way.


    Not only did he not, but he also confronted him head-on.


    Li Wei finally showcased his explosive burst of speed, advancing a step and even charging forward before Bailey could react. As Bailey clenched his fists, Li Wei''s hands rose in a firm blocking posture, stopping Bailey''s arms and fists with his own, initiating a head-on clash of strength.


    "Strength VS Strength."


    Now it was Bailey who started to panic, subconsciously loosening his fists and bracing against Li Wei''s shoulders, with both men locked in a stalemate.


    Logically, Li Wei should not have been able to stand up to Bailey; even with dedicated off-season training, the gap could not be bridged.


    Standing in front of Bailey, Li Wei seemed diminished, smaller by comparison, with Bailey''s bulky flesh outweighing him by a third.


    But why, in the "Bible," could David defeat Goliath? Why could Greece unexpectedly clinch the championship in the 2004 European Championship?


    Because in sports, as in many other things, matters are not absolute but relative.


    Bailey''s anger, his impulsive behavior, his anxiety, his lack of preparation¡ªeverything was upending the standoff between the two.


    Clearly, Bailey''s center of gravity wasn''t stable, preventing him from using his full strength.


    However!


    Even so, Bailey still demonstrated the experience of a professional veteran, relying on his physical talent to resist, astonishingly holding his ground against Li Wei''s first assault. It seemed he was about to steady himself and muster his strength, preparing to turn the tables as the two exchanged blows in a brief deadlock.


    Ergh, ugh, ugh.


    Force and force, body against body, unfolded in a direct confrontation.


    His footsteps a bit unsteady.


    At this moment, Li Wei''s exhaustion was apparent, his knees quivering slightly, his steps uneven. But still, Li Wei stood up straight, managing to control himself.


    Continuing to walk in Bailey''s direction.


    Childres was somewhat anxious. What was Li Wei trying to do? Was it to seek revenge? Or to mock Bailey? Or perhaps continue provoking Bailey?


    Before Childres could say anything, Li Wei had already arrived in front of Bailey and extended his right hand.


    Childres froze again.


    Bailey felt as if the world was spinning, now finally understanding what seeing stars meant. In his dizzy haze, he saw a flash of golden sunlight.


    Slightly dazzling.


    Through the blurry halo, the contours of that face gradually emerged, and then Bailey saw that hand and that smile.


    Bailey was taken aback, and for a moment, he didn''t know how to respond.


    Then.


    Bailey saw Li Wei''s corners of the mouth lifted, showing a confident smile, "Sorry for throwing you so hard. However, you''re welcome to throw it back anytime during the training camp. I promise to give my all every time to make sure I''m not the one being thrown."


    It wasn''t arrogance, nor condescension. Behind the teasing and jesting, what hid was an openness, a generosity to face healthy competition, an openness to eagerly accept any challenge. The youth''s vitality and breadth of character, the exuberance and passion of youth were fully displayed in that moment.


    It was clear who stood taller.


    Suddenly, Bailey became shy and awkward, quickly realizing how poorly he had just behaved, like a mirror reflecting his own ugliness and embarrassment.


    There was nowhere to hide.


    Childres couldn''t believe his eyes, even more surprised than when he saw Li Wei throw Bailey earlier. He had never seen such... magnanimity in a rookie.


    So, what about Bailey?


    Bailey exhaled deeply and "smack" grabbed hold of Li Wei''s right hand, using Li Wei''s strength to attempt to stand up. But as soon as his butt left the ground, Li Wei released his hand, causing Bailey to feel the absurdity of his center of gravity falling again, his heart skipping a beat.


    Huh.


    A collective gasp from the surroundings.


    It was just for a moment. Li Wei grabbed his hand again and with another firm pull, hauled the bewildered Bailey back to his feet. Watching Bailey''s utterly baffled expression, Li Wei shrugged lightly, his face beaming with a smile.


    "Oops, slippery hands. Sorry about that."

 Chapter 196 195 Harmonious atmosphere

    "Oops, slipped there. Sorry."


    Looking at Li Wei''s calm face, Bailey was momentarily at a loss for words, ready to retort, but recalling his own sequence of actions and reactions, he just swallowed his words.


    After thinking for a bit, Bailey still spoke up, "Sorry, I just acted like a jerk, I think I was just..."


    Not thinking straight.


    Bailey didn''t know how to explain.


    Then, someone in the crowd took over the conversation, "...having that time of the month?"


    Hahaha.


    Everyone burst into laughter.


    Speechless, Bailey silently flipped off in the direction of the voice, and looked at Li Wei, regaining his composure, "Nice performance just now, throwing me down twice in a row, looks like it wasn''t just luck." Find your next adventure on empire


    "Three times." Li Wei said calmly, holding up three fingers.


    Bailey was at a loss for words, unable to retort, and spread his hands, "But there won''t be many chances like this in the upcoming training camp, I will take it seriously, one hundred percent, giving it my all."


    Now, Bailey had come around, realizing that even in summer training camp, they couldn''t slack off, otherwise they wouldn''t need to wait for their rivals. These rookies could easily embarrass the old guys like them, and they wouldn''t know where to put their faces. So, he had to get into the mindset for the new season starting now.


    Pausing, Bailey looked at Li Wei, still somewhat hesitant but finally said, "Welcome to the Chiefs, rookie."


    Childres exhaled deeply, relieved that a fight could end this way, and walked back to Reed, "Coach, training''s over, should we call them out for a talk? Things almost got out of control just now."


    Reed shook his head slightly, "Didn''t you see? The rookie has already handled everything."


    He had the strength, the guts, the nerve, the smarts, everything you could want, and the team''s atmosphere harmoniously became vibrant and enthusiastic.


    Reed deeply believed that by drafting Li Wei with their top pick, the Kansas City Chiefs had found a treasure.


    "Maybe, we''ve already found the future leader of the team," Reed murmured softly to himself.


    Childres was still not sure, a running back? Really?


    Reed had no intention of discussing it further, "Bulldozing, continue".


    Childres nodded and returned to the ring, shouting, "Bulldozing continues, next group, reminder, players can repeat, but by the end, everyone must practice, everyone. Quarterbacks excluded."


    Exhaustion.


    Deep-seated exhaustion that permeated every bone, felt both physically and mentally, revealing an overwhelming sense of overexertion at the moment the day''s training ended, flooding in like a tide, slightly relaxing and then not wanting to move even a finger easily.


    Only then did Li Wei truly feel the tension lurking under his skin.


    Simply in terms of training volume and intensity, a comprehensive enhancement was undeniable, and Kelsey admitted that this year''s atmosphere was unlike the previous years, you could feel the coaching staff consciously stepping up the training intensity from the first day of spring camp with iron discipline.


    But if it were just so, it wouldn''t be overexerting.


    The fundamental reason was the tense nerves, the unnoticed consumption caused by pressure was continually burning quietly, and hence the impact was more severe.


    Top Scholar. Prodigy. Chinese.


    Label after label was affixed to Li Wei, whether it was doubt or expectation, thousands of eyes were focused on him, making today filled with extra challenges; regardless, Li Wei still withstood the pressure and secured his footing with a performance beyond expectations, completing the first day''s training.


    Beyond the exhaustion, Li Wei was filled mostly with anticipation.


    If the first day already brought so many challenges, he had every reason to look forward to future training and hold greater expectations for the professional competitions.


    After training ended, the rookies who joined the team this year and the sophomores from last year''s draft stayed behind to help clean up the training equipment.


    In fact, the team had assistants specifically responsible for these tasks, and there was no shortage of hands; the freshmen and sophomores stayed to help not only as a way to interact but also to bond, which was a feature of the spring training camp, something not repeated in the following summer camp or regular training sessions.


    This way, it would help these young players integrate into the team more quickly.


    "So, what''s on the dinner menu?"


    "I could eat a whole cow right now!"


    "Have we hired a nutritionist? I heard that the nutritionists in New England are strict, not allowing eating too much or too little, making each meal feel like you''re in prison."


    "Psh, you should hear about Tom Brady''s diet, way crazier than New England''s nutritionist, it''s not really eating, it''s more like studying Frankenstein."


    "Is it that exaggerated?"


    The chatter echoed across the training field, the young ones quickly warming up to each other, especially with a gregarious guy like Mahomes around.


    Just then, the whistle sounded again.


    The blonde woman who had appeared on the training field in the morning passed by, seemingly heading toward the coach''s office, and these youthful players evidently had not learned their lesson as the whistles started up again.


    Sure enough, the blonde woman stopped in her tracks once more.

 Chapter 197 196 Youthful Exuberance

    whistles echoed one after another, adding to the lively ambiance.


    then, the blonde beauty stopped in her tracks, turned her head toward the source of the whistles, and mahomes''s buddies all chickened out in a second, hurriedly shutting their mouths.


    seeing this, hunter stepped up to the plate.


    hunter grabbed a football and launched it toward the blonde, but passing was obviously not this running back''s strong suit. the football wobbled through the air like the last dry leaf on a tree branch in autumn, refusing to fall until it plummeted off a cliff.


    the pass had no accuracy to speak of, falling short of reaching her by quite a bit, pathetically hitting the ground. due to its oval shape, it couldn''t roll properly, clumsily bouncing twice before coming to a standstill.


    a little awkward.


    hunter cleared his throat but still mustered the gall to call out, "excuse me, could you throw the football back, please?"


    what was this, a pickup line from a high school movie from ten years ago?


    the young spectators around him started to jeer him, each one ribbing hunter, who had hoped to save some face but only made things worse.


    but!


    unexpectedly, the blonde actually stepped forward, picked up the football, scanned the crowd as several young men raised their hands to signal for a pass. amidst the teasing and laughter, hunter jogged up, seemingly ready to catch it directly.


    the blonde completely ignored hunter and, without seeming to prepare much, stepped forward and swung her right arm, drawing a beautiful arc.


    continue your story on empire


    with a forceful thrust, the football spun at high speed as if it were a shuttle, tracing a beautiful rainbow curve through the air. the whoosh could be clearly heard over the exclamations of the crowd as it soared over hunter''s head and flew past him.


    hunter: ???


    wait, what just happened?


    hunter hit the brakes hard, his gaze following the trajectory of the football as it curved from in front of him to behind, and that''s when he saw li wei.


    ¡ª¡ªfrom beginning to end, li wei was the only player not jeering, a silent presence amidst the noise and bustle of the field, who suddenly became the center of attention with just a turn.


    including hunter, everyone held their breath.


    swoosh!


    li wei raised his voice again, "hold on, isn''t leaving without a word a bit impolite?"


    lilith turned around, not uttering a word, but simply lifted the files in her hand, tapping them gently with her fingertip, a gesture that couldn''t have been clearer.


    obviously, lilith had the files of the entire team; she had known li wei all along.


    li wei spread his hands, shrugged lightly with a look of resignation: that''s not fair.


    lilith also spread her hands and slightly tilted her head: can''t help you there.


    retreating, then further back, watching as lilith walked backward, a sly glint passing in her eyes before she turned to leave, li wei called out loudly.


    "hey, i''m li wei, scorpio, o blood type, kansas chiefs running back."


    lilith, about to leave, halted her steps abruptly, whirled around, and glanced at li wei with a hint of surprise in her eyes, but a smile quickly took over, as she chuckled lightly, her laughter fully blossoming.


    her steps, however, did not pause. lilith looked away and continued on, disappearing from sight in a blink.


    roar.


    roar, roar, roar.


    mahomes was the first to jog over, chattering and teasing, with others soon swarming around, surrounding li wei, bumping shoulders and patting backs, the atmosphere incredibly lively.


    in that moment, they weren''t professional football players; they were just a bunch of college kids, nineteen or twenty years old, hormones buzzing.


    li wei''s gaze followed lilith as she walked away, then brought it back to the teasing guys around him, revealing a mysterious smile, "this is a natural talent. envy or jealousy won''t help. unless you reincarnate, all you can do is watch in envy."


    boom!


    the teasing became even livelier, with ceaseless playful banter and jibes blending among the freshmen and sophomores.


    perhaps hunter was the only exception?


    hunter stood to the side, feeling both helpless and irritated. what was this even about?


    the sunset filled the sky as the kansas chiefs'' 2017 spring training camp unfolded gradually. despite a few surprises, it went quite smoothly overall.


    there was even reason for excitement.


    in the coach''s office, reed stood in front of the window, eyeing the scene on the training field. any last bit of concern was settled, knowing they had made the right choice; however, it was still too early to celebrate. the chiefs had many issues to confront, with a long road ahead in preparation for the new season.

 Chapter 198 197 Proceed in an orderly way

    reflecting on the kansas city chiefs'' 2016 season, was it a failure?


    of course not.


    with twelve wins and four losses, they secured the second seed in the american league, finishing just behind the new england patriots in the regular season, and advanced to the playoffs as division champions.


    however, the disappointment was undeniable when they, highly favored, fell to the pittsburgh steelers in their first playoff game and were eliminated.


    no wonder the loyal fans in kansas city despaired; despite having all the essentials, they were thwarted by the playoff curse yet again. their anger did nothing to help¡ªmore than anything, they felt powerless and void, unsure of what more their team needed to break through.


    in truth, the signs were all there.


    it''s hard to believe, but over the past two seasons, the kansas city chiefs won games relying on their defense. andy reid winning games with defense?


    just like in soccer, the saying in football goes, "offense wins games, defense wins championships." yet, football differs slightly from soccer, where solid defense can lead to a penalty shootout; in football, ultimately, you need offense to finish the game.


    clearly, reed realized this, which is why he focused on picking offensive core players in this year''s draft to prepare for the team''s future.


    last season, the kansas city chiefs'' defense ranked seventh across the league.


    but on closer analysis, their pass defense ranked eighteenth and their rush defense ranked twenty-sixth, both quite poor and in the lower half of the league. so, what propelled the chiefs'' defense to rocket into the top ranks?


    red zone defense.


    approaching the end zone, the kansas city chiefs'' defense was particularly strong, helping their average points allowed per game to be the seventh lowest in the league, especially their tough ground defense, which tied for the third fewest rushing touchdowns allowed in the red zone.


    in other words, their staunch performance in crucial moments kept the end zone secure, shaping the team''s twelve wins and four losses for the season.


    in stark contrast was the offense.


    last season, the kansas city chiefs'' offense ranked only thirteenth among the thirty-two teams in the league.


    though it wasn''t a drag, still hovering in the middle of the league, this was unusual for reed, known for his offensive scheming and quarterback coaching.


    the new season was just as fiercely competitive and could change the dynamics of the game at any time.


    this was the issue that the kansas city chiefs had to face and resolve during the off-season.


    but it wasn''t easy.


    for basketball, there are five people; for volleyball, six; for soccer, eleven. the larger the number, the more difficult it is to adjust the lineup and enhance strength, not to mention that in football the offensive and defensive groups alone comprise twenty-two people, plus a special duty group that might seem unimportant but often plays a vital role.


    just like the cleveland browns, all you could see were problems everywhere, to the extent that you wouldn''t even know where to start.


    of course, reed could see it, and so could the professionals who seriously studied football and made their living from it¡ª


    cleary, reed excelled at offense, and naturally, he started with adjusting the offense; moreover, for the moment, the kansas city chiefs'' defense was not a significant concern, but the offense needed a substantial adjustment.


    reed chose the ground attack.


    a choice partly passive, partly active; charles''s injury disrupted the chiefs'' plans, forcing them to confront this issue; but from another perspective, since the 2015 season, their ground attack had already shown signs of a slow decline.


    perhaps this was the opportunity, a complete overhaul, hoping for a fresh start.


    the question was, was it rational? was it right?


    reed could have picked hunter in the third round, then traded for two cost-effective blue-collar running backs, and invested more in wide receivers and the offensive line, where the input was immediately visible.


    moreover, these positions all offered better value for money than running backs.


    moreover, reed did not just randomly pick a running back; he chose li wei.


    the subject that already had potential for controversy and scrutiny exploded into more discussion when mixed with an anomaly like li wei, and veach''s aggressive actions in the draft provided professionals with daggers to ruthlessly dissect the chiefs'' weaknesses and deliver heavy blows.


    honestly, people were waiting, waiting to see li wei perform on the field, since never before had such a character entered the world of football, similar to when sun wukong first entered the heavenly palace, with all the attention bustling around, but no one knew what would happen.


    even though there was still some time before the season, the long wait finally ended because¡ª


    the preseason had arrived.

 Chapter 199 198 Tigers are watching closely.

    "chieftains! chieftains! chieftains!"


    the entire stadium erupted in unison with cheers like a torrential downpour in the heat of summer, a mighty crimson tide boiling and burning through the field of vision.


    the "mere" sub-80,000 capacity arrowhead stadium served as the home of the kansas city chiefs, and on august 11th, it welcomed the first home game of the 2017 season, as well as the season''s opening match.


    despite it being a preseason game, with no bearing on win-loss records, arrowhead stadium was still filled to capacity.


    sure, its capacity might not match the university of alabama''s bryant denny stadium, but without a doubt, it was one of the league''s most excellent, most popular, and toughest home fields, once boasting a glorious record of 155 consecutive sold-out home games from 1991 to 2009¡ª


    in the 2009 season, the kansas city chiefs'' last regular-season home game against the cleveland browns didn''t sell out because the chiefs were already in a slump with three wins and ten losses, and there was no hope for the playoffs, leading to the first time in nineteen years that tickets were not sold out.


    however, as a result, that evening kansas city experienced its first citywide blackout in twenty years due to everyone turning on their televisions, even causing a game interruption.


    fan enthusiasm was evident.


    from this, one could see that kansas city had the most loyal and passionate fans, which made arrowhead stadium one of the league''s most feared devil''s home fields.


    famous far and wide.


    today was no exception.


    the fervent chieftain fans welcomed the san francisco 49ers in the most enthusiastic, fiercest, and most ferocious manner, marking the beginning of a brand new season.


    the entire stadium was packed without an empty seat.


    actually, there was no need, really no need.


    just like with the ncaa, the nfl preseason games had no real significance and didn''t even count as warm-up matches. more accurately, they could be called practice games.


    firstly, to practice tactics and integrate the lineup.


    secondly, to scout players and confirm the roster¡ª


    from the spring training camps to the cutoff time for registration before the season''s official kickoff, a team''s training roster could reach up to a hundred people, but only fifty-three would ultimately join the team for the regular season stage.


    for this reason, preseason was the last stage to assess players.


    the nfl was even more extreme than the ncaa. in the warm-up match between alabama and clemson, the starters played at least half the game, but not in the professional league. with four preseason games in total, starting players might only play for one, at most two, quarters, spending the rest of the time sitting and watching from the bench.


    stuck on garrett''s forehead; as for this guy in front of him, he probably wasn''t important.


    thomas''s breath hitched in his chest, nearly biting his teeth to pieces. what was with li wei''s look?


    it was all because of li wei, his draft position plummeted from the predicted top three slots down to the third-round abyss!


    now, he had finally found his opportunity. he would prove himself through the game, he would prove everyone wrong by beating li wei in a head-to-head confrontation.


    thomas glared fiercely at li wei, sticking out two fingers and pointing them back and forth between his own eyes and li wei:


    discover hidden stories at empire


    i''ve got my eyes on you.


    then, his right thumb slowly slid across his throat, the corner of his mouth curling into a bloody smile.


    seeing this, li wei shook his head lightly: you''re too cliche?. even your threats need a new twist; you''re not up to the mark.


    done with it, li wei didn''t pay attention to thomas''s eyes that were nearly popping out. he looked up at the wave of red, both familiar and foreign, and couldn''t help but remember what old oak tavern''s owner anderson had said:


    no matter where, no matter whether visible or not, they always stand behind, becoming the team''s strongest support.


    well then, let the show begin!


    in the old oak stadium, anderson watched the figure wearing the number 23 jersey with a big smile, confident and composed, displaying a completely different demeanor from his usual private self, putting on the helmet, his whole aura changed, walking briskly toward the offensive group, the bustling support in the entire stadium exploding at once.


    instinctively, anderson''s heart raced with excitement as well.


    bang! bang bang bang!


    mahomes had his right hand up early, and as li wei approached, they slapped hands in tacit understanding, no words needed, their positions were automatically settled¡ª


    today, starting quarterback alex smith had no intention of stepping onto the field, leaving substitute quarterback mahomes to kick off the new season for the kansas city chiefs. and so, the stage for the collaboration of the two first-round rookies was set.


    li wei stood behind mahomes, but unlike the traditional shotgun formation, his position was staggered. even though he stood a little behind mahomes, this allowed li wei a broader view.


    this was also the special position that reed had arranged for li wei during the off-season training camp, as he believed li wei''s ability to read the defensive group was as crucial as a quarterback''s.


    with one glance, li wei spotted thomas. the running back and the defensive end stood positioned across the chu river and han border, forming a standoff, the air combustible, ready to ignite at a touch.


    "offense!"

 Chapter 200 199 Little Surprises

    the air was burning, and in just a fleeting moment, dreams returned to bryant denny stadium, as a surging heat wave from arrowhead stadium ignited the crimson tide storm within.


    then, li wei took off.


    with one step forward, he moved towards mahomes, and the two freshman rookies coordinated as mahomes handed the football to li wei.


    in the periphery of his vision, li wei could see the pressure coming right at him¡ª


    your journey continues at empire


    a blitz.


    the san francisco 49ers used a "4-3" defensive formation, with four defensive linemen often employing blitz tactics; however, their current head coach, kyle shanahan, is the typical offensive-minded coach who is not as skilled in defense, so the key lay in his cooperation with the defensive coordinator.


    robert saleh, from the 2011 to 2013 seasons, had served as the defensive quality control coach for the seattle seahawks, a team known throughout the league as the "bombing corps." but this season was his first as the defensive coordinator, and whether the tactics that worked on paper would evolve into strategies effective in actual combat was a big question mark.


    at least, the preseason was a platform for testing.


    coming from a linebacker coaching background, saleh was very skilled at utilizing linebackers to cover short pass areas, and this time was no exception. with a blitz tactic, he brought up a linebacker to join the defensive line, instantly breaking through the pocket''s protection.


    moreover, significantly, the san francisco 49ers dedicated a player specifically to guard against the running back, not targeting li wei in particular but to prevent the kansas city chiefs from faking a pass and making a real run, using the quarterback as a decoy to subvert their blitz tactics.


    a single blitz revealed that nfl game strategies are not only complex but also meticulous. every zone was divided up like a sand table, with the whole forming an interconnected system, greatly testing the players'' contingency handling abilities and their understanding and application of their team''s tactics.


    li wei remained focused. since the opening kickoff, he had been catching the movements of the defensive line, linebackers, and cornerbacks, keenly grasping the key amidst the dynamic interplay¡ª


    number ninety-four.


    san francisco 49ers'' number ninety-four, solomon thomas, had a hint of savagery in his eyes, ruthlessly and bloodthirstily locking onto the figures of li wei and mahomes, determined to showcase his abilities on either of them.


    li wei?


    thomas, noticing the handoff between mahomes and li wei, felt pleased:


    perfect timing.


    his steps quickened, arms spread wide, and he pounced like a hungry tiger, stirring up a wind of carnage.


    wait, a fake run, true pass?


    the kansas city chiefs had incredibly chosen a fake run, true pass strategy instead of a fake pass, true run. wasn''t that playing right into the hands of the san francisco 49ers?


    thomas was flipped over the shoulder, performing a 360-degree mid-air flip before landing on his back, every muscle in his body howling in agony, and even before he had time for shame or anger, his mind was blank, utterly clueless about what had just happened, with a flock of sparrows circling above his head.


    li wei, dusting off his clothing, with an easy look on his face as if it hadn''t taken much effort, turned back to look at the figure sprawled on the ground with a scattered gaze, and lightly shook his head:


    i told you, you''re not up to it.


    "li wei! li wei, li wei!"


    mahomes called out cheerily, high-fiving li wei once again to celebrate.


    it was only then that li wei looked up and noticed, after mahomes had just secured enough time for observation and adjustment, he courageously sent out a long pass, and after the football flew a full thirty-five yards, it connected with the wide receiver.


    one strike, a heavy punch.


    the kansas city chiefs rarely seen explosive power was on display, an attacking style not seen when smith was the starting quarterback; commentators in the broadcast studio were buzzing, reassessing mahomes.


    "...however, the real surprise is li wei."


    "the focus is on his blocking, providing time for the quarterback; it''s also about the head-on confrontation. since the rookie training camp, people have been worried about li wei''s combat ability, but at least from what we''ve seen now, li wei isn''t afraid of confrontation and is prepared to face it."


    "wow."


    "who would have thought that this top scholar in his first appearance would showcase his blocking skills? the future performances of li wei are highly anticipated."


    thomas finally came to his senses, clumsily getting up off the ground, and the look he gave li wei this time contained something more complicated.


    perhaps, he had underestimated li wei?


    in their first collaboration, mahomes and li wei pushed forward thirty-five yards, crossing the midfield to reach the forty-yard line of the san francisco 49ers'' side.


    the wave of heat at arrowhead stadium ignited in an instant.


    then, without any hesitation, the kansas city chiefs immediately lined up ready for the next offensive play.


    this time, it was a quick short pass; right after the snap, mahomes quickly released the ball, aiming to shorten the san francisco 49ers defensive group''s reaction time as much as possible, and found the backup tight end, advancing neatly for five yards.


    second and five.


    the kansas city chiefs'' combination of fast and slow, long and short passing tactics, just like a combination punch, had the san francisco 49ers defensive group struggling to keep up; mahomes then declared the snap once more and handed the football directly to¡ª


    li wei.

 Chapter 201 200 Performance Time

    san francisco 49ers'' half field, thirty-five-yard line, second and five.


    the kansas city chiefs'' offense rhythm and intensity totally escalated, continuously striking san francisco 49ers in a combo, causing the defense group in front of them to react slightly sluggish.


    defensive coordinator sally tried to keep pace and attempted to turn the tables; however, a lack of experience often led to dead ends when making live-game decisions.


    just like now¡ª


    a blitz pass. discover more stories at empire


    subconsciously, sally tried another blitz, forcefully disrupting the kansas city chiefs'' offensive rhythm. for the 49ers'' "4-3" defensive formation, this was indeed a feasible tactic, but the downside?


    the downside was that rushing into a blitz pass without a firm footing often led to vulnerabilities.


    defensive end thomas immediately stepped up, preying on the unprepared with intentional moves. with a swing of his arms, he brushed aside the opposing offensive lineman, and with a misstep, he already cut inside the pocket from the outside, his speed, power, and reaction all top-notch.


    he needed to showcase himself and he needed to prove himself.


    clenching his teeth, he sprinted with all his might.


    however, just as his steps brushed the edge of the pocket, thomas startled, his pupils rapidly constricting, capturing the handoff between mahomes and li wei¡ª


    second and five, the kansas city chiefs actually chose to run the ball?


    just like a first down quick pass, for the second down run, reed''s tactic was all about "speed," not giving the 49ers'' defense time to react but rather increasing the tempo, focusing on disrupting the defensive rhythm rather than simply advancing the ball.


    clearly, reed was exploiting sally''s lack of experience and banking on his offensive group''s explosive power.


    in the coaches'' strategic battle, reed undoubtedly took the lead, but the execution depended on the players.


    all eyes in the stadium were on li wei¡ª


    noticing the 49ers'' blitz, li wei adjusted his steps as he received the football from mahomes, not rushing forward to avoid collision, but instead looking for gaps amidst the complex movements of the players in front of him.


    stomping with his right foot, he forcefully pushed off the ground, moving his body diagonally leftward.


    li wei had noticed thomas'' movements and accurately assessed his surroundings. realizing that dodging thomas would result in a frontal tackle by the cornerback, followed by a three-way encirclement, he chose to break through head-on, disrupting the opponent''s defensive circle.


    one step, two steps.


    with just two pushes off the ground, li wei had already plunged into thomas'' grasp.


    thomas: opportunity!


    elated, seeing li wei walk right into his trap, his hands were ready to tackle, but as his arms were about to clasp, he felt a force coming from li wei''s left shoulder, slamming into his chest like an overwhelming wave.


    "ten!"


    "five!"


    shouting, a chill shoots from the soles of the feet to the top of the head, because within their sight, they can see li wei looking leisurely from side to side, unpressured. no other player is near; thus, he slows down, evidently decelerating, casually and comfortably entering the end zone as if taking a stroll.


    a gentle breeze passes, and that carefree figure simply plucks the touchdown with an ease like taking something out of a bag.


    hum.


    the brain buzzes in an instant, not sure who started it, but slowly, that wild wave whirls and hovers over the stadium.


    "he''s here, he''s there, he''s everywhere, he is the edgerunner, li wei, li wei, li wei!"


    once.


    and then again, sweeping over the entire stadium.


    in the broadcast booth, there''s utter astonishment, hardly believing the scene unfolding before them¡ª


    showtime.


    from ncaa to nfl, li wei brought his talent to arrowhead stadium and conquered the kansas city chiefs fans with an unparalleled performance.


    and so, the crimson tide storm, which originated from bryant denny stadium, resumed once again at arrowhead stadium.


    "wow. i mean, wow."


    "third gear offense, seventy-five yards, fifty-eight seconds, kansas city chiefs take a touchdown in one seamless move, completely dumbfounding the san francisco 49ers."


    "even though the san francisco 49ers are not known for their defense, what the kansas city chiefs demonstrated was an explosiveness not seen in recent seasons."


    "so, is this the upgraded version of the kansas city chiefs?"


    "so, is this how the kansas city chiefs respond to offseason moves that have been questioned?"


    "we, shall wait and see."


    the roar in the stadium simply cannot stop, over and over again, lingering long, and even the old oak tavern falls into the frenzy without exception.


    it''s the pounding on tables, the jumping for joy, face after face exuding happiness and joy, celebrating as if they owned the whole world.


    including anderson, who turns his gaze back to the tv screen:


    in the end zone, li wei has no excessive celebration gestures, but the offensive group, including mahomes, swarms him, surrounding li wei in a tight circle.


    this moment, even more precious than the touchdown itself.

 Chapter 202 201 Show off a little

    "he''s here, he''s there, he''s everywhere, he''s the edgerunner, li wei li wei li wei!"


    the entire field, seething, swirling for a long time.


    in the war room above the arrowhead stadium, kansas city chiefs manager veach quietly watched this scene, his hands folded across his chest, lost in thought.


    it wasn''t concern, nor was it pride, veach was simply reminded of everything that happened on the morning of draft day.


    he still remembered, reed watching li wei on the video screen, replaying it over and over, then telling him with a firm tone,


    li wei might be a "once in a decade" talent, li wei could become a team leader.


    he had hesitated, doubted, wandered, but in the end, he chose to trust reed, he chose to take the risk.


    now it seemed, li wei''s chinese heritage and the entire asian market behind him weren''t that important because even without these factors, li wei was still worth it.


    at this year''s draft, he was suddenly thrust into command, his first time as team manager, his first time in charge of the draft, and he might have made a series of decisions that could change his professional career and even the future landscape of the league, and it all just happened, he hadn''t even realized how:


    it was a bit thrilling.


    but he liked it. he finally understood why some say competitive sports are like an addiction, like craving for nicotine or alcohol, indeed, it''s an addiction that''s hard to quit.


    just imagine, now, inside and outside the league, just how many eyes were focused on li wei, and what thoughts those eyes hid¡ª


    fans. commentators. scouts. coaches. team managers. football experts.


    and so on and so forth.


    of course, there were also the opponents.


    like solomon thomas.


    thomas sat on the ground like a teddy bear, shoulders slumped, eyes hollow, not even feeling the shame, but full of confusion.


    he couldn''t understand how everything had just happened, he clearly caught li wei''s intent and tackled him with precision, owning the advantage in size, weight, and strength, yet how was he outmaneuvered and broken through by li wei? your next read awaits at empire


    he, couldn''t understand.


    "solomon... solomon!"


    the calling voice, approaching from afar, pulled thomas back to reality, and then he realized, the special duty group was about to take the field, they had to leave.


    such forcefulness, such tenacity, such brutality¡ªflipping thomas head-over-heels showcased the allure of football''s power struggles and physical collisions completely, igniting the entire arrowhead stadium, where the kansas city chiefs scored a touchdown after a sustained drive of five minutes and thirty-seven seconds.


    now, thomas was in shutdown mode:


    tackles failed, collisions failed, interceptions failed, everything failed.


    thomas felt like a mere post, a tool used for taking hits, enduring so many impacts and pains without any reward, reduced to mere background, like a candle burning itself to illuminate others.


    especially li wei.


    so much so that the next time he saw li wei, thomas hesitated for a brief moment without anticipating it, not out of fear but confusion, because he didn''t know how to stop li wei.


    the result?


    the result was that li wei, with a move similar to the marseille turn in soccer, dazzled past thomas, then swiftly carried the ball forward twenty-three yards. it took san francisco 49ers'' secondary defense three men to finally stop li wei and prevent him from making another straight drive into the end zone.


    incredulously!


    once again outmaneuvered and in a direct confrontation, thomas began to harbor self-doubt for the first time: am i really that easy to take down?


    unimaginable, the one-on-one duel between thomas and li wei ended in a total defeat for thomas, who couldn''t even put up a resistance. li wei completely overpowered him.


    so much so that the studio filtered out thomas once more, just like at the draft. though thomas was the one who had the worst time, he didn''t receive any media attention, painting a desolate "nonexistent" picture.


    for a moment, thomas wasn''t sure whether he wanted the live commentators to mock him or to ignore him.


    fortunately for thomas, li wei didn''t stay on the field for long, playing only one quarter before he took off his helmet and pads, sitting on the sidelines laughing and chatting with his teammates, slipping into rest and vacation mode.


    his demeanor was relaxed, and he didn''t even care to put down thomas. he conveyed a sense of relaxation as if he had come out for a picnic with friends, without feeling any of the stress associated with the nfl''s professional intensity.


    but by then, thomas was no longer gritting his teeth.


    it was clear that the san francisco 49ers breathed a sigh of relief. the scenario with li wei was completely different from what they had anticipated; no one could cope with his speed and strength. but for a while, they couldn''t determine:


    was li wei too strong, or was thomas too weak?


    thomas: ???


    when he noticed the signals hidden in his teammates'' glances, suggesting "is this really the difference between a third-round and a first-round pick," he was filled with unspeakable bitterness. yet, whenever he looked at li wei sitting casually on the sidelines, he would swallow down all his retorts, sitting in a corner, scribbling circles and cursing li wei¡ª


    that guy, just die, die, die.


    ```

 Chapter 203 202 Full of anticipation

    ```


    whistle, whistle, whistle!


    the game had ended, and the kansas city chiefs, playing at home, defeated the visiting san francisco 49ers "27:17," welcoming their first preseason game victory.


    the preseason, focusing on honing tactics and selecting the roster, does not prioritize winning or losing. throughout the whole game, li wei only played one quarter, but still managed to rack up some stats with that one long sprint, advancing 101 yards and scoring a touchdown, showcasing his competitive abilities in a professional event.


    not just li wei, mahomes only played half the game, with other backup quarterbacks taking the field in the second half. currently, the kansas city chiefs have a total of five quarterbacks and eight running backs on their team, all of whom must be cut and adjusted after the preseason ends¡ªeven the backups must undergo rigorous trials.


    last season, after jamaal charles was injured, the shortfall from lack of depth among the kansas chiefs running backs was exposed and became a soft spot ruthlessly exploited by opponents. reed did not want to repeat the same mistakes this year.


    following the game, the local media in missouri was jubilant.


    li wei. mahomes. the two high draft picks traded up for by the kansas city chiefs at a great cost, not only represent the immediate combat power for the year but also the future of the team, bearing countless expectations.


    and now, both rookies had put on impressive performances, proving their worth, and the media and fans were equally excited, eagerly applauding.


    at the same time!


    stimulated by li wei''s outstanding performance, another rookie running back, hunter, was also determined not to be outdone and produced a report card that was in no way inferior to li wei''s. he forcefully rebutted those who questioned the decision to select two running backs, showcasing not only the ground strength of the kansas city chiefs but also the depth of the bench and the richness of tactics, which were met with cheers.


    expectations climbed higher and higher.


    however, the media and fans of other teams were much more composed.


    "one game doesn''t prove anything."


    "before mindlessly hyping them up, shouldn''t we look at the performances of fournette and mccaffrey?"no?v(el)b\\jnn


    "stay calm, calm down, it was just a victory over the san francisco 49ers who are not adept at defense, there''s no need to be so startled and rush to celebrate."


    "indeed, li wei did well, but was he really that outstanding? outstanding to the level of a top scholar?"


    "let the bullets fly for a while, there''s no need to rush to praise or criticize."


    bustling about were a group of impartial critics trying to bring calm back to the league.


    in their view, it was clear that the league''s executives, led by roger goodell, were trying to promote the hua xia and the asian market behind the scenes, and perhaps they were exaggerating li wei''s six points to twelve, presenting him as a savior of football, as if the nfl were a bunch of yokels who had never seen a real superstar, an unsightly spectacle indeed.


    so one by one, they began dousing with cold water to cool things down, pulling on the reins.


    winning, it''s news.


    losing, it''s also news.


    in all this clamor, people selectively forget one thing:


    whether it was the first game or the second, li wei only played for one quarter, his role in the victory wasn''t as significant, and similarly, his share in the blame for the defeat wasn''t as large either.


    moreover, li wei is a running back, the often disregarded and overlooked running back. traditionally, it''s the quarterback who shoulders the responsibility for wins and losses; since when did running backs find themselves at the eye of the storm?


    but, that''s not important, none of it is.


    the only thing that matters is that li wei is a topic, any topic related to him can easily explode with traffic, and everyone wants in on the action.


    amidst the hustle and bustle, the entire focus of the league, inside and out, revolves around li wei, and it spreads from top to bottom: from the highest team echelons to the average fans, even passersby who don''t care much for football see li wei on their social network timelines.


    a powerful breakout!


    whether they like him or not, whether it''s praise or curses, the topic just can''t veer away from li wei. in just a couple of weeks, from "inside the league" to "countdown to nfl" and other professional programs, there''s been more than one or two episodes focusing on li wei, and the fierce, controversial clashes don''t stop.


    this, is what you call buzz.


    nfl commissioner roger goodell watched this scene with a silent laugh, his eyes filled with satisfaction and approval¡ª


    let the haters keep hating, because that''s how you get traffic.


    just with li wei alone, the nfl 2017 preseason discussions have already rivaled last season''s playoffs in terms of heated debate, igniting the passion of the fans completely.


    good, very good, things are moving along the expected path, even far exceeding expectations.


    the fervor, spreading everywhere.


    everything had become so crazy and noisy that the players couldn''t stay out of it either; everyone was talking about li wei, including the top player in the league.


    tom brady hadn''t foreseen a day in his career when the first question at a post-game press conference would have nothing to do with him.


    "tom, how do you evaluate li wei''s performance?"


    brady: huh???


    ```

 Chapter 204 203 has a goat

    goat, greatest of all time, the greatest in the history, is a hotly debated topic in every competitive sport, and even the best across all sports are slowly entering the discussion.


    everyone''s definition and standards for goat often differ:


    some look at the data, whoever has the most championships is the most formidable.


    some consider professional awards, from mvp to professional honors and comprehensive evaluations by peers in the industry, more professional than mere blunt numbers.


    some assess influence, focusing on who enabled their sport to become famous and had a profound global impact that drove the entire sport.


    some look at an era, great opponents give birth to great eras; a champion who outclasses all opponents is indeed admirable, but the king is the one who reaches the summit of the forbidden amidst a dazzling array of stars and fierce competition.


    and so on and so forth. also, because the word "goat" itself means a goat, naturally, people often jocularly refer to these greatest as goats, and some even gift goats to the stars.


    football is no exception.


    joe montana, dan marino, brett favre, peyton manning, aaron rodgers, and many others are all in the discussion for football''s goat, and that''s just the quarterbacks alone; other positions have even more.


    here, tom brady, the quarterback of the new england patriots, rightfully occupies a place.


    although up to the upcoming 2017 season, brady was not leading in passing yards, touchdown passes, regular-season mvps, etc., trailing behind manning, favre, and drew brees. however, after his last-minute comeback in the super bowl, clinching his fifth championship ring, his status in the discussion has skyrocketed like a rocket.


    the reason is very simple and intuitive. in just fifty years of the super bowl era, the most championships held by a team are the pittsburgh steelers with six, proudly leading the pack, followed by the san francisco 49ers and the dallas cowboys, each having clinched five championships.


    now, brady and the patriots have officially joined this rank.


    moreover, brady''s legendary story of being the 199th pick in the sixth round, adds a fairy tale color to this superstar''s sudden rise, something not even movies would dare to portray.


    in the past sixteen years, manning and brady were the undeniable faces and banners of the league. with manning''s retirement last season, brady indisputably became the number one in the league.


    undoubtedly, every move brady makes can easily attract the attention of the entire league, living under the spotlight 24 hours a day.


    but brady could have never imagined that there would come a day when his shine would be stolen¡ª


    moreover, it was during his season as the defending champion.


    and it was by a rookie.


    actually, very few people knew that new england patriots'' backup quarterback jimmy garoppolo and brady had the same agent, and privately, brady would look out for garoppolo a bit, but without any special treatment.


    even garoppolo didn''t train with brady during the off-season, so when did it become li wei''s turn?


    anyway, brady didn''t care about donald''s work¡ª


    the goddamn god, why should he care about his agent''s work?


    the more he thought about it, the more preposterous and ridiculous it became, and brady''s patience had already run out.


    seeing this, the reporter asked, "so, what you mean is, you don''t care about li wei''s performance?"


    by this point, brady had no patience left, "no, i don''t care at all."


    brady was not unaware of li wei. how could he not know about the hot topic throughout the off-season, especially since the player was of chinese descent? almost as if there was a huge poster about him in every corner of the league.


    but he didn''t care, really.


    a rookie running back? even if he were an alien, he wouldn''t be worth his attention, not even worthy of polishing his shoes. he thought it best to leave shoe polishing to the professionals, haha.


    brady held back the urge to roll his eyes. he should call goodell; even hype for the news should have its limits. he really didn''t care about that rookie running back''s performance.


    not at all.


    without further engaging the reporters, that goat just left a silhouette behind. the new england patriots'' preseason post-game press conference, however, was discussing a rookie running back, what kind of hellish joke was this?


    therefore, the next day the headlines blazed across screens everywhere.


    "brady: li wei is not worth mentioning."


    one headline was enough; all other players in the league started reacting since not just one or two players disliked the media''s overreacting and groveling over li wei. seeing brady''s shocking headline, they too started voicing their opinions, countless arrows flying towards kansas city.


    rookie? running back? and a rookie at that?


    the anger and dissatisfaction that had built up over time were unleashed relentlessly. it was unimaginable that li wei had become the target everyone wanted to hit, suddenly feeling the real taste of being a street rat.


    he hadn''t even officially entered the professional league yet and was already clashing heads with the league goat, "rookie vs. goat", and even further escalated to "rookie vs. the world." the situation spiraled out of control, catching everyone off guard.


    it was... quite painfully thrilling. experience more tales on empire

 Chapter 205: 204 Overcast

    "rookie vs goat." read exclusive adventures at empire


    brady showed no respect to donald yee, raising his hand to put li wei in an awkward position and letting li wei fully experience the bitter taste of intense hatred¡ªsuddenly, things became complicated and seemed to spiral out of control.


    immediately, donald called li wei, telling him not to mind, for it was goodell who had created this mess. if it weren¡¯t for the league commissioner¡¯s eagerness to thrust li wei into the limelight, there wouldn¡¯t have been such a backlash, making li wei a target for public criticism.


    "who caused the trouble, should clean it up. don¡¯t worry, i¡¯ll make him deeply regret it."


    donald said nonchalantly, causing li wei to shudder over the phone, silently praying for goodell, as he felt donald was sharpening his knives, now aiming to butcher the league commissioner.


    a simple "sorry" was far from enough. donald needed to make goodell truly realize li wei¡¯s value and further strengthen his resolve to make li wei the face of the league.


    initially, li wei wanted to say that he could handle whatever came his way and wasn¡¯t afraid at all, in fact, he found it rather amusing and didn¡¯t mind verbally sparring with the media; but donald took charge of everything, allowing li wei to focus entirely on his training.


    meanwhile, apart from donald, reed also stopped all the floods and beasts¡ª


    "give the rookie players some space."


    with one sentence, he extinguished all the media¡¯s provoking and troublemaking intentions, protecting the players behind him as tightly as a hen protecting her chicks.


    given that the preseason had no fixed post-game press conference schedules, it was entirely up to the coach to decide which players would take interviews. reed decisively shielded li wei, leaving the media with no recourse.


    rarely seen, reed also displayed his firmness off the field.


    this was unlike reed at all.


    later, reed admitted that he was inspired by saban.


    last season, from the end of the season, crimson tide storm had completely refused any form of media interviews, resulting in media encirclement and brutal criticism, but saban remained unmoved like a mountain, even drawing mockery from the nfl, implying that saban had been scared by the media.


    and the result?


    crimson tide storm finished the season undefeated, powerfully slapping the media in the face.


    although during the regular season, due to league regulations, reed couldn¡¯t do the same, at least for now, reed could tell those media to get lost.


    so.


    li wei was already eager to engage the media in a real tussle, but had not expected that donald and reed, one from within and the other from without, would control the situation so tightly that li wei missed his chance to shine.


    what a stir!


    all kinds of speculation, countless rumors hung over kansas city like clouds in the rainy season, lingering, making the team the focus before the season started, following the draft.


    everything happened just as calvert, the jacksonville jaguars team manager, had predicted¡ª


    all the spotlight they had been craving was now on the shoulders of the kansas city chiefs, even though they salvaged the situation by picking fournette fourth, the gap between the rookies was just too large!


    however, it was uncertain if this was the scenario veach had hoped to see.


    as the situation escalated,


    after missing the third preseason game, li wei also missed the final preseason game, which hugely disappointed the media.


    because the fourth preseason game was against the tennessee titans, the team derrick henry played for.


    this could have been the first meeting between the two generations of crimson tide storm leaders, as well as a clash between the last two heisman winners on a professional stage, a guaranteed crowd-puller from any angle.


    unfortunately, it fell through.


    indeed, not only did li wei not take the field, but henry also didn¡¯t appear for the tennessee titans.


    the leaders of the crimson tide storm from two generations both sat out as spectators.


    "30:6".


    tennessee titans in the lead, followed by the kansas city chiefs.


    the kansas city chiefs, who had stirred up heated discussions with a series of savvy moves at this year¡¯s draft, ended their preseason with a record of two wins and two losses, not a disaster, but certainly not meeting expectations.


    and then, the media just couldn¡¯t hold back any longer; the already wild rumors intensified and proliferated through various channels to social media platforms, pushing this frenzy to its peak.


    rumors said, li wei was still not adapting to the nfl level of physicality; after a good performance in the first preseason game, he showed signs of fatigue, which led to a drop in performance in the second game, and even a minor strain during that game, which was why reed put li wei on the bench.


    previously, everyone criticized the washington redskins for their costly decision to pick robert griffin iii only to find out he was injury-prone.


    but at least griffin dominated in his rookie season, not only leading his team to the playoffs but also scooping the rookie of the year award; and now, even before the season has begun, li wei is struggling?


    according to rumors, sources adamantly stated that reed made this decision to protect li wei¡¯s fragile body and self-esteem, and it was because of this that reed and veach had a fallout. they spent such a high price only to pick a "greenhouse flower," a running back who needs to handle a lot of physical confrontations, which is truly disheartening.


    so, is li wei really not up to the mark?

 Chapter 206 205 heart bursting

    "li wei, are the rumors about your injury true?"


    "what do you think of the intensity of confrontation in nfl games?"


    "having sat on the bench for two consecutive games, are you starting to question your football career?"


    "do you agree that hunter is a more suitable starting player than you?"


    "do you think you can stay on the big roster?"


    the preseason had concluded, with all thirty-two teams methodically preparing for the season''s kickoff. the fifty-three-man roster deadline had come, and the rumors had grown rampant and outrageous.


    the discussion over the starting running back position between li wei and hunter had reached a fever pitch¡ª


    it wasn''t just about a starting position.


    imagine, if third-round pick hunter defeated first-round pick li wei for the starting spot, this would further affirm the prevailing view in the league that running backs are overvalued and not worth a first-round pick. opting for cost-effective, low-round running backs seemed sufficient.


    over time, running backs would be further marginalized, even turning into a blue-collar position.


    especially this year, the twists and turns at the draft had put li wei in the spotlight. even the kansas city chiefs were involuntarily caught in the tide of the times. if li wei failed to start, it seemed like it would impact the prospects for young running backs in future drafts, with far-reaching implications.


    the issue had suddenly become serious.


    heroes are shaped by the times, and that was the atmosphere. whether li wei liked it or not, he now shouldered numerous burdens, related and unrelated to him.


    under the clash of various factors, things had completely veered off course.


    there were even rumors that the kansas city chiefs were very likely to cut li wei.


    preposterous, right?


    it was preposterous indeed.


    yet it was precisely its shock value that made it more astonishing. if it were to happen, li wei would become the first top-three pick in nfl history not to make the season''s fifty-three-man roster, a different kind of history.


    like ryan leaf, nailed to the pillar of shame.


    leaf: is there really a need to keep flogging a dead horse? is it really necessary?


    so, the media couldn''t hold back. even though reed had imposed a media ban, they still came to the kansas city chiefs'' training base one by one, swarming at the door, trying to intercept li wei.


    seeing this, mahomes who was heading to work with li wei, already knew the drill, cleared the way in front of him like a little assistant, which made li wei burst into laughter.


    but neither player was prepared to stop, heading towards the gate until a voice exploded like thunder.


    li wei blinked, "who?"


    ha!


    the entire room inhaled sharply.


    logically, having caught the bombshell, the reporters should have been rejoicing, but now, they were too shocked and stunned, as if their eyes were about to pop out.


    dead silence.


    for a moment, the reporters'' brains froze, completely losing the ability to respond.


    even guterres, who had thrown out the topic, stood there as if struck by lightning, his imagination having failed to anticipate such a reaction from li wei.


    brady: ???


    mahomes nearly choked on his saliva, but he knew li wei well. privately, the man was a scatterbrain, never remembering names. li wei surely had no ill intent, no purpose of targeting anyone.


    mahomes quickly nudged li wei''s shoulder, "new england patriots. number twelve. quarterback." a string of key terms hopped out one after another.


    li wei had an epiphany, "ah, i know him."


    reporter: ...


    haha, very good, we know him too. it seems we finally have something in common.


    li wei''s face was the picture of calm, "i very much look forward to meeting him, to a splendid confrontation."


    normally, this would be a mere courtesy¡ªa standard phrase without any special meaning, but in the context of what preceded, the flavor of his words subtly changed.


    guterres was utterly confused; he had wanted a scoop, but he never expected to be knocked senseless by a nuclear bomb, tingling from the inside out.


    a challenge!


    there was no doubt about it.


    it was said that young calves were not afraid of tigers, and the media always enjoyed seeing the new generation challenge the old guard. but li wei''s manner suggested he didn''t take brady seriously. his light "i know him" was akin to mentioning an average player, the provocation couldn''t be clearer, and the follow-up message was also clear:


    brady? so what?


    this... continue reading at empire


    it was sensational!


    so, was this getting what they asked for?

 Chapter 207 206 Ready to unleash power

    before him, brady had thoroughly ignored him, resentful that li wei had snatched away the reigning champion''s glory.


    after him, li wei was brimming with confidence, ready to topple brady''s throne.


    "rookie vs goat," such an inconceivable matchup had actually come to life!


    the media reporters hadn''t anticipated it either¡ªthey actually lived to see the day when a blockbuster revelation exploded right before their eyes, sending shockwaves throughout the crowd, to the point of stunned silence, leaving even the most battle-hardened veterans at a loss for how to react.


    guterres was completely stunned, fingers icy cold, because it was so unexpected and shocking that he was three beats too slow, watching li wei and mahomes emerge unscathed before he realized what it meant.


    in an instant, his blood boiled.


    not just guterres, but all media outlets were blown away¡ª


    without exception.


    the news sprouted wings, reaching the new england patriots'' training camp at the earliest opportunity, intercepting brady head-on at the long-awaited end.


    brady wasn''t angry, there was no need, because there really was no need.


    a rookie, a newbie, a running back.


    not worth it, truly not worth it.


    if he had to personally respond to every such challenge, he really wouldn''t be able to keep up.


    after all, this is the age of social media; any tom, dick or harry can express their opinions, everyone is allowed to freely fantasize and live in their delusions, just as they are allowed to challenge others with ignorant bravado.


    but brady had seen it all before, and treated it like flea and mosquito nuisances, a mere laugh and it was forgotten.


    especially when the reporters stressed that li wei doesn''t even know the five-time champion brady, brady actually laughed¡ª


    ridiculous.


    where was that young man playing in the mud, celebrating his first ncaa national championship when he removed his fifth championship ring? such hubris might lead to a stretched tongue in the wind.


    in the nfl, how could anyone not recognize tom brady?


    "hehe, welcome."


    that was all there was to it.no?v(el)b\\jnn


    in brady''s eyes, that attention-seeking clown truly wasn''t worth his time.


    in fact, it wasn''t easy because the nfl''s scheduling is very complex.


    the nfl''s regular season lasts seventeen weeks, including sixteen games and one bye week. the sixteen-game schedule follows set rules:


    first, play against the other three teams in the same division, both at home and away, for a total of six games.


    second, face the four teams from another division within the same conference, which rotates every three years, with two home games and two away games, for a total of four games.


    third, take on the four teams from a designated division in the other conference, which rotates every four years, with two home games and two away games, for a total of four games.


    fourth, compete against the two teams from the other divisions within the same conference that placed the same in the previous season, one home game and one away game, for a total of two games.


    the above make up sixteen games in total.


    take the kansas city chiefs for example, from the afc west, division champions of the previous season.


    so, for this season''s schedule, they''ll face teams from the afc east, national conference east division; and also the top teams of the previous season from the afc south and afc north; plus the games against their own division rivals.


    it is clear, the teams rotate on a three-year cycle against squads within their conference and on a four-year cycle against teams from the adjacent national conference. plus, with each season''s performance changes, the next season''s opponents can vary.


    because of this, when eli manning entered the league through the draft, his singular request was to join the national conference to avoid his brother peyton manning in the american league. later, eli manning was selected by the national conference east division''s new york giants, and the once every four years encounter between the two brothers was dubbed the "manning bowl."


    similarly, when peyton manning left the indianapolis colts, he had offers from national conference teams but ultimately chose the denver broncos in the afc west.


    under these rules, any contest between teams from different divisions often requires some luck, but this time goodell waited and he got it.


    perhaps we could trace back a bit further, to the moment right after the draft ended when the kansas city chiefs unexpectedly picked li wei as the third overall pick. goodell was already plotting, a great game of chess.


    incredible as it may seem, the unimaginable happened¡ª


    the entire league is watching li wei, watching to see if he can make it onto the big roster, watching the rookie appear in regular-season games, watching if he can adapt to the intensity of professional play, watching what results he will deliver, watching the impact of his performance on the value of running backs. read exclusive adventures at empire


    and so on and so forth.


    without a doubt, this rookie top pick has become the highlight of the league''s new season, with countless spectators looking forward to his success and just as many hoping to see him falter, wanting this genius to get a taste of harsh reality.


    this means that after the regular season starts, it might only take three to five games to see what''s what; but now there''s no need to wait even a month, as the opening game is enough, because li wei is about to face the league''s current best player¡ª


    tom brady.


    in the back-and-forth collisions, smoke fills the air, and the whole league is explosively engaged.


    "rookie vs goat," such a fantastical matchup is actually about to take place.


    with screams and applause, popcorn and beer, the bystanders are ready.

 Chapter 208 207 The future is imminent

    when one becomes famous, troubles follow.


    in fact, the media and the spectators all understood that football is a team sport. whether it''s brady or li wei, relying solely on them is not enough to win; ultimately, attention must be paid to the contest between the new england patriots and the kansas city chiefs.


    continue your adventure with empire


    however, that''s the nature of publicity stunts¡ª


    one is a goat-in-waiting, not yet retired but already carrying countless glories, dominating the league for over a decade, creating numerous miracles, leaving behind countless legends.


    the other is a bewildered rookie, who burst onto the scene from nowhere and dazzled the field like a meteor, boldly becoming a disruptor.


    people love to watch such showdowns.


    moreover, upon closer examination, the trajectories of the two players are indeed intriguing.


    back in the days, brady entered the league in the sixth round as the 199th pick, and no one was optimistic about his career; whereas li wei rose to fame within just a year and reached an unattainable status as the top scholar, yet also bore numerous doubts.


    on one hand, the two are starkly different.


    on the other hand, they echo each other.


    the discussion naturally continued nonstop.


    furthermore, the new england patriots and the kansas city chiefs were the top seed and the second seed of the last season in the american league, making this strong matchup a hot topic that no one should miss in the season opener.


    who could start the season with a victory?


    the bustling discussions unleashed an incredible energy, probably making it the liveliest and most insane season opener in recent seasons, even attracting attention from as far as the hua xia continent across the pacific ocean.


    the nfl was all set.


    in the midst of all these hot topics, however, li wei remained unusually calm.


    he was saying goodbye to the players who didn''t make the fifty-three-man roster, knowing all too well the brutality of professional sports. yet, having lived and trained side by side for the past four months, sharing sweat and passion, they all worked towards the same goal, only to now face parting ways.


    watching these figures, li wei couldn''t help but reminisce about his college buddies¡ªthe injured jacobs who was carried off during the nationwide championship, clark who decided to give up his professional career after the season, and other teammates who entered the nfl through the draft, all scattered across the world unknowingly.


    so, he bid farewell to each of these teammates. although they missed this opportunity, he still looked forward to meeting them in the future. even if they could not fight side by side as teammates, he sincerely hoped they would find their spots on other teams and that they would meet as opponents.


    this was normal because quarterbacks need to learn. league statistics show that with accumulated experience and aging, quarterbacks'' performance tends to rise, including top quarterbacks like manning and brady, so rookie quarterbacks need time and space to grow, thus reed had mahomes learn behind smith.


    they understood the reasoning, but reality felt different.


    mahomes and li wei entered the league together, and both were first-round picks. even though mahomes did not feel as much pressure as li wei, the other two first-round quarterbacks, watson and trubisky, had already become starters, naturally making mahomes feel the situation''s difficulties.


    li wei was somewhat surprised; normally, mahomes was always laughing, but clearly, he also had his worries, "don''t you have confidence?"


    mahomes opened his mouth, though the words that had approached his lips were swallowed down. although he didn''t answer, li wei had already known the answer.


    li wei thought for a moment and did not give a serious response, but made a joke instead, "so, are you planning to perform at the halftime show? that would indeed be difficult. if given a choice, would you pick rihanna or taylor swift?"


    mahomes was stunned, "beyonce?."


    li wei was shocked, "i hadn''t pegged you for such a sherlock holmes, oh boy, i must tell brittany!"


    mahomes panicked, flailing his hands and calling out, "li wei, li wei!"


    "haha." li wei burst into hearty laughter.


    it was then that mahomes realized he had been tricked, spreading his arms and looking up at the sky with a lament, "why don''t you ever learn? falling for it every time, every single time, patrick, wake up."


    that made li wei laugh even more brilliantly.


    this diversion notably lightened the mood.


    then, li wei fired back, "we will make it to the super bowl."


    mahomes was stunned.


    "sherlock, we will make it to the super bowl, we will stand on the highest stage of football, fully display ourselves, pick our limits, our blood boiling with passion, we will have thrilling victories and face bitter defeats, but in the end, we will stand on that stage and reveal ourselves without reservation."


    "without regret."


    "win or lose, we will hold our heads high as we leave the field, proudly telling everyone that we have given our all, with no regrets."


    "i won''t say we will definitely win the championship, but i will say that we won''t give up, we will keep fighting to the very end. our future is just beginning."


    the sunset stretched across the sky, like a halo waterfall cascading down, the world roared, and the magnificent spectacle stirred up exhilaration in the blood.

 Chapter 209 208 Professional Debut

    "i''m on my way to boston, wow!"


    "i''m on my way to boston, wow!"


    a wave of heat surged forward, almost igniting the air. united voices sung out powerfully like a twisted rope, unleashing astonishing energy that turned into gusts, violently shaking the entire world.


    on september 7, 2017, the new nfl season officially kicked off.


    today, there was only one game, the season opener, where the defending champions, the new england patriots, hosted the challenge of the kansas city chiefs at their home ground.


    gillette stadium in foxborough, massachusetts, is one of the league''s most dreaded devil''s home fields. every year, after november rolls around, the cold winds, blizzards, and low temperatures turn foxborough into a wrapped silver wonder, and the open-air gillette stadium becomes the nightmare of every visiting team.


    now, it was still september, at the end of summer and start of autumn. the spacious skies of foxborough and romantic red leaves didn''t seem so savage. yet, patriots fans still treated their guests to the maximum experience of the "devil''s home field." discover hidden content at empire


    the match hadn''t even started, but the air was already filled with the smell of gunpowder.


    without a doubt, the new england patriots were the most successful and splendid team in the nfl of the twenty-first century. the perfect combination of head coach bill belichick and quarterback tom brady had built a dynasty, moving from a championship-less era before 2000 to seizing five super bowl championship trophies. last season''s super bowl epic comeback cemented their status as the strongest team of the new century¡ª


    and now, they were still at the pinnacle.


    this year, the new england patriots were striving to be the first team in a whole decade to defend their title. the last time such a feat was accomplished was by the patriots themselves, with back-to-back wins in the 2003 and 2004 seasons. since then, no team had managed to defend their crown.


    foxborough was ready.


    from the outset, fans heartily sang the team''s unofficial anthem, "i''m shipping up to boston," in unison, with thunderous momentum, collectively signaling their quest for the championship.


    actually, the new england patriots and the kansas city chiefs weren''t considered rivals¡ªan afc west team versus an afc east team, meeting once every three years was all, no deep-seated grudges between them.


    of course, in the 2014 season, the kansas city chiefs beat the new england patriots "41-14," a simple victory that the patriots didn''t take to heart as just another regular-season game. the outcome had no effect on the playoff spots and wasn''t worth mentioning.


    however, the thoughts of the kansas city chiefs were different. in the 2015 postseason, they finally defeated the houston texans, breaking their lengthy playoff winless streak, only to lose "20-27" to the patriots in the following game, ending their campaign in the second round and being choked again by the playoff curse.


    now, the kansas city chiefs needed a victory¡ª


    not just for the opening red in the new season, but also as revenge for that loss.


    clearly, patriots fans didn''t agree with this notion.


    bang!


    the moment li wei took the field, fans on both sides of the players'' tunnel banged the walls frantically. the dull thudding roared down like a sudden storm, growing denser and more ferocious.


    bang bang bang!


    seeing the astonished look on kelsey''s face, li wei couldn''t help but laugh out loud, pat kelsey on the shoulder, and follow his teammates into the stadium.


    this was the professional arena¡ª


    nervous?


    a little bit, li wei admitted; after all, the nfl was different from the ncaa, and the reasons he continued to choose football were different now as well.


    but more than that, it was excitement and euphoria, an indescribable sense of jubilation, with blood boiling in his veins, impatient to take the field.


    afraid?


    no, no, no, why be afraid? on the contrary, he should be happy.


    when a player steps onto the away field, the best praise he can receive are those taunts, those curses, and all the flying trash and middle fingers that fill his vision.


    now, his professional career hadn''t even started yet, and he''d already received such treatment; he couldn''t be happier. next, he was eager to see if gillette stadium had more energy to offer; he couldn''t wait to witness the power of devil''s home field.


    let the storm rage more fiercely, shall we?


    just then¡ª


    ah!


    one second ago, the bustling curses aimed at li wei vanished.


    the next second, they turned into neat, escalating cheers.


    tom brady had entered the field.


    as expected of the league''s number one player, right here and now on his home ground, the treatment was different. the entire audience at gillette stadium stood up collectively, welcoming the defending champion with the most grandiose and fervent attitude.


    and brady strolled in leisurely, jogging into the stadium and casually waving his hand as if strolling in his own backyard, entering the field with ease.


    in the stadium, the deep blue and ivory white jerseys transformed into a vast ocean, roaring and churning continuously, already completely overpowering the guests from afar, the kansas city chiefs, before the game had even begun.


    not just the players, even the commentators in the live broadcast booth could feel their hearts racing, because of the new season''s kickoff and because they were witnessing history.


    in the vip box, league commissioner goodell appeared, quietly watching the torrential waves before him. whether people liked it or not, whether they acknowledged it or not¡ª


    history was unfolding.


    the path had been laid out; what followed would be left to competitive sports themselves, whether it was the rookie overturning the goat, or the goat defeating the rookie, either way, the league would come out the victor.

 Chapter 210 209 flailing about

    "wow."


    amidst fierce competition, nbc secured the exclusive rights to broadcast the opening game of the 2017 season, with the veteran sportscaster al michaels, who had been in the profession for over thirty years, personally presiding to witness this history-making moment with the audience.


    the game had just started, and already there were exclamations.


    "i mean, wow."


    "this is the most spirited gillette stadium i remember; of course, we''ve witnessed countless historic moments in this stadium, but today is different."


    "today."


    "we are about to witness the first asian first-round pick set foot on the professional football field, there''s no doubt, it''s a historical moment."


    "and he''s about to face the current number one player in the league and the most successful team of the past fifteen years, it will be a stern challenge and add some flavor to this historical moment."


    "for the audience, this is a good thing; but we can''t help worrying, is it a bit too cruel for this rookie?"


    "in the preseason, this rookie proved with his actions that he can adapt to professional-level play, but the issue is, the physicality of professional games is not about one or two hits, but thousands of hits."


    "that''s the crux of the matter. robert griffin iii is the best example."


    "so, how andy reid plans his strategy is key; whether the kansas city chiefs selecting two running backs in the draft hides their concern about the rookie top scholar''s ability to withstand hits, we don''t know, but it''s definitely a focal point of attention."


    "right, we''ve forgotten an important matter."


    "li wei."


    "the rookie''s name is li wei, wearing the kansas city chiefs'' number twenty-three jersey, and if you''re interested, you can follow along with us."


    "of course, aside from li wei, there''s much more to this game..."


    in the broadcast booth, michaels was diligently providing pre-game commentary.


    on the sideline, reed looked slightly anxious as he searched the crowd for li wei''s figure¡ª


    normally, he wouldn''t need to worry, football is a team sport, and even if there''s pressure, it often all falls on the shoulders of the quarterback.


    but now, the "rookie vs. goat" topic has completely spiraled out of control, the entire social network is discussing it, the hashtag has even trended, and even the coaching staff has seen it, let alone the players?


    experience exclusive tales on empire


    the ncaa is the ncaa, the nfl is a whole different ballgame...


    "the entire confrontation, intensity, pace, everything is different."


    "last season, li wei''s senior at crimson tide storm, former heisman trophy winner derrick henry, hit the rookie wall hard. his performance for the whole season was less than one-fifth of his ncaa statistics, which was disappointing."


    "now, henry''s successor, li wei, is about to taste what professional play is like. so, chris, what do you think of li wei''s performance?"


    teaming up with michaels today was former nfl wide receiver chris collinsworth. this refined gentleman only played eight seasons for the cincinnati bengals, but with three pro bowl appearances and three times on the nationwide second-team, he had an outstanding career.


    and as a commentator, his seventeen sports emmy awards are the best testament to his accomplishments.


    "he needs some time," collinsworth stated objectively.


    "from what we''ve seen in preseason, he has the ability but lacks stamina and consistency. he often finds it hard to maintain his standard in the face of intense opposition."


    "the new england patriots are known for their strong offense, but people tend to overlook their defense. don''t forget, belichick started out as a linebackers coach and established himself as a defensive coordinator," collinsworth continued.


    "the patriots'' defensive group has more than once saved the team''s season and kept their super bowl hopes alive. their defense ranked first in the league last season, and their ground defense ranked fourth; that''s the foundation of their super bowl comeback victory. holding the regular season mvp matt ryan scoreless in the second half, that defense is truly formidable."


    "so, li wei needs time."


    "we should give him room to grow, as the suspense of today''s game should still come from both quarterbacks..."


    on and on, the pre-game analysis continued, while preparations for the game were well underway.


    in the coin toss segment, the new england patriots won and chose the field, meaning the first half would be kicked off by the kansas city chiefs'' offense.


    then, the special duty groups took to the field, with the new england patriots kicking off and the kansas city chiefs returning, setting the starting position for the first offensive drive.


    suddenly, gillette stadium erupted in a chorus of boos.


    pfft!


    pfft pfft pfft!


    rookie! rookie, rookie!


    the jeers rained down from all over, shaking the entire stadium once again.


    following the sound, one could see a figure wearing jersey number twenty-three among the kansas city chiefs'' special duty group.


    li wei?


    wait, li wei?

 Chapter 211 210 Kick-off and counter-attack

    boos, explosive.


    suddenly, a torrential wave of boos burst from gillette stadium, sweeping through like a hurricane, making knees tremble slightly.


    not to mention the kansas city chiefs, even brady, who was warming up, was startled¡ª


    what''s going on?


    it''s just the kickoff, why the fuss?


    listening carefully, brady could pick out snippets of words within the boos.


    rookie. rookie...


    it wasn''t cheers of support, but mocking disdain, a kind of scornful attack.


    brady couldn''t help but laugh silently, having no further interest to explore, he diverted his gaze, continuing to warm up, joking and laughing with his teammates beside him.


    clearly, it wasn''t worth paying attention to.


    after all, it was just the special duty group.


    in a football game, while the main focus might be on the offensive group or the defensive group, the special teams unit is always the underestimated and overlooked element.


    generally speaking, the special teams unit is responsible for kickoffs, punt kicks, extra points, and field goals, which seem like unimportant dirty and tiring tasks, but top-tier coaches know that solid clashes often come down to details; the role the special teams play is beyond imagination¡ª


    belichick and reed, for instance, are the experts in this area. both coaches are highly skilled at using special teams to their advantage and seizing opportunities during the game.


    it''s hard to believe that the regular members of the special teams are typically only three:


    the punter. the long snapper. the kicker.


    the punter and kicker, as their names imply, the punter handles the punting, and the kicker is responsible for kickoffs, field goals, and extra points.


    the long snapper, like the center on the offensive group, is responsible for the snap, throwing the football a long distance to the punter, who then completes the punt.


    these three positions, each with varying levels of technical content, require professionals and also call for cooperative practice; beyond these, the other eight members of the special teams are all substitutes.


    the final nfl roster only allows fifty-three spots, which must consider rotation, substitutes, injuries, and tactical setups, making the use of substitutes for the special teams the only viable team-building strategy.


    take the holder, for example.


    during an extra point attempt, a player needs to catch the ball from the center and then set up the football for the kicker, often a substitute quarterback serves in this role.


    or the returner.


    whether for a kickoff or a punt, a player is needed to catch the ball and then initiate the return, often taken by a substitute running back or a substitute wide receiver.


    of course, there are exceptions¡ª


    since joining the new england patriots in 2006, he had maintained elite standards, helping the team reach the super bowl three times, the pro bowl four times, the all-america first team twice, and was the league''s highest scorer for five seasons¡ªthis meant maintaining an extremely high success rate for field goals and extra points.


    in the later year of 2020, media professionals selected him for the 2010''s all-decade team as the kicker.


    now, it was his turn to kickoff.


    a good kickoff specialist, like a punter, needed to exercise control.


    it wasn''t about kicking blindly or aiming for distance, but rather about coordinating with the team''s strategy.


    firstly, the landing spot needed to be controlled, preferably within five yards of the front end of the end zone because if the ball went into the end zone, the opponent''s kickoff spot would automatically move to the twenty-five-yard line.


    secondly, the trajectory had to be controlled, to ensure that the members of the special duty group, positioned on one''s own side of the field, had enough time to cross the field before the returner caught the football and started the return, ideally surrounding, or even making a direct tackle on, the returner.


    a perfect kickoff or punt, in theory, could control the opponent''s starting position for the offense just above the one-yard line at the front end of the end zone, creating an inherent advantage for one''s own defensive group in the following clash.


    so, how was gostkowski planning to kickoff?


    with the whistle sound, gostkowski rushed forward, kicked up, and struck the ball with great force.


    the whooshing blue wave seemed to surge towards him.


    li wei''s first instinct was to look up and gauge the parabola''s ascent, quickly making a judgment based on its path¡ª


    if the kickoff landed in the end zone, then li wei would need to assess the offensive and defensive standoff in front of him, deciding whether there was a need to return or to simply accept the starting position at the twenty-five-yard line.


    swoosh.


    it flew high.


    the football was engulfed in a sea of golden sunlight, almost disappearing from sight.


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    ¡ªinitiate.


    li wei made his first judgment immediately; gostkowski''s kick trajectory was a bit higher than usual, which meant that the ball''s descent would be shorter, and it also meant that he was buying time for the blue wave in front of him.


    this was a tactical kickoff.


    clearly, belichick and reed, the two coaches, had started their contest from the very beginning, each calculating against the other, trying to seize the high ground from the first exchange.


    without hesitation, li wei had already sprung into action.


    slightly tucking his chin, he scanned the field with the corner of his eye; there was no time to distinguish faces, only seeing the clash between the blue wave and white gale¡ª


    boom!


    the entirety of gillette stadium erupted in thunderous roars.

 Chapter 212 211 Edgerunner

    The wind, fierce and overpowering, swept in, his vision remaining firmly locked on the rapidly descending football to the extent that he could not face forward. Still, his peripheral vision could capture the roaring wave of charging hordes, closing in from all sides.


    Scorching, sharp, it glided across the skin like a blade, painfully stinging.


    However, this scene further confirmed Li Wei''s judgment:


    Tactical kickoff.


    Gostkowski''s kickoff control had a shorter-than-expected parabolic trajectory; moreover, it spun rapidly due to the intense spin, causing the football to wobble erratically in its descent due to the acceleration of gravity.


    This was a test. Gostkowski seized on Li Wei''s lack of experience and the fact that it was his first official professional game, possibly making him too nervous or too excited. He intentionally disrupted Li Wei''s rhythm with an irregular, fast-falling parabola.


    A hypothesis¡ªif Li Wei caught the football or touched it but couldn''t control it and fumbled, it would mean that the possession was up for grabs. The New England Patriots'' players could then fight for possession, complete the turnover, and even make a counterattack to score a touchdown in the end zone.


    The Special Duty Group could also score.


    It seemed that this was the first test Belichick had given Li Wei.


    And Li Wei?


    He had no time for nervousness or panic; his attention was fully concentrated.


    Li Wei continuously adjusted his steps forward, constantly observing the scene ahead while intently watching the trajectory of the football.


    Then.


    A step up.


    The football''s descending parabola was steep, and its irregular spin further complicated matters, forcing Li Wei to stretch his upper body to catch the ball at a position eight to nine yards from the end zone''s edge. Just before the football hit the ground, in a swift, scooping motion, he managed to pluck it from the air, gaining control with his fingertips.


    Thrilling, exhilarating.


    But there was no time to feel relieved; he stumbled forward, taking a few shaky steps. Then, he saw a deep blue wave mingled with a white furious wind, crashing massively into his eyes, merging into a solid force.


    This, too, was an offensive and defensive standoff.


    The Kansas City Chieftains'' Special Duty Group was akin to an offensive group, the New England Patriots'' Special Duty Group was like a defensive group, and now the two sides engaged in a positional battle.


    Chaos! Crisis!


    Li Wei paused his steps¡ª


    Directly ahead, four patches of blue recklessly broke through the interception of two patches of white, forming a crescent-shaped dam blocking the way ahead, tightly sealing off the path for a complete encirclement.


    If facing such a disadvantage with the New England Patriots in a superior position indicated anything, it meant that the right side was likely where the Kansas City Chieftains had a numerical advantage.


    Brake, start, change direction.


    Seeing the four patches of blue poised to capture Li Wei, the big fish, Li Wei suddenly stopped and pivoted, controlling his body with a swift step, dashing past the sharp edge of this blue crescent.


    Close call¡ªbarely missing.


    Just as the patch of blue was about to touch Li Wei''s white jersey shoulder, Li Wei accelerated, swiftly eluding this blue wave.


    Yet, this was still not the end.


    The patch of blue wave decisively threw itself forward in a dive to tackle him; but Li Wei was quicker, lifting his legs high in rapid succession.


    A flurry of movement, a series of ground kicks.


    And what about Li Wei?


    Thirty-yard line, thirty-five-yard line.


    "God!"


    "Shake off the tackle."


    "Forceful overtaking!"


    "Shake off the second tackle."


    "Li Wei is still advancing, moving faster and faster; he''s not only keeping up his pace but also continuing to accelerate. The New England Patriots'' Special Duty Group is completely disorganized, failing to complete the tackles they were so determined to make. Now, the Kansas City Chiefs have gained a numerical advantage on the field''s right side, clearing a path for Li Wei."


    "Forty-five-yard line!"


    "Midfield!"


    "Li Wei continues!"


    "Now the crowd has converged, with Li Wei''s steps nearing the sideline, God, what are we witnessing! The Edgerunner shines at Gillette Stadium!"


    "Forty-yard line!"


    Toes, leap, wild dance.


    Li Wei charges along the sideline, aware of the roaring air wave pressing from the left. He is still accelerating, feeling the flame burning in his chest, releasing all his energy, trying to forcefully overtake and break through the encirclement.


    The fans at Old Oak Tavern in Kansas City have gone mad, as if they are in Arrowhead Stadium, erupting with astonishing shouts.


    "Thirty-five-yard line!"


    Explore more at empire


    "Thirty-yard line!"


    "Twenty-five-yard line!"


    "Twenty-yard line!"


    Uniform, overflowing with passion.


    Unfortunately, Li Wei couldn''t break through. He was caught up by the wave of people near the twenty-yard line. A blue shove and white all mixed together brutally swallowed Li Wei.


    However, Li Wei was exceptionally calm, even unprecedentedly so.


    His peripheral vision caught a flash of blue, high knee lifts, continuously high knee lifts, persistently pushing forward.


    Thud.


    The flash of blue just grabbed a handful of turf, missing its target.


    Then another flash of blue lunged forward, still missing, but this time, his wrist struck Li Wei''s ankle.


    Got it!


    Stumbling, staggering, Li Wei''s rhythmic steps along the sideline were disrupted, his balance starting to sway violently.


    Danger, danger!

 Chapter 213 212 Marseille Turn

    Li Wei''s steps, like dancing with shackles¡ª


    On the right, a cliff.


    On the left, a storm.


    A slight misstep could result in shattered bones, but Li Wei still didn''t surrender; in fact, he conjured an unbelievably spirited fighting spirit.


    One diving lunge, dodged.


    Two diving lunges, dodged¡ª


    But this time, he was grazed, and his staggered steps soon turned chaotic. In his peripheral vision, he could see a blurry shadow, a gaping maw roaring and snarling at him, its foul breath mixing with saliva, mucus, and blood plasma raining down violently.


    "Rookie!"


    "Tear him apart."


    "Kill him!"


    Insults exploded above his eardrums yet transformed into the best fuel.


    Li Wei stumbled forward a couple of gruesome steps by inertia, clearly on the verge of exhaustion, about to be encircled by three blue figures and compressed by two white figures¡ª


    Clearly, the teammates from Kansas City Chiefs didn''t do it on purpose, but the space in front of him was only the size of a palm, barely enough room to maneuver.


    Li Wei, pushing off with his right leg, dragged his body into the inside and recklessly crashed into a blue figure.


    Danger!


    But just as the collision was about to occur, he powered forward by shoulder-barging his opponent''s shoulder, turning 360 degrees counterclockwise around him¡ª


    The Marseille Turn.


    The next second, hugging the opponent''s back, he threaded through a gap between three or four crowded figures and miraculously burst through the blockade.


    The Old Oak Tavern went completely silent¡ª


    They watched as Li Wei stumbled into the storm, immediately devoured by it, white and blue chaotically intertwined.


    One after another, mouths fell open, but no sound came out; the entire tavern was silent as a graveyard.


    The next second.


    There he was, that white figure incredibly reappeared, falteringly re-entering everyone''s line of sight, sprinting wildly across the green field.


    A shiver ran from their feet to their heads; they couldn''t help but let out a cry, and the Old Oak Tavern instantly burst into a tumultuous uproar. No one could sit still anymore; they clenched their fists, rose from their chairs, and stood up bit by bit, disbelievingly, their eyes wide as they watched that white figure continue forward.


    His steps were messy and unstable, his body leaned alarmingly forward; it looked like he would fall at any moment, but miraculously, he kept pressing forward with inertia.


    Fifteen yards!


    Ten yards!


    In the Red Zone, Li Wei had dashed into the Red Zone, but at the same time, a horde was also surging toward him, a boiling wave of noise and force crashing down on Li Wei.


    Ah! Ah! Ah!


    The Old Oak Tavern erupted into frenzy, everyone couldn''t control themselves anymore, all stood up, waving their fists, roaring, releasing to their hearts'' content.


    In contrast, the quiet and confusion at Gillette Stadium were stark.


    Even professionals like Michaels and Collinsworth had not anticipated this scene, let alone the ordinary fans at Gillette Stadium:


    So, what just happened?


    In the end zone.


    Li Wei didn''t celebrate; he just stood there quietly.


    Lifting his head, chest out.


    At the corner of his mouth, a slight smile, quietly watching the silent blue sea in front of him, enjoying the peaceful tranquility after the noise. How wonderful.


    The next second.


    Gillette Stadium finally reacted, they couldn''t believe Li Wei had just scored a touchdown, let alone that Li Wei dared to provoke them so boldly?


    "Rookie! That was just luck."


    "The game has just begun, we will crush you, crush!"


    "You wait, watch how our Defensive Group tears you apart."


    Of course, the words couldn''t have been so kind, including many unmentionable expletives that one could feel the incessant rage from the flying saliva even from afar.


    This didn''t make Li Wei shrink back; instead, his smile fully blossomed, unreservedly, with a poised attitude that seemed to say: Right, this is what I was looking forward to.


    Wait a second, that look, that gesture, why does it seem like he''s training a dog, about to throw a bone or a treat as a reward next?


    Is this normal?


    A small portion of New England Patriots fans finally figured it out, unsure whether to continue cursing, suddenly caught in a dilemma:


    What, what''s going on?


    On the other side of the field.


    Brady noticed it too, first the dead silence, then the cursing from around the stadium, too stark a contrast to ignore.


    Clearly, Brady had finally recognized Li Wei''s presence, who, with a kickoff return for a touchdown, blew the trumpet for a challenge, causing Brady to pause briefly then chuckle dumbly.


    He wasn''t about to tremble in fear over a kickoff return for a touchdown; that would be really stupid; but he had to admit, Li Wei had caught his attention.


    "Maybe, today might witness an interesting game," Brady started jumping in place to warm up, the enthusiasm gradually rising within him.


    Just right, after celebrating with his teammates and preparing to leave the field, Li Wei turned his head, his eyes collided with Brady''s unexpectedly, exchanging a gaze, Li Wei wasn''t nervous nor did he back down¡ªsurprisingly, there was no provocation either, instead, he gently nodded to Brady in acknowledgment.


    Wait a second, is this rookie nodding to the Goat as if they''re equals?


    Brady: Haha, very interesting.

 Chapter 214 213 Intertwined like a dogs teeth

    The NFL 2017 season opener was quite interesting.


    No one had anticipated that Li Wei would announce his presence in such a manner, taking a unique path to challenge the media and provoke the fans, thus skyrocketing the viewership numbers for this season opener.


    However, if one were hoping to glean the outcome of the game from this Special Duty Group''s touchdown alone, they would likely be disappointed, as things were clearly not that simple.


    Whether it was Brady or Belichick, they had joined forces to create a dynasty. Their depth and strength were undeniable, and having weathered countless storms, they quickly found their footing and responded immediately¡ª


    Touchdown.


    Responding to a touchdown with another touchdown, that''s the best counterattack on the football field. Your journey continues with empire


    The game was supposed to start with the Kansas City Chiefs on the offense, but with Li Wei''s kickoff return for a touchdown, the possession shifted to the New England Patriots, who took the field amidst the overwhelming cheers at Gillette Stadium, officially beginning their title defense.


    As a strong contender for the GOAT, Brady was not the type with explosive passing abilities like Brees or Rodgers, nor a tactical master like Manning; his greatest and most outstanding skill was the short pass.


    This is not to say he couldn''t throw long, but his strongest weapon was in the short passing game.


    He always managed to accurately read the complex interplay of offense and defense, finding spaces and lanes, and precisely delivering the football into his teammates'' arms.


    Quick frequency, accurate, efficient.


    And even in times of extreme difficulty and danger, he managed to remain clear-headed and calm; most importantly, he often minimized risks.


    This is why Brady excelled in tough games, whether it was in windy, rainy, or bone-chilling conditions, or even when cornered into peril. Relying on short passes, he could always control risks and take the initiative, an exceptional skill.


    However!


    Surprisingly, today, once he took the field, Brady targeted the junction between short and medium passes, relying on tactical setups to create mismatches, completely catching the Kansas City Chiefs Defense off guard.


    In this offensive drive, Brady used just nine plays and took only two minutes and forty-seven seconds to powerfully break into the Kansas City Chiefs'' Red Zone.


    Facing the Chiefs'' notoriously tough Red Zone defense from last season, the New England Patriots unexpectedly chose a ground running attack. Running back Mike Gillislee, like a bulldozer, plowed into the end zone, scoring a touchdown for the home team and leveling the score.


    Finally!


    Gillette Stadium finally returned to normal, rediscovering its fervor and continually unleashing energy, fiercely pressuring the Kansas City Chiefs.


    However, Brady did not particularly stand out or show off against Li Wei. In his view, this was just routine, nothing worth bragging about¡ª


    This clearly showed that Brady was having an average performance.


    Because of this, Brady continually used his reading ability to find openings; and upon entering the Red Zone, he handed over the responsibility to the running back¡ª


    If the running back succeeded, it would result in a touchdown; otherwise, a field goal.


    Despite not being at his best, Brady and the New England Patriots were accustomed to a slow start to the season; yet Belichick still found ways to help Brady make progress, leaving the Kansas City Chiefs Defense in disarray.


    Thirty-four points in three quarters is a high score in a football game.


    It''s hard to believe that with such performance, Brady was still just average.


    In critical moments, the top two receiving stars of the New England Patriots stepped up: wide receiver Danny Amendola and tight end Rob Gronkowski ensured Brady always had passing targets and continued advancing.


    This is what tradition is all about.


    And the Kansas City Chiefs also performed well.


    The real disappointment was the decrease in defensive intensity and efficiency in the Red Zone, which failed to stop the opponents, especially when Brady''s short pass game was so off that he couldn''t connect with tight end Gronkowski for a touchdown chase, resulting in repeated flaws in ground defense that were unsatisfactory.


    Meanwhile, on the offensive side, Smith''s passing was excellent today, fully fired up and right into Reed''s plans, focusing entirely on passing¡ª


    So much so that Li Wei and Hunter barely got their chance to perform.


    This differs from the Crimson Tide Storm as Saban often relies more on the ground offense, but Reed still subconsciously trusts the passing offense more.


    The carry count tells it all, by the end of the third quarter, Li Wei had only carried the ball eleven times, a fraction of what was seen during the Crimson Tide Storm period, almost invisible.


    Of course, Hunter had even fewer, only seven carries.


    Thus, Li Wei and Hunter didn''t find their rhythm.


    When the Kansas City Chiefs'' offense was blocked, they couldn''t open up the game on the ground either, which essentially mirrored the same issues they faced in the past two seasons:


    When real toughness was needed, the Kansas City Chiefs lacked a bit of explosive power¡ª


    Not that they performed poorly, in fact, Smith had performed very well; but it just wasn''t good enough.


    So, by the time the fourth quarter started, the Kansas City Chiefs were down by six points.


    From all indications, it seemed that victory was beckoning the New England Patriots, reminiscent of the playoff encounter back in the 2015 season. So, was this going to be another defeat for the Kansas City Chiefs at Gillette Stadium?

 Chapter 215 214 Nightmare Revisited

    The nightmare, it returned again.


    A familiar sense of de?ja? vu firmly grasped his heart, leaving him breathless.


    Reed bent his knees slightly to adjust, trying to alleviate the burning sensation in his heart.


    It wasn''t that he didn''t trust the running back, but he was inherently inclined to pass, especially since Smith was on fire today, with a passing success rate of 80%, making the whole passing offense very smooth and outstanding¡ª


    In three quarters, Smith had already scored three passing touchdowns, a performance that couldn''t be anything but outstanding.


    Yet, the Kansas City Chiefs were still behind.


    Not only was it the nightmare of facing the New England Patriots awakening in his mind, but also the nightmare of key moments in important games over the last three seasons was reviving; Reed hadn''t realized that his memory could be so clear.


    Like a heart demon.


    So, should he change the strategy? And how should he adjust the direction?


    Running back.


    This was the answer.


    Actually, the answer had always been there; since Jamaal Charles was ruled out for the season last year, everyone said the Kansas Chiefs were crazy at the draft, choosing two running backs madly, but Reed knew this was the key puzzle piece the team needed.


    Perhaps it was time now.


    In the first three quarters, one reason was Smith''s great form, and the other was not wanting to put too much responsibility on the rookie running back, but now there was no time to hesitate.


    It must be done. Immediately.


    The outcome might be success or failure, but at least he should start trying now, otherwise, it would be too late to try during the playoffs.


    His gaze moved forward, falling on the players, where he could easily spot Li Wei, focused and calm¡ª


    Imagine, stepping onto the NFL field for the first time in his career and completing a ninety-one-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, becoming the first hot topic of the new season, only to turn around and work behind the scenes, quietly stepping out of the spotlight.


    Another player might not be angry but could hardly avoid feeling disappointed.


    But not Li Wei.


    Always focused, always engaged, diligently fulfilling tactical tasks; today, one major reason for Smith''s pass accuracy was Li Wei''s outstanding performance as a decoy, effectively drawing the Defensive group''s attention. It was apparent that Belichick was also focusing on Li Wei.


    Standing in the spotlight, seizing the opportunity; stepping out of the spotlight, willingly playing a supporting role.


    Everything was just like the temperament displayed in the final winning touchdown of the nationwide championship.


    Belichick knew that Smith''s long pass was a weakness, so he kept a safety at the back, with other players generally pressing forward to densely block the short pass area.


    Furthermore, the Kansas City Chiefs'' pass targets were relatively concentrated, with wide receiver Hill and tight end Kelsey handling most of the receptions, which had led the New England Patriots to employ man-to-man defense strategies in the short-pass areas, attempting to lock down Hill and Kelsey individually.


    But as of now, it was only moderately effective. Smith''s short passing skills were very solid, always managing to find passing routes through the tight defense, then relying on the individual abilities of Hill and Kelsey for receptions.


    Since the third quarter, Belichick had increased the frequency of pass rushes and also started zone defenses among other players in the short-pass area¡ª


    While continuing to man-mark Hill and Kelsey, other areas were covered by zone defense.


    This way, as soon as Hill or Kelsey caught the ball, the defensive group quickly followed up, forming a double or even triple-team attack, but this tactic was more complex and varied, intensively escalating the conflict between offense and defense.


    So, what about the ground game?


    How should the running back create opportunities?


    Li Wei was observing, thinking, and judging, his focus intensely concentrated, even able to clearly hear every collision and surge of the disruptive noise created by Gillette Stadium on his eardrums.


    Then.


    "Attack!"


    Smith''s snap cut through the sky, instantly igniting the clash.


    The collision of helmets erupted with a series of sounds, mingled with coarse breaths burning through the air.


    Li Wei took quick, short steps forward, peripherally seeing Smith''s passing motion¡ª


    A fake pass turned into a real run.


    Smith feinted a throw toward tight end Kelsey at a diagonal in front, the movement so deceptive, paired with his high passing success rate today, it immediately put the opposing defense on high alert.


    Instantly, one could see a blue wave surging fiercely towards Kelsey''s position.


    However, Smith paused his motion, gathered back, and tossed a light pass to Li Wei on the left parallel position, switching tactics in the blink of an eye.


    The defensive group barely had time to respond.


    Li Wei secured the football, but instead of recklessly moving forward, he simply watched the defensive end, who was pressing from the left, nearly at the point of contesting the front line.


    Clearly, Belichick was also applying pressure, attempting to disrupt Smith''s rhythm.


    The defensive end was very focused, his gaze shifting from Smith to Li Wei immediately, his footsteps flicking outward as he broke away from the offensive tackle opposing him, stretching his arms and diving towards Li Wei.


    Li Wei: Here it comes.

 Chapter 216 215 Wont stop until hitting the south wall

    A wild wind howled, clouds swirling as though one could feel the entire space compressing and stirring, with gunpowder and flames blazing fiercely.


    However, Li Wei thoroughly enjoyed this moment.


    Exhilaration, jubilation.


    Calm, rational.


    His steps, not hastily initiated, instead deliberately paused for a moment, which to others appeared foolhardy but bought Li Wei the advantage of timing and adjustment.


    Watching as the Defensive End lost his chance for a second adjustment because he had already committed his weight, Li Wei then started.


    Directly ahead, he moved forward.


    Using stillness to control motion.


    Just as a collision seemed imminent, Li Wei''s nimble steps danced like a tango on the edge of a blade, deftly dodging the large figure of the Defensive End with a slight feint, his delicate and agile movements allowing him to slip past from his left side, the opponent''s right.


    Brushing past.


    In the air, one could even feel the spark of friction from the sleeve of the jersey.


    And then, Li Wei vanished¡ª


    Defensive End Trey Flowers, number 98, was ready to close the net but found his arms empty, nothing within his grasp, not even a lingering afterimage.


    What happened?


    Flowers had tightly marked the rookie, his focus unbroken, his reactions timely¡ªhow could the cooked duck have flown away?


    However, before he could continue thinking, the inertia of his forward motion felt the pull of gravity, and Flowers suddenly lost his balance, the green turf rushing towards his pupils like waves.


    Slow is fast.


    This, is Li Wei.


    Cool enough, alert enough, and sufficiently dangerous, but just right.


    Li Wei, skating on the edge of danger, avoided the first threat, and though the view in front of him opened up, it wasn''t smooth sailing ahead, but rather two swiftly moving figures.


    One was a Cornerback, moving laterally, trying to cross the field to block Kelsey, only to realize: hey, wait, why is the football here?


    Another was a lineman, whose task was to calmly observe and pick the right moment, and who hadn''t been fooled by Smith''s feint, maintaining high focus.


    Here, one could see the intensity of professional play.


    Considering various factors, choosing Butler''s side for a breakthrough was just too easy for Li Wei.


    But, Butler was about to teach this rookie what the old saying means...


    Uh.


    His thoughts were severed.


    Butler just felt a heaviness in his chest, a powerful impact striking hard against it. He was prepared to use his height advantage to lower his center of gravity and tackle Li Wei below the waist, but Li Wei had unexpectedly bent his knees first and hit him with a shoulder to the front.


    Butler, while moving sideways, reacted a tad slow, and that tiny lapse had already given Li Wei the upper hand.


    He was stunned.


    Butler thought he could hear the sound of rationality snapping in his mind.


    Time briefly stopped, and Butler could even see the expression inside Li Wei''s helmet, focused and concentrated, completely disregarding Butler''s presence as if he were just a sponge pad. Li Wei''s steps were already preparing for the next move.


    Sponge pad?


    Sponge pad???


    Then, time resumed, and pain and pressure burst forth like a flood. Butler was thrown into the air.


    Heck!


    During the 2014 Super Bowl, Michaels and Collinsworth were the commentators who had witnessed Butler''s intercepting game-winner live. Now, they were witnessing Butler "flying towards Boston," speechless and dumbfounded, unable to believe their eyes.


    ¡ª From down below, colliding upward, as if by a Meteor Fist.


    Li Wei, with his large and strong physique, displayed incredible flexibility and agility as he brushed past Butler. Without pausing, he used the momentum to sprint towards the left sideline, trying to regain his balance and speed up again.


    "God, oh, God!"


    "New England''s number ninety-two, Harrison, had quickly caught up, striking first in an attempt to push Li Wei out of bounds. But Li Wei managed to maintain his balance and continued sprinting along the sideline unbelievably."


    "Five yards!"


    "Wow!"


    "Another five yards!"


    "God, Safety Chung finally ended Li Wei''s unbelievable performance by hitting him out before Li Wei could regain his balance and continue moving forward."


    "Incredible, fifteen yards!"


    "Li Wei just advanced a whole fifteen yards, continuously pushing forward even though he had nearly lost his balance, showing unparalleled resilience. Could this be... turning decay into a miracle?"

 Chapter 217 216 Refuse to Look Back

    Looking up, Levi could see a hand¡ª


    From the Chung Family.


    Although they were opponents on the field, seeing an Asian face in the NFL, aside from the jerseys, was still quite rare, gathering like sparks of fire.


    Levi grabbed Chung Family''s right hand and leveraged himself up to stand.


    Chung Family immediately let go, "Be careful, next time I won''t let you get that far."


    After speaking, Chung Family patted Levi''s shoulder, flashed a smile, and without waiting for a response, turned and ran back to get ready for formation.


    Watching Chung Family''s retreating figure, Levi also revealed a hint of a smile, he had just warmed up, the New England Patriots really needed to brace themselves, otherwise, it would all be as unchallenging as Butler.


    Levi let out a light sigh and quickly returned to his position in the offensive group¡ª


    Whisk whisk whisk.


    At this moment, one could clearly notice the increasing number of eyes flocking from all directions, including Cornerback Butler, outside linebacker James Harrison, and other bustling gazes.


    Shock. Anger. Excitement.


    Each pair of eyes was like a laser, Butler couldn''t believe his humiliation, Harrison couldn''t believe his hit had missed, and what was destined to be a close, tight grasp turned into Levi''s showcase.


    Last season''s top-ranked defending group didn''t plan to be mere backdrops or stepping stones in Levi''s professional debut, but now they too were somewhat bemused.


    The New England Patriots'' defense was guessing:


    What''s this?


    A burst at the start, then quiet for most of the game, and now suddenly aggressive?


    What kind of play is this? Geysers in the Grand Canyon? Bursting out occasionally, but no one knows when the next occurrence will be or its intensity?


    Damn.


    Combined with the rumors of the preseason, the looks on Levi became strangely speculative, what is this One Punch Man-like bizarre script?


    So, do they need to specifically guard against Levi, or is it unnecessary?


    "Wow, this is a variable."


    "The Kansas City Chiefs opened the game with a rare decoy run tactic, rookie Running Back Levi displayed his individual skills, enduring three tackles and hits yet still advanced fifteen yards, bringing something new to the visiting team''s offense."


    "The point is, is this type of variability accidental, or can it continue?"


    At the Kansas City Chiefs'' forty-yard line, first and ten.


    So, what offensive tactic will the Kansas City Chiefs'' offense choose next?


    Run or pass?


    Bang, bang, bang, the sounds of heavy blows were all left behind him.


    But the Patriots'' Defensive group reacted swiftly the second time, timing their defensive line press and intercept moves to form an encirclement, reminiscent of a scene from a Western film¡ª


    Levi and Kelsey were trapped in an ambush, alone and outnumbered bursting through the heavens.


    From the corner of his eye, Kelsey saw a Cornerback breaking from the right, surged forward, and collided with him using his size advantage, sending the Cornerback flying away.


    First, it was Butler from New England''s right wing, and then a Cornerback from the left wing, both Patriots'' Cornerbacks soaring high.


    Kelsey still had energy to spare and, spotting Levi already sprinting forward, prepared to follow and then saw the enclosing trap ahead. Enjoy more content from empire


    Impenetrable.


    Damn it!


    Kelsey cursed under his breath, contemplating how to break through, when he saw Levi without hesitation charging into a player¡ª


    Handling a brawl alone against many, what do you do?


    Targeting the weakest opponent to breach, enduring others'' punches but concentrating on that single soft target to recover.


    Oddly enough, Kelsey thought of this.


    Push!


    Levi didn''t shy away from the head-on collision, seizing a relatively less robust player and quickly capturing the subtle details of the opponent''s footing and balance, maintaining agility and instantly collided with him.


    Then, he exerted force, like a bulldozer.


    Ah!


    Ah! Ah! Ah!


    Power, burst forth instantly.


    As the saying goes, "You don''t turn back until you hit the south wall"; but in a football field, even after hitting the south wall, one couldn''t turn back as they were still expected to push down that wall.


    Push!


    Power, in waves emanating from the depths of the Dantian, Levi''s steps forcefully collided with the layers of reinforcements pushing onward, like a strongman challenging the Guinness Records, fiercely pressing forward against a person.


    Then, a figure appeared beside Levi:


    Kelsey.


    Following that, the backing forces from the opposite side also accumulated.


    Wave after wave, layer by layer, the struggle over territory quickly turned into close-quarters combat, watching as the Kansas Chiefs'' ground push met resistance but unbelievably pressed forward bit by bit¡ª


    This was true close-quarters combat, instantly entering Spartan 300 warriors mode, a war machine forged with flesh and bone, a clash of strength and musculature, reaching its peak in this very moment.

 Chapter 218 217 Momentum Contest

    "Wow!"


    "Who would have thought, truly, who would have thought we''d witness such a scene in the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots?"


    "A sheer bulldozer-style ground advance."


    "In the end, the Chung family, from the New England Patriots, relied on the Chung family to halt this ground advance, or more precisely, the Chung family was the last straw in this muscle showdown."


    "Nevertheless!"


    "Li Wei, faced with a tough situation surrounded on all sides, unbelievably advanced ten yards again, astonishingly securing a first down conversion."


    "Two consecutive running plays, two consecutive first downs."


    "Wow, is this really a Kansas City Chiefs game?"


    The broadcast booth erupted into frenzy.


    Gillette Stadium was completely ignited too.


    No frills, no tricks, just pure and direct physical clashes, returning to the most fundamental and essential aspect of Football, sparking all around."


    The passion was instantly ignited.


    Faces twisted and snarled, an overwhelming scent of blood released, the roar and heat wave surged throughout the entire stadium.


    However.


    Safety Devin McCourty looked bewildered, his world spinning and his head swimming, he felt nauseous¡ª


    Though he had successfully tackled Li Wei with no missed embrace, and Li Wei like a foolish roe deer walked right into the trap, before he could feel relieved, the next second he couldn''t breathe, and then... his memory blanked out, only remembering the continuous, pressing force.


    What, what happened?


    Who''s the idiot who said Li Wei wasn''t good at confrontation?


    McCourty couldn''t help but rub his chest; he suspected he might have broken a rib.


    Looking up, McCourty tried to find answers but saw that his teammates weren''t offering any eye contact. One by one, they all stood there, gasping for air.


    It appears that they too couldn''t give McCourty any help.


    "Two consecutive ten-yard first downs, two consecutive running plays, and managing to advance more than ten yards each time, they have already reached the midfield line in the blink of an eye."


    The key was, the aggression of the two linebackers, like dragons emerging from the sea, their blades intersecting to pierce through the soft flanks of the Kansas Chiefs Offense on both sides, sealing the fate with bloodshed!


    It was a trap.


    On the surface, the New England Patriots opted for a conservative approach, not rushing in again but methodically defending the short passes, adapting to constant changes with consistency.


    In reality, it wasn''t so. Belichick boldly made use of the defensive line to engage and distract, then used the linebackers to execute the blitz, targeting the quarterback.


    In other words, it was still a blitz, not through the middle but opening channels from the wings; most importantly, the linebackers remained alert, ready to adjust their targets, whether it was Smith or Li Wei, both could stir up a storm of bloodshed in the pocket, seizing the numerical advantage¡ª


    Once in the pocket, the New England Patriots had two players, the Kansas City Chiefs had two as well, even if Li Wei blocked a strike for Smith, Smith still had to face a linebacker alone, and pocket footwork, this was never Smith''s forte.


    This bout of defense finally showcased the strong foundation of the New England Patriots, not only daring to take risks but also aggressively dominant, instantly breaking the balance.


    So what about the Chiefs?


    "Damn."


    Smith''s fingertips tightened slightly.


    Actually, it was a strategy of quick short passes, where speed was key, controlling the release time within two seconds or even one second, quickly finding the passing target to execute the release, disrupting the New England Patriots'' front line pressure; clearly, Reed had anticipated the pressure.


    Read exclusive chapters at empire


    But, Reed overlooked one thing: the rage of the New England Patriots'' defensive group¡ª


    Frustration.


    Twice in a row the opponent''s rookie had ravaged their defense, one and all furious, enhancing their response, activation, and performance a notch higher, truly exhibiting the dominance of the Super Bowl''s second half shutout against the Atlanta Falcons, bringing the front line pressure immediately to Smith.


    This bout of offense and defense was quietly evolving into a contest of momentum at the start of the fourth quarter, with players and coaches on both sides clenching their teeth.


    Smith''s passing vision was disrupted, unable to find his passing target.


    In just a brief half-second or one second, Smith''s rich game experience had already sensed the crisis, but clearly, he was not a quarterback adept at handling complex situations; although he could remain calm, he couldn''t clear his thoughts.


    In a flash of lightning, an idea crossed Smith''s mind¡ª


    Li Wei.


    In the previous two offensive plays, Li Wei''s demonstrated capabilities naturally triggered Smith''s crisis switch, and subconsciously, he turned around to look.


    "Li Wei!"


    With a gentle toss, the football whisked into Li Wei''s embrace like a sprite, with a storm raging towards Li Wei along with the football.

 Chapter 219 218 Siege and Capture Fortresses

    Oppression. Impact. Chaos.


    Li Wei felt like a canoe in the stormy ocean, with no resistance, merely bobbing up and down with the furious waves.


    Always on the brink of overturning.


    Danger.


    Danger danger danger!


    The moment he felt the leather texture of the football in his arms, Li Wei could feel the viper-like gazes locking onto him, his hunter/prey instincts awakening; but crucially, the tactical shift from a quick short pass to a ground run didn''t allow Li Wei enough time to adjust.


    At that moment, Li Wei felt like he had seen this scene before, probably in some escape room movie¡ª


    Waking up from unconsciousness, without having time to figure out what was happening, walls were closing in from all directions, the oncoming sense of oppression triggered a full adrenaline rush. If he didn''t want to be crushed into a pancake, he had to go into survival mode immediately, wasting not a single second.


    The more dangerous it was, the more he needed to stay calm.


    On both sides, two linemen were closing in fast. Before Smith threw the football, Li Wei was observing, getting ready to break free.


    Now, it was the right moment to step forward¡ª


    A mistake.


    Moving to the left.


    Because Kelsey was positioned on the right.


    Usually, the side with the tight end was regarded as the strong side, breaking through here could utilize Kelsey as a lead blocker; but it also meant facing a dense buildup of the defensive group.


    Li Wei, known for his speed and agility, could play more effectively one-on-one; he didn''t hesitate and burst toward the weak side.


    Outside linebacker James Harris was pleased, It was the perfect timing.


    This time, he wouldn''t make the same mistake again. Transferring from the traditional powerhouse, the Pittsburgh Steelers, to the New England Patriots was specifically to strengthen Foxborough''s ground defense. One mistake was already bad enough, but to make the same mistake twice in the same ditch was too¡ª


    Wait, what''s happening?


    One second ago, Harris had targeted Smith, readying to tackle; the next second, he switched his target, preparing to intercept Li Wei.


    This switch required Harris to adjust his footsteps and lower his center of gravity, grappling a quarterback and grappling a running back were two entirely different things. At 6 feet tall and 242 pounds, Harris exposed the shortcoming of his slow reaction time.


    After all, he was a 38-year-old veteran.


    During the switch, there was a very very brief pause. Harris hadn''t managed to step forward when a shadow accelerated right into him.


    Agile, quick, and light, just like a tornado.


    Harris had just finished switching positions, his thoughts weren''t even clear yet when the next second, the impact was already surging from below like a tsunami.


    A jab.


    Grunt.


    But!


    The center of gravity couldn''t keep up.


    Butler, like a wooden stake, slipped underfoot and thudded to the ground.


    His peripheral vision helplessly watched as Li Wei''s steps bypassed his head and continued forward.


    Disgrace!


    Utter humiliation!


    Li Wei: Enjoy your break.


    Ignoring the flattened Butler, Li Wei adjusted his steps twice in quick succession and finally accelerated.


    Directly ahead, he could see Conley retreating back, and in a flash, there was no time for communication, but Li Wei gave Conley a look and they quickly exchanged glances.


    Conley ran back diagonally, positioning himself slightly in front of Li Wei on the right side to escort him, and both unleashed their speed, charging straight ahead at full force.


    "One tackle!"


    "Two tackles!"


    "Gap, torn open, Li Wei with his unmatched step forcefully tore open a gap, New England''s all-in front line pressure didn''t work, now because too many players were hoarded in the front half, leaving the backfield empty, Li Wei under Conley''s escort is making a long drive straight in."


    "Forty-yard line!"


    "Safety McCourty is rapidly approaching."


    "Beautiful! Conley blocks him, McCourty is directly knocked off by Conley."


    "Chung Family! Safety Chung Family is now New England''s last line of defense."


    "Chung Family is closing in, Conley! My God, Conley has caught up once again."


    "This Wide Receiver in his third year almost lost his starting position during the off-season, but he fought hard, overcame four competitors, and secured the starting spot, now he''s also showing his spirited determination."


    "Conley shakes off McCourty, trying to intercept Chung Family."


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    "Marvelous!"


    "Conley disrupted Chung Family for a moment, he wasn''t able to tackle Chung Family, who stunningly broke through Conley''s block head-on and continued toward Li Wei, but Conley''s disruption bought precious time for Li Wei."


    "Li Wei! Chung Family!"


    "Chung Family! Li Wei!"


    "Number 23 vs Number 23! A head-to-head match between two Asian players!"


    "My God, we are witnessing history once again!"

 Chapter 220 219 Direct Confrontation

    Blue twenty-three.


    At a glance, Li Wei could spot the twenty-three, like a wolf on the hunt, barreling directly at him. His run was as straightforward as a drawn blade, cutting straight toward Li Wei without any tricks or sways, following a diagonal line sharp as a sword.


    Chung Family, currently the leading Asian player in the NFL and a key contributor to the New England Patriots'' Super Bowl victories, had already reserved a spot in the Hall of Fame even though he had not yet retired. He completed his work with meticulous dedication, never showing mercy.


    Wearing the same number twenty-three jersey, and also an Asian player, Li Wei and Chung Family were once again locked in a head-on clash.


    Tap, tap, tap, tap.


    Li Wei was adjusting and accelerating, but he wasn''t rushing to reach his top speed. Instead, he lowered his center of gravity slightly, preparing to brace for the impact.


    Thud.


    The collision happened, but it wasn''t between Li Wei and Chung Family. Conley''s tenacious fighting spirit created a bit of space for Li Wei, visibly throwing Chung Family off course.


    Opportunity.


    He pushed off the ground, feeling the solid thickness of power colliding with the earth, propelling his body to break free from gravity''s hold, rising with the wind.


    One step, two steps¡ª


    Just two short steps, and power and speed burst forth, elevating to another gear, like Skimming Steps, leaving a trail of afterimages behind him.


    At the first instance, Chung Family realized the crisis and, amidst the stumbling and confusion, he forcefully lunged forward¡ª


    Snap.


    Hit.


    At that moment, Chung Family demonstrated the top-notch ability and experience of a Safety, incredibly managing to slap at Li Wei amid the tumult.


    He even managed to grab him.


    A grab!


    Chung Family no longer cared about the legality of his actions. In the blink of an eye, he had grabbed Li Wei''s jersey and pulled hard backward.


    Ah, ah, ah!


    Chung Family put in his effort, completely losing his balance, simply using his body weight and strength, trying to bring Li Wei down.


    Yellow flag.


    Without a doubt, the referee threw a yellow flag.


    But!


    Li Wei didn''t stop.


    "What!"


    "Incredible."


    "I mean, incredible."


    "The New England defensive group had almost secured the win, forcing Smith to abandon his original tactics and hastily, in a pinch, hand the football to Li Wei. Yet under crisis, Li Wei fully displayed his speed, strength, and agility, completely turning the tide, turning what could have been an offensive failure into a fifty-yard breakaway for a touchdown."


    "Wow."


    "I mean, wow."


    "But what''s even more incredible is that in this continuous offensive drive lasting two minutes and seventeen seconds, the Kansas City Chiefs used only third gear attacks, all running plays, all performed by the twenty-three-year-old rookie running back Li Wei, single-handedly advancing seventy-five yards and demolishing New England''s ground defense."


    "Wow, Chris, what do you think?"


    Michaels''s entire scalp tingled.


    Despite having witnessed countless classic scenes, seeing such a spectacular performance once again still made his blood boil and his emotions surge; words could hardly express a fraction of the intense emotions he felt at that moment.


    Collinsworth was no exception, his eyes wide, he let out a long breath.


    "The fourth quarter has just begun, anything is possible."


    "As I predicted, the offense is the focal point of this game, but now, Li Wei has become the outlier for the Kansas City Chiefs, breaking the balance, suddenly adding more variables."


    "Even though I hadn''t predicted this scene before the game, now, all eyes are on Brady. Last season''s Super Bowl MVP needs to bring his peak performance, and Brady probably didn''t expect to have to bring his A-game right at the season opener, but this is reality happening."


    Michaels nodded in understanding, turned his head to his partner, "You mean, the same as what I''m thinking?"


    Collinsworth nodded, "Yeah, ''Rookie vs. Goat'', hey man, we are indeed witnessing this moment."


    The confrontation isn''t literally a head-to-head matchup, after all, both Li Wei and Brady are on the offensive group and can''t face off directly.


    But now, Li Wei is playing a key role on offense, with third gear attacks advancing seventy-five yards to take the touchdown, putting the Kansas City Chiefs back in the lead, naturally piling all the pressure on Brady, who needs to continue to lead his team to score to retake the advantage. Read new adventures at empire


    Thus, the showdown unfolded.


    After a brief moment of astonishment and shock at Gillette Stadium, it erupted with an incredible energy, support cascading down like a landslide.


    In such a scene, at such a moment, they had been through countless battles; they believed in Brady and in Belichick, and they simply weren''t worried.


    Brady stood up, helmet in hand, and stood calmly on the sidelines, glancing up at the giant screen above.


    "35:34.


    With the extra point successfully kicked, the Kansas City Chiefs led by one point.


    Brady shifted his gaze away, still disregarding Li Wei, because it wasn''t worth it, and it wasn''t necessary. If every time such a situation arose he made a big fuss, then he might as well not play the game, and just produce "live game reaction videos" instead. Stick to his own pace, show what a leader, what a champion looks like¡ªvictory still belonged to them, he never doubted that.


    Brady re-entered the field, head held high, chest out, walking into the fray with a composed ease:


    Rookie, did you see that? Take some notes.

 Chapter 221 220 imposing as a rainbow

    "Boo, rookie!"


    "Boo!"


    The crude and brutal swear words at Gillette Stadium mixed with the jeers, torrentially flooded down, menacingly engulfing Li Wei who stood by the field.


    Although playing away games was always like this, today the vitriol focused on Li Wei was particularly vicious as his touchdown once again pushed him to the pinnacle.


    Li Wei, with a composed expression, took these attacks as proof of his excellence.


    But Justin Houston couldn''t stand it.


    This linebacker, drafted in the third round, 70th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2011, had grown into the leader of the defense¡ª


    making it to the Pro Bowl for four consecutive years since the 2012 season.


    Last season, a knee ligament tear had lamentably kept Houston out for most of the season, only returning in Week 11 of the regular season, but he never found his form.


    A new season, a new beginning.


    Houston was ready to make his comeback, starting with the defending champions.


    Yes, Li Wei was a rookie¡ªthat was a fact, there was no denying it, even now. Inside the Chiefs, they still half-jokingly called Li Wei a rookie, including Mahomes and the other newcomers.


    But there was a difference between them saying it and the opponents hurling it as an insult.


    Houston didn''t like it¡ªit was nobody else''s business to criticize Kansas City Chiefs'' rookies, especially since Li Wei had just thrown it back in their faces.


    "Brothers."


    Seeing Brady huddle up, Houston also rallied his teammates.


    "Hey, listen up. The game is tough, very tough, but we''re still fighting."


    "That rookie just taught us vets a lesson. Three runs, seventy-five yards; the Pats couldn''t stop him at all. Their defense was like it didn''t exist, the rookie got us the lead."


    "Now it''s our turn."


    His words were brief but resounded with conviction.


    But the second time, Brady quickly realized the situation was becoming increasingly difficult, as the Kansas City Chiefs seemed to be generating an unsurpassed energy.


    First down, the run was halted at the line of scrimmage.


    Second down, the Chiefs used just four men to rush the passer: three Defensive linemen plus... one cornerback, an unorthodox strategy not commonly seen.


    Usually, blitzes involve a linebacker joining the Defensive line; but in recent years, especially after the Seattle Seahawks'' Bombing Corps completely changed the league''s definition of defense, big-sized cornerbacks have increasingly become common, and defensive tactics involving cornerbacks blitzing quarterbacks have also become popular.


    This time, the Chiefs unexpectedly adopted this tactic, catching Brady completely off guard. Peters stormed in like a tiger descending the mountain, sacking Brady without giving him any chance.


    The situation suddenly became critical.


    In the predicament of third and fourteen, Brady tried a long pass to get out of trouble but found the Chiefs'' zone defense highly focused, unable to find a target for the pass; what''s worse, as the pass was slightly delayed, the pocket collapsed, Houston cutting into the pocket¡ª


    The Chiefs employ a "3-4" defense, with only three Defensive linemen, just three! Yet, facing the five men on the New England Patriots'' offensive line, Houston managed to tear open the pocket, which particularly infuriated Brady.


    But now was not the time for anger, Brady still found a chance to try a long pass connection before Houston could complete the sack or hit him.


    He found his number one wide receiver¡ª


    After Julian Edelman, who created numerous miracles last season, was written off due to injury, Amendola became Brady''s current top passing target.


    But truth be told, Amendola, once undrafted, still had some deficiencies in ability, especially on long third down passes; his route running could often be predicted by opponents in advance.


    Just like this time.


    Eric Berry, merely covering Amendola, read his running path one step ahead, positioned himself perfectly as the ball came down to create interference, and was even a hair''s breadth away from intercepting¡ª


    If it weren''t for Amendola pulling on Berry at the last moment to commit a foul and disrupt Berry''s balance, Berry might have just snatched the game''s first interception at that moment.


    It was that close.


    Though Berry missed the interception, he still accurately defended against Amendola. Your next chapter awaits on empire


    Brady''s thirty-five-yard sneak attempt ended incomplete.


    Struck out!


    In a sudden change of fortunes, the initiative switched to the Kansas City Chiefs.

 Chapter 222 221 Uncontrollable anger

    Strength deserted him, and he failed to maintain his balance. Brady fell hard on his back, but there was no time for regrets. He pushed himself up quickly with his hands, just in time to see the incomplete pass¡ª


    Heaven and hell were divided just like that.


    Brady''s annoyance surged. This time, his offense was completely suppressed, with no breathing space from the relentless onslaught. Clearly, the offensive line had to take responsibility for not completing the mission.


    Yet, before his anger could explode, Brady saw Houston, who had also fallen, standing up, raising his arms high with a smile creeping onto his lips, just as Brady thought the other man was about to talk trash and he was ready to shoot back.


    "Rookie!"


    What?


    Brady was taken aback, not understanding what Houston was shouting.


    "Rookie!"


    Houston looked at Brady, a smile on his lips, not boasting or looking fierce but instead stepping back with an easygoing air, leaving Brady''s fury stuck in his throat.


    The next second, the players of the Kansas City Chiefs Defense all started chanting.


    Once, then again.


    "Rookie."


    It was clear they were calling him a rookie.


    So, was this the response of the Kansas City Chiefs to Gillette Stadium?


    For the moment, Brady didn''t even know how to react. He felt the ridiculousness of it all, as if he were unable to decide whether to laugh or cry. Was he the only person in the whole world who found the "rookie vs. Goat" topic so laughable it shouldn''t even exist?


    Wait, they couldn''t possibly think that such tactics would actually enrage him, could they?


    Brady didn''t even look at the offensive line; instead, he turned to look across the field and easily found the rookie''s figure in the crowd.


    This must have been the first time Brady seriously sized up Li Wei.


    He was different from what Brady had imagined¡ªnot frail or bookish, but instead standing there with a raised right hand, giving high-fives to each defensive player.


    His smile was radiant.


    He clearly got along well with the veterans on the team, didn''t look at all like a rookie. The Kansas City Chiefs'' morale was quietly building, something not seen in the past few seasons.


    So, was this the kind of change that Li Wei brought?


    Ha, as if!


    Their own twenty-eight-yard line.


    On this side, the Kansas Chiefs Offense took the field again, and Li Wei was not among them¡ª


    Hunter, on stage.


    The New England Patriots defense loosened up a bit, not entirely because they underestimated Hunter, but because they believed people were right about Li Wei: after a high-level face-off, one needs to gather strength.


    Nothing to fear.


    However, if the opponent underestimated Hunter because of Li Wei''s presence, they might be in for a fall.


    Everyone in the Chiefs Team knew that Hunter had always been competing with Li Wei, and with Li Wei''s outstanding performance turning the tides, Hunter was even more eager. Perhaps that was Reed''s real intention in using Hunter for this offensive drive.


    Indeed.


    Hunter was highly focused, going full throttle. Moreover, with Li Wei''s previous continuous ground advances opening up the situation and activating the offense, Reed''s tendency to employ versatile offensive tactics came into play once again, deploying both passing and running plays. Continue your saga on empire


    In terms of height and build, Hunter was slightly shorter than Li Wei and weighed about the same; people might think the two running backs had similar styles, which was also a major reason the Chiefs Team faced tremendous pressure at the draft¡ª


    Picking two was bad enough, but both running backs had similar styles?


    Utterly foolish.


    But in fact, the two running backs had different styles.


    Incredibly, Li Wei focused more on confrontation in his ground advances¡ªMarshawn Lynch''s training template indeed played an important role during the past eight-month offseason, and Li Wei, widely believed to lack confrontation capability, was actually the more confrontational running back on the team.


    Hunter relied more on agility, not just in speed but also in his ability to rip through tight spaces and break free. He had often caught passes during his college days, so his receiving skills were better than Li Wei''s.


    When the New England Patriots defense realized that Reed was playing unconventionally again, using Hunter as the fifth receiving option, and the Kansas City Chiefs unexpectedly resumed their passing game¡ª


    They were somewhat flustered.


    The Kansas City Chiefs, unstoppable.


    The New England Patriots defense did ramp up their intensity, forcing the Kansas City Chiefs'' offensive efficiency to drop, slowing the flow of their opponent; but Smith once again displayed his hot passing touch, continuing to drive forward amidst the chaos.


    Facing third gear conversion three times, the Kansas City Chiefs converted each one successfully and crossed the midfield to arrive at the New England Patriots'' forty-yard line.


    Gillette Stadium couldn''t believe it¡ª


    Unstoppable, they were truly unstoppable!


    Then, Li Wei took the field again.

 Chapter 223 222 Spotlight-Stealing Expert

    ```


    It was unbelievable, even with one''s own eyes witnessing it, still reluctant to trust what they saw¡ªa 100% third gear conversion rate was simply outrageous, an unacceptable reality, because it proved they had not managed to hold onto the game¡ª


    Read exclusive content at empire


    Intensity was there.


    Quality was there.


    But to fail at crucial moments, such a situation was severely demoralizing.


    The New England Patriots'' defensive group, one and all, were gasping for breath with blood in their eyes, like a pack of ravenous wolves, desperately needing to prove themselves and to stop the opponent; then, they saw that figure.


    Number twenty-three.


    Just right, their long-awaited moment to wash away the shame had finally arrived.


    If playing the role of running back and wide receiver, confusing the offense with decoys and causing the New England defense into disarray could barely be considered an excuse; then Li Wei destroying the ground defense was another matter¡ªthey needed to regain face and control.


    One by one, they sharpened their knives.


    Li Wei and Hunter switched places, and one could clearly sense Hunter''s dissatisfaction.


    Hunter was in good form even though his ground running had not yet hit its stride, but he had proven his versatility at the wide receiver position, an important bargaining chip in his competition with Li Wei. He longed to stay on the field, to continue to search for his rhythm, and to continue to contribute to the team.


    But Reed''s decision to alternate running backs was both for rest and tactical adjustments, and Hunter had no choice.


    Hunter glared fiercely at Li Wei, "You''d better not screw up a good situation."


    Li Wei noticed Hunter''s look and couldn''t help but lift the corners of his mouth into a smile:


    It was fine, after all, the entire Gillette Stadium was watching him, one more Hunter made no difference, one less Hunter wouldn''t matter.


    In fact, Hunter''s outstanding performance also made Li Wei realize the existence of healthy competition; he would not let his guard down, he would continue his outstanding performances to keep Hunter as the second running back.


    Drive, plenty.


    Just as he entered the game, Li Wei could feel the scrutiny from the opposing defensive group, air thick with tension, an aura fully unleashed, the entire pressure solidified the atmosphere. Past grudges now ignited.


    Ready to target Li Wei, release everything.


    Li Wei remained calm¡ª


    He was the decoy.


    Belichick might be a sly fox, but Reed was not far behind.


    Reed grasped the game dynamics perfectly, he noted the emotional turbulence of the defensive group, the pressure that exposed more uncertainty due to decreasing stamina, and it was this fluctuation he intended to exploit to divert attention and create opportunities for passing.


    The situation was utterly in the favor of the Defensive group.


    The Chiefs, who had converted on all three previous third downs, likely couldn''t push forward any longer.


    "Defense!"


    "Defense!"


    "Defense!"


    The uniform chanting from Gillette Stadium fell like torrential rain, causing the whole stadium to tremble slightly as if it were shaking the world.


    The momentum was indeed so overwhelming that Smith''s tactical setup became very difficult, he had to yell at the top of his lungs while using hand signals just to barely complete communication.


    "What tactic will Reed choose this time?"


    "In the previous three third down conversions, two were to Kelsey, and one was to Hunter. Reed''s passing tactics have indeed varied in limited space, but with a long third down this time, an even stiffer challenge awaits."


    "Is there a possibility that Reed will unexpectedly hand off the football to the running back?"


    No sooner had Michaels voiced his opinion than Collinsworth couldn''t help laughing out loud, clearly not in agreement.


    Michaels looked over, "Chris?"


    Collinsworth shook his head, "If it were Harbaugh or Rivera, of course, they might take the risk, but Reed? Highly unlikely."


    "Look at last season''s Super Bowl showdown, everyone thought Carroll would hand off the football to Lynch, but what did he do?"


    "That was ''Beast Mode'' Lynch."


    "And now Reed has a rookie in Beast Mode, I don''t think he should entrust such a crucial down to a rookie. If it were Adrian Peterson, okay, I admit there''s a 10% chance, but unfortunately, Peterson is not at Gillette Stadium at this moment."


    "My guess is a long pass to Hill. They tried once on first and ten; hey, third and sixteen, why not try it again?"


    In the broadcast room, analysis and discussion were underway.


    And on the field¡ª


    "Attack!"


    Smith signaled for the snap, took a series of drop-back steps, raised his chin, and began to survey.


    As expected, a pass.


    So, was the passing target Hill? Kelsey? Or... Li Wei?


    Wait, Li Wei?


    Why did Smith pass the football to Li Wei?


    Oh God, Reed had lost his mind.

 Chapter 224 223 Rookie Mode

    False start, true sprint.


    After consecutive passing plays hit a wall, facing a long third down, Reed unexpectedly chose a running play, trying to bring some novelty¡ª


    Honestly, Reed''s strategy was to capitalize on the New England Patriots'' focus on defending against the long pass, leaving a gap in the short pass area, hoping that Li Wei could gain yardage on the ground. Even if they couldn''t achieve a first down, they could secure a better position for a field goal attempt, ensuring at least three points for the Chiefs.


    As expected!No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Before even getting the ball, Li Wei noticed that the defenders in the short pass area had clearly spread out, with the linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties all shifting their weight back in their first reaction.


    A gap.


    Li Wei took the football from Smith and without adjusting his steps, immediately charged forward, breaking through to the left. This was because Kelsey and Hill were both on the right side, drawing nearly half of the New England Patriots'' defensive strength there, leaving the left short pass area relatively empty.


    The moment he started, Li Wei noticed a flash of blue breaking free, like a tiger bursting out of its cage, ferociously blocking his way¡ª


    Defensive End Flyers.


    Clearly, Belichick hadn''t overlooked the possibility of Reed''s surprise attack. Even though the linebackers didn''t advance, the defensive line was highly focused. Meanwhile, the Chiefs'' offensive line was cautious of committing penalties and did not maintain formation, allowing Flyers to break through.


    In a split second, Li Wei had made his decision.


    He needed to race against time, advancing as much as possible before the second line of defense closed in. This way, even if he was tackled, he could still fight for a better field goal position. Any hesitation could lead to more obstructions ahead; he couldn''t afford to get entangled.


    So, Li Wei didn''t opt for a head-on collision. Instead, he shifted his steps to the left, just half a step to the side, and then used a ground push to release his power and speed, attempting to sprint past Flyers.


    Push, one step.


    In that brief moment, Flyers'' eyes flashed fiercely, his frustration and humiliation fueling a sudden increase in speed. His large and cumbersome body accelerated unbelievably, a half step faster, recklessly launching his entire body forward.


    A desperate gamble!


    That half step gave Flyers the advantage.


    A dive.


    From misalignment to a perfect fit, Flyers had already accurately wrapped his arms around Li Wei''s waist¡ª


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    "Got you!"


    Flyers was elated, his arms closing in, utilizing the pull of gravity to sink his heavy body down, dragging Li Wei down with him to put an end to this advance.


    Last time, Li Wei had broken through Butler''s side, so was he choosing Harrison this time?


    Harrison: Come on, come on, little lamb.


    Then, in a flash, Li Wei changed direction, stepping forward to the left once more.


    Harrison grew anxious, watching his prey that was seemingly within reach escape. He didn''t want to miss out on the perfect opportunity to thoroughly crush and grind the rookie, pacing his steps eagerly, adding urgency on top of his conditioned reflex.


    Butler hadn''t been paying close attention; his gaze was completely on his prey: Heh heh, Little Red Riding Hood, don''t be afraid, I''ll be gentle this time.


    In the blink of an eye, Li Wei astonishingly changed direction for a third time.


    Although it was called a change of direction, it was more of a feint this time. Three changes in direction within a mere second were indeed forced, but Li Wei still managed to slam his leftward-moving foot to a stop, unbelievably halting in place.


    Everything happened too fast, and for Harrison, Butler, and the entire stadium audience, it was impossible to discern so many fine movements; they just saw a series of afterimages:


    Faint. Faint. Faint.


    Professional athletes have well-developed reflexes. Both Harrison and Butler instinctively reacted, following Li Wei''s feints closely while their center of gravity began to sway violently.


    Like a pendulum.


    However, the physical distance continued to close, and just as the three players were about to converge, Harrison could no longer restrain himself and took the leap¡ª


    Diving tackle.


    No matter what tricks Li Wei played, Harrison was determined to seize the rhythm, striking first to gain an advantage.


    Then, Harrison had already launched into the air.


    Right at that moment, in the milliseconds that passed fleetingly, Li Wei started for the fourth time, his body taking a large step to the right.


    Neither Harrison nor Butler could keep up, as Li Wei had been constantly feinting and changing direction; their continuous swaying reflexively followed suit, but because of Li Wei''s temporary halt, they were caught off balance. At that moment, both their centers of gravity were following inertia into a fifth sway to Li Wei''s left, but Li Wei was already in his fourth move, breaking in the opposite direction to the right.


    The positions, just like that, shifted out of alignment.


    Heh!


    Gillette Stadium didn''t know what happened or see the clear details, but they could see Li Wei miraculously escaping the encirclement of the two players, cutting inside, and actually finding an opening to keep moving forward.


    How is that possible!


    So steady, so calm, is this really a rookie?

 Chapter 225 224 Five Passes and Six Generals

    Heh.


    Time momentarily congealed here.


    Harrison took flight, lunging at nothing.


    Butler made an emergency stop, blocked by Harrison, and could only watch helplessly as Li Wei slipped through his fingertips. He tried to keep up, but with Harrison''s body sprawling in midair, a slip of the foot sent him tumbling out.


    Above and below, two streaks of blue crossed, both losing their balance.


    The cheers of celebration were abruptly silenced in the throat, even cries of alarm and astonishment vanished altogether. The entire Gillette Stadium watched this scene, dumbstruck, hearts ceased beating, completely paralyzed, as their brains were already engulfed by a tsunami of shock.


    And Li Wei?


    His steps were light and agile, having just crossed the thirty-five-yard line.


    Even after four changes of direction, he still maintained his balance. Despite the intense energy consumption and his lungs starting to burn, his forward strides didn''t stop. Attention undiminished, concentrated even more in his burning state, he rapidly scanned the field; he had no intentions of stopping.


    Huff, huff.


    To his right was a tumultuous wave; the players who just clashed on the strong side rushed up, white and blue entangled, clawing their way forward.


    A figure, charging at the forefront¡ª


    The Safety, McCourty.


    He agilely and lightly shook off Chieftain''s Wide Receiver Hill''s block and cut across unstoppably, precisely judging the space and route to block Li Wei''s path ahead.


    Step, step, step step step.


    Li Wei''s footsteps didn''t stop, still pressing on, yet the oxygen depletion was severe. Amidst the chaotic surge and inevitably limited vision, he couldn''t see the other Safety from the Chung Family, but he also had no time to worry about these things, making a split-second decision.


    No dodging, just a straight charge.


    In the most straightforward and efficient manner, he sprinted at full speed along the straight path.


    Push off the ground, exert force.


    Push off the ground! Exert force!


    Muscles were burning, blood was boiling, and power was exploding.


    Longitudinal and lateral high-speed trains collided at this crossroad.


    However, Li Wei didn''t dodge.


    Not only did he not dodge, this time Li Wei even took the initiative¡ª


    He had already silently switched the football to his left hand, his right arm outstretched.


    Stiff-arm!


    A brace, a collision.


    Li Wei had already preemptively struck McCourty.


    Bang.


    Adjusting while exerting force, Li Wei unbelievably adjusted his direction amidst the chaos and jolting, continuing forward while drawing near to the sideline.


    The Twenty-Five-Yard Line, within reach¡ª


    Leaping over it.


    And then, securing the first down.


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    Unbelievable, inconceivable, Li Wei actually overcame five obstacles and cut down six generals, miraculously completing the Third Gear sixteen-yard conversion, and securing the first down once again.


    All viewers inside and outside the TV broadcast screen were stupefied, their hearts stuck in their throats, eyes wide with astonishment watching the two number twenty-threes.


    Blue, keeping pace and moving side by side, using his body to squeeze and collide, disrupting the opponent''s balance, forcibly slowing down the speed.


    White, persistently advancing despite the pressure, slowly moving towards the sideline amidst the squeezing, now on the verge of exhaustion and hardly able to mount an effective resistance, all the remaining strength focusing on the footwork and pushing forward amidst chaos and jolting.


    One lateral collision, one vertical advancement.


    Before you know it¡ª


    The Twenty-Yard Line.


    The Fifteen-Yard Line.


    The Red Zone is now within reach, and the footfalls of the two players are also nearing the sideline, with the steps of white seeming unsteady and unable to bear the weight any longer.


    "Chung! Chung! Chung!"


    The entire Gillette Stadium, from top to bottom, was chanting the Chung Family''s surname, including the players of the New England Patriots on the sideline who all rose and chanted as well.


    Brady included.


    By now Brady had also stood up; they hadn''t anticipated Li Wei escaping Flyers'' tackle, hadn''t expected Li Wei to outmaneuver Butler and Harrison, and had certainly not foreseen Li Wei flipping McCourty, but now they had no way back, as Li Wei was still pushing forward.


    The Chung Family, was the hope of the entire village.


    "Rookie!"


    Mahomes roared uncontrollably, tearing open a rift in the tumultuous waves for the Kansas City Chiefs on the road, retaining a glimmer of hope.


    The entire Old Oak Tavern had gone mad, uniformly and uncontrollably shouting the same name as if they were at Gillette Stadium.


    "Rookie!"


    The Ten-Yard Line.


    The Chung Family was very calm but also very tough, unable to exert force amid the stumbling collisions, but he never gave up. Amid the jolting shock waves, he extended his hands and grabbed Li Wei''s helmet¡ª


    An instinctive reaction.


    The Chung Family knew this was a violation, a yellow flag costing fifteen yards, but he couldn''t care less at this point; he had to stop Li Wei, grabbing whatever he could in his panic.


    The next second, the Chung Family was ready to exert force and bring down Li Wei.


    Oh, oh oh, the power, unleashed without any reservation.

 Chapter 226 225 Earth-shaking Days

    Danger.


    Danger danger danger!


    Constantly teetering on the brink, perpetually at risk, with a cliff on the left and a fierce tiger on the right, Li Wei squeezed through narrow escapes, his meager remaining energy trying to sustain his speed; but now, Li Wei felt the hands of the Chung Family flailing around his helmet and shoulders like a wild wind, trying to find a grip.


    Damn it.


    The crisis reached its peak in an instant.


    Li Wei knew that once the Chung Family found a grip, he would forcefully exert his strength; and he, without any chance to resist, because he was already exhausted.


    The intensity was different, truly different, overwhelming and incessant, leaving no room to catch one''s breath.


    But!


    Li Wei didn''t give up, nor did he plan to.


    The greater the crisis, the more he needed to stay calm, having already completed his mission, as long as he didn''t lose the ball, any further progress was a bonus.


    A bold and crazy idea took shape in his mind¡ª


    He made a split-second decision and acted immediately.


    With a peripheral glimpse, Li Wei noticed the Chung Family''s large hand had grabbed his helmet.


    That''s bad!


    Without hesitation, Li Wei shrank his head as if to slip off the helmet with the help of the Chung Family''s hand, and the next second he could feel the Chung Family''s power pouring down like a rockslide.


    His head felt lighter.


    The helmet was pulled off, and the world suddenly brightened.


    But Li Wei had no time to breathe, as he spun clockwise, using the Chung Family as a pole, and then he started to spin.


    "Spin, jump, I close my eyes."


    With one misstep, Li Wei could see the Chung Family looking over with a stunned, wide-eyed expression, their gazes briefly meeting before they separated.


    The Chung Family went left, Li Wei went right, parting ways.


    The Chung Family stared at the helmet in his hands, dumbfounded: Damn.


    The next second, the Chung Family was already flying out.


    And Li Wei?


    "If anyone still doubts Li Wei''s capabilities, he''d better shut his mouth, or he will be the one embarrassed."


    "Now, the New England Patriots are pushed to the edge of the cliff."


    "Until the third quarter, the New England Patriots firmly controlled the game, not just leading in score but also dominating the play, but coming into the fourth quarter, the Kansas City Chiefs turned the situation on its head with two offensive waves and one defensive, now putting the defending champions in dire straits."


    "The New England Patriots need Brady to step up, Brady needs to score, whether a touchdown or a field goal, they need at least one score to stabilize, otherwise the match will be very difficult, very, very difficult."


    "Before the game, despite all the talk, it was just a hype, no one really believed such topics could become reality; but now, well, ladies and gentlemen, ''rookie vs. goat,'' this key duel is decidedly shaping the outcome of this match."


    "The rookie has made his move, now it''s the goat''s turn."


    Finally, finally after Kansas City Chiefs'' forgetful celebration, Gillette Stadium regained its senses¡ª


    "42:34".


    The gap, widened to eight points.


    Nevertheless, the New England Patriots were still not in a dire situation, it was still a touchdown difference, a touchdown plus a two-point conversion would suffice; meaning, Gillette Stadium should not continue focusing on the rookie, the pressing issue was their own offense that needed attention.


    The New England Patriots had faced such situations more than once, and Brady had led the team through fourth-quarter difficulties to clutch victories more than once¡ª


    In NFL history, the number of games a team captained by a quarterback turned around to win while trailing in the fourth quarter, Manning led with forty-three, the highest record in history; Brady was currently second with thirty-nine.


    Gillette Stadium had not lost faith.


    They momentarily had no time to attack Li Wei, all attention shifted to Brady.


    "Offense!"


    "Offense!"


    The support, mightily unified as one.


    At this moment, three minutes and forty-one seconds remained until the end of the game, giving the New England Patriots ample time to tie the score, but they had no room for retreat, a touchdown was a must, a two-point conversion essential.


    Of course, they still had a last resort, the gamble kick.


    This was another tactically and risky kickoff strategy in football; the New England Patriots could opt to score with a field goal first, then a gamble kick, keeping possession away from the Kansas City Chiefs, trying to get the ball again and attempt a touchdown to clinch victory.


    However, the success rate of a gamble kick was very low, so at this point, the best choice for the New England Patriots remained a touchdown, the baseline was a must-score.


    Under such circumstances, Brady entered the field.


    No one expected, originally thinking that the defending champions could firmly control the game and rush toward victory, but experiencing polar extremes in the fourth quarter, when Brady stepped onto the field again, there was a heroic vulnerably chilling air, pushing Gillette Stadium''s atmosphere to a new peak.


    "Offense!"


    Li Wei had made his move, now it was Brady''s turn.

 Chapter 227 226 drenched in cold sweat

    "Rookie vs. Goat"?


    Ha ha.


    Brady walked onto the field with absolute calm and confidence, believing, not just believing but knowing, that he could turn the game around.


    This confidence wasn''t baseless¡ª


    Throughout the game, the New England Patriots had only one punt, which was during the last offensive wave in the fourth quarter. Every other advancement scored, either touchdowns or field goals, without a single mishap.


    Indeed, Brady wasn''t at his best today but he was ready to teach the rookie a lesson about what it means to be the league''s top player, what it means to be the greatest of all time:


    Winning when at your best is expected; any professional player should be able to do that, otherwise they might as well go back to farming; but it is greatness to find a way to win even when not at your best.


    Brady indeed had a few tricks up his sleeve.


    The offensive line, just scolded by Brady, elevated their performance, providing solid and reliable pocket protection and buying time for Brady.


    Facing third gear difficulties in two consecutive offenses, Brady still managed to find gaps and make the conversions during the crucial moments.


    Brady was performing a CPR on the offense of the New England Patriots, not only extending their life but also moving closer to mid-field and firmly seizing the initiative.


    The key was tight end Gronkowski.


    Previously, for a long time, the role of tight ends was more focused on blocking and covering. Although they played a role in receiving, their bulky size and slow speed¡ªsomewhere between a running back and a wide receiver¡ªmade their positioning unclear and their function relatively limited.


    That was until two players changed the history:


    Graham from the New Orleans Saints and Gronkowski from the New England Patriots.


    Their strength and physique gave them greater combat and breakthrough abilities, allowing them even to play an armor-piercing role; combined with their remarkable speed, their powerful drives often continued even after encounters.


    They merged the best traits of running backs and wide receivers, playing irreplaceable roles, and completely turned around the position of the tight end in an era dominated by passing.


    Fans often joke about the offensive tactics of the New England Patriots:


    "Third gear targets big Gronk."


    That is, in third gear troubles, Brady would nine times out of ten look for Gronkowski, who could solve problems through his individual capability even if the defensive group had seen through the tactics, and they simply couldn''t stop him.


    Some teams even had to defend him with two or three players during third gear offenses, a tactic that might lead to losing sight of other threats and the tri-defensive focus might still fail to stop him, turning into a real disaster.


    This was Gronkowski''s capability.


    And now, it was the same.


    In two consecutive third gear difficulties, Brady invariably connected with Gronkowski, relying on his most reliable and stable passing target to solve issues¡ª


    Old-fashioned, but effective.


    How to stop Gronkowski was a problem for the entire league to ponder.


    "God!"


    "The football has slipped out of Brady''s arms, a fatal fumble."


    The commentators were stunned, watching Brady being mercilessly tossed around like a rag, and amid the chaos, the football broke free.


    "Houston!"


    "Justin Houston, he actually controlled the football before Brady."


    "Turnover!"


    "The first turnover of the game, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense seized the throat of fate with an unparalleled performance at the critical moment."


    "Intensity! Explosion!"


    "When we keep discussing what the Kansas City Chiefs are missing, what are we really talking about?"


    "It''s this very scene. It''s the ability of the team to continuously make major advances in ground attacks, and the defensive group''s tough tactics to continuously break the momentum of the opponent''s offense, even making turnovers."


    "Now, the control of the game has come to the hands of Kansas City Chiefs."


    "On the screen, you can see Brady very angry, his emotions out of control again."


    Damn!


    Brady ultimately couldn''t control himself, furiously throwing his helmet to the ground and cursing loudly.


    Damn damn damn!


    A short pass in first gear was nearly intercepted.


    A long pass in second gear encountered a sack and a lost ball.


    The New England Patriots''s offensive attempt faced immense pressure, and Brady didn''t even get a chance to connect with Gronkowski before being forced off the field.


    This also meant that they needed to hope for an incredible mistake by the Kansas Chiefs Offense, otherwise, victory in this game no longer belonged to them.


    Leading for almost three quarters of the game, only to be crushed in the fourth quarter?


    What was going on, what kind of script was this?


    Even the weather-beaten Brady lost control.


    "Damn!"


    Now, with only sixty-three seconds left in the game, it was clear as day that the Kansas City Chiefs would use a ground attack to run out the clock. They didn''t need to advance, just to let time run out to secure the victory, unless the rookie running back also fumbled.


    Wait, wait¡ª


    No... could it really be...?

 Chapter 228 227 Clean and tidy

    A question arose: the team was leading in the score and had control of the ball with sixty-three seconds left in the game. What should their offensive strategy be next?


    Any football fan would give the same answer: Run the ball. Run the ball. Run the ball.


    Simply put, it involved using ground advancement to consume game time.


    Moreover, at that moment, the Kansas City Chiefs'' starting position was at the New England Patriots'' 43-yard line in their half, which was a perfect offensive location¡ª


    If the third-gear running play managed to advance a certain number of yards, the Kansas City Chiefs could easily attempt a field goal to kill off the game; if not, no worries, they could opt for a more secure and safer method by exhausting all four downs, consuming as much of the game time as possible.


    Of course, could something unexpected happen?


    Yes.


    More than one kind.


    For instance, the opponent could use consecutive timeouts, and even after consuming all four down of ground offense, some time might remain, even if only one or two seconds, allowing the New England Patriots'' offensive group to take the field and attempt a Hail Mary.


    The so-called Hail Mary originated in 1922 from NCAA, from the traditional football powerhouse, Notre Dame University, a Catholic institution. Hail Mary was originally a prayer from the school widely echoed in games but wasn''t popularized in the league until 1975.


    At that time, in an NFL game, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach faced the Minnesota Vikings. During the final seconds of the game, he completed a game-winning long pass and disclosed in a post-game interview that he whispered a "Hail Mary" prayer at the moment he passed the ball.


    Thereafter, "Hail Mary" came to uniquely signify a last-second, desperate long pass by the quarterback aiming for the opposite end zone during the game''s final moments, implying that divine intervention was needed to succeed.


    Generally speaking, only passes over forty yards aiming for the end zone and challenging a touchdown could be called a Hail Mary.


    Even in the NFL, Hail Marys are extremely rare, and as for the success rate, that''s even lower.


    The reason is simple; the Hail Mary is a desperate move in the final seconds aimed directly at the end zone. This means that the defensive group can easily focus on coverage, creating an absolute numerical advantage, effortlessly cutting off all routes, or even intercepting. The quarterback''s tactical intent is no secret.


    Among current NFL professional players, Green Bay Packers'' quarterback Rodgers has been dubbed the "King of Hail Mary," not just once but in multiple miraculous moments.


    And Brady?


    Hail Marys aren''t his strength, and he rarely even attempts them.


    But not attempting doesn''t mean incapable of attempting; as long as the Kansas City Chiefs leave even a sliver of a window, the New England Patriots will definitely seize the opportunity.


    Or for instance, the Kansas Chiefs'' running back might fumble, leading to a turnover, not only giving the New England Patriots a chance to respond with a touchdown but also giving Brady another chance to enter the field.


    Possibilities like these are numerous.


    A fumble?


    Suddenly, Brady stood up, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes. He could see a swarm of bodies entangled together, completely engulfing Li Wei''s figure; the whole stadium was filled with noise and uproar, magma and meteorites, fire streaming through the air.


    The next second, a figure emerged from the crowd, his stumbling steps breaking free from the layers of people. His swift and light footsteps turned into a streamline in the raging storm, dragging behind a trace of afterimage, like a beam of light, rapidly leaving the deep blue waves behind.


    The wind roared and whistled as jersey number twenty-three sped faster and farther within sight.


    Brady''s heart sank, and he stood frozen in place.


    It was over, everything was over¡ª


    Kansas City Chiefs'' number twenty-three not only forcefully carried out the fourth and two but also broke through directly, charging heart-piercingly towards the distant end zone.


    Moreover, that number twenty-three was very calm and rational, knowing that running down the clock was the top priority, more crucial than scoring, because after scoring, the New England Patriots'' offensive group could take the field, which meant uncertainties.


    Therefore, he didn''t maximize his speed; instead, he played a dodging game with the safety in the Red Zone, moving back and forth to run down the clock until it was nearly out before stepping into the end zone to score.


    With ease and leisure, his graceful footsteps reminiscent of an upbeat and exquisite tango, he cleanly and decisively ended the game.


    By then, there were only two seconds left in the entire game.


    The Kansas City Chiefs just needed to intentionally delay the game during the extra point attempt, get penalized five yards and restart the extra point while also running down the remaining time.


    Everything was under the control of the Kansas City Chiefs¡ª


    That number twenty-three, so experienced and so composed, neither ecstatically taking credit nor boastfully showing off, could he really be a rookie?


    Finally¡ª


    The final whistle blew, extinguishing the last trace of illusory hope at Gillette Stadium.


    The game was over.


    "49:34".


    In the season opener, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the defending champions, the New England Patriots, on the road with an incredible victory, heralding the start of the 2017 season.


    At the same time, it heralded the birth of a new star.


    Who would have thought that the highlight of the season opener would be...a running back?

 Chapter 229 228 Goat Sacrificial Offering to Heaven

    "Li Wei!"


    "Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei, in the final moments, Li Wei still didn''t give the New England Patriots defensive group an easy time. With an incredible performance, he crushed the home team''s ground defense once again, sealing the game with a touchdown."


    "My God!"


    "Not even the boldest, wildest, most reckless predictor could have foreseen this scene. The highlight of the 2017 season opener was actually a running back."


    "Without a doubt, the Kansas City Chiefs'' number twenty-three Top Scholar announced his spectacular arrival with a perfect game. He not only delivered a powerful response to all the critics but also proved that Veach and Reed''s gamble at the draft paid off, starting their season by defeating the defending champions."


    "Before the season opener, the doubts surrounding Li Wei never stopped. Did he deserve the third pick? Was he worth the Kansas City Chiefs'' extensive efforts? Was the choice of two running backs by the Kansas City Chiefs a foolish one?"


    "Could he keep up in professional play? Could he continue his NCAA''s brilliant performance? Could he prove Asian players'' capability in Football confrontations? Could he withstand the pressure and prove himself?"


    "Well, here is the answer."


    "Rushed for 188 yards, three rushing touchdowns."


    "Of course, there was also a 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at the start."


    "The young number twenty-three dominated the game with an unmatched performance, and one could even say he single-handedly destroyed the New England Patriots'' ground defense, completely turning the tide of the game in the fourth quarter."


    "Oh, don''t forget, the final quarter began with the defending champions six points ahead, but they ended up losing by fifteen points to their opponents."


    "Hey, NFL, take note, Li Wei has arrived."


    In the studio, Michaels and Collinsworth were undoubtedly mesmerized by Li Wei''s jaw-dropping performance¡ª


    Praise flowed ceaselessly.


    In an NFL-level arena, every year sees newcomers, each time talents emerge. There are plenty of impressive rookies, not to mention Robert Griffin III, who, before becoming injury-prone, silenced all experts as a phenomenal talent; but such level of performance?


    Michaels thought for a moment. Although he still needed to check some data, as far as he could remember, no other player had matched this feat.


    188 yards?


    Three touchdowns?


    A kickoff return for a touchdown at the start, and a 40-yard rush to close the suspense of the match, even adding insult to injury by taunting the opponents in a manner akin to dancing on their graves?


    This was, without a doubt, a dominant performance.


    Adrian Peterson in his first professional game had only 103 yards rushing along with a 60-yard pass reception for a touchdown.


    But now, Li Wei had raised the bar for rookie debuts by two whole levels.


    "Looking forward to our next meeting."


    Brady, a five-time Super Bowl champion, how could he just explode in rage and swear over one loss? He knew better than anyone that the last one to laugh would be the victor, and all other matches were just processes of refining and testing toward the championship.


    Of course, he hated losing.


    Furthermore, Brady admitted that this match was lost to Li Wei, if it were not for Li Wei''s burst in the fourth quarter... but there were no ifs.


    Brady deeply despised this loss, having slapped himself harshly; but he did not lose his sanity or look ferocious, because he knew he had met Li Wei and was one hundred percent sure he would not underestimate this rookie again.


    As for the next meeting?


    The proof of the pudding is in the eating.


    Moreover, according to the schedule, if the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs would meet again, it had to be in this season''s playoffs, otherwise, their next clash would be three years later.


    Brady was very eager to meet Li Wei again and personally knock him out of the playoffs, he really couldn''t wait for that day, so until then, he vowed that the Kansas City Chiefs would keep pushing hard.


    "Good luck," Brady said, staring meaningfully at the rookie in front of him.


    Li Wei didn''t know Brady''s thoughts, but he could read the fighting spirit and killer intent in Brady''s eyes, and he returned the gaze sincerely, "Good luck, let''s push hard together!"


    Brady: ???


    Wait, did Li Wei just look at him with a face full of encouragement?


    Encouragement? From a rookie?


    Brady was taken aback, not knowing how to react for a moment, and by the time he was ready to leave, he just remembered his purpose.


    "Ah, Li Wei, the jersey."


    Brady pointed to his own jersey.


    In football matches, jersey exchanges are rare after the game, mainly because the jerseys have armor under them, making them inconvenient to put on and take off; and football does not have such a tradition.


    However, over the years, there have still been a few, as long as the players are willing.


    Brady proposing a jersey exchange was his way of commemorating this rookie; meanwhile, Li Wei was surprised¡ª


    This was his professional career''s first game and first victory''s jersey, the collar torn by Harrison and the Chung Family, so memorable, he had planned to gift it to his parents as a keepsake.


    But...


    Well, since the Goat had taken the initiative to ask, he might as well satisfy his wish, albeit reluctantly.

 Chapter 230 229 As one wishes

    "Wow, wow, wow, Li Wei is awesome."


    "Rookie mode smashing through Gillette Stadium, the defending champion hits a snag, so brutal, so merciless... So damn spectacular, I love it."


    "He''s here, he''s there, he''s everywhere, he''s the Edgerunner, Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei!"


    Social media exploded immediately.


    According to statistics, the opening game of the 2017 season attracted countless viewers due to the clash between two strong teams, the "rookie vs. Goat" hype, and the debut of the first Hua Xia running back, reaching a total of thirty million live viewers.


    In the Hua Xia Continent, which was still in the early stages of opening its market, Penguin Live also created a peak of fifty million online viewers, effortlessly triggering explosions across major social media platforms on both sides of the Pacific Ocean.


    The noise, the buzz, the enthusiastic melon-eating masses dominated the screens with a crazy rate of four thousand comments per second, pushing Li Wei to the top of the trending search list immediately.


    Everything was as Goodell had expected¡ª


    Four months of fermentation and groundwork, now finally the moment to reap the rewards had come.


    Although some said that Brady had been used by Goodell as a stepping stone, the real focus was on Li Wei seizing the opportunity to showcase himself on this globally broadcasted, highly anticipated stage; otherwise, even if Brady was willing to play a supporting role, A''Dou couldn''t have grasped the opportunity if he couldn''t afford it.


    This was the key.


    Meanwhile, the game was ongoing.


    Over here, the frequency of posts on social media had already exploded into a hot topic.


    Li Wei became famous in one battle!


    However, the real frenzy was yet to come, as the media main force had not yet engaged.


    The press room for the visiting team of the New England Patriots was filled to the brim, with people packed in layers inside and out, making the small room swell almost as if too much yeast had been added to the dough.


    Journalists had really been waiting far too long.


    Last year at the University of Alabama, Saban issued a ban that kept all media at bay, so journalists always had no way to get close to Li Wei.


    This year, during the off-season training camp, Reed rigorously protected Li Wei, and although journalists surrounded him every other day, they still did not get a formal interview opportunity.


    We have never seen a rookie like this; although he''s always right there in front of our eyes, nobody can really get close enough to have a proper conversation:


    It''s already 7012, and what fool still practices secrecy!


    Yet, not only did Li Wei do so, but all the media had no choice but to bite, so is this what they mean by "the fisherman of Jiang Taigong fishing"?


    In the midst of the rolling air waves, people had thought Li Wei would be nervous or awkward; rookies embarrassing themselves in front of the media wasn''t a new sight. But unexpectedly, Li Wei remained calm throughout, not only was he not nervous, but there was also a sense of familiar coziness about him.


    Wait, is this normal?


    The interview hadn''t even started, but it was the reporters who began to lose their footing first.


    Nevertheless, the reporters quickly regained their composure, eager to throw the first hardball.


    "Li Wei, do you know Brady now?"


    No small talk, no courtesies, just a straight punch aimed at Li Wei''s face right from the start.


    This small detail revealed how desperate the reporter was.


    And Li Wei?


    Feigning innocence, "Who?"


    In the press room, silence fell like a curtain.


    Even the boldest and craziest reporter had not anticipated that Li Wei would dare to provoke Brady right in Gillette Stadium; so shocked by the unexpected defiance, even seasoned reporters were left stunned.


    Li Wei seemed oblivious to the fact he had just dropped a bombshell and continued to up the ante, "Sorry, I never remember the names of losers."


    Gasp.


    The entire room drew in a sharp breath, reporters began to doubt their own ears¡ª


    This, this...


    Reporters who thrived on chaos were now thrown into disarray by Li Wei.


    Complete silence filled the room.


    It wasn''t until Li Wei''s smile grew, shining like sunlight after rain, "I thought this was the effect the media wanted to create, with a rookie speaking recklessly and disrespectfully, issuing challenges."


    "Hey, I''m not a caveman, I too know how the Earth orbits and rotates."


    The subtext was that he had watched the past few months as reporters incited and fanned flames; now that he was provoking as they wished, why had the reporters turned chicken?


    That look, that smile, that composed demeanor, he wasn''t attacking Brady; he was clearly attacking the reporters.


    All the reporters, simply dumbfounded¡ª


    They had seen the daring, but never anyone so wildly audacious.

 Chapter 231 230 Media Darling

    NFL, Professional League, the seasoned journalists have seen it all: the bold, the eccentric, and the explosive. They pride themselves on being battle-hardened and not prone to overreact to trifles.


    But they''ve never seen anything quite as mad as this.


    A rookie, in his first official interview upon entering the professional arena, not only provoking the top player in the league but also challenging all journalists?


    This?


    Due to sheer astonishment and shock, the press room momentarily lapsed into stunned silence, with a roaring void filling their ears.


    Then.


    Finally, a reporter came to his senses, though unusually, he didn''t pour fuel on the fire ¡ª after all, the bombshell that Li Wei had just dropped was scary enough.


    "Do you really not recognize Tom Brady?" he asked, rather feebly, seeking confirmation once again.


    Li Wei didn''t plan to respond, instead, he laughed cheerfully and confidently, "Haha."


    Anyway, this was like a fill-in-the-blank question, left for everyone else to imagine.


    Netizens: How is that possible? It''s a joke, a joke! The rookie was just provoking/to lighten the mood. How could he possibly not know the top player in the league?


    Social networks were divided into two camps, but whether people thought Li Wei was deliberately provoking or simply lightening the atmosphere, nearly everyone agreed:


    Li Wei undoubtedly knew Brady.


    To that, Li Wei said that everyone was free to imagine.


    After a brief pause, finally, a media outlet remembered their duty and decided to kick a man when he was down, "So, do you now finally recognize Tom Brady?"


    "I''ll remember this game," Li Wei shrugged lightly.


    Reporter: Heh, it''s more like you''ll remember this victory, right?


    Immediately after, Li Wei, "I''ll remember this victory."


    Reporter: ...So arrogant! This is still Gillette Stadium, does this guy not worry about not being able to leave Foxborough?


    "This wasn''t an easy game, but we never gave up our beliefs, and we never stopped fighting, not just the offensive group, but the defensive group too."


    If anyone treated Li Wei as Lynch had been treated, they would now be up all night searching for fragments of their glasses.


    Saban: See, when I impose a media ban, it''s actually for your own good. But you don''t appreciate it, sigh, my passion is so wasted.


    Unbelievably, Li Wei''s press conference ended amidst laughter; the atmosphere was light-hearted and jovial, to the point that as journalists left the press room, they were lost in a daze, light-headed, unable to grasp what had just happened, as if tipsy.


    With this, the 2017 NFL season opener has finally come to a true close; yet the aftermath had only just begun, with ripples evolving into colossal waves.


    Quarterbacks have always been the focal point of football games, responsible for perhaps not 100%, but at least 80% of the spectacle, with few exceptions. Logically, in the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots, the quarterback deservedly remained in the spotlight¡ª


    There were indeed many topics of discussion.


    Smith, 35 passes, 28 completions, 368 yards, three touchdowns.


    Brady, 36 passes, 18 completions, 267 yards, no touchdowns, one fumble.


    Such statistics were truly hard to believe; the vast difference in performance between the two quarterbacks had overturned all expectations and decided the outcome of the game.


    Clearly, Brady had a very poor game, not only were his passing stats terrible, but that fumble at the moment of sounding the counterattack completely snuffed out the Patriots'' hopes of a home-field comeback, and the legendary quarterback indeed needed to reflect after the game.


    On the other hand, Smith was different. He played the most perfect game of the last three seasons, efficient and precise, masterfully controlling the game''s process. Despite still lacking a long-pass threat, by wisely utilizing his offensive weapons, he kept the Chiefs'' offense competitive.


    Usually, the media would focus on Brady and Smith; if the team wins, they bask in the spotlight. If the team loses, they also have to bear the team''s burden. Such is the situation that comes with the quarterback position.


    However, this time was different¡ª


    Li Wei had become the focus, undoubtedly the focus, an unparalleled focus.


    Top Scholar. Positioning. Asian heritage. Rookie.


    These keyword tags had made Li Wei endure countless doubts and attacks over the past four months; now, they also brought him unbelievable praise and adulation.


    Especially when Li Wei dominated the fourth quarter with an absolutely strong and stellar performance in his professional debut, he easily ignited people''s enthusiasm, fully unleashing the NFL''s incomparable influence.


    From the New York Times to the Los Angeles Times, from ESPN to social networks, the overwhelming focus was on Li Wei in all directions.


    Within this, one topic spread like wildfire.


    "Everyone says, among the top three draft picks there''s always one standout. Now that the Top Scholar has made his move, then..."

 Chapter 232 Hot Debate Intertwined

    New York Manhattan, 345 Park Avenue, NFL Headquarters building.


    Standing in front of the office''s floor-to-ceiling window, the entire Manhattan steel jungle spread out before his eyes, the vast world seemingly at his feet.


    Roger Goodell held a cup of coffee, taking in the view before him. The office desk behind him was cluttered with newspapers and magazines, indicating that he had just finished reading through them. His face reflected a look of satisfaction, and his eyes were filled with confidence and aspiration.


    The time was right. The location was perfect. The people were in harmony.


    All conditions were just right¡ª


    Just last month, on August 21, the NFL signed a three-year exclusive broadcasting rights agreement with Penguin Live of Hua Xia.


    This agreement wasn''t achieved overnight. As early as 2015, Penguin Sports had started discussions with the NFL about a potential collaboration; the negotiation and exploration process was anything but simple and only saw significant progress earlier this year, finally nurturing hope.


    Li Wei appeared at just such a moment.


    Actually, the influence of an individual player is limited; moreover, unlike the NCAA, countless NCAA talents are unable to adapt to professional play, falling early like shooting stars. Both the NFL and Penguin Sports couldn''t place their bets on a rookie.


    But at the same time, they couldn''t deny the importance of a point of entry, like when Yao Ming entered the NBA. It marked the beginning, a base point, a turning point. With appropriate promotion, the push for Football in the Hua Xia Market could gain a significant foothold.


    "Rookie vs. Goat."


    Such a topic was indeed ludicrous. Anyone with a shred of sense knew this matchup was illogical.


    But competitive sports thrive on this kind of absurdity.


    It was, in fact, the sensational point.


    As expected, Li Wei did not disappoint. Not only did he successfully complete his professional debut but he also unbelievably drove the ludicrous topic to new heights.


    Before him lay a bright future.


    Goodell was extremely pleased.


    Without a doubt, Li Wei would be the face of the NFL this season, which was also a vital step toward global market expansion for the NFL.


    Knock knock.


    A knocking sound came from the door, and upon Goodell''s affirmation, three marketing department staff members entered.


    Goodell, holding his coffee, welcomed them with no idle chatter, getting straight to the point.


    As the season kicked off, Li Wei emerged out of nowhere, setting an incredible benchmark, naturally raising the pressure on the other rookies, making their knees quake one after another.


    McCaffrey, running back, first round, eighth pick, rushed for 47 yards, received for 38 yards, and fumbled once.


    Although the Carolina Panthers won the game comfortably, McCaffrey, once dominant on the NCAA field, got a harsh wake-up call in his first professional game.


    In the postgame interview, McCaffrey honestly said, "I have a lot to learn. I think Li Wei has set a great example; he proved that rookie running backs can also perform well on a professional field. He''s my target, and I hope to follow in his footsteps to find my own form."


    His sincere and humble words won McCaffrey quite a lot of favor.


    Also, McCaffrey said, "I''m going to give Li Wei a call, to ask him for tips on learning the playbook. God, I genuinely feel like an idiot¡ªI have left college, but still need to review every day. Maybe I need a bit of tutoring from Li Wei."


    From his words, it was clear that McCaffrey and Li Wei were on good terms.


    No comparison, no harm.


    Compared to McCaffrey, Fournette became the target of criticism.


    Fournette, running back, first round, fourth pick, rushed for 100 yards and scored a touchdown.


    Objectively speaking, such stats are impressive, not just for a rookie, but for any starting running back.


    Moreover, the Jacksonville Jaguars won the game, which is what matters most.


    At the beginning of the year, after missing out on Li Wei, the Jacksonville Jaguars hastily picked Fournette, causing fans to strongly criticize the team manager Caldwell; but now, it doesn''t seem like a bad choice.


    The problem is¡ª


    Li Wei.


    Next to Li Wei, Fournette''s performance suddenly seemed lackluster.


    "Caldwell''s heart ached. If only they hadn''t been outmaneuvered by the Kansas City Chiefs..."


    "Frustration. Regret. Remorse. But it''s all in vain, the Jacksonville Jaguars missed out on Li Wei, missing out on a billion-dollar opportunity."


    "Following NCAA, Li Wei has once again proven that he is a better running back than Fournette."


    Fournette was as if poked in the backbone and ignored, worse than being scolded and cursed.


    Fournette: ??? Who did I provoke, why are you not criticizing the top drafts, but picking on me? What kind of logic is this?


    Then, Fournette checked and was stunned.

 Chapter 233 232 Black powder is born

    Fournette: Frustrated.


    Actually, Fournette himself was holding his breath. In the 2015 season, he was overshadowed by Derrick Henry, and in the 2016 season, by Henry''s younger prote?ge? Li Wei. Despite being in peak form during the past two seasons, he never received the recognition he deserved, which nearly affected his draft position.


    Seeing Li Wei''s godlike performance in the season opener, Fournette was sharpening his knives, ready to show what he was capable of, and he had the support of the head coach, Doug Marrone¡ª


    During the off-season, head coach Bradley was ultimately fired.


    Bradley: What happened to our grand future together, Calvert, you heartbreaker!


    Although Bradley quickly found another job with the San Diego Chargers, he was demoted from head coach to defensive coordinator.


    Meanwhile, Marrone, who had been an assistant coach and offensive line coach, took over as the new head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.


    To be fair, Fournette''s performance in the season opener was impressive, and Marrone''s tactical arrangements were commendable. But comparison is the thief of joy, and Li Wei, that beast!


    Flipping through major media and social networks'' sneers, it was as if Fournette didn''t exist at all, which nearly made his chest explode with anger.


    Wait, what about the first overall pick? The second overall pick? Were they as remarkable as Li Wei?


    After a quick check, Fournette fell silent.


    The first pick, Garrett, suffered an ankle sprain during routine training on September 7, and had to rest for four weeks, missing not just one game, but four.


    The second pick, Trubisky, though he performed well in the preseason, still lost the competition for starting quarterback to Mike Glennon, and watched the season opener from the bench, unsure when his substitute role would become permanent.


    With one out for at least four games and another''s debut uncertain, the first and second picks were sidelined, leaving everyone watching as the third pick thrashed his opponents alone. So, who else could the media criticize but Fournette?


    Fournette: These guys are so cunning, staggering their stardom. They wait for the rookie hype to cool off after the season opener before they return to the field. Who did they learn this from?


    Now, it''s not just one game. For the next month, Fournette may have to carry the burden alone, without even a suffering comrade in sight.


    Fournette felt life was not worth living.


    Here, Fournette was in deep trouble, feeling worse than death.


    There, the intense debate surrounding Li Wei had just begun to unfold.


    "Inside the League," ESPN''s flagship football program, runs from Monday to Sunday year-round, constantly refreshing and switching its format according to different situations and themes to provide viewers with the most timely and appropriate NFL news analysis.


    Butt was a man of persistence and belief, how could he possibly shrink back because of a little setback?


    "Calm down. Calm down!"


    "Gentlemen, this is just one game. There are countless examples in our profession where after shining for a single game, players vanish into obscurity. We wouldn''t say Brady and Belichick are out of the championship race just because of one loss, nor is it necessary to claim this rookie might become the next Goat after one victory."


    "It''s really not necessary,"


    "Let''s calm down. Clearly, the New England Patriots hadn''t fully adjusted their state, leading the game until the fourth quarter despite Brady''s off performance. Only some issues with the pace and intensity in the fourth quarter caused them to lose what should have been an easy victory."


    "The Chiefs'' victory was a hard-fought one."


    "So, did the rookie perform exceptionally?"


    "Of course, the stats look very impressive, but that''s all it is, just a bit of luck. The New England Patriots lost to themselves."


    Butt wore an expression of objective calmness, as though he was analyzing a mathematical equation, completely ignoring the bias in his words¡ª


    Anyway, Butt didn''t want to admit he was wrong.


    Lawson could see that right away. After all, men understand men the best. Asking a man to admit he was wrong in a program watched by millions is probably harder than having him admit he''s starting to lose his hair.


    "Are you sure, Blair?"


    "188 yards of rushing, three rushing touchdowns, plus a kickoff return touchdown. Without a doubt, he was the best-performing player this week, not just among rookies but all offensive players. I think he also deserves this week''s Best in the Offensive Group."


    Lawson was a good man. He didn''t pry open Butt''s wounds but spoke objectively, his language neither sharp nor aggressive, expressing his opinion in a mild and friendly manner.


    In fact, Lawson was giving Butt a way out. Competitive sports naturally involve wins and losses; there is no need to refuse to admit errors out of arrogance.


    Yet, this still stung Butt¡ª


    Admit he was wrong? How could that be possible?


    Moreover, Butt didn''t think of himself as stubborn. He truly believed in his judgment, and professionals have their pride.


    Butt couldn''t stand everyone acting like lapdogs, eagerly flattering the League and Roger Goodell.


    If this NFL season turned out to be all about Li Wei, then he was ready to stubbornly oppose Li Wei!

 Chapter 234 233 Overjoyed

    Does Bart hate Li Wei?


    Not exactly.


    They had no grievances, and Bart wouldn''t go out of his way to make troubles with a rookie, but there were two points.


    First, he definitely misjudged the situation. His previous views were all sincere, but not only was he slapped in the face, it was done in such an overwhelming manner, whether in terms of game stats or defeating the defending champions, such a strong performance really made Bart''s crash quite tragic.


    Second, he didn''t like the League''s attitude, having taken a stand from the start, ready to promote Li Wei wholeheartedly under Goodell''s ambition to expand the global market, regardless of how Li Wei performed¡ªwhich clearly wasn''t fair to the other rookies.


    In Bart''s view, he wasn''t attacking Li Wei, but defending the other rookies.


    Right now, such a scenario was unfolding.


    Watching everyone praising Li Wei, acting like lapdogs, one after the other, Bart suddenly swelled with indignation. He stiffened his neck and straightened his back, glaring at Lawson and didn''t hesitate to fire back.


    "Heh."


    "Doesn''t this scene seem familiar?"


    "First week of the preseason, number twenty-three put on a slightly above-average performance, raising everyone''s expectations. But just like that, in the second week of the preseason, he showed a total decline and afterward didn''t even appear on the field again."


    "Yes, we know number twenty-three indeed has the ability; but does he have endurance?"


    "Robert Griffin III nearly shone throughout his entire rookie season, everyone said he was the next superstar, ready to take on Manning and kick Brady. But what happened in the end?"


    "Now he''s just a castoff wandering between different teams, struggling to survive, with the Washington Redskins even ready to admit their draft mistake to get rid of him."


    Griffin: I haven''t offended you!


    "What I mean is, we should take a longer view, that''s all. I have no prejudice, absolutely none, just being objective."


    "From the start of the preseason, the discussions around number twenty-three have been focused on whether he can adapt to the intensity of the contest and for a prolonged duration."


    "Not to mention the playoffs, the NFL regular season is longer than the entire NCAA season. Outstanding performance in one game isn''t enough to prove anything."


    "Sometime impressive, sometimes not; highs followed by lows; such a player doesn''t serve much of a purpose in the Professional League, and no team likes that."


    "So."


    "Maybe I''m the only one keeping my sanity here, but I truly believe we should wait and see how the next game goes, and the rest of the schedule."


    In an interview, Pederson didn''t hide his love and admiration for the Seattle Seahawks'' once league-sweeping "Bombing Corps," always hoping to replicate the defensive intensity of the Bombing Corps, and now the Eagles seem finally to allow him to fight according to his own ideas.


    Because of this, the Philadelphia Eagles can indeed be said to be Li Wei''s litmus test.


    In fact, it''s the same for both teams.


    For the Eagles, the Kansas City Chiefs are the litmus test, to see if their defensive strength is real or just a paper tiger; for the Chiefs, the Eagles are also the litmus test, to see if Smith and Li Wei can replicate the phenomenal performance of the first week.


    The game, true to expectations¡ª


    "3:6".


    At halftime, the home-playing Chiefs went to the locker room with a slender advantage of one field goal.


    From the score alone, one could tell that almost the entire first half was dominated by punts, with the defensive groups taking center stage, and neither team managing to reach the end zone.


    Regarding this, Bart expressed immense delight: Hooray!


    But on the surface, Bart still needed to maintain composure, presenting a posture of a professional''s inscrutable calm, as if seeing through worldly affairs, standing upright, continually stroking his neatly trimmed beard, exerting all his strength to keep the corners of his mouth from turning up, to avoid looking gleeful.


    Temperament, the temperament of a professional!


    ESPN''s "Inside the League" team was using halftime to review, analyze, and preview, appearing somewhat confused.


    In the pre-game predictions, a whopping seven professionals believed the Chiefs would win, with the Eagles receiving only three votes as the minority.


    However, even the Eagle''s supporters hadn''t predicted that the game would turn into a battle of defenses; isn''t this kind of game opening all wrong?


    Perhaps Bart was the only exception; he already had his script ready.


    "Ahem."


    "We should take note of one stat, Smith, eighteen passes, thirteen completions in the first half, a pass completion rate of 72.2%, still a very impressive figure."


    "Facing the Eagles defensive group''s high-positioned strategy that limits mid to long passes, Smith completely leveraged his short pass precision advantage, continuing his brilliant performance from the last game."


    "So, why hasn''t the Chiefs'' offense managed to break through?"


    Bart paused, sweeping his gaze across the room, deliberately holding back, but there was no need for him to speak¡ªthe answer was already known in the studio¡ª


    The scapegoat had been predetermined, hadn''t it?


    Sure enough, Bart showed a smile, "Ground attack."

 Chapter 235 234 Schadenfreude

    "Everyone knows that Andy Reid is a typical passing game coach, and his plays often revolve around passing offense, with the ground game serving as a support to establish an advantage for the passing offense,"


    "Even during the Jamaal Charles era, this strategy never changed."


    "But."


    "Because of the outstanding ground game performance in the last match, Reid made the rare decision to shift the strategy towards the ground game, attempting to avoid the excellent pass defense of the Philadelphia Eagles, but he ran into Pederson''s sniping."


    "Throughout the first half, the Kansas Chiefs Offense chose the ground attack nineteen times, but the efficiency wasn''t high, advancing only seventy-three yards in total."


    "This is the key point."


    Sprawling and spitting, Bart finally found his opportunity to perform.


    On the other side, Lawson wanted to speak up but stopped hesitantly: Sir, did your math teacher teach PE?


    Eighteen passes, nineteen runs¡ªin a football game, this is called a balanced pass-run offense, which is exactly what head coaches strive for.


    Moreover, nineteen running plays for seventy-three yards average 3.84 yards per carry, which indeed is average but far from being considered poor.


    In fact, what really went poorly for the Kansas Chiefs in the first half were the finer details.


    A miss on a fifty-one-yard field goal by the Special Duty Group, a fumble by running back Hunter leading to a turnover¡ªthat''s what caused the Kansas Chiefs'' balanced offense to dominate the game but failed to widen the score gap.


    However, coming from Bart''s mouth, did it transpose to the running backs'' full responsibility?


    This pacing...


    But, after a brief hesitation, Lawson ultimately didn''t interrupt Bart.


    Not because he couldn''t, but because the ground defense of the Philadelphia Eagles indeed did perform well, and Li Wei and Hunter''s ground advances were just adequate.


    Here, one concept needs to be clarified:


    The Bombing Corps.


    From the 2012 to the 2015 season, the Defensive group of the Seattle Seahawks was known as the "Bombing Corps," instilling fear into their opponents.


    In the 2013 season Super Bowl showdown, that was the peak battle for the Bombing Corps, facing off against the Denver Broncos Offense led by the regular season MVP, Manning.


    "Without sufficient ground support, Smith struggled on his own. Just one game later, the Kansas City Chiefs Offense was reduced to its original form." Your journey continues with empire


    Enduring and enduring some more, Bart had used all his strength and still couldn''t control himself.


    "I always said¡ª"


    "Li Wei''s metal has yet to be tested over time."


    The words slipped out, and Bart couldn''t help but let a slight smile creep up the corners of his mouth.


    "As of now in this game, Li Wei is completely lost in the Philadelphia Eagles'' iron meat grinder, with no performance worth mentioning, back to mediocrity."


    "We should be nurturing to rookies, we should give them time to grow..."


    Yadda yadda yadda.


    That whole pained and earnest demeanor, as if he truly had Li Wei''s best interests at heart, a concern for Li Wei that was as clear as day and month, was nearly convincing.


    If it weren''t for the smile creeping up, the slight shaking of his head, it might have been somewhat persuasive, but with his current demeanor, the schadenfreude was hardly concealable, just short of pairing it with a beer and a plate of cheese sticks to celebrate¡ª


    What happened to giving rookies a little room to grow?


    Finally!


    Bart had finished speaking. If at this moment viewers had just turned on their TVs and heard this commentary, they would''ve thought the Kansas City Chiefs were losing by a large margin, but upon seeing the actual score, they''d become utterly perplexed¡ª


    Wait, isn''t it the Kansas City Chiefs who are ahead in the score?


    Even if it''s only by three points, it''s still a lead! Why is the atmosphere so somber, as if the Kansas City Chiefs are trailing by three touchdowns?


    The whole studio felt like a funeral parlor, leaving one at a loss for words.


    Maybe that''s not entirely fair to say, as at least Bart seemed in high spirits, coming off like that distant relative at a wake who starts ranting after a couple of shots of whisky, whom nobody has ever met or even knows the name of, but begins to grandly reminisce after a few drinks.


    Oblivious to the fact that he''s playing the role of the clown.


    But Bart doesn''t care¡ª


    As long as he''s having a good time, that''s all that matters.

 Chapter 236 235 Going its own way

    The atmosphere in the "Inside the League" studio was indeed a bit delicate¡ª


    Anyone with eyes could see that Bart and Li Wei were at odds.


    Although the reason was unclear, everyone present was a professional, and they all knew that the game wasn''t over; they had to wait and see what would happen in the second half.


    Right now, Bart was just being mouthy for the moment; if the Kansas City Chiefs ended up losing, then everything would be fine, and right and wrong would be dictated by what Bart said; but what if the Kansas City Chiefs won?


    Lawson had just offered Bart a way out, which Bart had not accepted, so they simply decided to stand by and watch the excitement, since there''s no harm in watching the fun.


    It wasn''t until Bart had spilled everything he should and shouldn''t have said that the other guests began to speak up, diligently fulfilling their roles.


    On one point, they reached a consensus: whether it be the Kansas City Chiefs or the Philadelphia Eagles, the performance in the first half of the game was not normal. Even though both teams'' defensive groups performed well, they needed offense to win, and the performance of both teams'' offensive groups was far from expectations.


    How to adjust the offense had become a focus during the halftime break.


    Coming right into the second half, the Philadelphia Eagles, who had the first offense, showed their determination.


    Second-year quarterback Wentz found his rhythm during a nine-play offense, throwing a 26-yard pass to wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, who had just transferred this season. This first completion between the two converted into a touchdown.


    Arrowhead Stadium was somewhat dull, as they obviously did not want to see their opponents score first in their own backyard; this was not a positive sign.


    Bart said, "Look, I told you so."


    The Philadelphia Eagles seized the throat of fate and kicked off the second half with the first touchdown of the game; the Kansas City Chiefs were now facing a serious test.


    "10:6"¡ª


    The home-playing Kansas City Chiefs were behind.


    Bart sat in his chair, satisfied, leaning back comfortably and imagining himself holding a beer, enjoying the scene before him; everything was going as expected, and he moved a bit closer to his goal of redeeming his shame and regaining his glory.


    Then, under the spotlight, the Kansas Chiefs offense took the field once more.


    Just like in the first half, Smith partnered with Li Wei to start, and Reed had not made any noticeable adjustments to the lineup during the halftime break; what about the tactics?


    Bart shook his head slightly; had Reed lost his mind? He had hit a wall repeatedly in the first half, and yet he wasn''t making any adjustments for the second half, stubbornly persisting to the end? Was Reed up to the task or not?


    "Offense!"


    "Offense!"


    A quick glance from the corner of his eye.


    Sure enough, defensive end Barnett closely followed step by step.


    As a rookie, Barnett was chosen 14th overall in this year''s draft, in a year touted as "The Year of the Defensive Ends," and he was the second defensive end selected.


    Normally, Barnett''s job is to match up with the running back, making him a natural enemy of Li Wei. With top pick Garrett absent due to injury, causing other defensive ends to play fervently to prove themselves, and Li Wei, as a running back stealing all the attention in the first week, a natural rivalry was formed.


    Moreover, Barnett came from the University of Tennessee, the sworn enemy of the University of Alabama. Last year, when they faced off, Barnett was ruthlessly crushed by Li Wei. Over the past half year, Barnett had been sharpening his blade, eagerly waiting for the moment of vengeance, and shining in the League by stepping on the corpse of his archenemy was undoubtedly a dream.


    Barnett believed this was his chance.


    In fact, Barnett did grasp the opportunity; he was like a tiger descending the mountain throughout the first half, particularly standout in his performance.


    But Li Wei was not a wooden stake, standing still waiting to hit a wall; as soon as the second half began, he was also ready to confront.


    Angling outward, light on his feet.


    Clearly, Barnett was somewhat outpaced; his 6-foot-26 (191 cm), 259-pound (117 kg) frame seemed cumbersome and slow.


    Wait, just like that? Surely, it can''t be that easy to break through, right?


    If the Eagles'' defense could clamp down on Li Wei, of course, it would not be so simple.


    Although Barnett was a bit slow on his feet, almost immediately, one could see three other figures enclosing ¡ª¡ª


    On the right, cornerback Mills.


    To the left front, which is behind Barnett, linebacker Mychal Kendricks.


    In the slot near the middle, the Pro Bowl veteran safety Malcolm Jenkins.


    This is the real challenge.


    Although Kendricks initially thought it was a fake run turning into a pass, which caused him to start a bit late, once he realized it was a run, he quickly followed suit, joining his Eagles'' defensive teammates in a zone defense ¡ª¡ª


    They did not mark Li Wei individually, because this rookie wasn''t worth it yet, but their defense against the ground game was tight-knit.


    As expected from the top-ranked ground defense in last week''s League standings, even in the second half, they maintained their intensity.


    Thus, another challenge lay before Li Wei, no different from the first half.

 Chapter 237 Breakthrough after breakthrough at level 236

    ```


    A familiar situation unfolded, but clearly, Li Wei had no intention of making the same mistake twice.


    He slightly retracted his diagonal sprint, shifting to lateral movement. Watching as Cornerback Mills shook off the entanglement of Kansas City Chiefs Wide Receiver Hill and was rapidly returning to his position, Hill tried to create the illusion of a fake rush and a real pass¡ªhis forward charge wasn''t halted in time, allowing Mills to break free quickly. He was chasing back, but Mills was clearly getting into position faster.


    With one step forward, Mills charged towards Li Wei''s position.


    Just as he was about to complete the tackle, Mills didn''t anticipate Li Wei slamming on the brakes, controlling his body, and pulling back to the left along the lateral axis.


    Naturally, Mills was not willing to let his prey escape and launched into a second pursuit.


    Then¡ª


    Crash.


    Mills had barely taken two steps out when he collided with Barnett, who was moving sideways. Both of their centers of gravity wobbled.


    Barnett had not noticed Mills at all, his focus on Li Wei, who was returning to the fray and getting ready to intercept, when he was struck off balance. The next second, he saw Li Wei turn into a blur.


    With a sidestep and a swift move, Li Wei slipped past Barnett''s fingertips.


    Heh!


    Who could have imagined that all of Li Wei''s trouble was for this effect?


    Barnett could only watch as Li Wei slipped away from him, right by his side.


    Damn, damn, damn, got played! Played like a bull encountering a matador, damn!


    But Li Wei didn''t have time to bother with Barnett. His mind remained cool, and he immediately saw Linebacker Kendricks and Safety Jenkins closing in; the encirclement was tightening.


    In the blink of an eye, Li Wei and Kelsey, who was also within the circle, exchanged a glance.


    Actually, during that fleeting moment, it was impossible to see clearly, but after half a year of cooperation, Kelsey seemed to understand Li Wei''s intention. Originally set to block Mills, with a turn, he took a step forward without charging, just standing like a barrier in the path of Jenkins, who charged like a tiger descending the mountain.


    Jenkins''s stride faltered.


    Li Wei was already brushing past him, taking advantage of the brief moment Jenkins''s center of gravity shifted. He quickly changed direction, dashing at a sixty-degree angle towards the left front.


    Jenkins reached out, his hand grazing Li Wei''s shoulder, but unable to exert force due to his severe wobble, he could only watch Li Wei slip away.


    Immediately after, Li Wei collided head-on with Kendricks, who was half a beat too slow in closing the encirclement.


    Without dodging or tricks, Li Wei collided fiercely, face-to-face.


    Kendricks: Hmm.


    A rush of impact to the chest, breath caught short, Kendricks had no time to wrap his arms around as Li Wei, once again changing direction, broke out to the right.


    Stumbling, staggering, Li Wei unbelievably kept his balance and kept moving forward, then the peripheral vision picked up the white away jerseys of the Philadelphia Eagles on both the left and right sides and directly behind.


    They had caught up.


    The alarm sounded.


    Tramp, tramp, tramp, tramp, tramp, tramp, Li Wei straightened his knees and balanced his center of gravity between the rapid steps and, unbelievably, accelerated into a mad sprint again!


    The entire Arrowhead Stadium was taken aback.


    Before everyone''s eyes, they watched as Li Wei, on the brink of tumbling down, straightened up and sprinted wildly. His footsteps ignited the energy, instantly sparking the long-dormant passion.


    The thirty-five-yard line.


    The forty-yard line.


    The forty-five-yard line.


    Bit by bit, the heart soared, thudding unstoppably against the throat, reason burnt to ashes, hearing only the roar in the mind turning into a primal scream.


    "Fly!"


    The figure wearing the number twenty-three in red, like a wind-chasing youth, sprinted wildly with the wind, his dazzling steps not merely running but flying.


    In the blink of an eye, he had crossed the midfield line.


    Bart: Ahem.


    He almost tumbled out of his chair, eyes wide and speechless at the live TV broadcast, disbelieving what he saw, as ESPN commentator Pash shouted with high excitement at the Arrowhead Stadium.


    "Forty-five-yard line!"


    "Forty-yard line!"


    "McLeod, McLeod is the last line of defense for the Philadelphia Eagles."


    Pash''s voice cracked as he irrationally vented his excitement, having witnessed Li Wei''s growth from the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm Team''s intrasquad scrimmage, he knew what this moment meant more than anyone else.


    However, Bart''s heart was about to explode¡ª


    Stop him! McLeod, stop him!


    The bustling gaze gathered toward the two figures on the field.


    McLeod, an undrafted rookie in 2012 with no standout career performance, conquered the coaching staff with his actual performance in this year''s training camp, Pederson appointed him as the starting Safety, and he did indeed perform well in the last game, and today was no different, now shouldering the weight of responsibility.


    McLeod, watching Li Wei powerfully closing in at double speed in his pupils, like a cheetah, his whole body exuding an unstoppable murderous aura. Even through the helmet, you could see his eyes firmly locked on him, and his knees began to tremble:


    My God!

 Chapter 238: 237 A Sword to the Throat

    McLeod was sprinting.


    So was Li Wei.


    However, their momentum was starkly different.


    McLeod, who should have been on the offensive, found himself on the defensive; Li Wei, whose steps had been in disarray and off-balance, erupted with an unmatched offensive fury.


    The two figures closed in at full speed, seemingly destined to collide head-on.


    McLeod¡¯s skin tingled with the sharpness of the oncoming threat, his hairs standing on end, knees quivering slightly. But gritting his teeth and steeling his heart, he closed his eyes and charged ahead at full speed, pushing strength, speed, and momentum to their limits¡ª


    He was ready. Let the impact be even more fierce.


    In that moment, McLeod transformed, proving why he had earned the starting spot, charging toward the convergence point like a force unstoppable.


    Ah!


    Power, burst forth.


    Hey, wait, what?


    As the imminent head-on collision approached and McLeod¡¯s arms were already poised to tackle, he lunged at empty space.


    Li Wei performed an emergency stop.


    Half a step was all it took for McLeod, looking like a fool, to brush past Li Wei, gaping as Li Wei slipped by.


    Is that it?


    Trying to flutter about, McLeod found himself unable to stop, having committed too much force and speed; in the corner of his eye, he helplessly watched as Li Wei made a clockwise spin, moving in the opposite direction along his body.


    McLeod flew to his left, and Li Wei also spun to his left. As they misaligned, the distance between them widened further and further.


    After a 360-degree spin, the way ahead of Li Wei was utterly clear¡ª


    A vast open field.


    The entire stadium, hearts stopped, stared dumbfounded at the scene.


    And then, Li Wei took off.


    "Fly!" The thirty-yard line.


    Behind him, the solid mass of the Philadelphia Eagles Defensive group in hot pursuit, like a dark cloud descending, unleashed an incredible speed that was hard to believe, trying to catch up.


    "Fly!" The twenty-yard line.


    The clawing turbulence behind him was close to catching up to Li Wei, whose steps had briefly slowed after the 360-degree spin, but after a short adjustment, he found his speed again, running faster and faster.


    "Levi!"


    "Levi!"


    At the Old Oak Tavern, bartender Charles Vester couldn¡¯t control himself any longer and shouted with raised arms¡ª


    It had been too long, indeed too long.


    Kansas City had been silent for too long under the gloom of economic recession and unemployment crises. The long and bumpy ride of life seemed to offer nothing but confusion, with no hope or clear future in sight.


    They just needed a little bit of uplifting power to keep going, to hold on just a little longer, just a little while longer.


    Just like now.


    Vester couldn¡¯t suppress it anymore, he felt the fervor in his blood long lost and, with intense emotion, he threw away the rag and raised his clenched fist high.


    He thought he was alone.


    But he wasn¡¯t.


    All the patrons of the Old Oak Tavern raised their fists and cheered with all their might. With a turn of his head, Vester could see radiant smiles blooming on weary and weathered faces¡ª


    So what if the storm was fierce?


    They wouldn¡¯t surrender, they refused to give up, they would still stand in the mud and gaze at the starry sky, patiently waiting for the dawn¡¯s light to arrive.


    Levi, the rookie wearing jersey number twenty-three, clumsily stumbled into the world of football, an Asian kid, a complete outsider to football. But now, he was infusing Kansas City with energy through his actions.


    Powerfully, overwhelmingly, the same chants vibrated in the skies above Arrowhead Stadium.


    Thousands of souls were calling out the same name at this moment.


    Because Levi, with his unparalleled performance, had torn through the Eagles¡¯ iron curtain to complete the 75-yard drive to the end zone. And because at the critical moment when the game was balanced on a knife-edge, everything converged into a mighty force as the Kansas City Chiefs found themselves in a tight spot.


    And not just the fans.


    The Kansas City Chiefs players also ignited their passion because of Levi¡¯s performance, and one could see everyone on the sidelines raising their helmets and cheering together.


    Then, when the Kansas City Chiefs Defense took to the field again, they were ferocious, continuing their tough play from the first half¡ª


    Three and out.


    The Kansas City Chiefs gave the Philadelphia Eagles Offensive group no chance at all. Sophomore quarterback Wentz, like a flower in a greenhouse, found himself battered by the storm; he left the field in disarray after being hit hard and sacked repeatedly.


    The Kansas City Chiefs Defense extinguished the Eagles¡¯ counterattack in the shortest amount of time with the strongest display, allowing their own Offensive group to take the field once again.


    The Philadelphia Eagles realized the crisis immediately.


    If they couldn¡¯t hold them back this time, the balance of the game might completely tilt towards the Kansas City Chiefs, and the fourth quarter would be in dire straits. The Eagles needed their first-half defense to step up once again.


    The tension of the game escalated, the air reignited, and Arrowhead Stadium finally got back its usual splendor as the deafening roar cascaded down.

 Chapter 239: 238 Ultimate Lure

    Pederson¡¯s fingertips were slightly moist, his heartbeat had slowed down, almost stopping, and the sound of blood flowing filled his ears. His nerves tensed to the extreme, making his senses hyper-sensitive, where even the slightest rustle could make his skin crawl¡ª


    He was so tense he could barely breathe.


    The smooth first half had allowed him some relaxation, but the sudden turn in the second half made him sharply aware that the real test was upon him:


    What to do after your ace in the hole has been exposed early due to a strong counterattack from the opponents?


    Across the field, Pederson looked at his teacher Reed as if he were looking up at a high mountain.


    It had previously been mentioned that before becoming the coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, Reed had been the head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, but that hardly sufficed to describe Reed¡¯s relationship with the Eagles. Discover hidden content at empire


    From 1999 to 2012, Reed spent his forties with the Eagles and has been the executive vice-president and team manager since 2005. It is no exaggeration to say that he had absolute say in the team.


    Although the split between Reed and the Philadelphia Eagles was not amicable, the affection remained, and he recommended his successor while maintaining a good relationship with the team.


    And Pederson, his first NFL job was provided by Reed. He had not only learned under Reed at the Eagles but had also followed Reed to the Chiefs, where he served as the offensive coordinator for three years until the Eagles extended an olive branch, supported and encouraged by Reed, for Pederson to take up his first head coaching duties.


    Undoubtedly, Reed was Pederson¡¯s mentor.


    This was the first time Pederson was facing his teacher after spreading his wings to fly.


    In the first half, Pederson indeed caught Reed¡¯s lifeline, always one step ahead with defensive tactics¡ª


    In the 2015 season, when the Chiefs started with one win and five losses, Reed handed over the responsibility of calling offensive plays to Pederson, which was followed by a ten-game winning streak, a key factor in Pederson securing the head coach position for the Eagles. It also indirectly displayed Pederson¡¯s familiarity with Reed¡¯s offensive tactics and his superior ability to adapt on the spot.


    This was also the key to the first half¡¯s offensive and defensive battles.


    But in the second half, the offense and defense became deadlocked, with the Chiefs taking the upper hand in both offense and defense, making the situation suddenly tense.


    Pederson also realized that this was the real test¡ª


    They needed to stop the Kansas Chiefs Offense.


    The most basic, yet most crucial point, was to absolutely prevent Li Wei from driving straight through for a fatal blow, as that would be incredibly demoralizing.


    Collecting his fingertips, Pederson decisively communicated with Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz.


    However! But then!


    After completing the "handoff", Smith continued his counter-clockwise turn, raised his right hand high, and with a gentle flick, tossed a light throw.


    A deep brown arc sailed over the cleared no-man¡¯s-land, targeting a solitary Wide Receiver:


    Kelsey.


    With the Tight End providing cover for the Running Back, and the Running Back acting as a decoy for the Tight End.


    By the time the Philadelphia Eagles Defensive group reacted, moving swiftly to close the encirclement, everything seemed too slow.


    Kelsey easily broke through for fifteen yards, and although the Eagles¡¯ Defensive group concentrated intensely and reacted promptly, enclosing Kelsey with three players, the Chiefs easily secured a first down nonetheless.


    The situation continued to evolve subtly.


    When the run posed enough threat, it created space for passing; when the pass opened up the field, the run also gained more breathing room.


    This, is what¡¯s called "pass-run balance."


    Throughout the first half, Reed had been trying to achieve this effect, as the best strategy against Pederson¡¯s pressing defense, but the success was mediocre at best; now, finally, following Li Wei¡¯s breakthrough, the situation opened up, increasing the pressure on the Eagles¡¯ Defensive group by a notch.


    Three passes, three runs, the Chiefs¡¯ assault thoroughly broke open the play, targeting three different receiving points, with the running duties shared between Li Wei and Hunter. Although the efficiency was slightly lower, the offensive pattern in Reed¡¯s mind was gradually materializing.


    Taking exactly four minutes and thirty-three seconds, involving three penalties¡ªtwo by the Eagles, one by the Chiefs¡ªthe home team finally reached their opponent¡¯s thirty-yard line. There was a tangible increase in confrontation intensity, and as physical stamina declined and the fierceness index rose, fouls and conflicts became more frequent.


    And then.


    A deadlock ensued again. Originally, Hunter had secured the first down through a run, but amidst the tussle between the offensive and defensive lines, a penalty occurred, forcing the Chiefs to start over. After much back-and-forth, they still faced a challenging Third Gear and five yards situation.


    For the Chiefs, they were already within field goal range, always able to kick a field goal to extend the lead; but scoring a touchdown would obviously be much better.


    So, Li Wei took to the field again.


    Therefore, was Reed hoping for Li Wei to create another miracle, or was he using Li Wei as a decoy in a tactical setup?


    Putting everything else aside, the moment Li Wei took the field, one could feel the atmosphere tense to suffocating levels; the bustling, intermingling glances were filled with murderous intent, sending a clear message to Li Wei:


    If Li Wei dared to hold onto the ball, they would tear him to shreds.

 Chapter 240: 239 Muscle Forest

    At the twenty-five-yard line just in front of the end zone, third and five.


    The situation was leveling out, the defensive group had a smaller area to cover, so they could spread out their limbs, support and encircle more timely, less likely to give up big yardage, and the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive momentum was slowing down¡ª


    Strike while the iron is hot, weaken upon the second effort, and exhausted at the third.


    Pederson had shown his boldness, successfully slowing down the pace, which allowed the Philadelphia Eagles to get back into form. As long as they could stop this wave of offense, prevent the score difference from widening further, then...


    "Attack!"


    Smith had announced the start of the play.


    On one hand, the Philadelphia Eagles still did not opt for a blitz, just a frontal pressure, the entire short and medium pass area was crowded with players.


    On the other hand, Smith repeated the old trick, Li Wei moving from right to left behind him, Smith turning his back to the offensive line and passing, completely blocking the view.


    What was slightly different this time was that the left side was the pair of the tight end and wide receiver, while Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ number one wide receiver Hill was stationed alone on the right.


    So, was this truly a running play, or a fake run that was actually a pass?


    In just a fleeting moment, every player in the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ defensive group needed to make a judgement, where the intensity of the moment could be felt escalating.


    Defensive end Barnett was not distracted¡ª


    As long as Li Wei was on the field, he was one hundred percent focused.


    He half-heartedly engaged the offensive tackle in front of him, while meticulously observing every move of Li Wei. Even though his view was temporarily blocked by Smith, he did not let his attention wander, his laser-like eyes seemingly able to see through Smith¡¯s body.


    Then, Li Wei appeared.


    It was him!


    Though a small portion of the defensive players were distracted guarding against Hill¡¯s deep threat, Barnett wasn¡¯t; he wouldn¡¯t let Li Wei make any sneaky moves right under his nose.


    Indeed, he had caught him!


    This was a running play. The Kansas City Chiefs went against the grain on third and five by choosing to run, where people generally believed there was a 90% chance Reed would opt for a pass, instead Reed gave the football to Li Wei.


    Barnett: Got you.


    This time, he wouldn¡¯t take it lightly or repeat the same mistake.


    With a lateral step, Barnett had already thrown off the offensive tackle assigned to him, standing like a meat mountain in the slot, and he didn¡¯t rush forward. Instead, he controlled his center of gravity, ready to move sideways like a crab at any moment. As long as he intercepted Li Wei on the line of scrimmage, there was no need to lose balance due to any rash moves and end up being toyed with by Li Wei¡¯s nimble footwork. He wouldn¡¯t make the same mistake again.


    Moreover!


    Amidst his staggering, Li Wei made a move to juke to the right, dragging Hicks along as if mirroring his motion. Then with hardly a pause, he pulled back to the left and surged forward.


    A feint, a charge.


    The rapid shifts in the tight space left Hicks unable to keep up. At the same time, Li Wei, unable to plant his heels firmly, slipped and nearly fell.


    The stadium erupted in gasps.


    Then, to his left, Li Wei could see Cornerback Douglas closing in at full speed¡ª


    Strike when the iron is hot.


    With one step forward and a lunge, Douglas swooped like a vulture circling a carcass.


    In that fleeting moment, Li Wei propped up his body with his left hand, avoiding a fall on his butt or knees, and astonishingly regained his footing using his core strength. As Douglas was about to pounce, a red figure streaked across like a bullet train.


    Kelsey.


    In Li Wei¡¯s eyes, Douglas¡¯s face shifted from delight to the iconic scream mask from "The Shining," tackled straight on by Kelsey.


    The obstacle, cleared.


    But Li Wei had no time to catch his breath, staggering like a toddler learning to walk, he maneuvered around Kelsey and Douglas to break outside.


    Just as he steadied his steps, a white figure, face and number unseen, hurtled toward him like a whirlwind.


    One wave had yet to settle before another was upon him.


    Holding his breath, Li Wei used the faint momentum of his run to leap into the air subconsciously¡ª


    Jump.


    Truth be told, Li Wei didn¡¯t jump high, but it was precisely this act that created a misalignment, allowing the white figure to pass beneath him.


    Li Wei barely landed, knees buckling, seemingly on the verge of falling. He clung to his last breath by sheer core strength, doggedly propelling his body forward, even if just by an extra yard or two.


    Dig in.


    That was the only thought in Li Wei¡¯s mind.


    Dig in, step hard, exert force, keep charging.


    Stumbling and lurching, Li Wei unbelievably continued to advance near the sideline, his flailing movements suggesting he could lose balance at any second but defying the odds, they persisted.


    Then, a storm approached.


    It was Safety Jenkins.

 Chapter 241: Fight to the death at 240

    The Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ Safety Jenkins was in full sprint¡ª


    Although faked out by Hill, since he was originally positioned in the backfield, Jenkins still had enough time and space to complete the encirclement.


    In fact, Li Wei¡¯s zigzagging advance was only a mere five yards with little actual vertical distance; but just as he seemed about to fall, he miraculously persisted time and time again.


    And with that, Third Gear was engaged.


    Meanwhile, his steps stubbornly sustained his lifeforce.


    Damn.


    Jenkins¡¯ alarm went off, and he suddenly sensed the nightmare recurring.


    The pace, completely accelerated.


    Strength, speed, center of gravity¡ªJenkins now had the upper hand in every aspect. He wouldn¡¯t leave any openings or opportunities, this time he had to end Li Wei cleanly.


    Getting closer.


    Even closer.


    Jenkins wasn¡¯t rushing. At this point, whether Li Wei advanced ten or fifteen yards hardly made a difference. What mattered was preventing Li Wei from reaching the end zone; Jenkins needed to be calm, steady, and wait for the right moment to strike.


    A tackle?


    No, a collision.


    With a precise hit, Li Wei would be pushed out of bounds for sure.


    Even closer.


    Just as contact was imminent, Jenkins never expected that Li Wei would move towards him.


    Jenkins: ?


    ¡ª Straight Arm Block!


    Li Wei¡¯s right hand had already collided with Jenkins¡¯ shoulder in advance.


    Li Wei knew he couldn¡¯t just wait passively to be pushed out of bounds, as that would be his only fate. His steps were erratic, his knees weak, and he couldn¡¯t gain speed, so he had to initiate a confrontation¡ªit was the only way out.


    Strike first.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t wait for his opponent to approach, instead, he preemptively charged, within the area between the ten and the fifteen-yard line before the end zone.


    However!


    Firstly, Li Wei was also weakened and couldn¡¯t directly overturn Jenkins.


    Secondly, Jenkins was well-prepared, and even though Li Wei had the initiative, Jenkins didn¡¯t lose his balance.


    Thus, the situation became deadlocked, with both men firmly entangled together.


    Jenkins tried to push Li Wei out of bounds.


    They sang joyously, calling out loudly.


    In the Old Oak Tavern, the same song lingered for a long time.


    West revealed his smile again, busily serving drinks to the customers. Turning around, West saw the Tavern owner Anderson walking toward a corner with a beer in his hand.


    There sat Chris Provos, the slick guy from before.


    In a blink, he had been unemployed for a full year, and although he had been doing odd jobs sporadically, the pervasive rejection had worn him down completely, barely hanging on, and all the old timers in the tavern worried he might consider doing something drastic, yet they felt helpless to assist.


    Even the tavern was facing serious operational difficulties.


    Provos had already racked up a pile of bills at the tavern, which led Anderson to refuse to let him run a tab anymore.


    Provos sat in the tavern like a ghost because he had nowhere else to go.


    And now¡ª


    Anderson put the beer in front of Provos and patted the table.


    Provos suddenly looked up, inadvertently revealing tears in his eyes, messily rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand.


    West¡¯s tongue also felt bitter, maybe... just maybe, they could still believe in hope, believe that there is light at the end of the endless darkness.


    In Arrowhead Stadium, although Pederson and Jenkins kept protesting, the referee still maintained the original call¡ª


    Touchdown.


    Unless Pederson challenged the referee¡¯s decision, it was the final outcome.


    The same cry echoed over Kansas City.


    "Touch! Down!"


    Blood boiled once again.


    "10:20."


    After struggles and tangles, the hosting Kansas City Chiefs managed to widen the score gap, creating a situation where two touchdowns were needed just to catch up; the entire game¡¯s dynamics had dramatically shifted.


    In the ESPN studio, Bart held his breath as he observed the situation, both frustrated and distressed¡ªhow had things come to this point?


    But¡ª


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    He must not give up hope, he must not.


    The fourth quarter was next, a ten-point gap was like taking something out of a bag; they should anticipate the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ offense because Pederson learned from Reed, and for him, offense was still his stronger suit; they should also believe in Wentz, the sophomore quarterback who surely had more to show.


    Don¡¯t forget, Wentz was last year¡¯s Top Scholar, Top Scholar!


    How could a Top Scholar lose to Li Wei, the Edgerunner?


    Bart swallowed hard, staring at the broadcast screen, now finally feeling the thrill of hanging by a thread, his entire reputation hinged on this moment.

 Chapter 242: 241 millimeters difference

    "Defense!"


    "Defense!"


    The unified shouts of support hovered over Arrowhead Stadium, with a rolling heatwave burning in the air, noticeably tightening the atmosphere.


    The Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ Offensive group had finally executed the tactic Pederson wanted, finally!


    In this wave of offense, Wentz was in top form, launching nine plays in a total of four minutes and thirty-seven seconds, leading the offensive group to advance sixty-five yards, unstoppably charging into the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ Red Zone. The end zone was now within reach and the confrontation between the two teams had reached a fever pitch.


    Last season, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense frequently excelled, and it was precisely their strong performance in the Red Zone that contributed greatly to the team¡¯s victories.


    In the season opener against the New England Patriots, the Defense¡¯s Red Zone performance was average until they found their form in the fourth quarter and shut out Brady; and now it was the same, with Wentz truly in form, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense seemed slightly disheveled, only finding intensity in the Red Zone.


    Twice stopping the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ attempts to reach the end zone, coming to a third and five situation¡ª


    One side, determined to succeed.


    One side, refusing to back down.


    The intense clash between offense and defense tightens to its peak in this moment.


    Kansas City Chiefs Safety Eric Berry was roaming near the end zone baseline.


    Usually, a safety needs to cover the entire backfield, requiring alertness and agility, especially in an era dominated by passing, where safeties often represent the ceiling of the Defensive group; but now in the Red Zone, the activity space is compressed and the role of the safety seems to suddenly become less important.


    However, as a veteran, Berry had his own understanding.


    Indeed, in the Red Zone, cornerbacks and linemen have clear responsibilities, they need to mark their opponents accurately; and at that moment, the safety¡¯s judgment of the overall situation often becomes the key to showing the Defensive group¡¯s intensity.


    Berry¡¯s gaze, tightly locked onto Wentz.


    Reed has always been criticized for disliking ground attacks, as he is a typical passing coach, and his offensive tactics are heavily skewed towards passing; Pederson is Reed¡¯s protege, the entire tactical system is inherited directly from Reed, with an emphasis on passing even more profound than Reed¡¯s.


    Just now, in this series of nine plays, Wentz chose to pass every single time, every one.


    The running back didn¡¯t touch the football at all.


    Last season¡¯s NFL rushing leader, LeGarrette Blount, joined the Philadelphia Eagles this season from the New England Patriots, originally expected to be a pillar of the offensive group, standing beside second-year quarterback Wentz as a support, but now he was left out.


    Blount: What¡¯s going on here!


    Thus, it also became a gamble¡ª


    For the next play, would Pederson dare to continue calling for a pass? Or would he unexpectedly choose a run?


    The football glided off Berry¡¯s palm, altering its parabolic flight path and shooting out.


    Out of bounds.


    "Oh, so close."


    "Just a bit closer, and Berry would have had the interception."


    "God, that was incredibly thrilling. Pederson stubbornly chose to pass, finally hitting a wall in the red zone, narrowly missing an interception, struck out, and with the end zone within reach, yet ultimately unable to score."


    "Certainly, Pederson dodged a bullet, not getting intercepted, and the Philadelphia Eagles can still try for a field goal to reduce the gap, getting back to within a touchdown¡¯s difference."


    "The game isn¡¯t over, though the Kansas City Chiefs performed brilliantly in the second half, the Philadelphia Eagles still cling to a lifeline at the edge of the cliff."


    Berry, extremely annoyed and regretful, crouched down hugging his helmet¡ª


    The interception slipped through his fingertips.


    After all, a ten-point gap and a seven-point gap are completely different, giving the Philadelphia Eagles hope, the battle continuing to drag on.


    A hairbreadth¡¯s difference, yet it provided the Philadelphia Eagles with a glimmer of hope.


    In the 2017 season, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ schedule turned out to be tougher than imagined, after tying up with the New England Patriots till the fourth quarter in the first game and narrowly determining the winner, the second game was tightly contested by the Philadelphia Eagles again, leaving suspense about the outcome until the fourth quarter.


    Maybe, some would say, it¡¯s just a missed interception, no need to fuss so much, but then Bart would stand up and correct that viewpoint¡ª


    In competitive sports, the fate of the game is often decided by such minute details; missing opportunities comes with a cost, especially in critical matches.


    Otherwise, how did the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ playoff curse come about?


    Bart clasped his hands in earnest prayer, hoping sincerely that if a Football god truly existed, this turn of events could once again reverse the fortunes, becoming a new starting point for the Philadelphia Eagles to dominate the Kansas City Chiefs.


    "13:20".


    Three minutes and twenty seconds into the fourth quarter, instead of widening the gap, the two teams narrowed it, the Philadelphia Eagles not giving up hope.


    Moreover, the consequences of Berry¡¯s missed interception soon became apparent.


    The Kansas City Chiefs suddenly switched modes, completely disregarding the balance of pass and run from the previous three quarters, launching an explosive and intense series of passing plays which ultimately saw Smith and Kelsey complete a fifteen-yard pass for a touchdown.


    Following that, the Philadelphia Eagles showed strong performance, with Wentz activating "God Mode," initiating the most spectacular offensive play of his two seasons in the professional league¡ª


    "Touchdown!"


    "Carson Wentz! Oh God!"


    "What did I just see?"

 Chapter 243: 242 Wentz moment

    "00:08."


    "20:27."


    The former was the game clock, the final eight seconds of the match was all that remained.


    The latter was the score, the gap still within just one touchdown.


    Just as the Kansas City Chiefs were on the brink of victory, one step away from starting the season with back-to-back wins, sophomore quarterback Wentz stepped up and activated God Mode, executing the most brilliant streak of his career.


    Seven passes, seven hits, a 100% success rate.


    And in the final offensive series just at the edge of the Red Zone, he faced a sack crisis as the Kansas City Chiefs Defense tore through the pocket, completely catching Pederson off guard, with Wentz resembling an antelope trapped by lions.


    However, Wentz held steady.


    After dodging the sack three times in a row, Wentz threw a thirteen-yard pass, finding the team¡¯s junior wide receiver Nelson Agholor in the dead angle of the end zone. Agholor, almost losing his balance, managed to snatch the football from the tiger¡¯s mouth and achieve the touchdown.


    The game time froze at eight seconds.


    Thrilling, exhilarating, miraculous.


    Just when everyone thought the victory was in the bag for the Kansas City Chiefs, Wentz took a stand, sending a message with his actions¡ª


    The Philadelphia Eagles had a different opinion.


    "Wow, Wentz¡¯s moment."


    "I¡¯m not sure what just happened, but Wentz seemed to suddenly get it. It¡¯s not just about his pass completion rate; his entire field vision, defensive reading, space judgment have all reached an unbelievable level."


    "Most importantly, the calm and composure in the face of a sack crisis, the killer¡¯s determination and toughness perfectly resolved the crisis."


    "It¡¯s not that the Kansas City Chiefs didn¡¯t play well, but Wentz was in God Mode. They were simply not on the same level when it came to a head-on confrontation."


    "Amazing, amazing!"


    Pash didn¡¯t skimp on his applause.


    "Just as all eyes were focused on the opening game ¡¯rookie VS goat¡¯ narrative, this match presents another possibility."


    "Look, coming up in the second half, rookie Li Wei, with a power all his own, breaks the balance, dominating the game as if divinely assisted, making it impossible to look away."No?v(el)B\\jnn


    In reality, this is not the case.


    An onside kick can happen at any point in the game; because of their low success rate, a failed attempt essentially gives the opponent a very favorable starting position near the midfield line, which is why teams are reluctant to try it unless they¡¯re left with no other choice during the game¡¯s decisive moments.


    In the 2009 season, the Super Bowl ultimate showdown featured the Indianapolis Colts led by Manning against the New Orleans Saints led by Brees.


    At the end of the first half, "10:6," the Indianapolis Colts were leading.


    Coming into the second half, the Colts, led by Manning, initiated the offense but were taken by surprise when the New Orleans Saints chose an onside kick at the kickoff, catching them off guard and seizing possession. This "ambush" completely turned the tide of the game.


    In the end, the New Orleans Saints defeated the Colts and were crowned champions.


    This was the first onside kick in Super Bowl history before the fourth quarter, and even after fifteen years, Sean Peyton¡¯s tactical call is still fondly remembered and talked about.


    The Philadelphia Eagles are now going to choose an onside kick and plan to try a ¡¯Hail Mary¡¯ after regaining possession.


    Looking at it from all aspects, the Kansas City Chiefs firmly hold the upper hand and are in a commanding position with only eight seconds left in the game. All they need to do is secure possession and thwart the onside kick, and victory will be theirs. However, that¡¯s the nature of competitive sports: until the final moment, anything is possible.


    Wentz, with an incredible performance, has secured one more chance for the Philadelphia Eagles.


    Now, the pressure is on.


    Eight seconds¡ªonly eight seconds away from the end of the game, but both teams are bustling. Reed and Pederson are deploying their troops, and the special teams are in a flurry of activity¡ª


    The special teams, often overlooked and ignored, are now critical to the ultimate suspense of the game.


    The Eagles¡¯ rookie kicker, Jake Elliott, takes a deep breath and steps onto the field.


    Elliott never imagined that he would become the center of attention, making his heart race.


    Although this is not a game-winning field goal but a slim-chance onside kick, and no one would blame a kicker for a failed attempt, Elliott still hopes to prove himself.


    He longs to shine in this arena, to show that he too can make a difference on the field.


    Then cheers swell throughout Arrowhead Stadium.


    Looking up, Elliott can¡¯t help but clench his fists, feeling his blood pounding with excitement¡ª


    It¡¯s Li Wei.


    The player all rookies aspire to defeat.

 Chapter 244: 243 Desperately Pounce

    Jack Elliott, the same age as Li Wei, also participated in the draft in his junior year; this year, he was selected in the fifth round, one hundred and fifty-third overall by the Cincinnati Bengals.


    For a kicker, who often gets noticed only in the sixth or seventh round, this was a very decent position; he was the third kicker selected that year.


    Unfortunately, Elliott couldn¡¯t stand out in the internal team competition, so he was laid off and transferred to the Cincinnati Bengals¡¯ practice squad the next day.


    If everything had proceeded as expected, Elliott would have spent his career like a blue-collar worker, diligently sitting on the bench, although not earning much, at least having enough to live on, and the spotlight would never fall on him since injuries are quite uncommon in the kicker position.


    However, an accident occurred.


    The Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ kicker, Caleb Sturgis, was injured in the game defeating Washington Redskins and placed on the injury list; the Philadelphia Eagles panicked all of a sudden. Unlike other positions, the special teams don¡¯t have substitutes for their three regular members, and once someone is injured they just have to cope.


    In a rush, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Elliott from the Cincinnati Bengals¡¯ practice squad.


    Three days ago, Elliott came to Philadelphia from Cincinnati; he didn¡¯t even have time to pack his luggage, he had no accommodation in Philadelphia yet, temporarily living at a hotel arranged by the team, not having recognized his teammates, and then... then he found himself standing here.


    The decisive moment.


    Everything had happened too quickly, like a tornado.


    Nervous?


    God, Elliott felt as if his heart was about to vomit out.


    But, the moment he saw Li Wei, Elliott found his goal¡ª


    He longed to be like him.


    A rookie. Asian. Running back. Any of these labels could get someone lost under pressure, but he didn¡¯t; even though he became the focus of the entire league, he still advanced at his own pace.


    He hoped he could find his place in the league like him and hoped to defeat him and then stand under the spotlight to accept the cheers.


    "Jack, this is your chance,"


    Elliott silently encouraged himself.


    Arrowhead Stadium roared¡ª


    Not because of Li Wei, but because they were expecting their team to hold their heads high and secure the victory; they needed to cheer for their own team.


    After enduring the dull and oppressive first half and the dramatic fluctuations of the second half, it was finally the moment of truth, and the whole place was electrified.


    Then, they saw Li Wei.


    Undoubtedly, in just two games, Li Wei had already won the support of the fans, but his foundation was still weak, and today was his formal debut at Arrowhead Stadium, so the fans were not unified in their support:


    Li Wei? Edgerunner? Or something else?


    Moreover, this was the battle of the Special Duty Group; cheer individually for Li Wei seemed a bit impolite, didn¡¯t it?


    The scattered cheers gradually gathered and finally converged into a strong force, releasing an incredible energy.


    "Fly!"


    One voice, then another.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    All the perfect elements of a gambling kick were there.


    Elliott was delighted, an opportunity.


    Meanwhile, Li Wei had also begun to move.


    Before the gamble kick, both teams had their positions, generally eight frontline players divided into three groups, covering different positions and areas along the ten-yard line; and three more players in the backfield to prevent the opponents from a long kickoff steal.


    So, when Elliott saw Li Wei positioned on the left side of the Kansas City Chiefs, he deliberately kicked the ball towards Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ left side, the Chiefs¡¯ right side, using himself, Li Wei, and the other side of the field line as a triangular frame, and kicked the football out towards the other sideline.


    Just right, Ahora was standing there.


    Meaning, the distance from Ahora to the football touchdown point was shorter than the distance from Li Wei to the football touchdown point, thus gaining time this way.


    Moreover, Li Wei noticed: this time for the gambling kick, Elliott deliberately reduced the force, that is, the speed, causing the football not to roll far.


    Oh no!


    Li Wei sounded the alarm, watching powerlessly as the football crossed the midfield line at its limits, apparently about to stop at any moment¡ªa 0.1% chance occurrence.


    Thud, thud, thud!


    Sprinting at full speed, lowering his center of gravity, Li Wei¡¯s vertical speed had reached its limit, unleashing everything he had like a roaring hurricane.


    Then, the confrontation between the two sides collided first.


    The player on the right side of the Kansas City Chiefs did not hurriedly bend down to pick up the ball, as it might break the formation; they wholeheartedly charged at the approaching Philadelphia Eagles players, trying to block them.


    Bang!


    A collision!


    In the chaos, Ahora burst forward, a dive at the peak had him rushing for the football quickly.


    Close.


    Closer.


    Then, he touched it.


    Ahora could feel the leather texture of the football with his fingers, but before he could grasp it, a fierce impact hit him like a flood beast.


    The waist!


    His waist was about to break.


    Li Wei, like a diver, lunged at Ahora, using his helmet to knock Ahora aside, and then he could see that little red-brown sprite playfully hopping along the green, scooping up the football with his left hand in a reflex action the moment it landed, instinctively bringing the red-brown football into his embrace.


    Boom!


    The rumbling of the collision and confrontation rebounded like splashes and engulfed him.


    Li Wei had no time to react, just curled up, clutching the football tightly in his arms, like a newborn baby curling up into a ball, refusing to let go.


    The world, a roar.

 Chapter 245: 244 Cut Off Breathing

    Bart, hold your breath¡ª


    He certainly knew that even if the Philadelphia Eagles secured the onside kick, it did not mean a reversal, but at least it meant that Wentz had a chance to win the Wanfu Mary. From the previous offensive, Wentz, who entered "God Mode", certainly had a chance. Find your next read on empire


    The premise of everything was that the Philadelphia Eagles could secure the ball from the onside kick.


    Intently focused, even momentarily forgetting to breathe.


    Beautiful!


    Bart saw Elliott¡¯s onside kick and couldn¡¯t help but clench his fist in silent praise. If this fifth-round show kicker could embarrass that number twenty-three Top Scholar, the post-game press conference would likely be very interesting.


    But the shout did not come out loud, and his gaze followed the football as it rolled away.


    Ahora!


    Ahora secured the ball, and Bart felt his heart leap into his throat, joy and happiness exploding, his fists clenched high above his head¡ª


    Oh yeah.


    The cheer had just burst from his throat when he stiffened, frozen in place like he¡¯d fallen into an ice cellar, his breathing cut off and his brain blank, with only one thought:


    Shit.


    Next, the live broadcast from the Arrowhead Stadium blared with Pash¡¯s hoarse, irrational cheers mixed with the red surge of the Kansas City Chiefs overwhelming the screen, crashing down relentlessly.


    "Ahora!"


    "Ahora!"


    "Oh, God, Li Wei!"


    "Li Wei snatched it from the jaws of death, securing the football just before Ahora could take control."


    "Li Wei! Li Wei! Li Wei!"


    On the screen, the action flashed by, Li Wei seeming to control the football yet not quite, as immediately after, players from both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs piled on like dumplings, burying Li Wei and Ahora under a swarm of bodies.


    One after another.


    Quickly amassing into a mountain of flesh.


    The ESPN studio in New York also fell into a dead silence, no one even noticing Bart who had sprung up and was shouting at the screen, as everyone held their breath, staring at the screen, waiting for the referees to clear the scene.


    Meanwhile, in the frontline broadcast room, Pash began to watch the replay.


    "Incredible!"


    "Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ gamble on a kick failed, Kansas City Chiefs defeat Philadelphia Eagles to secure a season double win; the final score ¡¯20:27,¡¯ Kansas City Chiefs win a critically important and particularly difficult match."


    "Wow."


    "I mean, wow, awesome! From a defensive battle in the first half to an offensive frenzy in the second, both teams showcased their all-around abilities to the audience. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising to see both teams in the playoffs, and the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ victory in this tough game also proves their mettle."


    "Hey, all those haters in the league should change their bias and start acknowledging that this year, the Kansas City Chiefs are not just participating, absolutely not."


    Bart: Hey, why are you all looking at me? Don¡¯t look, none of you should look, you pack of jackals! I¡¯m not Little Red Riding Hood seeing ghosts!


    The match between Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles was unpredictable from the start, through the process, and likewise, the result¡ª


    Last season, both teams disappointed in different ways, and their off-season moves left league experts baffled:


    Philadelphia Eagles actually strengthened their defense? Kansas City Chiefs actually chose two running backs?


    However, two weeks into the season, the state and energy displayed by these two teams had everyone taking notice and gathering focus.


    So, what now?


    Especially Li Wei.


    When people discuss running backs, even excellent statistics do not necessarily mean a running back is outstanding; an important reason is the protection provided by the offensive line.


    A team with a top-tier ground attack can never overlook the importance of the offensive line; no need to go back in history, as last season, New England Patriots¡¯ running back Blount exemplifies this.


    Last season, New England Patriots had a Pro Bowl level offensive line, so Blount, who entered the league as an undrafted rookie and didn¡¯t make a notable impact early in his career, surprisingly became the league¡¯s leading rusher, highlighting the importance of the offensive line.


    This concept is akin to system players in soccer.


    Indeed, the Crimson Tide Storm is no different.


    Thus, when Li Wei declared for the draft, one major concern among insiders was, could Li Wei, separated from Saban, possibly turn into a fish headed for the desert?


    Now, just two games in, Li Wei, not just once, but in situations where the offensive line couldn¡¯t handle the pressure, has relied on his personal skill to solve problems, not just his skill but also his game intelligence, making him key in altering the game¡¯s dynamics for the Kansas City Chiefs for two consecutive weeks.


    Without a doubt, Li Wei has proven himself.


    No wonder more and more fans and professionals alike are starting to acknowledge that Li Wei is another Peterson.


    In response, Lawson agreed and looked forward to seeing more in Li Wei.


    Then.


    Lawson looked at Bart, "Blair, what do you think?"

 Chapter 246: 245 Out-of-the-circle index

    Bart¡¯s entire back and both knees were brimming with arrows; he might need to dive for a few days to recuperate properly. Slowly pulling them out one by one, the blood wouldn¡¯t stop flowing, and before he could even bind up with bandages, he saw the schadenfreude on Lawson¡¯s face¡ª


    Shit.


    Even though this was a live broadcast, Bart could barely control the urge to curse.


    So should he admit he was wrong?


    A man could lose his head or bleed out, but his hair must never be messed up.


    What mattered wasn¡¯t the hair, but face.


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    Slapping his own face on a nationwide live broadcast was utterly humiliating.


    But... but...


    Imagine, with the whole league singing praises, he might be one of the few voices of dissent, and Bart¡¯s ambitious spirit was suddenly ignited:


    The Buddha said, "If I do not go to hell, who will?"


    He should speak out for other rookies; he should play the role of cooling the entire league down; he was the Iron Man¡ª


    To stop Thanos from snapping his fingers, he should sacrifice himself.


    Taking a deep breath, under the scrutiny of the entire studio, Bart mustered the courage to fortify his face into a wall, "Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs."


    "But,"


    "The season has only just begun, we don¡¯t want to see another Robert Griffin III..."


    Griffin: Why am I always the one getting hurt?


    "We also don¡¯t want to see a 2007 New England Patriots..."


    Brady: Weren¡¯t we supposed to never speak of that again?


    In the 2007 season, the New England Patriots achieved a resplendent record of sixteen victories in the regular season and marched confidently towards the Super Bowl. Almost everyone believed the Patriots were unstoppable and would clinch the championship; however, Eli Manning and the New York Giants disagreed.


    "Wow."


    "From his current performance, there¡¯s no doubt that Li Wei is the strongest contender for Offensive Rookie of the Year. He¡¯s now set the target that all other rookies must surpass, setting the bar high early on."


    "Not only that, he¡¯s the most charismatic player among the 2017 rookies."


    "But what¡¯s truly interesting is that Li Wei has his sights set on a loftier goal. He¡¯s not just content with being the best of the 2017 rookies; his aim is to be the strongest rookie season in history. Judging by the data from the first two weeks, he¡¯s already in a strong position to challenge for that best-ever title."


    Praise, amazement, an endless stream of accolades.


    In the jubilation of Arrowhead Stadium, Pash freely expressed his opinion, incredibly pushing Li Wei into the limelight once again.


    Before the season started, there was a swirling vortex of expectations, controversy, and focus around Li Wei. Now it¡¯s skyrocketing like a rocket, reaching new heights.


    Unparalleled.


    Last week, even Brady became a mere foil.


    After this week, it¡¯s feared that the whole league will be talking about Li Wei, his popularity soaring at a rate that makes Odell Beckham Jr.¡¯s breakout 2014 season seem pale by comparison.


    Immediately, not just ESPN¡¯s New York studio erupted in heated debate, but the whole social network went into frenzy, with topics spreading far and wide.


    Household names like Houston Texans star J.J. Watt, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller, and others all expressed their admiration for Li Wei¡¯s fantastic performance on social media.


    The NBA also felt this heat wave.


    Stars like Golden State Warriors¡¯ Stephen Curry, Portland Trail Blazers¡¯ Damian Lillard, Cleveland Cavaliers¡¯ LeBron James, and others retweeted the NFL¡¯s official account¡¯s video of Li Wei¡¯s second touchdown, expressing their admiration.


    Universal astonishment, making a name for oneself.


    Generally speaking, it¡¯s very difficult for a running back¡¯s rushing yards to be "exciting," usually they¡¯re quite mundane. Marshawn Lynch¡¯s "Beast Mode" is an exception, and that¡¯s a key reason why Lynch always stands out, it¡¯s more fan-friendly for the average passerby; and now, Li Wei is also repeatedly standing out.


    From the first game to the second, his moments of fame weren¡¯t just once or twice.


    If you say that before, it was all "hard advertising," relying on the rookie and Chinese heritage to spark discussions, then after the regular season began, it¡¯s his strength that speaks for him, the so-called "soft advertising." The fanbase didn¡¯t need the league¡¯s push to spontaneously start discussions that just won¡¯t stop.


    And it¡¯s not just everyone else.


    Li Wei watched as Wentz stood before him, hesitating to speak, and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle to himself.

 Chapter 247: 246 Rookie Benchmark

    The game ended just like that.


    Elliott stood there, devastated and disillusioned, his face a mix of sighs and reluctance¡ª


    He had fantasized about arriving in Philadelphia from Cincinnati on a Rainbow Cloud, entering "God Mode" at the crucial moment, turning the tables with a desperate counterattack, and becoming the ultimate hero securing victory for the Philadelphia Eagles. Not only would he deliver a powerful counterstrike against the Cincinnati Bengals, but he would also prove himself.


    Indeed, the moment the kick flew out, everything seemed possible, and he truly believed that he could be the hero of the victory.


    He had even planned his celebration, high-fiving Wentz, passing on the heavy responsibility to Wanfu Mary, and then embracing the cheers of his new teammates.


    However, everything abruptly came to a halt.


    Li Wei.


    It was Li Wei, who single-handedly extinguished the hopes of a Philadelphia Eagles comeback, strong enough, decisive enough, and most importantly, calm enough.


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    Unflustered in the face of danger.


    So, is this what superstar charisma is like?


    Gently and deeply exhaling, Elliott carefully gathered his chaotic thoughts, looked up, and spotted Li Wei in the crowd, busily surrounded by Kansas City Chiefs players, not just from the offensive group but the defensive group as well.


    Can you imagine? A rookie, a newcomer, quietly becoming the core of the team just two weeks into the season.


    Perhaps, he should take Li Wei as an example, firmly grasp this opportunity, stabilize his footing in Philadelphia, and embark on a new journey.


    After all, like Li Wei, he too was a rookie. If a running back can have their spring, why not a kicker?


    His gaze fell back on Li Wei, filled with a bit of longing and admiration. Elliott hesitated slightly, wondering if he asked Li Wei to exchange jerseys, would he refuse?


    Finally, after some hesitation, Elliott decided to give it a try. Before he could take a step, he realized someone had beat him to it¡ª


    Wentz.


    Carson Wentz felt a bit embarrassed.


    Goff was quickly labeled a "bust," and Wentz was severely criticized by the media. Compared to last year¡¯s treatment of Winston and Mariota, it was like heaven and earth.


    In fact, this game was no exception¡ª


    Even without attending the press conference yet, Wentz knew he was about to become a focal point of media scrutiny again.


    Wentz¡¯s intuition was right.


    At the post-game press conference, a reporter directly confronted Pederson with the stats: in the entire game, last season¡¯s leading rusher, Blount, had only one carry for zero yards.


    Furthermore, throughout the game, the Philadelphia Eagles only attempted ten running plays, advancing seventy-one yards on the ground, fifty-five of which came from quarterback Wentz, meaning the running back group advanced only sixteen yards.


    Sixteen yards.


    This statistic was indeed bloody.


    The media blamed everything on Pederson and Wentz; if Pederson hadn¡¯t insisted on focusing on a passing offense, the Eagles might not have lost.


    Wentz wasn¡¯t surprised.


    After all, every move he and Goff made could become an original sin, and every word they said was scrutinized under a microscope. Whatever happened, "blame Wentz" and "blame Goff" had become the norm.


    Especially since the 2017 season had no rookie quarterbacks to share their pressure, Wentz and Goff still stood in the line of fire.


    The pressure was suffocating, even if Wentz managed to switch to "God Mode" in the final moments to add suspense to the game. But it wasn¡¯t enough, still far from enough.


    This year, the pressure on Li Wei was even greater by comparison, and to some extent, even more exaggerated than Goff and Wentz combined.


    People saw the historical brilliance created by Li Wei, but Wentz saw the pressure Li Wei endured as a running back, those labels, any one of which was tremendously heavy¡ªrookie, Asian, running back, newcomer, and so on, each label was a mountain that could crush a person.


    However, how did Li Wei manage it?


    Under immense pressure, he didn¡¯t bend, didn¡¯t get scared, didn¡¯t back down, but turned it into motivation, erupting with more powerful, more ferocious, more aggressive energy.


    Setting a bar for rookies that was difficult to surpass.


    Before he realized it, Wentz found himself standing before Li Wei, seemingly a subconscious act.

 Chapter 248: 247 Overjoyed

    Wentz certainly hadn¡¯t forgotten that Li Wei was his opponent; moreover, facing the Philadelphia Eagles, Li Wei had once again delivered a marvelous performance.


    But as the final whistle of the game sounded, Wentz couldn¡¯t help but reminisce about the calm and determination Li Wei had shown during the last gamble kick.


    Before he realized it, Wentz had already appeared in front of Li Wei.


    Obviously, this was unexpected.


    Wentz hadn¡¯t thought about how he should face Li Wei, and when the words reached his lips, he couldn¡¯t help but hesitate, his awkward demeanor was indeed amusing.


    Li Wei paused in his step, "So, if you¡¯re ready to start swearing at me, you can start now, and I promise to retaliate until you clam up."


    Despite his words, there was no aggression in his tone, but one could taste the jest in his words.


    Wentz couldn¡¯t help but laugh, "Li Wei, can we exchange jerseys? A spectacular game."


    Li Wei shook his head repeatedly, "Although disappointed, well, alright, let¡¯s exchange jerseys."


    Li Wei took off his jersey and handed it over, pausing, "Are you sure we¡¯re not going to exchange a few barbs?"


    "Haha." Wentz laughed heartily, "Yes, I¡¯m sure."


    After the jersey exchange was complete, Wentz watched Li Wei¡¯s retreating figure and hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he couldn¡¯t refrain from saying, "Next time we meet, I will defeat you."


    Li Wei turned around, "Then you need to really work hard, very, very, very hard."


    He was confident and at ease, with a hint of teasing.


    Involuntarily, Wentz also began to feel his blood boil with excitement.


    It seemed Wentz had realized something; even though Li Wei was younger than himself and had spent far less sweat and time on the football field than anyone else in the League, he could still learn a lot from Li Wei. Vaguely, he had some inspiration, perhaps not clear enough yet, but it had already quietly ignited a spark.


    Wentz was serious; he truly looked forward to meeting Li Wei again.


    Having said that, Li Wei turned and walked toward the player¡¯s tunnel.


    Actually, he had planned to return to the locker room to check the system because there seemed to be a reward notification sound just now, but he hadn¡¯t taken two steps before he was unexpectedly called again,


    Li Wei felt somewhat helpless, stopped, and then saw the Eagles kicker panting as he caught up, "Li Wei, can we exchange jerseys?"


    Li Wei: ?


    One by one, the Kansas City Chiefs players started returning to the locker room, each one giving Li Wei high-fives and shoulder bumps to celebrate the victory.


    Under immense pressure, a two-game winning streak was a great way to start the new season, and undoubtedly, Li Wei was a key part of that, with every player eager to be close to him.


    As a result, Li Wei still couldn¡¯t catch a break.


    "Li Wei, Li Wei, I just heard, you haven¡¯t lost an official game since you started playing football?" Mahomes asked with an admiring expression, "Now the fans are all calling you Lucky Star."


    Li Wei was taken aback, his first subconscious reaction being, didn¡¯t they lose in the preseason games? And that was two games.


    But then it struck him, those weren¡¯t official games.


    From the Crimson Tide Storm to the Chieftain, a whole year had gone by, and Li Wei had never lost in an official game, which was indeed a rare feat.


    No wonder!


    No wonder just now so many fans along the player¡¯s tunnel had been shouting "Lucky Star," and even little girls were throwing neatly folded paper stars at him.


    He had been puzzled by what was going on; so, the real reason was right here.


    Hunter, who was about to head off to shower, paused. He wanted to make a sarcastic comment but then hesitated, worried about ruining the team¡¯s celebratory mood. His look toward Li Wei became somewhat awkward; was even the "Aura of Fortune" now something to drape over Li Wei?


    Before Li Wei could respond, Kelsey, who had just entered the locker room, chuckled and teased, "It¡¯s just that you haven¡¯t played enough games yet."


    Boom!


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    A chorus of teasing erupted throughout the locker room.


    "Travis!"


    "Raven mouth, are you itching for a beating?"


    "Are you with us or against us?"


    Whizzing through the air, a barrage of towels pelted Kelsey.


    Kelsey raised his hands in surrender, "Hey, hey! Guys, I was just saying, don¡¯t put pressure on Li Wei, victory and defeat are all part of the game."


    Kelsey was worried; right now, everything was going smoothly, everyone was practically worshiping Li Wei. But the moment the team hit a rough patch, or even faced defeat, it was possible all the blame would point toward Li Wei.


    Li Wei was a rookie; he shouldn¡¯t have to be that kind of character.


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 Chapter 249: 248 Great value for money

    Kelsey swore he didn¡¯t mean to throw cold water on the situation, he just hoped the team wouldn¡¯t pile all the pressure on Li Wei alone.


    After all, the League was crazy enough already. They were teammates, comrades in arms; at least inside the team, they should share the pressure together.


    Of course, in a teasing manner.


    In the midst of all the teasing and attacking, Kelsey turned to look at Li Wei, raised his hands in surrender, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily curled into a smile.


    Then, he mouthed silently, "Sorry."


    Li Wei saw it.


    Li Wei certainly didn¡¯t mind, he looked at the other teammates in the locker room and waved his hand lightly, "He¡¯s just jealous."


    Then, looking at Kelsey, Li Wei opened his arms in a hug gesture, "Don¡¯t worry, Travis, I¡¯ll take you flying with me."


    Roar!


    Looking at Li Wei¡¯s brimming confidence, he was almost like Jesus Christ himself, just short of a halo around his head. The locker room erupted in whistles and cheers, with the continuous banging on lockers creating an endless noise¡ªa raucous celebration, as the victory party had just begun.


    At last, Li Wei finally got some personal space.


    Turning to face his locker, under the guise of tidying his things, Li Wei then summoned the system in his mind.


    As expected¡ª


    The opportunity to flip a card had arrived!No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Before, Li Wei had speculated that as time advanced and, most importantly, as his personal abilities improved, it would become increasingly difficult to accumulate progress on the system¡¯s progress bar; but at the same time, with intensified training and increased professional competition, the scale of the upgrade would also increase slightly.


    Between the two, there should be a balance to maintain the pacing of progress.


    After all, in essence, this was a straightforward training system.


    Indeed, that was the case.


    Since the last card flip lottery, the speed of the progress bar¡¯s accumulation had noticeably slowed, as the intensity of daily training seemed no longer capable of bringing about effective improvement.


    However, with the kickoff of the NFL season and two back-to-back intensely competitive games, Li Wei¡¯s consecutive high-intensity, high-efficiency performances turned in a perfect scorecard, and the progress bar that crawled like a snail these past months suddenly returned to the initial speed when the system was first launched, soaring like a rocket.


    100%.


    In front of him, the progress bar was full again, and just now, Li Wei had received another opportunity to flip a card.


    After taking a moment to adjust his breathing, Li Wei was not ready to wait any longer¡ª


    Now was the perfect time.


    Together with the Recovery Effect Doubling Card, their joint effect was not only crucial for extending the latter half of Li Wei¡¯s season performance but also key to prolonging his career.


    The only pity was that the Injury Negative Impact Reduction Card from the beginner¡¯s gift pack only had a 10% effect.


    At that time, Li Wei was curious about the maximum limit of this effect, but as more than a year had passed, he had not seen a similar card, which highlighted the preciousness of the beginner¡¯s gift pack even more.


    Until now.


    50%!


    The effect was as high as 50%!


    Without hesitation, Li Wei summoned the system; he needed to conduct an experiment to see if the effects of cards of the same type could stack. If successful, two Injury Negative Impact Reduction Cards would amount to 60%.


    Li Wei temporarily removed the Training Effect Doubling Card, attempting to install this 50% Injury Negative Impact Reduction Card.


    However, it failed.


    "Cards with the same effect cannot be equipped simultaneously."


    The system popped up a prompt box.


    Regrettably.


    Despite a touch of regret, he was not disappointed. One should not be too greedy¡ª


    50%, this was already a leap forward.


    Worth celebrating!


    He replaced the original 10% card and re-equipped the Training Effect Doubling Card and the Injury Negative Impact Reduction Card, letting out a long breath of relief.


    Regardless, the gains from the opening two games of the season were far beyond expectations, and just one Injury Negative Impact Reduction Card was enough to exhilarate him.


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t help but rub his hands together in anticipation.


    He was looking forward to the upcoming games, eager for the continued high-intensity collisions. Who knows, maybe the system¡¯s card flipping chances could bring even more surprises.


    Just as he was about to close his locker, ready for his post-game recovery, he noticed his phone buzzing. He casually picked up the phone and glanced at the caller ID¡ª


    An unfamiliar number.


    If it were any other time, Li Wei wouldn¡¯t have answered; who knows whether it¡¯d be a tedious scam call or a fan harassment call. But having just won a prize, Li Wei was in a good mood. Even if he couldn¡¯t share the joy with someone else, the world through his eyes looked exceptionally beautiful.


    So, he answered the call.


    "Hey, this is Li Wei, who¡¯s this?"


    "Yo, brother, this is LeBron."


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 Chapter 250: 249 scam calls

    "Yo, brother, this is LeBron."


    A familiar voice came from the other end of the phone, and Li Wei was slightly startled: Who?


    Please forgive Li Wei, he really didn¡¯t remember the name, and all the numbers in his contacts were nicknames. Mahomes had once browsed through Li Wei¡¯s phone and laughed his head off, it was like watching a "King of Comedy".


    Now, suddenly there was a number and a name that didn¡¯t exist in the contacts.


    Li Wei was also full of question marks, is this how modern scam calls operate?


    Obviously, the enthusiasm on the other end of the phone did not detect the hesitation and confusion in Li Wei¡¯s silence, and it kept talking eagerly.


    "Congratulations!"


    "Congratulations, congratulations, your performance today was freaking awesome."


    "The second touchdown, wow, God, you utterly crushed the entire defensive group, roar roar roar, any guy who dares to underestimate you must have peed their pants."


    "Brother, impressive, really impressive."


    "So, how about Los Angeles next week?"


    "Next week, I just happen to be in Los Angeles for a while, they just told me you¡¯re playing an away game in Los Angeles next week, how about it? Shall we have dinner together?"


    "Actually, I¡¯d be delighted to go to a game, I haven¡¯t watched football live in ages, although it¡¯s different from basketball, it¡¯s indeed a blood-pumping sport, right?"


    Rapid tapping, fierce as a tiger¡¯s operation, even without Li Wei¡¯s response, the self-talk was especially joyful, a feeling that could be sensed even through the phone.


    Truth be told, it didn¡¯t sound much like a scam call¡ª


    It sounded more like a prank call.


    Li Wei¡¯s brows slightly lifted, "Sorry, I didn¡¯t catch that, who¡¯s speaking?"


    "Oh, haha, look at me, hahaha, my bad. This is LeBron James, I just watched the live broadcast of the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ game."


    "God, your performance was too powerful."


    "I thought, hey, that kid¡¯s a lot like me, why not give him a call? So, I asked a few friends, got in touch with your team manager, and he gave me your mobile number." Enjoy more content from empire


    "Maybe, we can..."


    This time, Li Wei didn¡¯t let the other person finish, "Dinner. A game. Yes, I know."


    "LeBron James?"


    "Ha, haha, very funny. If you¡¯re going to pull a prank, you should do your research beforehand, I actually prefer Curry, don¡¯t get it wrong next time."


    Then, Li Wei hung up the phone and casually tossed it into his locker, shut the door, and locked it.


    Turing around, he saw Mahomes¡¯ silhouette, lifted his chin to gesture, "What¡¯s up?"


    "Knock, knock."


    Someone knocked on the door, and upon looking, it was the physical trainer, Barry Rubin.


    Just then, Wide Receiver Hill passed by, about to take his cold bath. Seeing Rubin, he felt a prankish urge and probably screamed while covering his upper body with a towel.


    "Ah, there¡¯s a Peeping Tom."


    The cold bath room burst into laughter.


    Rubin glanced at Hill with a calm face, "My targets are Travis and Li Wei."


    Roar. Roar, roar, roar.


    Everyone jeered.


    Hill didn¡¯t mind and turned to join Kelsey and Li Wei in the uproar.


    Rubin grinned helplessly and shook his head gently. "After you finish here, head to the medical room."


    Li Wei was confused: Medical room? He wasn¡¯t injured, so why did he need to go to the medical room?


    Rubin, noticing Li Wei¡¯s gaze, shrugged, "I don¡¯t know either. I¡¯m just the messenger; they said there¡¯s some testing that needs to be done."


    Hill immediately speculated, "The beautiful team doctor, oh yes, the beautiful team doctor is starting to choose her son-in-law."


    Then, he changed his tone.


    "Sigh, I¡¯m hopeless about this superficial world."


    "A top-notch man like me gets no attention, while pretty boys like Li Wei and Travis who just have their looks are so in demand! What kind of world is this?"


    Li Wei casually raised his voice and asked, "Tyrek, which three ¡¯top¡¯ qualities?"


    Hill did not catch on immediately. "Huh?"


    Li Wei gently shook his head, "It certainly doesn¡¯t include good looks or brains, right?"


    After that, Li Wei ended his cold bath and stood up, gently patting Hill¡¯s shoulder as he passed by him, offering some consolation, "No worries, you might not win an Oscar, but at least you can bag a Razzie."


    Haha.


    Amid the laughter, Hill looked up to the sky and sighed, "I¡¯m just too kind."


    The response waiting for Hill was a wave of jeers.


    Li Wei wasn¡¯t in a hurry, instead, he took a shower, got dressed, and only then left the locker room to head for the medical room.


    From afar, he could see at the entrance of the medical room, Safety Berry was talking with Lilith Rosen.


    Her blond hair was efficiently tied in a ponytail, she wore a white lab coat, her expression was stone cold, her naturally cool demeanor made sharper by her professional image. Despite many eyes falling on her, no one could shake her; she remained utterly unmoved, seemingly emitting a "keep out" signal even before one got close.


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 Chapter 251: 250 Body Secrets

    "...Okay, I got it, I¡¯ll be careful."


    After seriously listening to Lilith Rosen¡¯s words, Berry didn¡¯t say much, just nodded slightly to show understanding, and then stepped away.


    As he turned around, he saw Li Wei approaching. Berry offered a smile, bumped Li Wei¡¯s shoulder, and patted Li Wei¡¯s back in encouragement.


    "Well done, just a bit shy of my performance when I was young."


    With a bit of teasing, they both laughed. Berry didn¡¯t pause and walked away briskly.


    Although Berry didn¡¯t say anything, Li Wei could feel his despondence.


    To be precise, it was a complex mixture of emotions, a kind of despondence that couldn¡¯t be simply described in a few words.


    However, Berry masked it well, regaining his laughter as soon as he took a step, and if Li Wei hadn¡¯t been close, he might not have noticed it.


    Unconsciously, Li Wei turned to take another look at Berry.


    "Treadmill, put on the gear, jog for three minutes."


    A cold voice came to his ears, like the ice of the Arctic Ocean, flowing in the calm rapids but never melting even slightly.


    Li Wei withdrew his gaze and looked at Lilith.


    Lilith didn¡¯t look at Li Wei, her eyes down, recording something on her tablet.


    Li Wei still didn¡¯t know the reason he was here, but he didn¡¯t ask and temporarily cleared his mind, focusing on the treadmill in front of him.


    The treadmill was an ordinary one, but it was equipped with a bunch of wires. With Lilith¡¯s assistance, Li Wei put on protective gear connected by wires around his shoulders and knees, somewhat like the motion capture technology used in movies, enabling the device to record all his movements.


    Then, he began to run.


    Running at different speeds for periods of time, the entire test only took about ten minutes. Kelsey hadn¡¯t finished her ice bath, and Li Wei was already done.


    Li Wei was removing the equipment, while Lilith was still busy with her tablet.


    Li Wei organized all the equipment neatly, and Lilith still hadn¡¯t looked up.


    "Rosen, is everything finished?" Li Wei asked.


    Lilith, "Hmm," still not looking up.


    Li Wei nodded slightly, "Okay, then I¡¯ll take my leave now."


    So straightforward?


    Lilith was somewhat surprised, finally looking up to find Li Wei not playing coy. She was taken aback when he really turned and left, leaving only his retreating back.


    "Li Wei."


    It¡¯s similar to the saying ¡¯sick to become a healer¡¯; they know their bodies the best.


    Clearly, Berry felt it too.


    But a veteran like Berry was already used to playing through injuries and accustomed to facing more daunting challenges under continuous pressure.


    So, he said nothing, silently shouldered the pressure, and kept moving forward.


    Pausing for a moment, Lilith realized that she had inadvertently let down her guard and had actually shared Berry¡¯s situation with Li Wei.


    Although injuries weren¡¯t a secret and the team would eventually find out, it was definitely not Lilith¡¯s usual style to speak so openly.


    Lilith was somewhat annoyed with herself: Why did she carelessly speak out? It was all because Li Wei¡¯s recent words had distracted her.


    Looking up, Lilith quietly glared at Li Wei for a while. A torrent of ferocious and ugly words churned at the tip of her tongue, but in the end, they transformed into the simplest, calmest, and most quintessentially Lilith statement. Her voice transmitted without fluctuation or warmth, and the atmosphere around them cooled instantly.


    "You should focus on yourself."


    Li Wei, "Okay."


    He had agreed just like that, causing Lilith¡¯s prepared words to get stuck.


    Lilith had mentally rehearsed various versions of launching an attack in her mind, but in the end, she controlled herself and did not get drawn into Li Wei¡¯s pace. She looked down at the tablet in her hands, her expression revealing a trace of deep thought:


    Professional.


    At this moment, maintaining professionalism was the most important thing.


    Li Wei noticed, "What¡¯s wrong, is something amiss?"


    Lilith shook her head, "No, all is well."


    Li Wei, "So this is bad news?" Read exclusive chapters at empire


    Lilith looked up irritably, "How could that be."


    Then Lilith saw the slight uplift in Li Wei¡¯s smile, revealing the satisfaction of a successful prankster, and only then did she realize that despite all her control, she had still fallen for it.


    The iceberg mask was slightly shaken.


    But Lilith still managed to regain control over herself, returning to her professionalism.


    "All is well."


    "There¡¯s hardly any sign of the toll from today¡¯s match impacts and clashes, proving that your body has fully adapted to the intensity of professional competition."


    "At the same time, your recovery ability is excellent."


    "There are no abnormalities in the data. However, during tomorrow¡¯s recovery training, there¡¯s still a need to pay attention to massage and relaxation."


    It seemed to be good news.

 Chapter 252: 251 is itching to make a move

    ```


    No anomalies.


    Lilith¡¯s words were very neutral, avoiding any leakage of personal opinion as much as possible; but Li Wei could still taste the surprise in her words¡ª


    It seems that the credit goes to the card that reduces the negative effects of injuries.


    Just 10% effectiveness could have such an effect, which made Li Wei even more eager to see the results after a full upgrade.@@@@


    However, this was a bodily secret, and Li Wei had no plans to head to Area 51 to find out, whether as a guest or as a guinea pig.


    On the surface, Li Wei showed no signs, "So, the power of youth?"


    Upon hearing this, Lilith knew Li Wei was joking, with a hint of mockery, but she also believed it to be the most reasonable explanation.


    At least, according to the current test data, there were no anomalies.


    Perhaps, Reed was right¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs really did find a once-in-a-decade genius; Li Wei was a treasure, with more surprises waiting to be unearthed, and he might even break the stereotypes people have about running backs in the future.


    But...


    Lilith quietly looked at Li Wei, her face composed, "I hope you¡¯re not implying anything."


    If not, that¡¯s great; but if there was, it wouldn¡¯t be Lilith who felt embarrassed, but the person who brought it up.


    Youth, hormones, restlessness.


    Li Wei gently lifted his chin, "Ah, you caught me."


    He admitted it... he just admitted it... And moreover, without any embarrassment, with that straightforward and frank demeanor, once again taking Lilith by surprise.


    Immediately after, Li Wei¡¯s gaze fell on Lilith¡¯s face, "I didn¡¯t expect you to actually catch that."


    Lilith was startled, and quickly caught on to Li Wei¡¯s teasing. Her cheeks warmed slightly, but she still held steady, "Did I ever tell you that my dad raised me like a boy since I was a child, how could I not notice?"


    But what Lilith hadn¡¯t expected was for Li Wei to nod slightly, "Actually, I knew."


    Lilith: ?


    She was completely caught off guard. Li Wei¡¯s reactions were always unexpected and unpredictable. What¡¯s up with this man?


    Li Wei continued, "Is Jenny doing okay?"


    Lilith, "What?"


    Li Wei made a wiping tears gesture and then said with a smile, "I don¡¯t mind teaching a girl a lesson."


    Rivers: ?


    Li Wei explained, "The standard answer should be myself, as every professional athlete¡¯s eternal greatest opponent is themselves. We must defeat and surpass ourselves to achieve breakthroughs. But obviously, this isn¡¯t ¡¯The Oprah Talk Show¡¯, so let¡¯s be more down-to-earth here."


    "The only opponent I need to focus on right now is the next one."


    Philip Rivers, the Los Angeles Chargers¡¯ star quarterback, is also hailed along with Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ Ben Roethlisberger and New York Giants¡¯ Eli Manning as the ¡¯Big Three¡¯ of the 2004 draft class. They are also considered top-tier quarterbacks in the League, just below the four elite quarterbacks.


    The media reporters had dug a trap, but Li Wei wasn¡¯t going to play their game, giving an answer that veered off the beaten path yet was unassailable.


    Reporters, once again, left empty-handed.


    Of course, the media still wouldn¡¯t let Li Wei off easily, as one could tell from those clickbait headlines on social networks¡ª


    "Li Wei: Brady and Wentz have already become history."


    "Li Wei doesn¡¯t plan to focus on the losers, his gaze has turned to the future."


    With ease, they portrayed Li Wei on the opposite side of Brady and Wentz, and their fan supporters couldn¡¯t wait to start attacking Li Wei.


    And then there was, "Li Wei: I think Rivers is stronger than Brady."


    Rivers: I have never offended you!


    The innocent Rivers was also dragged into the fray, becoming an unwitting target for New England Patriots¡¯ fans to vent their anger, left without a leg to stand on.


    This once again proved a hard truth; with fame comes more trouble.


    However.


    These news couldn¡¯t affect Li Wei; as soon as the press conference was over, he had already put all those noises behind him and was preparing for the next game.


    Your next chapter awaits on empire


    Once all the post-game work was finished, and Li Wei reopened his locker to take out his phone, he found, to his surprise, five missed calls.


    Four were from unknown numbers, consistent with the previous scam call.


    One was from Donald Yee.


    Li Wei grabbed his phone and left the locker room, signaled Mahomes, and the two were ready to drive home when he casually returned Donald¡¯s call.


    After just a short wait, the call was answered.


    "Hey Donald, sorry, but my phone was in my locker the whole time, nothing urgent I hope?"


    Donald was still his unhurried self, "No urgency. If there really was an emergency, I would naturally have a way to contact you immediately."


    "So, did you just get a call from someone claiming to be LeBron James?"

 Chapter 253: 252 Undercurrents surging

    "Li Wei?"


    Mahomes stood at the co-driver¡¯s door, a red satchel over his shoulder, waiting for Li Wei to open the door, only to find that Li Wei was on the phone.


    Li Wei gestured towards the phone, mouthing the words, "Agent."


    Then, Li Wei took out the keys from his pocket and tossed them to Mahomes, heading towards the co-driver¡¯s seat while Mahomes made his way around to the driver¡¯s seat.


    Li Wei and Mahomes, both rookies and neighbors, led very regular lives, with the same biological clocks, the same work content, and helped each other. They were both adjusting to the professional playing field.@@@@


    Li Wei was a starter, but his understanding of football was only superficial; Mahomes was a substitute, but quarterbacks needed to learn a mountain of material.


    Therefore, apart from regular training, the two would also study tactics together. Mahomes helped Li Wei gain a deeper understanding of football, while Li Wei helped Mahomes analyze the team¡¯s tactics in a comprehensive, three-dimensional way.


    Back and forth, now the two simply went to training together and then returned home together, alternating between Li Wei¡¯s car one week and Mahomes¡¯ the next, taking turns driving, keeping a regular routine during the season.


    In fact, not just Li Wei and Mahomes, but other rookie players also made weekly trips to Li Wei¡¯s place for tactical study sessions, Hunter included.


    Mahomes still remembered the bewildered expression on Hunter¡¯s face when Li Wei initially invited him to the rookie strategy sessions.


    In Li Wei¡¯s view, although they were competitors, everything was out in the open, fair and square, face-to-face combat. He disdained and had no need for underhanded moves; competition was also a form of motivation.


    In just half a year, the progress among the rookies was indeed visible to the naked eye.


    Even though Mahomes was still a substitute, because of Li Wei, he participated actively in every game, slowly transitioning into the identity of a quarterback, standing behind Smith, and seriously learning at Li Wei¡¯s side, truly feeling the confrontation and strategizing of the professional playing field.


    Now, the rookie strategy sessions had also made a name for themselves within the Kansas City Chiefs. Some second-year players and free agents who joined during the offseason expressed interest today and if the timing was right, planned to see what these sessions were all about next time.


    The season had just begun, and everything was positive.


    This scene didn¡¯t surprise Mahomes, who expertly opened the car door as if it were his own and then opened the co-driver¡¯s door for Li Wei.


    "LeBron?"


    "Yes, there was indeed such a call. Should I know this LeBron?"


    Upon hearing Li Wei¡¯s words, Mahomes, sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, burst into laughter, immediately recalling the mockery that had taken place in the locker room.


    Li Wei shrugged lightly to show his innocence.


    "But how did you know? They couldn¡¯t be some important big shot, could they?"


    However, Li Wei was only joking and didn¡¯t expect Donald to respond, "I¡¯m curious though, isn¡¯t the NBA in season? He seems pretty free, I thought the NBA had more than eighty games a season, much busier than us."


    Clearly, that was still teasing.


    Donald automatically filtered it out and answered seriously, "The season hasn¡¯t started yet, their preseason starts in two weeks."


    "I guess LeBron¡¯s trip to Los Angeles is probably to negotiate privately with a free agent, hoping to transfer them to Cleveland, but they need to hide this, so they¡¯re using you as a smoke screen." Discover exclusive tales on empire


    Li Wei suddenly understood, "A show. Indeed, it couldn¡¯t be Hollywood."


    But Li Wei wasn¡¯t surprised, "You agreed to it, does that mean we¡¯re also scheming something?"


    Donald was a fox.


    If one were to assume he was a good person based on his honest and sincere appearance, they might be in for a loss.


    Since Donald had seen through LeBron¡¯s diversion and still agreed to it, it meant Donald also had his own plans in mind.


    Donald wasn¡¯t surprised by Li Wei¡¯s sharpness, and he gave the answer directly.


    "Nike."


    In 2015, after a twelve-year long partnership with LeBron, Nike provided him with a lifetime contract worth one billion US dollars, becoming the second pinnacle in Nike¡¯s commercial history after Michael Jordan.


    The reason was simple; LeBron¡¯s signature shoes and jerseys could bring in six hundred million dollars in revenue for Nike every year, making him the undisputed top active player.


    So, Nike showed enough sincerity.


    Nike¡¯s cooperation with LeBron became another successful case of competitive sports expanding into the commercial realm, creating a new business empire.


    On one hand, LeBron was trying to use Li Wei as a decoy, just for the sake of free market negotiations.


    On the other hand, Donald was ready to use LeBron to increase Li Wei¡¯s market awareness and popularity values, what he was really seeking were tangible commercial contracts.


    It had to be said, Donald was the true master.


    Li Wei immediately grasped the key point, "Are you saying, Nike has offered a contract?"


    Donald nodded, "Not just Nike, Adidas and Under Armour have also each provided a contract."


    Turns out, the bombshell was here.

 Chapter 254 253 Three Carriages

    ```


    Without a doubt, football is the undisputedly number one sport in the United States, with commercial value and market share far ahead of the competition, virtually without any rivals.


    Not to mention the Super Bowl, which easily garners viewership in the hundreds of millions, let''s just talk about the annual draft¡ª


    On the first day of the draft broadcast alone, viewership easily surpasses that of the NBA Finals and MLB World Series.


    According to statistics, in 2016, out of the top fifty programs in the United States'' annual TV ratings, football claimed a whopping forty-seven spots.


    A dominant position that no one can challenge!


    However, compared to football''s popularity and influence, the income of its players is indeed a bit embarrassing and causes one to blush.


    The top star players in the NFL only have an annual income of thirty million US dollars; in the NBA, these figures are commonplace and only considered average.


    Read latest chapters on empire


    At present, Nike''s highest endorsement contract for football players is only two and a half million US dollars a year, including Manning and several other top league players with similar contract numbers.


    This is the top standard. In the face of LeBron James'' one billion dollar contract, it is simply the difference between a baby and a giant.


    Why is this so?


    Why, despite football being North America''s number one sport, with team and league revenues and broadcast rights values all leading far ahead, are players'' incomes so meager?


    From a theoretical standpoint, this isn''t scientific and even goes against the norm, and the disparity between NBA and NFL players has often been publicly discussed.


    But from a market perspective, it couldn''t be more normal.


    The reason is actually quite simple:


    There are just too many players.


    On the basketball court, there are only five players, and a team has at most fifteen players; but in a football team, there are fifty-three players, with at least twenty-five starting players and over forty players swapping in for each game.


    As one can imagine, in a football game, fifty-three people sharing the commercial space is naturally incomparable to the fifteen people in a basketball game.


    When a brand tries to establish a connection with consumers through endorsements from professional players, baseball and football end up with too many players, leading to a decrease in contract numbers; basketball players and individual sports players, especially in tennis and golf, always get a higher price.


    Even if Li Wei became a starter, what if he got injured after a few games? Or, what if, like in the preseason, he shone brightly in one game and then faded away?


    For numerous reasons, the brand sponsorships did not show enough sincerity.


    Donald didn''t respect any of them.


    Although the figures of NFL sponsorship deals were far from those in the NBA, annual sums of fifty thousand, one hundred thousand US dollars seemed more like speculations; after all, such sponsorship deals would have seemed meager even in the NBA of the 1980s.


    Donald kept waiting, remaining patient. He believed in Li Wei''s abilities and value, which was also why he had been willing to make "Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage" initially.


    Sure enough, Donald''s patience paid off.


    At the season opener, Li Wei''s brilliant performance caused an uproar across the league, and brands couldn''t restrain themselves, contacting Donald immediately; but Donald still wasn''t in a hurry, he was waiting for other competitors to emerge.


    After the second game ended, Donald''s office phone was bustling.


    Nike. Adidas. Under Armour.


    All three titans of the NFL stage had arrived, not one missing.


    Even so, Donald still seemed very calm, with everything under control¡ª


    Donald knew that Li Wei''s greatest distinction from other football players was his Chinese heritage.


    Especially considering that Commissioner Goodell was set on cracking the Asian market, Li Wei effectively had the privilege of exposure backed by the League''s official endorsement.


    This also meant that Li Wei''s value could only go up, not down.


    Donald needed to handle this opportunity well:


    Creating momentum was the first step.


    At this moment, LeBron had come knocking at the perfect time, and Donald certainly wasn''t going to be polite; even if LeBron had his own requests, it didn''t matter, as Donald had his own calculations.


    Having thrown a bombshell, Donald kindly inquired.


    "What about you personally? What are your preferences?"


    "If you have a particular preference for a brand, we could tilt the negotiations a bit more in their favor during talks."

 Chapter 255 254 Throwing a stone to ask for directions

    ```


    "Preferences?"


    Li Wei got the hint immediately; he was now the one holding the power of choice, at least Donald was confident about that, and he couldn''t help but chuckle lightly.


    "Not at all."


    "A check from Nike is a check, and a check from Under Armour is equally a check¡ªthere''s no difference to me; I suppose the real difference lies in the brand''s marketing strategies and image positioning, that''s what truly matters."


    "If they don''t have a plan, it won''t matter which brand I sign with¡ªI would just be one of the insignificant and irrelevant endorsers, and that means there''s no substantial difference between these brands for me."


    Mahomes glanced at Li Wei involuntarily¡ª


    He hadn''t realized that choosing a brand endorsement could be so intricate.


    Li Wei himself hadn''t experienced it, but he knew the game¡ªeven if he hadn''t eaten pork, he had seen pigs run; the fundamental reason David Beckham could become a uniquely legendary superstar among professional players laid in his understanding of managing a brand image.


    Or rather, Victoria Beckham understood.


    Which endorsements to sign, what image to craft, treating a player like a brand to be cultivated¡ªthe player''s image is the brand image, every business collaboration is part of building that image, ultimately creating a commercial empire.


    Clearly, matters were not that straightforward.


    Of course, whether it was Li Wei or Mahomes, they were both rookies with limited commercial value, and their future prospects hazy. Their bargaining chips were modest, so more than ever, they needed professionals like Donald.


    On the other side of the phone, Donald wasn''t surprised; after all, it wasn''t the first time Li Wei had brought surprises.


    Donald nodded slightly, "But your preferences are very important, too. The choice is yours now, and they need to cater to your likes."


    Li Wei chuckled softly, "My preferences aren''t important, what''s important is who''s trying to find out about those preferences, right?"@@@@


    He had hit the nail on the head.


    Li Wei was also curious, "If you''re planning to use LeBron, does that mean Nike has a slight lead for now?"


    Find your next read at empire


    Donald, "No, not necessarily."


    "Using LeBron is just a way to make these brands recognize your influence¡ªnot just in the NFL, but other professional leagues have begun to take note of your presence as well."


    "Obviously, this is just a corner of the business map."


    "Hahaha." Mahomes couldn''t contain himself any longer and burst into laughter.


    ...


    Los Angeles, the City of Angels, the home of Hollywood, the second-largest city on the North American continent trailing only New York, is the undisputed entertainment capital.


    Movies. Television. Music. Different entertainment industries all shine here.


    At the same time, the sports market here is extraordinarily vibrant, a popular choice for major professional sports teams.


    However, Los Angeles has always been a city crazy for basketball and baseball, with football failing to spark a craze on this land.


    Once, the Raiders, Chargers, Rams, and other NFL teams were stationed in this city, yet they moved away for various reasons. Since 1994, Los Angeles had not had any professional football team.


    It''s incredible, considering this is one of the most bustling cities on the North American continent¡ªthat it wouldn''t have a professional football team?


    For this reason, the NFL League has put in a lot of effort.


    Not until 2016, last year, with the support of Los Angeles City Hall and the NFL League, did the Rams return from St. Louis to Los Angeles. After twenty-two years, the City of Angels finally welcomed back NFL games.


    Then, in 2017, this season, the Chargers moved from San Diego to Los Angeles.


    From having no NFL teams for over twenty years to suddenly having two professional teams, the league''s ambition to break into the Los Angeles market couldn''t have been clearer.


    Last season, the Los Angeles Rams, with a series of bold moves, picked quarterback Goff with their first pick, showing their determination to shake up the sports market.


    Of course, one short season was far from enough, especially since the Rams had a lousy record last season and couldn''t stimulate the passion of the fans to attend the games.


    In fact, Los Angeles has a vast base of football fans, but their passion and loyalty are all committed to the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Southern California. For NFL professional teams to win their hearts¡ª


    It''s a long road ahead.


    And now, the opportunity had arrived.


    When the Kansas City Chiefs came to play against the Los Angeles Chargers at the guest field, the league''s extensive promotional campaign filled every nook and cranny, even more explosive than a summer blockbuster''s release. The most prominent face of it all was Li Wei.


    Don''t forget, Los Angeles is the third-largest gathering place of Chinese Americans in North America. When counting other Asian communities as well, the numbers are even higher.


    Ever since the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles last week, the league had already started promoting, hoping that the local Chinese American fans in Los Angeles would come out to support Li Wei.


    Looking out the window of the hotel conference room, there''s a giant face of Li Wei¡ª


    "Heh, it''s like stepping right off the poster, a powerful visual impact. I must admit, you look even more handsome in person than on the poster."

 Chapter 256 255 Sincerity-filled

    Eek, the door to the conference room at the Marriott Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles, swung open, the sound of footsteps absorbed by the wine-red carpet, completely silent. Continue reading at empire


    A gentleman was coming forward, and despite Los Angeles''s relentless summer in September, he was still impeccably dressed in a full three-piece suit, and his sparsely haired crown was neatly groomed¡ªdetails that showed he was serious about the occasion.


    Upon his entrance, the gentleman bypassed Donald, looking earnestly and warmly at Li Wei, opening the conversation with a bit of light humor.


    Li Wei didn''t catch on at first, following the gentleman''s gaze, he then saw the billboard erected atop the skyscrapers of Century City¡ª


    "Los Angeles Chargers VS Kansas City Chiefs."


    But importantly, what should have been a promotional poster for both teams now only featured Li Wei without any Chargers player.


    Upon reflection, this wasn''t surprising.


    The Los Angeles Chargers had just moved back this season and hardly had any fan base in the city; thus, it made sense to promote the league''s new face instead.


    Honestly, Li Wei was still not quite used to suddenly seeing his own face on a billboard, which started to feel unfamiliar.


    With his head slightly tilted, Li Wei looked back at the gentleman and joked, "They must have done quite a bit of photoshopping, are you sure that''s really me?"


    The gentleman laughed heartily, reaching out his right hand, "That''s why I said, in person, you look even more handsome. Trevor Edwards."


    And thus, Donald was just a backdrop.


    But Donald didn''t mind, as Edwards, Nike''s current Executive Vice President of Brand Marketing, unquestionably belonged to the top echelon of management and had shown sincere intent by coming to negotiate in Los Angeles in person; this gesture further proved his sincerity.


    Typically, facing rookie players, these seasoned executives knew well that these were kids inexperienced with the world, and throwing a few figures at them would suffice to keep them in line, hence the real negotiation power lay with the agents¡ª


    Getting the agent meant getting the rookie.


    If the agent was also a top shark in the industry, then rookies had no say in front of their agents and would just nod in agreement.


    However, Edwards didn''t follow this approach.


    Even though Donald was in charge of negotiations, Edwards knew that the final decision lay in Li Wei''s hands, showing utmost respect from the first encounter.


    It was apparent from the details that Nike had indeed researched Li Wei thoroughly.


    Like Jordan, Federer too had teamed up with Nike to build a commercial empire.


    Even though Li Wei had time-traveled back from 2023, his foresight advantage was very limited. Nonetheless, he knew one thing: in 2018, at the Wimbledon first round, after fifteen years of appearing in Nike, Federer had subtly switched to a Uniqlo outfit, announcing the most sensational and shocking split in professional tennis with such understatement.


    Years later, the CEO of Nike candidly admitted that it was a mistake; they should have kept Federer, they should have kept the Federer brand at Nike.


    So, now?


    With not much time left until that moment next June, had Federer and Nike started negotiations, or had Nike internally made a decision about Federer''s future?


    A hypothesis: if Nike had decided not to renew Federer''s contract, one major reason could be that they believed Federer''s physical condition wouldn''t last much longer, that he would soon retire, and it wasn''t worth a high-value renewal; they had to look further ahead, particularly at younger talents.


    So, in this future young market, does that include Li Wei?


    Li Wei was somewhat surprised that Edwards brought up Federer.


    He looked over, "Oh, my honor. Does this mean I could get a contract like Federer''s?"


    Clearly, it was a joke.


    Edwards caught on instantly and couldn''t help but burst out laughing, "Rather, let''s say we''re looking forward to discovering the next Federer."


    Appropriately, Donald spoke up, "Or perhaps say, football''s first Li Wei."


    Ambition, just beginning to show.


    To tennis, Federer is essentially what Jordan is to basketball.


    Before them, each sport had already entered a commercial mode and produced a series of superstars; but their arrival marked a true turning point. The sport powerfully broke out of its circle, becoming highly commercialized, and truly opened new possibilities for other players'' endorsement deals¡ª


    A whole new world.


    Hence, the significance of Donald''s words was self-evident.


    Edwards looked at Donald seriously for the first time.


    It seemed that Nike had underestimated not only Donald''s ambitions but also his preparation for this meeting; could Donald truly be planning to use Li Wei as a pivot to push football into an era of individual superstars?


    Could this be possible?

 Chapter 257 256 Behind-the-scenes Manipulations

    One sentence, one blockbuster impact.


    Edwards thought that Nike was ready.


    Nike was well aware of the Asian market Li Wei represented and the crucial role he played in the League''s global market expansion plan.


    So, Nike was prepared to seize the opportunity¡ª


    Not just to seize Li Wei, but also to seize the NFL''s expansion opportunities.


    However.


    Now, it seemed that Nike had a narrow perspective.


    Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire


    Edwards reassessed Donald, his gaze revealing a hint of interest.


    Here was a key point.


    Brady''s personal jersey sponsor was not Nike but Under Armour.


    In Football, Nike''s biggest competitor was not Adidas, but Under Armour, because its founder was a former professional football player, and the brand''s professional image was deeply ingrained in the football scene, effortlessly sweeping up a large number of players and aggressively capturing the market.


    Edwards believed that if Under Armour showed sufficient sincerity, Donald could easily secure an impressive contract for Li Wei.


    In 2010, when fighting for Brady''s contract, Nike was not proactive because the market value of football players really needed careful consideration, whether it was jerseys, shoes, or the quick-drying clothes worn during training, which influenced sales figures.


    Moreover, since Brady was an "old hand," his market value was relatively set, and the possibilities for further expansion were limited.


    Meanwhile, Under Armour, which was on the rise, showed determination by signing Brady for football and Curry for basketball, instantly changing the game.


    The situation had shifted; Nike and Under Armour''s competition on the football field had entered a new phase.


    Now, the circumstances were entirely different,


    Firstly, Li Wei was young.


    Secondly, the Asian label.


    Thirdly, League ambitions.


    All these factors combined, Nike also realized the rare opportunity before them, and they needed to seize it firmly, which brought Edwards into play.


    Otherwise, imagine, a running back who had just played two games in his professional career?


    It''s not just that Edwards personally took action, Nike might not even have a particularly strong desire to sign a contract.


    But Edwards was here.


    Then, Edwards realized that the situation had slightly deviated from his expectations, and he could never have anticipated that a casual mention of Federer would get him involved in a storm.


    "Our legal department has prepared the contract, and as soon as you sign it, this check is yours," he said.


    Li Wei didn''t even look at it, and directly handed it to Donald¡ª


    Regardless of the amount, it was certainly a figure Li Wei had never encountered in his past life.


    In the first half of the year, Li Wei had just signed a new rookie contract, but he had not actually seen the paycheck as his salary was transferred into his bank account week by week.


    Calculated per game. Some players also had performance clauses, so the weekly salary figure varied. If there was a league fine that week, the team would deduct the fine before transferring the funds.


    The weekly figures, then, seemed less impressive.


    This check, naturally, was of a different calibre.


    From here, it was Donald''s expertise.


    Donald glanced at the check, his expression unchanged, impassive, "The term?" he asked.


    "Five years. We hope to establish a stable and long-term partnership with Li Wei," Edwards replied.


    Five years, indeed quite long.


    For reference, rookie contracts are just for four years.


    Therefore, brand endorsements for rookie players are typically three or four years, both sides observing and waiting to renew in the future.


    From such an angle, Nike indeed showed sincerity.


    However, Donald was not satisfied with the figure, "This number, if it were for a three-year contract, then we can sit down and discuss," he said.


    ¡ªSeven million five hundred thousand US dollars.


    This was the number on the check.


    Meaning, Nike proposed a contract for one million five hundred thousand US dollars per year for a total of five years.


    For comparison, the contract Odell Beckham Jr. signed with Nike in his rookie season was one million five hundred thousand US dollars per year for a total of four years.


    Nike, in one breath, benchmarked Li Wei against Little Beckham.


    The key was, Little Beckham was a Wide Receiver, famous for the "One-handed Catch" viral video in his rookie season, spread across the internet, visibly a leading figure of the new generation.


    Li Wei, meanwhile, was a running back, yet with the addition of his Asian heritage, in and out, he barely matched Little Beckham, making this a reasonable offer.


    At least, that''s how Nike saw it.


    However, Donald thought otherwise; Little Beckham''s contract was three years ago, and besides, Little Beckham and Li Wei were not really comparable¡ª


    Two million five hundred thousand US dollars per year for a total of three years.


    Donald believed this was the reasonable figure.

 Chapter 258 257 The lions mouth opens

    Without a doubt, the commercial value of a Wide Receiver is higher than that of a running back; moreover, Odell Beckham Jr. is among the most influential and marketable of the new generation of players, which is why Nike is willing to offer him a top-tier contract.


    And now, by comparing Li Wei to Little Beckham and offering an even longer contract, they''re showing their faith in Li Wei''s professional career¡ª


    Sincerity, full measure.


    At least, that''s how Edwards sees it.


    But clearly, Donald doesn''t agree.


    Edwards laughed genuinely, his eyes brimming with amusement, "Donald, you know that''s impossible, we all understand what this number means, we can''t disrupt the market order."


    Two million five hundred thousand US dollars a year, for a three-year contract?


    This is the current ceiling in the entire NFL, the standard of sponsorship contracts Nike has with a series of top stars, maybe with slight differences in details, but overall, this is the level of annual salary.


    And Li Wei?


    As a running back who''s only played two official games in his professional career, aligning him with the league''s ceiling right off the bat? How could that be possible?


    Edwards thought that Donald was testing Nike''s limits, merely talking big, so he needed to be firm, to make Donald realize that this was out of the question.


    However, Donald''s expression did not change, "History is meant to be broken, right?"


    With one sentence, he revealed his determination.


    Donald leaned in slightly, "Thirty years ago, when Jordan first entered the league, he was just an ordinary college student, yet Nike offered him a unique contract, betting on a future."


    "I''m not asking for an identical contract, we all know times have changed. Look, I''m still being reasonable."


    Jordan, there''s only one; even for LeBron, Nike wouldn''t sign a contract similar to Jordan''s again.


    "But."


    "My question is, has Nike now lost the ambition it had back then?"


    "Thirty years ago, Nike was just a company specializing in running shoes, far behind Adidas and Converse in market share, yet you made a choice that not only led Nike to become a global market leader but also made people recognize the commercial value of the Professional League."


    "Now, the opportunity has emerged again."


    Calm, yet confident.


    Edwards didn''t panic, but at this moment, he finally took Donald seriously, "So what you''re saying is, Football''s Jordan has appeared?"


    "From preseason skepticism to current praise, the prejudice and discrimination associated with the label of running back are becoming Li Wei''s greatest catalyst for causing waves."


    "Just imagine, if even the North American market is surprised, what kind of impact will it have on the Asian market?"


    Edwards, who came from a background in brand planning and marketing, immediately understood Donald''s point, his eyes revealing deep thought.


    Donald knew when to stop and to quit while he was ahead, especially when dealing with high-level executives like Edwards. Speaking too much could easily show weakness.


    So, Donald prepared to wrap things up. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire


    "I admit that if we want to maximize the brand effect with Li Wei, Nike is the best choice, and I believe this collaboration could create a synergy where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts."


    "However, Nike is not the only option."


    "After all, the current football market is still ripe with untapped potential, where players rely on brands and brands also rely on players."


    "Just as I said, today''s football is like basketball was thirty years ago¡ªtomorrow belongs to those who dare to explore, take risks, and break new ground."


    "Mr. Edwards, Li Wei is ready, it''s just perhaps you who are not."


    Confidence, bursting¡ª


    Not just Edwards, but even Li Wei looked at Donald with new respect.


    Without exaggeration, Donald believed in his future even more than Li Wei did.


    Li Wei looked back at Donald.


    Those words just spoken not only likened Li Wei to the current top stars of the NFL but also compared him with historical icons like Jordan and Federer, raising the entire negotiation to a whole new level, far exceeding expectations.


    Donald noticed this and turned back to Li Wei with a faint smile, his expression one of self-evident truth, calming Li Wei down.


    Edwards also realized that today''s negotiations might not lead to a result; the fundamental position of both parties was different.


    But what really made Edwards curious was whether Under Armour and Adidas could indeed fulfill Donald''s ambition? A running back creating League history?


    It seemed more like a fairy tale!


    On the surface, Edwards did not show his skepticism but instead made a thought-provoking comment laced with irony and mockery.


    "It seems you are full of confidence."


    Was he mocking Donald for being out of his depth?

 Chapter 259 258 making trouble out of nothing

    "It seems you''re quite confident,"


    Edwards didn''t show it explicitly, but this brief statement was laden with significance, especially within the entire context.


    Donald wasn''t angry because he knew how revolutionary and era-surpassing his conceptual blueprint was, which is why it required a truly courageous, bold, and wise individual to understand it.


    Without arguing, Donald stood up and shook hands with Edwards, preparing to take his leave. With an unhurried tone, he said, "I am not alone."


    Edwards instinctively looked towards Li Wei¡ª


    So, are the two of you the only ones indulging in this daydream?


    Li Wei faced Edwards''s scrutiny with composure.


    Donald''s voice cut in, "Unfortunately, it appears that Nike''s preparatory work is still not sufficiently thorough. Perhaps, Mr. Edwards, upon your return, you might inquire with your company''s scouting department to see how they view the Kansas City Chiefs'' remarkable draft pick."


    Even now, with the season already kicked off, the discussions surrounding the draft strategy of the Kansas City Chiefs continued unabated¡ª


    To be precise, with every game Li Wei played, the debate only intensified.


    Donald''s implication was that maybe Nike should also consider what a consistently conservative and steady Andy Reid saw in Li Wei to make such an astounding pick.


    Edwards was momentarily taken aback.


    He admitted that he had somewhat neglected this matter. Had Andy Reid really misjudged? Or did he see something others hadn''t?


    However, the negotiation with Donald had concluded, and not intending to stay any longer, after a brief exchange of pleasantries, Donald and Li Wei turned to leave the hotel room.


    Not until they were in the elevator and all was completely quiet did Li Wei finally speak up, while Donald couldn''t help but ask, "Aren''t you going to ask?"


    Still reeling from the impact of the meeting, Li Wei showed it only now, "I''ve been maintaining a poker face. God, this is more exhausting than playing in a game."


    The light joke eased the tension, "Donald, this is your field of expertise. I''ve said it before, I trust your judgment. The decision is yours."


    Donald too made a rare jest, "Be careful, I might just turn around and sell you."


    Li Wei shrugged lightly, "Don''t worry, even if I were buried in the Sahara Desert, I''d crawl out and find you again."


    Opening a brand-new door to the world.


    An hour of time flew by before it was even noticed.


    If it wasn''t for Donald calling in advance to remind Li Wei of the time, Li Wei and the defensive team''s study group meeting might not have known when to end.


    In a rush, he took a quick shower, changed into fresh clothes, and left the hotel again to keep his appointment.


    Fortunately, he wasn''t late.


    The dinner was very pleasant.


    Whether it was LeBron James or Li Wei, each had their own goals, and naturally cooperated fully; after clearing up the misunderstanding, both treated that phone call as a funny story, teasing and joking with each other.


    As a top NBA superstar, LeBron put on quite a star''s style, even if this wasn''t Cleveland, the chances of him being recognized by passersby were still very high.


    Tonight, LeBron was very down-to-earth, kindly taking photos and hugging fans, enthusiastically introducing Li Wei, and being generous with his praises, saying things like "superstar," "phenomenal emergence," and "absolutely should not be missed," which gave Li Wei a taste of superstar treatment¡ª


    Especially when Li Wei was actually recognized by passersby, it once again proved that the promotional effect of the week-long billboards advertising was indeed extraordinary. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    For the moment, Li Wei still lacked a real sense of his own level of recognition.


    That popularity, always remained online; in real life, Li Wei''s recognition was limited to Kansas City, where he was already a household name, but once out of Kansas City, he still hadn''t felt that warmth.


    He never expected to get a taste of it in Los Angeles.


    After dinner, LeBron took Li Wei to a bar, actively introduced him to a bunch of his friends, and they all had a good time.


    However, it didn''t last too long, LeBron knew Li Wei had training the next day, and at nine-thirty, LeBron personally escorted Li Wei back; after Li Wei had left, LeBron went back into the bar, not to party, but to meet players:


    The ruse to deceive the onlookers was over, the real show finally began.


    Li Wei returned to the hotel and went to bed early according to his own biological clock, yet he didn''t expect the flavor of Los Angeles, this place of fame and fortune, to have a sequel.


    "NFL rising star lost in the glitz of Los Angeles, the beginning of his fall?"


    Li Wei: What?

 Chapter 260 259 Attack as a group

    "NFL superstar can''t wait to embrace the glamorous life."


    "Getting carried away! Just two straight wins and Li Wei is already losing his way."


    "Venturing into nightlife, Li Wei has the perfect guide: LeBron James."


    "Skipping training, partying nightly. The bustling city life has led Li Wei astray."


    "After becoming famous overnight, Li Wei ultimately lost himself in the vanity fair."


    "Ultimately, Li Wei has also become what people recognize as a young, famous celebrity; it''s just that this day came a little earlier than expected."@@@@


    "Alcohol. Revelry. Parties. This is how Li Wei prepares for battle."


    Li Wei: ? ? ?


    He had just dined with LeBron James, hadn''t touched a drop of alcohol all evening, returned to the hotel by 9:30 PM, and even swam in the hotel pool for thirty minutes to ensure he was well-rested afterward. Yet, this is how the media portrays him? Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire


    Of course, storytelling with pictures¡ªthis has long been a tradition in media.


    Noise, heat wave¡ª


    Headlines.


    Once again, Li Wei dominated the media landscape, this time even extending from sports to entertainment sections, filled to the brim with attacks and mockery. Overnight, all of North America was focused on him again.


    "Within the league," Bart shook his head gravely, a picture of objective professionalism, and began speaking earnestly, not hiding his profound disappointment.


    "I had higher expectations for Li Wei, I really didn''t think his fall would come this fast."


    Originally, led by Bart, the opinion was that Li Wei needed to keep proving himself, that the data from just two games was far from sufficient, and that Li Wei needed to continue delivering steadily to secure his position.


    Doubts, apprehension, criticism.


    Various opinions abound, and the controversy surrounding Li Wei continued to ferment.


    Now, this scene has unfolded, exposing his vulnerabilities, and Bart naturally didn''t miss the chance to assert his views¡ª


    "I''m not targeting Li Wei, but rather saying that every young player faces these challenges, temptations from the world of fame and fortune, like the devil''s whispers, constantly pulling the soul into darkness."


    Players, being ordinary people, face temptations of money, beauty, power, and glory after gaining attention through their performances. Young rookies often find these hard to resist, and a slight misstep could be their downfall.


    Similar cases, from football to soccer, from basketball to baseball, are numerous and varied.


    Donald hadn''t even bothered to call, instead, it was Kelsey who spoke up for Li Wei.


    "That''s the media for you."


    "A slight rustle under the microscope turns into a bloody storm; the same story in their hands comes out completely rearranged, it''s unnecessary to care about it."


    "We all know what happened."


    "God, you freak, you spent three hours in the gym, and that scared the hell out of me, okay?"


    Kelsey was also worried about differing voices in the locker room, so he raised his voice a bit for emphasis, believing that Li Wei was more dedicated and focused than most on the team, truly not to be swayed by the media.


    Li Wei remained completely calm¡ª


    He knew these media folks. They could lift you to the skies overnight, but could just as easily cast you into the Abyss. There was no reason to be proud of media adulation, nor to despair because of their siege.


    Of course, he was human too. Facing overwhelming criticism and curses, self-doubt was inevitable, despite understanding the logic; it was hard not to be disturbed.


    So, the best strategy was to block it out.


    Focus on oneself, focus on training. The unchanging truth in competitive sports is:


    Victory.


    There''s nothing that a victory can''t solve; if not, then try two, three victories. Succeeding time and again could silence all voices, even quiet the world.


    Li Wei turned to Kelsey.


    "How about it, suicides back and forth? This guy, who partied all night and is still hungover, guarantees he can beat you. Wanna give it a try?"


    The words were clearly self-deprecating.


    The locker room immediately started jeering, everyone eager for a bit of chaos.


    Kelsey looked at Li Wei, his fighting spirit high, "Ha, good joke. Let''s give it a try."


    Roar, roar, roar. The whole room was noisy, chants of "Battle, battle, battle" filled the air.


    No need for further words, the atmosphere in the Kansas City Chiefs'' locker room was once again tightly knit, nipping any brewing crisis in the bud.


    So, what about the game?


    This time, would Bart get his wish? Could his predictions about Li Wei finally prove correct?

 Chapter 261 260 Clear the Way with Strength

    "The game is over."


    "The final score, ''31-10'', Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Los Angeles Chargers on the road, maintaining their undefeated season."


    "Li Wei, once again at the center of a media storm, delivers a perfect response with seventeen carries, 185 rushing yards, and two touchdowns."


    "With a commanding presence, he rebukes the media''s skepticism and demonstrates with his actions that the preseason attacks were unfounded; he not only adapts to the intensity of professional games but also delivers high-level performances in three consecutive games, without a doubt the most outstanding rookie this year."


    "In fact, it''s not just rookies."


    "Currently, Li Wei strongly leads the entire League in both rushing yards and touchdowns, heading a list of stars as a rookie."


    "After this game, there isn''t much suspense for the September selections; following being named the American League''s Best Offensive Player of the Week as a rookie and sweeping the past three weeks'' best rookie charts, Li Wei becoming the League''s Best Rookie in September is a widely expected outcome."


    "To be precise, we should set our sights even higher and reflect on both past and present."


    "Three games, 509 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns¡ªthese stats might be unachievable for countless running backs in a sixteen-game season; but Li Wei has done it in just three games, surpassing Adrian Peterson to refresh a series of records and become the rookie with the most impressive first three games in NFL history."


    "Since the millennium, Peterson''s rookie data over the first three games was widely regarded as unsurpassable¡ª271 rushing yards, 160 receiving yards, a total of 431 yards, believed to be indicative of a dominant force, and indeed, Peterson possessed the credentials to compete for the greatest of all time."


    "However."


    "Li Wei has now set an unassailable benchmark, not only for rookie running backs but also including wide receivers, tight ends, and even a small group of quarterbacks, who likely cannot demonstrate such a performance in their first three rookie games, redefining the term ''dominance''."


    "This isn''t just a record for the Kansas City Chiefs but also a historical record for the entire League; perhaps we need to be mindful when we use the term ''dominance'' in the future."


    "Rookie."


    "Even now, the League still refers to Li Wei as a ''rookie.'' This nickname was meant to be an insult, but now it has become the footnote to a miracle."


    "Every time people call Li Wei ''rookie,'' it further reinforces the unimaginable nature of his performance so far."


    "We are all witnesses."


    "When the media repeatedly questioned Li Wei''s abilities, when public opinion doubted his prospects time and again, under the overwhelming pressure, this is Li Wei''s response."


    "Or, can you guys hold on for a bit, and I''ll do my best to come back and help out during the playoffs?"


    In the hospital room, the atmosphere was a bit heavy, with Berry trying to lighten the mood, constantly joking.


    Until Reed came in to shoo everyone away, clearing all the players out.


    Li Wei also left, and it was only afterward that he realized he had completely forgotten that after the game ended, a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs living in Los Angeles had lost a signed support scarf, hoping Li Wei could deliver it to Berry, looking forward to him recovering soon and continuing to represent the Chiefs.


    After mentioning it to Reed, Li Wei returned.


    As he pushed open the hospital room door, Li Wei saw Berry staring blankly out the window.


    No expression, no sadness, no anger, no disappointment, just calmness. But that kind of calmness revealed a kind of solitary bitterness.


    Li Wei paused, too¡ª


    Berry''s injury was to his Achilles tendon¡ªthe Achilles'' heel.


    Even an outsider knew that the difficulty of rehabilitation and recovery was almost an impossible task.


    Li Wei tried to offer Berry a few words of comfort, but found that no words were enough to express his inner emotions. Those heartwarming platitudes seemed like a joke in the face of real pain and the long unpredictability; even having lived twice, Li Wei did not have the answers to all questions. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire


    Instead, it was Berry who first noticed Li Wei. He quickly gathered his emotions and once again revealed a smile, "Hey, rookie."


    Li Wei took a deep breath and passed over the support scarf.


    Li Wei stood by the foot of the bed, wanting to leave but unable to move.


    Berry understood and could tell at a glance, "Don''t worry, I''m fine. It''s not the first time I''ve been through something like this, I''m used to it."


    But Li Wei knew it wasn''t that simple, yet what should he say?


    "How long did the doctor say the recovery will take?" Li Wei asked.


    Berry was taken aback, saying reflexively, "At least five months."


    Li Wei seemed a bit frustrated, "Ah, that''s regrettable. If you try hard, maybe you could catch up with the Super Bowl."

 Chapter 262 261 Unstoppable

    "Ah, such a pity. If we had tried a bit harder, we might have caught up to the Super Bowl," Li Wei said.


    Li Wei''s words took Berry by surprise.


    Berry had not expected Li Wei to say something like that. He abruptly looked up and saw Li Wei revealing a smile.


    "What, you don''t believe it?"@@@@


    Berry didn''t speak, his expression frozen in place, his thoughts unable to keep up with the speed of Li Wei''s brain.


    Li Wei spread his hands. "How about we make a bet? I bet we can make it to the Super Bowl, but you won''t be able to rejoin the team in time and will only be able to watch from the sidelines."


    "After all, you are already twenty-eight years old, and your career is nearing its end. If you quit now, no one can say much ..."


    He couldn''t finish his sentence.


    Because Berry interrupted, "What if I rejoin the team, but the team doesn''t make it to the Super Bowl?"


    Li Wei didn''t say a word, but after fumbling in his pocket, he revealed a smile and placed something on the shelf at the foot of the bed. "Then, this is yours."


    A coin, twenty-five cents.


    Berry looked at the coin intently for a long time, suddenly regaining his ambition, his smile blossoming as he laughed out loud.


    "Haha, twenty-five cents, excellent, twenty-five cents."


    "So, it''s settled then. Remember, this coin is mine now, I have one hundred percent confidence."


    Li Wei picked up the coin again, tossed it gently, caught it, and then flipped his hand to display the coin before him. "Then it is settled."


    Outside the hospital room, Reed, who had been about to enter, stopped his steps. The worry in his brows gradually eased.


    He knew that Li Wei was different. The future of the Kansas City Chiefs was slowly but surely resting on his shoulders, and from what could be seen, he was doing well.


    Turning around, Reed clasped his hands behind his back and waddled away slowly, like a penguin.


    ...


    The season-ending injury of Berry, the team''s main safety, cast a shadow over the Kansas City Chiefs'' three-game winning streak at the start of the season, subtly permeating feelings of unease.


    Of course, controversy still buzzed.


    For one, apart from the defending champions, the New England Patriots, the other three opponents of the Kansas City Chiefs were all teams that had not made the playoffs last season.


    This also implies that the schedule was lighter, and naturally, the potency of the victories was less convincing.


    Furthermore, in three of their four victories, the Kansas City Chiefs won in the fourth quarter; except for the struggling Los Angeles Chargers, the other three games were exceedingly close.


    In the face of "less competitive" opponents, the victories were still so perilous and tough, making the so-called "Undefeated Golden Body" somewhat lacking in substance.


    Led by Bart, the critical opinions steadfastly maintained that the Kansas City Chiefs are a "pseudo-strong team". Even after being proven wrong time and again, Bart stood tall, displaying an unbending and resolute stance, steadfastly standing on the opposite side of the majority opinion, even gaining a following.


    In fact, Bart''s opinions had a huge market; the victories of the Kansas City Chiefs indeed lacked persuasion, and it was commonly believed that the real test was yet to come.


    However, controversy aside, a victory is still a victory¡ª


    Four wins out of four games, the Kansas City Chiefs unexpectedly led the entire league.


    Undoubtedly, the voices praising Li Wei and the Kansas City Chiefs dominated.


    Looking at it from another angle, despite the games being tough and the road bumpy, the Kansas City Chiefs clenched their teeth and won every game, indirectly proving their tenacity.


    Perhaps, overwhelming and thrilling victories seem exhilarating; but real champions are often forged through countless hardships and challenges.


    Teams that have it easy might crumble when facing real adversaries, while those tested early on are the ones that could last laugh in the cruel and harsh playoffs.


    The Kansas City Chiefs are on the right path.


    Meanwhile, amidst all the praise and cheering, a storm centered around Li Wei was quietly brewing and quickly took over social media¡ª


    "Lucky Star".


    Is Li Wei the real key behind the Kansas City Chiefs maintaining their undefeated record this season?


    Here, it''s not about Li Wei''s strength¡ªof course, strength plays a crucial role and is an indispensable foundation; but it''s more about Li Wei''s lucky aura.


    Since his first official game representing Crimson Tide Storm last year, Li Wei has maintained an undefeated record, winning nineteen straight games, and he continues to accumulate more.


    The real king of luck, in fact, is right here.

 Chapter 263 262 Indirect Damage

    What, Li Wei is the topic of conversation again?


    Is this supposed to be news? The 2017 rookie class doesn''t have a single decent player¡ªit''s all Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei, day and night. Will it ever end?


    On one hand, top pick Garrett finally recovered from injury, gearing up to make his debut in week five.


    This defensive end was chomping at the bit, previously critiqued by the media for "staggering his entrance" because he didn''t want to be compared with Li Wei, so he pretended to be injured to avoid direct competition¡ªor was his injury just a little too timely?


    Garrett had no defense against this¡ª


    Falling into mud, whether it''s poop or not, it''s all the same when it''s on your pants.


    His injury was real, but as a mere rookie, he couldn''t hold a press conference to prove it; brooding over it, he couldn''t swallow it nor spit it out.


    But now he was ready, ready to get on the field and prove his abilities.


    On the other hand, the top pick Trubisky also finally got his chance.


    After the Chicago Bears started the season with one win and three losses, head coach John Fox finally decided to let this rookie quarterback take the field, and Trubisky had to face the challenge head-on amidst all the doubts and ridicule he carried.


    Compared with Garrett, Trubisky found the overwhelming news about Li Wei even more bitter:


    He, like Li Wei, had only one full NCAA season under his belt, yet he was chosen early in the draft amid a whirlwind of confusing moves, while piercing and tricky eyes all watched their performances.


    Whenever Li Wei proved the media wrong, they would compare him to the innocent Trubisky, who was quietly studying the playbook on the bench and couldn''t even figure out how to retort.


    Now, the opportunity had finally come.


    Both Garrett and Trubisky were sharpening their knives, but just as they were about to make their entrance, they were struck by a thunderbolt out of a clear sky¡ª


    Li Wei.


    Once again, Li Wei.


    Surely, they had thought that a whole month into the new season, the frenzy over the rookies would have cooled down, and they''d finally be able to focus on the game without the pressure, but once again, they were caught in the crossfire because of Li Wei.


    Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire


    Now it was a matter of who could seize the opportunity.


    Edwards also didn''t anticipate how rapidly things would change.


    Of course, in this era of the internet, hot news cycles could be measured in hours, and the dramatic shifts in the Professional League were on a daily basis. It had already been two weeks since his meeting with Li Wei in Los Angeles.


    However, despite that, Edwards still hadn''t expected Li Wei''s skyrocketing rise and breakthrough index, continuously smashing expectations.


    Adidas and Under Armour were making frequent moves. Although Edwards hadn''t managed to discover the specific figures, Nike already felt the threat.


    Rumors were that Adidas was ready to match the enormous sum proposed by Donald, 2.5 million US Dollars per year, but the duration was still under negotiation.


    Rumors were that Under Armour hadn''t matched the figure yet, but they were offering a contract akin to "Jordan X Nike," planning to launch a brand new product line around Li Wei and willing to share profits, though they hadn''t yet agreed on the percentage.


    After all, Football is not basketball, people could wear basketball shoes on the streets, but it''s not practical to wear Football gear to the supermarket, so how to balance the profit-sharing ratio was being deliberated by Under Armour and Donald''s side.


    Nike, who made the first move, now lost its advantage.


    Edwards and the Nike executives had discussed it; they knew the risks of signing now¡ªwhat if the running back Li Wei gets injured next week; they also knew waiting further could plunge them into a more passive position, as for every game Li Wei won, Donald''s bargaining chips increased.


    At least Donald was right about one thing¡ª


    Chinese descent. Top Scholar. Rookie.


    Now add "The Undefeated Golden Body" Lucky Star.


    All of these factors combined gave Li Wei the potential to make history, a situation even Little Beckham didn''t have.


    It was now up to those bold enough to make the move.


    Edwards didn''t want to repeat the arrogant mistakes of Adidas and Converse from the past, especially since Nike had decided against renewing their contract with Federer, deeming his figures too high and unprofitable. They believed the Swiss King''s career was drawing to a close, so Nike should focus on the future.


    Could Li Wei be the answer?


    Thus, Edwards sat down with Donald once again.


    This time, they had to make a decisive effort to reach an agreement.

 Chapter 264 263 Unique

    "What?"


    Despite being accustomed to turbulent situations and having mentally prepared for today''s meeting with determination, Edwards still found himself unusually flustered due to the absurd and shocking proposition, a smile creeping up to his lips as if he had just heard a joke.


    However, Donald was not smiling.


    Donald maintained his calm demeanor without expression and, seeing Edwards''s smile, did not get angry but repeated his statement without any disturbance.


    "Mr. Edwards, you heard me correctly, seventy-five million US dollars a year, a ten-year contract, that was my offer just now."


    The entire NFL''s peak is currently just a mere twenty-five million US dollars a year, and now Donald has tripled it in one breath?


    Edwards''s smile stiffened slightly but he quickly regained composure, attempting to take control of the situation, "Our last conversation wasn''t like this."


    Donald nodded lightly, "I know. But the last offer was then, and the situation has changed now since another two weeks have passed."


    Edwards frowned slightly: Unprincipled! "Negotiations shouldn''t be like this."


    "I know," said Donald, his face open and unaffected, "but that''s how I feel now."


    "That''s not right."


    Donald then pressed on aggressively.


    "The price has changed again. Ten million US dollars a year, a ten-year contract."


    Edwards looked at Donald as if he were looking at a madman.


    Donald did not mind, he casually leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs, "Mr. Edwards, I am not satisfied with Nike''s attitude in our partnership."


    "We both understand what Li Wei represents now. He is not Little Beckham, nor is he Brady; he is the one and only Li Wei."


    "The NFL has waited so long to finally get this opportunity."


    "The League has just signed a broadcast agreement with Hua Xia, and with Li Wei dramatically entering the scene, Goodell''s plan for expansion in Asia and globally has its final piece in place, and now nothing can stop it." Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    "When we talk about Li Wei, those so-called disadvantage tags will now become his advantages to break prejudices, break the mold, and make history."


    "All of this before us is brand new. I believe Li Wei even has greater advantages than Jordan did in his time, mainly because the NFL is now the most profitable league globally, far ahead of what the NBA was in its days in terms of both team and league earnings."


    "So, when we sit down to negotiate, I expect to see not just sincerity but also boldness; otherwise, I see no need to continue."


    Being unreasonable?


    However.


    Edwards had to admit, Donald was right.


    Under Armour would nod.


    Continue to wait, one more week, at most two weeks, as long as Li Wei keeps winning, keeps the topic hot, Under Armour will nod¡ª


    Even Adidas might step ahead, seizing the lead.


    The initiative in the current competition belongs to no one.


    Indeed, Donald didn''t need to proceed step by step; he could simply watch from a distance as the three competitors fought to the death.


    But... ten million US dollars a year? That price is still outrageous!


    For reference, Nike''s contracts with tennis superstars Federer and Nadal were also ten million dollars a year.


    That was tennis, an individual sport, simple to promote and expose, and only top superstars got such treatment; but the current discussion was about football, a league with nearly two thousand players.


    Nike cannot be capricious.


    Why?


    Once they agreed to a contract like this with Li Wei, agents of other football players would make huge demands, and Nike cannot open this gate.


    Absolutely not.


    However, Edwards did not panic; instead, he calmed down.


    The more aggressive and off-the-cuff Donald was, the more it indicated that all this was a distraction, a sleight of hand before the real proposal, with earlier tactics being akin to a magician''s misdirection before the actual performance.


    Embarrassed as he might be, Edwards looked at Donald, displaying Nike''s mettle.


    "I''ve heard."


    "Mr. Yu, I''ve heard it all, I am now ready to negotiate, shall we get to the point?"


    The implication was, he also knew that the earlier setups were just ruses, and the negotiations to follow were the practical, crucial proposals.


    Donald was not surprised; otherwise, Edwards could not have sat in that position.


    "Two and a half million dollars a year for five years, and at the same time, we need Nike to develop a dedicated product line for Li Wei, including but not limited to sneakers, jerseys, caps, socks, etc., with Li Wei enjoying a 3% royalty on all global sales."

 Chapter 265 264 Historical Intersection

    In the history of professional sports, Nike signed a unique contract with Jordan, allowing him to earn profit sharing from his product line.


    However, all this had historical context, for at that time, Nike was on the decline, its market share being squeezed by Adidas and Converse. Without such a contract, Jordan wouldn''t have given Nike a second glance¡ª


    Everyone knew that Jordan liked Adidas and had already decided to sign with them.


    Nike took a gamble, which led to the birth of the only profit-sharing contract in professional sports history.


    Unprecedented and never replicated.


    Even to this day, not even LeBron James receives such treatment.


    Of course, LeBron''s market value still cannot compare with Jordan''s.


    According to statistics, last season, LeBron brought in $30 million in market value for Nike, far ahead of other professional players; meanwhile, the profit share given to Jordan by Nike was $100 million, a figure that only covers profit sharing, leaving one to imagine the astronomical market value actually generated by Jordan.


    The gap is clear.@@@@


    Regardless, Jordan''s contract remains one of a kind.


    Nike has made up its mind, refusing to offer any other player the same deal. Indeed, over the years, they have done just that.


    Until now.


    It turns out Donald was pursuing a profit-sharing contract.


    3% of global sales?


    Undoubtedly, this was aiming to match Jordan.


    Without comparison, there is no hurt. Now, looking at the $10 million per year, it suddenly seems friendly and approachable, not such a big deal after all.


    This is a negotiation tactic¡ª


    Donald gave Nike two options: either $10 million per year or $2.5 million per year plus profit sharing.


    Compared to this, anyone would choose the former without hesitation.


    It''s a simple math problem.


    But is it really that simple?


    Edwards wasn''t a fool; he knew there was a third hidden option:


    Nike, to refuse outright, present their own terms, and not continue playing by Donald''s rules.


    On one hand, they needed to race against time¡ªif Li Wei continued to win, Donald''s bargaining power would only increase.


    On the other hand, they needed to maintain their cool, observe their competitors'' reactions, and watch Li Wei''s performance in the follow-up.


    What if¡ªjust if, Li Wei lost in the upcoming match? What if he underperformed?


    While the brands might not completely turn the situation around, at least Donald wouldn''t be so overbearing; moreover, the next week''s game was...


    After sending Donald off, Edwards thought it over and eventually decided that they should wait and observe one more game, especially since the fifth week featured a matchup of particular interest.


    An absolute highlight!


    The NFL thought so too.


    On October 8th, Sunday night''s game, the Kansas City Chiefs would visit the Houston Texans.


    In the NFL, night games are of the utmost importance because they occur in prime time and often explode in viewership. Naturally, the scheduling of the three-night games each week is crucial¡ª


    Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, and Monday Night Football.


    Typically, the night game schedules are set when the season calendar is finalized, ensuring each team appears at least twice in these prime-time slots. However, the league also wants to drive viewership, so occasionally, there might be changes to the night game lineups based on how teams are performing throughout the season.


    One example is the "America''s Team," the Dallas Cowboys, often having at least three or even four night games in a season. This is because they perennially top the list of the league''s fanbase, unshakable by any other.


    For the fifth week of the regular season, one of the Sunday night games was set to be a major event.


    The undefeated Kansas City Chiefs with four wins against the Houston Texans with two wins and two losses.


    Some might wonder why this matchup suddenly became a headline event when the Texans'' performance for the season has been so-so?


    There are several reasons.


    First, in the 2015 postseason, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans met in the first round, where the then up-and-coming Texans were gearing up to defeat the Chiefs, who had been experiencing a postseason win drought of over twenty years. The general consensus favored the Texans to win.


    The result? "0:30."


    The Kansas City Chiefs gave the Houston Texans a humiliating defeat, ending their own long postseason losing streak, and leaving with overwhelming joy having broken free from their shackles.


    Last season, in the second week of regular games, the two teams met again. This time, the Texans had their sweet revenge. The Defensive group firmly taught the Chiefs'' Offensive group a lesson, not allowing a single touchdown throughout the game.


    After the match, Texans fans jeered and mocked the Chiefs, venting their frustration in full force¡ª


    That''s how their feud began.


    And that was just one of the reasons.

 Chapter 266 265 Avenger

    Although the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans are not in the same division and do not have a long-standing historical rivalry, their fateful encounters in the past two seasons have created a tense atmosphere among the fans.


    For the third consecutive season, the two teams have come across each other as rivals¡ª


    Because they were the top-ranked teams in their respective divisions last season, the rotation afterwards brought them face to face for the third year in a row, surprisingly.


    This is not a common sight, yet it''s precisely one of the critical highlights of the match.


    Secondly, both teams entered the playoffs as division leaders last season and are strong contenders to make it again this season.


    For the Kansas City Chiefs, this is the second time this season they face a team that made it to the playoffs last season, following the New England Patriots. The Chiefs, who have constantly been criticized and mocked as a "pseudo-strong team," once again face a key battle to prove themselves.


    In fact, although the Houston Texans only have a record of two wins and two losses this season, their overwhelming victory against the Tennessee Titans last week, sweeping through the ranks, has been a hot topic of discussion across the league.


    The Tennessee Titans had a record of two wins and one loss in the first three weeks, showing a commendable competitive state, only to be thoroughly crushed by the Houston Texans on their home ground, helplessly watching their opponents freely set a string of historical records, eventually losing with a humiliating score of "57:14," nailed to the pillar of shame.


    The terrifying state that the Houston Texans showcased on both offense and defense has successfully sparked astonishment throughout the league, and naturally, the pressure on the Kansas City Chiefs has been mounting ever since. This will undoubtedly be a stern test.


    Third, the talking points.


    JJ Watt, the league''s best defensive player in 2012, 2014, and 2015 and undoubtedly the league''s top trending figure at present. If Brady is the league''s number one, then Watt is first in popularity. This defensive player has completely overturned the "offense-centric" situation and has once again drawn attention to the defensive group''s style.


    His popularity is unparalleled for the time being.


    As a Defensive End, Watt is the nightmare of quarterbacks and running backs, with his penetrating ability, tackling and sacking skills, and the threat and disruption he poses all top-notch. He is a player who can turn the situation around all by himself.


    This year''s draft was hailed as the year of the Defensive End, but including the top pick Garrett, they all look up to Watt''s imposing presence.


    Naturally, the matchup "Watt vs. Li Wei" has also forcefully made its presence felt.


    Watt is Li Wei''s first encounter with a truly superstar Defensive End, and this rookie Top Scholar''s mettle will finally face a rigorous test.


    Previously, whether it was Brady or Wentz, Li Wei and they were all part of the offensive group, without the chance for a direct face-off. Now, with Watt, this head-to-head matchup is enough to make the entire league''s blood boil.


    Whether supporters or detractors, everyone is looking forward to this confrontation.


    In addition, there is one thing that no one should forget and that no one will forget:


    Yet again, the center of attention to tens of thousands.


    This time, not only fans and professionals are watching, but the gazes of brand sponsors are all gathered, unleashing a blanket of pressure.


    However!


    The progress of the match was slightly different from what was expected.


    It can''t be said to be spectacular, nor can it be said to be lackluster, just... the process was full of ups and downs, constantly defying expectations, really testing one''s heart, a slight lapse in attention and one might shock themselves¡ª Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire


    Unable to keep up with the pace.


    The kickoff.


    In the first offensive wave, the "Li Wei vs Watt" matchup lived up to expectations.


    Li Wei took the lead with successive feints that caused Watt to stumble and fumble, barely making an eleven-yard push, simultaneously igniting social media as it was rare to see a three-time League Defensive Player of the Year in such disarray.


    Following that, Watt countered with an accurate and vicious tackle right at the scrimmage line to stop Li Wei, the solid sound of muscle colliding with muscle echoing throughout the stadium, Li Wei looking like a little chick in front of Watt.


    Back and forth, neither giving way.


    The game had only just begun, and the confrontation was already sparking, accelerating heartbeats.


    Sadly, the good times didn''t last long.


    Again Li Wei, in an attempt to break free, made a quick stop and turn to shake off Watt who, unbelievably, managed to start a second time and just barely reached out to disrupt Li Wei''s steps, destabilizing his balance, causing him to stumble forward, managing to advance only eight yards before falling into a surrounding close and hitting the ground.


    The clash of titans once again failed to determine the victor, the confrontation remained tense.


    However, Watt fell to the ground clutching his lower leg in that defensive move, unable to get up, eventually being carted off the field on a stretcher, causing the hearts of the Houston Texans'' home crowd to sink heavily¡ª


    Last season, Watt had to declare an end to his season due to a herniated disc after playing only three games. Could it be the same this season as well?


    Watt''s injury was not clear at the moment, and the Houston Texans quickly announced that Watt could not return to the game, and a comprehensive hospital examination was needed for further details.


    This became the first turning point of the game, with the Kansas City Chiefs quickly taking control.

 Chapter 267 266 ever-changing in a flash

    The soul of the Houston Texans'' defensive group and team spirit leader, Watt, left the field due to injury, and this undeniably became the game-changer of the first half.


    The Kansas City Chiefs firmly grasped the opportunity, accurately identifying the opponents'' reluctance to contend with Li Wei''s ground advancing capabilities to the extent that they had to dedicate multiple defenders to marking him. Reed boldly used Li Wei as bait, feinting with runs to shield his true intent of passing, launching an assault through a barrage of passing plays that sliced through the opposition.


    "16:0".


    The Kansas City Chiefs, playing away from home, unleashed their firepower on both offense and defense, thoroughly suppressing the Houston Texans, reawakening the scenes from the playoff showdown two years ago, and utterly dominated a full twenty-eight minutes of the first half. But clearly, this was no good news for the Houston Texans, who were on their home turf.


    It wasn''t until the end of the first half that the Houston Texans finally snapped out of their daze.


    The rookie quarterback, Watson, finally came to his senses, experiencing up close Li Wei''s intimidating presence. Even without the ball, he could spread fear among the defensive group, and merely standing on the field was enough to disrupt their tactics. This pressure was the best testament to an individual''s ability¡ª


    Just like Watt.


    As long as Watt is on the field, no matter his condition, no one can afford to take him lightly, because everyone knows what Watt is capable of.


    Look, whether Watt is on the field or not, the intensity of the clash between the two sides is entirely different.


    Li Wei now seems to possess a similar deterrent power, but the question is, what level of a player is Watt, and how can Li Wei, a rookie fresh on the scene, be compared to him?


    This also shows that, regardless of what professionals and social media say, on the field, Li Wei''s strength has become a threat.


    Stimulated by this, Watson went into a Super Saiyan state in a second.


    In fact, like Li Wei, Watson has been proving himself and countering doubts all along. Among the three first-round rookie quarterbacks this year, Watson was the first to debut as a starter in the second week of the regular season, and he has held his starting position ever since.


    But clearly, all the attention is on Li Wei, and the focus on Watson is indeed limited.


    Seeing Li Wei now possess a threatening power and entering a new level, Watson naturally did not want to let his arch-rival take all the glory and finally unleashed his potential.


    Able to run and pass, Watson truly showcased his dual-threat ability to the fullest, igniting his cosmos, and completely dominated the game.


    As the fourth quarter kicked off, following a forty-eight-yard touchdown pass by Watson, the Houston Texans completely reversed the situation, taking the lead with a score of "23:29", a six-point advantage into the final quarter. Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    Undoubtedly, with passing yards of 203, rushing yards of 57, and five passing touchdowns, Watson became the absolute star of the second half.


    Despite the Kansas City Chiefs offense constantly advancing and scoring, their performance was entirely overshadowed by Watson, even the commentators couldn''t help but express their admiration.


    "Watson, full of energy."


    "After Watt left the field injured, Watson took up the mantle as the team leader. With unparalleled performance, he aided the offensive group in maintaining their momentum, and helped the defensive group find their footing, completely reversing the Texans'' fortunes on both offense and defense, overpowering the Kansas City Chiefs."


    "Now, the pressure is back on the Kansas City Chiefs."


    "Smith needs to step up, the quarterback should take on the responsibility of turning the tide."


    "Of course, Smith is trustworthy. This season, he has displayed exceptional competitive form. He''s currently the quarterback with the highest completion percentage in the league, with his passing yards ranking just behind the New Orleans Saints quarterback Brees, and he has led his team to victory in the fourth quarter three times this season."


    "Li Wei burst forth with an unbelievable speed, instantly accelerating and overtaking."


    "Breakthrough!"


    "God, Li Wei has broken through the encirclement, the Texans'' encirclement didn''t close in time, Li Wei forced a breakthrough with his speed, Texans are in dire straits."


    "Crossing the midfield line, Li Wei didn''t slow down, he kept running faster and faster, leaving the Texans'' Special Duty Group to eat his dust."


    "Jesus Christ, what exactly are we witnessing?"


    "Li Wei! Li Wei! Li Wei!"


    "Leaving them in the dust!"


    "Leaving! Them! In! The dust!"


    "Li Wei, there are no more obstacles ahead of him."


    Roaring, howling, blood boiling¡ª


    The commentator''s passionate commentary circulated over the North American continent through the live broadcast signal, but this voice loomed over Watson like dark, dense clouds.


    Watson stood on the edge of the field, frozen as if petrified, watching the scene unfold before him, his brain completely offline, his mind filled with expletives.


    "Touchdown."


    "Without a doubt, touchdown. Texans'' Special Duty Group has given up the chase, Li Wei easily breaks into the end zone, striking a sword into the heart and scoring the touchdown."


    "A 103-yard kickoff return touchdown, that is Li Wei''s response."


    "Unbelievable!"


    "Wow, I mean... wow, unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable!"


    "What I mean is, when the Kansas City Chiefs were in a tight spot, desperately needing a leader to step forward, this young rookie running back stood up again with an unrivalled performance to reignite the fighting spirit."


    "The Houston Texans'' lead only lasted... twenty-three seconds, and the Kansas City Chiefs grabbed back the lead with a kickoff return touchdown."


    "One moment ago, Watson completed a 48-yard long pass scoring the fifth passing touchdown of the game, proving his ability, showing he can not only run but also pass."


    "The next moment, Li Wei responded with a 103-yard kickoff return touchdown, marking his second kickoff return touchdown of the season, proving that the season opener''s first touchdown was no fluke."


    "From NCAA to NFL, Li Wei''s dominance over Watson continues."


    Even though they say sports are full of rapid changes, this was changing way too fast¡ª


    Love comes too fast, like a tornado, can''t escape from the storm, no time to flee.

 Chapter 268 267 Superstar Charm

    "Touchdown!"


    "Li Wei, touchdown!"


    "The Chiefs take the lead again, God, God, oh, God!"


    On the sidelines, Watson, fired up with the high spirit of vengeance, just saw his momentum explode when, without warning, a bucket of ice water was dumped over him as he watched Li Wei stroll in the end zone, seemingly unfazed ¡ª


    What, what happened?@@@@


    The air, frozen.


    It wasn''t just Watson, right? The home crowd of the Houston Texans was also in shock, their celebration of the lead lasting less than half a minute before being abruptly shut down, the frustration boiling in their chests almost to the point of explosion.


    A 103-yard kickoff return touchdown?


    How on earth did he do that?


    What happened to the supposed underdog comeback narrative? What about the blood-soaked revenge saga? Had the beautiful dream that lasted a mere twenty-three seconds suddenly nosedived into a nightmare?


    The momentum that Watson had worked so hard to build up for most of the game collapsed in just twenty-three seconds.


    Li Wei completely ground the Texans'' Special Duty Group into the dust, rubbing, and rubbing, and rubbing them into the ground, tearing apart any semblance of dignity and pride.


    This touchdown once again turned the tide, not only recovering the morale of the Kansas City Chiefs but also cracking the Texans'' climbing confidence, prompting them to start doubting themselves, and once again changing the dynamics of the game.


    First, Watson, blinded by thoughts of revenge, lost his cool and the ability to see the whole field, leading to offensive disruptions. His passing decisions and timing for runs were seriously flawed, striking out for the first time since the twenty-eighth minute of the first half.


    Then the Texans'' Defensive Group was completely toyed with by Li Wei, who almost everyone thought Smith would hand the ball off to, but they didn''t anticipate a play-action pass. Smith found the Tight End Kelsey, while Li Wei acted as a decoy blocker for Kelsey ¡ª


    After catching a five-yard short pass, Kelsey, with Li Wei''s cover, made a beeline down the field, driving seventy-four yards and completely destroying the opponent''s defensive formation.


    Subsequently, Li Wei scored a two-yard rushing touchdown:


    Two kills in a row.


    In just under four minutes, like a violent storm, the game tipped dramatically in another direction with no time to breathe.


    Watson: ...


    Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?


    He couldn''t even curse as he found himself in disarray as if caught in a gale.


    Meanwhile¡ª


    "Hehe."


    "He''s willing to help his teammates, and he has also integrated with the team; whether it''s Smith or Kelsey, they are willing to put their trust in Li Wei."


    "What is this?"


    "This is leadership."


    "This is the charisma of a superstar."


    "We''ve been desperately seeking a superhero to reshape the football market, just like Jordan, just like Federer. I think we''ve found him now."


    Every word resounded with conviction.


    Edwards looked around, taking his time before continuing, because he knew for himself and for the entire Nike executive team alike:


    They knew what kind of contract this was, what kind of risks they were facing. Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire


    So, they needed time.


    On the TV screen, the game continued.


    Very regrettably, the Kansas City Chiefs'' two-point conversion attempt failed, "36:29", the score remained the same, which meant the Houston Texans hadn''t completely collapsed into the abyss, the defensive group had applied the brakes at the edge of the cliff.


    Could there still be a twist in the outcome?


    The TV broadcast carried the fevered support of the Houston Texans'' home crowd, trying to blow the horn for a counterattack, but the Nike meeting room was silent; everyone was focused on the game, all of them contemplating.


    Brains, working overtime.


    Every second, their judgments tumbled with the changing situation on the field, so could the Kansas City Chiefs'' missed two-point conversion, prolonging the suspense in the outcome, possibly affect Nike''s decision?


    After patiently waiting for a moment, Edwards continued.


    "We need to make a decision now, it''s been dragged on long enough. If we are to give up, let''s do it now, and let Adidas and Under Armour fight it out; but if we agree, we must race against time."


    "Donald... he''s a tough character."


    For a second, pausing just a bit, Edwards then raised his voice to say.


    "Let''s vote."


    "Aye," Edwards was the first to indicate his position, then gestured to the secretary next to him to take notes, but he quickly realized it wasn''t necessary.


    "Aye."


    "Aye."


    One after another, as soon as it began, it never stopped.

 Chapter 269 268 stable output

    NRG Stadium erupted with an incredible wave of support from the Houston Texans'' home crowds, welcoming Watson''s appearance and eagerly anticipating the team to carry the momentum of the Defensive group''s strong block against the Kansas City Chiefs'' two-point conversion, hoping the Offensive group would seize the opportunity to score a touchdown and tie the game once again.


    In the midst of the overwhelming cheers, the vibration of a text notification on a phone seemed trivial.


    But Donald Yee noticed it.


    Today, Donald had personally come to NRG Stadium because he knew that negotiations were entering their final phase. It wasn''t just Nike; Adidas and Under Armour were likely closely monitoring the game and every move of Li Wei. The situation was truly changing by the second, and he needed to stay focused on the frontlines to ensure he could contact Li Wei at a moment''s notice.


    His phone was always in hand, even during the tensest moments, never loosened.


    His eyes, glued to the movements on the field, he swiftly glanced down at his phone screen, his thumb rapidly finishing the reply, yet his expression remained unchanged. Then he looked back up at the field, watching the game with undivided attention as if the text was just another ordinary message.


    In the VIP box, no one noticed Donald''s subtle action.


    However, a storm was quietly brewing.


    "Final conditions:


    First, three million five hundred thousand US dollars per year, for a five-year contract.


    Second, product line royalties, 0.5% in North America and 1.5% in regions outside of North America, but, royalties will only be triggered if the annual sales in Asia exceed ten million US dollars.


    Third, in the fifth year, Nike has the right to match any competitor''s offer to renew the contract first."


    The text message was from Edwards.


    Of course, these were just the basic terms of the agreement. The specific contract details would still need to be negotiated in-depth by lawyers, but the general direction was thus set.


    And Donald replied with just one word.


    "Deal."


    Because Donald knew that neither Adidas nor Under Armour could match such terms.


    In fact, in Donald''s view, Under Armour was very competitive. Although their global promotional channels were not as extensive as Nike''s, their advantage was that they had fewer players and thus more concentrated resources, which would allow Li Wei to enjoy superstar treatment right away.


    For Under Armour, Donald''s demand was simple: to benchmark against Curry. Curry was Under Armour''s absolute core in opening up the basketball market, and now Li Wei would become the absolute core of Under Armour in opening up the Football market¡ª


    Donald certainly didn''t forget about Brady.@@@@


    Watson: Regretful, the revenge failed.


    After the game ended, Watson, helmet in hand and fuming with anger, made a beeline for Li Wei. Players from both teams sensed trouble upon seeing this, and immediately held back Watson¡ª


    Stay calm, DeShaun, stay calm! Did you forget that the rookie comes from a mixed martial arts background? What if he accidentally beats you into a pig''s head?


    Watson glared at Li Wei fiercely, "Next time you won''t be so lucky."


    Li Wei, however, appeared collected and calm, giving Watson a glance with a smile on his face, "Until next time."


    With just a light touch, he pushed back all of Watson''s aggression¡ª


    A loser is a loser; until we meet again, keep your mouth shut.


    Watson swelled up like a pufferfish, almost on the verge of exploding on the spot, but the Texans players, after a glance at Li Wei''s bulging, vein-covered fist, quickly pulled Watson back.


    Clearly, Watson''s view wasn''t a minority opinion.


    The doubts about the legitimacy of the Kansas City Chiefs'' undefeated record, attributed largely to luck, were not going to subside any time soon, especially since the Texans'' leading figure Watt had to leave the field due to an injury, making the victory as unconvincing as ever.


    In fact, Li Wei became a target of attack on social media after the game.


    After hospital X-rays, Watt''s leg fracture was confirmed, ending his season, which also meant that the league''s most dominant and influential defensive star for the past five years would miss another season due to injury.


    Without a doubt, Watt is currently one of the NFL''s most popular players, and countless fans vented their anger on Li Wei, believing he was responsible for Watt''s season-ending injury. Conspiracy theories were rife, and Li Wei, the target, withstood fierce fire.


    Surprisingly, Watt stepped forward, posting a lengthy statement on social media to clear up the situation for Li Wei.


    He insisted that his injury was in no way related to Li Wei, purely a case of "bad luck"; he also mentioned that the confrontation with Li Wei was enjoyable, albeit cut short this time, and he looked forward to their next battle.


    The controversy did not completely subside, but it cooled down slightly.


    Regardless, a win is a win, and the Kansas City Chiefs'' dreamlike start to the season continued, as did Li Wei''s undefeated record in his football career. Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    But the real surprise was that none of Kansas City Chiefs'' five straight wins, Watt''s season-ending injury, or the grudge between Li Wei and Watson took center stage after the game ended.


    Because just after the game, before the postgame press conference could begin, a piece of news spread like wildfire, shaking the entire league like a bomb:


    Li Wei and Nike had reached an agreement, and Nike was about to drop a major bombshell.

 Chapter 270 269 Epic blockbuster

    Clearly, the development of events once again broke expectations. After the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans ended, the "blockbuster contract" rumors with Nike completely stole the spotlight, to the point where the game itself seemed like a mere backdrop.


    And the result was¡ª


    What was expected to provoke heated debate and become the focus of the League''s chatter, "Li Wei vs. Watson," just slipped away silently without making any splash, leaving Watson, who had prepared a bellyful of trash talk, to be hung out to dry.


    Watson: ???


    Even though Li Wei claimed at the post-game news conference that he knew nothing¡ªa complete truth; the rumors among the reporters were still exceptionally noisy.


    Nike signing a rookie isn''t news, but when the rookie is a running back and a Chinese player who has already set numerous records, that''s news; what''s more, the rumor emphasized it was an epic blockbuster.


    The rumors, buzzing and bustling, but the Nike team didn''t make the melon-eating public wait too long.


    On Tuesday morning, less than thirty-six hours after the Sunday night game ended, Nike held a formal press conference in New York.


    It was a massive affair.


    Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire


    Nike widely issued invitations, over four hundred reporters received invites, speculations about Li Wei''s contract flew everywhere, but they still found they had thought too small.


    "We are extremely honored to welcome Li Wei to the Nike family. Li Wei is an exceptional player whose courage and belief shine on the field..."


    Bla bla bla, all official pleasantries, but where''s the real meat?


    3.5 million US dollars a year, a five-year contract.


    A true blockbuster, living up to its name.


    Casually, nonchalantly, Li Wei burst onto the scene, becoming the first in the League in terms of brand endorsement contracts and raised the ceiling a whole level up.


    Living up to expectations, the previously buzzing rumors completely matched what was anticipated, no wonder Nike held a press conference to formally announce the partnership with such seriousness.


    Li Wei was not present at the New York press conference venue.


    Rumor has it, Curry''s team also went into deep discussions with Under Armour, with a contract renewal imminent. Now, everything needed to be reconsidered, with both sides having to weigh their options.


    Debate, of course, existed since this was not like the time when Jordan signed with Nike. Back then, all brands were mocking Nike for their madness, and no one would follow suit or jump on the bandwagon; but now, the partnership between Jordan and Nike had become the most successful collaboration in history.


    Therefore, the subsequent storm and turmoil were likely to continue for a while.


    However.


    The market had already reacted first¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs'' number twenty-three jersey soared to the champion position on the jersey sales ranking list within a single day.


    Always, football jersey sales have been one of the hottest professional sports merchandise in the North American continent, with fans often owning more than one jersey.


    Among them, quarterbacks have long dominated the sales ranking charts, occupying seven out of the top ten spots or even a complete sweep was not unusual.


    Occasionally, wide receivers, tight ends, linemen, and defensive ends could also shine and be favored by fans.


    But for a running back, it was relatively more challenging, even for Adrian Peterson, it was hard to consistently hold a position in the top ten of the league jersey sales rankings.


    Since Li Wei''s remarkable emergence, his jersey sales had been steadily increasing; unfortunately, the number of Kansas City Chiefs fans was still not enough to make a significant breakthrough. Even within the Kansas City Chiefs, the jersey sales of Smith, Kelsey, Berry, and others slightly led Li Wei.


    Despite this, with his dominating and steady performance, Li Wei''s jersey sales steadily broke into the top thirty and securely held the first place among rookies.


    In terms of burst sales, Garrett and Trubisky''s jersey sales had soared into the top ten after the draft ended, suppressing Li Wei. But in terms of stability and sustainability, Li Wei was far ahead of the 2017 rookie class.


    Until now.


    Li Wei''s jersey sales rocketed, powerfully claiming the champion''s throne.


    And this was just the beginning.


    Next, the Kansas City Chiefs'' number twenty-three jersey kept a firm hold on the champion spot, one week, two weeks, three weeks, with the popularity remaining high throughout.


    Nike had just signed Li Wei, and the product line hadn''t even had time to start designing, yet the endorsement effect was already immediately evident.

 Chapter 271 Spouting nonsense

    "Why?"


    I''m afraid that this is the same question everyone is curious about: why did jersey sales surge immediately after Nike signed Li Wei?


    The reason is perplexing.


    If it were explained by Li Wei creating miracles on the field and attracting a strong fan base, leading to a surge in jersey sales, that would be understandable; but why did the mere signing of a sponsorship contract between Nike and Li Wei cause such an effect?


    According to statistics, places with the main Chinese immigrant populations on the North American continent, such as New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Vancouver, Toronto, and so on, became the main force behind sales; even more unbelievable was that NFL jersey sales on the Hua Xia Continent skyrocketed by twenty-seven times, setting a series of records.


    In simple terms, the market was sending a message with this action, applauding the signing between Nike and Li Wei, and the moment Goodell had been eagerly waiting for finally arrived.


    "Chinese heritage," this label''s significance and power began to show. So what are other brands still hesitating about?


    One second ago, the media and brands were shocked by Nike''s compromise, thinking "it''s probably fake news" or "Nike must be out of its mind."


    The next second, Adidas was in utter despair, having missed an opportunity that was within reach; the media''s praise was particularly grating to them.


    History was happening.


    In this craze, Watson seemed insignificant; not just Watson, both the number one pick, Garrett, and the second pick, Trubisky, ceased to be important¡ª


    By the way, both the Cleveland Browns and the Chicago Bears lost their games, and both the number one and number two picks had losing debuts. Their defeats were even more embarrassing amid Li Wei''s unstoppable string of victories, failing to make even a splash, to the point that the media didn''t even have the energy to kick them when they were down.


    What''s worse than criticism and boos?


    Silence.


    That was the situation for Garrett and Trubisky right now.


    Originally, rookies only hoped the media wouldn''t follow them closely, constantly buzzing about every big and small thing without giving them room to breathe, but this was not what they meant by wanting less attention¡ªturned into stray dogs abandoned in a corner, something didn''t seem quite right.


    Netizens, one after another, expressed their frustration:


    As expected, there''s not a single capable player in this rookie class!


    There were those who disagreed with this sentiment.


    "Nonsense!"


    "He looks strong, but come on, let''s be realistic. When has he ever faced a real defensive powerhouse from NCAA to NFL?"


    Louisiana State University: ???


    Philadelphia Eagles: Do you think we''re dead?


    "Yes, I admit, his stats look pretty, and the whole world can''t wait to kneel before him in worship. But I''m just stating facts here; those stats of his are all show and no substance, untested by any true challenge."


    "Hey, that might change next week, though, because he''s about to face us," Zhu Zhu said confidently.


    "The truth will come out. Who''s the real diamond and who''s the cubic zirconia will soon be revealed."


    Full of confidence, brimming with youthful brazenness ¡ª¡ª


    Indeed, he was a young talent riding high, speeding through life, taking in the beauty of Chang''an in a single day.


    Although he did not spell it out, the smart ones could read between the lines of Zhu Zhu''s implications. Reporters were rubbing their hands in anticipation of a great spectacle.


    However, Zhu Zhu, fearing his point wasn''t clear, hastened to explain it again, anxious that his attack might miss its mark.


    "I am the diamond, he''s the cubic zirconia, that''s what I''m saying," Zhu Zhu clarified.


    Truly, some things are more exciting when left unsaid.


    Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire


    This... Once spelled out, it all loses its flavor.


    Indeed, Zhu Zhu was still too young and inexperienced, and without the need for further questioning from Li Wei, the reporters were already able to see a clear difference in their stature.


    When the topic reached Li Wei''s ears, he looked puzzled, his eyes filled with sincerity ¡ª¡ª


    I don''t aim at anybody, but I honestly don''t know him.


    Li Wei had been in the League for five weeks, and the reporters knew without asking that he probably had no idea who Zhu Zhu was. Even Brady had experienced such humiliation, let alone a second-round pick, right?


    Without waiting for Li Wei to ask, the reporters took the initiative to explain.


    "...University of Southern California. You guys met in the opening game of the NCAA season."


    Li Wei suddenly realized, "Oh, if I''m not mistaken, we won that game, right?"

 Chapter 272 271 accomplishes this in one fell swoop

    "Oh, if I remember correctly, we won that game, didn''t we?"


    Li Wei, with a look of utter sincerity.@@@@


    The reporter couldn''t help but want to roll their eyes. Isn''t that obvious?


    Up to this point, Li Wei''s professional career remained undefeated, winning all the way from the NCAA to the NFL, slapping back all doubts, slurs, and attacks¡ªa resounding smack for each criticism. And there he went with his "if I remember correctly," really, just wow.


    But soon, the reporters got the hint. Clearly, Li Wei''s words had a subtext¡ªthey were a dig at Zhu Zhu''s all-talk-no-action attitude, suggesting that his opponent was hardly worth mentioning.


    Now that''s what you call a master, showing everyone what "cursing without foul language" and "vanquishing foes amid laughter" really means. Shouldn''t Zhu Zhu hurry up and become his disciple?


    Immediately, a reporter followed up with a question, "Are you mocking Zhu Zhu for all his trash talk?"


    Li Wei flashed a smile and shook his head gently, "No, how could that be? His mouth is all he has left. We really shouldn''t deprive him of that last bit of happiness."


    "Protecting the vulnerable is everyone''s responsibility," he said.


    And with that, Li Wei walked away... just like that... he left.


    With just a few sentences, the impact was massive. Zhu Zhu suddenly seemed weak, helpless, and dim, causing the media to all sigh in consensus.


    "He''s still so young, after all." Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire


    Zhu Zhu: ???


    Just the day before, the media couldn''t stop praising Zhu Zhu''s youthfulness, his record-breaking actions in the league, and his display of unparalleled potential at such a young age. How had youth suddenly become an Achilles'' heel for inexperience overnight?


    The pre-game trash-talk battle hadn''t even begun, and Zhu Zhu was already seemingly defeated by doubt.


    But to be fair, "Kansas City Chiefs VS Pittsburgh Steelers" was indeed set to be a tough match, and ESPN''s "Inside the League" had already started an in-depth introduction.


    Bart, once again, was expansive in his discussion.


    "Without doubt, this is the most important game of Li Wei''s career," he claimed.


    Right from the start, it set the scene for a do-or-die situation.


    Therefore, even though the team has twice summited the Super Bowl Champions in the new millennium, professionals still do not believe that it is the merit of quarterback Roethlisberger¡ª


    Defense is the soul of the Pittsburgh Steelers.


    Last season, the Pittsburgh Steelers once again dominated the AFC North and entered the playoffs, engaging in fierce combat with the number two seed of the American League, the Kansas City Chiefs.


    The final score, "18:16."


    The visiting Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, pressing forward into the next round and once again plunging Reed''s team into the curse of playoff defeats, becoming yet another nightmare looming over Kansas City during its economic slump.


    Following the regular season opener against the New England Patriots and last week''s matchup against the Houston Texans, the Kansas City Chiefs were once again about to face a team they have encountered in the playoffs over the past two seasons; this time, it was the Pittsburgh Steelers who eliminated them last season.


    Once again at Arrowhead Stadium, and once again against the Pittsburgh Steelers.


    This was a tough battle and also a hard-fought one, and even just reading the information on paper one could feel the pressure bearing down.


    This season, the Pittsburgh Steelers still performed admirably¡ª


    Apart from the regrettable overtime loss to the Chicago Bears in week three, the team started the season with four wins and one loss, hot on the heels of the American League''s Kansas City Chiefs.


    As of now, the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive group ranks eighth in the league, and the defensive group is third, marking a team that is competitive on both ends of the field.


    Specifically, their pass defense is ranked third, and their rush defense is seventh.


    In all aspects, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be the Kansas City Chiefs'' first true test of the season. The defending champions New England Patriots were not fully in form at the start of the season and appeared to be slow to warm up, and the Houston Texans have seen a significant reduction in their defensive strength due to Watt''s absence, so it''s the Pittsburgh Steelers that present a real challenge.


    Bart remains objective, sets aside any bias, and analyzes with a professional and rational attitude, and he also believes that the Pittsburgh Steelers can defeat the Kansas City Chiefs.


    He believes it wholeheartedly, one hundred percent.


    What if Li Wei changes the course of the game again?


    No, no, there are no what-ifs.


    Bart straightens his back, cuts off the wild thoughts in his mind, looks at Lawson and says firmly,


    "Yes, we can reach a conclusion now."


    "I think, how much the Kansas City Chiefs'' performance holds water will become apparent in the next week."

 Chapter 273 All or Nothing

    Bart knew he had no way out¡ª


    Carrying the banner of "Anti-Li Wei" all by himself, he frantically denounced the League''s only undefeated team as a sham. Do you know how much pressure that is?


    The hormonal imbalances led to his scalp and back breaking out with acne, not to mention waking up to see handfuls of hair on his pillow. He literally felt like dying!


    These days were unbearable for any human. Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire


    Now was the moment to put it all on the line.


    If he succeeded, he''d be the only one in the League who held the truth; if he failed... No, no, no, that wasn''t possible¡ªhe believed in the Pittsburgh Steelers.


    He lifted his head, puffed out his chest, and straightened his back.


    Bart faced the crowd with confidence and made his final declaration.


    "The Pittsburgh Steelers can beat the Kansas City Chiefs, and they will beat the Kansas City Chiefs. They''ve proven themselves this season."


    "Though it might seem unbelievable, the reality is that the Pittsburgh Steelers are becoming a team that relies on offense to win games. They have Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and Le''Veon Bell¡ªa lineup that could make any team envious."


    "However, the fact is that the defensive blood in the Steelers is not yet dry; anyone who underestimates this defensive group will pay the price."


    "They have the league''s most efficient and toughest cornerback duo, Mike Hilton and Joe Haden, whose combination in the past few weeks has given quarterbacks like Joe Flacco and Mitchell Trubisky a hard time."@@@@


    "And the real hope of the Steelers'' defensive group comes from Cameron Hayward, a veteran defensive end who had the best performance of his career last season and continues to dominate this season. He is every quarterback''s and running back''s nightmare."


    "Additionally, there is first-round pick linebacker TJ Watt, yes another Watt, the brother of Houston Texans star defensive end JJ Watt. Being the first linebacker to start for the Steelers since 1988 says enough about his performance, which undoubtedly rivals that of his brother."


    "Hayward''s interceptions and Watt''s coverage have become guarantees of efficiency for the Steelers'' defensive frontline this season. It might not look pretty, but they always get the job done."


    "Without a doubt, they will be a stern test for the Kansas City Chiefs'' offense."


    "Li Wei."


    "Of course, how could we forget Li Wei."


    Bell is a very special running back; he doesn''t fit in any tactical system. He completely disregards the coach''s tactical arrangements, advancing on the ground according to his own understanding, hence creating a unique style, jokingly dubbed by fans as¡ª


    Stop, Look, and Go.


    It''s just like standing at a traffic light intersection.


    After receiving the ball, Bell often doesn''t start running immediately but stops to observe before contact or collision, then looks for a breakthrough space.


    He doesn''t need the offensive line''s protection, not even much blocking from teammates, relying entirely on his personal ability to break through, no doubt an anomaly; despite not having the advantage in speed, strength, or size, he always manages to create paths with his keen intuition.


    In the past three seasons, in the rankings voted internally by League players, Bell was considered the number one running back in the League. As for honors like the Pro Bowl and All-America First Team and Second Team, those were easily attained.


    Last year was supposed to be Bell''s contract year. He demanded a high contract price which the Pittsburgh Steelers found difficult to accept, so they tagged him with a franchise tag¡ª


    The so-called franchise tag allows the team manager to strategically retain a crucial free agent, preventing exceeding the League''s hard salary cap.


    Once tagged, the team must offer the player a one-year contract, with a salary not less than the average of the five highest salaries at the same position in the League or 120% of the player''s salary from the previous year, whichever is higher.


    There are exclusive and non-exclusive franchise tags; if exclusive, they cannot be in contact with other teams; if non-exclusive, they are allowed to contact other teams, and then the team can decide whether or not to match the contract offered by competitors.


    This meant that Bell was entering his contract year mode for the second consecutive season.


    So far this season, Bell continued to prove his worth, unquestionably, he is one of the most dominant running backs in the League right now.


    In the 2017 season rankings for running back rushing yards, Li Wei was first, and Bell was second; the two running backs are certainly making headlines.


    From offense to defense, there are many highlights, and Bart had reason to believe this game would be a turning point.


    Indeed, it was.


    "12:10."


    The visiting team ahead, the home team behind.


    At this moment, the game still had six minutes and thirteen seconds remaining, and the Pittsburgh Steelers held the ball, just six minutes away from breaking the Kansas City Chiefs'' season''s undefeated record.

 Chapter 274 273 Pushed into the Abyss

    Hard fight!


    Without a doubt, this was Li Wei''s toughest and most intense game in his short two-season football career, far surpassing last year''s at Louisiana State University.


    No excuses.


    Li Wei truly faced an all-around suppression.


    The game was not pretty, even ugly.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers once again displayed their defensive prowess, managing a sack on Smith right in the end zone at the start, leading to a safety¡ª


    For Li Wei, this was also a first.


    A "safety" occurs when the Pittsburgh Steelers'' defensive group sacks Smith in the Kansas City Chiefs'' end zone, giving the Steelers a direct score of two points; simultaneously, the Steelers continue to hold the offensive possession.@@@@


    Right from the start, the Pittsburgh Steelers'' defensive group gave the Kansas City Chiefs a shocking lesson and fully utilized this deterrence to break open the situation.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers'' offensive tactics weren''t varied; they mostly relied on passing to Brown and running with Bell, recycling this strategy; however, the key was that quarterback Roethlisberger was a commander skilled at finding gaps.


    Roethlisberger, a traditional pocket quarterback, was slightly different; standing 6.5 feet tall (196 cm) and weighing 240 pounds (109 kg), his body was indeed too bulky, earning him the nickname "Big Ben," homophonous with London''s Big Ben.


    Roethlisberger''s presence established the offensive style of the Pittsburgh Steelers: slow, heavy, inefficient, often struggling through the mud, but carelessness proves fatal as the opponent might just be critically hit.


    Especially since Roethlisberger possesses a beautiful long pass with deep striking capabilities.


    Therefore, even if the Pittsburgh Steelers'' offensive tactics weren''t flashy, they still continued to progress slowly and steadily, nibbling away at their opponent.


    Just look at the stats with six minutes left in the fourth quarter¡ª


    Bell, thirty-two carries, 179 yards, one touchdown.


    Brown, seven receptions, 104 yards.


    Simple, efficient, the Pittsburgh Steelers repeatedly tormented the Kansas City Chiefs'' defensive group with these two points, forcibly dragging the game into their familiar pattern.


    This is the capability of Pittsburgh Steelers'' head coach Mike Tomlin, who spent a whole eleven seasons in Pittsburgh. Seemingly reserved and modest, he was always able to secure victories.


    On the other hand, the Kansas City Chiefs, once dragged into a positional war, had their weaknesses fully exposed; obviously, this was not a game Reed excelled in, feeling uncomfortable throughout the match.


    Defensively, they couldn''t handle Bell and Brown, often needing two or even three people to defend, but Roethlisberger would immediately exploit any gaps to find other targets, resulting in the Kansas City Chiefs'' defense scrambling.


    In such a situation, once Roethlisberger found his explosiveness...


    "God, God."


    "Roethlisberger shook off Houston''s committed tackle to complete a pass, and incredibly, Roethlisberger looked for a long pass."


    "Brown! Antonio Brown!"


    "Brown got the edge over Kansas City Chiefs'' substitute safety Eric Murray."


    Antonio Brown, Wide Receiver, four-time All-America First Team, five-time Pro Bowl, leading receiver for two seasons, named in the 2010s All-Decade Team and acclaimed as the league''s top wide receiver.


    Eric Murray, selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round as the 106th pick last year, was making his debut as a starting player in this game.


    The gap was clear.


    Without any warning, suddenly, the explosive power of the Pittsburgh Steelers emerged.


    "Thirty yards!"


    "Forty yards!"


    "Fifty yards!"


    "God, Roethlisberger, just before losing his balance, aimed for the end zone and completed a fifty-yard long pass, Brown and Murray tussling."


    "Brown! Brown!"


    "Brown overpowered Murray, snatching the football right above Murray''s head."


    "Touchdown!"


    "Jesus Christ, touchdown!"


    "Roethlisberger connected with Brown for a fifty-one yard long touchdown pass, the Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Team finding their explosiveness in a tough third down and six situation, further widening the score gap." Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Unbelievable!"


    The entire Arrowhead Stadium fell silent, their hearts sinking heavily, caught in shock and stupefaction.


    Bart clenched his fists tightly, nearly ready to burst with excitement: There it is! He knew it, he just knew it! This time he wouldn''t miss it!

 Chapter 276 275 Fight to the End

    Stumbling, fumbling¡ª


    Even though the Kansas Chiefs Offense reignited their fighting spirit, ready for battle; the Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive group remained highly vigilant, refusing to relax. At this moment, one could feel the essence of a truly strong team that had consistently stood at the pinnacle of the American League for the past sixteen years.


    Smith quickly utilized short passes to compress the release time, connecting before the opposing Cornerback could stick to the defense, fighting for catching time for Hill and Kelsey. However, the Cornerbacks and linebackers'' close-up defense remained sharp, leaving little space for breakthroughs after the catches.


    In a blink, over a minute had passed, and the Kansas Chiefs struggled to advance sixteen yards, earning a first down only to be faced with a third and four situation. With the two-minute official timeout imminent, the midfield line still seemed to require a Herculean effort to reach.


    Huffing, puffing.


    Every player gasped for air, the intense collisions in close quarters exhausting both teams. Now was the moment to push through sheer will.


    So, on third and four, what tactic would the Kansas Chiefs choose?


    A run play?


    In their line of sight, TJ-Watt instantly caught the motion of Smith and Li Wei preparing for the handoff. His steps launched forward like a tiger descending the mountain, only to realize after his first stride that he had been duped¡ª


    A fake run turned into a pass.


    Reed daringly called a fake run-pass play on third and four, capitalizing on the Pittsburgh Steelers'' need to respect Li Wei''s personal ability to break through.


    Li Wei became the sixth lineman, blocking in front of Smith.


    Watt was surprised but not panicked, hitting the brakes hard, twisting and turning to complete a spin. Pivoting on his left foot like a whirligig, he sprung forward, his body following the arc of Smith''s pass.


    Target: Kelsey.


    One hit, one surge.


    Watt and Kelsey collided into a tangle, with Kelsey unable to make the catch, and the Football nearly intercepted by Cornerback Hilton¡ª@@@@


    Thankfully, it wasn''t. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    Gasping.


    Arrowhead Stadium drew a collective gasp, a cold sweat breaking out.


    By a whisker, the Pittsburgh Steelers nearly ended the game prematurely.


    However, their relief was short-lived as a cloud of gloom descended.


    Fourth and four.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive line accomplished a beautiful three-and-out, but this time the situation was slightly different. The Kansas Chiefs had no way out.


    It was inevitable to go for it on fourth down, but this wasn''t fourth and one or two¡ªfourth and four was like dancing on the edge of a knife.


    The crisis loomed, more pressing than ever before.


    Hah!


    The entire field was in shock, watching this scene in disbelief.


    Brushing past.


    Literally, shoulder brushing against shoulder, Li Wei could even clearly see the astonishment and panic in Hayward''s eyes under the helmet, but Li Wei, with the advantage of preparedness, took a step and had already broken free, immediately standing straight up using his core strength.


    Step, one step.


    Before he could fully accelerate, Li Wei caught sight of Watt''s figure¡ª


    The Pittsburgh Steelers'' full defensive line pressing forward, the entire short pass area now a disaster zone. Not just Watt, cornerback Hilton was also tightening the defensive net.


    Catching a glimpse of Hilton attempting to shake off Kelsey from the right diagonal front to provide support with his peripheral vision, Li Wei paused his step, and in a flash, moved laterally to the left, effortlessly avoiding Watt''s upward tackle trajectory.


    However, an unexpected impact came from behind¡ª


    Hayward.


    The collision sent Li Wei''s center of gravity flying forward, his steps, unadjusted, instantly caught up in the storm, and he started to drift unsteadily.


    In a flash, Li Wei decided to go with the force coming from behind, not forcing a change of direction, but instead charging directly toward Watt.


    Watt: ???


    A second before, Watt was readjusting his position, trying to follow Li Wei''s evasive moves.


    The next second, Li Wei threw himself into the net, Watt was not yet mentally prepared, and the strong inertia already pushed Li Wei into Watt''s embrace.


    Bang!


    Hmph!


    Both Watt and Li Wei let out muffled grunts.


    Watt was about to wrap his arms around to complete the tackle, but he did not anticipate that Li Wei was prepared, his core muscles fully tightened, using the recoil of colliding with Watt to stand up against gravity''s pull.


    One side, Watt stumbling back.


    One side, Li Wei turning around.


    The two of them split apart upon contact, Watt losing balance before he could tackle, and Li Wei rotating 360 degrees to offload the force, then he was already bursting out from the left side.


    All of this happened in just a few seconds, within a radius of less than two yards, faster than lightning, before anyone could understand what happened, Li Wei was already pushing off the ground and surging forward¡ª


    Opportunity.


    The entire field, with eyes wide and breath held, hearts lodged high in their throats about to explode: What... what happened?

 Chapter 277 276 Playing Tricks on the Opponent

    Hayward, down.


    Watt, down.


    The whole world spun around, and amidst the chaos and jolting, two men eagerly searched ahead for a figure. Then, to their astonishment, they both saw the unthinkable¡ª the figure in the red number twenty-three jersey was still moving forward. Though his steps were staggered, he was refusing to fall.


    Dammit!


    Li Wei, holding his breath¡ª


    His muscles were tensed to the limit, invoking every muscle in his body as if he were a ballet dancer, spinning and leaping in a confined space, relying solely on determination to fight against the pull of gravity and the collision of inertia.


    After a full three hundred and sixty-degree spin, his field of vision suddenly opened up.


    There, a path appeared, small but straight, leading toward the far side of the sea.


    He pushed off the ground, adjusted, his stumbling steps seemingly floating in mid-air, relying just on his toes to desperately grasp at the ground, pushing his body forward as if stepping on cotton, unable to seize any real strength.


    Left side, in the corner of Li Wei''s eye, he caught a glimpse of a white figure in a Pittsburgh Steelers away jersey, streaking by like a flash of light. Although he couldn''t see the face or number, it must be one of the linemen¡ª


    A dive.


    The white figure went all-in, attempting to tackle Li Wei before his steps could recover their center of gravity.


    Danger, danger, danger!


    Every cell in his body sounded an alarm, but Li Wei couldn''t control his balance, making it impossible to dodge or resist. He knew that a hit or tackle would likely end this offensive push.


    So, should he just give in?


    After all, the down was already converted with four yards to go, and going down now wouldn''t matter, right?


    Li Wei, refused.


    The game wasn''t over, the fight wasn''t over, that breath was still stuck in his throat¡ª


    The fat lady''s singing, wasn''t over.


    Wobbling, wavering, and staggering, Li Wei''s steps were like the last dry leaf on a branch in autumn, clinging to the bare twig, refusing the call of winter.


    So, Li Wei simply came to a stop.


    Brake, halt, adjust.


    Then, it was possible to see the white figure overtake Li Wei, as the two figures shifted places. Li Wei could make out the incredulous expression on the man''s face inside the helmet, his hands fluttering in a last-ditch effort to struggle; but they posed no threat to Li Wei''s body.


    In a contemptible way.


    Since being selected by the Oakland Raiders as the 47th pick in the second round of the 2009 draft, Mitchell''s performance on the field was never notable, but his dirty style of play was infamous far and wide.


    This game was no exception.


    Mitchell first caused Chiefs'' third running back, Charcandrick West, to leave the field with a concussion due to a helmet-to-helmet hit during a malicious tackle, and then later attempted to cause an injury by tackling below the knees after Quarterback Smith had already completed a pass¡ª


    Both the tackle below the knees and the tackle after the quarterback had thrown the ball were unnecessary and full of malice.


    Mitchell''s actions not only earned a yellow flag but also a chorus of boos from all over Arrowhead Stadium and post-game fines and severe punishment from the League.


    But Mitchell didn''t care, he considered all of it as praise:


    This is called intensity. This is called Football. If you can''t handle it, then you''d better switch to another sport or simply cheer from the sidelines.


    Right now, another opportunity had come.


    Mitchell looked at Li Wei as a big bad wolf eyeing Little Red Riding Hood, all ready to let this hothouse flower experience real Football.


    His gaze dropped, and Mitchell glanced at Li Wei''s knees: Heh heh.


    Just right, Li Wei was walking into the lion''s den, and to avoid Safety Davis''s hit, he decided to face off against Mitchell head-on.


    Mitchell: That''s the way.


    Bending his knees, lowering his center of gravity, Mitchell adjusted while advancing. He closed in at full speed like an eagle swooping on a chick, glancing at Li Wei''s running trajectory and body center of gravity.


    Without hesitation, he made a split-second decision.


    Pushing off, stepping forward, lunging.


    Mitchell aimed directly for the lower body attack, his 221-pound body hurling like a high-speed train straight toward Li Wei''s knees.


    Closer and closer, those vulnerable and slender knees were almost within reach.


    However.


    At that moment, Li Wei went up on his tiptoes, spun around, light and agile, dancing with a 360-degree clockwise rotation that slipped past Mitchell''s dive from the left side.


    Mitchell completely missed, his surefire lunge easily evaded, his body suspended in mid-air like a fish out of water landing in a desert, flailing fruitlessly.


    Mitchell, with a baffled and bewildered look on his face, watched as Li Wei who had just evaded him closely, could feel the temperature of his skin and the tension of his muscles, yet was completely powerless. The mockery and derision rendered Mitchell like a fool.


    With just one misdirection, he had shaken him off.


    Li Wei: Was someone just trying to defend against me?

 Chapter 278 Confidence in winning

    "Li Wei!"


    "My God, Li Wei spun away from Mitchell''s determined tackle, completely dodging it as if Mitchell were just a green rookie totally played by Li Wei, and then, Li Wei had already broken free."


    "Wow!"


    "The twenty-five yard line!"


    "Now there''s only Davis in hot pursuit, but... Li Wei''s speed."


    "Jesus Christ!"


    So close, yet so far, that''s indeed the most sorrowful and painful aspect of life, and Davis was experiencing this hard blow:


    Clearly Li Wei was right in front of him, yet he was always just a bit short, just that little bit, and then he could only watch as the distance gradually increased bit by bit.


    In the end, he was left far behind.


    Arrowhead Stadium, the crowd went wild.


    "Soaring!"


    "Soaring!"


    "Touchdown!"@@@@


    Boom¡ª


    The sound rolled on, and then, the classical anthem rose again over the stadium, everyone shouting in unison with all their might.


    "He''s here, he''s there, he''s everywhere, he''s the Edgerunner, Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei!"


    The whole place, vibrating with excitement.


    In the broadcast room, ESPN commentator Pash tried to find his voice, screaming and cheering, but was quickly drowned out by the torrential wave of the live crowd.


    This wasn''t the first or even the second time, but each time witnessing it live still made the blood boil, shivering with excitement from the feet to the scalp.


    A tingling sensation.


    "The game, it''s not over."


    "Without a doubt, the game is not over, and the intrigue of the outcome has returned."


    "Indeed, the Pittsburgh Steelers'' offensive team possesses Roethlisberger, Brown, and Bell, they never lack explosiveness, always capable of unleashing energy for a fatal blow when their opponent slightly lets their guard down; but, Kansas has Li Wei."


    "Li Wei, this year''s top rookie running back again turned the tide, escaping four tackles, single-handedly dismantling the entire Pittsburgh Steelers defense, and bringing back the suspense seven seconds before the official time-out."


    "Unbelievable!"


    "Inconceivable!"


    The next move was up to the two coaches'' strategies.


    If it were Tomlin''s call, he would definitely opt for a ground advance to consume time, but Reed would absolutely choose to call a time-out, added to the official timeout opportunity, Reed essentially had four timeouts, which meant that Tomlin needed to secure a first down to maintain the initiative¡ª


    to waste all of Reed''s timeouts and continue consuming time.


    So, the focus was on how Tomlin could secure a first down while also eating up the clock?


    Without a doubt, Brown and Bell remained key, and it rested on Tomlin how he would strategize.


    First down and ten yards, Reed predicted Tomlin''s ground attack strategy accurately. Just as Bell received the ball, Lineman Houston had him wrapped up.


    Bell had no chance.


    Then, the two-minute official timeout.


    Second down and twelve yards, almost everyone thought Tomlin would opt for a pass, but he gave the football to Bell for the second consecutive time. This time, Reed miscalculated, the defense was completely tricked, and Bell showcased his individual skill, forcefully advancing twelve yards, not only securing the first down but also forcing Reed to use his first timeout.


    The Kansas City Chiefs were pushed to the edge of the cliff.


    Bell appeared calm, but he still glanced towards Li Wei¡ª


    First, Li Wei performed excellently to turn the situation around.


    Then, Bell also demonstrated top performance to prove himself.


    Although there was no verbal provocation, the competition between the running backs still sparked, silently tipping the balance in favor of the Pittsburgh Steelers once again.


    Tick, tick.


    Time was passing.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers appeared very calm and composed, executing varied offensive tactics.


    Tomlin stole a quick short pass at first down and ten yards; Roethlisberger tried to connect with Brown to stealthily secure another first down, but the Kansas City Chiefs Defense was highly alert this time, quickly surrounding Brown with three players, containing him without losing significant yardage, and avoiding prematurely losing the game right there.


    Afterward, Tomlin didn''t keep playing around, honestly opting for a ground advance. Bell didn''t try to gain more yards, but deliberately charged into the crowd each time, relying on this deadlock to consume time and tightly protecting the ball to avoid any mishaps.


    Finally, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense didn''t make a mistake, halting three consecutive plays, and ending the Pittsburgh Steelers'' offense¡ª


    Thirty-seven seconds, with the final thirty-seven seconds left in the game.


    Moreover, Reed had no timeouts left.


    This meant the Kansas City Chiefs had two offensive opportunities left; perhaps including one attempt at a Hail Mary.


    Although the Pittsburgh Steelers hadn''t completely extinguished the suspense of the game, Tomlin could accept this outcome. They were familiar with such scenarios, and the most important thing was:


    Smith? Hail Mary?


    No, clearly Smith didn''t possess such boldness and audacity. If it had been Rodgers, they might have needed to worry, but not with Smith.


    Thus, the Pittsburgh Steelers were very close to victory, 99%.

 Chapter 279 278 Hanging by a thread

    The air, almost stagnant, the time seemed to fall into quicksand and slow down tenfold or twentyfold, with the heart pounding unceasingly above the eardrum.


    Bart had to use all his strength to control his ecstasy¡ª


    Third and six, seventeen seconds.


    Pittsburgh Steelers'' winning odds, 99.99%.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers knew that the Kansas City Chiefs were preparing to try a Wanfu Mary, and so did Bart, Pash, and other professionals; Arrowhead Stadium knew, almost everyone knew, at this point there were no secrets in tactics.


    Naturally, Tomlin''s defensive strategy arrangement became simple:


    Spread out the space, defend the backfield.


    The Steelers left three Defensive Ends and one Lineman up front to keep the pressure; other players fell back, scattered across short passes, long passes, and other positions in the backfield, with all attention focused on Wanfu Mary.


    Whether the Chiefs opted for a short pass or a running play, the Steelers allowed them to advance a bit, just needing to tighten the net in time and cut off the following push¡ªthe only thing they needed to defend against was the cannonball pass aimed at the End zone.


    Of course, Smith didn''t possess such long-pass capabilities, which made the Steelers'' defense even more effortless.


    And for that reason, Reed, catching on that Tomlin''s attention was all on Wanfu Mary, connected Smith with a short pass to Hunter.


    Yes, the second running back, Hunter.


    Reed used Hunter as a surprise weapon, having Hunter quickly move out of bounds after catching the ball near the sidelines to stop the clock as much as possible, maximizing Smith''s strengths, speeding up the rhythm, and building fluidity through continuous short passes and fast stoppages.


    The aim wasn''t to reach the End zone, but a field goal clincher.


    After all, the Chiefs were only two points behind, a single field goal was already enough.


    The strategy, very good; but today the Steelers'' Cornerback Hilton indeed performed excellently, instantly seeing through the Chiefs'' tactic, patiently waiting until after Hunter received the ball to complete a tackle by the sidelines¡ª


    Not only intercepting Hunter but also denying him the chance to go out of bounds, letting the game time continue to elapse.


    One tackle, one matchup, Hilton''s clean and tough tackle extinguished Reed''s strategy to stop the clock quickly; this also laid the foundation for the Steelers to continue toward victory.


    With no other choice, Smith quickly mustered his formation and then spiked the ball to stop the clock.


    The so-called spike to stop the clock involves the Quarterback smashing the Football to the ground in front of him to create a dead ball, sacrificing an offensive opportunity in order to halt the game time, thereby earning time for the offensive group to rearrange tactics.


    If it were Manning, he might have already entered "Wuju Merchant" offensive mode, but there was only one Manning.


    Thus, the Chiefs slipped further toward the edge of the cliff.


    Next, for the Steelers, things got even simpler, keep up with the strategy, prevent Smith from challenging Wanfu Mary, that was it.


    Bart was almost unable to contain his joy¡ª


    So, Smith''s movements were even more unnecessary. Wasn''t this overkill?


    Just then, silently, a figure belatedly crossed the Chu River and Han border and proceeded straight ahead¡ª


    It was Li Wei!


    Bart exclaimed, "Heh."


    Suddenly, his breath was cut off. Why had Li Wei crossed the kickoff line?


    Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    On the field, Li Wei was observing.


    Indeed, Hayward was confused.


    Initially, Hayward had been prepared to tackle Smith. Although his teammates were all back and the Steelers didn''t have numerical superiority at the line, Hayward was not going to let Smith comfortably attempt the Hail Mary.


    Defending the Hail Mary involved two key points: applying pressure to the quarterback and keeping an eye on the receiving point.


    Hayward was responsible for the former. Even at a numeric disadvantage, he didn''t care about that anymore; he was just going to apply pressure, recklessly tearing through the pocket.


    But Smith and Li Wei''s dazzling maneuvers disrupted the plan, causing Hayward''s steps to noticeably pause, with a brief hesitation occurring.


    The field, where situations change in the blink of an eye.


    A moment''s hesitation could lead to a passive position.


    By the time Hayward realized Li Wei was breaking through, it was too late to catch up; he was also ready to reactivate and continue tackling Smith, but the initial explosive force in his movements was gone, hitting a wall of bodies straight ahead.


    He did not pick up the sesame seeds, and he lost the watermelon too.


    Hayward held his breath, unable to believe his dominant performance throughout the game had a slip at this moment, but it was too late. The corner of his eye only managed to catch a fleeting red shadow.


    Damn!


    Li Wei faced no obstructions at all, for the first time in the game he could fully unleash and accelerate without any hesitation, and he burst out.


    Moreover, he stayed calm, rapidly taking in the distribution of players ahead with a quick sweep of his eyes, his brain operating at high-speed to analyze.


    At that moment, Watt immediately noticed¡ª


    Li Wei, sprinting without the ball.


    But why?


    If he wasn''t holding the ball or providing a blocking shield, the only possibility that Li Wei was still charging forward was:


    The target of a pass.

 Chapter 280 279 Rookie Showdown

    JJ Watt had said not to underestimate Li Wei, the rookie was genuinely talented, and if one were to dismiss him due to the media''s portrayal, they would surely be at a disadvantage.


    In light of this, TJ Watt firmly remembered and remained vigilant throughout the game.


    And now¡ª


    Li Wei as a reception point?


    Watt was startled by his own thought, a chill running from the soles of his feet up to his head, sending tingles down his spine.


    Through the season so far, in all six games, Li Wei had never appeared as a Wide Receiver; he was the starting running back, the most powerful ground attacking output for Kansas City Chiefs; even though the second running back, Hunter, as a Wide Receiver, had shown some spectacular performances, Li Wei had not done so even once.


    So much so, that now, after Watt made his judgment, his first reaction was still to reject it.


    How could that be!


    In such a crucial game, at such a key offensive moment, a play that could decide the outcome, and it''s a Wanfu Mary, yet Reed was choosing Li Wei as the pass target?


    If Li Wei were a smoke bomb, meant to disrupt the focus, Watt might find it more believable; but here was the issue, Li Wei hadn''t started off with the other receivers, which severely limited the functionality of this smoke bomb.


    Furthermore, looking around¡ª


    The Pittsburgh Steelers weren''t paying any attention to Li Wei, or perhaps they had noticed him, but each of them had assignments, their focus entirely on the end zone, eyes all on Wanfu Mary, so much so that they had no capacity to ponder why Li Wei was there.


    The other reception points, including Hunter, were all closely guarded by their counterparts, even safety Mitchell was quickly closing in on Kelsey, ensuring a numerical advantage near the tight end.


    But Li Wei wasn''t.


    Li Wei, within a ten-yard perimeter, shockingly had no Steelers players in sight, completely unmarked.


    Watt didn''t have time to hesitate¡ª at this moment, only he and another safety, Davis, were free, Davis was charging towards the end zone, and originally so was he, but now, Watt had changed his mind.


    Everything, in the blink of an eye.


    Without hesitation, Watt had already changed his direction, charging towards Li Wei.


    Even though Li Wei wasn''t carrying the ball, Watt didn''t relax, completely tensed up.


    Not far off, some players from the Steelers'' defensive group soon noticed¡ª


    Mitchell: This rookie!


    Hilton: It''s still a lack of experience.


    At this moment, they shouldn''t be distracted; their most important task was to guard key players such as Kelsey and Hill; secondly, to block the end zone, by securing these two crucial points, the defensive group would have the advantage no matter how Smith tried Wanfu Mary.


    Initially, Tomlin was worried that Reed might opt for a mid-pass, trying to push for a field goal range to clinch the game with a field goal; but with the Chiefs lining up in the Shotgun Formation from the start, all receivers were pushing forward at full speed, aiming for a deep breakthrough.


    The Steelers'' defensive group naturally responded to the varied offensive plays with steadfast man-to-man coverage, they shouldn''t easily lose their positions.


    Ten seconds.


    Everyone''s gaze was fixed on the center of the field.


    "Li Wei VS Watt."


    Who would have thought, Watt, accidentally guessing Reed''s strategy correctly, was spot on, and now all hopes rested on Watt.


    The face-off between two first-round rookies.


    Watt was speeding up.


    Clearly, Watt too was fooled; he thought this was a deep long pass. Knowing Li Wei''s speed, he didn''t stick close immediately but instead kept a slight distance, not planning to disrupt the catch but to wait for Li Wei to catch and then tackle him.


    Again, plans were disrupted.


    A slightly shorter long pass found Li Wei ahead of time, meaning Watt needed to step up earlier, or he would miss the chance to tackle. Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire


    A sudden shift.


    Li Wei still wasn''t quite adept at catching.


    Being able to catch in practice is one thing, but catching under pressure in an actual game, especially during a clutch Wanfu Mary moment, required more precise timing and positioning.


    Moving forward, he turned around.


    Li Wei, sidestepping, next moment spotted Smith''s dart throw heading fast toward his shoulder when he was expecting about thirty yards, but it was actually around thirty-five yards.


    Just five yards difference, and everything else was spot-on, but the receiving point was off: the football''s trajectory was slightly high, and while Li Wei was ready to catch at his chest, it now had to be at his shoulder.


    Awkward.


    In a flash, Li Wei couldn''t hesitate anymore.


    Turning around, the step he took while rushing toward the end zone transformed into steps of retreating back towards the end zone, his body facing the football, hands swiftly picking and embracing the perfectly thrown dart into his chest.


    Next, was to turn around again and continue dashing towards the end zone.


    However, as he had only turned halfway and his body hadn''t fully pivoted, a peripheral glimpse caught a figure pouncing fiercely toward him.


    It was Watt.


    Everything happened too quickly, Li Wei had no time to adjust further, so he simply abandoned turning around, his back muscles tensed up, bracing for the collision.


    Bang!


    Collision, tackle, two behemoths firmly collided together.


    Watt: Tackle, complete!

 Chapter 281: 280 Game-Winning Touchdown

    Bang!


    A solid and hefty force, charged with speed and momentum, slammed into Li Wei as if he had been hit head-on by a bullet train.


    Clearly, Watt had come prepared, taking advantage of the fact that the back of Li Wei¡¯s head was blind. In an instant, Watt accelerated, stepping forward and completing the tackle with pinpoint accuracy.


    But Li Wei was prepared as well.


    The first step was to absorb most of the impact with his back.


    The second step was to not be passively hit; instead, he actively moved forward to maintain the momentum heading toward the end zone.


    The third step was pushing off the ground.


    His calves pushed off the ground with force, force, force, unleashing all the power from deep within his dantian. He not only blocked and repelled Watt¡¯s charging force but also continued to add to his own.


    Ahh, ahh, ahhh!


    This was the true magic of Reed¡¯s tactics.


    He knew the chance for a Wanfu Mary was slim. First, the starting position of the Chieftain¡¯s offense was too poor, too far from the end zone; second, Smith¡¯s long pass really wasn¡¯t strong enough; third, in this game, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ receiving group was completely restrained by the opponents, making it even more difficult to unveil the tactics now.


    So.


    Reed used Hunter as a decoy, fully utilizing Li Wei¡¯s personal breakthrough ability to strategize, hoping to find a glimmer of hope from a desperate situation.


    Reed didn¡¯t expect Watt to stumble upon and see through the tactics, but he anticipated that Li Wei¡¯s ability to adapt on the spot could turn the tide of the battle once again.


    The whole field fell deathly silent¡ª


    including Brown and Bell, including Lawson and Bart, including the fans at the Old Oak Tavern, and even those whose hearts had stopped beating.


    Eight seconds.


    Hit, first with the head then the body.


    Continuous collisions, continuous exertion of strength; Li Wei, like a bullfighting beast, pushed against Watt with the horns, his dantian energy burning fiercely.


    Push off the ground. Exert strength.


    Push off! Exert strength!


    And then¡ª


    Boom.


    His shoulder lightened, and Watt, like prey bumped by a bull¡¯s horns, was thrown up into the air, and the 252-pound (114 kg) strongman flew away like a feather.


    Ahh, ahhh!


    All of Li Wei¡¯s strength was released, and as the force from the head-on collision eased, his knees buckled, and he almost fell forward. Instinctively bracing with his left hand on the ground, he pushed and strived to straighten his knees, continuing the forward charge, stumbling.


    He approached the opponent¡¯s half of the field at the thirty-yard line, with the field goal range almost within reach, but¡ª


    No, it wasn¡¯t over, the advance had not ended.


    Arrowhead Stadium erupted, indescribable excitement and euphoria burst forth.


    "Fly!"


    Then, Li Wei had already shaken off the weight and cut into the twenty-yard line.


    Ahead, layer upon layer, impenetrable, it seemed all the players were gathered in the end zone; all one could see was red flames and white streams intertwining.


    Here it comes!


    Safety Davis and cornerback Hayden had already shaken off the red shadows, seizing the opportunity when Li Wei hadn¡¯t fully stabilized his center of gravity. They pounced like hungry tigers, their faces in the helmets contorting fiercely.


    Overwhelming, raining down from all directions.


    Li Wei appeared as a David from the "Bible," small and frail, standing before the giants.


    However, Li Wei refused to surrender.


    Then Li Wei misstepped, not continuing his straight-line breakthrough, but instead heading towards his own sideline to the right¡ª


    Hilton: Edgerunner!


    A thought crossed his mind; Hilton didn¡¯t even have time to curse before he charged out.


    The white figure collided horizontally.


    The red figure broke through vertically.


    This time, Li Wei finally ran out of steam. Unable to maintain his momentum after consecutive exertions, his center of gravity off-balance, he couldn¡¯t accelerate, and Hilton, amidst the panic and turmoil, managed to grab hold of Li Wei.


    Bart: Hope! That¡¯s it, yes, just like that, stop him! Fumble, cause a fumble!


    At the same time, Davis and Hayden also closed in with light steps, ready to trap Li Wei at the one-yard line just in front of the end zone.


    Kelsey was sprinting.


    Hunter was dashing.


    Hill was closing in.


    All the offensive group players of the Kansas City Chiefs charged over, attempting to help. The struggle at the one-yard line was still undecided.


    But it was too late; the confrontation and collisions occurred in an instant.


    Then, within view¡ª


    Li Wei began to spin.


    Indeed, Li Wei was caught, but his feet still didn¡¯t give up pushing against the ground, using Hilton as a pole to execute a 180-degree clockwise spin.


    Hilton clung to Li Wei but couldn¡¯t control his center of mass, resulting in his body spinning along with Li Wei, the powerful centrifugal force causing jolts and bumps.


    Push.


    Spin.


    Throw.


    The remaining energy from deep within the Dantian burned without restraint.


    In the end, Li Wei threw Hilton off, lunging forward with a step into the end zone¡ª


    Touchdown.


    The game clock stopped: 00:01.

 Chapter 282: 281 Passion Burning

    "God, God, oh, God!"


    "What are we witnessing?"


    "Touchdown! God, touchdown!"


    "Li Wei, touchdown! Li Wei, touchdown, it¡¯s a game-winning touchdown!"


    "Unbelievable! Un-be-lievable!"


    "It¡¯s not a Wanfu Mary; what we witnessed in the last seventeen seconds was not a Wanfu Mary, after Smith and the team¡¯s top running back Li Wei completed a thirty-five-yard pass, Li Wei continued to carry the ball and finally broke through three tackles!"


    "Three times!"


    "He took it all the way for twenty-five yards, knocking Watt aside, flipping Mitchell over, and shaking off Hilton in a fierce collision, forging a bloody path to complete the touchdown!"


    "Game-winner!"


    "God, it was a last-second game-winner."


    "In the last stance of offense and defense, the Pittsburgh Steelers made a fatal mistake!"


    "Tomlin failed to read Reed¡¯s strategy; the shotgun formation combined with the wide receiver making a deep straight run, and the running back acting as a frontline cover, all these smoke bomb tactics led the Steelers to completely abandon midfield defense, with all attention focused on the Wanfu Mary, creating a fatal gap that Li Wei exploited for the deadly strike."


    "In the final moments, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive strategy completely suppressed the opponent."


    "It wasn¡¯t a Wanfu Mary, but the Kansas City Chiefs still found a way to turn things around with a game-winner in dire straits."


    In the Arrowhead Stadium commentary box, Pash went wild, his rapid-fire commentary unstoppable after pulling the trigger.


    In the ESPN studio, Bart¡¯s face was pale and he seemed to be on the brink of collapse, his expression blank as though he could cry at any moment, his eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.


    "Li Wei!"


    "Li Wei, this rookie running back, this year¡¯s Top Scholar, who switched from mixed martial arts to football just a year ago, the first Asian player to be chosen in the first round in NFL history, has always been surrounded by controversy and doubt, but now, it¡¯s time to put a period on that."


    "Not only stable but also dominant."


    "In today¡¯s game, Li Wei once again proved his worth, playing as a wide receiver for the first time in his career, he upended the situation with an unparalleled performance, not only taking Watt out of the play but also causing stand-out performers this game like Hayward, Mitchell, and Hilton to make mistakes, ultimately blazing through to complete the game-winner."


    "While everyone is praising Bell, I think Li Wei deserves more attention."


    "We need to remove our colored glasses and acknowledge Li Wei¡¯s outstanding performance so far this season, without a doubt, he is the best of the 2017 rookies."


    Bang.


    A violent storm of blood and fury smashed directly into Hilton, the chilling murderous aura tightly choking Hilton¡¯s throat. His rage was instantly quenched, and he paused, standing dazed, staggered backward two steps, his expression suddenly becoming sheepish.


    Levi sneered, "I knew you wouldn¡¯t dare."


    Afterwards, paying no further attention to Hilton, he turned to face the stands¡ª


    Roar!


    Once.


    Roar! Roar!


    Twice.


    The scent of blood in his eyes spread across the entire stadium, unleashing all the suppressed emotions in a roar akin to that of a lion king, instantly igniting the whole venue.


    Whoa.


    In the Old Oak Tavern, Charles Vester couldn¡¯t control himself. He suddenly raised both hands high, without cheering or yelling, just holding his hands up high. This was both a touchdown and a celebratory gesture, his eyes sparkling with hope, his beliefs faintly flickering.


    The next second¡ª


    Roar.


    Accompanied by the referee¡¯s touchdown confirmation gesture, the entire tavern exploded, deafening cheers and screams resonating with the thunderous banging on tables.


    Victory!


    Turnaround!


    The Kansas City Chiefs had not experienced such a game in a very long time, more than just a victory. The two teams entangled and closely matched until the final moments, a back-and-forth battle that kept the outcome uncertain until the very end, forcing them to carve a path of blood at the edge of a cliff.


    Victory, so precious; but the game, even more so.


    The surging passion was ignited just like that.


    Vester was stunned, overwhelmed with happiness and insanity, all emotions instantly surging to his head, breaking through his response mechanisms, and leaving him just standing there like a fool, continuing to raise his hands and open his mouth wide, unable to make a sound, rooted to the spot.


    Every cell in his body was screaming, shouting, cheering, jumping, blooming like fireworks, overwhelmed with excitement to the extent that all reactions disappeared, merely standing silently, feeling the tsunami of joy engulf and devour him.


    For a brief moment, his eyes welled with warmth, blurring his vision, but a smile bloomed at his lips.


    Vester felt as though he had lost control over his brain and body, but then again... what did it matter?

 Chapter 283: 282 Heaven Hell

    "Ah, ah, ah, we won, we won! We won! Ahhh!"


    On the television screen, Arrowhead Stadium erupted into a frenzy as a fan clad in a red number twenty-three jersey bounced and bounded between seats and walkways, frantically waving his arms as if he truly believed that if he flapped them fast enough, he could take flight, sprinting all the way.


    Finally, he stood at the very front of the stands, vigorously swinging his arms at the overhead boom camera as he roared at the top of his lungs.


    "Victory! Victory! Victoryyy!"


    Veins bulged above his neck, spittle flew, and it looked like he might explode right there on the spot, but clearly, this ecstatic spectator couldn¡¯t care less, just shouting his heart out as heat from the depths of his soul surged forth.


    Luckily, he wasn¡¯t alone¡ª


    The Arrowhead Stadium, which had been silent to the extreme, suppressed to the extreme, and even seemed to teeter on the brink of despair, began to slowly resurrect itself with the energy of the Edgerunner shown once again by Li Wei, finally erupting like a volcano.


    The whole world started to shake.


    Everyone was roaring, shouting, jumping, shaking the world with all their might as waves of heat rolled everywhere, like magma burning without restraint, and the sparkles in the air ignited a boundless red tumult that burst forth with unbelievable energy.


    Red, a sea of red¡ª


    Once, Li Wei had ignited a sea of red at Bryant Denny Stadium, leaving behind a legend in that tranquil town; now, Li Wei was waking up the dormant sea of red at Arrowhead Stadium.


    The gloom was swept away.


    Last year, the Kansas City Chiefs were defeated at their home ground by the Pittsburgh Steelers, a nightmare that seemed to never end, dragging them bit by bit into the abyss, where the long night saw no dawn.


    Until now.


    Number twenty-three, that rookie running back, with wheels of wind and fire under his legs, dragged the Kansas City Chiefs from the endless dark abyss and sprinted towards the sun, reigniting a golden flame in Kansas City.


    And then, it was beyond control¡ª


    "Li Wei."


    Someone cried out. It was unclear who was the first, but that call quickly resonated, spreading through the crowd like wildfire.


    "Li Wei! Li Wei! Li Wei!"


    Over and over again.


    The entire world was at his feet, trembling.


    If Arrowhead Stadium was heaven, then the ESPN studio was hell.


    This scene plunged Bart into deep despair, the same place but two entirely different worlds.


    A reversal, was it actually a reversal?


    As the host of the program "Inside the League," dealing with the jabbering discussions of ten professionals was a Herculean task, making each show feel like an aerobic exercise; and now, he faced the embarrassing predicament of his guest zoning out. Crosby just wanted to grab Bart¡¯s shoulder and shake him violently:


    Wake up, this is live! Live!


    However, the expressions of the others in the ESPN studio were full of schadenfreude:


    A rare opportunity! The chance to witness a car crash up close doesn¡¯t come every day, miss this one, and who knows when the next will be.


    One by one, they dragged over their stools, focused intently, as if only a bowl of peanuts was missing.


    Crosby¡¯s smile was on the verge of collapsing.


    "Bart!"


    Finally, Bart snapped out of it, extracting himself from his own worries.


    Looking up, Bart could feel everyone¡¯s eyes converging on him, and not just Lawson¡¯s.


    Although Lawson was an honest man, that did not mean he did not know how to do a show. "Blair, you said that after this game there could be a conclusion, so, what is the conclusion?"


    Bart was cornered in an instant.


    "Li Wei!"


    "Li Wei!"


    "Li Wei!"


    In the television screen, the deafening cheers from Arrowhead Stadium continued unabated, Kansas City Chiefs fans were thoroughly enjoying the moment.


    Bart took a deep breath, clenched his teeth, stamped his foot, and steeled his heart.


    "A spectacular game, a spectacular victory."


    "Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs, congratulations to Li Wei, without a doubt this was a thrilling victory, and the Chiefs deserved the final win."


    A pause, then getting to the point.


    "Li Wei proved himself, seizing control at the crucial moment with a brilliant performance that exploited the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive group¡¯s judgment error, creating the most thrilling and smartest final touchdown of the week. Victory belongs to him."


    "I, was wrong."


    "My judgment was biased and one-sided, and horribly off. Faced with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Li Wei withstood the test and took it a step further, delivering efficient and stable output from the start of the season until now, without a doubt he¡¯s currently the most outstanding running back."


    "As of now, Li Wei is indeed the rookie with the most star potential in the 2017 class."


    "I have to admit, Li Wei is excellent, and he may even be better than we had imagined."


    Finally, Bart bowed his head.

 Chapter 284: Hard to swallow

    Finally!


    Bart finally admitted his mistakes on the nationwide live show "Inside the League" and acknowledged Li Wei¡¯s excellence, which was a heavy bombshell for the entire Professional League.


    On the one hand, admitting one¡¯s mistakes is never easy for any adult, let alone a professional commentator. The difficulty of humbly facing one¡¯s errors in one¡¯s domain of professional authority and yielding is unimaginable.


    It was tough, really tough for Bart.


    But did he have a choice?


    No.


    If he continued to be stubborn, the only thing he would lose was his authority. Over these six weeks, Li Wei¡¯s masterful maneuvers had slapped his face with precision like slaps, their sound rivaling a symphony. Being stubborn and hardheaded was meaningless now¡ª


    Instead, it could only turn him into a clown.


    Desperate, angry, but without a solution.


    Unintentionally, this also became a classic moment of this season¡¯s "Inside the League," with the immediate ratings even making a small surge.


    Moreover, the video, animated images, and screenshots of Bart admitting his mistakes quickly became widely circulated memes on social media.


    Clearly, the onlookers were everywhere, not just in the studio.


    On the other hand, this act represented a form of recognition.


    Over the past period, Bart had quietly become a flagship figure among the "Li Wei Haters." In a league where everyone else was blindly adoring, he was like a refreshing stream. This won him massive support from many netizens, scaling new heights in his career, forming a small "Li Wei Haters" group around him, refusing to "wallow in the mire" with the League.


    Now, the flag was down.


    The internet trolls were in complete disarray, wailing everywhere, suddenly finding themselves headless in a dilemma; they scattered like birds and beasts, no longer influential.


    Doubtlessly, this was a landmark turning point, meaning that the skepticism and controversy that had clouded over Li Wei¡¯s head since the draft had all finally concluded. Whether people liked it or not, or whether they agreed or not, Li Wei had already stabilized his footing in the Professional League, securing his position successfully.


    All was exactly as Donald Yee had predicted:


    Rookie. Running back. Chinese descent.


    And in the Steelers¡¯ last defensive stand, from interpreting tactics to confronting arrangements to on-the-spot reactions to head-to-head confrontations, if they had done any aspect a bit better, the outcome might have been different; but they didn¡¯t, Hayward, Watt, Mitchell, Hilton all made successive errors.


    And so.


    "19:24".


    Le¡¯Veon Bell looked up at the big screen above Arrowhead Stadium, the bright score so glaring, even more striking than the boiling red wave filling the stadium.


    In his years in the League, Bell had faced countless defeats, tasted bitterness, pain, and despair, he had now become much more composed, but this defeat¡ª


    Still tough.


    Not just for Bell, the other Steelers players also found this defeat hard to swallow.


    At a glance, Bell could sense the tense atmosphere between Brown and Roethlisberger, although it wasn¡¯t obvious, both players, key figures in the locker room, with distinct personalities and tempers, if they had won, all the conflicts wouldn¡¯t matter, but in such a painful defeat...


    Many eyes turned to Bell, hoping he could ease the atmosphere.


    But Bell was not interested.


    He was just a "mere" running back, doing the hardest work for just a little bit of salary. Last year, contract year, he had already proven his value at a top level, hoping to secure a large contract for running backs¡ª


    He swore, not just for himself, but for all running backs in the League, to fight for their benefits. Only by breaking the barrier, could the average salary of running backs keep up.


    Instead, the Pittsburgh Steelers tagged him with the disgusting franchise tag, the intent could not be clearer, blatantly making him work like a horse, to see if he could stay healthy, if he could bring top performances for a second consecutive contract year.


    Damn.


    Those quarterbacks, each one like baby chicks without any capability, their overpriced big contracts signed one after the other as if money didn¡¯t matter¡ªthey were the treasures, while the hardworking running backs were just grass.


    Although running backs were also a crucial part of the team, 30%, if not 50%, of the Steelers¡¯ offensive achievements came from his hard work, yet was this the result of his fight for a big contract?


    But, he would not give up.


    He would prove himself, fully, he would show everyone that running backs were not expendable, and he would show everyone that running backs also deserved their place.


    So, why should he, a small fry, have to meddle in the conflict of the two heavyweights in the locker room? He now had an even more important historical mission to uphold, right?

 Chapter 285: 284 Keep going

    The undercurrents in the locker room were swirling, hidden conflicts abound, but Bell felt it didn¡¯t concern him as he held no sway. Brown and Roethlisberger wouldn¡¯t truly listen to his opinions anyway, dismissing the running back just the same.


    His gaze searched through the crowd until it quickly locked onto that figure; head up, chest out, without hesitation, Bell took steps towards him.


    Li Wei.


    Roethlisberger and Brown, those fools, blamed each other, each thinking the other should be responsible for the game¡¯s loss, but Bell thought differently:


    Actually, they had lost to one person today, Li Wei.


    Of course, Reed¡¯s tactical setup did indeed choke the life out of the Pittsburgh Steelers, catching Tomlin off guard, but the real key was still Li Wei, who completely dismantled the Steelers¡¯ defensive group in the last two offenses.


    Did Bell like Li Wei?


    The answer was no. Li Wei¡¯s victory over the Steelers also disrupted Bell¡¯s plans to prove himself. If the Steelers couldn¡¯t make the playoffs this year, Bell¡¯s application for a major contract might face even more obstacles.


    But, he didn¡¯t need to like Li Wei¡ª


    Competition is a good thing.


    It not only demonstrates the collective strength of running backs, "Gather Sand into a Tower" to overturn league biases; but also... if he could defeat Li Wei squarely, surpass him with on-field performance and running back data, it would further prove his own strength and worth.


    This, too, would aid him in fighting for a major contract.


    So, he wanted to meet Li Wei, that guy who burst onto the scene and disrupted the market.


    Clearly, Bell wasn¡¯t the only one with such unique insight.


    TJ Watt had already taken a step ahead, just now exchanging jerseys with Li Wei, the two rookies who entered the league this year seemed to find kinship in each other.


    "God, who told me that football players don¡¯t like exchanging jerseys?" Li Wei said with a look of frustration¡ª


    Well, there goes the jersey from this game too.


    Watt didn¡¯t understand the backstory behind Li Wei¡¯s words, he just smiled, "It was JJ who reminded me, he wants one of your jerseys too."


    "But, I¡¯m not planning to give it to him. If he wants it, he¡¯ll have to swap with you next time; trust me, he¡¯s probably sharpening his knives already."@@@@


    Li Wei calmly pressed his palm downwards, "Slow down, slow down, I¡¯m right here, not planning on leaving anytime soon, waiting for you guys right here."


    The natural confidence and composure that flowed from him made young Watt¡¯s eyes also sparkle with fighting spirit:


    Today, in the last defensive stance, he hadn¡¯t held up, but he was already eager for their next encounter.


    Watt was about to speak when he noticed Bell appearing next to them, interrupting the conversation between the two.


    Li Wei appeared very calm, even smiling slightly, "Although I can¡¯t tell if this elevates expectations for me or undermines the Pittsburgh Steelers Defense, either way, thank you?"


    With a teasing remark, he effortlessly dissolved the reporter¡¯s assault into nothingness.


    "As for being distracted?"


    "Indeed, when I saw the string of numbers on that check, I did get distracted for three seconds. Please forgive me for being too young and not having seen much of the world. I¡¯ve never seen such a big check before, so have you?"


    Having said that, Li Wei widened his eyes, his face a picture of innocence and openness, and incredibly, threw a question back.


    The reporter: ...


    Rustling noises could be clearly heard around the press hall as many reporters stifled their laughter, feeling a mix of envy, astonishment, and amusement. They were unclear on how to react properly.


    But someone soon stepped in to ease the tension.


    "Li Wei, before this game, Juju Smith-Schuster had made a provocation¡ªhe¡¯s a Wide Receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, played for the University of Southern California last year, and he suggested that you were just a "pretty face with no substance." Now, do you have any response for him?"


    "Thanks for the compliment, but I¡¯m not interested," Li Wei responded.


    A question and an answer.


    Li Wei¡¯s face remained composed. His concise and elegant reply caught everyone in the press hall off guard. It took a moment for the reporters to realize what had just been implied:


    Was Li Wei hinting that Juju had confessed his feelings, and he had politely rejected him?


    Indeed, who would care about a professional player¡¯s looks?


    Except for sponsors.


    Initially, Juju wanted to tease Li Wei for relying solely on looks, with female fans screaming madly for him like a bunch of lunatics; little did he expect that Li Wei¡¯s comment would completely turn the tables on him.


    Juju: utterly speechless.


    The press hall was abuzz with a wave of muffled chuckles and whispers, the atmosphere suddenly stirring. The querying reporter hadn¡¯t anticipated this turn of events and momentarily found himself stuck¡ª


    The reporter actually faltered in speech!


    "No, uh, I mean, what¡¯s your opinion on Juju?"


    Li Wei didn¡¯t mind, "Sorry, I haven¡¯t been paying attention to his game stats."


    "Three targets, one successful reception, advancing three yards," a reporter immediately inputs with data.


    Li Wei slightly lifted his chin, clenched his right fist, and with a face full of sincerity gave his fist a firm pump, "Keep it up, Juju!"

 Chapter 286: 285 Glorious Transformation

    Zhu Zhu, became famous.


    In a completely unexpected way, he swept across the entire social network in an instant.


    In the "Pittsburgh Steelers VS Kansas City Chiefs" game, Zhu Zhu, who had been playing as a member of the Special Duty Group and as a rotational player, was convinced he was ready and was gradually approaching a starting position.


    He was eager to get on the field¡ª


    To confront Li Wei. To defeat Li Wei.


    He would never forget the game where Southern California lost to the University of Alabama, a humiliation that affected his entire season.


    Zhu Zhu believed that Li Wei played an important role in why he did not receive more attention at the draft and why he did not make it into the first round.


    Now, the opportunity had finally come, where he could prove himself on the NFL field, to show he was a better player than Li Wei, to demonstrate he could play a critical role in a game that would lead to defeating Li Wei.


    However.


    Aspirations are plush, reality is bony.


    Zhu Zhu did not get many chances to perform, whether in the Special Duty Group or on offense, with only a few appearances throughout the game. He was targeted only three times and had only one successful reception, advancing just three yards.


    Practically invisible.@@@@


    Normally, such a player would not merit attention and no one would care; but just because he boasted too much before the game, retribution followed after.


    Among the series of focus points like the matchups of Roethlisberger, Brown, Bell, Hayward, Hilton, and Mitchell, the reporters picked Zhu Zhu. They kicked right at Zhu Zhu¡¯s butt, who tried to bury his head in the sand.


    The phrase "Come on, Zhu Zhu" from Li Wei, the more sincere it was, the stronger its lethality. It brought Zhu Zhu back to last year¡¯s game between Southern California and Alabama. Li Wei cheered for him with the same expression and gesture, a cycle of one year, as if he could never catch up to Li Wei¡¯s pace.


    What¡¯s worse, this time, it went viral spectacularly.


    Li Wei was turned into a meme and was spreading far and wide on social media.


    Zhu Zhu: Dead. Please spare me.


    What¡¯s worse, there were still consequences¡ª


    Bart from "Inside the League" had also been dragged into this.


    In a segment before the game, Bart confidently stated that the Pittsburgh Steelers would beat the Kansas City Chiefs, smiling at the camera with a fist, giving a shoutout to Li Wei, "Come on," from afar.


    "Except for his rushing yards being slightly less, ranking third in his career, all other stats were his career highs."


    "When Charles was dominating the ground, Reed¡¯s passing game could cut loose."


    "This year, it¡¯s the same."


    "Realizing Charles¡¯ decline in health and performance, Reed chose to let go of Charles during the offseason and drafted two running backs in the draft to fill the void and rebuild the ground game¡¯s strength."


    "Li Wei is not a power running back like Jamaal Charles, but Li Wei¡¯s understanding of the game and his grasp of opportunities surpass those of Charles."


    "Although Li Wei is still young and has a lot to learn, he has already brought his talent to Arrowhead Stadium and shone brightly."


    "Currently, Li Wei leads the League in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, and even suppressed his rival, Le¡¯Veon Bell, in their direct competition, dominating during the final moments of the fourth quarter."


    "Li Wei can execute the coaching staff¡¯s tactics while also adapting on the fly. His speed, agility, and changes of direction, driven by a smart brain, reach their maximum potential."


    Unexpectedly, Bart turned from a "Li Wei Hater" into a "Li Wei Fan," even stepping aside to let Lawson take a back seat, as if one could see even that invisible tail wagging with extra delight.


    "Inside the League" was so stunned that they forgot to respond, even the host Crosby was massaging his own chin.


    But Bart seemed especially composed¡ª


    Dignity, what is that? How much per pound, and can it fill your stomach?


    If you¡¯ve already started, then you need to do your best.


    Bart started to let loose, going even further and deeper than Lawson ever did. After all, Lawson prides himself on being rational and objective, maintaining a touch of rationality in any view, but Bart was different:


    All in.


    Like a moth to a flame.


    "Before this, we were curious about what a running back with a full score in the Frederick Test would look like. Clearly, people were focusing on quarterbacks and the front line in the Frederick Test, not thinking that a running back could change much."


    "But now, Li Wei is changing that perception."


    "He is proving that running backs do have vision, and that a running back¡¯s vision can change the game. A running back who understands how to read defenses and interpret offensive tactics might be more dangerous than a quarterback, because he doesn¡¯t need to connect with a wide receiver and can change the game on his own."


    "When we equate running backs with muscles, Li Wei is actively breaking that prejudice with his actions, showcasing the charm of football, where muscle and brain, power and intelligence, even for running backs, are not an exception."


    The tail, wagging particularly merrily.


    Netizens commented: Their jaws dropped, this scene was nothing like they imagined, very, very different. Are they sure Bart doesn¡¯t want to have his brain checked? Not even Sailor Moon¡¯s transformation should make one unrecognizable to their own mother.

 Chapter 287: 286 The Red Flag Waves

    In just one week, Bart had done a complete 180, holding high the "Li Wei" flag unwaveringly, becoming an steadfast and loyal supporter of Li Wei. His change of face was so rapid that his colleagues could barely recognize him.


    Bart could feel the bustling eyes on him, filled with astonishment, confusion, and a variety of other emotions, but he didn¡¯t mind¡ª


    Not only did he not mind, but he actually enjoyed it and continued to stand in the spotlight.


    "The brain," Bart pointed to his head, "is Li Wei¡¯s greatest weapon."


    "This means that Li Wei¡¯s potential exceeds Charles¡¯; he has the ability to change the game. The Kansas City Chiefs might have a chance to go further this season."


    Roar, roar, roar¡ª


    Elsewhere, it was hard to tell, but at least the Old Oak Tavern was in agreement.


    They had had enough of playoff seasons ending abruptly and dimly, lighting up hope only to extinguish it time and again, almost like torture.


    But this year was different.


    Anderson was also looking at the TV screen, thinking that this season might indeed be different.


    The bustling burden, unbelievably, rested on Li Wei¡¯s shoulders, a running back?


    Indeed, this was a first.


    However, Bart¡¯s view was so startlingly controversial that it was not without opposition.


    After all, the current NFL was still dominated by passing, and the quarterback was the key to changing the game and the team, a common perspective in the League. Bart had rolled from one extreme to another without a doubt, and his opinion was bound to be opposed by other professionals.


    Lawson silently watched Bart, instantly seeing through Bart¡¯s strategy:


    From criticizing to praising, it was that simple.


    Actually, Lawson agreed with Bart¡¯s view. Li Wei was different from Charles; his intelligence could be the key to giving the Kansas City Chiefs more possibilities, and perhaps this season, they really could go further.


    But agreeing aside, Bart had pushed Li Wei to the forefront in just a few words, completely abandoning his attitude from the previous weeks that emphasized not forcing the growth of rookie players, which could also give people unnecessary hope, possibly crushing Li Wei under an overwhelming pressure¡ª


    Even if it didn¡¯t, it could still disrupt the harmony in the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ locker room.


    Lawson believed they should be calmer.


    Thus, a rare scene unfolded.


    A week later, Bart said the 2013 season¡¯s Kansas City Chiefs deserved respect, even if they lost every collision with playoff strong teams.


    Indeed, everyone has an opinion, and truth and falsehood depend on the argument.


    "All along, it¡¯s been no secret that the Kansas City Chiefs lack toughness and explosiveness in critical moments, but this season is different."


    "They have Li Wei."


    "Yes, Li Wei."


    "In crucial moments, Li Wei¡¯s toughness and explosiveness breathed life into the Kansas City Chiefs, not only capturing the team¡¯s focus but also leading them through breakthroughs."


    "In the past six games, five were decided in the fourth quarter, with Li Wei playing a key role in changing the pace of the game, and today, completing a game-winning play against the Pittsburgh Steelers."


    "This is already a whole new team."


    "We have reason to believe that the Kansas City Chiefs won¡¯t repeat their past mistakes."


    Bart looked righteous and resolute, taking a stance as if he was alone defending Li Wei from all the attacks, and if one hadn¡¯t seen the previous six weeks of "Inside the League," one might now be moved to tears by such a touching display of friendship, reminiscent of the legendary friendship between Bo Ya and Zi Qi.


    "Moreover, the upcoming schedule is also favorable for the Kansas City Chiefs."


    "Let¡¯s momentarily forget about the playoffs and focus on next week¡¯s regular game, so, Josh, what do you think? Who will win?"


    Is this... a reversal?


    Lawson couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly¡ª


    In week seven of the regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs are about to face the Oakland Raiders.


    In the past two seasons, the Oakland Raiders have been on the rise, achieving a record of twelve wins and four losses last season, seizing the opportunity after Manning¡¯s retirement for the Denver Broncos to fall into a slump, jointly with the Kansas City Chiefs, they dominated the AFC West and returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2002.


    Experience more content on novelhall.Co?m


    However, this season, the Oakland Raiders have encountered some troubles, currently at two wins and four losses, in a poor recent state, seemingly once again falling into disarray.


    From a rational and objective professional perspective, the Kansas City Chiefs are undoubtedly the favorites, Bart threw Lawson a question whose answer was already filled in, just waiting for Lawson to agree with his view.


    Lawson flashed a smile, "I think the Kansas City Chiefs should be able to continue their winning streak."


    Bart: Good boy, very good.

 Chapter 288: 287 Lonely Star of Doom

    "God, oh, damn it..."


    "Touchdown, the referee confirms it, no mishaps this time, without a doubt, it¡¯s a touchdown. The Oakland Raiders score a buzzer-beater at home to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs, ending their division rivals¡¯ season-opening six-game winning streak."


    "Wow, I mean¡ªwelcome to the NFL."


    In competitive sports, anything is possible, upsets are happening all the time, and even more so in the NFL where the teams¡¯ strengths are even closer, the strong-weak contrast is even more subtle, and victories often hang by a thread.


    Starting quarterback Derek Carr was plagued by a back injury, causing the Oakland Raiders to completely lose last season¡¯s rhythm, sinking into a four-game losing streak after starting the season with two consecutive wins.


    Although Carr returned from injury last week, he still wasn¡¯t able to reverse the downturn.


    This week, the Oakland Raiders faced the Kansas City Chiefs, both from the AFC West, and almost no one was optimistic about the Raiders¡¯ chances of victory. The "League Insider" unanimously gave all ten votes to the Chiefs, overwhelmingly recognizing them as the top seed to step towards a seven-game winning streak.


    However, in the NFL, never jump to conclusions too easily.


    The game was exceptionally fierce and incredibly tight, with fouls, yellow flags, and even ejections spanning the entire game, right up to the final moments.


    "30:24".


    With three minutes and twenty-four seconds remaining in the game, the visiting Kansas City Chiefs were leading by six points, and then Carr stood out, completing a series of key connections to incredibly lead the Oakland Raiders into the end zone for a fierce contest at the two-yard line.


    Critical moments, yellow flag penalties throw a wrench¡ª


    The yellow flag from the Chiefs ruined their own successful defense, giving the Raiders an extra offensive opportunity, while the Raiders¡¯ yellow flag also led to a touchdown being overturned and they had to go for it again.


    But Carr didn¡¯t miss the fourth chance, completing a two-yard pass for a buzzer-beating touchdown, tying the score.


    "30:30".


    By then, the game clock had run out:


    00:00.


    But the Oakland Raiders still had the opportunity for an extra point.


    Kicker Giorgio Tavecchio, who had missed an extra point in the first half, withstood the pressure and scored it beautifully.


    "30:31".


    The Oakland Raiders score a home victory at the buzzer, ending the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ season¡¯s undefeated run.


    The Oakland Raiders didn¡¯t even give their opponents¡¯ offensive group a chance to set foot on the field again, forcing Li Wei to stand helplessly on the sidelines, unable to participate.


    Even without a grudge, one had formed.


    With his chin up and back straight, Bart really got into it with Li Wei.


    Bart believed that the Oakland Raiders were just an accident, a minor mishap. After all, the Kansas City Chiefs had exhausted themselves, having beaten teams like the Houston Texans and the Pittsburgh Steelers from the previous season¡¯s playoffs. It was this severe depletion that led them to the tug-of-war with the robust and vigorous Oakland Raiders until the very end, losing by just one point regrettably.


    After a brief rest, the Chiefs would definitely rally.


    "They¡¯re going to get back on the winning track. Trust me, they will," he said.


    However¡ª


    The nightmare of the 2013 season replayed itself as the Kansas City Chiefs seemed to completely lose their way, subsequently losing to the Denver Broncos and the Dallas Cowboys in the following games.


    After suffering three consecutive defeats, Reed realized his weakness:


    The ability to adapt and command spontaneously on the field was lacking.


    So, with the tenth week being a bye week, Reed made adjustments.


    Reed chose to devolve power, handing over the authority to call plays in-game to the Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy.


    For Reed, this was nothing new.


    In the 2015 season, after five consecutive defeats, Reed had done just that. At that time, Pederson took over the heavy responsibility, and the Chiefs subsequently won ten games in a row, which earned Pederson the head coach position for the Philadelphia Eagles.


    This year, Reed also hoped Nagy could change the team¡¯s offensive strategy and not waste the good competitive state of Smith, Li Wei, and Hunter this season.


    But the adjustment didn¡¯t have an immediate effect.


    Returning from the bye week, the Kansas City Chiefs still couldn¡¯t break free from their rut, successively losing to the New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, and New York Jets, facing yet another streak of three losses.


    What, what kind of maneuver was this?


    First a six-game winning streak at the start and then a six-game losing slump. This free-falling seasonal progress was truly baffling. Fans with even a slightly weak heart might have been laid flat already.


    Kansas City Chiefs fans one after another were hit hard:


    Mr. Bart, Grandpa Bart, please stop praising them. Keep criticising Li Wei; however you want to do it, the "Li Wei Hater" faction needs your flag to continue flying.


    Even Bart couldn¡¯t help but doubt himself. Wait, was I always right? Is Li Wei just a pretty but useless fancy pillow? If he had continued to grit his teeth and refuse to back down after the game with the Pittsburgh Steelers, wouldn¡¯t he be hailed as a deity now?


    Thinking about it, Bart fell into the delightful and beautiful daydream.

 Chapter 289: 288 Completely Drunk

    Jogging along the Missouri River, the brisk mist enveloped me, and although it was early winter, vast expanses of red and yellow maple leaves still clung to the treetops without withering. The gentleness of late autumn flowed softly beneath my feet as the morning Kansas City busied itself, the trivial yet lively sounds gradually awakening the life and energy of the city.


    "Morning."


    "Hey, morning."


    Li Wei had become familiar with this road, and likewise, the road had become familiar with Li Wei.


    For the past half of the year, every morning, Li Wei would jog along this road. Warming up was only one aspect; becoming familiar with the city, the local climate, and the biological clock for daily training were all part of it. He had passed through spring, summer, and autumn, and now winter had arrived in the blink of an eye.


    Gradually, the city dwellers around the road also began to get used to Li Wei¡¯s presence.


    Seven days a week, without fail, no rest, no laziness, no neglect. Over time, the residents began to take the initiative to greet him. A simple "morning" was all it took, no need for completion, to convey the greeting.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t need to respond; a look or a wave of the hand was enough.


    On his jogging route, Li Wei would pass a grain silo and a refinery, and on game days, he could see the workers gathering at the entrance early, just to greet Li Wei and cheer for the game.


    It was these ordinary, trivial, simple, and seemingly insignificant everyday moments that allowed Li Wei to quietly integrate into the city and truly form a connection.


    Other fans often wondered why a mere running back could win the unanimous support of Arrowhead Stadium, even if Li Wei¡¯s performance on the field was indeed convincing. They were puzzled and couldn¡¯t fathom the reason, let alone for a running back, even quarterbacks rarely received such treatment.


    That was because they didn¡¯t live in Kansas City, they didn¡¯t step away from the social networks, from their phones and computers that make up the virtual world, and return to reality on solid ground, to see and experience with their own eyes.


    Of course, not all voices were pleasant¡ª


    "Li Wei, damn!"


    Facing such rude attacks was fine; all he had to do was flip them the bird in response. After all, they wouldn¡¯t dare to take any real action against Li Wei¡¯s stature; they were just mouthing off. As soon as Li Wei changed his jogging direction, they wished they could grow extra legs to escape faster.


    Sometimes, there were exceptions.


    "I said it, I¡¯ve said it before."


    "In the end, we will all be disappointed. Everything will turn to nothing. How could a running back save us? Even a quarterback couldn¡¯t do it, so what can a running back do?"


    "Ha, laughable!"


    "This is simply the most idiotic daydream I have ever seen. If you don¡¯t harbor hope, you won¡¯t be disappointed."


    "Some are still dreaming here of a playoff victory, foolish! Ignorant! With the current state, not even the playoffs are within reach."


    It all happened in the blink of an eye, with no time to stop it.


    "God! Charles! Charles!" Anderson cried out.


    After yelling twice, West came out from within. Seeing Li Wei only had time to raise his hand in greeting before noticing the mess at the doorway, he rolled up his sleeves and dragged Provos inside like dragging a burlap sack, all the while muttering complaints under his breath.


    Anderson looked at Li Wei¡ª


    A thousand words were reduced to a single "sorry".


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t help but offer a wry smile and gestured dismissively, "Was there something special last night?"


    It was still morning, and for a tavern, it was indeed too early; as for the evening, Missouri had regulations about the closing times for bars, with some closing at 1:30 AM and most at 3:00 AM.


    All-nighters were prohibited.


    Anderson shrugged lightly, "Yes, my birthday. After the bar closed, we had a card game, just a gathering of friends."


    So that was it.


    That explained Provos¡¯ condition; despite being flat broke and with Anderson refusing to let him run up a tab, he still managed to drink to the point of vomiting.


    Anderson had caught on to what Li Wei was thinking, "He just took the opportunity to drink."


    After a pause, "Li Wei, I¡¯m sorry, Chris is just full of nonsense."


    Li Wei waved his hand dismissively, "I understand. I don¡¯t like it, but I understand."


    Hope is such a thing:


    Not having hope is cruel, but the despair that comes after hope has appeared, only to be extinguished, is a far more excruciating torment. It would be easier if hope had never appeared at all because what is more terrifying than hope is the uneasy anticipation.


    Starting the season with six straight wins ignited hope for a bright future for the Kansas City Chiefs; then the despair of six straight losses, plunging suddenly into the abyss, was a torment beyond words.


    Especially since¡ª


    "Chris has never liked me. We¡¯ve never gotten along from the start. I¡¯m used to it," Li Wei joked with a deadpan expression.


    Anderson was momentarily taken aback before realizing that Li Wei was joking and couldn¡¯t help but smile himself. He hesitated but still decided to ask.


    "Do you have a moment?"

 Chapter 290: 289 fighting shoulder to shoulder

    Anderson hesitated slightly, as Li Wei was out on his morning jog, and it seemed he shouldn¡¯t interrupt Li Wei¡¯s routine; but after a brief struggle, he still spoke up.


    "Do you have a minute?"


    Li Wei looked at his watch with a serious face, pondering deeply, before finally glancing at Anderson, "You have three minutes."


    It was such a small gesture, but the atmosphere lightened up again.


    A smile crawled up the corners of Anderson¡¯s mouth.


    "Do you know about the 1969 season?"


    Li Wei nodded lightly: in the 1969 season, the Kansas City Chiefs won the team¡¯s first and only Super Bowl Championship Trophy.


    "That season, we lost twice in the regular season to the damned Oakland Raiders, they simply steamrolled us, utterly destroying us."


    "Our quarterback Len Dawson was out for the season due to a leg injury, forcing backup quarterback Mike Livingston to step in and complete the season."


    "Unexpectedly, Livingston led the team to five consecutive wins and into the American League final, facing the Oakland Raiders for the third time that season."


    "No one favored us. After all, the Oakland Raiders were the division champions and had swept us twice in the season. Everyone was discussing a Super Bowl showdown between the Oakland Raiders and the Minnesota Vikings."


    "But we won."


    "¡¯17:7¡¯, we made them shut up with their heads covered in dust on their own field in Oakland."


    At this point in the conversation, Anderson checked on Li Wei and found there was no sign of impatience on Li Wei¡¯s face; instead, he was listening intently and with relish.


    Anderson chuckled softly.


    "Have I told this story in the bar, what, ten times? Twenty times? I¡¯ve lost count, the young ones are all fed up with it, showing impatient faces whenever I bring up these old stories."@@@@


    "We can¡¯t live in the past, can we?"


    Anderson¡¯s gaze toward the front revealed a touch of profundity, briefly losing himself in thought. It was now clear that he too had a story of his own.


    It was only for a moment. Anderson gathered his thoughts and continued.


    "But that game, it¡¯s what has kept me going at this bar for forty years, it supported me through the tough times when my mother passed away due to illness, it supported me through the financial crisis of 2008, and it¡¯s also supporting me through this wave upon wave of unemployment."


    "I support the Chiefs, not because they can win championships or victories, but because they¡¯ve become a part of my life. I remember the Chiefs¡¯ scores the week I got married, I remember the sight of other Chiefs fans coming to my father¡¯s funeral, and I remember every face in the bar the day the Chiefs lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers and were knocked out last year."


    Actually, looking back at the first six victories of the season, five of them were won by fighting hard in the fourth quarter, which also meant that the team had always had issues, they just hadn¡¯t been exposed yet¡ª


    They had always treated the Pittsburgh Steelers as the ultimate enemy, tense to the core, and after the strenuous battle to defeat the Steelers, they heaved a long sigh of relief. The mentality changed when they faced the Oakland Raiders afterward; it wasn¡¯t that they underestimated the opponent, but they definitely weren¡¯t as guarded, nor did they anticipate the fierce and strong counterattack from the Raiders.


    Add to that the physical and mental wear and tear from the game against the Steelers, they couldn¡¯t hold on during the critical moments of the fourth quarter against the Raiders.


    A single defeat, a turning point.


    More than the loss itself, the disruption of the rhythm and momentum of victory were the main issues, and then the team¡¯s weaknesses and shortcomings were exposed.


    One game, then another, unstoppable.


    Clearly, the team had issues, but in Li Wei¡¯s view, no team was perfect; a team that looked perfect on paper hardly existed in reality. How to cleverly play to their strengths, avoid weaknesses, and adjust tactics to counter the opponent was what truly mattered.


    So, the team¡¯s problems might be solved or might not be solvable during the ongoing season, but these were issues for the coaching staff.


    As for the players, they had their own ways to address issues.


    A touchdown, a breakthrough, an offensive drive, a defensive play, or a change of ball possession¡ª as long as they could bring intensity at crucial moments and once again boost the team¡¯s morale, perhaps the Chiefs could turn the situation around.


    In other words, set an example, and do your best.


    Li Wei was also always thinking and learning.


    Before entering the NFL, Saban and Burns had already reminded Li Wei:


    The NFL is a whole new world.


    Li Wei¡¯s talent was undeniable; the NCAA couldn¡¯t hinder his progress, which was why he entered the professional league. But in the NFL, he was still too young and inexperienced, he had a lot to learn, challenges to face, and room to grow.


    On one hand, there is always someone better; all the players in the Professional League are monsters, and talent is just the threshold. The geniuses here are all more freakish than the next.


    On the other hand, tactics are complicated and diverse; personal performance may shine in the playbook, or it may be completely lost.


    Li Wei still had more challenges on his road to becoming a better player¡ª


    Clearly, the Football Training System had noticed this too.


    So, in the flip opportunity he just received last week, Li Wei uncovered a brand-new training template, which, in his view, was a reminder from the training system.


    And it was an S-level!

 Chapter 291: 290 all-purpose template

    LaDainian Tomlinson, born in 1979, 5 feet 11 inches (178 cm), 215 pounds (98 kg), served as a running back.


    Selected by the San Diego Chargers as the fifth overall pick in the first round in 2001, he spent the majority of his profession in San Diego before transferring to the New York Jets for the 2010 season, and chose to retire after two seasons.


    This is the training template that Li Wei obtained in his latest card-flipping opportunity¡ª


    LaDainian Tomlinson (S-Class). Discover exclusive content at novelhall.Co?m


    Excitement!


    Following Peterson, Li Wei drew a second S-class training template, catching his eye and sparking curiosity:@@@@


    Initially, Li Wei relied on Peterson¡¯s training template to establish his playing style and continuously sculpted his own characteristics over the course of a year.


    Now, without a doubt, the second S-class training template would play a crucial role again.


    After delving deeper, Li Wei learned that this recently retired running back turned out to be a trailblazer that ushered in a new era, a true pioneer.


    It all started with the 2001 draft.


    That year, quarterback Michael Vick was selected first overall by the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first African-American number one pick in history, and he blazed a new era of mobile quarterbacks in the NFL, still holding the record for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.


    In the same year, Tomlinson was selected fifth overall by the San Diego Chargers and, like Vick, he broke the mold of traditional thinking at the running back position.


    Just as quarterbacks were supposed to stay in the pocket, running backs were thought to only run with the ball, but Tomlinson brought his talents to the NFL and shined on the field¡ª


    A running back could not only rush with the ball but also catch passes, and even throw them.


    Never underestimate Tomlinson¡¯s height, as being thrown onto the football field felt like a dwarf entering a land of giants, but Tomlinson¡¯s field vision was top-notch, even surpassing many quarterbacks.


    Although Tomlinson played in the NFL for merely eleven seasons, he left behind a series of records that completely changed people¡¯s perceptions of running backs.


    As a running back, he gained 13,684 rushing yards, ranking fifth in history; and scored 145 rushing touchdowns, ranking second in history.


    Secondly, it has to be progressive; Li Wei had already established his own style, with breakaway ability built on speed and agility. If he rashly increased his weight or muscle mass, the inevitable cost would be the loss of speed and agility, or even starting over with a completely different style.


    This approach was impractical.


    Therefore, Li Wei was also consciously controlling his training load, to avoid disrupting his own equilibrium, and was systematically enhancing his ability to withstand contact.


    In half a year¡¯s time, Li Wei had made some progress and had already shown it in the games; but overall, it was still limited, especially in terms of endurance.


    After the intense collision with the Pittsburgh Steelers, although it didn¡¯t affect his performance in the next game, the recovery afterward noticeably slowed down, to the extent that in later games, Li Wei reduced the number of forceful head-on confrontations and breakthroughs.


    In other words, Li Wei had a long way to go to become a running back like Lynch.


    Of course, Li Wei wasn¡¯t planning to become exactly like Lynch; he was searching for a completely new path of his own.


    Right now, Tomlinson presented a new opportunity¡ª


    Starting from the Rookie Training Camp, Li Wei realized that the overall trend in the League was the need for running backs to become versatile warriors, capable of running, receiving, blocking, and protecting, to open up the depth of the offensive strategic system.


    The last offensive drive against the Pittsburgh Steelers was the best proof:


    Li Wei turned into a wide receiver, pulling off a game-winning comeback.


    Reed pulled a trick, which deceived Tomlin, finding a gap in the crucial offensive and defensive showdown, and completed the turnaround successfully.


    But to be honest, Li Wei¡¯s reception was shaky, precarious like a tightrope walker. Smith wasn¡¯t used to it, and neither was he. There was a problem with his catching action and posture; he was nearly taken down by Watt on the spot.


    If it happened again, Li Wei couldn¡¯t guarantee a hundred percent that he would be able to catch the ball and break through for a touchdown; the result might be completely different.


    Now, Tomlinson¡¯s training template was a timely opportunity, reminding Li Wei to temporarily slow down the contact training, instead fully leveraging his strengths, and based on agility and speed, to become more adaptable.


    Beyond running the ball, catching, and even passing, all would have to be practiced.


    So, are we preparing to see Li Wei as a wide receiver and quarterback?

 Chapter 292: 291 Bonnie and Clyde

    Back at the University of Alabama, Burns had convinced Li Wei to give football a try, telling him the technical barriers weren¡¯t as high as one might think.


    Looking back, it seems Burns did everything in his power to downplay the difficulties to avoid scaring Li Wei away.


    Wide Receiver. Quarterback. Running back.


    Three positions, three types, each fundamentally requiring a different approach to the game.


    For Wide Receivers, the routes are intricate: knowing when and where to cut inside or outside, whether to run towards the sideline or the middle of the field, aim for deep regions or short passes¡ª not only must they remember their own routes but also their teammates¡¯, and make adjustments according to the opponent¡¯s tactics¡ª


    Many rookie Wide Receivers can¡¯t get on the field immediately simply because they can¡¯t memorize these routes, and if they can¡¯t, all the team¡¯s offensive planning might be in vain.@@@@


    For a Quarterback, it¡¯s even more complicated. They need to read defenses, survey the entire field, and improvise accordingly. If they don¡¯t have a mental image of the entire field, their passing vision might fail to open up¡ª


    When people play the game Connect Four, some instantly see different ways to connect the pieces, while others, even with eyes wide open, can¡¯t see any connections at all. That¡¯s one difference between an average and an outstanding Quarterback.


    This is why, besides daily basic training, different positions require specific professional training to enhance the players¡¯ abilities.


    To many, the load of daily practice is already hard to bear, leaving no room for additional training¡ª biting off more than they can chew.


    But to Li Wei, it was more than just a brand-new world¡ª


    Do you remember what Burns said?


    Football is somewhat like a battlefield, where offense and defense require strategy, and "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu can be wholly applied to football games.


    For Li Wei, understanding Wide Receivers and Quarterbacks helped him to switch perspectives to observe the game, to understand the strategy and interactions in a more comprehensive and profound way. This was extremely fascinating.


    So, starting from last week, besides attending Running Back meetings, Li Wei also joined the Tight Ends and Wide Receivers meetings, learning about routes with the help of Kelsey¡ª


    Reed welcomed him with open arms and legs, given that Hunter was already there.


    Maybe Hunter was the only one feeling the pressure of competition, as it suddenly became intense.


    As the season progressed, they indeed had to pay more and more attention to injuries¡ªnot to wait until they happen to treat them, but to take preventive measures and protection before they occur.


    Lilith was very familiar with Li Wei¡¯s physical condition. She was initially concerned that there might be an injury, but now she was relieved to hear him say this.


    Without saying much more, she opened a drawer, rummaged through it, and found two rolls of kinesiology tape. As she was about to toss them to him, she saw Li Wei walking towards the medical room¡¯s entrance, where her recently read books were lying on the desk.


    "Li Wei!" Lilith called out nervously.


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    Li Wei, "I thought I was Clyde."


    Lilith had no mind to entertain Li Wei¡¯s joke and quickly closed the book.


    Li Wei was surprised, "Is this a secret?"


    Lilith caught her breath, opening her mouth as if to deny with "It¡¯s none of your business" on the tip of her tongue. Yet, she hesitated for a moment, bathed in Li Wei¡¯s sincere and candid gaze, and finally, she shook her head, "No, it¡¯s not a secret. I¡¯m just doubting myself."


    Those books, although Li Wei hadn¡¯t delved into them, were likely professional references closely related to the mental health of professional athletes.


    Currently, Lilith¡¯s role within the Kansas City Chiefs medical team was as a data analyst, essentially an assistant without much say in the team.


    Now it appeared that Lilith was pursuing professional learning, aiming to elevate herself and alter her position within the team.


    But Lilith lacked confidence.


    "You don¡¯t know how hard it is for a woman to take each step forward in a man¡¯s sport." Lilith¡¯s seemingly casual words hid countless difficulties and complexities¡ª


    What came easily to others required her to deliver double, triple, or even tenfold the results just to be recognized. The path forward was littered with visible and invisible thresholds, and while others might say, "Just try a little harder," only she who had truly been through the struggle knew that many things couldn¡¯t be achieved by effort alone.


    But in the end, she didn¡¯t continue:


    This was the path she had chosen, and no matter what happened, she would persist. No matter how difficult or thorny the road was, she refused to give up or surrender.

 Chapter 293: 292 Go Forward Bravely

    The seemingly effortless demeanor hid unspeakable hardships and endless difficulties that were invisible to others, showing that life is never easy, and everyone has their own problems and challenges, invisible though they may be.


    But no matter what, this was his own battle, and he eventually had to fight it alone, so his words hung in the air, unspoken.


    Then, a brief silence fell into the conversation¡ª


    Lilith didn¡¯t receive a response from Li Wei.


    It was somewhat unexpected.


    Lilith looked up and then saw a smile on the corner of Li Wei¡¯s mouth.


    Lilith was startled, and Li Wei spoke, "You have no idea how hard each step forward is for an Asian in a sport dominated by whites and blacks."


    He left it at that, but the implication was profound.


    Lilith slightly opened her mouth and, ultimately not holding back, showed a smile, openly acknowledging her mistake, "Sorry, clearly, I missed the point."


    After a slight pause, Lilith couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Are you always this confident?"


    Li Wei showed a smile, "Do you think so?"


    Lilith gently nodded.


    Li Wei, "Then that proves I¡¯ve succeeded. Actually, whether or not I¡¯m confident isn¡¯t important; what¡¯s important is not to let opponents see your true thoughts. When someone thinks you¡¯re confident, it often means they are starting to falter."


    "That¡¯s what you call presence."


    After a slight pause¡ª


    "So, don¡¯t," Li Wei continued.


    Lilith was startled, reflexively looking at Li Wei, puzzled by his abruptly-ended statement.


    Li Wei shook his head, "Don¡¯t doubt yourself. You¡¯ve already taken the first step, which already puts you ahead¡ªlet me think¡ªof 80% of those who all talk and no action and 10% who give up halfway after a brief enthusiasm. This means you are now among the top 10% at the pyramid¡¯s peak; it¡¯s rare, trust me, I¡¯m well aware."@@@@


    Looking at Li Wei talking nonsense seriously, even knowing that those statistics were fabricated, she couldn¡¯t help but want to believe. When Lilith realized her lips were curling up, she frantically tried to cover her expression, attempting to steer the conversation elsewhere, only to find she was a step too slow.


    She could see Li Wei¡¯s slender fingers slightly shaking twice in front of her, and Lilith abruptly looked up and saw his smiling face.


    He gestured to his face, "Your loose hair."


    Normally accustomed to Lilith¡¯s no-nonsense, unapproachable seriousness, this moment seemed slightly unfamiliar, though Li Wei maintained a gentlemanly distance.


    "We must light up the belief in victory in training, because only this way, when we step onto the real game, can we complete the psychological suggestion, shake off the shadow of failure, and immerse ourselves fully in the battle."


    The Li Wei before her was unfamiliar, completely different from his usual sunny, laid-back demeanor; but at the same time, he was familiar, completely consistent with his spirited, battling presence seen during matches.


    Lilith couldn¡¯t help but feel her blood start to boil too.


    She thought, maybe, wearing the jersey of the Oakland Raiders truly was a good idea.


    "Do you have confidence?" Lilith asked.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t hesitate for a second, "Of course."


    Lilith, "I believe you have confidence, but to be so steadfast?"


    After all, the team was facing a six-game losing streak, not to mention the players, even the coaching staff was desolated, with every day being permeated with oppressiveness.


    These logistics personnel were no exception, lacking spirit, lacking motivation, even their footsteps unintentionally became lighter, as if afraid to create even a slight noise.


    At this moment, one could see the naivety of Li Wei, an outsider¡ª


    fearless due to ignorance.


    Clearly, Li Wei lacked understanding of the NFL and had little experience with the gloom of continuous defeats, which was why he could be so confident, almost blindly so.


    Li Wei¡¯s smile reappeared, "The previous six victories were all decided in the fourth quarter; the subsequent six losses were all decided in the fourth quarter as well, including a defeat in overtime and four defeats within a single play. What does that tell us?"


    "It tells us that the strengths among NFL teams are closely matched, and the suspense of winning or losing is often just by a hair¡¯s breadth."


    "We were able to win consecutively because we gained confidence by defeating the defending champions in the opening game, always being able to closely follow our opponents in the fourth quarter, relying on belief to withstand the tough fights."


    "And our losses occurred due to fluctuations in confidence, physical stamina, and morale throughout the long season, after struggling and losing to the Oakland Raiders and then falling into swings of self-doubt."


    "Therefore, in the upcoming games, either a touchdown or an interception, a victory clenched tightly between the teeth, can overturn the whole situation and put us back on track."


    "I believe in us."


    He said, "us," not "I," referring to the entire team.


    Li Wei pointed at his jersey, that number four jersey of the Oakland Raiders.


    "I think this represents a perfect opponent, we will defeat them, we will get back on track," he said.


    "I believe we can do it, and I will do my utmost to help the team achieve it."

 Chapter 294: 293 spiritual symbol

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    He said, "I believe in us."


    His casual tone revealed a sense of inevitability, completely devoid of the self-absorption, arrogance, and pride he had just exhibited; deep down, he had already quietly integrated a sense of team consciousness. This reminded Lilith of the game they lost to the Orlando Raiders¡ª


    The Offensive group hadn¡¯t even been given the chance to play.


    Perhaps that game had been more impactful for the "football rookie" before her than he let on; the smile he wore hid not only passion but also a fighting spirit, shining like a small sun illuminating Arrowhead Stadium.


    Involuntarily, Lilith also began to look forward to it.


    No longer afraid, no longer worried, no longer hesitant, but anticipating the arrival of the next game, boldly opening her arms to embrace the challenge.


    "Rosen?"


    The call came again, and only then did Lilith realize she had zoned out.


    She looked up and saw a hint of amusement in Li Wei¡¯s eyes. He spread out his right hand and gestured with his chin. She finally reacted, placing the muscle pain relief patch she was holding into Li Wei¡¯s palm.@@@@


    Lilith was about to say something to cover up her distraction, but she hadn¡¯t expected that Li Wei, instead of calling her out on her momentary lapse, would simply turn and leave, catching her completely off guard. The words she had meant to say remained unspoken on her tongue.


    After taking two steps out, Li Wei stopped abruptly and turned around without warning.


    "Also, I believe you can do it too."


    Lilith was stunned, watching as Li Wei¡¯s tall figure walked away, his confident smile deeply engraved in her mind, and even her habitual frosty, defensive facial features began to soften slowly.


    Regulating her breathing, Lilith deftly packed up all the books, went into the locker room to change into a new set of clothes, and prepared for a new day of work. She could faintly hear the sounds of conversation coming from the training ground outside, indicating that the players were arriving.


    And then¡ª


    "Damn it!"


    "Someone, get that traitor out of here!"


    "Li Wei, have you lost your mind?"


    "God, the coach¡¯s heart might not be able to take seeing this."


    "Rookie, what do you mean by this? Come on, let¡¯s talk in the locker room."


    The hustle and bustle, the chirping and chattering, a cacophony of voices mingled together.


    Lilith quickened her pace to the window and immediately spotted Li Wei, standing alone in the black home jersey of the Oakland Raiders amid a sea of red and white training gear, standing out like a sore thumb, a magnet for hatred that effortlessly drew everyone¡¯s gaze.


    Towels, helmets, wristbands, water bottles¡ª a flurry of miscellaneous items were hurled at Li Wei, amid the lively complaints and teasing laughter.


    Although football also had captains, they didn¡¯t really wield power and were often just symbolic, changing every season or even every game.


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ captains this season for the Offensive group were Smith and Kelsey, and for the Defensive group, Houston and Berry.


    With Berry out for the season, Smith¡¯s gentle nature, and Houston¡¯s quiet demeanor, it left Kelsey struggling to lift the locker room¡¯s spirits by himself.


    Unexpectedly, it was Li Wei who stepped up.


    Childres couldn¡¯t help but recall Reed¡¯s assessment of Li Wei¡ª


    The scene before him, had Reed anticipated this? Despite being a rookie, an absolute minority as a Chinese player in the NFL, Li Wei presented a starkly different image, making full use of his "uniqueness" to tightly bond the locker room together.


    Perhaps, the Kansas City Chiefs were indeed welcoming a transformation; perhaps, the agony of six consecutive losses was actually an opportunity for the team to grow and evolve.


    Perhaps, they were truly on the right path.


    On the training field, the players had finally reclaimed their long-lost smiles and ease. Watching this scene, even Childres¡¯s shoulders relaxed, as if a weight had been lifted from his chest.


    Li Wei continued to hold his right hand high, "Charge, Raiders! Charge!"


    Pfft.


    The boos were noticeably more synchronized this time, yet behind them, the laughter shone even brighter.


    Fans by the training field finally caught on, one by one revealing helpless grins but still protesting with boos out of stubbornness.


    Bustling about, before training began, they finally saw the players joking around, chasing each other, and ribbing one another again¡ªgone were the caution and repression of the past few weeks, their unease thawing under the golden sunlight into smiles.


    Even Lilith¡¯s lips began to curl into a smile¡ª


    Perhaps, this was a beginning. They needed this kind of spirit and will, after all, this week, they were facing the Oakland Raiders once again.


    Arch-rivals within the division.


    As previously mentioned, NFL schedules often have teams from different divisions meet only once every three or four years, and cases like the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers repeatedly encountering and entangling each other are rare.


    Naturally, those games are just games, lacking a certain spark.


    But for the four teams within the same division, it¡¯s different¡ªlike Manchester United and Manchester City, like Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, like AC Milan and Inter Milan. Divisional showdowns are akin to city derbies.


    First, they meet twice each season.


    Second, the division champion advances to the playoffs.


    When these factors collide, divisional matchups are always electrifying.


    And the Oakland Raiders are the arch-rivals in the division.

 Chapter 295: 294 Same District Arch Rivals

    In the AFC West, we have the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Oakland Raiders, and Denver Broncos.


    Without a doubt, all four teams are archrivals within the division; among them, the rivalry between the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders stands out. They are not just the most renowned opponents in the AFC West but also the most entangled, sharp, and unresolved archenemies of the Super Bowl era in the NFL.


    Since the inception of the NFL, the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders have been in the same division, and even with the numerous realignments throughout history, the two teams have always maintained a close yet complex relationship; however, up until 1967, the enmity between them wasn¡¯t as intense.


    That year, the MLB team Kansas City Athletics moved to Oakland, becoming the Oakland Athletics, leaving Kansas City without a professional baseball team. It was not until the establishment of the Kansas City Royals two years later that this void was filled. This move caused an underlying rivalry to develop between the two cities.


    It was during this time, in the 1968 season, that the Kansas City Chiefs and the Oakland Raiders both finished the regular season with twelve wins and two losses. They met in the playoffs, where the victor would advance to the AFC Championship, and the Raiders swept the Chiefs "41 to 6", kicking off an intense rivalry.


    As time went on, the animosity between the teams continued to escalate.


    In the 1970 season, the clashes between the two teams escalated to physical confrontations. Oakland Raiders Defensive End Ben Davidson kneed Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson in the helmet after Dawson had secured a first down by running the ball, which led to a brawl between the teams.


    Moreover, under the rules of the game back then, the Chiefs¡¯ first down was annulled, which turned a victory within their grasp into a tie, ultimately costing them their entire season. The Raiders, stepping on the shoulders of the Chiefs, advanced to the playoffs.


    This game prompted the League to change the rules: even though Davidson¡¯s foul came first, and despite the fact that a Chiefs¡¯ player threw the first punch leading to a penalty flag, at least the Chiefs¡¯ first down should not have been annulled.


    In the 1975 season, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Oakland Raiders "42 to 10". After every touchdown, the Chiefs¡¯ mascot would run a lap around the field in celebration, which led to the Raiders¡¯ head coach losing his composure and attacking the mascot after the game, and he even refused to apologize at the post-game press conference. Experience tales at novelhall.Co?m


    In the 1999 season, former Chiefs quarterback Rick Gannon led the Raiders to a last-second victory at Arrowhead Stadium, knocking the Chiefs out of the playoffs.@@@@


    Of course, in the long wait of history, these are just the tip of the iceberg¡ª


    In the 2007 season, the Kansas City Chiefs ended a nine-game winning streak by the Oakland Raiders; in the 2014 season, the Raiders defeated the Chiefs, snapping their own sixteen-game losing streak.


    Neither side would back down in their bitter exchanges.


    The battles between the two teams are always fiery and intense. The most amazing and unbelievable thing is:


    Indeed, Li Wei¡¯s statistics remained outstanding, and his abilities superior, but don¡¯t forget, Li Wei was a running back, the kind who doesn¡¯t get the credit but never misses out on shouldering the blame.


    If it were the quarterback, lineman, defensive end, wide receiver, and so on, people would still praise them even if the team performed poorly; but what about the running back?


    "Floundering for so long, yet still unable to help the team win."


    "Since the result is the same, unable to be the key to changing the game, what¡¯s the difference between the first and seventh round?"


    "It¡¯s better to choose a cost-effective running back and invest the salary cap space in a wide receiver."


    And so on and so forth.


    Because in people¡¯s conventional beliefs, any other position could be the key to changing the game, but not the running back. That¡¯s why teams shouldn¡¯t invest too much in running backs. Just look at Peterson, Tomlinson, Bell, and so on¡ªall these top running backs couldn¡¯t help their teams win the Super Bowl.


    Most directly, Marshawn Lynch, even at the crucial final moment of the Super Bowl earlier that year, Carroll still refused to hand over the ball to the running back.


    This was reality.


    If the Kansas City Chiefs really missed the playoffs, Li Wei would probably become the fall guy.


    All these factors piled on top of each other, and what was already a highly charged rivalry game within the division had now escalated to a whole new level¡ª


    It was ready to explode.


    Now, before the game even started, these arch-enemies were already eagerly squabbling off the field.


    All this stemmed from wide receiver Cooper.


    This junior wide receiver, who played a key role in the last game that defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, clearly enjoyed the spotlight after that game and was already itching to go.


    "The secondary defense of Kansas is just all talk and no action, surrendering early. They really shouldn¡¯t spend too much time practicing under the cheerleaders¡¯ skirts; their legs are already trembling before they even hit the field."

 Chapter 296: 295 Verbal King

    Cooper, selected fifth overall in the 2015 draft, had performed well for two consecutive seasons. He made the Pro Bowl and was named to the All-Pro Second Team as a rookie, and was universally regarded as one of the finest players of the 2015 class.


    In the first half of this season, on one hand, quarterback Carl had been absent due to injuries, and on the other, Cooper himself also experienced some lows. As a result, he hadn¡¯t made much of an impact and was nearly forgotten by people.


    It wasn¡¯t until the game against the Kansas City Chiefs that Cooper rebounded from rock bottom.


    Not only did he regain his form, but the Oakland Raiders also rejoined the playoff race. Cooper immediately returned to his youthful and spirited form from when he first gained fame, eager to start trash-talking even before the pre-game interviews began.


    Afterward, Houston fired back without showing weakness.


    "Yeah, he should stop peeking in the locker room at his teammates, even though there¡¯s nothing much to see there."


    A double whammy.


    Don¡¯t be fooled by Houston¡¯s usual silence; his trash talk struck with lethal force:


    While Cooper said the Chieftain lingered under the cheerleaders¡¯ skirts, Houston fired back with a jab at the Raiders¡¯ locker room brawls.


    In just a single sentence, not only did he attack Cooper, but he also knocked down all the other Raiders players with one fell swoop.


    This indeed stirred up a hornet¡¯s nest.


    Players from both the Oakland Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs exchanged insults, while their fans tore into each other on social networks. The atmosphere of rivalry between these divisional enemies was as volatile as a powder keg, easily erupting at the slightest spark.


    In the midst of this noisy tumult, an unexpected figure spoke up.


    Khalil Mack, Defensive End for the Oakland Raiders.


    Last season, with JJ Watt out for the season due to injuries, Mack was the one who emerged as the curious question arose: Who would win the Defensive Player of the Year award?


    The answer was Khalil Mack.


    Playing the same position as Watt, Mack was selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2014 draft. After a warm-up rookie season, from 2015 onwards, he shined brightly and quickly established his dominance in the pro-level, being selected for the Pro Bowl for two consecutive seasons. If not for the formidable Watt, Mack¡¯s Defensive Player of the Year honors would likely have been more than once.


    Differently from Watt, Mack originally played as a linebacker.


    There are many differences between a linebacker and a Defensive End, the most obvious being flexibility:


    Mack, at 6.2 feet (191 cm) tall and weighing 269 pounds (122 kg), has an unexpectedly agile and speedy body, which laid the foundation for a distinct playing style compared to Watt.


    If Watt is about power, then Mack is about mobility.


    And Li Wei compared Mark to the idol group One Direction ¡ª his offhand retort was much sharper than Mark¡¯s carefully crafted attack.


    Even the reporters couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    The onlooking reporters couldn¡¯t resist adding fuel to the fire.


    "Li Wei, in the last game, you already faced off against the Oakland Raiders¡¯ defensive line and lineman. What do you think of them?"


    Objectively speaking, during their last encounter, the Raiders¡¯ victory came from the offensive group, and the defensive group only performed well enough not to be a drag, with Mark in mediocre form, only managing to tackle Li Wei twice, hardly impressive.


    Li Wei slightly raised his chin, his face serious.


    "It¡¯s hard to say. I don¡¯t know, they reminded me of the ¡¯Four Little Swans¡¯."


    A group of little swans in ballet skirts.


    One second, two seconds¡ª


    The reporters laughed collectively, no doubt, this had to be the best trash talk of the year. Without using a single swear word, it ridiculed the entire Oakland Raiders defensive line inside and out.


    In the midst of roaring laughter, only Li Wei was the exception, maintaining the composure of The Stoic Jester, and continued speaking very earnestly, "I¡¯m an outsider. I can¡¯t offer any professional opinion, but perhaps, Khalil should change his hairstyle."


    As he spoke, Li Wei combed his hair forward, crafting a signature long-fringed hairstyle of Justin Bieber and then looked at the camera with a full-faced smile.


    Roars of laughter, the whole place was roaring with laughter, non-stop.


    Although the reporters also knew they shouldn¡¯t, they should remain objective and neutral, but it had to be said, Li Wei¡¯s comeback was really too sharp and too clever.


    Mahomes said: Li Wei was only playing at 30% of his ability.


    Likewise, after seeing Li Wei¡¯s response in a short video on social media, rumor has it that Mark smashed his locker in the changing room. The entire Raiders defensive group was seething with anger but didn¡¯t know how to respond¡ª


    It seemed like no matter how they responded, they had already lost.


    The atmosphere between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Oakland Raiders was heating up continually, no doubt this was a decisive, do-or-die showdown.


    In history, the Chiefs had once prevented the Raiders from advancing to the playoffs, and similarly, the Raiders had more than once shattered the Chiefs¡¯ playoff dreams.


    If they could advance to the playoffs by stepping over the bodies of their mortal enemies, that would be even more perfect. Both teams would not miss such an opportunity for the world.


    It was the same at the moment; the outcome of one game could possibly determine the direction of an entire season, pushing the tension to an unprecedented level.

 Chapter 297: 296 Bailey handpicked

    With old grudges and playoff stakes all stacked together, the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Oakland Raiders escalated to a whole new level of intensity.


    From players to coaches to fans, tension permeated throughout, and even within the "League" one could feel the spread of this spark.


    Before the season started, no one had anticipated that the Kansas City Chiefs would lead with six consecutive wins; likewise, no one had foreseen that the Chiefs would find themselves in such a predicament, facing do-or-die battles with four games left in the season and every game being a matter of life and death, where any tiny mistake could ruin a year¡¯s efforts.


    Pressure was mounting, layer upon layer.


    So, how did professionals analyze and view this?


    The chatter was incessant.


    This time, the support for the Oakland Raiders slightly outweighed, not only because the Raiders had defeated the Chiefs in their encounter a month ago but also because dropping the ball in critical moments had seemingly become a habitual failing of the Chiefs in recent seasons.


    From various indicators, it was evident that the Chiefs were indeed on the brink of a precipice.


    Even Lawson admitted it was hard, unimaginably difficult, as mountains laden in the Chiefs¡¯ path to victory, with advantages now slightly leaning towards the Raiders.


    But¡ª


    "Blair, you seem unusually quiet today, not like yourself at all. So, what do you think?"


    The host Crosby noticed the anomaly and keenly seized on it.


    In an instant, all eyes turbulently turned towards Bart.


    Bart: ...


    It was really tough for him.


    Bart was also struggling internally, as the progress of this season was... beyond words.


    In the first six weeks, his left cheek had swollen from a fierce tempest; who could have imagined that in the following six weeks, he would obediently offer his right cheek to continue enduring the beating.


    He now looked like a pig¡¯s head.


    So, what to do?


    Continue to believe in the Kansas City Chiefs? Or more precisely, continue to believe in Li Wei? Believe that they can turn the tables against the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium?


    Even though Bart didn¡¯t name names, the host Crosby still figured it out, "Blair, do you mean you have lost confidence in Li Wei?"


    Bart didn¡¯t deny it but switched his emphasis, "Rather than saying I¡¯ve lost confidence in Li Wei, I¡¯d say I¡¯m looking forward more to Lynch¡¯s performance."


    The starting running back for the Oakland Raiders is indeed "Beast Mode" Marshawn Lynch.


    Although he announced his retirement last season, rumors about Lynch coming out of retirement persisted during the offseason and finally, just before the draft, Lynch announced his decision¡ª


    He would come out of retirement to join his hometown team, the Oakland Raiders.


    Since Lynch¡¯s contract with the Seattle Seahawks was valid through 2017, after coming out of retirement he was still a Seahawk player; eventually, the Oakland Raiders acquired Lynch through a trade involving draft picks.


    Lynch was born in Oakland and had aspired to be a professional football player since he was twelve years old. For college, he chose the University of California, Berkeley, just a fifteen-minute drive from Oakland, which says a lot about his attachment to the Raiders.


    Naturally, Lynch does not like the Kansas City Chiefs.


    The last time the two teams faced each other, Lynch didn¡¯t get to showcase much because, during an offensive play in the first half, he argued with the referee over a call, which escalated into a physical altercation.


    In soccer, there are yellow and red cards, but in football, there aren¡¯t such rules; there are only yellow flag penalties, generally, players aren¡¯t ejected from the game, but there are exceptions occasionally.


    Like Lynch, who had a physical altercation with a referee and was directly ejected from the game; and he faced a fine imposed by the League after the match.


    So, Lynch had little to no playtime.


    In the upcoming game, Lynch will once again play for the Oakland Raiders and as Bart said, Lynch¡¯s performance is also a highlight to watch.


    Following Bell, Li Wei and another top running back in the League will compete in the same game.


    As he spoke, Bart also regained his confidence.


    "I trust in Lynch and I trust the Oakland Raiders."


    "Del Rio¡¯s team will try to sweep their division rivals for the season and kick them out of the playoff competition, I believe they will win."


    This season, the confidently rising "Football Bailey" made a definitive declaration again after a full six weeks, once again standing opposite the Kansas City Chiefs, cautiously holding up the banner of a "Li Wei hater," heralding a strong comeback.


    Upon hearing this, the Kansas City Chiefs fans collectively sighed in relief:


    It¡¯s stable!

 Chapter 298: 297 Mental state

    "Clap clap, Chieftain!"


    "Clap clap, Chieftain!"


    A storm was brewing over Arrowhead Stadium, layers of pressure emanating in all directions, and the nearly stagnant air seemed ready to explode the next second as a vast red surge burned.


    The whole vibe was entirely different.


    Even though this was already the sixth home game of the season, Arrowhead Stadium felt strange, bursting from within with an air of tragic grandeur and boundless fighting spirit, as if painting the world red in a desperate last stand.


    Because this was a battle with no way out, because this was a battle after six consecutive losses, because the opponent was the Oakland Raiders, everything was different, and Arrowhead Stadium didn¡¯t hold back any seats.


    Not just Arrowhead Stadium, but the Old Oak Tavern was the same¡ª


    "Clap clap, Chieftain!"


    Two claps, one shout, the uniform roar echoed with the grand scenes on the TV screen.


    Then.


    A figure pushed open the tavern¡¯s door, and West noticed immediately, "Hey, Chris."


    The newcomer was none other than Chris Provos, awkwardly standing at the entrance, trying to sneak in unnoticed, but West called him out directly.


    "Roar roar roar, Chris."


    "Didn¡¯t you say you wouldn¡¯t watch anymore?"


    "What, can¡¯t give it up?"


    Amidst the laughter and teasing, Provos raised his middle finger in response, thrusting his neck out, "If we lose again, I won¡¯t watch."


    Immediately called out, "That¡¯s what you said last week."


    Haha, laughter erupted throughout.


    Provos glared back, frustrated, "Even if we lose, I want to see it with my own eyes."


    West stepped in to mediate, "Come on, come on, instead of poking fun at Chris, save some energy to curse at the Raiders, the enemy isn¡¯t here."


    "Go, Chieftain!"


    West shouted, and the whole tavern responded in unison all at once.


    Then West waved Provos over to the bar, placed a beer in front of him, "This one¡¯s on me."


    West didn¡¯t pay Provos any more attention, turning back to his busyness.


    Provos¡¯s steps brought him to the bar where he hesitated at the sight of the golden beer in the glass, but ultimately couldn¡¯t resist and took a big gulp.


    Thump!@@@@


    He firmly put the beer glass back down and roared along with everyone else, "Chieftain!"


    The whole tavern was boiling over.


    "All I can say is, we will give it our all, we will pour out everything. When the game is over, I can face the fans and face Eric with my head held high, and tell them guilt-free that I did my best, I have no regrets, no matter the outcome, victory or defeat."


    Every word, every sentence.


    Spoken lightly, yet they landed with weight,


    Unnoticed, blood began to boil, one by one, heads started lifting, chests out, spines straightened, shoulders opened.


    Finally, Li Wei said.


    "Are you ready?"


    "Then let the battle begin, remember, you are not alone."


    Kelsey felt a surge of emotion and raised his right fist high, shouting to the sky, "Fight!"


    Boom.


    All the players clenched their fists and roared in unison, "Fight!"


    Once, then again.


    Then, turning, they stepped onto the field.


    By the time those figures appeared in front of the sea of red at Arrowhead Stadium, their demeanor was completely transformed.


    The game began.


    The Oakland Raiders won the coin toss, Del Rio chose the field, and that meant the Kansas City Chiefs would attack first in the first half of the game.


    "From the kick-off, you can tell Del Rio is bracing for a tough fight. A game against divisional rivals is full of uncertainty, especially here at Arrowhead Stadium. He¡¯s made the right mental preparation; meanwhile, Del Rio is ready for a shootout, hoping to have the advantage of attacking first in the second half."


    "Of course, that¡¯s Del Rio¡¯s calculation, but who knows how Reed will respond."


    "The Kansas Chiefs Offense is taking the field, let¡¯s see today¡¯s starting lineup..."


    The Raiders¡¯ kick-off was conservative, no trick plays, just kicking the football straight out of the end zone, not even giving the Kansas City Chiefs the chance to return the kick, allowing Smith to lead the offense starting from the twenty-five-yard line.


    Smith was slightly excited.


    Despite having been through countless storms, the thrill and tension of the game still easily grabbed hold of his heart.


    The first wave of offense was not a test of on-the-spot command but of pre-game preparation. The Kansas City Chiefs had anticipated such a scenario and had devised a strategy; now, it all depended on whether they could execute it accurately.


    Smith looked at Li Wei, and through the helmet, Li Wei flashed a smile. Involuntarily, Smith¡¯s own mouth curved up, relaxing his mind a bit.


    Then¡ª


    "Attack!"


    Smith¡¯s voice tore through the air; after receiving the ball, without hesitation or delay, he immediately turned and handed the football to Li Wei.


    A ground game to start?


    Old-fashioned!

 Chapter 299: 298 Dazzling

    Oakland Raiders¡¯ number 52 Defensive End, Khalil Mack, last season¡¯s Defensive Player of the Year and currently the most dominant Defensive End in the league after JJ Watt¡¯s season-ending injury, is a nightmare for any team¡¯s quarterback and running back.


    The Oakland Raiders operate with a "3-4" defensive formation, which typically involves fewer blitzes, but their head coach Del Rio, a former lineman, has his own approach.


    Del Rio is exceptionally skilled at reading offensive formations and often opts for aggressive plays, frequently employing linemen or cornerbacks to surge forward and sack the quarterback, even with just three men on the defensive line.


    Because of this approach, Mack is able to fully leverage his strengths, using his power and speed to disrupt the offensive line and break through the front.@@@@


    Unfortunately, during their last home game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Mack was not at his best, and his top support, linebacker NaVorro Bowman, was also underperforming due to minor injuries, resulting in their inability to effectively stop their opponents.


    This time, they were prepared¡ª


    Bowman had been with the San Francisco 49ers since 2010, named to the All-America First Team four times and the Pro Bowl three times, undoubtedly a seasoned veteran. Despite struggling with injuries this season, he transferred mid-season to join the Oakland Raiders, adding strength to their lineup.


    Mack believed that with some adjustments and teamwork, his partnership with Bowman was gradually starting to show its formidable effect.


    He was eager to get started.


    Stomping the ground, readying himself like a motorcycle engine gearing up, always ready to take off.


    "Attack!"


    Smith announced the start of the game.


    Immediately, Mack charged, heading straight for his counterpart, the offensive tackle Eric Fisher¡ª


    The player chosen first overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013 was not exactly a bust; he often performed well, but compared to the expectations of a first overall draft pick, he was far from satisfactory, having achieved no honors in his career and remaining unnoticed among his peers.


    Mack knew Fisher well, having faced him four times over two seasons and gained valuable experience.


    Right from the start, Mack collided head-on with Fisher, not dodging or using finesse, but purely overpowering him physically because he knew that Fisher, slightly cumbersome, would struggle to fend off a speed advantage with technique once Mack locked in his positioning.


    At the same time, Mack quickly scanned the area ahead:


    Smith. Li Wei.


    Immediately, Mack noticed the interaction between Smith and Li Wei amidst the physical confrontation, never taking his eyes off them¡ª


    A running play?


    No, a fake run with a real pass.


    Mack made an accurate assessment and forcefully collided into Fisher, using Fisher¡¯s body as leverage to press his entire 269 pounds (122 kilograms) onto him. Fisher tried to grasp Mack but couldn¡¯t find a leverage point, and Mack completed an escape with a clockwise spin.


    It was quite effortless.


    Damn!


    Pretending to run, but actually passing was the right choice, but the passing targets were all misjudged.


    This pass was almost like an upgraded version of the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ decisive play against the Pittsburgh Steelers.


    Mark: Damn it.


    I was tricked.


    I was!


    But everything was already too late; by the time Mark realized he had been tricked, the Oakland Raiders¡¯ Defensive group realized they had fallen into a trap too.


    Closing the net!


    Generally, this is used by the Defensive group to encircle the Wide Receiver, forming a blockade; but now, the Chieftains¡¯ receivers had all shaken off their defenders, heading towards the middle of the field to form a protective net.


    To escort Li Wei safely.


    After all, this was different from the play against the Pittsburgh Steelers that decided the game.


    The Oakland Raiders¡¯ Defensive group, making one mistake after another, was also completely flustered by then, totally being led by the nose.


    So, what about Li Wei?


    Li Wei, with light steps, crossed the kickoff line and caught the football sideways with ease.


    His movements still adjusting, needing some tuning, but his route running was noticeably smoother now, pausing, turning, and pushing off, a series of actions flowing smoothly, running along the route immediately after completing the reception. Stay tuned with novelhall.Co?m


    It¡¯s all about coordination.


    Li Wei stepped diagonally to the left, cutting into the midfield, and soon he could see the linebacker Bowman¡¯s figure.


    Although this veteran had been traded to the Oakland Raiders by the San Francisco 49ers due to declining performance from injuries, his experience still played a crucial role, immediately recognizing something was off and promptly stepping up to reposition.


    With a stride, Bowman positioned himself across the path Li Wei was cutting into the midfield, entering the protective net created by the Kansas Chieftains for him, spreading his arms like a crab.


    Bowman was highly attentive, aware of Li Wei¡¯s ability to change directions¡ª


    Left. Right. Left.


    Wait, no, there was a fourth change of direction: Right.


    Bowman, kept up!

 Chapter 300: 299 Longsword Unsheathe

    Bowman, with full concentration and focused attention, precisely captured Li Wei¡¯s four changes in direction¡ª


    He wasn¡¯t fooled by Li Wei¡¯s feints, perfectly positioning himself on his right side, Li Wei¡¯s left, because that was the best path for Li Wei to penetrate into the midfield territory. Bowman noticed an Oakland Raiders cornerback clad in the white away jersey rapidly approaching from his left; surely Li Wei noticed as well, so Bowman blocked his right side.


    Moreover, Bowman didn¡¯t wait for Li Wei to fall into the trap; he even took a step forward preemptively, ready to tackle.


    Unlike the others, Bowman didn¡¯t underestimate Li Wei. He believed that any player who could start in the NFL had skills, regardless of whether they were system players. One lapse in concentration could make him the butt of the joke.


    But not Bowman.


    So, he concentrated fully and took the first step immediately.


    However, Li Wei actually came to a halt all at once.


    Waiting, patiently waiting.


    To call it halting and waiting¡ªit was really just a brief moment. Bowman¡¯s two strides rapidly closed the distance between them¡ª .Co?m


    As Bowman was almost within reach, Li Wei suddenly started up toward the right.


    His left leg pushed off the ground, pulling sideways, and at the critical moment evaded the contact, brushing past him as the two men shifted past each other, one after the other.


    Li Wei broke through!


    Bowman: Held his breath.


    He didn¡¯t panic but reacted swiftly, completely relying on his core strength to twist his upper body back despite completely losing balance in his steps, lunging and blocking¡ª


    Like waves crashing against the shore.


    Thud!


    Bowman¡¯s upper body and lower body split and twisted into a pretzel, striking against Li Wei¡¯s thigh in a mind-boggling manner, upsetting Li Wei¡¯s balance.


    Li Wei, having just started, felt the force of a whale¡¯s tail strike hard against his body, his steps faltering as they flung to the right.


    But Li Wei didn¡¯t resist. Instead, he went with the force, converting the momentum into acceleration, his sideways movement visibly quickening¡ª


    TJ-Carrie was stunned: ???


    Oakland Raiders¡¯ starting cornerback Carrie was preparing to sandwich Li Wei with Bowman, but then Li Wei fluttered past like a plastic bag. As Carrie was about to embrace him, he had to stop abruptly and pivot, returning to position in an attempt to dive forward.


    Wait, wait...


    With a head full of question marks, Carrie¡¯s body couldn¡¯t keep up with his brain¡¯s rapid reactions. Even though his brain was frantic, his feet seemed nailed to the spot, immovable, then his upper body followed the red figure wearing number twenty-three, swinging like a pendulum.


    But why was that number twenty-three getting farther and farther away in his field of vision?


    A push. A lunge.


    After cornerback Kerry abandoned Hill, Hill had been lingering by Li Wei¡¯s side like a satellite, and at the critical moment, he shouldered the heavy responsibility¡ª


    Remember? They are not fighting alone.


    The deeper the valley, the tougher the predicament, the more abyssal the depths, the more they need to unite. Even if their recent nemesis within the division had just defeated them, even if this game was a do-or-die battle on the edge of a cliff with no way back, they still hadn¡¯t given up the fight.


    "Ah, ah, ahh!"


    A force erupts from deep within Hill¡¯s Dantian.


    Behind, a streak of red runs at full speed, like a storm.


    Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap.


    Li Wei runs faster and faster, exploiting the brief, undisturbed acceleration, and his speed advantage is fully realized as he sprints down the sideline.


    For a brief moment, Arrowhead Stadium, the Old Oak Tavern, and the whole of Kansas City are stunned¡ª


    They¡¯d braced for a tough game, but never anticipated being blindsided by such a surprise, a direct hit to the heart without any warning.


    The gaze is fixated on that figure, dancing wildly upon the wire.


    After crossing the midfield line, he becomes unstoppable.


    The forty-yard line.


    The thirty-yard line.


    The heart climbs, beat by beat, with inconceivable joy boiling in the blood.


    The twenty-yard line.


    The ten-yard line.


    A roar above the eardrums as all reason and restraint crumble in the face of that red figure piercing the heart and stabbing into the end zone, detonating the energy and submerging the whole of Kansas City in a vast tide of warmth.


    Boom!


    "Touchdown!"


    "God!"


    "Touchdown!"


    "After a five-yard short pass, a seventy-yard long-distance rush nails a fatal touchdown."


    "Li Wei! Number twenty-three, Li Wei, scores the second touchdown pass of his career!"


    In the end zone, Li Wei stands tall and proud, remaining on the spot, looking up at the red sea before him, quietly waiting for the release of energy¡ª


    Boom!

 Chapter 301: 300 united as one

    Quiet, completely silent, a kind of absolute stillness that suffocated breaths and halted heartbeats, yet beneath the quietude, simmering passion was being suppressed, accumulating bit by bit, all waiting to burst forth the moment it reached its critical point.


    It was like the calm before the storm.


    Then.


    The moment Li Wei entered the end zone and looked around the field, the trigger was finally pulled¡ª


    Boom!


    Kansas City finally broke the seal, erupting with an unbelievable energy. A sweeping Crimson Tide dominated the view, dyeing the whole world red.


    It seemed like the Kansas City Chiefs, who had started the season with six consecutive wins, had returned.


    Maybe they had, maybe they hadn¡¯t, after all the game had just begun; but one thing was for certain, the Kansas City Chiefs were completely prepared for this game, their determination to win evident from their initial tactical layout.


    Maybe Reed¡¯s decision-making on the fly wasn¡¯t the best, but his pre-game preparation and tactical gambits were undoubtedly top-tier in the league.


    Their offensive tactics were not only evolved from previous tricks but also thoroughly studied the Oakland Raiders¡¯ defensive tactics to set traps, ultimately making full use of Li Wei¡¯s personal abilities to open up the game.@@@@


    It was a direct and decisive strike.


    "7:0".


    From the get-go, Reed showcased his capabilities, delivering a blow to the Oakland Raiders.


    Del Rio wasn¡¯t panicking¡ªwell, he was a bit, caught completely off guard.


    Del Rio had never imagined losing a touchdown in the first twenty seconds by a seventy-five-yard run, which indeed dampened the spirit; yet he had anticipated such a scenario, and today was a match of offense against offense, next it was up to Carl, Lynch, and Cooper¡¯s offensive trio to perform.


    The Oakland Raiders offensive group couldn¡¯t contain themselves any longer, the Special Duty Group had just appeared, and they were already standing up, eager to launch a counterattack.


    Cooper was rubbing his hands together, pacing in place like a flea, itching to get on the field and engage in a fierce clash with the opponent.


    The usually quiet and reserved Lynch also appeared on the field side unusually early; facing the Kansas City Chiefs, Lynch never lacked motivation, even more thrilled than when he faced their division rivals during his time with the Seattle Seahawks. After all, from childhood he had witnessed countless clashes of affection and resentment between Oakland and Kansas, and now, he finally got to step onto Arrowhead Stadium as a member of the Raiders¡ª


    On a side note, as the defending champions, the Seattle Seahawks had once visited Arrowhead Stadium and lost "20:24" to the Kansas City Chiefs at the height of the Bombing Corps era, which was not a fond memory for Lynch.


    They hadn¡¯t even hit the field and their blood was already boiling.


    Across the field, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense was also sharpening their blades.


    When the offensive group players returned, Houston had already stood up early, silently leading the defensive lineup, lifting his right hand in anticipation of a high-five.


    "Beautiful! The anticipations were accurate, Kansas¡¯s Houston completely saw through Oakland¡¯s fake run play, unaffected, positioning himself before Lynch could start, completing the interception behind the line of scrimmage. Lynch couldn¡¯t unleash his power, missing the chance to break free."


    Second down and eleven yards.


    "Oh, oh!"


    "Nelson, Kansas¡¯s Steven Nelson perfectly blocked the position, Oakland¡¯s Cooper couldn¡¯t free himself at all."


    "Carl¡¯s pass this time was a bit risky, actually, there was a gap in the short pass area on the other side of the field, but Carl still chose the fifteen-yard middle pass trying to connect with Cooper, especially since last time Cooper had completely disengaged from Nelson."


    "Unfortunately, this time Nelson was highly focused, not giving Cooper a chance, which was a very clean defense."


    "Carl¡¯s pass incomplete."


    Third down and eleven yards.


    "Observing, observing, Carl is still observing."


    "Dangerous."


    "Kansas didn¡¯t opt for a blitz, but in this offensive down, their pass defense and man-to-man coverage combined with zone defense were precise and effective, Carl couldn¡¯t find a passing target."


    "Carl is still observing, but holding the ball too long, Lynch¡¯s block couldn¡¯t hold anymore, Carl needs to throw now."


    "Wait, wait, the pocket¡¯s collapsing."


    "Oh, God!"


    "Tamba Hali breaks through, hitting the quarterback."


    "Carl, Carl is still trying to pass, ah, this pass, extremely off mark, falling into no-man¡¯s land, pass incomplete."


    "Carl held onto the ball really too long, over five seconds and still no throw, Kansas¡¯s substitute linebacker Harry didn¡¯t miss this opportunity."


    "With starting linebacker Dee Ford listed on the injury reserve and his return far off, there were concerns about the defensive strength of Kansas, but now it seems, the substitute Harry showed his good form right in the first defensive stand, firmly seizing the opportunity to hit the quarterback."


    "Strikeout!"


    "Oakland Raiders off to a bad start, in sharp contrast, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense displayed unbelievable mental state, getting into the game right from the start..."


    The Oakland Raiders Offensive group had scarcely been on the field for two minutes, their feeble offense already devastated and crushed by the Kansas City Chiefs Defense, Carl, Cooper, and Lynch, three core players, all hit and ground down mercilessly, struck out without making any sense, with the advance in yards:


    Negative one yard.


    Bart: ... covers his face, wait, not again... humiliated? This scene, he feels like he has seen it before.

 Chapter 302: 301 all come out

    ```


    Stop the running back. Guard the wide receiver closely. Hit the quarterback.


    The third-gear defense, three forms, three players completing the mission¡ªthe Kansas City Chiefs Defense stood united and with great determination, bursting forth with incredible energy. In just under two minutes, the Oakland Raiders struck out and left the field in a sorry state.


    As Houston led the Defensive group off the field, one could see the Offensive group players scrambling to their feet, each searching for their helmet. Yet, they all lined up on the sideline, raising their right hands high, waiting.


    Houston high-fived them one by one, stopping in front of Li Wei with a serious expression on his face, "Sorry, you guys didn¡¯t get much rest before having to go back out there. It¡¯s been tough on the Offensive group today."


    Ha-ha.


    A burst of laughter exploded around them.


    Li Wei¡¯s face bore an expression of ease as he gestured to the Defensive group: come on, lay it all out, let the teasing come even more fiercely.


    One by one, the Defensive group leaped up, giving high-fives to Li Wei with all their might, as the cells on Li Wei¡¯s palm were decimated.


    Reed, standing at the front of the team, looked back. The team before him bore no trace of the gloom and doom of six straight losses. Despite the burden still resting on their shoulders, the players were able to turn the pressure into drive. Facing a critical moment in the season and the Oakland Raiders as their opponent, they summoned all their potential amidst dire circumstances.


    Involuntarily, Reed¡¯s thoughts went back to Tuesday¡¯s practice, with Li Wei taking the field in an Oakland Raiders jersey¡ªperhaps it all started then.


    Not only the players, but the coaching staff could also feel the atmosphere at the training base quietly shifting.@@@@


    Reed turned his gaze back, his expression unchanging, though the tips of his mustache twitched upward slightly.


    From behind, came Li Wei¡¯s shout, "Guys, what do we do? We seem to be looked down upon?"


    "Look down on them right back."


    The one who spoke wasn¡¯t Kelsey, but Hill, who rarely spoke to Li Wei.


    Hill had no issue with Li Wei; he was just slow to warm up to people and naturally shy. He was a completely different person in front of familiar friends and strangers.


    It wasn¡¯t just with Li Wei¡ªHill kept a "keep your distance" attitude even toward the rookies from last year and the players who had transferred in the previous season.


    Within the team, Hill had his own small circle, mostly comprised of receivers, and there was an invisible barrier between him and the other players.


    At this moment, everyone was surprised by Hill speaking out.


    It was only Hill who maintained a poker face.


    Kelsey raised his right hand high, "Look, the team¡¯s number one star has spoken, how can we not obey the command!"


    That¡¯s how competitive sports work, Bowman understood, but that didn¡¯t mean he would just bow down and surrender without a fight.


    Bowman was eager to prove himself, that he still had energy and ambition, and he was not ready to walk away.


    Taking a deep breath, Bowman looked at Mark, said nothing, but simply raised his right fist¡ªan action that was already enough.


    Mark also raised his right fist, and after the two bumped fists, they put on their helmets without exchanging a word, both entering the field, solemn and resolute.


    Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ half-field, the thirty-eight-yard line.


    First and ten.


    So, how would the Kansas City Chiefs choose their tactics?


    When a quarterback can both pass and run, offensive tactics suddenly become much richer, which is why the Read Option Offense has shone brilliantly in the past three seasons.


    Similarly, when a running back can run, block, and catch, offensive tactics also become diverse and multifaceted. More and more running backs in the league are starting to act as wide receivers in short passes¡ªthis trend is the best proof.


    At this moment, it was just so.


    Li Wei acting as a wide receiver was initially just a special case against the Pittsburgh Steelers; moreover, that offensive role wasn¡¯t pronounced, as it didn¡¯t highlight the wide receiver¡¯s route-running strengths; the entire league hadn¡¯t taken it seriously.


    Just moments ago, Li Wei took the role of wide receiver for the second time, and as he truly ran a wide receiver¡¯s route, the Oakland Raiders were suddenly in uproar¡ª


    This situation wasn¡¯t something they had prepared for before the game, and it was now a test of their ability to adapt on the spot.


    Del Rio of the Oakland Raiders prided himself on his understanding of defense, and with the game just starting, even if they tried a risky strategy, they could still recover later on.


    Therefore, the answer emerged.


    Blitz.


    As soon as Smith announced the start of the play, the Oakland Raiders Defense decided to take the initiative and apply pressure with a full-frontal assault.


    Del Rio¡¯s blitzing strategy was progressive, adjusting according to the Seattle Seahawks¡¯ "Bombing Corps" strategies, staying at the forefront of the league¡¯s trends.


    It was not just the defensive line¡ªusing the linemen¡¯s forward motion to disrupt the balance at the line of scrimmage, including the three linebackers led by Bowman, was the main force of the blitz¡ª


    Coming out in full force.


    Puff.


    In just an instant, with a slight contact, the Oakland Raiders Defense had already torn through the pocket, pouncing toward Smith like a tiger descending the mountain.

 Chapter 303: 302 Hurdle Flying

    The tables turned, defense became offense.


    The Oakland Raiders¡¯ defensive group did not falter easily, considering that they were led by the best defensive player of the last season. How could they possibly surrender?


    Six-man rush¡ª


    A desperate gamble, three linebackers advanced to raid, utilizing a numerical advantage and brute force to tear through the pocket, completely abandoning the short pass area to maximize impact.


    And it succeeded.


    The Raiders broke through the pocket with ease, shattering it completely and exposing all its weaknesses in an instant.


    Mark was utterly calm, focusing one hundred percent.


    On the surface, it appeared as a six-man rush¡ªthree defensive linemen plus three linebackers; in reality, it was a five-man rush, with Mark as the exception.


    Not that Mark wasn¡¯t part of the rush, but Del Rio had adjusted the tactical role of the defensive group captain:


    The rush was still on, but there was no need to fight for time. He needed to keep a close eye on Smith and Li Wei to avoid any leaks.


    Immediately, Mark had stepped up, the entire offensive line of the Kansas Chiefs utterly fractured, within the crowded mass, he kept a tight watch on two streaks of red.


    Smith?


    No, Li Wei.


    Calculation, a game of chance¡ª


    Del Rio chose to raid the quarterback, while Reed had seen through this early and simply opted for a ground run.


    Back and forth, the numerical advantage of the Oakland Raiders silently disintegrated, in fact making the pocket overly crowded due to too many players.


    But as the saying goes, for every clever move, there is a counter move even more cunning.


    Del Rio had anticipated this, keeping an ace up his sleeve¡ª


    Mark, activate.


    Indeed, Mark had been leaning on Fisher with his shoulder, who in the midst of the full assault by the defensive group was overwhelmed and unable to cope, thus failing to withstand Mark.


    Then Mark deftly shook off Fisher, like a heartbreaker tossing his sleeve without taking a cloud with him, and with a lateral step, he had already pivoted, advancing toward Li Wei.


    Got him!


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    Mark, with the posture of an assassin, always hidden in the shadows, patiently sought his moment, struck accurately, and with one step forward, had already grappled Li Wei.


    It wasn¡¯t an illusion, Mark had indeed grappled Li Wei.


    However, just as joy began to sprout, a brutal force hit him right in the chest, not only resisting Mark¡¯s grappling force, but also overwhelmingly continuing¡ª


    Thud, thud, thud, thud.


    Bowman and Mark both stood up, one behind the other, both looking toward Li Wei, only to find that Li Wei was not celebrating, but instead was staring at them intently¡ª


    That was a murderous look.


    The scent of blood instantly permeated throughout the stadium.


    The confrontation noticeably heated up.


    On one hand, Mark and Bowman, both energized, brought out their best form and engaged in a relentless face-to-face confrontation with Li Wei, with each side having its moments.


    On the other hand, the Kansas Chiefs Offense solidly and steadily pushed forward, blending passes and runs, fully firing up, displaying a different explosive force than the first wave, with the offensive coordinator¡¯s on-site adjustments showcasing the capabilities of trench warfare.


    Despite the Oakland Raiders¡¯ Defensive group giving their all, they still could not execute an effective defense; the intense tangle and collision lasting for five minutes and thirty-three seconds continued all the way to the fringe of the Red Zone.


    Finally, Mark managed by his game¡¯s first quarterback sack to push Kansas City into a Third Gear five-yard dilemma, with more than half of the first quarter gone. The Oakland Raiders finally began to show some momentum, and a subtle shift occurred in the defensive players¡¯ eyes¡ª


    Momentum was building up.


    Of course, even if Kansas City went out on Third Gear here, the Special Duty Group could still try a field goal, but with the Red Zone just within reach, it was inevitably disappointing. More importantly, it allowed the Oakland Raiders to regain momentum, which could entangle the subsequent duel even more.


    Involuntarily, Hill glanced at Li Wei.


    Just in time to be caught by Li Wei, "The Defensive group guys are probably sharpening their knives already."


    A small joke, Hill turned his head to look at the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ side where the Defensive group players, each showing a "it all comes down to us after all" expression, reignited Hill¡¯s fighting spirit once again.


    Not just Hill¡ªthe other players in the Offensive group as well.


    Smith swallowed all the words that had reached his lips, finished setting the tactics, and the Offensive group swiftly lined up.


    In front of the Red Zone, Third Gear five yards.


    "Attack!"


    Smith announced the snap, immediately drawing the attention of the Oakland Raiders¡¯ Defensive group¡ª


    This was a Pistol Formation.


    From Smith¡¯s position, it was clear¡ªthis was a running play.


    Smith stood close to the Center, their position too close to the Defensive line brought immense pressure and also too many interferences with the passing vision; quarterbacks often need to retreat continuously to open up space, but such retreating steps take time and could lead to a lack of passing space in the short passing zones.


    Naturally, running was a very likely event.


    However!


    Smith took the football from the Center and, facing the End Zone, took two steps back and a turn, already passing towards the front left diagonal.


    Wait, was this actually a quick short pass play?


    Vision, following the trajectory of Smith¡¯s pass, could immediately see Kelsey and Hill running two different routes.


    All of this happened in the blink of an eye.

 Chapter 304: 303 flashy but insubstantial

    In football games, generally speaking, the quarterback¡¯s release time needs to be reduced because the longer they hold the ball, the greater the pressure on the offensive line.


    However, from another perspective, if a quarterback releases the ball too quickly and hastily, it often means they haven¡¯t carefully read the defensive formation or the wide receiver¡¯s running routes. The passing target is likely not the best option, and the wide receivers might not even be in position yet.


    Therefore, how to grasp and control this naturally becomes a lesson for quarterbacks.@@@@


    But here¡¯s an exception¡ª


    Quick, short passes.


    The quarterback¡¯s passing route and the wide receiver¡¯s running route are all arranged with precision, after hundreds and thousands of practices, they can reduce the quarterback¡¯s release time and accurately deliver the projectile into the wide receiver¡¯s arms before the defensive group can react.


    Simply put, it¡¯s a play.


    Such passes often have a release time of less than two seconds, sometimes just over a second, leaving the defensive group no time to strategize, only to react instinctively.


    Right now, that¡¯s exactly what¡¯s happening. Experience more tales on novelhall.Co?m


    Smith broke the norm by choosing a quick short pass from the shotgun formation; moreover, Hill and Kelsey ingeniously coordinated with each other, one rushing outward to the sideline and the other crossing inward past the slot, divergent running routes that distracted the defenders, leaving them no time to determine the actual passing target.


    Instantly gaining the tactical high ground.


    Obviously, the Kansas City Chiefs must have practiced such tactics repeatedly in training to apply them at the right time¡ª


    Maybe, that time is now?


    After a close-quarters tussle and tug of war, the Oakland Raiders defensive group had finally regained some sense, with both morale and aggression on the rise. Nagy, the offensive coordinator responsible for calling the plays on the field, seeing a third down five yards to go opportunity before the red zone, decided to pull the trigger.


    Bang!


    Undoubtedly, the Oakland Raiders defensive group was caught off guard, unable to think, reacting only on reflex, the short pass area was engulfed in panic.


    Bowman had fully entered the zone, with intense focus, his first reaction was very timely, a quick stop and turn had already completed his change of direction¡ª


    Moving while looking up, observing the arc of the football¡¯s pass.


    But... where¡¯s the football?


    Quick, short passes, which emphasize speed and brevity, aim to catch the opponent off guard.


    Logically, Smith should have already released the ball by now, but there was no reddish-brown arc in the sky.


    Wait a minute!


    Bowman¡¯s heart clenched sharply, his gaze quickly fell downward: Damn it.


    Li Wei to the right; Mark also to the right.


    Li Wei paused; Mark also paused.


    Li Wei to the left; Mark also to the left.


    In just that flash, the two had already dueled four times, with Mark showing his top-tier skills by tightly marking Li Wei.


    Li Wei immediately noticed¡ª


    Mark was buying time, the Oakland Raiders¡¯ defensive group was catching on; in just over a second, the white wave had changed direction.


    Li Wei was getting anxious.


    He paused, then moved to the right.


    Two consecutive fakes, slightly frantic, while Mark remained calm, closely shadowing Li Wei in every step, impossible to shake off; from NCAA to NFL, this was the first time someone could match Li Wei in changing direction speed and frequency; Mark¡¯s talent was on full display.


    Mark: Heh, mere child¡¯s play. Still the green rookie, see, you¡¯re getting anxious.


    Li Wei indeed was anxious, after three consecutive changes of direction and pauses, he couldn¡¯t shake off Mark and made a split-second decision to charge straight at him.


    Mark was slightly surprised by Li Wei¡¯s head-on approach; but surprise aside, Mark showcased his steadiness and wisdom by moving to the left and executing a Thousand Pounds Drop to control his body.


    Knees bent, center of gravity lowered, arms spread wide to receive the collision.


    This time, he wouldn¡¯t be knocked aside by Li Wei¡¯s bullish charge.


    The same trick wouldn¡¯t work a second time; the rookie still had much to learn.


    Mark tensed his muscles in anticipation¡ª


    But the collision never came.


    As Li Wei neared, his footwork dazzled like Skimming Steps, darting left and right in a blur right in front; Mark, tensed to the limit, awkwardly swayed along.


    The next second, Li Wei had sidestepped, completely bypassing Mark, slipping by him on the left like wisp of light smoke.


    Mark, stunned.


    Then, Mark could see the face inside Li Wei¡¯s helmet, not a hint of anxiety, but a faint smile hanging on the lips¡ª


    Drifting away.


    As effortless as that.


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 Chapter 305: Rubbing salt into the wound 304

    Mark¡¯s eyes bulged, he simply couldn¡¯t believe it. He had followed Li Wei step by step, but never imagined that Li Wei would cunningly take advantage of such a mindset to lure him foolishly into the trap he dug himself¡ªand then bury him in it¡ª


    Mark tried to reach out with his right hand to grab Li Wei, but his stiff muscles were completely frozen in place, unable to move. His calmness disappeared in an instant, and he desperately tried to turn his upper body to follow Li Wei¡¯s movements, but was as awkward and clumsy as R2-D2 from "Star Wars."


    Turning around, then another turn.


    His body couldn¡¯t keep up with the speed of his brain¡¯s reactions, and the next second, Mark simply... fell straight back.


    He tumbled over.


    Shame, profound shame.


    As Mark fell backward, the world turned upside down; his gaze never left Li Wei, as he tried to discern the triumphant smile underneath Li Wei¡¯s helmet, but he could see nothing, only the number 23 receding into the distance.


    "Li Wei!"


    "Li Wei has juked Mark; the best defensive player of last season stood like a wooden pole as Li Wei easily broke through his defense."


    "Whoa!"


    "But Li Wei has not let his guard down."


    "Kerry and Bowman are coming in for the squeeze."


    Li Wei had no time to care about the wooden pole behind him, a crisis loomed before him.


    No matter what, Mark¡¯s shadowing had indeed bought time for his teammates. Kerry and Bowman had arrived galloping, and other towering white waves were closing in at full speed, the passage ahead visibly narrowing.


    A golden opportunity not to be missed, never to return.


    Push off, step forward, accelerate.


    It was just two short steps, but Li Wei switched directions as smoothly as a sprinter transitioning from the curve to the straight in a 200-meter race, exploding with speed without hesitation.


    On the right, was cornerback Kerry.


    On the left was linebacker Bowman.


    A pincer movement from both sides.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t hesitate; his footsteps shifted, deviating from the straight path to the right and crashing through.@@pared to Bowman, Kerry clearly lacked experience, utterly unprepared for what came next. He stuck to Li Wei like he would when covering a wide receiver, entangling him immediately.


    The next second, Li Wei explosively picked up speed, thrusting his right shoulder forward to collide with Kerry.


    Kerry felt a dull pain in his chest as the breath got caught there. He tried to raise his arms to tackle, but they were like two limp noodles, unable to lift, and then he just watched Li Wei getting farther and farther away.


    Kerry tried to keep up, but his mind was roaring as he watched Li Wei run faster and faster, a chasm opening up between them.


    How... how did this happen? Why were his eyes brimming with hot tears?


    Behind Li Wei¡¯s path to touchdown, lay a trail of bodies.


    "Who would have thought that just six weeks ago, the Oakland Raiders had clinched a last-second victory against the Kansas City Chiefs, and thereafter maintained their good form; in contrast, it was the Chiefs who had collapsed, sliding towards the dark abyss?" Find adventures at novelhall.Co?m


    "But such are the Raiders and the Chiefs."


    "You can never underestimate the energy they unleash in division showdowns."


    "Oakland, are you ready? Kansas¡¯ revenge is unfolding!"


    Fly!


    Fly!


    Fly!


    The entire Arrowhead Stadium united in chanting loudly; no one could remain seated, each one rising to pump their fists in the air and jump on the spot.


    The Old Oak Tavern was no exception.


    Provo was the first to stand up, raising his arms high in a touchdown gesture, eyes riveted to the screen with surging emotions, steadfast in signaling:


    Touchdown, that was a touchdown!


    The first quarter had just passed the halfway mark, and it was the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ second touchdown¡ªa passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown¡ªboth by Li Wei.


    Then, Provo saw Li Wei in the end zone, quietly watching the crowd in the stands, without a gesture or a word, but one look was enough.


    "Fly!"


    Provo was the first to shout out¡ª


    He believed, he wanted to believe that as long as that number twenty-three still stood on the field, they were still fighting, they were still ablaze, refusing to lay down arms, refusing to surrender, battling until the very last moment.


    West stood behind the bar, watching Provo cheer oblivious to his surroundings, tasting a complex mix of emotions. Provo, who had been like a lifeless grey shadow up until now, had suddenly regained his color.


    Even in low spirits, even in despair, even when they truly believed life had hit a dead end, one should not give up; just hold on a little longer, just a little bit longer, and perhaps life might take a turn for the better.


    Standing in the mud, they still held their heads high, gazing up at the stars.


    The dazzling and bright red wave on the TV screen was the drive that kept them going.


    Then, West also raised his arms high, joining everyone in the tavern.


    "Fly!"


    Their journey, their adventure, continued to soar.


    Boom.


    Resoundingly, the impassioned surge of Arrowhead Stadium broke through the TV screen and cascaded down, as "those within the League" also joined the clapping ranks.


    There might be only one exception.


    Bart: This episode, he felt like he¡¯d seen it before.


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 Chapter 306 305 Out of tune

    Something seemed slightly amiss¡ª


    Both teams entered the playoffs last season, both were six wins and six losses this season, and they were die-hard rivals in the same division. From all aspects, this was supposed to be a well-matched game, bound to be sparkling with sparks.


    Moreover, considering a series of coincidental events between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Oakland Raiders this season, there were even more highlights added to this game.@@@@


    Industry professionals within the league generally believed that the Oakland Raiders had a slight edge, with seven votes to three believing that the Raiders were very likely to continue pushing the Chiefs toward an endless abyss.


    However. But.


    Was the scene before them normal?


    Standing on the edge of a cliff, the Kansas City Chiefs, who were precariously close to collapse, suddenly rose up strongly and energetically, pinning the Oakland Raiders to the ground and rubbing them fiercely, a swift and fierce attack leaving the Raiders stunned.


    Even Lawson couldn''t help but give Bart a strange look: Could there really be divine power?


    Bart''s veins bulged as he glared back fiercely.


    Since the start of the game, the Raiders Offense remained disoriented, quarterback Carl and wide receiver Cooper seemed to completely lack the magical power they had in their last encounter, utterly lost within the tight defense of the Chiefs, with a series of passes swinging between outrageous and ridiculous¡ª


    Not being intercepted was already fortunate.


    And Lynch seemed... blind, full of energy but continually running into walls, tightly locked down by the Chiefs'' front line defense, continuously intercepting Lynch, making the generally reticent Lynch appear somewhat withdrawn.


    Clearly, the Chiefs Defense was not ready to let the offense overshadow them; the competition was not only against the Oakland Raiders but also within the Chiefs team, to see who could more effectively and forcefully crush this century-long rival.


    In the first four offensive waves, the Raiders managed only one first attack, a pitiful one at that, Carl''s time on the field was even less than five minutes, hurriedly coming on and then hurriedly leaving. Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    Everything was a discordant mess, incomprehensible.


    Cooper stood on the sidelines with a look of frustration, the anger burning inside him with no outlet, raging through his organs.


    "Be careful, be careful!"


    Stumbling, Li Wei and Kerry got tangled up and burst out of bounds.


    They almost bumped into Cooper, and even though they didn''t, Cooper''s anger instantly flared up, his rationality breached, and before he knew it, he reflexively pushed Li Wei with both hands, chest thrust out confrontationally.


    But he saw, Li Wei reacted quickly, his right hand curled into a fist and lifted fiercely, his fist, large as a bowl, smashed toward Cooper without hesitation.


    Just like the start of the game, when Li Wei scored a touchdown with a 75-yard run to lay the foundation, instantly reversing weeks of Kansas City Chiefs'' slump and difficulties, the Oakland Raiders needed the same.


    Mark''s eyes were fixed on Li Wei¡ª


    Pride leads to a downfall.


    Now, he watched as Li Wei strutted, but he was going to make Li Wei pay the price.


    Indeed, that was the case.


    The Oakland Raiders Defense continued to rise, following the earlier forced field goal attempt, this offensive and defensive clash was also vibrant. Despite allowing the Kansas City Chiefs to secure three first downs past the midfield, two of these drives ended up in third down conversions.


    Mark was demonstrating his leadership qualities.


    Sure enough¡ª


    He made a successful hit on the quarterback.


    Mark once again descended like a tiger, disrupting the Chiefs'' passing game, forcing Smith to make a hurried pass that not only failed to connect with Hill but nearly got intercepted by Bowman. The entire defensive intensity was up.


    Second down, ten yards.


    Mark ignored Smith, who was on the ground, and turned to see Li Wei coming to help Smith up. His gaze behind the helmet fiercely glared at Li Wei, clearly saying¡ª


    This is the price for angering the Raiders.


    His steps did not pause, but one could feel the sparks still intensifying.


    Li Wei noticed too. If they couldn''t effectively contain the current defensive group, the Oakland Raiders'' counterattack could strike at any moment.


    This was just right; otherwise, a crushing victory would be too boring.


    Originally, the Kansas City Chiefs tried to break the routine by opting for a pass instead of a run on first down, but the move was anticipated by the opponents. Now, with a second down and ten yards situation, should they continue to pass or choose to run?


    Smith was observing the defensive formation, and Li Wei was also reading the defense, instantly noting the restless, ready-to-strike Mark and Lineman group, clearly preparing to pressure the pass.


    The air was completely tense¡ª


    "Attack!"


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 Chapter 307 306 is everywhere

    Pass or run?


    Second down with ten yards to go, facing the defensive group whose performance was steadily improving, how would the Kansas City Chiefs'' offense choose their tactics?


    The answer, of course, was... to run.


    Mark''s focus was intense, and he immediately noticed Smith and Li Wei''s handoff. With a misstep, he drove his left shoulder into Fisher''s right, this time, Fisher wasn''t easily shaken off. He clung to Mark, steadfastly refusing to let him break through again and again.


    Mark wasn''t surprised.


    Even though Fisher wasn''t considered a top player, his ability to be the first overall draft pick was rooted in his physical qualities. Once he made an accurate prediction, Fisher could still carry out his offensive line duties, and do it very well.


    As the game progressed, Fisher didn''t allow Mark to have his way. The confrontation had begun.


    Mark mentally prepared himself. This time, he didn''t try to shake Fisher off. Instead, shoulder against shoulder, he kept pushing forward, stepping up, exerting force, forcefully disrupting the balance, making Fisher spin like a carousel.


    Bang!


    Fisher was left reeling, while Mark slipped into the pocket alongside Fisher''s spinning body. Although not completely free, their bodies entangled, he spread his arms wide, blocking the path that Li Wei was advancing on.


    Wait¡ª


    A fake run and an actual pass?


    Mark, delayed by Fisher, was half a beat late when he realized the football was still in Smith''s hands; moreover, Li Wei hadn''t chosen to come up and block, but was still running along his slot route.


    Damn it.


    A foreboding feeling gripped Mark''s heart, as the nightmare of the start of the game quickly woke up.


    Mark''s second reaction followed immediately¡ª


    He didn''t think Li Wei was an exceptional wide receiver, with routes, footwork, posture, and control all very raw. Just one collision was all he needed to disrupt Li Wei''s catch, ridiculously easy.


    In an instant, Mark unleashed a burst of power, taking a violent step forward.


    Fisher was completely spun around, dizzy from losing his balance: Why is it always me getting hurt?


    Li Wei moved quickly diagonally along the right sideline, while Mark, after breaking away from Fisher, kept pace, closing the gap between them¡ªchase ensued in the blink of an eye.


    He''s closer.


    Mark stepped up his pace to full speed, while Li Wei, looking back over his shoulder, began to adjust his steps to catch the ball. The distance between them rapidly closed as one sped up and the other slowed down.


    Even closer.


    With his back to Smith and facing Li Wei, Mark couldn''t see what was happening behind him; Li Wei was all that was in view.


    "Moreover, he''s even helping Kelsey block."


    "Running. Passing. Blocking. Li Wei is omnipresent, enveloping the Oakland Raiders like a shadow."


    Second gear ten yards?


    No, with Li Wei''s coverage and blocking, Kelsey advanced a full twenty-three yards, eventually being brought down within a triple-team tackle.


    So what is called offensive explosiveness¡ª


    This, is explosiveness.


    When Mark and Bowman got up, the thing they worried about still happened; Li Wei played decoy again. As they became overwhelmed, reminding themselves over and over not to fall for it, they still stepped right into the trap.


    After exchanging a glance, Mark could instantly see Li Wei turning to look back at him.


    Gaze as sharp as a dagger, unyielding.


    No words, no gestures, a single fierce look was enough to easily ignite the flames, with the surrounding smoke spreading everywhere.


    An exchange, a response, this is what they call an eye for an eye.


    Mark felt aggrieved: was that rookie just taunting him? Fine, very well then, let them settle it on the field. He would certainly fulfill the rookie''s wish.


    On one hand, Mark for the first time in the game stopped Li Wei right on the kickoff line, roaring to the sky like Hulk.


    On the other hand, Li Wei and Kelsey once again performed their coordinated dance past the defense, this time with Kelsey blocking and Li Wei advancing, narrowly completing a third gear six-yard conversion.


    On one hand, Bowman stepped up in time to make a tackle on Hill, and though Hill caught the ball, it was a near thing to create a fumble, and the intensity of the defense was ramping up.


    On the other hand, Hunter came on as a wide receiver to help the team complete a third gear four-yard conversion.


    Back and forth, bayonets clashed, there was no need for a commentator to further explain, the audience could feel the blood and murderous intent permeating the field.


    And to explode on the verge of the Red Zone.


    Originally, the Oakland Raiders had pulled off a beautiful three-and-out, but because Kerry was flagged for holding Kelsey without the ball, they not only gave up the play but were penalized in yardage.


    Similarly, Kansas City Chief Hunter had caught a five-yard short pass to the edge of the end zone, but was penalized for jersey holding, nullifying the play and even costing them ten yards.


    The yellow flags kept coming, disrupting the flow of the game.


    Players from both teams were noticeably charged with aggression, with the tension between these division rivals escalating. The Oakland Raiders realized they needed to stop their opponent''s offense, and the Kansas City Chiefs realized they had to suppress their opponent''s rising momentum; the whole first half''s atmosphere hinged on this single offensive and defensive play.


    Even though the game became fragmented, it had to be said, this was normal¡ª


    The Oakland Raiders weren''t some pushover that couldn''t fight back, nor were the Kansas City Chiefs the sword that began the season with a six-game winning streak.


    The one-sided "0:17" at the start was more of an illusion, the true battlefield to determine the victory was right before their eyes.


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 Chapter 308 307 Digging ones own grave

    Third Gear three yards.


    The Oakland Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs had been locked in a bitter struggle in the Red Zone for over two minutes, and now the Chiefs were just five yards from the end zone, yet the blood battle continued, as pure and fierce as the three hundred Spartans, with both sides showing their fighting spirit.


    With no retreat, the Oakland Raiders erupted with incredible energy in a desperate situation, attempting to keep their century-old enemy outside the end zone.


    The air was burning.


    Before Smith had announced the start of the play, one could hear the sounds of taut muscles and heavy breathing on both sides of the line, ready to explode.


    Then.


    Someone moved.


    Tap tap tap.


    Li Wei shifted from behind Smith on the left to the right, instantly noticing Bowman straighten up and follow suit, shadowing Li Wei''s every step.


    Immediately after, Li Wei moved back from the right to the left, with Bowman continuing to follow without fail; at the same time, Li Wei did not stay behind Smith but stood parallel to him, with Wide Receiver Hill directly ahead.


    All signs indicated that Li Wei was very likely to play the role of wide receiver once again, avoiding the side defended by Mark and coordinating routes with Hill¡ª


    This was a brand-new partnership.


    Clearly, the Kansas City Chiefs, in their predicament of consecutive losses, were constantly seeking to change, with many tactics likely rehearsed in team training.@@@@


    Something new meant unfamiliarity and also required the defensive group to adapt on the spot, which the Oakland Raiders had already suffered from more than once in today''s game.


    So, although Tight End Kelsey was on the right and by convention that''s the strong side, the Raiders could not neglect Li Wei''s presence.


    Thus, with the right as the strong side and the left also appearing strong, the Raiders suddenly found themselves in a predicament.


    Was Li Wei just a smoke bomb?


    Mark glanced at Li Wei out of the corner of his eye: Coward, afraid of a head-to-head confrontation.


    He cursed silently, but immediately returned his focus, thinking that with Li Wei on the other side, he could concentrate his attention entirely on Smith.


    "Sorry, Alex, I might have to take it out on you."


    Far from relaxing, Mark became even more proactive, like a cheetah, his ferocious gaze causing Fisher, his opponent, to involuntarily swallow hard.


    The already explosive atmosphere grew tenser as Li Wei continued to move left and right, splitting the focus and agitating nerves even further.


    At that moment¡ª


    Similarly, Nagy showed why Reed trusted him, with a diversionary tactic like drawing the tiger away from the mountain, confusing the enemy as Smith deliberately delayed the throw to connect with Li Wei.


    When Bowman finally arrived to hit Smith hard, he was still unable to prevent the football from being delivered into Li Wei''s arms.


    Damn!


    2.3 seconds, Smith''s delayed throw still accurately controlled the rhythm, completing the pass before Bowman could get the sack, executing a complete Universe Moving Technique in the offensive strategy.


    But, if that was all, wasn''t Nagy digging his own grave?


    For one, Li Wei''s footsteps were still in the pocket, not even close to the line of scrimmage.


    Secondly, the Oakland Raiders'' red zone defense had fully collapsed by the time Smith''s delayed throw was made, and they had already reacted and were coming at him from all sides.


    Meaning, although the football had gone from Smith to Li Wei, not only was there no way for Li Wei to break through, but the delay had led him into an encirclement.


    What kind of self-sabotaging tactic was this?


    Li Wei had just caught the football and looked up to see the white wave engulfing the red flame in front of him¡ª


    Cornerbacks, safeties, linemen, all closing in.


    Moreover, they were aware that Li Wei was good at breaking through the sidelines, evident from his running stance, preemptively cutting off his path, ready to encircle him the moment he positioned himself.


    From the line of scrimmage to the end zone, five yards, step by step.


    What was worse, Li Wei was still five yards away from the line of scrimmage.


    So, really, had Nagy lost his mind?


    Li Wei didn''t have time to answer such a foolish question. After catching the football, his first step was a feint to the right, and immediately he could see Mark mirroring him step by step.


    A sudden stop!


    Just one step, and Li Wei instantly braked, catching Mark completely off guard, already wobbling and stumbling, he slipped and fell once more.


    Boos echoed from the stands: Mark, can you even handle it? A man who isn''t stable on his feet is really no good.


    Mark had no time to care, caught up in shock and impact, because Li Wei didn''t change direction again, preparing to break through directly from the slot.


    The slot?


    Not the sidelines, but the slot?


    How could it be the slot!


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 Chapter 309 308 Cut Off Breathing

    Shock, impact¡ª


    In the blink of an eye, Mark barely had time to react, to display his inherent talent in this crisis. Even after slipping twice and losing his balance, he hadn''t completely exhausted his strength. Supporting himself with his left hand on the ground, he used the strength of his torso to straighten up, standing up quickly like a roly-poly toy.


    It wasn''t over!


    He refused to let it end!


    Taking a lateral step to his own right, Mark intercepted the slot, but before he could step forward, a figure blocked his way like a wall, casting a shadow over him.


    Kelsey?


    Mark was stunned, completely puzzled as to why Kelsey was there.


    Wait, where did Kelsey appear from? Where were the linemen and cornerbacks who were supposed to be opposite him?@@@@


    Kerry: He can''t be stopped, he really can''t be stopped.


    But Mark had no time to think it over, Li Wei had already gained space to advance, continued moving along the slot, and had dashed past the scrimmage line in the blink of an eye.


    Whooosh, breakthrough.


    The Oakland Raiders'' defensive group was thrown into disarray, caught off guard just like Mark. Li Wei unexpectedly chose the narrow path inside rather than the wide open space outside, completely overturning the norm.


    One, two, three¡ªdefensive players were all urgently braking and restarting, the once menacing white wave suddenly thrown into confusion.


    The air once again converged to block Li Wei.


    And Li Wei?


    He turned sideways, tiptoed, slipped quickly through the gap; then bent his knees, lowered his center of gravity, and had already charged forward with his left shoulder.


    Planted his feet, exerted his strength¡ª


    Rhino charge.


    Bang.


    Contact, impact.


    Li Wei didn''t look up, but he could guess¡ªit was probably the lineman.


    Despite avoiding the densely defended outer area, there were still defensive players inside, only five yards from the end zone. The density of the defenders was beyond imagination.


    Now, there was only one way forward¡ªstraight through.


    Ah, exerting force.


    Ahhhh, full exertion of strength!


    Hard! Hit! Hard!


    "The Oakland Raiders finally managed to muster some resistance on defense¡ªnot even having time to counterattack, merely struggling to hold on; but the Kansas City Chiefs gave no chances and snuffed it out directly."


    "In the last face-off in Oakland, the Raiders, who pulled off a last-second victory, were completely helpless, totally pinned to the ground and overpowered on both offense and defense, with Lynch and Cooper invisible, and Mark powerless to turn the tide."


    "The Kansas City Chiefs, with their unparalleled performance, told the league''s skeptics: do not underestimate them, their tumultuous season is not yet over."


    "My God!"


    "What exactly are we witnessing?"


    Ahhhh!


    Ahhhh!


    Arrowhead Stadium went mad, losing its sense altogether, plunging into a frenzy¡ª


    With a past of six consecutive losses and the new and old enmities of a divisional arch-rival, coupled with the high stakes of potentially being edged out of the playoffs hanging over their necks, even the most hardcore, loyal, and blindly optimistic fans hadn''t foreseen the course of the game.


    Perhaps, they still steadfastly believed that the Kansas City Chiefs could turn the tide and defeat the Oakland Raiders, but they also respected the opponent strategically and treated them seriously, anticipating a tough battle, just like most of this season''s games for the Chiefs, where the outcome often could only be determined in the fourth quarter.


    However! But, unexpectedly!


    "0:24."


    Before the first half had even ended, the Kansas City Chiefs were already far ahead, not only shutting out the opponent but also scoring on every offensive drive thus far.


    Simply unstoppable!


    The Kansas City Chiefs were aiming for more than just a victory, a victory to end their six-game losing streak, a sweet revenge victory, a victory to keep their playoff hopes alive, but also a strong comeback victory¡ª


    They remained one of the most competitive teams in the league this season.


    In the Old Oak Tavern, Anderson stood quietly in place, his face blank as if he were a fool:


    Watching Provos with his arms raised, cheering joyfully as if the Kansas City Chiefs had just won the Super Bowl, watching West awkwardly turn around to wipe his tears, hiding his deep emotions, watching face after face around him, marked by the hardships of unemployment and economic depression, shine with renewed light.


    Unconsciously, a warm surge swelled in his chest, a mix of happiness and bitterness slightly swelling, and the corners of his mouth naturally curled upwards.


    He just knew, he knew they could keep believing in their home team, he knew they could believe in that bright-eyed, confident young man, that a small spark was enough to keep them persevering through pain and adversity.


    Then.


    Anderson saw on the television screen, the figure wearing jersey number twenty-three breaking free from the layers of players, taking a step forward to stand in the end zone, looking up at the surging sea of red ahead, left hand holding the football, right hand on his chest, listening intently.


    A surge of impulse erupted, and Anderson, uncommonly, shouted out¡ª


    "Fly!"


    Gradually, gradually, that wave of sound spread from the Old Oak Tavern to Arrowhead Stadium and finally gathered into a swirl over the skies of Kansas City.


    The world, a roaring expanse.


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 Chapter 310 Finish work early at 309

    The ESPN studio was as silent as the grave, while on the TV, the fiery red flames seemed to escape the confines of the screen and gush forth, unreasonably dragging the studio''s occupants into the tempest.


    Four years ago, it was the same Arrowhead Stadium, against the same Oakland Raiders, when Kansas City Chiefs fans released a thunderous wave of support, shattering the World Record created by the home crowd of the Seattle Seahawks and making history.


    Everyone in the ESPN studio at this moment had witnessed that match live, but compared to today''s spectacle, it was but a minor prelude.


    Before their eyes, it was more than just noise; they could deeply sense the strength and spirit firmly twisted into one from the bottom up, inside out¡ªthe unified cheers transforming into spreading magma, burning intensely.


    "Fly!"


    "Fly!"


    In this moment, fans and players, team and city, seemed to truly merge into one, united in facing their divisional arch-rival and bursting with high morale.


    It was spectacular and grand.


    In this fleeting moment, people temporarily forgot which team they supported, wholeheartedly appreciating the purest and most beautiful aspect of competitive sports, their hearts surging involuntarily.


    Perhaps there was one exception.


    Bart: Heh heh.


    When Li Wei was tightly surrounded by the Oakland Raiders, three layers inside and three layers outside, there was a brief moment when he ignited hope; but it was quickly extinguished as he watched Li Wei break through the wall and fell into despair¡ª


    Denial. Anger. Bargaining. Depression. Acceptance.


    Those five stages flashed by in a blur, then Bart''s heart sank hard, crashing down into countless shattered pieces in a free fall.


    His face, where was it?


    Heh, the face was long gone, and slaps couldn''t even be felt anymore; now he was lying flat, open to mockery, with a heart dead as ashes, life no longer worth living.


    Bart felt that he could become a monk.


    For the game before him, Bart couldn''t think of a beginning, a middle, or an end; from any angle, he could not deduce a halftime score of "0:24," and that remained true even if he was completely objective and rational. Yet bizarrely, such a thing was unfolding before his eyes.


    However, Carl still continued the pattern from the end of the first half, seemingly regaining a bit of form, stumbling through to achieve some first downs; but as soon as they crossed midfield against the intensity of the Kansas City Chiefs Defense, they quickly faltered and were struck out in quick succession.


    On the other hand, the Kansas Chiefs Offense remained dominant. Nagy consciously began controlling the tempo of the game, not rushing to get the fatal touchdown, combining passing and running more smoothly and tensely, and always managing to advance successfully, leaving the Oakland Raiders Defense powerless to resist.


    The back-and-forth tug-of-war was noticeably fiercer and more contentious, yet the Kansas City Chiefs still maintained a firm grip on the game. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire


    "0:34."


    By the end of the third quarter, the Oakland Raiders had yet to score, while the Kansas City Chiefs methodically expanded their advantage, going into the final quarter with an insurmountable lead.


    Then¡ª


    Some commotion arose on the field, with a noticeably jovial atmosphere and laughter in the Kansas City Chiefs'' sideline area, the scene lively.


    "Hmm? Wait a minute, what''s happening on the field? It''s not clear from here."


    In the broadcast booth, Pash didn''t understand; but in the studio, Bart, upon seeing this scene, quickly scanned the field and realized what was happening. The realization made him go pale: damn.


    Then applause erupted in the stands, someone led a standing ovation, and cheers and clapping spread throughout the stadium in an instant.


    "Oh, Smith is taking off his helmet, ready to rest, and backup quarterback Mahomes is about to enter the game."


    "Wow, Reed, Reed is really... bold!"


    "After a six-game losing streak, to daringly choose to end the workday after three quarters and send in the backup lineup for the final quarter, this is... impressive!"


    "But no matter what, Mahomes, the first-round tenth overall pick from this year''s draft, is about to make his debut, stepping onto the NFL field for the first time representing the Kansas City Chiefs. Now we''ll finally get to see how this young man performs."


    Mahomes couldn''t believe his ears, sitting obediently on the bench, his pro debut opportunity unexpectedly upon him.


    Subconsciously, Mahomes looked towards Li Wei, "What, what should I do?"


    Li Wei revealed a big grin, "The helmet, don''t forget your helmet."


    Mahomes, dazed and confused, put on his helmet without even knowing which way to go and entered the game. He hadn''t even prepared mentally before being faced with his first appearance.


    All around the stadium, the applause was thunderous, offering the warmest welcome to the team''s future. The overwhelming wave of enthusiasm left Mahomes standing in place, somewhat stunned.


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 Chapter 311: 310 Without bloodshed

    "Snap, Chieftain."@@@@


    "Snap, Chieftain."


    Just by gently lifting his chin, Mahomes could take in the boiling red sea of the entire stadium, a scene he had imagined over and over during training, in strategy meetings, and in his dreams; yet the moment his feet truly touched the field, the reality was a hundred times more beautiful and a thousand times more thrilling than anything he had imagined.


    His heart pounded like a drum.


    Clearly, like everyone else, Mahomes was surprised. In a life-or-death battle against a division rival, a crucial fight where the season hung in the balance, the team had to give it their all from every angle, and unless the quarterback was injured, the backup had no chance to play.


    But then, it happened.


    Mahomes felt like he was stepping on cotton, extremely excited yet completely disoriented, which confused him.


    "Sherlock..."


    "Sherlock!"


    A thunderous voice pulled Mahomes out of his thoughts, and then he saw that familiar smiling face hidden behind the helmet¡ª


    Li Wei.


    Reed noticed Mahomes¡¯s bewilderment.


    Originally, according to the plan, Reed was to have the second team replace the starting lineup, giving the starters a rest; it was a perfect time for the team to prepare for the playoffs, where the impact of injuries and fitness would be more pronounced and bench depth would play a crucial role.


    After all, Mahomes usually trained with the second team.


    But thinking it over, Reed decided to put Li Wei in to help Mahomes transition.


    After making this decision, Reed suddenly realized that Li Wei was playing an increasingly important role in the team; everything seemed so natural.


    The scene in front of him confirmed that Reed¡¯s decision was correct.


    Li Wei patted Mahomes on the shoulder, looking relaxed and teen up, "So, ready to have some fun?"


    Li Wei knew Mahomes was ready, always preparing for his chance on the field, eager to showcase his talent and ability; all Li Wei needed to do was stand by his side¡ª


    Everything was just like training, and that was enough.


    Indeed.


    Mahomes took the football into his arms and started celebrating with other second-string teammates who arrived sprinting, neatly lining up to perform the Four Little Swans¡ª


    You can¡¯t look.


    Mahomes was also pulled in, but by the time they came to their senses, the other touchdown hero, Li Wei, had quietly returned to the sideline, seamlessly sitting on the bench, laughing and chatting with other main players of the offense, as if enjoying a Christmas evening show.


    Kelsey was laughing so hard he knelt down.


    "Wow, another touchdown!"


    "Moreover, this time it was a forty-seven yard long pass for a touchdown, the Kansas City Chiefs have entered a show mode, pushing the Oakland Raiders into the abyss of despair."


    "Li Wei, what is it that he can¡¯t do?"


    "Up to now, Li Wei has rushed for 133 yards, been targeted twice in passes, catching both successfully for 122 yards, with two rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns."


    "Just over a quarter into the game, and Li Wei could already clock out."


    "After enduring six straight losses, the Kansas City Chiefs rebounded remarkably with rookie Li Wei once again proving his worth, an unmatched performance that completely shattered the Oakland Raiders¡¯ defense."


    "If Li Wei isn¡¯t named the American League¡¯s Offensive Player of the Week this week, it would be hard to conclude."


    Afterwards, Li Wei also clocked out, leaving the ground running duties to second running back Hunter and the third and fourth running backs; likewise, the defensive group completed a full rotation, fielding the second-string lineup.


    The Oakland Raiders still did not give up¡ª


    For a very simple reason.


    If they surrendered in the game against the Kansas City Chiefs, they might not be able to return to Oakland.


    Facing the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ second team, the Oakland Raiders finally showed a bit of toughness, relying on Lynch¡¯s twenty-four yard run to score a touchdown, barely managing to break their drought by the fourth quarter.


    However, the good times didn¡¯t last long.


    In the garbage time, Carl shockingly threw an interception, ruining a great situation for the Oakland Raiders; subsequently, the Raiders tried a gamble kick, finally succeeding but only earning a field goal.


    The scene was somewhat comedic.


    The Oakland Raiders kept on struggling, making a lot of noise in the garbage time, but compared to the stir created, the outcome was particularly pitiful.


    "10:44".


    The game ended, the Kansas City Chiefs effortlessly defeated the Oakland Raiders at home, ending a long wait after six consecutive losses.

 Chapter 312: 311 Combat Provoker

    The much-anticipated showdown that had everyone¡¯s eyes, in the end, turned out to be an unexpected blowout, with the Kansas City Chiefs grinding the Oakland Raiders into the dirt. But this also proved one thing¡ª


    The games between these divisional rivals are always unpredictable.


    Just as people hadn¡¯t foreseen the Oakland Raiders pulling off a cold upset over the Kansas City Chiefs six weeks ago, ending their own four-game losing streak, neither had they anticipated the Chiefs utterly demolishing the Raiders this time around to end a six-game skid and make a strong comeback.


    Both encounters this season between Kansas and Oakland ended up being surprises that continued an excellent tradition.


    But¡ª


    "What exactly happened this past week?"


    At the post-game press conference, journalists couldn¡¯t wait to ask the question on everyone¡¯s mind, as this week¡¯s Kansas City Chiefs seemed like a completely different team.


    Li Wei, standing once again under the spotlight, face calm and composed, "Nothing happened."


    "Huh?" The journalist didn¡¯t believe him.


    "We stuck to our normal training, our normal preparations; there were no special changes; we kept our belief, still confident that we are one of the most competitive teams in the league, still preparing for the playoffs."


    "That¡¯s all there is to it."


    Although people are always prone to look for a key moment that turns the tides, in the world of competitive sports, such twists are often invisible:


    A touchdown, an interception, a moment of standing firm against the opponent in adversity¡ªall it takes to ignite belief and overturn the situation.


    Whether it¡¯s the players or the team, they don¡¯t become stronger overnight. It¡¯s the intangible yet real factors¡ªbelief, condition, feeling¡ªthat are key to making transformative changes in the sporting arena.


    Li Wei was being honest, but clearly, the journalists didn¡¯t believe it:


    Yeah right, as if they would believe it.


    During the past six weeks, as the Kansas City Chiefs were in a slump, all sorts of media had taken the opportunity to kick them when they were down, dissecting the team both inside and out, as hard on Li Wei now as they had praised him before.


    Now, however, with the calm and composed Li Wei before them, the journalists felt guilty as if they were criminals, steadfastly believing this was Li Wei¡¯s revenge.


    But, what goes around comes around, and after the Chiefs¡¯ exuberant victory, even they softened their rhetoric.


    That does not mean the journalists would give up.


    Whether the former or the latter, the buzzing conversations filled the room, and the press conference, like a stone thrown into a pond, quickly rippled throughout the entire League.


    Regular season MVP?


    Li Wei, rookie, running back, are you serious?


    But then again, why not?


    By the thirteenth week of the regular season, Li Wei¡¯s performance was undoubtedly top tier, with on-field achievements serving as his best credential, while the League had already given its acknowledgment.


    Firstly, concerning rookie achievements.


    Li Wei won the Rookie of the Month for September and October, and the November award went to quarterback DeShaun Watson.


    Next, in terms of League-wide recognitions, which include all players, there are awards for the Player of the Week and Player of the Month; these are awarded separately for the National Conference and the American League for Offensive Player, Defensive Player, and Special Duty Group Player.


    From the American League, Li Wei earned four Offensive Player of the Week honors, leading over quarterback Brady, who claimed it three times.


    Moreover, Li Wei also secured both September and October Offensive Player of the Month honors, becoming the first rookie in half a century of the NFL to simultaneously sweep the Rookie of the Month and American/National Conference Offensive Player of the Month awards for two consecutive months.


    Every single achievement was historic.


    If these were not enough, the actual statistical records revealed even more historical feats, leaving aside Li Wei¡¯s Asian identity, every step he took on the NFL field was history in the making.


    Rushing yards, 1,636; rushing touchdowns, 18.


    Records in all aspects.


    In terms of ground yards, Li Wei surpassed Peterson, becoming the running back in NFL history to accumulate over a thousand rushing yards in the fewest games¡ª


    Peterson did it in eight games; Li Wei managed in just seven.


    Also, Li Wei became the running back with the most yards gained in a rookie season without a single fumble, not only efficient and powerful but also error-free.


    Of course, that still wasn¡¯t all; with three weeks left in the regular season, Li Wei still had the opportunity to continue setting records and etching a resplendent mark in the long annals of NFL history.


    Don¡¯t forget, this is the era of passing, an era where running backs are undervalued.


    This is what¡¯s truly astonishing.

 Chapter 313: 312 top traffic

    "A question, just how strong is Li Wei?"


    "Currently, the main records for rookie running backs in the League were set by the legendary running back Eric Dickson in 1984. It has been thirty-three years and no one has broken them after they were sealed away for thirty-three years."


    "1,808 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns."


    "For thirty-three years, generation after generation of young players have attempted to break these rookie season records, but all have failed; even the gifted stars like Tomlinson and Peterson haven¡¯t managed to break the records."


    "Is it because they weren¡¯t exceptional enough?"


    "No, of course not, they have all proven their legendary status; a more important reason is, the League¡¯s trend is now shifting from running to passing, narrowing down the living space for running backs, and the chances for rookie running backs to bear significant responsibilities are even fewer, making it increasingly difficult to maintain high output throughout an entire rookie season."


    "Until now."


    "Li Wei is less than two hundred yards away from Dickson¡¯s rushing record, and he has already matched Dickson¡¯s touchdown record."


    "Note that Li Wei¡¯s team is the Kansas City Chiefs, known for their passing offense, with Reed as the head coach, and their rushing offense had been only mid-tier in the league for the past two seasons."


    "Li Wei has not only proven he¡¯s not just any system player, but he has also demonstrated his ability to turn the tide and decide the outcome of a game."


    "So, when we talk about Li Wei, it is far more than just a set of data."


    "I think, Li Wei certainly has the qualifications to enter the discussion for regular season MVP."


    "Blair, what do you think?" Experience more content on Freewebnovel@@@@


    On the show "Inside the League," with a sudden switch, Lawson threw the topic at Bart, who was caught off guard like he¡¯d been struck by lightning, realizing only a second later that everyone¡¯s eyes had turned towards him.


    Bart took a deep breath, knowing he had once again found himself in a tight spot; moreover, this time the Chiefs¡¯ complete victory over the Oakland Raiders was, in a sense, even more unexpected and shocking than any other game this season, leaving Bart without even his underpants.


    But what could he do?


    "Are you sure you want to ask my opinion?"


    Bart said with self-mockery, prompting laughter throughout the studio¡ª


    The moniker "Football Bailey" had officially made its mark, and even fans were joking about him, with all sorts of memes flooding social media.


    "He¡¯s performed well, but I¡¯ve done better."


    "Let¡¯s not talk about a joke like the regular season MVP, why not discuss Rookie of the Year instead? I believe I deserve that title more than he does."


    Kamara had had enough of Li Wei since the Rookie Training Camp. He did not think that Li Wei was better than any other running back this year. If it wasn¡¯t for the label of an Asian player, how could he have drawn so much attention and be picked so early in the first round, third overall?


    Meanwhile, Kamara was just a third-round, sixty-seventh overall selection.


    Regular season MVP?


    Heh, that was a joke, and Kamara was the first to refute it.


    In fact, Kamara wasn¡¯t just talking big.


    This year at the draft, the conversation about running backs was focused entirely on the "big three" carriages: Fournette, Li Wei, and McCaffrey, to the point where other running backs were completely overlooked and ignored. But once the regular season started, Fournette¡¯s and McCaffrey¡¯s performances were slightly below expectations, leaving only Li Wei struggling alone, once again proving¡ª


    The draft was essentially a show, at its core a game of marketing and promotion, with everyone viewing through a foggy lens while believing they could see clearly. But only time would tell the truth.


    Fournette and McCaffrey didn¡¯t meet expectations, but Kamara rose impressively instead.


    After joining the New Orleans Saints, Kamara, backing up the former Crimson Tide Storm running back Mark Ingram, brought top-level performance despite limited playtime.


    In Week 11, Kamara became the first player since Herschel Walker in 1986 to achieve 500 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in a single season.


    In Week 13, Kamara became the fourth player in history to reach 600 rushing yards and 600 receiving yards, tying with the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ Gurley for eleven touchdowns, ranking second in the league in touchdown count, just behind the far-leading... Li Wei.


    At the Kansas City Chiefs, rookie running back Hunter earned his place with his ability in both rushing and receiving, also becoming a hot topic in the league; but in front of Kamara, Hunter¡¯s numbers seemed a bit dim.


    If it weren¡¯t for the Los Angeles Rams running back Gurley¡¯s strong performance in the National Conference, Kamara might have gained more than just two Offensive Player of the Week honors.


    So, when Kamara attacked Li Wei, the media immediately realized¡ª


    Here comes the talking point.


    Afterwards, when the topic reached Li Wei, this annual hot topic still looked innocently with a clear gaze towards the camera.


    "Who?"

 Chapter 314: 313 throwing a sprat to catch a herring

    Actually, the regular season MVP discussion frenzy centered around Li Wei had nothing to do with Kamara; the reporters didn¡¯t even notice him.


    But when Kamara spoke up, the media suddenly became lively¡ª


    "Li Wei VS Kamara."


    This year¡¯s rookies were all lackluster, and Li Wei stood out so much that the media had been feeling empty and lonely for a long time.


    The most absurd and amusing part was that many outsiders, when mentioning Li Wei, assumed he was the top pick, constantly talking about how a top pick should be, only to be shocked when they learned Li Wei was actually the third pick:


    "What¡¯s the deal with the team that had the top pick?"


    Cleveland Browns: Do not disturb, already dead.


    Although Kamara performed excellently, he and Li Wei belonged to different leagues, and one being a third-round pick and the other a top scholar, there wasn¡¯t much to compare. Furthermore, Li Wei seemed to have risen to a whole new level beyond that of a rookie, so the media stopped fueling the fire.


    But who would have thought, Kamara showed up uninvited?


    Immediately, the media became excited¡ª


    Finally!


    A challenger among the rookies appeared, boldly confronting Li Wei, and a running back just like him; things suddenly got interesting.


    At least in the Rookie of the Year awards, Kamara was indeed Li Wei¡¯s direct competitor.


    The moment it happened, reporters surrounded the Kansas City Chiefs Training Facility three layers deep; Kelsey and others saw this scene and were no longer surprised. This season had become a routine part of their lives, they even joked with Li Wei.


    "Rookie, someone is looking for you."


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    When Li Wei appeared, he was greeted by a barrage of flashes.


    However, when a reporter threw out a question, Li Wei still looked genuinely sincere.


    "Who?"


    It wasn¡¯t meant to target anyone, but who was that guy?


    The reporters had to rack their brains and pull out the little incident between Li Wei and Kamara at the Rookie Training Camp to finally jog Li Wei¡¯s memory.


    "Oh, oh, the one who face-planted during the catch, right?"


    Kamara: You¡¯re the one who did a face-plant, your whole family did a face-plant!


    Brady chuckled.


    MVP?


    What credentials did this kid have in his career, and to compare him to Brady¡¯s career, it was utterly ridiculous. Despite losing the season opener, Brady did start to take the rookie seriously; but that didn¡¯t mean much.


    Because it was so ridiculous, he burst out laughing.


    However, the battle-hardened Brady didn¡¯t lose his composure easily and showed his characteristic charming smile, his teeth gleamed against the snow¡¯s reflection.


    "I look forward to our next encounter," he said.


    "I know these young guys all want to beat me. I¡¯m like a moving target, he¡¯s not the first, nor will he be the last, but I¡¯m ready for any challenge."


    "I¡¯m more motivated now than in any past season. I¡¯m right here, won¡¯t go anywhere, and won¡¯t be easily defeated."


    Strong, confident, and composed, Brady once again displayed the demeanor of a champion.


    Most importantly, Brady subtly put down Li Wei¡ª


    Many youngsters like Li Wei come and go, each season brings its new sensations, just like carps crossing the river, yet Brady remains standing.


    The subtext was, you Li Wei are just one of the countless ordinary players, while I, Tom Brady, am one in a million.


    In that instant, the atmosphere became charged.


    Philadelphia.


    Wentz was also surrounded by reporters, three layers inside and out, and this sophomore was still slightly unused to such attention.


    In the MVP race, Brady represented the league¡¯s top players, while Wentz was the face of the new generation.


    Wentz and Goff, carrying the sheer weight of expectations, both flourished this season after a long and challenging rookie season.


    Both sophomores entered the regular-season MVP discussion.


    But why didn¡¯t the media go to Los Angeles to corner Goff but instead intercepted Wentz densely in Philadelphia?


    The reason was simple:


    The topic.


    At the beginning of the season, the Kansas Chieftains defeated both the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles, starting the season in a dominantly strong manner; now, with Li Wei joining Brady and Wentz in the race for the regular season MVP, the media naturally couldn¡¯t miss such a focus.


    Thus, Wentz, looking at the seas of cameras surrounding him, couldn¡¯t help but scratch his head.

 Chapter 315: 314 puppy tail

    "I think Li Wei is an incredibly outstanding player,"


    "Having just gone through my rookie season myself, even now, I¡¯m still learning and growing. It¡¯s precisely because of this that I understand how incredible Li Wei¡¯s performance is."


    "I believe that if Li Wei¡¯s name isn¡¯t in the MVP discussion for the regular season, it¡¯s merely because he¡¯s a rookie, and that¡¯s truly regrettable."


    "He¡¯s making history, isn¡¯t he?"


    Wentz was generous with his praise. It was because he had just been through the storms of a rookie season that he felt a sense of camaraderie with other young players. Unlike Brady, Wentz didn¡¯t hesitate to stand with Li Wei, offering a positive and supportive response.


    Reporter: Disappointing.


    They had traveled far and wide to come to Philadelphia, not to hear platitudes or motivational speeches¡ªthis wasn¡¯t "The Oprah Talk Show." They were tired of the same old boring praise; couldn¡¯t they be a bit more genuine?


    Those words fell on their ears and became just blah blah blah, in one ear and out the other.


    Seeing that reporters on site were beginning to yawn, Wentz changed tack and finally dropped a bombshell.


    "Of course, the next time we meet, I¡¯ll do everything in my power to defeat him and prove that we¡¯re a better team."


    Finally!


    The reporters didn¡¯t keep pestering Wentz after that; they left satisfied.


    Thirty minutes later, social media exploded.


    "Brady: Li Wei wants to beat me? He¡¯s dreaming."


    "Brady: Li Wei is nothing special."


    "Brady: I don¡¯t pay attention to Li Wei."


    As the current face of the NFL, Brady¡¯s ability to draw attention was unquestionable. Even though the major news media were using such eye-catching headlines to stir up discussion, the belief that Li Wei was out of his league and not qualified to challenge Brady still dominated by a wide margin.


    The simplest and most straightforward view was this: How many championship rings does Brady have and how many does Li Wei have? Haha.


    "Wentz: I¡¯m better than Li Wei."


    "Wentz: Li Wei is good, but I deserve the MVP more."


    Unlike Brady, this time the controversy truly boiled over. Some sided with Wentz, some with Li Wei. Although one was a quarterback and the other a running back, it was bizarrely debatable. Compared to the 2017 draft class which didn¡¯t have a single standout, the topic¡¯s popularity soared to new heights.


    But what¡¯s going on with Li Wei?


    Today, Li Wei didn¡¯t go home with Mahomes. During the crunch time of the playoffs and amidst his busy schedule, why did Li Wei leave early? Was there something going on?


    Over here, the journalists exchanged bewildered glances but no one could find the answer.


    Over there, it took Li Wei less than fifteen minutes to arrive at his destination.


    Marriott Hotel.


    Li Wei had just parked at the hotel entrance, and the parking valet had already come to greet him. He was about to extend a polite welcome, but then he looked up at the figure stepping out of the driver¡¯s seat:


    His face was a picture of astonishment.


    From astonishment to joy to frenzy, it took just a millisecond. He then bulged his eyes and instinctively bit the inside of his cheek hard.


    "Ah!"


    The valet couldn¡¯t help but let out a low exclamation, but quickly realized his lack of professionalism, clenched his fist, and tried his best to contain his excitement; however, his every move still radiated energy and enthusiasm, and he couldn¡¯t even control his footsteps from floating.


    "Rookie!"


    "Rookie, a flawless game! A flawless performance!"


    Now in Kansas City, Li Wei unquestionably had a face everyone recognized, having won over the city¡¯s affection in just a little over half a year.


    Who would have thought that "rookie" would evolve into their exclusive nickname for Li Wei.


    Li Wei wasn¡¯t bothered by this. Although the nickname lacked a sense of cool or dominance, it carried a friendly charm that easily bridged the gap between him and the fans.


    But the important thing was, this nickname was reserved for Kansas City. If a rival called Li Wei by this name, Chieftain fans would not hesitate to fire back.


    Li Wei flashed a grin, "Shh, no need to let Alex find out about this."


    The valet laughed heartily along.


    But unexpectedly, as the laughter lingered on the valet¡¯s lips, it faded slightly, and he grew serious. He took a small step forward, shifted his body to one side and, as he reached for the keys, whispered into Li Wei¡¯s ear.


    "Rookie, don¡¯t look back, you¡¯ve got a tail. Need my help shaking them off?"


    A tail?

 Chapter 316: 315 Diligence and Responsibility

    Tail?


    Li Wei was stunned for a moment but quickly regained his composure and patted the valet on the shoulder.


    "Don¡¯t worry, just some flies."


    After speaking, Li Wei even turned around, nonchalantly scanned the area, and easily spotted his targets¡ªtwo ordinary-looking SUVs, one gray and one black, parked across the street. They were inconspicuous on the busy street, but Li Wei could spot the trick at a glance and waved cheerfully¡ª


    They were paparazzi.


    Since Li Wei¡¯s meteoric rise, whether the Kansas City Chiefs won or lost, the social media conversations about him had never cooled down, and his jersey sales had dominated the top spot for nearly two months. Since claiming the top spot, no other player had been able to shake his position.


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    It¡¯s worth mentioning that, with the strong recovery in season records of both the Los Angeles Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles, the jersey sales for these two teams also experienced a surge.


    Goff was at the forefront of this surge.


    Goff, resembling Hollywood actor Ryan Gosling, had successfully won the hearts of numerous female fans with his handsome posture. Additionally, representing the Los Angeles Rams in the City of Angels cast a spotlight squarely on him.


    In some ways, Goff¡¯s popularity far exceeded Wentz¡¯s.


    However!


    Even Goff could not surpass Li Wei in jersey sales. Despite launching several waves of attacks, he always sadly remained in second place.


    This fact had even been reported by the NFL official news, and was retweeted by the official account of the Los Angeles Rams. They encouraged fans to buy more of Goff¡¯s jerseys, which caused the slow-to-promote Kansas City Chiefs to also retweet later, leading to a jersey buying frenzy.


    Now, half of Kansas City had a number twenty-three jersey on hand.


    But, Li Wei continued to hold the champion throne against the fierce competition from the Los Angeles market, primarily because of the strong support from the Hua Xia Market¡ª


    The fans showed incredible fervor, and even during a six-game losing streak for the Chiefs, Li Wei continued to prove himself with his outstanding performance.


    This once again proved that Li Wei was currently the top draw in the league.


    So, the paparazzi appeared.@@@@


    Not just today, their presence had been noticeable weeks ago as they attempted to uncover secrets of Li Wei¡¯s private life.


    They had been tracking Li Wei for a while now, always coming up empty-handed. The tedious daily routine was soporific, with the added challenge of confronting the monstrosity that was Li Wei, which tormented them both mentally and physically. At long last, it seemed they had found a glimmer of hope today, and both paparazzi were exhilarated.


    Could it be... Li Wei was here at the hotel for a secret rendezvous?


    In one stride, the faster-reacting paparazzo had already galloped to the spot, but he didn¡¯t rush into the hotel. He quickly surveyed the lobby, casually pulling a twenty-dollar bill from his pocket and slipping it into the parking attendant¡¯s hand.


    "What did Li Wei just say?"


    The parking attendant glanced at the US dollar in his hand, subtly slipped it into his pants pocket, "Who?"


    Paparazzo: ???


    Parking attendant, "That wasn¡¯t Li Wei."


    The paparazzo¡¯s eyes bulged, almost unable to believe his own ears, how could this blatant lie be told, "You, you..."


    Was it not enough for a bribe?


    The paparazzo hesitated for a moment, then pulled out another twenty-dollar bill and stuffed it into the parking attendant¡¯s hand again, "Was Li Wei alone? Was there no one else in the car? Which floor did he go to?"


    The parking attendant methodically smoothed out the bill, folded it neatly, and stuffed it into his pants pocket, "That really wasn¡¯t Li Wei. Just a regular guest. Do you want to know his details? He was alone, there was no one else in the car, I didn¡¯t see which floor he went to."


    The paparazzo watched as his dollars turned into wasted efforts, then looked again at the parking attendant in front of him.


    The boy sported a huge smile, a demeanor of being ¡¯at your service¡¯, managing to completely choke the words in the paparazzo¡¯s throat.


    At that moment, the second paparazzo caught up, "Hey, what happened, which floor did he go to?"


    The previous paparazzo didn¡¯t speak, just shook his head gently in helpless frustration.


    Realizing the situation, the newcomer swiftly took out a hundred-dollar bill from his pocket and handed it to the parking attendant, "Li Wei, which floor did he go to?"


    The parking attendant obediently folded the bill neatly and stuffed it into his pocket, "That really wasn¡¯t Li Wei."


    First paparazzo: ...


    Second paparazzo: ...


    The parking attendant¡¯s face was innocent, "Is there anything else I can help you with?"

 Chapter 317: 316 Purely Accidental

    "...Li Wei, I am very happy today, please believe me, Coca-Cola and your image are a perfect match. After meeting you, I¡¯m even more convinced of this. The Coca-Cola family is very much looking forward to your joining and sincerely hopes that Coca-Cola can become a part of your brand image."


    Laughter gently swirled in the air as Li Wei led the way and Donald followed behind, their triangular formation escorting Coca-Cola¡¯s negotiating representative out of the hotel room¡ª


    A secret rendezvous?


    Of course not.


    If it truly were a secret meeting, how could it be so high-profile? Waving to reporters at the training base, greeting the paparazzi at the hotel entrance¡ªsuch a gathering could hardly be called clandestine. More accurately, it should be termed a date.


    The visit to Marriott Hotel today was purely business.


    Two whole months ago, Nike withstood the pressure to offer a history-making contract, outpacing Adidas and Under Armour by signing Li Wei first.


    At that time, the contract sparked many controversies¡ªopposition, doubt, speculation, ridicule, and more. But in the blink of an eye, no one questioned Nike¡¯s decision anymore. On the contrary, many were envious and jealous, yet they could only admire Nike¡¯s decisiveness and boldness.


    On one hand, jersey sales crowned the champion for two entire months, proving Li Wei¡¯s market appeal. On the other, discussions about the regular season MVP unprecedentedly included a rookie, proving Li Wei¡¯s professional domain discussion level. From every aspect, one could feel the influence of this rising superstar.


    And most importantly, having the support of the League as a backing, it also ensured Li Wei¡¯s steadily rising popularity¡ª


    Scarcity breeds value.


    Now, the one NFL player with the blend of Chinese heritage, rookie status, capabilities, and image was none other than Li Wei. There weren¡¯t any others besides him.


    No one should miss out.


    Of course, no one would miss out.


    According to Donald, the invitations for brand sponsorships had exceeded thirty. The sheer amount was overwhelming and dizzying, and even more were still observing.


    But because of this, they needed to be even more careful and cautious.


    "Money is the least of our worries right now because these sponsorships will continue to roll in, and eventually, the numbers on the checks will just be a set of digits, losing all significance."


    "The most important and only significant thing right now is the brand image. We need to create a brand image centered around you. Once that image is established, everything else will follow."


    On one hand, some brand representatives wanted to see Li Wei in person, to see the real man face to face, to feel his image and charisma, no longer just a figure in news reports or broadcast footage but a real, flesh-and-blood person. This could help them make their final decision.


    On the other hand, it allowed Li Wei to understand what Donald was busy with. If Li Wei had any comments, he could bring them up at any time.


    Coca-Cola was not the first brand representative he met that day but the third.


    The first was Gillette.


    The second was Rolex.


    Then came Coca-Cola.


    From the smiles on the faces in front of him, it was clear that the negotiators from Coca-Cola were very satisfied, showing positive signals in their words and deeds.


    Along the way, they reached the door of the room where Donald had already overtaken them from behind and reached the door first, opening it and gesturing invitingly.


    The negotiator from Coca-Cola was about to leave when they looked up and saw a figure at the door. Their smile froze slightly at the corners of their mouth, and their first instinct was to turn to Donald, eyes betraying a mixture of confusion and astonishment.


    It was all in the blink of an eye, emotions complexly interwoven across their eyes and faces, truly impressive.


    Donald was also surprised and taken aback, his honest face written with incomprehension, "Oh, I¡¯m sorry. There must have been a mistake with the timing of the arrangements."


    Li Wei: How could that be!


    The timing of the first three meetings today had all been flawless, perfectly staggered.


    After each meeting ended, Donald would even leave a thirty-minute gap, not only to ensure that the meetings did not overlap and the brand representatives wouldn¡¯t have to wait but also to ensure that he and Li Wei could have a brief exchange and a little rest. Hence, during the meetings, Donald was always watching the time, meticulous and methodical in his control of the situation.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t believe that the third meeting could have possibly overlapped with the fourth; Donald would not make such a basic mistake.


    What was more critical were the identities of these two brand representatives¡ª


    One was Coca-Cola.


    The other was Pepsi.


    Li Wei: Heh, I¡¯d bet twenty-five cents that all this was deliberately arranged.

 Chapter 318: 317 Blatant

    The atmosphere was subtly tense.


    Describing it seemed complicated, but it actually happened in the blink of an eye: eyes intersecting, movements stiff, undercurrents beginning to surge.


    Standing outside the door, Jerry Stanley was also slightly taken aback, clearly shocked by such an unexpected encounter.


    Now was the moment to test one¡¯s reflexes.


    Stanley quickly composed himself, casting a meaningful glance at the innocently clueless Donald, before smiling broadly at the Coca-Cola negotiation representative, "Tom."


    The representative from Coca-Cola quickly regained his composure, nodded slightly, and in a controlled and distant manner, also greeted, "Jerry."


    A brief greeting, though they were face to face, they could both feel their eyes subtly avoid each other, not even willing to engage in eye contact, and the air was palpably tense, filled with a subtle and sticky feeling.


    Donald continued to appear honest and naive, seemingly pondering how to defuse the awkward situation, his eyes moving back and forth between the two men.


    Consequently, it was Li Wei who couldn¡¯t help but giggle, breaking the deadlock, attracting all eyes in an instant.


    Li Wei wasn¡¯t nervous either, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender.


    "Sorry, Tom and Jerry, some strange thoughts popped into my head, surely because I¡¯m too tired from training; my fault, it must be."


    Tom and Jerry, they are just like the cat and mouse, aren¡¯t they?


    Looking at the standoff before him was just like television reflected in reality.


    The atmosphere eased slightly, with everyone unconsciously raising the corners of their mouths, but their eyes and expressions held no laughter, instead sparking even more intensely.


    The Coca-Cola representative finally faced the eyes of his competitor head-on, "Yes, of course, I am Tom, Tom from the real world."


    The Pepsi representative didn¡¯t back down, "Obviously, Tom has always been misled. In television and reality, they are much the same."


    Back and forth they went, who was the cat, who was the mouse, who was each other¡¯s prey, both men uncompromising, the invisible blades clashing.


    Then, the ever clueless Donald suddenly spoke up.@@@@


    "Indeed, Donald Duck is always the character that nobody cares about."


    Donald Duck, Donald, unexpectedly joined the fray, all eyes turned toward the Stoic Jester Donald, and the mood became suddenly cheerful.


    Coolly, Donald made a gesture inviting the Coca-Cola representative to leave, "It¡¯s been a tough day; I promise such accidents won¡¯t happen again next time."


    "Over the years, Pepsi has been collecting superstars like a boy scout collects badges. People say Real Madrid is the ¡¯Galactic Battleship¡¯ full of stars, but they really should see the Pepsi ad from the 2014 World Cup."


    It was Stanley who had been praising Li Wei, but now it had turned into Donald praising Pepsi¡ªwas this... reciprocation?


    "Li Wei could be one of them, I understand the significance of that, believe me, I¡¯ve done my homework."


    Rarely seeing Donald tell a joke, Stanley very much encouraged it with a light laugh and nodded in appreciation.


    "But the crux is, what is Li Wei¡¯s unique quality?"


    "If Pepsi just wants to add another great name to their luxury lineup, have you heard of a player called Tom Brady?"


    One second, two seconds¡ª


    Ha ha.


    Stanley clapped and laughed heartily, instantly livening up the atmosphere.


    Who says Donald can¡¯t joke?


    But the Stoic Jester himself remained calm, merely tugging at the corner of his mouth.


    "What I mean is, in a gathering of stars, which trait of Li Wei touched Pepsi? What is the highlight that makes him stand out from the countless choices?"


    "Otherwise, I don¡¯t think Li Wei can find a place in Pepsi¡¯s ad, maybe next year, but definitely not this year."


    "On this, I have a clear idea, but the key question is, does Pepsi?"


    For a moment, Stanley genuinely didn¡¯t know how to respond.


    Confident, calm, Donald came prepared, he knew winning a spot in Pepsi¡¯s stellar lineup for Li Wei was not easy¡ª


    At least not this year. Even if Li Wei appeared in the ad, he would probably be just a minor character, his screen time fleeting, needing a magnifying glass to be spotted.


    But listen to Donald¡¯s words, "maybe next year," that implied a strong belief in Li Wei¡¯s and the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ performance for the rest of the season.


    However, that¡¯s not the point.


    The point is, Donald revealed a key aspect: he needed to craft a brand image for Li Wei and naturally needed to understand the brand¡¯s vision for Li Wei.


    No wonder Donald wasn¡¯t looking at the numbers. From the beginning, this agent had been strategically planning, including the "chance encounters" with Coca-Cola and Pepsi.

 Chapter 319: 318 overall layout

    Nike or Pepsi,


    top brands often need a comprehensive plan¡ª


    strategically planning their business promotion over the long term through geographic and temporal dimensions.


    This is a major game of chess.


    Around 2012, Pepsi had already set its sights on the entire competitive sports market, taking on its age-old rival Coca-Cola.


    In April 2015, Coca-Cola ended its thirty-year partnership with the NBA, and Pepsi stabbed its rival in the back, securing an exclusive sponsorship contract with the NBA. This marked the change of the main sponsors of the Big Four leagues in North America to Pepsi.


    These were the NFL for football, the MLB for baseball, the NHL for hockey, and the NBA for basketball.


    Pepsi¡¯s penetration into the competitive sports of the North American continent had reached a new peak, and their roster of star endorsers was countless:


    Messi. Van Persie. Aguero. David Luiz. Wilshere. Ramos. Kompany. Salah. Mario Gomez.


    And so on and so forth.


    Not only were there clusters of stars, but Pepsi was also pairing them with increasingly youth-oriented marketing strategies to firmly capture the new generation market.


    On the other hand, Coca-Cola, once at the forefront of youthful trends, began to promote retro culture, and the two rivals embarked on divergent advertising strategies.


    Among these, the NFL was a crucial step in Pepsi¡¯s marketing efforts.


    In 2012, Pepsi signed a ten-year contract with the League, not only exclusively sponsoring League events but also the Super Bowl halftime show.


    Without a doubt, any player favored by Pepsi was honored, as if holding a boarding pass to the Galactic Battleship.


    However, Donald was not blinded by affection.


    Just as Pepsi laid out its corporate empire, Donald also meticulously plotted to build Li Wei¡¯s brand image, each with their own agenda.


    Of course, Li Wei could sign with Pepsi and, using his current momentum, negotiate for a higher figure. Donald was confident in his negotiation skills. But such a Li Wei would simply be another medal for Pepsi, nothing special, dispensable and replaceable at any time.


    In the long run, Li Wei¡¯s brand image and market value would suffer.


    This was the major difference between dealing with Nike and other brands since Li Wei¡¯s position and circumstances had slightly changed over the past two months.


    Therefore, from now on, Donald had to play a steady and well-founded game, neither rushing nor seeking instant success. They needed a clear plan and strategy¡ªthis was the only way to prevent popularity from turning into a bubble.


    Donald looked at Stanley.


    Stanley was slightly stunned; this was an unexpected attack he wasn¡¯t prepared for.


    He was less a dreamer and more a pioneer.


    But never underestimate the courage, determination, perseverance, and action it takes to blaze a new trail through thickets and thorns¡ªthe difficulty is far beyond imagination.


    Stanley admitted that before meeting Li Wei, he didn¡¯t have any other thoughts; it was purely business. They longed to sign Li Wei, but that was all¡ª


    A rising star of tomorrow.


    Such figures are all too common in the world of competitive sports, too numerous to count.


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    Especially in the age of social networks, even the smallest things come at you like watermelons, sensation after sensation, more and more sensational, exaggerated, and greasy. Phrases like ¡¯once-in-a-century talent¡¯ and ¡¯savior¡¯s arrival¡¯ have completely lost their original meaning¡ª


    Three exclamation points are nowhere near enough to express shock; five is the basic standard.


    Pepsi wanted to sign Li Wei, no doubt about it. When football and the Asian Market collide, this is a goldmine not to be missed; but Stanley didn¡¯t think there was anything special about Li Wei.


    Until now.


    Stanley looked at Li Wei, excitement sparkling in his eyes, "Is that so? I thought professional players always considered themselves unique, always believed they could change history, always felt they were irreplaceable, like¡ª"


    Stanley looked at Donald.


    Without any hesitation, Donald provided the answer, "Brady."


    Stanley smiled, "Yes, Brady."


    In some sense, an athlete¡¯s competitiveness and an actor¡¯s narcissism are the same. It¡¯s a professional skill. Even if they are usually mild-mannered, once they step onto the field, they must bring out their fighting spirit and passion¡ª


    The Good Old Man is unlikely to reach the peak and win championships. Most of the stars with brilliant achievements are killers.


    Confidence, fighting spirit, competitiveness.


    These are the epitaphs of champions.


    Li Wei shrugged casually, a composed smile on his face, "Are you talking about Michael Jordan?"


    Jordan: I¡¯ve done nothing to offend you!


    Brady: ??? Why am I being ignored again?


    But Stanley and Donald caught on instantly, both breaking into smiles¡ª


    When it comes to narcissism and competitive spirit, Mr. Jordan is certainly in a league of his own.

 Chapter 320 Opportunity Suddenly Appears

    Competitive. Combative. Strong-willed.


    These were also the spirits flowing in Li Wei''s blood; otherwise, he wouldn''t have joined the NFL. Challenging the strongest and defeating the strongest in the league is the most thrilling and exciting part of competitive sports, and it can be even more exhilarating than winning a championship.


    "The thing is, everyone is unique, everyone has their beliefs, and everyone has their own battles,"


    "We can''t win every battle, as there are no undefeated generals on the field of competitive sports. So, winning is important, but it''s even more important to overcome the shadow of defeat, to transform, and grow."@@@@


    "As of now, I don''t consider myself irreplaceable; I haven''t reached my peak yet."


    "In fact, realizing this excites me."


    "I know I''m forging into a new field where no one has set foot before¡ªeverything is fresh and unfamiliar. But to me, this is a good thing."


    "I hope people realize that I can do it, and so can they. They should follow in my footsteps, join my ranks, and party together; at the same time, I want to keep moving forward, exploring, and challenging. I want to see the highest peak of this field, and I want to see my own limits."


    "Right now, this is just a beginning."


    "I believe I still have a vast room for growth, so I should be a bit more humble,"


    After saying this, Li Wei still showed a sunny smile, indicating his modesty.


    Stanley was stunned: Is this really modesty?


    The current league leader in rushing yards and touchdowns, who is on the brink of breaking a series of rookie season records in the NFL Super Bowl era¡ªevery step Li Wei takes is writing history¡ª


    The best in history!


    And yet, Li Wei says: there''s still vast room for growth?


    So where should one grow towards if they continue to grow? Is he planning to ascend to heaven?


    He talked about being humble, but obviously, this rookie was anything but humble, which made Stanley burst into laughter, unable to help himself from confirming once again, "You believe you have a vast room for growth."


    Stanley emphasized the adjective once more.


    Li Wei''s smile bloomed even wider, "Of course."


    There were simply too many football players, and Pepsi''s collection of badges would certainly not be as smooth as with soccer. Furthermore, the positions on a football field were too varied and complex for Pepsi to possibly sign endorsers and create a dream team like they could in soccer; the two sports were fundamentally different.


    So, what if they put all their bets on one single player?


    After all, they weren''t the first ones to try this; Nike had already blazed the trail and achieved tremendous success. Pepsi could certainly replicate that.


    By doing this, Pepsi wouldn''t need to spend a vast amount of effort on planning their entire layout. All resources and costs would be focused, surrounding a core, and might indeed pave a different way to open up new opportunities.


    All at once, Stanley''s heart started to race uncontrollably, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts as if standing at the crossroads of history. The next step could unveil a brand-new chapter, and excitement filled every cell, with adrenaline gushing throughout, his brain consumed by roaring noise.


    Perhaps he should seize the opportunity?


    Lifting his head, Stanley didn''t look at Donald but gazed at Li Wei instead, carefully observing the young man''s face as his fingertips unconsciously clenched.


    A running back? A rookie?


    In the world of football, to focus all resources on a quarterback was considered foolish, let alone a running back.


    But isn''t this where the thrill of taking risks lies?


    Think logically, analyze calmly, and boldly make unconventional, even outrageous choices. Amidst risks and crises, carve out a niche.


    Pepsi had spent a whole ten years carefully planning their entire strategy. Their goal was definitely not just to beat their old rival, Coca-Cola; they yearned to completely transform the global market landscape and redefine the Pepsi brand¡ª


    So, could Li Wei be the answer?


    If the answer was yes...


    In that instant, a surge of noble spirit flooded Stanley''s heart, as he made an important decision.


    Then.


    Turning to Donald, Stanley showed a confident smile, "Four million US dollars a year, for a five-year contract."


    It was a decisive bid, his intent on triumph.


    Stanley believed Donald wouldn''t refuse, for this was the highest authority granted to him by Pepsi''s top management before he had set out for this meeting. He didn''t hesitate or stall, simply going all in with a straightforward bet.


    But against all expectations, Donald gently shook his head, his tone soft but firm, "No, Jerry, we cannot accept such a proposal."

 Chapter 321 320 The So-Called Open Conspiracy

    Rejected, actually faced rejection?


    Moreover, without hesitation, without delay.


    Donald didn''t seem to struggle at all, refusing a $20 million contract without even blinking an eye, indicating that his ambitions far exceeded this figure.


    Stanley: ...


    So, what kind of contract did Nike offer to Li Wei to make Donald so confident?


    Stanley almost lost his composure, this being the second¡ªno, third time that expectations had been disrupted; he had to exert all his efforts to stay in control, barely maintaining his calm.


    "Donald, you should take a look at our initial offer."


    Donald noticed Stanley''s gaze, and this time he didn''t refuse Stanley, picking up the piece of paper on the table and unfolding it:


    $1.5 million. Three years.


    That is, Stanley had instantly raised the offer by two notches, truly showing absolute sincerity.


    Stanley noticed Donald showing the note to Li Wei, he hurriedly added, "I agree with your statement, Li Wei is different, we should build a brand-new image around him¡ªyouthful, fearless, brave, and glorious, like creating a brand-new game protagonist. Not only making people want to follow in Li Wei''s footsteps to level up and battle monsters, but also making them aspire to become Li Wei."


    "This is Li Wei''s advantage. We should fully utilize it."


    "Li Wei is not just an endorser; we can even weave a narrative around him as the core, shoot a series of ads, and have our other endorsers complement the whole story. I believe the market will go crazy for them."


    "Of course, the specifics still need to be discussed and handled by professionals, but I believe Li Wei can become the iconic figure of Pepsi''s collaboration with the NFL, he won''t just appear in every game broadcast, but also on the Super Bowl halftime show screens, around the clock, seven days a week."


    "Li Wei''s convictions and Pepsi''s innovation can achieve mutual success."


    "Without a doubt, Li Wei and Pepsi are each other''s perfect choices."


    With a sense of urgency, Stanley held back no longer, now that he had decided to go all in.


    Donald, however, wasn''t in a rush, he calmly refolded the note, "Yes, I know, Li Wei currently represents a unique image in the league. I believe what we see is only a fragment of his brand influence, a vast world lies ahead, waiting for us to explore together."


    "I agree with your opinion."


    Different brands in different fields, ultimately combining to create a lifestyle:


    The blue-collar worker who drives a pickup truck to and from the refinery every day and drinks a beer at the bar, the playboy who drives a Ferrari around the world savoring Michelin three-star cuisine, the hardworking genius who drives a Chevrolet and wears Rolex between the training base and home¡ªthree starkly different images, naturally attracting different target audiences.


    Just like Roger Federer on the tennis court.


    Thus, Pepsi was also one of the brands Donald was seriously considering.


    In other words, if Donald''s blueprint matched Pepsi''s vision, then they were a perfect match, capable of achieving a synergy where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.


    This meant that Pepsi should not miss out on Li Wei.


    Suddenly, Stanley was curious about which other brands Li Wei had met with that afternoon, not just Coca-Cola. They should elevate their perspective; those brands weren''t competitors of Pepsi, on the contrary, they found a common ground in Li Wei, potentially serving as indirect collaborators.


    Perhaps, Pepsi should also aim higher.


    The thought was expansively long, but in fact, it was just a moment in his mind.


    When he heard "seven million dollars a year," Stanley''s first reaction was "ridiculous," as Pepsi''s $1.5 million and $4 million proposals seemed like a joke, and he believed Coca-Cola wouldn''t match that offer either; but now, it seemed Donald wasn''t just speaking off the cuff.


    It seemed this game of chess wouldn''t conclude today.


    He had no choice, as Donald''s offer now exceeded his authority: moreover, it was complicated, and Pepsi still needed a meeting.


    However, that''s just how negotiation works; there was no need to rush.


    Stanley controlled himself and showed a half-genuine, half-forced smile as he spoke.


    "I''m sorry, this is beyond my authority, but I will relay your request to headquarters."


    After some brief, rambling pleasantries, Stanley stood up, looking at Li Wei who had been clear-eyed and composed throughout, and couldn''t help feeling some admiration.


    "I hope we can work together in the future."


    Li Wei showed a smile, "Of course, that''s a big check."


    With honesty mixed with a bit of jest, Stanley''s smile instantly brightened, and although the deal wasn''t finalized, it was indeed a pleasant meeting.

 Chapter 322 321 Grasping at shadows

    "Skipping practice, going AWOL to hotels, living it up¡ªis the Kansas City Chiefs'' number twenty-three rookie off the rails again?"


    "Just won a do-or-die game, and Rookie Running Back Li Wei can''t wait to head to the hotel for some cozy relaxation."


    "This season''s League Rookie of the Year secretly meets with a supermodel at a hotel, alone for four hours!"


    "The do-or-die game isn''t over yet, but Kansas City''s top rookie is already eager to party, sparking intense dissatisfaction among teammates, with the locker room a ticking time bomb."


    "Li Wei ditches his teammates to meet at the hotel alone, and who is waiting in the room...?"


    Indeed, this once again proves an age-old truth¡ª


    With fame comes trouble.


    No sooner had Li Wei left the Marriott Hotel than all sorts of speculative photos and rumors started wildly trending on social media.


    And one more outrageous than the next.@@@@


    Really, you don''t need to be very observant or smart, and certainly not Holmes, to glance at the photos and see that there''s only Li Wei alone in them¡ªnot even a fly, let alone a model. There''s absolutely nothing amiss, the accompanying text is pure nonsense.


    But with hot topics and gimmicks come the traffic.


    Besides, when the story''s main character is Li Wei, the League''s most discussed and controversial player, it''s easy to send social media into a frenzy.


    This was just the prelude.


    The reporters Li Wei had left behind at the training base''s doorstep finally showed their professional chops, promptly finding a breakthrough¡ª


    Coca-Cola.


    After the first lead emerged, the connections and competencies of professional journalists played a crucial role. One by one, they started sifting through top-tier brand sponsors, and then it was everyone for themselves, skills at the ready.


    Some brands were tight-lipped, saying they were unaware of any dealings with Li Wei; others were evasive, acknowledging that they''d heard Li Wei''s name mentioned within their companies, but were still in the preliminary discussion phase; some seized the opportunity to hype things up, claiming they were indeed in contact with Li Wei and hoped to collaborate.


    This week, the Kansas City Chiefs were about to enter their second consecutive division rival''s showdown, with the victors keeping their playoff hopes alive and the losers possibly falling out of contention completely.


    Therefore, despite ending a losing streak with an exhilarating victory, the continuous flashing of the red warning lights was still blaring.


    Now that the media had an opportunity, they naturally clung to Li Wei''s tail stubbornly.


    Moreover, worth noting is that since week three of the regular season, when the Kansas City Chiefs easily defeated the Los Angeles Chargers away, the latter''s season had fallen into confusion, with quarterback Philip Rivers''s performance being noticeably inconsistent and the offense performing poorly; to everyone''s surprise, the team''s Defensive group stepped up, carrying the Los Angeles Chargers all the way to this point, still preserving their playoff hopes.


    Currently, the Los Angeles Chargers'' Defensive group ranks third overall in the league, with their pass defense ranked number one, while their ground defense sits at thirty-first, second to last in the league.


    The stark contrast between the extremes has led to highly inconsistent gameplay for the Chargers.


    Luckily, as the league now emphasizes the passing game, there are hardly any teams that truly focus on the ground offense, providing a breathing space for the Los Angeles Chargers.


    This time, as the Los Angeles Chargers visit the Kansas City Chiefs, the odds are fifty-fifty, with both teams having a shot, but whether the Kansas City Chiefs'' transformed ground offense can gain enough advantage over the completely extinguished ground defense of the Los Angeles Chargers to bring victory to Arrowhead Stadium remains an important point of interest.


    It''s precisely for this reason that the controversy surrounding Li Wei has intensified.


    At such a critical match, at such a crucial moment, could Li Wei be completely overlooking the team''s situation for personal gain? When Li Wei''s commercial activities and the team''s interests clashed, this rookie star clearly made the wrong choice.


    Without careful attention, this could become a destabilizing factor in the Kansas City Chiefs'' locker room.


    And with that, the media exploded.


    Even the die-hard Kansas City Chiefs fans couldn''t help starting to worry; against the Los Angeles Chargers, it was Li Wei who carried a huge responsibility!


    But what about reality?


    In the locker room, the atmosphere was harmonious.


    Kelsey shook his head with a face full of regret, looking at the messages on his phone screen, "Sigh, these media folks are still too young, too naive. They should try coming here themselves and then they''d know whether the rookie''s been slacking in training or not, it''s all hot air."


    "Get flattened by a rookie on suicide sprints a couple of times, and you''ll get the picture," Houston said leisurely.


    Ha ha ha, the locker room erupted with laughter.

 Chapter 323: bite tightly and refuse to let go

    ```


    The trees want to stand still, but the wind won¡¯t stop.


    Finally, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ locker room had shaken off the gloom and gotten back on track, but the media¡¯s fanning of the flames had once again sown seeds of unrest.


    Anticipating this, the offensive group¡¯s captain Kelsey took the initiative to burst the paper window in the locker room, to stop players from gossiping and possibly creating conflicts out of nothing, putting everything under the sun.


    As Kelsey said, when others tried to accuse Li Wei of not focusing on the game, they should consider how brutal this training demon was.


    Moreover, Li Wei had left after practice was over yesterday, not missing any training. Those media were all exaggerating and causing unnecessary panic. He needed to remind those envious and jealous eyes¡ª


    In a joking, half-serious manner.


    But unexpectedly, the defensive group¡¯s captain, Houston, also rarely spoke up.


    Having said that, Houston even gave Li Wei a glance.


    "Rookie, you don¡¯t have to take those garbage words from the media to heart."


    Li Wei waved his hand, looking unperturbed, "Their trash talk is too weak, they still need to brush up on their skills. I¡¯m more worried about the locker room."


    Houston was taken aback.


    Some things, actually, don¡¯t need to be pointed out. Blatantly pointing them out might make things awkward, something Li Wei surely knows.


    But Houston didn¡¯t interrupt Li Wei¡ª


    Indeed, he wasn¡¯t finished talking.


    "I¡¯m worried you all might get a heart attack from the shock of seeing the endorsement figures. I was thinking about whether I should prepare some Christmas gifts to bribe everyone."


    "But..."


    "Look, what am I thinking, earning a rookie¡¯s salary, doing a running back¡¯s job, yet here I am worrying about a quarterback¡¯s concerns, maybe I¡¯m too arrogant."


    Pfft.


    In an instant, the entire locker room burst into laughter, one after another teasing him.


    Honestly, seeing the news that Li Wei might sign another endorsement deal, envy and jealousy were inevitable. After all, he already had one from Nike, and Li Wei was just a rookie. But, most players in the league don¡¯t have personal sponsorships, so the media¡¯s exaggerated stories sounded different when they reached their ears.


    But now, Li Wei openly joked about it. He was just a rookie player, and his salary was probably just chump change to the other players. Moreover, as a running back, his position was among the lowest average salaries in the offensive group. Even if Li Wei got some extra endorsements, it was deserved¡ª


    It was clear to anyone with insight that the training atmosphere was slightly off.


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    Reed: ???


    Hadn¡¯t the issue already been resolved? What was going on now?


    After some thought, Reed discreetly pulled Kelsey aside to ask about it and received an answer that was both amusing and exasperating.


    "What?"


    Kelsey, seeing Reed¡¯s speechless face, chuckled and explained again, "It¡¯s a prank. The rookie says it¡¯s called ¡¯espionage¡¯, to confuse the opponents, to see if they take the bait."


    All of it was Li Wei¡¯s idea¡ª


    Since the media was attempting to divide the locker room, they decided to play along.


    During regular training, they deliberately staged the illusion of isolating Li Wei, waiting for the media to keep fanning the flames, to see if the Los Angeles Chargers would fall for it.


    "During the actual game, we¡¯ll give our old rivals some surprises," Kelsey said.


    Watching Kelsey¡¯s eager, smiling face, Reed didn¡¯t say much, simply gesturing for Kelsey to rejoin the team, "Just be careful not to take it too far."


    As he watched Kelsey¡¯s retreating figure, Reed couldn¡¯t help but admire Li Wei¡¯s cleverness.


    The prank was just an excuse, an excuse to unite the whole team against outsiders, to forge camaraderie. As they collaborated to play a prank on the media and deceive their opponents, they became partners in the same boat, and any remaining discord and unease would vanish without a trace.


    If they could fool the Los Angeles Chargers, that would be a bonus; but even if they didn¡¯t, it didn¡¯t matter¡ªthe focus was on the team working together toward the same goal.


    After all, the players have had their fair share of friction with the media, even the Good Old Man like Smith was attacked by the media daily, and now they finally had a chance to retaliate. One by one, they were eagerly on board.


    That was the main point.


    Looking again at Li Wei, Reed¡¯s eyes showed a touch of appreciation.


    Indeed¡ª


    After training ended, the media reporters immediately aimed their cameras and mics at Li Wei, who typically navigated the media with ease, but now, with a dour and dispirited face, ignored them completely and hurried past, unresponsive to the calling media, unable to slow his pace.


    It wasn¡¯t until Li Wei had gone far away that the reporters exchanged glances, excitement flashing in their eyes:


    Ha ha, even the rookie has his day!

 Chapter 324: 323 All鈥檚 fair in war

    ```


    For the Los Angeles Chargers, the 2017 season was filled with turmoil and unpredictability. After another disappointing failure to make the playoffs last season, completely squandering the remarkable performance of quarterback Rivers, the team owner, in a fit of rage, fired the entire coaching staff and began restructuring the team from scratch, moving the team from San Diego to Los Angeles¡ª


    Everything, starting anew.


    Anthony Lynn, who produced a decent performance with the Buffalo Bills¡¯ offensive group during the previous season, was promptly appointed as the new head coach. It was Lynn¡¯s first time serving in the role of head coach in his career.


    In fact, so far, Lynn¡¯s season record wasn¡¯t too bad, seven wins and six losses, on par with the Kansas City Chiefs, still keeping playoff hopes alive.


    This situation was a glimmer of hope, as the team and fans hadn¡¯t harbored many expectations when Lynn took the helm, yet there was a pleasant surprise; it was also a form of pressure, with the playoffs so close yet so far, that even Lynn himself began to get restless.


    If he could enter the playoffs standing on the shoulders of divisional rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs, Lynn would gain more control and lay the foundation for building a team he envisioned during the next offseason; in Los Angeles, the team would also earn more fan support. More importantly, if he took his team to the playoffs in his first season as a head coach, his resume would instantly become impressive.


    Merely imagining it made him uncontrollably excited.


    Therefore, when Lynn saw the media besieging Li Wei and news of strange atmospheres at the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ training ground, his first reaction was to clench his fists in celebration¡ª


    A rookie, a newcomer, and a running back were in the eye of the storm, and locker room issues were bound to arise sooner or later.


    It seemed that the Kansas City Chiefs had finally broken their losing streak by defeating the Oakland Raiders and shed the gloom of six consecutive losses, but though the victory was a team effort, the media kept praising Li Wei. Soon after came the commotion of sponsors, and other contributors to the victory inevitably harbored different thoughts.


    "Trouble in Kansas¡¯s locker room again: Discontent with Li Wei had been brewing for a long time."


    "Caution, beware of Li Wei becoming the next Beckham during his time at Manchester United."


    "Will the ¡¯Flying Boot¡¯ incident repeat itself?"


    "Reed unable to control the locker room; the end of losing streaks leads to another storm."


    "Success and downfall of Li Wei¡ªdiscussing the predicament of the Kansas City Chiefs this season."


    On the other side of the field, the Kansas City Chiefs seemed oblivious to the unease in the locker room and also to the Chargers¡¯ defensive strategy adjustments. They continued the balanced attack of running and passing they had maintained throughout their previous games, with a slight emphasis on passing¡ª


    This was nothing new in Reed¡¯s playbook.


    By the time Lynn realized it was a smoke bomb, it was already too late.


    Smith found his team¡¯s top wide receiver, Hill, with a fourteen-yard pass. Taking advantage of the Chargers¡¯ secondary fully committing forward, Hill broke through for a sixty-four-yard dash to the end zone, effortlessly scoring a touchdown.


    As it turned out, Lee Wei was again playing the role of a decoy. Passing was the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ main focus in the first half; a glance at the statistics made this clear, as Lee Wei had only six carries for twenty-seven yards in the entirety of the first half.


    Lynn: Damn.


    "6:10".


    At the end of the first half, the Kansas City Chiefs headed into the locker room with a narrow lead, nullifying Lynn¡¯s meticulously planned strategy.


    Now, thinking back to the fully focused Kansas City Chiefs, Lynn knew everyone including the media had been played.


    Returning for the second half, the Los Angeles Chargers reverted to their original battle plan¡ªde-emphasizing ground defense and concentrating on their strength in pass defense, with all their offensive hopes placed in the hands of quarterback Rivers.


    Meanwhile, Reed also displayed his cunning, sticking to a balanced attack in the second half but slightly favoring the running game. Lee Wei continued to perform steadily, while Hunter shone brilliantly, receiving and running all over the field.


    It was evident that after two-thirds of the season, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ gameplay had become increasingly synchronized and fluid, with seamless offensive and defensive transitions, even exceeding the spirited performance that had won them games in the first six weeks, showcasing their collective strength.


    In the second half, as the Los Angeles Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs settled into their familiar patterns, the Chargers failed to find any opportunities. They were completely overpowered on both offense and defense, quite similar to their last game against the Oakland Raiders, with the game quickly falling into the Chiefs¡¯ rhythm.


    The game ended rather abruptly.


    "13:30".


    The visiting team scores first, followed by the home team.

 Chapter 325: 324 Sacrifice to Heaven Script

    "13:30."


    The game has ended, and the Kansas City Chiefs claimed victory.


    For the second consecutive game, the Kansas City Chiefs hosted a crucial battle on their home turf against their division rivals in a fiercely contested matchup. The team displayed a completely revitalized spirit and competitive form from top to bottom, offering no chances to their arch-rival and securing victory with decisive action.


    After two games, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ record had improved to eight wins and six losses. They managed to widen the gap in victories against their division competitors, solidifying their seat at the top of the division for the time being. They had firmly taken the initiative in the playoff race, swiftly moving away from the brink of elimination to become the division leaders.


    And once again, they emerged as powerful contenders for a spot in the Super Bowl.


    At that moment, there was a buzz throughout the League¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs, who had suffered through a six-game losing streak, had evolved and upgraded? What was supposed to be a life-and-death battle had turned into a one-sided rout?


    So, what¡¯s this script all about?


    Among them, the Kansas Chiefs running back group performed exceptionally well at the center of the storm.


    Hunter rushed for 89 yards, received for 75 yards, and scored a touchdown.


    Li Wei rushed for 127 yards and also notched a touchdown.


    Together with the third and fourth running backs, the Kansas City Chiefs tore through the Los Angeles Chargers¡¯ ground defense for a total of 233 yards, setting the highest single-game rushing record of the season for the League.


    Moreover, after breaking Jamaal Charles¡¯ record of consecutive hundred-plus rushing yards in twelve games with the Kansas City Chiefs in the previous game, Li Wei went even further. He extended the streak of rushing more than a hundred yards per game to fourteen, continuing to write the steps of history.


    Er, is this the same Li Wei mired in controversy, sidelined in the locker room? Is this the Li Wei accused of prioritizing personal gain over the team¡¯s interest, becoming an outsider in the locker room? Is this the Li Wei deemed to lack the confrontation strength and durability, unable to adapt to the intensity of Professional League games?


    Are you sure?


    Lynn: You media... all these scoundrels in cahoots with Goodell, are you sacrificing me to pave the way for Li Wei? You... you...


    Spitting blood.


    Internal injury.


    Collapsing to the ground.


    However, watching Lynn, pale-faced from excessive blood loss, the reporters also felt vexed. They were victims too, weren¡¯t they? They were the ones who were really embarrassed, and though reporters being embarrassed was nothing new, to be so spectacularly face-slapped this time was unbearably frustrating.


    Reporter: Mr. Bart, brother! We finally understand your pain. You¡¯ve worked hard!


    Bart: Go away, who¡¯s your hard-luck brother? We must draw a line; I¡¯ve barely escaped that bitter life, and I have nothing to do with you¡ª


    Anger made them forget that it was an open training session for the Kansas City Chiefs, and obviously, they weren¡¯t trying to hide anything. Where then could there be any claim of journalists spying on secrets?


    Wait, open training? So they knew everything the journalists saw?


    It seemed they had discovered something.


    Li Wei nonchalantly revealed a smile and faced the scrutinizing eyes of the crowd with ease.


    "I¡¯m not sure what tabloid news you¡¯ve heard through the grapevine, but truth is the first element of news. In the age of social media, the falsity and confusion of news sources can easily lead to wrong judgments. It is precisely because of this that the ¡¯two-source rule¡¯ policy, a tradition that dates back to classical journalism, should be upheld even more. All of you here are professionals and surely do not need me, a professional football player, to point that out, right?"


    The so-called two-source rule means that any news report should be confirmed by at least two reliable sources. Generally, three to five sources may be needed, but considering the secrecy and importance of exclusive news, it might be impossible to find that many, so two sources are the minimum¡ª


    Reliable, verified, and personally reviewed and judged by the reporter as a professional opinion... two news sources.


    If not?


    Then if the news breaks as false, the reporter must swallow the bitter pill.


    For instance, right now.


    Li Wei¡¯s subtle counterattack silenced the press room.


    One step at a time, the reporters were in disarray. Even though they knew they had fallen into Li Wei¡¯s trap, it ultimately came down to their own greed; their sordid little schemes were not presentable.


    What more could they say?


    Suddenly, someone remembered something important: Li Wei was an outstanding student in the journalism major at the University of Alabama. So was this... a case of the flood hitting the Dragon King Temple?


    The journalists on the scene looked at each other, for a moment at a loss for a response.


    "Li Wei, does the Kansas City Chiefs feel fully confident for this season¡¯s playoffs?"


    Since attacks were ineffective, then surely flattery would do no harm.


    In reality, this was also a trap. The journalists had already thought through their follow-up reports. The Kansas City Chiefs had not even secured a playoff spot yet, but they were already eager to shed the tag of playoff fatigue. Such haste might come across as arrogance.


    Just a little shakeup, and the still not completely secure Kansas City Chiefs would get nervous again, undoubtedly causing more uncertainty in the upcoming games.


    Killing with praise can often be deadly without leaving a trace.


    However, Li Wei¡¯s crisp answer snuffed out the flame.


    "Right now, my only focus is on the Miami Dolphins."

 Chapter 326: 325 A Footstep

    "The only thing I¡¯m focused on right now is the Miami Dolphins."


    Li Wei¡¯s attention was highly concentrated, impervious to outside influences, extinguishing all sparks and quickly redirecting the hot topic of discussion back to the regular season with a crisp and decisive attitude.


    Cool, rational, agile, vigilant.


    This rookie was indeed troublesome.


    The journalists were also at a loss.


    All schemes, overt and covert, hit a wall. What seemed fierce ended up embarrassing themselves, slapping their own faces in disgrace, as ridicule blanketed social media and started a furious siege against the reporters¡ª


    At this moment, the astute netizens had probably already seen the signs:


    The solidarity expressed so cheerfully and profitably by the Kansas City Chiefs both inside and out likely wasn¡¯t a facade; rather, the previous training conflicts that erupted might have been a performance, specifically staged for the media to create a smoke bomb, cleverly deceiving the Los Angeles Chargers.


    What a masterstroke of using others to do the dirty work!


    The point was, the media had been thoroughly played.


    Amidst the hustle and bustle, netizens piled on, witnessing the rarity of the media being trapped and embarrassed in an end-of-year spectacle.


    Moreover, this wasn¡¯t the only piece of good news for the Kansas City Chiefs¡ª


    The Oakland Raiders, having been thoroughly trounced by their divisional nemesis last week, seemed to have lost their bearings entirely and hadn¡¯t recovered since.


    Compared to the media and fans, they themselves were even less able to understand what had happened, how suddenly everything collapsed on both offense and defense, and even in the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ second team, they remained lost, unable to turn the situation around even during garbage time.


    At the critical moment of contending for the playoffs, a team¡¯s collapse in confidence was the worst and most terrifying thing.


    This week, the Oakland Raiders fought the Dallas Cowboys down to the last moments of the game and lost by a single field-goal difference, suffering a second consecutive defeat.


    This also prematurely signalled the Raiders¡¯ exit from the playoff contention, though theoretically, they still had a 1% chance, but the conditions were exceptionally stringent, and from all indications, the Raiders¡¯ season had ended prematurely.


    All of it had started with that one game against the Kansas City Chiefs.


    The so-called good news was that the Kansas City Chiefs had personally sent their divisional rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers, to hell, and the elimination of the Oakland Raiders meant that the Chiefs were themselves nearing salvation¡ª


    Clearly, Rolex is very satisfied with Li Wei¡¯s image; his competitive spirit shown on the field combined with his clear and handsome personal image off the field perfectly embodies the Rolex brand into the sport of football. This was key in facilitating the signing with Li Wei.


    Li Wei is making history not just on the field, but off the field as well.


    Rolex did not disclose the contract details, but rumors still circulated among journalists. Currently, there are primarily two versions being discussed.


    One version is that they have signed a two-year cooperation agreement for five million US dollars per year, with Rolex wanting to test the waters without going all-in¡ª


    after all, the turnover rate for running backs is too high.


    Another version is that they have signed a ten-year cooperation agreement for three million US dollars per year, continuing Rolex¡¯s typically low-key but stable strategy¡ª


    not easily signing endorsers, but once decided, it¡¯s a long-term collaboration, willing to continue the partnership even after the athlete has retired.


    Whichever the case, no doubt, it is groundbreaking, representing Rolex¡¯s cautious first step into the big four North American professional leagues.


    Heated discussions boil over.


    People couldn¡¯t help but wonder how Donald and Rolex began negotiations, managing to persuade Rolex to take such an important step with Li Wei becoming a pioneer for the big four North American professional leagues.


    From Gillette to Rolex, media reports regarding sponsors were gradually confirmed. However, the focus was on the fact that the Kansas City Chiefs hadn¡¯t lost a game and Li Wei was not underperforming, so these off-field anecdotes became a side note to Li Wei¡¯s continued climb to the peak of popularity.


    Lastly, Pepsi.


    Pepsi solemnly held a press conference to announce, with the treatment of a top star, that Li Wei had joined the Pepsi family and would become the face of Pepsi in North America¡ª


    following this, Li Wei¡¯s face would be featured in all of Pepsi¡¯s advertisements in the NFL, including PepsiCola and Gatorade, the top-selling brand in North America.


    Unlike Gillette and Rolex, Pepsi widely publicized the entire collaboration, announced it with the highest standards, and stated that there would be surprises to come, piquing the media¡¯s curiosity early on.


    Pepsi also did not announce the contract details, but according to an insider report from the Los Angeles Times, this was a record-breaking contract for the NFL, instantly making Li Wei the most prominent face of the league, surpassing Brady.


    The specific details were known only to a few top executives who did not wish for other players to start inflating their prices¡ªone after another, considering there are indeed many NFL players¡ª


    seven million US dollars per year, for five years.


    Donald delivered on his promise.@@@@

 Chapter 327: 326 Christmas Gifts

    The ripples shimmered, and the sound of water flowed gently, as the golden sunlight of winter in Kansas City filtered sparsely through the treetops, casting dappled patterns on the surface of the indoor swimming pool.


    A sturdy yet slender figure swam straight along the lane, and upon close observation, one could notice that he primarily propelled himself using his upper body, his legs not exerting much force, merely faintly flapping to aid his movement.


    The pace was not fast, even slow, but he remained focused, meticulously swimming with precision as if he was using every muscle in his body to feel the nuances of his exertion, his soul completely merging with the water.


    On the shore, a man dressed in a dark blue hospital rehabilitation uniform followed along the lane, maintaining his focus and close observation, yet he did not speak to break the silence, leaving only the sound of swimming quietly flowing in the air.


    This was rehabilitation¡ª


    Tedious. Long. Slow.


    Until the rehabilitation session ended, Eric Berry stopped at the end of the lane, supported himself out of the water onto the shore with his hands, wiped the water off his face, and took a long breath.


    The man on the shore approached, "Eric, you¡¯re in good shape today. I think we can start trying some ground activities tomorrow."


    Berry¡¯s eyes lit up, and he looked up sharply, "Really?"


    Three months had passed since the season-ending Achilles tendon rupture, and Berry had been enduring the rehabilitation, patiently and calmly following the plan.


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    Although he never showed it, rehabilitation was undoubtedly a torment.


    Sometimes it went smoothly, other times not; not every day brought progress, and occasionally there might even be setbacks; despite strictly following medical advice, not every effort received positive feedback.


    Not only was it tedious and prolonged, but it was also a difficult struggle.


    Berry thought about giving up, more than once, but he ultimately couldn¡¯t bear to¡ª


    He wanted to fight once more, he wanted to stand and compete on the field again.


    However, it was not easy.


    The words "hold on" and "keep it up" felt light and weightless; but putting them into action meant continuous, torturous struggle.


    Besides gritting his teeth and persevering, there were no shortcuts.


    Until today, Berry had always been engaged in aquatic rehabilitation activities to avoid putting too much stress on his ankle, but now, he finally heard some good news.


    The man flashed a smile, "Stay calm, Eric, stay calm, we need to remain patient, remember?"


    On the TV screen, the live broadcast of the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Miami Dolphins at Arrowhead Stadium was showing, the vast wave of red from the camera spreading to every corner of the hospital lobby.


    Undoubtedly, in Kansas, nothing could be more exhilarating than a Chiefs¡¯ game.


    Involuntarily, Berry paused¡ª


    "... backpedaling, Smith is reading the defense and looking for a passing target."


    "Passing... oh, no, a fake run after a feint, the football is handed off to Li Wei."


    "Dolphins!"


    "Beautiful, Li Wei makes a sharp stop and turn, successfully shaking off the first wave of tackles from the defensive line, and Dolphins linebacker Hewitt seizes the opportunity precisely."


    "Tackle!"


    "God, Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei!"


    "Li Wei makes a complex spin move, like a tango, slipping past Hewitt¡¯s back and sidestepping the tackle, which is a disaster for Hewitt, as the Dolphins¡¯ linebacker group continues to be devastated by injuries this season."


    "Li Wei shakes off the tackle, and his advance continues!"


    "Five yards!"


    "Pincer move! The Dolphins¡¯ Red Zone defense finally shows its strength, but here comes Li Wei¡ªwait, how did he do that, was that a Marseille turn? Wait, Li Wei has used a soccer-style move to dodge the tackle for a second time, shifting his route forward again."


    "God!"


    "End zone, touchdown!"


    "Twelve-yard ground rush for a touchdown! Li Wei, the twenty-third overall rookie Top Scholar for the Chiefs, scores the first touchdown of the game for his team!"


    "Wow, I mean..."


    "Uh, wait, Li Wei stands in the end zone, lifting his jersey, and beneath it, he wears a white sweatshirt inscribed¡ª"


    Berry was stunned, seeing an entirely unexpected message from Li Wei written under his jersey:


    Hey Eric, we¡¯re coming.


    Unexpectedly, Berry¡¯s eyes were fiercely hit by a warm surge.

 Chapter 328: 327 Full Power Mode

    Berry had not watched a Kansas City Chiefs game for a long time.


    It wasn¡¯t because he didn¡¯t care. On the contrary, it was precisely because he cared too much and was so anxious that he couldn¡¯t help wanting to closely follow the team¡¯s every move¡ª


    When the team was stuck in a losing streak, when the media hounded Li Wei, when there were ripples in the locker room, Berry wished he could be there, not because he thought he could turn things around, but because he wanted to stand shoulder to shoulder with his teammates in battle.


    It was his team, and he was part of it, wishing they could move forward or retreat together.


    This sentiment could easily unsettle his mental balance, becoming more and more eager and anxious to return to the field, disrupting the rhythm of his rehabilitation.


    That was no good.@@@@


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    So, Berry had been learning, learning not to focus on the games, learning to ignore the media¡¯s clamor, just concentrating on himself.


    But all the defenses were effortlessly breached today¡ª


    Vanquished.


    "This, this message must be written for Eric Berry, the captain of the Kansas City Chiefs Defense."


    "This season, Berry¡¯s Achilles tendon rupture ended his season, causing huge pressure on the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ secondary defense; but the Chiefs still found a way to move forward, waiting for the return of their defensive captain."


    "This is a Christmas gift."


    "Wow, this..."


    "Ladies and gentlemen, with Li Wei¡¯s recent twelve-yard rushing touchdown, it means that we are witnessing history on Christmas 2017."


    "With 1,810 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns, Li Wei officially breaks Eric Dickson¡¯s thirty-year-old rookie season rushing record for a running back, creating a new glory for Super Bowl-era running backs in the NFL."


    "Li Wei, a rookie, in only his second year transitioning from mixed martial arts to professional play; an Asian player, the first-ever Asian first-round pick in NFL history, has written miracles amid controversy and challenges."


    "And more!"


    "Li Wei not only broke the NFL Super Bowl-era rookie rushing record; he¡¯s also almost certainly to lead a series of rushing statistics for the season."


    "Currently, Li Wei is first in the race for both rushing yards leader and rushing touchdowns leader, with the Los Angeles Rams running back Gurley temporarily in second, but the gap between them is significant."


    "Gurley, until this week¡¯s game, rushed for 1,190 yards and scored 11 rushing touchdowns. Unless he has a miraculous explosion in the last two weeks, there¡¯s a significant chasm between his performance and Li Wei¡¯s, and hope of catching up is lost."


    "This means that, a full week in advance, Li Wei has already secured the titles of rushing yards leader and rushing touchdowns leader."


    Seeing Smith¡¯s face filled with a look of utter resignation, Berry burst into joyful laughter.


    Then¡ª


    "Berry!"


    "Berry!"


    Arrowhead Stadium joined in, following Li Wei and the others¡¯ cheers, the deafening shouts reverberating through the hospital¡¯s hall from the TV screens, unintentionally stirring up a surge of excitement.


    In the hall, people looked at each other in disbelief.


    Obviously, this was a hospital. It wasn¡¯t appropriate to make loud noises that could disturb patients or interfere with medical staff at work. Even TV volumes had to be kept low, so collective shouting was definitely prohibited.


    Yet, as their gazes met, smiles quietly found their way onto their faces.


    Then, they started to cheer silently¡ª


    No sound, only lip movements.


    "Berry."


    "Berry."


    Although it was silent, the exchanged glances and echoing expressions conveyed the joy and happiness of Christmas. For that brief moment, they seemed to truly see a glimmer of hope, temporarily forgetting the helplessness of illness and mortality, genuinely believing that a Christmas miracle could happen, to triumph over sickness and embrace the future.


    Berry watched quietly, the warmth in his chest expanding to fill his entire torso, involuntarily clenching his fists tighter.


    He was ready.


    He would continue to fight, even if there was only the slimmest thread of hope.


    But that¡¯s life, isn¡¯t it?


    Not just in competitive sports, life does the same¡ªgrappling with difficulties, setbacks, and challenges, burning with all one¡¯s might to shine, fight, and feel the warmth of blood and the power of the heartbeat, without regrets.


    Even though he wasn¡¯t at Arrowhead Stadium, at this moment he was fighting side by side with the team; the Kansas City Chiefs were united, inside and out.


    Taking a deep breath, Berry lifted his head high, and even though the corners of his eyes were still wet with tears, he didn¡¯t mind. Without hiding or wiping them away, he boldly displayed his vulnerability.


    Then, Berry looked towards White, a faint fighting spirit ignited in his eyes, low-key yet sharp.


    "Let¡¯s go, James. We have rehabilitation tasks to complete tomorrow."

 Chapter 329 328 Being prepared

    On Christmas Day, NFL games continued, and the atmosphere heated up even further as the regular season neared its close. Each game could influence playoff standings, amplifying the sparks of competition and tension.


    The Kansas City Chiefs hosted their third consecutive home game in a crucial do-or-die battle; however, this time, the opponent was not their divisional arch-rival¡ª


    but the Miami Dolphins from the AFC East.


    During the 1980s season, the Miami Dolphins, led by legendary quarterback Dan Marino, was undoubtedly one of the League''s top teams. However, since the millennium, due to the strong emergence of divisional arch-rivals, the New England Patriots, the Miami Dolphins had been mired in a prolonged slump, unable to find their direction.


    Last season, the Miami Dolphins made their first playoff appearance in eight years since the 2008 season but unfortunately were knocked out in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Everyone thought the Miami Dolphins might be on the cusp of a complete revival; however, their quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, suffered a season-ending Achilles tear, plunging the team back into difficulties.@@@@


    In the end, they had to call out of retirement the former Chicago Bears quarterback, Jay Cutler, to take over, but his performance was disappointing.


    So far this season, with six wins and eight losses, they were officially out of the playoffs.


    But underestimating the Miami Dolphins could lead to an upset¡ª


    The team''s head coach is Adam Gase, who from the 2012 to 2014 seasons, served as the Offensive Coordinator for the Denver Broncos, alongside Manning, creating one of the strongest offensive groups in history before being poached to come to the Miami Dolphins as head coach.


    Under Gase''s coaching, Tannehill, who had never performed well, transformed, leading the Miami Dolphins back to the playoffs last season.


    Similarly, two weeks ago, with no hope for playoffs, the Miami Dolphins defeated the defending champions, the New England Patriots, at home, handing their divisional rivals their third loss of the season in a stunning upset.


    In this game, facing the Kansas City Chiefs, who were making a final sprint for a playoff spot, the Miami Dolphins were not prepared to easily hand over victory.


    After the game started, the two teams were neck and neck, locked in a stalemate until the second quarter. The Kansas City Chiefs opened up the game with a strong push through passing and encountered fierce resistance from the Miami Dolphins in the Red Zone. Ultimately, relying on Li Wei''s individual skills, they managed a touchdown and finally broke the deadlock¡ª


    Thus, the scene described earlier occurred.


    The Christmas gift carefully prepared by the team leader of the Chiefs'' Defensive group, although delayed and after some bumps and clashes, was ultimately fulfilled.


    This touchdown broke the balance of the standoff and became the turning point of the game.


    On one hand, the Miami Dolphins, who had been hanging on, had their morale broken as their Defensive group, despite fighting valiantly until the end, failed to stop the opponents, delivering a heavy blow to their spirits.


    In the final week''s away game against the Denver Broncos, the team would enter full rotation rest, with backup quarterback Mahomes starting and leading the team, and the starting lineup consisting mainly of second-string players while the main players rested.


    This was utterly unexpected.


    Who would have thought that three weeks ago, with the shadow of six continuous losses lingering and the team on the brink of an early season exit, they now had locked up a playoff spot early and entered rotation rest, preparing for the single-elimination playoffs?


    It was an absolute surprise!


    After experiencing the frustrations and setbacks of playoff campaigns season after season, Reed had his considerations¡ª


    Everyone thought Reed''s rotation was a sharpening for this season''s playoffs, including the players and coaching staff of the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Only Reed himself knew that this was only a minor reason. The truly important reason was still about strategizing.


    Does anyone remember the Kansas City Chiefs'' choices at the beginning of the year at the draft?


    Third pick, Li Wei.


    Tenth pick, Mahomes.


    Reed believed that if the Kansas City Chiefs wanted to be more competitive in the future, they should place their hopes on these young players.


    This season, Li Wei had already quickly grown, and next, it was the quarterback''s turn.


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    In the locker room, players one by one celebrated Mahomes''s career-first start, the young man smiling shyly and awkwardly, unable to hide his happiness.


    However, Li Wei looked up at Reed, and the two exchanged glances.


    Reed''s heart stirred, wait, could this clever spirit have figured it out?


    The smile on the corners of Li Wei''s mouth lifted, and Reed''s eyes also revealed a hint of a smile.

 Chapter 330 329 Final Sprint

    The 2017 NFL regular season officially entered its final phase, and the battle for the playoff spots had already reached a life-or-death intensity.


    The rules for securing an NFL playoff spot are very simple¡ª@@@@


    The American Conference (AFC) and National Conference remain distinct.


    The four division champions from each conference advance to the playoffs, and they are ranked from the first to the fourth seed based on their win-loss records; in addition, the two teams with the best records within each conference advance to the playoffs as the fifth and sixth seeds, respectively.


    That''s pretty much it.


    However, with the NFL regular season consisting of only sixteen games, far fewer than basketball and hockey''s over eighty games and baseball''s over one hundred sixty games, it''s common to see teams with identical win-loss records.


    For this reason, the league has established a series of detailed rules to determine rankings by comparing the seasonal performance of two or more teams with the same record.


    First, the head-to-head record.


    Second, the win-loss record within their own conference, with AFC teams considering AFC records and National Conference teams considering National Conference records.


    Third, the record against common opponents.


    Fourth, the quality of victories, meaning the winning percentage of the opponents a team has defeated, calculated as an average; the higher the opponents'' winning percentage, the higher the quality.


    Fifth, the strength of schedule, which is the winning percentage of all the opponents a team has faced throughout the season, also calculated as an average; again, the higher the winning percentage, the stronger the schedule.


    If the rankings still cannot be determined at this point, there are additional rules, such as conference point differential, overall NFL point differential, total points scored in conference games, total points scored in all games, and the total number of touchdowns scored in all games, and so on.


    In short, after analyzing the data all the way to the end, an order can ultimately be determined.


    This season, the Kansas City Chiefs experienced dramatic highs and lows, fluctuating between heaven and hell. With a record of just nine wins and six losses before the final week of the regular season, they probably wouldn''t stand out among the outstanding teams of the AFC.


    But their competitors in the AFC West weren''t strong enough; the team secured their division championship ahead of time by performing well in direct confrontations within their division, guaranteeing a playoff spot.


    The playoffs are divided into four rounds.


    The first round is the wild card round.


    According to the rules, the first and second seeds in each conference get to enjoy a bye during the first round of the playoffs and have the advantage of playing at home. Last season, the Kansas City Chiefs were the AFC''s second seed and had a first-round bye; but this season, they were not afforded such treatment.


    In the first round, the third seed faces off against the sixth seed, and the fourth seed confronts the fifth seed in a single-elimination game, with the winners advancing to the next round of competition.


    Naturally, the value of playoff spots soared¡ª


    Who knew, maybe the Baltimore Ravens'' legendary 2012 season would be replayed?


    That year, the Baltimore Ravens, with a regular-season record of just ten wins and six losses, barely made it to the playoffs. No one expected the team to go any further, and the legendary lineman "Thor" Ray Lewis announced his retirement after the season, showing signs of a team on its last legs.


    However!


    Quarterback Joe Flacco, who showed no signs of improving during the regular season, unexpectedly exploded into form, delivering unbelievable, god-level performances, and defeated Andrew Luck''s Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning''s Denver Broncos, and Tom Brady''s New England Patriots in succession, marching all the way to the Super Bowl.


    In the end, the Baltimore Ravens triumphed over the San Francisco 49ers and ascended to the top, with Flacco seizing the Super Bowl MVP.


    That season remains a magical mystery to this day¡ª


    Because after that, Flacco reverted to mediocrity, not bad, but just slightly above the league average.


    Incomprehensible, completely incomprehensible.


    But this is the nature of competitive sports: anything is possible, and no one can be sure whether the 2017 season will become the second 2012 season.


    Under intense public scrutiny, the final week of the regular season slowly kicked off.


    Fortunately, this time the Kansas City Chiefs stepped out of the spotlight, embarking on a low-profile journey to Denver.


    Without much attention, Patrick Mahomes made his professional debut as a starting quarterback. In fact, Mahomes was a bit nervous, showing a bit of restraint against the poorly performing Denver Broncos this season.


    22 completions on 35 attempts, for 284 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception.


    Such numbers were hardly satisfying.


    However, the equally untried Kareem Hunt brought an uplifting fighting spirit and released an incredible amount of energy, rushing for 156 yards, receiving 77 yards, and scoring two touchdowns, proving that the Chiefs'' running back group was not just Li Wei, and the team still hid another gem.


    Without the pressure from Li Wei, Hunt finally earned his own spotlight.


    "27:24."


    The Kansas City Chiefs narrowly defeated the Denver Broncos away with a field goal.


    They finished the season with four consecutive victories, putting a period on it, with the 2017 regular season record settling at... ten wins and six losses.

 Chapter 331 Dust Settles

    The regular season, all wrapped up¡ª


    Some seized fate by the throat, with the Buffalo Bills defeating the Miami Dolphins at the last moment to advance to the playoffs.


    Others suffered a heavy blow, the Baltimore Ravens lost to the Cincinnati Bengals and missed the playoffs.


    In the AFC, the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, and Los Angeles Chargers all finished with nine wins and seven losses, but according to the rules, the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans claimed the wild card spots, leaving the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers regretfully out of the playoffs.


    The Baltimore Ravens were stopped by their divisional rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Los Angeles Chargers were similarly dealt a blow by their divisional nemesis, the Kansas City Chiefs, two weeks prior. A season''s worth of effort thus led to vastly different outcomes.


    John Harbaugh felt somewhat powerless¡ª


    Just short, just by that little bit.


    Watching the Cincinnati Bengals players cheering wildly and celebrating on the field as if they had just clinched the Super Bowl, Harbaugh couldn''t help but feel the sting of their victory. Even though they had missed the playoffs, they seemed to enjoy a victory party on the Ravens'' home turf. What could be sweeter than claiming victory in enemy territory?


    Right until the last moment, the Baltimore Ravens still had a chance for a comeback win, but this time, fortune did not side with them.


    If only they had a strong running back...


    As the head coach, Harbaugh was well aware that the team was a whole; victories and defeats could not simply be attributed to a single phase or player.


    But at this moment, Harbaugh couldn''t stop thinking¡ª


    If at the last moment, a running back could have taken some of Flacco''s pressure off, creating a dynamic between passing and running plays to give Flacco breathing room; or even further, if a running back could complement Flacco, changing the fate of the struggling offense, would the season''s outcome have been different?


    As these thoughts filled his mind, the image of Li Wei came to mind.


    Indeed.


    One must admire Reed''s audacity, courage, and vision, which are truly remarkable, giving the Kansas City Chiefs a slight edge:


    From nine wins and seven losses to ten wins and six losses, just one more win made all the difference, placing two teams on opposite sides of the playoff boundary, looking across at each other from afar.


    Li Wei, Harbaugh hadn''t anticipated that this rookie running back would play such a crucial role this season. He was optimistic about Li Wei''s prospects in the league and believed Li Wei could bring surprises, but he hadn''t expected Li Wei would bring such an impactful performance, becoming a weapon that could bind together the offensive group.


    This once again proved a point: as team managers and head coaches, they needed to remain rational, not act impulsively, look at the big picture, analyze calmly, and make decisive moves; but occasionally, very, very occasionally, they also had to let reason guide them, to trust their instincts, their inspiration, their impulse¡ª


    In the history of competitive sports, countless great moments are often forged by emotional impulses, not by rational thought.


    Even the defense of the Kansas City Chiefs was among the league''s best.


    Such a playoff lineup was indeed unfamiliar to the league. It seems that Manning''s retirement and the rise of the Bombing Corps still left a profound impact on the league.


    However, it''s worth mentioning that the Kansas City Chiefs had beaten both the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the regular season. The team once criticized as a "pseudo-strong team" was about to become an unknown factor in the AFC playoff matchup scenario¡ª


    No one could predict what would happen next.


    National Conference.


    First seed, National Conference East Division, Philadelphia Eagles, thirteen wins and three losses.


    Second seed, National Conference North Division, Minnesota Vikings, thirteen wins and three losses.


    Third seed, National Conference West Division, Los Angeles Rams, eleven wins and five losses.


    Fourth seed, National Conference South Division, New Orleans Saints, eleven wins and five losses.


    Wildcard.


    Fifth seed, National Conference South Division, Carolina Panthers, eleven wins and five losses.


    Sixth seed, National Conference South Division, Atlanta Falcons, ten wins and six losses.


    It''s clear at a glance!


    This season, the competition in the National Conference was slightly more intense than in the AFC, with the National Conference South Division being especially deadly.


    Three teams from the same division made it to the playoffs, all earning at least ten wins each amidst fierce internal competition, pushing the level of rivalry in the National Conference to a new height; meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons, Super Bowl runners-up for the past two years, both fought their way back into the playoffs, yet still ended up being dominated by the New Orleans Saints.


    Fierce, to the point of a bayonet fight.


    Interestingly, the Seattle Seahawks from the National Conference West Division stirred up a defensive storm within the league. Even though the Bombing Corps had stepped down from their peak throne, their lasting influence could still be felt in every nook and cranny of the league, drastically altering a series of traditional defensive systems. The AFC began to focus on defense, but, surprisingly, the National Conference shifted to an offensive roll this season¡ª Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire


    All six teams that made it into the playoffs were exceptional offensive teams.


    This is also... a curious and peculiar sight.


    So, what will happen in this year''s Super Bowl?

 Chapter 332 331 Brilliant Rookie

    The American League raised the banner of defense, while the National Conference sounded the horn for offense, the 2017 playoffs... should be very interesting and worth looking forward to.


    At this point, the playoff matchups have become completely clear¡ª


    In the American League, the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers have a first-round bye; in the National Conference, the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings have a first-round bye.


    After enduring a long and grueling season, a week of rest and adjustment is undoubtedly precious, ensuring they can sit on the sidelines and watch as their opponents fight tooth and nail, waiting to launch a strong attack after conserving their strength, and to vie for some advantages in the playoffs.


    The other teams, however, are not so lucky. Immediately after the end of the seventeenth week of the regular season, with no rest, the wildcard round kicks off.


    On January 6th, the Kansas City Chiefs will host the Tennessee Titans at home, while the Los Angeles Rams will face the Atlanta Falcons at home.


    On January 7th, the Jacksonville Jaguars will host the Buffalo Bills at home, and the New Orleans Saints will face their divisional archrival, the Carolina Panthers, for the third time this season.


    The battle drums have already been sounded.


    With no time to adjust, no space to breathe, you have to roll up your sleeves and enter the field. The value of the Kansas City Chiefs'' rotation in the last week is clear now; they didn''t have a bye, but it''s as good as one, conserving energy for the key players.


    However, before the playoffs officially commence, there''s still a bit of time to look back at the regular season, with a series of summary statistics released. We must not only pay attention to the playoff landscape but also not forget the other teams and players, as the excitement of the 2017 season is also thanks to their contributions.


    Traditionally, quarterbacks are undoubtedly the absolute focus of attention¡ª


    This year is no exception.


    In the quarterback passing yards ranking, Brady narrowly defeated Rivers''s 4,516 yards with 4,577 yards, topping the league this season in passing yards.


    On the passing touchdowns chart, Wilson crowned himself with 34 passing touchdowns, narrowly outmatching Brady''s 32.


    Additionally, there''s a rating scale for quarterbacks based on their completion percentage, passing yards, passing touchdowns, and interceptions, among other data, using the same formula resulting in a score that shows the quarterback''s performance, with the perfect score being 158.3.


    Rodgers was considered one of the four elite quarterbacks at a young age, because he is, to date, the player with the highest career quarterback rating.


    This season, on the quarterback rating leaderboard, after Rodgers was out for the season due to injury, there was a significant change. Quarterback Smith from the Kansas City Chiefs topped the list with 104.7, narrowly beating rookie quarterback Watson''s 103.0.


    In fact, once the data is laid out, the whole picture becomes clear:


    The passing yards king, passing touchdowns king, and quarterback rating king each belong to different players, and all the data failed to set new records, even falling far below record levels, with no 5,000 passing yards, no 50 passing touchdowns, nothing.


    Moreover, the names in the top five of each ranking list have a series of changes, with no player appearing in every list; plus, several quarterbacks from the top of the lists failed to lead their teams into the playoffs, lacking the appearance of "team leaders."


    Li Wei powerfully ascended to the top, crowning himself with the honor of his career''s first regular-season rushing champion.


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    On the rushing touchdowns leaderboard.


    Li Wei, 20.


    Tolli, 13.


    Ingram, 12.


    And the numbers of touchdowns for other running backs all fell short of reaching double digits, unfortunately.


    Li Wei unquestionably became the season''s touchdown king.


    The ascent was not just about reaching the top, but doing so with an overwhelming dominance. This year''s running backs should be divided into Li Wei and everyone else. Li Wei broke the rookie running back record that had been sealed for thirty years with an unbelievable manner and made all other running backs pale in comparison.


    What''s more, the figures mentioned above were achieved by all other players in sixteen games, while Li Wei played in only fifteen games. He did not even take the field in the last week, but he still completely dominated both leaderboards.


    This was no ordinary dominance.


    However, running backs are slightly different from other football positions; they are always in contact and must break through using their bodies, so their stats can''t be judged by rushing yards and touchdowns alone.


    Two other very important key metrics are used to measure the ability of running backs:


    First, average yards per carry.


    Second, number of fumbles.


    Like wide receivers and tight ends, the number of times running backs carry the ball is relatively limited, so their efficiency per carry and mistake control are unignorable metrics in measuring a running back''s personal ability.


    A running back rushing for a thousand yards sounds impressive, but if it takes four hundred carries, averaging 2.5 yards per attempt, then it''s a disaster. One can imagine that team''s ground offense must be quite dreadful.


    And then, there''s the case of a running back who performs well but suffers from occasional ''Butterfingers'', resulting in fumbles. One mistake could jeopardize all the effort of the entire team, which is even more disheartening.


    Naturally, before the whole league was ready to place Li Wei on the throne, professionals and seasoned fans needed to calmly assess¡ª


    Li Wei''s dazzling performances in both the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm and Kansas City Chiefs, were they based on personal ability, or the team''s system?

 Chapter 333 332 Prestige growing daily

    The reality of team sports often goes like this¡ª


    When praising a player, one must discern whether it''s the individual''s ability or the team''s tactical system that deserves the credit.


    Just like in the world of football, when Barcelona wins, people praise Messi; when Argentina loses, should people blame Messi or the team?


    These subtle differences are consistent throughout, and no collective sports can escape it, football included.


    And this applies even more so to running backs.


    Simply looking at the stats, Li Wei has undoubtedly dominated this year''s running back data rankings, establishing a clear barrier between himself and other players, making even the Los Angeles Rams'' Gurley seem lackluster in comparison.


    However, before Li Wei''s ascent to "Godlike State," professionals and seasoned fans still did not let emotions overwhelm reason, focusing on two pieces of data.


    First, the average yards per carry.


    Li Wei, 5.8 yards.


    Gurley, 4.9 yards.


    Bell, 4.0 yards.


    McCoy, 4.0 yards.


    The numbers don''t lie¡ªthis performance is second only to Adrian Peterson in his 2012 "Godlike State" season, marking it the second-best average yards per carry in five seasons.


    In the 2012 season, Peterson averaged 6.0 yards each time he carried the ball, truly showing a dominant state; now, Li Wei is very close to reaching this figure.


    It''s worth mentioning that in terms of the number of carries, Li Wei and Bell are quite close, both being the only two running backs in the league this season with over 300 carries, with other running backs like Gurley and McCoy all hovering around 280 carries, yet Li Wei still maintains such efficiency.


    Moreover, do not forget that the Kansas City Chiefs'' second running back Hunter also rushed for over 600 yards under Reed, who is known for a passing offense, which is definitely an admirable sight; no wonder Quarterback Smith was able to deliver the best season of his career.


    At this moment, all controversy falls silent¡ª


    Remember, after the draft ended, people ridiculed the Kansas City Chiefs for their foolish move of selecting two running backs in the first and third rounds; but now, with the regular season concluded, the Kansas City Chiefs have become the league''s top team in ground offense ranking, shocking everyone.


    Ground yardage, rushing touchdowns, average yards per carry, and so on¡ªall stand at the top of the charts.


    Second, the number of fumbles.


    Li Wei, 0.


    Bell, 2.


    A rookie, and a running back at that, staking an undeniable claim in the discussions for the regular season MVP.


    This is the true pinnacle of fame!


    At the start of the story, people discussed Li Wei''s identity, experience, position, and so forth; as the story progressed, people talked about the topics and attention Li Wei brought. When a player''s commercial value and off-field antics steal the spotlight, it''s often the beginning of a disaster¡ª


    This is why, with the NFL''s official push and the attention of sponsors like Nike and Pepsi, Li Wei has consistently been at the center of controversy.


    But Li Wei wasn''t affected by it, with undisputed performances that refocused attention back to the field, quelling all opposition and criticism with unparalleled play, and personally riding into the storm of hot debate for regular season MVP, propelling the NFL''s surge of popularity to a new apex.


    Of course, this wasn''t enough, not by a long shot.


    After all, Li Wei was just a rookie running back.


    In the world of competitive sports, championship is always the ultimate goal. Naturally, the bustling discussions finally converged towards the Super Bowl.


    Perhaps the only thing that could surpass Li Wei in terms of traffic and popularity was the playoffs.


    The long-awaited moment had finally arrived¡ª


    How far could the Kansas City Chiefs go in this season''s playoffs?


    "We can, of course we can!"


    In the Old Oak Tavern, the most die-hard, loyal Chieftain fans resolutely voiced their belief.


    Then, a voice drifted out from the corner of the bar, "Are you sure?"


    A wave of passionate fervor was abruptly doused with a bucket of cold water, as the eyes in the tavern turned en masse toward the corner of the bar like a swarm of arrows.


    "Damn it, Chris. Can you not put on that deadpan face? Nobody here owes you money."


    "I hate you pretentious centrist idiots the most."


    "Chris, give the team some confidence. If even we don''t believe in the team, who will stand with them?"


    "Get lost. If you don''t support the team, then get the hell out. We don''t welcome you here."


    "You can keep your mouth shut. No one thinks you''re mute if you don''t talk."


    "How long has it been since you''ve brushed your teeth? You''d better clean yourself up."


    With a single statement, he faced the wrath of the entire tavern, but Chris Provos simply lay quietly atop the bar, seemingly oblivious to the crisis he was in.

 Chapter 334 Between a rock and a hard place at 333

    Old Oak Tavern.


    Standing behind the bar, Charles Vester looked helplessly at Provo, raising his hand to stop other fans, staring back at Provo''s helpless face.


    Vester knew that Provo''s asthma had relapsed last week. He couldn''t continue working at the refinery temporarily, otherwise, he might lose his life there, and next week''s rent was looming; last night, Provo had nearly died on the streets, and the winter in Kansas seemed exceptionally long.


    It wasn''t that Provo wasn''t trying, but...in the grandeur of the era, their struggles seemed unable to change anything¡ª


    Didn''t Provo want the Kansas City Chiefs to win in the playoffs?


    Of course not.


    No one hoped more than Provo that the team could advance and light a glimmer of hope; but he was scared, he had faced so much disappointment that now, even harboring hope became cautious, fearing yet another disappointment. His world was already on the brink of collapse, a bit more might just shatter it, and then he would forever stay in the winter of 2017, unable to move on.


    The attacks, the negativity, were all just a defense mechanism, armored up layer by layer, hiding his scars.@@@@


    "Stop, everyone stop," Vester tried to control the situation.


    The other fans quieted down for the moment, but didn''t expect Provo to speak again.


    "Haven''t we been through enough?"


    "Embracing hope, fully confident, cheering behind them time and again, fighting side by side with them, entrusting all our passion and hopes onto the team."


    "But what did we get?"


    "Disappointment. Time and again, over and over."


    As he spoke, Provo became anguished¡ª


    This season, hope was rekindled, but the brighter the dawn of hope, the more turbulent the emotions of gain and loss, the struggle and turmoil were just too painful.


    He no longer had the strength to endure such pain.


    "I''ve had enough."


    "It''s just... it''s just that I don''t want you all to be disappointed," he managed to say.


    "Hah,"


    Looking up, Provo revealed a mocking smile.


    Seeing the tavern stir again, but this time, before anyone else could speak, Vester had already interrupted Provo.


    "Within the League" and the Old Oak Tavern... weren''t much better in comparison.


    After all, the playoffs were fundamentally different from the regular season.


    Whether it was the randomness and suddenness of single-elimination games, the encounter of titans in a new stage after a long season, or the presence of both pressure and motivation in the fierce quest for the championship, everything made the playoffs full of variables, always requiring consideration of unpredictable "uncertain factors."


    Naturally, pre-game analysis was also full of variables, and all teams were the same, the Kansas City Chiefs were no exception.


    Bart stated, conflicted.


    The Kansas City Chiefs... were just a hammer, after all, with that team and that Li Wei, Bart had never had a moment''s peace this season.


    The memory of being bashed, still vivid, too painful to look back at, barely figuring out some things by the end of the regular season, but what about the playoffs?


    After much thought, weighing carefully, Bart still did not dare to make a light assertion.


    "...Blair, your expression looks like you''re defusing a mine, calm down, calm down," joked the show host, Crosby.


    Bart: Can''t manage a smile.


    In fact, it was like defusing a mine, nerve-wracking, alright!


    But looking at the expressions of the other peers in the program, Bart also realized he couldn''t keep embarrassing himself on a show broadcast across the North American continent.


    Taking a deep breath, Bart clenched his teeth and accepted it.


    "Personally, I''m not optimistic about the Kansas City Chiefs."


    Ultimately, he made a choice, no regrets after the move.


    "I know, the Kansas City Chiefs are an unknown factor this season; they beat three strong opponents in the first phase of the season, the New England Patriots, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Pittsburgh Steelers; without a doubt, these three victories are very valuable."


    The three teams were respectively the top seed of the American League, the top seed of the National Conference, and the second seed of the American League.


    "But, entering the mid-season, the performance of the Kansas City Chiefs became unstable, the six-game losing streak was due to the team not maintaining the mentality of a strong team when facing weaker teams, still lacking intensity in crucial moments."


    "Even though they ended the season with four consecutive wins, all four teams were middle-ranked League teams that did not make the playoffs, and three of those wins were within the AFC West."


    "I won''t say they are a pseudo-strong team, but the fact is, the Kansas City Chiefs'' playoff spot lacks persuasiveness."


    "Entering the playoffs, such shortcomings will further magnify; merely relying on one or two players'' individual performances will not turn the situation around, after all, they lack an elite quarterback."


    "Moreover, they will face a tough challenge in the wild card game ¡ª"


    The Tennessee Titans.

 Chapter 335 334 First Opponent

    Before the 2017 season began, if someone had predicted that the Tennessee Titans could secure a spot in the playoffs, they would likely have been met with a lot of eye-rolling and called a fool.


    Since the 2008 season, the Tennessee Titans had not made it to the playoffs; since the 2003 season, they had not won a single playoff game.


    The Tennessee Titans originated as the Houston Oilers, established in 1960, and were one of the founding teams of the American Football League. They won the AFL championship in 1960 and 1961, marking them as a team rich in history and tradition; they were no exception during the Super Bowl era.


    Unfortunately, after entering the new millennium, the Titans were unable to find their rhythm amid the intense competitive upgrades throughout the League.


    In 2015, the Tennessee Titans used their top pick to select quarterback Marcus Mariota, hoping the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner would be the cornerstone who would lead them out of their slump.


    After a disappointing rookie season, Mariota finally brought some surprises in the 2016 season. The team achieved a record of nine wins and seven losses, and very narrowly, very disappointingly missed the playoffs.


    Head coach Mike Mularkey became the target of blame. Senior management generally believed that Mularkey had failed to harness the team''s talents. They possessed a team with excellent paper strength, yet they could not transform into a real powerhouse, a sentiment widely agreed upon by professionals.


    In this team, both the offensive and defensive groups had a plethora of excellent players¡ª


    In the offensive group, apart from quarterback Mariota, the running backs had DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry while the wide receivers included Eric Decker, Harry Douglas, and Eric Weems¡ªall Pro Bowl-level players.


    In the defensive group, the front line had Jurrell Casey, Sylvester Williams, and Brian Orakpo among others, all being Pro Bowl and All-America First Team-level outstanding players.


    Perhaps the only relatively weaker aspect was the secondary defense, which is why the team''s management had been trying to strengthen the roster through the draft and the free market over the past two years.


    Everything seemed on the right track, but why were the results still not as expected?


    At the end of the 2016 season, professionals still believed that Tennessee''s slump and growing pains might continue; the team had yet to find a solution.


    However, Mularkey had hurriedly taken over the reins midway through the 2015 season, and the 2017 season was only his second full season. Most people believed he deserved some time to shape the team according to his vision.


    Under such pressure, the Tennessee Titans entered a brand-new season.


    Nine wins, seven losses.


    For the second consecutive season, the Tennessee Titans delivered the same results, but this time they squeezed into the playoffs at the last minute.


    A surprise, an absolute surprise!


    "Both quarterbacks have had their career-best season this year, and their performances will inevitably sway the course of the game, making the quarterback offensive and defensive matchups particularly interesting."


    "Second, ''Ground vs. Ground''."


    "Kansas boasts Li Wei and Hunter, while Tennessee has Murray and Henry. Both have a duo of running backs, with the Chiefs focusing on agility and speed and the Titans on power and confrontation. These distinctly different ground offensive styles will play a crucial role in the game."


    "It''s worth mentioning that this is the first meeting between Li Wei and Henry."


    "Hence, the performance in these two matchups will dictate the direction of the victory."


    This time, Bart''s analysis and judgment were affirmed ''within the League,'' and on paper, this was indeed the case; however, the ultimate direction in the show was slightly different.


    "6:4".


    The members of ''within the League''¡ªten professionals in total¡ªsix chose the Kansas City Chiefs and four chose the Tennessee Titans, opinions very, very close, indeed neck and neck.


    Those who believed in the Tennessee Titans, like Bart, thought that their tough demeanor and momentum shown in key battles this season could be the key to breaking the balance.


    Those who believed in the Kansas City Chiefs, represented by Lawson, stood behind Li Wei.


    "After a slump of six consecutive losses, the Chiefs, upon their return, are still the same team but have forged a different kind of game tenacity."


    "Especially with Li Wei at the core of the ground offensive, bringing out an unbelievable form, the current Kansas City Chiefs are different from what we''ve perceived."


    "In the playoff stage, the ground offensive will become the backbone of the Kansas City Chiefs, allowing Smith to attempt more in the passing game; therefore, we have reason to believe that the Chiefs can turn around their customary weakness in the playoffs."


    Lawson stated this.


    "More importantly, Li Wei, a player who excels against strong opponents, I personally think that his competition with Henry on the same field might become a positive motivation."


    "We shall see."


    Lawson kept his objectivity, but the confidence and excitement evident in his words were noticeable, as within just one season, Li Wei had already gained a different aura in his eyes¡ª


    "Li Wei vs. Henry"!


    This eagerly awaited matchup is finally about to take the spotlight; and on the playoff stage no less!

 Chapter 336 335 Same School Showdown

    "Burton!"


    Directly ahead, a call jolted Burton Burns to attention, and he found himself locking eyes with Nick Saban, realizing he''d been caught daydreaming.


    Burns awkwardly adjusted his sitting position and cleared his throat.


    "Sorry, Coach. It''s just..." Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    He hesitated slightly but swallowed his words¡ª


    The University of Alabama''s performance in the 2017 season was still dominant. Following the growth and transformation of Henry in the 2015 season and Li Wei in the 2016 season, Jacobs took on the responsibility of leading the team with a powerful momentum in the 2017 season.


    The Crimson Tide Storm ended the regular season with an impressive record of eleven wins and one loss, the only defeat being the bitterly regretful "Iron Bowl" in the last week of the regular season. But with a quick turn, the Crimson Tide Storm rallied again and, after reclaiming the top spot in the Southeastern Conference, forcefully entered this year''s nationwide championship match.


    Because of the loss in the Iron Bowl, the Crimson Tide Storm, who had maintained its position as the number one seed throughout the season, slid to the fourth seed, which meant the team had to face the top-seed Clemson Tigers in the playoff semifinals¡ªan old rival met yet again on a narrow path.


    "24:6."


    With a satisfying victory, the Crimson Tide Storm defeated Clemson for the third consecutive year in the nationwide championship and marched triumphantly into the final battle.


    Two days later, on January 8, the Crimson Tide Storm was set to face the University of Georgia in Atlanta, striving to achieve a triple crown and continue the Alabama storm.


    At present, the coaching staff was holding their last pre-game tactical meeting, and Burns'' mind was wandering off.


    The reason was very simple¡ª@@@@


    Today was January 6, and the NFL playoffs'' first round wild card match was about to kick off.


    That afternoon, the National Conference''s first wild card match had ended. The Atlanta Falcons, who had suffered an epic defeat in the Super Bowl the previous season, rallied splendidly. Facing the Los Angeles Rams, who had risen to prominence this season and boasted strong Defensive Player of the Year contender Aaron Donald, the Falcons delivered their best passing game of the season and completely crushed the young Rams.


    "26:13."


    The sixth-seed Falcons defeated the third-seed Rams and moved confidently into the second round of the divisional playoffs.


    Gunpowder, lingering.


    At that moment, the tension and pressure of the playoffs burst forth in an instant.


    "I personally think Kansas has a higher chance of winning. The chemistry between Smith and Li Wei is good, and that Hunter also had a brilliant rookie season."


    "Ah, I''m still worried about Derrick. He was unbeatable in college, but on the professional field, he seems to have power but nowhere to use it."


    "Right, the NFL is like that. Who knows what Mulkai was thinking."


    "I actually think the Titan''s general manager didn''t think it through. The team already had a powerful running back, why draft another one? Such a move is baffling. Mulkai can''t make good use of Derrick, he must still be considering the first-string running back''s feelings and salary considerations."


    Bustling around, the arrival of the coaching staff saw the hotel''s executive corridor already stuffed full of players from the Crimson Tide Storm.


    When the young players saw the coach, they raised their arms one by one, shouting and causing an uproar, creating a lively scene.


    Burns was taken aback, "You guys! Why have you all come over too?"


    "Coach Burns, a match-up between Crimson Tide Storm brethren, how could we miss it?"


    "Exactly, no matter who wins today, it''s ultimately a victory for the Crimson Tide Storm."


    "Crimson Tide, roar! Crimson Tide, roar!"


    Roar after roar, they cheered in perfect harmony, and even if they weren''t at Arrowhead Stadium, the atmosphere here was just as intense.


    Burns''s stern face couldn''t stay composed any longer, and he too raised his arms high, "Crimson Tide, roar!"


    The other members of the coaching staff behind him shook their heads helplessly, chattering and joking among themselves.


    "Josh, Josh, who do you think will win today?"


    Within the cluster of players, the chirping discussions didn''t stop, as eyes fell on the team''s first-string running back, Jacobs.


    Jacobs felt a bit troubled¡ª


    For them, Henry was a god, an unattainable figure high above; whereas Li Wei was a comrade-in-arms, a partner with whom they fought side by side to create miracles.


    Those who had lived through the Henry era had mostly left the school, and Jacobs didn''t know how to judge.


    Subconsciously, Jacobs turned his head to look at a figure beside him.


    "Rookie." Ronnie Clark didn''t hesitate for a second before giving an answer.

 Chapter 337 336 takes the initiative

    Ronnie Clark, last season as Li Wei and Jacob''s backup, the third running back of Crimson Tide Storm, but he is not on the team roster anymore¡ª


    Injury.


    Clark also suffered injuries, ending his season early. To make room on the team''s roster, he left the Crimson Tide Storm and moved into the practice squad.


    Actually, Clark had basically left the team, preparing for graduation and future employment. The only reason he stayed in the Crimson Tide Storm''s practice squad was because he couldn''t bear to leave; it was a long goodbye. He hoped he could at least accompany the team through the last game of this year.


    To be precise, because of his injury, there was a very limited amount of things Clark could do in the practice squad. Burns noticed that Clark hoped to stay with the Crimson Tide Storm through the last year of college, so he had Clark help organize training logs and establish training plans to make himself useful.


    Because of this in the running back group, Clark still had a say, he wasn''t simply a practice player.


    When Clark noticed Jacob''s gaze, he didn''t hesitate for a second before giving an answer.


    "Rookie."


    On the side, a youngster who joined the University of Alabama this season started to tease, "Roar roar roar, rookie, Ronnie called Li Wei a rookie."


    Clark exchanged a look with Jacobs. No matter how outstanding Li Wei''s performance was on the professional field, he was still the rookie who had fought with them to the end.


    Then, a hesitant voice came from the side, a green face covered with acne, marked with a bit of confusion and hesitation, cautiously said.


    "But... I understand what you''re saying, but ultimately it depends on the coach''s tactics, right? Otherwise, no matter how strong a running back is, he still can''t perform."


    This statement actually made Jacob show a smile.


    Indeed, Football is a team sport, and the role of a running back is very limited. They often need to follow the coach''s tactics and cooperate with the team; even someone as strong as Derrick Henry can''t carry the entire team forward, and sometimes due to the head coach''s tactical arrangements, one can have the ability but no opportunity to showcase it.


    But Li Wei is different, ultimately different.


    As long as Li Wei stands on the field, they could all firmly unite and fight to the end.


    Jacobs could understand Clark''s meaning. They had faith in Li Wei, a kind of almost blind trust and dependence. Perhaps the Kansas City Chiefs felt the same.


    "I also believe in the rookie," Jacobs said. Those hesitations and those qualms seemed to vanish in an instant.


    "Ah, really? I think Henry might explode."


    "Exactly, Henry has been waiting for such an opportunity; he won''t miss it."


    The playoffs after all were the playoffs, where the atmosphere and mental state of the game subtly shifted. After the kickoff, both teams were slightly tense, leading to some minor miscoordination and exchanged punts; but soon after, the Kansas City Chiefs'' running back group stepped up.


    Li Wei led the charge, proving by his actions why he was ranked first in the league''s ground offense for the season.


    "Li Wei!"


    "One tackle broken, two tackles broken, three! Three tackles broken!"


    "Three times!"


    "With continuous changes of direction and sudden stops and starts, Li Wei completely toyed with Tennessee''s ground defense, moving through it as if unopposed. Tennessee couldn''t contain Li Wei and retreated continuously, and the balance of the offensive and defensive clash was broken. Li Wei once again used his talent and ability to change the game."


    "Li Wei''s footsteps still hadn''t stopped, continuing to advance, continuing to break through."


    "God!"


    "Five yards! Ten yards! Fifteen yards!"


    "Speed!"


    "Unbelievable, Li Wei is still accelerating, unbelievable!"


    "With absolute speed, he overtakes, breaking free from the fourth tackle, twenty yards!"


    "Red Zone!"


    "Wow, surrounded by three, Tennessee finally intercepts Li Wei at the last moment with a three-man block, but Li Wei completed a twenty-four yard advancement, leading the Chiefs into the Red Zone."


    Arrowhead Stadium erupted in excitement.


    Then, forty-five seconds later, in front of the TV screen, Jacobs and Clark were the first to jump up with arms raised, as the Crimson Tide Storm erupted with an amazing energy.


    "Touchdown!"


    "Rookie! Touchdown! A one-yard run for the touchdown!"


    "A hundred percent touchdown, a perfect touchdown!"


    "Ah, rookie, ah!"

 Chapter 338 337 Continue the momentum

    Li Wei, again and again, it was Li Wei.


    In the wildcard playoff face-off between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tennessee Titans, with no one able to get into the game or open up the situation, Li Wei stood up¡ª


    He relied on his personal ability to break free from four tackles and sprint twenty-four yards into the Red Zone, breaking the deadlock. Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire


    Despite the intensity the Tennessee Titans displayed in the Red Zone, the first two stages of the offense did not yield much ground, but on third gear and one yard to go, Li Wei still broke through the defense.


    The Kansas City Chiefs scored first.


    "0:7".


    Just like in the regular season''s fourteenth week home game against the Oakland Raiders, the Kansas City Chiefs were completely invigorated from top to bottom after Li Wei opened the deadlock at the start, and both the offensive and defensive ends fully entered the game.


    First up against Mariota''s Read Option Offense, they put up high-quality, intense defense, harshly admonishing the third-year quarterback, forcing the Tennessee Titans to opt for consecutive punts.@@@@


    Then, with Smith cleverly using Li Wei as a decoy, the passing offense finally opened up the situation. Facing the Tennessee Titans'' cornerback duo of Williams and Orakpo, who both had Pro Bowl level performances this season, he managed to deceive and break through them with successful plays, culminating in a fourteen-yard pass to Tight End Kelsey¡ª


    Kelsey overpowered Orakpo, tackling his way to a touchdown.


    The Kansas City Chiefs continued to widen the lead.


    The entire first half felt familiar, as in the last four weeks of the regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs swept through their opponents in a similar fashion, effortlessly advancing into the playoffs, and now they continued this momentum, leaving no room for the Tennessee Titans to perform.


    During the two-minute warning of the first half, Mariota finally had a breakthrough moment, depending on his own legs to lead the team and continuously pushing forward, with the Special Duty Group finally scoring a forty-nine-yard field goal.


    Yet unexpectedly, the Kansas Chiefs Offense, red-hot in the first half, went on a rampage in less than two minutes. The passing offense driven by Smith went wild, continuously making sideline passes to stop the clock, pushing forward, and connecting with Hill for a thirteen-yard pass touchdown in the last seconds of the half, leaving the visiting Tennessee Titans completely baffled by the fluidity of the offense.


    "3:21".


    At the end of the first half, the Kansas City Chiefs led with an overwhelming advantage.


    The live broadcast room was full of exclamations and admiration; the progression of the game broke expectations, the one-sided dominance completely uncharacteristic of the playoffs.


    "There is no doubt, the Kansas City Chiefs came prepared."


    "Up to this season, the Kansas City Chiefs have faced five consecutive playoff home game defeats, which is the longest ongoing losing streak in NFL history. If they lose this game, they will push this record to a new high. This is obviously something the Kansas City Chiefs do not want to see."


    All this time, he had been complaining and ranting because the head coach didn''t give him opportunities, because star running back Murray wouldn''t look his way, because the team focused on Mariota... blah blah blah. He hadn''t been given the chance to shine, and for two seasons in the professional league, he''d been relegated to the role of a cleaner.


    In contrast to college, it was as if one was in heaven and the other was on earth.


    Once the pride of heaven, now he had to beg for chances to carry the ball; he had always struggled to adjust his mentality and accept this role.


    This game was no exception.


    Mulkai''s tactics were completely centered on Mariota. He buzzed around Mariota like a headless fly¡ªwhere was there any opportunity for him to shine?


    He longed to carry the ball, to break the deadlock, to confront the defending players head-on, to maintain his status as a genius and king in front of his Crimson Tide Storm brethren. However, harsh reality made him look utterly disheveled.


    Down and out. Ashamed. Struggling.


    Without needing to compare statistics, Henry knew his performance in the first half had been a mess; but Li Wei was still shining¡ª


    That rookie.


    So, give up? Surrender? Admit defeat?


    No.


    Of course not.


    From Li Wei, Henry saw what he had long forgotten to focus on.


    Don''t shirk responsibility, don''t blame others or the heavens.


    Perhaps they were stars, cores, the soul of their teams in college games, but in the professional arena, it''s a different story. He needed to become a member of the team, understand that shining with his teammates is also a form of glowing and warming, and accept that a complex strategy can trump individual strength to win.


    It was only now, from Li Wei, that he finally learned this lesson.


    Henry couldn''t help but recall his mentor Burns''s words.


    "Indeed, he''s a rookie, but exactly because of that, he can re-examine the sport without any burdens or baggage. That''s his advantage. Derrick, there are things on him worth your learning."


    Once, Henry had scoffed at those words; but now, he seemed to finally understand their meaning.


    It wasn''t too late.

 Chapter 339 338 Awakening Battle

    In the NFL, everyone has their own battles.


    Although the spotlight is always firmly on the quarterback, the charm of football lies in the fact that any element, any bolt, can be the key to the game, outshining even the quarterback himself.


    Standing on the sidelines, Henry quietly watched as Li Wei and Hill celebrated wantonly, finally lowering his proud head to face the junior fellow disciple who Coach Burns couldn''t stop praising¡ª


    Former arrogance, disdain, contempt, and neglect had all become a level gaze of observation.


    Then.


    Li Wei seemed to sense the gaze, stopped in his tracks, and after searching through the crowd for a moment, he and Henry''s eyes collided in the air.


    Unfamiliar, yet familiar.


    They might not be friends, and they might never become friends. From the start of the story to now, they were nothing but competitors.


    But that didn''t prevent them from respecting each other and striving to surpass one another as they continued to battle through their performances on the field.


    Henry noticed¡ª


    Li Wei''s expression.


    There was no provocation, no attack, no contempt, only a dignified and upright spirit of combat, clearly issuing a challenge:


    May the better performer win!


    That fighting spirit blazed fiercely in his eyes.


    Quietly, Henry straightened his back and squared his shoulders, as the fighting spirit that had been slumbering deep in his soul slowly awoke¡ªa flame he hadn''t noticed within himself, seemingly nonexistent yet suddenly bursting forth with incredible energy.


    Back in the NCAA, the exceptionally talented Henry could easily crush his opponents without exerting his full strength, the Clemson Tigers included.


    Later in the NFL, Henry was full of energy but had nowhere to use it. The coach always just had him hit walls again and again, with absolutely no strategic collaboration, which led him into a state of self-pity and furious frustration.


    Until now.


    He could not and would not lose to Li Wei.


    The exchange of glances awoke the beast within Henry.


    The look was only a brief intersection; right after they parted ways, Henry''s brain began to operate at high speed.


    If Coach Mulkai continued to employ the same tactics, letting him hit the wall and relying on Mariota, Henry wondered how he might change the situation¡ª


    Thinking.


    This time, Mariota finally got into form, leading the Tennessee Titans past the midfield line with some difficulty, yet encountering a crisis again at the forty-yard line, trapped in a third and three yards situation, on the verge of striking out again¡ª


    The opportunity came to Henry.


    "Attack!"


    Henry was the first to react, his gaze firmly locked on the linemen in front of him; he knew that the wide receivers would either move towards the vertical route or near the sideline, dispersing the crowded middle area immediately.


    However, this was still not everything.


    The Kansas City Chiefs used a "3-4" defensive formation, and their three defensive linemen had performed well this season, especially in red zone ground defense, still ranking top in the league, having completely blocked Henry''s breakthroughs in the first half.


    So, Henry needed to adjust, or else hitting the wall was a foreseeable outcome.


    Push off the ground.


    Hold the ball.


    Exert force.


    Henry''s eyes were firmly fixed ahead, bursting with a resolute determination, taking the football from Mariota and pushing forward.


    According to the tactics, Mulkai hoped that Mariota would push Henry through the middle to forcefully break through, creating an opening and advancing three yards just enough to complete the third down and three yards conversion, and continue the offense.


    But now, Henry was thinking one step ahead of Mulkai.


    Step, step, step.


    Henry''s stride was firm and powerful, without any hesitation, in a critical moment about to collide with the linemen.


    A sidestep.


    Wedge, wiggle, push.


    Henry forsaking speed, instead forcefully wedging open a gap with his strength, the offensive line perfectly pushing the defensive line to both sides, like opening a door.


    Seeing defensive end Bailey reaching out with both hands in an octopus pose, trying to contain Henry through an offensive tackle, Henry did not evade but confronted him head-on, using the offensive tackle as if meat in a sandwich, squeezing continuously and stepping forward with tenacity against Bailey''s moves.


    Mariota was dumbfounded, watching Henry advance against two massive figures, akin to participating in a Guinness World Records contest; he momentarily forgot to assist.


    But Henry didn''t mind¡ª


    Push off the ground, stride, exert force.


    Energy, burst!

 Chapter 340 339 Emperor Henry

    A hundred pounds! Two hundred pounds! Three hundred pounds!


    Not only the weight of his own body but also the force that surged in waves¡ªhe could feel the weight crushing down on his shoulders and chest, and it was almost as if he could clearly hear the sound of his bones bursting above his eardrum.


    If it were the past, Henry would not hesitate to choose a head-on breakthrough¡ª


    Tough guys don''t talk much! Just do it!


    But now was different.


    Henry knew that behind Bailey, there were two more linemen waiting. If he charged forward like a wild ox, even a slight delay in his step would allow the two linemen to catch up and create a numerical advantage against him. No matter how strong he was, he would just be hitting a wall.


    The real crux of the matter was that once he broke through the linemen''s blockade, all other defensive players would be drawn away, leaving the field ahead open and vulnerable.


    Look¡ª


    Either collide with the wall and fall, or advance unabated.


    Just one layer of defense, yet the effect of the run was worlds apart. Even the offensive tactics of Mulkai were exactly the same, yet because of the performance of the running back, two completely different outcomes occurred. This was why Li Wei was able to shine with the Kansas City Chiefs¡ª


    Trust from the coach, tactical favoritism, help from teammates¡ªnone of it was clamored for; he earned it all on his own.


    So, Henry slightly altered his strategy.


    To collide was still to collide.


    But not head-on, rather from the side.


    A bump, a squeeze.


    Bearing the weight of three hundred pounds on him, Henry sidestepped through the gap between the offensive players looking somewhat clumsy and staggered, like a Totoro of sorts.


    However!


    Henry finally broke free from Bailey''s block, just managing to cross the kickoff line.


    The next second, Henry saw a flash of red fire coming straight at him.


    This time, Henry was prepared.


    He slightly shifted his position, faced forward with his body to the side, vying for space to push off the ground¡ª


    Bang!


    The collision came.


    Houston, the captain of the Kansas City Chiefs'' Defense, Houston wrapped up Henry solidly, accurately, and firmly, firmly securing his hold on Henry.


    The colossal Henry had no way to free himself like Li Wei could, but that didn''t mean he was giving up. He kept pushing from the ground, kept exerting force, kept accelerating. By the time Houston wrapped him up, Henry''s feet were already off the ground.


    Step! Step! Step!


    One step.


    Another step.


    Henry''s strength finally erupted.


    Houston was shocked. He didn''t let go of his grip, firmly wrapping up Henry, but since his own feet were off the ground, he failed to secure his center of gravity on the ground and was abruptly dragged forward by Henry, the world spinning rapidly around him.


    "Huh!"@@@@


    "Henry!"


    Henry slammed the football down hard on the ground, and with surging passion, he roared up at the sky, standing in front of the Kansas City Chiefs'' Red Zone with the pose of a sovereign surveying his battlefield.


    Kneel down!


    Henry, with a fierce look in his eyes, scanned the crowd, looking at the debris scattered all over the place, burning with killing intent, and finally fixed his gaze on the side of the Kansas City Chiefs, finding Li Wei in the midst of the dense crowd.


    Eye contact was made:


    This is my response, my declaration of war! Do you dare to accept the challenge?


    In front of the television screen, the players of the Crimson Tide Storm could no longer contain themselves, one by one they howled and screamed like a bunch of monkeys¡ª


    Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Emperor Henry!"


    "Emperor Henry!"


    So this was the true face of Emperor Henry, who swept through NCAA¡ªviolent, robust, ferocious, an overwhelming dominance, laying waste as he marched, the entire defensive group trembling under his iron hoofs.


    Strong, so incredibly strong.


    Watching Henry descend like a war god on the screen, Jacobs couldn''t help but get fired up, yearning for battle just like Henry and Li Wei.


    Burns watched the screen with interest, gently shaking his head and muttering, "This silly, big-hearted kid, it took him until now to finally get a clue, but it''s not too late, actually, the timing couldn''t be better, there''s a good show to watch."


    Can a running back change the game?


    Yes!


    But power is ultimately limited; it depends on how much leeway the head coach is willing to give the running back.


    If it were Saban, noticing the sparks between Henry and Li Wei, he would be willing to give Henry more opportunities; but Mulkai had his own considerations.


    Turning around, Mulkai still handed the offensive initiative back to Mariota¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs Defense immediately showed the strength of their Red Zone defense.


    First Gear, ten yards, tackling Mariota.


    Second Gear, thirteen yards, breaking up the pass, and nearly intercepting.


    Before they even had a chance to catch their breath, the Tennessee Titans were now facing a dire situation in Third Gear, thirteen yards out from the Red Zone, watching a chance to score turn into a mere field goal attempt.


    What to do?


    In the air, the scent of blood was pervasive; both sides had seen red, and it seemed like victory or defeat would hinge on this next set of offensive and defensive plays in the second half.


    Neither side gave an inch, bayonets clashed!


    Then.


    "Attack!"


    Mariota signaled the snap, and with a turn, he handed the football to Henry¡ª


    Was Henry finally about to run with the ball again?


    No.


    The Kansas City Chiefs weren''t fooled; they spotted the opponent''s fake run and true pass play immediately and unhesitatingly pounced towards Mariota.


    Danger, danger alert blared at full scale!

 Chapter 341 340 self-produced and self-sold

    At the Red Zone frontier, third gear thirteen yards.


    It was the Tennessee Titans'' ball.


    So, a defensive group blitz?


    Not at all!


    The Kansas City Chiefs didn''t choose to recklessly rush the passer under pressure, but instead stayed tight and focused. Only three defensive linemen were left up front to maintain the pressure, while the other players were all spread out, taking on man-to-man and zone coverages that were seamlessly laid out¡ªan impenetrable defense that covered the Red Zone completely.


    Mariota and Henry executed a fake run that turned into a real pass, but it didn''t deceive the Chiefs at all. The home team had already seen through Mulkai''s offensive tactics. After much running around, the responsibility still fell back on the quarterback, so the Kansas City Chiefs Defense cut off all the passing routes.


    And Houston singled out¡ª


    Guarding against the Read Option Offense.


    Mariota, being one of the new generation quarterbacks with ever-improving athletic abilities, could often run the ball. Since the strategy of using the Read Option on college fields could easily score, naturally quarterbacks lacked the patience to quietly refine their passing accuracy. Quarterbacks like Mahomes, who had passed for over four thousand yards in college for two consecutive seasons, were becoming increasingly rare and received less and less recognition.


    No matter what, at this moment, they had to be wary of a mobile quarterback''s Read Option Offense, thus Houston kept a close eye on Mariota.


    At this point, Mariota''s limited field of vision for passing and hesitancy were fully exposed. He looked once, saw no target for his pass; he looked again, still nothing, and then Mariota panicked.


    Elite quarterbacks often need to possess a second reading ability since, after the snap, changes in the defensive strategy will inevitably bring more emergencies. At this moment, the quarterback''s second read of the defensive formation amidst the chaos becomes especially important.


    Unfortunately, Mariota fell short.


    Now in his third professional season, his ability in this area was still insufficient.


    Houston immediately noticed Mariota''s frantic steps, akin to a headless fly. Since the opportunity for Read Option Offense was still lost, Houston quickly glanced at the Kansas City Chiefs Defense''s positioning, which was completely locked in, giving the Titans no chance. He then decisively broke through the entanglement at the defensive line¡ª


    Pressuring. Rushing. Sacking.


    In short, Houston needed to threaten Mariota, to further crush him.


    But then!


    At that moment, Henry burst out.


    In the past, Henry would help with blocking, but his timing and positioning were often off, unable to relieve the imminent threat; but now, Henry was patient and calm, accurately waiting for Houston to come.@@@@


    Henry: "Li Wei, are you watching?"


    Li Wei indeed was watching. Henry''s choice of timing and positioning truly shone; with just one interception, Houston''s step faltered, and Mariota deftly ran out from the pocket''s other side.


    The entire stadium was dumbfounded¡ª


    Henry was stunned, Houston was stunned, Revis was stunned, even Mariota himself was full of question marks.


    Just now, what happened?


    "Oh... uh."


    "This."


    "Mariota passes to Mariota, and the Tennessee Titans get their first touchdown pass of the entire game!"


    "This is definitely a touchdown!"


    "If I''m not mistaken¡ªI need to check the records, but this should be the first time in the Super Bowl era that a quarterback has thrown a touchdown pass to himself during the playoffs. Wait, what exactly did we just witness?"


    The Kansas City Chiefs Defense''s performance could be called perfect, with their Third Gear defense thoroughly suffocating the life out of the Tennessee Titans, looking like they were about to strike out the opponent again, Mariota seemed to be at the end of his rope.


    But then!


    A miracle happened.


    Henry raised his arms high, cheering for Mariota right away.


    Finally!


    No matter what, the Tennessee Titans finally scored a touchdown, closing the gap in the score, and the suspense of the game returned.


    Henry: Ah! Ahhh!


    In front of the TV, Burns glanced at Saban, "When has Derrick ever been this happy for a touchdown before?"


    In the past, scoring a touchdown was as simple as drinking water and eating for Henry, no difficulty at all, so naturally, there was no need to be so excited.


    Now, Henry had first regained his poise to help the team advance to the Red Zone, and then, in a rare move, he helped block to create the opportunity for Mariota''s miraculous touchdown, the preciousness of this touchdown far exceeded expectations.


    Saban nodded lightly, "The Derrick we know now is finally showing up, and he has finally completed his transformation, even though it took some time. Better late than never. This game is getting interesting."


    Burns glanced at Saban, "Oh? So, you think there''s going to be a twist?"


    Saban didn''t speak, just kept his gaze on Henry¡ª


    Killer instinct.


    He saw the killer instinct in Henry''s eyes once again.

 Chapter 342 341 Holding ones breath and staring intently

    Arrowhead Stadium: ...Huh?


    From Mariota to Mariota, a touchdown pass to himself, what kind of play was that?


    Even Revis, a veteran in the League for ten years, was completely flabbergasted. Everything happened in the blink of an eye, and there was simply no time to react¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs, from offense to defense, were somewhat... at a loss for words, struggling to find an accurate term to describe the scene they had just witnessed.


    Li Wei was no exception.


    At a glance, Li Wei noticed Henry''s awakening, his fighting spirit and hostility plain to see. Although Li Wei himself was filled with question marks, caught off guard by Mariota''s suave move, he immediately sensed the crisis:


    A turning point.


    Just like in their home game against the Oakland Raiders, one touchdown, one breakthrough, one chance could overturn the situation; now, the Tennessee Titans might also rely on this unbelievable touchdown to upend the game. They needed to be vigilant, and even more, they needed composure.


    Immediately, Li Wei went up to high-five his defensive teammates to comfort them.


    Especially Revis.


    Without saying much, Li Wei simply gave Revis a hug with a smile, patting his back, but this gesture made Revis pause.


    Then it was the offensive group''s turn. Li Wei and Kelsey chatted and laughed, subtly easing the odd atmosphere hanging in the air, trying to help everyone relax and refocus their attention.


    They needed to concentrate on themselves.


    However, this was easier said than done¡ª


    Firstly, the Kansas City Chiefs had been losing consecutively in the playoffs, especially with five straight home losses, a habitual weakness rooted in a lack of self-confidence. When the unexpected and setbacks occurred, nightmares would once again encroach.


    The Reid-era Kansas City Chiefs had also never managed to shake off such nightmares.


    Secondly, this Kansas City Chiefs team still lacked some determination and domineering presence.


    From Quarterback Smith to the style of both offense and defense, it was all the same. Plus, Li Wei and his young teammates were still inexperienced, and a few motivational slogans were insufficient to change the situation.


    And, let''s not forget.


    The on-the-spot offensive tactics were called by the Offensive Coordinator Nagy, who was also an inexperienced coach. Ultimately, he wasn''t worldly enough, and his on-the-spot adjustments and improvisations may not always result in the right choices.


    So, although Li Wei and Kelsey had already noticed the turning point, their efforts still couldn''t stabilize the wavering and chaotic situation¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs'' focus wavered somewhat, no serious mistakes were made, and the offense could still advance, but the coordination started to show slight deviations, lacking the natural, smooth flow of the first half.


    "22:21."


    Now, the Tennessee Titans have taken the lead in the score.


    What''s the deal with the score?


    For the two touchdowns afterwards, Mulkai chose to take risks to the end, opting for the two-point conversion challenges both times; but as the commentators said, the Kansas Citadel Chiefs'' Red Zone defense was watertight, and Mariota''s awry passes had no chance whatsoever, resulting in both two-point conversions failing.


    So, after the two touchdowns, the Tennessee Titans only scored six points each time.


    Mulkai is going mad, his eyes bloodshot, showing the desperate gambler''s resolve, battling the Kansas City Chiefs in a pyrrhic way, willing to inflict a thousand damages on the enemy even if it costs him eight hundred."


    There were rumors before the game that Tennessee Titans executives had already decided, regardless of the outcome of the wildcard game, they would show Mulkai the door.


    This means the only way for Mulkai to keep his job is to win. If the Tennessee Titans can keep winning in the playoffs, he might be able to postpone his termination notice, again and again.


    And perhaps, stage a comeback.


    So, when the unexpected situation occurs in the second half, Mulkai seizes the opportunity firmly.


    The Tennessee Titans overturn the situation, completely suppressing the Kansas City Chiefs.


    At Arrowhead Stadium, the entire stadium holds its breath, hearts nearly exploding from beating so franticly, the nightmares of the past years returning to the brain over and over again, blood that was boiling a second ago now plunging to freezing point¡ª


    Could it be happening again?


    In the Old Oak Tavern, there is dead silence, faces anxious and dazed, staring at the television screen; no one speaks, the words of Provo echoing above their ears, but now even anger seems to have no strength left.


    When the Kansas Chiefs Offense strikes out again, and the ball goes back to the Tennessee Titans, the air explodes with despair.


    Bart: Oh yeah! I told you, I''ve been saying! Relying on just a rookie running back isn''t enough to change the playoff landscape, don''t forget, this is football, not basketball or soccer.


    Bart watches Li Wei in the live broadcast, finally regaining long-lost confidence¡ª


    His judgment is correct, his expertise and authority can at last redeem themselves!


    At this moment, Bart feels a bit of sympathy for Li Wei. To experience such highs and lows in his first professional season and to end in such a brutal manner, the lesson is a bloody one; for a kid, it''s just too cruel.


    But...


    This is the professional field, a merciless and unsympathetic reality.


    Welcome to the NFL, rookie.


    A smile crawls across Bart''s lips.

 Chapter 343 Manufacture a fumble at 342

    The atmosphere was somewhat oppressive¡ª


    The playoffs were ultimately different from the regular season.


    If it had been the regular season, no matter how difficult or dangerous, they would still have been able to ignite their fighting spirit, possessing the belief to fight back even from the edge of a cliff; but in the playoffs, the continuous thoughts of no way back and no turning points lingered in their minds, the fear of elimination nearly causing their hearts to burst.


    The more they thought, the more cluttered their thoughts became, making it even harder to concentrate.


    This was also Li Wei''s first experience.


    Li Wei admitted that he hadn''t played well in the second half either and was influenced to the extent that his focus wasn''t adequate. Once distracted, the interpretation of tactics and the observation of the defense could lead to omissions and deviations. These small deviations in team cooperation could lead to completely different outcomes.


    So, what to do?


    Give up?


    How could that be possible?


    "Damn!"


    "Damn damn damn, God damn it, you bunch of ungrateful pricks!"


    "Do you know how much I want to go out there and kick Mariota''s ass?"


    "No, but I can''t."


    "Right now, I feel like a madman tied up in a mental hospital, stupidly sitting in front of the TV watching you guys get pushed around by that Henry."


    "Yes, yes, that''s familiar."


    "All season, we''ve watched Li Wei push other defensive groups to the ground, and now watching another Crimson Tide Storm legend running back give us a harsh lesson, that''s what you call retribution."


    "So, what are you going to do? Surrender?"


    "Damn, fuck surrender!"


    Right in front, a voice like a broken gong rang out, and Houston looked up in astonishment¡ª


    What''s this?


    Then, Houston saw Li Wei holding a cellphone, the speaker emitting crackling sounds, unmistakably Eric Berry''s voice.


    Eyes gradually gathered on Li Wei, full of astonishment.


    Li Wei, however, seemed unfazed and looked intently at it before finally shrugging regretfully, "This is as loud as it gets."


    Taking a deep breath, Houston''s gaze sharpened¡ª


    They could lose the game and be humiliatingly removed from their home field again, but they absolutely could not give up victory without a fight, absolutely not!


    By the time they lined up again, Houston''s demeanor had completely changed, his eyes locked on Mariota and Henry with razor-sharp focus.


    Then.


    He stomped the ground and sprang into action.


    Houston launched an attack, immediately stepping forward with an unstoppable momentum, bypassing the congested front line from the Chiefs'' left side and the Titans'' right, cutting through the crowd like a sharp blade into the pocket, never taking his eyes off Mariota.


    But!


    The football wasn''t in Mariota''s arms.


    So, Henry?


    Houston quickly glanced around, noticing the football nestled in Henry''s arms as he tried to break through the middle. But the Chiefs'' defensive line advantage created an impenetrable human wall; Henry had no chance, forcing him to adjust again.


    Suddenly, as his feet hesitated and jerked, he had to change his route of advance.


    In that lightning-fast moment, Henry saw Houston and Houston saw Henry; their gazes collided briefly across their helmets.


    Houston reacted swiftly, a split second faster, lunging forward¡ª


    Stop and pivot.


    While his feet stayed rooted, his upper body launched forward, spinning at high speed like a top, his arms spread wide like an eagle, firmly wrapping around Henry''s legs and using the weight of his body to force him down.


    In fact, it was just a moment, and the slight edge Houston had gained in his reaction allowed him to tackle before Henry could react a second time.


    Henry''s legs were tied up, just like a mummy.


    No chance, absolutely no chance.


    During a moment of dizzying turmoil, Henry had already fallen backwards, and amidst the stumbling impacts, Houston kept ramming upwards from below with his helmet against Henry''s ball-carrying arm, where strength, momentum, and gravity intertwined, the jolts and collisions fiercely tugging at his body.


    Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire


    The next second, the football broke free and mischievously flew into the air, reappearing above the green field.


    Fumble!


    "God, a fumble!"

 Chapter 344 Extreme joy, extreme sorrow

    Damn it!


    The second the football slipped out of Henry''s grasp, every hair on his body stood on end. He didn''t even have time for annoyance or regret; his first instinct was to dart forward, trying to regain control of the ball.


    But he was still a step too slow¡ª


    Houston secured the football in his arms.


    Chaos. Disaster. Disarray.


    A fumble, a fumble had actually occurred!


    No one could have predicted that Houston would not only swiftly intercept Henry but also force a turnover by causing a fumble, marking the first change of possession in the game!


    Half hell, half heaven.


    Half sea, half flame.


    Not just at Arrowhead Stadium, but also the live studios, broadcast rooms, and the countless viewers watching live on television, everyone plunged into an incredulous frenzy.


    People did not expect Mariota to connect with himself for a touchdown that completely turned the game around; likewise, no one foresaw the divinely aided Henry fumbling the ball at the most crucial moment, making the outcome hang even more precariously in the balance.


    Henry, utterly disgraced¡ª


    Very, very, very disgraced.


    Standing still, panting like a bull, he looked on with a serious expression at the Kansas City Chiefs defense, celebrating wildly. For a moment, it was difficult to tell whether he was feeling anger or shame, or some other indescribable emotion.


    Initially, the balance of victory had already tipped significantly towards the Tennessee Titans.


    With less than three minutes left in the game, all they needed to do was to steadily use the ground game to run down the clock. Achieving a first down would have essentially ensured victory, and the Kansas Chiefs offense might not even have had the chance to take the field; but the fumble completely reversed the situation.


    The Kansas Chiefs offense could take the field once more, and they were at the twenty-three yards near the end zone. Whether by touchdown or field goal, as long as the Kansas Chiefs scored, they could take the lead again; then the Tennessee Titans would be pushed to the brink of the abyss.


    In other words, the initiative suddenly fell into the hands of the Kansas Chiefs.


    This was a fatal fumble.


    Henry stood there, his face hidden within his helmet, shifting between light and shadow, making it hard to decipher his mood. But he remained motionless for a long time, akin to a sinner for all time. Ten great plays could not equal the impact of one mistake, a weight that threatened to crush his shoulders.


    Especially for a running back.


    Even if a running back scores five touchdowns in a game, the discussions afterward still revolve around that one fumble, inviting a deluge of criticism and attacks.


    Although this was Henry''s second season, ultimately, he was still young and full of youth. The emotional roller coaster from the nadir to the pinnacle and back to the abyss again was too jarring; Henry could not help but fall into a state of bewilderment.@@@@


    Utter silence¡ª


    For the Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs alike, it was a long and excruciating wait. Even if the teams were not battling on the field, the air was getting stickier and more strained by the minute.


    Almost breathless.


    They were all waiting, waiting for a call, a decision that hovered between heaven and hell, yet their fates were not in their own hands.


    Then.


    Under the watchful eyes of many, the head referee took center stage, opened his waist microphone, and transmitted his voice into the stadium speakers, echoing above Arrowhead Stadium.


    "...After video review, the ruling on the field is overturned, no fumble... Tennessee Titans retain possession, second down and twelve yards..."


    The rest of his words were devoured, and no one could stay calm.


    It wasn''t a fumble.


    Henry''s knee buckled, and it was ever so close; he could have been the culprit for the team, and all their efforts before could have been for naught because of this fumble.


    But he clenched his teeth, and just before Houston caused the fumble, his knee hit the ground, avoiding a possession turnover just before the victory.


    Ups and downs, twists and turns¡ª


    From heaven to hell and back to heaven, only to be pushed back into hell again.


    The Kansas City Chiefs and the Tennessee Titans swung back and forth between great joy and sorrow, playing on the edge of a heartbeat, with the Chiefs just catching a glimpse of hope before being pushed back into the abyss.


    The Old Oak Tavern was completely dumbfounded, sinking into deep despair and pain.


    Then.


    West noticed it, noticed the figure in the live broadcast:


    Li Wei.


    Li Wei took a step forward, his eyes scorching as he locked onto Houston''s figure amidst the noisy clamor around the stadium, shouting resolutely.


    "We''re on standby."


    "Houston, we''re on standby!"


    No, they could not lose heart, not get discouraged, not despair, not give up.


    This moment, right now, this was the crucial point that distinguished a strong team from the champions.

 Chapter 345 344 Self-Redemption

    Chaos!


    The situation was a mess, with the game''s dramatic highs and lows swinging from the first to the second half, and from Tennessee Titans'' inconceivable rally to the ball-dropping controversy that shunted between heaven and hell; this wildcard game perfectly interpreted the essence of NFL playoffs¡ª


    Anything is possible.


    As the game neared its end, the tension over the outcome swung back and forth, tormenting the fans of both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tennessee Titans.


    A nightmare, firmly casting its shadow over the heads of the Kansas City Chiefs.


    A nightmare!


    In the seventh week of the regular season, it was precisely such a turnaround by the Oakland Raiders that they had suffered away from home, with the offensive group not even getting a chance to take the field and fight.@@@@


    Last year''s playoffs against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the season before at home against the New England Patriots, and the season before that at Arrowhead Stadium.


    The all too familiar scene had surfaced once again.


    As if cursed.


    So much so that the players and coaches of the Kansas City Chiefs couldn''t help but doubt themselves:


    Was this their fate? Were they unable to break free from these shackles? Were they doomed to keep running into the same wall over and over, trapped in a temporal loop, reliving the same fate?


    Reed, didn''t believe in fate¡ª


    He noticed, not just the players but the coaching staff''s morale crumbling, initially believing that Henry''s fumble and turnover had been reversed by the referee''s call, swiftly crushing the coaches'' last bit of spirit.


    In fact, Reed had always been a coach who rarely indulged in emotional outbursts or shouting at the players from the sidelines; but now, he could no longer care less, he refused to bow down to fate.


    With a stride, Reed stepped forward, preparing to shout to his players.


    However, from the corner of his eye he saw a figure rushing out from among the offensive group players.


    "We''re on standby."


    "Houston, we''re on standby."


    It was Li Wei.


    The game was not over, the Tennessee Titans hoped to end the game with Mariota and Henry in control, refusing to let Smith and Li Wei enter the field again; but Li Wei didn''t give up, they were still ready to take the field at any time.


    Not just Li Wei.


    Kelsey, Smith, Hill, even Hunter set aside the rookie rivalry, one by one they all came to the sideline, fists clenched, shouting out.


    At that moment, the defensive group was not fighting alone.


    In front of the TV, Berry tightly gripped the armrests of his chair.


    "Please, old pal, focus, stay focused!"


    The bustling gazes above Arrowhead Stadium twisted into a rope, firmly united, resolutely standing behind the defensive group¡ª


    We fight together.


    We win together and lose together, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, fighting to the end.


    "Wow, Emperor Henry takes the stage again!"


    "Henry is using his physical advantage to break through forcibly, Houston can''t stop him, Houston who just made a sack clearly can''t form a challenge!"


    "Uh."


    "Revis!"


    "It''s Revis!"


    "And Houston! Houston and Revis work together to stop Henry."


    "My God!"


    Revis, a symbol of a smaller cornerback, generally has nothing to do with defending running backs, especially against a massive force like Henry, it was basically like trying to stop a car with your arms.


    However!


    Revis stepped up and stopped Henry.


    Just as Henry was about to break away, Houston, who had been pushed back moments before, doggedly charged back in¡ª


    Surrender?


    To hell with surrender!


    Houston''s mouth burst with a taste of blood, spinning at high speed like a top as he lost balance, and then with one push and a dive, he threw himself onto Henry''s back, applying full pressure.


    Front and back, left and right.


    Houston and Revis, two top-tier players, joined forces to bring down Henry.


    Henry, thunderously collapsed.


    Struck out!


    In the Old Oak Tavern, people shoulder to shoulder silently watched the screen, no shouts, no breathing, and even their hearts seemed to stop beating until the moment Houston, Revis, and Henry crashed to the ground together, when joy and happiness finally broke free.


    Ah!


    Screams, roars, cheers!


    One by one, they exchanged looks of disbelief and shock in their eyes, utterly speechless, just erupting into cheers.


    Struck out!


    The Kansas City Chiefs Defense had done it, amid continuous surprises and chaos, they had forcibly snuffed out the Tennessee Titans'' flame of ending the game early.


    Ahhhhh!


    Houston stood up, exchanging a look with Revis.


    Neither spoke, given Revis had joined the team just over a month ago and wasn''t that familiar, but at this moment, their eyes communicated perfect understanding.


    Finally, they had achieved redemption in their own way.


    Then, Revis watched as Houston picked up the football, ignoring his defensive teammates who were swarming in to celebrate, and strode towards the sideline. He casually tossed the football to Smith, who was standing not far away, but his gaze was on Li Wei.


    "Now, it''s up to you guys."

 Chapter 346 345 Go lightly

    "Wow."


    "I mean, wow."


    In the broadcast booth, even the experienced commentator Pash was at a loss for words, uttering exclamations like a fool. The match was so fierce, so closely contested, so tense¡ªworthy of the playoffs.


    "The game, it hadn''t ended."


    "Although Henry''s fumble was overturned, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense wasn''t affected; they immediately focused and displayed their strength and courage."


    "One sack, and one interception."


    "The Kansas City Chiefs cleanly and neatly struck out the Tennessee Titans three times, providing Smith with another chance to enter the field."


    "Now, with only one minute and forty-eight seconds left in the game, the two-minute warning just gone, and each team holding three timeouts, anything is still possible."


    "The point here is ''22:21,'' a one-point difference, the Kansas City Chiefs only need a field goal to pull off a last-second victory, and the Tennessee Titans'' defense will experience immense pressure."


    "Moreover, since Tennessee Titans'' recent punt had only average effectiveness, Kansas City Chiefs will start their offense on their own thirty-one-yard line, fully capable of advancing into field goal range."


    "It all depends on Kansas City Chiefs Offense now."


    On the sidelines.


    Henry hadn''t taken a break, and despite feeling annoyed and frustrated, there wasn''t time to dwell on his thoughts. He stared intently at Li Wei.


    He certainly hadn''t forgotten that just recently, it was Li Wei''s call that sparked the fighting spirit in Houston, and now Li Wei finally had his chance to prove himself. It was a battle not just between the two teams but also between the two running backs.


    Henry''s heart clenched¡ª


    Henry and Li Wei, each had played a strong half, and now it would come down to key moment performance.


    Kansas City Chiefs Offense were now on the field.


    Their own thirty-one yard line, first and ten.


    Smith took a deep breath; despite being a veteran, every time he faced such a moment, his wildly beating heart was always uncontrollable.


    Then, without meaning to, Smith''s eyes sought Li Wei.


    Sure enough, he was all smiles, as if he were merely out for a stroll.


    Sensing Smith''s gaze, Li Wei looked back, his eyes brimming with eagerness to engage, already prepared for battle. This fired up Smith as well.


    Very well, let the call to battle sound!


    While Smith was reading the defense, so was Li Wei¡ª


    He knew that was the quarterback''s job; but a running back also needed to master the offensive and defensive formations to find his position on the field.


    Sports are ever-changing in the blink of an eye. Just as Orakpo hesitated, Smith threw the pass.


    Short pass. Five yards.


    The football didn''t trace a parabola but shot straight as an arrow, pulling Orakpo''s gaze along with it.


    Li Wei!


    It was Li Wei!


    Of course, it was Li Wei!


    If anyone still forgot that Li Wei could run strategic routes as a wide receiver, then they deserved to lose the game.


    Orakpo''s heart tightened as he tried to shuffle sideways.


    Result, a collision!


    Kelsey?


    Orakpo froze for a moment and then collided with Kelsey, but where was Li Wei?


    "Quick short pass!"


    "Beautiful! Smith feints a pass, tricking the defensive group with a fake run and a delayed throw, finding Li Wei again!"


    "Kelsey''s block provided cover for Li Wei, gaining him space to advance. Li Wei, not getting greedy, immediately ran diagonally and went out of bounds before the cornerback could intercept him!"


    "Ten yards on first down, easily handled, and successfully stopping the clock."


    "Wow!"


    "Kansas City Chiefs'' passing offense smoothly moved into Smith''s comfort zone, and Tennessee Titans'' cornerback couldn''t stop Li Wei."


    "Situation, not good!"


    As expected, Kansas City Chiefs'' passing defense instantly opened up the situation. Nagy, responsible for calling plays on the field, kept it simple with short passes, sidelines, and clock stopping, bit by bit eating away at Tennessee Titans'' territory¡ª


    Clearly, the target was a field-goal finisher.


    In terms of passing targets, Nagy finally played out the dizzying essence of Reed''s passing offense, with three wide receivers, one tight end, and one running back, randomly combining in pairs, one player responsible for blocking and one for receiving. The already fast-paced short passing offense left hardly any breathing space for the Tennessee Titans'' defense.


    One step, then another.


    In a blink, the Kansas City Chiefs had already crossed midfield and, without even wasting a timeout, reached about forty yards into Tennessee Titans'' territory.


    Field goal range, now just within reach!


    Whether Kansas City Chiefs or Tennessee Titans, both teams clashed uncompromisingly at the edge of the cliff, creating an atmosphere tense to the extreme.


    The entire field, permeated with bloodshed.

 Chapter 347 A great wind arises

    "Spectacular!"


    "Wow, spectacular!"


    "Orakpo pulls off a beautiful block, intercepting Smith''s pass midway and almost managing a pick, the suspense is still on!"


    "At the crucial moment, the Tennessee Titans'' defensive group has brought playoff-level intensity, just like in the season''s two victories over the Jacksonville Jaguars, showing the team''s spirit with their fierce and strong play at key moments."


    "Now, the Tennessee Titans must keep the Kansas City Chiefs behind the forty-yard line, where Chiefs'' rookie kicker Harrison Buck still faces immense pressure."


    "Even though Buck has made a fifty-three-yard field goal this season, regular season and playoffs are ultimately different, with a whole different level of pressure."


    "So, the Tennessee Titans have no room for retreat; they must hold their opponents back, now displaying the intensity and strength of their red zone defense, this young Titan team bringing out the conviction to win."


    On the sideline, Harrison Buck is practicing his kicks over and over again, preparing for the final game-deciding kick.


    In the second week of the regular season, Chiefs'' rookie kicker Jack Elliott had the chance to make a game-winning kick against the Philadelphia Eagles; he made a beautiful gamble of a kick, but unfortunately, it wasn''t successful.


    At that time, the Eagles were beset with injuries, hastily signing Elliott from the Cincinnati Bengals'' practice squad, who had failed to secure a starting position.


    Buck''s story is quite similar.


    In this year''s draft, Buck was selected in the seventh round, 233rd overall by the Carolina Panthers, but unfortunately, he lost out in the competition for a starting position and thus joined the practice squad. Little did he know the Chiefs'' starting kicker would be added to the injury list, so in the third week of regular season, Buck hastily packed his bags and came to Kansas City to become the starting kicker for the Chiefs.


    In fact, so far Buck has performed excellently¡ª


    Point-after-touchdown (PAT) success rate, 100%.


    Field goal success rate, 100%.


    And, he has even made a fifty-three-yard field goal; undoubtedly, Buck is one of the most stable and outstanding kickers this season.


    But now, the situation is different.


    This is the playoffs, this is the game-decider, this is the chance to turn the whole season around.


    Buck''s heart is racing without stop.


    Taking a deep breath, Buck turns his head towards the field, where he can see number 23, so focused, so committed, and so persistent, his fighting spirit burning brightly.


    He, too, wants to burn just as fiercely on the field.


    Forty-yard line, third and six.


    Even Buck, who was practicing kicking, couldn''t help but stop and turn to look.


    The constant wind suddenly ceased, and the whole world seemed to hit the pause button, as if all breaths and heartbeats stopped with it.


    "Attack!"


    A shout ripped through the air, followed by the sounds of helmets clashing and bodies colliding, exploding like landmines in all directions.


    Okalapo''s first reaction was to halt in his steps, quickly scan around, and subconsciously prepare to backpedal, still wary of the Kansas City Chiefs'' short pass offense; but the next second he couldn''t help but silently curse to himself.


    Damn it!


    A run play.


    In the most important and critical offensive play of the entire game, the Kansas City Chiefs surprisingly did not opt for a pass, but once again decided to hand the football to the running back.


    Actually, the logic wasn''t hard to understand.


    Just like the previous offensive drive where the Tennessee Titans had on third-and-seventeen handed the football to Henry to push forward some yards on the ground and consume time; but the difference was that the Titans were aiming for a better punting position, while the Chiefs were now aiming for a better field goal position¡ª


    The strategy was clear at a glance.


    The Kansas City Chiefs needed to consume time, gain yards, and entrust the suspense of a do-or-die battle to the rookie kicker, Buck.


    However!


    The defensive tactics of the Tennessee Titans had not changed, still adopting a consistent response to all variations.


    The misalignment between each other''s attacks and defenses brought a subtle change to the confrontation.


    Okalapo wasn''t panicking: It didn''t matter, they had heavily fortified the short pass area, and even if it was a running play, they could swiftly keep up, use a sea of players to drown Li Wei, and give him a taste of hitting a wall head-on.


    The Tennessee Titans had not lost the initiative!


    Pausing his steps, Okalapo burst forward again; it was within a split second that he was once more caught off guard¡ª


    Smith played no tricks, no feints, no sham moves¡ªhe handed the football to Li Wei immediately, vying for time and space for Li Wei to advance, pushing forward as many yards as possible to secure the field goal.


    After taking the football from Smith''s hands, Li Wei continued the fluidity of the moment, his steps not halting nor delaying as he surged straight forward.


    Wait, straight forward?


    Was Li Wei actually planning to break through the middle head-on?


    No way...

 Chapter 348 347 launch the attack

    The world, silent.


    In the Old Oak Tavern, West and Anderson, in the hospital lobby, Berry, in the live broadcasting room, Pash, in the studio, Lawson and Bart, in the Atlanta Hotel, Jacobs and Clark, and the millions of fans at Arrowhead Stadium¡ª


    Not a sound.


    All held their breath.


    Even Provo was no exception.


    After being kicked out of the Old Oak Tavern, Provo didn''t go far; he returned to his car and turned on the car radio to listen to the broadcast.


    On, off; on again, off again.


    Ultimately, he couldn''t control himself. He turned on the radio, covered his ears with his hands, stared ahead, and caught the sound from the gaps, listening quietly as the waves flowed amid the noise of his heartbeat and boiling blood. The whole world stopped spinning with it.


    Then, all the noise vanished, leaving only the passionate commentary burning through the airwaves.


    An unexpected move¡ªfaced with a playoff elimination, a do-or-die shot, the Kansas City Chiefs didn''t opt to pass but to run the ball instead.


    Even though the Chief''s ground game ranked first this season and even though Li Wei''s excellent performance had earned him a spot in the regular season MVP discussions, this was the playoffs, this was a do-or-die moment, this was Reed''s team known for its passing offense¡ª


    Yet, they chose to run. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    Or more precisely, compared to Smith, Reed chose Li Wei.


    Another surprise¡ªEdgerunner Li Wei abandoned his forte of wing advancement and opted for a central breakthrough.


    Even though Li Wei had crafted countless miracles this season and no one could treat him as a rookie, his nickname as "rookie" ironically became a praise. But truth be told, his strengths were speed, change of direction, and agility. He and Henry were two distinctly different types of running back.


    Choosing the middle?


    Really not thinking straight?


    During the breath-stopping, critical moments, one surprise followed another so rapidly that the audience''s brains had stopped functioning, unable to keep up with the changes, simply giving up on thinking and staring unblinkingly at the big screen, holding their breath, watching the red flame hurtling into the storm.


    Jurrell Casey, a defensive end, although his personal ability couldn''t compare with Houston Texans'' Watt, Oakland Raiders'' Mark, or Los Angeles Rams'' Donald, and his career lacked commendable battles, the only thing noteworthy was his consecutive selection for the Pro Bowl over the last two seasons.


    However!


    This season, it was precisely because of Casey''s resilient performance in critical moments, teamed up with spearhead Sylvester Williams and linebacker Orakpo, that constructed the Tennessee Titans'' first line of counterattack, helping the team clinch a spot in the playoffs.


    Low profile doesn''t mean lack of excellence.@@@@


    Right now, just like that.


    Instantaneously, Casey captured that fleet of red flames, reacting in a flash, attempting to break free from his designated blocker to intercept Li Wei.


    But!


    Right ahead, Li Wei immediately noticed the figure of number ninety-eight of the Tennessee Titans¡ª


    Orakpo.


    Li Wei feinted a move, causing Orakpo''s start to lag slightly.


    On the back foot, Casey''s fierce strike broke Li Wei''s balance, buying Orakpo time to recover.


    In such a back-and-forth, the two collided head-on.


    "Li Wei VS Orakpo."


    This wasn''t all.


    Merely half a beat slower, which was the difference of a hair''s breadth, another linebacker, Avery Williamson, also reacted and charged forward.


    His response was very timely.


    In an extreme and dangerous situation, Li Wei became even calmer.


    He chose to break through the center. Despite feinting a move and avoiding the heavily guarded wings, the Tennessee Titans'' short pass defense was indeed impenetrable; with the first wave of defense, followed by a second and a third wave quickly surrounding him as if he were in the Red Zone.


    Naturally, before this offensive push began, Li Wei had already anticipated this possibility.


    No panic. No flinch.


    As he adjusted his steps and assessed the situation, Li Wei read quickly, trying to find the best breakthrough opportunity.


    It was now that the real test of Li Wei''s footwork and agility came, where the space to maneuver was only about two to three yards in radius, surrounded by people on all sides. How to break through the dense crowd became the most important and severe test of the season.


    Opportunity!


    Li Wei noticed Orakpo attempting to launch an attack, revealing a flaw. He immediately pulled to the right, trying to drag Orakpo along, then feinted a move, pulling back to the left and rammed into Williamson, executing a simple and clean ''wall-breaking'' maneuver.


    But it was a trap!


    While Li Wei was calculating against Orakpo, Orakpo was also calculating against Li Wei.


    Orakpo knew Li Wei''s agility and starting speed. In the blink of an eye, he didn''t choose to wait passively but took a bold and risky initiative, deliberately revealing a flaw.


    It was merely a breath''s moment.


    Orakpo acted first, stamping his foot, leaping, and lunging¡ª


    Tackle!


    Caught him, Orakpo accurately tackled Li Wei around the waist.


    Got him!

 Chapter 349 348 days of whirlwind and earths rotation

    Rookie?


    Even though everyone teasingly called Li Wei "rookie," Orakpo definitely wouldn''t underestimate him, because looking down on Li Wei for any reason would be foolish.


    Orakpo knew Li Wei''s speed and also his agility and footwork. As an experienced linebacker, he understood that once he let Li Wei stride freely while he himself fell into passivity, it often meant the opportunity had already slipped away¡ª


    He had to strike first.


    Just like now, before Li Wei could accelerate, Orakpo took the initiative with a feigned tackle, triggering Li Wei''s conditioned reflex.


    Then, waiting in advance at the spot where Li Wei would change direction.


    A move up.


    A dive.


    Orakpo launched himself into the air, thoroughly breaking free from gravity, accurately and firmly wrapping his arms around Li Wei''s waist.


    Hold tight!


    Clamp on firmly!


    Caught him.


    Orakpo was one hundred percent sure he had caught him, but still unable to counteract gravity, his body spun clockwise at high speed like a top; he didn''t panic, his hands tightly gripping Li Wei''s waist, until his feet felt the ground again, using the inertia and rotational force¡ª


    He exerted strength. Read latest chapters on My Virtual Library Empire


    Heaved up.


    Swung.@@@@


    Orakpo unbelievably hoisted Li Wei''s body like a sandbag, swung with force, executing a shoulder throw, and immediately saw Li Wei flying through the air.


    Wrestling!


    Advanced wrestling technique!


    The world spun dizzyingly.


    "Ha!"


    "Orakpo! Orakpo as if aided by the gods, a shoulder throw sends Li Wei flying, oh my God!"


    "But!"


    "God, God, God!"


    "Li Wei is steady!"


    "Ah..."


    Pash''s mouth opened wide enough to fit a fist.


    "Li Wei! The former MMA fighter!"


    "He shows unbelievable core strength in his waist and abdomen, incredibly maintaining balance and using inertia to break free from Okalapo''s grasp, he actually stood firm!"


    "This... this!"


    With a shoulder throw, Orakpo also exhausted his strength, releasing his hands and throwing Li Wei out, but unexpectedly, Li Wei performed a high-difficulty gymnastic move, miraculously landing on his feet, controlling his body with his core strength.


    The world was spinning.


    Li Wei''s steps staggered, he instinctively held his breath, but he didn''t lose his focus; instead, he entered a state of complete immersion.


    He didn''t see Williamson.


    This meant that after having spun 180 degrees, he was now with his back to the end zone and had returned near the kickoff line.


    Steadying his qi in the dantian.


    Pushing off the ground with force, Li Wei''s eyes blazed with a fierce determination to push forward, and he stumbled out again.


    Directly ahead, two safeties were attempting to close in, leaving no space to breathe¡ª


    Perfect timing, let the storm rage even fiercer!


    If God stands in the way, slay God; if Buddha stands in the way, slay Buddha!


    Unstoppable!


    Regardless of win or lose, fight until the end, with no regrets!


    Pushing off, accelerating, charging forward.


    Incredibly, Li Wei burst forth with an unbelievable surge of energy, facing the onslaught head-on.


    Getting close.


    Even closer.


    Just as a head-on crash seemed imminent, a figure emerged from the right¡ª


    It was Kelsey.


    Bang!


    Kelsey threw himself fearlessly at a safety, rolling away with his opponent in a mutual takedown.


    In the ensuing chaos, Kelsey turned to look at Li Wei, his eyes ablaze with a fighting spirit that seemed to say: Go! Rookie, charge!


    Li Wei didn''t stop, charging straight ahead!


    Then, from the left, another figure soared towards the other safety¡ª


    It was Hill.


    But this time, Tennessee Titans'' safety Kevin Byard was on alert, sidestepping to evade Hill''s lunge.


    Hill didn''t give up, instead slamming his shoulder hard into Byard.


    Li Wei''s pupils contracted.


    An opportunity!


    Li Wei didn''t avoid the confrontation; instead, he charged directly at Byard.


    Byard: ???


    Byard had no time to think before Li Wei''s left hand was raised.


    Straight Arm Block!


    In the blink of an eye, Li Wei and Byard collided head-on.


    On one side, Li Wei was exhausted, his Straight Arm Block failing to exert its full force.


    On the other side, Byard was unsteady, off-balance, with faltering steps.


    Then, Byard began to spin.


    Li Wei passed close by Byard, who, in his staggering state, tried to grab Li Wei but only managed to flail at his arm, changing nothing. The next second, his world collapsed.


    Byard: Fuck.


    Stumbling and wobbling, Li Wei looked as if he might fall at any moment, but ahead there was clear sailing, no more obstacles, all the way to the end zone.


    "Run, rookie! Run!"

 Chapter 350 349 Heart Soaring

    "Oh, Cornerback Ryan tries to tackle!"


    "Li Wei, with a back slam, not only withstands the opponent''s rush, but also amazingly uses it as leverage to charge towards Lineman Williamson."


    "Williamson!"


    "Oh, disaster."


    "Williamson had no idea what kind of beast he was facing, as he was directly knocked flying, posing no threat to Li Wei at all."


    "Li Wei advances!"


    "Two safeties from the Tennessee Titans quickly catch up, attempting to encircle him!"


    "Danger!"


    The passionate commentary from the car radio created an immersive experience, causing Provos''s heart to uncontrollably rise to his throat, almost leaping out, his hands tightly gripping the steering wheel.


    "Kelsey! Kelsey clears the block!"


    "Hill has caught up too."


    "The Kansas Chiefs Offense, united in purpose, is clearing a path for Li Wei."


    "Li Wei! Byrd!"


    "Byrd! Li Wei!"


    "Hill fails to stop Byrd, Byrd is about to collide with Li Wei."


    "Straight Arm Block!"


    "God, the Straight Arm Block! Li Wei uses a Straight Arm Block to knock Byrd aside."


    "Clear path ahead!"


    "Charge, Li Wei, soar, straight towards the end zone with nothing in your way."


    "Li Wei! Li Wei! Li Wei!"


    Twenty-five!


    Twenty!


    The uniform and deafening support from the Arrowhead Chiefs comes through the radio; Provos knows what those numbers represent¡ª


    the yard lines on the field.


    Li Wei, sprinting, carrying the hopes of the entire Kansas City as he dashes frantically.


    Provos could almost see the burning figure of number twenty-three. He had given up before, thinking if there was no hope, there would be no disappointment; but now, Li Wei hadn''t given up, the Kansas Chiefs hadn''t given up.


    They are still fighting, still striving.


    Uncontrollably, Provos''s once still and silent heart revived.


    Finally, his gaze fell upon Li Wei.


    He wasn''t cheering or celebrating; he just sat on the ground hugging his knees, but the entire stadium was going mad for him, like a volcanic eruption.


    Who could resist such a moment?


    In front of the TV screen.


    The players of the Crimson Tide Storm were howling and jumping up and down, high-fiving and bumping shoulders, their celebrations in no way inferior to those of the home fans.


    Saban stared at the screen, observing the Kansas Chiefs Offense players swarming around Li Wei, and a bold idea suddenly sprung up¡ªwas it for moments like this that Reed had boldly traded up to pick Li Wei third overall?


    "Burns, you might have really unearthed a treasure."


    Burns: ??? Wasn''t this matter already decided? He knew his ability to spot talent, so was there any need to repeat it?


    Perhaps the only exception in the midst of the heatwave was¡ª


    Mulkai.


    While everyone celebrated Li Wei''s incredible performance, Mulkai felt destiny clenching his throat and immediately sought out the referees.


    If possible, Mulkai would have chosen the red flag challenge one hundred percent of the time; he believed that when Okalapo tackled Li Wei, Li Wei''s knee had touched the ground, constituting a dead ball, so all subsequent progress should be discounted.


    But he couldn''t.


    According to the rules, after a two-minute official time-out, head coaches were not allowed to challenge with the red flag; instead, the referees would decide on their own whether to review the footage to verify the call.


    Nevertheless, Mulkai still needed to voice his position, emphasizing his stance.


    The referees urged Mulkai to calm down, informing him that the referee team had already decided to review the footage, not just for Li Wei but also for other possible infractions.


    Playoffs, a do-or-die battle, no room for errors.


    Thus, the rhythm of the game was disrupted at the most tense, thrilling, and climactic moment¡ª


    Welcome to the playoffs.


    The referee team urgently reviewed the video, and the broadcast booth also followed suit with play-back analysis. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    But for Reed, it was just right.


    The final offensive drive was rushed; they had no chance to plan their tactics, only supported by sheer belief. Now, taking the opportunity of video review, Reed immediately called Smith to the sidelines and, with Nagy''s assistance, laid out plans for the remainder of the game:


    Two-point conversion.


    Reed wasn''t worried about the video review at all; he was one hundred percent certain of Li Wei''s touchdown¡ª


    Even if there was a problem, the Kansas Chiefs had no way back; they must continue the offense, try a field goal after running down the clock.


    However, Reed had already calculated ahead. Even if Li Wei''s touchdown was confirmed, the game wasn''t over; they needed to keep control of the offensive in their hands, prevent Mariota and Henry from returning, and further build pressure on the score, ultimately pushing the Tennessee Titans to the brink.


    Thus, the Kansas Chiefs would challenge a two-point conversion.


    Reed, Nagy, and Smith made full use of the brief time to swiftly plan their tactics.


    Seven seconds, only seven seconds left until the end of the game.

 Chapter 351 350 ends suspense

    "22:27."


    Assuming Li Wei''s touchdown was legal, earning six points, then the Kansas City Chiefs would be able to take the lead by five points, but there would still be the possibility of a comeback in the game.@@@@


    Opting for a one-point extra point would make the difference six points; choosing a two-point conversion would make it seven points; if the extra point attempt failed, the difference would remain five points.


    In other words, no matter what the Kansas City Chiefs tried, the score could still be overturned with just one possession.


    Despite the fact that Mariota''s "Hail Mary" needed to be seriously questioned, the safest bet was to deny the Tennessee Titans'' offense another appearance on the field, ending the game in the hands of the Kansas Chiefs Offense, making the two-point conversion attempt the obvious choice.


    Seven seconds.


    Seven seconds left until the end of the entire game.


    "...after video review, the call on the field stands, Kansas City Chiefs, touchdown, number twenty-three..."


    Boom!


    Suppressed again and again, waited and waited, anxious and nervous all the way, finally, Arrowhead Stadium got the good news they had been waiting to cheer for.


    But.


    The Kansas City Chiefs had no time to celebrate, the offense remained on the field, Smith signaled to the referee that they were going to attempt the two-point conversion.


    Afterwards, Smith called his teammates to huddle up.


    Smith raised his eyes, instinctively glancing at Li Wei.


    Li Wei was drenched in sweat, with the hot steam swirling inside his helmet, but those eyes were still bright, showing not a trace of fatigue.


    Smith hesitated, "Rookie, how are you holding up? Still got enough energy?"


    "To handle seven seconds, I can push through. But eight seconds..." Li Wei spread his hands, a helpless expression on his face.


    "Haha."


    The crowd erupted in laughter, and the tense atmosphere quietly dissipated.


    Smith too, tugged at the corner of his mouth, but the smile ultimately didn''t rise, "The rookie is right, seven seconds, we just need to hold on for seven more seconds."


    "Hey, guys, the end is just ahead."


    Finishing, Smith stretched out his right hand, then raised his head to look at Li Wei.


    Li Wei''s smile fully bloomed, "Remember what we said? Fight to the very end."


    Li Wei''s right hand joined on top of Smith''s, followed by Kelsey, Hill, and so on; all eleven hands of the offense stacked together.


    "Fight! Fight! Fight!"


    The Kansas City Chiefs Offense lined up, ready¡ª


    In fact, the Kansas City Chiefs didn''t even need to complete the two-point conversion; they just needed to run out the seven seconds of time.


    Thus, the focus wasn''t on offense, but on possession.


    If the Kansas Chiefs were to fumble at this point, similar to what had just happened to Henry, it would be giving the Tennessee Titans another chance to cling to life, the stuff of real nightmares.


    Reed decided to hand off the football to Li Wei.


    The task of protecting possession suited the running back best.


    Orakpo made an emergency brake, stopping and turning on a dime; his quick reaction was extremely agile, as shame and anger surged within him. He refused to let Li Wei succeed and immediately turned to cover Kelsey, who was positioning himself to receive the pass.


    Even though Orakpo had no idea when Li Wei learned to pass, he didn''t care because this pass connection would not succeed.


    "Hmm? This..."


    "Li Wei? Passing?"


    "The Kansas City Chiefs actually chose a trick play! My God!"


    Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Li Wei is looking for a passing target, Kelsey?"


    "No, Orakpo is already catching up fast, tightly marking Kelsey."


    "But!"


    "Oh, wow wow wow!"


    "Is this a fake pass and real run? Or a read option? I, I don''t know, because Li Wei didn''t give up on passing, he ultimately chose to run the ball himself."


    "My God!"


    "Li Wei has just played the entire Tennessee Titans'' defensive group!"


    "Oh! My God!"


    Push off. Stride forward.


    Li Wei didn''t hesitate to sprint straight down the slot, seeing Orakpo turning to guard Kelsey, the pathway straight ahead opened up just a crack.


    Not big, but it was enough.


    Passing?


    Ha, fooled you, it''s still a running play.


    Li Wei lowered his center of gravity and forcefully squeezed forward through the bustling crowd. He soon hit a wall, but his steps kept pounding the ground relentlessly.


    One step.


    Another step!


    Ah, ah ah ah!


    Power, fully unleashed.


    With a "whoosh," the path became clear, the tightly packed wall in front of him just like that crumbled apart, and a vast red wave cascaded down around him.


    Pulled by the force of gravity, Li Wei firmly cradled the football in his arms as a roar erupted in his ears.


    "Two-point conversion successful!"


    "The Kansas City Chiefs'' offensive strategy has fooled the Tennessee Titans again, easily completing the two-point conversion and using up all the game time."


    "Game over, the entire game is over!"


    "Ladies and gentlemen, the 2017 NFL postseason''s first American League wild-card game has come to an end."


    "The victors are the Kansas City Chiefs!"

 Chapter 352 351 When narrow paths meet

    Buzz, buzz, buzz¡ª


    Above the eardrum, there was a roar.


    Derrick Henry couldn''t believe his eyes as he looked toward the field¡ªon the brink of elimination in a playoff game, Li Wei had actually pulled a trick play, an audacious move that completely toyed with the Tennessee Titans'' defensive group.


    Trick play is a major characteristic of football.


    The key lies in the word "Trick".


    This word can be interpreted as prank, sleight, deceit, feigning, ingenuity, and so on. Every Halloween, when children knock on doors asking for candy, the chant "trick or treat" signifies the "Trick".


    Applied in the thick strategic playbooks of football, it can be understood as deception in warfare, but to put it more vividly, it''s showboating.


    It involves the unexpected choice of tactical combinations within the boundaries of football rules:


    For instance, an offensive tackle becoming an eligible receiver¡ªbut they must notify the head referee.


    For example, the running back takes on the role of passing the ball.


    Another example is when it appears to be a punt by the special duty group, but instead, the punter assumes the role of quarterback and starts passing the ball.


    And so forth.


    In fact, NFL rules state that the quarterback is not the only player who can pass the ball; any player can pass the ball, and there can be unlimited passes during each offensive, subject to three restrictions:


    First, during each offensive, backward passes and lateral passes are unlimited, but there is only one opportunity to pass forward¡ª


    The sideline referee is responsible for judging whether the pass is forward. If a forward pass is repeated, it''s a foul.


    Second, if the ball carrier steps beyond the offensive line of scrimmage, then a forward pass is not allowed, but backward and lateral passes are still permissible¡ª


    Hence, during a read option, the running back or quarterback must decide whether to run or pass before crossing the line of scrimmage.


    Third, among the offensive group, the five players on the offensive line are not allowed to actively catch or pass the ball, with two exceptions.


    One is that after the football is passed, if it''s batted or deflected by a player which changes its trajectory, they''re then allowed to catch it.


    Two is notifying the head referee in advance that a specific player is also an eligible receiver. You cannot vaguely state that the offensive line can catch; it must be the specific name and number of a player, and only one player may be designated.


    Of course, the rules are more detailed and nuanced¡ª


    Sometimes, even the head referee may not be fully aware of all the rules. This is no joke, as that rulebook, which puts the Oxford dictionary to shame, updates every year, so referees also need to confirm the rules repeatedly.


    Just now, the Kansas Chiefs'' offense needed to consume seven seconds. They had many options:


    "Fly!"


    The entire Arrowhead Stadium went utterly wild¡ª


    Because they finally ended the shameful record of five consecutive playoff home losses, and because they successfully advanced to the divisional round, and this time it was after a hard-fought battle, a battle to the last drop of blood, where the Kansas City Chiefs finally won a crucial battle.


    When it was time to be forceful, the Kansas City Chiefs finally showed force for the first time in twenty years.


    Finally!


    Cheering, shouting, roaring, tears, passion.


    The Arrowhead Stadium erupted in wild cheers and frenzied jumping, as if they had won more than just a wildcard game¡ªthis game was imbued with so much more significance.


    Henry felt a pang of envy.


    He couldn''t believe Reed actually entrusted the final critical offensive play to Li Wei in the final moments, nor could he believe Li Wei had completely toyed with them using a Read Option play, even less could he believe they were so close to grasping victory only to miss it at their fingertips¡ª


    If it weren''t for the lingering fear after that fumble, if the ground offensive could have successfully broken through thereafter, once he secured the initial assault, the Kansas Chiefs Offense wouldn''t have had another chance to take the field.


    If only...


    Alas, in this world, there are no ifs.


    And so, the game ended¡ª


    The victory belonged to the Kansas City Chiefs.


    He had dreamed of such a scene countless times, descending like a legendary hero to rescue his team, winning the cheers of thousands upon thousands of Tennessee Titans fans; however, this time he merely brushed past that dream, becoming a spectator to someone else''s miraculous comeback.


    Bitterness. Regret. Frustration.


    All these emotions spread at the tip of his tongue, then twisted into a smile that climbed up the corners of his mouth.


    Last season, Saban trusted Li Wei, giving him the final key offensive drive in the nationwide championship.


    This season, Reed trusted Li Wei, and a familiar scene replayed itself.


    Once could be a coincidence, twice¡ªcould it still be just chance?


    No, Henry didn''t believe it was coincidence.


    The only explanation was that Li Wei had proven himself and earned the head coach''s trust; it was that simple.


    Up until today, he had always believed he was the flagbearer of the Crimson Tide Storm; but now, it seemed, someone had already sprinted ahead of him.

 Chapter 353 352 Brave Wins

    Henry had always been confident, never doubting himself, not even during the time he had obediently remained a substitute in his first two seasons in the League, not for a single moment, almost to the point of being dismissive of others.


    But now.


    Henry saw Li Wei, a rookie who had switched from other sports and became the flagbearer of Crimson Tide Storm, and did not stop advancing, quickly growing into a pillar of an NFL team.


    So, was he envious?


    A little bit.


    What about jealous?


    No, not at all.


    Because Henry still believed in himself.


    He believed that he could also achieve it, believed he could shine in the league and claim his space, believed he could make the opponents'' defensive group tremble at the mention of his name.


    He didn''t need to feel jealous or resentful; he just needed to focus on himself.


    He held his head high and strutted confidently.


    In the surging crowd, Henry walked toward Li Wei.


    In the past, Li Wei always hurried off the field because he was bad at remembering names. Whenever someone approached to shake hands in admiration, he had to force an awkward but polite smile, trying not to let the others realize the question mark in his head¡ª


    Who is he?


    Today, Li Wei did not.


    After all the Kansas City Chiefs players swarmed onto the field to celebrate their victory, Li Wei searched for Henry among the bustling crowd.


    "Derrick Henry."


    From the very first day Coach Burns "coaxed" Li Wei onto the football field, that had been an exalted name, not just hard to surpass, but even hard to approach. His presence was a benchmark, a symbol, and the target all running backs strived to catch up with.


    This was also the first football player''s name that Li Wei truly remembered.


    Not Manning, not Brady, nor those who had retired and entered the Hall of Fame with their brilliant accolades, but Henry, who had just entered the league at the time.


    Today, finally!


    Li Wei could finally get a closer look at this person who always lived in the coach''s words.


    ¡ªHere he comes.


    From a distance, even across some space, Henry''s imposing aura was palpable, making his way through the bustling crowd of Kansas City Chieftains and Tennessee Titans like a ship cutting through waves.


    6.3 feet (191 cm).


    247 pounds (112 kg).


    Traffic!


    In the VIP box, Goodell saw the live feed quickly switch and nodded slightly, acknowledging that the ESPN director really knew his stuff.


    Henry paused, "You, are very young."


    Young?


    What an adjective.


    In line with the manners of the East, Li Wei politely nodded, "You... are very clean."


    Henry was startled, clearly not anticipating Li Wei''s response, his facial expression uncontrollable for a moment as he even looked down to check his state:


    Clean? Are you sure?


    But Henry got the message, not pretending anymore, and extended his right hand, "A thrilling match, truly very thrilling."


    Li Wei firmly grasped Henry''s right hand, "A thrilling game requires two evenly matched opponents, and the team that performed better won the game."


    Neither humble nor arrogant!


    Despite winning, Li Wei was not proud, did not gloat, and did not boast, which only earned more admiration from Henry.


    Now, he finally understood why Coach Burns always recommended that he watch Li Wei''s games.


    A handshake.


    Henry applied strength from his right hand.


    However, Li Wei, unyieldingly, exerted an equal force back.


    Henry was surprised, as strength had never been Li Wei''s forte; seeing his improvement, Henry had even less reason to stay stagnant.


    The encounter was just a brief collision.


    Henry didn''t continue to exert strength, his tense shoulder muscles relaxing.


    Henry was about to speak when Li Wei unexpectedly took the initiative, "Strong! Really strong! Coach Burns was right; you haven''t yet tapped into your full potential. If you had persisted a bit longer, I would have been embarrassed."


    Henry was taken aback.


    Henry had not anticipated such honest words from Li Wei, failing to keep his expression controlled and outright laughing.


    Li Wei continued, "So, I will keep striving."


    The smile stayed on Henry''s lips, nearly choking on his own saliva, but seeing Li Wei''s forthright gaze, he too straightened up, composing his smile, and looked into Li Wei''s eyes seriously.


    "Now, you deserve to be the flag bearer of Crimson Tide Storm."


    "But don''t be complacent. I haven''t given up. I am ready and looking forward to our next encounter."

 Chapter 354 353 League Storefront

    Atlanta, night was falling.


    Jacobs slightly lifted his chin, watching on the TV screen Henry and Li Wei¡ª


    They were truly exceptional.


    Not only had they led Crimson Tide Storm to the top of the nationwide championship, but they also shone on the professional league''s playoff stage, where each player played a good half, entwined until the final two minutes determined the winner.


    He, too, hoped to be like them one day.


    Instinctively, Jacobs straightened up, his chest inflamed with a soaring fighting spirit.


    This scene, caught in Saban''s eyes, flickered with a touch of gratification:


    Not just Jacobs and Clark, the running backs, were inspired, but Hertz''s youngsters, after two seasons of breaking through, were robustly growing. Seeing Li Wei, who had fought alongside them last year, now shining on the professional stage and transforming through each game, these youths couldn''t help but become impassioned.


    It was no different for Saban himself.


    Often feeling that he had grown old, possibly too old to coach much longer before retiring, the reluctance and attachment still firmly bound his steps; but now, seeing young people like Henry and Li Wei rapidly grow, each making their mark, retirement seemed less daunting.


    Next year, Saban was somewhat looking forward to the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tennessee Titans'' meeting, curious about how Henry and Li Wei would have developed by then.


    "Li Wei, what exactly did you and Henry say to each other during the post-game handshake?"


    "Could you tell us why you and Henry didn''t exchange jerseys?"


    "What is your relationship with Henry like, competitors, or fellow alumni?"@@@@


    Question after question, there was no stopping them¡ª


    Clearly, there was more than one inquiring mind, from inside the stadium to outside, then the reporters came as the representatives to dig for the truth, focusing entirely on Li Wei and Henry, even having headlines ready.


    Unfortunately, Li Wei was not cooperative.


    "Please, everyone, Derrick Henry is not my girlfriend, okay?"


    One second, two seconds¡ª


    Roaring laughter!


    And he did not disappoint, each step forward creating history.


    Originally, Goodell was seriously considering making Los Angeles Rams'' Donald the next face of the league, thinking that the "Los Angeles plus Defensive End" combination would explode the market; but now it seems that Li Wei had already taken the lead.


    Just look at this game, even without Goodell mobilizing official news resources, social media platforms were already abuzz.


    Of course, if this year''s Super Bowl matchup was "Kansas City Chiefs VS Los Angeles Rams," Goodell would not mind setting up "Li Wei VS Donald" as the next century showdown.


    After all, heroes are shaped by the times; so are idols, and it requires the right place, right timing, and the right people¡ªnothing can be missing.


    However, the Los Angeles Rams had already lost surprisingly to the Atlanta Falcons in the previous game, with Donald being eliminated first, and only the Kansas City Chiefs advanced. Goodell might feel regretful, but he can only go with the flow. "Li Wei VS Donald" will have to wait until next season, but this season has not yet ended:


    Li Wei brought too many surprises, so, can they still expect more?


    This was evident from the post-game press conference¡ª


    Li Wei. Li Wei. Still Li Wei.


    In the first half, the Kansas City Chiefs shone in multiple areas and played brilliantly, showcasing their depth; but in the second half, after unexpected developments occurred, the recurring nightmare once again throttled the Kansas City Chiefs.


    At the crucial moment, it was still Li Wei who stepped up.


    Whether it was decisively stabilizing the morale when the Defensive group was faltering or after the Offensive group re-entered the field, his performance was incredibly spectacular, deservedly the key person who turned the game around.


    Even Reed and Smith couldn''t stop praising Li Wei in their post-game interviews.


    Reed even delivered a classic quote, "For the last trick play, I can''t think of a more perfect choice than Li Wei."


    Smith: An arrow to the knee.


    On social media, countless GIFs and memes expressed the shock at the Kansas City Chiefs'' final offensive push. While the touchdown was thrilling enough, who could have imagined that the two-point conversion attempt could be even more spectacular!


    Frightening!


    This is just too exciting!


    Thus, the frenzy on social media burst its confines and invaded reality.


    Bustling, reporters swarmed around Li Wei like wolves.

 Chapter 355 354 left hand right hand

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    Layer by layer, inside and out, it was all people.


    Having been in the league for two seasons, Hill was completely dumbfounded by this scene.


    From an unknown rookie drafted in the fifth round, Hill had grown into the top wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs, outshining Smith this season. He thought his era had finally arrived, but he hadn''t anticipated that Li Wei would completely steal his limelight.


    One moment, Hill felt a twinge of jealousy; the next, seeing the scene before him, he was glad it wasn''t him.


    "Those reporters look like they want to devour the rookie alive."


    Just then, Kelsey finished his interview and came over, "Should we bet that all of them put together still couldn''t handle the rookie alone?"


    Hill looked at Kelsey with doubt in his eyes: Are you sure?


    Kelsey just chuckled hehe and said nothing.


    "Li Wei, Coach Reed chose you at the last moment to execute the trick play, did you see it coming?"


    "Li Wei, as the hero of today''s victory, how do you feel?"


    "During that last touchdown, when you were tackled by Orakpo, what were you thinking? How did you manage to stand up? Was it some mysterious Chinese kung fu?"


    The rapid-fire questions poured down on Li Wei like a torrential rainstorm, tightly packing the press room until it was almost suffocating.


    Rarely seen on his face, Li Wei spoke with no smile but a serious look.


    "Thank you for your questions, but I''d like to talk about Houston''s last defensive play that caused the fumble, and Revis''s assistance in ground defense interception."


    "I want to talk about Smith''s precision in continuous quick, short passes and the relentless blocking by Hill and Kelsey that helped open up the field before I lost my balance."


    "Hey, guys, this isn''t some Hollywood superhero movie. We are used to seeing superheroes fight alone to save the planet on giant movie screens, but on the football field, the first thing my mentor Coach Burns taught me was:


    A running back without teammates is like a bird without wings."


    "We face difficulties as a team, and we embrace success as a team."


    The room fell silent.


    It wasn''t so much Li Wei''s words that were shocking, but rather the typically smiling and cheerful Li Wei suddenly becoming serious and sharp in his speech that filled the press room with an air of solemnity.


    Now, the reporters finally experienced what it felt like for the defensive group on the field when facing Li Wei!


    To Hill, watching this unfold was utterly astonishing and surprising.


    No one would forget the regular season results were not like that.


    Looking at Li Wei''s humble smile, a journalist felt a chill: something was off.


    Then.


    "We will be prepared, no matter who the opponent is. We look forward to a head-on confrontation."


    Smile.


    Li Wei flashed a set of neat, white teeth, reminiscent of Professor Hannibal Lecter from "The Silence of the Lambs."


    The conversation took a turn.


    "However, the decision is not in our hands, is it? The dice have been cast, and now we wait for the outcome of the other wild card game," he said.


    The next round of divisional games depended on the result of the second American League wild card game.


    If the Jacksonville Jaguars, the third seed, won, they would face the second seed, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Kansas City Chiefs would head north to challenge the New England Patriots.


    If the Buffalo Bills, the sixth seed, won, they would face the New England Patriots in a divisional showdown, and the Kansas City Chiefs would play the Pittsburgh Steelers away.


    As Li Wei said, the Kansas City Chiefs had no choice in the matter.


    But this official response was definitely not what the journalist initially intended, and without caring about the goosebumps all over his arms, he immediately followed up with another question.


    "My question is, on a personal level, who do you look forward to facing again? You''ve encountered both teams during the regular season. Who do you hope to go up against again, Brady or Roethlisberger?"


    "Hayward and Watt," he replied.


    This time, Li Wei did not evade but directly named two players¡ª


    Not Brady, not the Roethlisberger and Bell-Brown trio, but members of the Steelers'' Steel Curtain, Defensive End Hayward and lineman Watt.


    From Li Wei''s perspective, the reason was simple.


    As a running back, Hayward and Watt were his corresponding defensive players.


    The regular season matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers had truly made Li Wei feel the intensity of a Professional League-level defense, the perfect clash of individual skills and tactical setup, and with that game''s cliffhanger win for the Kansas City Chiefs, Li Wei indeed looked forward to another encounter with the Pittsburgh Steelers.


    Since it was the playoffs, it was only natural to challenge the strongest in the league.


    However, the journalists and other players didn''t see it that way.


    Was Li Wei... ignoring Brady?

 Chapter 356 355 Sparkling Fireworks

    Hayward and Watt?


    Wait, is Li Wei ignoring Brady? The New England Patriots are the defending champions!


    Upon closer reflection, it became quite intriguing.


    This scene had unfolded during the season opener, but back then there was an excuse¡ªLi Wei was an outsider rookie who knew nothing about football.


    Now, a whole season had passed, and Li Wei was no longer the clueless outsider, yet the familiar scene was playing out again.


    This time, there were no excuses¡ªthe slap was powerful and soared upward. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    To take a step back, even if Li Wei was more looking forward to playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he didn''t mention the offensive line''s iron triangle but named Hayward... and Watt¡ª


    Not J.J. Watt, but T.J. Watt, a rookie just like Li Wei.


    Isn''t this a slap in the face?


    A slap, crisply and cleanly landing on the faces of many league superstars.


    An unexpected answer, a crisp and straightforward wall-crashing response, no hesitation, no doubt, plunging the press room into a brief buffering state.


    Beyond the shock, excitement and frenzy collided in their minds. Imagining the thrilling headlines, the reporters almost suffered brain hemorrhages.


    Sparks!


    This was the spark they were waiting for!


    The press conference attendees had been waiting so long for this moment.


    And Li Wei, seeing no reaction from the reporters, just turned around and walked away, just like that... turned... and left... leaving a group of reporters in total disarray.


    This time, not to mention Hill, even Kelsey was agape, staring dumbfounded at the Li Wei appearing before them.


    Then.


    He gave a thumbs up. One wasn''t enough, he gave two.


    ...


    In the age of social media, the news spread at the speed of light, and before anyone could blink, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough was surrounded, inside and out.@@@@


    "Tom, Li Wei thinks you''re not a match for him."


    Baring teeth, looking ferocious and dreadful.


    With cold mockery and sharp sarcasm, Roethlisberger launched a fierce attack, completely disregarding Li Wei and even severely trampling on the Kansas City Chiefs, making even the on-site reporters grimace.


    Of course, there was no countering it¡ª


    Roethlisberger had risen to fame at a young age, selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round, eleventh overall, in 2004. Initially not favored, in his draft class he was considered less talented than Eli Manning and Philip Rivers.


    In his rookie season, Roethlisberger was a backup quarterback. But when the starting quarterback was injured during the preseason and the second quarterback was also injured in the third quarter of the second game, Roethlisberger took over.


    It was practically the script of a protagonist in a wish-fulfillment novel.


    Roethlisberger seized the chance and has never been demoted from his spot as the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers.


    In his rookie season, he led the team into the playoffs and fought their way to the American League Championship, ultimately losing to the eventful Super Bowl Champions, the New England Patriots.


    In his sophomore season, Roethlisberger made a strong comeback, giving a perfect performance and leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Super Bowl Championship.


    In other words, in 2005, at just twenty-three years old, Roethlisberger became the youngest quarterback in history to win a Super Bowl. At that time, even Peyton Manning was still desperately chasing his first Super Bowl ring, while Brees and Rodgers remained relatively unknown.


    Though his performance in that Super Bowl was disastrously poor, with a quarterback rating of 22.6 setting a new low for Super Bowl quarterback performance, it cannot be denied that his eight successful third-down conversions in the game were crucial to securing the victory.


    At that time, Roethlisberger was considered the next superstar of the league.


    Roethlisberger had a hundred reasons to ignore Li Wei, and he was already sharpening his knives, eagerly hoping to beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs to avenge the regular season loss.


    The outcome of the regular season was just a victory or a loss; the outcomes in the playoffs are the true valuable milestones.


    Roethlisberger made no attempt to conceal the Pittsburgh Steelers'' ambitions for the season¡ªthey were already looking forward to a showdown with the New England Patriots in the American League Championship, not to mention the Kansas City Chiefs, even ignoring the upcoming second wildcard game.


    Everything was as the journalists had predicted¡ª


    Sparks.


    They wanted to create sparks, so the sparks came!


    Be it the New England Patriots or the Pittsburgh Steelers, just a slight touch on the topic of Li Wei was enough to ignite a blazing fire, disregarding both the victories and losses of the regular games and the whole season''s frenzy over Li Wei as a challenge, even a provocation, to the two dominant powers of the American League.


    Moreover, there were the much-ignored Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills.


    In the midst of this bustling hot discussion, they were completely overlooked, which caused them also to make noise unwillingly, each firing their shots.


    Now, totally exploded.


    And beyond imagination!

 Chapter 357 Keep moving forward without stopping

    As previously mentioned, since the dawn of the new century, the power structure in the American League has been stable, with "Manning VS Brady" leading the charge, and the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens biding their time as two strong defensive teams. The top of the pyramid was as solid as a rock, and all other teams came and went as mere passersby, unable to shake the status quo, let alone subvert it.


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    At last!


    A Li Wei, like a catfish disrupting a still pond, easily disrupted the calm landscape of the American League.


    Could it be that the American League was finally about to change?


    Of course, it was still too early to claim that the Kansas City Chiefs could break through the shackles and alter the deadlock, but at the very least, Li Wei had shown the fearlessness of a newcomer not afraid of tigers, successfully bringing a sense of instability to the American League''s stable structure. The traditional powerhouses were restless, and the media reporters naturally approved, giving a resounding two thumbs up.


    Even without any push from the NFL officials, the reporters were already excited on their own.


    The upcoming Divisional Playoffs in the second round, whether the Kansas City Chiefs were up against the Pittsburgh Steelers or the New England Patriots, would inevitably be a hot topic.


    As a natural consequence, the other American League wildcard game was completely ignored, treated as an afterthought.


    Jacksonville Jaguars: "Should I just leave?"


    David Caldwell, the team manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars, thought of the eight months that had passed since last April''s draft. He still vividly recalled their journey from hell to heaven and back to hell, watching helplessly as the Kansas City Chiefs snatched Li Wei from right in front of them, plunging their war room into collective despair.


    It was a nightmare! An absolute nightmare!


    Caldwell watched as social media was inundated with news about Li Wei, his heart bleeding out. For an entire season, they were in a state of excessive blood loss. If not for the Kansas City Chiefs, all the spotlight and traffic would have belonged to the Jacksonville Jaguars.


    Moreover, the Jacksonville Jaguars delivered their best performance since the 2007 season, returning to the playoffs after a decade. It seemed they were finally primed to reach the summit, and if they had acquired Li Wei as well, could they have soared even higher with official support from the league?


    With his eyes closed, Caldwell could picture vast amounts of money flitting before his eyes, tantalizingly out of reach ¡ª and the cruelty of it!


    Everything was ready, yet missed by a hair''s breadth at the tips of their fingers. They hadn''t imagined they would miss out on the league''s future cash cow for the next decade¡ª


    It was heart-wrenchingly unbearable.


    Suddenly, Caldwell opened his eyes.


    They would advance to the next round; they would march forward with heads held high. When they faced the Kansas City Chiefs, they would be doubly determined to seek revenge and settle the score with Li Wei ¡ª it was a must!


    In order to quickly catch up with Li Wei''s pace and strive to fight alongside him in the future, he needed to work hard.


    Thinking this, Mahomes immediately took out his phone and opened the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tennessee Titans to start watching the playback of the recording.


    On his end, Li Wei jogged back.


    After battling it out with the Titans, Li Wei realized that the playoffs were indeed a different game altogether¡ªwhere the slightest margins could lead to significant and intense changes. This meant they would need to rely even more on the team''s strength and also continue to improve themselves from every detail.


    A single battle can determine life or death.


    Exhilarating. Intense. No turning back.


    The wild-card game was just the first game of the playoffs. The games that were over had to be left behind¡ªit was time to look ahead to the next divisional round.


    Therefore, Li Wei wasn''t planning to relax. He still needed to seriously study the Wide Receiver''s playbook.


    In football, with numerous positions on the team and entering the professional arena, strategies become even more complex and diverse, and the specialization ever more precise.


    The team has its general meeting room, the Offensive group has its meeting room, the Defensive group has its meeting room, and beyond that, there are specialized spaces like the Quarterback meeting room, the Wide Receiver meeting room, and so forth.


    After a series of meetings, the amount of information is so vast that players often find it hard to digest. The starters and substitutes for each position would then have their own meetings to study tactics and game recordings, which is also a part of training.


    In Li Wei''s eyes, it wasn''t much different from college life.


    As he pushed open the Wide Receiver meeting room, sure enough, Li Wei found his playbook on Hill''s desk.


    During this period, Li Wei and Hill had gradually become acquainted. Although Hill was slow to warm up, once well-acquainted, one could sense his enthusiasm.


    Hill was a Wide Receiver skilled in running routes, a player capable of quickly adapting to different tactical systems and unleashing his abilities.


    Li Wei humbly asked Hill for some tips on route running and how to observe defensive formations while carrying the ball, as the work of a Wide Receiver is different from that of a Running Back.


    Hill held nothing back.


    Just now, as Li Wei and Hill were leaving the meeting room while continuously discussing, along with Kelsey, the three of them were so engrossed in their discussion that Li Wei forgot the most important playbook when packing up his stuff.


    Li Wei picked up the playbook, ready to leave, but inadvertently glanced out the window at the training field and saw a figure wandering¡ªthat was¡ª


    Number Eleven?

 Chapter 358 357 Solitary and alone

    "Indeed, it''s here."


    Li Wei picked up the tactical manual, ready to turn around and leave, but inadvertently, his peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a figure wandering on the training ground outside the meeting room window.


    By now, night had fallen, and Kansas City was shrouded in a peacock blue twilight. Far away, one could see the refinery''s tall smokestacks standing like giants at the edge of the sky, propping up the myriad stars above. There were no lights on the training ground, just the office building''s, still not extinguished, casting scattered and sparse light downwards, faintly outlining wisps of light and shadow.


    That figure, like a wandering soul.


    Wait, is that¡ª


    Number eleven?


    Picking up the tactical manual, Li Wei hurried down the stairs. Instead of heading to the parking lot, he walked toward the training ground, his feet once again feeling the softness of the grass the whole way.


    The figure did not continue moving forward but instead found a spot at random, sat down cross-legged, back facing the office building, completely unaware of someone approaching.


    Li Wei lightened and slowed his footsteps, stopping not far behind number eleven, following his gaze, pondered for a moment, then it dawned on him.


    "Is that the direction of Arrowhead Stadium?"


    Startled by the voice, number eleven turned around, and upon realizing it was Li Wei, he couldn''t help but chuckle, "Caught me, huh?"


    The home field of the Kansas City Chiefs was Arrowhead Stadium, but the training base was not there.


    The training base was only a five-minute drive from Arrowhead Stadium, also within walking distance. It featured two training fields, one complete football field, and an indoor stadium, open all year round and always bustling with people.


    If fans wanted, they could come to the training base any time to watch practice and cheer on the team.


    And at this moment, the Kansas City Chiefs'' starting quarterback, wearing the number eleven jersey, Smith, was sitting on the training ground of the training base, gazing at Arrowhead Stadium.


    Li Wei was somewhat surprised.


    Actually, Li Wei and Smith had always maintained a certain distance. Rather than friends, teammates was a more suitable term for them.@@@@


    On one hand, because Smith was typically low-key and introverted, not much of a talker and rarely heard in the locker room; on the other hand, because Li Wei and Mahomes were good friends, and Mahomes was coveting Smith''s starting position, making their relationship somewhat delicate.


    However, after a whole season, the two were on good terms.


    Smith was a person of gentle character, neither sharp nor edgy, and he was willing to share. If Li Wei had questions, he was more than happy to answer them. During games, the occasional tactical exchange went very smoothly; in fact, not just with Li Wei, if Mahomes had questions, he would also answer them without reservation.


    As a teammate, as a mentor, as a quarterback, Smith was a great partner.


    Suddenly, Li Wei understood¡ª


    The post-game press conference.


    Normally, the quarterback should be the biggest hero of a playoff victory, but clearly, Smith had been overlooked; there was no comparison with Li Wei, and even Mariota received more attention. The passes from Mariota to Mariota remained a hot topic of conversation after the game.


    For Smith, it was also a milestone victory. His performance was still notable, with a solid start in the first half and consecutive successful passes in the last offensive push of the second half. His consistent performance laid the foundation for Li Wei''s subsequent runs.


    Regrettably, no one cared.


    Upon reflection, if he were in Li Wei''s shoes, he''d inevitably feel dejected, too.


    So, how should he comfort Smith?


    Li Wei, "Alex..."


    Smith noticed the awkwardness in Li Wei''s words, and he ended up laughing at himself, "Sorry, I vented at the wrong target. You are probably the least suitable person to confide in." Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire


    Li Wei smiled in response, "Think about it from another angle; I am the only right person to confide in. Sorry, I didn''t mean to steal your thunder."


    The latter part of his speech was said in a teasing tone. Smith was about to argue, but he couldn''t help but be amused by Li Wei''s tone, "Why does it sound like you''re not sorry at all?"


    Li Wei nodded earnestly, "Sorry, I''m not sorry at all."


    "Haha," Smith burst into laughter, "You don''t have to be sorry. Without you, we might have lost today, and that would have felt even worse."


    "I just..."


    He took a deep breath.


    "I just hope that I can take up the responsibility, play the role of the quarterback, and help the team win. I don''t want to be a replaceable part; I want to be a member of the team, fighting alongside you."


    As he spoke, his voice gradually quieted.


    "You know? More than once, I''ve wondered if my pride has been holding back the team''s victory. Maybe, I''m not as good as I think; maybe, without me, the team could go further in the playoffs."


    Li Wei was stunned.


    He never knew that Smith had such troubles:


    As the quarterback standing in the spotlight, it naturally came with corresponding responsibilities; if one couldn''t bear it, the overwhelming pressure could completely break all resilience.

 Chapter 359 358 The so-called profession

    This should have been the first time Li Wei had a direct look at Smith.


    As both the first overall draft pick and the quarterback with the highest annual salary on the team, the aura surrounding Smith seemed almost blinding, naturally making it difficult to clearly see his face and eyes.


    Until now.


    "Alex," Li Wei tried to start, attempting to offer solace, but he was interrupted by Smith.


    "Do you know, back then, no one asked for my opinion."


    "They just made decisions and then informed me of a final decision, ''Hey, Alex, you''ve been traded. Thanks for your contribution to the team.'' That was it."


    "I had no say in the matter. Not at all."


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    In 2005, the San Francisco 49ers had chosen Smith, a quarterback from the University of Utah, with the first overall pick, and he had stayed in San Francisco for eight seasons.@@@@


    Despite a slow start in his rookie season, which was less than satisfactory, he showed pleasing growth; by the 2012 season, Smith had transformed into one of the best quarterbacks in the league ¡ª not elite, but certainly in the first tier.


    In the 2012 season, Smith''s quarterback rating, passing yards, completion percentage, touchdown passes, and rushing yards all reached new career highs.


    Among these, his completion percentage and quarterback rating temporarily led the entire league.


    During week ten of the regular season, Smith suffered a sack which resulted in a concussion, forcing him off the field; Kaepernick, a rookie quarterback, stepped in as his replacement and led the San Francisco 49ers to victory.


    This concussion was just a minor accident; merely two weeks later, Smith passed the concussion protocol, was confirmed to be unharmed, and was allowed back on the field.


    However, the team''s head coach, Jim Harbaugh ¡ª older brother of Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh ¡ª expressed that he did not want Smith to rush back and suggested that Smith should rest for another week while Kaepernick continued as the starting quarterback.


    Afterward, Kaepernick never stepped down from the starting quarterback position.


    Smith lost his job.


    Smith hadn''t made any mistakes. His performance was exceptional, not only in games but also in practice. He mentored Kaepernick, unquestionably serving as both a model and a leader.


    But the Professional League does not believe in tears.


    Harbaugh believed that Smith was too cautious, lacking edge, and had limited potential. This was not just his own view; it was the same evaluation shared by the entire league regarding Smith''s eight-year performance with the San Francisco 49ers, where under his leadership, the 49ers had only advanced to the playoffs once.


    In contrast, Kaepernick was younger, more dynamic, and more versatile. This mobile quarterback brought energy to the San Francisco 49ers. Harbaugh chose the future, regardless of Smith''s impeccable season, his best yet. Harbaugh still made a bold decision.


    "I''m already thirty-three, over a decade into the League, and it''s clear what my ceiling is. Even if Coach Reed values me highly, he has to face the reality."


    "After all, this is a professional league; at the end of the day, we are all just pawns, unless you can become a Brady or a Manning to gain a bit of sway."


    "Sadly, I am not."


    Turning his head, Smith looked at Li Wei, his smile blossoming, "Maybe, this is my last season in Kansas."


    It was a smile, yet profoundly sad.


    Li Wei said, "Then why are you still teaching Patrick so wholeheartedly?"


    Smith said, "I thought you and Patrick were friends?"


    Li Wei nodded, "Yes, I am, but you''re not, you are competitors."


    All season, Smith had been teaching Mahomes hands-on, sharing everything he knew without holding back¡ª


    Answers ready for every question.


    Not just the playbook, but also game experiences.


    As Mahomes''s good friend, Li Wei knew this all too well.


    Smith looked up at the starry sky, "I just want to be upright and proper."


    "The growth of young people isn''t something I can stop. Even if it''s not Colin Kaepernick or Patrick Mahomes, there will still be other competitors joining the team; even if it''s not me, they can still grow in their own ways. Rather than stopping their growth, I''d rather face them squarely and resolve the battle."


    "I believe I can come out on top in a fair competition."


    "But clearly, I overestimated myself. Ha-ha, my friends say I''m foolish, advocating for fair competition in professional games is no different from lifting a rock only to drop it on my own foot."


    "Actually, I just hope I can be true to myself."


    "I''m not a genius, never have been. I don''t know if I can win a championship, but I hope, when I retire, at least I can be true to my own conscience."


    "Is that too naive?"


    Smith turned his head to look at Li Wei, his expression revealing a touch of self-mocking bitterness.


    Li Wei shook his head gently, his expression solemn, "No."


    "Going with the flow is always easy, maintaining one''s principles is the hardest. This isn''t naivety; it''s integrity."

 Chapter 360 359 My Battle

    It wasn''t until today that Li Wei truly understood the quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, the captain of the offensive group¡ª


    In others'' eyes, the average and ordinary Smith actually had his pride and his persistence, diligently fulfilling his responsibilities.


    Indeed, perhaps he couldn''t conquer opponents with personal charisma like Manning or Brady, but he always played the role of team leader in silence.


    In his own way.


    Taking a deep breath, Li Wei finally found the opportunity, something he had been wanting to tell Smith, "You''ve always been here, always the captain of the offensive group."


    Smith, puzzled, "Hmm?"


    Li Wei explained, "Just now you said you hope to fight alongside us, you hope to lead the team to victory, but the truth is, you''ve been doing just that, always standing with us, always fighting alongside us."


    "Without you, we might have not held on in the first half, let alone made it to the end."


    "Leading the team to victory isn''t just about charging into battle; there are so many other ways, believe me, I''m not the only one who thinks this way."


    Smith was slightly startled, his eyes flickered briefly, seeming a bit warm, and he quickly diverted his gaze, taking another deep breath, and looked back at the night sky.


    "Thank you."


    "But, I''m afraid there isn''t much time left for me."


    "Patrick is growing fast, maybe by next year, or the year after at the latest, he can take over as the starting quarterback. My salary occupies too much of the cap space, the team won''t keep me as a backup quarterback, the most appropriate way is through a trade, to bring more benefits to the team."


    "So, I know, my time in Kansas City is limited."


    It''s cruel, but it''s reality.


    Smith isn''t a rookie anymore; he understands how the League works, and he knows his place.


    However, as much as the principles make sense, as much as the rules and the reality are crystal clear, that still can''t control the feelings of loss and regret in one''s heart.


    "Li Wei, do you believe it? Actually, I really like it here."


    "When I left San Francisco, I was like a dog that lost its home, almost losing all confidence, but this city welcomed me with open arms; they made me feel warm, they made me believe I am welcome here, not just Coach Reed, but all the fans without exception."


    "I have always hoped to bring them playoff victory, even if not a Super Bowl Championship, I still wish to go further in the playoffs."


    "They... need a little hope."


    So it turns out, Smith knew this too.


    They live in this city, an ordinary city in the central part of the North American continent, where residents welcome them with all their passion and enthusiasm, wholeheartedly loving this team, providing a sense of home and warmth to players gathered from all over.


    Smith, "Hahaha."


    Just then, number fifteen, Patrick Mahomes, sitting in the driver''s seat, suddenly sneezed, lifted his head like a meerkat to glance around, but found nothing, so he lowered his head and continued watching game footage.


    Li Wei, "But, you can trust us. We will always be by your side, fighting this battle together. When the season is over, no matter where we end up standing, no matter what happens next, don''t have any regrets."


    After speaking, Li Wei raised his right fist.


    The usually restrained and low-key Smith felt his blood boiling and also raised his right fist, bumping it against Li Wei''s.


    Solid. Powerful.


    As if one could truly feel the energy bursting forth.


    Li Wei, "So, ready to leave? That number fifteen is waiting for me in the parking lot."


    Smith, "Haha, you go ahead, I''ll stay a bit longer."


    Saying so, Smith placed his hands on the field, feeling the texture of the turf with his palms¡ª


    It was clear that Smith had no confidence, no matter who the next opponent was, even if the Kansas City Chiefs had beaten them in the regular season, the playoffs were after all different. This was true for Smith, true for the Kansas City Chiefs; the playoff curse, like a tight spell, was hard to shake off,


    No wonder.


    Smith thought the next game might be his last for the Kansas City Chiefs, so tonight he showed a bit of reluctance to leave.


    All that fighting spirit, passion, and blood, like a swan song, echoing out.


    Li Wei stood up and took two steps out, but couldn''t help stopping and turning back to look.


    The figure, neither particularly strong nor tall, sat resolutely on the grass, his back perfectly straight, reluctantly and unwillingly soaking up the energy from the training field.


    "Captain,"


    Li Wei called out, and Smith reflexively turned his head to look.


    "After the next game, let''s call the offensive group players over for ''counting stars.''


    Smith was puzzled, full of question marks.


    But Li Wei did not stay or explain, turning around and striding towards the parking lot.


    The Republican era sung out loud in "counting stars"¡ª


    "Stop obsessing over wealth, let''s count stars together, worldly possessions, ignite and let them sink into the river''s depths, what doesn''t kill me makes me stronger." Read latest chapters on My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 361 360 Refuses to Follow Obscure Trends

    On January 7th, the playoffs continued unabated, with the third and fourth wildcard games taking place.


    Taking the intensity of the first two wildcard games into account, the National Conference''s sixth seed, the Atlanta Falcons, overturned the third seed, the Los Angeles Rams, while the American League''s fifth seed, the Tennessee Titans, nearly toppled the fourth seed, the Kansas City Chiefs. This once again proved the greatest charm of the NFL¡ª


    the teams are closely matched and outcomes unpredictable.


    Every season is the same, with not such a clear difference between the strong and the weak teams. Once it''s playoffs, every team has a chance, and to put it in one phrase:


    "It''s anyone''s game."


    Moreover, this year is generally considered by professionals to be one of the most open competitive layouts, with playoffs possibly even more intense than expected.


    So, will the other two wildcard games also bring surprises?


    Yesterday, the National Conference games kicked off first, followed by the American League games at night; today, the order switched with the American League''s wildcard games occurring in the afternoon.


    "Jacksonville Jaguars VS Buffalo Bills".


    Both teams are longstanding underdogs who have made it back to the playoffs after many years; and surprisingly in the American League, which is high on passing offense, they started the game with defense, bringing a fresh atmosphere to this season''s playoff, with both sides evenly matched and equally likely to make history.


    While all media''s attention was focused on the Kansas City Chiefs, enthusiastically discussing whether they were about to play the Pittsburgh Steelers or the New England Patriots, this wildcard game was somewhat neglected, clearly both teams were also holding their breath, trying to grab the spotlight back.


    Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire@@@@


    The game was particularly intense¡ª


    but not good-looking.


    Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles and Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor were not particularly outstanding, even falling below the league average, and the performance of both quarterbacks could be described as disastrous.


    Bortles, 23 passes, 12 completes, 87 yards.


    Taylor, 37 passes, 17 completes, 134 yards.


    The quarterbacks'' passing offense performed at the level of a ground game, from this data one could see how dreary the match was, even the ground game appeared clumsy, thus the match constantly consumed time amid strikes and punts.


    The Defensive group became the protagonist.


    In Football, a "0:0" tie is classified differently, there are circus shows where everyone attacks but performs poorly, there are dull draws where mistakes abound and defense dominates, and Football is the same.


    This game belonged to the dull category.


    "3:10".


    Rivera''s eyes, hidden behind sunglasses, revealed a hint of sadness.


    Besides, another player unexpectedly became the focus.


    "How would you rate your performance in this game?"


    "Do you still believe you are the only rookie running back who can compare to Li Wei, because purely based on the stats, the only rookie running back who can match Li Wei now is Hunter."


    The implication was, you can''t even compare to Hunter, you''re not even qualified to be Li Wei''s backup.


    The New Orleans Saints'' rookie running back Kamara''s cheeks turned red and his eyes watery, seemingly on the verge of breaking down and crying the next second, helpless under the relentless pursuit of the reporters.


    But what could he do?


    10 carries, 23 yards advanced, averaging 2.3 yards per carry.


    Even worse than Fournette.


    The more arrogant and haughty he had been previously, the more brutal and harsh the reality hit him.


    Before the game, the matchup between rookie running backs "McCaffrey vs. Kamara" was supposed to be one of the highlights of the game, but it turned out to be a huge disappointment.


    McCaffrey only advanced 16 yards on the ground, under Rivera''s direction he was completely used as a wide receiver, advancing 101 yards through receptions and showing some potential, unfortunately, still not comparable to Li Wei.


    And the confident, outspoken Kamara was particularly lackluster.


    Mumbling words at the corner of his mouth, Kamara finally said stiffening his neck.


    "This was just the first playoff game, I will show what I''m capable of next. Li Wei, I look forward to facing him head-on in the Super Bowl."


    No matter what, he couldn''t lose his momentum!


    However, the reporter was not buying it.


    "Kamara, becomes weak when it comes to playoffs?"


    Seeing such a news headline, Kamara immediately spat out blood¡ª


    Nonsense, all of it was nonsense!


    After all, whether in the American League or National Conference, the main focus of the wild card games always remained Li Wei, with countless topics eventually centering back on him.


    Indeed, Li Wei is the current guarantee of popularity!

 Chapter 362 361 Probability Event

    By now, the first round of the playoffs and wild card games had all ended.


    The New Orleans Saints won, the Jacksonville Jaguars won, along with the Kansas City Chiefs, who had won the day before. All the high-ranking seeds claimed victory.


    The only exception was the Los Angeles Rams.


    Moreover,


    Unlike the other close games, the match between the Los Angeles Rams and the Atlanta Falcons was the only one-sided game without suspense, with the Rams getting no opportunity and suffering a crushing defeat.


    In light of this situation, Goodell expressed frustration.


    Despite Goodell''s hope to create a brand-new face for the league and generate new destiny matchups, some people failed to seize the opportunity. He was powerless and could only say that making superstars also requires luck.


    Goff: "Are you talking about me? Oh, no, sorry, my mistake."


    The real protagonist, Donald, said, "We''ll see next season."


    Regardless, fifteen minutes after the wild card game ended with the New Orleans Saints defeating the Carolina Panthers, the NFL announced the schedule for the second round of wild card games.


    January 13th.


    Afternoon, "Philadelphia Eagles VS Atlanta Falcons".


    Evening, "New England Patriots VS Kansas City Chiefs".


    January 14th.


    Afternoon, "Pittsburgh Steelers VS Jacksonville Jaguars".


    Evening, "Minnesota Vikings VS New Orleans Saints".


    Here it comes, finally¡ª


    "Li Wei VS Brady".


    Although Li Wei had hoped to face the Pittsburgh Steelers again for a decisive showdown, the Jacksonville Jaguars had other ideas, disrupting the plan; thus, a fan-favorite scene in the entire league was about to unfold.


    A meeting of the league''s top traffic generators and faces, easily sparking heated discussions.


    "After Mariota''s miraculous touchdown in the second half, the Kansas City Chiefs completely lost their formation, exposing weaknesses in both offense and defense. If it hadn''t been for Derrick Henry''s fumble in the last two minutes that led to a critical error, shaking the confidence of the Tennessee Titans, the Kansas City Chiefs might have been eliminated."


    "This shackled them from the first game of the regular season, whether they lost or won, they just didn''t seem stable and it continued until now." Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Such a shortcoming is further magnified in the playoffs'' single-elimination format and will become a shackle preventing the Kansas City Chiefs from making a breakthrough."


    "Perhaps, next season, the Kansas City Chiefs might transform into a team contending for the Super Bowl Champions, but not this year."


    On the surface, Bart had made significant progress, becoming more objective and rational, no longer stubbornly negative, finally evolving.


    But fundamentally, Bart still did not believe in the Kansas City Chiefs, or more precisely, he never believed that a running back could be the key to a team''s transformation; he was even less convinced that a rookie running back could be the key to changing the league''s dynamics.


    It was that simple.


    "Moreover, in the divisional game, they will face the New England Patriots."


    "More precisely, they are facing Belichick and Brady."


    "Without a doubt, Belichick and Brady have been the best postseason duo over the past fifteen years. The postseason is completely different from the regular season in terms of atmosphere, pressure, pace, and state¡ªit''s a whole different ballgame."


    "No matter how the regular season goes, Belichick and Brady always bring their best form in the playoffs, making the New England Patriots the most difficult super team to defeat in the playoffs right now."


    "Moreover, this season the New England Patriots have shown the dominance of a defending champion."


    "Throughout the season, the New England Patriots lost only three games, two of which were in September. In the three months that followed, they only lost one game."


    "Their victories included teams like the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, and Pittsburgh Steelers, four playoff teams. Except for a three-point narrow victory against the Steelers, all other matches were won by at least two possessions."


    "As the number one seed in the American League, the New England Patriots are absolutely ready to defend their title, and without a doubt, they are the benchmark that all teams need to defeat."


    Not believing in the Kansas City Chiefs is one thing, and regarding this point, there might be many people who disagree with Bart, like Lawson.


    But believing in the New England Patriots is another matter; the defending champions indeed performed brilliantly this season, with their three losses occurring in the first month, which only proved that they just needed some time to warm up. Once they got going, no one could stop them.


    Lawson agreed with this too.


    Undoubtedly, the New England Patriots were indeed the more favored side.


    Bart thought, even from a probability standpoint, he should be right this time, shouldn''t he? It couldn''t be that he was at odds with the Kansas City Chiefs throughout the whole season, could it?

 Chapter 363 362 True Colors Revealed

    The regular season''s opening week saw Bart favor the New England Patriots to win.


    As a result, he was proven wrong.


    In the second round of the playoffs, Bart once again favored the New England Patriots to win, but this time the situation was completely different. After a whole season of refinement, the team''s strength and condition were entirely clear.


    Just as Bart said, the New England Patriots were now the top favorites for the Super Bowl, and encountering them was not good news for any team¡ªan objective fact, not a subjective judgment.


    Therefore, the view that the New England Patriots would defeat the Kansas City Chiefs and advance to the next round was not a minority opinion.


    This time, Bart stood with the majority.


    More importantly, the anticipation for the New England Patriots to win was completely dominating this time¡ª


    Why?


    Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    Li Wei.


    "Li Wei", the league''s traffic guarantor, was stirring a new storm.


    But, to wear the crown, one must bear its weight.


    Indeed, Li Wei had proved himself a remarkable running back with his actions, but a single season''s performance was hardly enough to convince everyone. Meteors shoot across the sky every year, but stars that shine continuously are rare. Not to mention whether Li Wei could maintain such a performance in his sophomore and junior years, there were plenty of players eagerly awaiting a chance to defeat him this season.


    Fournette. Kamara. Mark. Roethlisberger.


    These were just the tip of the iceberg.


    NFL, North America''s premier sport, when did it become dominated by an Asian? When did a rookie come to represent the entire league? When did a running back steal everyone''s thunder?


    Just a running back, after all, neither capable nor deserving of being the key to victory.


    Not to mention Li Wei, when Pittsburgh Steelers'' star Bell fought for historic high pay for running backs, the mainstream league opinion was disdainful and scornful, and even the players didn''t think running backs deserved such salary.


    Thus, Bell faced unimaginable pressure as the center of controversy.


    This was the dilemma of the running back.


    "The yellow brick road for the Kansas City Chiefs has come to an end, this is their Oz."


    Bart said.


    From the initial struggle to the assertive conclusions, Bart regained his confidence and truly believed that victory would belong to the New England Patriots.


    In fact, this time Bart''s judgment received unprecedented support.


    "9:1".


    "Within the League," out of ten professionals, nine votes went to the New England Patriots, with only Lawson, maintaining his title as a staunch Li Wei fan, showed a loyalty that could bring one to tears¡ª


    After all, even the Tennessee Titans had a tough game against the Kansas City Chiefs, and their trip to the cold Foxborough would be perilous.


    Even Lawson admitted it.


    "This is the toughest and most difficult challenge of the entire season for the Kansas City Chiefs, surpassing any other game; there''s no turning back."


    "But I think the Kansas City Chiefs are a growing, young team; they have been improving consistently, and each game is a test. After the tough fight against the Tennessee Titans, their arrival in Foxborough will be elevated to a higher level."


    "Indeed, this game is different from the opening match; it will be a completely different game."


    "The New England Patriots are no longer that New England Patriots, but the Kansas City Chiefs are no longer that Kansas City Chiefs either."


    "This game, slightly different from what one might think, the collision of the defensive groups will be the key to determining the outcome of the match. Despite both teams having excellent offensive groups, coaches Belichick and Reed are demonstrating their ability. They know how to use defense to win games."


    "That''s also key for a team that wants to go further in the playoffs."


    "Of course, the offensive group is still the focus, and people have been talking about Li Wei, including myself who is very much looking forward to Li Wei''s performance. But, I need to remind everyone that Alex Smith is having the best season of his career, and no one should overlook his showdown with Brady."


    Lawson still believed in the Kansas City Chiefs, and he still believed in Li Wei''s growth¡ª


    His support and praise were not blind; they were the result of calm and objective analysis.


    Lawson truly believed that the Kansas City Chiefs could defeat the New England Patriots once again.


    Perhaps, this game could become a turning point for the transformation of the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Unfortunately, this time, he was in the minority.

 Chapter 364 363 Public Enemy of Everyone

    "I believe the New England Patriots will learn from the past and not take this lightly, I think they will secure the victory with the advantage of having possession of the ball twice."


    "In the game at Foxborough, it might not turn into an offensive shootout, but rather the defensive group could control the game, the savvy Belichick will claim the victory."


    "Given their current form, the New England Patriots should easily defeat the Kansas City Chiefs, perhaps not by a large margin, but Brady will firmly hold the initiative, and the game will go smoothly without waves, Belichick will continue to dominate the American League."


    "Personally, I think the first half will decide the outcome of the game, a slight lapse might mess things up, Reed''s team needs to be cautious about collapsing."


    "If it were to Pittsburgh, Kansas might have some chances, but going to Foxborough, the result of the game was predestined early on."


    One, two, three, four, five.


    Buzzing busily, the eyes of the social media onlookers gathered in anticipation, not only looking forward to the New England Patriots'' victory; they also awaited a resounding triumph, anxious for Brady to properly teach Li Wei a lesson, putting an end to the farce of the Asian running back becoming the face of the League."


    These words are just the tip of the iceberg¡ª


    Mere droplets of water.


    In fact, all sorts of disgusting, vomit-inducing racial discrimination filled social media.


    The root of it all lay with the New England Patriots.


    Founded in 1959, the New England Patriots were among the founding members of the American Football League and also one of the first teams to join the NFL in 1970.


    The team is located in the Greater Boston area of Massachusetts, United States, and in 1971, they officially moved their home field to Foxborough, on the outskirts of Boston, and changed their name from the "Boston Patriots" to the current "New England Patriots."


    Historically, the New England Patriots were not a strong team, having missed the playoffs for thirteen consecutive years, which was the longest streak at the time.


    However, mysteriously, this long-time lackluster, unnoticed team, posing no threat, also happened to be one of the most disliked entities within the League.


    However, New England says: It doesn''t matter, I don''t care about your dislike, all of you here are trash, and I don''t give a damn.


    Fans familiar with the NBA should know that the Boston Celtics are a hotbed of racial discrimination in the league, with arrogant fans who don''t even spare their own star players from verbal attacks, middle fingers, and throwing water bottles.


    In 1972, "Ring King" Bill Russell even refused to attend his own jersey retirement ceremony at the Boston Garden.


    And now, adding insult to injury, the Patriots have changed their name from "Boston Patriots" to "New England Patriots," adopting a name with a clear emphasis on lineage and adding the suffix "Patriots" as a provocative statement to the rest of America, claiming themselves to be the purest pioneers and patriots.


    One can imagine, under such a historical and cultural backdrop, it''s naturally difficult for fans from other regions to like this team, let alone harbor dislike.


    However.


    The most brutal reality is that professional leagues and competitive sports are ultimately about finance.


    New England, as one of the regions with the strongest financial foundation, has teams in all the Big Four leagues and the football league, and all five teams have climbed to the top of their respective leagues more than once, including the New England Patriots, who have experienced long periods of turmoil and stagnation.


    In 1994, Robert Kraft bought the New England Patriots amidst bankruptcy and turmoil, ushering in a new era.


    In 2000, Bill Belichick became the team''s head coach after a series of dramas, betrayals, and struggles, and in his first draft as head coach, he chose quarterback Tom Brady with the 199th pick in the sixth round¡ª


    The rest is all history.


    The focus returns to the present.


    The moment the New England Patriots'' wildcard opponent was officially determined, a deluge of insults and curses surged toward Li Wei.


    The team''s fans were giving Li Wei a "warm welcome" in their own way, a special treatment unique to the New England region.


    Those hideous curses, those unbearable slanders, ramped up the tension to the max, even the sanitized versions presented on social media were still shocking.


    Clearly, Foxborough is sharpening its knives, ready to give Li Wei an unforgettable lesson.

 Chapter 365 364 Matters must be set right

    Perhaps, one could find a hundred reasons not to like the New England Patriots, but since the turn of the twenty-first century, they have been the most consistent and outstanding team in the League¡ª


    without compare.


    The partnership of Belichick and Brady was the most threatening in the League, creating countless histories, even though people outside the New England region fundamentally disliked them.


    Since the new century, the New England Patriots had deeply imprinted with the mark of Bill Belichick.


    Belichick''s desire for victory had reached an obsessive degree, with no warmth or friendship within the team. Everything was measured by victory, which led him to unparalleled success; however, at the same time, he became known as the most cold-hearted coach in the League.


    Apart from Brady, Belichick had no warm feelings for any other player or fan.


    Over the years, countless players had come and gone without leaving much trace in Foxborough, leading to remarks that only Brady and Belichick were the unshakable cornerstones, and any other player on the Patriots team could be traded¡ª


    until later, people realized they had been too naive and young.


    When faced with real interest, no one was untradable, including Brady.


    In March 2020, Brady left the New England Patriots to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.


    Of course, this is competitive sports, this is the Professional League, this is business operations.


    Victory and interests are the constants.


    However, such cold operational methods turned all players into mere numbers, making this team very unfriendly to fans.


    Moreover, Belichick''s dominance and forcefulness, his cunning and treachery, even his disregard for sportsmanship at any cost, undoubtedly made the Patriots a League villain.


    Yet, Belichick remained that same Belichick, never altering his ways due to fans'' "like or dislike," otherwise his philosophy of success no longer existed.


    ...until Belichick himself became a casualty of "victory and interests."


    In January 2024, the New England Patriots and Belichick released a joint statement, ending their cooperation of a full twenty-five years, parting ways.


    Less than twenty-four hours after the joint statement was released, the New England Patriots announced a new head coach, officially ushering in a new era for the team.


    Though out of sight, out of mind, the act of changing coaches within twenty-four hours was still chilling.


    From various indications, the breakup wasn''t as amicable as stated in the joint declaration.


    But, that''s a story for another time.


    Let''s return to the present moment, in the 2017 season, as the defending champions, the New England Patriots had a regular-season record of thirteen wins and three losses, still the most formidable contenders for the Super Bowl, with Belichick and Brady''s partnership quietly continuing to break records.


    Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire


    "All the people outside combined can''t even harm a single hair on him."


    Houston looked at Revis, the renowned Island King who kept his distance from everyone in the team, yet he didn''t expect him to actually stand up for Li Wei.


    So, is this a good thing?


    Houston thought for a moment. "Actually, I''m worried about them getting hurt by the rookie."


    Revis: ...


    Meanwhile, a bus up ahead slowly came to a stop.


    Li Wei was packing his luggage ready to get off, only to see Mahomes and Kelsey crammed in the aisle, looking at him with faces full of worry.


    Li Wei, "Huh?"


    Mahomes scratched his head, "You don''t need to worry about those sounds outside."


    Turning his head, Li Wei glanced, "This is a good thing. Last time we came to Foxborough, they didn''t even consider us worth cursing; but now they''ve started."


    "The louder and fiercer, the more afraid they are."


    "It''s a breakdown."


    Pfft.


    Smith couldn''t help but burst out laughing, and the others couldn''t hold back either, one by one they started laughing, the previously tense atmosphere quietly dissipated.


    Li Wei stood up with a tranquil expression on his face.


    "They are so scared, we don''t need to look fierce and bully the weak, it''s bad to damage the flowers and plants."


    Saying this, Li Wei squeezed past Kelsey and walked off the bus with a light step.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    A barrage of curses and attacks surged toward him.


    However, Li Wei didn''t have a special response, just lightly waved his hand under his nose, his brows slightly furrowed, seemingly dissatisfied with this rotten smell:


    So stinky.


    So, is it bad breath or body odor? Wait, could it be fox odor?


    With just one action and one expression, it was already enough.

 Chapter 366 365 days of the clear and cold winter

    "Dear viewers, welcome to join us."


    "We are now at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, bringing you the second game of the second round of the 2017 NFL playoffs."


    "In the game that just ended, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated last season''s National Conference champions, the Atlanta Falcons, advancing first into the National Conference Finals."


    "It was a very close and tough game, but the Philadelphia Eagles'' defensive group stepped up to play a key role and secured the victory."


    "''10:15.'' The score was surprising; we didn''t witness an offensive shootout, but the defensive units became the protagonists, no doubt an unexpected turn, and now, who knows what the next game will bring."


    At this moment, the game being broadcast nationwide is not by the familiar ESPN, but by CBS Television.


    Since Goodell took over as the NFL commissioner, the broadcasting rights have truly flourished, catapulting the market value of the NFL to new heights. Take the 2017 season for example¡ª


    Monday Night Football, ESPN.


    Thursday Night Football, CBS, NBC, and the NFL Network; in addition, the Amazon platform.


    Sunday Night Football, CBS.


    The rest of Sunday''s games were a joint purchase by CBS and Fox Television.


    It''s clear at a glance.


    Due to the exorbitant cost of broadcasting rights, the television networks distributed the pie, sitting in a row, sharing it happily with one another.


    This season, just for broadcasting rights alone, the NFL grossed over two billion six hundred and seventy million US dollars in the North American continent.


    In the same season, the NBA''s broadcasting revenue was only a third of this number.


    The aforementioned is just for the regular season; come postseason, it''s a whole different ball game.


    Wild-card games, ESPN, and ABC.


    Divisional games, CBS.


    Conference Championships, CBS.


    Super Bowl, NBC.


    Four rounds of playoffs, with four networks still portraying a scene of friendly cooperation.


    "Tonight, the Kansas City Chiefs are guests at Foxborough, challenging the American League''s number one seed, the New England Patriots ¡ª without a doubt, it will be a focus of attention."


    "What''s slightly surprising is that Foxborough has a strong warming trend today, the sky is cloudless, the visibility is clear, and the temperature is twenty-four Fahrenheit (minus four Celsius)." Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    "A pre-game focal point was that Foxborough''s cold weather would definitely be an unknown factor, but now it seems like the Kansas City Chiefs have received some good news?"


    Nantz smoothly and naturally segued into the game, raising a topic of focus¡ª


    Considering the temperature and the starry sky, the weather isn''t bad. The much-feared heavy snow and rain didn''t occur, which is a positive sign.


    Romo easily picked up on the topic.


    "If we''re talking just about the temperature, I believe it''s not a big deal for Kansas."


    "Even though Kansas City doesn''t face blizzards like Buffalo and Green Bay might, January temperatures in Kansas could also fall below thirty Fahrenheit."


    "But the difference between Kansas City and Foxborough is that the former is a physical attack, whereas the latter is a magic attack."


    "What do you mean?"


    "In Foxborough, the cold permeates into your bones like dampness, no coat or gloves can keep it out. Sit on the sideline for a bit, and your body cools down quickly."


    "Moreover, the worst part about Foxborough is the unpredictable wind. It''s not just visiting teams that are affected; even the home team can''t avoid being influenced by it."


    "The wind in Foxborough is unpredictable; no one can control it or resist it. Sometimes, it''s calm one second and then, the next second, a fierce wind arises, but it calms down again just as quickly. The capricious winds are always a problem in January at Foxborough."


    As a freshly retired quarterback, Romo undoubtedly had the most authority to speak. He had played games in both Kansas City and Foxborough and knew the stark difference between September and January, not to mention the uncertainties brought on by the playoff stage.


    "Looking at the weather now, it''s not terrible, but the Kansas City Chiefs still need to be vigilant. After all, this young team still lacks the ability to adapt to unexpected situations."


    "I just noticed."


    "Young players like Li Wei, Hunter, Hill, etc., removed their down jackets and hats during warm-ups. But after a brief acclimatization, they put on gloves again."


    "The weather in Foxborough has a direct impact on the accuracy of passes and also affects catching and holding the ball to varying degrees."


    Blah blah blah.


    In the broadcasting room, Romo was conveying the feel of the game based on his personal experience.


    On the field, players were personally experiencing the chilly assault of Foxborough.


    Li Wei looked down at his knees. He could feel a cold stream cascading through them, every cell in his body felt the invasion of moisture without any shield ¡ª was this normal?

 Chapter 367 366 days are graced by beautiful weather

    Cold, piercing to the bone.


    The game hadn''t started yet, but Li Wei had already unlocked a brand-new experience in his professional career.


    Last season in the NCAA, the regular season wrapped up before December, and subsequent games were all scheduled in the sunny, spring-like warmth of the south, completely free from concerns about cold temperatures and rainy or snowy weather.


    And!


    For Li Wei, mixed martial arts events almost always took place indoors; while cross-country running indeed required facing weather changes and environmental impacts, event organizations aimed to avoid the influence of sudden adverse conditions, and the events were typically concentrated between March and November.


    In other words, outdoor competitions in winter were a whole new thing to Li Wei.


    His first NFL season was a fresh challenge in every way.


    Last month, the Kansas City Chiefs'' four games¡ªthree in Kansas City and one in Miami¡ªonly hinted at winter outdoor events; however, stepping into the below-freezing Foxborough for the playoffs was a different story altogether.@@@@


    At first glance, the temperature wasn''t frightening, and there weren''t any accumulating clouds in the sky; but the moment he stepped onto the pitch, goosebumps swept over his body in an instant, and screams were released as every patch of skin felt the onslaught of the cold wave''s magic attack¡ª


    During the warm-up phase, he could deeply sense the stark difference of Foxborough tonight.


    Li Wei had a premonition that this would be an arduous game.


    And indeed, he was right.


    ...


    "Danger, the pocket has broken down again!"


    "Van Noy! New England Linebacker Kyle Van Noy brought out 120% form in this game, he''s gone completely mad, unstoppably charging past the offensive line and cutting into the pocket."


    "Li Wei, Li Wei is trying to block, but Belichick has already foreseen this scene; cornerback Malcolm Butler''s rush is undoubtedly a surprise. Li Wei is outnumbered, he must choose one or the other."


    "Li Wei and Butler!"


    "Van Noy is charging at Smith."


    "Smith is dodging, Smith is scrambling, Smith refuses to give up and surrender!"


    "Ah!"


    "Van Noy! Sack!"


    "Wait, fumble!"


    "God, Smith was about to throw the ball when Van Noy''s sack took him by surprise, his arm couldn''t raise in time, and the fierce collision caused a fumble."


    "Bad news!"


    In the end, Belichick specifically designed tactics, gaining the upper hand in the pre-game battle of wits with Reed¡ª


    Rush.


    To be precise, it should be a pass rush. Rushing is just one part of pass rushing.


    After analyzing, Belichick precisely targeted the throat of the Kansas Chiefs Offense.


    Although the Chiefs'' Offensive line''s stats this season are indeed impressive, the new heights of Smith''s passing data come from the solid Pocket.


    But that''s just a superficial phenomenon.


    A deeper analysis will show you that Smith''s ratio of long passes is among the lowest for starting quarterbacks in the League, meaning Smith''s impressive passing stats come from his quick release, with short passes making up the absolute majority, and the Offensive line''s role not as significant as imagined.


    At the same time, almost all of the Chiefs'' gains over twenty yards come from Hill and Li Wei, relying more on individual ability to break through¡ª


    Especially Li Wei.


    As a running back, Li Wei led the League with nine ground rushes over fifty yards this season, demonstrating exceptional performance.


    So, where lies the crux? Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire


    The short passing area.


    Furthermore, it''s the three seconds after the kick-off.


    If during these three seconds, one fails to suppress the Chiefs'' Offense, one might find themselves in trouble.


    And so!


    Belichick increased the Defensive group''s proportion of pass rushes.


    It''s more than just blitzing.


    Blitzing aims to take down the quarterback, which can only be done occasionally.


    Pass rushing aims to build up pressure on the front line, increasing the overall density of the defense, and wreak havoc on passing and rushing; it''s a comprehensive strategy.


    Of course, the optimal outcome of a pass rush is to either take down the quarterback or stop the running back.


    In fact, this season, the Patriots'' proportion of pass rush has only been middling in the League; their Defensive group is not one of the teams known for their pass rushing.


    But precisely because of this, Belichick''s defensive strategy completely caught the Kansas City Chiefs off guard, and any bloated stats from the Offensive line were quickly squeezed out¡ª


    Before the second quarter was even over, the New England Patriots had taken down Smith six times.


    A full six times!

 Chapter 368 367 Comprehensive Suppression

    Generally speaking, if a defensive group sacks the quarterback three times in a game, it can be considered outstanding; huge pressure is applied to the quarterback.


    However, tonight, the New England Patriots have broken the team record and already recorded six sacks on Smith before the end of the second quarter.


    Six times.


    Smith was completely caught in a sudden, fierce storm, disoriented and helpless.


    Despite Smith being skilled at short passes and quick throws, even releasing the ball before the defensive group stepped up, the New England Patriots'' defense demonstrated both intensity and strength, putting enough pressure on the rush to disrupt Smith''s passing.


    The Kansas City Chiefs'' pocket was thoroughly shattered, unable to keep up with the rhythm.


    Here lies a key point¡ª


    All season long, the New England Patriots hadn''t shown such energy in the pass rush; how did they transform overnight?


    The key is in the strategy.


    Indeed, the New England Patriots'' pass rush strength isn''t top of the league; they lack superstar players and Bombing Corps-style innovations in tactics; but Belichick has managed to keep the team alive with defense when the offensive group is in trouble, reflecting his coaching prowess.


    First, the New England Patriots continuously maintained pressure with a five-man rush.


    That is, risking the possibility of big-yardage pass plays or runs, they consistently ensured that at least five defensive players were involved in the rush, constantly maintaining pressure on the frontline¡ª


    Forcing the Kansas City Chiefs'' five offensive linemen to be on edge all the time.


    Once or twice might not matter, but being on high alert for an extended period is extremely draining on energy and physical stamina; Belichick was determined to make the Chiefs'' pocket protection extremely tense.


    Secondly, whether it was a cornerback, a lineman, or even occasionally a safety stepping up, it wasn''t always a genuine attempt to sack but rather a form of intimidation.@@@@


    With the rush personnel continuously applying pressure, adding an extra player in this manner was like a bomber hovering over the offensive group''s pocket, unimaginable psychological stress.


    Then, strike when the opportunity arises.


    In other words, Belichick decided to commit troops to pressure on the rush, even at the expense of sacrificing pass defense¡ª


    Since the Patriots'' pass defense was already ranked last in the league, instead of wasting effort on a weak point, they chose to break the balance in a different way.


    Belichick is indeed formidable; he seized the Chiefs'' lifeline on a tactical level, suppressing Reed with pre-game arrangements and launching an attack in an unexpected aspect, catching the Chiefs completely off guard.


    Without exaggeration, the New England Patriots decimated the Kansas City Chiefs'' offense.


    Moreover.


    It wasn''t just Smith who was in trouble.


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    So, Brady responded in his own way, in the manner of competitive sports, in the manner of a superstar king.


    At the start, the New England Patriots guessed the coin toss correctly, and they chose to attack first, well-prepared. As soon as Brady came on the field, the entire passing offense clicked in a second, operating smoothly and firing on all cylinders, completely suppressing the Kansas City Chiefs Defense.


    And, maintaining that intensity.


    Thanks to the strong performance of the New England Patriots offensive group, serving as a foundation, the defensive group was even more confident. Coupled with the weather, Li Wei and Kelsey''s several attempts to counterattack failed due to slipping, leading to a one-sided game situation.


    "0:21."


    The away team in front, the home team behind.


    Roar!


    After Gronkowski caught the football to complete the Third Gear conversion and score another touchdown, Brady let out a roar as if it was the first touchdown of the game, clenching his fists, jumping into the air, celebrating wildly.


    28 passes, 24 completions, a passing success rate of 85.7%, 257 passing yards, three passing touchdowns.


    Just in the first half, Brady had already demonstrated a Super Bowl MVP level performance. Regardless of how the defensive group performed, this quarterback, leading the offensive group, completely dominated the Kansas City Chiefs'' decent defense this season, with a show of sheer determination for victory.


    Moreover, blood boiling.


    Brady turned his head to look at the Kansas City Chiefs'' side, his eyes overflowing with murderous intent, accurately and unmistakably finding Li Wei in the crowd, and engaging in a blatant clash.


    "Roar!"


    Growling, showing aggression, dominating!


    If you want a war, then I''ll give you a war!


    A real war!


    I will make you realize why I am the champion, and you are nothing!


    I''ll make sure you''ll remember my name forever, certainly not someone you can provoke casually!


    I will make tonight''s Gillette Stadium deeply etched in your memory, understand? Rookie!


    Clenching fists, howling, veins bulging!


    In a rare display, Brady had entered Super Saiyan mode by halftime, showing off his muscles to Li Wei. Not just the New England Patriots players, but the viewers in front of their TVs could also feel that tension oozing out¡ª


    Gun smoke filled the air.

 Chapter 369 368 on the edge of the cliff

    "0:21".


    From defense to offense, from on-field to off-field, the New England Patriots completely dominated the game¡ª


    One was the definitive champion with the outstanding playoff performances since the new century, while the other, a rookie team, had consistently performed well during the regular season but always failed in the playoffs.@@@@


    It was not that the gap in strength between the two teams was apparent, but their temperaments in the playoffs were poles apart, which became glaringly obvious when they faced each other directly.


    Gillette Stadium was already eager to start celebrating the team''s victory, faces brimming with joy:


    See, I told you, the New England Patriots are not only aiming for victory, but for a resounding, crushing defeat.


    This is the true strength of the defending champions.


    Rookie, didn''t you wet your pants? Don''t go home crying to mom.


    Boos, laughter, and curses swirled overwhelmingly, ignited by Brady''s roar, surging toward the Kansas Chiefs sideline, shaking before a majestic beast.


    Even from the commentary booth, this unusual pressure was palpably felt.


    "...Wow, the situation is tough."


    "Though it was foreseeable that the New England Patriots had the upper hand, Kansas Chiefs facing such a predicament was unexpected."


    "In front of the seasoned New England Patriots, the young Kansas Chiefs looked like mere infants."


    Tony was shocked too¡ª


    From a neutral perspective, he naturally hoped for a more intense game as such one-sided matches were indeed dull.


    But he still dutifully performed his job, quickly scanning the offensive and defensive lineup, hoping that the Kansas Chiefs could turn the tide before the end of the first half.


    Tony hurriedly pointed out.


    "No, no, no, this is not a run play."


    "It''s a play-action, a zone defense in the passing area. The New England Patriots are luring the Kansas Chiefs into a running play."


    "Smith, oh, no, they shouldn''t have handed the football to Li Wei this time."


    "Li Wei is walking into a lion''s den; there are mountains of swords and seas of flames waiting for him..."


    "The situation is, indeed, very difficult."


    "But from another perspective, there is still hope."


    "This season, the Kansas City Chiefs offense has maintained high efficiency, and we can see they are ranked first in the league in ground offense, but we also cannot ignore their balance of passing and rushing leading the league."


    "Smith''s pass completion rate and quarterback rating this season have reached new personal career highs. If he can calm down and read the defense correctly, find Li Wei, Kelsey, and Hill, the three key offensive points, the offensive explosive power of the Kansas City Chiefs can still turn the situation around."


    "The focus now is on how to handle the New England Patriots'' rushing and passing, how to maintain patience under the pressure of their rush and find space to advance. This requires thought and strategy, but it''s not an unsolvable problem."


    "If the Kansas City Chiefs cannot calm down and stabilize soon, the situation will only evolve in a worse direction."


    "Let''s not forget, their opponents are the seasoned Belichick and Brady, who definitely won''t miss any opportunity."


    Romo, still dutiful, was trying to keep the hope alive in this divisional game¡ª


    The first divisional game wasn''t exactly flashy, but undoubtedly it was not spectacular, and was disappointing.


    The second divisional game, and moreover a night game, ended up being one-sided, and was unsatisfactory.


    Romo sincerely hoped that in the second half, the Kansas City Chiefs could regain their form, bring back the suspense in the outcome, and continue the excitement of the playoffs.


    To this, another commentator, Nantz, agreed.


    "The game is not over."


    "Last season''s Super Bowl, with a halftime score of ''3:28'', nearly everyone unanimously believed the game was over, the champion prematurely decided, but clearly, the New England Patriots had a different opinion, staging the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history."


    "Today, the New England Patriots are once again protagonists in such a game, this time as the leading side. They definitely do not want to be the ones experiencing a comeback, but the young Kansas City Chiefs, tested countless times throughout the season, will not easily give up."


    "Of course, this won''t be easy."


    "2014 season, wild card game, the Kansas City Chiefs led ''38:10'' in the third quarter against the Indianapolis Colts but faced a dark ten minutes in the fourth quarter, and finally lost ''44:45'' in that wild card game." Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    "A twenty-eight-point difference was the second-largest comeback in playoff history, just after the 1993 wild card game where the Buffalo Bills came back from thirty-two points in overtime to defeat the Houston Oilers, even making last year''s Super Bowl comeback pale in comparison, undoubtedly a nightmare for the Kansas City Chiefs."


    "But don''t forget, last regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs managed to complete a twenty-one-point comeback at home against the San Diego Chargers, proving they have such capability."


    "Now, after numerous adversities and challenges, the real test of the season finally arrives for the Kansas City Chiefs."


    "Perhaps, this is a disaster, but maybe, this could also become an opportunity for the Kansas City Chiefs to truly undergo their transformation."

 Chapter 370 369 Shaking Belief

    "Go back home to mama."


    "Whimpering baby, be careful not to wet your pants."


    "This is just the beginning of the disaster."


    With claws bared and faces contorted, as they headed back to the locker room during halftime, Gillette Stadium opened wide its gaping maw, unleashing a torrent of curses and a sweeping wave of boos that devoured the Kansas City Chiefs with relentless aggression, showcasing the home field advantage to the distant guests.


    Faces on both sides of the player tunnel emerged, fiercely pounding on the walls with thunderous roars.


    "Hehe, welcome to hell!"@@@@


    The Kansas City Chiefs were disheartened.


    Despite anticipating the difficulty of the game, despite being mentally prepared, facing the sudden and ferocious attacks still made them dizzy, suppressed on both offense and defense, their morale and condition plunged¡ª


    A severe reprimand.


    The situation was very, very bad.


    In the locker room, amidst the quiet fluttering of minor noises, everyone hung their heads low, avoiding eye contact, quietly hiding their own disarray.


    This scene made Coach Reed very anxious.


    If the players were angry or irritable, it at least showed they still had fighting spirit; but the silence before him signified that faith was beginning to waver.


    The nightmare curse was taking effect again.


    It wasn''t just the players¡ª even the veteran Reed was apprehensive.


    Indeed, professional players, more or less, all have their own superstitions and obsessions, believing that persistently doing something can bring good fortune, or that breaking a cycle can herald a turnaround. The current plight once again awakened the habitual nightmares of the Kansas Chiefs, subconsciously starting self-doubt, eventually transforming into a Heart Demon.


    At this moment, what was often needed was a leader with firm belief to stand out and break the deadlock.


    Maybe... Li Wei?


    Li Wei''s leadership quality was only part of the reason, the real key was Li Wei''s "ignorance." This outsider to the Football field had no biases or predetermined stances, and the ignorant are often fearless.


    But as a rookie running back, on such an important stage as the playoffs, to call out in the guise of a leader seemed still insufficient, for he hadn''t yet established enough authority in the locker room.


    So, what to do?


    Reed, his brain whirring rapidly, looked toward Li Wei.


    But unexpectedly, he saw that Li Wei wasn''t preparing to speak, but rather was watching Smith.


    Reed was slightly surprised, since Smith had very rarely shown such mettle; but this time was slightly different. Smith noticed Li Wei''s gaze, wrestled with his thoughts briefly, took a deep breath, and still stood up.


    Rustling softly, eyes sporadically fixed on Smith.


    Not to fight, but to enjoy the game.


    No one could defeat a team that enjoyed the game, no one.


    Smith let out a long breath, a smile gently curving his lips as he involuntarily looked again towards Li Wei, the quarterback and the running back exchanging a glance, executing a perfect silent coordination.


    Then, Smith raised his arm and shouted.


    "Fly!"


    The next second, everyone in the locker room also yelled out loud.


    Coach Reed squinted his eyes, showing a hint of admiration.


    Perhaps Smith was not a passionately overwhelming team leader, but if the Kansas City Chiefs wanted to turn the situation around, the first step was to unload the burden and go in light; they needed to break free of the oppression and threat imposed by the New England Patriots; it seemed Smith had accomplished just that.


    Next, it was up to Coach Reed - Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    Tactically, they also needed adjustments.


    ...


    "Just enjoy it as if it''s the first game of your career."


    Smith took a deep breath, reminded of Li Wei''s earlier words.


    A little freshness, a bit of nervousness, a dash of excitement, and a bit of exhilaration.


    He thought, he was ready.


    The second half of the game officially began.


    The first half was initiated by the New England Patriots on offense, while the second half saw the Kansas City Chiefs Offensive group taking the field, both teams having completed their alignments.


    Just now, the New England Patriots, recalling Li Wei''s kickoff return touchdown from the season opener, had decided to kick the ball directly out of bounds to deny Hunter any chance to return, displaying their caution.


    Even with a comfortable lead of three touchdowns, Belichick was not complacent.


    The Kansas City Chiefs therefore started their offensive from their own twenty-five yard line.


    Smith had to admit, he was not focused enough in the first half, the thoughts of "last game" constantly looming, making him more nervous and more prone to distractions, resulting in more pressure while reading the defense.


    But now, as it was potentially the last, he should enjoy it all the more.


    Calm, focused, seizing every moment, not to let the last game become the last regret -


    "Attack!"


    The kick-off command, cutting through the air.

 Chapter 371 370 Catch them off guard

    Focus. Focus. Still focus.


    Li Wei kept reminding himself.


    Whether it was Smith or Li Wei himself, in the first half, facing the high-intensity and high-efficiency rush and pass of the New England Patriots, indeed, there wasn''t much they could do¡ª


    There were objective factors, as well as subjective factors.


    But the real key was that Li Wei didn''t believe the rush and pass pressure tactics of the New England Patriots were unsolvable; after all, they weren''t the Bombing Corps.


    Before the game, Li Wei had said he was looking forward to meeting the Pittsburgh Steelers again, to experience the impact of the "Steel Curtain," the combination of Hayward and Watt; and now, the Patriots'' defensive group was not to be outdone, allowing him to fully experience the muscle of defense:


    Even without top rushers, relying on tactical cooperation could also unleash tremendous energy.


    So, the first step was to shake off the Patriots'' rush and pass interference, step back a bit, see clearly the Patriots'' defensive formation and movement trends, and look for a breakthrough in the midst of a storm.


    Just like in the first half, the Patriots were still stacking troops in the zone of front-line combat¡ª


    Four defensive linemen up front, three linebackers in a triangular formation right behind them, with the positions of the two outside linebackers advanced half a step, falling one step behind the defensive ends; add to this corners and safeties slightly pressing forward in their respective areas, the layout of the entire defensive front was particularly tight and dense.


    Pressure, within reach.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers'' defensive group was layered, forming a stair-like arrangement, interacting and responding to each other, the whole defense interlocking; but the Patriots were slightly different, although they too had clear layers, the combinations between different parts were not the same, yet they could still apply continuous pressure.


    Different gears, different situations, the Patriots'' rush and pass combinations varied.


    So, this time?


    Who''s rushing? Linebacker? Cornerback? Or Safety?


    Li Wei was reading the defense; the defensive group was also reading the offensive formation.


    Li Wei''s position was slightly different.


    The Kansas City Chiefs primarily used the Pistol Formation, occasionally mixing it with the Shotgun Formation, and the tactical combination of fake runs and true passes, and fake passes and true runs between Li Wei and Smith was undoubtedly a key weapon for the team.


    And now, the Chiefs rarely set up the Shotgun Formation.


    Li Wei and Smith stood parallel, Li Wei three steps far to the right of Smith, which meant that Li Wei and Smith couldn''t smoothly carry out exchanges; the difficulty of feint moves sharply increased¡ªthis was clearly a passing formation.


    At the same time!


    The Chiefs had three Wide Receivers on the left wing, with only tight end Kelsey on the right, creating a peculiar balance where the strong side wasn''t strong, and the weak side wasn''t weak. Moreover, with Li Wei standing on the right, two steps behind Kelsey, the Shotgun Formation was instantly set up.


    Gaping and trying to catch a glimpse of Li Wei''s figure, he collided with Kelsey the very next second, thrown into utter chaos, unable to focus on anything else.


    Just as Harrison was about to get entangled with Kelsey, he found Kelsey shake him off a step ahead, continuously backpedaling.


    Harrison: ??? Had he been left behind? What was going on?


    Kelsey had no time to pay attention to Harrison; his eyes caught sight of the crisis¡ª


    the New England Patriots'' defensive end Flowers.


    No matter how the Kansas City Chiefs devised their tactics, the New England Patriots still focused on themselves, continuing their assault with pressure in the second half.


    And they were preparing for a surprise attack.


    Belichick was also a master of psychological warfare, continuing to suppress the young Chiefs in the second half, with the surprise attack as a form of intimidation, looking forward to their seventh sack on Smith.


    Even though things went slightly off plan, with Harrison''s attention scattered by Li Wei and intercepted by Kelsey, the defensive line still performed excellently.


    Flowers invaded the pocket unstoppable, Smith was like a lamb to the slaughter.


    In the first half, either Li Wei or Hunter stayed in the pocket to block, trying to buy Smith as much breathing space as possible, though the effects were mediocre.


    In the second half, Li Wei charged out right from the start, leaving Smith utterly isolated, with Flowers nearly completing the takedown.


    But!


    Right at that moment!


    A bull''s strength collided from the side, forcibly altering Flowers'' forward charge, the both of them tumbling into the tangled zone at the line.


    It was Kelsey.


    Li Wei and Kelsey executed a block exchange, swapping roles on the field.


    It wasn''t just a change of position, but also disrupted the tactical setup and timing at a strategic level, in the midst of a fierce confrontation, disrupting the rhythm of the Patriots'' tactics¡ªfirst Harrison, then Flowers, Smith won a brief respite.


    However, the alarm was still not over.


    Danger. Danger danger danger!


    Smith realized that the pocket had collapsed by half, and he was completely exposed, his feet trying to find rhythm in the continuing backpedal.


    No sooner had his front foot dodged Flowers, his back foot saw Harrison resume his charge, and... Van Noy coming face to face, both storms converging on Smith from left and right.


    Smith, left utterly alone, was in dire straits!

 Chapter 372 371 bends the bow to shoot the eagle

    New England Linebacker, Kyle Van Noy.


    His competitive state was maxed out from the start and continued into the second half¡ª


    This was a six-man rush, with two linebackers joining the front in the pass rush, but Harrison faced a block from Kelsey, while Van Noy wrestled with Hill.


    Van Noy thought: Was this Kansas City Chiefs'' response to their pass rush? Interesting. Just like a cat chasing a mouse, the resistance of the mouse always made the game more enjoyable; otherwise, it would be too boring.


    Van Noy licked his lips, savoring the moment steeped in the stench of blood.


    He shook off Hill and continued to advance.


    Van Noy, pushing through the crowd, immediately spotted his prey¡ª


    Wait, Smith still hadn''t thrown the ball?


    Subconsciously, Van Noy wanted to turn his head to check the positions of the scattered wide receivers, but he controlled himself and kept his eyes locked on Smith.


    In this moment, if he could just take down the quarterback, the routes of the wide receivers would be inconsequential.


    Smith: undistracted and fully focused.


    At this critical juncture, with no time or mind to consider anything else, he dropped all burdens and became wholly engaged.


    Now, the only thought in Smith''s mind was:


    It''s not over. It can''t be over. He refused to let it end.


    To his right, Harrison was closing in, a shadow creeping up silently, just like in the first half, pressing down on the Chiefs until they could barely breathe.


    To his left, Van Noy was delayed slightly but still barreled down like a tiger pouncing from the mountain, trying to make up for the slight delay.


    Double trouble at the door!


    But then, Smith''s right leg pushed off, controlling his body, he halted and made a quick turn to restart, moving horizontally to the left, shaking off Harrison''s grasp. Then, Van Noy''s face loomed larger in his pupils.


    Pushing off with his left leg for a second time, he made another quick stop and turn, his body resisting the centrifugal force to move diagonally upwards to the right, just as he felt Van Noy''s murderous intent at his heels. The next moment, he threaded past Harrison''s arm on the right side, seeking survival amidst the fermenting tempest.


    Footsteps, footsteps. Footsteps!


    After all, Smith was not a running quarterback. His pocket movement was faltering amidst the storm, and seeing Van Noy plunging at him again, his feet danced desperately on the edge of a knife, forcing another step out¡ª


    Pushing off the ground.


    Twisting his body.


    Drawing the bow.


    The entire passing motion was like flowing water, his arm fully exerting force.


    He threw the pass.


    Van Noy: ???


    ...


    "Attack!" Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    The moment Smith called the play to start, the Kansas City Chiefs'' four figures in the front sprinted at full speed:


    Three on the left, one on the right.


    The three figures on the left each took a different path: one veered towards the sideline, one rushed vertically down the center, and one cut inside then looped back into a hook to enter the short pass zone, representing the routes for medium, long, and short passes, respectively.


    The dizzying coordinated routes effectively tied down the New England Patriots'' secondary defense.


    After all, this team''s pass defense was third from the bottom in the league.


    In fact, the focus was not on the routes run by the wide receivers, but on the quarterback''s ability to fire the "cannonball," and the Patriots'' work in the first half to disrupt, interfere with, and pressure had been perfect.


    On the right, the running route was clear-cut¡ª


    Linear. Vertical. A deep strike.


    Cornerback Stephon Gilmore was on high alert because he was matched against the tight end Kelsey; he was clearly at a disadvantage, but he never expected that after a switch with Li Wei, he would be facing Li Wei himself.


    Good news!


    Wait, was it really good news?


    Gilmore immediately sprung into action, sticking close to Li Wei''s steps, trying to jockey for position and gain the upper hand.


    No sooner had his body leaned in, using his shoulder to offset Li Wei and block his path forward, when Li Wei suddenly accelerated, brushing shoulders, not allowing Gilmore to secure the position before breaking away.


    Gilmore held his breath and hurriedly followed, bumping and pushing, continuously creating disturbances, not letting Li Wei pick up speed.


    They both knew of Li Wei''s vertical speed capability.


    Bump. Collide. Squeeze. Entangle. Stick.


    Gilmore displayed all the Eighteen Martial Arts of a cornerback, clinging desperately to Li Wei.


    Yet, it was hardly effective.


    Without warning, Li Wei hit back hard, disrupting Gilmore''s balance; the two of them drifted apart slightly, giving Li Wei a bit of breathing room, and with a push off his feet, he was already sprinting ahead, leaving Gilmore behind.


    Push off, launch, sprint.


    Li Wei in front, Gilmore right behind.


    Gilmore tried to keep up with Li Wei''s pace, but he found that not only was the distance between them not closing, it was visibly widening, and before he could even blink, a gap had opened up.


    Big enough for a third party to fit through.


    And.


    Li Wei ran faster and faster, swiftly dumping Gilmore.


    Gilmore: That freak!

 Chapter 373 372 Strike to the Throat

    Li Wei is picking up speed¡ª


    Clearly, during the halftime break, both teams had tactical meetings, and the start of the second half saw a head-on collision with bayonets bared.


    The New England Patriots defensive group remained dominant, completely suppressing the Kansas City Chiefs; whereas the Chiefs, through repositioning, created a time difference, attempting to carve out passing space for Smith and open up the game.


    Now, Li Wei was tasked with a different mission, so he had no way of knowing the pocket situation, whether Smith was being sacked or if Smith had completed a pass.


    But Li Wei didn''t have time to think; as long as the referee didn''t declare the end of this down, he had to run his route and reach his position according to plan.


    This, was his mission.


    Push off, sprint, focus completely.


    Unreservedly, Li Wei sprinted in a straight line, his speed fully unleashed.


    In his peripheral vision, Li Wei could see the relentless figure of Gilmore in pursuit. As he continued to run, Li Wei clenched his teeth and sped up, the collision of his feet with the ground continuously generating incredible power that propelled his body to take flight.


    The forty-five-yard line.


    The midfield line.


    As he crossed into the New England Patriots'' half, with the forty-five-yard line in sight, Gilmore finally realized that the gap was irreversible, and that it was impossible to accomplish a defense by relying on close cornerback coverage.


    What to do?


    Gilmore needed to make a judgment. After all, Li Wei was currently without the ball. If his defense was even slightly overzealous, getting a yellow flag would be bad enough, but if Li Wei wasn''t the intended pass target at all, that would be disastrous.


    A glance back.


    In the brilliant lights, Gilmore accurately captured the football''s flight arc, passing over their heads toward a farther destination, with the parabola''s descending point right in front of them.


    Dammit!


    Without hesitation, Gilmore made a snap decision. His leap and diving tackle was smooth and seamless, breaking free from gravity''s bonds, heading straight for Li Wei.


    Uh, ah!


    With a muffled grunt, Gilmore''s all-out collision forcefully landed on Li Wei''s back; yet, he had no time to worry about whether the referee would throw a yellow flag, as he fixed his gaze on Li Wei, his pupils exploding open.


    In his sight, he could see Li Wei flying forward, staggering a few steps, but unbelievably controlling his balance amidst the chaos, continuing to push off the ground and accelerating forward.


    The forty-five-yard line.


    The forty-yard line.


    The thirty-five-yard line.


    The ten-yard distance disappeared under Li Wei''s feet before he even had the chance to blink.


    Gilmore was left speechless and dumbfounded.


    The next second, the pull of gravity surged in, dragging Gilmore into a whirl of reactive forces, the world spinning around him.


    As his upper body became parallel with the ground, about to launch like a torpedo the next second, Li Wei''s push-off was resolute, his knee nearly hitting his chest, his left hand powering off the ground in an instant, propelling his body forward.


    Tottering and stumbling, Li Wei passed where Chung fell, crossing the thirty-yard line, unbelievably crashing inside the twenty-yard line.


    "Li Wei, wow! Li Wei!"


    "In a one-on-one showdown, Li Wei overpowers Chung with a spectacular catch, connecting with Smith, as the Kansas City Chiefs turn the second half''s opening with a fifty-yard pass into a complete overturn of the situation."


    "Oh, Li Wei!"


    In the broadcast booth, Nantz was dumbfounded.


    Nantz thought the offensive play had ended, with Li Wei defeating Chung in a one-on-one to catch the ball, the Kansas City Chiefs incredulously delivering an explosive attack to reverse the momentum, but he had no idea¡ª


    "Li Wei! Li Wei! Li Wei!"


    "Li Wei incredibly controls his center of gravity, he''s still moving, he''s still pushing forward!"


    "The twenty-yard line!"


    "The fifteen-yard line!"


    "McCourty, safety McCourty is trying to intercept Li Wei!"


    "Oh, my God, what are we witnessing?"


    "This, this..."


    McCourty was fully alert, this time making no mistakes, he grappled Li Wei accurately; McCourty could finally breathe a sigh of relief, having not erred, but then he realized he was off balance, moving forward with Li Wei.


    He seemed to drift upward like a carp streamer.


    Pushing off, powering up, advancing.


    As McCourty bounced and swayed in Li Wei''s relentless progress, his tight grip loosened, and the next second he was swept into the storm¡ª


    Li Wei had broken free.


    But at the same time, Li Wei had exhausted his strength, no longer able to push off.


    So, Li Wei simply leapt into the air, using the last bit of energy left in his body to throw himself forward, with only one thought in mind:


    Fight. Fight. Fight. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire


    He surged upward in a fish-like leap, hard-fought against the relentless pull of gravity, his arms spread wide like a startled swan, embracing the raging wind.


    Soaring high!


    "Huh."


    Nantz burped.


    "Touchdown."

 Chapter 374 373 remains unmoved

    High above, Smith''s heart soared almost to his throat as he scrambled up and hurried after, not bothering to entangle further with Van Noy, his gaze firmly locked on Li Wei and the Chung Family.


    Watching in awe, Li Wei snatched the football right from the Chung Family''s grasp, Smith jumped up uncontrollably without signaling to his teammates, rushing forward at once.


    "Beautiful!"


    Smith clenched his fists, but the celebration wasn''t over, nor had he had the chance to savor the joy, as he immediately dashed forward the next second.


    Kelsey: ??? "What''s going on? What''s a quarterback doing charging to the front? Besides, isn''t this offensive play over?"


    Hey, wait!


    It wasn''t over, amazingly, it wasn''t over!


    Incredibly, unbelievably, Li Wei once again turned decay into magic, continuing to dash forward after catching a long pass with a thrill.


    Whooshing by, the Kansas City Chiefs players in their white away uniforms all ran up.


    Not just on the field, but off the field as well.


    They fought shoulder to shoulder!


    Then¡ª


    "Ah, touchdown!"


    Smith was the first to raise his hands high in a touchdown gesture, rushing over in utter abandon, the roar surging in his ears.@@@@


    Touchdown!


    It was the Kansas City Chiefs'' first score of the entire game, a stealthy strategy, a layout, a breakthrough, launching a counterattack from the brink of a shaky cliff.


    The game was not over!


    Ah, ah ah ah!


    Smith was the first to roar out loud, rarely seen losing his composure like this.


    Suddenly, Smith embraced Li Wei, only to be shoved away by him.


    Li Wei took a few steps forward, like a lion finally awakening, smashed the football to the ground with a fierce roar erupting from his chest.


    "Roar!"


    Fierce, ferocious, bursting with killing intent.


    Li Wei stood in front of the spectator stands, in front of New England Patriots fans, roaring in anger¡ª


    The curses and abuses before the match, he didn''t respond, but that didn''t mean he was unaware.


    Trust him, this was just the beginning.


    Right in front, there was dead silence, like rabbits crouching under the paws of a lion, trembling, curling up to hide their existence.


    The key was whether the Kansas City Chiefs had the capability to exploit this breach, and whether they had the courage and audacity to do so.


    If the answer was yes, Belichick thought it was only natural for the opposition to score, he saw no need for fuss, nor any reason to disrupt his own formations.


    After all, a "21:0" victory and a "21:20" victory were no different.


    Belichick remained unmoved, without giving Smith or Li Wei a second glance. He turned around and began setting up the offensive tactics, confident that as long as Brady could keep his footing and continue scoring, the game was in their pocket.


    On the Kansas City Chiefs'' side.


    The Special Duty Group players, one by one, energetically entered the stage, seemingly finally stabilizing their footing, while the Defensive group players lined up to give high fives and celebrate.


    With one glance, Li Wei saw Houston, he high-fived the captain of the defense, "You do know today''s opponent isn''t Tennessee, right?"


    That sentence was already enough¡ª


    In the previous wildcard game, the Tennessee Titans were also significantly behind in the first half but relied on an astonishingly unbelievable touchdown in the second half to turn the situation around, and they were very close to winning.


    But the New England Patriots weren''t that young team like the Tennessee Titans; Belichick wouldn''t forget himself over one spectacular touchdown, meaning that the Kansas City Chiefs needed to rally every bit of their strength.


    The first step was the defensive group; they needed to stop Brady from scoring.


    Revis stood behind Houston, his eyes flickering¡ª


    Having spent many years in the league, he was renowned and highly skilled, a celebrity in his own right, but his professional career was always drifting, never settling.


    Other than being chosen by the New York Jets as a rookie and staying with the team for five years, he had never remained with any team for more than two years.


    Much like a mercenary.


    One important reason was his mouth, which he could never keep shut, always liking to jeer or make sarcastic remarks, even though he knew it wasn''t right but his rationality was always too slow to stop his lips.


    In fact, it was the same just now.


    Watching the Kansas City Chiefs celebrating their touchdown as if they had completely turned the tide, he subconsciously wanted to throw cold water on their excitement, reminding them not to celebrate too soon, as the second half of the game had just begun.


    Revis himself had once spent a season with the New England Patriots and had obtained his only Super Bowl ring there; he knew how cunning and tricky Belichick was, and he wouldn''t take anything lightly.


    But this time, Revis controlled himself.


    Not out of rationality, but because he was just watching the spectacle unfold.


    He was just a mid-season substitute, someone the Kansas City Chiefs locker room didn''t really consider a teammate, and he likewise didn''t see them as partners fighting side by side; it was merely a "you pay, I work" relationship.


    He thought it would be good to see these youngsters learn a tough lesson and get polished a bit.


    It had its own kind of amusement.


    Yet unexpectedly, Li Wei thought the same way, not getting carried away by a single touchdown. After scoring, his focus had already shifted to defense.


    Clearly, Li Wei was not content with just one touchdown.


    Subconsciously, Revis looked his way.

 Chapter 375 374 a game

    Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire@@@@


    Revis hadn''t expected that someone other than himself would harbor the same thought, tossing it out without hesitation or delay, utterly unconcerned about damaging the team''s positive atmosphere¡ª


    Are you kidding me?


    However, unlike Revis.


    Li Wei, with a teasing tone, instantly captured Houston''s attention. Revis grew curious, wondering why it was fine when Li Wei spoke the same words, yet when he did, it often offended people.


    Looking up, Revis''s gaze collided with Li Wei''s, and only then did Revis notice that not only Houston but also his own attention was firmly caught by Li Wei, causing his eyes to dart away briefly.


    As if caught red-handed.


    Revis felt a bit annoyed; after all, it was just a rookie, what was there to panic about.


    Floating to his ears was Houston''s calm and assured voice.


    "I know. You guys do your jobs, and then leave the rest to us."


    No bravado in his words, yet they were comforting. The Kansas City Chiefs shifted from offense to defense, sounding the horn for a counterattack.


    Then.


    Revis noticed that Li Wei''s gaze was on him, straightforward and magnanimous. He thought Li Wei would put on airs and play the leader, making some speech¡ªhe was already prepared to throw back some sarcastic comments:


    He''s neither a quarterback nor an offensive team captain, just one person foolishly playing some superhero game.


    But Li Wei didn''t.


    A glance, a nod.


    That was all it took, just enough, creating a bond of trust that arises when fighting side by side.


    Trust?


    Revis hesitated for a moment, not realizing that he had nodded back in response, his peripheral vision involuntarily following Li Wei''s steps as he moved forward.


    This wasn''t the first time.


    The last wildcard game was the same.


    The second half touchdown from Mariota''s absurd pass came from his defense. Li Wei was the only player who came to express camaraderie.


    Even Revis himself hadn''t noticed that he actually cared.


    After all, he was a mercenary; he had been through so many seasons in the NFL, caring so little for wins or losses, simply doing the job for the money; it was that simple.


    In the season opener, Brady had already expressed dissatisfaction with the offensive line''s performance; however, this state continued throughout the season, fluctuating up and down.


    Weak points, not just one or two.


    Yet, it was this very offensive group that, in the end, still ranked second in the league overall, ultimately because Brady was carrying the offensive team forward¡ª


    Even though the quarterbacks'' statistics were very close, Brady was indeed a strong contender for the regular season MVP.


    Short passes, play-action, reading the defense, crisis management, on-the-spot reactions, etc., Brady truly brought out all the Eighteen Martial Arts of the quarterback position, ensuring the New England Patriots'' offense performed excellently.


    The first half of today''s game was no different.


    In other words, if the Kansas City Chiefs wanted to halt the New England Patriots'' offense, targeting the mastermind was the correct solution.


    And the Chiefs did precisely that.


    Facing Brady, they couldn''t simply rush him brutally; although Brady''s pocket mobility could be compared to an old sedan, his long-pass ability was far superior to Smith''s, and a momentary lapse could render all their previous efforts futile.


    Therefore, they needed a strategy, they needed planning, they also needed patience.


    Returning for the second half, the Kansas City Chiefs noticeably increased their pass rush pressure, making the most of the New England Patriots'' offensive line''s weaknesses, but at the crucial moment, Brady still managed to stand his ground through his own abilities¡ª


    After completing Third Gear conversions four times, the New England Patriots once again pushed past the halfway mark.


    Brady could clearly feel the pressure, each offensive and defensive down was fiercer, the advance more difficult and slow, with the intensity of the confrontation skyrocketing.


    But Brady still stood his ground, biting the bullet and leading his team forward.


    Until¡ª


    "Blitz!"


    "The New England Patriots'' fake run-pass couldn''t fool the Chiefs. The visiting team increased the intensity of their pass rush pressure after crossing midfield."


    "Revis!"


    "Wow, a rare sight, cornerback Revis joins linebacker Houston''s ranks to launch a blitz; the New England Patriots'' pocket has collapsed!"


    "Revis! Brady!"


    "Brady still tries to escape, Revis'' tackle fails to take control of the center of gravity, but the crisis is not averted, Houston is right in front of him."


    "Wait, Revis! Revis trips up Brady!"


    "Sack!"


    "Revis sacks Brady! Third Gear, three yards not completed, the New England Patriots strike out!"

 Chapter 376 375 Fully focused

    Brady: Shit.


    With a roll, Brady stood up, glaring at Revis with a menacing look. What kind of secret Power Pill had this guy taken during halftime? Why had he suddenly become so energetic? Why was a mercenary working so hard?


    But Revis didn''t care at all, flaunting a triumphant smile and provocatively flexing his biceps. He clashed head-on without showing any weakness, causing Brady''s chest to seize up before he turned and violently swung his fist.


    Revis ignored Brady. With a turn, he could see the faces of the Kansas City Chiefs, clenching their fists, roaring, and cheering, all uniting solidly to applaud his performance.


    That feeling, truly missed.


    It reminded Revis once again of why he could never forget this sport.


    It was this moment, right here, right now.


    Unconsciously, Revis also felt his blood starting to boil.


    "The Kansas City Chiefs have responded in the second half."


    "First with the offensive group''s bold long pass raid, followed by the defensive group''s all-out pressure and frontal rush pass, a tough, flexible, and outstanding tactical arrangement, giving a tough reply to the New England Patriots."


    "Now, the pressure is on the New England Patriots."


    "Facing the combined offensive and defensive strength of the Kansas City Chiefs, Belichick must keep control of the situation. If the Chiefs continue to close the point gap, the fourth quarter might have many uncertainties."


    Belichick didn''t need Nantz to remind him, as he had already sensed the shift in momentum.


    "7:24."


    The New England Patriots were struck out, but they still entered the field goal range, and the Special Duty Group prepared to kick the field goal for three points.


    Looking at the score, the New England Patriots maintained a three-possession advantage, just like in the first half; but the tide was slowly turning, and naturally, Belichick wouldn''t miss it. The Patriots had to respond.


    However.


    The core appeal of competitive sports lies in:


    Confrontation.


    Clearly, the Kansas City Chiefs were ready for the challenge, while the New England Patriots'' defensive group faced a severe test¡ª


    The memories of the opening game were rekindled like embers coming back to life.


    "New England side rush breach!"


    "Kansas central breakthrough!"


    "Gamble!"


    "Stacking up, both teams are stacking up in the middle!"


    "Wait, that''s Li Wei, there''s Li Wei! He hasn''t lost his balance, God, who can stop this guy!"


    "Alert sounded, the Kansas City Chiefs are closing in further on the New England Patriots, they hold nothing back, they''re here to fight."


    The New England Patriots Defensive group''s frontline pressure is still dominant, once again forcing Smith into an awkward position; but the key point is, after coming back from the halftime break, Smith regained his focus and calmness. His defensive reading and tactical distribution became noticeably sharper, and he found gaps with accuracy under the relentless pressure of the opponent, completing the advance.


    Not just Smith, but the entire Offensive group stiffened up their play significantly.


    The tension on the field suddenly ramped up.


    During a critical moment, Brady stepped up once again, taking over the offensive responsibility and leading the New England Patriots Offensive group in a fierce charge over the midfield.


    The hard-charging offense ignited flames at the windy Gillette Stadium in Foxborough; the temperature, which had been falling due to the deepening night, mysteriously warmed up, releasing an unbelievable energy, mounting a counterattack.


    At this moment, Houston once again rose to the challenge.


    Third gear, four yards.


    The New England Patriots'' dazzling array of running routes completely baffled the Kansas City Chiefs, to the point where Houston had no choice but to go one-on-one with Tight End Gronkowski. Facing Gronkowski, who typically requires two or even three defenders to barely manage him, Houston was completely outmatched, simply unable to effectively counter with just one person.


    But Houston didn''t give up. Just as Gronkowski was about to catch the ball, he got a hand to it first, changing the trajectory of the Football, resulting in Gronkowski being unable to secure control of the ball¡ª


    The pass was incomplete.


    In a fierce and hard collision, Houston made a crucial defensive play, forcing the New England Patriots into a three and out once again.


    Even though the New England Patriots still managed to get three points from a field goal, the gap between the two teams had been narrowed to within the range of two possessions.


    "14:27."


    Only thirteen points apart, the Kansas City Chiefs are gradually eroding the New England Patriots'' lead.


    At this point, Belichick''s troop movements and overall strategy finally displayed their power, and the tough coach once again revealed his smarts.


    This time, it was on the defensive end.


    Surprisingly, using just four men to rush and pressure, they maintained frontline intensity while three linebackers joined the Cornerbacks in short pass defense coverage.


    The passing defense, which had been lackluster all season, suddenly showed firmness at a crucial moment. With Butler nearly intercepting a pass connection between Smith and Hill and successfully disrupting the pass, the New England Patriots handed Kansas City Chiefs their first three and out of the second half, regaining control of the situation.


    In the midst of stormy waves, the New England Patriots stood their ground solidly.


    This scene felt familiar¡ª


    Over the past fifteen years, the New England Patriots have shown this kind of intensity time and again on the playoff stage, with the Belichick and Brady duo at Gillette Stadium, sending wave after wave of challengers back home.


    Remember, since the new century, in the seasons the New England Patriots made the playoffs, they have only lost three home games in the divisional rounds or before; the last time they lost a home game in the divisional round was in the 2010 season, a shocking defeat to the archrival New York Jets.


    No matter what difficulties or challenges they face, the New England Patriots always manage to stand firm and strike back.


    Right now, it''s the same scenario, with Belichick and Brady once again steadying the situation.


    The defending champions roar out!@@@@

 Chapter 377 376 stalemate state

    Strike while the iron is hot, for after the second effort comes decline, and the third leads to exhaustion.


    Since the halftime break, the Kansas City Chiefs have shown a new side on both offense and defense, launching a comeback with overwhelming momentum, fully chasing the reigning champions.


    However, in the face of the Chiefs'' formidable charge, Belichick and Brady still displayed their cunning. Despite difficulties, they were able to keep scoring, steadily stabilizing the situation in adversity, tightly clinging to the competition, waiting for an opportunity to counter and regain control.


    Indeed¡ª


    The New England Patriots'' Defense regained their confidence, resolutely achieving a three-and-out to halt the offensive momentum of the Kansas City Chiefs since the second half and securing another opportunity for Brady to take the field.


    "The fourth quarter is more than halfway through, and we''re entering ''Brady time'' once again."


    "This scenario is all too familiar for Belichick and Brady, who still have the advantage of two possessions. Now Brady needs to start controlling the game clock, but the ultimate goal remains to keep scoring,"


    "As long as the New England Patriots keep control of the game, victory will be theirs."


    "Now, what the Kansas City Chiefs need is not just boiling blood and high spirits; they need the tenacity and continued belief that they can win, which is no easy feat against Belichick and Brady."


    "Clearly, the continuously plummeting cold weather has not chosen to side with the visitors; Foxborough remains Belichick''s most reliable stronghold."


    Could it be... that we are about to witness the standard ending?


    The ''standard ending'' where the champions are always the Patriots?


    The air at the Old Oak Tavern became completely taut¡ª


    The fiery momentum that had risen strongly to catch up was met with a blow to the head, forcing an abrupt stop, and the boiling blood wreaked havoc inside the guts, setting the whole stomach ablaze with tension to the point of nausea.


    Every step is a thrill. Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    Dancing on the edge of a knife.


    One can''t blame the fans for their fragility, for the nightmare of two years ago is still vivid.


    After sweeping the Houston Texans with a shutout in the wildcard game, the Kansas City Chiefs traveled north to Foxborough to challenge the New England Patriots and suffered a painful defeat.


    Two years later, at the same round, on the same field, against the same opponent, hauntingly familiar memories surge in the mind, almost unbearable to keep watching.


    Charles Vester tried to shout a couple of times, attempting to rekindle the passion in the tavern.


    "The Chiefs'' defense is performing very well, it looks like they''re about to crush the Patriots, but each time they are just a little short of success."


    "The Patriots have repeatedly turned the situation around in hardship, whether on second and long or on third downs, relying on their advantage in the short pass area, Brady''s defensive reading, the coordination of route running from his targets, and Gronkowski''s individual abilities, repeatedly accomplishing their tasks."


    "The Chiefs need to adopt a more dominant stance if they''re to overturn such a balanced situation."


    Revis agreed with this¡ª


    Revis''s gaze was firmly locked onto wide receiver Amendola, but with peripheral vision he could see the Patriots players constantly moving, trying to create interference with their positioning and routes, to disrupt the Chiefs'' judgments.


    However.


    The Chiefs remained unfazed, and while they also made some moves in response to the Patriots'' smoke bomb routes, pretending to play man-to-man defense, in fact, their strategy of zone coverage to block the short pass area had not changed, with only Gronkowski receiving special attention.


    Because they were quite certain this was a passing play; and most likely in the short to medium pass area. Instead of diluting their attention by trying to cover everything, they''d rather focus on cutting off Brady''s passing connections.


    To this end, all linebackers, safeties, and cornerbacks had their attention fully covering the short pass area.


    Revis''s gaze, shadow-like, was firmly locking onto Amendola''s figure.


    In the regular season this year, Amendola had been in a slump, with performances that were just so-so; but stepping onto the playoff stage, this wide receiver completely woke up, his route running was active, combat ability upgraded, and his condition exploded.


    So far, Amendola with eleven receptions had advanced a full 121 yards, showing remarkable efficiency and was without a doubt the best wide receiver in this game.


    When Amendola is in good form, his ability to draw on routes and his knack for finding gaps in the field really stand out, so even if Brady just makes a short pass, Amendola''s ability to advance after the catch can also break the situation open.


    At this moment, Amendola seemed especially active and proactive¡ª


    So, was he the passing target, or a decoy?


    Generally speaking, Revis likes to hold fast to his own defensive zone, waiting comfortably, thoroughly controlling the initiative of that area.


    Occasionally, very occasionally, Revis would take the initiative to strike and break the deadlock.


    Like now.


    Revis noticed it, the fleeting gap; without hesitation or second thoughts, he decisively surged forward, like a breeze going past the line of scrimmage, cutting into enemy territory, swiftly leaping up before anyone else could react.


    A mid-route interception, plucking the football out of midair as if he were picking stars from the sky.


    Interception!

 Chapter 378 377 Quick as Chargers

    Time rolled back two seconds.


    As Brady was reading the defense, Revis was reading the offense¡ª


    More precisely, Revis was reading Amendola.


    Clearly, Brady noticed the heavy deployment in Kansas City Chiefs'' short pass area, but the New England Patriots still had different offensive tactic choices.


    They could throw long, they could run, they could throw short.


    However, it was unclear whether the Kansas City Chiefs were ready to blitz and pressure; at this moment, in the area where the two front lines confronted each other, both sides accumulated a large number of players, making it completely bloated, noisy, and chaotic.


    This scene sparked an idea in Revis''s mind¡ª


    Screen pass.


    The principle of the screen pass is quite simple: imagine the offensive line as a movable screen.


    After the snap, this screen protects the quarterback, who pretends to be ready to throw the ball, attracting the rush. But after withstanding the initial collision, the screen abandons the quarterback and moves in the planned direction, intentionally exposing him.


    At this moment, the defense''s blitz layout and pass defense arrangement are disrupted. Under such circumstances, the quarterback, before being hit or sacked, quickly passes the football, with the screen clearing the way and escorting the wide receiver to advance with the ball. Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire


    Usually, the target of a screen pass is the running back, because the running back is already in the pocket from the start, which is ideal for deceiving and diverting attention; but now, wide receivers and tight ends often retreat to catch passes, making the screen pass even more unpredictable.


    In the pass tactic arsenal of the New England Patriots, the usage rate of screen passes this season isn''t high. The lack of a strong running back reduced the effectiveness of the tactic, so Brady was more inclined towards other short pass tactics.


    But at this moment,


    Revis noted Amendola''s movement, noticed the unusually dense crowd at the confrontation line of the front line, and inspiration concentrated within him.


    "Attack!"


    The moment Brady called the snap, Revis didn''t hesitate half a second:


    Stomp the ground, step forward, charge.


    Gaze locked on Amendola, peripheral vision tightly monitoring Brady.


    No sooner had his foot crossed the snap line than Revis noticed the New England Patriots'' offensive line and running back all moving towards another direction¡ª


    Kansas'' right side, New England''s left side.@@@@


    However, Brady then turned to his own right side and made a sideways light toss.


    Turns out, the screen pass was just a smoke bomb, the real trump card hidden here.


    Passing target: Amendola.


    They hadn''t given up, they refused to surrender, they continued to fight.


    The next second, the Old Oak Tavern erupted with a tumultuous explosion.


    The faces filled with madness, hearts almost unable to cope; but at this moment, fiery passion overwhelmed everything.


    From hell to heaven, just a second apart, Kansas City Chiefs snatched a lifeline.


    Ah Ah Ah!


    Li Wei raised his arms and shouted.


    The Kansas City Chiefs Defense, Offensive group, Special Duty Group, and coaching staff, without exception, stood up, clenched their fists, and supported Revis.


    Suppression. Confrontation. Entanglement. Exhaustion. Stalemate.


    From a mental to a physical level, the tension of the game was pushed to a new height, as the balance of victory began to tilt again toward the defending champions, an unexpected figure disrupted the balance.


    This, is Football.


    Revis stood in the end zone, surveying the deadly silent Gillette Stadium as if inspecting his own territory, turning around to see faces filled with wild joy and passionate roars, the next second he was surrounded by the defensive players, truly becoming a team.


    Uncontrollably, the combativeness and fading passion in his blood reignited.


    That sensation of walking on clouds was truly intoxicating, and who could resist?


    A smile, quietly crept onto Revis''s lips; the game, was just starting to get interesting.


    "The suspense, is back."


    "The New England Patriots are still the familiar New England Patriots. Their tactical strategy is sound, their understanding and control of the game situation are faultless, I don''t think Belichick and Brady made any mistakes."


    "But"


    "The Kansas City Chiefs aren''t the familiar Kansas City Chiefs. This team seems to have certain qualities taking root and sprouting, although I''m also not sure what''s happening, but from the current situation, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense has put up a tough performance, pulling the suspense right back into view."


    "As predicted before the game, indeed, both team''s offensive lines showed excellent performances, but Belichick and Reed, the two coaches, are learning to win games with defense; this game is the same, at the crucial moment, the defense group became the turning point, completely disrupting the plan, and now anything is possible."


    "''21:27'', Tony, what do you think?"


    Nantz finally regained his composure, quickly summed up, and then threw the topic back to Romo.


    Romo spread his hands, "We are currently discussing the New England Patriots, believe me, I am aware of their energy, they are still the leading side, also controlling the game, and time is also on their side, they should naturally be favored."


    Nantz, "But?"


    Romo, "But, I have a feeling, there''s still some residual energy in the Chiefs'' tank, this young team might still be able to bring some surprises, I don''t know, I don''t know, let''s wait and see."

 Chapter 379 378 Heroic Style

    "I''m heading to Boston, wow!"


    "I''m heading to Boston, wow!"


    Over Gillette Stadium, the piercing cold wind roared, and the neat and unified singing of the fans hovered like a giant dragon, dominating and overlooking a corner of the field.@@@@


    This scene felt familiar¡ª


    The season opener, the Kansas City Chiefs led the score and controlled the ball, the Offensive group needed to consume time, firmly keeping Brady on the bench, and charging past the finish line with a victorious song.


    The divisional game, the situation was similar but roles reversed, New England Patriots led the score and controlled the ball, the Offensive group needed to consume time, and denied Kansas Chiefs Offense another appearance, firmly holding on to the prerogative of victory.


    Similar conditions, different positions, catapulted the atmosphere to a whole new level.


    In the first half, this one-sided divisional game was utterly uninteresting, the New England Patriots fell back into their routine mode of work, showing off the Devil''s home field''s majesty at Foxborough during the playoffs.


    Unexpectedly, the second half saw a dramatic turn, as the Kansas City Chiefs sounded the counterattack, pressing step by step, and eventually brought the suspense back into the game, causing all the neutral fans watching on TV to get excited.


    The most tense and thrilling moment of the game had finally arrived.


    At this point, there were two minutes and forty-five seconds left until the end of the game.


    Time-wise, considering the official time-outs, and both head coaches holding onto three time-outs, endless possibilities remained.


    If New England Patriots were ready to end the game in Brady''s hands, then the Offensive group needed to consume time while securing two first downs¡ª


    At least one.


    Otherwise, Kansas Chiefs Offense would once again have a chance to turn around the game.


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    So, what would Belichick choose?


    Just now, after Kansas City Chiefs intercepted and returned a touchdown in the Special Duty Group successfully kicked the extra point, it was still New England Patriots'' ball possession; no rest time, Brady led the Offensive group back on the field.


    To continue passing, not just to secure a first down, but to boldly and proactively approach the field goal range, as long as New England Patriots could secure another field goal or even a touchdown, that would completely kill the game.


    Stable running, focusing on protecting ball possession and consuming time, firmly controlling the ball possession with solid and steady plays, since it''s Kansas City Chiefs that needed to hurry now, they could leave the risky endeavors to their opponents.


    The former, requiring risk; the latter, overly conservative


    Especially since New England Patriots just suffered an interception return touchdown, the complexity of the current tactical layout naturally escalated.


    The gambit, at this moment, stuck unprecedentedly.


    However.


    Houston''s mind was clear, no time for hesitation and no time for fear, they had no way back, they had to perform at their top level, they had to go all-in, no other choice.


    So, Houston was completely focused, one hundred percent committed.


    Brady kept retreating, bursting with incredible energy amid the crisis, trying to shake off Houston.


    But Houston said, "No way."


    Without hesitation.


    One step forward, two steps forward, a leap, a dive, overpowering takedown.


    "Sack!"


    "God, a sack!"


    "Wow, unbelievable."


    "Just like the last offensive wave, almost like a copy-paste in intensity, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense demonstrated absolute strength, highly focused, preemptively deciphering Belichick''s intentions to sneak in a pass for the first strike, utterly tearing the New England Patriots'' offensive line apart, delivering another sack to Brady."


    "Last time it was Revis, this time it''s Houston."


    "What a scene!"


    "Uncommon for the New England Patriots, the same mistake committed twice in a short span, albeit in different fashions, but the offensive line''s weak performance needs to shoulder the blame."


    "Now the New England Patriots face a strict test; they need to consume time, they need a first strike, but what should they do?"


    "All the pressure is on Brady."


    Nantz''s remarks came to an end, and Romo added a comment.


    "If it were me, I would never underestimate Brady."


    His statement seemed profoundly significant.


    But Nantz didn''t have the chance to elaborate with Romo, as the situation on the field suddenly changed¡ª


    The New England Patriots fought back.


    At his core, Belichick is a strategist; now firmly in control, this also meant they could attempt more risks.


    Not to utilize such room for error would be foolish.


    So, Belichick called for a ... long pass strategy.


    Long pass, indeed a long pass!


    Unexpected, astonishing, incredible, long pass strategy.


    Because it was so unexpected and shocking, everyone at the Old Oak Tavern and Gillette Stadium froze, gaping as they watched the football''s trajectory¡ª


    Brady, against all odds, under pressure, having suffered two sacks in just two minutes, incredulously bought himself some time and space.


    The long sword, unsheathed!


    Long pass, the cannonball delivered.

 Chapter 380 379 a ray of hope

    Belichick, truly was Belichick.


    While everyone''s focus was on time management and securing the victory, Belichick was preparing an unconventional play to break the norms and seize the opportunity created by the Kansas City Chiefs'' desperate all-out attempt.


    Faced with second down and fifteen yards, the New England Patriots unpredictably launched a powerful long-pass attack, a very rare event in the game.


    Moreover, Belichick thoughtfully arranged the plan, ensuring Brady would not be sacked again¡ª


    A running back and a wide receiver both fell back, acting as the sixth and seventh men of the offensive line, creating a dam.


    Finally, this season''s fluctuating and unstable offensive line felt the devilish stare of Brady and put on a convincing performance.


    Hold!


    The New England Patriots managed to withstand the Kansas City Chiefs'' tide of players with a numerical advantage, sparing no expense at the frontline confrontation.


    At least, the New England Patriots could afford to gamble.


    Because they had Gronkowski.


    Although the Patriots sacrificed a wide receiver to strengthen pocket protection, meaning they only had three receiving options left, these included Amendola and the formidable weapon, Gronkowski.


    The pressure, all pushed to the Chiefs.


    Revis had not deciphered the Patriots'' offensive tactics this time, he still tried to step up to assist in the pass rush but quickly realized something was off, the number of protectors signaling the urgency as an alarm bell went off.


    Reboot.


    Keeping an eye on Brady''s pocket movements while locating Gronkowski''s position.@@@@


    However, Gronkowski''s ability lays in managing to catch the football even amidst strong opposition, not just in one-on-one scenarios but also when faced with double or triple coverage.


    If they focused on Gronkowski, Brady could pass to Amendola.


    If they didn''t, no one was confident in handling Gronkowski one-on-one.


    But at this moment, Revis could no longer worry about that¡ª


    Found him!


    Gronkowski''s large and robust frame was especially conspicuous, now even more so as the Chiefs'' backfield was wide open, highlighting him even further.


    Ta Ta Ta, Ta Ta Ta.


    Revis was observing, catching the first glimpse of safety Eric Murray.


    Eric Murray, who stepped up as the starter safety for the Chiefs following Berry''s season-ending injury, failed to fill Berry''s shoes to Reed''s satisfaction. Berry''s starting position was rotated among three safeties as they searched for the ideal combination.


    Unfortunately, there was only one Berry.


    Even into the playoffs, no player had solidified their claim to the starting spot left by Berry.


    This detail revealed that Murray was not a top player.


    And now, Murray had to face Gronkowski alone, who was difficult to control even for several top players combined; this...


    Revis had no confidence either, but if he coordinated with Murray, there might be a glimmer of hope.


    Like an ant shaking a tree, now Murray finally knew what that felt like¡ªGronkowski remained immovable.


    However.


    Just then, a figure in a white jersey darted across, cutting in front of him.


    A sprint, a jump.


    Revis completely leaped into the air, stretching his arms and body to the extreme, even his fingertips extending from his palms, facing up, back down, his body resembling a whale breaching the water surface.


    Majestic and graceful


    The right hand appeared on the descent path of the Football.


    An interception?


    No, just missed.


    Revis fully extended, his fingertips lightly grazed the Football¡ª


    Swipe.


    A nudge, a flick.


    Exhausted.


    As his fingertips parted ways with the Football, Revis felt the pull of gravity, falling rapidly, with the Football spinning rapidly in his pupils, its trajectory rising just slightly.


    Revis saw it.


    Murray and Gronkowski saw it too.


    Time, frozen!


    Then¡ª


    Murray, pushing off the ground, exerting force, colliding!


    With all the power from deep within his Dantian clinging onto Gronkowski''s right shoulder, firmly suppressing that side of his shoulder and chest.


    It was just a fleeting moment.


    Gronkowski could only watch helplessly as the Football grazed past his right fingertips¡ª


    Damn it!


    "Pass incomplete!"


    "God, the New England Patriots'' unexpected long pass attack failed to materialize, Revis and Murray together thwarted Gronkowski''s chance to seal the game, securing a lifeline for the Kansas City Chiefs."


    "The Kansas City Chiefs Defense showcased unbelievable energy in the final quarter of the game, assuming a position of absolute dominance, throttling the reigning champions."


    "Third Gear thirteen yards, the New England Patriots now face the dilemma of an extremely long down, with the Kansas City Chiefs breathing on the edge of the cliff."


    "Splendid! Absolutely splendid! Applause for the entire Kansas City Chiefs Defense! They demonstrated relentless resolve!"


    "Incredible!"

 Chapter 381 Lian Po is old now

    Oh, God!


    The entire Gillette Stadium let out a heavy sigh, as numerous fans held their heads in annoyed desperation, unable to believe the scene unfolding on the field¡ª


    Struck out.


    Facing the predicament of Third Gear and thirteen yards, Belichick finally chose not to take any risks and opted for a standard ground attack to run down the clock.


    The ground attack, as expected, happened without any surprises; the running back charged directly into the crowd at the frontline, holding out in a deadlock to waste time before he finally fell to the ground.


    Ending the attempt on Third Gear.


    There were no mistakes, which was good; everything went according to plan, which was also good. Despite this, the fans of the New England Patriots could hardly hide their disappointment.


    Because after the home team struck out, the Kansas Chiefs Offense was set to take the stage again, casting the fate of the defending champions to be decided by the Defense.


    This was not ideal.


    One look at Brady was enough to tell.@@@@


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    Head hanging, shoulders slumped, he was clearly dissatisfied with how the last two offensive drives had ended. He could have killed the game himself, but now he had left a breath of life for the opponents, a scene he did not wish to see.


    And then, there was Li Wei.


    Brady had not anticipated his gaze would fall on Li Wei.


    His expression was complex.


    Gillette Stadium fell into a brief silence, the high and spirited singing instantly snuffed out, faces filled with astonishment and sadness, watching the scene unfold in disbelief¡ª


    Victory, which had seemed firmly in grasp, the King of Foxborough about to defend his glory once more, to repel the young, nai?ve challenger marching proudly forward.


    But, unexpectedly, Brady had not seized the opportunity, watching as the initiative slipped from his fingertips, giving his opponent one last chance.


    Of course, this did not mean the New England Patriots had lost the game, as their Defense would exert all efforts to defend the dignity of the defending champions, and uphold the pride of the New England Patriots, repelling the Chieftain''s counterattack.


    But¡ª


    For a brief moment, a transient moment, they felt offended.


    The song representing the pride of New England had vanished.


    In its place was the rough, primitive, wild roar of the Chieftain.


    The Kansas City Chiefs Defense, with a performance beyond comparison, had snatched the last chance from the tightly clenched fists of the New England Patriots.


    "The initiative is still in the hands of the defending champions."


    "Of course, the situation isn''t ideal."


    "A strikeout, hardly any game time used up, just a wasted official timeout, leaving the Kansas City Chiefs one minute and fifty-five seconds. Belichick''s gamble might come with a heavy cost."


    "But."


    "The New England Patriots still have the advantage."


    "One minute and fifty-five seconds. The offensive strategy for the Kansas City Chiefs is very limited."


    "Smith is not a quarterback who relies on ''Wanfu Mary'' to perform miracles. Even if he really plans to try ''Wanfu Mary,'' he doesn''t have Rodgers''s arm strength, insufficient to support him in launching an attack from his own thirty-five to forty-yard line. The Kansas City Chiefs need to push past midfield, preferably into the forty-yard line."


    "In Week 6 during the regular season, facing the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Kansas City Chiefs were once in such a situation, and Reed tried an unconventional offensive tactic to turn the game around."


    "Everyone thought Smith was set to try a ''Wanfu Mary,'' but he didn''t. Clearly, neither Smith nor Reed had the confidence to execute it."


    "And now, the same tactic can''t be used against the New England Patriots a second time. ''Wanfu Mary'' might be Smith''s only choice."


    "This means the Kansas City Chiefs must advance, to avoid meaninglessly wasting game time, they can only pass towards the sides, stepping out of bounds to stop the clock."


    "Thus, their ground game, ranked first in the league this season, wouldn''t be useful; also, their passing game becomes very predictable. The New England Patriots just need to defend the two sidelines and the end line."


    "Moreover, the temperature is still dropping, which adds to the difficulty of passing."


    "But the Kansas City Chiefs cannot afford any mistakes."


    "Even without errors, they might still need a bit of luck, as the game situation is even more challenging than the last wildcard game against the Tennessee Titans. The Kansas City Chiefs again stand on the edge of a cliff, they need to fight for their fate."


    The air was burning.


    After snapping back to reality, Gillette Stadium erupted into an unbelievable noise, ferocious and brutally seething down, covering the entire stadium and Foxborough in no time, pushing the home crowd''s momentum to an unprecedented height.


    The roar was so intense above the eardrum that even Smith had to use hand signals to arrange tactics, making it seem like the entire world stood against the Kansas City Chiefs; they had to fight alone in the biting cold wind.


    Without a doubt, this was the hardest game of the season for the Kansas City Chiefs¡ª


    Harder than facing the Pittsburgh Steelers.


    Smith''s heart pounded like a drum, his ears ringing from the overwhelming pressure as all the nightmarish shadows and fears swarmed his mind.


    Turning his head, Smith saw Li Wei surveying the entire field.


    Smith was puzzled.


    Li Wei looked over, revealing a big smile and mouthed, "They are afraid."

 Chapter 382 The Source of Power

    ```


    They''re afraid,


    Li Wei said.


    Hearing Li Wei''s words, Smith looked up at Gillette Stadium once again. The louder the shouts, the more ferocious the faces, the more it revealed that they were filled with guilt and fear. They had no choice but to launch their attack in this manner¡ª


    Somewhat unexpectedly, Smith calmed down: the enemy''s fear was a source of strength.


    He, was not prepared to leave any regrets, even if this was his last game representing the Kansas City Chiefs; he was prepared for battle, as if it were the last time he would ever step onto the field in his career.


    Head up, chest out.


    Smith was still the same Smith, but his eyes were entirely different.


    There was no more time for communication.


    Line up, stand in formation, ready to attack.


    Before him, his vision was wide open.


    Everything was as expected, just like in week six of the regular season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New England Patriots had spread their defensive formation, corners out wide, linebackers and safeties positioned slightly back, leaving just the four men on the defensive line closely packed against the Kansas City Chiefs'' offensive line.


    The defensive focus, on the sidelines.


    But considering the Kansas City Chiefs had once astonishingly used a central route attack to overturn the situation, the New England Patriots still had to be wary.


    Smith took a deep breath, a hint of determination in his voice.@@@@


    "Attack!"


    Tick-tock, tick-tock... one minute fifty-five seconds, one minute fifty-four seconds, time, once again in motion.


    Just as expected, the Kansas City Chiefs did not make a risky attempt but still focused on short passes to the sidelines.


    In the last match against the Tennessee Titans, the Kansas City Chiefs had launched a surge, using Li Wei and Hunter as wide receivers, pairing them with three wide receivers and one tight end¡ªdifferent formations and combinations, covering for each other, picking apart the defense, and exerting force within the short pass attack aimed at the sidelines.


    Clearly, Belichick had watched the game tape and made his arrangements accordingly, enhancing the strength of zone defense with the movement of his linebackers.


    But the Kansas City Chiefs had also come prepared¡ª


    On the right side, two wide receivers, one tight end, and there stood Li Wei as well.


    On the left side, Hill completely alone.


    The strong side and the weak side couldn''t be more distinct; facing such a clear-cut lineup, the New England Patriots had to pay close attention, even though they knew the so-called strong side looked like a trap, they had to guard against it.


    This was an overt stratagem.


    Hill caught the ball accurately, turned around, saw Chung Family coming up for the defense. Not getting greedy, he took a step and went out of bounds on his own, stopping the clock.


    The entire Gillette Stadium erupted in groans once more.


    Gasping for air, Van Noy glared at Li Wei, watching him casually high-five Hill in celebration, and despite his patience, he couldn''t hold back:


    Damn.


    On one hand, the Kansas City Chiefs displayed a winning conviction, using a first-and-ten to create a play, in which Li Wei, without catching the ball, played a crucial role.


    On the other hand, the New England Patriots immediately responded, with Belichick moving his troops.


    First-and-ten, a neat rush/pass pressure forced Li Wei to stay in the pocket for blocking, making it airtight. Combined zone coverage with man-to-man defense left Smith with no targets to pass to, causing him to pass the ball hurriedly to avoid a sack and directly throw it out of bounds.


    Second-and-ten, Smith rapidly completed a short pass to Kelsey, with Li Wei assisting in blocking for protection. However, the defensive group responded in time, employing a swarm tactic to cut off the running route, forcibly keeping Kelsey inside the sideline and not out, forcing Reed to use a timeout.


    Third-and-four.


    In a crucial moment, the New England Patriots'' defensive group showed its strength.


    Although the Kansas City Chiefs ingeniously used the double running back tactic, with Smith connecting with Hunter to skillfully achieve third-and-four, the New England Patriots immediately adopted an attrition strategy to regain control of the game.


    This so-called attrition strategy involved the Patriots giving up close man coverage and tight pressuring. They allowed Smith to make short passes and the targets to catch, but once they did, the Patriots were quick to tackle the receivers¡ª


    First, to prevent them from advancing further for big yardage.


    Second, to prevent them from going out of bounds to stop the clock.


    Such defensive tactics wouldn''t work at other times in the game, but as the match neared its end, they effectively controlled the pace, allowing defensive players to have more operational space and reduce errors.


    Belichick, truly experienced.


    In a flash, Reed burned another timeout, stopping just short of the midfield line.


    The Kansas City Chiefs were on their half at the forty-six-yard line, facing a third-and-four situation, and worse¡ª


    forty-three seconds left in the game.


    Belichick was slowly eating away the Kansas City Chiefs'' opportunities.


    The situation was getting more difficult.


    Moreover, just using one''s knees, it was clear that although they were still near midfield, to make it harder for Smith to attempt the ''Hail Mary,'' the Patriots would definitely adopt red zone defensive intensity to stop the Chiefs, and the intensity of the confrontation was still heating up.


    So, should they risk a ''Hail Mary'' now?


    If it were Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, they might have attempted a ''Hail Mary,'' but clearly, Smith was not cut out for it.


    And even if it were Rodgers, he wouldn''t rashly try a ''Hail Mary'' without being in a truly desperate situation, always preferring to push forward as much as possible, the closer to the end zone, the higher the chances of a successful ''Hail Mary.'' Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire


    Forty-three seconds, the Kansas City Chiefs had to think of a way to keep advancing.

 Chapter 383 382 Go crazy together

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    Huh.


    Li Wei exhaled gently, straightened his back, and took in the defensive group''s formation before him. The strategic tussle between the two teams reached its climax at this moment, with the air almost congealing in suspense, as if time itself had frozen.


    On the surface, all was calm.


    Underneath, a tempest raged.


    At least, judging by the formations, neither the New England Patriots nor the Kansas City Chiefs had made any changes:


    The defensive group still stretched out space, leaving the belly open, guarding the three sidelines.


    The offensive group still arranged themselves in the Shotgun Formation, ready to unleash their passing attack at full force.


    Then, Li Wei slowly bent down¡ª


    "Attack!"


    Smith announced the kick-off.


    Li Wei took a step forward, slightly tucked inward, feigning the stance of a sixth offensive lineman, ready to protect Smith. However, he did not stop moving. With a lateral shimmy, he assumed a posture to charge forward, intending to break through the slot.


    At that moment, pressure descended upon them¡ª


    A blitz?


    The New England Patriots were actually blitzing?


    At this critical juncture, Belichick once again revealed his fierce style, selecting to apply pressure with a rush without warning. Employing sheer force to unreasonably disrupt the balance, the five-man rush caused enough trouble within the confrontation at the line.


    Pressure, layer upon layer, bore down on them.


    Danger!


    The Kansas City Chiefs'' offensive line clearly hadn''t anticipated this, caught completely off guard. The New England Patriots'' defensive line truly had the upper hand throughout the game, invoking the dominance of the first half, like a tiger descending the mountain.


    The pocket had collapsed.


    Just a second before, Smith, who was preparing to make a quick short pass, felt the overwhelming pressure smashing down on him.


    In the next second, Smith turned around nonchalantly and tossed the football lightly.


    "Li Wei?"


    Romo: ???


    He admitted that this time, he had completely missed the signs.


    He hadn''t anticipated that Belichick would choose a blitz, nor had he expected Reed to opt for a running play. Both coaches had deviated from conventional strategies, crafting tactics that bewilderingly disrupted their opponents'' arrangements.


    Yes, a running play.


    Li Wei''s feet were still within the pocket, and Smith, facing the pressure, didn''t panic. He calmly executed a handoff with Li Wei, a clear indication that this was a planned running play.


    Belichick had lost it, Reed had lost it¡ª


    Everyone had lost it.


    Romo too felt dizzy and disoriented.


    "Li Wei with the ball!"


    Amidst the chaos and turbulence, Li Wei clenched his teeth tightly, pushing off the ground repeatedly, using the strength in his waist and abdomen to maintain control of himself in the midst of the storm.


    In the corner of his vision, he could see Harrison closing in.


    Push off. Push off. Still pushing off.


    Ahhhh!


    The power, released without reservation, his speed burst forth instantly.


    As Harrison saw himself about to touch Li Wei, he dived forward in a flying leap, his arms outstretched trying to grab Li Wei¡ª


    He made contact!


    But then.


    He missed again.


    Harrison could only manage to grasp an afterimage, the next second crashing down hard, the surging cold wind enveloping him, to his shock... he had missed.


    Damn. Damn damn damn damn damn.


    "Li Wei!"


    "God, Li Wei."


    "One Straight Arm Block, one acceleration to get past, Li Wei seized the opening in the New England Patriots'' defensive group and burst out, beautifully breaking free."


    "Five yards!"


    "Harrison''s tackle still affected Li Wei''s balance, and yet Li Wei continues to advance, piercing into the opponent''s territory like a bayonet."


    "Speed!"


    "Li Wei pushed his speed to the limit!"


    "Ten yards!"


    "Whoa! The New England Patriots haven''t made the same mistake as the Pittsburgh Steelers, with Chung Family, McCourty, and Gilmore closing in."


    "Li Wei didn''t resist, going down on his own accord, Reed used their last timeout."


    "Beautiful!"


    In the commentary booth, Romo couldn''t help but slap the table and shout in amazement.


    "In such tense and critical moments, the Kansas City Chiefs pull a chestnut out of the fire, stealing fifteen yards with a ground attack, not only completing the Third Gear conversion, but also pushing past the midfield, now they''ve reached the New England Patriots'' thirty-nine-yard line!"


    "Yes, they''ve wasted their last timeout."


    "Yes, Smith is still not the best choice for challenging Wanfu Mary."


    "But the Kansas City Chiefs'' relentless advance breaks the equilibrium, maybe they don''t even need to challenge Wanfu Mary, Smith could still lead the team to a touchdown, they''ve now reached their opponent''s thirty-nine-yard mark, they have Li Wei, they have Kelsey, Hill, and Hunter, they possess a young and extraordinarily talented offensive group, anything is possible."


    "God, anything is possible!"


    Belichick took a gamble, Reed did too.


    But in the end, it was Li Wei who used his personal ability to help the Kansas City Chiefs turn the tide, now the New England Patriots'' defensive situation was not looking good.


    As the victory scales seemed to quietly tilt slightly toward the Kansas City Chiefs, the defending champions once again showed the domineering spirit of the playoffs in crucial moments¡ª


    "Third Gear pass incomplete, God, the Kansas City Chiefs are once again pushed to the edge of the cliff."

 Chapter 384 383 No other choice

    Time was not on the side of the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Despite Li Wei''s ground rush stealing fifteen yards, it came at the cost of using their final timeout, with only twenty-eight seconds left in the game.


    Next, the Kansas City Chiefs had no time to huddle; they had to seize the last timeout opportunity to strategize, but it was far from enough.


    First and ten, the New England Patriots displayed the dominance and power of champions, creating incredible pressure with just a four-man rush, effectively hitting Smith and causing his pass to deviate slightly¡ª


    After catching the ball, Kelsey obviously lost his balance. Rather than advancing, even his steps were clumsy, and he fell to the ground surrounded by three players.


    Moreover, time kept ticking away.


    This forced Smith to waste an offensive down to spike the ball and stop the clock, recalibrating the strategy in hopes of making a desperate pass completion.


    However.


    The New England Patriots'' defensive group showed absolutely strong and meticulous defense, delivering one of the best pass defenses of the season, leaving no chance for Smith, whose risky attempt for a fifteen-yard middle pass to Hill was denied by the joint efforts of Chung Family and Butler.


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    The pass was incomplete.


    Fourth and seven, nine seconds, thirty-six yards from the end zone.


    "The Kansas City Chiefs have no other choice; they must go for the Hail Mary."


    "Now whether it''s third gear or fourth doesn''t matter to the Kansas City Chiefs; they must play the fourth and they have to score. There''s no turning back."


    "But the New England Patriots'' defensive group presented championship-level performance, pushing the Kansas City Chiefs to the edge of a cliff with no way back."


    "Whether the Kansas City Chiefs like it or not, they must take on the Hail Mary."


    "From the looks of it, the New England Patriots are ready; but the Kansas City Chiefs are not."


    Smith was somewhat frustrated.


    The closer to the end he got, the more chaotic he became, his hands involuntarily clutching his head tightly once more.


    In his recent passes, he had put forth his best effort, but he consistently felt the despair of a dying struggle, completely dominated by the momentum of the New England Patriots.


    Disorganized.


    He understood the reasoning; he had the ambition.


    But execution was another matter altogether.


    Fourth and seven, the Hail Mary, could he really do it?


    "Hey, Captain."@@@@


    A voice called out near him, suddenly, Smith looked up and then saw a blurred face hidden in the billowing steam, continuously exhaling hot breath mixed with scalding sweat blurring the face, but he could still see the eyes behind the helmet.


    "Give it a try."


    At the doorstep of Old Oak Tavern, Provo just couldn''t hold back anymore and turned to leave¡ª


    He couldn''t bear to watch.


    In the last game, Provo had used all the strength of his soul, witnessing the Chiefs'' comeback through the radio.


    But that had drained all his courage and energy; he simply couldn''t face it a second time.


    Though curious and although every cell in his body was burning, he ultimately didn''t have the courage to face such a blow again and controlled himself.


    Standing at the door, Provo didn''t know where to go. His feet just idly remained in place and then he tiredly sat on the steps, quietly pulling out a cigarette and trying to light it, only to find his hands trembling so badly that the lighter wouldn''t spark. Finally, he gave up and just sat there, the unlit cigarette in his mouth.


    He wasn''t the only one who dared not look directly at the TV screen.


    In Old Oak Tavern, West also closed his eyes, quietly listening to the power of his heart pounding against his chest. Then, Smith''s command came through the speakers.


    "Attack!"


    Bang, bang, bang.


    The sound of helmets colliding burst out, energy exploded instantly¡ª


    The pocket, broken.


    Although the Patriots only used four men to rush, their divinely inspired performance in this game greatly boosted their confidence. Even without the help of linebackers, the defensive line still managed to tear through the pocket again.


    Flyers, leading the charge.


    Crisis.


    Yet, Smith wasn''t panicking¡ª


    The only thought in his mind was: The fight never ends.


    He needed to withstand the onslaught of the Patriots, he needed to buy time for the wide receiver to run, he needed to create space for the pass to Wanfu Mary.


    "Alex, no regrets."


    Smith was backpedaling, continuously retreating, instantly increasing the distance between him and Flyers. At a critical moment, the Kansas Chiefs'' offensive line intercepted Flyers for a moment, which gave Smith a brief moment to breathe.


    In his continuous retreat, Smith''s steps halted abruptly as he turned, the field slightly wet and slippery because he was pushing too hard, and his feet stumbled for a moment.


    Ha!


    The whole stadium gasped, hearts stopped beating.


    Smith, fully focused, completely unaware of the danger, reflexively used his core strength to regain his balance, quickly scanning around with his gaze.


    Seeing another defensive tackle on his left struggling to break free from the offensive line''s hold and launching toward him like a creature bursting out of a cocoon, storm after storm pounding down on him, he shifted his steps toward the right again.


    One step.


    ¡ªFlyers had already moved a step ahead, extending his arms and lunging toward Smith.

 Chapter 385 384 Wanfu Mary

    Danger, extreme danger!


    With wolves in front and tigers behind, Smith found himself surrounded in the narrow pocket, his every step treacherous and precarious, with absolutely no room to breathe.


    In the time it took to make just two steps of adjustment, the Flyers had already successfully disentangled from the offensive line, and in three steps took two, lunging towards Smith.


    Smith''s lateral movement was simply like a lamb walking into the jaws of a tiger!


    Fight!


    That was the only thought in Smith''s mind, and he wanted to give it a try.


    So.


    Step up, charge forward.


    Brake!


    Just when it looked like Smith and the Flyers were about to collide, Smith hit an emergency brake to control his body, stopping dead in front of the Flyers¡ª


    Then, slightly shifted his position.


    The Flyers, who were already fully committed and striving to take down Smith with all their might, were caught off guard and unable to control their body.


    Their feet tried to brake, but they slipped, losing control entirely.


    Brush past, misalign.


    The Flyers could only touch Smith with their arm as they flew past him.


    Smith held his breath, retaining that single breath firmly, refusing to relax. After the brush with the Flyers, his body wobbled but he persistently refused to buckle, continuing to persevere on sheer mental strength, a resolve sparkling in his eyes like never before.


    Turn around, survey the whole field.


    Push off, one step forward.


    He could do it, just like the first long pass in the second half.


    Exert force. Rotate body. Swing arm.


    His entire body was like a bow drawn tight, fully stretched, power transferred completely, and finally with great effort he hurled.


    Whoosh.


    The football cut through the sky, tracing an arc that was breathtakingly suspenseful.


    The next second, Smith was struck down by a high-speed train crossing his path, but he didn''t waver, eyes unblinkingly following the football.


    Soaring, rising high and soaring at will.


    ...


    Li Wei, fully focused.


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    He stood behind the Shotgun Formation, his attention highly concentrated.


    Following the snap, without hesitation, he activated and cut into the slot, charging straight along the slot.


    He passed by the Flyers in an instant, with no pause, striving to catch up with Kelsey who was also advancing vertically; in a blink, he had already burst out five yards.


    Linebacker Harrison followed Li Wei step for step, not rashly closing in, but maintaining a distance and advancing in a straight line alongside him.


    Just then, as his feet just crossed the thirty-five-yard line, Li Wei cut inside, charging head-on towards Harrison.


    Harrison was startled, all defenses up.


    However, he hadn''t expected that Li Wei would pay him no mind, instead executing a crossing run with Hill on the other side¡ª


    Ten yards.


    Five yards.


    The end zone, now just within reach.


    Not only the Chung Family, but Safety McCourty had also come over, they took their positions leisurely, seizing the advantage preemptively¡ª


    This is where the Hail Mary pass is most perilous and challenging.


    The offensive group must snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.


    So, who is Smith''s pass intended for?


    Kelsey?


    No, Li Wei.


    "Fourth down, seven yards to go, nine seconds!"


    "Kansas is in trouble, New England blitzing."


    "Smith is dodging, Smith is trying to survive, Smith still won''t give up!"


    "God, the Flyers miss the tackle, Smith finds space to throw again."


    "Smith throws, Smith aims for the end zone, a thirty-six-yard long pass aiming for the end zone, the Hail Mary, we are witnessing Smith challenge the Hail Mary."


    "The pass is intended for¡ª"


    "Li Wei?"


    "Li Wei enters an unguarded state, God, how did he do it?"


    "Gilmore is trying to catch up, but Li Wei''s speed is unstoppable."


    "Li Wei, fifteen yards, ten yards! Five yards!"


    "Li Wei enters the end zone!"


    "Chung Family and McCourty team up in defense, Li Wei, Li Wei goes straight into Chung Family."


    "Smith''s Hail Mary pass aims for the upper right dead angle in the end zone, the pass is slightly long, control is not precise enough."


    "God, three people! Three people jump at the same time!"


    He''s taking on two by himself.


    What should Li Wei do?


    First step, keep calm.


    Second step, secure the position.


    Use the positioning of one defending player to block the interference from another.


    Then, believe in yourself and jump.


    Li Wei turned around, using his back to block Chung Family, avoiding McCourty, intentionally putting all his weight on the Chung Family to suppress his jump, his gaze fixated on the football, looking for the right moment to leap accurately.


    In front of him, he could see a pair of hands, probably McCourty''s who jumped prematurely, reaching for the football; but Li Wei didn''t rush to jump.


    Waiting half a beat, pushing against Chung Family, then jumping.


    Even though Chung Family jumped immediately after, Li Wei still got ahead, stretching his hand out while McCourty was descending, and Chung Family was still rising¡ª


    He reached, he grabbed.


    He, caught it.

 Chapter 386 385 That record catch

    Chaos, crowded, anxious, tense.


    Yet Li Wei maintained absolute focus, locked onto the Chung Family''s position, locked onto McCourty''s position, the entire field''s three-dimensional space unfolded 360 degrees in his brain.


    He waited patiently, and struck with precision.


    Li Wei caught a gap, the brief window when McCourty was falling and Chung Family was rising, extended his hands to the limit, and in the midst of chaos, got to the football first.


    He had it!


    As his hands felt the solidness of the football, his heart contracted violently.


    However, before he could savor the moment, his grip loosened.


    The football, gone.


    It was Chung Family.


    Although subdued by Li Wei and slower off the jump by a half beat, Chung Family didn''t give up, clenched his teeth tightly, and at the moment Li Wei caught the football, he stabbed upward from below with his right hand.


    In Foxborough, nearing midnight, the air froze into ice.


    The surface of the football appeared smooth and stiff, the fingertips struggling to find a grip.


    Plus, Smith''s pass was difficult to control, clearly accelerating in its spin as it fell, its irregular rotation further increasing the difficulty of control.


    Chung Family seized the opportunity, his right hand changing from palm to fist, launching a lethal strike.


    A punch, on target.


    And then, the football, like a mischievous sprite, slipped out of Li Wei''s control and back into the air.


    Heh.


    Time, at that second, hit the pause button, all breathing and heartbeats stopped.


    Li Wei was also spent, no longer able to rise, gravity pulling his body downward, his suspended body completely lacking any grasp point.


    No, that''s not right, there was still one behind him to cushion the fall.


    In the blink of an eye, without struggling, Li Wei surrendered to gravity''s pull, a Thousand Pounds Drop¡ªleaning back heavily ramming into Chung Family.


    A collision, and the resulting reactive force propped him up, improbably freezing Li Wei''s body midair for an instant.


    In truth, it was a millisecond, hardly discernible to the naked eye.


    But Li Wei won that instant of suspension in the air.


    Then, his body arching back and fully extending, it became unrealistic to catch the ball with both hands; he simply used his right hand, displaying the flexibility of his body, extending to its limits.


    His back arched like a bent bow, outlining a beautiful arc.


    His body fell again, but this time, Li Wei had won a brief control, his upper body fully extended unbelievably stretching out, actually succeeding in expanding his coverage area, his right hand arriving under the football''s descent for a gentle capture.


    Like plucking stars from the sky with a bare hand.


    His fingertips wrapped around the football, tightening their grip, firmly in control.


    The entire Gillette Stadium was silent as the grave, not a sound to be heard.


    Only Li Wei''s roar echoed through.


    When had Foxborough ever been so embarrassed, allowing a rookie to stage such a miraculous comeback on their own turf?


    The Kansas Chiefs Offense had gone mad, completely mad, everyone swarming towards Li Wei, thrusting their hands into the air, cheering and howling wildly.


    Smith couldn''t contain himself either, leaping up high, once and then again, clenching his fists, tears brimming and screaming with abandon¡ª


    They, they actually did it.


    "Wow."


    "Wow!"


    "I mean¡ªWow!"


    Nantz was at a loss for words, offering nothing but exclamation after exclamation, turning to Romo for help, only to find Romo''s eyes slightly reddened, his face filled with loss.


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    Last season, he was still battling on the field, but a moment like this had never come in Romo''s career, and now he was once again experiencing the thrilling passion of competitive sports from the commentator''s booth, his emotions complex.


    Victory and defeat are undoubtedly the core of competitive sports; but the battles, gambits, and struggles behind them are the flesh and blood that compose the charm of competitive sports.


    This game, the New England Patriots played brilliantly, and the Kansas City Chiefs displayed an unyielding spirit that truly interpreted the essence of competitive sports.


    Nantz''s eyes were also somewhat moist.


    "Li Wei, without a doubt the most dazzling, the brightest new star of the 2017 season, his talent, his ability, his composure, are becoming the key to the transformation of the Kansas City Chiefs."


    "The Kansas City Chiefs had only a slim chance of survival, a meager 0.1% chance, but they seized it, Smith seized it, Kelsey and Hill seized it, and most importantly, Li Wei seized it."


    "Hard to believe, we are witnessing this, but what an honor it is to be a part of Li Wei''s rise."


    "Believe me, his greatness is just beginning."


    Bart: Like those mourning for their deceased parents.


    He remained with his dislocated jaw, a face full of despair, staring at the television screen, his head filled with question marks.


    This, this is possible?


    On the edge of the field, the kicker Harrison Buck raised his hands ecstatically, celebrating with his teammates, his passion flowing endlessly.


    The next second, Buck saw Li Wei jogging towards him.


    Buck: Eh, me? Me?


    Buck glanced left and right, confirming that Li Wei''s gaze was firmly on him, and he became a little flustered, instinctively taking a small step back, his smile stiffening.


    But then, his teammates swarmed around him, blocking Buck from retreating any further, forcing Buck to stand still, his expression awkward.


    And then, Li Wei''s steps had already stopped in front of Buck.


    "Hey, buddy, the defensive group, the offensive group, they''ve all completed their missions. Now, it''s the Special Duty Group''s turn, how about it, ready?"


    Buck, looking at the football that Li Wei placed in front of him, felt a surge of boundless boldness arise.

 Chapter 387 386 superheroes

    Harrison Buck, a rookie kicker, midway through the season came from the Carolina Panthers to save the Kansas City Chiefs.


    But unexpectedly, Buck performed exceptionally, being one of only six kickers in the entire league with a 100% success rate for extra points and field goals, and the only one among those six who had attempted more than forty kicks.@@@@


    A dark horse!


    An entirely unforeseen player, Buck had risen to become the top-performing kicker of the season across the league.


    In the last wildcard game, Buck had a chance to play the superhero saving the team; but unexpectedly, Li Wei in a push to get into field goal range charged into the end zone with a touchdown that turned the tables and led the team to advance to the divisional playoffs, so Buck didn''t have to take the field.


    But who could have thought, after twists and turns, the opportunity came back to Buck''s hands.


    "27:27".


    After Kansas City Chiefs'' successful Wanfu Mary, the game clock had run out, but the Chiefs still had the opportunity to take the extra point kick.


    If the extra point was successful, the Kansas City Chiefs would achieve a last-second victory over the New England Patriots.


    If the extra point failed, then the teams would move into the unforgiving overtime.


    The heavy burden rested on Buck''s shoulders.


    Just as Li Wei had said¡ª


    From the defensive group to the offensive group to the special teams, if they wanted to clinch this victory, not one could be absent; that''s what a real team is.


    Buck, looking straight at Li Wei in front of him, was filled with soaring spirits!


    Therefore.


    Buck stood tall, squared his shoulders, lifted his head, and took the football from Li Wei''s hands with solemnity while all Kansas City Chiefs players behind and beside him erupted in applause.


    Clap. Clap, clap.


    Clap. Clap, clap.


    There was no cheering, nor was it needed; even though they were standing alone on the away stage in Foxborough, they would not falter or shrink back¡ª


    Because they had each other to fight side by side.


    One step, then another.


    Buck led the Special Duty Group onto the field.


    After a high-five with Li Wei, Mahomes also took to the field.


    In extra point kicks, Mahomes occasionally acted as the holder, and one must never underestimate the seemingly inconsequential position of holder, as history is not short of examples where kickers missed decisive kicks because the holder didn''t set the ball up correctly.


    The New England Patriots'' Special Duty Group took the field as well¡ª


    Until the whistle blows, the game is not over.


    Buck was slightly excited, his heart pounding uncontrollably.


    Buck admitted he had dreamt of this moment, a mere kicker, an insignificant role in the special teams, unnoticed and unthanked for their contributions, valued even less than a running back and paid even less attention to, to then being kicked off the team by the Carolina Panthers and transferring into the practice squad, and riding the Rainbow Cloud to become the hero who could tip the balance.


    What kind of experience would that be?


    So, he had anticipated it.


    The first kick had been a bit nerve-wracking, but now that this had happened, he could feel at ease.


    "The pressure is gradually building."


    "Buck had a perfect rookie season, but the playoffs and the regular season are ultimately different. Now, the fate of both the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots rested on his shoulders, and the pressure was unimaginable."


    "If it were me, I would not want to be in Buck''s shoes right now."


    "But now, we are waiting."


    "Good."


    "Kickoff!"


    "The New England Patriots blitz! New England opts for a do-or-die attempt!"


    Ripping.


    The New England Patriots had destroyed the Kansas City Chiefs'' Special Duty Group''s offensive line; linebacker Van Noy took the stage, leaping over the crowd, soaring into the air with arms and legs spread, flying towards Buck.


    A shadow loomed, heading straight for him.


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    Buck noticed.


    Clearly, the New England Patriots had taken a risk.


    But Buck was unfazed, focusing one hundred percent of his attention on himself.


    He would not disappoint Li Wei, not let down the offensive or defensive groups, and more importantly, this was his moment, his spotlight.


    He pushed off the ground, kicked¡ª


    For a brief moment, time seemed to pause, and Buck could clearly see every facial expression in front of him: Van Noy''s ferocity, Mahomes'' concentration, the Gillette Stadium''s tens of thousands of fans'' screaming roars, all coming together to cast a vast shadow, enveloping what lay ahead in the midnight of Foxborough without sunlight.


    But that didn''t matter.


    With his feet, his power, he would break through the barriers before him and let the sunlight fall, shedding directly onto the Kansas City Chiefs'' crown.


    Kicked off.


    Mahomes positioned the football firmly, and a clean force surged through.


    The football flew out.


    Whoosh!


    The football traced a smooth parabola, sailing past the amphibious Van Noy, steadily through the Patriots'' goalposts, without surprises, without deviation¡ª


    A heart-piercing shot, right on target.


    "28:27".


    The match is over, the Kansas City Chiefs have won.

 Chapter 388 Fated to Love You" 387

    "Game-winner!"


    "That was a game-winner!"


    "The Kansas City Chiefs game-won against the New England Patriots, marching headfirst into the 2017 American League finals for the first time since 1993, also marking their return to the League finals since 1993."


    "More importantly, this was a comeback from twenty-one points behind!"


    "This was the first time in the history of the Kansas City Chiefs that they had completed a playoff victory by overcoming a deficit of more than ten points, defeating the defending champions, number one seed, and the most successful New England Patriots of the new century."


    "Oh, God!"


    "In the last season''s Super Bowl showdown, the New England Patriots accomplished an epic twenty-five-point comeback to win the championship; this season, in the divisional round, they faced the most painful turnaround loss in the history of the New England Patriots team, losing the victory after leading by twenty-one points at halftime."


    "Without a doubt, this game will go down in history!"


    "Li Wei!"


    "Running back number twenty-three, the rookie of the Kansas City Chiefs, the MVP of this game."


    "111 rushing yards, 117 receiving yards, two touchdowns."@@@@


    "Although I need to confirm the data, Li Wei should be the first running back since the millennium to break one hundred yards both in rushing and receiving in the playoff stage."


    "The New England Patriots put on a historic performance in this game''s offensive line, sacking the opponent''s quarterback seven times, completely disorienting the Kansas City Chiefs'' offensive, challenging both the rushing and receiving."


    "But Li Wei rewrote the game, and Smith stood out."


    "Smith, in such tough circumstances, for the first time in his playoff career, threw two forty-plus yards touchdown passes, snatching victory from the jaws of the New England Patriots."


    "Wow."


    "''The catch,'' the buzzer-beating Wanfu Mary, Li Wei''s one-handed catch touchdown against McCourty and Chung Family, completely altered history!"


    The commentary was passionate and incessant.


    Nantz''s admiration and astonishment seemed endless, his cheeks flush as if drunk, his eyes sparkling with joy and happiness.


    However.


    Gillette Stadium plunged into despair.


    Stunned eyes staring blankly at the field, a pervasive sense of dead, unsupported confusion even before they had time to feel angry or sad, they still couldn''t believe it had really happened.


    The New England Patriots lost.


    On the sidelines.


    Brady was slightly startled; even though he had had a premonition when Li Wei made the Wanfu Mary catch, his heart still sank heavily.


    Despite having been in professional games for so long, despite facing defeats at different times and in different contexts, the taste of losing was never pleasant.


    Losing in such a way, to such an opponent, especially... Li Wei.


    Looking up, Brady spotted Li Wei amid the bustling crowd.


    He raised his arms high and dashed towards Buck on the field; the Kansas City Chiefs players all huddled together in delirious joy, embracing each other, scarcely believing their victory.


    It was hard to imagine that this was the Kansas City Chiefs'' first playoff winning streak in twenty-four years.


    Brady: ...Shit.


    Despite holding back and controlling himself, he still couldn''t suppress it and eventually cursed; he could never get used to an opponent celebrating a victory on his turf.


    He realized that nothing good ever happened when he encountered Li Wei.


    Dammit!


    But Brady had his pride¡ª


    After all, he had also been in the League for over a decade, and he knew that the whole world was watching his reaction now. He also knew that the media was waiting to fan the flames.


    So, although he wanted to smash his helmet, although he wanted to harshly berate the offensive line, although he felt like punching Li Wei in the face, he still controlled himself.


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    He took a deep breath.


    Then, with his head held high and a smile on his face, he entered the field.


    First Smith, then Reed, Brady routinely shook hands with them after the game, completing the task in front of the live TV cameras.


    Pausing his steps, Brady looked around.


    Seeing Brady''s movement, a TV crew immediately approached him with a big smile, gesturing in one direction.


    "Li Wei is over there."


    Brady, maintaining his smile, turned his head and gave the person a sharp glare: Thanks a lot, you''re so smart. You go find Li Wei, your whole family can go find Li Wei, why the hell should I, Brady, look for Li Wei?


    Get lost!

 Chapter 389 388 Kill the body and the heart

    Brady felt a tightness in his chest.


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    It seemed now, regardless of Brady''s wishes, the entire League was waiting to sit back and enjoy the show, the spotlight shadowing him and Li Wei until they came face to face.


    Actually, Brady understood.


    But Brady had thought Li Wei would come to him; why should he, the great Brady, stoop so low as to seek out Li Wei? Shouldn''t the rookie be the one to come over?


    Following the direction, Brady saw Li Wei talking with Gronkowski.


    However, Li Wei had no intention of coming over to show off to Brady. His posture and movements clearly indicated he was preparing to leave the stadium.


    Damn it!


    Taking a deep breath, Brady still started to walk over. No matter what Li Wei was like, he had a reputation as the number one in the League to maintain. The more he lost, the more gracious he needed to be¡ªthat was the attitude of a true champion, otherwise he''d face chatter about being a sore loser¡ª


    The first thing the live camera did was aim at Brady, fully rousing expectations.


    All the stuff about Belichick and Reed, Brady and Smith, was now boring as hell; it was the storylines like the rookie and the Goat that were attractive.


    Indeed.


    Brady stopped in front of Li Wei, Gronkowski tactfully made room for them.


    Li Wei also saw Brady. Brady didn''t speak as if he was gathering his strength; but Li Wei didn''t mind, so he spoke first.


    Li Wei pointed to his jersey, "If you''re looking to exchange jerseys, sorry, this one''s already been claimed. I promised my mother I''d keep it for her."


    Brady: ...Fuck off. Who wants your jersey?


    The breath caught in his chest, his blood boiling, Brady was almost spitting blood.


    Almost, Brady''s smile nearly broke, a severe internal injury; but he managed to keep control with his deep discipline, extending his right hand graciously.


    "Great game."


    "Great game!"


    Li Wei also took Brady''s right hand in response.


    Then, Brady stepped forward to pretend to hug Li Wei, gently patted his back, and whispered near Li Wei''s ear, a volume the live cameras couldn''t catch, "I''ve won so many times, letting you win once is fine."@@@@


    Just as Brady was about to walk away after dropping the harsh words, Li Wei grabbed his right hand, smiling as he whispered back into Brady''s ear, "From your expression, it''s definitely not a ''let''. But since Uncle Tom likes to dwell on the past, indulging in past glories he can''t escape from, I don''t need to be mean and burst your bubble."


    "Including me."


    "After all, such a matchup had no point for discussion; the two players were not on the same level. But now, the facts have proved me wrong."


    "And incredibly so."


    "Li Wei proved himself, not only as the season''s most outstanding running back but also as one of the top players at the peak of the League. He fully deserves to stand on the same level as Brady and compete."


    "Not only does he deserve it, but he also achieved victory."


    "With two consecutive wins against Brady in the regular season and playoffs, Li Wei has stopped Brady''s dream of defending the championship; the New England Patriots'' six-year streak of advancing to the American League finals has come to an end, with Belichick and Brady missing out on the seventh consecutive Conference Championship after losing a division game for the first time since the 2010 season."


    "Wow, such a season progression was totally unexpected."


    "But do you believe it?"


    "This is not the end, but the beginning. There will be more encounters between Li Wei and Brady in the future, and we will wait and see."


    Noisy, lively, sensational¡ª


    The game had just ended, and a landslide of heated discussion was already erupting everywhere.


    Not just among fans, spectators, and professionals¡ªthe Kansas City Chiefs, from top to bottom, were no exception. As they saw Li Wei take off his helmet and leave Gillette Stadium amid a roar of curses, composed and with an easygoing expression, one after another, they came up to pat Li Wei on the shoulder to congratulate him.


    This day, the Kansas City Chiefs had waited far too long, a full twenty-four years.


    Tonight, they had almost lost hope, comforting themselves with the thought of battling again next year, for they had the future. But unexpectedly, this time they changed the story, carrying home a thrilling victory from Gillette Stadium.


    Collective fervor.


    From a distance, Li Wei noticed Lilith Rosen standing at the entrance of the locker room behind the bustling crowd. She didn''t speak, just stood there quietly, hands clasped at her chest, silently watching the scene unfold.


    Looking around, Li Wei believed that Lilith''s gaze was on him.


    Holding off the constant stream of teammates coming to celebrate, Li Wei raised his voice and said, "I need to get ready for the press conference. Otherwise, if the League fines me, day after tomorrow''s practice will double for us, how does that sound?"


    "Cut it out, devil."


    "As if anyone didn''t know you''re a beast."


    "Go on, that''s your problem, don''t drag us into it."


    Amidst the jostling complaints, Li Wei stepped forward toward the locker room, stopping in front of Lilith to reveal a big smile.


    "Hey, Doctor Rosen."

 Chapter 390 389 A bit of care

    Lilith had been watching Li Wei, and even without speaking, she had already conveyed a message.


    Sure enough, Li Wei stopped in his tracks.


    "Hey, Doctor Rosen."


    Li Wei had just greeted her and didn''t wait for Lilith''s reaction when the covetous pack of wolves beside him immediately started to jeer.


    "Roar roar roar, weren''t you supposed to go to the press conference?"


    "Turns out there''s a beauty with an appointment."


    "Doctor Rosen, I feel a bit of pain in my knee, could you take a look?"@@@@


    The players'' corridor was so noisy that even the clamor from outside Gillette Stadium was completely blocked out. It felt like their own backyard, even though it was an away game.


    Mahomes was the first to lead the chorus, singing nonsensically, "Li Wei and Lilith sitting in a tree, Li Wei and Lilith sitting in a tree..."


    This was a nursery rhyme, the complete lyrics being, "Boys and girls sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g." Elementary and middle schoolers would insert the names of a boy and a girl, using it as a way to tease and play pranks.


    But generally, this stopped by middle school because after that, "kissing" wasn''t something forbidden anymore.


    Now, Mahomes was being so childish.


    Li Wei helplessly turned back and called out, "Sherlock!"


    Mahomes immediately shut his mouth, but his throat continued to sing the nursery rhyme in ventriloquism, and the others were egging him on even more.


    Unexpectedly, Lilith raised her hands and silently cracked her knuckles. The snapping sound, like popping beans, was chilling, and her frosty face bore not a trace of expression, as if she was sizing up a pile of corpses.


    In an instant, these guys clammed up one by one and scattered like birds and beasts.


    Only Mahomes, too slow to react and still clowning around, was locked by Lilith''s gaze, and his voice disappeared in a second.


    Mahomes snapped to attention, blinking his eyes obediently, and said, "Sorry." Then he dashed off, not even glancing at Li Wei, passed by Li Wei and Lilith to enter the locker room, and quickly shut the door.


    Slam.


    The door closing echoed unusually loud.


    Lilith still wore an expressionless face, looking up at Li Wei.


    Li Wei, struggling to hold back a smile, gestured towards the door, "You know they''re all behind it, right?"


    Lilith lightly raised her eyebrows, appearing altogether unconcerned.


    "Your back and waist need a massage to relax before you head for the press conference."


    Subconsciously, Lilith was a little stunned.


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    "Doctor Rosen?"


    Kelsey just happened to come back and saw Lilith standing at the entrance of the locker room.


    "Are you looking for someone? Do you need me to call for them?"


    But Lilith, unexpectedly, shook her head and without saying a word turned and walked away.


    Kelsey was left behind, full of question marks, thought earnestly for a moment, and sniffed at his jersey, "Is the smell of sweat too strong? Surely not?"


    ...


    The Kansas City Chiefs'' press officer had already informed the journalists in advance that the press conference part involving Li Wei would be delayed by forty-five minutes, but this had not stopped the journalists'' fervor.


    By the time Li Wei arrived fashionably late, the press hall was packed to the brim, barricading him in once again. They threw out question after question about the victory and "that catch."


    Li Wei, looking fresh and energetic, surprisingly maintained a low profile, with no hint of self-congratulation.


    "...We received some help from the Goddess of Fortune."


    "The New England Patriots put on an incredible game. They showed us what capabilities a mature champion team needs to have. Clearly, we are still young, and we have much to learn."


    The lengthy speech could make someone unaware of the outcome actually think the New England Patriots had won, but when they saw the result, they were completely dumbfounded.


    Then, Li Wei changed the subject.


    "But we did not give up. We kept persisting, kept fighting until the end, and our Defensive group, Offensive group, and Special Duty Group maintained the same belief and worked together. That''s how we seized the one opportunity."


    "And, we took it."


    "In the next game, no matter who the opponent is, we are still the underdog. So, we will prepare well and give our all to fight to the end."


    Even though Li Wei was uncharacteristically low-key, the media journalists were the first to keenly interpret the deeper meaning in his words, and one by one they became excited:


    "The New England Patriots performed perfectly, but victory belongs to the Kansas City Chiefs."


    "Brady is old; the future belongs to the young."


    "The New England Patriots are Belichick''s and Brady''s team, while the Kansas City Chiefs rely on teamwork. Victory belongs to the team, not the individual."


    Perfect!


    Alright, that''ll do it, we''ve got our headline.

 Chapter 391 390 hyenas

    Reporters surrounded Li Wei in layers, three deep both inside and out.


    Meanwhile, the media crowded Brady''s press room, bustling and busy.


    "Tom, do you think you lost the game to Li Wei?"


    The opening question was a direct hit, and Brady''s veins, still not fully calmed, swelled again, his smile nearly slipping.


    "Indeed, we lost the game, and Li Wei indeed performed exceptionally; but we lost to the Kansas City Chiefs led by Andy Reid, a team that performed even better and won the game."


    Word by word, Brady almost gritted his teeth as he finished these words.


    Reporter, very good¡ª


    "Brady: I lost the game, Li Wei was indeed outstanding."


    The headline was born.


    But it wasn''t enough, nowhere near enough; the reporters continued their relentless pursuit.


    "However, the greatest contributor to the Kansas City Chiefs'' Wanfu Mary was Li Wei, who first helped the team enter Smith''s passing range through ground rushing, and then overcame McCourty and the Chung Family with a one-handed catch, almost single-handedly turning the game around."


    Before he even finished speaking, an increasingly angry Brady couldn''t help interrupting.


    "We had the chance to end the game on our own terms, but our offensive group''s performance in the final moments obviously did not meet expectations."


    "Tom, are you blaming the offensive line for the loss?"


    Brady: ...


    These reporters are like hyenas, a little hint of blood is all it takes to drive them wild.


    "I think the offensive line indeed needs to reflect, and so does our receiving group, why couldn''t they catch that long pass that was already in place?"


    Gronkowski: ??? Brother, are you going to directly name me?


    The reporter pressed, "Do you think you didn''t lose to Li Wei, but to yourselves?"


    Brady was momentarily speechless, glaring fiercely at the reporter, almost on the verge of spitting blood, using all his effort to control the urge to storm out and preserve his dignity.


    Although Brady controlled himself and didn''t lose his composure in the end, after a whole press conference, he was nearly driven mad¡ª


    The entire Patriots'' locker room could feel the crisis:


    Fortunately, as the season was about to end, they could be liberated after enduring tonight.


    Li Wei. Li Wei. Always Li Wei.


    Even though throughout the season, the rookie sensation Li Wei had been the focal point of conversation; yet, the media frenzy this time was far beyond expectation.


    Behind a string of records set by the Kansas City Chiefs, and behind the victory that spectacularly overcame the New England Patriots, Li Wei once again became the focus¡ª


    Despite having showered, Brady still couldn''t control his irritability and anger, his ''stay away'' expression made everyone around him back off, like a tyrannosaurus patrolling its territory, everyone held their breath.


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    Brady didn''t notice the change in the locker room atmosphere, fully immersed in his own thoughts, he walked straight to the locker and took out his phone.


    In the past, after a game ended, one often had to wait a night, the next day, or even the third day to read the newspapers to see the news.


    Now, by turning on his phone, he could see the reactions of media all around the world immediately, without even needing to go out and buy a newspaper, everything was in his phone.


    Wait, the phone is dead?


    Brady pressed and flipped, left and right, but he couldn''t turn on his phone.


    Without looking up, "Rob, where is your phone?"


    Gronkowski deliberately turned his back on Brady, "Wait, let me find it."


    Rustling through his belongings, "Oh, no charge? What about your phone?"


    Gronkowski clenched his fist secretly: Very good, very natural, he thought he could try Hollywood like Dwayne Johnson after he retired.


    Brady grunted, "My phone''s out of battery."


    Turning around, Brady looked to the other side, "Jimmy?"


    Being half a beat too slow to react, the team''s backup quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, had been traded to the San Francisco 49ers at the end of October in exchange for a second-round draft pick next season, and the current backup quarterback was the veteran journeyman, Brian Hoyer.


    "Brian, don''t tell me your phone is out of battery too?"


    Gronkowski''s heart clenched tight: Uh-oh!


    Hoyer, who joined midway, didn''t know about Brady''s fearsome reputation and wasn''t familiar with them, what if Hoyer didn''t cooperate?


    Just as it seemed their plan would fail, Hoyer naturally checked his phone, "Right, no charge here either."


    He mulled over and mumbled a guess, "I guess it''s too cold tonight in Foxborough, maybe all Apple phones just shut down automatically."


    That was a close call!


    Gronkowski let out a long breath, "Yeah, these phone batteries are terrible, they just shut down automatically when it gets cold, haha, hahaha."


    He laughed dryly twice, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.


    Seeing that Brady didn''t continue to question anyone else, everyone else in the locker room breathed a sigh of relief, they certainly didn''t want extra practice before their vacation.


    They didn''t expect, however, that the locker room assistant responsible for collecting towels and jerseys was making his entrance, pushing in a big blue bin, while using his phone.


    Gronkowski: ...Crap!


    Brady spotted it immediately, "Scott, are you scrolling through Twitter? Let me see."

 Chapter 392 391 Die Again

    Despair.


    Gronkowski looked at the locker room assistant, lifelessly. Losing tonight was already despairing enough, but the only consolation was that the season was finally over, though the Pro Bowl was still to come, the vacation had started.


    However, who would have thought, it would be snatched away right before their eyes.


    The locker room assistant was completely oblivious to the suffocating stillness around him, but he knew the news on social media wasn''t friendly, and he hesitated.


    But it was Brady; could he refuse him?@@@@


    He couldn''t.


    Brady grabbed his phone, he didn''t even need to type in keywords to see his timeline filled with news of the American League division game.


    "Li Wei: New England Patriots performed flawlessly, but victory belongs to the Kansas City Chiefs."


    "Smith Wanfu Mary, Li Wei one-handed catch, Kansas City Chiefs end New England Patriots'' six-year streak of advancing to American League finals."


    "''That catch'' stole an epic victory from Gillette Stadium."


    "Brady: I lost the game, Li Wei really was impressive."


    "Season sweep over Brady, ''Rookie VS Goat'', Li Wei ''2:0'' leading, Brady''s nemesis 2.0 arrives!"


    "Losing twice in a row to a rookie, is the League about to enter the Li Wei era from the Brady era?"


    One after another, each more absurd than the last.


    Brady wasn''t a newcomer; he knew the nature of these media, had mentally prepared himself early, yet he was still shocked by their shamelessness, his veins bulging with uncontrollable rage.


    Have these media brains turned to water?


    Just two games in a season; was it really necessary?


    Always talking about changing eras, always welcoming the new king to the throne, wait for the Kansas City Chiefs to clinch the Super Bowl Champions before making noise, otherwise it would be a joke if the Kansas City Chiefs were to capsize in the next match. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    Moreover, all headlines were singing praises of Li Wei''s victory, not a single media mentioned the fact that Kansas City Chiefs won by a narrow margin, not one; all using a Spring and Autumn period style to blur the focus and shift the emphasis continually stressing the fact Li Wei defeated Brady¡ª


    At a glance, Brady knew whose hand was behind this.


    Just then, Belichick walked in, and saw Brady tossing his phone to a locker room assistant, the dazzling array of social media messages on the screen were clear without needing to read them.


    Belichick''s thoughts weren''t on Brady, though; instead, he was thinking about Kansas City Chiefs'' number twenty-three.


    Belichick didn''t mean to target the running back, as even the special teams were regarded differently in his eyes; he has always acknowledged the importance of ground attacks. Objectively speaking in a Football game, though, the game-changing players, quarterback, lineman, defensive end, or even possibly a wide receiver or tight end, don''t generally include the running back¡ª


    The era of the running back has passed.


    But now?


    Li Wei was indeed changing the game, and Belichick couldn''t help but think of Peterson, unsure whether Li Wei could go further than Peterson had?


    In 2012, Peterson topped the regular season MVP, but in the first round of the playoffs, the Minnesota Vikings lost to the Green Bay Packers.


    Now, Li Wei and the Kansas City Chiefs had already advanced to the American League finals.


    Maybe they really should take note of the chemical reaction Li Wei brought to the Kansas City Chiefs. Belichick had a feeling that next season, Li Wei and the Kansas City Chiefs would still be bringing surprises, rather than being merely a shooting star.


    Meanwhile, Li Wei had no idea he had already caught the attention of the League''s most powerful dominator of the past fifteen years. While others still hesitated, Belichick had already demonstrated his wisdom, setting his sights on Li Wei.


    However, the League was not yet focused on the future; attention still lay in the present, since the 2017 season wasn''t over yet. But Li Wei remained an inescapable topic, and the focuses of the other two wildcard games still revolved around him.


    The day after the two wildcard games had ended, the third and fourth wildcard games took their turns.


    The first game, the center of everyone''s attention¡ª


    The Jacksonville Jaguars on the road challenging the Pittsburgh Steelers.


    Like the previous American League wildcard game, it was the new power challenging the traditional master, with the winner to compete with the Kansas City Chiefs for this season''s American League championship.


    After the Kansas City Chiefs'' buzzer-beater against the New England Patriots, the media was all stirred up:


    What if the Pittsburgh Steelers win?


    That would mean the Kansas City Chiefs first take on the New England Patriots, then face the Pittsburgh Steelers, the teams respectively the number one and two seeds of the American League, both of whom lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the regular season but meet again in the playoffs. Just imagining it, both on and off the field grudges are thrilling.


    One could write a book about it!


    Jacksonville Jaguars: ??? Does no one care to ask our opinion?

 Chapter 393 392 steals the show

    ```


    When the Jacksonville Jaguars went to challenge the Pittsburgh Steelers on their home turf, the media and professionals overwhelmingly favored the Pittsburgh Steelers.


    Despite the fact that the Jacksonville Jaguars had defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the regular season, they lacked a superstar player and had returned to the playoffs after a full nine years. Over the past two to three seasons, there had been no signs of a strong rise, and their advancement to the playoffs seemed more like luck. Their wild card victory over the Buffalo Bills was also unconvincing.


    Moreover, the battle between the "The Wanfu Mary Combo" Smith and Li Wei and the iron triangle of the Pittsburgh Steelers was obviously more favorable for television ratings.


    Naturally, the Pittsburgh Steelers received unanimous support.


    Does this scene seem familiar?


    In the first American League Divisional Round, the Kansas City Chiefs were treated the same way.


    But then, the Kansas City Chiefs stunned everyone with a breathtaking upset over the New England Patriots, causing all of the media to bend the knee and sing their praises like fair-weather friends. What about the Jacksonville Jaguars?


    The team''s general manager, Caldwell, said with a laugh, "Heh, I still have a score to settle with Kansas concerning the draft."


    Then, the Jacksonville Jaguars made their statement.


    "45:42".


    The underdogs triumphed once again, as the Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers for the second time that season, perfectly mirroring the Kansas City Chiefs'' performance against the New England Patriots and pulling off a modest upset.


    But the course was slightly different.


    The Jacksonville Jaguars showed strength, and while people were expecting a tedious defensive battle, nobody anticipated that both teams, known for strong defensive performances throughout the season, would fall silent. Instead, the offensive groups stood up and took control of the game, engaging in an all-out offensive battle.


    Among them, Fournette, the Jaguars'' first-round fourth pick rookie running back, shone, excelling not only in rushing but also receiving, as if ready to compete with Li Wei. His athletic and powerful presence dominated the field, helping the visiting team achieve a "28:14" lead by halftime.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers never gave up on the game, rallying back in the second half and narrowing the score to within three points with a touchdown during the two-minute warning.


    However, the Jacksonville Jaguars disrupted the Steelers'' gamble on a kick and held on to their victory with gritted teeth, ending the game.


    Fournette, the star of the game, did not fade in comparison to Li Wei. Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    Rushing for 109 yards, receiving 76 yards, with three touchdowns.


    The rookie running back finally showed his mettle when it mattered most.


    After the game, Fournette struggled to contain himself during an interview.


    The air was instantly filled with the smell of gunpowder.


    The media exchanged glances: Li Wei? The player who had heart-stopping moments in wildcard and divisional rounds, pulling off game-winning plays at the last minute, "that catch" was definitely not just a result of help from talented teammates, Big Ben, are you sure?


    But the media weren''t about to enlighten Roethlisberger.


    With a turn, the media then tossed Roethlisberger''s words over to Li Wei.


    And then, Li Wei uttered a classic quote that would be talked about all over the North American continent.


    "It doesn''t matter to me,"


    "because I''m preparing for the upcoming American League championship game, while he is wearing his fancy Louis Vuitton outfits, holding a can of White-Claw, curled up in his boyfriend''s arms on the couch, crying."


    Firepower! Full blast!


    White-Claw, a hard seltzer that''s taken off at full speed in North America this year, is low in alcohol and similar to sparkling water, widely popular among girls.


    Li Wei''s face remained calm as he outlined a scene in a breezy tone. The reporters imagined it for a moment¡ªthe image of Roethlisberger''s huge frame curled up in shyness and silently shedding tears¡ª


    Pfft.


    But this time, no media dared to seek out Roethlisberger for a response: That would be like sending a sheep into a tiger''s den.


    So, no one knew how Roethlisberger reacted to this comeback, and it''s likely nobody within the Pittsburgh Steelers wanted to know either.


    Then, attention turned elsewhere.


    The last wildcard game saw the New Orleans Saints going up against the Minnesota Vikings in an away game.


    Wait, could it be Li Wei again?


    Li Wei: Off duty, do not disturb.


    Even though Li Wei is currently in high demand, with the NFL official backing him, a tiny spark could ignite a huge energy. But is it really necessary to involve Li Wei in everything? It''s all over with the same name. Seriously, I''m going to throw up. Can''t the media come up with some new tricks for making news?


    But the problem is, this game really did have something to do with Li Wei.


    Now Li Wei finally understood the exasperated sentiment once expressed by the diva Faye Wong:


    My trouble? My trouble is that I''m too popular.

 Chapter 394 393 The old general never dies

    The second game of the National Conference wildcard round had the New Orleans Saints visiting the Minnesota Vikings. Although on the surface, this game seemed unrelated to Li Wei, the reality is that every topic in the NFL relates to Li Wei¡ª@@@@


    To wear the crown, one must bear its weight.


    At that time, Li Wei was enjoying the treatment of Brady, especially after eliminating Brady, Li Wei had decisively taken Brady''s place.


    Meanwhile, in the New Orleans Saints, the only running back who stepped up to directly challenge Li Wei this year, Kamara, was sharpening his knives.


    Clearly, a long, long time ago, Kamara had placed himself on the same level as Li Wei. Since Li Wei had advanced to the American League finals, he naturally could not fall behind.


    However.


    The New Orleans Saints lost.


    Kamara was almost invisible throughout the game, this young running back, who performed excellently during the regular season, lost himself under pressure, advancing only 43 yards without a touchdown, his weak performance caused media outrage.


    "24:29".


    The Minnesota Vikings defended the pride of the second seed, advancing into the National Conference finals.


    Thus, the American League saw two low-seeded teams successfully upset their opponents, whereas the National Conference saw two high-seeded teams defend the dignity of their seeding together.


    After the game, when reporters ambushed Kamara, this normally outspoken running back suddenly wilted, struggling for a long time without coming up with anything significant, probably fearing he might be blasted like Roethlisberger.


    But the reporters weren''t worried, after the game they collectively kicked Kamara while he was down.


    In the end, Kamara only squeezed out one line.


    "Next season, we''ll see."


    To which a reporter responded, "This season isn''t even over yet."


    Kamara: ...


    The reporter continued to twist the knife, "Why don''t you say you''re waiting for the Pro Bowl to prove yourself?"


    The Pro Bowl is equivalent to the NBA''s All-Star game.


    The sarcasm and ridicule in these words could not have been more obvious. Kamara was tensing up, trembling all over. He finally understood the true nature of those media mouths, like a poor guy dumped by his girlfriend on Valentine''s Day, fainting in despair.


    On the other hand, there were the Minnesota Vikings.


    Originally, the Minnesota Vikings had nothing to do with Li Wei, and they hadn''t faced each other in the regular season, but when it came to the playoffs, the reporters all perked up, fabricating connections where there were none.


    Thus, the reporters bustlingly surrounded¡ª


    "Li Wei is ready to take over as the league''s top running back, but Peterson disagrees: ''I''m not done yet.''"


    One by one, they fanned the flames, eagerly watching the drama unfold as if the world thrived in chaos.


    But.


    Berry shook his head gently, these media...


    Peterson''s words, Berry understood, were less about confronting Li Wei face-to-face and more about a counterattack against the media, against those who were all too eager to deny his relevance.


    Berry and Peterson alike, they were veterans who had battled through many years of injuries and declining form, unable to regain their peak condition of their early twenties. Such was the cruel nature of competitive sports; they were on the verge of being phased out., the old guard about to be slammed against the shores by the pounding waves, while indifferent onlookers offered their cold remarks.


    Yet, they held onto their dignity and pride.


    They hadn''t given up; they kept fighting and enduring and striving to shine, even if they couldn''t return to the peak, they also longed for the chance to compete again, to fight, burn bright, and unleash their spirit.


    This was a battle against themselves.


    They didn''t want to surrender.


    Even if the whole world was against them, they kept pushing forward.


    Berry understood Peterson''s mindset one hundred percent.


    "Eric, you shouldn''t focus on these gossips; they can distract you."


    Without turning around, Berry knew it was his physiotherapist, James White.


    "I know, James, but the media are being unfair to Adrian."


    "Well, at least they are stimulating Adrian, but no one is paying attention to me."


    Berry smirked self-deprecatingly.


    White encouraged Berry, "So, keep working quietly on your end, ready to surprise everyone."


    A single sentence was all it took.


    Berry found his smile again, "With the guys performing so well, how can I not give it my all? James, can you believe it, we''re back in the American League finals! God!"


    Only one game left before stepping onto the Super Bowl field.


    Just the thought made Berry''s blood boil.


    "Li Wei, that kid, is biting down hard to win the bet, huh, haha, I like that."

 Chapter 395 394 Two Worlds

    Super Bowl.


    The ultimate dream of every football player, Berry was no exception. He once thought that he might never have the chance to step onto the Super Bowl field to compete for the highest honor of the NFL.


    But now.


    The opportunity was right before him, just one game away, just one more game.


    Uncontrollably, Berry became very excited.


    However, Berry controlled himself. He didn''t want his eagerness to destroy his hopes, especially since they still had the American League Championship game to fight. If they underestimated the Jacksonville Jaguars, the ending of the Pittsburgh Steelers would be a warning¡ª


    No one expected the Jacksonville Jaguars to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers twice in the season, just as no one expected the Kansas City Chiefs to defeat the New England Patriots twice.


    The closer to the dream, the more one needs to stay calm.


    Give it your all!


    Taking a deep breath, Berry finally managed to control his excitement.


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    "James, how are we doing?"


    Berry looked up at White, his eyes filled with hope but also tinged with nervousness.


    White understood that feeling of being on edge, so he didn''t keep him in suspense, "Everything''s going smoothly."


    Berry''s eyes brightened, "So, can I make it? I mean, if the team... if..."


    White understood what he meant and smiled, "If you continue with your rehabilitation as scheduled, yes, we can make it."


    Berry clenched his fist, "Great!"


    White gently patted Berry''s shoulder, "Eric, you should have more confidence in yourself. You''ve always been so hard-working and dedicated, your perseverance and determination amaze me, there''s nothing that can stop you from returning to the field."@@@@


    Berry''s eyes sparkled with fierce determination, "Do you know what the rookies told me? They fight on the field, and I have my own battles off the field. We are a team, no matter where we are or in what way, we are together fighting side by side."


    Berry turned to look at White, "The brothers are fighting hard. How could I possibly let them down?"


    Unwittingly, White also felt his blood boiling, but he still maintained his professionalism and calm, "So, are you ready for today''s work?"


    "Haha." Berry laughed heartily, "Just waiting for you to say that."


    ...


    The night hung low.


    He truly had been in despair for so long that he didn''t know how to embrace hope, like someone who hadn''t eaten meat for a very long time who suddenly gorges themselves, only to end up vomiting crazily, even falling seriously ill.


    His world was deeply mired in mud, filled only with endless darkness and pain, struggling desperately in isolated despair, not even possessing the courage to end his own life, simply gasping for breath like trash.


    He had forgotten how to embrace hope.


    Not just him.


    The entire city was the same. Kansas City had been in trouble for too long, so long that it had forgotten what a future filled with hope should look like, lifeless, moving like zombies.


    Thus, apart from complaining and lashing out, he didn''t know what else he could do.


    More importantly, he was scared.


    He was afraid he would become a curse, his misplaced pride possibly dragging the team down, becoming the chief culprit of ending the team''s incredible season.


    Perhaps, the sole reason the team created a miracle was because he, the cursed one, stayed away, not bringing bad luck to the team.


    Maybe that was for the best, for him to continue rotting in the sewer, watching the team from a distance, silently observing as they wrote their miracle.


    But, witnessing that brilliant red surge through the night sky, his heart couldn''t help but start beating faster.


    Wait, someone''s there!


    Provo noticed a figure appearing at the mouth of the alley and quickly averted his gaze, hastily hiding the longing and expectancy in his eyes.


    He continued to busy himself with his work.


    "... Chris."


    Provo stole a glance, and it was West.


    Provo didn''t look up, his voice rough and aggressive as he attacked.


    "You shouldn''t have come here, careful you''ll ruin your boots."


    West sighed softly, "Chris, I haven''t done anything to hurt you, you don''t need to attack me."


    Provo, sharp as a hedgehog, retorted fiercely, "Heh, so I should be thankful for your charity?"


    West: ... "Yes."


    Provo was taken aback.


    He admitted it, just like that?


    Suddenly, Provo looked up, and West met his gaze unbowed.

 Chapter 396 395 Dare to dream

    Suddenly, Provo looked up, but he didn''t expect Ware to glare back defiantly, making Provo feel somewhat guilty, instinctively averting his gaze, hanging his head low to stare at the bucket of murky water in front of him¡ª


    It wasn''t black, but a nauseating grey.


    Ware could not hold back anymore, blasting full force.


    "You should be grateful, at least pretend to be, for how many bills David and I covered for you. Do you have any idea how hard it is to run David''s tavern? My life''s a mess too, God, I can''t even find a job, I can only hope the bartender work at David''s tavern can last a bit longer, just a bit longer."


    "Again and again we tolerated your tantrums and rage, we''re not your slaves; we don''t need to bear your bad temper unconditionally, but we shut our mouths, always standing by your side."


    "Why?"


    "Why?"


    "Because we''re friends. Because our hearts all beat for the Kansas City Chiefs. Because our lives are all dreadful with no hope in sight."


    "At least, at least we still have the Chiefs."


    Provo gazed blankly at the bucket of grayish filthy water.


    He thought he would be teary-eyed...


    But there were no tears.


    His eyes were dry without a hint of moisture.


    "Chris, things are hard, really hard, but none of us ever gave up."


    "This week, for the American League finals, even though we too wish to go to Jacksonville to support the team, obviously we can''t; our wallets won''t cover the travel expenses. So David decided to throw the doors open at the Old Oak Tree, welcoming all fans to come watch the game together."


    "I think you should come too."


    "I... I can''t offer more help; I''m struggling to keep myself afloat. But at least, I can offer you a beer. Whether you come or not, that''s your decision."


    Ware stood still for a moment, waiting, while Provo kept his head down, as if he hadn''t heard a word of the conversation, a breath of frustration stuck in Ware''s chest, a thousand words churning deep in his throat, but in the end, he said none of them.


    He turned and took heavy steps away.


    After just two steps, he heard Provo''s weary voice from behind.


    "I''m afraid..."


    Ware stopped in his tracks.


    "I''m afraid that I''m a curse, the main culprit for the team''s loss."


    Ware turned around, ready to speak, but Provo beat him to it.


    Provo stood there dumbfounded, his shoulders slumped in dejection, watching the crowd around him cheering and celebrating wildly, and suddenly he realized something important¡ª


    Kansas City really hadn''t been this lively in a very long time.


    The lifeless city was slowly coming back to life; despite the winter still being cold, it felt as if you could hear the quickening footsteps of spring approaching.


    ...


    A question, how far can the Kansas City Chiefs really go in this year''s playoffs?


    Or perhaps a different question, when the champions of the National Conference and the American League are ready to battle it out, which of the remaining four teams will look most like champions?


    League: ...


    Silence fell over the group.


    Before the playoffs began, experts had already given their opinions, declaring this season to be the most open competition yet:


    Anything is possible.


    Always, the biggest draw of the NFL has been the fierce competition and unpredictable scenarios, with the hard salary cap and large rosters leading to unpredictable changes every offseason, which in turn means that any team could potentially be the Super Bowl Champions each season.


    The 2017 season, judging by the regular season performance, saw narrower gaps between teams than expected, and the playoffs were likely to have many surprises.


    However!


    The reality proved to be a shock!


    Brees-led New Orleans Saints, Brady at the helm of the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers evolving from the "Steel Curtain" to an offensive trident, Los Angeles Rams with Donald, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers who respectively made it to the Super Bowl finals in the past two seasons...


    A series of teams with championship potential, hot topics, and formidable strength, all floundered! All of them!


    A total wipeout!


    More surprising than a surprise.


    And so, we have the scene before us, the last four teams still standing in the playoffs¡ª


    Philadelphia Eagles, with the unknown 2012 third-round pick quarterback Nick Foles stepping up to the starting position after Carson Wentz was ruled out for the season due to injury.


    Minnesota Vikings, with 2012 undrafted quarterback Keenum becoming the team leader after both the starting and backup quarterbacks were injured.


    Jacksonville Jaguars, led by mediocre quarterback Bortles who had not made a name for himself after two seasons. Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire


    And the Kansas City Chiefs, led by former first overall pick Smith who had only two playoff wins after more than a decade in the league.


    ...Really?


    For a while, the experts tried to predict, but it seemed like they hardly knew where to start.

 Chapter 397 396 Rational Emotions

    How did the 2017 playoff season end up like this?


    The four teams'' quarterbacks, combined, had zero conference final experience -- all first-timers.


    Not just the quarterbacks, but the defensive group also lacked stars like JJ Watt, Aaron Donald, Khalil Mack, and Von Miller, pushing the season''s chaos and intensity to new heights.


    No star power, no highlights, no talking points.


    Goodell: "This is really tough for me."


    Moreover,


    at least the National Conference final was a clash between the first and second seeds, expected from their regular season performances, but the American Conference final? Continued upsets, one after another, culminating in this scenario¡ª


    since 2002, for the first time there was no Manning, Brady, or Roethlisberger in the American Conference final stage.


    This is history, unquestionable history. The three pillars that dominated the American Conference fell at the doorsteps of the final after fifteen years, turning a new page.


    However, the result of continuous upsets was a drastic drop in watchability.


    Super Bowl Champions potential?


    Honestly, there wasn''t any.


    For general spectators, this was good because the pattern was finally breaking, and the Super Bowl was about to see a new face; but for casual viewers not interested in football, it was bad. Without well-known names and star-studded giants, there naturally wouldn''t be much traction.


    It was under such circumstances that Li Wei suddenly stood out, continuously making headlines throughout the season with new topics that couldn''t be missed.


    At this moment, once again Goodell''s foresight was demonstrated.


    However, off-field topics were one thing, professional predictions were another.


    So, which two teams would rise to the top of their respective conferences and meet at the Super Bowl?


    Everyone looked at each other blankly.


    But what could be done, hard as it was, they had to go on.


    ESPN''s "Inside the League" once again unfolded into intense and anxious debates.


    In fact, from an analysis of paper strength, the biggest favorite to win the championship among the final four teams was the Jacksonville Jaguars-


    The Minnesota Vikings had the first-ranked defense in the league, and the second was the Jacksonville Jaguars.


    Moreover, the Minnesota Vikings had a clearly better passing defense than ground defense; the gap between the two was significant. But the Jacksonville Jaguars had no weaknesses, first in passing defense and second in ground defense, rightfully the strongest in overall performance.


    Also, the offensive group of the Jacksonville Jaguars had a clear and well-defined strategy.


    Although quarterback Bortles was of average ability, they relied completely on solid ground tactics.


    The Kansas City Chiefs were first in league ground offense, and second were the Jacksonville Jaguars.


    Simply put, by relying on a "ground plus defense" strategy perfectly suited for the playoffs, the Jacksonville Jaguars became the biggest variable of the season''s postseason.


    Before the playoffs opened, not many people were optimistic about the Jacksonville Jaguars, partly due to the lack of superstars, partly because the head coach was a rookie just in office, and partly because of the experience gaps.


    Lacking experience and an elite quarterback, the path forward in the playoffs for the Jacksonville Jaguars might lack the explosive power to turn around difficult situations.


    However, the performance of the Jacksonville Jaguars in defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers was very convincing; and with other experienced former champions and elite quarterbacks already out of the competition, among the remaining four teams, this team, relying on defense and ground tactics, stood out distinctly.


    It''s not just the American League finals, but the Jacksonville Jaguars had also risen to become the biggest favorites for the Super Bowl-


    Among the short, they stood tall, and the Jacksonville Jaguars were indeed the best choice.


    Thus,


    this upcoming American League final became the third consecutive stern test for the Kansas City Chiefs, and victory still did not stand on their side.


    On the one hand, this was a clash between the top two teams in league ground offense.


    On the other hand, the Jacksonville Jaguars had the second-ranked ground defense in the league, but the ground defense of the Kansas City Chiefs was ranked only twentieth.


    The head-to-head collision evolved into a mismatched contest, and the suspense of the outcome became immediately apparent.


    Unlike the National Conference, professionals generally favored the higher-ranked third seed, the Jacksonville Jaguars, to win this victory.


    So, how should Bart choose¡ª


    So, is "Sense and Sensibility" about such a tormenting story of inner conflict?

 Chapter 398 Long live 397

    Actually, Bart had never read "Sense and Sensibility" and had no idea what the story was about; but he believed that whatever the original was like, they definitely didn''t suffer as he did, nearly tearing him into two parts.


    All this time, Bart had considered himself a man of reason, one hundred percent rational, and would definitely be a "strong T" on the MBTI test; but after being proven wrong time and again this season and experiencing repeated despair, he began to question his life¡ª


    Maybe, he wasn''t a T?


    Although the American League division game had ended days ago, when he closed his eyes, he could still see Li Wei''s One-handed Catch that completed the Wanfu Mary, over and over again, even looping endlessly on its own.


    It was suffocating.


    "...Blair?"


    The call came, and Bart realized he had closed his eyes again.


    Wait, was he reminiscing just now?


    Could it be that he was actually an M?


    Cough, cough.


    In haste, Bart coughed to cover his panic and quickly glanced at the screen:


    It displayed the prediction results from each professional.


    In the National Conference finals, seven people supported the Minnesota Vikings, and three supported the Philadelphia Eagles.


    In the American League finals, eight people supported the Jacksonville Jaguars, one supported the Kansas City Chiefs, and one didn''t vote.


    It was one-sided.


    One look would tell you that the sole person choosing the Kansas City Chiefs was Lawson, the unwavering "Li Wei Fan" of the season, who, despite facing a harsh six-game losing streak mid-season, took it sweetly.


    Now, it was just Bart left.


    About the National Conference finals, Bart chose reason, standing with the Minnesota Vikings and with the majority; but what about the American League finals?


    His breath momentarily caught¡ª


    Forget it!


    "...Kansas City Chiefs are the champions!"


    Without warning, Bart raised both hands and cheered as he stood up.


    A second later, Bart could feel the entire studio''s eyes focusing on him.@@@@


    This matchup was indeed worth hyping up; the rancor between the two players had been long-standing, carried over from the NCAA all the way to the NFL, twisting and turning, until they unexpectedly faced each other in the ultimate battle in the American League finals.


    This was a great story and also the focus of the upcoming game.


    However, Fournette was not very articulate, and despite his true disdain for Li Wei, he struggled but couldn''t articulate his reasoning; the few words he managed to spit out were ineffective attacks. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    As for that sly fox Li Wei, if the reporters were not careful, they might end up dragging themselves into it too, they had long since learned not to provoke Li Wei lightly, no one wanted to draw the fire towards the media itself.


    Perhaps, should it start with the two coaches?


    At that moment, the media struck gold as a surprising figure appeared.


    Jalen Ramsey, selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the fifth pick of the 2016 draft, playing as a cornerback.


    In just two seasons, Ramsey had grown to become a top-tier cornerback in the league and had become a critical factor for the Jaguars'' defensive group to take off this season ¡ª


    Over two seasons, with 128 tackles, six interceptions, 31 pass deflections, and one pick-six.


    His performance was undoubtedly top-level, rapidly becoming a leading figure among the league''s new generation of defensive players.


    With a stature of 6.1 feet (185 cm) and 208 pounds (95 kg), Ramsey had many similarities to Richard Sherman, the core member of the Seattle Seahawks blowing corps, not excluding their similar playing styles and continuous trash-talking on and off the field.


    Although young, Ramsey had already become the league''s most eye-catching trash-talking rookie.


    Just before the wildcard playoff game against the Buffalo Bills, Ramsey uttered his most famous line:


    "It''s not personal; I''m just saying all the quarterbacks present are trash."


    Luck, Goff, Roethlisberger, Flacco, Little Manning, Ryan, and more quarterbacks were all caught in the crossfire of Ramsey''s barrage.


    The key point was that he walked the talk.


    The quarterbacks who were blasted by Ramsey had a total of five interceptions by him during the regular season, and the quarterback passer rating towards Ramsey''s side was also kept at a mere 69.0 ¡ª


    Failing grade.


    With talent and capability, that trash talk only made the opponents shut up, just like Larry Bird of the NBA''s Boston Celtics.


    In the 2017 season, during the Jaguars'' game against the Cincinnati Bengals, AJ Green, a well-known gentleman acknowledged by the league both on and off the field, lost his composure due to Ramsey''s continuous trash-talking tactics and landed punches in an ongoing harassive mouth battle.


    Originally, reporters hadn''t even considered Ramsey because as a cornerback and running back, they might not even meet once in the entire game; otherwise, why would the media, which loves to fan flames, miss out?


    But no one expected Ramsey to take the initiative to fire the shots ¡ª


    Here it comes, the explosive moment has finally arrived.

 Chapter 399 398 Classic Quotes

    Ramsey, a sophomore cornerback.


    Li Wei, a freshman running back.


    Although both players were rising stars in the League and had attracted attention for their sharp-tongued styles, the media had never really compared the two because of their different positions.


    In fact, earlier this week, the two players inadvertently collaborated by accident.


    Before the divisional playoff games, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Roethlisberger and safety Mitchell had completely overlooked the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Kansas City Chiefs, setting their sights on the New England Patriots early on, expecting the top two seeds to meet in the American League Championship. Their remarks were filled with mentions of Brady and Belichick, barely concealing their disdain for the other two teams in the divisional games.


    The result¡ª


    Both were eliminated, bowing out together.


    After the game, Li Wei fiercely blasted Roethlisberger back, and that classic quote had become a social network meme, dominating everywhere, with "White Claw" drinks suddenly becoming a hit.


    Rumor had it that White Claw was seriously considering inviting Roethlisberger to be their spokesperson, and providing Li Wei a profit share. Regardless of whether this was true or not, even just as a rumor, it was a complete humiliation for Roethlisberger.@@@@


    However, that''s how massive the traffic was.


    And Ramsey gave Mitchell no face, using Li Wei''s classic quote.


    "Who?"


    When reporters asked Ramsey what he thought about Mitchell''s pre-game comments, Ramsey, without even lifting an eyelid, retorted back, causing a stir.


    The reporter immediately followed up on the spot, "The one Fournette knocked over."


    Ramsey, "Oh, I remember now. I''m not familiar with him."


    Ramsey''s style of trash talking had its own quality and definitely didn''t spray randomly, so as not to injure the innocent, but whether Mitchell appreciated this consideration was unknown.


    In any case, the reporters were ecstatic, as memes of Ramsey''s expressionless fish-face flooded the media.


    Unintentionally, Li Wei and Ramsey had completed an indirect doubles collaboration off the field.


    That being said, the media had never really connected the running back and the cornerback until¡ª


    An unexpected surprise came along.


    Ramsey unexpectedly turned his guns on Li Wei, launching an indiscriminate attack.


    "Him? He''s alright. He does whatever the coach tells him to do."


    Li Wei looked at the reporter seriously, "Is intercepting Roethlisberger a very difficult thing to do?"


    Roethlisberger: Damn, I didn''t offend you!


    Killing two birds with one stone.


    With just one sentence, Li Wei achieved a double kill.


    For a moment, reporters didn''t know whether to nod or shake their heads. What was this inexplicable sense of humor? Should they pounce on Ramsey or Roethlisberger? Happiness came so swiftly it was a bit overwhelming.


    Then, Li Wei left... just like that... he walked away.


    Leaving chaos in his wake.


    Whether Li Wei and Ramsey would clash on the field remained to be seen, but one thing was sure: Li Wei and Roethlisberger''s future meetings were destined to be fiercely contentious, which would be spectacular.


    Moreover, both Li Wei and Ramsey were assassin-like trash talkers, understated and unruffled, and even Li Wei often wore a smile, but inadvertently dealt thunderous blows, striking fatally.


    On the surface, it seemed neither intended to target the other, but their thinly veiled jabs showed no regard for one another.


    Reporter: Rubbing hands together! This is way more interesting than Fournette challenging Li Wei.


    Fournette, doubtingly the Nth defeat.


    As Li Wei turned and left, the reporters burst forward in pursuit, realizing there was still an important question unasked!


    Ramsey had insinuated that Li Wei was highly sought after purely because of his Chinese heritage. Others deemed the Chinese label as Li Wei''s weakness, but Ramsey thought of it as Li Wei''s amulet, a politically correct charm¡ª


    Bart and his faction had always seen it this way, and there were not a few others inside and outside the League who harbored such thoughts. But no one had been as blunt as Ramsey in voicing this opinion.


    Now, someone had finally pierced through the paper window, and the journalists couldn''t miss this; but with so many explosive points to cover and not enough time, Li Wei had already left.


    The reporters, unwilling to give up, chased after him, ready to ambush Li Wei, only to encounter an unexpected figure.


    David Caldwell.


    Wait, Caldwell? The general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars?


    Why was Caldwell here? Was he on a recon mission?


    But what kind of team manager would brazenly walk into enemy territory, especially in plain sight¡ªwhat kind of tactic was this? Even someone like Sean Payton, known for underhanded tricks and spygate scandal, knew to act covertly. Had Caldwell gone mad?


    The journalists were so shocked and surprised that they were utterly stunned¡ª


    What in the world was this play?

 Chapter 400 399 Sheep into the tigers mouth

    Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire


    Buzz¡ª


    The air in the hotel lobby stagnated slightly, plunging into a brief chaos.


    Not only the reporters, but the Kansas City Chiefs players also became alert, utterly baffled by the presence of the rival team''s manager.


    Was it a coincidence?


    But how could it be a coincidence? Even a high school student would hardly believe that this scene was a coincidence; yet, no reasonable explanation came to mind.


    The scene was momentarily chaotic.


    Seeing this, Veach, the manager of the Kansas City Chiefs, stepped forward, greeting manager to manager¡ªit was the proper way to proceed.


    At the draft, Veach had outplayed Caldwell fiercely, fueling the dominant rise of the Kansas City Chiefs; however, nobody expected Caldwell to equally mastermind through the free market with sharp maneuvers, leading to a surprising comeback that turned the Jacksonville Jaguars into the biggest unpredictability of this postseason.


    Now, the two managers finally faced each other for an ultimate showdown.


    However.


    An unexpected situation arose again.


    After a brief, undercurrent-filled exchange of greetings, Caldwell flashed a smile and gestured with a raised hand.


    "Sorry, just a moment."


    Veach: ???


    But because Caldwell had been polite, Veach didn''t manage to stop him in time.


    Caldwell left his position and quickly walked to the side, heading straight for¡ª


    In the midst of the chaos and astonishment, perhaps the only exception was Li Wei.


    First, Li Wei didn''t recognize Caldwell.


    Second, Li Wei didn''t know whether the League had regulations against team managers contacting players privately without team permission.


    Third, Li Wei didn''t think this matter had anything to do with him at all.


    Until Caldwell caught up with him.


    "Li Wei!"


    Li Wei stopped, his face full of question marks, "Me?"


    Li Wei displayed a polite smile, extended his right hand, and warmly shook it, "Mr. Caldwell."


    Mahomes''s palms began to sweat. Was this appropriate?


    "Is there anything I can help you with? An autograph, or a photo together?"


    Mahomes: Cough cough.


    He almost choked on his own saliva, his cheeks quickly turning bright red. Facing the puzzled Caldwell, Mahomes hurriedly bowed his head and tucked in his chin, summoning all his strength to barely suppress his laughter.


    Caldwell was taken aback, clearly not anticipating such a reaction from Li Wei, but as a team manager, he quickly steadied himself and calmed down.


    Taking a deep breath, Caldwell broke into a wide smile again, "Li Wei, I am the manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars."


    Identifying himself.


    Li Wei slightly lifted his chin, his face displaying an expression of sudden realization, which somewhat relieved Caldwell, but he was not prepared for what Li Wei said next.


    "As a Chieftain fan, it must be tough being in Jacksonville."


    Caldwell: ...


    Mahomes: Squeeze fist tightly. Suppressing laughter is really hard.


    Veach was slightly slow to react, but a smile also crept onto his lips.


    Behind him, Kelsey and others couldn''t control themselves and were snickering softly.


    In fact, within the League, this was nothing unusual¡ª


    Serving a team does not necessarily mean being a fan of that team, after all, this is a Professional League, everything is a business transaction, a collaboration, and one shouldn''t expect to commit everything out of sheer passion.


    But the point is, while that''s the rational perspective, bursting the bubble is another matter altogether.


    No team''s management or fans want to hear that their team manager or quarterback''s heart belongs somewhere else; it''s not something to be taken lightly.


    The veins on Caldwell''s temple were throbbing painfully¡ª


    He was a team manager known for his strong style and control over the whole situation, not the type to joke around and blend in with the coaches and players.


    Even though Caldwell knew that Li Wei was sharp-tongued and fearless in front of the media, being a spectator was one thing, becoming the target was another.


    The smile was almost impossible to maintain, and his rage swiftly surged to the forefront, blazing fiercely.


    It seemed that Li Wei was a thorn, hard to manage. So, should Caldwell continue to pursue Li Wei?


    It appeared, perhaps, not a good idea.

 Chapter 401 Evil grows by a foot when the road grows by an ell

    A riveting drama, truly a riveting drama.


    One moment, the reporters were curious about Caldwell''s presence here; the next, Li Wei''s smiling humiliation had sent the story spiraling ¡ª¡ª


    Comparable to a melodramatic soap opera.


    Even though it was completely different from what was expected, the spectators still found it tantalizing.


    Caldwell too became conscious of the surrounding gazes, holding his breath for a short second to compose himself before his expression returned to normal.


    After all, it wasn''t Caldwell''s first day being acquainted with Li Wei''s edge; besides, with a Ramsey already on the Jacksonville Jaguars'' team, having another Li Wei wouldn''t be an issue ¡ª¡ª he could control the situation ¡ª¡ª


    Young people, they liked them just like this.


    However, this didn''t mean Caldwell wouldn''t counterattack.


    "So, curious? If you''re willing, you can also come over and give it a try," Caldwell said, without changing his expression, throwing out a lure and putting Li Wei on the grill. If the Kansas City Chiefs'' fans knew Li Wei was already looking for better options just one season into the League, how would they react?


    Heh heh.


    As soon as the Chiefs'' fans started attacking Li Wei, he would become unsettled and the Jacksonville Jaguars would find an opportunity to strike.


    A trap, one Caldwell had quietly set for Li Wei to jump into.


    Mahomes didn''t notice the trap at all, looking at Caldwell with full-blown confusion, his eyes seeming to ask: what are you really talking about?


    However.


    Li Wei, on the other hand, was completely composed, laughing joyfully, "Ha, my mom would be sad, she always complains about me being too far from home." Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire


    Caldwell: Huh?


    Mahomes and Veach, among others, were also entirely baffled, not understanding the relevance of Li Wei''s response; it was the reporters who were sharp ¡ª¡ª


    New York.


    Li Wei was from New York, and despite now residing in Kansas City, his family still lived in New York.


    Confronted with Caldwell''s invitation, Li Wei''s response was, "If I transfer, I''d prefer New York over Jacksonville."


    New York Giants: Is this manna from heaven?


    New York Jets: Heh, delusions are free. Those unaware might think there''s only one NFL team in New York.


    The National Conference championship game would take place in the afternoon.


    The American Conference championship game, in the evening.


    It was a common belief that the National Conference championship game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles should have been more exciting and uncertain, and therefore should have been scheduled for the evening slot.


    But the League scheduled the American Conference championship game for the evening, their overt favoritism towards Li Wei as clear as the sun in the sky. Goodell greedily shearing a sheep was quite a distasteful sight, sparking widespread discussion on social media.


    Moreover, the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, Jeffery Lurie, made a rare public statement during an interview.


    "We''re ready, and I believe we should have received better treatment."


    Although not a direct attack, the message was clearly understood, garnering support from countless fans and onlookers.


    Clearly, everyone had their own judgment about the two Conference championship games.


    Soon after.


    The Philadelphia Eagles showed they meant business; they did not let their owner become the butt of jokes, securing a resounding victory that sent out a powerful message.


    On the opening drive, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Keenum delivered top-notch performance, finishing with a 25-yard touchdown pass, but when everyone thought Keenum''s Cinderella story would continue to shine, it turned out to be the finale.


    After that, the Philadelphia Eagles completely took over the game.


    Against the league''s top defensive team, the Minnesota Vikings, the Philadelphia Eagles'' offensive group went on a rampage, with quarterback Nick Foles delivering the most spectacular performance of the entire season.


    With 456 yards of offense, including both passing and rushing, the Philadelphia Eagles utterly demolished the Minnesota Vikings'' defense, rolling to a crushing 38-0 victory.


    By the end of the game, the score was fixed at 38-7, with the Philadelphia Eagles slaughtering the Minnesota Vikings and striding triumphantly to the Super Bowl.


    Foles, 26 for 33, 352 yards, three touchdowns.


    Foles, unwatched, uncared for and underestimated, seized the opportunity to shine at the most important stage of his career.


    In stark contrast was Keenum, previously victorious and seemingly having the world at his feet, now dejected on the stage of the National Conference championship.


    48 for 28, 271 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions.


    One game was all it took for Keenum to be reduced to his former self.


    The entire league was in shock, unable to believe the National Conference championship game had been so decisively won.


    Incredibly!

 Chapter 402 401 League First

    "I never would have imagined the Minnesota Vikings completely falling apart in the National Conference championship!"


    "Wait, were the Minnesota Vikings just too weak, or were the Philadelphia Eagles too strong?"


    "I just can''t make heads or tails of this year''s playoffs, really can''t."


    "Can someone explain, is it normal for the National Conference championship to end up like this?"


    "The Minnesota Vikings got too cocky and played themselves out of the game, heh."


    "Wow, the Philadelphia Eagles went crazy! The Philadelphia Eagles are the champions!"


    Social media went berserk immediately, the unpredictability of competitive sports catching everyone off guard once again.


    For a while, netizens didn''t know whether they should call this National Conference championship game exciting; in this way, having the American League championship at night doesn''t seem so bad, and who knows, it might even bring additional surprises?


    Then¡ª


    "Hold on, the Jacksonville Jaguars won''t collapse like the Minnesota Vikings, will they?"


    Suddenly, a question popped up and swept across social media in no time.


    After all, it''s not impossible for the team ranked first in league defense to fall apart in front of an unknown like Foles, just as the star-less Jacksonville Jaguars could completely collapse in front of Smith and Li Wei.


    This...there''s no way the night game is also going to be a blowout, right?


    But then.


    Reed had a different opinion, the seasoned coach who had been around the league for many years maintained his composure, quietly controlling the mood in the team''s locker room¡ª


    The Jacksonville Jaguars should not be underestimated.


    If anyone does, the Pittsburgh Steelers are a testament to the consequences of such oversight.


    Perhaps, some are curious how a team like the Jacksonville Jaguars, without stars on either offense or defense, became the top favorite to win the Super Bowl, which seems counterintuitive.


    The answer, a very hardworking blue-collar team under the correct tactical guidance of their new coach Marrone, truly created an effect greater than the sum of its parts, demonstrating the team power of football, and that is the real danger.


    In fact, the answer is right in front of us.


    This season, the Jacksonville Jaguars'' defensive line earned the nickname "Sacksonville", a moniker derived from "Jacksonville", with the first letter changed to "Sack".


    In sixteen regular season games, this defensive line accomplished 55 sacks, just behind the Pittsburgh Steelers'' 56, ranking second in the league, and they are one of only two teams whose sack count exceeded fifty.


    Moreover, they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional round.


    One can see their prowess.


    The Jacksonville Jaguars employ a "4-3" defensive formation, with four defensive linemen and three linebackers.


    Back in the day, at the height of the Seattle Seahawks'' Bombing Corps, they often added linebackers or cornerbacks or even safeties to join in rushing the passer, using the element of surprise and a numerical advantage to create sacks, rewritting defensive tactics since the new century.


    However, the Jacksonville Jaguars rarely employ such tactics; at most adding a linebacker, not relying on a numerical advantage but on player collaboration to achieve sacks. Detailed and rich tactics are the fresh elements Head Coach Marrone has brought to the team.


    Defensive ends, Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue.


    Defensive tackles, Malik Jackson and Abry Jones, plus Marcell Dareus who joined from the Buffalo Bills mid-season to increase bench depth.


    Among the names mentioned above, Jackson is the most well-known. He ascended with Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos to become the Super Bowl Champions of the 50th Super Bowl as a key player.


    Jackson has always been regarded as an outstanding defensive tackle, but his abilities have never been duly acknowledged, having never made it into the Pro Bowl or the All-America First or Second Teams.


    It is widely known that the Denver Broncos relied on defense to win the 50th Super Bowl, with linebacker Von Miller being crowned the Super Bowl MVP. It is precisely for this reason that the Denver Broncos dared to push Manning into retirement. From this angle, it is evident Jackson is a grounded, blue-collar player.


    Alas, without the accompanying glory, Jackson seems to have always been underestimated.


    In the defensive line, only Campbell and Dareus have made it to the Pro Bowl, but not frequently¡ªCampbell once, Dareus twice.


    This season, the outstanding Campbell is the only player from the Jacksonville Jaguars likely to be selected for the Pro Bowl.


    Unobtrusive, steady, reserved.


    But, efficient.


    It is this defensive line that completed 55 sacks over the season. Apart from Campbell who led the charge with 11.5 sacks, the other three, along with rotational player Dareus, divided the remaining equally, each with stellar performances and shining moments throughout the season, giving offensive lines and quarterbacks a tough time, even earning the name "Sacksonville".


    And yet, this is just the tip of the iceberg of the Jacksonville Jaguars'' defensive group.@@@@

 Chapter 403 402 As expected

    This season, the Jacksonville Jaguars'' comprehensive rise is closely related to Caldwell, and it is no exaggeration to say that the team manager orchestrated this feast single-handedly.


    Although Caldwell seems aloof and above it all, the fact is that all the praise and glory he has received, he has won for himself.


    Caldwell would say that everything boils down to Head Coach Doug Marrone.


    Marrone himself started out on the offensive line, and though his player career was unremarkable, not even worth mentioning¡ªhe only stayed in the NFL for two seasons, then went to the United Kingdom to play for another two, before retiring early¡ªonce he became a coach, he showed his true talent. Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire


    As an offensive line coach or head coach, Marrone had never been able to build a team entirely according to his own plans; however, after he came to the Jacksonville Jaguars from the Buffalo Bills, under the tutelage of Good Old Man Coach Bradley, he found the space to spread his wings.


    His interpretation of tactics, the defensive layouts inferred from his offensive line experience, and the targeted strategic coordination against passing and running offenses after changing perspectives, truly brought a fresh breath to the Jacksonville Jaguars.


    Caldwell saw Marrone''s capabilities, and after firing Bradley, he promoted Marrone and reinforced the team in the free market according to Marrone''s requests.


    Among them, the key defensive line players¡ªCampbell, Jackson, and Dareus¡ªwere all recruits during this year''s offseason. Caldwell''s cost-effective and accurate planning played a crucial role, perfectly crafting a frontline that fit the team''s needs according to Marrone''s requirements.


    And that was just the tip of the iceberg.


    Behind a superior defensive line, there is also a remarkable linebacker lineup.


    Myles Jack, Telvin Smith, and Paul Posluszny.


    Three previously unheralded players demonstrated top-of-the-pyramid performances this season.


    With 90 tackles for Jack and 102 tackles for Smith as outside linebackers, and though Posluszny, as a middle linebacker, did not have as many due to his position, he still contributed 61 tackles.


    As the connecting part between the primary line and the secondary unit, they undertook tasks in both passing and running defense with intensity and teamwork, undoubtedly forming the core of the Jaguars'' top-tier defensive group.


    More importantly, this still wasn''t all.


    No wonder, not just within the league, the entire public opinion heavily favored the Jacksonville Jaguars to win and highly likely to claim the Super Bowl Champions title.


    Earlier, the widely favored Minnesota Vikings had a surprising fall and were knocked out cold. Concerns about the Jacksonville Jaguars potentially losing their footing due to experiential shortcomings persisted, fearing the current favorites might repeat the same mistakes.


    Then, the Jaguars showed their determination and the stability of their defense, as the warning bells rung by the Vikings had them concentrate and bring their best game from the start.


    "The first quarter of the game is over."


    "Currently, the score remains at ''0:0'', with neither team able to score."


    "Looking at the score, it looks like an even match, but the reality is not so, the game is more complex than it appears on the surface, and its difficulty is beyond what was expected."


    Located at the perpetual Bank Center in the southeastern port of Jacksonville, Nantz and Romo were partners once again, talking during the brief intermission at the end of the first quarter, summarizing the game briefly¡ª


    Everything was as expected.


    Dull, uninteresting.


    The first quarter was filled with penalties and punts, with both team''s defensive groups taking over the game as the main characters. Such a contest wasn''t very exciting.


    At this moment, social media was dominated by strong opinions.


    A group of netizens complained that this game shouldn''t have been a night game, at least the first National Conference final with the Philadelphia Eagles'' full-on offensive firepower had some entertainment value; but the current American League final was truly dull.


    However, more netizens, with the attitude of someone who has been there, said, no matter the sport¡ªfootball, basketball, tennis, rugby, etc.¡ªit''s almost always the same: the exciting games are usually in the group stage or early knockout rounds, the further you go the more boring it gets, and the championship fight is often the peak of drowsiness; it''s not the first time anyway.


    "Not surprising."


    "No need to make a big fuss."


    "Both teams must have expended too much energy, especially the Kansas City Chiefs who''ve had back-to-back comeback advances; they must be running out of steam now."

 Chapter 404 - 403 Easy to Understand

    No matter what viewpoint or stance, whether a fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars or the Kansas City Chiefs, no one could deny that the game at hand was... dull.


    "Physical and mental stamina have both reached their limits, now it¡¯s a bayonet fight, and the situation is gradually leaning towards the Jacksonville Jaguars,"


    "That¡¯s why they say championships rely on defense."


    "The Jacksonville Jaguars are just playing tight defense, no mistakes."


    The game lacked highlights to such an extent that fans had started checking their phones en masse, making social networks particularly lively.


    "0:0."


    A game like this was really hard to get excited about, at least in the first quarter.


    Fans of the Philadelphia Eagles watching quietly commented:


    You guys aren¡¯t cutting it.


    What happened to the fiercely contested battle? What happened to both sides suffering? The Philadelphia Eagles were still preparing to sit back and reap the benefits of others¡¯ efforts, yet this was the result?


    On one hand, social networks were buzzing like never before.


    On the other hand, in the commentary booth live, Nantz still needed to continue the commentary.


    "...In fact, the situation isn¡¯t as simple as the score would suggest, Tony, what do you think?"


    Romo nodded in agreement.


    "This is the game pace the Jacksonville Jaguars favor."


    "Judging by the score, it¡¯s still evenly matched; however, the Jacksonville Jaguars firmly hold the initiative."


    "On the offensive end, quarterback Bortles hasn¡¯t brought any surprises yet, and running back Fournette seems a bit impatient, the more he tries to prove himself, the more likely he overstretches, and today he has slipped twice already."


    "This is Jacksonville, not Foxborough, the weather today is pleasant, warm like spring, and very suitable for an outdoor football game, but Fournette¡¯s performance is not satisfying, he¡¯s still too eager to prove himself."


    Jacksonville is in the northeastern part of Florida, and even in January, the weather is sunny and mild, completely unlike the heavy snowfall in Foxborough, compared to last week¡¯s wild card game, it¡¯s like a different world.


    From a paper analysis, this game should be more exciting than the National Conference finals held in the icy Philadelphia, but the reality is completely different.


    "Of course, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense¡¯s ground defense showed enough intensity."


    Flowing effortlessly, like flowing clouds and streaming water.


    Romo really proved his mettle as a professional quarterback by pinpointing the crux immediately.


    On the surface, ¡¯0-0¡¯, no one has managed to break the deadlock; but in fact, the game is step by step shifting into a mode familiar to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and inevitably, the first to falter will be the Kansas City Chiefs¡ª


    Just in the first quarter alone, Smith nearly got intercepted twice, Hill had one fumble that did not lead to a turnover, and even Li Wei nearly lost the ball amid a triple-team tackle.


    Teetering on the brink.


    So far no fatal mistakes have occurred, but they are indeed dancing on the edge of a knife.


    The pressure is monumental, crashing down in waves.


    To be precise, the game is now ¡¯Defense vs. Defense,¡¯ a mode favored by the Jacksonville Jaguars, putting all the spotlight on the defensive group.


    However.


    "Precisely because of this, those who now have the ability to change the game are actually the offensive groups."


    "Both defensive groups are performing extremely well. Now we wait to see which offensive group can first break through the opponent¡¯s defense to tip the balance."


    "Unprecedentedly, the pressure and responsibility are resting on the shoulders of the offensive groups."


    Romo, as a former quarterback, regardless of his performance on the field, had held the starting quarterback position for many years and maintained a place in a fiercely competitive league, obviously possessing the necessary skill and insight.


    Suddenly, Romo captured the essence.


    Then, his gaze fell on the quarterbacks of both teams:


    Bortles and Smith.


    "Considering the state of both quarterbacks in this game..."


    A pause.


    "I think, to break this deadlock, it might require other offensive players now."


    Even though it was unspoken, Nantz quickly understood, exchanged a glance with Romo, and both men chuckled before turning their attention back to the field¡ª


    "Fournette vs. Li Wei," is it finally coming?

 Chapter 405 - 404 interlocking rings

    The situation was tense and stalemated.


    Bystanders could empathize, but participants were wholly immersed in it, every inch of skin and every cell feeling the burning tension and sharpness.


    Li Wei took a deep breath, his gaze intently fixed on the field, his brain working at high speed. Despite anticipating difficulties in pre-game preparations, facing the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ defensive group still repeatedly shattered expectations, with pressure and impact beyond imagination.


    A defense only slightly reminiscent of the Pittsburgh Steelers, yet even more formidable.


    The most distinctive feature of the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ defensive group was the lack of a core player. Neither lineman Bosrusni nor Defensive Tackle Jackson was a leader of that sort. Instead, they worked in concert, supporting each other like a series of interlocked rings.


    Akin to nine interlocked rings.


    Moreover,


    Head Coach Marrone paid no attention to offense, concentrating all his efforts on on-the-spot defensive commands, relying solely on defense to break open the game.


    Whether it was rushing pressure or coordinated zone defense, the response was swift and alert, firmly gripping the lifeline of Kansas Chiefs Offensive Coordinator Nagy, staying half a step ahead from pre-game preparations and maintaining that advantage with split-second reactions, thus establishing complete dominance.


    Full suppression¡ª


    That meant, for Li Wei and anyone else carrying the ball, progress was often met with a defense where one link locked into the next, creating very few one-on-one opportunities, their lifelines choked by the tactics of the opposition.@@@@


    It¡¯s been said before that the only unreversible advantage in a football game is the number of players¡ª even "Beast Mode" Lynch or Gronkowski would struggle in the mire against triple coverage.


    Without a doubt, this was a brand-new challenge in Li Wei¡¯s short football career.


    In the past, Li Wei could identify a single player to breakthrough, but today it was different. The defensive line and linemen were evenly matched, with no apparent weaknesses. Combined with mutual support among players, breaking through with individual strength was difficult.


    So, what did this mean?


    A challenge!


    Even after a full season in the League, challenges kept emerging. Honestly, Li Wei was somewhat excited.


    At the moment, he watched the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ offense with undivided attention.


    Fournette also faced the same formidable coordinated defense from the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ frontline, repeatedly hitting a wall.


    The running back, who bulldozed his way through NCAA games, attempted to replicate his dominant college performance, but this approach was evidently ineffective¡ª


    Even though the score remained the same, the Jacksonville Jaguars were indeed firmly in control, not just the defensive group, but the special teams as well, performing exceptionally well amidst the waves of support from the home crowd.


    This meant that the Kansas City Chiefs avoided a change in possession dilemma, but their offense would now have to start their play from the precarious position just three yards in front of the end zone.


    Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ opportunity!


    It was a tricky spot, one lapse in attention, and the balance might be broken, don¡¯t forget the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ title this season:


    "Sackville".


    Once the Jacksonville Jaguars successfully sack Smith in the end zone, that¡¯s a safety, two points, and the defensive group can break the deadlock too.


    Involuntarily, Fournette clenched his fist in celebration, catching a glimpse from the corner of his eye of the nonchalant Ramsey starting to shuffle his feet in place, itching to try, with powerful confidence radiating from within.


    Not just Ramsey, but other defensive linemen and linebackers too, one after another, their eyes lit up, aware that this could be the turning point of the game.


    Heh heh, the Kansas City Chiefs were in trouble.


    The Old Oak Tavern was well aware of that too.


    When Provos walked through the door, he saw just that scene¡ª


    "Jinx."


    That was the only thought in Provos¡¯s mind, and he felt he ought to leave; he was the ominous person who had caused the team to fall into such a predicament.


    But West was a step ahead, quietly placing a beer on the countertop without saying much, and then turning back toward the television screen again.


    Provos looked at the tavern filled to the brim with red jerseys, with not even a spot to stand on, seemingly having no place for him.


    The next second, they all started shouting.


    "Fly high!"


    "Fly high!"


    Involuntarily, Provos also felt his heart surge and his blood start to boil, and then, on the television screen, the Kansas City Chiefs Offense took the field.


    Provos stood there dazed, ultimately unable to bring himself to leave, quietly chanting along in his heart with all the fans in the venue.


    "Fly high!"

 Chapter 406 - 405 Catching Up from Behind

    Ten yards in one down, three yards from the front line of our end zone.


    This was an extremely tricky and dangerous position to begin an offensive, with the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offense all standing in the end zone, feeling the oppressive aura of the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ defense closing in.


    The danger and tension from the first quarter continued into the second, escalating progressively to new heights, with the Kansas City Chiefs teetering on the brink of errors and seemingly about to give in.


    Both teams faced off, their momentum starkly different¡ª


    In such a scenario, there was no secret in the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ first down strategy. To avoid the risk of a safety, choosing a ground attack was highly likely¡ªrunning the ball to gain some distance and escape the predicament of the end zone front, enabling more freedom in their offensive tactics.


    In such situations, ninety-nine times out of a hundred, teams would choose to run.


    Moreover, the passing attack of the Kansas City Chiefs hadn¡¯t been effective thus far, and considering that the current Jacksonville Jaguars were among the top sack machines in the league, the tactical choice was even less surprising.


    So.


    The Jacksonville Jaguars knew the Kansas City Chiefs would choose to run, and the Kansas City Chiefs knew that the Jacksonville Jaguars knew they would choose to run. So, how should they break through when the tactics were no secret?


    Li Wei remained calm¡ª


    Although he was very excited and his blood was boiling, his attention was completely focused, entering a state of self-forgetfulness.


    He was reading the defense.


    Li Wei could tell that the fighting spirit of the Jacksonville Jaguars was high, their eagerness almost spilling out uncontrollably. Did this mean they were preparing to go all out for a safety?


    Whether it was Smith or Li Wei or any other offensive player, being tackled in the end zone meant a safety; a fumble leading to a turnover would directly result in a touchdown.


    From all aspects, the Jacksonville Jaguars wouldn¡¯t pass up such an opportunity.


    Pressure, off the charts.


    So, what should Li Wei do?


    He had an idea: strike later.


    When they were at a disadvantage, unable to seize the initiative or counterattack head-on, perhaps it was time to try a strategy of retreat to advance, avoiding the sharpest edge of the opponent¡¯s assault.


    Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ running back Bell¡¯s trademark move: stop, look, and go through, was a classic example.


    Although Li Wei didn¡¯t have Bell¡¯s training regime, having undergone multiple training regimes, Li Wei was also gradually finding his style¡ª


    He felt he could give it a try.


    Taking a deep breath, Li Wei noticed a gaze and instinctively looked over, catching Smith¡¯s slightly wavering eyes.


    Furthermore, a Safety charged down like a tiger, directly confronting them, and even without directly colliding with the pocket¡¯s defense, the layered momentum utterly suppressed the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Comparable to heavy artillery.


    The already precarious protection of the pocket could only barely hold up.


    Smith found himself ambushed on all fronts, not just the front; it felt as if every direction bore down with relentless pressure, suffocating him.


    One second, he had just received the football from the Center¡¯s hands, and the next, he stood at the cliff¡¯s edge, with fierce winds threatening his stance.


    "Sackville," true to its reputation.


    Smith clenched his teeth, sank his energy into his core, controlled himself, steadily backed away, calmly turned, and in the midst of the raging storm, handed the football to Li Wei.


    Football, passed on.


    However.


    It was at that moment¡ªthe pocket broke¡ª


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    Linebacker Bosrusni charged forward leading the way.


    Danger!


    Smith sounded the alarm. Normally, as the quarterback, having completed his task, he should have stepped aside to avoid injury, which would have been the correct move strategically; but at that moment, only one thought dominated Smith¡¯s mind:


    Block.


    They were a team, and they fought side by side.


    He was one of them, and as Li Wei faced the storm alone, he could not simply stand by.


    He paused, bent his knees, lowered his center of gravity, and lunged forward with his right shoulder.


    Smith did not hesitate, and not only that, he clenched his teeth and exerted his full strength.


    Hmm.


    A muffled grunt¡ªSmith knocked the unprepared Bosrusni back, disrupting his advance, and collapsed back into the offensive line, causing Smith too to tumble out¡ª


    He bought Li Wei precious time to adjust.


    Turning his head, he could see Li Wei starting to move.

 Chapter 407 406 numerical superiority

    ```


    Chaos, crowdedness, density.


    But the more so, the calmer one needed to be, for the breakdown of order often meant vulnerabilities, and that was the only thought in Li Wei''s mind at that very moment.


    Having grabbed the football from Smith, Li Wei immediately dropped back and veered to the side, deliberately breaking away from the pocket''s disaster area, seeking breathing space on the right wing.


    A glance.


    Li Wei could see Bosrusni, who had penetrated into the belly of the pocket from the left, and his steps immediately changed in quick succession to gain distance, then Bosrusni and Smith were seen falling to the ground together, eliminating one threat, but there were two more¡ª


    Linebacker Telvin Smith.


    Among the three linebackers, Telvin was the only one who didn''t step up immediately, purposely waiting for a moment, and only after the offensive line and defensive line had collided into a meat grinder did he make his way into the pocket from the outside.


    Waiting for Li Wei.


    Having met no obstructions, Telvin left tight end Kelsey behind. Watching Kelsey surge forward and lose his blocking position, Telvin smartly stepped up through the gap left behind by Kelsey.


    Agile, nimble, swift.


    The Jacksonville Jaguars'' defensive group once again took the initiative with their tactical coordination.


    Moreover, Li Wei had just retreated and was observing, which gave Telvin enough time to charge ahead, unobstructed, straight to Li Wei''s front.


    Danger!@@@@


    Telvin was completely focused on Li Wei, not giving him any time, positioning himself accurately.


    So, what about Li Wei?


    Li Wei hadn''t missed Telvin''s figure, and he was getting ready to dodge with a change of direction; however, in the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the second threatening approach.


    Not linebacker Bosrusni, but defensive end Campbell.


    Campbell, too, the hidden leader and defensive core of this blue-collar defense, was clearly eager to seize this opportunity.


    ¡ªNumber advantage.


    The Jacksonville Jaguars once again created a numerical superiority and did not leave much room for Smith and Li Wei to adjust, continuing their strong performance since the start of the game.


    What to do?


    Of course, Li Wei could keep changing direction, but he had tried that already in the first quarter, and the Jaguars'' subsequent defense was very timely. They minutely wove a large net, setting a trap. The more Li Wei tried to dodge, the more he struggled, the deeper he sank into a predicament¡ª


    The reason was that, once he began to change direction, time and space were compressed, and everything relied on real-time reactions, with no time to observe and judge. A slight lapse in attention would fall into the opponent''s encirclement, and the Jacksonville Jaguars knew Li Wei''s individual ability well; once Li Wei had the ball, they would be fully on guard, forming a blockade with a numerical advantage to cut off any further advance.


    Actually, the distance between Campbell, Telvin, and Li Wei was merely a couple of steps, considering the end zone was only the size of a palm''s space.


    When Campbell shook off the offensive line and cut into the pocket, his first reaction was to charge at Li Wei, naturally assuming Li Wei would change direction outward to evade, so he swiftly stepped diagonally forward.


    One step.


    He had barely stepped forward when Telvin and Li Wei already came at him; Campbell couldn''t brake in time and collided with them, the three of them tumbling into a heap.


    Everything went into the spin dryer.


    Perhaps, Li Wei was the only exception.


    Squatting, bending his knees, his center of gravity stable, he kept pushing back consistently. In the midst of this chaos, he was the only one who completely maintained control over his body.


    In the midst of chaos and disturbance¡ª


    A push.


    An instant burst of strength, not to flip over Telvin and Campbell, but to use the reaction force to break free; a step forward and a leap out, with his right leg as the pivot, his left leg kicked out, and he immediately started to spin.


    A 180-degree turn.


    He lightly stepped past the clumsy and heavy Telvin and Campbell, amazingly cutting an inside line through the dense crowd and burst out.


    A dizzying sight.


    Cornerback Ramsey couldn''t see clearly, nor could Defensive Tackle Jackson.


    They were both probing the situation on the field, trying to judge with the two-on-one situation of Telvin and Campbell. Ramsey quickly gave up his matched wide receiver, moving forward in anticipation of intercepting Li Wei if he managed to break free from the tackle, but he couldn''t see clearly through the chaos, struggling to make a judgment.


    Wait, that is¡ª


    A streak of white, clad in the away jersey, broke free from the corner of Ramsey''s eye and charged out, in the blink of an eye. Ramsey couldn''t even begin to think or judge, his mind filled with question marks, unable to keep pace.


    However, Jackson noticed.


    Li Wei.


    Without hesitation, Malik Jackson took a step forward and collided with him. Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire


    Bull rush!


    Jackson''s steps couldn''t keep up, but by that point he couldn''t care less. His feet behind, his body ahead, he threw himself straightforward, accurately completing the collision just before Li Wei crossed the kickoff line¡ª


    Bang.


    The momentum was massive; even though he didn''t put all his strength into it, his 285 pounds (129 kilograms) hit like a meat mountain, like a bullet train head-on.


    With that, Li Wei was sent flying.

 Chapter 408 407 one after another

    Despite becoming the Super Bowl Champions in their fiftieth edition, Malik Jackson had never been able to win the recognition he deserved. He was a blue-collar worker¡ªhardworking and diligent, yet often overlooked.


    This year, with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jackson found his place. There were no superstars, no idols, just a group of blue-collar players conquering the field, step by step they advanced into the American League finals.


    Now, it was time¡ª


    For this group of unknown veterans to shine!


    One push, one dive.


    Jackson completely abandoned the idea of tackling. He recklessly charged, intent on disrupting Li Wei''s balance and knocking him off his feet from the start.


    And he succeeded.


    Direct hit.


    Li Wei grunted as he staggered towards the right side.


    However, Li Wei wasn''t surprised.


    This was the capability of the Jacksonville Jaguars'' defensive group¡ªa chain of pressure and impact, wave after wave, while Li Wei''s steps lingered near the End Zone Line.


    And still, it wasn''t over.


    Otherwise, why couldn''t the Kansas City Chiefs'' offense seem to get off the ground in the first quarter?


    Though he hadn''t anticipated Jackson''s desperate dive, Li Wei was mentally prepared for any mishaps and obstructions, so the moment the collision occurred, Li Wei didn''t resist but rather entered a passive mode to absorb the impact¡ª


    His steps and gravity seemed barely connected, as if trying to escape yet not quite succeeding, struggling to find his balance in the storm.


    One step, two steps, three steps, four steps, continuously moving laterally.@@@@


    His organs tumbled inside him, his bones felt as if they were on the verge of breaking apart.


    But Li Wei didn''t panic. There was no time and no space for that; his attention was fully concentrated on his body and feet, quickly spotting Ramsey''s figure.


    Just a beat too late, Ramsey had already located Li Wei and quickly closed in with intense focus¡ª


    Usually, safeties and cornerbacks are not responsible for defending running backs, especially in the Jacksonville Jaguars, as secondary defense rarely joins the front line.


    But this isn''t absolute.


    If the running back bursts past the kickoff line, naturally, secondary defense must keep up.


    Moreover, there was even a chance for safety and scoring.


    Just as Li Wei seemed about to exit the end zone, Ramsey instantly followed, ready to push Li Wei back in.


    "Li Wei vs. Ramsey."


    Watching dumbfounded, Ramsey saw Li Wei miraculously regain control of his body again, executing a counter-clockwise 360-degree spin to break away, putting them out of alignment, and without a moment''s hesitation, Li Wei forged ahead.


    Damn. Damn! Damn!


    Ramsey wanted to curse aloud but there was no time, his first reaction was to again control his body using his core strength, with no pause or hesitation, he reacted on the spot and lunged forward.


    Recklessly, he threw himself forward.


    A dive.


    However, it was slightly lacking, Ramsey only managing to slap Li Wei''s calves, flapping against them like bicycle pedals, and the next second, Ramsey was eating a mouthful of grass clippings and dust.


    Shit. Shit shit shit!


    But Li Wei''s stride didn''t stop, continuing to drive forward amid the chaos and turmoil, staggering and swaying as he gritted his teeth and advanced through the tempest.


    But.


    It was ultimately too forced, the continuous impact and collisions completely broke down Li Wei''s body control, his lactic acid flared up, he couldn''t catch his breath, his body was exhausted, and his knees weakened, unable to support the force of his footing.


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    "...Li Wei. Li Wei! Li Wei! Oh God!"


    "Li Wei has broken free!"


    "Li Wei has actually escaped Ramsey''s clutches¡ªthat''s already the third tackle he has shaken off, and he''s still not stopping; he''s still moving forward."


    "Incredible!"


    "Li Wei''s steps are still within five yards from the end zone line, but he has faced continuous collisions and tackles from four players, the Jacksonville Jaguars'' frontline''s relentless defense, yet this time, Li Wei found a gap amidst the raging storm!"


    "God!"


    "Gosh."


    Nantz was absolutely speechless, gaping at the scene before him, his mind reeling in disbelief at all that was unfolding.


    "Li Wei is exhausted."


    "Li Wei''s knees can no longer bear the strength, his stride has halted near the six or seven-yard line..."


    "No, no!"


    "What exactly are we witnessing here, Li Wei, Li Wei again demonstrates an Edgerunner moment!"


    "With hands and feet moving, Li Wei managed to find his balance amidst the stumbling, he''s still pushing forward, Li Wei is still carrying the ball and running."


    "This offensive play isn''t over yet!"

 Chapter 409 408 Furious Storm and Waves

    Teetering on the brink, precariously balanced¡ª


    It was hard to imagine, Li Wei had only crossed five or six yards beyond the kick-off line and was already exhausted. Even though he held his breath, keeping one last gasp without relenting, his stumbling steps could no longer carry on.


    The intensity, off the charts.


    His knees were trembling, his calves quivering, his center of gravity on the verge of toppling.


    Yet, Li Wei remained focused.


    If the first half was a battle of wits and courage against the Jacksonville Jaguars'' defensive group, then after crossing the short five-yard death zone it became Li Wei''s battle with himself.


    Refusing to bow down, refusing to surrender.


    Fighting until the end.


    Staggering, his upper body leaning forward, completely off-balance, he seemed set for a fall in the next second; at the critical moment, Li Wei steadied himself with his left hand on the ground, using the little energy left in his chest to push off once more.


    In his mind, there was only one thought¡ª


    Step.


    Step Step Step.


    One step, then another, despite some slipping of the feet, despite the knees unable to straighten, but the continuous stepping motion finally caught up the feet with the body, the lower half catching up with the upper half, pulling the balance back together.


    Then, he took another deep breath.


    Pushing off, starting out.


    Sprinting.


    A series of breathtaking maneuvers performed in quick succession, unbelievably crossing the ten-yard line, finding his center of gravity, and more importantly, starting to accelerate.


    The wind howled fiercely.


    Perpetual Bank Center was completely stunned, disbelieving their own eyes.


    Nantz was also doubting what he was seeing.


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    "Li Wei, oh God!"


    A shiver ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.


    "Jack! Myles Jack is chasing!"


    "Linebacker Jack realized the football wasn''t in Smith''s grasp, he didn''t stop, leaving the pocket, circling around from behind, immediately chasing after Li Wei."


    "Li Wei is facing continuous obstruction, he has not yet managed to release his speed, and Jack has already caught up."


    "Number forty-four, the Jaguars'' number forty-four is closing in from behind!"


    "Jack! Li Wei!"


    "Li Wei! Jack!"


    "Straight Arm Block! Li Wei, not fully accelerated yet, chooses a Straight Arm Block to break free at the first opportunity!"


    "Jack doesn''t give up, Jack clenches his teeth and entangles Li Wei."


    "Obviously, Li Wei is still exhausted, the Straight Arm Block hasn''t completely shaken off the pursuer!"


    "Ah, a yellow flag!"


    "Jack''s holding penalty!"


    "Li Wei, Straight Arm Block again!"


    "Beautiful!"


    "Kelsey makes a block, knocking Gipson off his feet!"


    "Li Wei! Li Wei is now the lone front runner."


    "God, the scene we''ve seen countless times in the regular season is replayed, the Jacksonville Jaguars'' nightmare, this is definitely a nightmare at their home field."


    "Forty-yard line!"


    "Church! Li Wei!"


    "Li Wei! Church!"


    "The two men are neck and neck, with Church looking for an opportunity."


    "Speed up!"


    "Li Wei outpaces with sheer speed, incredulously leaving Church behind. The undrafted rookie from 2013 failed to keep his position, unable to keep up with Li Wei''s sheer speed."


    "Oh, Church."


    "Poor Church at his maximum speed, but his body can''t keep up, he lunges forward, but Li Wei is still sprinting at full speed."


    "His strides have crossed the midfield line!"


    The forty-yard line on the opposing half.


    Provo silently shouts in his heart, his eager heart almost leaping out of his throat. The Jacksonville Jaguars'' legions are closing in and chasing, but Li Wei''s figure is like a breath of fresh air, majestically traversing the entire field, untouchable.


    Thirty-yard line.


    The lone front runner, unmatched.


    Li Wei, obliviously focused, pierces into the Jacksonville Jaguars'' territory like an arrow, his swift and agile form firmly capturing everyone''s gaze. Even Nantz has lost the ability to speak, just shouting heatedly.


    "Twenty!"


    The Old Oak Tavern can''t hold back anymore; one by one, everyone stands up, joining Nantz, murmuring shouts in a bomber-like manner, the voices from every corner twisting into a rope.


    "Ten!"


    "Five!"


    Then, watching that number twenty-three figure pierce the enemy''s heart like an arrow, a mighty and unstoppable rush, no one could stop him.


    Bang!


    Li Wei stands in the end zone, turns around to face the massive pursuers behind him, and slams the football to the ground with both fists tightly clenched, transforming into the Hulk, roaring loudly.


    "Ah!"


    Suppressed, restrained, frustrated, enduring¡ª


    At the last, teetering moment above the tightrope, it is still the Kansas City Chiefs who clenched their teeth to break through the siege and break the deadlock, finally able to release without reservation, the surging aggression striking back with overwhelming force.


    "Ahhh!"


    The beast, awakened.


    That overwhelming momentum crushes the head of the Jaguar beneath, announcing the king''s return with an absolutely brutal and bloody stance.


    Rolling waves of energy sweep across the field.


    Then.


    The Old Oak Tavern can''t hold back, Provo is the first to raise his arm and shout, unleashing the energy, the entire space roaring in unison with one heart.


    Ah! Aaaah!

 Chapter 410 409 Have fun!

    "... touchdown."


    Nantz''s mind went blank, completely devoid of thought, relying solely on experience and instinct, the fervor and frenzy within him burning fiercely.


    "Touchdown!"


    "Touchdooown!"


    He let it all out in one long breath, releasing his emotions unrestrained, his face flushed as though he had downed a bottle of red wine in one gulp¡ªdizzy and disoriented, yet unable to contain his joy.


    "The Kansas City Chiefs stood in the end zone, facing a challenging three-yard starting position, confronted by the Jacksonville Jaguars'' determined breakthrough."


    "However,"


    "The Kansas City Chiefs sounded the horn for a counterattack."


    "Three hits, three tackles, one close press¡ªsurprisingly, the Chiefs'' rookie running back number twenty-three managed to break free, pushing forward despite losing his balance."


    "Finally, Li Wei completed a long-run of one hundred and three yards, rushing to the touchdown."@@@@


    "Wow!"


    "After a first quarter of intense collisions and entangled struggle, just when the Jacksonville Jaguars seemed poised to completely overwhelm their opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs were struggling at the brink of collapse."


    "Yet unexpectedly, it was the Kansas City Chiefs who broke the deadlock first."


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    "On the brink of crisis, at the lowest of lows, the Kansas City Chiefs'' offense showcased their boldness once again, with Li Wei almost single-handedly turning the tide."


    "Following a season that could only be described as perfect for a rookie, Li Wei continued his top-notch performance in the playoffs, playing a crucial role for the third consecutive game."


    "Undoubtedly, the skill and talent displayed by Li Wei once again drew all eyes to the running back, more frenzied than any other season."


    "We only have one question: Is there anything Li Wei can''t do?"


    "Now,"


    "The balance has been disrupted, meaning that Marrone might need to alter his strategy¡ªif the Jacksonville Jaguars'' offense doesn''t adjust, the pace of the game could very well shift in favor of the Kansas City Chiefs."


    "This American League championship game is getting exciting."


    Now, Houston was provoking Revis.


    Revis didn''t show it outwardly and responded with a direct comeback, but his focus sharpened¡ª


    The Jacksonville Jaguars Offense would likely seek a counterattack, avoiding letting the Kansas City Chiefs pull ahead, so the next moments would be a time for their Defense group to show their strength, cementing the opening that the Offensive group had worked hard to create.


    Both Houston and Revis turned their eyes toward the opposite side of the field.


    "Next up, what''s noteworthy is how Marrone will adjust the offensive tactics."


    Romo pointed out the key issue, but upon seeing the Jacksonville Jaguars'' offensive formation, his eyebrows furrowed involuntarily.


    Something seemed off.


    "Marrone has not changed the formation, still using the standard pistol formation; let''s see if the Jacksonville Jaguars'' offensive tactics will undergo any changes."


    However.


    They did not.


    "The Jacksonville Jaguars'' first and ten still opt for a running play, but this time, the Kansas Chiefs'' Defense accurately predicted the tactics, focusing intently on ground defense and stopping it right away."


    "Running back Fournette''s run was somewhat dull. It was evident that he was a bit hasty, but his mind wasn''t keeping up. The coordination for this running play wasn''t good, and the Jacksonville Jaguars needed to make a change."


    Fournette lay sprawling on the ground, not to speak of advancing, but losing two yards instead, including Houston, three players cracked the Jacksonville Jaguars'' running strategy, intercepting Fournette immediately with no chance at all¡ªit was almost like hitting a wall.


    The dull progress on the ground, Fournette''s own impatient mindset was part of the reason, while the Jacksonville''s offensive line and receivers'' tactical coordination were another part, and the opponent''s early identification of the offensive tactic was the fundamental reason; the situation still had not opened up.


    Struggling, Fournette prepared to get up, when he saw Houston politely extend his right hand, hesitated for a moment, but took Houston''s hand to stand up. Fournette could''ve never anticipated that Houston would give him a hug and whisper in his ear,


    "Had a blast playing."


    Instantly, rage surged, and Fournette''s face turned beet-red, looking like he could explode at any moment, fiercely glaring at Houston, then turning his head toward Li Wei who had been quietly observing the field dynamics from the sidelines.


    Fury continued to surge:


    Damn, damn, damn.


    After an entire season of arduous waiting, finally facing Li Wei head-on, was he really going to continue to be stifled?


    Li Wei had already taken the lead in breaking the deadlock; now it was his turn to explode. He would prove he was a part of the triumvirate, he would prove that the Jacksonville Jaguars choosing him was the right decision, he would prove that he was as good as Li Wei, even better!


    He would.

 Chapter 411 410 As ferocious as wolves and tigers

    "From what we can see, the Jacksonville Jaguars have always focused on a ground offense, with running back Fournette playing a more important role than quarterback Bortles,"@@@@


    "For Fournette, this is an opportunity,"


    "An opportunity to prove that he is not a bit inferior to Li Wei, an opportunity to prove that he has the makings of a top-running back, an opportunity to prove that running backs can change the course of a game."


    "Throughout the season, Fournette had lived in Li Wei''s shadow until last game against the Pittsburgh Steelers when he finally found his voice. Now, faced with the chance to confront Li Wei head-on, Fournette needs to seize the opportunity."


    Unexpectedly yet logically, the quarterback duel ''Smith VS Bortles'' isn''t the spectacle of the match, instead, the clash between running backs Fournette and Li Wei has become the focal point of the American League finals¡ª


    Indeed, time makes heroes, and this is a scene not even Goodell could orchestrate behind the scenes, but it is indeed unfolding right now.


    Just now, Li Wei had a 103-yard rush touchdown that refreshed the history of the American League finals, becoming the longest rush touchdown in the Super Bowl era of the American League finals, pushing Li Wei''s fame to new heights once again.


    Social media platforms are already flooded.


    Now, the chance is in Fournette''s hands.


    Of course, that depends on Marrone''s choice of offensive strategy.


    On one side, the Jacksonville Jaguars'' offensive group was organizing their troops.


    The home team now faces a dilemma of second down and twelve yards. Maybe rushing isn''t the best choice, but if they opt for a pass, they need more meticulous cooperation.


    On the other side, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense was also studying and strategizing.


    Should they strike first, or wait for the opponent to make a move and then respond spontaneously?


    As a lineman, Houston was reading the offense, attempting to clear the fog from the opponent''s dazzling offensive set-up to find the truth and decode the opposing strategy.


    Huh?


    Houston was slightly puzzled.


    He was not completely certain about what he observed, and different judgments flashed through his mind, but there was no time for hesitation. He still chose to trust his gut.


    Without hesitation, Houston shouted chants and gestured to his teammates in the Defensive group.


    After some manipulation, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense slightly spread out¡ª


    This was... a posture for defending a pass; focusing on either a medium or long pass.


    The Jacksonville Jaguars'' quarterback Bortles noticed this as well, but Bortles, a reticent and honest person like Quasimodo from "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame," who is naive and kind, perfectly followed the coach''s strategy. He didn''t mind being labeled a system player by others. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire


    Bortles had a clear awareness of his talent and abilities. Sometimes, being an obedient quarterback and trusting the coaching staff''s decisions helped him secure his position in the league.


    Initially, Houston had some doubts, but he hadn''t expected that all would be precisely as he predicted.


    Despite the Jacksonville Jaguars'' lackluster offense, could they really be this lazy and clumsy?


    However.


    Indeed, they were just that.


    Houston looked at Fournette, who lay disheveled on the ground, and he didn''t even feel like kicking a man when he was down. This kid, feeling too sorry for himself, still thought he could compete with Li Wei, but the gap was too significant ¡ª from team tactics to defensive reading to on-the-spot reactions, vastly inferior; it was evident that Fournette was still an inexperienced rookie.


    Everyone called Li Wei "rookie," but deep down, they knew it was just a nickname, a jest, precisely because Li Wei''s performance on the field was anything but rookie-like that the moniker became popular; otherwise, calling Fournette a rookie right now would just seem like bullying a newcomer.


    Without comparison, there would be no harm. Fournette thinking about challenging Li Wei might still need more seasoning, only God knows where Li Wei got that "rich" match experience from.


    Houston gently shook his head, didn''t say much, and just turned around and left.


    Fournette: ??? Did he just see that look of pity? Pity?


    Third down and twelve yards.


    The Jacksonville Jaguars'' offense was once again in trouble.


    Originally, after the Kansas City Chiefs just scored an impressive touchdown, the home team should have countered right away, gripping the game tightly, extending the tense situation.


    But this? How?


    In just one minute''s time, lingering on the brink of three and out, the continuously tense situation since the first quarter seemed to break suddenly, transforming the game completely.


    Crisis loomed over Perpetual Bank Center.


    However.


    Third down is third down; at least, this offensive drive hadn''t ended yet.


    Bortles still had another chance.


    This time, the Jacksonville Jaguars wouldn''t be "unexpectedly" selecting a ground attack again to break convention... right?


    If they continued to hit the wall, it''s hard to say if it would be lucky or unlucky for Fournette, even Houston couldn''t help but feel pity as he silently mourned for Fournette.


    Fortunately, that didn''t happen.


    Finally, the Jacksonville Jaguars chose a pass play; just as the ball was snapped, Bortles kept dropping back, with all the Wide Receivers launching into action, assuming a full passing stance.


    Bortles, taking a gamble!

 Chapter 412 411 Press home ones advantage

    The Jacksonville Jaguars finally opted for a pass on third and twelve yards.


    However.


    Throughout the regular season, the Jacksonville Jaguars completed only twenty-one touchdown passes, ranking twenty-second in the league; they also gave away thirteen interceptions, tied for eighth in the league.


    Clearly, Bortles was not the superhero to lead the offensive group out of the abyss.


    Just before the playoffs kicked off, ESPN wrote a professional article, "Seven Quarterbacks in the League Still Available Who Could Replace Bortles"¡ªwithout a doubt, they did not approve of Bortles'' work with the Jacksonville Jaguars and believed that if the Jacksonville Jaguars wanted to go further in the playoffs, replacing Bortles was imperative.@@@@


    However, the focus here isn''t on that; the focus is on Ramsey, who liked the article.


    And, it made the news, known throughout the league.


    This time was the same.


    Bortles, taking continuous step backs with no fake moves or read defense, prematurely exposed his passing target and offensive strategy:


    The only wide receiver in the team who in this postseason''s games, had receiving yards exceeding sixty yards in both matches, Allen Hurns.


    Perhaps the only surprise was that the Jacksonville Jaguars did not choose a short pass but instead boldly risked a fifteen-yard intermediate pass, ready to score in one go.


    Unfortunately, for Revis, there were no secrets to uncover.


    Step by step, Revis had locked onto Hurns from the start.


    Despite his age and injuries, which left him not as physically fit or competitive as before, he found a second wind on the playoff stage and in front of Ramsey, seemed to regain his vigor.


    "Island King," referred to Revis''s control and dominance within his coverage area.


    From start to finish, Revis relied solely on his experience to perfectly block the position, overpowering Hurns to jump first right after Bortles threw the pass.


    The entire positioning, timing, and suppression were all perfect.


    Then¡ª


    Interception.


    Revis intercepted the football right above Hurns'' head.


    Strolling as if in a leisurely garden, utterly relaxed.


    In the last wildcard game, Revis initially showcased his excellent competitive state, and in this conference final, he further retrieved his control as a cornerback.


    All season, Hunter had been full of spirit, his gaze locked on Li Wei, eyeing each opportunity with eagerness, never missing a chance¡ª


    The starting position, his goal.


    Therefore, every time Hunter entered the game, he was full of energy.


    This time was no exception.


    On one hand, the Jacksonville Jaguars tried to overturn the game, changing the course of the match.


    On the other hand, the Kansas City Chiefs tried to take advantage of their victory aiming to widen the score difference.


    The intensity of the confrontation was imaginable.


    Relying on Revis'' interception, the Kansas City Chiefs launched an attack directly from the opponent''s forty-yard line, needing only to secure one first down to enter field goal range, but the key was, the Kansas City Chiefs wanted to maximize the advantage of the interception, aiming for a touchdown; the Jacksonville Jaguars hoped to minimize the consequences of the interception, hitting a triple out on the spot.


    The intensity, off the charts.


    This was also why Reed deployed Hunter.


    First and ten, the Kansas City Chiefs played a double identity passing trick, using Kelsey and Hill to attract attention, Smith made a short pass to Hunter, relying on the two receivers to clear the way, Hunter advanced the push.


    Nine yards!


    Right from the start, the Kansas City Chiefs relied on their dazzling passing tactics to strike the opponent unexpectedly, even denying the cornerbacks a chance to close in on the receivers, instead maximizing their passing advantage to its fullest potential, catching the Jacksonville Jaguars somewhat unprepared.


    But the Jacksonville Jaguars soon showed their intensity.


    On second and one, the home team''s defensive group executed a five-man rush that tore through the pocket protection, nearly sacking Smith at the crucial moment. Smith lightly tossed the football to Hunter, who attempted to forcefully carry the ball forward but was embraced by the defensive end Campbell, with no chance, he went straight to the ground.


    Loss of two yards.


    The Jacksonville Jaguars layered, successive waves of defense once again demonstrated its power, securing their lines firmly.


    So, was Li Wei ready to enter the game?


    No, Reed was still looking at the bigger picture, not rashly putting all his eggs in one basket. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    On one hand, kicker Buck began warming up in preparation.


    On the other hand, Smith handed the football off to Hunter to run again.


    This time, Hunter did not disappoint the expectations!

 Chapter 413

    ?Chapter 413: Intensity Upgrade 412 Chapter 413: Intensity Upgrade 412 ¡°Wow!¡±


    ¡°As expected from the Kansas City Chiefs, the top ground attack team of the season, facing third-and-three, they didn¡¯t evade but rather broke through head-on.¡±


    ¡°Hunter actually chose the middle route!¡±


    ¡°Relying on the offensive line to pave the way, Hunter forcefully carved out three yards through the middle, with an absolutely strong and resolute attitude, breaking through the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ ground defense.


    This time, the home team¡¯s swarm tactics did not succeed.¡±


    ¡°The reason lies in Marrone¡¯s indecision.¡±


    ¡°Marrone couldn¡¯t decide whether the Kansas City Chiefs would choose to run or passa?€¡±third-and-three, neither long nor short, the Kansas City Chiefs had many options.


    Marrone had to be prepared for everything, which affected the execution of the tactics.¡±


    ¡°From this detail we can see that the Jacksonville Jaguars indeed felt immense pressure, as the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offense was opening up the game step by step.¡±


    ¡°Now, both teams are bringing their strongest performance, colliding without yielding an inch, it¡¯s about who can grit their teeth and hold on until the end.¡±


    First-and-ten, the Jacksonville Jaguars defensive line finally showed their power, creating an effective hit that caused Smith¡¯s pass to be inaccurate and miss its connection.


    Second-and-ten, Smith¡¯s screen pass, after Kelsey receives the ball, he goes one-on-one with Ramsey.


    The two are completely entangled; Kelsey barely advances six yards.


    Third-and-four, the Kansas City Chiefs feint a pass but actually run, the decoy tactic disrupting the opponents¡¯ formation; Hunter carries the ball forward but encounters two linebackers joining hands to tackle him.


    Just as he seems about to fall to the ground, Hunter clenches his teeth and stubbornly shuffles forward, barely scraping together a four-yard advancea?€¡±


    However, the distance isn¡¯t discernible to the naked eye.


    ...


    The referees even brought out measuring tools, took measurements of the advance on-site, and ultimately confirmed that Hunter had fallen just at the line of the third-down conversion.


    Amidst the protesting boos at Perpetual Bank Center, the Kansas City Chiefs got the first down again.


    Difficult, sticky, thrilling.


    The intensity of the game rose to a new high, but the Kansas City Chiefs advanced against the flow, coming up to the edge of the end zone within 20 yards, closing in step by step.


    Immediately after.


    Linebacker Telvin Smith astutely saw through the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ fake run and true pass tactic, leading the charge into the pocket; the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive line¡¯s attention was entirely on Defensive End Campbell and Defensive Tackle Jackson¡¯s attempt to break through, so much so that the other Defensive End Naku easily sliced into the pocket and together with Telvin, they completed a pincer attack from both sides.


    Smith tried to dodge Telvin¡¯s hit, but couldn¡¯t escape Naku¡¯s grasp, getting sacked and tumbling to the ground.


    A loss of five yards.


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    Not just Campbell, one could also see linebacker Telvin and cornerback Ramsey stepping up simultaneously; it was clear from a glance that the Jacksonville Jaguars were defending against Li Wei with the highest level of attention.


    If the Kansas City Chiefs had opted for a play-action pass, they would now be at an advantage; but crucially, this was indeed a running play.


    What to do?


    Between forcing his way through and outsmarting, Li Wei chose the latter.


    After all, this was different from just a moment ago; this time the opposition came prepared.


    He paused his stride, braked with his right leg, then pushed his body back into the pocket.


    For that brief second, Li Wei stood straight, scanning and observing; if there was a target for a pass, he wouldn¡¯t mind astonishing everyonea?€¡±


    Tomlinson¡¯s training template did include a passing option.


    Unfortunately, there wasn¡¯t one.


    Because it had never been practiced, Kelsey and Hill were busy blocking or drawing attention, none had anticipated that Li Wei might pass the ball.


    Regretful.


    But Li Wei didn¡¯t hesitate; after a quick scan, he was already on the move.


    The middle lane.


    Moving to the left now would be too late and might lead into another encirclement, but the middle was different.


    The forces in the middle had dispersed to the sides, and before they could return, there was a brief window of opportunity.


    Pushing off the ground, stepping forward, charging straight ahead.


    Past Smith, Li Wei dove into the meat grinder where the two offensive lines entangled.


    However, it wasn¡¯t completely airtight; there was a gap in the middle.


    Li Wei turned sideways, on tiptoes, stepping lightly across the densest area of the crowd, and then saw Defensive Tackle Jackson be the first to react.


    Turning, moving, intercepting.


    Just as Jackson was about to grab Li Wei, Li Wei dodged back like a butterfly, barely avoiding Jackson¡¯s right hand, moving sideways on tiptoes like a crab, leaving behind Jackson¡¯s fierce and stunned face.


    However.


    Before he could catch his breatha?€¡±


    Bang!


    Linebacker Bosrusni had accurately wrapped up Li Wei.


    So, did this ground advance end just like that?@@@@

 Chapter 414

    ?Chapter 414: 413 Four gears one code Chapter 414: 413 Four gears one code First defensive play, Jackson.


    Second defensive play, Bosrusni.


    Li Wei was mentally prepared for this scene because the middle was a disaster zone, truly heart-stopping; but even Li Wei wasn¡¯t omniscient, he didn¡¯t have eyes at the back of his head, and while he was getting ready to tangle with Bosrusni, a slight interfering force came from behind him.


    Not strong, but enough to throw off the balance.


    Judging by the position, it must have been another defensive tackle, Abry Jones.


    But now there was no time to check who was behind him, the crisis in front was the priority.


    The force from behind, though not strong, caught Li Wei completely off guard so that without any protection, his center of gravity was already leaning forward, and the strength of his waist and abdomen wasn¡¯t enough to stop his stumbling steps.


    ...


    The figure of Bosrusni loomed large in his pupils.


    If he couldn¡¯t dodge, then he would face the challenge head-ona?€¡±


    Li Wei simply gave up controlling his movement, throwing his whole body weight forward, even pushing off the ground repeatedly, charging at Bosrusni like a derailed train.


    Bosrusni was caught off guard.


    The lineman was preparing for a tackle, then saw Li Wei throwing himself into the net.


    His delight lasted for less than half a second, quickly turning into horror.


    Dive, crash, headbutt.


    A series of actions came down on Bosrusni non-stop and without any breaks.


    Bosrusni couldn¡¯t maintain his balance and stumbled backward continuously; Li Wei kept charging forward, pushing against Bosrusni¡¯s shoulder with his helmet.


    Pushing off the ground, exerting force.


    Those were the two simplest actions, forcefully pushing Bosrusni forward.


    At last!


    Bosrusni couldn¡¯t hold on any longer, fell backward, and flipped over, just as Li Wei was about to break free and continue pushing forward.


    In Li Wei¡¯s eyes, he could already see the two safeties rushing toward him at full speed, when in a moment of desperation, Bosrusni clung onto Li Wei¡¯s lower leg, pulling him down in a suicidal embrace.


    This time, Li Wei couldn¡¯t break free.


    Even so!


    Li Wei still aggressively pushed forward for eight yards, turning the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ second and fifteen-yard dilemma into third and seven, once again demonstrating the running back¡¯s strength.


    Li Wei looked at Bosrusni with bright eyes; he was so close to breaking through, to advancing a few more yards before the safeties could close in on him, but Bosrusni¡¯s decisive action extinguished that possibility.


    The intensity was indeed climbing higher and higher.


    With a fighting spirit and a smile on his face, Li Wei extended his hand to help Bosrusni up, patted his shoulder, and without saying much, turned around to line up againa?€¡±


    Reed decides to take a gamblea?€¡±


    He¡¯s banking on a surprise.


    Hastily calling a fourth-down play and quickly lining up without giving the Jacksonville Jaguars defense time to strategize.


    With a rapid pace, the Kansas Chiefs Offense sets the tempo.


    But passing the ball?


    Is it wise to challenge the Jacksonville Jaguars, with the league¡¯s best pass defense, given the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ somewhat inconsistent passing plays this season?


    Without missing a beat, the Jacksonville Jaguars slip into their familiar routinea?€¡±


    Quick?


    So what?


    Their fundamental tactics are ingrained in their bones.


    First, cornerbacks Bouye and Ramsey lock down their spots, closely marking Kelsey and Hill, with the strongside linebacker Telvin swiftly closing in on Kelsey, ready to help Ramsey if needed.


    Second, pressure up front.


    Beyond their renowned nickname ¡®Sackville,¡¯ the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ capacity to maintain constant pressure at the defensive line is also among the league¡¯s best, even with just four men rushing the passer.


    As Smith signals the snap, the Jacksonville Jaguars respond reflexively, an important reason why strong defensive teams often have an edge in the playoffs, staying steady against all surprises.


    Then, they notice Smith¡¯s passing steps and the linebackers and safeties quickly spread out.


    This is just outside the Red Zone, a pass of eleven yards could target the end zone directly; thus, when the defensive group doesn¡¯t fully blitz the quarterback, their initial reaction is to cut off all receiving options, leaving the quarterback in a bind.


    In a flash, with the Kansas City Chiefs focusing on the element of surprise and the Jacksonville Jaguars on stability, the intensity of the fourth-down defense is fully displayed, leaving no time for anyone to contemplate one question:


    On fourth and one, why did Reed opt for a passing play?


    Just as the defensive line starts to show the prowess of ¡°Sackville,¡± leaving the offensive line¡¯s pocket on the verge of collapse, Smith turns:


    A shovel pass.


    The football lands in the arms of Li Wei.


    A fake pass into a real run.


    That, in fact, was the actual play, the real reason behind the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ quick lineup and swift snap.


    And yet, that¡¯s still not everythinga?€¡±


    With tactics within tactics, Reed¡¯s decision to go on fourth and one is far from a blind gamble.


    The moment Li Wei catches the ball, all of the Kansas City Chiefs move.


    The offensive line drives the defensive line to the left side, while Kelsey on the right pushes Ramsey toward the right sideline, creating a gaping hole in the right slot.


    This is the real secret.

 Chapter 415

    ?Chapter 415: Perfect Match Chapter 415: Perfect Match Kansas City Chiefs, fourth down with one yard to go, a fake pass turned run.


    Were the Jacksonville Jaguars unprepared?


    How could they be!


    Even though the Jacksonville Jaguars didn¡¯t have time to intricately communicate tactics and hadn¡¯t anticipated the Kansas City Chiefs boldly opting for a risky fourth-down surge without warning, causing them to hurriedly take the field; the defense had performed exceptionally throughout the season, with tactical execution embedded deeply in their marrow from top to bottom.


    Pressure.


    Defend the pass.


    ...


    And defend the run.


    Without exception.


    At this moment, the depth of the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ defensive group was apparent, not relying on a single star player to turn the tide but on the collective strength of the team.


    One fails, there¡¯s a second and a third to follow up.


    When the Jacksonville Jaguars realized Smith¡¯s fake pass turned run, they reacted instantly, once again demonstrating the might of ¡°Sackville.¡±


    The so-called Sackville is not just about sacking the quarterback; it¡¯s about the pressure exhibited in the front line confrontation, effective against both the offensive line and the running back.


    Campbell.


    Jackson.


    Naku.


    Jones.


    The defensive line exerted their strength in unison.


    However, did the Kansas City Chiefs not anticipate this?


    That¡¯s equally impossible.


    Since Reed had chosen to go for it on fourth down, it meant he understood the risks.


    After all, Reed was not the kind of head coach who favored reckless risks under normal circumstances.


    At this moment, bypassing Offensive Coordinator Nagy¡¯s on-the-fly tactical calls and opting for a fourth-down play meant that Reed was well-prepared before the game.


    A fake run turned pass?


    It was a ploy, coupled with a screen pass.


    Right as Li Wei caught the ball, the offensive line united to exert force, pushing the defensive line players to the left side, leaving a gap open on the right.


    One side calculating, the other side unaware.


    One side breaking the game with strength.


    ¡°Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive line VS Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ defensive line,¡± the head-to-head confrontation began.


    Muscle colliding with muscle, helmets clashing with helmets, the roar of exerted strength, and the tension of gasps, all instantly set the air ablaze.


    Campbell: Damn it.@@@@


    At first, Campbell sensed the danger, as he saw the space in front of Li Wei on his left, which was the opponent¡¯s right, wide open.


    At that moment, Campbell could no longer care about grabbing or collision, completely disregarding the risk of a penalty flag; he made a split-second decision to muster incredible strength to shake off the offensive line¡¯s entanglement, took a step, and immediately positioned himself across the slot, blocking the path forward.


    But!


    However!


    A figure appeared.


    So,


    he made a snap decision.


    He feinted to the right, but before Bosrusni could react, he pulled back to the left side.


    His rapid change of direction, with quick stops and turns, was dizzying.


    Seeing that Bosrusni was half a step slow to react, Li Wei didn¡¯t pausea?€¡±


    The third change of direction.


    Pulling back to the right side again.


    His continuous feints in the blink of an eye took advantage of Bosrusni¡¯s conservative and reactive approach, and Li Wei seized the initiative.


    Bosrusni¡¯s shifting center of gravity was nailed firmly in place, reminiscent of a post, frozen for a second, and Li Wei seized the opportunity to dash past his right side, brushing past Bosrusni¡¯s shoulder and breaking free.


    Bosrusni: ???


    In a moment of desperation, Bosrusni spread his arms wide in an attempt to embrace Li Wei.


    However, he grasped at thin air.


    Bosrusni felt like a clown, toyed with by Li Wei, but there was no time for regret or anger.


    His body followed Li Wei¡¯s movements, and as his feet lagged, his upper body tipped backward and fell.


    Damn it!


    Bosrusni felt an urge to die.


    But at least, Telvin, Gipson, and Ramsey had formed a defensive net.


    Inside the Red Zone, it was completely Jaguars¡¯ territory; they had switched from defending against passes to swiftly targeting Li Wei in the blink of an eye.


    Linebacker Telvin led the charge.


    He could see at a glance that Li Wei was moving towards the sideline.


    Even though everyone called Li Wei the ¡°Edgerunner,¡± in Telvin¡¯s eyes, he was just a cornered rat, with the Jacksonville Jaguars closing in on him in a tight circle.


    Digging in his heels, Telvin charged forward like a tiger pouncing from a mountain.


    Yet,


    at that moment, a figure burst out laterallya?€¡±


    Kelsey.


    Kelsey intercepted between Telvin and Li Wei, successfully executing a block.


    With a heavy collision against Kelsey, Telvin helplessly watched as Li Wei slipped out from behind Kelsey, his steps light as a wisp of smoke.


    Li Wei and Kelsey executed a play, yet there was no time to breathe; Li Wei¡¯s eyes immediately caught the sight of two figures guarding the end zone like Goalkeepers right in front of him and to his right front.


    Safety Gipson, unentangled and unimpeded, had his eyes locked on Li Wei like a falcon targeting its prey.


    Cornerback Ramsey, initially entangled with Kelsey but now free since Kelsey had left, channeled his frustration by immediately shifting his focus to Li Wei.


    Left and right, two protectors stood as barriers on Li Wei¡¯s path forward.


    Although there were only five yards between Li Wei¡¯s steps and the end zone, these were the hardest five yards.


    Like a chasm.


    So close yet so far, within reach yet seemingly eternal to touch.


    So, is this where it ends?

 Chapter 416

    ?Chapter 416: 415 Throat Block Chapter 416: 415 Throat Block Gipson and Ramsey were utterly focused a?€¡±


    They had no way out.


    Using a crafty strategy of faux handoffs coupled with screen passes, the Kansas City Chieftains broke through by tearing apart the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ defense during a clash of titans, reminiscent of their week-six comeback victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers.


    However, Li Wei did not fall.


    With the end zone right behind Gipson and Ramsey, letting Li Wei advance would potentially crush the Jaguars¡¯ morale even further, making the situation worse.


    They could retreat no more.@@@@


    Ramsey kept still, his gaze fixed on Li Wei.


    Gipson took the initiative, focusing only on Li Wei from the start, ensuring he could tackle him without distraction.


    ...


    In an instant, Li Wei was at a disadvantage a?€¡±


    Telvin¡¯s judgment was right, Li Wei now faced an inescapable trap.


    What to do, protect the ball by falling?


    No.


    Li Wei wanted to try something.


    There was only a five-yard space in front of him, hardly enough room to maneuver, leaving Li Wei with barely any space to ¡°struggle.¡±


    Ramsey kept his eyes locked on Li Wei, revealing a sinister smile and tauntingly shouted, ¡°Coward.¡±


    But Li Wei had no time to bother with Ramsey.


    In a flash, an idea struck Li Wei a?€¡±


    He quickly glanced at Gipson with his peripheral vision, feigned a move to the left as if diving into the jaws of the beast, into Gipson¡¯s embrace, preparing to break through the gap between Gipson and Kelsey.


    This move!


    Immediately, Gipson¡¯s muscles reflexively tensed, with the right side of his body visibly stiffening a?€¡± a reaction that bypassed the brain, a primary reflex under intense focus.


    But Li Wei, with mischief, took another step to the right.


    Following that, Li Wei noticed Ramsey reacting to his initial movement and evidently stepping forward.


    This meant, whether he went left or right, Li Wei had nowhere to escape to.


    But seeing Ramsey¡¯s move, Li Wei¡¯s eyes brightened.


    Ramsey took half a step forward, raising his voice at Li Wei again, ¡°Coward!¡±


    This time, Li Wei didn¡¯t dodge.


    Through his helmet, Li Wei provocatively looked at Ramsey, his lips curving into a smile, increasing the tension between them, regardless of whether Ramsey could see it or not.


    Just in time.


    Li Wei accelerated, his stepping speed, rhythm, and force all intensified, charging forward like a bullet train.


    Similarly, Ramsey also increased his speed and power.


    Ramsey: Hehe, this is like refusing heaven¡¯s path only to burst through hell¡¯s gates unwillingly.


    Sorry, my power is a bit overwhelming, bear with it.


    ¡°Coward.¡±


    He shouted.


    ¡°Coward, coward, coward, coward.


    As long as he ended this drive, they could face a decisive battle one or two yards in front of the end zone line.


    Danger, danger!


    Li Wei sensed the crisis, trying to break free from Gipson, but it was already too late, his left arm was tightly entangled like an octopus by Gipson.


    Terrible!


    Without hesitation and no time for regret, Li Wei immediately abandoned trying to break free or create distance, and charged directly at Gipson; both men tangled together, Li Wei pushing forward like a bull charging into Gipson.


    Huh.


    The whole field, dead silent.


    Everything happened too fast, one wave after another with no time to breathe, numerous twists unfolding within just eleven yards.


    The next second, Kelsey appeared, stepping behind Li Wei, continuing to move forward.


    Kelsey noticed that Li Wei was exhausted and completely entangled by Gipson.


    At this point, there was no space to generate power.


    He stepped ahead of Telvin, pushing forward with Li Wei.


    Yet, it wasn¡¯t enough.


    There was Hill.


    There was Smith.


    Push off the ground, generate force.


    Gather sand into a tower.


    The opposing side was no different¨Canother safety, Church was the first to arrive, backing Gipson.


    Followed closely by Telvin and Ramsey joining in.


    ¡°Coward, damn!


    Coward!¡±


    The relentless, nagging curse exploded beside his ear, Ramsey¡¯s eyes bloodshot, sticking close to Li Wei¡¯s helmet, continuously bombarding him with trash talk, but the Kansas City Chiefs were also unyielding and refused to back down.


    Both sides were locked in a standoff.


    Ah, ah, ah.


    Strength, fully unleashed.


    Football reverted to its most primitive, fundamental, direct contest of strength.


    Whether at Perpetual Bank Center or Old Oak Tavern, everyone was deathly silent, hearts stopped, gaping in awe at the scene.


    As the referees gathered, prepared to declare this push a dead ball, the whistle still at their lips, a sudden change occurred.


    A bit, then a bit morea?€¡±


    Ah!


    Li Wei pushed Gipson away, his upper body thrusting the football forward, crossing the end zone line, finally feeling the fresh air and the scorching lights.


    Beep!


    The whistle sounded.


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    The referee raised his hands high to signal an unbelievably hard-fought transition from fourth and one yard.

 Chapter 417

    ?Chapter 417: Seek benevolence and obtain benevolence Chapter 417: Seek benevolence and obtain benevolence A football, like a tender sprout breaking through the hardened soil of a harsh winter, relentlessly fought the cold to surface and declare the arrival of spring, just like that, it crossed the end zone line, disrupting the deadlock.


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    The head referee and the line judge were in agreement, both raising their hands to signal the touchdown.


    At last!


    This unbelievable offensive effort came to an end with a touchdown.


    Yet, there was no cheering, no shouting.


    It was even eerily quiet.


    Provo¡¯s knees went weak, and he collapsed to the ground, his heart pounding unstoppably, a roaring in his ears, as long-lost passion and fervor madly surged within him.


    ...


    So what if there¡¯s a wall in the way?


    So what if there¡¯s no light to be seen?


    The heart keeps beating, the blood keeps boilinga?€¡±


    They, like grassroots, kept fighting, kept wildly growing.


    Victory is important, hope is important, but holding your head high with unyielding spirit is what matters most.


    And they still had each other, they were still fighting side by side.


    Looking up, he watched the aftermath of the collision between two storms on the television screen, Provo realized his insignificance like never before.


    Looking up like that.


    ...


    One layer, then anothera?€¡±


    The referees separated the intertwined Kansas City Chiefs and the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Li Wei, who had kept a firm grip on the football, emerged from the fray.


    In the midst of the chaos, Li Wei scanned his surroundings and immediately saw Ramsey.


    A smile crept up at the corner of his mouth.


    ¡°Come on,¡±


    Li Wei said, extending his right hand and curling two fingers inward.


    ¡°Come.


    Come on.¡±


    His demeanor, his expression, was as if he was training a puppy, waiting for the puppy to follow his command after issuing it, his bright eyes fixed squarely on Ramsey.


    So, he was the coward, and Ramsey the puppy?


    Ramsey instantly understood Li Wei¡¯s meaning, rage rushing to his head, no longer caring about anything as he clenched his fists and charged straight forward.


    Head Referee: ???


    Hey, you think I¡¯m dead?


    The head referee stepped forward, staring down Ramsey, ¡°Are you challenging my authority?¡±


    Ramsey couldn¡¯t believe it, his face full of grievance, ¡°Referee, didn¡¯t he provoke me first?¡±


    The result.


    He didn¡¯t give up.


    His patience and composure successfully found and seized the opportunity to change the momentum, relying on his own courage and force of will to break the balance.¡±


    ¡°Next up, the opportunity comes to Fournette¡¯s side...¡±


    Blah blah blah.


    Fournette, seeking benevolence, receives benevolence.


    Since last season, Fournette has been longing for a chance to prove himself.


    He has constantly been calling for the spotlight to shine on him, believing that he could become a superhero like Batman saving Gotham.


    After going through the NCAA and his rookie season in the Professional League, his time has finally arrived.


    On the stage of the conference finals.


    The spotlight turns on, the shining moment for Fournette has finally come, the stage is set, just waiting for a wonderful performance to unfold.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, presented exclusively for you, the legendary star, Mr.


    Leonard Fournette!¡±


    Goodell was no exception.


    Championing Li Wei and expecting his continued brilliance was part of the plan; but if the opponents weren¡¯t up to par and the game wasn¡¯t exciting, the effect would inevitably be much less.


    Countless eyes were all focused on Fournette.


    Even the Perpetual Bank Center was no exception.


    ¡°Leonard!


    Fournette!¡±


    ¡°Leonard!


    Fournette!¡±


    One cry, then another; one round, then another!


    The home fans also knew that relying on the quarterback Bortles might be hopeless a?€¡° now was the time for the running back Fournette to rise to the occasion.


    This scene caught in Caldwell¡¯s eyesa?€¡±


    A warm dampness at his fingertips.


    He too had never imagined that the game would develop to this point.


    On one hand, he was increasingly envious of Li Wei; the Kansas City Chiefs had completely relied on Li Wei to break open the game.


    On the other hand, he had to rely on Fournette.


    The intertwined fates of the third and fourth overall picks in this year¡¯s draft might just determine the direction of this American League final, even affecting the entire NFL season.


    After all, the Jacksonville Jaguars are currently the top favorites for the championshipa?€¡±if they were to fall...


    ¡°No one could have anticipated this scene.¡±


    ¡°The final outcome of the NFL 2017 season could actually depend on the performance of two running backs drafted third and fourth overalla?€¡±absolutely a surprise.¡±


    ¡°After the draft, those voices that criticized the Kansas City Chiefs probably missed out on a tarot card reading of the future.¡±


    Before Nantz¡¯s words had even finished, the game on the field continued, and Bortles handed the football off to Fournette.

 Chapter 418

    ?Chapter 418: 417 Predicting the Future Chapter 418: 417 Predicting the Future Stumbling, Fournette ultimately failed to keep his balance and fell to the ground in a sorry state, every muscle in his body protesting as if he would fall apart in the next second, unable to even stand.


    This time, Fournette didn¡¯t immediately rise but instead lay there gasping for air, gazing at the stars and the full moon overhead:


    He wanted some peace.


    Then.


    A face appeared above Fournette, flashing a brilliant smile and extending a right hand, ¡°Buddy, why are you lying down?


    Get up and keep going, keep going!¡±


    That was a clear provocation.


    Fournette wanted to tear apart Houston¡¯s smiling face, but he was completely drained and couldn¡¯t even make a sound.


    With a lazy roll, Fournette dodged Houston, scrambling to his feet using his hands and legs, just to see Houston clutching his helmet, wailing as if his soul had been wounded.


    ...


    This left Fournette feeling stifled:


    Damn it, he was the one who was actually injured, okay?


    First and ten yards was swiftly transformed into second and ten, still marking time.


    ¡°...Judging by the formation, Jacksonville Jaguars are preparing for a pass, but take note of the offensive line¡¯s positioninga?€¡±there could still be a run play.¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs Defense needs to watch the offensive line¡¯s initial movements; the Jaguars might use a screen pass tactic as a decoy for a ground attack.¡±


    From the commentary box, Romo¡¯s prediction had just finished when the situation on the field suddenly changeda?€¡±


    He had predicted correctly, yet again.


    Bortles used a screen pass as a feint, but in fact, he didn¡¯t even fake a pass before running; he handed off the football to Fournette from the start and followed the offensive line¡¯s screen movement with authentic deception.


    It was clear that even though Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ Offensive group had average strength, Coach Marrone wasn¡¯t giving up.


    The tactical design hid some clever tricks, trying to bring about a few surprises.


    Nantz looked surprised and couldn¡¯t help glancing at Romo:


    Was Romo some kind of prophet?


    Could he see the future without tarot cards or a crystal ball?


    But Romo didn¡¯t respond to Nantz and kept his attention fixed on the field.


    It wasn¡¯t just him.@@@@


    The Kansas City Chiefs Defense had also seen through the Jaguars¡¯ strategy.


    The quarterback, truly deserving of the title quarterback.


    As soon as Romo explained, Nantz¡¯s thinking became clear.


    Nantz, ¡°First down run, second down run, third down pass, everything has a pattern.¡±


    Romo nodded to Nantz, ¡°It¡¯s not that we are prescient, but that the Jaguars¡¯ offensive tactics are patterned.¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs Defense only needs to adjust slightly, maintain focus, and they can grasp their opponent¡¯s jugular, now that the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ Offensive group has thrown themselves into disarray.¡±


    ¡°Setting aside the tactics themselves, the most puzzling point for me lies here.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Why are the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ offensive tactics so rigid?


    Why are the Jaguars¡¯ in-game tactical calls so blindly made?¡±


    ¡°I understand that the Jaguars¡¯ offensive tactics have seen much success, and Marrone himself is not a coach known for offense, so continuing with a successful playbook is a logical choice; but this is the AFC Championship game, they face the crafty Reeda?€¡±why are they so timid and restraining themselves?¡±


    ¡°First down run, second down runa?€¡±it¡¯s as if they feel some pressure, as if they are leading the score, as if they lack the courage to take the lead.


    Their entire selection of tactics is unusually conservative.¡±


    ¡°Note that up until the second quarter, both teams are still in a draw, but Marrone¡¯s tactical choices seem as if they already have a three-touchdown lead.¡±


    ¡°I personally cannot understand it, unsure of how the Jaguars prepared in their pre-game tactical meeting.¡±


    ¡°Of course, in the first quarter, this kind of tactic was viable, with both sides maintaining an equilibrium; but as the deadlock was broken by Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ in-game adjustments, Reed caught up very timely in subsequent offensive and defensive tactics.


    One can tell they prepared very comprehensively, and were ready with different contingency plans.¡±


    ¡°But it seems the Jaguars did not.¡±


    ¡°When one set of tactics hit a wall, Marrone remained stuck in that set, their in-game adjustments utterly failing to keep up.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t blame Fournette for the poor performance, the Jacksonville Jaguars need to pull themselves out of the current statea?€¡±what they need most urgently right now is halftime, to return to the locker room and see if they can find their bearings.¡±


    ¡°Otherwise...¡±


    ¡°The game might get increasingly difficult.¡±


    Romo still maintained control, staying neutral, hoping the second half of the game would be more exciting; but the problem wasa?€¡±


    Why isn¡¯t the first half over yet?


    When can it end?


    This nightmare seems to have no end in sight.


    ¡°`

 Chapter 419

    ?Chapter 419: Survival in a Tight Spot Chapter 419: Survival in a Tight Spot A running play on first down, another on second, so, facing third and eight, clearly, the answer was to passa?€¡±


    The Kansas City Chiefs had already seized the initiative.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    The moment Bortles announced the snap, Revis tensed his whole body, taking continuous small backpedaling steps.


    He did not rashly approach the wide receiver Hurns, nor did he get distracted by the tight end Marcedes Lewis¡¯s close proximity; his focus was entirely concentrated.


    Immediately, Revis noticed the Kansas City Chiefs Defense¡¯s forceful pressure on the passera?€¡±@@@@


    An assault.


    Like in Go, if football tactics and formations are read by the opponent, that equals complete exposurea?€¡±no matter how clever the tactics are, they are useless.


    That¡¯s the situation for the Jacksonville Jaguars right now.


    Having read their opponent¡¯s tactics a step ahead, the Kansas City Chiefs now had the advantage, enabling them to preemptively disrupt Bortles¡¯s footwork with a five-man rush.


    ...


    Ripping through.


    Houston led the charge into the pocket, bearing down on Bortles like a ravenous wolf.


    However, the Jacksonville Jaguars were prepared with a countera?€¡±


    Fournette.


    Although Fournette really, really did not want to face Houston, he now had no choice but to brace himself and take him on.


    A head-on collision.


    Fournette stumbled back, feeling a warmth in his nosea?€¡±wait, was that...


    a nosebleed?


    Moreover, Houston didn¡¯t lose his balance; he sidestepped over Fournette¡¯s head, leaving a lingering afterimage and kept on charging.


    Fournette: Why is it always me who gets hurt?


    Nevertheless, Fournette¡¯s block did buy Bortles some time; Houston was a fraction late, watching helplessly as Bortles completed the pass.


    The football, tracing a graceful parabolic arc.


    Revis: ???


    Are you planning a two-on-one to bully an old man?


    One could tell at a glance, Hurns and Lewis were lining up to sandwich Revis.


    Their plan was to spread him thin, with the wide receiver and tight end coordinating to complete the catch.


    Perhaps the offensive strategy of the Jacksonville Jaguars had been deciphered, but there were still traps hidden in the details.


    ¡°Pass uncompleted, Revis takes on two and still manages to break up the pass connection, my God, how did he manage to do that?¡±


    One step, then another.


    The Kansas City Chiefs took full control of the game, and now the critical weakness of the Jacksonville Jaguars became apparenta?€¡±


    Experience.


    Previously, professionals had discussed this, noting that as playoff rounds progress, experience plays an increasingly important role, but with traditional powerhouses like the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots eliminated, the opportunities for the Jaguars skyrocketed, making them the frontrunners.


    However, no one anticipated the problem that the Kansas City Chiefs would pose for the Jacksonville Jaguars.


    ¡°...We¡¯ve repeatedly emphasized that football is a team sport, and victory requires team cooperation, but the situation faced by the Jacksonville Jaguars now demands a leader to step up, regroup the team, and reignite their spirit and hope.


    That is the key.¡±


    ¡°Just like the Kansas City Chiefs.¡±


    ¡°In the midst of a deadlock, Li Wei steps up, single-handedly turning the tide and breaking the balance, fully igniting the Chiefs¡¯ competitive drive.¡±


    ¡°Now, not much time is left until the end of the first half, and the Jacksonville Jaguars defensive group needs to hold on.


    They must grit their teeth and wait for halftime, to use the break to regroup and find their focus again.¡±


    Clearly, the Jacksonville Jaguars held the same thoughta?€¡±


    The defensive group, stepping up once again.


    In the midst of retreating chaos and crisis, it was the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ defensive group that stood firm and finally stopped the Kansas City Chiefs.


    In the last offensive drive of the Chiefs in the first half, Sackville showed its class.


    Despite not recording a sack, the frontline pressure was efficient and forceful, with a total of two solid hits, one to disrupt the passing vision and another to knock away the pass, the defensive frontline exploding with an incredible, unbelievable energy.


    Although the Kansas City Chiefs kept advancing with gritted teeth and managed to push past midfield again, this time they really didn¡¯t have the upper hand and ended up with a strikeout, not able to continue the scoring momentum since the second quarter.


    This also laid down seeds of uncertainty for halftime.


    However, the first half was not over yeta?€¡±


    ¡°Harrison!


    Harrison!¡±


    Kelsey was the first to start the uproar, with Li Wei joining the commotion amidst the hustle and bustle of the offensive group¡¯s cheers and applause, as kicker Harrison Buck took to the field.


    This time, he needed to tackle a season-long 57-yard field goal.


    In the regular season, Buck had attempted a 53-yard field goal once and hit it accurately; but don¡¯t underestimate the mere four yards from 53 to 57.


    Once a field goal reaches above 55 yards, it¡¯s a whole different story.


    Moreover, this was the playoffs, with an entirely different atmosphere and pressure.


    The last offensive-defensive showdown of the first half fell on Buck¡¯s shoulders.

 Chapter 420

    ?Chapter 420: April 19th, ask and it shall be given.


    Chapter 420: April 19th, ask and it shall be given.


    Buck, the epitome of calm.


    Having endured the test of a game-deciding kick in the previous playoff, he had finally realized that he cherished those momentsa?€¡±the tension at its peak, the taste of blood in his mouth, the heart nearly bursting.


    The more dire the situation, the more intense the nerves, the more exhilarating he felt, as if he could hear the sound of adrenaline burning.


    It was the same now.


    Unlike the harsh weather at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, the conditions at Perpetual Bank Center could truly be called calm and bright, with almost no impact from the wind direction.


    ...


    This was a good thing.


    The entire stadium roared, but Buck remained unaffected, raising his hand to signal, his eyes fixed on the football thrown by the center, using the beating of his heart to feel the rhythm.


    And then.


    A running start, the kick, the release of power.


    Ah, ah, aah!


    The noise in the stadium climbed to new heights, erupting like a volcano, only to catch in the throat as the football reached its pinnacle and began its descenta?€¡±


    The air, briefly stagnated.


    The football fluttered uncertainly, the downward arc falling slightly short of expectationsa?€¡±not only skewed to the left but also too low, losing speed quickly, seeming unable to carry the football to the end zone¡¯s baseline.


    57 yards, was it still too audacious?


    Where his gaze focused, the air began to burn, and just as the football seemed about to bury itself under the goalpost, the cheers in Perpetual Bank Center were already gearing up to burst forth; yet, the football stubbornly flicked forward, and before the pupils could capture its trajectory, the sound had already exploded ahead.


    Clang!


    The goalpost vibrated with a buzz, and the trajectory of that reddish-brown luminescence immediately became clear in view.


    A deflection.


    Striking the left goalpost, it changed course, sailing light over the crossbar and into the spectator stands behind.


    ...Oh.


    Cheers and screams stuck in the throat transformed into sighs, shoulders, and heads drooped heavily, as if even the Goddess of Fortune didn¡¯t side with the home team.


    Suddenly, Buck raised his hands high, turning to look in the direction of his teammates by the field, his eyes catching sight of the figures enthusiastically waving their armsa?€¡±a sight that made Buck¡¯s smile blossom:


    Delivered as expected.


    They hoped for a field goal, so Buck gave them a field goal; they hoped to increase the lead, so Buck expanded the advantage.


    His success rate for the 2017 season remained at 100%.


    ¡°Buck!


    Buck!


    If God wanted you to advance to the Super Bowl, He¡¯d have shown a miracle by now.


    But seeing your fat asses still wobbling in front of me, I can tell God probably didn¡¯t have that idea.¡±


    ¡°So, you need to fight for it yourselves.¡±


    ¡°Defensive group, what kind of make-believe are you girls playing at?


    Letting those softies get whatever they want?¡±


    It wasn¡¯t unusual for the Jaguars not to score; it wasn¡¯t the first time this season they faced a shutout in the first half.


    However, allowing the opponents to surge ahead with seventeen points in the first half, that was a different story.


    The Jaguars¡¯ defensive performance had fallen far short of expectations.


    That was the real problem.


    ¡°Just Smith and Li Wei, that¡¯s all they¡¯ve got, and you couldn¡¯t stop them?


    What, are their handsome faces so distracting that you¡¯ve lost your minds and can¡¯t bear to lay a hand on them?


    What¡¯s next?


    Are you going to kneel down and lick their shoes?


    I would quite like to see that spectacle.¡±


    ¡°You nauseating bunch, your fat asses look like 150 pounds of chewed bubble gum.


    If you can¡¯t move those asses, just let me know, and you can all get out.


    I¡¯ll send in the cheerleaders; at least they can boost the ratings.¡±


    Caldwell¡¯s outburst came down like a storm, silencing the entire locker room, even halting breaths.


    After venting for a while, Caldwell swept his gaze across the room again, his anger still not subsided.


    ¡°Wake up, princesses, it¡¯s time to really kick some ass, or else, after the game, it¡¯ll be my turn, and believe me, I won¡¯t be as gentle.¡±


    ¡°No one is safe.¡±


    ¡°No one.¡±


    He said each word slowly and lightly, Caldwell¡¯s calm gaze sweeping over everyone, lingering on each player before finally resting on Marrone.


    Then, without paying any more attention to the trembling looks in the locker room, Caldwell turned and left, not even sparing an extra glance.


    There was no rage, no profanity, no obscenity.


    However.


    The calm and indifferent voice fell lightly, but cast the entire locker room into deep feara?€¡±


    No one is safe.


    That included Marrone, who had Caldwell¡¯s unwavering support throughout the season.

 Chapter 421

    ?Chapter 421: 420 Comprehensive Upgrade Chapter 421: 420 Comprehensive Upgrade ¡°Don¡¯t easily trust David.¡±


    This was the only sentence the former head coach Bradley said to Marrone before leaving the Jacksonville Jaguars, and at that time, Marrone thought it was just Bradley lashing out because he was fired, he didn¡¯t take it to heart, and the entire season¡¯s experience also proved Marrone was right:


    People lead different lives, he gained the support and authority Bradley had always dreamed of, and his coaching career was smooth sailing.


    However, now, Marrone inexplicably recalled Bradley¡¯s words, those of a good old man, filled with helplessness and sighs, and Marrone couldn¡¯t help but shiver.


    Despite his reason telling him that Caldwell wouldn¡¯t possibly clear out the entire team, that unknown fear plunged the players into despair.


    A deathly silence spread through the air, and as gazes met, souls started to tremble involuntarily:


    How could they forget, this has always been a blue-collar team, quarterback, running back, lineman, defensive end, without the existence of superstars, the team¡¯s purge wouldn¡¯t face any challenges.


    Literally hanging by a thread.


    Marrone felt a lump in his throat, Caldwell hadn¡¯t looked at him at all from the beginning to the end.


    Originally, Marrone thought, leading the team to the American League finals in his first season as head coach had already won the fans¡¯ hearts, so what more were they expecting?


    ...


    To win the Super Bowl?


    How could that be possible?


    But now, it seemed that still wasn¡¯t his get-out-of-jail-free card.


    Pressure, layered down heavily.


    His heart, uncontrollably trembling.


    So, what should he do now?


    What could he do?


    Marrone regained his composure; he needed to focus on the game at hand.


    Not just Caldwell, he himself wasn¡¯t willing to give up, having already reached the American League finals, should it just end abruptly like this?


    No.


    No way!


    He couldn¡¯t be satisfied with the team¡¯s performance in the first half.


    However.


    When the Kansas City Chiefs came out and started the offense first in the second half, the team displayed a rarely seen mental state:


    More focused, more intense, and more proactive.


    It made one wonder what happened in the locker room during the halftime break.


    Actually, it was quite simple.


    Berry.


    Houston told everyone before they left for the Jacksonville Jaguars that he had visited Berry, who was confirmed to return to training the following week, which meant, if the Kansas City Chiefs advanced to the Super Bowl, their defensive group captain would be coming back.


    One reason was already enough.


    They refused to let what happened in the last division game against the New England Patriots happen to them again, as they had a mission to uphold.


    On one hand, the desperate Jacksonville Jaguars went crazy, the defensive group recklessly displaying the essence of Sackville, with the front and secondary defenses applying pressure that reached a new height.


    On the other hand, the united Kansas City Chiefs rose collectively, the expansive and powerful offense burst forth with unexpected force, and even the usually calm and composed Smith unleashed his ferocity and went all out.


    Soa?€¡±


    Third Gear, seven yards.


    On a screen pass, Li Wei and Kelsey completed a perfect crossover cover, with Kelsey receiving the ball and pushing past Ramsey for eight yards, miraculously completing the conversion.


    ...


    Second Gear, five yards.


    Hunter and the offensive line executed a play, breaking through the middle, Hunter managed to escape Bosrusni¡¯s grasp just as he was falling, miraculously securing the first down.


    ...


    Third Gear, three yards.


    The Jacksonville Jaguars launched a five-man rush, spotting the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ fake run and real pass strategy and overwhelmed them in a full tackle, despite Li Wei¡¯s excellent block to buy time, linebacker Myles-Jack managed a timing play, tearing open the pocket, nearly sacking Smith.


    In the nick of time, Smith completed a difficult five-yard pass to the left sideline, with wide receiver Hill, despite being entangled with cornerback Bouye, overpowering Bouye to make the catch behind and slightly above his shoulder, and miraculously staying in bounds before flying out of bounds.


    Back and forth, neither yielding an inch, at the start of the second half, both teams fought with a bloody fierceness, the do-or-die style escalating the match¡¯s rhythm and intensity enormously, yet the Kansas City Chiefs, amid the fierce storm, miraculously continued advancing, stumbling and fumbling their way past midfield.


    Since the last two offensive drives of the first half, the crisis facing the Kansas City Chiefs was still escalating, the break at halftime broke the visitor¡¯s rising offensive momentum, dragging them back into a swirl of grappling and entanglement, and it seemed the suspense of the outcome had returned once again.

 Chapter 422

    ?Chapter 422: 421 too much is as bad as not enough Chapter 422: 421 too much is as bad as not enough After the halftime break, the Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive group completely erupteda?€¡±


    Reckless in their play, not only showing ferocity but also a murderous intent, they displayed top-tier league defense, even with a taste of venting-style defense, as their actions became increasingly fierce and the intensity increasingly brutal.


    Penalties, naturally, also increased.


    One statistic, since the second half had started, the Jacksonville Jaguars had been penalized three times before the kickoff.


    It was precisely because of this, even though the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ defense was fierce, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive advance still continued, and even before Smith¡¯s kickoff, the ferocity from the Jacksonville Jaguars was trying to break the balance.


    Just looking at Smith and Li Wei, one could tella?€¡±their white away jerseys had turned into camouflage, covered with traces of the battlefield.


    Gasping for breath.


    Sweating profusely.


    ...


    Amidst the stumbling, the Kansas City Chiefs found themselves in a difficult situation at the opponent¡¯s 22-yard line, facing a tough Third Gear of six yards.


    Indeed, this area was now a field goal range, and the situation seemed somewhat more favorable for the Kansas City Chiefs, but now both sides were fiercely competitive:


    Not only was Jacksonville committing penalties, the Kansas City Chiefs themselves made errors; they had already entered the Red Zone but were pushed back due to penalties, tangled up, and consequently moving forward and backward, where even the grass had started to reveal bare sand.


    Now, neither side was willing to retreata?€¡±


    This was the clash of momentum coming back from the halftime break!


    This wave of offensive and defensive confrontation, due to frequent penalties and the intensity of the confrontation, had the two teams tangled for nearly eight minutes, directly taking up half of the third quarter, and now Reed and Marrone realized this might be the final battle, as both mental and physical exhaustion was severe, and the intensity of the following game could drastically drop, so whoever could win this bout of offense and defense would take the initiative in the fourth quarter.


    Twenty-two yard line, Third Gear of six yards.


    Li Wei took to the field again, switching with Hunter.


    This recent substitution was not only a physical adjustment but also a strategic setup, with the Offensive Coordinator Nagy personally coming over to communicate with Li Wei.


    Actually, Li Wei had already noticed it, even more clearly with Nagy¡¯s pointersa?€¡±


    Behind the seeming toughness of the Jacksonville Jaguars was a desperate struggle.


    Now, Marrone¡¯s defensive strategy had no new tricks, continually tightening the defense to apply pressure, but the defensive players could also feel the pressure, with everyone overly aggressive, blindly charging forward.


    This also meant that in the scenario of strong pressure, cooperation between players might reveal gaps, after all, teamwork was now secondary.


    The Kansas City Chiefs needed to seizea?€¡±the fleeting gaps.


    A fatal blow.


    Marrone might have forgotten, but Reed surely hadn¡¯t, what was Li Wei¡¯s signature move that had made a breakthrough in the league?


    Linebacker Myles Jack sensed something amissa?€¡±


    The Jaguars¡¯ outside linebackers did not have fixed positions, with Jack usually covering the tight end side and Telvin taking the weak side, though they occasionally swapped to confuse the opponent.


    However, this round of offense and defense had no tricks.


    The strong side not only included Kelsey but also Li Wei, and Jack naturally stayed on that side.


    But when Smith passed to the weak side, Jack also immediately reacted.


    Watching as the Jaguars¡¯ defensive strength surged toward the weak side, Jack saw Smith incredulously pause for a moment, retract his right hand, turn around, and make a passing motion towards Kelsey.


    Disaster.


    Jack exclaimed in alarm, abruptly stopping and turning, immediately trying to change direction.


    Barely moving, he then saw Smith change his action again, making a lateral light toss, and the football nimbly nestled into Li Wei¡¯s embrace.


    Everything flowed smoothly.


    Wait, what about Sackville?


    It turns out this was the real trap.


    All the Shotgun Formation and quick-pass strategies were just to push back the Jaguars¡¯ defensive front, creating time and space for Smith to pass.


    Then, with a turn, he chose to run.


    The tactical changes in less than a second completely overturned the Jaguars¡¯ defensive group¡¯s predictions, eventually leading their defenders by the nose.


    This was both a trap and a killing move.


    Jack only then realized what was happening, his body unable to keep up with his mind¡¯s pace, while Li Wei had already started.


    One step, two steps.


    Li Wei had already crossed the kickoff line.


    Perhaps the only player not distracted was defensive end Campbell, who made a lateral step to try to intercept Li Wei.


    But what he absolutely did not expect was that Li Wei¡¯s initial move was just a feint, not forceful, so when he saw Campbell, he could easily pause his steps and perform a stop, creating a mismatch.


    Campbell couldn¡¯t control his momentum and overshot.


    Campbell: ???


    What, what just happened?

 Chapter 423

    ?Chapter 423: 422 Leisurely Walk Chapter 423: 422 Leisurely Walk Facing strength and impact, one could directly resist, use minimal effort to redirect great force, employ the opponent¡¯s force against them, or prevail through cleverness; there was more than one method.


    All roads lead to Rome.


    In this moment, Li Wei chosea?€¡±


    Skimming Steps.


    A pause, quietly waiting, watching Campbell pass by in front of him, Li Wei even had time to flash a smile and greet Campbell.


    There was a leisurely pleasure akin to listening to falling flowersa?€¡±was this normal?


    Campbell, with a face full of astonishment and panic, rushed forward, trying to control his body but unable to stop, could only watch helplessly as Li Wei slipped by his fingertips, his steps as graceful as a waltz.


    Without exerting any force, Li Wei had already crossed the kick-off line along the slot.


    ...


    Immediately after, Li Wei could see Jack, who was rigid and had lost control of his body.


    The rapid stopping and turning, and continuous changes of brakes caused his brain and body to disconnect.


    His mind was already up to pace ready to defend against Li Wei, but his body couldn¡¯t keep up, standing there foolishly like a mummy.


    Thisa?€| this?


    Jack couldn¡¯t believe what he was seeing.


    Then,


    Li Wei took off.


    Towards Li Wei¡¯s left, Jack¡¯s right, trying to slip through the gap, as all the linemen and safeties were besieging Hill, leaving the central area completely empty with a narrow defensive gap.


    Jack immediately realized the crisis: Damn, damn, damn!


    Finally!


    His body was able to move, and Jack decisively moved to the right, but just as he started, an illusion appeared in front of him.


    Two figures of Li Wei overlapped and then separated, which flooded Jack¡¯s brain with question marks.


    A whole quarter beat slow, Jack finally figured out what was happening:


    Oh, it was because Li Wei had changed direction.


    Wait, what?


    Jack¡¯s brain froze instantly, but Li Wei had already dashed past his left side like a drifting breeze and disappeared before he could even blink.


    Catch up, catch up!


    Jack¡¯s brain had caught up, but his body couldn¡¯t move at all, standing stiff as wood.


    The multiple successive changes in direction left Jack¡¯s brain and body in a muddled mess, not knowing what he was doing anymore.


    Standing there stunned.


    In the meantime, Kelsey had already come up ready to block, but noticed that Jack hadn¡¯t kept up, which also puzzled Kelsey: What¡¯s going on?@@@@


    Their gazes crossed for a moment, and it seemed like Kelsey could see tears in Jack¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Such incidents, rare in regular-season games, but occurring frequently in such crucial playoff games, are undoubtedly fatal.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re facing Li Wei, this season¡¯s rush yard king and rushing touchdown king; such lapses are fatal, and Li Wei surely won¡¯t miss them.¡±


    ¡°Now, the Kansas City Chiefs not only completed the third gear conversion but also advanced to the five-yard line at the forefront of the end zone.


    Despite the Jaguars¡¯ intensified defense in the second half, they were still forced into retreat.¡±


    ¡°Marrone needs to find a solution.¡±


    Indeed, the all-out Jaguars truly dominated in the red zone, displaying their defensive power fully, and the ensuing defensive play finally reached the league¡¯s top standard.


    One effective hit forced Smith to pass the football out of bounds, and a double-tackle forcefully halted Li Wei¡¯s run.


    Without time to catch their breath, the Jacksonville Jaguars once again pushed the Kansas City Chiefs into a third gear scoring dilemma.


    Meanwhile, far away in Kansas City.


    Berry was watching this unfold, James White also by his side.


    Berry seemed to sense White¡¯s gaze and murmured, ¡°No problem, trust the brothers, no problem.¡±


    However, while his mouth denied, his body was exceptionally honesta?€¡±


    Berry clasped his hands together, fingers interlocked tightly, with veins bulging on the back of his hands, he stared unblinkingly at the TV screen, using all his strength to control himself.


    White knew that Berry longed to be on the field, fighting alongside his teammates.


    Involuntarily, White also looked up at the screen, feeling the heartbeat of the scene.


    As it turned out, Berry was right.


    Watching the Kansas City Chiefs struggle in the red zone, only a hair¡¯s breadth away from a three-and-out, the team, often criticized for buckling under pressure, had transformed this season.


    Once again, they demonstrated resilience and courage, pulling off a fantastic play.


    After the kickoff, Li Wei dashed straight through the slot, with Kelsey helping block the defense, allowing number twenty-three to glide lightly into the end zone, turning to be ready to catch.


    Meanwhile, Smith felt an incredible amount of pressure as the Jaguars¡¯ five-man rush tore through the pocket, but Smith preemptively left the pocket, moving laterally to the right while escaping and passing the ball.


    Though his release was slightly slow, it was only a five-yard pass; Smith didn¡¯t need to build up much power, so he still managed to make the pass before Defensive Tackle Jackson could sack him, sending the football into the end zonea?€¡±


    Li Wei.


    In an instant, Gipson and Ramsey both surrounded Li Wei, remembering how he had scored a touchdown in the end zone through their double team in the first half, they instantly closed in on Li Wei with the highest attention.


    As Li Wei faced complete suppression, unable to jump, the crowd at the Old Oak Tavern in front of the TV screamed ¡°penalty flag,¡± but directly in front of the end zone battle area of Jacksonville¡¯s Perpetual Bank center, another figure appeared, unblocked and not facing defense, effortlessly jumped up, snatching the football first and cradled it in his arms.


    Landing, turning, and like the Statue of Liberty, displaying the football in his hands.


    That was...


    Kelsey.


    Touchdown?


    Yes, touchdown.

 Chapter 424

    ?Chapter 424: 423 Key Keys Chapter 424: 423 Key Keys Walking leisurely and carefree.


    Kelsey captured the football effortlessly, without encountering any hits or blocks, leaving Gibson and Ramsey, both with faces full of astonishment, watching helplessly as the football was snatched right before thema?€¡±the word ¡°IDIOTS!¡± bolded in their minds.


    They had been tricked.


    It was a moment later that the lineman Jackson dashed forward, fiercely colliding with Kelsey¡¯s body.


    But it was too late.


    Berry clenched his fist, smashing it downward as cheers squeezed through his teeth, ¡°Well done, well done, well done!¡±


    Turning around, Berry gave White a solid bump, his smile fully blooming, ¡°See, I told you, I told you earlier.¡±


    One step, then another, the Kansas City Chiefs were closing in on their Super Bowl spot, their miraculous season gradually becoming a reality.


    That joy and frenzy were roaring in his mind.


    ...


    White: Cough, cough, coughing up blood, do not disturb.


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    ¡°Oh, touchdown.¡±


    Honestly, Nantz was somewhat...


    unable to get excited, looking at the field with a face full of surprise, and couldn¡¯t help but turn to Romo, his eyes filled with astonishment and confusion.


    The confrontation just now, so fierce, so intense, so contested, yet the final touchdown wasa?€¡±


    Just this?


    Is this normal?


    Even Kelsey himself was full of astonishment; he was ready to celebrate passionately, but now it seemed he couldn¡¯t muster the enthusiasm either.


    So, a rare scene occurred on the field.


    The hero who just scored was standing there with a smile, leisurely and carefree, and the other offensive players of the Kansas City Chiefs didn¡¯t seem particularly excited either.


    They approached Kelsey one by one to give him a high five, chatting casually like a group of college students on a field trip, smiles reaching their eyes.


    In the bustling crowd, Ramsey looked towards Li Wei with a blank face, drenched in sweat, breathing heavily, his mind completely void of any thoughts:


    So, what exactly just happened?


    Isn¡¯t it said that after abandoning all backups, one can burst forth with double the energy?


    If the Jacksonville Jaguars don¡¯t erupt in anger soon, they might...


    never get the chance.


    ¡°The Jacksonville Jaguars...


    still lack experience.¡±


    Although this was true, they hadn¡¯t anticipated just how evident it would become, nor that it would become a keyword in this game.


    From pre-game preparation to on-the-spot adjustments to halftime tactical setups, experience played a crucial role.


    The Kansas City Chiefs managed to have a slight edge in each aspect, but they layered these advantages to completely overturn the situation.


    ¡°Reed has been laying the groundwork all along, preparing, and looking back now, this offensive phase for the Kansas City Chiefs wasn¡¯t even about scoring touchdowns or even scoring points, but about exhaustion.¡±


    ¡°Keeping the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ defense engaged constantly, dragging out the game, depleting all the energy accumulated during the halftime break in the locker room, focusing on ground attacks to control the tempo, with Li Wei drawing fire playing the decoy, finally completely disrupting the Jacksonville Jaguars defense¡¯s judgment.¡±


    ¡°So that by the time they finally scored a touchdown, the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ defense was like a dish of loose sand, completely unable to form an effective resistance.¡±


    ¡°The team cooperation, which has been the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ strongest and most outstanding aspect this season, was gradually disintegrating here, and that proved to be the most fatal.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Lengthily, Romo exhaled, whether he said it aloud or not, the reality was already glaring:


    The last turning point of the game might have already occurred.


    Then.


    Romo turned to look at Nantz, the two exchanged a glance with an unseen smile of helplessness on their lips, off-camera.


    It wasn¡¯t about the game¡¯s outcome, but because the game was evidently about to collapse, which wasn¡¯t good for the ratings.


    But what Romo and Nantz didn¡¯t know was that Goodell, quietly following this game, looked utterly satisfieda?€¡±


    According to Nielsen data, the National Conference final that ended in the afternoon attracted thirty-nine million viewers, continuing to break the highest record set in the 2017 season.


    And the ongoing American League final had easily surpassed forty-five million in real-time viewership and was continuing to climb, seemingly approaching the fifty-million peak, numbers strong enough to silence all criticisms and objections.


    Clearly, the arrangement for the night game was once again proven correct.


    Even if the game was getting messy, it didn¡¯t matter because Li Wei¡¯s two touchdowns in the first half were spreading majestically across social networks without the need for any particular push from the NFL; netizens had already started a heated discussion voluntarily, causing the viewership in the second half to continuously reach new heights.


    Goodell: ¡°That kid Li Wei, truly a born superstar, the more critical and grand the stage, the more outstanding his performance.¡±

 Chapter 425

    ?Chapter 425: Refuse to Look Back Chapter 425: Refuse to Look Back Although the NFL league had no objections to the situation in the American League finals, the two commentators still had to diligently do their jobs.


    Nantz, ¡°Now, the window for the Jacksonville Jaguars is slowly closing; if they want to keep their hopes alive, what should they do next?¡±


    Romo, ¡°Believe in their passing offense.¡±


    In Romo¡¯s view, even though the season was rife with controversies surrounding Bortles, and it was clear that not just outside the team, but his teammates also obviously lacked trust in Bortles, finding him in a difficult spot; the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ passing offense wasn¡¯t absolutely terrible, ranked seventeenth in the league, they were at least still in the middle tier, possessing some capability.


    In contrast, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ pass defense wasn¡¯t that impressive either; if not for Revis displaying his experience at critical moments of the playoffs to save the day, they might already have been eliminated by the New England Patriots in the last divisional match.


    Therefore.


    This was the breakthrough, even if the Jacksonville Jaguars lacked confidence in their passing offense, Marrone should still try to trust Bortles, to revitalize the ground offense through the passing game, this was their only lifeline for the moment.


    At least, that¡¯s how Romo saw it.


    ¡°The bottom line is, they need to open up their minds and can¡¯t continue being conservative.


    ...


    The Jacksonville Jaguars don¡¯t have much time left to turn the situation around.¡±


    So, what would Marrone choose?


    When the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ offensive group took the field again, a heroic air filled the entire Perpetual Bank Center, with cheers reaching their peak.


    Whether it was Bortles or Fournette, they both carried their own missions, they needed to prove themselves, they had their own battles, now standing on the edge of the cliff, with no path of retreat, their eyes shone with unwavering determination.


    However.


    Romo noticed something off immediately and couldn¡¯t help but shake his head.


    ¡°Bortles and Fournette are not communicating at all, fighting their own battles.¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a positive sign.¡±


    ¡°Right now, they are combatants fighting side by side; they need to support each other, they need to face the challenges together.


    The problems that just popped up in the defensive group can¡¯t be repeated by the offense.¡±


    Otherwise...


    The subsequent words, Romo ultimately did not continue to say.


    Unfortunately, Romo¡¯s concerns were realized, further solidifying his status as a ¡°prophet in the commentator¡¯s circle¡± and earning the support of netizens.


    In fact, the start of the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ first offensive in the second half was positive.


    Bortles¡¯ passing offense finally made tactical combinations work, completing connections repeatedly in the short and medium passing zones, opening up the game from the air, which also bought breathing space for the ground attack, and Fournette¡¯s running plays began to improve, no longer being stopped time and again like before.


    So, is this how the game ends?


    Clearly, this was not the scenario Fournette had hoped for.


    No fierce struggle, no back and forth, and certainly no triumphant victory.


    The Jacksonville Jaguars, who had performed so well from the regular season to the playoffs, collapsed in the most crucial game of the entire season.


    How did this happen?


    Fournette¡¯s mind was a mess, unable to find the answer.


    Could it have been because of that rookie running back?


    Fournette lifted his head, trying to locate Li Wei in the crowd, but he just couldn¡¯t focus his vision, seeing nothing but a sea of confusion.


    What was worse, a small portion of the crowd at the Perpetual Bank Center had started to leave.


    Though not manya?€¡±just a few hundreda?€¡±in the vast stadium they were hardly noticeable.


    But this was the Conference Championships, and the Jaguars had just scored a field goal.


    Die-hard fans should be reigniting hope instead of giving up so easily.


    Yet, some fans were leaving the stadium.


    Even they didn¡¯t believe the Jaguars could turn the game around.


    Such a blow to morale was ultimately fatal; the home-field advantage no longer existed.


    The Kansas City Chiefs refused to repeat past mistakes.


    Even with a comfortable lead, they stayed vigilant, widening the gap further in an advance and retreat.


    Thus, the completely one-sided fourth quarter was no surprise.


    ¡°30:6¡±.


    The 2017 season American League Championship came to a close in a somewhat dull mannera?€¡±a lopsided victory, a complete win, a rampant triumph.


    The entire game only briefly erupted and burned for a short time during the second quarter and early in the third, like fireworks that blaze for a moment before fading away, leaving only a faint, elusive trail of smoke.


    The Kansas City Chiefs effortlessly swept the Super Bowl favorite Jaguars, proudly securing the 2017 American League Championship and becoming the season¡¯s dark horse that overturned the League¡¯s dynamic.


    And.


    After a span of forty-eight years since the 1969 season, the Chiefs were finally returning to the Super Bowl stage, their nearly half a century of waiting culminating in this long-awaited moment.@@@@

 Chapter 426

    ?Chapter 426: 425 Exclamations of amazement Chapter 426: 425 Exclamations of amazement Boom!@@@@


    With a loud bang, colorful paper fireworks danced through the air, painting the Jacksonville sky close to midnight with a magnificent hue.


    A vibrant, seductive peacock blue unfolded unbridly against the rich darkness of the night.


    The award ceremony reached its climaxa?€¡±


    The 2017 season, the AFC Champions, belonged to the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Ah!


    The Old Oak Tavern had completely lost its mind; everyone broke free from the shackles of their chairs, reacquainting themselves with the strength of standing on two legs as they raised their arms high:


    Jumping, cheering, shouting.


    Ahhh!


    ...


    West could no longer control himself, clenching his fists and screaming with all his might.


    Then, turning around.


    West found Provo in the crowd, looking stunned, and shouted at him, forgetting himself.


    ¡°That¡¯s our team!¡±


    ¡°Chris, do you hear that?


    That¡¯s our team!¡±


    Provo tried to muster a smile, only to realize that his eyes were already brimming with tears.


    He looked at West¡¯s flush face, at the friends in the tavern who were abandoning all reason in collective ecstasy, and finally at Anderson, who stubbornly lifted his chin to watch the TV screen, feigning composure to hide the disarray in his eyes.


    An indescribable emotion broke through just like that.


    This time, Provo didn¡¯t wipe away his tears.


    For the first time in a long while, Provo didn¡¯t hide his dishevelment and vulnerability.


    He didn¡¯t wound every warm thing that came close like a hedgehog; instead, he just smiled and confidently displayed himself.


    Suddenly, Provo raised his arms high and shouted.


    ¡°Soar!¡±


    Who could¡¯ve thought that such a simple word could contain countless emotions, displaying the surges and passions of the heart in full force?


    Ah, ahhhh.


    Roaring, fervent passion, boiling blood, smiles blooming amid hot tears.


    The next seconda?€¡±


    ¡°Soar!¡±


    The entire Old Oak Tavern shouted in unison, the smiles, the cheers, the joy all blending into a volcanic eruption of happiness.


    Perhaps the gloomy winter haze that enveloped Kansas City was finally showing a glimmer of dawn.


    They truly weren¡¯t greedy.


    Really, just one playoff victory was enough; to win before falling into another playoff losing streak was all they dared to hope for, knowing full well that advancing to the playoffs was an accomplishment in itself.


    ¡°Clearly, we are witnessing history.¡±


    Not just the fans, but in the commentary box, Nantz and Romo were also marveling.


    At the start of the 2017 season, this scene was completely unexpected, even when the Kansas City Chiefs scored an upset over the New England Patriots in the opener, it did not change people¡¯s predictions about the progress of the season.


    But now?


    Indeed, the world of competitive sports is always full of surprises.


    New York, ESPN, ¡°Inside the League¡± studio.


    They were on standby.


    Since the live broadcast rights weren¡¯t with ESPN, they didn¡¯t need to do a live show simultaneously; however, once the game ended, they needed to tape a program immediately and review the game.


    If you looked closely, you would notice that Bart was missing.


    ¡°Oh, Blair is outside smoking, he needs to clear his head.¡±


    Bart, with a cigarette in hand, wore a face etched with confusion and perplexity.


    Indeed, he had predicted the outcome of the American Conference finals correctly, but why couldn¡¯t he be happy about it?


    Was it because Li Wei was still moving forward?


    Because Li Wei¡¯s season-long performances of proving people wrong hadn¡¯t ended yet?


    Because for once, his predictions had failed to go awry?


    And moreover.


    God, the Super Bowl predictions, what should he do?


    Worry, it truly is deathly worrying.


    Deeply, Bart took another drag of his cigarette.


    Across mountains and rivers, Romo seemed to hear Bart¡¯s struggle, comforting his colleague in his own way.


    ¡°Without a doubt, the 2017 season is subverting all predictions step by step.¡±


    ¡°Both conference finals were upsets.¡±


    ¡°The Philadelphia Eagles won as underdogs against the Minnesota Vikings to top the National Conference, extinguishing the Vikings¡¯ great dream of being the first team in history to compete for the Super Bowl Champions on their home field.¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs triumphed over the Jacksonville Jaguars as underdogs to claim the American League title, with the Jaguars, as the hottest favorites, hitting a wall; after the game, they had a lot of issues to summarize.¡±


    ¡°So, ¡®Dark Horse VS Dark Horse¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Two dark horses are meeting in the Super Bowl showdown, now it¡¯s a matter of who can persist to the very end.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a fifty-fifty chance, truly, this will be anyone¡¯s game.¡±


    ¡°Before the season started, if someone had told me that the Super Bowl matchup would be the Philadelphia Eagles versus the Kansas City Chiefs, I would have told him that his joke wasn¡¯t funny, but now, I am the joke.¡±


    ¡°However, this doesn¡¯t mean the Super Bowl isn¡¯t worth looking forward to.¡±


    ¡°In fact, it may be the most unpredictable and possibly the closest match in fifteen years, and I¡¯m already chomping at the bit.¡±


    ¡°Whew, I¡¯m very much looking forward to Li Wei¡¯s performance.¡±


    Bart: ...Tony, nice knife work.

 Chapter 427

    ?Chapter 427: 426 Rap Pose Chapter 427: 426 Rap Pose ¡°`


    Bustling.


    Spectacular.


    The entire league was cheering, celebrating an unprecedented scene of excitementa?€¡±


    including neutral fans.


    Finally!


    The Super Bowl stage had finally welcomed new faces, finally breaking away from those repeatedly seen old faces, finally moving past the same old repetitive tales!


    Indeed, without superstars, without legends, there seemed to be a lack of topics.


    But never forget, the Super Bowl itself is the biggest stage in North America for creating gods, witnessing the defining moments of ascending to greatness every year.


    ...


    This year, it was set to herald the birth of new superstars, an exhilarating prospect.


    However, not everyone was happy.


    In Jacksonville, at the Perpetual Bank Center.


    It was somewhat desolate.


    The louder the noise, the deeper the sorrow; the crazier the frenzy, the more bitter the taste.


    It was only at this moment that people remembered, this was an away game.


    A small portion of the audience stayed out of courtesy, a small portion applauded and cheered for the Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ thrilling season, but more had left their seats early, escaping this heartbreaking scene.


    The higher the hopes were lifted, the harder the disappointment crashed down; from being the top favorite to win the Super Bowl to facing a crushing defeat without the power to retaliate, no one in Jacksonville could sleep that night.


    Looking at the large swathes of empty seats in the stadium, the atmosphere of celebration could hardly thicken; but it had no effect on the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Victory was victory, champions were championsa?€¡±


    Forget about everyone else, even the Kansas City Chiefs themselves hadn¡¯t anticipated the season¡¯s trajectory, each one now caught in ecstatic joy.


    Incredibly, just a year earlier, the Kansas City Chiefs had been thrown into disarray by their shocking defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers while holding the second seed, causing not just fan outrage, but an atmosphere of suspicion and alarm within the team.


    The coaching staff, Reed included, faced a full-blown crisis of confidence.


    In the end, the team executed an internal reorganization by firing the team manager, hoping for a turnaround in the following season.


    And now?


    In the span of one year, they had turned the tide, completely rewriting their story.


    The team manager Veach entered the field at the first opportunity, appeared beside Reed, giving the chubby mascot of a head coach a big hug with a clear and refreshed look, unable to hide the joy in his expression.


    ¡°Coach!¡±


    However, Reed didn¡¯t turn around.


    Veach followed Reed¡¯s gaze and instantly saw Li Wei, surrounded by a tight circle.


    The offensive group, the defensive group, including those usually aloof from the crowd in the Special Duty Group, everyone came forward to pat Li Wei¡¯s helmet and affectionately call out ¡°rookie¡± with beaming smiles, dancing for joy, celebrating unrestrained.


    ¡°Give me a beat.¡±


    As a rap battle seemed imminent, Ramsey crossed his arms in front of him, ready to unleash his energy.


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t hold back, ¡°Where¡¯s your gold tooth?¡±


    Clearly, Ramsey hadn¡¯t expected that, caught off guard, ¡°Ia?€| don¡¯t havea?€| a gold tootha?€|¡±


    Stammering and fumbling, Ramsey actually followed up with an answer.


    What kind of a simpleton was this?


    A smile appeared at the bottom of Li Wei¡¯s eyes.


    Ramsey still didn¡¯t understand the meaning behind Li Wei¡¯s words just then, but he straightened up, cleared his throat, and loudly said to Li Wei,


    ¡°Jalen Ramsey.


    Number 20.


    Playing cornerback.¡±


    Out of the blue, Ramsey introduced himself.


    If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, the game was over, so wasn¡¯t it a bit late for introductions now?


    This time, it was Li Wei¡¯s turn to be thoroughly confused.


    Ramsey didn¡¯t mind and continued to explain.


    ¡°I just didn¡¯t want you to forget my name when you¡¯re dissing someone at the post-game press conference, just a reminder.¡±


    ¡°Hey, no matter how you attack, I will just shut up today because this is what you¡¯ve earned, you deserve today¡¯s victory.¡±


    ¡°But,¡±


    ¡°Next time we meet, I will make you remember my name with my actions.¡±


    Proud and resolute, neither humble nor arrogant.


    Li Wei looked at the trash-talker before him with new respect.


    At the post-game press conference, when interviewed, Ramsey said that, in fact, he didn¡¯t like Sherman or corners with his own style.


    Media: ???


    ¡°Little Sherman¡± doesn¡¯t like Sherman, what does that mean?


    Sherman was about to explode, but he simmered down upon hearing the second half of the remark, alright, all is well.


    Ramsey emphasized again that he preferred corners like Revis, who are quiet, diligent, and focused on the game.


    Today¡¯s match proved this with Revis¡¯s outstanding performance.


    ¡°Actually, I tried to disrupt Li Wei the same way I disrupt AJ Green, but Li Wei was completely unfazed; instead, I ended up distracting myself.¡±


    ¡°I think, that¡¯s Li Wei¡¯s way to shut me up.¡±


    Indeed, when Ramsey went off, he didn¡¯t spare even himself.

 Chapter 428

    ?Chapter 428: See you later at 427 Chapter 428: See you later at 427 Indeed, Ramsey was a different breed of fireworks ¨C when he went crazy, even he himself wasn¡¯t spared; moreover, he was relentless, to the extent that no one else could get a word in.


    There was no need to wait for the post-game press conference.


    Standing in front of Li Wei, Ramsey had already started shooting off his mouth, his face an open book of serene confidence and composure.


    Li Wei was somewhat surprised.


    After thinking for a moment, he raised his voice and said, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not good at remembering names.


    I just don¡¯t have that talent.


    If I hadn¡¯t watched the movie ¡®Mr.


    ...


    and Mrs.


    Smith,¡¯ right now, I wouldn¡¯t even remember the name of our quarterback.¡±


    For the first time, Li Wei did not launch an attack, but openly admitted to his shortcominga?€¡±


    All along, Li Wei had never mentioned this to the media because he knew they would twist the facts, considering it merely an excuse to cover up arrogance, or arrogant sophistry, and it could even become a vulnerability for the media and opponents to target.


    He always believed that in the arena of competitive sports, actions spoke louder than words.


    However.


    The sincerity and forthrightness of Ramsey before him made Li Wei think differently, so he also spoke generously about the matter.@@@@


    Ramsey was taken aback, then showed a look of sudden realization:


    With this, many things made sense.


    Without suspicion, without speculation, and even without hesitation, Ramsey simply believed it.


    The Madman didn¡¯t mind, and with a wave of his hand said, ¡°No problem, most names aren¡¯t worth remembering, not important at all.


    After all, in thirty years, no one will remember them.¡±


    Thisa?€|


    Bang, bang, bang.


    Ramsey, true to his name, was a master of widespread indiscriminate attacks; his offhand remark, like a burst of machine-gun fire, left countless casualties across the League, shattered many a kneecap, making those who should kneel and those who shouldn¡¯t, all kneel down.


    Yet, Ramsey remained calm-faced, completely oblivious to the lethality of his words, and calmly continued speaking to Li Wei.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t remember my name; but in the near future, I will make you remember it.


    I hope you don¡¯t disappear too quickly like a shooting star.¡±


    ¡°You know, running back, there are too many shooting stars, and they vanish too quickly.¡±


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, a barrage of arrows aimed at Li Wei¡¯s back, firing from every direction.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t mind, his smile now fully blossomed, ¡°Thanks for the concern.¡± But perhaps, Cornerback, you should worry about yourself a?€¡° injuries are also major obstacles.


    Ramsey, as if not tasting the jest and mockery in Li Wei¡¯s words, still looked at him intently, ¡°Before I beat you, please be sure to keep on being strong.


    That¡¯s what makes a challenge interesting, after all.¡±


    He took a step back, ready to turn around, but then halted his steps.


    ¡°Oh, good luck at the Super Bowl.¡±


    ¡°Losing to a Super Bowl Champion sounds better than losing to a Super Bowl failure.¡±


    Checking his phone, it was six-thirty.


    Thirty minutes to go before the alarm.


    Li Wei had to admit, he hadn¡¯t had enough sleep.


    To be precise, he was still not accustomed to the lengthy NFL season.


    In the NCAA season, there was a three-week break in December, and the playoffs ended in the first week of January; but now, approaching the end of January, the NFL season was still going on, to be accurate, for two more weeks.


    Two weeks ago, during the divisional game against the New England Patriots, Li Wei could already feel the challenge of the lengthy season.


    The intensity had increased, and the period had extended, posing new challenges to physical reservesa?€¡±


    At this moment, Li Wei¡¯s rookie status was felt more acutely than ever.


    It wasn¡¯t just about experience.


    If it was just experience, Li Wei¡¯s accumulated training had gathered a wealth of it, including the Super Bowl stage.


    That was why he could perform so maturely and skillfully on the field.


    It was more about adapting to the intensity, building up physical reserves, and adjusting to a prolonged seasona?€¡±everything was a first-time experience.


    Even though the coaching staff and teammates were helping, his body still needed to adapt, bit by bit.


    So.


    They arrived in Kansas City on a flight early this morning, headed to his residence, and Li Wei plunged straight into a deep sleep, having set his alarm to give himself an extra half hour.


    Just right, as the team had a three-day break coming upa?€¡±


    The best news was that there was a week off after the conference finals, which would be Pro Bowl and Skills Showdown weekend.


    A week after that would be the Super Bowl.


    This provided both Super Bowl teams with a week to rest and adjust.


    Ansen had already arranged everything for the first day off.


    Morning, sleep.


    Breakfast.


    Then, sleep.


    Lunch.


    Then, sleep.


    This was the most straightforward and basic recovery method, just sleep until fully rested, and only then in the afternoon arrange some light workout to loosen the body and adjust the rhythm.


    But there was an unexpected visitor interrupting the plan at half-past six in the morning?


    Li Wei glanced outside the bedroom windowa?€¡±


    Just a pitch-black darkness.


    The first light of dawn hadn¡¯t yet broken through the dark of winter, so who was it that was shattering his peaceful dreams so early in the morning?


    Could it be a prank?


    Ding-dong!


    Ding-dong!


    The doorbell kept ringing, persistent and relentless.

 Chapter 429

    ?Chapter 429: 428 Uninvited Guest Chapter 429: 428 Uninvited Guest Ding Dong!


    Ding Dong!


    The doorbell rang incessantly until Li Wei opened the doora?€¡±


    Whoosh, a cold wind carrying a scattering of snowflakes hit him in the face.


    A man, completely enveloped in a black down jacket and blending silently into the night, stood there at the doorway, standing rigidly and formally despite the biting cold, his posture as commanding as the Grim Reaper with scythe in hand.


    However, what he held was not a scythe, but a toolbox, slightly lifting his chin to look up at the tall figure of Li Wei.


    ¡°You¡¯re a bit shorter than I pictured,¡± Li Wei said, not fully awake yet, eyes barely open, his voice full of nasal tones as he cracked a joke.


    The Black-faced Yama in front of him clearly didn¡¯t get it, ¡°What?¡±


    Li Wei chuckled softly, waving it off, ¡°Nothing, how can I help you?¡±


    The Black-faced Yama held up a small, clear plastic toolbox in his left hand, ¡°You could urinate in this plastic cup.¡±


    Li Wei gently raised his chin, his face a picture of sudden realization, ¡°The fans really are colorful these days, should I sign something for you first?¡±


    Black-faced Yama: ...


    ...


    He took a deep breath, unzipped his down jacket, bit down on his glove to pull it off, and reached into his pocket to pull out a neatly arranged envelope, ¡°Mr.


    Li Wei, I¡¯ve been sent by the League for a random drug test.¡±


    Li Wei was not surprised in the least, ¡°Of course, only such an answer could explain the madness at this time.


    The first thing after topping the American League ¨C a random drug test.¡±


    ¡°Welcome to the NFL, right?¡±


    The Black-faced Yama, unmoved, stared with dead fish eyes, the epitome of bureaucratic indifference.


    Li Wei¡¯s joke hit a wall again as he quietly observed the other man, ¡°One question, is it still possible to do a surprise check the day after the Super Bowl ends?¡±


    Clearly, this was not a serious inquiry.


    Despite the reasonable question, Li Wei¡¯s gaze and tone were filled with mockery.


    The Black-faced Yama didn¡¯t even blink, ¡°For specific regulations, please consult the League.


    I am only responsible for collecting samples.¡±


    Li Wei spread his arms, ¡°Buddy, relax, it¡¯s not just you starting work early this morning, it¡¯s me too.


    We don¡¯t need to make this hard for each other.¡±


    The better the performance, the greater the scrutiny, with all eyes fixed on this rookie.


    The surprise inspection was not unexpected; perhaps, the only surprise was the time:


    Six-thirty, really?


    After Li Wei carefully read the notice, he said, ¡°I know this is your job, but I still need you to show some identification, thanks for your cooperation.¡±


    At this moment, Black-faced Yama, who was secretly taking in the details of Li Wei¡¯s apartment, was slightly surprised.


    At this moment, Li Wei was considered the leading figure in North American competitive sports, not just the NFL, but basketball, ice hockey, and baseball leagues also knew the name of this superstar, whose powerful influence was overwhelming, with one endorsement deal following another, non-stop; yet, his apartment remained a simple and modest one, not remembering to indulge in a luxurious lifestyle in the poolside mansions.


    No matter how you looked at it, he still seemed like a typical rookie who had just entered the League.


    Moreover.


    The entire apartment was clean and tidy, simple and straightforward.


    There was no alcohol, no junk food, no leaves.


    Even a surprise visit early in the morning still showed the apartment¡¯s usual cleanliness.


    It was clear that Li Wei¡¯s focus was completely on football and he had not started to indulge in a luxurious and extravagant lifestyle.


    Rare indeed, truly remarkable, and admirable.


    As a League official inspector, he had to visit the residences of at least thirty different players per week on average, including veterans, rookies, and sometimes fringe players from the practice squads, a dizzying array of different personalities, allowing him to witness all kinds of human conditions over a season, so, surprising him was not an easy task.


    At this moment, hearing Li Wei¡¯s words, Black-faced Yama also was not surprised.


    He quickly diverted his gaze to hide his emotion and pulled out his credentials from his pocket, handing them over.


    Li Wei checked the credentials, ¡°Usually you would give a notice ahead of time, why not today?¡±


    Black-faced Yama responded methodically, ¡°I left you a voice message, saying I¡¯d arrive in five minutes.


    I timed it exactly, and knocked on the door five minutes later.¡±


    Li Wei looked at Black-faced Yama, a trace of a smile appearing in his eyes.


    He had been sleeping and naturally hadn¡¯t heard the phone or the voice message.


    So, the answer was clear.


    The League did it on purpose, choosing this timing with the intention of catching the player off guard.


    Li Wei could be one hundred percent certain that this was not the first time the League had done such a thing.

 Chapter 430

    ?Chapter 430: had a great time talking Chapter 430: had a great time talking Previously, Li Wei heard Houston complain that one time at 1:30 a.m., someone knocked on his door, and he thought it was a middle-of-the-night burglary.


    He had even prepared a baseball bat and firearms, only to find out it was a surprise late-night doping test.


    Houston was both speechless and amused.


    Not just Li Wei, Kelsey and the others also thought Houston was talking nonsense.


    Who would perform a surprise doping test at 1:30 a.m.?


    But now, Li Wei believed it.


    ...


    One shouldn¡¯t think that something doesn¡¯t exist just because they haven¡¯t experienced it themselves; clearly, the League had grown quite accustomed to choosing odd hours for these surprise inspections.


    After carefully checking the credentials and confirming the identity, Li Wei politely returned them to the inspector and headed straight to the kitchen.


    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not feeling it right now, I need a drink of water.¡±


    Black-faced Yama wasn¡¯t surprised, ¡°If it¡¯s not enough, you can have two glasses.¡±


    Li Wei glanced over at him.


    Black-faced Yama explained, ¡°Based on my experience, the human body can tolerate a maximum of six glasses of water in a short period before they must eliminate it.


    No matter who it is, once they reach six glasses, we will definitely be able to collect a sample.¡±


    Li Wei immediately understood that there must be no shortage of players who make the excuse of not feeling the urge to avoid cooperating with the test.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, one glass of water is enough for me.¡±


    After drinking a glass of water, Li Wei gestured for the inspector to follow him into the bathrooma?€¡±


    He had to complete the sample collection within the inspector¡¯s line of sight.


    ¡°Honestly, seeing you makes me kind of happy,¡± Li Wei began to make small talk.


    The Black-faced Yama gave him a ¡°you¡¯re insane¡± look, doubting his ears.


    He had visited so many players, and none had ever welcomed him before.


    Especially not at this hour.


    Li Wei shrugged lightly, ¡°There was no surprise test after last week¡¯s divisional game, and I was getting unaccustomed to it.


    I started to reflect on myself.¡±


    ¡°Was it that my performance wasn¡¯t outstanding enough?


    Or was my performance below the League¡¯s expectations?


    Otherwise, why wouldn¡¯t they surprise test me?¡±


    ¡°Thank God, you finally showed up.¡±


    Black-faced Yama: ...


    He didn¡¯t speak or smile, but you could tell from the twitching of his lips that he was either speechless or trying to suppress a laugh.


    Ha.


    It turned out to be a joke.


    Black-faced Yama gave Li Wei a dead-fish eye glare, ¡°Two drivers, eight armed security guards on shifts, ensuring that the samples are delivered to the lab within twenty-four hours.¡±


    Finally, he joked back.


    Li Wei¡¯s face showed disappointment, ¡°I was actually looking forward to a ¡®Fast & Furious 5¡ä scenario.¡±


    Black-faced Yama gave Li Wei another glance.


    In theory, a player like Li Wei, both a rookie and of Asian descent, seemed like an outcast barging into the Football world that all of North America is fanatic about, and would often face a siege and exclusion.


    Even in 2017 and 2018, some ingrained concepts could still not be completely changeda?€¡±


    That¡¯s why the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ game in Foxborough sparked so many fireworks.


    However.


    That wasn¡¯t the case.


    At least from the news and experience of Black-faced Yama, people always had a good impression of Li Wei, not just the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ players and staff, but also the rumors around the League from those who had direct and indirect contact with him were generally positive.


    Originally, he thought it was Goodell¡¯s doing in the background, but now it seemed that even Goodell, as the League commissioner, couldn¡¯t stop the myriad of voices.


    Just like the New England Patriots.


    Despite them being the dominators of the League, the internal disputes about Belichick¡¯s impersonal, militaristic management never ceased, and the voices of dislike and even hatred toward them were louder than imagined.


    The truth of the matter was that Li Wei¡¯s ability to earn widespread acclaim inside the League was probably not a coincidence.


    ¡°Twenty-four hours.¡±


    He said.


    Li Wei looked over with a face full of question marks.


    Black-faced Yama explained, ¡°After the Super Bowl, normally, players from both teams are tested for drugs, and within the following twenty-four hours, there might still be random spot checks.¡±


    Li Wei lifted his chin slightly, ¡°So, have you ever shown up at a team¡¯s victory celebration party to request players provide samples for testing?¡±


    Black-faced Yama: ...


    ¡°More than once.¡±


    ¡°Haha,¡± Li Wei couldn¡¯t hold back his laughter as he imagined the scene, no wonder there was always a drama playing out between the players and the League every now and then, ¡°I¡¯m really looking forward to seeing you or your colleague¡¯s presence in the middle of the night sometime soon.¡±


    After a brief reaction, Black-faced Yama realized what Li Wei meant by that.


    Involuntarily, a smile appeared in his eyes, but because of his position, he couldn¡¯t express personal opinions or disclose excess information, so he still controlled himself, raising the toolbox in his hand, ¡°Thanks for cooperating, I need to go hand over the samples to Captain America now.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s face remained composed, ¡°Please say hello to Black Widow for me.¡±


    Although it started unexpectedly and the atmosphere wasn¡¯t pleasant; it ended on a relaxed note.


    After seeing off Black-faced Yama, Li Wei returned to his warm bed, and as the snow fluttered outside the window, in the rustling sounds, the whole world quieted down.

 Chapter 431

    ?Chapter 431: 430 Return Home in Glory Chapter 431: 430 Return Home in Glory ¡°Dear passengers, we are about to arrive at LaGuardia Airport, New York.


    Thank you very much for choosing this flighta?€|¡±


    The plane was slowly descending.


    Snap, snap, someone gently patted Li Wei¡¯s arm.@@@@


    Li Wei jerked upright and opened his eyes instinctively, ¡°I¡¯m up, I¡¯m up.¡±


    A sweet voice reached his ears, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, terribly sorry to disturb your rest, but the plane is preparing to land, and for safety reasons, we need to ask you to straighten your seat back.¡±


    Li Wei stretched lazily, ¡°No, don¡¯t worry.


    I¡¯m awake now.


    Sorry, may I have a glass of water?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Having slept all day yesterday, Li Wei had adjusted, but during his vacation, he still ensured he got plenty of sleep outside of basic training, as it was the simplest and most effective way to recover, akin to hibernation.


    Thus, on the short flight from Kansas City to New York, which lasted just under three hours, Li Wei slept all the way.


    ...


    However, the air in the cabin was dry, and upon waking, his throat felt severely parched.


    ¡°Sir,¡± the flight attendant handed over a glass of water, ¡°Is there anything else I can assist you with?¡±


    ¡°No, all is good,¡± Li Wei responded with a smile.


    As the conversation ended, Li Wei noticed that the flight attendant hadn¡¯t moved away.


    He thought she was waiting for his glass, so he tilted his head back, drank it in one gulp, and handed back the glass, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    The flight attendant bowed slightly, ¡°No need; it¡¯s our pleasure.¡±


    Li Wei: ?


    It felt a bit odd.


    Li Wei looked up and saw a young blonde beauty, looking about in her early twenties, with sparkling bright green eyes and smooth, silky blonde hair styled in a bun.


    The dim cabin lights cascaded down her hair like a waterfall, and her lips curled into a sweet, shy smile.


    This was somewhat unexpected.


    The staff on North American Airlines were predominantly middle-aged women in their thirties and forties, particularly on domestic flights.


    It was very rare to see young women, a far cry from the days when models served as flight attendants for historical airlines like Pan American.


    After boarding, Li Wei had quickly entered sleep mode and wasn¡¯t disturbed throughout the flight a?€¡±


    This was the advantage of business class.


    As a result, Li Wei had not paid any attention to the flight attendants.


    ¡°Sorry, Mr.


    Lia?€|¡±


    ¡°Li Wei.


    Let me tell you a secret, there¡¯s more than one passenger on this flight wearing a Chieftain number twenty-three jersey.¡±


    Surprise.


    Indeed, a small surprise.


    Now, Li Wei finally had some real sense of his influence across the North American continenta?€¡±


    The feeling, not bad at all.


    ¡°Ha.¡± Li Wei chuckled lightly, ¡°It seems that today is indeed my lucky day.¡±


    A bit of teasing completely relaxed the atmosphere.


    Then.


    The pilot and the chief attendant appeared, leaving the co-pilot all alone in the cockpit; they completed a group photo with Li Wei in the business class aisle.


    Before, Li Wei just sat in his chair, appearing thin and frail; now that he was standing, the entire cabin suddenly felt crowded, truly signifying Li Wei¡¯s robust and sturdy build.


    The pilot couldn¡¯t contain his excitement and jubilation, ¡°...Although I really, really hope you could come to the Giants, I do not think it is the best time now.


    Wait a bit longer, wait for your rookie contract to end, then we¡¯ll see what happens.¡±


    ¡°Welcome back to home ground.¡±


    ¡°Of course, no matter which team you¡¯re on, when you come to New York, this place is your home ground.¡±


    Home ground?


    To New Yorkers, Li Wei, born in New York, had evidently become a local star, and they were ready to welcome him back with open arms.


    ¡°Thank you.


    Thank you very much.¡±


    Following a smooth landing, the entire cabin crew lined up to thank Li Wei.


    Before departing, Brenda shook hands with Ansen again, and Ansen noticed a piece of paper in his handa?€¡±upon leaving the cabin, he unfolded it:


    It was a phone number.


    And that still wasn¡¯t all.


    As Li Wei appeared at the airport, his tall and upright figure easily attracted attention, one after another recognizing him; the airport then became lively.


    Li Wei: ???


    The last time he came back to New York, he hadn¡¯t received such treatment.


    Why did it suddenly seem like the entire city had awakened?


    ¡°Divisional game, well-played, beautifully won!¡±


    ¡°Ah, watching you crush New England¡¯s spirit really was refreshing.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, I¡¯ve really been looking forward to this day for a long time, after Eli, the second Anti-Brady has emerged.


    Li Wei, I have high hopes for you!¡±


    Ah, so that was the reason.

 Chapter 432

    ?Chapter 432: 431 Fashion Trend Chapter 432: 431 Fashion Trend As mentioned before, due to historical reasons, the New England Patriots stood on the opposite side of many fans.


    Despite unquestionably becoming the dominant force in the League since the new millennium, their fan base was mainly concentrated in the New England region; in other areas, the ¡°America¡¯s Team¡± Dallas Cowboys were the absolute overlords, with loyal die-hard fans scattered across different corners.


    At the same time, the New England region was proud and arrogant, looking down even on New York, North America¡¯s largest city.


    This caused New York and Boston, both on the East Coast, to be locked in a year-long state of mutual disdain.


    Naturally, the professional sports leagues of the two cities also harbored numerous grudges.


    During the past decade when the New England Patriots ruled the NFL, the New York Giants had always been their nemesis, meeting in the Super Bowl twice, in the 2008 and 2012 seasons.


    The New York Giants had defeated the New England Patriots both times and climbed to the topa?€¡±


    Little Manning¡¯s career¡¯s two championship rings were all snatched from Brady¡¯s hands, earning him the title of ¡°Anti-Brady.¡±


    In the 2016 season, another Olympic year and another quadrennial cycle, the New York Giants and fans from other teams alike expressed their belief that it was time for the curse to strike, eagerly anticipating the New York Giants beating the New England Patriots and winning the Super Bowl.


    ...


    Unfortunately, this time, the miracle did not unfold.


    Not only did it not happen, but they also witnessed the New England Patriots¡¯ incredible comeback victory against the Atlanta Falcons to win the Super Bowl and write a new chapter in history.


    For New Yorkers, it was undoubtedly torturous.


    Thankfully, they didn¡¯t have to wait too longa?€¡±


    In this season, Li Wei, a native of New York, staged a phenomenal and unbelievable performance in the divisional playoff to eliminate the New England Patriots, accomplishing the feat of defeating Brady in both the regular season and the playoffs.


    Thus.


    Celebration!


    Party!


    The entire city was infused with a joyful atmosphere, and even though the divisional playoff had been two weeks prior, happiness still permeated the air.


    ¡°...Super Bowl good luck!


    Haha, don¡¯t worry, we¡¯re all behind you!¡±


    Even the cab drivers were no exception,clenching their fists in energetic and passionate support for Li Wei, their faces glowing with happiness.


    The bustling noise continued unabated from the airport, all the way to Chinatown, giving Li Wei a true taste of a triumphant return home.


    Snap.


    Shutting the car door, Li Wei looked at the storefront in front of him and involuntarily stopped in his tracksa?€¡±


    Could it be, the address was wrong?


    Do you want to check it?¡±


    The winters of New York are always gray, devoid of sunlight, bone-chilling cold, as if soaked in the sea, aimlessly drifting without end.


    ¡°Oh, this is fine, really good, no problem, thank you...¡± The girl¡¯s words were cut in half as her gaze shifted from the phone to the face of the man before her, ready to say thanks, but the next second she grabbed her boyfriend¡¯s arm, letting out a series of exclamations, ¡°Baby, baby!¡±


    The young man dressed in sports gear looked baffled, ¡°Is it that bad?¡±


    Upon looking up, the young man¡¯s jaw almost hit the floor as he saw Li Wei and stammered for a long time without squeezing out a word.


    On the other hand, Li Wei was taken aback: This mixed-race face clearly showed its Asian heritage.


    After rolling in the world of football for two years, Li Wei realized there weren¡¯t that many Asian kids who were as clueless about football as his former self; but it was undeniable that not many Asian kids were interested in football either.


    At this moment, seeing a face that appeared to be Asian here was a little unexpected.


    Li Wei responded with a smile, ¡°Is it really that bad?¡±


    The boy finally came to his senses, took a deep breath, his eyes glazed over, staring at Li Wei, ¡°No!


    No, no, no, ah, God, I mean, Li Wei, I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m seeing Li Wei here.¡±


    Li Wei shrugged lightly, ¡°After all, you¡¯re standing here, just consider it like making a wish to Aladdin¡¯s Lamp.¡±


    Following Li Wei¡¯s gaze, the boy and the girl both turned their heads and then realized where they were.


    They couldn¡¯t help but show bashful smiles.


    The boy looked back at Li Wei, took another deep breath, ¡°Li Wei, you are amazing.


    God, you really are so amazing.


    I hope I can be like you.


    The Heisman Trophy.


    The draft.


    And of course, the Super Bowl.¡± Despite trying his best to stay calm, his rapid-fire words couldn¡¯t stop.


    Li Wei was a bit surprised, ¡°You play football too?¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course, and I¡¯m Chinese just like you.¡± Another stream of jumbled words poured out, clearly showing his overwhelming excitement.


    Seeing that he was about to continue, Li Wei interrupted him, raising his right hand in a calming motion, ¡°Breathe, breathe.


    I won¡¯t disappear like Aladdin¡¯s Lamp all of a sudden.


    We can take it slow, this is...¡±


    The boy, catching Li Wei¡¯s gaze, realized immediately and vigorously rubbed his hands together, wiping sweat on the sides of his pants before extending them, eagerly introducing himself, ¡°Taylor, Taylor Rapp (Taylor-Rapp).¡±

 Chapter 433

    ?Chapter 433: 432 Young Role Models Chapter 433: 432 Young Role Models ¡°Taylor, Taylor Rapp.¡±


    Li Wei looked at the right hand laid out before him, wide and solid, yet mildly trembling.


    Despite exerting all his strength to suppress it, he still couldn¡¯t quite still the slight tremors, where emotions of excitement and nervousness bubbled in his blood.


    Li Wei also extended his right hand, solemnly clasping the other¡¯s hand, squeezing firmly, transmitting a solid and steady strength, quickly you could see the excitement twinkling in the eyes of the boy in front of him.


    So thrilled and elated was the boy that he was completely immersed in the moment before him, even feeling the temperature of Li Wei¡¯s skin and the strength of his palm, he still couldn¡¯t believe it was real, his expression somewhat vacant:


    Who am I?


    Where am I?


    What am I doing?


    ¡°Taylor!¡± The girl beside pulled on her boyfriend¡¯s arm.


    ...


    Taylor let go of the hand in a fluster and anxiously looked at his palm, as if in the brief contact it had started to sweat again.


    He scratched his head embarrassingly and introduced, ¡°Oh, this is Danny Johnson.¡±


    Compared to the boy, Danny was slightly more composed, ¡°Really nice to meet you.


    You have no idea, during the divisional game two weeks ago, Taylor spent the whole time with his hands clasped in silent prayer.¡±


    ¡°Oh God, I think he might have been even more nervous than you guys on the field.¡±


    ¡°And in the end...¡±


    At this point, Danny couldn¡¯t contain her glee, almost unable to straighten up from laughter, while Taylor stood beside, somewhat embarrassed, scratching his head.


    Li Wei stood aside with a head full of question marks.


    Noticing this, Danny pulled out her phone, rapidly searched for a moment, and immediately handed the phone to Li Weia?€¡±


    It was a video.


    In the video, Taylor knelt on the ground, hands clasped together, his back to the phone camera, oblivious to the others around him, eyes glued to the television screen broadcasting the live divisional game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots.


    It wasa?€| the Wanfu Mary moment.


    On the phone screen, Li Wei hadn¡¯t expected to relive the Wanfu Mary moment from the American League divisional gamea?€¡±


    The moment Li Wei completed the catch, Taylor leaped up, exclaiming, ¡°He did it, God, he did it!¡±


    As he shouted, Taylor then collapsed back to the ground, his head buried between his hands, crying uncontrollably, muttering ¡°can¡¯t believe it, can¡¯t believe it,¡± his sobs filled with genuine emotion, his shoulders and back trembling slightly from the intensity of his excitement.


    However, with Li Wei¡¯s meteoric rise, all Asian players in the NCAA were filled with hope and vigor.


    This was something Li Wei hadn¡¯t anticipateda?€¡±


    His steps not only made history but also forged a new world, pioneering the wilderness with every footprint, becoming an idol and a role model for the youth.


    One season in the NCAA, one in the NFL, Li Wei, carrying numerous records, miracles, and legends, reached the pinnacle and illuminated a wasteland.


    Perhaps, they were heading towards an entirely different future.


    ¡°I want to tackle you on the field and see,¡± Taylor said with the enthusiasm and vigor of youth, eagerly rubbing his hands together.


    The smile on Li Wei¡¯s face blossomed fully, ¡°That might be a little difficult.


    However, I¡¯m ready and welcome any challenge at any time.¡±


    Then.


    Li Wei extended his right hand, introducing himself with all seriousness, ¡°Li Wei.¡±


    Though they had just shaken hands, this time it meant something different; it wasn¡¯t as spectators and players or fans and idols, but as players facing each other, as future opponents.


    Taylor¡¯s excitement was palpable, his irrepressible joy.


    He, too, squared his shoulders, stood tall and proud, swallowing the words that were at the tip of his tongue and promptly changing his approach, ¡°Chi Youjun.¡±


    He grasped Li Wei¡¯s right hand firmly; even the slight trembling of his wrist and forearm conveyed the tempestuous emotions that he couldn¡¯t calm within himself.


    Li Wei was slightly surprised because he knew the name was of Chinese descent right away.


    Asian players were scarce on the football field, and Chinese players were even rarer.


    Now, Li Wei looked forward to the possibility of meeting Chi Youjun on the field in the futurea?€¡±


    Sincerely, Li Wei hoped to see more and more Chinese and Asian players in the NFL, where they could have fair and honorable matches and clashes.


    ¡°Then, I look forward to seeing you at next year¡¯s draft.¡±


    Having said that, Li Wei didn¡¯t stay any longer.


    He turned to leave nonchalantly but ended up seeing the eager gazes of a bustling crowd behind him, looking expectantly at Li Wei.


    Only then did he realize that he had been surrounded.


    In less than three minutes, when Li Wei had left the taxi, everyone¡¯s attention was on the mural, and no one had noticed him; but with just a turn, the tall, strong-bodied Li Wei effortlessly attracted all eyes and found himself in a tight spot.


    This...@@@@

 Chapter 434

    ?Chapter 434: Down-to-earth Chapter 434: Down-to-earth As the shining new star that burst onto the scene in the 2017 NFL season, Li Wei had experienced scenes like this more than once.


    But.


    Either it was on the field, when the team was playing away games, and the opposing team¡¯s fans recognized Li Wei¡¯s abilities, their overwhelming attacks definitely wouldn¡¯t easily let him off.


    Or it was in Kansas City, where in this young team lacking top superstars, Li Wei was filling the void and becoming the city¡¯s new idol.


    Like today, neither in Kansas City nor on the field, simply standing on the street yet finding himself deeply surrounded.


    For Li Wei, it felt unfamiliar, lacking a bit of cautiona?€¡±after all, the time he¡¯d been in the League and climbing to the peak was too short; he hadn¡¯t gotten used to this kind of treatment yet.


    With just a slight lack of attention, he was already swarmed by people.


    ...


    In fact, Chi Youjun and Danny were the same.


    They were slow to realize that they were being encircled, and before they could react, the surrounding crowd tightened, and they were gradually consumed and pushed out bit by bit, and thena?€¡±


    By the time they realized it, their feet were already standing outside the circle.


    Chi Youjun was stunned.


    The oncoming whirlwind around him cooled the heat in his brain a little, and finally feeling the firm force from the ground beneath his feet, he returned to reality.


    Despite that, he still couldn¡¯t suppress his joy and happiness.


    He clenched his fists tightly and shouted like a Super Saiyan.


    ¡°Ah, ah ah ah!¡±


    A series of cheers and screams were followed by Danny¡¯s bright and hearty laughter, exploding like a thunder from a clear sky, making everyone around turn their heads.


    But Chi Youjun didn¡¯t care.


    He waved his fists, jumping and cheering, and even if he didn¡¯t understand what was going on, the corners of his mouth still rose.


    One second, two seconds.


    The gazes were pulled back, focusing on Li Wei once more.


    ¡°Hey, Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Champion!


    Champion!¡±


    ¡°Keep moving forward, don¡¯t stop!¡±


    One after another, they shouted, and thankfully, Li Wei was tall and stood out in the dense crowd.


    After exchanging pleasantries through the hustle and bustle, with high-fives and hugs, he finally broke free from the surge and entered indoors.


    The view and space cleared up for a bit, but in the next second, he became the focal point of every gaze in the small shop.


    Maintain a smile!


    The checkout was complete; they were supposed to say goodbye and part on good terms.


    However, the customer lingered, and when Li Wei looked up, he saw the customer¡¯s confused expression ¡ª as if he were pondering the Goldbach conjecture ¡ª which made Li Wei chuckle and give him an inquiring look.


    The customer hesitated and took two steps forward, ¡°Excuse me, uh, are you...


    Li Wei?¡±


    ¡°Shh.¡± Li Wei neither confirmed nor denied, his expression inscrutable.


    There, the customer stood, momentarily unsure how to respond.


    So, should he ask for an autograph and a photo?


    Blinking, his brain couldn¡¯t keep up.


    Yet Li Wei didn¡¯t give him time to react, and busied himself away from the cash register, adeptly working beside the tables.


    In the end, the customer left in a daze, looking at the bustling crowd outside, then turning to observe the silent interior, blankly staring at the sky, still completely clueless about what had just happened:


    Something seemed a bit off.


    As a result, the customer looked at the strangers queuing at the door and gestured inside, ¡°Was that Li Wei who just went in?¡±


    The fan standing in line at the door was also baffled, turning to the customer, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just see him?¡±


    The two looked at each other, at a loss to help one another.


    It wasn¡¯t just him, the other customers in the restaurant were also¨C


    So, was that really Li Wei?


    The Kansas Chieftain rookie running back who had dominated the American League championship stage just two days ago?


    The Li Wei who had made history throughout the regular season and helped the Kansas Chieftains finally transform qualitatively during the playoffs?


    And now, he was just working in a small diner, cashiering, bussing tables, attending to customers?


    He looked every bit like an average waiter, perhaps an international student working part-time, seemingly having nothing to do with football?


    Wait, wait!


    The customers who came to the restaurant had all heard the rumors: some said Li Wei once worked here, some said this was his favorite restaurant, some said he had invested in it, some said he had a special relationship with the owner...


    It should have been only natural to see Li Wei here, which was the reason people flocked to this place.


    However, actually seeing him in the flesh left them stunned.


    So, was this the proverbial ¡®Man who loves dragons¡¯?


    The main point was, with only forty-eight hours since the American League finals, Li Wei had moved from the spotlight at the center of the world to a commonplace corner of everyday life, and such a stark contrast was indeed confusing.


    Even though the young man in front looked calm and collected, the onlookers couldn¡¯t quite accept it; one by one they were badly shaken, and even began to doubt their own eyes.


    Who could explain what on earth is going on?

 Chapter 435

    ?Chapter 435: 434 Unchanged original intention Chapter 435: 434 Unchanged original intention When Jiang Yin came out, she immediately noticed the bizarre scene before her: Li Wei moved skillfully around the restaurant, his feet lightly and agilely dancing between tables, perfectly blending into the routine of the establishment.


    Jiang Yin: Uh.


    Before her brain could fully react, Li Wei¡¯s figure was already heading straight toward her, holding a stack of orders, ¡°Table 11 needs two bottles of Coke, and Tables 17 and 21 need more tea.


    I¡¯ll take these to the kitchen now.¡±


    Li Wei gestured with the orders in his hand and, without missing a step, passed by Jiang Yin and into the kitchen.


    Jiang Yin paused slightly, as familiar memories rushed over her.


    Such a scene should have been familiar, and yet at that moment, there was a sense of dazea?€¡±


    These days, she could see Li Wei on live TV broadcasts and billboards daily, and with an increasing number of fans coming to the restaurant to ¡°worship¡± the life of Li Wei, the red number 23 jerseys crowded every corner of her vision.


    They gradually realized that the son, still a child in their eyes, was growing into a superstar.


    ...


    Without a doubt, they were proud and fully supportive of Li Wei.


    But at the same time, as they watched the once clueless child, who had learned to talk under their protective wings and was now spreading his own to carve out his piece of the sky, a sense of loss and regret unavoidably lay deep in their hearts.


    Just like this year.


    Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year¡¯s Day, Li Wei was either training or competing, with no time to spend with them.


    Although Li Wei invited them to Kansas City to watch the games, their everyday life had nonetheless changed drastically.


    Unnoticed and silently, the distance between them was growing; however, even Jiang Yin herself hadn¡¯t realized it until now, feeling somewhat estranged from the number 23 who dominated the Thursday night games.


    Until this very moment.


    Suddenly, everything went back to the way it wasa?€¡±


    Li Wei was still Li Wei, the sensible child who helped out at home early on, the mature kid who studied on his own without any worry, the independent kid who practiced mixed martial arts, endured injuries, yet never told his family to avoid their concern, silently bearing it all alone.


    In the eyes of others, Li Wei had changed; he was the Edgerunner who shocked the whole NFL and the trailblazer rewriting the history for rookie running backs.


    But at home, he was still that ordinary kid.


    It was just a brief deluge of thought that slightly tingled Jiang Yin¡¯s nose.


    Not to mention others, even Jiang Yin herself felt a bit bewildered by the scene, was it a memory?


    A dream?


    Reality?


    Imagination?


    Jiang Yin herself didn¡¯t realize how much lighter and quicker her steps had become.


    The lobby work, which used to be manageable with just Jiang Yin and Jack Perry, was now seriously overburdened.


    When Perry saw Li Wei, he was like someone seeing a lifeline.


    The dinner rush in the restaurant surged toward its peak amidst a vibrant and tumultuous atmospherea?€¡±


    Among the constant stream of customers, more than a few were curious about Li Wei¡¯s real identity, with many recognizing him.


    If someone called out Li Wei¡¯s name, he didn¡¯t refuse, greeting them with open arms and acting as though he was the host, which made the restaurant¡¯s atmosphere even more lively.


    Here, Li Wei and the others were too busy to touch the ground.


    There, a social media frenzy was spreading far and wide.


    ¡°The year¡¯s top running back reduced to waiting tables?¡±


    ¡°Post-American League championship entertainment: Going to work in a restaurant?¡±


    ¡°Can someone tell me if this is really Li Wei?¡±


    ¡°Excuse me, I was just eating and looked up to see Kansas Chiefs Running Back Levi, and I spit my water all over him, what should I do?


    Waiting online, urgent.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s it like having the NFL¡¯s best rookie serve me my meal and watch me eat?¡±


    One post after another appeared in a dazzling variety of forms, sweeping through social media with shares, comments, and likes, as netizens participated eagerly, each in their own way, creating a viral sensation in no time and once again witnessing the madness of the digital age.


    Nobody anticipated this, not even Donald Yee who was caught completely off guard:


    Who would have thought that a simple trip home would get Li Wei trending?


    The buzz from the American League finals hadn¡¯t completely settled, and now Li Wei was sparking widespread discussions among the youth with this entirely new approach.


    The heat from this popularity was truly unmatched, and Li Wei forcefully trended yet again.


    Thus, a unique phenomenon of the internet age and the influencer economy made its dazzling debut in early 2018a?€¡±


    Bustling is an understatement, as the throngs in the great city of New York flocked toward Chinatown.


    There were fans, but even more were those joining in for the spectacle, some perhaps knowing nothing about football, but no one wanted to miss out on this event as they descended wave after wave into the scene.


    It was only a matter of time before the media caught on.


    About this scene and his sudden fame, the man himself professed innocence: I really didn¡¯t do anything, I swear!


    How did things end up like this?@@@@

 Chapter 436

    ?Chapter 436: 435 retirement plan Chapter 436: 435 retirement plan Usually, the restaurant closes at 9:30 PM, but today, due to the bustling crowd, it remained packed until 11 PM, wave after wave of customers flowed in and out.


    In the end, it was Li Wei who took control of the scene, joking around with the fans, and then he saida?€¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll meet again at the Super Bowl in two weeks.¡±


    In a bout of cheerful laughter, the restaurant¡¯s doors finally closed.


    The neighbors in Chinatown left their homes empty to join in the excitement, turning the whole block into a new attraction reminiscent of New York¡¯s city that never sleeps, bustling with people who lingered on the streets long after the restaurant had shut its doors.


    Even Li Wei was exhausted, not to mention everyone else.


    Perry sat there with a look of blank despair, inadvertently exchanging glances with Li Wei, which somehow was comicala?€¡±


    ¡°Coach Reed probably hadn¡¯t anticipated this kind of vacation, huh?¡±


    Even on vacation, he was still ¡°training,¡± even if it wasn¡¯t regular training.


    Such diligence was indeed rare in the League.


    Li Wei was also amused by Perry¡¯s banter, ¡°The graffiti on the outside walls was your idea, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    Li Yi and Jiang Yin were both of a low-profile and reserved nature, and they always lacked a precise feeling for the influence of football in North America.


    ...


    If the mural on the external wall and renovations were their parents¡¯ idea, Li Wei would be the first to disbelieve it.


    Perry chuckled twice, ¡°Actually, it was a street graffiti artist who came up with the idea.@@@@


    He wanted to create some works as a tribute to you, and I thought it was an important opportunity for New York to remember the NFL¡¯s first Chinese-American running back, soa?€|¡±


    So, Perry convinced Li Yi and Jiang Yin.


    Li Wei felt somewhat helpless, not because he objected to the graffiti, but because he worried about his parents.


    First, he knew that heavy is the head that wears the crown.


    With his increasing exposure, the voices of opposition would inevitably grow louder, and he feared that the bubbles of the digital age might hurt Li Yi and Jiang Yin.


    Second, he knew that his parents still upheld the hospitality of the Eastern tradition, and that they would never turn away guests who came because of him, which would likely make their already hardworking daily life even more strenuous.


    Running the restaurant was truly hard-earned money.


    Just look at today to see that, feeling the real back pain and not being able to straighten one¡¯s backa?€¡±if it were just Perry alone on a regular day, it would be unimaginable.


    Li Wei looked at his father, ¡°Dad, even if we only had half of today¡¯s crowd, you still wouldn¡¯t be able to manage.


    Both the front and the back of the house would be overwhelmed.¡±


    Perry puffed out his chest, with an ¡°feel free to compliment me, don¡¯t worry about me getting arrogant¡± attitude, which made the corners of Li Wei¡¯s mouth involuntarily curve up into a smile.


    ¡°Xiao Wei, didn¡¯t you know?¡±


    ¡°Now in this alley in Chinatown, all those uncles and aunts who watched you grow up have gathered together, all because of you, they¡¯ve taken an interest in football for the first time.¡±


    ¡°Before, people always talked about football, and us old folks couldn¡¯t get a word in edgewise or fit into New York¡¯s street life, but now we finally understand the appeal of football, and everyone is really happy.¡±


    ¡°Besides, you train and play games all day; we can¡¯t just sit at home twiddling our thumbs, you know your dad; he definitely can¡¯t sit still.¡±


    The speech wasn¡¯t entirely complete, but it was clear and persuasive.


    Li Wei thought about it and found he couldn¡¯t rebut.


    On his previous visits, Li Wei had been somewhat cautious, keeping his distance as he wasn¡¯t the original; but as time went on, before he even realized it, he¡¯d become an integral part of the family, feeling genuinely cared for by Li Yi and Jiang Yin, and naturally began to consider their well-being, finding support and security in this parallel world.


    The feeling wasn¡¯t bad at all.


    Now, Li Wei also put himself in Li Yi and Jiang Yin¡¯s shoes, considering their retirement life; his thoughts circled in his mind, and he nodded in agreement.


    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±


    ¡°But you could adjust your mindset.


    Before, you were busy and struggled for a living, and couldn¡¯t afford to rest; but now it¡¯s for a change of pace in life, there¡¯s no need to work yourselves to the bone like before, and taking a break now and then should be fine.¡±


    Seeing Li Yi preparing to sternly rebut with his face set firm, Li Wei already knew his father¡¯s intenta?€¡±


    Li Yi was always serious about his work, disliked anything slipshod or casual, and certainly couldn¡¯t stand the habit of working inconsistently.


    This time, Li Wei spoke his thoughts and opinions before Li Yi had the chance.


    ¡°What I mean is, you¡¯ve both worked hard for a living your whole lives, but this is no longer the biggest problem; it¡¯s time for you to start thinking of yourselves and exploring your hobbies and interests.¡±


    ¡°Dad, haven¡¯t you always wanted to learn the guitar?


    Now you can use your spare time to learn.¡±


    ¡°Mom, you¡¯ve always regretted not systematically learning English.


    Besides daily restaurant and market English, expressing your thoughts is still difficult; now you can study properly.¡±


    ¡°Besides Jack, we can hire two more people to help out front and in the kitchen, adjust the work hours a bit, and invest some time for yourselves.¡±


    Life is short; it can end in the blink of an eye.


    But life is also long, with a vast world waiting to be explored beyond work and family.

 Chapter 437

    ?Chapter 437: 436 Parental Heart Chapter 437: 436 Parental Heart Undoubtedly, Li Wei¡¯s starting point was positive, and he was gradually blending into this parallel universe, no longer a lonely wandering spirit, slowly taking root in this world, growing bit by bit, sincerely hoping that Li Yi and Jiang Yin could also find happiness.


    But Li Wei overlooked one thing:


    The generational gap.


    People of different eras and ages think differently, and naturally, their values and lifestyles also differ.


    What he considered positive and correct might not necessarily be perceived the same way by Li Yi and Jiang Yin.


    Or, to put it another way, while he considered things for Li Yi and Jiang Yin, they might also be considering his perspective.


    This was the case right now.


    Li Wei¡¯s words somewhat moved Jiang Yin, yet Li Yi remained unconvinced, gently shaking his head in disapproval.


    ...


    ¡°Xiao Wei, you¡¯re stepping too far ahead,¡± he said.


    ¡°You¡¯ve only been in the League for a year, and it¡¯s still uncertain.


    The athletic life of a professional player is unpredictable.


    What if you suffer an injury?


    What if your performance declines?¡±


    ¡°Your mom and I are still young, we can work for a couple more years.


    We are your backup, this way, no matter what happens, you have a fallback plan.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about us.


    Just focus on yourself,¡± he continued.


    Li Wei sighed softly.


    How should he convince the older generation not to worry?


    And how should he convince them that they should be considering climbing peaks and challenging themselves, not retirement?


    Jiang Yin watched the conflicting father and son, the mix of Chinese and English creating a bewildering clash for Perry sitting beside them, his forehead almost overflowing with question marks.


    She quickly spoke up to ease the atmosphere.


    ¡°Okay, both of you, just say less,¡± she said.


    ¡°Old Li, your son¡¯s worries are about me.


    Stop being overly sentimental and worrying unnecessarily,¡± she added.


    Her words made Li Yi¡¯s eyes widen in astonishment as he looked at Jiang Yin, who stared back unabashedly.


    Li Yi¡¯s words stuck in his throat, then he turned his head away, breathing heavily in frustration.


    Jiang Yin didn¡¯t pay any attention to Li Yi.


    ¡°Xiao Wei, we understand your feelings.


    Perry looked at Li Yi and then Jiang Yin, feeling like he should be under a car.


    Perry couldn¡¯t help but feel annoyed; this was a family meeting, what was a worker like him doing here?


    He shouldn¡¯t have lingered in the kitchen lured by a dinner, only to find himself caught in a storm.


    Now what?


    Perry wanted to say something but wasn¡¯t sure if speaking up would only add fuel to the fire; moreover, in what position and stance should he speak?


    Then, a voice came through.


    ¡°I hope you can come to watch the game.¡±


    Perry abruptly turned towards the sound:


    Li Wei?


    Unexpectedly, it was Li Wei, who just moments before had been fraught with tension.


    Before he could even blink, it was now Li Wei¡¯s turn to defuse the situation.


    ¡°I mean it.¡±


    Li Wei looked at Li Yi, offering no further explanation, but his eyes were clear, resolute, steadfast in expressing his thoughts, making Li Yi somewhat embarrassed.


    Li Yi knew this was an outstretched hand, even though his concerns were still unalleviated, yet he had to admit, seeing Li Wei¡¯s achievements made him happy and proud.


    He also hoped to witness Li Wei¡¯s fighting spirit on the field.


    Yet, he couldn¡¯t understand why his words came out so differently, triggering a dispute even though he meant no harm.


    Li Yi also felt helpless.


    He wanted to explain that he had no ill intentions, and he wasn¡¯t trying to undermine Li Wei, only being overly cautious.


    Yet, he worried his explanations might again stray from their intention.


    The tightly wound atmosphere was yet to stabilize, and after a brief hesitation, he decided not to continue being stubborn.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say I wouldn¡¯t go.¡±


    Perry: Phew.


    Jiang Yin glanced at Li Yi, holding back words.


    Seeing Li Yi¡¯s reluctant and stubborn demeanor made Jiang Yin feel like complaining; what was meant to be a joyful occasion had turned into such a mess.


    The atmosphere, still somewhat tense.


    Perry tried to crack a joke to lighten the mood but couldn¡¯t find the right moment.


    Just as Perry questioned for the thousand-and-first time why he was still here, Li Wei¡¯s voice continued, sounding almost heavenly.


    ¡°Jack, come along too.¡±


    Perry: Gasp!


    After taking a sharp breath, he nodded vigorously.

 Chapter 438

    ?Chapter 438: 437 Special Guest Chapter 438: 437 Special Guest Pat pat pat.


    Perry nodded continuously like a bobblehead, fearing that anything less than his maximal speed or gesture might fail to convey his heartfelt agreement.


    His small eyes were wide and round, pupils shining with light, his entire face clearly etched with joy and happiness.


    Li Wei burst into laughter, ¡°See, being straightforward like Jack makes things so much simpler.¡±


    Perry exaggeratedly exclaimed ¡°Hallelujah,¡± with his hands clasped together as he looked up at the sky, ¡°Santa Claus, I¡¯ll definitely be a good kid this year!¡±


    With that one sentence, the mood immediately relaxed.


    Although the group didn¡¯t exchange glances, the corners of Li Yi¡¯s and Jiang Yin¡¯s mouths couldn¡¯t help but curl up slightly.


    The shrewd Perry¡¯s eyes darted left and right, and finally, he reclaimed his usual demeanor, suddenly standing up with his arms raised high, breaking the silence and cheering exuberantly.


    ¡°Hey, guys, it¡¯s the Super Bowl, the freaking Super Bowl, come on let¡¯s celebrate!


    ...


    Not only are we going to watch the Super Bowl live, but we¡¯ll also see Li Wei in action on the field!¡±


    ¡°Ooh hoo!¡±


    A cacophony of howls ignited the air, and the atmosphere in the restaurant livened up again, even Li Yi couldn¡¯t suppress the growing anticipation and barely managed to keep his lips from rising into a smile as he struck a serious pose.


    Finally!


    Li Wei noticed the scene and seized the moment, taking out the number twenty-three jersey from the American League playoffs from his backpack and showing it off in front of everyone.


    ¡°Look, I had to put in quite an effort to keep this from Brady; he nearly snatched it right off my hands, that was really something...¡±


    Brady: ???


    Perry¡¯s face lit up with surprise, ¡°Finally!


    The restaurant can hang up a game jersey signed by Li Wei himself!¡±


    But he didn¡¯t expect that an untimely voice would cut in, dampening the spirit, ¡°If we¡¯re going to hang one, let¡¯s hang the next winning jersey.¡±


    Wait a second, is he implyinga?€¡±


    Winning the Super Bowl?


    Rustling sound followed as all eyes turned towards the source of the voice, focusing on...


    Li Yi.


    Li Yi¡¯s face was a picture of justified calm.


    But then, just after, he learned from Donald Yee that James Dolan had invited him to watch the basketball game tonight.


    Who is James Dolan?


    The executive chairman of Madison Square Garden, owner of the NBA New York Knicks and the NHL New York Rangers.


    Simply put, a billionaire.


    Everything came without warning, and Li Wei was filled with question marks, never having expected Dolan to extend an invitation, hoping he would come to watch the Knicks¡¯ game.


    In Donald¡¯s words, ¡°You are now a VIP in New York.¡±


    The New York Knicks¡¯ season hadn¡¯t been great; although attendance at Madison Square Garden wasn¡¯t a problem, the atmosphere at home games was concerning, and their chances of making the playoffs were slim, just like the NFL¡¯s New York Giants, who also needed a morale boost urgently.


    Clearly, as the hottest topic in the city recently, Li Wei¡¯s appearance was like Batman¡¯s, capable of injecting vitality into Madison Square Garden.


    From the scene in front of him, Li Wei¡¯s entrance had already created the first wave of excitement, and Dolan had played a masterstroke.


    But as Li Wei entered Madison Square Garden, he still had questions that weren¡¯t answered.


    He had thought he would meet with Dolan and have a friendly conversation with the billionaire, discussing team operations and sharing views.


    However, reality was such that he hadn¡¯t seen Dolan from start to finish and was led to the spectator seats instead, sitting in the first row of VIP seats close to the court, in the closest position to enjoy the spectacle of the basketball gamea?€¡±


    The players from both teams were warming up.


    So, was he purely here to watch the game today?


    Could it be?


    Suddenly, Li Wei felt as if he were a mascot.


    Li Wei was a bit disoriented; compared to football, he knew more basketball players, after all, ¡°Slam Dunk¡± had caused a craze in Asia, and the NBA had gained countless attentions with the presence of female stars; but gazing at the familiar faces, he still couldn¡¯t remember their names.


    Should he go up and greet them?


    It was at this moment that a player seemed to notice Li Wei¡¯s confusion and hesitation, finished warming up, and walked over to him.


    ¡°Hey, congrats on making it to the Super Bowl!¡±


    Li Wei looked in the direction of the voice, then saw a handsome, boyish face, teeth clad in braces, displaying a set of white teeth, his smile exceptionally brighta?€¡±


    On his body, there wasn¡¯t a New York Knicks jersey, but that of a Golden State Warriors player, the visitors for tonight¡¯s game.


    Wait a second, this player, he knew him, his name had a very memorable pronunciation, he was one hundred percent sure he remembered it, it was on the tip of his tongue but couldn¡¯t come out, and in the next second, the greeting came out before his brain could catch up.


    ¡°Hey, Kid!¡±

 Chapter 439

    ?Chapter 439: Difficulty upgrade to 438 Chapter 439: Difficulty upgrade to 438 ¡°Hey, kid!¡±


    As soon as the words left his mouth, the name of the person in front of him appeared belatedly in Li Wei¡¯s mind:


    Stephen Curry.


    Li Wei certainly remembered the man¡¯s name because it sounded just like ¡°curry,¡± but even though it was on the tip of his tongue, he couldn¡¯t get it out.


    Curry, with his mouthguard in place, looked startled, having not expected such a reaction.


    He cocked his head to one side, his eyes twinkling with a studious light, ¡°Is this trash talk?¡±


    Li Wei asked sincerely, ¡°This is the home court of the New York Knicks, right?¡±


    He was hinting that since Curry was on an away game, he naturally needed to be prepared for trash talk.


    The key was Li Wei¡¯s expression and tonea?€¡±he had no intention of attacking, yet he managed to capture a teasing, playful vibe that completely lightened the mood.


    Indeed, just like the rumors, Li Wei was indeed a guy who didn¡¯t play by the rulesa?€¡±


    Curry, the goody-two-shoes, just couldn¡¯t do it; even his trash talk was awkward and stumbling, not to mention being clever, humorous, or joking was a challenge.


    But hey, you might lose a person but not the battle, right?


    ...


    Looking at Li Wei, whose expression was innocent but whose eyes sparkled mischievously, Curry too felt an urge to join in.


    A smile crept to his lips, and he bantered back.


    ¡°Looks like someone didn¡¯t do their homework.


    That trash talk didn¡¯t hit the mark.¡±


    Facing Curry¡¯s retort, Li Wei was not flustered at all.


    His face was filled with sincerity, the image of humbly asking for advice, ¡°A hint?¡±


    Curry juggled the ball and took a small step backward, but he didn¡¯t speak, just looked at Li Wei with a beaming smile, his baby face radiant.


    Li Wei gently lifted his chin, ¡°Wait, are you trying to say ¡®baby face¡¯?¡± He said this while making a face-swiping gesture with his hand.


    Curry¡¯s movements clearly paused for a moment, giving himself away, which caused Li Wei to burst into joyful laughter.


    ¡°Haha.


    I thought ¡®baby face¡¯ was supposed to be a compliment.


    Anyone who underestimated you because of your baby face probably regrets it by now, huh?¡±


    Curry pursed his lips, then threw the basketball straight at Li Wei, ¡°Kind of like a rookie?¡±


    Smack.


    Li Wei caught the basketball accurately, standing up straight, shoulders open, eyeing the position of the hoop, ¡°Right, just like a rookie.¡±


    With the sound of his words, Li Wei cradled the basketball gently with his wrist, wrapped it with strength, a push and a flick, and the ball left his palm, spinning rapidly through the air, carving a breathtakingly perfect arc across the sky.


    The New York Knicks players looked at Li Wei with very strange expressions: What exactly did you say to that baby-faced guy!


    The situation was already difficult enough, and now you¡¯ve upped the difficulty level?


    This season, the New York Knicks¡¯ record continued to struggle, standing at twenty-one wins and twenty-six losses, with playoff hopes looking bleak; while the Golden State Warriors continued to display their championship pedigree, currently at thirty-seven wins and ten losses.


    The strength and state of the two teams weren¡¯t on the same level to begin with, and the scene just now cast a further pall over the prospects of the Knicks at home.


    Li Wei: ???


    How did this work?


    If Dolan knew inviting Li Wei to watch the game would knock the morale of the home team so hard before the game even began, and rile up Curry, who knows if he would appear in person to drag Li Wei out of the arena.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen!¡±


    ¡°Let us welcome with warm applause the main running back for this season¡¯s American League Champion Kansas City Chiefsa?€¡±¡±


    Li...


    Wei...¡±


    The warm-up ended, and the game was about to begin, but the Madison Square Garden¡¯s MC wasn¡¯t willing to just segue into the event without fanfare.


    Instead, he drew the spotlight to Li Wei with a series of solemn words.


    Then, the most wonderful and interesting scene appeared on the NBA live broadcast:


    It was clearly a New York home game, the teams playing against each other had nothing to do with Kansas City, yet the focal point was still a football player from Kansas City.


    And furthermore.


    At that moment, countless viewers in Hua Xia Continent across the Pacific Ocean, watching the NBA live broadcast, found themselves engulfed in a fog of confusion:


    Who is that?


    Why was there the face of a Chinese-descent person, unrelated to the New York Knicks, the Golden State Warriors, and even the NBA, appearing on the live broadcast screen?


    Even though in the past season, Li Wei had caused a sensation in Hua Xia Continent, the fan base for football and basketball were still different; those who loved the NBA might not necessarily care about the tumult on the NFL fields.


    But now, they careda?€¡±


    Ahh, ahh, ahh.


    Clap, clap, clap.


    Applause like a tidal wave erupted from the audience at Madison Square Garden, filled with whistles, roars, and clapping that permeated the entire arena, with quite a few people standing up.


    The whole venue was exceptionally lively, giving Li Wei the highest honors.


    This scene led to a myriad of speculations among viewers in front of their TVs in Hua Xia Continent:


    ¡°Li Wei (Levi), who is that?¡±


    Wait, could it be some rich second-generation or a new Hollywood star?


    Quietly, Li Wei trended once again, in an unexpectedly surprising way.

 Chapter 440

    ?Chapter 440: 439 Second Home Field Chapter 440: 439 Second Home Field Abrupt stop, sharp turn, dodging screens, slipping free, tearing open a slice of space, without pausing, he stepped back half a step, feet together, standing beyond the three-point line, he leaped up, shot launcheda?€¡±


    Whoosh.


    The basketball, tracing a light and graceful arc, aimed at the white net, once again drawing all eyes in Madison Square Garden to the nimblea?€¡±and agilea?€¡±Curry, amidst the crisp sound of the net, the commotion and noise of the venue transformed into frustrated sighs.


    Three points, once again in hand.


    Then.


    Curry turned, his gaze landing on the courtside...@@@@


    Li Wei, breaking into a wide smile, he jogged past with ease, stretching out his right hand, his palm tall and straight like a bamboo shooting towards Li Weia?€¡±


    Could it be...


    Curry was preparing to attack Li Wei?


    ...


    Slap!


    Li Wei instinctively extended his right hand, palm meeting palm in mid-air, high-fiving in celebration, Curry pirouetted with flair, a 180-degree turn, retreating quickly to his own half and assuming a defensive stance.


    ¡°Wow, at a critical moment, with just twenty-one seconds left in the game, but Stephen Curry still seems exceptionally relaxed, even finding time to celebrate with a high-five to a courtside fan.¡±


    ¡°New York Knicks¡¯ players morale has taken a serious hit.¡±


    ¡°Wait, that is...¡±


    In the broadcast booth, the commentator finally got a clear look at that ¡°ordinary fan¡¯s¡± face, burst into laughter, mixed with astonishment and shock, the atmosphere turning jolly.


    That ordinary fan: Uh, he seems to have just been fooled by a primary schooler.


    Fans onsite at Madison Square Garden, unable to contain their anger, glared fiercely at that ¡°traitor boosting the enemy¡¯s morale at their own expense,¡± one by one they clenched their teeth, balled their fists, rolled their sleeves, and the air suddenly tensed.


    As a result.


    That ordinary fan seemed to notice the intense gazes converging from all directions, he turned his head, scanning the crowd, that shoulder, that arm, that look in his eyes, releasing a pressure that made those around him clench up, how could they forget this super villain¡¯s original identity, one by one, they whistled nonchalantly, pretending nothing was amiss as they shifted their gaze to the void.


    The disturbance settled down once more.


    Actually, this incident had little effect on the suspense of the outcome, the Golden State Warriors had already firmly taken control, the New York Knicks incapable of reversing the situation, witnessing once again the primary schooler¡¯s dominion over the game with a three-point frenzy, entering the final quarter with victory firmly in hand, even Curry for once showed off a bit on the court.


    ¡°112:123¡±.


    The Golden State Warriors, who had just lost a fierce battle against the Boston Celtics, turned around and regained their form, taking down the New York Knicks on their home court with a clear advantage, returning to the winning track.


    The New York Knicks, on the other hand, continued their dismal season trend, and even with Li Wei bringing the aura of an American League champion to boost morale, they couldn¡¯t reverse the downturn.


    Phew.


    ¡°Li Wei.


    Li Wei!¡±


    In the midst of the ongoing tumultuous cheers and shouts, it was hard to single out any calling voice until security personnel truly appeared in Li Wei¡¯s line of sight and began to maintain a semblance of order among the increasingly chaotic crowd, catching Li Wei¡¯s attention and escorting him away.


    ¡°Please follow me.¡±


    Behind him, a torrent of various screams and roars, and declarations of love from female fans, came surging through.


    It was an NBA game, yet the audience at Madison Square Garden was in a frenzy over a football playera?€¡±


    New York Knicks: So, that¡¯s where they belong, in the gutter, right?


    Whoosh!


    A beautiful blonde woman lifted her shirt, boldly showing off her impressive curves, screaming hysterically.


    ¡°Li Wei, I¡¯m yours!¡±


    This scene didn¡¯t slow Li Wei¡¯s pace, but it sent the onlookers across the players¡¯ tunnel into a frenzy, their screams intensifying, veins nearly bursting on their foreheads, faces red as if drunk, looking as though they could explode at any moment, pushing the frenzy at the scene to a new peak.


    Right then, Li Wei, having entered the players¡¯ tunnel, suddenly stopped and took two steps back, throwing the scene into instant chaos, with the woman who had been flaunting herself now emitting a mad shriek.


    The scene was, momentarily, in disarray.


    Security hurriedly drew back, surrounding Li Wei in a protective circle, while fans in the stands, thinking their fervor had moved Li Wei, became even more heated.


    The order at the venue was teetering on the brink of collapse, and it looked as though it might all come crashing down, leaving players from the Golden State Warriors and the New York Knicks dumbfounded:


    They had never anticipated Li Wei would command such popularity in New York.


    They¡¯d fought fiercely for two hours, yet Li Wei, leisurely watching with crossed legs, had stolen the spotlight.


    So, were they allowed to swear?


    And what about Li Wei?


    Li Wei wasn¡¯t paying any attention to those frenzied, contorted figures.


    His brow furrowed slightly, his gaze fixated on the lower half of the crowd, a touch of concern in his eyes.


    ¡°Make way.¡±


    ¡°Hey, guys, calm down, back up a bit.¡±


    ¡°Calm down!¡±

 Chapter 441

    ?Chapter 441: 440 Falling from the Sky Chapter 441: 440 Falling from the Sky The scene was on the verge of chaos.


    Security personnel linked arms and shoulders, drenched in sweat, facing the relentless surge of the crowd and finding themselves in an unsustainable predicament, teetering dangerously on the brink of collapse.


    But where was Li Wei?


    Having already left the stadium, why did Li Wei return?


    Was it really because of that female fan?


    Li Wei¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t even glance in that direction; instead, he focused on the opposite side, desperately trying to control the situation, repeatedly urging the crowd to regain their senses.


    ...


    It was in vain.


    In the restless noise of the entire venue, Li Wei¡¯s voice simply couldn¡¯t carry.


    He could only manage a small group of fans, attempting to calm everyone down.


    The effect was minimal.@@@@


    Security personnel quickly stepped forward, trying to pull Li Wei away, but their voices could not reach him.


    They had no choice but to physically intervene.


    However, facing the tall and strong Li Wei, the normally robust security staff suddenly seemed timid and shy, unable to sway him, which made them start to sweat.


    Seeing that the situation was about to spiral out of control, Li Wei had no time to explain.


    He broke free from the grasp of the security personnel, stepped forward, and forcefully parted the crowd, in the dense and swirling mass, finding a young creature trapped between the legsa?€¡±


    A little boy, maybe five, six, or at most seven years old, with dark brown curly hair wetly sticking to his forehead, his cheeks flushed red, his eyes filled with panic and fear, staring wide-eyed, their focus innocently and confusedly scattering.


    It was clear, he was terrified.


    Li Wei had glimpsed this figure by chance, and his first reaction was to think he had seen wrong.


    Returning to confirm this, he immediately realized the worst congestions and even potential stampede incidents were unfolding in the surging crowd.


    Li Wei knew that his continued presence might incite the crowd even more, potentially exacerbating the situation; but if he turned a blind eye, no one knew what would happen to that little boy.


    In such situations, not just children, but even adults would feel helpless and insignificant, at risk of tragedy if they were not careful.


    So, Li Wei returned and reached out his hand.


    A pull, a tug.


    Li Wei scooped the little boy into his arms, forcibly dragging him out from the layers of people.


    Then, the crowd closed back in, pressing together again, the hot, stifling air hitting them, suffocating.


    Not just the little boy, even Li Wei himself instinctively held his breath until they cleared the crowd, only then gasping for air deeply.


    ¡°Hey, rookie.


    Sign an autograph.¡±


    ¡°Why the big star act, it¡¯s just an autograph, why put on airs?


    That kid isn¡¯t hurt, what are you dilly-dallying for?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not waiting to pose for the camera, are you?¡±


    ¡°Jesus Christ, no need to make a face.


    It¡¯s not the end of the world.¡±


    Babble, babble.


    Noisy and malicious, the sarcastic remarks made the surrounding players furrow their brows.


    The basketball court¡¯s relatively confined space amplified the fans¡¯ cutting remarks, and although some fans tried to shush the noise, this direct confrontation only excited the person more, chirping non-stop.


    Such human noise.


    Li Wei still paid no attention, he could feel the little boy¡¯s shoulders quivering lightly, and he gently patted him, settling the little guy down.


    Then, Li Wei finally lifted his head and looked in the direction of the noises.


    Those calm eyes had no undulations, no emotions, no colors, only a deep darkness, as if staring at a lifeless, worthless stone, instantly squeezing the throat of that fan, swallowing down the words that had reached his lips.


    Not just him.


    Other surrounding fans, too, saw Li Wei¡¯s eyes, each involuntarily swallowing, usually seeing Li Wei harmlessly smiling, utterly scholarly, completely unlike a football player¡¯s posture; now, a single glance sufficed to awaken everyone¡¯s worst nightmaresa?€¡±


    How could they forget, the man before them was a demon king that made professional football players tremble, their thin arms and legs might not withstand even a single move.


    What to do?


    The air, slight stiff.


    The noisy black man, who had been incessantly jabbering a second ago, suddenly zipped his lips, closed his mouth, shrunk his shoulders, and tried his best to minimize his presence.


    He initially thought that, in public, Li Wei would care about his image and wouldn¡¯t dare make a move, but unexpectedly, he caught a hint of a murderous look in Li Wei¡¯s eyes, and every word got stuck in his throat.


    Even security personnel noticed the subtle atmosphere and became alert.


    As the atmosphere grew completely stagnant, and the heartbeats stopped, Li Wei revealed a smile.


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not Ates, and this isn¡¯t the Auburn Mountain Palace, no need to tremble in fear.¡±


    One second, two secondsa?€¡±


    Collective laughter.

 Chapter 442

    ?Chapter 442: 441 Brave Dragon Chapter 442: 441 Brave Dragon ¡°`


    In 2004, the incident at the Auburn Mountain Palace during a game between the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons sent shockwaves through the NBA.


    It involved Ron Artest engaging with fans, escalating into a massive brawla?€¡±still to this day it remains one of the most extensive and punitive events with the worst impact in NBA history.


    Perhaps other fans might not understand, but to basketball enthusiasts, there is no doubt that this is one of the emblematic events of the NBA since the millennium.


    Even after more than a decade, the memory remains vividly alive.


    But no one could have anticipated that Li Wei would bring it up at this time.


    However, the effect was perfect.


    Effortlessly, with just one sentence, Li Wei defused the tense atmosphere.


    ...


    The bustling crowd regained their senses, thankfully not surging forward anymore.


    The scene went from a horror movie to a comedy, lively to an extreme.


    Perhaps, there was one exceptiona?€¡±


    The trash-talking black man.


    He clearly noticed the murderous look in Li Wei¡¯s eyes, that the sentence just uttered was not a joke but a threat.


    Li Wei was reminding him that he wouldn¡¯t mind teaching him a lesson just like Artest did.


    Though he didn¡¯t know what risks Li Wei was willing to take to throw a punch, the point was he couldn¡¯t take a hit.


    What if a solid beating left him unable to stand up?


    Gulp.


    Seeing Li Wei¡¯s sturdy frame concealed under his clothes, the well-proportioned muscles hinted at explosive power.


    He swallowed hard, his throat painfully dry, his knees involuntarily starting to shake.


    Then.


    Li Wei¡¯s gaze shot over, a glare followed by a chuckle, a smile blooming.


    This guy¡¯s heart tensed up: the devil!


    Unable to control himself any longer, he decided that discretion was the better part of valor.


    Turning on his heel, he slipped through the crowd like an eel, vanishing in the blink of an eye.


    But no one cared about this clown.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t bother with him either, turning back to look at the frightened little creature in his arms.


    ...


    Ian Cole¡¯s mind was a blank.


    He didn¡¯t understand what had happened or how everything had unfolded, getting caught in a sudden whirlwind of bewilderment and fear.


    Instinctively, he burrowed into the broad sanctuary seeking refuge, burying his head deeply and waiting quietly for the world to calm down.


    At last.@@@@


    The noise subsided, and Cole cautiously lifted his head, scanning the surroundings warily.


    But he came over without hesitation anyway.


    Li Wei looked up at Curry, ¡°This one¡¯s your fan.¡±


    Curry: Huh?


    His thought process couldn¡¯t keep up with Li Wei¡¯s pace.


    So what now?


    Li Wei gestured towards the little boy, ¡°Batman should offer his cape to good citizens, just like a golden ticket from Wonka.¡±


    Curry caught on immediately and didn¡¯t hesitate to take off his jersey and hand it over.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t plan to steal Curry¡¯s limelight, he looked down at the boy in his arms, ¡°Hey, kid, look who¡¯s here.¡±


    By then, Curry had figured it out and crouched down in front of Li Wei and the little boy, smiling at him, ¡°Let¡¯s see who¡¯s the bravest Warrior tonight.¡±


    Ian perked up his ears, raised his head from Li Wei¡¯s embrace, and saw the familiar face close-up.


    His eyes widened in awe, and the tears that hadn¡¯t completely dried trembled slightly, almost melting Currya?€¡±


    This baby-faced superstar was now the father of two daughters, one five years old and the other two, so when he saw the little boy¡¯s pitiful expression, his facial features softened and he expertly began to comfort the child.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, the devil has already been scared away by the dragon, you¡¯re safe now.¡±


    The devil?


    The dragon?


    Li Wei froze in place, full of question marks.


    Curry noticed and felt a bit embarrassed, still not used to showing this side of himself, but by this point, he couldn¡¯t care less.


    He smiled at the little boy and handed over the jersey.


    ¡°I¡¯m Stephen Curry, and you are?¡±


    Ian hesitated for a moment, but still grasped the jersey and hugged it to his chest, replying in a mosquito-like voice, ¡°Ian...¡±


    The situation was finally under control.


    Li Wei was about to let go, to give the little boy some time with his idol.


    In the young boy¡¯s eyes, he must have seemed like just some unrelated, random uncle; but to Li Wei¡¯s surprise, the boy instantly clutched his arm, desperately hugging it to his chest, refusing to let go.


    Curry noticed right away.


    Seeing Li Wei¡¯s tense muscles and the careful way he was holding the boy, as if he feared he might crush the child with any slight pressure, it was clear he was a bachelor without children.


    Curry patted Li Wei¡¯s arm, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯re not that fragile.¡±


    Then he looked at the little boy, ¡°Do you know him?


    He¡¯s a football player, number twenty-three from the Kansas City Chiefs.¡±


    Ian¡¯s head snapped up, ¡°Of course, Li Wei, of course I know you.¡±


    Li Wei: ???


    Then who was the person just now who said he didn¡¯t know him?


    Ian wrapped his arms around Li Wei¡¯s neck and whispered into his ear in a sweet, mushy voice, ¡°That catch.¡±

 Chapter 443

    ?Chapter 443: 442 Matchmaking Chapter 443: 442 Matchmaking The piping hot, mushy little hands clung to Li Wei¡¯s neck.


    Although speaking in a low voice, everyone around could hear, ¡°that catch.¡±


    Throughout the season, Li Wei had contributed no fewer than eight iconic moments, but the one that truly went viral was that catch during the division game, partly because of the opponents and the nature of the match.


    For a long time to come, it would likely remain a signature moment for Li Wei.


    Li Wei¡¯s heart was clear as a mirror.


    A smile crawled over his lips as he whispered back, ¡°Yes, that was me.¡±


    Kerr¡¯s smile finally bloomed.


    Curry looked utterly amazed; even he hadn¡¯t expected Li Wei and Kerr¡¯s interactions to be so natural.


    Li Wei glanced at the number 30 jersey in Kerr¡¯s hand, then looked down at himselfa?€¡±


    He was a guest today, totally unprepared, and of course had nothing to present in return.


    ...


    Kerr¡¯s cheeks were red and tear-stained, still looking emotionally shaken.


    His eyes still wet with un-wiped tears appeared pitiful, like a five or six-year-old child who didn¡¯t even know how to express their grievances and fears, nor understand what they had just been through.


    After a moment ¡°Next week, I have a game, if you¡¯re interested, you can come along with Stephen.


    What do you think?¡±


    Having said that, Li Wei took out Donald Yee¡¯s business card and placed it in Kerr¡¯s palm.


    Curry didn¡¯t understand at first and was half a beat slow: A game next week?


    Then, he looked at Li Wei with a face full of bewilderment.


    Li Wei looked at Curry, then at Kerr, both with childish faces, ¡°Truly like elementary schoolers.¡±


    Curry quickly caught on and retorted with a laugh, ¡°Ha.


    Ha.


    Including you, that makes three.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s Asian features made him appear even younger to Americans, possibly younger than Curry.


    Calling him a grade schooler was not farfetched, especially since the rookie season was almost over and people still cheerfully yelled ¡°rookie, rookie.¡±


    Li Wei shrugged lightly, ¡°Just a bit more, and the Garden would turn into a kindergarten.¡±


    ¡°Haha,¡± Curry laughed heartily too.


    But then.


    The security personnel came up again, breaking the mood.


    They didn¡¯t want to, but now that they had finally gotten the crowd under control, it would become troublesome if they didn¡¯t withdraw quicklya?€¡±should the crowd surge again.


    Look, when they heard Li Wei extend an invitation for an on-site game viewing, each one of them straightened their eyes, the undercurrents surged again, nearly uncontrollable.


    The best way to calm the scene was for Li Wei to leave the premises.


    ¡°Mr.


    If it was Dolan, it made sense for everyone else to step aside.


    No wonder the security team had been rushing Li Wei, leaving Curry behind and focusing solely on escorting Li Wei away from the scene, under the pretext of fearing the fans might lose control again; the real reason was the summons of the powerful team owner.


    Not just them; Li Wei¡¯s doubts, which had been hanging in mid-air, had finally been answered.


    He knew Dolan would appear, but he didn¡¯t know when.


    Now, the answer had come to light.


    Li Wei felt a bit relieved, the head of security slightly relaxed; they were now in the backstage area, no fans or players to worry about, and their tense nerves could loosen a bit.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry anymore; if anyone needs to worry about safety, it¡¯s us.¡±


    With that, he glanced at Li Wei out of the corner of his eye.


    Li Wei heard and noticed it, his eyes revealing a hint of amusement, ¡°Rest assured, I don¡¯t bite.


    Your flesh is too rough and dry, it doesn¡¯t even taste good when chewed, it¡¯s just a waste of teeth.


    I¡¯d rather pass.¡±


    The security team leader was shocked, his face full of terror as he looked at Li Wei, only to see a calm and composed face looking back at him innocently, as if completely unaware of what was happening, which made his knees go weak.


    Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t a long journey; the security personnel successfully escorted Li Wei to the VIP room.


    Standing at the door, they knocked and announced,


    ¡°Mr.


    Li Wei has arrived.¡±


    Without waiting for a response from inside the room, the security team leader already had opened the door, not looking inside, and, with his back to the room and facing Li Wei, he gestured for him to enter.


    Li Wei, with a sincere expression, ¡°Nice chatting with you, hope we can meet again.¡±


    The security team leader: ...


    The rest of the security team stood at attention against the wall, eyes forward, expressionless, but a close observation would reveal the slight movement in their jaws and throats:


    Holding back laughter was really hard; indeed, this job was hard-earned.


    Doors opened, doors closed, and thena?€¡±


    Snicker.


    Finally, someone burst out laughing, and the hallway filled with laughter.


    Behind the door, Li Wei was full of question marks: Where was James Dolan?


    Li Wei didn¡¯t recognize Dolan, but since Dolan had invited him to watch the game, as a guest, it was basic etiquette to know a bit about the host.


    So, before coming this evening, Li Wei had done his homework.


    At least, he didn¡¯t want to recognize the wrong person, which could truly turn into a joke.


    However.


    Standing in a luxurious VIP room above Madison Square Garden Arena, Li Wei was still caught off guard as he looked at the three people in front of him, completely baffled:


    Who are you?

 Chapter 444

    ?Chapter 444: 443 a friend Chapter 444: 443 a friend ¡°Who are you?¡±


    For a moment, Li Wei strongly doubted whether he still had a case of prosopagnosia, because none of the three people in front of him were James Dolan.


    Unless Dolan had sneaked off to Los Angeles for a head transplant, Li Wei was very certain and sure that none of the three people in the VIP room was Dolan.


    On the alert immediatelya?€¡±


    An ambush?


    This didn¡¯t make sense.


    Why would Dolan ambush him?


    Why would the New York Knicks ambush him?


    Why would a professional basketball team ambush a football player?


    ...


    And why choose a time when there were crowds of people outside?


    However, Li Wei still sounded the alarm.


    But that was only for a brief second.


    The moment Li Wei entered the VIP room, one of the three men, dressed in a crisp black three-piece suit, came forward and displayed a welcoming smile.


    In such a setting, the lower the status and the less confidence one had, the more likely they were to focus on abiding by the rules of dress and meticulously presenting a perfect posture, trying to arm their dignity with brand names or designer labels.


    In contrast, those with true confidence and strength appeared casually at ease, unconcerned about their standing even if they wore only a T-shirt and jeans.


    Of course, if one ascended to an even higher level, into the world of nobility where position, tradition, and glory could not be bought with money, the situation would again be reversed, telling a different story.


    The one dressed most smartly, most expensively, and most strikingly stepped forward first.


    ¡°Li Wei, we finally meet...¡±


    Blah blah blah.


    Followed by a string of self-introductions, along with a generous amount of compliments and praise; but Li Wei¡¯s attention had already shifted to the other two men.


    The middle-aged man who stood slightly to the front appeared more relaxed and at ease.


    If Li Wei was not mistaken, he was probably the one holding the real power .


    He appeared to be past fifty, but the wrinkles on his forehead and the corners of his eyes didn¡¯t make him look old.


    Instead, they added a touch of scholarly elegance.


    Paired with gold-rimmed glasses, he wouldn¡¯t be out of place being called a university professor.


    His light brown short hair was soft and neatly combed backward.


    Despite a receding hairline, the dense and well-arranged strands still bespoke a temperament mellowed by years.


    Compared with the other two, even though he too was dressed in a suit and shirt, he seemed much more relaxed.


    Whether it was netizens or John, Li Wei wasn¡¯t worried about their provocative attacks, to him, these topics were merely water off a duck¡¯s back.


    However, not everyone was like Li Wei.


    As soon as the words were spoken, the two beside him tensed up, immediately looking at John with anxious hesitation and sweaty palms, knees weak.


    Clearly, Li Wei¡¯s words were a dig at John being ¡°the weak.¡±


    This wasn¡¯t good, really not good.


    Instead, John, as the subject in question, showed an excited expression, ¡°You do know that such a view won¡¯t sell tickets, right?


    Victory is the only way to sell tickets.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡± Li Wei laughed out loud.


    John, ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t agree?¡±


    Li Wei waved his hand, ¡°My viewpoint is, New York never needs to worry about attendance.


    NBA, NFL, NHL, MLBa?€¡±there¡¯s never a lack of market in New York.


    New York could build a Galactic Battleship like Real Madrid, but the city has never tried doing so.


    Do you know why?¡±


    John refused to speak, instead looking at Li Wei and waiting patiently for the answer.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t play coy, ¡°Because New York is not some nouveau riche.¡±


    Just like John refuses to call himself a New Yorker, obviously he isn¡¯t a nouveau riche either.


    ¡°Victory is important, but a team¡¯s culture, heritage, and spirit are more important.


    These things that have been passed down for a century have become a brand.¡±


    ¡°The Dallas Cowboys last won two consecutive playoff games back in 1995, but that doesn¡¯t stop them from still being the team with the most fans on the North American continent, even globally they are near the top.¡±


    ¡°I believe Jerry Jones has never been worried about selling tickets.¡±


    Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, is also the most self-willed, infamously unreasonable owner in the league.


    Without a doubt.


    Light, simple, yet it hit the bullseye.


    As expected, John revealed a curious expression.


    He didn¡¯t respond immediately, pondering for a moment as the tense atmosphere quietly relaxed.


    However, just when it was about to ease, John launched another probing question, looking at Li Wei with curiosity plastered all over his face.


    ¡°So, are you comparing me to Jerry Jones?¡±


    ¡°And, you think I¡¯m not as good as him?¡±

 Chapter 445

    ?Chapter 445: 444 be prepared Chapter 445: 444 be prepared The atmosphere, which had relaxed, tensed up again because of John¡¯s remark.


    From the expression and posture of the two men beside him, it seemed that their awkward smiles were on the verge of collapsing.


    Then, both of them turned to look at Li Wei.


    With very different expressions.


    One had a sharp, uncontrollable anger, clearly acting on John¡¯s behalf in executing justice.


    The other was panic-stricken, desperately pleading.


    If not for John¡¯s presence, he might have already knelt down, begging for mercy!


    ...


    Interesting.


    Li Wei became even more curious about John¡¯s identity.


    From the hints in his speech, John seemed to be a tycoon on the level of Jerry Jones and James Dolan, and clearly, he did not like Jerry Jones.


    However, in the blink of an eye, Li Wei had to respond without time for further thought.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°I mean, Jerry Jones is Jerry Jones.


    He represents a style of management, but obviously, there are successful professional sports teams other than the Dallas Cowboys in this world.


    This means we can draw inspiration from them and carve out our own path.¡±


    ¡°In business, there are no eternal enemies nor eternal friends, only eternal interests.¡±


    ¡°Professional sports are the same.


    The line between friends and enemies is far blurrier than one might imagine.¡±


    Calm and composed, neither humble nor haughtya?€¡±


    The two men beside were nearly collapsing at the brink of breakdown, but Li Wei still managed to defuse the tension effortlessly with a calm demeanor.


    John¡¯s gaze remained fixed on Li Wei, a smile hanging on his refined face, but even such a gaze, in the silent moment, tensed the air subtly, with a current of silent threat swirling around.


    Li Wei did not shift his gaze nor break the silence, boldly meeting John¡¯s eyes, his forthright demeanor forming a stark confrontation.


    Finally, it was John who backed down.


    ¡°Hah.¡±


    John laughed, gently lifting his chin, showing a hint of admiration.@@@@


    ¡°Indeed so.¡±


    ¡°Who knows, maybe today Madison Square Garden is grinding its teeth at Curry, and if tomorrow Curry announces a transfer to join the New York Knicks, it would be a completely different scene.¡±


    Li Wei looked closely at John, ¡°Are you implying something about the Cleveland Cavaliers?¡±


    LeBron James: Who?


    Who¡¯s backstabbing?


    Pfft.


    John could no longer control himself and burst out laughing, all sense of tension and undercurrents vanishing, the whole atmosphere turning joyful.


    Li Wei shrugged lightly, ¡°I don¡¯t have a say yet, at least not enough to make a difference.


    In the League, I¡¯m just a bargaining chip, always possibly on the move.


    If I want to have a say, I must deliver more outstanding performances.


    That¡¯s the reality, and I don¡¯t think there¡¯s a need to disguise or avoid it.¡±


    Donald thought about it and wasn¡¯t surprised; this was the Li Wei he knew.


    ¡°From the current situation, yes, they should be thinking along those lines.¡±


    Donald nodded slightly.


    ¡°I guess, your return to New York caused a sensation on social media, generating more talk than anticipated, due to the catch that eliminated the New England Patriots in the divisional game.


    New York even treats you like Spider-Man.¡±


    ¡°Just right, the New York Giants lack an icon.


    You know their relationship with quarterback Eli Manning has been really ugly this season, with almost the entire League taking Eli¡¯s side.


    Regardless of whether Eli returns next season, they need some PR work to mitigate the damage.¡±


    ¡°However, this is just my speculation.


    I¡¯ll see what more I can find out.¡±


    ¡°What about you, what do you think?¡±


    Li Wei was puzzled, ¡°Me?¡±


    Donald, ¡°Yes, you.


    If the New York Giants really make an offer, would you consider moving to New York?¡±


    Of course, Li Wei knew this was a hypothetical question.


    Are there rookie trades?


    Yes, but not many.


    Rookie contracts are four years long, and each year¡¯s amount isn¡¯t high, just a drop in the bucket for NFL teams, not considered a burden; thus very few rookies get traded during their contract terms, as teams prefer to fully utilize the rookie contract benefits to build a championship-contending team.


    Especially for a rookie who performs as well as Li Wei.


    Meaning, even if the New York Giants seriously made an offer, the Kansas City Chiefs would reject it without hesitation; it¡¯s likely that the New York Giants wouldn¡¯t even make an offer.


    So,Donald was only asking about Li Wei¡¯s preferences.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t hesitate, ¡°I¡¯m very happy in Kansas City.¡±


    Donald wasn¡¯t surprised, ¡°Okay, I got it.


    Even if we stay in Kansas City, we should let Veach and the entire League know your worth.¡±


    The end of the rookie contract was still far off, but Donald was already seizing every opportunity to lay the groundwork.


    Donald hadn¡¯t forgotten; he hoped to negotiate a groundbreaking new contract for running backs for Li Wei, a promise and goal he was ready to fulfill.


    If they wanted to challenge the entire League¡¯s bias and suppression of running backs, just relying on Li Wei¡¯s Chinese heritage wasn¡¯t enough, Donald was well aware of that.


    Everything, just like playing chess, requires calculating ten moves ahead before making one.

 Chapter 446

    ?Chapter 446: 445 Cash in on the bet Chapter 446: 445 Cash in on the bet ¡°Yo, yo, yo!


    Peter Parker shining on the scene, The Chosen One, The Chosen One!¡±


    ¡°Wait a minute, wait a minute, shouldn¡¯t The Chosen One be Tim Tebow?


    Are you sure this is a compliment?¡±


    In Kansas City, at the Chieftain¡¯s training base, when Li Wei appeared on the field, the players erupted into a commotion, bustling with activity and teasing one after anothera?€¡±


    During a brief vacation to New York, the whole of North America spiraled along, with countless news stories unfolding around Li Wei.


    One moment he was the brand new tourist attraction in Chinatown, where his surprising presence ¡°occasionally ordering and serving food himself¡± became a hot topic all over the internet; the next, he was causing a stir at Madison Square Garden, where his high-five with Curry during a game went viral.


    Many netizens commented: Li Wei, do you remember LeBron James from the South Shore of Lake Erie?


    However, all the news and talk paled in comparison to Li Wei¡¯s heroic deeda?€¡±


    Rescuing a five-year-old child from a dense, bustling crowd as if he were New Yorkers¡¯ friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, preventing a tragedy.


    Unquestionably, this ignited passion.


    ...


    First there was Li Wei¡¯s dramatic victory over New York¡¯s nemesis ¡°Darth Vader¡± Brady, then came Li Wei stepping in to save an innocent and lovely New Yorker.


    These successive events catapulted Li Wei to the pinnacle of heated discussion, and it was unmissable even for those with zero interest in football or basketball.


    Just look at the sports headline of the New York Times:


    ¡°Li Wei: New York¡¯s Peter Parker?¡±


    And they used a photo of Li Wei tightly shielding the child as the illustration.


    In just a short vacation, Li Wei had become hot news once again.


    Normally, this week was meant for rest and adjustment, with the entire League¡¯s attention focused on the Pro Bowl.


    The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, the two teams soon to clash under the spotlight, stepped off the stage to allow the other League players and teams to enjoy their moment in the limelight; but instead social media platforms were flooded with images of Li Wei.


    Soa?€¡±


    ¡°King Kong, rookie, King Kong!¡±


    While saying this, Kelsey pounded his chest, making strange roaring sounds.


    All the nearby players scattered, looking at Kelsey with disdainful expressions and leaving him, eyes full of innocence, standing alone.


    ¡°Hey...¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡±@@@@


    ¡°Rookie, King Kong; King Kong, rookie, isn¡¯t that a perfect match?¡±


    Approaching Li Wei didn¡¯t seem to mind at all, even spreading his arms to welcome any jokes and mockery, displaying a content expression that only incited the players to tease even louder, surrounding Li Wei and leaving Kelsey looking more pitiable.


    Li Wei offered a smile and explained, ¡°King Kong isn¡¯t welcome when he arrives in New York.¡±


    Berry laughed heartily, looking at the others, ¡°Some of you seem to be struggling.


    Justin, can you not handle it?¡±


    Houston silently raised a fingera?€¡±


    The one in the middle.


    Clearly, Berry didn¡¯t care, and his smile grew even brighter, as if he felt honored, then sighted Li Wei in the crowd.


    Standing among a group of muscular men, the baby-faced one always bore an innocuous smile, easily mistaken for a scholar if not careful; but once on the field, he¡¯d turn into a beast, letting the opposition taste the consequences of underestimating and ignoring him.


    Li Wei slightly lifted his chin, hinting with his eyes and a smile creeping onto his lips.


    ¡°How about that, I told you we could.¡±


    How could Berry forget that bet?


    Though he had been looking forward to this day, even if he couldn¡¯t fight on the field alongside his teammates, he had always battled in his own way with the team.


    However, the moment the Kansas City Chiefs really broke into the Super Bowl, there was still a surreal feeling, a worry that everything in front of him was just a dream, a fantasy clutching and plummeting his heart.


    Twenty-four hours, forty-eight hoursa?€¡±


    Until now, Berry could finally believe that it had indeed happened.


    At this moment, seeing that baby-faced smile shining with sunlight again, Berry¡¯s mood couldn¡¯t help but soar.


    He had so much to say, but in the end, he simply extended his right hand, grasped Li Wei¡¯s right hand, and pulled hard.


    Shoulder bump.


    Back slap.


    Making loud noises, Berry said to Li Wei.


    ¡°Well done.¡±


    One sentence was enough.


    Getting to the point and releasing his palm, Li Wei was about to crack a joke at Berry¡¯s expense when he noticed a fleeting touch of disappointment and bitterness on Berry¡¯s cheeks.


    Despite the upward curve of his smile, it couldn¡¯t disguise the struggle between his brows, as if covered by a layer of rain clouds, preventing the bright and brilliant sunshine from shining through.


    Li Wei paused.


    Instinctively, Li Wei¡¯s first response was to look over Berry¡¯s shoulder, and only then did he see Childres.


    Childres wore a face full of obscure sadness, his shoulders drooping weakly, his gaze dodging, standing quietly at the back of the crowd trying to hide, and when he noticed Li Wei looking, he awkwardly turned his head away.


    A sense of foreboding surged into Li Wei¡¯s mind.


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t and refused to believe it, the smile frozen on his lips, looking at Berry with shock and anger building in his eyes.


    No, it can¡¯t be...

 Chapter 447

    ?Chapter 447: World affairs are impermanent.


    Chapter 447: World affairs are impermanent.


    Berry noticed Li Wei¡¯s gaze, and bitterness spread on the tip of his tongue.


    He knew Li Wei was a smart man.


    The Frederick Test was just the tip of an iceberg; Li Wei¡¯s keen grasp of details in daily training and actual games proved time and again that he was a genius who played with his brain.


    But he had not expected his secret to be uncovered so quickly.


    Li Wei stared at Berry, not speaking, but the denial and resistance in his eyes couldn¡¯t have been clearer:


    ¡°Eric, tell me I¡¯m wrong.


    ...


    Tell me it¡¯s all just in my head, that I¡¯m just a journalism student with an overactive imagination, and all those guesses and deductions are nothing but fiction.¡±


    However.


    Berry couldn¡¯t.


    He looked at Li Wei, trying to display the poise of a seasoned player.


    He wouldn¡¯t get flustered over some trivial matter like that rookie Li Wei; he¡¯d face any storm with the calm maturity of an old-timer.


    Unfortunately, he failed.


    ¡°Rookie...¡±


    Berry called out softly, his voice dropping feebly, trailing off with a wisp of helplessness and sadness, like a contrail gently drawn across the sky.


    Li Wei had already gotten the answer he wanted, and stood there, his expression numb.


    Kelsey noticed something was off, but didn¡¯t quite grasp what was happening at first, jokingly commenting, ¡°You¡¯re not planning on skipping out on your bill, are you?


    The rookie¡¯s now a hero in Kansas City, the whole city stands behind him.¡±


    ¡°A big meal, Eric, a big meal!


    A feast!¡±


    ¡°Wait a second, if anyone should be treating, it should be the rookie, he¡¯s Spider-Man now.¡±


    ¡°Roar, roar, roar, a feast!


    A feast, a feast!¡±


    In a blink of an eye, the crowd erupted into noise.


    Berry struggled to smile, but found it exceedingly difficult under Li Wei¡¯s gaze.


    Still, he managed to shout, ¡°A feast it shall be!¡±


    There was noise all around.


    But Berry knew he couldn¡¯t keep the matter hidden for much longer.


    He had come to the training facility today to cut the Gordian knot, to put an end to everything as quickly as possible so the team could focus on preparing for the Super Bowla?€¡±


    Now, as the team actually made it to the Super Bowl, what greeted him was the possibility of another injury that could lead to retirement.


    This year, Berry was about to turn thirty, not many years left for a Safety, and even if the injury healed, no one could predict how much of his ability he could regain when he returned to the field.


    Not even doctors.


    It was for this reason that the diagnosis of Haglund¡¯s Syndrome was almost like a final ultimatum, pushing Berry to the brink of despair.


    Li Wei could neither imagine nor wanted to imagine what Berry must be feeling at that moment.


    This was unfair.


    Li Wei had always been aware of the brutality and coldness of competitive sports; injuries spared no one, including himself, but that¡¯s the thing, no matter how many times you experience the same thing, it doesn¡¯t get easier.


    When it happens again, it¡¯s just as bitter.


    However.


    Berry was still smiling, striving to show a smile, playing the role of the team captain.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a minor thing.¡±


    ¡°I thought I could endure the pain and keep on playing; which one of us professional players isn¡¯t used to fighting through pain?


    I¡¯ve been accustomed to it, so I didn¡¯t take these pains seriously at the time.


    I was thinking, once my ankle healed, I could play again, and everything would be fine.¡±


    ¡°But, I overestimated myself.¡±


    ¡°Ah, old age, one must accept aging.¡±


    ¡°The doctor said it still requires surgery, and recovery might take about ten months.¡±


    The lighter Berry made it sound, the heavier the atmosphere became.


    Especially when everyone heard Berry say ¡°ten months¡± for recovery, their faces were filled with shock, unable to hide it.


    Having just finished a five-month rehabilitation and now facing another major surgery notice with a ten-month recovery period, the careers of professional athletes are as fleeting as flowers in bloom, how could they withstand such a test?


    They tried to speak words of comfort, only to find their words so pale and powerless.


    The air quieted down.


    In the end, it was Berry who spoke up to comfort everyone.


    ¡°Heh, it¡¯s nothing, don¡¯t worry, just ten months, it¡¯ll pass in the blink of an eye.


    It¡¯s not my first time, I¡¯m well-versed in this road, I know the hospital¡¯s paths and departments better than the nurses do.


    Before you even realize it, I¡¯ll have completed rehabilitation.¡±


    ¡°And hey, don¡¯t slouch, don¡¯t give any less effort in the Super Bowl just because I¡¯m not playing.


    I¡¯ll treat you all to a big meal later, you must give it your all, take me with you in spirit, let me vicariously enjoy the win.


    I also want to try on the taste of a championship ring.¡±


    ¡°Guys, my life depends on you now.

 Chapter 448

    ?Chapter 448: 447 Is Not the End Chapter 448: 447 Is Not the End The smile, so radiant, so sunny, Berry¡¯s casual tone sounded as if he was discussing whether to go on a picnic tomorrow based on the weather.


    But the more casual it was, the more it made one sigh.


    Houston tried to speak, but his brain was a mess, unable to hold back the anger, the frustration and fury that language simply couldn¡¯t convey.


    ¡°Eric, this isn¡¯t funny.¡±


    ¡°This, this, this isn¡¯t fair.


    Didn¡¯t the doctors have any other treatments?


    Maybe it¡¯s just a misdiagnosis by a quack?


    ...


    You look completely fine now, don¡¯t you?¡±


    These were the same few lines over and over again, like a trapped beast.


    Berry did not respond to Houstona?€¡±


    In fact, standing there, he could feel the pain in his heels.


    The doctor said that because of Hargland Syndrome, his ankles were more prone to injury, and once injured, the pain could double, and surgery was the only option if he wanted to continue his career.


    Berry had consulted four different doctors, and although the details varied slightly, the consensus was the same.


    They all said that the surgery wasn¡¯t high risk, but recovery would be extremely difficult; even with surgery, there was no guarantee that Berry could continue his career; without it, however, there was no hope at all.


    He had no choice.


    Of course, there was still a choice.


    ¡°Retire.¡±


    ¡°If you choose to retire now, the surgery can¡¯t ensure your return to the top level in the Professional League, but it can ensure you live a normal life without pain.¡±


    Berry knew that if he chose to retire, everything would quiet down.


    No more tossing and turning through the night in pain, no more tormenting himself daily alongside the pain.


    As long as he didn¡¯t exert himself or fall into decay, he could live the rest of his life without financial worries.


    But would he be content with that?


    In the 2010 draft, the Kansas City Chiefs selected Berry with the fifth pick of the first round, and for eight whole seasons, except for two missed due to injury, he showcased top dominance in the League.


    Successful and famous, he had everything but a championship ring.


    However.


    After striving for eight years, just as the chance to compete for a championship on the Super Bowl stage was within reach, he had to leave in disappointment, play the cheerleader, cheering on teammates and opponents alike?


    He was not content.


    He longed to be on the field, to fight to the end, to burn passionately.


    But the harsh reality was that he didn¡¯t even have the chance to play.


    It was his self-esteem, his pride, his stubbornness, his obsession, but he still wanted to try one last time, even if it might be the very last.


    What Houston was experiencing now, Berry had already gone through in the last few daysa?€¡±


    I, have no regrets.


    Even if Body is shattered, even if bleeding from a battered head, what of it?


    Even if not reaching the peak to see all mountains small, even if not attaining the championship crown, even if struggling till the end but falling just before the final stage, what of it?


    Their struggles and battles along the way, the way they threw their heads and spilled their blood, their perseverance and sacrifices, standing united beside each other giving it their all, those moments are the most precious and beautiful instants of life.


    All else, is just icing on the cake.


    Therefore, Berry¡¯s persistence and efforts were not in vain, nor should they be deemed a failure.


    This, is not right.


    Taking a deep breath, Li Wei straightened his back once more.


    ¡°Eric, the matter, isn¡¯t over yet.¡±


    ¡°Let me tell you what will happen next.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll undergo surgery, you¡¯ll face a long and arduous rehab, you¡¯ll question yourself countless times in the dead of night whether all this is worth it, you¡¯ll be tempted more than once to give up, to let anger and disappointment control your brain.


    You¡¯ll hate the injury, hate the doctors, hate everyone around you.


    You¡¯ll doubt whether you can ever set foot on the field again, you¡¯ll question whether all of your persistence was just a waste, and you¡¯ll regret choosing once again this most painful, struggling, and difficult path.¡±


    ¡°But,¡±


    ¡°You will persevere.¡±


    ¡°Because you are not alone.¡±


    As he finished speaking, Mahomes was the first to stand behind Li Wei, looking at Berry with chest puffed out and head held high.


    The matter, is not easy.


    They all knew it.


    Perhaps other fans and spectators would lightly say ¡°What¡¯s so hard about persisting,¡± but they knew the difficulties of every injury and rehab.


    Speaking of ten months is but opening and closing one¡¯s mouth for just a few syllables; however, living through it means enduring one long, hard night after another towards an uncertain future with no guarantees, an agony that words cannot describe.


    They understood.


    And because they understood, they would stand by Berry¡¯s side, not just for him, but also for themselves, for every professional player who is struggling and perseveringa?€¡±


    Keep fighting, we stand with you shoulder to shoulder.


    Then came Kelsey.


    Then Houston.


    Then Smith.


    One by one, the players all stood behind Li Wei, surrounding Berry at the center like a fan.


    One by one, without prior consultation or secret discussion, but at this moment, the players united in the face of injury and fought side by side for Berry¡¯s dream of Super Bowl Champions.


    Not everyone may like Berry, not everyone may be wholeheartedly with the team, but at this moment, no one could be an exception.


    Includinga?€¡±


    The ¡°Island King¡± Revis.

 Chapter 449

    ?Chapter 449: 448 United as one Chapter 449: 448 United as one In fact, Revis had joined the Kansas City Chiefs for less than two months, and he was no different from a mercenary, not familiar with most of the team.


    And Berry?


    Even more of a stranger.


    They had never trained or played together, nor had they formally introduced themselves.


    If Revis said he trusted and respected the Defensive group captain, even Berry himself would probably laugh it off.


    But at this moment, these circumstances did not prevent Revis from standing behind Li Wei.


    He knew the pain of injuries, the desolation of a veteran¡¯s undying ambition, and the bitterness of wavering between retirement and the choice to continue fighting.


    ...


    All of this, Revis had experienced and was still experiencing.


    He understood more clearly than Li Wei and the others the pain that Berry was facing at this moment.


    It was precisely because of this that the support of Li Wei and the others was all the more precious.


    At that time, Revis also needed such support, but regrettably, he did not find it and could only rely on his own strength to grope forward in the darkness.


    And now.


    Revis looked at Li Wei, who stood in front of the team like a lone arrowhead, feeling somewhat envious of Berry and somewhat admiring of Li Weia?€¡±


    If he could play under such a captain, would his reputation as a locker room troublemaker be somewhat different?


    One.


    Two.


    Three, four, five.


    All the players of the Kansas City Chiefs stood behind Li Wei, and it wasn¡¯t just Berry, even Childres was surging with emotion at the sight.


    And Li Wei, still resolute, his bright eyes unflinchingly steady under the sunlight.


    ¡°Likewise, let me tell you what will happen next,¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll bandage your heel and go to Minnesota in a wheelchair to watch the Super Bowl, you will witness us becoming Super Bowl Champions, you¡¯ll be itching to play and can only push your wheelchair waiting to collect your first championship prize amidst our mockery and teasing.¡±


    ¡°You will continue to rehabilitate, you will endure the longest, most helpless, most difficult ten months of your life, then make a comeback, and face difficulties and challenges with us, fighting to defend our title.¡±


    ¡°No one said any of this would be easy, especially for a thirty-year-old guy.


    Maybe the whole League will write you off, maybe in a few days, no one will even keep discussing this matter.¡±


    ¡°But.¡±


    ¡°Do you remember who won the League¡¯s Comeback Player of the Year Award in the 2015 season?¡±


    Li Wei revealed a smile, ¡°If there¡¯s only one person in the entire world who believes we can reach the top of the Super Bowl, it should be ourselves.¡±


    ¡°Even if everyone else is against us, we should still believe in ourselves.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t read the news, I don¡¯t know if people support the Philadelphia Eagles more or us; but to me, we are our biggest supporters, we believe we can win, we believe we can fight to the very end, we believe we can strive till the last second in the face of any difficulty, we believe the story of the Kansas City Chiefs is not over yet.¡±


    ¡°So, Eric, come to the game, fight alongside us.¡±


    Berry: a?€|


    Berry didn¡¯t expect to be so vulnerable.


    The words were on the tip of his tongue, but a lump in his throat arose, and the warmth in his eyes surged, nearly uncontrollable.


    He quickly bowed his head, rubbed his eyes, and mumbled an explanation that came out unclear.


    Houston noticed and mercilessly teased, ¡°Someone said the thing they hate the most in the world is whining and crying.¡±


    Ha ha.


    Amidst the laughter, Berry quickly wiped the awkwardness off his face and yelled at Houston, ¡°Get lost.¡±


    Houston had already regained his senses, and with Li Wei taking up the mantle of captain, he had no reason to undermine him, ¡°Let¡¯s agree to this, if anyone wants to object, I don¡¯t want to hear it, all of you get lost.¡±


    Ha ha ha, the laughter erupted.


    Revis never expected he would come to like Kansas City.


    Revis had started with the New York Jets and even returned to them later, but with the Jets, he never received the respect he deserved.


    The turmoil in the locker room and the chaos in the front office kept them constantly in the whirlpool of infighting.


    Even though the Jets had given him everything he now had, he never truly liked the team.


    Later he transferred to the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers respectively.


    The former gave him the only Super Bowl Championship ring of his career, but he didn¡¯t like Belichick¡¯s strict military style; the latter felt purely mercenary, and he left after a short season.


    Even though Revis was said to be one of the top cornerbacks of the second decade of the twenty-first century, he never found his team.


    Revis himself hadn¡¯t expected, that he would feel a sense of belonging with the Kansas City Chiefs.


    So, was this real, or was he becoming weak as he aged?


    But, Revis admitted, looking at the scene before him, he truly found the peace that had been absent over the past ten years.


    Berry still had traces of tears in his eyes, looking through the moisture at Li Wei, whose eyes were firm and bright, showing his belief.


    Slowly, Berry closed his hand, gripping the coin tighter and tighter:


    This time, he would not miss the promise.

 Chapter 450

    ?Chapter 450: 449 Awards Selection Chapter 450: 449 Awards Selection The 2017 season had swiftly narrowed down to just one final ultimate showdowna?€¡±


    On February 4th, the fifty-second Super Bowl was set to be held at U.S.


    Bank Stadium in Minnesota, marking the culmination of a season¡¯s grandeur and fervor.


    However, before the period was placed on this season, there was one last frenzy to be enjoyed as all the regular season stats and awards heated up, sparking widespread discussions.


    Only the champions of the National Conference and the American League would grace the Super Bowl stage, but the seventeen-week-long regular season had been packed with countless brilliant moments that etched the players¡¯ shining moments into the annals of history.


    The regular season MVPa?€¡±


    The crowning jewel and also the showstopper.


    Toward the end of the regular season, the clamor for Li Wei to compete for the regular season MVP was deafening, mainly because the overall performance of quarterbacks had been somewhat unstable, without a clear dominant frontrunner; at the same time, Li Wei had demonstrated dominance on the ground, leading the Kansas City Chiefs to the top of the American League with a series of record-breaking performances.


    In this plus and minus calculus, Li Wei naturally became the center of attention for the MVP discussion.


    ...


    However!


    In the lengthy history of the NFL, whether after the Super Bowl era or before, since the establishment of the regular season MVP award, never had a rookie been crowned, and it was exceedingly rare to even see one discussed.


    Until this year.


    Li Wei, with unbelievable and unparalleled performances, completely overturned the League¡¯s opinion and once again drew the bustling attention back to running backs.@@@@


    Without a doubt, this was an epoch-making performance, a moment to be recorded in history.


    Leading running backs like Bell and Peterson expressed that prejudices should be cast aside, Li Wei should not be deprived of contending for the MVP award just because he was a rookie, as he had proven himself worthy of the honor.


    Still, they were in the minority.


    The pervasive league opinion insisting that rookies and other players should be judged separately prevailed, with the belief that ¡°without rules, there can be no squares or circles.¡±


    This controversy had been rolling along ever since the regular season ended, continuing right up until the after the conclusion of the conference championship games when the answer was finally revealed.


    The NFL¡¯s regular season awards, similar to NCAA and the Ballon d¡¯Or in soccer, are decided by the votes of fifty professional sports journalists.


    Nevertheless, the fifty journalists are required to maintain relative professional opinions and a wealth of experience; moreover, they can¡¯t be official reporters under the NFL.


    Every year, the League must re-select members to ensure the judging panel differs annually, maximizing the awards¡¯ fairness.


    Thanks to this, the awards¡¯ authority is universally recognized both within and outside the League, with any player who becomes the regular season MVP considered an honor, and due to this, Peyton Manning, with five MVP titles, is esteemed as one of the greatest ever.


    This year, with the regular season in disarray, as evident from the chaos in the playoffs, the MVP selection reflected an open field as well, not just for quarterbacks but running backs, defensive ends, and linemen, all emerging as competitive choices.


    Beyond the regular season MVP, the League announced the results for other award votesa?€¡±


    Offensive Player of the Year, Li Wei, running back, Kansas City Chiefs.


    Defensive Player of the Year, Aaron Donald, Defensive End, Los Angeles Rams.


    Coach of the Year, Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams.


    It¡¯s worth mentioning that Sean McVay, the Los Angeles Rams Head Coach, is only thirty-one years old, born in 1986.


    When he took the job last year, he set a record as the youngest head coach in history, and the whole league thought the Rams¡¯ management was crazy; however, this season, McVay stunned the entire league with his dynamic offense, leading the Los Angeles Rams to the playoffs and finally earning the support of fans in Los Angeles.


    In the Coach of the Year selection, McVay beat the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ head coach Reed for the first time, which was an important recognition.


    Of course, there was also Li Wei.


    Having missed out on the regular season MVP, Li Wei still made history in his own way, becoming the first rookie ever to be crowned Offensive Player of the Yeara?€¡±


    And furthermore, he was of Chinese descent.


    No need for superfluous words, history was unfolding before everyone¡¯s eyes.


    And what¡¯s more important, it was undisputed.


    Initially, people thought that Li Wei, being crowned this award as a Chinese rookie running back, would cause a series of debates and conflicts on social networks; however, that was not the case, as almost everyone deemed it as deserved.


    In addition.


    Rookie of the Year, Li Wei, running back, Kansas City Chiefs.


    Offensive Rookie of the Year, Li Wei, running back, Kansas City Chiefs.


    Defensive Rookie of the Year, Marshon Lattimore, Cornerback, New Orleans Saints.


    Comeback Player of the Year, Keenan Allen, Wide Receiver, Los Angeles Chargers.


    Above are the main awards of the year, clear at a glance.


    Undoubtedly, Li Wei.


    Li Wei.


    Li Wei.


    Li Wei emerged again as the biggest winner, continuing his dominant and fervent stance throughout the season.

 Chapter 451

    ?Chapter 451: 450 Reaping the full rewards Chapter 451: 450 Reaping the full rewards The NFL annual awards have been announced with fervor, and, without a doubt, Li Wei has once again captured the spotlighta?€¡±all conversations whirl around him excitedly.


    Regarding the awards for rookies, there are two things worth mentioning.


    In the race for Offensive Rookie of the Year, Li Wei led by a wide margin with other competitors hardly in reach, yet others still won some votes.


    The second place went to another Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ running back, Hunter.


    This silenced those who questioned the wisdom of the Chiefs choosing two rookie running backs.


    Indeed, their decision was proven wise.


    In third place was the running back from the New Orleans Saints, Kamara, who also received some recognition, albeit limited; the fourth place was taken by Houston Texans quarterback Watson.


    ...


    Following the Heisman Trophy, Watson¡¯s professional career still couldn¡¯t escape from Li Wei¡¯s shadowa?€¡±


    How tragic.


    Moreover, in the Rookie of the Year award, unbelievably, Li Wei received all fifty votesa?€¡±


    Indeed, this batch of rookies didn¡¯t have a single capable contender.


    First pick, second pick, third pick, they were all a washout.


    Actually, this is for the best.


    At least this spares the media from relentlessly mocking one individual.


    All those hapless rookies can huddle together for warmth.


    Full of hope and eager to measure up to Li Wei, these rookies hadn¡¯t even had a chance to react before their seasons were over.


    Whatever their futures might hold, at least their rookie seasons were beyond salvation.


    Lastly,


    Generally, the Offensive Player of the Year or Defensive Player of the Year is the regular season MVP.


    It¡¯s rare to award them to different players, but this year is clearly an exception.


    Li Wei, the youngster who transitioned from mixed martial arts to football, managed to deliver a season akin to an MVP in his first year in the Professional League.


    His power and potential overshadowed all other rookies.


    Looking back at the draft from ten months ago, the normally low-key and composed Kansas City Chiefs surprised everyone with their audacious moves, picking Li Wei third and Mahomes tenth, leaving everyone completely baffled.


    After all, this is the competition for the strongest players at each position.


    Every year, the voting for the Pro Bowl and All-America First Team/Second Team is divided into three parts:


    Coaches.


    Players.


    Fans.


    Each group occupies one-third of the vote.


    Although the ballot-stuffing behavior of fans is still unavoidable, players who provide highlight moments in regular season night games often gain more attention, with a higher profile; overall, by taking into account the opinions of coaches and fellow players, a relatively objective stance is still maintained.


    For the Kansas City Chiefs, it was a low-key season that saw them carve a bloody path and stun the entire league as a dark horse, with their performance far exceeding expectations.


    Setting aside the mid-season slump of six consecutive losses, even their victories were hard-fought and lacked dominance.


    Naturally, at the end of the season, they were not given much attention in the awards.


    In the All-America First Team, from the Offensive group, Li Wei and Kelsey were both selected.


    In the All-America Second Team, from the Defensive group, Houston and from the Offensive group, Hill were selected.


    Above, that¡¯s all there was.


    It¡¯s somewhat hard to imagine that, as the team that broke into the Super Bowl, only four players were selected; in fact, the Philadelphia Eagles were not much different, with only five players selected for the All-America First/Second Team, a limited number.


    The reason is very simplea?€¡±


    The competition is too intense.


    Each position on the field corresponds to a spot and only one player can be chosen, be it quarterback, tight end, running back, and so on.


    The All-America First Team¡¯s quarterback was Brady, the All-America Second Team¡¯s quarterback was Wentz.


    The All-America First Team¡¯s running back was Li Wei, the All-America Second Team¡¯s running back was Gurley.


    Here, each player has had numerous spotlight moments throughout the season, not only sparking widespread discussion in the All-America First/Second Team selections but also occupying a spot in the discussions for the Year¡¯s Best.


    Understandably, players like Smith and Hunter, who had outstanding seasons, ultimately failed to make it to the ranks of the All-America First/Second Team.


    Moreover, this season only Li Wei among the rookie players made it to the All-America First/Second Team, the rest of the rookies were wiped out.


    From another perspective, both the underdog Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles did not adopt a star-focused strategy this season, but rather relied on team play to break through to the Super Bowl, which is a major change this year.


    The Super Bowl showdown is naturally filled with a series of uncertainties.

 Chapter 452

    ?Chapter 452: 451 First Ticket King Chapter 452: 451 First Ticket King The preciousness of the All-America First Team/Second Team lies in its objectivity and professionalisma?€¡±


    Setting aside team records, it focuses solely on individual player performances throughout the season, selecting the best players for each position professionally.


    Teams that make it to the Super Bowl do not necessarily secure more spots, nor are teams that sadly stop at the playoffs completely overlooked.


    Because of this, the significance of the All-America First Team/Second Team is not trivial.


    Understandably, Li Wei burst onto the scene as a rookie and disrupted the patterns, firmly securing the running back spot on the All-America First Team in his very first official season.


    This clearly shows the momentum Li Wei currently has within the leaguea?€¡±


    Usually, professionals are extremely critical and strict, but when it really matters, the votes for Li Wei are promptly in place.


    The mouth might not admit it, but the body is honest.


    In the Pro Bowl selection, the rookie constraints are not so apparent.


    ...


    Compared to other selections that focus on professionalism, popularity plays a more significant role in the Pro Bowl.


    One might not secure a spot in the fiercely competitive All-America First Team/Second Team, but the stage of the all-star game is a different story.


    Breaking out of the circle, this is the key point.


    This season, the entire league was in chaos, from the regular season to playoffs filled with upsets.


    So, who really won the fans¡¯ recognition?


    The answer isa?€¡±


    The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Los Angeles Rams.


    The former boasts ten players selected, becoming the team with the most players in this year¡¯s Pro Bowl.


    The latter also has eight players selected, undoubtedly this year¡¯s superstars in terms of public popularity.


    As for the two Super Bowl teams, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, both ended up with six players selected for the Pro Bowla?€¡±neither outstanding nor ignored.


    Within the Chiefs team, quarterback Smith, tight end Kelsey, wide receiver Hill, running back Hunter, and defensive group¡¯s Houston were selected.


    It was clear at a glance that the offensive group heavily skewed the balance, and people commonly believed that the Kansas City Chiefs relied on the offensive group to win games, or that the offensive group¡¯s performance left a more profound impression.


    Moreover, the Pro Bowl itself is an honora?€¡±


    a moment to prove they are no longer nameless nobodies.


    However,


    Li Wei did not go to the Pro Bowl.


    In fact, this was not a surprise; it was even expected, as teams making it to the Super Bowl often miss the Pro Bowl.


    The reasons are simple: tight schedules, injury concerns, and the need to conserve energy.


    Compared to the exposure at the Pro Bowl, the Super Bowl is the true moment of the Huashan Swordsmanship Meeting.


    As the NFL¡¯s commercial operations become more perfected, the time and energy required to attend the Pro Bowl have increased, and it¡¯s becoming a trend for Super Bowl teams to miss the Pro Bowl.


    Li Wei¡¯s absence was not surprising.


    But what is special about Li Wei is that he was not only the ticket king of this year¡¯s Pro Bowl but also dominated the recently announced NFL season awards, almost snatching the regular season MVP honor from Brady¡¯s hands.


    So when he announced his absence from the Pro Bowl, even Goodell and Donald had not anticipated the media¡¯s reaction.


    Massive, overwhelming, the news coverage focused entirely on it.


    ¡°Pro Bowl ticket king withdraws.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei withdraws from Pro Bowl, Pro Bowl suffers a severe setback.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei exits Pro Bowl, aiming for the Super Bowl.¡±


    ¡°Pro Bowl faces severe setback even before it starts, as ticket king announces absence.¡±


    ¡°This year¡¯s Pro Bowl, the first ever to be broadcasted in Hua Xia, might face a cold reception due to Li Wei¡¯s absence.¡±


    ¡°With the Super Bowl imminent, Li Wei refuses to be distracted, focusing entirely on the crown jewel.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei says ¡®no¡¯ to the Pro Bowl.¡±


    The posture, the momentum, it was as if Li Wei¡¯s absence was not from the Pro Bowl but from the Super Bowl itself, saying it¡¯s the end of the world wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration.


    Such a spectacle indeed was astonishing, once again proving Li Wei¡¯s incomparable influence.@@@@

 Chapter 453

    ?Chapter 453: 452 Focus on the line of sight Chapter 453: 452 Focus on the line of sight Li Wei.


    Li Wei.


    Always Li Wei.


    Once again, Li Wei dominated the screens powerfully.


    Perhaps some might wonder, was everyone making such a fuss just because Li Wei missed the Pro Bowl, as if they had never seen the world.


    The reason is simple, yet not so simple.


    In recent years, due to the rise of the internet, traditional television viewership has taken a hit across the board.


    ...


    Even the NFL, the everlasting ratings king of the North American continent, has felt the impact.


    With more channels and platforms available for viewing their preferred content beyond television, naturally, the question of how TV programs should retain their audience has become a topic of discussion.


    The Pro Bowl is at the forefront of this issue.


    The NFL is not worried about its other events; the viewership numbers remain strong.


    Even if there has been a slight decline in TV ratings and viewership numbers, partnerships with online platforms are actually helping the League expand its market.


    This is the confidence fueling Goodell¡¯s ambitious goal to open up overseas markets.


    However, the Pro Bowl is different.


    Lacking in competition, lacking in novelty, and repeating the same old formula year after year, the Pro Bowl¡¯s allure to the general public has been slowly diminishing.


    The NBA All-Star Game, with its three-point contests and slam dunk contests, always effortlessly ignites the passion of the entire arena; but football, a sport that focuses on physicality, simply cannot do the samea?€¡±


    The excitement of football lies in the collisions and confrontations, yet the focus of the Pro Bowl is to avoid the intensity of these confrontations to prevent injuries.


    Even skill competitions fail to truly showcase the charm of football.


    This is precisely the breakthrough the League has been desperately seeking.@@@@


    Without it, the viewing figures for the Pro Bowl simply cannot be miraculously revived, and the all-star effect remains the last resort to retain viewers for the Pro Bowl.


    Against such a backdrop, Li Wei¡¯s absence from the Pro Bowl was undoubtedly a heavy blow.


    At a time when the League was tirelessly pursuing the Hua Xia Market, when the Pro Bowl faced a bottleneck, and when Li Wei was proving his market influence, it seemed that the Pro Bowl might finally have a long-awaited breakthrough opportunitya?€¡±


    In the blink of an eye, the Chiefs first defeated the New England Patriots in the divisional round to advance, and next, they are set to face the Philadelphia Eagles once again at the Super Bowl.


    Interesting, truly interesting.


    It became apparent from this angle that the Chiefs had indeed faced severe trials this season, even though the voices on social media crying ¡°pretend strong team¡± never entirely subsided; but by the end of the season, when looking back, one found that the Chiefs were stronger than imagined.


    Speaking of which, the meeting of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl seemed to be fated, as the multitude of connections between the two teams were far beyond what one might expect.


    We¡¯ve already touched on this during week two of the regular season:


    Reed had coached the Philadelphia Eagles for several seasons and built his reputation as a quarterback maestro there.


    The Eagles¡¯ current head coach Pederson was a disciple personally groomed by Reed, and despite Reed¡¯s departure to Kansas City, their relationship remained very close behind the scenes.


    And so on and so forth.


    The NFL isn¡¯t huge, but it¡¯s not small either; it¡¯s really just the size of a palm.


    With determination, connections can always be drawn, no matter what.


    However, intimate relationships like those between the Eagles and the Chiefs are quite rare.


    Moreover, both teams had roller-coaster seasons, advancing in bumpy fashions, playing the roles of dark horses to varying degrees, and finally meeting at the Super Bowl was fate within fate.


    The Kansas City Chiefs went through an inconceivable six-game losing streak mid-season, barely clinging to playoff hopes on the brink of elimination.


    After narrowly emerging victorious, they pulled off back-to-back dramatic comebacks in the first two playoff rounds, breaking the team¡¯s curse with relentless determination to keep their season alive.


    Winning once could be luck; twice, a coincidence; but, what about three times?


    With renewed vigor, the Chiefs shattered a half-century¡¯s gloom and oppression and advanced to the Super Bowl, scripting a new miracle.


    The Philadelphia Eagles, meanwhile, saw quarterback Wentz finally come into his own in his second season, achieving eleven wins and two losses in the first thirteen games with MVP-level performances, only to suffer a season-ending ligament tear during a critical moment of the sprint to the playoffs, dealing a severe blow to the team¡¯s hopes of revivala?€¡±


    Almost everyone thought the Eagles¡¯ season was over without their key quarterback, and despite the team being full of hope, they could only look forward to next year, for the future ultimately belongs to the young.


    But against all odds, the Eagles displayed phoenix-like resilience, not only refusing to stop there but also surging forward and commanding the top spot in the National Conference.


    Talk of coincidence and fate, but both the Eagles and the Chiefs, through different paths, met together in a fairy tale-like fashion, pushing the excitement of the 2017 season to an entirely new and unexpected peak.


    And then.


    They ignited the energy.

 Chapter 454

    ?Chapter 454: 453 Dark Horse Contest Chapter 454: 453 Dark Horse Contest In past years, the miracle of a single football team could shock the entire League.


    This year, two teams both crafted fairy tales, staging Cinderella runs that upended the entire landscape, so it¡¯s no wonder the NFL has been turned inside out and upside down.


    However.


    One has to ask, how exactly did the Philadelphia Eagles achieve their redemption?


    The team¡¯s rise during the season had all eyes fixed on the sophomore quarterback Wentz, who was even leading the regular season MVP odds by a wide margin; it goes without saying that when Wentz was ruled out for the season, especially at the critical juncture nearing the playoffs, the fiery passion of the Philadelphia Eagles froze instantly into ice.


    Yet, in their darkest hour, the Philadelphia Eagles found solid footing, displaying the depth of a mature team, and accomplished a turnaround relying on two weapons.


    First, backup quarterback Nick Foles, an unexpected asset.


    ...


    This quarterback, selected in the third round at the eighty-eighth pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2012, had an entirely average career with no standout moments, generally regarded as a qualified backup quarterback, and that was that.


    In his third year of his rookie contract, the Philadelphia Eagles chose to trade him to the St.


    Louis Rams, and from that point on, Foles began a wandering career.


    After being laid off by the Kansas City Chieftains at the end of the previous season, he returned to the Philadelphia Eagles to be Wentz¡¯s backup, completely overshadowed by Wentz.


    After Wentz tore his ligament and was ruled out for the season, Foles showed his adaptability, rapidly adjusting to Pederson¡¯s tactical system, taking command in a crisis, and in the last three games of the regular season, he played the role of the emergency captain effectively, giving a solid performance that led the Philadelphia Eagles to finish with two wins and one loss.


    And amidst a chorus of doubts, he pulled off a sensational act in the playoffs, perfectly emulating the divine performance of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Flacco¡¯s 2012 season, leaving the confidence-filled Minnesota Vikings¡¯ defensive group dazed and searching for their teeth on the field.


    The Philadelphia Eagles swept their opponents, assertively clinching the National Conference championship and proudly advancing to the Super Bowl.


    This situation, this scene, inevitably woke the sleeping memories of the entire League from eighteen years priora?€¡±


    In the 1999 season, a player named Kurt Warner, an undrafted player who was overlooked until he got his chance to start in the NFL for the first time due to an injury to the starting player at the age of twenty-eight, managed, in his first season starting as the St.


    Their rush defense, however, was second in the League.


    Moreover, the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ Red Zone defense was ranked fourth in the League.


    This means that the team often brought out its strength and tenacity in key confrontations.


    That is the fundamental reason the Philadelphia Eagles continued to hold their heads high and marched into the Super Bowl after Wentz was out for the season.


    In the upcoming Super Bowl showdown, the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ ground defense and the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ ground offense will inevitably engage in a fierce clash, which will undoubtedly be a major highlight.


    In the second week of the regular season, the Philadelphia Eagles underestimated Li Wei¡¯s abilities, failing to effectively contain his ground running; meanwhile, Pederson stubbornly focused on passing offense, almost completely neglecting the ground game.


    As a result of these issues, the Eagles ended up losing a well-set game.


    In this rematch, it¡¯s obvious that the Philadelphia Eagles won¡¯t make the same mistakes.


    How Pederson will lay out offensive tactics to compensate for the absence of Wentz and deceive Reed¡¯s defense, and how he will design the defensive strategy to limit Reed¡¯s offensive plays, particularly limiting Li Wei based on his season performance?


    At the same time, the Kansas City Chiefs are unlikely to rest on their laurels.


    How Reed will avoid the mistakes made by the Minnesota Vikings in the National Conference finals to restrict Pederson¡¯s offense, and how he will break through Pederson¡¯s sturdy defense with versatile offensive tactics will be a key matchup.


    Because of their familiarity, even to the extent of having similar styles in some ways, the on-the-spot performance of both teams will even more determine the outcome of the match.


    As previously mentioned, from the Pro Bowl and All-America First/Second Team rosters, it¡¯s evident that neither the Kansas City Chiefs nor the Philadelphia Eagles rely on star tactics for victory; their success so far cannot be separated from the strength of the entire team.


    Even the players who performed spectacularly did so on the basis of the overall excellent team performance, further highlighting the unique charm of Football as a sport.


    From different perspectives and to varying degrees, both teams are underdogs; at the start of the season, neither was seen among the championship contenders, but they both fought through the brambles to reach the Super Bowl stagea?€¡±


    Who will ultimately emerge as the ultimate dark horse will also be the final mystery of the 2017 season.

 Chapter 455

    ?Chapter 455: 454 Paper Talk Chapter 455: 454 Paper Talk ¡°Underdog vs.


    underdog,¡± the 2017 NFL Super Bowl was indeed full of charm.


    It is worth mentioning that for both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, they each had the chance to rewrite history and craft their own fairy-tale endings a?€¡° a golden opportunity that was not to be missed.


    For the Kansas City Chiefs, it was their third Super Bowl appearance since 1966 and 1969, with 1969 being their only championship year.


    Returning to the championship stage after forty-seven years was undoubtedly exhilarating.


    For the Philadelphia Eagles, this was also the team¡¯s third Super Bowl appearance, previously in 1980 and 2004.


    Yet, they had never clinched a championship, making this year perhaps their best chance ever.


    ...


    In the half-century history of the Super Bowl, there still are numerous teams that haven¡¯t won any championship, totaling thirteen.


    Among them, the following teams have made it to the Super Bowl but unfortunately never won: the Buffalo Bills, the Minnesota Vikings, the Atlanta Falcons, the Carolina Panthers, the Arizona Cardinals, the Tennessee Titans, the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Cincinnati Bengals.


    Additionally, there are teams that have never even made it to the Super Bowl stage: the Cleveland Browns, the Detroit Lions, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Houston Texans.


    Lastly, there are the Philadelphia Eagles.


    This season, as underdogs, the Eagles truly stood out, ranking as the National Conference¡¯s top seed in the regular season and advancing triumphantly to the Super Bowla?€¡±a commendable performance indeed.


    Compared with the Kansas City Chiefs, who struggled, faced numerous ups and downs, and more than once teetered on the brink of elimination only to miraculously advance at the last moment, the Eagles, with their regular-season record of thirteen wins and three losses, naturally held a slight advantage and took initiative in their quest to be crowned Super Bowl champions.


    Perhaps this year, the Philadelphia Eagles would finally end their championship drought?


    At the end of the day, no matter who ultimately prevails, they will have written their own history and marked a significant milestone in the 2017 season.


    However, theorizing on paper is merely a hypothesis, an interpretationa?€¡±a real athletic competition must be settled through actual battle.


    No one will forget, nor should they forget that in the second week of the regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs, also underdogs at the time, defeated the Philadelphia Eagles.


    Who knows?


    Maybe Pederson will once again reveal his weaknesses all too clearly in front of his mentor Reed?


    A true test is needed to see whether it¡¯s a mule or a horse, only then can we truly know.


    Naturally, some support the Philadelphia Eagles while others back the Kansas City Chiefs.


    He chose the Kansas City Chiefs in the last game and, against all odds, his prediction succeeded, leaving Bart completely disheveled, not even sure if he should celebrate.


    This once again proved that Bart and Li Wei were utterly incompatible.


    Be it a wrong prediction, he felt stifled; a correct prediction, and he felt just as stifled.


    So, for the final game of the season, how should Bart take sides?


    After careful consideration for the Super Bowl prediction, Bart chosea?€¡±


    ¡°Philadelphia.¡±


    Bart swore that he didn¡¯t mean to target Li Wei, it was purely objective analysis; of course, he couldn¡¯t deny that he disliked seeing Li Wei continue to swagger and win games.


    If Li Wei were to top the Super Bowl, he couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine how rampant he would become next season.


    Just imagining it made his skin crawl.


    But at the end of the day, it was a rational judgment.


    With great elaboration, Bart began his analysis.


    He analyzed from the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offense against the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ defense, from the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ offense against the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ defense, from the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ special teams against the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ special teams, assessing each match-up one by one.


    In the end, Bart concludeda?€¡±


    The Philadelphia Eagles had a slight edge, especially with Pederson¡¯s significant improvement in sideline coaching during the two playoff games, which gave Bart enough confidence.


    Just look at the opening odds in Las Vegas.


    The odds kept changing, clearly, the professionals in Las Vegas also favored the Philadelphia Eagles more, and as time went on, more of the general public chose the Philadelphia Eagles, to the extent that Las Vegas had to further reduce the odds for the Philadelphia Eagles.


    From professionals to widespread audiences, they also slightly favored the Philadelphia Eagles a bit more.


    The gap wasn¡¯t significant, but the balance of victory indeed was gradually tilting; the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ chances seemed to lead by just half a step.


    However, in making the show, one can¡¯t be conservative or stiff; they still need to create some conflicts and contradictions to increase viewer engagement.


    ¡°...I don¡¯t see any possibility of Kansas City topping.¡±


    It stirred up a huge commotion.


    Indeed, when it comes to inciting hostility, Bart was unrivaled; with just one statement, he managed to knock both supporters and detractors of the Kansas City Chiefs off balance, strongly breaking out of the circle.@@@@

 Chapter 456

    ?Chapter 456: 455 Tidal Awakening Chapter 456: 455 Tidal Awakening Pederson, ¡°We were ready.¡±


    Calm and confident.


    When Pederson appeared in front of the media, he displayed his stability.


    ¡°Among the other thirty-one teams in the League, the one I least want to face but also most wish to compete against is the Chieftain.


    I respect and admire the precious assets Coach Reed has brought to the League, including the benefits I¡¯ve reaped myself, yet I was ready to embrace the championship in my own way,¡± he said.


    Pederson: Coach Reed is good, but he has become outdated.


    The future belongs to me.


    ...


    The reporters buzzed excitedly, imagining headlines more sensational than the next; yet they were not about to let Pederson off the hook easily.


    A rare opportunity.


    Reporter, ¡°Coach, what if reaching the top of the Super Bowl meant you had to trample over Reed¡¯s corpse?¡±


    Lightly, the reporter threw out bait, quietly setting a trap.


    Pederson?


    The coach immediately saw through the reporters¡¯ tricks, yet he didn¡¯t care at all.


    ¡°Patricide?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I was ready,¡± he replied.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    Though the reporter had painstakingly provoked such a sparking moment, when it actually happened, they were more surprised than anyone, hardly believing their own earsa?€¡±


    Happiness had just arrived!


    Because of extreme excitement and exhilaration, the reporter had to start pinching their thigh.


    Forget about clickbait, forget about taking things out of context, Pederson was the real king of drawing attention, his single statement overshadowing all else.


    The ¡°Philadelphia Inquirer¡± officially stepped into the fray with a declaration:


    ¡°Pederson: Patricide, ready.¡±


    With that, all major news media peaked collectively.


    Smoke filled the air.


    It wasn¡¯t just about Bart; it wasn¡¯t just ¡°within the League.¡±


    To be precise, nobody needed to fan the flames; the Super Bowl Championship Trophy was within reach.


    The entire season¡¯s fierce, long journey had finally come to its ultimate moments.


    No one wanted to miss out, and nobody was willing to back down.


    Reporter: ???


    Wait, that¡¯s it?


    The reporters had waited for a long part of the day and heard nothing more from Reed, just a couple of chuckles and thena?€| nothing more.


    Still, a reporter couldn¡¯t help but ask persistently, ¡°Coach Reed, aren¡¯t you going to respond?¡±


    Reed continued with the same expression, his plump cheeks brimming with smiles, ¡°Mr.


    Old Pederson might be saddened by that.¡±


    Reporter: a?€|So cold.


    Obviously, everyone knew that Pederson¡¯s mention of ¡°patricide¡± didn¡¯t mean actually killing one¡¯s biological father, but Reed interpreted it that way nonetheless.


    Thisa?€|


    Seeing that Reed was imperturbable, casually neutralizing a sharply trendy topic with a cold joke, the scene promptly pursued another question.


    ¡°So, Coach Reed, which team do you think can reach the championship?


    Are the Kansas City Chiefs already equipped with the strength and temperament of champions?¡±


    Just when the reporter thought he had cornered Reed, Reed displayed another innocent look, as if he wouldn¡¯t harm a fly.


    ¡°Champion?


    I believe we are already a championship team, American League champions.¡±


    At the scene, a flock of Ravens slowly flew by.


    Throughout, Reed, affable and akin to a kind grandfather, silently turned and left, leaving a group of reporters disheveled by the winda?€¡±


    Indeed, with age comes wisdom.


    Despite Reed¡¯s expertly handling the media with a light touch, letting the media return empty-handed without providing any leverage.


    However, Reed still couldn¡¯t stop the media frenzy.


    After all, there was only the final ultimate showdown left in the 2017 season; if not now, when?


    ¡°Reed: Unwilling to respond, let¡¯s see the outcome on the field.¡±


    ¡°Reed refuses to get involved in a war of words, showing confidence in victory.¡±


    ¡°With a broad-minded approach to diffuse aggressive verbal attacks, the pre-match clash of tempers, Pederson¡¯s assertiveness appears immature before Reed¡¯s seasoned composure.¡±


    ¡°Rather than talking, look at the actions: Reed shows the wisdom of experience.¡±


    ¡°Reed by his deeds tells the young: Why is patricide so difficult?¡±


    Indiscriminately, flying towards the flame, the bustle still spread far and wide, and the madness belonging to the Super Bowl inevitably arrived.


    Moreover, it wasn¡¯t just the two coaches; the players also one by one couldn¡¯t keep quiet, everyone longed to be the center of attention at the annual grand feast.

 Chapter 457

    ?Chapter 457: 456 Messy in the Wind Chapter 457: 456 Messy in the Wind The horn had already sounded.


    From the unyielding confrontations between Lawson and Bart within the ¡°League¡± to every word and action of coaches Pederson and Reed being scrutinized under the media¡¯s microscope, and the flurry of opinions on social media, the Super Bowl had comprehensively completed its warm-up.


    Of course, the real protagonists of this battle were not to be outdone.


    On one side, the Philadelphia Eagles exhibited an incredible beliefa?€¡±


    They were ready to claim the top of the Super Bowl!


    In the NFL¡¯s eight divisions, not one has seen all four teams become Super Bowl champions; however, this year the National Conference East Division had the potential for a ¡°grand slam,¡± with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, and Washington Redskins all past champions, leaving only the Philadelphia Eagles yet to win.


    If the Eagles were to triumph, they would rewrite numerous histories in a single battle, fueling high spirits both within and outside the team.


    Tight end Zach Ertz, during a television interview, displayed a fierce look, not bothering to conceal his ambition.


    ...


    ¡°Any opponent who tries to stop us, we will crush them underfoot.


    Completely pulverize,¡± he declared.


    Roar!


    Roar, roar, roar!


    It wasn¡¯t just Ertz; the other Eagles players jostled forward one by one, peeking from behind Ertz.


    They waved their fists, their veins bulged, they roared and stared furiously, competing to express their beliefs and determination through the media¡¯s lenses, their fighting spirit off the charts.


    ¡°Crush!


    Crush!¡±@@@@


    The onslaught of raw energy, brutal and scorching, seemed eager to devour their immediate foes alive, causing the television cameraman to retreat hastily in the midst of the fierce onslaughta?€¡±back, back, and back again.


    Until there was no more room to fall back, in his haste, his left foot tripped over his right.


    Then.


    He tumbled over, horses and men.


    The entire camera¡¯s view whirled dizzyingly, in a blur of confusion and chaos, only the wild and unrestrained laughter of Ertz and his teammates continued to resonate.


    On the other side, the Kansas City Chiefs maintained their humility and low profile throughout the seasona?€¡±


    Under Reed¡¯s guidance, the players focused wholeheartedly on training, rarely giving interviews, making it frustrating for reporters trying to stir things up, as they couldn¡¯t find any cracks.


    This scene reminded people of last year¡¯s NCAA national championship battle before the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm, almost a copy-paste scenario; however, the difference was that NCAA media interviews were optional, whereas NFL interviews are a mandatory requirement, preventing the Chiefs from outright refusing them.


    Thus, another memorable moment was added to the NFL season.


    Li Wei, ¡°We will win.¡±


    Reporter, ¡°That confident!¡±


    Despair!


    Originally, the Super Bowl was the ultimate annual event, raising the media¡¯s annoyance to a whole new level, enough to give any player a headachea?€¡±


    Even five-time champions like Brady and Belichick were no exception, let alone Super Bowl newcomers like the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.


    Even with full caution, the noise from outside the field was a serious disturbance, constantly affecting their preparation.


    Now, the Philadelphia Eagles were taking a head-on approach to battle with the media; though it was a clumsy method, as long as the noise was loud enough, it was effective.


    Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs responded to the media in an unexpectedly baffling and unconventional manner, leaving the media disoriented with their offhanded comments.


    This, too, was a surprise.


    Netizens: ???


    Not just the media, but also many netizens were left scratching their heads after reading the news.


    Then, a surprising scene unfolded!


    Countless netizens brought out incredible passion to start discussions, analyzing Li Wei¡¯s words sentence by sentence as if studying a complex math problem, each holding their ground, causing the bustling voices to quickly fill up social networks:


    Some believed Li Wei was super confident and dismissive, firmly believing that the Chieftain was destined to be the champion.


    Others thought Li Wei was cowed before the battle had even started, losing the advantage before the game even began.


    Others suggested Li Wei was being crafty and creative, and that his words were simply a psychological ploy.


    Blah, blah.


    Various opinions continually emerged, their fervent attitudes reminiscent of an internet trend three years agoa?€¡±


    Was that dress white and gold, or blue and black?


    No one could convince anyone, no one could prove anything, resulting in a deadlock of divergent views, causing the engagement and traffic to skyrocket.


    The same was true now.


    Indeed, Li Wei was being Li Wei, once again igniting traffic with his casual remarks, drawing in supporters, opponents, neutrals, and bystanders alike into this storm.


    At least on one point, the netizens were righta?€¡±


    If this was a psychological war, the Kansas City Chiefs had already taken the lead, pushing the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ topic to the sidelines on social media.


    It wasn¡¯t that no one mentioned the Philadelphia Eagles; every now and then, someone would shout, ¡°Philadelphia is the champion,¡± but the louder they shouted, the more it revealed their lack of confidence, even the aggressive championship declarations from Ertz and others seemed hollow, lacking the expected dominance and toughness.


    As the Philadelphia Eagles headed to the airport, someone actually yelled at Ertz, ¡°I have no confidence but I will win,¡± visibly causing a stiff smile on Ertz¡¯s face.


    This scene was definitely something Li Wei hadn¡¯t anticipated.


    Li Wei swore, he had just said it casually, truly, a hundred percent.


    Who knew that the vast netizens would, having nothing better to do, start randomly analyzing it?


    Li Wei said, I am also helpless.

 Chapter 458

    ?Chapter 458: 457 The world is bustling Chapter 458: 457 The world is bustling Events were deviating from the track just as expected.


    Despite being unexpected, the continued surge in popularity was something no one could refuse.


    With Pederson¡¯s ¡°patricide¡± before and Li Wei¡¯s ¡°lack of confidence¡± after, it was clear that for both teams, the Super Bowl meant more than imaginablea?€¡±one team trying to win for the first time in history, another returning to the championship stage after more than forty years.


    Both sides had it tough.


    Whether it was the Philadelphia Eagles or the Kansas City Chiefs, both teams had compelling reasons to win, so the battle was ignited early on.


    However, that still wasn¡¯t everything.


    ...


    ¡°Is no one prepared to talk about Nick Foles¡¯s revenge tour of self-proclamation?¡±


    In the midst of noise and heated discussion, an unexpected but hot topic overwhelmingly dominated the screens because, after all, who does not love a big spectacle?


    Foles, an obscure third-round draft pick at quarterback, was until this season just an inconsequential name in the League, likely to drift between teams playing backup roles, fading into obscurity.


    Yet, he came into his own in the final stages of this season, stumbling a bit but still seizing the opportunity to shine and ultimately earning a chance at the grandest stage of his career.


    Like the ugly duckling.


    Li Wei, a rookie running back who transitioned from mixed martial arts to football, entered the league this season still clueless about the football world.


    He blundered his way through, unbelievably carving out his niche in an unpredictable manner.


    No one could foresee how long he could maintain his performance or what heights he could reach.


    Was a season of brilliance the start of a legend, or just a fleeting meteoric blaze before returning to obscurity?


    Like Cinderella.


    What¡¯s more, last season Foles was backing up Smith at the Kansas City Chiefs, and now he¡¯s leading the Philadelphia Eagles straight into a fair and square showdown with the Chiefs.


    Such a twist-filled, almost magical story is something even Hollywood screenwriters would hesitate to pen.


    Fate, it seemed, had already destined this.


    That¡¯s why the fifty-second Super Bowl was hailed as the underdog contest.@@@@


    The most iconic matchup, undoubtedly, was the clash between Foles and Li Wei.


    Two underdogs, two rookies, two obscure figures now both standing under the spotlight, fighting for the annual highest title in a battle that defied all predictions, norms, and expectationsa?€¡±an encounter filled with endless possibilities yet unpredictable, no one should miss it.


    At the strike of midnight, no one knew what the next season held for Foles and Li Wei, but at least for now, as the magic had not yet faded, who could seize the final opportunity to pen the perfect ending to this fairy-tale story?


    Soa?€¡±


    Which team will ascend as the Super Bowl Champions, the Philadelphia Eagles or the Kansas City Chiefs?


    Whether it was the die-hard fans from Philadelphia and Kansas City longing desperately for a championship, the cheerful neutral fans relishing the spectacle, or the posers secretly betting their private stashes in Las Vegas, hoping for a quick bucka?€|


    Everyone believed their team could claim the championship.


    Such a possibility was enough to drive people crazy.


    In such a scenario, not even considering before the season¡¯s opener, in fact, just two weeks prior, following the end of the conference championships, people still hadn¡¯t anticipated it.


    The Philadelphia Eagles?


    The Kansas City Chiefs?


    When people saw the champions of the National and American Conferences, everyone felt disheartened, almost wanting to give up, worrying about the Super Bowl¡¯s appeal:


    The 2017 season, it¡¯s over.


    No superstars.


    Not a big market team.


    Not a traditional powerhouse of recent years.


    With neither teams having any buzz or explosive appeal, how should the NFL manage its promotions for such a Super Bowl showdown?


    However, now?


    The situation had completely turned around.


    Look, this must be the least star-studded Super Bowl in fifteen yearsa?€¡±


    No Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, no Ray Lewis or Ben Roethlisberger, no Hall of Fame-level superstars clashing, no previous Super Bowl champions facing off, no large-market draw, no traditional powerhouse team foundations.


    Nothing at all.


    Before us was merely a ¡°Ugly Duckling VS Cinderella¡± topic, hardly impressive.


    Yet, what no one had considered was that this summit clash at the Summit of the Forbidden still created an unprecedented frenzy on social media.


    What was most unexpected was that the Super Bowl had not even officially started, yet this year¡¯s Super Bowl had already broken records in social media traffic early ona?€¡±


    Having no superstars didn¡¯t matter; people were ready to embrace new superstars.


    The frenzy was awakened.


    To be more precise, countless fans had been waiting for this day.


    Fans outside of the New England region were already tired of Brady¡¯s standard victories, already sick of the New England Patriots repeatedly dominating, and had long been waiting for the arrival of a new champion.


    Now, at last!

 Chapter 459

    ?Chapter 459: 458 Everyone bustling around Chapter 459: 458 Everyone bustling around Actually, the treatment Li Wei received when he returned to New York was a clear indicator.


    Even though he had never played a single game for any New York team, people still cheered and celebrated for him because he had eliminated Brady and the New England Patriotsa?€¡±


    It turned out, it wasn¡¯t just New York.@@@@


    The entire League was waiting, waiting for a new face, waiting for a new idol, waiting for a superhero, like Captain America, to emerge and break the dominance of the New England Patriots and completely overturn and redefine the League¡¯s structure.


    This is the most exciting and wonderful thing about the NFL.


    People were ready.


    In fact, it was not just about being ready, more precisely, people were eagerly anticipating, keenly hoping, and desperately waiting.


    The day had finally come.


    ...


    So.


    This was not a disaster, on the contrary, it was a celebration, the beginning of a new era, the turning point after a long drought meeting a timely rain.


    Brady: ¡°Are you polite?¡±


    But at this moment, no one cared about Brady; no one paid attention to Belichick and the New England Patriots.


    They could finally take off their masks, laugh heartily, and celebrate without restraint.


    As soon as the Pro Bowl weekend was over, with a full week still remaining before the official opening of the Super Bowl, journalists and fans from all over North America and the world had already headed to the party.


    They swarmed towards this year¡¯s Super Bowl venue, Minneapolis, in droves.


    Otherwise, if their actions were even slightly delayed, they might not even find a room in a motor inn and end out on the streets, but missing the chance to join other football fans in the grand celebration would be the truly regrettable matter.


    This year, the NFL brought the Super Bowl to Minneapolis, Minnesotaa?€¡±


    This was an experiment.


    Traditionally, the NFL prefers to host the Super Bowl in cities close to the equator in the south, such as New Orleans, Miami, Atlanta, Los Angeles, etc.


    The core reason is, benefits.


    Every year, the Super Bowl is held at the end of January or the beginning of February in the Northern Hemisphere, which is winter, bitterly cold winter.


    Low temperatures often make football games challenging, and if there is heavy rain or snow, the seamless passing offense of football has no room to perform, making the game even less appealing.


    One can guess how many protests were raised by northern cities when the league time and again locked in southern cities as the Super Bowl venues.


    So,


    the league has also been seeking a balance.


    Since everything under the sun is motivated by profit, people cheer for the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs meeting at the Super Bowl.


    All the hustle and bustle is also for profit, so this year¡¯s Super Bowl has come to the northern city of Minneapolis.


    This is the true essence at the heart of the professional league.


    Wait, what about the weather?


    No worries, U.S.


    Bank Stadium, just put into use in 2016, is an indoor stadium!


    Although the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs did not get to play in the spring-like warmth of the Caribbean coast, they will still clash in a stable and comfortable environment, completely eliminating postseason weather factors, yet it¡¯s unknown which team it favors more.


    This year marks the first time the U.S.


    Bank Stadium is hosting the Super Bowl, but who knows, may Minneapolis become a sacred place hosting the Super Bowl multiple times in the future, like Phoenix, New Orleans, and Miami?


    For Minneapolis, this is a good thing, a joyous thing, a cause for celebration, the city is already bustling a week before the unveiling of the Super Bowl; but for the Minnesota Vikings, something...


    seems a bit off.


    The reason lies ina?€¡±


    The home-field curse.


    During the half-century history of the Super Bowl, the team from the host location has never made it to the Super Bowl; for the past fifty-one years, no team has managed to break this peculiar curse, an enigma that remains unsolved.


    This year was no exception.


    In the National Conference final, this season¡¯s dark horse, the Minnesota Vikings, in the face of favorable predictions, suffered a crushing defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles and were eliminated, extending the Super Bowl home-field curse and missing the prime opportunity to win the Super Bowl Champions title at their home stadium amidst the cheers of Minneapolis fans.


    Thus,


    According to the rules that take the hosting time of the Super Bowl as the basis, even-numbered years are home for the American League, odd-numbered years are home for the National Conference, the team that had the home-field advantage this year at the Super Bowl wasa?€¡±


    The Kansas City Chiefs.

 Chapter 460

    ?Chapter 460: 459 Adapt to Venue Chapter 460: 459 Adapt to Venue Despite the Super Bowl still being a few days away, Minneapolis had already become noisy well in advance, in fact, the parties had kicked off ten days earlier even before the Pro Bowl began and had been heating up ever since.


    The Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs had also arrived in Minneapolis early, starting to get used to the venue and the overwhelming spotlights as scheduled by the League, soaking in the Super Bowl frenzy in advance.


    As the annual premier event for the entire North American continent, the Super Bowl¡¯s viewership and attention were unmatched, with top-tier events like the Oscars, the Olympics, and the World Cup not even coming closea?€¡±


    In North America alone, the viewership numbers for the Super Bowl easily surpassed a hundred million.


    You have to realize, the entire population of the United States is only about three hundred million.


    Moreover, not just in North America, but as the league has expanded its outreach, football¡¯s influence has steadily grown in South America, Oceania, and Europe, with the Super Bowl being broadcast live in fifty-six countries and regions worldwide, sparking more comprehensive discussions globally.


    This meant that the Super Bowl would be under the intense and surging spotlight, with everything magnified to the extreme, as if playing under a microscope, with a completely different atmosphere and environment.


    That¡¯s why adapting to the venue before the game was even more crucial.


    ...


    ¡°No, no no no, impossible, absolutely.¡±


    ¡°You can tell that¡¯s just some outsider¡¯s wild imagination.


    Don¡¯t go around saying you¡¯re a football player, you really know nothing about football¡±


    ¡°How can it be impossible?


    Patrick makes it look so easy when he throws.¡±


    ¡°Pfft.


    What¡¯s a quarterback got to do with this?


    Go catch your breath on your own.@@@@


    Haven¡¯t you heard the statement about quarterbacks and beasts being banned from playing?¡±


    Mahomes: ???


    The man in question is right here, do you seriously think it¡¯s okay to spout such nonsense?


    However, the others, seeing Mahomes eager and restless, deliberately pretended to ignore him, their chattering discussions completely excluding Mahomes, leaving him wide-eyed, scratching his head on the sidelines.


    ¡°Sure, why not.


    Don¡¯t listen to those outsiders talking nonsense, each of them making the quarterback¡¯s job sound so mystical and unbelievable, they are the real amateurs; it¡¯s not that exaggerated.¡±


    In direct contrast, Foles was a young man who dared to risk long passes, leading to a discussion within the Chiefs:


    Would the indoor stadium benefit long passes?


    And furthermore, would fifty-yard passes become easier?


    One by one, not just the offensive group but also the defensive group joined the discussion, and from their looks and expressions, it was evident that there was a slight tension throughout the teama?€¡±


    A mix of emotionsa?€¡±exhilaration and anxiety, anticipation and uneasea?€¡±intertwined, either too excited or too subdued, all somewhat abnormal.


    And for that, they couldn¡¯t be blamed.


    After all, for most of the players, the Super Bowl was an unprecedented first.


    In the entire Kansas City Chiefs team, the only player who had participated in the Super Bowl and played in the game was Revis, who was not a starter for the New England Patriots back then.


    One could imagine, such a youthful, inexperienced team stumbling all the way to the Super Bowl, now facing the most important and crucial game of their careersa?€¡±


    The abnormal fuss in front of them didn¡¯t seem so strange after all.


    Because of this, Kelsey, as the team captain, stepped forward to try to control the situation and ease the tension.


    But Kelsey himself was also doubtful, unable to support everything alone; at this moment, Berry¡¯s absence was more palpable than ever.


    Throughout the season, despite Berry¡¯s absence, thanks to Li Wei¡¯s gamble, the whole team harbored a belief, waiting for Berry¡¯s return and expecting to conjure double the energy to fill Berry¡¯s void, hoping to reunite with him on the Super Bowl stage.


    However, now everyone knew that this dream was shattered.


    The emptiness and loss felt naturally different.


    Now, they needed to adapt to the field as well as their mindsets, just like the Philadelphia Eagles, who were missing their starting quarterback, needed to adapt to playing without their defensive group captain.


    Houston noticed, but he was powerless to do anything, because he, like everyone else, felt Berry¡¯s absence, standing in the U.S.


    Bank Stadium, on the stage they had always dreamed of, always feeling something was missing.


    Then, he at once noticed Li Wei sitting next to him, casually eating melon.


    ¡°Rookie, what do you think?¡±


    Sitting there carefree and happily munching melon, Li Wei was suddenly drawn into being the center of attention and truly felt the warmth of everyone¡¯s gazes on his skina?€¡±


    The person involved admitted that he was not psychologically prepared.

 Chapter 461

    ?Chapter 461: 460 innocent civilians Chapter 461: 460 innocent civilians Li Wei: ???


    An innocent civilian, Mr.


    Li, waved his hands in disbelief, ¡°You should ask the quarterback, why ask a passerby like me?


    Please don¡¯t disturb my enjoyment of the spectacle.¡±


    That robust and confident demeanor made everyone around him burst into laughter, but Houston wasn¡¯t fooled, ¡°Discussion, this is discussion.


    Mr.


    Passerby, are you sure you don¡¯t want to express an opinion?¡±


    At his side, Mahomes playfully clenched his fist, held it out in front of Li Wei, and exaggeratedly knelt on one knee, acting as a microphone stand.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t decline, either; he shook his head and wagged his tail as if preparing to recite a poem, with an unfathomable expression, even going so far as to scratch at a nonexistent goat beard.@@@@


    ...


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not possible.


    I think a fifty-yard long pass is too difficult, and you might not even kick that far with a foot, let alone with a hand.


    This isn¡¯t discus throwing.¡±


    Tsk!


    Thump!


    ¡°Terrible!¡±


    Boo hoo hoo.


    The players showed no mercy, one after another treating him to boos as the scene erupted into chaos.


    And they didn¡¯t stop there.


    ¡°Rookie, can you do it?¡±


    ¡°What if a man can¡¯t do it?¡±


    ¡°Travis, the rookie says you can¡¯t do it.¡±


    It was noisy and chaotic.


    Then, a group of folks who loved to stir the pot egged on Kelsey to step in and show off his skills.


    As it turned out, Li Wei was right.


    Indeed, looking at the Special Duty Group, one could see that even facing a larger target like the goalpost and even when kicking forcefully with a foot, the success rate of free kicks above fifty yards plummeted, let alone with throwing the ball by hand.


    The first lesson in Football 101a?€¡±


    Football is not round.


    So at this moment, one can tell by the players¡¯ absurdly ridiculous performances, not only had they failed, but they had gone way off course.


    Utterly discordant!


    And at the moment Kelsey made his appearance, it reached a peak.


    But then, Kelsey confidently got into position, with retreat steps and fluid forward moves, getting ready to throw the ball.


    Amidst the gasps and admiration from the crowd, the football drew a beautiful rainbow arc across the field, appearing like a perfect spiral that spanned the entire field.


    Ten yards.


    Twenty yards.


    The football continued to fly steadily.


    Ha!


    Thirty yards.


    Forty yards.


    The full and smooth parabola unbelievably crossed over half the field.


    Amidst the sounds of jaws dropping, the football, impossible as it seemed, homed in on Mahomes and descended accurately.


    Fifty yards, as agreed, was exactly fifty yards.


    And it hit the bullseye.


    It was just slightly off-target, prompting Mahomes to step sideways with his left leg by just half a step, spreading his arms open and waiting casually for the football to fall into his embrace, while his right leg, like the fixed leg of a compass, was firmly planted on the ground.


    This stance declareda?€¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s aim wasn¡¯t just for show.


    The entire field fell silent.


    Childres¡¯s jaw almost dislocated with disbelief, looking at Reed only to find the head coach still with his calm demeanor, smiling contentedly amidst the shockwaves of astonishment reverberating through the stadium, revealing a hint of inscrutable mystery.


    Yet Li Wei¡¯s performance was not over.


    Jogging forward, he executed a front somersault, a cartwheel, followed by a Thomas full-twist, rolling on the ground effortlessly like a circus juggler, celebrating with a high-five to the oncoming Mahomes, and finally, the two teamed up to perform a finishing move, bowing in unison to the audience.


    Thisa?€|


    The entire field looked at each other in disbelief.


    There was a brief second of silence and then a frenzy ensued.


    Applause, whistles, and accolades reverberated as the entire stadium erupted, disbelief in their eyes.


    The crowd surged forward, quickly enveloping Li Wei and Mahomes, the buzzing of excited conversations showing no signs of stopping.


    In the crowd, Revis cracked a smile, already spreading across his face.


    With the Super Bowl showdown imminent, tension permeated the Kansas City Chiefs from top to bottom, and even a seasoned veteran like Revis was not immune.


    Revis thought he could remain detached, but memories of Berry often surfaceda?€¡±


    His situation was not much different from Berry¡¯s, with his body protesting and his age sounding alarms, no one knew how much longer they could compete.


    Today it was Berry, and maybe tomorrow it would be Revis.


    Such unease became more apparent due to excitement and agitation.


    However, what Revis never anticipated was that a few jokes and pranks by Kelsey, Li Wei, Houston, and Mahomes dissipated the gloom over the team, and inadvertently, they regained the team¡¯s energy.


    This was something Revis hadn¡¯t felt with the New York Jets or the New England Patriotsa?€¡±more vivid than words, more heartfelt than slogans, and more direct than actions, the passion that lay dormant in their blood was ignited anew.


    For the first time, Revis felt a sense of belonging and was glad he had joined Kansas City mid-season, not because they were heading to the Super Bowl, but because he could fight for the Super Bowl with such a group of comrades.

 Chapter 462

    ?Chapter 462: 461 Media Wednesday Chapter 462: 461 Media Wednesday On January 31, Wednesday, with only four days left until the Super Bowl, the official Media Day had finally arrived!


    The so-called official Media Day, also known as Super Bowl Opening Night, signifies that Super Bowl time is now officially upon us!


    The Super Bowl¡¯s official Media Day is slightly different in one respecta?€¡±it¡¯s all about scale.


    Since this official meet and greet hosted by the League takes place at the Super Bowl venue itself, ample space means ample scale and grandeur, with all players from both teams attending the press conference, grandly ushering in the annual feast!


    The annual Super Bowl is acclaimed as ¡°America¡¯s Spring Festival Gala,¡± partly because of the halftime show.


    In the twelve minutes of halftime, the NFL invites top industry superstars to deliver a lavish performance feast for the eyes and ears.


    The 1993 halftime show featured Michael Jackson, hailed as an ¡°immortal performance,¡± drawing over one hundred million viewers at the time, and it remains one of the most sensational performances in global music history.


    ...


    This year, the halftime show¡¯s performing guest is Justin Timberlake!


    Another part of the reason lies in its unrivaled viewership ratings, comparable to the Spring Festival Gala level of the Hua Xia Continent.


    Last year¡¯s ultimate showdown between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons attracted one hundred and eleven million viewers in North America, with a rating of 45.1.


    Meanwhile, the viewership in Boston, Atlanta, and the host city Houston all broke through 54.0a?€¡±


    Meaning, over fifty-four percent of the primary consumer group aged eighteen to forty-nine watched the game.


    Without a doubt, this is North America¡¯s number one sport!


    And also its number one program!


    Dominating the small screen with relentless force.


    Every year, the official Media Day already brings a taste of the impending tidal wave of excitement.


    When the Kansas City Chiefs players arrived at the U.S.


    Bank Stadium, the sheer volume of people present brought a visual shock.


    It was only the official Media Day, yet the venue had already drawn tens of thousands of fans flocking therea?€¡±


    Since the venue was the stadium itself, not just the media but also the bustling fans who came to the event became a beautiful part of the official Media Day scenery.


    Vast and majestic.


    On one side was a black and blue forest, on the other, a red ocean.


    Both teams were present at the press conference, simultaneously taking interviews and greeting fans, leading to fans from both sides arriving together.


    Continuously, more fans arrived, easily distinguishable by the colors of their jerseys, as trickles conscientiously merged into the vast ocean, sharply demarcated and non-intrusive, their expressions and gazes ignited with passion, setting the tense atmosphere of the Super Bowl early on.


    At that momenta?€¡±


    A small group of fans wearing the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ away white jerseys stood out, as conspicuous as a crane in a flock of chickens.


    Clearly, they vividly remembered that the Philadelphia Eagles were the away team on the Super Bowl stage, subconsciously donning away jerseys, but they had forgotten something: today was the official Media Day, a face-off day for both teams, with the focus on a battle of momentum, and no one wanted to lose the initiative.


    Li Wei looked over with a calm face; Smith quickly composed himself and nodded seriously, ¡°Indeed, a lot of people.¡±


    Kelsey was the first to voice his dissatisfaction, ¡°Captain, that¡¯s not right.


    Passion, blood, grandeur, what we¡¯re after is an aura.¡±


    ¡°Look, I¡¯m already eager to get out there and fight!


    I¡¯m ready for a good match against the Philadelphia guys.


    This is what the world¡¯s top stage is all about.¡±


    His readiness to spring into action made him spontaneously start doing the moonwalk as if he couldn¡¯t keep still, with onlookers starting to whistle one after another.


    Mahomes immediately teased, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re looking forward to the game and not the halftime show?¡±


    Li Wei nudged Kelsey with his shoulder, ¡°Do you get so excited you can¡¯t speak just thinking about ita?€¡±oh, ¡®SexyBack¡¯.¡±


    While saying this, he broke into an impromptu performance of the Moonwalk.


    Clearly, these were the dance moves from Justin Timberlake¡¯s classic song ¡°SexyBack.¡±


    Roar.


    Roar roar roar!


    The whole crowd started egging Kelsey on, with calls for him to show off his moves coming from everywhere.


    Kelsey: ???


    He wore a look of utter desolation.


    Kelsey didn¡¯t know how he managed to dig himself into a hole, but now there was no backing outa?€¡±


    Never mind.


    Kelsey¡¯s eyes also began to wriggle:


    Literally, like little silkworms.


    Around him, laughter erupted like thunder.


    But.


    Kelsey was all in now, wriggling with abandon even without music, and upon opening his eyes, he immediately found his target in the crowd.


    ¡°Nick, hey, Nick!¡±


    Foles: Who?


    Nick Foles, who had just arrived at the scene, was relishing the spectacle with a bemused grin; the next second, his smile dropped.


    Wait a minute, something wasn¡¯t quite right, was it?@@@@

 Chapter 463

    ?Chapter 463: 462 makes no distinction between you and me.


    Chapter 463: 462 makes no distinction between you and me.


    Nick Foles, the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, blinked innocently like Tang Seng who had accidentally wandered into a spider¡¯s den, unable to wrap his mind around the situation.


    Run, Nick, run!


    Finally, an alarm rang in Foles¡¯s mind, and as he lifted his foot to run, he turned around only to find himself surrounded on all sides, nowhere to escape.


    ¡°Nick!¡±


    Li Wei was the first to lead, waving his arms and even hopping on the spot, rhythmically punching the air with his right fist, instantly igniting the atmosphere around him.


    ¡°Nick!


    ...


    Nick!


    Nick!¡±


    Then, a group of little yellow minions next to them followed suit, each jumping up with their hands raised, their round heads swelling into a torrenta?€¡±


    A group of little yellow minions in gray T-shirts.


    Even more amusing was the heart-wrenching cheers and shouts of the fans that could be heard around.


    A second ago, the bitter rivals were at each other¡¯s throats, and now, magically in sync, they demonstrated the power of collaboration, teaming up for a prank.


    ¡°Nick!¡±


    One call after another, each wave higher than the last.


    Foles, a look of despair on his face.


    In the pens of the media, Foles was a discarded, ostracized, and underrated former Kansas City Chiefs player, sharpening his knives and preparing to defeat his old team to prove himself.


    But Foles thought differently.


    He didn¡¯t hate the Kansas City Chiefs; in fact, his year in Kansas City was filled with more pleasant memories than not, even if the players weren¡¯t exactly friends, they weren¡¯t enemies either.


    At this moment, Foles was thrown alone into a pack of wolves, his gaze helplessly shifting across the players¡¯ faces:


    Kelsey, Houston, Smith, and so on, all were familiar faces; Li Wei, Mahomes, Hunter, and others were unfamiliar faces, yet they became ever so familiar from constantly studying game tapes.


    Indeed, in four days, they would step onto the field, where they would engage in a fierce battle until only one victor remained.


    But today, as they gathered together, it was to jointly celebrate the highest annual festivity across North Americaa?€¡±a veritable carnival feast.


    Both teams selected two offensive and two defensive players, an apt choice; the only exception might be Revis¡¯s appearancea?€¡±


    After all, the player who had joined the Chiefs only in November could hardly be considered representative; his contentious demeanor throughout his career had also made Revis a figure of controversy in various teams, even during his time with the New England Patriots when he failed to win the trust of coaches.


    Yet now?


    Thinking it over, the only player among the eight who had played in a Super Bowl final was Revis, so Reed¡¯s intentions probably weren¡¯t surprising.


    On social media, TV shows, and in the news media, the two teams were already at each other¡¯s throats, as if they wanted to tear each other¡¯s faces off.


    But on the official Media Day, when the players appeared, they seemed to be in good spirits, and not just as a facade enforced by League pressures, especially since Li Wei and Foles were even sharing laughs together.


    The reporters at the event were not surpriseda?€¡±


    The Oriole had already informed everyone about what had happened just at the stadium gate.


    Now, seeing this scene, the reporters could no longer contain themselves and were eager to ask their questions.


    ¡°...What exactly happened at the stadium gate just now?¡±


    The entire place, bustling with eyes all converging on Foles and Li Wei, even coaches Reed and Pederson looked on curiously.


    Li Wei, showing grace, made a gesture inviting Foles to speak, ¡°Please, the protagonist should answer this.¡±


    What was intended as a polite gesture turned into a humorous moment in Foles¡¯ eyes, ¡°Wow, are you passing the buck here?


    You instigator.¡±


    ¡°Wow, I can¡¯t believe it, has the truth been smeared just like that?¡±


    Li Wei, with an innocent face, kindly reminded, ¡°Nick, please be mindful of your word choice, okay?


    Otherwise, it might cause unnecessary misunderstandings, and it wouldn¡¯t be good to hurt innocents.¡±


    Foles turned to look ahead, only to see the crowd¡¯s eyes sparkling like stars, unable to defend himself with all mouths on him, and finally could only look up to the sky, ¡°This works, too?¡±


    Li Wei, with a considerate expression, explained, ¡°Actually, Mr.


    Nick Timberlake Foles just spoiled some of the halftime show for us.¡±


    Foles, ¡°Li Wei!


    You!¡±


    Unbelievably, Pederson, who had been enjoying the drama, actually added fuel to the fire, ¡°Nick, I¡¯d like to know too, why didn¡¯t you spoil it for me?¡±


    Foles cried.

 Chapter 464

    ?Chapter 464: 463 The Only Superstar Chapter 464: 463 The Only Superstar Line up, enjoy the fruits; one for you, one for me; we are all good friends.


    On stage, there was laughter and harmony, once again showcasing the camaraderie between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs.


    The atmosphere could not have been more jovial.


    For the League, everything could not have been more perfect: enemies on the field, friends off the field.


    This was the public relations image the League hoped to see.


    However, for the reporters, this was somewhat disappointing.


    Though they hadn¡¯t expected the two sides to come to blows or hurl insults spectacularlya?€¡±if that had happened, they would have welcomed it with open arms and legsa?€¡±but there should have been at least some sparks, not like a sorority tea party where they sat complimenting each other while sipping tea with fingers crooked.


    ...


    This!


    Is!


    So!


    Boring!


    Unfortunately, the League refused to give reporters a chance.


    If anyone tried to spoil the mood, the hawk-eyed security would probably fork them out immediately, ensuring the official media day remained absolutely unblemished.


    Until the enda?€¡±


    ¡°May I ask, do the Philadelphia Eagles believe they can clinch the championship?¡±


    A question was thrown out.


    The air grew slightly quiet.


    The onsite security hesitated a bit, as such a question seemed not to be provocative; moreover, the reporter¡¯s manner of asking wasn¡¯t particularly sharp.


    Between hesitations, the question quietly received tacit approval.


    Shush, shush, shush.


    The Kansas City Chiefs players all looked to the right, while the Philadelphia Eagles players glanced at each other, finally focusing all their attention on Pederson.


    Naturally, it was up to the head coach to respond.


    But unexpectedly, utterly without warning, a figure stood up.


    ¡°Philadelphia are the champions!¡±


    It was Ertz.


    Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zack Ertz displayed conviction and dominance as he boldly raised his hands, shouting at the top of his lungs, stirring up waves of reaction.


    Whoosh, whoosh.


    Below, Philadelphia reporters immediately applauded Ertz¡¯s courage and cheered him on.


    The atmosphere finally livened up.


    Then.


    Ertz didn¡¯t wait for Pederson¡¯s reaction, boldly turned his head to the left, and looked provocatively at Reed, openly challenging him.


    Shush, shush, shush.


    Now it was easy to imagine that the majority of netizens might criticize the reporters, ¡°racism¡±, ¡°disdain for Li Wei¡¯s language abilities¡±, ¡°reporters joining hands to attack an Asian player.¡±


    Not good, this is bad, the image of reporters plummeted instantly.


    However, Li Wei didn¡¯t give the reporters any space to explain, flashing a big smile again.


    ¡°It means exactly what it says.¡±


    ¡°Philadelphia is the champion.


    We have no confidence.


    But we will win.¡±


    The words were simple, the gaze clear.


    But the problem was precisely here, despite Li Wei¡¯s clear eyes, there was a hint of madness.


    Pfft.


    Someone in the audience was the first to lose it, seeing a group of reporters looking deflated in front of Li Wei, they couldn¡¯t hold back anymore and let out a burst of laughter.


    Then, the laughter could no longer be controlled and spread far and wide.


    Not just the reporters, Foles also started chuckling, and even Pederson had a smile on his face.


    Pederson stopped paying attention to the reporters, stood up actively, and gave Li Wei a hug, nullifying the reporters¡¯ attempts to stir up more trouble.


    The two teams ended the group interview on their own terms, leaving Ertz hanging there with a championship statement stuck in his throata?€¡±


    To shout or not to shout,


    Finally, a reporter noticed that when Ertz left the group interview stage, his face was full of gloom, emitting an aura of ¡®stay away¡¯.


    However, after a short break and adjustment, when Ertz appeared again in front of his own podium to face the interviews, his smile had returned.


    Regarding the incident just now, Ertz stated that he was just focused on the game and the victory, ¡°This is the Super Bowl, I¡¯m ready to give it my all.¡±


    However.


    When Li Wei made his appearance, the entire arena was abuzz, visibly, the crowd at U.S.


    Bank Stadium converged from all directions toward one place, encircling Li Wei with three layers inside and three layers outside, and Ertz¡¯s mouth couldn¡¯t help but twitch uncontrollably.


    Not just Asian reporters but reporters from almost all over the world gathered around Li Wei without exception.


    The funniest part was the Neon reporter who had been waiting by Li Wei¡¯s podium early.


    Due to being short, he was squeezed out by the crowded mass, standing there with a full head of question marks and a look of utter despair, completely baffled as to how he turned into an outsider.


    Typically, having thirty reporters around a podium is already quite a crowd; but at that moment, around Li Wei there were at least a hundred reporters, and not just a hundred, but at a rough glance, no fewer than two hundred, and the air continued to get hotter and more boiling.


    The only one in the entire field.


    Indeed, whether it¡¯s the Philadelphia Eagles or the Kansas City Chiefs, neither team has top-level superstars, even ¡°Island King¡± Revis can hardly be considered top of the league, and even the two head coaches accumulate more star power, overshadowing the players in terms of topicality and appeal.


    However, precisely because of this, Li Wei triumphed.


    Unmatched.


    Supreme.


    Li Wei thus became the sole superstar of the 52nd Super Bowl effortlessly capturing all the spotlight, and he didn¡¯t even need the league¡¯s push, as the overwhelming heat wave had already ignited Minneapolis.

 Chapter 465

    ?Chapter 465: 464 Pilgrimage Chapter 465: 464 Pilgrimage ¡°Good morning.¡±


    ¡°Good morning!¡±


    February 4, 2018, Kansas City, clear skies.


    Early in the morning, the Old Oak Tavern had already started bustling.


    Anderson was busy moving inventory from the stockroom to the front like an ant carrying a load, while West was busy hanging banners and decorating the tavern anew.


    Uninvited guests helped willingly by moving chairs and tables to free up space, creating a busy and noisy scene.


    It was clearly too early to drink oneself into oblivion, but for the festivities, it was never too early to start warming up.


    On the wall, the 75-inch television screen was already on.


    ...


    The ordinary TV picture had an oppressive impact, creating a sense of being there, and NBC¡¯s all-day live broadcast was playing, allowing everyone to feel the atmosphere early on.


    ¡°So, how do you feel today?¡±


    ¡°I have a good feeling.


    I don¡¯t want to say it aloud and jinx our luck, but this morning I got up, ate cheesecake, heard a magpie singing, and had a smooth bowel movementa?€¡±everything¡¯s just perfect.¡±


    ¡°Me too.


    I don¡¯t know why, but I wasn¡¯t nervous or anxious.


    After getting up this morning, I just felt unusually relaxed and refreshed.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because you don¡¯t have to play in the game.


    You just sit in the tavern, drink, and curse.


    What¡¯s there to be nervous about?¡±@@@@


    ¡°Hahaha.¡±


    The bustling crowd mixed discussions with teasing, jokes, and all sorts of complaints.


    Then.


    Without warning, someone raised their hands high and started shouting out loud.


    ¡°Kansas is the champion!


    Oh yeah!¡±


    And with a whoosh, everyone else joined in the shouts, as the tavern buzzed with excitement.


    After a brief pause, another person shouted.


    ¡°I¡¯m not confident, but we¡¯ll win.¡±


    Ha.


    Instantly, the group burst into laughter, joy and happiness spreading across everyone¡¯s faces.


    Today was the day of the Super Bowl showdown.


    In Kansas City, it was a citywide holiday.


    The entire city was abuzz, and tens of thousands of fans united in the spirit of the Super Bowl moment.


    The entire Old Oak Tavern erupted in cheers, the air boiling, faces gleaming with unreserved joy.


    From the despair of struggling to win a single playoff game to cutting through thorn after thorn to storm into the Super Bowl ¨C all in just one season.


    Kansas City¡¯s wildest, most romantic, and splendid dream had just come true.


    ¡°Ha.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha.¡±


    Merely imagining it brought a natural smile to his face.


    Dreams really can come true.


    And beliefs really can blossom.


    West straightened his back slightly, believing in the Chieftain as he believed in life itself, no matter how tough, painful, or torturous, he would persevere and wait for the day when dawn¡¯s light would scatter anew.


    ¡°David.¡±


    West said.


    ¡°I am content.


    No matter the outcome of today¡¯s game, I am already satisfied.


    I¡¯m not greedy, this is enough, no matter what happens, I will stand by the team, I will keep fighting.¡±


    The Super Bowl, no matter what, concludes with a result, putting a period on one season, a perfect ending does exist; but real life is not like that.


    Perhaps the team will win, perhaps the team will lose, but Kansas City¡¯s economic depression and employment crisis won¡¯t end overnight, they still need to struggle on the edge of survival, and a fairy tale that changes everything overnight won¡¯t play out in reality.


    Nevertheless, they saw that silver lining behind the dark clouds, they saw that hint of golden hope at the end of the Abyss.


    West, was ready.


    Victory, that was a reward.


    Defeat, was the start of a new journey.


    No matter what, he would not be disheartened nor would he give up, he would continue to persist, to strive, to fight, using his own hands to start again, to rebuild his life.


    He would not give up, refusing to surrender.


    Anderson¡¯s smile grew, ¡°Since we are already here, let¡¯s fight till the end and see what miracles we can still write.¡±


    ¡°Not confident, but we¡¯ll win, right?¡± West understood perfectly.


    The two exchanged a look, immediately brightening their spirits.


    Knock, knock.


    Someone knocked on the bar table, West looked up.


    ¡°Charles, where¡¯s Chris?¡±


    ¡°How come I don¡¯t see that guy?


    He¡¯s not hiding in a corner crying, is he?


    I¡¯ve been waiting a whole year just for this moment, finally, I can see that guy¡¯s face, I¡¯m fully prepared to bring it on.¡±


    A roar, a chorus of laughter.

 Chapter 466

    ?Chapter 466: Hot and Spicy Chapter 466: Hot and Spicy Chris Provos?


    A name was thrown out, and in an instant, one could feel the rustling eyes around them gathering, one by one they couldn¡¯t help but start rubbing their hands in anticipation.


    It was clear to see, Provos hadn¡¯t made himself scarce of enemies among the fans this year.


    West stared blankly with a speechless expression.


    ¡°That¡¯s all the guts you have, taking your anger out on Chris.


    If you¡¯re so brave, why don¡¯t you go to a Philadelphia bar and have a three hundred round battle with Hawks fans?¡±


    With that remark thrown into the mix, other fans also chimed in to jeer and complain.


    The fan in question was slightly embarrassed, but he didn¡¯t back down in his speech, ¡°The whole season, he was just there humming and hawing, babbling that we weren¡¯t good enough, constantly pouring cold water on us, and now that we¡¯ve made it to the Super Bowl, aren¡¯t we allowed to criticize him?¡±


    Buzz, buzz, buzz.


    ...


    From the reaction of the fans, it was evident that these words resonated with the crowd.


    West had no comeback.


    ¡°I know.


    He knows too.¡±


    ¡°Chris¡¯s mouth, that temper, worse than a rock in a cesspit, obviously, he knows he¡¯s offended everyone this year, so he¡¯s ready to atone.¡±


    There was a rustling commotion from the sidea?€¡±


    ¡°Atone?¡±


    ¡°Could it be treating us to drinks?¡±


    ¡°One bottle of beer, I¡¯m in.¡±


    ¡°Go away, Chris can barely pay his apartment rent, where would he get extra cash to treat anyone.¡±


    ¡°So what¡¯s he going to do, perform ¡®Sexy¡¯s Back¡¯ standing on the bar?¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡±


    A wave of laughter.


    West didn¡¯t hold back any longer.


    ¡°Chris has headed north.¡±


    The entire place was stunned into silence.


    ¡°Chris has gone to Minneapolis, to the U.S.


    Bank Stadium to support the team.¡±


    Wow!


    The entire Old Oak Tavern was nearly about to explode.


    ...


    ¡°Take me home, country roads; Country roads, take me home.@@@@


    Back to the place I belong, West Virginia, mountain mama.¡±


    The music from the car radio, melodious and moving, swirled and slipped through the scenes flying backwards outside the window, the turbulent Mississippi River stirred emotions like surging waves, and the mountains at the edge of the horizon were dressed in a layer of pure white snow, as if Elsa was entering winter itself.


    ¡°Go, Hawks, go!¡±


    ¡°Chieftains, fight!¡±


    ¡°Aaahh!¡±


    All sorts of cheers and waves twisted through the view like streams.


    Red, blue, white, and other vibrant colors flourished side by side.


    Waves clashed and spurred each other on, and the thunderous noise kept exploding, making one want to dance without needing any words.


    It was overwhelming!


    Dazzling!


    Provo was completely astonished.


    It wasn¡¯t until this moment that he fully understood what a carnival feast was.


    ¡°Oh, sorry.¡±


    Provo, momentarily distracted, accidentally bumped into someone and quickly turned around to apologize, only to see an Asian couple who seemed a bit nervous and repeatedly waved it off as no big deal.


    Provo was taken aback and immediately noticed the jerseys the couple were wearinga?€¡±


    Red number twenty-three.


    ¡°Rookie!¡±


    Provo¡¯s eyes sparkled as he gestured to the red number twenty-three jersey he was wearing and the next second was high-fiving the Asian couple in celebration.


    The Asian couple was a bit reserved, but smiles of bashful happiness still spread across their faces.


    The next second, the surrounding fans caught their exchange and immediately joined in shoutinga?€¡±


    ¡°Edgerunner.¡±


    This phrase acted as a signal, and the surrounding fans merged into one robust wave, spontaneously bursting into song without warning.


    ¡°He¡¯s here, he¡¯s there, he¡¯s everywhere.


    He is the Edgerunner, Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei!¡±


    Once, then again, and yet again.


    The air, started to burn.


    Li Yi was still not used to it, he couldn¡¯t believe what was unfolding before his eyes, full of question marks looking at Jiang Yin, wondering how all this happened?


    Jiang Yin was just as baffled.


    They had accidentally bumped into someone a moment ago; one second they were apologizing, and the next there was a full-blown singalong?


    But, the feeling didn¡¯t seem too bad.


    Next to them, Perry had already set the standard, raising his hands high to join the chorus, and the deafening cheer detonated the first wave of frenzy at U.S.


    Bank Stadium.


    Whether it was Li Yi or Jiang Yin, it was their first time attending a game on-site, and the first time they personally felt the momentum of Li Weia?€¡±


    The heatwave rolled.


    Everything was all because of Li Wei.

 Chapter 467

    ?Chapter 467: Immersed in it Chapter 467: Immersed in it ¡°Edgerunner, Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei!¡±


    The air was burning.


    For a long time, Li Yi and Jiang Yin had been content to stay in the corner of Manhattan Chinatown.


    They had entertained fans; they had seen crowds; they had watched live broadcasts, read the news, and heard the anecdotes.


    In the tide of the information age, they had already deeply felt the heat of Li Wei.


    However, only by truly being there, only by experiencing it for themselves, could they deeply feel that impacta?€¡±


    a fervor that words and language simply cannot describe.


    With mouths agape and eyes widened, they felt with their bodies, embraced with their hearts, and bloomed with their souls; the entire world spun around in a spectacle of brilliance and a roar.


    Now, Li Yi and Jiang Yin finally understood what it meant to be the face of the League.


    ...


    When they turned their heads, they saw Perry¡¯s smiling face.


    Perry didn¡¯t say much, just raised his hands high and cheered with all his might, ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    Li Yi was startled, clueless about what to do, but Jiang Yin was much more proactive, following Perry¡¯s lead and raising her hands in imitation.


    ¡°Li Wei.¡±


    It was just a shout, but it seemed to have a magical power.


    Before she knew it, Jiang Yin was also laughing heartily, her mood blossoming and her passion ignited.


    Originally, Li Wei had arranged for a black Lincoln to escort his parents from the hotel to the U.S.


    Bank Stadium.


    But Perry told them that taking a private car wouldn¡¯t let them feel the true Super Bowl atmosphere.


    Jiang Yin persuaded Li Yi, and they decided to take the busa?€¡±


    Minneapolis had arranged special buses to circulate within the city, picking up fans from different corners and taking them to the stadium.


    And now, Jiang Yin finally felt it: even though the game hadn¡¯t even started, they were already completely immersed in the festival party atmosphere.


    Jiang Yin couldn¡¯t help but lean closer to Li Yi, ¡°No wonder our son always asked us to come to the live event.¡±


    Li Yi was completely overwhelmed, with no time to respond to Jiang Yin, greedily taking in the noise of the scene as if entering a whole new world.@@@@


    Following the tide of people slowly moving, they finally arrived at the entrance of the stadium, not to head for the general entrance with the fans but to a special VIP entrance, where suits awaited to usher the families of players from both teams into the VIP room.


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    Suddenly, a shout.


    Jiang Yin was slightly startled; there had been so many calls for Li Wei at the event today, omnipresent and incessant.


    She was slowly getting used to not reflexively responding every time she heard Li Wei¡¯s name, but it seemed it would still take some time; she tensed up subconsciously.


    They had always thought that football was just a sport, a game, a job, nothing special; but today, they finally realized they might have been wrong.


    In a world they did not understand, there was a different space filled with passion, hope, and belief, where different wonders of life unfolded.


    Shock and impact resonated in their minds.


    Their steps continued forward, not going much further before they met a rosy-cheeked, slightly plump woman with open arms, welcoming them.


    ¡°Mr.


    Li, Mrs.


    Li.¡±


    Li Yi looked at Jiang Yin, who was visibly embarrassed.


    Today, it seemed they had been making mistakes all along, like Granny Liu stumbling into the Grand Mansion.


    The other party, however, didn¡¯t mind and cheerfully introduced herself, ¡°Donna, Donna Kelce, mother of Jason and Travis.¡±


    Jiang Yin was startled, ¡°Oh, Travis, he even sent us greetings through Li Wei during Christmas.¡±


    Looking down, Jiang Yin¡¯s eyes filled with surprise.


    Donna proudly showed off her coat, ¡°What do you think?


    I had this custom-made, and even the two brothers haven¡¯t seen it yet.¡±


    It was a baseball jacket, the Philadelphia Eagles on the left and the Kansas City Chiefs on the right, the two sides coming together to form one piece of clothing.


    Donna spun around 360 degrees to show it off, ¡°The kids are on different teams, but I support them both equally.¡±


    By now, Li Yi and Jiang Yin finally understooda?€¡±


    Jason Kelce, the center for the Philadelphia Eagles; Travis Kelce, the tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Tonight was also, in a sense, the ¡°Kelce Bowl,¡± much like the Harbaugh brothers¡¯ Super Bowl showdown five years ago, a sibling rivalry.


    Jiang Yin¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement, ¡°Wow, you¡¯ve raised two good kids.¡±


    Donna laughed heartily, ¡°Practice, games, they persevered on their own; at most, I was just busy with dinner in the kitchen, it has nothing to do with me; but I¡¯ll gladly accept these compliments.


    I love moments like this when it feels like I¡¯m the biggest winner tonight.¡±


    Direct, cheerful, humorous.


    In a single encounter, Donna successfully brightened the atmosphere.


    Jiang Yin joked along, ¡°So, in which room are you planning to watch the game?¡±


    ¡°Whichever team loses, I¡¯ll be there.


    I want my children to know that I stand with them, even when things aren¡¯t going so well.


    God, I can already predict tonight is going to be an ordeal,¡± Donna said nonchalantly, once again livening up the mood in the hallway.

 Chapter 468

    ?Chapter 468: 467 Fighting Side by Side Chapter 468: 467 Fighting Side by Side Buzz, buzz buzz.


    The air was burning.


    In the locker room, the Kansas City Chiefs players were already fully prepared, each standing up, either nervous or jubilant, expectant or stupefied, all looking towards Coach Reed in the center.


    Reed maintained his usual appearance, his plump pale cheeks bearing no special expression, quietly scanning the room, and then, he spoke loudly.


    ¡°No one believed we could make it to the Super Bowl, but here we stand.¡±


    ¡°No one believed we could reach the summit and win the championship, but we are ready to give it a try.¡±


    ¡°Some say that football is a sport all about money, that in the end, it¡¯s all about who has the deeper salary cap, the better players, the more elaborate strategies, going higher, faster, and farther, just like all competitive sports; but I say, it¡¯s not like that.¡±


    ¡°Football is a sport about belief.¡±


    ¡°At the end of the game, what is tested is this belief, who believes in themselves more, who believes in the tactics more, who believes in their teammates more, who is more passionate, who loves more, who is more dedicated, staying focused and keeping the belief and fighting until the last moment, that is the only way to achieve a football championship.¡±


    ¡°And now...¡±


    Reed scanned the room again, paused, and when he spoke again, it was resounding.


    ¡°I believe.¡±


    Then, his gaze fell upon a figure, intense and fully concentrated.


    ¡°We might be lacking confidence, but we will win.¡±


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh.


    ...


    The entire locker room¡¯s gaze turned towards Li Weia?€¡±


    Indeed, the Kansas City Chiefs were the underdogs, from the first game of the season to the last, this young and still developing team with evident shortcomings was not favored.


    They had stumbled and fumbled their way here, standing on the stage at U.S.


    Bank Stadium facing another dark horse, they remained the weaker side.


    Thus, there was no confidence.


    This was not modesty or being low-profile, but a fact.


    From analyzing tactics and strength on paper, the Kansas City Chiefs indeed had no advantages to speak of.


    But they would win.


    Because of the belief Reed spoke of, because they would unite and fight side by side, because they would give their all and fight till the end until all their strength was burned up.


    Then,


    Li Wei clenched his fists and raised his arms high to shouta?€¡±


    ¡°Soar!¡±


    Berry¡¯s voice hesitated in his throat, and this time he couldn¡¯t hold back, ¡°Rookie, I want to win once.¡±


    ¡°I justa?€|¡±


    ¡°I want to win once.


    Really.


    Just once.¡±


    No sooner had he spoken than Berry almost crumbled, but he quickly took a deep breath, regaining his composure and hurriedly masking the panic and disarray in his eyes, patting Li Wei¡¯s shoulder and pushing him onto the field before turning to smile and look back at the others.


    Li Wei turned and immediately saw Berry, who was cheering and supporting his teammates one by one.


    He couldn¡¯t imagine how much energy and spirit it took for Berry, who inherently yearned to be on the field battling, to stand by and watch his teammates go on; yet, Berry was still there, personally escorting his teammates onto the field.


    Then, let the battle begin.


    Turning back around, Li Wei took a deep breath and boldly stepped forward.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, we are now at U.S.


    Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, with only the last five minutes to go before the start of the fifty-second Super Bowl.¡±


    ¡°I am Chris Collinsworth, and I¡¯ll be joined by Al Michaels today to bring you the ultimate showdown of the 2017 season.¡±


    Collinsworth took a deep breath, trying to control himself, only to finda?€¡±


    His heartbeat pounded like a drum, his blood vessels throbbing.


    Despite his best efforts to suppress it, he still couldn¡¯t control the relentless surge of excitement and jubilation, his temples swelling and his brain buzzing incessantly.


    Exactly a year ago, while commentating NCAA, Collinsworth unexpectedly discovered the gem that was Li Wei.


    Surprised.


    Amazed.


    Astonished.


    Back then, Collinsworth wished he could awaken the entire league¡¯s attention to this Chinese running back¡¯s performance.


    Yet, even so, he had not anticipated the rapid pace of Li Wei¡¯s development, from a complete novice rookie to leading his team to the Super Bowl in just two seasons.


    Indeed, the sky was his only limit.


    Now, Collinsworth couldn¡¯t help but be excited about Li Wei¡¯s performance, looking forward to the course of this gamea?€¡±


    No matter who ultimately clinches the championship, Foles or Li Wei, Eagles or Chiefs, they would all be witnessing history.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got the starting lineups of both teams in my hand, and although Philadelphia and Kansas City faced off in week two of the regular season, that was six months ago.


    After a long season, the starting lineups of both teams have changed significantly, making this a whole new ball game.¡±


    ¡°Next, let me introduce you to the starting lineupsa?€|¡±

 Chapter 469

    ?Chapter 469: 468 Blow the Horn Chapter 469: 468 Blow the Horn Ah, ah ah, ah ah!


    At the U.S.


    Bank Stadium, the entire stadium erupted into an unbelievable rolling heatwave, and the entire enclosed indoor stadium slightly trembled amidst the blast of aira?€¡±


    The Super Bowl had begun.


    In the coin toss, the Kansas City Chiefs guessed right.


    Reed, experienced and composed, chose the field, meaning they would be on the offense in the second half; the starting offensive possession was handed to the Philadelphia Eagles.


    The choice was not a surprise.


    Pederson nodded slightly, his eyes bright as he looked towards the field, calm and seasoned.


    ...


    Clearly, he was prepared to handle any situation.


    Resolute in victory!


    Thus,


    Foles led the offensive group onto the field.


    As Collinsworth had said, after a long season, injuries, fluctuating forms, and team changes were the severe tests every team had to face; however, the situation like the Philadelphia Eagles had this season, with core players undergoing such turnover, was also rare in the history of the league.


    The main quarterback had switched from Wentz to Foles.


    The main running back, the previous season¡¯s top rusher from the New England Patriots who transferred to the Philadelphia Eagles, Blount still started but his playtime was already cut in half.


    Mid-season, Jay Ajayi, a third-year running back who transferred from the Miami Dolphins, shared the playtime.


    The main wide receivers, season¡¯s early half third and fourth wide receiver, Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor both stepped up and became the starters together.


    The main tight end, who only began to shine last season and started to gain momentum from Week 6 of this season, Ertz, became the Super Bowl starter.


    And so on and so forth.


    In this offensive group in front of him, the only one who firmly held his start position was likely the center Jason Kelce, the veteran who had held the starting center position for the Philadelphia Eagles since 2011, who had gradually grown into a linchpin of the team, even considered by many to be one of the best centers currently in the league.


    Compared to Week 2 of the regular season, this Philadelphia Eagles team looked entirely different, not completely changed but drastically altered anyway; Pederson¡¯s tactical layout and on-the-spot adaptability had matured over the season, evident from the starta?€¡±


    Once again facing his mentor, Pederson had completed his transformation from pre-game preparations to mental adjustment.


    At kickoff, the Philadelphia Eagles launched their offense, Pederson showing a winning determination from the start.


    Reed was equally prepared.


    Clearly, in the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ pre-game tactical preparations, Li Wei was centrala?€¡±


    Because Li Wei had just completed an unimaginably successful rookie season, his presence was undoubtedly a nightmare for every team.


    Ignoring Li Wei was as foolish as ignoring Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.


    Also because Li Wei played a crucial role in the collision in the second week of the regular season, effectively teaching Pederson a lesson about ground attacks, an impression deeply etched into his being still.


    It is rumored that Pederson woke from nightmares calling out Li Wei¡¯s name deeply.


    No matter how Reed strategized, Pederson couldn¡¯t ignore the presence of Li Wei.


    However, Reed demonstrated superior tactics by quickly seeing through Pederson¡¯s plans.


    In the opening drive, he purely used Li Wei as bait, raising the stakes with a comprehensive passing attack, catching Pederson completely off guard in the pre-game preparations.


    Those familiar with the Kansas City Chiefs know that their passing offense...


    is easy to read.


    Firstly, because Smith focuses on short passes and rarely risks long throws.


    Secondly, the target of the passes is limited, with Hill and Kelsey almost covering 80% of the team¡¯s passes, maybe with Hunter added in as well.


    But on the Super Bowl stage, Reed finally pulled out all the stops, leveraging his tactical setup for an advantage and depending on Li Wei¡¯s role as bait to distract the opponent¡¯s defense, and finallya?€¡±


    Blooming all around.


    Like the Philadelphia Eagles, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ passing offense also completely opened up the game.


    Smith went six for six, finding five different passing targets with a 100% passing success rate, shattering the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ defense like buckshot.


    In addition, with Hunter¡¯s running plays as a surprise attack, the entire offense appeared in a brand-new light, leaving the Philadelphia Eagles disoriented.


    Can you imagine that, in the first offensive drive, Li Wei didn¡¯t even touch the ball once, yet the Philadelphia Eagles still retreated in defeat.


    Finally, the Kansas City Chiefs soared all the way into the Red Zone, where the Philadelphia Eagles, who had the fourth-ranked Red Zone defense in the League, barely managed to stop Smith.


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ first drive also ended with a field goal, unfortunately not converting their advantage into a touchdown, slightly regrettable.


    At the crucial moment, the Philadelphia Eagles Defense stood tall and pulled the game back.


    ¡°3:3¡±.

 Chapter 470

    ?Chapter 470: 469 Perfect with slight flaws Chapter 470: 469 Perfect with slight flaws ¡°Everything, just as expected.¡±


    ¡°In this Super Bowl, the offensive groups of both teams will bear the brunt, and the on-the-spot tactical layouts by Pederson and Reed will influence the course of the battle.¡±


    ¡°But at the same time, the quality of the defensive groups from both teams will play a key role, even though they are not perfect, even though they have weaknesses, at critical moments, their performance will be the key to victory.¡±


    ¡°In the opening stage, the offensive groups take the initiative, but the defensive groups set the baseline.¡±


    ¡°¡®3:3¡ä, the score won¡¯t budge, both teams are displaying good competitive condition, the intensity of the upcoming offensive and defensive showdown will further escalate.¡±


    Sitting in the commentary booth, Collinsworth was extremely excited and animated.


    Before the game, people tediously repeated over and over that this was an underdog matchup, even without those intentions, the undertones suggested a lowering of expectations as if to remind the viewers:


    The Super Bowl might not be as spectacular as imagined.


    However, Collinsworth didn¡¯t think so.


    Indeed!


    From the beginning, both teams came out firing, opening up the game on both sides of the ball and continuing their season performance, relying on teamwork rather than individual prowess, even on the grand stage of the Super Bowl where team strength allowed the players to stay focused and quickly get into the zone.


    The game, from the very first second, was breathtakingly exciting.


    And this was just the beginning.


    ...


    Not only did Collinsworth think so, but Michaels, the seasoned commentator responsible for tactical analysis, could not contain his eager excitement.


    ¡°From the start, it¡¯s clear that both head coaches have done extensive preparation and successfully opened up the game according to their pregame strategic layouts.¡±


    ¡°Next, the two head coaches and their coaching teams will engage in a battle of wits; the intensity of the match will escalate further, and the excitement has just begun.¡±


    The Philadelphia Eagles offensive group takes the field again.


    With his well-prepared strategy, Pederson again shows his determination to win.


    A screen pass, and after receiving the ball, tight end Ertz shows his mettle, forcefully advancing fourteen yards.


    A play-action that turns into a run, and running back Blount finally shows his last-season¡¯s leading rusher quality, plowing through thirty-seven yards, shaking off four tackles, and with his powerful running, demolishing the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ ground defense.


    The Philadelphia Eagles are putting on the pressure.


    Then.


    The Kansas City Chiefs Defense also shows its intensity.


    ¡°Blitz!¡±@@@@


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs rush five, beautiful!


    They powerfully tear through the offensive line¡¯s pocket protection, Foles is instantly exposed before the opponent.¡±


    ¡°Houston!¡±


    ¡°Houston is in pursuit, but Foles is not prepared to surrender.¡±


    ¡°Foles!¡±


    ¡°My God!


    Foles evades the sack, Foles is still looking for a passing target!¡±


    ¡°Dangerous!¡±


    ¡°Foles avoids again, a quick stop and turn that is controlled perfectly, Foles throws off the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ double-team sack attempt!¡±


    It was because Pederson deeply understood Reed¡¯s capabilities, and because of the painful loss in the second week of the regular season, a completely transformed Pederson took the game more seriously than ever.


    Faintly, Reed sensed the crux of the problema?€¡±


    Foles.


    Including Reed, they had all underestimated Foles.


    Foles had played a season under Reed, and had started two games during Smith¡¯s concussion, winning both.


    But precisely because of this, Reed knew very well the limits of Foles¡¯ abilities.


    Reed was a top-level quarterback coach, with a natural understanding of quarterbacks; he believed he knew Foles well enough.


    But so far, this Foles in the game had completely overturned that understanding.


    Reed even felt a stranger to him.


    But that¡¯s one of the charms of competitive sports.


    Sometimes, there is no reason to explain a player¡¯s sudden explosion like Joe Flacco during the 2012 postseason playoffs.


    Even Flacco couldn¡¯t explain his Super Saiyan mode during that month¡¯s playoffs, without any warning or signs, just dominating that year¡¯s postseason, truly a ¡°mighty force unstoppable¡±.


    And then, never again finding the grace of that year.


    Reed was slightly panickeda?€¡±


    After all, this was only the second Super Bowl of his coaching career.


    But compared to his first time, Reed had matured, hiding his emotions well and quickly regaining his composure.


    The unexpected happened.


    ¡°Oh, God.¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable.¡±


    ¡°Elliott misses the extra point, the football veers to the right of the goalpost.¡±


    ¡°This is Elliott¡¯s first miss out of thirty-nine attempts this season, his 100% success rate on extra points slipping up on the Super Bowl stage.¡±


    Jack Elliott, incredulous, clutched at his head, his knees buckling as he crouched down.


    Like Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Buck, Elliott was also a rookie this year, had also come out on the losing end in the competition for team kicker, joining the practice squad before being traded mid-season to his current team, culminating in a Cinderella-like fairy tale reversal, ascending to the Super Bowl stage.


    Even though he was just the humble kicker, Elliott dutifully completed his job, hoping he could contribute to his team¡¯s victorya?€¡±


    Just like Buck.


    However.


    He missed, he actually missed the extra point.


    From practice to games, one hundred extra points should equate to one hundred hits; yet, at the most crucial moment, a miss occurred.


    Elliott sank into deep self-blame.


    But Pederson didn¡¯t blame Elliott.


    Because he knew that blaming Elliott would accomplish nothing, they still needed Elliott to continue attempting extra points and field goals; Elliott couldn¡¯t collapse, nor could he get caught up in self-blame.


    Also because he knew the seeming mistake by Elliott had a real cause behind ita?€¡±


    Reed.

 Chapter 471

    ?Chapter 471: Taking advantage of the vulnerability to gain entry Chapter 471: Taking advantage of the vulnerability to gain entry ¡°`


    ¡°9:3.¡±


    ¡°`


    Although the Philadelphia Eagles scored the first touchdown, they missed the extra point and failed to further establish their advantage.


    Instead, the situation subtly oscillated, and the Eagles, who should have been on a roll, fell into a brief whirl of wavering.


    On the sidelines, Reed was planning the strategya?€¡±


    Details.


    The more crucial the game, the more pivotal the showdown, the more important the details become.


    The Eagles¡¯ offensive group had just made a tactical and executional breakthrough, breaking the deadlock and sweeping away a touchdown with the ferocity of a whirlwind.


    It was easy to become overly excited in the rush of adrenaline.


    So.


    ...


    In the extra point attempt, the Eagles¡¯ special duty group might have been somewhat rough around the edges.


    After all, it was just an extra point, something practiced hundreds, even thousands of times without a deviation akin to taking something out of a bag.


    When the players thought it was ¡°taken for granted,¡± that¡¯s when mistakes could happen.


    The Kansas City Chiefs seized such an opportunity, intentionally focusing all their strength on their own right side and the opponent¡¯s left side, applying full pressure with a psychological suggestion, causing Elliott to drift slightly to the right under the impact and pressure.


    On the stage like the Super Bowl, even a slight deviation can be magnified.


    Then, the mistake occurred.


    Pederson lamented, but he did not blame the young Elliott.


    It was all part of growing up and an inevitable path on the professional field.


    Quietly, Pederson crossed the field, gazing at Reed, who was calmly deploying troops without excitement or celebration, and immediately immersed himself in the game.


    Pederson felt the crisis immediately.


    It might seem absurd, but although the Eagles were the first to score, the momentum had somehow shifted to the Chiefs¡¯ side, and the Eagles appeared slightly agitated.


    Pederson tried to control the situation, but this time, the Chiefs had the upper hand.


    Reed had no intention of celebrating Elliott¡¯s mistake.


    He turned around and set up the formation, firmly capturing the team¡¯s attention for the next offensive wave.


    Indeeda?€¡±


    The Chiefs¡¯ offense took the field again, showing extraordinary concentration.


    Li Wei, still playing the role of a decoy, and for this, the Chiefs had actually devised several different tactical strategies, including but not limited to the double running back tactic, running back partnering with a tight end, and four wide receivers with a running back acting as a tight end.


    The offense was complex and impressive.


    They mixed passing and running, combining both skills.


    The Chiefs still opted for a secure, steady approach, relying on a ground attack to face off against the Eagles¡¯ defensive group head-on, and at critical moments, they let their imaginations fly with a surprise attacka?€¡±


    From Smith to Hill.


    The Chiefs¡¯ quarterback found their top wide receiver and completed a fifty-yard long pass, crossing the entire field and sending the football straight into the Red Zone, accurately stopping just ten yards short of the end zone.


    Bang.


    A heavy punch.


    Always criticized for lacking explosiveness and long passes, the Chiefs gradually adjusted throughout the postseason and unleashed long pass plays more than once.


    Li Wei has successfully broken free from the tackle!¡±


    ¡°Turn around.


    Shake off.


    Break free.


    Step forward.¡±


    ¡°End zone!¡±


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    ¡°Ah, ah ah ah, touchdown!¡±


    Skin tingles, goosebumps scream out in unison over the entire body.


    Agile, light.


    Strong, powerful.


    A perfect combination of hardness and softness.


    In his very first meaningful touch of the game, Li Wei once again turned decay into magic, performed a miracle, and brought the Kansas City Chiefs a touchdown.


    Crazy!


    Absolutely crazy!


    ¡°He¡¯s here, he¡¯s there, he¡¯s everywhere, he is the Edgerunner, Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei!¡±


    That song, once again, echoed over the U.S.


    Bank Stadium.


    Li Wei turned to look at Jenkins, at the ranks of the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ defense, the fighting spirit in his eyes blazing intensely.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    One cry.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Yet another.


    It was like the roar of a lion.


    The defensive greats of the Philadelphia Eagles, panting, looked at Li Wei with ashen faces, their gazes clashing head-on in the aira?€¡±


    Whether as a decoy or as a running back, Li Wei remained the thorniest, most unsolvable problem for the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ defensive group.


    Then.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t bother with those dejected losers anymore; he walked with his head held high to the side of the field and solemnly handed the football to the kicker, Buck.


    Next, it was the turn of the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ rookie kicker to showcase his skills.


    From rookie to rookie, Buck trembled with excitementa?€¡±it felt like an electric current ran from the sole of his feet to his scalp, the football he held felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.


    But Buck withstand the pressure.


    He kicked it through in one go.


    The extra point, steadily and precisely hit, even though the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ Special Duty Group played tricks, with players hurdling over the line to confront him, pouncing like tigers to disrupt the balance, seemingly about to crash into or even tackle Buck with an absolutely dominant posture, but Buck still showed his determination, one hundred percent focus.


    ¡°9:10¡±.


    Kansas City Chiefs, take the lead.


    In that moment, Buck was the hero.

 Chapter 472

    ?Chapter 472: 471 swaying spirits Chapter 472: 471 swaying spirits Pressure, released.


    Gunsmoke, pervasive.


    Be it the Philadelphia Eagles or the Kansas City Chiefs, both teams were fully in the zone, going head-to-head with a fiery collision that noticeably tensed up the atmosphere.


    At one moment, Kelsey had left the field due to an injury, but after an on-field examination by the medic, it was confirmed there was no serious problem and the main tight end of the Kansas City Chiefs was back in the gamea?€¡±it was just a false alarm.


    Immediately after, Philadelphia Eagles safety Jenkins was penalized with a yellow flag for a violent hit, but Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ third wide receiver Albert Wilson still left the field with a concussion.


    The scent of gunpowder was gradually spreading.


    Off the field, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs were far from being at each other¡¯s throats; to some extent, the players from both teams could be considered friendly.


    ...


    On the field, however, the atmosphere of the Super Bowl was heating up, with the murderous look in their eyes slowly spiraling out of control, and the number of yellow flags making their appearance started to soar.


    Neither side gave an inch, with bayonets meeting in close combata?€¡±


    The major play was on.


    The game was led by the Kansas City Chiefs, who seized the opportunity to turn a crisis into a shake-up of the battle situation, not only causing the rookie kicker to make a mistake but also enduring to the end in the Red Zone collision and securing the touchdown.


    However, Pederson was not about to surrender without a fight.


    Following that, the Philadelphia Eagles quickly steadied their footing and sent out an unexpected heroa?€¡±


    Corey Clement.


    Wait, who?


    If you¡¯ve never heard the name, it¡¯s not at all strange, nor is it because the pre-game research wasn¡¯t thorough.


    Clement was someone who seemed to have popped out of nowhere.


    This player, a running back, was part of the same rookie class as Li Wei and others, yet he was practically unknown.


    He went unnoticed during the draft and eventually joined the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted rookie for the practice squad.


    All season, Clement barely got any decent playtime.


    The 5.8-foot-tall (178 cm), 220-pound (100 kg) running back¡¯s strength was average, completely unremarkable.


    It was precisely because Clement wasn¡¯t up to the task that the Philadelphia Eagles traded for running back Ajayi from the Miami Dolphins midway through the season.


    From a tactical standpoint, Clement¡¯s occasional appearances served to change the rhythm of the Eagles¡¯ running game, acting as a metronome, but his playtime was very limited, with his touches for the entire season amounting to less than forty.


    Yet, it was this very Clement.


    Who played the surprise factor.


    Rushing and receiving, he swirled through the defense like a tornado, completely disorganizing the battlefield.


    ¡°Remember the story Li Wei told?


    The fat lady hasn¡¯t started singing yet.¡±


    ¡°We should concentrate on the present, we should firmly grasp every second from now on; what has happened has already happened, but the excitement continues.¡±


    ¡°So, no one should miss the fat lady¡¯s performance because they were distracted.¡±


    Concentration, commitment, certainty.


    This Smith, showing a different side for the first time, slightly stirred the somewhat bewildered Kansas City Chiefs back into focus.


    Thena?€¡±


    Interception, on the field.


    Foles, feeling immense pressure in the pocket, kept trying to pass the ball, a short eight-yard pass to Wide Receiver Jeffery, completing the connection.


    However, feeling the pressure, Foles¡¯s pass spun irregularly, not a standard spiral, causing the football to bounce off Jeffery¡¯s forearm.


    Jeffery failed to control the football, and the alert Revis swooped in to snatch the ball away, completing the first turnover of the game.


    The Kansas City Chiefs did not waste the opportunity.


    A classic fake run-real pass tactic, with Li Wei blocking for Kelsey, connecting successfully with Smith and scoring another touchdown.


    This time, the highly-focused Mahomes and Buck made no mistakes.


    ¡°16:17¡±.


    The Kansas City Chiefs took the lead for the second time in the game, steadying their footing once again.


    Then, after the two-minute warning break in the first half, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense pushed the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ Offensive group to the edge of the cliff.


    Despite the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ running back Corey Clement again playing the role of a surprise element with his elusive running routes and acting like a Wide Receiver, under the predicament of third gear and eight yards, he astonishingly brought the Philadelphia Eagles back into the Red Zone.


    Without a doubt, Clement was the most shining dark horse of the first half.


    But, in the critical moment, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense held its ground, achieving the most important and difficult strikeout of the first halfa?€¡±


    Fourth gear and one yard.


    With eight seconds left in the first half, the Philadelphia Eagles were standing at the edge of the end zone, facing fourth gear and one yard, and Pederson made a choice that made the entire stadium gasp.


    The Philadelphia Eagles didn¡¯t choose a field goal, but to go for it on fourth down.


    Burning their bridges, an all-or-nothing gamble.


    The atmosphere became entirely tense at this moment.


    The Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ Offensive group and the Kansas City Chiefs Defense returned to the field, lined up against each other, their eyes burning with intense, intertwining determination.


    After the strikeout, the Kansas City Chiefs still needed to complete one more down of defense, the last one.

 Chapter 473

    ?Chapter 473: 472 Philly Special Chapter 473: 472 Philly Special Tense.


    Deadlocked.


    Suffocating.


    The Super Bowl, as befitting of its name, saw an entirely tense match where both the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs exposed their youthful naivety, each making mistakes that continuously altered the course of the game.


    With tug and pull, twists and turns, the Kansas City Chiefs edged ahead slightly and pushed the Philadelphia Eagles to the brink of a cliff.


    Yet, Pederson once again demonstrated decisiveness, exemplifying couragea?€¡±


    The so-called ¡°patricide¡± was not mere talk.


    With eight seconds left in the first half, in the Red Zone, it was fourth and one yard to go but also fourth down to touchdown.


    ...


    The Philadelphia Eagles chose to go for it.


    The reason lay in Pederson¡¯s resolve.


    Of course, the Philadelphia Eagles could have gone for a field goal, securing three points and entering the halftime break with a slim ¡°19:17¡± lead, a strategy in itself.


    But at the same time, the Philadelphia Eagles also had the option to adopt an even more aggressive, forceful, and bold strategy, attempting a fourth-down touchdown rusha?€¡±


    If successful, the Philadelphia Eagles would score a touchdown, entering halftime with a six-point advantage and seizing the upper hand in terms of momentum and morale.


    If they failed, the Philadelphia Eagles would leave the Kansas City Chiefs with an awkward starting position for offense and very little remaining time, almost ensuring they wouldn¡¯t sink further into the mire; besides, the team would only be trailing by one point at halftime, a negligible difference that wouldn¡¯t affect confidence.


    Most importantly, going for it on fourth down showcased a certain mental toughness, embodying the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ determination and conviction to win at all costs.


    Pederson came prepared, from the tactical to the spiritual level.


    In that instant, the game tensed up entirely, propelling the first half¡¯s deadlock to a new peak as both teams demonstrated unstoppable determinationa?€¡±


    When narrow paths cross, the brave prevail.


    When the brave meet, the wise win.


    On the field, the situation changed abruptly.


    Foles had already positioned the offensive group for the play but stood up straight to adjust the strategy just before the snap, an unusual atmosphere spreading through the air.


    If the quarterback standing there was Peyton Manning, his on-the-fly adjustments would be a signature tactic, a masterclass in command.


    But Foles?


    Few knew that after being cut by the Kansas City Chiefs last season, Foles had seriously considered retiring and was already mentally prepared for it.


    Why was Foles modifying the play?


    And how was he planning to change it?


    In a split second, the contest between the offensive and defensive groups reached its apex.


    The air was ablaze.


    ¡°Philly Special.¡±


    Foles called out.


    Then.


    Foles stepped forward again.


    He had initially stood five yards directly behind the center Jason Kelce alongside running back Clement, which appeared to be a shotgun formation.


    Burton swept by like a gust of wind, reaching out to scoop the football.


    Then he crossed the entire gap behind the protective ¡°Pocket¡± from left to right, circling behind Clement to arrive at the right side of the ¡°Pocket¡±.


    Immediately after, the pass.


    The Kansas City Chiefs Defense completely lost the rhythm, thoroughly swept up in the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ dizzying offensive strategy, with no time to think or respond, only able to stick to their tactical positions.


    Forward line, apply pressure.


    Second line, stick close.


    However!


    But!


    The Chieftain had a matchup mistakea?€¡±


    Burton, passed the ball.


    Gliding effortlessly across the entire ¡°Pocket¡±, from left to right, without hesitation or delay, not giving the Kansas City Chiefs Defense any time to react, even before the defenders could shift their attention to follow the football, he lifted his right hand for a light toss, and the football was already airborne.


    The passing target, Nick Foles.


    On the right side of the end zone, wide open, although the Kansas City Chiefs Defense was closely marking every potential receiver, they completely missed Foles, an unexpected receiver.


    Foles, standing in an opening with no blocking or hitting to worry about, received Burton¡¯s pass with ease after turning around.


    Then, like a wind-chasing youth, he joyously ran across the end zone, raising the football high.


    Even though the Kansas City Chiefs Defense immediately reacted to the football¡¯s trajectory, it was too late, everything was too late, they couldn¡¯t stop Foles.


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    ¡°Lord, Lord, Lord!¡±


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    The commentary box was completely stunned.


    Due to the shock and surprise, Collinsworth even forgot to scream or shout, stumbling over his words, tongue-tied like a fool, repeating the same phrase over and over, unable to trust his eyes.


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    ¡°Undoubtedly, that¡¯s a touchdown.¡±


    ¡°This is truly a cunning and inconceivable offensive tactic by Pedersona?€¡±unbelievable, Pederson demonstrated unparalleled courage and audacity.¡±


    ¡°We are witnessing history.¡±


    ¡°Foles becomes the first quarterback in history to catch a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl, from Burton, a one-yard touchdown pass, regaining the lead for the Philadelphia Eagles in the tough situation of fourth and one.¡±


    The entire U.S.


    Bank Stadium plunged into madness, countless spectators clutching their heads, even forgetting to scream, just continually muttering to themselves:


    Incredible.


    Incredible!


    The Philadelphia Eagles ended the first half with a display that stunned the world.


    ¡°`

 Chapter 474

    ?Chapter 474: 473 Crazy Half Chapter 474: 473 Crazy Half Wow!


    The entire field erupted in cheersa?€¡±


    Elliott clenched his fists tightly, gritted his teeth, and let out a silent roar to pump himself up.


    This time, Elliott didn¡¯t make any mistakes, and his extra point was right on target.


    ¡°23:17¡±.


    The first half came to an end, and the 52nd Super Bowl was already halfway through.


    The Philadelphia Eagles finished the first half with a hard-to-fathom, exhilarating morale, striding into the locker room with a six-point lead.


    ...


    And with that, they unleashed the energy.


    ¡°Incredible!¡±


    ¡°Thisa?€|¡±


    Collinsworth was almost at a loss for words.


    Even though he had anticipated a thrilling game, even though he believed this underdog matchup would bring surprises, experiencing the first half firsthand was still enough to make his brain boom with a torrent of shock that wouldn¡¯t stop.


    Revolutionary!


    Frenetic!


    For the first time in Super Bowl history, there was not a single punt in the first half, with every offensive group¡¯s appearance resulting in at least field goal range.


    Then, both teams shattered their own records and, in partnership, set a new Super Bowl history with a combined advance of 673 yards; moreover, it was also a Super Bowl first to have both quarterbacks surpass 200 passing yards by halftime:


    Smith, 276 yards; Foles, 215 yards.


    Moreover, unbelievably, this was the first time in Super Bowl history that both teams¡¯ special duty groups made critical errors, with the Philadelphia Eagles missing an extra point and the Kansas City Chieftains missing a field goal, indirectly proving the close and intense nature of the match, where the tension could be felt down to the detailsa?€¡±


    No one was exempt.


    Such high-quality gameplay painted an incredibly beautiful and spectacular end to the first half.


    Fourth and one, and a touchdown on fourth down.


    The Philadelphia Eagles executed a ¡°Philly Special¡± with a sixth-round center Jason Kelce, an undrafted running back Clement, an undrafted tight end Burton, and a third-round backup quarterback Foles joining forces in one of the most legendary trick plays in Super Bowl history.


    In the end, Burton connected with Foles for a one-yard touchdown pass.


    Stunning!


    Shocking!


    An exceptionally brilliant game went into halftime in the most spectacular fashion, effortlessly igniting and exploding the atmosphere of fervor.


    Even for veterans like Collinsworth and Michaels, they were left jaw-dropped and brain-frozen.


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    ¡°The ¡®Philly Special¡¯, Pederson is firm enough, meticulous enough, bold enough, and brave enough...


    The Kansas City Chiefs had already delivered such a spectacular performance in the first half, with Smith playing the best game of the season; but the Philadelphia Eagles still managed to ignite their cosmos and unleashed an unbelievable energya?€¡±


    And then, the Kansas City Chiefs fell behind at halftime, in such a manner.


    ¡°Philly Special.¡±


    ¡°Philly Special!¡±


    It wasn¡¯t just social media that was frantically circulating the term, the scene at the entrance to the U.S.


    Bank Stadium was no exception.


    Philadelphia Eagles fans collectively fell into a frenzy.


    Chants, over and over, kept circling in the air, completely igniting the morale of the Eagles, and even the neutral fans were not exempted.


    In a daze, it seemed as though the Kansas City Chiefs had fallen into a position with no one to support them.


    Provo thought he should leave, as long as he left, everything would be fine, and the Kansas City Chiefs would return to the path of victory.


    But.


    Should he?


    Provo controlled himself.


    Over the past two, three years, he had always been running away, hiding, denying, and life had cornered him, leaving him gasping for breath, without hope, where even struggling to survive seemed a luxury.


    Now, he didn¡¯t want to keep running.


    He wanted to face reality, face difficulties, face challenges.


    As Li Wei had said, to have no regrets.


    Even in defeat, they would face it squarely and say confidently:


    They had given their all, they had broken themselves apart, they had held nothing back, they had no regrets or remorse.


    That¡¯s football, and that¡¯s life.


    So.


    Provo took a deep breath, using all his strength to suppress his fear, and stood his ground, taking a step forward with his head held high and chest out.


    This time, he would not run away.


    No matter the situation or the outcome, he would fight alongside the Kansas City Chiefs until the very end.


    ¡°Fly.¡±


    Provo mustered his courage and shouted.


    It wasn¡¯t easy, because the whole stadium was in a frenzy for ¡°Philly Special,¡± but Provo didn¡¯t give up, quietly, intently, persistently repeating.


    Again, and again, the fervent cry came from deep within his soul.


    ¡°Fly!¡±

 Chapter 475

    ?Chapter 475: 474 Face the Challenge Chapter 475: 474 Face the Challenge The air was slightly oppressive.


    Silence reigned in the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ locker room.


    No one spoke, interacted, or even exchanged glances.


    Each person was absorbed in their own world, seemingly unable to snap out of it, still caught in the shock lingered from the stunning way the first half ended.


    Honestly, the Chiefs had performed exceptionally well in the first half, despite missing a field goal.


    Overall, they showed top-tier performance; yet, they still ended the half trailing behind, in such a fashion that, it stuck in their chest like a breath neither swallowable nor spittable.


    For a short while, they were puzzled and confused, their brains paused in thoughta?€¡±


    How should they perform, and how could they improve, to turn the game around?


    ...


    No answer.


    Creak.


    Houston entered through the door and immediately felt the stifling silence clasp around his ankles like quicksand, dragging his heart slowly downward.


    Instinctively, his step faltered.


    Houston tried to speak, but the words spun around on the tip of his tongue and ultimately, he swallowed them down, dragging his heavy feet to an arbitrary spot to sita?€¡±


    Last time on defense, he had sensed something amiss but still failed to keep a tight leash on Foles.


    In Houston¡¯s view, that was his dereliction of duty.


    As for the ¡°Philly Special,¡± Houston didn¡¯t even care to say that name, let alone think of it; just recalling it sparked a raging fire in his chest.


    Then.


    The locker room door opened again, and the bustling noise and chaos from the U.S.


    Bank Stadium crowd surged in, breaking the heaviness inside.


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s impressive, truly impressive, the Philly Special!¡±


    Houston: His fist clenched.


    ¡°Did you guys just see that?


    Nick totally fooled everyone.


    How did he and Jason communicate?


    When to snap the ball, when to start the play, it was all seamless, catching us totally off guard.


    Coach Pederson¡¯s trick play was incredibly bold.¡±


    ¡°And it¡¯s not just that...¡±


    The words trailed off as Kelsey signaled to Li Wei, who then finally noticed the tense and subdued atmosphere of the whole locker room.


    Dozens of glaring eyes focused on Li Wei as if anything further he might say could unleash the unknown.


    At a glance, Li Wei saw the anger in Houston¡¯s eyes, a fury he tried to suppress but couldn¡¯t keep from his gaze.


    Heh.


    Li Wei was utterly unfazed.


    Far from it, his smile even grew wider as he chuckled lightly.


    ¡°What does this mean?¡±


    ¡°It means we¡¯re not losing.


    In fact, we¡¯re still contesting, we¡¯re still fighting, we haven¡¯t unleashed all our energy yet.¡±


    ¡°Hey, guys, isn¡¯t that worth celebrating?


    We¡¯re about to go into the ultimate showdown, with no holds barred, with full vigor, without any regrets.¡±


    One sentence after another,


    One cheer after another.


    Li Wei wasn¡¯t lying; every person in the locker room could truly feel the excitement and jubilation radiating from within, their passion alighta?€¡±


    The more difficult, the more intense, and the more contested, the more thrilling it becomes.


    This is the ultimate secret of competitive sports.


    Without being able to help it, Houston couldn¡¯t hold back.


    ¡°Freak.¡±


    He said.


    But once he finally found his voice, a smile crept onto his lips.


    Houston¡¯s tense shoulders gradually relaxed, and a surge of boldness and courage swelled in his chest.


    ¡°So, what now?¡±


    Houston looked at Li Wei, who spread his hands and shrugged lightly.


    ¡°We wait for the coach to lay out the tactics.


    Honestly, in the first half, I didn¡¯t even finish warming up.¡±


    Roar, roar, roar.


    Amidst the encouraging shouts, Li Wei spread his hands, ¡°In the second half, I really hope it gets more intense.


    I feel like my muscles haven¡¯t even stretched out yet.¡±


    His confident demeanor brought laughter throughout the locker room, and Mahomes finally regained his spirits, ¡°We may not be overconfident, but we¡¯re going to win, right?¡±


    Li Wei nodded vigorously, ¡°Exactly, Sherlock already has the answer.¡±


    Ha-ha, ha-ha-ha.


    ¡°Before the coach comes in, don¡¯t you guys want to check out the halftime show?


    Justin Timberlake, bringing sexy back.¡±


    As he spoke, Li Wei began to do the Moonwalk.


    Kelce was merciless, ¡°Oh, my eyes, my eyesa?€¡±I beg for a pair of eyes that hasn¡¯t seen this.¡±


    Boom.


    The locker room erupted into laughter; the mood was lifted from the earlier lull, as lively as the ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± green room during a break.


    At the entrance of the locker room, Childres was full of radiant excitement as he turned to look at Reed.


    Reed stood calmly confident, ¡°I told you, we don¡¯t need Eric¡¯s helpa?€¡±our locker room already has a new leader.¡±

 Chapter 476

    ?Chapter 476: 475 Moonwalk Chapter 476: 475 Moonwalk ¡°Exciting!¡±


    ¡°Undoubtedly spectacular, it could even be called the most entertaining and thrilling Super Bowl halftime show since the new millennium.


    Generally speaking, finals tend to be the least interesting, most tedious, and least enjoyable matches once the knockout stage begins.


    However, tonight the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs have overturned such stereotypes, joining forces to complete a truly peak showdown.¡±


    ¡°In the first halfa?€¡±although it might be a bit unfair to saya?€¡± the Philadelphia Eagles played like the New England Patriots, not only embodying the poise and calm of five-time Super Bowl champions, but also perfectly replicating the tactical style of the Patriots.¡±


    ¡°Versatile, time management, bold yet meticulous, brave and decisive, exploiting mismatches, focusing on details, with a touch of help from the Goddess of Fortune.¡±


    ¡°Before the game, everyone was worried that Nick Foles might become the weak link for the Philadelphia Eagles; but Coach Pederson¡¯s actions dispelled such concerns.¡±


    ¡°Coach Pederson did not keep Foles sheltered in a greenhouse because of his experience, depriving the quarterback of the chance to demonstrate his game management.


    On the contrary, Coach Pederson opened up his playbook and told the backup quarterback, who was almost retired last season.¡±


    ¡°¡®Try all the tactics, I¡¯ll take all the consequences, you protect me with your outstanding performance,¡¯ Coach Pederson entrusted all his trust to Foles, who responded with a performance worthy of a halftime MVP.¡±


    ¡°Although the Philadelphia Eagles were the popular choice to win as the National Conference¡¯s top seed, their unparalleled performance in the first half was still eye-catching; Pederson and his team were ready for the crown.¡±


    ¡°Now, the pressure on the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ shoulders is slowly accumulating.¡±


    Lively and incessant.


    In the NBC broadcasting room directly above the U.S.


    Bank Stadium, Collinsworth and Michaels were completely wowed, their praise and astonishment unceasing.


    ...


    After Justin Timberlake¡¯s halftime show ended, they immediately switched to second half mode, taking a professional perspective to analyze and anticipate.


    The air in the entire Old Oak Tavern was slightly tensea?€¡±


    Crisis was imminent.


    In the first half, it wasn¡¯t that the Kansas City Chiefs played poorly, but that the Philadelphia Eagles performed too exceptionally, with a sense of tension and pressure that was suffocating.


    What to do if your opponent suddenly turns into a Super Saiyan going completely berserk, if your team has given their best yet still trails at halftime...


    In competitive sports, underdog stories of the weak overcoming the strong are often played out.


    However, the insurmountable gap of absolute power remains a constant, with the victor usually being the side that performs better, whether in dark horse clashes or peak showdowns.


    Now, the Philadelphia Eagles were the ones performing better.


    That¡¯s how simple it was.


    So, what now?


    In competitive sports, you can never defeat those who truly enjoy what they do, because their belief and attitude transcend victory and defeat.


    And soa?€¡±


    A smile gradually played upon West¡¯s lips, his tense and anxious mood lightening up bit by bit.


    Li Wei was still Li Wei, the Kansas City Chiefs were still the Kansas City Chiefs, never giving up despite being behind in the score, despite the desperate situation, always ready to face the challenge head-on with head high and chest out.


    ¡°Fly.¡±


    West finally found his voice again.


    One call after another, one phrase following another.


    As he called out, his mood soared anew, traversing mountains and rivers, circling high above the U.S.


    Bank Stadium.


    Li Yi turned his head to see Jiang Yin and Donna Kelce standing up, raising their hands high with focused abandon, shouting with all their might.


    A wave of excitement surged through him, and Li Yi also started to shout.


    Suddenly, that passionate crimson swept through the entire stadium, not just among the Kansas City Chiefs fans but also those neutral fans who desired the game to be as thrilling as possible.


    All voices tightly wound together, letting go and letting fly.


    At that moment, the Super Bowl erupted with incredible energy.


    Under the watchful eyes of many, the second half began.


    In the first half, the Philadelphia Eagles took the initiative; in the second half, the Kansas City Chiefs began their comeback.


    Smith led Li Wei, Kelsey, and other offensive group players with heads held high onto the field.


    For the opening kick, the Philadelphia Eagles were very steady, kicking the football straight out of the end zone.


    The Kansas City Chiefs were ready to commence their offense from their own twenty-five-yard line.


    Smith bent over, thoroughly examining the positions of the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ defense, reading carefullya?€¡±


    Indeed, just as expected.


    Smith maintained a focused and serious facade, composed in an atmosphere becoming increasingly tense and sticky, he raised his own voice.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    The command tore through the suffocating air.


    The game began again.

 Chapter 477

    ?Chapter 477: 476 Too much is as bad as not enough Chapter 477: 476 Too much is as bad as not enough Everything went as expecteda?€¡±


    The Philadelphia Eagles remained focused and engaged because Pederson knew they couldn¡¯t afford to be arrogant or distracted.


    The moment they lost focus, they risked letting the game slip away in the second half.


    If they wanted to extend their lead and claim the championship, their minds needed to stay concentrated.


    Carelessness and relaxation were strictly taboo.


    This was undoubtedly correct,


    However, Pederson overlooked one thing: the danger of overdoing it.


    Too relaxed, and attention could wander; but equally, too tense, and efforts might become excessivea?€¡±The closer they got to the crucial line, the more anxiety could play a disruptive role, choking them until they couldn¡¯t breathe.


    Finding the right balance between focus and relaxation while maintaining composure was an art.


    ...


    Clearly, both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs were Super Bowl novices, lacking experience; but now, it was the Chiefs who trailed in the score.


    They needed to catch up, they needed to risk it all, they needed to make a bold move, which made it easier for them to adjust their mindset.


    And so,


    Smith noticed that as the second half began, the Eagles¡¯ defensive group seemed exceptionally tense.


    Perhaps it was because Pederson had reiterated during halftime that they couldn¡¯t afford to relax, or maybe the defensive group was eager to make a statement from the get-go of the second half, proving they too could play a pivotal role.


    Before his eyes, the defensive group was itching to move.


    Clearly, Reed had anticipated all this.


    Perhaps Reed, like Pederson, was new to the Super Bowl, but the seasoned coach still possessed his own insights.


    Taking a deep breath.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    As Smith called the play, feeling the rough texture of the football in his hand, he promptly dropped back in quick succession, his gaze sweeping rapidly across the field.


    Instantly, Smith felt the pressurea?€¡±


    Blitz.


    The Eagles¡¯ defensive group kicked off the second half with an aggressive edge, pressuring the offense with the ferocity of tigers descending the mountain.


    A five-man rush.


    No, a six-man rush.


    Tense as they may be, desperate as they may seem, the Eagles today really displayed a do-or-die attitude.


    Whether it was towards the Super Bowl Champions or Reed, the entire team showed a markedly different momentum, proving by their actions that ¡°patricide¡± was not just an empty slogan.


    At this moment, the six-man rush easily gained a numerical advantage and tore through the offensive line¡¯s pocket protection.


    Shitshitshitshitshit!


    On reflex, Bradham spun around following the football, watching it land snugly in Li Wei¡¯s arms.


    Yet Li Wei did not turn or look back, continuing to advance with unceasing steps.


    Leaving only the number twenty-three on his back.


    A classic decoy move.


    If Bradham didn¡¯t understand by now, he¡¯d be an idiot.


    Bradham didn¡¯t give up.


    In the blink of an eye, he made an astonishing stop-and-turn, launching himself into a 180-degree turn and diving forward.


    Clenching his teeth.


    Surging like a leaping fish to the crest.


    Bradham¡¯s entire body soared, just freeing himself from gravity¡¯s hold, only to crash back down like a manatee, heavily returning to earth.


    His mouth filled with dust as he watched Li Wei stride past the kickoff line.


    Clearly, the Philadelphia Eagles had been caught off guard.


    In the first half, Li Wei had been a mere decoy, with a pitifully low number of times holding the balla?€¡±just four; but upon reflection, it became clear that the Chiefs¡¯ strongest weapon had been merely treading water all through the first half, while the Eagles had already pulled out all their ace movesa?€¡±


    It was terrifying and bone-chilling!


    As halftime ended, the Philadelphia Eagles were eager to seize the initiative and take control, but their haste led them right into the clever trap laid by Reed.


    Old ginger is hotter than young.


    Without facing any blocks near the kickoff line, Li Wei had enough room to start, releasing his acceleration, then entering his strongest mode.


    It was as if he were strolling in an unoccupied domain, effortlessly shaking off the linemen¡¯s encirclement, and even leisurely waltzing through the second-line defense until he was finally taken down by a double-team tackle.


    However, Li Wei still casually gained eighteen yards with little effort.


    As if it were a piece of cake.


    After falling, Li Wei got up by himself, brushed the dust from his palms, stretched and loosened his muscles with a yawn, and cheerfully joined his offensive line teammates in formation.


    His walk in the park demeanor, as if he¡¯d just strolled through a backyard, contrasted sharply with the disarray of the toppled Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ defensive group.


    The U.S.


    Bank Stadium was already in a frenzy.


    ¡°Edgerunner!¡±


    ¡°Edgerunner!¡±


    The Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ fans shivered: Why did they have a bad feeling?


    And what¡¯s worse, why did these bad premonitions always come true?

 Chapter 478

    ?Chapter 478: Taking as one pleases Chapter 478: Taking as one pleases ¡°Number twenty-three!¡±


    ¡°Number twenty-three breaks through the front, like a bulldozer flipping two defensive players with a joint block.


    Unstoppable!


    Absolutely unstoppable!¡±


    ¡°Sharp stop!


    Change of direction!¡±


    ¡°Shake off!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei is still advancing, the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ defensive group is in complete disarray.¡±


    ¡°Third Gear, four yards, easily converted, and he rushes forward for seventeen yards.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Li Wei, Li Wei breaks free from the tackle!¡±


    ¡°Brake, turn, Marseille Turna?€¡±beautiful!


    Li Wei breaks free again, the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ defensive group still can¡¯t stop the Edgerunner!¡±


    ¡°My God!¡±


    ¡°Five yards!


    Ten yards!¡±@@@@


    ¡°Li Wei is the nightmare of the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ defensive group; Pederson didn¡¯t solve this problem in the second week of the regular season and still hasn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Eighteen yards!¡±


    ¡°Another, another ground gain of significant yards, the Kansas City Chiefs have penetrated deep into the territory of the Philadelphia Eagles.¡±


    ...


    ...


    ¡°Oh, oh, oh!¡±


    ¡°Fake run, real pass, the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ defensive group is completely thrown off, their attention fully fixed on Li Wei and failing to keep up with Smith¡¯s pace.¡±


    ¡°Smith connects with Hill, beautiful, the first attack easily secured.¡±


    Like flowing clouds and crashing wavesa?€¡±


    Returning from halftime, the Kansas Chiefs Offense seemed as if their reins were removed, the entire offense smooth and sharp, relaxed yet coordinated in their passing and rushing game, leaving the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ defensive group utterly bewildered and led by the nose.¡±


    It¡¯s not that the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ defensive group isn¡¯t tryinga?€¡±they still try, focused, committed, one hundred percent; but the rhythm and state are just off, with the offensive routes of the Kansas City Chiefs completely opening up.¡±


    Smith with three passes, three completions, Li Wei and Hunter teaming up for five rushing plays, facing only a single Third Gear, their offense flowing like quicksilver, spectacularly making Collinsworth in the broadcast room tingle from head to toe.¡±


    In less than three minutes, the Kansas City Chiefs have already entered their opponent¡¯s twenty-yard line, their unstoppable offensive force utterly disorienting the Philadelphia Eagles.¡±


    What...


    What¡¯s going on?


    Something feels off; initially, it was supposed to be the Philadelphia Eagles soaring with morale and pressing their advantage, but unexpectedly, the Kansas City Chiefs turned the tide with full firepower.¡±


    Only until now did the Philadelphia Eagles wake up, finally stabilizing their stance.


    Bradham¡¯s mind was crystal clear, without a single other thought, focusing entirely on Li Wei.


    Then, he saw a flash of red coming straight at him.


    He got him!


    Bradham spread his arms wide and, in the narrow gap, caught hold of Li Wei.


    Li Wei was trying to save time, breaking through from the slot where space was limited and without much room for adjustment.


    Once Bradham caught up with his response time, Li Wei had no way out and could only collide head-on.


    So, yes, Bradham did tackle Li Wei.


    But did Li Wei not have a backup plan?


    Of course, that was impossible.


    Stomp the ground, step up, collidea?€¡±


    At the moment of contact with Bradham, Li Wei powered through.


    Far from backing off, he shifted slightly to one side and slammed his left shoulder squarely into Bradham¡¯s chest.


    In an instant, he exerted force.


    Bang.


    Bradham, while reaching out his arms to tackle Li Wei, felt an explosive force at his chest upon contact.


    A dull impact.


    Bradham¡¯s limbs stiffened, his brain froze solid, his body numb all over.


    Similarly, Li Wei also felt the harsh backlash, causing his steps to retreat slightly; but instead of resisting it, he used the reaction force to create some distance.


    He planted his left foot, supported himself with his right, and began to rotate counterclockwise.


    With his balance wavering and strength coalescing, he held his breath and completed the turn.


    Then, he took a sideways step to the right, already creating space during the lateral move.


    Bradham, realizing Li Wei¡¯s intention, clenched his teeth and followed closely but didn¡¯t expect another figure to switch places with Li Wei, intercepting right in front of him.


    It was Kelsey.


    Bradham couldn¡¯t stop in time and collided full-on with Kelsey.


    Already unstable and with his lower stance unguarded, that collision sent Bradham tumbling.


    His knees gave way, and he plopped down, the world spinning around him, his vision darkening, with only a buzzing noise left in his ears.


    Meanwhile, Li Wei, thanks to Kelsey¡¯s blocking, won a moment to catch his breath, but not much.


    The tussle in the slot had cost him a little time, so that he lost his lead.


    Cornerback Ronald Darby was already in position.


    Darby was also a player transferred from the Buffalo Bills during the off-season, but he suffered an ankle sprain in the season opener, missing the second game against the Kansas City Chiefs.


    It wasn¡¯t until the end of the season that he returned, seizing the starting cornerback spot for the Eagles with conviction.


    In that moment, Darby stood poised and vigilant in a stance reminiscent of an eagle preying on a chick, his focused and profound gaze burning with fighting spirit.


    He had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

 Chapter 479

    ?Chapter 479: 478 Like taking something out of a bag Chapter 479: 478 Like taking something out of a bag Ronald Darby, selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round with the 50th pick in 2015, unfortunately didn¡¯t get much opportunity to shine during his two seasons with the Bills and transferred to the Philadelphia Eagles in his junior year, and thena?€¡±


    he burst onto the scene.


    Darby believed in his own talent, abilities, and the potential he had not yet shown; he just needed a bit of trust and the right tactics to provide him the stage to perform, like this very moment.


    5¡¯9¡ä¡ä (180 cm), 193 lbs (88 kg).


    Darby¡¯s build was very close to that of Li Wei, just slightly lighter in weight.


    He knew that Cornerbacks in the league dreaded encountering Li Wei because the recent ¡°Bombing Corps¡± trend brought about by larger Cornerbacks resulted in a decline in agility.


    Facing a player like Li Wei, who possessed excellent change of direction and a speed advantage, often left them unable to hold their position, which was why Li Wei earned the nickname ¡°Edgerunner.¡±


    But Darby was not afraid.


    Speed.@@@@


    ...


    Agility.


    Flexibility.


    Blocking.


    All of these were Darby¡¯s strengths.


    In the first half, the Kansas City Chiefs often used Kelsey to match up against Darby, which indeed gave Darby a headache, and he had been holding his breath; but now, Li Wei was like deliberately choosing hell when heaven was an option.


    Darby enthusiastically prepared to give Li Wei a warm welcome gift.


    Bending his knees, lowering his center of gravity, continuously stomping.


    Darby was ready; on the surface, he spread his arms to create an intercepting posture, but in reality, this was a smoke bomb.


    He wasn¡¯t planning to tackle but to block the position closely and interrupt with trash talk.


    Heh, rookie, are you ready?


    Then.


    The figure in Darby¡¯s pupils magnified completely, and he agilely made a forward upper-body lunging motion, posing a threatening stance but keeping his center gravity flexible, preparing to block Li Wei¡¯s next directional change.


    At that moment, an unexpected change occurred.


    Or to be more precise, Darby thought Li Wei would either change direction or stop, but Li Wei did neither.


    Instead, he continued moving laterally close to the sideline, which left Darby¡¯s smoke bomb unable to take the upper hand.


    Both were back on the starting line.


    At this time, Darby showcased his talent, which was in no way inferior to any player¡¯s ability to react a second time, bursting into motion instantly, moving laterally alongside Li Wei.


    One step, two steps.


    Moreover, Darby didn¡¯t just play passively, he still took the initiative, once again disrupting the balance, overturning the tense atmosphere of their confrontation.


    Reaching out, pushing.


    Advancing, squeezing.


    Again with arm blocking and body collision, Darby tried to stick close to Li Wei, disturbing and undermining his balance with continuous small movements.


    ¡°Trash.¡±


    ¡°Trash.¡±


    Over and over, Darby threw out one insult after another to create mental disturbance, mixing in some highly offensive words.


    All of this happened in the blink of an eye.


    The speed, faster and faster.


    Darby watched helplessly as the gap between him and Li Wei widened; trying to speed up, he stumbled in his unstable state and the force of his foot against the ground was off.


    The next second.


    His knees buckled, Darby flew off in a tumbling, face-first dive.


    Damn it, damn it, damn it!


    Darby could only watch as number twenty-three¡¯s figure sped away, taking giant strides, completely leaving him behind, clumsily crashing to the ground, choking on dust.


    Damn!


    Darby slammed the ground hard.


    But Li Wei¡¯s sprint was far from over.


    Step by step, pounding the ground, running, accelerating.


    Li Wei was fully sprinting now, crossing the fifteen-yard line in a blink, storming into the red zone, the end zone mere steps away, like a red hurricane.


    Third Gear, ten yards, as easy as taking something out of a bag.


    His nimble footsteps sprinting along the sideline, playing with fire on the edge of a cliff, yet agilely speeding forward, at full throttle.


    At that moment.


    Safety Jenkins surged forward, a fierce determination targeting Li Wei.


    With a forward step, Jenkins positioned himself directly in Li Wei¡¯s path, arms wide open, ready to leapa?€¡±


    A takedown.


    It was his only option.


    No way out.


    As Jenkins leaped, just as his arms¡¯ shadow was about to engulf Li Wei, he discovered that Li Wei, still in full sprint, performed a high-difficulty maneuver:


    Without slowing down, still charging forward, he smoothly turned clockwise just with his body¡¯s inertia, avoiding Jenkins¡¯ tackle, shoulders brushing against each other, backs sliding past.


    Right after, Li Wei leaned and slammed to the right, pressing Jenkins outward.


    Jenkins instinctively countered.


    But he never expected that shoving back would end up supporting Li Wei¡¯s momentum; soon after, Jenkins¡¯ shoulders slackened and Li Wei continued surging forward.


    Jenkins: a?€|


    Jenkins reflexively turned and leaped, but neither his steps nor his body could keep up, diving into emptiness, leaving behind only a red blur marked by the number twenty-three.


    One step.


    Two steps.


    Three steps.


    His footsteps easily crossing the end zone, the Edgerunner made his mark again, and the entire U.S.


    Bank Stadium erupted into a frenzy.


    ¡°Touchdown.¡±


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    ¡°Toucha?€| downa?€|¡±


    The resounding cheers, drunk with fervor and passion, ignited the stadium; amid the frustration and despair of Philadelphia Eagles fans, Kansas City Chiefs fans and neutral observers together spiraled into delirium.


    The second half began with a touchdown.

 Chapter 480

    ?Chapter 480: 479 As if aided by gods Chapter 480: 479 As if aided by gods Bayonets clash, blood is drawna?€¡±


    The smoke of battle, thickening.


    Returning from halftime, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs wasted no time getting into gear, their eyes reddened as they plunged the game into a storm, ratcheting up the tension to new heights.@@@@


    People still remembered that in this season¡¯s divisional game against the Tennessee Titans, Mariota managed to complete a touchdown by passing the ball to himself at the start of the second half, throwing the young Kansas City Chiefs into disarray and almost losing the game.


    However, in just one short month, the Kansas City Chiefs had shown growth and improvement.


    They hadn¡¯t let the ¡°Philly Special¡± before the end of the first half distract them, focusing instead on playing with concentration and steadiness, flaring up with a brilliant touchdown to kick off the second half competition.


    The home team, once again took the lead.


    ...


    ¡°23:24¡±.


    This time, the Kansas City Chiefs replied to the Philadelphia Eagles with actiona?€¡±


    Beating them would take more than just the ¡°Philly Special¡±.


    The pressure was once again on the Philadelphia Eagles.


    Emboldened by their splendid first-half performance and the consolidation during halftime, everyone on the Eagles team was brimming with confidence and determined to win the championship.


    However, during the first offensive and defensive standoff of the second half, the valor and confidence displayed by the Chiefs upset the balance and they took a breath to advance in the score.


    The Eagles were barely able to bask in the championship aura before a cold slap of reality snapped them back to attention.


    At this moment, the Philadelphia Eagles immediately showed their resolve and belief:


    They truly were confident about the championship, from pre-game preparations to mental adjustments to team cooperation, one could feel the strength of the team in every aspect.


    After a brief lapse, the Eagles¡¯ offensive group quickly responded.


    Today, the Eagles¡¯ greatest contributors, Foles and Clement, teamed up once again for a spectacular play, each delivering an MVP-level performance, as if the unsung players had agreed to seize the one chance in their careers to burn all their energy.


    On one side, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense focused on elevating their state, showing incredible intensity and pressure, several times pushing their opponents to the brink.


    On the other, Foles once again brought surprises, prompting Collinsworth to exclaim more than once, ¡°God, Nick Foles, where on earth did you spring from?¡±


    In three third-down predicaments, Foles moved deftly and inexorably, improbably finding a sliver of hope in the midst of the Chiefs¡¯ onslaught.


    Then, he completed the pass:


    Once connecting with the Wide Receiver Ahora, once with the Tight End Ertz, and once with the Running Back Clement.


    They spread out their offense, making it impossible to defend.


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive strategy was simpler than ever: give the football to Li Wei, then his teammates join hands to carve a path and shield him, as Li Wei carries the Chiefs forward.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei, Li Wei, still Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°Playing the role of a decoy in the first half, Li Wei finally revealed his fangs in the second half, clearly, he had been thirsting for blood for a long time.¡±


    Then, afterward.


    The kickoff, Smith made a split-second decision to turn around, ready to hand off the football to Li Wei, the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ defensive group saw this move and their knees trembled, their skin tightened, sounding a full alarm; however, they didn¡¯t anticipate that Smith would finally pull back his right hand, turn to look to his left, raise his hand, and aim for Hill, ready to throw the ball.


    A fake run followed by a true pass.


    Li Wei, once again drawing the entire defensive group¡¯s attention as the decoy, caused panic among the Philadelphia Eagles; every player sprang into action.


    But!


    Just as the defensive players all started moving toward Hill, Smith paused again, turned around once more, this time looking to the right, and delivered a direct passa?€¡±


    It was still to Li Wei.


    The Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ defensive group, like clowns, was spun around and around, one after another seemingly completely suppressed, not daring to blitz, forgetting to apply pressure, losing initiative, and even giving Smith enough space to complete the feints continuously, leaving Pederson on the sideline clutching his head in despair.


    And Li Wei, taking steps like a bulldozer, remorselessly began to roll out.


    First, with continuous feints he brought down Bradham, who swayed like a leaf in the autumn wind before collapsing in a disgraceful heap on the ground.


    Second, a straight arm block flipped Darby, within the clash of speed against speed, Li Wei shocked with his power to break the balance, leaving Darby powerless to resist.


    Third, faced with the joint block of safety Jenkins and Corey Graham, Li Wei could evade and breakthrough directly, forcefully opening a path through Jenkins, and while being grabbed and pulled by Graham, he dragged the defender hanging at his waist and kept pushing forward.


    Graham pitifully like a pendant, was dragged across the end zone by Li Wei, eventually discarded like a rag doll.


    And Li Wei?


    Li Wei stood tall and proud in the end zone, the football in his hand like the severed head of an enemy commander, dripping with blood.


    Behind him lay devastation.


    Graham lay battered and bruised on the turf, Jenkins was searching for his helmet on the ground, Darby¡¯s pride and ego were shattered everywhere, and Bradham tried to stand up but his knees gave way again, and he fell.


    A scene of utter wreckage!


    Like an autumn breeze sweeping away the fallen leaves, level upon level of defense, thousands of troops, yet none could stop Li Wei, beheading the enemy leader amidst the masses as if it were like taking something out of a bag.


    Everything began with Li Wei, and it ended with Li Wei, who once again effortlessly captured a touchdown, unstoppable like a hot knife through butter.


    ¡°30:31.¡±


    The Kansas City Chiefs reclaimed the lead.

 Chapter 481

    ?Chapter 481: 480 escape from death Chapter 481: 480 escape from death Deadlock.


    Complete deadlock, strained to the utmost.


    The give and take, tit for tat, the air continuously heating up, and the enclosed U.S.


    Bank Stadium is swarming with rolling heat waves, as if the peak of summer had arrived.


    The whole field, drenched in sweat, was on the verge of suffocation.


    Then.


    The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs exchanged leads once again.


    ...


    First, the Philadelphia Eagles unexpectedly regained momentum on the ground, but in the end, it was Foles¡¯ pass connecting with Ertz for a touchdown that took back the lead.


    Then the Kansas City Chiefs executed a series of short passes, from Kelsey to Hill to Hunter, flourishing at multiple points, and finally, unexpectedly chose the Five Wide Receivers Formation.


    Amid the dizzying routes of the wide receivers, Smith found Li Wei unguarded, completing a seven-yard pass for a touchdown.


    From ¡°30:31¡± deadlock to ¡°37:38¡±.


    The deadlock continued.


    Since the beginning of the game, there had not been a single punt, with each offense able to enter the field goal range every time; the second half went even further, both the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, with every offense able to bring back a touchdown, thoroughly entangling the scores in a relentless chase.


    If the collaboration between Foles and Clement of the Philadelphia Eagles displayed MVP-level performance, then on the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ side, Smith and Li Wei also offered MVP-level performances, neither side giving an inch and continuously elevating their states, the scent of blood clearly spreading through the air.


    Bit by bit, with the progress of the game, the tension and pressure kept escalating, the U.S.


    Bank Stadium felt like a stifled pressure cooker, where any slight disturbance could set everything off.


    Now, any slight deviation or mistake by either side could be costly, unbearable.


    Should any team fail to score or reach the end zone, the balance would be broken, the suspense of victory might suddenly widen the gap, and then, there would be no opportunity for a turnaround.


    Every opportunity, extraordinarily precious.


    This scene was absolutely unforeseen before the match, just like the entire surprising 2017 season, the Super Bowl battle of dark horses also brought surprisesa?€¡±


    It became the most thrilling, tense, and exhilarating Super Bowl in the history of the millennium, perfectly embodying the essence of the Summit of the Forbidden.


    Then.


    The Kansas City Chiefs Defense lined up.


    ¡°Pass incomplete!¡±


    ¡°God, the Kansas City Chiefs just made the most important, most critical defense of the game, intercepting Foles¡¯ fourth pass to Ahora.¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡±


    ¡°Before this, Foles had targeted Ahora with three consecutive passes, all of which Ahora had completed and continued to advance, but this time the cornerback Revis from the Kansas City Chiefs finally stepped up, telling Foles and Ahora that no one could complete four consecutive receptions in his territory.¡±


    ¡°There is no doubt, Revis¡¯s peak zone coverage has degraded a lot, not showing much till now in this game, but at the crucial moment, Revis finally showed decisiveness and courage, making a clean defense that cut off the smooth connection between Foles and Ahora.¡±


    ¡°Pass!¡±


    ¡°Just as Johnson and Houston were about to succeed in their joint sack, Foles threw the ball.¡±


    ¡°The pass target isa?€¡±¡±


    ¡°Ertz!


    Revis is blocking!¡±


    ¡°Ertz, wow, Ertz overpowers Revis to make the catch.¡±


    ¡°A two-yard short pass, conversion of four downs to one yard completed, unbelievably, Philadelphia Eagles survived by the skin of their teeth again, converting all two four-down conversions successfully during the entire game.¡±


    ¡°Foles, Nick Foles, as if divinely aided, stands on the brink and shows unmatched composure and audacity, without a doubt an elite performance.¡±


    ¡°Now, there¡¯s only one question, who exactly is Nick Foles?¡±


    Once again, the Philadelphia Eagles successfully converted a fourth-and-one, and once again, Foles crafted a miracle.


    The U.S.


    Bank Stadium roared, unitedly shouting at the top of their lungs.


    ¡°Philly Special!¡±


    ¡°Philly Special!¡±


    This moment fiercely demoralized the Kansas Chiefs, while the Philadelphia Eagles once again ignited the residual energy of their spirit, instantly upping their momentum.


    Passing and running again, the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ offense revitalized, pushing forward continuously, and, in one breath, stormed into the end zonea?€¡±


    Foles¡¯s eleven-yard pass found Tight End Ertz, securing a touchdown.


    ¡°Buta?€¡±¡±


    ¡°Wait, this touchdown needs to be reviewed by officials.¡±


    ¡°Revis truly went all out, clenching his teeth and blocking Ertz¡¯s position and continuing to interfere after Ertz caught the ball.


    The veteran was utterly furious, causing the football to pop out of Ertz¡¯s embrace before he hit the ground, failing to maintain full control of the ball possession.¡±


    ¡°Now, the referees need to review.¡±


    Ertz was furious, not managing to control the football, and an actual fumble happeneda?€¡± if this touchdown were to be called off...


    But he believed Revis committed a foul.


    Revis was panting, sweating profusely; he felt like a stray dog sprinting under the sun, burning both energy and soul just to barely grasp a sliver of life.


    At this moment, facing the provoking Ertz approaching, Revis was not going to take it lying down.


    He threw out trash talk in a low voice effortlessly infuriating Ertz, who clenched his fists and charged forward, Revis didn¡¯t fear at all, clashing head-on with his helmet, it looked like both were about to start brawling.


    The gunpowder was ready to ignite.

 Chapter 482

    ?Chapter 482: 481 Bloody Spread Chapter 482: 481 Bloody Spread ¡°Zack, Zack!¡±


    ¡°Calm down!¡±


    Just as Ertz was about to lose control, Foles grabbed him at the critical moment, forcibly pulling Ertz back to avoid an incident.


    Revis glared venomously at Ertz and spat to the side, ¡°Almost, just a tiny bit more and that explosive depot would have been ignited.¡±


    Unfortunately.


    Revis was panting, his lungs burning, his knees trembling, and his muscles protesting as if he could fall apart any second like a rickety puppet.


    All along, Revis had denied that he was past his prime.


    He refused to admit that age and injuries were dragging his feet, but in the first three playoff games of the season, he had come back to life, even earning Reed¡¯s trust to start in the Super Bowl.


    However, standing on the Super Bowl stage, the consequences of overexertion finally showed.


    ¡°He can no longer keep up with his peak coverage ability.¡±


    ¡°His coverage and burst have seriously declined, unable to keep up with the pace.¡±


    ¡°The Island King¡¯s island is now there for the taking.¡±


    Those voices continuously buzzed around his ears, he refused to face them, yet unexpectedly, his body didn¡¯t lie and strongly protested.


    ...


    Throughout the game, retreating over and over, yielding again and again, Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ already frail second-line defense, especially the cornerback position, was utterly exploited in this game, leading to Foles¡¯s outstanding performance and the triumphant shows of Clement and Ertz.


    This, is a disgrace.


    Revis was choked up, angry, unwilling, and uncomfortable, but what else could he do?


    If he couldn¡¯t block, he just couldn¡¯t block; if he couldn¡¯t keep up, he just couldn¡¯t keep up, sports are that cruel.


    Even the strategy to provoke Ertz hadn¡¯t worked, making all his attempts and efforts seem like a dying struggle.


    Panting, Revis couldn¡¯t help but raise his head to look toward the VIP lounge, searching for Berry¡¯s figurea?€¡±


    So, is this their ending?


    Berry as well, Revis included, would they just regretfully leave the historical stage?


    In fact, Revis had given his all, even though his coverage and interception ratio had decreased, in today¡¯s game, the Kansas City Chiefs facing Foles¡¯ divine performance had managed to force the Philadelphia Eagles into fourth-and-one multiple times and several third-down predicamentsa?€¡± the defensive group¡¯s performance was commendable.


    In the recent defense, Revis genuinely risked his all in a face-off with Ertz.


    Normally, a tight end has a physical advantage over a cornerback, and Ertz, being five years younger and in the prime of his younger years, had this advantage, but Revis still managed to drive Ertz into disarray, failing to protect the football.


    In the end, causing a fumble.


    Revis had burned all his energy.


    ¡°What¡¯s even more unbelievable is that so far in the second half, every offense has ended with a touchdown.


    Both the offensive groups of the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs are fighting like mad.¡±


    But!


    An mishap occurred again.


    ¡°God!¡±


    ¡°The extra point went wide of the goal.¡±


    ¡°Unbelievably, for the third time in the game a?€¡± adding up Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, the special teams made their third mistake.¡±


    ¡°This time, Elliott has missed the extra point for the second time.¡±


    ¡°Of course, in terms of the score, there¡¯s no decisive change.


    Making it would mean a six-point gap, missing it is a five-point gap, both represent one possession difference; but psychologically, the situation is entirely different.¡±


    ¡°The Philadelphia Eagles are still feeling the pressure, and influenced by the recent referee¡¯s decision, the special teams appeared slightly panicked and rushed, making the mistake on the extra point too conspicuous.¡±


    ¡°So, can Reed seize this opportunity to turn the tide once again?¡±


    On the field, Elliott stood in place, disheartened.


    He understood that, at least this time, missing the extra point was not fatal and did not directly affect the score difference.


    But he still could not forgive himself.


    Missing once was bad enough, missing twice was downright despairing; if only he hadn¡¯t missed those two extra points...


    ¡°Stuck!¡±


    ¡°No one wants to see mistakes, and no one hopes they happen, but the frequent occurrence of mistakes just proves how tense and close the game is.¡±


    ¡°Without a doubt, this is an extremely thrilling game.


    The pressure on both sides is unimaginable, and as the game progresses, the tension intensifies.


    Mistakes are deviations that occur when players are tense and desperately trying to keep up with the pace and intensity of the game, even though both sides are fully engaged, but mistakes still become an unknown factor that changes the course of the game.¡±


    ¡°Blood and killing intent are spreading in the air, no one is an exception, not only the two teams fighting for victory but also the viewers watching live at the venue and on TVs right now, their hearts are almost exploding, and both emotions and physical control have been lost.¡±


    ¡°We too are physically feeling the pressure of the game.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why, the decision on who wins the championship often doesn¡¯t rely on brilliant performance, but on subtle adjustments.¡±


    ¡°No one could have predicted this extra point miss a?€¡± not even the impact of this touchdown call on the Super Bowl title, but at least for now, the Philadelphia Eagles have gained the upper hand.¡±


    ¡°And, this is still not all.¡±

 Chapter 483

    ?Chapter 483: 482 Stand out Chapter 483: 482 Stand out ¡°Although Elliott missed the extra point and failed to further extend the lead, history was still made, and we¡¯ve become spectators witnessing this historic moment.¡±@@@@


    ¡°Now, with a score of ¡¯43:38¡ä on the board, the two teams have racked up a total of eighty-one points, which means that the fifty-second Super Bowl has officially surpassed the twenty-ninth Super Bowl of 1995 to become the highest-scoring single game in Super Bowl history.¡±


    ¡°In the 1994 season, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the San Diego Chargers ¡¯49:26¡ä, with both teams achieving a combined total of seventy-five points, marking the first time in Super Bowl history that the score exceeded seventy points in a single game.¡±


    ¡°In the 2017 season, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs joined forces to present an all-out offensive battle, not only breaking the twenty-three-year-old record but also becoming the first Super Bowl in half a century to see the points in a single game break eighty.¡±


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    ¡°Despite predictions before the game that the offensive groups should have been able to deliver an outstanding performance, honestly, neither team was the very best offensive group of the season; yet, on the Super Bowl stage, both teams brought out their best courage and tactics, presenting a top-notch offensive battle.¡±


    ¡°From pre-game preparations to on-the-spot adjustments to the players¡¯ performances, everything has been dazzling.


    This isn¡¯t just the most exciting Super Bowl since the millennium, but it could even compete for the most thrilling showdown in the long history of the event.¡±


    ¡°We are witnessing history.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, the game is far from over; this might not be the final score.¡±


    ¡°No matter who finally prevails, this game will go down in history.


    Whether it¡¯s the Philadelphia Eagles or the Kansas City Chiefs, both offensive groups have brought their top performances of the season and pushed this ultimate showdown to new heights.


    The real winners should be us.¡±


    However.


    For Revis and the Kansas City Chiefs Defense, this was not good news.


    Once again, the proverbial duck was right at their lips before it flew away.


    They had already made three strikes, they had already put enough pressure on their opponents, but it all fell apart, and they had to watch helplessly as the opponent turned the situation around, a disaster that was hard to swallow.


    ...


    One such moment in the final seconds of the first half was painful enough, but unexpectedly, another came as the second half was drawing to a close.


    Without a doubt, this was a heavy blow, and everyone from top to bottom in the young Kansas City Chiefs could feel the impact, instantly turning the atmosphere heavy.


    Perhaps Elliott¡¯s missed extra point slightly relieved the pressure on the Kansas City Chiefs, but everyone understandsa?€¡±the score difference is still only a possession away.


    The missed extra point in the first half stimulated and turned things around for the Kansas City Chiefs; the one in the second half may not be the same.


    The situation, circumstances, position, and atmosphere were completely different.


    The Kansas City Chiefs Defense players watched ahead with grave expressions, their gazes drifting unconsciously, focus scattering and thoughts churning in their minds.


    ¡°A rare sight, Li Wei and Hunter execute a wall-off play, Li Wei blocks for Hunter to complete the catch, the Chiefs¡¯ offensive strategy is full of imagination.¡±


    ¡°They continue the spectacular offensive performance of this game.¡±


    Agile, dynamic, efficient.


    The Kansas City Chiefs Offense still shines, under immense pressure and the crunch of time, the team stands united as one, once again showcasing their momentum.


    Starting from their own twenty-five-yard line, they forcefully advance, combining passes and runs, crossing the midfield line, and unstoppable, piercing into the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ territorya?€¡±


    The seventeen-yard line.


    Not far from the Red Zone, not far from the end zone.


    Like the Philadelphia Eagles, the Kansas City Chiefs Offense also puts forth their season¡¯s best performance, not just in rushing but with an all-around rising passing attack, from Smith to the wide receivers, blossoming at multiple points, flowing like water, fully displaying a league-leading top-tier offense.


    This scene has the audience in front of the TV shouting with excitement.


    Before the game, experts unanimously said that offense was undoubtedly the focus, but it was defense that would play the critical role in determining the outcome.


    No one expected that the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs would both explode with incredible energy, overturning predictions, breaking conventional thinking, and with their unmatched offensive performances, they thoroughly suppressed their opponent¡¯s top-ranked defensive group, completely glorifying the charm of football offense.


    Especially the Kansas City Chiefs, facing the Philadelphia Eagles with an absolutely top-notch defensive performance for the season, having been sternly tested by the Jacksonville Jaguars, their offensive group straight-up baffled their opponent, and time and again stood tall in difficult moments, prolonging the suspense of the game.


    Now, it¡¯s the same.


    There, the Defensive group falls into self-doubt.


    Here, the Offensive group¡¯s eyes turn red again with aggression.


    And then.


    A ten-yard gain, a feigned pass turned real run, Smith unleashes another smoke bomb, the football finally handed to Li Wei, the league¡¯s top ground attack explodes with force, Li Wei withstands the pressure and pushes forward eight yards despite being heavily surrounded, not just agile but also strong, fully unleashing the power of the run.


    The Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ defensive group looks slightly disheveled.


    Second and two.


    The situation is getting tougher, because the intensity and resilience of the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ Red Zone Defense are shooting up, they cling on desperately, and just like on the other side of the Chu River and Han border, they display the bloody intensity that had guaranteed their advancement to the Super Bowl during the season.


    Toe-to-toe, neither giving an inch, both teams have their eyes blood-red, standing at the forefront of the Red Zone, engaging in a life or death struggle.


    The smell of blood pervades the entire field, breath becomes nearly impossible amidst it, everything is engulfed in the tsunami of the storm, multiplying as it moves forward.


    ¡°`

 Chapter 484

    ?Chapter 484: 483 Blood Splattered on the Spot Chapter 484: 483 Blood Splattered on the Spot ¡°Damn, the pocket¡¯s broken!¡±


    ¡°The Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ five-man rush suddenly pushes forward, God, Smith is backing away, Smith is dodging.¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    ¡°Graham!


    Brandon Graham breaks through the block and cuts into the pocket, leading the charge to intercept Smith.¡±


    ¡°Sack!¡±


    ¡°Jesus Christ, sack!¡±


    ¡°Graham sacks Smith!¡±


    ¡°Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ number fifty-five, last season¡¯s nationwide second-team Defensive End, Graham, who had had an average performance this season and this game, steps up at the most crucial moment.


    This is the first sack of the game for both teams, the first quarterback sack.¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°Ah, a fumble.¡±


    ¡°Oh my...¡±


    Collinsworth was completely stunned, unable to believe his eyesa?€¡±


    Pressure, slowly building up.


    The situation, layer by layer, becomes more tenacious.


    Like a stretched elastic band reaching a critical point, it will snap, either the east wind prevails over the west wind, or the west wind over the east.


    Everything was as expected.


    But when it actually happened, the shock and impact were still strong and fierce, gripping the heart almost to the point of exploding.


    ...


    Although the Philadelphia Eagles missed the extra point for the second time in the game, this time it did not become a turning point for the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ rise but instead marked a desperate and vigorous effort by the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ defensive group, producing the most spectacular defensive play of the night at U.S.


    Bank Stadium.


    For a moment, the brain roared, completely losing the ability to react, instinctively, words not processed by the brain but directly refracted from the eyes, Michaels¡¯ commentary circled over U.S.


    Bank Stadium like a machine gun, opening fire full blast, stirring the crowd into a frenzy.


    ¡°The ball is dropped.¡±


    ¡°Graham not only sacked Smith but also forcibly knocked the football out of Smith¡¯s arms.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei is chasing back!


    Barnett is stepping up!¡±


    ¡°Wait, where did Defensive End Barnett come from, but clearly, Barnett has taken the initiative.¡±


    ¡°Barnett!¡±


    ¡°God, a head-on collision!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei¡¯s helmet flies off, Barnett!


    Barnett has got the football!¡±


    ¡°Barnett single-handedly controls the football first, Barnett covers the drop, and the ball belongs to the Philadelphia Eagles, this is the first sack and the first turnover of the game.¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°What exactly happened.¡±


    Shock, astonishment, a tsunami in the brain.


    ¡°Captain!


    This isn¡¯t the end.¡±


    Finally, Smith lifted his head and immediately saw Li Wei, blood-covered and in a sorry state, yet Li Wei¡¯s smile was bright, firm, and confidenta?€¡±light radiated from him without any frustration, sorrow, or sadness, stronger and more determined than ever.


    Li Wei believed that they might win, they might lose; any outcome was possible, and after this fumble, it became more real than evera?€¡±the crisis of losing the game gripped his heart.


    But he was not ready to give up.


    He could lose the game but would not let this moment defeat him.


    He would fight to the end, strive until the last, and burn all his energy till the final moment.


    The game was not over, so it was not over.


    Ultimately, there would be an outcome, but he was ready to face it with dignity.


    Then.


    Li Wei clenched his right fist and thumped it on his chest.


    ¡°Still pounding.¡±


    One gesture, one phrase, yet it was enough.


    Smith took a deep breath, regained some sanity, grabbed Li Wei¡¯s extended hand, and forcefully stood up, hugging Li Wei in the process, as a flood of emotions overwhelmed him.


    ¡°Li Wei, I want to win this time.¡±


    Smith whispered, those feelings of frustration, bitterness, and grievances cautiously surfacing, as if despair was dragging him into the abyss.


    He reallya?€¡±really truly wanted to win once; he had already given his all, had burned himself out, yet he stumbled just before the finish line.


    So, was he not good enough?


    Was he really not capable?


    Unsatisfactory.


    Truly unsatisfactory.


    Involuntarily, Li Wei¡¯s heart also felt heavy.


    Li Wei thought of Berry, who was ambitious and spirited, yet all turned into frustration, only able to watch the game helplessly with a crutch.


    He saw Smith, whom everyone called mediocre, pointing out his weaknesses and incapabilities, doomed to never lead the team to a championship.


    But today, he played the best game of his career, with no reserves and giving his all, yet still not enough?


    While people focus on the glory of championships and victories, they overlook the souls who have exhausted their efforts in pursuit of them.


    Smith quickly realized his own lapse, took a breath to control himself, released the embrace, and walked off the field alongside the team doctor with Li Wei.


    Next, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense and the Philadelphia Eagles Offensive group were about to take the field.


    Through his blurred vision, Li Wei saw his teammates on the sideline neatly lined up and ready to play, all of them looking concernedly at him and Smith.


    Li Wei also saw Berry, standing alone at the player tunnel entrance, wanting to get close but not daring to, clutching his crutch tightly and standing stiffly in place.


    So, was this how it ended?


    No.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t think so, Li Wei refused to think that way.


    The two-minute warning hadn¡¯t even arrived, and the fat lady hadn¡¯t started singing yet.


    Declaring it over now, would really be too soon.


    This isn¡¯t the enda?€¡±this shouldn¡¯t be the end.

 Chapter 485

    ?Chapter 485: Continuous Fighting 484 Chapter 485: Continuous Fighting 484 Jiang Yin silently watched the field, watched Li Wei, her heart curling into a ball as she trembled uncontrollably.


    Despite her intellect telling her there was no need to worry, that the team doctor and other teammates were with Li Wei, her heart still tugged.


    That was her child, the one she¡¯d nurtured and accompanied as he grew up.


    Watching him covered in blood, she temporarily forgot to breathe.


    Time seemed to hit the pause button.


    Then.


    ...


    Li Yi couldn¡¯t hold back anymore and turned to leave the VIP lounge.


    He couldn¡¯t stand there, watching everything yet doing nothing.


    He needed to do something.


    ¡°Old Li.¡±


    But Jiang Yin called out to Li Yi.


    Li Yi stopped in his tracks, his face full of rage as he turned to look at Jiang Yin.


    Jiang Yin¡¯s shoulders trembled slightly, her lips almost colorless.


    She turned her head to Li Yi and said, ¡°Old Li, our son has grown up.


    This is his battle, he needs to finish it on his own.¡±


    Li Yi frowned tightly, ¡°Nonsense!¡±


    Jiang Yin shook her head and did not continue to say more, only looking toward the field, ¡°You watch.¡±


    Li Yi was startled and, after hesitating, he walked back and stood in front of the window to look down.


    Jiang Yin straightened her back and spread her shoulders, finding her courage.


    A resolute expression crossed her features.


    Despite the hot tears not fully wiped from her eyes, she watched the figure on the field with a gaze both firm and powerful.


    On the side of the field, a heavy, oppressive, and bewildered low pressure hung over the Kansas City Chiefsa?€¡±


    They had performed exceptionally throughout the game, fought without reservation, withstood the opponent¡¯s heavy impacts, and clenched their teeth to endure until now.


    However, they were still too young, having narrowly escaped death twice against the Tennessee Titans and the New England Patriots, experienced a full release in the American League finals, endured the weighty blow just before their team leader¡¯s return, and the multiple close calls and fierce fighting tonight, yet they stumbled just before the finish linea?€¡±the worst stumble of the match.


    For a moment, the collective spirit inevitably wavered.@@@@


    At that moment, Berry appeared.


    He tried to move forward with the aid of crutches, tried to fight shoulder to shoulder with his teammates.


    But he couldn¡¯t.


    At that moment, Berry hated his own frailty and helplessness, as the team needed him most and yet he could only watch from the sidelines.


    Watching this unfold, Berry couldn¡¯t and didn¡¯t dare to approach.


    At this point, he was a burden to the team, unable to assist them in any way.


    Yet.


    Yet...


    He never understood football, but at this moment, he felt ita?€¡±the passion, the will, the beliefa?€¡±all burning bright.


    Turning his head, Li Yi saw Jiang Yin with tears in her eyes yet striking her chest with stubborn determination, a simple act that exploded with incredible power.


    Then, Li Yi, too, clenched his fist and thumped his own chest.


    Bang.


    Bang.


    Bang.


    Smith stood tall.


    Kelsey and Mahomes lifted their heads once more.


    Even Childres clenched his fist.


    One by one, the spectators in the U.S.


    Bank Stadium, dressed in red jerseys, stood up in silence, looking up and puffing out their chests as they watched the field.


    Not cheering, not shouting, just knocking their fists against their chests, feeling the heartbeat.


    The muffled sound unbelievably linked together, eventually forming a rope, evolving into incredible energy like a tsunami swirling and surging over U.S.


    Bank Stadium, penetrating television screens and spreading across the North American continent.


    Solemn yet powerful.


    At the center of it all, a young man clad in jersey number twenty-three, his face covered in blood but his eyes ablaze, was igniting his soul, sounding the charge into battle.


    In the end, all eyes turned to the Kansas City Chiefs Defense.


    The players, led by Houston, did not speak, merely exchanged glancesa?€¡±


    The entire game, it had been the Offensive group upholding the match; now it was the Defensive group¡¯s turn.


    Just like the Philadelphia Eagles had stepped up at the crucial moment to break the balance, how could they let the opponent shine alone?


    Houston smiled.


    Even if Berry couldn¡¯t play, even if Smith and Li Wei were already battered, even if Revis and the rest were in the throes of exhaustion, what did it matter?


    They would still fight to the end.


    The game wasn¡¯t over yet, was it?


    Turning around, Houston led the Defensive group onto the field.


    Two minutes eleven seconds, two minutes ten seconds...


    Game time was ticking awaya?€¡±only this much remained until the end of the 52nd Super Bowl.


    Football at the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ seventeen-yard line, Philadelphia had already begun celebrating the victory, celebrating their team¡¯s first ever Super Bowl Championship Trophy; but Minneapolis could deeply feel the essence of battle.


    Foles took the field again, his performance tonight almost divine, just needing to sign off with the perfect final touch.


    But this time, it was slightly different.


    Foles¡¯ mission wasn¡¯t to advance or to score, but to waste time, control the ball, to steer the game firmly toward victory.


    The opponent was full of fighting spirit; and Foles was no exception.


    His eyes revealed a yearning.


    He too was eager to continue to unleash himself unreservedly, as if this was the last chance to shine in his career.

 Chapter 486

    ?Chapter 486: 485 His pride Chapter 486: 485 His pride ¡°`


    ¡°Damn.¡±


    Taking a deep breath, Revis still couldn¡¯t control himself, and once again cursed fiercely.


    ¡°Damn!¡±


    Fury, frustration, embarrassmenta?€¡±


    He had just failed to hold his position again.


    To be precise, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense misjudged, nearly everyone thought the Philadelphia Eagles would choose to run the ball to burn the clock, forcing the Kansas City Chiefs to use their timeouts; however, Pederson showed courage and nerve for the third time tonight, opting for a pass play without warning.


    Foles connected with Ertz.


    The tactic was very simple, leverage the tight end¡¯s advantage over the cornerback, then exploit the loophole in Revis¡¯s fatigue, letting Ertz dominate Revis.


    A seven-yard short pass, and after catching the ball, Ertz pushed forward to get the first down.


    Then, a two-minute official timeout.


    ...


    Reed also was caught off guard, even though he had a slight edge in pre-game preparations; but in terms of game-day coaching, Pederson held a slight advantagea?€¡±


    Don¡¯t forget, it was precisely Pederson¡¯s sharp and keen game-day decisions that stood out under Reed¡¯s leadership.


    Reed¡¯s brows furrowed:


    What to do if Revis couldn¡¯t hold his position?


    Should they take Revis out and bring in a backup cornerback?


    But the problem was that the overall ability of the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ cornerbacks was lacking; switching one player would be much of the same, still unable to suppress players like Ertz and Clement; moreover, the Chiefs¡¯ cornerback group was riddled with injuries, which is why they brought in Revis at the end of the season and started him in the Super Bowl.


    What to do?


    In a defensive play where the Kansas City Chiefs must stop the Philadelphia Eagles, they faced an early setback.


    Reed¡¯s gaze became sharper.


    Clearly, Revis also felt the frustration, like an ostrich, he dared not look at the coaches or the offensive group.


    He hung his head, his thoughts a jumbled mess, feeling he might tarnish his late career in an ugly way.


    His pride, his dignity, his perseverance, all crumbling like a sandcastle.


    He was still fighting, but for a moment he couldn¡¯t determine whether this persistence was foolish, even dragging the team down.


    ¡°Revis!¡±


    A call.


    Revis reflexively looked up, and immediately saw Li Wei clapping and cheering for him.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t say much, just stood firmly and resolutely in place, gazing at him with his head held high and chest out, then once again pounded his chest with his fist.


    He wanted to fight one more time, for himself and for the team.


    For the first time in his career, it was not for the paycheck, not for himself, but for the team.


    Revis took a deep breath, looked at Li Wei again, and felt confidence slowly igniting in his chest.


    He lifted his head and, using the official time-out, stepped forward and approached Reed.


    ¡°Coach, I can do it,¡± he said.


    Reed was somewhat surprised; the Revis he knew was proud and tough.


    He believed in his abilities which were evident without words, capable of persuading coaches and intimidating opponents alike.


    He disdained having to use words to emphasize or prove himself, which was why whenever it came to discussing his salary, he was always upright and justified.


    But now, Revis had approached him on his own initiative.


    Perhaps the Kansas City Chiefs were indeed growing and evolving, slowly acquiring a different temperament, and not just because they had made it to the Super Bowl.


    Reed looked into Revis¡¯s eyes.


    Then, nodding, Reed gave his answer.


    Revis did not linger; he turned and strode back to the field.


    The time-out was over, the game resumed.


    The Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs lined up once more, as Pederson and Reed once again engaged in a tactical battle.


    From the recent connection between Foles and Ertz, it was clear that Pederson knew the game was not over.


    If the Philadelphia Eagles obediently used ground attacks to run down the clock without struggling or trying, and were easily struck out, it meant that the Kansas City Chiefs still had time to launch an attack.


    Pederson would not forget the bitter defeat of the second week of the regular season, nor the miracle of the Kansas City Chiefs defeating the New England Patriots with a Wanfu Mary in the divisional playoffs.


    He refused to give the Kansas City Chiefs even a slight chance, because with the Kansas Chiefs Offense feeling so hot today, there were still uncertainties, and he could not and did not dare to believe that his Defensive Group could miraculously end the game.


    This meant that the Philadelphia Eagles still had to score on the first down.


    Continue to consume time, continue to waste Reed¡¯s time-outs, and more importantly, keep the Kansas Chiefs Offense pinned to the sidelines.


    Therefore.


    Pederson refused to be conservative, still displaying courage and boldness at the tactical level.


    One more first down, just one more first down was all that was needed for the Philadelphia Eagles to claim their first Super Bowl Championship Trophy, just two more minutes of game time away from history.


    Naturally, Reed could not take it lightly; he could not assume that the Philadelphia Eagles would conventionally opt for the run, the offensive and defensive battle continued.


    The pressure was still accumulating.


    The atmosphere was still heating up.


    This was fair for both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs.

 Chapter 487

    ?Chapter 487: Shatter my body into pieces Chapter 487: Shatter my body into pieces U.S.


    Bank Stadium was like a pressure cooker, with tension gradually climbing to its zenith, seemingly on the verge of explosion at any moment.


    First and ten.


    Pederson took advantage of the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ wary mindset, going against expectations with a clean and straightforward choice to run the ball, maintaining the initiative tactically.


    Blount, the number one running back who had hardly had a chance to perform in the game, was not willing to let Clement steal the limelight.


    Finally, he demonstrated his bulldozer-like strength by pushing forward against the Chiefs¡¯ stiff resistance on the ground, managing to forcefully advance three yards.


    Although the progress was limited, Blount fully exhibited the solid and substantial characteristic of the ground game, holding out in a deadlock and effectively consuming game time.


    ...


    Reed called their first timeout.


    Second and seven.


    Foles faked a pass and went for the run, handing the ball to Blount for the second consecutive time.


    But this time, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense clearly caught up to Pederson¡¯s tactical rhythm, with three men stopping Blount in his tracks.


    Blount tried to replicate his earlier move, refusing to go down and to stop the play regardless of the yardage gained, clenching his teeth and continuing the standoff in a bid to consume time.


    However, this time he could not withstand the mounting pressure and collapsed, ultimately failing to burn much clock.


    Reed used their second timeout.


    Third and six.


    The situation suddenly shifted.


    So, what would Pederson choose to do?


    Would he continue with the ground game to consume time, playing it safe and avoiding taking risks at this point; or would he shift to a passing offense to break the deadlock, attempting to secure the first down and keep the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ Offensive group on the field, pushing the opponents towards desperation?


    Prediction, positioning, the gamble.


    Revis believed that both coaches, Pederson and Reed, were definitely calculating each other¡¯s moves, their brains working at high speed; but for him, the matter wasn¡¯t complex.


    Looking at tonight¡¯s game, choosing to power through twice on fourth and one, with the ¡°Philly Special¡± transforming the Super Bowl into a Pro Bowl showcase, and opting for risk on third and long more than three or five times, trusting unknown players such as Clement and Burton, every strategy and tactic was filled with ambition.


    Moreover, the plan was perfectly executed.


    The Philadelphia Eagles truly played their boldest, most confident, craziest, and most passionate game of the entire season.


    In Revis¡¯s eyes, the tactical setup for a third-down offense had no room for debatea?€¡±


    Pederson would opt for a passing offense, a hundred percent.


    And targeting either Clement or Ertz as the passing option aimed at breaking through on Revis¡¯s defensive side would probably be the likely scenario.


    This time, Revis was ready.


    Taking a deep breath, Revis concentrated his attention fully, momentarily casting aside all distractions, feeling the slight trembling in his knees and the burning heat in his muscles.


    No longer afraid, he instead began to relish the signals his body was sending, the sensation of burning fueling him to return to his peak form of five years prior.


    Such scenarios had occurred more than once or twice that day.


    With continuous short steps for adjustment, Revis focused intently, scrutinizing Ertz, observing Foles, all the while not forgetting Clement.


    This was a basic requirement of zone defense; however, Revis remained patient until the moment Foles released the ball.


    Foles felt the pressure too; the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ five-man rush exuded a do-or-die intensity, as Houston tore through the pocket towards Foles.


    Danger!


    Foles didn¡¯t risk trying to escape the sack; a fumble at this moment would have been disastrous, so he let the ball fly.


    The passing target wasa?€¡±


    Ertz.


    Without hesitation, Revis sparked into action, took a step forward, stretched across in front of Ertz, cutting off the connection between Ertz and Foles, and leapt early.


    Ertz was startled.


    Clearly, Ertz hadn¡¯t anticipated that Revis wouldn¡¯t be closely interfering but instead would step in early to intercept the pass.


    It was a judgement made from experience, given that Revis was not in optimal physical condition.


    Ertz was somewhat panicked.


    He watched helplessly as Revis jumped in front of him.


    Revis¡¯s body fully extended, leaning back, arms stretching to their limits.


    The football, quivering unsteadily, fell just beyond Revis¡¯s fingertips, continuing to fly.


    Missed it.


    Ertz: Here it comes.


    Revis: Damn it.


    If he were at the peak of his physical condition, how could Revis have possibly missed that interception?


    But alas, there are no ifs.


    But Revis still refused to give up, refused to surrendera?€¡±


    Thump thump, thump thump.


    His heart was still beating furiously.


    Feeling the pull of gravity, he performed a Thousand Pounds Drop to the ground, supporting himself on one leg, using the strength of his waist and abdomen to complete a 180 degree turn mid-air without hesitation, recklessly throwing his body forward as if drawn to a flame.


    Fight, as if burning your very life.


    Burst forth, as if shattering into pieces.


    Thump thump.


    Thump thump.


    The roar, surging powerfully.

 Chapter 488

    ?Chapter 488: 487 A Kind of Longing Chapter 488: 487 A Kind of Longing He fell, spun, and lunged.


    In one fluid motion, Revis realized the football had slipped past his fingertips by a hair¡¯s breadth and without hesitation, he reacted a second time.


    In the dizzying chaos, Revis caught sight of Ertz¡¯s number eighty-six jersey.


    Without pause, his body torpedoed forward.


    A tackle?


    No, it was not possible.


    Revis knew that in the 2015 season, he had missed ten tackles, which was why the New York Jets had cut him; facing the tight end who already had a positional advantage, coupled with his own physical condition and state, everything made tackling Ertz incredibly difficult.


    ...


    Tonight, the entire game had been continuously proving this.


    Now, he could not afford to make a mistake, he could not let pride take over his mind.


    He needed to be more grounded.


    So, not a tackle, but rather a collision.


    Weight, power, combined with the force of gravity, Revis threw himself into Ertz¡¯s body like a heavy weapon.


    He was prepared to shatter to pieces.


    Bang.


    A loud crash.


    The whole world was swept into a storm.


    ¡°Interception.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s an interception!¡±


    ¡°Revis intercepts Ertz on the spot, unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°Revis accurately predicted Foles¡¯ intent to connect with Ertz and tried to intercept the pass, just falling short, but!¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t give up.¡±


    ¡°Restarting on the spot, with a highly difficult one-legged support turn, diving headlong into Ertz, he gave no chance at all.¡±


    ¡°Pass incomplete!¡±


    ¡°Ertz couldn¡¯t maintain his balance, couldn¡¯t complete the catch, the most important and crucial catch of the game, and Ertz missed it.¡±


    ¡°a?€|God!¡±


    ¡°Philadelphia Eagles, strike out.¡±


    The words, breaking free from the tip of the tongue, burst out, but in the next second, they were caught up in shock and impact; Collinsworth and Michaels exchanged a look, brains buzzinga?€¡±


    After the first tackle and the first turnover of the game, the first punt finally happened.


    Although the Kansas Chiefs had already struck out three times before, on those occasions, the Philadelphia Eagles had chosen to go for the fourth down and succeeded.


    So, until now, no punt had occurred in this game.


    But it was certain that Pederson was not going to take any more risksa?€¡±


    Philadelphia Eagles at their own twenty-four yard line, facing third and six yards, it was a very dangerous position.


    Thump.


    The whole arena, hearts pounding against chests.


    In the sole punt of the game, the Philadelphia Eagles still showcased Pederson¡¯s daringness, trying some tricks mainly to consume time and disrupt the rhythm, continuing to complicate things, adding pressure on the opponents.


    However, Reed kept his sanity.


    He knew that punting away time now was meaningless; with such time, they might as well let the offense play an extra down.


    So, even though the Philadelphia Eagles deliberately made a short punt to lure the Kansas Chiefs into a counterattack, the Kansas Chiefs Special Duty Group was very steady, securely controlling the football at their own thirty-three-yard mark, not counterattacking.


    Finally, the Kansas Chiefs Offense took the field again.


    So, how would they play this offensive wave?


    Actually, this scene was not unfamiliar.


    Faced with challenges like the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Tennessee Titans, the New England Patriots, and others, the Kansas Chiefs had faced such moments before; only now the situation was even more challenginga?€¡±


    Because Reed had only one timeout left.


    And time was still ticking away.


    One could imagine, the tactical options were immediately limited to a narrow scope.


    They had no time for a ground assault; a passing play was highly likely; simultaneously, not just any pass, they needed to pass to the sidelines, to possibly create out-of-bounds stops, controlling the pace of the game.


    Hard.


    Moreover, do not forget that, facing the Pittsburgh Steelers, facing the Tennessee Titans, different offensive strategies and tricks have already exposed their cards, which also meant that the Philadelphia Eagles were not so easily fooled.


    As hard as ascending to heaven.


    The air was completely tense.


    Li Wei immediately noticed Smith¡¯s nervousness, his palms sweating involuntarily.


    He knew that Smith still harbored the shadow of a recent fumble, the pressure of big moments possibly being Smith¡¯s shackles.


    But do not forget, everything has two sides.


    The shadow could also become a driving force.


    Li Wei also hadn¡¯t forgotten the vulnerability in Smith¡¯s eyes after the fumble, those moments of defiance and struggle, those feelings of injustice and suppression, vividly in his sight.


    Then, Li Wei bumped Smith¡¯s shoulder.


    Smith startled, suddenly looked up.


    Then, Smith saw Li Wei, his brow wrapped in gauze, revealing a smile.


    ¡°Captain.


    I want to win once.¡±


    The same words, yet they exploded with different power.


    Smith¡¯s heart squeezed, and he instinctively turned to look towards the player¡¯s tunnel, where Revis, against the medic¡¯s advice, stubbornly sat down, not going back to the locker room; Berry, leaning on crutches like a statue, still stood there, intensely focused on them.


    A spirit, a passion, ignited fiercely in his chest.


    He was sincere.


    He really wanted to win for once, really, truly wanted it.

 Chapter 489

    ?Chapter 489: 488 Taking a different approach Chapter 489: 488 Taking a different approach Standing behind the offensive line, Smith was observing the defensive formation.


    The pounding of his heart and his rapid breathing interwoven into a roaring din that brutally pummeled his eardrums, as time and air both seemed to come to a standstill.


    He wanted to win, just once, not to prove anything, but simply to win.


    Then, slowly bending his knees and lowering his center of gravity, he stared unblinkingly at the defensive formation in front of him, his concentration reaching an unprecedented peaka?€¡±


    As expected, the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ defensive formation looked like a pocket, with the cornerbacks close to the sidelines, safeties at the back, and linemen pressing the front line, thus forming a neat square box that encapsulated the offensive group.


    In simple terms, the priority was to prevent the Kansas City Chiefs from passing the ball out of bounds to stop the clock, making the Eagles¡¯ defensive priorities clear and direct.


    The pressure, naturally, was all on the Chiefs.


    So, what would the Kansas City Chiefs choose?


    ...


    The Kansas City Chiefs unsurprisingly adopted the Shotgun Formation, a typical passing offense formation.


    Though Li Wei and Hunter, both running backs, were included, based on their positions, they were both wide receivers.


    This was the Five Wide Receivers Formation.


    Indeed, in such a situation, there weren¡¯t many tactical secrets, for neither the offense nor the defense.


    Sigh.


    Smith took a deep breath, sinking it into his Dantian, his voice booming like a large bell.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    The command tore through the air with the swiftness of lightning, and gunpowder surged forth.


    Bang, bang bang bang.


    The Philadelphia Eagles didn¡¯t opt for a blitz, but the defensive line applied pressure immediately, the collision setting off a series of dull thuds; meanwhile, the linemen joined the cornerbacks, marking their targets closely from the get-goa?€¡±


    ¡°Five Wide Receivers vs.@@@@


    Five in Coverage.¡±


    Pederson¡¯s tactical strategy suddenly became clear:


    Utilize three linemen and two cornerbacks for man-to-man coverage, with two safeties jointly launching a zone coverage, spinning a web of defense on the second line that was impermeable; finally, relying on the defensive line to symbolically pressure Smith, ready to strike if any protection rupture occurred in the offensive line¡¯s pocket or if Smith held the ball too long.


    Meticulous, comprehensive, powerful.


    Since Foles and Ertz couldn¡¯t end the game with the Eagles¡¯ offense, the Eagles¡¯ defensive group stepped up to finish the job.


    Man-to-man coverage, it was that simple.


    Then.


    Linebacker Bradham sensed something was offa?€¡±


    The hero who had just made the game¡¯s only sack, despite being nearly invisible for the rest of the game, but that one sack had fully fired up Graham¡¯s confidence, now erupting with unbelievable energy.


    Graham disregarded the offensive lineman entangled with him, throwing his entire body forward, using his weight and gravitational force to charge towards Li Wei, the burst of pressure and mass breaking the stalemate of the two linemen¡¯s entanglement, piercing through like a wedge at full force.


    Graham thought he had him.


    Graham caught sight of Li Wei in his field of view and felt a surge of joy, preparing to reach out and tackle, but then he saw Li Wei step forward and suddenly accelerate without warning.


    The combined forces of speed and power turned into a gust of wind.


    Whoosh.


    And in an instant, he was gone.


    Graham lunged forward, joy and excitement still twinkling in his eyes, not yet having time to fade, and the next second he grasped at nothing, flying through the air.


    What happened?


    Li Wei had no time to concern himself with Graham; his speed was already fully unleashed, but he could not continue to break away, as he immediately saw Bradham with his arms spread wide open in the posture of a hawk capturing a chick.


    Bradham was waiting, maintaining his patience, then seizing the opportunity, he lunged forward, aiming to collide with Li Wei¡¯s approaching figure.


    Just as Li Wei seemed poised to fall right into the arms of Bradham, at this critical juncture, he made an emergency stop as if he had anticipated it.


    It was not a change of direction, but a turn.


    With a splendid Marseille Turn, Li Wei spun 360 degrees clockwise, evading Bradham¡¯s grasp and continuing his break from the inside.


    Bradham¡¯s forward lunge was too fierce; he was unable to stop himself on a dime and flew past, his mind filled with question marks, not caring about his own embarrassment, completely unaware of what had just happened.


    However.


    Bradham was no longer Li Wei¡¯s problem, completely forgotten.


    With the speed of lightning, Li Wei was aware of everything around him, his steps light and agile, and he burst forward, every second preciousa?€¡±


    The middle route.


    Li Wei chose to break through the middle, cutting into the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ soft underbelly like a sharp blade, his sudden burst of speed causing chaos in the Eagles¡¯ defensive group.


    The plan wasn¡¯t supposed to be like this.


    On the sidelines, Pederson moved briskly laterally, his arms swinging like windmills, and then one could see the Eagles¡¯ defensive pocket tightened up.


    How could the Philadelphia Eagles be unprepared?


    Despite being ambushed by the Kansas City Chiefs, they were not surprised; the experience with the Pittsburgh Steelers was the best lesson.


    After the brief shock, they reacted.


    The pocket closes, an ambush from all sides, and in a flash, the Eagles¡¯ defensive group formed an inescapable trap!


    Clearly, Pederson was also prepared.

 Chapter 490

    ?Chapter 490: 489 full firepower Chapter 490: 489 full firepower Variables!


    Everyone was convinced that the Kansas Chiefs would choose to pass to the left or right sidelines, but no one expected Li Wei to keep the ball and launch a ground attack, let alone dance past the interceptions with the light and agile footwork of a ballerina, breaking through like a sharp sword thrusting towards the most tender, empty, and vulnerable center of the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ defense.


    Charging straight in!


    Graham and Bradham failed to intercept, but their timely response still bought their teammates precious reaction timea?€¡±


    The Philadelphia Eagles responded quickly, and even though they were caught off guard, they still had a contingency plan in place, with the backfield pocket rapidly tightening its encirclement.


    Left, right, directly ahead, and diagonally behind.


    One after another, the white figures pounced towards Li Wei like a raging torrent of air.


    Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.


    ...


    Cornerback Darby was accelerating.


    Safety Corey Grahama?€¡±not to be confused with the Defensive End of the same surname and the outstanding Jenkins of this gamea?€¡±was also speeding up.


    Danger!


    A predicament!


    A trap!


    The defensive group was on full alert, pondering how Li Wei would choose to break througha?€¡±


    No one could underestimate Li Wei¡¯s personal breakthrough ability, no one.


    Nerves, completely taut.


    However.


    Just at that moment, Li Wei targeted Jenkins¡¯ direction and sprinted with all his might, not waiting for Jenkins to spread his arms before he preemptively slid to the ground, advancing towards Jenkins in a baseball slide as if stealing a base.


    Ha!


    The entire stadium gasped.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t choose to break through, and even before the encirclement was fully secured, he had already chosen to hit the ground, stealing thirteen yards before going down at the midfield line to stop the play.


    What, what¡¯s happening?


    People did not anticipate that the Kansas Chiefs would unexpectedly choose a ground attack, let alone a central breakthrough, and even less so that Li Wei would avoid confrontation and simply go down.


    Clearly, this was no ordinary circumstance.


    Amidst the astonishment and shock of the crowd, Pederson was the first to be on alert.


    As a protA??gA?? personally mentored by Reed, Pederson didn¡¯t believe that such a mess could happen out of haste, that Reed would disrupt his own formation without reasona?€¡±the entire arrangement was strategic, and even the pre-game preparations likely included consideration of such situations, with corresponding strategies in placea?€¡±


    Time management!


    A spark of realization lit up in Pederson¡¯s mind.@@@@


    First, Li Wei¡¯s choice to go down by himself meant that he wanted to avoid entanglement and time wastage; at that moment, the least wise thing to do was to play the hero when surrounded and insist on pushing forward.


    Perhaps, Li Wei could have advanced another ten or twenty yards, even more, but the cost would be precious game time.


    Unless Li Wei could break away into the end zone like he did against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the time wasted in a ground attack was an irreplaceable lossa?€¡±considering that the Philadelphia Eagles were ready and waiting for Li Wei, the risk of continuing to push forward was clear.


    So, Reed had a time management strategy in mind from the moment he chose a ground attacka?€¡±


    No, it must be Kelsey.


    A switch, a block shed.


    Li Wei jostled the Cornerback Darby out of position, and Kelsey caught the football unguarded after a look-in move.


    He easily secured Smith¡¯s five-yard short pass, then paused his feet precisely to ensure he stayed in bounds before stepping out of bounds to efficiently stop the clock.


    But!


    This was still not the end.


    Kelsey turned around with the football and stepped back into the field, and the Kansas Chiefs Offense immediately got back into formation without missing a beat.


    Smith was ready to snap the ball again, and if the Philadelphia Eagles Defensive group did not want to be penalized for delay of game, they had to quickly get into formation.


    Everything was in high gear, at ten times the speed.


    Could this be the no-huddle offense?


    Noa?€| could it?


    Previously, it was said that the no-huddle means no tactical discussion after formation, no adjustments by the coaching staff, handing all offensive decisions and determinations to the quarterback.


    It simplifies the process, making the offense completely straightforward, thus increasing the pace and speed to overwhelm the Defensive group.


    This strategy shone brightly in NCAA games because college offenses are less complex, focusing on individual player skills and talent, allowing quarterbacks to fully exhibit their gifts.


    However, in the professional arena, the tactics are complicated, and the defensive abilities are outstanding.


    The no-huddle offense negates the Offense¡¯s advantages, making the Defensive group¡¯s job even simpler and generally disadvantaging the Offense.


    Of course, there are exceptions.


    Peyton Manning, the offensive master, is practically an Offensive Coordinator on the field.


    The no-huddle offense allows him to utilize his interpretation of the game, his offensive setups, his suppression of defense, revealing the novel charm of football.


    But, Smith?


    And in the tied moments of a Super Bowl no less?


    Reed has lost his mind.


    Yet, the reality was unfoldinga?€¡±


    First, they used Li Wei¡¯s unpredictable central breakthrough to disrupt the Eagles, and when the Philadelphia Eagles fell into suspicious confusion, they transitioned into the no-huddle offense.


    The key was to simplify and speed up offensive tactics, accelerating the pace and speed, throwing the opponent into turmoil.


    Everything was premeditated.


    Even the Kansas City Chiefs might have rehearsed such tactics before the game because the no-huddle offense relies on routine coordination of the offense and the quarterback¡¯s lightning-fast, unpredictable passing decisions.


    Chemistry is the core.


    At this moment, Smith had already passed the ball again.


    The pass target was Hill, who easily connected a six-yard short pass under Hunter¡¯s cover, and without any hesitation after the catch, Hill stepped out of bounds as well.


    Second down, five yards, first attack easily accomplished.

 Chapter 491

    ?Chapter 491: 490 Absolutely Active Chapter 491: 490 Absolutely Active Thump, thump.


    His heart raced uncontrollably.


    Pederson was trying to calm himself, but it was clearly not easy.


    His mind roared.


    It was a Wuju Merchant offense, unbelievably a Wuju Merchant offense.


    In the first half¡¯s countdown stage, the Philadelphia Eagles unleashed a super surge with ¡°Philly Special,¡± transforming decay into magic with a one-yard score; so now, was it the Chiefs¡¯ turn with ¡°Chiefs Special¡±?@@@@


    Smith, Alex Smith?


    ...


    The overwhelmed Smith?


    But at the crucial Super Bowl moment, he pulled out the secret weapon of the Wuju Merchant offense?


    Preposterous!


    However, the Kansas Chiefs completely dominated.


    First and ten, Smith¡¯s short pass connected with Hunter, easily gaining seven yards, and stepping out of bounds.


    Second and three, Smith found Kelsey, a smooth four-yard conversion, and stepping out of bounds.


    They had speed, rhythm, explosive power, and control, despite initially wasting some time utilizing Li Wei¡¯s ground attack to open the play; but subsequently, the rhythm of the Wuju Merchant offense exploded, quickly making up for the wasted timea?€¡±


    Firmly taking the initiative.


    The Philadelphia Eagles struggled to cope.


    Even though the Eagles¡¯ secondary defense maintained tight man-to-man marking with high concentration, without a hint of distraction; they were completely passive, retreating step by step amidst Smith¡¯s barrage of rapid, short passes, the pressure the Defensive group tried to create just didn¡¯t happen.


    One step, then another, the Philadelphia Eagles Defensive line was collapsing.


    Who could have predicted this scene?


    On the field, Smith was fully focused, firing on all cylinders, his inner cosmos burning, firmly seizing the opportunities, maximizing the power of his short passes in his comfort zone, and after playing the best game of his career, he ascended a level higher, delivering the most brilliant two minutes of his career.


    Pederson, caught off guard.


    If this continued, it was only a matter of time before the Kansas Chiefs scored a game-winning touchdown, they didn¡¯t even need to attempt a Hail Mary.


    ¡°Think!


    Doug, think!¡±


    Pederson forced himself to calm down, thinking about how to handle the Wuju Merchant offense?


    The answer lay with the quarterback.


    Pressure, the Defensive group had to pressure the quarterback, not be led by the nose, if the Defensive group chased the football, their legs were destined not to outrun the football, they had to snuff out the driving force behind the passes from the root.


    So, was this the right answer?


    No one knew.


    Damn!


    The football had just left his hand when Smith realized his wrist was too stiff, and the throw too forceful, causing the ball¡¯s trajectory to press down fiercely toward the ground.


    However, Smith had no time to think.


    Defensive End Graham had already slammed into him.


    Although Graham realized Smith had released the ball and consciously sidestepped to avoid a harsh collision with the quarterback thereby avoiding a penalty, the two still tumbled over together.


    Smith ignored Graham and hurriedly looked ahead.


    Li Wei, with a maneuver ¡°scooping the moon from the sea¡¯s bottom,¡± managed a last-minute save by catching the football right before it hit the ground, but he lost the initiative due to the awkward catch, and was brought down by a double tackle from Bradham and Darby.


    Three yards.


    Just a gain of three yards, and he didn¡¯t get out of bounds.


    In the moment of Smith¡¯s frustration, Reed had decisively used the third and final timeout, stopping the clock without hesitation.


    Huff, puff.


    Offensive group or defensive group, everyone was red-faced and sweating profusely, all were physically spent with trembling knees, the recent Wuju Merchant offensive utterly burned up the last energy of both the offense and defense.


    Huff, puff.


    Not just the players, at this moment, every spectator watching the game without exception, whether inside or outside through the TV, everyone was gasping like bulls, intensely feeling the deadlock of the moment, their chests nearly exploding.


    The brain, due to overheating, was blank.


    ¡°Damn.¡±


    Rarely seen, Smith cussed, all because he had forcibly disrupted the continuity of the Kansas Chiefs¡¯ Wuju Merchant offense.


    Game time, thirty-nine seconds.


    Offensive group position, opposite half field at thirty-seven yards.


    Here, nearing field goal range; but a field goal wasn¡¯t enough for the Kansas Chiefs, they needed a touchdown, the only way to turn the game around.


    However, the Wuju Merchant offense had been abruptly disrupted, not only breaking the continuity of the offense but also squandering their final chip in controlling the game time.


    Game timeout:


    Kansas Chiefs, 0.


    Philadelphia Eagles, 3.


    Quietly, the situation shifted, as the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ defensive group clung to the situation, preventing a total collapse and promptly hit the brakes.


    But, no time for sorrow, no time for regrets.


    ¡°Alex, the next wave of offense...¡±


    From the headset came a voice, it wasn¡¯t the offensive coordinator Nagy, but Reed.

 Chapter 492

    ?Chapter 492: 491 Burned Out Chapter 492: 491 Burned Out Body, hollowed out.


    Spirit, burning.


    Whether it be the Kansas City Chiefs or the Philadelphia Eagles, both had reached their limits, sustained only by sheer perseverance, continuing to grit their teeth and hold on.


    The heavy breathing and scorching sweat mingled in the air, creating a rolling heatwave that made the enclosed space of the U.S.


    Bank Stadium suffocating.


    At this moment, it was a test of who had the stronger will.


    ...


    Just now, the Kansas City Chiefs had stormed past with an attack from Wuju Merchant; now, the Philadelphia Eagles had caught their breath and seized the moment Kansas was adjusting their pace to turn the tide, bursting with intensity instantly.


    Second down, seven yards, cornerback Jalen Mills narrowly slapped away a pass from Smith to Hunter, missing an interception but still causing an incomplete pass.


    Third Gear, seven yards, the Eagles went all-in with a blitz and intense pressure, linebacker Bradham effectively disrupted Smith¡¯s pass, especially since the previous pass had nearly been intercepted, serving as a warning to Smith, causing the pass trajectory between Smith and Kelsey to arc too high.


    Kelsey, despite his utmost effort, only grazed the football without gaining control, and the football flew out of bounds.


    Fourth down, seven yards.


    The pace of the offense and defense was still tight, the Kansas City Chiefs continued the intensity and pace of the Wuju Merchant attack, yet they narrowly missed their standard trajectory, and the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ defensive group timely rose and regained control.


    There was no time to breathe, no room for regret, as fourth down was already upon them.


    Smith stood there, hands on hips, a flicker of wavering in his eyes, the bitter mix of frustration and bitterness surged, tearing through his rationality:


    Could it really be impossible?


    He was truly out of energy, watching the end zone so close yet seemingly insurmountable, as if no amount of effort could reach it.


    Despairing.


    ¡°Captain!¡±


    The voice exploded next to his ear, while a strong force on his shoulders pulled Smith back from swaying in mid-air; Smith sharply focused his gaze, meeting Li Wei¡¯s determined eyes:


    Hold on a little longer.


    Just a little bit more.


    Although this last stretch was the toughest, most painful, worst part, they had come this far; they couldn¡¯t just give up now.


    ¡°Fourth down.¡±


    Li Wei said.


    Smith took a deep breath, forcing himself to rally amid exhaustion and confusion, his shaking pupils once again focused.


    At this moment, players from both teams were still on the fielda?€¡±


    Game time, fourteen seconds.


    Kickoff position, Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ half at the thirty-seven-yard line.


    The delicate sense of passing seemed to be locked in a block of ice, but Smith still completed the pass with a resolute look in his eyes.


    Whoosh.


    Football, direct pass.


    No parabola, but a short, quick, direct pass.


    This was a short pass.


    Linebacker Bradham: ¡°Damn.¡±


    Cornerback Darby: ¡°Terrible.¡±


    Immediately, both noticed Li Wei.


    Li Wei also moved forward in a straight line burst, but he didn¡¯t unleash his full speed.


    After crossing the kickoff line and the ten yard line, he retreated.


    Just then, Smith threw the pass.


    The Chiefs¡¯ tactical intent was more obvious than ever, to create a ¡®Hail Mary¡¯ situation but actually opting for a steady short pass.


    A five-yard short pass.


    The intended receiver was indeed Li Wei.


    Pederson also kept a cautious eye, reminding his defensive group.


    Bradham and Darby reacted swiftly; they rushed forward immediately.


    Darby was slightly slower, but Bradham, who was tasked with marking Li Wei, started quickly and with great speed, getting to Li Wei right away.


    Squeeze.


    Collide.


    Interfere.


    Even before the pass reached its destination, Bradham had already taken a favorable positiona?€¡±


    His teeth clenched, eyes blazing with fury.


    Despite his physical exhaustion, Bradham was no better off, but the sight of Li Wei, the enemy who took whatever he wanted throughout the game, immediately ignited his fighting spirit, unleashing tenfold, a hundredfold energy.


    He was ready to burn his soul if necessary, his eyes flaring with murder again.


    Ah, ah, ah.


    Power, fully unleashed.


    Bradham: ¡°He will absolutely, absolutely, absolutely not let Li Wei complete the catch.


    Damn!¡±

 Chapter 493

    ?Chapter 493: 492 Fourth gear seven code Chapter 493: 492 Fourth gear seven code Collision.


    Swaying.


    Disruption.


    Like a small boat facing a storm on the vast ocean, wave after wave made Li Wei¡¯s entire world spin and toss at high speed.


    He felt like throwing up.


    It had to be said, Bradham was seeing red.


    If it had been running with the ball, Li Wei could have confronted the situation in his own way; but this was about receiving a pass, where he had to secure his position and catch the ball on the move, which prevented Li Wei from shaking off the entanglement in his usual manner.


    ...


    However.


    Li Wei stood his ground.


    His legs, like pillars, forcefully pushed off the ground, with his back bearing the hit.


    He didn¡¯t rush but clenched his teeth hard, enduring all the rocking.


    Out of the corner of his eye, he quickly assessed the situationa?€¡±


    The football¡¯s position, Bradham¡¯s collision.


    A gap, a moment.


    Without any warning, Li Wei suddenly exerted force, relying on the reaction force from pushing off the ground to slam backwards with an overwhelming strength bursting forth.


    Boom!


    ¡°Li Wei VS Bradham.¡±


    A head-on confrontation.


    Bradham, caught up in his continuous interference, was completely unprepared for the impact that hit him squarely, causing his chest to feel stifled, his limbs to go numb, his strength to crumble, and before he could even grunt, he collapsed like a puppet with cut strings and thena?€¡±


    Flew backward.


    Strictly speaking, it wasn¡¯t being thrown into the air but staggering backwards as his limbs, instantly drained of strength and losing control of his body, couldn¡¯t maintain balance.


    One step.


    Two steps.


    And then he could no longer withstand the impact and tumbled backward with a thud.


    Taking advantage of the momentum, he executed a backward roll, akin to a juggler¡¯s trick.


    Meanwhile, Li Wei, ready and waiting, gained the initiative with a deliberate yet unintentional move, stepping forward with the reaction force and, without interference, caught the football.


    But this time he didn¡¯t rush out of bounds.


    It was a five-yard short pass, aimed for the element of surprise.@@@@


    But that wasn¡¯t enough to secure the initial attack.


    So.


    With nimble steps, he pivoted on the spot, turning 180 degrees to face the approaching cornerback Darby.


    There was no time for entanglement, no time for hesitation.


    Li Wei made a split-second decision, bent his knees to lower his gravity, and collided head-on with Darby who had come to meet him.


    The entire stadium was tense to the extreme, and Jiang Yin felt almost unable to breathe.


    Never in a million years did they expecta?€¡±


    ¡°Time-out!¡±


    ¡°Pederson has called a time-out!¡±


    ¡°Clearly, Pederson realizes they have no advantage in this wave of offenses, with Reed always one step ahead in firmly holding the offensive advantage.¡±


    ¡°Although choosing a time-out now may give the Chiefs a chance to catch their breath, the Eagles¡¯ defensive group also needs time to regroup.¡±


    The field was charged with tension.


    Team assistants rushed onto the field immediately, passing towels and water bottles to the players, while the captains swiftly returned to consult with the coaching staff, urgently seizing every second to strategize.


    On the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ side.


    Foles had a brief moment of daze, thinking that if only they could have connected successfully to continue the offense, the championship trophy would have been securely in their hands.


    Unfortunately, there are no ¡°ifs¡±.


    ¡°Nick!¡±


    Wentz shouted out loud.


    Despite being out due to an injury, Wentz was also at the fieldside tonight, accompanying the team throughout this tense and thrilling match, actively participating in discussions with each appearance of the offensive group, cheering the team on in his own way, and fully supporting Foles.


    Wentz longed to play, not only craving the championship but also the chance to compete with Li Wei on the same field.


    Regrettably, he couldn¡¯t.


    But that didn¡¯t mean he would miss out on this showdown.


    Wentz¡¯s shout pulled Foles back from his thoughts, passing along a firm gaze: they had done well, there was no need for regret or annoyance.


    Now, the Eagles¡¯ defensive group needed their support.


    Foles took a deep breath, turned around, and walked towards Wentz, gathering around the core players of the defensive group.


    On the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ side.


    Smith was restless, again and againa?€¡±it was always like this.


    He had done his best, just nearing the finish line, only to fall short at the final hurdle.


    This nightmare had followed him throughout his entire career, and tonight was no exception.


    Now, it was happening again.


    The finish line was within reach, yet Smith was seized by unease.


    Not just Smith, all the offensive group players felt the same way; both body and mind had reached their limits, even standing upright was a struggle, and they inevitably seemed nervous for the moment.


    ¡°Captain!¡±


    A voice called out.


    Looking up, Smith saw Li Wei¡¯s smiling face, squeezing water from the bottle into his throat.


    ¡°Remember what we said?¡±


    ¡°We lack confidence, but we will win.¡±


    ¡°Trust me, we will win.¡±

 Chapter 494

    ?Chapter 494: 493 Chiefs Special Chapter 494: 493 Chiefs Special ¡°`


    The game was deadlocked and tense, with both physical and mental energy drained to the last.


    Whether it was the battle-hardened Revis or Jiang Yin, who was watching the game live for the first time, everyone felt the burning sensation of depleted energy, their heart pounding nonstop, on the verge of exploding, almost unbearable.


    The suspense hung in the balance, so much so that everyone watching the game, inside and outside the television, held their breath, their brains a frenzy.


    Before they were even aware, their muscles ached from the secretion of lactic acid, and they involuntarily clenched their fists, feeling a damp heat.


    Body and spirit alike, completely out of control.


    No one was an exception.


    However.


    ...


    Li Wei was completely relaxed, smiling as if he were sitting in a garden, enjoying tea and sunbathing in the leisure of the afternoon, casually bringing back his focus.


    ¡°No confidence, but we will win.¡±


    Inside the wavering determination and willpower, energy burst forth once more.


    At some point, Berry, who had been silently observing from a distance, came over to stand beside them.


    A thousand words were eventually distilled into a simple gesture, a right fist clenched and pounding against the chest to feel the power of the heart.


    Simple, yet forceful.


    Then.


    Kelsey was the first to respond, straightening up, clenching his fist, and pounding his chest.


    Thump, thump.


    The awakening beat that pumped the heart, the eyes filled with fighting spirit, fueled by fatigue and tension, flared up.


    A single look got Smith going, too, filled with gusto, clenching his fist and pounding his chest.


    And then.


    Houston.


    Revis.@@@@


    Hill.


    Mahomes.


    And so on and so forth.


    One by one, the players lifted their heads and thrust out their chests, firmly united together.


    He, he, and they, from Berry to Smith, genuinely wanted to win, not to prove themselves, but to enjoy the game, to break through their limits, to challenge the extreme, and even more to fight wholeheartedly to the end without regrets.


    Therefore, they would not shrink back or fear; instead, they would stride boldly toward the finish line.


    Thump, thump, thump, thump.


    The power collided, creating ripples that spread throughout the U.S.


    Bank Stadium.


    Four defensive linemen and two linebackers, without any hesitation or reservation, went all in, pressuring immediately, a rolling wave of force bearing down on Smith.


    Smith¡¯s fingertips had barely felt the leather of the football when the oncoming wave transmitted layers of pressure, heavily pushing downward and backward.


    Knees, trembling slightly.


    Backpedaling, backpedaling.


    Smith clenched his teeth and straightened his knees, retreating continuously, instantly creating distance, but the Eagles¡¯ defensive group indeed showcased the intensity of Red Zone defense, throwing open their arms, ignoring the potential of the Kansas City Chiefs going for the Hail Mary, and releasing all the pressure upfront.


    Clearly, the Chiefs were united in their cause, and the Hawks were also determined to win.


    Danger!


    Smith sounded the alarm, without any hesitation, spun around on the spot, and with a lateral and backward toss, passed the football towards Hunter, who was slanting behind to the left.


    Pederson: ?


    What kind of tactic is this?


    Smith didn¡¯t pass towards the sideline or the end zone but backward to Hunter; so, was it a ground attack or a passing offense?


    From any angle, this light toss had no strategic purpose.


    Without any warning, the Chiefs seemed to suddenly become stupid and confused.


    Even Pederson, as a bystander, couldn¡¯t figure out why for a moment, let alone the players engulfed in the fray, who in the blink of an eye could only react instinctivelya?€¡±


    Focus on the ball.


    Rip, the pocket broke.


    On one side, Safety Corey Graham, who was covering Hunter, quickly stepped forward.


    In the center, Defensive End Brandon Graham, who had rushed forward, cut into the pocket.


    Both Grahams zeroed in on Hunter.


    Hunter, like a rabbit surrounded, seemed to be caught in a dilemma, confused; in the direction of his forward movement, he could see a white tidal wave approaching, while simultaneously feeling it coming from the front right obliquely.


    Hunter¡¯s footsteps seemed panicked, darting left and right, lost in direction.


    Brandon Graham, delighted, quickly stepped forward, ready to make the capture.


    However, Hunter¡¯s gaze collided with Brandon Graham¡¯s eyes, and Graham clearly saw Hunter flash a cunning smile.


    What¡¯s going on?


    There was no time to think, Hunter had already turned and tossed the football lightly to the right and behind, passing the ball straight out.


    Wait, did the football make its way back to Quarterback Smith¡¯s hands?


    In a football game, one can only throw forward once; but there are countless opportunities to pass laterally or backward.


    Pederson instantly realized: Trick play offense!


    The same trick the Chiefs used to achieve the last-minute victory against the Tennessee Titans.


    But!


    Pederson had no time to catch his breath or react when the next second, he watched in disbelief as a figure burst out from the right, switching places with Smith, and effortlessly, casually cradled the football in his armsa?€¡±


    It was Li Wei.

 Chapter 495

    ?Chapter 495: Bend the bow to shoot the eagle Chapter 495: Bend the bow to shoot the eagle ¡°`


    Everything happened in the blink of an eye.


    The football, passing from Smith¡¯s embrace to Hunter¡¯s hands and then to Li Wei¡¯s, was tossed backward like a juggling act, completely disrupting the layout.


    Pederson had not anticipated this scene, his heart stuck in his throat.


    The Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ defensive group was not mentally prepared and could only reflexively trail the football, entirely led by the nose.


    But!


    The blitz, was still a blitz.


    Lineman Kendricks was fully focused, closely following Defensive End Brandon Graham, tearing through the offensive line¡¯s block to cut into the pocket.


    ...


    Stopping his steps, Kendricks noticed the trajectory of the football.


    As a middle linebacker, Kendricks had been nearly invisible the entire game today, unable to contribute much to the ground defense, lacking the domination of the regular season and reawakening the nightmare of facing Li Wei in week two of the regular season; he was also holding his breath, trying to prove himself.


    The opportunity was right there.


    Kendricks¡¯s face showed a fierce determination as he shifted his focus, moving from his left to his right amid the chaos and bumping, aiming dead at Li Wei.


    Advance, collide, tackle.


    But.


    Smith was utterly focused, his eyes not leaving the play, biting down hard on his teeth, not allowing himself to relax or give up.


    This quarterback, who had never been in the spotlight, this humble and low-profile quarterback carrying countless burdens, was at this moment, in a different position, burning his vitality.


    He wanted to win, just once.


    Thrusting off the ground, exerting force, colliding.


    Smith didn¡¯t hesitate for a second, unleashing his full force without reservation, casting aside his quarterback pride, truly becoming a member of the Kansas City Chiefs offense.


    Remember?


    No matter their positions or where they stood, they were fighting shoulder to shoulder, Berry in his way, Revis and Houston in theirs, and now Smith was fighting in his own way.


    Ah, ah, ah.


    A tremendous energy burst out from the depths of his dantian, and Smith accurately rammed into his target.


    Wall collision.


    Kendricks was completely unprepared, a figure charged out from his left side horizontally, and he didn¡¯t even have the time to step away before slamming into the wall.


    A moment of dizziness.


    What, what happened?


    ¡°God.


    God!¡±


    ¡°Smith¡¯s block!


    Alex Smith makes a spectacular block, intercepting Kendricks and buying time for Li Wei.¡±


    At this point, safety Jenkins found himself in a dilemma, as he was supposed to mark the tight end Kelsey.


    But the problem was that Kelsey had never fully released his speed, leisurely patrolling the slot, his positioning deep in the field and not presenting any vertical threat.


    In contrast, both Hill and Robinson on the left and right sidelines were sprinting at full speed; Hill had already entered the Red Zone, while Robinson was not far behind.


    What to do?


    Jenkins still hovered around Kelsey, barely past the twenty-yard line, but his attention was vigilantly on Hill and Robinson.


    If Li Wei passed the ball, who would be the target?


    Jenkins had a bold idea: since it was a trick play, could Reed have planned to defy expectations thoroughly and choose a pre-rehearsed routea?€¡±


    Perhaps for the nondescript Robinson?


    All of this fell into Li Wei¡¯s field of vision, all in the blink of an eye.


    Now, Li Wei finally understood the realistic perspective within Tomlinson¡¯s training module and what Mahomes meant by having everything in sight.


    Thena?€¡±


    The bear came out of the woods.


    In an instant, Li Wei saw linebacker Bradham charging straight toward him.


    Normally, Bradham was tasked with marking Li Wei, constantly aware of every move; but behind the surprising tactics of the Kansas City Chiefs, Bradham immediately realized Li Wei had caught the football without moving forward to advance.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a running play.¡±


    Bradham realized.


    ¡°Wait, this isn¡¯t a running play!¡±


    Bradham was half a beat slow, making his way around the collapsing offensive line, not encountering any blocks, charging straight at Li Wei, arms wide open, teeth clenched, diving forward.


    Getting closer.


    Even closer!


    At this moment, Li Wei made a sudden stop, quickly sidestepped left and right, feinted, and avoided Bradham¡¯s tackling rhythm, slipping by him with a swift dodge.


    Bradham latched onto a figure, lunged forward, but came up empty, grasping only at a shadow.


    And Li Wei had regained space.


    Huffing, huffing.


    Gasping for air, his chest heaving violently, his knees trembling.


    In the corner of his eye, he could spot Kendricks, having shaken off Smith, struggling to step forward and close in, but Li Wei paid no heed, focusing solely on his own maneuversa?€¡±executing the whole movement in one breath, relying on core strength to maintain his wavering balance and momentuma?€¡±


    Pushing off the ground, stepping forward, twisting his body, and powering through.


    Swinging his arm.


    Exerting force.


    Like drawing a bow and shooting an eagle, the power released in a flash, the football leaving his palm, drawing an arc, cutting through the hot, stifling air, flying out.


    A moment too late, Kendricks lunged at Li Wei, the two rolling together in a tangle, the whole world spinning, but Li Wei¡¯s gaze was locked on the football¡¯s trajectory, his heart soaring high with it.

 Chapter 496

    ?Chapter 496: 495 Super Kill Chapter 496: 495 Super Kill Thump, thump.


    Kelsey and Jenkins tangled together, fast then slow, advancing and retreating.


    Both were controlling and combating, neither daring to exert force rashly.


    But.


    Kelsey stayed focused.


    He knew their tactics, so he was waiting for the right moment.


    Kelsey noticed Jenkins getting distracted.


    ...


    He didn¡¯t make any rash moves, even deliberately getting closer to Jenkins, trying to pull Jenkins¡¯s attention back in a feinting manner to continuously disrupt Jenkins¡¯s judgment.


    Meanwhile, quietly waiting for an opportunity.


    Then, without any warning, Kelsey took off.


    One step forward, aiming his shoulder at Jenkins¡¯s shouldera?€¡±


    Collision, exertion of force.


    And with that step forward, using the momentum to keep pushing forward.


    Instantly breaking Jenkins¡¯s balance, he then without hesitation kept surging forward, releasing all his speed and strength.


    In a moment, he overtook.


    Jenkins: ???


    Stumbling, the world spinning, his attention, still not pulled back from Robinson and Hill, was suddenly sucked into the storm.


    His brain seemed to be abruptly shut off.


    As if the power was cut.


    Jenkins could not breathe, stumbling with hands and feet flailing, his hands continuously paddling as he swiftly tried to catch up to Kelsey.


    Kelsey was untouchable.


    Although speed wasn¡¯t Kelsey¡¯s strong suit, at that moment, he released all the remaining energy in his body, pushing his speed to the limits.


    In the sky, under the floodlights of U.S.


    Bank Stadium, one could clearly see a browny-red arc maintaining a regular high-speed rotation.


    Inside and outside the stadium, on and off the television screens, the whole world held its breath as countless eyes focused on that streak of light.


    Li Yi was no exception:


    Twenty-yard line.@@@@


    Ten-yard line.


    The football kept spinning, terrifyingly tracing a parabola, pulling the world¡¯s heart up high and then swiftly dropping it.


    The howling wind roared past the ear.


    End zone line.


    The football, plunging down, Kelsey accurately stood in position, his hands reaching up, waiting for the arrival of the football.


    Clap.


    The football securely nestled into Kelsey¡¯s armsa?€¡±


    Caught.


    Ah ah ah!


    Kelsey lets out a roar fit for a king.


    ¡°Champions!¡±


    In the commentary booth, Collinsworth finally snaps back to reality, his mind completely crasheda?€¡±


    What are they witnessing?


    History, without a doubt, history.


    The realization sends a shiver down his scalp.


    ¡°Philadelphia Eagles pulled off an epic game, pushing Kansas City Chiefs to the brink of despair, their hand already touching the Super Bowl Championship Trophy.¡±


    ¡°Yet, the Kansas City Chiefs did it again.¡±


    ¡°This season¡¯s metamorphosed Chiefs once again demonstrate their mettle at a critical moment, for the third time this post-season.¡±


    ¡°Reed chose a trick play, the football went from Smith to Hunter and then to Levi, ending with this rookie Running Back delivering the fatal blow.¡±


    ¡°No one expected this, no one!¡±


    ¡°Following a crucial seven-yard fourth-down catch earlier, Levi again displays a champion¡¯s mettle, dodging a sack in chaos and delivering a flawless, brilliant thirty-yard dart right into the End Zone, finding his top Tight End, Kelsey.¡±


    ¡°A game-winner!¡±


    ¡°This is a game-winner!¡±


    ¡°Incredible!


    Unthinkable!


    Unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°Levi, just twenty-two years old, a rookie, and shockingly, this is only his second year in professional Football, yet he already stands on the Super Bowl stage, displaying a legendary quality at the critical moment with an unmatched performance leading Kansas City Chiefs through a thrilling pinnacle duel.¡±


    ¡°God, even seeing it with my own eyes, even experiencing it firsthand, I still can¡¯t believe this scene is unfolding right before us.¡±


    Continuous deep breaths, continuous emotional release, Collinsworth, like a drunk man, cheeks flushed, dancing madly, his words spraying like a machine gun, waves of chills shocking and impacting surge from his feet to his head, the trembling just won¡¯t stop.


    Because of the last moment¡¯s turn of events, because of Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ unthinkable performance, and because of the thrilling and tense game throughouta?€¡±


    The suspense lasted until the very last second.


    Thrilling, electrifying, insanely intense!


    ¡°In the first half, Philadelphia Eagles exploded the U.S.


    Bank Stadium with ¡®Philly Special,¡¯ elevating this Super Bowl to new heights; but no one expected that was just the beginning.¡±


    ¡°In the second half, Kansas City Chiefs fully ignited the entire North American continent with ¡®Chiefs Special,¡¯ with bravery and mettle, with determination and spirit, pushing the pinnacle of football duel to unprecedented heights.¡±


    ¡°No one anticipated how the game would start, nor the story¡¯s end, with excitement and suspense spanning from the very first second of the game until the last, presenting the strength and quality of a pinnacle duel during the tumultuous 2017 season, culminating in a perfect ending with a seven-second trick play.¡±


    ¡°This game will undoubtedly go down in history, not just since the millennium but perhaps as the most exciting and best Super Bowl in half a century.¡±


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    ¡°I mean, wow.¡±


    ¡°As the game came to an end, with time completely exhausted, Kansas City Chiefs didn¡¯t even need to attempt an extra point, as the referees had already declared the end of the game.¡±


    ¡°¡¯43:44,¡¯ the final score, both teams combined for eighty-seven points.


    A record-breaking feat!¡±


    ¡°The fifty-second Super Bowl Champions, Kansas City Chiefs!¡±

 Chapter 497

    ?Chapter 497: 496 A group of madmen Chapter 497: 496 A group of madmen Li Wei, holding his breatha?€¡±


    In a dizzying whirl, he located the soaring parabola of the football and watched as the playful auburn speck fell into Kelsey¡¯s arms.


    The breath that he had been holding in his chest was finally released in a long sigh as he shook off Kendricks without getting up, simply lying on the ground completely exhausted, letting his brain keep firing.


    Right now, he didn¡¯t even want to move a finger; his body and soul were completely emptied out, having used tremendous force, fully and satisfyingly unleashed.


    The long, bumpy, tortuous, and perilous season had finally come to an end.


    Victory.


    Champions.


    They did it.


    ...


    They actually did it.


    The sense of relief from burning out, along with the pleasure of pushing limits, burst open like fireworks, filling his entire brain as the world started to spin rapidly.


    Thena?€¡±


    ¡°We won.¡±


    Smith took off his helmet, and his face, drenched in sweat and red as a beet, appeared above him, beaming with uncontrollable excitement and disbelief, making a sudden stop to avoid crashing onto Li Wei.


    Still, he couldn¡¯t contain his surging emotions.


    ¡°We won.¡±


    ¡°We won!¡±


    Over and over, happiness and joy packed into the words, his voice shaking slightly, and before he knew it, his eyes filled with tears.


    ¡°We won.¡±


    Li Wei pushed himself to stand up, looking at Smith whose face was filled with smiles yet streaming with tears, knowing that words simply couldn¡¯t capture the emotion of the moment.


    He raised his hand and thumped Smith¡¯s shoulder, gave his captain a hug, then broke into a grin, confidently saying,


    ¡°I said, no confidence, but we would win.¡±


    Smith couldn¡¯t help it and burst into laughter, not expecting at all that his tears would spill over uncontrollably like pearls falling off a string, crying and laughing like a madman.


    He kept raising his hand to wipe away the tears, but no matter how much he wiped, he couldn¡¯t clear them all away.


    In the end, he just gave up, spread his arms wide in a gesture of surrender, and broke into loud sobs.


    This moment, Smith had waited far too long.


    Once, he had carefully imagined tasting the flavor of becoming the champions and stood in the bathroom visualizing the scene of lifting the Super Bowl Trophy; but gradually, he even became afraid to indulge the imagination, fearfully and despairingly burying his dream, for without hope there would be no disappointmenta?€¡±


    Disappointment was just too painful, too tormenting, and he no longer had the energy to bear it.


    However.


    They did it, they ultimately reached the summit, inscribing their glory.


    Smith thought he would be ecstatic, but bitterness and sorrow dragged him into a hell of tears.


    Countless sleepless nights and repeated failures in season after season flashed through his mind like a slideshow, easily breaching all defenses.


    The whole Old Oak Tavern shook as if in an earthquake, with everyone jumping and cheering and screaming; the overwhelming magma and heat waves made language seem powerlessly pale and weak.


    Anderson quietly watched the scene, controlled himself, and controlled himself again, but in the end, he still failed and turned to enter the bar¡¯s kitchen.


    Silently lighting a cigarette.


    Unintentionally, Anderson recalled the moment from his childhood when he followed his parents and grandparents and witnessed the Kansas City Chiefs win their first championship.


    Back then, he didn¡¯t understand a thing and just joined in the cheering mindlessly.


    Seeing his grandfather weeping had left him puzzled:


    So happy, yet shedding tears, why?


    In the blink of an eye, half a century had passed, and he was nearing the age of his grandfather, witnessing a legend in the Old Oak Tavern just the same.


    Regrettably, Grandfather was no longer there.


    Even Father...


    If Father hadn¡¯t been diagnosed with Alzheimer¡¯s, he would probably be here in the tavern, fighting alongside them.


    But still.


    The team finally won the championship.


    No matter how hard, no matter how faint the hope, no matter how many obstacles, they never gave up.


    They always fought till the end, continuously struggling, showing the tenacity and wildness of a Chieftain once more, igniting a glimmer of dawn in the endless, long, dark night, leading them out of the vast adversity.


    Nobody believed in the team, even their die-hard fans had more than once despaired and been on the verge of giving up.


    Hope and dreams seemed like sugar-coated bullets in fairy tales used to deceive children and numb their spirits.


    But the team didn¡¯t give up.


    They were still fighting, they were still striving, they still foolishly and naively believed that dreams ignite hope.


    They were still tightly seizing every moment of life to shine.


    Because dreams made their lives bearable.


    Tomorrow morning when he gets up, he wants to tell his father, who will definitely be very happy.


    Even if Alzheimer¡¯s disease is incurable and irreversible, it doesn¡¯t mean they should give up on life and hope.


    He, still believes, just like he believes in the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Dawn will eventually come, no matter what happens, the Old Oak Tavern is always here.


    The last miracle of the Kansas City Chiefs sustained them for half a century, and this legend might last even longer.


    He¡¯s not greedy, not at all.


    This is already enough.


    Deeply, Anderson takes another puff of his cigarette.


    Behind him, the revelry and uproar of the tavern continue to surge, while he quietly enjoys this moment of bliss alone.


    A purity, and also a fulfillment.

 Chapter 498

    ?Chapter 498: 497 Just let go Chapter 498: 497 Just let go Madness and joy, a feeling both simple and complex, pure and direct, the heart all but bursting forth from the soles of the feet to the top of the head.


    West was thoroughly immersed in the moment, too exhilarated and excited that his heart twinged with pain, unable to find words to express himself.


    Unintentionally, amidst the chaos and tumult, West finally noticed Anderson¡¯s absence and looked around, puzzled, among the crowd.


    Then.


    Through the kitchen window, West saw the silhouette quietly enjoying the championship moment with a lit cigarette, and although they had no verbal communication, magically, West could understand Anderson¡¯s mood.


    Over the past few years, they had all been through so much, everyone had their own struggles.


    In a brief moment of distraction, West couldn¡¯t help but think of Provos heading to Minneapolisa?€¡±


    Unsure if, at this very moment, Provos had finally resolved his emotional turmoil.


    ...


    ...


    Ahh, ahh, ahh.


    Right outside the U.S.


    Bank Stadium was an erupting volcano, each face inscribed with incredulous shock and exhilaration.


    They had not anticipated such a dark horse battle to deliver the most spectacular, unpredictable, and incredible showdown in Super Bowl history.


    They had even less expected such an historic game to be decided in such an unbelievable manner.


    Shock.


    Impact.


    Frenzy.


    The despair of the Philadelphia Eagles fans and the fervor of the Kansas City Chiefs fans clashed together, with neutral fans catapulting into party mode, drawing the world outside the stadium into a tropical hurricane.


    A heatwave swept through the venue, as cold, dry Minneapolis was experiencing a midsummer storm.@@@@


    Caught up in it, Provos stared ahead, dumbfounded and stupefied, his brain completely frozen, his soul prostrating and shivering on the ground.


    Countless thoughts surged and clashed tumultuously in his mind.


    Then.


    His knees buckled, and he fell to them, burying his head in his hands and crashing to the ground, unable to control himself as he began to sob uncontrollably.


    She had almost forgotten this look on Li Yi, the look she had fallen in love with.


    ¡°Old Li, I remember someone saying sports games are the least interesting, not practical at all,¡± Jiang Yin said to Li Yi, mercilessly ripping off the band-aid.


    Li Yi was a bit embarrassed, murmuring to himself, uncertain how to respond.


    But that was only temporary.


    Joy, happiness, and madness continued unabated, welling up and burning intensely; Li Yi once again smiled, openly accepting the teasing and reality:


    He enjoyed ita?€¡±not just liked, but truly enjoyed it.


    Now, he was glad he had chosen to come to Minneapolis, glad he was present to witness this game, glad he could be a witness to Li Wei writing history.


    Before him, the vast sea of red was so dazzling and brilliant, his heart pounding against his chest with such force, Li Yi felt an unprecedented sense of reality and vitality, realizing life was not just about work, work, work; beyond the confines of his small space, there were endless possibilities.


    Thus.


    Li Yi looked at Jiang Yin again, smiled, and began to cheer, ¡°Champions, champions, we¡¯re the champions.¡±


    Jiang Yin could see Perry with a dislocated jaw, clearly, he had never seen Li Yi like this, making it seem almost as if he was a changed person; but Jiang Yin knew, this was the Li Yi from her memories, the one from when he was twenty.


    For a moment, the figures of Li Yi and Li Wei overlapped, then separated once more.


    Jiang Yin turned her head toward the field, struggling to find the number twenty-three amid the vast ocean of red, wondering, where was he going?


    That shade of red was moving toward a white storm.


    One, two.


    Li Wei pushed through his teammates who came to give high-fives and warm hugs, searching through the dense crowd, but it was not easy, as everyone was looking for Li Wei, everyone was congratulating him, coaches included, even the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ coaches and playersa?€¡±


    After Pederson hugged Reed and Smith, he immediately located Li Wei in the crowd and embraced him.


    Camera operators, reporters, and staff, all like large fluffy tails, diligently followed Li Wei, broadcasting his figure live to the world.


    Yet, Li Wei kept diligently searching.


    Finally!


    With a glance from the corner of his eye, he spotted a figure collapsed on the ground, Li Wei hastened forward, exchanged pleasantries with the Philadelphia Eagles players, parting the crowded figures, his steps finally halting before the dejected figure curled into a small ball, hugging his kneesa?€¡±Foles.


    ¡°Congratulations.¡±


    Li Wei said.

 Chapter 499

    ?Chapter 499: After 498, we¡¯ll meet again.


    Chapter 499: After 498, we¡¯ll meet again.


    The crowd was noisy, and a wave of heat rolled over the field, tumultuously.


    However.


    Foles, like an outsider, clutched his knees and curled up into a small ball on the grass, sinking into deep annoyance and despair.


    If the last pass had succeeded, if he hadn¡¯t stubbornly challenged Revis, if they had chosen ¡°Philly Special¡±...


    Would the outcome have been different?


    ...


    Countless thoughts filled his mind, almost bursting it open.


    Foles knew he was not a genius, or else he wouldn¡¯t have been so mediocre in the league for such a long time.


    The thought of retiring last year was serious; he truly considered leaving football for another professiona?€¡±


    such as, a real estate agent.


    But this year, everything seemed to be on the right track, from the coach to his teammates, and even his form.


    All gears fitted into the right place, and his confidence climbed steadily, peaking at the Super Bowl.


    Everything was perfect!


    However.@@@@


    He was just a bit short, just that final bit, falling before the finish line, all his efforts wasted.


    Maybe this was his only chance, his last chance, and yet, he had missed it.


    Next season, his fate was no longer in his control.


    Before the Super Bowl, the media had already eagerly raised a critical issuea?€¡±whether Wentz or Foles should be the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles next season.


    Originally, Foles did not have confidence, but he believed he could compete; now, everything was over, and he didn¡¯t even have the qualification to compete.


    It was not just about being Super Bowl Champions¨Chis whole career was now shrouded in fog.


    After a fierce and unreserved burnout, only emptiness remained, as if he was in a perpetual free fall in endless darkness.


    Bewildered.


    Bitter.


    Confused.


    Foles¡¯ world had hit the pause button.


    Untila?€¡±


    Next season?


    Foles¡¯ thoughts slowly unfolded like tea leaves in hot water:


    When Li Wei and the Philadelphia Eagles meet again, the opposing quarterback could be Wentz or Foles, anything is possible.


    Clearly, Li Wei was aware of the media gossip; the words he spoke were both an encouragement and an anticipation, standing at the conclusion of a fierce collision, issuing a challenge once more, not only looking forward to meeting again but also aspiring to grow together, to prove themselves through their actions.


    In that instant, passion surged immensely.


    Foles involuntarily stood straighter, a spark of hope rekindled in his despairing eyes.


    Perhaps they need to continuously prove themselves, perhaps controversy and challenges will follow them throughout their careers, but what of it?


    That¡¯s competition, that¡¯s life.


    One mountain after another stands before them, awaiting ascent and crossing; when roads end and paths are lost, unexpectedly, a new village shines through the flowers in the dark willows, at the edge of despair, clench your teeth and endure a little more, strive a little harder, and the view ahead will suddenly clear, revealing a radically different new world.


    Just like this entire season, his perseverance had led them to the Super Bowl stage; and just like tonight¡¯s Super Bowl, their persistence collided in the most spectacular contest in Super Bowl history, with Li Wei¡¯s persistence overturning the outcome in the final moments.


    Perhaps, no one understood Foles¡¯ feelings in that moment better than Li Wei.


    Soa?€¡±


    Foles quietly straightened his back, reclaimed his confidence, and a smile blossomed on his lips, ¡°I¡¯m not confident, but we¡¯ll meet again.¡±


    One second, two seconds.


    Li Wei caught on and burst into hearty laughter.


    The two shook hands again, firmly, the strength from their palms was the spirit and resolve emanating from deep within their souls, burning fiercely hot.


    ¡°Li Wei, Li Wei!¡±


    From behind, a call came.


    Li Wei turned back and saw Mahomes, Kelsey, and others joyfully waving at him, signaling towards the players¡¯ tunnel entrance, where one could see the championship team¡¯s families enteringa?€¡±


    And not just them, team staff were also entering, the entire stadium was transforming into Kansas City Chiefs time, the championship party atmosphere thickening, with smiles and cheers intermingling together.


    Li Wei¡¯s mood lightly soared, he turned to Foles and called out, ¡°Looking forward to our next meeting.¡±


    Foles cleared the gloom and shouted to the swiftly departing Li Wei, ¡°Looking forward to our next meeting.¡±


    This time, Li Wei didn¡¯t look back, just waved his hand, leaving only a silhouette as he briskly walked away, merging effortlessly and quickly with Kelsey and others, amidst the rousing cheer of the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ players.


    The atmosphere, utterly joyous.


    Withdrawing his gaze, Foles felt a stare and reflexively looked back; Wentz revealed a smile, gracefully meeting Foles¡¯ gaze.


    This time, Foles didn¡¯t look away; he looked back openly, his smile bloominga?€¡±


    The 52nd Super Bowl had ended, but their own battle had just begun.

 Chapter 500

    ?Chapter 500: 499 A new era Chapter 500: 499 A new era ¡°Dad!¡±


    ¡°Mom!¡±


    He jogged up, his calves trembling, and his knees quivering without much strength.


    In the next second, as he stumbled forward and was about to steady himself, he saw Li Yi with his arms wide open.


    In the blink of an eye, Levi didn¡¯t resist and went with the flow.


    Embrace!


    Honestly, Levi wasn¡¯t used to hugging, let alone with parents from this timeline.


    But at this moment, hugging seemed both right and the best way to celebrate.


    Li Yi also felt a bit awkward, sensing his muscles stiffen slightly; but after a brief moment of hesitation, he gently patted Levi¡¯s back like a robot, his emotions surging forth uncontrollably.


    ...


    ¡°Well done.¡±


    Li Yi said, a myriad of words condensed into this brief phrase.


    As soon as he finished, he felt awkward and quickly released Levi and looked away to hide his emotional fluctuation.


    Levi didn¡¯t notice because Jiang Yin immediately stepped forward, tilting his chin and scrutinizing him closely.


    Levi was startled, ¡°Mom!¡±


    Jiang Yin paid him no heed.


    A beat too late, Levi realized Jiang Yin was examining the wound on his forehead, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m fine, I¡¯ve almost forgotten about it.¡±


    And that was the truth.


    Focused entirely on the game, staying tense until the very last second, adrenaline rushing so much that he had completely forgotten about the wound.


    But Jiang Yin wasn¡¯t convinced, ¡°Does it hurt?¡±


    Her look and words clearly treated him as if he were a seven-year-old child.


    Levi, slightly helpless, replied, ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt.


    Really.¡±


    Jiang Yin¡¯s eyebrows still furrowed, ¡°Be careful not to scar.¡±


    Levi made a joke, ¡°It¡¯s okay, scars are more handsome, maybe more girls will confess to me.¡±


    Jiang Yin glared at him, but she couldn¡¯t stay stern for long, taking another close look at Levi.


    A smile crept over her lips, ¡°A spectacular game.¡±


    A simple sentence, but laden with so much affection and weight, it pressed heavily on Levi¡¯s chest.


    ¡°...The results have been announced.¡±


    ¡°The 52nd Super Bowl MVP is, Levi.¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡±


    ¡°Chieftains¡¯ running back Levi, No.


    23, is unanimously proclaimed the MVP of the game, meeting everyone¡¯s expectations and writing countless pages of history!¡±


    Bundchen: ...


    Bang!


    Bundchen hadn¡¯t managed to speak before she was answered with the sound of the door slamming shut.


    Bundchen thought it over, found the remote control and turned the TV back on.


    The Super Bowl awards ceremony had begun, the special guest was escorting the trophy into the venue, and in an instant, she revealed an understanding expression, filled with helplessness in her eyes.


    The Vince Lombardi Trophy was making its entrance.


    The Super Bowl Championship Trophy was named after legendary coach Vince Lombardi, who had led the Green Bay Packers to the first and second Super Bowl championships.


    After he passed away due to illness in 1970, the League officially named the championship trophy in his honor.


    Roar, roar, roar.


    Members of the Kansas City Chiefs, staff, family, and countless media crowded in a line to welcome the Vince Lombardi Trophy, each one eager to reach out, to touch and to feel, as if even a light touch could help them perceive the warmth and weight of the trophy, with the glory of the champions feeling more real than ever before.


    ¡°Li Wei...¡±


    In the midst of the surging, roaring crowd, along with the force of a pat on the shoulder, a voice arose in his ear.


    Li Wei, who was having fun with Mahomes, had to give up the chance to touch the Championship Trophy and reflexively turned his head to look.


    And then, he saw a familiar face:


    Eric Berry.


    Berry was leaning on crutches, slightly inconvenienced, his face was lit with excitement and fervor, yet he kept a distance, not pushing forward into the crowd.


    The smile at the corner of Li Wei¡¯s mouth fully bloomed, ¡°Captain, do you need to come forward?


    Come, come, my spot is yours, let¡¯s have everyone make some room.¡±


    Berry laughed heartily, waving his hands again and again, ¡°No need, no hurry, there will be opportunities in the future anyway.¡±


    After the Vince Lombardi Trophy is engraved with the name of the championship team, it will be collected and kept by the team, so the players will be able to see the trophy in the team¡¯s hall of honor.


    There will be plenty of opportunities.


    Berry tried to speak but was interrupted by the screams erupting around him.


    He was a little helpless, trying to compete with the noise of the entire celebration party with his voice alone was like an ant shaking a tree a?€¡° a hopeless effort.


    But Berry didn¡¯t give up.


    He had wanted to say it at the moment of the game-winning touchdown, but Li Wei was busy being surrounded and couldn¡¯t stop, and it seemed like he would continue to be just as busy and the focus of attention afterwards.


    Berry, dragging one leg, felt it inconvenient, and if he missed this opportunity, he might have to wait until tomorrow.


    Berry didn¡¯t want to wait until tomorrow.


    So, he looked at Li Wei and shouted with the biggest voice he could muster.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Li Wei froze.


    Berry said, ¡°Thank you for keeping your promise.¡±


    No matter what, this was the sentiment Berry wanted to personally convey to Li Wei.

 Chapter 501

    ?Chapter 501: 500 Awards Ceremony Chapter 501: 500 Awards Ceremony ¡°Thank you.¡±


    A simple and humble greeting, yet it could be savored in different flavors.


    Li Wei was slightly moved.


    He could discern Berry¡¯s complex emotions.@@@@


    Being crowned champion was indeed something to celebrate, not just worthy of celebration, but necessitating grand festivities; however, Berry had missed it, he ultimately hadn¡¯t been able to step onto the field to fight for the championship, he couldn¡¯t stand with his teammates in the most difficult and perilous moments to face the challenges together.


    Moreover, he had missed most of the regular season as well.


    The championship included his name, yet he hadn¡¯t truly participated in it.


    ...


    A championship trophy was certainly precious, filling a void in Berry¡¯s career; but acquiring the trophy in such a manner left some regrets.


    Words could hardly describe it.


    At this moment, a simple ¡®thank you¡¯ was also bittersweet, because Berry couldn¡¯t be sure if next season he would be able to fight alongside Li Weia?€¡±


    In front of injuries, no one could predict the outcome.


    But how should Li Wei respond?


    Any words seemed as insubstantial as chicken soup for the soul, given that the pain of injuries and the unknown future wasn¡¯t something anyone could assure.


    Just like life itself, standing before the inevitabilities of birth, aging, sickness, and death, everyone was equally insignificant.


    However, this did not mean that Li Wei would surrender.


    ¡°Hey, I haven¡¯t forgotten our bet.¡±


    Li Wei, with a smile full of confidence, reminded Berrya?€¡±


    Next season, he was still looking forward to it.


    It was a reminder as well as a challenge.


    Indeed, the future was unknown, some obstacles and challenges might remain unchanged despite their best efforts; but this did not mean they would give up or surrender, because the process leading to the outcome was just as precious as the result itself.


    After all, the long journey leading to death could also be called life.


    In just a few words, easily striking at the heart, Berry¡¯s throat tightened slightly, almost losing his composer, but he managed to control himself, covering up with an exaggerated smile, patting his thigh.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, ready to go, haha, just you wait.¡±


    Next season, they would still run and strive together, they would still face even harsher and more difficult challenges, they would still fight for the defense of their titlea?€¡±


    Defense of the title.


    Apart from the reporters and league staff, representatives from the Kansas City Chiefs had also gone on stage.


    Team owner Clark Hunt, team manager Brett Veach, and head coach Andy Reid, among others, were all looking over intently.


    Reid looked at his disciples with a face full of approval.


    But before Reid could speak, Hunt had already stepped forward, fixing his gaze on one figure.


    Houston and Smith tactfully made way, watching Hunt give Li Wei a hug.


    ¡°Well done.¡±


    Hunt patted Li Wei¡¯s shoulder heavily.


    A year ago, when Veach and Reid manipulated the draft at the convention to choose Li Wei with the Top Scholar pick, Hunt was on the verge of losing control; if it were not for Veach¡¯s next move to choose Mahomes, maximizing the value of his draft pick, he might have been furious.


    But he never would have imagined that this rookie Li Wei would emerge unexpectedly and bring the Vince Lombardi Trophy back to the Kansas City Chiefs after half a century.


    A thousand words were transformed into one smile.


    Now, Hunt looked at Li Wei as if he were a brown bear spotting honey.


    Li Wei also revealed a generously confident smile, ¡°A thrilling journey, thanks to everyone on our team who stuck it out till the end, with no one falling behind, including Mr.


    Hunt.¡±


    Hunt was taken aback.


    He then understood Li Wei¡¯s meaning, laughed heartily with pleasure, patted Li Wei¡¯s shoulder, and without saying much else, turned to shake hands separately with Smith and Houston, thoughtfully acknowledging everyone.


    This was the reminder from Li Wei just now: the credit should not belong to just one person.


    Finally, Hunt looked at Li Wei again, his gaze filled with profound meaning, ¡°You¡¯re an interesting guy.¡±


    Smith and Houston exchanged a look, a smile flickering in their eyes, and then Houston moved closer to Li Wei, ¡°Rookie, you¡¯re in the boss¡¯s good books now.¡±


    Li Wei shrugged lightly, ¡°Blacklist or whitelist?¡±


    Ha ha, ha ha ha.


    Watching Li Wei still making jokes with them at this moment, that poise and broadmindedness were indeed not common.


    Smith and Houston burst into laughter, forced to give a thumbs up.


    There was no time to continue the conversation, as the escalating cheers and screams from the crowd indicated that the Vince Lombardi Trophy had been escorted onto the award stage.


    League President Roger Goodell expertly stepped out to the fronta?€¡±


    Finally, the moment of coronation had arrived.

 Chapter 502

    ?Chapter 502: 501 Li Wei time Chapter 502: 501 Li Wei time ¡°Fans of the Kansas City Chiefs...¡±


    Goodell¡¯s voice, transmitted through the microphone to every corner of the U.S.


    Bank Stadium, also reached every corner covered by television screens.


    ¡°The trophy you have been eagerly waiting for is here, from the distant year of 1970 to the present of 2018.


    From the very first game of this regular season, you have been striving and fighting.


    You have interpreted the charm of football with your unparalleled performance and have stood at the pinnacle of the world with a historic posture.¡±


    ¡°Now, you are the world champions!¡±


    And then.


    Goodell handed the trophy to Clark Hunt.


    The moment Hunt held the Vince Lombardi Trophy aloft, red confetti rained down from the sky, and cheers and screams filled the whole stadium, as the entire U.S.


    ...


    Bank Stadium officially entered the Kansas City Chiefs era.


    From Hunt to Reed, then to Smith and Houston, one by one they stepped up, lifted the trophy, and were intervieweda?€¡±the ceremony of the award presentation was indispensable.


    Finally, it was Li Wei¡¯s turn.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, let¡¯s give our applause to the 52nd Super Bowl MVP, Li!


    Wei!¡±


    Li Wei stepped forward and took the Vince Lombardi Trophy from Houston¡¯s hands.


    Then, he thrust it high into the air!


    Ah, ah, ah!


    The whole place was frenzied.


    The entire stadium shook, and even Goodell was slightly surpriseda?€¡±


    Before Li Wei, Hunt, Reed, and others had already gone through the same ritual, a total of four times; the fans had also cheered four times, with the energy diminishing each time, but no one expected such an explosion of enthusiasm at this moment, surpassing any of the previous occasions, the emotions that had been brewing and waiting, now burned without reserve.


    Ah!


    Berry roared with all his might, his eyes filled with tears, yet his smile bloomed wildly because he knew he would not give up, he knew he would keep fighting.


    He was proud to be a member of the Chieftains.


    They would continue to fight side by side, they would keep pushing the limits.


    Ah!


    Not just the U.S.@@@@


    Bank Stadium, not just outside the stadium, not just the Old Oak Tavern, not just Kansas City, the entire North American continent could feel the sparks of a prairie fire spreading everywhere, even crossing the Pacific Ocean, burning fiercely on the distant Hua Xia Continent.


    This trophy witnessed glory, witnessed miracles, and it witnessed history!


    Li Wei, a running back.


    Throughout the season, Goodell had been trying to build a brand new brand, a fresh topic of conversation; now it seemed, the result had exceeded expectations, yielding a full harvest.


    Goodell, thoughtful, watched the scene unfold, then turned to Hunter, not only not avoiding his gaze but revealing an expression laden with deep meaning.


    Hunter understood at once, his eyes sweeping across the entire venue, slowly sinking into contemplation.


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    The entire place, electrified.


    This wasn¡¯t the first time Li Wei experienced such treatment; the year before last at Bryant Denny Stadium, he had an unforgettable birthday party, but the scale and spectacle of the current scene were different, as were the impact and emotion.


    A smile crept onto the corners of his lips.


    The whole season¡¯s memories flashed vividly and vibrantly through his mind.


    In his chest, an emotion began to stir.


    ¡°...Li Wei,¡± the host tried three times, all ending in failure, his hand raising the microphone, attempting to quiet the crowd so the interview could proceed, but ultimately still without success.


    The host appeared somewhat helpless.


    Li Wei noticed, looked over, the two exchanged glances, Li Wei¡¯s smile blossoming fully, he spread his arms with an expression of ¡°so popular I can¡¯t help it, it¡¯s so annoying,¡± eliciting laughter from the other person as well.


    Then.


    Li Wei slightly lifted his head, raised his left hand, and made a pressing-down gesture:


    Quiet.


    Like a conductor in front of a symphony orchestra, trying to control the entire scene.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t know if this would work, but he tried anyway; to his surprise, U.S.


    Bank Stadium seemed to understand his gesturea?€¡±


    Little by little.


    Impossibly, the noise began to quiet down.


    It wasn¡¯t dead silent, the rustling hot wave could still be heard, but the scene was indeed under control, so much so that a myriad of astonished gazes once again enveloped Li Wei.


    Cough cough.


    Li Wei coughed twice, putting on an air of nonchalance, but it was easy to see through the act, prompting a wave of laughter from the audience.


    The host¡¯s jaw dropped, needing the help of his left hand to snap back into place.


    Swallowing a mouthful of saliva to avoid drooling, ¡°Li Wei?


    Is that the correct way to address you?¡±


    The spotlight, thus shone down on Li Wei.


    A global audience of over one hundred and fifty million was watching this moment, their gazes even hotter and more intense than the spotlight, threatening to scald his skin.


    But there, Li Wei revealed a calm and collected smile, an open and confident demeanor.


    ¡°Hey, I don¡¯t mind if you call me ¡®rookie¡¯.¡±

 Chapter 503

    ?Chapter 503: 502 Extraordinary Journey Chapter 503: 502 Extraordinary Journey ¡°Hey, I don¡¯t mind you calling me a rookie.¡±


    With just one sentence, Li Wei once again set the U.S.


    Bank Stadium ablaze with enthusiasm.


    Not only Kansas City Chiefs fans, but neutral fans and quite a few Philadelphia Eagles supporters burst into laughter as well.


    At this moment, looking back, the rather mocking nickname ¡°rookie¡± had a different flavora?€¡±


    The rookie who knew nothing about football and didn¡¯t even know who Brady was had now led his team to the top of the Super Bowl and been crowned MVP.


    So, Li Wei didn¡¯t mind.


    He openly embraced the nickname.


    The host tasted the joke in Li Wei¡¯s words, and the corners of his mouth turned upward with a smile, ¡°Really?


    ...


    Even so, you¡¯re still willing to be called a rookie?¡±


    The host gestured with his right hand, up and downa?€¡±


    Li Wei was dressed in the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ Super Bowl Champion jersey prepared in advance for him, donning a Chiefs¡¯ Super Bowl Champion cap, and holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy.


    Li Wei shrugged lightly, his face full of acceptance, ¡°Hey, I¡¯m just a freshman.¡± At least literally, he was indeed still a rookie.


    Haha, hahaha.


    The whole place burst into laughter.


    The host¡¯s smile was now fully lifted, ¡°Well then, how do you feel?


    How does a league freshman standing on the ultimate stage of the Super Bowl feel right now?¡±


    ¡°No matter what, someone has to reach the top, so why can¡¯t it be us?¡± Li Wei returned the question with a curious baby¡¯s expression.


    Ahh ahh ahh!


    Roar roar roar!


    Laughter again, raucous cheering, U.S.


    Bank Stadium was anything but quiet, and what was typically a dull championship award ceremony transformed into a party.


    The host couldn¡¯t help it and chuckled out loud, his face alight with joy, waving his hands, ¡°Sorry, my bad.


    Let me rephrase the question.


    After such a dramatic and epic battle, how does it feel to be holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy?¡±


    Li Wei was about to speak, but his words paused on his tongue.


    Saw Smith, saw Berry, and saw Revis.


    This was just the tip of the iceberg, looking out there was a roaring tide of red waves and countless sparks in the vast world outside the stadium, burning fiercely in a prairie fire manner.


    It wasn¡¯t until now that Provo finally understood the meaning of Li Wei¡¯s words:


    We don¡¯t have confidence, but we will win.


    It was a kind of faith, a kind of determination.


    Involuntarily, Provo remembered the first time he saw Li Wei at the Old Oak Tavern, that seemingly frail figure that looked like it couldn¡¯t withstand a strong wind, yet stood before him with unwavering belief, head held high and chest out.


    The story began at that moment.


    Perhaps, Li Wei was the superhero who led Kansas City out of the long slump and endless darkness; perhaps not, but it didn¡¯t matter, because Li Wei had reignited hope, made them believe in dreams, believe in dawn, and believe once again that there were limitless possibilities ahead in life.


    Kansas City truly had been waiting for this day for far too long.


    Provo thought of West, thought of Anderson, thought of the buddies at the Old Oak Tavern.


    Everyone had their own difficulties and setbacks, everyone¡¯s life faced challenges to different extents, everyone struggled, the Kansas Chieftains and the Old Oak Tavern were their only respite in the midst of the long darkness.


    They, too, must be raising their heads to watch this moment right now.


    Thinking this, Provo unconsciously squared his shoulders and straightened his spine, a surge of hot blood swelled in his chest, and a wave of energy pulsed from deep within his soul.


    ¡°We are the Chieftains, we refuse to surrender, we refuse to compromise, we refuse to give up, we will fight, no matter the difficulty, no matter the desperation, to the very end.¡±


    ¡°So, we area?€¡±¡±


    Suddenly, Li Wei once again raised the Vince Lombardi Trophy high.


    In that instant, the surging emotions burst forth from Anderson¡¯s throat, losing his composure in a rare moment, releasing his feelings in a fervent and passionate roar that exploded in the quiet Old Oak Tavern.


    ¡°Champions!¡±


    Everyone in the tavern turned their eyes towards Anderson, their eyes filled with surprise and astonishment, but before they had time to think, they were caught up in the storm.


    Clearly, Anderson was not the only one.


    Fans of the Kansas City Chiefs at U.S.


    Bank Stadium responded to Li Wei¡¯s call with all their might, erupting with a thunderous intensity.


    ¡°Champions!¡±


    And like a mushroom cloud, it swept across the North American continent, not just Kansas City Chiefs fans, but every football fan who loved the game, who followed the game, and who was mad for football, felt this moment of frenzy and passion with their own hearts.


    Again and again, as if like a tsunami.


    ¡°Champions!¡±


    ¡°We are the champions!¡±

 Chapter 504

    ?Chapter 504: 503 Special Guest Chapter 504: 503 Special Guest Even standing in the player¡¯s tunnel, one could vividly feel the surging waves of heat from the entire stadium.


    The discussions, the excitement, the energy bursting forth from dancing hands and feet silently diffused through the air, turning the entire city of Minneapolis into a playground where everyone reverted to childhood, becoming kids again and enjoying those simple, pure moments of happiness.


    Stephen Curry was no stranger to this feeling.


    The sharp memory of the Golden State Warriors winning their second NBA championship last season was still fresh in his mind.


    He thought that this being his second championship trophy, he wouldn¡¯t lose his composure like the first time, but in truth, joy and happiness were just as capable of destroying reason.


    Yet, Curry was still taken abacka?€¡±


    Last season, they clinched the title at home, and the subsequent celebration was naturally a frenzied affair; but tonight, the Super Bowl was being held at a neutral venue.


    Logically, the atmosphere should have been a bit more restrained.


    ...


    However, to his surprise, it was just as uncontrollable.


    To be precise, the scale and spectacle of U.S.


    Bank Stadium far surpassed that of Oracle Arena.


    At this moment, witnessing the carnival of over one hundred thousand people was truly an eye-opener, allowing Curry to truly grasp the magnitude of football.


    The rolling heatwave that hit him seemed as if it could swallow him up at any moment.


    Curry felt a force in his right hand, a small palm desperately clutching the edge of his own.


    He could even feel the sweat in the palm and the iciness of the fingertips, which also transmitted the chaotic rhythm of a wildly racing heartbeat.


    Curry looked down at the little guy next to him, ¡°Nervous?¡±


    Ian Cole swallowed hard, looking blankly at Curry.


    No gestures or responses were needed to feel his answer.


    Curry was left speechless, ¡°Ian, I thought I was your favorite player.¡±


    Ian Cole, the young fan who had nearly been hurt at Madison Square Garden in New York not long ago, had been saved from disaster thanks to Li Wei¡¯s intervention.


    Back then, to console the little guy, Li Wei had graciously invited Ian to the Super Bowla?€¡±


    Li Wei kept his promise.


    Tonight, Curry brought Ian to watch the game at the U.S.


    Bank Stadium.


    Even Curry himself had been shocked and shaken by the rollercoaster of a game that had unfolded that night, so what about Ian, who had never been to a football stadium to watch a game before?


    Now, Ian¡¯s little head must be a jumbled mess.


    They stood in the player¡¯s tunnel, waiting for Li Wei to return from the ending award ceremony.


    Although they couldn¡¯t see Li Wei yet, the little guy was radiating nervousness from every pore.


    Everything, was on social mediaa?€¡±


    After the incident at Madison Square Garden, the news slowly began to ferment and spread, Li Wei¡¯s act of courage once again sparked widespread debates and attention, with some netizens even jokingly saying that New York¡¯s friendly neighbor had returned.


    ¡°New York¡¯s friendly neighbor¡±, in fact, was Spider-Man.


    In just less than half a month, the video swept across the world, with corners of social media everywhere featuring Li Wei and Kerr.


    Before Mahomes could finish speaking, the players who streamed in behind him, one after another, noticed the unexpected mascot and all started to clamor.


    ¡°Ian!¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve got to tell me about what happened that night at the Garden.¡±


    ¡°Hey Ian, surprise!


    Didn¡¯t expect you to actually show up tonight!¡±


    Kerr, who was so young, had never seen such a spectacle; the players who had just been running and fighting on the field now surrounded hima?€¡±


    He was overwhelmed.


    As a result, it was Li Wei who was left hanging.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t mind, standing up and high-fiving Curry, ¡°You did come after all.¡±


    Curry chuckled, ¡°Meanwhile the media is all attacking me for not sticking to my job, hey, you¡¯ve got to stick up for me at the press conference.¡±


    February, the NBA¡¯s tight schedule continued unabated.


    Of course, the whole North American continent knew the absolute appeal of the Super Bowl, no one wanted to clash with it head-on including the NBA, and many NBA players also made sure to watch the Super Bowl on time.


    Therefore, on the day of the Super Bowl, the NBA scheduled no games at all, giving way to the Super Bowl.


    Curry didn¡¯t need to take time off to be at the event tonight.


    However, before and after the Super Bowl, there was no breathing space in the schedule.


    Yesterday, the Golden State Warriors went on the road to challenge the Denver Nuggets and lost; tonight, Curry appeared at Minneapolis.


    After tonight¡¯s game, tomorrow remains free of games, but the day after tomorrow Curry will return to San Francisco to hold his ground at home court against the Oklahoma City Thunder.


    Nonstop.


    It¡¯s imaginable, Curry¡¯s appearance here tonight will probably be met with a lot of media chatter.


    However, in reality, LeBron James was also at U.S.


    Bank Stadium watching the game tonight; the difference was, James went to the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ luxury box.


    Besides, quite a few NBA players came to watch the game as well.


    Not only that, the presence of a series of Hollywood stars also kept the live cameras especially busy.


    If the media is prepared to stir things up and fan the flames, social networks are likely to buzz tomorrow, and the focus of those rubbernecking bystanders is easy to guess with one¡¯s kneesa?€¡±


    Not to mention James, who¡¯d had an off-record meeting with Li Wei and was considered a friend yet appeared in the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ box, just the different fates of the teams supported by James and Curry indicate the possible outcomes for the Cleveland Browns and Golden State Warriors this season?

 Chapter 505

    ?Chapter 505: 504 Treat all equally Chapter 505: 504 Treat all equally The Super Bowl, as the most solemn and grand event on the North American continent once a year, has considerable influence, and every move can spark discussion.


    LeBron James and Stephen Curry, two leading men of the League, both appeared at U.S.


    Bank Stadium supporting different teams, which alone was enough to keep the media and netizens buzzing for a while.


    Clearly, what Curry was worried about wasn¡¯t just the media criticizing him for not focusing on his profession.


    Li Wei wore a candid expression, pretending to know nothing and quickly disassociated himself, ¡°Wow, Stephen, what brings you here?


    I¡¯m truly honored, welcome, welcome.¡±


    Acting completely unaware of why Curry was at the venue to watch the game tonight.


    Curry looked at Li Wei, momentarily at a loss for words, ¡°Wow,¡± and then gave Li Wei another once-over, ¡°Wow, I had no idea this is what you were like, Li Wei.¡±


    Li Wei laughed heartily, ¡°No worries, just treat those words like a fart; as long as you guys can win the game, there¡¯s no problem.


    ...


    I¡¯ll be at Oracle Arena cheering for you during the Finals.¡±


    The Finals?


    Curry tried to keep his composure, but a smile still crept onto his lips, ¡°That certain, huh?


    You believe we¡¯ll definitely make it to the Finals?


    How about this, we¡¯re playing at home against the Thunder the day after tomorrow, you should come.¡±


    Li Wei looked surprised, ¡°Thunder?


    You need to deploy me as a lucky charm for a game against them?¡±


    ¡°Haha,¡± Curry burst into laughter, ¡°Hahaha.


    So is it a lucky charm or a heavy hitter?¡±


    Li Wei shook his head lightly, ¡°That¡¯s what you don¡¯t understand.


    The killer in the ghost mask in ¡®Scream¡¯ isn¡¯t scary; Paddington Bear with a shotgun going on a rampage in hell, that¡¯s true terror.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha,¡± Curry couldn¡¯t stop laughing and could only give Li Wei a thumbs up.@@@@


    Unfortunately, their conversation couldn¡¯t last too long.


    One after another, people came to congratulate the Kansas City Chiefs on their victory and Li Wei for winning the Super Bowl MVP, overwhelming him with no time to even catch his breath, let alone Goodell, who personally made an appearance to privately congratulate Li Wei and discuss the upcoming season.


    Bang!


    The moment Li Wei pushed the door and entered the locker room, champagne was popped and shot at him like a fire hose, followed by a bucket of Gatorade dumped over his head, completely drenching him.


    Because the Gatorade contained ice, Li Wei¡¯s jersey was filled with ice cubes, causing him to curl up as chills crept under his skin.


    Kelsey was about to cheer, but he only got halfway when he saw the pitiful bandage on Li Wei¡¯s forehead falling off, like a candle in the wind, and they were reminded of Li Wei¡¯s injury.


    The cheer and motion were abruptly stopped, revealing apologetic expressions.


    Before the season started, including Reed, none of them had anticipated such an outcome.


    They didn¡¯t dare to be too hopeful or greedy, they just moved forward steadily, one step at a time, and in the end, they created a miracle, making history from an underdog¡¯s stance.


    So, at this moment, enjoy to the fullesta?€¡±they deserved this party.


    When Li Wei and the others left the locker room, the clock had already pointed to one thirty-three in the morning.


    Usually, at this time, they would all be competing in a game of wits with the God of Sleep, resting up for the next day¡¯s training or match.


    Only upon entering the professional realm do you realize that the foundation of everything for a professional athlete is sleep quality.


    It¡¯s not as simple as ensuring a basic amount of sleep, often between trainings, sleep must also be guaranteed.


    Because it is the best way to adjust the body and conserve energy.


    Therefore, it¡¯s common to see professional soccer players getting scolded for staying up all night partying, and coaches would rage over it.


    The coaches are mad, not because the players are going out for dates or relaxation or parties, but because by doing so, the players break their sleep schedules and can¡¯t get enough rest, which directly impacts their training, form, and matches.


    But tonight is an exceptiona?€¡±


    The season has ended, and before the off-season training officially begins, players can finally break their daily routine and occasionally enjoy life.


    After all, this group of young people hasn¡¯t yet squandered their youth properly.


    Li Wei stood by the roadside, a black Porsche slowly pulled up in front of him.


    The window rolled down, ¡°Hey handsome, where to?¡±


    The driver was none other than Curry.


    Even though the Golden State Warriors had no game tomorrow, Curry still took a day off, but a disciplined Curry during the season would still go back to San Francisco for training.


    So, Curry wouldn¡¯t be drinking tonight.


    Curry showing up here was specifically to play the role of a drivera?€¡±


    There wasn¡¯t just one celebration party.


    Accurately speaking, there were more than a dozen.


    The collective post-game celebration had ended, now it was time for personal revelry.


    Team owner Hunter hosted a celebration banquet, Defensive group captain Houston hosted one, Hill hosted one, team manager Veach hosted one as well, and many others.


    Moreover, tonight¡¯s Super Bowl guests were also throwing parties, along with the fans¡¯ own parties, socialites all flocking to Minneapolisa?€¡±the sleepy little city had never been so lively.


    At this moment, at least forty parties were happening simultaneously in different parts of the city.


    That led to Curry¡¯s question:


    First stop, where do we head?

 Chapter 506

    ?Chapter 506: 505 Championship Night Chapter 506: 505 Championship Night ¡°Justin Houston, we¡¯ve just agreed with the other rookies to head over to his party en masse, swarm in, circle the venue once, then grab all the good booze we can find before swarming out again, making it a flash mob event.¡±


    ¡°Ha, hahaha.¡± Curry laughed uproariously, imagining the scene in his head.


    Kelsey, however, was full of question marks, looking as if he¡¯d just realized he was aboard a ¡®pirate ship¡¯, ¡°Why should I, an innocent bystander, join in your first-year antics?


    I¡¯m getting off this ride, Stephen, I need to get off, help me, someone¡¯s being kidnapped, hey, can you hear me?¡±


    Kelsey shouted at the passing fans outside the window, but those fans thought he was cheering and joined in with their own excited screams.


    Kelsey: ???


    Mahomes was laughing his heart out on the side.


    Curry glanced worriedly at the rearview mirror, then, seeing Li Wei¡¯s unconcerned expression with a slight smile, he decided not to bother with Kelsey, ¡°But hasn¡¯t your big boss thrown a victory party tonight?¡±


    Li Wei didn¡¯t answer, but glanced back at Curry and retorted, ¡°Did you guys all go to the big boss¡¯s party on the night you won the championship?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Curry blurted out the crisp reply and realized after speaking that his response was too hasty and definite, finding himself laughing as well.


    Firstly, there were countless parties on championship night, with nearly everyone moving from one party to another ¨C nobody stayed at just one.


    ...


    It was typical to hit four or five parties in one evening, with the more entertaining parties naturally attracting more people.


    At the parties, guests came and went, and the hosts couldn¡¯t possibly attend to everyone, so there weren¡¯t so many restraints or firm attendance requirements.


    Secondly, the big boss¡¯s victory parties were full of elite high society, and players might seem out of place; but what was certain was that they would be like gorillas who had strayed into a zoo, ready to perform tricks for the audience at any second.


    That kind of experience must be quite unique.


    Therefore, the big boss almost never required players to attend his own parties.


    Curry still remembered how, in his first championship win, he naA? ?vely went to greet the big boss at the party as suggested by others in the team, only to feel like Monk Tang in a spider¡¯s den ¨C dazed by the bizarre surroundings.


    He only realized the prank when he later told his teammates and they all laughed heartily.@@@@


    But what about Li Wei?


    Li Wei was also a rookie, also at his first Super Bowl win, so why were there no pranks on him?


    Curry sneaked a glance at Li Wei, ¡°What about your other teammates, what did they say?¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s face was calm, ¡°No one had any clue,¡± he explained, given it was their first championship win, ¡°then Reed and I told them we should at least go say hi.


    Houston and Berry nodded their agreement in silence.¡±


    Justin had just exchanged phone numbers with Li Wei at the U.S.


    Bank Stadium.


    He warmly invited Li Wei to a party, but Li Wei didn¡¯t take it seriously, assuming that the pop superstar was just being polite.


    But unexpectedly, Justin called again, asking when Li Wei would arrive, and joked that the party¡¯s success tonight depended on Li Wei.


    Once could be politeness, but twice suggested some sincerity.


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t refuse.


    So, here they werea?€¡±


    Overwhelmed.


    Even Curry, a basketball superstar at the pinnacle of the NBA, was no exception.


    Now, Curry could truly feel the gap between basketball and football.


    Despite the much higher average salary in the NBA compared to the numerous NFL, in terms of influence in North America, basketball still couldn¡¯t compare to football.


    The entire scale was different.


    Li Wei saving the party?


    Impossible!


    It was undoubtedly just politeness; clearly, Justin needed no one¡¯s help to host a star-studded event.


    Snowflake balls, neon lights, flickering brightness and darkness, music continuously booming, and among the crowd, too many familiar superstar figures could be seen.


    That must be Jennifer Lawrence dancing wildly in the dance floor, forgetting herself.


    Amanda Seyfried and Alexandra Daddario stood beside her, acting as her guardians, both laughing so hard they were shaking, clearly amused by Jennifer¡¯s dance moves akin to an exorcist¡¯s.


    At the center of the long sofa, sipping whiskey and half-drunk like a Persian cat, the figure was somewhat unclear, resembling Rihanna.


    It seemed like she was stepping on someone under her high heels, but the dim light really made it hard to see who the shadow was.


    Then, two figures were passing by, talking and laughing heartily without stopping, completely immersed in their own worlds to the extent that they didn¡¯t notice the surroundings.


    Mahomes quietly moved closer to Li Wei, unable to suppress his curiosity.


    ¡°Were those Black Widow and Captain America who just passed by us?¡±

 Chapter 507

    ?Chapter 507: 506 victory party Chapter 507: 506 victory party One scene followed another.


    The lights were dazzling, almost surreal, and the hazy lighting made people slightly dazed, unable to decipher whether they had accidentally stumbled into the Rabbit Hole or if characters from the movie screen had broken the fourth wall to enter reality.


    The whole world spun around.


    Even in the football world, they had only just topped the Super Bowl as the new elite, hardly yet superstars; stepping into such a party now, where characters from films and TV stood before them, their lack of experience and palpable nervousness couldn¡¯t be concealed.


    Involuntarily, Kelsey turned to Curry, ¡°Stephen?¡±


    Perhaps Curry was the exception.


    After all, having been a two-time NBA champion decorated with numerous honors, he was undoubtedly the man of the hour, surely more accustomed to such occasions than they were.


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.


    ...


    All eyes converged upon them.


    In that instant, Curry could feel the heavy weight on his shoulders as he straightened his back and said with an air of nonchalance,


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to make a fuss, Scarlett Johansson is a regular person tooa?€¡±two eyes, a nose, a mouth.


    You all saw it yourselves, or else Kevin wouldn¡¯t have wanted to drink her bathwater.¡±


    Kevin Durant, good fortune arrived while he was serenely at home.


    Kelsey and Mahomes both burst into laughter.


    Li Wei, however, could sense Curry¡¯s intense effort to appear calm despite the underlying tension, bumping Curry¡¯s shoulder lightly, ¡°In that case, aren¡¯t you planning to get a glass of Scarlett Johansson¡¯s bathwater for your teammate?


    If bathwater is not an option, a napkin with her lipstick mark might work.¡±


    Curry: ???


    Li Wei, don¡¯t set me up!


    Startled, Curry¡¯s secret anxieties were immediately apparent in his eyes.


    Li Wei¡¯s eyes brimmed with laughter, his nervousness easing slightlya?€¡±


    Indeed, Curry¡¯s words were true; they were all ordinary people, just in different fields and professions.@@@@


    The actors and singers fascinated them, and no doubt, they were just as fascinating to the actors and singers.


    It went both ways.


    Even though Curry had experienced the fantasy world inside the Rabbit Hole, his inexperience inadvertently revealed itself; seeing no one else daring to make the first move, it was instead the oblivious Li Wei who was more bold.


    ¡°Hey, girl.¡±


    People continuously passed by in front of him, and Li Wei, seeing a girl with a friendly face, urgently called out and flashed a big smile.


    ¡°Excuse me, do you know where the host of the party is?


    Have you seen him around?¡±


    Grande looked Li Wei up and down again without speaking, but Li Wei caught on, walked down the stairs, sat directly on the back of a couch in front, and casually crossed his legs, looking utterly relaxed.


    Silently, Li Wei and Grande¡¯s gazes met at the same level.


    Grande smiled sweetly, seemingly not expecting Li Wei to handle it this way, ¡°No worries, I hardly know anyone at this party either.¡±


    Leaning forward, close to Li Wei, her warm breath wafting towards him, ¡°Let me tell you a secret, I also don¡¯t know what I¡¯m doing here.¡±


    With that, she blinked lightly.


    Then creating some distance, Grande stretched out her right hand graciously, ¡°Ariana Grande.¡±


    Li Wei also extended his right hand, seriously shaking her hand in a polite manner, ¡°Li Wei.¡±


    Grande tilted her head, ¡°Very nice to meet you, Mr.


    Li.¡±


    Oh?


    Wait a minute!


    Mr.


    Li?


    Apparently, Grande was not completely unaware of who Li Wei was; otherwise, how would she have known his surname right away?


    But before Li Wei could say anything, Grande had already moved away, looking over Li Wei¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Look, tonight¡¯s party king has arrived.¡±


    Li Wei turned his head and saw Timberlake making an entrance in a silver suit, the intermittent lights making his suit exceptionally eye-catching, even shimmering cascading lights reflecting from it like a silver eel, undoubtedly the evening¡¯s brightest spectacle.


    By the time Li Wei turned back, Grande had left only a back view as she drifted away.


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Oh, God, this is fantastic, Stephen, Travis, Patrick, you guys are here too, come, come, come, join us fast.¡±


    Timberlake, a seasoned player in the entertainment industry for over twenty years, didn¡¯t miss a beat, immediately shouting out everyone¡¯s names accurately, including Mahomes, with arms wide open in a warm welcome.


    ¡°Tonight, we¡¯ve been waiting for you guys.¡±


    ¡°Ha, you guys are the stars tonight, we are all here using the Kansas City Chiefs as an excuse to party, and now that the stars have arrived, how about everyone takes a shot to warm up the party?¡±


    ¡°Shot¡±, not a bullet, but a hard drink.


    Timberlake gestured with his right hand, and a waiter appeared gracefully with a tray of tequila.


    Li Wei looked towards Timberlake, opening his mouth, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to be ambushed here so early.¡±


    Otherwise, how could the waiter be so coordinated?


    Timberlake¡¯s face was calm, ¡°The story of Justin Houston¡¯s party has already spread across Minneapolis.¡±


    So, indeed, it was all planned in advance.

 Chapter 508

    ?Chapter 508: 507 Off Script Chapter 508: 507 Off Script ¡°...I don¡¯t like football.¡±


    Justin Timberlake said earnestly, looking at Li Wei, raising his hands in surrender, but there wasn¡¯t the slightest hint of apology in his eyes.


    ¡°Sorry, even though it might be a bit rude, but the truth is, I prefer basketball.


    The whole of Los Angeles knows I¡¯m often at the Staples Center.¡±


    Timberlake said it with a straight face, making Mahomes and Kelsey¡¯s smiles stiffen a bit, as if they didn¡¯t quite know how to respond.


    But Li Wei wasn¡¯t flustereda?€¡±


    Setting aside the fact that Timberlake was widely known for his humor and wit, it was clear from his initial greetings that he was smooth and diplomatic.


    Someone like that, how could he possibly invite guests over only to give them a slap in the face?


    Plus, tonight was already the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ moment.


    Li Wei met Timberlake¡¯s gaze with a concerned expression, ¡°What, because of a psychological shadow?


    ...


    Your performance tonight must have been difficult.


    Congratulations on overcoming your psychological barrier, so, you can fully enjoy football from now on, congratulations, congratulations.¡±


    Timberlake: ...


    Frustrated.


    In 2004, during the 38th Super Bowl halftime show, top superstar Janet Jacksona?€¡±Michael Jackson¡¯s sistera?€¡±was a guest performer.


    She invited Timberlake, who had recently gone solo from Super Boy, to sing a duet with her.


    At the end of the performance, Timberlake suddenly reached towards Jackson¡¯s left breast and, without warning, tore off that side of her leather bustier, leading to a restricted moment aired live nationwide.


    Due to the immense influence of the Super Bowl, the incident caused a huge stir.


    It even led to an official FBI investigation and became the infamous ¡°Super Bowl Incident.¡±


    Though Jackson and Timberlake both responded, the truth wasn¡¯t clarified but rather got muddled further.


    Some said it was Jackson¡¯s self-promotion stunt, others said it was a pre-rehearsed performance agreed upon by Jackson and Timberlake, some claimed it was a pure accident, and some believed it was a small prank by Timberlake that turned into a serious incident.


    Etcetera, etcetera.


    However, the outcome was all too clear: Janet Jackson faced several low-key years of unofficial sanction, with her career never recovering; Timberlake, on the other hand, sailed through smoothly.


    Despite missing the Grammys a month later, he still took home awards, and his career flourished.


    Moreover, all live television broadcasts in the United States were required to have a delay, at least thirty seconds to a minute, to give networks time to deal with unexpected incidents.


    Timberlake patted Li Wei on the shoulder, ¡°According to the plan, I was supposed to say I don¡¯t like football, then pause a bit to create suspense, making the atmosphere awkward, and then say, but you made me like football, and then you guys could start clapping and whistling.


    You didn¡¯t stick to the script.¡±


    Li Wei looked innocent, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t read the script in advance.


    Indeed, I¡¯m not cut out for Wuju Merchant¡¯s offense.¡±


    Laughter, thunderous laughter.


    Even Timberlake had to give Li Wei a thumbs up.


    The party was still noisy and rowdy, everyone immersed in their own little world, but those not yet unconscious from alcohol could feel that Timberlake and a group of Kansas City Chiefs were having a great time talking.


    That corner was undoubtedly the absolute center of the party.


    It was precisely because of this that when Li Wei and the others dispersed, other guests approached one after another, greeting him in an endless stream.


    ¡°Knock knock, please give me a glass of soda water.¡±


    Finally, Li Wei found an excuse to extricate himself and take a breather.


    He approached the bar and shouted loudly at the bartender, feeling as if his throat was on fire.


    The area around the bar was already somewhat crowded.


    To his left, there was a figure who seemed to be waiting patiently for the bartender¡¯s attention.


    Hearing Li Wei¡¯s request, the corners of their mouth curled into a smile.


    ¡°Soda water?


    You don¡¯t look like the good kid type at all.¡±


    Li Wei turned his head and saw a pair of bright eyes.


    Even in a loose white T-shirt, the impressive curves were unmistakable, and the dark brown hair hung lazily down, casually exuding a sensuality like that of a wild kitten, easily capturing anyone¡¯s gaze.


    Li Wei responded with a smile, ¡°It seems that my efforts to craft a bad boy image have been successful.¡±


    Ha.


    The woman laughed heartily, ¡°What, are you planning to play the role of the Big Bad Wolf who scares children to tears?¡±


    Li Wei spread his hands, ¡°Hey, that¡¯s certainly better than Little Red Riding Hood who innocently tempts others into sin, right?¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡± The woman laughed openly, ¡°So, does the Big Bad Wolf drinking soda water not worry about being seen by others?¡±


    ¡°Shush.


    Please, keep it a secret.¡± Li Wei went with the flow, ¡°Now, you have a little dirt on me, I believe we should be able to peacefully coexist from now on.¡±

 Chapter 509

    ?Chapter 509: 508 Peacock Spreads Its Tail Chapter 509: 508 Peacock Spreads Its Tail The woman slightly lifted her chin, a hint of surprise showing in her eyes that resembled those of a Persian cat, and she sized up Li Wei again without a ripple, ¡°A handle?


    So, my guess was right, you really are worried about being seen drinking soda, let me guess, you¡¯re a football player.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s face remained calm, ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    The corners of the woman¡¯s mouth curled into a smile, ¡°I¡¯ve heard football players argue more than once that football is the real man¡¯s sport, soccer is for cowards, and basketball is a woman¡¯s game.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡± Li Wei hadn¡¯t anticipated this and almost burst out laughing.


    His gaze fell on the woman¡¯s eyes which looked straight at him, a mocking smile hidden in their depths.


    Li Wei¡¯s mouth curved into a smile, ¡°No no, actually, you didn¡¯t hear the whole thing.¡±


    ¡°Rugby is the real man¡¯s sport, American football is for soft eggs, soccer is a woman¡¯s sport, and basketball is a child¡¯s game.¡±


    The woman had not expected this twist and was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter, her whole body shaking mirthfully, ¡°Oh, God, I can¡¯t believe there¡¯s a full version.¡±


    ¡°But why?¡±


    Li Wei shrugged lightly, ¡°Because rugby is played without pads in a full-contact manner?¡±


    With a smile full of amusement, the woman responded, ¡°So, I was wrong, you are British and not an American football player.¡±


    Li Wei spread his hands, ¡°Unfortunately, I am a football player, American style.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha.¡± The woman laughed again but quickly composed herself, ¡°So, what¡¯s your take on those rumors?¡±


    Li Wei was not flustered and calmly replied.


    ¡°I think that a sense of superiority regarding any sports is foolish and narrow-minded because sports is not really about strength or being muscular; it¡¯s about challenging oneself and pushing limits.¡±


    ¡°Of course, sports often display strength, speed, and confrontation, but it¡¯s far more than that.


    Beyond the outcomes and trophies, there¡¯s so much more.¡±


    ¡°I regret those narrow-minded views.¡±


    The woman quietly watched Li Wei, a hint of admiration and surprise in her eyes, apparently not expecting this turn of eventsa?€¡±


    But she didn¡¯t resist it.


    Noticing this, Li Wei cracked a joke, ¡°Showing off like a peacock isn¡¯t a mistake, right?¡±


    The woman¡¯s smile bloomed again, almost uncontrollable, her impressive talents stealing the limelight and making it hard to remain focused on the conversation, ¡°So, you really are a football player?¡±


    This time, Li Wei didn¡¯t deny it, ¡°Li Wei.¡±


    The woman paused, ¡°Aha?€| you are Li Wei!¡±


    Li Wei slightly pursed his lips and humbly said, ¡°It seems my work has had some effect.¡±


    ...


    For the first time, Daddario showed a hint of shyness, gently shaking her head, ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯d like those kinds of movies.¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Then what kind of movies do you think I should like?¡±


    Daddario¡¯s words were already on the tip of her tongue but she swallowed them, her eyes once again twinkling with mischief, ¡°Perhaps something like ¡®Titanic¡¯?¡±


    Out of countless genres like action, adventure, sci-fi, horror, and more, Daddario specifically chose ¡°Titanic¡±?


    Of course, it¡¯s not that ¡°Titanic¡± is bad, being a classic, but obviously, Daddario deliberately chose such a romantic disaster movie.


    Li Wei immediately understood, his expression loaded with meaning.


    Realizing her little trick was about to be exposed, Daddario was slightly embarrassed, adding, ¡°I just thought, it¡¯s a movie everyone has seena?€|¡±


    Li Wei pursed his lips to keep from smiling, taking a serious stance, ¡°Actually, that is my least favorite movie, I have never seen ¡®Titanic¡¯.¡±


    Daddario couldn¡¯t hold back, ¡°What?¡± Her eyes filled with surprise, she hardly believed her ears, ¡°You haven¡¯t seen ¡®Titanic¡¯?¡±


    Li Wei spread his hands, ¡°Please, I know the movie made an unbelievable box-office worldwide, but that doesn¡¯t mean all six billion people on Earth have seen it, just like with ¡®Avengers,¡¯ I bet you haven¡¯t seen that either.¡±


    Daddario¡¯s mouth fell slightly open, but in the end, she couldn¡¯t argue, ¡°But it¡¯s ¡®Titanic¡¯!¡±


    Pfft.


    Li Wei laughed outright, ¡°James Cameron, who made ¡®Terminator¡¯, ¡®Aliens¡¯, some of the most exciting and outstanding action movies ever, and also ¡®Abyss¡¯, ¡®Avatar¡¯, ¡®Terminator 2¡¯ and more, then he made that most expensive, most pretentious, most contrived romantic movie, oh, God.¡±


    ¡°Even more absurdly, it was a box-office hit.


    Everyone rushed to the theaters, and even years later, re-releases still drew crowds.


    Can you believe it?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I decided to refuse to watch it.¡±


    Ha ha, ha ha ha.


    Daddario couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter, ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit immature?¡±


    ¡°Of course not, it¡¯s called maintaining self, refusing to follow the crowd.¡± Li Wei said earnestly.


    Daddario couldn¡¯t stop laughing, ¡°But actually, I really love that movie.


    Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s romantically bone-deep?¡±


    Li Wei took a deep breath, ¡°It¡¯s okay, everyone has flaws.¡±


    One second, two seconds.


    Daddario finally caught onto Li Wei¡¯s meaning, bursting into laughter again, almost unable to believe her ears, ¡°So this is the biggest flaw preventing me from being perfect?¡±

 Chapter 510

    ?Chapter 510: 509 days of whirlwind transformation Chapter 510: 509 days of whirlwind transformation ¡°So this is the biggest flaw stopping me from achieving perfection?¡±


    Daddario had just made the comment offhandedly, a minor tease, but after she said it, she noticed a light smile emerge in Li Wei¡¯s eyes which caused her cheeks to warm slightly, and she subconsciously wanted to look away.


    However, she was half a beat too slow.


    Li Wei said, ¡°At least, it¡¯s the only flaw I can see from my perspective.¡±


    Thump.


    Daddario¡¯s heartbeat skipped a beat, instantly losing its normal rhythm.


    Li Wei seemed to notice Daddario¡¯s embarrassment and took the initiative to ease the situation, raising his soda, ¡°A toast to flaws.¡±


    Daddario was stunned, then chuckled again at Li Wei¡¯s words, also lifting her champagne, ¡°A toast to flaws.¡±


    After a pause, Daddario couldn¡¯t contain her curiosity, ¡°Would you like to watch a movie together sometime in the future?¡±


    ¡°With who?¡± Li Wei asked.


    Daddario choked, the words she had on the tip of her tongue swallowing back down.


    The smile in Li Wei¡¯s eyes emerged, and he didn¡¯t pursue further, ¡°But I¡¯ll have to be the one to choose the movie.¡±


    Daddario tilted her head, ¡°What kind of movies would you pick?¡±


    Li Wei thought seriously, ¡°John Carpenter or David Cronenberg.¡±


    All horror moviesa?€¡±


    Of course, strictly speaking, Cronenberg¡¯s works are not traditional horror movies, nor are Carpenter¡¯s, really; their works contain elements of the sci-fi genre to some extent.


    ...


    But no doubt, both directors¡¯ works include themes of body horror.


    Daddario: ...


    Those beautiful eyes were wide with disbelief as she looked at Li Wei, whose frank gaze made him slightly embarrassed, revealing a smile.


    Then Daddario also found her smile, saying earnestly.


    ¡°Then I¡¯m going to cancel.¡±


    Hahaha.


    This time it was Li Wei¡¯s turn to laugh heartily.


    Just as Li Wei was preparing to joke again, someone placed their hands on his shoulders, and he turned around reflexively, immediately spotting Timberlake¡¯s profile.


    Without greeting Li Wei, Timberlake turned to Daddario.


    ¡°Alexandra, sorry, may I borrow this handsome guy for a second?¡±


    Borrow?


    Daddario¡¯s cheeks bloomed with redness as she quickly glanced at Li Wei, ¡°He¡¯s yours, feel free to use him.¡±


    Li Wei: ???


    If he remembered correctly, Beckham had been working with Major League Soccer since 2014 to establish a brand-new professional soccer team, which officially came into being on January 28, 2018, as Miami International.


    In other words, just a week ago, Beckham became the owner of a team; however, at the moment, the team only had a ¡°license,¡± not even a stadium or players, let alone a team name.


    They had a whole year to build the teama?€¡±


    The American Professional Football League begins its new season every March.


    So Beckham is now shuttling between Miami and London.


    Thinking more deeply, Beckham¡¯s appearance at the Super Bowl in Minneapolis was probably to network and lay the groundwork for his soccer team, as managing a professional team is no simple task.


    ¡°Welcome, welcome!¡±


    David Beckham, ever the handsome man, whether before or after his retirement, appeared again, arms wide, his smile warm and welcoming.


    ¡°This is a secret garden, a secret garden that no one knows about.¡±


    ¡°Just like the saying goes, ¡®What happens in Rome stays in Rome¡¯; what happens in the garden also stays in the garden.¡±


    His words were loaded with meaning.


    The Garden.


    Casually mentioned, it wouldn¡¯t raise any suspicion; even if someone delved deeper, they might mistake it for New York Madison Square Gardena?€¡±


    Because that arena is also affectionately called the Garden.


    Li Wei cocked an eyebrow slightly, ¡°Victoria doesn¡¯t know about the Garden either?¡±


    ¡°Shush.¡± Beckham didn¡¯t confirm or deny, he just flashed a brilliant smile, arms wide as he walked backward into the greenery behind, ¡°Welcome to the Garden.¡±


    Creak.


    The heavy, dark brown wooden door swung open, and Beckham turned and walked inside.


    Kelsey staggered forward, and as Li Wei was about to follow, Mahomes grabbed him, his eyes blinking continuously.


    ¡°Li Wei.¡±


    Li Wei: ?


    Mahomes was very nervous, ¡°Brittany...


    what if she finds out?¡±


    Within the football team, with its fifty-odd players all different, there were various choices for private lives outside traininga?€¡±some liked alcohol, others games, fitness, women, and so on.


    But the players rarely invited Mahomes.


    Not because Mahomes was a rookie, but because he was a good kid, deeply involved with Brittany, even blushing and looking away whenever a female fan screamed at him.


    The team teased that Mahomes hadn¡¯t gone bad yet.


    Houston said, since he hadn¡¯t gone bad, there was no need to lead him astray; at least, they should respect the relationship between Mahomes and Brittany.


    But tonight?

 Chapter 511

    ?Chapter 511: 510 Secret Garden Chapter 511: 510 Secret Garden Clearly, Mahomes was not familiar with and was not accustomed to such a lifestyle.


    Li Wei immediately understood; he knew the relationship between Mahomes and Brittany was rock-solid, ¡°You don¡¯t want to go in?


    If you don¡¯t want to, I¡¯ll talk to David and we can leave right now.¡±


    Mahomes looked hesitant.


    Li Wei caught that fleeting struggle, ¡°If you¡¯re willing to go in, if you don¡¯t say anything and I don¡¯t say anything, Travis definitely won¡¯t say anything either, just like David said, ¡®What happens in the garden stays in the garden.''¡±


    Mahomes blinked, took a deep breath, as if he had made some major decision, looked back and then forward, and finally gazed at Kelsey¡¯s retreating figure, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    This time, it was Li Wei who asked again, ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    Mahomes nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to see, it¡¯s you guys who wouldn¡¯t let me join.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s lips curved up slightly, ¡°Sherlock, we respect your loyalty to love, which is an admirable virtue, especially rare on the football field.¡±


    Mahomes was startled, swallowing a gulp of saliva, ¡°Maybe I¡¯m ready now?¡±


    This time, Li Wei said nothing more.


    He patted Mahomes on the back, and the two followed the others.


    Pushing open the door, the first sight was swimsuits.


    All kinds of patterns and types, some top-only and some bottom-only, dazzling, with laughing sounds swirling in the air.


    ...


    A sea of people!


    It was no less intense than Minneapolis, with just an entrance sufficient to feel the seething heat in the air, much like ¡°Sin City¡± Las Vegas, instantly sucking every visitor into a vortex of excitement, bubbling energy, and pulsating veins.


    When Beckham appeared with three Chieftains, cheers erupted instantly.


    ¡°Super Bowl!


    Super Bowl!


    Super Bowl!¡±


    Cheers from everywhere seamlessly transitioned into party mode.


    ¡°Come, as the host, let me give you a tour, and then you can explore on your own.¡±


    Beckham was very enthusiastic, repeatedly waving with his arm around Kelsey¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Here¡¯s the game room...¡±


    In the center was a pool table, to the right a long bar, and neatly lined up next to it were rows of arcade machines, not just slot machines but also Street Fighter, Final Fight, Aliens vs.


    Predator, and other street games no longer seen.


    At that moment, Li Wei¡¯s eyes lit up.


    Beckham noticed, ¡°Childhood memories, right?


    Pfft.


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud.


    Beckham didn¡¯t understand, ¡°What, you don¡¯t like the choice of movie?¡±


    Li Wei, smiling broadly, gently shook his head, ¡°No, no, perfect choice.


    But, I never knew you were also a movie enthusiast.¡±


    Although it was rumored that after retiring, Beckham was planning to break into Hollywood since Victoria Beckham did come from a singing background.


    However, that hasn¡¯t happened, at least not till now; Beckham hasn¡¯t formally started any activity in Hollywood.


    Beckham flashed a mysteriously mischievous smile, ¡°Didn¡¯t expect I could fool you too, haha, this cinema is a bit different.¡±


    Beckham approached the coffee table in front of the seats and pressed a hidden button underneath the tabletop, which then opened up, layer by layer unfolding automatically.


    Cigars.


    ¡°Tobacco.¡± Among other things.


    It was an impressive array.


    Apparently, the movie was just a pretext.


    Li Wei was amazed; in a house with so many bizarre rooms, the most unbelievable thing was hidden in the most ordinary room.


    Beckham picked up a hand-rolled ¡°cigarette¡± and looked at Li Wei, ¡°Want one?¡±


    Kelsey was hesitating when he suddenly found the spot to his right completely empty; turning his head, he saw Li Wei and Mahomes had both stepped back a great distance, leaving Kelsey to stand on the frontline alone.


    Beckham handed the cigarette to Kelsey, ¡°The off-season has already started.¡±


    Kelsey, ¡°I know.¡± But looking at the cigarette, then at Li Wei and Mahomes maintaining an ¡°awkward yet polite smile,¡± he gritted his teeth and waved his hand, ¡°But we still have a twenty-four-hour restriction.¡±


    The season had ended, but for the next twenty-four hours, the League could still conduct random drug tests at any time.


    Cigarettes?


    No worries there, but what Kelsey was concerned about were the other items beside the cigarettes.


    Watching Li Wei and Mahomes stay on guard, he also managed to control himself.


    Turning around, he saw eight beauties giggling as they walked past, casting flirtatious glances at them, and even one of them patted Mahomes¡¯s chest.


    It was more of a caress than a pat.


    He even got a feel.


    Mahomes, green behind the ears, had never seen such a spectacle; his cheeks flushing, he inadvertently burped.


    Li Wei and Kelsey both laughed, instantly recognizing an unspoiled good kid.


    As Kelsey and Beckham moved ahead, Li Wei held Mahomes back slightly and whispered, ¡°Sherlock, I think we should leave now.¡±

 Chapter 512

    ?Chapter 512: Charlie¡¯s Angels Chapter 512: Charlie¡¯s Angels ¡°`


    Giggles and laughter, cheerful conversation.


    Both Kelsey and Beckham, seasoned veterans unfazed by the unusual, chatted and laughed as they moved along, even swaying with the musica?€¡±it was clear they were very comfortable.


    As they continued forward, Li Wei pulled Mahomes aside to lag behind slightly, creating a bit of distance, ¡°Sherlock, I think we should leave.¡±


    Confused, Mahomes asked, ¡°Why?¡±


    That said, Mahomes was careful not to glance around; his neck stiff and his eyes forward, afraid that he might inadvertently see something bizarre.


    Li Wei noticed and said seriously, ¡°Your relationship with Brittany is special.¡±


    ¡°You know, in our daily team training, on the way to away games, there are way too many temptations, and even those with families mess arounda?€¡±it¡¯s all too common.¡±


    ¡°Seeking thrills isn¡¯t hard; just take a stroll around the hotel lobby or a bar, and you can easily fall into bad company.


    But a bond like yours that has lasted from school until now is rare, something those selfish, immature people can¡¯t have.¡±


    That¡¯s precisely why Houston had told the team not to lead Mahomes astray.


    Usually, the team joked around with Mahomes, but Houston intercepted them all.


    This was a rare sight in an NFL team.


    ...


    Off the field, the sports world is rife with conflicts and temptations that many often overlook, going with the flow, where sentiments like ¡°everyone¡¯s doing it, why can¡¯t I?¡± or ¡°if everyone else is, me refusing would be odd,¡± lead to the slow loss of innocence, loyalty, and determination.


    However, these are not bad qualities; far from it, they should be affirmed.


    Mahomes still maintained these excellent qualities, and like Houston, Li Wei wanted to preserve them as much as possible.


    After all, they were becoming a scarce commodity.


    Mahomes was taken aback, but clearly half-drunk and unable to keep up, asked, ¡°What if I wanted to be selfish and childish just once?¡±


    ¡°How do you think my new image would be?¡±


    Li Wei took a deep breath and showed a helpless smile, ¡°Then I would shut my mouth in front of Brittany.¡±


    Mahomes chuckled, ¡°Thanks, bro.¡±@@@@


    Li Wei shook his head helplessly, ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.


    Because if Brittany finds out, she¡¯ll 100% blame me, saying I led you astray.


    God, I don¡¯t want to face such an accusation, so I¡¯ll keep quiet, and you¡¯d better not reveal anything to Brittany either.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay.


    Uh, wait, is that...


    Jay-Z, God!¡±


    Before he could finish, Mahomes¡¯s attention had already been swept away.


    Following Mahomes¡¯s gaze, Li Wei saw a tall, sturdy African American man still wearing sunglasses in the early hours of the morning, with a particularly eye-catching gold chain on his neck, nearly distracting from his thick lipsa?€¡±as soon as he showed up, he undoubtedly became the center of attentiona?€¡±


    ¡°Travis...¡±


    Li Wei saw Kelsey, called out, and was about to ask some questions when Kelsey had no time to answer, hastily shouting ¡°Run¡± to Li Wei before turning and rushing out.


    In ¡°Jurassic World,¡± the scene wasn¡¯t much different when the T-Rex broke out of its cage.


    Catching a glimpse in his peripheral vision, Li Wei noticed the crisis Kelsey faced; before he could shout ¡°Travis,¡± a figure passed by Kelsey and with one push sent Kelsey splashing into the swimming pool.


    Splash.


    Kelsey performed a swan falling into the water.


    Flailing in the water, Li Wei didn¡¯t have time to pay attention to Kelseya?€¡±after all, the pool wasn¡¯t deep, his feet could touch the bottom, he should be safe; Li Wei¡¯s attention was drawn by the roaring that arose.


    Bang.


    The door was kicked open.


    Literally, the door fell askew, and the figure of a Charlie¡¯s Angel emerged, radiating a ferocious aura from head to toe.


    ¡°Jay.¡±


    She called out, not loud, even somewhat low, but all the more terrifying, sounding like a whisper from the depths of hell.


    ¡°Jay.¡±


    ¡°Jay!¡±


    Then.


    ¡°Shawn-Corey-Carter!¡±


    A bolt from the blue!


    An echo that lingers for days!


    It took a moment for Li Wei to realize that the name mentioned was Jay-Z¡¯s real name.


    So, the gallant and fierce lady before him must be BeyoncA??, with a gaze powerful enough to shut down the Terminator T1000.


    Sweeping her eyes across the room, BeyoncA?? immediately spotted Li Wei sitting obediently in front of the street arcade machine.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Jay-Z?¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s eyes widened, his face the picture of innocence, ¡°He¡¯s not in the game room.¡±


    He was telling the truth, one hundred percent.


    BeyoncA?? gave Li Wei a sharp look, confirming that he wasn¡¯t lying and that he didn¡¯t know where Jay-Z had gone, then strode away.


    ¡°David.¡±


    ¡°David...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t make me call Victoria.¡±


    That calm voice could definitely compete with the guy from ¡°Saw¡± with the chainsaw, the entire garden fell silent, every helpless and frail soul shivered.


    The only question in Li Wei¡¯s mind: Where did Beckham run off to?

 Chapter 513

    ?Chapter 513: Half-asleep, half-awake Chapter 513: Half-asleep, half-awake ¡°David.¡±


    ¡°Davida?€|¡±


    BeyoncA??¡¯s voice faded away as if it were a long sword being dragged across the ground, sparking and sizzling everywhere, with a killing aura permeating the air.@@@@


    Eventually, the game room quieted down.


    Li Wei looked at the mess around him and couldn¡¯t immediately distinguish whether this was reality or imagination.


    He stood up and walked towards the outdoor swimming pool.


    Kelsey emerged from under the water like a jellyfish holding its breath.


    Seeing Li Wei¡¯s figure, she surfaced, ¡°Are they gone, gone?¡±


    Li Wei shrugged lightly, ¡°Surveying the territory.¡±


    Kelsey anxiously turned her head to look around, ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here as soon as possible.¡±


    Li Wei nodded, ¡°I think you should get out of there soon too.¡±


    Kelsey, not understanding why, followed Li Wei¡¯s gaze and looked down.


    It took her a much longer time to realize she was soaking in the pool.


    ...


    ¡°Ah, ah ah ah...


    This is the river of love...


    damn it!¡±


    ¡°Oh, God, I drank some water, I actually swallowed it.¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Standing on the shore, Li Wei stepped back to create some distance before Kelsey could try to pull him into the water with her, a move that plunged Kelsey into despair, especially upon seeing Li Wei¡¯s smiling face:


    Life is no longer worth living.


    Even on the private jet, Kelsey was still continuously sniffing her clothes, looking at Li Wei with a worried expression and speaking in a tense, hushed voice.


    ¡°...There¡¯s no smell left, is there?¡±


    Li Wei looked helpless, ¡°There never was any smell to begin with, but if you¡¯re concerned, you can go to the bathroom to wash again, even though your hands are already wrinkled.¡±


    Kelsey had washed back and forth four times, but clearly, psychologically, she still felt troubled, wishing she could scrub off a layer of her skin.


    After speaking with Li Wei, Kelsey, unable to hold back any longer, rushed again to the bathroom of the private jet.


    Li Wei laughed in spite of himself and looked aside, ¡°This must be the most frequent use of the airborne shower system ever.¡±


    Ariana Grande glanced at Li Wei with a meaningful smile, ¡°Are you sure about that?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Uha?€|¡±


    Grande burst into cheerful laughter.


    Wait, what is going on now?


    Was Li Wei sure he recognized the right person?


    Li Wei spread his hands, ¡°I hope the true face beneath the helmet doesn¡¯t disappoint.


    If you need to touch up your makeup now, I¡¯ll close my eyes for a moment.¡±


    After all, it was well past midnight and heads were fuzzy from alcohol, so makeup was bound to be smeared.


    Grande, hands on her hips, retorted, ¡°What, do you think I need to touch up my makeup?¡±


    Li Wei, unfazed by her questioning, replied, ¡°Not at all, I was just wondering, are you sure our relationship has become close enough that we can talk without needing to touch up makeup?¡±


    BeyoncA?? looked meaningfully at Grande.


    Grande was at a loss for words.


    Therefore, the joke Li Wei made was also Grande¡¯s small counterattack.


    Throughout the journey, Li Wei and Grande bantered whimsically, adding a bit of fun to the tedious and weary flight.


    They even threw a small party in the air, which didn¡¯t end until the plane landed.


    The consequence wasa?€¡±


    Kelsey went down, too.


    Anyway, Li Wei stayed alert throughout, so he became the last knight to be fully awake until the end.


    When Li Wei, with help from BeyoncA??¡¯s personal bodyguard, tossed Kelsey and Mahomes into their rooms in his house, he found himself without any sleepiness.


    The house was empty, Li Yi and Jiang Yin were probably still in Minneapolis, but unexpectedly, it was Li Wei who settled back home early after an eventful night.


    Tired, still tired, but the extreme fatigue kept him from sleeping.


    Indeed, it had been a very long time since Li Wei had stayed up all night.


    His insides seemed to be gently burning, neither tired nor in pain, but constantly restless.


    So.


    He might as well get up and leave home, walking through Manhattan, waiting for the sunrise.


    Wandering aimlessly in Greenwich Village, he found a 24-hour diner still open near the Hudson River and took a seat.


    He ordered a coffee, quietly waiting for the moment when the sun would rise from the horizon.


    A single night, like falling down Alice¡¯s rabbit hole into Wonderland, first scaling the Super Bowl summit, then from Minneapolis to Miami to New York, the world seemed to whirl through the seasons.


    Yet, he had not expected, the long night would not see the dawn arrive.


    Sitting quietly, he finally began to feel his eyelids fight each other.


    Until the noise from the diner disturbed him, with a squabble reaching his ears.


    In the fog, half-asleep and half-awake.


    Li Wei opened his eyes but couldn¡¯t make out what the altercation was about, as if it were in an alien language.


    So, was this a dream?

 Chapter 514

    ?Chapter 514: Before Dawn 513 Chapter 514: Before Dawn 513 Blah blah blaha?€¡±


    The sound of an argument buzzed over the eardrum, but not a word could be understood.


    Looking into the distance, it seemed to be a man and a woman arguing, both raising their voices, growing louder and faster, with sounds of different frequencies filled with anger and irritation intertwined.


    The empty restaurant was completely filled with their dispute.


    Half-asleep and half-awake, caught in confusion, unable to distinguish between dream and reality, hazily, in a misty halo of light, a girl with ears as pointed as an elf¡¯s appeared before him.


    Their gazes accidentally collided, which made Li Wei slightly startle, his consciousness somewhat hazy.


    ¡°So, do you know what they are arguing about?¡±


    Her eyes lifted, veiled in a smoky haze, yet the clear spring-like eyes could not be hidden, with a hint of blue, clear and bright, and light brown hair lazily curling and draping down, her eyes and eyebrows exuding a childlike innocence and a quietly lingering sunniness.


    It was just a brief moment, but it was captivating.


    ...


    Then.


    She flashed an apologetic smile, ¡°Sorry, I only know they are speaking Italian, but my Italian really isn¡¯t helpful at all.¡±


    Li Wei gently lifted his chin, ¡°Italian?


    I thought it was German.¡±


    Pfft.


    Talia Ryder couldn¡¯t help but laugh out louda?€¡±


    Italian and German are indeed quite different, and there is no way to confuse the two; clearly, the young man in front of her was just making a joke.


    Originally, Ryder had just noticed that his coffee cup was already empty.


    She came over to ask if he needed a refill, but the conversation took an unexpected turn.


    Looking up, Ryder could see the bright eyes on that clear-cut face, which still held stars despite the weariness and fatigue.


    Ryder set down the coffee pot, pondering.


    ¡°Have you heard that couples lose the ability to listen to each other over time?¡±


    Li Wei looked back, ¡°Is that a scientific study or a folk saying?¡±


    Ryder¡¯s lips curved slightly, ¡°If you believe it, then it¡¯s a scientific study; if you don¡¯t, then it¡¯s a folk saying.¡±


    ¡°Ha, correct answer, Gryffindor gains ten points.¡± Li Wei laughed, ¡°So, what¡¯s the deal with this rumor?¡±


    Ryder pursed her lips and chuckled softly, ¡°The rumor is, men lose the ability to hear high pitches, while women can¡¯t hear low pitches.


    I think, they just intentionally ignore each other.¡±


    Li Wei explained, ¡°I just said, we can choose different attitudes to face things, like, preserving some foolish, naA? ?ve romance.¡±


    Ryder suddenly realized, ¡°So, do you believe in soulmates?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± Li Wei said without hesitation.


    Ryder smiled, but did not speak, seemingly having a different opinion from Li Wei.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t mind, ¡°I believe on this earth, we have many soulmates living in different corners.¡±


    Ryder, ¡°Many?


    But, the stories I¡¯ve heard are slightly different; each person might only have one soulmate, which is why soulmates are so rare, and some people don¡¯t even believe in their existence.¡±


    Li Wei shook his head, ¡°No, I believe each person can have many soulmates, lots and lots.


    However, it might be a special case for you; you might only have a few, they might be your soulmates, but most people on the earth aren¡¯t your soulmates.¡±


    Ryder tilted her head, ¡°Why?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Because you don¡¯t believe in soulmates.¡±


    Emphatically.


    Ryder tried to argue, ¡°I didn¡¯t say I don¡¯t believe.¡±


    Li Wei didn¡¯t speak, just quietly looked at Ryder, his eyes full of smiles.


    Ryder bit her lower lip gently, stopped struggling stubbornly, her beautiful eyes flinched slightly, then she changed the subject, ¡°How many soulmates?¡±


    Li Wei raised his eyebrows.


    Ryder, ¡°Me, how many soulmates do you think I have?¡±


    Li Wei didn¡¯t immediately answer, but fell into deep thought, seriously considering, ¡°For you, I think...¡± his expression was especially fierce as he struggled terribly before giving an answer like a prophet, ¡°Possibly four.¡±


    ¡°Four?¡±


    ¡°Yes, four.¡±


    ¡°Oh, God, that¡¯s really a lot,¡± Ryder exclaimed exaggeratedly, ¡°but so far I haven¡¯t met any of them.¡±


    Li Wei shook his head, ¡°No, you have four soulmates, God will arrange for them to appear on your path, you¡¯re always going to meet them.


    Or perhaps in a 24-hour diner.¡±


    Ryder gently lifted her chin, looking meaningfully at Li Wei, remaining silent, just quietly staring, her eyes slowly brimming with a smile.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t look away either, openly gazing back, letting the air fill with a palpable atmosphere.


    In the end, it was Ryder who broke first, hurriedly lowering her gaze to hide it, but then lifting her eyes again, gazing directly into Li Wei¡¯s, ¡°What about you, how many soulmates do you have?¡±


    Li Wei didn¡¯t immediately speak, but squinted his eyes, seriously pondering as if counting carefully, ¡°Roughly about twelve hundred.¡±

 Chapter 515

    ?Chapter 515: 514 Heartbeat Miss Chapter 515: 514 Heartbeat Miss ¡°`


    Uh?


    Ryder slightly opened his mouth, tilted his head, and stared at Li Wei, his face abuzz with interest but not concealing his surprise and astonishment.


    A trace of laughter gradually climbed into his lively, beautiful eyes, like a quietly blooming jasmine.


    Not ostentatious, yet fragrantly rich, it possessed a charm of its own.


    Then.


    The corners of his mouth turned up, unable to hold back his amusement, ¡°One thousand two hundred?¡±


    ¡°Ha, hahaha.¡±


    The more he thought about it, the funnier it became, and he no longer held back, his refined face beaming with a sunny smile.


    His gaze fell back on Li Wei¡¯s eyes, scrutinizing them closely.


    ...


    ¡°So, have you found it now?¡±


    Li Wei nodded without any hesitation, ¡°Of course.¡±


    Afterward, there were no words as Li Wei simply stared quietly into those eyes in front of him.


    Ryder was taken aback.


    She could tell Li Wei was somewhat drunk, his gaze hazy and unfocused, but those clear, bright black eyes just stared back at her with a faint smile, so forthright and so direct.


    Caught off guard, her cheeks began to feel slightly warm.


    Her heartbeat skipped a beat.


    Ryder instinctively dodged the gaze.


    But as soon as she lowered her eyes, she immediately felt annoyed, and then she heard a low voice by her ear.


    ¡°My name is Li Wei, may I ask for your name?¡±


    Ryder looked up again, only to find that the man in front of her still hadn¡¯t shifted his gaze, but his eyes were non-threatening.


    They seemed somewhat hazy and casually idle due to the alcohol, the corners of his lips relaxed and curved up gently, like the morning light on a clear spring at the break of early summer, tempting one to touch it with the fingertips.


    ¡°Thalia.¡±


    Ryder said.


    Li Wei raised an eyebrow slightly, clearly, this was not a common name, ¡°Wow, that¡¯s a special name.¡±


    Ryder shrugged lightly, ¡°My father gave it to me.¡±


    Li Wei was curious, ¡°Are your parents hippies?¡±


    Ryder didn¡¯t understand.


    Li Wei explained, ¡°They always like nature-related names, like rivers, leaves, rain, and so on.


    Their children are like the children of nature.¡±


    Ryder laughed softly, ¡°No, they are not.


    But I can understand the troubles of those children because at school, our names are oddities, and other children always make fun of us.¡±


    Ryder didn¡¯t deny it, his eyes filled with laughter, ¡°So the victory party wasn¡¯t fun?¡±


    Li Wei thought about it seriously, ¡°It¡¯s not that, I encountered a whole new world, but I¡¯m not sure...


    sigh, alright, it really wasn¡¯t fun.¡±


    Eventually, Li Wei gave up on explaininga?€¡±


    Alcohol alcohol alcohol, people people people, noise noise noise.


    It was somewhat novel at first, but after making the rounds, it was just emptiness, the louder it got, the lonelier it felt, and the more crowded it was, the more isolated it felt.


    Li Wei looked at Ryder, ¡°I must look like an ungrateful jerk right now.¡±


    Ryder, ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re a jerk.¡±


    Li Wei was taken aback, looking into Ryder¡¯s clear eyes, and said somewhat dramatically, ¡°Thank you, you salvaged my night.¡±


    Ryder snickered.


    After a brief pause, Ryder seemed hesitant, but eventually asked, ¡°I have a question, have you ever been depressed?¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s eyes widened, doubting his ears, ¡°God, buzzkill alert.¡±


    Ryder was a bit shy, looking away, ¡°You don¡¯t have to sound the buzzkill alarm.


    I was just curious.¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Are you curious about the mental health of a professional athlete, or are you wondering if another stranger has ever gone through a confusing phase in life?¡±


    Ryder thought about it seriously, ¡°The latter.¡±


    Li Wei nodded slightly to show understanding, ¡°I think modern people have all more or less gone through such a phase, each one has some repression, some depression.


    I live in this era, naturally I am no exception.¡±


    Ryder, ¡°Wow, buzzkill alert.¡±


    Ha.


    Li Wei laughed cheerfully.


    Ryder regained his serious demeanor, ¡°Was it before entering the world of football?¡±


    Li Wei nodded, ¡°Yes, before.


    That¡¯s one of the reasons I love competitive sports, or rather, sports.


    It gives you a goal, a visible, achievable goal.


    You focus one hundred percent, touching and breaking through little by little, directing your attention to yourself, temporarily setting aside those chaotic thoughts.¡±


    ¡°In those times, the mind quiets down.¡±


    Ryder didn¡¯t speak, only watched Li Wei quietly, intently.


    Li Wei, somewhat awkwardly, chuckled, ¡°This probably isn¡¯t the conversation you expected to have with a Super Bowl Champion, huh?¡±


    Ryder nodded slightly, ¡°They usually walk straight in, lift their chin, and then expect the girls to flash their tops and pull them into the restroom.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Oh my God, what on earth is up with this restaurant?¡±


    ¡°Haha, hahaha.¡± Ryder laughed heartily and unrestrained, his eyes twinkling with mischief.@@@@

 Chapter 516

    ?Chapter 516: 515 Wonderful Moments Chapter 516: 515 Wonderful Moments ¡°Ha ha, haha.¡±


    Ryder¡¯s innocent and bright smile echoed through the restaurant just like that.


    It startled the Italian couple as well as the night manager, drawing all their gazes at once.


    Li Wei was about to stand up and do something when Ryder suddenly grabbed Li Wei¡¯s left hand resting on the table, stopping him.


    He turned toward the night manager and said, ¡°A customer just gave me a tip, sorry, I couldn¡¯t hold it in.¡±


    Li Wei noticed that Ryder straightened his back, blocking him from view, clearly not wanting the night manager to notice the existence of the Super Bowl MVP.


    The night manager glanced over, and seeing that the guests behind Ryder had no complaints, he bowed his head again and continued scrolling through his phone.


    Ryder turned back, letting out a long breath, ¡°Last time a New York Jets player was here, that guy circled around him for thirty minutes straight, like a fly, to the point that the player almost flipped the table.¡±


    So that was it.


    Li Wei sighed softly, ¡°Wow, which player?¡±


    Ryder waved his hand, ¡°I¡¯m not sure, seemed like someone from the Special Duty Group.¡±


    Li Wei: ...


    ...


    Ryder: ...


    Their gazes collided, both corners of their mouths curving up, chuckling softly.


    Ryder thought for a moment, ¡°So, what does it feel like to be depressed?¡±


    Li Wei was somewhat surprised but then again not so much.


    Clearly, this matter must have troubled Ryder; it was what she cared about most at the moment.


    Perhaps some may wonder why Ryder would choose to discuss this with a complete stranger.


    But in fact, some words are harder to express to family and friends than to strangers.


    With strangers, it¡¯s much easier because they don¡¯t know each other, have no relations, and after passing by might never see each other again.


    It¡¯s like pouring one¡¯s troubles into a hollow treea?€¡±once the wind blows, they scatter.


    Leaving no trace, no hurt.


    This time.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t brush it off but seriously reminisced.


    Off the field, another soul was living vividly and truly.


    Whether in a past life or this one, people often define his existence by his performance in the game.


    But in fact, the field is just a part of life.@@@@


    Everyone has their sorrows and confusions.


    ¡°That feeling is like...¡±


    Pfft.


    Ryder couldn¡¯t hold back, his smile fully blossomed, closely observing the astonishment and sadness on Li Wei¡¯s face, which made his smile bloom even more joyfully.


    But Ryder didn¡¯t deny it.


    The curve of Li Wei¡¯s mouth also rose, ¡°Do you know what you look like right now?¡±


    Ryder nearly choked on his saliva, waving his hands frantically, ¡°I don¡¯t want to know...


    I don¡¯t care.¡± His mouth and eyes were full of smiles, ¡°Everything feels so wonderful right now, I don¡¯t want to change it, so I don¡¯t want to know.


    The only thing I want to change is that my elbow hurts.¡±


    Li Wei blinked, ¡°Elbow?


    So, something like tennis elbow?


    Oh, are you the next Sharapova, a super tennis star in the making?¡±


    ¡°Ha, hahaha.¡± Ryder laughed heartily again, ¡°I¡¯m not a tennis player; I, uh, I¡¯m an actor, but I don¡¯t have any works right now, only performed on Broadway once.¡±


    ¡°Wow, Broadway!¡± Li Wei exclaimed.


    Ryder seemed somewhat shy, as if he didn¡¯t want to discuss his performance on Broadway, ¡°Elbow, that¡¯s because both of us have been propping up the counter...¡±


    As he spoke, Ryder raised his arms, showing Li Wei his elbowsa?€¡±


    Just now, they had been propping up the counter with their elbows, chatting aimlessly while chewing on popsicles.


    The conversation had inadvertently led to this posture, entirely forgetting their poor elbows.


    Ryder didn¡¯t mention it, and Li Wei hadn¡¯t noticed.


    Li Wei looked down at his own elbows, full of question marks, then at Ryder¡¯s face, which wore a slightly shy smile, and then extended his own hands, palms up, placing them at Ryder¡¯s elbows.


    Just right, Ryder propped himself up on the counter again, but this time it wasn¡¯t the cold, hard surface he remembered, but a warm, soft embrace enclosing his elbows.


    Ryder was startled, his arms recoiling slightly, but then he saw Li Wei¡¯s warm smile and inquiring gaze, which made him relax again.


    Li Wei could feel Ryder¡¯s arms trembling slightly, and his ears seemed to catch the erratic beating of the heart and the sound of boiling blood, but neither of them moved, just quietly looking at each other.


    In their pupils, each other¡¯s faces were reflected.


    Unexpectedly, a heartbeat skipped.


    Ryder and Li Wei both averted their gazes, pretending to look casually aside, but Ryder¡¯s peripheral vision involuntarily drifted towards Li Wei, accidentally crashing into Li Wei¡¯s sight.


    Their gazes tangled together.


    A startle.


    The two hurriedly looked away, but the corners of their mouths gently lifted, as if the touch of palms and elbows had linked their heartbeats together.


    Ryder bashfully turned to look out the window, trying to completely avoid Li Wei¡¯s line of sight, but he noticed the water of the Hudson River turning a thin orange glow.


    The dense night was fading bit by bit, and the mysterious, amorous atmosphere melted away like ice and snow in the brightening light, abruptly bringing them back from a dreamy haze to reality.


    ¡°Ah, the sun, it¡¯s come out.¡±

 Chapter 517

    ?Chapter 517: Waking Moment at 5:16 Chapter 517: Waking Moment at 5:16 ¡°Ah, the sun, it has risen.¡±


    Ryder whispered in awe, while Li Wei reflexively looked over.


    A chaotic and hazy orange halo, like a duck egg, concealed at the junction of the horizon, faint light diffusing and permeating into the darkness of the night, blending with it to create a shockingly beautiful blue, eerie yet magnificent.


    In an instant, my heart stopped beating, utterly captivated by this moment.


    The grandeur and mystery of nature were quietly yet loudly presented before our eyes.


    ¡°Oh, damn,¡± Li Wei muttered under his breath.


    Ryder looked back, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Li Wei tugged at the corner of his mouth, ¡°We¡¯ve returned to reality.


    ...


    Alice¡¯s dream has ended.¡±


    Ryder grinned.


    Li Wei, ¡°So, this kind of behavior isn¡¯t quite appropriate anymore.¡±


    Ryder followed Li Wei¡¯s gaze, looked down, felt a scorching heat on her elbow, quickly withdrew it, straightened her body, and put some distance between them.


    Li Wei laughed silently, ¡°Originally, I came here just to wait for the sunrise, but now, I¡¯ve started to hate the fact that the sun continues to rise as usual.¡±


    Ryder, ¡°Oh, the sun would be sad.¡±


    ¡°Ha.¡± Li Wei laughed again.


    The world outside the window didn¡¯t immediately become bright, as the sun remained hidden at the far end of the horizon, cautiously showing just a corner, without any rush to bounce out before the first ray of dawn fully fell, the night still had a brief time to linger.


    ¡°¡®Time flies like the wind, and fruit flies like a banana.''¡± Li Wei blurted something nonsensically without warning.


    Ryder raised an eyebrow, ¡°What?¡±


    Li Wei shook his head lightly, ¡°Nothing.


    I once heard Dylan Thomas recite a poem by W.H.


    Auden, his voice was like a cello, deep and magnetic.¡±


    ¡°Just like, ¡®All the clocks in the city, don¡¯t let time deceive you, Oh you cannot conquer time, in headaches and in worry, vaguely life leaks away, and time will have its fancy, tomorrow or today¡¯.¡±


    Having said that, Li Wei himself felt somewhat embarrassed and turned his gaze away from the window.


    But Ryder did not immediately speak, seemingly immersed in the sound of Li Wei¡¯s voice.


    This surprised Li Wei, who turned back to look at Ryder, ¡°I thought you would joke that you never knew football players also read poetry.¡±@@@@


    Ryder lifted her chin, ¡°Don¡¯t assume they lack souls just because they¡¯re big, just as you shouldn¡¯t assume I can¡¯t speak a second language just because I¡¯m American.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha.¡± Li Wei laughed heartily.


    So.


    Despite the economic downturn in Missouri, the city and state governments showed their enthusiasm, joining hands with the team to meticulously plan the championship parade.


    After all, the tourism revenue and job opportunities a parade might bring were significant, and it could even be an opportunity for them to turn the tide.


    First, the city and the team mapped out a parade route that would cover the entire city while maintaining an appropriate length and without disrupting the normal functioning of the downtown area.


    Because Kansas City straddles the border between Missouri and Kansas, the city government also received help from the state of Kansas, joining in the championship parade.


    Next, once the parade route was determined, the whole city began to mobilize.


    According to post-event statistics, Kansas City enlisted over eight hundred police officers, one hundred and fifty firefighters, and two hundred municipal engineering staff, a scale that was unparalleled by any major sports league in recent years.


    Besides that, there were fundamental logistical services in place, including portable toilets, varieties of championship celebration contingents from different units and departments.


    Additionally, there were drinking water and simple food, plus an array of logistical facilities such as ambulances, fire trucks, and riot police.


    Finally, the Kansas City Chiefs themselves were fully prepared.


    The team dispatched no fewer than six double-decker buses, thirty private cars, twenty celebration floats, and sixty motorcycles.


    Everybody from the team was mobilized to join in the revelry.


    According to official league statistics, the estimated number of people who arrived in Kansas City for the championship parade was around one and a half milliona?€¡±


    In reality, the number that actually reached the site surpassed two million, setting a new record for attendance at a championship parade among North America¡¯s four major sports leagues, breaking historical records.


    Rivaling the Super Bowl!


    Before this, the record for the largest championship parade was held by the NBA¡¯s Los Angeles Lakers.


    As a densely populated area, Los Angeles once rallied one point three million people to participate in their championship parade.


    And now?


    With a resident population of fewer than five hundred thousand, Kansas City welcomed a massive championship parade exceeding two million people, fiercely smashing the record.


    The fervor was evident.


    There were two key reasons.


    First, the state of Alabama.


    Second, the Asian immigrant community.


    Put simply, Li Wei.


    In the past, the Asian community¡¯s enthusiasm for participating in championship parades was ultimately limited, and even if they occasionally joined the fray, they never formed the core of the procession.


    But in recent years, Asians from all over the North American continent swarmed towards Kansas City and became a visible main force in the parade crowd.


    All because of Li Wei.

 Chapter 518

    ?Chapter 518: 517 Championship Parade Chapter 518: 517 Championship Parade Undoubtedly, reaching the pinnacle of Super Bowl Champions after forty-eight years, for Kansas City, was an event worth pouring out into the streets and celebrating all night long as it seemed they had finally found a glimmer of hope amidst economic gloom.


    Moreover, it was a surprise.


    Before the season began, not even the most die-hard fanatic could have predicted such an end to the season, and that was the most incredible part, enough to turn the entire city into a blaze of fire.


    However.


    The real key was Li Wei.


    Li Wei, starting as a main player, stepped onto the Super Bowl stage and, with his unparalleled performance, won the Super Bowl MVP, an achievement whose profound impact far exceeded expectations and stirred up a storm.


    Even though League Commissioner Goodell had orchestrated everything, the real-world frenzy still caught Goodell by surprise.


    ...


    The Alabama Crimson Tide Storm players and fans who had traveled from afar, along with Asian fans who had flocked from other states a?€¡± not just Chinese, but various Asian communities a?€¡± gave this victory parade a different significance.


    Just as Kansas City Chiefs hardcore fans had not anticipated a Super Bowl win, Asian fans had not expected Li Wei to make history as the Super Bowl MVP; everything was a surprise.


    Thus.


    This scene unfoldeda?€¡±


    According to NBC¡¯s statistical report, the scale of Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ championship parade was now comparable to the Super Bowl, even though Kansas City did not host the Super Bowl weekend; they still received the same treatment as Minneapolis.


    In terms of the city¡¯s overall revenue, a single day¡¯s parade prolonged the city¡¯s celebration for an entire week, bringing at least five hundred million US dollars to Kansas City.


    The long stagnant, clumsy, and rigid Kansas City economy finally welcomed a dawn, not just in revenue, but also invigorated job opportunities; not to mention, the population that continuously moved to Kansas City after the Super Bowl ended, bringing vitality to the city.


    Everything had just begun.


    This Super Bowl Champion, this championship parade, made the connection between the team and the city, the fans and the team, the city and the game, increasingly tighter.


    No wonder the Kansas City City Hall hosted this championship parade with the highest standards.


    One and a half million, or even two million, it was just a numbera?€¡±


    When one was truly immersed in it, completely losing the ability to perceive numbers, the only constant feeling reverberated and swirled in one¡¯s mind:


    A sea of people!


    A real sea of people!


    Completely engulfed in a sea of people, the entire city was submerged in an endless crimson sea, with all Kansas City Chiefs and Alabama Crimson Tide Storm fans donning their home jerseys, extending the red sea of Arrowhead Stadium throughout the entire city.


    Grand, dazzling, vast.


    Even the sky reflected a blazing red tone.


    ¡°Fly!¡±


    Karen Gray knew it was the parade celebration and she shouldn¡¯t be so tense or spoil the fun; she tried to show a smile and enjoy the party, but her mind was elsewhere, her gaze drifting involuntarily toward her son, unable to relax completely.


    Felix Gray sat in his wheelchair, curled up in a small bundle, his face full of smiles and high spirits, clearly showing genuine joy and happiness.


    ¡°Mom, Mom, that¡¯s Berry, Eric Berry, he also came to attend the victory parade.¡±


    Felix turned to his mother, excitedly shouting and continuously waving his hands, trying to catch Berry¡¯s attention.


    Karen quickly displayed a smile, not wanting her son to notice her anxiety.


    Bone cancer.


    Three years ago, Felix was diagnosed with bone cancer and after a full eighteen months of treatment, and having sacrificed his left lower leg, doctors finally declared Felix ¡°cured.¡±


    Although he needed a prosthetic leg, Felix had always been positive and optimistic, gradually finding his way back into life, striving to look forward to college and a future like any high school student.


    Until last month.


    Felix felt some pain in his right hip and they went to the hospital for a checkup; the doctors told them the cancer had returned and was spreading quickly.


    The doctors said, optimistically, one year; but at worst, perhaps only three months.


    God, Felix, her Felix hadn¡¯t even reached his eighteenth birthday.


    Karen broke down.


    Instead, it was Felix who turned around to comfort his parents and told them.


    ¡°I won¡¯t give up, just like the Chiefs.¡±


    ¡°Mom, Li Wei said that it¡¯s not over until the moment the game ends.


    No one believed we could beat New England, but we did.


    So, I¡¯ll fight, fight until the very last moment.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t surrender.¡±


    The Kansas City Chiefs not only defeated the New England Patriots but also topped the Super Bowl.


    Karen couldn¡¯t help but think, maybe miracles do exist, maybe her Felix could also break free from the shackles of fate like the Kansas City Chiefs.


    So, Karen regained her courage, since Felix hadn¡¯t given up, she couldn¡¯t give up either.


    She took Felix to Minneapolis, witnessing the ¡°Kansas Miracle¡± live; today, she brought Felix to the championship parade, opening her arms to embrace the light of this miracle.


    Wait, the one appearing in fronta?€¡±


    Number twenty-three!


    Why had Li Wei gotten off the bus?

 Chapter 519

    ?Chapter 519: 518 Wheelchair Boy Chapter 519: 518 Wheelchair Boy Ah, ah ah aha?€¡±


    In an instant, the screams broke free from their restraints, shattered the balance, and lost control, transforming into a live volcano.


    The surging passion and rolling waves of heat poured down.


    ¡°Rookie!¡±


    ¡°Ah ah ah, rookie!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei, I love you!¡±


    The shouts followed one after the other, interweaving in layers upon layers, exploding with incredible energy and instantly sweeping across the entire venue.


    When Li Wei stepped off the double-decker bus, the passion was fully ignited.


    Immediately, security personnel swarmed up, surrounding Li Wei tightly; at the same time, others went to the sidelines to preemptively prevent chaos before it erupted, maintaining control of the situation, which was slightly chaotic but not yet out of hand.


    Inside the double-decker bus, not only Kelsey but others also gathered:


    Wait, what exactly was Li Wei doing?


    Ah ah ah, ah ah ah.


    ...


    The air was burning.


    Felix was no exception, a smile crept onto his lips as he called for his mother, then looked ahead and shouted as loud as he could with all his strength.


    ¡°Rookie.


    Rookie!¡±


    Karen watched Felix with worry in her eyes, like a mother bird, she opened her arms to protect him, unable to help but feel a bit resentful:


    If it¡¯s just a rally, it¡¯s fine to sit on top of the vehicle.


    Why get off?


    Li Wei¡¯s performance on the field was the driving force for Felix to continue his fight, for which Karen was very grateful.


    She too was filled with a fondness for Li Wei; but this did not stop Karen from complaining about Li Wei¡¯s off-the-rails behavior at that moment.


    In a rally like this, such actions were very dangerous.


    Indeed, still a young man.


    Karen muttered to herself.


    However.


    The complaints and snark were stuck in her throat; Karen froze unexpectedly.


    Felix was no different, one second he was cheering and yelling with joy, and the next, he was completely taken aback and shocked, staying frozen as he stared ahead, beginning to doubt his own eyesa?€¡±


    Was Li Wei¡¯s gaze turned toward Felix?


    No...


    could it be?


    Jiang Yin remembered the boy¡¯s smile, his straight spine even while sitting in the wheelchair, and the silhouette of him enjoying himself amidst the crowd.


    She showed Li Wei their photo with the boy in the wheelchair.


    ¡°...It¡¯s a pity, I didn¡¯t ask for his name, didn¡¯t talk to him more.¡±


    Li Wei remembered, and he hadn¡¯t expected to see the boy in the wheelchair in the crowd today; he still remembered Jiang Yin¡¯s words.


    He asked his mother what she would like to say if she saw the boy in the wheelchair again.


    ¡°You¡¯ve done very well.


    Thank you for choosing to keep fighting.¡±


    Li Wei gently patted the boy in the wheelchair¡¯s back, passing on his mother¡¯s wordsa?€¡±


    Because no one knew the pain he carried, as well as the pain of his parents.


    To keep fighting sometimes isn¡¯t just about living for oneself, it¡¯s also living for one¡¯s family; enduring unimaginable pain and repeated agonies, maybe giving up is simpler than persisting, but he couldn¡¯t.


    For himself and for his family, he had to keep persevering and fighting.


    This burden, indeed too heavy and taxing, could crush the spine at any moment.


    Resistance is not so easy.


    Others¡¯ light words of ¡°persevere¡± and ¡°make an effort¡± carry no weight, yet he has to grit his teeth and bear it night and day, tossing and turning again and again, for the sake of an uncertain possibility, wavering between hope and despair, every second an ordeal.


    Li Wei thought of Berry.


    They are warriors as well as fighters.


    Therefore, when Li Wei saw the boy in the wheelchair, he didn¡¯t think much.


    He wanted to convey Jiang Yin¡¯s strength, and his own as well.


    It might be limited, but one hundred percent heartfelt.


    ¡°You¡¯re not fighting alone.¡±


    Li Wei said again.


    Then, Li Wei could feel the boy in the wheelchair nearly collapsing, falling apart within a simple sentence, hot tears rolling down onto Li Wei¡¯s shoulder, silent yet more eloquent than any words.


    In the corner of his eye, he could catch a glimpse of the middle-aged woman behind the boy, turning her face away, unable to watch.


    Her hands covered her face, yet still unable to stop the tears from falling through her fingers.


    The mother worried about her child, and the child worried about his mother.


    In this battle, no one can take it lightly.


    Li Wei¡¯s nose felt a slight sting as well.


    Taking a deep breath, Li Wei regained his composure, a smile creeping onto his lips.


    ¡°Hey, next season, we¡¯re ready to keep fighting, apparently no one thinks we¡¯ll retain our title, God, it¡¯s the same situation, the same story, but we¡¯re ready to face the challenge.


    Are you with us?¡±

 Chapter 520

    ?Chapter 520: 519 Let¡¯s fly together Chapter 520: 519 Let¡¯s fly together ¡°...We¡¯re ready to face the challenge, are you with us?¡±


    A sincere invitation.


    It struck the heart of the wheelchair-bound boy with unerring accuracy, eliciting an eager response.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    However, the voice was so muffled that it was barely audible.


    So, he nodded vigorously, fearing that his movements were too slight to convey his conviction, nodding repeatedly, until reason finally pulled his wavering heart back down to solid ground.


    They let go of the hug, increasing the distance between them.


    The wheelchair-bound boy was still nodding, rubbing his eyes hard, clumsily wiping the mess on his cheeksa?€¡±ashamed and yet so happy, barely believing this was all really happening, and then catching sight of the sly smile on Li Wei¡¯s lipsa?€¡±


    There was no sadness.


    No sympathy.@@@@


    ...


    No pity.


    No bitterness or sorrow, either.


    His smile was sunny and radiant, candor without restraint, as if teasing, ¡°Crying so hard you¡¯ve become a snotty mess is just hilarious.¡±


    But it was precisely this straightforwardness, not treating him like a porcelain doll that would shatter at the slightest touch, that allowed him to regain his normalcy and self-confidence.


    A burst of laughter broke through his tears.


    He spread his hands, rolled his eyes, and adopted a mock-surrender stance.


    Then, he nodded again, ¡°You won¡¯t reject me because I look like this, right, to join you guys?¡±


    Li Wei, utterly serious, ¡°I¡¯ll have to think about it.¡±


    Wheelchair-bound boy: ...


    Looking at the boy in front of him, making a silly face with a dislocated chin, who seemed to have recaptured the mischief and brightness of a seventeen-year-olda?€¡±free of heaviness and griefa?€¡±Li Wei, too, smiled unreservedly and extended his right hand to the wheelchair-bound boy.


    ¡°Li Wei, running back.¡±


    The wheelchair-bound boy paused slightly, looking at Li Wei¡¯s right hand stretched out before him.


    His heart felt like a kite unfurling its wings against the wind, the chest suddenly filled to the brim with gusty winds, as golden sunlight stuffed every nook and cranny unabated.


    Taking a deep breath, he grasped Li Wei¡¯s right hand.


    ¡°Felix Gray, defensive end.¡±


    Li Wei slightly raised his china?€¡±


    The defensive end, the very position that counters a running back.


    Though Felix didn¡¯t look the part of a football player, the teasing and jokes in the playful declaration were all too clear.


    Perhaps beyond the label of ¡°patient,¡± that was the true color of Felix.


    Dreams, hope, miracle.


    These things have one thing in common; they are beautiful not because they can be achieved but because they make life bearable.


    And so, they were able to witness the ¡°Kansas Miracle¡± evolve into reality on this day.


    The entire championship parade and party lasted a full day.


    After the parade, there were interactive celebrations between players and fans at Arrowhead Stadium, from day into night, and the revelry reached its peak at midnight after the curtain of darkness had fallen.


    Amid cheers, frenzy, and the burning tide of excitement, memories began to blur, leaving only disjointed fragments: a vaguely recalled endless expanse of red sea, deafening and thrilling chants of support, and faces of elated Asians swept up into a halo of hazea?€¡±


    They existed, indeed they did, but not clearly.


    The memory of when the party ended was even unclear.


    It wasn¡¯t until the day after the championship parade that he awoke from sleep and the heady excitement and euphoria began to subside.


    Ding-dong.


    Ding-dong.


    The sound of the doorbell nearly made his head explode.


    Dragging his weary body, staggering and stumbling in a whirl, he moved to open the door.


    And thena?€¡±


    ¡°A drug test?¡±


    This time, it was a brand-new face.


    But the credentials, documents, and notification were all there; and they told Li Wei that the League had already entered a twenty-four-hour notice period via email and text message.


    Li Wei gave a wry smile, now finally feeling a bit like a Super Bowl MVP.


    After reaching the summit, there were countless celebration messages, impossible to reply to all.


    He still hadn¡¯t sorted them out, and he guessed that the League¡¯s notification was buried among them, taking advantage of the timing to catch him off-guard.


    Li Wei was not surprised by this, shrugging lightly, ¡°Well, now I finally feel a little bit like a Super Bowl MVP.¡±


    The person administering the test couldn¡¯t hold back a smilea?€¡±


    Indeed, just like the rumors, Li Wei was one to play by his own rules.


    After cooperating with the drug test and seeing off the official, his groggy brain finally cleared up a bit.


    The past few days of busyness and crowding seemed to finally settle.


    Li Yi and Jiang Yin had returned to New York the day before the championship parade, obviously not planning to interfere with Li Wei¡¯s celebration party.


    Only now did Li Wei have time to take out his phone, ready to sort through his messages and missed calls, when a thought suddenly flashed through his mind:


    The System!


    Li Wei faintly remembered, at the moment of the Super Bowl-winning touchdown, it seemed like there was some prompt from the system.

 Chapter 521

    ?Chapter 521: 520 extra bonus Chapter 521: 520 extra bonus System!


    It was only now that Li Wei vaguely remembered that on the night of the Super Bowl victory, the system might have given some notifications; but at that time, everything was too crazy and too tiring, and he was completely spent, not paying attention, and later he got caught up in the frenzy and completely forgot.


    Fortunately, it was only temporarily forgotten, not completely forgotten.


    Now, it was a good time to sort things out.


    He called up the system interface, did a quick scan, and sure enough, as expected, his thoughts were confirmeda?€¡±


    The extra rewards for the Super Bowl Champions were waiting to be collected.


    Three chances to flip cards!


    This should be the first-time additional reward after activating the newbie gift pack of the system.


    ...


    Although simple and plain, this was exceptionally rare for a purely training system, and the anticipation suddenly soared.@@@@


    Also, due to not paying attention to the progress bar of the system for some time, the postseason experience with back-to-back fierce battles and miraculous comebacks also brought rich harvests; there were currently two card flip chances waiting to be used.


    That is, five draws in a row!


    He sprang up like a carp, headed to the bathroom to bath and burn incense, letting his groggy brain clear up a bit, regained his spirits, and found a calm state, then turned on the speaker, playing a refreshingly awakening ¡°Symphony of Destiny¡± a?€¡±


    Start the spending.


    He took a deep breath, didn¡¯t hesitate or pause, and completed the five consecutive draws directly.


    A wave of blue halo spread out, and five cards hovered in mid-air, revealing their hidden true faces.


    ¡°Card: Training Effect Doubling Card (Triple)¡±


    ¡°Card: Recovery Effect Doubling Card (Triple)¡±


    ¡°Card: Training Time Enhancement Card (Double)¡±


    ¡°Template: Le¡¯Veon Bell (A-grade)¡±


    ¡°Card: Injury Risk Reduction Card (40%)¡±


    Uh, it looks like today¡¯s luck is just average, and not as explosive as expected.


    The Training Effect Doubling Card and the Recovery Effect Doubling Card were familiar cards, and the Training Time Enhancement Card was a new face, but from the literal look, it wasn¡¯t surprising either.


    A familiar name also appeared in the player training templatea?€¡±


    Le¡¯Veon Bell, the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ running back.


    And, it¡¯s A-grade.


    Now, this card did not impact training effects but offered a way to quickly increase card-draw opportunities; so, was this a shortcut?


    Of course, even increasing card-draw opportunities didn¡¯t fundamentally change anything, since the cards obtained still impacted training, and Li Wei wouldn¡¯t transform into a superhero overnight; but nonetheless, more card-draw opportunities meant more possibilities, continuing to enhance his capabilities.


    Undoubtedly, this was a change and a surprise.


    However.


    The training system was indeed professional, and Li Wei immediately noticed a ¡°balance¡± a?€¡±


    Slots, there were only three.


    Training Effect Doubling Card.


    Injury Risk Reduction Card.


    Recovery Effect Doubling Card.


    The current three slots were filled each by a crucial and irreplaceable card, meaning if Li Wei wanted to use the Training Time Enhancement Card to try a shortcut, he would have to sacrifice one slot, taking on a certain risk.


    As they say, no gain without loss; the energy of the universe always conserves itself.


    So, should Li Wei take the risk?


    After careful consideration, Li Wei quickly realized the ¡°leeway¡± left by the system a?€¡±


    The offseason.


    In the offseason, not all players could maintain training, and even those entirely devoted to training to shine in the new season could not match their training and competitive intensity with actual games; protecting oneself and training scientifically were paramount.


    Not only was the risk of injury lower, but the physical strain and the continuous impacts over a short period were also lesser.


    Thus, if Li Wei wanted to try out the effects of the new card, the Injury Risk Reduction Card and the Training Effect Doubling Card must be retained; however, the Recovery Effect Doubling Card did not have as significant an impact during the offseason and could be temporarily swapped out until the season started.


    Who knows?


    Perhaps, after offseason training, he could get more card-draw opportunities, and even before the new season begins, he might see better cards?


    In Li Wei¡¯s view, this was probably a way for the system to subtly encourage players to train hard during the offseason.


    After all, who still trained crazily after the season had ended?


    Even training maniacs should explore new aspects of life off the field.


    Life, beyond football, held much more potential, but unless one was willing to step out and explore, the world would always remain a well.


    However, Li Wei had different ideas.


    After some deliberation, Li Wei placed the Training Time Enhancement Card in the slot of the Recovery Effect Doubling Card.

 Chapter 522

    ?Chapter 522: 521 Training Plan Chapter 522: 521 Training Plan ¡°`


    The off-season was a perfect time for basking in the spring sun, for lying flat, partying, daydreaming, for doing nothing and clearing the mind with a relaxing trip in countryside; it was not a time for training or for physical confrontations.


    This was beyond doubt.


    Li Wei had no intention of missing out on the wonderful springtime.


    Life shouldn¡¯t consist only of tackling and bumping; it should also include poetry and distant places.


    However, after a brief vacation, Li Wei had other thoughts.


    The 2017 season, which had just ended, brought Li Wei many achievements and much growth.


    Winning the Super Bowl MVP was an unexpected reward.


    ...


    It also broadened his horizons and deepened his understanding.


    On one hand, he recognized his own shortcomings.


    For example, in confrontations.


    The Lynch training template hadn¡¯t brought immediate results in a short time.


    To avoid sacrificing his agility and speed advantage, he slowed down during the second half of the season, significantly reducing the time spent on Lynch¡¯s template and focusing more on the Tomlinson template.


    But as the playoffs advanced, the intensity of the confrontations became more and more evident.


    Although Li Wei didn¡¯t plan on changing his tactical stylea?€¡±he definitely couldn¡¯t become a running back like Henry or Lyncha?€¡±enhancing his physical confrontation ability and resistance to hits were aspects of training he could not neglect.


    During the off-season, the Lynch training template should be picked up again.


    On the other hand, he realized that challenges in the new season could be even more daunting.


    In fact, entering the second half of the regular season, Li Wei could clearly feel that the coaches were becoming more cautious and focused on him.


    Despite their claims that ¡°the rookie still needs to prove himself,¡± they paid him considerable tactical attention, which peaked during the Super Bowl.


    However, that was just his first season.


    In the next season, other teams¡¯ attention to and understanding of him would ramp up completely.


    No one would take him lightly, and some might even dedicate multiple players to defend against hima?€¡±


    The reason Bell can afford to be patient and calm is that he has the assurance that even when he strikes later, he could rely on his speed and strength to reverse disadvantages and seize brief opportunities to breach the defense.


    Although his individual talent is not the best, his overall ability is undoubtedly top-notch.


    In Li Wei¡¯s games, he also observes the defensive formation to capture weaknesses, but generally speaking, his running style still leans more towards that of Peterson; in the playoffs, Li Wei had tried to use his personal skill to tactfully break through starting later, but only he knew the difficulty of that.


    If Li Wei could learn Bell¡¯s signature move, he¡¯d add another skill to his arsenal for the new season; but if not, what Li Wei was most curious about was Bell¡¯s vision.


    Peterson¡¯s vision is acutely detailed and localized; it¡¯s not to say narrow, but he typically prefers to stick close to defensive players, utilizing his body to create pressure, confrontations, and intimidation, then seizing the opportune breakthrough within his field of vision.


    So, what about Bell?


    Is Bell¡¯s signature ¡°one-stop, double-take¡± able to perceive a broader, more comprehensive defensive formation, and how does he find gaps and openings in the constantly shifting confrontations to choose the correct method to break through?


    At the same time, Li Wei was curious whether Bell¡¯s running style demanded more from reading defenses, leading to running backs doing more cerebral work beyond physical confrontations, and playing the game in a smarter, more shrewd manner in order to minimize the physical toll and injuries a running back endures.


    Regrettably, in his previous life, Li Wei¡¯s understanding of football was virtually non-existent; he honestly did not know what Bell¡¯s future held, whether he encountered injury troubles or whether he made it into the Hall of Fame?


    It¡¯s worth observing that according to the system¡¯s assessment, Peterson¡¯s template ranks as an S grade, while Bell, like Lynch, is rated A grade; however, unlike Lynch, Bell had not yet turned twenty-six, and his professional career still had endless possibilities.


    Why hadn¡¯t the system rated him further?


    No matter what, Bell¡¯s training template is an intriguing new toy.


    In addition to catching and passing, there was still room for improvement in Li Wei¡¯s primary duties as a running backa?€¡±


    Li Wei had not forgotten the words Saban and Coach Burns told him when he decided to enter the draft; although he had reached a top position in the NCAA, the intensity of professional competition was a different story, and he would face many challenges and need to continuously improve himself.


    From every point of view, this off-season should be full of fun.


    Li Wei was already eager to get going, knowing that many running backs, defensive ends, and linemen in the League were likely grinding their teeth in training with him as their target; but he wouldn¡¯t rest either, looking forward to surprises when meeting on the field in the new season to see who would have the last laugh.


    Of course, a holiday was still a holiday, but it was time to start drafting a training plan.


    Just as he put away the system, Li Wei was about to go out for a jog to clear his head when his home phone rang.


    Li Wei had no intention of answering it and headed straight to his room to change clothes, letting the answering machine handle it.


    He¡¯d get back after the jog; surely, there were no emergencies.


    ¡°Hey, Li Wei, this is JJ, JJ Watt...¡±


    Wait, who?

 Chapter 523

    ?Chapter 523: 522 Scam Master Chapter 523: 522 Scam Master ¡°Hey, this is Li Wei.


    Sorry, but I can¡¯t take your call right now, whether I¡¯m avoiding it on purpose or not even at home, anyway, it¡¯s not your fault, so, no need to be scared, just leave a message.


    Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t come kill you like John Wick, wait, who doesn¡¯t know John Wick?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Beep.¡±


    The phone went unanswered, and the answering machine automatically kicked in.


    However, the answering machine¡¯s message truly had Li Wei¡¯s style a?€¡± it ended abruptly without warning, leaving the caller on the other end completely baffled, not knowing whether to leave a message or not.


    ¡°Uh.¡±


    Clearly hesitating, there was a noticeable pause on the other end of the line, and when the caller spoke again, there was an unmistakable hint of amusement in his voice.


    ¡°Hey, Li Wei, this is JJ, JJ Watt...¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s footsteps halted as he entered the room, then he leaned back again.


    Watt?


    ...


    The Watt from the Houston Texans?


    But why would Watt be calling him?


    Could it be a scam call?


    ¡°Sorry for calling you directly like this, it seems a bit impolite, but I thought it best to communicate with you directly, it¡¯s more sincere that way.¡±


    ¡°So, I got your number from your agent.¡±


    ¡°Here¡¯s the thing...¡±


    ¡°Whew, sorry, I didn¡¯t realize I was speaking to an answering machine, I need to collect my thoughts, I¡¯m still not good at talking to machines...¡±


    His plain and simple words unintentionally betrayed a bit of awkwardness and nervousness, which, when combined with the mental image of JJ Watt, strangely seemed to fit albeit being slightly odd.


    Li Wei¡¯s mouth curved into a slight smile, and retracing his steps, he returned to the living room to answer the phone.


    ¡°Hey, JJ, I thought talking to machines was your forte.¡±


    Watt: ...


    Obviously, Watt hadn¡¯t prepared himself mentally.


    He had been carefully considering how to speak with Li Wei, then got flustered by the answering machine, wondering if communicating through it lacked sincerity, and now the call was suddenly picked upa?€¡±


    What a roller coaster!


    Watt was taken aback, ¡°What?¡±


    Watt was taken aback, ¡°Wait, dear friend, are you subtly showing off as a Super Bowl Champion now?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Yep.¡±


    Such a direct response was indeed abrupt, which made Watt burst into laughter once again.


    It was this straightforwardness from Li Wei that Watt appreciated.


    ¡°Congratulations, brother.


    Congratulations on reaching the top of the Super Bowl, your performance was absolutely insane.¡±


    Li Wei joked casually, ¡°So, have you considered joining us?¡±


    Watt was caught off guard again, ¡°You should know I still have two years left on my contract with Houston, right?¡±


    Indeed, Watt is an honest man.


    Even though Li Wei was just joking, the unexpected topic threw Watt right into Li Wei¡¯s pace.


    In 2014, when Watt was a junior, he signed a top-level contract: six years, one hundred million US dollars, of which $39 million was guaranteed, and an average annual salary of about sixteen million dollars, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league at the time, a historical milestone.


    Li Wei grinned, ¡°Of course, as you said, there are still two years left on your contract, and now is the time to think about the future, whether it¡¯s a renewal or a transfer.


    You¡¯re just missing one Super Bowl ring now.¡±


    ¡°JJ, even if you haven¡¯t considered it, are you sure Houston hasn¡¯t?¡±


    When Watt is healthy, there¡¯s no doubt he¡¯s one of the league¡¯s top players; but after two consecutive seasons cut short by injury, the Houston Texans can¡¯t help but have their own concernsa?€¡±


    They signed Watt to the league¡¯s top salary, not for a one-and-done postseason.


    Watt choked up but didn¡¯t get angry.


    Instead, a laugh came from deep within his throat, ¡°Li Wei, I¡¯m doing well in Houston, without Houston there¡¯s no me today; do you believe that?


    We¡¯re still the favorites to contend for the championship next season.¡±


    Indeed, with the offensive group¡¯s rising star Watson, and the defensive group¡¯s superstar Watt, the Houston Texans¡¯ on-paper strength is indubitably formidable.


    Li Wei could hear Watt¡¯s loyalty and knew the jokes had gone far enough, not pursuing it further, ¡°Of course, I have no doubts about that.¡±


    That¡¯s it?


    Li Wei gave up too quickly, leaving Watt somewhat confused.


    So, after all the roundabout talk, what was it really for?


    Then, at that moment, Watt finally realized, ¡°God, I completely forgot the purpose of my call.¡±


    Li Wei asked innocently, ¡°Oh, did you call me for something?¡±


    Watt couldn¡¯t help chuckling but didn¡¯t dig into Li Wei¡¯s just-now evasion, ¡°Training, Li Wei, I was wondering, do you want to train together during the off-season?¡±

 Chapter 524

    ?Chapter 524: 523 Rest Training Chapter 524: 523 Rest Training First, not everyone trains during the off-season.


    In fact, most don¡¯t start until just before the team¡¯s mini-camp, gradually getting their bodies back into shape, especially veteran players in the League.


    Second, off-season training is divided into two types: physical training and technical training.


    However, regardless of the type, avoiding injury is the primary condition.


    Physical training is simple and straightforward, primarily comprising weightlifting in the gym, gaining weight, building muscle, increasing speed, and enhancing stamina, often with the help of a personal trainer.


    Technical training, on the other hand, involves refining techniques without designing plays, such as quarterbacks passing, wide receivers catching, defensive ends tackling, running backs footwork, and so on.


    Football, a sport that involves physical contact, has a significant amount of technical content.


    ...


    When Burns first brought Li Wei into the team, he had said that entering football was not highly technical, and there wasn¡¯t a huge difference in skills between the different positions.@@@@


    But that was just the basics; if one wanted to advance further, honing skills was just as important as enhancing physical combat abilitya?€¡±


    Cam Newton, the Carolina Panthers quarterback, has very rough passing skills.


    After several seasons in the League, he showed no improvement, relying more on his physique.


    Since he could break through on the ground with the ball, why bother spending time grinding on passing skills?


    If it¡¯s technical training, relying solely on oneself won¡¯t be enough, so during the off-season, a group of buddies often gather together to train.


    Moreover, they are not limited to their own teams.


    After all, this is the Professional League, which always maintains fluidity; players come and go, and friendships formed outside the team are not few.


    Clearly, Watt¡¯s call was an invitation for Li Wei to join his mini-campa?€¡±


    Focused on technical training, but physical training would certainly not be neglected.


    The gentleman on the other end of the phone was well known throughout the League as a gym freak.


    A bit of surprise, a bit of delight.


    But.


    The first reaction in Li Wei¡¯s mind was, ¡°How is your body holding up?¡±


    He did not need pity.


    But Li Wei did not offer it.


    The kinship and warmth of a comrade made the words gentle and light.


    Perhaps because of this, or perhaps because Li Wei was a relative stranger, some things became simpler.


    ¡°I¡¯m not okay.¡±


    Watt said.


    After saying it, he felt relieved, as if a heavy burden on his shoulders had been dropped.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to reconcile with myself, with my own anger, disappointment, and pain, and it¡¯s bad, I look like a mess.¡±


    ¡°Rationality, I understand, believe me, Li Wei, I understand it all.¡±


    ¡°I need to fight against my own body.


    Persisting in rehabilitation and training every day, making progress bit by bit, I am moving in the right direction.¡±


    ¡°I know I shouldn¡¯t get discouraged because of slow progress, or angry because of the inconveniences caused by injuries, as getting upset and delaying rehabilitation, preventing me from playing in September, would be a real disaster.¡±


    ¡°I know people often adopt two common attitudes toward these issues, either complaining or getting angry, but that doesn¡¯t help; even if upset or complaining, I must stay positive and not delay my progress.¡±


    ¡°The past two years have scarred both my body and soul, but I shouldn¡¯t let injuries define me.


    I don¡¯t want to become the ¡®tough guy¡¯ people talk about, nor do I want to become that ¡®if¡¯ in people¡¯s eyes.¡±


    ¡°If I weren¡¯t injured, how things would be.¡±


    ¡°If I changed my style of play, how things would be.¡±


    ¡°Look, I understand the logic, but...¡±


    Taking a deep breath, Watt suddenly fell silent, and although he did not speak, the sense of loss and confusion could be felt over the phone.


    Li Wei understood.


    Even if one understood all the logic, life seemed still not to become simpler; because life isn¡¯t a math problem where applying the right formula can find the answer.


    Or perhaps, life inherently has no right answer.

 Chapter 525

    ?Chapter 525: 524 Extra-Curricular Friendship Chapter 525: 524 Extra-Curricular Friendship Life is always about searching for a guide or an answer.


    It seems that if one follows the guide, they can solve the puzzle of life and find the answer; but in reality, this is not the case.


    Even if you read all the books, learn all the principles, and try all the methods, you can still fail to live happily.


    Watt briefly got lost in thought.


    By the time he snapped back to reality, he was somewhat embarrassed; he hadn¡¯t anticipated that he would accidentally say so much.


    ¡°Phew, sorry.¡± Watt had come to his senses, regaining his composure and returning to his usual demeanor:


    He was the eldest son of the Watt family, he needed to be the pillar for his parents and a role model for his two younger brothers; he was the highest-paid player on the Houston Texans team, he needed to be a leader, carrying the team forward and bearing the hopes for a championship.


    ¡°Hehe.¡± The relaxed laughter of Li Wei came through the phone, making a joke without any concern, ¡°Now, I¡¯ve got something on you, JJ.


    ...


    Be careful, you wouldn¡¯t want to offend me.¡±


    Watt also laughed out loud, ¡°Even without that something, I wouldn¡¯t dare to offend you, what if I got myself wrapped up in it again next season?¡±


    A witty comeback.


    ¡°Ha.¡± Li Wei laughed loudly.


    But this time, he didn¡¯t continue with the banter and reined in his laughter, ¡°JJ, you¡¯re allowed to not be okay.¡±


    Watt was taken aback, ¡°What?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°What I mean is, you¡¯re allowed to get hurt, allowed to be vulnerable, allowed to be confused, allowed to be angry, everyone thinks Captain America is a machine without emotions and personality, but in fact, he is a real person, made of flesh and blood, only slightly stronger than an ordinary person.¡±


    Watt chuckled lightly, ¡°Yes, just slightly.¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°You can feel down, you can be confused, you don¡¯t need to be perfect.


    But, you¡¯re still hanging in there, still fighting hard.


    That¡¯s what¡¯s most important.¡±


    ¡°JJ, I don¡¯t have the answer to injuries either.¡±


    ¡°Eric...


    I also don¡¯t know how to comfort him, to encourage him, because any words would be empty and hypocritical.


    Also because his situation is not unfamiliar.


    Each of us might face the same challenges.¡±


    ¡°So.¡±


    ¡°We take it one day at a time, not thinking about tomorrow or the future, step by step, starting with the most fundamental and simple training.¡±


    ¡°What do you think, JJ?


    Are you sure you want me to join you for training?


    My training intensity...¡±


    Watt¡¯s voice picked up suddenly, ¡°What about your training intensity?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°My training intensity might be a bit too much, you might not be able to handle it.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡± Watt laughed very loudly.


    Li Wei, ¡°If it were before, you might just barely be able to keep up, but now, with the injuries just healed, we should still be careful, right?¡±


    Besides, networking and resources were additional benefits.


    Naturally, personal training camps held by top players in private were particularly popular, much like the historic brotherhoods at Ivy League universities; everyone longed to be a part of them, but alas, not everyone could have their wish fulfilled.


    Donald Yee had his own resourcesa?€¡±


    Tom Brady.


    Every year, Brady would hold his own small training camp in the latter half of the off-season, lasting no more than a couple of weeks, sometimes just one.


    Countless players yearned to join, but Brady had his own considerations.


    This year, Donald hoped that Li Wei could enter Brady¡¯s training camp.


    In Donald¡¯s view, it was a win-win, not only for improving one¡¯s condition through training, but also for generating buzz on the PR fronta?€¡±


    Especially regarding Brady.


    After encountering Li Wei twice and losing both in the regular season and playoffs, whether Brady liked it or not, the ¡°Brady VS Li Wei¡± rivalry had already spread far and wide and was set to become a hot topic for the new season¡¯s League discussions.


    If Brady could invite Li Wei to train together, to demonstrate his magnanimity and stature, it would be a plus for Brady¡¯s brand image.


    Unfortunately.


    Li Wei now had to decline.


    ¡°Oh, Li Wei, please hold on, give me three seconds.¡±


    Donald picked up the call, quickly wrapping up whatever he was dealing with.


    ¡°Sorry, I was just in a meeting, things are getting busy with the off-season.¡±


    Free agency.


    The draft.


    To be precise, the off-season was the time for Donald to really show off his skills.


    ¡°Regarding off-season training, the team has already made the arrangements, ready to start anytime according to your schedule.¡±


    ¡°As for Tom, he¡¯s off to Cancun with Gisele and the kids, the training camp won¡¯t be happening soon, at least not until the vacation is over.¡±


    ¡°So, you go ahead and start your training according to your plan.¡±


    Without skipping a beat, Donald continued his decisive and methodical approach to work, arranging everything neatly and efficiently.


    Despite Donald¡¯s even tone and the abundance of information, Li Wei quickly caught the key point, the potential message hidden between the lines.


    Li Wei, ¡°To put it simply, Tom didn¡¯t give you a definite response, right?¡±


    Donald: ...


    Li Wei was really too smart.


    Brady, upon hearing Donald¡¯s proposal, didn¡¯t hesitate to refuse, not because he had a problem with Li Wei or was pettily holding a grudge, but simply, ¡°I¡¯m not a nanny; I don¡¯t want to babysit for you during the off-season.¡±


    It was as simple as that.


    Then.


    Brady went on vacation, turned off his phone, refused all calls except from Belichick.


    That¡¯s why Donald¡¯s words were slightly vague just now.


    However, that was just fine.


    Li Wei, ¡°Perfect, Donald, I can¡¯t participate in Tom¡¯s training camp either.¡±

 Chapter 526

    ?Chapter 526: 525 Open up the situation Chapter 526: 525 Open up the situation Perhaps to others, Li Wei sweeping Brady in the season and then climbing to the Super Bowl summit should mean that Brady hates Li Wei to the bone.


    However, the reality is different.


    Brady never really took Li Wei seriously.


    The few championship rings Li Wei has, the several regular-season games he won, the playoffs he managed to come througha?€¡±none of those put him on Brady¡¯s level.


    It¡¯s just not necessary, really not necessary.


    Moreover, Brady himself was once in the same shoes, bursting onto the scene from out of nowhere, leading his team to Super Bowl glory with a Cinderella story, seemingly reaching the pinnacle of the world overnight.


    But he quickly realized that this was just the beginning.


    ...


    The real challenges were just starting.


    The New England Patriots had become the kings of the League since the millennium, and nobody knew better than Brady the setbacks and trials they had faced.


    So, it¡¯s very, very hard for miracles to happen twice.


    Everything, Brady had experienced firsthand.


    Li Wei had borrowed a bit of luck from God to win the Super Bowl Championship, and Brady sincerely congratulated him without being nitpicky.


    If Li Wei wanted to challenge him, or if he wanted Brady to see him as an equal opponent, then he should at least get a second championship ring before that.


    As for someone like him, whose hand is full of championship rings, he always remains humble and low-key, never boasting about just winning another game.


    Class, you know?


    Class!


    Quibbling with a kid whose face is full of acne would be beneath Brady, a degradation of his own valuea?€¡±he wouldn¡¯t be so foolish.


    The disgrace in the American League division game was just a minor incident.


    So.


    When Donald proposed the idea, Brady didn¡¯t feel offended.


    He just simply didn¡¯t want to play nannya?€¡±that¡¯s all, changing diapers and possibly having to teach Li Wei how to train and plan as if he were parenting a three-year-old.


    He simply didn¡¯t have the patience for that.


    Moreover, Brady¡¯s off-season training camps were always known for their high standards and intensity.


    His goal was never merely to complete an outstanding season but to win victories and championships.


    The training camp was not for fooling around, and the quality and intensity of the training could not be compromised.


    What if Li Wei couldn¡¯t keep up with the intensity and started whining and crying?


    Would he then have to be responsible for babysitting?


    No way.


    Brady refused Donald without hesitation.


    However, Donald wasn¡¯t one to give up easily.


    He persuaded Brady with points about media image and public relations strategya?€¡±


    As for Brady...


    ¡°Brady VS Li Wei¡± maintaining a hostile relationship could also be a good choice.


    Donald thought, maybe he should placate Brady and then deliberately leak the news, stoking the flames, adding fuel early for next season¡¯s matchup, setting a fierce blaze.


    In an instant, Donald¡¯s mind had already conjured up several different plans.


    His thoughts paused, and Donald had already made up his mind, without further hesitation.


    ¡°So, when does the training camp start, and where is JJ planning to train?


    Is there anything I can help with, like the venue?


    Logistics?


    Equipment?


    Team?


    Transportation?


    Accommodation?¡±


    Everything was overly simple, so much so that Li Wei was caught off-guard.


    Originally, Li Wei thought he would need to expend a great deal of effort persuading Donald who he assumed would protect Brady¡¯s interests, considering he was also Brady¡¯s agent; however, Donald did nota?€¡±


    He dealt with the matter factually.


    To be precise, Donald still considered Li Wei¡¯s position and interests, even at the expense of Brady¡¯s interests, to achieve a balance.


    Now, Li Wei was a bit worried about how Donald would explain to Brady.


    But Donald was right, that¡¯s what agents are for.


    However, Li Wei would not take Donald¡¯s professionalism and considerations for granted.


    Even in a cooperative relationship, mutual consideration is necessary.


    ¡°Thank you, Donald,¡± Li Wei said.


    Donald was taken aback.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t pause any further, ¡°As for the specifics, I am still waiting for JJ¡¯s message.


    I think JJ will have everything arranged.


    You can see if there¡¯s anything you think needs to be added based on your experience.¡±


    ¡°By the way, you might need to rent a house for me near the training facility.¡±


    Donald had also recovered his wits.


    The same partnership with different approaches greatly pleased him about his relationship with Li Wei so far.


    Some seemingly insignificant details could make all the difference.


    Donald, ¡°No problem.


    Have you guys decided on the training city?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Miami, we are planning to head to Miami.¡±

 Chapter 527

    ?Chapter 527: 526 Watt by name Chapter 527: 526 Watt by name Miami, located in Florida on the Southeast corner of the North American continent, boasts a pleasant climate and spacious view, suited for a slow-paced life facing the bloom by the sea.


    Countless retirees choose to settle here for their twilight years, earning it the nickname ¡°God¡¯s Waiting Room.¡±


    Of course, across the Gulf of Mexico, one can see Cuba and Guatemala, so close at hand, establishing a particularly close relationship with South America; even hailed as the ¡°Capital of South America¡±, Miami is enriched with a unique charm, becoming a melting pot of various cultures and ethnicities.


    During the 1970s and 1980s, Miami had been a haven for crime, leaving behind a variety of legends that are still circulated to this day.


    Nowadays, countless professional athletes choose to settle in this city.


    Two of women¡¯s tennis greats, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, have both made it their home; furthermore, basketball, football, and other sports are no exception.


    Every year during the offseason, athletes return here to spend their long holidays, partying and reveling, effortlessly relaxing the tightly wound nerves of the entire season, thoroughly enjoying the luxury of squandering time.


    From such a perspective, Miami certainly isn¡¯t the best choice for offseason traininga?€¡±


    the temptations are too many.


    ...


    However, that is not the case, as many athletes choose to come to Miami for training.


    Setting aside the agreeable climate, the sea and the beach serve as perfect training grounds, using the resistance of sand or sea water to increase the difficulty of the training, thus naturally creating an optimal training environment outside of competition arenas; coupled with the numerous vacationing athletes, it makes it easy to find training partners and spontaneously form one¡¯s own mini training camp, further making Miami one of the hottest destinations for offseason training.


    ¡°...I like it here.¡±


    ¡°Ha, it¡¯s temptation everywhere, and one slight misstep might dazzle your eyes.


    A single phone call could have you tossing and turning, abandoning all previous efforts.¡±


    ¡°No, no, no, these trials are also part of the training.¡±


    ¡°Oh, how so?¡±


    ¡°You see, if you head to a bitterly cold place like Wisconsin for training, due to environmental reasons, life is forced into a training mode with just two points of travel between the training ground and dormitory.


    Focusing on training isn¡¯t a choice.


    But here, every day comes with different temptations, and if we can still focus on our training, it¡¯s entirely our own choice, a test of willpower.¡±


    ¡°Hmm...


    So, that¡¯s how you convinced Brittany, huh?¡±


    Mahomes was able to discern the profound implications in Li Wei¡¯s words and gaze, chuckled twice, scratching his head shyly and awkwardly.


    Mahomes could also feel the pressure and responsibility, eager to try his hand and ready to showcase himself during the off-season training camp.


    Surprisingly, at the tight end position, Watt invited Kelce.


    Originally, Li Wei thought that Kelce, having been in the league for many years, had his own arrangements and plans during the off-season; and since it was Watt¡¯s training camp, he shouldn¡¯t interfere too much, which is why he hadn¡¯t invited Kelce.


    Unexpectedly, Watt and Kelce were already friends off the field, and upon being invited, Kelce agreed without a second thought.


    Along with that, Kelce brought his brother, Jason Kelce, who was undoubtedly a big surprise, being a Hall of Fame caliber center.


    Brilliant and splendid golden sunlight pierced through the cloudless azure sky, showering down on a world that was clean and transparent, the abundant green conveying a hint of coolness amidst the vast blue, clearly still winter time, yet the eyes, pores, and chests were filled with summer.


    Comfortable, pleasant, enchanting.


    No wonder everyone loves Miami; even Donald asked Li Wei if he needed to purchase a property in Miamia?€¡±who could refuse paradise?


    When Li Wei and Mahomes arrived at the training ground, only then did they realize the real surprises hidden herea?€¡±


    Cameron-Jordan, the New Orleans Saints¡¯ defensive end, one of the most excellent top defensive linemen of the past decade, has been a Saint since he entered the league in 2011a?€¡±unassuming, sincere, dedicated, and hardworking.


    It¡¯s no surprise he and Watt could become friends.


    Allen-Robinson, a wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars, led the league in touchdown receptions in the 2015 season, but he had played only one game this season before tearing a ligament and being coldly cut by the team, still without a team to this date.


    It seems that Robinson is also slowly getting back on track; he and Watt must share many common languages.


    And so on and so forth.


    One could tell from the roster of training camp members, Watt wasn¡¯t chasing big names or superstars, not even pursuing strength, purely motivated by friendship, setting aside competition and outcomes, a group of good friends gathered to train during the off-season, advancing, improving, and fighting together.


    By the end of the training camp, friendships among Watt¡¯s friends had also been established.


    However,


    things were not so simple, as not everyone was so calm and even-tempered.


    Among professional players, there are too many with fiery tempers, self-importance, unruliness, and arrogance, with constant overt and covert struggles.


    There was one right in front of them.


    ¡°Tsk.¡±


    Upon seeing Li Wei take the stage, they clearly showed their disdain and contempt.@@@@

 Chapter 528

    ?Chapter 528: 527 Arch-rivals meet Chapter 528: 527 Arch-rivals meet Competitive sports, professional playersa?€¡±most of them have distinct personalities and are fiercely competitive, never yielding in defeat.


    Watt and Li Wei are no exceptions.


    The difference lies in how to maintain a sense of proportion and discretion, and whether one can distinguish between competitions and personal life, controlling oneself with a professional demeanora?€¡±


    You must never bring grudges from the field into your personal life.


    However, as much as everyone understands this principle, it¡¯s not that easy to adhere to.


    Right now, there¡¯s one such person, DeAndre Hopkins, Wide Receiver for the Houston Texans, currently the most sought-after Wide Receiver in the League, leading this season in touchdown receptions.


    He possesses not only speed but also strength in confrontation; his route-running and tactical execution abilities are also exceptional.


    Since joining the League in 2013, he¡¯s become a receiving force to be reckoned with.


    ...


    Last offseason, the Houston Texans inked a five-year, eighty-one million US Dollar contract with Hopkins, including forty-nine million guaranteed and a seven million five hundred thousand signing bonus, making him one of the highest-paid Wide Receivers in the League.


    And Hopkins didn¡¯t let the team down, delivering a top-notch performance in the 2017 season, proving his worth with actions.@@@@


    One could say he was riding high on the success.


    Clearly, Hopkins isn¡¯t interested in playing by anyone else¡¯s rules.


    There, seeing Li Wei, the star Wide Receiver rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Pfft.¡±


    Right from their meeting, he made his stance clear, with no intention to conceal it.


    ¡°Hey, guys, look who it is!


    Isn¡¯t that the Super Bowl MVP?


    My God, let¡¯s hurry and pay our respects, catch some lucka?€¡±not because Roger Goodell might make things difficult for us.¡±


    Sarcasm fired at full blast.


    That¡¯s quite a lot to take in.


    Mahomes: ???


    What¡¯s going on?


    Mahomes couldn¡¯t understand the hostility emanating from Hopkins.


    If it was because the Houston Texans lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the regular season, that would be rather small-minded.


    If he was defending Watt, the latter himself didn¡¯t seem to care, so why the whining?


    Could it be a secret crush on Watt?


    Having circled through possibilities, Mahomes had no answers, so he leaned towards Li Wei and whispered, ¡°You stole his girlfriend.¡±


    ¡°Bingo,¡± admitted Li Wei without hesitation.


    Cough cough.


    Mahomes choked on his own spit, his eyes wide with surprise and disbelief, only to realize Li Wei was joking when he saw the laughter in his eyes, and he exhaled deeply.


    The correct answer lay in their college days.


    ¡°Friends, thank you for being willing to come support me, the offseason this year is very important to me, very, very much so,¡±


    ¡°Derrick and TJ agreed to help out because they had no room to refuse; but your willingness to come is purely my honor,¡±


    ¡°Today, we¡¯ve met briefly, no training.


    I¡¯ve arranged a private yacht for this afternoon, where we can enjoy the sights of the Atlantic, then do some fishing and sunbathing, and have a little party,¡±


    ¡°But watch your alcohol intake.


    Because training starts tomorrow morning.¡±


    ¡°The first week is basic training, just to relax, everything is very simple.


    You need to switch from vacation mode to training mode, while I need to move from injury mode into training mode.


    It¡¯s fine to start the training with a relaxed and enjoyable mindset, there¡¯s no need to put too much pressure on yourselves,¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard about Michael Jordan¡¯s ¡®Breakfast Club¡¯, and I thought, hey, why not have Watt¡¯s ¡®Breakfast Club¡¯?¡±


    Cameron Jordan: Huh?


    Why emulate the ¡®Breakfast Club¡¯ of all things?


    Mahomes blinked, ¡°Rookie, what is ¡®The Breakfast Club¡¯?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°It¡¯s a movie, released in 1985, very good.¡±


    Mahomes looked enlightened.


    Watt, however, paid no attention to the commotion and his smile spread.


    ¡°Tomorrow morning, training starts promptly at five and will last two hours, ending at seven.


    If we can¡¯t finish the prescribed training by seven o¡¯clock, then there will be no breakfast,¡±


    Watt said, showing off a bright, happy smile along with his neat, white teeth.


    Mahomes looked at Li Wei: Wait, what you said earlier isn¡¯t right.


    ...


    Exhausted.


    Heavy.


    Li Wei felt like he could barely keep his eyes open now.


    Yesterday afternoon, that bunch of guys came up with all sorts of reasons to force drinks on him, despite Li Wei¡¯s best efforts to fend them off, he still ended up drunk and groggy.


    So, he slept for a few hours in the bedroom of the private yacht that afternoon.


    He didn¡¯t drink in the evening, but since he slept too long in the afternoon, the vacation sleep schedule he had gotten used to was completely disrupted, leaving him wide awake when it was time to sleep.


    Thinking about the early morning training tomorrow and its undoubtedly intimidating intensity, he lay down in bed early, closed his eyes, counted sheep, and forced himself to rest.


    But not being able to sleep meant just that, and just when he was dozing off, it seemed like not even five minutes had passed when his phone began to roar wildly.


    Like Harry Potter¡¯s Howler.

 Chapter 529

    ?Chapter 529: 528 Custom Made Chapter 529: 528 Custom Made ¡°`


    Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling.


    The ringtone of the cell phone tore through the quiet of the night, and Li Wei woke up immediately.


    Subconsciously, he knew he had to get up early today to start the off-season training.


    Even if his brain felt groggy and half-asleep, he still reacted instantly.


    He fumbled in the dark and grabbed the phone to answer the call.


    Before Li Wei could speak, the voice on the other end had already taken the initiative.


    ¡°Hey, rookie, what are you doing?


    ...


    You¡¯re not still sleeping, are you?@@@@


    I¡¯ve been training for fifteen minutes already.


    If you¡¯re any slower, the sun¡¯s going to be shining on your butt.¡±


    Click.


    Without waiting for Li Wei to respond, the call had already been disconnected.


    Li Wei, who was still not fully awake, had a brain full of mush and could not think clearly.


    He paused for a moment, then looked at the caller ID:


    JJ-Watt.


    He then checked the time, 4:30 AM.


    Li Wei: ???


    Wait, wasn¡¯t it agreed to be at 5:00 AM?


    Li Wei¡¯s set alarm hadn¡¯t even started ringing yet.


    What was Watt up to?


    In a fog, without time to think it over, Li Wei took a deep breath to adjust himself, but he wasn¡¯t in a hurry.


    Instead, he went to the bathroom for a quick hot showera?€¡±


    He hadn¡¯t rested well the previous night, covered in a cold sweat and his consciousness slightly blurred.


    So he needed to wake up and adjust to be in a better state for training, otherwise the quality of the whole day¡¯s training might not keep up.


    Haste makes waste, after all.


    After finishing the preparations, Li Wei didn¡¯t drive but instead put on a hat and jogged all the way there.


    The villa that Donald had rented for him was less than two kilometers from the training field.


    It would take less than five minutes by car, but it was accessible by running or walking.


    Since the off-season training had started, it was time to get into training mode.


    He varied his pace all the way, starting with a full-on sprint, then slowing down for a stretch, and then sprinting again, constantly challenging his cardiorespiratory function.


    In the blink of an eye, he had smoothly arrived at the destination.


    ¡°Training starts at five, I just like to get here thirty minutes early.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that number 23 on the Kansas City Chiefs is a training maniac.


    TJ said the other day, ¡®it¡¯s crazy meeting crazy, who knows who will win.¡¯ So, I was thinking, maybe we should both arrive thirty minutes early.¡±


    ¡°Or should I say...¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t sleep well, should we lie down a bit more and wait for everyone else to arrive?


    That¡¯s also an option.¡±


    It was rare to see different expressions on Watt¡¯s face.


    There was an eager anticipation, and a triumphant delight from successful pranking.


    Honestly, Li Wei really hadn¡¯t slept well and wasn¡¯t at his best; but given Watt¡¯s enthusiasm, how could Li Wei refuse?


    Even before opening his mouth, Li Wei had already started warming up his wrists and ankles, ¡°So, does some newly-recovered patient need special care?¡±


    That was all it took.


    Watt slightly lifted his chin, his eyes revealing a knowing smile, and instead of continuing the banter, he got straight to the point, ¡°Did you run over here?


    That should count as a light warm-up.


    What do you think, shall we start with some basic cardio?¡±


    The challenge was thrown down.


    Li Wei looked him up and down, ¡°JJ, I¡¯ve got a training tip for you.


    How about this?


    Before we start each training exercise, whether it¡¯s strength or core, we run two kilometers first, then begin.


    What do you think?¡±


    Two kilometers?


    Without a doubt, this was another stern test for the cardiovascular system, but it also could enhance the quality of training by switching between different types of exercises.


    Excitement sparkled in Watt¡¯s eyes, ¡°Does that include the cardio session?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Of course.¡±


    Watt, ¡°No problem.


    So, shall we start with the two kilometers now?¡±


    Without a word, Li Wei and Watt exchanged glances, took no rest, and both began running up and down the sidelines of the field in a straight line.


    Mahomes also jogged all the way to the training field, his mind filled with some confusiona?€¡±


    No one in Li Wei¡¯s room.


    Could it be that Li Wei had gone to the training field earlier?


    Five o¡¯ clock training was already crazy enough, and Li Wei had gone even earlier to the training field?


    From a distance, Mahomes could see a line of people standing next to the training field.


    He was surprised, glanced at his watch, and noticed there were still ten minutes until five.

 Chapter 530

    ?Chapter 530: 529 Simple Warm-up Chapter 530: 529 Simple Warm-up Something seemed a bit off.


    Mahomes had prepared early.


    He knew he was still a backup quarterback and needed to continue learning and improving, but that didn¡¯t mean he didn¡¯t want to become the starting quarterback.


    At the beginning of the Super Bowl, following the team through the rollercoaster of fierce close combat to eventually becoming champions, his blood boiled with a high fighting spirit; he knew he craved the battle and those moments.


    But the more he longed, the more aware he became.


    Mahomes wasn¡¯t blindly confident, he knew he still needed to grow.


    Fortunately, Li Wei had introduced him to a rare opportunity for off-season training, and he was ready to seize it, to surprise everyone during the team¡¯s training camp.


    ...


    Early in the morning, Mahomes got up on time, energetically ready to face the challenges.


    However.


    Not seeing Li Wei in the room, Mahomes had an ominous feeling.


    Upon arriving at the training field, the sight before him made his heart sink even morea?€¡±


    Indeed, ominous feelings are never wrong.


    So, could someone please tell him what on earth was going on?


    On the training field, Li Wei, and Watt were doing burpee jumps.


    You don¡¯t have to be a professional athlete; even ordinary people who try out sports might have encountered burpee exercises, a full-body aerobic exercise that burns calories through short bursts of high-intensity activity, known as the ¡°fat-burning killer¡±; but correspondingly, it is also a severe test for cardiorespiratory fitness.


    In itself, burpees are already difficult; but what Li Wei and Watt were doing was an upgraded version.


    Using both ends of the end zones as the starting point, they proceeded while doing burpee jumps advancing thirty yards, and then started ¡°suicide¡± sprintsa?€¡±


    Starting at the thirty-yard line, sprint to the thirty-five-yard line and back to thirty, then to the forty-yard line and back to thirty, and so on.


    Exhaustion.


    Burning.


    Torment.


    This back and forth sprinting was of nightmare difficulty, even for professional athletes, thus earning the nickname ¡°suicide,¡± indicative of the challenge level.


    Running all the way to the midfield line.


    Then switching back to burpee jumps, moving to the opposite half¡¯s twenty-yard line, then switching back to ¡°suicide¡± sprints, finally dashing past the end zone line to put the finishing touch.


    This was not just an upgraded version, it was hellish.


    What happened to gradual progression?


    What happened to starting with a simple warm-up then escalating the challenge?


    What happened to relaxing and enjoying the vacation?


    Even just standing on the sidelines and watching Li Wei and Watt train, it felt like his own lungs were burning up with them.


    Uncomfortable.


    Kelsey was about to make a retort but swallowed his words instead.


    But Hopkins wasn¡¯t buying it, sneering with disdain, ¡°Heh.


    It seems only you find it tough.


    Typical rookie, always making a big fuss over nothing.¡±


    Everyone expected Li Wei to retort or remain unfazed like he did with Kelsey, but instead, he showed a face full of surprise and admiration, ¡°Wow, really?


    You truly are the league¡¯s top receiver.


    Following you and learning during the session will be so moving for us.¡±


    Mahomes: Why does this feel so odd?


    Hopkins, oblivious, lifted his chin arrogantly, ¡°Glad you know it.¡±


    Stars twinkled in Li Wei¡¯s eyes, ¡°Wow, I¡¯m really looking forward to the training.¡±


    Everyone around could hear the sarcasm in Li Wei¡¯s words, but Hopkins, clueless as ever, became even more smug, almost ready to outright say, ¡°Li Wei is nothing special.¡±


    Kelsey leaned towards Mahomes, ¡°Do you think, Li Wei knows who Hopkins actually is?¡±


    Mahomes, an honest man, didn¡¯t speak but snickered, scratching his head.


    Meanwhile, Watt gave Li Wei a grateful look.


    Sarcasm aside, Li Wei had skillfully hidden his intentions, and Watt knew that Li Wei was giving face, not wanting conflict on the first day of camp.


    Clearing his throat, Watt took on the coach¡¯s responsibility, ¡°Just now, Li Wei and I did a simple test, and we both think it¡¯s a good idea.


    Before every training session, including physical and technical drills, let¡¯s start with a two-kilometer runa?€|¡±


    Stunned.


    Murmurs and protests immediately buzzed like boiling water.


    Watt had to raise his voice, ¡°There¡¯s no time limit, just go at your own pace.¡±


    Watt looked towards Jason Kelce.


    Being a center, Jason¡¯s training differed from other positionsa?€¡±6.2 feet tall (191 cm), 295 pounds (134 kg), almost like a small hill.


    Expecting Jason to sprint like Li Wei was unrealistic, so training should be adjusted according to individual capability.


    However, Jason understood that the two-kilometer run before every session placed a real load on cardiorespiratory health.


    In simple terms, it was an additional exercise to enhance physical stamina and endurance, which could play a significant role during the playoffs.


    Speed wasn¡¯t important; the key was to persevere and complete the training at your own pace.


    This applied not just to the run, but all related drills.


    Jason nodded at Watt, displaying a sincere smile, ¡°No problem.¡±


    Watt breathed out softly, ¡°Great, then let us begin.


    Before the first training session, two kilometers.¡±


    No sooner had he finished speaking than Hopkins dashed off like an arrow released from its bow, leaving everyone behind and disappearing into the distance.

 Chapter 531

    ?Chapter 531: Sweating like rain Chapter 531: Sweating like rain Off-season training officially began.


    Despite Watt stressing again and again that the first day, and even the first week, was just a warm-up, a gradual process allowing everyone to adjust, to shift from vacation mode to training mode,


    It was clear that the beast¡¯s perception differed significantly from that of the average person.


    Or should one say, Watt had some critical misunderstandings to clarify about the term ¡°warm-up¡±?


    Starting with aerobic exercise then moving on to strength training, followed by explosive power training, core strength training, flexibility training, and finally looping back to aerobic exercise.


    Based solely on ¡°quantity,¡± it might not seem excessive; the regimen even included variety with all sorts of exercises designed to protect muscles and joints, improve bodily balance, and reduce the risk of injury, making the monotonous training diversified.


    However, when one looked at the types, categories, rhythm, frequency, and other aspects of quality, it was undoubtedly hellish.


    Even the moments for breathing and drinking water were scheduled clearly, leaving no time for complaints or banter, for there was simply no time to think.


    ...


    One was thrown into the tempest, dazed.


    In the end, the only thing left on the training ground was a chorus of gasps for breath.


    Now, Li Wei finally understood why everyone in the League loved Watt so much.


    In a Professional League where one¡¯s talent was stronger than the next, and egos and pride were rampant, someone like Watt, with exceptional talent yet diligent, humble, and low-keya?€¡±the Good Old Mana?€¡±was indeed a rare breed.@@@@


    Even if you didn¡¯t like Watt, you couldn¡¯t hate him; admiration was the only sentiment.


    Compared with Watt, Li Wei, the ¡°training fanatic,¡± still seemed a bit green.


    Indeed, there is always someone better out there, always a higher sky above.


    Coach Burns was righta?€¡±he still needed to continue learning and growing.


    Panting, panting.


    The first round of training ended, and Li Wei was also gasping for air, drenched in sweat, with his lungs burning.


    Seeing this, Vilani felt a bit of a pleasant surprise because today Li Wei was indeed in average condition, having not adjusted well either mentally or physically, and had persevered only by clenching his teeth and relying on sheer willpower.


    Honestly, those who could enter the NFL were all geniuses.


    Maybe that unremarkable guy now serving drinks by the water cooler had once dominated in high school, that guy obediently picking up balls for practice squads had once been unrivaled in college, but became just another face in the crowd the moment they entered the Professional League.


    Not just Football.


    All competitive sports are the samea?€¡±to reach the pinnacle amid fierce competition and demanding challenges, one needs a certain ruthlessness and decisivenessa?€¡±


    Ferocity towards your opponents, and even more towards oneself.


    In his rookie season, Li Wei burst onto the scene like a bolt from the blue, with no one knowing his depth, so the entire season went smoothly with the wind at his back.


    But the next season wouldn¡¯t be so simple.


    Nevertheless, Watt did not remind Hopkins of this.


    Hopkins was quite full of himself and always thought he was exceptionally clever.


    Taking a tumble in front of Li Wei might not be such a bad thing.


    ¡°It seems someone is holding up pretty well,¡± Watt joked half-heartedly.


    Li Wei looked at Watt, ¡°How can a man easily admit defeat?¡±


    A joke that made Watt laugh heartily, patting Li Wei on the shoulder, ¡°First round of training is over, and now comes the much-anticipated breakfast time.¡±


    Checking the time, it was twenty minutes to seven.


    Watt said that the first round of training would last two hours, but in reality, it was only an hour and forty minutesa?€¡±excluding the extra warm-up of both Li Wei and Watt, and leaving twenty minutes before seven so that everyone could finish the training at their own pace.


    Otherwise, according to Michael Jordan¡¯s ¡°Breakfast Club¡± rules, anyone who didn¡¯t complete the training on time couldn¡¯t have breakfast at seven but had to come and eat alone after the training was over.


    This was the origin of the ¡°Breakfast Club¡±a?€¡±


    A club formed by the players who managed to arrive on time for breakfast at seven.


    From this perspective, the first day¡¯s training wasn¡¯t all-out indeed.


    However.


    Li Wei slumped in the chair, aching all over, not wanting to move even a single finger.


    Looking at the sumptuous breakfast prepared by a personal nutritionist and professional private chef, he actually had no appetite at alla?€¡±


    This was a sign of utter exhaustion.


    Beside him.


    Clang, clang clang.


    Jason Kelce¡¯s fork was uncontrollably hitting the white porcelain plate.


    He tried to steady one hand with the other, but not only did he fail to control it, the shaking became even worse.


    Both hands trembling together.


    Jason revealed a resigned smile, reflecting a sense of helplessness.


    Across him, Travis Kelce was laughing uproariously, doubled over with laughter; although he wasn¡¯t in much better shape himself, finding Jason¡¯s embarrassed look truly hilarious.


    Jason didn¡¯t mind, his left hand¡¯s fork continued to clang against the plate, and he, too, couldn¡¯t hold back his snickers, laughing until he had to wipe tears from the corners of his eyes with the back of his hand.


    Then he murmured an explanation.


    ¡°It¡¯s laughter, these are tears of laughter.¡±


    The group erupted into laughter.

 Chapter 532

    ?Chapter 532: 531 There¡¯s always someone better Chapter 532: 531 There¡¯s always someone better There, Jason Kelce had already given up resisting; his fork continually clashing against the porcelain plate, and because he was laughing so exaggeratedly, his trembling became even worse.


    Here, Li Wei also began tapping his plate with his fork, creating a clear, tingling sound as he rhythmically played along in tacit agreement with Jason.


    All eyes fell on Li Wei.


    Li Wei looked at Jason, ¡°We could form a duo of fork percussionists, like a pair of beggar minstrels.¡±


    Haha, hahahaha.


    The laughter just couldn¡¯t be stopped.


    Perhaps, the calmest and most composed person in the whole place was Watt himself, even Derrick and TJ were panting, but Watt handled it effortlessly.


    A small detail revealed the intensity of Watt¡¯s off-season training which he had started early after finishing his rehab.


    ...


    Watt was leisurely enjoying his breakfasta?€¡±


    Just like a hippopotamus.


    From vegetables to protein to whole grains, with desserts to compliment.


    At a quick glance, it was almost as much food as an average adult would eat in a whole day.


    Watt¡¯s expression was composed, seemingly as if he had just had a good sleep, ¡°How are things, all good?¡±


    Not only was he asking Li Wei, but he was also asking Mahomes, who was beside him.


    Simply put, two freshmen.


    Mahomes¡¯s knees were also trembling, fervently preparing to exhibit his skills, yet on his first day of training he found himself in devil-mode.


    He couldn¡¯t laugh.


    As a result, Li Wei said seriously, ¡°No, I am not doing well at all.¡±


    Plurp.


    Mahomes almost burst out laughing.


    And Watt also burst into hearty laughter.


    Before Watt could speak, Hopkins coldly threw over a comment.


    ¡°You still have time to quit now, go back and lie on a soft, comfortable bed.


    Get a couple of women, have a glass of wine, soak up some sun, play some games, and lie on your Super Bowl MVP trophy to enjoy your vacation.


    Wouldn¡¯t that be nice?¡±


    ¡°Why endure hardship here?¡±


    ¡°For someone as famous yet vacuous as you are, abandoning training couldn¡¯t be more normal.


    Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t laugh at you.¡±


    This time, even Watt couldn¡¯t stand it.


    But Watt was a step too slow, Mahomes glared angrily, ¡°What rubbish are you spouting?


    If you can¡¯t speak properly, choose to shut up.¡±


    It was rare to see Mahomes lose his temper.@@@@


    Despite Mahomes usually appearing cheerful as if he never gets angry, you shouldn¡¯t provoke him lightly, because when a nice guy loses his temper, it¡¯s truly frightening.


    He should follow Li Wei¡¯s lead, he needed to buck up, treat this training camp as a small goal, and push his limits as far as possible for an upgrade.


    He didn¡¯t think he could surpass the two freaks, Li Wei and Watt, but he shouldn¡¯t fall too far behind either.


    Come on!


    Mahomes quietly clenched his fist to encourage himself.


    Looking up, he saw Li Wei and Mahomes choked up for a moment: Uh...


    Not thinking, Li Wei smiled, ¡°Sherlock, there¡¯s more training waiting for us.


    Come on, let¡¯s push hard, or we won¡¯t keep up with that devil JJ.¡±


    Watt, ¡°A devil always recognizes a devil.¡±


    Li Wei: a?€| ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the original saying be ¡®a champion always recognizes a champion¡¯?¡±


    Kelce, head bowed, quietly said, ¡°A freak always recognizes a freak.¡±


    Haha.


    Laughter erupted all around.


    Before starting the morning training, they still needed to get massages and some preventative treatments to ensure their bodies could handle the intensity.


    After a brief relaxation, the training officially began.


    Starting from the swimming pool, moving to the ocean, through the sand, and finally back to the gym.


    In just a few hours, Li Wei finally understood the literal meaning of crossing mountains and riversa?€¡±


    Literally.


    The training intensity was even higher than in the morning, and though it wasn¡¯t monotonous with endless variety spinning the whole world around, the intense to the point of freakish training plunged his brain into chaos.


    Waiting for the four-hour morning training to end, his mind had gone completely blank:


    Who am I?


    Even Li Wei was struggling.


    He didn¡¯t want to use last night¡¯s lack of sleep or poor physical condition as excuses.


    Watt¡¯s training intensity was indeed extraordinary, and although personal trainers adjusted the intensity based on each player¡¯s individual circumstances, overall it was still beyond imagination.


    Luckily, after lunch, there was time to resta?€¡±


    Sleep, the best way for a professional athlete to replenish energy and recover strength.


    Two hours, a precious two hours of nap time, comparable to gold.


    But then.


    Watt didn¡¯t plan to sleep; he was ready to go play golf.


    ¡°Li Wei, wanna join?¡±


    Watt enthusiastically issued the invitation, but upon seeing Li Wei¡¯s face covered in weariness and dark circles, he couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud.


    ¡°Buddy, you better rest up, we have more training this afternoon, and you can¡¯t give up now,¡± he said.


    Finishing, Watt also punched his fist toward Li Wei, his eyes full of sincerity.


    Now, Li Wei finally understood what kind of devil Watt was.

 Chapter 533

    ?Chapter 533: 532 Double-faced Beauty Chapter 533: 532 Double-faced Beauty ¡°Training, please prepare.¡±


    ¡°Training, please prepare.¡±


    The grating sound of the horn resonated from outside the training base building, abruptly pulling Li Wei from the depths of his sleep.


    The scant two hours of rest felt as sweet as honey; his head had barely touched the pillow before he fell deeply asleep, without dreaming and entering a deep, blissful slumber.


    Fortunately, Li Wei did not overexert himself by joining Hopkins and Watt for golf.


    Instead, he wisely chose to catch up on sleep, recharging himself briefly.


    But now, it was all over.


    Outside, Watt¡¯s voice was steady, yet one could faintly detect a hint of schadenfreude from the horn¡¯s sound.


    Clearly, the well-behaved Watt was exciteda?€¡±


    A moment of happiness.


    ...


    Li Wei flipped over, grabbed the pillow, covered his head and ears, and tried to close his eyes again, but the horn¡¯s relentless noise penetrated the pillow and assaulted his eardrums.


    ¡°Ah, ah, ah...¡±


    Li Wei was somewhat breaking down.


    Yet, Li Wei took a deep breath, and with a sudden motion, sat straight up.


    The so-called breakthroughs, the so-called challenges, the real keys are moments like this, whenever you want to give up, to relax, just clench your teeth and persevere a little longer, even enduring a little while longer could yield a completely different outcome.


    It was precisely such moments, a turn to the left, a turn to the right, different choices that would determine the ultimate heights achieved.


    Heading to the bathroom to wash his face, adjust his mindset, and reappear on the field, Li Wei had regained his composure, ready for the afternoon¡¯s training.


    Different from the morning, the afternoon was focused on technical traininga?€¡±


    Firstly, the players spread out for individual training, engaging in specialized practices based on positional needs.


    For Li Wei, this meant footwork drills, impact drills, ball-handling drills, balance drills, evasion techniques, and so on and so forth.


    Even without direct confrontation, he had a basketful of technical drills to deeply explore on his own.


    However, Derrick was there too, being a running back as well.


    From the training alone, it was clear Derrick was a down-to-earth, diligent type, quiet and focused.


    Perhaps because of his brothers¡¯ fame, Derrick had his own glory to defend; perhaps because of the Watt family¡¯s meticulous nature, treating training as seriously as they would a matcha?€¡±


    In any case, Derrick was intensely focused.


    Derrick and Li Wei barely spoke, but their training silently initiated a contest, with a tension gradually permeating the air.


    Next, the players formed teams for cooperative training, which was non-combative, purely focused on coordination, choosing flag football drills to avoid injuries.


    Simply put, the emphasis of flag football was on reducing direct collisions.


    Defensive players merely needed to snatch the red flag from the waist of the offensive players to successfully defend.


    Based on this, they launched into route running drills, evasion breakthrough drills, and running reception drills among others, Li Wei partnering with various players, joining Watt, TJ, and Mahomes for coordination and technique drills.


    The training was in full swing.


    Watt.


    Drenched in sweat, steaming, Watt looked as if he¡¯d just been pulled out of volcanic magma, and an image immediately popped into Li Wei¡¯s mind.


    ¡°You¡¯re a T1000, right?¡±


    Watt didn¡¯t understand and was full of question marks, showing a bright smile, ¡°You still have the energy to joke?


    Seems like you¡¯re not squeezed dry yet.¡±


    Li Wei: Beast.


    Watt noticed Li Wei¡¯s rolling eyes, but laughed heartily without minding.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re probably not interested in the Super Bowl party tonight?¡±


    Li Wei didn¡¯t want to talk, or more accurately, didn¡¯t want to move a single finger.


    He looked at Watt, asking with his eyes, just like Stephen Hawking:


    Super Bowl party, what party?


    Watt shrugged lightly, ¡°Oh, the party to review every offensive and defensive play of the Super Bowl.


    We can analyze it from different perspectives of the offensive and defensive groups.


    We are focusing on the first quarter tonight and tomorrow night.


    Are you interested?¡±


    After a whole day of physical and technical training, then going for tactical traininga?€¡±


    Or more aptly, a ¡°tactical party.¡±


    Wow, what a painful pleasure.


    Li Wei closed his eyes.


    ¡°Haha.


    Hahaha.¡± Watt laughed, extremely delighted.


    Then.


    Vomit.


    A thunderous noise erupted nearby, and Li Wei opened his eyes to look over.


    It was Hopkins.


    He didn¡¯t even have the strength to stand up, lying on the ground with his head askew, vomiting uncontrollably, as if he wouldn¡¯t stop until his stomach was empty.


    After finishing vomiting, his body trembled slightly as he lay in the vomit, his face conveying a lifeless expression, not having the energy to continue arguing with Li Wei.


    Yet, Li Wei didn¡¯t kick him while he was downa?€¡±


    Hopkins probably wished he could die, overwhelmed by his own humiliation, where was the need for Li Wei to exert additional effort to attack?


    Instead, Li Wei looked at Watt with concern, ¡°Is your friend alright?¡±


    Hopkins heard that, his body jerked, and he closed his eyes in despair: so, Li Wei still didn¡¯t know his name?

 Chapter 534

    ?Chapter 534: 533 Devils Compete Chapter 534: 533 Devils Compete ¡°...is your friend okay?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it should just be physical exhaustion.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure, his body is convulsing.¡±


    ¡°Uh.¡±


    Hopkins lay on the ground, having never so desperately wished to be unconscious; his mind was still clear, the voices of Li Wei and Watt were clear in his ears, yet he lay there, unable to move in his own vomit.


    It was a nightmare.


    Yes, it was all just a nightmare.


    Hopkins tightly shut his eyes.


    ¡°This is only the first day, what about later?


    Your friend isn¡¯t going to disappear tomorrow, is he?¡±


    ¡°Haha, I knew I wasn¡¯t wrong, you probably didn¡¯t use up everything today, I am already looking forward to tomorrow.


    I think you can last the entire training camp.¡±


    ¡°...JJ, something¡¯s off with you.


    ...


    Do you mean to say, you anticipated that some people wouldn¡¯t be able to keep up?¡±


    ¡°But they should be able to last more than a day...¡±


    Hopkins¡¯s back and knees were all in pain, who could relieve hima?€¡±


    Finally, the medical staff appeared.


    Hopkins thought, finally, he could end this nightmare.


    Then.


    ¡°JJ, don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just exhaustion.¡±


    Hopkins¡¯s chest was stabbed anew, now he could only desperately shut his eyes, enduring until the medical staff carried him off the training field on a stretcher, only then did he dare to tilt his head and silently shed tears on the sheet.


    Shame, it was indeed a shame!


    After a little interlude, the bodies lying on the training field finally regained some energy, one by one sitting up straight, refocusing.


    If anyone refused to show up tomorrow, Li Wei would not blame them.


    Mahomes was completely drenched, his cheeks showing extreme fatigue, even his eyes lost their usual sparkle.


    ¡°Rookie, now you finally realize you were right, you¡¯re not the only one.¡±


    Usually, in the team, this was essentially Li Wei¡¯s training schedule, training all morning and afternoon, and continuing with tactical meetings at night, which is why everyone in the Kansas City Chiefs called Li Wei ¡°the devil.¡±


    Now, Watt Training Camp was the same, but the quality and intensity were even greater.


    Mahomes strongly suspected that Watt deliberately aimed at everyone¡¯s limits and then slightly exceeded them, yet never to the point of collapse, aiming to squeeze every last bit of everyone¡¯s reserves.


    Madman.


    Li Wei had always emphasized that there definitely were people who were more hardworking and crazier than him, but no one believed it; at this moment, Mahomes finally believeda?€¡±


    ¡°Tactical training?


    You and JJ attended, how could I possibly miss it?¡±


    ¡°Maybe I¡¯m not a starter for now, but that doesn¡¯t mean I can be lazy.¡±


    ¡°So...¡±


    Exhaling lightly, Mahomes showed a big smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡±


    Li Wei spread his arms, ¡°I was about to say, I should learn from last night¡¯s lesson.


    Good sleep quality is the guarantee of a whole day¡¯s training quality.


    If you don¡¯t want to repeat the situation, you should rest properly...¡±


    Mahomes, ¡°But?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°But, since it¡¯s only the first day of training, we should rather get into the habit of setting a biological clock, letting both body and brain adapt, or we might not last three days before collapsing.


    It gets harder later on.¡±


    ¡°Sherlock, I¡¯m worried I might fall asleep during the tactical training later on, you must remind me, we must finish training by ten o¡¯clock and go back to sleep.¡±


    ¡°Otherwise...¡±


    Huh.


    Otherwise, tomorrow would truly be a disaster.


    No words needed, Mahomes had already understood.


    However.


    The reality was slightly different.


    Mahomes could barely keep his eyes open, and as the tactical training discussion went on, he felt his eyelids clinging together, his brain turning to mush.


    Li Wei, on the other hand, became more and more spirited, striking up a fiery discussion with Watt that simply couldn¡¯t stop; the two pitted their wits against each other from the perspectives of offense and defense, their verbal sparring igniting the night.


    If it weren¡¯t for Vilani checking the time and calling Li Wei to ensure sleep time and quality, that they must rest before ten, this discussion might not have ended.


    Li Wei and Watt agreed to continue the next day, and only then did Li Wei wake the half-asleep Mahomes, and the two returned to the villa.


    Back home, his head had barely touched the pillow when he lost consciousness.


    Fatigue, deep into his soul, such that not even the apocalypse could awaken him.


    But unexpectedly, the next morning, close to getting up time, his ears unexpectedly opened, naturally catching the harsh sound of the ringing phonea?€¡±


    He was awake.


    ¡°Good morning, rookie, the weather in Miami is nice today, another good day for training.


    You¡¯re still lazing in bed, oh, I was almost disappointed.¡±


    A tone full of straightforward honesty, but the words were slightly irritating.


    So, does anyone know about Watt¡¯s boastful side in private?

 Chapter 535

    ?Chapter 535: 534 Catfish effect Chapter 535: 534 Catfish effect Waking up, Li Wei felt as if he had been tumbled in a dryer for two hours, all the soreness and fatigue bursting forth.


    Not to mention exercising, even getting out of bed was a challenge.


    Yet, Li Wei still gritted his teeth and got upa?€¡±


    In fact, he kind of enjoyed this feeling.


    This wasn¡¯t Li Wei¡¯s first encounter with a challenge, but it was the first time he felt a physical one to this extent, vaguely sensing a brush with his ceiling.


    Without a doubt, it was both new and unfamiliar.


    Since arriving in this body with a mixed martial arts background, he had excelled in all aspects.


    At least until now, he hadn¡¯t faced a bottleneck in physical confrontations.


    ...


    Until now.


    Li Wei was also curious about where his limits lay and whether he could break through them to advance further.


    One of his tasks during this off-season was to use the Lynch and Bell training templates flexibly to enhance his strength in confrontations while increasing his arsenal of skills.


    Now, the opportunity had come.


    He was truly tired, but there was a particular flavor to be found in utmost fatigue.


    On the contrary, Li Wei found himself looking forward to today¡¯s training even more.


    Despite every move bringing an indescribable mix of soreness and invigoration, and the physical heaviness making even his soul feel weary, Li Wei still gritted his teeth, spurred his spirit, and set off once againa?€¡±


    Today, he hadn¡¯t forgotten about Mahomes.


    After waking Mahomes, Li Wei jogged along the same route to the training field, still doing interval running to stir his body and spirit.


    From afar, he could see Watt warming up with aerobic exercises.


    Beaming with a vibrant smile.


    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re even later than yesterday.


    Please do step it up tomorrow,¡± Watt said, while clenching his fist and sincerely cheering him on.


    That made Li Wei laugh heartily, and he started training without any further ado.


    One by one, Mahomes and the others all arrived at the training field before five o¡¯clock, but the overall atmosphere was like the aftermath of a hurricane.


    Perhaps only Derrick and TJ, the Watt brothers, were slightly better offa?€¡±


    They had prepared themselves mentally, after all.


    What was somewhat unexpected was that Hopkins didn¡¯t miss out.


    However, Hopkins was in no mood to talk smack.


    He looked gloomy, having been the only one to throw up the day before, which somewhat embarrassed him.


    At the same time, he realized that he had to give it his all, or he might continue to make a fool of himself today.


    Make a fool of himself in front of Li Wei?


    That was something Hopkins absolutely did not want to see.


    However, Li Wei didn¡¯t.


    ¡°Hey, you can quit training at any time, give up whenever, but not the game.


    You wouldn¡¯t want to experience the feeling of being powerless when you really want to keep fighting, to keep competing at a critical moment.¡±


    Hopkins was left breathless, ¡°I¡¯ll beat you on the field.¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Please.


    You¡¯re welcome.


    I warmly invite you to have a fair duel on the field, I am ready at any time.¡±


    After speaking, Li Wei turned and joined Mahomes and Kelsey on their way to a massage, leaving Hopkins standing there, dumbstruck.


    Kelsey rolled his eyes, ¡°He provokes you like that, and you still give him advice.


    Please, I think you¡¯re just too energetic, there¡¯s really no need to give JJ face.¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°It¡¯s not entirely about giving JJ face a?€¡± it¡¯s just too dull and monotonous to train without a competitor if he gives up so quickly.¡±


    Kelsey: ...


    ¡°Are you treating him as your stimulus fish?¡±


    As expected, for every Jack there¡¯s his master a?€¡±


    Li Wei is truly formidable.


    Mahomes looked at Li Wei with admiration, thoughtfully contemplating.


    It¡¯s no wonder Smith said that if he wanted to become a qualified leader, he should learn from Li Wei.


    Despite being a rookie and an Asian player, he became the core of the team in just one season.


    Now, Mahomes is beginning to understanda?€¡±


    The existence of enemies, and even their strength, is not necessarily a bad thing because they can provide constant motivation to push oneself.


    The training continues, maintaining its intensity and quality.


    No rest, no adjustment, day after day, the relentless high-intensity training continues, not just the physical training during the day, but also the tactical training at night, unfolding a 360-degree, full-spectrum, indiscriminate test.


    Even Li Wei found it somewhat challenging and stumbled a bit.


    Vilani felt several times that Li Wei might give up or not be able to persista?€¡±


    After all, Li Wei had just had a successful, even glorious season, and even became the Super Bowl MVP, which proved his strength.


    From any perspective, there was no need for him to train to such an extent during the off-season this year.


    For any other young player, it would be a time of proud strides and peak confidence, completely satisfied with their current state a?€¡± just look at Hopkins; even if he wasn¡¯t arrogant or complacent, there was no need to torture oneself like this.


    Even if Li Wei gave up now, Vilani wouldn¡¯t have grounds to blame him.


    However, Li Wei didn¡¯t.


    Despite the difficulties, despite the challenges, incredibly, Li Wei persevered, including the physical training during the day and tactical training at night.


    And that wasn¡¯t all.

 Chapter 536

    ?Chapter 536: 535 Catching up quickly Chapter 536: 535 Catching up quickly Vilani had heard those rumors as well, not just Nash singing high praises about Li Wei, but everyone inside the Kansas City Chiefs referred to Li Wei as the ¡°training maniac¡± a?€¡±a?€¡±


    So, if it were merely about persistence, Li Wei would not have been called a maniac.


    Clearly, Li Wei had his own tenacity.


    After five consecutive days of training, a rest day finally arrived, a rare break, because it was the offseason and also because high-intensity training needed to be balanced with rest to enhance efficiency.


    On his day off, Li Wei did not hit the pause button a?€¡±a?€¡±


    Kelsey and others took a private yacht out to sea, either partying or dating or combining both, but Jason and Hopkins were exceptions, lying dead on beach chairs, not wanting to move a finger, rumored to have all their meals in bed as well.


    Anyway, everyone enjoyed the rare holiday in their way.


    However, Li Wei did not go to the party nor continue to ¡°play dead¡±.


    Because Li Wei knew that ¡°rest day¡± was a deceptive concept, sports require both persistence and routine, and once you interrupt the flow and hit the pause, rhythm gets disrupted, laziness quickly takes over the brain, and even just resting for one day, the difficulty of getting back into training could double, triple, or even become ten times harder, leading most people to choose giving up; even if they don¡¯t give up and continue to persevere, it¡¯s definitely torture.


    ...


    More terrible than hell.


    So even on a rest day, Li Wei could not fully relax.


    So, Li Wei chose a?€¡±a?€¡±


    Yoga.


    Relaxation was indeed necessary, not just for the muscles but also for the nerves, to break free from the high-intensity training and fully relax; meanwhile maintaining a sense of regular movement to avoid complete collapse.


    In the morning, he started with a massage, relaxing his muscles under professional hands.


    Then, yoga.@@@@


    In the afternoon, a swimming party, followed by yoga to end the day.


    The entire day¡¯s schedule was still packed, even though Li Wei emphasized that everything was about relaxation, with no need for high intensity; but relaxing exercises were still exercises, and Vilani was full of astonishment a?€¡±a?€¡±


    As if unearthing treasures.


    Now Vilani finally understood why Nash was so full of praise for Li Wei.


    If Li Wei was a treasure, then Mahomes was a surprise.


    On the rest day, Mahomes did not go to the party either.


    After five days of training, Mahomes once again felt a sense of crisis and motivation.


    He was still a backup, and if he wanted to become a starter, if he wanted to join Li Wei on the field, if he wanted to step onto the field and contend with the League¡¯s top players, he indeed had much room for improvement, and the offseason was an opportunity.


    Moreover, at Watt Training Camp, Li Wei and Mahomes were the only rookies; if they didn¡¯t work hard, then who else would?


    So.


    Mahomes chose to stay and keep pace with Li Wei.


    Vilani was particularly surprised, as if discovering a new continent a?€¡±a?€¡±


    Of course, Mahomes¡¯ training volume and intensity were not as extreme as Li Wei¡¯s, as their positions were different; but even so, it was still surprising, considering that Mahomes was a quarterback.


    Li Wei and Watt, each holding dumbbells, were doing walking lunges with arrow steps.


    Their movements were not only correct but also steady in rhythm.


    Both were already sweating profusely, and it was clear they had started training a while ago.


    Moreover, they hadn¡¯t even noticed Hopkins¡¯s arrival, their attention was one hundred percent on the training movements.


    Hopkins stood there, dumbfounded.


    He had just been imagining how he would greet Li Wei¡¯s arrival, but this scene before hima?€¡±


    Something seemed off.


    Hopkins¡¯s brain froze, completely unable to process:


    Who am I, where am I, what am I doing?


    ¡°Hey, DeAndre, good morning.


    You¡¯re a bit earlier than last week,¡± said Watt, wiping off his sweat and smiling at Hopkins.


    Hopkins was speechless, glancing back and forth between Watt and Li Wei.


    Watt noticed.


    ¡°Ah, rookie?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s been here for a while.


    To be precise, he was ten minutes earlier than me.


    By the time I got here, he had already started warming up.


    If this keeps up, next time it¡¯ll be his turn to wake us all up for training,¡± said Watt.


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    Hopkins: ...That¡¯s not funny, okay?


    And there was more to come.


    Vilani and other personal trainers also arrived one after another.


    They needed to come a bit earlier than the players to set up, only to witness this scene.


    Vilani joked, ¡°JJ, isn¡¯t it five o¡¯clock?


    Are you planning to start an extra training camp before the actual camp?


    That¡¯s not okay, we need a raise.¡±


    The other trainers joined in the uproar.


    Watt shook his head, ¡°I didn¡¯t call the rookie; the rookie arrived earlier than me.¡±


    The smile just stiffened at the corner of his mouth, with only the sound of the wind blowing continuously.

 Chapter 537

    ?Chapter 537: 536 Devil Index Chapter 537: 536 Devil Index Vilani thought he had mentally prepared himself, but he was still stunneda?€¡±


    After a whole day of yoga and swimming yesterday, could he actually wake up earlier than Watt today?


    Devil.


    Vilani was dumbstruck, ¡°JJ, this isn¡¯t funny.¡±


    Watt spread out his arms.


    Vilani immediately realized that Watt wasn¡¯t joking, nor hiding his astonishment, ¡°Guys, if you keep this up, we really need a raise.


    We¡¯re short on sleep.¡±


    Haha.


    Laughter erupted from the group.


    Hopkins was the exception, standing still and pondering deeply: Where did things go wrong?


    ...


    He took a deep breath, and then another, finally regaining his composure.


    No matter, he didn¡¯t need to fuss over what time he got up in the morning; after all, it wasn¡¯t a waking-up competition but an off-season training.


    The real focus was on training.


    There was no need to put the cart before the horse by focusing on the wrong things; the quality and speed of the training were what should matter in the end.


    Heh, he would definitely be on time for today¡¯s Breakfast Club.


    Hopkins glared fiercely at Li Wei, and the air around them instantly filled with tension.


    However.


    It wasn¡¯t that simple; Hopkins overlooked Watt nearby.


    Watt wasn¡¯t paying attention to Hopkins; he was also watching Li Weia?€¡±@@@@


    Before the off-season training, Watt had been watching Li Wei for a long time.


    He admired and respected Li Wei, which was why he had invited him to train together; he truly believed that training together could push their limits.


    The expectations had been raised early on.


    But reality held even more surprises.


    This made Watt rub his hands together, even more eager for the next five days of training.


    Because Watt and his personal trainers discussed ramping up the training intensity:


    Just up by 10%.


    Some might scoff, just 10%?


    That seemed a bit stingy, hardly like Watt¡¯s style, almost embarrassing to mention.


    But that wasn¡¯t the case.


    Given their base level of training, 10% was significant, advancing beyond the limits already challenged in the first five-day training cycle; however, the pressure felt on a physical and psychological level was much more intense, as 10% could bring about 200% strain and impact.


    The laughter hadn¡¯t even started before it was interrupted by a wave of vomiting a?€¡±


    It was Hopkins.


    Watching Hopkins hunched over the table, retching continuously until only acid water came out, his body curled up like a shrimp.


    Everyone looked on with sympathy.


    Hopkins: I wish to die.


    Do not disturb.


    Thank you.


    Not only Hopkins, Watt hadn¡¯t anticipated this scene either.


    Watt looked at Li Wei across the table, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m going to check on him.


    Hope it¡¯s nothing serious.¡±


    As Watt left, Kelsey quietly came over from the other side, ¡°Bro, that catfish doesn¡¯t seem quite right.¡±


    Pfft.


    Even though it wasn¡¯t the right time to laugh, they couldn¡¯t help it.


    On one hand, Li Wei¡¯s off-season training slowly unfolded.


    On the other, the Kansas City Chiefs had already returned to their roles after a brief holiday.


    Being Super Bowl Champions was now in the past; the 2017 season was officially over.


    Now, they had to prepare and make arrangements for the 2018 season a?€¡±


    Free agency; contract negotiations; the draft.


    To be precise, the busyness of the off-season was hardly less intense than the season itself.


    As mentioned before, the NFL operates under a strict salary cap, unlike the NBA, meaning you cannot surpass the salary cap limit under any circumstance; there are no exceptions.


    To prevent the team¡¯s operations from being handicapped, teams often try to minimize the total amount of contracts and the guaranteed money; conversely, players always try their best to secure their guarantees, which makes it a real game of strategy.


    Every year, the same story plays out in the Super Bowl Champions team, key players and core team members who were instrumental in winning the championship come up for renewal, demanding higher salaries.


    Even some players not due for renewal demand new contracts to increase their average annual salary.


    However, the team needs to face the challenge of balancing the hard salary cap.


    If negotiations break down, players might ask for a transfer.


    This is why Super Bowl teams face serious challenges each off-season, and defending the Super Bowl becomes an almost impossible task.


    Obviously, the Kansas City Chiefs hadn¡¯t anticipated being champions last season and were caught unprepared for this off-season¡¯s contract adjustments.


    It was a surprise problem of happiness.


    But now, Veach had to face the difficult task of managing the first off-season after the Super Bowl.


    The first challenge, the quarterback position, should they keep Smith?

 Chapter 538

    ?Chapter 538: 537 Worries of Happiness Chapter 538: 537 Worries of Happiness The NFL has become the top-rated television program on the North American continent year after year, not only because of the vast fan base for football but more importantly because of the suspense.


    Thanks to the existence of a hard salary cap, it¡¯s difficult for teams to assemble a group of top-tier players to charge for a championship, which narrows the gap between strong and weak teams.


    Coupled with the intricacies of team strategy, the suspense has skyrocketed, leading to countless possibilities for playoff spots and championship contests every year.


    It¡¯s for this reason that the casual onlookers and passersby don¡¯t hesitate to pay attention.


    In the half-century history of the Super Bowl, only seven teamsa?€¡±Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, and New England Patriotsa?€¡±have succeeded in defending their championship.


    Among them, the Pittsburgh Steelers are the only team to have defended their title during two separate periods; the last team to achieve a repeat was the New England Patriots in the 2003 and 2004 seasons, and in the thirteen years since, no other team has managed to do the same.


    ...


    As for winning three championships in a row?


    There hasn¡¯t been a single one.


    This is the evidence that directly shows how fierce the competition is in the NFL.


    Clearly, the hard salary cap is key.


    Now, putting an increasing emphasis on the draft is an overall trend in the league.


    Teams can take full advantage of the low salaries of rookie four-year contracts to gain more salary cap flexibility, then recruit new talent through the free market to build a strong team, establishing a foundation to vie for Super Bowl Champions.


    Among them, the quarterback is of the utmost importance.


    So, it¡¯s not uncommon to see a team pick a quarterback at the draft every so often, every two to three years selecting a new rookie quarterback and then starting over from scratch, much like a child building a sandcastle.@@@@


    New York Jets: Why not just name me directly?


    Now, the Kansas City Chiefs are facing the same test.


    Only a few know that Mahomes was the gem Veach recommended to Reed; it wasn¡¯t Reed, the quarterback¡¯s discoverer, who plucked him from the multitude of lesser talents.


    Mahomes, despite becoming a starter in his sophomore year and displaying incredible arm strength, has always had his draft prospects viewed skeptically.


    Laypeople may attribute this to his college team¡¯s record of more losses than wins, but that isn¡¯t really the case.


    However, last year was Veach¡¯s first year as the team¡¯s general manager, and he always believed that reaching a consensus between the general manager and the head coach was the correct rule for building a team.


    And, to avoid taking risks as soon as he took office that would shock the fans and the owner.


    So, after making a bold move and trading with the San Francisco 49ers, Veach¡¯s first reaction was to be more prudent, considering the market and public opiniona?€¡±


    Trubisky or Watson?


    However, after a twist of fate, the team¡¯s decision to use their top pick on Li Wei meant they had already stirred up a hornet¡¯s nest, so since they were already risking it, Veach¡¯s thoughts started to stir.


    Veach envisioned the partnership of Li Wei and Mahomes.


    Thus, Veach boldly recommended Mahomes to Reed.


    The rest of the story is well known.


    From the beginning, Veach had a plana?€¡±


    Mahomes was the future of the team, with Smith guiding Mahomes for a season, then the next season the team would be in Mahomes¡¯ hands.


    What if Mahomes couldn¡¯t keep up with the growth pace?


    No worries, Veach had a backup plan.


    For the 2018 season, perhaps Smith could start as the main quarterback in the first half and then Mahomes could take over in the second half, with Smith still there to mentor the rookie.


    In fact, after Mahomes joined the Kansas City Chiefs, progress was very smooth.


    Smith, without any qualms, held nothing back and taught Mahomes everything he could, and if things continued to develop in this way, the quarterback position of the Kansas City Chiefs could be passed on amidst a harmonious atmosphere.


    Perfect!


    But unexpectedly, an accident occurred.


    Smith had the best season of his career, and the Kansas City Chiefs became the Super Bowl Champions.


    On the other hand, the Philadelphia Eagles faced a dilemma, whether to continue with Foles or to trust Wentz; similarly, the Kansas City Chiefs also fell into a decision-making predicament.


    Especially since the media loved to fan the flames, making things even bigger.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget, Green Bay Packers¡¯ Rodgers also sat behind Favre for three years, there¡¯s no problem with Mahomes continuing to sit behind Smith for another year.¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs should keep Smith.¡±


    Veach: Baby has a bitter heart, but can¡¯t express it, all plans have gone awry.

 Chapter 539

    ?Chapter 539: 538 Disrupts Plans Chapter 539: 538 Disrupts Plans In the eyes of the media, the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ troubles are indeed troubles, but those of the Kansas City Chiefs are not.


    The Eagles¡¯ quandary lies in that Wentz played at an MVP level during the regular season, while Foles demonstrated equally phenomenal performances in the playoffs.


    Even the narrow loss in the Super Bowl couldn¡¯t obscure Foles¡¯s seemingly divine performance.


    Indeed, this presents a real dilemma.


    One is a favored son, who from being the second overall pick carried the burden of expectations but faced serious injuries in the process of reaching the peak, leaving everyone uncertain whether he could continue his excellent performance upon his return.


    The other is an obscure dark horse, who, after enduring hardships and trials, finally seized the opportunity to shine brightly.


    Perhaps he is the next Kurt Warner?


    ...


    Yet, nobody can confirm if this was just a one-time explosion of talent.


    Choosing either would be correct, for no one can predict the future, and the Philadelphia Eagles must make a judgment based on all the information they have.


    Moreover, the key point is that no matter which choice the Philadelphia Eagles make, the media and the fans will inevitably have regrets for the other quarterback.


    Whether Wentz or Foles, the one who fails in the competition for starting quarterback of the Eagles may not be willing to stay on the team as a backup; this also means that other teams in the league desperately in need of a quarterback might extend an olive branch to the Philadelphia Eagles.


    The focus falls entirely on the Philadelphia Eagles.


    What about the Kansas City Chiefs?


    Their situation is much simpler.


    Smith is a veteran who has proven himself, with many years as a starting quarterback in the league, not only rich in experience but also just had his career-best season, leading the team to become Super Bowl Champions.


    Mahomes, on the other hand, is still a rookie learning the ropes, having only started in one regular season game.@@@@


    From that game, it was clear he is still raw and impatient, with the same problems he had in college not entirely resolved.


    With such a comparison, the answer is already clear.


    In fact, after the Super Bowl ended, more than one program carried out in-depth analysis, and professionals generally believed that Smith was not the key to the Chiefs winning the championship; they still didn¡¯t think Smith was the magic source behind the transformation of the Kansas City Chiefs, but that¡¯s how the NFL worksa?€¡±


    Even just an average quarterback is highly sought after, and those even slightly below average also command a salary premium.


    What more for a quarterback like Smith who has experience, ability, strength, and the right attitude, and whose capabilities are far above the league average.


    In the 2012 season, Joe Flacco led the Baltimore Ravens to the pinnacle of the Super Bowl.


    This quarterback, who had few highlights in his career and was generally considered a little above average, signed a historic contract with the team after delivering a phenomenal playoff performance and winning the Super Bowl MVP:


    Rarely did Reed crack a joke, but Veach couldn¡¯t muster a smile, his face filled with helplessness, ¡°Coach.¡±


    Reed raised his chubby right hand to stop Veach, ¡°I know, I know, let me catch my breath.¡±


    Then Reed genuinely took a breath, without hesitation moved on to the matter at hand, ¡°Are you worried about the quarterback?


    Everything will be fine as long as it goes according to plan.¡±


    It really was just a breath.


    That was Reed¡¯s dry humor.


    Eventually, Veach couldn¡¯t help but relax his taut facial expression slightly, ¡°Coach, there¡¯s been an unexpected situation that has disrupted our original plan, so we need to adapt on the fly, right?¡±


    ¡°One moment we¡¯ve just reached the pinnacle of the Super Bowl; the next, we¡¯re cutting the Super Bowl quarterback and promoting a rookie to take over.


    To others, we must look like fools.¡±


    ¡°Even if we disregard the opinions of others, what do we become in the eyes of our fans?¡±


    ¡°If we could be 100% sure Patrick would perform, then naturally there would be no problem; but the point is, we can¡¯t predict the future, can we?


    Next season is the title defense, and we might face challenges beyond our expectations, so changing quarterbacks might not be the correct choice.¡±


    That¡¯s why they say hindsight is 20/20.


    ¡°Besides, Coach, haven¡¯t you always valued Alex?¡±


    Veach hadn¡¯t forgotten that after Smith joined the Kansas City Chiefs, it only took one training camp for Reed to confirm him as a starter.


    Reed nodded, affirming, ¡°Even now, Alex is still outstanding, his football IQ and tactical reading are still top-notch in the League.¡±


    Fans are ¡°visual animals¡±; they love to see long passes, they love to see the quarterback break out of the pocket and outwit opponents, they love to see the quarterback turn the tide at critical moments; but coaches can see beyond these flashy performances to something more.


    ¡°We¡¯re lucky to have Alex.


    This season, Alex essentially taught Patrick everything he knew, hand by hand.


    Patrick¡¯s quick adaptation to our tactical system and familiarity with the professional league mode, all rely on Alex.¡±


    Veach took a deep breath, ¡°Right, with the quarterback being so exceptional, we have no reason to replace him.


    The league¡¯s drought of scarce quarterbacks remains unsolved, having Alex is our luck.¡±


    Naturally, they had no reason to take a risk on a rookie.

 Chapter 540

    ?Chapter 540: hit the nail on the head with one comment Chapter 540: hit the nail on the head with one comment If the Kansas City Chiefs had just experienced a disappointing season, such as more losses than wins, or missing the playoffs altogether, or at least getting knocked out in the first round of the playoffs, changing the quarterback and undergoing a reconstruction would be understandable.


    But the Kansas City Chiefs had just become champions?


    In the eyes of the team, reconstruction might seem necessary, but to others, it would appear as self-sabotage.


    Moreover, Smith had already experienced this with the San Francisco 49ers.


    Despite the team making it to the conference finals and having a peak season, he was traded; if it happened again now, the impact on Smith would be unimaginable.


    People say that¡¯s professional sports, cold and ruthless; but does it have to be this cruel?


    At least, Veach didn¡¯t want it to be that way.


    ...


    Reed nodded gently, ¡°If we continue to use Alex next season, I have no objections.¡±


    Veach suddenly looked up at Reed.


    Reed said, ¡°Alex¡¯s advantage is his stability; he doesn¡¯t show dramatic fluctuations.


    This season, he just delivered the best performance of his career; so, next season, he should still maintain a high standard.


    If he starts as quarterback, we wouldn¡¯t have to worry too much.¡±


    Veach said, ¡°But in a few months, Alex will be turning thirty-four.


    We can¡¯t keep taking risks with a thirty-four-year-old veteran.


    We chose Patrick because he represents the future, right?¡±


    Reed¡¯s plump hands came together to support his chin, and the soft flesh of his chin spilled out to the sides, making his round face even more endearing.


    ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s correct,¡± Reed acknowledged.


    That was the key argument Veach used to persuade Reed at last year¡¯s draft.


    Veach felt a twinge of anticipation, ¡°Coach, how is Patrick doing now?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s still lacking a bit,¡± Reed replied promptly with a direct answer, ¡°Patrick¡¯s strength is being bold enough to take risks and he still has room to grow.


    But his downside is his instability.


    Young players eager to prove themselves can often become more impatient.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s good for him to be with Li Wei.


    Li Wei¡¯s temperament can stabilize him, helping to control the situation.¡±


    Veach had a moment of realization.


    Usually, quarterbacks tend to gather together, both starters and backups, including practice players.


    They have their own meeting rooms and separate gatherings; occasionally, when the doors to these rooms open, they are most closely bonded with the offensive line that protects them, easily forming a combative fellowship.


    However, things are slightly different with the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Reed, ¡°From a coach¡¯s standpoint, I am partial to Alex.


    We are a complete team, and maintaining our current roster is good for defending our title.


    During the off-season, we only need to fill a few gaps.¡±


    ¡°But if it¡¯s Patrick, I agree with that too.


    I believe he can quickly grow.


    He already has all the qualities to become an outstanding quarterback, trust me, I¡¯ve worked with worse quarterbacks.¡±


    ¡°So, what you need is not the coach¡¯s opinion, but the manager¡¯s opinion.


    How much is Alex¡¯s salary next season?¡±


    Hit the nail on the head.


    Veach reflexively answered, ¡°Seventeen million.¡±


    Previously, the Kansas City Chiefs and Smith had signed a four-year contract worth sixty-eight million US dollars, with a guaranteed amount of forty-five million and an additional eighteen million signing bonus.


    Now, there was one year left on the contract.


    This was the reason behind Veach¡¯s penny-pinchinga?€¡±


    If Mahomes could grow quickly enough sitting on the bench during the 2017 season, then they¡¯d trade Smith away in 2018.


    But if not, Smith could stay with the team and continue to mentor Mahomes for another year, without worrying about contract issues.


    However, now things were completely different.


    Reed lightly lifted his chin.


    His understanding of the salary cap details was limited because with so many players, each team had a specialized team to calculate the salary cap, and each off-season they had to be meticulous with their finances.


    Still, Reed had a general sense of it.


    ¡°If we¡¯re talking about renewal, what level of contract might they ask for?¡±


    Veach took a deep breath, the first happy problem of becoming Super Bowl champions had arrived.


    ¡°We can¡¯t be sure yet because a series of major negotiations are ongoing.


    Rodgers¡¯s contract with Green Bay has expired, Mark¡¯s contract with Raiders has expired, and Donald¡¯s rookie contract with Rams has also expired.¡±


    A top quarterback and two stars at the level of Defensive Player of the Year.


    Everyone was eager for a max salary, and now it was a game of negotiation between agents and the teams.


    But other players would also wait and see, adjusting their standing based on the max salary.


    This meant players needed both patience and wisdom, seeking the right opportunity to maximize their own interests; top players¡¯ agents were inevitably communicating and working together to break through the salary cap ceiling.


    Clearly, having won the Super Bowl, Smith also had the credentials to do so.


    ¡°I¡¯ve made an estimate, Alex¡¯s annual salary could break through thirty million.¡±

 Chapter 541

    ?Chapter 541: 540 So-called profession Chapter 541: 540 So-called profession Thirty million US dollars?


    Even though Reed lacked an understanding of the finer details of player salaries, he couldn¡¯t help but raise his eyes at this, his surprise unhidden, ¡°Has it already reached such heights?¡±


    Veach gave a bitter smile, nodding lightly, ¡°Records are being broken every year.


    If nothing unexpected happens, this year it should still be Rodgers leading the way.¡±


    Reed, ¡°Has Alex¡¯s agent contacted you yet?¡±


    Veach, ¡°No.


    The absence of contact is the problem; it indicates he¡¯s waiting and watching.¡±


    Reed, ¡°But Alex isn¡¯t like Cousins; he¡¯s not that greedy.¡±


    Kirk Cousins, a fourth-round pick of the Washington Redskins in 2012, had always been a backup, virtually unknown until he seized his opportunity to start in the 2015 season and his reputation soared.


    He performed well in his first season as a starter, leading the team to the playoffs, though they were eliminated in the first game.


    Just one season of good performance was enough for him to demand the Washington Redskins to sit down at the negotiation table to discuss the contract.


    Moreover, he opened with a huge demand, resulting in the Redskins having no choice but to apply the franchise tag to him, followed by another retreat at the negotiating table the next season, forcing the team to place the franchise tag on him once again.


    ...


    Thus, Cousins gained a reputation: he was generally considered by the League to perform better at the negotiation table than on the field, accurately pinpointing the team¡¯s weaknesses and pressing his advantage to maximize his own interests.


    This year, with the franchise tag expiring, the Washington Redskins once again had to sit down at the negotiation table with Cousins.@@@@


    Rumors, for now, suggest that Cousins and the Washington Redskins are discussing a long-term contract, with no internal details about the salary level leaked yet, but Cousins¡¯ outrageous demand for a fully guaranteed contract has spread like wildfirea?€¡±


    In NFL history, no player at any position has ever signed a fully guaranteed contract because if a player is injured or performs poorly, it would become dead money for the team, constantly taking up a spot under the salary cap.


    The League, once again, is abuzz with debate.


    Not just the teams, other players are also closely monitoring their moves.


    Whether it¡¯s seen as positive or negative doesn¡¯t matter; what¡¯s important is that Cousins always manages to secure a hefty contract for himself.


    Veach took a deep breath, ¡°Indeed, Alex has always been down-to-earth, but a Super Bowl Championship could change the situation.


    He may not demand the highest contract in history like Flacco did, but that doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯ll accept being treated cavalierly.


    Even if he doesn¡¯t have any plans, his agent wouldn¡¯t just let it slide.¡±


    Reed glanced at Veach.


    Veach immediately got the hint, ¡°I called Alex.


    Unexpectedly, the figure getting out of the car, removing his sunglasses and revealing a smile, called out.


    ¡°Captain.¡±


    Smith pointed at himself with a question: ???


    He burst into a wry smile, ¡°Is it too late to run away now?¡±


    Standing beside the driver¡¯s seat, Li Wei spread his arms, ¡°It¡¯s just a car, if you care about it, it¡¯s special; but if you don¡¯t, it¡¯s no different from any other car.¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡± Smith shook his head lightly, unable to help himself.


    But in the end, Smith didn¡¯t refuse, opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat, watching Li Wei slip into the driver¡¯s seat, and gestured with his hand, ¡°Seat belt, wait until I¡¯ve fastened mine.¡±


    Then.


    There was another roar of the engine, and the Lamborghini sped off, leaving only a sapphire-blue afterimage, and after a brief commotion at the airport entrance, tranquility was restored, returning to its usual demeanor.


    The more Smith thought about it, the more it gave him a headache, and the funnier it became, so he couldn¡¯t help but hold his forehead, ¡°Rookie, didn¡¯t I tell you to keep it low-key?¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s face was the picture of innocence, ¡°Captain, I haven¡¯t even opened the convertible top, isn¡¯t that low-key enough?¡±


    Smith was speechless, actually unable to rebut.


    Li Wei¡¯s smile became broader, ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, this is Miami, where luxury sports cars are a dime a dozen, and each one is more expensive than the next, luxury sports cars don¡¯t stand out, but ordinary sedans are more likely to catch the eye.¡±


    ¡°Captain, you¡¯re here in Miami purely for vacation, purely for leisure and entertainment, nothing to do with work, right?


    It¡¯s less conspicuous to be open and aboveboard about it.¡±


    If one deliberately keeps a low profile and tries to avoid media attention, it could actually arouse suspicion.


    In an era where everyone is network-savvy with smartphones, hiding one¡¯s whereabouts is almost an impossible task; trying to stay low-key might attract even more attention.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I specifically asked JJ to borrow this sports car.¡±


    Smith¡¯s eyes were full of surprise, ¡°JJ Watt?


    I never imagined he was that kind of JJ.¡±


    Li Wei laughed heartily, ¡°It¡¯s not JJ¡¯s, actually, it¡¯s DeAndre¡¯s.


    He¡¯s a Clemson and obviously didn¡¯t want to lend the sports car to me, so JJ helped out a bit.¡±


    After a slight pause, Smith finally found his smile again.


    After a moment of contemplation, Smith spoke again, ¡°How did you know I wasn¡¯t here just for vacation?¡±

 Chapter 542

    ?Chapter 542: 541 Straight to the point Chapter 542: 541 Straight to the point Pausing briefly, Smith didn¡¯t beat around the bush as he glanced at Li Wei, ¡°How do you know I¡¯m not here on vacation?¡±


    From Li Wei¡¯s words and actions, it was clear that he had seen through Smith¡¯s plan and perfected it, coming up with a better one.


    Li Wei took a look at Smith in the rearview mirror and said meaningfully, ¡°So, are you?


    Really just here to vacation?¡±


    Even without direct eye contact, Smith cleared his throat guiltily and turned to look out the window, ¡°Miami is indeed a vacation paradise.¡±


    Smith didn¡¯t want to talk, and Li Wei didn¡¯t press him, ¡°Party, party, party, as long as you¡¯re up for it, from Monday to Sunday, from morning till night, a non-stop party every day of the week, twenty-four hours a day.¡±


    Smith also revealed a smile, ¡°So, what parties did you go to?¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s face was frank, ¡°Training parties.


    JJ will give you the world¡¯s craziest training parties, I guarantee you won¡¯t want to move a finger when you get home.¡±


    Pfft.


    Unable to hold back, Smith laughed out loud, ¡°Then what are you going to do today?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, captain, I only took off for three hours, I have to go back to training soon, need to make up for the missed part, and might even need extra training,¡± Li Wei said seriously.@@@@


    ¡°Haha.¡± Smith laughed cheerfully and paused before it dawned on him, his smile stiffening at the corners of his mouth, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re not joking.¡±


    Li Wei just smiled and stayed silent.


    Smith blinked, ¡°Then no rest?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Of course, one day off every five.


    ...


    But on rest days, Sherlock and I train swimming and yoga.


    If you throw a party, we¡¯re willing to adjust an afternoon and evening to relax properly.¡±


    Smith was taken aback for a moment, trying to say something but ended up not able to say anything, just uttering in admiration.


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    This was off-season training.


    One could tell they were sharpening their tools.


    Involuntarily, he admired again.


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    A hint of a smile appeared in Li Wei¡¯s eyes, ¡°Captain, you should stop being astonished, I already have enough confidence and pride, it can¡¯t keep swelling up.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡± Smith laughed out loud again.


    Li Wei nearly choked on his saliva, ¡°So direct, without any prelude or context?¡±


    Smith chuckled lightly, ¡°You should have a clear enough understanding of the background, right?¡±


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t deny it; just like the Philadelphia Eagles, the Kansas City Chiefs were also facing a difficult choice, and any smart person could guess as much.


    Smith continued, ¡°At last year¡¯s draft, the team chose a quarterback, which is the clearest signal.


    Only a fool wouldn¡¯t see that coming, and I¡¯ve been preparing for this day; but now, things are different, and I¡¯ve had a lot of new thoughts.¡±


    ¡°So.¡±


    ¡°Do you think I should stay to fight for the starting spot, or should I turn and leave?¡±


    Even though his agent already had an answer, Li Wei couldn¡¯t at all understand why Smith wanted to ask for his opinion, even having a small spat with Smith over it; but Smith really wanted to hear Li Wei¡¯s thoughtsa?€¡±


    a hunch, and a form of trust.


    Moreover, no matter what the final decision was, Smith felt he needed to tell Li Wei face-to-face.


    It was an unspoken understanding between them.


    Li Wei could feel the weight in Smith¡¯s gaze and couldn¡¯t help but show a wry smile, ¡°Captain, asking me this puts me in a difficult position.¡±


    Choose Smith or Mahomes?


    Li Wei was also torn between the two.


    Smith¡¯s face broke into a broad smile, ¡°Haha, that was the original purpose.¡± He paused, ¡°But rookie, if you don¡¯t want to answer, isn¡¯t that an answer in itself?¡±


    When facing Smith, one should naturally say ¡°Smith,¡± even if it¡¯s just a courtesy in conversation; but Li Wei didn¡¯t speak up, which also meant he was taking Mahomes¡¯s side.


    Li Wei gave a wry laugh, ¡°It seems we all misjudged you; you can also be sharp and assertive, right?¡±


    Smith simply smiled without responding, because Li Wei still hadn¡¯t answered his question.


    Li Wei took a deep breath, ¡°Captain, I think you should stay and compete for the starting position.¡±


    Smith was very surprised.


    Li Wei continued.


    ¡°You¡¯ve already proven your ability and value, and even if age isn¡¯t on your side, you have your strengths.


    So, you should compete openly and directly with Sherlock, and the person who performs better should win the starting spot.¡±


    Smith looked at Li Wei, whose eyes were clear and bright, still with the boldness and flair of youth, still believing that he could change the world with his own handsa?€¡±


    Youth is truly wonderful.


    Smith, ¡°Rookie, you should know, if I choose to stay, Patrick won¡¯t have a chance.


    The coach will definitely choose me to start, right?¡±

 Chapter 543

    ?Chapter 543: 542 A bit of selfishness Chapter 543: 542 A bit of selfishness If Smith chose to stay, Reed would most likely continue to start Smith.


    After all, with his experience, capability, state, and the brilliance of the past season in plain sight, even with Smith¡¯s shortcomings and deficiencies, Reed had no reason to strip him of his starting status.


    This also meant that Mahomes would need to continue biding his time in the backup position.


    The logic was that simple.


    ¡°Sigh, I know.¡±


    Li Wei let out a long breath.


    ¡°So, I am an idealist.


    ...


    What I¡¯m talking about is the perfect ideal situation, where you compete fairly for the starting position, where the winner is magnanimous, and the loser need not be disheartened.


    Afterwards, you could plan according to your own arrangements.¡±


    ¡°But reality isn¡¯t that simple, right?¡±


    Li Wei showed a bitter smile.


    ¡°This is sports.


    This is the Professional League.


    Apart from individual abilities, many issues need consideration; moreover, the future after failing to secure the starting position isn¡¯t always what one wantsa?€¡±it¡¯s the helpless and harsh reality, also a part of life.¡±


    ¡°Captain, I¡¯m Sherlock¡¯s friend, but I am also your teammate.¡±


    ¡°Believe me, I¡¯ve learned so much behind you last season.


    No matter who becomes the starter next season, I¡¯ll support them fully and also applaud those who missed out.¡±


    ¡°In my view, this shouldn¡¯t be a matter of life and death.¡±


    ¡°However.¡±


    ¡°Clearly, we can¡¯t predict the future.


    We don¡¯t know what situation the person who wins the starting position will face next season, nor what decisions the one who loses it will have to make.¡±@@@@


    ¡°We can only focus on the present.¡±


    If Li Wei understood football, and he knew the development trajectory for the next six years, perhaps he could give a wise answer now.


    Unfortunately, there are no ifs.


    ¡°So, Captain, it¡¯s not about what I think, it¡¯s about what you think.¡±


    ¡°You know, whether you choose to stay or go to another team, you can still be a starter.¡±


    ¡°Your experience, your abilities, your track record are your guarantees.


    Being a Super Bowl Champion is just the icing on the cake.


    The choice has always been in your hands.¡±


    ¡°If we hadn¡¯t reached the pinnacle of the Super Bowl, the team would have done this from the time of last year¡¯s draft.


    I had already prepared myself mentally.¡±


    ¡°So, I¡¯ve imparted all I know to Patrick.


    That¡¯s the least I could do, as a token of gratitude to Kansas City and the team for warmly embracing me in this interest-first league and enduring my poor performance in the playoffs every year.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t own much, but at least, this is what I can give back.¡±


    Li Wei felt sad because he could hear in Smith¡¯s words a mixture of reluctance, regret, attachment, happiness, and bitterness, complicating and enriching them, which made him feel sad too.


    Li Wei called out softly, ¡°Captain...¡±


    Smith waved his hand to stop Li Wei, ¡°I¡¯m fine, on the contrary, I¡¯m now more certain that my decision is correct.¡±


    ¡°Now, we are Super Bowl Champions, things should change.¡±


    ¡°Rookie, I¡¯m not so noble; I want to strive for a higher salary, not just the annual payment, but also the guaranteed sum.


    I¡¯m not a saint.¡±


    ¡°But staying in Kansas City would mean my salary would monopolize a large portion of the salary cap.¡±


    ¡°In fact, this has always been a consideration for the team.


    That¡¯s why the team chose Patrick last year, to clear up the salary cap, replacing me with the younger Patrick as a multi-faceted decision.¡±


    ¡°And remember, you have a responsibility too.¡±


    Li Wei was startled, ¡°Me?


    What did I do?¡±


    A smile crossed Smith¡¯s eyes, no sadness, no heaviness, as he relaxed.


    ¡°Hey, Top Scholar, your salary also takes up a part of the salary cap.¡±


    ¡°Having two first-round picks might look impressive on the surface, but it also bears the pressure of the salary cap.


    Thankfully, Chicago eases our burden.


    You¡¯re the Top Scholar, not the runner-up; otherwise, the team wouldn¡¯t have had the cap space for Patrick.¡±


    So that¡¯s how it was.


    At last year¡¯s draft, the Kansas City Chiefs had a moment of glory; now, they faced the headaches, as what goes around comes around, never disappointing.


    Li Wei chuckled softly, ¡°Then the team should feel lucky that I¡¯m not planning to ask for a contract renegotiation this year.¡±


    ¡°Haha, hahaha.¡± Smith immediately caught the sarcasm in Li Wei¡¯s words, not minding it at all; instead, he laughed freely and with relief.


    Gently, Smith nodded, ¡°Exactly, so now I¡¯ve become the team¡¯s problem.¡±


    ¡°Because of you and Patrick, the team must have always been worried about the salary cap; now that I am also asking to renegotiate my contract for a higher salary, I¡¯m becoming a real trouble for the team.¡±


    ¡°A troublesome trouble.¡±

 Chapter 544

    ?Chapter 544: 543 A bad person Chapter 544: 543 A bad person On the open-air balcony, a gentle breeze blew, the view was vast, and so was the easing of his mind.


    Smith did not avoid the issue, thus admitting candidly, ¡°Yes, I know I¡¯m a troublemaker.¡±


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°If all trouble had such self-awareness, it would be much easier to solve.¡±


    Smith lightly shook his head, ¡°Not necessarily.¡±


    ¡°If I refuse to compromise, I become a problem for the team and the players.¡±


    ¡°As it stands, my salary is already squeezing the salary cap, but my goal is to keep increasing my annual pay,¡± he continued.@@@@


    ¡°The team is definitely going to face a dilemma with the cap, and they might not be able to fix gaps in free agencya?€¡±God, our secondary defense really needs some support.¡±


    ¡°My salary might even take up so much space that the team would have to cut staff, losing other key roles from our current lineup.¡±


    At this point, the consequences of Veach¡¯s choice to pick two first-round rookies last year became apparent.


    Typically, rookies should be a salary dip, freeing up cap space for team moves; but now with two first-round rookies, their salaries have risen, consequently tightening the team¡¯s operational flexibility.


    Then there¡¯s the Super Bowl effect.


    Right now, Smith wants to raise his annual salary, but is it just Smith?


    Don¡¯t other players have their own thoughts?


    ...


    At the end of the day, players are workers too.


    They also want higher wages; they also want year-end bonuses.


    It¡¯s everyone¡¯s basic right.


    The existence of a hard salary cap means Veach has to make choices.


    ¡°Of course, there are other options.¡±


    ¡°I could give up a big contract, continue with the team, or even take a pay cut to stay.¡±


    ¡°But rookie, I want to be selfish for once.¡±


    ¡°I want to fight for a big contract, I want to advocate for myself, I want to prove I still have fuel in the tank, I want to continue to compete for victories and championships on the field, I want to show my worth.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m greedy, and I have ambition.¡±


    ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not as kind-hearted as everyone thinks.¡±


    Admitting his greed and selfishness seemed not so difficult, Smith revealed a bitter smile.


    Li Wei gently shook his head, ¡°No, captain, true greed would never acknowledge this, wouldn¡¯t reflect, wouldn¡¯t struggle, nor sit down with a teammate to candidly recognize their ambition; the moment you chose to honestly face yourself, that was an affirmation and pursuit of self.¡±


    ¡°The cost?¡±


    ¡°Captain, what¡¯s the cost?¡±


    Li Wei asked.


    ¡°The cost is you become the bad guy, leave Kansas City bearing the name of a traitor, having just reached the pinnacle of the Super Bowl, to abandon your team for a salary, to turn your back on the team that extended a helping hand to you, to become estranged.


    When you return to Kansas City in the future, you might be met with boos.¡±


    Smith¡¯s eyes were bright, ¡°But they¡¯re not wrong.¡±


    Li Wei was taken aback.


    Smith laughed cheerfully, ¡°Rookie, it¡¯s rare to see you at a loss for words, haha.¡±


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t help but give a bitter smile, now wasn¡¯t the time for jokes, right?


    Li Wei took a deep breath, ¡°And, you just said, you have greed, you have ambition.


    However, transferring to a team does not guarantee that the team will be competitive, that it can become a Super Bowl Champion contender, or even that it may experience a low point.


    If you want to continue contending for the championship, staying is the right choice.¡±


    Smith quietly looked at Li Wei, ¡°What, you don¡¯t have confidence in me?


    You don¡¯t believe that I can transform a team and make it a Super Bowl contender?¡±


    Li Wei: ...


    ¡°I believe building a Super Bowl Champion team isn¡¯t that easy, it¡¯s not just about the players, but also the general manager and the coaching staff, etc.


    Just like quarterbacks and running backs, the right coach, the right tactics can bring completely different outcomes, football is not a sport that relies solely on brute force, you should know this better than I do.¡±


    Smith was able to have a second coming with the Kansas City Chiefs, a key factor being Reed, just like Foles under Pederson.


    But there is only one Reed.


    Smith chuckled lightly, ¡°You almost left me speechless, almost, but you still managed to slip away, damn.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s face was incredulous.


    Seeing Li Wei¡¯s expression, Smith was in high spirits, ¡°That¡¯s why I like you, and why everyone on the team likes you, you¡¯re smart but still manage to keep it real.¡±


    So, standing at the crossroads of his career, Smith had countless friends he could talk to, but the first person who came to mind was still Li Wei.


    A form of trust, and also one of admiration.


    Indeed, he was right, Li Wei hadn¡¯t let him down.


    ¡°`

 Chapter 545

    ?Chapter 545: 544 Restless Chapter 545: 544 Restless Gazing at Li Wei¡¯s sincere face, Smith knew that he hadn¡¯t misjudged him.


    Having gone through this season, especially the roller coaster of the playoffs, they had indeed fostered a camaraderie that was more precious than victories and championships.


    ¡°Rookie, thank you.¡±


    Li Wei: ???


    What¡¯s up with that?


    How did the topic suddenly jump here?


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t planning on picking up the check for this meal.¡±


    ¡°Haha,¡± Smith laughed out loud, ¡°With so many endorsements, you won¡¯t treat me to a big meal?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, says the Super Bowl quarterback who is bargaining for a top salary,¡± Li Wei retorted without missing a beat.


    ...


    The heaviness that weighed heavily on Smith¡¯s chest was completely lifted, as his mood brightened up, not just his smile, but the entire emotional load he had been carrying.


    ¡°What I mean is, thanks for motivating me.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t dare to dream, because the dream of the Super Bowl was so grand and so far away; but now, we¡¯ve done it, we are the Super Bowl Champions now.¡±


    ¡°I never thought that this title could be associated with me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been an incredulous and magnificent journey, being able to fight side by side with you to the end is my honor, it looks like God hasn¡¯t completely abandoned me.¡±


    ¡°However, it¡¯s time to say goodbye now.¡±


    Smith looked at Li Wei, without evasion or avoidance, his gaze clear and calm, this was the first time he honestly faced himself without concealment.


    ¡°We all know that the team¡¯s transformation, the Super Bowl victory, depended on you, not me.¡±


    Just as Li Wei was about to speak, Smith cut him off first.@@@@


    ¡°I know, I know, we relied on the strength of the team, where everyone played their roles, so in the end, we could execute the trick play.¡±


    ¡°But you are the soul.¡±


    ¡°Not just because you made the final pass, but because you made the team believe we could turn things around, you encouraged me to take bold steps to block, you led Hunter to give his all despite past grudges, and you instilled in us the belief in victorya?€¡±securing the entire team even as we stood on the edge of a cliff.¡±


    ¡°For that, I¡¯ve been full of gratitude, and I feel fortunate to have completed this journey with you.¡±


    ¡°But now, I want to go on by myself.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s mouth opened slightly, a vague understanding dawning on him.


    Smith gave an affirming look: you are right.


    ¡°You gave me confidence, made me believe that I still had potential and possibilities.


    I want to prove to myself and the League that without Li Wei, I am still an excellent quarterback, that I can also be the key to victory, and that I can change the temperament of an entire team with my energy.¡±


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t forget, the quarterback is the superstar of football, okay?


    You stole my limelight, now I need my own solo stage.¡±


    I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    Li Wei wore a hurt expression, ¡°Captain, do I really come off as such a gossip in your eyes?


    I thought I maintained a very good image throughout the past season.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡± Smith, ¡°No, no, that¡¯s not it.


    It¡¯s because I want to brag a little.


    When I left San Francisco, I never anticipated this day would come.¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°So, which teams are they?¡±


    Smith didn¡¯t hold back, ¡°Denver.¡±


    Denver Broncos?


    Reasonable.


    Since Manning retired, the 50th Super Bowl Champions had sunk into a quarterback quagmire, making them regret pushing Manning to retire.


    At the end of the day, a skinny camel is still bigger than a horse, and the Denver Broncos wouldn¡¯t have fallen from Super Bowl Champions to the bottom of the division.


    The cheeky moves of the Denver Broncos also sounded an alarm for the League; even if the veteran¡¯s performance was declining, their experience and heritage are treasures not to be underestimated.


    John Elway, once instrumental in bringing Manning from the Indianapolis Colts and basking in glory, had to swallow the bitter fruit he had sown himself, enduring tough days at the club these past two years.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t hide his surprise because the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs were archrivals in the same division.


    If Elway wasn¡¯t truly in a tough spot, he wouldn¡¯t have called Smith¡¯s agent.


    Smith nodded lightly in affirmationa?€¡±


    He was surprised as well.


    Then.


    ¡°Buffalo.¡±


    ¡°Miami.¡±


    ¡°Jacksonville.¡±


    There was a pause, ¡°Oh.


    By the way, didn¡¯t Jacksonville call you?


    They hinted they wanted to reunite me with the Super Bowl MVP in Jacksonville.¡±


    From the American League finals view, Jacksonville¡¯s passing offense was indeed a mess.


    Bortles was having a tough time, even being backstabbed by his own teammates; their reaching out to Smith was an expected yet unexpected move.


    The real surprise was in the second half of Smith¡¯s sentence.


    Realizing the profound look in Smith¡¯s eyes, Li Wei was full of question marks, ¡°Why doesn¡¯t the person concerned know about this?¡±

 Chapter 546

    ?Chapter 546: 545 Inception Chapter 546: 545 Inception ¡°`


    The Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ defensive group impressed everyone in the 2017 season, and now they¡¯ve set their sights on bolstering their offensive group.


    They¡¯re not only eyeing the quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs but also their running back.


    So, what is it with the Kansas City Chiefs?


    Are they an auction house now?


    Seeing the question marks all over Li Wei¡¯s face, Smith burst into a full bloom of laughter, ¡°Please, Caldwell is determined to have you, and it¡¯s no secret in the League.¡±


    Li Wei spread his hands, ¡°Hey, I¡¯m no superhero who never yields.


    Offer me a five-year, two-hundred-million-dollar fully guaranteed contract, and I¡¯ll tell the coach myself that I can¡¯t resist the temptation and am ready to transfer.¡±


    *Sputter*


    In the end, Smith couldn¡¯t hold back and spat out his drink.


    Li Wei was dead serious, ¡°Hygiene, captain, please mind your hygiene, okay?¡±


    Smith hurriedly wiped his mouth with a napkin, and after a brief fluster, he silently gave Li Wei a thumbs-up: Impressive, it¡¯s still you who¡¯s impressive.


    ...


    Li Wei found his smile again, ¡°From what you just said, it seems like you¡¯re more interested in New York than Jacksonville?¡±


    Purely from an objective standpoint, Li Wei thought that the Jacksonville Jaguars were a good choice.


    First, they have an outstanding defense.


    Second, the offense is solid and stable.


    If Smith joined, not only could he be the starting quarterback, but he could also have control over the offensive calls.


    This would ensure the team doesn¡¯t rush into long passes and revert to Smith¡¯s preferred short and medium passing strategies, playing to Smith¡¯s strengths.


    With that, the Jacksonville Jaguars could indeed become a strong contender for the 2018 season.


    Moreover, Li Wei guessed that they should have enough salary cap to meet Smith¡¯s demands for a big contract.


    Setting personal preferences aside, Caldwell¡¯s move was both precise and astute.


    It was not surprising that the Jacksonville Jaguars could maintain their strength.


    Smith looked a bit embarrassed, touched his nose in an attempt to disguise himself, and then let out a breath, ¡°Okay, I admit I fantasize about New York.¡±


    The meeting concluded, and Li Wei and Donald Yee finished their communication.


    At that time, Donald believed the New York Giants should be interested in Li Wei, considering New York was the second-largest gathering place for Chinese people on the North American continent.


    Not to mention the Asian market, this city itself was a treasure.


    Moreover, the New York Giants did indeed need a running back; and after falling out with quarterback Eli Manning, they needed a new idola?€¡±a face, a symbol, a superstar to turn the tide.


    It totally made sense for the New York Giants to preemptively set their sights on Li Wei.


    If given the choice by Donald, he would also want Li Wei to go to the New York Giantsa?€¡±


    Not just because it was a big market, but from the perspective of marketing and commercial operations, New York¡¯s advantages were indeed unmatched by any of the other thirty-one NFL teams, as the rise of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.


    to stardom clearly demonstrated; similarly, the Rams and Chargers moving to Los Angeles, and the Raiders heading to Las Vegas, followed the same logic.


    However, Li Wei stated he had no such thoughts, he was happy in Kansas City, and Donald could only temporarily shelve his idea and rethink his plans.


    To make the New York Giants a stepping stone for raising Li Wei¡¯s status and net worth.


    In short, Donald began to lay out his strategy.


    But now it seemed, John Mara was still cunningly ahead of the game.


    Upon reflection, at the time, the Kansas City Chiefs were just contending for the American League championship; the Super Bowl battle hadn¡¯t even begun, everything was still possible.


    If it were just for a rookie running back, someone who might transfer only after two years, whose performance next season was still unknown, and who might fade into obscurity if they lost the Super Bowl, there was no need for Mara to get involved personally.


    That didn¡¯t make sense.


    Even Li Wei wasn¡¯t significant enough.


    However, if it were for a quarterback, whose contract was expiring, who could be replaced by a rookie at any moment, who had already proven their strength and attitude, who could help the team smoothly navigate the upcoming two to three seasons while they looked for a successor in the draft, and whose potential transfer would undoubtedly make them hot property in the free market, then everything made sense.


    Which is to say, both Li Wei and Donald thought Mara was there for him; but in reality, Mara was playing Go, not just looking at one move, but judging the subsequent possibilities through one move.


    Those possibilities finally bore fruit with Smith.


    Imagine, if it wasn¡¯t Li Wei, or if Li Wei wasn¡¯t so smart and perceptive, if he couldn¡¯t connect the entire chain of events, what would he say when faced with Smith¡¯s question now?


    Firstly, New York was his hometown.


    Secondly, he had just recently enjoyed a pleasant conversation with Mara and felt like a VIP.


    Just like in ¡°Inception,¡± planting the seed of a thought in the subconscious, waiting for it to take root and sprout, eventually transforming into ¡°one¡¯s own idea.¡± Actively lobby for Smith to join the New York Giants, with even a single affirmative word potentially key in swaying Smith¡¯s decision.


    Clever, truly clever.

 Chapter 547

    ?Chapter 547: 546 A Farce Chapter 547: 546 A Farce Time turned back slightly, to the end of last November.


    With the regular season still in full swing and Thanksgiving just having ended, the League and teams were poised to enter the sprint in December to vie for playoff positions, but a major news story broke out of New York.


    New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo announced that this coming Sunday when the New York Giants face the Oakland Raiders, the team would be led by Geno Smith as the starting quarterback.


    This meant that Eli Manning, who had been the starting quarterback for the New York Giants for fourteen years and the face of the team, was benched, and his record of consecutive regular season starts in the League finally halted at 210 games.


    A blockbuster announcement!


    Although Eli¡¯s entire career was full of controversy, nobody expected it to end in such a trifling manner, swiftly dominating the front pages of major media outlets.


    Speaking of Eli¡¯s career, this two-time Super Bowl Champion and Super Bowl MVP, known as the ¡°Brady Killer,¡± has always been one of the central figures in the league¡¯s whirlpool of controversies.


    ...


    Is he considered an elite quarterback?


    Will he make it into the Hall of Fame?


    What should his historical status in the NFL be?@@@@


    And so forth.


    In the eyes of his supporters, Eli was one of the top clutch performers in the league, the arch-nemesis of the New England Patriots, off the field a gentleman known for his elegance, sense of humor, and dedication to charitable work.


    To his detractors, Eli was always seen as overrated.


    During his fourteen seasons with the New York Giants, he only led the team to the playoffs six times.


    Apart from the two victorious seasons, all other attempts ended in the first round, especially in 2013 when he controversially demanded a huge contract despite the team¡¯s declining performance.


    However.


    No one could deny that Eli had become a significant symbol for the New York Giants and even the NFL, becoming part of American culture.


    Once during an NBA game, Marc Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies threw a court-spanning pass after snagging a defensive rebound, which led to a teammate scoring a slam dunk.


    The commentator, full of passion, exclaimed, ¡°Touchdown!


    Gasol broke down the opponents¡¯ defense with a long pass just like Eli Manning!¡±


    The point was, the quarterback replacing Little Manning wasn¡¯t the rookie Webb either.


    Inside the League, Lawson offered his professional opinion, ¡°If the New York Giants were intent on developing Webb, the right time to make the switch should have been Week 7 of the regular season.¡±


    At that time, the New York Giants had one win and six losses, with only a 0.5% chance of making the playoffs.


    If by then it was clear that Little Manning was not the future of the team, they should have prepared to bring Webb onto the field, rather than dragging their feet to the current situation, which more resembled a childish tantrum.


    This also touches on the second point.


    Second, timing.


    Setting aside whether Lawson¡¯s opinion was right, let¡¯s look at the timing chosen by the New York Giants:


    With only five games left in the regular season, a record of two wins and nine losses, playoffs hopes completely extinguished, what followed was just running out the schedule to see the final draft positions.


    At this point, pulling Little Manning for Geno Smith was utterly tanking.


    To tank was one thing, but the New York Giants didn¡¯t even provide Little Manning with a chance to say goodbye, nor did they give the fans one last opportunity to see Little Manning play at home.


    This was tantamount to turning off all the lights on Little Manning¡¯s farewell stage, not even leaving a chance for a final bow for this 14-year veteran.


    From an emotional perspective, this indeed was disrespectful and even shameful toward Little Manning.


    It¡¯s no wonder then that everyone unanimously stood by Little Manning¡¯s side.


    More ironically, after the season ended, the New York Giants also fired head coach McAdoo, leaving nothing but a complete mess after losing face and all.


    Because of this, when John Mara met with Li Wei at Madison Square Garden, Donald thought it was a strategic meeting.


    From every perspective, the New York Giants needed to exert a great effort to recover from this PR disaster, thus the top brass stepped in directly.


    But now it appeared, the top brass aimed for more than that.


    Public relation was one aspect.


    Strategy, on the other hand, was another.


    It should have been well before Mara¡¯s meeting with Li Wei that they were seeking their own quarterback successor, and choosing Alex Smith was undoubtedly a stroke of genius.

 Chapter 548

    ?Chapter 548: 547 Honest advice is unpleasant to the ear Chapter 548: 547 Honest advice is unpleasant to the ear As early as when the regular season entered the madness of December, the New York Giants had already started to make their plans.


    Regardless of whether Webb is the future of the New York Giants, they themselves knew that Geno Smith definitely was not, so they needed a quarterback:


    A quarterback who could salvage the public relations crisis and lead the team into a stable transition period.


    After considering various options, the New York Giants set their sights on Alex Smith, and it must be said, John Mara¡¯s calculations were quite astute.


    Alex Smith, professional, honest, and down-to-earth, may not have the highest ceiling but his value lies in consistency; firstly, he could help the team transition smoothly, secondly, his mild manner meant he wouldn¡¯t cause trouble amidst the smog of New York, and thirdly, he would peacefully welcome the new coach and quickly help with the integration.


    Moreover, Smith had unreservedly helped Mahomes during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs, and now moving to the New York Giants, he could continue to lend a hand in mentoring Webb.


    Being a Super Bowl Champion would be the icing on the cake, soothing the protests of New York fans.


    Perhaps the only problem was the salary cap.


    ...


    After determining that Little Manning would not be the future quarterback of the New York Giants, the contract for the next two years worth thirty-three million US Dollars might vary a lot depending on Little Manning¡¯s decision; it was uncertain if the New York Giants could offer Smith the big contract he hoped fora?€¡±


    Unless...


    Smith truly wished to join and was willing to leave more room for maneuver during negotiations.


    So, at this moment.


    ¡°Li Wei,¡± this seed, could play a more significant role.


    It has to be said, Mara¡¯s calculations were clear, far-sighted, and visionary.


    Unfortunately, Li Wei still saw through it.


    Perhaps, Mara had also considered this possibility, even if Li Wei saw through the connection, for his own benefita?€¡±the possibility of going to the New York Giants in the future, establishing a good relationship with a tycoon like Mara, and negotiating a big contract for himself, as well as opening the door to a higher-level world, he might still speak well of the Giants and help push forward the joint efforts with Smith.


    So, would Li Wei do that?


    Raising his head, Li Wei looked at Smith.


    He could sense Smith¡¯s excitement and anticipation, which, despite efforts to suppress, was still eagerly thrumming.


    In fact, it wasn¡¯t surprising.


    This was the first time Smith felt needed, seen, and valued; no longer a bust, no longer a tool that could be carelessly discarded or replaced.


    And it was the New York Giants, no less.


    Li Wei could understand Smith¡¯s feelings, should he follow Smith¡¯s thoughts and give positive feedback?


    And in doing so, could he also lend a hand to John Mara?


    ¡°In that case, I still have some value.


    After all, they really messed up with Eli this time, and they messed it up thoroughly.


    Diverting attention and salvaging the image won¡¯t be that easy.¡±


    Smith joked mockingly about himself, but he noticed that Li Wei¡¯s expression still hadn¡¯t fully relaxed.


    ¡°What, is there something else?¡±


    Li Wei hesitated but still spoke up.


    ¡°This is just my personal speculation, but I think New York might be preparing to promote Webb.¡±


    ¡°Choosing you is not only as a transitional quarterback; they also hope that you can guide Webb, after all, not every starting quarterback has such an open heart to generously impart all his knowledge and experience to a rookie.¡±


    A rookie quarterback joining the team is there to snatch the starting spot from the veteran quarterback.


    They are competitors, not successors.


    When Aaron Rodgers joined the Green Bay Packers, starting quarterback Brett Favre was very unhappy.


    This Hall of Fame quarterback, who nearly held all of the NFL quarterback passing records until Manning, Brees, and Brady surpassed him in recent years, was undoubtedly one of the greatest quarterbacks in history.


    However, Favre didn¡¯t just refrain from mentoring Rodgers; he made it his mission to torment and belittle Rodgers, making Rodgers¡¯s three years as a backup a living hell.


    By the time Rodgers replaced Favre as the starting quarterback, the two had long since irreparably fallen out.


    Although that was a special case, the competitive relationship between veteran quarterbacks and rookie quarterbacks is a fact.


    After giving it some thought, Smith¡¯s fleeting excitement faded, and he gradually sobered up, knowing what Li Wei said was true.


    He tugged at the corner of his mouth self-deprecatingly and said, ¡°It seems my reputation in the league isn¡¯t bad, kind of like a cow.


    What goes in is grass, but what gets milked out is milk.¡±


    Looking at Smith, Li Wei felt somewhat anxiousa?€¡±


    Full of enthusiasm and excitement, but Li Wei, with bucket after bucket of cold water, stubbornly dragged Smith back to reality.


    Wasn¡¯t this too cruel?


    ¡°Captain, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Li Wei showed an apologetic smile.


    But Smith seemed remarkably relaxed, ¡°No need for apologies, why should you be sorry?


    This is professional sports, even if you hadn¡¯t reminded me, it wouldn¡¯t change the reality.


    We are all just insignificant pawns in it, I should be grateful to you instead, thank you for waking up my sense of reason.¡±

 Chapter 549

    ?Chapter 549: Storm¡¯s Beginning Chapter 549: Storm¡¯s Beginning Even though Li Wei felt somewhat uneasy, Smith, on the other hand, let out a long sigh, setting aside those expectations and beautiful dreams, finally returning to reality.


    His head, which had been floating like a hot air balloon among the clouds, cooled down at last.


    ¡°How does that saying go?


    ¡®Welcome to the Professional League.''¡±


    ¡°Here, interests always come before the individual.


    Before embracing vain and impractical fantasies, everyone must firmly remember this.¡±


    It was eventually a release, a final release.@@@@


    But still, it remained bitter.


    Li Wei wanted to say something but stopped, not knowing how to start.


    ...


    Smith stopped him, ¡°There¡¯s no need for consolation, your comfort would only make me look more pitiful.


    In fact, I¡¯m not that pitiful.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡± Li Wei could taste the self-mockery in Smith¡¯s words and realized that since Smith was in the mood to joke, it meant he had gotten over it.


    ¡°So, how are you planning to reply to them?¡±


    Smith shrugged nonchalantly, leaned back in his chair, as if he had only now finally entered vacation mode, his face relaxed.


    ¡°This way it¡¯s simple, no emotional card, just a pure discussion of interests.


    Since they use interests to measure the trade, then I will use interests to weigh my options.¡±


    ¡°I agree with you.


    If they¡¯re willing to offer a five-year, two hundred million US Dollar contract, why not?


    I¡¯d go to New York to be a cash cow.¡±


    ¡°See how kind I am?


    I haven¡¯t even demanded a full guarantee yet.¡±


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and burst into laughter, ¡°That¡¯s the spirit I¡¯m talking about.¡±


    After the laughter, Li Wei fell silent, and so did Smith, as a brief quiet fell upon them, and the air filled with a touch of melancholya?€¡±


    No matter what, this was a farewell.


    From the NCAA to the NFL, this was the first time Li Wei had experienced such a scene.


    Li Wei was curious, ¡°Captain, so how do you feel right now?¡±


    Smith thought for a moment, ¡°Somewhat relieved.


    Of course, I had thought about ending my career in Kansas City, after all, I¡¯m already thirty-four, and there¡¯s not much time left for me on the football field.¡±


    ¡°But.¡±


    Therefore, he used the area for his own individual training, occasionally joining in their strategic discussions to share his wisdom.


    Staying in Miami kept Smith away from rumors and commotion.


    He left all negotiation matters to his agent to avoid exposing Smith in the storm¡¯s center.


    It was a wise choice.


    Meanwhile, the league offseason was full of tumult, with a series of news breaking continuously.


    Not only the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs faced quarterback decisions, the controversies over quarterback performance unfolded in many teams this season.


    For instance, whether the Minnesota Vikings should offer Keenum a lucrative contract to keep him.


    Or the struggling performance of Bortles of the Jacksonville Jaguars and whether the team should switch their starting quarterback.


    And many more.


    Because of this, the quarterback market was exceptionally noisy.


    When the Kansas City Chiefs confirmed they were in negotiations to extend their starting quarterback¡¯s contract, but progress was still underway, the league received a signala?€¡±


    Smith might not stay in Kansas City for sure.


    A single stone stirred up a thousand ripples.


    Although it had happened before that Super Bowl Champion quarterbacks transferred, each occurrence was still a blockbuster, stirring up a whirlwind.


    Soon, a multitude of rumors spread, with Smith¡¯s name quickly being associated with the New York Giants, the Minnesota Vikings, the Denver Broncos, and other teams, sparking fierce competition for the veteran quarterback.


    Then, the Washington Redskins surged, attracting Smith with ample salary cap space; however, the Redskins and the Kansas City Chiefs diverged on trade terms, leading their negotiations to a deadlock at one point.


    At that time, the Minnesota Vikings moved up, joining the intense competition.


    Like the Redskins, they, too, had sufficient salary cap space to bring in Smith, and the game quickly evolved into a three-way stand-off.


    Just when everyone thought the situation would be at a stalemate for a while, without warning, the Minnesota Vikings exited the competition.


    Their contention collapsed instantly, and instead, the New York Giants, who had been patiently and quietly exerting pressure, replaced the Vikings as the strong contender.


    In the end, the decision was in Smith¡¯s hands.


    Although all of the above were rumors, without any party giving a direct response, neither acknowledging nor clarifying, and the so-called insider information did not reveal any sources, the league swiftly came to know:


    Smith was almost certain to transfer to the Washington Redskins, and the Kansas City Chiefs, in the end, were unable to retain Smith.


    Rumors indicated that Smith¡¯s requested annual salary exceeded the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ salary cap burden.


    Last season¡¯s draft picks, which included two first-round selections, left the Chiefs with a tighter operational space this season, tying their hands and feet.


    Next, they just waited for March 14th, when the league¡¯s official free agency market would open, and then the teams would swarm to announce their signing decisions.


    But!


    As an unexpected player emerged, just as everyone thought Smith¡¯s destination might be the biggest news on the first day the free agency market opened, the Minnesota Vikings stole all the attention.


    A dizzying series of maneuvers shocked the entire league.

 Chapter 550

    ?Chapter 550: 549 Business Capability Chapter 550: 549 Business Capability On March 14, the NFL 2018 free agency market officially opened, undoubtedly becoming the busiest and most bustling day across the entire league.


    According to official league statistics, there were over five hundred and fifty transactions that day, with all thirty-two teams involved without exception, vigorously marking the beginning of the new season.


    Among them, the whereabouts of the Super Bowl Champions Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ main quarterback, Smith, attracted significant attention and sparked intense discussions.


    Logically and emotionally, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ decision not to retain Smith was a minor shock and surprise, something the league hadn¡¯t anticipated.


    Over the past half-month, Chiefs fans had protested loudly, demanding that the Super Bowl champions keep their key player to victory.


    However, insider information soon revealed.


    The core reason the Chiefs and Smith couldn¡¯t reach an agreement was down to salary demands that the Chiefs¡¯ salary cap couldn¡¯t accommodate, and letting him go was a reluctant move.


    ...


    Viewed from another angle, from the Chiefs¡¯ decision to pick Mahomes in the first round of last season, Smith should have realized that his time at Arrowhead Stadium was counting down, but the Super Bowl was a surprise, and seizing the opportunity to leave Kansas City to seek a big contracta?€¡±


    That was truly the wise decision.


    With these analyses surfacing, the Kansas City fans gradually quieted down.


    A small portion of fans hurled insults at Smith, viewing his greed as revealing his true nature.


    They felt he betrayed the Chiefs¡¯ recognition, failed the city¡¯s trust, and prioritized money above all, and he should be ousted from Kansas City.


    But, it was futile.


    The deed was already done.


    The question then was, which team would Smith join?


    Countless eyes focused on this, sparking widespread heated discussions.


    Reality, however, brought more surprises.


    Unexpectedly, on the opening day of the free market, a dark horse completely stole the spotlight and attention fiercely surged towards Minneapolis.


    This time, not because of the Super Bowl.


    The Minnesota Vikings, after a disappointing National Conference finals run last season, reflected deeply and initiated a series of aggressive moves during this offseason.


    After failing in the pursuit of Smith, the team quickly shifted strategies.


    And, on the opening day of the free market, they stole the entire league¡¯s attention.


    First, last season¡¯s starting quarterback and former number one pick Sam Bradford was traded to the Arizona Cardinals.


    Second, Case Keenum, who had a sensational performance as a backup last season becoming a talking point for the latter half of the season, was traded to the Denver Broncos.


    In a breath, not one quarterback, but two quarterbacks were cleared out, and the Minnesota Vikings, like holding a massive clearance sale, transferred both quarterbacks out, clearing the spots and cap space, all while making way for a new targeta?€¡±


    Cousins.


    Secondly, full guarantee.


    Not just the players, but the entire teams were also stunned.


    Top to bottom, nearly everyone¡¯s minds were engulfed by a storma?€¡±


    At the forefront, Le¡¯Veon Bell.


    This star running back from the Pittsburgh Steelers had been striving diligently for a huge contract over the past two seasons, believing his performance deserved recognition.


    Moreover, since the Pittsburgh Steelers were no longer the traditional strong defensive team, often relying on offense to clinch victories, Bell¡¯s value had also substantially increased.


    However, in the third year of Bell¡¯s rookie contract, the Pittsburgh Steelers had refused his request for an extension, which had already caused him slight dissatisfaction.


    Despite this, Bell diligently completed his third and fourth rookie years, becoming the league¡¯s top running back; but what did Bell get?


    An exclusive franchise tag.


    Again, in the 2017 season, Bell delivered a top-three running back performance in the league, proving himself for three consecutive years.


    Then, coming to the offseason, Bell hoped he could get corresponding recognition, but the Pittsburgh Steelers kept stalling, especially on the part of the guarantees, and no consensus was ever reached.


    Now, seeing Cousins¡¯ ordeal, who also had franchise tags in two consecutive seasons and still proved his capability in the previous season, Bell¡¯s mind suddenly grew active.


    The first thing he did was call his agent, only to receive explanations and deflections, and more persuasions to be patient, patient, patient.


    Jesus Christ, he had been patient for two years, how much longer was he supposed to wait?


    ¡°Cousins?¡±


    ¡°Cousins!¡±


    ¡°Damn Cousins got a full guarantee, what¡¯s his level, what¡¯s mine?


    Can¡¯t I even secure a contract with a twenty million US Dollar annual salary?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me running back and quarterback aren¡¯t the same.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°If you can¡¯t do it, I can contact Cousins¡¯s agent.


    I believe he wouldn¡¯t mind trying to secure a history-making contract for the top running back of the past four seasons, striving for more honor for him.¡±


    ¡°Damn!¡±


    ¡°Screw you.¡±


    ¡°Damn!¡±


    After a furious diatribe, Bell violently threw his phone onto the ground.@@@@

 Chapter 551

    ?Chapter 551: 550 reluctant to part Chapter 551: 550 reluctant to part Highest annual salary, fully guaranteed.


    When those two key phrases combined, they created an unbelievable energy, and overnight, all eyes turned towards the Minnesota Vikings.


    And Cousins.


    This fourth-round draft pick quarterback boldly entered the first highlight of his life.


    The heated discussions just couldn¡¯t stop.


    It was precisely because of Cousins¡¯ historic move that other news in the free agent market suddenly faded, including that of Smith.


    On March 15th, a day after Cousins, the Washington Redskins and the Kansas City Chiefs jointly announced official news:


    Smith had officially joined the Washington Redskins.


    ...


    The trade cost them a 2018 second-round pick, a third-round pick, and third-year cornerback Kendall Fuller.


    According to rumors, the Kansas City Chiefs initially tried to get a first-round pick because of their series of moves in last year¡¯s draft, leaving this year¡¯s first-round pick in the hands of the Buffalo Bills; Veach tried to make amends.


    However, the Washington Redskins, also planning to rebuild the team around their new starting quarterback, refused; in the end, considering the salary cap issue of a first-round pick, Veach settled for a cornerback instead.


    Everyone was happy.


    The Kansas City Chiefs received the draft picks and the desperately needed cornerback, while the Washington Redskins got a cornerstone quarterback, gaining valuable space for their overhaul.


    Subsequently, the Washington Redskins announced that they had signed Smith to a four-year, $116 million contract with an annual salary of $29 million, breaking the record set by Cousins just a day earlier to become the league¡¯s new salary cap ceiling.


    But.


    Cousins¡¯ deal was fully guaranteed, while Smith¡¯s guarantee was only $65 million, plus a $27 million signing bonus.


    Once compared, the difference was clear.


    Opinions on this matter varied widely.


    Some admired Cousins¡¯ shrewdness, others lamented Smith¡¯s missed opportunity, some marveled at the Minnesota Vikings overpaying, some were curious about Smith¡¯s prospects with the Washington Redskins, some felt Smith wasn¡¯t worth the salary, and yet others believed Smith had made the right choice.


    With Cousins paving the way and Smith following suit, this off-season¡¯s free market was exceptionally lively with the 2018 season barely underway and already filled with smoke from the battles.


    In response to this.


    Smith hesitated.


    On one hand, he knew this was the goal he was pursuing, an annual salary of $29 million which made him one of the league¡¯s top earners.


    Though this record was not likely to last long, awaiting the Green Bay Packers and Rodgers to renew their contract, the threshold of $30 million a year would be easily surpassed; but at least he had his moment, however brief.


    Following being a Super Bowl Champion, he had achieved another goal.


    On the other hand, he felt lost and reluctant to let go.


    No one knew better than Elizabeth how Smith felt when he left San Francisco for Kansas Citya?€¡±utterly despondent and without love for life.


    It was Reed, the Chiefs, this city, that had brought back his smile and his confidence.


    The thought of leaving amidst a torrent of jeers, even if it was Smith¡¯s choice, made Elizabeth feel so upset that it was almost suffocating.


    The children hadn¡¯t come along; they¡¯d gone ahead to Washington with their grandparents.


    The couple quickly packed up their possessions, leaving the bulky furniture for the moving company, and they left the house dragging their suitcases.


    Smith drove to Arrowhead Stadium, wanting to say one last goodbye.


    However.


    From afar, Smith saw an endless sea of red.


    He was stunned, his mind unable to process what was happening:


    Could it be that other players joining the Kansas City Chiefs had arrived at the stadium?


    The next second, Smith saw his own portrait being waved high.


    ¡°Alex, thank you.¡±


    Caught off-guard, Smith hit the brakes hard, stopping the car and burying his head in the steering wheel, his tears uncontrollable.


    The wind outside the window brought calls.


    ¡°Alex...¡±


    ¡°Alex!¡±


    ¡°Hey, we agreed, once a Chief, always a Chief, don¡¯t forget that.¡±


    ¡°This has been an extraordinary journey, thank you.¡±


    ¡°The next time we meet it¡¯ll be as enemies, but today you are still our captain.¡±


    In the bustling and noisy scene, tens of thousands of voices combined into a continuous chant.


    ¡°Captain!¡±


    ¡°Captain!¡±


    Elizabeth couldn¡¯t hold back either, looking at the dazzling sea of red before her, sobbing uncontrollably, her memory instantly returning to that spring five years ago.


    She remembered, it was a gloomy day with bad weather, but the city had opened its warm embrace to welcome them.


    In the blink of an eye, time had flown, Arrowhead Stadium was still the same Arrowhead Stadium, and the fans were still the same fans; it seemed as if everything was completely different, yet nothing had changed at all.


    Whoo.


    The spring breeze blew briskly, the sunlight tore through the clouds and poured down, illuminating the sea of red before them.

 Chapter 552

    ?Chapter 552: 551 bittersweet mixed feelings Chapter 552: 551 bittersweet mixed feelings ¡°Hey, David, it¡¯s Li Wei here, I need a favor from you.¡±


    ¡°Sure, go ahead.¡±


    ¡°The captain is going back to Kansas City to pack up and leave the day after tomorrow.


    I¡¯m still in Miami and can¡¯t get away.


    Could I trouble you and Charles to help out?¡±


    ¡°...Li Wei, Alex is heading to the Washington Redskins, and it¡¯s not about the salary, right?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to answer.


    If I¡¯m wrong, all you have to do is speak up and deny it.


    Alex could go to New York, Buffalo, or Minnesota, but he chose Washington in the end because they were willing to offer draft picks and a cornerback, right?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Oh, Jesus Christ, what have we done.


    Sorry, Li Wei, we¡¯ve all gone mad, delirious from the Super Bowl Championship.


    I¡¯ve got it, I¡¯ll help out.¡±


    ¡°...Thank you, David.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll give Alex a proper send-off.¡±


    In the end, Li Wei couldn¡¯t bear it and felt sorry for Smith to leave alone....


    So, he called Anderson at the Old Oak Tavern, making the move an excuse, hoping they could come to assist, but Anderson had already sensed something.


    Fans are often hot-blooded and blind, trapped in their limited thoughts, unable to see the big picture; yet, at the same time, they are the ones who know the team best.


    As the defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ every move during the offseason naturally drew attention, including actions from teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, and Minnesota Vikings, etc., who were all making significant moves and were the subject of much discussion in the League.


    However.


    The actions of the Kansas City Chiefs weren¡¯t that big.


    Last season, the media emphasized the youth of the Kansas City Chiefs, a weakness that turned into a significant advantage after reaching the pinnacle as Super Bowl Champions.


    Perhaps the young team was already relatively complete and didn¡¯t need to make major changesa?€¡±minor tweaks within a limited range would suffice?


    At least, that¡¯s what Veach believed.


    After the start of the free agency, the Kansas City Chiefs only completed two actions:


    One was Smith¡¯s trade.


    Another was trading cornerback Marcus Peters and a 2018 sixth-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a 2018 fourth-round draft pick and a 2019 second-round pick.


    Veach¡¯s offseason strategy became clear immediately.


    Unlike Cousins¡¯ transfer to the Minnesota Vikings, Smith¡¯s move to the Washington Redskins sparked a different kind of discussion and reflection.


    Mahomes saw it and quickly came out to share it with Li Wei.


    ¡°Look.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡± Li Wei couldn¡¯t help laughing, but then he tilted his head and thought, ¡°Is this context correct?¡±


    Mahomes shrugged, ¡°Does anyone care?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°The captain cares.


    Oh, Alex.¡±


    Mahomes paused and then realized, ¡°Alex is no longer the captain,¡± he said, with a hint of melancholy in his voice.


    Li Wei took a deep breath, ¡°You should be happy, it¡¯s all up to you now.¡±


    Mahomes nodded, ¡°I know, but I¡¯m not sure if I should be happy.


    Since I heard the news, I¡¯ve been waiting for this day, but I also feel a bit guilty, as if I couldn¡¯t wait to get rid of the captain.¡±


    ¡°I know, that¡¯s how competitive sports are, if I want to start, I have to compete, I have to replace him, to become the starting quarterback.


    There¡¯s no need to be sorry.¡±


    ¡°But now, to complete this transition in such a way, it always feels a bit off.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s finally here, and I don¡¯t know if I should celebrate.


    It doesn¡¯t feel right to celebrate, and it doesn¡¯t feel right not to.¡±


    ¡°Is this normal?¡±


    Li Wei showed a smile, ¡°Of course,¡± he affirmed, without hesitation, ¡°It shows we are still young, not accustomed to this model; and it also shows that we value bonds.


    Although victory and money are important, there are other things just as important, which we must not forget.¡±


    ¡°So, you can feel regret, sigh, be guilty or sad; the only thing you can do is to take on the quarterback¡¯s responsibilities and use all your abilities, not failing the burden of being a starting quarterback.¡±


    ¡°If we can face him on the field again, go all out and beat him; if not, fight with all our might to the end of the new season.


    That¡¯s the best way to show respect and admiration, more sincere than any words.¡±


    ¡°Believe me, Alex is also looking forward to this day.¡±


    ¡°So, how about starting from tomorrow with some down-to-earth, intensified training?¡±


    His casual words caused Mahomes to roll his eyes extravagantly, ¡°More intense?¡±


    A bit of bitterness, a bit of sweetness.


    Mahomes looked toward the open sea ahead, his view suddenly wide open.


    The boundless azure spread out before him, his focus dissolving into the blue.

 Chapter 553

    ?Chapter 553: 552 Youthful Years Chapter 553: 552 Youthful Years When you¡¯re young, happiness is just happiness, sadness is just sadness, and disgust is just disgust; all emotions seem simple and straightforward.


    Until one day, you start to comprehend the complex feelings that are bittersweet, that make you laugh through tears, that overwhelm and can¡¯t be controlled, and then you grow up.


    Only then do you understand the adult world, where emotions are complicated and entangled, where joy and sorrow can occur at the same time, and liking and disliking too.


    Mahomes had been looking forward to this day, eager and ready to go, even the slightest possibility of becoming the starting quarterback set his blood boiling.


    He trained harder and more devotedly during this time, surprisingly keeping up with the pace of the drills, wholeheartedly awaiting the official announcement of Smith¡¯s successful transfer.


    However, when the day finally arrived, Mahomes thought he would be ecstatic, but he suddenly found that he wasn¡¯t as happy as he had imagined.


    Bitterness.


    ...


    Loss.


    Reluctance.


    Guilt.


    A series of strange emotions swarmed over him.


    Mahomes took a deep breath, turned his head, and looked earnestly at Li Wei, ¡°So, can I be happy?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Li Wei didn¡¯t hesitate.


    Still, Mahomes didn¡¯t celebrate immediately but instead looked up at the skya?€¡±


    The night over Miami was cloudless, clear and bright, with countless stars falling down as if roaming the Milky Way.


    ¡°The captain mentioned it, before the divisional game, you said we¡¯d count the stars together after the game.


    He still hasn¡¯t understood what you meant by that.¡±


    Li Wei was startled, not expecting that Smith had shared this little episode with Mahomes.


    It was apparent their private relationship was also good.


    A smile crept onto his lips, ¡°It¡¯s just a song.¡±


    ¡°It says that we gradually get blinded by money, work, and glory, to the point that we forget why we started; when we had nothing, we would lie outdoors counting the stars, an affordable leisure even in poverty.¡±


    ¡°So, I hope he doesn¡¯t look back in doubt but returns to his initial intention, to really enjoy the game, the battle, and to have no regrets.¡±


    Mahomes didn¡¯t speak, silently watching the stars in a long silence.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t disturb Mahomes either.


    He wasn¡¯t in Mahomes¡¯s position and could hardly imagine what Mahomes was feeling now.


    Phew.


    After a while, Mahomes let out a heavy sigh, ¡°Defend the title?


    That must be tough, right?¡±


    If you don¡¯t want to regret it, perhaps we should start right now, while the training camp is still going on.¡±


    Mahomes calmed down.


    Li Wei seemed to have this ability to inspire trust with his casual remarks, no difficulty, no danger could shake him in the slightest, he always faced all challenges calmly and resolutely.


    Of course, that¡¯s not to say Li Wei was Superman, invincible and indestructible; he could fail, he could feel sad, depressed, angry, but he would not regreta?€¡±


    Because, with every battle, he gave it his all.


    More importantly, they always fought side by side.


    Mahomes had been looking forward to fighting alongside Li Wei on the field.


    They had briefly teamed up for a short time last season; was it finally about to become reality now?


    At the thought, Mahomes could feel a flame quietly kindling inside him.


    If he didn¡¯t want to regret, then all the more should he grip every moment tightly.


    They shouldn¡¯t look back but should seize the present firmly, using the nows to change that future filled with endless possibilities.


    ¡°Training!¡±


    Mahomes clenched his fist.


    ¡°Rookie, I want to see last season¡¯s defensive groups of both the Minnesota Vikings and the Jacksonville Jaguars.


    Ah, and our division game against the New England Patriots, how Belichick managed to repeatedly take down the quarterback, that¡¯s unusual.¡±


    ¡°After the season starts, I will need to dedicate myself completely to learning the offensive tactics, so now is the time to analyze the defensive teams¡¯ tactics.¡±


    A new season, a new playbook.


    Every year, teams update their playbooks, discarding the tactics of the previous season.


    The main thing is that all the tactical signals are changed.


    The main reason is to prevent leaks that could come with player transfers.


    So, all thirty-two teams change their playbooks; this is a task for the coaching staff during the offseason.


    Besides, this year the Kansas City Chiefs are about to change their starting quarterback.


    Different quarterbacks mean different tactical systems.


    It¡¯s not just the quarterback; the strategic tactics of the entire offensive group will have to be adjusted, a vast and intricate task.


    Most importantly, even though both Smith and Mahomes are pocket quarterbacks, Smith is more traditional, with limited mobility outside the pocket; Mahomes is younger, relying on his excellent physical fitness, he can still be productive outside the pocket.


    As you can imagine, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive playbook needs a complete overhaul.


    Therefore, it can be anticipated that when the team¡¯s spring training camp kicks off, the entire offensive group will be quite busy.

 Chapter 554

    ?Chapter 554: 553 New Beginning Chapter 554: 553 New Beginning Everything was brand new.


    A brand new starting quarterback, a brand new tactical playbook, a brand new tactical system.


    Just by thinking about it, Mahomes couldn¡¯t help but feel happy.


    The unknown is a thing like this:


    It might be better, it might be worse, or it might stay the same, which is undoubtedly terrifying; but at the same time, we can also choose to embrace the possibilities, embark on adventures, exploring the breadth and depth within the limited length of life.


    So, we could get stuck in fear, immobile, or we could choose to break free and boldly face the future by opening new doors to the world.


    Taking a deep breath, Mahomes had found himself again, muttering under his breath, the tasks of a quarterback were not so simple:


    Learning the offensive playbook, which is the basic and crucial task of a quarterback; learning the defensive playbook, this was wisdom he had gained from Li Wei, only by understanding the opponent¡¯s tactical strategies could one understand their own position.


    Practicing tactical coordination with the offensive line, practicing passing connections with the wide receivers, all of these were Smith¡¯s personal game experiences, every player had their unique style, and the quarterback needs to adapt to each player, and finally find a cooperative pattern comfortable for both.


    ...


    These experiences, seemingly trivial, can be the deciding factor between victory and defeat at critical moments in crucial games.


    Thinking about it, Mahomes was suddenly stunned, his mouth agape, looking like he was in a rush, he started stamping his feet in place, anxiously looking at Li Wei.


    ¡°I feel...


    like there isn¡¯t enough time, should we start now?¡±


    Seeing Mahomes looking like that, those who didn¡¯t know any better might think he needed the restroom.


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t help but laugh silently, patting Mahomes on the shoulder.


    ¡°No need to rush this little bit of time.


    Don¡¯t worry, just bring one hundred and twenty percent energy to tomorrow¡¯s practice, and I¡¯ll be there with you to prepare.¡±


    ¡°Also, JJ and TJ won¡¯t go easy on us.¡±


    Mahomes nodded, having come to Miami to train with Li Wei during this offseason was a wise choice.


    Then.


    Mahomes looked at Li Wei, ¡°Rookie, who do you think will be the halftime show performer at next year¡¯s Super Bowl?¡±


    Li Wei: ???


    ¡°That¡¯s so random?¡±


    Rarely, Li Wei couldn¡¯t keep up with someone else¡¯s train of thought, wondering how the topic had switched from training plans to the halftime show.


    Mahomes took a deep breath, ¡°It would be great if it were Rihanna.¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Why?


    Are you planning to ask for her autograph?¡±


    Mahomes actually nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t you think she¡¯s cool?


    If she were the halftime show performer, I¡¯d be even more motivated to put everything into the game.¡±


    Vince Lombardi Trophy: Am I a joke to you?


    Li Wei had other ideas, ¡°BeyoncA?? would be sad to hear that.¡±


    ¡°Haha, hahaha.¡± Mahomes laughed heartily, ¡°Rookie, I didn¡¯t know, you actually like BeyoncA??¡¯s type?¡±


    ¡°I like the ¡®I like her and she likes me back¡¯ type,¡± Li Wei said seriously.


    They kept shouting until their faces turned red, their veins bulged, and they were completely spent.


    Then, they both collapsed, bathed under the sparkling stars.


    No more shouting, no more jumping, just the continuous pounding of their hearts in their ears.


    The silence at lasta?€¡±


    ¡°...I¡¯m hungry.¡±


    ¡°You got this from JJ, huh?


    Six meals a day, are you trying to catch up with him?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not that extreme, JJ is a hippo, a hippo!


    I¡¯m just like a calf at most.¡±


    ¡°You still have a bit of conscience, at least mentioning a cow, not a little lamb.¡±


    ¡°Rookie!¡±


    ¡°There are ingredients in the fridge, making a sandwich is just a minute¡¯s task.¡±


    At the end of an intense and fervid night, the two began to discuss...


    late-night snacks, but the conversation hadn¡¯t finished when a familiar voice came from outside.


    ¡°God, I could hear you two shouting from across the street.


    You seemed so pitiful without an audience that I came over.


    Now that you finally have one, do you want to perform again?¡±


    ¡°Haha, Travis!¡±


    Facing them was none other than Kelsey, but only Travis was there; Jason hadn¡¯t come.


    Kelsey raised his hand to stop Mahomes, who was preparing to hug him, looked him up and down, then turned to look at Li Wei, who was slowly following behind.


    ¡°Rookie, how about that, this is the new commander of our team.


    Are you satisfied?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°It¡¯s alright, I guess.¡±


    Mahomes, ¡°Rookie, you!¡±


    His words were cut off as Kelsey gave Mahomes a big hug and burst into hearty laughter, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your story is just beginning.


    You still have plenty of time to dazzle Mr.


    Super Bowl MVP.


    Patrick, right now we need to unite, or that running back will ride us roughshod.


    We should let him know who the boss is in the team.¡±


    As they spoke, Kelsey whisked Mahomes away, the latter nodding blankly in agreement.


    Li Wei, ¡°Hey, the person concerned is still here.


    If you¡¯re going to speak ill of someone, at least avoid them.


    Hey!¡±

 Chapter 555

    ?Chapter 555: 554 Rest Day Situation Chapter 555: 554 Rest Day Situation ¡°`


    The offseason frenzy continued, no less explosive than the regular season, with bombshell news every day and a variety of rumors.


    It was because the 2017 season was so chaotic, completely overturning all predictions, that the competition in the NFL became unprecedentedly fiercea?€¡±everyone had a chance.


    Naturally, competitive teams were all eager to move, and this momentum carried over from free agency straight through to the draft.


    Last year, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯s big moves rocked the entire league, and Veach¡¯s bold gamble brought home a championship trophy after forty-eight years, inevitably encouraging other team managers to make big moves.


    This year, hailed as the ¡°year of the quarterbacks¡± after significant offseason moves involving Cousins and Smith, the draft was eagerly anticipated, showcasing the teams¡¯ desperation and hunger.


    Unfortunately, after the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯s maneuvers last year, their first-round pick passed through San Francisco and Chicago, eventually landing in Buffalo¡¯s hands.


    Therefore, on the first day of the draft, it had nothing to do with the defending champions.


    ...


    Despite this, including the Kansas City Chiefs, all eyes were focused on the draft; it was not only the ¡°year of the quarterbacks¡± but also the ¡°year of the linemen.¡±


    As expected, the draft lived up to expectations with its roller-coaster highs and lows.


    For the second year in a row, the Cleveland Browns, holding the first overall pick, were again in the spotlight, completely dazzled by a bustling field of quarterbacks.


    Based on pre-draft analysis, they had narrowed down three targets:


    The new Heisman winner, quarterback Baker Mayfield from the University of Oklahoma, quarterback Sam Darnold from the University of Southern California, and quarterback Lamar Jackson from the University of Louisville.


    The analysis suggested that there were no wrong choices, any selection would be valid, and the Cleveland Browns might soon welcome their eleventh rebuilding cornerstone quarterback in ten years.


    The spotlight lit up once again.


    In the Little Green House, the cameras simultaneously focused on the three quarterbacks; Darnold appeared honest and simple, Mayfield brimming with confidence, and Jackson exuding a determination to succeed.


    The world was noisy, but only Lamar Jackson knew for sure: he would be the first pick.


    Why?


    There was no reason; he just would be the first pick.


    In 2016, he lost the Heisman to Li Wei; in 2017, he lost the Heisman to Mayfield.


    After two consecutive years of near misses, he had had enough.


    He was done with ¡°just one step short,¡± done with ¡°talented but lacking leadership,¡± done with ¡°he¡¯s just not Li Wei.¡±


    With the seventh pick, the Buffalo Bills selected Josh Allen, quarterback from the University of Wyoming.


    With the tenth pick, the Arizona Cardinals chose Josh Rosen, quarterback from the University of California, Los Angeles.


    One after another.


    Yet.


    No Jackson.


    The unfortunate events of Rodgers in his draft year and Watson last year occurred again, as Jackson, who was originally thought to be in contention for the top pick with Mayfield, was completely overlooked.


    After this year¡¯s Rookie Training Camp, more than one team¡¯s scouts and head coaches questioned Jackson¡¯s passing abilities, generally believing that Jackson wasn¡¯t suitable to play quarterback and urging him to fully utilize his athletic ability to switch to the wide receiver position, arguing that his draft prospects would be much brighter.


    Jackson considered this an insult, adamantly refused, and declared that he would continue to pursue the quarterback position.


    Actually, the fundamental issue wasn¡¯t Jackson himself but the widespread injuries encountered by mobile quarterbacks over the past two years:


    The San Francisco 49ers¡¯ Kaepernick and the Washington Redskins¡¯ Griffin III were both without a team to play for, while Newton of the Carolina Panthers and Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks both began to slide in performance, dimming the once bright ¡°four new-generation running quarterbacks,¡± causing the league to harbor even more worries.


    Mayfield also possessed running ability, but his passing skills were exceptional, leaning towards being a pocket quarterback.


    Darnold, Allen, and Rosen were also the same.


    Of course, Jackson¡¯s athletic talent and physical condition were always there, and as a mobile quarterback, he still had the possibility to prove himself.


    However, Jackson¡¯s situation was worse than Watson¡¯s and Rodgers¡¯s, with his draft position sliding down relentlesslya?€¡±


    At the twentieth pick, no Jackson.


    At the twenty-fifth pick, no Jackson.


    At the thirtieth pick, still no Jackson.


    This torment lasted for nearly five hours until everyone thought no team would take a risk on this mobile quarterback and Jackson might end up in the second or even third round, finally, a team made a move.


    Originally, the thirty-second pick belonged to the Super Bowl Champions Kansas City Chiefs, but they had traded that pick to the San Francisco 49ers last year; afterward, the Chiefs obtained another first-round pick from the Chicago Bears, which was then given to the Buffalo Bills.


    At this moment, having already selected a tight end with the twenty-fifth pick, the Baltimore Ravens traded with the San Francisco 49ers to get the final pick of the first round and made a daring choice, becoming the fifth team to select a quarterback this yeara?€¡±


    ¡°Lamar Jackson...¡±


    Finally.

 Chapter 556

    ?Chapter 556: 555 operating behind the scenes Chapter 556: 555 operating behind the scenes In 2017, the Kansas City Chiefs ignited the entire League with a series of dazzling moves and undisputably became the biggest winners of the NFL Draft.


    In 2018, the Baltimore Ravens, having bided their time, finally revealed their edge, with John Harbaugh showing the courage he possessed as a head coach.


    Originally, quarterback wasn¡¯t even on Harbaugh¡¯s draft target list.


    The reason was very simple: the Ravens¡¯ hesitation and indecision had all come to an end during the offseason.


    Indeed, they desperately needed a quarterback, as Joe Flacco¡¯s performance had been slowly declining every year, and this 33-year-old veteran was definitely not the future of the team; but the Baltimore Ravens had always been a traditional defensive powerhouse, they didn¡¯t need to rely on the offensive group to win games.


    After careful consideration, Harbaugh decided to let Flacco continue to start, and one week before the draft commenced, signed a one-year contract with Griffin III, who had been completely off the radar for a full year; Harbaugh planned to see if the former first overall pick still had any potential to unearth.


    In other words, the Ravens now had two quarterbacks capable of starting, they really didn¡¯t need to get involved in this year¡¯s draft quarterback battle, taking a position like a spectator watching a fight from the safety of the hills.


    ...


    In fact, when it came to the Ravens¡¯ turn to pick, they even traded away their draft position, executing a trade with the Tennessee Titans; then the Ravens calmly selected a tight end at the 25th pick, completing their draft plan at their own pace.


    Calm, composed, and experienced.


    Once they had a target in mind, they refused to act on impulse and shunned rash decisions, displaying the deep-rooted foundation of a traditional strong team in the American League.@@@@


    And then.


    An unexpected opportunity arosea?€¡±


    Lamar Jackson.


    This potential first overall pick quarterback with polarizing evaluations endured a nightmare worse than Rodgers or Watson¡¯s, foolishly sitting in the Little Green House for over four hours, about to fall out of the first round of the draft.


    This kind of situation happens every year.


    Players who are highly praised and favored before the draft but encounter cold shoulders during ita?€¡±Jackson was neither the first nor will he be the last.


    Among these players, some have proven themselves, but many more have confirmed the astuteness of the teams; so, which one was Jackson?


    At this moment, the Baltimore Ravens showed another side of being a traditional strong team:


    Strike when the time is right.


    It wasn¡¯t about being impulsive or taking a risk, but about seizing opportunities while they present themselves.


    Watching Jackson slip down and be ignored by everyone, the Ravens saw Jackson¡¯s value.


    Indeed, they didn¡¯t need a quarterback for the time being, but that didn¡¯t mean they didn¡¯t need a brand new cornerstone.


    They all had to look up to him and shoulder the expectations coming from all directions.


    As this year¡¯s second pick, Barkley was naturally the first in line.


    However, this young man appeared full of confidence, having set his sights early on.


    ¡°Li Wei, I¡¯m coming for you.¡±


    Barkley had already thrown down the gauntlet even before officially entering the League.


    Li Wei: ...In training, do not disturb.


    If I had to respond to every Tom, Dick, and Harry¡¯s bluster, I wouldn¡¯t need training or gamesa?€¡±I could just lie on the couch all day, live-streaming responses.


    This year, a total of three running backs were selected in the first round, but their hype and atmosphere couldn¡¯t compare to last year¡¯s; instead, it was the linemen who were in fierce competition.


    In the first round, a total of five linemen were selected, equaling the number of quarterbacks.


    Among them were the Tennessee Titans who traded up, and the Buffalo Bills who possessed two first-round selections.


    Compared to the Baltimore Ravens, who made a fuss and maximized their gains at minimal cost, the Buffalo Bills were especially low-key.


    Without any grand gestures and relying more on the picks they had traded for, they quietly went about their business behind the scenes, discreetly building a brand-new teama?€¡±


    A quarterback Josh Allen and a lineman Tremaine Edmunds, certainly not inferior to last year¡¯s Kansas City Chiefs or this year¡¯s Baltimore Ravens, making big moves silently.


    At this point, one could see the important role a team manager plays.


    There are team managers like the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills who have a clear and decisive approach, building competitive teams according to the needs of their roster.


    There are team managers like the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns, who hold advantages yet their draft strategies are incomprehensible, resembling whimsical acts of art.


    And there are team managers like the Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars, who are careful planners with bold spirit, yet often lack that spark of inspiration in the details.


    Veach, the manager of the Kansas City Chiefs, is a growing breed.


    He knows his weaknesses but also has his strengths, listens to advice, and takes a comprehensive view.


    Once he¡¯s made a decision based on the bigger picture and long-term considerations, he doesn¡¯t waver.


    Following last year, the Kansas City Chiefs had another productive draft this year.


    Even though the first day had nothing to do with the team, from the second day on, it was Veach¡¯s time to shine.

 Chapter 557

    ?Chapter 557: 556 Team Building Ideas Chapter 557: 556 Team Building Ideas In the second round, a linebacker, a defensive end.


    In the third round, a defensive tackle, a linebacker.


    In the fourth round, a safety.


    In the sixth round, a cornerback, a defensive tackle.


    Additionally.


    The fifth round pick was traded to the Cleveland Browns, acquiring an offensive tackle.


    The seventh round pick was traded to the San Francisco 49ers, acquiring a cornerback.@@@@


    ...


    This meant that, by the time the three-day 2018 draft had concluded, the Kansas City Chiefs had acquired eight defensive players and one offensive player.


    The strategy was crystal clear.


    At this time, the blueprint of the team structure crafted by Veach in collaboration with Reed was beginning to take shape.


    The offensive group revolved around young players Mahomes and Li Wei, who though still not perfect, were beginning to establish a foundational ¡®Triangular Attack¡¯ system with the help of Hill and Kelsey.


    Of course, a question remained, how capable was Mahomes?


    Could he quickly adapt to the professional game¡¯s pace and take over from Smith?


    And did the Chiefs¡¯ offensive system need adjustments?


    But at least, Veach was creating his ideal system step by step according to his plans, so this year it was time to focus on revamping the defensive group.


    Last season, the Chiefs¡¯ secondary defense had disappointing performances, especially with the core defensive player Berry being put out for the season, which added insult to injury.


    However, how to mend the defensive group was also a science, as no suitable secondary players were found in the draft, so they turned to trades for a cornerback; the draft itself focused more on revamping the defensive frontline.


    No one would forget that the Chiefs had made a bloody path through the playoffs with staunch frontline defense in the Red Zone at critical moments.


    Now, Veach was still attempting repairs, continuing to enhance the team.


    Fortunately, the Chiefs did indeed face salary cap issues; but with Smith¡¯s transfer, the crisis of this young team transformed into an opportunity, with off-season movements minimal yet precisely targeted.


    Although the Chiefs maintained a low profile, industry professionals still noticed, continuing to highly praise the uniformed staff¡¯s work for the second consecutive year.


    ¡°...clearly, they were prepared to defend the Super Bowl,¡±


    As the draft concluded and the free market¡¯s trade frenzy had calmed, there were some teams exulting and others fretting, anxiously gauging their situation while others eagerly anticipated the new season, and thena?€¡±


    Voluntary training camps began.


    The off-season wasn¡¯t over yet, extending to July for adjustments, but it was time for professional players to end their prolonged vacations and start warming up.


    ¡°I heard you¡¯re in Miami, how is it goinga?€¡±are you partying hard this off-season?¡±


    Thinking back to the intensity of Watt Training Camp.


    Li Wei nodded, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been crazy.


    Really crazy.¡±


    Revis misunderstood and burst into hearty laughter, teasing meaningfully, ¡°Then you should stay a few more days.¡±


    Li Wei didn¡¯t bother to clarify, ¡°The climate in Miami is really comfortable.


    I can understand why God would make a waiting room for heaven here, but believe it or not, I¡¯m kind of missing the cold in Kansas City.¡±


    Revis was briefly stunned, ¡°That¡¯s because you consider Kansas City home.


    No matter where we are, in the end, we always hope to go back home.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s brows furrowed slightly; he faintly sensed something odd about Revis¡¯s tone, a sort of indescribable melancholy.


    He wasn¡¯t sure if it was just his imagination, ¡°Darrelle, are you okay?


    Are you planning your third return to the Jets?¡±


    ¡°Ha,¡± Revis laughed, ¡°Hahaha, rookie, you are an interesting guy,¡± he paused, ¡°and a smart one too.¡±


    Revis didn¡¯t know why he had wanted to make this call to Li Wei.


    In the Kansas City Chiefs, he didn¡¯t have friends.


    Even in Houston, that wasn¡¯t the case; he had been on the team for only two months, too short a time to make real friends.


    And more ironically, when he made one of the most significant decisions of his career, he looked around and couldn¡¯t find anyone in the whole league to share this news with.


    He never thought of himself as greedy, even though fallout with teams always involved money, even though teammates, the league, and fans mocked him for being profit-driven, even though he never formed any attachment to any team, as they all revolved around money, even though more than once he had torn apart relationships over money and contracts, even if he was labeled a mercenary, he didn¡¯t think he was wrong.


    Friends?


    Heh, what are those?


    Can they pay rent or buy food?


    But.


    In the moment he was about to turn away and leave, Revis couldn¡¯t escape feeling confused and desolate.


    As he reminisced about Li Wei¡¯s figure, he froze after dialing the number:


    What should he say?

 Chapter 558

    ?Chapter 558: 557 Gorgeous Turnaround Chapter 558: 557 Gorgeous Turnaround Revis decided to retire.


    He finally decided to put aside his self-respect and pride, he finally decided to stop contending with the League, the team, and the fans, he finally decided to stop proving himself, to reconcile with himself, to turn around, leave and bid farewell to this field.


    It wasn¡¯t because the Kansas City Chiefs had no place for him, but because he had come to terms with it.


    In this year¡¯s playoffs, he had burned himself out completely, left with no energy, his body protesting and his spirit exhausteda?€¡±it was time to stop running.


    Revis told himself this.


    Originally, Revis thought that retirement should be grand and dramatic; however, reality was different.


    On a calm afternoon, with the sun shining and a gentle breeze blowing, he made his decision.


    ...


    Perhaps the only regret was that he had no one to share it with.


    Several names came to minda?€¡±the years he had spent in the League meant he hadn¡¯t been without friends, but their relationships had always been distant.


    After hesitating for a moment, he still couldn¡¯t bring himself to dial any number.


    Instead, he thought of Li Wei.


    The bright-eyed, resolute young man who, when he made a fatal mistake and people once again treated him as a mercenary, was willing to stand by his side, fight back, run alongside him, and burn all his energy to sprint across the finish line together.


    Over the phone, Li Wei¡¯s voice came through, catching Revis off guard.


    How should he begin?


    Or rather, were they even friends?


    ¡°Heh.¡±


    Revis let out a soft chuckle.


    ¡°Not to mention the third time, I should have retired after being laid off by the Jets the second time, but my pride wouldn¡¯t allow it.¡±


    Once he started, the words flowed naturally, not as difficult as he had imagined.


    ¡°It¡¯s a brutal game, they have their own rules and boundaries.


    We throw our whole selves in, dressed in silly tight uniforms pretending we are supermen, giving everything we have, squeezing out the last bit of value before being casually discarded.¡±@@@@


    ¡°When we stand on the field, we think we are kings, controlling the weather, invincible, ruling the universe, owning the world.¡±


    ¡°Young, tough, handsome, wealthy, girls throwing themselves at us one after another.


    We feel indestructible, omnipotent, believing that as long as we are determined, we can accomplish anything.¡±


    ¡°Until one day, suddenly, we realize it¡¯s not like that at all.¡±


    ¡°We are just tools, leaving everything of ourselves on the field, what¡¯s left for us are countless injuries and a bunch of meaningless numbers.


    A slight inattention and one night in Las Vegas could send us plummeting from the clouds to the depths.¡±


    Anger, sighs, frustration, regret, sadness, bitterness.


    Revis chuckled lightly, ¡°You guessed it?


    Well, you¡¯re so clever, if you still couldn¡¯t figure it out, then it would mean I have a communication problem, or perhaps your brain was taken away by the girls during the off-season.¡±


    Li Wei tugged at the corner of his mouth but couldn¡¯t manage a smile.


    Revis dropped his smile, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve decided to retire.¡±


    The air was slightly quiet.


    Mahomes burst out, ¡°Rookie, I¡¯m ready, are you done?¡±


    Li Wei gestured to Mahomes, ¡°Darrelle, are you sure?¡±


    Revis, ¡°Are you trying to keep me?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Because it was too crisp and direct, it caught Revis off guard.


    The tip of his nose felt slightly soura?€¡±


    Perhaps, he didn¡¯t have friends; but at least, he had found a comrade, mutually admiring and supporting, fighting side by side, and that was sufficient.


    Revis joked, ¡°The team can¡¯t pay the salary I want.¡±


    Li Wei shrugged lightly, ¡°Oh, then there is no way, it¡¯s a real pity.¡±


    ¡°Haha, hahaha.¡± Revis laughed heartily and unrestrained.


    This time, it was genuine.


    Thinking over, Revis thought he still had many things to say; but now, having paused, he realized he had come to terms, the heavy stone in his chest had fallen.


    Instead, he felt relieved.


    ¡°Thank you, Li Wei.


    And, goodbye.¡± Revis didn¡¯t continue with small talk and concluded directly.


    Li Wei took a deep breath, ¡°I hope to see you again, even if not on the field.¡±


    Revis paused but didn¡¯t respond, directly hanging up the call.


    Pocketing his phone, Revis gazed into the distance, his focus slowly dissipating, feeling that continuing to be a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs wasn¡¯t a bad idea.


    Mahomes noticed the slightly heavy air and stood quietly aside until Li Wei ended the call, then cast an inquiring look.


    Li Wei pondered, ¡°Revis has decided to retire.¡±


    Mahomes was stunned, it was more than just surprise.


    The next day, Revis officially announced his retirement and submitted his retirement application to the League, stirring up a massive uproar.


    Meanwhile, Li Wei, along with Mahomes and Kelsey, returned to Kansas City, where the voluntary training camp was about to begin.

 Chapter 559

    ?Chapter 559: 558 Crisis Awareness Chapter 559: 558 Crisis Awareness The sky was beginning to brighten.


    Above, the inky darkness gradually blended into a light shade of deep blue, framing the distant sunrise on the horizon that quietly woke the sleeping city.


    Tap, tap, tap, tap.


    The rustling of footsteps approached from afar, disturbing the peace within the training base, and the sparrows perched on branches all turned to look as a young man in a white shirt and blue shorts entered their view, his brow dripping with sweat that was transforming into rising steam.


    A hint of early spring chill lingered with each breath he took.


    Li Wei¡¯s biological clock had adjusted to the Watt Training Camp routine.


    He had agreed with Mahomes the night before that today they should get back to their regular training schedule, pushing back their bedtime and wake-up time.


    ...


    But when the time came, his body naturally awakened.


    Since he was already awake, there was no reason to lie in bed and be lazy.


    So, he jogged all the way to the training base.


    In the back of his mind, he was beginning to look forward to the new challenges the upcoming season would bring.


    Hmm?


    Wait.


    There was already someone at the training base.


    Could it be Mahomes?@@@@


    Entering the training field, the figure who was setting up a rope ladder paused at the sound, turned around, and they both froze.


    Li Wei had not expected anyone to arrive earlier than him, an intensity surpassing both himself and Watt.


    The other person had not expected it to be Li Wei either, the newly-crowned Super Bowl MVP at the height of his career, the team¡¯s key player to develop, yet here he was at the voluntary training camp on the very first day, arriving early at the training base.


    There was a moment of surprise, followed by some silence.


    ¡°Good morning, Chris,¡± Li Wei was the first to recover, breaking the silence with a smile and a greeting.


    The tall, muscular man in front of him seemed a bit tense, not responding verbally but politely nodding his head in acknowledgment before returning to focusing on the rope ladder in his hands.


    Chris Jones had joined the team a year before Li Wei, selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round, thirty-seventh overall pick in 2016, as a Defensive Tackle.


    Last year, first-year players like Li Wei and Mahomes, as well as sophomores from the year before, often got together to discuss tactics and train, helping each other out.


    Jones was included in that group.


    However, as a Defensive Tackle, Jones was not part of the same unit as Li Wei in daily routines.


    Plus, whenever Jones was with them, he always seemed a bit slowera?€¡±


    Not slow-witted, but more like a sloth nicknamed ¡°Lightning,¡± habitually sluggish in response, often choosing silence over engagement.


    As a result, the two of them were not particularly close, merely acquaintances who nodded to each other in passing.


    Seeing Jones here now was a bit of a surprise for Li Wei.


    Typically, Defensive Tackles one after the other were like solid mounds of flesh, akin to sumo wrestlers in their day-to-day life.


    One sought to grapple and the other to evade.


    As their arms began to entangle and Jones was about to impose a physical suppression with his size and strength, Li Wei seized an opening.


    He moved forward, colliding with Jones¡¯s shoulder, exerting force, and their bodies shifted past one another.


    Li Wei broke through once more.


    Panting heavily.


    Jones breathed hard, the quick succession of confrontations, although more technical and less about full-force head-on combat, still quickly enveloped his body in a burning sensation.


    Jones glared at Li Wei, his eyes flashing with reluctancea?€¡±


    Once more.


    He wanted to say this, but the words reached his lips, he swallowed them down this time.


    This was the pressing issue he needed to address:


    The stability of his grappling.


    In his freshman year, relying on the recklessness and spirit of a newcomer, his performance was decent.


    Moreover, people tend to be more forgiving towards rookies, so he made it into the nationwide all-rookie team.


    In his sophomore year, however, he suddenly discovered that the grappling techniques that had been effective in college and the previous year were no longer working.


    Even when he managed to grapple his opponents, they often escaped easily.


    This caused a noticeable decline in his performance, starting in only five games that season, appearing otherwise as a rotation player or in the Special Duty Group.


    Before he knew it, his junior year had arrived.


    Pressure built even further, especially after last season, when he witnessed how the rookie Li Wei became a pivotal pillar of the team with his unparalleled performances, becoming a leader both on and off the field.


    To say he wasn¡¯t envious would be a complete lie.


    Jones knew he needed to refine his grappling techniques and fight with all his might for a spot on the team, or the next year would be his last on his rookie contract, leaving him with little time to prove himself and continue to grow.


    A sense of crisis made the Chargers start to buckle down.


    During the off-season, Jones had been practicing grappling and honing his skills.


    He believed he had grown and improved, but in the face of Li Wei, he completely fell aparta?€¡±


    Physically, standing at 6.6 feet (198 centimeters) and weighing 310 pounds (141 kilograms), Jones was certainly two sizes bigger than Li Wei.


    This off-season, he even added more weight and muscle to further strengthen his physical advantage, yet he still utterly collapsed.


    His self-esteem and pride shattered into pieces.


    So, what should he do now?


    Angry and frustrated, regretful and annoyed.


    Jones wanted to turn and walk away but ultimately, he controlled himself.


    He needed to improve and understand what the problem was.

 Chapter 560

    ?Chapter 560: 559 Grappling Skills Chapter 560: 559 Grappling Skills ¡°`


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Although embarrassed, ashamed, and frustrated, Jones still managed to control himself, regain his focus, temporarily set aside his dignity and pride, and return to the game of football.


    He knew that Li Wei always generously offered help; moreover, whether it was the offensive group or the defensive group, Li Wei was always learning new things.


    Not only the rookies who had just entered the league but also veterans like Houston, Johnson, and Berry, who had been in the league for many years, occasionally found themselves at a loss for words when Li Wei asked them questions.


    ¡°Why are you always able to break free from tackles?¡±


    Pausing for a moment, Jones rephrased his question.


    ¡°Why are my tackles always broken?¡±


    Ah, I see.


    Li Wei suddenly realized that in a football team with numerous members, everyone had their own worries and dilemmas, their own challenges and breakthroughs; but the most brutal part of competitive sports is that sometimes, neither talent alone nor effort alone can break through the bottlenecks that still abound.


    This year was Jones¡¯ junior year; if he still couldn¡¯t find his place in the team, they all knew what was likely to happen next.


    ...


    It might not even be necessary to wait for the end of the rookie¡¯s four-year contract; during next year¡¯s offseason, the team might consider looking for other potential paths for Jones.


    To many, the defensive line is just a bunch of brainless meat mountains that rely on physical confrontation, and their game seems to consist of collision, collision, and more collision.


    It is precisely for this reason that the great achievements of Los Angeles Rams Defensive Tackle Aaron Donald and Houston Texans Defensive End JJ Watt come from their strong bodies and outstanding talents; both spend a considerable amount of time in the gym lifting weights, which seems to support such a mindset.


    Of course, this is partially correct; a strong body is crucial for the defensive line and forms the basis of their game.


    But in reality, the technical content of the defensive line is much higher than one might think; they don¡¯t just blindly ram into others in pure confrontation, they also need skillsa?€¡±


    Fundamentally, it is about lowering the center of gravity, maintaining balance, countering force, and using twisting postures to take down the opponent, thus breaking into the pocket to tackle or hit the quarterback.


    All these details are technical, similar to wrestling or sumo.


    They appear to be sheer strength; but in the clash of top experts, techniques beyond strength occupy an important place.


    Besides, there is a critical technical action in tackling, and that is observation; the defensive line needs to observe the opponent¡¯s center of gravity, accurately grab the opponent¡¯s waist or thighs, avoiding confusion from feints, and also avoiding being thrown off by the shift of the center of gravity.


    Things are definitely not that simple.


    Thus, in a game, it is often seen that a tackle that has been supposedly completed can still be escaped.


    Finally, he looked at Li Wei with a blank expression, making one wonder if his brain had crashed, but he eventually spoke up, ¡°What you mean is...¡±


    A pause.


    ¡°Observation and thought?¡±


    Li Wei nodded, ¡°Why not give it a try in practice?


    Before each start and tackle, more precisely, before the kickoff, give yourself some space.¡±


    Jones didn¡¯t respond, just stood there stunned, lost in his thoughts.


    When Mahomes arrived at the training facility, this was the scene he walked into.


    He was greeted by Li Wei¡¯s smile, and the two fist-bumped.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were adjusting your biological clock today?¡± Li Wei asked.


    Mahomes shook his head, ¡°When the time came, I woke up automatically.


    I should ramp up the training today, then tonight, when it¡¯s time, fight the urge to sleep and keep going through the playbook, forcing myself to sleep in a bit tomorrow morning, and spend the evening at your place?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Sure.¡±


    Mahomes sneaked a glance at Jones and said, ¡°How did you manage to crash his system?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°If you like, I can make you crash too.¡±


    Mahomes struggled mightily to stifle his laughter, almost bursting into it.


    Though they had arrived at the training field early, to their surprise, other players were also showing up one after the other, displaying commendable enthusiasma?€¡±


    Especially for the defending champions.


    Then, Kelsey appeared.


    Seeing Li Wei and Mahomes, Kelsey yawned incessantly, continuously waving his hand, ¡°Damn that JJ.¡±


    At that moment, far away in Houston, Watt, who was lifting weights, suddenly sneezed, looked around in confusion, and then continued pumping iron, the clanging sounds like a symphony.


    When Reed arrived at the training base, there were still thirty minutes before the report time, but more than half of the team had already shown up, demonstrating a spirit worthy of praise, which made the coaches quite elated.


    Defending the title, that was a whole new challenge.


    Unintentionally, Li Wei spotted a familiar figure up ahead, mouth agape, face full of astonishment, making no attempt to hide his surprise.

 Chapter 561

    ?Chapter 561: 560 exciting debut Chapter 561: 560 exciting debut ¡°Rookie, you okay?¡± Mahomes was the first to notice Li Wei¡¯s surprise and rarely saw such a vivid expression on Li Wei¡¯s face.


    Laughing, Kelsey chimed in from the side, ¡°He¡¯s probably excited to see the new rookies come in, finally able to properly torment these newcomers.


    He¡¯s so happy his brain can¡¯t keep up.¡±


    Li Wei finally snapped out of it, his face calm, ¡°Yeah, just like someone was preparing to teach the newcomers a lesson on the first day of training camp last year.¡±


    Pfft, hahaha.


    As memories reawakened, laughter erupted around them, one after another gibing Kelsey, who spread his hands in a resigned mockery of himself, ready to take the jests lying down.


    In the midst of the noise, Li Wei¡¯s attention was instantly drawn to Huntera?€¡±


    Hunter was staring at him with a strange, piercing gaze as if he wanted to burn a hole in his face.


    It wasn¡¯t easy to ignore.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t look away, he looked back frankly, smiled, waved, as if facing fans.


    ...


    Hunter shifted his gaze away, probably also recalling the first day of last year¡¯s training camp, which had set the tone for the entire season, and he looked a bit uncomfortable.


    Turning his attention from Hunter, Coach Reed was ready to speak, and it was clear to anyone with eyes that there were new faces in the coaching teama?€¡±


    This off-season, not just the players, but the Super Bowl Champions Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ coaching staff were also in the crosshairs.


    Nagy, the Offensive Coordinator, who took over the play-calling duties mid-season last year, performed brilliantly, just like Pederson back in the day.


    Reed gave opportunities, they seized them firmly, and shone brightly; plus, with the halo of being Super Bowl Champions, it wasn¡¯t surprising other teams reached out with offers.


    This time, it was the Chicago Bears, with the head coach seat waiting to be filled.


    Nagy was also a direct disciple of Reed¡¯s.


    By the way, team manager Veach, Offensive Coordinator Nagy, former Offensive Coordinator Pederson, and so ona?€¡±they were all Reed¡¯s direct disciples.


    Their first jobs in the NFL were all with the Philadelphia Eagles, assisting the then-head coach Reed, working together for more than a decade.


    So when Reed came to Kansas City from Philadelphia, they all followed, transforming the league¡¯s bottom-dwelling, draft-first Kansas City Chiefs into a competitive team in the AFC West, step by step.


    Whether Nagy or Veach, they had all once assumed different positions in Reed¡¯s team, exploring while finding the right fit for themselves.


    Veach, in the end, became the team manager.


    Nagy, like Pederson, aspired to become the head coach of a team.


    This time he finally got his chance, and both Reed and Veach offered him their blessings, even actively helping Nagy to secure this positiona?€¡±@@@@


    Nagy succeeded.


    Now, Nagy had already assumed his post in Chicago; however, this also meant that the Kansas City Chiefs coaching staff had to adjust.


    From another angle, with the starting quarterback changing this year and the tactical system needing a complete overhaul, replacing the Offensive Coordinator might be a good thing.


    ¡°...Starting today, Coach Bieniemy will take over as Offensive Coordinator.¡±


    I¡¯m worried Eric and Andy are eyeing me with jealousy right now.¡±


    To the side, Bieniemy¡¯s voice promptly rang out, ¡°Burton, I¡¯m watching you, be careful.¡±


    The atmosphere instantly lightened up.


    Li Wei turned to look at Bieniemy, ¡°Coach Bieniemy, I¡¯ll add thirty minutes to my training today.¡±


    Bieniemy retorted, ¡°You just seem happier with extra training, don¡¯t you?


    How about this, you train thirty minutes less instead, and help me with the Offensive group¡¯s fitness training?¡±


    Oh.


    A wave of protest and complaints came from the crowd.


    Li Wei turned back around, ¡°I was planning to refuse since training less doesn¡¯t add up for me, but now it seems...


    Coach Bieniemy, I have no problem with it.¡±


    More protests and bursts of laughter ensued, the mood becoming incredibly lively.


    The free agents and rookie players who had just joined the team were all confused and unable to adapt.


    A short distance away, the undrafted rookies waiting for their chance at the mini-camp looked on with envy.


    They had not found jobs at the draft and now had to rely on the team¡¯s private camps, hoping to seize an opportunity to become a member of the Professional League.


    Otherwise, they would have to head to Canada or Europe to play, or else give up Football completely.


    Burns patted Li Wei¡¯s shoulder again, his face full of pride.


    He wasn¡¯t surprised at Li Wei¡¯s success, for he was the gem he had unearthed himself; however, seeing Li Wei¡¯s rapid growth over just one season still made him puff up with satisfaction.


    ¡°Have you gained some weight?


    Won¡¯t that affect your agility and flexibility?¡± Burns¡¯s sharp eyes caught the change immediately.


    Last year during the offseason, Li Wei seemed to have slimmed down a bit, having a tauter and fitter appearance.


    This year, however, Li Wei looked slightly more robust, having not only put on muscle mass but also likely gained weight.


    Li Wei began to laugh, ¡°Actually, no.


    It¡¯s just last year I lost weight, and this year I¡¯ve trained it back.


    Now, my weight is about the same as when I was at the Crimson Tide Storm.¡±


    While the numbers on the scale might be similar, the quality was different, with an increase in muscle mass.


    Burns quickly understood, ¡°You¡¯re increasing your physicality?


    Good timing, I was discussing with Nick just recently that you should start enhancing from there, especially since everyone this year is likely to come at you gritting their teeth even harder, the level of confrontation will be different.¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°The training issues, we¡¯ll discuss those over the next few months, but Coach, how did you end up here?


    Did Coach Saban finally let you go?¡±

 Chapter 562

    ?Chapter 562: 561 Reunion with mentor Chapter 562: 561 Reunion with mentor Last season in the NCAA, the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm won the nationwide championship by a field goal in overtime against the University of Georgia Bulldogs, achieving a glorious three-peat and establishing their dynasty once again.


    It was extremely regrettable that running back Jacobs lost to quarterback Mayfield in the Heisman Trophy voting, failing to accomplish the unprecedented feat of a running back winning three consecutive times, but Alabama was indeed at its peak.


    Everything was on the right track.


    Next, the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm prepared to go for a fourth consecutive championship.


    So, when Li Wei saw Burns in the coaching staff, he was happy, but his first reaction was of surprise and astonishment.


    After all, Burns, as a core member of the coaching team who had been with Saban for over twelve years, must have received countless invitations from other NCAA teams and from the professional league, yet Burns was a man without ambition, harboring no extravagant hopes for a head coach position, always content with the status quo.


    Now, he appeared here unexpectedly!


    ...


    So, what had happened?


    Just moments ago, Burns had brought up Saban himself, yet he hadn¡¯t expected that now, when Li Wei mentioned Saban, Burns would turn pale without warning.


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me about him, that guy has lost his mind.¡±


    Li Wei: ...


    Seeing the astounded look on Li Wei¡¯s face, Burns quickly reined in his reaction, realizing he had frightened the kid; he glanced around at the other coaches and players of the Kansas City Chiefs and hurriedly controlled his temper.


    Originally, Burns wanted Li Wei to go directly to training without bothering with other distractions, but then he considered that Li Wei wasn¡¯t an ordinary kid and probably wouldn¡¯t be easily sidetracked.


    If he continued to hide the situation, and rumors reached Li Wei¡¯s ears, it would be worse.


    Thus.


    Burns gestured to the front, ¡°Lead the way and show me around.¡±


    They talked as they walked.


    ¡°Sigh.¡±@@@@


    Burns sighed lightly, explaining as briefly as possible.


    Midway through the last season, the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm maintained their winning streak, but Saban¡¯s health became an issue, nearly being hospitalized for heart problems.


    He realized that the stress of the field was breaking his body down.


    And his energy was waning.


    Throughout the past season, the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm, despite continuous victories and maintaining their advantage, stumbled along, facing numerous challenges.


    At that time, Saban thought he should bow out while ahead, at the peak of his career.


    Saban was now sixty-eight years old, well past the age of retirement.


    He had set countless records at the NCAA and now stood atop an unsurpassable peak.


    Rather than being dismissed disgracefully downhill, it was better to leave a respectable legacy at a time of glory.


    To this, Burns agreeda?€¡±


    Burns was only a year younger than Saban, at sixty-seven.


    This severed Burns¡¯s last bit of attachment and he turned to leave.


    And the Crimson Tide Storm unfolded just as expected.


    The announcement of Saban¡¯s decision to stay caused an earthquake.


    But Saban showed his decisive and ruthless side, cleaning out most of the coaching team.


    Amid the ruins, he rebuilt the coaching team and the University of Alabama entered the preparation for the new season before more chaos ensued.


    As Burns said, in the NCAA, Saban was the king high above all.


    Meanwhile, Burns, now idle at home and settling into retirement, though constantly receiving invitations, turned them all down until the Kansas City Chiefs urgently needed a running back coach following a shake-up within the coaching staff, and Veach personally visited Burns.


    No one knew what Veach said to Burns.


    Burns didn¡¯t plan to tell Li Wei either.


    But from the satisfied look Burns gave Li Wei, maybe one could glimpse some truth.


    ¡°...Coach, are you sure it¡¯s okay?¡± Li Wei couldn¡¯t hide his concern, ¡°Coach Saban was just impulsive.


    He might regret it too.¡±


    Burns waved his hand, ¡°Kid, life is short.


    I don¡¯t want to waste time on regrets and hesitation.¡±


    Seeing that Li Wei wanted to speak, Burns already changed the topic, ¡°Let¡¯s see this year, how we should properly utilize your abilities.¡±


    ¡°So, what all did you train during the off-season?¡±


    Burns was still Burns; the topic of running backs made his eyes sparkle like a child, full of sincerity that never faded.


    Talking while scrutinizing Li Wei closely, he seemed eager to begin training; but likewise, he was immersed in his world, thoroughly lost to it.


    He had asked Li Wei, yet didn¡¯t allow Li Wei the chance to respond.


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s right, there¡¯s also a surprise.¡±


    Li Wei: Another one?


    ¡°Ronnie, hey, Ronnie, aren¡¯t you going to greet an old buddy?¡±


    Following Burns¡¯s gaze, Li Wei saw a figure.


    He was slightly taken aback.


    Sunlight, falling straight on, piercing into the eyes, causing a sharp pain, his eyes felt warm.


    It was definitely because the sun was too dazzling.


    His nose felt a bit sour, but the smile still quietly crept up to his lips and bloomed fully, looking at the figure in front with a restrained smile and a touch of unease.


    ¡°Hey, master, it seems, in the end, you¡¯ve chosen a road of no return.¡±


    Ha.


    Ronnie Clark couldn¡¯t hold it in, and his laughter burst forth from his chest.

 Chapter 563

    ?Chapter 563: 562 The Dream Returns Chapter 563: 562 The Dream Returns ¡°Rookie, what should I do?


    Which direction should I run?¡±


    ¡°Champion, ah, we are the champions!¡±


    ¡°After next season ends, I will officially say goodbye to the football field.¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t know either, maybe I¡¯ll become a real estate agent or a plumber.¡±


    ¡°I still believe in dreams, but...


    about football dreams, I¡¯ve persevered long enough, fought hard enough, achieved what should have been achieved, and as for those that haven¡¯t been realized, I¡¯ll leave them as a memory.¡±@@@@


    ¡°Even if I change tracks, I can still keep moving forward.¡±


    ¡°Have you forgotten?


    I¡¯m also a member of the Crimson Tide Storm.¡±


    ¡°Roar, Crimson Tide.¡±


    The memories are still vivid.


    Back then, standing at the crossroads of life, graduating from college to entering society, they needed to grow up, face life, and make choices, stepping forward into an unknown tomorrow with confusion and bewilderment.


    No one knew where time would sweep them off to.


    They did not know if they would meet again, nor what they would look like or what situation they would be in when they did meet, so they scattered to the ends of the earth.


    ...


    Untila?€¡±


    When he saw Clark again, Li Wei was completely taken by surprise, even more excited and moved than when he saw Coach Burns.


    Clark had never left football, never gave up believing in dreams, never set aside his dignity and pride to blandly blend into the mediocrity and apathy, ultimately returning to the embrace of his dreams in his own way, at his own pace.


    ¡°Hey, rookie.¡±


    Clark¡¯s voice trembled slightly, but he still mustered the courage to stand tall, proudly showing his smile, and waved to Li Wei.


    When he saw Li Wei fighting with all his might on the TV screen, when he saw the combative spirit and menacing aura in Li Wei¡¯s eyes, when he saw Li Wei standing in a desperate situation still refusing to give up.


    He knew, the dream of football still burned fiercely in his chest.


    Maybe, he couldn¡¯t step onto the field as a player to continue the fight; but that didn¡¯t mean the dream couldn¡¯t be realized, he could become a coach, continuing his football dream in another way.


    So.


    He became Burns¡¯s assistant, starting from zero, learning the transformation from football player to football coach, and opening the door to a whole new worlda?€¡±


    Dreams make life bearable.


    But neither Clark nor Burns had anticipated such a reunion, once again gathering together with Li Wei in the NFL.


    Time flies.


    Kelsey, ¡°Hey, guys, this is the master who pulled the rookie from mixed martial arts to football.¡±


    Wow!


    ¡°So, this gentleman is the mastermind behind all the tough times we¡¯ve been through.¡±


    A playful remark made everyone around burst into laughter.


    Until the crowd dispersed and everyone began warming up, Hunter couldn¡¯t hold back and stealthily approached Li Wei, whispering a comment.


    ¡°Rookie, what do you think?¡±


    Li Wei: ?


    Hunter, visibly irritable, ¡°Bell.


    He didn¡¯t go to the training camp today.


    What¡¯s your stance?¡±


    So that was ita?€¡±


    Le¡¯Veon Bell, his contract renewal negotiations with the Pittsburgh Steelers had reached a stalemate.


    Among the numerous quarterback headlines this off-season, the conflict between Bell and the Pittsburgh Steelers hadn¡¯t attracted much attention since both parties were still at the negotiating table.


    Sometimes the Steelers claimed progress was going well, other times there were leaks that Bell was dissatisfied with the conditions; the rumors, both true and false, flew all over the place, continuously tugging at the heartstrings of Steelers fans.


    Running backs were also paying attention.


    Just like the quarterbacks, once a quarterback managed to break the ceiling of the highest annual salary, it meant other quarterbacks could follow suit.


    So when Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings signed a fully guaranteed contract, all the quarterbacks in the league were watching.


    The same logic applied to running backs now.


    If Bell could break the heavy prejudice weighing on running backs¡¯ heads and secure a major contract, other running backs would inevitably be able to quickly follow suit, completely changing the passive situation of running backs in the salary market.


    All eyes, gathered.


    Hunter was no exception.


    Today, the voluntary training camp opened, every Kansas City Chiefs player attended, not a single one was missing, indirectly proving that Veach¡¯s off-season work was going smoothly; but the Pittsburgh Steelers could no longer keep the news under wraps.


    Because Bell¡¯s absence from the training camp declared his stance in such a manner.


    The conflict, out in the open.


    Although all sorts of reports had been flying around before and endless speculations were heard, it was only now that it really came to light.


    Now, the stalemate between the Steelers and their star running back was laid bare under the broad daylight, the entire league watching, constantly observing the movements.


    No wonder, from the start of the training camp today, Hunter¡¯s expression had been quite strange.


    Clearly, Hunter too was restless and ready to move.

 Chapter 564

    ?Chapter 564: 563 Undercurrents surging Chapter 564: 563 Undercurrents surging This offseason, aside from Cousins¡¯s fully guaranteed contract, Smith¡¯s transfer to join the Washington Redskins, and the Green Bay Packers¡¯ contract extension negotiations with Rodgers, what industry insiders are most concerned about is Bell¡¯s contract.


    The reason lies ina?€¡±


    Running back.


    Ever since his rookie season proved he had earned the starting position, Bell has been the most dominant running back in the league, averaging more than four yards per carry for four consecutive seasons; in the 2013 season, he rushed for 860 yards in thirteen games, and despite playing only six games due to injury in 2015, he still rushed for 556 yards, surpassing one thousand yards on the ground in the other three seasons.


    Without a doubt, Bell is the best and most stable running back since Peterson.


    It¡¯s not just about the numbers, only those who have truly faced Bell on the field can feel the dominance displayed by this young running back.


    And furthermore,


    In the 2017 season, the Los Angeles Rams¡¯s Gurley and the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯s Li Wei both demonstrated top-level dominance, highlighting the role of running backs, especially with the Chiefsa?€¡±who didn¡¯t regard their quarterback as corea?€¡±securing the Super Bowl Championship, suggesting novel possibilities.


    Perhaps, the role of running backs has more potential than imagined.


    ...


    So, can running backs strive for top salaries?


    As of the 2018 offseason, a quarterback¡¯s annual salary is about to break through thirty million US dollars, and even quarterbacks like Cousins, who aren¡¯t considered top of the league, can secure an annual salary of twenty-eight million US dollars.


    What about running backs?


    This offseason, two top running backs are both in negotiation for contract extensions.


    One is the Los Angeles Rams¡¯s Gurley, who eventually signed a four-year, sixty million US dollar contract, with a guaranteed forty-five million US dollars, making him the highest-paid running back in history with an annual salary of fifteen million US dollars.


    What historical significance does Gurley¡¯s contract hold?


    First, he surpassed the seven-year, ninety-six million US dollar contract Peterson had signed with the Minnesota Vikings, raising the annual salary by a significant margin.


    Secondly, the forty-five million US dollar guarantee also surpassed Peterson¡¯s thirty-six million, marking a new beginning for veteran running backs.


    Lastly, in the league this year, the second highest-paid running back is Devonta Freeman of the Atlanta Falcons, with an annual salary of only eight million eight hundred thousand US dollars, meaning Gurley is the only running back to have an annual salary over ten million US dollars.


    Despite this, Gurley¡¯s annual salary in the NFL only ranks forty-third, and the gap is even more apparent when compared to quarterbacks.


    Nevertheless, Gurley still managed to secure a significant contract for running backs.@@@@


    The other is the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯s Bell.


    The league is watching and waiting, and even Gurley has received such treatmenta?€¡±does this mean Bell could potentially break the ceiling further?


    However,


    It didn¡¯t happen.


    ¡°Of course I support him,¡± Li Wei said without beating around the bush.


    Hunter glanced at Li Wei, slightly surprised, but after thinking about it, he looked away, ¡°Would you be willing to publicly support him?¡±


    No matter whether Hunter liked Li Wei or not, as the new Super Bowl MVP and the most outstanding running back of the last season in the league, Li Wei¡¯s words naturally carried different weight.


    Therefore, he suppressed his irritation and dissatisfaction and continued to ask.


    Li Wei nodded, ¡°Of course.¡±


    At that moment, duty called, and Li Wei knew he needed to step up.


    But that wasn¡¯t all, ¡°At the same time, we need to focus on training.


    You should know, we are just sophomores in the league, our influence is still not enough.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t just second-year running backs, second-year quarterbacks were in the same boat.


    ¡°The best support and endorsement is to prove your worth on the field.


    If more and more outstanding running backs emerge, playing roles that change the game, and the focus on running backs grows, only then will our voices be heard.¡±


    ¡°Rather than hoping that some team owners would put aside their interests and take the first step, it¡¯s better to focus on ourselves, to believe in ourselves, to rely on our strength to change the game...¡±


    And then, take advantage of public opinion to build momentum.


    Indeed, this is a Professional League where interests come first; but at the same time, it is also competitive sports, and there isn¡¯t anything a championship trophy can¡¯t fix.


    If that doesn¡¯t work?


    Then two trophies.


    As long as there are enough victories, fans, the media, professionals, and the league will see and form a collective voice, completely changing the difficult situation for running backs.


    But.


    Hunter didn¡¯t have the patience to wait for Li Wei to continue, and interrupted abruptly, ¡°Naive.¡±


    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s that simple?


    That we can just change the game?


    Even if we change the outcome, the media will say it was the quarterback¡¯s doing, and the team owners will fail to see our efforts.¡±


    ¡°We still need a leader.


    Gurley has already taken a step, and next it¡¯s Bell.¡±


    ¡°As long as Bell can take this step, our voices will be heard.¡±

 Chapter 565

    ?Chapter 565: Differences of Opinion 564 Chapter 565: Differences of Opinion 564 ¡°We still need a leader...¡±


    To be precise, both Li Wei and Hunter shared the same stance, but their focuses were slightly different:


    Not only did they need the running backs to unite as a powerful group to overturn the prejudices of the League with their performance on the field, but they also needed a leader who would stand up, raise an arm, and confront the team and the League.


    Only in this way could the disadvantaged status of running backs be changed in modern Football, which is dominated by passing offenses, and perhaps even alter the composition of offensive strategies.


    Both elements were indispensable.


    The difference lay in that Li Wei believed in building momentum first, relying on the collective strength to create a situation, and then pushing leaders to speak out, whereas Hunter thought there was no time to lose and that they should seize the opportunity to support Bell in applying pressure to the team now.


    To some extent, both were correct; it was only a matter of different strategies.


    Li Wei tried to communicate with Hunter, but Hunter was extremely impatient.@@@@


    ¡°Now.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s right now!¡±


    Being too excited, his voice grew a bit louder.


    ...


    Hunter quickly glanced around, immediately lowered his voice, closed the distance, and his speed of speech became as rapid and urgent as gunshots.


    ¡°We need to support Bell, we need to unite behind Bell.


    We need to seize the opportunity.¡±


    ¡°The League doesn¡¯t care about running backs at all.


    For the sake of ratings, they keep promoting passing, passing, passing, completely abandoning Football¡¯s ground game, hoping to make the matches more and more glamorous.


    They continuously hype the status of the quarterback, not to mention running backs; even the defensive group is thoroughly ignored.¡±


    ¡°In the world of soccer, winning with defense is called an ugly victory; in the world of Football, the League doesn¡¯t even bother to mention the defensive group.¡±


    ¡°Running back?¡±


    ¡°Nonexistent.¡±


    ¡°During this offseason, people are following Smith, Cousins, Rodgers, but what about the news focusing on Bell?


    It¡¯s all about criticizing him for his greed; my God, he just doesn¡¯t want to be tagged with a franchise tag for the second consecutive year.


    Pittsburgh is using him like a dog, dumping all the dirty and tiring work on him, yet stingily withholding even a bone.¡±


    ¡°No one cares, understand?¡±


    ¡°No one!¡±


    ¡°If we don¡¯t speak up for him, he¡¯ll be left out there alone, isolated, facing the League¡¯s onslaught.¡±


    The other is the guaranteed money.


    First-round picks are often called ¡°Golden Boys¡± because their contracts usually come with full guarantees, with only a few exceptions; but starting from the second round, there is a glaring difference in the amount of guaranteed money.


    For second-round rookies, for example, their guaranteed money decreases over time, with 50% in the first year and possibly just 25% by the fourth year, with tons of performance clauses in the contract that, if one is not careful, could diminish wages significantly.


    And with third-round rookies, fourth-round rookies, it decreases progressively thereafter.


    That¡¯s why teams can often cut these rookies from the second round onwards without worrying about the impact on the salary cap in their third or fourth year; but since first-round contracts are fully guaranteed and take up the salary cap, teams have to be cautious when making decisions.


    At this year¡¯s draft, Lamar Jackson was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the thirty-second pick of the first round at the last minute, the turmoil in his heart can only be imagined.


    Li Wei was a first-round pick.


    Hunter was drafted in the third round.


    This meant that the risks they would face in the future were completely different.


    Even though it¡¯s just their second year, Hunter was already growing restless, needing to plan for himself, because the second and third years were crucial.


    So, Li Wei could understand Hunter¡¯s anxiety.


    Buta?€¡±


    The communication was not successful; Hunter just dumped his thoughts and rambled on, ignoring Li Wei¡¯s opinions, and turned away.


    Li Wei was somewhat helpless.


    From another perspective, if Hunter did things his way and Li Wei did things his way, that was fine too; otherwise, neither could persuade the other.


    Sure enough.


    At the end of the first day of training camp, a flock of reporters swarmed the University of Missouri training base in the small town of Saint Joseph.


    The players were somewhat surprised, and Houston even made a rare joke, ¡°It seems that the treatment for defending champions is indeed different.¡±


    Amid laughter, reporters eagerly called out for Hunter and Li Wei, and some of those quick on the uptake immediately understood what was happening.


    Hunter looked back deeply at Li Wei, then confidently walked towards the reporters; Mahomes and Kelsey were completely puzzled as they looked at Li Wei, but now was not the best time to explain.


    Hunter went all out, holding nothing backa?€¡±


    Not only did he criticize the League for stigmatizing running backs, but he also accused the teams of not valuing them enough.


    Top running backs like Gurley and Bell had to beg for contracts worth only half as much as Cousins¡¯ contract, an insult that everyone needed to face up to this farce.


    Radical, sharp, bold, crazy.


    As Hunter said, he seized the moment.

 Chapter 566

    ?Chapter 566: Spring wind and rain Chapter 566: Spring wind and rain A stir rippled through the crowd.@@@@


    Whether media journalists or Chieftain players, everyone fell into shock under Hunter¡¯s indiscriminate barrage, their mouths agape and eyes wide.


    Clearly, this was unexpecteda?€¡±


    After all, this was only the spring training camp, attended voluntarily.


    Each year, players would skip spring training to posture for better contracts, forcing teams to negotiate, but it wasn¡¯t something to make a fuss about.


    The real issue would be the mandatory summer training camp, which everyone had to attend.


    Missing that would be a declaration of war, with both players and teams preparing for the worst in full alert.


    ...


    At the moment, the situation between Bell and the Pittsburgh Steelers was tense, and that was a fact; but Bell had only missed the spring training, and neither the media nor anyone else were ringing alarm bells just yet.


    Escalation needed to happen gradually.


    However.


    Right off the bat, Hunter had detonated a bomb, adopting a do-or-die stance that pushed the atmosphere to its limit and tensions soared instantly.


    A bombshell!


    An absolute bombshell!


    One could almost feel the shockwaves rippling outward.


    Veach, who was just turning to head back to his office, was stopped by the coaching staff informing him of the commotion at the entrance of the training facility.


    His mind blew up and his ears rang, drenching his back with cold sweat.


    Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers were thrust into the spotlight to handle a tricky situation, the full-guarantee contract between Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings making other teams sensitive, shifting all eyes toward Bell¡¯s running back contract, putting immense pressure on the Steelers, whose managers were relieved they weren¡¯t the ones facing the problem.


    But who would have thought that a lone assassin would emerge within the defending champion team?


    One could imagine, the Kansas City Chiefs would soon be dragged into the storm; moreover, they also had another top running back in the limelight, making Veach¡¯s scalp tingle just thinking about it.


    Damn.


    Damn damn damn damn damn!


    Safeties merely need to stand sincerely far back, beyond twenty yards from the scrimmage line, guarding the mid-field area; quarterbacks then automatically find ways to avoid risky deep passes.


    Naturally, the tactical function gap between top-level safeties and ordinary safeties has become smaller, and what¡¯s more often tested now is the safeties¡¯ ability to start from a deep position and defend ground attacks or tackle wide receivers in the mid-and-short pass zones, while safeties like Earl Thomas of the Seattle Seahawks, who could tightly cover individuals and single-handedly dominate the deep field, are becoming rarer.


    The decline in safeties¡¯ abilities naturally leads to a decline in their value.


    Moreover, at the turn of the century, safeties were synonymous with forceful impacts, their powerful hitting abilities making wide receivers tremble; but over the years, as league rules increasingly protect offensive players, not just quarterbacks but also wide receivers, the hands of safeties are tied, and impact-style safeties are almost vanishing.


    Indeed, some cornerbacks, after their peak periods and when their physical capabilities significantly declined, switched from playing cornerback to safety, which is also indicative of the trend.


    Currently, in high schools and colleges, most young people with exceptional physical talents choose to play cornerback instead of safety.


    Today, the annual salaries of safeties are about the same as those of running backsa?€¡±


    even slightly lower on average than those of running backs.


    In other words, both safeties and running backs are the result of a league that focuses on the passing offense.


    That is, the plight of the running back is not an isolated phenomenon.


    The focus shifted back to Li Wei.


    A brief statement that was enormously informative.


    Perhaps laymen may not feel any special way, but the difference is stark in the ears of professionals.


    Veach paused slightly, no longer rushing to continue.


    Faced with the swarming circle of reporters, Li Wei remained composed, managing to converse with ease and humor.


    ¡°Of course, Bell¡¯s excellence doesn¡¯t need my acknowledgment or praise, as it is evident to everyone, and no one understands this better than the Pittsburgh Steelers,¡±


    ¡°Coach Tomlin has on multiple occasions publicly expressed his admiration and approval, owning a remarkable team with an excellent lineup.¡±


    ¡°So, I believe the Pittsburgh Steelers will offer Bell fair and equitable treatment, and I trust that the Pittsburgh Steelers will provide a top player with the treatment he deserves.¡±


    With a smile, as refreshing as a spring breeze.


    One moment caught in Hunter¡¯s rapid storm, the next calmed and brightened by Li Wei¡¯s refreshing manner.


    Is this normal?

 Chapter 567

    ?Chapter 567: Draw calamity eastward Chapter 567: Draw calamity eastward ¡°`


    Hubbub.


    On the first day of the voluntary spring training camp, the defending champions Kansas City Chiefs firmly captured the spotlight and became the focus of attention.


    On one hand, due to Hunter¡¯s outspoken explosive remarks, running backs were put in opposition with the team and the League, creating an atmosphere that immediately became tense like drawn swords and ready crossbows.


    On the other hand, Li Wei¡¯s tactful response not only supported Bell but also cleverly shifted the controversy and chaos entirely onto the Pittsburgh Steelers.


    Clearly, Li Wei was also pressuring the Pittsburgh Steelers but in a more sophisticated and subtle mannera?€¡±


    Laud to Kill.


    An overt scheme, using praise and affirmation to push the Steelers into the spotlight, wholeheartedly believing Tomlin would make the right decision, outwardly aligning with the Steelers¡¯ official response, but the real message being conveyed was as if roasting the Steelers over a fire.


    The naive and innocent expression ¡°Trust the Pittsburgh Steelers¡± left the Steelers with no choice but to greet people with a smile amidst their twitching corners of mouths.


    ...


    Moreover,


    The real brilliance of Li Wei¡¯s strategy was not simply in pitting quarterbacks against running backs, nor was he preparing to turn running backs against other players who were also competing for salaries.


    On the contrary, he secured an alliance for running backs, uniting players to fight for their interests,


    Subtly and casually, Li Wei reminded everyone that not only running backs were being marginalized and stigmatized but so were safeties and linemen.


    Behind the League¡¯s single-minded pursuit of commercial benefits, offensive and defensive tactics for teams were undergoing massive changes due to rule alterations, such that the status and value of players in different positions were passively transformed, consequently facing various predicaments a?€¡° situations that everyone needed to confront.


    Today it¡¯s Bell, but what about tomorrow?


    Today it¡¯s the running back, but who is next?


    Who can guarantee that they won¡¯t be the next ones to be ignored, harmed, or ¡®optimized¡¯?


    At least, safeties and linemen have gradually begun to feel the crisis.


    Li Wei planted a seed and quietly waited for it to take root and sprout; the next steps, even just a tilt in opinions or a change in stance, could serve as a force to change the situation for running backs.


    At this moment, they needed to unite all possible forcesa?€¡±


    Players with players, they are real comrades on the same front.


    What appeared to be light and casual dismissals was in fact a masterful control of the entire situation.


    However.


    Things couldn¡¯t be resolved overnight; the tug-of-war negotiations between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Bell would need more time, and the waves continued.


    An exception was that Li Wei¡¯s momentum had risen again, climbing steadily after finishing as the second in regular-season MVP voting and becoming Super Bowl MVP, this young rookie running back was earning more and more recognition, no longer just seen differently by the League because of his Asian identity.


    Just last month, Forbes released its 2017 NFL player income rankings.


    In it, Li Wei forcefully entered the top five.


    He was not only the only rookie in the top ten but also the only running backa?€¡±the other nine were all quarterbacks.


    Imagine this, Li Wei¡¯s rookie salary was a mere eight million US dollars, yet he surpassed a host of veterans and his own draft¡¯s first and second picks, rocketing into this list.


    What, then, was the reason?


    Endorsements.


    According to Forbes¡¯ estimates, even though Li Wei¡¯s camp had not disclosed the detailed figures for each endorsement contract, they believed his endorsement earnings had easily surpassed thirty million US dollars; moreover, during this offseason, a series of contracts were being negotiated.


    His Asian identity, rookie experience, coupled with a Super Bowl Champion ringa?€¡±everything contributed to Li Wei¡¯s continuously soaring value, showing no signs of stopping.


    Now, it could be seen that sponsors were waving checks around, eager to get Li Wei¡¯s attention, competing to deliver their checks to his doorstep.


    With just endorsements alone, Li Wei had already surpassed players like Brady, Brees, Watt, and become the current number one in the League, far ahead.


    Ultimately, on the Forbes list, a scene like this appeared.


    First place, Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks quarterback.


    Second place, Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback.


    Third place, Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints quarterback.


    Fourth place, Tom Brady, New England Patriots quarterback.


    Fifth place, Li Wei, Kansas City Chiefs running back.


    Sixth place, Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers quarterback.


    The style was slightly unusual, with an ¡°odd one out¡± clearly visible at a glance.


    In other words, this was enough to make Li Wei the target of envy and resentment in the eyes of others; yet, the reality was slightly different.


    Li Wei was shedding the label of his Asian identity and the influence of Goodell¡¯s official endorsement, establishing his own genuine place in the League.

 Chapter 568

    ?Chapter 568: 567 Strategic Alliance Chapter 568: 567 Strategic Alliance Memory is a recent thing, just last September and October, when Li Wei burst onto the scene, promoted heavily by the League.


    He was thrust into the spotlight, sparking considerable controversy.


    Beyond the envious and jealous looks were plenty of disdain and exclusiona?€¡±


    Professional status isn¡¯t built on flattery or handed out based on political correctness without hard work, it should be earned through struggle in game after game.


    In the blink of an eye, the Super Bowl curtain fell, and the offseason kicked off in full swing.


    Li Wei once again stood under the spotlight, and he could clearly feel the changing atmosphere in the League.


    Whether in support of Bell or on the Forbes list, the voices of agreement and recognition kept rising.


    This meant that Li Wei had finally won a place for himself through concrete actions.


    ...


    It also meant that in the next season, Li Wei would have no rookie bonuses or dark horse advantages.


    All opponents would treat him with the highest regard and engage in confrontation, even tilting tactics to focus on him.


    The real test was just beginninga?€¡±


    Countless rookies have to face this hurdle.


    They rely on their talent by taking advantage of opponents¡¯ unfamiliarity and underestimation in their rookie season.


    But stepping into their sophomore year, the opponents are prepared and make targeted adjustments, and these young men find that the situation is not as they imagined, hitting a bottleneck and experiencing a significant decline in their performance on the field.


    This is the ¡°rookie wall¡±.@@@@


    So, is Li Wei¡¯s rookie wall coming?


    New challenges unfold.


    Here, the offseason training, adjustments, and integration proceed in an orderly manner.


    The defending Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, quickly settled after the transfer of starting quarterback Smith.


    They went through the quarterback handover methodically, and with Li Wei¡¯s help, the offensive group quickly got into form, announcing the start of the Mahomes era.


    There, the League¡¯s offseason news continued to buzz, turmoil far from settling down.


    Contract negotiations between the League¡¯s two top stars and their teams both reached a deadlock a?€¡° one being Bell and the other Green Bay Packers¡¯ quarterback Rodgers.


    Unlike Bell, the fundamental problem with Rodgers¡¯ contract renewal was his injuries.


    The quarterback missed most of the 2017 season due to two injuries at different times, and although not ruled out for the season, it was nearly as bad.


    The Green Bay Packers missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008, raising many questions in the team.


    Unexpected yet understandable, Li Wei didn¡¯t shy away from interviews.


    ¡°...In my view, it¡¯s a regrettable situation for both sides.¡±


    ¡°A top-quality player is unable to come to a decision, his voice ignored, his demands rejected, his worth denied.


    He might have had the opportunity to pass the ball and bring more glory to the team, but now, everything is uncertain.¡±


    ¡°Undoubtedly, there¡¯s an issue here that merits our in-depth discussion.¡±


    To hint without elaborating, yet the implication was profound.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t push the running back against the quarterback or other players, focusing instead on Bell himself, painting a picture of a champion¡¯s potential ascent to greatness.


    He detached from the ongoing contract renewal talks between Bell and the Steelers and roped in the similarly struggling Green Bay Packers and Rodgers, subtly but pointedly directing the blame at the league.


    Those rules.


    The league, in its pursuit of viewership and advertising revenue, modified rules time and again, triggering a domino effect that rendered players the victims.


    Indeed, all this was unnecessary.


    Li Wei¡¯s remarks once again sparked heated debate.


    Social networks were abuzz with a cacophony of opinions, many sympathizing with Bell¡¯s plight.


    Regrettably and frustratingly, Brown, as a teammate, didn¡¯t support Bell.


    Not only did he not support Bell, but he also voiced the team¡¯s stance; on the other hand, Li Wei, an opponent, showed real breadth of spirit and stancea?€¡±


    Last season, Brown succeeded in extending his contract with the Steelers, hence he stood by the team; but did Brown truly believe that Bell¡¯s predicament would not affect him?


    At least, that¡¯s what Brown seemed to think for now.


    Then.


    Li Wei received a text from an unknown number on his cell phone.


    ¡°Thanks, buddy.


    I¡¯m still fighting, the tough nut to crack refusing to compromise.


    I¡¯ve had enough of this crap.


    I need them to hear my voice and other running backs¡¯ voices as well.


    I will not surrender.


    Le¡¯Veon.¡±

 Chapter 569

    ?Chapter 569: 568 Both Friend and Foe Chapter 569: 568 Both Friend and Foe Le¡¯Veon Bell admitted that when he last contacted Li Wei after a game, he had a personal interest in mind.


    He was frustrated for the entire season due to being forced to sign the franchise tag contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers and knew that he might again face negotiation problems during the offseason.


    He needed to unite more strength to truly make the voices of running backs heard.


    At that time, Bell hadn¡¯t anticipated that Li Wei would actually make it to the end and ultimately succeed.


    He reached out to Li Wei purely because of the young man¡¯s Chinese heritage and the backing of Goodell, hoping this could gain additional attention and public support for the running backs.


    Likewise, Bell didn¡¯t expect that Li Wei would actually stand up and be willing to go to such lengths, even outdoing Gurley, who had quietly kept his tail between his legs after renewing with the Los Angeles Rams, showing an air of detachment and being of no help at all.@@@@


    Who could have imagined that a casual, thoughtless act could eventually develop into a camaraderie of fighting side by side and truly changing one¡¯s predicament?


    ...


    This was something Bell hadn¡¯t been able to feel in the Steelers¡¯ locker room, proving once more the influence of a leader on a team¡¯s character and atmosphere.


    Now, Bell understood why T.J.


    Watt couldn¡¯t stop praising Li Wei.


    Howevera?€¡±


    Everything was as Li Wei had expected, they were facing a league-wide trend representing billions and billions in profits, not something one or two running backs could change on their own.


    Relying on just Bell was not enough.


    Running backs needed to continue to build momentum and change public opinion starting from the playing field.


    For now, the time hadn¡¯t come, and Bell might be defeated again.


    As the summer training camp ended, there was still no news of Bell re-signing.


    Soon, the deadline of July 16th passed, meaning the Pittsburgh Steelers hadn¡¯t changed their minds and had tagged Bell with the exclusive franchise tag for the second consecutive year.


    But Bell still refused to sign.


    The preseason kicked off, and Bell had yet to rejoin the team.


    The situation was gradually sliding towards the abyss, with a foreboding feeling growing clearer.


    And then, it happeneda?€¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t be playing.¡±


    This message came from Bell.


    With less than 48 hours before the kickoff of the 2018 regular season, Li Wei saw the message, and its meaning was clearer than ever.


    At present, there was no media coverage, no official announcement from the Steelers, and no whispers from the league.


    This meant that even if Li Wei wasn¡¯t the first person Bell informed, he was one of the very few privy to such significant news.


    Before people could get over the shock and thrill of the Green Bay Packers and Rodgers dramatically finalizing a new contract just before the start of the season, the contract situation for another top star took a wildly different direction, stirring up ripples with a scorched earth approach.


    Bell announced that he would not participate in the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ regular-season games.


    From striking to boycotting games, Bell showed a resolute determination, preferring to shatter rather than bend, still refusing to sign the exclusive franchise tag contract.


    And yet, more brutal and cold-hearted events were still to come.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers gave no response, no condemnation of Bell, no discussion on contract negotiations, not even an official announcement confirming Bell¡¯s absence from regular-season games.


    Instead, they made another announcement:


    James Conner, the running back selected in the third round, one hundred and fifth overall pick of the 2017 draft, would be the starter.


    The attitude couldn¡¯t be more directa?€¡±


    Without Bell, the Earth still spins, and the Pittsburgh Steelers still advance.


    Without a single word about Bell, the complete disregard treated him as if he were invisible, conveying a decisively thunderous stance.


    Silence is louder than words.


    This was the truest of tough decisions, a masterstroke.


    The 2018 season, thus, began amidst noisy chaos and confusion.


    The bustling discussions exploded into full-blown debates following brief pauses in the wake of successive shocks, leaving fans and the League alike completely astounded.


    The reason was straightforwarda?€¡±


    The season¡¯s opening game featured the defending Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers at Arrowhead Stadium.


    Foes seem destined to come face to face.


    In the eyes of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Li Wei and Hunter were provocateurs who loved to stir up trouble.


    Without them fanning the flames, the negotiations between Bell and the team wouldn¡¯t have escalated to such a point.


    As a result, Bell¡¯s strike and the Steelers¡¯ tarnished image plummeted to rock bottom.


    Li Wei: Do the Pittsburgh Steelers have an image to maintain?


    Even he, a football novice, had heard rumors about Roethlisberger¡¯s rough treatment of fans and his arrogant demeanor in the locker room.


    Tomlin: Get lost!


    Furthermore, reviving the grudge from last season¡¯s divisional round, the entire Steelers organization had not taken the Kansas City Chiefs or the Jacksonville Jaguars seriously.


    They had set their sights early on the AFC Championship game and a meeting with the New England Patriots, only to be embarrassingly sent packing in a double upset by these traditional powerhouses.


    Old grievances and new hostilities surged to the forefront.


    The fuse was lit!

 Chapter 570

    ?Chapter 570: 569 New grudges and old hatreds Chapter 570: 569 New grudges and old hatreds The 2018 regular season schedule was announced well in advance.


    As per tradition, the season opener took place with the defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers at home, instantly sparking countless discussions.


    Last season¡¯s regular-season clash in Week 6 between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers was undoubtedly one of the most thrilling and best games of the season.


    The animosity from that game carried through to the playoffs, causing off-the-field controversies, pushing the tensions between the two teams to new heights both on and off the field.


    It¡¯s no wonder the moment the League announced the opening game matchup, social networks exploded with noise and memes flew everywhere.


    However!


    The League had not anticipated that Bell¡¯s contract dispute would escalate to such an extent and even spiral out of control, eventually reaching a point where it could not be contained.


    ...


    In an instant, running backs were swept up into the storm.


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ running backs Li Wei and Hunter were at the forefront.


    New grudges and old hatreds piled up, making for an explosive situation.


    Without a word, the tension for the opening match had already climbed to a whole new levela?€¡±


    Goodell, high, indeed very high!


    People thought that last year¡¯s opening matchup of ¡°Goat vs.


    Rookie¡± was exaggerated and thrilling enough, yet this year managed to up the ante.


    This time, it wasn¡¯t just a showdown between two players or one-on-one matchups, but a powerful collision of attitudes, concepts, and values.


    The affirmative side believes in discarding running backs when done, easily substituting them, no one is irreplaceable; represented by the Pittsburgh Steelers.@@@@


    The opposing side contends that running backs hold special value, and that top players are ultimately unique; represented by the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Currently, this is also one of the fiercest topics of debate in the entire League, or to put it more simply and more directly:


    In an excellent ground game, is it the team strategy that deserves more credit, or the top running backs?


    The latter recognizes the clear distinction between excellent running backs and average running backs; the former does not agree.


    Even though the affirmative side has the upper hand in the debate and the advantage continues to grow, there are still supporters on the opposing side.


    Now, the League has ignited a comprehensive discussion with just one game.


    The heat soared to the skies.


    So, Goodell would go with the flow, watching the direction and changes in public opinion, and then observing the general public¡¯s attitude towards the running back.


    Maybe, this indeed could become the turning point in reversing the running backs¡¯ predicament.


    Donald¡¯s judgment was correct.


    Then.


    The atmosphere heated up bit by bit.


    In the midst of all the buzzing and uproar, the entire League¡¯s attention converged on Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.


    Whether by accident, coincidence, or destiny, the Kansas City Chiefs were involved in the season opener for the second consecutive year.


    A whole year ago, the unheralded Kansas City Chiefs defeated defending champions New England Patriots in the opener, thus starting a miraculous season.


    A year later, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ situation was entirely different, as they were about to welcome a challenging problem at their home ground.


    During this offseason, both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers went through varying degrees of bumps and turbulence, with changes in team rosters to different extents.


    For the Pittsburgh Steelers, although Bell¡¯s negotiation breakdown was announced at the last moment, leaving the team caught off guard, Tomlin had been prepared in advance, making adjustments from the preseason.


    This head coach gave the team¡¯s management a reassurance with his excellent performance, proving that even without their ace running back, the Pittsburgh Steelers were still a force to be reckoned with.


    In the preseason, they had three wins and one loss, sweeping the Philadelphia Eagles, narrowly losing to the Green Bay Packers, and easily defeating the Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers.


    The performance was convincing.


    After a brief panic, the Pittsburgh Steelers arrived in Kansas City full of confidence, ready for the grand opening of the new season.


    In fact, due to Bell¡¯s unexpected move, under Tomlin¡¯s instigation, the locker room was not discouraged but united and spirited, aiming squarely at the Kansas City Chiefs, ready to vent all the frustration and anger on this opponent.


    For the Kansas City Chiefs, it wasn¡¯t easy either, with a brand new quarterback, a new tactical system, and this quarterback was still a sophomore lacking experience.


    In the preseason, the team had been integrating, with stumbling performances.


    They defeated the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers, two strong teams, but when facing the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears, two weaker teams, they lost, playing very inconsistently, oscillating greatly, and still not finding their center of gravity.


    When the season opener came around, the pressure fell entirely on the shoulders of ¡°rookie number two¡± Mahomes; at the same time, Levi also had to face his own new challenge.


    The young and inexperienced defending champions stumbled into the clash with a determined and united opponent.


    Perhaps the best news was that it all happened at Arrowhead Stadium.

 Chapter 571

    ?Chapter 571: 570 sharpening knives Chapter 571: 570 sharpening knives ¡°Crash, fly!¡±


    ¡°Crash, fly!¡±


    The deafening shouts and the overwhelming heat wave made it seem like the world was on fire.


    Seeing it on a TV screen or in news reports was shocking enough, but only by being there could one truly feel the allure of competitive sports, uncontrollably swept up by the surging excitement.


    Mahomes¡¯s breathing was erratic, a whirl of excitement, anticipation, unease, chaos, elation, and tension spun 360 degrees in his mind, shaking his entire world, his heart nearly bursting out of his throat, and his eardrums could hear the pounding of his pulsea?€¡±


    The field was still the same field, the game seemed no different from last season; however, the experience of carrying the team as the official starting quarterback was completely different, everything had changed.


    Accelerated tenfold; magnified tenfold.


    ¡°Sherlock...¡±


    ¡°Sherlock!¡±


    Mahomes sharply turned his head upon catching the call.


    It was Li Wei.


    No words, just a look, a smile hidden inside the helmet bloomed fully, confident and composed, filled with burning fighting spirita?€¡±


    Face the challenge, enjoy the challenge.


    ...


    Uncontrollably, a smile also spread across Mahomes¡¯s lips as he raised his right hand, high-fiving Li Wei, all the noise and roar inside him turning into burning energy in his veins, releasing the sound forcefully through his mouth.


    Roar!


    Let them play some Football.


    Their own twenty-five-yard line, first and ten.


    Adjusting his breath and bending his knees, Mahomes was already in quarterback mode, nowhere could one see the green, tense rookie of just moments ago.


    Indeed, the young calf was not afraid of the tiger.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers were ready too, and Mahomes instantly recognized the eager TJ Watt, his offseason training buddy now standing across from him, ready to hunt the quarterback.


    Their eyes met briefly, exchanging smiles full of understandinga?€¡±


    Friends off the field, but all-out competitors on it.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ defensive line, after the off-season adjustments, showed no significant change; in their ¡°3-4¡± setup, seven players continued last season¡¯s arrangement; the only difference was TJ Watt and Bud Dupree had switched positions.


    Last season, TJ was on the right, Dupree on the left; now switched, TJ on the left, Dupree on the right.


    What¡¯s the difference?


    The chance to tackle.


    The defensive right side, matching the quarterback¡¯s left, also the blind side.


    Overall, the offensive blind side guard had one key responsibility in the tactical list: protect the quarterback¡¯s blind side, which made them more focused and concentrated.


    TJ: Damn, it was a quick short pass.


    This meant that the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ raid tactic was preemptively deciphered, with Mahomes connecting a quick short pass to Kelsey to counter the raid.


    Li Wei and the blindside offensive guard Cameron Erving then formed gates on both sides, buying precious time.


    During the off-season, Li Wei had also been sharpening his blade.


    A running back practicing tackle techniques in secret, what was this all about?


    TJ had no time to deal with Li Wei, quickly breaking free from Li Wei¡¯s insecure tackle, flipping over, using his hands and feet to rush towards Kelsey.


    As expected!


    The tight end and cornerback matchup had an obvious advantage.


    Cornerback Artie Burns simply couldn¡¯t withstand Kelsey¡¯s powerful charge, sticking close to Kelsey like a piece of paper, but retreating step by step under Kelsey¡¯s continuous force.


    TJ stumbled forward, peripheral vision catching the relentlessly pursuing Li Weia?€¡±the roles of prey and hunter switched, the offensive group chasing the defensive, and TJ, with no time to prepare for a tackle, simply thrust off the ground and took a flying dive.


    A collision.


    Kelsey and Burns took each other down, the three of them tumbling into a heap and falling out of bounds.


    Finally, they had stopped Kelsey¡¯s advance.


    Howevera?€¡±


    First down achieved.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers arrived in Kansas City with fierce ambition, but clearly, the Kansas City Chiefs were just as determined, showing their exquisite prowess.


    TJ flipped over and saw Li Wei in front of him, extending his right hand.


    Slap.


    TJ grasped Li Wei¡¯s right hand and stood up, exchanging a gaze where burning fighting spirits clashed head-on, neither side giving an inch.


    Li Wei knew TJ would not go easy.


    Similarly, TJ knew Li Wei wouldn¡¯t pull any punches.


    They let go, turned around, and each walked back to their teammates, lining up for the next face-off.


    The first round of collisions, brief yet rich, smoke had already begun to spread.


    The Kansas City Chiefs used a quick short pass to break through the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ five-man rush, instantly tightening the competitive tension between offense and defense.


    With no time to breathe, Mahomes had already called for the next kickoff.


    First and ten.


    Mahomes didn¡¯t use any feints, simply turning and handing the football to Li Wei.


    This time, breaking through from the ground.

 Chapter 572

    ?Chapter 572: Stop once, look twice Chapter 572: Stop once, look twice ¡°Attack!¡±


    Mahomes announced the kickoff, decisively, with no superfluous fancy movesa?€¡±his primary play was a quick connect, handing off the football to Li Wei outright, refusing to waste time.


    In the opening phase, whether on offense or defense, all were deployed according to pre-game strategies, testing the opponent while evaluating their own condition and tactics, so the execution of tactics by both sides was especially firm.


    The football came into the embrace of Li Wei.


    There was no delay.


    In an instant, one could clearly feel the murderous intent from across the Chu River and Han border crashing down on Li Wei, as the air instantly became stagnant.


    The eyes of the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ defensive group players ignited with flames, each clenching their teeth, an astonishing energy bursting forth from within their bodies.


    Boom, boom boom.


    ...


    The thundering roars surged toward Li Wei with the force of thunderclapsa?€¡±


    Blitz!


    On the second consecutive defense, the Pittsburgh Steelers chose to apply pressure upfront, Tomlin demonstrated his exceptional boldness, ready to use continuous pressure and impact to give the rookie quarterback Mahomes a shocking lesson right from the start.


    Whether to capture or breakthrough was one matter; but to continuously apply pressure, to keep tension sustained without any breathing time, elevating the rhythm and tension to a new level from the opening phase, was another matter.


    For a young quarterback like Mahomes, who lacked experience, setting aside individual ability, things like breathing adjustments, concentration, and the pace of the game could easily lead him astray, his cognitive speed unable to keep up, his tactical vision unable to unfold, the defensive group seizing the initiative before a chance to breathe surfaced.


    This was an advantage on a tactical level, as well as on a strategic level.


    Even if Reed was again shrewd and comprehensive, the matter of a young quarterback¡¯s game experience still had no answer; it could only accumulate slowly through continual mistakes.


    Here again, Tomlin¡¯s tactical cleverness and cunning could be seen.


    So, what about Reed?


    Reed naturally knew the shortcomings that the young quarterback couldn¡¯t make up for; how could he be unprepared?


    The first offensive play, a quick short pass, required no thinking from the quarterback, testing the proficiency from off-season team training.


    The second offensive play, a ground attack, shifted the pressure from the quarterback¡¯s shoulders to the top scorer of the team at the moment.


    And so.


    This scene unfolded before us.


    ¡°Li Wei VS Defensive group.¡±


    The Pittsburgh Steelers didn¡¯t panic; the blitz was still a blitz, whether attacking the quarterback or the running back, the strategy of applying pressure to the pocket by the defensive line was the same.


    The moment Mahomes handed the football to Li Wei, the defensive group completed their adjustment in starting up right after.


    Confrontation!


    Impact!


    In that moment, countless thoughts flashed through their minds, each with their own judgments.


    Wait, could it be...


    Li Wei was preparing to pass the ball?


    Despite how absurd it seemed, indeed, some thought so, resulting in each person¡¯s reflexes and secondary reactions being slightly different.


    For a moment, the situation was tumultuous.


    And all of this, every bit of it, fell into Li Wei¡¯s eyesa?€¡±


    The Bell training template.


    It turned out that when Le¡¯Veon Bell stopped moving, within the blink of an eye, the world he saw was like this.


    Although Li Wei had attempted similar initiatives before, more often than not, it was out of necessity, but now he was actively halting his movements, reading the defense a second time in Bell¡¯s manner.


    Prying open the door to a whole new world.


    While all the defensive players were scrambling for time, their secondary reactions were all captured in Li Wei¡¯s eyesa?€¡±TJ¡¯s, Williams¡¯s, and Burns¡¯s positions, trends, and running patterns were all clearly visible, including the rapidly advancing safeties in the distance.


    The second defensive read unfolded in his mind in a vivid three-dimensional way.


    Describing it seemed to take forever, but in reality, it was just a fleeting moment, within a single breath.


    And then, the shadow of Hayward with his arms wide open had already engulfed Li Wei.


    Shifting his gaze to the ferocious Hayward in front of him, Li Wei calmly executed a backward-leaning, crouching evasive move to the left.


    While going down, he drew a circle clockwise.


    His body, like a spinning top, evaded the spot where Hayward first exerted force, then the lower body followed, with his right leg leaving the ground to make room.


    It wasn¡¯t a change of direction, just evasion.


    Hayward didn¡¯t anticipate it; his bulky body instinctively fell towards the right side, ready to stop Li Wei in the simplest way possible or simply disrupt him.


    Their gazes briefly met.


    But Li Wei didn¡¯t glance at Hayward at all.


    His right leg circled around Hayward, taking one step to bypass his position.


    He waited and waited until now to finally explode with stored energya?€¡±surging forward, he surpassed Hayward.


    A miss by an inch, lost by a mile.


    Hayward saw Li Wei within arm¡¯s reach, so close, yet his body couldn¡¯t twist around, his center of gravity out of control.


    Twisting his head to look back, he captured only a streak of red lingering afterimage.


    Hayward, empty-handed.

 Chapter 573

    ?Chapter 573: 572 Seems Familiar Chapter 573: 572 Seems Familiar Focused and patient, like a skilled hunter, he had honed his skills through thousands of training simulations during the offseason, becoming absolutely calm in real combat.


    On the surface, it seemed like a precarious, hair-splitting difference; in reality, it was effortless and composed.


    Moreover, he had just started exerting effort, barely spending any energy before already dodging Hayward, and the view ahead on the field suddenly cleared.


    Instantly, TJ¡¯s figure entered his vision, steady yet full of tension.


    The readiness and tensed muscles were unmistakably palpable.


    Like Li Wei, TJ was also a sophomore, quickly growing after a season¡¯s worth of experience, now showing the potential of a top linemana?€¡±


    Unflustered.


    With a quick scan, three starts, accurate judgement, he struck decisively.


    ...


    The timing was impeccable.


    Right after Li Wei shook off Hayward and was about to start accelerating, there was a fleeting gap, which TJ seized one step ahead.


    Sharp, attentive, calm, and resolute.


    So.


    Li Wei had just shaken off Hayward, and even before his feet touched the ground, the oncoming shockwave was already howling across the surface of his skin.@@@@


    Welcome!


    Li Wei was also unflustered, his muscles instantly tensed up, reacting in a blink.


    No evading, no hesitation, no fear, he stepped forward towards TJa?€¡±


    Both charging.


    Everything was within Li Wei¡¯s expectations, ¡°One stop, two looks, three gets through,¡± stopping without looking was not an option.


    At that moment, Li Wei also displayed his ability to read the defense a second time, a crucial skill for a quarterback, and occasionally evident in running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends.


    A step forward, kneeling and lowering his shoulders.


    All signs indicated that Li Wei was ready for the collision.


    TJ was no different.


    Gathering energy in his dantian, muscles tensed, shoulders hunched, ready for impact.


    However!


    Just then, Li Wei¡¯s body jerked to the left-forward diagonally, clearly showing a move to sidestep, narrowly evading TJ¡¯s head-on assaulta?€¡±


    For the second time in succession, he dodged Hayward with similar maneuvers and immediately evaded TJ.


    It all happened too fast.


    But TJ was not Hayward; he was more flexible and agile.


    Keeping an eye on Li Wei, constantly vigilant, he immediately sensed the danger,


    Making a split-second decision, TJ extended his arms in an attempt to grapple, disturb, and push Li Wei, reacting three times and then a fourth, pushing his body to the limit.


    ¡°God!¡±


    ¡°A three hundred sixty-degree clockwise spin, Li Wei dodged TJ Watt¡¯s fierce second attack with the grace and perfection of a ballet dancer.¡±


    ¡°Now, we finally know why Li Wei was momentarily frozen on the spota?€¡±it was not due to shock or overwhelming excitement but because he was performing a second defensive read, with all subsequent reactions of the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ defensive group fully captured in Li Wei¡¯s vision.¡±


    ¡°Watt!


    Watt hasn¡¯t given up, Watt is still in pursuit.¡±


    ¡°Watt dives!¡±


    TJ hadn¡¯t given up, holding his breath throughout because he knew Li Wei¡¯s capabilities.


    A single combat couldn¡¯t stop him; if he didn¡¯t keep up, it would have meant leaving the defensive backfield wide open, and Li Wei could have charged straight into the end zone alone.


    He couldn¡¯t give up.


    Turning around, pushing off the ground, charging forward.


    Amidst chaos and jolts, TJ couldn¡¯t even find his footing; he was merely propelled forward by inertia.


    Then TJ saw the number twenty-three red jersey from behind; he realized he couldn¡¯t wait, for if Li Wei started up, he wouldn¡¯t be able to catch him.


    No chance at all.


    So.


    TJ threw himself forward, like a torpedo.


    Pushing off, taking off, flying.


    Pounce.


    Clapping hands, amidst the chaos and the impact, he clenched his teeth and engaged in the strugglea?€¡±


    ¡°Arms vs.


    Legs.¡±


    It felt as if he thrust his arms into a spinning propeller, but TJ was neither timid nor did he give up.


    Obstruct, disrupt, destroy.


    Finally, he used his body like a bowling ball, holding nothing back as he thrust forward.


    A move to pull the rug out from under.


    Clanging loudly, all in a heap, TJ and Li Wei tumbled together, the entire world spiraling into a blur of chaos.


    ¡°Watt, TJ-Watt has made an impact!¡±


    ¡°Just as Li Wei, with his stunning display bypassing four players¡¯ defense, was about to burst into a full sprint, Watt, with a fearless defensive play, disrupted Li Wei¡¯s stride and balance, finally stopping Li Wei¡¯s unparalleled breakthrough.¡±


    ¡°Beautiful!¡±


    ¡°Kudos to Watt.


    If not for him, Li Wei would have only had two Safeties ahead, which is precisely where Li Wei is most skilled and most dangerous.¡±


    ¡°However!¡±


    ¡°Despite this, Li Wei still easily advanced ten yards, securing another first down for the Kansas City Chiefs, maintaining his firepower from last season¡¯s ¡®League¡¯s Best Offensive Player¡¯.¡±


    ¡°But, this scene seems somewhat familiar.¡±


    ¡°Stop, look, and go through.


    In this ground push, instead of opting for his usual dodging and speeding, Li Wei slowed down instead, performing a second defensive read, which is precisely the signature move of Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ running back Le¡¯Veon Bell.¡±


    ¡°So, is this a coincidence?¡±

 Chapter 574

    ?Chapter 574: 573 Unintentional Act Chapter 574: 573 Unintentional Act ¡°He¡¯s here, he¡¯s there, he¡¯s everywhere, he¡¯s the Edgerunner, Li Wei Li Wei Li Wei!¡±


    The new season had just kicked off, and familiar cheers resounded over Arrowhead Stadium.


    After two offensive drives, the defending champions displayed a smooth attacking flow, seemingly having finally found their synchronization during the preseason, igniting the home fans¡¯ enthusiasm and frenzy in an instant.


    Karen Gray watched as the excited Felix, sitting in a wheelchair, waved his arms and shouted.


    She too stood up, raising her hands high to join ina?€¡±


    Karen did not know how much time Felix had left, but she decided not to worry about tomorrow, choosing instead to seize every moment, to burn brightly and release freely, as if there were no tomorrow.


    ¡°Ah, ah ah ah!¡±


    Felix and his mother exchanged glances and both burst out laughing.


    However.


    Tomlin did not see it that way.


    ...


    His gaze fell briefly upon that figure in the red jersey number twenty-three, its black face hard to discern for expressions, but the cheeks seemed to feel a burning sting.


    A pause, a double-take, and a go-through.


    This was Bell¡¯s classic game style, and Li Wei, in the first game of the new season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, deliberately imitated it during his first carry, the subtext was all too clear; moreover, he easily advanced ten yards to gain the first attack, a gesture that was essentially a slap in Tomlin¡¯s face.


    Oppressed.


    Repressed, angry.


    So, was Li Wei making a stand for Bell by his actions?


    Indeed, Li Wei and Bell were as thick as thieves.


    Tomlin¡¯s fist clenched.


    Li Wei: If it resembles anything, it¡¯s a coincidence.


    All through the off-season, he had been pondering through several training models, including Bell¡¯s, trying to find his own style of running, constantly improving and growing, and now that he finally had a chance to test it in a real game, he was merely practicing for reala?€¡±


    A face slap?


    Absolutely not.


    Purely coincidental.


    On the field, Li Wei lay on the ground, not immediately standing up, panting heavily, slightly annoyed at himself for having taken it light, not using a high knee lift to avoid being caught up by TJ, without a moment to care about the autumn spinach transmitted through Tomlin¡¯s eyes.


    A hand appeared before him.


    Looking closely, it was indeed TJ.


    Li Wei grabbed TJ¡¯s hand to pull himself up, the two exchanged a look, their understanding clear as they shared a smile, each having gained the upper hand once in two rounds of offense and defense, with no clear winner or loser.


    TJ patted Li Wei¡¯s shoulder heavily, half-jokingly reminded him.


    ¡°Be careful, you¡¯ve riled up our coach.¡±


    Li Wei did not understand.


    The positions and roles of the players were subtly jumbled.


    This could be considered one of the Steelers¡¯ ultimate defensive strategies.


    Not just because Li Wei was ¡°imitating¡± Bell.


    Losing big yards defensively twice in a row and rapidly approaching the midfield line, the Steelers¡¯ defensive group needed to display strength and tempo to break the continuous forward momentum of the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Tomlin perfectly called the tactics.


    On the surface, all was calm,


    but in reality, the Steelers¡¯ momentum transformed in an instant.


    Not only the Kansas City Chiefs, but even the audience on site could faintly feel the tension swiftly spreading.


    Mahomes stood up straight and changed the tactica?€¡±


    Originally, the Kansas City Chiefs were in a pistol formation, but now they switched to a shotgun formation, with wide receiver Hill shifting from the right wing to the left, while Li Wei took over Hill¡¯s position and stood parallel to Kelsey.


    This turned the two-receiver pistol formation to a left-sided three wide receiver and a right-sided running back paired with a tight end shotgun formation.


    The strong side was clearly the right wing, where Kelsey and Li Wei were both players capable of piercing short-pass areas.


    The weak side, then, was the left wing, but the running routes of the three wide receivers had infinite possibilities.


    Dazzling.


    Among this, there was another detail.


    Li Wei¡¯s position had shifted a big step back, not parallel to Kelsey, but slightly behind, presenting a staggered stance.


    So, what did this mean?


    After experiencing the Super Bowl¡¯s ¡°Chiefs Special,¡± no one could assert.


    Moreover, in the Smith era, it was rare for the Kansas City Chiefs to change offensive tactics at the last moment, only occasionally; now in the Mahomes era, merely on the third offensive play, they were already adjusting tactics on the spota?€¡±


    Could this become the norm?


    You have your Zhang Liang¡¯s tactics, and I have my ladder over the wall.


    The brief tactical contest between offense and defense immediately tightened the atmosphere.


    Mahomes concentrated intensely, his gaze fixed on the lineman¡¯s position.


    He bent over, squatted, and just as he was about to snap the ball, he paused deliberately, allowing the tension to escalate for another second before decisively announcing the start of play.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Step, stomp, power up, launch, sprint.


    Like a showdown of Olympic sprinters in the hundred-meter dash, all five of the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ receiving players surged forward.


    Including Li Wei.


    Wait, what...


    what?

 Chapter 575

    ?Chapter 575: 574 A small test of skill Chapter 575: 574 A small test of skill ¡°`


    a?€¡±a?€¡±An arrow released from the bowstring.


    TJ Watt: ¡°What just flew by?¡±


    TJ¡¯s attention was always on Mahomes, for the quarterback is the source of everything; yet no one could afford to ignore Li Wei, especially when he neared the line of scrimmage, as his peripheral vision still captured Li¡¯s silhouette.


    He could run, catch, and pass.


    This allowed Li Wei to play the role of an unpredictable variable in the offensive strategy.


    If you didn¡¯t want to be led by the nose, you shouldn¡¯t guess Li Wei¡¯s movements but remain focused on taking initiative with a defensive mindset.


    Just like TJ right nowa?€¡±


    Muscles, completely tense, were eager to pounce, poised for action.


    Then.


    ...


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    The kickoff command, slicing through the air.


    Before TJ could even start, a flash of red was already dashing forward, his eyes unable to track the thought, only catching a bright afterimage.


    What...


    what happened?


    Was that, Li Wei?


    In the blink of an eye, TJ quickly realized that Li Wei had fooled the defensive group with a feint, mixing the real and the fake, and it was too late for them to react by the time they figured it outa?€¡±


    In other words, if TJ were to chase after Li Wei now, he would already have lost his advantage.


    With Li Wei¡¯s explosive power and acceleration, TJ was well aware he couldn¡¯t catch up, having been mercilessly hammered into numbness during training camp in Miami.


    That feeling was deeply seared into his bones.


    At this moment, it became a form of assistance.


    In that lightning-fast moment, realizing he had missed his chance, TJ did not hesitate to abandon the chase after Li Wei, making a decisive move to rush towards the quarterback.


    Since Li Wei had already broken free, it meant that this was a pass play.


    And since it was a pass, they only needed to take down the quarterback to complete the defense.


    Moreover, Tomlin had set up a Dragon Gate formation and had no intention of bluffing; this was meant to be a raid from the starta?€¡±


    The Kansas City Chiefs surely did not expect the Pittsburgh Steelers, undeterred by setbacks, to commit to three consecutive raids, risking everything.


    And indeed, Tomlin¡¯s decision proved correct.


    Reed and Mahomes indeed did not anticipate the Steelers¡¯ relentless triple raid assault, and thus they had opted for a pass strategy.


    Now, with TJ continuing with the momentum, the Steelers were poised to seize the advantage.


    ¡°Six-man rush!¡±@@@@


    ¡°Tomlin has lost his mind!¡±


    In the blink of an eye, Mahomes continued moving laterally.


    He wasn¡¯t rushing, as shaking off TJ immediately wasn¡¯t realistic; he chose to shift his center of gravity in a small area, then shift it again, taking quick, short steps not to escape, but to offset his center of gravity positions.


    By doing so, he swayed TJ, forcing TJ to adjust his center of gravity again to tackle.


    One step, then another.


    A tug-of-war as if in a tango.


    The two had completely moved out of the Pocket and were quickly approaching the right sidelinea?€¡±a scenario not often seen in Smith¡¯s era, with the quarterback actively leaving the Pocket.


    However, judging by Mahomes¡¯s calm and poise, he was not unfamiliar with such a situation.


    Seeing Mahomes¡¯s advantage dwindling, he glanced at TJ, stamped his right leg to brake and control his body, then continued to stamp the ground to gain forcea?€¡±


    Change of direction.


    Shifting his body to the left.


    At that misalignment, Mahomes moving to the left and TJ also continuing to the left opened a gap the size of a body width between them.


    TJ: Damn it.


    Although TJ reacted quickly a second time, coming to a sudden stop and turning sharply, lunging forward again, Mahomes had already gained space and without hesitationa?€¡±


    Stomped the ground, stepped up, twisted his body, and swung his arm.


    Drawing the bow and shooting the eagle.


    His right hand fully extended, a forceful push, and the football was propelled, breaking the air with its momentum.


    The next second, TJ managed to tackle Mahomes, and they tumbled together; but the football was already in flight, climbing upward along its parabolic path.


    A rainbow arc.


    Wait, this...


    is this actually a long pass?


    So who was the passing target?


    ...


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    At the command, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ Offensive group swiftly unfolded.


    On the left wing, three Wide Receivers went into full action, one going for a short line inward, one for a mid-short pass route toward the sideline, and one striking deep down the straight linea?€¡±the three routes blooming like flowers.


    On the right wing, the Tight End and Running Back also immediately sprang into action, one drawing short towards the sideline, and one slightly veering into the center of the field from the slot position like a trumpet flower, both players also opening up space.


    Five players, five routes.


    Horizontally, covering left, center, and right with five different localized routes; vertically, covering short, mid, and long passes across the entire field.


    Shotgun Formation, it was indeed the standard classic Shotgun!


    Truly a ¡°Scatter like a Goddess¡¯s Flowers¡±a?€¡±


    Fully opening up the routes.

 Chapter 576

    ?Chapter 576: 575 Easy and comfortable Chapter 576: 575 Easy and comfortable In the Smith era, the Kansas City Chiefs also used the Shotgun Formation, and they played the role of miracle makers more than once in last season¡¯s playoffs.


    However, since they were miracle makers, it meant they could not use this tactic often; it often needed to be reserved for critical moments to bring surprises.


    Normally, Reed built a set of tactics based on Smith¡¯s capabilities that mostly involved short to medium passes, which was the core of the Chiefs¡¯ offensive strategy.


    Howevera?€¡±


    Now?


    In an instant, Tomlin sounded the alarm, his back covered in goosebumps that screamed crazily, all his nerves tensed to the extreme edge of snapping, and before he was fully aware, he had clenched his fists again.


    Damn it!


    Reed, still crafty.


    ...


    Tomlin thought his six-man rush had caught Reed off guard; but in fact, Reed, like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, had a backup plan, scattering five receiving points all over with the Shotgun Formationa?€¡±


    The Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ secondary defense was empty.


    Two cornerbacks, two safeties, and one linebacker, only five men, each had to mark an offensive player, resulting in the linebacker matching up against either Kelsey, Li Wei, or whoever else, all three positions were at a disadvantage in one-on-one matchups.


    This also meant that Mahomes could find any three passing targets.


    Damn, damn, damn, damn.


    But there was a problem.


    Why was Reed so sure that Mahomes could escape the sack and complete the pass?


    So, was it Reed¡¯s trust in Mahomes, or was Reed making a desperate move?


    Come to think of it, does it matter?


    No, it does not matter.


    Because it was a ten-yard play, because the Kansas City Chiefs had two consecutive waves of smooth attacks, because it was the start of the game, Reed had every reason to take risks, even if it failed, it would startle the Pittsburgh Steelers.


    And what if it succeeded?


    Tomlin shuddered, not daring to imagine.


    His gaze turned to the field.


    Even as a spectator, Tomlin could not discern Mahomes¡¯ passing targeta?€¡±


    Li Wei?


    Kelsey?


    Or Hill?


    Headache.


    But, something seemed a little off.


    Li Wei unleashed his speed without reservation, such that the preemptively positioned Edmunds had just started adjusting his small steps when the image of Li Wei in his pupils sped up like the twins in ¡°The Shining.¡±


    Indeed, coming straight on.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t evade but instead actively came closer.


    Usually, Edmunds would have collided head-on, but faced with the daunting momentum of Li Wei, who was akin to a high-speed train, Edmunds instinctively retreated slightly to maintain his initiative.


    Then.


    Edmunds was like a kite fluttering in the air, with the string firmly in Li Wei¡¯s hands.


    He followed Li Wei¡¯s steps past the slot into the central territory, swiftly merging with Hill who also cut to the center.


    Just as the two were about to complete their switch of positions, Li Wei suddenly stopped and cut diagonally to the right, dashing forward full speeda?€¡±


    Ready to meet up with Kelsey.


    Edmunds kept up step by step, sounding the alarm all the way.


    By now, he couldn¡¯t care less; he needed to close in on Li Wei as soon as possible.


    The two raced past the forty-yard line, the thirty-yard line, and as they approached the Red Zone, failing to keep close to Li Wei might result in a catastrophic error.


    Edmunds trusted his judgment.


    Li Wei noticed, Edmunds¡¯ accelerationa?€¡±


    Edmunds¡¯ focus was entirely on Li Wei; not having time to watch the quarterback and Football, a rookie mistake of being overly excited due to an adrenaline rush was clearly observable.


    Li Wei not only didn¡¯t avoid but also in a narrow space quickly changed direction, heading straight for Edmunds.


    Edmunds: ???


    Just as Edmunds, delighted, was about to wrap his arms for the tackle, he hadn¡¯t even realized something was amiss when the two collided with unbelievable speed.


    Edmunds felt as if his lungs were about to burst out of his chest.


    However, Li Wei, unscathed, used the reaction force to brush forward effortlessly, leaving Edmunds behind.


    Edmunds, still with echoes of fireworks and applause in his mind, flustered, tried to keep up instinctively but found Li Wei¡¯s speed was unleashed again, turning the distance between them into a chasm instantly.


    The twenty-yard line.


    The ten-yard line.


    Before even blinking, Li Wei had already cut near the five-yard line.


    Adjusting, turning around, a glance back at the moon, he smoothly caught the rapidly descending Football into his arms, not bothering to turn around againa?€¡±


    With his back to the End Zone, facing Edmund, he took leisure steps back.


    Crossing the End Zone Line, he casually stopped, tossed the Football lightly up, then caught it back in his palm again, with ease and poise.

 Chapter 577

    ?Chapter 577: 576 A Premonition Chapter 577: 576 A Premonition ¡°...Evading, breaking free, pass!


    Mahomes relentlessly completes the pass.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a rainbow pass, a long pass!¡±


    ¡°Twenty yards!¡±


    ¡°Forty yards!¡±


    ¡°Aiming for the end zone, a fifty-yard pass, Kansas City Chiefs Offense bursts forth without warning, and the Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive group clearly wasn¡¯t expecting this, the target of Mahomes¡¯ passa?€¡±¡±


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Clashing, breaking free, overtaking, Li Wei¡¯s footwork displays the style of a Wide Receiver, casually creating space amidst a leisurely stride, rookie Safety Edmunds is too green, too naive to block the spot.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei, catches the ball.¡±


    ¡°So easy, so effortless, Li Wei...


    Ha ha, even completes the last two steps into the end zone with his back turned, in a backward fashion, without any trouble scoring the touchdown.¡±


    ¡°Yes, touchdown.¡±


    ¡°Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ first touchdown of the 2018 season, just like last season, still comes from number twenty-three, Li Wei, this scene feels all too familiar.¡±


    ¡°But!¡±


    ¡°We should discuss the tactics and execution of the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ first offensive drive.¡±


    Short pass.


    Run.


    Long pass.


    In the opening offensive drive of the Kansas City Chiefs, the team showcased a completely different look, employing three offensive strategies on three gears; facing immense pressure from the rush-pass offense, the home team¡¯s fluency and burst in their attack completely dominated, claiming a touchdown in just under two minutes.


    The Offensive group is still that familiar unit, the Kansas City Chiefs concentrated on the Defense during the off-season, basically maintaining the offense as before, with the only change being the starting quarterback, but they underwent a transformation that made them almost unrecognizable, as if they had reborn overnight.


    ...


    The multiple offensive tactics combined with dazzling running routes, against one of the top defensive powerhouses in the league, displayed an ease and confidence, firm and decisive, even if the Steelers¡¯ defensive strategy was tough and steadfast, the team still dominated the rhythm in its own right.¡±


    Surprise!


    Absolute excitement!


    Arrowhead Stadium¡¯s immediate reaction was the most genuine and direct.


    Suddenly, Felix raised his hands high signaling a touchdown, beaming with excitement, gesticulating wildly and cheering heartily towards the field.


    ¡°Touchdown, touchdown!¡±


    Then he turned to look at his mother, then to the surrounding faces celebrating with clenched fists, happiness and joy twinkling on every face.


    And that¡¯s not all.


    ¡°Aaron, what do you think?¡±


    In Los Angeles, Aaron Donald, the last season¡¯s League MVP for defense, was lifting weights, sitting on a machine working on his chest muscles, while keeping an eye on the TV screen.


    The clanging of weights was out of place in the poolside villa party, but the other players were used to such scenes.


    Donald didn¡¯t immediately reply, finishing his set before exhaling deeply.


    ¡°As of now, it¡¯s hard to see the effect of their training with JJ Watt.


    We¡¯ll need to keep watching.


    I¡¯m looking forward to the upcoming games.¡±


    In Donald¡¯s eyes were both number twenty-three and number fifteen, his teddy bear-like honest and adorable face breaking into a naive grin:


    Heh heh.


    Those around him shuddered, with goosebumps rising amid a wave of frenzied screams.


    ¡°0:7¡±.


    The home team took the lead.


    Although it was just one touchdown, the Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive group being completely suppressed still slightly stifled the atmosphere of the visiting team.


    The pressure immediately shifted to the visiting team¡¯s Offensive group.


    The once-impregnable trio, now without Bell, lost its solidity, and neither Roethlisberger nor Brown uttered a word to motivate their teammates.


    Instead, a figure beside them was itching to jump into action like a fleaa?€¡±


    Juju Smith Schuster.


    Every time he faced off against Li Wei, Juju got excited.


    Heh, so what if Li Wei performs well?


    Up next it¡¯s his turn, Juju¡¯s, and he will tear down the Kansas City Chiefs Defense with an even more spectacular performance, answering touchdown with touchdown, then becoming a superhero.


    Juju puffed up his chest slightly, full of confidence.


    Last season, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense had its ups and downs, relying on strong key moments to avoid being a drag.


    After an offseason of repairs, would they withstand the test this season?


    The first test was the Pittsburgh Steelers without running back Bell.


    To be precise, lacking Bell¡¯s powerful ground support, the Steelers¡¯ offense indeed faced a stern challenge, especially since Tomlin valued the ground game; it was because of this that Bell¡¯s relationship with the team completely shattered, something the League hadn¡¯t anticipateda?€¡±everyone thought Tomlin would fight for Bell.


    But this team still had Roethlisberger, Brown, and Tomlin; no one could take them lightly.


    Juju: Hey, don¡¯t forget about me!


    ¡°`

 Chapter 578

    ?Chapter 578: 577 Patches and Repairs Chapter 578: 577 Patches and Repairs This offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs focused more on renewing and adjusting their defense, but they still faced a series of challenges.


    First was the defensive line.


    Last season, the defensive line¡¯s performance in pass rush and quarterback harassment was mediocre, forcing the team to repeatedly rely on linebackers or cornerbacks to fill gaps to create sufficient pressure, yet risking gaps in the backfield defense.


    This method of robbing Peter to pay Paul was not sustainable.


    During the offseason, the team traded for starting defensive end Xavier Williams from the Arizona Cardinals.


    Williams was an undrafted rookie in 2015 but had been a starting defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals for the past two years; this offseason, the Arizona Cardinals placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on Williams.@@@@


    Unlike Bell¡¯s exclusive franchise tag, Williams was allowed to meet with other teams.


    ...


    If there was an offer, the Arizona Cardinals had the option to match it:


    If they matched, Williams would have to stay in Arizona.


    If they refused to match, Williams could sign freely with any team, and Arizona would receive a draft pick corresponding to the round of the team¡¯s choice for that year, but since Williams was an undrafted rookie, this condition naturally was nullified.


    In other words, the Kansas City Chiefs got Williams without any cost.


    Additionally, at the defensive end position, last season¡¯s two main rotational players, Allen Bailey and Chris Jones, secured starting spots with their outstanding performances in training camp.


    Especially Jones, this third-year player displayed great enthusiasm and willpower, making him one to watch in the new season.


    Next were the linebackers.


    The situation in the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offseason training camp was fraught with unease; last season¡¯s starting outside linebackers, Justin Houston and Dee Ford, both struggled with injuries.


    Although the injuries were not serious and did not affect their games, the stability of both players was questionablea?€¡±


    Worse yet, even though Houston and Ford had already ¡°shown their flaws,¡± other outside linebackers failed to seize the opportunity to secure starting positions, and their performances still fell short of Houston and Ford.


    Thus, in the new season, the two veterans were still starters, playing through injuries.


    The situation with the inside linebackers was also concerning.


    Not only Veach, but others in the League were curious about the outcome of the Chiefs¡¯ extensive off-season efforts.


    On paper, the defense still looked ...


    a mess, with Houston as the only Pro Bowl player.


    Could they really rely on Houston, dragging his ageing legs, to carry the Chiefs¡¯ defense for another year?


    Little did they expect, lowering their expectations brought a pleasant surprise.


    The Chiefs¡¯ defensive coordinator, Sutton, was a coach who made careful and precise calculations.


    Last season, with limited resources, he managed to hold the line; this season, he began to play to his strengths, continuing to make adjustments.


    Facing the Pittsburgh Steelers without Bell, Sutton devised a strategya?€¡±


    Perhaps, judging from the actual ground advancement effectiveness, Tomlin could always rely on tactical coordination and ground cover to create space for the running back, with the ground yardage not being much less than when Bell was on the field.


    But in terms of deterrent and threatening effects, lacking Bell meant one less threat, and the Chiefs¡¯ defensive strategy became much clearer.


    Up front, put pressure on Roethlisberger, but no need for blitzing.


    Roethlisberger is such a quarterback that, under pressure, his passing vision gets limited, and the choice of passes becomes questionable; yet, when facing collisions, this huge-sized quarterback often releases explosive power, passing intuitively in critical situations, which can bring some surprises.


    Thus, there¡¯s a subtle line between applying pressure and capturing, and now the Chiefs only needed to apply pressure.


    Moreover, now without the threat of Bell, the pressure on the Chiefs¡¯ defensive front lightened, affecting both their tactical choices and their level of focus.


    In the second line, thanks to the relatively simplified defensive tactics of the front line, the linebackers could spare part of their attention, focusing on defending short passes, which in turn could free up space for cornerbacks and safeties, ensuring they could focus on their defensive assignments.


    Sutton used a simple but effective method here.


    By assigning cornerbacks Fowler to specifically mark the Steelers¡¯ offensive ace, Brown, simultaneously, a safety and a linebacker, while holding their defensive positions, dedicated 50% of their effort to step up and defend Brown, using numerical superiority to erode Brown¡¯s presence.


    The entire defensive strategy was clear, straightforward, and efficient.

 Chapter 579

    ?Chapter 579: 578 Walked right into the trap Chapter 579: 578 Walked right into the trap Unlike the relentless, layered pressure of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense targeted Roethlisberger and Brown with precision strikes, with a starkly different setup and tactics.


    Zhu Zhu: Me, me me me!


    The defense is slack on me, throw the ball to me.


    However.


    The premise for all this was that Roethlisberger could see Zhu Zhu.


    Roethlisberger was in a very embarrassing and helpless state, with the Kansas City Chiefs Defensive line creating the effect of a huge wave striking a dike with just a three-man rush.@@@@


    Lineman Williams, like a stabilizing pin in the sea, created fierce pressure from the middle, tying up two offensive linemen, and one could almost hear the sound of the dike breaking if they weren¡¯t careful.


    ...


    Defensive End Bailey was more conventional, remaining silent in his confrontation, which was more about containment than pressure, barely noticeable.


    And Defensive End Jones displayed a strong desire to break through, with his pressure becoming palpable with each snap of the ball.


    Stalemate, containment, oppression.


    Yet, with only three men on the Defensive line unable to break through the blockade, no assault could be launched.


    So, the pressure was always there, feeling as though the pocket was full of cracks and could collapse at any moment, yet it did not collapse just then.


    Such a precarious state, like walking a tightrope high above.


    Meanwhile, one had to worry about Jones, not knowing when he would suddenly exert force, and be wary of an eager Houston, unpredictable in his move to strike.


    In such an anxious state, Roethlisberger was incredibly tense, with every rustling leaf or snap of a twig triggering alarm, severely constricting his field of vision for passing.


    Amidst the hustle and bustle of chaos, Roethlisberger instinctively looked for Brown, his most reliable and trusted target, who could always make the catch and advance the ball with his abilities, even if the passing trajectory and accuracy were slightly off.


    Zhu Zhu?


    He couldn¡¯t see him.


    Literally, Zhu Zhu was in his blind spot.


    However.


    Brown was also in trouble.


    Cornerback Fowler, who had just transferred to the team this season, seemed to be holding his breath, ready to prove himself.


    Kendall Fuller, a player waiting to prove himself.


    Others believed that the Steelers¡¯ refusal to compromise with Bell was fundamentally because Tomlin believed the strength of the team¡¯s ground game came from tactics, not Bell¡¯s individual ability; therefore, even with a different running back, their ground attack could still break through.


    This was also why the Steelers immediately announced James Conner as the starting running back for the season after Bell declared his absence from the regular season.


    A battle of momentum.


    Naturally, the Pittsburgh Steelers should have gotten fancy with the ground game.


    But Tomlin didn¡¯t.


    Having been in the league for over a decade, how could Tomlin possibly get caught up in a struggle of egos?


    Even if he needed to prove something, the point to be proven was ¡°offense can rotate well without Bell,¡± not ¡°ground attack can rotate well without Bell.¡± The scope needed to be broadened.


    Tomlin had studied the Kansas City Chiefs Defense and consistently launched smoke bombs, but the real offensive tactics revolved around passing.


    It wasn¡¯t just relying on the Roethlisberger-to-Brown connection; the routes run by other wide receivers were also diversified.


    Because of Roethlisberger¡¯s bulky frame and the perennial controversy over his choice of passes, people often forget that Roethlisberger¡¯s passing ability is also elite in the league.


    Perhaps his short passes were slightly imprecise, but his medium and long passing abilities had always been Roethlisberger¡¯s strong points.


    However...


    but...


    Tomlin had planned to catch Reed off guard, but unfortunately blundered into the barrel of a gun, as his offensive tactics ran straight into the comprehensive restrictions of the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Originally, the Steelers were already under pressure from the Chiefs¡¯ seamless offense at the start, and now their own offensive tactics had unwittingly fallen into the opponent¡¯s trap.


    Even an old hand like Tomlin was momentarily stunned.


    After barely managing to secure two first downs in a shattered and stumbling manner, the Steelers swallowed the first strikeout of the game.


    Without a chance.


    Zhu Zhu: ???


    That¡¯s it?


    I didn¡¯t even touch the ball, and the drive is over?


    ...


    Damn.

 Chapter 580

    ?Chapter 580: 579 pass target Chapter 580: 579 pass target ¡°Wow, such a start is slightly beyond expectations.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t believe in the strength of the Kansas City Chiefs, but looking at the off-season preparation, the Kansas City Chiefs still need some time to gel, while the Pittsburgh Steelers have already addressed Bell¡¯s absence and are ready for the new season.¡±


    ¡°The opening stage of the kickoff game tests the off-season preparation results of both sides.¡±


    ¡°We were expecting the Pittsburgh Steelers to have a slight edge, with inevitable struggles between the teams; but now, it seems Reed has completely dominated Tomlin.¡±


    ¡°So far, from the two waves of offensive and defensive standoffs, the Kansas City Chiefs appear younger but also more mature.¡±


    ¡°By ¡®younger,¡¯ I mean the players, with sophomore and junior players forming the core of the lineup, performing brilliantly, demonstrating high spirits, playing key roles on both offense and defense, and taking the initiative to suppress the Pittsburgh Steelers.¡±


    ¡°By ¡®more mature,¡¯ I mean the tactics.


    After adjustments by the coaching staff during the off-season, the tactics became clearer and more defined, allowing the team to easily take control during the opening stage against the Pittsburgh Steelers.¡±


    ¡°Incredibly, the game has just started less than five minutes ago, and everything is under the control of the Kansas City Chiefs, the defending champions making their mark.¡±


    Admiration, surprise, recognition.


    Even Michaels had to give a thumbs up to the Kansas City Chiefs as defending champions, who are naturally the target of many criticisms, especially with all the upheaval during the off-season, making the first game of the new season often the most difficult, needing both gelling and adjustmentsa?€¡±


    Just look at last year¡¯s New England Patriots to understand, usually starting slow at the beginning of the season.@@@@


    The league hasn¡¯t seen a team defend the Super Bowl title for over a decade, and there are few historical instances of this; it¡¯s not without reason.


    However, the Kansas City Chiefs managed to grow and transform amid turbulence and chaos, turning pressure into motivation, not letting the miracle of topping the Super Bowl become a shackle but rather an opportunity for the team to break out and evolve further.


    One opening act was enough to see the efforts of the Kansas City Chiefs during this off-season.


    One can¡¯t help but start to anticipate.


    ...


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    ¡°Now let¡¯s see how the Pittsburgh Steelers adjust on the spot; will Tomlin stick to his pre-game plan, or will he change strategies based on the state of his opponents?


    This traditionally strong defensive team is facing its first test of the season much sooner than expected.¡±


    ¡°But regardless of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Kansas City Chiefs are still preparing to play at their own pace.¡±


    ¡°We can now see on the sidelines, Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ new running back coach Burton Burns having a one-on-one talk with Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°Here¡¯s a little known fact for the audience.¡±


    Besides Hill and Kelsey, either Hunter or Li Wei were the unpredictable third targets.


    This season, the Chiefs had actually leveled up.


    Last season, relying solely on Hill, the wide receiver group was not effective.


    Thus, in the postseason, Li Wei frequently became a target.


    However, this year, the wide receiver group finally saw more support.


    This season, Sammy Watkins, transferred from the Los Angeles Rams, was picked fourth in the first round by the Buffalo Bills in 2014.


    Having been a college superstar with high expectations, he had never shown his potential in professional games, performing just moderately.


    His rookie contract hadn¡¯t even ended before he was traded to Los Angeles, but he only stayed there for a season before again switching teams continuously.


    When he joined the Chiefs, the league barely made a splasha?€¡±no one believed this former first-round pick could redeem himself.


    However, with the Chiefs, Watkins found his place.


    Twice in succession, Mahomes didn¡¯t choose Hill, Kelsey, or Li Wei as his targets; surprisingly, he connected with Watkins on short passes, easily advancing past midfield after securing the first down.


    The Steelers¡¯ defensive group was somewhat in disarraya?€¡±


    At the front line, unable to create enough pressure in time.


    In man-to-man defense, unexpectedly faced with a completely new receiver.


    For a moment, they were overwhelmed and flustered.


    The core issue was an intelligence failure; the Steelers had completely failed to predict the Chiefs¡¯ changes, unable to keep up with the pace.


    Tomlin realized immediately that they were caught in the opponent¡¯s pace, but the problem now was that the Chiefs¡¯ attentiveness and form were at their best, their tactical changes and pace control always one step ahead of the Steelers.


    Tomlin couldn¡¯t overthrow it; he could only hope that the Steelers¡¯ defensive group could utilize their experience to barely hold their ground, dragging out the situation and waiting for the opponent¡¯s initial excitement to cool down before seeking subsequent confrontation.


    For now, there were no signs of slowing down.


    The Steelers clenched their teeth and exerted their full strength, attempting to reverse the passive situationa?€¡±


    They got fierce.


    Instantly, Mahomes could feel the overwhelming pressure surging towards him.

 Chapter 581

    ?Chapter 581: 580 Double Trap Chapter 581: 580 Double Trap ¡°`


    Thump, thump, thump.


    No sooner had Mahomes declared the kickoff than the pressure from the opposing defensive line came crashing down like a violent storm, and this is when the Pittsburgh Steelers showcased their seasoned expertisea?€¡±


    Even in the face of adversity, under the pounding torrent, they wouldn¡¯t easily relent; first, they¡¯d clench their teeth and urgently keep pace, then bide their time to launch a counterattack to disrupt the opponent¡¯s rhythm, and finally, seek an opportunity to completely turn the situation around.


    Nowadays, people seldom refer to the Pittsburgh Steelers as the ¡°Steel Curtain,¡± but this once traditionally strong defensive team still possesses their resilience, standing at the pinnacle of the American League¡¯s powerhouses for ten years straight.


    And that¡¯s exactly what was happening right now.


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offense was becoming smoother and smoother, breaking free like a wild horse no longer under control; the Steelers¡¯ defensive group realized that they had to disrupt the opponent¡¯s momentum, or else they might completely fall behind.


    So.


    ...


    Hayward took the lead, exploding into action, with a feint step he bypassed the opposing offensive line, yet deliberately didn¡¯t shake them off completely, instead he continued moving forward, bumping against the opponent¡¯s shoulder, using the weight of his body and forward momentum to create a compounded force, instantly causing a corner of the pocket to collapse:


    Mahomes, just like that, was exposed before their eyes.


    And that was far from alla?€¡±


    Other members of the defensive line, linemen, cornerbacks, all chose to step up immediately, creating wave after wave of pressure with the Steelers¡¯ layered Steel Curtain, so even in the corners and edges of Mahomes¡¯ passing vision, he could feel the weight.


    Indeed, Mahomes did feel it, the intensity and rhythm of the defensive group on the other side released energy in an instant, suppressing the Kansas City Chiefs in return.


    Step back.@@@@


    Step back.


    Mahomes kept retreating amidst the crushing surge, when out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the grimacing, snarling Hayward continuing to break through.


    Mahomes thought he would be nervous, panic-strickena?€¡±


    At least, that¡¯s how he felt during his first start in the final game of last season.


    But that was not the case.


    Surprisingly, he was somewhat exhilarated.


    Pausing his steps, Mahomes caught sight of Hayward poised to breakthrough; in that lightning-fast moment, he threw the football.


    It wasn¡¯t a pass, but rather a lateral toss.


    Li Wei burst into view, scooping up the football into his embrace.


    False pass, true run.


    After a series of straightforward tactics, the Kansas City Chiefs chose a feint for the first time, with Mahomes and Li Wei executing a diversion.


    Thisa?€|


    The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive group believed that Mahomes would opt for a pass this time.


    A comprehensive step-up to apply pressure was just a faA?¡ìade; in reality, it was only the defensive line rushing to pass.


    The cornerbacks had retreated immediately, and the linebackers had not rushed to move.


    They began to drop back only after seeing Mahomes observing the defense, covering all short-passing areas tightly with man-to-man and zone defense, forming a Steel Curtain.


    The strategy was very simple: lure the enemy deeper in.


    However, just then, the view in front of him blurred.


    The figure that was just in sight had vanisheda?€¡±what happened?


    Hayward looked up, and then he saw Li Wei, with an effortless casual sidestep, just stepping away, seemingly without any effort, completely off course.


    Hayward: ???


    So, was it just he who was here performing a life and death race?


    Is that all?


    A wave of humiliation swept over him instantly.


    But Li Wei didn¡¯t have time to be concerned with Hayward.


    Everything was just as Burns said; Hayward¡¯s physical abilities were indeed declining, and he had to rely on experience for positioning.


    Once he lost his advantage, his judgment and initiation tended to be hasty.


    Though he seemed ferocious, Li Wei didn¡¯t actually need to be too anxious.


    By staying cool and calm, patiently waiting in place for a moment, he would see an opening and find the right timing to move out of position.


    Hayward¡¯s fatal blow would then completely miss.


    It was effortless.


    Li Wei changed his steps, using small, consecutive movements to shift his center of gravity and pick up speed.


    Hayward was already left behind, and before him was a clear view.


    A gap.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ second line of defense was fully retreating, leaving the space near the line of scrimmage with just the defensive line.


    Now that the entire defensive line had also stepped up to pressure the pass, the area near the line of scrimmage was completely emptied.


    The short-pass area was desolate.


    Thus, this became Li Wei¡¯s world.


    However, Li Wei didn¡¯t rush forward at full speed, swinging his arms.


    Instead, he backpedalled slightly to take in the entire scene ahead of hima?€¡±


    Vince Williams.


    TJ Watt.


    A double threat!


    The two linebackers were returning, blocking the way ahead.


    And that wasn¡¯t all.


    The corner of his vision caught Cornerback Artie Burns shaking off Kelsey and quickly falling back in defense, forming a pincer movement.


    Surrounded on all sides, trapped.


    If it all came down to brute force, it would be too boring, wouldn¡¯t it?


    Li Wei pursed his lips, a flash of excitement in his eyes.

 Chapter 582

    ?Chapter 582: Surrounded by enemies on all sides; in a desperate situation Chapter 582: Surrounded by enemies on all sides; in a desperate situation Surrounded on all sides, in a desperate situation!


    The moment his feet crossed the kickoff line, a solid formation was spread out before Li Wei; not just on the near side, but with a safety stationed on the far side as well.


    Layers upon layers of obstacles.


    Nevertheless, Li Wei still didn¡¯t rush.


    A pause.


    He halted his steps, drawing the enemy in deeper, striking after taking their measure.


    With one movement, he immediately triggered a chain reaction.


    ...


    In the silent confrontation, the instinctive reflex actions of the players ahead became clear, as did the way they handled the crisisa?€¡±like witnessing the onslaught of a violent storm.


    A second look.


    On the right, Burns and on the left, Williams, both continued to accelerate.


    They weren¡¯t unable to stop; instead, they were like soldiers facing a formidable foe, clenching their teeth and trying to increase their speed to stop Li Wei for a head-on collision.


    In the middle, TJ was an exception, noticing Li Wei¡¯s steps and immediately sounding the alarm.


    He braked, controlling his body as if he saw his teammate Bell, bending his knees to lower his center of gravity, and went on full alert.


    TJ, with the stance of a hunter, kept his eyes firmly locked on Li Wei.


    The trident attack coming head-on suddenly changed, with bayonets lancing out from both sides.


    A third look.


    Only then did Li Wei start moving.


    He feinted to the right without stopping and then dashed to the left.


    He could see in his peripheral vision TJ¡¯s slow-motion replay-like movement, mirroring Li Wei¡¯s movement, but a little slower in reaction and thus put on the defensive.


    A smile began to form at the corner of Li Wei¡¯s mouth as he suddenly burst into motion.


    His speed exploded to the fullest, charging along a diagonal path to the left, turning his passive situation into an aggressive one, with the added momentum of speed and power propelling his body for the assault.


    TJ: Damn.


    Williams: Help...


    Help me!


    This scene seemed familiar.


    In the first offensive wave, Li Wei¡¯s ground running was just like this.


    Was he now preparing to copy-paste again?


    Actually!


    It¡¯s the ¡°Bell mode¡± again!


    The first time, it might have been a coincidence; the second time, it was clearly a slap in the face.


    Brazenly using the Bell mode to break through, standing in front of the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive group, he moved as if he were in a circus act, trespassing in a place where no one else dared, such humiliation was akin to a slap.


    The kind of passing that¡¯s like ¡°a leaf that doesn¡¯t stick to any flowers in a garden,¡± a route devised after a second reading of the defense.


    Thrilling, yet silky smooth.


    Li Wei¡¯s steps faced no obstruction or deceleration; he flowed like a cloud and water, already beyond the first marker.


    The central territory to his left opened wide, his peripheral vision catching the cornerback and the safety from the other side closing in fast, but this didn¡¯t hinder his relentless advance.


    With one stride, even before any of the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ defensive players could touch Li Wei, he had already crossed the forty-yard line of the opposing half.


    First down, secured.


    TJ: Danger, danger danger danger!


    TJ was fully concentrated, locking onto Li Weia?€¡±


    The Pittsburgh Steelers today dressed in vintage black jerseys, with their frontal color clash colliding with the red of the Kansas City Chiefs.


    A streak of black charged horizontally, intercepting the streak of red attempting to distance itself diagonally for a smooth breakthrough.


    Closing in, intersecting.


    Just as the black was about to slam into the red, no one expected the red to perform an emergency stop, tiptoeing, sucking in the belly, puffing out the chest, and clearing the path ahead, narrowly avoiding the desperate black horizontal strike.


    Heh, brushing past.


    TJ could see the focus in Li Wei¡¯s helmeted gaze, and Li Wei could see the fierce determination in TJ¡¯s.


    It was a close call, but still out of reach.


    TJ clenched his teeth tightly, stopped abruptly, turned on a dime, and then saw Li Wei take off again, switching from a diagonal to a straight line, passing the spot he had been 0.5 seconds before, brushing past TJ¡¯s back to complete the breakthrough.


    At that moment, TJ¡¯s back was to Li Wei, unable to turn around, let alone make a tackle.


    Li Wei was flirting with danger, dancing on the blade¡¯s edge.


    But it was precisely such a daring attitude that hindered TJ¡¯s movements, leaving him with muscle yet powerless to exert force.


    Helplessly, TJ saw Li Wei brushing past behind his shoulder.


    The red surge swept past the black shield with ease, evading the heavy with agility, breaking the strong with nimbleness.


    The clash of colors created a rolling heatwave in the air.


    The world was on fire.


    So, is this it?


    TJ said ¡°no.¡±


    Spinning on the spot, jumping up right there, without a run-up or even the ability to gain momentum, but TJ, driven by a moment of unwavering will at the nth hour, incredibly flung his body forward.


    No certainty, but no reservations either.


    Because TJ knew that even a millisecond of hesitation would mean losing Li Wei.


    It had to be now.


    Ugh.


    With a grunt of exertion, TJ threw himself forward, wrapping his arms around Li Wei¡¯s waista?€¡±


    He caught him.

 Chapter 583

    ?Chapter 583: 582 Red and Black Confrontation Chapter 583: 582 Red and Black Confrontation TJ Watt refused to give up, refused to surrender, even if his steps couldn¡¯t keep up with his torso, even if Li Wei blocked his position, and his body twisted like a pretzel; he still seized the fleeting chance and hurled his entire body forward.


    Ahhhhhh, ahhhhhh!


    Exerting force, as if grasping at a lifesaver, though his lower body couldn¡¯t exert power, his upper body had already added all its strength onto it.@@@@


    Grapple.


    TJ, caught him.


    A different situation, a familiar scene.


    This time, Li Wei had also come prepared, with consecutive high-step running and forceful steps.


    ...


    Feeling the power of the grapple, Li Wei had already begun to break free.


    Left side.


    Right side.


    Left side.


    Swinging continuously from side to side like a pendulum, continuously destroying the stability of the grapple, and after the waist¡¯s strength loosened, Li Wei spun clockwise, dragging TJ as if in a pairs figure skating routine.


    However, Li Wei had only turned one-third of the way when TJ exhausted his strength, and the centrifugal force flung his body away.


    Li Wei felt his body lighten and regained his freedom, completing the remaining two-thirds of the circle with momentum, and finding his directiona?€¡±


    Pushing off the ground, dashing forward, releasing speed.


    Thud, thud, thud; thud, thud, thud.


    Following the inertia, and the centrifugal force, Li Wei also let his instincts take over in the chaos, flinging himself forward, his footwork bursting with explosive power to keep pace.


    In the blink of an eye, he had already crossed the thirty-five-yard line.


    Without catching his breath, he immediately crossed the thirty-yard line.


    TJ, staggering to find his balance, relentlessly pursued again, but watched as the distance grew further, Burns overtaking TJ and speeding towards Li Wei.


    Ahead, Safety Edmunds was also readya?€¡±


    Caught between the jaws of the wolf in front and the tiger behind, but Li Wei¡¯s speed had peaked, he held nothing back, sweeping by like a hurricane.


    A gust of wind, as fast as lightning!


    Pushing off, sprinting.


    Running wild, releasing.


    Upon the verdant field, Li Wei became a streak of red light weaving through the dense black tempest, ready to put on a show of single-handedly breaking through the blockade.


    The twenty-five-yard line.


    Edmunds attempted a head-on interception, only to see Li Wei pull a lateral move to the right, dodging off course.


    Li Wei, like a skilled puppeteer, dragged Edmunds¡¯ body along in a counterclockwise arc, with Edmunds swiping near Li Wei¡¯s left shoulder but never quite graspinga?€¡±


    Then, Edmunds ultimately failed to stabilize himself amidst the spin, the world became chaos, and he clumsily and stiffly fell straight down.


    The twenty-three-yard line.


    Kelsey was trying to block TJ, to buy Li Wei precious adjustment time; but TJ, clenching his teeth with determination, charged like a bull, directly flipping Kelsey over and continuing his powerful charge towards Li Wei.


    In the blink of an eye, Li Wei was too late to adjust.


    Legs together, he gathered his energy and jumped.


    An upright long jump posture, like a rabbit, leaping forward.


    Boom.


    Behind him, a wave of air rose.


    TJ and Kelsey, embroiled in a tangle, raged and licked at Li Wei¡¯s back as if to scorch him.


    Stride, push off, adjust.


    Li Wei continued forward, stumbling, his center of gravity shaky, looking as if he would fall at any moment; his upper body almost parallel to the ground, his knees barely supporting him.


    Howevera?€¡±


    ¡°The ten-yard line!¡±


    ¡°The five-yard line!¡±


    ¡°Incredible, inconceivable; Li Wei¡¯s steps were almost airborne, but the force of his push-off remained unceasing.¡±


    The entire Arrowhead Stadium held its breath as countless gazes focused on that streak of red, and while the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ defensive group unleashed peerless tenacity and strength, the Kansas City Chieftains ignited all their energy with an even firmer and more confident stance.


    That streak of red, like the tip of an arrow, forcefully tore through the swathes of black.


    One step.


    Two steps.


    Then, a fish-leap surge.


    In that moment, the tide surged, and Felix could no longer contain himself; his heart burst open, and a robust, intense vitality filled every corner of his body.


    He stood up involuntarily, throwing his arms high and shoutinga?€¡±


    Touchdown!


    In that instant, Felix seemed to momentarily forget the shadow of cancer, immersing himself in the moment, indulging in the enjoyment, the blossoming, the burning passion.


    Life is not just about length, but also about breadth and depth.


    ¡°End zone!¡±


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    ¡°Beautiful, brilliant, absolutely dominant!¡±


    ¡°Touchdown!


    The Kansas City Chieftains deceived the Pittsburgh Steelers with a fake pass and a true run play, Li Wei carrying the ball to complete a forty-yard ground advance for the touchdown!¡±


    ¡°A spectacular ground advance, Li Wei displayed excellent athletic form, almost single-handedly humiliating the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ defense.¡±


    ¡°The defending champions easily led the Pittsburgh Steelers with two touchdowns right from the start!¡±

 Chapter 584

    ?Chapter 584: 583 widening the gap Chapter 584: 583 widening the gap ¡°Brilliant.¡±


    Michaels regained his composure, not cheering or shouting or even raising his voice, but within his rational mind, he found greater sincerity.


    ¡°A long pass from midfield straight to the end zone for a touchdown, a lengthy ground rush for another touchdown, the defending champions displayed a superb competitive form.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps, those who just turned on their TVs might be puzzled by the score, wondering what the commentator is rambling about.


    Isn¡¯t this a one-sided match?


    Where is the excitement?¡±


    ¡°The progress of the game is far more intense than the score suggests.¡±


    ¡°The Pittsburgh Steelers also demonstrated their belief and determination, with tactical execution on both offense and defense that clearly reflected Tomlin¡¯s thorough preparation; they applied sufficient pressure and impact, and their performance thus far has been nothing short of impressive.¡±


    ¡°To be precise, it¡¯s not just ¡®not bad¡¯; it is, indeed, outstanding.¡±


    ¡°Yet, the excellence of the Steelers further proves the superiority of the Kansas City Chiefs.¡±


    ¡°This current Kansas City Chiefs team is familiar, its dazzling tactics still manage to impress, and its steady offensive strategy often hides a cutting edge, ready to strike a fatal blow when least expected.¡±


    ¡°At the same time, this Kansas City Chiefs team is also unfamiliar.


    Although last postseason they demonstrated their explosive powers when cornered, which was key to their ultimate victory, now they unleash that power effortlessly, without the need for adversity.¡±


    ¡°This is progress, and it is also transformation.¡±


    ¡°Thus, even though the Steelers are performing well, the Chiefs are still ahead by two touchdowns.¡±


    This is the part that truly impressed Michaelsa?€¡±


    Who would have thought that under such intense scrutiny, the reigning champions could still bring surprises?


    ¡°However, this is just the beginning.¡±


    ¡°So far, it¡¯s only a glimpse into what the Chiefs have achieved in their offseason training; it¡¯s too early to draw conclusions now.¡±


    ¡°There are still many mysteries.¡±


    ¡°Is it too soon to be at the peak of their form?


    How long can they maintain this state?¡±


    ¡°Revealing their cards at the beginning of the game, is this everything?


    ...


    When the opponent starts to adapt and counterattack, how will this young team respond?¡±


    In the end, Mahomes threw a 13-yard pass to Kelsey, scoring another touchdown.


    ¡°0:21¡±.


    The game was blown open.


    It was only the first quarter, and the Kansas City Chiefs had already pulled far ahead, not only did the Offensive group perform exceptionally, but the often-criticized Defensive group also shone, successfully shutting out their opponents.


    The entire stadium was shocked.


    Last regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers had been neck and neck, and though the Chiefs had emerged victorious, it had cost them greatly, leading to a painful six-game losing streak and a prolonged low, with the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ Defensive group teaching Li Wei a serious lesson.


    The rematch this new season was highly anticipated, and even before the Bell scandal, the League had already scheduled this game for the season opener, much to everyone¡¯s excitement.


    But this?


    It was not only a complete surprise but also a huge letdown.


    Suddenly, a lively debate ensueda?€¡±


    Apparently, without Bell, the Pittsburgh Steelers were like a tiger without teeth, Bell¡¯s strategic importance to Tomlin¡¯s Steelers was greater than imagined; one wonders if the Steelers regret tagging Bell with the franchise tag for two consecutive years.


    In front of the LCD screen, friends and family were cheering and toasting in celebration, but Bell was not.


    Bell¡¯s hands were folded across his chest, staring gloomily at the screen.


    On one hand, he was truly annoyed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, almost wishing they would lose all their games this season.


    On the other hand, seeing the Steelers in such dire straits, the competitive spirit deep inside him was stirring, almost making him want to roll up his sleeves and enter the field to confront the Chiefs right away.


    He was conflicted.


    Bell thought he had no feelings left for the Pittsburgh Steelers, after last year¡¯s repeated torment and turmoil, any sentiment should have been worn away; but unexpectedly, it still hurt.


    He couldn¡¯t even laugh.


    However, Bell knew Tomlin.


    Tomlin had been able to remain as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers for twelve years without ever being unstable, commonly thought to be due to bringing a Super Bowl Championship to Pittsburgh; but Bell knew that wasn¡¯t it.


    Tomlin was tough, smart, and strong; he knew how to manage his relationship with the team¡¯s owner, measure his interactions with the team manager, and on the field, he also maintained his patience to look for opportunities.


    In such a challenging situation, Tomlin¡¯s tenacity and calm were definitely unknown factors not to be overlooked, especially since were the Pittsburgh Steelers really that easily defeated?


    Clearly not.


    In the second quarter, Tomlin¡¯s counterattack arrived.

 Chapter 585

    ?Chapter 585: 584 Genuine Materials Chapter 585: 584 Genuine Materials ¡°`


    ¡°...James, it¡¯s Jesse James!¡±


    ¡°Roethlisberger¡¯s pass towards Antonio Brown successfully deceived the Kansas City Chiefs Defense, aiming behind Brown for James!¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a medium pass, but a long one, the parabola completely bypasses Brown¡¯s positiona?€¡±Brown is actually a smoke bomb, Roethlisberger successfully distracted the defenders¡¯ attention, launching a long pass.¡±


    ¡°Fifteen yards!¡±


    ¡°Twenty yards!¡±


    ¡°Twenty-five yards!¡±


    ¡°Roethlisberger throws a twenty-five-yard long pass!¡±


    ¡°James!


    James makes the catch, he shakes off Safety Murray¡¯s tackle!¡±


    ¡°Advance!¡±


    ¡°End zone!¡±


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    ¡°Beautiful, the Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Team finally breaks the deadlock and scores the first touchdown of the game!


    Could this be the turning point for the Pittsburgh Steelers to turn the tide?¡±


    The answer is affirmative.@@@@


    Tomlin didn¡¯t get flustered but showed the real deal as a head coach.


    He still insisted on the backup strategy formed during the offseason to cover for Bell¡¯s absencea?€¡±opening up routes, broadening the view, and transforming the Steelers into a team focused on passing offenses, making full use of Roethlisberger¡¯s ability to cover the entire field with his passes, attacking from multiple points like scattering blossoms from the heavens.


    The question was, how to use Brown?


    Brown had just renewed his contract last offseason and was now not only the league¡¯s highest-paid wide receiver but also widely recognized by professionals and players as the number one wide receiver, in top form, an undeniable weapon.


    ...


    How to utilize Brown correctly was the most important link for the Pittsburgh Steelers in their quest for victory and even the championship, especially in Bell¡¯s absence when Brown¡¯s tactical significance soared.


    Although Brown was somewhat flustered during the first quarter, failing to perform; he too needed time to find his competitive state.


    However, Tomlin showed his ruthless side.


    Like with Bell, he would bench Brown without hesitation.


    In the second quarter, Tomlin used Brown purely as a decoy, relying on him alone to attract the attention of at least two or even three people, which created the space for Roethlisberger¡¯s passesa?€¡±


    Including James, including Zhu Zhu, including the fourth and fifth wide receivers, including the new starting running back Conner, all could be targets for passes, as the Steelers opened up their entire passing offense strategy.


    In fact, it went beyond thata?€¡±when Mahomes chose his passing target, he could find that around his targets were defenders, and defenders roamed in each passing zonea?€¡±


    There was no space whatsoever.


    The pressure naturally mounted.


    Meanwhile, Li Wei faced tight man coverage from a nickel back, and if he couldn¡¯t shake him off immediately, double or triple coverage would close in on him, trapping him.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers transplanted the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯s tactic against Brown onto Li Wei, instantly making Li Wei relive the nightmare of last year¡¯s regular season¡¯s sixth week.


    The key to the whole strategy was that without blitzing, Mahomes was somewhat released; and what Tomlin capitalized on was Mahomes¡¯s inexperience and temperament.


    First off, inexperience.


    Second, the willingness to take risks.


    Tomlin managed to spring in the second quarter the trap that failed during the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯s second offensive wave in the first quarter; faced with such a situation, the success from the first quarter had given Mahomes confidence, encouraging him to take risks and attempt passes, but his choice of passing routes and targets still betrayed the impetuosity of youth.


    After all, this was just his first career start.


    As long as Mahomes dared to take risks, the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯s immediate double team defense would put the Kansas City Chiefs at risk of an interceptiona?€¡±


    Dancing on the edge of the knife.


    Although the Pittsburgh Steelers had not managed an interception yet, the pressure was constantly there.


    Hill, Kelsey, Watkins, and other receiving points were all surrounded, causing the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯s offense to falter.


    The first running play hit a wall.


    The first pass was incomplete.


    The first strikeout.


    The youngster began to pay the price for his lack of experience.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers seized the opportunity at once, displaying the poise of a seasoned team.


    First was Roethlisberger connecting with Zhu Zhu for another touchdown, but the extra point was missed.


    Late in the first half, the Pittsburgh Steelers even played a little trick on offense.


    Running back Conner passed the ball back to Roethlisberger, who then threw it to this year¡¯s rookie wide receiver James Washington for a fourteen-yard touchdown completion.


    Immediately after, they chose a two-point conversion, and incredibly, Roethlisberger connected with running back Connera?€¡±it was successful!


    Whistle!


    The first half, the game ended.


    ¡°`

 Chapter 586

    ?Chapter 586: 585 A Good Play Chapter 586: 585 A Good Play The first half, overa?€¡±


    Michaels was stunned for a moment, shock and impact surging continuously in his mind, various words spinning on the tip of his tongue yet unable to be vocalized.


    So, how should it be evaluated?


    In the first quarter, ¡°0:21,¡± the Kansas City Chiefs dominated the game.


    In the second quarter, ¡°21:0,¡± the Pittsburgh Steelers fully revived.


    The two quarters were like mirror images, perfectly copied and pasted, but with one position reversed.


    First, the Kansas City Chiefs scored three touchdowns, shutting out the visiting team, and then the Pittsburgh Steelers scored three touchdowns, shutting out the home team, each commanding half of the game.


    ...


    As the head referee blew the whistle to end the first half, the game entered halftime tied, with both teams having played a spectacular quarter, culminating in an exciting first half before heading back to the locker rooms.


    The score, ¡°21:21.¡±


    This is hard to evaluate.


    Although the Professional League has no shortage of bizarre and unique games, a game where a team dominates one quarter by shutting out the opponent only to end up tied at halftime was unprecedented.


    The first half, what exactly happened?@@@@


    After going around in circles for half a circle, are we back where we started?


    Did this game actually happen, or did it not?


    ¡°Indeeda?€¡±¡±


    ¡°As expected from the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers, as expected from the season opener, both sides lived up to the expectations, once again delivering a sensational match in an unconventional way, as if mocking all the spectators:


    Hey, you thought you had guessed the outcome?


    But you were all wrong.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you think, but I certainly didn¡¯t expect this.¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs are young, and they relied on their youth to dominate the first quarter, displaying the fresh face of the defending champions; yet, their youth also cost them the second quarter, exposing their lack of experience in all areas.¡±


    ¡°The Pittsburgh Steelers are seasoned.


    They misjudged the first quarter because of their experience, paying a painful price; yet, it was also their experience that allowed them to counterattack in place in the second quarter, bringing back the balance and suspense to the game.¡±


    ¡°The two teams, evenly matched.¡±


    ¡°The future of the 2018 season looks bright.¡±


    Unable to help himself, Michaels made a little joke.


    In front of the television, some appreciated, some applauded, and some cheered, the season opener truly lived up to the expectations, but not everyone could smile.


    ¡°However, Brown was only expressing his discontent to the offensive coordinator, passing the message indirectly to Tomlin; how Tomlin would handle this and utilise Brown in the second half was a critical issue,¡±


    ¡°After Bell announced his refusal to play for the team, the Pittsburgh Steelers sidelined Brown on their own; yet, Tomlin did not revert to a ground attack mode but instead continued with a high-volume passing strategy, burdening Roethlisberger with an unprecedented offensive responsibility.


    This was a new Steelers,¡±


    ¡°We weren¡¯t familiar with it, Reed wasn¡¯t either,¡±


    ¡°This was a variable and a problem we needed to solve,¡±


    Undoubtedly excitinga?€¡±


    In an unexpectedly thrilling way,


    Although no one anticipated that the season opener would unfold in such a manner; still, it was exciting, and the one-quarter showdown was as exhilarating as a rollercoaster, testing the endurance of our hearts,


    Not just the fans of both teams, but neutral spectators too were thrilled,


    Then, the second half began,


    The Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Team took the field first, and Tomlin was well-prepared,


    The visiting team continued the offensive rhythm from the second quartera?€¡±


    ¡°Trap¡± was the keyword,


    On one hand, Tomlin set the formation, finally ready to break through on the ground, what the fans commonly expected from the Steelers, but it was all a feint; the true strategy was still quick, short passes, just like in the second quarter,


    On the other hand, Brown¡¯s feigned routes forced the defense to guard him, yet Brown remained a decoy, Roethlisberger¡¯s pass targets were spread wide, the targets clear, slowly wearing down the young Kansas City Chiefs Defense¡¯s will with a positional battle approach,


    Only after this wave of offense ended did Brown, unable to contain his anger, confront Tomlin on the sidelines, questioning why Tomlin did not choose him as the pass target.


    It was then he realized:


    Tomlin was not just deceiving the opposition but also deceiving Brown,


    No wonder Brown¡¯s routes were so ¡°convincingly deceptive¡±; because Brown truly believed he was the pass target, yet did not anticipate that Tomlin had given Roethlisberger two sets of tactical instructions, misleading Brown,


    It¡¯s no surprise then that the Kansas City Chiefs Defense failed to decipher the opponent¡¯s tactics; and it must be said that Tomlin played a harsh game,


    Brown¡¯s personal feelings were ignored, because the Pittsburgh Steelers scored again, proving Tomlin¡¯s strategy was successfula?€¡±


    This time, it was Roethlisberger who scored,


    A three-yard rush to the end zone,


    The Pittsburgh Steelers had almost abandoned Brown, nearly forsaking the ground attack, launching a completely new offensive strategy that baffled everyone and played a trick at the last moment, like magic,


    With Roethlisberger advancing on the ground, his heavy, slow steps were like those of a whale, even minimal movement capable of shaking the entire world, overturning the defense¡¯s judgments amidst a series of small tremors, unexpectedly forcing his way into the end zone and securing the touchdown,


    ¡°28:21,¡±


    The Pittsburgh Steelers took the lead,

 Chapter 587

    ?Chapter 587: 586 Fraud Tactics Chapter 587: 586 Fraud Tactics ¡°Wow, Roethlisberger!¡±


    ¡°Who would have thought, the first touchdown of the second half would actually be by Roethlisberger?


    This is definitely a scene no one anticipated before the season opener.¡±


    ¡°But!¡±


    ¡°The Pittsburgh Steelers have taken the lead!¡±


    ¡°Indeed, until the last moment, one can never easily predict the outcome.¡±@@@@


    Layout, planning, gamblinga?€¡±


    The Pittsburgh Steelers finally revealed their sharpened fangs from the off-season.


    Oh yeah!


    Tomlin clenched his fists tightly to celebrate, and for once, he showed his real emotions, his gaze piercing across the entire field towards the other side, a murderous intent flaring in his eyes, his conviction to win and soaring fighting spirit burning fiercely.


    This game allows only for victory, not defeat.


    There is no other option.


    Tomlin knew that Bell was watching, the team management was watching, and the entire league¡¯s related and unrelated gazes were all focused on thema?€¡±


    The Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ tough and resolute attitude towards a top running back like Bell, setting aside league benefits, was it wise?


    ...


    Indeed, the season opener is just one game and cannot determine the course of the entire season; however, the pressure of this win or loss is extraordinary and might determine the team¡¯s state for a series of games to come.


    They must win.


    However.


    The Kansas City Chiefs were really tough to chew, undergoing a complete transformation from offense to defense, plus the fervor of the youth, everyone was eager to start the new season, pushing Tomlin to a point of no return.


    Out of necessity, Tomlin had to draw his ace in the hole one after anothera?€¡±


    Some of these were secret weapons Tomlin had prepared for the fourth week of regular season facing the century-old division rival Baltimore Ravens, now being unveiled ahead of schedule.


    But, there was no other way.


    The ¡°Steel Raven Battle¡± is very important, but the current season opener is just as crucial.


    ¡°Ah.


    Ah!¡±


    Tomlin also roared, releasing pressure for the first time since the game had begun.


    The release was also brief.


    Tomlin immediately regained his reason and composure, continuing to deploy his troops.


    Because Tomlin knew Reed¡¯s capabilities and the potential of the Kansas City Chiefs, plus the fact that this is Arrowhead Stadium, the defending champions¡¯ momentum was strong; any small break could become a turning point to overturn the situation, they must pursue their advantage and continue to expand their lead.


    He wanted to strike back.


    He wasn¡¯t going to be the one pushed around on the ground; he was supposed to be the master in the game of dominance, the one holding the whip.


    Now, the opportunity had come.


    Burns didn¡¯t care whether the Chiefs were throwing up smoke bombs; he aimed at his side and prepared to pounce like a tiger down the mountain, seeking to overpower with momentum.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    With the command, Burns shoved Kelsey in front of him and recklessly broke past the scrimmage line into the pocket.


    Blitz!


    The Steelers¡¯ defensive strategy for this play centered around just one core concepta?€¡±


    the blitz.


    Firstly, there had been no blitz in the whole second quarter, and now, they sought the element of surprise.


    Secondly, positioning was crucial; the spots right in front of the end zone were a rare opportunity, and this was the defensive group¡¯s chance.


    So, with a strong concentrated effort, they would overpower the many.


    The Steelers¡¯ defensive group rolled up their sleeves, completely disregarding the Chiefs Offense¡¯s tactics, and threw themselves into the fray in an unreasonable manner, instantly unleashing tremendous energy.


    An overwhelming force!


    Burns was stepping up; he was momentarily deceived by Kelsey¡¯s feint, so much so that his own move was not fluid, and a figure had already stepped ahead of him from the right, his peripheral vision capturing only a blura?€¡±


    Morgan Burnett, the safety who had transferred from the Green Bay Packers this season, now acting as the fifth back, with his primary task to closely mark Li Wei.


    Burnett took the lead, not choosing to wait in the short pass area for Li Wei, but instead charging like a tiger leaping over the scrimmage line into the end zone.


    Burns: Damn it, my glory is going to be stolen.


    Not willing to be outdone, Burns also sped up, plunging into the end zone in pursuit.


    The target, Li Wei?


    No, Hunter.


    Obviously, the other side with Li Wei was also hard-hit, facing a triple team; the Chiefs had anticipated the Steelers would focus on Li Wei, so they cleverly used him as a decoy, and Mahomes handed the football to Huntera?€¡±


    Nobody could blame Reed for being conservative.


    Mahomes¡¯ pass completion rate in the second quarter was poor, both his route choices and defensive reads were rough; he was still young and needed polishing.


    After the halftime break, Mahomes¡¯ head was still a bit confused; rather than let the Steelers go all out to capture the young quarterback, it was better to hand the football to the running back and rely on personal ability to break through.


    At least, to advance three to five yards first and escape the dangerous quagmire of the end zone.


    Hunter took a deep breath, his eyes lit up, showing that his moment to prove himself had come, a chance to demonstrate he was every bit as good as Li Wei and Bell.


    Bend the knees, lower the shoulders, push off the ground!

 Chapter 588

    ?Chapter 588: 587 Laughing at the Troubles of the World Chapter 588: 587 Laughing at the Troubles of the World ¡°Hunter, engage!¡±


    ¡°Burnett steps up, Hunter dodges, Hunter is ready to break through the gap!¡±


    ¡°But!¡±


    ¡°Burns!


    Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ cornerback Burns intercepts Hunter.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that collision!¡±


    ¡°Burnett!


    Burnett provides support, joining forces with Burns to tackle Hunter to the ground.¡±


    ¡°Hunter couldn¡¯t break free.¡±


    ¡°Down.¡±


    ¡°End zone.¡±


    ¡°God, safety!¡±


    ¡°Pittsburgh Steelers!


    The Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ defensive group finally shows their energy, completely dominating the game.


    In the end zone, Burnett and Burns joining to bring Hunter down, scoring a safety and widening their lead.¡±


    ¡°Incredible!¡±


    ¡°In this game, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been trying to increase the pace and intensity, but the Kansas City Chiefs are performing excellently, clinging tightly to the situation.


    The head-to-head conflict between the two strong teams hasn¡¯t been able to produce a significant gap.¡±


    ¡°But now!¡±


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, Coach Mike Tomlin!


    Allow me to introduce to you with great honor!¡±


    ¡°Coach Tomlin proves by his actions why he is still among the top coaches in the league.


    ...


    Even without the number one running back, even without the number one wide receiver, he can still bring surprises through tactical deployment, showcasing the full strength that has made people take notice and anticipate since preseason.¡±


    ¡°From the offensive group to the special duty group to the defensive group, a seamless surge of offense.¡±


    ¡°Finally, the situation has come under the control of the Pittsburgh Steelers.¡±@@@@


    Admiration, amazement, standing up with a slam on the deska?€¡±


    ¡°30:21¡±.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers not only took the lead in the score but are actually further extending their advantage.


    Since the second quarter started, they have created a thirty-to-zero tide, completely suppressing the defending champions¡¯ youthful energy.


    Burns: Ah, ahhh!


    Finally!


    After suppressing and then suppressing more, feeling frustrated and more frustrated, Burns, who has been invisible for the whole game, finally seized the opportunity to make his voice heard with a critical defensive play.


    Even though his defensive target was Hunter, Burns roared towards Li Wei¡¯s direction, his face flushed red, drenched in sweat, his eyes flashing fiercely.


    The momentum, it fully exploded in the end zone of the Kansas City Chiefsa?€¡±


    Indeed, there¡¯s no doubt that a safety is the most morale-damaging.


    A touchdown run by Roethlisberger himself and a safety.


    From the score to the situation, to the momentum, things suddenly turned severe.


    Does this mean that the halftime strategies were all for naught?


    What should be done next?


    In the crowd, there was one exceptiona?€¡±


    Li Wei.


    Annoyed, of course, he was annoyed, but it only lasted briefly.


    Li Wei quickly pulled himself together.


    The game was still ongoing.


    Instead of dwelling on the past, it was better to focus on the present because the game was not yet over.


    Li Wei approached, the first to help Hunter up, and gave him a pat on the shoulder.


    After standing up, Hunter realized it was Li Wei.


    He was about to stubbornly say something when Li Wei had already turned around, patting Mahomes, Kelsey, and the shoulders of the other offensive players, encouraging them and reminding them to leave the field.


    Next, the Special Duty Groups took to the field, with the Kansas City Chiefs kicking off and the Pittsburgh Steelers returning to the offense, with Roethlisberger leading the charge.


    That is to say, if the Chiefs wanted to turn the tide, they needed to start with the defensive group.


    So.


    Not just the offensive group, Li Wei made his way to the defensive group, not calling out or shouting, just giving high-fives to each player.


    Calm, composed, and serene.


    Even without words, Li Wei¡¯s demeanor helped to steadied the somewhat anxious Kansas City Chiefs.


    Houston was startled, ¡°Rookie?¡±


    Li Wei looked over and showed a smile, ¡°The season has just started.


    You don¡¯t think this is the Himalayas already, do you?¡±


    A simple jest, but it was enougha?€¡±


    Indeed, this was just the opening game.


    A long season lay ahead with countless challenges waiting in line.


    If they were already trembling with fear, it would be better to give up early and go back to farming, to avoid making a spectacle.


    Moreover, they had fought through each game step by step last season.


    How could they have become so delicate all of a sudden this season?


    It was just the Pittsburgh Steelers after all, even without their star running back, were they that intimidated?


    What poor spirit!


    Look at Li Wei, unaffected and composed, sitting on a chair, legs crossed, drinking water, and sharing jokes with Coach Burns.


    The faint sound of wind brought the hearty laughter of Clark and Burns who seemed to have grown accustomed to this scene.


    As long as they followed Li Wei, they appeared fearless as if facing thousands of troops.


    Quietly, one after another, the players of the Kansas City Chiefs straightened their backs and squared their shoulders, and after a brief moment of confusion, their eyes regained focus.

 Chapter 589

    ?Chapter 589: Ignoring what one sees Chapter 589: Ignoring what one sees What is the root cause that the Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Team has completely opened up the situation?


    Subverting expectations.@@@@


    A seemingly important but forgotten Brown.


    A Conner who, because he replaced Bell as the starter and stood in the spotlight, ended up being treated like the fifth offensive lineman.


    A Roethlisberger who seemed low-key and inconspicuous, as if he had entered a time of retirement, but became assertive at crucial moments, taking control of the offensive hub.


    Speculations abound, but no one knows what really happened to the Pittsburgh Steelers during the offseasona?€¡±


    From the performance of Antonio Brown, he didn¡¯t know either.


    ...


    Originally, with Bell¡¯s strike and Brown¡¯s statement, it was clear that Brown chose to stand with the team, speaking to Bell on behalf of the team, and the situation became clear.


    Without Bell, Brown was the only superstar in the Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Team.


    But now?


    In the season opener, he met with a cold reception; although Brown was always on the field, up to this point, he had only been targeted three times.


    All during the first quarter.


    Of course, there were objective reasons.


    The Kansas City Chiefs defended Brown with two or even three players, making it hard for Brown to break free, and Roethlisberger couldn¡¯t find suitable opportunities, leading to a natural decline in passing opportunities; once the Chiefs¡¯ defense relaxed, and Brown regained space, things would be differenta?€¡±


    This is also why the Kansas City Chiefs couldn¡¯t easily dismiss Brown.


    But three times?


    Isn¡¯t that an exaggeration?


    Plus, there¡¯s that minor conflict between Brown and Tomlin.


    All signs seem to indicate that the Steelers¡¯ top wide receiver isn¡¯t satisfied with being used merely as a decoy.


    So, does this mean that the Kansas City Chiefs should adjust their defensive strategy?


    ¡°Fuller, are you ready?¡±


    The defending champions¡¯ defensive group had already taken the field.


    Before lining up, Houston looked towards the third-year cornerback who had just joined during the offseason with a slightly worried expressiona?€¡±


    Eager and rubbing his hands together, yet somewhat impetuous.


    In such moments, Li Wei was much calmer and more stable, trustworthy.


    Houston didn¡¯t realize it, but Li Wei had become his standard of measure.


    Fuller didn¡¯t notice the concerns hidden behind Houston¡¯s hesitant expression; his eyes were fixed solely on one person in a black jersey not far awaya?€¡±


    Antonio Brown.


    Just like Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Ramsey, who got the chance to challenge the opposing team¡¯s top wide receiver in single coverage every game, proving his ability through these high-level showdowns and earning a place in the league.


    Fowler also believed in himself.


    He knew he wasn¡¯t on Ramsey¡¯s level yeta?€¡±it was an objective fact, and there was no need to deny it; but he also knew his potential was greater, he was still growing, still improving, and he would diligently hone his skills like Li Wei, eventually shining in his own right.


    The first step was right in front of him.


    Fowler didn¡¯t rashly move forward, but instead took a step back to gain space for defending Brown, only starting to move when he noticed Brown¡¯s start.


    Only when they were about five yards past the kickoff line did Fowler stick to Brown, continuously bumping into him with his shoulder to disrupt his balance, and clinging to Brown with his body like glue.


    However, Brown too showcased his ability.


    He suddenly realized that he wasn¡¯t being double-teamed, just single coverage.


    In the NFL, in single coverage, Brown had never feared anyone.


    Including Ramsey.


    Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ shocking loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in last season¡¯s divisional playoff, Brown had held his own against Ramsey.


    In Brown¡¯s view, Ramsey was still too young and needed more polishing, whether he aspired to become the next Sherman or Revis, Ramsey still had a long way to go.


    And Fowler?


    Heh, who is this guy?


    He never bothered to remember the names of the insignificant, for there were too many who had fallen at his feet to keep track of.


    Brown didn¡¯t try to shake Fowler off.


    Not only did he not try, but he also actively stepped forward, sticking to Fowler.


    The two of them were completely entangled, but the moment Fowler was preparing to block him off, Brown made the first move to launch himself forward, using the stepping action to deliver a blow with his shoulder and pry Fowler open, creating an arm¡¯s length of space in the blink of an eye.


    A stutter step, a turna?€¡±


    The space for the catch was already there.


    Brown called for the ball, ¡°I¡¯m open, I¡¯m open!¡±


    Roethlisberger didn¡¯t see Brown.


    The football was thrown towards tight end Jesse James, positioned not far to the right in the slot, securing the first touchdown for the Pittsburgh Steelers.


    Brown, watching the football¡¯s arc just out of reach and unable to help, looked up in despair, knowing this offensive pass play had nothing to do with him again.


    Damn it!


    But this time, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense finally had their hands free.


    Lineman Houston blocked the position immediately, and safety Murray quickly followed with support, the sandwich maneuver by the two causing James to lose his spot.


    The pass was incomplete!

 Chapter 590

    ?Chapter 590: Prove oneself Chapter 590: Prove oneself Finally!


    The Kansas City Chiefs Defense had hit the brakes just in time amidst chaos and crisis, completing a beautiful defensive play and forcing Roethlisberger¡¯s pass incomplete.


    Since the second half began, the atmosphere of the tight and sticky game kept heating up.


    The entire Arrowhead Stadium was like a pressure cooker ready to explode at any momenta?€¡±


    Oppressive, boiling.


    Brown: ¡°I was open.


    Damn it, I was just open.¡±


    It was apparent, an irate Brown yelling at Roethlisberger, with other Pittsburgh Steelers players quickly stepping in to intervene, pulling Brown away in an attempt to calm the raging bull.


    To the unaware, this scene could have indicated that the Pittsburgh Steelers were behind in the score.


    ...


    Nevertheless, Brown¡¯s outburst did indeed highlight an issue:


    Finally, the Kansas City Chiefs had given up on surrounding Brown, and the Steelers spotted it.


    Would they try a counter-attack and attempt to connect with Brown?


    Tomlin was strategizing, and so was Reed.


    Second and ten.


    The Kansas City Chiefs still had only Cornerback Fuller shadowing Brown.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers still did not try to connect with Brown.


    Roethlisberger¡¯s quick short pass found rookie Wide Receiver James Washington, who made a four-yard catch but was immediately pushed out of bounds by Cornerback Nelson before he could turn around, hurriedly ending the drive.


    Third and six.


    The situation suddenly tensed up.


    The Kansas City Chiefs Defense was finally getting a feel for the game, and the moment Reed chose to have Fuller single-handedly defend Brown, it wasn¡¯t just about numerical advantage.


    The other players, not preoccupied with Brown, refocused and the increase in concentration was immediately evident.


    So, the question remaineda?€¡±


    Would the Steelers connect with Brown?


    And when would they choose to do so?


    Once Roethlisberger reconnected with Brown, the Chiefs Defense would be pushed back into a predicament, and any slight advantage gained in the two defensive gears could crumble instantly.


    However, conversely, if the Kansas City Chiefs could hold up this third and six, they could win a brief respite, next up would be the young Offensive group taking the field again.


    The situation was delicate and sticky, the real excitement was only now truly unfolding.


    ¡°Reed VS Tomlin.¡±


    The game was playing out between the two head coaches.


    There wasn¡¯t much time for hesitation and indecision, the Steelers announced the start of the play.


    ¡°Blitz!¡±


    ¡°Without any warning, abruptly, the Chiefs chose to blitz, six men charging, instantly tearing open the pocket, plunging Roethlisberger into crisis.¡±


    So.


    He changed his catch to a push.


    With an upward and outward sweep of the palm.


    The trajectory of the football was completely altered.


    Brown was standing a step behind, already posing to catch the ball and his body ready to pivot and sprint.


    He could envision himself holding the ball and a clear path to the end zone for a touchdown.


    He had even thought of his celebration, beating his chest like King Kong atop the Empire State Building.


    But in a flash, Brown watched dumbfounded as the football leapt over his head like the mischievous mushroom in Super Mario, just like that...


    it was gone...


    Brown: ???


    Wait a minute, what...


    how...


    what happened?


    As Brown turned around, he didn¡¯t see Fowler, just a flash of red.


    Without a roar or a howl, Fowler had run past Brown, picked up the football, and jogged back to the team¡¯s resting area, tossing it gently to Li Wei, his eyes shining brightly at him.


    That look clearly said: It¡¯s your turn now.


    Gasping for breath, drenched in sweat, but with a beaming smile and bursting with energy.


    The scene brought a smile to Li Wei¡¯s lips as he tossed the football to Mahomes, ¡°Sherlock, it¡¯s our turn to shine now.¡±


    Mahomes caught the football with ease, stood up with a grin, and began stretching his legs with exaggerated warm-up motions, radiating self-satisfaction.


    Whether it was the offensive group or the defensive group, everyone burst into laughter.


    Houston was ready to celebrate, but he saw Fowler rush back like a gust of wind, leaving him standing there alone, only to witness this scene.


    He paused for a moment and then chuckled in disbelief:


    Youth is wonderful, so much more energetic and lively than us old folks.


    ¡°Struck out!¡±


    ¡°The Pittsburgh Steelers struck out, ending their continuous scoring momentum.¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs pulled off a beautiful defense!¡±


    ¡°Third-year cornerback Fowler, who joined during the off-season, perfectly defended against Brown.


    Obviously, Brown was careless.


    For the first time in the game being targeted as a receiver, he was too eager to showcase his skill, failed to secure his position, giving Fowler the chance to intercept.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t just Fowler; the entire Kansas City Chiefs Defense followed suit.


    The rhythm of stepping up and following through was very timely, giving the Pittsburgh Steelers a sucker punch just when people were worried about when the defending champions could turn the tide.


    They did not wait passively for the chance; they actively sought change and disrupted the rhythm, ensuring the game continued to be tightly contested.¡±


    ¡°Next up, the offensive group is taking the field.¡±@@@@

 Chapter 591

    ?Chapter 591: 590 Deep Thoughts and Suffering Chapter 591: 590 Deep Thoughts and Suffering The situation had undergone subtle changes.


    However, the advantage was still in the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers.


    Let¡¯s not forget, the Kansas Chiefs Offense was also experiencing a low point, their skin and every cell feeling the traditional skills of the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ Defensive group.


    The young Offensive group was obediently in class.


    Therefore, Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ three-and-out was merely a brief respite for the Kansas City Chiefs, and whether they could completely turn the tide depended on the Offensive group¡¯s upcoming performance.


    The circumstances were still extremely dire.


    Honestly, Mahomes was somewhat dazeda?€¡±


    Sometimes, he reminded himself to play according to the coach¡¯s methods; but when his brain heated up, habits from his college games would resurface.


    ...


    Different thoughts tugged at his mind, causing stumbles in the game.


    Reason told him to stay calm and composed, to take it one step at a time.


    But clearly, it wasn¡¯t an easy task.


    Subconsciously turning his head, Mahomes saw a focused Li Wei.


    This slightly calmed Mahomes down.


    No matter what difficulties they faced, they were in it together, so what they needed now was focus, focus, anda?€¡±


    Focus.


    Indeed, Li Wei was thinking about how to adjust the advancement strategy.


    Generally speaking, if the focus is on pass defense, the ground attack may find some opportunities; if the focus is on ground defense, the passing offense would have more space.


    But not the Pittsburgh Steelers.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers bravely gave Mahomes more space to maneuver, not only gaining more strength for pass defense but also not slacking in ground defense.


    They firmly exploited Mahomes¡¯s youth and greenness to demonstrate the team¡¯s cunning and maturity from dominating the league for over a decade.


    So, was there a solution?


    Yes.


    Read Option Offense.


    Simply put, it¡¯s about making full use of the quarterback¡¯s running ability, a strength for a mobile quarterback, easily resolving crises.


    Only a small number of people knew that Mahomes also had the ability to run.


    Mahomes was undoubtedly a traditional Pocket Quarterback, known for his impressive long passes since college; but he had exceptional athletic ability, and there was no problem for him to run with the ball, so during the off-season, quarterback coaches began to slowly polish this aspect of Mahomes¡¯s abilitiesa?€¡±


    Just like Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers.


    In fact, Rodgers was also a traditional Pocket Quarterback who enjoyed passing, but when crises arose, his running ability was no less than any mobile quarterback, and that¡¯s what truly made Rodgers formidable.


    What about Li Wei himself?


    Li Wei lightly hopped on the spot, feeling relaxed.


    He thought it was time to test the other training results from the off-seasona?€¡±


    Tomlin surely couldn¡¯t be naA? ?ve enough to think that off-season training with Watt was just about chatting, playing in the water, and heart-to-heart talks?


    Line up.


    Seventeen yards for the home side, first down with ten to go.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers were still highly focused, and the Special Duty Group¡¯s punter performed well, pushing back the Kansas Chiefs¡¯ starting position by a few steps.


    Mahomes made his second appearance of the second half, and the position was still not favorable.


    The aira?€¡±as if ablazea?€¡±


    The Kansas City Chiefs attempted to use momentum to break out of the predicament.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers sought to snuff out any sparks.


    And then.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Mahomes announced the kickoff, and without pause, handed the football to Li Wei right away.


    The Kansas Chiefs didn¡¯t rush recklessly into the fray; they chose to start with a ground attack.


    Hayward was pleased.


    Everything was as expected; Tomlin had once again outplayed Reed on a tactical levela?€¡±


    Bring it on.


    Hayward started early, charging forward with full force right away.


    But it was slightly different from usual.


    Normally, Hayward would target either the Guard or the Tackle, colliding head-on to create confrontation; this time, Hayward looked as if he was set on blitzing the Quarterback, sidestepping the Tackle¡¯s block, misdirecting with borrowed force and rushing along the edge of the Pocket.


    This was a blitz.


    The difference lay in the target of the sack, which was not the Quarterback but the Running Back.


    Hayward¡¯s career had seen countless such tackles, and a ferocious smile flickered at the corner of his mouth:


    Sorry, poor rookie.


    However, the smile didn¡¯t fully bloom; within the next second, it froze on his lips.


    Hayward didn¡¯t even have time to spread his arms when a red hurricane slipped under his arm, leaving nothing but a blur behind.


    Half a beat too slow, Hayward couldn¡¯t stop in time, and he dove straight into empty space.


    Faceplanting spectacularly.

 Chapter 592

    ?Chapter 592: 591 Breakthrough from the Front Chapter 592: 591 Breakthrough from the Front Running backs also come in different styles and types.


    There are bullish running backs and agile ones, power backs and speedsters, siege-based and tactical running backs, among others.


    Li Wei has always been known to the League as an intelligent running back:


    Not only does he patiently read the defense before the snap, his second-level defensive reading after the snap is equally meticulous and careful, far from the type who blindly crashes into walls.


    Without a doubt, among the active running backs, Li Wei is one of the players who best combines intelligence with his abilities, which is the foundation of his success.


    Indeed, in today¡¯s first half, Li Wei utilized Bell¡¯s running style to its fullest, handling it with ease and fully displaying his own abilities in second-level defensive reading and route selection.


    On the surface, he seemed similar to Bell, but the actual effect was even more impressive.


    However.


    ...


    This time, Li Wei changed tacticsa?€¡±


    Drastically different.


    After the snap, there was no hesitation, no observation, nor adjustment; he just started stepping forward, accelerating into a full-force charge almost before one could blink, with emphasis on speed.@@@@


    This wasn¡¯t Li Wei.


    If this were Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fournette, it would make sense; Fournette often doesn¡¯t survey the field and simply runs the routes set by the coaches, bulldozing through defenses like a charging rhino.


    But now?


    Hayward¡¯s assessment was clearly disrupteda?€¡±


    He lunged forward as hard as he could.


    In Hayward¡¯s view, it was about stealing time, using the moment Li Wei observed the defense to make a preemptive tackle before Li Wei could start moving.


    But to his utter surprise, even though he was already racing against time, he was still a beat too slow.


    Li Wei had preemptively evaded his tackle, ducking low and slipping through his arms with a bend of the knees.


    His lower body surged forward and his upper body leaned back, resembling a scene from ¡°The Matrix,¡± as he deftly and impressively dodged Hayward.


    Hayward was completely stunned, still unable to grasp what had happened as he was overwhelmed by the shock and impact of easily being outmaneuvered by Li Wei, while shame and anger swiftly flooded his mind.


    Meanwhile, Li Wei had no time to consider Hayward¡¯s shattered pride; he was fully committed to stealing time, setting up a surprise attacka?€¡±


    Elevating his speed, elevating his pace.


    At that moment, the front lines of both teams were in total chaos at the Chu River and Han border.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers opted for a blitz, or more precisely, applied pressure, the entire defensive front tightening to pile pressure on the offensive line¡¯s pocket, not just pressing Mahomes, but also Li Wei, Kelsey, Hill, among others, with overwhelming momentum preparing to counter the Kansas City Chiefs.


    The pressure was immense, like a tidal wave.


    If Li Wei had stuck to his usual style, he would have felt the bloody tempest within the pocket clearly at that moment; even if he had avoided a crash, he would then be caught in the tightening encirclement.


    However, Li Wei did not.


    The moment the ball was snapped, he moved forward, and within a few steps, he was already facing the barrel of the gun.


    Full on, full-hearted collision.


    TJ was unprepared, assuming Li Wei would try a sudden stop and change of direction to escape, so he kept his center of gravity light to keep up with Li Wei; however, he didn¡¯t expect Li Wei to just collide head-on.


    ¡°Beast Mode¡±.


    That was the only thought in TJ¡¯s mind, memories from the training camp surging like a tide, but it was too late.


    He had lost the tactical advantage, didn¡¯t fully grasp the ground center, and kept retreating under the impact from Li Wei.


    Damn!


    TJ clenched his teeth, erupting with energy.


    ¡°This!¡±


    ¡°One contact, two contacts, three contacts!


    Li Wei was not yet exhausted!¡±


    ¡°In the continuous forceful breaks, Li Wei shifted into pure confrontation mode.¡±


    ¡°Ha, God!¡±


    ¡°Seven yards!¡±


    ¡°Ten yards!¡±


    ¡°First down!¡±


    ¡°Twelve yards!¡±


    ¡°Incredible!


    Li Wei and Watt engaged in a power duel, but surprisingly Watt didn¡¯t have the advantage, continuously retreating under the impact of Li Wei¡¯s pushes!¡±


    ¡°A whole five yards!


    In a head-to-head contention, Li Wei pushed Watt a whole five yards, finally both sides were exhausted and done for.¡±


    ¡°Three head-on collisions!¡±


    ¡°Twelve yards on the ground push!¡±


    ¡°A pure power duel, total beast mode, facing a tough situation, Li Wei unexpectedly chose to break head-on, dominating in a powerful face-to-face clash for twelve yards, destroying the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ triple steel curtain.¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable!


    Incredible!¡±


    ¡°Undoubtedly, this reminds us of Marshawn Lynch¡¯s Beast Mode, so what more surprises is Li Wei keeping for the new season!¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡±


    ¡°We all know the Kansas Chiefs Offense would certainly counterattack, but no one expected it to be in this manner, it¡¯s a surprise.¡±


    ¡°So, is this the counterattack call of the defending champions?¡±

 Chapter 593

    ?Chapter 593: 592 Changes and Constants Chapter 593: 592 Changes and Constants Panting heavily,


    gasping for breath, sweat drenching their backs, the sound of their hearts pounding echoed above their eardrums.


    Li Wei and TJ each flipped over and sat on the ground, neither in a hurry to stand up, quietly watching each other, their eyes flickering with high spirits and the sharp scent of blood, neither giving an inch as they clasheda?€¡±


    Sparks flew.


    Then.


    Li Wei propped himself up with his hands and stood first, before he had even stabilized; TJ also rolled up and stood, looking at Li Wei with a beaming smile.


    Their gazes met briefly; neither said anything more and turned to walk back to their respective teams, both ready for the next confrontation.


    Their fighting spirit was burning.


    The starting position of this offensive wave was average, as the Kansas City Chiefs once again came perilously close to their end zone, recalling the previous safety; but the Chiefs managed to extricate themselves from the predicament with just one ground offense, leaving the red zone and quickly entering a normal area, efficiently.


    ...


    Then.


    Hunter took the field.


    However, Li Wei didn¡¯t leave the field, instead, a Wide Receiver was traded out, meaning the Kansas City Chiefs were opting for the Double running back tactic again.


    In the first instance, Tomlin glanced at Reed, what exactly was Reed¡¯s intention?


    Tomlin quickly caught on, waving his hand continuously, signaling for the Defensive group to calm down:


    Stay cool.


    Focus on yourself.


    Don¡¯t fall for it.


    Don¡¯t let them influence you.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers still had the advantage and couldn¡¯t be led by the nosea?€¡±


    First, Li Wei¡¯s unexpectedly aggressive running stunned them, then Reed unleashed the Double running back tactic, creating uncertainty, all aimed at disrupting the rhythm.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers needed to stick to their own pace.


    In the first quarter, the Steelers chose to pressure with running and passing, but to little effect.


    At the start of the second quarter, the Steelers gave up on the running and passing pressure, focusing on defending against receiving targets, to delightful effect.


    Just now, the Steelers opted for a surprise attack, only to be taken by a ground long-yardage advance by the Chiefs, and though each situation differed; did this mean the Steelers should abandon their surprise attacks?


    At least for today, the surprise attack strategy had never achieved the intended effect.


    Tomlin¡¯s eyes sharpened, and he gestured decisively:


    Return to pass defense.


    The running pressure tactic hadn¡¯t worked, but that didn¡¯t mean Tomlin was giving upa?€¡±he needed to look for a more suitable opportunity, to intimidate Mahomes in different ways, ensuring the quarterback didn¡¯t find his confidence and touch, or the nightmare of the first quarter would repeat itself.


    But not now.


    At this moment, the battlefield was stalemated again, the Steelers¡¯ advantage was not clear, and they needed to continue to control the rhythm amidst the chaos.


    In doing so, no matter the tactic Reed chose, the Steelers¡¯ Defensive group could still continue the form they had shown since the second quarter.


    Buta?€¡±


    The situation was tense, the Chiefs were behind, that was a fact; but it was far from a moment of crisis.


    Trickery?


    This was way too sudden!


    Like the Steelers¡¯ aggressive play in the second quarter, third down and long, it instantly shattered the equilibrium.


    The Steelers¡¯ defensive group had not anticipated this at all.


    Some players¡¯ attention was still on the frontline clash, some thought Li Wei was going to run with the ball, and others were looking for the football¡¯s position.


    All these varied focuses intertwined in confusion, leading to a blank in their reactions.


    One second.


    Less than a second, even.


    But this little bit of time was enough for Li Wei.


    Backpedalling, adjusting, pausing.


    Observing, deciding.


    At this moment, one could clearly see Li Wei¡¯s preparatory moves for running with the ball on the ground, which immediately prompted the linebackers, corners, and safeties in the short-passing zone to step up, their forward-leaning, pressuring stances extremely uniform and standard.


    However.


    Li Wei paused briefly before turning around, starting out and crossing over laterally, quickly moving to the left side of the pocket.


    Pivot, swing, push.


    In the blink of an eye, the football had left Li Wei¡¯s right hand.


    Whoosh.


    A trajectory arced high into the air, sketching a breathtaking trail of brilliance.


    The fangs had finally been revealed.


    Not to mention Tomlin and the Steelers, even Arrowhead Stadium was in shock.


    No one had anticipated this, and all were caught in the impact.


    Felix gaped, his eyes bulging as he followed the football¡¯s parabolic flight, his jaw dropping opena?€¡±his heart soaring with it.


    Memories of the Super Bowl flashed suddenly.


    ¡°¡®Chiefs Special¡¯!


    The target of Li Wei¡¯s pass isa?€¡±¡±


    Hill?


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ premier wide receiver took off down the sideline at full speed, the rolling tide of red ominous like a wild horse breaking free, piercing sharply and accurately into the Steelers¡¯ defensive backfield, so much so that the safeties all sprinted full-throttle towards Hill.


    However, that was a smoke bomb.


    The real target of the pass was...


    Patrick Mahomes.

 Chapter 594

    ?Chapter 594: 593 Complete Overturn Chapter 594: 593 Complete Overturn ¡°`


    Mahomes was just a little bit nervousa?€¡±


    Running routes was not his forte.


    He would rather stay back, either helping Li Wei in the pocket by setting a block or running the ball himself with the Read Option Offense, for that was his domain.


    Charging to the front lines?


    That was not his profession.


    But now, the Kansas City Chiefs needed to thoroughly disrupt the rhythm; they couldn¡¯t continue to play to the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ beat.


    Otherwise, the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ defensive group would become more and more adept.


    Chaos was the key for the Kansas Chiefs Offense to find their rhythm again.


    ...


    The timing of a trick play was not random.


    The focus was on the magic of surprise and firmly seizing the fleeting window of confusion.


    So, this had to be done, starting with the quarterback.


    The entire tactic had to be completely unconventional, including the passing target and the advancement route.


    Mahomes knew he needed to step up.


    If there was any chance of success, the quarterback had to be Li Wei.


    Normally, the two would train together and help each other, with Li Wei helping Mahomes practice passing, and vice versa, Mahomes catching when Li Wei threw, creating some tacit understanding between them.


    Originally, the trick play¡¯s quarterback was Hunter; Reed wanted to turn things inside out completely.


    Because Li Wei passing would make people think of the Super Bowl¡¯s Chiefs Special and be easily recognized, possibly affecting the effect; but even taking a risk couldn¡¯t be reckless, ultimately, Reed still chose Li Wei looking to ensure a higher success rate.


    ¡°Sherlock, just focus on me,¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about others.


    Just run the pre-determined route, and everything will fall into place.


    Others will help clear the path.¡±


    Mahomes remembered Li Wei¡¯s words firmly.


    Before the snap, his palms were still sweating; but after the snap, with an adrenaline surge, Mahomes got into the zone.


    He stuffed the football into Li Wei¡¯s embrace and left the pocket, stealthily slipping out from the left slot position.


    The scene was somewhat humorous.


    Mahomes¡¯s burly figure, on tiptoes, glided past the clash zone of the front line like Tom from ¡°Tom and Jerry¡± preparing to ambush Jerry, thinking he was cleverly hidden behind the wall not knowing he was already exposed.


    But that¡¯s how the magic was completed.


    Li Wei and Hunter drew all eyes, and Mahomes actually managed an incredible stealthy exit without attracting any attention.@@@@


    The Steelers¡¯ lineman Dupree caught a glimpse of a red figure in the corner of his eye.


    As he wondered, he didn¡¯t have the chance to turn and look before he noticed Li Wei¡¯s motion to run the ball.


    Instinctively, he followed suit, bypassing the clash zone, preparing to tackle Li Wei to the ground.


    Mahomes, with the grace of the ¡°Four Little Swans,¡± crossed the line of scrimmage, bypassed the front line meat grinder and, in the blink of an eye, had surged forward ten yards and cut into the central territory following the slot position.


    Getting closer.


    Even closer.


    As Mahomes felt the intense heat closing in, hesitating whether to fall to the ground or to charge head-on, a flash of red entered the scene, a sideways tackle cutting across, you could even clearly see Burnett¡¯s tensed face transform into the legendary painting ¡°The Scream¡± by Edvard Munch.


    Whoosh.


    Burnett disappeared.


    a?€¡±It was Kelsey.


    He was not fighting alone.


    Mahomes¡¯s confused and tense emotions steadied slightly, regaining his focus.


    His slowed steps picked up speed again.


    Pushing off.


    Exerting force.


    Sprinting.


    The whole world turned into a maelstrom, as if the roaring sound was echoing above the eardrums.


    ¡°Run, Patrick, run!¡±


    Sprinting, rushing headlong, he momentarily set aside the burden of his first career start, the weight of defending the title, and the ferocity of the Pittsburgh Steelers, returning to his true selfa?€¡±pure, indulgent, freea?€¡±the way he felt when he first started to run.


    It felt as if he could fly if he ran fast enough.


    Thump thump thump, thump thump thump.


    Mahomes ran faster and faster, crossing the entire field, with the end zone now close at handa?€¡±a black storm was approaching.


    Edmund.


    Safety Edmund shook off wide receiver Watkins, becoming the Steelers¡¯ last line of defense.


    Mahomes, with a clear mind, knew he should¡¯ve fallen to the ground to avoid injury, but in that moment, his boiling blood told him:


    Don¡¯t stop.


    Pushing off, surging forward, Mahomes not only didn¡¯t fall to the ground but even picked up speed.


    Just as the black and red were about to collide, Mahomes astonishingly changed direction toward the upper left.


    One step.


    Two steps.


    Just two short steps that let him dodge successfully, making Edmund¡¯s surefire tackle miss.


    Once again, Mahomes¡¯s path forward opened up.


    Only a fool would try to brute force their way through.


    Heh.


    With a stride, Mahomes entered the end zonea?€¡±


    Ah, ah ah ah!


    A triumphant roar, a thunderous bellow.

 Chapter 595

    ?Chapter 595: 594 Rookie Link Chapter 595: 594 Rookie Link ¡°Mahomes.


    Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei, break through the middle?¡±


    ¡°Li Wei, backpedaling and reading the defense, the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ second-level defense moves up very promptly, heavy troops amassed on the right, forcing Li Wei to move laterally and look for a breakthrough on the left, pressure, the pressure is obvious!¡±


    ¡°Wait, this scene...¡±


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Pass!¡±


    ¡°God!¡±


    ¡°¡®Chiefs Special¡¯, Li Wei¡¯s pass target isa?€¡±¡±


    All was silent, breath held, the gazes of tens of thousands all converged upon the parabola of the brown football, the entire world seemed to freeze, with just that arc cutting across the field, flying on, tugging at the heartstrings of Arrowhead Stadium.


    ¡°Mahomes.¡±


    ¡°Mahomes!¡±


    ¡°This is unbelievable!¡±


    The whole stadium, in shock, watched with wide eyes as their young quarterback caught the football with steady hands and then clumsily turned to surge forward.


    The thirty-yard line.


    The twenty-yard line.


    Kelsey¡¯s block cleared a major obstacle.


    The ten-yard line.


    ...


    The five-yard line.


    Just as a collision seemed imminent, with hearts jumping into throats and the whole stadium hushed, even the breaths cut short, they saw Mahomes make a last-moment cut, nonchalantly avoiding the tackle.


    The End Zone Linea?€¡±


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    ¡°Whoa, God!¡±


    Scalp tingling, brain thundering.


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    ¡°Touchdown, touchdown, touchdown!


    Without question, it was spectacular, and though we¡¯re still at the season opener, the most fantastic play of the 2018 season has made a powerful entry!¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs score a touchdown with an unexpectedly tricky play!¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs have turned the situation on its head at an unexpected time, in an unexpected place, in an unexpected way.@@@@


    From Mahomes to Li Wei, then from Li Wei to Mahomes, they¡¯ve recreated the classic play from the Super Bowl earlier this year.


    Li Wei¡¯s thirty-five-yard pass connected with Mahomes, who charged straight into the end zone for a deadly touchdown, a stroke of genius!¡±


    ¡°...Wow!¡±


    Admiration, exclamation, astonishmenta?€¡±


    Mahomes felt the same, turning around in disbelief to look at Hill and Kelsey, his eyes full of confusion:


    Touchdown, just like that?


    Unlike the first and second quarters, the situation became even closer and more contested.


    Although the Pittsburgh Steelers still held the lead, the point gap was back to within one possession.


    The entire situation was overthrown and shuffled anew.


    Everything called for a long-term strategy.


    This also meant that whether it was Tomlin or Reed, both had to redeploy their tactics.


    So, the question arosea?€¡±


    Does Tomlin still have any cards up his sleeve?


    Was he hiding any strategic plays, ready to be unleashed as trump cards during week four of the regular season against the Baltimore Ravens?


    If so, was it time to bring them out?


    The answer, it seemed, was yes.


    When the Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Team took the field again, running back Conner was entrusted with an important task.


    Tomlin had been avoiding the issue with Bell; in this game, he even gave up on the ground attack completely, choosing to duel with his opponents through passing.


    Indeed, it was proved that the Steelers certainly had the capacity.


    Had it not been for the reigning champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, also showing their formidable strength, Tomlin might have been able to take the mystery out of the matchup early on with a single, decisive flow.


    But now, Tomlin still had to face the running back issuea?€¡±


    With Bell¡¯s absence known throughout the League, the Steelers¡¯ offensive would lean towards Brown.


    Even Brown believed this.


    This meant Tomlin¡¯s offensive strategy was exposed to the opposition beforehand, and his offensive tactic planning was also restrained.


    This was not good.


    That¡¯s why, regardless of whether Brown was facing a multi-player defense or not, Tomlin was avoiding exposing his tactical intentions as much as possible, refusing to set up special plays for Brown¡¯s side that could be easily deciphered.


    The same went for the present situation.


    In this tight game, Tomlin¡¯s first move was to start from the ground.


    Tomlin believed in the individual ability of a running back.


    A top-notch running back could indeed bring change; but he also believed this change was limited, with both an upper and lower bound very clear, which was why they were willing to renew their contract with Bell, but refused to pay beyond the value of a running back.


    More than the personal abilities of the running back, the offensive line and tactical coordination played a more important role.


    Tomlin trusted his brain.


    So.


    James Conner, this year¡¯s third-round pick at number 105, was shouldering a heavy responsibility.


    In the first three quarters, Conner had only one ground rush with the ball.


    Other times, he appeared on the field as a Wide Receiver and an extra offensive line player, and now he was finally returning to his role as a running back.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers were preparing to break through on the ground.


    So, was this a new tactic or an old one?


    Conner, slightly excited, was a running back trained by the University of Pittsburgha?€¡±a native born and raised in Pittsburgh; he hoped he could represent the Steelers and become a cornerstone of the team like Bell.


    People shouldn¡¯t have forgotten that Le¡¯Veon Bell was only a second-round pick at number 48, right?


    Draft position means nothing.

 Chapter 596

    ?Chapter 596: 595 third graders Chapter 596: 595 third graders Step, step, step.


    Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs Defensive End continuously adjusted his balance before starting, much like revving the throttle of a motorcycle.


    Perhaps others couldn¡¯t tell, but Jones had his own battlesa?€¡±


    The Chiefs were a young team, with the main roster mostly sophomores and juniors.


    Li Wei had quietly emerged as the next leader of the team, with everyone including Houston and Berry affirming this.


    On and off the field, he constantly set an example that transformed the team¡¯s image.


    The young players grew robust following in Li Wei¡¯s footsteps.


    Just look at the junior cornerback Fowler, who joined during the off-season.


    ...


    Constantly watching Li Wei¡¯s back, giving his all, and finally in the first game of the new season, he had his spotlight moment.


    He was a junior.


    There was no more time to waste.


    It was time to demonstrate his abilities, not just his potential, otherwise he might, like Fowler, face the risk of transfers early and start a career wandering between different teams in the League.


    He didn¡¯t want that.


    So, Jones had his own fight.


    He longed to follow in Li Wei¡¯s footsteps, without hurry or desperation, just one step at a time; but at least, he needed to move forward.


    Even if it was just one step.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Roethlisberger started the play.


    Heh.


    Jones took a deep breath, his gaze locked firmly on Roethlisberger¡¯s movements, his concentration at a hundred percent.


    The moment he heard the starting command, it was like the starting gun in a sprint race; his feet ready, his power burst forth, and the reaction force propelled his body forward like a rocket.


    Bang, bang, bang.


    A string of collisions, like fireworks bursting forth.


    ¡°The pocket¡¯s broken!¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs choose a blitz, with just five men penetrating they tore through the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ pocket protection.¡±


    ¡°The football isa?€|in Conner¡¯s hands.¡±


    ¡°This is a ground attack, Conner is shifting his route, the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line tries to clear a path, but!¡±


    ¡°Jones!


    Ah, ah, ah!


    Screaming, roaring, a passionate outburst.


    It was Regland.


    Because the Kansas City Chiefs Defense finally found their rhythm, and because as a junior, he finally felt his presence in the game for the first time.


    Jones could understand, wholeheartedly.


    After releasing his emotions, Regland grabbed Jones by the right hand, pulling him up and giving his shoulder a bump in a celebratory mannera?€¡±


    This turnover, they had completed together.


    But Jones didn¡¯t voice his own passion, because he wasn¡¯t satisfied with just this.


    He knew the game wasn¡¯t over yet, facing the Steelers without Bell, their defense still had room for improvement, far from satisfactory.


    Just like this latest defensive play, the Steelers once again changed their strategy, combining pass and run plays, and although Brown still played the role of a decoy, the Steelers¡¯ ground game excelled, creating space for Conner, as they kept passing and running, crossing the midfield line again.


    Luckily, the Chiefs¡¯ blitz was successful in containing their rivals; but this didn¡¯t mean the Steelers¡¯ offense had come to a halt, Roethlisberger was ready to strike back, and Brown was restless.


    Jones was not satisfied, he could and would not just sit back.


    The fighting spirit in his eyes was still burning.


    But now, they had to give the field to their offense, Jones quickly spotted Li Wei in the crowd, next it was up to thema?€¡±


    Clearly, the contest was set to escalate even further.


    The cornered Steelers, with no way out, the Defensive group would definitely go all in, facing off against the Chiefs Offense once more.


    Indeed, that was exactly what happened.


    On the sidelines, Tomlin and Reed were strategizing.


    On the field, the Kansas City Chiefs Offense and the Pittsburgh Steelers Defense were engaged in a fierce direct confrontation, the intensity of the battle escalating continuously.


    On the one hand, the Steelers utilized diverse strategies in both running and passing to break open the game.


    Even if trick plays couldn¡¯t be used frequently, the Steelers Defense had to make tactical adjustments, which allowed the Chiefs to find gaps and reopen the offensive play.


    On the other hand, both teams were repositioning and making tactical adjustments on the fly.


    The tactics were dazzling, the rhythm thrown into chaos, each offensive and defensive maneuver fraught with variables, compounded by decreasing physical stamina, leading to deviations during intense clashes, making the situation even more gridlocked.


    As expected, the most tense and closely contested moment of the entire game officially arrived.


    This offensive wave, the Kansas City Chiefs faced an incredible amount of pressure, even more than in the second quarter; but the difference was they had regained their confidence and composure, although shaking and unstable, they were still making progressa?€¡±


    Time, just like physical energy, continued to deplete, the Chiefs moved forward as if trudging through a swamp, struggling to push past midfield into the Steelers¡¯ territory once again.


    Then.


    Unexpectedly, the defensive intensity of the Steelers exploded once again, attempting to regain the rhythm, shocking the entire Arrowhead Stadium into a cold sweat.@@@@

 Chapter 597

    ?Chapter 597: 596 Twin Stars Shining Chapter 597: 596 Twin Stars Shining The entire stadium erupted in astonishment.


    Second and six, Mahomes deployed the Shotgun Formation to launch an attack, narrowly avoiding a sack and then aiming a forty-yard long pass into the Red Zone, planning to connect with Hunter for a fatal strike.


    The pass was on target.


    The footsteps were precise.


    Hunter ran an accurate route, cutting into the Red Zone past the heavy defense of the Pittsburgh Steelers, seemingly about to complete the long pass for a touchdown and end this tense offensive and defensive standoff when, at the last moment, an interception occurred.


    Safety Edmund.


    The rookie fiercely held his breath, prepared to retaliate for Mahomes¡¯s previous taunting by intercepting the ball with a preemptive leap, nearly cutting off Hunter to make the interception.


    ...


    So close.


    Although he missed the interception, Edmund still snatched the pass from Hunter¡¯s lips ferociously, stealing the well-cooked duck from his mouth.


    Arrowhead Stadium plunged into shocka?€¡±


    Once for the surprise of a long pass touchdown.


    And once for the fear of an impending interception.


    Finally.


    In a state of astonishment, third and six, the Kansas City Chiefs were again in trouble; this was their third third-down situation in this wave of offense, a detail that illustrated the closeness of the game.


    The air grew tauter.


    However.


    ¡°Rookie!¡±


    Felix shouted with joy as he saw Li Wei take the field again.


    The others did the same; voices in Arrowhead Stadium immediately merged together.


    In this wave, Li Wei was heavily strained, forcing a breakthrough in Beast Mode that looked impressive but came at a significant cost, which is why Li Wei and Hunter took turns taking the field, with every second of rest being crucial recovery time.


    Despite this, at the critical moment of third and six, Li Wei was still needed.


    Tomlin might stubbornly deny Bell¡¯s crucial role in the Pittsburgh Steelers, but each time Li Wei appeared, full vigilance was necessarya?€¡±


    Unacknowledged by mouth, but the body told the truth.


    Not just Tomlin, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offense felt the same, seemingly finding their stabilizing force in Li Wei¡¯s calm demeanor, which brought them some relief.


    That included Mahomes as well.


    Li Wei patted Mahomes¡¯s shoulder, and the offense immediately lined up.


    There was no delay, no chance to regroup, as the Kansas City Chiefs were already prepared to start the play.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Hill, who had already sprinted at least twenty yards.


    Startled, the last standing linebacker TJ also quickly backpedaled, stopping and turning abruptly, sprinting full force towards Hill.


    Next second.


    Mahomes pulled back his right hand, lightly tossing the football sideways to Li Wei.


    A fake pass indeed.


    It was actually a fake but real run!


    With a deceptive tactic, he severely tricked the Steelers¡¯ layered Steel Curtain defense, overturning the situation in a flash.


    TJ: Damn.


    Hayward, holding his breath, stepped forward, stepping forward again, desperately throwing his body out, stumbling toward Li Wei with raging fury in his chest and a bloody murderous look flaring in his eyes.


    Stomping the ground, stepping forward, and embracinga?€¡±


    Intercepting collision.


    In the suddenness, Hayward¡¯s forward step met with a head-on collision impact; his chest tightened, and he completely lost control and flew out.


    Suspended in the air, drifting further away, it was only now that Hayward, half a step too slow and dizzy, saw Mahomes¡¯s rhino-like charge, his mind in turmoil, and he couldn¡¯t believe he had missed Mahomes.


    But it was already too late.


    Just now, Li Wei protected Mahomes.


    Now, Mahomes protected Li Wei.


    Mahomes knocked Hayward away, and Li Wei could continue to advance without any impact; Mahomes also quickly adjusted his steps and center of gravity to catch up with Li Wei, guarding him like a little tank.


    Right ahead, Mahomes saw TJ coming back.


    Mahomes knew TJ was prepared and not so easily shaken off, so he forced himself to speed up, catching up to Li Wei, standing to the right side of Li Wei¡¯s body.


    Indeed, Li Wei intuitively knew, diverting his steps slightly to the right and forward, making room.


    Then.


    Mahomes stood like a post, hands neatly beside his body, lowering his center of gravity, ready to meet the impact, blocking the path of TJ¡¯s attempt to embrace Li Wei.


    TJ and Mahomes collided, and Li Wei continued to gain ground.


    A series of steps, flowing like watera?€¡±


    The Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ layered Steel Curtain actually collapsed like dominoes.


    The seemingly impregnable defense shattered under the clever timing attack of the Kansas City Chiefs, coupled with a realistic performance of the fake but real run, drastically reversing the momentum of the offensive and defensive face-off in an instant.


    Li Wei had not encountered any threat, his steps already crossing the kickoff line and sprinting out five yards, his speed about to fully unleash, right ahead he could see Cornerback Artie Burns charging towards him like a wild horse off its reins.


    Fiercely aggressive!@@@@

 Chapter 598

    ?Chapter 598: 597 break out of the armor Chapter 598: 597 break out of the armor Artie Burns¡¯s footsteps were slightly staggered.


    After getting rid of Kelsey¡¯s entanglement, he didn¡¯t have time to catch his breath.


    With all his might, he threw his body forward, continuing the charge with inertia and centrifugal force whipping around him.


    Thud.


    Thud.


    Thud.


    In Burns¡¯s eyes and mind, there was only the red number 23.


    ...


    Clenching his teeth and tensing his muscles, he hurled himself at his opponent without any reservation.


    Closer, even closera?€¡±


    Li Wei didn¡¯t dodge.


    He came face to face, and Burns wouldn¡¯t let Li Wei get away.


    He stared dead at Li Wei, watching for any sudden changes in direction.


    Between the shaking and swaying of steps, he was always ready to follow through.


    However, there was none.


    Relief.


    Burns knew his judgment was correct and was about to make a precise tackle, but he still didn¡¯t relax.


    his muscles tensed to the extreme.


    Hold.


    He held his breath.


    In the next second, Burns saw the football switch to Li Wei¡¯s left hand, his right arm straightening, and a pillar erected between them at the first instancea?€¡±


    Straight arm block!


    Alert!


    As Burns wobbled, he added all his body weight into the push, throwing everything into the tackle, preparing to overpower with sheer strength.


    The clash was head-on.


    Bang.


    Burns felt an overwhelming force from his left shoulder instantly release, his chest tightened, and before he could even cry out, that force continued to barrel forward, propelled by Li Wei¡¯s right shoulder, layering on top of each other.


    A touch.


    It was just a brief contact, yet Burns spun out like a top, flying away like a kite with its string cut.


    The world spun wildly.


    Burns: Shit.


    ¡°Straight arm block!¡±


    ¡°Spectacular!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei flips Burns with one hand!


    Burns doesn¡¯t stand a chance, like a rag doll, Beast Mode shining again at Arrowhead Stadium!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei, unstoppable!¡±


    TJ Watt.


    ¡°Watt is chasing, God, Watt has reached his maximum speed.¡±


    ¡°However!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei is also accelerating, unbelievable!


    Incredible!


    Li Wei has fully unleashed his speed.¡±


    ¡°The fifteen-yard line!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei is running faster and faster, faster and faster, Watt has been left behind!¡±


    TJ watched in despair as Li Wei¡¯s figure got farther and farther away in his field of vision, surging ahead unbeatably, that burst of red showing a determined dominance.


    The ten-yard line.


    The five-yard line.


    And thena?€¡±


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    ¡°Touchdoooooooown!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Kansas Chieftain¡¯s number twenty-three, Li Wei, a forty-two-yard rushing touchdown, and it¡¯s also his third touchdown of the game.¡±


    ¡°Jesus Christ, last season¡¯s Super Bowl MVP facing the Pittsburgh Steelers, showing no mercy.¡±


    ¡°Listen, Arrowhead Stadium is unleashing their roar.¡±


    Felix was the first to stand up, singing passionately.


    ¡°He¡¯s here, he¡¯s there, he¡¯s everywhere, he¡¯s the Edgerunner, Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei!¡±


    Smiles, radiantly blooming, a heart so hot it might just burst.


    Throughout the stadium, waves of intense heat rolled in like magma, Kansas Chieftain¡¯s home ground¡¯s red wave displaying its mighty force once again.


    Bright red, scalding, pouring out beyond the TV screen.


    Ah!


    Ahhhh!


    Bell clenched his fists, unable to contain the passion and joy in his chest.


    He jumped up, throwing his arms up and shouting.


    Not just him, throughout the villa, all friends and family turned into a surging wave of heat, cheering mindlessly for Li Wei.


    Because of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and not just because of the Pittsburgh Steelers.


    More important than beating the Pittsburgh Steelers and showing up Bell¡¯s team was Li Wei proving the value of a top-notch running back in such a game.


    Maybe a running back isn¡¯t a quarterback; maybe running backs can¡¯t control the game like quarterbacks do, that¡¯s a fact; but a running back is always an indispensable link in a Football team, an elite running back can¡¯t be compared with an ordinary one, and a running back is definitely not a disposable tool.


    Today, the Steelers ignoring Bell reflected the League¡¯s general undervaluation of running backs.


    If possible, Bell wouldn¡¯t want to hold out or strike; he would love to stand on the field and directly compete with Li Wei to see who truly is the number one running back in the League.


    But as things stood, Bell had no choice but to watch the game live at home, carrying the label of ¡°greedy,¡± fighting for recognition, both for himself and for all running backs.


    So, Bell admired Li Weia?€¡±


    They were competitors, even enemies, yet Li Wei still stood up in his own way, making his voice heard.

 Chapter 599

    ?Chapter 599: 598 outstanding performance Chapter 599: 598 outstanding performance At that moment, Bell once again felt his blood boiling and burning, and ultimately he couldn¡¯t hold backa?€¡±


    For the first time, he yelled out loud, for a team that was not the Pittsburgh Steelers, sending a roar from deep within his soul, ready to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers.


    As he shouted, he could no longer control himself, and he howled up at the sky, releasing all his emotions.


    Ahhh!


    With all his might, he poured out his soul, as if he could transmit it through the TV screen to Li Wei, joining the ranks at Arrowhead Stadium, igniting that sea of fire.


    However, Li Wei stood in the end zone, not celebrating, but just breathing heavily, his gaze burning as he stared at TJ, who hadn¡¯t given up until the last moment, conveying a message with his eyes:


    This is not the end.


    No matter what the Pittsburgh Steelers did, the Kansas City Chiefs wouldn¡¯t be satisfied with the situation at hand, they would continue to fight on and struggle on.


    Li Wei refused to be complacent about scoring a single touchdown and refused to let his guard down just because they had taken a lead; the battle was just reaching its climax now.


    ...


    TJ was also gasping for breath, they were just ordinary people, and the exhaustion after intense confrontation was severe; but now, looking into Li Wei¡¯s eyes, TJ also smiled, boldly meeting that burning gazea?€¡±


    Accepting the challenge.


    ¡°30:35¡±.


    The Kansas City Chiefs finally took back the lead, leading for the first time since the second quarter of the game.


    Since the Pittsburgh Steelers scored a safety, it seemed to have enraged the team at hand, unlike last year¡¯s wildcard game against the Tennessee Titans where they had gotten disorganized, the Chiefs had united and burst forth with energy, elevating their performance and rhythm from defense to offense.


    This team was indeed different now.


    Tomlin could at least be sure of one thing: they were completely different from the Kansas City Chiefs they faced in Week 6 of last year¡¯s regular season.


    The situation had been overturned in an instant; before they knew it, the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ momentum faced a comprehensive blockade.


    Vaguely, Tomlin felt uneasy, and it was growing strongera?€¡±


    Was this the calm before the storm?


    But clearly, that was absurd, because the scene before him, with swords drawn and teeth clenched, had nothing to do with ¡°calm¡±; the storm had already arrived.


    Initially, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense didn¡¯t realize Tomlin¡¯s tactical adjustment and continued to assign only Cornerback Fowler to man-to-man cover this lethal weapon.


    Fowler performed exceptionally wella?€¡±


    Sticking closely to Brown throughout, although Brown¡¯s individual ability was absolutely top-tier in the League; Fowler fully utilized a slight physical advantage to keep up the pace, tirelessly clung to Brown like glue, giving him almost no space for comfortable adjustments.


    In this wave of offense, Roethlisberger targeted Brown three times, with Fowler causing one incomplete pass, while Brown fully demonstrated his individual abilities by catching the ball twice, showing clear superiority in one-on-one matchups.


    But!


    Even though Brown completed two receptions, Fowler quickly caught up, never allowing Brown to easily break free, and bought time for the Kansas City Chiefs Defense, with the rest of the defense following up very quickly.


    They quickly formed a numerical advantage, swiftly cutting off Brown¡¯s ability to advance further.


    In the 2017 season, Brown was hailed as the most dominant Wide Receiver in the league, not because his reception yards were tremendously impressive, but because of his ability to continuously advance post-reception, leading the leaguea?€¡±


    What does that mean?


    It means that the average yards a Wide Receiver can gain after catching the quarterback¡¯s pass, Brown led the League and was far ahead of others.


    Even if the quarterback threw a short pass of three to five yards, Brown could turn it into a first down, or even continue to vertically attack, causing damage in the defensive backfield.


    Without the quarterback¡¯s help, without the teammates¡¯ assistance, he displayed personal breakthrough abilities that differentiated ordinary Wide Receivers from the elite.


    This ability was the most terrifying.


    Otherwise, a Wide Receiver is just a reception point, and the real advancing value lies with the quarterback; the Wide Receiver¡¯s personal ability is not enough to change the game.


    Now, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense was smothering Brown¡¯s ability with a smart and tough stance, turning Brown from a game-changing ace Wide Receiver into an ordinary one.


    The tactic was very effective.


    Thanks to Fowler¡¯s miraculous performance, Brown was never able to catch the ball comfortably, and even after catching it, he couldn¡¯t quickly break free to continue advancing, with the Kansas City Chiefs Defense following up very alertly, squashing Brown¡¯s chances of retaliating and struggling.


    Initially, Kansas Defensive Coordinator Sutton, seeing Brown become the target again, was worried and thought they must at least double-cover Brown for it to work, as the defensive tactic that had been effective since the second half needed readjustment; however, after Fowler¡¯s extraordinary performance, he was reassured, and after consulting with Reed, they immediately redeployed their troopsa?€¡±


    Blitzing.


    Fowler was exceptional, but the Chiefs couldn¡¯t let Fowler bear too much alone, right?

 Chapter 600

    ?Chapter 600: 599 Destroy the Steel Curtain Chapter 600: 599 Destroy the Steel Curtain Cornerback Fowler exploded with amazing energy like a Super Saiyan, but this also meant severe energy consumption.


    Coupled with Fowler¡¯s limited personal ability ceiling, if this continued, Fowler would definitely not be able to keep up with Brown¡¯s pace.


    The Kansas City Chiefs Defense naturally couldn¡¯t put all the pressure on Fowler; they needed to relieve some of his pressure from other areasa?€¡±


    Blitz.


    Unlike in the first half, the pressure from Kansas City Chiefs on the defensive front visibly increased, refusing to allow Roethlisberger to complete passes easily.


    Roethlisberger was not afraid of blitzes, and often seized the opponents¡¯ gaps during their blitzes to sneak attacks into the backfield; but that was relative.


    Roethlisberger¡¯s size and footwork could either be an advantage or a disadvantage, and his bulky figure wasn¡¯t afraid of collisions, yet it also meant he was not very agile.


    Beyond tackles, effective collisions and disrupting the passing vision could also make Roethlisberger¡¯s passes unstable.


    ...


    Once Roethlisberger¡¯s passing stability was disrupted, Brown¡¯s threat would also decrease, winning more space for Fowler¡¯s man-to-man coverage.


    Then, this scene occurreda?€¡±


    ¡°Collision!¡±


    ¡°Defensive End Jones successfully collided with Roethlisberger, but couldn¡¯t finish the sack.


    Roethlisberger¡¯s size sustained his body, and he didn¡¯t fall down immediately, no sack, no sack.¡±


    ¡°Roethlisberger completes the pass!¡±


    ¡°The target of the pass isa?€| Washington?¡±


    ¡°But then.¡±


    ¡°Interception!¡±


    ¡°Houston!


    Justin Houston appeared in an open gap to complete the interception, unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°Roethlisberger¡¯s passing vision was disrupted, and the control over the passing arc also clearly went awry, making it uncertain whether the pass was intended for Washington or Brown, but clearly, Fowler again did excellent work in man-to-man coverage, not letting Brown get loose, and ultimately it was Houston who utilized his abundant game experience to take the gap and easily intercept.¡±


    ¡°Houston is on the counterattack!¡±


    And now, with only a five-point difference, the final quarter had just begun, and there was a noticeable shake in the Pittsburgh Steelers, not just in Tomlin; that sense of unrest was gradually spreading.


    Tomlin¡¯s intuition was right a?€¡±


    He refused to give up, to say nothing of the fact that the game wasn¡¯t over yet, and the outcome still hung in balance; even if not for the outcome of this game, thinking about the future games in the season, they needed to grit their teeth and rally, or else it wouldn¡¯t just be about the outcome of one game.


    Tomlin quickly pulled himself together.


    However.


    The downturn was irreversible.


    On that side, the Kansas City Chiefs found their belief again through continuous strong collisions.


    After reopening the game with a ground attack, Mahomes also regained his composure and confidence, his passing choices and defensive reads recovering their potency and again shifting the momentum, this young player visibly growing strong through the ordeal of the game.


    On this side, the Pittsburgh Steelers were desperately trying to turn the tide in a tough situation.


    However, the more impatient and anxious they became, the more desperate and nervous they got, disrupting order and structure; combined with declining physical strength, more and more vulnerabilities were exposed and mistakes began to surface, gradually losing control of the game.


    It wasn¡¯t just the Defensive group, the Offensive group felt it too.


    The seemingly positive bubble of the preseason was burst, fully exposing weaknesses, appearing ready for the new season, but actually unable to hide their insecurity and unrest a?€¡±


    At this point, it was clear to anyone watching, Bell¡¯s absence ultimately still stirred ripples within the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ team.


    If their opening game opponents were not the Kansas City Chiefs, the Pittsburgh Steelers might not have been in such a bad state; but they encountered the vigorous and confident Kansas City Chiefs, pushing the Steelers to the edge.


    It was absolutely certain that the feud between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers would continue to unfold.


    The suspense of the game in the fourth quarter soon vanished, evaporating like bubbles, the intensity and tension of the first three quarters fizzling out disappointingly.


    For the Kansas City Chiefs, Mahomes connected with Hill for a passing touchdown, and Hunter also scored a rushing touchdown.


    The scoring momentum was not diminished, with Mahomes personally achieving three passing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown, performing outstandingly in his first career start as quarterback.


    For the Pittsburgh Steelers, who had a chance to close the score gap, ended up committing a face mask foul inside the Red Zone, missing the touchdown opportunity, and after failing a critical three-yard play in fourth down, they wasted their last chance to score, ending the fourth quarter inexplicably without scoring any points.


    ¡°30:49¡±.


    The 2018 season opener, after enduring blood-tingling suspense for three quarters, the fourth quarter collapsed completely in a disappointing end, an outcome that nobody foresaw from the beginning or during the process, finishing the match disappointingly.


    The defending champions Kansas City Chiefs withstood a severe test, repelling the Pittsburgh Steelers to a victorious start.

 Chapter 601

    ?Chapter 601: 600 Left Arm Right Arm Chapter 601: 600 Left Arm Right Arm ¡°...The game is over, and the defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, withstood the test in a very close and fiercely contested battle, holding off the onslaught from last season¡¯s playoff team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, with a precious victory to kick off the season, taking their first step in the defense of their title.¡±


    ¡°This game was very informative...¡±


    Buzzing buzzing buzzing.


    Arrowhead Stadium was in an uproar, Michaels had to stabilize his mind amidst the surging wave of heat, temporarily ignoring his wildly beating heart and burning blood, to stay focused and continue to do his job, summarizing the splendid opening game.


    Inside the commentary box, Michaels, aided by headphones and a microphone, managed to grasp his attention; however, it was impossible on the field.


    Antonio Brown¡¯s expression was somber as water, his facial lines tensed up due to his clenched teeth, anger and irritability swirling in his veinsa?€¡±even though he had faced more than one failure in his career, and even more painful, more frustrating, and more humiliating defeats, today stilla?€¡±


    Was hard to swallow.


    Because of off-field issues as well as on-field performance.


    Today, Brown was virtually invisible the entire game.


    In the past, he targeted at least ten, fifteen, or more times per game, advancing a hundred yards was common.


    ...


    But in this game, he was targeted only six times, completing three catches for seventeen yards.


    These stats, haha.


    Brown couldn¡¯t remember the last time he was this embarrassed.


    Moreover, this was a nationwide broadcast, the season opener, meaning the entire league was watching; this was truly a massive disgrace.


    Those cheers, those heat waves, were like slaps in the face, harshly striking Brown¡¯s face; all he wanted now was to leave Arrowhead Stadium and this damned Kansas City as soon as possible.


    Just as he was about to step forward, Brown saw Li Wei coming towards him.


    A tightness in his chest.


    Was this guy coming specifically to humiliate him?


    Or to stand up for Bell?


    Or perhaps to exchange pleasantries insincerely, actually just to flaunt his victory and kick someone when they are down?


    For a moment, his mind was flooded with thoughts.


    But was Brown scared?


    Impossible!


    Though Brown gritted his teeth in anger, he managed to control himself and stormed off the field.


    Originally, Brown wanted to head straight back to the locker room and then leave Arrowhead Stadium, but recalling the humiliation Li Wei had brought upon him, as if he were an insignificant nobody, he couldn¡¯t swallow his pride.


    Brown found a scapegoata?€¡±


    Randy Fichtner, the Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator.


    His real discontent wasn¡¯t with wine, Brown was really venting elsewhere:


    If it wasn¡¯t for Roethlisberger consistently failing to pass him the football, if it wasn¡¯t for the offensive tactics stupidly using the best Wide Receiver in the League as mere bait until scrambling in the fourth quarter, the outcome of the game might have been different.


    Fury was written all over him, his face red with anger.


    Though the wild noise of victory celebration at Arrowhead Stadium drowned the sideline conversation, no one knew exactly what Brown reprimanded Fichtner about, but the scene was still captured by cameras and broadcasted live.


    And so,


    The whole League then knew that, following Bell, Brown and the coaching staff had also clashed.


    So, what¡¯s the story here?


    To Li Wei, the matter wasn¡¯t complicated.


    Perhaps Li Wei didn¡¯t understand NFL, or the subsequent developments with Bell and Brown, lacking the usual advantage of a cross-timer; but he knew one fundamental truth:


    No one is irreplaceable.


    Barcelona could trade Messi, Real Madrid could trade C-Ronaldo, Manchester United could trade Beckham, and so on.


    This is the Professional League.


    In the face of greater interests, players are ultimately just pawns, from soccer to basketball to football, it¡¯s all the same.


    If any player thinks they are irreplaceable and begins to challenge the authority of the coaching staff, the management, or the team owners, their end is already sealed.


    When Bell spoke up for his personal interests, Brown chose to align with the team, which was indicative of his narrowness and stupiditya?€¡±


    If today the Pittsburgh Steelers dared to treat Bell this way, tomorrow they would dare to treat Brown or even Roethlisberger the same way.


    Did Brown think he would be the exception?


    Or did Brown think that Bell¡¯s absence meant he would rule the locker room alone?


    Then, through this game, Brown should have realized who the real boss of the locker room was:


    Whoever it was, it definitely wasn¡¯t Brown.

 Chapter 602

    ?Chapter 602: 601 is not worth mentioning.


    Chapter 602: 601 is not worth mentioning.


    Peeking into a tiny part to judge the whole, attempting to discern the big picture from mere fragments of conversation is plainly incorrect, yet casting about for clues is inevitably hard to avoid.


    From Bell to Brown, something must have gone wrong with the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ management during the off-season, leading to intensified discord in the locker room that continued to spread.


    Not just among the players, whether the coaching staff and the administrative staff were on the same page also needed to be questioned.


    But then.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t care.


    ...


    That was a matter for the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ locker room, and it had nothing to do with him.


    If he had time to gossip about it, he might as well do two sets of squats right there.


    Frankly, Li Wei really didn¡¯t care about Browna?€¡±


    No offense to Brown, he just didn¡¯t have any concern for the matters of the Pittsburgh Steelers.


    Now that the Steelers¡¯ game was over, they belonged to the past; the game was left behind, and it was time to look forward and focus on the next opponent.


    With the game concluded, the only thing Li Wei cared about was his teammates.


    In today¡¯s game, sophomores and juniors played key rolesa?€¡±Fuller, Jones, Regland, Watkins, Mahomes, and so on.


    After the turbulence and restructuring of the off-season, they marched into the new season for the first time as defending champions, everything new for them.


    From the process, they still needed to learn and grow, with room for improvement; from the result, they took a crucial step forward.@@@@


    Worthy of celebration.


    So, Li Wei gave encouragement and support one by one, and finally, the taut strings of his heart could relax for a moment.


    Until at last, Li Wei saw TJ Watt, who had taken off his jersey early and was waiting on the side.


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t help laughing silently, shaking his head while ribbing, ¡°Standing there with longing eyes like a fangirl, eagerly waitinga?€¡±do your teammates really not mind?¡± as he took off his own jersey to exchange with TJ.


    At that moment, the game was over, and grievances were temporarily set asidea?€¡±


    Although it wasn¡¯t easy, and the bitterness of defeat still surged in TJ¡¯s chest; but TJ wasn¡¯t one to dwell on the past, he would turn his sorrow into strength, etching the pain into memory and eventually transforming it into courage the next time he faced Li Wei and the Kansas City Chiefs.


    TJ immediately detected the undertone in Li Wei¡¯s words; the atmosphere in the Steelers¡¯ locker room was indeed...


    dreadful, TJ didn¡¯t like such a toxic environment, but what could he, a sophomore, do about it?


    During the off-season, Smith transferred to the Washington Redskins, leaving the position of captain for the Kansas Chiefs Offense vacant, and Reed handed it to Li Wei during the summer training camp.


    In a football team, a captain doesn¡¯t hold substantive power or responsibilities and is more of a symbol.


    Some teams change captains every game, while some teams don¡¯t even have a captain; but to Li Wei, it was still a responsibility, a force to unite the locker room.


    Li Wei hoped he could shoulder the responsibilities of a captain.


    TJ showed a smile, ¡°At least from today¡¯s game, you did an excellent job.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s mouth also turned up at the corners, ¡°One step at a time, no rush.


    I hope you guys can get on the right track soon, and we¡¯ll have a chance to face off again this season.¡±


    If the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers wanted to meet again this season, it would have to be in the playoffs.


    Last season, before meeting in the American League finals, the Steelers dropped the ball and missed the chance for revenge; adding insult to injury, today they faced another disappointment with an added grudge.


    Suddenly, TJ tasted the hidden meaning in Li Wei¡¯s words, and his smile became somewhat stiff, ¡°There will definitely be another chance.


    This time, we won¡¯t miss it.¡±


    That was as far as it went.


    They clenched their fists firmly, then TJ bid farewell to Li Wei and turned to leave.


    No sooner had TJ walked away than Zhu Zhu, who had been eyeing them covetously, ran over and clamored loudly, ¡°Next time you won¡¯t be so lucky.¡±


    In fact, today Brown lost luster, but it led to Zhu Zhu¡¯s spectacular emergence; he was targeted for passes seventeen times, advancing 121 yards, and his performance was remarkable.


    However, Zhu Zhu¡¯s outstanding personal performance wasn¡¯t enough, and it even witnessed the Steelers¡¯ fourth-quarter collapse; in light of that, his dazzling display was trivial.


    This was too much for Zhu Zhu to bear.


    Thus, this scene unfolded.


    After his outburst, Zhu Zhu turned to leave, knowing too well how devastating Li Wei¡¯s verbal salvos could be, and thinking it better to run than to fight.


    Yet, he didn¡¯t expect to hear Li Wei¡¯s unhurried voice from behind, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the third time¡¯s the charm.¡±


    It was like saying that things will work out on the third attempt; maybe, the third time they met, the Steelers might get a bit of luck...


    right?


    Far from retorting, Li Wei was actually blessing the Steelers?


    This frankness and generosity effortlessly wounded Zhu Zhu, whose cheeks turned as red as an engorged liver, looking like he might explode any second.

 Chapter 603

    ?Chapter 603: 602 Professional Scapegoat Chapter 603: 602 Professional Scapegoat Zhu Zhu was all set to attack Li Wei and then swiftly walk away, giving no chance for a counterattack.


    However, to his surprise, Li Wei didn¡¯t even try to follow.


    A careless remark had Zhu Zhu unable to keep his composure, his steps faltered, then he saw Li Wei casually passing by, even clenching his fist and displaying a smile, gesturing encouragement with his eyes:


    ¡°Keep it up, Meng Meng.¡±


    The nightmare, once again awakened, from NCAA all the way to the NFL, it haunted him persistently.


    Every single time, no matter how hard he tried or how outstanding his performance was, Li Wei seemed to effortlessly lead far ahead, even sparing the time to turn around and cheer him on.


    That feelinga?€¡±


    Utterly terrible.


    Zhu Zhu felt like his chest might just explode.


    That number twenty-three figure became more distant in his view.


    ...


    Zhu Zhu had been holding back, readying a powerful retort when his words rushed out like steam.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need your blessings.¡±


    Zhu Zhu: ???


    As the words left his mouth, he was filled with question marks, was the slight shyness in his voice normal?


    Nevertheless,


    Li Wei had already left at his leisure.


    Those Pittsburgh Steelers players really were too enthusiastic, in no way inferior to the home crowd at Arrowhead Stadium; but he did not have the time to respond now, because a pack of journalists, as fierce as wolves, was eagerly awaiting the post-game press conference.


    Everything was as expecteda?€¡±


    ¡°Li Wei, how do you feel about today¡¯s game...¡±


    ¡°...What are your thoughts on the victory?¡±


    ¡°How do you rate your own performance?¡±


    ¡°Were you surprised by the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ performance?¡±


    ¡°Was this the expected outcome?¡±


    ¡°Rookie, rookie!


    Over here!¡±


    The sound of rapid shutter clicks and the onslaught of blinding silver flashes came pouring down the moment Li Wei entered the press hall, unable to contain their enthusiasm, instantly igniting the atmosphere.


    The heat in the room was suffocating.


    Li Wei had no opportunity to speak, so he simply gave up trying to interrupt and stood at the front with a smile, soaking in the baptism of flashes.


    Were you trying to defend Bell in this way, warning the Pittsburgh Steelers that they made a wrong decision?¡±


    Sharp, probing, and straightforward.


    Meanwhile, all eyes were on the stage, without a doubt, this was the moment the entire league was watching.


    However, Li Wei was not only unruffled but also greeted the question with a broad smile.


    ¡°Are you questioning my professional spirit in striving for victory for my team?¡±


    With a deft change of subject, he easily led the reporters astraya?€¡±


    Of course, no one could question that.


    ¡°I believe there¡¯s no other mode in my game but ¡®rookie mode.¡¯ I am still learning and growing, and I hope to keep improving.


    Winning this game is the best affirmation I could have.¡±


    ¡°I believe the game speaks for itself.¡±


    The reporters aimed high, but Li Wei let it fall gently.


    The storm seemed to dissipate without a trace, and the press room was somewhat stunned, never imagining the ¡®rookie mode¡¯ could be wielded in such a way.


    Yet, some reporters were still struggling.


    ¡°Then, what is your view on Bell expressing his dissatisfaction by missing the regular season games?


    Do you support him?¡±


    Aggressive and sharp, without disguise or detour, they brandished their questions, determined to not let upa?€¡±


    All eyes, honed keenly, were ready for the challenge.


    One could already picture, if Li Wei showed any slip, the onslaught that would follow.


    Li Wei, showing off a set of neat, white teeth with a smirk that was anything but warm, did not hide the irony in his smile.


    ¡°I hope to compete openly and honorably with top players of the league on the field, which is why we love this sport.¡±


    ¡°With the new season ahead, I¡¯m aware of the increased challenges and am prepared to face them, hoping to improve by competing against various masters.¡±


    ¡°However, I respect individual choices.¡±


    At first glance, one might interpret Li Wei¡¯s remarks as supportive of Bell¡¯s decision to sit out games; but upon closer consideration, Li Wei never mentioned Bell by name, much less expressed support for Bell¡¯s holdout, making it difficult to misinterpret.


    Then, pondering it more calmly, was Li Wei¡¯s so-called respect for individual choices actually a dig at Tomlin¡¯s decision?


    Oh ho, things just got interesting.


    Just like during the off-season, Li Wei effortlessly shifted the focus, with the ¡®unfortunate¡¯ Tomlin once again cast as the professional scapegoata?€¡±


    Indeed, to wear the crown, one must bear its weight.


    Tomlin truly is the Chosen One of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

 Chapter 604

    ?Chapter 604: 603 Angel Devil Chapter 604: 603 Angel Devil Media journalists surrounded Li Wei, but was it really because they had an aversion to him?


    The answer is no.


    In fact, what the media pursued were simply talking points, sensationalism, and topics; thus, Li Wei¡¯s actions were nothing more than a benevolent reminder.


    Compared to outsider Li Wei, it was the insiders who were the real focus.


    For instance, Tomlin.


    From Bell to Brown and the silent, grim-faced Roethlisberger who left the field in anger after the game, was Li Wei implying that the main responsibility for the poor management of the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ locker room lay with Tomlin¡¯s assertiveness and despotism?


    Before Bell chose to hold out and sit out, wasn¡¯t it the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ uniform staff who, for the second year in a row, decided to apply the franchise tag to the League¡¯s number one running back?


    ...


    So, was this decision something personal, or was it the choice of the team manager or the head coach?


    Please, everyone, ponder this.


    A simple sentence suddenly seemed to take on an unexpectedly profound meaninga?€¡±


    And so, he used others to accomplish his own ends.


    Without making a sound, Li Wei had already managed to divert the trouble elsewhere, skillfully manipulating the reporters¡¯ speculative minds to push Tomlin into the limelight.


    Right, rather than making a fuss over Li Wei, they should properly grill Tomlin insteada?€¡±a debt has its debtor, after all.


    It was not just the conflict between Tomlin and Bell but also the internal strife between the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ uniform staff and the management.


    Who exactly was behind these decisions?


    If a scapegoat was needed for a loss, who should the fans blame?


    Attention, shifted in an instant.


    Just like during the offseason, Li Wei once again quietly managed to transfer the focus, easily extricating himself from the situation.


    Tomlin: ???


    The subsequent developments turned out to be even more interesting than Li Wei had anticipated.


    Latter on, during the media interviews on Wednesday¡¯s training day and the pre-game interviews in the second week of the regular season, the reporters doggedly and persistently went after Tomlin:


    From the issue of Bell to locker room conflicts, and whether Tomlin thought the head coach had failed in his duties, the questions got sharper and sharper.


    Tomlin, caught in a hail of bullets, endured and endured, until he finally, and quite uncharacteristically, lost his composure.


    Without uttering a word and without any warning, he turned and left the press room.


    There was no outburst, no rage.


    To be precise, there wasn¡¯t even a change in his expressiona?€¡±not a hint of signala?€¡±simply turning around and leaving the whole roomful of reporters behind.


    Perhaps the best explanation was, faced with those attacks, those pressures, that attention, that buzz:


    He had had enough.


    Meanwhile, the very person who indirectly helped fuel the situation stayed perfectly invisible.


    At the press conference, this Devil hid his sharp teeth and horns, looking at the reporters with an innocent face, as if he were an angel who had just come down from heaven to frolic.


    In fact, not a single reporter in the room could see through Li Wei¡¯s real face, they fell for the deception hook, line, and sinker, and were even ready to continue being fooled.


    ¡°A new season, a new start, the expectations and attention from the entire League this year are completely different, and the pressure faced on the field has changed; but, in the first game, your performance was impressive, with a rushing touchdown, a reception touchdown, and a passing touchdown, both rushing and receiving yards broke the century mark.¡±


    ¡°Without a doubt, you remain one of the running backs to watch out for in the League, are you satisfied with your performance?


    What efforts did you make during the off-season to improve yourself?¡±


    A standard question, and everyone was ready to heap praise on Li Wei.


    But unexpectedly, Li Wei didn¡¯t intend to accept the praise, only focused on selling crutches.


    ¡°Oh, is this prying into secrets?


    May I ask which media you are from?¡±


    The room burst into laughter with his teasing remark.


    ¡°I personally think that it¡¯s not me who deserves attention in today¡¯s game.


    My teammates fought a wonderful battle; they are the true heroes.¡±


    ¡°Fuller, Jones, Regland, and so on, and of course, Maho...


    cough cough...¡±


    Li Wei accidentally choked, not fully pronouncing Mahomes¡¯s name, only uttering the first two syllables, but unexpectedly, this became Mahomes¡¯s nickname among Hua Xia fansa?€¡±


    Neither Li Wei nor Mahomes had anticipated this.


    At the scene, Li Wei reacted quickly.


    ¡°See, his performance is so red-hot that even his name is too hot to handle.¡±


    A cold joke, truly unbearably cold.


    The reporters looked at Li Wei with faces full of disbelief.


    Li Wei shrugged lightly.


    ¡°What I mean is, Mahomes put on a splendid performance, proving himself even under pressure.¡±


    ¡°Personally, I think he deserves to be the American League¡¯s Offensive Player of the Week, his performance has shown enough maturity and wisdom to prove he has the potential to become an elite quarterback, in fact, I am already looking forward to his upcoming performances.¡±

 Chapter 605

    ?Chapter 605: Persevere and redouble your efforts Chapter 605: Persevere and redouble your efforts After a season of hard work, Li Wei knew the immense pressure quarterbacks faced, whether they were rookie quarterbacks or veteran quarterbacks.


    The moment a new season began, they stood under the spotlight, subjected to microscopic analysis by both media and fans.


    Look at Wentz, look at Goff, look at Watson, no one was exempt.


    Last season, quarterback Trubisky, selected by the Chicago Bears ahead of Li Wei with the second overall pick, went through a nightmarish rookie season, constantly under fire and picked apart to the point of feeling like he was in hell.


    This season, Mahomes, taken tenth overall in the first round, unavoidably took over the heavy duty of starting quarterback from Smith for the defending champions.


    Anticipating the critical eyes of the media, the pressure was unimaginable, and maybe Li Wei, who entered the League last season as an Asian rookie running back, could understand a thing or two about it.


    So Li Wei took the initiative, stepping up first to share the pressure with Mahomesa?€¡±


    No matter what the media said, at least the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ locker room needed to unite and provide Mahomes with enough support and affirmation, helping the young quarterback to quickly find his footing and create a space for him to thrive.


    ...


    After spending a season with Mahomes, Li Wei knew that he was the kind of player who needed such affirmation and support.


    Unlike criticism or reprimands, praise and advice could make Mahomes improve rapidly.


    Now, Li Wei was setting an example himself, being the first to take such encouraging actions.


    Following suit, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ players also generously offered their own praises and affirmations, aiding in the transition of quarterbacks for the defending champions.


    From players to coaches, unanimous acclaim left young Mahomes overwhelmed; this sincere and honest guy was lost in the deluge of praises, full of vigor but unsure how to express it.


    That night he hopped next door to his neighbor Li Wei, exclaiming and getting excited, yet the following day, he got up for training even earlier than Li Wei, entering the subsequent sessions with high spirits.


    Mahomes didn¡¯t know how to reciprocate the support from his teammates and fans, so he threw himself into training, hoping to repay that trust and support through his performance on the field, full of fervor.


    Of course, what was most important was that Mahomes truly deserved the praisea?€¡±


    With 28 out of 23 passes completed, an 82.1% success rate, 326 yards, three passing touchdowns, and one reception touchdown.


    However, from another perspective, the season had just begun, and a series of challenges still lay ahead, so it was premature to draw conclusions.


    Recognition can¡¯t be shouted into existence, it has to be earned, game by game.


    To this end, Li Wei always kept a clear heada?€¡±a?€¡±


    The noise and splendor of the internet age are all just bubbles, nothing more than bubbles.


    One mustn¡¯t be fooled by them, as the speed at which these bubbles can burst might catch one off guard, and before you know it, you¡¯d be facing the abyss without any preparation.


    Perhaps, this was Li Wei¡¯s greatest advantage from time-traveling to the present from the future; he had witnessed the noisiness and turmoil of the coming years and experienced the unthinkable journey through time and space, which allowed him to stay calm and focus on himself.


    He needed to stay grounded, step by step, feeling the ground beneath his feet.


    And so.


    After the season opener, and having gone through ice baths, massages, recovery training, and relaxation therapies, Li Wei didn¡¯t leave but stayed to watch the game tapesa?€¡±


    Particularly the second quarter.


    The season opener had ended, and victory needed to be temporarily set aside as preparation time for the next game.


    Therefore, the first thing to do before moving on was to summarize the experience and review the game, as understanding one¡¯s own weaknesses was essential to making progress.


    This continued until Burton Burns repeatedly waved his hands indicating ¡°I¡¯m too old to keep up¡± and was the first to head home to rest, while Ronnie Clark still stayed behind to help Li Wei analyse the game tapes.


    As a running back, Clark¡¯s physical talents might have had their limits, unable to make it as a starter in the NFL, and even in the NCAA.


    But Clark¡¯s brain was a different story, particularly sensitive to tactics, game situations, and confrontations, and he had unique insights of his own.


    The nickname ¡°master¡± was by no means unearned; during their college days, Clark had provided Li Wei with lots of help, and now on the professional stage, it was the same.


    The discussion carried on, even continuing on their way out of the training facility on the way home.


    Looking at the time, Li Wei turned to Clark with a smile, ¡°Come on, let me introduce you to a secret spot, perfect for unwinding after a game day.¡±

 Chapter 606

    ?Chapter 606: 605 Secret Base Chapter 606: 605 Secret Base The vehicle moved forward through the night.


    Clark watched Li Wei, who was driving intently, and felt no sense of reality.


    It was hard to imagine that Li Wei was still the same person he remembereda?€¡±


    Brimming with brilliance, the center of everyone¡¯s attention, without a doubt the most valuable player on the Kansas City Chiefs team, and one of the few in the League.


    Yet, he was still down-to-earth, still approachable, as if nothing had changed except the passage of time.


    ¡°Master?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°So, how did you come to think of becoming a coach?¡±


    Clark was startled, then laughed wryly, ¡°I can¡¯t believe you held back until now.


    I thought you¡¯d ask the moment we met.¡±


    Li Wei shrugged lightly, ¡°Continuing with football is a dream, returning to a nine-to-five job is also a dream, and choosing to start a family in the face of daily life¡¯s trivial matters is yet another dream.


    I don¡¯t think anyone¡¯s dream is greater than anyone else¡¯s.


    ...


    Everyone lives their life earnestly, and everyone deserves respect.¡±


    ¡°Brother, I hope to continue seeing you on the football field, but I¡¯d be just as happy to see you somewhere else.


    How could I ever forget those games, right?¡±


    Clark remembered how all the staff members of the Kansas City Chiefs couldn¡¯t stop praising Li Weia?€¡±it wasn¡¯t forced flattery.@@@@


    That admiration and recognition were inadvertently shown, and now he understood why.


    Li Wei never placed himself above others; that was the key.


    But this is Li Wei, isn¡¯t it?


    Clark couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°Remember the wildcard game?¡±


    ¡°Titan.¡±


    ¡°Right, you and Derrick Henry, the two Heisman Trophy winners before and after you, and figures who have made their names in the history of the Crimson Tide Storm, happened to meet in the professional playoffs.


    Of course, we couldn¡¯t miss it.


    In fact, we watched the game together.¡±


    ¡°Wait, if it was the wildcard game, that means it was the nationwide championship weekend, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we were about to face Georgia, but no one wanted to miss your game.


    That game, wow, even if I close my eyes now, my blood still boils with excitement.¡±


    ¡°No way, there were still the conference championship and the Super Bowl after that.¡±


    Li Wei joked, but Clark was completely serious, ¡°It¡¯s true.¡±


    Li Wei said, ¡°Every Chiefs player and fan knows it.


    On game days, it¡¯s as lively here as it is at Arrowhead Stadium.¡±


    Clark was a disciplined man.


    He knew he had many shortcomings as an assistant coach, and the only reason he had gone from the NCAA to the NFL was because of Burns.


    To not let Burns down, or embarrass Li Wei, he devoted one hundred percent of his time to his team duties.


    Spare time?


    What¡¯s that?


    Forget spare time, even eating and going to the bathroom were spent analyzing tactics.


    Except for taking showers and sleeping, Clark dedicated all his time to work.


    So, Old Oak Tavern remained a legend to him.


    Li Wei had anticipated this, and after studying game footage for the day, he brought Clark here.


    Just as with tactics and expertise, understanding the team culture and the fans¡¯ culture is actually an inseparable part of a professional team.


    Standing at the entrance, Clark surveyed the taverna?€¡±


    Feeling somewhat let down.


    It was a very ordinary tavern; the letter ¡°K¡± above ¡°The-Old-Oak¡± had already fallen off and was hanging by a thread.


    The patchy red paint above the storefront had faded and peeled off in the wind and rain, and the dusty brick walls looked dim and dreary.


    Even the windows were covered with a layer of dust.


    This place?


    Honestly, if Clark had driven past, he wouldn¡¯t have stopped.


    This inconspicuous spot is the holy land for Kansas City Chiefs fans?


    Though he thought this, Clark didn¡¯t say it out loud.


    Having come from a small town himself, he knew the heavy toll the economic crisis of 2008 had taken.


    Even though recovery is slowly ensuing, it¡¯s mainly happening in the big cities on the East and West Coasts; the cities and towns in the central regions keep emptying out.


    Young people who fled to big cities for survival during the economic crisis have not returned, leaving these cities unable to regain their vitality.


    Li Wei noticed Clark¡¯s expression but said nothinga?€¡±


    This sight precisely demonstrated what the tavern had gone through in half a century of weathering storms, and it was also why it could bring fans together.


    Before they could even step inside, they saw West coming out the door with a large garbage bin of food waste, his face flushed and dripping with sweat.


    Li Wei took the initiative to offer help, ¡°Hey, need a hand?¡±


    West looked up, and spotting Li Wei in the dim light of the night, he was so startled he almost let the garbage bin fly out of his hands, narrowly averting disaster.

 Chapter 607

    ?Chapter 607: 606 Sincere Thanks Chapter 607: 606 Sincere Thanks ¡°Hey, need some help?¡±


    A voice came from straight ahead.


    Vester instinctively looked up and, under the dim streetlight, spotted an unexpected figure standing in the night, waving at him.


    Startled, he nearly let the garbage can fly right out of his hands.


    Darn it!


    However, the tragedy was timely averteda?€¡±


    A figure quickly stepped forward, grabbed the garbage can with both hands, and helped Vester regain his balance and control the situation.


    After all, it was just a false alarm.


    Vester let out a long breath, his heart still pounding in his chest.


    ...


    His first instinct was to look at the person who had reached out to avert the crisis.


    ¡°Thanks.


    I mean, this shouldn¡¯t have happened, but thanks for the help.


    Oh, damn it, God, Assistant Coach Clark.¡±


    Accompanied by the curse, Vester exclaimed in surprise.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t hide his surprise, ¡°I was about to introduce myself.


    Wait, do you know each other?¡±


    Vester shook his head repeatedly, ¡°No, yes, no no no, what am I even saying!@@@@


    I mean, I know him, but he probably doesn¡¯t know me.¡±


    ¡°With all the changes during the team¡¯s offseason, how could we fans not know?¡±


    ¡°Ah, dang it, you guys need to wait a moment, I need to go in and stop the boys from bad-mouthing the coaching staff, you know, one of the greatest pleasures of being a fan is sitting in a bar and acting like the expert.¡±


    A little jest, and even Clark couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter.


    Then.


    Vester suddenly dropped his smile, ¡°Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself, Charles Vester, an idiot who thinks he knows the team better than Coach Reed, welcome to Kansas City.¡±


    Initially, Clark was a bit nervous, but seeing the straightforward Vester in front of him, he not only relaxed but also seemed genuinely thrilled.


    Clark glanced at Li Wei, now understanding why Li Wei said he often came here to relax, then turned to Vester, ¡°Ronnie Clark, a...


    fan.¡±


    Clark had no sense of humor.


    He tried to join in with a joke, but everything from the content to the tone was dry and flavorless, making even Clark himself feel a bit awkward.


    Vester didn¡¯t mind at all and just smiled, ¡°Then you¡¯ve come to the right place, one Chief always recognizes another.


    You should go in, the guys will definitely welcome you warmly.


    ¡°Rookie, have I ever thanked you?¡±


    Before Li Wei could respond, Vester continued.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if I¡¯ve said it before, I still need to say ita?€¡±thank you, thank you for coming to Kansas City.¡±


    Those simple, earnest words weighed heavily on Li Wei¡¯s chest.


    Li Wei tried to make a joke, ¡°It seems I didn¡¯t have much choice.¡±


    To date, there have been incidents, albeit few, where rookies were drafted but refused to sign with the team, with Eli Manning being the most infamous.


    Little Manning was the hot favorite for the first overall pick that year, but he publicly stated more than once that he was unwilling to go to the San Diego Chargers, making vigorous efforts to resist.


    However.


    The San Diego Chargers were not pleased to find themselves being spurned and resisted.


    They disregarded everything and chose Little Manning, leading to a historic moment at the drafta?€¡±


    Little Manning accepted the San Diego Chargers¡¯ jersey number one from the team owner with a face stiffer and uglier than crying.


    All the reporters onsite watching the drama burst out laughing.


    Speculation was rife about whether Little Manning would sign with the San Diego Chargers.


    If he had refused, it would have been the biggest joke in the history of the NFL draft.


    Fortunately, things took a fortunate turn.


    The New York Giants and the San Diego Chargers completed a trade.


    The New York Giants picked another quarterback, Philip Rivers, and then the two teams completed the trade, resulting in a happy ending for all.


    ¡°Hahaha.¡± Vester was amused, ¡°You could always make a protest like Eli.¡±


    Li Wei, who was clueless about football, now also started to understand some historical anecdotes, especially the fiasco between Little Manning and the New York Giants of the previous year which seemed vividly present in the recollections of last year¡¯s draft ¡°happy ending.¡±


    And the most absurd thing was, the story between the New York Giants and Little Manning had another twist afterward.


    Little Manning didn¡¯t transfer or retire.


    Upon his ascension, the new head coach of the New York Giants, Pat Shurmur, first traded Geno Smith and then confirmed Little Manning through the training camp¡¯s evaluation, announcing that Little Manning would still be the starting quarterback for the next season.


    Witnesses to this marital squabble ended up reconciling, wiping their tears and looking forward to the future together, a drama that astounded the entire league.


    Vester exclaimed, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect their ending to turn out this way.¡±


    Li Wei, however, was quite calm, ¡°This still isn¡¯t the end.


    This year¡¯s situation is still uncertain.¡±


    Vester paused for a moment, then chuckled wryly, ¡°True.


    If someone had told me a year ago that we would enter the new season as defending champions and defeat Pittsburgh in the opener, I would have suggested they see a psychiatrist.¡±


    Laughter echoed within his chesta?€¡±


    It was for this reason that Vester believed they should say thank you to Li Wei; it all started with his arrival.


    A rookie, yet he became a hero in Kansas City.

 Chapter 608

    ?Chapter 608: 607 City Lifeline Chapter 608: 607 City Lifeline In just one year, it all felt so real, yet so dreamlike, that at any moment in daily life I would find myself in a daze, questioning whether all this had truly happened.


    After repeated confirmation, the fact that ¡°the Kansas City Chiefs are the defending champions¡± always managed to bring a smile to my face, restoring a sense of happiness.


    Perhaps, to outsiders, eight whole months had passed since the Super Bowl, and the city was still basking in the glory of the championship, which seemed quite insane.


    But West would say that¡¯s because they didn¡¯t live in Kansas City.


    ¡°These past years, the entire city has been struggling, as if enduring an invisible storma?€¡±with factories closing, neighborhoods crumbling, widespread unemployment, and young people forced to leave in search of survival.¡±@@@@


    ¡°It was a slump, a gloom.¡±


    ¡°If someone asked me what Kansas City was like, I¡¯d say it was a disaster, no need to come here, we¡¯re all worried we¡¯d become the next Detroit.¡±


    West noticed Li Wei¡¯s surprise and couldn¡¯t help but give a bitter smile.


    ¡°Yes, we were in that bad of a state.¡±


    Detroit, the once-great Motor City, declared bankruptcy in 2014, the largest municipal bankruptcy in North American history, resulting in the city being managed by The Federation.


    ...


    Luckily, the bankruptcy didn¡¯t last too long.


    After a whole year, the city¡¯s finances returned to normal, and The Federation handed back control to the municipal government.


    The Detroit Lions, this NFL team was also struggling on the edge.


    Unexpectedly, Kansas City was facing the same depressive and bleak hardship.


    In fact, even now, Kansas City¡¯s economic situation was still terrible, with a high unemployment rate casting a shadow over the entire city.


    West took a deep breath.


    ¡°This is a blue-collar city, home to a bunch of workers.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have much cleverness or talent, just honestly, diligently, earnestly relying on our hands to make a living.


    We can¡¯t keep up with the trend of the internet economy, living our lives straight and simple, without extravagant desires or dreams, just trying to live simply.¡±


    ¡°Once the factories can¡¯t keep going, people can¡¯t find a way out.¡±


    ¡°This city has always been fighting adversity, suffering from hardship, and people don¡¯t deserve this treatment.¡±


    ¡°Football is the only thing we have, it helps us find the strength to keep on living.¡±


    In just a few words, West painted a picture in Li Wei¡¯s mind.


    Li Wei had never experienced it, but he couldn¡¯t help but imagine that, just like football in the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, football is also rooted in North American communities, this sport has long transcended mere entertainment.


    ¡°In my memory, the Old Oak Tavern has only closed once in twenty-five years, because Old Anderson fell at home, and David had to rush back, later Mr.


    Anderson was diagnosed with Alzheimer¡¯s, and then...¡±


    ¡°In any case, this place has always been open, even on Christmas Day.


    Open all year round.¡±


    ¡°People always say, hey, buddy, it¡¯s just a game, no need to take it so seriously; but it¡¯s not, really, it¡¯s a part of our lives.¡±


    As he spoke, West became animated, his face flushed with excitement, unable to hide it.


    ¡°The first time I went to Arrowhead Stadium with my parents, I still remember that scene, a massive red wave sweeping through the stands, face after face brimming with happiness.¡±


    ¡°After my father passed away, my mother never went to Arrowhead Stadium again, because it held too many of their memories, their first date, my father¡¯s proposal, oh God, can you imagine that he actually proposed at Arrowhead Stadium?


    Haha, but he did, he really did.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the same for me.


    In my memory, time isn¡¯t important, the stadium and those games are what matter.¡±


    ¡°The first time I fell in love with a girl, November 28th, 2004, we were routed at home by San Diego, officially losing our playoff hopes, I met her right here at the Old Oak Tavern, a girl who cursed and vented her emotions with me.


    I still remember her black jeans under her jersey.¡±


    ¡°But at that time, I didn¡¯t have the courage to ask her out, until December 25th, the Christmas Day showdown, we defeated Oakland for the victory, right outside Arrowhead Stadium, I mustered the courage and asked her if she would like to watch a movie with me, and she said yes.¡±


    A smile climbed to the corners of my mouth, filled with happiness.


    In the world of football, there is a famous saying that football is not a matter of life and death, but it is more important than life and death.


    Actually, football is the same.


    But this is not to say that football is more important than life, but that football has long become a part of life, including life and death, the birth of life, the passing of life, also intermingles with the stadium, the teams, and football, giving life weight, giving life warmth.


    Be it happiness or sadness, neither can be separated from football.


    Perhaps, no one can escape the fate of death, but those vivid memories associated with the stadium and the team will never fade away.

 Chapter 609

    ?Chapter 609: 608 Community Heroes Chapter 609: 608 Community Heroes Passion surged and spilled over only to come to an unexpected halta?€¡±


    West stopped midway, with his cheeks still flushed with excitement and exhilaration, but his eyes couldn¡¯t help but betray a hint of sorrow, as he felt loss drag him by the ankles into the night.


    But it was just for a brief second, West quickly snapped back to reality, shook his head, and took a deep breath.


    ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just...


    cough, cough.¡±


    ¡°That girl, she later agreed to my proposal at the Arrowhead Stadium, and became my wife.


    We spent a very long...


    a very long time together; but in the end, we still chose to split up, just last year.¡±


    ¡°Phew!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t blame her, I wasn¡¯t a competent husband.


    I thought I could do it, but reality was another story, but that¡¯s life, right?¡±


    ¡°Her leaving, maybe it¡¯s for the best.¡±


    ¡°I just...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s hard.¡±


    ¡°We once thought that by the age of thirty, we would know how to live, that all questions would have answers, only to find out it¡¯s still a mess.¡±


    ¡°When I looked at her, there were still sparks in my eyes, but life isn¡¯t just about that, right?¡±


    The smile, bitter and helpless.


    ...


    ¡°Unemployment, divorce, alcoholism...


    God, I barely recognize myself anymore.¡±


    As he spoke, West became a little flustered, hastily bowed his head to rub his eyes mumbling ¡°got something in my eye,¡± then swiftly looked up at Li Wei, took a deep breath, and flashed an exaggerated smile.


    ¡°Sorry, my head¡¯s not right now, I don¡¯t know why I¡¯m telling you this.


    Please ignore it.¡±


    ¡°Where were we?¡±


    Li Wei didn¡¯t call out West¡¯s ¡°lie,¡± ¡°We were just talking about how I came to Kansas City like Iron Man to save people from fire and water.¡±


    Because Li Wei was so serious and focused, West was slightly taken aback.


    A moment later, realizing Ansen was joking, West burst into laughter, but still kept nodding in agreement, ¡°Yes, yes, exactly.


    Thank you, Mr.


    Tony Stark.¡±


    ¡°Wait, I thought you were Spider-Man?¡±


    New York, the grassroots, the friendly neighbor?


    West quickly waved his hands, ¡°It¡¯s that guy who was picking on you in the bar back then, but you¡¯ve probably already forgotten about him...¡±


    Li Wei wasn¡¯t just bad at remembering names, but that didn¡¯t mean he had a bad memory, ¡°Oh, him, I remember.


    You guys told me he was also struggling with unemployment, right?


    So, you¡¯re saying he found a job?¡±


    West was even more surpriseda?€¡±


    Li Wei actually remembered Provo?


    He should tell that guy.


    ¡°Yes, a painter.¡±


    ¡°Well, the city has a project to maintain old neighborhoods.


    We currently can¡¯t attract business to establish a brand new commercial district, but there are still many rundown old neighborhoods in the corners of the city.


    The city government is planning to carry out basic maintenance, hoping to attract more residents to settle here.¡±


    The city was slowly revitalizing bit by bit.


    Though not fast, one could truly feel the life force flaming up in the city¡¯s veins, as the long dark age of unemployment seemed to finally welcome a glimmer of dawn.


    ¡°He¡¯s now in charge of painting walls.


    Additionally, he helps with demolishing dangerous buildings in his spare time.¡±


    ¡°Regardless, at least he¡¯s found a job and can finally help with the rent.


    If I weren¡¯t worried about him ending up on the streets, I would have kicked him out just like his landlord did.¡±


    The last time Li Wei heard the news, Provo was behind on rent but hadn¡¯t been kicked out yet.


    Now it appeared he had indeed been evicted, but fortunately, West had taken in Provo, preventing the poor fellow from becoming a homeless wanderer.


    Life was hard, truly hard.


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t help but think of Li Yi and Jiang Yin.


    They were honest folks, earnestly building their lives with their own hands.


    The weight of the times was like a mountain on the shoulders of ordinary people.


    Li Wei looked at West, ¡°Is there anything I can do?¡±


    West stared back at Li Wei with sincere eyes, ¡°Just keep going like this, rookie.


    What you¡¯ve brought to this city is already enough.¡±


    ¡°Ha.¡±


    Li Wei let out a light chuckle.


    ¡°Without the support of the fans, we¡¯re just a bunch of fools running around chasing a football.


    The Professional League is what it is because of your presence.¡±


    ¡°So please, allow me to give something back to the community.¡±


    ¡°`

 Chapter 610

    ?Chapter 610: 609 looking forward to tomorrow Chapter 610: 609 looking forward to tomorrow Li Wei had always believed that fans are the soul of a sport.


    Take football, for example.


    The passion and loyalty of those fans, their encouragement and support, transformed football from a mere sport into the world¡¯s number one sporting activitya?€¡±deeply intertwined with community, life, and culture, eventually becoming a spiritual belief for countless ordinary people.


    The same is true for American football.


    From Tuscaloosa to Kansas City, Li Wei deeply felt the inseparable bond between this sport and the entire city, and its local residents.


    He always believed that the relationship between a team and its fans was one of mutual success and support.


    If possible, Li Wei wanted to give something back to these genuine and sincere people.


    ...


    With all his heart.


    West felt a burning passion in his chest but didn¡¯t know how to express his feelings verbally at that momenta?€¡±


    Indeed, one regrets not reading enough at times of need.


    Reading too little, there¡¯s no confidence; other than saying ¡°thank you,¡± he didn¡¯t know how to express himself, filled with fervor, wishing he could show Li Wei his heart.


    ¡°Ah, right, there¡¯s something!¡±


    Finally, West remembered.


    ¡°Old Anderson!¡±


    ¡°God, Old Anderson must be at the bar by now, not having left yet; he would be overjoyed to see you, extremely overjoyed.¡±


    ¡°Uh, although I¡¯m not sure if he¡¯ll recognize you.¡±


    ¡°I mean, he might not recognize anyone; he doesn¡¯t even recognize Davida?€|¡±


    No sooner had the words left his mouth than West immediately regretted them.


    The thought was kind; but he had completely forgottena?€¡±Alzheimer¡¯s.


    No one knows when it strikes, nor what state it brings; if one¡¯s mind gets muddled, then they would recognize no one.


    With Old Anderson¡¯s condition, if asked about the team lineup of the Kansas City Chiefs from twenty years ago, he might recite it with ease as if recounting treasures; but his short-term memory of recent years¡¯ team lineup sporadically falters.@@@@


    The rookie before hima?€|


    If he doesn¡¯t recognize him, would the situation become awkward?


    Li Wei didn¡¯t mind.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if he doesn¡¯t recognize me.


    It¡¯s my honor to talk with an elder who loves football.


    As for football, I still have a lot to learn.¡±


    This figure set a new historical high and became the first NFL game in September to break the 30 million viewership threshold.


    Shocking!


    Impactful!


    Delightful!


    It was completely unexpected.


    The reason was complex, with countless possibilities; but looking at the social network buzz after the game, the Kansas City Chiefs played a significant rolea?€¡±


    Young.


    Fresh.


    Energetic.


    Primarily led by sophomores and juniors, like a breath of fresh air, they successfully started a new youthful movement in the NFL, fearless against traditional powerhouses like the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers, maintaining a four-game winning streak, without a doubt becoming a favorite among the youth.


    Furthermore, the performance of Li Wei and Mahomes, both rookies from the same year, was indeed eye-catching in this opening game.


    The historic first touchdown connection between Li Wei and Mahomes broke out of the mold; the unconventional running back-quarterback duo sparked discussions, and following the Super Bowl earlier in the year, the ¡°Chiefs Special¡± once again overturned the game, setting the tone for the opening match and causing a stir online.


    The legend of the ¡°Kansas City Twins¡± spread rapidly.


    The defending champions¡¯ opening victory garnered more attention than anticipated.


    While becoming instantly famous, the ¡°Chiefs Special¡± undoubtedly became the hot topic throughout the League; then, Brady was inadvertently caught in the crossfire once again.


    This time, the reporters couldn¡¯t be blamed, as all the star players from the League¡¯s teams had been interviewed, with everyone discussing it; naturally, they couldn¡¯t miss out on Brady, and there was no intention to specifically target him.


    However...


    the question was not so friendly.


    ¡°Tom, when facing the New England Patriots, the Chiefs didn¡¯t use the ¡®Chiefs Special¡¯.


    What do you think is the reason for that?¡±


    The subtext was: You¡¯re not worthy.


    Brady instantly tasted the insinuation in the reporter¡¯s words; the smile on his lips almost cracked, and it took all his strength to barely maintain his composure, ¡°I don¡¯t know.


    Maybe, they were too nervous and scared that they forgot?¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    The provocation was hidden behind a thin veil, and Brady hit back just as directly.


    However!


    The reporter still refused to let it go, throwing out another aggressive, relentless question.


    ¡°After losing to Li Wei twice in a row, do you now have a psychological shadow regarding him?¡±

 Chapter 611

    ?Chapter 611: 610 psychological shadow Chapter 611: 610 psychological shadow For a long time, Tom Brady always maintained a gentlemanly image in front of the media, never losing his composure, let alone swearing.


    But now, Brady had had enough of the media¡¯s nonsense:


    Psychological shadow?


    Who has a psychological shadow?


    You are the ones with a psychological shadow about Li Wei, your whole family has a psychological shadow about Li Wei!


    Even a clay Buddha has some anger.


    ¡°Haha, of course not,¡± he said.


    ¡°It¡¯s just two games.


    ...


    If losing two in a row causes a psychological shadow, then the whole League should have a psychological shadow about me.¡±


    Using all his strength, Brady controlled his language, not ruining the image he had painstakingly crafted, and responded lightly, with a touch of Versailles:


    The confidence and composure revealed in his words truly displayed the demeanor and breadth of a championa?€¡±


    A mere Super Bowl Trophy?


    Don¡¯t be in such a hurry to stick your tail up.


    Having said that, Brady didn¡¯t wait for the reporters to continue their barrage, he turned and left, leaving the media hanging in an uncommon fashion; yet the reporters did not give up so easily, their bothersome voices continued to bombard him.


    ¡°Tom, do you think you can end the losing streak against Li Wei this year?¡±


    ¡°Some people think Li Wei is your nemesis because he doesn¡¯t know you at all, whereas you always seem restricted in his presence, what do you think?¡±


    ¡°Did you watch the season opener?


    How do you rate Li Wei¡¯s performance?¡±


    The questions, in fact, lacked originality, still the same ones, no change at all, these reporters obviously couldn¡¯t be bothered to refresh their question pool.


    Li Wei, Li Wei, always Li Wei.


    Not the Kansas City Chiefs, but Li Weia?€¡±it was clear from the subject that the reporters intended to recreate the pre-and post-opening game atmosphere of last year, once again setting Li Wei and Brady on opposing sides, fervently praying that the legendary rivalry ¡°Brady vs.


    Manning¡± could take the stage again.


    In short, the same old themes.


    As for the New England Patriots, they couldn¡¯t possibly be unaware of this, the label of ¡°season sweep¡± weighing heavily on their chests, as players and staff sharpened their knives.


    Expectations gradually heated up.


    Pressure climbed steadily.


    Countless eyes were all focused on the Kansas City Chiefs, fervently hoping this young team could truly grow into a force that could confront the New England Patriots.


    The pressure was far beyond imagination, layered upon their status as the defending champions, which put the Kansas City Chiefs under intense scrutiny.


    If the Kansas City Chiefs couldn¡¯t withstand such pressure, they might crumble quickly and sink into mediocrity, or even plummet to rock bottom overnight, necessitating a complete overhaul.


    But if the Kansas City Chiefs could bear the pressure, endure the trials, and complete their transformation, they would grow into a truly strong team and begin to build a dynasty.


    For the past twenty years, all reigning champions had gone through this process and ended in failure, with only the New England Patriots emerging from the fire tempered and setting up an incredible dynasty since the new century, becoming the ultimate champions that everyone in the League longed to defeat.


    Now, all eyes were on the Kansas City Chiefs, this vibrant and invincible young team, to see if they could withstand the test of pressure.


    The journey was setting sail, not just to defend the title but also to grow into champions and build a dynasty.


    Week two of the regular season.


    The Kansas City Chiefs traveled to Los Angeles to challenge their division rivals, the Chargers.


    Facing the Los Angeles Chargers who had upgraded their team this season, the defending champions withstood another test, establishing an absolute advantage with their smooth offense in the first three quarters, and snuffing out the opponents¡¯ comeback with defense in the fourth quarter, securing a hard-fought victory away from home.


    ¡°38:28¡±.


    Week three of the regular season.


    The Kansas City Chiefs returned to their home field, holding fort at Arrowhead Stadium to face the San Francisco 49ers.


    It was a bit regrettable that Smith couldn¡¯t represent the Kansas City Chiefs against his former team, but the team he faced was no longer the San Francisco 49ers he knew.


    After several seasons of highs and lows under head coach Jim Harbaugh, the San Francisco 49ers had a complete overhaul last season, from the team manager to the head coach to the starting quarterback, changing everything inside and out, but a six-win ten-loss record was not enough to satisfy the fans.


    Clearly, rebuilding takes time, and both fans and the front office need patience.


    Rome wasn¡¯t built in a day, nor is a team with championship DNA.


    This year, still adjusting and still exploring, the San Francisco 49ers clearly had many shortcomings.


    They caused some trouble for the defending champions in the first half, but lacked staying power, and were completely overshadowed by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half.


    ¡°27:38¡±.


    The Kansas City Chiefs easily defeated the San Francisco 49ers at home, starting the new season with three straight victories, displaying their vibrant and unbeatable spirit amid escalading pressure.

 Chapter 612

    ?Chapter 612: 611 running neck and neck Chapter 612: 611 running neck and neck Week 4 of the regular season, ¡°Kansas City Chiefs vs.


    Denver Broncos.¡±


    After Big Manning retired, the Denver Broncos had been struggling to recover.


    Even after acquiring Keenum, the phenomenal quarterback from Minnesota Vikings during the offseason, the team was still on the path of rebuilding.


    Experts generally believed that the Denver Broncos wouldn¡¯t trouble the defending champions and that the Kansas City Chiefs should easily defeat their opponents and continue their winning streak.


    However!


    Never underestimate the explosive energy in a derby match against a divisional arch-rival.


    The Denver Broncos almost caused an upset against the Kansas City Chiefs.


    ...


    In a crucial moment, it was the Kansas City Chiefs Defense that stood tall and prevented an upset.


    ¡°27:23,¡± four consecutive wins.


    Week 5 of the regular season, ¡°Kansas City Chiefs vs.


    Jacksonville Jaguars.¡±


    This game was a rematch of last season¡¯s American League finals, and both teams were hot contenders for the top spot in the American League this year.


    Undoubtedly, it was this week¡¯s highlight, and the pre-game consensus was that the match would be incredibly close and challenging for both teams.


    Moreover, ¡°King of Trash Talk¡± Ramsey was set to collide with Mahomes, offering an exciting matchup of the new generation cornerback and quarterback.


    All eyes were on them!


    But.


    The game turned messy.


    The Jacksonville Jaguars were ineffective throughout and were dominated from start to finish, being thoroughly outplayed on both offense and defense, leading to Ramsey turning his fire on his own team.


    ¡°We are just a disaster.¡±


    This was the harsh truth.


    Because the gap was so wide and the advantage so clear, Li Wei had already clocked out early in the third quarter; had it not been for Mahomes still lacking game experience and needing every second of play to improve, Reed would have benched him too.


    Of course, Mahomes didn¡¯t mind and was still full of zeal every time he played.


    Additionally, Hunter, taking over from Li Wei, showed no signs of easing up.


    Like a beast unleashed, his aggressive and powerful performance brought cheers and awe across the leaguea?€¡±


    In less than a half of playtime, Hunter¡¯s rushing yards and receiving yards both broke fifty, including a rushing touchdown.


    Suddenly, the situation became cleara?€¡±a bold and crazy idea emergeda?€¡±


    What if both teams could meet at the Super Bowl?


    Naturally, the ¡°Li Wei VS Donald¡± fate duel surfaced.


    Wait, what about ¡°Li Wei VS Brady¡±?


    No impact there.


    Li Wei and Brady represented an internal American League duel, a battle at the summit of the League finals; Li Wei and Donald were about to collide across Leagues, each sprinting in their lane, all leading up to a showdown at the Summit of the Forbidden.


    In fact, Li Wei and Donald had never met on any occasion, let alone clashed; but everything seemed predestined.


    One was a defensive icon pushed by the League after Watt had been plagued by injuries, taking over as the face of the League¡¯s Defense.


    The other was an emerging offensive icon, carrying the glory of the Offensive group beyond the quarterback, unfazed even in the face of Brady.


    At the same time, ¡°Defensive End VS running back¡± was a matchup perfectly opposed.


    Last season, Goodell tried to brew a matchup between the two young men, but unfortunately, the Los Angeles Rams were eliminated early in the playoffs.


    This season, by the end of the first month of the regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams both stood out, and the opportunity naturally arosea?€¡±


    Even without Goodell¡¯s intervention, the media couldn¡¯t contain their excitement and jubilation and began to brainstorm a grand narrative.


    Then, they hastily started building up the atmosphere.


    Before officially bringing Donald and Li Wei together, the media had already created an environment through data comparison and season performance, until both teams had five consecutive wins, making them the only teams in the League to maintain their undefeated recordsa?€¡±the reporters knew the time was ripe.


    So,


    Immediately, the reporters surrounded Donald en masse, with microphones almost shoved into his mouth, poor Donald being trapped like a 300-pound baby, sweating profusely, his simple and honest demeanor almost bringing him to tears.


    The questions swirling around Li Wei fell like a hail of bullets, leading one to suspect personal vendettas between the reporters and Donald.


    ¡°Aaron, what do you think of Li Wei?¡±


    ¡°Li Wei is hailed as the current League¡¯s number one running back.


    Can you defend against him?¡±


    ¡°As last season¡¯s best defensive player, are you prepared to face Li Wei head-on?¡±


    ¡°Some say, last season¡¯s best defensive player and best offensive player have never really met, both are overrated and have empty reputations, do you agree?¡±


    ¡°Which do you think is more outstanding, the five consecutive wins of the Rams or those of the Chiefs?¡±


    ¡°Do you have confidence in defending against the Offensive group led by Li Wei and Mahomes?¡±


    ¡°a?€|Aaron, are you afraid of Li Wei?¡±

 Chapter 613

    ?Chapter 613: Dry mouth and tongue Chapter 613: Dry mouth and tongue ¡°`


    Babble babble.


    Chatter chatter.


    Questions, one after another, ceaselessly submerged Donald, who, on the field, could call the wind and summon the rain as a top defensive general.


    Yet, at this moment, his gaze lost focus, he looked around in a panic and confusion, like a 300-pound baby separated from its mother.


    Although Donald¡¯s rise to prominence in the past two years had been meteoric, virtually becoming the League¡¯s top defensive player, he had never quite become a national idol like Watt, whose influence on the North American continent was somewhat greatera?€¡±


    Why?


    The reasons were not that simple.


    Just like in the NBA, where Kobe Bryant scripted countless glorious moments, his market and commercial value were never quite on par with Michael Jordan¡¯s, nor with LeBron James¡¯s.


    ...


    Backed by complex factors, it was the same for Aaron Donald; the journey to becoming a superstar with market appeal was intricate and not easy to generalize.


    However, one aspect was that Donald¡¯s eloquence and demeanor weren¡¯t as outstanding as Watt¡¯s.


    Indeed, Watt was an honest man, and so was Donald.


    Both preferred action to words and spent long hours proving their worth in the gym and on the training field.


    But even amongst these honest men, there was a difference in the way they faced a barrage of media and the camera¡¯s focus.


    Watt may not have been the most eloquent or jovial, yet his sincerity, generosity, and demeanor shone through when standing before journalists and cameras, firmly capturing the audience¡¯s attention and affection.


    Donald, on the other hand, despite having been in the League for a while, still seemed reserved and straightforward, as if unable to loosen up in front of cameras and microphones.


    At this moment, faced with the aggressive questioning from reporters¡¯ recorders and smartphones, he became flustered, his words coming out dry and tasteless, his anxiety palpable.


    ¡°I respect Li Wei and admire him.


    I look forward to meeting him on the field,¡± he said.


    Upright and aboveboard.


    Standing on the field, Donald had never and would never fear any adversary, Li Wei included.


    He too looked forward to their encounter to see who was superior; yet, despite his fervent words, they were delivered so matter-of-factly that there was no hint of enthusiasma?€¡±


    Disappointing.


    But that was of no consequence; the media knew how to fan the flames.


    With a turn, the cameras all swung toward Li Wei, the scene previously engulfing Donald copied and pasted onto Li Wei.


    Reporters, arm in arm and hand in hand, built a human wall, layer upon layer, effectively barricading the training facility¡¯s entrance in a stance that seemed to say they wouldn¡¯t rest until their goal was achieved.


    Donald was the focus, and so was New England.


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ opponent for the sixth week of the regular season was none other than the New England Patriots.


    As with the previous season, the Kansas City Chiefs would face a strong rival in the sixth week of the regular season, this time igniting the league¡¯s central attention: the New England Patriots.


    And again, it was an away game; the Kansas City Chiefs would head north to Foxborough once more to challenge the league champions for the third time at the nightmarish Gillette Stadium.


    This time, it was a Sunday night game.


    All eyes were on it!


    Accurately speaking, from the moment the schedule was announced, the entire league¡¯s attention was focused on this event.


    As the new season progressed one game after another, anticipation climbed steadily; it seemed as though all the traffic, all the frenzy, all the focus was eagerly waiting for this confrontation to arrive.


    However, there was a slight surprise.


    The Los Angeles Rams, with their stunning five-game winning streak, were neck and neck with the Kansas City Chiefs.


    The rivalry between Li Wei and Donald had briefly attracted attention; but Li Wei was right, there were more important things at hand.


    ¡°Kansas City Chiefs VS New England Patriots 3.0.¡±


    Donald let out a long breath and his tense shoulders finally were able to relax a bit, looking as though he had just been fished out of watera?€¡±


    Escaping from the brink of death.


    But Donald too couldn¡¯t resist casting his gaze toward Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, filled with anticipation, just like the millions of fervent eyes in the league.


    Meanwhile, the journalists who had pulled back from the edge finally came to their senses and turned back, aiming their long and short cannons at Li Wei and Brady for a full-on assault.


    Undoubtedly, this was the most heavyweight match of the 2018 season since the kick-off.


    This was due to the grudges between the two teams over the past three seasons, the clash between two generations with the ¡°new waves pushing the old waves, and the old ones dying on the shore,¡± and because this would be a confrontation between the last two Super Bowl MVPs.


    Everything was adding to the topic¡¯s heat for this match.


    Beyond imagination!


    Goodell couldn¡¯t help but slap his thigh: Misstep!


    Had he known, he would have scheduled this match for Thursday night.


    Howevera?€¡±


    Sunday night was just as good.


    After experiencing a full day of bombardment from morning and afternoon matches, the fans were still crazily downing Red Bulls and coffee, eagerly getting ready for the night game.


    Nobody wanted to miss it.

 Chapter 614

    ?Chapter 614: 613 Traffic Guarantee Chapter 614: 613 Traffic Guarantee ¡°`


    Without a doubt, ¡°Brady vs Li Wei¡± has become the hottest trending topic in the league right now, capable of igniting the internet at any given time.


    Since Big Manning¡¯s retirement, there have been some shifts in the league¡¯s landscape.


    On one hand, discussions of Brady¡¯s ¡°retirement topic¡± would inevitably surface, with the question ¡°Can a hero past his prime still eat at the banquet?¡± arising every so often.


    On the other hand, whether successors to the legendary rivalry of ¡°Brady vs Big Manning¡± could be found to continue fueling the excitement of even the non-football fans was up for debate.


    It was precisely because of this that Li Wei¡¯s meteoric rise ignited such discussion.


    Bursting out of nowhere, pulling the Sword in the Stone, and challenging the throne; while the reigning king waged a bloody battle to defend his prestigious position, the fierce confrontation could signal the end of an era.


    Just the thought of it is enough to get one¡¯s blood boiling uncontrollably.


    ...


    However, to speak franklya?€¡±


    As things stand, the ¡°Brady vs Li Wei¡± matchup is still lacking in substance; it can¡¯t even compare to the ultimate clashes of the American League in terms of excitement, let alone being considered a rivalry.


    A true rivalry should be like Batman and the Joker, Superman and Luthor, an intractable battle with victories on both sides and a fate-like entanglement.


    Firstly, the clashes should be thrilling, with the collision sparking flames of excitement.


    Secondly, they should be closely matched and unpredictable, with each encounter full of suspense.


    In the world of professional tennis, the destined confrontations between Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic are just that; winning this time doesn¡¯t mean victory the next, as they grow and improve through the clash of titans, challenging each other¡¯s limits and ultimately helping each other become better players.


    The rivalry between Big Manning and Brady was like that, fraught with suspense each time they met.


    However, the current Brady and Li Wei are far from reaching such a standard.


    First, they haven¡¯t faced each other enough times, the sample size is too small.


    Second, with Li Wei winning both battles, the record is completely one-sided.


    What kind of rivalry is this?


    If things continue this way, at most it will be a tale of the new wave pushing the old wave onto the shorea?€¡±a generational story; as Li Wei remains in the league longer, and the rookie is no longer a rookie, the topic loses its value.


    This is the real reason why the media is excited about the rise of Donald and the Los Angeles Rams; a rivalry where both parties have equal chances of winning is thrilling.


    Patricia had proven his defensive talent with New England, and now was the time to take on the challenge of being a head coach.


    For the New England Patriots, this was undoubtedly a loss.


    Yet, that was not all.


    Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels was also on the verge of a transfer!


    It wasn¡¯t just because this meant that Belichick¡¯s left and right hand were being lopped off at the same time, but more importantly because of the significance of McDaniels to the team.


    McDaniels was Belichick¡¯s direct descendant; in 2001, his first job in the Professional League was as an assistant coach with the New England Patriots, back when the Patriots dynasty hadn¡¯t even started.


    Belichick liked McDaniels a lot and intended to cultivate this young coach, who worked his way up from assistant to coach, from the offensive group to the defensive group and back to the offensive group, learning every position thoroughly.


    In 2009, the Denver Broncos saw McDaniels¡¯ potential and invited him to be their head coach, and McDaniels accepted.


    However, during his two seasons with the Denver Broncos, McDaniels still showed his inexperience, often becoming blind and disoriented in his on-the-spot command, lacking clarity and toughness at critical moments, and missing the resolve of a head coach,


    McDaniels was dismissed, then went to the St.


    Louis Rams as an Offensive Coordinator, but his performance remained lackluster, and he lost his job after a single season.


    McDaniels, lost in confusion, was called back by Belichick to the New England Patriots to serve as the Offensive Coordinator, this time starting from scratch and diligently learning from his mentor.


    In the past two years, as Belichick turned sixty-five and then sixty-six, he could retire at any moment, and the New England Patriots started succession planning for Belichick¡¯s replacement.


    Although both of Belichick¡¯s sons were on the Patriots¡¯ coaching staff, their limited talent was not enough for the heavy responsibility, hence the focus shifted to McDaniels.


    Even the New England Patriots fans knew McDaniels was the successor to the team.


    But thena?€¡±


    McDaniels was lured away?


    In a moment, the world of Foxborough die-hard fans just fell apart.


    The sky had fallen.


    The hustle and bustle of accusations and curses flooded toward McDaniels, and this honest man instantly became a rat everyone chased down the street.


    The Patriots¡¯ offseason simply couldn¡¯t get any worse, as if not even the draft could salvage this disaster.@@@@

 Chapter 615

    ?Chapter 615: Standard jerk 614 Chapter 615: Standard jerk 614 ¡°Traitor,¡± Josh McDaniels.


    The officially designated successor of the New England Patriots had shockingly decided to transfer, soon heading to the Indianapolis Colts to work with Andrew Luck.


    This major announcement had completely blown up in Foxborough.


    But soon, news began to reveal what was happening behind the scenes:


    Two years ago, Belichick had already told McDaniels that he was planning to retire and wanted McDaniels to take over the head coaching responsibilities.


    He asked McDaniels to be ready to step in at any moment.


    However.


    A year went by.


    ...


    Another year went by.


    Belichick was still in the head coach position, and McDaniels was still tirelessly assisting him as the offensive coordinator.


    This year, McDaniels thought he was finally going to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but then Patricia chose to leave.@@@@


    With Belichick busy stabilizing and controlling the situation, there was still no sign of retirement, plunging McDaniels into despair.


    So, when the Indianapolis Colts extended an olive branch, McDaniels seized the opportunity and finally made up his mind.


    After three interviews, tough negotiations through his agent and the Colts, and after much back-and-forth and complications, the deal was finalizeda?€¡±


    The Indianapolis Colts officially announced that McDaniels would become the team¡¯s new head coach.


    For the fans, it was a disaster, a complete betrayal; but from McDaniels¡¯ perspective, he had to consider his own interests.


    Things had gotten to this point, and it was merely a loss for the New England Patriots.


    The difficulties Belichick would face were his own concern, and other teams didn¡¯t care; however, what happened next was truly astonishing.


    After the Colts¡¯ announcement, Belichick seemed to finally realize that he had let McDaniels down.


    Like a scoundrel trying to win back an ex-girlfriend, he sought out McDaniels for a long heart-to-heart talk and promised that he would hand over the Patriots to McDaniels next season, ensuring the team¡¯s future would belong to McDaniels.


    McDaniels...wavered.


    His agent, his family and friends, and numerous professionals in the league all advised McDaniels:


    Keep a cool head, don¡¯t get carried away.


    The reliability of Belichick¡¯s promises was low; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have repeatedly let McDaniels down year after year, much like a drunkard¡¯s ¡°just one more drink¡± promises, devoid of any credibility.


    After all, McDaniels had ended up back in Foxborough, and neither Belichick nor Brady, being highly respected, could be easily blamed.


    Other than using the Kansas City Chiefs as a scapegoat, there was no better option.


    Thus,


    Whether on a personal level with ¡°Li Wei VS Brady¡± or on a team level with ¡°Kansas City Chiefs VS New England Patriots,¡± everything was brewing a storm, evolving into a volatile fuel between the two teams.


    Wait, was there really no issue with the New England Patriots¡¯ performance?


    The answer is definitea?€¡±


    Never underestimate the combination of Belichick and Brady.


    In fact, despite consecutive losses to the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Detroit Lions, the New England Patriots maintained an undefeated home record this season.


    In the first week, they defeated the Houston Texans.


    In the fourth week, they defeated the Miami Dolphins.


    In the fifth week, they defeated the Indianapolis Colts.


    At home, three wins out of three.


    Moreover, after suffering heavy defeats in the second and third weeks, the New England Patriots fully leveraged their experience to make quick adjustments, and McDaniels also proved his capabilities.


    In the fourth and fifth weeks, the team scored thirty-eight points in each game, the offensive group fully recovered, returning to the winning track.


    Without a doubt, the New England Patriots proved that their dynasty was not over.


    Despite the turmoil and chaos, they remained favorites to win the championship, and they could not be ruled out of this season¡¯s Super Bowl contention.


    This time, once again hosting at their home ground against the Kansas City Chiefs, the New England Patriots not only hoped to continue their season¡¯s undefeated home record but also aimed to achieve a sweet revenge by defeating the Kansas City Chiefs for last season¡¯s two consecutive losses.


    From every aspect, this was likely to be a high-scoring battlea?€¡±


    The combination of Mahomes and Li Wei was set to face McDaniels and Brady.


    The flames of war were about to ignite.


    And indeed, the two championship-contending teams did not disappoint.


    From the first offensive play of the game, both teams were already in full force, and the familiar scenes made the fans momentarily flashback to the Super Bowl at the beginning of the yeara?€¡±the intense, tooth-and-nail battle was dazzling.


    ¡°24:24¡±.


    At the end of the first half, neither team had gained the upper hand, entering the locker room at halftime tied, with the suspense of the outcome hanging until the second half.

 Chapter 616

    ?Chapter 616: 615 Hard to distinguish and solve Chapter 616: 615 Hard to distinguish and solve ¡°`@@@@


    Back and forth, no quarter givena?€¡±


    The Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots both displayed the pinnacle of League excellence, living up to expectations by providing fans with a luxurious feast of a game.


    Whether it was Reed or Belichick, both coaches are prime examples of strategic planning, grand tactics, and the ability to adapt and innovate with the changing game.


    The quality of play and competitive state of their last season¡¯s encounters could be described as top-notch, with the outcomes being a hair¡¯s breadth away.


    The game could be overturned by the slightest margin, where anything was possible.


    This season¡¯s rematch saw not only the coaches giving their all in strategizing but also the players bringing their most elite and exceptional performancea?€¡±


    Perhaps, historically, the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots had no bad blood; but now, the intense rivalry between the two teams is heating up, with the tension and discourse of each encounter consistently rising.


    In the first half, it was an open and explosive battle, sparks flying everywhere.


    On the side of the Kansas City Chiefs.


    ...


    As expected, the New England Patriots defensive group concentrated on marking Li Wei.


    Before the season started, everyone speculated that Li Wei might hit a rookie wall after revealing his secret weapon status.


    However, Li Wei continued to prove himself with incomparable performances, bagging the American League¡¯s Offensive Player of the Week first in week one, and again in weeks two and five, becoming the uncontested American League¡¯s Offensive Player of the Month for September.


    Unstoppable.


    Whether Li Wei served as a running back or a decoy, the New England Patriots¡¯ defensive group had to limit his performance.


    He was the vital hub of the Kansas Chiefs Offense and the power source of the Chiefs as well.


    And indeed, Belichick had found a waya?€¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a five-quarterback tactic.


    Belichick, acting as the defensive coordinator, was in charge of commanding each set of defensive tactics.


    The cunning and astute old fox harnessed his talent for on-the-spot commanding perfectly, disrupting Li Wei¡¯s rhythm before he could get into his stride.


    No matter if Li Wei had the ball or not.


    Each time the defense was up, the New England Patriots used different strategies, combinations, and tactics to mark Li Wei and bump into him, applying quarterback-focused tactics to Li Wei, utterly disrupting his rhythm.


    It was like walking on a high wire in the sky.


    Teetering on the brink with a constant looming sense of crisis that wouldn¡¯t go away, Li Wei was thrown into the storm from the first second of the game and never found his comfortable pace.


    While other teams still believed cornerback was Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ weakness, McDaniels disagreed.


    He employed an abundance of fake pass-to-run plays, screen pass strategies, and rapid short passes, slowing down the entire offensive rhythm and focusing the layout around the running back.


    For the New England Patriots, boasting Brady, such tactics were indeed unfamiliar.


    However, they proved very effective.


    Throughout the first half, Brady didn¡¯t score a touchdown himself, but the two running backs together claimed three touchdowns.


    The rookie running back Sony Michel alone accounted for 96 yards rushing and two running touchdowns, making a sensational and gleaming debut.


    It was a performance that couldn¡¯t help but remind fans of Li Wei¡¯s comet-like emergence against the New England Patriots last year.


    Whether it¡¯s the Kansas City Chiefs or the New England Patriots, both teams found their rhythm between change and consistency, relentlessly pressing the attack forward.


    By the end of the first half, they had reached an impasse, entering the halftime break in a tie.


    The edged, entangled competition thrilled the spectators, and even with high expectations, the astonishing quality of the actual game still brought surprises.


    As the second half began, the decisive battle commenced.


    After a brief halftime adjustment, the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs continued to go all out, entirely dominated by the offensive groups.


    You score a touchdown, I score a touchdown.


    I score another touchdown, you score one too.


    ¡°38:38¡±.


    The deadlock persisted until the end of the third quarter when the decline in physical strength and energy finally began to play an unknown role, with both teams experiencing volatility.


    ¡°Sack!¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ defensive end, Jones, executes a precise and clean sack, cutting off Brady¡¯s hope for a long pass and forcing another strikeout.¡±


    ¡°After three quarters of continuous high-intensity and high-frequency output by the offensive groups, it¡¯s now the defensive group¡¯s turn to take over the game, the score still stuck, with nobody yet able to break the deadlock.¡±


    ¡°Both the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots experience two strikeouts each, as the game time dwindles away.


    The tension keeps escalating, wearing them down, and now it¡¯s a matter of who will be the first to break the balance amid physical limits and performance lows.


    The suspense of victory could hinge on a single field goal.¡±


    ¡°God, truly worthy of the highly-anticipated clash of titans.


    Following last season, this season¡¯s showdown between the two teams remains at the pinnacle of the League.¡±


    ¡°Then, pressure and opportunity once again landed in Mahomes¡¯ hands.¡±

 Chapter 617

    ?Chapter 617: Cut off in the middle Chapter 617: Cut off in the middle The air was burning.


    Literally speaking, whether it was the offensive group or the defensive group, everyone faced the extreme limits of physical endurance.


    Steaming with sweat as if they had just emerged from a sauna room, the deadlock kept everyone tense, and no one could afford to relax.


    They had to grit their teeth and hold on until the end.


    Not just the players, even the live audience at Gillette Stadium was flushed and sweating profusely.


    Hiss.


    Hiss, hiss, hiss.


    ...


    Again the hisses, again the attacks.


    When the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offense took the field once more, Gillette Stadium erupted with an overwhelming noise assault resembling the eruption of a volcanoa?€¡±sending magma, rocks, and dust spinning through the air, invisibly hammering down on the visiting team¡¯s players.


    The situation was not only deadlocked but also stagnant.


    From the offensive battle in the first three quarters to the defensive showdown in the fourth, both teams gave 120% of their energy, pushing each other to the limit.


    There was an almost palpable sense of reaching the ceiling of physical strength, with legs and arms as if filled with lead.


    Even with deep breaths, oxygen seemed elusive, and the boiling blood nearly drowned the mind completely.


    It wasn¡¯t just the body that was exhausted; the mind too had slowed to a crawl.


    No one was an exception.


    And precisely because of this, Mahomes was slightly distracted and couldn¡¯t help but look towards the stands.


    The curses of the away-game crowd began to enter his ears.


    It was a small detail that showed Mahomes still lacked game experience.


    ¡°Sherlock.¡±


    Li Wei grabbed Mahomes¡¯ attention back.@@@@


    ¡°Now is the time.¡±


    ¡°This moment, what we¡¯ve been training and preparing for the entire off-season, is now.


    We can do it.


    Trust me, we definitely can.¡±


    Mahomes took a deep breath, nodded vigorously, and, with leaden steps, positioned himself behind the offensive linea?€¡±


    They were tired, and so were their opponents.


    No one was an exception.


    Perhaps, this was Li Wei¡¯s chance.


    With the ball.


    He started.


    Immediately, Li Wei could feel the onslaught of pressure coming from the New England Patriots¡¯ defense, the moves by the players in the short pass zone were clearly more timely.


    Clearly, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ decision to run the ball was no secret.


    As soon as Li Wei started moving, he could feel the front line players entangling and pouncing, and although the offensive line momentarily held their positions, the defensive lineman in the blue jerseys still waved their arms ferociously, signalling the path was blocked.


    His eyes quickly scanned the field.


    Linebacker Ja¡¯Whaun Bentley had already stepped up quickly; this year¡¯s fifth-round pick at one hundred forty-third overall had a standard performance in earlier games, but today against Li Wei, he had a mini-breakthrough, showing outstanding speed, strength, and reactive ability.


    Without doubt, facing a new generation leader, each young player, from a rookie to a third-year, yearned to defeat Li Wei and prove their own capabilities.


    Bentley was performing remarkably.


    And now was the same; Bentley advanced swiftly, closing in at the blink of an eye.


    But Li Wei stayed composed, lowered his center of gravity, waited for just a moment, then used a feint left and right, a fake move that fooled Bentley, and immediately after, he stepped to the sidea?€¡±


    Bentley to his left, Li Wei pretending to back off, then also to his left.


    A perfect mismatch.


    The next second, Li Wei brushed past Bentley¡¯s position, made a dash, and tried to break past him.


    Normally, this was the kind of breakthrough that Li Wei excelled at; but today, his rhythm was constantly disrupted, never reaching its peak, affecting the fluidity of his starts and moves, and failing to shake Bentley off in time as Bentley managed to force a turnaround and attempt to stick with him.


    Li Wei held his breath, his legs raising high to disrupt balance, breaking free from Bentley¡¯s grasp, and pressing on.


    However.


    No sooner had he stepped out than the rush camea?€¡±


    That was the very reason Li Wei had not been able to get into the rhythm of the run today; the New England Patriots always kept a hidden piece tightly trained on him, inexplicably popping out from corners to disrupt his stride at the first opportunity.


    And now was no different.


    This time, it was Jason McCourty, who had just joined the New England Patriots this season.


    With an advancing step like an arrow, his movements light and swift, he aimed to hit hard without attempting to grasp; he forced his weight into the collision, aiming to disrupt Li Wei¡¯s center of gravitya?€¡±


    Collision, collision, collision.


    This was Belichick¡¯s tactic, a brutally destructive charge that hadn¡¯t been polite to Li Wei from the very first second of the game.


    If Li Wei got hurt?


    Well, then that would be perfect.

 Chapter 618

    ?Chapter 618: 617 Adapt to circumstances Chapter 618: 617 Adapt to circumstances Jason McCourty, a cornerback.


    He is the twin brother of Devin McCourty, a safety with the New England Patriots.


    Devin was picked by the Patriots from the start, while Jason went to the Tennessee Titans.


    Jason spent eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans.


    His performance was neither terrible nor outstanding.


    Although he didn¡¯t make a big name for himself, the fact that he was able to keep his position in the professional league without getting cut showed his capability.


    Last season, Jason transferred to the Cleveland Browns, where his performance was still not impressive.


    ...


    This season, he moved to the New England Patriots to join his brother Devin.


    However, compared to Devin, Jason was indeed a notch below.


    He wasn¡¯t a starting cornerback but rather a rotational player.


    It was not until this game that Jason McCourty got a starting opportunity, and it was because ofa?€¡±


    Speed.


    His speed was outstanding.


    Whether covering wide receivers or running backs, he was able to stick close and create interference with his tight coverage.


    Initially, Belichick used Jason McCourty hoping to replicate the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ strategy of tight coverage on receivers and thereby disrupting Mahomes¡¯s vision for passing; but surprisingly, Jason¡¯s speed was able to keep up with Li Wei¡¯s first burst, which led to a slight change in strategy.


    If it were purely a contest of speed, Li Wei would still lead Jason McCourty; but football is not an individual sport, and the competition is not about absolute speed either.


    Then, Li Wei found that McCourty¡¯s explosive speed could just stick close like glue, significantly affecting his advancement efficiency.


    Moreover, Belichick did not use McCourty to cover Li Wei exclusively but varied the approach between speed, strength, and double teams, which left Li Wei facing extremely tough challenges with each advance.


    The situation was the same now.


    McCourty did not choose to stick with his best skill of speed to follow Li Wei but instead used speed to close in and then tackled him with a waist hit, unleashing his power instantly.


    Danger!


    At the critical moment, Li Wei chose not to move forward buta?€¡±


    Unbelievably stepped back.


    McCourty was taken aback, and so was Bentley.


    Li Wei, with his unusual move, completely overturned the situation and collided with Bentley.


    He watched McCourty miss in front, while Bentley, relying on his quick reaction, leaned in and tried to press half into Li Wei.


    Unfortunately, Bentley was still half a step too slow.


    Li Wei created a small gap, lightly tossed the ball with his right hand, and the football traced a small parabola, passing over the positions of Bentley and McCourty, and flew out.


    Eek.


    The whole stadium was stunned.


    ¡°So, is this what they call ¡®Chiefs Special¡¯?¡±


    Mahomes, face full of surprise, looked towards Li Wei again, the belief in his eyes starting to ignite.


    Li Wei was gasping for breath, every cell in his body burning, but he was completely immersed in the game, oblivious to fatigue and exhaustion.


    He high-fived Kelsey and Mahomes briefly before continuing to line up, his gaze bright and focused forward.


    For Li Wei, the essence he learned during the offseason using the Bell and Lynch training templates was:


    Patience.


    The running back is a position that requires face-to-face confrontation and breakthrough.


    If you want instant success, you often end up hitting a wall, whether it¡¯s regarding speed, strength, or other skills.


    Running backs need to maintain patience, time and again, until they find their opportunity.


    And Li Wei¡¯s own experience with defensive blocks proved this point.


    So, the situation was indeed difficult, but he needed to stay calm and patient.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    For the second consecutive time, Mahomes unhesitatingly handed the football to Li Wei.


    This time, Li Wei didn¡¯t wait or observe; like a rocket, he burst out immediately, attempting to break the defensive group¡¯s assessment with speed.


    Everything was clean, effective, and all-in.


    Even though Li Wei crashed headfirst into Bentley¡¯s grasp, this time, Li Wei didn¡¯t give up.


    Stamp the ground.


    Push forward.


    Stamp the ground.


    Exert force.


    Continuously stamping and charging like a bulldozer, taking Bentley along for the ride.


    Bentley hadn¡¯t anticipated this at all, his feet unable to grip the ground, left with no choice but to cling to Li Wei, his legs quivering like plowshares scraping across the ground, spontaneously recalling the classic scene from ¡°Titanic¡±:


    Jack, I¡¯m flying.


    Shit.


    Shit, shit, shit.


    Bentley tried to gain control but utterly failed until the second, third, and fourth teammates gathered to surround them and forcefully brought Li Wei down, finally ending this humiliating flight.


    Bentley buried his face in the grass, and the referee¡¯s voice nearby declared, ¡°First down.¡±


    This meant that Li Wei had just forcibly carried Bentley for more than four yards.


    ¡°Damn!¡±


    Bentley clenched his teeth and pounded the ground fiercely.

 Chapter 619

    ?Chapter 619: 618 kill tactics Chapter 619: 618 kill tactics Deadlocked.


    Taut.


    Progress was arduous.


    The intensity of the game remained at a high level, whether for the Kansas Chiefs or the New England Patriots, all players fought fiercely, eyes ablaze with a murderous look, and the situation became increasingly ferocious.


    After Li Wei¡¯s two solo performances, the Kansas Chiefs managed to pry open a slight gap, and Mahomes immediately seized the opportunity to advance with two passes, a quick short pass and a screen pass, accelerating the rhythm.


    Caught unawares, the New England Patriots defense couldn¡¯t keep up.


    The first attack, once again in hand.


    ...


    Although still deadlocked, Belichick immediately noticed the Kansas Chiefs Offense¡¯s momentum and instantly increased the intensity and pace of the next defensive playa?€¡±


    Six-man rush.


    Blitz!


    The use of this tactic was unexpected, and relying on the numerical advantage, it burst forth with power, putting Mahomes in a dilemma of a double team trap.


    Dodging and weaving.


    Mahomes didn¡¯t give up easily, gritting his teeth and always looking for an opportunity.


    After being grappled, he managed to break free against the odds with his body weight and strength.


    His field of vision was obstructed during his wobbly pass, and he hurriedly tossed the football to Li Wei, who was not far away.


    No sooner had Li Wei caught the football than the fast-approaching Patriots defender was already on top of him, chaos in front of him where one could see the surge created by the Patriots¡¯ full press, the home team¡¯s blue jerseys and the visitor¡¯s white jerseys completely intertwined.


    Li Wei attempted to adjust his steps and observe briefly, reading the secondary defense to find a breakthrough path, but Jason McCourty once again leveraged his speed advantage and outstanding second response, pouncing forwarda?€¡±


    Without pausing or hesitating, he turned and decisively leaped, diving at Li Wei before he could react, aiming to tackle him and not even allowing Li Wei to build up his speed.


    Li Wei, had no breathing room.


    Not even a moment to catch his breath, he faltered in his stride.


    The next second, a wave of blue crashed down upon him.


    Then, bringing his legs together to stand at attention, he tried a clockwise turn to escape but still got grazed.


    His thigh and knee felt the impact of the wave after wave, his balance was thrown off by the jolt, and the feet that hadn¡¯t yet steadied were propelled forward.


    Pushing off the ground, exerting power, trying to find his balance.


    But his steps couldn¡¯t grip the ground effectively, and he continued to wobble unsteadily.


    In his stumble, he could see a whirlwind of blue rushing towards him from the left.


    In a hurry, Li Wei raised his left hand trying to execute a Straight Arm Block to intercept.


    However, Bentley noticed, a fierce gleam in his eyesa?€¡±


    Killing intent, aflame.


    The scene became utterly chaotic.


    Kelsey¡¯s heart nearly stopped beating, ¡°Rookie, can you hear me?


    Are you okay?


    Rookie!


    Hey, hey!


    Can you hear me?¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s entire back felt a numbing tingling sensation and, as he came back to his senses, fine currents of electricity raced through his body, though there was no additional pain.


    When he raised his eyes, he saw Kelsey, having removed his helmet, with eyes and an expression full of concern.


    Li Wei waved his hand, then extended his right hand asking for help.


    Kelsey grabbed it and pulled Li Wei to his feet.


    Li Wei let out a long breath, the team doctor already on the scene with a medical kit in hand.


    Seeing the commotion nearby, Li Wei quickly patted Kelsey¡¯s shoulder, ¡°I¡¯m fine, stop them, don¡¯t let things get out of control.¡±


    Kelsey didn¡¯t move, staring at Li Wei with a mix of concern and astonishment.


    Li Wei patted Kelsey¡¯s arm again, ¡°Quick!


    The game isn¡¯t over yet.¡±


    Finally, Kelsey turned and plunged into the tumult.


    The team doctor came over immediately, shining a flashlight into Li Wei¡¯s pupils to start an examination.


    There appeared to be no external injuries, but a concussion was the first thing to worry about.


    ¡°...Li Wei, it¡¯s okay.¡±


    ¡°After a medical check, it appears that Li Wei is alright, which is truly a relief to the fans of the Kansas City Chiefs and to all of us, a positive sign.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s watch the slow-motion replay of what just happened.¡±


    ¡°This.¡±


    ¡°This is a disgraceful dirty game.¡±


    ¡°From the start, Bentley was targeting Li Wei¡¯s knees.


    This was no accident; he clearly meant to kick Li Wei out of this game.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s not clear whether this was his own idea or if it came from the coaching staff.


    Either way, it is an action clearly lacking in professional sportsmanship; Bentley should seriously reflect on his conducta?€|¡±


    The game continued.


    But what was clear was that the atmosphere was thick with gunpowder and the tension of the game had escalated even further.

 Chapter 620

    ?Chapter 620: 619 Rational Reins Chapter 620: 619 Rational Reins ¡°Damn.¡±


    Mahomes glared fiercely at Bentley, his chest exploding with fury at the sight of that smug smiling face high-fiving other New England Patriots players in celebration, wishing he could smash that grin into a pulp with one punch.


    ¡°Damn damn damn!¡±


    There was no yellow flag, let alone an ejection from the game.


    Because Li Wei narrowly escaped, Bentley hadn¡¯t completed the tackle, so the referee made no call, allowing Bentley to get off scot-free.


    Mahomes could hardly believe it.


    Over the years, the New England Patriots had become the Public Enemy of Everyone, not just because of history, but also because of their own shameless tactics for the sake of victorya?€¡±Spygate, video scandals, Deflategatea?€¡± one dirty trick after another had infested everything from off-field to on-field.


    But it was not until today that Mahomes had personally experienced it.


    ¡°Ah, ah ah!¡±


    The more he thought about it, the more stifled and angry he became.


    ...


    It wasn¡¯t until Li Wei pulled Mahomes¡¯s focus back, ¡°Sherlock, the game is still on, you need to concentrate.¡±


    In such an intense and close game, it was even more critical to stay focused in key moments.


    If one became enraged or distracted, they might reveal weaknesses or even make mistakes.


    Perhaps Belichick¡¯s true intentions weren¡¯t about hurting Li Wei at all, but rather targeting the fiery young Mahomes.


    With Belichick¡¯s cunning and guile, it wasn¡¯t beyond possibility.


    ¡°Hey, Sherlock.¡±


    ¡°This means they¡¯re desperate.


    Understand?


    They¡¯ve realized that in a fair fight, we can take the advantage, so they¡¯re resorting to dirty tricks.¡±


    ¡°Now, they¡¯ve lost their composure.


    We must stay calm and seize the opportunity, got it?¡±


    ¡°He wasn¡¯t ejected from the game, isn¡¯t that perfect?


    Otherwise, how would I have the chance to fight back?¡±


    Mahomes, not understanding, followed Li Wei¡¯s gaze and then saw Bentley.


    Take a deep breath, another deep breath.


    Mahomes finally reined in his rationality.


    Just in time, the field was a bit chaotica?€¡±


    The referees needed to review the video footage.


    After Li Wei fell to the ground, he lost control of the Football.


    Of course, this wasn¡¯t absolute.


    But now, having noticed such a detail, Li Wei felt that the New England Patriots were very likely to adopt a blitz strategy, intending to disrupt Mahomes¡¯ rhythm with a ¡®capture the king first to capture the thieves¡¯ tactic and cut off the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ potential for explosive plays at the root.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t rush to warn Mahomes, let alone whether his judgment was right or wrong which was still unknown.


    Even if it was correct, he believed Mahomes also had his own observation and judgment.


    What Li Wei needed to do now was to focus on himself and wait for the signal.


    On the surface, Li Wei maintained a relaxed stance, standing ready to start, able to attack or defend, preserving the running back¡¯s mobility.


    In secret, his muscles tensed quietly, he took a deep breath, then held it.


    Everything quieted down, as if it were a slow-motion replay.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    The starting command from Mahomes exploded like a thunderclap out of the blue.


    Li Weia?€¡±


    Pushed off, exerted force, started.


    His body burst out, not in a straight line, but along the left diagonal line, rushing full force towards the defense line and linemen.


    The sixth offensive lineman!


    Bentley was taken aback: how could he have forgotten that aside from the running back, wide receiver, and quarterback, the rookie could also take on the responsibility of an offensive lineman!


    Bad news!


    In the brief moment Bentley was caught off guard, Li Wei had already stepped up in time, joining his offensive linemates and charging at the defensive end Flores who was coming down like a tiger from the mountaina?€¡±


    Blitz!


    The New England Patriots had indeed adopted a blitz tactic.


    The seemingly unchanging defensive formation, immediately after the starting command, transformed within moments, leaving five players in man coverage on five receiving points, while the rest stepped up in full force to launch the blitz.


    And there was a dual tempo to the blitz.


    The first wave, five men rushed the passer.


    The second, another two players hesitated briefly in place before stepping up, utilizing that split-second delay to confuse the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive strategy and to prepare to respond to any contingencies.


    In the fourth quarter, Belichick continued his tough defensive tactics.


    After the chaos, the military-style discipline became apparenta?€¡±organized, orderly, intense, and strategic, firmly gaining the upper hand.


    However, Li Wei was also prepared.


    At such a moment, at such a pivotal point, what was being tested was not physical endurance or spirit but willpower.


    A step up, lowering the center of gravity, pushing the shoulders, and colliding head-on, like ferocious waves crashing against the cliffs, Li Wei slammed into Flores.


    Bang!


    A muffled sound boomed and echoed.

 Chapter 621

    ?Chapter 621: 620 Broken Kite Chapter 621: 620 Broken Kite Defensive End Flores was fully focused, his aching muscles tensed to the limit, eyes bursting with a determination to win, he exploded off the linea?€¡±


    Mahomes.


    Mahomes.


    Mahomes.


    His eyes and mind filled only with the figure of the opposing quarterback, Flores released his power in an instant, charging out like a tiger descending the mountain.


    Sack!


    Without a doubt, Flores aimed for the sack.


    A misplacement of his center of gravity and a push with hands like giant fans, he used a slight move to shove away the oncoming opponent aside with ease, seizing the chance with skillful maneuvering, his footsteps immediately following up, moving forward without hesitation.


    ...


    Mahomesa?€| Li Wei?


    Wait, why was Li Wei here?


    Just now, Flores had the advantage, preying on the unprepared, but he didn¡¯t expect to step into the Hunter¡¯s trap and switch to being on the defensive.


    The smile, then, turned into fear.


    However.


    There was no time to think, Flores couldn¡¯t even brace himself with his hands as Li Wei¡¯s tackle came from below, flipping Flores off his feet.


    The fierce tiger became a sick cat.


    Forget about breaking through the offensive line to sack Mahomes, in the next second, he was flipped by the offensive line who had swiftly caught up with his steps, and then...


    there was no after.


    Flores fell on his back, staring as the defensive group¡¯s blitz was forcefully reduced by one, losing their numerical advantage just like that; then, in a world turned upside down, he saw Li Wei had already charged out, heading straight for Rookie Bentley.


    Rookie Bentley: Damn it!


    A second ago, Bentley was still cursing and swearing that Li Wei was a coward who didn¡¯t dare to face him one-on-onea?€¡±it seemed he must have been scared out of his wits by that lethal tackle, but guarding against Li Wei, he still couldn¡¯t be careless and had to stick to him at once.


    A second later, Bentley saw Li Wei rushing towards him like a fierce predator, the menacing and brutal gaze hidden behind the helmet clearly aiming for his knees, ready to power through with a strike.


    Bentley couldn¡¯t believe that Li Wei actually dared to risk a penalty with a no-ball tacklea?€¡±


    Has Li Wei gone mad?


    But that deathly fear clutched his heart, knees buckling.


    Bentley paused for a second, then he saw what seemed to be a mocking smile on Li Wei¡¯s lips:


    Weakling.


    Immediately after, Li Wei pulled aside sharply and changed direction, slipping past Bentley like a whirlwind passing to his right.


    Staggering.@@@@


    Teetering.


    Bentley took two steps back before he managed to control his balance and avoid falling.


    It was then he realized Li Wei had just faked him out and played him, the humiliation and anger instantly devouring his rationale, igniting his fighting spirit.


    Li Wei noticed, but he couldn¡¯t dodge.


    Choppy steps, backpedaling.


    Li Wei could only adjust within the limited space, his gaze locked on the football.


    Whoosh.


    The football securely nestled into Li Wei¡¯s embrace.


    Immediately afterward, he backpedaled, continuing to retreat.


    With a large step back, Li Wei narrowly evaded the position, causing Bentley to lunge at air.


    But Bentley was relentless, closely following, biting at Li Wei¡¯s heels.


    Amidst the staggering and bumping, as Li Wei continued to backpedal, he lost his speed advantage on the brink of Bentley catching up to him.


    Li Wei slightly shifted to the side, conceding space, keeping pace with Bentley.


    He raised his left hand in a straight arm block to protect himself.


    Then, the two men faced off, like short-track speed skaters.


    In the midst of the run, a push.


    Continuing to drive off the ground, a second push.


    Amidst adjustments of speed and center of gravity, Li Wei¡¯s straight arm block didn¡¯t have much force, failing to truly move Bentley, merely an itch through a boot.


    Bentley, seeing his chance within reach, gritted his teeth and continued his approach, ready to dive forward and complete the tackle.


    In the nick of time, Li Wei came to an abrupt stop.


    Bentley was startled but his second reaction was swift: he had predicted this move.


    Holding his breath, Bentley immediately came to a sudden stop and pivoted, not waiting to adjust his center of gravity, pirouetting on the spot like a ballerina and immediately lunging at Li Wei.


    Ahead was Li Wei¡¯s left handa?€¡±


    Straight arm block.


    Bentley didn¡¯t take it seriously.


    But suddenly, a heaviness in the chest.


    Hmph.


    With a stifled grunt, the power of the straight arm block was unleashed instantaneously like a floodgate, completely different from the previous two pushes, the erupting force irrationally overwhelmed Bentley¡¯s reason.


    Then Bentley¡¯s mind went blank, his vision darkened.


    When his focus returned, Bentley could only see the stars over Foxborough filling the sky, the world spinning three hundred and sixty degrees.


    His body couldn¡¯t move, as if his soul had been ejected from the shell, watching from on high as his body was launched into the air, and the white number 23 figure blithely passed by, completing the breakthrough with no recourse.


    He was like a kite with its string cut.


    How...


    what happened?

 Chapter 622

    ?Chapter 622: 621 inches of iron kills a man Chapter 622: 621 inches of iron kills a man ¡°Straight Arm Block!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei!


    Li Wei flipped Bentley with a Straight Arm Block, regaining ground for the push forward, unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei starts up again, the advance is still ongoing!¡±


    ¡°The McCourtys are closing in, New England Patriots¡¯ twin brothers are trying to intercept Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°The twenty-five-yard line!¡±


    ¡°Devin McCourty blocks the routea?€¡±¡±


    Right in front.


    Having secured the tactical advantage early on, Safety Devin McCourty stood firm, an unassailable fortress in Li Wei¡¯s path; and the Patriots¡¯ Defensive group from both sides were rapidly encircling to form a pocket.


    Li Wei, nowhere to run.


    A predicament!


    As with the rest of the game, he found himself invariably surrounded the moment he carried the ball.


    Those consecutive breakthroughs that looked effortless actually drained his energy and strength severely.


    ...


    Now, Li Wei was merely powered by a single breath.


    But that breath was enough.


    His concentration was more intense than ever, his soul and body ablaze.


    In the blink of an eye, Li Wei took in the rapidly closing blue wave before him without slowing down his pace.


    Instead, he was accelerating.


    Using the momentum and speed from the Straight Arm Block, he continued his surge forward.


    Devin McCourty and Li Wei, like two race cars with failed brakes, hurtled towards each other, with no time even to catch a breath before collision near the twenty-yard line.


    Devin tensed his muscles, bending his knees, and grounding his energy in his Dantian, ready for impact, prepared for mutually assured destruction.


    However.


    As the collision seemed imminent, a split second away, Li Wei veered right in the momentum of the charge, spinning a full three hundred sixty degrees counterclockwise.


    Everything happened too suddenly, too swiftly.@@@@


    Devin couldn¡¯t react in time, feeling a gust smack him across the face like a slap, the fierce wind pummeling down as he stumbled backward from lowering his center too much.


    At the same time.


    Devin caught a glimpse in his peripheral vision of a white flash fluidly sidestepping the obstacle and pressing on, the sleek motion the epitome of smoothness, leaving behind only an afterimage, that gust squarely hitting Devin in the chest.


    Damn it!


    But Li Wei didn¡¯t have the time to concern himself with Devin¡¯s shattered pride strewn all over the place.


    He knew he was teetering on the brink, in imminent danger of collapsing, so he couldn¡¯t afford to force a confrontation but had to outmaneuver it.


    The greater the crisis, the more dire the difficulty, the calmer he became.


    Step, step, step, step.


    Forgetting everything else, he stepped forcefully, leaving Devin behind and charging full speed in a straight-line post-exhaustion.


    His pace could no longer explode into speed but just barely maintained, like a model on the verge of falling apart, purely reliant on inertia and speed to stay intact, his mind fixated on a single thoughta?€¡±


    Run.


    Then, Jason McCourty caught up.


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    ¡°Touchdown touchdown touchdown!


    Toucha?€| downa?€|¡±


    ¡°Incredible!


    Unbelievable!


    Wow!


    What exactly are we witnessing!¡±


    ¡°God!¡±


    ¡°From Mahomes to Li Wei!


    The Kansas City Chiefs Offense once again demonstrates their boldness and courage, facing the New England Patriots¡¯ all-out pressure.


    The young quarterback Mahomes finds space with his pocket mobility and delivers a 25-yard pass to Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°Connection successful, it¡¯s a first down, third gear conversion perfectly executed!¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s not all.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei, fully encased by the Patriots¡¯ defense, still found a gap to burn all his energy, turning a third gear conversion into a touchdown pass!¡±


    ¡°Unimaginable!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei!


    Again, Li Wei!


    Still, Li Wei!


    Indeed, it¡¯s Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Relying solely on his own strength, he forcefully breaks through the Patriots¡¯ intensive defense, displaying speed, power, confrontation, agility, and evasiona?€¡±demonstrating all the skills of an elite player in the game.¡±


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs take the lead on the road, breaking the scoreless deadlock in the fourth quarter.


    They are less than five minutes away from defeating the New England Patriots for the third time.¡±


    Smack.


    Rolling up, Li Wei stood back up, slamming the football down into the ground.


    Without a roar or a bellow, he stood in the Gillette Stadium¡¯s home end zone, like a battle-scarred warrior, towering over the field, as the home crowd¡¯s cheers and support fell silenta?€¡±


    The nightmare replayed.


    A bone-chilling fear spread throughout the stadium, the nightmare of last season¡¯s games against the Kansas Chiefs gripping their throats in an instant.


    A shiver ran through them.


    Then, Gillette Stadium erupted in even more incredible and astonishing ferocity, like a tempest clawing its way toward the white number 23 surging forward.


    Ah, ahhh.


    Mahomes, simply clenching his fists, lost in the moment and utterly exhilarated, let out a full-throated roar as his pent-up frustrations were briefly released.


    In his eyes, there burned a fierce fighting spirita?€¡±


    Let the storm rage even more fiercely.


    ¡°45:38¡±


    In the fourth quarter, the Kansas Chiefs offense was the first to break the deadlock.

 Chapter 623

    ?Chapter 623: Fuming with rage Chapter 623: Fuming with rage Deadlock.


    The situation remained difficult to resolve, whether for the Kansas City Chiefs or the New England Patriots, both now relying on sheer willpower to battle on.


    Although the Kansas Chiefs Offense, fueled by the energy-burning synergy of Mahomes and Li Wei, took the lead in breaking the stalemate towards the end of the game, sheer excitement was not enough to completely overturn the deadlock.


    And so,


    The tension in the battle continued to mount.


    The New England Patriots Offensive group and the Kansas City Chiefs Defense had reached the stage of engaging in hand-to-hand combat with all their might, throwing punches without any set pattern.


    The Kansas City Chiefs forced the New England Patriots into a Third Gear crisis three times; however, a combination of yellow flags, luck, and Brady¡¯s composure allowed the Patriots to complete all the crucial conversions amidst the peril.


    Stumbling forward, the Patriots shoved their way up to the opponent¡¯s 36-yard line, where the intensity of the confrontation escalated yet another level.


    ...


    Then, the Kansas City Chiefs finally succeeded in striking outa?€¡±


    Hunter knocked down Brady¡¯s quick short pass.


    Brady¡¯s pass, made in a bit of a hurry, didn¡¯t arc as usual, allowing Hunter to rely on his experience for a crucial defensive play.


    But everyone knew, it wasn¡¯t over yet.


    With the game at this point, the New England Patriots had no way but forward, and it was expected that Belichick would choose a forceful fourth-down-and-one.


    Fourth and one, the entire field held its breath.


    Not just the fans at Gillette Stadium, but the players from Kansas City Chiefs on the sidelines as well, knew that if they could just succeed in defending this play, it could be...


    However, the New England Patriots displayed the audacity and temperament of champions.


    On fourth and one, Brady pretended to go for a ¡°sneak¡± a?€¡±


    That¡¯s when the quarterback tries to push forward behind the Center, rushing for one yard by himself.


    But it was only a feint, attracting all of the Defensive group¡¯s strength upfront, Brady then stood up and with a light lob, found Tight End Gronkowski standing just outside the protection pocket of the offensive line.


    Gronkowski, the one who you ¡°look for on first down, second down, third down, and still look for on fourth down.¡±


    Even though the Patriots had a major turnover in their receiving corps this season, as long as Gronkowski was on the field, Brady wouldn¡¯t lack a trusted target for his passes.


    This time, a clever offensive play succeeded in fooling the Kansas City Chiefs Defense.


    Gronkowski only had to take one step forward, and the fourth-and-one was converted.


    Mahomes looked at Li Wei, wanting to say something but hesitating.¡±


    Li Wei didn¡¯t avoid his gaze and looked into Mahomes¡¯s eyes, ¡°The initiative is in our hands now.¡±


    That one sentence was enough.


    Mahomes took a deep breath.


    Whether entering a battle of attacks or a deadlock on defense, the game had not yet seen a gap widen, which meant they had to maintain their rhythm and focus as the outcome could hinge on the slightest margin.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡±


    Mahomes gave Li Wei a firm nod, and together they took the fielda?€¡±


    In the kickoff, the New England Patriots tried to pull a trick to push back the starting position of the Kansas Chiefs offense, but now both sides were physically exhausted, and the tactical execution was far from satisfactory.¡±


    The Kansas Chiefs Offense started their drive on their own twenty-three-yard line, and the Special Duty Group¡¯s work was practically null.


    Clearly, both Reed and Belichick knew that now was the time to be more cautious, searching for that delicate balance between risk-taking and stability as the decline in physical strength and energy could easily lead to mistakesa?€¡±for both sides.¡±


    But that¡¯s precisely why the defense could gain a slight advantage, seizing the offense¡¯s cautious attitude to make some risky attempts.


    If the offense was too conservative, they might strike out.¡±


    There is a fine line here, all depending on how well the head coach can manage and grasp it.¡±


    Both Reed and Belichick, savvy coaches through and through, knew strategy would be tested most at such a time.¡±


    ¡°45:45.¡±


    Reed made the first movea?€¡±


    Three run plays, two pass plays, balancing running with passing, but slightly favoring the running game; of the three run plays, Li Wei took two, and Hunter took one.


    This created a unique balance, and the Kansas Chief¡¯s offense actually recaptured the lightness from the first half of the game.


    If it weren¡¯t for the severe energy depletion, their momentum would have been completely unleashed by now.


    Still, despite this, the Kansas Chiefs effortlessly secured their first three downs, crossing the midfield line,


    Following up, Li Wei was pivotal once again.


    Even when dealt a tackle by Bentley, he took advantage of Bentley¡¯s diminished strength, breaking free from the hold and advancing, falling to the ground amidst a tight encirclement of three defensive players.


    Yet, what should have been a four-yard run turned into a ten-yard first down conversion.


    The momentum climbed higher and higher!

 Chapter 624

    ?Chapter 624: 623 The wind blows and the grass moves Chapter 624: 623 The wind blows and the grass moves Panting, panting.


    His chest was burning, and every cell in his body protested; yet, immersed in an intense state of adrenaline flooding, Li Wei was completely unaware of this.


    On the sideline, Burns was asking Li Wei about his condition and whether Hunter needed to come on for rotation.


    Li Wei waved his hand, a broad smile in response, his bright eyes still visible through the copious sweat, energy burning in them.


    Burns understood Li Wei; the tougher and more extreme the situation, the more Li Wei enjoyed such challenges.


    Thus, he nodded toward Reed in affirmation.


    Li Wei stayed in the game.


    ...


    By now, the Kansas City Chiefs had advanced to near the thirty-seven-yard line of the New England Patriots¡¯ half, not far from field goal range.


    If they could continue to score touchdowns, that would be ideal; but if not, in the deadlock of bayonets drawn before them, a time-out was imminent with not much time left in the game, a field goal could still dictate the outcome.


    In other words, once the Kansas City Chiefs entered the field goal zone, they could regain control over the victory.


    Belichick was, of course, painfully aware of thisa?€¡±


    Instantly, the defensive intensity and tempo of the New England Patriots escalated by two levels.


    Though nearly thirty yards from the Red Zone, the New England Patriots were treating this area as the line of life and death, fighting fiercely.


    They gave no ground.


    The sudden increase in tempo and intensity even made one wonder if the first half of the Chiefs¡¯ easy-going offense had been a strategy by the Patriots to lure the enemy deep and save strength, before exploding to entirely flip the script.


    Of course, the possibility was very, very small; Belichick wouldn¡¯t have been so reckless, but it did illustrate the intensity of the Patriots¡¯ defense.


    With absolute dominance, they forcefully disrupted the offensive rhythm of the Kansas City Chiefs, surrounding and stopping Li Wei with three men and timely defending Kelsey with two, extinguishing the Chiefs¡¯ strongest offensive thrusts in face-to-face confrontations.


    The Chiefs hardly had time to catch their breath before they were caught in a Third and Seven predicament.


    a?€¡±Third and Seven.


    The situation was completely stuck, and standing still made one sweat profusely and knees tremble, leaving no energy even for trash talk.


    Better to conserve energy for a straight fight than waste it on trash talk.


    At this moment, one could deeply appreciate the heritage of the New England Patriots, who, despite a turbulent offseason this year, Belichick had refocused after the season opener.


    After a brief fluctuation, he had gotten the team back on track and displayed top-tier league strength.


    The ¡°Chiefs Special¡± was well-known, and the Patriots could not let their guard down, further heating up the atmosphere.


    This time, another linebacker, Kyle Van Noy, moved with Li Wei, different from other times.


    This defense was clearly intended to mark Li Wei; Belichick did not use Bentley, who had just been disadvantaged by Li Wei, but chose the experienced and savvy Van Noy for the job instead.


    But was this a trap, or a strategy?


    It was clear; coaches Reed and Belichick were playing a tactical game again.


    Then, everyone held their breath, got back into position, and bent their knees.


    The air was completely still, and for that brief moment, it felt like the earth had stopped spinning, time had stopped flowing.


    Even hearts stopped beating; there was no wind, no noise, and Gillette Stadium fell into an unusual silence, casting Foxborough into absolute tranquility.


    The tension was pushed to the limit.


    Until Mahomes uttered that spell.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    In an instant, crash, bang bang bang, a full-on collision.


    The first moment, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ double running back formation with the shotgun was fully unleasheda?€¡±


    On the left wing, Watkins and Hill.


    On the right wing, Hunter, Kelsey, and Li Wei.


    Five attacking points, completely and unsurprisingly, all burst out, but with radically different running lanes.


    Watkins charged straight down the sideline, while Hill crossed over into the middle of the field.


    Kelsey initially charged towards cornerback Jason McCourty then cut back, crossing diagonally across the field like Zorro¡¯s ¡°Z¡±; simultaneously, Kelsey and Hunter executed a crossing pattern, as Hunter sprinted vertically down the slot, with Kelsey and Hill forming a staggered double screen at the center.


    Dazzling, ever-changing.


    At this moment, it was evident how Reed¡¯s coaching influenced the passing offense; the mere running routes were filled with uncertainty, thoroughly confusing the defense.


    Whether it was zone coverage or man coverage, the defensive group had to expend a great deal of energy.


    Currently, Belichick opted for man coverage, because the energy required for zone coverage was immense, and it lacked a sense of urgency, which they needed to bring intensity; then, linebacker Van Noy realized a problema?€¡±


    His man coverage target, Li Wei, where was he?


    Wait, could it bea?€| the Chiefs Special?

 Chapter 625

    ?Chapter 625: 624 Graceful as a Wandering Dragon Chapter 625: 624 Graceful as a Wandering Dragon Double running back tactic?


    That was a smoke bomb, its true purpose was to distract and confuse, leveraging the daunting presence of the ¡°Chiefs Special¡± to intimidate the opponents, to the extent that it might cause a moment of hesitation or heightened alertness in their initial reaction speeda?€¡±


    And there, lay Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ opportunity.


    Li Wei, utterly focused.


    The moment Mahomes signalled the start of the play, Li Wei charged towards the offensive line without hesitation, once again acting as the sixth man in the offensive line and heading straight for the Defensive End, Flores.


    If the New England Patriots chose to play man-to-man defense, they were very likely to opt for a blitza?€¡±


    Exactly!


    Reed took the initiative, accurately predicting Belichick¡¯s defensive strategy.


    Bang!@@@@


    ...


    Li Wei had just moved forward when Flores lunged at him, and the collision officially began.


    Once, Flores held his ground, gritting his teeth, his whole body tensed, a surge of energy bursting forth unceasingly from within him, fully unleasheda?€¡±


    Ah, ah, ah!


    Twice, Flores faced him head-on again, a rhino-like charge stirring up waves of air, and then Flores was completely flipped overa?€¡±


    Violent, dominant, swift, ferocious.


    Kansas City Chiefs seized an advantage in the front line clash with an outnumbering shout!


    However, Belichick also showed his adaptability in the heat of the moment, with Flores serving merely as a decoy, as the real killer move switched to the other side.


    Two linemen, Dont¡¯a Hightower and Bentley, both broke through from the pocket¡¯s blind side.


    Did Reed win?


    Not quite, Belichick had the upper hand.


    Besides the five players in man-to-man coverage, everyone else stepped up for a blitz, exerting the Patriots¡¯ maximum blitz potential, relying on a numerical advantage to instantly disrupt the balance of the front line standoff.


    Through a series of collisions and tugs, Hightower and Bentley had both broken through the offensive line¡¯s protection to penetrate the pocket.


    One came from the middle; Hightower resembled the devil in ¡°The Shining¡± who burst through the door panel and kept swinging the axe, ferociously trying to break free, clawing his way towards Mahomes.


    One came from the blind side, leveraging the numerical advantage, Bentley circled around the front line confrontation area unimpeded and cut directly into the pocket, with Mahomes, the little lamb, now appearing before Bentley¡¯s eyes.


    Bentley: Heh heh, sorry, it¡¯s a bit tough, you might need to endure it.


    Explosive step forward, tackle.


    Bentley extended his arms, convinced that Mahomes was as good as caught, because this was from the blind side, and Mahomes was completely unaware of the danger approaching, which made Bentley¡¯s takedown practically unchallenging.


    Yet!


    Hightower¡¯s waist was hit, and with staggering steps he was swept up into the raging winds.


    He didn¡¯t even realize what had happened, but his gaze did not move, completely ignoring Li Wei, his focus locked on Mahomesa?€¡±


    Step forward, charge.


    This veteran, the 25th first-round pick of the year 2012, had been with the New England Patriots from the beginning.


    Although he only had a breakout year in 2016, the fact that he stayed through several team upheavals speaks to his abilities.


    Hightower¡¯s steps had lost balance due to Li Wei¡¯s hit, but he relentlessly continued forward, relying on experience to make split-second adjustments.


    His focus never wavered from Mahomes due to Li Wei¡¯s distraction, and he did not hesitate to throw himself forward.


    Danger!


    Mahomes sensed it and made a quick stop and turn, braking and pausing in his lateral movement, then turned one hundred and eighty degrees clockwise to maneuver back around.


    A U-turn.


    As Mahomes evaded Hightower, he also used Hightower¡¯s body as a dam, blocking Van Noy.


    Van Noy was filled with question marks and surprise.


    Just a second ago, when he saw Li Wei collide with Flores, he thought Li Wei would repeat the move and charge at him, and he had prepared early.


    In the next second, Li Wei didn¡¯t even spare him a glance, retreating back into the pocket and diving into the crowd, becoming Mahomes¡¯ last line of defense.


    Damn it!


    Belichick was scheming against Reed, and Reed was equally scheming against Belichick.


    For a moment, it was indeed hard to tell who had the upper hand.


    Van Noy did not encounter the Li Wei he was anticipating; his knees stiffened, nearly causing him to trip, and after a brief delay, he restarteda?€¡±


    The pass, Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ strategy was one hundred percent a pass.


    So, should Van Noy drop back to join the second-line defense?


    Or should he step up to blitz?


    This variable, Belichick hadn¡¯t accounted for, right?


    In the split second, Van Noy had to rely on his own judgment to make the call.


    So, he stepped forward.


    However, in the rapid-changing game, that slight hesitation by Van Noy cost him time, and then he saw Hightower sprawled before him.


    Mahomes had already gained space, made a second read defense, looking for passing targets.


    Terrible!


    Van Noy cried out in alarm, but with no time for fear, he hurdled over Hightower, stumbling and lurching towards Mahomes.

 Chapter 626

    ?Chapter 626: 625 Tip of the dagger revealed at the end of the road Chapter 626: 625 Tip of the dagger revealed at the end of the road Danger!


    Danger, danger, danger, completely surrounded!


    As a quarterback, Mahomes took control of the overall situation and sensed the oncoming pressure immediately, like a tiny wooden boat amidst the stormy seas, violently tossing and turning, at any moment at risk of being swallowed whole, his vision plunged into chaos, every cell feeling the onslaught.


    However.


    Mahomes was extremely calm, utterly focused and engaged, his nimble feet weaving through the tempesta?€¡±


    Shifting, dodging, spinning, retreating.


    A series of agile steps evaded one crisis after another, barely finding a foothold amidst the gunshots and rains of arrows, and only then was there a fleeting moment to catch his breath, to lift his chin and make a second defensive read, taking in the state of the open field before him.


    Compared to the chaos at the line of scrimmage, the tangle of offense and defense in the backfield seemed much clearer.


    ...


    Each man marked his own.


    The four pass targets were each entangled with four defenders.


    Watkins on the left sideline, Hunter in the right slot, both running deep routes, heading straight for the end zone.


    In the central area, Kelsey was in front with Hill behind, pulling apart two crossing routes, with Kelsey at the junction between the short and medium areas, Hill at the juncture between the medium and deep areas.


    No matter the chaos in the front, the Kansas Chiefs¡¯ backfield routes completely opened up the play, with different matchups and different coverages, even Belichick couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of it.


    So, who was Mahomes¡¯s pass target?


    In all respects, Kelsey had the advantage over Jason McCourty in terms of size, strength, and positioning; Kelsey had already taken the lead.


    Moreover, with the Kansas City Chiefs needing to control the game clock and possession, a field goal could secure victory without any additional risks.


    Kelsey, no doubt, was the best pass target.


    In the blink of an eye, Mahomes didn¡¯t hesitatea?€¡±


    He stepped up, pushing off the ground.


    Van Noy rushed towards him.


    With a swing of his arm, he threw the pass.


    Van Noy¡¯s steps were unstable, unable to exert force, and his collision lacked strength.


    Mahomes wobbled a little but maintained his poise thanks to his impressive physical condition, holding tight and keeping his upper body stable, the passing motion unaffected.


    With a swing and a pusha?€¡±


    Uh, ah, ah.


    Mahomes exerted his full strength, the burst of power concentrated on the football as he propelled it forward; the football shot out like a cannon.


    Boom!


    Thirty yards.


    Thirty-five yards.


    Mahomes¡¯s pass around thirty-five yards, aiming a vertical strike into the end zone, would push the New England Patriots to the brink once connected.


    Devin and Hill were fully entangled, pushing and shoving each other.


    Then.


    Hill jumped first, firmly blocking the position, overpowering Devin, snatching the advantage.


    Hill stretched out his arms, and right then, he noticed that the flight and rotation of the football were irregular, which showed that Van Noy¡¯s hit and grapple still interfered with Mahomes¡¯s pass; moreover, Mahomes¡¯s passes were not the standard bullet passes like those of Brees.


    Holding his breath, Hill fully extended his hands, palms open, reaching out to catch the football with his fingertips, completing the reception.


    The next second, gravity pulled Hill downwards.


    It was only at this moment that Devin jumped up, his right hand slicing between Hill¡¯s arms, poking upward lightly, disrupting the balance with an external force before Hill could fully secure the football.


    Then.


    The football escaped Hill¡¯s control and flew up again.


    Hill downward.


    Devin upward.


    In just that brief moment of crossing, Devin, like someone rebounding in a basketball game, lightly touched the football with his right hand, altering its trajectory, feeling the pull of gravity as he fell rapidly while using his body to block Hill, successfully grabbing the football.


    ¡°Interception!¡±


    ¡°My God, interception!¡±


    ¡°McCourty, Devin McCourty outplayed Hill to intercept Mahomes.¡±


    The words had barely come out when they were abruptly cut off.


    ¡°McCourty is returning it, Hill tried to tackle McCourty, but clearly, this is not Hill¡¯s forte.¡±


    The situation reversed in an instant.


    Devin McCourty held the football tightly, continuing to run back.


    Hill missed the tackle, and Kelsey immediately tried to step up to intercept, but at that moment, the other McCourty showed the twin¡¯s understanding, without the need for a tackle or foul, turned his back to block Kelsey for a moment, tripping Kelsey¡¯s steps, and Devin was already charging out.


    Then, the chasing figures of Kelsey and Hunter followed.


    Devin was sprinting.


    Speed was not his strong suit, but with agile steps and the advantage gained, the empty backfield became his playground, driving straight through.


    Like a dagger, he plunged into the heart of the Kansas City Chiefs.

 Chapter 627

    ?Chapter 627: 626 Equal Opportunity Chapter 627: 626 Equal Opportunity Thump, thump, thump thump thump.


    Devin McCourty in a flash had completely overturned the situation, pulling the New England Patriots back from the brink of the cliff and at the same time pushing the Kansas City Chiefs toward it, completely reversing the state of the game.


    His rapid advance made the desperate chase by Kelsey and Hunter appear particularly inelegant.


    Just at that momenta?€¡±


    A figure burst out from the side like a speeding bullet train, barreling into Devin¡¯s waist with a crushing tackle.


    It was a move as unexpected as uprooting a willow tree!


    An aerial bombardment!


    Devin¡¯s smile was trapped at the corner of his mouth, his heart underwent a bungee-jumping experience in just one second, and then he was engulfed by the oncoming force, lying on the ground like a dead fish.


    ...


    The counterattack was thus cut off.


    Panting, panting.


    The air was burning, with scorching breaths and frantic heartbeats weaving together, to the extent that Gillette Stadium fell into astonishment, taking a whole beat too slow to react to what had happeneda?€¡±


    Interception!


    ¡°Beat!


    Beat!¡±


    ¡°Beat!


    Beat!¡±@@@@


    The uniform roar was like a thunderstorm instantly engulfing the entire stadium.


    Mahomes struggled in agony.


    ¡°Mahomes has an overwhelming desire to pass forward, to throw deep into the far zone, often overlooking the game situation and risking passes, lacking the quarterback¡¯s calm judgment, the ability to read secondary defenses, and decision-making capabilities on the spot.¡±


    The scout report from that year resurfaced in his mind.


    If anyone said that this scout report did not affect Mahomes¡¯s mentality, it would be an absolute lie.


    Moreover, after the draft, the combined evaluation of Mahomes, who was Kansas City Chiefs¡¯s first-round tenth pick, was only a ¡°C+¡± from ¡°within the League.¡± Mahomes himself also had a judgment.


    Therefore, upon entering the League, Mahomes had been following Smith, trying to make up for his own shortcomings, striving to grow into a player truly worthy of a starting position.


    Mahomes thought he was readya?€¡±


    He had started the regular season with five straight wins, and he had also shown calm and reason in key moments against the Pittsburgh Steelers; and just now, he and Li Wei had completed a long pass for a touchdown, everything seemed to prove it.


    However, at the critical moment, the old problem recurred.


    Houston looked at the young faces beside him and felt a surge of heroic ambition in an instant.


    ¡°Leave no regrets!¡±


    They would leave everything on the field, so win or lose, they could turn around and leave with their heads held high.


    In a flash, Jones also became charged with a soaring spirit.


    ¡°Leave no regrets!¡±


    One by one, slapping hands and bumping shoulders, they took to the field with a fierce fighting spirit.


    Turning his head, Li Wei saw Hill¡¯s muscles tense, his jaw clenched tightly, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on the field, all the complex emotions reflected in his eyesa?€¡±


    He was as frustrated as Mahomes.


    Li Wei nudged Kelsey¡¯s shoulder, the somewhat dispirited Kelsey suddenly looked up, and Li Wei used his gaze to signal towards Hill, Kelsey understood instantly.


    Kelsey exchanged a look with Li Wei, took a deep breath to regain his spirits, and walked over to Hill.


    Despite the fatigue, despite their knees trembling, despite their calves almost giving out, none of the Kansas City Chiefs players sat down; they all stood shoulder to shoulder on the sidelines, keeping an eye on the situation unfolding on the field.


    Two minutes and twenty-three seconds remained in the match.


    The score was still tied, leaving the suspense of victory up in the air.


    But the New England Patriots had a slight edge.


    First, there was the morale boost after the interception.


    Secondly, Devin McCourty¡¯s return had secured Brady a position near midfield, as they now begin their offensive play at the forty-one-yard line on the Patriots¡¯ side of the field.


    The opportunity laid in the hands of Belichick and Brady.


    Clearly, with nearly two decades of dominance in the league, they knew how to handle the situation.


    Normally, at this point, choosing a ground game to control the clock and then look for opportunities to attack with passes before pushing for a field goal for a last-second win would be the best strategy, especially since the Patriots¡¯ ground game had been exceptional, showing top-tier performance in the first half.


    However, at the critical moment, Belichick once again entrusted the fate of the game to Brady, the elite quarterback demonstrating his unmatched control in the short-pass area, skillfully utilizing Gronkowski whether as a passing target or as a decoy to attract the defense, the Patriots¡¯ passing game always one step ahead of the Chiefs Defensea?€¡±


    Just one step ahead, not much, with each pass advancing only four or five yards, the Chiefs Defense¡¯s quick response and follow-up defense were outstanding; but in this particular moment, this slight edge was enough.


    After a standoff and tug-of-war, the Patriots pushed past midfield, entering inside the thirty-five-yard line, then came to a position similar to that of the Chiefs just moments before.


    The Chiefs Defense mustered their strength, forcing the Patriots into a third and ten yards predicament, and launched a blitz on third down.


    In a dire situation, Brady hastily connected with Gronkowski.


    The Chiefs Defense was fully focused, immediately seeing through Brady¡¯s tactical intent, three of them swarmed, closing in tightly around Gronkowski.


    A critical moment!

 Chapter 628

    ?Chapter 628: 627 Soaring Hurdles Chapter 628: 627 Soaring Hurdles ¡°Brady Gronkowski,¡± in third gear, ten yards to go, the New England Patriots offensive group¡¯s most legendary and powerful duo took the stage once again.


    But this time, the Kansas City Chiefs had anticipated this, surrounding him with three players, completely blocking him, instantly engulfing Gronkowski in a quicksand.


    However!


    This tight end, at the peak of his career, displayed his adaptability in a flash, breaking away from Fuller, squeezing past Houston, and then jumping on the spot to compete for the ball with Regland.


    Four people.


    Eight hands.


    Not just Regland, Houston also stretched out both hands trying to disrupt the catch.


    ...


    Yet Gronkowski resisted the pressure, forcefully snatched the football from the chaos; pushing and shoving, maximizing his physical advantage, clumsily dragging along Fuller who was clinging to him, forcefully making his way past Houston, like a bulldozer.


    He pushed forward five yards.


    Five yards, just five yards, ultimately failing to convert on third gear, the New England Patriots faced fourth and five, but Gronkowski¡¯s toughness and ferocity amidst being surrounded by three players once again ignited the passion at Gillette Stadium, with a thunderous roar descending from the stands.


    The New England Patriots advanced to near the thirty-yard linea?€¡±


    The outcome of the game was now in the hands of the special duty group.


    With only five seconds left in the game, no matter what happened next, the Kansas Chiefs Offense had no chance to reenter the field and attempt a ¡°Wanfu Mary,¡± unless the Kansas City Chiefs could intercept or recover a fumble for a touchdown in the upcoming special duty group¡¯s play; otherwise, it all depended on the kicker nowa?€¡±


    Stephen Gostkowski.


    The New England Patriots had a chance to win the game, Gostkowski was preparing to try a forty-seven-yard field goal.


    It was challenging, risky, with many variables.


    Last season, Gostkowski¡¯s attempts from beyond fifty yards were all successful in his four tries; however, for field goals between forty and forty-nine yards, he hit eight out of eleven tries.


    It seemed odd.


    Not just last year, but since entering the league in 2006 and becoming the starting kicker for the New England Patriots, Gostkowski had always been this way, performing exceptionally well on either shorter or much longer field goals, but often missing within the forty to forty-nine-yard range.


    Currently, he faced a forty-seven-yard field goal.


    Every gaze in the packed stadium focused on Gostkowski.


    ¡°Timeout!¡±


    Reed had been observing and waiting all along, not waiting for Gostkowski to start his run-up but calling for a timeout before he adjusted his breathing, prepared to start, in an attempt to disturb Gostkowski¡¯s breathing rhythm, since keeping the timeout served no purposea?€¡±


    If Gostkowski missed the field goal, the teams would remain tied, and overtime would see timeouts reset, with each team getting two new opportunities to call a timeout.


    So, there was no point in saving it.


    Clearly, Belichick thought the same, not sending Gostkowski back onto the field after Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ timeout had ended, but instead using one immediately himself, allowing Gostkowski to continue adjusting his breath and state off-field.


    Stunning!


    Astonishment!


    Fear!


    The entire stadium fell silent, the heartbeat seemed to be cut off, no one dared to believe their eyes, everyone¡¯s mouth agape, watching this scene like frogs.


    The Special Duty Group¡¯s offensive line of the New England Patriots was no exception, even without looking up, they could feel the looming crisis overhead.


    A shadow, like a bomber flying low overhead, was unmistakably White Twenty-Three.


    Li Wei.


    Accelerating, exerting force, leaping!


    Hurdling!


    Such a fantastical, incredible move was actually successful.


    Li Wei crossed the barrier, completely disregarding the opponent¡¯s offensive line as if it were a fence, completed the leap in no time but had no time to rejoice.


    His toes touched the ground, continuing to dash forward, his arms fully extended, swinging left and right like windshield wipers, obstructing Gostkowski¡¯s line of sight.


    Charging forward while blocking.


    The next second, a blur of reddish-brown streaked past.


    Li Wei already felt the pull of gravity, his body falling, but Li Wei didn¡¯t give up, still stretching out his palm, his upper body reaching its limit, trying to complete a block.


    So close, just a tiny bit more.


    Fingertips, seeming to touch the football yet seemingly not.


    Then, a surge of air swept past his fingertips as the current whirled by.


    Li Wei was already unable to turn his head, feeling the pull of gravity.


    His body, heavy like a chunk of metal, sank rapidly, a flood of green surrounding him.


    The next second, a roar of cheers and screams flooded his ears.


    Li Wei agilely rolled over, propping up his upper body with his hands, watching helplessly as the football grazed the left goalpost and smoothly entered the goal.


    It was just that small difference, yet ultimately it was close but no cigar.


    ¡°45:48¡±.


    The score, finally set, the away team ahead, the home team behind.


    Another epic game had come to an end.

 Chapter 629

    ?Chapter 629: Deeply engraved in my heart Chapter 629: Deeply engraved in my heart Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!


    The entire Gillette Stadium had gone completely mad.


    Cheering, jumping, roaring as if they had just won the Super Bowl.


    Although it was just a regular game, and the playoffs were still three months away, for the New England Patriots, it was a significant breakthrough.


    For one, defeating the Kansas City Chiefsa?€¡±for the first time in three encounters over two seasonsa?€¡±was a perfect revenge for last season¡¯s divisional playoff defeat.


    Secondly, defeating Li Wei, in a ludicrous and laughable clash of ¡°Goat vs rookie¡±, they finally dealt Li Wei a heavy blow.


    Thirdly, maintaining an undefeated home record this season; if they could advance to the playoffs as the number one seed and secure all home-field advantages, it would undoubtedly build confidence for reconquering the American League.


    ...


    Today¡¯s victory over the current top seed of the American League put them a step ahead in the competition.


    Revenge, not just revenge, but a victory in a full-scale strategy.


    It wasn¡¯t just the fans.


    Brady, in the first instant, raised his hands high and rushed into the field crazily to embrace Gostkowski, no longer caring about his public image, letting joy and passion erupt completely as he continuously waved his fists and roared:


    Did you see that?


    Did you see that!


    Who is truly the number one in the league?


    Can an old man quarterback, half in the grave, still fight?


    Is it really time for a change of dynasty in the NFL?


    Have you heard my response?


    Over and over, the frustration and humiliation suppressed for a year and a half had finally been released at this moment, with no reservations.


    The entirety of Gillette Stadium, inside and out, was engulfed in a blazing inferno.


    The world trembled and shook.


    On the field, Li Wei finally exhausted, collapsed in a spread-eagled mannera?€¡±


    Just like in week six of the previous regular season, they had faced a crisis again, but this time, they failed to make a miraculous comeback.


    Losing the game, this wasn¡¯t the first time, and it probably wouldn¡¯t be the last; but the point was, losing still felt unbearably bitter and depressing, leaving them gasping for breath, distressed.


    No matter how many times they went through this, it was still just as painful, just as infuriating, just as stifling, and it made them want to burn the whole stadium down to ashes.


    Damn it, he hated losing!


    Especially in such a close game, where everyone had a chance, but after giving their all in a final effort, victory still slipped away at the fingertips.


    ¡°Oh, God.¡±


    Tears welled up in Mahomes¡¯ eyes, he stubbornly looked at Li Wei, refusing to let the tears fall, though his vision was already blurred in a wash of tears.


    For Mahomes, this was not just a loss.


    That interception would become a demon he must face.


    If he couldn¡¯t break through, Mahomes might soon be forgotten like many others in the League; but if he could break through, he would undergo a transformation both inside and out.


    Growth is like this, full of pain and setbacks, battered and stumbling, waiting until after the wounds have scarred over before one can learn to be brave.


    Mahomes looked helplessly and blankly at Li Wei.


    Li Wei took a deep breath.


    ¡°Sherlock, we all make mistakes, no one is perfect, no one.


    More important than making mistakes, is how we respond to them.¡±


    ¡°Remember!


    Remember vividly this bitter moment and discomfort, remember the lessons from this game, do not just toss them aside.¡±


    ¡°Because this is the moment that decides what kind of player we will grow to be in the future.¡±


    ¡°We hate to lose, but at the same time we must face our failures openly, and not be cowards who cannot accept defeat.¡±


    Li Wei didn¡¯t sugarcoat the truth, nor did he tell Mahomes ¡°It wasn¡¯t your fault¡± or ¡°Everything will be okay,¡± because he knew this was a moment they had to face on their path of growtha?€¡±without facing the storms, they would never see the rainbow.


    If it hurts, remember it.


    Only then can we avoid repeating the same mistakes.


    Last time, they defeated the New England Patriots.


    Belichick and Brady remembered the lesson, so they launched a counter-attack and seized the opportunity, and today the New England Patriots defeated them.


    It¡¯s that simple.


    In the world of competitive sports, no one can remain victorious forever; everyone must face failure.


    The focus is never on the failure itself, but on how to respond after failinga?€¡±


    Alternating wins and losses, matching each other in competition, growing and progressing together, and finally contending at the peaka?€¡±this is the most wonderful moment in sports.


    Indeed, they lost the game today, and they faced a painful defeat by a narrow margin; but that is not the point.


    On the contrary, this is a new beginning.


    The story starting from today is still written by their own hands.

 Chapter 630

    ?Chapter 630: 629 The Cost of Growth Chapter 630: 629 The Cost of Growth Calm and resolute, composed and confident.


    Li Wei remained true to himself, not covering up the peace or turning a blind eye, but facing defeat openly and honorably.


    Mahomes looked into Li Wei¡¯s eyes, momentarily stunned, then could no longer control himself, tears breached, embittered, both frustrated and angry, he frantically wiped his tears with the back of his hand, nodding in disarray, his words muffled.


    ¡°I will remember.


    I will.¡±@@@@


    Logic was not difficult, but to truly experience such a painful defeat required time, especially for the young Mahomes.


    From taking over the quarterback position under immense pressure to continuously proving himself with astonishing performances up to the peak of confidence only to be struck brutally unawares, this adventurous growth journey was fraught with thorns.


    ...


    Although Mahomes tried to rally quickly, it was ultimately too difficult; his cheeks buried in the palms of his hands, visibly sweating and flushed, the bitterness and pain piercing to the core.


    Sometimes, Li Wei couldn¡¯t help but wonder which was more despairinga?€¡±losing a game by a large score without seeing any opportunity, or missing out on victory at the last second when the chance was still therea?€¡±


    There was no answer.


    Li Wei took a deep breath.


    ¡°Do you remember the saying we always mention?¡±


    ¡°We embrace victory together as a team, and we face defeat together as a team.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just talk; victory and defeat are not because of one person.¡±


    On the surface, Mahomes¡¯s interception indeed seemed the final turning point of the failure; however, until the very last moment, the Defensive Group, the Special Duty Group still had a chance to rein things in, at least to win an overtime opportunity for the Kansas City Chiefsa?€¡±


    Including that one block that grazed his fingertips.


    Yet, they failed to seize it.


    For the first time, Li Wei deeply realized the significance of the first lesson on Football that Burns taught hima?€¡±


    Football, a team sport, lacking any element might fail to secure victory; although all eyes are often on the quarterback, every other position has its value and significance.


    ¡°Not one less.¡±


    Those were Burns¡¯s exact words.


    So, for victories, they shouldn¡¯t deem it only their own doing; similarly, for failures, they shouldn¡¯t see it as just one element being out of place.


    The New England region has never welcomed ¡°outsiders,¡± and it was undoubtedly one of the most seriously afflicted and worst areas for discrimination in North America.


    Last season, Gillette Stadium had given Li Wei a good exposure, but the Kansas City Chiefs had twice shut them up with victories and left unscathed.


    Tonight!


    Finally!


    Gillette Stadium finally got its moment of glory, turning the tide and even causing Brady to lose his composure, an uncommon sight even in a regular game as he celebrated the victory by running half a lap around the field, stirring up the atmosphere among all the fans, to say nothing of the fans themselves.


    The repressed, controlled emotions were fully released.


    This time, they added a new targeta?€¡±


    Mahomes.


    Mahomes was biracial, with a black father and a white mother, so his situation was quite unique.


    The black community thought he wasn¡¯t black enough, and the white community thought he wasn¡¯t white enough, landing him in an awkward position.


    In the Rookie Training Camp, the media had once provoked Mahomes by questioning his self-identity.


    Although the NFL is becoming increasingly inclusive, overall, black quarterbacks are still a minority, especially after the ¡°Four Great Running Backs,¡± a new generation of mobile quarterbacks, struggled with injuries.


    In the past couple of years, Wentz and Goff had again become the media darlings, which made Mahomes¡¯s situation indeed quite special.


    Regarding this, Mahomes responded that he was very proud to be black; but he always believed that as a football player, one ultimately needs to let their performance on the field do the talking, and it wouldn¡¯t change due to skin color.


    Additionally, since Mahomes was a substitute last season, he hadn¡¯t attracted much attention, and the scrutiny surrounding him had ultimately still been minimal.


    Until tonight.


    In New England, just like Li Wei, Mahomes was a minority, constantly facing a full-on assault from Gillette Stadium throughout the game; and it peaked after the New England Patriots snatched victory with a last-second win.


    Those filthy, unbearable words poured down like a torrential rain.


    Regarding this, Li Wei didn¡¯t want to bother, because there was no need to argue with a bunch of ants, treating them like a pack of barking stray dogs was enough; but not wanting to mind and not being able to mind were two different things, and when the stray dogs weren¡¯t satisfied with just barking and eventually lost control and lunged, Li Wei would not surrender without a fight.


    Those voices, sensing Mahomes¡¯s vulnerability, then bared their fangsa?€¡±


    ¡°Mutant!¡±


    Someone shouted.

 Chapter 631

    ?Chapter 631: 630 Murderous Aura Overflows Chapter 631: 630 Murderous Aura Overflows ¡°Bastard!¡±


    ¡°Haha, bastard!


    Your father was a **, and your mother was a ***¡¯s **, a match made in heaven, and that¡¯s how you, this ***¡¯s bastard, were born!¡±


    ¡°Disgrace!


    You are a disgrace!¡±


    ¡°Go back to your **!


    This glorious land does not welcome you!@@@@


    **, ****!¡±


    The foul language was unbearable to the ear.


    Phrase after phrase, ferocious and bloody, filthy and ugly.


    In the football field, being the away team was always like this, but tonight it was worse and more rampant than ever.


    ...


    Those twisted faces looked like devils, and what was worst, those words not only attacked the players but also targeted innocent family membersa?€¡±


    They should not have involved the player¡¯s families, should not have targeted players¡¯ mothers and siblings.


    Caught in emotions of guilt and frustration, Mahomes had no time to worry about these, but now, those shrill and piercing voices broke through the defense and burrowed into his ears, throwing his boiling emotions into the roaring flames, instantly consuming all his rationality.


    Damn it!


    Mahomes clenched his fists, turned around abruptly, and his youthful face revealed a sharp expression.


    But he lost his direction among the throng of ferocious faces blurring into onea?€¡±


    Not just one or two, but hundreds, thousands, merged into one vast, surging, bloody wave.


    Just then, a figure burst past Mahomes and left behind the number twenty-three, turning into a bolt of lightning charging head-on.


    Furious and murderous.


    Clark was startled by the sight of Li Wei coming head-on.


    He had never seen Li Wei like this before.


    The Li Wei he knew was always calm and composed, even on the brink, he seemed effortlessly at ease, as if nothing could disturb his peace.


    But now, Li Wei exploded with a murderous aura, like flames, a single glance making Clark feel frozen and numb, paralyzed on the spot, frantically breaking eye contact.


    Burns took a step forward, ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    However.


    This time Burns couldn¡¯t stop Li Wei either.


    One by one, those who had remained standing now quietly sat down, mouths shut, merely a group of paper tigers.


    Eventually, only one was left standing.


    The fan wearing the New England Patriots number twelve jersey was slow to realize that he was left without support and to sit down now, in full view of everyone, would be too embarrassing.


    The number twelve mustered courage and looked towards Li Wei, ¡°Youa?€|¡±


    He had hardly uttered a syllable when he saw Li Wei smile, even giving an encouraging look, ¡°Continue.


    I¡¯m here, I¡¯m truly listening.¡±


    The number twelve trembled with fear: This maniac.


    Then, still with a smile, Li Wei continued as if he were discussing who should pay for drinks at a bar, ¡°Say one word, and I¡¯ll knock out one of your teeth; say another, and there goes another.¡±


    ¡°I know, I know, I might have to pay, I might face a lawsuit.


    But hey, I should be able to hire a team of lawyers, drag it out, I don¡¯t care where my paycheck goes, I have all the time.¡±


    ¡°Hah.¡±


    ¡°One word, one tooth.


    How about it, is this deal worthwhile?


    Interested in playing this game with me?¡±


    The number twelve froze completely, not wanting to concede, but a chill shot up from his feet to his scalp, his whole body uncontrollably shuddering, even he hadn¡¯t realized he was clamping his mouth shut.


    Protecting his teeth.


    Caught in a dilemma.


    At this moment, the smile vanished from Li Wei¡¯s lips, and his entire demeanor suddenly erupted with killing intent, ¡°Don¡¯t want to talk, then sit down.¡±


    Thump.


    The number twelve¡¯s knees buckled, and he obediently sat down.


    The area fell silent.


    Then.


    Li Wei, wearing a smirk that did not reach his eyes, gracefully jumped down without turning around but instead backed towards the stands at the football field.


    And, raising his hand, he incited the fans, like at a concert, his face brimming with a smile as he called out to the crowda?€¡±


    Louder.


    Come on, louder.


    Let the storm rage harder.

 Chapter 632

    ?Chapter 632: 631 Counterattack on the Spot Chapter 632: 631 Counterattack on the Spot a?€¡±a?€¡±Dead silence.


    Despite Li Wei¡¯s provocations and incitements as he waited, the stands right in front of him were utterly petrified, unable to react.


    If they didn¡¯t want to be caught wetting their pants, they now had to do their utmost to control their bladders.


    Gazing at Li Wei¡¯s radiant smile, they might as well have been looking at Lucifer himself.


    Trembling in fear.


    They probably wouldn¡¯t be alright for quite some time.


    It was only when the other spectators a bit farther away noticed this scene, they looked towards the dumbfounded crowd with puzzled faces, stood up in frustration, and curses and abuses began to pour down once more, as Gillette Stadium came alive again.


    ...


    However.


    Li Wei wasn¡¯t afraid.


    Far from it, he revealed a satisfied smile and nodded lightly.


    Continuing to backpedal, Li Wei made his way to Mahomes¡¯s side, bumped Mahomes¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Remember this scene.


    The more boisterous and ostentatious they are, the more it means they are afraid.


    They use violence and foul language to cover up their incompetence and inferiority, and even victory can¡¯t mask their fragility and fear.¡±


    ¡°We will come back, and we will strike back.¡±


    He engraved each word deeply into Mahomes¡¯s chest.


    Involuntarily, Mahomes straightened up and looked again at those distorted, ferocious faces, feeling a strange sensation growing in his mind.


    It wasn¡¯t anger, it wasn¡¯t bitterness, but rather a restless enthusiasm and passion rekindling the flame.


    Soon, Gillette Stadium proved Li Wei¡¯s guess with actionsa?€¡±


    They had seen that scene, they had seen the arrogant Li Wei, they had seen New England Patriots fans trembling and pissing themselves in front of Li Wei.


    It was supposed to be a victory celebration for the home team, New England Patriots, finally a chance to puff out their chests, but what they saw was the defeated stray dog wreaking havoc on their own turf, and this struck the home fans¡¯ excitement switch dead on, as a plethora of sweet curses submerged the Kansas City Chiefs in an instant.


    More than that, there were mineral water bottles, jerseys, shoes, mobile phones, wallets, and so on, all hurled down uncontrollably in rage, the scene verging on chaos.


    And it escalated.


    At the post-game press conference, reporters swarmed like sharks, but they weren¡¯t surrounding Li Wei; instead, they encircled Reed in layers.


    ¡°Coach Reed, how do you view Li Wei¡¯s post-game provocation of the home fans?


    ¡°If this reporter or anyone else is ready to cover this issue, let me tell you, we will not remain silent.¡±


    ¡°We will strike back, both on and off the field.


    So, do you have any more questions?¡±


    Reed was angry.


    It was rare to see him, completely dropping his usual demeanor, going on the offensive without holding back, and suggesting, between the lines, the cronyism endemic to the New England regiona?€¡±


    It was only three years ago that the movie ¡°Spotlight,¡± focusing on cronyism covering up church scandals in the Boston area, uncovered the dark history of the New England region stretching back half a century, winning an Oscar for Best Picture the following year, undoubtedly making it one of the most conservative areas in North America.


    The confrontation at Gillette Stadium tonight was not the first and wouldn¡¯t be the last.


    Reed refused to condone evil or suffer in silence, launching a counterattack with the ferocity of thunder.


    If media from the New England region thought that the helpless and weak Kansas City would choose to keep silent or pacify the situation, Reed told them with his actions:


    This was far from over.


    Now, journalists from New England had walked into the line of fire, willfully distorting right and wrong.


    Reed didn¡¯t hesitate to retaliate.


    Rarely seen, Reed¡¯s solemn face made the entire press room fall silent, completely quieting down.


    Looking at the faces in front of him, feigning innocence yet stabbing in the back, Reed couldn¡¯t help but recall what had happened just before coming to the press conference.


    He had seen Li Wei, who hadn¡¯t gone into the locker room but was sitting beside the staircase, appearing forlorn and bitter, shoulders slumped, devoid of his usual confident and chest-thrusting presence on the field.


    Reed, slightly surprised, stopped in his tracks and called out to him.


    But he saw Li Wei immediately pull himself together and regain his usual demeanor.


    This brief moment made Reed realize that Li Wei, who always seemed invincible and indomitable, was also a living being with flesh and blood.


    It was because he cared that he always went all out for the team without reservation; it was because he cared that he managed to ignite his energy and tap into his potential at crucial moments.


    Similarly, because he cared, such a defeat was all the more painful and hard to bear, and the incessant attacks at Gillette Stadium certainly didn¡¯t help.


    Behind all the bright praises and attention, Li Wei was still a kid in only his second year in the League, having to maintain the posture of a captain in front of his teammates, not showing weakness.


    He needed to shoulder the responsibility for the team, to lift everyone¡¯s spirits in the locker room, and only when alone could he carefully let his thoughts surge and spread.


    If it weren¡¯t for Reed¡¯s accidental glimpse, he probably wouldn¡¯t have noticed.

 Chapter 633

    ?Chapter 633: 632 Spread your wings Chapter 633: 632 Spread your wings ¡°Coach Reed,¡±


    Li Wei flashed a smile and stood up as if nothing had happened.


    This made Coach Reed sigh inwardly.


    The post-game press conference could wait; he walked over to Li Wei and sat down awkwardly beside him.


    ¡°Come, sit with me for a while.¡±


    Li Wei was taken aback, ¡°But, the press conference...¡±


    Coach Reed ignored him, ¡°Are you still thinking about the game?¡±


    Li Wei did not immediately reply.


    He looked at Reed and then realized that his recent demeanor must have caught the coach¡¯s eyes; so, he sat down again beside the coach.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I always can¡¯t help thinking, if I had been a bit faster in that free kick attempt, could I have changed the football¡¯s trajectory?¡±


    ¡°Or maybe, if I could have done something more during the game.


    Even though Sherlock keeps blaming himself, honestly, I didn¡¯t perform well in this game, I should take more responsibility...¡±


    A torrent of words halted abruptly at the tip of his tongue.


    ...


    Li Wei turned to look at Reed, showing a bitter smile.


    ¡°I know, I understand the logic, I shouldn¡¯t dwell on these details.


    Once you start, it never ends, and you might drive yourself mad.


    I even advised Sherlock not to take all the blame on his shoulders, but...¡±


    ¡°Coach.¡±


    ¡°I hate failing, really.¡±


    He exhaled deeply, the feeling was too uncomfortable, like a flame continuously churning in his chest, unable to be expelled or swallowed.


    Reed had been patiently listening by his side, not rushing to interrupt Li Wei, then he turned to look at him, ¡°Then starting tomorrow, you¡¯ll need to watch the game footage a few more times.¡±


    Incrediblya?€¡±


    Li Wei was stunned; he thought Reed would advise him to learn to let go or offer some profound consolations, but he was completely wrong.


    Reed noticed Li Wei¡¯s gaze, his chubby cheeks revealing a smile.


    ¡°We can¡¯t change the past, nor can we predict the future.


    ¡°I stayed in Philadelphia for thirteen years, and even now, I still consider it my second home, I miss the weather there, the beer, the fans.¡±


    ¡°But the fact is, during those years in Philadelphia, the fans were against me because I couldn¡¯t bring a Super Bowl Championship Trophy to Philadelphia, we had several excellent seasons, and advanced to later stages, but ultimately fell short.¡±


    ¡°Fans were yelling for me to get lost, they even threw stones at my house windows.¡±


    ¡°I am not a coach who only believes in winning, but I must admit we need victories because failure puts us in a difficult situation.


    If it was not for Jeffrey¡¯s decision to keep believing in me, I would have lost my job long ago.¡±


    Jeffrey Lurie, the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles.


    ¡°So, I loathe failure.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why...


    we need to watch the game recordings several more times tomorrow.¡±


    A sharp turn in the conversation, just when Li Wei thought Reed might lift the topic to a new level, he was caught off guard with a rejoinder, which made Li Wei burst into laughter.


    Reed didn¡¯t say much more, leaning on the staircase trying to stand up; but obviously, it wasn¡¯t an easy thing for him to do.


    In the end, it was Li Wei who extended a helping hand, assisting Reed to stand up.


    Reed did not continue to watch Li Wei, because he trusted the kid; he just needed some time, and would surely grow into a mighty tree, shouldering a vast sky for the Kansas City Chiefs.


    All the anger, the bitterness, the dissatisfaction, all the pain was because of care and passion, eventually transforming into nutrients for growth, waiting for the moment to break free and soar.


    Reed was very much looking forward to Li Wei¡¯s future; he wanted to quietly witness it.


    So, before entering the press room, Reed had already made up his mind a?€¡±


    No one could hurt his disciple.


    No one!


    And Reed made sure his words were followed by actions, initiating a series of decisive moves.


    This time, Reed got the full support of the Kansas City Chiefs from top to bottom, including the team owner Hunter, who immediately voiced a protest to the league, and also stood firmly behind Li Wei during an interview.


    At the same time, the New England Patriots were also taking action, creating a storm of public opinion on social media a?€¡±


    A video that craftily depicted Li Wei issuing threats to the lives of the New England Patriots players circulated quickly across major social media, showing Li Wei with a fierce and fearsome demeanor, and instantly putting him in the eye of the storm, turning him into a universally condemned figure.


    The New England region carefully displayed the tip of the iceberg of discrimination, which was magnified tenfold, twentyfold, or even more exaggeratedly online, with a torrent of abuses and curses sweeping over it.


    Because of the selective editing of the video, no one saw Mahomes, let alone the full context of the incident.


    Li Wei stood alone under the spotlight, attracting all the gunfire and bombardment.


    A year after entering the league, the seemingly unstoppable Li Wei faced his first crisis, experiencing for the first time the backfire of what is known as political correctness, exposing slowly the grimy and ugly underbelly hidden behind the league¡¯s glamorous facade.

 Chapter 634

    ?Chapter 634: 633 Spontaneous Action Chapter 634: 633 Spontaneous Action ¡°Foxborough Resident: ¡®That moment, I really thought he would kill me.''¡±


    ¡°Gillette Stadium Survivor: Football isn¡¯t a violent sport, please get out those who tarnish it with their disgraceful actions.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all liesa?€¡±Li Wei finally tears off his hypocritical mask.¡±


    ¡°After losing the game, impotently enraged, taking it out on the fans?¡±


    ¡°When an NFL player swings his fist at a fan...¡±


    ¡°Clearly, this is not the first time, Li Wei, who comes from a mixed martial arts background, almost killed an opponent on the field once, indicating a dangerous tendency for violence.¡±


    ¡°The bloodless riot at Gillette Stadiuma?€¡±the NFL¡¯s night of shame.¡±


    ¡°I saw through him long ago, an angel¡¯s skin with a devil¡¯s soul, it¡¯s all a pretense.¡±


    ¡°Super Bowl MVP threatens fan¡¯s lifea?€¡±could this be the true face of the League¡¯s future frontman?¡±


    Boom, boom boom boom!


    Resounding and intense, it quickly spread across the entire social network.


    This, once again, proved that fame comes with trouble.


    Originally, Li Wei was already in the eye of the storm; but he had never given away any weaknesses, instead, he countered time and again with his on-field performance, to the point that his haters had no choice but to sulk and curse in the dark corners.


    Now!


    Finally!


    The haters hiding in the shadows, like rats running out from the sewers, were now rampant on the internet, unabashedly showing their malice.


    ...


    The above is just the tip of the iceberg.


    Even dirtier, uglier, and more frightening words started breeding on social media, like mold, devouring and corroding the public¡¯s view, forming a dark force that lashed out at Li Wei.


    The situation was getting out of controla?€¡±@@@@


    Everything, as the New England Patriots had expected, saw them taking an early advantage in the PR battle, experienced as they were in withstanding many storms.


    When night fell and NFL officials, Kansas City Chiefs management were lost in dreams, the topic spread sleeplessly through the night on social media, growing more intense, with the immediacy of the digital age pushing the discourse to its limit, rapidly turning the public debate into ruins.


    Like scorched earth.


    By the time dawn broke through the night to welcome the morning light, the storm had already formed.


    Bustling and overwhelmingly, it reached out its claws towards Li Wei.


    The crisis was quietly approaching.


    So, what about the person in question?


    Step, stepa?€¡±


    Steady, even footsteps broke the serenity of the morning, crossing the streets of Kansas City, in the refreshing season of autumn, the horizon touched by a hint of purple-blue glow, burning brightly and captivatingly, making the whole world seem open and peaceful, the steps of the morning run lightening up.


    Li Wei was out for a morning run.


    Li Wei tried to awaken his memory:


    Aside from the Super Bowl victory parade day, when had he ever seen such a scale of media presence?


    It was a little bit frightening.


    In the midst of surging thoughts, Li Wei continued to move forward, his pace steady and unhurried, drawing closer to the training base.


    Nearer.


    Even nearer.


    Then, a small group at the very front of the crowd also noticed Li Wei.


    ¡°Rookie...¡±


    ¡°Rookie!¡±


    One, two, three, four, five, six.


    Scatteringly, progressively, more and more people turned their heads, noticed Li Wei appearing before their eyes, and began to cheer.


    The scene was like the finishing line of the Olympic marathon finalsa?€¡±


    The once-stagnant crowd came to life upon seeing the first runner appear, regardless of liking or recognition, unable to contain themselves, the crowd instantly boiled over with waving and cheering, the stadium near the finish line finally waking from its slumber.


    And then.


    The calling and shouting grandly merged together, twisting into a single force.


    ¡°Rookie!¡±


    ¡°Rookie!¡±


    ¡°Rookie!¡±


    This scene, clearly contrary to expectation, caught Li Wei completely off guard, and he stopped in his tracks, confusedly scanning the entire place, trying to assess the situation.


    Right in front, the thronging crowd gathered at the entrance of the training base scrambled, lifting the cardboard in their hands high.


    Each cardboard with a single letter, arranged in order.


    There was a slight mishap, the letters linked together still didn¡¯t seem quite right.


    Others, seeing the smile on Li Wei¡¯s lips, followed his gaze and spotted the discrepancy, quickly calling out to correct it, ¡°No, wrong.


    You¡¯re in the wrong places.¡±


    After hurried adjustment, those hasty white cardboards marked with markers finally found their place, forming a sentence.


    ¡°Rookie, you will never walk alone!¡±


    The sentence finally made sense, then everyone looked to Li Wei, and began to sing aloud, one line after another.


    ¡°He¡¯s here, he¡¯s there, he¡¯s everywhere, he is the Edgerunner, Li Wei Li Wei Li Wei!¡±


    Once, and again.


    The harmonious, enthusiastic singing echoed through the splendid warm sunlight of the early morning.

 Chapter 635

    ?Chapter 635: 634 Righteous indignation filled his chest Chapter 635: 634 Righteous indignation filled his chest Originally, it was not the media, but the fans.


    Originally, it was not just five hundred people, nearly a thousand people bustled and gathered.


    Those simple, kind-hearted city residents, those sincere and lovely Chieftain fans, gathered in small groups, just wishing to show Li Wei through their actual actions:


    ¡°You will never walk alone.¡±


    Maybe Li Wei didn¡¯t care, and didn¡¯t pay attention to the trends of rumors on social media, but the residents of Kansas City were constantly watching.


    Maybe the truth had not been revealed yet, and the overwhelming attacks on social media surrounded Li Wei, but the fans of the Chieftain chose to believe in Li Wei.


    Not because Li Wei had led the team to the summit of the Super Bowl last season, but because over the past short season, Li Wei had proven himself through actual actions, including his performance on the field, his off-field training, and his daily life, with no grandiose statements or flowery speeches, just actiona?€¡±


    Action, always more powerful than words.


    The city¡¯s residents witnessed, felt, and experienced in their ordinary daily lives, these heartfelt experiences, far more persuasive than the sworn rumors on social media.


    Thus, this scene occurred.


    ...


    The fans showed their support through actual actions, firmly standing behind Li Wei, even if the whole world stood against him, they were still Li Wei¡¯s unbreakable backbone.


    ¡°There he is, here and there, he is everywhere, he is Edgerunner Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei!¡±


    Everything, just like in the games.


    Although it was now outside the playing field, the neat, passionate cheering still tightly coiled into a rope, rippling long in the early morning as the night faded.


    In the crowd, Chris Provos wore a red Kansas City Chiefs number twenty-three home jersey, screaming his lungs out as if pouring all his strength and enthusiasm out.


    Once, when they had doubted the team, cursed loudly or even turned their backs on the team, Li Wei had never given up, advancing step by step.


    Now, it was their turn to respond to Li Wei¡¯s efforts with actual actions.


    Indeed, in a middle city like Kansas City, primarily blue-collar workers, not only backward but also conservative, to some extent harboring discrimination and prejudice, which might not be apparent when the team was doing well, but when facing setbacks and obstacles, the subconscious real thoughts would emergea?€¡±


    This time was just so.


    The overwhelming unanimous public opinion on social media also cast a stone in the hearts of the residents of Kansas City, stirring up layers of ripples.


    Whether cursing or attacking, hesitating or watching, the variety of voices were innumerable.


    Although not as extreme as in Texas, it was not much better, eventually revealing their ugly and dirty faces in times of crisis.


    This scene chilled Provos to the core.


    ¡°You should look at your own faces in the mirror, they are disgusting.¡±


    ¡°When the rookie put aside their differences, took on heavy responsibilities, and fought hard on the field, we were here making cold remarks.¡±


    ¡°When the rookie burned their energy, fought to the end, and won the victory, we lay here like kings enjoying the joy and happiness of the champions.¡±


    Then.


    Provos realized, he was not alonea?€¡±


    David Anderson came.


    Charles Vester came.


    Being needed at the Old Oak Tavern, Anderson had spent years behind the bar, rarely visiting the training grounds or Arrowhead Stadium; but today, he finally left the tavern, setting an example through his actions, knowing Provos was right.


    They needed to set aside their stubbornness and prejudice, embrace those differences and disagreements, especially in the world of competitive sportsa?€¡±


    They could not miss out on Li Wei.


    More importantly, in Foxborough, the Kansas City Chiefs faced a painful defeat, a struggle not only for them but even more for the players.


    It was precisely at such moments, facing difficulties, failures, setbacks, that the true spirit of a team is revealed.


    The Kansas City Chiefs are a team that can enjoy victories and embrace championships, as well as shoulder failures and overcome challenges together.


    It had been so for the past half-century.


    That Super Bowl Championship Trophy helped the city through countless difficulties, waiting for dawn to shine again; the same goes for now.


    The more they had just experienced a defeat, the more they needed to stand united.


    So.


    Anderson came.


    This was just the tip of the iceberg.


    Bringing friends, in groups of threes and fives.


    Although it was not an official event, although there hadn¡¯t been enough time to organize since last night to this morning, this small town still showed its unity, fans gathering quickly.


    Three hundred people.


    Five hundred people.


    Eight hundred people.


    Swarming in front of the training grounds, forming a sea of red.


    Joyously, unrestrainedly, happily singing aloud.


    Due to lack of preparation, the white cardboard was crudely and hastily painted on-site, appearing rough and simple, but the heart in the crisp autumn breeze was pulsing intenselya?€¡±


    Thump, thump.


    Beating to the same rhythm, the drums booming.

 Chapter 636

    ?Chapter 636: 635 is by no means an isolated case Chapter 636: 635 is by no means an isolated case High up, Provo strained on his tiptoes, lifting his sign high above, as he shouted with all his might.


    Although he hadn¡¯t had the chance to warm up his voice in the morning and it was already a bit hoarse after just a couple of shouts, Provo didn¡¯t care; he joyously shouted and jumped around, a happy smile blooming at the corners of his mouth.


    He believed in dreams, in hope, in the silver lining of dark clouds, in reaching dawn at the end of endless darknessa?€¡±all because of Li Wei, who had rekindled the energy of life in him.


    So, he held nothing back.


    More importantly, he wasn¡¯t alone.


    Looking at the figures appearing one after another at the entrance of the training facility, gathering together in a bustling crowd, no more words were neededa?€¡±their actions spoke louder than a thousand words, firmly uniting them.


    It was joya?€¡±and it was happiness.


    ...


    A year ago, if someone had told Provo that they had just lost a game and he could still feel happiness, Provo would have thought that person was crazy.


    But now, Provo truly felt a warm current in his chest, like a flame burning fiercely, involuntarily curling the corners of his mouth into a smilea?€¡±feeling even happier than when the season had begun with a five-game winning streak.


    Because he knew that whether at the peak or in the valley, he was not walking alone.


    They fought side by side.


    The rolling heat wave, fully enveloping.


    When Felix Gray arrived at the scene, he couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit anxious.@@@@


    ¡°Mom, quick, hurry!¡±


    Karen Gray was slightly stunned; she had not expected such a grand scene.


    Normally, today would be a rest day after a game day, with no team practice; and since it was Monday, fans would naturally need to go to work and wouldn¡¯t gathera?€¡±


    Generally speaking, after losing a game on Sunday, on Monday at work everyone would be spiritless, not just the employees, but also the leaders and bosses, all of them gloomy, irritable, the football game results acting as the barometer for the whole city¡¯s mood on Monday.


    So, when Felix insisted that he wanted to go to the training facility to support Li Wei before Karen went to work, she didn¡¯t think it was a good idea.


    However, they came anyway.


    And what they saw was quite astonishing.


    ¡°Mom!¡±


    Felix called out again.


    Karen finally snapped out of it, swiftly taking the wheelchair out from the back of the car, setting it up next to the passenger seat, Felix got down by himself, Karen closed the car door, and chased after Felix¡¯s wheelchair;


    No words were needed, a single glance communicated everything.


    Karen and Felix also joined the ranks of the fans, singing their hearts out.


    The scene before him left Li Wei completely stunned, completely unprepared for the emotional impacta?€¡±


    He hadn¡¯t anticipated the fans waiting here, nor had he expected the overwhelming, impassioned red wave before him.


    Subsequently, Kansas City Chieftains fans finally found their voice on social networks, launching a massive counterattack against the trolls.


    They stood unwaveringly behind Li Wei.


    This was just the beginning.


    JJ Watt was the first to speak out in support of Li Wei, ¡°a?€|I believe in Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°Let me tell you, it¡¯s true that football players can have anger management issues and might show violent tendencies, but definitely not Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°The Li Wei I know would choose to retaliate on the field.


    He isn¡¯t stupid enough to provoke tens of thousands of fans at Gillette Stadium.¡±


    With absolute certainty, Watt didn¡¯t hesitate at all.


    At the same time, Alex Smith, who transferred to the Washington Redskins this season, also stepped forward.


    ¡°No way.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely.¡±


    ¡°That video, I saw it, but it only shows a part of the story, clearly, someone doesn¡¯t want us to see the whole picture.¡±


    ¡°And even just based on the video itself, Li Wei didn¡¯t make any excessive moves.


    The so-called ¡®death threats¡¯ sound more like a witch hunt fabrication by some players.¡±


    ¡°Even in a state of emotional loss of control, Li Wei is still someone who knows his limits.


    I¡¯m one hundred percent certain that Li Wei couldn¡¯t have engaged in those actions.¡±


    ¡°We should dig for the truth.¡±


    And here, this is just a small part.


    Players like Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ TJ Watt, Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ Ramsey, Carolina Panthers¡¯ McCaffrey, Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ Wentz and Foles, Los Angeles Rams¡¯ Donald, and many others all came forward to speak, defending Li Wei and questioning the ¡°truth¡± presented in the video.


    In just one morning, before the League had a chance to act, the hot topics and controversies had already spread far and wide, demonstrating the rapidity and intensity of the internet era in full force.


    Even Bell, who was still holding out, got drawn in, reluctantly giving a phone interview and scoffing.


    ¡°Haha, is it really Li Wei threatening the lives of New England fans, or should it be the other way around?¡±


    And there¡¯s more!


    Not just the NFL, the other three major sports leagues couldn¡¯t escape being drawn ina?€¡±


    The predicament faced by Asian players was clearly not only an NFL issue.


    The NBA, NHL, and MLB all share it, indicating a widespread phenomenon.


    Far from an isolated case!

 Chapter 637

    ?Chapter 637: 636: A clear-cut stand Chapter 637: 636: A clear-cut stand ¡°Look, it¡¯s like this, when players are on the field, we endure endless insults and curses, especially in basketball,¡± said Stephen Curry.


    ¡°It¡¯s part of the game.¡±


    Stephen Curry, the baby-faced darling, seemed to have been prepared, more accurately, waiting for the media¡¯s appearance.


    On the surface he looked as usual, but his eyes told a different story.


    ¡°I understand, or at least, I¡¯m trying to.¡±


    ¡°But,¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re human too.


    It¡¯s already tough enough when people point their fingers at us and curse; it¡¯s a nightmare if they start cursing our families.@@@@


    We can get angry, frustrated, and feel defeated.¡±


    ¡°I totally understand Li Wei¡¯s reaction.


    In fact, Li Wei¡¯s response was still rational and restrained.


    ...


    He didn¡¯t cross that line; he just did something any professional athlete might.¡±


    ¡°Believe me, what¡¯s seen in the video isn¡¯t the whole truth.¡±


    ¡°I urge everyone to calm down and give the NFL time to investigate.


    Li Wei has proved his character and personality over two years.


    Those rumors will soon be proved to be nothing but slander.¡±


    ¡°I believe in Li Wei, wholeheartedly.¡±


    As one of the NBA¡¯s most positive image representatives in recent years, Curry¡¯s influence is significant.


    Regardless of how NFL fans view him, at least to the general public, his image has always been reliable.


    Clearly, Curry stood unswervingly by Li Wei¡¯s side, with a resonant voice.


    And furthermore,


    This still wasn¡¯t all.


    When LeBron James also chose to support Li Wei during an interviewa?€¡±


    ¡°...I don¡¯t think it¡¯s that simple.¡±


    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s New England, we all know what¡¯s going on there.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been through it and I¡¯m going through it.


    Now it seems Li Wei has had a taste of it too.


    This was not common.


    Because an owner¡¯s opinion often represents the highest level of stance and attitude, they need to be more careful and cautious, waiting for the team¡¯s internal investigation to be complete before speaking to avoid irreversible consequences and entrenching themselves and the team in difficulty.


    Regardless, Hunt had spoken, with a speed that surpassed expectations.


    Moreover, this morning, after the phone interview, he made his stance known for the second time with an official statement to the media.


    ¡°In this matter, Li Wei is the victim.¡±


    ¡°I have had enough of those who, ignoring players¡¯ performance on the field, become blinded by discrimination and prejudice, slandering and attacking.


    If some team managements intend to feign ignorance and allow the situation to worsen, I wouldn¡¯t mind my players taking matters into their own hands to protect their lives.¡±


    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s 2018 now, an Asian player can shine on the football field, and that¡¯s as simple a fact as it gets.


    If you can¡¯t accept that, you should stay home and digest it by yourself.¡±


    Forceful, incisive, and impassioneda?€¡±


    Rarely seen, Hunt displayed an incredible resolve and decisiveness.


    He repeatedly made clear his position in supporting Li Wei.


    This crisis management move earned the Kansas City Chiefs an innumerable amount of support from the Asian community on social media, pushing their status to new heights.


    However, was such a definitive stance from Hunt not a gamble?


    After all, Asian viewers were ultimately a minority in the football market.


    Amidst the sideline commentary and debates of various onlookers, the development of the incident took a sharp turn as the NFL¡¯s official stance finally arrived, albeit belateda?€¡±


    Goodell, taking matters into his own hands, hosted an official League press conference.


    At the conference, in front of more than three hundred reporters and on live streaming platforms, Goodell unveiled the complete scope of the video footage recorded by the League.


    The truth gradually took the stage.


    In the video, Li Wei was seen consoling Mahomes, while fans in the stands were relentless, hurling nonstop insults and curses that escalated into harassment targeting family members over the course of the prolonged attack.


    The protagonist was not Li Wei, but Mahomesa?€¡±


    Typical New England, typical discrimination.


    Clearly, this was not the first time and would not be the last, the esteemed arrow of New England has always been pointed at the African immigrants rather than the Asians.


    The African brothers, who were happily watching the spectacle unfold, finally realized:


    Were they the main characters all along?


    And that Li Wei standing up, was actually speaking out against injustice for their brethren!


    Suddenly, everything was cast in a different light.

 Chapter 638

    ?Chapter 638: Act with lightning speed Chapter 638: Act with lightning speed The truth lies plain in the light of day.


    First, the true culprits should be those haughty and arrogant fans of the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.


    Second, the true protagonist is Mahomes, while Li Wei is simply defending his brother.


    Third, the so-called ¡°life-threatening¡± situation was non-existent, as Li Wei didn¡¯t make any out-of-line moves, and not even a swear word could be found in the conversation.


    The NFL didn¡¯t respond immediately, which now seems to be due to their diligent investigation into the truth, dealing with the matter in a decisive and powerful manner.


    Even though no official stance had been taken for the time being, one could still perceive the League¡¯s caution and emphasis, treating the incident with the utmost seriousnessa?€¡±


    From the event¡¯s occurrence to Goodell¡¯s appearance, it hadn¡¯t even been twelve hours.


    Normally, such complicated situations would require time for investigation and evidence collection, not to mention ten to fifteen days, even three to five days were common.


    ...


    But the League realized that the longer it took, the more irreparable the damage might become, so they needed swift action to control the situation and minimize harm.


    Therefore.


    Goodell stepped in, and without even making an official League statement, merely presented the evidence and revealed the truth with cool objectivity.


    This single action was enough to demonstrate the League¡¯s attitudea?€¡±


    There was to be no coddling of villains, nor any whitewashing.


    As expected!


    Goodell¡¯s subsequent statement confirmed this speculation.


    ¡°...We hope that all the rumors and slanders can stop immediately.


    The League welcomes players from all around the world with open arms and has zero tolerance for discrimination...¡±


    ¡°Moving forward, we will continue our thorough investigation to identify fans who initiated the provocation, and we will discuss further disciplinary actions.


    At the same time, we hope that teams will cooperate actively with the investigation, assisting the League in eradicating such behavior and creating a clean and peaceful ideal competitive environment for the players...¡±@@@@


    Bla bla bla.


    What followed was a series of official platitudes, boring and better left unheard.


    But one by one, reporters were rubbing their hands in eagernessa?€¡±


    Not exactly, after all, it¡¯s New England we¡¯re talking about, this kind of truth is not surprising at all.¡±


    ¡°Upon closer thought, it¡¯s terrifying, so who exactly posted that initial cut and edited video?¡±


    ¡°Heh, don¡¯t be naive, that out-of-context video, who else could have put it out there if not the New England Patriots?¡±


    ¡°This whole debacle was orchestrated by the New England Patriots themselves, they just didn¡¯t expect the League to actually side with Li Wei.¡±


    The uproar keeps boiling over, utterly unstoppable.


    The above is just the tip of the iceberg; speculations about various conspiracy theories are getting more and more exaggerated and outrageous, half of the social network is talking about this.


    And it¡¯s only getting more intense; the New England Patriots¡¯ past scandals have been dug out once again for a public flogging, with criticism and attacks coming from everywhere.


    All of this is making the vast fan base of the New England Patriots uncomfortable.


    It was supposed to be party time for the New England Patriots after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in a formidable showdown, claiming a precious victory, even a Monday workday couldn¡¯t dampen the spirits; instead, no one¡¯s concerned with the outcome of the game, the spotlight¡¯s been stolen by off-field gossip.


    Monday turns into hell once again.


    Now, Patriots fans won¡¯t have any of it, ignoring the truth, they defend themselves adamantly, claiming they are the victims and that the Chiefs and the League are ganging up on them, fearing that they¡¯ll continue to dominate the Super Bowl.


    Some fans are resolute in waiting for the investigation results from the League and the New England Patriots, call them stubborn, naive, or rational, they are single-mindedly waiting for the ¡°official stance¡±, refusing to acknowledge anything until Belichick or the Patriots have spoken.


    The argument is at a stalemate.


    But these comments also bring the attention of netizens to a?€¡±


    Yes, Belichick, that devil.


    In every Patriots¡¯ scandal, the shadow of that cunning old figure always lingers in the background, and this time seems to be no exception.


    Perhaps it was Belichick who let that video leak out.


    However, after the backlash hit, Belichick disappeared completely, not making any comments from start to finish, rejecting all phone interviews.


    So, if this isn¡¯t suspicious, what is?


    And Brady, the face of the League, the NFL¡¯s banner, the Football GOAT, always craving the limelight, always keen to weigh in on everything, suddenly zips his lips, taking on the aloof posture of an unworldly sage?


    Belichick and Brady, the two standards of the New England Patriots, have both fallen silent, but this hasn¡¯t quieted the noise.


    Instead, the waves of social media keep rising relentlessly due to the suspicion of a guilty conscience.


    The situation is subtly slipping out of control.

 Chapter 639

    ?Chapter 639: Concluding remarks when the coffin is closed Chapter 639: Concluding remarks when the coffin is closed A conspiracy, an accusation, using the power of public opinion and capital to ruthlessly suppress and even destroy the competition, and then easily escaping justicea?€¡±


    This kind of incident, happening to the New England Patriots, was neither the first nor the second time.


    Over the past twenty years, this drama had unfolded time and again, and as the New England Patriots escaped punishment with ease, the anger and dissatisfaction of other fans and onlookers accumulated day by day.


    Until now.


    Finally, someone, finally a team, stood up rightfully and said ¡°no¡± to those despicable conspiracies and launched a counterattack.


    In an instant, the suppressed and endured emotions could no longer be controlled and exploded completely.


    However.


    New England Patriots fans proved a point once again:


    To some extent, fans are a mirror of the team.@@@@


    ...


    Because fans are an essential part of the team¡¯s culture, one could often see the values most cherished, emphasized, and revered by a team reflected in them, continuously attracting more fans to join, eventually forming a powerful force.


    Right now, that was exactly the case.


    ¡°We are the victims, okay?¡±


    ¡°You just envy and resent us because you can¡¯t stand us winning so many championships, so you falsely accuse us.¡±


    ¡°This whole thing is a conspiracy orchestrated by that rookie specifically to attack us.¡±


    New England Patriots fans not only did not admit defeat, but they also began one by one to loudly claim their innocence, refusing to acknowledge anything before the team¡¯s official statement.


    The silence of Brady and Belichick further fueled their frenzy and ostentation, with various remarks revealing their discriminatory nature continually being made.


    The entire social network was in chaos, the sensationalism of off-field antics completely overshadowing the game itself, as initially, the New England Patriots defeating the Kansas City Chiefs was the news, but now the focus of the news had completely shifted.


    The fans of the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs launched vicious attacks on each other, with the tension between the two teams escalating to new heights, even showcasing a do-or-die stance, and the debates and attacks had gone off track, eventually devolving into mindless personal attacks.


    At this point, the League didn¡¯t need to push or hype it up anymore, as the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs had already become emerging archenemies, any little thing easily igniting energy.


    But.


    The storm stirred by New England Patriots fans on social media did not impact Goodell¡¯s decision-making, as insiders had smelled the truth early on.


    Goodell had always wanted to expand into the global market, especially the Asian Market, a direction that met with both support and opposition, as there had always been different voices within the League, which is why last year, when Goodell was pushing Li Wei¡¯s prominence behind the scenes, he faced various degrees of backlash and protest.


    And it wasn¡¯t just the New England Patriots.


    When the entire League was in an uproar, focusing entirely on the ¡°Gillette Stadium Fan Incident,¡± the other thirty teams, while watching the excitement, also understood this was not unrelated to them, whether it was Goodell¡¯s determination to tap into the global market, or Li Wei suddenly becoming the League¡¯s new standard-bearer, this was all closely related to them.


    Indeed, everyone disliked the New England Patriots, but that didn¡¯t mean they supported the Kansas City Chiefs.


    They could dislike Belichick and Li Wei at the same timea?€¡±


    Only children make choices.


    Adults want everything.


    For example, Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin-Lewis.


    This sixty-year-old coach was starting his sixteenth season as head coach in Cincinnati, and he did not like Li Wei.


    More accurately, he was filled with contempt.


    ¡°Did Li Wei complete an amazing rookie season?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that is a fact.¡±


    ¡°But this is the NFL, where many meteors shine brightly only to disappear as quickly; there are countless others, not just one thousand but eight hundred, who only shone for a single season, making the whole League chase after them as if he was already the greatest running back in waiting, which is not his success but the shame of the League, kneeling before profits without a spine.¡±


    ¡°However, that is your choice.


    I don¡¯t care.


    If you want my approval, first deliver top performances for five seasons or win two Super Bowl rings, then come talk to me.¡±


    ¡°Oh, sorry, I forgot, he is a running back; he might not last five seasons, then make it three seasons.


    Three.¡±


    ¡°Before that, any talk of top players and elite running backs is all nonsense.¡±


    ¡°Look, by mid-season, his performance starts to falter and even declines significantly, last year was the same, and this year he is likely to repeat the same mistakes.¡±


    ¡°Be careful, rookie, losing continuously might become a habit.¡±


    In the seventh week of the regular season, the Cincinnati Bengals travel to challenge the Kansas City Chiefs.

 Chapter 640

    ?Chapter 640: Kick someone while they¡¯re down Chapter 640: Kick someone while they¡¯re down ¡°`


    Controversy.


    Uproar.


    Gossip.


    The entire league was abuzz, with the aftermath of the Gillette Stadium incident just beginning, and Li Wei found himself once again at the center of the storm.


    Clearly, not everyone was used to Li Wei¡¯sa?€¡±


    In the end, as a professional athlete, you should speak through your performance on the field; the hustle and bustle off the field might bring attention, but it could also lead to ostracism.


    Back in the day, Beckham experienced just that, to the extent that people never truly recognized his performance on the field.


    Now, Li Wei was facing a similar situation, whether the off-field news was positive or negative, constructive or destructive, it was all just tabloid fodder, creating an image of someone who was troublesome and not focused on his profession, an image that was beginning to take root in people¡¯s minds and gradually drawing sideways glances from his peers in the league.


    ...


    There were those who were envious, those who were jealous, those who were nitpicking, and those who wanted to push him out, or those who simply couldn¡¯t stand the sight of him.


    The gaze surrounding Li Wei was becoming sharper bit by bit.


    Provocation was inevitable.


    In the end, it all came back to the same saying: in the world of competitive sports, everything is cruel and bloody, but also straightforward.


    Victory can cover up all contradictions, while defeat breeds endless conflict.


    Nothing can¡¯t be solved by a victory, and if one isn¡¯t enough, then two or three, until everyone is silenced.


    So, after going around in circles, the focus came back to the main tracka?€¡±


    The Kansas City Chiefs lost to the New England Patriots.


    A loss!


    In the eyes of a few, the truth behind the Gillette Stadium incident was a different matter entirely.


    All that talk about Li Wei trying to defend Mahomes was nonsense, they reasoned.


    From the 2011 to the 2015 seasons, the Cincinnati Bengals made the playoffs five years in a row, evidently becoming a new generation representative of the league.


    However, for five consecutive years, the Cincinnati Bengals were knocked out in their first playoff game.


    After 1990, a full twenty-eight years without a playoff victory, they led the historical record for this unfortunate tracka?€¡±


    Does this sound at all familiar?


    The Kansas City Chiefs, Reed, Smith.


    The two teams were like brothers in adversity, each having returned to the playoffs only to find themselves unable to break through the first round; for a time, it was unclear which was more frustrating: the perpetual absence from the playoffs or the consistent one-and-done exits.


    It wasn¡¯t until the 2015 season that the Kansas City Chiefs broke the curse, finally winning a playoff game and leaving the Cincinnati Bengals alone at the top of the rankings for teams without a postseason win.


    At this point, one could only imagine Lewis¡¯s frustration.


    Yet, that wasn¡¯t all.


    In the 2016 and 2017 seasons, the Cincinnati Bengals were ravaged by injuries and missed the playoffs two years in a row, silencing fans who had complained that ¡°a first-round playoff exit was worse than not making it at all.¡± Only after truly missing out did they realize that making the playoffs and then losing was still a happier prospect, as at least they could hold on to hope for another week.


    Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals had to watch as their little followers, the Kansas City Chiefs who used to trail behind them, surpassed them after ending their postseason curse, and then soared to Super Bowl glory, while the earlier rebuilders remained stuck in place.


    Now, Lewis and his Cincinnati Bengals were collectively plunged into depression.


    Understandably, when the Cincinnati Bengals finally got the chance to face the Kansas City Chiefs and prove themselves, their ambition was fully ignited.


    In Lewis¡¯s view, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ season of highlights was just fluke; their foundation was unstable, fluctuating wildly, and with a little pressure, they would collapsea?€¡±not just Li Wei, but from Reed to the offensive group and then to the defensive group, all of them.


    Now, the opportunity couldn¡¯t be more perfect.


    From a five-game winning streak at the start of the season to a close defeat by the New England Patriots, from being united and confident to facing tough battles that sparked self-doubt, the rookie¡¯s off-field scandals only served to distract the team.


    All signs pointed to the Kansas City Chiefs being at their weakest and most vulnerable, fully exposing their shortcomings.


    Lewis would use a victory to prove to the leaguea?€¡±


    A single season of success meant nothing; they should take a long, hard look at the bigger picture, as it was the Cincinnati Bengals that truly deserved to reach the pinnacle of the Super Bowl.


    Not just a victory, but a resoundingly joyful one.

 Chapter 641

    ?Chapter 641: 640 Determined to win Chapter 641: 640 Determined to win Marvin Lewis and his Cincinnati Bengals, unified from top to bottom, inside and out, confidently united and aiming for victory.


    Perhaps, some might say, where does the courage of the Cincinnati Bengals come from, Taylor Swift?


    One team had missed the playoffs for two consecutive seasons and was slowly declining, while the other had just won the Super Bowl and was on the rise.


    Even though the Kansas City Chiefs had narrowly lost to the New England Patriots in their last game, they should have been the favored side.


    However, that was not the case.


    This season, the Cincinnati Bengals fully recovered.


    They kicked off the season by defeating the Indianapolis Colts and then the Baltimore Ravens, beating playoff contenders in two consecutive cold-game surprise victories, with a young team finally maturing and regaining strength after overcoming injury troubles.


    ...


    Despite a slight setback with a hard-fought loss to the Carolina Panthers in the third week, they quickly rallied to narrowly win away against the Atlanta Falcons, and then decisively beat the Miami Dolphins at home to continue their winning streak and quickly get back on track.


    In the 2018 season, a start of four wins and one loss ranked them just behind the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams at the top of the league¡¯s pyramid.


    Undoubtedly, the Cincinnati Bengals became the biggest surprise of the new season, especially their offensive group, which averaged 30.6 points per game, winning rounds of applause.


    Quarterback Dalton returned to the public eye and entered the substitute lineup for the MVP discussion in the regular season.


    It was slightly regrettable that in week six of the regular season, the Cincinnati Bengals faced the Pittsburgh Steelers and the offensive group hit a wall for the first time, scoring ¡°only¡± 21 points, ultimately losing by a touchdown¡¯s deficit.


    Currently, their season record stands at four wins and two losses.


    Simply put, facing the Kansas City Chiefs, the Cincinnati Bengals are not afraid at all.


    Looking at the record, the state of the team, the history, and so on, Lewis¡¯s confidence is not unfounded arrogance; the Cincinnati Bengals indeed have the capability to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Most importantly, both the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs had just suffered a loss, and for a young team, how to quickly shake off the shadow of defeat, adjust, and find the rhythm and state of the game again is key, and in this regard, Lewis is utterly confident.


    Not to mention, earlier this season, the Cincinnati Bengals had already made a ¡°recovery,¡± quickly adjusting after a tough battle lost to the Carolina Panthers and then triumphing over the Atlanta Falcons in a clash of titans.


    A loss won¡¯t dampen the Bengals¡¯ spirits; in fact, it does quite the opposite, igniting their desire for victory and unleashing more energy.


    However, look at the Kansas City Chiefsa?€¡±


    The controversies surrounding Li Wei off the field kept the team constantly in the eye of the storm, with hordes of media surrounding the training facility, making it impossible to find peace.


    The young quarterback, Mahomes, also got a taste of being relentlessly chased by paparazzi.


    He wouldn¡¯t let the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ ground offense have their way on his turf.


    Push off, step up.


    Misdirection, break free.


    Atkins¡¯ footwork in preparing to capture the quarterback was remarkably light and agile, easily shaking off the opposing offensive line with changes in center of gravity and footing, cutting into the pocket in the blink of an eye, blocking the path of Li Wei¡¯s straight-line breakthrough, just like a crab.


    And there¡¯s more!


    Atkins wasn¡¯t rash.


    On one hand, he knew he needed to act quickly, giving no time for Li Wei to gather speed.


    On the other, he also knew he needed to keep his cool, not to fumble the tackle with a hasty response.


    Despite the tense situation, with the offensive line still entangled in collision, Atkins briefly braked to stabilize himself at the critical moment, maintaining flexibility in his center of gravity, and sealing off the route.


    But that wasn¡¯t all.


    Simultaneously, leaning forward with his upper body and spreading his arms wide, he locked his gaze intensely on Li Wei, creating a powerful, invisible pressure that forced Li Wei to lose patience and composure in the chaos, leading to a mistake and poor choices.


    All of this happened in the fraction of a second.


    Li Wei, having just received the ball and preparing to take off, could already feel the immense pressure bearing down on him, clearly facing an opponent well-prepared for this moment.


    The air seemed to thicken, as you could distinctly feel the collision of their auras briefly pause, reminiscent of the moments before martial arts masters exchanged blows, instantly escalating the tension.


    However, Li Wei didn¡¯t pause.


    With a single step, he plunged straight at Atkins head-on.


    Atkins: Bring it on.


    Atkins didn¡¯t fall for Li Wei¡¯s bluff; he bent his knees to lower his center of gravity, taking control of the situation.


    Just as Li Wei was about to change direction, Atkins took the initiative, spreading his arms wide in preparation to make the tackle.


    But to his surprise, Li Wei didn¡¯t swerve left or right; instead, he abruptly stopped, pivoting a full three hundred and sixty degrees counter-clockwise on the spot, evading Atkins¡¯ firm grasp.


    The two of them, one to the left and the other to the right, effortlessly glided past one another.


    It was done with such casual ease, as if taking a leisurely stroll in the garden.

 Chapter 642

    ?Chapter 642: 641 Unstoppable Chapter 642: 641 Unstoppable On one side, Atkins believed that Li Wei was bluffing, so he opted for a retaliatory strike.


    On the other side, Li Wei also thought that Atkins was bluffing, so he decided to lure him into a trap.


    Li Wei, going with the flow, obliged Atkins¡¯ wish by initiating first, yet he closely watched Atkins¡¯ movement details, especially his knees and shoulders, after accurately judging Atkins¡¯ grappling tendencya?€¡±


    Brake.


    Halt.


    In just a short moment, waiting for Atkins to make a grappling move, Li Wei pushed off with his left leg, maintaining a light and agile body as he spun counterclockwise, circling three hundred and sixty degrees around Atkins¡¯ left arm.


    Atkins was startled: He had actually missed!


    Really!


    ...


    With no time for annoyance or anger, he instinctively tried to react again to catch up, but then he found that Li Wei¡¯s body relied completely on his own, simply using Atkins as a pivot to complete the turn, with his strength and body solidly pinned against Atkins, trapping him in place.


    Atkins couldn¡¯t move.


    His clumsy and heavy body was always one beat slower than Li Wei.


    Atkins awkwardly and disgracefully turned his head, noticing that even though Li Wei was close on him, he was helpless and couldn¡¯t even use his body as a weapon to throw himself at Li Wei to disrupt his center of gravity.


    Then, Atkins saw those eyes in Li Wei¡¯s helmet.


    Clear, bright, with a hint of a smile.


    Atkins: ???


    The next second, that smile skillfully slipped out of sight, vanishing like a wisp of smoke.


    That posture, that motion, done so effortlessly, seemed to convey:


    Wait, was someone just trying to guard me?


    Atkins was about to spew out a mouthful of old blood stuck in his chest, but before he could, the body that had been pressing down and relying on itself simply couldn¡¯t hold up anymore and charged out fiercely, hitting the turf.


    On the side of the field, Lewis got so choked up he nearly couldn¡¯t catch his breath: Damn!


    Stop him!


    Hurry up and stop that damn guy!


    ¡°Breakthrough!¡±


    ¡°Starting up!¡±


    ¡°Wow, Li Wei¡¯s lightness and agility make Atkins look like a lifeless wooden stake, effortlessly completing the escape and continued advance.¡±


    ¡°Outside Linebacker Nick Vigil is trying to grapple.¡±


    ¡°Straight Arm Block!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei resists Vigil¡¯s attempt to grapple, and the two get entwined together, with Cornerback Williams Jackson rushing over quickly to assist.¡±


    ¡°Beautiful!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei brakes, breaking free from the tangle, and with a Straight Arm Block, he shoves Vigil away.¡±


    ¡°Vigil loses balance, tumbling forward out of Li Wei¡¯s path.¡±


    ¡°Terrible!¡±


    ¡°Jackson brakes too late, and Vigil collides head-on with his teammate.


    When Bates came crashing in again, their positions shifted, shoulders colliding, converting the intersecting forces into a whirlpool.


    Bates: Damn it!


    Still immersed in his own joy, Bates realized something was wrong.


    Indeed, Li Wei spun around, using his left shoulder to deflect the momentum of Bates¡¯s charge and stepping out of his trajectory, his feet already darting toward the sideline.


    Then came the acceleration, the sprint.


    Bates¡¯s heart clutched tightly, no time for panic or fear, following instantly, pushing his speed to the limit without any reservation.


    In the Rookie Training Camp, Bates had impressed scouts with his short burst of acceleration within ten yards, and now he was showcasing his specialty.


    He was getting closer.


    Even closer!


    Jersey number twenty-three, within arm¡¯s reach.


    ¡°Edgerunner!¡±


    ¡°God, Li Wei!


    Li Wei!


    Li Wei!


    The Edgerunner shines again at Arrowhead Stadium!¡±


    ¡°Bates, just a bit more, just a tiny bit, a half a palm¡¯s distance, he almost touched Li Wei¡¯s shoulder, but he was still one step behind.¡±


    ¡°In just three to five steps, Li Wei had already made the adjustments, not only regaining his balance but also accelerating without any reservations.¡±


    ¡°Bates had given it his all, but the speed of Li Wei was truly astonishing.¡±


    Bates: Argh, agh, aghhh!


    Speed, power, all burst forth, yet he could still see the once reachable distance pulling away again before his eyes, visibly expanding.


    Li Wei¡¯s footsteps dazzled along the sideline, the tips of his shoes continuously pounding the ground, picking up speed with each stride, a tumultuous surge lifting off the right sideline, swiftly engulfing Bates, Vigil, and Jacksona?€¡±


    Leaving them in the dust.


    ¡°Twenty yards!¡±


    ¡°Twenty-five yards!¡±


    ¡°Thirty yards!¡±


    ¡°End zone, touchdown!¡±


    ¡°No one can stop Li Wei, no one!


    Once he¡¯s at full speed, it¡¯s a nightmare for the opposition, a nightmare of despair!¡±


    ¡°The Edgerunner completes a thirty-three-yard breakaway run for a touchdown, claiming the first score for the Kansas City Chiefs in the game¡¯s opening offensive drive!¡±


    ¡°It seems the Kansas City Chiefs are completely unaffected by the previous game¡¯s outcome.¡±


    Boom!


    The entire Arrowhead Stadium instantly turned into a red ocean, a volcanic eruption, with familiar chants soaring through the skies, stirring up a rolling heatwave.


    ¡°He¡¯s here, he¡¯s there, he¡¯s everywhere, he is the Edgerunner, Li Wei Li Wei Li Wei!¡±

 Chapter 643

    ?Chapter 643: Pulling a tooth from a dog¡¯s mouth Chapter 643: Pulling a tooth from a dog¡¯s mouth ¡°Damn it!¡±


    ¡°Stop him, are you all taking a stroll in the Palace of Versailles¡¯ back garden?


    If you¡¯re worried about dirtying your skirts, then get the hell back to the locker room.


    Players eager to get on the field are lined up all the way to Cincinnati.


    Are you just going to stand there and let him trample all over your tender asses?¡±


    ¡°A bunch of damn idiots.¡±


    Lewis finally couldn¡¯t hold it in and roared in fury, with curses and swear words buzzing like a hairdryer, the sixty-year-old coach showing no signs of his age with flushed cheeks and spittle flying, his bulging veins looking ready to burst at any moment.


    After cussing a storm, Lewis still seemed unsatisfied and turned to kick a water bottle lying beside him flying with a swing of his right leg.


    Now, he finally seemed to cool down a bit, but his chest continued to heave violently.


    ...


    Gazing across the field with a grim expression, Lewis eyed the figure wearing number twenty-three.


    So, was this rookie trying to show him up in such a manner?


    The answer was, correct, but also incorrecta?€¡±


    What was incorrect was that Li Wei really didn¡¯t take Lewis to heart.


    All those provocations, those attacks, that disdain carried no weight whatsoever.


    What was correct was that the Kansas City Chiefs, from top to bottom, were sharpening their knives, elevating their state and rhythm, ready for a head-on battle with the Cincinnati Bengals.


    One question:


    How do you quickly bounce back from the painful defeat of a fierce battle?


    The right answer is to concentrate and give it your all for the next challenge, regaining confidence through the clash of another fierce encounter.


    The Cincinnati Bengals, exactly what they needed.


    ¡°...Blitz!¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs actually chose to blitz with four men, completely unexpected!¡±


    ¡°But!¡±


    ¡°The result is surprisingly good, Chris Jones tore right through the pocket!¡±


    ¡°Dalton is in danger!¡±


    ¡°Dalton is trying to find a passing target, but he¡¯s caught in a bind.¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs didn¡¯t choose to apply full pressure, they now have a numerical advantage in the short pass area, their zone defense combined with man coverage has completely locked down Dalton¡¯s passing options, Dalton cannot get off a pass.¡±


    ¡°Jones!


    Dalton!¡±


    ¡°Sack!¡±


    ¡°Chris Jones completes an unbelievable solo sack!¡±


    ¡°The Cincinnati Bengals¡¯ offensive line has made a fatal mistake!¡±


    First the offense, then the defensea?€¡±


    Right from the start, the Kansas City Chiefs showed an incredible mental state, both offense and defense activated, breaking the balance with an absolutely tough stance, a series of brutal impacts completely overpowering the Cincinnati Bengals.


    Dalton was bewildered.


    A four-man rush?


    The Kansas City Chiefs had used just four men to bust their pocket and get a sack?


    Getting sacked was bad enough, but to be taken down so effortlessly felt like a nightmare.


    How on earth did this happen?


    However, this was just the beginning.


    ¡°Li Wei plucks the football right above Bates in a daring move, using his body to squeeze into the end zone against Bates.


    Bates hasn¡¯t lost his position, but he also has failed to prevent Li Wei from making the catch and touchdowna?€¡±Li Wei steps on Bates¡¯s cheek as he crashes into the end zone!¡±


    ¡°Ah, ahhhh!¡±


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a touchdown, touch...


    down...¡±


    ¡°Touchdown touchdown touchdown!¡±


    Boom!


    In an instant, the entire Arrowhead Stadium erupts into a frenzy, unleashing an incredible energy, the whole crowd screaming at the top of their lungs.


    In the end zone, Bates is panting heavily, his face flushed and frustrated as he gazes at Li Weia?€¡±


    Easygoing, with a smile curling up, no cheering, no celebration, just confidently looking back at Bates, as if he hardly broke a sweat in easily scoring the touchdown.


    This makes Bates feel like a dog that ran around futilely in the hot sun.


    Damn.


    He¡¯s a freshman, and Li Wei is only a sophomore.


    They¡¯re both young; how can the gap between them be so wide?


    Bates can hardly believe he had no advantage in the one-on-one confrontation, allowing Li Wei to score the touchdown with such ease.


    Noticing Bates¡¯s dejection, Li Wei casually tosses the football to him.


    Bates: ?


    Bates doesn¡¯t understand what just happened, reflexively catching the football and, filled with questions, awaits an explanation when Li Wei steps up and pats his shouldera?€¡±


    As if consoling a little dog.


    Freshman, don¡¯t lose heart.


    The future belongs to the young!


    Bates is bewildered, looking at the football and then at the back of Li Wei¡¯s number 23 jersey, slightly stunned.


    Wait, was Li Wei just comforting and encouraging him?


    Hey, who needs your pity!


    What¡¯s with that ¡°Go, Meng Meng¡± look?


    You¡¯re the one who needs comforting, your whole family needs comforting!


    Hey.


    Hey!


    Bates is unable to voice out, watching Li Wei being embraced by the Kansas City Chiefs players, feeling like he¡¯s choking, barely able to breathe.


    Zhu Zhu, wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers: Heh, someone finally understands how I feel.


    Bates looks down at the football in his hands, no longer able to control himself, and violently slams it into the ground.


    But it¡¯s too latea?€¡±


    The surrounding Kansas City Chiefs fans in the stands have already witnessed the scene.


    Unlike those malicious hypocrites at Gillette Stadium, they wear smiles as warm as a spring breeze, clapping to encourage Bates, with handshakes and cheers, expressing their sympathy.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be discouraged, after all, you were up against a rookie.


    Keep it up, and soon you¡¯ll be able to catch up with him.¡±


    For the moment, Bates can¡¯t decide whether this scene before him is better or whether he would have preferred overt hostility and curses from away-game fans.


    Bates: Life is unbearable.

 Chapter 644

    ?Chapter 644: 643 A group of Madmen Chapter 644: 643 A group of Madmen ¡°Wow!¡±


    ¡°Spectacular!


    Bold!


    Composed!¡±


    ¡°An excellent display of offensive strategy, the Kansas City Chiefs have completed yet another astounding offensive drive.


    It¡¯s not once, not twice, but three times they¡¯ve pulled off feints, paired with a screen pass tactic.


    Mahomes has once again displayed the fearlessness of a newcomer, drawing all the defensive power towards him and then, in the nick of time, completing a long pass for a strike.¡±


    ¡°Mahomes, truly impressive!


    ¡°Without a doubt, after the painful mistake at the end of the last game that cost the victory, Mahomes has shown his rapid recovery and re-engagement capability in the game, so far everything has been perfect.¡±


    ¡°If Wentz deserved a regular season MVP nomination last season, then Mahomes is advancing into the elite ranks with an astonishing performance this seasona?€¡± a fifty-three-yard long pass as easily as one would drink water or eat.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe that this is only his first season starting, and he¡¯s actively proving that Smith handed the team over to a suitable successor.¡±


    ¡°But let¡¯s not forget Li Weia?€¡±ha, who could forget Li Wei?


    In this offensive drive...¡±


    Damn!


    ...


    Damn damn damn!


    Lewis was furiously cursing at Bates, his face a clear portrait of unbridled rage, and then he saw Cornerback Jackson trying to sneakily hide behind Kelsey, that woeful sight instantly made Lewis lose his cool.


    The fury dial cranked up two notches, his cheeks so red they looked like they might explode at any moment.


    Indeed, Mahomes was performing well, but the real key player was still Li Weia?€¡±


    Wide Receiver?


    Li Wei actually did what a standard wide receiver¡¯s job entails, beating the defender one-on-one, and coming out on top with a ¡°50%-50%¡± chance against his opponent.


    Not a running back, but a wide receiver; this is rarely seen in Li Wei¡¯s previous games.


    In other words, Bates¡¯ one-on-one tight coverage failed to stop him from trying something new, and nearby, Jackson foolishly did not keep up to complete the double-team, showing a severe misjudgment of the situation on the field.


    Disaster, a complete disaster!


    Up to now, Cincinnati Bengals¡¯ defense against Li Wei has been an out-and-out catastrophe.


    Their ground defense crumbled like a house of cards, and their pass defense failed in one-on-one confrontations.


    Just look at how dry and relaxed Li Wei is, they haven¡¯t been able to pose any threat or pressurea?€¡±


    Li Wei is in his comfort zone.


    Before the game, Lewis had sworn with conviction that Li Wei was an easy target and that his performance would inevitably slump as the season progressed, lacking stability and stamina.


    That was supposed to be Li Wei¡¯s weak point.


    It wasn¡¯t long before the Kansas Chiefs Offense also heard the rumors that Lewis tried to get the Cincinnati Bengals to use deadly tactics to attack Li Wei.


    Everything made sense now.


    Not just the Defensive groupa?€¡±the Offensive group too was thoroughly enraged, their eyes blood-red, as they all entered Super Saiyan mode.


    Comparatively, Li Wei, the very person involved, appeared indifferent, as if he were merely an onlooker enjoying the drama unfold.


    Looking left, there¡¯s a madman; looking right, another madman.


    Their eyes seething with the intent to kill, Li Wei felt goosebumps rapidly surfacing on his arms.


    ¡°Gentlemen, please, don¡¯t be like this.


    I feel as if I¡¯m surrounded by a bunch of T1000s.


    It¡¯s a little scary, you know.¡±


    In a way, Li Wei was right.


    The Kansas City Chiefs had completely gone berserka?€¡±


    First, the Defensive group, with absolute ferocity, struck out Dalton, presenting the Bengals¡¯ Offensive group with a level of challenge they hadn¡¯t seen all season, even crazier than the Baltimore Ravens or the Pittsburgh Steelers.


    Then, the Offensive group resumed their swift and flowing attack, decimating the Bengals¡¯ defense, which was already lacking in confidence.


    They feebly faltered like a candle in the wind, and the Chiefs relentlessly advanced further.


    Li Wei and Hunter took turns entering the game, continuously hammering away with their ground game, chipping away at what little confidence remained in the Bengals¡¯ Defensive group.


    Finally, Mahomes completed a 14-yard pass to Hill for the touchdown.


    Like Mahomes, Hill, who also endured the agony of the final moments of the last game, regained his form.


    He effortlessly found the open space and completed the touchdown reception.


    Wave after wave.


    For the Bengals¡¯ Defensive group, it was an out-and-out disaster.


    Even their defensive leader, Atkins, had no moment to shine.


    In the face of the Chiefs¡¯ explosive and bombarding offense, they were utterly beaten back, unable to mount any effective resistance.


    And then, the game showed a completely one-sided crusha?€¡±


    A massacre.


    It was a thorough massacre.


    Just in the first half of the game alone, the Kansas City Chiefs had completely shattered the Bengals¡¯ morale.


    Like the last dry leaf on a tree branch in late autumn, they didn¡¯t even have the strength to parry, let alone the power to counterattack.


    ¡°0:31¡±.


    At halftime, the Kansas City Chiefs entered the locker room with an absolute lead.

 Chapter 645

    ?Chapter 645: 644 Doubting life Chapter 645: 644 Doubting life ¡°0:31¡±.


    Lewis stared at the scoreboard, lost in thoughta?€¡±


    How on earth had things developed to this point?


    Lewis believed that the Cincinnati Bengals could absolutely defeat the Kansas City Chiefs.


    It wasn¡¯t just bluster; he was truly sincere and full of confidence.


    Yet the current situation had Lewis completely dumbfounded.


    Throughout the entire first half, the Cincinnati Bengals had no opportunities on either offense or defense.


    From tactics to execution to the finer details, there was not a single highlight.


    ...


    Not even with a magnifying glass could one be found; it was a total mess.


    Involuntarily, Lewis began to doubt his life choices.


    Could it really...


    be over just like this?


    No, no no no, of course not.


    Lewis couldn¡¯t bear the idea of being rendered helpless, humiliated by that rookie; he simply wouldn¡¯t accept it.


    Nowadays the League has lost its way, casting aside integrity for the sake of profit and reputation.


    From top to bottom everyone was flattering that rookie, all so tame and obsequious they could hardly stand up straight.


    It¡¯s just a running back.


    A running back!


    Even if he is an Asian running back, he¡¯s still expendable.


    A bit of hype might be appropriate, but is all this really necessary?


    What about the glory of the NFL?


    The traditions of football?


    Their dignity and pride?


    Are those things not important anymore?


    He, for one, refused to accept this.


    Moreover, it¡¯s not just about that rookie.


    Lewis had spent sixteen years in Cincinnati, almost as much as Belichick with the New England Patriots, and he was highly respected within the team.


    But this is the Professional League, where ethics, reputation, and honor mean nothing.


    Victory is the only key, and championships are the ultimate proof of success.


    Belichick is revered in New England not just because of his reputation, but because he built a dynasty there.


    Finally, a seven-yard short pass found the team¡¯s top wide receiver, Tyler Boyd, for a touchdown, breaking the deadlock for the Cincinnati Bengals and scoring for the first time in the game.


    On the field, Dalton punched the air in celebration.


    On the sideline, Lewis leapt up, roaring with passion, as if it wasn¡¯t just a touchdown but a Wanfu Mary miracle play.


    Dalton turned to look at Lewis, the mentor who had groomed him, and ran wildly towards him with open arms, giving him a big hug like a father and roared with tears in his eyesa?€¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere!¡±


    And yet, that wasn¡¯t all.


    The most powerful and lethal weapon of the Cincinnati Bengals awoke first, which also injected a strong stimulant into the team, exciting everyone from top to bottom.


    Then.


    ¡°Interception!¡±


    ¡°Linebacker Nick Vigil made it happen!¡±


    ¡°Mahomes¡¯s pass choice was still too risky; he didn¡¯t go for Watkins, who was already in a one-on-one match-up on the sideline, but chose Li Wei who fell into a trap inside the slot.¡±


    ¡°Clearly, the Cincinnati Bengals¡¯ defensive group was well prepared this time.¡±


    ¡°Vigil appeared on the passing line between Mahomes and Li Wei, intercepting halfway, leaving no chance for Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°Interception!¡±


    ¡°Accurate prediction, precise positioning, a beautiful one-handed interception, and finally completing the interception.¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡±


    ¡°The Cincinnati Bengals haven¡¯t given up on the game; Lewis and his team are still resisting and fighting.


    The Kansas City Chiefs hit a wall straight on after returning from halftime.


    Does this mean the suspense of victory and defeat is back on the table?¡±


    The situation was slightly chaotic.


    Mahomes slapped his thigh in frustration, only to find that he didn¡¯t control his strength well, causing pain in both his palm and thigh.


    But to maintain his image, he had to clamp down on his pain and continue to look aloof.


    Raising his head, Mahomes saw Li Wei.


    Mahomes thought Li Wei was about to comfort him since the last game had ended with an interception caused by his risky play, and now he was making the same mistake in this game.


    Not just Li Wei but also the offensive linemen turned their heads, one by one, trying to offer comfort but not knowing what to say.


    But unexpectedly, Li Wei took off his helmet, revealing a big smile.


    ¡°Well done, that¡¯s the right attitude.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t let a past mistake cast a shadow over you and make you too scared to make passes.


    You should trust your own instincts and judgment.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the stuff of heroes!¡±

 Chapter 646

    ?Chapter 646: 645 A Better Tomorrow Chapter 646: 645 A Better Tomorrow Choking on food.


    Any sensible person would know better than to make such a foolish error.


    Yet, reality is not always so forgiving; one fatal mistake can make one hesitate, fearing a repeat of the same disaster, often losing the courage to break through.


    It¡¯s only when you break that you can build.


    Only by facing one¡¯s weaknesses and bravely facing potential dangers, can one accumulate experience and evolve through repeated mistakes.


    No one is perfect, and no one is free from errors, especially in competitive sports.


    Even the most elite, greatest, legendary players are still human; they can too make errors and mistakes.


    ...


    Thus, fantasizing that you¡¯ll never make a mistake is foolish.


    Errors, blunders, failuresa?€¡±they¡¯re all terrible but not fearsome.


    Don¡¯t be afraid of making mistakes again if you want to make true progress.


    That takes courage and resolution.


    Undoubtedly, Mahomes was tryinga?€¡±


    And once more, he faced an interception.


    But Li Wei wasn¡¯t worried, on the contrary, Mahomes had just been intercepted due to his recklessness in the last game and even fell into self-doubt; yet, at the critical moment of this game, Mahomes did not hesitate to take a risk.


    That is the mark of a hero.


    Li Wei gave Mahomes a thumbs up, sending encouragement to his good friend.


    Mahomes couldn¡¯t help but laugh and crya?€¡±


    Interception?


    Thumbs up?


    Are you sure?


    A second ago, Mahomes was fretting over causing another interception.


    Quarterbacks and soccer goalkeepers are somewhat similar.


    A goalkeeper might make three to five spectacular saves in a game, winning applause, but just one mistake could make them the villain who loses the game; the quarterback is the same, no amount of touchdowns can cover the negative impact of an interception, easily erasing the efforts of the entire game.


    Moreover, this was the second consecutive game where he threw an interception.


    At the beginning of the season, Mahomes was creating miracles, not only powerfully breaking the record for the most touchdown passes in the first three starts of a quarterback¡¯s career, but also making eleven consecutive touchdown passes without an interception, stunning the entire league with his performance.


    Together with the still dominant and excellent Li Wei, the ¡°Kansas City Twins¡± dazzled in the new season, boldly kicking off the new season.


    Lewis: Haha, you all thought the Cincinnati Bengals were falling apart in the first half, right?


    It was all a smokescreen from me, a grand strategy aimed at making a spectacular impact in history, playing with heartbeats, something you ordinary people could never understand.


    ¡°...


    Interception!¡±


    A thunderous boom, like a rumble of thunder.


    Suddenly, Lewis was jerked awkwardly back to reality from his daydream, his heart racing uncontrollably, trying to regain focus amid the chaos and turmoil, confirming the scene before him.


    What had he just heard?


    ¡°God, an interception!¡±


    Arrowhead Stadium erupted with energy, shaking the entire world with its might.


    Lewis¡¯s heart plummeted in free fall, finally settling on a target in the midst of confusion, confirming reality.


    a?€¡±Interception.


    This play, Dalton couldn¡¯t be blamed.


    Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver Boyd was too anxious.


    He noticed Kansas City Chiefs Cornerback Fowler closing in fast.


    He readied himself to catch and dart off quickly, breaking through Fowler¡¯s defense to gain significant yardage.


    Clearly, Boyd, like Lewis, was excessively excited and eager, desperate to capitalize on this interception.


    However, in his urgency, he turned before securing the football, his brain reacting a step ahead of his body, resulting in him not gripping the football tightly.


    Fowler seized the chance, gently poking from beneath, and the football broke free from Boyd¡¯s grip, landing securely in Fowler¡¯s hands.


    Boyd: shocked.


    Lewis: stunned.


    Everything happened so suddenly, no one saw it coming.


    Not even Fowler himself.


    Fowler: That¡¯s it?


    He had barely exerted any effort; it was just an instinctive stealing of the peach, and then the ownership of the football changed hands.


    Without even turning around, just slightly sidestepping thirty degrees, he completed the turn, and the Cincinnati Bengals¡¯ side of the field opened up before him.


    With a push of his feet, Fowler didn¡¯t hesitate to launch a counterattack, quickly outdistancing Boyd and sprinting past before the Cincinnati Bengals Offensive group could react.


    Lewis: Stop him!

 Chapter 647

    ?Chapter 647: 646 Unrivaled Chapter 647: 646 Unrivaled The unexpected often arrives without any sign or warning, catching people off guard.


    And so it was at this moment.


    The Cincinnati Bengals had just begun to gain momentum, finally finding some rhythm amidst the chaos and hesitation.


    Their smiles had not even had the chance to stretch to their fullest when suddenly, a twist of fate upended the situation, plunging the Cincinnati Bengals into the abyss.


    ¡°Fuller!¡±


    ¡°Fuller is on the return, but clearly, the Bengals offense was not prepared, with a noticeably sluggish secondary reaction from the players.¡±


    ¡°Fuller has crossed the kickoff line, Dalton!¡±


    ¡°Andy Dalton is trying to stop Fuller, Dalton has gone all in!¡±


    ¡°Oh, spectacular.¡±


    ¡°Fuller withstands Dalton¡¯s full-force tackle attempt, Fuller is readjusting, Fuller is regaining his balance, Fuller is back on track.¡±


    ¡°Fuller, oh, Fuller!¡±


    ¡°The entire Bengals offense is desperately chasing, but Fuller is out of their reach.¡±


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    ¡°Exquisite!


    Fuller completes his first pick-six of the season, delivering a heavy blow to the Cincinnati Bengals.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no doubt, this could once again change the course of the game.¡±


    ¡°The Bengals had just found some rhythm, ready to launch a full counterattack, hoping for a pick to regain possession and narrow the gap; yet they never anticipated that instead of scoring, they¡¯d give up a turnover and their opponents would swiftly capitalize with a touchdown.¡±


    ¡°God, this must be incredibly tough...¡±


    Hum, hum hum hum.


    A roar over the eardrums.


    ...


    Shame, frustration, anger, suffocation, irritability, and more all rush in at once, threatening to explode if not vented immediately.


    And so, the Lewis-branded blow dryer kicks into action once more, heated up.


    Not far off, Fuller, drenched in sweat after sprinting at full speed, turns around to see Jones, Houston, and others who had escorted him catching up with pats on the back.


    Houston steps forward and gives Fuller, who has newly joined the team this season and released endless energy, a big hug; his smile blooms unchecked, ¡°Careful now, they might send you the bill for a brain aneurysm, demanding compensation for health loss.¡±


    Fuller, clueless, follows Houston¡¯s gaze and then sees Lewis, his face crimson and sweat pouring down as if he is about to explode any second.


    But Fuller isn¡¯t worried and looks away, ¡°Even if they send the bill, it shouldn¡¯t be to me.¡±


    Fuller looks in another direction.


    Houston follows his gaze.@@@@


    So, is Fuller¡¯s target Li Wei or Mahomes?


    However, deep down, there still lay a glimmer of hopea?€¡±


    Even if a Bengals comeback was now as difficult as ascending to the heavens, at least they could show their fighting spirit and courage, battling until the end.


    Not just focusing on the win or loss of a single game, they also should look at the spirit of the entire season.


    If they could make the fourth quarter exciting, it would be praiseworthy.


    Even if they lost the game, at least they could win respect, as well as hope for the future.


    However.


    The Cincinnati Bengals Defense completely failed to stop the Kansas Chiefs Offense.


    After just suffering an interception, Mahomes became like a Super Saiyan, a series of dizzying passes forming shockwaves that left the Bengals Defense completely disoriented.


    ¡°Fake handoff!¡±


    ¡°Mahomes¡¯s deceptive passing motion fools the Cincinnati Bengals Defense once again.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei...


    oh, no, this time it¡¯s Hunter with the carry.¡±


    ¡°God, the Cincinnati Bengals Defense makes a second consecutive misjudgment, now having lost their positions; we almost forgot that running is Hunter¡¯s main job.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei, block, beautiful!


    Li Wei blasts open Atkins¡¯s interception, clearing a path for Hunter¡¯s ground advance, and Hunter¡¯s steps have surged forward.¡±


    ¡°Hunter!


    Wow, Straight Arm Block, Hunter directly plows through linebacker Vigil, who loses his balance and falls straight to the ground, allowing Hunter to keep pushing forward.¡±


    ¡°Ten yards!¡±


    ¡°Twenty yards!¡±


    ¡°Twenty-five yards!¡±


    ¡°Bates, Safety Bates is the last line of defense, Hunter goes head-to-head with Bates, the two getting entangled.¡±


    ¡°Wait, Hunter, breakaway, end zone.¡±


    ¡°Bates couldn¡¯t hold onto Hunter, Bates commits a holding foul, but it¡¯s all too late, Hunter forcefully breaks through the defense, carrying the ball into the end zone!¡±


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a touchdown!¡±


    This...


    The game, it seems to have completely fallen apart.


    Should it even continue?


    ¡°`

 Chapter 648

    ?Chapter 648: 647 overwhelming victory Chapter 648: 647 overwhelming victory ¡°Touchdown!


    Another, another touchdown!¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs are on fire, this time the touchdown is by Hunter.¡±


    ¡°Just when everyone almost forgot about Hunter, this young player continues to make his presence known: Hey, don¡¯t forget the Chiefs still have this guy.¡±


    ¡°Running back Hunter.


    Without a doubt, he¡¯s a talented running back and, just like Li Wei, a sophomore.¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs, with their ground game, score another touchdown, further widening the score gap.


    This could be the straw that breaks the camel¡¯s back.¡±


    Another, another touchdown, the Chiefs continue to pull away, tearing open the Bengals¡¯ wounds, adding salt, and showing no mercy.


    The Cincinnati Bengals¡¯ defensive group is out of breath and crumbling.


    They thought they had angered Mahomes, but now Hunter pops up?


    In the end zone, Hunter roars, ¡°Ah, Aaahhh!¡±


    His fierce appearance is more tiger-like than the Bengals themselves, his eyes ablaze with hunger and desire, crimson and bloody, seizing every opportunity to prove himself.


    ...


    Even though Li Wei has proven himself time and time again, Hunter is not intimidated:


    Because he knows he is in no way inferior to Li Wei and even believes he can outperform Li Wei.


    After all, a career is long, and an early lead doesn¡¯t guarantee leading all the way to the end.


    Roaring, howling, catharsis.


    The entire Arrowhead Stadium is cheering for Hunter, turning into a sea of red.


    At this point, the game seems to have lost its suspense.


    But people forgot one thing, Lewis definitely shouldn¡¯t have provoked the Kansas City Chiefs, especially not in this critical momenta?€¡±


    A disastrous defeat in the game, a premeditated media storm.


    As the reigning champions, for the first time in half a century under the spotlight, the Kansas City Chiefs are facing unbelievable pressure and shocks.


    The entire Kansas City Chiefs are holding their breath:


    Just right, Lewis walks into the line of fire.


    So, the poor Cincinnati Bengals become the sacrificial lambs for the team to vent their anger and awaken their fighting spirit.


    Normally, with victory guaranteed and the outcome beyond doubt, Reed should rotate the starting lineup to let the starters rest and give the reserves game experience.


    Last season, Reed did this more than once; but not this time.


    Because Reed knew the players needed to vent, and he also knew it was an important step for the team¡¯s transformation.


    They needed to taste the bitterness of failure, find ways to quickly recover after a grueling battle, and adapt to the intensity of continuous, fierce collisions.


    So.


    But the Cincinnati Bengals, having made a full recovery this season and defeated the Baltimore Ravens, were no pushovers, filled with determination and unafraid to challenge the defending champions.


    The outcome of the game still had an element of doubt.


    However, the Kansas City Chiefs completely dominated the Cincinnati Bengals on both offense and defense, displaying a level of absolute dominance that was truly terrifying.


    The two teams were simply not on the same level.


    Crushing the weak, sweeping through the masses, a complete rout, a decisive victory.


    ¡°7:55¡±.


    The final whistle blew, the score now set in stone.


    One need not even watch the game, this score alone was enougha?€¡±


    enough to shock the world.


    The Kansas City Chiefs swept away the Cincinnati Bengals at home, without repeating the mistakes of last season, building strength after a tough battle instead of succumbing to consecutive losses; this time, remaining focused and strong after a regrettable loss, they returned to the winning track.


    And with a delightful victory, they proved they are still among the most competitive teams in the league this season, setting a new record for the largest point differential, even more convincing than their victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, showing the signs of champions defending their title.


    Dumbfounded.


    Lewis¡¯ head was a jumbled mess, his anger extinguished, floating as if in the clouds, his uneven, unsteady steps feeling no gravitational pull, half-asleep and dizzy as if he could see his top still spinninga?€¡±


    In ¡®Inception,¡¯ didn¡¯t the protagonist¡¯s top spin continuously?


    So, this must be a dream, right?


    Otherwise, how could it be possible?


    Huh, haha.


    The more he thought about it, the more absurd it seemed, the more convinced he became, glancing again at the scoreboard above Arrowhead Stadium.


    ¡°7:55¡±.


    Lewis was almost certain that this was a nightmare.


    Waiting to wake from this dream, he should be able to confirm that it is either Saturday night or Sunday morning before the away game when the Cincinnati Bengals challenge the Kansas City Chiefs, because he cared too much about the game, so he began to dream.


    However, maybe the dream is a warning, and he should reconsider his strategy before the game; they need to pay more attention to defending Li Wei.


    Originally, Lewis did not care about Li Wei, and he didn¡¯t plan to give any special treatment to that rookie running back; but now, given the nightmare¡¯s warning, he shouldn¡¯t be too stubborn, he still needs to be careful and cautious.


    See, he can be so open-minded.


    Good, now the only thing to do is to wake up, to escape this nightmare.


    How did they do it in the movie?


    Loss of gravity, right?


    Lewis looked around; after all, in this dream, falling wouldn¡¯t hurt.


    Then, as if possessed, Lewis walked to one side and stumbled over the leg of a stool, plunging forward in a faceplant, the world spinning around him.

 Chapter 649

    ?Chapter 649: 648 A Good Show Chapter 649: 648 A Good Show ¡°Ah!¡±


    ¡°There was an unexpected incident on the field, Cincinnati Bengals¡¯ coach Lewis seemed...¡±


    Anxious, concerned.


    After all, Lewis was already over sixty, and people couldn¡¯t help but worry about his physical condition.


    Some of the audience behind the Cincinnati Bengals¡¯ bench at Arrowhead Stadium, who hadn¡¯t seen the situation clearly, just saw Lewis¡¯s body go limp and clumsily fall to the ground, even let out cries of alarm, expressing their concernsa?€¡±


    Even though he was an opponent, there was no need to curse him.


    However.


    The live TV station kindly replayed the footage, hoping to help people figure out the exact situation, and what they saw was an unbelievably bizarre scene.


    ¡°Did coach Lewis intentionally trip himself up?¡±


    ¡°Haha, he surely didn¡¯t, surely he didn¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s probably just his knee going weak, not supporting his body, and he accidentally fell.¡±


    ¡°But...¡±


    The live director was also confused, looking at the footage without understanding, replaying it over and over, even zooming in for details, attempting to figure out exactly what had happened, repeating the footage again and again.


    Like Holmes himself.


    ...


    Until NBC¡¯s top executives made a call: stop the replays, for heaven¡¯s sake stop the replays now, get back to the live broadcast immediately, the whole North American region is watching this, have you lost your minds?


    Exposing his flaws this way, do you have a grudge against the Cincinnati Bengals?


    Unfortunately, it was all too late.


    People looked at each other, asking what they had just witnesseda?€¡±


    All of this, Lewis was unaware ofa?€¡±


    Dizzy, his world spinning as if he were looking through a kaleidoscope.


    The dream, it seemed, did not wake up.


    In front of him was still Arrowhead Stadium¡¯s tumultuous sea of red, and the glaring score ¡°7:55¡± still frozen on the scoreboard.@@@@


    No wonder the players at Arizona State University often saw Lewis gritting his teeth and uncontrollably waving his fists during games against the Kansas City Chiefs.


    All of it stemmed from that damnable Li Wei and the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Not only was Lewis shocked, but the vast network of social media users and industry professionals were also thrown into turmoil, unable to believe their own eyesa?€¡±


    ¡°7:55.¡±


    Wasn¡¯t that score a bit too vicious?


    And besides, the opponent wasn¡¯t just any pushover.


    Although some argued that maybe the Cincinnati Bengals weren¡¯t at their best, after seeing Lewis¡¯ bold pre-game declarations and then watching the process and outcome of the match, those voices sheepishly turned into self-serving murmurs.


    Even more exaggerated, after the game ended, the vast majority of haters inexplicably shut their mouths.


    You see, haters are always haters; they never shut up, no matter what the circumstances or situation, they always find a reason to harbor hatreda?€¡±


    If a perpetual motion machine really existed in this world, it would be the haters¡¯ hearts of hatred.


    However, this time, the hating voices on social media were briefly subdued, too shocked, too unexpected, too overwhelming to know what to say, momentarily glitching their brains, which truly underlined their astonishment and shock.


    Eventually, it was the die-hard fans of the New England Patriots who came out again seeking to assert their presence, even though the game had nothing to do with them:


    Look, the Cincinnati Bengals were crushed, and the score was so brutal; but the New England Patriots defeated the vicious Kansas City Chiefs, haha, the conclusion couldn¡¯t be simpler, right?


    ¡°The New England Patriots are the champions!¡±


    The group of fanatical fans in Foxborough were quick to proclaim their dominance, repeatedly echoing the fact that they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, continuously reminding everyone, silencing those who criticized the Kansas City Chiefs, Li Wei, and Mahomes.


    After all, anything seen through their eyes could be turned into a reminder of the New England Patriots defeating the Kansas City Chiefsa?€¡±


    Over and over again, and again and again.


    When will it end?


    Ha, not until the New England Patriots defeat the Kansas City Chiefs again.


    Some cared about the Cincinnati Bengals, some supported the New England Patriots, but all this had nothing to do with the Kansas City Chiefs; they were one hundred percent focused on themselves.


    To this, ¡°Inside the League¡± posed an interesting discussion topica?€¡±


    ¡°After experiencing such a tough loss, had the Kansas City Chiefs truly returned to the winning track?¡±

 Chapter 650

    ?Chapter 650: 649 back on track Chapter 650: 649 back on track ¡°After a tough loss, have the Kansas City Chiefs really gotten back on track for victories?¡±


    This is not a provocation, but an objective discussion.


    For one, the performance of the Kansas City Chiefs has indeed been unstable, with a collapse during the middle of last season that was simply inexplicable and this season¡¯s victories have been uneven as well.


    Secondly, although people have continuously criticized Smith¡¯s lack of explosiveness in the playoffs, as a stable quarterback, his consistent output during the regular season undoubtedly sets the tone for the team.@@@@


    Now Mahomes, young and vibrant, may also experience fluctuations, which is a reality.


    Thirdly, it¡¯s not just the quarterback, the Kansas City Chiefs struggled last season primarily with a young roster, and this season they¡¯ve gone further by promoting sophomores and juniors.


    The growth of a young team still needs to withstand more tests.


    Because of this, recovering quickly after a fierce battle and defeating the Cincinnati Bengals was especially critical in getting back on track.


    ...


    Currently, the focus of ¡°league-wide¡± discussions is:


    This kind of victory, completely unbalanced and one-sided, was it because the Kansas City Chiefs were overpoweringly strong, or did the Cincinnati Bengals sabotage themselves?


    Opinions were exchanged, with each holding firm to their views.


    Certainly, for a young team like the Kansas City Chiefs filled with countless possibilities, people still need to further observe and testa?€¡±


    This is precisely one of the NFL¡¯s greatest charms, no absolute strong teams, no absolute weak teams, every week¡¯s games may hide uncertainties.


    This time, the Kansas City Chiefs swiftly responded with actions.


    In Week 8, ¡°30:23¡± defeating the Denver Broncos, achieving a season sweep over a division rival.


    Just like their first encounter this season, the score was very close and the situation very tense.


    After acquiring ¡°Cinderella¡± Keenum from the Minnesota Vikings, the Denver Broncos hoped to find a quarterback who could lead the team to victory; although Keenum performed decently, he no longer had the amazing display of last season, gradually falling back to near the league average, even with the risk of further decline.


    This also re-proved a point, a season or two of amazing performance means nothing in the NFL, the difficulty is in how to continue growing.


    The Denver Broncos still relied on strong defense to effectively combat, and Super Bowl MVP Von Miller still delivered top performances, not only sacking Mahomes three times but also making an interception.


    The Kansas City Chiefs easily defeated the Cleveland Browns, silencing the noisy voices with their effortless and comfortable performance throughout the game.


    Garrett missed another opportunity to prove himself, and Li Wei took complete control with 145 yards and two rushing touchdowns, easily breaking through Cleveland¡¯s defense and facing Garrett with ease.


    The Cleveland Browns were utterly defeated.


    As for Mayfield?


    Hehe, nobody cares.


    Week 10, ¡°36:14¡±, swept the Arizona Cardinals.


    In the offseason, the Arizona Cardinals were like a sad version of the Kansas City Chiefs, with the team undergoing a tumultuous overhaul.


    Head coach Bruce Arians announced his retirement, the official statement claimed it was an amicable split, but as adults, nobody should believe in an ¡°amicable split.¡±


    In January of the next year, Arians announced his return to coaching, taking over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, clearly not planning to ¡°peacefully watch the southern mountain¡± in retirement; no further words needed, his actions were enough of a slap in the face.


    Arians¡¯ retirement thus became a gap in the turmoil of the Arizona Cardinals.


    Carson Palmer, the former first overall pick quarterback also announced his retirement, and the Arizona Cardinals off-season move:


    After acquiring quarterbacks Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon through trades, they surprisingly picked Josh Rosen in the first round of the draft, baffling everyone.


    After all the chaos and turmoil, Steven Wilks took over the messy situationa?€¡±


    One could imagine the scenario.


    Facing a weaker team, the Kansas City Chiefs showed no mercy, displaying the stance of a strong team by effortlessly sweeping the Arizona Cardinals with just 70% effort.


    This was the answer from the Kansas City Chiefs.


    After losing to the New England Patriots, they got back on track with four consecutive victories, overcoming tough battles and easily defeating others, casually showcasing the demeanor of a strong team, holding firmly the position of the top seed in the American League with a record of nine wins and one loss.


    Then, the highly-awaited game finally arriveda?€¡±


    ¡°National Conference top seed Los Angeles Rams VS American League top seed Kansas City Chiefs.¡±


    Midway through the season, up to this point, the two top contenders for the Super Bowl were about to clash head-on.

 Chapter 651

    ?Chapter 651: 650 Half Marathon Champion Chapter 651: 650 Half Marathon Champion Compared to the 2017 season, which flourished like a hundred flowers blossoming but remained foggy with suspense up to the Super Bowl, the 2018 season showcased a different atmosphere.


    As the season officially kicked off, two teams rapidly emerged through a series of dominating performances, carving a bloody path from close-quarters combat, and, living up to expectations, continued their strong momentum to become the leaders of the Leaguea?€¡±


    the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Faced with such a situation, the League couldn¡¯t be happier, and Goodell was all too eager to celebrate with everyone, warmly welcoming the new era with a glass of wine.


    The two teams were absolutely radiant.


    One from the National Conference and one from the American League, perfectly matching each other stride for stride.


    One led by third-year star quarterback Goff and the other by second-year superstar quarterback Mahomes, both were pocket quarterbacks, reflecting the League¡¯s focus on passing offense.


    One included last season¡¯s best defensive player, Donald, and the other included last season¡¯s best offensive player, Li Wei.


    ...


    They were the perfect match, defense against offense, poised to become the next rivals in the League.


    One was coached by the historically youngest head coach in the League, McVay, while the other was led by one of the League¡¯s legendary veteran coaches, Reed, a contest between the new wave and the old always full of highlights.


    What¡¯s most important is that although the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs now belong to different divisions, they were once Missouri rivals.


    From 1995 to 2015, the Los Angeles Rams were the St.


    Louis Rams, located in Missouri, like the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Over those long twenty seasons, due to Missouri residents¡¯ rivalry, every encounter between the two teams was fiercely contested, never lacking in intensity.


    Moreover, the Kansas City Chiefs won all six match-ups during that period, dominating the long-struggling St.


    Louis Rams with absolute superiority.


    For the latter, the Kansas City Chiefs were like a shadow, their hatred index off the charts.


    Now, three years later, since relocating to the City of Angels, the Los Angeles Rams are about to face the Kansas City Chiefs for the first time, both teams having undergone transformations; but the old enmity and issues could not completely vanish in just three years, with old and new grudges entangled together.


    The match had not even started yet, but the air was already filled with the smell of gunpowder.


    Everything was perfect.


    Everything seemed familiar.


    The Kansas City Chiefs lost to the New England Patriots, the cunning Belichick pairing with elite quarterback Brady, who had a strong season maintaining a record of seven wins and two losses, closely trailing the Chiefs in the American League.


    The Los Angeles Rams lost to the New Orleans Saints, the cunning Sean Payton pairing with elite quarterback Brees, who kept up a positive performance throughout the season with a record of eight wins and one loss, overtaking the Rams in the National Conference, temporarily topping as the number one seed.


    ¡°Old Wave vs New Wave,¡± ¡°Veterans vs Rookies,¡± ¡°Tradition vs Challenge.¡±


    Similar keywords permeated throughout, assembling a wonderfully unique portrayal of the 2018 season thus far, filled with anticipation.


    And now!


    The new generation of two teams was about to face off head-to-head, with the midway season¡¯s top seed of the National Conference battling the top seed of the American League in a mid-season Super Bowl.


    Exciting, thrilling, not to be missed by anyone, and should not be missed by anyone.


    Moreover, there is a key pointa?€¡±


    The NFL has always been trying to penetrate the global market, gradually initiating international games in overseas markets over the years.


    Since 2007, the London games had broken the ice, creating a foothold in the homeland of rugby and soccer, and gradually expanding the influence of American football; the Asian and South American markets had also been targets for Goodell.


    According to the plan, the Imperial City games in the Hua Xia Continent had been ready, but due to insufficient market size, issues like stadium selection, scheduling, and brand sponsorship faced various setbacks, forcing Goodell to temporarily shelve the plan, shifting the focus towarda?€¡±


    Mexico.


    In the past two years, the Mexico City games had been consistently successful, boosting the league¡¯s confidence.


    Now, with Li Wei emerging, reigniting the league¡¯s confidence, Goodell was restarting the Imperial City process while also initiating plans for games in Munich and Sao Paulo.


    Of course, it was still necessary to consolidate the status of the London and Mexico City games.


    This year, the Mexico City game had scheduled a match between the ¡°Los Angeles Rams vs Kansas City Chiefs.¡±


    When scheduling during the off-season, Goodell had not anticipated such outstanding performance from both teams, he merely hoped the ¡°Li Wei vs Donald¡± matchup could spark significant buzz in Mexico City, attracting widespread attention; but now, things had progressed to this step, and it couldn¡¯t be more perfecta?€¡±


    A mid-season Super Bowl landing in Mexico City?


    Very well, excellent, with heaven and earth aligned and all elements ready, the explosion of international market energy is imminent!

 Chapter 652

    ?Chapter 652: 651 twists and turns Chapter 652: 651 twists and turns Over the past two seasons, NFL games at Mexico City¡¯s Aztec Stadium have been tremendously successfula?€¡±


    In the 2016 season, the Oakland Raiders narrowly defeated the Houston Texans.


    In the 2017 season, the New England Patriots swept the Oakland Raiders.


    Both games saw capacities at the Aztec Stadium exceed 97%, warmly welcoming the peak of football in Mexico City, which also gave the League confidence to stride forward with resolution.


    This year, during the off-season, the League and team owners engaged in deep discussions about continuing to schedule regular-season games in London and Mexico City, with plans to add one or two more in Tottenham next yeara?€¡±


    This was a great opportunity for the teams to tap into the international market; however, they also had to face the hassles of long-distance travel.


    Mexico City was still manageable, but London and Tottenham required crossing the Atlantic, which would inevitably impact the players¡¯ condition.


    How to make these choices was a key consideration for every team owner.


    ...


    Goodell¡¯s gaze quickly fixed on the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams.@@@@


    Last season¡¯s potential clash between ¡°Li Wei vs Donald¡± hadn¡¯t materialized, much to Goodell¡¯s regret, as he was very eager to see the two faces of the League¡¯s next marquee players spark together.


    If not once, then a second or a third time.


    Goodell hoped the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams could move to London, leveraging the influence of Li Wei and Donald to ignite the passion of the British Isles; however, the owners of both teams expressed resistancea?€¡±


    Indeed, the overseas market was attractive and an important venture, and both owners were enticed; but they hadn¡¯t lost their rationality, as they knew that the most important task for their teams was the championship.


    Super Bowl first, market expansion later.


    The team owners were unwilling to cooperate, and Goodell couldn¡¯t force a bull to drink; after negotiations and tug-of-war, Goodell realized their true intention:


    It wasn¡¯t that they were unwilling to cooperate; it was a matter of bargaining.


    Well, that made things simple.


    After mediation and negotiation, a consensus was finally reached for a Mexico City game.


    Traveling to Mexico City would only take three and a half hours from Los Angeles; the journey from Kansas City was almost the same length as traveling to Los Angeles.


    And importantly, there was no time difference.


    In other words, the trip was almost no different from a regular season game; yet, both teams could take their first step into the international market.


    Everyone was happy.


    At that time, all Goodell looked forward to was that Li Wei and Donald, the League¡¯s best offensive and defensive players from last season, would generate significant buzz.


    And now, the situation was heating up bit by bit, shifting the entire scenea?€¡±


    ¡°Midseason Super Bowl¡±?


    In the end, human factors also began to fundamentally waver.


    The situation took a dramatic turn for the worse, with the promising event quickly becoming a fiasco.


    So, what about Li Wei?


    In fact, Li Wei and Donald, the two star players, had not spoken up.


    It wasn¡¯t that they didn¡¯t dare to, but Li Wei knew that the matter was entangled with wide-ranging interests, and mere protest by individual players was not enough to change the overall situation, especially for young players like them who had been in the league for two or three years and had no substantial foundation or connections.


    They may seem glorious on the surface, but in reality, their words carried little weight.


    If they wanted to take the initiative, they needed a twofold approach: utilizing public opinion to build momentum while tackling the issue at its core.


    Li Wei contacted Donald, and together they split up to persuade other players like Gurley, Wentz, and Mahomes to submit a formal protest through the players¡¯ committee, hoping that the league would prioritize their health.


    Last, they went through the coaches and team managers to present their concerns to the team owners.


    This way and thata?€¡±


    Goodell clung to a faint hope until the very last moment, but ultimately he could not hold out and wisely chose to step back in the face of the situation.


    The Mexico City game was canceled.


    The entire league was in an uproar.


    The NFL¡¯s best opportunity to tap into the international market once again unexpectedly hit a wall.


    What seemed like perfect readiness ended in total loss, astonishing everyone.


    There were rumors that Goodell lashed out at Mexico City¡¯s partners and the stadium contractors, even considering canceling the Mexico City games altogether, or at least changing the venue.


    The aftermath was complete chaos; nonetheless, nothing could undo the missed opportunity.


    Perhaps, from the beginning, it was never truly an opportunity.


    It was precisely because of this series of setbacks that there was an even greater focus on the showdown between the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefsa?€¡±a mid-season Super Bowl battle of sorts.


    Even those who previously had no interest or even opposed the NFL¡¯s international games, were now all paying attention.


    Fascinating, time for spectators to enjoy the drama.


    The Mexico game was canceled, but that did not mean the regular season games were not happening.


    This event, according to schedule, was supposed to be a home game for the Los Angeles Rams.


    The game was still held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and proceeded at the originally planned time; both teams returned to their regular season trajectory.


    November 19, 2018, Monday Night Football.

 Chapter 653

    ?Chapter 653: 652 A string of records Chapter 653: 652 A string of records ¡°...it hasn¡¯t ended, it hasn¡¯t ended, the game!


    It still hasn¡¯t ended!¡±


    ¡°Jesus Christ!¡±


    ¡°Now, my scalp tingles, and my palms are sweating crazily; but this is the NFL, the suspense isn¡¯t lifted until the last moment.¡±@@@@


    ¡°Mahomes once again completed a short pass to Kelsey for a six-yard advance, third gear one yard, but there is no doubt, the Kansas City Chiefs won¡¯t give up, they will definitely choose to go strong on third gear one yard, and they have different options.¡±


    ¡°Now, they are on the thirty-three-yard line in the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ half, with thirteen seconds left in the game, Mahomes could try to arch one yard, or he could try the ¡®Wanfu Mary¡¯, the Kansas City Chiefs still have a chance.¡±


    ¡°In this game, the Kansas City Chiefs have more than once turned a losing situation around, if my memory serves me right, they¡¯ve already accomplished such feats four times, so, can they continue this performance this time?¡±


    ¡°Timeout.¡±


    ¡°The Los Angeles Ram¡¯s Head Coach McVay called for a timeout.¡±


    ¡°The pressure is climbing relentlessly.¡±


    Everyone¡¯s eyes were on them, everyone¡¯s hopes higha?€¡±


    And indeed, they did not disappoint.


    This season, up until week ten, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams were ranked first and second respectively in the entire league in terms of scoring, with all guns blazing and momentum like a rainbow, and both sides have strong abilities in passing and rushing, with both head coaches being offensive tactical geniuses.


    The audience was expecting a spectacular shootout.


    And indeed, the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs truly delivered an unparalleled shootout that left everyone thrilled.


    In early February, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles delivered a record-breaking scoring battle in the Super Bowl, setting a new highest score in Super Bowl history.


    And now, even more so, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams are aiming not just for the Super Bowl record but for the highest scoring record in all NFL games.


    ...


    The two teams delivered togethera?€¡±


    Throughout the entire game, there were no punts; not only the offensive groups scored, but the defensive groups scored as well, with every turnover accompanied by a score.


    The pace of the game was very fast, maintaining high energy, and the scoring was especially frequent.


    And, the teams alternately took the lead, swapping the leading position eight times back and forth, the game intensely stretched throughout.


    There was no downtime throughout the game.


    Just in the fourth quarter alone, the lead had already changed hands three times.


    Just recently, with fifty-eight seconds left in the game, the Los Angeles Rams, standing on the brink of defeat in third gear five yards situation, once again demonstrated their explosive power:


    Quarterback Goff unexpectedly connected with Tight End Gerald Everett (Gerald-Everett) for a forty-five-yard long pass, with the latter catching the ball and breaking into the end zone to score, regaining the lead for the home team.


    ¡°51:54¡ä¡ä.


    Each tiny gap could be the opportunity for a turnaround; he needed to remain vigilant until the final momenta?€¡±


    Until the whistle blew, the game was not over.


    Donald had studied Li Wei, he deeply understood his opponent¡¯s will and courage.


    Sure enough.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    The Kansas City Chiefs chose a pistol formation, posing as if they were going to secure a yard for the first attack, then call a timeout to regroup for the final ten-second assault.


    However, Li Wei charged out immediately.


    Donald, ignoring Li Wei,


    He focused sharply, locking onto Mahomes right away, aiming to cut off the Chiefs¡¯ offense at its root.


    ¡°Donald VS Mahomes¡±!


    Los Angeles Rams Head Coach McVay¡¯s judgment was correct.


    A one-yard plunge was just a smoke bomb; Mahomes was preparing to try a ¡°Hail Mary.¡±


    For that, Mahomes had to delay as long as possible in the pocket, waiting for his target to get deep enough to receive the pass.


    This gave Donald the chance.


    Like a cat chasing a mouse, Donald continued to tackle and press, relentless in his pursuit of Mahomes.


    Mahomes showed unmatched mobility and, using his remarkable physical strength, resisted Donald¡¯s entanglement.


    At last, finding a gap, he attempted a pass, but before he could release the ball, he was taken down by Donald in a mutual takedown, which caused the trajectory of the pass to waver.


    The football traced a rainbow arc, aiming for the end zonea?€¡±


    Somewhat forced.


    Because Mahomes was a full sixty-seven yards from the end zone, such a pass had to arc significantly, revealing early his passing direction and target, giving the defensive group enough time to strategize.


    At this moment, the trajectory of the pass was further disturbed by Donald, decreasing its accuracy and stability, enhancing the difficulty, becoming increasingly unstable as the distance grew, and the Los Angeles winds were of no help either.


    Result.


    Li Wei, surrounded by three, ultimately failed to complete the catch, watching helplessly as the football flew uncertainly over his heada?€¡±


    The pass was incomplete.


    Beep, beep, beep.


    The game was over.

 Chapter 654

    ?Chapter 654: 653 Arch Rival Is Born Chapter 654: 653 Arch Rival Is Born Ah, ah ah ah, ah ah ah!


    The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum succumbed to complete and utter frenzy, the endlessly erupting enthusiasm made the whole world shake violently.


    However.


    There was a brief silence in the commentary booth, swaying with the earth-shattering noise, hearts stirring and blood boiling, unable to calm down.


    ¡°...The game, is over.¡±


    ¡°The game has ended, with the Los Angeles Rams barely triumphing over the Kansas City Chiefs at home.¡±


    ¡°The final score, ¡¯51:54¡ä.¡±


    ¡°It was a very, very close game, even closer than the score suggests; the Kansas City Chiefs have become the first team in NFL history to score over fifty points and still lose.¡±


    ¡°This is truly...¡±


    ¡°Wow, absolutely stunning.¡±


    ¡°The peak confrontation, undoubtedly.¡±


    Cheers, gasps, and shocks.


    Not just the fans, but the commentators also needed some time to digest.


    Looking back at the entire game, they still couldn¡¯t believe their eyes, praise and exclamations firing non-stop like a machine gun.


    ...


    ¡°From a statistical standpoint, both teams have played their most spectacular game of the season.¡±


    ¡°Goff, with a passing completion rate of 63.2%, passed for 413 yards, with four touchdowns and no interceptions.¡±


    ¡°Mahomes, with a passing completion rate of 71.7%, passed for 478 yards, with six touchdowns and three interceptions.¡±


    ¡°Some might say that the suspense of the game¡¯s outcome may have hinged on Mahomes¡¯ three interceptions, but this game is different from that one against the New England Patriots; behind Mahomes¡¯ three interceptions, we need to read another set of data.¡±


    ¡°Aaron Donald, with two sacks, two pass deflections, and an additional seven effective hits.¡±


    ¡°The league¡¯s best defensive player of last season hasn¡¯t gone soft, Donald exerted incredible pressure on Mahomes, those interceptions weren¡¯t unforced errors, but rather forced errors under pressure; on the contrary, amidst Donald¡¯s relentless storm, Mahomes still played an astonishing game.¡±


    ¡°Whether it¡¯s the completion rate, the number of passing yards, or the number of touchdowns, all are truly remarkable.¡±


    ¡°Mahomes, deserves applause.¡±


    ESPN was responsible for broadcasting this game and effortlessly broke the viewership record for Monday night games this season.


    To be precise, not only did it break the Monday night record, but this game also became the first of the season to exceed forty million viewers, living up to expectationsa?€¡±


    Following the opening game, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ games continue to reach new heights.


    Everything, as anticipated.


    That¡¯s not right, even if expectations were already soaring, it still exceeded them.


    It was because he was not satisfied with his own performance for the entire game.


    In today¡¯s ground offense, Li Wei had indeed been slightly outperformed.


    Rather than say that Reed¡¯s focus on the passing offense didn¡¯t give Li Wei enough opportunities to carry the ball, it was more that in the head-to-head confrontation with Donald, Li Wei came out on the losing end.


    There was no need to deny it; today, Donald had indeed come prepared and played excellently, from anticipating to executing, to reacting on the spota?€¡±everything was perfect.


    And so, Li Wei hit a wall head-on.


    Donald or Watt, they proved with their actual performance that the defensive group truly held up half the sky, and Li Wei wasn¡¯t invincible.


    This was the first time Li Wei had completely failed to gain the upper hand in a one-on-one direct confrontation.


    It was not just an advantage he lacked, he didn¡¯t even see a single gap.


    Li Wei was not inclined to look for excuses and neither did he need to.


    In the head-to-head matchup between the last season¡¯s best offensive and defensive players, Donald took the first victory.


    Through this battle of the best, Donald proved his abilities once more, silencing all those who repeatedly compared him to Watt and looked down on him.


    He was now fully capable of taking over Watt¡¯s mantle as the new flag bearer of the league¡¯s defense.


    Interesting turn of eventsa?€¡±


    Head up, chest out, striding confidently.


    After the game, Li Wei didn¡¯t head directly to his teammates; instead, he walked proudly towards Donald.


    There was no need to deny or resist, facing the failure and weaknesses squarely, for that is the first step towards improvement.


    Arrogance and ignorance are the only hindrances to oneself.


    Moreover, this failure does not predict the outcome of their next encounter.


    Now, Li Wei had one more challenge, one more goal.


    Indeed, Coach Burns was right.


    The Professional League is full of challenges.


    There are always bigger fish, and one should never become complacent or stand stilla?€¡±


    NFL, truly fascinating.


    Donald¡¯s somewhat simple and round face with sweat streaming down, and his face flushed with excitement, could be seen from a distance.


    Despite his fatigue, he couldn¡¯t conceal his joy.


    Seeing Li Wei, Donald too left his teammates and actively approached him head-ona?€¡±


    For a moment, all the bustling gazes swarmed their way.

 Chapter 655

    ?Chapter 655: 654 Stand tall and proud Chapter 655: 654 Stand tall and proud ¡°Rams!¡±


    ¡°Rams!¡±


    The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum roareda?€¡±


    This was the first time since the Rams moved from St.


    Louis to Los Angeles that a home game had sold out completely, with not a single empty seat in the house.


    For the past three years, due to the team¡¯s poor performance, coupled with the abundant choices available to the people of Los Angeles, the attendance at the Coliseum had been a concern, often revealing vast swathes of empty seats on live broadcasts.@@@@


    Until last season, when the Los Angeles Rams finally found their momentum, fans began to trickle into the stadium, and the atmosphere slowly began to warm up.


    Then came tonight.


    At last, the first sellout had given the players a chance to see what a packed Coliseum looked like; Los Angeles fans got their money¡¯s worth and were not disappointed, having witnessed a pinnacle showdown.


    From the first second of the game, excitement and suspense lasted until the very last; from confrontation to score, from offense to defense, the thrilling collisions were non-stop; in the end, the game concluded perfectly with a victory for the home team.


    ...


    The fans, they went crazya?€¡±


    ¡°Rams!¡±


    The overwhelming, deafening chants were like a fierce summer downpour.


    All around was a thunderous roar.


    On the field, coaches Reed and McVay, quarterbacks Mahomes and Goff, were amidst layers of tight crowds greeting each other post-game, with the television cameras following the action closely.


    However, the eyes of all the fans and players in attendance caught a different movementa?€¡±


    Aaron Donald.


    Li Wei.


    Although the spotlight was elsewhere, all eyes involuntarily focused on them.


    Following that.


    ¡°Aaron!¡±


    ¡°Aaron!¡±


    Through roars and cries that tore through the air, Li Wei was engulfed in an instant.


    Donald reached out his right hand, bearing a simple grin like Paddington Bear, ¡°Great game.¡±


    Li Wei clasped Donald¡¯s right hand, and the two bumped shoulders.


    Amidst the thunderous noise, they had to lean in close to barely catch each other¡¯s words, ¡°Great game.


    Then, Li Wei saw Mahomes.


    After finishing the interview, Mahomes stood alone, with his hands on his hips, quietly looking up at the bustling, roaring Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, silent, his faint silhouette revealing a touch of loneliness and melancholy.


    ¡°Hey, Sherlock, no tears today?¡± Li Wei joked.


    To his surprise, Mahomes turned and looked over, his eyes already brimming with tears.


    Li Wei was at a loss for words and offered a laugh, ¡°What to do, maybe wipe them with your jersey first, and while you¡¯re at it, blow your nose.¡±


    Snort.


    Mahomes couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud.


    Li Wei continued, ¡°It¡¯s okay, the camera is on Travis now, your undershirt isn¡¯t exposed.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡± Mahomes laughed heartily, the tears retreating forcefully.


    Li Wei said, ¡°You should know that you are the MVP of this game, right?¡±


    Mahomes exhaled deeply, ¡°Yet, I still couldn¡¯t bring a victory to the team.


    I finally understand the pressure you¡¯ve been under.¡±


    From last season to this one, the incessant spotlight had always been on Li Wei, whether it brought expectations or criticisms, the pressure was piled on him, making him feel overwhelmed both on and off the field.


    Now, Mahomes had finally gotten a small taste of it.


    ¡°Rookie, I thought that after going through this once, I¡¯d be more mature and able to face it again with ease.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s not like that.¡±


    ¡°I hate this feeling, I loathe it.¡±


    ¡°God, this feeling really sucks, damn it.¡±


    The usually smiling Mahomes, the always straightforward and obedient Mahomes, finally couldn¡¯t hold back his impulse and let loose with a curse.


    Li Wei nodded slightly, ¡°You¡¯re right to loathe it.


    It means you¡¯re truly hurt, so you should firmly remember this feeling, to ensure that once the wound heals you don¡¯t forget the pain, so you don¡¯t go through it again next time we meet.¡±


    Mahomes drew in a sharp breath, ¡°Experience this again next time we meet?¡±


    ¡°...Damn.¡±


    Imagining the scene, Mahomes still couldn¡¯t control his language.


    Li Wei nodded, ¡°Of course.


    You¡¯ve personally seen what this team is capable of, and if they end up as Super Bowl Champions, I won¡¯t be surprised at all; they are now one of the top teams in the League.¡±


    ¡°If we have a chance to meet them again this season, they have the ability to beat us again, so if you don¡¯t want to experience that gut-wrenching pain again, you must firmly remember how you feel right now.¡±

 Chapter 656

    ?Chapter 656: 655 overturning rivers and seas Chapter 656: 655 overturning rivers and seas ¡°...If you don¡¯t want to experience such overwhelming pain again, you must firmly engrave this moment¡¯s feelings into your memory.¡±


    Bitterness.


    Agony.


    Struggle.


    Frustration.


    Rage.


    Regret.


    Technically, they had given it their all, leaving no room for regretsa?€¡±whether in victory or defeat, they should have been able to accept the outcome with equanimity.


    ...


    However, the cruelest part of reality was that despite their efforts, their insides were still ablaze, and nothing could soothe that pain; it was unbearable.


    Damn it!


    Mahomes believed he would never forget, no matter what.


    Following Li Wei¡¯s gaze, Mahomes saw Donalda?€¡±


    A man that commanded fear.


    Just like Watt in his prime, they definitely had the ability to turn a game around single-handedly; the difference was, football, after all, is a team sport, and the Houston Texans¡¯ offensive group was too weak, so much so that Watt still hasn¡¯t managed to get his hands on a championship.


    Let alone the Super Bowl Champions, even the conference championship was still out of reach.


    That was also Watt¡¯s target throughout this offseason.


    And now, the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ offensive group seemed finally ready.


    ¡°Sherlock.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s voice captured Mahomes¡¯s attention.


    ¡°This game wasn¡¯t lost because we played poorly, but because the opponents outperformed us and won fair and square.¡±


    ¡°You were outstanding, very outstanding, but the opposing MVP was even better.¡±


    ¡°Do you know what that means?¡±


    Mahomes shook his head in confusion.


    Li Wei stared at Donald, a slight smile lifting the corners of his mouth as he ignited a spark of fighting spirit.


    ¡°It means we now have new goals and new challenges.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that exciting?¡±


    Mahomes: ...


    Uh, what kind of thinking is this?


    Can you really view it this way?


    This is puzzling because Li Wei¡¯s performance in this game was average, and he wasn¡¯t a key player in turning the tide of the match.


    The interesting part is exactly here.


    Previously, everyone in the League, inside and out, has been praising Li Wei.


    Bystanders and casual viewers didn¡¯t care about Li Wei¡¯s performance; to be precise, they might not have intended to pay attention to football at all.


    Now, with the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ loss and the end of Li Wei¡¯s continuous record of advancing a hundred yards per game becoming a news focus and stirring debate, people began to realize belatedly that Li Wei broke the record of the legendary running back Sanders, and the discussions started to spreada?€¡±


    If Li Wei played averagely, maintaining the standard of this game, wouldn¡¯t that precisely highlight how astonishing his performances have been all along?


    Amazement.


    Shock.


    Praise.


    Just like that, the sensation exploded, and one could clearly feel that Li Wei¡¯s market influence was still climbing, something that people hadn¡¯t anticipated.


    The buzz was uncontainable, a wave of excitement rolled on!


    Discussions about the ¡°mid-season Super Bowl¡± showed no signs of cooling down.


    Among them, one inevitable topic quickly became a favorite of professionals.


    ¡°After a bayonet fight of a battle, how will the two teams¡¯ recovery and adjustment abilities fare, and can they prepare in time for the next game?


    This is also an important criterion for testing strong teams.¡±


    Here, one cannot overlook the backgrounda?€¡±


    The controversy of the Mexico City game.


    Whether it¡¯s the Los Angeles Rams or the Kansas City Chiefs, the matter was left unresolved.


    The teams were completely unsure of how the game would unfold, and the players were understandably distracted, only confirming the venue at the last minute, with the Chiefs hurriedly heading to Los Angeles, hastily adapting to the field.


    In terms of physicality, the impact wasn¡¯t significant; but it was truly a test of mental strength.


    Afterwards, both teams put aside the off-field drama to jointly deliver a peak showdown.


    Once the match was over, the tense nerves could finally relax a little; however, the regular season¡¯s intense schedule was still ongoing, leaving no extra time for rest and adjustment, with the next game just around the corner.


    Therefore, both the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs needed to quickly make adjustments and prepare for the next match; but obviously, this was a challenge and a test.


    And, as the season entered its latter half, such tests became increasingly severe.


    What lay ahead was the last game of week 12 of the regular season in November, the playoff spots battle commencing with bloodshed.


    At the same time, the competition for the deputy leader position also opened up.


    It¡¯s understandable that every game¡¯s intensity and difficulty level would step up a notch, with teams shedding their baggage and going all in for a close-quarters fight, leaving even less room for adjustment and errors.


    Challenges, one after another, were the same for the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs.


    The outcome of the last game must be put behind them, as they focus their minds on the upcoming match.

 Chapter 657: 656 Withdraw completely intact

    Chapter 657: 656 Withdraw completely intact


    Trials, one after another.


    Challenges, one match after another.


    The pace of professional events never halted, not even when the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs had just together concluded a brilliantly thrilling peak showdown; the regular season¡¯s progress would not slow down.


    Fortunately, when scheduling the matches, the League took into consideration that this game was in Mexico City, including factors such as travel distance and time zone changes. In order to ensure that teams wouldn¡¯t lose their regular season preparation rhythm due to the international match, they also prepared in advance¡ª


    A bye week.


    The Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs won a brief respite during the last week of November.


    ...


    Accidentally, the two teams that had just completed the most exciting, thrilling, and beautiful match of the season could use the following week to make adjustments.


    This was good news.


    However, this was only a temporary respite. After a short week of adjustment, the battle would reignite, and the challenges would still be there.


    The Kansas City Chiefs were about to travel to an away game to challenge their divisional arch-rivals, the Oakland Raiders.


    No one would forget that last season, the Oakland Raiders had unexpectedly defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, ending the latter¡¯s season-starting six-game winning streak, and subsequently led to a series of six consecutive losses; however, the Kansas City Chiefs turned things around by defeating the Oakland Raiders to end their losing streak and get back on track.


    Divisional arch-rivals, indeed fitting of the title, every clash was filled with highlights.@@@@


    This season, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Oakland Raiders were on completely different trajectories. The Kansas City Chiefs led the American League with nine wins and two losses, still occupying the top seed spot; the Oakland Raiders, however, were caught in a desperate vortex of two wins and nine losses, becoming strong contenders for the top draft pick.


    One paradise, one hell.


    And there was a very important matter¡ª


    Earlier this year, the League held the team owners¡¯ conference, officially voted, and passed the proposal for the Oakland Raiders to relocate to Las Vegas; the team would officially complete the relocation in the 2020 season.


    This meant that the football team that had been in Oakland since 1995 was about to leave.


    However, in the second half, the spotlight turned to Li Wei¡¯s show.


    Just in the third quarter alone, Li Wei single-handedly advanced 101 yards on the ground and caught 32 yards, scoring two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown, utterly demolishing the defensive group of the Oakland Raiders.


    Li Wei, who had underperformed in his last match, had swiftly recuperated during the bye week and returned to form with a dominant performance that controlled the game.


    The Oakland Raiders fell apart.


    Despite quarterback Derek Carr¡¯s attempts to keep a firm grip on the game, after throwing two interceptions, even Carr was plunged into despair.


    Heroic, devastating, sorrowful.


    The Oakland Raiders ultimately could not replicate last season¡¯s miracle.


    ¡°49:33¡±.


    The Kansas City Chiefs left the field intact, carrying away an important victory from the away game.


    The score suggested a clean victory for the Kansas City Chiefs; however, the game had been exceedingly close, only widening the gap in the latter half of the third quarter. Indeed, the Oakland Raiders had truly put the reigning champions to a severe test.


    But the Kansas City Chiefs ultimately stood firm. This season, for the second time after a fierce battle and a loss, they swiftly adjusted and got back on track, avoiding a losing streak, while gradually showing the mature side of a strong team.


    At the same time, this victory also afforded the Kansas City Chiefs some breathing room¡ª


    The New England Patriots were doggedly pursuing them, keeping alive the suspense over who would hold the top seed in the American League.


    Now, as the Kansas City Chiefs returned to the win column by defeating the Oakland Raiders, and the New England Patriots unexpectedly lost to the Tennessee Titans led by Derrick Henry, facing their third defeat of the season and momentarily slowing their chase, the number one and two seeds in the American League remained unchanged.


    However, with four weeks still left in the regular season, there remained countless possibilities.


    For the Kansas City Chiefs, home-field advantage in the playoffs was particularly crucial since the team had maintained an unbeaten record at home this season, with their only losses occurring away. Home-field advantage would play an even more critical role in the playoffs.


    The Kansas City Chiefs needed to maintain their edge, and the New England Patriots were not about to give up the chase.


    Then, in week fourteen of the regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs would face the toughest challenge at home this season. Whether they could maintain their unbeaten home record would depend on this:


    The traditional powerhouse of the American League, the Baltimore Ravens.

 Chapter 658: 657 Focus Duel

    Chapter 658: 657 Focus Duel


    In 1995, the owner of the Cleveland Browns, Art Modell, announced that he was prepared to relocate the team to Baltimore.


    Modell reached a tripartite agreement with the city of Cleveland and the League, where Modell was required to leave the team name, colors, and history all in Cleveland; a new Cleveland Browns team would inherit all of this in 1999. As for Modell, he would take the players, coaches, and his team culture to Baltimore to establish a brand new team.


    And thus, the Baltimore Ravens were born.@@@@


    In other words, the current Baltimore Ravens team in the League actually originated from the Cleveland Browns, but due to the tripartite agreement, the Browns¡¯ records and history were all left to the subsequent new team, and the Baltimore Ravens started from scratch, essentially a brand new team.


    That¡¯s why the history of the Baltimore Ravens in the League has to start from the 1996 season.


    But!


    ...


    This Baltimore Ravens team became one of the most successful teams in the League.


    From the 1996 season to the 2023 season, the Baltimore Ravens had a regular season win rate of 56.9%, ranking third among all teams in the League¡¯s historical standings; their playoff win rate of 56.7% ranked fourth in the League¡¯s history.


    Fifteen playoff appearances, two Super Bowl Champions, seven division titles.


    Furthermore, as of the 2018 season, the Baltimore Ravens were the only team to have made it to the Super Bowl more than once while still maintaining a 100% Super Bowl win rate, having advanced and won both times in the 2000 and 2012 seasons.


    In the new millennium, while people have constantly discussed the New England Patriots, the Baltimore Ravens are one of the few teams whose records can be juxtaposed, maintaining their competitiveness from beginning to end.


    This team values tradition and legacy.


    Source: , updated on novgo.co


    Since 1996, Ozzie Newsome has served as the team¡¯s manager, staying on even as the team¡¯s ownership has changed hands.


    The team¡¯s head coaches have been consistent as well¡ªover more than twenty years, there have only been three coaches, with the current coach John Harbaugh having been in charge since 2008 without any sign of wavering.


    As mentioned before, Harbaugh is also an important member of Coach Reed¡¯s coaching tree. His first job in the League in 1998 was as the special teams coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he spent a good ten years.


    And then, there is now.


    Harbaugh soared to the top, becoming the third head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.


    This time was no different.


    The Baltimore Ravens lost the game, and their main quarterback¡ª their season record fell into a dire situation of four wins and five losses, standing at the edge of a cliff.


    All of it was absolutely terrible.


    However, that is how strong teams are. They should never be underestimated, especially the Baltimore Ravens. Harbaugh has always had a sense of relentlessness and toughness in his bones, which is the biggest difference between him and his brother Jim Harbaugh. Faced with adversity, John always held on a little longer.


    In week ten of the regular season, the Baltimore Ravens had their bye week.


    Using the bye week to their advantage, Harbaugh made a bold and brave decision:


    He gave up on quarterback Robert Griffin III, who had starting experience and had reached the playoffs, and promoted this year¡¯s draft slide and breakdown rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson as the starting quarterback.


    Indeed, everyone understood the logic.


    When the Baltimore Ravens picked Lamar Jackson with the thirty-second pick in the first round of this year¡¯s draft, they clearly hoped he would take over for Flacco.


    But reality dictated that the Baltimore Ravens had missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, and this season they were trapped in dire straits. The decision to use a rookie quarterback as the starter was a matter of personal opinion¡ªwhether it was reckless risk or extraordinary courage.


    Remember how the New York Giants fumbled awkwardly last season, looking ahead and behind in indecision, even though it was a laughable state, but that was the norm.


    But Harbaugh didn¡¯t show that.


    Decisive, determined, and efficient¡ªhe assessed the situation and made his choices immediately.


    Moreover, it wasn¡¯t a reckless gamble. Using the bye week, Harbaugh changed the playbook.


    Yes, you heard it right. Harbaugh simply and neatly changed the offensive strategy, crafting an entirely new set of tactics around Lamar Jackson as the core.


    Flacco was a traditional pocket quarterback, while Jackson was a typical running quarterback¡ªtwo completely different styles, and Harbaugh needed to get the team ready.


    However, Harbaugh was no stranger to running quarterbacks.


    Back in Philadelphia, Harbaugh witnessed Coach Reed training Michael Vick, transforming this quarterback, who had rough passing skills, to maximize his strengths and shine, becoming the first of a new generation of running quarterbacks in the league.


    Now, Harbaugh was prepared to follow in his mentor¡¯s footsteps, to remodel Jackson. In just one week, he transformed the Baltimore Ravens into a completely different team.


    It was a high-stakes gamble, and Harbaugh won it.

 Chapter 659: 658 A generation of heroes

    Chapter 659: 658 A generation of heroes


    Could Harbaugh become a grandmaster?


    On this question, opinions differ, and time will tell.


    But there¡¯s no doubt that Harbaugh is a powerful figure; his courage and boldness are even admired by Belichick, drawing attention.


    The proof lies right before our eyes¡ª@@@@


    Harbaugh, won his bet.


    At home, they defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, avenging their loss in the second week of the regular season.


    ...


    At home, they defeated the Oakland Raiders, seizing the opportunity and avoiding an upset against a lesser team.


    Away, they defeated the Atlanta Falcons, in a close struggle between two teams that had been equally struggling this season, the Baltimore Ravens securing a precious victory.


    Returning from the bye week, three consecutive wins!


    All of a sudden, the season¡¯s record improved to seven wins and five losses, and the Baltimore Ravens were back in the hunt for the playoffs.


    ¡°I, Hu Hansan, am back!¡±


    Just as important as the victory was the shining performance of rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson, who emerged like a hurricane and sparked heated debates.


    Source: , updated on novgo.co


    When it came to passing, Jackson¡¯s performance... left much to be desired.


    Rough passing skills, poor reading of secondary defenses, questionable target selection, and pass accuracy that left room for improvement¡ªthere were not just one or two points of critique. Weaknesses that hadn¡¯t been exposed on the NCAA field were magnified tenfold, twentyfold in the professional league, becoming targets for opponents.


    In three games, against three defenses that weren¡¯t exactly strong, Jackson threw four interceptions, and his passing could even be seen as a weak point.


    But in running the ball, Jackson showed once-in-a-decade top-level talent.


    Not just physical talent, but also his reading of the game and timing decisions; he always seemed to find the gap and easily break through.


    In the first game, he rushed for 117 yards, setting a Baltimore Ravens team record; over three games, he averaged 87.7 rushing yards per game.


    Better than a running back.


    The Baltimore Ravens consequently transitioned to a team focused on the ground game, in stark contrast to the style when Flacco was the starting quarterback.


    Not to mention, that¡¯s just the appetizer.


    ¡°Harbaugh vs. Reid¡±¡ªafter last season¡¯s Philadelphia Eagles, Coach Reid is about to face another challenge from one of his disciples, no less difficult.


    Blah, blah, blah... With a series of polite exchanges during an interview, Harbaugh did not hide his respect and admiration for Reid.


    ¡°Without a doubt, this will be the most difficult and challenging game of the season for us. We need to fight, we need to give it our all to even have a chance at victory,¡± he said.


    Pittsburgh Steelers: ???


    Clearly, Harbaugh didn¡¯t consider the Pittsburgh Steelers a threat and wasn¡¯t shy about letting that be known, casting his division rival aside without a second thought.


    However, these pleasantries were not what the reporters were after. Patiently waiting for Harbaugh to finish his courtesies, they finally seized the opportunity to drop a bombshell.


    ¡°Rumors have it that the Baltimore Ravens intended to select Running Back Li Wei in last season¡¯s draft, but unfortunately, he was intercepted by Reid. Is this true?¡±


    ¡°Can you share with us about Li Wei, the difference between him and the running backs currently on the Baltimore team¡¯s roster? And the difference between Li Wei and Lamar Jackson, given that Li Wei defeated Lamar Jackson, including in games and the Heisman Trophy voting, back in their college days?¡±


    The catch is actually right here.


    To be honest, Harbaugh didn¡¯t expect this; he was surprised that the reporters had managed to dig up this story, but on reflection, it wasn¡¯t entirely unexpected.


    ¡°Haha, it seems we have spies in our team meetings, I need to clean house when I get back,¡± Harbaugh joked¡ª


    During the review of Kansas City Chieftain¡¯s game footage before the match, Harbaugh had praised Li Wei more than once or twice.


    Now it seems, secrets are no longer secrets.


    ¡°Of course, I appreciate Li Wei,¡± Harbaugh said without beating around the bush, openly declaring his admiration. ¡°If Coach Reid is willing to let him go, we would be more than happy to welcome Li Wei to join us.¡±


    Boom!


    Harbaugh is truly formidable. When the reporters wanted a story, he openly threw out a bombshell, leaving them all scrambling to pick up their jaws.


    And that¡¯s not all.


    ¡°Obviously, Coach Reid saw Li Wei¡¯s potential, and he was more decisive and confident than I was. The fact has proven Coach Reid¡¯s keen eye,¡± he added.


    ¡°It¡¯s not just Li Wei, but also Mahomes. The growth and transformation of these two sophomore players this season have been seen by not just me but the entire league and how to suppress them will also be a challenge for us in this game. I think it goes without saying that everyone can agree on this.¡±


    ¡°Now it looks like I¡¯m still too young and inexperienced, and there are many things I need to learn from Coach Reid.¡±


    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s rare, after so many years in the league, to still feel young.¡±

 Chapter 660: Sharpening knives menacingly

    Chapter 660: Sharpening knives menacingly


    Harbaugh, truly formidable¡ª


    Praise, admiration, adulation.


    A flurry of grandiose words, first tossing out a bombshell to disorient the reporters, then smoothly diverting their gaze with eloquence, easily disarming their focus with casual deflection.


    The reporters¡¯ cunning intentions, Harbaugh understood all too well; their arrows were aimed at two rookie players on the Baltimore Ravens, preparing to provoke them to challenge the current sophomore leader, Li Wei.


    Those tricks were well known to those in the know.


    One was the team¡¯s undrafted rookie running back this year, Gus Edwards.


    ...


    This young running back, with his rough technique and average ability, wasn¡¯t a surprise undrafted name at the draft; if not for the Ravens¡¯ first two starting running backs both suffering from injuries, it wouldn¡¯t have been Edwards¡¯ turn to start.


    Yet, that¡¯s just how opportunities work¡ª


    After Edwards took the starting position, the team went on a three-game winning streak, and his pairing with Lamar Jackson perfectly displayed the Ravens¡¯ distinctive ground attacking style. Edwards played to his strengths and avoided weaknesses, turning in performances that were noteworthy, and thus became an unexpected discovery for the team.


    For a while, praise swarmed in.


    Edwards¡¯ confidence soared, and he immediately set his sights on Li Wei.


    If you¡¯re going to challenge someone, it naturally should be the strongest in the League.


    Source: , updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.??


    Youngsters like Edwards are like firecrackers; reporters need only light them a little for them to immediately explode¡ªno one knows what they might say.


    Another was Lamar Jackson.


    A talent who grew up amidst praise and affirmation, yet he lost three times to an obscure rookie during his confident peak college season. Li Wei was gradually becoming an obsession for Jackson.


    This event had its pros and cons.


    On the positive side, over the past two years, one in NCAA and one in NFL, Li Wei¡¯s performance set a benchmark and he continued to learn and improve. Before the season started, everyone speculated whether Li Wei would hit the rookie wall, but in reality, his performance continued to grow, his grounded attitude to continually climb the peaks brought a profound impact.


    Perhaps Jackson didn¡¯t even realize it himself, but he was becoming humble.


    He was making Li Wei a role model, temporarily letting go of his pride and ego, willing to learn, to communicate, to train with the team, and to grow together, without ever underestimating the Professional League or aiming too high for unrealistic goals.


    For those spoiled talents, this was truly rare¡ª


    Harbaugh definitely had no intention of mocking this year¡¯s draft number one Baker Mayfield.


    Amid the bustling noise, Edwards¡¯s eyes immediately caught Marlon Humphrey, who was looking on with a cold, amused gaze and a smile on his face.


    ¡°Marlon, what do you think? How did I do with my impersonation?¡±


    Humphrey, a cornerback, was the Baltimore Ravens¡¯ first-round pick in 2017. He spent the previous season as a rotational cornerback and this season, with starting cornerback Jimmy Smith suspended for four games due to a violation of the League¡¯s personal conduct policy, he became the starter¡ª


    And after that, he never gave up his starting spot.


    However, Edwards singling out Humphrey, a rookie, had nothing to do with defending Jimmy Smith or boldness.


    Marlon Humphrey, attending the University of Alabama, had fought alongside Li Wei for a season, and was also Li Wei¡¯s good friend. They still kept in touch regularly, and this was no secret in the Baltimore locker room.


    After all, due to the relationship between Harbaugh and Reed, the rapport between the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs was fairly good, and neither side harbored any grudges.


    But some subtle changes started to take place after Lamar Jackson became the starting quarterback in week 10 of this regular season.


    Of course, the NCAA is the NCAA, and the professional stage is something else entirely. Former enemies becoming teammates, former teammates becoming adversaries¡ªsuch scenarios are countless in the NFL. There¡¯s no need to take them too seriously¡ª


    However, if one really wanted to make an issue of it, that option wasn¡¯t off the table either.


    With Edwards¡¯s words, all eyes in the locker room turned towards them.


    Humphrey¡¯s smile lingered at the corners of his lips, tinged with helplessness. He was inadvertently caught in the crossfire just by sitting quietly to the side, but Humphrey wasn¡¯t a pushover either.


    ¡°Good, very good. I¡¯d give it ninety-three points.¡±


    ¡°Actually, I think you should try impersonating him during a game, let the rookie appreciate it. I believe he would admire your sense of humor.¡±


    Was it a compliment or sarcasm?


    Edwards, for a moment, actually couldn¡¯t tell and didn¡¯t know how to respond.


    Humphrey earnestly looked at Edwards with a ¡®preaching to the choir¡¯ attitude, ¡°However, be careful, don¡¯t take rookies as clowns lightly.¡±


    ¡°Because often, those who do, end up being the clowns themselves. I experienced it firsthand in college. Who would have thought that I¡¯d end up being the clown, haha.¡±


    Remembering their first meeting in college, Humphrey¡¯s smile fully blossomed, sincerely joyous. It was indeed a wonderful time.


    Then, Humphrey turned his head, his gaze landing on Jackson in the corner¡ª


    The dark-faced quarterback sat quietly, sharpening his knife in silence. His calm eyes revealed a trace of sharpness, quietly stirring with a killer instinct.


    Noticing Humphrey¡¯s gaze, Jackson looked back with dead fish eyes.


    Humphrey laughed, ¡°After all, none of us want to be the clown, right?¡±

 Chapter 661: 660 came prepared

    Chapter 661: 660 came prepared


    ¡°...Beautiful!¡±


    ¡°Effective hit, the Baltimore Ravens Defense has shown great competitive state right from the opening stage of the game. Despite Mahomes¡¯s excellent pocket movement to avoid the sack, Suggs still managed to complete an effective hit using his rich experience, disrupting Mahomes¡¯s passing motion.¡±


    ¡°Kelsey catches the ball in an awkward position, but he doesn¡¯t have a chance to advance. The Ravens force the Kansas City Chiefs to face another third-and-three situation, a severe test yet again.¡±


    ¡°The game has just barely started less than three minutes ago, and it¡¯s already the third time the Kansas City Chiefs Offense is facing a third-down challenge; the game is extraordinarily tight.¡±


    ¡°Of course, as expected, this is the game we want to see.¡±


    In the CBS broadcast booth, Jim Nantz and Tony Romo continue their partnership in commentary. The game starts without any warm-up, going straight into fierce competition ¡ª living up to everyone¡¯s expectations, both teams came out strong from the start.


    ...


    The match ¡°Kansas City Chiefs VS Baltimore Ravens¡± kicks off on Sunday afternoon at one o¡¯clock ¡ª


    It¡¯s not a night game.


    The League also wanted to schedule it for the nighttime, but since the Kansas City Chiefs have already played four-night games this season, leading the League, they would need to be mindful of the other team owners¡¯ sentiments if they were to continue favoring the Kansas City Chiefs with night games. Goodell had to make a sacrifice, and so the game was scheduled for the afternoon.


    In some way, this is a good thing.@@@@


    Because today Kansas City has officially entered winter. Although it has not snowed or rained, the weather is clear, the sky is cloudless, and lazy sunshine pours down, the climate is on the good side; however, with temperatures at minus three degrees, plus the cool breeze, the wind chill is nearly minus ten degrees, and not a hint of warmth is felt.


    The League should be thankful this isn¡¯t a night game, or else the temperatures would plummet even further ¡ª


    Source: , updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï


    Dry, cold weather means that the football leather will harden, which is not conducive to ball handling or passing, and teams often focus on running plays.


    For the excitement of the game and the TV ratings, this is not good news.


    Indeed, this has been proven numerous times, and today is no exception.


    At the start of the game, the Baltimore Ravens guessed the coin toss correctly, and Harbaugh chose the field, the side against the light; thus, the Kansas City Chiefs started on offense for the first half.


    Considering the weather¡¯s impact, the Kansas City Chiefs started cautiously, mainly with short passes and running plays; the Baltimore Ravens were also prepared, and the first wave of offense and defense from both teams elicited constant exclamations.


    The Baltimore Ravens forced the Kansas City Chiefs into third-down situations three times in a row.


    As of this week, they ranked fourth in pass defense, fourth in rush defense, and third in overall league standings.


    In terms of strength and resilience, the Baltimore Ravens remain one of the league¡¯s top tough guys this season.


    In the last three weeks with three consecutive wins, the whole league cheered for Lamar Jackson¡¯s realization of his athletic potential and marveled at Gus Edwards¡¯ Cinderella story; in reality, though, the consistent output from the defense was the key to turning around the Ravens¡¯ season.


    In fact, just one statistic is enough to prove this point¡ª


    Week six of the regular season, the Baltimore Ravens faced the Tennessee Titans, who had a close fight with the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of last season¡¯s playoffs.


    The Baltimore Ravens Defense sacked Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota eleven times in a single game.


    An entire eleven times.


    Throughout the game, Mariota was so stunned by the continuous sacks that he couldn¡¯t differentiate north from south, which completely disoriented the Tennessee Titans.


    ¡°21:0¡±.


    The Baltimore Ravens swept the Tennessee Titans.


    Eleven sacks in a single game ranks second in the history of the NFL Super Bowl era.


    And the two teams at the top of the list for most sacks in a single game are¡ª


    The 1990 Kansas City Chiefs in their game against the Seattle Seahawks and the 1985 Dallas Cowboys in their match against the Washington Redskins.


    In those two games, there were twelve sacks each.


    Time flies; nearly thirty years are about to pass, and the league has undergone drastic changes. Nowadays, in an offensive-focused setting, it¡¯s rare to see double-digit quarterback sacks in a single game¡ªuntil the Baltimore Ravens Defense ferociously earned its mark again.


    Moreover, the victim was not just any team, but one that had advanced to the playoffs last season.


    Their strength was evident.


    Therefore, no one could underestimate the Baltimore Ravens.


    Now it looks like Harbaugh seriously studied the game tapes of the Kansas City Chiefs and learned from Pederson¡¯s experiences against Reed in the two games last season.


    Then, based on the Baltimore Ravens¡¯ own form, he tailored a set of tactics, directly challenging his teacher.


    The Baltimore Ravens came prepared.

 Chapter 662: 661 Tailor-made

    Chapter 662: 661 Tailor-made


    The Baltimore Ravens came prepared.


    Clearly, Harbaugh leading his team to visit Arrowhead Stadium was not merely for catching up and exchanging pleasantries; off-field activities aside, the game is the game.


    Right from the start, Harbaugh demonstrated determination; they intended to take home a victory because¡ª


    ¡°Coach, if you lose, at most you¡¯ll go from the first seed to the second; but right now, we¡¯re in a fight to the death for a playoff spot.¡±


    One is icing on the cake, the other is a matter of life and death.


    Things are, after all, different.


    ...


    Therefore, Harbaugh was not being polite.


    This current Baltimore Ravens Defense might not be on par with the legendary team of 2000; they aren¡¯t even in the same class; but undoubtedly, their experience and strength still rank among the league¡¯s top.


    The Baltimore Ravens employ a ¡°3-4¡± defensive formation, but it¡¯s slightly different from other teams¡¯ ¡°3-4¡± formations. Their three defensive linemen and four linebackers all possess exceptional ¡°attack power¡±¡ª


    Whether it¡¯s blitzing and pressure, or ground defense; whether it¡¯s sacking quarterbacks or stopping running backs, they can exhibit impressive strength.


    To be accurate, this defense lines up in a ¡°3-4¡± stance, but the tactical arrangement is a hybrid of ¡°3-4¡± and ¡°4-3¡± formations, making it highly variable. Harbaugh successfully drew the essence from the Seattle Seahawks¡¯ ¡°Bombing Corps¡± and ultimately adapted it to suit his style.


    Of course, the root of it all is Harbaugh¡¯s capability¡ª


    Source: , updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã?


    Patrick Onwuasor.


    CJ Mosley.


    Terrell Suggs.


    Matthew Judon.


    These are the four starting linebackers for the Baltimore Ravens this season.


    Aside from Onwuasor, an undrafted rookie in 2016, the other three are all legends, decorated with Pro Bowl selections, All-America First/Second Team honors and so on¡ªeach a recognized player in the league.


    They often left short passes open, allowing Mahomes to complete short pass connections, whether it was to Kelsey or Li Wei; the defensive group allowed the connections to succeed.


    The emphasis was on:


    Firstly, cutting off Mahomes¡¯ ability to make medium and long passes, pushing him to become Alex Smith.


    Secondly, relying on the secondary defense to immediately cut off any further advancement of the short pass.


    From their positioning alone, it was evident that the safeties of the Baltimore Ravens were arrayed fifteen yards beyond the scrimmage line, their entire formation pushed forward, stacking all the pressure in the short pass area and the frontline area.


    Of course, this also meant that the Ravens¡¯ secondary defense was under tremendous pressure, and in contrast to the team¡¯s star-studded defensive line, this secondary defense appeared much more low-profile.


    The two cornerbacks, one being Humphrey, Li Wei¡¯s college teammate; the other, Brandon Carr.


    This player originally came from the Kansas City Chiefs, had an unremarkable rookie period, transferred to the Dallas Cowboys after his rookie contract expired, but failed to make a name for himself there. It wasn¡¯t until his transfer to the Baltimore Ravens last year that he finally showcased his abilities under Harbaugh¡¯s guidance.


    The safeties were no different.


    Strong safety Tony Jefferson was an undrafted rookie, spent his rookie period with the Arizona Cardinals without making a splash, and, like Carr, transferred to the Baltimore Ravens last season, turning trash into treasure in Harbaugh¡¯s hands.


    Simply put, the individual abilities of the Baltimore Ravens¡¯ secondary defense were average at best, primarily relying on Harbaugh¡¯s tactical deployments to maximize the players¡¯ role capabilities.


    The sole exception was the safety Eric Weddle.


    This free safety was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the 2007 draft and joined the league, then transferred to the Baltimore Ravens in 2016. With six Pro Bowl appearances, two All-America First Team and three All-America Second Team honors, he is recognized as one of the top safeties of the 2010s decade.


    To a certain extent, the Ravens¡¯ secondary defense was very similar to the Kansas City Chiefs, relying on a star player to drive the entire team.


    But the Ravens relied on their defensive line to create opportunities, with the secondary defense quickly aligning with the tactical play, also performing among the top ranks in the league.


    Therefore, this also allowed Harbaugh to set the stage right from the start¡ª


    The frontline exerted pressure to rush the passer, intentionally leaving gaps in the short pass area, forcing Mahomes to throw short; but then promptly cut off the advancement space after the short pass reception, immediately tackling the receiver.


    It was the same with Li Wei.


    By employing such tactics, the Baltimore Ravens forcibly interrupted the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive fluency and explosiveness, pushing Mahomes into an uncomfortable position where he had to continuously suppress his instincts and get bogged down in short-passing quagmires, thus disrupting the flow of the game.


    In essence, the rush was deceptive ¨C the real core was pace control.

 Chapter 663: 662 Three times Third Gear

    Chapter 663: 662 Three times Third Gear


    Harbaugh, still the wily veteran¡ª


    Currently, the Kansas City Chiefs Offense ranks first in the league, not only in scoring but also in passing and rushing offenses, delivering an adrenaline-pumping, no-dull-moment battle against the Los Angeles Rams.


    Facing such a vibrant and in-form Kansas City Chiefs, the Baltimore Ravens indeed have the disadvantage, their Offensive group is not capable of engaging in a shootout, nor is their Defensive group able to stop the opponent.


    For the Baltimore Ravens to completely shut down the Kansas City Chiefs Offense would be practically an impossible mission; overcommitting forces in this area might lead to neglecting others, putting the team in jeopardy.


    Therefore, Harbaugh did not make the foolish mistake of engaging the Chiefs in a do-or-die struggle.


    Instead, Harbaugh left gaps and holes, applying pressure through blitzes to guide the offense, allowing the Kansas City Chiefs Offense some room to maneuver, even being mentally prepared for the Chiefs to score early; however, gradually disrupting Mahomes¡¯s rhythm, forcing him into an uncomfortable and unfamiliar game mode.


    ...


    If Mahomes had already been a starter for two or three seasons, with plenty of experience and had developed a more diverse and adaptable playing style, capable of making on-the-spot adjustments based on the opponent¡¯s strategy, Harbaugh¡¯s tactics might not have been effective immediately, and the contest between the two would continue.


    But Harbaugh precisely targeted Mahomes¡¯s lack of game experience, quietly disrupting his rhythm like a spider luring a fly into its web.


    Then, seizing the initiative.


    That is to say, think ten steps ahead for every move you make.


    The game has just started, and Harbaugh is already focusing on the full game strategy.


    It¡¯s not just Mahomes¡ªReed too.


    Reed has the advantage of a clear perspective, comprehensively surveying the whole game; he can vaguely discern Harbaugh¡¯s strategy. However, the key is that the Baltimore Ravens Defense executed their tactics well at the opening stage, indeed not giving the Kansas Chiefs much room to adjust, so Reed didn¡¯t rush to change tactics¡ª


    He watched and waited.


    Consequently, at the initial stage, the game reached a subtle deadlock.


    The Baltimore Ravens forced the Kansas City Chiefs into Third Gear situations three times.


    Yet, the Chiefs managed to convert on third down all three times, continuing their offense.


    Undercurrents surged, tension spread.


    Li Wei was no exception.


    This was Li Wei¡¯s second season, but in terms of experience, it was not enough.


    Li Wei could vaguely sense the traps set by the Baltimore Ravens Defense, but for the moment, he couldn¡¯t articulate the exact problems with the situation.


    However, the stalemate said it all¡ª


    Then.


    The Baltimore Ravens Defense maintains a similar rhythm, intensity, and strategy, not needing to expend all their energy in a desperate attempt to take down Mahomes and, by doing so, risk exposing themselves to his sneaky strikes in the backfield; and yet, they are able to stay proactive within their effective defense.


    Their defensive efficiency, very impressive.


    As a result, Li Wei once again faces a stop¡ª


    He advances three yards.


    Second and seven, Kansas Chiefs Offense still looking fragmented.


    Li Wei stands up; he wasn¡¯t surrounded, just single-covered against Saggs, but he could see the eyes of the Ravens¡¯ players all around, their black jerseys like devils from hell.


    Add to that the cold weather, the football in Li Wei¡¯s hands wasn¡¯t fully controlled during Saggs¡¯s collision; distracted slightly by the need to protect the ball, he ended up tackled to the ground.


    Unseen strength and pressure loom over the Kansas Chiefs Offense.


    Li Wei stands up, tosses the football to the referee, and instead of lining up quickly, he stands still for a moment to think, recalling the positions and formations of the Baltimore Ravens Defense just now¡ª


    They¡¯re not layered but rather fragmented.


    Between the defensive front and the secondary, they seem to deliberately leave a space of about five to ten yards.


    So, is this a trap?


    ¡°Rookie?¡±


    Mahomes calls out.


    Li Wei looks up, responds, but doesn¡¯t say much and quickly gets back to the formation.


    Mahomes doesn¡¯t think too much either, hastening to lay out the tactics.


    Then, everyone is lined up.


    Bending his knees and lowering his center of gravity, Li Wei closely observes the defensive group¡¯s formation, trying to extrapolate more from the theoretical flat diagrams.


    Whew.


    Because of the cold, a slight exhale; you could see the mist emerging, the air and the field looking exceptionally clear and bright, the skin taut, nearly cracking, with a faint sting spreading across the surface of his arms.


    A loud voice cuts through the sky, startling the birds.


    ¡°Offense!¡±

 Chapter 664: 663 Please step into the vat

    Chapter 664: 663 Please step into the vat


    At the 42-yard line, second down and seven yards to go.


    In the crisp and cold air, Mahomes¡¯s voice announcing the snap cut through the sky, releasing a cascade of blue and gold that seemed to pour down like a waterfall.


    Above the eardrum, a roar erupted.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Mahomes grabbed the football and swiftly cross-stepped to the left¡ª


    A screen pass.


    ...


    One could immediately discern the strategy of the Kansas City Chiefs, because Mahomes and the entire offensive line moved laterally to the left, but the focus now was on the Chiefs¡¯ wide receivers, who dashed out dazzlingly.


    Two people on the left, two on the right. Moreover, on the left, there was Li Wei tucked in the pocket, holding the pipa half-hidden.


    Unpredictable.


    Even though it was a screen pass, Mahomes¡¯s options remained fully open, and the Baltimore Ravens Defense had no choice but to keep up, shifting laterally to their right and sticking close.


    Collision, entanglement, confrontation.


    At this moment, one could once again see the experience of the Baltimore Ravens Defense¡ª


    Facing a suspected screen pass tactic, the defense was already at a disadvantage, losing the initiative; however, decisively, the defensive end Urban beautifully exploited the situation, watching the offensive line move to the left, followed by a small half step, then unexpectedly stopped.


    A misplacement.


    The pocket, wide open.


    Urban made a secondary move without hesitation, stepping up from the side of the pocket.


    Though he was slightly slow, it seemed Urban could not catch up with Mahomes¡¯s pace; but with the pocket wide open, Mahomes was now exposed.


    Whether Urban could touch Mahomes or not, the shadow was there.


    At the same time, the Baltimore Ravens defensive line and linebackers initiated a dazzling position swap in the midst of the turbulent lateral movement of the Chiefs¡¯ offensive line, trying to disrupt the order and tear open a gap through the middle.


    Of course, this wasn¡¯t easy and was incredibly difficult.


    But the arms of the Ravens¡¯ players, like those of an octopus, continued to flap over the offensive line towards Mahomes, stirring up layers of airwaves.


    Chaos, turbulence.


    Pressure, coming head-on, the most important aspect being the disruption of vision and judgment.


    Mahomes looked left and right, only seeing a wild dance of demons; it was hard to see clearly at first and tough to judge whether the receiving players were already in position. He needed to create more space to conduct a second read.


    However, the right side was no longer viable; Urban was in relentless pursuit.


    Mahomes could only continue moving to his left, but the space on the left wing was gradually shrinking.


    In a flash of lightning, relying on such a move to change his center of gravity, his body, like a cheetah, hurled itself forward.


    Pushing off the ground, charging forward, his upper body leaning out almost parallel to the ground, teetering dangerously close to falling, but continuously driving forward by the force of his steps.


    Whew, a breeze swept past Urban, blasting straight ahead.


    He left without taking a cloud with him.


    Urban: ???


    What... What happened? Urban completely missed Li Wei¡¯s maneuver, reminiscent of a Houdini-like escape in front of his very eyes.


    However, Li Wei had no time to pay attention to Urban.


    The crisis was not averted.


    Stumbling along, before Li Wei could even rebalance himself, he could see a fast-approaching shadow right in front of him.


    One, two, three, four.


    This was the capability of the Baltimore Ravens Defense; they could stockpile forces at the front, creating unbelievable pressure, like a formidable punch rushing at you.


    During this game, Li Wei had tried more than once, but so far, he hadn¡¯t gained any advantage.


    Now, another opportunity arose before him.


    Step, step, step, step.


    As Li Wei pushed off the ground and adjusted, he tried to capture the movements of the defensive players ahead in his sight; but in the split second, it was too difficult, and all he could catch were several shadows enveloping him from all sides.


    ¡°Stop, look, and pass through,¡± Bell¡¯s strategy, was all too familiar to the Ravens, having spent years studying Bell during the twice-annual Steel Raven Battles.


    So, if Li Wei paused, the Baltimore Ravens Defense would step up even more timely and firmly.


    No time for hesitation now.


    Push off, charge forward.


    He instantly unleashed the speed that had slightly slowed down, charging head-on.


    On the left, linebacker Saggs was approaching.


    Saggs, who had just been delayed by a short pass and entangled steps, was now firing up his second wind to defend against Li Wei, seeing Li Wei accelerating and preparing for a frontal breakthrough, aiming to outpace Saggs¡¯s lateral interception with his speed advantage.


    Accelerate.


    Saggs clenched his teeth tightly; who would dare underestimate him?


    Even though he was near forty, and everyone said he should retire, he still had energy, still capable of confronting young, spirited rookies head-on.


    Speed, unleashed without reservation.


    However, just then, Li Wei, who had been charging straight ahead, suddenly slammed on his brakes¡ª


    He stopped his steps!

 Chapter 665: 664 Chinese Kung Fu

    Chapter 665: 664 Chinese Kung Fu


    Quick, everything was accelerating, fully accelerating, truly ever-changing in an instant.


    Saggs had no time to think, relying solely on instinct and experience.


    He moved laterally.


    Li Wei moved longitudinally.


    As opposed to the recent ¡°Li Wei vs. Urban,¡± Li Wei ran a ninety-degree perpendicular route, intending to break past Saggs¡¯s interception with his speed.


    This tactic, from last year to this year, Li Wei had used countless times and it was invariably successful, showcasing his explosive acceleration to the world.


    ...


    But that was because the Kansas City Chiefs had not yet encountered the Baltimore Ravens.


    They were prepared.


    Saggs had been vigilant, fully alert, and charged forward the moment he sensed movement.


    Accelerate, accelerate!


    You kid, just hit the wall here!


    With speed and power stretched to the limit, a hint of pity flashed in Saggs¡¯s eyes, as if he could see the frustration and gloom Li Wei would feel upon being thwarted.


    However, at that moment¡ª


    Li Wei braked sharply, stopping his full-tilt charge completely.


    Saggs continued to move laterally.


    Li Wei, however, stopped sprinting longitudinally.


    It was like being at a crossroads with traffic lights.


    Saggs stared wide-eyed in astonishment at Li Wei¡¯s sudden brake, joy turning to horror as he instinctively tried to stop sharply and turn to follow, but his tightly stretched body swung out with inertia.


    This is bad!


    With a sharp brake, Saggs failed to plant his feet firmly, almost slipping and falling face-first, clumsily bracing his body with hands and feet, managing not to look embarrassed, yet could only watch that flash of red smoothly changing direction, drifting past him on the right.


    Just a brake.


    Originally, Li Wei intended to break from Saggs¡¯s left side but created a timing difference instead, allowing Saggs to overshoot and then broke from his right side.


    Saggs¡¯s old face reddened, his cheeks like ripe tomatoes, ready to explode, breath stuck in his chest, his steps slipped again, knees unable to support the force, and he clumsily fell down.


    Damn! Damn, damn!


    Saggs had not been humiliated like this for a long, long time.


    Li Wei: No time to care. Not even time to scoff.


    With a pivot, he maneuvered around Saggs, but there was absolutely no time to relax, as linebacker Mosley on his left front side was coming at him fiercely¡ª


    Not unexpected.


    With a tug.


    Mosley was already on the ground¡ª


    Damn it, damn it, damn it!


    Brushing past each other.


    Ahead, Li Wei could feel the ferocious turbulence snapping at his heels, barely escaping by the skin of his teeth.


    For the first time, this was still Li Wei¡¯s first successful breakthrough against formidable challenges in this game.


    No time to feel relieved, his knees buckled, his steps faltered, and he was about to fall, the breath he had been holding back finally escaped him.


    Stumbling forward, Li Wei lunged, looking like he was about to fall, struggling to steady himself with his arms spinning quickly like windmills, trying to control his balance.


    One step, two steps, three, four, five steps.


    In just five yards, Li Wei lunged forward, about to break past ten yards to secure a first down and avoid a third gear situation for the first time in the game.


    However, the Baltimore Ravens¡¯ secondary defense quickly followed up, with two safeties already blocking his path.


    Strong safety Jefferson, free safety Wendell.


    Clearly, Jefferson took a forward position while Wendell held back.


    Seeing Li Wei¡¯s breakthrough, Jefferson immediately moved in close, sank his energy to his Dantian, bent his knees, and assumed the stance of a rhino ready to charge.


    He didn¡¯t plan to tackle but rather to flip Li Wei head-on.


    Li Wei took another deep breath, his pace undeterred, not slowing down but instead surging forward two more steps, colliding with Jefferson amidst his staggering momentum.


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t a head-on collision.


    Li Wei was about to lose his balance; colliding head-on with Jefferson was like walking into a trap.


    Li Wei cleverly used his unsteady balance, continuously swaying left and right to distract Jefferson, then slightly misaligned their positions causing the collision force not to hit solidly, instead forcing Jefferson to attempt a tackle.


    Next, Li Wei¡¯s left hand braced itself.


    Headbutt, straighten, shove.


    First, using Jefferson¡¯s stance to adjust his own balance to stand upright; then, amid the chaos, continuously disrupting Jefferson¡¯s balance, leaving them both in a floating state.


    Straight Arm Block!


    At this point, Li Wei¡¯s Straight Arm Block had barely any strength; it was more about leveraging force than a true block.


    Then¡ª


    Li Wei, with his left hand pushing on Jefferson¡¯s shoulder, utilized a Tai Chi Bagua Push Hands move, leveraged force to act upon himself, and adeptly pushed Jefferson aside.


    The next second, the whole stadium saw¡ª


    Jefferson stumbled away like a fumbled gourd, while Li Wei, with renewed lightness in his step, continued pushing forward past the defense.


    Romo: ¡°Damn! Chinese Kung Fu!¡±

 Chapter 666: 665 A flash of inspiration

    Chapter 666: 665 A flash of inspiration


    The entire field was utterly stunned.


    Even as they witnessed it with their own eyes, they still couldn¡¯t understand how it all happened, as if they were seeing martial arts from a movie:


    Mysterious and unpredictable.


    Yet, the scene had unfolded just like that.


    One second ago, Li Wei was staggering through narrow gaps, struggling to survive.


    The next second, Jefferson rolled over like a clumsy panda, his eyes blankly watching the fading figure wearing the number twenty-three.


    ...


    Step, step, step.


    Li Wei was leading the charge.


    Originally, Li Wei had been exhausted but, after the bumps and turbulence, he found his strength again, straightened his knees, pushed off continuously, and picked up speed once more.


    The thirty-five-yard line.


    The thirty-yard line.


    With each leap, the first strike was secured, and then he could see Wendell standing across from him in the distance.


    As one of the Baltimore Ravens Defense¡¯s two great mountains, Wendell was experienced, seasoned, and immediately made an accurate judgment of the situation.


    Wendell didn¡¯t rashly advance because he was the Baltimore Ravens¡¯ last line of defense. Once breached, Li Wei¡¯s blade would pierce the heart.


    Wendell constantly adjusted his footing, using his speed advantage to quickly close in on Li Wei. He didn¡¯t rush to tackle but nimbly entangled Li Wei.


    At the twenty-five-yard line, getting close, collision, squeezing.


    At the twenty-yard line, disrupting, interfering, bumping.


    Wendell proved his experience by slowing down Li Wei with successive interferences, and the energy Li Wei had just gathered was exhausted in the collisions.


    And most importantly, Wendell delayed time, and the reinforcements rushed in to help.


    Li Wei could see the encroaching shadows of the black jerseys swarming in from all directions with the corner of his eye¡ªhe was out of time.


    Now, Li Wei¡¯s urgency became imperative.


    What to do?


    One yard, two yards, now advancing each yard felt like a heavy entanglement, as if moving through a swamp.


    With no time to hesitate, Li Wei made a split-second decision. Bracing for the risk of falling into an ambush, he didn¡¯t stubbornly push forward but stopped in his tracks instead.


    Wendell, caught off guard, slightly mispositioned himself.


    But Wendell reacted quickly a second time, no longer caring about the rules, and raised his hand to tug on Li Wei¡¯s jersey, as if an octopus trying to wrap around him.


    Li Wei, unruffled, had held back a move¡ª


    Straight Arm Block.


    The football had already been switched to his right hand. His left hand fiercely wrapped around Wendell¡¯s left shoulder.


    Once, twice.


    And finally, a third time.


    In a burst of power, he forcefully disrupted Wendell¡¯s balance. His feet stepped forward in rhythm, and he created a physical impact through the combined force of his strength and speed, pushing and bumping along.


    Humphrey¡¯s breath hitched, his secondary reaction quick, as he immediately closed the gap.


    The fifteen-yard line was left behind.


    The ten-yard line was within reach.


    Humphrey kept pace with Li Wei, his speed exploding to the max, sprinting full out with no reservations. He caught up with Li Wei, whose steps were still not fully adjusted, and raised his hands to prepare for the tackle.


    However!


    Acceleration, initiated.


    In an instant, the distance widened.


    The ten-yard line, in the blink of an eye, was now the five-yard line.


    Li Wei had already dodged Humphrey¡¯s lunge, holding his breath, exerting full force; his speed was finally unleashed, his graceful figure turning into a streak of light.


    The next second¡ª


    ¡°End zone!¡±


    ¡°End zone! Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh...¡±


    Nantz, his mind blank, had only one thought:


    Touchdown.


    This was Li Wei¡¯s capability.


    Suppress, suppress, and keep suppressing, but the moment you are even slightly negligent, even the slightest misalignment¡ªand not even requiring an oversight or gap, because Li Wei would create his own opportunity and then bring his ability to the utmost:


    Strength. Speed. Change of direction. Tenacity. Agility.


    All eighteen martial arts mastered, and then, leaving everyone in the dust.


    This scene, even if witnessed with one¡¯s own eyes, even after having seen it more than once on the Professional League stage over these two years, still sends chills down the spine.


    A quick toss play disguised as a fake pass, it seemed as if the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ ground attack might stall to a mere two or three-yard gain, but Li Wei turned the tide:


    He eluded the defense of five players, broke free from three tackles, and three times danced on the edge of the reaper¡¯s blade, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.


    Incredible!


    Unparalleled brilliance!


    In a moment, the entire Arrowhead Stadium erupted into a frenzy.


    Ahh ahh ahh, ahh ahh ahh.


    A roar like a tidal wave, released all at once.


    On the sidelines, Harbaugh quietly watched the scene, a breath caught in his chest, and then let it out in a long sigh:


    If only they had been a bit braver back then, if only they had been a bit bolder, they could have had Li Wei, basked in these accolades and cheered with the crowd, but now, they could only stand on the sidelines and appreciate this moment.


    In the end, Harbaugh raised his hands high to applaud Li Wei.


    Despite being the opposition, Harbaugh agreed that Li Wei¡¯s performance deserved all the praise; this was an elite player, capable of changing the game on his own strength.


    But then again, football is a team sport, and this was just the beginning.


    ¡°Stay calm. Stay calm!¡±


    Harbaugh comforted his own players, nodding and affirming with his eyes, ¡°Good job, very good. Next, let¡¯s see how our offensive group performs.¡±

 Chapter 667: 666 prove yourself

    Chapter 667: 666 prove yourself


    Pat, pat, pat pat.


    Not just at Arrowhead Stadium, but Harbaugh too applauded Li Wei¡¯s brilliant performance; at the same time, Harbaugh wasn¡¯t surprised by the scene unfolding before him¡ª


    Against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Baltimore Ravens had prepared for a fierce battle and were ready for the Chiefs¡¯ potential offensive explosiveness, even though the Ravens Defense didn¡¯t have full confidence.


    They needed patience.


    Turning around, Harbaugh looked at his rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson.


    Although Jackson was still young and needed to refine not only his technique but also his attitude, Harbaugh appreciated Jackson¡¯s stance when faced with challenges.


    ...


    Different from Li Wei, but still showing a thirst for victory against challenges.


    Unconsciously, Harbaugh began to look forward to the young quarterback¡¯s future growth.


    In the present, it was like this.


    ¡°Jackson!¡±


    Harbaugh called out, and Jackson, with a fierce and determined look, shifted his gaze from Li Wei and responded with enthusiasm.


    ¡°Yes, Coach!¡±


    This spirit was indeed commendable, not at all subdued by the excellent performance of the Chiefs.


    Harbaugh, rubbing his hands together in anticipation, felt it was time to test Jackson, feeling a bit excited.


    Lamar Jackson, feeling Harbaugh¡¯s gaze, secretly clenched his fists, exerting strength so that his knuckles made a crackling sound, as his eyes once again glanced towards the figure in the end zone¡ª


    He had truly waited a long time for this day, far too long.


    Only God knew what kind of torment the past season had been for him; he wasn¡¯t even afraid to enter hell anymore because hell couldn¡¯t be more terrible.


    Praise for Li Wei was everywhere, constantly reminding Jackson of his failures, not needing words¡ªthe sympathetic looks from the team and fans were suffocating, and the words of encouragement felt like daggers piercing his heart, emphasizing his insignificance.


    Jackson sincerely prayed that the Kansas City Chiefs and that damn Li Wei would be quickly eliminated from the playoffs, so he could end this nightmare.


    However, contrary to his wishes, Li Wei not only didn¡¯t stop his march but also capped it off as Super Bowl MVP.


    ¡°But without a doubt, this was just the beginning.¡±


    ¡°Wow, I mean, we haven¡¯t even fully introduced the Baltimore Ravens Defense, and now we need to shift the battleground already,¡± the announcers remarked.


    ¡°So, Tony, what do you think?¡±


    In the studio, Nantz didn¡¯t hide his admiration and praise¡ª


    This season, any game involving the Kansas City Chiefs has been synonymous with excitement, and this afternoon is no exception.


    Romo expressed his agreement.


    ¡°Without question, the Kansas City Chiefs are one of the most entertaining teams of the season, and even without the ¡®one of¡¯, this statement wouldn¡¯t cause much controversy.¡±


    ¡°However, the Kansas City Chiefs have lacked a bit of luck, with strong confrontations against the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, and Los Angeles Rams resulting in one win and two losses.¡±


    ¡°Both losses were by a margin of just one possession, ended with last-second defeats.¡±


    ¡°Objectively speaking, the performance of the Kansas City Chiefs has been nothing short of top-notch; they deserved to win, but the Goddess of Fortune just wasn¡¯t on their side.¡±


    ¡°But reality is often cruel, and when people discuss these two games, they won¡¯t remember the Kansas City Chiefs lacking luck, they¡¯ll only remember the Kansas City Chiefs lost those games. In other words, this season when facing the real powerhouses, the Kansas City Chiefs regrettably lost both encounters.¡±


    ¡°At present, the Kansas City Chiefs are still the top seed in the American League, having only lost two games so far this season, but it¡¯s precisely because they¡¯re so far ahead that expectations keep rising; people expect the Kansas City Chiefs to show more in these strong confrontations.¡±


    ¡°Today is an opportunity,¡± the broadcast continued.


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs need to prove themselves, this upgraded version, or rather, younger version of the team, needs to show the potential to compete and dominate in the playoffs. As the defending champions, they¡¯re now the target of the entire League, and I believe Harbaugh¡¯s Baltimore Ravens would very much enjoy defeating the Kansas City Chiefs.¡±


    It¡¯s not just about tactics, but also the pressure and attention on and off the field¡ª


    Competitive sports have never been just about tactics and strength; mental state and resilience are equally vital.


    As a former quarterback criticized for his lack of resilience, Romo understood this all too well.


    There, Lamar Jackson was trying to prove himself.


    Here, the Kansas City Chiefs needed to prove themselves too.


    Everyone had their own battle.


    And as it turned out, Romo¡¯s judgment was correct.


    The deadlock continued from the beginning and through the entire first half, both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens were determined to win!

 Chapter 668: 667 Patiently Maneuvering

    Chapter 668: 667 Patiently Maneuvering


    Stalemate.


    Rather than being a deadlock, it¡¯s more of a stalemate, with the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens defensive groups becoming the highlight of the first quarter.


    On one side, Lamar Jackson tried to prove himself, but the Kansas City Chiefs Defense was well-prepared for the potential Read Option Offense early on.


    Houston, the lineman, shouldered the responsibility, marking the quarterback alone, and saw through Jackson¡¯s Read Option.


    At the same time, the Kansas City Chiefs exceptionally launched a comprehensive pressure, focusing on ground defense, forcing Jackson to pass.


    Jackson¡¯s rough passing technique and poor accuracy were laid bare, causing the offensive rhythm to be completely controlled by the Chiefs, leading to continuous setbacks for the Baltimore Ravens Offense.


    ...


    Jackson was both frustrated and depressed¡ª


    Aspirations are abundant, but reality is stark.


    Although Jackson came with ambitious hopes, eagerly trying to prove himself, the harsh reality was like hitting a wall, repeatedly facing strikeouts.


    Romo, incisive.


    ¡°The Chiefs were prepared, but obviously, Jackson was not, he got flustered as soon as his favored skills hit a wall,¡± he said.


    ¡°But this is a lesson every rookie player must face.¡±


    On the other side, the Baltimore Ravens had been persistent with their tactics from the beginning of the game, and gradually, Mahomes had yet to find his rhythm.


    Objectively speaking, there¡¯s no problem with Mahomes¡¯s short pass accuracy, he can still deliver precise firepower, relying on short passes to open up the play, but it felt as though one hand and one foot were tied, maybe it doesn¡¯t affect everyday life, but it¡¯s still uncomfortable.


    Naturally, the offensive rhythm couldn¡¯t become completely smooth.


    Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens Defense against Li Wei was timely and in place, making every attempt at ground advancement visibly costly and increasingly inefficient, forcing Reed to rotate Hunter to allow Li Wei a chance to breathe and adjust.


    The Chiefs were still able to advance, but faced increasing pressure, and slight missteps at crucial moments led to strikeouts.


    Punt. Punt. Still punting.


    From a scoring perspective, the game seemed dull, with the Special Duty Group frequently taking the stage, strikeouts and punts becoming the main theme of the first quarter.


    ¡°0:7¡±.


    Since Li Wei¡¯s long touchdown run at the beginning, neither team had managed to score again, not even getting close to field goal range.


    However, Harbaugh was a smart man.


    In Harbaugh¡¯s tactics, Edwards and Jackson formed a peculiar double running back tactic. Edwards¡¯s bulldozer-like destructive power running was combined with Jackson¡¯s agile and skillful running. Along with Jackson¡¯s own ability to take a hit, the combination of the two players burst forth with a synergy where one plus one equaled more than two.


    Either you use the Read Option Offense to lure the enemy in deep, letting Houston move up to complete the ground defense, with Edwards breaking away from Jackson or Jackson breaking away from Edwards to advance on the ground.


    Or, they¡¯d just directly opt for ground advancement, using Edwards as a battering ram, repeatedly leveraging his power to smash head-on into the defensive group. As soon as the defense showed signs of loosening, Jackson would immediately follow up.


    Both tactics were running plays, but Harbaugh played them out with style and variety.


    In the end, another short and stocky but strong running back, Kenneth Dixon, would burrow through the defense like a mole¡ª


    Touchdown!


    Finally, the Baltimore Ravens also made their touchdown, engaging with extraordinary patience in a battle of attrition, step by step dismantling the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ defense.


    Until they reaped their reward.


    With strategy and tactics, with power and capability, Harbaugh chose a somewhat cumbersome but solid and powerful response.


    Then, occasionally taking advantage of tactical setups to launch surprise attacks, Jackson¡¯s passes, Harbaugh hadn¡¯t forgotten that Jackson was the quarterback, and passing was his primary job, regardless of how raw his skills might be, it shouldn¡¯t be neglected.


    Back and forth, the Baltimore Ravens¡¯ patience finally paid off.


    First, there was a touchdown.


    Then there was a field goal.


    In a tight game, Harbaugh¡¯s Baltimore Ravens showed a stout resolve; despite lacking explosive power, they steadily narrowed the gap with firm steps¡ª


    ¡°10:14¡±.


    The situation remained tight; the Kansas City Chiefs had just begun to widen the gap when the Baltimore Ravens immediately entangled them relentlessly.


    This time, it was the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ turn to demonstrate their growth and transformation this season.


    Mahomes stuck to short passes, a combination of continuous quick screens and short passes, instantly elevating the speed and rhythm by a whole level, pushing back the Baltimore Ravens with quick, flat, and fast plays. Even Hill, known for his deep strikes, pulled back to catch short passes.


    A dizzying offensive barrage, crossing midfield and advancing relentlessly, with the Red Zone in sight, the Baltimore Ravens¡¯ defensive intensity and rhythm finally caught up, forcing the Kansas City Chiefs into a Third Gear conundrum.


    But Mahomes and Kelsey¡¯s brilliant connection still pulled off the Third Gear four-yard conversion, and in a fresh first and ten situation at the Red Zone¡¯s edge, they handed the ball to Li Wei without any warning.


    And without any fancy plays, it was simply a ground attack, seizing just the right moment.

 Chapter 669: 668 Upset the Rhythm

    Chapter 669: 668 Upset the Rhythm


    Pace, that was the key.


    On one hand, the Baltimore Ravens deliberately slowed down the pace, returning to a retro ground offensive style, methodically unfolding a battle of positions, and ultimately succeeding in their assault.


    On the other, the Kansas City Chiefs, sensing the anomaly, decisively sped up the pace, ingeniously seizing the trap laid out by their opponent, turning the trap into an opportunity, connecting swiftly with short passes, taking the initiative to strike, creating plays in the short-passing area, and recapturing control of the game¡¯s tempo before the Ravens could dictate it.


    Everything, accelerated rapidly.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Mahomes announced the kickoff, without any hesitation or delay, he tucked the football into Li Wei¡¯s arms and performed a fake action¡ª


    ...


    Mahomes and Li Wei, one to the left and the other to the right, back to back, dashed straight out; at the same time, both of them bent their upper bodies to shield the football, their feints mixing real and fake to conceal the position of the football, leaving the opposing players unable to judge whether it was a fake run or a fake pass.


    On tiptoes, they moved with agility.


    Differing from usual, Li Wei didn¡¯t exert his full strength. Instead, like a cat with nine lives, he started his steps silently and watchfully scanned ahead with full vigilance.


    Twisting and dodging.


    Assuming the stance of a submarine, Li Wei successfully deceived the defensive end Urban¡¯s radar, encountering no confrontation, his steps already behind Kelsey.


    After passing the slot, closely following Kelsey, one after the other, Li Wei shadowed Kelsey, moving in lockstep with him.


    Humphrey: Rookie, you think you can fool me just by wearing a vest?


    Tasked with marking Kelsey, Humphrey faced immense pressure, as he knew Kelsey¡¯s capabilities; in a one-on-one challenge, he was certain to be at a disadvantage; therefore, he needed to concentrate more deeply, look for Kelsey¡¯s weaknesses, and thus complete his defense.


    Hence, Humphrey was the first to spot Li Wei.


    By sheer coincidence, Humphrey became the first player to notice Li Wei, making a quick decision, he abandoned Kelsey and surged horizontally from the right side of Li Wei.


    Pushing off the ground, exerting force, lunging¡ª


    All in one fluid motion.


    Humphrey didn¡¯t hesitate because he knew of Li Wei¡¯s abilities; even the slightest hesitation could become a gap for Li Wei to exploit.


    He had to be decisive and resolute.


    Still, he was a beat too slow!


    Humphrey: Damn it.


    Li Wei watched for movements in every direction, and although his forward view was obstructed due to Kelsey, he did not miss Humphrey¡¯s move with his peripheral vision on both sides.


    Li Wei, not having fully exerted force and keeping his center of gravity light, sidestepped Humphrey, moved laterally a couple of steps, his right arm and thigh brushing a gust of air, but besides that, he easily evaded Humphrey¡¯s tackle.


    But wave after wave, the intensity and tension of the Baltimore Ravens Defense were fully displayed.


    Mosley¡¯s figure was still flickering before his eyes, and another linebacker, Onwuasor, had already sprung forward in a stride.


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t avoid it¡ª


    Bang!


    Onwuasor and Li Wei tangled up head-on, Li Wei kept pushing off the ground, battling against Onwuasor¡¯s collision, trying to steady his footing amid the turmoil and instability.


    Unexpectedly, in the next second, Mosley¡¯s tackling charge flew in, targeting Li Wei¡¯s knees, hitting them like a torpedo with brutal force.


    Mosley clenched his teeth; he had been humiliated by Li Wei once, twice, and he absolutely couldn¡¯t allow a third time. He refused to let Li Wei break through from him again, not wanting to look like an idiot with a damaged brainstem. A murderous intent flashed in his eyes as he let out his strength unreservedly.


    Ugh, ah, ahh.


    In an instant, release!


    Then¡ª


    Li Wei¡¯s world started spinning at 360 degrees at high speed, red flames and black shadows colliding into chaos.


    In a flash, instinct was cut off, and the whole world plunged into darkness.


    ¡°Heh!¡±


    ¡°Jesus Christ!¡±


    Romo was about to curse, barely managing to control himself but ultimately couldn¡¯t help it. He took off his headset and slammed his hands down on the desk, standing up in disbelief at the scene in Arrowhead Stadium. His heartbeat pounded like a drum; his eardrums boomed.


    Nantz¡¯s voice still roared but grew distant.


    ¡°Violent collision.¡±


    ¡°God! The combined tackle of Onwuasor and Mosley completely flipped Li Wei. This scene...¡±


    ¡°Jesus Christ, that¡¯s an illegal hit! Mosley deliberately targeted below Li Wei¡¯s knees, no question that¡¯s a foul. Li Wei spun in the air like a windmill, this...¡±


    ¡°Li Wei¡¯s down, Li Wei¡¯s not responding, Li Wei seems unconscious.¡±


    ¡°This, this is unbearable to watch. A conflict has erupted on the field...¡±


    Damn.


    A nerve snapped in Kelsey¡¯s mind, and he could clearly hear the sound of it breaking as he watched Li Wei soar and flip through the air, his heart plummeting in a free fall due to gravity.


    The brain, simply unable to respond.


    Kelsey could only hear his own voice, bereft of reason, blurt out as he lunged forward, pushing past the obstructive Saggs to collide with Mosley head-on. Before Mosley could even stand up, he was once again toppled to the ground by Kelsey.


    Damn! Damn damn damn damn damn!

 Chapter 670: 669 days of whirlwind

    Chapter 670: 669 days of whirlwind


    ¡°Fuck, you jerk, you did it on purpose, you damn well did it on purpose.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you!¡±


    ¡°Get lost!¡±


    ¡°You underhanded dog, just resorting to filthy tactics nobody would want to see.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t take a loss? Go home and take care of your kids!¡±


    The smell of blood hung heavy in the air.


    ...


    Watching Li Wei get knocked over, the Kansas City Chiefs players lost all reason in an instant, their eyes red as they charged forward, engulfing Mosley completely. The Baltimore Ravens players also rushed in, creating a chaotic scene on the verge of losing control.


    Arrowhead Stadium was utterly stunned.


    Felix Gray couldn¡¯t believe his eyes, gripping the arms of his wheelchair so tightly that his whole body began to tremble uncontrollably, his heart pounding furiously¡ª


    Stand up. Li Wei, stand up!


    The scene before him was too brutal, too bloody, too shocking.


    Finally, coming to his senses, Arrowhead Stadium could no longer hold back, and a torrent of curses and condemnations descended upon the Baltimore Ravens.


    In the bustling crowd, a figure squeezed through, pulling Kelsey and Mosley together.


    ¡°Shut up!¡±


    ¡°Shut up! Everyone just shut up!¡±


    Kelsey was breathing heavily, trying to calm down and stare at the man before him¡ªit was Humphrey. As he was about to explode in anger, Humphrey yelled back.


    ¡°Calm down! The only thing that matters now is Li Wei!¡±


    Kelsey quieted down slightly, refraining from speaking further, but Humphrey had no time to deal with Kelsey and turned to the relentless Mosley.


    ¡°Back off!¡±


    ¡°Right now! Immediately! Have you lost your mind? You don¡¯t even realize the dumb thing you¡¯ve done and you¡¯re still blabbering, shut your mouth, you¡¯re dragging down the IQ of the whole Kansas City by two levels!¡±


    Mosley was stunned, completely shocked¡ª


    He was the star of the team, an indispensable player in the Defensive group, what was going on with Humphrey, how dare this second-year student point his finger and curse at him?


    Half a beat slow, Li Wei then realized he had just been knocked over. Taking a deep breath, Li Wei sat upright, didn¡¯t rush to answer, but turned his head and shook his hands instead, briefly checking his body condition¡ª


    It was fine.


    Li Wei let out a light breath, it seemed the 40% reduced risk of injury card he had during this offseason had played a key role.


    At least now, Li Wei felt no discomfort; moreover, the system didn¡¯t issue any warning or reminder.


    This was a good thing.


    But Li Wei still looked at the team doctor, and spoke honestly, ¡°No pain or discomfort, nor dizziness, but I think I just blacked out for a second.¡±


    Pausing, Li Wei half-jokingly said, ¡°Could have been three seconds, too.¡±


    The team doctor, seeing Li Wei still in the mood to joke, didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or not, but at least, this indicated that Li Wei was in good spirits.


    ¡°We need to conduct a concussion test.¡±


    Without another word, the team doctor performed a few simple tests on Li Wei right there and concluded that he seemed to be fine, finally, Li Wei managed to stand up.


    Mahomes¡¯s heart hung in his throat as he eagerly watched Li Wei, wanting to ask about his condition but not knowing how to start, ending up just staring blankly at Li Wei.


    Not just Mahomes, but also Kelsey, Hill, Jones, Fuller, and others were no exception, their eyes filled with worry and fear.


    And Humphrey


    At this moment, Li Wei could deeply feel the responsibility of the title captain, not just fighting for himself, but also bearing the responsibility and weight of the whole team.


    Li Wei paused slightly, his heart warmed slightly, and his smile lifted, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that, Brittany might misunderstand.¡±


    A small joke, but it fell flat today.


    Mahomes didn¡¯t laugh, and neither did Kelsey nor anyone else respond to Li Wei.


    Li Wei, somewhat helpless, said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m okay. The game isn¡¯t over yet, what are you guys doing here? Where had we just advanced to? Next is second down, right?¡±


    After speaking out, Kelsey let out a long breath, ¡°Rookie¡¯s alright.¡±


    Now, they could finally be totally sure.


    Li Wei did not linger any longer and left the crowd accompanied by the team doctor, although the on-site tests showed no problems, it was still necessary to go to the medical room for further checks¡ª


    Applause started.


    Applause continued.


    Seeing this scene, without needing a stretcher or support, Li Wei stood up on his own, taking steps forward, the heart hanging high in Arrowhead Stadium could finally relax, applause gathered from every corner, quickly sweeping across the entire stadium.

 Chapter 671: Oscillation Effect

    Chapter 671: Oscillation Effect


    ¡°Huff...¡±


    ¡°Li Wei stood up by himself, didn¡¯t sit on the stretcher, and it seemed he wasn¡¯t seriously hurt, which is good news for the Kansas City Chiefs.¡±


    ¡°But Li Wei still left the field with the team doctor by his side, as he needed to undergo a concussion protocol. He can only return to the field after passing the League-certified test.¡±


    ¡°Right now, the entire Arrowhead Stadium is standing up, applauding for their number twenty-three, hoping this incident won¡¯t have too much impact. This is the first time Li Wei has been injured and had to leave the field since joining the League.¡±


    ¡°The referee just called a yellow flag foul on Mosley of the Baltimore Ravens for a roughing hit. There¡¯s no doubt about the flag, and what¡¯s more, Mosley¡¯s hit could be suspected of malicious intent. The League will need to review the game footage after the match to decide if any additional punishment is necessary.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s watch the replay again...¡±


    ...


    Noise, chaos, boiling over.


    Li Wei, accompanied by the team doctor, slowly left the field, while all the Kansas City Chiefs players gathered together, watching with solemn faces as Li Wei departed.


    The atmosphere was somewhat somber¡ª


    Although everyone knows that injuries and accidents are inevitable on the football field, and the running back position has the highest attrition rates, being nicknamed ¡°monthly discard,¡± ¡°seasonal discard,¡± ¡°annual discard.¡± It¡¯s no wonder running backs¡¯ salaries never seem to rise.


    Yet, at this moment, seeing Li Wei spin like a windmill, the breathing at Arrowhead Stadium was cut short and uncontrollable worries began to rise.


    Others may not know, but Arrowhead Stadium sincerely hoped that Li Wei wasn¡¯t just a shooting star brushing past in haste.


    Then.


    In the stands alongside the player tunnel, calls for Li Wei¡¯s name erupted, one after another, faces filled with sincere worry and care, bodies leaned out, voices hoarse with strenuous shouting.


    Karen Gray was no exception, her heart contracted as she gazed unwaveringly at Li Wei¡¯s figure, then couldn¡¯t help but look down at Felix in the wheelchair.


    Just moments ago, Felix was still continuously calling Li Wei¡¯s name, but now he had quieted down, hands clenching the armrests tightly.


    Karen called out worriedly, ¡°Felix.¡±


    Felix¡¯s gaze never strayed, silently watching Li Wei¡ª


    According to multiple research data, among the 631 football players examined, as many as 71% faced some degree of CTE distress.


    The worst cases often surfaced in those who attracted the most head impacts, such as defensive backs, wide receivers, and running backs.


    After the study was published, the NFL denied the findings and tried to bury the evidence, rejecting any connection between several former football players who had died due to CTE and the head impacts they had encountered during their careers, even denying football could cause concussions. This became the biggest scandal within Goodell¡¯s tenure¡ª


    After all, once this study was confirmed, parents in the future were unlikely to allow their children to continue playing football at the risk of their lives.


    However, you can¡¯t hide the truth forever, and ultimately, Goodell couldn¡¯t stop the spread of public opinion, which escalated and finally spiraled out of control.


    Later, the incident was adapted into the movie ¡°Concussion,¡± starring Will Smith, which premiered in 2015 and reignited widespread concern,


    The research on CTE was eventually proven correct. If care was not taken, players could indeed face many potential health problems or even death after retirement. Under the pressure of the Players¡¯ Union and public opinion, Goodell had to admit his mistakes, and subsequent policies were introduced to protect the players.


    That¡¯s why the League now frequently amends the rules, strictly penalizing malicious collisions, and paying extra attention to potential risks of concussions.


    Every player with a possibility of concussion must pass the official League test as well as a formal report from the team; otherwise, they must undergo suspension due to injury, a minimum of four weeks, with no cap, until the player passes the concussion test.


    At this moment, that was exactly the case.


    When Li Wei faced the potential danger of a concussion, the medical team of the League was the first to take the field, working together with the team¡¯s medical staff to complete the examination.


    This was the only way to ensure Li Wei could return to the field quickly.


    Entering the players¡¯ tunnel, the whole mood and atmosphere immediately shifted.


    Unable to hold back, Li Wei made a joke, ¡°What is this, a ¡®Star Wars¡¯ escort procession taking Han Solo to the Death Star?¡±


    One second, two seconds¡ª


    Pfft.


    Despite knowing that the situation was not suitable for jokes, ultimately someone couldn¡¯t help it and burst into laughter, hurriedly avoiding eye contact and snickering.


    The atmosphere immediately relaxed.


    But Li Wei noticed a death glare, coming from Lilith.

 Chapter 672: Hanging by a thread

    Chapter 672: Hanging by a thread


    With a cold demeanor and expressionless face, Lilith approached her work with a professional attitude, diligently completing her tasks with seriousness and sincerity.


    Upon hearing Li Wei¡¯s joke, Lilith glanced at him.


    Li Wei could immediately feel the chill of her gaze, sharp and piercing as it fell upon his skin, causing goosebumps to erupt uncontrollably, an air of menace about it.


    Li Wei followed her gaze.


    Lilith looked away with icy indifference, continuing to focus on her job as if nothing had happened.


    It made one question whether the fleeting emotion betrayed in that momentary look had been an illusion.


    ...


    Entering the medical room, Li Wei prepared for a detailed and comprehensive concussion test; at the same time, the team doctor needed to conduct other tests on Li Wei to ensure there were no hidden injuries he hadn¡¯t noticed.


    A glance up revealed the TV screen broadcasting the live game outside.


    However, before Li Wei could take a closer look, the television was turned off¡ª


    It was Lilith.


    After putting down the remote control, Lilith turned around to help check Li Wei¡¯s physical condition. Seeing Li Wei¡¯s helpless protest in his eyes, Lilith remained unmoved, as if she couldn¡¯t grasp what he was implying.


    Just as Li Wei was about to voice his protest, Lilith spoke up first.


    ¡°Prepare for the test.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s impending retort had to be swallowed, and he obediently underwent the concussion test.


    One test followed another, and although Li Wei¡¯s mind was still preoccupied with the game, somewhat chaotic, he knew the order of priorities; honing the blade wouldn¡¯t delay the work of cutting wood, so he forced himself to calm down, stay focused, and cooperate with the medical team as they proceeded with the tests.


    Meanwhile, as his adrenaline began to cool slightly, Li Wei carefully monitored his body¡¯s responses¡ª


    All was well.


    Literally, he felt nothing out of ordinary, let alone pain or discomfort. Now, Li Wei could truly appreciate the power of the system cards:


    One was a card that reduced the risk of injury; the other a Recovery Effect Doubling Card.


    Thanks to the amplified effects of the cards, Li Wei felt no discomfort whatsoever, his vitality seemingly no different from before the impact.


    And then.


    Buzz, buzz, buzz.


    The medical personnel surrounding Li Wei whispered among themselves, glancing at the test results, their eyes and words revealing an air of incredulity¡ª


    She understood the reasoning, yet when it really happened, she couldn¡¯t help but feel panicked.


    Take a deep breath, then another deep breath.


    Lilith did not want anyone to see her vulnerability, but she could never have expected that a voice would come from behind her.


    ¡°Lilith.¡±


    Her heart skipped a beat.


    Lilith froze.


    Always keeping her distance with calls of ¡°Rosen, Rosen,¡± she had never crossed the line, but in a moment completely unforeseen, without any warning, that convention was broken, shattering all her expectations to the point where Lilith had no time to think and reflexively reacted.


    With a turn, Lilith looked over and then saw Li Wei¡¯s face brimming with a smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready to continue the fight.¡±


    Concise, clear, conviction and fighting spirit surged in his chest.


    Having said that, Li Wei waved his hand, didn¡¯t linger, turned, and left the medical room, heading straight for the field.


    Lilith stood there, dazed, her reaction lagging far behind until she noticed her cheeks were slightly wet and her eyes were filled with tears.


    So, had Li Wei seen all of her disheveled state just now?


    Lilith held her breath involuntarily, frantically wiping the moisture off her cheeks, turning to look out the medical room window, peering from a small corner towards the exit of the players¡¯ tunnel, waiting patiently.


    The figure finally appeared.


    Dressed in the red jersey number twenty-three, holding his helmet, he wasn¡¯t in a rush or anxious, his steps were steady and resolute as he stepped onto the field once more. The vast sea of red flames at Arrowhead Stadium loomed ahead, and he lifted his chin slightly, walking forward with bold determination.


    The entire stands, so magnificent.


    A single figure, so small.


    The contrast was striking, yet that small figure managed to make the grand and overwhelming red flames blur into the background, easily shouldering the entire atmosphere of the dense vapor.


    The world lay prostrate at his feet.


    Listen, the calls echoed in his ears.


    ¡°Li Wei. Li Wei. Li Wei.¡±


    Once. And then again.


    Like a spark that rapidly envelops the entire field in the blink of an eye, eventually transforming into a tremendous energy soaring above Arrowhead Stadium.

 Chapter 673: 672 Waiting for Faith

    Chapter 673: 672 Waiting for Faith


    Li Wei left the field, but the game continued, and the situation remained deadlocked¡ª


    Mosley¡¯s aggressive tackle foul awarded Kansas City Chiefs a first down, and they advanced closer to the end zone.


    The Kansas City Chiefs Offense quickly regrouped and regained their composure, but being young and inexperienced, they showed slight fluctuations in focus; meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens displayed their veteran poise, seizing the opportunity during the fluctuating situation, continuously applying pressure, and turning the tables.


    In the end, the Kansas City Chiefs struck out.


    Just as they were about to score a touchdown, it ended up as a field goal.


    ¡°10:17¡±.


    ...


    At the end of the first half, the home team, the Kansas City Chiefs, returned to the locker room with the lead from a touchdown, but the outcome was still unclear.


    After the halftime break, the Baltimore Ravens took the initiative to attack.


    In the first wave of offense in the second half, the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs engaged in fierce combat, and the offensive and defensive showdown was completely mired.


    The Kansas City Chiefs Defense made their opponents face third down troubles four times, but the Ravens managed to escape each crisis thanks to Jackson¡¯s performance.


    After a lengthy and deadlocked eight minutes and thirty-three seconds, this protracted conflict finally ended with Jackson abruptly throwing a cold dart, completing a ten-yard pass to the team¡¯s fourth Wide Receiver, Maxx Williams, in an unexpected connection, successfully making it into the end zone.


    ¡°17:17¡±.


    Deadlock. Stalemate. Entanglement. Finally, the Baltimore Ravens managed to overcome their disadvantage and tied the game before the end of the third quarter.


    A splendid game, indeed lived up to expectations.


    Rather than critiquing the performance of the Kansas City Chiefs, it¡¯s more appropriate to say that Harbaugh once again demonstrated his coaching abilities, always capable of pulling a rabbit out of a hat amidst adversity and crisis, playing to his strengths, and finding ways to turn the situation around and move forward, showcasing a leader¡¯s true color.


    Arrowhead Stadium, slightly somber.


    In the standoff lasting over eight minutes, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense had more than one opportunity to quash the opponent¡¯s offense, but in the end, they fell short.


    Inevitably, it was frustrating, as if just lacking a bit of energy.


    In the air, there was a palpable sense of unease, a deficiency, a loss and emptiness indescribable by words, something Arrowhead Stadium had not felt in a long time, like rootless weeds, gently drifting with the wind.


    Felix looked back at the player¡¯s tunnel more than once, his anxiety and tension barely concealable, even unable to find a focal point.


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    Next to him, Karen watched her son come alive in an instant, her nose tingling with sorrow, but joy and happiness surged in her chest. She quickly took a deep breath, steadied her emotions, and then joined in the shouting.


    One by one, three, four, five.


    More and more gazes gathered, falling on the figure who emerged from the darkness, unable to control themselves, they shouted out without restraint.


    A spark, in the blink of an eye, becomes a wildfire.


    Eventually, it spread throughout the entire Arrowhead Stadium, evolving into a torrential force, venting downward.


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    In unison, deafening.


    Nantz watched this scene unfold before him, gaped, and slightly opened his mouth.


    Beyond shock and astonishment, a passion and enthusiasm difficult to accurately describe also ignited within him, bursting out in his chest with lofty ambitions.


    ¡°The man had returned.¡±


    ¡°From what I can see, Li Wei appears uninjured, even after such a collision, such imbalance, such a fall, Li Wei still showcased his toughness and fierceness, and after undergoing a comprehensive league check-up, he immediately returned to the field.¡±


    ¡°The entire Arrowhead Stadium erupted with an unbelievable sound, welcoming back their unique number twenty-three.¡±


    ¡°This scene was unbelievable.¡±


    ¡°Even though he had only been in Kansas City for a year and a half, even though he was just a running back, Li Wei conquered this stadium, this city with his performance and actions, growing into a new symbol, a new leader for the Chiefs.¡±


    ¡°From the Crimson Tide Storm to the Chieftain, in both teams Li Wei undoubtedly became the team leader, both on and off the field, truly winning the heartfelt respect and affection of players and fans alike.¡±


    ¡°What does this mean? Undoubtedly, it says something.¡±


    ¡°Wow...¡±


    As he spoke, Nantz¡¯s words began to lose strength; he stared blankly at the field, giving up on continuing to speak, instead letting himself be swept into this storm, involuntarily wanting to become one of them.


    Romo glanced at Nantz, originally preparing to fill the audio silence, but he soon realized that the shouts from Arrowhead Stadium were the perfect commentary for this moment. He too relaxed, quietly watching the tumult unfolding before him, lost in his own memories.

 Chapter 674: 673 Secret Passage through Chen Cang

    Chapter 674: 673 Secret Passage through Chen Cang


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    Like a tsunami, an overwhelming surge, a rolling heat wave swirled throughout the venue.


    In an instant, it engulfed Li Wei.


    Li Wei was also startled¡ª


    This scene was something he had never experienced before.


    ...


    The competition was still ongoing, was this really okay?


    However.


    The surging heat wave approached, and one could clearly feel the slight sting of flames licking at the skin; it was so real and so torrential that his heart trembled uncontrollably.


    Li Wei¡¯s smile gently lifted, and as he waved to the fans on both sides of the player¡¯s tunnel, this gesture sent the fans¡¯ cheers climbing another step, becoming uncontrollable.


    Just as he was about to leave, he paused for a moment, raised his head, and looked through the crowd, finding that figure in the same area¡ª


    Felix.


    Felix without the wheelchair, slightly unfamiliar, but this youthful and vibrant Felix filled one with a surge of vitality.


    He was fighting, even if he couldn¡¯t break free from the wheelchair, he was still battling in his own way on a foreign field, fighting alongside Kansas City Chiefs.


    Li Wei brought his index and middle finger together, touching the tip of his brow, and made a salute gesture.


    Felix saw it, and he understood completely, joy exploding within him, ¡°Mom, Mom! Did you see it? Mom!¡±


    One call after another.


    Felix, exerting all his strength, raised his hands high, losing himself as he screamed, ¡°Li Wei! Li Wei!¡±


    The whole venue roared.


    Not just the spectators.


    The players of the Kansas City Chiefs standing by the field also turned their gaze, one after another filled with enthusiasm. They waited alongside the cheering crowd, whistling and clapping, exuberantly cheering and making noise.


    Houston was the first to step forward, patting Li Wei on the shoulder, sizing him up, stopping short of speaking, although a thousand words surged up his throat, in the end, he swallowed them down, said nothing, and just punched Li Wei on the shoulder, then burst into a hearty, unrestrained laughter.


    The Kansas City Chiefs changed possession.


    Baltimore Ravens, struck out.


    Kansas City Chiefs, struck out.


    Both sides, taking turns to take the field.


    After Li Wei rejoined the game, although the morale at Arrowhead Stadium was significantly boosted and expectations climbed higher, the offensive and defensive clash between the two teams remained fiercely contested.


    The Kansas Chiefs managed to push past midfield twice in head-to-head attacks, invading the territory of the Baltimore Ravens; yet the Ravens Defense showed their top form at critical moments, once intercepting Mahomes to switch possession, and once stopping Li Wei dead in his tracks with a strong frontal counter.


    Similarly, the Baltimore Ravens Offense failed to seize the opportunity as well, their slightly rough and clumsy offensive strategy lacked explosive power and stability. Up against the unyielding Kansas City Chiefs Defense, their drives ended in striking out and they failed to take the lead.


    ¡°17:17¡±.


    Still a tie.


    The score did not change for a long while, just like in the first half, as the standoff between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens once again resulted in a deadlock.


    The game time kept ticking; the scene and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense and intense, the closer to the end of the game it got, the thicker the air became.


    On the brink of a stalemate.


    Until, ¡°04:04¡±, with just four minutes and four seconds left to the end of the game, the deadlock was finally broken.


    This time, it was Lamar Jackson¡¯s moment.


    Unexpectedly, without any warning, out came a play from out of nowhere, a long pass strategy¡ª


    Jackson found himself in another crisis, once again relying on his physical talent to actively run out of the Pocket, once more using his feet to free himself.


    Then, the pass, as expected by the Kansas Chiefs; but this time, Jackson took a risk with a thirty-three-yard long pass, utterly shattering expectations.


    Completely catching the Kansas City Chiefs off-guard.


    The first and only time in the game sneaking behind Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ backfield, finding the team¡¯s fifth Wide Receiver, John Brown.


    This fifth-year Wide Receiver, unheard of before, was cut by the Arizona Cardinals during the offseason, struggled to find a job, and was only picked up by the Baltimore Ravens after training camp; prior to this, he had been alternately stepping in and out of games, playing a firefighter role.


    Today, facing the defending champions, he made the most crucial reception of the season at a critical moment.


    John Brown not only successfully caught the ball but also swiftly advanced into the End zone¡ª


    Touchdown.

 Chapter 675: 674 Turtle Turnover

    Chapter 675: 674 Turtle Turnover


    Ah!


    Lamar Jackson erupted, hands clenched into fists, as he passionately pounded his chest left and right, like King Kong atop the Empire State Building, roaring and unleashing all his energy without reservation.


    He had waited and suppressed himself, and finally, the opportunity had come.


    Behind the three consecutive wins, the whispers questioning Jackson¡¯s quarterbacking skills and qualifications never ceased.


    Facing the utter rookie Li Wei, Jackson, who prided himself as a genius, kept hitting walls, unable to turn the tide.


    All that frustration, that anger, that pain, those endless nights honing his skills, finally found release in this face-to-face encounter through an astounding thirty-three-yard long pass as a counterattack¡ª


    ...


    This was his, Lamar Jackson¡¯s capability; did you see it?


    ¡°Welcome to the Lamar Jackson Show.¡±


    Ah ah ah.


    Ah ah ah!


    One shout, then another, climbing higher and higher, endless and unrestrained.


    Jackson, holding nothing back, the eyes that had always been calm now burst with a murderous aura, forcefully suppressing the energy at Arrowhead Stadium.


    Then, the Baltimore Ravens players joined in one by one.


    Running back Edwards was the first to rush up, colliding passionately with Jackson, celebrating wildly, as if they had already won, or as if he firmly believed that the Ravens had now secured a superior position amidst the suspense of the game.


    Suddenly, Edwards broke away from Jackson and sprinted towards the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ sideline.


    Spreading his arms, moving sideways like a crab, sticking out his tongue, making faces, flaunting his dominance, his wild, reckless laughter reverberating in the ears.


    Just then, a figure suddenly stepped forward, half a step¡ª


    Li Wei!


    Seeing that face, Edwards flashed a ferocious grin, ready to move in and scare the fragile rookie.


    Yet, Li Wei¡¯s corners of his mouth also twitched upwards, a smile appeared, and he raised the helmet in his right hand, swinging it forward without warning¡ª


    All eyes, sporadically drifted toward Li Wei.


    With his head held high, calm and composed, his whole being exuded a burning desire to fight, his fists clenched with excitement and eagerness, quietly awakening the boiling blood¡ª


    They were ready, for any challenge, any crisis, any adversity, facing the abyss with integrity.


    Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ territory, the twenty-five-yard line, first and ten.


    What was slightly surprising was that in this game, both coaches, Reed and Harbaugh, hadn¡¯t spent much energy on the special teams, with punts and kickoffs being very clean; instead, both teams engaged in intense strategic maneuvers in their tactical transitions between offense and defense.


    Harbaugh subtly displayed a hint of surpassing the master.


    In front of him, it was still so, with Harbaugh being the first to break the deadlock and make a change.


    Throughout the game today, the Baltimore Ravens¡¯ defensive strategy was consistently implemented, maintaining front-field pressure, opening up short-pass areas, disrupting Mahomes¡¯ habitual rhythm, reducing his forces just right to force Mahomes into uncomfortable pacing, full of energy but unable to harness it effectively.


    Undoubtedly, as the game progressed, Harbaugh¡¯s tactics proved crucial, and this was one of many reasons why the Baltimore Ravens Defense could control the situation.


    Now, with the Ravens taking the lead, Harbaugh immediately altered the defensive strategy, neither conservatively nor hesitantly¡ª


    Blitz.


    Previously, the Baltimore Ravens Defense had also used blitzes, but they were based on applying enough pressure to create opportunities; now, slightly different, a direct blitz came right at kickoff, exploding the defensive aggression compared to pressuring.


    Clearly, the Baltimore Ravens not only held the score advantage but were also ready to aggressively and thoroughly crush their opponents.


    Without a doubt, Harbaugh once again demonstrated a leader¡¯s boldness.


    Because Harbaugh knew that facing Reed, a steady and secure strategy often led to a trap, and seeking stability might herald the onset of disaster.


    However, Reed was Reed, recognized as a top-tier coach in the League even before he clinched a Super Bowl title; his maturity and wisdom had been showcased repeatedly.


    At this point, how could Reed possibly be unprepared?


    ¡°Li Wei?¡±


    ¡°Mahomes?¡±


    ¡°Wait, the one with the ball is Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Ah, no, that¡¯s not right...¡±

 Chapter 676: 675 Palpitating Heart

    Chapter 676: 675 Palpitating Heart


    Surprise attack!


    The game had just begun, and the Baltimore Ravens Defense had already pushed forward completely, unleashing a six-person raid without any warning.


    Only one lineman remained to guard Li Wei¡ª


    Mosley.


    The other linemen had all joined the defensive line, with misplaced positions and cooperative efforts, creating a dizzying tactical layout and teamwork. With a numerical advantage, they formed an absolute oppression, directly breaking through the Chiefs¡¯ Pocket like locusts swarming in.


    Forceful. Sudden. Deliberately planned. Seizing the initiative.


    ...


    Rip!


    The Pocket was torn, and Mahomes was surrounded by fast-moving black figures encroaching from all sides, plunging him into crisis.


    So, what now?


    Although Reed hadn¡¯t anticipated Harbaugh¡¯s move to perfection, the preemptive strike by Harbaugh did not surprise Reed, and he had prepared well.


    Mahomes was back-pedaling, one step back, the front densely packed, smoke rising everywhere. Forget about reading defense or finding passing targets¡ªa slight delay in movement could mean being devoured by the dark shadow.


    But Mahomes was not flustered. He turned and decided on-the-spot to pass the football to Li Wei, without hesitation or delay, making the whole action crisp and sharp.


    It seemed, this was a running play.


    Although the Ravens had chosen the surprise attack, the Chiefs countered with a running play right through the front, watching as the Ravens Defense players reacted quickly, changing direction instantly to surround Li Wei¡ª


    Whether it was Mahomes or Li Wei, the locusts swarmed them all the same, and the result might be the same¡ªto be completely devoured.


    Something was a bit strange.


    After Li Wei took control of the football, he did not exhibit a running back¡¯s usual stance to seek a breakthrough opportunity but moved sideways instead, with Mahomes mimicking each movement, making them look like synchronized short-track speed skaters, indistinguishable for a moment.


    Then, at that moment, Li Wei and Mahomes split apart, one to the left, one to the right.


    The spectators, caught off guard, realized a moment later that the football was still in Mahomes¡¯ hands.


    From the start, the football had remained with Mahomes¡ª


    A deceptive fake handoff. Mahomes shifted all the attention to Li Wei, using him as a decoy to divert the Ravens¡¯ raid focus while buying time for Mahomes to read the defense again, like lightning.


    Mosley finally realized something was off¡ª


    Li Wei. He wasn¡¯t coming closer.


    Logically, Li Wei was supposed to run the ball, either laterally or vertically. He always needed to move, to look for a breakthrough, to push forward.


    But Li Wei didn¡¯t.


    Now it was just Mosley moving towards Li Wei, wait, what did that mean?


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    Mosley seemed to see a smile forming at the corner of Li Wei¡¯s mouth under his helmet, and his heart sank with a thud¡ª


    A palpitation. Oh no, was this what being thrilled felt like?


    Li Wei¡¯s right hand, a light toss, and the football was released.


    Incredibly!


    Mosley, completely frozen, tried to brake urgently, attempting to straighten his knees and stretch out his arms to disrupt the pass, but he couldn¡¯t shift his center of gravity quickly enough, transforming his lateral movement into a vertical stand, and he ended up jamming.


    Then, Mosley just foolishly stood there, watching the football fly over his head and on behind him.


    ¡ªKelsey.


    Behind him, Kelsey had already shaken off Humphrey. Clearly, Humphrey had also misjudged, thinking Mahomes was aiming for a deep pass. After enduring an entire game, Mahomes finally couldn¡¯t resist opting for a long throw, causing Humphrey to abandon Kelsey and dart out.


    As a result, Kelsey found an opening, easily completed the catch, and continued to advance with the ball.


    Trick play offense, the Kansas City Chiefs unexpectedly chose a trick play offense, the ¡°Chiefs Special,¡± shaking off the Baltimore Ravens with an effortless power, turning Harbaugh¡¯s desperate gamble into an opening for the Chiefs¡¯ counterattack.


    Kelsey, sprinting all the way.


    Fortunately, Humphrey, quick to react, corrected his own misjudgment, along with help from a teammate, as the two of them together pushed Kelsey out of bounds, preventing him from making a long run and causing further damage.


    Despite this, Kelsey still easily advanced thirteen yards, effortlessly securing the first down, responding to the recent provocation from the Baltimore Ravens with an overwhelmingly strong posture.


    The game wasn¡¯t over, and the Kansas City Chiefs were not ready to give up.


    To be more precise, the Kansas City Chiefs had come for victory.


    Boom!


    Suddenly, Arrowhead Stadium reignited, reviving its energy, and the most loyal supporters from Kansas City returned from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs, all it took was just one Chiefs Special.

 Chapter 677: 676 The Bourne Identity

    Chapter 677: 676 The Bourne Identity


    ¡°Fly, pop pop!¡±


    ¡°Fly, pop pop!¡±


    Arrowhead Stadium continuously erupted with amazing energy, fully leveraging the home field advantage as a strong support for the youthful and unbeatable Kansas City Chiefs Offense.


    Pressure, layered upon layer, surrounded the Baltimore Ravens and forcefully crushed down.


    However, the reason why strong teams are considered strong and heroes recognized as heroes is precisely during these moments of intense collision and extreme pressure when they often manage to give outstandingly tough performances, not only keeping up with the intensity but also finding opportunities to counterattack.


    Harbaugh¡¯s Baltimore Ravens were just like this, having faced numerous daunting challenges this season, their Defense truly forged some real gold.


    ...


    First and ten yards, Mahomes, without warning, dared a medium pass, but Cornerback Humphrey performed excellently, sticking close to Wide Receiver Watkins, not only disrupting the pass connection but also nearly intercepting it.


    Second and ten yards, Mahomes faked a run but truly connected a pass with Hunter, relying on Li Wei as a decoy to divert attention, and Hunter successfully caught the ball, but was encircled upon landing, unable to advance further.


    Third and five yards, Li Wei and Kelsey ran a dual route, creating confusion. With both receiving points open, Mahomes chose Kelsey, who completed the catch for a first-down conversion. Li Wei was in charge of cutting blocks; Kelsey continued advancing, breaking through the defense until he was brought down in a triple tackle.


    Back and forth, neither yielding an inch.


    Mahomes tried to unleash explosive power but encountered a wall again, forcing him back into an awkward rhythm, and the game once again became disjointed.


    Continuous third-down dilemmas, the offense stumbled and fumbled.


    But awkward as it may be, the Kansas City Chiefs Offense still displayed strength and focus, consecutively achieving third-down conversions and forcefully advancing.


    The game was tough, extremely tough, and both teams had already fought fiercely. Despite being physically exhausted and running on empty, each player continued to burn fiercely.


    Now, the players standing on the field were all like pulled out of a swamp, with red eyes and gasping breaths, yet still struggling and battling.


    Then.


    ¡°01:11¡±, the time-out had passed, and there was one minute and eleven seconds left in the game, Kansas City Chiefs Offense laboriously pushed into the opposite half of the field:


    Thirty-one-yard line, facing third down again, this time it was third and three.


    Huff, puff.


    Each breath brought a slight sting from the lungs, and the cheering at Arrowhead Stadium gradually receded, stirring in a vacuum.


    Mahomes took the ball from the center, stepping back and readying to throw.


    The key was ¡°speed.¡±


    Quick short pass.


    In the situation of Third Gear, three yards, there was no need to covet moving many yards forward, just completing the conversion to take the first attack was enough; although there was little time left in the game, the Kansas Chiefs were already at the forefront of the Red Zone, meaning the time control should worry the Ravens, not the Kansas Chiefs.


    So, this was a favorable situation.


    Mahomes didn¡¯t hesitate, ready to fully utilize this opening.


    The Baltimore Ravens defensive frontline had just begun to move, taking their steps, when they saw Mahomes start to throw the ball, they immediately braked and turned, instinctively following the football.


    But where was the football?


    All the defensive players looked up, fixating on Mahomes¡¯ right hand as he threw, but they couldn¡¯t find the trajectory of the football in the air.


    Their first reaction was that they had made a mistake, as the Kansas Chiefs had three wide receivers on the left wing, with confusing routes that might have led them to miss the correct target, naturally not seeing the football¡¯s parabola.


    It was only in their second reaction that they realized they had been duped¡ª


    It was a fake run.


    Unbelievable!


    Not only because Mahomes¡¯ deceptive throwing motion was incredibly misleading, but also because Li Wei had just been intercepted, hindering the ground attack.


    Since Li Wei had been cleared of a concussion and returned to the game, the Baltimore Ravens had heightened their ground defense, blocking the repeated impacts from Li Wei and Hunter; yet at the crucial moment, the Kansas Chiefs had once again given the ball to Li Wei.


    An unexpected move, two unexpected moves, in an ever-changing game were enough to accumulate into minor deviations, eventually morphing into an opportunity for a breakthrough.


    Wait, or was it that their judgment was incorrect?


    This wasn¡¯t a fake run but another smoke bomb from Mahomes, the pass was still a pass, just that its target wasn¡¯t on the left wing but on the right¡ª


    After all, Kelsey was on the right side.


    Despite three wide receivers on the left, with Kelsey alone on the right, his presence there undeniably made it the strong side.


    Could it be that Mahomes¡¯ intended target for the pass was still the tight end, Kelsey?

 Chapter 678: 677 Clown Juggling

    Chapter 678: 677 Clown Juggling


    Gamble!


    Without a doubt, it was still a gamble.


    The Baltimore Ravens kept applying pressure throughout the game with their rush and pass defense, forcing Mahomes to abandon his habitual medium and long passing game and get mired in a quagmire of short passes. As a result, the Kansas City Chiefs never found their comfortable rhythm.


    But at the crucial moment that really decided the outcome, it was the Chiefs who seized on the situation created by the Ravens¡¯ persistent rush, using speed as their starting point to disrupt the opponent¡¯s rhythm and create chaos.


    Clearly, both teams were trying to control the pace, and this time, Mahomes showcased his strengths¡ªremaining cool in the face of danger with a big heart and meticulous mind. His feigned yet genuine passing moves and his composed demeanor in the face of unexpected changes turned the situation around. In the blink of an eye, there was not a single flaw revealed, his actions flowing smoothly like a puppet master controlling the opposing defensive group¡ª


    Including Urban. Including Saggs. Including Humphrey.


    ...


    No exceptions.


    With a pause and a turn, Mahomes looked toward Kelsey and raised his hand to pass the ball, even Mosley, who had been focusing on Li Wei, faltered in his footsteps.


    Because Mosley knew how difficult Kelsey could be to handle, and if Mahomes connected with Kelsey, just relying on Humphrey alone would not be enough to stop him. He had to drop back for support.


    It was during this brief hesitation in Mosley¡¯s steps that he saw Mahomes pass the ball.


    This time, it was real.


    Mosley clearly saw the football leave Mahomes¡¯s control, absolutely sure of it; but then, Mosley started to doubt life itself.


    Where was the football?


    In the air, there was no parabolic trajectory of a flying football.


    Mosley was dumbfounded. Could it be that the football was like a yo-yo that could be thrown out and retracted at will? What kind of magic trick was this?


    At that moment, Mosley caught a glimpse of a reddish-brown trajectory out of the corner of his eye¡ª


    There it was.


    The angle between Mahomes and Kelsey should have been around thirty degrees, but Mahomes¡¯ pass arc widened slightly, about forty-five to fifty degrees, with the football flying diagonally toward the sideline ahead.


    Just five yards.


    The target of the pass was...


    Mosley¡¯s breath cut short, and he couldn¡¯t help but curse aloud:


    Damn.


    Li Wei, that damned Li Wei.


    Speed and strength, fully unleashed, Li Wei was accelerating, and so was Mosley, appearing set to collide at the crossroads.


    Closer!


    Even closer!


    Within an arm¡¯s reach!


    The energy contained in Mosley¡¯s muscles burst forth instantly, ¡°Ah!¡±


    Eruption.


    However, the expected collision did not occur.


    Mosley lunged at thin air, his entire strength slamming into nothing, not even emitting a sound. What... what happened?


    Mosley was stunned, and from the corner of his eye, he saw that flash of red flame leap up. Instinctively turning his head towards the sky, he stood dumbstruck, watching as Li Wei hurdled over, his light-as-a-swallow motion soaring past Mosley¡¯s head effortlessly sidestepping Mosley¡¯s all-in effort.


    Graceful and elegant, like a departing sage untouched by a speck of dust.


    Looking at Li Wei and then at himself, Mosley felt like he had swallowed a hundred flies¡ªhis stomach in upheaval, disgustingly nauseous.


    Feelings of humiliation, anger, frustration, and suffocation rose within him.


    But even before these feelings had time to swell, they were immediately devoured by the wave of green energy at hand, engulfing Mosley with the momentum of a landslide, rolling him outwards like a windmill toy, leaving a trail on the ground.


    Like a snail.


    As the world swirled around him, Mosley could only see jersey number twenty-three fading into the distance: Damn it.


    For Li Wei, that obstacle was hardly worth mentioning¡ª


    Sprint, build-up, leap, and hurdle.


    Done in one fluid motion.


    Upon landing, there was no need to bend his knees to lower his center of gravity; like a 110m hurdles world-class athlete, he switched smoothly and continued at high speed. His forward motion wasn¡¯t hindered by any obstacles or resistance. Even amid the bumps and jumps, his speed was still increasing.


    The triangular encirclement had opened a gap straight ahead.


    And so.


    Li Wei broke through the encirclement.


    Five yards, as easy as taking something out of a bag, shifting successfully to Third Gear in three yards, but clearly, Li Wei had no intention of stopping his steps.


    On the diagonal front, Cornerback Humphrey¡¯s figure was approaching at full speed.

 Chapter 679 678 Godlike State

    Chapter 679  678 Godlike State


    Terrible!


    At the moment Humphrey, amidst the chaos and turmoil, confirmed that Mahomes and Li Wei had connected, he knew the defense was in crisis¡ª


    Because he knew Li Wei''s capabilities, he could never relax.


    Without hesitation, Humphrey backpedaled.


    However, Kelsey also drew back, attempting to intercept Humphrey''s footsteps.


    Collision. Entanglement. Pushing.


    Humphrey, with a clear goal, circled around Kelsey, not dwelling on the tangles, used rhythm changes to successfully shake off the slightly clumsy defender, opening up his field of vision, but at the same time, Li Wei had already broken through.


    Stamping the ground, stepping forward, collision.


    Humphrey played very smartly. He didn''t try to embrace or deliver a deadly hit, his first step was to get close and entangle, and use his body and strength to continuously press¡ª


    The purpose was to disrupt Li Wei''s speed and rhythm, looking for an opportunity to knock Li Wei out of bounds.


    Facing Li Wei, one must be patient, focused, and maintain composure; it was out of respect for Li Wei that he needed to give his all at that moment.


    Footsteps, coming closer.


    A compression.


    Followed by, another compression.


    Humphrey and Li Wei, like bumper cars, tangled near the sideline, Li Wei''s just-gaining-speed steps suddenly pulled into the storm.


    Then.


    At that moment, Li Wei slammed on the brakes.


    Without warning, amid a fierce collision and relentless entanglement, an abrupt stop, surprising enough to disrupt the balance.


    During Humphrey''s third compression, his center of gravity missed, and he immediately realized the danger. His core muscles tensed to control his steps rushing towards the sideline as he had no choice but to embrace Li Wei, dragging him along before they both went out of bounds.


    A hand spanned between Humphrey and Li Wei.


    It was Li Wei''s left hand, reaching Humphrey''s right shoulder, even before the palm touched him, Humphrey already sensed trouble and held his breath, but the motion to embrace Li Wei still continued forward, walking right into a trap, and they collided in a flash.


    But!


    A hand spanned between Humphrey and Li Wei.


    Collision.


    Wendell: "Ugh."


    To his utmost surprise, Li Wei struck first. He preempted by lifting his left hand¡ª


    Straight Arm Block.


    Before Wendell could exert his force, Li Wei had already countered Wendell''s right shoulder with a forceful block, momentarily locking their positions.


    Unfortunately, Li Wei''s center of gravity was precarious at the moment, making it hard to exert force, and the so-called Straight Arm Block looked more like a reluctant push and pull, not lasting long.


    Was Li Wei unaware of this?


    No, Li Wei was fully aware. The Straight Arm Block was just a stepping stone.


    After the Straight Arm Block, as Wendell reflexively rushed forward, Li Wei bent his elbow, folding his arm, tucked in close to Wendell to prevent any space for Wendell to exert force, shoulder against shoulder finding a leverage point, and then¡ª


    He rotated.


    A full three hundred sixty degrees clockwise turn, completely sticking to Wendell''s body to switch positions.


    The next second, Li Wei was ahead, Wendell behind, their positions completely reversed.


    "Marseille Turn!"


    Amazed shouts and pounding the table, Nantz watched intently as the jersey number twenty-three on the field entered a godlike state.


    A switch of positions, and Wendell immediately realized he had been fooled, followed by turning clockwise, his arms wide open, his first reaction was to grab Li Wei''s shoulders and arms.


    Caught him!


    Wendell clenched his teeth, ready to exert force; but Li Wei had already accelerated, slippery as an eel, slipping right out of Wendell''s palms.


    A miss, and Wendell felt a chilling dread: It was over.


    In his sight, the jersey number twenty-three pounding the ground, instantly bursting with speed, seemed to cross the five-yard line with just two strides.


    Wendell reflexively chased after him but realized he couldn''t keep up, his balance lost, his upper body still lunging forward, grabbing for a fleeting red apparition. Falling flat, he helplessly watched that flash of red blaze draw a breathtaking trail straight ahead.


    A whirlwind, Wendell''s vision blurred, a vast green rushing at his face, mouth full of dust, only able to see those fleeing sneakers disappear into an abyss, turning around, looking up at the sky, quietly watching as that tall figure completely dominated their territory.


    Five-yard line.


    End zone line.


    Then, standing tall in the end zone, proudly and dominantly occupying the high ground, roaring ferociously as if a king being crowned.

 Chapter 680: Hit the nail on the head

    Chapter 680: Hit the nail on the head


    Ah, ah ah ah!


    Ah ah ah! Ah ah ah!


    Fervor, restlessness, earth-shaking.


    The entire Arrowhead Stadium plunged into madness, the world crouched at their feet, trembling, the burst of energy in an instant was enough to shake the earth.


    In the end zone, Li Wei was roaring.


    Over and over again.


    ...


    Once, and then once more.


    Without a doubt, this was a fierce and tough game, and at the same time harder than any other game this season. After returning to the field following a suspected concussion crisis, with close-quarter combats that were intense and unrelenting, even breathing seemed capable of igniting flames.


    Finally, with a touchdown, Li Wei let out his voice again.


    Turning around, Li Wei looked back at those fallen bodies behind him, Wendell, Jefferson, Humphrey, Mosley... and so on, his eyes blazing as he watched them from above with a firm and sharp gaze as a direct response¡ª


    Who else?


    Who else!


    Ahead, a mess, not a single figure could stand completely, shivering under Li Wei¡¯s gaze.


    Then.


    Felix could no longer control himself, clenched his fists tightly, and burst into loud singing.


    ¡°He¡¯s here, he¡¯s there, he¡¯s everywhere, he is the Edgerunner, Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei!¡±


    Gradually, the surrounding audience also joined Felix, singing spontaneously, turning enthusiasm and passion into energy, which poured down like a midsummer rainstorm, and instantly swept across the entire Arrowhead Stadium.


    No one was an exception.


    Passive, but never giving up; entangled, but persisting to fight to the end.


    This is the young Kansas City Chiefs of today.


    Even as the defending champions, they were not arrogant or complacent, they still adjusted their mindsets and started over, they were still thirsty for victory; even as the top seed in the American League for the season, they still went all out and spared nothing, they still tried to grow through the collisions with the strong.


    They are young, they are green and naive, they fear nothing, they have boiling blood, and the high fighting spirit deep in their souls becomes the motto of this team.


    Fight all the way! Until the last drop of blood in the body burns out.


    ¡°There are forty-three seconds left in the game, and the ball is now in the hands of the Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson is about to step onto the field again.¡±


    ¡°This year¡¯s first-round thirty-second pick rookie quarterback is facing the first challenge of his professional career. Can he lead a game-winning drive within forty-three seconds?¡±


    ¡°The Baltimore Ravens don¡¯t need to score a touchdown; they just need to advance to field goal range. Harbaugh still has three timeouts, which is good news.¡±


    ¡°And now, all the pressure is on Jackson¡¯s shoulders.¡±


    ¡°This is pressure, but it¡¯s also an opportunity, an opportunity for Jackson to prove himself...¡±


    Nantz was right¡ª


    The game was far from over.


    ¡°24:24.¡±


    After the Kansas City Chiefs confidently kicked in the extra point, the score was tied, with the outcome still undecided.


    Forty-three seconds remain until the end of the game, and both coaches still have three timeouts. Although the NFL doesn¡¯t play the last few seconds over and over for tens of minutes like the NBA does, countless possibilities can still unfold in the final countdown of an NFL game.


    The initiative is once again in the hands of the Baltimore Ravens.


    ¡°Li Wei! Li Wei! Li Wei!¡±


    The uniform chants lingered over Arrowhead Stadium, tightening around Lamar Jackson¡¯s throat.


    During his NCAA days, Jackson never managed to get over the mountain that was Li Wei. He could lie to himself that they lost to the University of Alabama and not to Li Wei.


    But what about now?


    On the NFL stage, facing Li Wei once again. In a dire situation, Li Wei sustained the possibility of the game with his unparalleled performance; in a similar situation, how would Jackson perform?


    Taking a deep breath, a hint of determination flashed in Jackson¡¯s eyes. The louder the cheers at Arrowhead Stadium, the stronger his conviction grew:


    He would prove himself. He would defeat Li Wei. It was that simple.


    On the other side of the field.


    Li Wei, surrounded by an array of stars, returned to the sidelines and flashed a smile at the ready-to-play Houston.


    ¡°Hey, captain. It¡¯s a great afternoon for a battle,¡± he said.


    The sun, clear and bright, seemed to dispel the chill of a Kansas City afternoon. The warmest moment of the day had arrived. After a brief window, it would soon plunge into the cold night amidst howling winds.


    Houston understood and broke into laughter, ¡°I think so too. Indeed, we¡¯re cut from the same cloth.¡±


    ¡°`

 Chapter 681: 680 Who is the Sacrifice

    Chapter 681: 680 Who is the Sacrifice


    ¡°Opportunity is in our hands. We will win.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m confident and we will win, it¡¯s as simple as that.¡±


    Lamar Jackson gathered his teammates, looking around with a determined gaze, and spoke with impassioned eloquence, his enthusiasm boiling over.


    Immediately, Edwards understood the deeper meaning behind Jackson¡¯s words¡ª


    Obviously, it was a dig at Li Wei¡¯s famous quote from the Super Bowl earlier that year.


    ¡°Heh heh,¡± Edwards started to laugh, ¡°We all have confidence, and we will win. Hey, Lamar, we¡¯re not just satisfied with a field goal.¡±


    ...


    Edwards paused, ¡°Wanfu Mary?¡±


    Jackson¡¯s expression was serious, and he didn¡¯t join in the joke; instead, he shook his head, ¡°Wanfu Mary is a try in dire situations, I will end the game before it comes to that.¡±


    He disdained to stoop to Li Wei¡¯s level, every time it was the same, facing dire situations over and over, mired deep in trouble. Maybe a miraculous turnaround was spectacular for neutral fans, but let¡¯s be realistic¡ªgiven the choice to dominate and sweep, who would prefer a last-second victory?


    He, for one, did not need it.


    Forty-three seconds, three timeouts, the Baltimore Ravens could kill the game, Jackson wouldn¡¯t let the team fall into trouble, he refused to learn from Li Wei.


    Hmph.


    Jackson snorted, ¡°Count to three. One. Two. Three!¡±


    ¡°Ravens, Ravens, Ravens!¡±


    All the offensive players responded in unison, turning to take the field with their heads held high, ready¡ª


    To kill the game their way at Arrowhead Stadium and to steal a victory from the American League¡¯s top seed.


    Jackson believed that the Baltimore Ravens would enter the playoffs and even more, that the Baltimore Ravens would be this year¡¯s Super Bowl dark horse, just like last season¡¯s Kansas City Chiefs, with a matchless performance that would surprise and dazzle everyone; he was going to prove that whatever Li Wei could do, he Lamar Jackson could do too.


    And he would do it better.


    Jackson took a deep breath, having honed his skills for two seasons, everything was leading up to this moment.


    ¡°Defense!¡±


    ¡°Defense!¡±


    The Arrowhead Stadium crowd, without exception, all stood up, clapping in unison, shouting at the top of their lungs, pushing the atmosphere to its limit.


    The pressure was like a tsunami, bearing down.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Jackson¡¯s voice teetered on the brink amidst this raging storm, seemingly on the verge of being shredded to pieces at any moment.


    Edwards held his breath, unable to exert force, and the next second, he realized his whole world was flipping upside down, completely disoriented.


    ¡°God!¡±


    ¡°Overshoulder takedown stop!¡±


    ¡°Incredible, Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ Jones has actually pulled off a solo interception, stopping Edwards with his own strength.¡±


    ¡°Is this a sumo match?¡±


    Roar roar roar!


    Ahh ahh ahh!


    Arrowhead Stadium erupted in an instant, the whole stadium shaking vigorously.


    With a swift rise to his feet, Jones threw Edwards thoroughly away without giving a second glance to the disoriented man on the ground.


    Clap. Clap.


    He dusted off his hands, as if it was effortless.


    On the sidelines, Harbaugh choked on his breath and was decidedly stunned.


    What on earth is this?


    Looking at the dazed Edwards with a bewildered face, his expression practically scribbled with the question ¡°Who am I? Where am I?¡±, Harbaugh¡¯s confusion was doomed to remain unanswered; but Harbaugh had no time for regret now¡ª


    Time-out!


    The Baltimore Ravens had to use a time-out, even without gaining a yard, as the passage of the game clock was something they couldn¡¯t afford.


    So, is this shooting oneself in the foot?


    Harbaugh took a deep breath to stay calm and began to quickly direct the play.


    Now, the Baltimore Ravens had no choice but to take the lone Huashan path and pass the ball, with pressure and hope resting entirely on Jackson¡¯s shoulders.


    This gem, picked at thirty-second in the first round¡ªwhat was his mettle really like? The current predicament was a test, and Harbaugh needed to be bold.


    Second down and ten.


    All eyes in the stadium were watching, all bustling towards Jackson, even Karen, a casual spectator, knew now the Ravens had to pass the ball.


    ¡°Defense!¡±


    Despite Arrowhead Stadium¡¯s overwhelming cheers, the air was still charged with tension. Jackson¡¯s gaze was fervent as he looked ahead, his ambitions surging within him¡ª


    Bring it on, this is the moment I¡¯ve been waiting for.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    The snap call, explosive.

 Chapter 682: 681 in a flurry

    Chapter 682: 681 in a flurry


    Jackson was slightly panicked¡ª


    There were no passing targets.


    Jackson thought he had mentally prepared for this type of scenario, having seen it countless times in game footage. He knew what he might face; but when it actually happened, he realized he knew nothing about the potential difficulties.


    Following the kickoff, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense was fully activated:


    They locked up all five of Baltimore Ravens¡¯ receiving points by closely marking them. At this moment, the vulnerabilities of the Ravens¡¯ running back lineup, heavily plagued by injuries and lacking dynamic runners, were completely exposed. Harbaugh had no choice but to use the double tight end strategy, which lacked deception.


    They then heavily manned the short pass area with a comprehensive zone defense to disrupt Jackson¡¯s secondary defensive reads, continually retreating while staying alert to prevent Jackson¡¯s attempts at long passes.


    ...


    Impenetrable!


    Dizzying!


    Jackson continued to retreat to create space, looking up for a passing target, only to see a red storm densely covering the field¡ª


    He couldn¡¯t breathe.


    Jackson panicked, knowing time was ticking away. He needed to pass the ball quickly; there was no time to hesitate, but he really couldn¡¯t see any gaps and didn¡¯t dare to throw blindly.


    What to do?


    This wasn¡¯t supposed to happen!


    Of course, the fact that Jackson had attracted so much attention from scouts at the NCAA proved he had something special. At this very moment, he operated on instinct¡ª


    Reflexively, Jackson took off.


    No passing targets?


    Then he would rely on his best skill to open up the game: running with the ball himself.


    Thud, thud, thud.


    Jackson took the initiative to run out of the pocket, trying to advance in the vacant short pass area; but the Chiefs were always on alert for this move from the Ravens¡ªas it had been their deadly weapon during their three consecutive comeback victories.


    At this moment, the short pass area was left empty, allowing the Ravens some space to advance; however, as soon as a gap was visible, the secondary defense quickly tightened.


    Yet, someone was a step faster than the Chief¡¯s secondary defense.


    Chris Jones.


    It was him again.


    Jones was a split second slow to react, watching as Jackson had already bolted forward; but Jones didn¡¯t give up. With a dive, he threw his body forward, clenching his teeth and burning energy.


    He lunged.


    Jones only managed to touch Jackson¡¯s calves and ankles, unable to grasp him fully, only managing interference like a revolving propeller.


    Jackson was distracted, not noticing Jones approaching from behind. He stumbled, and his whole body flew out like a bomber.


    He took a nasty spill.


    Just a second ago, Jackson was backpedaling, preparing to expand the formation to look for a passing target.


    The next second, Jackson saw Houston advancing fully. Although Edwards tried to block, Houston¡¯s swift movements made Edwards seem like a wooden stake, easily evaded.


    Danger, danger, danger!


    Jackson still had excellent athletic instincts; he stopped abruptly and changed direction repeatedly, managing to dodge Houston¡¯s capture in the nick of time. Seeing that Jones was also about to break through, Jackson had no time to adjust further.


    He dug his feet in, swung his arm, passed the ball¡ª


    Like drawing a bow to shoot an eagle.


    Uh-ah, ah, ah, Jackson exerted his full strength, roaring from deep within his Dantian.


    The football was airborne, tracing a heart-stopping parabola.


    Ah!


    The breath of the entire Arrowhead Stadium was momentarily cut off, countless eyes focused solely on the trajectory of the flying football, brains frozen.


    No way, it couldn¡¯t be the third last-minute defeat of the season, could it?


    The arc of the football sliced through the sky; who was Jackson¡¯s passing target?


    Ten yards!


    Twenty yards!


    Thirty yards!


    It breezed past thirty yards and was rapidly falling, heading toward the left sideline, deliberately avoiding Cornerback Fowler on the right side, trying to create an opportunity on the Chiefs¡¯ relatively weaker left side.


    Not just the spectators, Fowler, Houston, and others all watched the parabolic path of the football.


    And then... there was nothing else.


    Because the parabola wasn¡¯t sufficient, the falling arc couldn¡¯t be controlled; after passing its high point, it fell vertically, clumsily and weakly crashing to the ground.


    Like a falling papaya.


    Cornerback or Wide Receiver, the nearest was more than five yards away¡ªa completely untouched no-man¡¯s land; even a desperate leap to try and save the ball was impossible.


    Totally out of reach.


    Thud.


    The entire stadium was stunned¡ª


    Is that it?


    All that anxious, nervous anticipation, and it ends in such a void? So what was Jackson¡¯s excessive effort just before all about?


    Huh?


    Because it was so unexpected and sudden, the whole Arrowhead Stadium fell silent, everyone looking at each other, the air suddenly quiet.


    Awkward.

 Chapter 683: The Ultimate Test

    Chapter 683: The Ultimate Test


    Fearing the sudden silence most¡ª


    Arrowhead Stadium, unusually quiet, not a hint of positivity.


    At this moment, fans listening to the live broadcast on the radio collectively dumbstruck, their hearts stopped beating, not one daring to believe their ears.


    Could it be, a Wanfu Mary had killed them?


    Could it be, the Kansas City Chiefs suffered their third last-minute defeat this season?


    It can¡¯t be...


    ...


    Then.


    Boom!


    A thunderous cheer erupted from the radio, earth-shattering and effortlessly powerful.


    ¡°Soar!¡±


    ¡°Soar!¡±


    Again and again, the soul-stirring energy was palpably transmitted even through the radio waves, as the commentator¡¯s praise unfurled like rapid-fire, sweeping across Kansas City.


    They hadn¡¯t repeated the same mistake¡ª


    Once is an accident, twice a coincidence, but not a third time.


    Faced with the same fate, the Kansas City Chiefs refused to experience a third loss this season.


    ¡°Spectacular!¡±


    ¡°Spectacular, truly so, so spectacular.¡±


    ¡°The Kansas Chiefs Defense showed top-notch performance at a critical moment, in no way inferior to the Baltimore Ravens Defense. With an absolutely tough and resolute stance, they firmly pinned down the Baltimore Ravens Offense¡¯s last attempt. Jackson and Edwards couldn¡¯t find any opening.¡±


    ¡°Lamar Jackson, at a critical moment, still exposed his fatal flaw of lacking game experience. A rookie is a rookie, after all. This must be his first real shock in the League since he joined.¡±


    Next, this spectacular game will move into overtime, raising the intensity to a new level, possibly fighting tooth and nail until everything¡¯s turned upside down, possibly stopping abruptly just when it¡¯s least expected, perhaps succumbing to disaster due to continuous mistakes¡ª


    Anything is possible.


    The Baltimore Ravens have had several no-quarter overtimes with the Pittsburgh Steelers over the years, but it remains to be seen if these tough experiences will be the key for Harbaugh¡¯s team to change the tide,


    Just the thought makes Nantz unable to contain his excitement and eagerness, a tangle of emotions so overwhelming that even the seasoned Nantz struggles with himself.


    ¡°Now, as nightfall gently descends, the wind begins to pick up at Arrowhead Stadium, with temperatures dropping. On one hand, the cold weather could affect the players¡¯ state; on the other, the wind direction could impact the quality of the passes. It¡¯s still unknown if this will become an unforeseen factor in overtime.¡±


    ¡°But what¡¯s more important is that after such a high-intensity game, players from both teams are facing tests of stamina, and the risk of injuries is climbing with every play, adding even more unpredictability to overtime.¡±


    ¡°The team captains from both teams are now taking the field, ready for the coin toss. Representing the Baltimore Ravens is Saggs, and for the Kansas City Chiefs, it¡¯s...Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not Houston, but Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°Cheers start to rise from Arrowhead Stadium, rooting for their brand-new team leader.¡±


    The players have entered the field.


    Drenched in sweat, Saggs glares menacingly, locking his predatory gaze on Li Wei. From the very moment they faced each other, an overwhelming presence was unleashed¡ª


    Overtime, is not just about luck, but also about momentum.


    When a game reaches such a moment, actual skill takes a backseat; the real key lies in momentum. It becomes more of a mental battle than a physical or skill-based clash, to see who is stronger, more resilient, and more decisive.


    In this regard, having gone through numerous ¡°Steel Raven Battles,¡± Saggs surely knows this all too well; crawling out from countless bloody battles and heaps of bones. In comparison, the often underperforming Kansas Chiefs of recent years are at a distinct disadvantage, not to mention Reed¡¯s lack of such experience.


    As soon as he stepped onto the field, Saggs had already begun the mind games.


    But what about Li Wei?


    With a smile on his face and an air of ease about him, curiosity and freshness gleaming in his eyes, he made no effort to hide his greenness, listening attentively to the referee¡¯s explanation of the rules¡ª


    Completely ignoring Saggs.


    Come on, who listens to the referee¡¯s drivel before overtime starts?


    Looking at Li Wei¡¯s content expression as if he were out on an excursion, participating in some sort of guessing game, Saggs who intended to dominate his opponent with sheer presence, was momentarily lost for words.


    What the hell kind of strategy is this?

 Chapter 684: 683 Home away from home

    Chapter 684: 683 Home away from home


    ¡°Heads or tails?¡±


    The head referee, holding the coin ready to toss, turned to Li Wei.


    Li Wei¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m the home team.¡±


    The head referee: ...


    ¡°Ah, sorry, sorry,¡± the head referee also realized his own confusion and turned to Saggs, ¡°Heads or tails?¡±


    Saggs¡¯s face looked like the bottom of a pan, glaring fiercely at the head referee, expressing strong dissatisfaction¡ª


    ...


    According to the rules, the visiting team chooses first in the overtime coin toss.


    Clearly, the head referee had just been confused.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t mind; he flashed Saggs a radiant smile, displaying the polite welcome of the Eastern nation, and made an inviting gesture.


    Saggs felt a surge in his chest, instantly making it seem like he couldn¡¯t afford to lose, being petty, which nearly caused Saggs to bite his teeth in half. But he ultimately controlled himself, looked at the referee, took a deep breath, and announced his choice, ¡°Heads.¡±


    After speaking, Saggs looked again at Li Wei, showing an evil smile, and pointed to his own head with his index finger, as if to hint to Li Wei:


    Beware of a concussion.


    The head referee didn¡¯t notice Saggs¡¯s small gesture and simply tossed the coin, then spread his arms wide, waiting for the coin to land on the ground to prevent cheating¡ª


    All eyes were fixed on the coin, rising, flipping, falling.


    The initiative of the start of overtime, even to some extent the victory of the entire game, might also rest on this single coin.


    It hit the ground, rolled.


    Everyone stepped away, avoiding touching the coin which would possibly require a re-toss.


    The coin came to a stop, and immediately everyone could feel the scorching gazes focusing on it.


    The voice of the head referee echoed throughout Arrowhead Stadium through the microphone.


    ¡°Tails.¡±


    ¡°Kansas City Chiefs win the coin toss for the first possession of overtime...¡±


    Boom.


    Arrowhead Stadium erupted like a volcano, releasing unbelievable energy all at once. Despite such a tense and thrilling knife-edge match, the stadium and the city still cheered and jumped without reservations; the roaring waves of heat made the cold retreat.


    For a moment, it seemed as if even the setting sun¡¯s descent hesitated.


    Boo, boo boo.


    Surrounding him was a chorus of boos, even Mahomes, who was slightly nervous and somewhat distracted, couldn¡¯t help but jeer at Kelsey.


    Mahomes quipped, ¡°Travis, maybe shave the beard first.¡±


    Kelsey didn¡¯t mind, and began to do the horse-riding dance, ¡°How about this? ¡®Gangnam style¡¯?¡±


    Ha ha ha.


    Everyone burst out laughing, and Li Wei quietly stepped back, wearing an ¡°I don¡¯t know you¡± expression, smoothly distancing himself, with the other players following suit one after another.


    As a result, Kelsey suddenly found himself alone, spreading his arms, ¡°Hey, are you guys discriminating against Justin?¡±


    Houston: ??? What kind of disaster is this?


    Seeing Houston¡¯s innocent expression, even Reed couldn¡¯t help but let a smile creep up his face.


    Assistant Coach Childres quietly approached Burns, looking at Burns who was all smiles and seemingly at ease, ¡°Rookie... has it always been like this from before?¡±


    Burns thought hard, ¡°It¡¯s been like this since the first time he played.¡±


    Childres lightly lifted his chin, ¡°Indeed, a born leader.¡±


    It was their first overtime game, and from the players to the coaches, the Kansas City Chiefs were indeed a bit tense¡ªall without exception¡ªeven though Reed maintained his composure, like a calming anchor, Childres was aware of Reed¡¯s pressure.


    The uncertainty of the overtime was one aspect, but the impact and pressure brought on by the Baltimore Ravens¡¯ was another.


    The Chiefs had indeed struggled in this game.


    At least unlike the games against the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams, the Chiefs had won the chance for overtime; yet the issue was precisely there because no one could predict overtime. The same game, a different atmosphere, and sheer youthful zeal isn¡¯t enough to solve all problems.


    Some issues, like lack of experience, are simply intractable.


    Such games, such dilemmas, such challenges were indeed a necessary path for growth for the Kansas City Chiefs, mainly composed of sophomores and juniors.


    But what if¡ªone lost the overtime?


    Unimaginable.


    Just the thought of it sent shivers down one¡¯s spine.


    Uncontrollably, the team¡¯s mood was still inevitably tense, and even winning the offensive right didn¡¯t relax them¡ª


    What if, the offense didn¡¯t score?


    Comparable to a penalty shootout in soccer, NFL overtime plays with your heartbeat.


    However, Li Wei sensed it; within a few words, the tight nerves slowly relaxed, more effective than any motivational pep talk.

 Chapter 685: The spear is not a spear

    Chapter 685: The spear is not a spear


    ¡°Get on the field, get on the field.¡±


    ¡°Oh ho, it¡¯s our turn again.¡±


    ¡°Come on, come on!¡±


    With Houston, Jones, and the rest of the Defense leading, everyone stood on the sidelines, cheering on their teammates as the Offense took the field once more.


    The pressure was still there.


    But the mental state had subtly changed.


    ...


    The players of the Offense opened up their shoulders, held their heads high, their mouths relaxed into a state of alert calmness, readying themselves for battle.


    By stark contrast, the faces across the field were solemn, grave, tense, bristling with a menacing air of determination.


    Indeed, for the Baltimore Ravens, although they had not lost, the outcome was still uncertain, and their mood was no different from having walked through hell itself.


    In the fourth quarter, they finally broke the tie to take the lead, and then, strangling Li Wei¡¯s performance, victory seemed within reach. But then the tide turned; first, they lost the touchdown and returned to a tie, followed by a series of strikeouts leading to their expulsion. Entering overtime, they were the first to lose the offensive right.


    They retreated, over and over. Although it wasn¡¯t as bad as misfortunes piling up, it wasn¡¯t far off.


    Now, stepping onto the field again, the conviction of certain victory thundered in their minds. Led by Saggs, Mosley, and the defensive players, they exuded a desperate and solemn determination, their bodies burning with a ferocious fighting spirit, their sharpness unavoidable, challenging the Offense head-on.


    On either side of the Chu River and Han border, the contrast was stark¡ª


    The spear was not a spear, the shield was not a shield, what was clearly a spear gave off the feeling of a shield, what was clearly a shield displayed the might of a spear. The contradictory confrontation was still as such, but the essence of the contradiction underwent a silent transformation, pushing the atmosphere of the Arrowhead Stadium to its peak in an instant.


    Hush!


    It wasn¡¯t a booing sound, but a signal for silence, as Arrowhead Stadium fell completely quiet, making space for their Offense to set up their tactics.


    Mahomes regained his focus.


    This young quarterback showed his resilience. After two painful failures, he was once again faced with a similar situation. Nervousness was inevitable, and demons of doubt lingered, but it was just for a moment. With Li Wei¡¯s help, he quickly returned to the game state¡ª


    Though it was not easy.


    Then.


    The stadium was dead silent; only the thudding of hearts against chest cavities buzzed in the ears, getting faster and faster, nearly to the point of explosion. Standing still, one couldn¡¯t help but tremble slightly uncontrollably.


    Unexpected, yet not unexpected.


    Clearly, Harbaugh¡¯s strategy was slightly different but still retained its advantage.


    Four men on the pass rush.


    The Baltimore Ravens didn¡¯t place all their forces on the front defense line; after maintaining pressure across the front line throughout the game, they suddenly... let go at the start of the overtime; instead pouring the pressure onto the receivers.


    Man-to-man coverage combined with zone defense.


    No fewer than seven players retreated, constructing an impenetrable net in the short pass region, and the widely open short pass areas throughout the game were now shut tight within Mahomes¡¯s passing view.


    Harbaugh¡¯s strategy wasn¡¯t to create direct pressure with a pass rush but to create indirect pressure on Mahomes through blockading the middle and short pass areas.


    At the final moments just before the end of regulation time, the Kansas Chiefs had used such a defensive strategy to throw Jackson off his game, fully exposing his rough passing technique deficiencies. Now the Baltimore Ravens were using the same tactic to trouble Mahomes.


    For a moment, the short to middle passing regions were densely packed with people, red and black intertwined and colliding, dazzling to the eye.


    The Baltimore Ravens defense strategy, serendipitously, matched up perfectly with Reed¡¯s offensive tactics.


    But were Reed¡¯s tactics so simple to decipher?


    Hill, rush forward.


    Watkins, rush forward.


    Hunter, rush forward.


    Hill and Hunter on the left wing and Watkins on the right wing, all three players charged forward right after the ball was snapped, sprinting towards the midfield line and even deeper territories without hesitation.


    Among them, Hill took the lead, fully unleashing his light and agile speed, displaying incredible vertical striking power.


    In just a breath, Hill¡¯s steps had crossed the midfield line.


    The Baltimore Ravens Defense had to follow the pace immediately. When they relaxed the pressure on the front line, the defense had to be ready to defend the deeper areas because they knew about Mahomes¡¯s long-passing capabilities, which is also the biggest difference between Mahomes and the former quarterback, Smith.


    In the blink of an eye, Hill had entered the long-pass area, while Watkins and Hunter, after moving into the long-pass area, both retreated back into the middle passing zone, creating open spaces with different routes and positions.


    Just then, another figure quietly broke through from the short-pass region¡ª


    Li Wei!


    Dazzling and overwhelming, the Kansas Chiefs¡¯ Shotgun Formation took full advantage of the strategic movements of the Wide Receivers, with five players joining together to set off waves in the Ravens¡¯ secondary.


    Like Nezha stirring the sea.

 Chapter 686: Nezha Conquers the Dragon King

    Chapter 686: Nezha Conquers the Dragon King


    Wait, where¡¯s Li Wei?


    Wait, where¡¯s Kelsey?


    No, where are Hill and Hunter?


    The Kansas City Chiefs dazzled with their routes, fully demonstrating the proper way to deploy the Shotgun Formation, scattering five receiving points like stars strewn across the sky, leaving the Baltimore Ravens¡¯ seven secondary defenders suddenly shorthanded and scrambling.


    Although five defensive players each took responsibility for their mark, a small issue now arose.


    On one hand, the two players responsible for the area zone defense failed to agree, one stayed in the short pass area for zone coverage while the other kept retreating into the mid-pass area. But they were surrounded by dizzying red figures, their steps uncertain in the vast center of the field.


    ...


    On the other hand, the players on man coverage were being led by the nose, whether following Hill into the deep field or returning with Hunter and Watkins to the mid-pass area. They were like headless flies crashing about in the unpredictable running paths.


    So, now, who¡¯s where?


    Meanwhile, inside the pocket, the scene was one of tranquil serenity.


    The Kansas City Chiefs, seemingly unintentionally, had the offensive line retreat a step, forming a pocket around Mahomes at its center, steadfast as the last line of defense, effectively blocking the Baltimore Ravens¡¯ four-man rush.


    Mahomes was free.


    Like in a safe harbor, he observed with ease and calm, initiating a secondary defensive read, and despite the chaos before him, he methodically unraveled the puzzles.


    Retreat, move, adjust.


    Mahomes gained ample and stable time, scanning the entire field ¡ª


    Observe, decide, act.


    Of course, this was no easy task as the red figures were encircled by black, the black figures having the advantage in numbers, disrupting the red¡¯s coordinated positioning amidst a blend of light and shadow, making it nearly impossible to find any gaps.


    This was the predicament in which Jackson had collapsed.


    So, what about Mahomes?


    With a piercing gaze, he scanned the field, accurately catching a gap amid the crisscross of dense chessboard-like patterns, and quickly made his move.


    Pass.


    Not a parabola, but a straight line, an almost linear bullet pass.


    Power, speed, burst¡ªall are unleashed as the wrist flicks swiftly, exploding the energy instantaneously, turning the Football into a streak of light breaking through.


    The target of the pass is ¡ª


    The short pass area¡¯s Kelsey?


    If Watkins was unmarked, should he fill the gap, otherwise once Watkins caught the ball, a turnaround would lead him straight down an open field; but for Levi, crossing over the slot into the central zone, where it was densely packed with people, the threat level steeply diminished.


    Mosley¡¯s steps showed slight hesitation.


    This hesitation was merely a millisecond¡¯s pause. Ordinary spectators couldn¡¯t notice it; but as the game changed in the blink of an eye, things were already different.


    Without any hesitation, Levi continued forward, creating a one-and-a-half-step gap, a sidestep facing the pocket¡ª


    Opportunity.


    Mahomes caught on, and the football, like a cannonball, shot out of its barrel.


    Bang.


    Straight, fast, powerful.


    A fifteen-yard pass, Mahomes relying solely on the strength of his ¡°Kirin Arm¡± to forcibly push the football out, completing the connection between him and Levi.


    The football accurately burrowed into Levi¡¯s embrace¡ª


    Catch, control.


    Steps, retreating continually, seeking space to keep pushing forward, but in the next second, he could see shadows like hellish demons encircling around. Levi¡¯s steps couldn¡¯t adjust in time, without hesitation, without delay, he decisively went down.


    Fifteen yards, secured.


    ¡°Beautiful!¡±


    ¡°A crisp and clean pass.¡±


    ¡°In Baltimore Ravens¡¯ impervious second-line defense, Mahomes found a gap calmly and precisely, completing a powerful pass, and directly connecting with his running back, Levi, accurately and sharply tearing through an opening, quickly securing the first attack.¡±


    ¡°Clearly, the Kansas Chiefs Offense was well-prepared.¡±


    Whether it was Mosley or Saggs, or even Wendell, all were just a step away, but all they could do was watch Levi making the catch, going down, and claiming the first down¡ªeffortless and direct, not even letting the defense touch a piece of his jersey.


    So close, yet so far.


    There was a bitter taste of being played, spreading on the tongue, watching the opponent freely take and give leisurely walks on their own turf, which made the faces of the three generals of the Baltimore Ravens Defense not too pleasant.


    However, Levi stood up, barely even glancing at them, not even deigning to taunt, tossing the football to the referee, signaling the Kansas Chiefs Offense players to quickly line up¡ª


    Continue, continue.


    The offense hadn¡¯t ended yet. What was there to celebrate?


    The defensive trio watched Levi¡¯s retreating figure with livid faces, nearly biting through the tender flesh inside their mouths, the taste of blood spreading inside.


    A whiff of blood.

 Chapter 687: 686 One Second Hell

    Chapter 687: 686 One Second Hell


    First down and ten yards, still in Shotgun Formation.


    Harbaugh did not waver, the Baltimore Ravens still rushed four men, but this time their man-to-man and zone coverage defensive net visibly tightened.


    Mahomes again had ample time to read the secondary defense, the difference was, all his passing targets were engulfed within a black storm.


    At the crucial moment, Mahomes demonstrated the potential of a top quarterback, with a feint long pass motion that shifted the focus entirely onto Hill:


    Because Hill, relying on his personal breakthrough ability, surged ahead, breaking through along a straight line for forty yards and continued to sprint. Should Mahomes connect successfully with Hill, this could potentially be a touchdown that ends the game in overtime. The Baltimore Ravens could not allow such a disaster.


    Thus, it was evident that the attention of the Baltimore Ravens Defense shifted towards the backfield.


    ...


    In this brief gap, Mahomes readjusted and with a fluid motion made a five-yard short pass, easily finding Kelsey who ran open.


    In the short passing zone, Kelsey¡¯s size advantage was very clear. In a stationary position, he effortlessly completed the catch and turned to continue moving forward.


    He was only stopped when Saggs, Humphrey, and Jefferson sandwiched him, forcing Kelsey to the ground, and ultimately preventing him from breaking any further.


    Nonetheless, the ten yards were easily secured¡ª


    Twice on first down and ten yards, and twice passing the ball, the Kansas City Chiefs Offense had already reached midfield, completely dominating.


    The situation was slightly different than expected.


    Previously, Nantz and Romo thought that both the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens Defense would play a more crucial role in the overtime, given that this was the main theme throughout the game. Whichever offensive group could find a breakthrough under pressure might seize the final victory.


    However, it was surprising that the Baltimore Ravens Defense initially allowed Mahomes to pass. They probably thought that Mahomes, facing constant pressure throughout the game, might get flustered due to his lack of experience and might risk a long pass without a target, exposing his weakness and becoming a breakthrough for the Baltimore Ravens¡ª


    After all, Mahomes had shown such tendencies more than once in the game so far.


    But, things went contrary to their desires.


    Mahomes was rational and calm. Amid the dazzling interchange of offense and defense, he resisted the urge to attempt a risky long pass and instead found an opening in the chaos, ruining Harbaugh¡¯s calculated plan.


    Then, the situation unfolded like this.


    In the blink of an eye, the Kansas City Chiefs had rapidly advanced to the midfield, seizing control of the overtime and gaining the upper hand.


    So, what next?


    Were the Baltimore Ravens about to retreat in disarray?


    Harbaugh: Heh, how could that be possible?


    First down and ten yards.


    The Baltimore Ravens Defense slightly changed their tactic, evolving from four men rushing to five, and though it was just adding one more rusher, the aggressiveness of the Baltimore Ravens Defense was not to be underestimated.


    Force, afterimages, rushed from all directions toward that russet-brown blur.


    Li Wei concentrated intensely, fixedly staring at the football.


    With a dive, the football popped out of his hand; but his next step responded quickly with his right hand following up, his elbow sweeping in to embrace the oval object tightly against his body, his momentum following suit.


    He secured it!


    Tightly, with all his strength, his body curled up like a hedgehog.


    The next second¡ª


    Bang! Bang, bang, bang!


    One after another, three, four, five figures piled up on top of Li Wei, plunging the world into darkness as layer upon layer of pressure was unleashed.


    Pressure, collision, continuously building, the oxygen in his chest forced out by the impact.


    His mouth, permeated with the taste of blood; but Li Wei bit down hard on his teeth.


    ¡°Fumble! Unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°In Li Wei¡¯s entire professional career, he rarely fumbles. I need to check the data, but if I remember correctly, this is only Li Wei¡¯s second fumble of the season, in thirteen games.¡±


    ¡°Yet it happened at such a critical moment.¡±


    ¡°Now the situation is chaotic, we can¡¯t tell who has control of the ball; the referees are separating the players, trying to find the football.¡±


    ¡°...Wait, the football¡ª¡±


    ¡°In Li Wei¡¯s hands!¡±


    ¡°God, Li Wei! Li Wei has redeemed himself, regaining control of the ball after the fumble...¡±


    Oh, oh oh oh!


    Oh oh oh!


    Arrowhead Stadium instantly erupted with unbelievable energy.


    One second hell, one second heaven.


    The heart fluctuated between peaks and valleys several times, only releasing tension when Li Wei was seen tightly holding the football.


    Knees, trembling, fear striking belatedly; barely able to stand, but still screaming emotions at the top of his lungs.


    Falling into frenzy.


    That complete loss of sanity kind of frenzy.

 Chapter 688: Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards

    Chapter 688: Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards


    ¡°`


    Shit!


    Li Wei just couldn¡¯t hold it in, cursing fiercely, not directed at anyone else, but at himself¡ª


    He shouldn¡¯t have.


    He shouldn¡¯t have made a mistake at this time; fumbling the ball was an absolutely unacceptable error, especially in overtime¡ªit was intolerable.


    Even though he had managed to recover the ball, redeeming his mistake, he still couldn¡¯t be satisfied because the run play had been intercepted, failing to secure the first down.


    ...


    Fourth down and one yard to go.


    From seamlessly securing first downs to facing a strikeout, a fourth-down predicament caught them off-guard, plunging from heaven to hell in the blink of an eye.


    The Kansas City Chiefs put on a tough stance, the Baltimore Ravens quickly followed suit, but ultimately, Li Wei still couldn¡¯t forgive himself.


    Shit.


    Li Wei cursed fiercely again, anger burning fiercely in his chest.


    Turning his head, Li Wei saw Mosley lift his chin, run his left hand across his throat in a throat-slitting gesture, not hiding his provocation at all, a smug smile on his lips, looking down at Li Wei from above.


    Li Wei took a deep breath, directly locking eyes with Mosley without backing down¡ª


    Eye contact for just a brief moment.


    Then.


    ¡°Rookie, it¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay,¡± Kelsey was the first to rush over, patting Li Wei¡¯s shoulder to comfort him.


    Mahomes, Hill and the others also gathered around one after another.


    Li Wei turned his gaze back to his teammates, showed a smile again, waved his hands to indicate he was fine, and lastly, his eyes fell on Mahomes, giving him an inquiring look:


    Fourth down, what do we do?


    From a time management perspective, no need to worry, it¡¯s just the start of overtime; but from a game control perspective, caution is required.


    If they go for it on fourth down and succeed, naturally everything¡¯s good; but if they fail, giving the Baltimore Ravens Offense a midfield starting position, the Kansas Chiefs would essentially be handing over the initiative to the Ravens.


    Choosing not to go for it on fourth down would align more with NFL teams¡¯ usual overtime tactics¡ªlike the Ravens, the Chiefs could also place their hopes on the Defensive group, continuing the overtime tug-of-war.


    Anyway, both Defensive groups have been strong throughout the match, and if all goes as expected, overtime will still hinge on their outstanding performance.


    So, what will Reed decide?


    Reed¡¯s personality is one to take risks, but he¡¯s naturally more inclined to be stable, and when he does take risks, it¡¯s often at crucial turning points.


    And now?


    Reed¡¯s brain went into overdrive. The Kansas City Chiefs were still young, still lacking experience, still in need of polishing, but as the defending champions, they couldn¡¯t afford to slow down and wait two or three years to grow.


    This season, the Kansas City Chiefs have already lost to the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams. Losing is not good; but facing defeat in regular season clashes isn¡¯t bad either, as those experiences can transform into nutrients for growth, eventually becoming the chance for transformation at critical moments in the playoffs.


    Now, yet another challenge.


    No destruction, no construction.


    If they want to take risks, if they want to break through, if they want to grow, then moments of hardship and deadlock like this should be firmly seized.


    Youth knows no fear, doesn¡¯t fear injury, heads held high, charging forward, no matter the storm or the accumulation of wounds. Wipe away the tears, clean the wounds, embrace your dreams, get back up, and continue the sprint¡ªthis is the price to be paid by the youthful years, and also the advantage that cannot be replaced by them.


    Reed thought, he had a vague idea, and he didn¡¯t hesitate.


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs choose to go for it on fourth down.¡±


    ¡°This is quite the surprise. Reed hasn¡¯t taken it easy in overtime but boldly opted to go for it on fourth down, refusing to let the Baltimore Ravens Offense take the field.¡±


    ¡°Now, the situation tightens even further.¡±


    Crisis? Opportunity? Turning point?


    The Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens alike, opportunities are equal, with the game reaching a crossroads where a turn to the left or right leads to completely different outcomes; but for both teams, it¡¯s filled with endless possibilities.


    ¡°`


    The stadium was in turmoil.


    Even Nantz and Romo couldn¡¯t keep their hearts from racing.


    The Kansas Chiefs Offense quickly lined up¡ª


    Still with dual running backs, still in shotgun formation.


    It seemed that Reed was prepared to break the deadlock with a passing attack once again.


    But on fourth and one yard? To not go for the sneak? Could it be because both Hunter and Li Wei just met with walls of resistance in their recent advances?


    Or was it merely a smoke bomb?


    All sorts of speculation, all sorts of gambles.


    Mahomes¡¯s heart was beating wildly, verging on an overload, almost as if it could explode.


    He wasn¡¯t afraid of the big stage, not in the least, in fact, he reveled in it; however, the pressure was undeniably there¡ª


    If they were to lose a third game in such intense and closely contested matches this season...


    No, no, no, stop the wild thoughts.


    Mahomes took a deep breath, looked towards Li Wei, and could see his focus and calm, a fighting spirit as sharp as a blade made evident, naturally exuding a readiness to leap into battle, which made Mahomes¡¯s smile grow broader.


    They were ready for the challenge.


    Such moments were the defining ones for a team, for a player.


    All of Arrowhead Stadium fell silent¡ª


    After the cheering and support, everyone became quiet, even holding their breaths and pausing their heartbeats, fearful that any little noise might interfere with their offense. One by one, eyes were fixed on the field, souls merged completely with the game.


    The world seemed to pause for a moment.


    Cool, focused.


    Above the eardrums, the sound of a heart pounding against the chest was heard, blood burning, passions surging, and in Mahomes¡¯s eyes, a glint of determination sparked.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Mahomes¡¯s command to start cut through the air, stirring up a storm.


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.


    Intense gazes rained down like a torrential downpour.


    Mahomes took the football from the Center¡¯s hands, a step back to open up space, a sideways move¡ª


    A red figure sliced from the left, perfectly entering the one-step gap between Mahomes and the Center. Mahomes pushed the football into the embrace of that figure and then moved aside, making room.


    The handoff of the football was complete.


    Everything hid behind the offensive line¡¯s closing shield, over in the blink of an eye, the Baltimore Ravens Defense having no time to react.


    What... what? Wait, what just happened?


    In the field of vision, dazzling and overwhelming, total chaos ensued.


    Following Mahomes¡¯s signal to start, Hunter on the left wing and Li Wei on the right didn¡¯t run straight ahead but instead converged towards the middle, behind the shield of the offensive line; at the same time, Hill, Watkins, and Kelsey, the three receivers, dashed forward without hesitation like arrows released from their bows.


    One lateral, one vertical.


    The Kansas Chiefs utilized the entire space of the field, but the focal point was still the movement within the pocket.


    Mahomes handed the football to Hunter¡ª


    Not Li Wei, but Hunter.


    Yet, Li Wei, acting as the sixth lineman, was ready to pave the way for Hunter, a switch in roles that brought a different force to Kansas¡¯s ground game.


    A sneak for one yard!


    So, the Kansas Chiefs were indeed preparing to go for the sneak after all!

 Chapter 689: 688 no such person found

    Chapter 689: 688 no such person found


    Gain a yard!


    Facing fourth and one, the Kansas City Chiefs lined up in the Shotgun Formation, seemingly ready to gamble on a pass play, but it was all a smoke bomb. In the end, they chose the most conservative, simplest, and safest option¡ªgain a yard¡ªseeking a breakthrough amidst the ground battle.


    Baltimore Ravens Defense: Bring it on!


    Mosley couldn¡¯t hide his smile. Harbaugh had been guarding against this move by Reed and had prepared a countermeasure; to be precise, he had been guarding against Li Wei. Now that Li Wei had become the lead blocker, the defense¡¯s difficulty increased, but nevertheless, the Baltimore Ravens did not fall into disarray.


    Planting his foot, stepping forward, Mosley threw his body out there without any reservations¡ª


    The key to defending a one-yard gain is to not be distracted, you must give it your all.


    ...


    However, as soon as Mosley took a step forward, he noticed something strange:


    Where are they?


    Logically, in a one-yard gain tactic, the crowd should be bustling and converging on the offensive line, forcibly advancing through a power showdown, with numerical superiority playing a key role.


    But the offensive line of the Kansas City Chiefs seemed a bit thin.


    In the chaos, a bad feeling flashed through Mosley¡¯s mind.


    Meanwhile, Mahomes moved stealthily, completing a fake handoff so convincingly that the football seemed to pass into Hunter¡¯s arms, but it remained in his hands.


    Turning around, Mahomes looked to the other side and extended his right hand.


    The football, finally handed off, nestled between Li Wei¡¯s hands.


    Daring and outrageous.


    Right after Li Wei had just been intercepted and fumbled on the next offensive play, Reed brazenly gave the football back to Li Wei¡ª


    Facing the Heart Demon head-on.


    This time, Reed¡¯s gambit was ahead of Harbaugh¡¯s anticipation.


    Turning around, adjusting, moving laterally.


    Li Wei and Mahomes moved side by side, akin to two little swans, with Mahomes not leaving after completing the handoff but closely following Li Wei, ready to block defensively.


    Urban was about to break free on the defensive end, and Mahomes¡¯ muscles tensed, prepared to confront what was coming, but at the crucial moment, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive line did its job¡ª


    Holding Urban back.


    It was just for a moment, a mere moment.


    Mahomes and Li Wei had already maneuvered past the tussle at the line of scrimmage, the Chu River and Han border, and crossed the kickoff line, both continuing to charge forward.


    The yard was theirs.


    Without any interference, without any collision, and even without raising any alarm, the Kansas City Chiefs had stolen a yard right from the clutches of the Baltimore Ravens.


    ¡°Chiefs Special,¡± making its appearance once again.


    Though they had secured the first down, Mahomes and Li Wei didn¡¯t stop running or fall to the ground but instead kept pushing forward.


    Just a step away, Saggs appeared in front of them.


    Saggs couldn¡¯t believe what he was seeing: they had all been tricked! Damn it!


    One second before, they were gleefully giving Li Wei a lesson in love, smug over frightening him into a fumble.


    The next second, they couldn¡¯t even touch Li Wei¡¯s jersey, the defense about to collapse completely, with the immense shame nearly driving Saggs insane.


    Clenching his teeth fiercely, Saggs was determined, a glint of ferocity in his eyes as he locked onto Li Wei, charging forward like a tiger descending the mountain.


    However.


    Bang!


    No sooner had he started than Saggs was hit with a blow coming from beneath, striking his shoulder hard, yet Li Wei remained out of reach, two steps away.


    ¡°Damn. That quarterback.¡±


    A thought flashed through Saggs¡¯ mind, but before he could ponder it further, his world turned upside down.


    Saggs couldn¡¯t understand how the quarterback had boldly stepped in as the opening blocker for the running back¡ªwhat was going on? Worse yet, his all-or-nothing charge was effortlessly overturned, spinning like a paper doll in a waltz.


    Such embarrassment, such a loss of face.


    Mahomes had no time to regard Saggs¡¯ shattered ego and pride, as he unleashed all the power from deep within his Dantian, flipping Saggs over, his eyes never leaving Li Wei:


    Run, rookie! Run!


    Urban: Gone.


    Saggs: Gone.


    Mosley: He¡¯s not there.


    The entire right wing of the field had been cleared, with an open path ahead.


    Thud thud.


    Five yards.


    Thud thud thud.


    Ten yards.


    Li Wei¡¯s speed instantly burst forth, and before one could blink, the red figure had already dashed past the forty-yard line on the Baltimore Ravens¡¯ side of the field¡ª


    Rushing straight in.


    Cornerback Humphrey: Crap.


    By the time Humphrey realized that Kelsey¡¯s forward motion was just a feint and he began to backtrack after sprinting out a few steps, the alarm had been sounded.


    However, Humphrey still hadn¡¯t anticipated Li Wei¡¯s initial speed to be so fast, like entering an uninhabited territory, as it seemed like the Baltimore Ravens Defense couldn¡¯t even touch the hem of Li Wei¡¯s clothing; if he were to fully unleash his speed, then the Baltimore Ravens would have no chance.


    Pretending to be ready to drop back, Humphrey successfully tricked Kelsey into following, but with a quick stop and turn, Humphrey moved forward again, leaving Kelsey turned into a post, and charged straight ahead¡ª


    Kelsey: ??? What¡¯s going on?


    Of course, Humphrey knew that logically he should have dropped back to intercept Li Wei as quickly as possible.


    But facing Li Wei, matters were not so simple, which is why Humphrey simply went with the flow, abandoning the idea of stopping Li Wei near the thirty-five-yard line and instead going to the twenty-five-yard line to lie in wait.


    Willing to let go and sacrifice, not being greedy, that¡¯s how one could trap the prey.


    Especially prey like Li Wei.


    So, Humphrey¡¯s counterintuitive move successfully fooled Kelsey.


    As Li Wei accelerated, Humphrey did too, taking one step ahead and appearing near the twenty-five-yard line, then turning and rushing back.


    Heading straight for Li Wei.


    Bending his knees, lowering his center of gravity, Humphrey was ready for the collision.


    Getting closer.


    Rapidly closing in.


    As the high-speed train was about to collide head-on.


    But then, the full-speed sprinting Li Wei didn¡¯t slow down, making a move to change direction to his right, forcing Humphrey¡¯s center of gravity to sway to his own left.


    Immediately after, Li Wei pulled his center of gravity back, right up close to Humphrey, but instead of forcing his way through, he rotated three hundred and sixty degrees clockwise.


    Humphrey was just a quarter to an eighth of a beat too late to pull his center of gravity back and the next step found him blocked by Li Wei.


    Humphrey became a pillar, watching helplessly as Li Wei circled around him.


    So close at hand, within reach, yet everything was just slightly too slow.


    The world slowed down tenfold, a hundredfold.


    Humphrey could clearly see his own hands follow in an attempt to grab Li Wei, only to be slightly delayed.


    Everything was just a hair¡¯s breadth away.


    Then, turning and stepping forward, that red figure danced in his view, always just out of grasp, and by the time Humphrey had completely adjusted his center of gravity, the figure had already taken off at full speed.


    The speed, fully released, floated away.


    Humphrey held his breath, keeping up at full speed, accelerating, bursting forth, sprinting with all his might, while his footsteps and center of gravity were unsteady amid the chaos, teetering dangerously, and from start to finish, still unable to grasp even a piece of Li Wei¡¯s clothing, watching helplessly as the number twenty-three jersey pulled away.


    Growing farther and farther apart.


    Utterly hopeless.

 Chapter 690: 689 scores the game-winning touchdown

    Chapter 690: 689 scores the game-winning touchdown


    Change of direction. Brake. Turn. Break away.


    From beginning to end, Li Wei held his breath, transforming all that anger and frustration into fuel, intently focusing on what lay ahead, unleashing speed.


    ¡°Run, rookie! Run!¡±


    Everything reverted to the simplest, most primal, most natural state, solely for the love of it, without the need for other toys or games. Fleeing beneath the sun, joy and happiness filled his chest.


    Light as a swallow.


    Spreading his arms, he felt the wild wind rush under them liberatingly and wildly, faster and faster, almost as if he could take flight.


    ...


    Childhood was always so simple.


    Huff, huff.


    The wild wind howled, the very heart of Arrowhead Stadium began to race uncontrollably, one by one, the fans could no longer contain themselves and stood up.


    Twenty-five-yard line.


    Twenty-yard line.


    Fifteen-yard line.


    In a blur, all those white lines had been left behind.


    Then.


    Wendell appeared.


    As the free safety among the safeties, Wendell was the last line of defense for the Baltimore Ravens. His first reaction was to keep a tight watch on Hill.


    To guard against Mahomes¡¯ sneak attack with a long pass.


    But he had not expected that Mahomes would rely on a deceivingly realistic double running back tactic¡ªactually employing a genuine ground attack with two running backs.


    An unstoppable force.


    The crisis was suddenly imminent.


    Wendell shook off Hill, cutting inside quickly, holding his breath and tense all over, not giving Li Wei a chance to continue charging forward.


    Step in, collide.


    In the blink of an eye, without any room to breathe, the collision occurred.


    A hard, head-on crash, comparable to a car accident.


    Then, one person flew out.


    ¡°Huh!¡±


    ¡°Wendell! Wendell has been sent flying. God!¡±


    Nantz was slack-jawed, not believing his eyes¡ª


    Li Wei, with the combined force of strength and speed, literally sent Wendell flying like a severed kite, Wendell¡¯s surefire interception attempt merely caused Li Wei¡¯s unstoppable speed to pause for half a second.


    Just half a second.


    Immediately after, Li Wei continued forward.


    Ten-yard line, already within reach.


    ¡°Humphrey!¡±


    ¡°Jesus Christ!¡±


    ¡°Humphrey hasn¡¯t given up yet, Humphrey is still in pursuit, closing the distance, he¡¯s about to grab Li Wei¡¯s shoulder.¡±


    Humphrey was on fire; he would not give up nor surrender¡ª


    That¡¯s what Li Wei taught him, the game isn¡¯t over until the last moment; they must fight to the last, exhausting all energy.


    Ah, ah ah ah.


    Humphrey, transformed into a blaze of fire, took advantage of the brief stall from Li Wei¡¯s collision with Wendell, unbelievably closed in, his left hand reaching for Li Wei¡¯s shoulder.


    Without time to exert force, Li Wei had already restarted.


    Humphrey, not caring about committing a foul, grabbed instinctively at Li Wei¡¯s jersey, but his fingers couldn¡¯t tighten completely, and the two entangled amidst the jostling and chaos.


    Humphrey simply threw his body forward, tumbling into Li Wei, his staggering steps interrupting Li Wei¡¯s rhythm, stubbornly entwining together.


    Ten-yard line.


    Li Wei was still charging forward, still breaking free, an emergency brake attempted to shake off the pursuer behind him.


    ¡°`


    But Humphrey completely gripped Li Wei¡¯s jersey refusing to play defense, lost his balance forward, and instead tried to block Li Wei¡¯s path by stretching out horizontally in front of him.


    Li Wei restarted, using his shoulder against Humphrey, pushing forward like a bulldozer.


    The five-yard line.


    Uh, ahh, Humphrey exerted himself, planting his feet firmly on the ground, using almost all his strength to resist Li Wei, trying to stop him.


    Ah, ah-ah, Li Wei exerted himself too, stomping, stomping, continuously stomping, propelling himself forward with the ferocity of a charging bull.


    A standoff, a stalemate.


    But it was only for a brief moment, as the burst of power from Li Wei broke the balance, Humphrey felt his strength give way, and before he could react, he was airborne, freed from gravity¡¯s grip, and the sky turned a surging sea of red.


    Ahh, ahh-ahh.


    Li Wei held nothing back, one step, two steps, heavy as a mountain; three steps, four steps, unstoppable¡ª


    The end zone!


    Righteously, unstoppably.


    Humphrey once again felt the pull of gravity, crashing back into Mother Earth¡¯s embrace, watching helplessly as Li Wei stood in the end zone, towering, like a giant, holding up the sky of the Arrowhead Stadium with the evening twilight above.


    Just like before at Bryant-Denny Stadium, as if nothing had ever changed.


    ¡°Ah! A walk-off!¡±


    ¡°This is a walk-off touchdown!¡±


    ¡°Incredible! God, incredible!¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs did it, Li Wei did it, incredible!¡±


    ¡°After just facing an interception and a fumble, Li Wei not only controlled the fumble to clutch in a thread of hope and redeem himself, but he went even further. In a fourth-and-one situation, they used the double running back tactic, successfully deceiving the Baltimore Ravens Defense¡¯s anticipation. Then.¡±


    ¡°Then...¡±


    ¡°The whole world belonged to Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei, charging straight into the end zone, unstoppable, capped the game with a forty-seven-yard rushing touchdown, the Kansas City Chiefs win in overtime against the Baltimore Ravens with a walk-off.¡±


    ¡°A walk-off. A real walk-off!¡±


    ¡°God, this is just too thrilling, too exciting!¡±


    Boom!


    Felix watched the field, his mind thundering into blankness, all thoughts incinerated in an instant, leaving only one reaction¡ª


    Ah!


    Shouting at the top of his lungs.


    Ahh-ahh!


    Like a madman.


    Ahh-ahh!


    A touchdown! A touchdown in overtime facing a fourth-and-one, relying on a forty-seven-yard long dash to the end zone for a walk-off touchdown!


    Lost in ecstasy! Revel in celebration!


    Felix could feel the entire Arrowhead Stadium erupt like a volcano, every inch of red in his vision boiling and burning, swelling into a sea of flames.


    They won, they won¡ª


    Not just another victory, but a head-on clash against a playoff-caliber strong team, and a nail-biter with even odds; but this time, they didn¡¯t falter at the last hurdle, clinching the win with an unmatched performance in the final moments.


    Ahh-ahh!


    Felix wanted to celebrate to revel, to savor this moment to the fullest.


    ¡°Rare, truly rare.¡±


    ¡°The Baltimore Ravens played a game full of vigor, strategy, and resilience, and with four minutes left to go, the away team still led by a touchdown, Harbaugh¡¯s team proving with action that their three-win streak revival was no fluke, no stroke of luck, they truly had the power to surge into the playoffs.¡±


    ¡°Inconceivable as it is, after the game ends, the Pittsburgh Steelers need to thank the Kansas City Chiefs, for stopping the Baltimore Ravens from continuing their chase, winning a brief respite in the playoff seat battle.¡±


    ¡°Who knows whether Tomlin would want to.¡±


    ¡°But the real highlight of the game was still the Kansas City Chiefs, worthy of praise and anticipation, they created and seized the opportunity, proving their tenacity in a pinnacle showdown.¡±


    ¡°The number one seed in the American League, absolutely not just because of an easy schedule.¡±


    ¡°`

 Chapter 691: 690 Kings Transformation

    Chapter 691: 690 King¡¯s Transformation


    ¡°Before this game, despite the Kansas City Chiefs still being ranked as the number one seed in the American League, the shadow of being labeled a ¡®pretender¡¯ followed them closely because of previous losses to the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams.¡±


    ¡°This scene was all too similar to last season, it felt as though they were reliving it once again.¡±


    ¡°Likewise, this time, the Kansas City Chiefs proved themselves under pressure.¡±


    ¡°With four minutes remaining in the game, the Kansas City Chiefs were still behind; but in those final moments, the defending champions launched three waves of assault, transitioning from offense to defense and back to offense.¡±


    ¡°One touchdown pass, tying the score.¡±


    ¡°One three-and-out, dragging the game into overtime.¡±


    ...


    ¡°One rushing touchdown, sealing the win.¡±


    ¡°In those final moments, the Kansas City Chiefs displayed the explosive power of the American League¡¯s number one seed, shutting down the Baltimore Ravens Defense on both the offensive and defensive fronts.¡±


    ¡°Cool. Dominant. Imposing.¡±


    ¡°In this Kansas City Chiefs team, we can truly see the aura of a great power transforming.¡±


    ¡°Everything¡ªhard to believe the words I¡¯m about to say, but it¡¯s the truth¡ªeverything came from the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ new captain this season, Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°Both touchdowns were courtesy of Li Wei, not just receiving touchdowns, but rushing as well; he also became the backbone of the team during tough times.¡±


    ¡°The most incredible part was that Li Wei had to leave the field due to a suspected concussion in the second quarter; even after he returned and faced targeted defenses from the Baltimore Ravens Defense that made him struggle, Li Wei ultimately found a way to come back.¡±


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    ¡°Listen, that¡¯s the sound from Arrowhead Stadium¡ª¡±


    No amount of words, no amount of praise, can compare to the cheers of the fans.


    So real, so passionate, so wild.


    Felix sang at the top of his lungs:


    ¡°He¡¯s here, he¡¯s there, he¡¯s everywhere, he¡¯s the Edgerunner, Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei.¡±


    He knew he was in tears, like a madman; but he just couldn¡¯t help himself.


    When the cancer cells came back, the doctor pronounced his death sentence: at most a year, as soon as six months, he might have to say goodbye to the world.


    Though they were still trying, still fighting, his mother refused to give up, and he refused to surrender; but all their efforts seemed in vain.


    In the quiet of the night, he too would think, maybe he should give up, there was no need to struggle further, no need to let everyone else suffer.


    But he wasn¡¯t ready to give in.


    He was only eighteen, there were countless things he hadn¡¯t done, he hadn¡¯t even had a secret crush, his life was just beginning, yet it was already approaching its end.


    He... really didn¡¯t want to give in.


    So, he was struggling, he was persisting, like a cockroach.


    But now, he knew, there was someone else who was also always fighting, refusing to give up or surrender, no matter the outcome, always giving their all.


    It was him, who made him believe that dreams still exist, that the journey could be more beautiful than the destination, that one could still find depth and value in the same span of life, and that knowing the ending in advance didn¡¯t mean that life was meaningless.


    So, he was still here, ten months since the doctor¡¯s diagnosis, he was still in Arrowhead Stadium, burning brightly.


    A last-second win! Victory!


    The Heart of the Champion inside the chest of the Kansas City Chiefs still beats, despite the entire League doubting their chance to defend their title, countless voices claiming last season¡¯s championship was just luck; but they continued to move forward at their own pace, steadfastly and resolutely.


    ¡°Heart of the Champion¡± isn¡¯t just about being champions, it¡¯s about belief, fighting spirit, determination, and perseverance, a genuine heart that refuses to give up, refuses to surrender, fighting to the very end.


    One sentence, and then another.


    One cry, then another.


    Felix sang his heart out.


    Karen noticed, Felix was always so considerate, worried that they would overthink. He never showed vulnerability or sadness in front of them; he had never cried. But she knew that those tender eighteen-year-old shoulders bore too much, and she had to be even stronger than him.


    Subtly, Karen straightened her back, as if she didn¡¯t see the tears in Felix¡¯s eyes, and joined him in singing aloud.


    ¡°He¡¯s here, he¡¯s there, he¡¯s everywhere, he is the Edgerunner, Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei.¡±


    Over and over again.


    The whole stadium roared.


    Then, Mosley couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer. He dropped to his knees, eyes wide with disbelief. His brain thundered, unable to process what was happening:


    What... what happened?


    In the end, he hadn¡¯t even touched the hem of Li Wei¡¯s jersey, and just like that, they¡¯d lost. Just like that?


    ¡°24:30¡±.


    The score, so clear and yet so blinding, shone from the big screen above Arrowhead Stadium.


    In overtime, if one side scored a touchdown, that was an instant kill of the game, there wasn¡¯t even a need for the extra point¡ªthe touchdown announced the end of the game,


    And there it was, right in front of them.


    The Baltimore Ravens had stood invincible, with countless possibilities and avenues of retreat. Yet they hadn¡¯t foreseen that they¡¯d be pushed back further and further, with no way left to retreat, and then... there was no ¡°and then.¡±


    Lamar Jackson stood motionless, speechless for a long time, his mind a blank slate, truly devoid of any thought.


    No shame, no anger, no frustration, nothing. Just standing completely still, like a puppet.


    Lost.


    Lost again and again.


    How many times now? Jackson couldn¡¯t even remember, because losing seemed to have become a habit.


    But what was more terrifying was that Jackson felt no ripples in his heart; he was even indifferent to the habit of losing. Could his destiny not be changed even in the NFL?


    Mournful wails reached his ears¡ªit was Edwards.


    ¡°It¡¯s all over, I¡¯m going to be the laughingstock of that rookie. I don¡¯t want to attend the post-game press conference. That rookie will definitely not let me off the hook. I can¡¯t outtalk him.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so naive and kind, and he can torture me to death with just a few words. I don¡¯t want to live anymore.¡±


    With that, Edwards really did slump to the ground, shoulders drooping in despair, clutching his helmet, he wailed without shedding a tear.


    Jackson finally began to come back to his senses¡ª


    Wake up, Lamar! Snap out of it. You¡¯re not going to be scared off by one game, are you? This is only their first encounter on the professional field, and there are many many more opportunities ahead. He will come back one day and defeat that guy squarely, proving his strength for real.


    Just look at today and you will see, Li Wei isn¡¯t perfect, not even that dominant. The Baltimore Ravens were so close to beating them. Victory was just a tiny bit away; it won¡¯t be too long before possibly changing the outcome in their next meeting this season.


    One day, sooner or later, but that day will definitely come.


    Now is not the time to admit defeat, absolutely not.


    You can¡¯t bow your head, or the crown will fall.


    Taking a deep breath, Jackson found some semblance of rationality. He needed to confront Li Wei head-on, he needed to show he hadn¡¯t been scared off.


    So, where was Li Wei?

 Chapter 692: 691 Ignorance is bliss

    Chapter 692: 691 Ignorance is bliss


    Huff, huff.


    Humphrey lay sprawled on the ground in the shape of a spread-eagle, gasping for air, his stomach churning as if he were about to vomit, a burning sensation of emptiness engulfing his entire body, his insides were turning upside down, the world seemed to wobble before his eyes.


    Right now, he just wanted to lie down.


    His mind was blank, no thoughts, just wanting to lie there.


    Then, above his field of view, a face appeared, blocking the evening sunset; he couldn¡¯t see clearly against the light, only the smiling corners of a mouth.


    ¡°Ah, rookie, get lost, your sweat is dripping all over me.¡±


    ...


    Humphrey couldn¡¯t hold back and jerked like a fish out of water, shifting his position, and glanced at that sweat-drenched figure.


    Ha ha, ha ha ha.


    A burst of laughter came from nearby.


    Following that, the person extended a right hand. Humphrey raised his hand and slapped that right hand hard, expressing disgust; but the next second, he still withdrew his hand to grip the other¡¯s, and with a bit of effort, he stood up, his legs as wobbly as noodles.


    Only then did his breathing slightly smooth out.


    However, the world was still dizzying.


    Humphrey looked at the familiar smile in front of him and threw a punch at the shoulder, soft and powerless, like cotton.


    ¡°Rookie, you played beautifully.¡±


    Fair and square, open and candid.


    Although Humphrey¡¯s mouth was bitter now and he didn¡¯t like the taste of defeat, having been accustomed to constant victories during his college days, entering the Professional League meant facing more complex and harsh situations, especially now that it was a critical moment for the Baltimore Ravens in the playoff competition, he really didn¡¯t want the team to miss the playoffs for two consecutive seasons. The bitterness of this loss was harder to take in.


    But he had tried his best. Li Wei had won beautifully and fairly.


    If you lost, you lost.


    ¡°However, you need to be careful next time. Today, you were so close to pulling it off; next time you might just succeed.¡±


    Li Wei looked at Humphrey before him, and like Clark and Coach Burns, once comrades fighting for the championship, they had now embarked on their own life paths and were battling in their own ways, still supporting each other even if no longer side by side.


    Li Wei¡¯s smile curled up, ¡°Looking forward to meeting again in the playoffs. That¡¯s the knockout stage, even more brutal, but I definitely won¡¯t go easy.¡±


    ¡°Ha ha.¡± Humphrey laughed heartily, putting on a disappointed face and shaking his head repeatedly, ¡°Rookie, you¡¯ve changed; you¡¯re not modest at all now.¡±


    Li Wei shrugged lightly, ¡°Persona, it¡¯s all just a persona, you still need one in the League. Maybe you should get an agent to help set one up too.¡±


    Humphrey burst into laughter¡ª


    He still liked Li Wei.


    Now Li Wei had become a face of the League, one of the NFL¡¯s icons, training during the off-season with stars like Watt.


    Some said Li Wei had changed, that a mere year of camaraderie from college meant nothing, perhaps Li Wei had long forgotten about them.


    But Humphrey knew, those words were purely out of envy.


    Li Wei was still the same Li Wei, no different from their college days.


    Humphrey was about to take a step forward when he felt a bit awkward, ¡°Rookie, can you help me out?¡±


    Li Wei looked puzzled, peering over.


    Humphrey quietly hinted with his fist on his thigh, ¡°I think I¡¯ve got a cramp.¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, Humphrey had already plopped down.


    Li Wei laughed unabashedly, ¡°Ha ha, ha ha ha ha ha.¡±


    Laughter boomed like thunder.


    Humphrey wore an expression as if all hope had been lost.


    Li Wei deftly stretched Humphrey.


    When Jackson found Li Wei, what he saw made him stop in his tracks, and for a moment, he didn¡¯t know what to do.


    So, should he be under the car?


    Jackson had imagined different scenarios, but he hadn¡¯t anticipated this one.


    Li Wei turned his head and said, ¡°Instead of standing there with that expression and watching, why not come and help? We¡¯re opponents, but we¡¯re not enemies.¡±


    Jackson: ...


    Every time Jackson saw Li Wei¡¯s calm, carefree demeanor, he felt that Li Wei was really putting on airs.


    They were all young men in their early twenties. There was Li Wei, acting all high and mighty and precociously teaching them how to do things.


    Damn!


    Putting on airs for what!


    Jackson rolled his eyes in annoyance, but ultimately didn¡¯t say much and quickly stepped forward to help.


    Meanwhile, Reed and Harbaugh were already gathering in the center of the field.


    Although the sparks flew on the field, with each looking as if they wanted to annihilate the other, off the field, it was a different story.


    Harbaugh caught this scene out of the corner of his eye and nodded subtly at Jackson¡¯s initiative to face the defeat with Li Wei, then flashed a smile at Reed.


    ¡°It seems the kids are getting along well.¡±


    Reed followed his gaze and said, ¡°That¡¯s how kids are, one moment they are fighting and claiming they will never be friends again; the next, they are holding hands and playing together. Us old folks can¡¯t keep up anymore.¡±


    Implicitly, Reed was still not pleased with Mosley¡¯s rough defense today.


    Harbaugh picked up on it, but he played dumb, pretending he didn¡¯t understand. Since Reed didn¡¯t explicitly mention it, there was no need to deliberately point it out¡ª


    In the locker room, Harbaugh would talk to Mosley later; but outside, naturally, Harbaugh would protect his team and players.


    Moreover, Harbaugh didn¡¯t consider it a big deal.


    After the game, the reporters did not miss this hot issue at the press conference.


    Harbaugh stated, ¡°This is football. Collision is the basis of the sport, and I truly regret any injuries. Believe me, the last thing I want to see is injury, whether it¡¯s my players or those of other teams.¡±


    ¡°However, we need to accept that this is a part of competitive sports, the cruel side.¡±


    Harbaugh was smart, elevating the entire premise to avoid focusing solely on the clash between Mosley and Li Wei, instead addressing the matter from a universal standpoint.


    Certainly, Harbaugh¡¯s view was indisputably valid in general terms; but specific to this case, whether Mosley should have intentionally tackled maliciously, this has nothing to do with competitive sports or even injuries, but rather the spirit of sportsmanship¡ª


    Exactly because we know how terrifying injuries can be, players should not create injuries through malicious foul play.


    Harbaugh¡¯s clever response dodged the reporters¡¯ sharp questions.


    However, the NFL didn¡¯t see it that way.


    After the game, the League conducted an official investigation, determined Mosley¡¯s act as a malicious collision, fining him eight thousand US dollars and issuing a warning; a repeat offense could lead to a suspension and even higher fines.


    The Baltimore Ravens made no objections, and Mosley duly paid the fine.


    With Harbaugh¡¯s astute handling, the issue quietly subsided.


    As for how the players and fans of the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs viewed this incident, that was another story.


    Meanwhile, it was the same situation.


    Harbaugh acted oblivious, as if he hadn¡¯t noticed the sharpness in Reed¡¯s words, ¡°Coach, last year at the draft, you really duped me good, I actually thought you had no interest in both the quarterback and running back.¡±


    Without a change in expression, Harbaugh deftly changed the subject.

 Chapter 693: 692 A possibility

    Chapter 693: 692 A possibility


    They advanced and retreated, a hidden surge bubbling beneath the surface.


    Reed glanced at Harbaugh, seemingly trying to assess whether Harbaugh truly didn¡¯t understand or was just playing dumb. In the calmness of the conversation, he had already switched the topic.


    He even turned the object of attack onto Reed himself in a teasing manner.


    However, Reed didn¡¯t reveal his own suspicions.


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    Reed chuckled softly, without a change in his composure.


    ...


    ¡°You¡¯re the same. I¡¯m still not sure whether you¡¯re genuinely interested in Li Wei or if it¡¯s purely a smoke bomb.¡±


    Harbaugh laughed out loud, ¡°No matter what happened before, but now I can certainly say it¡¯s a hundred percent interest, I regret missing out on Li Wei.¡±


    Reed didn¡¯t believe a word of it. Compared to Pederson, Harbaugh was indeed more shrewd and cunning. This cleverness and astuteness had been proven in the past in the tactical battles of the games, where Harbaugh could indeed arm-wrestle with any strong team¡ª


    Perhaps the Baltimore Ravens might not win every battle, but they could certainly make their opponents suffer greatly.


    Reed wasn¡¯t arrogant, nor would he continue to rely on his seniority as a teacher; he and Harbaugh now stood on an equal competitive footing.


    Reed, ¡°Instead, you now have a quarterback, the cornerstone of the team.¡±


    Harbaugh seemed not to taste the probe in Reed¡¯s words and instead followed Reed¡¯s gaze, ¡°Coach, what do you think of Jackson?¡±


    Reed looked deep, ¡°Haha, close, I was this close to betraying my own advice, John, I won¡¯t get myself into trouble.¡±


    ¡°Haha,¡± Harbaugh laughed, immediately understanding the subtext of Reed¡¯s words, ¡°To make a coach cautious, that in itself is a positive affirmation.¡±


    ¡°Coach, I look forward to our next meeting.¡±


    Reed shook Harbaugh¡¯s right hand, ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m not looking forward to it at all.¡±


    A small joke, and both men broke out into hearty laughter.


    From Reed and Harbaugh to Mahomes and Jackson, to Li Wei and Edwards, and finally to the defensive groups each with their own strengths and characteristics, the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens turned out to be unexpectedly captivating.


    Romo watched the field, squinting his eyes slightly, revealing a hint of profoundness.


    ¡°I have a special feeling, perhaps in the future we will witness another powerful duel between these two teams, today is merely the first of countless times to come, it seems we are witnessing the arrival of a youth storm?¡±


    Nantz was slightly taken aback, ¡°A youth storm, ¡®Mahomes vs. Jackson¡¯?¡±


    Romo shrugged slightly but didn¡¯t answer directly, ¡°The audience can interpret it for themselves.¡±


    Although he didn¡¯t say it, Romo¡¯s gaze quietly fell on Li Wei.


    Without a doubt, the NFL is still dominated by passing offenses, with running backs facing unprecedented challenges; but as long as Li Wei is there, Romo remains curious and can continue to anticipate.


    Romo knew that relying on a single running back to change the entire development trajectory of the league and the industry was nearly an impossible task, as evident from the current plight of Le¡¯Veon Bell.


    But if it were Li Wei, there might still be... a bit of possibility.


    These past two seasons, the young quarterbacks have been garnering attention like never before, a youth storm is quietly brewing, and Romo is curious about Li Wei¡¯s future, looking forward to exploring more possibilities by following in Li Wei¡¯s footsteps.


    The anticipation was heating up, little by little.


    Clearly, it wasn¡¯t just Romo. Nantz had also noticed the subtext in his partner¡¯s words and followed Romo¡¯s gaze.


    In sight, the entire Arrowhead Stadium was still celebrating their hero¡ª


    Li Wei! Li Wei! Li Wei!


    Over and over again, circling in the sunset for a long time.


    The rolling heat waves surged continuously at Arrowhead Stadium, and even after the game ended, they did not dissipate quickly but slowly settled in the air, quietly churning.


    Night fell.


    Kansas City seemed to chill within a mere thirty minutes, with a drastic drop in temperature. Even wrapped in down jackets, the piercing cold wind always found a gap, penetrating the bloodstream relentlessly, yet it never cooled the boiling blood¡ª


    The fervor remained high for a long time.


    Some discussed the game with excitement, some sang with all their might, some just chuckled happily, and others were tipsy in the festive atmosphere... Hours after the game ended, Kansas City¡¯s celebration was just beginning.


    Because of this hard-fought victory, it continued the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ undefeated home record for this season.


    And with the defeat of the Baltimore Ravens, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ record for the season reached eleven wins and two losses. According to analyses of other competitors in the American League, this meant the Kansas City Chiefs secured their playoff spot three weeks in advance, advancing to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year¡ª


    For the defending champions, this was good news.


    Of course, the competition for the American League¡¯s seeding position was not over, with the New England Patriots hot on their heels. If the Kansas City Chiefs wanted to ensure full home-field advantage for the playoffs, they could not relax in the upcoming games.


    But the celebration wasn¡¯t just for this victory alone. This young team continued their outstanding performance during key moments from last season, showing resilience and fighting spirit. In the fierce battle where bayonets saw red, they managed to have the last laugh. This is what the Kansas City Chiefs needed and will play an important role on the playoff stage.


    This city, these fans, had countless reasons to celebrate with abandon.


    Arrowhead Stadium was just a microcosm.


    At the stadium¡¯s back gate, a throng of fans gathered, braving the bitter wind and the thick night as they waited for their heroes.


    Time felt long, as the post-game press conference, post-game massages, relaxation, and so forth occupied the players. In the blink of an eye, two hours slipped through the fingers, yet there was still no sign of the Kansas City Chiefs players.


    The temperature kept dropping, the wild wind kept howling, and one needed courage just to stand outside, let alone stand still and wait for a long time.


    Slowly, very slowly, one began to lose feeling in their toes and the tip of their nose.


    Despite this, the fans in the back parking lot relished the moment.


    They sang, they danced, they cheered, holding their own celebration party in the parking lot, driving away the cold with their actions.


    Karen was a bit worried, checking Felix¡¯s cheeks and palms for the third time. Although Felix was wrapped up tight, like a dumpling, the exposed cheeks were still cold, giving Karen an uncontrollable sense of anxiety.


    Seeing this, Felix appeared slightly helpless, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m fine. Really.¡±


    Karen didn¡¯t believe it, ¡°Felix, we can contact the team directly, or Li Wei¡¯s agent. We can just tell Li Wei through a call or an email, there¡¯s no need for us to do it personally. Your health... ¡±


    Felix stopped his mother, They had had this conversation more than once or twice, ¡°I want to do it myself. Because it¡¯s a promise I made to Annie.¡±


    Karen furrowed her brows, ¡°Then let¡¯s pick another day, perhaps during team practice... ¡±


    Felix said, ¡°Mom, if the team starts practicing, they¡¯ll be preparing for the next game. I don¡¯t want to interfere with the team¡¯s routine for preparing for battle.¡±


    Karen replied, ¡°It¡¯s just one hour, it won¡¯t affect the team¡¯s practice.¡±


    In the midst of their argument, players began to emerge one after another, and the crowd of fans started cheering enthusiastically.


    Felix could no longer pay attention to his mother and clumsily pushed his wheelchair forward, sticking his head out in search of someone in the crowd.

 Chapter 694: 693 desperately waiting

    Chapter 694: 693 desperately waiting


    Karen didn¡¯t know how to accurately describe her mood¡ª


    Joy, hope, annoyance, irritation, worry, helplessness, a tangle of contradictory and complex emotions intertwined, words failed to clearly express them.


    The Kansas City Chiefs had won, and they had secured a playoff spot ahead of time, which was a cause for celebration; the resilient spirit of the Kansas City Chiefs brought hope and belief to Felix, enabling him to continue fighting his disease, which was indeed a good thing.


    However, Karen was worried about Felix¡¯s health.


    Round after round of chemotherapy, while trying to kill cancer cells, was also destroying his body¡¯s structure, and Felix¡¯s immunity had greatly decreased.


    In such weather, being at Arrowhead Stadium to support the team for over four hours was already exhausting; and after the game, to still be outside in the cold wind for two hours, the bone-chilling cold was more than Karen could withstand, let alone Felix, whose body had already collapsed.


    ...


    Karen was worried, genuinely worried.


    She tried to convince Felix, but he still insisted.


    Karen felt somewhat distressed.


    In fact, Karen knew that Felix¡¯s chemotherapy was extremely difficult and painful, beyond imagination. They had gone through a nightmare-like first round of chemotherapy, originally thinking the second round would be easier, but it wasn¡¯t¡ª


    Not only was it not easier, but it was even more torturous.


    And Li Wei and the Kansas City Chiefs were the main reasons why Felix persisted, they gave him the courage and belief, because of them, her Felix was able to keep fighting, not defeated, nor surrendering.


    Tonight, choosing to stay, Felix also had a mission.


    Karen knew she shouldn¡¯t stop Felix, but... she just couldn¡¯t control her own worries.


    On one hand, she thought, Felix¡¯s life was already running short, and she should satisfy his wishes as much as possible, at least to leave something behind for his eighteenth year.


    On the other hand, she couldn¡¯t bear the thought, she hoped that Felix would live, overcome the cancer and illness, and then she could watch Felix go to college, find a job, argue incessantly with her every year over whether he¡¯d come home for Thanksgiving or Christmas.


    So, was she being too greedy?


    Looking at Felix in front of her, he was trying to push his wheelchair, squeezing into the crowd, leaning forward; however, with stiff hands and inflexible fingers, after struggling for a little while he was still marking time.


    Felix stubbornly refused to ask for Karen¡¯s help, fighting with the wheelchair on his own, like a brave knight battling a dragon.


    Sigh.


    Taking a deep breath, Karen wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and regained her composure, patting Felix on the shoulder.


    ¡°Let me do it.¡±


    Karen pushed Felix forward two steps and leaned forward herself, looking for Li Wei¡¯s figure in the crowd.


    Felix looked up at his mother, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Karen¡¯s shoulders and arms tensed for a moment, and her eyes moistened once again.


    Then, both Felix and Karen looked up at the crowd as the players began to come out one after the other¡ª


    Because it was a home game, there was no need to wait for the team bus, so the players could finish their post-game routines at their own pace and then drive home, leaving in twos and threes at this time.


    And for this very reason, if fans were patient enough to wait outside the back door after a home game, 99% would be able to see their favorite players, and even the coaching team, and have close encounters.


    ¡°Hey, Felix.¡±


    Approaching them was Kelsey, the big and burly tight end, in good spirits, who spotted Felix in his wheelchair among the crowd at a glance.


    Felix also showed a smile, ¡°Great game. God, the two catches in overtime were so beautiful, my palms were sweating up in the stands.¡±


    Kelsey raised his hand, ¡°Shush, that¡¯s a secret¡ªactually, me too.¡±


    Haha, everyone around burst into laughter.


    From behind came an enthusiastic shout, ¡°Travis, can I get an autograph?¡±


    Kelsey kindly replied, ¡°Of course, no problem. Where would you like me to sign?¡±


    Seeing Kelsey about to leave, Felix quickly seized the opportunity, ¡°Travis, where¡¯s Li Wei?¡±


    Kelsey, ¡°He¡¯s still in the back. The team needs to conduct a thorough examination, but of course, he¡¯s okay, he¡¯s okay, there¡¯s nothing to worry about, we just need to be careful, right?¡±


    These words caused a stir among the fans, and one by one, they began cursing Mosley, and even the Baltimore Ravens started to look unsightly to them.


    The players kept coming out, but Felix still hadn¡¯t seen Li Wei until Mahomes appeared. Felix stretched his neck and looked back, but still no Li Wei; that¡¯s when Felix¡¯s worry kicked in¡ª


    Could Li Wei really be at risk of a concussion?


    However.


    Mahomes didn¡¯t stay long, hurriedly leaving; Felix didn¡¯t even have time to ask, full of confusion and concern as he pulled his gaze away from the silhouette of Mahomes and stared anxiously at the door.


    Karen didn¡¯t know how to comfort Felix, because not just Felix, but she too was getting worried, with all sorts of conjectures popping into her head and wildly proliferating.


    For a moment, she was somewhat absentminded, unable to concentrate.


    It was then¡ª


    ¡°Rookie!¡±


    A call, like a clap of thunder.


    Whoosh, all eyes gathered in the same direction, where in the creamy light, the outline of a tall, dashing figure loomed.


    If not Li Wei, then who?


    In an instant, the palm-sized space in front of the back door erupted like a volcano, to the extent that one could almost see the mushroom cloud.


    Mahomes, starting the engine in the driver¡¯s seat, looked up and felt a secret relief that he left early; otherwise, he would have been trapped by now.


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Rookie!¡±


    ¡°Ahhhh, ahhhh.¡±


    Jones and Fuller still in the crowd weren¡¯t so lucky; they were instantly surrounded, and before they realized, they automatically evolved into bodyguards maintaining order at the scene, preventing the crowd from swallowing Li Wei¡ª


    Wait, something wasn¡¯t quite right, was it?


    Before joining the Kansas City Chieftains, Fuller had heard about Li Wei¡¯s immense popularity in Kansas City, but after playing for two-thirds of the season in Kansas, Fuller couldn¡¯t help but complain:


    Those rumors didn¡¯t describe even one-tenth of one percent of Li Wei¡¯s drawing power.


    Just a second ago, Jones and Fuller were somewhat popular, with many fans shouting their names.


    The next second, the spotlight was all on Li Wei, and everyone else became just extras.


    There was no comparison, absolutely no comparison.


    But at this moment, Jones and Fuller didn¡¯t have time to complain or grumble. They started keeping order consciously, and as their gazes accidentally met, they both revealed a smile of tacit understanding, slightly helpless but also a bit cheerful and amused:


    So, does this count as a unique experience?


    ¡°Ahhh, Li Wei, I love you! Please marry me!¡±

 Chapter 695: 694 worth a fortune

    Chapter 695: 694 worth a fortune


    ¡°Ahhh, Li Wei, I love you! Please marry me!¡±


    A heart-wrenching shout exploded like a thunderbolt from the blue, overpowering the other cheers; the rear door even fell into a brief silence.


    Swish, swish, swish.


    All eyes fell on Li Wei.


    Li Wei was neither shy nor flustered, casually looking in the direction of the voice, ¡°Sorry, the application volume is overloaded, please take a number and join the queue.¡±


    Ha ha, hahaha.


    ...


    The fans laughed together, instantly brightening the mood.


    Then.


    ¡°Rookie, are you alright? You¡¯re not hurt, are you?¡±


    ¡°Are you not going home with Patrick today because you need an extra checkup?¡±


    ¡°Do you need to go to the hospital for an MRI tomorrow?¡±


    One by one, fans expressed concern for Li Wei, and everyone else stopped making noise, holding their breath as they watched Li Wei, their eyes filled with unmistakable worry.


    Li Wei chuckled softly, ¡°You all should know that players are not supposed to discuss injury issues casually in private, right?¡±


    Hearts constricted.


    ¡°But, I¡¯m fine, everything¡¯s good. I went through some extra checks and received positive feedback. So, there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡±


    Sigh.


    In the air, you could distinctly hear a collective sigh of relief, so loud that no one could help laughing together.


    What Li Wei said was the truth¡ª


    The team took special care concerning Li Wei¡¯s condition, conducting thorough and deep checks after the game to ensure that their team captain was safe and sound.


    After all, with the playoffs drawing nearer, the increasing intensity of the game¡¯s competition naturally elevates the risk of injuries, and the team needs to be more cautious.


    The checks took some time, but that wasn¡¯t the reason Mahomes left early.


    Normally, Mahomes would definitely wait for Li Wei, as there was nothing else to do at home; however, these days were a bit different, Brittany was in Kansas City.


    Last year and this year, Brittany didn¡¯t live in Kansas City for an extended period because, like Mahomes, she wanted him to concentrate on training.


    For rookies, it¡¯s crucial to quickly adapt to the Professional League and secure a starting position to lay a solid foundation for their entire professional career.


    So, Brittany came to Kansas only occasionally, staying for a couple of days, making sure that Mahomes wasn¡¯t overwhelmed by the monotonous and strenuous training.


    This week, Brittany and Mahomes had an anniversary to celebrate: it was today¡ª


    And it just so happened to fall on a game day.


    But from another perspective, Mahomes could add glory to their anniversary with a splendid victory, which was also a happy occasion.


    After the game ended, Mahomes rushed home, eager to celebrate with Brittany; and Li Wei, naturally, didn¡¯t wish to be the third wheel.


    In the crowd, Karen also let out a long sigh of relief, although she herself was extremely worried, she didn¡¯t forget to pat Felix on the shoulder.


    ¡°See, I told you, he¡¯s fine.¡±


    Felix nodded vigorously, his heart, previously hanging high, settled back into his chest, regaining his calm and patience as he quietly waited.


    Li Wei was very patient. Despite having gone through a long and hard-fought game, including the trial of overtime¡ªboth physically and mentally exhausting¡ªhe still chose to reserve energy to thank the fans for their support.


    One by one, he looked into the eyes of each fan, listening attentively, and responded sincerely; giving handshakes, autographs, taking photos, and even hugs, he fulfilled every request.


    Feeling Li Wei¡¯s sincerity up close, even the fans quieted down and waited in an orderly fashion without crowding or shouting, creating a harmonious scene.


    Jones and Fuller were dumbfounded, having never seen such a scene before. These two bodyguards had just been hired hastily and found themselves out of a job before they could even get used to it.


    ¡°Hey, Felix, great game!¡±


    Li Wei had already spotted them before Karen could greet him, taking the initiative to come over and share a high five in celebration.


    Felix couldn¡¯t help but smile joyfully.


    Li Wei immediately noticed Felix¡¯s bloodless lips.


    ¡°God, you must be freezing.¡±


    Without a second word, Li Wei took off his scarf, hat, and gloves and put them on Felix, wrapping him up snug and warm.


    Felix looked slightly helpless, ¡°Are you making a snowman or what?¡±


    Li Wei spread his hands, ¡°The technique might not be skilled, but it¡¯s worth taking a look.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡± Felix couldn¡¯t hold back and laughed outright.


    Karen looked at Li Wei with a face full of gratitude, wanting to say something but not knowing how to start, just standing there restrained and moved.


    ¡°I knew it; we¡¯d fight to the end, we would never give up easily.¡± Felix didn¡¯t notice his mother¡¯s expression behind him, his face flushed with excitement, gesticulating, ¡°The last two touchdowns were really amazing.¡±


    Li Wei looked at Karen, responded with a glance, then looked at Felix, ¡°Stop complimenting me, my tail is about to poke through the sky.¡±


    Hahaha.


    Laughter spread all around.


    With care, Felix took out a small paper bag from his embrace, and looking at Li Wei with a slightly shy and restrained look, he said, ¡°This is a little gift, no no no, not a gift, just some of our doodles.¡±


    ¡°We?¡± Li Wei took the small paper bag without peeking inside, his eyes bright as he looked at Felix.


    Felix shrugged lightly, ¡°Yeah, a group of friends I met in the hospital.¡± His expression turned somewhat somber.


    Hospital?


    So those must be his fellow chemo patients?


    The light paper bag in Li Wei¡¯s hand suddenly felt very heavy.


    Taking a deep breath, Felix managed a smile, ¡°But we are all Chieftain fans, well, at least 90% of us. We gather together to watch away games; when we have chemo together tomorrow, we¡¯ll have something to talk about, haha, today¡¯s game should last us three or four hours.¡±


    He paused for a moment.


    ¡°Li Wei, chemo is long and torturous, the whole room is so lifeless, it¡¯s scarier than the grim reaper. But because of the Chieftains, we¡¯ve found common ground, and those three or four hours don¡¯t seem quite so bad.¡±


    ¡°We even negotiated with the hospital to put up some Chieftain-related artwork in the chemo room, and that doodle is one of the pieces we¡¯ve completed together.¡±


    Realization dawned on Li Wei¡¯s face, ¡°Wow, then this is priceless. So, am I accepting this on behalf of the entire team now?¡±


    Felix chuckled awkwardly with a restrained scratch of his head.


    Bending his knees to eye level with Felix, Li Wei said earnestly, ¡°We will cherish it, we need your courage. You see, we¡¯re just fighting against ordinary people, but you¡¯re fighting against death itself. You¡¯re the real role models; we need your spirit.¡±


    Felix was so moved that joy surged within him, but he didn¡¯t know how to express it.


    Karen patted her son¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Felix, don¡¯t forget.¡±


    Finally snapping out of it, Felix said, ¡°Right, the mission.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei, I have a friend, Annie, her condition is very, very bad. I was wondering if you could visit her in the hospital tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t need to take much time, ten minutes, no no no, just five minutes. Three minutes, just three minutes, that¡¯s Annie¡¯s only wish.¡±

 Chapter 696: 695 Text Message Issue

    Chapter 696: 695 Text Message Issue


    Monday morning.


    It was an official rest day, with no training scheduled, allowing the players to relax; however, since the regular season was still underway, rest wasn¡¯t entirely restful, and the players still needed to maintain their daily routines.


    At least Li Wei did.


    In the morning, he still woke up in accordance with his biological clock and started the brand-new day with a jog. Having persisted in this day after day, it had long since become a habit, and without a run, the rest of the day just felt off.


    The difference was, on rest days there weren¡¯t intensive training sessions. Instead, he opted for yoga to relax his muscles and alleviate mental stress; then he¡¯d complement that with some tactical study outside of his usual tasks¡ª


    For example, the defensive group tactical handbook.


    ...


    Li Wei read it as a form of relaxation, not just the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ own defensive group tactical handbook; he also perused defensive tactics handbooks from other teams from a few seasons back.


    For confidentiality reasons, the publicly available tactical handbooks were several years old and had long been phased out; but from these handbooks, one could observe the evolution of defensive strategies and catch onto the League¡¯s tactical trends.


    Equally interesting.


    However, Li Wei had other plans this morning.


    He was going to the hospital.


    Last night, Li Wei had promised Felix to visit his good friend in the hospital, and of course, the other kids in the chemotherapy room too.


    It was a small matter, and Li Wei agreed to it without hesitation.


    So now, Li Wei planned to return home to freshen up, eat breakfast, and then head to the hospital.


    Creak.


    As he pushed open his front door, he could see at a glance someone lying on the deep gray sofa in the hall, curled up into a ball.


    A thief?


    In Kansas City, there probably wasn¡¯t anyone who didn¡¯t know whose residence this was. To break in to steal would be very risky; if they encountered the homeowner, who knew how it would end? Logically, thieves wouldn¡¯t just walk into a trap.


    Upon closer inspection¡ª


    ¡°Sherlock?¡±


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t control his surprise and exclaimed aloud.


    Whoosh.


    With a start, Mahomes sat up straight on the sofa.


    ¡°Sorry, I messed up.¡±


    Li Wei: ???


    What was this all about?


    Li Wei, ¡°Sherlock, did Brittany kick you out of the house?¡±


    Mahomes looked bewildered, staring at Li Wei blankly, ¡°How did you know?¡±


    Li Wei shrugged, ¡°I know now. I was just guessing wildly before.¡±


    Mahomes knew where Li Wei kept his spare key and usually came and went freely. Today was no exception, though the current situation was somewhat different.


    At this moment, Li Wei noticed other details¡ª


    Mahomes had a sports bag with him, which didn¡¯t seem like his regular training gear but more like luggage hastily packed for a getaway.


    And his attire, well... left much to be desired: a wrinkled T-shirt matched with an ugly brown plaid pair of pants¡ªit was strongly suspected to be pajamas, but even if they were, they were too hideous to behold.


    ¡°...Sherlock, you really do look a mess,¡± Li Wei commented candidly.


    Mahomes lifted the collar of his T-shirt and sniffed, ¡°Is it really that bad? All my change of clothes are at the team¡¯s place; I¡¯ve got nothing left at home.¡±


    In a professional team, the system is complete.


    Considering that in the NFL, the majority of players either can¡¯t hire housekeepers, aren¡¯t married yet, or don¡¯t have a spouse who is a full-time homemaker, the team provides comprehensive care for the players.


    Like laundry.


    The players just need to bring their dirty clothes to the team, hang them with their tags, and the team¡¯s laundry room will take care of them; not only do they wash and dry-clean, but they also mend and iron, etc., providing thorough care.


    Not just Mahomes, Li Wei¡¯s dirty clothes were also all taken care of by the team.


    Li Wei shook his head slightly, ¡°It¡¯s not the clothes.¡±


    It was the expression, and the whole aura of the man.


    ¡°I thought yesterday was your anniversary, and you even celebrated early with a victory, so you and Brittany should have had a sweet night together,¡±


    No sooner had Li Wei finished speaking than Mahomes slumped his shoulders and heaved a heavy sigh.


    Alas.


    ¡°Rookie, I¡¯m done for.¡±


    Li Wei blinked, ¡°Brittany caught you cheating?¡±


    Mahomes jumped three feet high, bouncing up and staring at Li Wei with wide eyes, incredulous, ¡°How did you know?¡±


    Li Wei: Uh...


    ¡°I know now,¡± Li Wei spread his hands, a lucky guess, indeed.


    But... Mahomes?


    Li Wei looked doubtful, ¡°I thought you knew better than to dabble with that flesh and skin.¡±


    Mahomes widened his eyes and waved his hands frantically, ¡°No no no, not me, I didn¡¯t. Really!¡±


    Li Wei laughed outright, ¡°Sherlock, I believe you, and I couldn¡¯t be clearer on that; but the point is, it¡¯s no use me believing you, Brittany has to believe it. So, what happened?¡±


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t figure it out¡ª


    Mahomes was a good boy, the whole team didn¡¯t want to corrupt him; at the same time, he was competitive and genuinely hoped to make a name for himself on the football field.


    From morning till night, seven days a week, Mahomes spent his time with Li Wei, training together, studying the playbook together, analyzing game footage together, even dreaming about football tactics at night.


    To talk about ¡°cheating,¡± he didn¡¯t even have time to scroll through images or watch short videos on social media.


    Frankly, Li Wei was even more surprised than Brittany now.


    Mahomes could see the gleeful schadenfreude in Li Wei¡¯s eyes.


    Mahomes was at a loss whether to cry or laugh, ¡°Bro, my life is on the line here, okay?¡±


    Li Wei shrugged lightly, ¡°Would Brittany believe my testimony? I¡¯d vouch for you, but in the end, it¡¯s up to Brittany, right?¡±


    ¡°So, she must have caught something, and that got you kicked out, right?¡±


    Mahomes took a deep breath, but his words stuck in his throat.


    Li Wei tilted his head, ¡°Wait, you¡¯re not denying it. So, there¡¯s definitely something?¡±


    Now things were getting interesting.


    Mahomes didn¡¯t beat around the bush anymore, ¡°Remember David¡¯s garden?¡±


    Of course, how could anyone forget¡ª


    David Beckham¡¯s secret garden.


    And Beyonce?, the Roaring Lion of the East, along with the bizarre Rabbit Hole.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t ask question for question but jumped ahead with his thoughts, ¡°Wait, are you talking about the Super Bowl victory celebration night? You¡¯ve been cheating on Brittany since then?¡±


    Who could have guessed!


    Mahomes had even managed to keep it from Li Wei for over half a year.


    Startled, Mahomes waved his hands, ¡°No no no, it¡¯s not like that.¡±


    ¡°It started that night, I¡¯m not sure who I gave my number to, but I¡¯m certain I exchanged numbers with some models that night.¡±


    ¡°But that was it.¡±


    ¡°None of them cared about me, hey, they were mostly asking for your number through me, didn¡¯t I tell you about this?¡±


    Li Wei tipped his chin slightly, ¡°So, you started texting back and forth with them since then?¡±


    Li Wei wasn¡¯t easily led by the nose by Mahomes¡¯ words, shifting the focus, instead he caught onto the underlying point at once.


    Mahomes choked, ¡°... Occasionally, just a few texts, I didn¡¯t dare to give away your number just like that, and that was all.¡±


    ¡°Until last month.¡±


    ¡°Suddenly, someone sent me this photo.¡±


    Mahomes took out his phone, searched for a moment, and then handed it directly to Li Wei.

 Chapter 697: 696 Fisheries Management

    Chapter 697: 696 Fisheries Management


    He looked at it sideways, then upright, studying it from all angles.


    In Li Wei¡¯s hands, the phone seemed like a Rubik¡¯s Cube, constantly being flipped and turned.


    Mahomes knew instantly that Li Wei was deliberately mocking him.


    Mahomes took a deep breath, ¡°Laugh then, just laugh if you want to.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s face was serious, ¡°No, I¡¯m just surprised, I thought you preferred the Rihanna type.¡±


    The woman in the photo was about thirty years old, wearing a leopard print bikini, displaying her graceful curves, her voluptuous chest, and a wasp-waisted figure that formed a moon bridge.


    ...


    What was most special was the pose.


    She lay on her back on the bed, curved her waist, raised her legs against the wall at the head of the bed, lifted her head, and looked backward.


    The phone camera was positioned at the foot of the bed, instantly capturing the layers of undulating hills and endlessly extending legs, her black pearl-like skin shining beautifully, making it difficult to see her facial features clearly.


    Still, one could discern the playful eyes and nose on her melon-seed face.


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t help but admire that the professionals were indeed different.


    Mahomes¡¯s cheeks turned crimson red, ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    Seeing that Mahomes was about to explode, Li Wei finally put away his joking mindset, ¡°Last month?¡±


    ¡°So it was after you were named the American League¡¯s Best Offensive Player for the second time?¡±


    Mahomes paused, thinking carefully, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right!¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°It seems she might be managing a fishery, and you are just one of the little fish in there.¡±


    Mahomes, ¡°Ha, what do you mean?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°How do you know it was leaked that night at David¡¯s Garden?¡±


    Mahomes, ¡°She sent a picture, from that night, I was in the garden.¡±


    Mahomes didn¡¯t delve deeper, but Li Wei¡¯s speculation was nonetheless confirmed¡ª


    That garden was a secret, no one wanted what occurred there to be revealed, including David Beckham himself who wouldn¡¯t want Victoria to know.


    Just imagine a rookie like Mahomes, unexpectedly seeing his own photo in the garden, how guilty must that have made him feel?


    Once Mahomes replied to the message, it meant the fish had taken the bait.


    Li Wei nodded, ¡°I think she must have taken countless photos that night and kept backups, managing them like a fishery.¡±


    ¡°Before that, you were just a backup quarterback and a freshman, not worth much, so no one launched an attack on you.¡±


    ¡°With the new season starting, you became the starting quarterback and won the American League¡¯s Best Offensive Player several times, many think you¡¯re the MVP candidate for the regular season.¡±


    ¡°Now, you have value.¡±


    ¡°So, the fishery manager knows it¡¯s time to try and reel in the net.¡±


    ¡°She sends you some photos to see how you react, and your response confirms her speculation, so she starts the next part of her plan.¡±


    Mahomes gawked, hardly able to believe it, ¡°But I didn¡¯t reply to anything.¡±


    Li Wei shook his head, ¡°You replied with one line, ¡®Who are you?¡¯ That gave away your nervousness and naivety, a real veteran wouldn¡¯t have responded like that.¡±


    Mahomes blinked his eyes, ¡°Then how should I have replied?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°If you were interested, you would have directly asked for an address, that would be a one-time deal, you get what you want, she gets what she wants, and if both parties are satisfied with this trade, maybe it could turn into a long-term partnership.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re not interested, you wouldn¡¯t reply at all, because you know what it implies, and you know any response could become evidence. More accurately, you should have deleted the photo right away.¡±


    Mahomes: ...


    He stared with his mouth slightly open, not even worried about flies flying in.


    Li Wei looked at Mahomes, ¡°You didn¡¯t delete the photo.¡±


    Mahomes knew that all the little thoughts inside his head couldn¡¯t escape Li Wei¡¯s eyes; he grabbed his hair in frustration and let out a disheartened howl.


    ¡°I just...¡±


    ¡°Rookie, I¡¯m just taking a look. You know, this photo is great, the lighting and angle are perfect, I¡¯m just using it for my personal collection.¡±


    ¡°Like a romance film, right, just like a romance film, it¡¯s not a big deal.¡±


    Li Wei shook his head gently, ¡°No, Sherlock, it¡¯s definitely not the same thing.¡±


    Mahomes, ¡°Why?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Erotic films and Rihanna are alike, they¡¯re both a fantasy, a projection that one shouldn¡¯t come across in ordinary daily life, at least that¡¯s how Brittany sees it; but this is different.¡±


    Li Wei showed his phone to Mahomes.


    ¡°She¡¯s within reach.¡±


    Texts, of course, there were more than one.


    The model had sent a torrent of texts afterward, photos from different angles, poses, and styles, as well as a variety of suggestive conversations¡ª


    Of course, Mahomes hadn¡¯t replied to any of them.


    But the texts were not deleted either.


    It must be said, this model really knew how to take photos, even without exposing too much skin, she could easily stir up desire, knowing what men want and then only revealing a bit while hiding much more.


    Brilliant!


    Moreover, that¡¯s not the point, what the photos show or what the texts say doesn¡¯t matter; the real killer blow was the last text.


    The time was a week ago; the content was an address.


    An address in Kansas City.


    If Li Wei¡¯s radar wasn¡¯t wrong, that address was on their way to the training base, somewhere they would pass by every morning and afternoon.


    This is the crux¡ª


    She¡¯s not Rihanna, but she was just a turn of the steering wheel away from Mahomes.


    ¡°Sherlock, this is what Brittany cares about.¡±


    Mahomes froze, his brain crashed, grinding to a halt.


    Then Mahomes began to howl, ¡°But, nothing happened, really, Rookie, you have to believe me.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I admit, a few times when I passed by, I really was tempted; and once, I stopped across the street from her apartment building.¡±


    ¡°But just for a minute, just one minute, then I left straight away.¡±


    ¡°Nothing happened.¡±


    Mahomes held his head, despondent and tearless, his eyes filled with despair.


    Li Wei was helpless¡ª


    Even an upright official finds it hard to settle domestic disputes, emotional matters are just not that simple.


    Not to mention actual cheating, how should emotional infidelity be quantified?


    How should one draw the line between fantasizing about Rihanna and fantasizing about the next-door neighbor? Regardless of who the fantasy is about, if nothing happens in real life, then how do you define whether it¡¯s actual cheating?


    The rationale is there, but there are countless possibilities for each specific couple and specific situation.


    Not to mention outsiders, even the people involved can¡¯t simply determine.


    So that¡¯s how it is with matters of the heart, they can¡¯t be cut off or resolved easily.


    Mahomes sat down irritably, ¡°So, what should I do?¡±


    ¡°I love Brittany, truly. I¡¯ve never considered other girls, not once.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for the right opportunity, I want to propose, I don¡¯t need to wait or consider anymore, I believe I¡¯ve found the girl I want to be with for life.¡±


    ¡°But now...¡±


    Mahomes sank into the sofa, love lost, ¡°Rookie, what should I do now? What if Brittany wants to break up, what do I do?¡±

 Chapter 698: Ostrich mentality

    Chapter 698: Ostrich mentality


    Looking at Mahomes¡¯ crestfallen face, Li Wei couldn¡¯t help but tease him, ¡°Not even once?¡±


    Mahomes suddenly looked up, staring at Li Wei with a sense of despair.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t mind, instead, he showed a smile, ¡°Have you ever thought that it¡¯s precisely because there was never a ¡®once,¡¯ that when the text came, you couldn¡¯t help but hesitate?¡±


    Mahomes was startled; he didn¡¯t understand, feeling as though he had been led into a maze.


    Li Wei had no choice but to explain, ¡°It¡¯s like how people often hesitate before getting married because it¡¯s a major life decision. Even though you can divorce after marriage, wouldn¡¯t it be better to grow old together if you could marry just once? So, when facing major decisions, we tend to overthink.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the same for you.¡±


    ...


    ¡°You¡¯re committed to Brittany without a second thought; but precisely because of this, you haven¡¯t explored other possibilities or appreciated different sceneries, so when temptation comes, you waver.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that you really hesitated, you just couldn¡¯t help but take a longer look.¡±


    ¡°So.¡±


    ¡°You need to tell Brittany the truth because indeed nothing happened, and you weren¡¯t planning to hide anything.¡±


    The words hung there.


    But Mahomes seemed to need some time to digest everything and couldn¡¯t snap back to reality right away.


    In Li Wei¡¯s memory, this was the first time Mahomes and Brittany had a serious argument in the two years he had known Mahomes.


    It was not surprising that Mahomes needed more time to process the complex information.


    From another perspective, relationships that have never faced arguments are often more fragile, because conflicts are like icebergs hidden under the sea¡ªthey¡¯re not visible, but that doesn¡¯t mean they don¡¯t exist. The seemingly calm surface can be brewing a crisis that¡¯s beyond saving. A timely argument can trigger the crisis earlier, allowing issues to be resolved bit by bit.


    Sighing deeply, Mahomes still couldn¡¯t sort out his thoughts, ¡°Rookie, can you talk to Brittany for me? Tell her that you spend every day with me, that you know I haven¡¯t done anything to stray from the path.¡±


    ¡°Of course, no problem,¡± Li Wei readily agreed.


    ¡°But.¡±


    ¡°Sherlock, in Brittany¡¯s eyes, am I a good friend or a bad friend? Will she believe me? Or does she think I led you astray?¡±


    Mahomes: Uh...


    Li Wei shrugged lightly, ¡°If she needs, I¡¯m always ready to vouch for you. In fact, our whole team respects and cherishes your commitment to love, and we are looking forward to you being the representative who clears the reputation that all professional athletes are philanderers.¡±


    ¡°Not everyone is like Travis.¡±


    Kelsey: ??? Where did this unwarranted accusation come from?


    After pondering for a while, Mahomes still felt like his brain was a tangled mess, and it was hard to come up with an explanation, ¡°Rookie, can I stay at your place for a few days?¡±


    ¡°Brittany... I¡¯m not sure how many days she will stay here.¡±


    Li Wei showed a smile, ¡°Sherlock, you should be glad that Brittany is willing to stay. That means she doesn¡¯t want to leave amidst the conflict.¡±


    ¡°Because she knows that once she leaves Kansas City now, it will be harder to continue communicating. She¡¯s a smart girl.¡±


    ¡°So, this is a good thing.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll sleep in my guest room, that will make playing out a scene of Romeo and Juliet a bit easier. The sheets and duvet covers should be in the guest room closet, all washed, dried, and tidied up by my mom the last time. Do you need help finding them?¡±


    Mahomes waved his hands repeatedly, ¡°No, no need, I¡¯ll manage.¡±


    Immersed in his own thoughts, Mahomes didn¡¯t quite catch the sound of Li Wei¡¯s footsteps as he walked to his own bathroom, facing a soul-searching question:


    How on earth did things get to this point?


    When Li Wei came out of the shower, changed, Mahomes had already unpacked his carry-on and settled into the guest room.


    Li Wei looked at the absent-minded Mahomes and thought for a moment, ¡°I¡¯m planning to visit a friend in the hospital, do you want to come along?¡±


    ¡°Speaking of friends, you know him, it¡¯s Felix Gray, the boy whose bone cancer came back. Seventeen years old?¡±


    ¡°After the game finished yesterday, he invited me to visit his friends at the hospital, a group of fans who are fighting against cancer.¡±


    ¡°I called Travis to meet up at the hospital.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t planning to invite you originally, thinking today is a day off and you could enjoy some quality time with Brittany. But now...¡±


    ¡°Are you going to stew over things and then talk to Brittany when you go back; or...¡±


    Before Li Wei could finish, Mahomes had already stepped ahead and interrupted, answering with actions, ¡°The hospital? Which hospital? I¡¯ll drive.¡±


    Ostrich mentality.


    Li Wei could understand, although deep down he knew what he should do, it¡¯s easier said than done. The tendency to evade was still inevitable.


    Maybe, this was a better solution.


    After all, Mahomes had just left his home, and now both of them were emotionally charged. Giving some time and space before they say things they would regret later might help them to cool down a bit.


    ...


    Kelsey arrived at the hospital earlier than planned.


    He knew Li Wei¡¯s schedule, unchangeable as thunder, and if he didn¡¯t pay attention, he might be late; even though today¡¯s visit didn¡¯t have media presence and was purely a personal visit, not a public relations event coordinated by the team, being late was still undesirable, at the very least, it was about showing the right attitude.


    So he set the alarm, scheduled the time, and Kelsey arrived early.


    Indeed, as he parked the car in the parking lot and was contemplating how to greet Li Wei with a superior posture and tease him for being late, Li Wei had already arrived.


    Kelsey hurriedly braced his left hand on the car roof, with his right leg as his pivot point and his left leg in front, tiptoeing on the ground, ready to greet Li Wei in Bugs Bunny¡¯s signature pose; but the words that came out were surprisingly different.


    ¡°How did he come along?¡±


    Kelsey¡¯s focus shifted completely and he did not bother with teasing anymore.


    Mahomes was somewhat constrained, unsure of how to explain.


    Fortunately, Li Wei helped out, ¡°He came specially to steal your thunder.¡±


    Kelsey didn¡¯t mind at all, ¡°Haha, for that he might need to be reborn. With my handsome face and outstanding charm, all you can do is envy.¡±


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t envy, to envy is to lose.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s voice came quietly, ¡°Ignore him and he¡¯ll turn into a fool.¡±


    Pfft.


    Mahomes couldn¡¯t hold back.


    Kelsey watched as Li Wei and Mahomes bypassed him and no longer cared about putting on airs; he quickly took large strides to catch up, ¡°No need to envy, don¡¯t worry, I will tone down the shine a bit to prevent you guys from being overlooked.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Li Wei actually responded with a full-faced smile.


    Mahomes suddenly saw Kelsey¡¯s stiff expression¡ª


    Laughter erupted like thunder.


    The three of them left the parking lot laughing and chattering, taking the elevator upstairs.


    Upon entering the hospital, the atmosphere made them quiet down; whiteness filled their view everywhere, making even their steps soften.


    In a blink, they were getting closer to the oncology department, it seemed as if they could feel the shadow of the Grim Reaper looming, making the world seem more sacred, yet also more cold and forbidding.

 Chapter 699: Kids are more cunning than adults

    Chapter 699: Kids are more cunning than adults


    Actually, professional players were not strangers to hospitals, having to visit every so often for check-ups and various scans in the radiology department.


    Moreover, Li Wei hadn¡¯t forgotten Berry.


    Berry, still undergoing rehabilitation, faced one injury after another, forcing him to constantly battle against injuries and the natural order at the end of his career, in an attempt to grasp a faint glimmer of hope.


    Li Wei admired Berry.


    Although their time as teammates was less than three months, the journey they shared made Berry¡¯s will and spirit unforgettable¡ª


    Battling injuries day after day, year after year, what was more terrifying than pain was the uncertainty because there were no guarantees with these efforts, these persistences; no one could assure a successful recovery and comeback, nor could anyone ensure the ability to keep up with the League¡¯s competitive intensity once again.


    ...


    Meaning, all these prolonged persistences, four plus ten months of effort, might all end up being in vain, achieving nothing.


    That was the scariest part.


    If it were someone else, they might have given up, especially since Berry was not an unknown soldier; he already had a place in the fiercely competitive NFL, and even if he gave up now and retired, there would be no regrets.


    However, Berry had not.


    He was striving, he was fighting, not because there was an easily reachable hope ahead, but because this persistence defined his character, his existence, his entire professional career.


    Deep reverence arose.


    No matter what happened in the future, Berry was demonstrating himself through his actions.


    Therefore, Li Wei often came to the hospital to visit Berry.


    Quite surprisingly, Li Wei and Berry had become good friends, a step further than teammates or comrades¡ªa true friendship.


    For Li Wei, hospitals had become even less unfamiliar.


    However.


    Even so, every time he entered the hospital, it still felt strange¡ª


    Here, whether it was hope or despair, it seemed not to be in their hands, and the inevitability of birth, old age, sickness, and death made humans acutely aware of their insignificance and powerlessness.


    Involuntarily, he slowed and lightened his steps.


    Step. Step. Step.


    The sounds of footsteps ascending the stairs echoed in the stairwell.


    Li Wei and his group hadn¡¯t taken the elevator but chose the stairs, taking the opportunity to exercise as they weren¡¯t in a hurry.


    Mahomes, trying to distract himself from his chaotic thoughts, led the way but abruptly stopped with an emergency brake, causing Li Wei and Kelsey to also halt.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Li Wei asked.


    Mahomes did not answer but turned back to look at Li Wei, gesturing with his eyes towards the front.


    Following quickly behind, Li Wei turned a corner and could see what Mahomes was looking at:


    A little girl.


    She appeared to be six or seven years old, wearing a bright red sweater coat, her golden-brown hair tied into two cute little buns like ram¡¯s horns.


    Sitting on the stairs, she supported her knees with her hands, her chubby cheeks fully pushed out, revealing a pair of pale blushes, making it unclear whether she was angry or being playful, yet making one want to pinch her cheeks while exclaiming, ¡°Too cute!¡±


    Mahomes hesitated, ¡°Could she be lost?¡±


    Li Wei signaled with his eyes, ¡°Her coat has a patient¡¯s gown underneath; she must be a patient here.¡±


    Kelsey also caught up, quietly lowering her voice between the two, ¡°Could it be haunted?¡±


    Mahomes shuddered, his neck and shoulder muscles clearly tensing up, not daring to turn around.


    Li Wei suddenly turned his head and exclaimed, ¡°Ghost!¡±


    As a result, Kelsey stumbled back three steps, directly pressing against the wall, resembling an emergency exit sign, for a brief moment it felt like his heart had truly stopped beating.


    Li Wei ignored Kelsey, pressed his lips together, hiding a smile, continued up the stairs, approached the little girl, sat down a few steps in front of her, maintaining eye level, and turned back, ¡°Hey, twenty-five cents for your thoughts.¡±


    The little girl, still supporting her chin with her right hand, tilted her head slightly, and glanced at Li Wei, pondering for a moment.


    Just as Li Wei thought his conversation starter had failed, the little girl spoke, ¡°I don¡¯t understand why everyone is so focused on my urination problem?¡±


    Li Wei: ...


    The fear of sudden silence.


    Kelsey and Mahomes were both stunned, took a moment to react, exchanged a look, Kelsey almost lost it but quickly bowed her head to control her smile, yet her shoulders still shook rapidly.


    Rare!


    It was indeed rare to see Li Wei at a loss for words.


    Li Wei was indeed caught off guard, so he should consider this childish innocence or precociousness?


    Moreover, facing a little girl, it seemed neither answering nor not answering was correct, was this a dilemma akin to a hot potato?


    Li Wei took a serious look at the little girl¡¯s expression and eyes, confirmed she was not joking, and thought hard, ¡°What did the doctor say?¡±


    The little girl shrugged, ¡°The doctor said I need to urinate. I don¡¯t know why either.¡±


    After speaking, the little girl looked at Li Wei again, her gaze seeming to say: If I knew the answer, would I still be sitting here pondering?


    That childish voice and mature gaze were both mocking Li Wei.


    Li Wei unexpectedly... could not rebut, a smile crept across his lips, ¡°Sorry, I am still learning how to communicate.¡±


    The little girl seriously nodded, ¡°It¡¯s okay, everyone makes mistakes. I forgive you.¡±


    Li Wei nodded along, a smile hidden in his eyes, ¡°Thank you for understanding.¡±


    ¡°From what I understand, after some treatments, frequent urination might occur.¡± For example, chemotherapy, ¡°Also, since treatments often carry certain toxins, when these are expelled from the body, they could cause contamination, so doctors need to ensure patients complete their excretion in the hospital for proper handling.¡±


    ¡°This is just one possibility I know, it might not be correct. But I believe if you ask the doctors, they should be willing to give you the correct answer.¡±


    Sincere, composed.


    The little girl slightly lifted her chin and glanced at Li Wei, seriously said, ¡°They are not willing.¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°What?¡±


    The little girl, ¡°The doctors don¡¯t want to tell me. They think I¡¯m a child, that I can¡¯t understand those complex things, so they are not willing to tell me.¡±


    Li Wei: ...


    The little girl, ¡°Of course, I indeed don¡¯t understand.¡±


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t help but slightly curl the corners of his mouth, this was an interesting little fellow.


    But before Li Wei could speak, the little girl again supported her chin with both hands, her gaze carrying a trace of sorrow, as if she was feeling the sadness at a forty-five-degree angle.


    ¡°But, I just have no ideas.¡±


    ¡°What else can I do? If I don¡¯t want to urinate, forcing myself to sit on the toilet still won¡¯t help, what do you think?¡±


    Her slightly furrowed brow and the sighs in between seemed to reflect on the hardships of life¡ª


    Indeed, the hardships of life at seven differ from those at twenty-seven; we always think it will be different when we grow up; but the reality is, life at forty-seven, seventy-seven, each has its own difficulties.


    Then, the little girl looked at Li Wei, as if waiting for an answer.

 Chapter 700: 699 Seven Dwarves

    Chapter 700: 699 Seven Dwarves


    ¡°...What do you say?¡±


    The little girl looked at Li Wei with youthful, bright yet melancholic eyes, exuding a mischievous spirit beyond her years.


    Li Wei was a bit nervous, ¡°Indeed, we must listen to the voice of our bodies.¡±


    ¡°So... keep it up!¡±


    Having said that, after a pause, Li Wei added, looking squarely at the little girl, ¡°Sorry, seems like I don¡¯t know what else to say besides that. But still, keep it up!¡±


    Then, Li Wei clenched his fist tightly and swung it vigorously.


    ...


    Down the steps, Mahomes caught Li Wei¡¯s eye and clenched his fist as well, ¡°Keep it up!¡±


    The little girl glanced at Li Wei, then at Mahomes, and finally turned her gaze toward Kelsey.


    Kelsey: ...


    Blinking slowly, a whole beat behind, Kelsey finally caught on and hurriedly clenched his fist too. He began to speak in a flustered manner but involuntarily lowered his voice, dragging out a long tone, ¡°Keep it up...¡±


    Why does this feel so odd?


    The little girl let out a gentle sigh.


    ¡°Sigh.¡±


    Was that a sigh just now?


    ¡°Growing up doesn¡¯t mean having the answers to all problems, right?¡±


    Li Wei: ...Why did he feel like he was being scorned?


    But he couldn¡¯t refute it.


    Li Wei shrugged lightly, ¡°Indeed. So, each of us has our own challenges to face and solve.¡±


    The little girl, ¡°Yeah. I guess I really need to rely on myself.¡±


    And then... there was no then...


    Seeing that little miss with a ¡°don¡¯t disturb my contemplation¡± expression, Li Wei and the others tactfully turned and left.


    Creak.


    Pushing open the stairwell door, the three men stood in the hospital corridor, looking at each other, forced to admit, this short encounter had been filled with wondrous thoughts.


    Smiles crawled up to their lips.


    ¡°Excuse me, which way is the chemotherapy room?¡±


    Li Wei took the initiative to step forward and inquired at the nurse¡¯s station.


    ¡°Straight down to the end on your left hand...¡± the nurse replied as a matter of course, then suddenly covered her mouth and widened her eyes, her face full of disbelief, as if she might explode at any moment.


    At a glance, it was obvious, the three hulking men had betrayed themselves, probably blowing their cover.


    Li Wei¡¯s eyes twinkled with mirth, and he nonchalantly betrayed his two teammates, ¡°Yep, this is Kelsey, this is Mahomes. I¡¯ve told them they¡¯re not cut out for being James Bond, too conspicuous, too easy to blow their cover.¡±


    The two well-behaved giants widened their eyes, befuddled as they were sold out.


    The nurse, looking to be about forty, with a plump pear-shaped figure, ruddy cheeks, and neatly cut short hair, began to chuckle merrily at Li Wei¡¯s words, highly amused.


    ¡°Of course, I know, I know.¡±


    ¡°I also know you¡¯re our captain, you¡¯re the perfect James Bond in my heart. Oh my God, yesterday¡¯s match was fantastic, we¡¯re having a dream-like season.¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Oh, did you watch the live broadcast too?¡±


    The nurse nodded, ¡°Radio. Oh right, are you looking for the chemotherapy room? God, our kids are going to be over the moon, their only interest while undergoing chemotherapy is listening to the match broadcasts on the radio, home or away, without missing a game.¡±


    Kelsey was quite surprised, ¡°I had no idea there was a Chieftain fan club here.¡±


    The nurse beamed, ¡°Ha-ha, of course, once a Chieftain¡ª¡±


    ¡°Always a Chieftain.¡± Kelsey and the nurse said in unison.


    But Li Wei noticed another detail, ¡°Kids?¡±


    The nurse, unaware of any anomaly but with a touch of solemnity in her smile, ¡°Yes, our department is quite special, all the kids undergoing chemotherapy here are under eighteen. They... they might face different situations, including with their parents.¡±


    Under eighteen years old.


    That is to say, before their lives had even begun, they were facing the possibility that the end might arrive prematurely.


    At this, Kelsey and Mahomes¡¯ smiles slowly faded away.


    Cancer was already a grave trial, for anyone; for these minors, it was an unimaginably rough journey.


    It wasn¡¯t easy for the children, nor for the parents.


    The nurse immediately understood, ¡°So, which child are you here to visit?¡±


    Li Wei collected his thoughts, ¡°Felix Gray.¡±


    Realization dawned on the nurse, ¡°Felix.¡± She took a deep breath and showed a determined smile, ¡°Felix is very strong; he¡¯s always fighting. God, he¡¯s one hundred percent a Chieftain, refusing to surrender. If Felix knew you guys showed up, he¡¯d probably be crazy happy.¡±


    As she spoke, the nurse stood up and took the initiative to lead the way.


    The pale, narrow corridor seemed vast and deep, as if it had no end. The smiles lingering at the corners of the mouth also quietly settled down.


    Outside a hospital room, a middle-aged woman in a light gray long dress looked towards the doctor in front of her, her face filled with faint hope.


    The doctor spoke quietly, and the middle-aged woman was momentarily startled. Just as she began to speak, her snot and tears broke down, yet she didn¡¯t care about that, ¡°You mean, it worked?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Ms. Galas, so far it seems to be effective...¡± the doctor affirmed once more.


    The woman hastily wiped away her tears, revealing a smile, and nodded in confusion, ¡°Oh, that¡¯s great news, great news.¡± However, her tears just wouldn¡¯t stop, dripping down continuously.


    Even without knowing what had happened, one could still feel the relief and joy of that moment.


    As Li Wei passed by, his eyes inadvertently intersected with those of the middle-aged woman. He gave a smile, nodded gently in greeting, and cast an encouraging glance.


    The middle-aged woman responded with a grateful smile.


    Then.


    They just crossed paths like that.


    The chemotherapy room was not far ahead.


    Before even opening the door to the room, the sounds coming from inside were excited and intense¡ª


    ¡°...and that¡¯s when the rookie took the stage.¡±


    ¡°All eyes were on the field, the game too tense and close to afford any distractions, even the live broadcast cameras missed this moment.¡±


    ¡°But I saw it, a casual glance, and I immediately noticed that figure.¡±


    ¡°Composed, cool, unaffected, as if nothing had happened, the path ahead of him opened up as naturally as the Red Sea parting for Moses.¡±


    ¡°He just appeared like that.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t imagine how I felt at that moment, and I couldn¡¯t put it into words, but it was then I knew we could win the game.¡±


    ¡°The rookie, just appeared like that¡ª¡±


    Creak.


    The door to the chemotherapy room was pushed open, and a tall and upright figure appeared at the entrance, casting a large shadow that naturally brought a sense of oppression, making the eyes in the room involuntarily gather in that direction, except for the one standing in the center with his back to the door.


    He was still gesticulating wildly and spitting as he recounted the story from yesterday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium that happened off camera.


    However, everyone else in the room stared at the door with their mouths agape, in utter disbelief at what they were seeing.


    The boy in the center shouted, ¡°We all screamed in unison!¡±


    From the side, ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    The boy looked over with a face full of surprise, ¡°Right, that¡¯s it, Li Wei, we all started shouting together.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei! Li Wei! Li Wei!¡±


    Noisily, sporadically, the chants rose and fell.


    Felix¡¯s eyes went wide, ¡°Right, right, that¡¯s it.¡± As he noticed the room¡¯s focus shifting, he also turned around.


    Then he saw three figures at the door, crowded into the narrow doorway like Snow White entering the house of the seven dwarves.


    Felix was outright stunned.

 Chapter 701: 700 Dare to Dream

    Chapter 701: 700 Dare to Dream


    The small chemotherapy room was bustling with noise.


    In the room, sofas were neatly arranged against the wall, stretching along, leaving the entire space in the center completely empty.


    On each sofa sat a child, with an IV drip beside the armrest; some sofas were accompanied by adults looking like parents, but most were not, because chemotherapy is a long and tedious process, and today was a Monday workday, not everyone could afford to take time off work.


    At this moment, every child¡¯s gaze, filled with excitement and enthusiasm, was concentrated on the door; but no one left their seat, because the IV drip would trip them if they stood up and rushed forward, turning the scene into a bumper car scenario, so they restrained themselves.


    Still, only Felix stood in the middle, his IV drip to his right.


    Li Wei flashed a smile and said, ¡°Hey, Felix.¡±


    ...


    Rustling sounds followed, and all eyes in the room swarmed toward Felix, filled with envy, admiration, and joy.


    But it was Felix who was stunned, his eyes wide as he looked at Li Wei¡ª


    Even though he knew Li Wei wouldn¡¯t break his word, seeing him actually appear, so close at hand, that happiness and bliss exploded in an instant.


    Li Wei entered the room, took a few steps forward, and looked around.


    ¡°Hey, good morning. I¡¯m Li Wei, running back for the Kansas City Chiefs, and I specifically came to visit my friend Felix and brought two of my friends, the quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the tight end Travis Kelce, who play for the Kansas City Chiefs with me.¡±


    Buzz, buzz, buzz.


    No one spoke, but the air was palpably filled with joyful agitation, as everyone sitting on the sofas couldn¡¯t control their blood boiling.


    The gazes, eagerly and fervently, revolved around the trio of Li Wei.


    ¡°Of course, Felix¡¯s friends are my friends, and also Patrick and Travis¡¯s friends, so, who here is a fan of the Chieftain?¡±


    Swish, swish, swish!


    One by one, they quickly raised their left hand, and their butts slightly lifted off the sofas, trying to stretch their arms higher, as if reaching higher signified greater loyalty.


    But Li Wei noticed, not everyone did, there were a couple of children who hesitated, looked around at others, and then raised their arms too.


    Li Wei looked at those few children and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay if you¡¯re not, not everyone has to like football, not everyone has to like the Chiefs. You can like baseball, you can like hockey, you might not even like any sports at all, I¡¯m not sad, not at all sad, I just need a little time...¡±


    Li Wei looked up, took a deep breath, as if trying to come to terms with this¡ª


    Ha ha. Ha ha ha.


    The children¡¯s cheerful laughter bounced through the air.


    Then, Li Wei looked down and flashed a big smile, ¡°So, who here owns a Chieftain¡¯s jersey?¡±


    Swish, swish, swish.


    A few children reacted quickly, immediately raising their arms high.


    Li Wei intentionally raised both hands, each making a praying gesture with the index and middle fingers crossed, ¡°Please say no, please say you don¡¯t, absolutely not.¡±


    ¡°Because the gifts I brought today are jerseys.¡±


    Li Wei looked at those few children and said, ¡°Sorry. You already own them, it seems today...¡±


    The few children instantly froze, their faces filled with sorrow, looking at Li Wei helplessly.


    Li Wei shifted his tone and continued, ¡°Would you mind jerseys of the same kind, but with signatures from the three of us? I know it¡¯s not a priceless gift, but I really hope you¡¯ll like it.¡±


    One second, two seconds.


    Ah ah ah. Ah ah ah. Joy and happiness erupted throughout the chemotherapy room, completely boiling over.


    Felix watched in disbelief at what was unfolding before him, somewhat overwhelmed¡ª


    Chemotherapy was not just boring; it was painful, nauseating, dizzying, and agonizing¡ªtruly a disaster.


    Occasionally, he would feel his veins turning ice cold, as if his vitality were being slowly drained away, yet he could only sit there paralyzed, unable to move.


    That feeling of powerlessness was frustrating.


    So, the days of undergoing chemotherapy were always tough, starting right from the moment he woke up in the morning, every single cell in his body resisting the process.


    Until they started listening to the Kansas City Chiefs games, drawing energy from the sounds of battle, chemotherapy seemed a bit less unbearable¡ª


    at least there was some fun in the suffering.


    Now, looking at the laughter and joy in the room, Felix felt no sense of reality.


    Smiles slowly climbed up his lips; yet, for some reason, his eyes welled up with warmth.


    ¡°Hey, Felix.¡±


    A face appeared before him¡ªit was Levi.


    Felix jumped, clumsily rubbing his eyes with his sleeve and hastily revealing a big smile.


    ¡°Hey, Levi. I didn¡¯t expect... Thank you for being willing... I mean, thank you,¡± he said.


    His words were jumbled, not quite capturing his intent.


    But Levi understood.


    ¡°Thank you for inviting me here, Felix,¡± Levi said.


    Felix was stunned.


    Levi squatted down, looked Felix in the eye, his gaze filled with sincerity, ¡°I¡¯m serious. This city has welcomed me in your way and accepted me into your lives. I appreciate it. Thank you for wanting to introduce me to your friends.¡±


    Felix felt a warm surge in his chest, happiness and joy inflating like a balloon, almost ready to soar.


    Felix shook his head, ¡°No, I should thank you. You¡¯ve made me believe that dreams still exist and can indeed be realized.¡±


    Levi gently lifted his chin, ¡°So, what is your dream?¡±


    ¡°Running,¡± blurted Felix, ¡°Running on the Football field like you, like an Edgerunner, tearing a gap in the tight defense.¡±


    But having said that, Felix showed a bitter smile, ¡°It¡¯s a ridiculous dream, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Bone cancer had cost Felix one of his legs, and although he now had a prosthetic and could stand and walk, appearing normal at first glance, Felix knew it wasn¡¯t the same. He couldn¡¯t just move freely, let alone run like he used to.


    That was one of the reasons Felix admired Levi.


    He liked watching Levi race across the field.


    ¡°Hahaha, I¡¯m just joking,¡± Felix quickly changed the topic, ¡°Actually, my dream is to form a band, to perform at the school graduation dance, and maybe one day, I could even perform at an Arrowhead Stadium home game, how does that dream sound?¡±


    Levi smiled at Felix, ¡°Great, absolutely perfect.¡±


    ¡°Whether it¡¯s running on the field or performing on the stage at Arrowhead Stadium, it¡¯s all good, these are perfect dreams.¡±


    ¡°Felix, you must have dreams, what if they come true?¡±


    ¡°I believe in you, and I believe in the power of dreams. Look, a complete outsider to Football can start as a Running Back in the Professional League; what can¡¯t be done?¡±


    Felix, seeing Levi¡¯s smile, couldn¡¯t help but smile himself, his mouth curving upwards.


    With some hesitation, some reluctance, some timidity, but... it still blossomed, then, he nodded firmly.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Felix said.

 Chapter 702: 701 quirky and mischievous

    Chapter 702: 701 quirky and mischievous


    Felix knew it was a luxury to wish for such a thing.


    After the recurrence of his cancer, the true essence of life and death had become his reality. Every night when he fell asleep, he didn¡¯t know if he would see the sun the next day; running was just a trivial dream, incapable of altering anything in life.


    But still.


    Felix couldn¡¯t help himself.


    Without realizing it, Felix looked down at his own legs and was overwhelmed with visions of himself running again.


    If... if he could run once more before death came, unbridled, forgetting himself in the act, burning away his life.


    ...


    Raising his eyes, Felix looked towards Li Wei and found determination and courage in those clear, bright eyes as they quietly ignited a light of belief.


    Taking a deep breath, Felix seemed to regain his strength. For him, every day was a test, so there was no time for hesitation, nor was there any need.


    With a smile, Felix¡¯s expression brightened, ¡°Annie, oh yes, Annie! How could I forget about that?¡±


    Today, the reason he had invited Li Wei to the hospital was not for himself but for his good friend Annie.


    Annie was also one of Felix¡¯s chemotherapy mates. She had leukemia, had undergone a round of chemotherapy that lasted over two years, and had been declared cancer-free; but anyone who truly understands leukemia knows that the relapse rate is high, and Annie was no exception.


    So, Annie returned to the hospital to undergo a second round of chemotherapy; however, unfortunately, several different treatment plans had not been effective.


    What did this mean?


    Perhaps... the time left for Annie was running out.


    Felix and Annie, both having experienced the ordeal of being discharged after recovery only to relapse and return to the hospital, had forged a unique bond of friendship in this shared suffering.


    They often joked between themselves, never knowing which of them would leave first; but whichever did, the other would be dressed to the nines at their funeral.


    Felix knew Annie also liked Li Wei, and he hoped he could do something, so he summoned up the courage and extended the invitation.


    Now, with Li Wei actually present, Felix was uncontrollably happy.


    ¡°Annie must be thrilled.¡±


    ¡°Annie... Annie!¡±


    After calling her name twice, Felix realized they were in the hospital and should avoid being loud if possible, but he couldn¡¯t help himself in his excitement, grabbing the IV stand, and eagerly leading the way out of the chemotherapy room.


    ¡°Annie should be in her room, we can just go directly there to find her.¡±


    However, Annie was not there¡ª


    The room was empty.


    This took Felix by surprise, leaving him utterly bewildered. He turned to Li Wei, and they looked at each other, unsure of what to say.


    Li Wei shrugged, obviously, he was completely in the dark about the hospital¡¯s situation.


    Whoosh.


    Mahomes, Kelsey, and other children undergoing chemotherapy could no longer contain their boredom and started pushing their IVs outside, making the hallway suddenly bustling, prompting the nurses to calm everyone down and usher them back to the chemotherapy room.


    Then, Mahomes and Kelsey also stood at the doorway of the room, looking into the empty room, puzzled, turning their gaze towards Li Wei and Felix.


    ¡°Can I help with anything?¡±


    A hesitant voice came from the doorway.


    Li Wei looked up to see it was the woman he just saw talking with the doctors in the hallway.


    Felix, ¡°Ms. Gallas, where¡¯s Annie? Li Wei has come!¡±


    Jenna Gallas looked momentarily confused, ¡°Annie went to the bathroom, hasn¡¯t she come back yet?¡±


    ¡°Oh, sorry, Li Wei, welcome, very welcome, but...¡±


    Welcome?


    It seems not quite right, should it be welcome to the hospital?


    Clearly, Jenna Galas didn¡¯t know how to express it accurately either.


    But Li Wei didn¡¯t mind.


    Anyone could see Jenna¡¯s eyes slightly reddened, still showing traces of overwhelming emotions, which reminded Li Wei of when they brushed past each other in the corridor earlier, Jenna was thrilled that the treatment was effective¡ª


    So, did this mean Annie¡¯s treatment was finally seeing some glimmer of hope?


    If that was the case, Jenna¡¯s excitement was completely understandable.


    ¡°Ms. Galas, it¡¯s my honor. I am Li Wei, running back for the Kansas City Chiefs. I heard that a resilient warrior is also a fan of the Chiefs, and I thought, I definitely need to express my respect and gratitude in person,¡± he said.


    Jenna looked slightly awkward, flattered as she gazed at Li Wei¡¯s extended right hand, ¡°Oh, of course, my meaning is, Li Wei, I know you. But thank you, thank you.¡±


    Fumbling, Jenna didn¡¯t know how to express herself, simply repeating a few simple syllables, trying to calm herself down¡ª


    Unfortunately, it was harder than imagined.


    In the end, it was Li Wei who helped break the ice, ¡°So, do we need help finding the heroine of today? Perhaps, she¡¯s also looking for us?¡±


    At that moment, everyone caught on, bustling out of the ward, scattering around to search.


    ¡°Wait, you two... wait.¡±


    Seeing Mahomes and Kelsey also following out, Li Wei quickly called the two, noting the confusion in their eyes, Li Wei appeared somewhat helpless.


    ¡°We don¡¯t even know what the heroine looks like; even if she stood right in front of us, we wouldn¡¯t recognize her.¡±


    Kelsey was half a step slow, exclaiming, ¡°Ah.¡±


    Li Wei beckoned the two, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the nurse¡¯s station to inquire, maybe they have a photo.¡±


    Li Wei was right, the nurse¡¯s station¡¯s medical record had a photo on file, and when the three saw the image on the computer screen, they exchanged surprised glances¡ª


    That girl!


    It was the same girl from the stairwell just now.


    But importantly, when that girl saw Li Wei, there was no surprise, no shock¡ª she remained completely unflustered, not looking at all like a fan.


    Moreover, ¡°are you sure? She¡¯s eleven years old now?¡± Li Wei carefully inquired, moderating his tone.


    The nurse displayed an understanding look, ¡°Yes, her weight has dropped quickly, and now she looks much younger than her age. We have been trying to find solutions.¡±


    The three exchanged a look, did not say anything, and simultaneously turned back to the staircase¡ª


    Empty. There was no one there.


    The three didn¡¯t say much more, dispersing to help search.


    Li Wei wandered around a bit, realizing they were like headless flies, aimlessly buzzing around.


    Cooling down, thinking it through, his brief encounter with the little girl earlier clearly showed her to be a clever and quirky kid, far more mature than her age; what if she realized Li Wei and the others had arrived and decided to play a hide-and-seek game by hiding on purpose?


    Li Wei had a guess.


    He went back to Annie¡¯s room, pushed open the door, and looked around. Still empty, no one to be seen.


    But this time Li Wei didn¡¯t rush to leave. He looked around the room, his gaze finally landing on the TV cabinet.


    Moving closer, he opened the cabinet door.


    A pair of big, watery eyes peeped out, flashing a mischievous smile, ¡°Hi.¡±

 Chapter 703: 702 Little Game

    Chapter 703: 702 Little Game


    Thin, childish, with two unnatural rosy blushes faintly spreading across her cheeks, they highlighted her pale skin, while a thin layer of sweat formed on her forehead.


    She was very small, curled up with her knees to her chest in the narrow space of the TV cabinet, her palm over her mouth to stifle any sound, but her eyes brimmed with laughter.


    One could guess that this little girl must have been hiding in there for a while, stuffy and struggling to breathe, covered in sweat.


    But obviously, she didn¡¯t care, her eyes glinted with mischief, bright and sparkling, her excitement and exhilaration shining through her pupils.


    At that moment, seeing Li Wei and locking eyes with him, joy and happiness overflowed from the little girl¡¯s eyes¡ª


    It probably wasn¡¯t because she saw Li Wei, but because her prank had caught Li Wei, her undisguised triumph shining brightly.


    ...


    ¡°Hi.¡±


    A greeting.


    Then, the little girl placed her finger over her lips again.


    ¡°Shh.¡±


    Peeking out, the little girl looked outside, then surprisingly scooted back further into the cabinet, and cast a glance at Li Wei.


    Li Wei: ???


    Wait, was she issuing an invitation?


    Li Wei looked down at his long arms and legs, then looked back, spread his hands, and asked with his eyes, ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    The little girl paused, pursed her lips, and chuckled to herself.


    Reason told Li Wei that he should notify Jenna and the hospital and there was no need to continue the commotion, that this was the right thing to do.


    But...


    Li Wei didn¡¯t know about the little girl¡¯s life; he just had some guesses:


    Only eleven years old, at an age full of playfulness and mischief, an age of exploring the world with curiosity, yet she had spent almost half her life shuttling between the hospital and home, living today without knowing if there would be a tomorrow.


    No childhood, no playmates, not even a life.


    She might never know the daily life of other children her age, trapped in solitude, like a canary that could only learn how to entertain herself.


    If she wanted to play hide-and-seek, maybe... Li Wei should grant her wish.


    Reason paused for just a moment; but Li Wei still sat down cross-legged opposite the TV cabinet, face to face with the little girl, keeping their eyes level.


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m Li Wei.¡±


    The little girl covered her mouth, her eyes showing a rare shyness, and she nodded gently, ¡°I know.¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Ha, you were very well hidden when we first met.¡± then Li Wei extended his right hand, ¡°May I have the honor of knowing you?¡±


    The little girl stared at Li Wei¡¯s right hand quietly for a moment, cautiously reached out her own right hand, but instead of shaking it, she formed it into a fist and placed it in Li Wei¡¯s open palm, her small fist underscoring the largeness of Li Wei¡¯s hand, causing the little rascal to widen her eyes in wonder.


    ¡°Wow!¡±


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, also expressing his amazement, ¡°Wow!¡±


    ¡°So, are all football players like you?¡± asked the little girl, her face full of curiosity.


    Li Wei shrugged gently, ¡°I¡¯m not sure. But in a moment, you can ask my friends; oh, by the way, they¡¯re also football players, and I believe they would be happy to satisfy your curiosity.¡±


    The little girl could instantly pick up on the teasing in Li Wei¡¯s words, she pursed her lips and chuckled, seemingly very pleased with her performance just then.


    Seeing that the little girl didn¡¯t shake hands, Li Wei didn¡¯t press further, ¡°So, who are we hiding from? The doctor, or me?¡±


    A playful smile flickered in the little girl¡¯s eyes, ¡°Felix.¡±


    Li Wei: ???


    The little girl said earnestly, ¡°Felix prepared a surprise, clearly just to see me cry. Humph, I won¡¯t let him succeed.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, ¡°So did you just cry?¡±


    The little girl: ...


    Li Wei, watching the little girl¡¯s dumbfounded expression, let a smile creep across his eyebrows, ¡°It seems, Felix succeeded after all.¡±


    Whoosh.


    All of a sudden, the little girl¡¯s cheeks turned faintly red, as her eyes flickered evasively, concealing her shyness and restraint.


    Li Wei stopped while he was ahead, ¡°If you¡¯re ready to give Felix a surprise, then we should prepare now. They should be back soon.¡±


    The little girl redirected her attention, looking at Li Wei with a puzzled expression.


    Li Wei extended his right hand like a gentleman, with a look that signaled her.


    The little girl was slightly stunned and looked at Li Wei cautiously, but upon meeting his eyes, amidst her hesitation, she still took Li Wei¡¯s right hand and cluelessly followed his movements away from the TV cabinet, ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°Shh.¡± Li Wei placed a finger on his lips, ¡°Do you know 007?¡±


    The little girl nodded, ¡°I know, but...¡±


    Li Wei wiggled his finger between them, ¡°You¡¯re 007, and I¡¯m 023.¡±


    The little girl paused, then covering her mouth, she burst into giggles.


    Light-footed, the little girl followed behind Li Wei, mimicking his actions. She watched as Li Wei came to the hospital room door, peeked outside, and quickly pulled back, retreating while dragging her with him.


    The hospital room had a main door, with a small corridor upon entering. To the left was the bathroom, and to the right was a work counter; the room itself was beyond the passageway.


    So, Li Wei led the little girl back through the passageway into the room, standing behind the walls on either side of the corridor, hiding their shapes.


    ¡°Shh. They should be here any minute,¡± Li Wei whispered lowly.


    The little girl looked up at Li Wei, an indescribable excitement and joy swelling in her chest, not just because the Li Wei from the TV had appeared before her, but also because of what they were doing at that moment¡ª


    Nobody wanted to do this.


    Her dad didn¡¯t want to, her mom didn¡¯t want to, neither did the doctors and nurses, nor her friends. They were all worried about her health to the point of exhaustion, long past having the energy or spirit to join her in pranks; but what was worse was that she could read those looks they gave her.


    It was like seeing the Grim Reaper standing by.


    Pity. Sympathy. Sadness. Over-cautiousness. They treated her like a porcelain doll.


    She didn¡¯t like this.


    But she couldn¡¯t protest either, because she knew they all meant well.


    She just wanted... to be an ordinary child.


    Like right now.


    Lifting her head slightly, she watched the earnest joy on Li Wei¡¯s face, not just accompanying her in play out of sympathy but truly immersed in it.


    Li Wei would probably never know that when she first saw him in the stairwell, she wasn¡¯t pretending to be calm but was absorbed in her own worries, not focused on others, and didn¡¯t recognize Li Wei and the others at all until after they had left and she belatedly realized it.


    Then, it was endless irritation.


    Urination? Had she really brought up urination in front of Li Wei? God, what kind of social suicide was this?


    So, she couldn¡¯t reveal her panic and annoyance, only to play along with his plan, pretending everything was fine, all part of her own scheme.


    Similarly, Li Wei would probably never know how much she admired his figure on the football field, his running, his roaring, his passion, which truly made her feel the vigor and boldness of life, the burning and uplifting spirit of the fight, and made her believe in the different possibilities of life.


    More than once, she imagined herself running like Li Wei, not worrying about her frail body, not turning pale and gasping for air after running a few steps, not causing her parents and doctors to panic at a mere two coughs. She merely wanted to run freely under the sun and in the summer rain.


    This was her secret, a secret of her own.

 Chapter 704: 703 Regardless of Consequences

    Chapter 704: 703 Regardless of Consequences


    Everyone has their secrets.


    Annie Galas was no exception, even though she was only eleven years old. Adults tend to think of the world of children as too innocent to contain any secrets; but they are wrong, adults must have forgotten the days of their own childhood, children have secrets, and they all know it.


    With great care, Annie guarded her secret, not wishing it to be discovered.


    However.


    Unexpectedly, just like that, it happened, in a surprising way.


    Even though Annie couldn¡¯t run like Li Wei, now, Li Wei was right in front of her, getting into mischief with her¡ª


    ...


    No persuasion, no warnings, no concerns, no preaching of soulful wisdom, no worries about looking ahead or behind, not even a hint of hesitation or doubt. She naturally fit in and actively came up with ideas, escalating the prank.


    Everything felt like a dream.


    This was the vision Annie had always fantasized about. It didn¡¯t need to be grandiose or magnificent; a small prank was already enough.


    A little bit of rebellion, a little bit of adventure, a little bit of recklessness.


    Just like a real eleven-year-old, doing something silly, getting into trouble, with no reason, just wanting to do it for the sake of it, so she did.


    Without considering the consequences.


    Once in a while, really just once in a while, Annie also wanted to cause a bit of mischief.


    She just never imagined that it would be Li Wei joining her in the shenanigans.


    But just like that, happiness filled her chest little by little.


    Exhilarating, overwhelming, surging, a bit reserved, a bit overexcited, a bit touched, a bit sad, but everything was so wonderful.


    ¡°Annie Galas.¡±


    Finally, she spoke up, extending her right hand across the corridor, knowing that now was the critical moment for the prank, knowing that it wasn¡¯t the best time to introduce herself; but she still broke the silence.


    Li Wei turned, saw the childish face that was trying to look serious, formally presenting herself with a bit of stubbornness and reservation, but undoubtedly, with her determination.


    Li Wei took a deep breath, a smile quietly filling his eyes.


    ¡°Li Wei.¡±


    Then, Li Wei reached out his right hand, forming a loose fist, and bumped Annie¡¯s fist, making a muffled sound in the air.


    Ha.


    The two of them, in perfect harmony, flashed smiles, quickly retracted their hands, and leaned back against the wall, waiting patiently.


    Thump, thump.


    Their hearts raced without stopping, even the simplest and most basic prank could cause such a surge of excitement.


    Click.


    The door to the room was pushed open again, a voice barged in, ¡°Annie? Annie! Are you in there?¡±


    It was Felix.


    But Felix didn¡¯t come in right away, instead, he stood at the door, peered inside, and called out, waiting for a response.


    Annie was eager to move.


    It was obvious that the young girl rarely, if ever, played pranks, lacked experience, and didn¡¯t grasp the timing well.


    Li Wei quickly signaled with his eyes for Annie to be patient: Just a little more patience, a little more.


    Annie bit her lower lip, took a deep breath, and while watching Li Wei¡¯s movements, she managed to control herself.


    Just as it seemed Felix would turn and leave, he stepped in, leaning forward at the bathroom door to peer into the room.


    Looking left, Felix¡¯s eyes met Annie¡¯s; they looked at each other, a surprise for both, so unexpected and sudden that Felix couldn¡¯t react and was frozen in place.


    Annie held her breath, still intently watching Li Wei, and after getting a sign from him, she leaped forward.


    ¡°Surprise!¡±


    Felix¡¯s eyes bulged in surprise.


    A beat too late, he caught the lag in timing, and another voice came from behind, ¡°Surprise!¡±


    Felix turned his head, only to see Li Wei¡¯s face suddenly magnifying in his pupils, his head full of question marks: ???


    Caught off guard, his body instinctively pressed tight against the bathroom door¡¯s wall, covering his wildly beating heart, his knees weakening and slowly sliding down.


    ¡°Jesus Christ.¡±


    Ha ha, haha.


    Annie couldn¡¯t control herself any longer, excitedly jumping up, raising her right hand high to high-five Li Wei in celebration, clutching her stomach, she leaped onto the hospital bed, continually slapping the mattress, laughing uncontrollably.


    It was only now that Felix finally came back to his senses, looking in disbelief, ¡°Annie...¡± It was one thing for Annie, ¡°Rookie, you, you shouldn¡¯t be like this either.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s face was full of apologies, ¡°Felix, I had no choice.¡±


    A look of being forced and controlled, yet the smile at the corner of his mouth and the bottom of his eyes told a completely different story.


    Felix: ...


    ¡°Rookie, please, at least be a bit more sincere. You didn¡¯t even try to hide it,¡± Felix said, his face full of resignation.


    Li Wei spread his hands, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not a good actor.¡±


    Pfft.


    Felix looked at Li Wei¡¯s unabashed expression, ridiculous yet amusing, and could no longer control himself, his laughter bursting through his throat.


    Behind him, a call came through.


    ¡°Annie, Annie?¡±


    The voice was filled with worry and fear before the person even arrived, and Jenna burst into the room like a tornado.


    ¡°Annie, where did you run off to?¡±


    Li Wei stepped forward a half step, protecting Annie behind him, ¡°The reading room. I found her in the reading room. She totally lost track of time.¡±


    While pranks were pranks, the fallout still needed to be dealt with; they couldn¡¯t just leave a mess behind.


    Annie¡¯s cheeks reddened slightly; she had been ready to admit her fault but didn¡¯t expect Li Wei to solve her predicament with just a few words¡ª


    The hospital did indeed have a reading room, not far from the chemotherapy room.


    Because chemotherapy is long and boring, and since the main target here was children, a reading room was set up. Whether to help the children or the parents, this small space was intended to provide a brief escape.


    Jenna paused, but Li Wei was so certain and composed that she couldn¡¯t tell truth from falsehood, instinctively looking towards Annie.


    Annie nodded, ¡°Right, I lost track of time. I¡¯m sorry, Mom.¡±


    Li Wei spread his hands wide, ¡°¡®Harry Potter¡¯ is indeed captivating; it¡¯s easy to forget the time. If you¡¯re interested, you can even watch the movies later.¡±


    Annie grasped at this lifeline, ¡°Yes, yes, ¡®Harry Potter¡¯; I do want to watch the movies.¡±


    Details were the key to making a lie convincing.


    Then, Jenna seemed to relax, ¡°You should have taken your phone with you, so I wouldn¡¯t worry.¡± It appeared that Jenna believed their story.


    Annie and Li Wei exchanged a glance, both of them stealing a chuckle.


    Gradually, Mahomes, Kelsey, and the others all arrived en masse. Seeing that Annie was fine and it was all just a false alarm, they all heaved a sigh of relief.


    Only then did everyone remember the real business of the day¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs players were there to visit the children.


    After all the commotion, they were just now getting to the heart of the matter. Li Wei looked at all the children moving from the chemotherapy room to the single rooms, then at Annie¡¯s slightly weary expression, and raised his right hand high.


    ¡°Who¡¯s ready to receive their jerseys? You can ask for autographs to your heart¡¯s content! Patrick and Travis are on standby!¡±


    ¡°Me! Me, me, me!¡±


    In an instant, the children popped up like little radishes, surrounding Li Wei and the others in a circle, the scene buzzing with noise.

 Chapter 705: Presumption of innocence 704

    Chapter 705: Presumption of innocence 704


    ¡°...Rookie. Rookie! We need to leave now,¡±


    Kelsey whispered repeatedly, calling out as he watched Li Wei surrounded by children, doing his best to hide his impatience.


    Standing to the side, Mahomes chuckled, his expression exceptionally cheerful.


    Upon arriving at the hospital, Kelsey boasted proudly that he had a special way with kids and that no child could resist his charm. He enjoyed playing with kids himself, so he had come prepared today, ready to show off his skills.


    Yet, it was Li Wei who turned out to be the most popular among the children.


    Even as they prepared to leave, one child clung to Li Wei¡¯s neck, whispering secrets into his ear, finding it hard to part; this scene made the self-proclaimed ¡°King of Kids¡± Kelsey envious, urging Li Wei to hurry up and leave.


    ...


    Finally!


    Li Wei finished whispering with the kids, waved goodbye, and stepped forward to catch up with Mahomes and Kelsey, heading towards the elevator together.


    Kelsey narrowed his eyes and sized up Li Wei, ¡°So, what were you guys just talking about?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°A secret.¡±


    Kelsey: ... ¡°Fine, keep it then. I¡¯m not interested at all, haha.¡±


    As they stepped into the elevator and watched the doors begin to close, a voice called from outside, ¡°Wait, wait.¡±


    Li Wei instinctively reached out to hold the elevator.


    After a short wait, there appeared a panting figure¡ªit was none other than Annie.


    Annie looked up with sparkling eyes, ¡°Li Wei... Li Wei.¡±


    Li Wei took a step forward and bent down.


    Annie leaned close to Li Wei¡¯s ear and whispered softly, ¡°I just succeeded.¡±


    Succeeded?


    To urinate?


    Li Wei¡¯s mood brightened as well, ¡°Wow, 007, mission accomplished!¡±


    After speaking, Li Wei raised his right hand, smiling as he looked over.


    Annie caught on, her smile perfectly curving up, eyes forming crescents, she raised her hand and gave Li Wei a high-five with a crisp sound. Then, she brought her index and middle finger together to form a gun gesture and blew on it.


    With that single move, both Annie and Li Wei burst into laughter.


    Annie turned around, pressed against the wall, and bent her knees, imitating the moves of a spy in the movies, ducking and turning, clearly having a blast on her own.


    Li Wei leaned out, watching the slightly clumsy and shaking figure, his mood quietly brightening. He then stepped back half a step and retreated into the elevator.


    A sense of being wronged seemed to project from behind him. Li Wei straightened up, placed his hands in front of him, and turned slightly towards Kelsey.


    ¡°Just now, Kevin told me that his actual favorite player is Travis Kelce, but because he likes him so much, he was too shy to tell him in person. He asked me to share it before the next game starts, hoping Mr. Travis Kelce would give it his all.¡±


    Kelsey, ¡°You¡¯re outing someone¡¯s secret just like that? That¡¯s not kind at all. I said I wasn¡¯t interested in secrets.¡±


    Despite his words, Mahomes could see Kelsey¡¯s mouth curving into an undeniable smile, trying hard to maintain a composed facade, yet the laughter in his eyes was unmistakable; his spirits were soaring.


    Mahomes struggled to hold back his laughter.


    However.


    Happiness, after all, is fleeting.


    Leaving the hospital, Mahomes had to return to reality and face his own mess. Just the thought of his situation with Brittany gave him a headache.


    Knock, knock.


    The sound of knocking came from outside. Li Wei looked through the peephole and turned back to Mahomes, who was sitting in the lounge, ¡°It¡¯s her.¡±


    Mahomes nearly choked on his saliva, stood up quickly, and flopped over the couch to hide behind it, then waved his hands frantically at Li Wei, gesturing for him to keep it a secret.


    It seemed that Mahomes was not yet ready to face the difficulties head-on.


    Li Wei waited for Mahomes to hide before opening the door¡ª


    Brittany.


    She stood at the door expressionless, and upon seeing Li Wei, she didn¡¯t even lift her eyelids, but raised the carry-on travel bag she was holding and spoke on her initiative.


    ¡°Inside are some clothes for changing, toiletries, and also his notebook, among other things. Tools he usually uses for tactical meetings and watching game footage.¡±


    Li Wei: Cough, cough.


    ¡°Sherlock isn¡¯t here,¡± Li Wei lied through his teeth.


    Brittany¡¯s expression remained unchanged as she glanced over Li Wei¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Then, when you head to the team¡¯s practice, pass them on to him.¡±


    Li Wei considered for a moment, ¡°Brittany, what happened?¡±


    This time, Brittany finally looked Li Wei straight in the eye¡ª


    A bit tired, because of the significant difference in height, Brittany had to step back slightly and look up at Li Wei, her neck aching as she raised her head.


    Brittany, ¡°So, you don¡¯t know?¡±


    Li Wei shrugged lightly, ¡°Sherlock and I are good friends, but even good friends have their own privacy. I wouldn¡¯t inquire about matters between you two, and he wouldn¡¯t ask about my private life.¡±


    Brittany chuckled coldly, ¡°Are you implying that you are innocent? You¡¯re completely unaware of him texting other women?¡±


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly, not concealing his helplessness, ¡°Whether I¡¯m innocent or guilty, at least let me know what the allegations are.¡±


    Brittany was taken aback¡ª


    She had assumed that Li Wei already knew the full story.


    To be more precise, she thought Li Wei was the instigator.


    After all, Li Wei was Mahomes¡¯ close friend, and for a long time, even Mahomes¡¯ only friend. Brittany knew that behind Mahomes¡¯ successful takeover of the quarterback starter position, Li Wei had been a great help; but if Mahomes was led astray, Li Wei might very well be the main culprit.


    However, looking at Li Wei, Brittany¡¯s thought wavered.


    Li Wei noticed the change in Brittany¡¯s expression and added another comment.


    ¡°Texting women? So, in your eyes, I¡¯m the type to be keen on texting women after practice every day?¡±


    Brittany choked¡ª


    No. That doesn¡¯t seem like him.


    Actually, on thinking it over calmly, Li Wei was never the type to casually flirt. Not to mention going to bars or clubs, he rarely even touched alcohol or cigarettes, and his entertainment life outside of training and games was exceptionally dull.


    So, it wasn¡¯t Li Wei?


    But her thoughts were fleeting, and Brittany did not waver easily.


    Taking a deep breath, Brittany regained her composure.


    ¡°Who knows. Beyond the glare of the spotlights, what you¡¯re really like.¡±


    ¡°I know what this is about. You¡¯re superstars, not only pursued by the media, but countless women also throw themselves at you, and not even needing you to beckon, an endless stream of girls come forth.¡±


    ¡°In your domain in Kansas City, you might be a bit more restrained; but when you go for away games, in the dead of night, loneliness and emptiness chilling you, how could you bear to sleep alone in that big bed?¡±


    ¡°Everything is too easy for you, and refusing is the hard thing.¡±


    ¡°So, don¡¯t stand there pretending to be pure and innocent, we¡¯re not children anymore.¡±


    With a burst of words, Brittany uncontrollably vented her anger and irritation.


    After saying her piece, Brittany even tiptoed and shouted over Li Wei¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°You can deceive others, but not yourselves.¡±

 Chapter 706: 705 The undercurrent is surging

    Chapter 706: 705 The undercurrent is surging


    As she spoke, Brittany¡¯s emotions began to subtly spiral out of control.


    She stood on tiptoes and started yelling into the space behind Li Wei.


    It was unclear whether Brittany was yelling at Li Wei or something else. Despite trying to restrain herself, she couldn¡¯t hold back, and her anger and annoyance briefly exploded.


    Li Wei did not interrupt Brittany, because he knew she was angry and needed to vent. They were both young, and when young, people are impulsive and hot-headed. The only solution was to wait for the emotions to be vented before they could cool down and communicate properly. Communication filled with negative emotions often fails to reach a conclusion. She needed this moment.


    As she yelled, Brittany¡¯s eyes began to redden slightly.


    Brittany realized it.


    ...


    She didn¡¯t want to appear weak in front of Li Wei, and stubbornly turned her head to look aside, took a deep breath, and forcefully rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand to wipe them.


    Li Wei knew Brittany was right; indeed, this was a common phenomenon in the League. Because of this, veterans, led by Houston, were helping to protect Mahomes away from those pink bubbles¡ª


    Some things are indeed precious and rare.


    Brittany¡¯s unease and concern were real, and it was also true that the Kansas City Chiefs were not trying to corrupt Mahomes but were instead protecting him. These two facts were not contradictory.


    However, how should Li Wei explain these things to Brittany?


    Some secrets belong in the locker room and should not and need not be shared outside.


    Thinking it over calmly, Li Wei looked at Brittany, ¡°Do you not trust me, or do you not trust yourself?¡±


    Brittany was taken aback.


    She had thought that Li Wei was asking whether she did not trust Li Wei or Mahomes. Her answer was already on the tip of her tongue¡ª


    Of course, she did not trust Li Wei.


    But now, Li Wei¡¯s question made Brittany pause.


    Herself?


    What did that mean?


    Was the negative influence of Li Wei¡¯s questionable friends on Mahomes greater, or was the emotional bond that Brittany and Mahomes had since college more profound?


    Was that the right way to understand it?


    Brittany felt anxious, thoughts swirling in her mind, but she was too overwhelmed to arrange them clearly.


    Then, Brittany glared fiercely at Li Wei, ¡°I don¡¯t need you to feed me any feel-good pep talk.¡±


    Li Wei raised his hands in surrender, showing an honest face, ¡°I just want you to be clear who your enemies and friends are.¡±


    He was not the enemy.


    Brittany¡¯s mind was in chaos now, and she couldn¡¯t calm down to think it through; she just felt that Li Wei and Mahomes were both part of the same bad crowd.


    Ultimately, Brittany couldn¡¯t control herself and threw the small travel bag she was carrying at Li Wei¡¯s feet, ¡°I don¡¯t care what happens to him, give it to him or not, I don¡¯t care, I really don¡¯t care.¡±


    Having said that, Brittany turned around and quickly walked away.


    Li Wei watched as Brittany entered the next room, slammed the door shut, and only then did he pick up the travel bag, went back inside, and closed the door.


    As he turned around, Li Wei saw Mahomes standing there, looking forlorn, staring blankly at the air, his gaze dispersing¡ª


    What is love that sends one willingly to life or death for another?


    Be it Mahomes or Brittany, they were tormenting each other as well as themselves.


    But now, both of them needed some distance to cool down and give their brains a chance to think before saying something they might regret in a rush.


    If Li Wei¡¯s guess was correct, this was the first real test of Mahomes and Brittany¡¯s relationship. It was also the first time Mahomes tasted the complications that come with fame, as what was once simple and genuine affection in college suddenly became complex.


    However, the more brutal and worse key point was that such incidents would occur again in the future, probably more than just once or twice; therefore, he hoped that they could learn and grow from this experience, otherwise, it would be even more difficult later on.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t say much, just stuffed the travel bag into Mahomes¡¯s hands and gently patted his shoulder, indicating encouragement and support.


    In this regard, Mahomes¡¯s personal life was a mess, and what was supposed to be a sweet anniversary turned into the spark of disaster, tossing and turning all night, evidently not resting well.


    On the other hand, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ locker room also seemed enveloped by a strange low pressure, inexplicably and unpredictably lingering in the air, baffling everyone.


    Logically speaking, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ home game overtime victory against the Baltimore Ravens was a cause for celebration, but the mood was oddly off.


    It wasn¡¯t the players, mainly the coaching staff, who vaguely seemed distracted. Just as Li Wei started doubting his own judgment and wandering thoughts, Clark pulled him aside.


    ¡°Rookie, you¡¯re not ready to start contract negotiations yet, are you?¡±


    Li Wei: ???


    Is it so sudden? And during the season?


    But soon, Li Wei had an idea, ¡°It couldn¡¯t have been Hunter, could it?¡±


    Clark inhaled sharply, ¡°So you knew?¡±


    Li Wei confirmed his thoughts, revealing a knowing expression, ¡°He spoke to me about it during the bye week, but I think it¡¯s not the time yet.¡±


    Clark took a deep breath, ¡°That¡¯s good. Be alert, the coach might ask for your opinion. It seems Hunter has dragged you into this too. After all, this is the Professional League, not like college anymore.¡±


    The conversation, disjointed and perplexing.


    Just as Li Wei was about to ask further, Clark noticed someone approaching and abruptly looked up, it was Hunter.


    Clark gave Li Wei a meaningful glance as a warning, said nothing more, straightened up, and naturally walked deeper into the locker room.


    Hunter noticed, he looked at Li Wei, displaying a brilliant smile with a hint of provocation, but noticeably in a particularly bright mood. Without further actions, he walked towards his locker, cheerfully asking, ¡°Ready for training?¡±


    Instead, it was Li Wei who took an extra glance at Hunter.


    This year in the League, due to Le¡¯Veon Bell¡¯s holdout, the atmosphere was indeed slightly different. Although on the surface, the teams maintained a calm demeanor¡ª


    In Football, no one is indispensable, not even the quarterback, because players can never be greater than the team.


    That is an ironclad rule.


    But without Bell, the struggles of the Pittsburgh Steelers were evident.


    Even though the Pittsburgh Steelers currently held the top position in the AFC North, their division rivals, the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns, were relentlessly pursuing them. Currently, the AFC North is in chaos, and Tomlin¡¯s coaching position was constantly wavering amidst controversy and criticism.


    Whether willing to admit or face it, the importance of the running back¡¯s position within the team once again became a hot topic among experts.


    To an extent, Bell¡¯s holdout indeed achieved its purpose.


    It is for this reason Hunter believed this was their opportunity, the spring for running backs was right before them.

 Chapter 707: The time is not right yet

    Chapter 707: The time is not right yet


    The Professional League was never a monolith; rifts existed between opinions, as well as opportunities between interests.


    Hunter believed that Bell¡¯s strike action indeed leveraged the League¡¯s alliance of interests, allowing different perspectives on running backs to grow and sparking numerous controversies.


    Moreover, this year, the running backs truly performed exceptionally, even exploding onto the scene. Los Angeles Rams¡¯ Gurley, Dallas Cowboys¡¯ Ezekiel Elliott, New York Giants¡¯ Barkley, Carolina Panthers¡¯ McCaffrey, Tennessee Titans¡¯ Henry, and so on, all had their moments to shine.


    Clearly, the running backs, whether openly or secretly, all realized the underlying significance of Bell¡¯s strike. One by one, they burst onto the scene, seizing the opportunity to prove the vital importance of running backs to Football.


    Of course, there were also the two running backs from the Kansas City Chiefs, Levi and Hunter, whose performances contributed to a vibrant and diverse display across the entire League¡¯s running backs.


    Thanks to this, Hunter believed his opportunity had arrived¡ª


    ...


    The opportunity to renegotiate and restructure contracts.


    Facing the facts, Hunter was aware that, first, he was the team¡¯s second-string running back, and presently, the one with real sway in the League was supposed to be Levi.


    Second, as both were sophomores who had signed four-year contracts when joining the team, the earliest discussion of contract extensions or restructuring could only realistically happen after their third season, during the off-season of February 2020. Starting discussions now was simply too premature.


    Nevertheless, Hunter had his own calculations.


    First off, if they planned to restructure contracts after their third season, considering Bell¡¯s precedent, they should not let the team dictate terms but should start laying the groundwork now and prepare for their future to avoid the same pitfalls.


    Second, Hunter was clear on his role as the second-string running back, so he didn¡¯t dream of a contract that would set a historical salary high. Instead, he aimed to fight for a second-string running back¡¯s contract, which might be easier to negotiate without being greedy like those in the spotlight, such as Levi.


    Lastly, to pull this off, they needed to create momentum and fully leverage the current League dynamics, which meant he couldn¡¯t go forward without Levi.


    Therefore, during the bye week, Hunter approached Levi to formally discuss the matter.


    In Hunter¡¯s view, Levi was thriving, seemingly unaffected by the ¡°rookie wall¡± and producing high outputs for the second consecutive season, undoubtedly the League¡¯s most high-profile player at the moment. When bringing up the idea of contract restructuring and Bell¡¯s crisis, surely Levi wouldn¡¯t refuse.


    However.


    Levi refused.


    In Levi¡¯s opinion, the time was not right.


    If it were veteran running backs, or juniors like Dallas Cowboys¡¯ Elliott and Tennessee Titans¡¯ Henry, who were at the juncture of contract renewals or restructuring, then it would be the perfect opportunity to claim justice for running backs while also vying for personal benefits¡ª


    Levi would be one hundred percent in agreement.


    But Levi and Hunter were only sophomores. Starting to meticulously plan for their junior year contract restructuring this early was not shrewdness but greed.


    The reason was simple, not just for running backs but other positions as well, including quarterbacks.


    The NFL is a sport with intense opposition, filled with injuries and unexpected events. Players need to prove their stability and durability over a longer time and more games, which is key to securing a bigger contract.


    Look at the situations of quarterbacks like Cousins and Keenum during this off-season to understand.


    Sophomores today, not yet through their second season, are too eager to stir things up. It¡¯s too soon, much too soon.


    Levi believed Hunter¡¯s thinking stemmed from his confidence in himself. He believed he was underutilized in the Kansas City Chiefs, confident that he could be a starting running back at any other team, convinced that without Levi holding him back, he would have already soared high and transformed like a carp into a dragon.


    That was why Hunter was fearless.


    If negotiations with the Kansas City Chiefs went smoothly, nothing could be better. However, if things did not go as planned, Hunter wouldn¡¯t mind transferring to another team in his junior year.


    On the surface, Hunter, pulling along Levi, displayed a posture of ¡°advancing and retreating together.¡±


    Actually, Hunter was planning to bluff by using Li Wei as a cover for his own tactics.


    So, when Li Wei refused, Hunter was furious, very, very furious¡ªto be precise, he was livid with embarrassment and took on a condescending attitude as if he were thinking ¡°I¡¯m trying to look out for your best interest and for the welfare of the League¡¯s running backs, yet you¡¯re too ignorant to appreciate it.¡± Under Li Wei¡¯s penetrating gaze that seemed to see through people¡¯s hearts, Hunter stormed off in a rage.


    The scene ended on a sour note.


    In the following weeks, there were no ripples within the team, and Li Wei thought maybe Hunter had given up, at least for the moment, possibly waiting for the offseason to make his move.


    However, the situation took an unexpected turn¡ª


    Today, of all days. Surprised or not, unexpected or not?


    Hunter hadn¡¯t given up, he had just gone underground.


    If Li Wei wasn¡¯t mistaken, it must have been Hunter¡¯s agent who initiated the conversations with the team manager Veach.


    Gauging by Clark¡¯s reaction, Veach might truly have wavered and was seriously contemplating the running back¡¯s position in the team¡¯s strategic system.


    The current problem was that Li Wei had no way of knowing what Hunter, or rather Hunter¡¯s agent, had independently claimed in front of Veach about Li Wei.


    So, what next?


    Would Veach or Reed come to talk to Li Wei to confirm things?


    On the training field, Reed and the coaching staff were already in place, and from a distance, Reed still had that intense focus, with no sign of irregularity.


    Then, a figure approached rapidly, and Li Wei immediately withdrew his attention and became alert.


    Turning around, Li Wei saw Hunter.


    Hunter flashed a smile, pointing to his head, ¡°Be smart. I¡¯ve paved the way.¡±


    After speaking, Hunter didn¡¯t wait for Li Wei¡¯s response, he took off on his own, light on his feet and laughing freely, making it obvious to anyone watching that he was in a good mood.


    Could it be... that Hunter had really succeeded?


    Instinctively, Li Wei looked again towards the coaching staff.


    Reed seemed the same as usual, and the other members of the coaching staff, led by Childres, had no smiles¡ª


    On the surface, it looked like business as usual, completely absorbed in their work; but when you really think about it, today was just a recovery training session; there was no need to be that tense and focused.


    Unless... Hunter¡¯s agent had convinced the coaching staff that Li Wei was also unhappy with the status quo and was getting restless.


    Unlike Hunter, Li Wei was the starting running back, as well as the captain of the offensive group, and was also becoming a spiritual leader of the team¡ªbit by bit, filling that role.


    If, in the midst of the season, with playoffs on the horizon, Li Wei were to have different thoughts or even start testing the waters with the team, the chain reaction could be quite significant.


    A small ripple, if not carefully managed, could turn into a tidal wave.


    At the Kansas City Chiefs, Li Wei was already beginning to have the capability to shake up the locker room and even the team, from the inside out and outside in, without exception.


    The matter was naturally of great importance.


    It was precisely because it was unknown, filled with countless possibilities, that all sorts of wild thoughts began to unsettle Li Wei, leaking a hint of unease.


    Li Wei: Trouble comes uninvited.

 Chapter 708: Get straight to the point

    Chapter 708: Get straight to the point


    Twenty years ago, David Beckham was still playing for Manchester United.


    At that time, the promising young heartthrob burst onto the scene, attracting countless eyes. Every move he made could create waves, and Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager of Manchester United, worried the disciple might become distracted, repeatedly reminding Beckham to focus on the pitch.


    Later, when David Beckham met Victoria Adams, Sir Ferguson immediately sounded the alarm, fearing the hullabaloo off the field might become an obstacle to Beckham¡¯s progress, and quietly sowed a seed of unrest in the locker room.


    Looking at how the story unfolded later, Sir Ferguson¡¯s concerns were gradually confirmed; but in the beginning, the lovebirds, David Beckham and Victoria Adams, hadn¡¯t done anything wrong.


    However, reality is just like this¡ª


    The trees want to stay still, but the wind keeps blowing.


    ...


    Things appear simple, yet hide a complex core. Even if nothing happens, suspicion and worry begin to grow.


    Now, Li Wei had finally come to deeply understand the truth of these words.


    He hadn¡¯t done anything, but the trouble still found its way to him.


    Li Wei glanced at the coaching staff. Reed was still as solid as Mount Tai, with no signs or clues visible, leaving no starting point for inquiry.


    Burns seemed to notice Li Wei¡¯s gaze, smiling radiantly with a beer belly like the Buddha, giving Li Wei a look of reassurance¡ª


    The coaching team, no need to worry.


    Li Wei could only smile wryly, stopped overthinking, stabilized his spirit a bit, gathered his wandering attention, and turned to dive into today¡¯s recovery training, starting to joke with Houston who was approaching.


    Burns, smiling broadly, watched Li Wei¡¯s back, not worried in the least.


    In the coaching group, with Burns around, there was no need to worry about Li Wei.


    In Burns¡¯s view, Hunter was someone with ambition but lacked wisdom, slightly impetuous and prone to acting too hastily. Perhaps he could grasp certain threads, but he ultimately couldn¡¯t see the big picture, too short-sighted.


    But Li Wei was different.


    Li Wei was truly smart, not because he lacked ambition or desire, nor was he a saint; rather, he could see the big picture and the future, knowing how to choose between a watermelon and a sesame seed.


    So when Hunter said that Li Wei was secretly in close contact with the Baltimore Ravens and the Jacksonville Jaguars, and that he appeared ready to renegotiate his contract in the locker room, Burns didn¡¯t believe a word of it¡ª


    That was just too foolish.


    Burns didn¡¯t even bother to refute it, nor did he become impatient to defend Li Wei.


    When Reed asked for Burns¡¯s opinion, Burns did not overly defend Li Wei, instead he just gave a half-smile and said, ¡°That sounds interesting.¡±


    Obviously, Reed thought the same as Burns.


    Not to mention, there was no need to panic over Hunter¡¯s one-sided story. When it comes to contract negotiations and jostling for benefits, one needs to look beyond the surface to the essence, seize the key points, and then it¡¯s possible to hold the upper hand in the game.


    Reed, wasn¡¯t so easily shaken.


    Burns wasn¡¯t worried one bit.


    The training went on as usual, and nothing particularly notable happened before it ended.


    Veach, who had been quietly watching from the sidelines, found a gap, silently approached Li Wei, and the timely Jones tactfully left on his own. Veach¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of satisfaction.


    Li Wei thought that Veach would issue an invitation, regardless of the location, to start a formal conversation; but as they walked away from the training field, Veach spoke as if he was making casual conversation.


    ¡°Patrick, how¡¯s he doing? He seemed a bit distracted in training today,¡± Veach glanced at Mahomes but didn¡¯t sound particularly worried.


    Li Wei flashed a smile, ¡°He just needs some time, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Veach nodded slightly, understanding, then smoothly transitioned to the crux of the matter, ¡°Have you started considering contract restructuring and salary terms yet?¡±


    Getting straight to the point¡ªa direct hit¡ª


    That was exactly the effect Veach wanted, to take Li Wei by surprise.


    In such circumstances, one can often test a player¡¯s true intentions.


    Li Wei was taken aback, indeed he had not expected Veach to be so direct, then a smile crept onto his lips, and he shook his head, ¡°No, now is not the time.¡±


    Veach looked up at Li Wei, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to renew your contract?¡±


    Li Wei met Veach¡¯s gaze calmly, ¡°Of course,¡± he admitted succinctly, ¡°but not now, because I¡¯m expecting a big contract.¡±


    Veach¡¯s eyebrow raised slightly¡ª


    This was the second time Li Wei had repeated the same message: Now was not the time.


    Veach understood implicitly, intrigue flickering in his eyes.


    He didn¡¯t believe Hunter¡¯s claims either, at least not a hundred percent, setting aside the dizzying array of rumors within the League for a moment; the stillness from Li Wei¡¯s agent was the best proof.


    Li Wei¡¯s agent, who also represented Brady, had rich experience in negotiating top contracts; he knew exactly how to seize the moment and measure things out.


    Naturally, one could imagine that he was ready to take a big bite out of the Kansas City Chiefs, and negotiations would surely be tough. Veach had no intention of thanking Li Wei¡¯s agent; yet it also meant that such a smart person would not hurt the enemy by a thousand only to harm themselves by eight hundred. The game would certainly be cautious and meticulous.


    The reaction from Li Wei confirmed Veach¡¯s guess¡ª


    Hunter, apparently, was just bluffing.


    What Li Wei was after was not short-term gain, not rushing to seize an opportunity or exploit a weakness. Instead, he was aiming for a major shake-up in the League, which was why Li Wei maintained his patience, accumulating strength for the storm.


    This also reflected Li Wei¡¯s confidence; he did not need to hastily grab the immediate opportunity because he believed he could continue to deliver, not just this year but also next season, and maintain top-level performance.


    As long as Li Wei maintained his strong performance, it might turn out that the Kansas City Chiefs would take the initiative to propose negotiations before Li Wei¡¯s value surged even higher, aiming to restructure the contract before costs escalated.


    When it comes to contract negotiations, advantages and disadvantages are relative, not static, but flowing and changing all the time.


    Hunter¡¯s choice to make a move now proved to be too young and too impatient.


    That¡¯s why Li Wei said, now was not the time.


    As Veach became somewhat relieved, curiosity arose, ¡°How big?¡±


    How big was this contract?


    Li Wei grinned, ¡°Big.¡±


    It was a single word, devoid of any adverbs, yet it showcased his ambition.


    Veach immediately and understood, subtly lifting his chin, his eyes reflecting admiration.


    But Veach did not dwell on the topic any further, he chatted casually with Li Wei for another moment, then naturally turned and left, not drawing too much attention.


    Everything was just too simple, too ordinary, just a few sentences from beginning to end.


    It wasn¡¯t just others who were clueless; even Hunter, who had been keeping a close eye on Li Wei, was completely puzzled¡ª


    That¡¯s it?


    Hunter had thought Veach was prepared for a long heart-to-heart with Li Wei, and yet, that was it?


    How was that any different from the usual greetings?


    What was going on?

 Chapter 709: 708 Sensation Throughout the City

    Chapter 709: 708 Sensation Throughout the City


    Hunter was no fool; he couldn¡¯t nai?vely believe that Veach¡¯s and Li Wei¡¯s exchange was just a daily greeting. Yet, if it wasn¡¯t, and their conversation was so simple, did it mean that Veach had chosen to trust Li Wei?


    His heart tightened.


    Deep breath, another deep breath, Hunter tried to calm himself down¡ª


    Don¡¯t rush things.


    However.


    Hunter ultimately couldn¡¯t hold back and stopped in his tracks, waiting in place.


    ...


    ¡°Rookie...¡±


    ¡°Rookie!¡±


    Hunter kept calling out, pulling Li Wei to a halt, sneakily glancing around, fearing others might notice yet completely unaware that the more he did so, the more conspicuous he became, a perfect interpretation of acting guilty.


    ¡°What did the team manager just tell you?¡± Hunter lowered his voice.


    But without waiting for Li Wei to speak, Hunter impatiently continued, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, the road is already paved, you just need to play along.¡±


    Li Wei could only chuckle silently¡ª


    Was it that Hunter himself had limited thinking capacity, or did he think that Li Wei had limited thinking capacity?


    Even now, did Hunter still think Li Wei would be manipulated like a Barbie doll?


    Thus.


    Li Wei nodded slightly, his face sincere, ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s exactly what I did.¡±


    Hunter frowned deeply, not hiding his confusion as he stepped back to scrutinize Li Wei more carefully.


    Li Wei remained serious, revealing a smile, ¡°Stay patient; good news will come soon, congratulations in advance.¡±


    After speaking, Li Wei patted Hunter¡¯s arm and then made a light fist gesture.


    ¡°Keep it up.¡±


    Then, walking past Hunter, he strode away.


    Leaving Hunter standing there alone, his expression cloudy, unable to precisely discern his mood. It was a moment later that Hunter remembered he had forgotten the most important thing:


    What exactly had Li Wei and Veach said to each other.


    In some ways, Li Wei was right; it didn¡¯t take long for Hunter to receive a message; the problem was¡ª


    It was not good news.


    To be more precise, it was a piece of terribly bad news that caused a sensation across the entire social network, involving not just Hunter but the whole Kansas City Chiefs as well.


    On Wednesday, as the entire League¡¯s attention gradually converged towards Thursday night¡¯s game, an unexpected voice disrupted the League¡¯s plans.


    TMZ.


    A website based in Los Angeles, a gossip website that officially emerged after the millennium and climbed the internet summit at breakneck speed.


    Initially, TMZ was no different from millions of gossip media and paparazzi, focusing on Hollywood¡¯s actors and singers. But gradually, as the internet fully developed, they started to branch into other areas, including the sports world.


    In 2009, golf superstar Tiger Woods was involved in a car accident, which was initially just an unfortunate incident. However, it unexpectedly spiraled into a scandal that involved drugs, alcohol, and addiction, only the tip of the iceberg. Nineteen mistresses gradually came forward, managing to outdo even a time management master, with four mistresses revealing their identities to show evidence and give interviews. Not only did they appear on television, but they also prepared to write and publish books, stirring up sensational controversy.


    All this was unearthed by TMZ.


    Moreover, the most unique aspect of TMZ, which set them apart from traditional gossip media, was¡ª


    Authenticity.


    It¡¯s hard to imagine, a gossip media outlet actually being linked to authenticity.


    In fact, as traditional gossip media were increasingly engaging in taking things out of context, fabricating stories, and exaggerating details, TMZ realized that the proliferation of blatantly false news online was becoming more frequent, more fabricated, and more exaggerated, degrading the thrill once associated with gossip.


    Thus, TMZ took a different approach and started down the path of ¡°uncovering the truth¡± ¡ª


    Gossip, still gossip, but TMZ was keen on finding concrete evidence.


    Over time, when a new piece of gossip emerged, people tended to be skeptical and waited until TMZ confirmed it before they truly believed it.


    Such a situation was indeed absurd, but TMZ had indeed become the best platform for confirming the authenticity and correctness of gossip news.


    TMZ and the NFL appeared together in a news headline in an unexpected way, but clearly, this was not good news for the NFL.


    This time, TMZ¡¯s focus was on football, targeting the reigning champions.


    TMZ released a surveillance video from a hotel ¡ª


    In the video, a man shoved and violently kicked a woman.


    According to reports, TMZ stated that this incident occurred in February in Cleveland, just after the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ championship parade, and the man in the video was Super Bowl Champions¡¯ second-string running back, Hunter.


    A single stone caused a thousand ripples.


    Furthermore, TMZ stated that the woman had already called the police and was preparing to sue Hunter; both the Kansas City Chiefs and the NFL League had been notified.


    However... both the Kansas City Chiefs and the League had taken no action.


    On the contrary, the woman later withdrew the charges and disappeared, and this incident didn¡¯t even cause any attention on social media.


    The implication from TMZ couldn¡¯t be clearer, pointing directly at the team and the league.


    A storm swept across the internet with lightning speed.


    The more popular the Kansas City Chiefs became among fans, the more they were disliked, even hated, by others.


    Finally, the detractors found their opportunity, with solid and sensational material, one after another almost losing their minds with excitement.


    Condemnation, attacks, insults.


    It was overwhelming.


    On social media, people expressed strong condemnation and disappointment at Hunter¡¯s violent behavior; the violence shown in the video was clear and indisputable, and such behavior was unacceptable under any circumstances.


    Moreover, the accusations were directed squarely at the Kansas City Chiefs and the League ¡ª from February to November, ten whole months, both the team and the League had ample time and space to conduct an investigation, but they did nothing.


    Not only did they do nothing, but they may have even helped cover up the violent incident.


    Even setting aside conspiracy theories and not discussing whether the Kansas City Chiefs and the League helped cover up the incident, the consistency and transparency of the League in handling football players¡¯ violent behavior were seriously problematic.


    In 2014, Baltimore Ravens¡¯ running back Ray Rice knocked his fiance?e unconscious in an elevator in a New Jersey casino and dragged her out.


    Yet, the NFL merely suspended Rice for two games.


    Only after strong criticism from the media and the public did the League extend the suspension indefinitely, and the Baltimore Ravens belatedly terminated their contract with Rice.


    Similar incidents have not happened just once or twice over the years but are a widespread and recurrent disaster.


    Moreover, it happened again this year.


    The linebacker Reuben Foster, who came from the University of Alabama and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers, was also charged with domestic violence against a former girlfriend.


    One incident was in February, but the charges were later dropped; another was in November, and Foster still couldn¡¯t control himself, leading his former girlfriend to finally decide to proceed legally after they broke up.


    Subsequently, the San Francisco 49ers announced Foster¡¯s termination.


    However, with a turn around, the Washington Redskins signed this first-round linebacker, even though the NFL was conducting its own investigation into the Foster incident ¡ª


    During the investigation, Foster was temporarily suspended from playing.


    Clearly, the Washington Redskins did not care.


    One after another, this is not an isolated phenomenon but a widespread one; teams and the league must face the issue and recognize its severity.


    The whole city was in uproar.

 Chapter 710: 709 sudden gale and downpour

    Chapter 710: 709 sudden gale and downpour


    The storm brewed, slowly and steadily.


    The most absurd and laughable thing was that the Foster incident and the Hunter incident happened less than a month apart, successively capturing the public¡¯s attention.


    One moment, the media and netizens were strongly condemning the Washington Redskins for their unseemly desperation in the face of hunger, a feeling of suffocation lodged in their chests, unable to be vented.


    Right on its heels, TMZ released a bombshell, implying through their story that the Kansas City Chiefs and the League were inactive in the Hunter case, instantly igniting outrage.


    There was a bustle and uproar everywhere.


    TMZ¡¯s report spread through social networks like wildfire, sweeping across the platforms with overwhelming momentum, the situation spiraling out of control.


    ...


    A gloom settled over Kansas City in layers, the people filled with trepidation.


    This city, long silent, had stayed out of the public eye for nearly half a century. The blue-collar workers living here were forgotten, overlooked, and ignored; no one noticed these hardworking, down-to-earth people breathing in an invisible corner.


    Yet, overnight, they were thrust into the spotlight.


    From Li Wei and Mahomes to Super Bowl Champions and then to the off-season turmoil, this time they were swept into the storm in a less commendable way, exposing the residents of Kansas City to the other side of fame and fortune.


    Cruel, dark, bloody, cold.


    No one cared about the people of Kansas City; because of a single Hunter, the city was easily equated with brutal thugs.


    The attacks came like an avalanche.


    Even before they could react, Kansas City was already submerged in a deluge of insults and curses, wave after wave.


    It was suffocating.


    That pressure, invisible yet tangibly present, permeated the city, filling different offices and streets on Wednesday morning with an apocalyptic mood, even the joy of victory has dissipated completely.


    Kansas City was like an isolated island.


    Dazed. Confused. Angry. Annoyed.


    Anxious. Frustrated. Helpless. Disappointed.


    A tangle of complex emotions raged in their chests, finding no outlet; as they looked at the sharp, nasty, sordid, twisted comments on social media platforms on their phones, their anger boiled over, yet they did not know whom to call out to or counter, ending up brewing their own resentment.


    On the verge of explosion.


    No one was an exception. No one.


    Amidst the turmoil of emotions, the entire city turned to their football team¡ª


    ¡°Please, Veach, please, give the team an explanation.¡±


    This was their last hope.


    Fortunately, this disaster-prone city did not have to wait too long this time.


    At the first opportunity, the owners of the Kansas City Chiefs, Clark Hunt, and the president Mark Donovan, held a press conference, offering the highest level of treatment to demonstrate their commitment to the issue.


    At the press conference, Donovan said:


    After the incident, the team did receive a notification, and they personally questioned Hunter; Hunter completely denied the lady¡¯s allegations and argued that it was the lady who fabricated the confrontation, deliberately bumping and pushing him, and that he was the victim.


    Without further evidence, the team decided to trust the Cleveland police, to patiently wait for the police investigation, and to address the situation through legal proceedings.


    However, Hunter lied.


    The team was furious about Hunter¡¯s lies and betrayal, and they took this opportunity to reiterate the team¡¯s zero-tolerance policy towards any form of violence by players.


    Therefore, the Kansas City Chiefs decided to immediately dismiss Hunter, effective immediately.


    The stance was clear and unequivocal.


    The Kansas City Chiefs responded with the swiftness and highest regard, assuming a dominating stance before matters escalated further, making their position clear.


    Whew.


    The citizens of Kansas City let out a long sigh of relief¡ª


    Finally, the team hadn¡¯t let them down.


    In the quiet of the Old Oak Tavern, a voice spoke up.


    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s just a pity for the young man.¡±


    Provo shot a look over, ¡°Joel, what the hell are you talking about?¡±


    But the voice didn¡¯t care and clashed back strongly, ¡°Am I wrong? Without Hunter¡¯s support, we can only rely on Li Wei alone. God, Li Wei has already endured enough, we really can¡¯t ask for more, don¡¯t you want to defend our title? Don¡¯t you want us to keep winning?¡±


    Provo, ¡°But we can¡¯t sell our souls for victory. He shouldn¡¯t have raised his fist to a woman, only cowards bully those weaker than themselves, our team doesn¡¯t need such cowards!¡±


    As the argument continued, Anderson from behind the bar intervened, ¡°Stop! What¡¯s decided is decided, the last thing we need now is internal strife, we need to look forward.¡±


    The stubborn voice insisted, ¡°I¡¯m just stating a fact...¡±


    Anderson cut him off directly, ¡°Joel, shut up! Didn¡¯t you hear what I said? If you want to keep nagging, maybe you need to step outside for some air to cool off, then come back once you¡¯ve calmed down.¡±


    ¡°We look forward! We support the team! That¡¯s all there is to it.¡±


    ¡°The more critical the moment, the more the team needs us to unite!¡±


    Chaos, unrest, unease.


    Despite the Kansas City Chiefs making a swift and decisive end to the turmoil, the facts had already occurred, casting a shadow over the prospects for the Chiefs¡¯ season.


    It was worse than an injury, more heart-wrenching¡ª


    Because it could have been avoided.


    Subsequently, the NFL also held a press conference, but Goodell didn¡¯t say anything new.


    Goodell simply stated that the League would initiate an investigation procedure.


    Unlike formal legal proceedings, the League has its own investigative committee for these violent incidents, and they would also conduct their investigations before making a determination based on the findings.


    It might be a suspension, a fine, or it might prove the player¡¯s innocence.


    However, during the investigation, the investigated player must enter the ¡°exempt/commissioner¡¯s permission list,¡± prohibiting him from playing games until the League¡¯s investigation concludes.


    In other words, before the results of the investigation are released, the League will not issue any opinions or disclose any positions, and everything will proceed according to the process.


    Like a violent storm, thunderous and powerful.


    In less than thirty minutes, both the Kansas City Chiefs and the League made their positions known, firming their foothold amidst chaos and controversy, temporarily stabilizing public opinion.


    However, the noise on social networks still had not subsided.


    Aside from discussions revolving around the event, a comprehensive exploration into the essence began in full swing.


    Discussions on player behavior, professional ethics, and social responsibility bubbled up; the consensus was that these players, in the spotlight, earning millions in salary, becoming idols for countless youths, must assume the role of role models and accept stricter constraints.


    At the same time, there were calls for the NFL and other sports leagues to strengthen regulations on player behavior and emphasize the importance of education and prevention. Preventative measures are key to avoiding tragedies, rather than simply cleaning up after them.


    Reflection and discussion unfolded comprehensively, showing no signs of stopping in the short term. This was just a spark, stirring up the dregs settled in society, potentially evolving into a social topic.


    But amid all this noise, one person seemed to be forgotten¡ª


    Hunter himself.

 Chapter 711: 710 noxious fumes

    Chapter 711: 710 noxious fumes


    Debate, contention, assault, abuse.


    A haze of smog and noise.


    The negative event set off a chain of reactions, and the bustling voices on social media roared down like a sudden torrential rain in the midst of summer.


    Hunter, caught off guard.


    As the situation rapidly deteriorated, Hunter was swept up into the chaotic whirlpool before he even had the chance to catch his breath, spinning and losing his bearings in the darkness.


    Everything was intimately related to Hunter, yet it seemed as if it had nothing to do with him at all.


    ...


    In front of the team, in front of the League, Hunter thought he had some say. That was why he spoke out for Bell, and why he fought for an early restructuring of his contract. He sincerely believed in himself¡ª


    Believed that he could pry leverage.


    However, with a gust of wind and a sudden downpour, the bubble burst, and as he awoke from the dream, the world revealed its true face.


    He was insignificant, not even worth mentioning.


    Whether it was the team or the League, no one cared for his opinion or perspective; not that he could have said anything in his defense before the incontrovertible evidence of the surveillance footage, but as the person directly involved, he hadn¡¯t been part of the proceedings at all¡ªhis fate had been sealed early on.


    Dismissal. Full stop.


    That was all there was to it.


    In the face of real interests, he didn¡¯t carry any weight.


    He even had to find out about his own fate through ESPN¡¯s live broadcast.


    How ironic.


    Renewal? A high salary?


    All of those extravagant hopes had turned to ashes.


    The issue now was whether he could continue to play football, whether he could find a team willing to take him like Foster did, and what awaited him were league sanctions and legal proceedings.


    Realizing this, all the anger, irritability, and grievances were forcefully swallowed down¡ª


    Even though he had already smashed all the furniture in his home before this, how could he possibly be wrong? It was the woman who insidiously provoked the incident that was wrong, it was the Kansas City Chiefs who were wrong for hastily cutting ties without inquiring into the details or confirming a resolution.


    So what if he beat up a woman? She hadn¡¯t suffered any broken bones, hadn¡¯t been hospitalized, and hadn¡¯t died. Was it really necessary to make such a fuss?


    Hmm.


    With arduous persuasion from his agent, Hunter took a deep breath, reluctantly swallowed all these thoughts, and regained his composure.


    Waiting for the team and the League¡¯s press conferences to conclude, and as the focus of attention seemed about to whoosh past him, forgotten as the real protagonist of the news event, an official apology letter from Hunter barely pulled the attention back onto him.


    ¡°...I regret my personal actions and am willing to accept all consequences...¡±


    Blah blah blah.


    Although the content of the open letter was more than this, the core was that one sentence.


    Temporarily, the focus of the discussion returned to Hunter.


    Some believed that since Hunter had apologized, and the victim had not pursued further legal action, they should give Hunter a chance to reform himself.


    However, many more believed that Hunter¡¯s apology was merely forced by the situation, and they could not be easily convinced; instead, they should observe Hunter¡¯s subsequent actions.


    Additionally, there were those who believed that Hunter should leave professional football forever and undergo anger management therapy.


    Especially since Foster had found a new job with no cost or punishment whatsoever, Hunter¡¯s next move became the focus of heated discussion.


    In this vortex of controversy, the League teams all proceeded with caution, no one daring to face the gunfire head-on, and the fervor of public opinion could be discerned from the sidelines.


    Not just Hunter, but the Kansas City Chiefs were also constantly in the eye of the storm¡ª


    The defending champions¡¯ indulgence and disregard had become the target of vehement condemnation by netizens.


    It was precisely because of the muddling and pretense of peace by teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and the Washington Redskins that the off-field violent behavior of the players was never properly addressed and continued to escalate.


    Public opinion was not ready to let the Kansas City Chiefs off easily.


    Originally, this week marked a new chapter in the playoff race¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs were headed to an away game against their division rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers.


    This year was the second season under new head coach Anthony Lynn for the Los Angeles Chargers; after some fine-tuning and adjustment, the team finally got on the right track, with quarterback Philip Rivers having the most outstanding and exciting season of his career.


    After starting the season with one win and two losses, the Los Angeles Chargers fully recovered, embarking on a six-game winning streak to turn the tide, and after defeating the Cincinnati Bengals last week, their season record leapt to ten wins and three losses.


    This was the first time the team had reached double-digit wins since 2009.


    At the moment, in the AFC West, the Los Angeles Chargers¡¯ record of ten wins and three losses is second only to the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ eleven wins and two losses, neck and neck with the American League¡¯s number two seed, the New England Patriots.


    Although the Kansas City Chiefs had already secured a spot in the playoffs, the division championship and the seeding order were still up in the air, with the Los Angeles Chargers looking on eagerly.


    Simply put, the Los Angeles Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs were currently competing for the AFC West championship; at the same time, both teams were vying for a first-round playoff bye and home-field advantage, and the situation could not be any more tense.


    The outcome of the upcoming game could potentially completely overturn the American League¡¯s playoff landscape. With the Los Angeles Chargers being a strong team that could compete with the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams, the Kansas City Chiefs needed to give it their all.


    What¡¯s more, considering it was a division rivalry, even if there were no implications for playoff spots, the two teams would still go at each other with knives drawn in a do-or-die battle.


    However.


    The noise off the field had completely shifted the focus so that no one even cared about the upcoming divisional showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers.


    It was both amusing and frustrating.


    At the pre-game press conference, even when faced with Li Wei, the barrage of questions was entirely centered on Hunter, with traps waiting to be sprung.


    As a result, Li Wei dropped a bombshell right at the beginning.


    ¡°I hate Los Angeles,¡± he said.


    In response, the audience gasped, staring at Li Wei in disbelief.


    Li Wei just shrugged his shoulders lightly.


    ¡°The last time we were here, we lost. That¡¯s not a pleasant memory; this time, it seems like no one cares about our preparations. Oh, please give me a reason to like Los Angeles.¡±


    Witty and cunning.


    The room erupted in laughter, finally understanding what Li Wei meant.


    Even so, Li Wei still couldn¡¯t avoid the issue.


    When a reporter asked him to comment on the Kansas City Chiefs management¡¯s handling of the Hunter incident, Li Wei spread his hands and rolled his eyes.


    ¡°See, I still couldn¡¯t avoid it,¡± he commented.


    His remark drew collective laughter from the reporters.


    Knowing he couldn¡¯t dodge the question, Li Wei straightforwardly gave a response.


    ¡°We made a wrong judgment and a wrong choice, it¡¯s as simple as that,¡± he stated.


    A sharp intake of breath followed.


    Even though the media had always been aggressively pressing, not just Li Wei, but also Reed couldn¡¯t escape scrutiny, as they besieged coaches and players, hoping for a straightforward response; however, clearly, nobody was willing to do that¡ª


    In fact, the reporters knew this too; asking coaches and players to criticize the management in person, especially over such a thorny issue, was almost impossible.


    But the reporters kept up the siege.


    To put it accurately, the reporters just wanted to see the coaches and players in an awkward position.


    It was a form of mockery, an attack.


    Yet, they didn¡¯t expect that Li Wei would actually...

 Chapter 712: 711 Facing Mistakes

    Chapter 712: 711 Facing Mistakes


    Besieged, attacked, and incessantly tangled.


    The endless pestering by the reporters was actually a mockery, a tease, a sneer, because they knew that players and coaches could only condemn Hunter, but never directly accuse the team management.


    The persistent hounding for questions wasn¡¯t to seek answers, but a performance art¡ªwhere the silence and embarrassment without answers became the best response.


    Such insecurity and evasion from the top down created an intangible pressure.


    However...


    To everyone¡¯s surprise, the reporters actually got an answer.


    ...


    And it was from one of the core figures of the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Wait, had Li Wei lost his mind?


    Li Wei was actually directly criticizing the team for making a wrong judgment, a wrong choice?


    Was the Chiefs¡¯ nonchalance and ignorance towards the Hunter incident in February the mistake?


    So, was this a jab at Veach? Or the team owner Clark Hunt? Or was it condemning the team for using President Donovan and the involved Hunter as scapegoats?


    A single stone caused a thousand ripples.


    Just that short sentence, so unexpected and shocking, so direct and cutting, excited every reporter in the room to the brink of an aneurysm, nearly fainting.


    Although the reporters didn¡¯t know what had gotten into Li Wei, they welcomed this kind of madness with open arms and legs.


    Alright?


    However, Li Wei, the center of attention, seemed extraordinarily calm.


    ¡°A mistake is a mistake,¡± he said.


    ¡°But, instead of dwelling on past errors, we should face up to the subsequent responses and solutions because we cannot turn back time, but we can seize the present to change the future.¡±


    ¡°We bravely and candidly admit our mistakes, not just to express apologies and regrets; we also need to face the issues head-on to prevent repeating the same mistakes in the future.¡±


    ¡°So, we can sit here pointing fingers at each other, seeing whose fault it is; or we can sit here, bravely discuss what we should do to prevent the same mistakes from happening again.¡±


    ¡°Players. Teams. The League. We are all an indispensable part of it. Additionally, the media¡ªyou also play a critical role.¡±


    ¡°Now, is there anyone willing to discuss this with me?¡±


    Having said that, he smiled at the corners of his mouth¡ª


    Calm. Sincere. Genuine. Professional.


    This was the real trump card.


    The previous teasing and joking, the madness and the sharpness, all turned out to be just a prelude. Just when the reporters thought Li Wei was crazy enough to attack the team¡¯s management and they eagerly brought their stools over to watch the show, the discourse took a dramatic turn and the reporters found themselves completely in the firing line.


    Indeed, as Li Wei said, instead of simple apologies, the discussions triggered by the incident and the focus on the League players¡¯ violent behaviors were the key issues.


    Similarly, as Li Wei mentioned, the media, which perennially fans the flames and watches the drama unfold, cannot simply shirk their responsibilities.


    This is a serious issue, a profound one. It cannot be reversed by the power of a single player or a team alone. If reporters are still nitpicking and lingering on the Chiefs, then they are feigning ignorance and deliberately causing trouble.


    Instead of chattering gossip like paparazzi, trying to create sensational headlines and laughter, it is better to awaken the professional ethics and social responsibilities of the news media and truly come together to find ways to solve or alleviate the issues.


    This was the focus.


    With just a few words, a thorny problem was elegantly unraveled in Li Wei¡¯s hands¡ª


    He had shifted the spotlight without absolving the Chiefs of responsibility and, without defending the Chiefs, he successfully crafted a positive image.


    Not to mention involving the media completely, thoroughly hoodwinking them, and mocking their incessant babble and relentless pursuit, both overtly and covertly.


    A stroke of genius multifold.


    Brilliant, truly brilliant!


    The whole place was stunned into silence.


    The smiles on the faces of the onlookers stiffened one by one.


    Finally, the incessant dilemma came to an end at Li Wei¡¯s hands, and afterwards, no reporter pursued the matter further; and that wasn¡¯t all.


    Including the coaching staff and team management, they began to see Li Wei in a new light, focusing on how astutely Li Wei defused the crisis, and more importantly, how Li Wei demonstrated leadership qualities to extricate the team from difficulty¡ª


    The fans found their backbone again.


    In the past three or four days, the Kansas City Chiefs had become the city¡¯s pariah on social media, because of Hunter and the team¡¯s indifference, as well as the accumulation of new grievances and old hatreds over the past two seasons, making the team a target for all, with every kind of unpleasant word being thrown at them.


    Even various sensational conspiracy theories were flying everywhere.


    For instance, was there someone behind the timing of the news leak by TMZ?


    For instance, who was behind covering up the Hunter incident in February?


    For instance, did the League deliberately sacrifice Hunter, who openly supported Bell, to quell the running back debate?


    And so on and so forth, the more they talked, the more absurd and exaggerated it became.


    Despite the fans¡¯ best efforts to fight back, they ultimately lacked confidence since they too disapproved of the team¡¯s nonchalant handling of the situation. This affected the morale of the entire city, casting a deep pall over it.


    Until now.


    Li Wei¡¯s words, Li Wei¡¯s demeanor, stood out like a lighthouse, pointing the way.


    The controversy wouldn¡¯t simply settle down, prejudices wouldn¡¯t just disappear without cause. But at least, they could stick to what they believe in, focus on their own course.


    Then, let their actions do the talking.


    Kansas City finally found its energy again, the gloom gradually dissipated, and amidst the overwhelming negativity on social media, they found their center¡ª


    Their feet were back on solid ground.


    This is the power of a leader.


    This wasn¡¯t the first or second time Li Wei had stood up, but his posture and faith amid the controversy firmly united the team and the city.


    The seemingly smooth season for the Kansas City Chiefs was actually fraught with difficulties and turbulence, and even though they secured a playoff spot three weeks early, the relentless pursuit by their opponents still filled the playoff scenario with uncertainty; now, adding insult to injury, the team lost their number two running back and faced an imminent game against the Los Angeles Chargers, with almost no time left for adjustments, everything seemed chaotic and cramped.


    However, no matter what, Li Wei still found the center and focus for the team, temporarily dispelling the reporters, allowing the team to get back to the game.


    ¡°Rookie, how do you do it? Completely unaffected by the negative news?¡±


    When the Kansas City Chiefs arrived at the Los Angeles StubHub Stadium to get accustomed to the field, there was a large gathering of Chiefs fans who had come specifically to support the players, one of them questioned in the crowd.


    Li Wei just shrugged.


    ¡°Uninstall all your social media apps. It¡¯s very effective for the team, you should try it too, and the whole world becomes quiet.¡±


    Having said that, Li Wei also revealed a row of neat, white teeth, beaming smiles, and entered the stadium joking and laughing with Mahomes, Kelsey, and the others.


    Finally, the focus could return to the playing field.


    The Los Angeles Chargers, that¡¯s a tough nut to crack.

 Chapter 713: 712 thorny problem

    Chapter 713: 712 thorny problem


    ¡°Oh, God, has Lynn gone mad?¡±


    ¡°Jesus Christ!¡±


    ¡°Lynn opted for the two-point conversion, and all the Los Angeles Chargers fans went crazy.¡±


    The game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers was as fiercely contested as expected.


    In the midst of chaos and turmoil, the Kansas City Chiefs displayed a commendable competitive state, carrying a ¡°21:14¡± lead into the fourth quarter and further expanding their lead early in the quarter with a touchdown run by Li Wei.


    However, the fully matured offensive weapons of the Los Angeles Chargers refused to give up, first balancing the passing and rushing attacks, and relying on the ground game to score a touchdown.


    ...


    Then, quarterback Rivers, showing off his explosive passing form for the season, went high-octane and in less than two minutes, successfully connected with wide receiver Mike Williams for another touchdown, tying the score.


    At that moment, there were four seconds left in the entire game.


    The score, ¡°28:27¡±.


    Next, the Los Angeles Chargers just needed to kick the extra point to bring the game into overtime.


    Just when everyone thought that the Kansas City Chiefs were about to face overtime for the second consecutive week, Los Angeles Chargers Coach Lynn made a stunning decision¡ª


    A two-point conversion.


    Clearly, Lynn had watched the previous week¡¯s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens; he knew the explosive potential of the Chiefs¡¯ offense. Instead of gambling in overtime, he chose to take a shot while the opportunity was still in his hands.


    A successful two-point conversion would mean a game-winning play; failure would mean falling just short of the finish line.


    But at least, the initiative was in his own hands.


    Then, the spotlight at StubHub Stadium focused on one player:


    Mike Williams.


    In 2017, the seventh overall pick in the first round, in the same draft class as Li Wei and Mahomes, this highly anticipated wide receiver entered the professional league to little fanfare, never quite fulfilling his potential.


    Last season, he did odd jobs in the special duty group of the Los Angeles Chargers.


    This season, he joined the main lineup but was merely the sixth wide receiver. With the season nearing its end, he had not even broken four hundred receiving yards.


    Ordinary, average, inconspicuous, a blue-collar player.


    However.


    It was precisely this Mike Williams who, in the crucial showdown against their divisional rival at the last moment, stole all the limelight. First, he scored a touchdown with Rivers to reduce the gap to one point; then, in the two-point conversion, he overpowered cornerback Fowler to catch the football and complete the conversion.


    Game-winning play.


    ¡°28:29¡±.


    The Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs at home, handing the defending champions their third loss of the season.


    After the game, Li Wei¡¯s classic quote sparked heated discussion once again.


    ¡°Look, I¡¯ve said it, I don¡¯t like Los Angeles.¡±


    That self-deprecating, humorous tone won a round of applause and laughter on social networks.


    Now, both teams¡¯ season records arrived at eleven wins and three losses, with the Kansas City Chiefs holding onto the top spot in the division based on their division record.


    But, this was only temporary.


    The battle for the top spot of the AFC West and the entire playoff situation in the American League completely intensified¡ª


    In one instance, the New England Patriots suffered consecutive away-game losses to the Miami Dolphins and the Pittsburgh Steelers, creating a sudden lag and dropping their record for the season to nine wins and five losses.


    Meanwhile, Watt led the Houston Texans to a meteoric rise, securing a nine-game winning streak after starting the season with three consecutive losses. Although their winning streak ended with a tough home loss to the Indianapolis Colts, they subsequently secured their footing with a hard-fought victory against the New York Jets away.


    Currently, the NFC situation is especially intense.


    The Kansas City Chiefs still held the top seed temporarily, with the Houston Texans surpassing the New England Patriots and vigorously claiming the second seed, causing the Patriots to temporarily drop to the third seed.


    Additionally, the Los Angeles Chargers had already secured a playoff spot in advance but had to settle temporarily as the fifth seed due to a disadvantage in division records, leading the competition for the wildcard spot.


    That is to say, if the regular season ended now and the playoffs began, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers would have the same season record but face completely different fates due to being in the same division.


    One team would stand tall as the top seed in the AFC, not only having a bye in the first round of the playoffs but also enjoying home-field advantage throughout; the other must start from a wildcard game, facing strong teams consecutively.


    The same record, different fates, could even lead to a complete reshuffle in the Super Bowl competition and radically alter the entire league¡¯s situation.


    Therefore, every game¡¯s outcome is incredibly precious.


    Just like the Five Major European Football Leagues, you never know the result until the very last moment. Arsenal, leading strongly throughout the 2023 season, might watch in despair as Manchester City overtakes them at the last minute to snatch the championship.


    The NFL is the same. With two weeks still to go in the regular season, anything can happen.


    Undoubtedly, the upcoming game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers could completely disrupt the AFC¡¯s structure. Lynn¡¯s last-minute gamble was nothing short of miraculous, seizing a victory in a head-to-head duel between strong competitors, a testament to determination and courage worthy of admiration.


    However, following the game, the Kansas City Chiefs found themselves thrust into turmoil once again.


    This had nothing to do with the players or the team itself, purely a revelry of the haters.


    From the moment Li Wei emerged, envious and resentful gazes never ceased. In the eyes of those haters, the league unfairly favored the Kansas City Chiefs to penetrate the Asian market, which was unfair; all media, all eyes, all traffic leaned towards the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Yet, the Kansas City Chiefs triumphed through challenges, enduring tough battles and unbelievably claiming the Super Bowl title, becoming the league¡¯s new darling, while the haters could only sulk and curse in a corner.


    Now, an opportunity had finally arrived, and no one wanted to miss it.


    It is worth noting that this was the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ third loss within three points this season ¨C also the third time they suffered a last-second defeat.


    Difficult, indeed too difficult.


    For the Kansas City Chiefs, such a loss was particularly hard to swallow.


    Yet, in the eyes of the haters, it was a cause for celebration¡ª


    Eagerly salting the wounds.


    Moreover, the furor of the Hunter incident hadn¡¯t completely cooled down yet, and this became yet another weapon for the haters to continuously provoke and mock the Kansas City Chiefs:


    Not only reopening old wounds but also trampling and tearing them apart mercilessly.


    One by one, kicking them when they were down, a true festivity of schadenfreude.


    In the blink of an eye, one might have thought the Kansas City Chiefs were out of the playoffs; but on taking a closer look, who was the top seed in the AFC again?


    The Kansas City Chiefs.


    Such a scene left the onlookers baffled.


    But that was indeed the fact, precisely because the performance of the Kansas City Chiefs was still outstanding ¨C perhaps too outstanding ¨C the haters had to seize this hard-earned opportunity and magnify even the smallest black mark under the microscope.


    There was no choice, really. The frustration had been bottled up for too long.


    Plus, the haters had to act fast, who knew if they¡¯d still be able to gloat after the next week¡¯s game day?


    The current window was their chance, like the eve of the apocalypse, reveling wildly, one and all gone mad.

 Chapter 714: 713 Primitive Tribe

    Chapter 714: 713 Primitive Tribe


    The essence of competitive sports, in fact, resembles the tribes of primitive society¡ª


    fighting for survival.


    There¡¯s no right or wrong, simply a struggle for food, for water, for life, everyone protecting the lifeline of their own tribe.


    Everything is just that simple, a matter of life and death.


    As the defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs are a huge target, with all other teams eyeing them covetously, seizing any chance to defeat them, never passing up an opportunity to humiliate the Chiefs¡ª


    They are competitors.


    ...


    There¡¯s only one Super Bowl Champion, and the defending champions are the target everyone longs to beat.


    Of course, there are also some nitpickers who just want to vent their emotions by cursing, not specifically targeting the Kansas City Chiefs but anything that comes into their view, hence they open fire.


    A dizzying barrage of abuse.


    That¡¯s what it looks like right now.


    This season, the Kansas City Chiefs performed outstandingly, never hitting a rookie wall, but instead being even more dominant than last season, continuing the momentum of the defending champions and running shoulder to shoulder with the Los Angeles Rams at the head of the League.


    The higher the expectations, the higher the disdain as well.


    However, when facing top teams, the Kansas City Chiefs were always just a bit unlucky, and after the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams, they lost their third game of the season, still to a first-tier powerhouse, the Los Angeles Chargers¡ª


    Underachievers. Pretenders. Unable to bear the weight.


    All kinds of backlash came at them, instantly submerging the Chiefs.


    ¡°Goodnight, hope you die peacefully.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, but I think the Los Angeles Chargers should¡¯ve won ¡¯35:0¡ä.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no difference between the Kansas City Chiefs and the dog excrement in my backyard gutter.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not hype, I¡¯m not biased, just objectively watching the performance of these two teams, one looks like champions, the other... like the Kansas City Chiefs.¡±


    ¡°You donkeys miss opportunities time and again, only ever making a statement against weak teams, revealing your true colors the moment you face a genuine championship-caliber team. Defending champions? Ha, you might as well kiss my ass.¡±


    ¡°The best Los Angeles Chargers, the worst Kansas City Chiefs, could the League stop mindlessly hyping Li Wei, please?¡±


    ¡°So, this is the so-called next face of the League, then the NFL might as well shut down.¡±


    ¡°Brady¡¯s successor? The next GOAT? Haha, what a joke, Li Wei is the NFL¡¯s most overrated genius.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei, please stop calling out to the media, your jokes aren¡¯t funny and look stupid, hurry back and study your playbook.¡±


    ¡°The Hunter incident already showed, when the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam is askew.¡±


    ¡°Because they defeated the New England Patriots last season, they were treated like superheroes. Please stop glorifying the Kansas City Chiefs, birds of a feather, they¡¯re no different from the New England Patriots. Therefore... the Los Angeles Rams are the champions!¡±


    ¡°Serves them right. The concealment and cover-up of the Hunter incident, what goes around comes around, it¡¯s just a matter of time.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, the happiest moment of the season, hats off to Coach Lynn.¡±


    Attack. Mockery. Insults. Contempt.


    All kinds of comments are available; pervasive and comprehensive attacks make it seem, for a moment, as if half the world stood against the Kansas City Chiefs.


    And this is just the tip of the iceberg.


    Open social media, and that hatred almost spills out, filled with dirtier, uglier, more bloodthirsty language filling the corners of your view.


    Even seeing it with one¡¯s own eyes, it¡¯s still hard to believe that people can harbor such intense hatred and express it so unabashedly.


    Guns and cannons, all aimed at Li Wei. As the captain and leader of the Kansas City Chiefs, over two-thirds of the hate was directed at him.


    At the same time, Mahomes, who had become the starting quarterback this season and had been showered with praise as the League¡¯s new darling, also faced considerable fire.


    ¡°...So, this is the ceiling for the League¡¯s future quarterbacks? Haha.¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs thought they had struck gold, but instead, they¡¯ve just shown their true colors.¡±


    ¡°I know the League is eager to find successors for Manning and Brady to continue the quarterback conversation; but I never knew the League was this starved and desperate.¡±


    ¡°Honestly, with Mahomes¡¯ level of play, I really don¡¯t understand how you can praise him.¡±


    ¡°A dud. Oh, sorry, there¡¯s really no need to discuss whether the tenth overall pick is a dud or not since there were never any high hopes to begin with. The Kansas City Chiefs should just cut their losses in time and start looking for another quarterback.¡±


    ¡°They made their bed, now lie in it. The Kansas City Chiefs should¡¯ve kept Smith from the start, instead of a sophomore greenhorn. Probably got carried away seeing rookie Li Wei succeed a little and decided to go all-in on Mahomes, but please, quarterback is not the same as running back, okay?¡±


    Objectively speaking, Mahomes indeed did not perform at his best in this game:


    A completion rate of 58.8%, 199 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.


    All his statistics were at their season-low; but to be fair, it was because of Mahomes¡¯ previously stellar performances that this game¡¯s figures seemed so bleak. Comparatively speaking, Mahomes was still above the League average, far from being terrible or a disaster.


    Moreover, even with that, the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers remained close until the end.


    But does anyone care?


    No.


    Brittany really couldn¡¯t bear to keep watching.


    She constantly reminded herself not to pay attention to social media, not to mind those trolls and haters, not to let online comments disrupt her rhythm.


    However, it was not an easy task.


    She put down her phone, locked it in a drawer, and completely blocked out the noise, but she didn¡¯t even last five minutes before she was making all sorts of excuses to take out her phone again.


    And then, before she realized it, she couldn¡¯t help but open the social media app again.


    Seeing those curses, Brittany couldn¡¯t control herself; she immediately clicked on the comment box and furiously typed back a sharp retort; she kept typing until a character limit notification popped up, which finally brought some sense back to her, cooling off her anger and calming her down.


    She took a deep breath and deleted her replies clean.


    She couldn¡¯t be impulsive, she couldn¡¯t be reckless, and most importantly, there was no need to engage in flame wars with netizens, as it would only encourage the haters further.


    This wasn¡¯t good for Mahomes.


    In the end, Brittany put down her phone, picked up her keys, and forced herself to leave the house.


    Only by leaving the phone, tv, phone calls, computer, and the internet completely behind, and shifting her focus, could she calm down.


    Pushing open the door, Brittany was startled to see that the sky was only just starting to brighten and the sun hadn¡¯t fully risen yet; the whole city was slowly waking up from the night.


    It turned out she had tossed and turned the whole night, never once falling asleep, and dawn had already broken before she knew it.


    So, now what? Should she just wander around outside somewhere?


    ¡°Good morning.¡±


    A distant greeting came her way. Brittany looked towards the source of the voice and saw Li Wei, who had just returned from his morning run.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t stop, continuing on his way.


    Brittany hesitated for a moment, and before her brain could decide, her voice broke free from her throat, ¡°Li Wei!¡±

 Chapter 715: Open up your heart

    Chapter 715: Open up your heart


    Li Wei noticed Brittany, but he didn¡¯t think she wanted to talk to him, bluntly lumping him in with Kelsey in the category of ¡°bad influences who led Mahomes astray.¡± She clearly didn¡¯t want to hear any defenses for Mahomes, not even sparing a glance in his direction.


    So, logically, Li Wei kept his distance, merely nodding his head lightly in acknowledgement.


    However, what he hadn¡¯t anticipated was¡ª


    ¡°...Li Wei.¡±


    The call shattered the tranquility of the morning.


    Li Wei halted in his tracks, looking over in confusion. He could see Brittany¡¯s face contorted with struggle and hesitance, but ultimately, she clenched her teeth, looked up at Li Wei with an expression of someone facing their execution.


    ...


    ¡°Would you jog with me for a bit?¡±


    Jog?


    Initially, Li Wei thought his morning jog had already come to an end.


    But, since Brittany had asked, Li Wei gestured resolutely, ¡°Of course, no problem.¡±


    Waiting for Brittany to catch up, Li Wei slightly adjusted his jogging pace and continued on from his doorstep.


    Brittany was unsettled, her mind not on the running at all. Barely jogging a little while, not even two hundred meters, her breathing became erratic.


    Panting, panting.


    Brittany called out to Li Wei, ¡°Slower, slower.¡±


    Li Wei blinked, ¡°Even slower? That would be racewalking, not jogging.¡±


    Brittany shot Li Wei a glare, ¡°Then let¡¯s walk.¡±


    Li Wei: ...


    Brittany: ...


    Even without Li Wei saying a word, Brittany could see the speechlessness in his eyes, and she exploded, ¡°Walk! Then let¡¯s just walk!¡±


    Li Wei raised his hands in surrender, ¡°Then let¡¯s take a walk, there¡¯s no need to get angry, I¡¯m innocent, and it wouldn¡¯t be good to harm the flowers and plants.¡±


    Brittany almost couldn¡¯t catch her breath, ¡°You¡¯re innocent? If it weren¡¯t for you, Patrick would have never gone to those... places.¡±


    Li Wei didn¡¯t argue, ¡°Would Patrick never encounter temptation without me? Come on, Brittany, let¡¯s be rational and clear-headed. You should know what Patrick might face after becoming a professional athlete. No need to look for it; those temptations come knocking on their own.¡±


    Brittany¡¯s chest heaved violently, ¡°You¡¯re shirking your responsibility.¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Hey, you want to blame me, or anyone else on the team, go ahead, I don¡¯t care, I don¡¯t need to walk on eggshells around you; but if you think Patrick did nothing wrong, why did you kick him out?¡±


    Brittany, ¡°...I didn¡¯t.¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°What?¡±


    Brittany, ¡°I didn¡¯t kick him out. We had a huge fight, and he packed his things and left on his own. I never asked him to leave.¡±


    Li Wei choked, ¡°That idiot...¡±


    Actually, Li Wei didn¡¯t want to interfere. It¡¯s hard for a clean official to break up a family feud, and he didn¡¯t want to get involved in Mahomes¡¯ romantic relationship, as it was too complicated.


    But now.


    Looking at Brittany, Li Wei sighed softly, without wanting to, there was no other way.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re worried about him, why don¡¯t you give him a call?¡±


    Brittany turned her head to the side, ¡°Who¡¯s worried about him. Definitely not me.¡±


    Li Wei sized up Brittany, ¡°He¡¯s currently in agony in hell.¡±


    ¡°Ha, good for him. He deserves it.¡± Brittany was still stubborn.


    Li Wei gently shook his head.


    But thinking about it, it wasn¡¯t surprising, after all, both Mahomes and Brittany were just over twenty years old, young adults.


    Plus, the two were childhood sweethearts and had things easy all along. Mahomes was already contemplating how to propose; this was probably their first real emotional test, and it was difficult for them both.


    Involuntarily, Li Wei exhaled deeply, it seemed he needed to play the role of a kindergarten teacher.


    ¡°Brittany, the mistake has been made, and dwelling on the past isn¡¯t the solution. Leaving it alone isn¡¯t right either. What¡¯s more important now is how to face the mistake.¡±


    ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t think what happened could really be called a mistake, maybe you should...¡±


    Her words were cut off before she could finish; Brittany interrupted directly.


    ¡°Not a mistake? What? What are you talking about?¡±


    Brittany glared fiercely at Li Wei, her expression looking like she might bite someone at any moment.


    ¡°He texted a woman and saved her photo on his phone for over half a year, almost a year!¡±


    Li Wei appeared somewhat helpless¡ª


    Facing her, Brittany was like this; it was hard to imagine what she would be like facing Mahomes.


    ¡°Calm down, Brittany, can we please calm down?¡±


    Li Wei gazed at Brittany sincerely and forthrightly.


    Finally, Brittany calmed down a little and awkwardly shifted her gaze.


    Li Wei, ¡°I¡¯m not making excuses for him. But he didn¡¯t exchange messages with that person; it was the woman who sent them on her own.¡±


    Brittany, ¡°But he didn¡¯t delete them, did he?¡±


    Li Wei: Uh...


    Brittany, ¡°He didn¡¯t reply, that¡¯s true; but at the same time he didn¡¯t delete them, and he didn¡¯t block her either. That photo has been on his phone all this time, so you can imagine what he might have used those photos for.¡±


    So that was it.


    Li Wei, ¡°Alright.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s straightforward agreement caught Brittany off guard.


    The mood, slightly eased.


    Li Wei looked directly into Brittany¡¯s eyes, ¡°I understand your unease and anger, but Brittany, you are now pushing Patrick away.¡±


    ¡°No one wants to make mistakes, everyone hopes to make the right choices; but the reality is, no one is perfect.¡±


    ¡°Everyone makes mistakes; no one is an exception.¡±


    ¡°Making mistakes is terrible, believe me, it feels absolutely awful; but what has happened has happened, and what is more important now is to face the mistake.¡±


    ¡°We need to think about how to correct it, how to reflect on it, how to avoid repeating it.¡±


    Brittany, ¡°You¡¯re asking me to forgive him.¡±


    Li Wei laughed, ¡°Heh.¡±


    Brittany didn¡¯t understand.


    Li Wei waved his hand, ¡°I¡¯m not prepared to tell you what you should do.¡±


    ¡°Believe me, if I were in my right mind, I wouldn¡¯t want to get involved in your love life. I¡¯m quite content with the current position of my hairline and would rather not see it receding any time soon.¡±


    The half-serious, half-joking tone made Brittany inevitably laugh.


    ¡°Pfft.¡±


    A burst of laughter lightened the atmosphere slightly.


    Only then did Li Wei continue.


    ¡°What I mean to say is, you need to face the issue, to confront the mistake head on.¡±


    ¡°If you think this is an unforgivable mistake, then end it quickly. End your pain and Patrick¡¯s pain. There¡¯s no point dragging it out, it¡¯s unfair to both of you.¡±


    ¡°But if you believe this mistake doesn¡¯t stop you from caring about Patrick, then you need to face up to it and have an honest conversation with Patrick.¡±


    ¡°Look, it¡¯s like this, I know an apology won¡¯t solve everything, but at least it can be the first step.¡±


    ¡°Patrick might have made a mistake, our team¡¯s management might make mistakes, and you and I are no different. People often like to define someone by their mistakes, but I prefer to define them by how they face and handle those mistakes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not after perfection but the ability to get back on track after making a mistake.¡±


    Just, fair.


    Honest, forthright.


    His calm words truly quieted Brittany down and she couldn¡¯t help but deeply ponder Li Wei¡¯s words, slowly sinking into contemplation.

 Chapter 716: Mirror Reunion After Being Shattered

    Chapter 716: Mirror Reunion After Being Shattered


    Gradually, Brittany calmed down.


    It was not just silence; the restlessness and anxiety in her mind also quietly settled.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t continue speaking; instead, he took a step back, maintaining a distance, giving Brittany space and time to think, letting the world fall into silence.


    Brittany noticed, and she lifted her head to look closely at Li Wei.


    ¡°You¡¯re defending Patrick,¡± she said.


    Li Wei replied, ¡°Of course.¡±


    ...


    So he admitted it just like that?


    Caught off guard, Brittany stared blankly at Li Wei.


    Li Wei shrugged slightly, ¡°I¡¯m his friend, not yours. Isn¡¯t it natural for me to speak and defend him?¡±


    ¡°Moreover,¡±


    ¡°God, please don¡¯t misunderstand, I like Sherlock, and I don¡¯t mind him staying in my guest room; but I still prefer my own space.¡±


    One second, two seconds.


    Brittany realized, and burst into laughter.


    Although Brittany always kept her guards up around Mahomes¡¯s teammates, considering them nothing but a den of snakes; if she had to choose one, she thought Li Wei might not be a terrible choice.


    The smile lingered on her lips slightly longer.


    Brittany took a deep breath, ¡°How is Patrick doing?¡±


    ¡°No, he¡¯s not doing well,¡± Li Wei spoke frankly, ¡°I¡¯m not lying.¡±


    ¡°We lost a crucial game, and there were many reasons. The opponents truly performed well, they deserved all the applause and praise; negative press about the team and missing players also added a lot of uncertainty.¡±


    ¡°But the fact is, after the game, we often look for reasons within ourselves first, which is always better than blaming teammates.¡±


    ¡°Sherlock... it¡¯s the same.¡±


    Others might not know, but that doesn¡¯t mean Mahomes can forgive himself.


    The fact Mahomes was temporarily staying at Li Wei¡¯s place was known only to Kelsey, everyone else was kept in the dark, not to mention the quarrel between Mahomes and Brittany was also a secret.


    Clearly, Mahomes was restless, not at his best.


    If the game had been won, then it would all be fine; unfortunately, the loss occurred, and even though there were many other subjective and objective reasons, Mahomes still blamed himself, unable to easily forgive himself¡ª


    even though Mahomes¡¯s performance couldn¡¯t be said to be poor.


    Brittany wasn¡¯t surprised, ¡°That idiot has always been like this.¡±


    Moreover, this time the Kansas City Chiefs were right at the center of the storm, and the barrage of negative comments online was a complete disaster.


    Li Wei could understand Brittany¡¯s concerns, ¡°I¡¯ve already suggested to everyone in the locker room to uninstall social media apps, all of them.¡±


    Brittany almost choked on her own saliva, ¡°All?¡±


    Li Wei lightly shrugged, ¡°You and I both know how bad and outrageous those online comments can be, utterly devoid of reason and logic; so, the best approach is to block them all, shut them up.¡±


    After thinking it over, Brittany had to admit, Li Wei was right.


    Li Wei said, ¡°Anyway, in the age of the internet, everything comes fast and goes even faster, news trends by the minute, and in two or three days they become old news. By then, people¡¯s attention will have moved on.¡±


    ¡°If we win the next game, the crisis will be completely resolved.¡±


    In the world of competitive sports, there is nothing that a victory can¡¯t solve; if one victory isn¡¯t enough¡ª


    then make it two.


    Moreover, the current situation stemmed from that very loss.


    ¡°Maybe, you should also delete all the social media apps.¡±


    Brittany paused slightly, ¡°What?¡±


    Li Wei repeated his earlier words and added a sentence, ¡°You just couldn¡¯t control your anxiety because of those dirty and ugly voices on social media, right?¡±


    Brittany: ...


    Precise, on point, with a kind of naked exposure, what¡¯s going on?


    Brittany¡¯s cheeks warmed slightly, ¡°Let¡¯s head back.¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Oh.¡±


    Brief and light, yet it seemed profoundly meaningful, as if teasing Brittany about her abrupt change of subject.


    Brittany slightly lifted her chin, ¡°I was actually about to call Patrick home...¡±


    Li Wei quickly squeezed out a smile, ¡°Please, Miss Brittany, right this way.¡±


    Though they called it jogging, Li Wei and Brittany ended up just taking a walk, barely covering a few hundred meters before turning back around.


    Li Wei opened the front door, making a welcoming gesture.


    Brittany didn¡¯t hesitate, striding confidently into the house.


    ¡°Patrick.¡±


    ¡°Patrick!¡±


    Her clear voice, resounding to the skies, was like a hellish angel¡¯s call, piercing straight to the heart.


    It wasn¡¯t just Mahomes who felt a chill at the scene, even Li Wei, who had done nothing wrong, instinctively prepared to hide.


    It was a one-second trip back to childhood.


    Back then, getting off school early in the afternoon, sneakingly watching cartoons on TV. Upon hearing the sounds of parents returning home, scrambling in a mess, turning off the TV and covering tracks, but amid the haste, forgetting that the TV was still hot, and rushing back to the desk pretending to be a diligent child doing homework.


    Li Wei followed Brittany¡¯s steps into the house.


    Looking left and right, the sight of Mahomes was nowhere to be found, the guestroom door wide open with a clear view to its depths.


    Where is he?


    Brittany¡¯s steps were nimble and light as she whirled through Li Wei¡¯s home, her dizzingly agile movements nearly matching the Skimming Steps. She indeed had hidden talents.


    Finally¡ª


    ¡°Damn God, what are you really up to?¡± Brittany¡¯s face was full of astonishment.


    The gym?


    Mahomes had hidden in the gym? That room had a wide view, hardly a place to hide. How did Mahomes end up there?


    Li Wei walked over, following Brittany¡¯s gaze and was nearly exposed.


    But there, Mahomes¡¯ burly figure was hidden behind a punching bag, his hands tightly clasped around it, attempting to blend in with the bag.


    Clearly, this move was ineffective.


    And rather comical.


    Mahomes knew it himself, holding the bag with his head peeking out from the side, revealing an awkward smile, ¡°I don¡¯t even know what I¡¯m doing.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, dear.¡±


    ¡°I just wanted to come home. Can I come home?¡±


    Brittany caught her breath, taking a deep breath, ¡°I swear I don¡¯t even know who you are anymore.¡±


    Mahomes, ¡°Me neither.¡±


    Mahomes let go of the punching bag, stood up straight, and looked pitifully at Brittany, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for some things that happened, I... sorry, anyway, sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have done that. I really want to come home, can I?¡±


    Brittany looked back at Li Wei.


    Li Wei spread his hands.


    Brittany turned back to Mahomes, ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s go home.¡±


    Mahomes¡¯s face beamed with joy, exuberantly opening his arms and giving Brittany a big hug, ¡°I love you, Brittany, really.¡±


    Meanwhile, Mahomes looked towards Li Wei, flashing a brilliant smile: the ploy had worked after all.


    However!


    Unexpectedly, Brittany had a trick up her sleeve; while Mahomes was off guard, she lifted her right leg and kicked Mahomes in the shin.


    Mahomes, ¡°Ouch!¡±


    ???

 Chapter 717: 716 Awakening Vitality

    Chapter 717: 716 Awakening Vitality


    ¡°...Ouch!¡±


    Mahomes had not anticipated, after a happy reunion, that there would be an ambush!


    A sharp pain shot through his shin, causing him to grimace, his whole face crinkling up like a steamed bun, as he rounded his eyes to stare at Li Wei:


    ???


    What¡¯s going on?


    Li Wei was also baffled, caught off guard by Brittany¡¯s sudden move, and now seeing the pain on Mahomes¡¯s face, he seemed to sympathize.


    ...


    Then, with a spectator¡¯s expression, he looked at Mahomes and cast a sympathetic glance.


    Brittany revealed a smile that was more smirk than genuine, grinned at Mahomes, glanced at Li Wei, and finally, her gaze settled back on Mahomes.


    ¡°You definitely should be sorry. Let me tell you, this is the last time, or else, next time I¡¯ll also keep a picture of a hunk.¡±


    Mahomes didn¡¯t have time to communicate further with Li Wei, he just stared at Brittany, dumbfounded, ¡°What? Other than Michael B. Jordan, nothing else is allowed.¡±


    Brittany, ¡°Heh.¡±


    Without paying further attention to Mahomes, Brittany turned and walked away.


    However, as she passed by Li Wei, she lifted her head to look at him and silently mouthed, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Without waiting for Li Wei to respond, Brittany was already heading for the door.


    Mahomes hurried to catch up, not bothering to pack his bags, and patted Li Wei on the shoulder, ¡°Brother, I¡¯m heading back first,¡± and jogged to catch up with Brittany.


    The room, after a brief burst of noise, quieted down again.


    Because of the recent commotion, it now seemed even quieter, as if the noise of the entire world had disappeared.


    Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the first ray of sunlight tore through the morning fog and sprinkled down, the thin golden light slowly penetrating the gray haze, brightening the world little by little. Life stirred from its slumber, and it felt as if one could catch the liveliness and leaps of dust particles in the air, lifting one¡¯s spirits gradually.


    It was a brand new day.


    ...


    ¡°Fly! Fly!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s here, he¡¯s there...¡±


    ¡°Up, we can do it, let¡¯s show them some color.¡±


    ¡°We are! Chiefs! We are! Chiefs!¡±


    ¡°No matter what happens, we fight side by side!¡±


    Roar, roar, roar, ah, ah, ah.


    Early in the morning, the Kansas City Chiefs Training Facility gate buzzed with a deafening, blood-pumping chorus of support that surged in waves.


    Annie Galas was brimming with excitement, jumping on the spot uncontrollably, but Jenna Galas, standing behind her, was in a completely different state, her face full of worries, her smile hardly a smile.


    Jenna had tried more than once or twice to persuade Annie, but it was all in vain. Helplessly, she turned to look at Karen and Felix, sending a pleading look their way.


    ¡°How do you manage to do it? Stop worrying about Felix¡¯s condition?¡±


    Karen shook her head, ¡°No way. I¡¯m still worried about him.¡±


    ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°Compared to watching him be trapped in a hospital room, breathing under a glass dome like a Barbie doll, I¡¯d rather see this Felix.¡±


    ¡°He could laugh and cry, jump and hop, just like any teenager; his life was still filled with enthusiasm and passion, and he was truly living.¡±


    Jenna was slightly taken aback and looked at Annie again¡ª


    The treatment had finally taken effect, and Annie had been able to stand up and leave her sickbed behind.


    She realized she had been greedy.


    Initially, all she wanted was for Annie to be able to stand up without being confined to a sickbed any longer and to walk freely like any other child.


    But now that Annie could do exactly that, finally able to hop and jump about on her own power, she couldn¡¯t help but wish for more¡ª


    For Annie to keep living, to recover fully and regain her health, to be able to go to middle school, make friends, explore interests, to like someone, to have hopes for a future.


    She couldn¡¯t help it, she really couldn¡¯t help it.


    The Annie before her was exhilarated, bouncing around with a faint sheen of sweat on her forehead and a healthy flush on her cheeks.


    Annie said she wanted to come to the training facility to support the Kansas City Chiefs, for Li Wei.


    The past week, the Kansas City Chiefs had been under immense pressure from all quarters, starting with the Baltimore Ravens. The journey had been bumpy all along, the turmoil inside and outside the field becoming tighter and more intense as the playoffs drew nearer. The trials would continue into the next week¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs were about to head to Seattle, to the league-renowned Devil¡¯s home field at CenturyLink Field, to face another strong team, the Seattle Seahawks, on their territory.


    Before the NFL¡¯s divisional realignment in 2001, the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs belonged to the AFC West and were bitter rivals; their enmity was palpable. After the realignment, the Seattle Seahawks were moved to the National Conference West Division. Nearly two decades have passed, and the grudges between the two teams have faded, but this match seemed to have reignited the intensity.


    The reason was the playoffs.


    This season, the Seattle Seahawks¡¯ performance was inconsistent in the first half, barely maintaining a record of four wins and five losses, which was hardly satisfactory.


    However, Seattle Seahawks¡¯ head coach Pete Carroll still found a way.


    Under Carroll, the Seattle Seahawks created the ¡°Bombing Corps¡± that stunned the entire league, utterly changing the definition of defense in the league. It wasn¡¯t just a tactical change, even the selection of players for each position was overhauled, to the extent that it altered the NCAA¡¯s direction in training young players and the NFL¡¯s drafting strategies.


    In an unexaggerated sense, they changed the sport¡¯s vertical depth.


    During the 2013 and 2014 seasons, the Seattle Seahawks made it to the Super Bowl two years in a row.


    In the forty-eighth Super Bowl, they swept the Denver Broncos, who boasted the strongest offensive group of that time, and clinched the championship, thus establishing the renown of the Bombing Corps.


    The forty-ninth Super Bowl witnessed one of the NFL¡¯s biggest ¡°what ifs¡± of recent years: What if Carroll hadn¡¯t chosen to pass the football during the last seconds at the one-yard line in the end zone, but instead handed it to running back Lynch?


    Perhaps the Seattle Seahawks could have defeated the New England Patriots and defended their title. Perhaps the Seattle Seahawks¡¯ Bombing Corps wouldn¡¯t have disintegrated. Perhaps the Seattle Seahawks could have started a new dynasty.


    But there are no ifs.


    Carroll chose to pass, quarterback Russell Wilson¡¯s throw was intercepted, and the New England Patriots claimed their fifth Super Bowl Championship Trophy with a score of ¡°28:24¡±.


    Afterward, the Seattle Seahawks went into decline.


    The ¡°Bombing Corps¡± has become history. The current Seattle Seahawks rely on offense to win games, completely lacking their previous defensive prowess.


    But Russell Wilson, one of the ¡°Four Great Running Backs¡±, proved his passing ability. He has also become the strongest representative of mobile quarterbacks in the league.


    This season, despite struggling, Carroll and Wilson still found a way. They had back-to-back victories against their division rival San Francisco 49ers, a narrow win over the Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers, and a sweep of the Minnesota Vikings led by Cousins, earning five consecutive wins and bringing the Seahawks back into contention.


    Currently, with a record of nine wins and five losses, the Seattle Seahawks still hold playoff hopes.


    Facing the Kansas City Chiefs, there¡¯s no room for error. The Seattle Seahawks must step over the Chiefs¡¯ remains to take the initiative in the playoff struggle.


    Likewise, the Kansas City Chiefs must defeat the Seattle Seahawks to maintain control over their seeding position in the playoffs, and more importantly, to silence recent controversies and attacks.


    The situation was urgent and challenging.


    The Kansas City Chiefs desperately needed fan support, so Annie and Felix made their appearance.

 Chapter 718: 717 Never Walk Alone

    Chapter 718: 717 Never Walk Alone


    Adversity reveals true friendship, especially in competitive sports.


    In times of victory, all the fans and media are singing praises; everything is going smoothly, and the team seems to stand on the summit of Mount Everest.


    However, in times of failure and difficulty, those who still believe in the team and steadfastly stand behind it are the true fans.


    Annie didn¡¯t want to be a ¡°fair-weather fan.¡±


    Annie liked the Kansas City Chiefs, and she liked Li Wei.


    People who liked football often favored quarterbacks, or positions such as defensive ends, wide receivers, or linemen¡ªhardworking, diligent running backs are always the overlooked, underestimated, and ignored players.


    ...


    But Annie liked Li Wei.


    The fundamental reason was that she admired the fighting spirit and determination in him.


    It wasn¡¯t because he believed in victory that he gave his all, but he fought for victory because he gave his all.


    People always said that Annie was fighting a battle that was doomed to fail.


    Annie even heard her mother¡¯s friend comfort her, ¡°It¡¯s alright as long as you¡¯ve tried your best, there¡¯s no need for guilt. In the future, have another and start over.¡±


    Her fate seemed sealed, as if she were a doll that could be readily replaced, forgotten, and completely erased from existence¡ªmeaningless, valueless, and without a trace.


    Yet she was stubborn; she didn¡¯t want to cry, to be dejected, nor to give up.


    She wanted to strive, not because she could change the outcome but because she didn¡¯t want to meekly surrender despite knowing what it would be.


    She was a person, a being with a soul, thoughts, emotions, and feelings.


    She didn¡¯t want to be wiped away so easily.


    So, she liked Li Wei. Even if the end was predetermined, she wanted to give it her all.


    So, she had to be there today, to cheer for Li Wei in person. She needed Li Wei to know that not the entire world had turned its back on him, that he wasn¡¯t alone in the dark.


    So, she needed to raise her voice, to let others hear and see that even if the outcome was spoiled and disastrous, it didn¡¯t mean the process couldn¡¯t be spectacular.


    All along, Li Wei had been the one transmitting this strength to her through his performance on the field; now it was her turn to convey this strength to Li Wei through her actions.


    Today, the Kansas City Chiefs would take the team bus to the airport, then head to Seattle to prepare for the crucial upcoming game.


    Regrettably, Annie couldn¡¯t be at Arrowhead Stadium to cheer for Li Wei; but at least, she could be there to see him off and tell him in person.


    When Annie shared her plan, Felix agreed without hesitation, immediately taking initiative in planning and even helped persuade her mother, promising a bunch of things to assure her of his obedience. Afterwards, they appeared at the entrance of the training facility.


    Surprisingly, they weren¡¯t the only ones with the same idea.


    The crowd was bustling, a sea of people, a surging tide stretching from the entrance of the training facility, like the Red Sea waiting for Moses.


    Three hundred? Five hundred?


    No, far more.


    Kansas City, having weathered storms and trials, united like never before, facing all challenges actively and positively. They knew the team faced severe setbacks, and they realized the overwhelming negativity on social media was hard to swallow. That¡¯s why they were here.


    Although very, very difficult, as long as they stood together, united, there was no need to fear, no matter how big the storm was.


    A vast red sea unfolded, indistinguishable from a home game day, even exceeding a couple of thousand people, creating a spectacular scene.


    Then.


    Li Wei appeared.


    In that instant, Annie was overwhelmed with emotion.


    Cheering, jumping, the vitality that had been absent for so long surged through their veins, and they shouted Li Wei¡¯s name with all their might, igniting the whole stadium.


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    The cheers rose and fell, swirling throughout the stadium.


    After the recent turmoil and disturbances, Li Wei¡¯s reputation in Kansas City had soared undeniably, making him a true leader.


    Some hoped that Li Wei could lead the team to withstand the pressure and get back on track, some hoped he could guide them through difficulties and further their transformation, some cheered purely for Li Wei¡¯s support, and some, through their actions, became a part of the prestige of Li Wei, igniting the passion of Kansas City.


    A bustling and rolling heat wave.


    Annie felt like a tiny boat amidst the stormy waves, trying her best to raise her voice, only to be engulfed by the stadium¡¯s heat wave in an instant.


    This was something Annie had not anticipated.


    What to do?


    Annie¡¯s brain raced as Li Wei¡¯s figure came into view, drawing nearer.


    Closer.


    Even closer.


    Annie became excited and couldn¡¯t contain herself any longer, bursting into song.


    ¡°Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart. And you¡¯ll never walk alone.¡±


    Once. Then again.


    As she sang, Annie¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears. She couldn¡¯t distinguish whether it was because of Li Wei, herself, or the seething crowd before her.


    Yet, her heart started pounding so clearly, so tumultuously, so powerfully. Singing, a smile spread across her lips, unbridled and blooming.


    Alas, her singing was still faint amidst the thundering cheers of the crowd, insignificant enough that only a small portion of the nearby fans could hear Annie¡¯s tiny yet tenacious, fragile yet strong voice, and they couldn¡¯t help but look her way¡ª


    This was not a chant for the Kansas City Chiefs but for the Premier League team, Liverpool.


    To be precise, it wasn¡¯t originally Liverpool¡¯s. It stemmed from a Broadway play, ¡°Carousel¡±, and with cover versions by Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and others, it had become quite famous. But after being reinterpreted by Liverpool fans, it became an inseparable part of this traditional football powerhouse.


    Of course, not just Liverpool, countless other fans also often sing this song.


    Felix looked at Annie in surprise, and seeing the radiant and resolute smile on her face, his own mouth curled up in an arc.


    Then, he joined in the singing, followed by Karen.


    Jenna watched this scene in surprise and bewilderment, even feeling somewhat unsure of what to do, humming along in a tentative and stumbling voice.


    Yet Jenna still wasn¡¯t certain; she looked around at the unfamiliar faces bursting with unbelievable passion and actually felt a little scared.


    This was her first time attending such an event; she could never understand sports or these fans.


    Hurriedly withdrawing her gaze, Jenna¡¯s heart raced uncontrollably as she looked ahead, then saw the familiar and friendly face of Li Wei approaching.


    Li Wei stood not far ahead, smiling broadly as he clapped and murmured along with the song, his expression and eyes filled with encouragement and comfort¡ª


    Just like the look Jenna had given Annie at her birthday party, encouraging her to sing the birthday song with her friends around the cake, making a wish. That mix of emotion and happiness filled her chest in an instant.


    The song came to an end.


    Li Wei raised his hands high, leading the applause that filled the stadium, accompanied by cheers and whistles, Jenna¡¯s smile also fully blossomed:


    Maybe things weren¡¯t so bad after all.

 Chapter 719: 718 Birthday Wish

    Chapter 719: 718 Birthday Wish


    Roar, roar, roar, roar.


    The entire field was noisy, with a sustained clamor directed at Li Wei and sporadic cheers boiling in the air.


    However, Li Wei¡¯s gaze was entirely fixed on Annie and Felix, to his surprise.


    Annie noticed the smile in Li Wei¡¯s eyes, shimmering under the not-so-bright sunlight.


    For a brief moment, the little girl felt shy; but Annie wasn¡¯t the sort to turn and run away¡ªthe shyer she felt, the more boldly and bravely she faced it.


    ¡°Li Wei, you will never walk alone.¡±


    ...


    Just a single sentence, yet it warmed Li Wei¡¯s heart, and he shouted, ¡°So, is that the song from Liverpool?¡±


    Annie cupped her hands around her mouth as if using a megaphone, ¡°But from now on, it is yours.¡±


    Li Wei crossed his hands over his chest, mimicking a heart melting into love expression.


    Ha ha.


    A burst of laughter.


    Annie was no exception, her smile fully blooming as she watched Li Wei.


    Li Wei strode forward, greeted Karen and Jenna, then high-fived Felix and Annie, exclaiming, ¡°This is definitely a surprise.¡±


    Annie, unable to contain her excitement, seemed as if she might be swallowed by the teeming crowd at any moment, yet she stood up straight, her knees bending and straightening repeatedly to show her joy and excitement.


    Li Wei crouched down to keep eye level with Annie, ¡°Thanks for coming over to see me off.¡±


    Annie took a deep breath and then exhaled heavily, ¡°It¡¯s only unfortunate that I cannot be there to cheer for you.¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Next week. Next week is a home game, you¡¯re welcome to come to Arrowhead Stadium.¡±


    Annie¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Really? I¡¯ve always wanted to watch a game at Arrowhead Stadium, you know? I¡¯ve never watched a game at Arrowhead Stadium before. Actually, I¡¯ve never watched any game live.¡±


    After all, Annie was only eleven years old and had spent much of her life in the hospital due to sickness.


    Behind those mature words, a hint of bitterness was subtly revealed.


    As Annie spoke, she suddenly covered her mouth, stopped abruptly, and turned to look at her mother with pleading eyes.


    Jenna looked somewhat helpless, ¡°Annie...¡±


    Annie clasped her hands together, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m fine now, look at me, I¡¯m so strong, I¡¯m really good, really, I just want to watch a game live. Felix said watching a game live is really different, going to watch a game live is my biggest wish!¡±


    ¡°Otherwise, consider it my birthday wish plus a Christmas gift? Mom? Mom! Trust me, I¡¯m healthy, I¡¯ll be fine, I¡¯m really strong.¡±


    As she spoke, she even flexed her virtually non-existent biceps.


    This scene caused Jenna to inadvertently smile, but her words still hovered unspoken, refusing to give in.


    Li Wei also looked up at Jenna, ¡°If you¡¯re worried, I can reserve two spots in the VIP lounge; I think it might be better there.¡±


    Jenna, looking into the earnest in Li Wei¡¯s eyes and seeing Annie¡¯s irrepressible excitement, finally found words tumbling over her tongue.


    In the end, ¡°Of course. Thank you, Li Wei, thank you. This is an honor for Annie.¡± Jenna ultimately couldn¡¯t bear to refuse.


    Annie immediately raised her arms high like a champion, ¡°Oh yeah!¡±


    So pure, so simple. Amidst endless gloom, like a beam of sunshine falling down and instantly brightening the world.


    In only a short while, the news had spread across different buses of the Kansas City Chiefs.


    A refreshed and revitalized Mahomes rushed towards Li Wei, ¡°Is it true? Are Annie and Felix planning to come watch next week¡¯s game?¡±


    Before Li Wei could respond, Hill, wiping his overly dry eyes, joked, ¡°Rookie, you guys go out and have fun, but didn¡¯t include us.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, exactly, we want to play with the kids too; we want the kids to cheer our names.¡±


    ¡°Going to the hospital for charity without calling us, rookie, that¡¯s not nice.¡±


    ¡°Go on, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s always saying ¡®children are the devil.''¡±


    Li Wei didn¡¯t even need to respond; the bus was already filled with laughter and lively chatter, the laughs unending.


    Despite the ups and downs, despite the undeserved treatment on social media, despite the young team first truly experiencing the attacks and hatred that come with fame, the atmosphere within the Kansas City Chiefs was harmonious, the locker room mentality still resilient.


    In the midst of the noise, Li Wei opened the envelope¡ª


    It had just been handed to him by Annie.


    Inside, a thick stack of letters, and at a quick glance, there were five or six sheets of paper. These weren¡¯t ordinary fan letters; each word was filled with sincerity.


    ¡°Dear Li Wei...¡±


    Li Wei read carefully, like a diary, it recorded Annie¡¯s experiences watching the Kansas City Chiefs games, and the occurrences inside the chemotherapy room.


    But as Li Wei read on, he slowed down, because within those simple, mundane words, not only Annie¡¯s daily life was chronicled, but also the girl¡¯s stubbornness and tenacity, her intelligence, her maturity, her spirit. Through her nai?ve and unripe writing, one could feel a soul that didn¡¯t match her age.


    Until the very end.


    ¡°...I know this game has a predetermined ending, but I still want to fight until the last moment. No regrets. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m a little scared, and whenever I am, I draw courage from you. You make me believe that all the struggles, all the fights are meaningful.


    So, thank you, Li Wei.


    You will never walk alone, because you let me know, neither will I.


    Yours, Annie.¡±


    A few light pages, yet they weighed a ton.


    Li Wei could scarcely imagine what Annie and Felix were facing, the helplessness and powerlessness of standing in front of the disease shattered their lives, yet they were knocked down time and again, and time and again, they stood back up, bravely facing fate and fiercely counterattacking.


    Only those who truly understand the fragility of life can appreciate the colors and weight of it.


    Seriously, he folded the letters back carefully and tucked them away; they held incredible value, just like the crayon drawing Felix had given him.


    Facing the Seattle Seahawks in an away game, they had one more reason to win.


    In fact, that¡¯s exactly what Li Wei did.


    ¡°Wait, wait, break free, missed tackle!¡±


    ¡°God!¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei has broken free! Li Wei was caught in a double, even triple tackle, yet relying on his relentless effort, he successfully broke free.¡±


    ¡°The advance, it continues.¡±


    ¡°Three men from the Seattle Seahawks, the cornerback, the linebacker, and the defensive end, still couldn¡¯t control Li Wei. Cornerback Shaquill Griffin made a fatal mistake in his tackle¡ªsuch mistakes are absolutely unacceptable when facing Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°I wonder if Coach Carroll misses Sherman who became a free agent during the off-season.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei, unstoppable!¡±


    ¡°Ten yards!¡±


    ¡°Twenty yards!¡±


    ¡°Thirty yards!¡±


    ¡°Without the Bombing Corps¡¯s toughness, the Seahawks¡¯ defensive group is completely unable to stop Li Wei. Wait¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh, God, that must have hurt a lot.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei¡¯s straight arm block, a single-handed flip of the safety Bradley McDougald, McDougald was flipped over, rolling out with a backward somersault.¡±


    ¡°Unstoppable!¡±


    ¡°No one can stop Li Wei! Beast Mode shines in CenturyLink Field, but who would have thought that this time the Seattle Seahawks are the victims!¡±

 Chapter 720: 719 Must-win belief

    Chapter 720: 719 Must-win belief


    ¡°Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei!!!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei continues, absolutely unstoppable, after breaking free from a triple team and single coverage, Li Wei¡¯s speed and strength fully explode.¡±


    ¡°Thirty-five yards!¡±


    ¡°Forty yards!¡±


    ...


    ¡°No one can stop Li Wei, no one!¡±


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    ¡°Touch... down ahhhhhhhh... (Tooooooooooooouchdooooooooooown...)¡±


    ¡°Incredible! Absolutely spectacular!¡±


    ¡°Wow, unbelievable, even more so after witnessing it with your own eyes! This is art, it should be hung in the Louvre for people to admire.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a touchdown! The Kansas City Chiefs strike back with a touchdown, Li Wei charging through, unstoppable, turning a five-yard ground advance into a forty-one-yard dash to the end zone, Li Wei¡¯s patience and dominance pay off, demolishing the Seattle Seahawks¡¯ defense.¡±


    ¡°Once again, Li Wei proves with his actions that he is the best running back in the League!¡±


    ¡°CenturyLink Field has completely fallen silent, they have witnessed Marshawn Lynch unleash Beast Mode on opponents time and time again, making them tremble beneath his claws. Now, to their utter disbelief, they have become the victims of Beast Mode, the Seahawks¡¯ defensive group is simply defenseless!¡±


    ¡°Now, there¡¯s dead silence in the stadium, all the attacks, the disturbances, the noise¡ªcompletely snuffed out. Li Wei with an incomparably dominant performance has successfully quieted CenturyLink Field.¡±


    ¡°Unfathomable!¡±


    ¡°Wow, this moment¡ª¡±


    All guns blazing, utterly unstoppable.


    From the get-go, the Seattle Seahawks and the Kansas City Chiefs together deliver an exciting spectacle.


    First, Wilson combines running and passing to score early, achieving a touchdown in less than three minutes of offense, sparking a frenzy at CenturyLink Field.


    And then, the scene just now unfolds, as Li Wei seizes the slightest opportunity amidst the storm to launch a desperate counterattack, a sharp blade piercing the enemy¡¯s heart.


    ¡°7:7¡±.


    Such a start was unexpected by everyone. Is it really a shootout?


    Merely five seasons earlier, the Seattle Seahawks became Super Bowl Champions with their epic defense. But in a blink, the Bombing Corps has become history, with the once dynasty-founding heroes scattered to the ends of the earth.


    In fact, the decline of the Seahawks¡¯ defensive group began a few seasons ago; but it was Carroll¡¯s moves this offseason that officially declared the end of the Bombing Corps era.


    Cornerback Richard Sherman became a free agent, defensive linemen Michael Bennett and Sheldon Richardson were traded away, safety Kam Chancellor retired¡ªleaving and scattering were they all.


    Now, the only remaining members of the Bombing Corps are safety Earl Thomas and lineman Bobby Wagner, still on the team; but with Thomas out for the season due to injury, Wagner is the only one still racing across the field.


    Competitive sports are cold and cruel; this is no secret. Yet, one cannot help but lament when looking at the current Seahawks, how in just three to five short years, everything has changed so dramatically.


    However, competitive sports will continue, the glories of the past are now history, the present and the future are the only things that matter.


    This season, the Seattle Seahawks have made a perfect transition to a team that champions offense.


    Everything relies on quarterback Russell Wilson.


    ¡°¡±¡±


    In the 2012 NFL Draft, Wilson was not selected until the third round, the 75th pick overall, by the Seattle Seahawks. The main reason was his height; standing at 5.9 feet (180 centimeters), it severely limited his field of vision for passing.


    Despite being about the same height as elite quarterback Brees, not everyone can be Brees.


    After six seasons in the League, Wilson¡¯s running ability had declined significantly due to various injuries, but the main reason he was the last man standing among the new generation of mobile quarterbacks was his beautiful passing.


    Parabolas, accuracy, timing, and reading the secondary defense, etc., while not top-notch, he was still upper-tier. His short and medium pass accuracy and completion rate were unmatched by the likes of Cam Newton, Colin Kaepernick, and Robert Griffin III.


    So, what about the height disadvantage?


    This season, Wilson found a solution by relying on his footwork to leave the Pocket. Although without the protection of the Pocket, it also relieved him from the vision obstruction, completely opening up his passing view.


    Then, he looked for opportunities to throw long passes.


    In other words, Wilson fully used his strengths as a mobile quarterback without depending solely on his running skills. Instead, he evolved it into assistance for passing, creating a whole new domain.


    The data does not lie¡ª


    Although Wilson was one of only four quarterbacks in the League to be sacked over fifty times, his passing rating this season was only second to Brees and Mahomes, currently ranking third.


    By comparison, Brees was sacked only fifteen times, and Mahomes only twenty-five times.


    One can imagine Wilson maintaining a steady passing output in worse pressure and more adverse situations¡ªpass completion rate, passing yards, touchdown passes, etc., all are highly impressive.


    What¡¯s more commendable is that he only had seven interceptions, second only to Rodgers¡¯s two and Brees¡¯s five. His judgment, handling, and adaptability under crisis and difficulty were all maximized.


    It¡¯s no exaggeration to say that Wilson alone carried the Seattle Seahawks¡¯ offense.


    For this reason, Carroll designed a set of tactics entirely around Wilson, which has brought the Seattle Seahawks back to the playoff competition, attempting to re-enter the championship race after a two-year hiatus.


    Right now, facing the Kansas City Chiefs, is the Seahawks¡¯ opportunity to test themselves.


    From an outsider¡¯s perspective, the Chiefs have performed excellently this season, advancing triumphantly and securing their playoff position early, aiming for a repeat championship, but they encountered consecutive setbacks and hit walls in the sprint phase, exposing their weaknesses.


    In such scenarios, the Chiefs should quickly adjust and display the quality of a strong team, achieving a convincing victory to get back on track and prepare for the playoffs.


    However, that is the ideal situation.


    The reality is different. For the Chiefs to quickly regain their form and momentum, they need to consult the opposition.


    Clearly, the Seahawks have a different idea.


    They¡¯re fighting not only for a playoff spot but also for the team¡¯s honor and pride. Led by Wilson, the entire team is united from top to bottom, all striving for the same goal.


    Starting from the pre-game press conference, Wilson expressed a determination to win, immediately setting a confrontational tone.


    ¡°I respect the Kansas City Chiefs, but I believe we are the better team,¡± he said.


    After the starting whistle blew, the Seahawks indeed proved themselves with action, launching an offense that was all cylinders firing, with a touchdown to start¡ª


    A strong declaration that this is Seattle, this is their city, their turf, and even the defending champions could come here only to leave defeated.


    CenturyLink Field was a frenzy, displaying the Seahawks¡¯ determination for victory. If the Los Angeles Chargers could defeat the Chiefs, they believed they could too.


    However.


    The Chiefs were also determined to win this game, quickly stabilizing their stance amidst the clash of titans and striking back¡ª


    With a touchdown of their own.


    ¡°¡±¡±

 Chapter 721: 720: Summoning the Devil

    Chapter 721: 720: Summoning the Devil


    War, this was a war, a do-or-die battle¡ª


    The war had already erupted at the very start of the game.


    With the Seattle Seahawks displaying their intimidating presence in the front and the Kansas City Chiefs launching a direct counterattack from the back.


    Moreover, so forcefully, so dominantly, Li Wei penetrated into the hearts of the home fans at CenturyLink Field in that most familiar way of the Seattle Seahawks.


    Decisively, ruthlessly, sharply.


    Suddenly, grabbing the throat of the CenturyLink Field, the tight tension pushed to its limit.


    ...


    The two teams, head-to-head, unyielding, smoke of gunpowder enveloping everything.


    For a brief moment, the CenturyLink Field was under the illusion that the man who had once whipped up the Beast Mode frenzy was back in Seattle.


    Memories, awakened, because Li Wei had thoroughly humiliated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first week of the regular season in Bell¡¯s manner; also because the shocking power of Beast Mode was deeply imprinted in their bones, no one knew better than CenturyLink Field what that meant.


    Different memories intertwined, creating an unbelievable scene at CenturyLink Field¡ª


    The entire stadium, shocked, astonished, dead silent, all restlessness, all noise, all sounds completely vanished.


    However.


    It was just a moment, just a brief moment, and then CenturyLink Field quickly reacted and was infuriated by the realization of that moment of silence.


    How could this be! How could they!


    CenturyLink Field, one of the most dangerous and terrifying home fields in recent seasons, the noise produced by the fans of the Seattle Seahawks here not only resembled jet planes but also once caused a minor earthquake in Seattle, setting a Guinness record, stunning the League.


    This place was a devil¡¯s home field that everyone in the League feared.


    From the 2013 to the 2016 season, the Seattle Seahawks maintained an impressive home record of twenty-six wins and six losses, losing only one game at CenturyLink Field in the seasons of 2013, 2014, and 2016.


    Undoubtedly, CenturyLink Field was one of the most fearsome home fields in the League.


    However, last season, CenturyLink Field didn¡¯t perform well, and the Seattle Seahawks lost four home games, leading the League to mockingly call CenturyLink Field ¡°victory-crazed,¡± only a devil¡¯s home field when the Seahawks were performing well, otherwise just a flip-flopper with weak knees.


    This criticism fueled the rage of the Seahawks fans, leading to a strong revival this season, recovering their former glory in both fan base and home field presence.


    So far, the Seattle Seahawks had only lost to the Los Angeles duo at CenturyLink Field, respectively to the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers.


    Now, waking from the nightmare, all those accusations and attacks were reviving like a tide, realizing they had just been stunned into silence by Li Wei¡ª


    Li Wei? Kansas City Chiefs?


    Although they were currently the top seed in the American League, all three of their losses this season had occurred away from home, making the League generally believe that the Chiefs were prone to fluctuations and vulnerabilities in long-distance away games.


    Was it possible that the famously fierce home field was afraid of an away weakling?


    Does that make sense?


    A wave of humiliation swept over them, even more overwhelming and tumultuous than anger, instantly unleashing an incredible energy at CenturyLink Field, rolling mightily towards Li Wei, wishing nothing more than to crush him to dust.


    Roar, roar, roar.


    Deep, explosive, overwhelming, the ground of the entire stadium began to tremble slightly, the agitated air burning and boiling on the skin¡¯s surface.


    CenturyLink Field was enraged, thoroughly, a mix of shame and anger, frustration and stifled emotions roaring long at CenturyLink Field.


    The man who awakened the devil seemed unaffected, turning to his teammates with a smile, his eyes wide with curiosity and excitement, just like a primary school student studying how a silkworm spins silk.


    ¡°Just a light poke, and they bristle up,¡± he said.


    Despite not wanting to admit it, the fact was... Li Wei¡¯s description was vivid and animated, and the Kansas Chiefs Offense couldn¡¯t help but laugh¡ª


    the atmosphere was joyous.


    If the Seattle Seahawks thought the Kansas City Chiefs came to CenturyLink Field without being ready to face the devil¡¯s home field and just recklessly charged in, then they were too naive and foolish¡ªclearly, they didn¡¯t truly understand the Chiefs, nor did they understand Li Wei.


    The combat was fierce, with bayonets clashing.


    The two teams, both desperate for victory, engaged in a direct confrontation, where not only the offense but also the defense played crucial roles.


    Of course, there¡¯s no need to mention the Kansas City Chiefs. The ability of the defense to toughen up at critical moments was key to the team¡¯s dominance this season.


    The Seattle Seahawks were no different. Even though the Bombing Corps was no longer in its heyday, one shouldn¡¯t forget it was Carroll who built them. Carroll had his own systems for using defensive tactics and scouting defensive players, subtly changing the league¡¯s defensive strategies.


    The situation was particularly tense.


    ¡°14:14.¡±


    Always tangled, always intense. It wasn¡¯t until near the end of the first half that the score changed again.


    The Seattle Seahawks intercepted Mahomes, giving Wilson a chance to start their drive thirty-three yards from the end zone. However, Wilson couldn¡¯t seize the opportunity and only managed a small advance before facing a three-strike strikeout, but the Seahawks still took the lead with a field goal.


    ¡°14:17.¡±


    With a slight advantage, the home team returned to the locker room. But once the second half began, the fierce competition continued, and both offensive groups seized on the slight easing of the opposition¡¯s defense to ramp up their attacks. It was my turn after yours, with the scores chasing and overtaking each other.


    Undoubtedly, Wilson was full of drive, delivering his best performance of the season¡ª


    His passing success rate was 66.7%; he threw for 333 yards; three touchdowns, no interceptions.


    Everything was perfect, as he unstopably led the Seahawks on an aggressive drive.


    Similarly, Mahomes was also back in strong form.


    After the ups and downs of last week, despite Mahomes regaining his focus this week, his young capabilities to adjust were still not perfect. Coupled with the Seahawks¡¯ strong defense, in the first half, Mahomes¡¯ pass success rate was a poor 44.4%, far from outstanding.


    Finally, after the halftime break, Mahomes regained his passing touch, and although the first half stats were a drag, his overall success rate was still around 53%. But at this point, his improved performance, especially in critical third-down passes, was evident.


    The Kansas City Chiefs tenaciously clung to the game.


    ¡°31:31.¡±


    Midway through the fourth quarter, not only had the gap not widened, but it had also become even more tense and tighter¡ª


    It felt familiar.


    Seeing the deadlock that had occurred more than once this season appear yet again, the Chiefs were pushed into a climactic moment.


    However, this time someone stepped forward, making their voice heard:


    I beg to differ.


    That figure was none other than number twenty-three from the Kansas City Chiefs, Li Wei.

 Chapter 722: 721 - An iron pillar

    Chapter 722: 721 ¨C An iron pillar


    Once, twice, three, four, five times, one test after another, everything was as expected, the defending champions, like targets in a shooting range, became the target of everyone¡¯s attacks and challenges¡ª


    Everyone yearned to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs, everyone was even more eager and excited when facing the Kansas City Chiefs, everyone tried to pull the defending champions off their throne.


    Thus, the season became particularly difficult.


    In front of them, with no surprises, the Kansas City Chiefs were once again facing a tough and inextricable battle, even though they had defeated the Baltimore Ravens in overtime, but in the same predicament, the Kansas City Chiefs had already experienced last-second kills by their opponents three times this season, and the bitterness of defeat had severely exceeded the limit.


    The game against the Seattle Seahawks seemed to be moving in that direction as well.


    Bit by bit, like sand flowing through one¡¯s fingers, the harder you grasp, the faster it slips away, and the situation was just like that.


    ...


    Before the season started, Reed had already warned the team, this is the fate of the defending champions, this is the difficulty and challenge that the Kansas City Chiefs must face on their path to becoming a strong team; however, reason is one thing, but it¡¯s not until things actually happen that you truly understand what¡¯s going on.


    Now, they finally felt it:


    No wonder the NFL had not seen a team repeat for a whole fifteen years, and even throughout the history of the Super Bowl era, the number of teams able to accomplish such a feat could be counted on one hand.


    Sawing. Entangling. Sticking. The situation was particularly difficult.


    However.


    This time, someone stepped out, stood up, and made his voice heard with his actions, loud and powerful:


    I, Li Wei, disagree.


    ¡°...Oh, a fake run turns into a real pass!¡±


    ¡°Mahomes and Li Wei¡¯s deceptive handoff completely fooled the Seattle Seahawks defensive line, with the Chiefs coordinating a screen pass to move sideways.¡±


    ¡°Mahomes is observing, Mahomes is moving.¡±


    ¡°Pass!¡±


    ¡°God, the pass target is actually Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Jesus Christ, with a series of dizzying passing tactics, the Kansas City Chiefs completely shook off the Seattle Seahawks defensive group, Mahomes connects a three-yard short pass to Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei finds an opening!¡±


    ¡°Danger!¡±


    ¡°Wagner! The last member of the Seattle Seahawks Bombing Corps reacts promptly, stepping up immediately.¡±


    ¡°Beautiful!¡±


    ¡°Wagner wraps up Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°But!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei breaks free, wow, unbelievably, Li Wei shakes off Wagner¡¯s grip with successive high knee lifts, throwing Wagner aside.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei loses his balance but manages to regain it using his hands and feet, he¡¯s still advancing, he¡¯s still pushing forward.¡±


    ¡°The Seattle Seahawks¡¯ secondary defense didn¡¯t lose focus, seizing the chance of Li Wei¡¯s unstable center of gravity to intercept, at last preventing further damage.¡±


    ¡°But Li Wei still successfully advances fifteen yards, easily securing a first down!¡±


    ...


    ¡°Quick short pass!¡±


    ¡°Mahomes! Kelsey!¡±


    ¡°Ah, no, a fake pass turns into a real run, Mahomes laterally passes to Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Li Wei again!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei breaks through along the slot! Wagner has already stepped up to block the position!¡±


    ¡°Uh, this...¡±


    ¡°Marseille Turn! Li Wei uses a sudden stop and rapid turn, a highly difficult maneuver, to pass Wagner with a 360-degree turn!¡±


    ¡°Wagner is like a post!¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°Wagner had no anticipation of this move at all, his feet completely nailed to the spot, immobile, trapped in deep shock and disbelief, his balance unsteady, teetering.¡±


    ¡°This is a humiliation, Li Wei makes Wagner look like a toddler.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei breaks through, accelerates, his speed has reached its peak, like a storm, directly piercing through the heart of the Seattle Seahawks¡¯ defense.¡±


    ¡°Safety McDougall is blocking the way, and he has no room to retreat because he is Seattle Seahawks¡¯ last line of defense.¡±


    ¡°Straight Arm Block!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei overturns McDougall! McDougall is like a paper doll, effortlessly flipped over, shocking the entire CenturyLink Field into silence, the crowd is utterly speechless!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°No one ahead can stop Li Wei now, the Seahawks¡¯ backfield is like Li Wei¡¯s backyard, he¡¯s breaking through as if it¡¯s deserted!¡±


    ¡°Straight drive! A lethal strike!¡±


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    ¡°Touchdown! The Kansas City Chiefs take the lead again, regaining the advantage!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei¡¯s twenty-three-yard rushing touchdown completely caught the Seattle Seahawks off guard!¡±


    ¡°In this offensive and defensive duel, the Seahawks¡¯ veteran Wagner from the Bombing Corps was twice overcome in a head-on collision, becoming a pivotal turning point, as Li Wei completed his breakthrough in a robust, fierce, and intelligent manner, securing the touchdown.¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs refuse to suffer a buzzer-beater loss like the last three times.¡±


    Firm! Dominant! Fierce!


    Li Wei, with absolute strength, engages in a tough clash, makes a breakthrough, turns the tide, and the curses and noise that filled the stadium are silenced once again. CenturyLink Field is dealt a heavy blow as the game nears its end.


    Standing in the end zone, Li Wei is like a war god bathed in blood.


    No cheering, no roaring, not even celebrating, he totally ignores the stunned silence of CenturyLink Field, turning to gesture to his Kansas City Chiefs teammates¡ª


    Not enough. This isn¡¯t enough.


    A cold, fierce light bursts from his handsome face.


    The game isn¡¯t over yet, a touchdown advantage is not the time to celebrate!


    Everyone wants to beat them, everyone wants to drag them into the mire, everyone thinks they are vulnerable at crucial moments in away games, and that¡¯s because the League hasn¡¯t seen their true power.


    He¡¯s not satisfied with this; they need to continue being tough, to completely extinguish any suspense, to destroy their opponents in a clash of the titans.


    This, isn¡¯t enough.


    Right now, Annie and Felix, like everyone else, are holding their breaths, sitting obediently in the chemotherapy room¡¯s chairs, listening to the voice from the radio.


    ¡°Not enough, Li Wei says.¡±


    ¡°At Li Wei¡¯s behest, the entire Kansas City Chiefs Defense calms down, as if confirming their mission like assassins.¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs are not satisfied with the current situation, they¡¯re ready to exert more force.¡±


    Thump, thump.


    Annie¡¯s heart is racing, as if she stands with the team at CenturyLink Field, launching a counterattack against the fervent Seahawks fans.


    She knows the Kansas City Chiefs always manage to inspire fighting spirit in desperate situations, as it has always been, and still is. Never underestimate their toughness and willpower.


    They haven¡¯t yet seen how terrifying the Kansas City Chiefs can be in the postseason!


    ¡°Sack! Chris Jones and Justin Houston join forces to sack Wilson, the Seahawks¡¯ Offensive group suffers a heavy blow as soon as they take the field.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Wilson moves out of the pocket, he¡¯s on the move, he¡¯s observing, he¡¯s looking for an opening.¡±


    ¡°Long pass!¡±


    ¡°Wilson attempts a sneak attack on the backfield!¡±


    ¡°Beautiful! The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ secondary is highly attentive, accurately predicting Wilson¡¯s tactical intent, cutting off all passing options.¡±


    ¡°Pass incomplete!¡±


    ...


    ¡°Intercepted! Three and out!¡±


    ¡°Whoa, Kansas City Chiefs Defense¡¯s third-year player Jones accurately deciphers Wilson¡¯s Read Option Offense intentions, intercepting the ball just as Wilson prepares to run with it himself, a clean cut interception.¡±


    ¡°Three and out!¡±


    ¡°The defending champions display an unbelievable energy, instantly breaking the deadlock!¡±

 Chapter 723: 722 Sick Cat Home Court

    Chapter 723: 722 Sick Cat Home Court


    Ah, ah, ah!


    Annie¡¯s eyes widened as she raised her arms high and cheered silently with her mouth wide open, her heart soaring as if it could embrace the stormy world, looking at her friends in disbelief.


    Felix clenched his fists and waved them vigorously again and again, despite the distance, feeling as though he was fighting alongside the team at this very moment¡ªthe passion and vitality burning fiercely.


    The moment of decision, a critical juncture.


    The Kansas City Chiefs elevated their game, demonstrating their depth in rhythm and intensity, launching a powerful attack on both offense and defense, stunning the Seattle Seahawks with a combination of blows.


    Carroll: ¡°Wait a minute, what...what just happened? What happened just now?¡±


    ...


    Just moments ago, the two teams were in an indistinguishably fierce battle, but in the blink of an eye, the situation was overturned and a gap was created, leaving Carroll confused.


    However, Carroll was no pushover, capable of building the Bombing Corps in Seattle and almost establishing a dynasty; he certainly had his capabilities.


    In a crisis, Carroll steadied himself and once again prepared his strategy¡ª


    The game wasn¡¯t over yet, as long as the Seattle Seahawks¡¯ defensive group could block the next wave of attack from the Chieftains, and then Wilson could take the field...


    The prerequisite was that the Seattle Seahawks¡¯ defensive group could stop the opponent.


    On a screen pass, Mahomes pretended to pass to Watkins on the left but switched to the right at the last moment, with Li Wei and Kelsey running side by side creating a distraction. Li Wei caught the pass and advanced twelve yards under Kelsey¡¯s block.


    A quick short pass allowed Kelsey, relying on individual skill along with protection from Li Wei and Watkins, to turn a three-yard pass into an eleven-yard gain.


    In a play-action pass, Mahomes quickly released the ball, successfully connecting with Watkins who, after a series of maneuvers, astonishingly advanced ten yards amidst the relentless waves of the Seahawks¡¯ secondary defense.


    Rhythm was key.


    Originally, with the Chiefs leading and little more than three minutes left in the game, Reed should have slowed down the pace, used Li Wei¡¯s ground attacks to run down the clock, and looked for opportunities to surprise with a pass. This would have been the standard strategy.


    Furthermore, with Reed¡¯s intelligence, it wasn¡¯t hard to gauge the situation for the Chiefs¡ªthey aimed to secure a ranking in the American League without risking an all-out battle. Since they had already secured a playoff spot, there was no need to expend too much effort here.


    All these reasons combined made the strategic choice at this moment extremely clear and simple.


    Carroll¡¯s mind was working furiously, ready to capitalize on the Chiefs¡¯ mentality. The Seahawks would apply pressure at the front, aiming to disrupt the rhythm of Mahomes and Li Wei, as the defensive group swiftly secured an out.


    Unexpectedly, the Chiefs, flouting convention, overturned their strategy, not only refraining from a conservative wait-and-see approach but also moving into fast mode. They seized the opportunity created by the Seahawks¡¯ eagerness to apply pressure and imbalance in formation, breaking through with successive short passes.


    It was clear to see that the Seahawks¡¯ defensive alignment was in complete disarray.


    Then, the play-action run.


    Mahomes finally truly handed the football into Li Wei¡¯s arms, opting for a ground attack as the Chiefs ¡°followed the will of the people.¡±


    Wagner: ¡°Well done, I¡¯ve been waiting for this!¡±


    Wagner resisted the urge to rush, forced himself to calm down, and followed Li Wei¡¯s every horizontal move closely, lowering his center of gravity.


    Then, he made a cut, closing in.


    Just as Li Wei¡¯s steps crossed the kickoff line, Wagner made his move, cutting inward, crab-like with arms spread, blocking Li Wei¡¯s path.


    This time, Wagner was prepared and positioned perfectly on the path.


    Li Wei and Wagner were about to collide.


    Li Wei shifted to the right.


    Wagner: ¡°Heh, anticipated that, just waiting for your move.¡±


    Li Wei then shifted to the left.


    Wagner: ¡°Nice try, kid. I¡¯ve already figured out your little tricks. I let you fake me out a few times before because I was careless, but if it happens again, it¡¯s because I¡¯m stupid.¡±


    Then, Li Wei shifted to the right for the third consecutive time.


    But by then, Wagner was no longer giving chances. Seeing Li Wei¡¯s continuous swaying left and right also led to a problem of lethargy; his speed noticeably couldn¡¯t keep up. Wagner refused to be led by the nose any longer, switching from passive to active.


    A step forward, a lunge, and a tackle.


    Just as he waited for Li Wei to return to the center line, not letting Li Wei continue swaying to the right, Wagner had already preemptively completed the tackling movement.


    Caught him!


    Feeling the strength in his arms, Wagner delightedly thought, ¡°Got you!¡±


    At that moment, that swath of red jersey magnified in his pupils.


    Wagner assumed he had successfully tackled, so he didn¡¯t notice the increase in speed, and just as he wondered why it had been so easy, Li Wei crashed into his embrace¡ª


    Face-to-face, stepping forward.


    A full embrace.


    Wagner: Hmph.


    The direct clash of power made Wagner¡¯s chest feel tight, muscles paralyzed, body stiffened, the grunt getting stuck in his throat before he could make a sound.


    The next second, Li Wei took half a step forward.


    Just a small half-step, yet Wagner¡¯s balance had already dramatically collapsed.


    Following closely, Li Wei, brushing against Wagner¡¯s not fully collapsed body, turned counterclockwise.


    Three hundred and sixty degrees.


    Li Wei and Wagner swapped places, Wagner was left behind, and Li Wei broke through.


    Briefly crossing each other, Wagner and Li Wei¡¯s gazes collided shortly amidst the fierce storm.


    Wagner could clearly see the slight upward tilt of Li Wei¡¯s smile: Sorry, I¡¯m moving ahead.


    Wagner¡¯s chest felt like it had been struck by a heavy hammer, his body leaning back, as he helplessly watched Li Wei stride away, the number twenty-three red figure receding in the distance.


    Stomping the ground, accelerating, sprinting.


    Li Wei was like a storm, roaring majestically through the entire CenturyLink Field.


    Under the watchful eyes of thousands, that red hurricane shook off its tail with absolute speed, and neatly, while sandwiched between two safeties, used McDougall like a knight¡¯s shield against the surge, continually moving closer to the sideline.


    Just as he seemed about to go out of bounds¡ª


    Li Wei instantly accelerated and broke free.


    McDougall, his support gone, flew out of the bounds, while Li Wei, riding the wave of swirling dust, continued his mad dash, leaping into the end zone.


    Graceful, agile, deadly.


    CenturyLink Field, submissive. The devil turned into a scared cat, furious but unable to speak.


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Li Wei again! God, Li Wei makes the Seattle Seahawks¡¯ defensive group look as if they¡¯re made of paper, taking whatever he wants, running wild.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei once again showed top league prowess with a twenty-seven-yard run to the end zone killing the suspense of the match, quiets CenturyLink Field completely.¡±


    ¡°People thought the Kansas City Chiefs were facing another fierce battle, but Li Wei had different plans.¡±


    ¡°An unparalleled performance, a determination to win, Li Wei shown a superior state, twice crushing the Seattle Seahawks¡¯ hope for victory.¡±


    ¡°Two touchdowns, one strikeout, in the last five minutes the Kansas City Chiefs were untouchable, utterly devastating the game.¡±


    ¡°Game over! Declared over prematurely in an inconceivable manner!¡±

 Chapter 724: 723 people are having a hard time but not falling apart.

    Chapter 724: 723 people are having a hard time but not falling apart.


    Beep.


    The game at CenturyLink Field was over; the devil¡¯s home field¡¯s momentum and posture had ceased to exist, a scene of utter despair and desolation.


    The transformation from a devil to a sick cat was unforeseen.


    Defeat, hard to swallow.


    What¡¯s even worse and more terrifying is the way they lost; a deadlock throughout the game, no concessions made, then a complete collapse at the very last moment.


    ¡°45:31¡±.


    ...


    The numbers on the scoreboard hung high above CenturyLink Field¡ª


    No doubt, this was a disgrace.


    ¡°The game is over, but for the Seattle Seahawks, the lessons have just begun. What happened in the last five minutes? Like a fierce storm, Carroll¡¯s team completely fell apart. They need to take a moment to reflect,¡±


    ¡°Meanwhile, for other teams in the league, this is a wake-up call. While people snorted at Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ performance this season, don¡¯t forget that the Playoff Chiefs can terrify anyone, a team that has now quietly made its mark.¡±


    Ah, ah, ah.


    Annie raised her arms high in celebration, silently screaming, looking at Felix, both of them repeatedly shouting loudly with their mouths.


    ¡°Playoff Chiefs!¡±


    ¡°Playoff Chiefs!¡±


    Creak.


    The door to the chemotherapy room opened, Jenna peeked inside ¡ª


    The children all jumped and waved their arms, completely in a party state, cheerful and buoyant, yet without any sound.


    Like a silent movie, the scene of quietly chaotic dancing was a bit creepy, yet also somewhat amusing.


    ¡°What are you all doing?¡± Jenna broke the silence.


    Shush, shush, shush.


    All eyes gathered on her, landing on Jenna, everyone froze in place, seamlessly playing the ¡°Statues¡± game.


    Annie turned to her mother, using all her strength, opened her mouth, and screamed silently: Ah, ah, ah.


    Felix calmed down and spoke, ¡°We won.¡±


    Jenna, ¡°Oh.¡±


    The next second, the children again raised their hands and began hopping wildly, still in silence, but each one enjoying themselves immensely.


    Unintentionally, Jenna gently shook her head, closed the door, stood in the hallway, and couldn¡¯t help but clench her fist, eyes and brows filled with joy.


    The Kansas City Chiefs versus Seattle Seahawks game unfolded and ended in an unexpectedly abrupt manner.


    After the game, the shock and impact still swirled in the air, visible to the discerning eye.


    The focus was entirely on Li Wei, whose outburst in the final stages was remarkable, unquestionably becoming the center of heated discussions again.


    Regarding his explosive performance in the final stages, during the post-game press conference, Li Wei stated,


    ¡°Even though in Seattle, we were not fighting alone; we had countless fans from Kansas City with us, facing the challenge together.¡±


    ¡°The regular season is nearing its end, which also signifies that the playoffs are about to begin, and we need to deliver a superior performance now.¡±


    ¡°We only persevered, that¡¯s all there was to it.¡±


    Resolute, confident.


    Immediately a reporter asked, ¡°Rookie, do you mean to say you¡¯re preparing to defend your title?¡±


    Li Wei shrugged lightly, ¡°You don¡¯t need to prepare for defending a title, it has to be earned one game at a time. Right now, we are not focused on the Super Bowl but on the next game against Oakland, for which we will be ready.¡±


    The determination that flowed through his words reignited their fighting spirit once more.


    In stark contrast was Wilson.


    Until the game ended, Wilson was still somewhat dazed:


    Who am I, where am I, what am I doing, how did all this happen?


    But even amidst the chaos, Wilson hurriedly grasped at his sanity to find his grounding.


    ¡°It was a terrible loss, but we will make quick adjustments and prepare well for the next game. We will defeat our opponent and secure a playoff spot.¡±


    Even after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Seattle Seahawks still had a chance¡ªif they could defeat the Arizona Cardinals in the last game, they could ensure a playoff berth¡ª


    The Arizona Cardinals had officially entered into a tanking mode this season, competing with the Oakland Raiders for the second-to-last place; conveniently, next week Arizona faced Seattle while Oakland played against Kansas City. Unless something unexpected happened, the Cardinals were unlikely to foolishly lose their second-to-last place title at the last minute.


    Thus, the Seattle Seahawks held an absolute advantage.


    But the reporter just had to bring up the sore subject.


    ¡°Russell, you said the same thing last week before facing the Kansas City Chiefs.¡±


    Wilson: Can¡¯t you see that some things are better left unsaid?


    The reporter was rubbing salt in the wounds of the Seahawks while on the other hand, the Kansas City Chiefs were experiencing a complete turnaround after defeating Seattle¡ª


    Praise mode activated.


    ¡°¡®Playoff Chief¡¯ awakens, the defending champions display strength and posture,¡±


    ¡°Kansas City Chiefs refuse to repeat past mistakes!¡±


    ¡°Absolute toughness, absolute power, the Chiefs are indeed undergoing a transformation.¡±


    ¡°Daily lesson: Never underestimate Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°From Gillette Stadium to CenturyLink Field, Li Wei has proven with his actions that he fears no provocation or assault.¡±


    A shower of flowers and applause.


    Just one game later, like a heavy snowfall, all dirt and filth were covered up, and the world was completely transformed anew.


    Just hours ago, the discussion around the Kansas City Chiefs was still negative; some criticized their handling of the Hunter incident, some contested their performance against top teams lacked conviction, and some doubted the defending champions¡¯ prospects in the playoffs.


    And so on and so forth, the noise was never-ending.


    However, after the final ¡°Devil¡¯s Five Minutes¡± at CenturyLink Field, the direction of public opinion on social media underwent an instantaneous reversal; those negative voices disappeared, and one by one, many couldn¡¯t wait to kneel in front of the Chiefs, showering them with praises and admiration in a wildfire-like spread.


    Pride? What is that, can you eat it?


    That¡¯s how simple things are; one victory can cure all ills. If one isn¡¯t enough, then bring on another.


    Of course, there was another crucial reason¡ª


    Before the game, the media was unanimously focused on the Seattle Seahawks, repeatedly emphasizing that defeating the Chiefs would secure Carroll a playoff spot and a chance to return to the Super Bowl final after two years; only a small part of the media was paying attention to the status and condition of the Chiefs.


    After defeating Seattle, the Chiefs improved their season record to twelve wins and three losses, meaning they had a chance to secure the top seed of the American League playoffs in advance¡ª


    After all, the Chiefs¡¯ last week¡¯s opponent was the strong contender for second to last place, the Oakland Raiders, and it was also a home game.


    This victory was almost surely in the bag for the Chiefs.


    Of course, the game hadn¡¯t happened yet, anything was possible; if the Chiefs wanted to secure the top seed position a week early, it would depend on their competitors¡¯ performances.


    Swipe, swipe, swipe.


    All eyes were gathered.

 Chapter 725: 724 Stands Out

    Chapter 725: 724 Stands Out


    From every angle of analysis, the Kansas City Chiefs had firmly grasped their fate in their own hands. As long as they could defeat the Oakland Raiders, the top seed spot in the AFC would belong to the defending champions.


    But here, the Oakland Raiders were always an unknown factor. Even though they were strong contenders for the second-to-last place in the league this season, even though the final week¡¯s game was about to take place at Arrowhead Chiefs; one must not forget, the matches between the Oakland Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs, these divisional arch-rivals, can never be judged by the usual standards.


    Who knows how the Oakland Raiders would choose between ¡°the draft pick position next year¡± and ¡°sabotaging the divisional arch-rival¡¯s playoff plans¡±?


    This was why the penultimate week of the regular season was so crucial, the Kansas City Chiefs needed to win, needed to keep the initiative in their own hands.


    The result¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs did it.


    ...


    They had the last laugh in this tough battle of a clash of titans against the Seattle Seahawks, securing an early lead in the competition for the AFC¡¯s number one seed spot.


    Now, it was time to see how the rival teams performed in the final sprint of the regular season.


    The New England Patriots, who beat their divisional arch-rivals the Buffalo Bills this week, but had previously lost to the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers suffering back-to-back defeats, currently had a record of ten wins and five losses.


    The Houston Texans, in a very, very close game, were narrowly defeated by the last Super Bowl¡¯s runners-up, the Philadelphia Eagles, and currently had a record of ten wins and five losses.


    In other words, both teams fell behind to varying degrees and in different ways, ultimately unable to keep pace with the Kansas City Chiefs, and consequently bowed out of the race for the AFC¡¯s number one seed spot. Regardless of the results of the final week¡¯s games, they no longer had a chance to compete with the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Finally, there were only the Los Angeles Chargers left from the AFC West.


    The fight for the top seed spot would be contested by two teams from the same division, an undoubtedly extraordinary spectacle, revealing the fierce competition within the AFC West.


    This week, the Los Angeles Chargers were home against the Baltimore Ravens.


    Originally, Lynn¡¯s team was full of confidence, ready to carry on the momentum from the last-second victory over the Kansas City Chiefs; but they never anticipated things moving in another direction. After coming out on top in the divisional clash the previous week, the Los Angeles Chargers¡¯ locker room celebrated wildly, their strung nerves finally relaxed, and the most difficult battle being over, they were unable to tighten up for the following week¡¯s game.


    During the critical moment of fighting for the playoff seed spots, the Los Angeles Chargers revealed their instability, and the game against the Baltimore Ravens, which should have been a clash of the strong, turned out disappointing.


    The game, simply collapsed.


    The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Los Angeles Chargers on the road with a score of ¡°22 to 10,¡± facing little resistance throughout the game, and emerging victorious from Los Angeles.


    Such a situation was also something no one could have anticipated.


    But this is the NFL; this is competitive sports. Every week¡¯s game is filled with countless possibilities, and until the final moment, no outcome is set in stone.


    With the conclusion of Week 15 in the regular season, the Los Angeles Chargers stand with eleven wins and four losses.


    The outcome was revealed ahead of schedule.


    According to NFL ranking rules, the Kansas City Chiefs had locked down the AFC¡¯s number one playoff seed spot a week early.


    Even if in the last week, the Kansas City Chiefs lost to the Oakland Raiders and the Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Denver Broncos, the ranking outcome would still be the same.


    In the 2018 season, the first big mystery of the regular season was the first to unveil its answer:


    As the AFC¡¯s number one seed, the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs would set out for the playoffs, not only having a bye for the wild-card round but also enjoying home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.


    Meanwhile, the race for the second seed in the American League remained a knife-edge battle, where the victor would get a bye in the first round of the playoffs, and the loser would face the wildcard round. Such intense competition kept the New England Patriots and the Houston Texans under continuous strain, making the final week¡¯s events critical.


    The National Conference was no exception, with the New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams, and Chicago Bears locked in a tight struggle. The rankings for the top three seeds amongst these three teams would be decided only in the final moments. Until the very end, the outcome was unpredictable, and any misstep could lead to drastic changes in the seed rankings.


    In other words, in the last week of the regular season, there were still a series of mysteries to be unveiled, and teams still needed to give it their all, the fierceness of battle reaching unprecedented levels.


    Only the Kansas City Chiefs were the exception.


    Having locked in the playoff¡¯s number one seed position in advance as they did last season, the Kansas City Chiefs could embrace the final week of the regular season in a relaxed state, preparing for the playoffs while other teams fought tooth and nail, the Chiefs could sit back with a cup of tea and watch the drama unfold.


    The treatment was starkly different.


    So, was this the posture of the defending champions?


    No wonder that after the ¡°devil¡¯s five minutes¡± at CenturyLink Field, be it the media or social networks, there was nothing but praise, admiration, applause, and cheers.


    After enduring a long and arduous regular season, the defending champions had still locked in the American League¡¯s number one seed position ahead of time. Regardless of what anyone said, the Kansas City Chiefs had secured a favorable position for themselves in the playoff battle, even earning precious time to adjust, which was quite remarkable.


    ¡°...Oh, you guy, you¡¯re a little moved, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    JJ Watt was on a call with Li Wei, partly to congratulate Li Wei for completing an excellent season and partly because he needed some moral support¡ª


    The Houston Texans, this season, had a rare opportunity.


    Firstly, they became the first team in league history to rebound with nine straight wins after opening the season with three consecutive losses, making history.


    Secondly, it was the second time since the 2012 season that they achieved more than ten wins in a campaign.


    Last but not least, they had the chance to win the division title for the third time in the team¡¯s history.


    Everything was on the right track.


    But because of this, the pressure in the last week of the regular season was unprecedented.


    In week 17 of the regular season, the Houston Texans were set to face the Jacksonville Jaguars.


    The Jacksonville Jaguars who battled toe-to-toe with the Kansas City Chiefs in last season¡¯s American League finals.


    At the start of this season, many experts believed the defense-oriented, steadfast Jacksonville Jaguars would still be strong contenders for the American League championship; however, the reality was cruel. The Jaguars¡¯ season fell apart, with only four wins so far, now contending for the position of almost the worst team.


    From heaven to hell, a freefall at the speed of light, but that¡¯s the NFL, a different setup every season, with no one assured of their spot.


    From every perspective, the Houston Texans were favored to win this game; but precisely because of this seeming proximity to victory, there was a risk of complacency, taking the win for granted, underestimating the opponent, and eagerly looking forward to the playoffs. Such a narrative often leads to a harsh reality check.


    The pressure was immense.


    As the captain and spiritual leader of the Houston Texans, Watt couldn¡¯t show any signs of faltering in the locker room, not even the slightest crack, as he needed to bear all the pressure himself; and his brothers were not up to facing such a situation.


    Perhaps, only Li Wei could.

 Chapter 726: 725 Peak Encounter

    Chapter 726: 725 Peak Encounter


    The showdown was imminent, and Watt needed some support; naturally, Li Wei came to mind.


    It wasn¡¯t that he needed Li Wei¡¯s comfort or encouragement, nor any soul-soothing pep talks, but rather just a conversation, letting Watt know:


    On this rugged and bumpy road, there were fellow travelers not far away, striving and battling. Although they each had their own distinct battles, they still watched out for each other, clearing thorns along the way, and looking forward to meeting at the summit.


    That was enough.


    So when Li Wei said he would watch the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars game, Watt was a bit touched.


    Unfortunately, the feeling didn¡¯t last a second before Li Wei¡¯s voice came through the phone again.


    ...


    ¡°By the poolside, lying on a beach chair, sipping a cocktail, sunbathing, listening to jazz, really enjoying the game.¡±


    That contented statement made Watt lose control and burst into roaring laughter¡ª


    Indeed, as always, Li Wei was just Li Wei.


    ¡°Hey, buddy, save a spot for me.¡± Watt teased with a smile.


    Li Wei, ¡°A beach chair, or a recliner?¡±


    Watt, ¡°Hahaha, I¡¯m not a beast, okay? I know how to enjoy life too.¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°I¡¯m serious, brother. What you should be looking forward to now is not the off-season, but the upcoming games. Hey, I¡¯ve been looking forward to meeting you again since this off-season; so, are you ready to face me in the divisional game or the conference championship?¡±


    In a light tone, one could feel the steadfast courage and determination.


    Suddenly, Watt also got carried away, ¡°Buddy, are you so confident? Is this still the Li Wei I know? The Li Wei who said, ¡®I¡¯m not confident, but we will win¡¯?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Of course.¡± Crisp and to the point, ¡°Confidence, still none, but victory, just as firmly believed in. You should be more confident than me, Mr. League¡¯s Best Defensive Player.¡±


    ¡°We strive, we strive, we fight to the end, and then calmly face all outcomes. That¡¯s life.¡±


    Bit by bit, Watt¡¯s blood began to boil, ¡°We strive, we strive, we fight to the end. Ha, I think I¡¯m ready.¡±


    Taking a deep breath, Watt said again, ¡°See you at the summit?¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s smile fully unfolded on his face, ¡°See you at the summit, don¡¯t miss it.¡±


    Hanging up the phone, Watt took a long deep breath¡ª


    He craved victory, he craved the championship; it had always been so, but never had he yearned this much like he did this year, every fiber of his being aflame.


    After being sidelined due to injuries for two consecutive seasons, Watt had many doubts and confusions about himself, and the relentless cycle of injuries was torturous; having finally completed a season healthy, he longed to keep going.


    Especially seeing Li Wei¡¯s performance, his spirited morale, passionate confrontations, and tenacious willpower, all igniting Watt¡¯s fighting spirit.


    He longed to battle, to battle with Li Wei, to battle with top teams for victory and the championship.


    He was ready.


    ...


    The 2018 NFL season, Week 17 of the regular season, was gradually unfolding.


    Unlike before, there were no night games this week. To ensure fairness and justice of the games, all matches were scheduled during daylight on Sunday, half in the morning and half in the afternoon, bringing a perfect end to the regular season.


    Groggily, Jenna was still in her dreams when she noticed an itch on her nose, thinking it was her bedmate¡¯s mischief she was about to scold.


    However, upon opening her eyes, Jenna saw her daughter¡¯s big beautiful eyes innocently looking at her as if unaware of what was happening, though a feather duster hidden behind couldn¡¯t hide her trick.


    ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re awake! Great, then let¡¯s get ready to go to Arrowhead Stadium!¡±


    Jenna watched the duster behind her wagging like a dog¡¯s tail and couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter, rubbing her temples.


    ¡°Annie, the game isn¡¯t until the afternoon; we didn¡¯t need to get up so early,¡± she said.


    Annie shook her head vigorously like a rattle drum, ¡°No, no, no, Mom, who waits until the afternoon to go to the stadium? We need to get there in the morning, well-prepared for the game.¡±


    Jenna: ???


    Clearly, Jenna didn¡¯t believe it.


    Jenna turned to look at her husband, Jeff Galas, lying next to her, and cast him an inquiring glance.


    Jeff was equally clueless about football, ¡°Since our expert says so, it must be true.¡±


    Then.


    When Mr. and Mrs. Galas arrived at Arrowhead Stadium with Annie, they realized their mistake upon seeing the bustling crowd¡ª


    Seriously misplaced.


    They had thought they were early, but the sight of the teeming, crowded venue truly highlighted their insignificance, a mere drop in the ocean of humanity.


    As the final regular season game of the year, since the Kansas City Chiefs had already secured their playoff spot and were facing off against their division rivals, for Kansas City, this was a festival, perfectly compensating for the inability to properly party during Christmas and New Year.


    Arrowhead Stadium, filled early, even those without tickets could still come and revel, enjoying the beautiful afternoon with other fans.


    People, people, everywhere you looked.


    The Galas family felt a bit lost, momentarily losing their bearings.


    Fortunately, they didn¡¯t lose their cool.


    The Gallas family, led by Annie, went to the ticket booth and tentatively reported their names as ¡°Annie Galas¡±, and the ticket seller immediately understood.


    The family of three simply waited on the spot for a moment before staff from inside Arrowhead Stadium came out to escort them to the VIP suite above the field.


    Later, Felix and Karen also appeared in the VIP suite, but they were just stopping by to greet because they planned to watch the game from the stands¡ª


    ¡°It¡¯s a different feel. Really. Especially seeing Li Wei sprint up close, you can feel the speed and power, watching live is truly different.¡±


    Felix¡¯s words made Annie restless, giving her mother a pleading look.


    But this time, it didn¡¯t work.


    Annie was still too frail, and Jenna was worried that too much excitement might be too much for her to handle. Being in the crowd, if anything were to happen, medical staff wouldn¡¯t be able to assist promptly. The VIP suite was Jenna¡¯s last resort.


    Although Annie wasn¡¯t able to go to the stands to experience the fans¡¯ point of view, before the game began, Li Wei, Mahomes, and a host of other players still came to visit Annie in the VIP suite.


    ¡°You¡¯re a celebrity in the locker room now; if we weren¡¯t worried that the VIP suite couldn¡¯t fit everyone, the whole team would have come,¡± Li Wei teased, causing Annie to show a rare bit of shyness and restraint.


    Still, Annie mustered the courage, ¡°Go, fight! We¡¯re with the team.¡± Her little fist clenched tightly, waving vigorously.


    Finally, the little girl leaned close to Li Wei¡¯s ear and whispered, ¡°Li Wei, I¡¯m looking forward to you scoring several touchdowns!¡±


    Kelsey shook his head repeatedly next to them, ¡°Annie, we all heard that. Rookie gets special treatment, and we don¡¯t; we are going to be jealous.¡±


    Annie held her chin high, looking earnestly at Kelsey, ¡°If we keep scoring touchdowns, it would be too cruel to the Oakland Raiders, wouldn¡¯t it? Mom said we need to be a bit merciful.¡±


    Ha ha, hahaha.

 Chapter 727: 726 Go with the flow

    Chapter 727: 726 Go with the flow


    Annie always believed that Santa Claus truly existed, because so far, all her wishes had been fulfilled.


    First, to watch a game at Arrowhead Stadium. Fulfilled.


    Second, to witness a touchdown at Arrowhead Stadium, preferably one by Li Wei¡¯s signature Edgerunner touchdown. Fulfilled, at least the first half of it.


    Third, to witness a Kansas City Chiefs victory live on the spot. Fulfilled.


    Fourth, to follow the Kansas City Chiefs into the playoffs. About to be fulfilled.


    Fifth, to enter middle school, to worry about exams, to worry about love, to struggle through the rebellious teenage years, to worry about future career choices and life paths. Waiting to be fulfilled.


    ...


    Look, even though the wishes haven¡¯t been 100% fulfilled, everything is happening¡ª


    Or rather, she wanted to believe in the existence of Santa Claus.


    Santa Claus would definitely listen to all her wishes, because she was a good child, right?


    If Santa Claus was too busy to hear her wishes, that¡¯s okay, too. She still had the chance of New Year¡¯s resolutions, didn¡¯t she?


    Today was December 30th, the second-to-last day of 2018, and Annie would earnestly hope that her New Year¡¯s wish would come true.


    At least, her wish for today had already mostly come true, and the future was still very long.


    In the game against the Oakland Raiders, the Kansas City Chiefs, who had already secured their playoff seed, chose to rotate players. Reed gave the main players a rest and fielded the second team to conserve energy for the upcoming playoffs.


    The only exception was Mahomes.


    For this young sophomore quarterback, it was crucial to continue accumulating game experience, to continue dealing with pressure, to continue growing methodically; at the same time, Reed was also deliberately cultivating Mahomes¡¯ leadership abilities, so that when Houston and Li Wei were not on the field, the quarterback should take on the responsibility of leading the team forward.


    As last season, the Kansas City Chiefs were still planning for the future.


    So, Li Wei didn¡¯t play¡ª


    However, the new captain of the Kansas City Chiefs wasn¡¯t idle either.


    Li Wei could have sat in the stands sipping afternoon tea, enjoying a relaxed vacation, but he didn¡¯t. Instead, he actively joined Burns and Clark, participating throughout in the on-field discussions with the running back group.


    Showing support through action.


    Putting aside the spiritual impact that Hunter¡¯s departure left in the locker room, the tactical impact was evident.


    A gap waiting to be filled.


    From a strategic point of view, Hunter¡¯s receiving abilities demonstrated last season were undoubtedly key to the Kansas City Chiefs breaking their six-game losing streak, which also inspired different talents in Li Wei.


    Now, without Hunter, this meant the tactical richness of the Kansas City Chiefs was restricted.


    Logically, Reed should look for a replacement to fill the void; but the problem was exactly there, a ¡°Hunter 2.0¡± was not so easy to find, and within the Kansas City Chiefs, there was no suitable substitute.


    No matter what the off-field issues were, Hunter¡¯s demonstrated ability on the field was indeed outstanding, not falling short even in front of Li Wei¡¯s unparalleled performance, which was also the basis of Hunter¡¯s restless ambition¡ª


    He had proven himself.


    Therefore, finding a substitute or successor was not easy.


    Reed once again showcased his depth.


    Reed did not obsessively search for a ¡°Hunter 2.0.¡± Instead, he mined and adjusted from the existing team roster, rearranged it, and then revised the playbook.


    Yes, Reed did not cling to the playbook that had proved effective all season. Instead, he saw crisis as an opportunity, grasped it firmly, and actively sought change.


    After all, the Kansas City Chiefs were not perfect this season.


    In the running back group, Reed did not promote the original third-string running back Spencer Ware. He chose the fourth-string running back Damien Williams instead.


    Damien Williams was an undrafted rookie in 2014. He had spent an unremarkable four seasons with the Miami Dolphins before transferring to the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason.


    This season, with Li Wei and Hunter in great form, even the third-string running back Ware had very limited playing time, let alone Damien. Damien had more appearances in the Special Duty Group and regular practice games.


    But Reed saw Damien¡¯s advantages¡ª


    5.9 feet (180 cm), 221 pounds (100 kg).


    In front of towering mountains of flesh, Damien was like a whack-a-mole, or to put it another way, an armadillo.


    On one hand, his ¡°short¡± stature and nimble steps often allowed him to find gaps in the impenetrable human walls, breaking through to the front.


    On the other hand, his stable lower body and great strength gave him a respectable ability for head-on confrontations. Though not a typical power running back, he was not to be underestimated.


    Unfortunately, Damien¡¯s football IQ was not high, his ability to grasp the playbook was limited, and he wasn¡¯t good at intricate route running, which meant he could not contribute much to the passing offense.


    In other words, he had some abilities, but his ceiling was quite apparent; plus, his skills were one-dimensional and lacked the capacity for multi-faceted development. That¡¯s why he went undrafted and made no significant headway in four years with the Miami Dolphins.


    Of course, the same was true in Kansas City.


    But now, Reed changed his approach, fully utilizing Damien¡¯s abilities to reorganize the ground offense tactics, integrating elements of power running and assault-style running into the playbook. This complemented Li Wei¡¯s different style, breaking new ground in offensive strategy.


    In the last game against the Seattle Seahawks, Damien was just getting a feel for the game. Due to Li Wei¡¯s presence, the Defensive group¡¯s attention was all on him, giving Damien room to move, so he performed quite well.


    This game against the Oakland Raiders was the real test for Damien. He and the third-string running back Ware partnered up, bearing the heavy responsibility of the team¡¯s ground offense.


    That¡¯s exactly why Li Wei actively got involved. Even sitting on the sidelines, he watched the Raiders¡¯ defense intently and supported the two running backs mentally and tactically¡ª


    Competition?


    Li Wei was not at all afraid. He welcomed internal healthy competition with open arms and legs, because it was a direct way to make them better players.


    If Ware and Damien could threaten Li Wei¡¯s starting position in just one or two games, it would say less about their remarkable progress, and more about Li Wei marking time. This would be a good wake-up call for him.


    Moreover, they were a team. Li Wei knew very well that having only himself dominate the running back group was not good for the team. If they wanted to have more competitiveness in the playoffs, he needed the support of the other running backs.


    Supporting them was actually akin to securing support for himself.


    He needed to consider the big picture of the team.


    Therefore, Li Wei opened his heart and started communicating with the two running backs.


    Once again, Li Wei proved to be an outstanding captain¡ª


    Facing the Oakland Raiders, caught in a mix of tension and anticipation, and momentarily losing himself, Damien found his place with Li Wei¡¯s help, adapting quickly to his tactical role.

 Chapter 728: 727 Perfectly Concluded

    Chapter 728: 727 Perfectly Concluded


    The final week of the regular season was a torment for the Oakland Raiders.


    As mentioned before, the Oakland Raiders were set to head to Las Vegas before the 2020 season, marking their penultimate season in Oakland.


    Clearly, for both players and fans, the emotional bond between the team and the city was inseparable. The players hoped for as much support as possible from the fans, while the fans wished the team would leave behind more cherished memories.


    Unfortunately, these sentimental values meant nothing in the face of business interests.


    Thus, the Oakland Raiders faced a difficult choice:


    Should they go all out against the Kansas City Chiefs?


    ...


    Even though the Kansas City Chiefs had already secured the top seed in the American League and the outcome of the game was inconsequential, the Oakland Raiders could still sicken their division rivals and add some talking points to the grudges between Oakland and Kansas City for future generations to relish.


    Or should they surrender, lie down, tank?


    Give up on this irrelevant game completely, because the Arizona Cardinals are blatantly ready to flatten out, and the so-called ¡°suspense of the second-worst team¡± has long ceased to exist. Oakland Raiders¡¯ win or loss could not change their draft position for the next year, making the last week¡¯s game a complete waste of effort.


    Caught in a dilemma, they were in a tight spot.


    Of course, from the fans¡¯ perspective, victory, victory, a hundred percent victory is the choice. After all, the team is planning to move to Las Vegas the year after next, so why should they care about the team¡¯s future? Rather than draft positions, they still hope to irritate the Kansas City Chiefs one last time.


    However, from the team¡¯s perspective, Oakland is now in the past; they need to consider Las Vegas. The draft pick is extremely important. Despite being out of contention for the top pick next year, they refuse to see the Jacksonville Jaguars ¡°steal¡± their top pick, something they can¡¯t bear to witness.


    The answer emerged¡ª


    Tank.


    But to be fair, the Oakland Raiders were disunited and dysfunctional this season; even if they had tried their best, they likely would not have been able to shake the Kansas City Chiefs. Now that the tone was set, the game was even more out of sync and a complete mess.


    ¡°3:35¡±.


    When the game ended, the Kansas City Chiefs swept the Oakland Raiders at home, perfectly concluding their season¡ª


    Mahomes threw another interception, but he connected with Watkins and the substitute Tight End, Demetrius Harris, for two passing touchdowns, especially the fifty-three-yard pass to Watkins in the first quarter. After the catch, Watkins raced thirteen yards into the end zone for a decisive touchdown that set Arrowhead Stadium ablaze.


    Damien and Ware, the two running backs, each scored a running touchdown.


    Additionally, Safety Daniel Sorensen intercepted Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and completed a thirty-seven-yard return touchdown, scoring for the Defensive group.


    The final game of the regular season was brutally turned into a show.


    The Oakland Raiders completely collapsed and didn¡¯t even have the energy to be angry after the game, leaving Kansas City dejectedly.


    But for Arrowhead Stadium, especially for the Galas family, this was undoubtedly a carnival. In their first live football game, they witnessed a party, and the adrenaline rush simply wouldn¡¯t stop.


    Cheering, jumping, singing at the top of their lungs, they shone unreservedly.


    After the game, the Galas family saw Li Wei again in the locker room.


    Annie opened her arms and gave Li Wei a big hug, thrilled beyond measure.


    ¡°...Amazing, just amazing. Now, the only thing I regret is not seeing you score a touchdown.¡±


    Annie hadn¡¯t forgotten her wish list.


    Li Wei, who was completely dry and had not shed a drop of sweat, looked at himself and spread his hands, ¡°It seems, we can only look forward to the divisional playoffs now.¡±


    Annie extended her pinky finger.


    Li Wei was puzzled.


    Annie raised her right hand, ¡°Promise.¡±


    Li Wei burst into laughter, linked pinkies with Annie to seal the promise, and then turned to his teammates, ¡°You all saw it, I might need a bit of help when the time comes, remember to give it your all.¡±


    Ha ha, ha ha ha.


    A wave of laughter erupted.


    Jenna and Jeff exchanged glances, and it was only then they truly realized, it wasn¡¯t just about victory, but more so the fighting spirit, the kind that makes blood boil to the point of scalding the soul, awakening vitality¡ª


    Annie, needed this kind of encouragement.


    Mr. and Mrs. Galas exchanged a look, hiding the sadness in their eyes, took a deep breath, and with a smile, joined the locker room festivities.


    By the time Felix and Karen arrived at the locker room, they had missed the first part, but still witnessed the later half of Li Wei and Annie¡¯s pinky promise.


    Felix clumsily stepped forward, high-fiving Annie with his left hand and Li Wei with his right, excitedly raising his voice, ¡°I am the witness. The witness!¡±


    Jenna looked at Karen, noticing that Felix¡¯s voice was hoarse, ¡°Is everything okay?¡±


    Karen took a deep breath, and although concern was etched across her brow, the words she spoke were different, ¡°This is good.¡± She let out a long sigh, ¡°Better than staying in a room, silent and uncommunicative.¡±


    Karen looked at Jenna, and the two mothers exchanged a knowing look, touched yet sad, with their eyes slightly moist. Only they knew the bitterness and struggle, only parents whose children had truly gone through the torment of cancer could understand.


    ¡°Hoo-rah!¡±


    Li Wei, Annie, and Felix shouted loudly.


    Jenna and Karen also joined in the noisy cheers of the locker room.


    The 2018 regular season concluded with the last week¡¯s games coming to an end¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs finished the regular season beautifully with a victory, even with the second team playing, they still displayed the team¡¯s growth and transformation with a resounding win, even against the disspirited Oakland Raiders. But a victory is a victory, a perfect full stop.


    At the same time, this also meant that the playoffs curtain would rise the following week.


    All the build-up, brewing, and accumulation had ended, all the chaos and suspense had fallen, one by one the answers were unveiled, and¡ª


    Finally entering the sprint to the final battle, the tense and thrilling single-elimination games, one game to determine the winner.


    Unlike the NBA¡¯s seven-game series or the European Champions League¡¯s two-leg system, like the World Cup, it¡¯s a single game at the pinnacle that decides the fate.


    Randomness, unpredictability, and suddenness, everything is magnified dozens or even hundreds of times¡ª


    Anything is possible, the underdogs overcoming the favorites, the lowly rising against the mighty, upsets aplenty, a dark horse reigning supreme, nobody can rule out any potential outcome.


    Just like last season, no one expected the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles to meet in the Super Bowl, nor did anyone predict that the Chiefs would actually have the last laugh.


    Unpredictability, that is the fundamental reason why the NFL has become the number one sport on the North American continent. The most exciting season of the year has finally arrived.


    Now, standing at the crossroads just before the playoffs unfold, we reach the most intense and thrilling time of the annual cycle, as a season of fierce competition moves into act two.


    The big show, is about to begin.


    First of all, the first question, who has survived this year to win the battle to enter the second round of playoff gladiators?

 Chapter 729: Season 728 concludes

    Chapter 729: Season 728 concludes


    The 2018 NFL season drew to a close, with the powerhouses ready for action.


    Let¡¯s start with a digression¡ªthe battle for the bottom.


    Last season, the Arizona Cardinals¡¯ iconic quarterback Carson Palmer announced his retirement, signaling a full rebuild for the team.


    At that time, many people expressed the view that Palmer wasn¡¯t all that impressive as a quarterback; over the years in Arizona he only managed to lead the team to the playoffs a few times, with consistently lacklustre performances in the postseason. The disparaging remarks were endless: ¡°good riddance,¡± ¡°forget the Hall of Fame,¡± ¡°a perfect time for the Cardinals to start anew.¡±


    However, people quickly realized how difficult rebuilding is; they also recognized how excellent and important the ¡°mediocre¡± quarterback they belittled truly was.


    The Arizona Cardinals finished the season with a meagre three wins and thirteen losses, easily clinching the unwanted title of second-worst team without any suspense.


    ...


    Moreover, it wasn¡¯t just the Arizona Cardinals who struggled; other teams also found themselves in dire straits.


    The San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, and New York Jets each faced their respective troughs for different reasons, with the disappointing record of four wins and twelve losses.


    The Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with records of five wins and eleven losses, were not far behind and were in some ways even more shocking¡ª


    Before the season kicked off, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were considered strong contenders for the playoffs, yet they plummeted to such depths. After facing quarterback controversies last season, the New York Giants largely have themselves to blame for not waking up from their stupor and continuing their decline this season.


    For a moment, it was hard to decide whether to feel more dismay for the Jacksonville Jaguars sinking from almost reaching the American League championship game to rock bottom, or to be more astounded by the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants¡¯ crumbling far faster than anticipated.


    After all, every family has its own set of challenges, and each team its own troubles.


    With the regular season wrapped up, these teams have already kicked off their off-seasons early, and it is high time for the team managers and upper management to get busy.


    Even so, the focus of these teams remains on the postseason¡ª


    Which players have performed well, which teams might hold a fire sale, which coach could be their savior? Should they patch things up or start from scratch, how to balance the free agency and the draft?


    Some of these answers lie hidden in the ultimate showdown of the playoffs.


    Amidst the hustle and bustle, the attention of the masses¡ª


    First up is the National Conference.


    The National Conference has always been a battleground of contenders, with new faces and new dynamics every year, making it unpredictable.


    This year was no exception. The fierce competition lasted until the final week, with teams that successfully broke through all having fought tooth and nail.


    The number one seed, National Conference South Division Champions, New Orleans Saints, thirteen wins and three losses.


    The number two seed, National Conference West Division Champions, Los Angeles Rams, thirteen wins and three losses.


    The number three seed, National Conference North Division Champions, Chicago Bears, twelve wins and four losses.


    The number four seed, National Conference East Division Champions, Dallas Cowboys, ten wins and six losses.


    Wildcards.


    The number five seed, second place in the National Conference West Division, Seattle Seahawks, ten wins and six losses.


    The number six seed, second place in the National Conference East Division, Philadelphia Eagles, nine wins and seven losses.


    From the records alone, one can see the ferocity of competition. Apart from the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams who moved forward neck and neck, the other teams were all separated by a mere single win.


    The fundamental reason is that other teams, which didn¡¯t make it past the finish line, also performed admirably. The line between strong and weak teams was not clear; every team that advanced to the playoffs had been through a grueling struggle with their opponents, losing layers of skin before stumbling across the line.


    The National Conference, truly worthy of its name.


    In the midst of chaos, every advancing team had a story behind it.


    The Los Angeles Rams, initially dominating the season with strength and splendor, faced intense targeting, while Sean Payton and Drew Brees led the New Orleans Saints, averting dangers as if snatching teeth from a tiger¡¯s mouth, to snatch away the No. 1 seed spot.


    The Los Angeles Rams, sweeping all before them in the first half of the season, revealed some weaknesses later on. Missing out on the entire home-field advantage of the No. 1 seed was regrettable, but more importantly, it laid hidden dangers for the playoff prospects.


    Of course, this is nitpicking; relative weaknesses at best. Without a doubt, entering the playoffs, the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints remained the most potent contenders for the National Conference championship.


    But the other teams were not to be underestimated.


    The Seattle Seahawks, who fought their way out under intense pressure from division rival Los Angeles Rams, and both the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles from the cutthroat National Conference East Division, were all assassins.


    Among them, the one that undeniably deserved the most attention was the Philadelphia Eagles, last season¡¯s Super Bowl runners-up, who put on a top-notch performance in the final battle that left fans with an unforgettable match etched into the annals of history.


    In the off-season of this season, the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ front office faced a pleasant dilemma¡ª


    How should they handle the situation with both quarterbacks, Wentz and Foles?


    In the end, the Philadelphia Eagles turned in a perfect answer sheet. They gave Foles a new contract and successfully kept him on the team as Wentz¡¯s backup.


    This was a win-win.


    Because Foles could have easily gone to another team as a starting quarterback, plenty of offers were extended during the off-season; but Foles chose to stay.


    When the media asked why, Foles gave a series of answers, including a very important one, ¡°My competition with Li Wei isn¡¯t over yet. We each have our own battles and look forward to clashing at the summit once again.¡±


    Later events proved that this move by the Philadelphia Eagles saved their season.


    In Weeks 1 and 2 of the season, Wentz was not yet ready to return, and Foles continued as the starting quarterback, leading to one win and one loss; Wentz returned in Week 3, and the position of the cornerstone quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles still belonged to this third-year player.


    However, after returning from injury, Wentz seemed to have lost his magic, completely lacking the miraculous MVP-worthy performance of last season. His performance was always a struggle, with a disappointing team record of five wins and six losses.


    As the entire league buzzed with debates about whether the Philadelphia Eagles should continue to start Wentz, in Week 14, Wentz suffered a back injury and was ruled out for the season, ending the controversy in a dramatic fashion.


    Then, Foles took over the starting role.


    And once again, he wielded his magic, triumphing in the last three weeks, pulling the Philadelphia Eagles back from the brink of the cliff, and barely catching the playoff¡¯s last train.


    With a record of nine wins and seven losses, it wasn¡¯t pretty; but as long as you¡¯re in the playoffs, that¡¯s enough, because everything is rewritten on the playoff stage¡ª


    Starting all over again.


    The key point is that Foles saved the Philadelphia Eagles once again, earning him the honor of ¡°Saint Nick¡±, no doubt the most talked-about story of the season.


    However, compared to ¡°Saint Nick¡±, the most thrilling story of the season in the National Conference belonged to someone else.


    The Chicago Bears.


    The Cinderella of the year, the dark horse, the surprise of the year.


    Or rather, this year¡¯s Chicago Bears were the Kansas City Chiefs of the year.

 Chapter 730 03-25 - 730: 729 All the Strong Beacon Fires

    Chapter 730: 729 All the Strong Beacon Fires


    Chicago Bears, the big losers.


    Last draft season, they were tricked by Veach, the manager of the Kansas City Chiefs, and ended up paying for the Chiefs¡¯ aggressive draft strategy, while they chose with their top pick ¡ª


    Trubisky.


    Last season, their record was only five wins and ten losses, struggling on the road of rebuilding since the team overhaul. They haven¡¯t had a winning season since 2012, and the last time they made the playoffs was the distant 2010.


    A low point, darkness, a long stretch with no end in sight.


    Especially with divisional rivals like the Green Bay Packers, who have Rodgers, and the Minnesota Vikings who spent big this season to welcome Cousins, while all hopes for the revival of the Chicago Bears rested on Trubisky¡¯s shoulders.


    ...


    Clearly, Trubisky was not up to the task, especially compared with the strong performance of his fellow Top Scholar, Li Wei. Trubisky kept moving further down the path of being criticized and considered a flop, seemingly with no chance to turn it around.


    Missing out on Li Wei was bad enough; not choosing Mahomes when they had the upper hand was one thing, but they didn¡¯t even pick Watson, and immediately the Chicago Bears¡¯ management was compared to that of the New York Jets.


    A disaster.


    However, this offseason, the Chicago Bears management finally made a wise decision ¡ª


    They poached Nagy, the brilliant Offensive Coordinator from the Kansas City Chiefs, to be the team¡¯s head coach.


    Just like Pederson, who left the Chiefs for the Philadelphia Eagles before, Nagy showed his talent upon arriving in Chicago.


    In just one season, the Chicago Bears were transformed.


    The season record, twelve wins and five losses, marked their return to the playoffs after nine years.


    And in the season¡¯s final game, the Chicago Bears defeated their division rival, the Minnesota Vikings, helping Pederson¡¯s Philadelphia Eagles, whom Nagy had previously worked with, edge into the playoffs by stepping over the Vikings, while the quarterback-driven Minnesota Vikings became the league¡¯s joke for the offseason.


    Last season, the Minnesota Vikings advanced vigorously into the National Conference finals; this season, the team¡¯s management boldly revamped the Offensive group by bringing in Cousins with a shocking contract from the Washington Redskins, aiming for the Super Bowl.


    The result ... just like the Jacksonville Jaguars, they missed the playoffs.


    A major embarrassment.


    The Chicago Bears were vindicated and became the center of attention in the entire league.


    Nagy¡¯s contribution was indispensable.


    And it was because of Nagy and Pederson proving their abilities in the National Conference in succession, that when people looked at the reigning champions, the Kansas City Chiefs again, their perspective slightly changed.


    After all, this year¡¯s AFC structure has proven that the Chiefs¡¯ Super Bowl win last year was not just a matter of luck.


    Next is the American League.


    The number one seed, AFC West champions, Kansas City Chiefs, thirteen wins and three losses.


    The number two seed, AFC East champions, New England Patriots, eleven wins and five losses.


    The number three seed, AFC South champions, Houston Texans, eleven wins and five losses.


    The number four seed, AFC North champions, Baltimore Ravens, ten wins and six losses.


    Wild card.


    The number five seed, second in AFC West, Los Angeles Chargers, twelve wins and four losses.


    The number six seed, second in AFC South, Indianapolis Colts, ten wins and six losses.


    A chaotic scene.


    At first glance, it was obvious that this was chaos.


    Since Manning¡¯s retirement, the AFC landscape had undergone a complete reshuffle, and the previous dominance of the Iron Triangle was now a thing of the past.


    First, the Pittsburgh Steelers were out, and the Tennessee Titans as well.


    Both teams from last season¡¯s playoffs were out. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans both secured nine wins. In the National Conference, nine wins meant the Philadelphia Eagles advanced, but in the American League, such a record was still insufficient.


    Among the two teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers were likely to face significant changes.


    Throughout this season, ¡°Bell¡¯s strike impact¡± was a constant topic. The Steelers unequivocally refused to accommodate Bell¡¯s demands, displaying a top-down no-compromise stance. However, now that the team had missed the playoffs, the strategy of the management was bound to spur controversy.


    The storm would really begin after the Super Bowl ended.


    Second, there was intense rivalry in the AFC West.


    The performance of the Los Angeles Chargers was even better than that of the New England Patriots, yet due to the dominance of the Kansas City Chiefs, they had to go through the wild card games, an undoubtedly brutal fate, but those were the rules.


    This also highlighted the fierce competition in the AFC West this season, where the Kansas City Chiefs had managed to stand out, revealing their deep-rooted strength.


    Third, who among the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, and Indianapolis Colts could emerge as the dark horse?


    This offseason, the Baltimore Ravens managed to snag Lamar Jackson with the thirty-second pick of the first round, proving Harbaugh¡¯s wisdom and unexpectedly marking the quarterback transition for the Ravens.


    The quarterback chosen by the Houston Texans last year, Watson, finally proved himself. This quarterback, from the beginning aiming to prove his abilities to Li Wei, seized the opportunity this season to showcase his talent.


    The Indianapolis Colts became the victim of a drama within the New England Patriots coaching staff. After being stood up by McDaniels, the Colts¡¯ management, furious but composed, sought a solution, and Frank Reich stepped up.


    Reich, with a relatively short resume as a coach who only entered the league seeking a coaching job in 2006, had interned with the Colts. After six seasons with the team, he moved to other teams, spending the past two seasons as the Offensive Coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, Pederson¡¯s right-hand man, the unsung hero behind the ¡°Philly Special¡±.


    In the midst of the crisis, the Indianapolis Colts extended an olive branch to their former player, and Reich, who had never served as a head coach, accepted the challenge.


    Under Reich¡¯s leadership, the Indianapolis Colts stumbled into the playoffs; but now, the situation was completely different, with the playoffs presenting a fresh start.


    All three teams had emerged from dire straits, fighting bloodily to carve out a path, their eyes red with battle fervor. Each team had the potential to be a dark horse, with their danger level difficult to predict.


    Yet, having reached the playoff stage, they all had their sights set on a definitive goal.


    On one hand, both Baltimore¡¯s Jackson and Houston¡¯s Watson had their sights firmly set on Li Wei.


    Jackson, ¡°I long to compete against Li Wei once more.¡±


    Watson, ¡°I am no longer the person I was before, and Li Wei will see that.¡±


    The ongoing rivalry and grudge from NCAA had boldly blossomed in the NFL.


    If these were the new waves of the NFL, Goodell expressed his enthusiastic welcome.


    Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ focus was locked on the New England Patriots, eagerly looking forward to an earnest confrontation with Belichick and McDaniels on the field.


    With knives being sharpened and unity in their resolve.


    The problem, then, was here.


    Whether it was the New England Patriots or the Kansas City Chiefs, with a bye in the first round, whether it was about revenge or contest, to face them, one had first to pass through the ordeal of the wild card round.


    That meant they had to fight each other in a life-and-death struggle.


    Then, it would be a time for revenge and settling scores.

 Chapter 731 03-25 - 731: Looking back on the 730 season

    Chapter 731: Looking back on the 730 season


    The plot is intricate and laced with enmity.


    Every team is grinding their teeth, sharpening their knives in the dark.


    Los Angeles Chargers are no exception.


    It¡¯s all because of the Kansas City Chiefs; the Los Angeles Chargers had miraculously pulled off a spectacular season, but now they must play in the wildcard game. Playing an extra game means more energy spent, which could impact the overall postseason situation. They are itching to drink the blood and gnaw the flesh of the Chiefs¡ªtheir division rivals to the death¡ª


    Seeing the enemy only deepens their loathing.


    However, the Los Angeles Chargers have kept a low profile, focusing on the wildcard game. They don¡¯t want to repeat the mistakes of last year¡¯s Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots, who overlooked their opponents and prematurely set their sights on the next round, only to both be shockingly knocked out in the divisional games, paving the way for the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars to meet in the AFC Championship Game.


    ...


    No, they refuse.


    The Los Angeles Chargers have a belief, a quietly resilient certainty of victory.


    For this season, the Los Angeles Chargers clearly have higher expectations.


    In the American Conference, the era of the Big Three¡¯s domination, with Big Manning, Brady, and Roethlisberger lasting over fifteen years, was only ever disrupted by the Baltimore Ravens.


    But now, with Big Manning retired, Roethlisberger past his prime, and even Brady¡¯s dominance showing cracks at last, and the Baltimore Ravens consistently struggling but staying tough, the American Conference¡¯s landscape has been blown wide open.


    Like never before.


    Especially after the success of last season¡¯s breakthrough by the Kansas City Chiefs, becoming the second pick, other teams in the American Conference are greatly encouraged, eager to be the next breakout team. This has led to a chaotic landscape in the American Conference this season, with almost every team having a chance¡ª


    At least they believe so.


    Thus, the playoff atmosphere is lifted to a new high, with everyone having their own goals, every team fighting their own battles.


    Immediately, the NFL announced the wildcard game schedule, as there is no rest period from Week 17 of the regular season to the wildcard playoff game.


    January 5th, Saturday.


    In the afternoon, the Texans, seeded number three in the American Conference, will face off against the number six seed, the Indianapolis Colts.


    In the evening, the Dallas Cowboys, seeded number four in the National Conference, will meet the number five seed, the Seattle Seahawks.


    January 6th, Sunday.


    In the afternoon, the Chicago Bears, seeded number three in the National Conference, will combat the number six seed, the Philadelphia Eagles.


    In the evening, the Baltimore Ravens, seeded number four in the American Conference, will confront the number five seed, the Los Angeles Chargers.


    The battle curtain rises slowly.


    Without rest, without adjustment, without a moment to catch their breath, the aforementioned eight teams have already plunged into playoff preparation without stopping.


    Whether it¡¯s the Los Angeles Chargers, who secured their playoff spot three weeks early, or the Philadelphia Eagles, who snuck into the playoffs at the last moment with a little help from the Chicago Bears, now it¡¯s all the same¡ªthere¡¯s no time for panic, no time to think. They must shift from regular-season mode to playoff mode immediately.


    Just a moment ago, the Philadelphia Eagles were still thanking the Chicago Bears for the huge favor.


    ¡°`


    The very next second, the two teams would have to battle for a chance to advance.


    Competitive sports are just that cruel. No wonder people continuously question whether true friendship can exist on the field of competition.


    However, when the teams enter the wildcard playoffs, the league isn¡¯t able to immediately tense up; they need some buffer time¡ª


    Celebration. Revelry. Summation. Reflection. Anticipation.


    The excitement of the playoffs deserves full attention, but the glory of each regular season should not be forgotten, for the playoffs are about the championship, yet the regular season is the foundation that keeps a sport thriving year after year.


    This year was no exception.


    Before the wildfire of the wildcard battles was set to ignite the playoff stage, professionals hurried to summarize the season, giving regular season play its due recognition and certifying those uncrowned kings before all eyes were on the playoffs and the Super Bowl.


    Last season, the league¡¯s structure was wide open; it was in total chaos, and quarterbacks had a collective setback in performance, which allowed running backs led by Li Wei and defenders led by Aaron Donald to come into the spotlight. The eventual crowning of Brady as the regular season MVP sparked a series of debates¡ª


    Perhaps, it¡¯s time for the league to pay more attention to players other than quarterbacks.


    The quarterbacks saw all these debates and topics, and they too were eager to respond. This season, several quarterbacks indeed rose to prominence, seizing the public¡¯s attention; but overall, since the retirement of Big Manning, it seemed the quarterbacks¡¯ performance during the regular season entered a leaderless and highly competitive state.


    Before the season started, the Green Bay Packers¡¯ Rodgers carried high expectations.


    Coming back from an injury, he and the team signed an epic top-tier contract, shattering quarterback salary records in a dominant fashion. This young player, undoubtedly born for the ¡°quarterback rating,¡± was something to look forward to in the new season.


    However, things didn¡¯t go as hoped.


    Because of the team¡¯s overall fragmented strength and underperforming wide receivers, Rodgers had all the skills but couldn¡¯t deliver passes into the end zone to finish off games; his passing yards and touchdown passes both hit a personal career low. Despite having only two interceptions in the regular season, suffering forty-nine sacks was a top-tier nightmare for the league.


    In the end, the Green Bay Packers missed the playoffs with a record of six wins, nine losses, and one tie, and Rodgers¡¯ quarterback rating, rarely seen, did not break a hundred points.


    Similarly, the other two elite quarterbacks, Brady and Brees, due to age, injuries, and other issues, underperformed slightly compared to expectations¡ª


    Not bad, and certainly not terrible, but a noticeable drop from their peak performances of previous years. However, they still led the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints to high-ranked playoff positions, a testament to their legacy and power.


    But still, the chaos among quarterbacks continued.


    This season¡¯s passing yardage king was... Roethlisberger.


    Unexpected, but logical; without Bell, the Pittsburgh Steelers switched completely from a ground to a passing offense, with Roethlisberger showcasing his composure and excellence. Among the ¡°Class of 2004¡± quarterbacks, he remained the most honored.


    Following him, Mahomes, Matt Ryan, Goff, and Andrew Luck ranked second to fifth, respectively.


    Among them, the comprehensive rise of Mahomes and the continued dominance by Goff made them standout amongst the new generation of quarterbacks, igniting widespread discussion.


    And Mahomes, just like Li Wei last season, burst onto the scene¡ªsince the first week of the regular season, he continuously wowed the league and fans, leading to exclamations of, ¡°Where did this guy come from?¡± In the end, he and Roethlisberger were the only two quarterbacks to break five thousand passing yards this season.


    The league was in shock.


    Looking back at last year¡¯s draft, people finally understood what the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ Veach was aiming for with his first-round divine move.


    ¡°`

 Chapter 732 03-25 - 732: 731 Coronation of the New King

    Chapter 732: 731 Coronation of the New King


    Reflecting on last year¡¯s NFL Draft, Veach of the Kansas City Chiefs worked his magic bewilderingly, picking Li Wei at the third spot and grabbing Mahomes at the tenth, sparking scalp-numbing gasps and stealing the show for the entire first day of the draft.


    At that time, the season hadn¡¯t started yet, and the performance of Li Wei and Mahomes was still an unknown. However, Veach¡¯s magical moves remained the benchmark for the entire league, fueling discussions for a long time as every move of the two rookies was constantly under the spotlight.


    The aftermath continued, from Li Wei¡¯s explosive debut last season to this season, with Mahomes taking over the starting position, high expectations and scrutiny persisted, shadowing both players, putting the Kansas City Chiefs in the line of fire.


    However,


    As the regular season came to an end, people finally realized what Veach¡¯s moves last year meant for the Kansas City Chiefs and for the league.


    Quarterback passing yards, Mahomes ranked second in the league, breaking through five thousand yards in his first career starting season.


    ...


    Quarterback touchdown passes, Mahomes led the league with fifty, significantly ahead


    On the touchdown pass leaderboard, the second-ranked Andrew Luck had only thirty-nine, showing a clear gap.


    Of course, was Mahomes perfect?


    No.


    The young man was still growing, still somewhat raw, with room for improvement; he threw twelve interceptions during the season, ranking sixth among all quarterbacks. Despite other impressive stats, this error impacted his quarterback rating.


    Ultimately, Mahomes¡¯s season quarterback rating was 113.8, trailing the evergreen Brees and ranked second in the league.


    Amazing, even insane.


    Mahomes emerged spectacularly, reminiscent of Li Wei, keeping the Kansas City Chiefs in the center of attention for the second consecutive season.


    Looking back at Veach¡¯s actions in the 2017 Draft now¡ª


    A stroke of genius!


    The admiration cannot stop.


    But... overall, the quarterbacks were still chaotic this year:


    Rothlisberger, Ryan, Luck, Goff, and others had their moments, but no significant breakthroughs.


    Rivers, Little Manning, Rodgers, Cousins, and other veterans performed solidly, bringing unexpected surprises.


    Watson, Dak Prescott stood out among the young.


    It is for this reason that Mahomes¡¯s dramatic emergence has made him the focus of all discussions.


    ¡°Regular season MVP.¡±


    Immediately, the media started shouting, impatiently ready to crown the new king.


    Looking at the numbers, at Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ record, there¡¯s no doubt that including Mahomes in the discussion for the regular season MVP is correct.


    Although only a sophomore, although only in his first season starting, Mahomes delivered a perfect score with his unrivaled performance, plus the critical nature of the quarterback position, it¡¯s unsurprising that Mahomes was the center of attention.


    However, differing opinions do exist¡ª


    Was last season¡¯s controversy fully resolved yet?


    In a season where quarterbacks overall showed mediocre performances while other positions exploded, is it normal to still blindly vote for quarterbacks for regular season MVP?


    Indeed, the quarterback is the brain of football and the most scrutinized key position; however, let¡¯s not forget that football is a team sport. Football is defined by its unique round-based structure that brings unprecedented attention to the collective strength of a team. While praising the quarterback, one should not overlook players at other positions.


    Take last season¡¯s Li Wei and Donald, for example.


    In every aspect, Li Wei and Donald deserved the Regular Season MVP title just as much as Brady did.


    Now, this season has again presented a similar situation.


    Mahomes performed exceedingly well, but he wasn¡¯t perfect; meanwhile, there are other players who were just as outstanding as Mahomes, if not more so. Should the voting for the regular season MVP again narrowly focus on the quarterback and continue to ignore contributions from players at other positions?


    Particularly considering the core controversy that persisted throughout this season, the running back.


    More precisely, Le¡¯Veon Bell. How did his strike affect the Pittsburgh Steelers, are running backs truly expendable replacements, and does the impact of a top-tier running back on a team really exist?


    All of this, aligned with the Pittsburgh Steelers missing the playoffs, pushed the issue to a new climax, seeing Roethlisberger pull off such a fierce passing offense season, yet the quarterback still failed to be the key to reversing the Steelers¡¯ season.


    Of course, there lies the controversy, it cannot be simply attributed to Bell¡¯s absence, nor can it be solely blamed on Roethlisberger¡¯s top-notch performance without being able to turn the tide. There are more complex reasons behind the Steelers¡¯ missing the playoffs.


    But it¡¯s precisely such disputes that lead to conclusions such as ¡°one shouldn¡¯t overlook positions other than the quarterback,¡± ¡°other players also need attention,¡± ¡°football isn¡¯t just about the quarterback¡¯s game.¡±


    Arguments and debates, opposition and divergences always exist, but the core ideas resonate with each other and spread out from here.


    Moreover, the most crucial point is that other players performed exceptionally well and proved through their actions that they are no less inferior to the quarterback.


    Leading the charge, the running back.


    In the 2018 season, the leaderboard for rushing yards was announced.


    First, Li Wei, Kansas City Chiefs, 1667 yards.


    Second, Elliott, Dallas Cowboys, 1434 yards.


    Third, Barkley, New York Giants, 1307 yards.


    Fourth, Gurley, Los Angeles Rams, 1251 yards.


    Fifth, McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers, 1168 yards.


    Beyond that, five more running backs surpassed one thousand rushing yards, bringing the league¡¯s single-season count to ten running backs.


    The data, pleasing.


    Among them are newcomers like Barkley, sophomores like Li Wei and McCaffrey, and seasoned players like Gurley and Elliott who have been in the league for several years.


    Additionally, there are veterans.


    Tennessee Titan¡¯s Henry achieved a thousand-yard season for the second consecutive year, and Adrian Peterson, having healed from injuries and transferred to Washington Redskins, also secured a thousand-yard season.


    There is no doubt that Peterson is an inspiring story, like the racehorse named Seabiscuit.


    The entire league almost believed that Peterson¡¯s career had come to an end, that the veteran could no longer return to his peak, and that recurring injuries are a severe blow to any professional player, especially destructive for running backs; yet Peterson demonstrated once again, strongly returning to his peak.


    Last season, Peterson had brief stints with the Arizona Cardinals and the New Orleans Saints, yet failed to receive adequate recognition. Finally, this season at the Washington Redskins, after achieving his eighth thousand-yard season, he re-focused the league¡¯s attention back onto this veteran.


    In a post-game interview, Peterson stated, ¡°Thank you, Li Wei.¡±

 Chapter 733 03-25 - 733: 732 The So-Called Genius

    Chapter 733: 732 The So-Called Genius


    After completing the milestone game of a thousand-yard season, Peterson once again stood under the media spotlight. Following two horribly bad years, no one had anticipated that Peterson could make a comeback and still perform excellently in top-tier league confrontations.


    Just when Peterson was on the verge of being forgotten, the League¡¯s most outstanding and excellent running back of the past decade re-entered the public eye.


    From Bell¡¯s strike to Peterson¡¯s return, the dramatic ups and downs of the running backs indeed held a significant place in the regular season.


    However, what no one could have anticipated was that an emotional and empathetic Peterson, when faced with the onslaught of media swarming from all sides, would begin with the sentiment,


    ¡°Thanks to Li Wei.¡±


    Buzz, buzz, buzz, all the journalists were stunned.


    ...


    But Peterson was not.


    ¡°Li Wei is my role model and my inspiration.¡±


    ¡°Believe me, I know what I am talking about. I mean, you should see his performance, people should stop taking it for granted just because Li Wei is a running back.¡±


    ¡°He is always consistent, always steps up when the team needs to break a deadlock and turn things around, always learning, improving, and battling. Watching his game is a pleasure; he is a smart kid, and his game reading and tactical applications show a new possibility for running backs.¡±


    ¡°If I remember correctly, Li Wei¡¯s Frederick Test scores were outstanding, and now, he has applied his intelligence in the games, an ability other running backs in the league do not possess, an ability that others must look up to and learn from.¡±


    Gurley & Elliott & Barkley: Thanks, we feel slighted.


    ¡°I must admit, watching his game brings a lot of inspiration. Nothing but admiration.¡±


    ¡°So, you should stop your biases and learn to appreciate the variety and brilliance that running backs bring to the game.¡±


    Undoubtedly, Li Wei is the hot favorite in the league, but the journalists had not anticipated hearing such high praise from Peterson¡¯s mouth.


    Moreover, Peterson pointed out a key focus, a very, very special focus:


    The Frederick Test.


    Traditionally, the Frederick Test for running backs has been underappreciated, linked to the stereotype that has trickled down in the league. Running backs are often seen as mere battering rams or siege engines, with strength and confrontation at the core¡ªessentially, just battering bulls, with no need for agility or intellect.


    The fact has also been proven, as over the past thirty years, running backs have consistently had some of the lowest average scores in the Frederick Test among all team positions.


    However, since the turn of the millennium, with Hall of Fame legend Tomlinson as a milestone, running backs have evolved significantly. They rely not only on brute strength but increasingly on speed, agility, maneuverability; and in recent years, they have also started playing a role in receiving passes.


    In other words, the tactical placement of running backs has changed; they are no longer just battering bulls.


    Naturally, running backs cannot just keep their heads down and run; they need to learn playbooks, coordinate with teammates, and read defenses among other things.


    Peterson didn¡¯t mention it, and thus people did not notice, like the elephant in the room, that Li Wei¡¯s Frederick Test scores had long been forgotten; but now, because of Peterson, memories surged like tides, and eyes quickly scanned the Frederick Test scores of the running backs.


    Wait a minute!


    Leonard Fournette!


    In 2016, one of NCAA¡¯s top three running backs, selected fourth overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2017 draft, has been compared to Li Wei and McCaffrey since entering the league, performed well last season, yet was locked down by the Kansas City Chiefs in the American League finals.


    This season, with Li Wei and McCaffrey shining as dual stars, the new generation of running backs greatly distinguished themselves, while Fournette fell into a slump and was injured after eight games, marking his third injury within two years; but before the injury, Fournette seemed to have hit the rookie wall, with performances not meeting expectations.


    Upon reflecting, in stark contrast to Li Wei and McCaffrey, Fournette¡¯s running has always been rigid and clumsy, lacking in variation and progress. How should this be explained?


    High Emotional Intelligence: Retro.


    Low Emotional Intelligence: Stupid.


    Was it because Fournette couldn¡¯t understand the playbook and could only choose to run headlong?


    Looking at Fournette¡¯s Frederick Test scores, it seemed the answer had finally surfaced:


    11 points.


    Two dough sticks.


    Although the average score for a running back on the Frederick test was only 17; Fournette was far below average. Looking at McCaffrey¡¯s test results, 21 points, he even reached the benchmark for quarterbacks, and the answer slowly became clear.


    Was this the reason?


    Fournette, who was undergoing rehabilitation, inexplicably felt as if his body was pierced by arrows and yet he was at a loss for words: Thanks, Peterson, I really thank your whole family.


    If this was the answer, the perfect score on the Frederick Test meant more than just a resume enhancement for Li Wei.


    Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.


    The focus swarmed toward Li Wei, pushing him to unprecedented heights.


    It turned out Peterson was right¡ª


    Or rather, the data proved it.


    Even though running backs had risen across the season, showing off mesmerizing performances that differed starkly from the quarterbacks, Li Wei still managed to stand out amidst the fierce competition.


    In a dominating manner.


    Just looking at the running yards, Li Wei¡¯s performance dropped a bit from the previous season¡¯s 1,888 yards, but 1,667 yards was still impressively unbeatable, making him the League¡¯s leading rusher for the second consecutive season.


    Consecutive victories!


    The League erupted in astonishment; it was the first time since running back Tomlinson in the 2006 and 2007 seasons that a player had achieved such a feat. Top running backs had come and gone, yet no one had managed to replicate this miraculous performance until now.


    And that¡¯s not all.


    Aside from being the top rusher again, Li Wei scored 16 rushing touchdowns this season, claiming the top spot for rushing touchdowns for the second straight year, perfectly replicating the glory Tomlinson wrote eleven years ago, and for two consecutive seasons, dominating as the League¡¯s number one running back.


    But notably, this was just the first two seasons of Li Wei¡¯s career.


    In other words, he peaked as soon as he debuted, and logically, it should have gone downhill from there. Yet, Li Wei continued to stand at the peak roaring.


    If there was anything more incredible, it was that Li Wei played only fifteen games in each of the two seasons. Despite playing one less game, he still easily dominated and set records.


    Even more insane than Tomlinson.


    It reminded people of what Burns, the current running backs coach for the Kansas City Chiefs and the former coach at the University of Alabama, once said.


    ¡°He¡¯s a genius.¡±

 Chapter 734 03-25 - 734: 733 Mountains beyond mountains

    Chapter 734: 733 Mountains beyond mountains


    His debut was the pinnacle.


    In his rookie season, Li Wei penned a peak that was unprecedented and likely unrivaled; strictly speaking, not only as a rookie, but even among the all-time best performances by any running back, Li Wei was among the top ten, leaving his own mark in a legend.


    For anyone, this was an insurmountable peak, and under such rookie season performances, it seemed hard to compare any subsequent performances.


    However, Li Wei did it, matching his rookie season performance with an unbelievable show of skill, redefining what it meant to ¡°debut at the pinnacle.¡±


    So, what does this tell us?


    Perhaps, Burns was right ¡ª the answer seems complex but is actually simple, incredibly simple.


    ...


    In professional sports, numerous prodigies have been seen, and the NFL is never short of talent; but only a genius among geniuses could achieve such brilliance within just three years.


    Moreover, like last season, Li Wei was not only dominant but also stable and efficient, embodying all the qualities needed for a top player.


    Number of fumbles in the season, 1, second only to Barkley, who had no fumbles all season.


    Average yards per carry, 5.6 yards, breaking through five yards per carry for the second consecutive season and also being the only player in the league to exceed an average of 5.5 yards per carry.


    Strong, stable, and efficient.


    What more could you ask for?


    Thus, it¡¯s no surprise that Li Wei has become the new benchmark in the league, and the praise and admiration from Peterson are just the tip of the iceberg.


    McCaffrey, drafted the same year and hailed as part of the running back trio, finally found his form and position this season. He openly expressed his respect for Li Wei.


    ¡°He is my target.¡±


    ¡°Honestly, he is the kind of player every coach dreams of, whether you are a running back, a quarterback, or any other position on the field. He exhibits top-tier standards both physically and mentally and is always ready to step forward and lead the team to fight to the end.¡±


    ¡°Without a doubt, he is the benchmark that everyone in the league needs to surpass.¡±


    ¡°I know we are both from the class of ¡¯17, and people often compare us, but as of now, Li Wei is on another level. I don¡¯t think I can match him, nor do I think anyone else can. We still need to work hard.¡±


    Fournette: an arrow to the knee.


    But what if ¡ª just as a hypothesis ¡ª a little more was demanded?


    After all, purely in terms of data, Li Wei¡¯s sophomore stats were slightly inferior to his rookie season, almost imperceptible, but a slight decline was there.


    In response, professionals would analyze from a data perspective that this was because the Kansas City Chiefs increased their passing game this season. Behind Mahomes¡¯ five thousand yard season, one could see Reed¡¯s tactical adjustment, with a corresponding slight decrease in ground offensive tactics, which was an inevitable outcome.


    Everything is relative.


    But what if one were more stringent? On the foundation of legends and geniuses, even stricter, more critical, more insane?


    Li Wei still has an answer: receiving.


    Even though the Kansas City Chiefs increased their passing ratio, Li Wei remained an undeniable leader of the offensive group because he also joined the passing attack, demonstrating his progress with ever-changing versatility.


    Of course, a running back is not a wide receiver and naturally cannot be compared with them. This season, the league had twenty-one wide receivers and tight ends with over a thousand receiving yards; it was very difficult for a running back to rank among them.


    Among them, included the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ two slots, Hill and Kelsey, who undoubtedly were the core weapons in Mahomes¡¯ five thousand yard passing season.


    In addition, a third name needs to be mentioned, nearing the thousand-yard receiving mark:


    Li Wei.


    During this season, Li Wei had 907 receiving yards, ranking twenty-third among all receivers in the League, but he was first among running backs.


    Following closely behind Li Wei on this list were familiar names, McCaffrey and Barkley, a sophomore and a rookie, respectively. Together with Li Wei, they fully showcased the proper cultivation of a new generation of running backs.


    Among them, Barkley, this year¡¯s second overall draft pick, withstood the pressure and performed brilliantly. He was frequently compared to Li Wei in all aspects, and although Barkley could not replicate Li Wei¡¯s fierce rookie season, he still proved himself on another level, especially with his impressive performance of over seven hundred receiving yards¡ª


    A force to be reckoned with.


    However, there are always bigger fish, and who could have imagined that Li Wei¡¯s performance this season would even surpass his own past achievements, causing Barkley¡¯s brilliance to seem somewhat dim in comparison.


    Additionally, unfortunately, the Carolina Panthers with McCaffrey and the New York Giants with Barkley did not perform well overall, both missing the playoffs. Standing before Li Wei, they lacked confidence even more.


    Undoubtedly, Barkley performed excellently, but in front of Li Wei¡¯s epic rookie season, Barkley seemed hardly worth discussing so much.


    As McCaffrey stated, Li Wei is now the benchmark all players in the League need to surpass¡ª


    At least, that¡¯s the case for the running backs.


    The scene was bustling and fervently discussed.


    The discussions around Li Wei unfolded expansively; this young rookie managed to advance further from his rookie season foundation and stood out amidst this year¡¯s explosive emergence of running backs, defending his dominant status once again.


    Doesn¡¯t Li Wei merit the regular season MVP title?


    Or to view it from another angle, don¡¯t Li Wei and Aaron Donald, who has delivered dominant performances for the second consecutive season, deserve recognition?


    If Mahomes deserves commendation, shouldn¡¯t Li Wei and Donald perhaps even more so?


    If indeed a new king is to be crowned, aside from Mahomes, is there a more suitable choice?


    If setting Mahomes aside for a moment, between Li Wei and Donald, who is more deserving of the regular season MVP title? Or to put it another way, should the running backs and defensive group receive extra attention to prove that they are also an integral part of Football?


    Opinions abound.


    Everyone had their perspective, brimming busily and fully erupting. With the regular season just concluded, MVP discussions had already been sparked fully, surpassing even last season¡¯s fervor, presenting the League¡¯s competitive pattern in a state of unprecedented openness.


    A chaotic era, without a doubt.


    Compared to last season, slightly different, yet possessing a distinctive charm¡ª


    The frontrunners continued to excel, but their dominance gradually declined, revealing weaknesses and gaps; the contenders were no less impressive and raised their heads upon sensing opportunities, not just on paper but also in confidence and form, adding more variables to the competition.


    The National Conference, consistently chaotic; the American League, leaderless and fiercely competitive.


    The gap between teams was minuscule, and on-the-spot contributions might increasingly play a greater role amid head-on clashes of abilities, where luck also plays an increasingly significant role.


    Because of this, everyone had a chance, everyone might possibly stand out. So, who could firmly seize the opportunity and emerge victoriously?


    The answer will soon be revealed.

 Chapter 735 03-25 - 735: 734 Watt heartbroken

    Chapter 735: 734 Watt heartbroken


    The bustle surrounding the regular season fervently unfolded, and the battle raged on towards the playoffs¡ªa crescendo of war drums.


    January 5th, Saturday.


    The first wild card game of the American League kicked off the postseason.


    ¡°The number three seed Houston Texans VS the number six seed Indianapolis Colts.¡±


    It was an AFC South internal conflict, with division rivals seeing red¡ªthe fights for life and death during the regular season only intensified in the playoffs.


    On one side stood the Houston Texans, with Watson¡¯s rise and Watt¡¯s return; the team had finally found their leaders on both offense and defense.


    ...


    On the other, the Indianapolis Colts, with Luck leaving injuries behind and Richie proving himself after taking over in the wake of the head coach storm.


    In the regular season, the two divisional rivals battled fiercely, with the outcomes of both games decided by only a field goal. The Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts each snatched a victory on the other¡¯s home turf, both teams utterly spent.


    In this playoff encounter, both sides united in their determination to claim victory.


    Before the game, professionals slightly favored the Texans for simple reasons: Watt¡¯s reliable defensive group had always been trustworthy, and now, in his second year, quarterback Watson had finally turned in a solid performance. With offense and defense relatively balanced, they indeed showed great championship potential.


    Experts said prior to the start of the playoffs, this could be Watt¡¯s best chance¡ª


    the chance to ascend to the championship. It was a contentious and chaotic battle with a rare opportunity.


    This season, a healthy Watt was still among the league¡¯s elite, achieving 16 solo sacks, only behind Donald¡¯s 20.5 sacks, ranking second in the league¡¯s sack chart, undoubtedly dominating.


    Watt humbly stated, ¡°Focus on the present, taking it one step at a time. I yearn for victory and desire to bring more honor to the team. I¡¯ll give my all on the field, let¡¯s fight to the end together.¡±


    Unlike Watt¡¯s humility, Watson puffed out his chest with confidence, ¡°I am ready. I¡¯m prepared to challenge the league¡¯s top players.¡±


    ¡°Luck. Brady. Li Wei. I don¡¯t care because I know my ability. When I play at my best, we can defeat any opponent.¡±


    Youth brims with confidence.


    With Li Wei before him and Lamar Jackson after, Watson felt the pressure to prove himself and to deliver a true performance.


    Now, the opportunity lay before him.


    Watson was ready.


    However...


    Watson missed yet again, in a fatal way.


    In the first wild card game, Watt¡¯s leading defensive group remained tough, with two sacks, four effective hits, and one disrupted pass¡ªkeeping a tight grip on the game against Luck, one of the league¡¯s top quarterbacks.


    The problem, however, was with the offensive group, where Watson¡¯s performance was disappointing.


    Merely looking at the stats, Watson and Luck¡¯s performances weren¡¯t much different; the quarterbacks¡¯ ratings were close, and stats like passing yards and completion rate were impressive, with no interceptions, fumbles, or mistakes.


    So where was the problem? Why blame Watson?


    The answer lies in the lack of toughness at crucial moments. Over the course of the game, the Texans failed to convert on third down thirteen times, only succeeding three times¡ªa horrendously poor conversion rate that trapped the team in a dire situation; moreover, the offensive group risked and tried to convert on fourth down five times, succeeding only twice but failing thrice.


    Watson was still too raw.


    ¡°21:7.¡±


    The Indianapolis Colts took home a beautiful victory from the away game.


    The League, filled with sighs.


    The disappointment partly stemmed from the Houston Texans facing an upset and a major letdown; on the other hand, the game completely fell short of expectations.


    For the casual observers, the appeal of the playoffs lies in the tension and thrill of single-elimination matches, combined with the lure of the Super Bowl just at the finish line, which often makes for more engaging and closely contested games. The double overtime divisional game between the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens in the 2012 season is still fondly talked about for this very reason.


    And this, is all?


    Disappointing.


    On social media, torrents of ridicule were directed at the Houston Texans. ¡°A¡¯Dou who cannot be propped up,¡± the game from three years ago where they were shut out by the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoff wild card round was dug up again for scornful rehashing. Many trolls and haters took pleasure in the Texans¡¯ misfortune, saying that the Texans might as well go home and sleep it off. Among these voices, some claimed to be calm and objective, but in reality, their commentary that Watt would never get his hands on the Super Bowl was vicious.


    This, shouldn¡¯t be.


    It¡¯s natural to be disappointed in the game or the team, but no one should attack Watt.


    Throughout the entire game, Watt gave it his all, fighting until the very last moment. Faced with the struggle of battling alone, even someone as strong as Watt was nearly exhausted, dehydrated, and cramping, yet he persisted, gritting his teeth to carve out opportunities for his team. His battle-scarred and bloodstained figure deserved everyone¡¯s respect¡ª


    He doesn¡¯t owe anyone anything.


    However, Watt was ultimately unable to turn the tide.


    After the game ended, despite Watt¡¯s efforts to stay calm and composed in the face of media scrutiny and persistent questioning, the tough guy couldn¡¯t help but have his eyes redden, barely holding back tears and mustering up courage.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be back.¡±


    Watt nodded continuously, took a deep breath, and repeated.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be back.¡±


    Behind those brief words, one could deeply feel Watt¡¯s heartbreak.


    Ending the press conference, Watt¡¯s phone was already overwhelmed with countless messages and calls. The Good Old Man didn¡¯t just throw his phone aside; instead, he collected his scattered emotions and diligently replied to each one. While he should have been the one receiving consolation, somehow, it turned into him comforting others.


    Then, when he saw the message from Li Wei, Watt was stunned.


    ¡°This is a defeat, but it can¡¯t beat you. This isn¡¯t a failure. Buddy, we may be defeated, but we will not be knocked down.¡±


    Direct, sharp.


    While everyone else was consoling Watt, Li Wei was the only one who faced defeat squarely.


    Defeat is defeat; there¡¯s no denying it. Facing defeat is always bitter and difficult; but how you face it is key to becoming a true warrior, a true champion, and it¡¯s also the most touching part of the competitive sports world.


    That¡¯s Li Wei¡¯s attitude.


    This brief passage of text caused Watt¡¯s defenses to crumble.


    Taking a deep breath, Watt recovered his strength and sent back a message.


    ¡°Keep-Pouding.¡±


    Soon after, a reply came back.


    ¡°Last-Man-Standing.¡±


    Ha ha, Watt found his smile again. Though still bitter and pained, at least now he could laugh out loud.


    As the Indianapolis Colts, the sixth seed, emerged victorious, it meant that regardless of the outcome of the other wild card game, the first matchup in the divisional round was set; they would head south to Arrowhead Stadium to challenge the Kansas Stadium, the top seed.


    Another good show.


    Watt thought, now it¡¯s all on that rookie.

 Chapter 736 736: 735 Heroes Competing for Supremacy

    Chapter 736: 735 Heroes Competing for Supremacy


    The playoffs are in full swing, and there¡¯s no time to breathe.


    The first wild card game ended, and immediately after, on the same Saturday, in the same Texas, during prime time in the evening, the second wild card game took the stage.


    This is the first time in NFL history that Texas hosted two playoff games on the same day, the first in Houston and the second in Dallas.


    To be precise, it was at the AT&T Stadium near Dallas in Arlington, where the National Conference¡¯s fourth seed, the Dallas Cowboys, hosted the visiting fifth seed, the Seattle Seahawks.


    ¡°50%VS50%¡±


    An even split, this was the wildcard game with the closest and most intense collision, with both teams finishing the regular season with ten wins and six losses going head-to-head. Looking at the paper strength and the season¡¯s performance, the two teams were closely matched, each with their strengths and weaknesses, and the mystery of the win depended entirely on the performance on the day, which is why the League chose this game for the night slot.


    ...


    The first wild card game was disappointing, and the masses expressed that all their expectations fell on the second game. Setting aside the outcome, they hoped the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks could jointly deliver a thrilling match.


    As expected¡ª


    The game was extremely brutal.


    Not just intense but brutal, showing with real action the thrills and fierceness of a playoff game where bayonets clashed and the blood flowed like rivers.


    The entire game was in a continuous deadlock, with no gap opening in the offensive and defensive collision, the back and forth confrontation pervading every down and entangling all the way to the end.


    For the onlookers, it was a carnival, with unanimous applause; but for fans of both teams, it was nothing short of torment.


    With just two minutes and fourteen seconds left in the game, the Dallas Cowboys were leading by ten points, and almost everyone believed it was over, but Seahawks quarterback Wilson proved his ability once again.


    A long pass attack combined with two medium pass breakthroughs took just fifty seconds to score a touchdown pass; the Seahawks then chose to go for a two-point conversion, with Wilson himself carrying the ball on the ground, and the conversion was successful.


    The gap narrowed to two points at once.


    At this moment, there was one minute and seventeen seconds left on the game clock.


    Carroll chose to gamble with an onside kick.


    Just before the entirety of AT&T Stadium was about to suffocate, the undrafted wide receiver since 2012, Cole Beasley, became the protagonist.


    This unheralded small fry, who had served the Dallas Cowboys for six seasons and had remained an unknown, stood in the spotlight tonight, playing the superhero. In a display of sheer bravery, he controlled the Seahawks¡¯ gamble of an onside kick, curling himself into the shape of a shrimp to protect the football¡ª


    Extinguishing the Seahawks¡¯ hopes of a comeback.


    Afterward, Dallas Cowboys running back Elliott relentlessly carried the ball on the ground, running down the clock completely, and AT&T Stadium greeted the game¡¯s final whistle among cheers.


    ¡°22:24¡±.


    The Dallas Cowboys advanced through a close call.


    AT&T Stadium went wild, it was the Cowboys¡¯ first playoff win since 2014, and also the first playoff victory in the Prescott-Elliott era.


    After the retirement of former quarterback Tony Romo, people proclaimed that Prescott and Elliott would carry the banner of America¡¯s Team, possessing the strength, talent, and potential to lead the Dallas Cowboys back to the Super Bowl summit.


    Yet, it took three whole seasons, until now, for Prescott and Elliott to finally break through the first round of the playoffs together.


    So, could this be the turning point for them?


    Coincidentally, the season was in total chaos with opportunities everywhere. In times of turmoil, heroes emerge¡ªwho knows, maybe this year is when the Dallas Cowboys climb to the summit?


    Suddenly, a variety of voices filled the air, but one began to stand out quietly and spread rapidly throughout the League¡ª


    ¡°Perhaps, the Dallas Cowboys are this year¡¯s Kansas City Chiefs?¡±


    Look, the Dallas Cowboys have Prescott and Elliott, a pair of third-year players, and Kansas City Chiefs have Mahomes and Li Wei, a pair of second-year players.


    Both pairs joined the League together, grew together, fought together, and it was the running back who first developed and exploded in capability, bringing the quarterback along for the soaring ride.


    Prescott and Mahomes are both quarterbacks with excellent physical conditions and a slightly robust build who also have a certain ability to run the ball; Elliott and Li Wei are both running backs with distinctive styles and dominating presence.


    Moreover, both the Dallas Cowboys and the Kansas City Chiefs have shown growth on the offensive end this season, but their Defensive groups are key elements that cannot be ignored.


    All sorts of things, all sorts.


    The more you analyze, the more it seems so.


    When the media posed this view to the two core members of the Dallas Cowboys¡ª


    Elliott appeared thoughtful, ¡°Wait and see.¡±


    Prescott, however, showed a sincere smile, shrugged lightly, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind meeting them at the Super Bowl.¡± His words conveyed a powerful confidence.


    However, when Li Wei was asked the same question, he burst into laughter, ¡°The Dallas Cowboys are the Dallas Cowboys, that¡¯s America¡¯s Team! Would you like to compare yourself with Captain America? God, I hope that doesn¡¯t happen; that would be a nightmare.¡±


    Is this modesty, or sarcasm?


    ¡°All we need to focus on now is the divisional game. That¡¯s all there is to it. As for the next step, please don¡¯t give any spoilers,¡± Li Wei said with a smile, handling the question with ease, deflecting the Super Bowl subject skillfully.


    He also avoided the Dallas Cowboys subject.


    The subtext is... are the Dallas Cowboys being overly confident by looking forward to the Super Bowl after just winning a wildcard game? Shouldn¡¯t they at least advance to the next round before that?


    The barbs hidden in the words are left for the general public to interpret.


    But at least, one thing Li Wei is right about is focusing on the present; that¡¯s the correct way to approach the playoffs.


    On January 6th, Sunday, the wildcard game battles continue.


    In the afternoon, the Philadelphia Eagles will challenge the Chicago Bears on the road.


    This game is whimsically called the ¡°Reed Bowl¡± by the media because Pederson and Nagy, two disciples of Reed, are set to face off against each other, as well as a collision between two former Offensive Coordinators of the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Last season, Pederson failed in both encounters against Reed, especially the bitter loss at the Super Bowl, which could also be seen as an indirect clash between Pederson and Nagy; now both men are in the position of head coaches, and the atmosphere is different.


    In the evening, the Los Angeles Chargers will challenge the Baltimore Ravens.


    Usually, this would be a clash of contradictions, but this season has seen some subtle changes. ¡°Rivers VS Jackson,¡± a changeover between two quarterbacks old and new, has become a hot topic among the media.


    From an analysis of on-paper strength, the Baltimore Ravens, still possessing defensive heritage and having found successors on offense, hold a slight advantage.


    But this is the playoffs, and anything can happen.


    Moreover, let¡¯s not forget that in terms of seed rankings, the Baltimore Ravens are fourth, and the Los Angeles Chargers are fifth, but the latter is the team with the second-best record in the American League this season, behind the Kansas City Chiefs, and is also the most troublesome team in the wildcard games.


    The outcome is unpredictable.

 Chapter 737 737: 736 Suddenly

    Chapter 737: 736 Suddenly


    The excitement of the playoffs continues.


    Although the ¡°Reed Bowl¡± clash between Pederson and Nagy is worth looking forward to, a kind of Super Bowl rematch, the game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Baltimore Ravens is even more exciting from any perspective.


    So, the latter occupied the night game slot.


    It¡¯s worth mentioning that Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco had declared his recovery from injury, ready to return to the field, but Harbaugh did not change his mind, opting to keep Flacco on the bench as a substitute, with Jackson starting as quarterback.


    This was the first time in Flacco¡¯s career that he served as a substitute.


    Following last year¡¯s drama with Little Manning in the New York Giants, Flacco too found himself sitting on the bench, as the new wave pushed the old, marking an unprecedented shift in eras.


    ...


    Undoubtedly, Lamar Jackson is the biggest winner among this season¡¯s rookies, from being ignored on draft day to narrowly clinching the thirty-second spot, enduring every humiliation, but now he has become the only rookie quarterback to lead his team to the playoffs¡ª


    Where are those quarterbacks now who were infinitely celebrated at the draft?


    That¡¯s also why the ¡°Jackson VS Rivers¡± contest is generating even more buzz. Can Jackson, who defeated Flacco in an internal team competition, continue his strong performance by defeating Rivers to move forward in his playoff journey?


    After all, if Jackson defeats Rivers, up next would be... Brady.


    Just the thought alone has the media and netizens collectively climaxing.


    No wonder the pre-game rumors were already buzzing.


    Early Sunday morning, Li Wei¡¯s apartment was buzzing with activity.


    For Li Wei, having a bye in the first round of the playoffs was still something new, slightly different from a regular bye week. Although the daily schedule was much the same, the mindset, atmosphere, and environment still differed¡ªafter all, playoffs are playoffs. In an era where information is ubiquitous, achieving complete tranquility and focus is nearly impossible.


    In the 2016 season, the Kansas City Chiefs finished the regular season with a twelve-win, four-loss record, ranked as the American League¡¯s top seed. After a bye, they faced the Pittsburgh Steelers at home, but the team clearly hadn¡¯t adjusted to the right track, eventually losing ¡°18:16¡± by just two points and bowing out.


    A lesson as painful as blood, fresh in memory.


    Especially for Hill, Jones, and these third-year students, who were rookie rookies back then, having endured such a despairing loss.


    They needed a bit of psychological treatment.


    So, Li Wei organized this ¡°party¡± on game day, getting the sophomores and juniors together to watch the game.


    When Kelsey and Houston heard about it, one by one, they voiced strong protests, these young people leaving the old folks to fend for themselves, each showing up uninvited, packing into Li Wei¡¯s bachelor pad.


    In Li Wei¡¯s view, it¡¯s all excuses.


    These family men clearly didn¡¯t want to spend their Sundays at home staring at their wives and children, so they used watching the game as an excuse to gather at Li Wei¡¯s bachelor pad.


    Otherwise, why wouldn¡¯t they bring their wives and children along?


    But does the reason matter?


    Not really.


    What truly matters is that they all gathered together, ready to watch the game.


    The first game, between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Chicago Bears, was promising.


    ¡°Justin, Justin, what¡¯s the difference between the coaching styles of Pederson and Nagy, and who do you favor more?¡±


    ¡°Pederson. Experience matters. There¡¯s a real difference between having gone through the playoffs and not.¡±


    ¡°I also favor Coach Pederson, the Super Bowl was really thrilling.¡±


    ¡°But this year, Philadelphia has too many injuries, whereas Chicago is strong and healthy. Coach Nagy is truly impressive.¡±


    Chattering, the atmosphere was extraordinarily lively.


    Mahomes hurried into the kitchen, lowering his voice, ¡°Rookie, are you sure it¡¯s okay not to serve alcohol?¡±


    Today¡¯s party, no alcohol.


    Originally, it was fine to have a couple of drinks during the bye week, and since beer is considered a beverage, not alcohol, Reed hadn¡¯t explicitly banned alcohol anyway.


    But Li Wei had declared alcohol off-limits early on.


    Forget whiskey or anything of that sort; they couldn¡¯t even have beer. They were limited to soda water, juice, cola, and Gatorade¡ªit was pitiful.


    The regular season had just ended and the playoffs hadn¡¯t started yet, so it was easy to become lax during this break. It wasn¡¯t so much about the alcohol itself, but the mental state that mattered; drinking a couple of beers surely wouldn¡¯t have been a problem.


    If they had stayed at their own homes, Li Wei wouldn¡¯t have been able to reach that far; but now they were at his apartment for a party, and in the heat of revelry, it was all too easy for things to go off the rails if they weren¡¯t cautious, so Li Wei had to guard them closely.


    So, was this walking into a trap of their own making?


    Even Mahomes found it hard to watch.


    Li Wei¡¯s face was calm, ¡°What, did someone ask you?¡±


    Mahomes looked troubled; those guys didn¡¯t dare to ask Li Wei directly, so they came to him with their problems.


    Li Wei chuckled, ¡°No worries, tell them that the alcohol is in the storage room. They can help themselves. Beer, spirits, baijiu, you name it. My dad even brought over a case of Maotai last time to share with the team.¡±


    Mahomes looked skeptical, ¡°Really?¡±


    Li Wei nodded, ¡°Really. The catch is, for every bottle they drink, we¡¯ll add ten sets to tomorrow¡¯s training, my quota.¡±


    Having said that, Li Wei grinned broadly, showing off his neat set of big white teeth.


    Mahomes shivered.


    Li Wei added, ¡°I¡¯ve counted every bottle already, and it doesn¡¯t matter who drinks it; we¡¯ll all train together.¡±


    Mahomes swallowed hard, caught in a dilemma, unsure if he should tell the truth.


    Li Wei patted Mahomes on the shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s okay, just tell them that. If there are any problems, they can come to me. The storage room isn¡¯t locked; they can come and go as they please.¡±


    Mahomes hesitated and then stepped back. Li Wei¡¯s phone in his pocket began to vibrate. He glanced at the caller ID and flashed a smile at Mahomes, ¡°I¡¯m serious.¡±


    Mahomes, seeing that mischievous glint in Li Wei¡¯s eyes, couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Li Wei was deliberately encouraging them to drink so he could unleash a hellish training session the next day.


    Once that thought emerged, he couldn¡¯t control it any longer.


    Mahomes blinked rapidly and sprinted out the door.


    Li Wei burst into hearty laughter and answered the phone.


    ¡°Hey, Felix.¡±


    It was indeed Felix calling.


    Li Wei had exchanged phone numbers with Felix because of the situation with the kids at the hospital, allowing Felix to contact him anytime.


    Felix had always been cautious about disturbing Li Wei¡¯s training and daily life, only occasionally sending photos from the chemotherapy room.


    What was happening today?


    Was it because of the wild card race that the kid got excited too?


    Unexpectedly, the voice from the other end of the phone sounded slightly distressed and tense.


    ¡°Li Wei... Li Wei... I¡¯m sorry...¡±


    ¡°I... I need a bit of help right now, I am sorry, really sorry...¡±


    Before he could explain the situation, Felix kept apologizing. It was clear from his voice that he was in distress.


    Li Wei¡¯s heart tightened, and the smile vanished from his lips, ¡°Felix!¡±

 Chapter 738 738: 737 on the edge of life and death

    Chapter 738: 737 on the edge of life and death


    ¡°Felix.¡±


    ¡°Felix!¡±


    ¡°Calm down, first tell me what happened?¡±


    Li Wei quickly seized control of the situation with an emergency break.


    But on the other end of the phone, Felix was plunged into deep helplessness.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I just... I¡¯m right at the corner of Hudson Street and Canal Street. I, I might need a little help.¡±


    ...


    Wait, that was only two blocks away from Li Wei¡¯s apartment. Could it be that Felix was coming to find him? Was this the reason Felix had called him?


    Without hesitation, Li Wei said directly, ¡°Felix, stay where you are and wait for me.¡±


    He hung up the phone and dashed out, racing through the hallway to leave his apartment.


    The apartment was noisy with the merry atmosphere of the game about to start, and only Mahomes noticed Li Wei¡¯s figure, but before he could react, Li Wei was gone, leaving him looking around in bewilderment, only to find no one else noticed anything amiss.


    Kelsey was an exception; he noticed too, but he looked at Mahomes, puzzled, and shrugged to show he had no idea what was going on.


    Thud, thud, thud; thud, thud, thud.


    A frantic run.


    Li Wei sprinted through the howling wind and as he approached the street corner, he saw the car from afar, skewed awkwardly on the shoulder, avoiding the main road, not affecting traffic, but clearly out of place.


    The situation was grim.


    Li Wei¡¯s heart pounded uncontrollably, the short distance fuelled by a surge of energy in his blood amidst the tension and unease.


    ¡°Felix.¡±


    Li Wei pounded forcefully on the driver¡¯s side window, trying to wake Felix, who lay slumped over the steering wheel.


    ¡°Felix!¡±


    The car door, opened.


    Li Wei grabbed the handle fiercely and yanked the door open, quickly scanning the situation. Felix was drenched in sweat as if he had been fished out of water, his pale cheeks marked with an unnatural redness that contrasted starkly against the deathly pale of his lips, the whole scene bleak and gray.


    ¡°Felix, talk to me, what¡¯s going on? What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    Felix lifted his head, his eyes, red and pained, looked at Li Wei in despair, not saying a word but just lifting his shirt to reveal a wound on his abdomen.


    Li Wei had no understanding of cancer treatments; the wound looked like it might be from a treatment or surgery, neatly dressed, but the skin around the dressing had a waxen yellow pallor with a touch of gray and a dark red, which even someone with no medical knowledge could tell was not right.


    ¡°Felix, the wound is infected; we need to call for help...¡±


    Felix shook his head repeatedly, ¡°No, no, no, don¡¯t...¡±


    Vomit.


    Before he could finish speaking, Felix began to throw up, spewing out a thick, murky green liquid that spilled onto his clothes, as if his very insides were being expelled.


    Vomit.


    Felix, struggling, looked at Li Wei, pleading desperately, ¡°Don¡¯t call 911, no... don¡¯t call my mom, please... Li Wei, I beg you...¡±


    Li Wei stood there, stunned, his fingers poised on his phone, ready to dial, stopped, ¡°Felix, what happened?¡±


    Felix, limp with weakness, slumped over the steering wheel and turned to look at Li Wei, ¡°I, I just wanted to deliver the jerseys Annie and the others had made for you.¡±


    ¡°They hand-painted them, spending the entire afternoon. Every one of us was involved, not just for you, but for others as well.¡±


    ¡°We... we wanted to cheer you on...¡±


    ¡°But... I couldn¡¯t... I don¡¯t know what happened... I¡¯m useless, I¡¯m really so useless...¡±


    ¡°I beg you, don¡¯t tell my mom. I just wanted to prove I¡¯m not worthless, that I can do this on my own, that I don¡¯t need my mom for everything, if she knew...¡±


    ¡°If I get put into the ICU, I won¡¯t be able to go to Arrowhead Stadium to watch the game, Li Wei, I beg you, please...¡±


    Words, fragmented and disjointed.


    Felix¡¯s face was flushed, his breath thin as gossamer, his entire body drenched in sweat, as if one could clearly see his vitality ebbing away gradually.


    Tears. Mucus. Saliva. Vomit.


    All mixed together, his eyes bloodshot, Felix looked at Li Wei in despair and agony.


    Li Wei shook his head, took a deep breath, ¡°Felix, we need to call 911.¡±


    Felix, ¡°No!¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°I have to do this.¡±


    Felix howled in despair, ¡°No...¡±


    But Li Wei had already turned, pulled out his phone, ¡°911, I need an ambulance at the corner of Hudson Street and Canal Street, my name is Li Wei, my friend is in critical condition, please hurry, okay?¡±


    Felix pounded the steering wheel heavily, ¡°I hate myself... ah... ahhhh...¡±


    One blow, then another, he used all his strength, but couldn¡¯t kill even a mosquito.


    Li Wei hung up the phone, looking at Felix, who was in a struggle of agony¡ª


    This was the first time.


    Since knowing Felix, this was the first time Li Wei saw his other side, not always smiling, not always bright-eyed, not always full of confidence, but as a child, not yet an adult, having to face his own death, stealing every day from the clutches of the Grim Reaper.


    Felix wanted to always stay humorous, keep his courage, and face death positively and brightly, showing his calm and composed manner until the very last moment, but... reality was not like that.


    Although everyone knew how terrible cancer was, only those friends and relatives truly by the patient¡¯s side could understand the ferocity and horror of the disease.


    It would seep into life little by little, then make oneself and everyone around become unrecognizably transformed, helplessly plummeting into despair.


    All that soul-soothing talk was nonsense.


    The ambulance finally arrived, and the paramedics recognized Li Wei immediately, but there was no time for excitement, they showed their professionalism, lifted Felix out of the driver¡¯s seat, onto the ambulance, and started treating his wounds and administering fluids to Felix right away.


    Li Wei got on too.


    Watching Felix, who lay on the hospital bed, his consciousness foggy, Li Wei swallowed all the words in his throat, not knowing what to say.


    Hang in there? Fight? Hold on a little longer?


    At this moment, such words seemed so hypocritical, so lightweight, devoid of any strength.


    Standing in front of birth, aging, sickness, and death, humans seemed so powerless and so insignificant.


    ¡°Eh... ah...¡±


    ¡°It hurts so much. Wuu... I, I really hurt, I¡¯m sorry... I¡¯m sorry...¡±


    That forever sunny and brave Felix, at this moment, had tears sliding down from his eyes, whimpering softly, his will blurred.


    He clenched his teeth, he tried his best, but he couldn¡¯t keep standing tall.


    ¡°Mom, it really hurts...¡±


    This was too cruel.


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t imagine what Felix was going through, and even more so, couldn¡¯t imagine what Karen had endured over the years.


    Death, more tangible than ever before, he felt as though he could see the Grim Reaper standing at the foot of the bed, overlooking their pitiful struggle.


    Taking a deep breath, Li Wei barely regained his composure.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay, Felix.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to apologize, you did well, you¡¯re doing well now. You know, I finally understand why you¡¯re a true Chieftain, so brave, and so strong. Just hold on a bit longer, just a bit more.¡±


    ¡°God, imagine how happy and overjoyed the players are when they see the jerseys you¡¯ve prepared for them, we always admire your courage...¡±

 Chapter 739: Confusion and disorder caused by war

    Chapter 739: Confusion and disorder caused by war


    This was the first time, Li Wei felt himself stupid.


    Because Li Wei didn¡¯t know what to say, any words that came out seemed weak and powerless, any encouragement or comfort seemed condescending.


    But the problem was, besides ¡°Come on,¡± his mind was blank, standing in front of illness and the Grim Reaper, he could help in no way.


    So clumsy, so helpless. Truly stupid to the core.


    In a daze, Felix found back a bit of himself, looking at the two paramedics in the ambulance, his lips curling into a slight smile.


    ¡°This is Li Wei, our rookie Li Wei.¡±


    The paramedic on the left glanced at Li Wei, ¡°Yes, I know.¡± Then he looked at Felix, ¡°He is our pride of Kansas City.¡±


    Felix showed a contented smile, ¡°And I am Li Wei¡¯s friend.¡±


    That little boast made both paramedics smile, ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve noticed, and we¡¯re quite envious.¡±


    One second, the conversation was proceeding normally, the next, it devolved into incoherent mumbling, as Felix, half-awake, half-asleep, bounced between light and darkness.


    ¡°I need to fight, just like a rookie, I will not give up easily.¡±


    ¡°But it hurts, it really hurts.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Muffled, low sobs.


    Li Wei sat helplessly to one side, looking up at the two paramedics, but they could not help either, ¡°We have to wait for the medicine to take effect.¡±


    ¡°Rookie. Rookie...¡± Felix called out softly.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to win the game, right?¡±


    Li Wei was startled, and for a half-moment, he could not keep up with Felix¡¯s thoughts, it took him a moment to realize that Felix was talking about next week¡¯s divisional game.


    ¡°Can you tell me about it, our game against Indianapolis? Did we win? How did the game go?¡±


    Felix was confused.


    One moment, Felix clearly knew the divisional game had not yet started; the next, he thought it was over.


    Li Wei wanted to tell Felix the truth, but the words just wouldn¡¯t come out.


    ¡°...It was a tough game, but you know our Chieftains, we refuse to give up, to surrender, we always fight at Arrowhead Stadium until the last moment, we always show our resilience...¡±


    Gradually, Li Wei saw a calmness appear on Felix¡¯s cheeks.


    All of a sudden, Li Wei¡¯s heart clenched, he looked up at the two paramedics¡ª


    Could it be?


    ¡°The medicine is taking effect, you continue,¡± the paramedic on the left explained in a low voice.


    Li Wei let out a gentle breath, trying to maintain a calm voice as he continued speaking.


    In Li Wei¡¯s voice, Felix no longer struggled or spoke, his brow smoothed out, and in this way, they raced all the way to the hospital.


    A flurry of chaos ensued.


    It was only after everything had settled down, Felix was in the ward, doctors busied themselves, and Li Wei could see no more, he sat down in the rest area, his tension and anxiety slightly relaxed, he then realized how taut his muscles were, he tried to relax a bit, but found it not so easy.


    After waiting for a little longer, he could see Karen¡¯s tired figure leaving the ICU in the distance, walking toward him with heavy steps.


    At first glance, Karen saw Li Wei quickly stand up.


    Karen knew how difficult this thing was, only those who had truly experienced it could understand, the patient suffered, the patient¡¯s relatives also endured torment, what exactly the process entailed.


    Moreover, Li Wei didn¡¯t need and shouldn¡¯t have to face such a thing.


    For a moment, Karen also found it hard to describe her own feelings, gratitude, guilt, fear, anxiety; at the same time, deep down there was also a hint of resentment, she knew she shouldn¡¯t, this had nothing to do with Li Wei, it was entirely Felix¡¯s own actions, but just thinking about Felix possibly leaving forever, she couldn¡¯t control herself.


    The complex emotions left Karen exhausted.


    But in the end, she opened her arms and gave Li Wei a hug¡ª


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t Li Wei¡¯s fault. And without Li Wei, things might have been even worse.


    Karen forced herself to calm down, to regain her composure, she had just skirted death earlier that day, and there was no need to let the Devil join the fray as well.


    Li Wei was still not quite comfortable with the embrace, trying to let go, but found that Karen clung to him tightly, her body trembling slightly, fear from the aftermath of a near disaster still rampaging inside her body.


    Thinking it over, Li Wei didn¡¯t resist and hugged Karen back.


    Finally, Karen was the first to let go of Li Wei, she had regained control of herself, but the faint redness at the corners of her eyes still betrayed the tumult she had just been through.


    Li Wei took a deep breath, ¡°How is he doing now?¡±


    Karen, ¡°He, he¡¯s fighting. It¡¯s tough, the blood pressure is very low, his heart...¡± Her words couldn¡¯t make it to the end before Karen held her breath.


    Li Wei felt uncomfortable, ¡°What did the doctor say?¡±


    Hastily composing herself, Karen said, ¡°It¡¯s still observation, to see how his body reacts to the medication, and then proceed with chemotherapy, we have to step by step see the treatment¡¯s effectiveness. Right now...¡± Almost on the verge of collapsing, Karen quickly took a deep breath, ¡°Right now we need to take things one step at a time.¡±


    ¡°Oh, God.¡±


    In the end, Karen couldn¡¯t contain herself, her eyes welling up with tears.


    ¡°I know, I know I sound like a greedy, annoying wretch. When it relapsed, the doctors said he may only have ten months at most, we could only take it step by step, and now it¡¯s been over eleven months, I¡¯ve stolen an extra month from the Grim Reaper, he¡¯s still with me.¡±


    ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°I really hope Felix can stay, I can¡¯t bear it, I¡¯m not ready to let him go...¡±


    ¡°He shouldn¡¯t, he¡¯s only seventeen, his life has just begun, he shouldn¡¯t be facing these...¡±


    ¡°Oh, sorry. I really... can¡¯t...¡±


    Saying this, Karen began to tremble uncontrollably.


    Li Wei too held his breath, clenching his teeth to keep himself calm, ¡°Karen, he¡¯s still fighting, right?¡±


    ¡°Felix is a tough guy, he¡¯s been fighting, he¡¯s been holding on, even though he knows what the end might be, he¡¯s never given up.¡±


    ¡°We should stand with him, finish this battle together. Just like a sports team.¡±


    Karen looked at Li Wei, tears glistening in her eyes, she managed a slight smile, ¡°Just like the Chieftain?¡±


    For the first time, Li Wei felt how closely connected the team was with this city, with the people living on this land. The team was not just a professional sports team competing in athletics but also an inseparable part of their lives, his own family and life tightly woven around the team,


    And that was why, when the Oakland Raiders announced they would soon relocate to Las Vegas, the city was plunged into profound despair.


    Likewise, the team¡¯s victories and defeats, its rises and falls, were not just about winning or losing but more about an embodiment of life¡¯s aspirations and beliefs.


    Therefore, the players could treat the game as a job, a business partnership, but at the same time, they could also bear the weight of a city and fight shoulder to shoulder.


    Now, Li Wei understood as well, then he nodded affirmatively, ¡°Just like the Chieftain.¡±

 Chapter 740: 739 closely connected

    Chapter 740: 739 closely connected


    From the University of Alabama to the Kansas City Chiefs, Li Wei learned about Football bit by bit¡ªfrom a complete outsider to slowly comprehending the bond between the sport, the city, and its residents. It was true for the Old Oak Tavern and Felix¡¯s group of kids too; professional sports gained an added layer of meaning beyond victory and competition.


    It was a process of growth.


    Li Wei took a deep breath, ¡°Can I go visit him in the ward now?¡±


    Karen showed a troubled expression, ¡°Felix is still asleep, but when he wakes up, I¡¯ll make sure he knows you¡¯ve been here.¡±


    Li Wei was not surprised; Felix was in the ICU, and even family members¡¯ visits were strictly controlled. He had merely clung to a glimmer of hope in asking.


    Li Wei nodded slightly, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d like to sit here for a while.¡±


    Karen, ¡°Of course.¡± She looked deeply at Li Wei, her lips parting as if to say more¡ªshe wanted to cheer for the division game, she wanted to tell the Chiefs to keep fighting to give Felix the strength to persevere¡ªbut she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say it.


    ¡°Thank you, Li Wei. Thank you,¡± was all Karen could say, her voice devoid of strength, before she stood up and walked back toward the ICU.


    Li Wei sat there, dazed, somewhat lost in thought.


    And then.


    Thud Thud Thud, Thud Thud Thud.


    A flurry of hurried footsteps approached, carrying urgency and confusion, moving swiftly in Li Wei¡¯s direction.


    ¡°Rookie, where¡¯s Felix? He¡¯s okay, right?¡±


    It was Mahomes and Kelsey.


    Li Wei had just phoned them about the situation and asked Mahomes to help drive Felix¡¯s vehicle back, then to bring Felix¡¯s jersey from the car¡¯s backseat to his teammates.


    But he hadn¡¯t expected them to rush over immediately.


    Li Wei raised his head, looking tired, ¡°He¡¯s in the ICU, still under observation. The situation... is unclear.¡±


    Mahomes froze, and so did Kelsey; neither of them knew what to say.


    Li Wei offered a faint smile, ¡°But it¡¯s not all that bad, no immediate danger. The doctors only said they need to observe him and then see how the treatment works. You both know, Felix is a Chief; he won¡¯t surrender without a fight.¡±


    Yet these words of comfort were limited in their effect.


    Mahomes¡¯s shoulders slumped, his knees buckled, and he sat down next to Li Wei, muttering to himself, ¡°How could this happen.¡±


    Li Wei looked at his two teammates, trying to divert their attention and change the mood, ¡°So, what about the others? Is the party still good?¡±


    Kelsey, remaining standing, looked tense and uneasy, refusing to take a seat. He glanced at Li Wei, ¡°Does the party matter now? The guys wanted to come too, but we were worried it might be uncomfortable for Felix¡¯s family, so Patrick and I came over. They¡¯re all waiting at the apartment for news.¡±


    After he finished speaking, Kelsey couldn¡¯t hold back and turned away, cursing softly.


    ¡°Damn! I hate situations like this.¡±


    Kelsey stood with his back to Li Wei, hands on hips, head bowed, struggling in vain to contain his frustration.


    Mahomes asked, ¡°Is there anything we can do?¡±


    Li Wei paused¡ª


    Right, what could they do now?


    ¡°Focus,¡± Li Wei said, ¡°The only thing we can do right now is to focus on the game.¡±


    Kelsey turned back around, his eyes filled with anger as he stared at Li Wei, as if in disbelief at his words.


    Li Wei, ¡°Felix has his battles, and we have ours. They¡¯re distinct, yet in a sense, they are the same battle.¡±


    ¡°Felix¡¯s battle, we have no certainty... no one does; but at least, our own battle can be firmly in our hands.¡±


    ¡°Brothers, Felix did not surrender, and we should give it our all. That¡¯s what we should do, and it¡¯s the only way we can help.¡±


    ¡°We need to give Felix courage and belief, we need to show our fighting stance. We have no way out.¡±


    Indeed, the playoff showdown is full of suspense, no team can say for sure they will win; but compared to the fight Felix is facing, their campaign seems much easier¡ª


    They must win.


    Kelsey looked at Li Wei and quickly understood.


    He hated the feeling of powerlessness, standing before illness feeling utterly insignificant and stupid, full of rage and frustration yet still unable to do anything.


    But Li Wei was right, perhaps the field was the only place where they could do something for Felix.


    Damn it.


    Kelsey cursed again, looked at Li Wei, and said fiercely, ¡°Then let¡¯s play a good game and win some victories.¡±


    Their gazes met, and Mahomes nodded seriously, his expression grave.


    It was now certain that the divisional game wouldn¡¯t be an easy match, the Indianapolis Colts would definitely not easily hand over victory; but the Kansas City Chiefs were ready, like never before.


    When the wildcard games ended and the Kansas City Chiefs returned to the training field, officially entering the divisional game preparation rhythm, Reed discovered:


    The atmosphere was solemn, the fighting spirit was high, and the belief in victory permeated everywhere within the team.


    Originally, Reed worried that these sophomores and juniors might be too relaxed to tighten up, so when he found out Li Wei was planning a team viewing party for Sunday, he relaxed a little.


    Indeed, Li Wei was a born leader.


    But now, seeing such a heavy atmosphere far exceeded his expectations, Reed couldn¡¯t help but wonder what had happened at Li Wei¡¯s party.


    Later, Reed learned about Felix¡¯s situation and was taken aback¡ª


    A bitter taste filled his mouth, hard to bear.


    Even at Reed¡¯s age, standing in the face of life and death, he still felt insignificant.


    Reed thought for a moment, didn¡¯t say much, just instructed the coaching staff to be mindful, not to push the players too hard in today¡¯s training recovery; he feared that their eagerness, determination, and desire to win might inadvertently lead to them hurting themselves.


    The Kansas City Chiefs, from top to bottom, united as one, showing an unprecedented level of focus, clearly ready for the divisional game.


    The two divisional games on Sunday lived up to expectations, pushing the playoff atmosphere to a climax.


    The first game, between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Chicago Bears, unexpectedly turned into a... defensive battle.


    Two offensive coordinators turned coaches had to learn how to win through defense when their quarterbacks were underperforming.


    In the end, ¡°Saint Nick¡± Foles shone once more, completing a touchdown pass with fifty-six seconds left in the game; though the subsequent two-point conversion failed, it was enough, because Trubisky didn¡¯t even get the chance to attempt a Wanfu Mary.


    ¡°16:15.¡±


    The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Chicago Bears to advance to the divisional playoffs.


    Ironically, without the help of the Chicago Bears, the Philadelphia Eagles could not have made the playoffs; and now the Philadelphia Eagles personally eliminated the Chicago Bears.


    But that¡¯s competitive sports, where no one ever knows what will happen next. It can be called fate, yet it can also be said that anything is possible, and victory and defeat are never inevitable.


    And so, Nagy¡¯s magical first season as head coach came to an abrupt end, drawing the curtain.

 Chapter 741: 740 matchups announced

    Chapter 741: 740 matchups announced


    Buzz.


    The game was over, and Nagy¡¯s eyes were filled with sorrow. Victory was only a hair¡¯s breadth away, and he truly believed they could have won the game¡ª


    The crux of the matter lay in the fact that the Chicago Bears lacked a decisive player in the final moments who could turn the game around. If it had been Alex Smith or Li Wei on the field, the outcome would have been entirely different.


    However, there were no ifs. The Bears had Trubisky.


    Looking back at the 2017 draft, when the Chicago Bears paid a steep price to pick Trubisky as runner-up while the Kansas City Chiefs strategically chose Li Wei as the third pick, a single decision had diverged their fates.


    Taking a deep breath, Nagy¡¯s eyes gathered resolve:


    Next year, they should start from the draft again.


    Looking towards the field, Foles once again became the superhero for the Philadelphia Eagles, yet it was uncertain how far Foles could lead them this year.


    Nagy¡¯s thoughts spread amidst chaos and disarray.


    Following that, the last wildcard game took the stage, which was also the peak of attention:


    ¡°Los Angeles Chargers VS Baltimore Ravens.¡±


    However... this game proved the playoff tension in another way.


    Facing pressure could either lead to an incredible spark or plunge both into a whirlpool of errors that fragmented the game.


    A single-elimination game is no guarantee of a spectacular match.


    This game... to some extent, was marred, with mistakes taking center stage.


    Both quarterbacks, Philip Rivers and Lamar Jackson, performed so poorly it was painful to watch. Jackson¡¯s performance under pressure was disastrously out of tune. His technical shortcomings were undeniably exposed, and everything from defensive reads, tactical application, timing decisions, to on-the-spot adjustments were all utterly flawed, to the point where critics could hardly bear to comment.


    The entire Baltimore home crowd loudly chanted Flacco¡¯s name, while on the sidelines, Flacco was already prepared to take the field at any moment.


    Yet, Harbaugh remained unmoved, insisting on keeping Jackson on the field.


    In contrast, Rivers¡¯ performance was mediocre, but the veteran¡¯s composure and experience played an important role. Knowing he wasn¡¯t in top form, his tactical choices were significantly wiser, and he managed to control the situation.


    By halftime, ¡°12:0,¡± the Los Angeles Chargers shut out the Baltimore Ravens, leading with four field goals, though the gap had not widened.


    It wasn¡¯t until the fourth quarter that both quarterbacks finally eased the pressure and found their rhythm.


    Rivers led the Chargers on a rampage, with a touchdown pass, a two-point conversion, plus another field goal, extending their lead.


    At one point, the Chargers were far ahead, ¡°23:3.¡±


    It was only then, standing on the precipice and feeling the threat of death, did Jackson wake up as if from a dream. With risky long passes and read options rushing with the ball himself, he incredibly managed to score two consecutive touchdowns and rapidly close the gap.


    Unfortunately, it was too late.


    ¡°23:17.¡±


    The Los Angeles Chargers held on to victory, defeating the Baltimore Ravens and advancing to the next round.


    After the game, Jackson stood there, dazed and crestfallen.


    He had always longed to defeat Li Wei fair and square, to prove his own abilities; but in the regular season¡¯s overtime loss, he had no chance to take the field, and in the playoffs... he didn¡¯t even get to face Li Wei.


    Did he not even qualify to stand before Li Wei and compete?


    Jackson was bewildered, tasting the bitterness in his mouth.


    Harbaugh noticed and was the first to approach, firmly patting Jackson¡¯s helmet:


    Lamar, don¡¯t cry. Next season we start over, the future is ours.


    With that, the first round of wildcard games has come to an end¡ª


    It¡¯s indeed a time of chaos.


    Of the four wildcard games, only the Dallas Cowboys managed to hold onto their fourth seed, fending off the Seattle Seahawks to advance to the next round; the other three games saw the lower seeds upsetting the higher seeds, sending the league into a new pinnacle of disorder.


    It was a tad exhilarating.


    Then, the divisional matchups were all set.


    January 12th, Saturday.


    In the afternoon, the American League¡¯s top seed, the Kansas City Chiefs vs. the sixth seed, the Indianapolis Colts.


    At night, the National Conference¡¯s second seed, the Los Angeles Rams vs. the fourth seed, the Dallas Cowboys.


    January 13th, Sunday.


    In the afternoon, the National Conference¡¯s top seed, the New Orleans Saints vs. the sixth seed, the Philadelphia Eagles.


    At night, the American League¡¯s second seed, the New England Patriots vs. the fifth seed, the Los Angeles Chargers.


    The schedule was all set.


    It was somewhat surprising that the defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, would play first and not in a night game; but upon reflection, it wasn¡¯t so surprising.


    Because from an analytical standpoint, the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Indianapolis Colts was expected to be the least suspenseful of the division games, while the collision between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Chargers was regarded as the most uncertain.


    The League¡¯s scheduling was clearly considerate of the issue with viewership ratings and the backlash from last season when the League was unduly in favor of Li Wei, pushing all his games to prime time slots.


    This time, the League¡¯s scheduling received universal acclaim from insiders and fans alike.


    Perhaps, the only ones who were unhappy were the Indianapolis Colts¡ª


    Why assume this game would have the least suspense? Does the entire League really think the Kansas City Chiefs are certain of victory here?


    Bart: Yes.


    Bart, an ¡°insider¡± of the league, was no longer the focal point of this season.


    In fact, he remained a steadfast ¡°Li Wei hater,¡± always believing ¡°one season of brilliance means nothing for a running back,¡± because running backs are like consumables, worn a little each season and not easily recoverable. To measure a running back¡¯s ability, ¡°at least three seasons¡± were needed, and he made no attempt to conceal his stance.


    However, this season, the Kansas City Chiefs kept winning, losing only three games. Bart faced more frequent and harsher rebukes, and he had to admit¡ª


    This season, Li Wei broke through the rookie wall, and the Chiefs were a more complete and mature team, ¡°though still with room for growth and not quite a real powerhouse yet.¡±


    The upcoming divisional game, even Bart, a staunch ¡°Li Wei hater,¡± grudgingly acknowledged that the Indianapolis Colts would find it difficult to stop the Chiefs¡¯ march forward.


    Indianapolis Colts:... Roll.


    On this, Bart had his own opinion. The Indianapolis Colts were a team with weak defense relying entirely on offense. Facing the Chiefs, it would be a classic ¡°high-scoring shootout,¡± but the crux of the matter was that the current Chiefs¡¯ offensive group was indeed exceptional.


    Of course, some would say that the Los Angeles Chargers managed to defeat the Chiefs relying on their offense.


    But that game was an exception as Hunter¡¯s incident disrupted the Chiefs¡¯ game plan; at the same time, the Chargers¡¯ last-minute bold move, driven by Lynn¡¯s audacity, brought a win that was somewhat lucky.


    What works once may not work again.


    Just look at the Chiefs¡¯ games this season. The New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, and Pittsburgh Steelers all contested the Chiefs by clamping down on their offense with their defense.


    The Indianapolis Colts?


    Not feasible.

 Chapter 742: 741 a basin of cold water

    Chapter 742: 741 a basin of cold water


    Clearly, Bart possessed a unique talent that was infuriating yet harmless, not only towards Li Wei but also when facing other teams and players.


    Indianapolis Colts: You can¡¯t do it, your whole family can¡¯t do it.


    Seething with anger.


    Yet, facing the gnashing teeth and rage of everyone from top to bottom of the Indianapolis Colts, Bart didn¡¯t mind; on the contrary, he completely enjoyed it, and that was one of the pleasures of his profession:


    The ability to openly curse people without using foul or dirty language.


    In fact, objectively speaking, the defensive strength of the Indianapolis Colts wasn¡¯t bad, even better than the Kansas City Chiefs.


    As the regular season came to a close, all the rankings for the teams were released.


    In the defensive group rankings, the Indianapolis Colts were tenth, while the Kansas City Chiefs were only twenty-fourth, a more evident gap than anticipated, particularly with the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ abysmal pass defense ranked thirty-first in the league, second to last.


    Compared to the previous season, the pass defense of the Kansas City Chiefs had deteriorated. It was also evident that this year, Veach¡¯s strategy to build a defensive group through the draft hadn¡¯t worked, coupled with Berry¡¯s absence and Houston¡¯s weaknesses, were shortcomings that couldn¡¯t be remedied in a short time.


    But why did the Kansas City Chiefs Defense seem to perform well? And why did they save victories for the Kansas City Chiefs on the brink of defeat more than once?


    The key lies here, the performance during critical moments. The Kansas City Chiefs Defense stood firm under pressure, without collapse, preserving the team¡¯s resilience. Not only Houston, but also the young players led by Jones and Fuller passed the test.


    On the other hand, the Indianapolis Colts had impressive defensive stats in regular play but dropped the ball during key moments repeatedly. They lost six games in the season, which was twice as many as the Kansas City Chiefs.


    In the end, both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Indianapolis Colts relied on offense to win games.


    In the offensive group rankings for the season, the Kansas City Chiefs were proudly at the top of the league, with a significant advantage, hailed as the strongest and most impressive team since the 2013 Denver Broncos. Moreover, unlike that year¡¯s Denver Broncos, this year¡¯s Kansas City Chiefs had a more balanced and multi-faceted attack, making their whole offensive system more comprehensive and versatile.


    The biggest weakness would be Mahomes¡¯ youth. His twelve interceptions in the season were just superficial; the real issue was Mahomes¡¯ lack of experience, with choices and decisions in crunch time still not mature enough.


    If we talk about passing offense alone, teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Los Angeles Rams were better than the Kansas City Chiefs; but the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offense wasn¡¯t limited to just passing.


    Li Wei¡¯s maturity and composure complemented Mahomes, and the ground game always served as a guarantee, which made the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offense unstoppable.


    And the Indianapolis Colts?


    This offensive group was ranked fifth in the league, with the running game just twenty, but their passing offense ranked sixth, comparable to the Kansas City Chiefs, with each having their strengths.


    Originally, the Colts¡¯ offense was completely focused on passing, like the 2013 Denver Broncos. Once their passing game faced adversity, the entire offensive system would grind to a halt and struggle.


    But conveniently, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ pass defense was a mess, ranked at the bottom of the league.


    The entire Indianapolis Colts was full of confidence and united with the firm belief that they could defeat the Kansas City Chiefs and advance to the conference finals.


    However, they faced a harsh reality check from Bart.


    In Bart¡¯s view, this season in the league, there wasn¡¯t a team that could launch a direct attack against the Kansas City Chiefs and win; the only team that might keep up with the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive power was the Los Angeles Rams with Goff and Gurley, but the firepower of the Los Angeles Rams was still slightly inferior.


    If it came to an offensive showdown, the Indianapolis Colts simply couldn¡¯t stop the Kansas City Chiefs; moreover, the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ own offense faced a problem of imbalance. Once their passing game encountered issues, the game might as well be over.


    So.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think the Kansas City Chiefs can defend their title. After advancing to the conference finals, whether facing the New England Patriots or the Los Angeles Chargers, the Kansas City Chiefs have already tasted defeat in the regular season and are likely to find it difficult to break through, probably stopping short of the final stage.¡±


    ¡°Despite that, I still believe the Kansas City Chiefs can beat the Indianapolis Colts and advance to the conference finals for the second consecutive season, which is already quite an achievement, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Kansas City Chiefs: Thanks for the compliment.


    Indianapolis Colts: Heh heh.


    This is Bart¡¯s capability; he offended both teams in a flash.


    However, as much as Bart¡¯s words were harsh, his point received a lot of support, including the ¡°inside the league,¡± overwhelmingly backing the Kansas City Chiefs¡ª


    ¡°9:1¡±.


    Out of ten commentators, only one person favored the Indianapolis Colts to pull off an upset.


    And because of this, the League scheduled the game as the first match and received a round of applause; most people thought there was no suspense in the game.


    Nevertheless.


    The Kansas City Chiefs proceeded in an orderly fashion, with the team atmosphere solemn.


    Clearly, the team knew they were favored, but no one could afford to be careless or take anything for granted because they knew this was a game they could not take lightly, for they had a reason they must win this game¡ª


    Felix.


    This fan was more than just a casual common name; everyone on the team knew him, knew the big boy who sat in a wheelchair yet always had a smile on his face, knew the big boy who, despite being tormented by illness, stood shoulder to shoulder with the team through the battle.


    Without exception.


    When Houston brought the jerseys made by Felix and the other kids into the locker room, each jersey¡¯s warmth and weight heavily pressed on their chests, reminding them at all times:


    You cannot be arrogant, cannot be complacent, cannot take victory for granted.


    Victory wouldn¡¯t fall into their lap from the sky; they needed to strive, to fight, to exert all their efforts to seize it.


    This was a victory that had to be secured, not just for the team.


    On Thursday, after training ended, Reed gathered all the players.


    ¡°... Felix is out of the critical period and went back home with his mother this afternoon. But, his condition is still not good, and it is unlikely that he will be able to attend the divisional game.¡±


    They had just breathed a sigh of relief, but their hearts were hoisted up again.


    The shadow of the Grim Reaper seemed to loom over their heads, never fading away.


    After the dismissal, Li Wei noticed Mahomes looking downcast and troubled.


    He patted Mahomes¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Hey, Felix has his battle, and we have ours. Also, don¡¯t forget about Eric.¡±


    ¡°We also have a mission.¡±


    Not just Felix, but also Eric Berry.


    Felix was fighting against death, while Berry was struggling against injuries.


    Time was passing; the season was drawing to its conclusion, and a familiar situation from last season was happening again. Berry was still trying to return to the field, but clearly, things were not that simple.


    Originally, Berry hoped to return for the divisional game, to bring hope to the team¡¯s poor secondary defense; however, though his injuries had healed, his form was worrying.


    He was still Eric Berry but seemed no longer like the safety Berry of old.

 Chapter 743: 742 Looking forward to

    Chapter 743: 742 Looking forward to


    This season, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ passing defense was indeed hard to describe.


    It wasn¡¯t that there were no highlights¡ªFuller¡¯s brilliance and Jones¡¯s growth were commendable; but it wasn¡¯t enough.


    On one hand, two people alone couldn¡¯t support the entire defense group¡¯s performance; on the other hand, their individual performances were sporadic and couldn¡¯t form a consistent chain.


    The situation was full of challenges.


    Berry had been trying persistently, not hoping to be a savior, but hoping to return to his position, fight alongside his team, and contribute his part to the team¡¯s weaker aspects.


    He didn¡¯t believe or think that he could transform the defense group completely, but he longed to step onto the field and fight with his teammates.


    This desire, he thought would fade with the passage of time and the difficulties of rehabilitation; but it didn¡¯t, instead, it became more urgent and stronger.


    He had already missed last season¡¯s playoffs, and he didn¡¯t want to miss this year¡¯s.


    The injury, fortunately, healed, allowing Berry to finally run without pain.


    However, his form didn¡¯t return.


    That wasn¡¯t unexpected¡ª


    Berry had been out of the game for two full years, and even now standing on the field, his condition, touch, and instincts were all different.


    Recovering from an injury didn¡¯t mean he could go back to being that daunting safety.


    Injury recovery didn¡¯t work that way.


    In fact, he might never be able to find his old self again, and he might return to the field only to never regain his peak form.


    That was the most disheartening.


    But Berry didn¡¯t give up or surrender; he continued to fight.


    Just like Felix.


    Fighting with all their might for a glimmer of hope, burning their entire lives.


    When Berry learned of Felix¡¯s situation, he remained silent for a very long time and didn¡¯t speak; after saying goodbye to Li Wei, he silently went back to train.


    Even now, Li Wei still couldn¡¯t forget Berry¡¯s stubborn back, just like he couldn¡¯t forget Felix¡¯s tear-stained face tormented by pain.


    He remembered, remembered it all.


    Li Wei looked at Mahomes, his face resolute.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter that Felix can¡¯t come to the divisional game, we will continue to advance, maybe we will have a chance at the conference finals,¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s still not enough, we will continue winning, move on to the Super Bowl, wait for Felix, wait for Eric, we are always fighting side by side.¡±


    ¡°They are not alone, and neither are we.¡±


    Mahomes looked at Li Wei and involuntarily opened his shoulders, stood straighter.


    When he came to, he found that not just him, but other players also stopped and looked over, their eyes showing resolution.


    A softly uttered ¡°Hang in there¡± holds no strength because people often don¡¯t understand the effort and heart behind such encouragement, facing one disappointment after another ¨C persistence and fighting are never just slogans.


    But if they are united and march forward together, they can continue, step by step, and this is precisely what the Kansas City Chiefs urgently need¡ª


    A fighting heart.


    Even without Reed motivating them, the players voluntarily put away their phones, completely blocking out the gossip on social media, and focusing wholeheartedly on pre-game preparation.


    Never before had the Kansas City Chiefs been so thirsty for a victory, and the postseason losing streak and restrictions from the previous season seemed not as scary anymore.


    So, is this what they call growth?


    ...


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to be nervous, tomorrow is just another new day, another game, another battle. I know the heavy burden everyone carries on their shoulders, but trust me, you are ready,¡±


    ¡°I believe in you, I hope you can believe in yourselves as I believe in you.¡±


    ¡°Dismiss, have a good rest tonight.¡±


    Having said that, Reed turned and left.


    There were no long speeches, no inspirational talks, everything was as usual.


    Tomorrow, Saturday, the wild card game was about to blow its horn.


    Watching Reed leave, the players packed up their notebooks and strategy manuals to go home.


    Li Wei was leaving the strategy room with his buddies when his cell phone in his pocket vibrated, Li Wei signaled to everyone, and stopped to answer the call.


    ¡°Hey, Felix.¡±


    With that greeting, Mahomes and Kelsey all stopped in their tracks.


    On the phone, Felix¡¯s voice was full of energy, just like Li Wei remembered, ¡°Hey, good evening, Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Sorry, I know tomorrow is game day, and you must be busy; I should be the last person in the city to want to bother you, but, I have a question I must ask you. I can¡¯t refuse.¡±


    Li Wei was about to tell Felix ¡°It¡¯s okay¡±, in fact, he was thrilled to receive the call, elated to hear Felix¡¯s energetic voice, but then he paused, his words lingering on the tip of his tongue, a smile gently creeping across his lips.


    ¡°Rookie, rookie?¡±


    Not only Li Wei but also Mahomes and the others cast inquiring looks.


    Li Wei gestured that he understood and mouthed the words: He sounds good.


    Mahomes clenched his fist tightly and high-fived Kelsey and the others.


    Li Wei, ¡°Fire away, I¡¯m ready.¡±


    Felix, ¡°Can you spare thirty minutes tonight to come to St. George¡¯s Church near the hospital?¡±


    Li Wei was stunned, ¡°Oh, maybe. Why, is everything okay?¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡± Felix laughed heartily, ¡°Secret, dear rookie, please allow me to keep some secrets.¡±


    Joyful, unrestrained, and a bit more mischievous than usual.


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t help but wonder, what was Felix like before he fell ill?


    Now, when people saw Felix, the wheelchair and cancer were always the first things to enter the view, labeling him and treating him as a patient, a weakling before getting to know him; but beyond the wheelchair and cancer, he was also a vibrant soul.


    A seventeen-year-old soul.


    The call ended.


    Li Wei looked up and could see the bustling glances coming his way again, he took a deep breath, ¡°Oh, Felix sounds great, no worries; he just needs thirty minutes of my time.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe Felix has finally mustered the courage to confess to the girl he likes, he needs to borrow some of our Chieftain¡¯s strength?¡±


    Cut it out.


    A wave of teasing, the atmosphere turned lively.


    Houston patted Li Wei¡¯s arm, ¡°Even though Felix might not be able to come to Arrowhead Stadium tomorrow, he¡¯ll be fighting with us; you better go check on him.¡±


    Finally, Li Wei and Mahomes, two neighbors plus a tag-along, arrived at St. George¡¯s Church, the three of them sizing up the church in front of them¡ª


    Calm, normal.


    Nothing unusual about its appearance, still clueless upon arriving at the scene.


    The three pushed open the church doors, and the lemon-yellow light cascaded down, revealing at the end of the aisle the silhouette of the wheelchair, unmistakably Felix¡¯s back.


    In addition, behind the podium at the end of the aisle stood a small figure, who upon seeing them, excitedly and vigorously waved her hands in greeting¡ª


    Annie Galas.

 Chapter 744: 743 Living Funeral

    Chapter 744: 743 Living Funeral


    ¡°Hey! Guys!¡±


    Annie, with a smile on her face and full of enthusiasm, continuously waved her hands, unable to hide her happiness, and called out from a distance.


    Although Annie lowered her voice, her shout still echoed through the church space, startling herself; she covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes and the corners of her mouth brimming with smiles, and hurriedly ran down, curling up on a long bench.


    Li Wei walked forward, seeing Annie holding her knees and chuckling on the bench, his eyes involuntarily revealed a smile as he warmly greeted.


    ¡°How are you guys doing? Cold?¡±


    Tonight, snow fell in Kansas City, not heavily, but the snowflakes were visible to the naked eye.


    This winter, Kansas City was exceptionally cold; this was already the fourth heavy snow since the onset of winter, not to mention the sporadic grain-sized snow and occasional light snow that fell for an hour, making the weather seem unusual.


    It was unclear whether the city¡¯s residents would be able to comfortably survive this winter.


    Tonight was the same, the temperature had already dropped below minus ten degrees, looking at Felix and Annie, Li Wei couldn¡¯t help but worry about this problem.


    Felix looked at Annie and chuckled, then turned to Li Wei and explained, ¡°My mom is also worried about the same thing. Don¡¯t look at me being so slim now, but actually, I¡¯m fully armed inside; I think I could try sumo wrestling.¡±


    Just back from the brink of death, but Felix already looked completely recovered.


    Annie nodded repeatedly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if I weren¡¯t fully armed, my mom would refuse to send me here, I wouldn¡¯t dare challenge her bottom line.¡±


    In their words, laden with teasing, their mischievous and vivid expressions, their eyebrows, mouths, and noses seemed to have their own souls, starting to twist at different rhythms, which immediately lightened the mood.


    No greetings, no pleasantries, everything seemed simple and natural.


    Just like a gathering of friends.


    Mahomes and Kelsey also relaxed and found seats for themselves.


    Kelsey looked around and said, ¡°Sorry, please forgive Patrick and me for showing up uninvited. We were both worried that Li Wei might have lured you guys away. God, that would have been awful.¡±


    ¡°Haha,¡± Felix laughed, ¡°Welcome, warm welcome. Honestly, I was worried it would be too few people, too quiet. I hope my funeral would be crowded, the more the merrier, that¡¯s what makes it lively.¡±


    Wait, what?


    A funeral?


    Mahomes and Kelsey both lost the ability to react, instinctively turning their heads to look at Li Wei.


    But this time, Li Wei was also at a loss, his smile freezing at the corners of his mouth, ¡°Felix?¡±


    Felix waved his hand, ¡°Relax, relax, why so serious?¡±


    After saying that, he paused for a moment, desperately blinking, ¡°Why so serious, did you hear? The famous line from The Joker?¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    Li Wei appeared slightly helpless, his smile relaxed a bit, waiting for Felix to continue.


    Felix sighed lightly, while sighing he stealthily glanced at Li Wei with his peripheral vision, clearly joking, ¡°My mom couldn¡¯t understand, and I thought you would. Rookie, you¡¯ve let me down a bit.¡±


    Li Wei noticed Felix¡¯s eyes and the corners of his mouth but didn¡¯t play along, ¡°You first tell me what¡¯s going on, and then I¡¯ll decide whether to play along.¡±


    Felix¡¯s eyes lit up, straightening his back, ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to attend my own funeral, ideally as a ghost of course; but I was worried, if things don¡¯t go according to plan, so I arranged a living funeral first.¡±


    ¡°So, what do you think?¡±


    ¡°My mom says it¡¯s ridiculous, I shouldn¡¯t attend my own funeral, no one should attend their own funeral, and no one should plan their own funeral.¡±


    ¡°But... Li Wei, is it really so?¡±


    As he spoke, the playfulness vanished, and Li Wei could see the sincerity in Felix¡¯s eyes.


    It was cruel.


    For children like Felix and Annie, they hadn¡¯t even figured out what youth and life were all about before they had to face death.


    Though people often say that in life, everyone¡¯s end is the same; Felix and Annie were different, they could see their end, and it was closer than imagined.


    Especially Felix, who had just taken a stroll near death¡¯s door.


    Karen didn¡¯t want to face reality nor was she capable of facing it, but Felix couldn¡¯t escape because escaping meant wasting time, which was the one thing he couldn¡¯t afford to waste... was time.


    In the church, the lights were bright, and the atmosphere so peaceful and serene.


    Yet, the silent air was so biting, dry and sharp against the skin.


    Mahomes ultimately couldn¡¯t bear it and turned his head away.


    Li Wei tried to speak, but found himself so clumsy, like a five-year-old, with a thousand words swirling in his mind, yet not knowing how to express them.


    ¡°Ahem.¡± Li Wei cleared his throat, composed himself, ¡°Everyone has the right to plan their own funeral, but only the truly strong can do it with acceptance and openness; and only the real brave can find a way to attend their own funeral, I guess I¡¯m honored to have received an invitation.¡±


    Felix had been watching Li Wei, his smile gradually lifting:


    He just knew that Li Wei would understand him.


    Felix turned his head to the other side, ¡°Annie, Annie, come on, it¡¯s your turn to speak, tell me you¡¯ve prepared a full eulogy, because I reckon these three superheroes next to me aren¡¯t going to be much help, you¡¯re my only hope.¡±


    Annie protested, ¡°Hey, that¡¯s not fair. I was hoping you would give a speech at my funeral.¡±


    Kelsey suddenly looked up to that skinny little figure, ¡°Annie...¡±


    Annie, smiling, waved her hand dismissively, ¡°I know I¡¯m still a child, but obviously, I might not have time to grow up slowly, I need to grow up faster, otherwise I won¡¯t even qualify to like someone. You guys, don¡¯t stare at me, otherwise you might end up violating Federation law.¡±


    Quirky, clever, looking at Annie like this, what could they say?


    Despite the bitterness in his mouth, Li Wei was the first to start clapping for Annie, and Mahomes and Kelsey took a deep breath and joined in the chanting.


    ¡°Go Annie! Annie! Annie!¡±


    Annie returned to the podium, her petite frame completely obscured except for her shoulders and head, which looked slightly comical.


    The little girl shrugged lightly, ¡°I should write to the church to complain, this is not child-friendly for those under fourteen.¡±


    Hahaha.


    The little girl looked at everyone¡¯s smiles, nodded contently, ¡°Ready? Please enjoy this masterpiece I¡¯ve channeled from Fitzgerald.¡±


    ¡°Felix Gray is a narcissistic, arrogant, and crazy lunatic, but we have chosen to forgive him. What can we do, in an era where good looks save the world, how could we not forgive a handsome man?¡±


    Ha, haha.


    Felix even whistled, rather than a funeral, it felt more like a party, the atmosphere was incredibly lively.


    The livelier it got, the more bittersweet; the more cheerful, the more sorrowful.


    But Li Wei and the other two composed themselves, if this was what Felix wanted, it was the least they could do.

 Chapter 745: 744 Facing Death

    Chapter 745: 744 Facing Death


    Roar, roar, roar.


    Felix was the first to start the commotion as the empty church began to liven up.


    Annie¡¯s smile also fully bloomed.


    ¡°But the reason is not just that.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just because he was as handsome as a ¡®Seventeen¡¯ magazine model...¡±


    Amid the laughter, Felix protested, ¡°GQ!¡± ¡°GQ!¡±


    ¡°Nor because he should have lived longer, but only made it to nineteen...¡±


    Felix kept shaking his head, ¡°Annie, you¡¯re so disappointing. Seventeen, I was seventeen.¡±


    Annie¡¯s shoulders slumped, and she looked at Felix with a lifeless expression, ¡°Please, can¡¯t you tell? I wanted you to live longer, you meddlesome jerk, interrupting my eulogy. You should be dead now.¡±


    Felix burst out laughing.


    Annie continued.


    ¡°But, in the future, when I turn eighteen and Li Wei comes to my house to invite me to the graduation ball, and the whole world looks at me with envy, I will tell Li Wei, much to my regret, that I can¡¯t go with him to the graduation ball because...¡±


    She took a deep breath.


    ¡°Because a jerk had promised to take me to the graduation ball but broke that promise in his nineteenth year. God, I hate men who don¡¯t keep their promises. If it weren¡¯t for him, my graduation ball would have been different.¡±


    Source: , updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã?


    Annie¡¯s eighteen, Felix¡¯s nineteen, those were a distant dream, forever unknown whether that day would ever come.


    Annie was a bit flustered, hurriedly rubbing her eyes, and took another deep breath, forcing a smile back on her face.


    ¡°However, after making my point, I would still hold Li Wei¡¯s right hand. Please, it¡¯s Li Wei. Who wouldn¡¯t want to go to the graduation ball with Li Wei? I would be the brightest girl in the whole school.¡±


    As she smiled, tears still rolled down, and Annie turned sideways, quickly wiping her face with both hands.


    ¡°Sorry, I, don¡¯t know, this is too hard, I... I hope Felix, that jerk, can laugh about this in heaven.¡±


    Hurriedly, Annie turned away from the podium only to find Li Wei coming towards her with a smile, gentlemanly extending his right hand.


    Annie was stunned.


    Li Wei politely bowed slightly, ¡°Annie Gallas, may I have the honor of inviting you to the graduation ball?¡±


    Annie¡¯s face was full of surprise, her mouth slightly open, and her eyes moistening again, but she quickly smiled, taking Li Wei¡¯s right hand, ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°But, tonight¡¯s star is Felix, we need to keep it low-key, otherwise, he would be sad.¡±


    It should have been a whisper, but Annie blurted it out, causing Mahomes and Kelsey to almost burst into laughter.


    Felix protested, ¡°Annie, you weren¡¯t supposed to let me hear that. A little quieter, a little quieter.¡±


    Li Wei looked at Annie, and the two exchanged a knowing look, then Li Wei and Annie sat down in the front row, Li Wei turning to look at Felix.


    Felix was laughing, but the sadness and bitterness behind the smile never faded.


    Li Wei, ¡°Twenty-five cents for your thoughts now.¡±


    Felix¡¯s eyes dodged briefly, he instinctively wanted to deny it and escape, but he eventually forced himself to face Li Wei.


    ¡°Forget,¡± Felix said.


    Taking a deep breath, ¡°I know this might sound childish, but I always thought I could be a hero, even if not a superhero like Iron Man. I believed my life would be incredibly grand.¡±


    ¡°You know, making it to the front page of the New York Times, changing the world on my own, or discovering groundbreaking inventions that alter the course of human civilization.¡±


    ¡°Just like you, Li Wei, emerging as a rookie and astonishing the entire League, bringing hope to Kansas City and claiming the Super Bowl victory.¡±


    ¡°I, I should be special.¡±


    Felix¡¯s voice was somewhat choked, revealing a hint of unwillingness and helplessness, as the eternally sunny and positive young man finally showed his vulnerability.


    Li Wei looked at Felix, ¡°You are special, Felix.¡±


    Felix muttered softly, ¡°Yes, yes, I know. My mom has told me countless times, but... but, you know what I mean.¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°I know what you mean, but I don¡¯t agree.¡±


    Felix had not anticipated such a response.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t avoid his gaze, ¡°Felix, you don¡¯t need to care about whether people remember you or not.¡±


    Kelsey caught the inadvertent anger in Li Wei¡¯s words, ¡°Li Wei, don¡¯t be angry.¡±


    Li Wei looked directly at Kelsey, ¡°I am angry.¡±


    Kelsey choked.


    Li Wei, ¡°I¡¯m angry because Felix never realizes how special he is. Not just to his mother, to Annie, to me, to Patrick, to Travis, to those kids in the chemotherapy room, to the guys in the Kansas City Chiefs locker room.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that enough?¡±


    ¡°You think the only way to make a life meaningful and valuable is to be remembered by people, but do you realize who these people really are?¡±


    ¡°Is it Jack cuddling his phone in his bedroom in an Alaskan glacier, giving you a like? Or Jose from a slum in Monterrey who forgets you two seconds after tearing up from your story? Or perhaps Kevin, who deals with billions of US dollars and briefly glances at a newspaper headline?¡±


    ¡°People?¡±


    ¡°Who are these people? On social media, how many of those likes and shares are from bots? How much of that mountain of data is just fluff?¡±


    ¡°You obsess over those numbers, yet fail to see your own life, those real, lively, warm souls. If we aren¡¯t important to you, if our firm memories of you still aren¡¯t enough, I can only say, I¡¯m very sorry.¡±


    Felix sat there, tears streaming down his face, his shoulders quivering slightly, ¡°Li Wei...¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s eyes also reddened slightly, ¡°Felix, we will remember you. You aren¡¯t just a number or a symbol. You are Felix Gray, the humorous, sunny, handsome Felix, the one who drives the entire Arrowhead Stadium to cheer from the stands, the one who fiercely fights death and tells it to get lost.¡±


    ¡°Felix, it¡¯s not over yet. Understand?¡±


    Felix just sat there, silently sobbing¡ª


    But he was scared.


    For the first time, he seemed to truly hear death¡¯s footsteps. He could feel death¡¯s scythe sharp on his neck and suddenly realized he wasn¡¯t as brave as he thought, nor was he ready to face death calmly.


    This thought crushed him.


    Li Wei also felt uncomfortable, shifted his gaze, and took a deep breath. He thought he was mature and wise enough to face these moments in life, after all, he was a man who had been through a lot; but soon he realized it wasn¡¯t that simple.


    They thought they were brave and strong because they had never truly faced life and death themselves.


    Only when it happens do you truly know your reaction.


    All of this was much harder than imagined.

 Chapter 746: 745 Soul Temperature

    Chapter 746: 745 Soul Temperature


    ¡°...I don¡¯t want you all to remember me after I die.¡±


    In the silence, a voice rose up, calm yet shocking, drawing all eyes to it, unable to hide the panic within, including Li Wei¡¯s.


    Annie revealed a smile and nodded lightly.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious. I don¡¯t want anyone to remember me.¡±


    ¡°Felix, you know? Someone told Mom to start accepting everything, that she should start facing the fact that I might leave, that she can¡¯t keep clinging to a void hope and persist in it, that they eventually have to go on living.¡±


    ¡°Maybe, after I pass away, they should try to get pregnant again, try for another child, and then start over.¡±


    This, was too cruel.


    Kelsey couldn¡¯t hold back, ¡°Annie...¡±


    Annie¡¯s smile blossomed completely, ¡°I know, it¡¯s cruel, like I never existed, or like I never mattered.¡±


    ¡°I, just like Felix, I have been angry, sad, and in pain, but Mom said she can¡¯t. She can¡¯t just go on like this... She, she said I am her baby, not a Barbie that could be forgotten or replaced so casually, Mom told those people to get out.¡±


    ¡°I know, they love me. We all thought that love could save the world, but now we know, it¡¯s just a fairy tale.¡±


    ¡°So, I thought about it, and I hope they can forget me, I hope they can continue living.¡±


    ¡°When I¡¯m gone, they no longer need to take care of me every day, they won¡¯t have to be frantic over conflicts between work and hospital times, they won¡¯t have to arrange everything around me as their life¡¯s center, sitting empty and lost in a restaurant, not knowing what to say to each other, like the living dead, until one day they can¡¯t bear each other anymore and decide to divorce.¡±


    ¡°I, uh, I¡¯m scared of that. I¡¯m scared they¡¯ll be trapped in the memories because of me forever.¡±


    Source: , updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï


    ¡°I love them, and I also want them to be happy, I want them to have their own lives, I want them to be fans of the Chieftains, I hope their lives don¡¯t stop forever because I¡¯m gone.¡±


    Deep breath, another deep breath.


    Annie showed a big smile.


    ¡°So, I hope they forget me, and I hope you guys forget me too. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t be sad.¡±


    ¡°But instead, I¡¯ll hold on tightly to every moment right now, while I can still run and laugh loudly, enjoying life to the fullest.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Felix, what happens after death doesn¡¯t matter, now is the only thing that¡¯s important.¡±


    Annie looked at Felix with an unreserved air, that eleven-year-old soul shining with an energy never seen before, quietly lighting up the whole world.


    Kelsey looked up at the church ceiling, doing her best to maintain her posture, even though the muscles in her neck were stiff, still refusing to look down.


    Because looking down might just reveal her mess.


    Li Wei turned around and flashed a smile at Annie, ¡°Oh, dear Annie, would you really go to the prom with a simple-minded football player with brawns but no brains like me? I thought you liked handsome guys like Harry Styles.¡±


    Ha ha, ha ha ha.


    Felix laughed out loud without any restraint.


    Annie covered her chest with her hands, a look of exaggerated shock on her face, ¡°Li Wei, I can¡¯t believe it!¡±


    ¡°How could it be Harry Styles? If it were Robert Pattinson, I might hesitate for a second.¡±


    Whoa!


    This time it was Li Wei¡¯s turn to inhale sharply in an exaggerated way, his eyes wide as he stared at Annie, ¡°And then?¡±


    Annie¡¯s eyes were full of smiles, but she still controlled herself, ¡°Then, I would still choose you. Li Wei, please be sure to believe me, no matter what, I would choose you, definitely not because you¡¯re right in front of me right now, definitely not. Definitely.¡±


    Why does it sound weirder the more you emphasize it?


    Li Wei blinked, looking confused, first at Mahomes and Kelsey, then at Felix¡ª


    Ha ha ha.


    Felix was the first to start clapping and burst into laughter, followed by Mahomes and Kelsey who couldn¡¯t hold back either.


    Li Wei turned to look at Annie, spread his hands, and a smile also crept onto Annie¡¯s lips.


    If this were truly a funeral, it would no doubt be one of the happiest funerals in history.


    Li Wei¡¯s smile faded, and he looked at Annie with sincere eyes.


    ¡°I respect your choice, no matter who you choose, I will be here, your forever prom backup partner. I don¡¯t mind being a substitute.¡±


    ¡°And...¡±


    ¡°Annie, please believe me, we won¡¯t be stuck in place. We will keep moving on, living life; but at the same time, we will never forget you.¡±


    ¡°Who could ever forget the ray of light that brightened their life?¡±


    Annie was stunned for a moment, her smile lingering on her lips not having time to fade, when suddenly her eyes filled with hot tears. She quickly turned her head away, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand.


    Li Wei, ¡°But more importantly, we still have time.¡±


    That was true for Annie and likewise for Felix, they shouldn¡¯t forget how wonderful the story was just because an ending existed.


    Perhaps no one can choose how their life ends, but at least, they can choose how to get there.


    Taking a deep breath, Li Wei¡¯s smile returned and he looked back at Felix.


    ¡°Hey Felix, we never know whether death or tomorrow will come first. Not just for you, for all of us; every person is the same, accidents are always a possibility. Life, once thought to be strong and resilient, is more fragile than imagined.¡±


    ¡°This is life.¡±


    ¡°But before reaching the end, we have the right to choose how we spend each day. Yesterday, today, tomorrow, one small step at a time.¡±


    ¡°We earnestly pray that Felix Gray¡¯s life may be extended longer and even longer, even though we don¡¯t know if he hears us...¡±


    Li Wei looked towards the statue at the front of the church, with every word and gaze, the atmosphere suddenly relaxed, and laughter spilled out lightly.


    ¡°But Felix...¡±


    ¡°And Annie.¡±


    Li Wei paused for a moment; Felix looked at Li Wei, his bright eyes misting over, but within them, one could see a resilient and tenacious smile shimmering through the tears, like stars scattered across the sea, drowning Felix in surging waves of emotion.


    ¡°I can¡¯t express how fortunate I have been to encounter you every time we¡¯ve met, whether it¡¯s at Arrowhead Stadium or the hospital. You always manage to shine a ray of light, a small glint at a time, guiding us in the direction to keep moving forward.¡±


    ¡°You are a Chieftain, and will forever be a Chieftain.¡±


    ¡°So, let¡¯s continue the fight, okay? The game isn¡¯t over yet.¡±


    Calm, sincere.


    It wasn¡¯t enthusiastic or thunderous, but Li Wei¡¯s words nonetheless made everyone¡¯s blood race.


    At this moment, they could truly feel the warmth of the soul; even if standing at the end of time witnessing the apocalypse, they would still burn brightly without reservation.


    Instead of pondering the length of life, it¡¯s better to expand its width and explore its depth; that¡¯s when life truly shines.


    Felix straightened his chest and showed a smile.


    However, just as his lips began to curve upwards, tears broke free from their confines and slid down, scalding his cheeks; yet this time, Felix didn¡¯t wipe them, allowing his smile to unfurl completely amidst the tears.


    Then, clenching his fists, he shouted with all his might, ¡°Fly.¡±

 Chapter 747: 746 incoherent speech

    Chapter 747: 746 incoherent speech


    ¡°Soar.¡±


    The voice, breaking free of constraints, tore through the lungs and chest, vibrating ever so slightly as it resonated around him.


    Felix struggled to stand up, but unfortunately, he failed. He revealed a ludicrous yet bitter smile, but did not wallow in the emotion of the struggle. Instead, he straightened his back, opened his shoulders, and raised his arms to cry out.


    ¡°Soar!¡±


    Once, and then again. Each cry more impassioned than the last, more fervent, and even though his body was seated in the wheelchair, nothing could bind his spirit.


    Inadvertently, everyone else also clenched their fists, suddenly stood up, and leapt high into the air, shouting and cheering, reveling in a joyous and unrestrained celebration, making the feverish cries echo and surge within the church like a party.


    Annie raised her hands high and ran back and forth in the small space in front of the podium like a young deer, her bell-like laughter scattering everywhere.


    One by one, they were like madmen, transforming the funeral into a wild celebration, exuberantly and unrestrainedly honoring life.


    Everything was just as Felix had said: thirty minutes.


    Following a brief and simple ceremony, Jenna and Karen were already waiting at the church door, ready to take the children back home:


    They were still worried.


    Although they did not barge into the church, when their group emerged, one could tell from their red cheeks and bodies emitting heat that they must have been waiting outside the church for a little while, even unable to sit calmly in their car, they had come straight outside.


    They knew that they should not imprison their children like canaries, as it would only make their already scarce time dim and dull; nevertheless, they still couldn¡¯t control their own worry and fear.


    Thus, they were constantly flipping back and forth between conflicting emotions, every day a torment as well as a test.


    Source: , updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    Karen promptly came up to welcome them, with her eyes unable to stray from Felix. Even though she did not speak, the concern in her eyes said it all.


    When we talk about diseases, the mind often focuses on the pain, the struggle, and the looming shadow of death; but in reality, it is more than that, for the families of the sick, there is the prolonged unease and waiting, the constant care day in and day out, and the changes in their entire way of life.


    The operation of the entire world had changed.


    It slowly infiltrated into their lives, altering everything about them.


    These invisible and inexpressible pressures were another devil.


    Such was the case with Karen and Jenna right in front of us.


    Karen tried to come forward to help Felix into the car, but Felix refused. Though his movements were a bit slower, he insisted on relying on his own strength to get into the vehicle.


    Karen stood helplessly aside, her hands always tense, keeping a protective distance behind Felix, anxiously watching him get into the car. Only after he was seated did she breathe a sigh of relief, hurriedly closed the car door, and then remembered Li Wei and the others.


    Karen turned around, looking quite restrained, unsure of what to say, ¡°Li Wei, sorry, I mean thank you. Felix didn¡¯t say anything, I don¡¯t know why he asked you guys to come. Tomorrow¡¯s game day, and you even made a special trip here. He didn¡¯t trouble you all, did he?¡±


    From a distance, Li Wei could see Felix in the car vigorously shaking his hands, making a ¡°shush¡± gesture, with his eyebrows, nose, and mouth all pitching in, which made Li Wei crack a smile involuntarily:


    Apparently, the living funeral was a secret. Clearly, it was too ludicrous an idea for the parents; Karen probably wasn¡¯t yet prepared for such a thing.


    Then.


    Li Wei put away his grin and shook his head gently, ¡°No, of course not.¡±


    ¡°Actually, we should be thanking Felix. He went out of his way to cheer for us. We¡¯re ready for the game now because of him.¡±


    After saying this, Li Wei looked towards Mahomes and Kelsey, who, like bobblehead dolls, nodded in agreement repeatedly.


    Karen¡¯s eyes shifted nervously, and only after receiving a confirming answer did she breathe a sigh of relief. Her eyes reddened slightly, and she quickly rubbed them, then put on a smile, somewhat unnaturally exaggerated, as if trying to mask her inner unease and fear with laughter.


    These recent days, she felt as if she were suspended in midair, neither able to ascend nor descend.


    Karen looked at Li Wei, wanting to say more but ultimately unable to find the right words. ¡°Thank you, Li Wei, you have no idea what this means to me.¡±


    Her words were incoherent, not quite conveying what she meant, and frankly, Karen wasn¡¯t even sure what she was saying.


    Finally, Karen stepped forward and gave Li Wei a hug, tightening her arms firmly, using all her strength, and muttered, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Then she quickly turned around, bowing her head to hide herself, and hugged Mahomes and Kelsey in turn, gave Jenna a vague greeting, and then Karen hurriedly left.


    After Jenna had put Annie in the car, she too came over to Li Wei, ¡°Karen... has been through a lot this past week.¡±


    Li Wei could see that Karen had visibly lost weight, clearly dropping pounds right before their eyes.


    Jenna twisted her mouth into a smile, ¡°But that¡¯s our duty, to worry, to care, to be strong...¡±


    As she spoke, her voice trailed off, sinking briefly into her own thoughts. Behind the hesitations lay the pain and agony only parents of sick children could understand.


    Li Wei tried to offer some words of comfort, but Jenna didn¡¯t give him the chance.


    Taking a deep breath, Jenna had already recovered, regaining her smile and looking at Li Wei, ¡°Thank you, for keeping our little one company with your tomfoolery tonight.¡±


    That implied message... it seemed Jenna knew the true nature of tonight¡¯s event.


    But Jenna didn¡¯t elaborate. She glanced back at her car, then quickly looked away, ¡°Li Wei, I know Annie was really looking forward to the divisional game, and she genuinely wanted to go to Arrowhead Stadium to watch. Jeff and I are truly grateful for your invitation, but, I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t be able to make it tomorrow.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s face registered surprise.


    Jenna continued, ¡°Annie¡¯s body metrics have been fluctuating these past couple of days, sometimes good, sometimes bad, and Jeff and I are really worried; plus, the weather forecast for tomorrow looks dreadful, and the doctor also suggests it¡¯s best for her to stay home, so...¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s heart sank slightly.


    Li Wei remembered that when Annie left the podium tonight, she had asked for his help; apart from her last back and forth trot, she had been sitting the whole time.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Jenna,¡± Li Wei waved his hand, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, and don¡¯t worry about Annie. If there¡¯s no divisional game, there¡¯ll be the conference finals later. We¡¯ll always be at Arrowhead Stadium, not going anywhere.¡±


    Jenna¡¯s nose tingled, and she quickly took a deep breath to control herself, ¡°So confident?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Of course. Just like Annie said, we¡¯re not fighting alone, right?¡±


    That¡¯s how it was for the Kansas City Chiefs, and so it was for Annie and Felix.


    None of them were fighting a lonely battle.


    Jenna nodded repeatedly, breaking into a smile, ¡°I hope we can go to Arrowhead Stadium to watch the conference finals. Go for it! We¡¯ll be watching the live broadcast on TV tomorrow, so please make sure to score. Annie is really praying for you.¡±


    On the side, Kelsey, ¡°What about me, Ms. Galas?¡±


    Jenna, ¡°Haha, Travis, you should be asking Annie that question, not me. The decision isn¡¯t mine to make.¡±


    Kelsey: ...


    Haha, hahaha, the laughter was especially brilliant.

 Chapter 748: 747 Mine Sweeping Scene

    Chapter 748: 747 Mine Sweeping Scene


    ¡°...Dear viewers, welcome to NBC; it¡¯s game day, and the 2018 NFL Divisional Round is about to kick off, a step closer to the Super Bowl.¡±


    ¡°But... today doesn¡¯t seem like a good day for football.¡±


    ¡°Right now, Kansas City is experiencing snowfall, and as we speak, snowflakes continue to fall from the sky.¡±


    ¡°The temperature isn¡¯t too bad, currently at thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit (zero degrees Celsius); but the real trouble lies in the constant flurry of snowflakes.¡±


    ¡°If this were a snowball fight, it wouldn¡¯t be good news for either team.¡±


    ¡°Like rain, snow affects temperature and humidity objectively, as well as passing visibility, passing touch, and foot mobility, all of which directly impact pass quality. It¡¯s a significant hit to passing offenses.¡±


    ¡°Low temperatures are bad news, and snow is another.¡±


    ¡°With fifteen minutes to go before the game starts, let¡¯s see if the snowflakes will get any smaller.¡±


    In fact, when it snows, the perceived temperature isn¡¯t as cold, until the snow starts to melt¡ªthat¡¯s when the real cold sets in.


    But the point is, like rain, snow can be a disruptive factor, leading to a series of uncontrollable accidents; that¡¯s the problem.


    Not only quarterbacks, but receivers might also experience slippery hands leading to fumbles, or slip and fall, as can running backs with ground rushes.


    These emergencies, akin to minesweeping, require constant vigilance.


    That¡¯s why, in order to reduce the risk of accidents, teams often focus on ground rushing. Not only are accidents less likely, but even when they do happen, the damage is more controllable.


    This could disrupt the overall strategic deployment.


    Source: , updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0


    However, whether it¡¯s the Kansas City Chiefs or the Indianapolis Colts, both teams possess passing offenses capable of explosive energy, and everyone is looking forward to a head-to-head offensive battle. But now¡ª


    Is this it?


    Especially for the Indianapolis Colts.


    For the past twenty years, the Indianapolis Colts were Big Manning, and Big Manning was the Indianapolis Colts¡ªthey were inseparable, each achieving greatness with the other.


    Under Big Manning¡¯s leadership, the Indianapolis Colts were consistently one of the strongest and most unshakeable teams in the league. With Big Manning at the helm, the Colts were always contenders for the Super Bowl crown, no matter how broken the team roster or how bad the injuries and mishaps were.


    From the 2003 to 2010 seasons, the Indianapolis Colts achieved at least ten regular-season wins for seven consecutive years, a record in NFL history.


    For this reason, in 2011, when Big Manning was sidelined for the season due to injury, after weighing their options and struggling, the Indianapolis Colts decided to let go of Big Manning. They chose to draft a quarterback as a complete rebuild, fully distrusting that an injury-recovered Manning could return to his peak, not even giving him a chance. This decision shocked the entire League.


    No matter what, Big Manning at least deserved a chance to prove himself; that much was owed to him by the Indianapolis Colts.


    This decision faced an onslaught of attacks from Colts fans that year.


    Later, Big Manning joined the Denver Broncos, and with epic performances in the 2012 and 2013 seasons, he carried out a magic attack on passing offenses, breaking league records, and proving that he was still as sharp as ever.


    The Indianapolis Colts became the laughingstock of the entire League.


    Yet, the Indianapolis Colts refused to admit their decision was a mistake because, in the 2012 draft, they chose ¡°The Chosen One¡± Andrew Luck with the first overall pick.


    The team unwaveringly believed that Luck was the next Big Manning, no, that¡¯s not the right way to say it. The team believed that Luck was more outstanding and superior to Manning and that he could lead the team to even more glory and peaks.


    As for the fans?


    As long as Luck could lead the team to victory, they would turn their backs on Big Manning in a heartbeat.


    At least that¡¯s what the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ management believed.


    In fact, Luck truly was The Chosen One: his very first pass in his first official professional game was a 63-yard touchdown bomb that set the League on fire.


    The first overall pick of the 2012 draft, he led the Indianapolis Colts to an eleven-win season in his first year, bringing them back to the pinnacle, and then made it to the playoffs for three consecutive years, proving his talent and ability.


    Even though Big Manning was thriving in Denver, Indianapolis had fully entered the Luck era.


    This momentum continued until the 2014 playoffs when the Indianapolis Colts pulled off an upset victory over the American League¡¯s top seed, the Denver Broncos, climaxing their ascent. Luck proved himself by defeating Big Manning.


    And moreover, three years, three steps¡ª


    In 2012, they were knocked out in the wild-card round.


    In 2013, they were eliminated in the divisional round.


    In 2014, they fell in the conference championship.


    The entire city of Indianapolis was brimming with joy and hope. Could they make it back to the Super Bowl stage the following season?


    Unfortunately, it was not to be.


    The next three seasons were disrupted by injuries that derailed the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ rhythm, missing the playoffs for three years straight and hitting rock bottom.


    It¡¯s worth noting that Big Manning, in his fourteen seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, missed the playoffs only twice: his rookie season and the 2001 season.


    Without comparison, there¡¯s no hurt. Luck¡¯s ¡°The Chosen One¡± halo seemed about to fade, and the self-deception of the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ management could not go on, but the team nonetheless bounced back!


    This season, Luck led the team to ten wins and six losses, storming back into the playoffs. They upset the Houston Texans in the wildcard game, and it seemed like the Colts¡¯ Chosen One was ready to blow the horn of his return to divinity.


    But then, they faced Kansas City¡¯s magic attack¡ª


    Since the Big Manning era, the Indianapolis Colts have been a typical passing offense team, led by a traditional pocket quarterback.


    Luck was a standard pocket quarterback as well.


    If Big Manning was considered a tactical master, his entire career was doubted for not having a strong arm. Nevertheless, he proved himself time after time with deep pass bombs. His wisdom on the tactical front was akin to that of an offensive coordinator on the field; then Luck dominated the game with his exceptional passing skill. From strength to accuracy to control, including pass judgment, maybe not elite in any single attribute, but he was well-rounded with outstanding overall abilities.


    In snowy or rainy weather, Luck¡¯s capabilities were inevitably constrained. Kansas City welcomed the Indianapolis Colts from afar in such a way.


    Understandably, this potential offensive battle might get messy because of the weather.


    It was bound to be disappointing.


    The game hadn¡¯t even started, and various concerns had already begun to spread rapidly.


    Yet, once the game began, Luck proved his determination and belief with his actions. What did he care about the heavy snow? He was ready to conquer Arrowhead Stadium.

 Chapter 749: 748 Opening Statement

    Chapter 749: 748 Opening Statement


    ¡°Luck.¡±


    ¡°Luck!¡±


    ¡°Defensive End Chris Jones was dead-set on a sack, but he was shaken off!¡±


    ¡°Incredible!¡±


    ¡°Andrew Luck, under pressure, showcases unparalleled determination and courage!¡±


    ¡°Luck regains space for the pass, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense clearly off to a slow start, unable to get into gear. Luck is moving, Luck is observing, Luck is searching for a passing target.¡±


    ¡°Luck!¡±


    ¡°Oh, God.¡±


    He drew the bow to its full length and loosed the arrow at the giant eagle, a shot that shocked the heavens.


    The football traced a breathtaking parabola, crossing half the field with a majestic flight of fifty-one yards, aiming straight for the opposite end zone.


    A flash of motion, as if riding a white steed, like lightning, burst through the red waves¡¯ blockade, breaking through the encirclement with the lead, racing towards the spiraling football.


    TY Hilton, a wide receiver who entered the league in the same draft as Luck and has also grown alongside him as his best passing target, making the Pro Bowl for five consecutive seasons.


    This season, Hilton¡¯s form was lackluster, far below expectations, completely overshadowed by the brilliant performances of a new generation of wide receivers.


    However, come playoff time, Hilton rediscovered his former glory.


    Source: , updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.??


    The Indianapolis Colts exploded out of the gate, withstanding the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ front-line pressure, catching their defense unprepared with a long pass attack, and delivering a blow that caught the top seed in the American League completely off guard.


    Hilton, a lone rider storming the gates of heaven.


    In a blink, only Safety Daniel Sorensen remained ahead.


    This season, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ secondary was rife with injuries and inconsistencies, leading to a defense that constantly struggled against the pass.


    Last season¡¯s fourth-choice safety, Sorensen competed for a starting position in the offseason but missed most of the season due to injury. He only came to start at the end of the season, where he has performed admirably.


    But the playoffs?


    This was a first for him.


    Sorensen hurriedly stuck to Hilton, trying to use his body to block the space, but he didn¡¯t anticipate that Hilton would actively confront and overpower Sorensen with his weight, preventing Sorensen from leveraging his strength.


    In the end, Hilton, leaning on Sorensen, nonchalantly caught the football into his arms, continued to jostle and move backward, using his back to resist Sorensen.


    Until Hilton disrupted Sorensen¡¯s center of gravity.


    With a turn, Hilton effortlessly broke into the end zone and secured the touchdown.


    ¡°Wow! Beautiful!¡±


    ¡°Absolutely stunning! Indescribable!¡±


    ¡°The Indianapolis Colts demonstrate a winning conviction from their very first offense.¡±


    ¡°At the start, the visiting team rightly guessed the coin toss but unusually chose not to defer and to receive instead. We all thought it was tactical.¡±


    ¡°Well, it indeed was tactical, not just on a level of momentum but also tactically. The Indianapolis Colts clearly had a detailed strategy right from the start, showing their conviction.¡±


    ¡°Facing the Kansas City Chiefs, the Colts are thoroughly prepared to upset their opponent and confidently advance.¡±


    ¡°Just a quick reminder, during the 2013 playoffs, a wild card game, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Indianapolis Colts offered up an epic offensive battle at Lucas Oil Stadium.¡±


    ¡°In the end, it was the Colts, led by the very same Luck we see today, who won out with a ¡¯45:44¡ä scoreline, narrowly defeating the Kansas City Chiefs and advancing proudly.¡±


    ¡°Over the years, the Kansas City Chiefs have experienced a string of painful playoff defeats, but that defeat was without doubt a painful pinnacle.¡±


    ¡°Standing once more against the Kansas City Chiefs, Luck holds no fear of his opponents.¡±


    ¡°Beautiful!¡±


    ¡°At the start of the game, Luck ignored the terrible impact of the snowy weather and proved his passing touch with a fifty-one-yard long pass; more importantly, has Luck activated Hilton, who¡¯s been dormant all season long? Is Hilton ready to explode in the playoffs?¡±


    ¡°This is not good news for the Kansas City Chiefs.¡±


    ¡°Now, let¡¯s see what this young Kansas City Chiefs Offense can do.¡±


    ¡°Of course, they¡¯ve experienced bad weather, last season¡¯s game at Foxborough against the New England Patriots was even worse, but the key is whether this young sophomore quarterback Mahomes can stand firm and firmly grasp the rhythm of the offense.¡±


    On the field, Li Wei noticed right away:


    Luck.


    After completing the touchdown, Hilton was exceptionally excited, smashing the football to the ground with force, freely venting the frustration of a season-long slump. Scoring first at Arrowhead Stadium was undoubtedly a huge morale booster.


    Luck was the same, clenching his fists, roaring at Chris Jones; Jones was particularly frustrated, having come so close to making a successful tackle.


    But Li Wei noticed a detail, Luck was constantly moving his right shoulder.


    Over the past few seasons, Luck had bad luck with multiple injuries, including a lacerated kidney; but the most serious was last season¡¯s shoulder injury, which ended his season early and kept him out until this year.


    So, what did this scene mean?


    It wasn¡¯t about hoping to cause an injury¡ªLi Wei, as a professional player, understood the pain of injuries better than anyone and genuinely didn¡¯t want to see anyone hampered by them. Even for the sake of victory, the battle should be fought fair and square.


    Those dirty tricks were both disdainful and unnecessary.


    However.


    Looking at it from another angle, injuries are also a part of the game, and they needed to observe their opponents carefully.


    If Luck¡¯s shoulder was in pain again, the opening long pass could be an intimidation, a warning, but it could also be a desperate gamble, because Luck might have to increase his pace of throwing, and the pressure to pass would mount once he felt the rush.


    What did this mean?


    Tactical adjustments.


    You could see Jones¡¯s furrowed brows and his head hanging down, lost in thought.


    Li Wei came over and patted Jones on the shoulder, ¡°Buddy, well done. Just need a bit more patience, the game is just starting.¡±


    Jones looked up at Li Wei with a hint of confusion in his eyes.


    But Li Wei didn¡¯t linger. Defensive matters weren¡¯t his expertise. He¡¯d said enough and there was no need to direct any further.


    He turned and walked to Mahomes, as the Offense prepared to take the field.


    Kelsey came over as well, silent, simply looking out onto the field.


    The game was still the same game, but the mindset and willpower were entirely different.


    ¡°7:0.¡±


    After the Indianapolis Colts Special Duty Group successfully kicked the extra point, possession switched to the Kansas City Chiefs, and Arrowhead Stadium erupted with astonishing energy¡ª


    ¡°Fly!¡±


    Annie clenched her fist right away, shouting with raised arms, turning to look at Jenna and Jeff with a fiery gleam in her eyes, using all her strength to express her joy.


    Jenna tried to stop Annie, but Jeff, looking at the swelling waves of heat in the stadium on the TV screen, stopped Jenna instead.


    Unable to attend the game in person, or go to the hospital to watch with friends, Annie could only stay at home. If she couldn¡¯t even cheer them on, that would be too cruel.


    Then, Jeff turned to Annie with a smile and joined her in cheering.


    ¡°Fly!¡±

 Chapter 750: 749 send the horses over

    Chapter 750: 749 send the horses over


    ¡°Fly! Fly! Fly!¡±


    The whole stadium roared.


    So what if the Indianapolis Colts had scored first?


    The Kansas City Chiefs, having braved countless trials this season, still maintained their undefeated status at Arrowhead Stadium. They feared no opponent¡ª


    The most crucial point was that their Offensive Group had never feared any team, whether in passing offense or running offense; they were undoubtedly the best in the league; up for a scoring battle against any team, the Kansas City Chiefs were confident.


    If the Indianapolis Colts wanted a scoring face-off, they were welcome to try; Arrowhead Stadium was always ready.


    The moment Li Wei entered the field, the stadium plunged into a sea of cheers.


    Shouting, roaring, bellowing, reaching new heights, the massive red wave, like boiling magma, set the whole Arrowhead Stadium ablaze.


    ¡°Standing here again, everything is brand new, everything starts from zero, no defending champion privileges, no regular season winning streaks, everything overturned and started anew. They might win, we might lose.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just how simple it is. If we still harbor a condescending attitude now, thinking that as the number one seed we can easily defeat the opposition, then we will be the ones taking the fall.¡±


    ¡°But.¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t get here by luck, and now it¡¯s time to show our strength.¡±


    ¡°I still don¡¯t have confidence, but we will win.¡±


    Brief, forceful.


    Source: , updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï


    All eyes of the Kansas City Chiefs players were on Li Wei, his face glowing with unprecedented resolve and certainty.


    Charge forward!


    Li Wei¡¯s gaze swept past each team member, making sure everyone saw his eyes, ensuring all were communicated with.


    Then, his smile broadened.


    ¡°Hey, we are not fighting alone.¡±


    As his words fell, Li Wei looked toward Mahomes.


    Mahomes understood, ¡°Count to three!¡±


    ¡°One.¡±


    ¡°Two.¡±


    ¡°Three!¡±


    In unison, they shouted, ¡°Fly!¡±


    Turning around, they could see the teeming sea of people at Arrowhead Stadium; Li Wei¡¯s gaze, however, was on the camera flying nearby¡ª


    He knew that Annie, Felix, and everyone at Old Oak Tavern were watching the live broadcast, fighting alongside them.


    Through the lens, a connection was made, thousands upon thousands stood at Arrowhead Stadium, fighting with them.


    Felix¡¯s smile was fully blooming, ¡°Mom, the rookie is watching me, the rookie is watching me. Fly, fly! Ahhh!¡±


    Karen wasn¡¯t idle either, raising her hands, cheering along, ¡°Fly, ahh ahh, ahh ahh!¡±


    Then, Li Wei withdrew his gaze, donned his helmet, and focused his thoughts completely.


    Must win. Must win!


    Finally, Arrowhead Stadium quieted down, avoiding interference with the Offensive Group¡¯s communication and connections, fully engaged amidst boiling and surging emotions.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Mahomes¡¯ kickoff command tore through the air, opening a gap in the foggy sky, and cheers, screams, and roars cascaded down like a waterfall.


    Shotgun Formation.


    On the first wave of attack, the Kansas City Chiefs adopted a posture of full attack, drastically different from the usual. So, was this a smoke bomb?


    One step, two steps, three steps.


    Mahomes stood in the pocket, stepping back continuously to create space, slightly lifting his chin to scan the entire field. From his posture and movements, it was clear:


    He was looking for passing targets.


    This was a passing attack, no smoke bombs, no Chiefs Special; the Shotgun Formation was demonstrating its inherent power.


    From any perspective, this was a normal offensive tactic, nothing alarming, especially since the Kansas City Chiefs had displayed their powerful offensive firepower several times this season; but one should never forget a crucial point:


    The tremendous power of the Shotgun Formation lay in its ability to fully open up the diversity and possibilities of a passing attack.


    Amid thousands of watchful eyes, Mahomes was still moving, still adjusting. His gaze passed over the tangled short-pass area between both lines, extending infinitely toward the deep field, which meant¡ª


    Long pass!


    Was the Kansas City Chiefs planning to target the end zone for a deadly strike at the very start of the game?


    This was neither reckless nor risky; there was a reason behind it.


    This season, the Indianapolis Colts Defense had performed decently, ranking in the middle, with stats even better than the Kansas City Chiefs Defense during regular time.


    However, the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ blitz pressure rate was the third lowest in the League, with only 20.0% of their plays electing to exert pressure, i.e., to blitz the quarterback.


    Numerically speaking, the bottom ten teams in the league were all remarkably similar, with minor differences like 20.1%, 20.2% after the decimal point. Although the number of times they blitzed the quarterback wasn¡¯t high, the blitz pressure statistics of the Indianapolis Colts weren¡¯t as bad as they appeared on the surface.


    The real issue was the strength and capability of the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ Defensive line... insufficient.


    After that debacle with New England Patriots Offensive Coordinator McDaniels during the offseason, the Indianapolis Colts had barely managed to stabilize. Richie, a familiar face, took over as head coach and restructured the entire coaching team, re-establishing team tactics.


    Before last season, the Indianapolis Colts Defense used a ¡°3-4¡± formation, but following thorough discussion by the entirely new coaching team, they changed to a ¡°4-3¡± formation this season upon the Defensive Coordinator¡¯s recommendation, with the primary goal of increasing blitz pressure intensity.


    Yet reality was harsh.


    The defensive line of the Indianapolis Colts was not remarkable, and to make matters worse, they suffered continuous injuries to the extent that there was a desperate shortage of available players. This forced the team to promote practice squad players to starting positions, assembling their own makeshift defensive line.


    The importance of blitz pressure was known to the coaching team, but without strength, intensity, or frequency, Head Coach Richie found it difficult to achieve the desired results with inadequate resources.


    Out of necessity, Richie had to adapt. Rather than persisting with aimless blitz pressures, it made more sense to commit the linebackers¡¯ strength to pass defense and ground defense.


    That¡¯s why, despite everything, the overall stats of the Indianapolis Colts Defense looked very good, and they smoothly made it into the playoffs.


    In the divisional game, Richie was well aware of the potent offensive firepower of the Kansas City Chiefs. The Indianapolis Colts Defense would be under incredible pressure; still, Richie chose not to pressure from the start, refusing to be led by the nose by his opponents, and opened the game at his own pace.


    And the cost was giving Mahomes enough space and time, enough freedom, allowing this young sophomore quarterback to breathe freely in the pocket, lift his chin, aim for the backfield, and prepare for a lethal strike right from the start, aiming to crush the confidence of the Indianapolis Colts Defense.


    But was the situation really that simple?


    Richie, in his first year as head coach, leading a team full of injuries into the playoffs, did he really not foresee this scenario?


    The answer, of course, is no.


    Looking around, the white jerseys of the Indianapolis Colts with blue trim enveloped the red wave like a froth, spreading all over the field.


    Richie watched Mahomes¡¯ movements: it was just what he expected.

 Chapter 751: 750 flawless days

    Chapter 751: 750 flawless days


    The defending champion, the focus of study and target for strikes throughout the League, especially since the Kansas City Chiefs maintained a strong lead all through the American League¡ª


    Perhaps, online critics have criticized the Kansas City Chiefs for their losses to the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams, for not being tough enough at crucial moments; but in the League, no one can overlook the Kansas City Chiefs. Their three losses of the season were by a whisker, and that is a reflection of their strength.


    Naturally, Richie delved deep into studying this team, particularly the Offensive group, which had improved further this season, including Li Wei and Mahomes.


    Richie was aware that the weak Defensive line of the Indianapolis Colts could hardly pose a problem, so he needed to use blitz and pressure tactics more cleverly and vigilantly; he also knew that Mahomes¡¯s habit of forcing passes forward was still not completely adjusted, which might be the opportunity he could exploit.


    So, Richie completed his setup¡ª


    The game started with Luck opening the scene with an excellent pass. A fifty-one-yard long pass was deadly enough to rekindle the classic memory of Luck, no one would forget the history of Luck¡¯s first professional pass dazzling the League, proving his talent with actual action.


    The young and hot-blooded Mahomes would certainly not show weakness, if there was no opportunity, Mahomes might not risk it casually; but if an opportunity arose, considering Mahomes¡¯s age, personality, and habits, he would dare to seize it, even if it meant reaching into fire.


    Imagine that this was Mahomes¡¯s first playoff game in his professional career, facing the Indianapolis Colts led by Luck, Mahomes had the chance to show his talent and ability were not inferior to Luck¡¯s, and he wouldn¡¯t miss it.


    From a positive perspective, this is audacity.


    From a negative perspective, this is recklessness.


    In Richie¡¯s view, one word could sum it up, ¡°young.¡±


    Therefore, Richie lured them step by step into the urn. From the first wave of offense to the first wave of defense, the Indianapolis Colts laid out their full plan, displaying an attitude of absolute victory against the defending champion even before stepping onto Arrowhead Stadium. They were already prepared to win this game.


    Everything was a pre-game gambit.


    On the field, the Indianapolis Colts chose neither to blitz nor to adopt up-close man-to-man tight defense at the line of scrimmage but opted for a regional defense covering the entire field¡ª


    Like a vast net, encompassing the entire field.


    The Kansas City Chiefs deployed the Shotgun Formation, turning Li Wei into the fifth receiving point; arrows released in all directions. But the Indianapolis Colts responded calmly and confidently, the three linemen, two cornerbacks, and two safeties divided the field like a beehive, covering every corner.


    Then, they retreated.


    Simply put, the Defensive group of the Indianapolis Colts anticipated that Mahomes might opt for a deep long pass, so they started retreating a step earlier, stretching their defensive zone backward as much as possible to withstand the assault of the five Chiefs players.


    The slight head start in the rapid movement gave them the upper hand without revealing their tactical intent, seizing the initiative early.


    When the tactical moves of offense and defense played out on the sand table were fully displayed before his eyes, a sense of pride emerged, but Richie did not get distracted and kept his gaze fixed on Mahomes¡ª


    Moving, observing.


    Adjusting, pushing off.


    Finally, passing.


    Mahomes seemed at ease, not under much pressure, completing the pass with a casual air, a parabola launched by his right hand tightly capturing everyone¡¯s attention on the field.


    A streak of auburn cut through the air.


    The first reaction of the outside linebacker Shaquille Leonard was to initiate his run, to continue to charge forward; yet, his peripheral vision still covered the area he was responsible for, rapidly scanning Kelsey who had moved diagonally forward into the cornerback¡¯s defensive area and Li Wei who was roaming a bit behind at the junction of the linebacker and cornerback¡¯s defensive area, sounding the alarm.


    The situation was somewhat odd.


    Logically, Li Wei¡¯s speed was an advantage, Kelsey¡¯s strength was an advantage, so it should have been Li Wei cutting into the deep area, with Kelsey trailing behind.


    But now, their positions were reversed. So, was Kelsey paving the way a step ahead?


    Leonard was fully focused when, in the next second, he noticed a flash of brownish-red in the corner of his eye, streaking toward number twenty-three like a missile.


    Wait, what?


    Not a rainbow pass but a bullet pass?


    Quarterback passes often need a parabolic path to counteract gravity, the deeper the passing zone, the higher the parabola required¡ªthat¡¯s what a rainbow pass is.


    Some short and medium passes do the same, controlling the accuracy with a parabola, but occasionally there are exceptions, relying solely on power to make a direct connection between two points, compressing time and accelerating the pace¡ªthat¡¯s a bullet pass, with the distance completely determined by the power.


    From any angle, Mahomes seemed to be preparing for a rainbow pass, aiming for the deep zone.


    But it turned out to be a bullet pass?


    So, what does that mean?


    Leonard: Tricked.


    Outsmarted by their own cleverness, the Indianapolis Colts believed their trap to be flawless, throwing all their weight onto long pass defense; but Richie forgot that behind the young quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs stood a man named Reed¡ª


    Perhaps Mahomes indeed was young, but undoubtedly, he was willing to keep learning and growing, also willing to collaborate with his coach.


    This time, the Kansas City Chiefs chose not a long pass, but a medium pass.


    A fifteen-yard bullet pass went straight into Li Wei¡¯s embrace.


    Effortlessly, with ease, Li Wei had already completed the catch¡ª


    First down, and yet, to be continued.


    Leonard didn¡¯t even have time to cry out in alarm and frustration; he immediately sprung into action, stopping and turning sharply, decisively abandoning Kelsey and rushing toward Li Wei.


    Damn it, damn it, damn it!


    Leonard gritted his teeth and charged at Li Wei with the ferocity of a tiger coming down the mountain, his speed, power, and presence all bursting forth in an instant.


    But he had absolutely not anticipated that Li Wei wouldn¡¯t dodge; instead, he went along with the momentum of the bullet pass, taking two steps back and, taking advantage of that force, went head-on towards Leonard.


    Two small asteroids in high-speed motion didn¡¯t even have time to blink before colliding head-on at breakneck speed.


    Hmph.


    Leonard felt a tightness in his chest. The combination of speed upon speed, power upon power, his muscles tensed up; there was no time to pull his arms together, as the unreasonable force and inertia had already destroyed his balance.


    The next second, Leonard felt his body escape gravity¡¯s pull, and he became light as a feather, soaring into the air, as if time-traveling to see the whole world turn into a swirling, surging heatwave.


    Jenna: Annie, look, there¡¯s a cow flying!


    Li Wei wasn¡¯t faring well either.


    Leonard, 230 pounds (104 kilograms), dark, strong, and mad, earned the nickname ¡°Madman¡± due to his passionate, boundless energy while playing on the field, always charging like a bull who sees a red cape, the impact oozing with overflowing energy.


    Even though Li Wei took the initiative and managed to knock Leonard off his feet, he too had to confront the backlash of that energy, staggering and struggling to maintain his balance after the violent collision.


    Danger, danger!

 Chapter 752: 751 Vulnerable

    Chapter 752: 751 Vulnerable


    Stumbling and staggering, Li Wei made a difficult turn amidst the shockwave, striving to push off the ground and straighten his knees, attempting to continue forward.


    But as he turned around, he could see the defensive triangle swiftly closing in from directly ahead, the subsequent steps of the zone defense promptly catching up, reacting quickly for the second time.


    Danger was hurtling toward him.


    One step, two steps, he had already pushed forward five yards in the blink of an eye, heading straight into the encirclement.


    In his faltering stride, for once, Li Wei didn¡¯t relentlessly push forward but rather let himself fall to the ground, ending his advance before the encircling defenders could converge completely.


    Nevertheless, this pass play had easily gained twenty yards, and upon their debut, the Kansas City Chiefs had swiftly closed in on the midfield line.


    In the turmoil and chaos, Leonard noticed Li Wei unexpectedly going down with the flow, not adjusting or looking for opportunities to advance as usual, which meant¡ª


    Was I the only one making a fool of myself?


    Damn!


    Breathing heavily, face flushed with excitement, Leonard¡¯s eyes revealed a trace of exhilaration, seemingly sensing the smell of blood spreading in his mouth, but this only excited him more, a big grin spreading across his face.


    Truly a ¡°Madman.¡±


    Shaquille Leonard, this year¡¯s greatest draft pick for the Indianapolis Colts, found treasure in the second round, thirty-sixth overall.


    This season, Leonard displayed incredible vitality and energy, with one hundred thirty-six tackles, seven sacks, eight passes defensed, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions, showcasing top skills in the pocket and short-pass area, stirring trouble like a whirlwind.


    At the end of the regular season, Leonard was undoubtedly the favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year, and the calls for him to make the All-America First Team were also exceptionally strong.


    To put it bluntly, Leonard was indeed the only competent player in the inconsistent, injury-riddled defensive unit of the Indianapolis Colts.


    In his rookie season, he was ecstatic to be on the postseason stage.


    Facing Li Wei and Mahomes was even more thrilling.


    Leonard had always hoped to square off directly against Li Wei, tackling and stopping a star running back was truly satisfying, stepping on a second-year rookie to prove his talent was exciting, eager to get going.


    Indeed, he lived up to the expectations.


    It was only the first set of offense and defense, and Leonard had already got a taste of the bloodiness¡ª


    It was truly exhilarating, hehe.


    However, there was no time to catch his breath or adjust, Leonard noticed that the Kansas Chiefs¡¯ offense had already lined up.


    So soon?


    Quickly standing up and jogging in a sequence, Leonard swiftly got into formation.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Mahomes had already declared the start of the play.


    Now, the answer was finally revealed:


    Why did Li Wei unusually not continue to push forward, but instead judge the situation and deliberately go to the ground himself?


    Also, what were Reed¡¯s pre-game tactical deployments for targeting Richie in their attacks?


    The answer lay before them, elevating the pace, attacking rapidly, not quite a ¡°Wuju Merchant¡± attack, but already not far off.


    The offense came wave after wave.


    First and ten, a fake run and a true pass, Mahomes delivered a twenty-yard pass, finding Hill near the right sideline, securing the first down.


    First and ten, a quick short pass, Kelsey caught the ball, with the help of Li Wei and Watkins creating separation, turned a five-yard reception into fifteen yards.


    The key lay in one word: ¡°quick.¡±


    Exploiting the weakness of the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ defensive line, completely elevating the tempo, swiftly completing connections amid close-quarter combat, Mahomes¡¯ ability to accurately seize passing gaps in chaotic situations was displayed to full effect, forming an impact with three consecutive successful passes.


    Before the game started, people had predicted that the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ Defensive group might struggle to effectively contain the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offense; but once the actual game began, they were still shocked ¡ª


    Three passes, three first moves, just sixty-three seconds in, and the Kansas City Chiefs had already demolished their way to the twenty-yard line of the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ half, easily advancing fifty-five yards in the blink of an eye.


    This speed, this efficiency, the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ Defensive group kept retreating, utterly unable to resist.


    Just a minute ago, people were still marveling at how Luck unexpectedly took the initiative, once again displaying his talent, and gave the defending champions a scare at the Arrowhead Stadium.


    Little did they know, Richie and Luck¡¯s movements had awoken a dormant lion, swallowed by thunderous rage before they could even prepare.


    Simply... unable to resist.


    Huffing, puffing.


    Leonard was constantly adjusting his breathing, as the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ Defensive group clearly couldn¡¯t keep up with the pace, forcing Leonard to blindly run around, covering more area and doing more work, with intense energy expenditure.


    It had only been sixty-three seconds, yet it felt like running a full-on sprint for the same duration, his whole body blazing intensely.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    However, the Kansas City Chiefs still had no intention of slowing down the pace, Mahomes quickly announced the start of play, the Shotgun Formation fully laid out.


    Richie still chose no blitz, because the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive pace was too fast, Mahomes¡¯ release times were all kept within two seconds; even if the Indianapolis Colts forced a blitz, it would be of limited effect.


    Instead of this, it might be better to focus on pass defense, trying to cut off Mahomes¡¯ passing routes¡ª


    At least attempting to cut them off, the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ pass defense was still commendable.


    Instantly, Mahomes turned to the right, raising his hand ready to pass, a movement that put all the defensive players in the short pass area on alert.


    Kelsey!


    At a glance, one could see Kelsey¡¯s tall, robust body blocking the position, crossing the starting line, and charging straight towards Cornerback Nate Hairston.


    This season, the sophomore Hairston had already performed exceptionally well, the fifth-round pick displaying far more energy than expected; but standing in front of Kelsey, the ¡°Cornerback vs. Tight End¡± matchup looked unprecedentedly mismatched, not even on the same level.


    This is bad.


    Including Leonard, the surrounding defensive players all started moving, the zone defense¡¯s circle immediately tightening.


    Stamping the ground, changing step, sprinting.


    Fully activated.


    Amidst the rapid movement, Leonard looked up, but saw no parabola, neither a rainbow pass nor a bullet pass were anywhere to be seen.


    Damn, it was a trick.


    Leonard realized immediately, he paused for a moment, then saw jersey number twenty-three retreat back past the starting line after crossing it.


    A fake pass for a real run.


    Mahomes, with a deceiving short pass motion, had everyone on the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ Defensive group fooled, the already anxious defenders dare not slacken, reacting rapidly for a second time, but they stepped right into the trap, watching helplessly as Mahomes retracted his right hand.


    Then, he gently lobbed the football into Li Wei¡¯s embrace.


    Unfortunately, the defender¡¯s third reaction couldn¡¯t keep up because Li Wei had already taken off¡ª


    In this game, the Edgerunner was returning to his familiar terrain for the first time, launching an attack.


    Perhaps, Leonard was the only exception.


    Oh.


    Holding his breath, after a quick stop and turn, the second quick stop and turn, his left leg fiercely stabbed into the ground controlling his body, decisively blocking Li Wei¡¯s path.


    One man against many!

 Chapter 753: 752 one man guards the pass

    Chapter 753: 752 one man guards the pass


    Blood boiled, passion surged¡ª


    Leonard was on fire, his body reacting with lightning speed during the sudden stop and sharp turn, employing his reflexes perfectly; his mind void of any distractions, he was completely focused on Li Wei, exuding a sharp aura from within, unrelentingly locking onto his target.


    In crisis, Leonard¡¯s peak state erupted, despite the game having just started, and within merely a minute of the defensive group entering the field, Leonard had reached his pinnacle.


    Bending his knees, lowering his center of gravity, he stared intently at Li Wei, his muscles tensed to the utmost, ready early to face the head-on collision.


    Because Li Wei was accelerating.


    Everything happened in an instant; Li Wei received the football from Mahomes and immediately started, accelerating and picking up speed in one go, forcefully breaking through the space along the inside slot, aiming to exploit the brief gap before the defensive player¡¯s third reaction, intensely seeking a time difference.


    Li Wei¡¯s movements were quicker than anyone¡¯s.


    Leonard¡¯s braking was too late by half a beat, but that half beat not only caught him off guard but also allowed him to secure his position, leaving Li Wei unprepared.


    Ready to explode!


    In a blink of an eye, as if the upper eyelid hadn¡¯t even had time to touch the lower one, red and white were about to collide head-on¡ª


    Collision imminent.


    Silence.


    The entire field held its breath.


    Leonard did the same, his eyes revealing a trace of excitement; having completely lost face during the last collision, this time he was prepared and determined not to repeat his mistake, ready to see who would end up overturned.


    Approaching.


    Continuously approaching.


    Here it comes!


    Seeing that Li Wei was just an arm¡¯s length away, Leonard tensed up completely, he could even clearly see the face under the helmet; but there was no hit, no collision, the anticipated force did not explode.


    Damn.


    Leonard¡¯s reaction was very timely, as he had already reviewed Li Wei¡¯s game videos hundreds of times, even his sleep was filled with Li Wei¡¯s playing style, the memory deeply etched in his muscles, forming a reflex¡ª


    Shifting his center of gravity.


    This season, Leonard stood out from among the rookie linemen who were not prominently strong, stealing the spotlight and applause from the defensive line, his on-the-spot reactions undoubtedly praised by the league.


    Though his muscles were stiff and he was caught off guard, his whole body alertly reacted on time, his body fought against inertia¡¯s restraint, swaying to the left once more to block Li Wei¡¯s attempt to break through from his right.


    Hehe.


    A smile spread across Leonardo¡¯s lips, his gaze firmly locked on Li Wei.


    Unexpectedy, under the helmet, Li Wei¡¯s smile brightly blossomed, his bright eyes seeming to say,


    Sorry, you fell for it.


    Leonard: ???


    In a flash of sight, Li Wei had already moved sideways in the opposite direction, his helmet, face, and figure all blurring into a streak of light.


    Damn it!


    Leonard tried to keep up the pace, but his muscles were too stiff, completely tensed, unable to move even a fingertip, as rigid as a taut column.


    He caught a glimpse of the red after-image, grazing past his own right shoulder, so close he could almost touch it, he could even feel the temperature of the friction between their jerseys, but his body was completely rigid, unable to react, and in the blink of an eye, the figure had disappeared.


    Leonard: ...Aaaaargh, he felt like going mad.


    However, Li Wei no longer paid any attention to Leonard, the field ahead was clear.


    Thud, thud, thud.


    Pushing off the ground, exerting force, and accelerating, Li Wei¡¯s steps almost reached the Red Zone in a blink, different from before, this time Li Wei maintained his balance, even when slightly obstructed, his speed was unaffected.


    Light, agile, like a sword unsheathed, thrusting straight for the heart.


    However, the regional defense protective net still existed, with figures quickly closing in from the left and right, along with Safety Malik Hooker from the front, forming an enclosure.


    Hooker: Perfect timing.


    Hooker, a sophomore, like Li Wei and Mahomes, also a first-round draft pick, picked fifteenth overall, entered the league under the spotlight; however, his visibility was vastly different, his rookie season performance mediocre, the media even neglected to discuss him, deeming him unworthy of the ¡°bust¡± label, left to fade away unnoticed in some corner.


    Now, the chance had come. He would prove himself, he would...


    Wait. What¡¯s happening?


    As Hooker¡¯s ambition blazed, he suddenly saw Li Wei accelerating, growing larger in his pupils as if shifting positions¡ª


    Wow. Wow!


    In the blink of an eye, magnified tenfold, before he could figure out what was happening, Li Wei was already in front of him.


    Hooker: Ah, ghost!


    Li Wei burst forth with absolute speed, lightning-fast in a full sprint, breaking through the net before being surrounded on both sides.


    Direclty ahead, breakthrough.


    Unlike the strategy against Leonard, Li Wei didn¡¯t pause or adjust; he combined speed, power, and body weight, striking head-on.


    However, slightly shifting his position¡ª


    Left shoulder slamming into left shoulder.


    In that instant, the force slammed down, cutting off all the words in Hooker¡¯s throat, swallowing even his cries of surprise and shock, as the world spun around him.


    Hooker: How... what¡¯s happening?


    Li Wei: That¡¯s it? You¡¯re not up to it.


    Li Wei¡¯s steps were light, even glancing back at Hooker, who was topsy-turvy, continuing forward with the momentum from the shoulder hit, his speed never slowing as he light-footedly broke past the ten-yard line, entering the Red Zone.


    Thud, thud, thud.


    His steps, continuing to break through, crossing the five-yard line, two white figures persistently passing Hooker behind, one even leaping over Hooker¡¯s head with a hurdling posture in a desperate attempt to catch up to Li Wei and stop him at the last moment.


    However, it was just a gust of wind.


    Li Wei entered the End Zone effortlessly, with unstoppable momentum.


    Thwack!


    Fiercely, savagely, Li Wei slammed the football to the ground, looking up to the sky and howling.


    ¡°Ahhhh, ahhhh!¡±


    ¡°Ahhhh...¡±


    Yelling, yelling, unabashedly roaring at the top of his lungs:


    Fight. Did you see that? Annie, Felix, fight unrestrainedly and wildly, nobody can predict what tomorrow might bring, but at least they can firmly seize the present, burning passionately, releasing freely, running wild.


    Dance as if nobody¡¯s watching.


    Live as if tomorrow is the end of the world.


    ¡°Ahhhh!¡±


    Felix saw and heard, his palm on his chest, his eyes brimming with hot tears, heart surging as he watched the figure on the TV screen¡ª


    Thump. Thump.


    The beating of his heart so solid and so clear, experiencing the clarity and vigor of life as never before.


    He wanted to live, because his life shouldn¡¯t end now; he still had dreams unfulfilled, journeys uncompleted, battles unfinished.


    Then, ¡°Ah!¡±


    One yell.


    ¡°Ahhhh!¡±


    Another yell, Felix crying unabashedly as he voiced his roar over and again, shouting and shouting until the depths of his soul ignited, feeling that flame, that searing sensation¡ªanger, fear, luck, and fighting spirit reignited.


    He was not ready to surrender.


    Death?


    What of it? Please, just bring it on, he was ready to resist, he would not submit meekly, nor would he give up and wait for the end.


    He refused.

 Chapter 754: 753 Exchange Touchdown

    Chapter 754: 753 Exchange Touchdown


    ¡°Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!¡±


    Felix screamed recklessly at the TV screen, like a madman.


    Yet this scene brought Karen to tears.


    In the week they skirted death and survived, Felix had always been active and optimistic, acting as if nothing had happened, even joking that he ¡°stole some time from death¡± and comforted Karen in return, repeating over and over that it¡¯s okay, he¡¯s fine.


    It¡¯s as if a lie, repeated a hundred times, becomes the truth.


    But Karen knew it wasn¡¯t so.


    Karen was worried about Felix, and Felix was worried about Karen; therefore, they both quietly hid their vulnerabilities, facing each other with strength and smiles, daring not show any unease or fear, fearing it might be the straw that breaks the camel¡¯s back, pretending everything was fine.


    Up until now, Felix finally cautiously released his emotions, those mixed vulnerabilities, transforming into shouts, released from deep within his soul.


    That desire, that urge to survive that explodes at the edge of a cliff, blazed furiously.


    It scorched Karen¡¯s heart.


    With tears streaming down her face, she was a complete mess.


    Karen took a deep breath and also started shouting: the fight is not over yet.


    Once. And again.


    It was the same at Arrowhead Stadium.


    The entire Arrowhead Stadium could deeply feel the energy instantly released from Li Wei, so majestic and overwhelming, sweeping across the whole stadium.


    Uncontrollably, Arrowhead Stadium submitted beneath Li Wei¡¯s feet, also letting out a roar, sweeping across the stadium, spreading through the whole city.


    Mahomes and Kelsey exchanged a glance, an unspoken understanding¡ª


    They understood the reasons for Li Wei¡¯s high spirits, and they understood the truth behind Li Wei¡¯s conviction of victory. Perhaps, standing before death, they were truly insignificant, utterly defenseless; but that did not mean they would stand still and accept their fate.


    Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.


    Mahomes and Kelsey also joined Li Wei¡¯s ranks, protesting against fate with their cries.


    The entire stadium, thundering.


    ¡°...God, this is the response from the Kansas City Chiefs.¡±


    ¡°One moment, the Indianapolis Colts start with a touchdown, a smooth offense again proving that Andrew Luck is one of the top quarterbacks in the league.¡±


    ¡°The next moment, the Kansas City Chiefs strike back with a touchdown, a thunderous offense displaying the formidable strength of the American League¡¯s top seed, this wave of touchdown consisting of four downs, seventy-five seconds, seventy-five yards, ending with Li Wei¡¯s signature running touchdown, quick as a hurricane, a blink and it¡¯s done.¡±


    ¡°Wow, exciting! A perfect ten out of ten!¡±


    ¡°I mean, we¡¯re not at all surprised by the offensive firepower of the Kansas City Chiefs, league¡¯s number one, deservedly so, but such a strong and powerful offense, the Indianapolis Colts defense seemed utterly helpless against it, the gap too obvious.¡±


    ¡°This, is still amazing.¡±


    ¡°And now, it seems Li Wei is still hungry, he is not satisfied with just this, he yearns for more, the Indianapolis Colts defense is trembling.¡±


    ¡°Hold on, I¡¯m just making a description, absolutely no jinxing intended, but now, the safety of the Indianapolis Colts, Malik Hooker looks in bad shape, could it be while defending Li Wei?¡±


    Li Wei: What? I don¡¯t know anything.


    At the edge of the end zone, the Indianapolis Colts defense gather together, with grim expressions.


    Hooker, with a blank expression, shoulders slumped, sits collapsed on the ground, his gaze unfocused, as if his soul has already departed from his body.


    Everyone turned to look at Li Wei, thinking that he had given Hooker a concussion. Li Wei, looking innocent, swore that he had only bumped shoulders.


    However, the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ medical team quickly entered the field and, after a preliminary diagnosis, it appeared to be an ankle injury. It was not yet certain whether it was a sprain or a muscle tear; evidently, Hooker was in a lot of pain and couldn¡¯t stand up on his own. Eventually, a cart came onto the field.


    ¡°Oh, this is absolutely terrible news for the Indianapolis Colts.¡±


    ¡°This season, their defensive group has been suffering from injuries and now, with the starting safety off again, Richie is probably going to have a headache.¡±


    ¡°For Hooker, this must be a devastating blow. He had been looking forward to proving himself in the game against Li Wei and Mahomes, but now he has lost that chance.¡±


    ¡°Enough,¡± said Hooker.


    In fact, the game had only been underway for five short minutes; yet a series of events had already unfolded on the field, dazzling and overwhelming.


    As expected in a divisional game, the intensity and tension of the playoffs increased further¡ª


    Tense enough. Thrilling enough.


    ¡°7:7¡±.


    The two teams had exchanged a touchdown each and then, the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ offensive group was about to take the field again.


    And so was the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ defensive group.


    Chris Jones adjusted his breathing on the sidelines, focusing his gaze on number twelve, Andrew Luck.


    For the match against the Indianapolis Colts, applying pressure on the quarterback at the front line was crucial because Luck was a quarterback capable of turning the game around.


    But the challenge was, while everyone understood the theory, executing it was not so easy.


    A simple fact that season, the Indianapolis Colts and their division rivals the Houston Texans met three times¡ªtwice during the regular season and once in the playoffs. Facing continuous pressure from one of the league¡¯s top defensive ends, JJ-Watt, Luck managed to hold his ground in the storm¡ª


    Indianapolis had two wins and one loss against Houston, including a beautiful victory in the playoffs, marching triumphantly over the bodies of their division rivals to advance.


    On one hand, the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ offensive line had its unique characteristics.


    On the other hand, Luck¡¯s mobility in the pocket bridged old and new-generation quarterbacks. Although he couldn¡¯t compare with mobile quarterbacks, his personal running ability was not far behind Rodgers or Mahomes; undoubtedly, Luck could move and escape crises.


    So, containing Luck was not an easy task.


    Instinctively, Jones recalled Li Wei¡¯s words earlier: ¡°Be patient.¡±


    Having fought alongside Li Wei for two seasons, Jones knew Li Wei did not speak without reason. There was clearly a deeper meaning to his words, but what was it?


    Above Arrowhead Stadium, in the VIP lounge, JJ-Watt and TJ-Watt were watching the developments on the field¡ª


    Derek-Watt, playing for the Los Angeles Chargers, was facing the New England Patriots tomorrow and naturally couldn¡¯t come.


    TJ glanced at his older brother before looking back at the field. ¡°What do you think?¡± he asked.


    JJ pondered for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s too early to say for sure, but one thing I¡¯m one hundred percent certain of is that the league still underestimates Kansas¡¯ defense.¡±


    TJ showed a hint of surprise. ¡°Oh, you think so too?¡±


    Too?


    Clearly, the Watt brothers shared the same opinion.


    TJ jokingly remarked, ¡°You¡¯re not just saying that because you¡¯re hoping the rookies will get revenge for you, are you?¡±


    Without any embarrassment, JJ replied earnestly, ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious?¡±


    TJ shook his head repeatedly, sighing in exasperation, ¡°Ah, all those people who think you¡¯re a noble gentleman and a super-handsome guy, they¡¯ve all been fooled, totally fooled.¡±

 Chapter 755: 754 Third Gear ten yards

    Chapter 755: 754 Third Gear ten yards


    ¡°`


    This season, the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ defensive group was plagued with injuries, and the Kansas City Chiefs were not much better off.


    Veterans hindered by injuries, rookies unable to keep up with the intensity of the games, all led to the ranking of the Kansas City Chiefs Defense slipping throughout the season, relying solely on bursts of critical moment power to keep the team alive.


    So much so that many in the League joked that the Kansas City Chiefs Defense usually lies flat, just relying on the Offensive group to carry them; then they would charge up their energy, waiting for the critical moment to deliver a deadly blow.


    People often forget past mistakes and foolishness in the light of a heroic moment, and victory can similarly cover up all problems.


    Clearly, the Watt brothers didn¡¯t see it that way:


    The aging and fatigue of the Kansas City Chiefs Defense are facts; yet facing harsher criticism due to the stark contrast with the Offensive group¡¯s strong performances is also true.


    In this defense dominated by veterans, the youngsters were growing; they just lacked a spiritual leader and hadn¡¯t grown as quickly as the Offensive group had the previous season; if any team overlooked the Kansas City Chiefs Defense, this young unit would make them taste the bitterness of their decision.


    Before him, JJ keenly sensed a subtle undercurrent of change¡ª


    Li Wei was still Li Wei.


    This young player, who had grown into the flag bearer of leadership for the Kansas City Chiefs, had shed all Rookie mannerisms this season and matured completely.


    In this divisional game, JJ could tell, though he didn¡¯t know why, that Li Wei had an unstoppable, determined will to win, unleashing all that energy in the opening offensive wave, igniting the entire Arrowhead Stadium.


    Others thought this was the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ response to the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ opening touchdown, but JJ had a feeling Li Wei didn¡¯t care about that score; he had his own mission, his own battle, and that belief and energy successfully infected the Defense, waking them up as well.


    Of course, it could all just be JJ¡¯s wild thoughts; the Kansas City Chiefs Defense¡¯s surge in momentum might simply be because of the playoffs.


    After all, it¡¯s now or never, as the playoffs are single-elimination games, with just one chance.


    Regardless, JJ was full of anticipation, and he was very, very aware of the capabilities of the Indianapolis Colts and Luck.


    In just a week¡¯s time, it was nearly impossible to heal from the previous week¡¯s confident yet crushing blow; just opening his eyes made him feel irritable, and even dedicating himself to exercise in the gym couldn¡¯t shake the distracting thoughts; but JJ still decided to go to Kansas City to watch the game.


    Perhaps fighting poison with poison is the only remedy for now.


    The game continues.


    It¡¯s somewhat incredible to say, but the Indianapolis Colts had a rotation of three running backs this season.


    On one hand, none of the three running backs were particularly effective, with personal skills and tactical abilities that were worrisome, leading Richie to rely heavily on passing offenses; the team was evidently stronger in the passing than the running game, and Richie was constantly looking for the right running back.


    On the other hand, Richie¡¯s use of different running backs did bring diversity to the running back¡¯s tactics; besides the well-understood running and receiving, the most important role for the Colts¡¯ running backs was to act as the sixth member of the offensive line, providing full protection for their precious quarterback Luck.


    Against teams like the Houston Texans, whose front line pressure is particularly impressive, Richie¡¯s strategy was quite representative¡ª


    The three running backs took turns facing JJ Watt, with the focus not on stopping Watt but merely on delaying him, just enough to buy Luck half a second to pass the ball.


    Moreover, ¡°three against one,¡± they took turns wearing down Watt¡¯s stamina, dragging Watt into a quagmire.


    Despite Watt still performing well, with two sacks on Luck; the rush pressure strategy didn¡¯t work because the passing offense couldn¡¯t be suppressed.


    This strategy was jokingly dubbed the ¡°Read Option Offense inverted.¡±


    ¡°`


    Facing the Read Option Offense, there should normally be a lineman assigned to watch the quarterback exclusively; now, the Indianapolis Colts had designated a running back to solely mark the opposing team¡¯s sack specialist.


    Moreover, the uniqueness of Richie¡¯s strategy lay in its ability to surprise with ground attacks, often yielding unexpected results.


    Thanks to this, the Colts¡¯ Offensive group managed to rank fifth in the league this season, although they didn¡¯t even make the top ten in terms of yards gained on the ground, their overall offensive ranking still entered the higher echelons.


    Of course, there were certainly ways to counter this.


    The Jacksonville Jaguars had successfully shut out the Indianapolis Colts in the twelfth week of the regular season, with Luck completely losing his way throughout the game.


    The key still lay in real-time performance, adapting on the fly; the strategic contest between offense and defense was unceasing.


    The most direct point was, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense had no particular strength, but their defensive strategies were more varied, richer, and harder to predict¡ª


    Simply put, Richie couldn¡¯t accurately predict when the Chiefs would choose to blitz and apply pressure. Considering the Chiefs also didn¡¯t have a leader like Watt or Donald, Richie¡¯s strategy might not prove effective.


    Indeed, faced with the Colts¡¯ second offensive drive, Reed had obviously tweaked his strategy.


    The Defensive front maintained pressure but refrained from blitzing; more strength was pulled back to reinforce pass defense, setting up a sprawling aerial and ground net through zone coverage.


    The Chiefs did not opt for man-to-man defense because they were aware of Luck¡¯s passing abilities and his secondary defensive reading skills, where even a slight gap could lead to a significant bleed. Thus the team relied on zone coverage to maintain pressure and drag down the rhythm of Luck¡¯s passes as much as possible.


    The game noticeably fragmented, completely losing its fluidity.


    Luck was still outstanding, making key conversions on third down to salvage passes, finding gaps for continuous advancement under the Chiefs¡¯ intense pressure. This offensive drive tangled for a full six minutes, and the Colts successfully pushed past midfield, their footsteps nearing the twenty-yard line¡ª


    The end zone was in sight.


    However, as they approached the end zone, the intensity of the Chiefs¡¯ Defense visibly heightened.


    One incisive anticipation of the Colt¡¯s sneak run, halting the running back at the scrimmage line.


    One successful short-pass zone coverage, causing Luck¡¯s pass to falter.


    Third and ten, in the blink of an eye, the Colts faced the most serious situation of this offensive push; even though they had the initiative and could attempt a field goal in case of a strikeout, but gazing at the end zone so close at hand, Richie and Luck still wanted a touchdown.


    The atmosphere instantly tightened; Arrowhead Stadium plunged into a frenzy.


    ¡°Defense! Clap clap!¡±


    ¡°Defense! Clap clap!¡±


    The entire stadium roared, an overwhelming tide of sound waves nearly devouring the Colts¡¯ Offensive group, showcasing the power of the Devil¡¯s home field at Arrowhead Stadium.


    Luck remained unmoved.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    His firm and heroic voice pierced the heavens as the dense, suffocating gunpowder air instantly detonated, rumbling violently atop the eardrum.

 Chapter 756: 755 hitting a cow across the mountain

    Chapter 756: 755 hitting a cow across the mountain


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Luck announced the kick-off, and almost at the sound of the command, Chris Jones immediately sprung into action, launching his body forward.


    Stomp. A rush.


    Jones unleashed all his strength in an instant, taking off like an arrow released from a bow.


    As a Defensive End, directly in front of him stood an entire line of offensive linemen, so before making any move, he had to face the first collision.


    That¡¯s why, over the past few years, linebackers led by Von Miller had risen to prominence, managing to create more trouble in the pocket with timing and misplacement; however, it¡¯s undeniable that dominant Defensive Linemen like Watt and Donald remained highly entertaining, having won the League¡¯s Best Defensive Player awards for five consecutive seasons.


    Yet, on the defensive line, talent is hard to come by.


    Chris Jones was the typical example of someone who improved through continuous effort. His goal wasn¡¯t to become Watt but to be a cornerstone of the defensive group, capable of fulfilling the defensive line¡¯s role at critical moments.


    Like now, for instance.


    As he launched off the ground, Jones¡¯s hands had already shot forward in anticipation.


    The opposing offensive lineman didn¡¯t suspect a thing and raised his arms in response to form a confrontation.


    But unexpectedly, Jones pushed against the opponent¡¯s shoulders, using the leverage to swing his body outward, maneuvering around the man with a close turn, his footwork already deftly completing the move and cutting into the pocket.


    A blitz!


    The Kansas City Chiefs Defense rarely chose to blitz.


    Obviously, with a long third down and close to the end zone, they had entered Luck¡¯s range¡ªReed couldn¡¯t rule out the possibility of Luck aiming straight for the end zone.


    Marlon Mark, running back, sophomore, selected in the fourth round at pick one hundred and forty-three last year. His height and build were very close to Li Wei¡¯s, as was his playing style. After entering the league, great expectations were placed upon him, yet his fate turned out vastly different.


    Mark scoffed coldly, ¡°We¡¯ve seen through your circus acts long ago.¡±


    Mark didn¡¯t leave the pocket but stayed in position, playing the role of the sixth offensive lineman, quickly scanning the field¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs only used a five-man rush, which was far from enough.


    At that moment, with only Jones cutting into the pocket, Mark immediately moved to meet him.


    Mark: Nice try! I¡¯m not even afraid of Watt, why would I fear a Jones?


    Jones neither dodged nor feinted; he straightforwardly collided with the wall ahead.


    A full embrace.


    Mark and Jones collided, but Jones never forgot one thing¡ª


    Li Wei¡¯s words.


    Through observation, Jones noticed that Luck¡¯s pass release time was increasing.


    Firstly, observation time increased.


    Secondly, there was hesitation before releasing the ball.


    Thirdly, the passing technique wasn¡¯t decisive.


    All aspects proved that Luck¡¯s shoulder injury might be affecting him, and even though Luck was experienced and always managed to complete his passes, the continued application of pressure increased the likelihood of deviation or even errors in critical moments.


    So, what did Li Wei mean?


    Be patient; there was no need to expect to tackle the quarterback or make an effective hit with each rush. There was plenty of game time left; they should maintain constant pressure and keep Luck¡¯s nerves taut throughout the game.


    Then, let Luck crumble bit by bit.


    By doing so, the pressure put on by the Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Line at the front would be doubly effective, achieving great results with minimal effort and tackling the situation from the grand scheme of things.


    And that wasn¡¯t all.


    With each rush to apply pressure, don¡¯t be too eager for quick success. Compared to a fatal blow, maintaining patience and engaging in a drawn-out confrontation was the right way to handle a top-tier quarterback.


    At this moment, Jones was very patient.


    Bang!


    With the collision, Jones made his way into Mark¡¯s arms, but Jones did not stop there.


    Stomp the ground, move forward, push.


    A burst of energy erupted from deep within his Dantian, fully releasing the moment he made contact with Mark.


    Ah, ahhhh!


    Balance was instantly shattered.


    Mark was feeling elated, having timely blocked Jones, then the next second a muffled grunt, his footsteps floated off the ground like a maglev train, his center of gravity freed from the earth¡¯s gravity, and he suddenly soared into the air¡ª


    Falling back step by step.


    Damn... it...


    Mark couldn¡¯t make a sound, all his emotions were suffocatingly pressing against his chest, frantically focusing his energy on his dantian trying to regain his balance, but in the face of Jones¡¯s buffalo-like power, he felt like a kite, lightly taken by the wind, the lights on either side of his eyes rapidly receding, the gale screaming.


    Mark felt like he was about to pee, completely unable to move.


    Doomed, doomed, doomed, this is totally screwed.


    The howl didn¡¯t continue, as a force came from behind.


    Stop... it stopped, oh yeah!


    Wait, why did it stop? What¡¯s with the support I feel from behind?


    Mark had a bad feeling, but before he could confirm it, Jones had already exerted force again, the remaining strength in his body bursting out¡ªa blow from beyond.


    Ah, ah ah ah, ah ah ah!


    Luck: ???


    A second ago, Luck had been observing and searching for his passing target, but the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ secondary completely locked up their positions, switching from zone defense to man-to-man, instantly intensifying the defensive pressure.


    Left side, no passing target.


    Right side, no passing target.


    Center, still no passing target.


    Luck kept adjusting his footing in the pocket, continuously observing and searching, although there were some gaps visible in his field of view, none were the perfect opportunity, pressure bearing down on him.


    He was waiting, hoping his receivers could tear open a gap in the end zone else his arm injury might affect the accuracy of his throw, missing the chance.


    A slight hesitation, a bit of uncertainty, which was actually just a brief half-second, fleeting time difference that the audience couldn¡¯t notice, but in the rapidly changing game, it was critically important.


    Patience, calmness, decisiveness¡ª


    Hmm, what¡¯s that?


    Luck caught a glimpse of a shadow moving closer from the corner of his eye, instantly reacting, pulling back his focus, ready to dodge, but he hadn¡¯t anticipated that the speed of the shadow¡¯s approach was far beyond his expectations.


    His step to dodge was already too late.


    Next second.


    Bang.


    Force, building up, the weight of bodies layered on, as Luck was about to move his feet, he lost his balance and flew out.


    Just half a step, but sure enough, Luck freed himself from gravity, took off into the air with a stumble, feeling like a bag of sand thrown by a dockworker, not even having the time to grunt before the entire world turned upside down and shook.


    Luck: ???


    With a grunt, and immediately after, Luck panicked¡ª


    Football!


    ¡°Fumble!¡±


    ¡°Sack! Fumble!¡±


    ¡°Luck actually fumbled, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense managed an incredible defensive play, overturning the whole situation with just a five-man rush, Luck¡¯s hesitation before the throw gave the Defensive group their chance.¡±


    ¡°Chaos!¡±


    ¡°Now the field is in total chaos, Luck is looking for the ball, Mark is looking for the ball, Jones is looking for the ball, in the pocket it¡¯s completely unclear who¡¯s who.¡±


    ¡°Wait, wait¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh, God!¡±


    ¡°Jones! Chris Jones! The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ third-year Defensive End gets a sack that causes a fumble, and then unbelievably manages to secure the ball.¡±


    A triple-play in one go!

 Chapter 757: 756 feinted a shot

    Chapter 757: 756 feinted a shot


    Chaos, tense, deadlocked¡ª


    And then, amidst the turmoil, Jones scooped up the playful ruddy little imp into his arms, quickly curling up and tightly hugging the football.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Li Wei, leading the charge, threw his arms high into the air and leaped in jubilation, cheering aloud.


    Following that, the entire Arrowhead Stadium erupted with incredible energy.


    ¡°Soar!¡±


    ¡°Soar!¡±


    An overwhelming wave of heat surged, breaking the shackles of the live cameras, using the TV screen as a window, venting down into millions of spaces.


    Jenna sat there, dumbfounded, as Jeff and Annie both leapt up, cheering, screaming, and roaring together. As she looked at her husband and daughter, confusion filled her eyes, yet she felt as though the whole neighborhood and the entire street were shaking like an earthquake, rivaling the eruption of a volcano.


    Jenna: What, what is this?


    On the field, Jones stood up with a roll, and even he, who was usually introverted and not adept at expressing himself, could not control the roar that rose from within.


    Ah, ah, ah.


    Passion overflowed!


    Jones knew the significance of this game; Felix¡¯s condition was known by everyone in the team, and an air of solemnity permeated the locker room before the game¡ª


    For them, it wasn¡¯t just a playoff game; it was a match with no way out, they needed to fight against death itself, to battle for their destiny.


    They had to give it their all.


    Energy, released in an instant, Jones clenched his fists tightly, as if grasping the throat of fate itself.


    Luck lay on the ground, his right hand on his helmet covering his eyes, his chest heaving violently, a flame burning within.


    This was a battle of offenses, the Kansas City Chiefs Offense leading the league in firepower. If they could not keep pace with the offense, the game would be very, very difficult. The team was well aware of this and had been implementing it right from the start.


    But now?


    Watching the end zone just ahead, let alone scoring a touchdown, they didn¡¯t even have a field goal.


    Anger? Shame? Frustration? Despondency? Oppression?


    Luck himself could not accurately describe his feelings; he needed a moment to settle.


    ¡°Andy...¡±


    A voice came through; Mark worried about Luck¡¯s condition and hesitated whether he should help Luck up to ensure he wasn¡¯t injured.


    Luck sat up in a flash, glared with wide eyes and roared, ¡°Andrew, please call me Andrew. Get away!¡±


    Then, paying no attention to Mark, Luck got up and stormed off the field, filled with rage.


    ¡°... The first quarter has just passed the halfway mark, and the Kansas City Chiefs have displayed a determination to win from offense to defense, creating a turnover.¡±


    ¡°This season, the aging and sluggish Defense has been the subject of criticism, even performing worse than last season, relying entirely on a powerful Offense to lead the Kansas City Chiefs through the regular season; but it seems people underestimated this Defense, always able to rise to the occasion at critical moments.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps, they are not the league¡¯s top presence; but we should not underestimate their energy.¡±


    ¡°Facing this divisional game, the Defense showed strong belief from the opening phase. Now, the opportunity returns to the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs Offense.¡±


    ¡°Can the young offensive group led by Li Wei continue their strong performance and firmly seize the chance to take the lead in the score?¡±


    The formation, once again unfolding.


    Now, Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Richie faced a question:


    If the defensive group¡¯s pre-game deployment had not been effective, should they change their strategy?


    The answer was a resounding yes.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Mahomes announced the kickoff, and without any hesitation, he immediately tucked the football into Li Wei¡¯s arms, initiating the first offensive wave with a ground attack.


    Just before the kickoff, Li Wei was observing the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ defensive group¡¯s formation, and Richie did not hide his tactical change¡ª


    A combination of man-to-man and zone defenses.


    Richie knew clearly that the Colts¡¯ defensive front could only pose limited threats. If they chose to pressure with rushes or blitzes, they had to catch the opponent off guard and precisely strike at the vital points, creating fewer but more efficient plays. This was the key to turning the tide.


    And when there was no pressure rush, it did not mean the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ defensive group was sitting ducks; they could still increase the difficulty of passing by closely guarding Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ receiving points, indirectly pressuring Mahomes and ensuring that the tension in the offensive and defensive standoff always persisted.


    Does this strategy sound familiar?


    Just now, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense was arranged this way on third and ten, using a linebacker to step up and fill the gap, allowing Jones to free up and enter the pocket to apply pressure, hit, or even sack with a streamlined strategy that led to a particularly delightful success.


    In the blink of an eye, the Indianapolis Colts also adopted a similar strategy.


    The difference was that the Chiefs waited until just before the Red Zone because of the limited space in the backfield, allowing the defensive group to tighten up their man coverage and zone defenses; whereas the Colts started already near the kickoff line, similar to a front-court press tactic in basketball or football.


    Since Jones had just forced a fumble, the Chiefs started their attack right from the fumble spot, which was on their own 27-yard line, nearly the same as a normal kickoff position. But the Colts felt the pressure and immediately ramped up their defensive intensity.


    Moreover, it was worth noting that the Colts¡¯ pass defense was better than the Chiefs¡¯, with blue-collar players across the secondary line all diligent and dedicated. Even without star players, they always managed to accomplish their game tasks.


    With a quick scan, Li Wei could see a defensive player closely marking each receiver one-on-one, while another safety and linebacker were staggered in the central area, their eyes firmly fixed on Mahomes, feeling the increase in pressure intensity even before the kickoff.


    So, was this all?


    Li Wei was dubious.


    ¡°Strategically belittle the enemy, tactically take them seriously.¡±


    If Richie could lead the injured-riddled Indianapolis Colts into the playoffs, especially after the coaching turmoil involving McDaniel during the offseason, and hand in such an answer, then Richie had his own set of skills.


    Indeed, as soon as Mahomes announced the kickoff, and Li Wei had just completed the handoff, he could already feel the air near the kickoff line tensing up.


    ¡ª¡ªA trap.


    An alarm rang in Li Wei¡¯s mind. Richie posed as if he was copying Reed¡¯s defensive strategy, but after the kickoff, he opted for a rush pressure.


    Clearly, Richie needed the element of surprise and to disrupt Mahomes¡¯ rhythm, not allowing Mahomes to dominate and dictate the game in his comfort zone.


    In some way, this was becoming more and more similar to Reed¡¯s just-concluded defensive strategy, almost like a mirror tactic.


    So who did Richie choose to blitz?


    Li Wei didn¡¯t recklessly rush forward but paused in his stride, lifted his head for a quick scan, and immediately noticed two flashes of white darting from the flanks like lightning¡ª


    A six-man rush!


    Richie was playing hardball.

 Chapter 758: 757 bulldozer assault on a city

    Chapter 758: 757 bulldozer assault on a city


    Six-man rush¡ª


    With four defensive linemen and two linebackers, the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts displayed his courage and wisdom, as well as his cunning.


    Of these, the four defensive linemen seemed completely unaware that this was a standard defense, holding firm against the offensive line; the two linebackers, one on the left and one on the right, made their way around the outside, cutting through the ribs to avoid the meat grinder area where lines collided, deftly steering thunderous force into the pocket.


    Sneaking in silently, the emphasis was on ¡°speed,¡± with everything happening in a flash¡ª


    A lightning-fast sneak attack.


    Because the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ defensive group knew how quickly Mahomes could execute a fast, short pass, they needed to act urgently.


    But they overlooked another possibility:


    Running play.


    The Kansas City Chiefs didn¡¯t choose to pass, they chose to run.


    There, linebacker Leonard, like a silent submarine, quietly circled into the pocket.


    Here, Li Wei, with the football in hand, was observing the movements of the defensive strategy.


    And then, Leonard and Li Wei met.


    Leonard: ???


    Li Wei: Hey, it¡¯s me.


    Eyes meeting, there was a brief moment of shock as the brain failed to keep up; but the body¡¯s instinctual reflex responded in time.


    Leonard advanced, without slowing, launching himself forward, abandoning his original target Mahomes, and decisively aimed for Li Wei instead.


    Unfortunately, he was still just a bit too slow.


    Li Wei: Stop, look, and pass through.


    He stepped back just a little, yielding position, evading successfully, and letting Leonard lunge into empty air, with his next steps already taking him around Leonard and continuing the charge.


    Leonard gritted his teeth, throwing his body with abandon, power, speed, weight¡ªall missing their mark, leaving him with a mouthful of grass clippings and dust:


    Dammit. Damn, damn, damn!


    Leonard pounded the ground forcefully, immediately rolling up without pause, biting down hard to catch his breath and pursue again, only to see jersey number twenty-three¡¯s silhouette already past the kick-off line and five yards beyond, turning into a streak of light. He didn¡¯t have the time for regrets and put all his effort into the chase.


    Ahead, players originally in man coverage and zone defense all noticed Li Wei, one by one, breaking away from their marks, converging upon him.


    Unlike the first surge of the game, this time Li Wei did not opt to go down intentionally but twisted and maneuvered through the crowd looking for a gap to break through, pushing forward within the encirclement of wolves at the front and tigers at the back.


    Drive off the ground, exerting force.


    Drive off the ground! Exert force!


    Ahh, energy burst forth.


    The entire Arrowhead Stadium erupted, the crowd unleashing waves of roaring.


    Just as Li Wei was about to breach the encirclement, Leonard rushed in for a hard tackle, finally managing to halt Li Wei¡¯s breakthrough pace with difficulty.


    Four men, a total of four Colts players, were needed to stop Li Wei, but still, he managed to gain ten yards and earn a first down amidst the heavy encirclement.


    However!


    Li Wei stood up, not showing the slightest bit of disarray, his eyes sharp and resolute as he looked at Leonard, the corners of his mouth lifting into a light smile, he walked towards the offensive group with ease, ready to take position again.


    Leonard met his gaze without showing weakness, things were getting more interesting.


    The contest, the confrontation, the intensity was clearly escalating.


    On the sidelines, Richie could not help but swear, never expecting Reed to initiate a ground attack by surprise, and even more so that Li Wei would gain the first down, causing morale in the Colts¡¯ defensive group to waver.


    Richie took a quick step forward, pressing down with both hands in succession to calm the Indianapolis Colts Defensive group down, ensuring they were not intimidated by Li Wei.


    They couldn¡¯t be lead by the nose.


    Throughout the season, Richie had watched various teams alter their strategies before the Kansas Chiefs¡¯ fluid offense, like puppets on strings being manipulated by Reed, and in the end, they were utterly defeated. He needed to maintain his conviction¡ª


    It was precisely because the Indianapolis Colts were not a strong defensive team that they needed to stick to their guns even more, or else the game might completely fall apart.


    ¡°Stick to the tactics.¡±


    ¡°Stick to the tactics!¡±


    There was no choice, the weapons and strategies of the Kansas Chiefs Offense were indeed too numerous, and Richie had to trust his instincts, tipping the scale slightly towards defense, or else he would fall into a hellish state of trying to cover everything.


    However, Richie miscalculated.


    First down and ten yards, run play, Li Wei advanced seven yards.


    Second down and five yards, run play, Damien Williams advanced three yards.


    First down and ten yards, run play, Damien Williams advanced another four yards.


    Second down and six yards, short pass, Kelsey easily completed a seven-yard catch.


    Consecutive run plays, hard head-to-head clashes, the Kansas Chiefs¡¯ offense showed a completely different approach from the first wave of offense, starting their assault with solid, steady ground offense, their aggressive and robust posture forcing the Indianapolis Colts to retreat step by step, and actually gaining three first downs in succession, pushing past midfield and approaching the opponent¡¯s forty yards.


    With strength comes willfulness¡ª


    Damien, the young man who took over as the No. 2 running back from Hunter, was diligent and down-to-earth, enriching the Kansas Chiefs¡¯ offense with tractor-like power runs.


    Initially, it was thought that Hunter¡¯s unexpected departure might weaken the Kansas Chiefs¡¯ offensive firepower; however, Reed turned a crisis into an opportunity, and after meshing together in the last few weeks of the regular season, they shined brightly in the postseason.


    The Indianapolis Colts defense continuously made misjudgments with their tactics, whether it was the secondary or lineman Leonard, all were bypassed, possessing skills but nowhere to use them, their own weak spots becoming the target of the Kansas Chiefs¡¯ concentrated attack.


    Arrowhead Stadium was roaring with momentum.


    So, the question before Richie:


    Should he sacrifice pass defense and commit more troops to ground defense?


    Richie looked across the field, Reed was still wearing a kind and benevolent expression, revealing nothing.


    Richie gritted his teeth: Stick to the tactics.


    He couldn¡¯t slack on pass defense; Reed¡¯s persistence with ground offense was a setup for the pass game, and Mahomes¡¯ rainbow passes aimed at the end zone could be fatal; but with ground offense, even if yards were lost, the bleeding was limited, at worst they would just end up in a drawn-out battle of position.


    Richie made up his mind, he just couldn¡¯t believe Reed would continue with ground runs.


    So, this was a ¡°stubborn¡± gamble, to see whether Reed or Richie would be the first to falter, taking the initiative in the strategic layout.


    Then, first down and ten yards.


    Richie¡¯s heart rose high as he watched Hill and Watkins, the two wide receivers, sprinting at full speed, their pace pushed to the limit.


    Indianapolis Colts defensive players immediately picked up the pace to follow.


    Richie held his breath: They¡¯ve got this!

 Chapter 759: 758 Front Breakthrough

    Chapter 759: 758 Front Breakthrough


    Thud, thud, thud. Thud, thud, thud.


    Hill on the right, Watkins on the left, two fast horses sprint at full speed without reservation, crossing the short pass area and showing no intention of stopping in the medium pass area, breaking through towards the long pass area without hesitation¡ª


    Near the forty-yard line of the visiting team¡¯s half, they had already entered Mahomes¡¯ range.


    Since the beginning of the game, Mahomes had been suppressing the urge to throw long passes, never unleashing the full power of his long throws; but Richie remained vigilant, knowing that a moment¡¯s relaxation could be catastrophic.


    Perhaps, the time was now?


    In his field of vision, Mahomes was adjusting, the defensive line wasn¡¯t applying too much pressure, allowing Mahomes to move comfortably in the pocket, with enough time and space to observe.


    Then, a pause, an adjustment, a swing of his arm¡ª


    In an instant, breaths were held.


    Richie, following Mahomes¡¯ line of sight, saw Hill at a glance.


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ leading wide receiver for three consecutive seasons, top-notch in speed, breakthrough ability, and route running, was now dashing alone, a series of dazzling moves pushing him down the right sideline towards the deep area, his steps already beyond the twenty-yard line, charging full force towards the red zone.


    Using his speed advantage, Hill had already created a slight gap. The space was limited, surrounded by two white figures in zone defense, but for Mahomes and Hill, it was enough.


    Richie: Keep up, keep up!


    In a critical moment, just as Mahomes was about to complete the pass, he pulled back his throwing arm and lightly tossed the football to Li Wei.


    All around, there was deafening silence.


    It was a run, actually a run, a faux pass turned real run!


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    In front of the TV, Annie stood up abruptly with a cry, but the next second, she covered her mouth with both hands, cutting off her shout, her eyes wide with focus as she tensely watched the screen, her entire body taut with anticipation.


    Next to her, Jenna wanted to say, stay calm, stay calm, don¡¯t get so worked up; but seeing Annie and Jeff both stand up like meerkats, she couldn¡¯t help but laugh, forgetting what she was going to say for a moment.


    Then, her gaze too became locked on the TV screen, fully engrossed.


    With a push off the ground, he was off, picking up speed.


    Li Wei¡¯s movements were smooth and flowing like water, graceful and pleasing to the eye, like a refreshing breeze swiftly crossing the kickoff line.


    On the defensive line, the defensive end Tyquan Lewis, this year¡¯s second-round pick, wasn¡¯t about to give up so easily, quickly taking a half step outward in an attempt to intercept the legendary rookie running back, a confrontation was inevitable regardless.


    With difficult and compact steps amid jostling and collisions, Lewis managed to stretch out halfway, an unforeseen barrier on Li Wei¡¯s straight course.


    Lewis had exploded with all his might.


    Yet, Li Wei sidestepped to the right, his right leg pulling his body outward, the red figure deftly avoiding the obstacle without pause or disruption, continuing to charge straight ahead, his agile and graceful running unimpeded.


    Not for a millisecond.


    Lewis, having exerted a herculean effort to barely position half his body forward, with a fierce expression and bared teeth, hadn¡¯t even had time to react before feeling a fierce gust sweep across his face, slapping it wildly, and struggling to open his eyes, he refocused only to find nothing in front of him.


    Where was he?


    Li Wei was already long gone¡ª


    Five yards.


    Ten yards.


    In the blink of an eye, Lewis was left in the dust, not to mention the other defensive players who, from a distance, were still searching the sky for the football¡¯s parabolic flight path. By the time they came to their senses, Li Wei had already broken through the ten-yard area.


    The first attack was like taking candy from a baby, without any difficulty.


    They could not be stopped. The Indianapolis Colts¡¯ defensive group was completely unable to stop them, the Kansas Chiefs¡¯ Offense took as they pleased, as if walking in their own backyard, firmly in control, toying with the opponent¡¯s defensive group at will, sending wave after wave of offensive attacks without giving them a chance to catch a breath.


    Not a single good player.


    Standing on the edge of the field, Richie even forgot to swear and gaped at this scene, Running the ball? Had Reed gone mad to keep choosing to run the ball?


    Before the game, during the strategic sand table exercise, Richie was brimming with confidence. He believed he had thoroughly analyzed the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ game videos inside and out. At least from the pre-game preparations, the Indianapolis Colts should have some advantage. The first touchdown had proved that.


    But what about after that?


    Richie watched the red blur with the number twenty-three on its back, unstoppable, racing ahead, a sense of panic and fear firmly gripping his heart:


    Stop him, stop him. Stop! Him! Damn it, stop that damn guy!


    Shaquille Leonard appeared.


    As the only player in the limping, injured-filled defensive group who could make a difference, Leonard showed up as expected at the critical moment.


    One step, stomp.


    Two steps, power up.


    Leonard didn¡¯t just sit and wait like a sitting duck for the prey to come; he took the initiative to attack¡ª


    He had tried to catch the opponent off guard, staying patient and calm, waiting for the prey to come his way, but all had failed; so now, it was time to confront head-on, in his own style, his own way.


    Conservative?


    That was never Leonard¡¯s style.


    Proactive, tough, passionate, and mad, that¡¯s Shaquille ¡°Madman¡± Leonard.


    In fact, Leonard was on the defensive now, his steps following Kelsey as he moved deeper into the zone for passing defense; when he realized Li Wei had the ball, Leonard shook off Kelsey, hustled back into position, and blocked the route, but in the rush, he was completely at a disadvantage.


    However, in this passive state, Leonard burst forth with energy¡ª


    He was about to show Li Wei the madness of the season¡¯s best defensive rookie.


    Sprint, close in, step up.


    Li Wei was fast, Leonard was fast too; neither of them slowed down, and the compounding of their speed made the approach faster and more ferocious.


    Like two out-of-control high-speed trains colliding head-on.


    Air currents, clash.


    Leonard didn¡¯t slow down, he was even accelerating, his lips curling into a ferocious smile, his gaze locked on Li Wei, arms open, ready to tackle.


    Everything happened in a flash, and it was too late to dodge. Moreover, Leonard was determined and preemptive, his powerful momentum exuding an aura that he would absolutely prevail. Before Li Wei could react, Leonard had already used speed and strength to dominate.


    So.


    Impact. Tackle. Whirling airwaves.


    A mushroom cloud exploded.


    Leonard: Got him.

 Chapter 760: 759 Matador

    Chapter 760: 759 Matador


    Err ah, ah ah ah! Ah ah ah!


    Leonard went all out, without reservation, he wanted Li Wei to feel the pain, feel the impact, he wanted Li Wei¡¯s soul to shiver with fear.


    Head-on collision, power release.


    However, the next second¡ª


    Wait, what happened? Wait, wait!


    Leonard¡¯s heart suddenly contracted.


    ...


    Has anyone ever seen a Spanish bullfight?


    When the bull sees that red cloth, its eyes red with frenzy, charging toward the cloth recklessly, that force and impact are terrifying, enough to pick up an adult male, send him flying like a piece of paper, even possibly ripping open the belly, spilling the intestines out.


    So, how does the matador accomplish the feat?


    Timing. Footwork.


    It¡¯s all about the timing, seizing the fleeting moment just as the bull is about to collide, relying on light and nimble steps to shift the weight, completing the dodge.


    In front of us, it¡¯s the same.


    Initially, Li Wei was prepared to shift his center of gravity, to shake off Leonard with a Marseille Turn, because Leonard¡¯s height and weight were there, and with Leonard prepared, a head-on collision wouldn¡¯t be wise; he should fully utilize his agility and speed to break free.


    But, Leonard¡¯s approach was just too fast, especially when Li Wei himself hadn¡¯t slowed down, the crisis of uncontrolled speed loomed large.


    In the blink of an eye, Li Wei quickly assessed the situation, made an instant decision¡ª


    No evasion, just meeting it head-on.


    The difference was, all the muscles in the body tensed up, the knees slightly bent, breath held, waiting for the brief gap before the anticipated overwhelming force came rushing in.


    A sliver of a chance, a moment fleeting amidst the chaos and impact, unnoticed if not paying close attention.


    And then, seize it.


    Anyway, it¡¯s a sure bet, the first strike already secured, let them take another risk, explore the possibilities, that¡¯s fun too, right?


    A gleam flashed deep in Li Wei¡¯s eyes, visibly excited; correspondingly, his brain became even cooler, attention highly focused.


    Heh.


    Taking a deep breath, time seemed to slow down, like bullet time, right in the fleeting gap before the full force erupted at the moment of embrace, Li Wei sprung into action.


    Using the right leg as the pivot, the left leg pushing off the ground for a drive, a clockwise turn, spinning 360 degrees, the force ready to burst from Li Wei¡¯s body also rotating with his spinning motion.


    Just like gears.


    Spinning, dancing, a sight for sore eyes.


    Then, one could see Leonard, who had completely cast off gravity to layer his weight, was firmly hugging Li Wei¡¯s waist, spinning with him.


    One second into ¡°Saturday Night Fever¡± mode.


    Leonard couldn¡¯t believe it:


    Just now, he had released all his power, ready to take down Li Wei; but now, he clutched at Li Wei¡¯s waist like grabbing a lifeline, the released power turning into a desperate entanglement, with neither the impact nor the weight to be found, all vanishing without a trace within the technique of diverting force with gentleness.


    What¡¯s worse, he now looked like a cheap circus clown performing aerial stunts.


    ¡°Jack, I¡¯m flying.¡±


    As the thought just surfaced, shame and fury instantly devoured his reason, and Leonard began to scream frantically, his body breaking out in goosebumps.


    A shudder.


    His hands could no longer hold on, his fingers let go, centrifugal force flung him out, but he could do nothing about it.


    Damn.


    Leonard could hardly believe it, and he didn¡¯t understand what had happened; the whole world started spinning rapidly.


    Li Wei also had a hard time, and he finally deeply experienced it¡ªthe Matador was indeed a dance on the blade¡¯s edge. Adrenaline surged, and the bloody scent of life and death excited him.


    One turn, the strength was still not completely dissipated.


    Another turn, the world was still spinning, and he had long lost his bearings.


    But Li Wei had learned a trick:


    How does the Ballet Whip Spin manage to maintain balance and direction even after spinning at high speed for fifty turns?


    Before the spinning begins, one must find a point to fix the eyes on and always keep gazing at it; this is the best way to maintain direction amidst chaos and dizziness.


    Li Wei¡¯s gaze was firmly fixed on the goalposts in the end zone, identifying direction amidst the chaos and turbulence, finding back his strength and direction.


    Push off, push off. Push off!


    One step, then another, the power fully unleashed, regaining the sense of solid ground beneath him amidst the bumps and dizziness, stumbling back to speed.


    Bit by bit. Bit by bit.


    Ah, ah, ah, the cheers and screams, climbing higher and higher.


    In front of the TV, Annie could no longer control herself, watching the screen intently, following that figure, shouting at the top of her lungs.


    ¡°Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    Separated by a screen, but Annie and Arrowhead Stadium were in complete sync; Jenna beside her couldn¡¯t help getting fired up, her heart starting to race wildly.


    Tens of thousands of eyes were all on that figure; in the vast stadium, a single figure was insignificant, easily swallowed up; yet at this moment, that figure was so towering, so majestic, standing tall, making the entire crimson wave in the stands bow down, erupting with passion.


    Thump thump, thump thump thump.


    Accompanying Li Wei¡¯s footsteps, accompanying Li Wei¡¯s speed, it was the audience who felt their own insignificance, feeling the power of footsteps pounding in their own hearts.


    Impact. Release. Ignition.


    The resonance of heartbeats colliding with chests swept through Arrowhead Stadium like a tsunami, and in the midst of roaring, nothing else mattered.


    Karen had stood up as well, grabbing Felix¡¯s shoulder with one hand, crying out uncontrollably, shouting the same name.


    Over and over again.


    Just one name, yet it made thousands of souls feel each other¡¯s presence, eventually binding together like a rope, as if touching the pulse of life itself.


    In that moment, Karen felt Felix¡¯s vitality, so vivid, so powerful, so overwhelming, as if cancer cells no longer mattered; her Felix was calling out, running, burning, even Death had to stand outside the door and wait obediently.


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    The uniform roar revolved above Arrowhead Stadium.


    Grass clippings flew, sweat splattered, blood burned; the pulse of this city¡¯s life was beating.


    Stumbling and lurching, Li Wei staggered past the twenty-five-yard line, but regained his speed and balance as he entered the twenty-yard line.


    With every push off, with every exertion of strength, Li Wei¡¯s energy was released, and in the midst of the stadium¡¯s roar, the level of focus intensified once more.


    Seeing a figure dashing at an angle ahead, Li Wei had no time to distinguish carefully, catching only a glimpse of white vapor in his peripheral vision¡ª


    It must be a Safety.


    In the swiftly changing game, his brain remained cool, even the Matador had to concede, as Li Wei was tearing down the Colts¡¯ entire defense line.


    A brake, Li Wei controlled himself; the white vapor did not stop in time, passing before Li Wei¡¯s eyes, staring at each other through the helmets.


    Li Wei: Sorry, not seeing you out.

 Chapter 761: 760 is vulnerable to a single blow

    Chapter 761: 760 is vulnerable to a single blow


    Panting. Panting.


    The air was burning, breathing was like nitrous oxide, the eardrums roared, and the chest that heaved violently paused momentarily as he braked.


    Within the high-speed run, an abrupt stop, Li Wei once again displayed his peerless control, avoiding collision with the figure ahead that had lost control and derailed.


    So close, brushing past.


    Li Wei held his breath, tensed all over, utilizing the brief pause to adjust, watching the twisted face of terror rush past before his eyes.


    Avoided.


    Then, Li Wei restarted.


    This time, he pushed his speed to the extreme from zero, rising onto his toes, releasing all his energy in a posture akin to a hundred-meter dash.


    No time to catch his breath, another figure was rapidly approaching nonstop, breath held, closely mirroring Li Wei¡¯s footsteps.


    George Odum, an undrafted rookie this year, had always been the third Free safety on the team. After both starting Free safeties fell due to injuries¡ªHooker had left the field for further examination¡ª he finally got the opportunity to play; facing the legends of the newcomers head-on.


    Odum was a bit nervous, his calves trembling.


    Despite securing his position early and taking the initiative, the moment he clung to Li Wei, Odum felt a surge of power and speed overflowing like torrential floodwaters, and his body immediately started to jolt.


    Stumbling and bumbling.


    The Fifteen-yard Line passed beneath his feet.


    Odum tried to stick closely to Li Wei, but he felt he couldn¡¯t keep up the pace, like Bran from ¡°Game of Thrones,¡± completely dependent on Li Wei, with his feet barely touching the ground intermittently, as if gravity had lost its grip though the ground was right underfoot.


    Odum was panicking.


    Before Odum could conjure a plan, Li Wei had already braked again. Again and again.


    Odum: ???


    He watched, wide-eyed, as Li Wei retreated into the distance. But why was Li Wei retreating?


    Oh, it wasn¡¯t Li Wei who was retreating, but himself.


    A beat too slow, Odum realized that he had been thrown back, retreating uncontrollably, widening the gap.


    Odum braked urgently to regain control of himself, but immediately saw Li Wei restarting, taking off full speed like a storm.


    The Ten-yard Line, Li Wei passed it, and Odum followed, trying to catch up.


    However, as he was just about to spring into action, Odum could see the world of green and red receding swiftly backwards, like fast-forwarding at ten times the speed.


    At the Five-yard Line, Odum was nearly suffocating, his speed had hit its limit, and his legs could barely keep up with his racing mind. Looking up at Li Wei¡¯s retreating figure, the number twenty-three in red was blazing like flames ahead, so near yet so far:


    He was running faster and faster, growing more distant as well.


    He widened the gap visibly, and as Odum reached out, trying to close it, he found¡ª


    It was too late.


    Unmatched, unstoppable.


    Five yards, ten yards, not even a blink of an eye could pass.


    And then, Li Wei stopped.


    Standing in the end zone!


    Effortlessly and irresistibly, piercing the heart of the Indianapolis Colts.


    Turning around, Li Wei faced the stadium, his expression calm, his gaze intense. Despite his panting and profuse sweating, despite the flush on his face and ears, there wasn¡¯t the slightest sign of disarray. Not only was there none, but there was also a sense of exhilaration and recklessness, as he released all his energy without reservation. That overwhelming power swept across the entire field.


    Li Wei stood towering in the end zone, causing all those behind him eating his dust to look up in awe.


    Odum was among the first.


    Then, Li Wei raised his right index finger, erecting it.


    Odum blinked, noticing that Li Wei¡¯s focus wasn¡¯t on him. Following Li Wei¡¯s gaze, he turned to see Leonard, disheveled, stopping not far ahead.


    Li Wei, gently shook his finger:


    You guys, not good enough.


    Charging straight in, going for the jugular¡ª


    Touchdown, once again secured.


    Felix could no longer control himself, his fists clenched tightly, tears shimmering in his eyes. He felt the surge and torrent of life force, so vivid and powerful. His blood blazed with fire, and the long-suppressed emotions deep within his soul finally burst forth.


    Since the incident last Sunday, Felix had been holding back, enduring, trying his best to show a positive and sunny side so as not to worry Karen, but the fear and vulnerability deep inside were gradually consuming his energy. He felt he might not be able to hold on much longer.


    Until now¡ª


    It wasn¡¯t over. That wasn¡¯t the point.


    Ah, ah, ah, ahhhh.


    It was rage, sadness, despair; yet also fighting spirit, passion, vitality.


    Felix finally let out a roar.


    And then, he sang his heart out.


    ¡°He¡¯s here, he¡¯s there, he¡¯s everywhere, he is the Edgerunner, Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei!¡±


    Karen¡¯s heart quivered slightly.


    She felt it, the complexity hidden in Felix¡¯s cry, and for an instant, fear engulfed her heart, making her acutely aware of her own insignificance and helplessness.


    But it was just for an instant.


    Taking a deep breath, Karen looked at the television screen:


    Felix hadn¡¯t given up, Li Wei hadn¡¯t given up, and neither could she.


    Even though they knew the battle was doomed from the start, it didn¡¯t mean they couldn¡¯t enjoy every remaining minute and second of the game.


    Right?


    Once, then again, Karen joined the ranks of Felix, even louder and more vehement than him, shouting with all the strength of her soul.


    Arrowhead Stadium, ignited.


    ¡°...Wow, what an incredible atmosphere for a game.¡±


    ¡°Today¡¯s Kansas City Chiefs are showing a proactive spirit. You can feel their desire for victory through the screen, so strong, so fervent, as if longing to escape the clutches of death.¡±


    ¡°This is really rare.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid, this is something nobody expected¡ªthe reigning champions¡¯ desire for victory.¡±


    ¡°Without a doubt, the reigning champions are prepared to face all difficulties. They are not sitting ducks waiting to be struck but have placed themselves in the position of the aggressor, starting with a determination to win.¡±


    ¡°Now the key question is, did the Indianapolis Colts foresee the difficulties, but did they expect them to be this severe?¡±


    ¡°Here, I¡¯m not talking about the score.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, the Indianapolis Colts are behind in score, but not by much, just one touchdown. We still have enough time to write the story, to allow for different possibilities, so the score is not the point at the moment.¡±


    ¡°The point is the overall situation.¡±


    ¡°The Indianapolis Colts¡¯ defensive group has been completely crushed by their opponents. So far in the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ two offensive drives, this defensive group has scarcely been effective, completely suppressed from passing to ground assault, not even one effective tackle, a total mess.¡±


    ¡°In terms of strategy, state, and on-the-spot reaction, the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ defensive group is utterly useless and pitiful. Even Leonard, who performed well in the regular season, is equally sluggish, completely lost in the Chiefs¡¯ onslaught.¡±


    ¡°Powerless!¡±


    ¡°Not even a semblance of resistance, a complete disaster.¡±


    ¡°So, what¡¯s next?¡±


    ¡°How should Richie adjust, how should he position? If the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ defensive group can¡¯t organize an effective defense, they will soon be completely engulfed in the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive deluge.¡±


    ¡°Believe me, this is definitely not the situation Richie wants to see.¡±

 Chapter 762: 761 grabbed the spotlight

    Chapter 762: 761 grabbed the spotlight


    ¡°...The game had just begun, and already a challenge loomed before Richie.¡±


    ¡°The number one seed in the American League was proving with their actions that their outstanding performance this season wasn¡¯t a mirage; even in the playoffs, they remained competitive, and the defending champions were not joking around.¡±


    ¡°Of course, it was still the first quarter, and Richie had time to adjust. This would be yet another new test in Coach Richie¡¯s professional career.¡±


    ¡°As anticipated before the match, it was going to be a battle of offense.¡±


    ¡°Compared to defense, the performance of the two offensive groups would determine the outcome of the game, and the Kansas Chiefs Offense had already proven their explosive power and consistency; next, the spotlight would focus on the Indianapolis Colts Offense.¡±


    ¡°Andrew Luck, the pressure was all on Luck¡¯s shoulders now. He needed to score, by any means necessary, whether it was a field goal or a touchdown; he needed to score before the situation worsened.¡±


    Chatter chatter, much discussion.


    ¡°7:14.¡±


    From the score, it¡¯s clear this American League Division Game is still in its early stages, and it¡¯s too soon to call the outcome¡ªanything is possible. But those with clear sight could see that the momentum was wholly on the side of the Kansas City Chiefs.


    The Kansas City Chiefs Offense was not only scoring, but they also had a tactical and formative advantage, firmly in control and seemingly dominating the game.


    The situation was far from as simple as the score suggested.


    But!


    No one could underestimate Luck.


    When the Indianapolis Colts wanted to switch quarterbacks early, even before Big Manning had been officially ruled out due to injury, they proclaimed:


    ¡°The old king is dead, long live the new king.¡±


    This thrust Luck into the spotlight, even before he had entered the League, setting him against a Hall of Fame quarterback who was widely considered a strong contender for the greatest of all time. One can only imagine the weight of that pressure.


    Over the years, Luck had struggled to progress amid controversies and scrutiny.


    However, setting aside comparisons with Big Manning, Luck¡¯s performance was indeed excellent; he was also one of the best quarterbacks in the League at the time.


    His ability was not to be underestimated.


    Over the years, more than once or twice, Indianapolis Colts games were in peril, on the brink of loss, when Luck miraculously turned the tide, pulling the team back from the edge and seizing one hard-fought victory after another.


    Luck was no stranger to the current situation.


    This young man, only twenty-nine, with a scruffy beard, had hair so thin on his forehead one could see his scalp¡ªa contrast that made one wonder whether it was more apt to describe him as a world-weary vagabond or a matured beyond his years team leader. One thing was certain:


    He had endured much more than someone of his age should have.


    With an unruffled expression, Luck donned his helmet and re-entered the field.


    The spotlight turned on, and it was time for the quarterback to perform again.


    However!


    This time, someone protested, raising an irrefutable point:


    Why should the spotlight naturally fall on the quarterback, or rather the offensive group, every time they faced a crisis? Isn¡¯t football supposed to be a team sport? Can¡¯t anyone else besides the quarterback change the course of the game?


    At last, someone stepped forward to prove their point with action.


    ¡°Luck, pass!¡±


    ¡°The target is... Hilton!¡±


    ¡°Oh, Fuller, Fuller secured his position, Hilton couldn¡¯t jump freely, Fuller and Hilton tangled up together!¡±


    ¡°Beautiful!¡±


    ¡°Fuller denied the pass to Hilton from Luck, this intermittently brilliant cornerback executed a superb pass defense!¡±


    ...


    ¡°Quick short pass!¡±


    ¡°Eric-Ebron, the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ number two wide receiver, catches the football with ease, but he is surrounded by three men.¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ defense in the short pass area didn¡¯t lose focus, stepping up just in time to cut off any potential for Eric-Ebron to continue advancing,¡±


    ¡°A clean, crisp defensive play.¡±


    ¡°The game, it¡¯s really heating up now. The Indianapolis Colts¡¯ Offense is going all in, but the Kansas City Chiefs Defense is toughening up as well, getting fully entangled in a back-and-forth stand-off. Andrew Luck needs to stay calm and rational, making more logical choices for his passing targets.¡±


    ...


    ¡°A run?¡±


    ¡°No, no, no, a play-action pass! Coach Richie actually called for pass plays seven times in a row. He seems to be responding to Coach Reed¡¯s recent series of ground attacks.¡±


    ¡°Luck is observing!¡±


    ¡°Pressure! The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ defensive line is applying effective pressure, the pocket¡¯s been broken.¡±


    ¡°Danger, Luck is on the move, Luck is trying to escape!¡±


    ¡°Luck passes!¡±


    ¡°Oh, wait, a block!¡±


    ¡°God! A beautiful interception block!¡±


    ¡°Chris Jones! Jones makes a play again!¡±


    ¡°Jones, without any warning, stood straight up from amongst the crowd, thought to be a hobbit, turned out to be an elf, raising his arms high to block the pass with a spectacular cap.¡±


    The Kansas City Chiefs Defense made themselves heard¡ª


    It wasn¡¯t just a single player stepping up as the superhero; the entire defensive unit was united in heart and spirit, tightly knit together.


    Maybe their average performance throughout the season was below expectations, reliant entirely on the Offense to carry them aloft, but never underestimate their will and courage. The energy they exude at critical moments is always an indispensable part of the reigning champions.


    Moreover, this is a must-win game, no other option, they must win, for Felix.


    Then.


    ¡°Ah, the pocket¡¯s collapsed!¡±


    ¡°A blitz, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense chose to blitz without any warning.¡±


    ¡°Jones!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Jones again!¡±


    ¡°Chris Jones, by switching up the pattern of engagement, invaded the pocket, completely outmaneuvering the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ offensive line, whose pocket protection was horrendous, earning Jones a direct confrontation with Luck.¡±


    ¡°Danger!¡±


    ¡°Marlon Mark! Marlon Mark is locking down his position, trying to protect Luck, but Jones makes a beautiful stop-and-go to shake off Mark¡¯s block.¡±


    ¡°Beautiful!¡±


    ¡°¡®Jones VS Luck¡¯! Jones relentlessly pursuing Luck, with Luck trying every possible way to escape.¡±


    ¡°Luck. Luck! Ladies and gentlemen, Andrew Luck, no one knows how he did it, but Luck completes the pass, a rainbow arc, a parabola soaring across Arrowhead Stadium!¡±


    ¡°Collision!¡±


    ¡°Just as Luck releases the ball, Jones lands an effective hit, a hit that seems not to alter the trajectory of Luck¡¯s pass. Once again, Luck shows his big heart, dramatically pulling the Indianapolis Colts back from the brink. Luck¡¯s target for the pass is¡ª¡±


    ¡°Ten yards, twenty yards, thirty yards, forty yards!¡±


    ¡°TY Hilton!¡±


    ¡°A 43-yard long pass, Luck from a tight spot attempting a backfield surprise, trying to connect with Hilton for a game-changing, deadly strike.¡±


    ¡°Now, all the pressure is on Hilton¡¯s shoulders, but...¡±


    ¡°Pass incomplete!¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs make a crucial defensive play, thwarting Luck¡¯s attempt to connect with Hilton for a straight dash to the end zone, striking out the Colts, sending Luck off the field. The defending champions just wrecked Luck¡¯s show, stealing all the limelight!¡±

 Chapter 763: 762 Cant Stop

    Chapter 763: 762 Can¡¯t Stop


    ¡°Jesus Christ!¡±


    ¡°This is just too thrilling, too spectacular. The Kansas City Chiefs Defense, struggling and wavering all season, has found its rhythm at the crucial moment of the divisional game and exploded with such energy.¡±


    ¡°Eric Murray, who replaced the injured Eric Berry as the starting safety last season, just couldn¡¯t find his rhythm and had mediocre performance.¡±


    ¡°But, wow.¡±


    ¡°But! In this divisional game, Murray seemed to feed off the atmosphere of the field. At the pivotal moment, he anticipated the play, jumping a step ahead and swatting the football away before Hilton could get it, completely snuffing out the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ desperate attempt to counterattack.¡±


    ¡°Strikeout.¡±


    ¡°With Fuller up front and Murray in the back, the Colts¡¯ leading wide receiver, Hilton, made two fatal errors in this offensive drive. He missed the opportunity in one-on-one situations. So, was it a case of Hilton underperforming, or did the Chiefs¡¯ oft-maligned secondary rise to the occasion?¡±


    ¡°Of course, let¡¯s not forget Jones. Wow, Chris Jones was just a beast, and the energy he brought to the defense in this drive completely electrified Arrowhead Stadium.¡±


    Blah blah blah, the praise went on and on.


    This scene was definitely unexpected, a real surprise; yet, it happened just like that.


    The stage was set, the spotlight ready, and all eyes of the world were on Luck, waiting for the ¡°The Chosen One¡± to put on a spectacular show. However, Jones, Fuller, Murray, and other defensive players stormed the stage, causing chaos, and completely stole the spotlight.


    In the end, they simply flipped the stage, forcing the much-anticipated protagonist to leave in disarray!


    After more than six minutes of back-and-forth, the Indianapolis Colts had pushed past midfield. Luck still proved himself, with the goal zone within reach. Richie believed in Luck¡¯s long pass ability and prepared to sneak an attack on the end zone, but was countered by the Kansas City Chiefs Defense.


    A smashing blow!


    Murray: Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh!


    Murray stood before the end zone, roaring like the Hulk transforming, instantly igniting the entire Arrowhead Stadium as it burst out in a deafening chant¡ª


    ¡°Defense!¡±


    ¡°Defense!¡±


    The world was pulsating, and one could even clearly feel the slight trembling beneath their feet. From inside out, everyone felt the conviction and momentum of Arrowhead Stadium at the perfect start of this divisional game.


    However, this was just the beginning.


    ¡°Oh oh oh, touchdown! It¡¯s a touchdown! From Kelsey!¡±


    ¡°Kelsey catches a thirteen-yard pass for a touchdown. The Kansas City Chiefs Offense remains unstoppable, and this time it¡¯s the tight end who scores.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Wait, wait, what¡¯s this strategy?¡±


    ¡°A fake pass and a real run, but it¡¯s not Running Back Levi with the ball. It¡¯s... Hill?¡±


    ¡°Is this the ¡®Chiefs Special¡¯?¡±


    ¡°The Indianapolis Colts Defense completely failed to anticipate this move. Their attention was so fixed on Mahomes and Levi that they were utterly confused when they saw Hill burst out.¡±


    ¡°Hill. Hill!¡±


    ¡°Such nimble footsteps, dodging a tackle!¡±


    ¡°Dodges a second tackle!¡±


    ¡°Hill¡¯s light steps maximized his speed advantage. Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ top running back Levi might feel a bit threatened now, Hill¡¯s rushing was just too pretty.¡±


    ¡°Fifteen yards!¡±


    ¡°Thirty yards!¡±


    ¡°Unstoppable! Galloping ahead! Hill has completely broken away from the encirclement, throwing the Colts Defense into utter disarray!¡±


    ¡°Forty-five yards!¡±


    ¡°Fifty yards!¡±


    ¡°Hill is still going!¡±


    ¡°The Indianapolis Colts defense is powerless to turn the tide.¡±


    ¡°Hill... touchdown...¡±


    ¡°A 63-yard rushing touchdown! This is definitely a scene I did not anticipate!¡±


    ¡°If it were Levi? Okay, no problem, Levi is capable of that; but Hill? I never imagined a wide receiver would also take on the role of a running back one day, let alone steal the spotlight on the playoff stage.¡±


    ¡°A 63-yard rushing touchdown, Hill made it look as easy as drinking water and eating food.¡±


    ¡°Wow, a game on another level.¡±


    ¡°Touchdown! The Kansas City Chiefs score another touchdown, completely demolishing the Indianapolis Colts, utterly dominating the first half of the game.¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°Five years ago, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Andrew Luck led this team to a ¡¯45:44¡ä victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, a game that was also called the Indianapolis Miracle.¡±


    ¡°It still stands as a playoff classic to this day.¡±


    ¡°Now, the Indianapolis Colts need to perform another miracle to turn the situation around and defeat the American League¡¯s top seed to advance to the next round.¡±


    ¡°The task is daunting.¡±


    The game is a mess.


    Strictly speaking, it¡¯s not surprising, because anything is possible in the playoffs, and under the tension and pressure of a single-elimination, any outcome is reasonable, even complete collapses of super-strong teams are not uncommon.


    Besides, based on pre-game matchup analysis, the Kansas City Chiefs were widely favored to win, and victory was expected to be the rightful and anticipated result.


    However, the completely one-sided first half still triggered an outcry.


    ¡°7:28¡±.


    The reigning champions are far ahead and are completely crushing their opponents on both offense and defense.


    The Indianapolis Colts only briefly shone at the beginning, and then their spark was extinguished, plunging into never-ending chaos.


    A one-sided situation.


    Things were very bad¡ªfor the Indianapolis Colts, it was much worse than imagined, and they could only see a glimmer of hope by fighting with all their might.


    Moreover, the situation could get even worse, as the Indianapolis Colts chose to attack first in the first half, meaning the already far ahead Kansas City Chiefs would start the attack in the second half, with the chance to extend their lead even further.


    The situation might slip further into the abyss.


    Leonard felt like a piece of dog shit, even worse than garbage.


    In the locker room, watching Luck with a calm face, meditating amidst the noisy finger-pointing and blaming, he stood out in his exceptional quietness; for some reason, Leonard read a breath of despair from Luck¡¯s serene face.


    Leonard choked up¡ª


    Yes, if the defense couldn¡¯t stop the Kansas Chiefs Offense, what use was there for Andrew Luck, even if he were possessed by the god of football?


    During the Super Bowl two years ago, the New England Patriots completed an unprecedented comeback to defeat the Atlanta Falcons and clinch the title. After the game, all the praise went to Brady, witnessing the legend of the quarterback¡¯s another comeback myth, but people overlooked one thing¡ª


    Throughout the second half, including overtime, the New England Patriots Defense shut out regular season MVP Matt Ryan-led Atlanta Falcons Offense, the offense that scored twenty-eight points in the first half, couldn¡¯t score a single point after the halftime break and couldn¡¯t advance any further.


    Before Brady sounded the clarion call for a comeback, the defense stepped forward first, laying the foundation for victory; they were the unsung heroes.


    Breathing deeply, Leonard regained his spirit, navigated through the chaos and unrest of the locker room, and approached Luck, patting his quarterback¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Andy, leave it to me, we¡¯ll lay the foundation for the team¡¯s comeback.¡±

 Chapter 764: 763 Playing off the wall pass

    Chapter 764: 763 Playing off the wall pass


    Shaquille ¡°Madman¡± Leonard stood on the sidelines, eager and ready to enter the game.


    Images of becoming the miracle maker of Indianapolis flooded his mind: the flowers, the applause, the cheers, the tears, and the endless stream of girls throwing themselves at him. His chest puffed even prouder and straighter, wishing he could return to the field that very moment.


    He was ready.


    However, Leonard overlooked one thing¡ª


    If he wanted to perform, he first had to consider Reed¡¯s opinion.


    Not Mahomes, not Li Wei, but Reed.


    After the halftime break, the Kansas City Chiefs initiated their offensive in the second half.


    Reed changed formation again.


    Reed seemed to anticipate that the Indianapolis Colts might take a desperate approach to blitz and pressure in the second half, regardless of the defensive line¡¯s ability. They needed to exert pressure, at the very least, and could not allow Mahomes to pass the ball comfortably in his zone.


    The reason was simple: Richie should have realized that Mahomes had exceptional skills in secondary defense reading. If Mahomes were given a loose pocket, he would have ample time and space to observe, which meant that even if the defensive group gained the upper hand, Mahomes could still find space and devise ways to keep pushing forward with his on-the-spot adjustments.


    That was far too dangerous.


    Therefore, the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ defensive group had to exert pressure on the front line to make Mahomes feel the heat.


    In the locker room, Reed had not left anything to chance; he had also anticipated this.


    So, the Kansas City Chiefs accelerated their offensive tempo by focusing on short passes and running plays, trying to act before the defensive line¡¯s pressure hit home.


    The cost was that the whole advance was fragmented, relying on short gains each time, increasing the number of third gear situations.


    The payoff was that the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ defensive line was run ragged, never even touching the hem of Mahomes¡¯s jersey, leaving Leonard no space to perform.


    With stumbles and interruptions, but the Chiefs¡¯ offense still steadily moved forward. It almost felt as though they had returned to the days when Smith was the starting quarterback ¨C the seemingly trivial offense had actually crossed midfield!


    Nevertheless, Richie had to stick with the strategy, as it slowed down the Chiefs¡¯ offensive steps and gave the guests a chance for third gear defense¡ª


    Once, they just needed to seize one opportunity to strike out.


    And so, Leonard became frustrated.


    He felt like a fool, charging and colliding time and again, to no avail, as he had no gains to show for in the statistics.


    All the tackles, sacks, and hits¡ªall for naught in his personal stats.


    However, one of the important reasons Leonard was called ¡°Madman¡± was that his energy on the field was always bursting forth incessantly, like a patient with ADHD, never quieting down, nor refusing to be quiet.


    Taking a deep breath, Leonard readied himself.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Mahomes¡¯s snap count exploded in his ears, and Leonard sprang into action at once, shooting forward diagonally like an arrow released from its bow.


    Avoiding the dense area of confrontation at the offensive line, he moved straight along the diagonal, and after crossing the kickoff line, he turned ninety degrees and continued straight in along the diagonal.


    With just that turn, the Chiefs¡¯ pocket was completely exposed before him.


    Blitz!


    The Colts¡¯ defensive group chose to blitz once again.


    Leonard¡¯s eyes were blazing as he stared ahead, seeing both Mahomes and Li Wei in position, with Mahomes stepping back to observe the defense, his eyes lighting up¡ª


    So this was a pass play?


    Leonard¡¯s steps did not falter; in fact, he picked up even more speed.


    The figure of Li Wei, blocking in front of Mahomes, came into view head-on.


    The sixth offensive lineman?


    This move was all too familiar to the Colts¡¯ defensive group.


    Leonard immediately made a judgment, which meant it was unlikely to be a fake run strategy and very likely a long pass strategy. They had been waiting, guessing, and preventing Mahomes¡¯s powerful long pass, and now had it finally come?


    Opportunity!


    The more excited and agitated Leonard became, the calmer he remained.


    Right in front, as Leonard and Li Wei were about to collide, but this time, it was Leonard who had the initiative, not Li Wei.


    Leonard decelerated and faked to the left, only to pull back sharply and break through from his right side. Then he could see Li Wei¡¯s figure half a beat late in reaction, ultimately unable to keep up.


    Next, Li Wei simply charged forward, prepared to forcibly disrupt Leonard¡¯s change of direction.


    However, Leonard was well prepared, sidestepping, and the two brushed past each other face to face. Leonard¡¯s move to clear the way caused Li Wei to completely miss, and right after that, Leonard¡¯s steps were already sprinting away.


    Leonard: Goodbye, post!


    Hehe, he had been waiting for such a moment, to use the method against Li Wei himself, tackle Li Wei with his own technique, and then embarrass him.


    Whooosh, a gust of wind over the eardrums, but Leonard was not satisfied with just that.


    Leonard had already shaken off Li Wei and cut into the pocket, Mahomes was right there in front of him.


    Heart, pounding nonstop¡ª


    At last, the prey was within arm¡¯s reach, ready to be seized.


    This was what Leonard excelled at, just like Von Miller of the Denver Broncos, actively attacking, penetrating the pocket, relying on formidable personal ability to wreak havoc on quarterbacks and running backs, as if stirring up a storm in the sea.


    Capture. Collision. Disrupt the pass.


    This was the moment for Leonard to shine.


    A smile crept up the corner of his mouth. Leonard guessed Mahomes was probably ready for the long pass. The quarterback had a winding up motion for the long pass, and Leonard needed to dare to deploy his disruption ability before Mahomes could wind up completely.


    Accelerate, exert power.


    Leonard sprinted with all his might, tensed his body, and remained vigilant because he knew Mahomes¡¯s pocket footwork was not to be underestimated, with an ability to escape, and he didn¡¯t want to let his prey slip away now.


    Look, he had it all figured out, leaving no stone unturned.


    Except¡ª


    Leonard saw Mahomes looked over with an innocent, simple face, raised his right hand with no wind-up, no charging, just a light flick and toss with his wrist.


    Leonard: The smile froze.


    Damn. Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck.


    Leonard stiffened, watching helplessly as the football flew over his head toward the back, reflexively following the ball¡¯s parabola with his eyes, turning his head to look back.


    And then he saw Li Wei.


    Light, sideways, looking back, where was the clumsy figure who had just missed the tackle? Leisurely, he cradled the football into his arms.


    Turns out, it was all an illusion.


    Li Wei¡¯s blocking and tackling were just an act, while he had put on quite a solo performance, imagining how spectacular his display was and how it would make the commentators rise to applaud. As it turned out, Li Wei was merely cooperating in the act.


    Indeed, it was a pass, but not a long one, rather a short pass combined with a one-two wall pass strategy, easily unraveling the onslaught.


    Turning his head, Leonard seemed to see Li Wei¡¯s mouth turn up under his helmet, that fleeting expression seemed to say:


    Sorry, got to go first.


    Leonard didn¡¯t have time to respond, leaning forward, he dived to the ground, landing face-first in a humiliating fall.


    Not just Li Wei, even Mahomes seemed to see something filthy, tiptoeing around him, and continued forward without looking back.


    Leonard, left behind all alone.

 Chapter 765: 764 consecutive passes to four people

    Chapter 765: 764 consecutive passes to four people


    Faked a shot!


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive tactic took the lead once again, creating an opportunity.


    The Indianapolis Colts¡¯ defensive group had limited ability, and Leonard was the only real threat, so Reed kept luring the enemy deeper, waiting for a chance to create a mismatch.


    But clearly, this wasn¡¯t easy.


    It wasn¡¯t until the start of the second half that Mahomes and Li Wei finally opened up a gap.


    Through a wall-breaking, two-man move, Leonard was left behind, and Li Wei moved forward effortlessly with his light steps dodging the desperate left hand of the defensive end Lewis¡ªmaking it past the kickoff line without any trouble¡ª


    Ahead, the field was open.


    But he couldn¡¯t be careless.


    The entire defensive line of the Indianapolis Colts was pressing forward, not just against Mahomes but also targeting Li Wei and the wide receivers, compressing the defensive space and sticking close as soon as possible.


    Creating congestion.


    The entire short pass area was heavily fortified.


    Li Wei had only advanced five yards when a pincer attack arrived.


    Just as Li Wei was preparing to break through using his speed, a hurricane surged from the left, its speed and strength fully unleashed, feeling like a sharp knife slashing through the air from a distance.


    Anthony Walker, linebacker.


    Obviously, Walker had noticed Leonard¡¯s move and followed suit step by step. Initially aiming to fill a gap, he unexpectedly witnessed Li Wei outplaying Leonard. Without time for panic, he instinctively closed in.


    Accidentally, Walker timely moved up to fill the spot and secured his position.


    On the verge!


    But, seeing Li Wei plant his left foot, he braked urgently, controlling his body.


    The two figures, close at hand, faced each other, their gazes briefly intersecting, spreading tension.


    Then, they both made their move simultaneously.


    Li Wei spun counterclockwise.


    Walker lunged forward.


    Close at hand, yet they brushed past each other¡ª


    Walker lunged at empty space, watching the red figure right before his eyes, yet it slid past his right arm, lightly and agilely.


    Walker exerted all his might, his gaze fiercely locked on Li Wei as he followed the blur of red light. However, his body couldn¡¯t help but thrust forward uncontrollably.


    In a mix of roaring waves and raging winds, Li Wei completed a 360-degree spin, gracefully finding his forward direction, prepared to keep moving. Yet from the corner of his eye, he already spotted a white bolt of lightning swiftly crashing from the right.


    Absolutely no time to breathe!


    Danger, danger, full alert.


    Cornerback Nate Hairston¡¯s nerves were on edge: Stay focused, stay focused, no relaxing, no hoping for luck.


    Plant the foot, exert force; step up, exert force; sprint, fully exert energy.


    Hairston clenched his teeth tightly, pushing his speed and strength to the extreme, aiming directly at the red figure before him, spreading his arms wide like a Roc spreading its wings, covering as much area as possible, ready to complete the tackle.


    Just then, everything happened in the blink of an eye.


    Hairston emotionally saw Li Wei¡¯s movements¡ªan abrupt stop, a momentary pause. In a dazzling moment, his right leg planted and pushed, his body shifting from a counterclockwise spin to a clockwise spin¡ª


    Elegant as a startled swan, graceful as a roaming dragon.


    His fingertips seemed to touch a breeze; Hairston instinctively tried to grasp something but only caught an afterimage, the red streak brushing past his fingertips, gently sweeping by.


    Hairston felt as if he could clearly sense a scorching heat from his fingertips, almost burning; but before he could react, he helplessly watched the figure brush past his right side.


    Hairston tried to react, but found gravity and inertia pulling his body forward, his mind filled with questions:


    What happened?


    Li Wei maneuvered with ¡°Skimming Steps,¡± running an ¡°S¡± curve through the impervious roaring waves, forcefully tearing a path¡ª


    Escaping to safety.


    Step, step, step.


    His steps slightly disordered, braking continuously, changing directions, consuming immense energy, his light footsteps almost flying with the wind.


    Li Wei held his breath, sank his energy into his Dantian, finding his center of power amidst continuous stepping, adjusting within two or three steps, and then bursting out another five yards.


    Then, the thirty-yard line was already left behind.


    At the same time, the safety Odu charged magnificently from the front.


    Huff, huff.


    Li Wei had been adjusting his breath, his messy footsteps too late to change direction again, so he simply continued to accelerate, charging straight toward Odu.


    Odu was panicking, ¡®What do I do, help, what do I do?¡¯


    Then, without any time to catch his breath or adjust, it was too late for Odu to evade; he could only grit his teeth and charge head-on.


    Smack.


    The first collision.


    Smack.


    The second collision.


    Odu didn¡¯t complete the collision with Li Wei because Li Wei propped up his left hand¡ª


    Straight Arm Block.


    But Li Wei was also unable to exert his full strength, so the two of them staggered and tangled together, bumping and stumbling forward.


    One Straight Arm Block, two Straight Arm Blocks.


    Li Wei was adjusting his power and waiting for the right moment to burst out.


    Three Straight Arm Blocks.


    Bang!


    Odu felt it immediately, it was different, the strength was completely different, a heaviness in his chest, a taste of blood exploding in his thorax.


    A moment of dizziness.


    Before he could react, his upper body was already leaning backward.


    Not falling, but lying down.


    A thought emerged in Odu¡¯s mind, ¡®Good, I¡¯m tired, I can lie down.¡¯


    Meanwhile, after unleashing all his strength, Li Wei also plunged forward, his steps faltering as if he were about to fall face-first, all while desperately clamping his teeth together, continuing to push off the ground with tremendous effort, relying on the inertia of his speed to barely maintain his balance, relentlessly moving forward.


    Ahead, the field opened up.


    Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a white figure sprinting powerfully from behind to the left, rapidly closing the distance, his right hand already reaching towards him.


    Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap.


    Li Wei was sprinting, that figure was also sprinting, the two running side by side, on the verge of colliding as the distance visibly closed.


    That was... Leonard.


    The madman.


    ¡°Oh God, God!¡±


    ¡°Leonard caught up!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei shook off two tackles and with a Straight Arm Block overturned a third interception, tearing through a path with overwhelming force; but Leonard did not give up.¡±


    ¡°After losing his balance and falling, Leonard incredulously caught up, firmly seizing the opportunity created by his teammate, catching up to Li Wei once again.¡±


    ¡°Leonard! Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei! Leonard!¡±


    ¡°The two are running neck and neck, Leonard displaying unprecedented speed!¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable! Inconceivable!¡±


    ¡°Leonard got him! Leonard grabbed Li Wei¡¯s left shoulder!¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s left shoulder muscles tensed, he could clearly feel that touch of force, a murderous aura instantly entwining his shoulder, disrupting the rhythm and cadence of his run.


    But Li Wei did not give up, still forcefully running.


    Leonard gritted his teeth, just a little distance left, unable to fully exert himself; Leonard could not afford to wait, missing the opportunity might mean there wouldn¡¯t be another chance.


    Decisive! Determined! Swift!


    Feet speedily accelerated, forcing an extra step forward, right hand, fiercely pulled down, unleashing the strength without reservation¡ª


    There it was.

 Chapter 766: 765 No Mercy

    Chapter 766: 765 No Mercy


    Boom.


    Li Wei felt a burning sensation above his left shoulder, the pain was intense. Not just the power, the nails grabbed his shoulder pads like eagle¡¯s claws, pulling them down, the edges of the armor cutting into his flesh, the force of the jerk momentarily upsetting the balance.


    Ugh.


    Li Wei grunted, but clenched his teeth hard. He let his left shoulder sink with the force, unloading most of the power concentrated there.


    His knees wobbled, his calves trembled, and his staggering steps nearly brought him to his knees; but in the end, he shook off Leonard¡¯s force.


    Then, he continued forward.


    Li Wei pushed against the ground.


    Leonard did the same.


    Neither man had completely lost their balance, they both staggered forward; but now the gap was apparent.


    Leonard gambled it all, pouring out all his power at once. As his balance toppled, his upper body was nearly parallel to the ground, his steps faltering, seeming on the verge of collapse.


    In contrast, Li Wei showed excellent core strength, perfectly unloading the force and quickly regaining his center of gravity amidst the chaos, soon sprinting again.


    At the twenty-five-yard line, Li Wei and Leonard were neck and neck.


    At the twenty-yard line, Leonard was still wobbling, while Li Wei had already straightened his upper body.


    By the fifteen-yard line, Leonard had finally regained his balance, but Li Wei was in full sprint.


    The gap widened again, visible to the naked eye.


    ¡°Li Wei...¡±


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    No extra words were needed, ¡°Li Wei¡± could be an exclamation, a verb, or an adverb, perfectly expressing the emotions of the moment.


    ¡°Li Wei is running, Li Wei is picking up speed, the Edgerunner once again showing his strength, crushing down with absolute velocity, leaving Leonard behind.¡±


    ¡°My God, unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°Leonard had a chance, the Indianapolis Colts defensive players all had chances, but they all missed!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei breaks through with an unmatched performance again, leaving all in his wake.¡±


    ¡°Leonard hasn¡¯t given up, Leonard is still running, trying to catch up with Li Wei, but¡ª¡±


    ¡°We are talking about Li Wei, currently the league¡¯s top running back.¡±


    ¡°When Li Wei releases his speed without reserve, he is the number one in the league, maybe even his teammate Hill can¡¯t catch up.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei! Li Wei is accelerating!¡±


    ¡°Ten-yard line!¡±


    ¡°Five-yard line!¡±


    ¡°End zone!¡±


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei, touchdown!¡±


    Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh, Arrowhead Stadium goes wild again.


    Felix clenched his fists, roaring at the television screen: Ah, ah!


    It was anger and passion, fighting spirit and courage.


    As if Death itself stood before him, Felix issued his defiance, refusing to disarm or surrender, putting up a struggle with all his might.


    Karen looked at Felix, her eyes reddening, a surge of emotion welling up, almost breaking her down; but she took a deep breath, controlled herself, and then joined Felix in a self-forgetting roar.


    While shouting, a surge of pride rose in her heart, and the corners of her mouth lifted.


    The whole world seemed to shake.


    Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh.


    Jenna hadn¡¯t even realized it herself; almost like a reflex, she clenched her fists, stood up, and a cheer naturally burst forth.


    Just as she had yelled out, Jenna became aware of her own abnormal reaction, grew slightly constrained, and stopped, but a turn of her head allowed her to see Jeff and Annie¡¯s joy.


    They were still raising their arms high, still cheering with all their might, their joy and happiness surfacing without reservation, almost as if to ignite the air.


    Without telling, Jenna also relaxed, only then realizing that this was normal.


    Looking at Annie, with a thin layer of sweat permeating her forehead, Jenna¡¯s heart tightened, and she quickly grabbed a towel to wipe the sweat away¡ª


    Annie couldn¡¯t catch a cold. Due to her low immunity, a cold might lead to a fever, which could then trigger a series of potential complications, and things could get very tricky.


    It was for this reason that Jenna couldn¡¯t allow Annie to go to Arrowhead Stadium to watch the game in person.


    Even at home, Jenna still felt like she was walking on thin ice, her nerves always tense.


    Annie didn¡¯t resist and obediently stood in place, waiting for Jenna to finish wiping her dry, her smile fully blooming, ¡°I told you, Mom, Li Wei is the best running back in the world. When he runs on the field, nothing else matters; he is the storm.¡±


    Jenna nodded in response, a bit haphazardly.


    Annie raised her arms high, ¡°Edgerunner!¡±


    Jeff also began to shout along.


    Jenna looked on helplessly at the father and daughter before her.


    Annie turned back to the television screen, ¡°Ah, what a pity, I want to watch Li Wei reach the end zone in person. Mom, do you know? It¡¯s different, really different, Li Wei is like lightning...¡±


    Jenna interrupted, ¡°I thought Li Wei was like a storm.¡±


    Annie looked up at the sky in dejection, ¡°Mom!¡±


    Jenna surrendered.


    Annie swallowed hard, ¡°It¡¯s really different. Mom, please, promise me? For the next league finals, we absolutely have to go and watch it at the stadium, okay?¡±


    Jenna kept her mouth tightly shut.


    Annie quickly sought backup, ¡°Dad.¡±


    Jeff also immediately put on a pitiful expression, ¡°Jenna...¡±


    With an expression of helpless resignation, Jenna thought Jeff was unreliable, always leaving her to play the bad cop, ¡°If the doctor allows it.¡±


    Upon hearing her mother finally relent, Annie cheered, ¡°Oh yeah!¡±


    Jenna tried to temper the expectations, ¡°Annie, if the doctor allows it, did you hear? If the doctor...¡±


    But Annie was already beyond listening, raising her hands high, running wildly around the room, ¡°Li Wei! Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s here, he¡¯s there, he¡¯s everywhere, he is the Edgerunner, Li Wei Li Wei Li Wei!¡±


    Over and over, cheering and singing to their hearts¡¯ content.


    With a mix of helplessness and bitterness, Jenna gave Jeff a stern look; Jeff silently wrapped his wife in his arms, ¡°I know, I understand everything, but who can resist this little rascal? Jenna, didn¡¯t you see? Annie is smiling.¡±


    Caught off guard, Jenna felt a warm surge to her eyes, and she hurriedly wiped them clean while taking a deep breath, resting her chin on Jeff¡¯s chest as she looked up, ¡°That chant, how does the cheer go again?¡±


    Jeff began to laugh cheerily, then quickly started running after Annie like a little tail, joining in the singing.


    Jenna stood quietly on the side, murmuring to herself, repeating the words, humming along with Annie and Jeff, her gaze inevitably returning to Arrowhead Stadium engulfed in a sea of fire on the television. The vibrant energy penetrated the screen and seemed to sprinkle down as if it could truly touch the pulse of life.


    Perhaps, this was the allure of competitive sports.


    ¡°After the halftime break, the Kansas City Chiefs still showed no signs of slowing down, their fluid offense once again shredding the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ defense, continuing to widen the gap with an incomparable posture.¡±


    ¡°No mercy!¡±


    ¡°Honestly, Richie knows they need to stop the Kansas Chiefs Offense, and we all know the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ Defensive group must block the opponent, otherwise even with Luck¡¯s Football god powers, they wouldn¡¯t be able to turn the tide.¡±


    ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°They can¡¯t stop him. Li Wei once again ignited Arrowhead Stadium with his unbelievable performance, breaching the defense four times back and forth, single-handedly playing the Colts¡¯ whole defense line in the palm of his hand, scoring his third personal touchdown of the game.¡±


    ¡°Strong, simply too strong.¡±


    ¡°So, after resting for two weeks, it turned out Li Wei had been sharpening his knives all this time; his high-spirited fighting spirit exploded, he went berserk, completely and utterly berserk.¡±

 Chapter 767: 766 Mountains Beyond

    Chapter 767: 766 Mountains Beyond


    Leonard: Pant, pant.


    Gasping for breath, his face devoid of color, staring blankly at Li Wei¡¯s figure, even he, often called a madman, couldn¡¯t help but feel mentally exhausted. Witnessing the towering figure of number twenty-three in the end zone, it seemed unreachable no matter how hard he tried to close the gap.


    Pant, pant.


    Leonard was just gasping, his mind went blank, incapable of thinking.


    On the sidelines, Andrew Luck watched this scene in silence¡ª


    If only the score difference had been smaller, he too might have tried to catch up. He wasn¡¯t some untested greenhouse flower; he¡¯d been the protagonist of many underdog triumphs on the sports field, and he was familiar with such scenarios.


    Yet, at that moment, looking at the scoreboard and the situation on the field, Luck felt a sense of powerlessness. No matter how hard they tried, he couldn¡¯t see any possibility of turning the situation around, only a sense of defeat.


    It was said that encountering Bolt in his prime was a tragedy for sprinters because they could only ever see the back of the Jamaican Lightning.


    Luck used to scoff at this, always believing that competing against top players was an honor. They should relish the thrilling sensation, as facing the strongest opponents is the essence of competitive sports.


    Today, Luck finally understood what that felt like.


    It was more than just defeat; it was a profound disinterest.


    It¡¯s meaningless, really meaningless¡ªthey seemed like headless flies, running blindly without knowing what they were doing.


    Not interesting at all.


    Mountains Beyond.


    In mangas and superhero movies, people are always invigorated with motivation: you can do it, the game isn¡¯t over yet, anything is possible.


    In real life, the glaring numbers on the scoreboard seemed to mock their insignificance and foolishness¡ª


    ¡°7:35¡±.


    When the gap is within sight, everything seems possible; a comeback, a reversal, it¡¯s enjoyable. But when the gap is completely out of control, it¡¯s a completely different story.


    This was a story that nobody in the Indianapolis Colts had anticipated before the divisional game started.


    A breath stuck in his chest, Luck felt neither anger, depression, nor sorrow, he just felt that everything in front of him was utterly meaningless.


    ¡°Andrew... Andrew!¡±


    ¡°Luck!¡±


    Successive calls exploded upon his eardrum, abruptly bringing Luck back to reality.


    Luck turned his head, it was Richie.


    Richie patted Luck¡¯s helmet, ¡°Get ready to go on. You can do it, believe in yourself, Andrew, you can do it, the game isn¡¯t over yet, we still have a chance, as long as we don¡¯t give up, anything is possible.¡±


    ¡°Understand?¡±


    Luck glanced at Richie, nodded casually without a word, and turned silently to re-enter the field.


    Not just Luck, but the commentators in the booth and the studio felt equally awkward.


    The score disparity was indeed too great, making any words sound like desperate excuses, untenable nonsense, efforts made in vain.


    But what else could they do?


    The audience could turn and leave, Indianapolis Colts fans could curse and turn off their TVs, and bystanders could disinterestedly leave, but they could not; they had to continue commentating.


    The game was not over yet; they still had to play the neutral role, trying to prolong the suspense and cheer for the Indianapolis Colts.


    When it comes to motivational talk, no one is better than commentators.


    The first divisional game was a complete mess, and honestly, the commentators had the toughest job¡ª


    How did it turn out like this? The difficulty of their job had increased several levels.


    They had to rack their brains to come up with solutions, hoping that the trailing team could rally and catch up; however, every time they made a suggestion, it was quickly dismissed, and the lifeless game dragged their spirits down as well, but they each had to psych themselves up.


    Being mere workers, they felt the hardship deeply but couldn¡¯t voice it out.


    ...


    Roger Goodell stood in the VIP room of Arrowhead Stadium, looking down from above.


    ¡°Fly!¡±


    ¡°Fly!¡±


    No matter whether they were ahead or behind in the score, Arrowhead Stadium was always full of energy, passion, and fervor, stirring the entire city.


    Comparable to a volcano.


    Normally, there is no uniform dress code for fans going to the stadium; they can wear their own clothes or their team¡¯s jerseys; and even if they choose jerseys, there isn¡¯t a strict demand, allowing everyone to freely choose from any jersey they own, whether from different seasons, home or away games, etc.


    In other words, even if everyone chooses jerseys, the scene is still a kaleidoscope of colors, dazzling to the eyes.


    Arrowhead Stadium is no exception.


    However, since this season began, the fans at Arrowhead Stadium gradually influenced and supported each other, eventually uniting as one. When most fans go to home games, they try to choose the home team¡¯s red jerseys, even if they cannot get the latest season¡¯s new jerseys, they opt for red jerseys from previous years.


    It¡¯s a symbol and also a strength.


    Thus, you have the current Ocean of red at Arrowhead Stadium¡ª


    Massive, widespread, a sea of red, like flames, resembling immense waves, lighting up the entire world, becoming a grand sight in Kansas City.


    Amazement all around.


    Only by being present at Arrowhead Stadium, feeling the atmosphere and energy, can one truly experience the fervor of this sport.


    At this moment, that¡¯s exactly the case.


    Goodell was completely immersed in it, losing himself.


    ¡°Roger...¡±


    ¡°Roger!¡±


    A call pierced his ears, suddenly yanking Goodell¡¯s thoughts back to earth. Turning his head, he could see the concern on his colleague¡¯s face.


    He exhaled softly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s good that we didn¡¯t schedule this at night.¡±


    With that sentence, the answer became clear.


    Clearly, the other party was worried about the ratings¡ªa one-sided game meant happiness for the home fans, who could thoroughly enjoy the match; but for the trailing team and neutral fans, it was tormenting, devoid of contest and thus of interest, leading fans to naturally disengage.


    The current game seemed hopeless, with the Indianapolis Colts unable to turn the tide.


    Perhaps, the only consolation now was that this wasn¡¯t a night game, and the league could look forward to other matches.


    Watching Goodell lost in thought, it was natural to speculate that he was concerned about the ratings, prompting a comforting remark.


    But, unexpectedly, a smile played on Goodell¡¯s lips, ¡°No, I¡¯m not worried.¡±


    In the VIP room, the others from the league cast their glances over, doubting what they heard, hardly believing Goodell¡¯s words.


    Goodell chuckled lightly, ¡°I believe the viewership numbers for this game won¡¯t look good, but we should look forward to the reaction after the game is over.¡±


    What did he mean by that?


    Goodell, ¡°A one-sided game is naturally dull, but it also proves that the Kansas City Chiefs are now transforming into a truly strong team.¡±


    ¡°When a new strong team is born, people will challenge, confront, and attack; but when this team keeps winning and winning, gradually, no one cares whether their victories are entertaining or good-looking, but they will marvel at the strong and effortless nature of their victories.¡±


    ¡°And then, they¡¯ll adore them.¡±

 Chapter 768: Kings Aura

    Chapter 768: King¡¯s Aura


    Was Goodell worried about the viewership ratings?


    Of course.


    The concern wasn¡¯t about just one game, but rather the overall trend in the environment.


    In the past two years, with the rise of streaming media there has been yet another shift in entertainment consumption among younger generations. Traditional TV viewing has faced increasing challenges, and a decline in TV ratings had become commonplace.


    Even the NFL, once thought to have an unchallengeable position as king of ratings, inevitably faced this test. The League had to think long-term.


    Supporting the passing offense was for the sake of viewership ratings.


    Supporting Li Wei and Donald was also for the sake of viewership ratings.


    The playoffs not being exciting enough, leading to loss of viewers, was a very serious matter.


    However, in difficult times, Goodell always managed to grasp the essential points.


    So far, the playoffs hadn¡¯t unfolded according to plan. Expectations and predictions after the regular season seemed to have quietly veered off track; however, Goodell did not miss the silver lining behind the dark clouds.


    This season, traditional powerhouses like the New England Patriots and the New Orleans Saints continued to show strong performances. Quarterbacks Brady and Brees continued their high-energy output, defending traditions and solidifying die-hard fans.


    Emerging power teams, the Los Angeles Rams joined the ranks of the Kansas City Chiefs in delivering spectacular performances. With Goff and Donald spearheading the Galactic Battleship, and Mahomes and Li Wei leading the Youth Storm, there was a full rise to prominence.


    One was Los Angeles, hosting North America¡¯s second largest city, where the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers¡¯ excellent performances this season awakened fans¡¯ fervor.


    The other was Li Wei, an Asian player who won unprecedented attention in the League. The North American Asian market and overseas Asian fans also joined the chatter.


    The outlook was very promising.


    Imagine if the ideal matchups could materialize in the conference finals¡ª


    In the American League, ¡°Kansas City Chiefs vs New England Patriots.¡±


    In the National Conference, ¡°Los Angeles Rams vs New Orleans Saints.¡±


    Then everything would be perfect, enough to ignite a frenzy throughout the entire League. Who would care if the wildcard and divisional rounds weren¡¯t thrilling?


    Right now, the Kansas City Chiefs were undergoing a transformation.


    Last season they were a dark horse, unexpectedly disrupting the entire League¡¯s structure.


    If they continued as a dark horse this season, that would be very disappointing.


    Luckily, the Kansas City Chiefs had not. After experiencing turbulence and crises during the offseason, the team got back on track and continued to rise.


    This was in stark contrast with the Philadelphia Eagles, who stumbled and faltered throughout the season.


    Though the matches had been challenging, it was indeed worrisome; but the Kansas City Chiefs were transforming into a completely new powerhouse. With their absolutely dominant performance, they silenced the doubters, showing strength worthy of notice from the defending champions. The future looked promising¡ª


    This was great news, indeed excellent news.


    Li Wei, truly the man Goodell had faith in, did not disappoint. Time and again, with his spectacular performances, he silenced all dissenting voices, marking his presence in the fierce competition within the League.


    A smile gently crept onto Goodell¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Ha ha, at the end of the regular season, didn¡¯t people always complain that the Kansas City Chiefs were a pseudo-strong team? That they could only show their strength against weaker teams, but when facing real powerhouses, they couldn¡¯t stand up.¡±


    A small jibe, and someone nearby muttered, ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±


    ¡°Against this season¡¯s playoff teams, they lost three times.¡±


    The Los Angeles Chargers, the Los Angeles Rams, the New England Patriots.


    Goodell looked up, ¡°But they also won three times.¡±


    Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens.


    Goodell added, ¡°I have done my homework too.¡±


    A light mood permeated the air, and many chuckled.


    Yet, some remained dissatisfied, ¡°Facing playoff teams, a record of three wins and three losses, a winning rate of 50% is indeed not impressive, no wonder netizens complained.¡±


    Imagine that, even within the League office there were such opinions, let alone on social media?


    Those trolls are relentless, all day and night.


    Goodell didn¡¯t argue back but nodded, ¡°Indeed, that is the objective reality. That¡¯s why I said, in the divisional games, on the real playoff stage, the Kansas Chiefs proved themselves convincingly.¡±


    ¡°Trust me, the fans of the Kansas Chiefs will keep increasing.¡±


    That was all he said. Goodell didn¡¯t continue the discussion and turned his gaze toward the field, eagerly watching the developments on the field¡ª


    Today, the Kansas Chiefs truly demonstrated their dominance on both offense and defense, shining brightly in numerous areas; yet Li Wei remained the core.


    Throughout the game, Li Wei¡¯s resilience and energy completely overpowered the opponents.


    The most direct data was, Leonard, the biggest gain of the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ defensive group this season, was completely invisible this game, whether matching up against Mahomes or against Li Wei, totally silenced.


    Even the Madman became tame and obedient, such is the terror of Li Wei.


    ¡°Next conference final, no matter who the opponent of the Kansas Chiefs is, how to stop Li Wei will be a severe challenge, headache-inducing indeed.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers still need to battle it out first, while the Kansas Chiefs can wait comfortably.¡±


    ¡°Of course, both the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers have defeated the Kansas Chiefs in the regular season; they should not be fearful, but beware, the Playoff Chiefs are a completely different team.¡±


    The fourth quarter was still ongoing, but the commentators had given up on any change in the outcome, looking ahead to the next matchup during garbage time, as the result was no longer uncertain.


    Richie was still fighting, not for victory, but for dignity, and more importantly, to regain some face in front of the fans¡ª


    After all, this was just Richie¡¯s first season in Indianapolis, and he needed to prove his fighting spirit to the fans, even if losing he couldn¡¯t afford a collapse.


    Richie¡¯s adjustments and efforts did earn some redemption, as the Indianapolis Colts scored a face-saving touchdown, slightly reducing the gap; but it had little effect in stemming the bleed, because the Kansas Chiefs Offense was still unstoppable.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for entering the fourth quarter, with the Kansas Chiefs focusing on controlling the clock, not always pushing for touchdowns, even settling for field goals; and with the substitution lineup in the final garbage time, the score increase would have been even more humiliating.


    Despite this¡ª


    ¡°14:44¡±.


    The entire game ended, the Kansas Chiefs defeated the Indianapolis Colts by a full thirty-point margin, striding confidently into the next round, advancing to the conference finals for the second consecutive year, powerfully silencing all doubts.


    A crushing, complete victory!


    A full thirty-point margin turned what was anticipated as an evenly matched battle into a one-man show, completely unbalancing the gameplay.


    Shouts of astonishment all around!


    The highly united, confident Indianapolis Colts were humiliated, even failing to form any decent vigorous resistance.


    Then, commentator Michaels tried to salvage some dignity for the Indianapolis Colts.


    ¡°A thirty-point gap, ranking twenty-sixth in the history list of NFL divisional round largest margin victories.¡±


    ¡°Yes, twenty-sixth, you heard right. So the Indianapolis Colts don¡¯t need to feel too ashamed or too self-blaming, this game was not too bad.¡±


    Indianapolis Colts: Is this serious? Not comforting at all.

 Chapter 769: Strategic fostering of an orphaned prince

    Chapter 769: Strategic fostering of an orphaned prince


    ¡°Wow, the first divisional game has ended in a rather unexpected way.¡±


    ¡°In the final week of the regular season, led by Li Wei, the starting lineup entered rotation for the second consecutive season and had a week off during the wildcard round. This week, after half a month away from the field, the well-rested players showed no signs of rustiness, absolutely dominating the game with a phenomenal performance, making their statement to the entire league.¡±


    ¡°The defending champions are ready.¡±


    ¡°But... there¡¯s a hidden concern here.¡±


    ¡°No, no, no, please don¡¯t misunderstand, it¡¯s not that something¡¯s wrong with the Kansas City Chiefs, but rather a psychological shadow.¡±


    ¡°In the 2016 season, during the wildcard round, the Kansas City Chiefs swept the Houston Texans with a ¡¯30:0¡ä score, shutting out the opponent with a thirty-point lead, ending their long playoff drought.¡±


    ¡°However, just when everyone thought the Kansas City Chiefs were ready to take it a step further, they were narrowly defeated by the New England Patriots in the divisional game.¡±


    ¡°Now, a familiar scene is unfolding once again.¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs have just won their first playoff game with a thirty-point margin and are likely to face the New England Patriots in the next game, the same Patriots who defeated them in this year¡¯s regular season.¡±


    ¡°Of course, this isn¡¯t to underestimate the Los Angeles Chargers, but obviously, history is staring us in the face, and the Kansas City Chiefs certainly don¡¯t want to repeat the same mistake. If possible, they would naturally prefer their divisional rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers, to advance by defeating the New England Patriots, otherwise, things could get tricky.¡±


    ¡°What I¡¯m curious about is whether the Kansas City Chiefs believe in curses or if they¡¯re worried about a repeat of the story from two years ago, which might become a potential issue.¡±


    Clearly, the divisional game has just ended and the players haven¡¯t even entered the field for the post-game handshake, yet the commentators are already eager to move on from this game and look forward to the potential matchup in the conference championship¡ª


    As someone who loves drama, the commentators, as well as the league, probably all hope that the New England Patriots will defeat the Los Angeles Chargers for a second consecutive year to meet the Kansas City Chiefs again. Last year, it was the divisional round; this year, it might be the conference championship. That¡¯s the showdown everyone wants to see.¡±


    Even just imagining it makes my heart race uncontrollably.


    And it¡¯s not just the commentators who feel this way.


    ¡°Defeat the Pats.¡±


    Li Wei: ?


    Looking at Leonard in front of him, Li Wei was full of question marks.


    The final whistle of the game had blown, and this was the third Indianapolis Colts player to come up to Li Wei. Something seemed off.


    One would expect that after a crushing defeat, any player from the Indianapolis Colts would be bearing teeth and glaring in rage at Li Wei, as if they wanted to devour his flesh and drink his blood, repulsing each other at sight, let alone shaking hands and offering greetings after the game. They probably wouldn¡¯t even want to see Li Wei¡¯s face.


    But that wasn¡¯t the case.


    One after another, they shook hands with Li Wei with grave expressions, as if entrusting him with a mission.


    Others aside, even the notoriously confrontational Leonard was no exception.


    So, what was going on?


    Madman, he really was a madman¡ªnot just in the sense of being crazy, but in being unpredictable. Leonard now seemed despondent and listless, devoid of any will to fight, a far cry from the expected ¡°next time I see you, I¡¯ll definitely defeat you¡±.


    If Leonard on the field was one standing on the peak, the Leonard now was one standing in a valley.


    The contrast was striking.


    Leonard looked at Li Wei¡¯s confusion without even a hint of intent to probe, much less explain, glanced at Li Wei, and said in a voice deep as a cave,


    ¡°The mission is yours. Defeat the metronome.¡±


    Li Wei was about to call out to Leonard, but Leonard had already turned and left; then Luck appeared behind him, patiently waiting in line.


    Luck removed his helmet, his cheeks flushed, his short hair messy like tangled seaweed, revealing a pitiable hairline, his gaze slightly vacant.


    Li Wei watched as Leonard¡¯s hunched figure grew smaller and smaller, seemingly about to burrow a hole into the ground of Arrowhead Stadium at any second, withdrew his gaze to once again look at Luck, whose soul seemed to have embarked on a cosmic voyage, and preemptively answered.


    ¡°Let me guess, defeat the metronome?¡±


    Luck blinked in surprise, ¡°I wanted to say, a great game, a great performance, but... you¡¯re right, defeat the metronome.¡±


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°That should be your responsibility, shouldn¡¯t it?¡±


    Luck tugged at the corner of his mouth, barely managing a smile, ¡°But now it¡¯s yours. Of course, if you¡¯re willing to lose the game in exchange for us advancing, I wouldn¡¯t mind taking on the heavy lifting.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Li Wei chuckled, ¡°That¡¯s a real shame then. The results of the game have been decided, and even if we appeal to the League, it can¡¯t change the outcome now, can it?¡±


    Luck paused, giving Li Wei a second look, ¡°Are you implying something about Brady?¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s face was the picture of innocence, ¡°We are newcomers, barely enough stature to be the great New England¡¯s arch-nemesis, how could I possibly imply anything about the great Brady?¡±


    Every word dripped with irony.


    Luck savored the comment, finding his smile for a rare moment, ¡°You¡¯re an interesting guy. It seems we put our task in the right hands after all.¡±


    The entire Indianapolis Colts team, from top to bottom, truly yearned to defeat the New England Patriots, extremely so.


    Everyone knew that McDaniels¡¯ indecisiveness and about-face during the offseason had slapped the Colts hard, turning the team¡¯s outfit into a laughing stock of the League.


    But this matter could barely be put down to business talks; if the cooperation hadn¡¯t been successful, it was merely a matter of interests not aligning, and the feud between the Patriots and the Colts could continue to be pursued.


    Let¡¯s not even mention the era of Big Manning and Brees¡¯s head-to-head rivalry that made every encounter between the Patriots and the Colts earth-shattering for over fifteen years; but in Luck¡¯s era, both teams still held a grudge against each other.


    In 2014, at the American League Finals, the Colts played away against the Patriots. During halftime, the head referee found the footballs were not inflated to the NFL¡¯s minimum air pressure requirements¡ª


    In cold weather, a deflated football is easier to grip and better for passing, which was the infamous ¡°Deflategate,¡± accusing the Patriots, Belichick, and Brady of stooping to any level for victory.


    Subsequently, the NFL spent 22 million US dollars on investigations, but no one wanted to offend the sponsors, the supporters of the Patriots, or Brady, the ¡°face of the League,¡± so everyone watered down the investigation. Brady even brazenly destroyed his own phone to obstruct the evidence and refused to cooperate, yet fervent Patriots fans still supported him unconditionally.


    In the end, the League concluded the investigation with a mere slap on the wrist: a four-game suspension for Brady and a one million US dollar team fine.


    The investigation¡¯s conclusion was that the Patriots most likely purposefully deflated the footballs, and Brady probably knew all about it.


    Indianapolis Colts: ??? That¡¯s it?


    Because not only did the Patriots defeat the Colts to advance to the Super Bowl, they also beat the Seattle Seahawks to claim the ultimate championship.

 Chapter 770: 769 Sober Human World

    Chapter 770: 769 Sober Human World


    ¡°Throughout the entire Deflategate investigation, the New England Patriots consistently claimed their innocence; coupled with the league¡¯s ambiguous investigation report refusing to provide a definite answer, supporters of Brady always believed their idol was innocent.¡±


    This incident, undoubtedly, took the New England Patriots a step further on their path to becoming the League¡¯s Public Enemy of Everyone.


    It wasn¡¯t until 2024, at a roast with Netflix where others joked about Deflategate, that Brady himself quipped, ¡°...they could have given me twenty million US dollars, and I would have admitted it.¡±


    Though it was a joke, considering Brady had retired and had never faced any real punishment, it¡¯s undeniable that this statement left much room for interpretation, and by then, the now-enlightened fans expressed their belief that Brady was essentially admitting his involvement in the scandal.


    However, it was futile, as the league could not change the outcome of that conference final.


    So, when Li Wei jokingly said, ¡°Even appealing won¡¯t help,¡± Luck instantly understood.


    Over the years, new grievances and old grudges continuously accumulated, and McDaniels¡¯s breach of trust further turned the Indianapolis Colts into a laughing stock of the league.


    The entire season, the Indianapolis Colts were holding their breath¡ª


    Advancing to the playoffs, defeating Belichick, to prove their excellence.


    That was the goal, and it was the mission.


    Despite the setbacks, the hurdles, and nearly missing the playoffs; they still managed to fight through, carving out a chance for life, and just as they were about to face the New England Patriots, they tragically fell at the final hurdle, losing without showing any trace of temper.


    Indeed, the loss was bitter; but compared to that, the hatred ran deeper.


    Now, the hope and responsibility fell on the shoulders of the Kansas City Chiefs.


    From Leonard to Luck, every player of the Indianapolis Colts felt this way.


    All the way to Richie.


    After shaking hands with Reed and Mahomes, Richie immediately found Li Wei in the crowd.


    Standing in front of Li Wei, countless thoughts surged in his mind, but in the end, all those words condensed into that simple phrase.


    ¡°Beat the Pats.¡±


    After saying that, Richie himself couldn¡¯t help but laugh helplessly.


    ¡°In fact, I should thank McDaniel,¡± he said, ¡°without his betrayal, I wouldn¡¯t have received the call, and I wouldn¡¯t have gotten this job.¡±


    ¡°But...¡± he was now a member of the Indianapolis Colts, he shared the same sentiment as the whole team and the whole city.


    So¡ª


    ¡°Beat the Pats.¡±


    All those tangled emotions, those heavy burdens, those inextricable historical grievances, ultimately, they all evolved into a brief and clear phrase.


    Of course, the Indianapolis Colts hoped to achieve the feat of defeating the New England Patriots themselves: revenge would be more meaningful if acted on their own; but now with the dream shattered, as a next best thing, the Indianapolis Colts at least hoped to beat their opponents who would continue to defeat the New England Patriots.


    Not just the players, not just the coaches, at this moment, Indianapolis Colts fans heading to Arrowhead Stadium and those die-hard fans back in Indianapolis, all simultaneously shouted the same phrase.


    Beat the Pats.


    One voice, then another.


    One after another.


    Suddenly, it merged into a massive chorus that even overshadowed the victory celebrations of the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ own fans, echoing long and loud.


    Unexpectedly, Felix, Annie, and all were dumbfounded.


    This was a scene completely unforeseen.


    Everyone knows, the game between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Chargers hadn¡¯t even started, the outcome was unknown; maybe the Los Angeles Chargers had defeated the New England Patriots, right? Maybe the Los Angeles Chargers had already solved the problem before the Kansas City Chiefs stepped in, right?


    However, that¡¯s not the point, the real point is¡ª


    Whether it¡¯s the Los Angeles Chargers in the divisional playoffs or the Kansas City Chiefs in the conference finals, whoever it may be, as long as they can defeat the New England Patriots, that would be great.


    ¡°Public Enemy of Everyone¡±, this title exclusive to the New England Patriots isn¡¯t for nothing.


    Look, the second game of the American League divisional playoffs hadn¡¯t even begun, and already the smoke of battle had spread.


    At the post-game press conference, reporters unsurprisingly threw out this question, asking for Li Wei¡¯s thoughts.


    Li Wei shrugged lightly, smiling, ¡°I thought we were the biggest target this season, but now it seems, our good self-perception should be curtailed a bit.¡±


    One second, two seconds, three seconds¡ª


    The whole room burst into laughter.


    Li Wei meant that the defending champions should be the targets everyone wants to beat, but now it seems, the Public Enemy of Everyone is bigger than the defending champion.


    After a minor jest, Li Wei continued, ¡°Of course, that¡¯s the target.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll start with a small goal, one game at a time, take it slow. Surely, in the upcoming game whether we face the Los Angeles Chargers or the New England Patriots, we are likely to be the underdogs, right?¡±


    ¡°After all, they have both defeated us this season. Thus, I¡¯ll be focusing on the next divisional game, hoping it gets even more intense, while I lay on the couch, with a beer, popcorn, and pizza, and no one is allowed to disturb my day off.¡±


    Haha, the laughter was like thunder.


    Li Wei was still Li Wei, always able to find a light angle in his ordinary words.


    Then, a reporter asked.


    ¡°People think that you have the best chance to defeat the New England Patriots, what do you think?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°I disagree.¡±


    Reporter: ???


    Out of the blue, Li Wei decisively negated it, taking everyone by surprise.


    Li Wei continued, ¡°Hey guys, the New England Patriots are a great team, no doubt; but so are other teams, the Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, and so on, I think each playoff game has its variables and infinite possibilities.¡±


    ¡°I know we are a great team, but we¡¯re not the only one.¡±


    Actually, Li Wei¡¯s intention was to alleviate the pressure on the Kansas City Chiefs while also avoiding mythologizing the New England Patriots because he knew the nature of the media¡ª


    Next, they would surely build up the potential confrontation of ¡°New England Patriots vs Kansas City Chiefs¡± with full force, focusing on the aspect of market promotion and commercial marketing rather than from the perspective of the game itself, and the League would also add fuel to the fire, blowing up the attention completely.


    But the last thing the Kansas City Chiefs needed now was pressure because they had already put a lot on themselves.


    However, to everyone¡¯s surprise, the media interpreted Li Wei¡¯s response in an entirely different way, opposite of his initial intentions.


    ¡°Respecting the opponent is the first step to becoming a strong competitor.¡±


    ¡°A moment of clarity in humanity, calm and collected¡ªat the peak, Li Wei still maintains reason.¡±


    ¡°Applauding opponents like the New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams, and others, Li Wei shows the demeanor of a great general.¡±


    ¡°Brees: I think Li Wei has truly become a leader.¡±


    Wait a minute, something seems a bit off, doesn¡¯t it?

 Chapter 771: 770 closely connected

    Chapter 771: 770 closely connected


    Praise, pursuit, affirmation¡ªthe bustling voices once again propelled Li Wei to a pinnacle.


    In the Big Four leagues of North America, what people admire is confidence, strength, and positivity; humility doesn¡¯t work in the NFL. However, everything has two sides. If you run your mouth off like Sherman or Ramsey, people also hope you can accurately recognize yourself and respect your opponents.


    There¡¯s a fine line between confidence and arrogance, humility and servility.


    How to balance it, opinions vary.


    Li Wei¡¯s public image had always been confident and bright. Since transitioning into the football field, he had climbed to the peak in less than three years¡ªNCAA champion, Super Bowl champion¡ªhis journey was brimming with honors, a time when he surged ahead with the exuberance of youth and conquered the world.


    Since entering the NFL, he had always displayed an upright and proper stance against any team and opponent.


    But this time, amidst widespread praise and adulation, Li Wei hit the brakes, offering applause to his rivals with a humble and objective attitude, instantly winning a round of applause from the media and drawing a stark contrast to those young people who were arrogant and overbearing yet came away empty-handed.


    No wonder even Brees praised Li Wei as having become a true leader.


    Li Wei: ?Is this even possible?


    Unexpected but reasonable, at the post-match press conference between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Indianapolis Colts, the New England Patriots became the focus of questions. Whether one admits it or not, whether one likes it or not, this is the current status of the New England Patriots in the League.


    However, not all questions were centered around the New England Patriots.


    ¡°Li Wei, you rested for a full two weeks during the seventeenth week of the regular season and the first week of the playoffs. Today, you¡¯re back in the starting lineup. People are worried that you might not be able to immediately adjust to your best condition, but obviously, that¡¯s not the case. On the contrary, you showed a strong desire to win right from the beginning. Do you have any reasons for that?¡±


    It was a routine question, and the other reporters collectively rolled their eyes: Such a boring question was not worth wasting time on, as it was clearly a local Kansas City media effort to regain focus.


    However, unexpectedly, there was a pleasant surprise.


    ¡°Yes, this game is slightly different. I¡¯m not just fighting for myself and my team but also for the fans living in this city.¡±


    ¡°Annie...¡±


    In front of the TV, Annie exclaimed, ¡°Ah!¡±


    She clutched her mouth firmly, hardly believing what she had heard.


    Jenna and Jeff were also stunned.


    ¡°Felix...¡±


    Felix clenched his fists and cheered, ¡°Fly!¡±


    Karen hadn¡¯t expected this either, her heart started pounding wildly, her mind roared, and she stared intently at the TV screen, not daring to move.


    ¡°The guys at the Old Oak Tavern...¡±


    Whoa!


    The Old Oak Tavern instantly rattled, every person raised their hands and glasses high, shouting loudly.


    Anderson and West stood behind the bar, quietly watching this scene. Unintentionally, their eyes met in a casual glance, and both of them laughed together.


    ¡°And the down-to-earth and diligent residents living on this land.¡±


    ¡°They come to Arrowhead Stadium every Sunday to watch the games, showing support with all their passion. We¡¯ve become a part of their lives.¡±


    ¡°Likewise, without them, we¡¯re just a bunch of workers playing ball for a millionaire¡¯s paycheck...¡±


    Ha-ha.


    In front of the TV wall in the supermarket, at the cashier counter of the coffee shop, in the checkout line of the convenience store, a cleaner hanging from the outside wall of an office building, watching the TV through the window as they wipe the glass, workers beside the factory assembly line getting ready to go back to work¡ªall stopped what they were doing to watch a post-game press conference, and then burst into collective laughter¡ª


    ¡°A million-dollar salary for a worker doesn¡¯t sound so bad after all.¡±


    The journalists in the press room were no different; the laughter just kept coming.


    ¡°Without them, it¡¯s just a game, a sport, no more and no less.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s precisely their presence that makes everything different, we¡¯re fighting for something more valuable and meaningful. The outcome of a match means so much more than just win or loss¡ªit might be what they¡¯ve been looking forward to for a week, or perhaps a glimmer of hope amidst endless busyness and fatigue.¡±


    ¡°A game might be the only time for a father and son to be alone together, football can be the sport that unites a family.¡±


    ¡°We need to feel the weight of the games.¡±


    ¡°For us, it was a tough match, we were fighting against a great team, but in the end, we were fighting against another group of human beings, just like us. It shouldn¡¯t be such a terrible test.¡±


    ¡°But for Annie, for Felix, for those kids around them, their opponents are cancer and the grim reaper themselves, now that¡¯s a real tough battle, and frankly, I don¡¯t know the way to win.¡±


    ¡°However, they haven¡¯t given up; they are fighting with all their might, even though they have to face a daunting battle much before they have come of age, they still meet the challenge with heads raised and chests out.¡±


    ¡°I admire them, and I respect them. I wish I could fight like them, so I step onto the field, do my utmost, hoping not to let this jersey down, not to let down the number twenty-three on my back.¡±


    ¡°And I will fight to the end, because we, the Chieftains, do not know how to give up or surrender.¡±


    Clap, clap, clap.


    Clap, clap, clap!


    The applause roared like thunder.


    Felix took a deep breath, and then took another, his nose feeling sour. He bowed his head to hide his emotion.


    Karen patted Felix on the shoulder, wanting to say something but ultimately gave up. She straightened her back slightly, her gaze fixed firmly on the TV screen.


    Annie grinned, slapping her hands together with feisty enthusiasm. Turning her head, she saw Jenna hurriedly pulling out a tissue to wipe away tears, her taste buds filled with a hint of bitterness, her eyes moistening.


    She worried about her mother, how would she cope alone if she were to leave?


    But Annie didn¡¯t allow her emotions to collapse. Instead, her smile became even more radiant. ¡°Ha-ha, Dad, look, Mom is crying, Mom is crying!¡±


    Jenna, in disbelief, looked at Annie, ¡°I am not, you got it wrong.¡±


    Jeff looked over as well, and Jenna¡¯s slightly swollen eyes couldn¡¯t hide the truth. He joined in the laughter heartily, despite Jenna sending him a warning glance. But Jeff quickly ducked behind Annie and joined his daughter in engaging their mockery skills.


    Jenna opened her mouth slightly, looking at Annie and Jeff, and finally couldn¡¯t help but smile. But unexpectedly, the tears that had stopped started to slide down once more. She couldn¡¯t control them, crying and laughing at the same time, feeling like she might be a little out of her mind.


    ¡°Oh, God.¡± Jenna sighed to the heavens.


    Anderson let out a long breath, having barely managed to compose himself, then turned to see West surreptitiously rubbing his eyes.


    Realizing he was being watched, West quickly composed himself, pretending nothing had happened. Looking at the noisy applause in the bar, he covered up awkwardly, ¡°This atmosphere.¡±


    Anderson revealed a knowing smile and said, ¡°I told you, he¡¯s worth it.¡±


    West was momentarily taken aback, then couldn¡¯t help but smile, nodding subtly, ¡°Yeah.¡±

 Chapter 772: Continually upgrading

    Chapter 772: Continually upgrading


    ¡°We will crush the Chargers, we will crush the Chiefs, and we will defeat them.¡±


    ¡°New England are champions!¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t care about them, just a bunch of clowns.¡±


    ¡°I know they want to beat us, but it¡¯s not going to happen. Yes, it¡¯s that simple.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, they might need a bit of luck, and a bit of help, because we won¡¯t be holding back.¡±


    It was noisy and explosive¡ª


    Social networks, fully ignited.


    From players to coaches to fans, the Indianapolis Colts¡¯ attitude quickly swept across the web, and New England Patriots fans also launched a counterattack without hesitation, going full offensive.


    The memory was still vivid.


    In the sixth week of the regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs visited Gillette Stadium to challenge the New England Patriots, a game in which both teams fought fiercely, with the Patriots ultimately winning at home with a last-minute field goal.


    However!


    This victory did not become the focus of heated debate¡ªit was overshadowed.


    After the game, various discriminatory and offensive remarks at Gillette Stadium angered Li Wei, who met them with a resounding counterattack.


    After the match, the New England Patriots became the target of a mass attack on social networks, culminating in a League investigation, warnings, and fines.


    That incident already made the Patriots and the Chiefs sworn enemies; but things didn¡¯t end there¡ª


    After the game, a particular photo unexpectedly went viral.


    Wearing an away white jersey, number 23 stood on the railing of Gillette Stadium¡¯s stands, full of righteous indignation, pouring down rage; a sea of royal blue fans surged from all sides, yet all trembled at the feet of number 23.


    A single white figure stood tall against the endless blue expanse.


    In the photo, Li Wei didn¡¯t show his face, just a profile, yet precisely because of that, the image of ¡°one man against the world¡± reached a poignant and grandeur extreme, adding a deeper layer of meaning to the entire photo.


    After that regular season game, this photo was also posted on social networks.


    Initially, it did not attract much attention and was soon submerged in the flood of hot discussions; but as time went on, the likes and shares of the photo increased more and more, like a snowball turning into a major hotspot.


    And after the ¡°New York Times¡± officially published it, it reached a new peak.


    Four months have passed, and now this photo has become a new cultural phenomenon, spreading far and wide across the corners of the internet.


    For Patriots fans, this photo is a mockery, a taunt, an attack, a humiliation, constantly reminding them of what happened that day, even though they won the game, but this scene after the match had them nailed to the pillar of shame.


    Too painful to watch. Seething with anger.


    And still, that¡¯s not all, things still haven¡¯t ended.


    At a critical moment, Nike seized the opportunity and made a decisive move¡ª


    They bought the usage rights from the original photographer of the photo, then started printing T-shirts.


    Colored version. Black and white version. Printed version. Watercolor version.


    Nike released four versions in one go, all white T-shirts, and officially launched them in December, causing a sensation across the web.


    In just one week, this T-shirt sold three million pieces across the North American continent.


    At this point, the situation had completely spiraled out of control, transitioning from a pure sports event to a cultural phenomenon, and becoming an important footnote in the NFL.


    Goodell let out a long breath of relief, thankful the League handled the situation promptly and appropriately, otherwise, the League would now be flogged; but instead, thanks to the League¡¯s proactive handling, football¡¯s reputation among Asian audiences continued to rise, seizing the opportunity presented by Li Wei¡¯s incident once again.


    New England Patriots: ...


    So, New England is a stepping stone once again?


    Every T-shirt sold is like a slap across the faces of New England Patriots¡¯ fans and the cheeks of Gillette Stadium, stinging badly.


    No holding back.


    Without fanning the flames, the Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs already hate each other to the core. When the Indianapolis Colts continued to add fuel to the fire, New England¡¯s fans completely lost it.


    Full-on explosion!


    ¡°Haha, I just love how they hate us but can¡¯t beat us,¡±


    Patriots fans are master provocateurs, immediately seizing the vital point, taunting the fools who fail with the poise of victors.


    The smoke of battle, spreading continuously, escalating relentlessly.


    In the midst of chaos, the overlooked, neglected, forgotten Los Angeles Chargers were quietly sharpening their knives.


    Over the years, becoming more Zen-like and exuding a Christlike big-heartedness, Philip Rivers said in an interview:


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°I know we¡¯re the underdog. We¡¯re not favored, but we¡¯ll still step onto the field and fight for victory with all our might.¡±


    Calm, indifferent, yet resolute.


    People seem to have forgotten that the Chargers¡¯ regular season record of twelve wins and four losses is only second to the Chiefs, and even better than the Patriots.


    In reality, people widely criticize the Chargers for benefiting from an easy schedule, with generally weaker opponents. Only the Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks, whom they¡¯ve beaten, made it to the playoffs, which supposedly makes them a faux-strong team.


    However, facing the Baltimore Ravens in the wildcard game, who had just defeated them in the regular season, the Chargers showed a completely different side in the playoffs, clinching their ticket to the divisional round with a convincing victory.


    As everyone discusses the Colts¡¯ missed opportunity for revenge against the Patriots, the Chargers are also eager for the chance to overcome their divisional archrival, the Chiefs.


    They will surely give it their all.


    Therefore, there are still many uncertainties in the game between the Patriots and the Chargers.


    If the Patriots underestimate their opponent, they could end up like last year, halted at the divisional round yet again.


    All this hot debate, dominating social media feeds, indirectly proves Goodell¡¯s point:


    Indeed, the game between the Chiefs and the Colts may have been lackluster, affecting viewership; but Li Wei and the Chiefs have gradually developed the aura of a strong team, and the discussion around them remains intensely heated.


    There¡¯s absolutely no need to worry.


    The first divisional game did not disappoint. Despite the process and outcome not being entirely satisfactory, the highly anticipated Chiefs did not let down expectations, kicking off their title defense with an easy win.


    Then, with no pause, the second divisional game kicked off immediately, with the echoes of battle still sizzling on social media. The call to arms sounded once more, pushing the postseason climax to new heights.


    This time, another hot topic of the season, the Los Angeles Rams took the stage, hosting the youth-dominated Dallas Cowboys at home.


    Bang bang bang, bang bang bang.


    Furiously hammering on the desk.


    On one side, Goff and Donald; on the other, Prescott and Elliott.


    They all share the traits of a new generation, dominance, rising steadily over the last two seasons.


    No matter the outcome, the rise of the young generation is something to look forward to. Two years after Big Manning¡¯s retirement, the new wave has finally taken over smoothly, filling the void. Perhaps they can¡¯t yet reach that pinnacle, but the future of the NFL seems brighter and more promising than ever before.


    As expected, people always crave the new and tire of the old, even in the NFL.

 Chapter 773: 772 loves the new and hates the old

    Chapter 773: 772 loves the new and hates the old


    Compared to ¡°old ham¡± Andrew Luck, fresh faces like Goff and Prescott clearly had more appeal, so the League arranged a night game stage, anticipating a youthful duel that represents the future.


    Last season, Goodell had high hopes for the League¡¯s Defensive Player of the Year, Donald, but unfortunately, the Los Angeles Rams fell short in the wildcard round, disrupting the whole plan, and the League had to forcefully promote other matchups.


    This season, the Los Angeles Rams came back stronger and even better than last year, quickly becoming a favorite to win it all. Goodell once again ignited hope, looking forward to Donald matching strides with Li Wei.


    ¡°Los Angeles Rams vs. Dallas Cowboys¡±¡ªthis was the firm first step.


    However, ideals are plump, reality is skeletal¡ª


    The game, not good-looking.


    It wasn¡¯t that it fell apart or was boring, it was just simply not good-looking.


    Unlike the first divisional game, the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Dallas Cowboys was generally considered to be more comprehensive and more exciting.


    Offense was one aspect¡ªboth teams had powerful weapons; defense, on the other hand, was another aspect. Both teams¡¯ defensive quality was ranked high this season. If both offense and defense kicked in fully, the game would be exciting to watch.


    Unfortunately, things went contrary to wishes.


    Here, there was another critical factor:


    The focus and pressure of the playoffs.


    Its presence was always an unknown factor. Some might burn their cosmic energy and perform extraordinarily, some might be restrained and underperform, and others might completely get lost in the glaring spotlight of the playoffs.


    Right now, that was the case.


    For the second consecutive season, the Los Angeles Rams performed well in the regular season but underperformed in the playoffs; this time, the Dallas Cowboys also fell short.


    The excitement level of the game kept dropping, truly hard to call appealing.


    Goff and Prescott, both quarterbacks, still revealed their youth. Despite performing well in the regular season, both found themselves in trouble¡ª


    Goff had a passing completion rate of 53.4%, threw for 186 yards, and did not score any touchdowns.


    Prescott, with a passing completion rate of 62.5%, threw for 266 yards and scored one touchdown.


    The overall slump was not even because the defensive groups were outstanding; it was purely self-inflicted confusion, losing grip on the game rhythm.


    In the end, the Los Angeles Rams still managed to break through with a solid ground game.


    Moreover, it wasn¡¯t Gurley, the top running back for the Los Angeles Rams, who had also underperformed. Fortunately, the second-string running back CJ Anderson stepped up and saved the Los Angeles Rams.


    ¡°22:30¡±.


    The home-stationed Los Angeles Rams relied on a fluent run in the second quarter to establish a victorious foundation, narrowly defeating the Dallas Cowboys and proudly advancing to the next round.


    Goodell took a long breath, still shaking his head slightly deep inside¡ª


    Los Angeles Rams, please rise up, okay? Opportunities won¡¯t always present themselves; when they do, you have to firmly grasp them, or else it¡¯ll be too late for regrets.


    Although the first divisional game was also uninteresting, at least Goodell could see a positive side; whereas for the second divisional game, Goodell could only sigh:


    Winning is good. Winning brings hope, and there really is no need to ask for more.


    The first day of the divisional games came to a close:


    One game was completely one-sided, another game saw both sides perform poorly and was utterly chaotic.


    This, hard to judge.


    But that¡¯s the playoffs, just like the knockout stages of the World Cup. Everyone looks forward to exciting match-ups, yet reality often brings surprises, and these uncontrollable unknowns are what make competitive sports most fascinating.


    The journey continues, as eyes turn towards the second day of the divisional games.


    However! But! Totally unexpected!


    Exactly the same!


    The second game day was an exact replica of the first, the only difference being that the order of the matches was reversed.


    The first match, ¡°New Orleans Saints VS Philadelphia Eagles¡±.


    Dull, mistakes, chaos.


    Complete malfunction, interceptions flying everywhere, turnovers caused by mistakes one after the other, just like the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Dallas Cowboys, even the elite quarterback Brees¡¯s performance was indescribable.


    However, Brees still managed to stand his ground with his rich experience, and in the last quarter, pulled off a classic offensive play that lasted a full eleven minutes, persistently using short passes and running plays to consume game time, facing third gear conversions yet narrowly escaping each time, and finally ending with a field goal, minimizing the time for the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ offensive group to counterattack.


    Still, the Philadelphia Eagles¡¯ offensive group got three minutes and twenty-one seconds to attack; but this time, Foles was unable to replicate the miraculous aura of last season, and the Wanfu Mary attempt ended in failure.


    ¡°14:20¡±.


    The New Orleans Saints struggled and won their advancement.


    When the final whistle of the game sounded, Foles¡¯s face was full of dejection.


    Standing in the center of the field, Foles recalled the defeat at last year¡¯s Super Bowl, his mouth bitter and his heart reluctant, but Li Wei came up to him:


    It¡¯s not over. See you next year.


    Just a simple greeting, yet it became the courage for Foles¡¯s whole season of struggle and perseverance, looking forward to competing against Li Wei at the Summit of the Forbidden again.


    However, the entire season¡¯s stumbling steps ultimately came to an abrupt halt, unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t keep his promise to meet Li Wei.


    Worse still, the fate of quarterbacks Foles and Wentz was about to come to a crossroads in the offseason, and this time Foles had no confidence that the team¡¯s management would keep him again.


    Taking a deep breath, Foles let out a heavy sigh:


    Li Wei, it¡¯s up to you now, I hope you keep fighting, at least let us continue to believe that dreams exist.


    The second game, ¡°New England Patriots VS Los Angeles Chargers¡±.


    Center of attention, absolute focus.


    Unfortunately, the Los Angeles Chargers collapsed.


    Like the Indianapolis Colts, they crumbled under expectations and pressure, but in a slightly different manner.


    Quarterback Rivers performed excellently, continuing his regular-season rampage, stepping up and strongly confronting the New England Patriots¡¯ defensive group.


    But, the Los Angeles Chargers¡¯ ground attack was completely cut off by Belichick, with only a mere 21 yards advanced in ground attack throughout the game¡ª


    Just 21 yards.


    This led to the entire offensive burden falling on Rivers¡¯ shoulders, and despite his excellent performance, he ultimately couldn¡¯t sustain it alone.


    In contrast, the New England Patriots had their offense fully open.


    Brady¡¯s performance was not bad, but undeniably fluctuating, seemingly still distracted by rumors off the field, he passed for over three hundred yards but also threw three interceptions.


    However, Brady was supported by the team¡¯s ground attack, sharing the pressure, where three running backs together scored four touchdowns, ensuring the New England Patriots could continually produce firepower in the cold weather of Foxborough.


    The game was still exciting, but did not meet expectations, fitting perfectly with the ¡°Kansas City Chiefs VS Indianapolis Colts¡± match in terms of overall progress, the suspense didn¡¯t last long.


    ¡°28:41¡±.


    The New England Patriots effortlessly defeated the Los Angeles Chargers to advance to the conference finals.


    With that, the divisional games all came to a close.

 Chapter 774: 773 is the object of ridicule

    Chapter 774: 773 is the object of ridicule


    The 2018 season¡¯s divisional playoffs have concluded¡ª


    Including the highly anticipated matchup between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Chargers, the games all fell below expectations and came as a huge disappointment.


    From last year to this, the NFL has been touted as a chaotic theatre, where the gap between strong and weak teams has further narrowed, with no absolute ruler and everyone having a chance.


    Last season, the Kansas City Chiefs firmly seized the opportunity to ascend to Super Bowl glory, giving hope to other teams and early signaling the chaos of this season.


    The story of the regular season confirmed this¡ª a clash of a hundred schools of thought.


    Naturally, expectations for the playoffs climbed higher and higher, and the result¡ª


    Is this it?


    From the wild card to the divisional round, not a single game worth discussing, not one that people enjoy talking about¡ªthis is really hard to rate.


    But the good news is:


    The conference championships are ready to go.


    Following the 2015 season, after three years, the number one and number two seeds have smoothly advanced to the finals.


    That season, the American League¡¯s number one seed Denver Broncos and the number two seed New England Patriots met, while the National Conference¡¯s number one seed Carolina Panthers and number two seed Arizona Cardinals met.


    In the end, the American League¡¯s number one seed Denver Broncos and the National Conference¡¯s number one seed Carolina Panthers battled it out on the Summit of the Forbidden, witnessing Big Manning¡¯s final career battle, culminating in a Hollywood-style ending with Big Manning ascending as the victor of the 50th Super Bowl Championship¡ªstill a much-talked-about event.


    This year, will we witness a classic rematch?


    In the American League, ¡°number one seed Kansas City Chiefs VS number two seed New England Patriots.¡±


    In the National Conference, ¡°number one seed New Orleans Saints VS number two seed Los Angeles Rams.¡±


    The four teams with the best regular-season performances have smoothly made it to the conference championships. Regardless of the wild card and divisional rounds, at least the conference championships are guaranteed excitement, with no surprises, no upsets, the strongest teams assembled at the summit¡ªdefinitely great news worth cheering for.


    This also indirectly proves that, amidst the total chaos, some teams have already taken a half-step lead.


    The future is promising.


    Moreover, both conference championship games are classic ¡°old wave VS new wave¡± matchups, which don¡¯t even need the League¡¯s boost, as social networks are already abuzz.


    In the National Conference, Brees¡¯ New Orleans Saints are old but ever-strong, continuing to shine with another standout season, undoubtedly one of the hot favorites to win it all this season; they are about to face the ultimate test from the up-and-coming Goff and Donald-led Los Angeles Rams, who are also undeniably contenders for this season¡¯s championship.


    This season, the two teams had met once before in week nine of the regular season¡ª


    An unforgettable encounter.


    At that time, the Los Angeles Rams kicked off the season with eight straight wins, strongly leading the entire League as the only holder of an undefeated golden body, and they encountered the New Orleans Saints with seven wins and one loss¡ªa clash as intense as Mars colliding with Earth.


    The New Orleans Saints were divine in the first half, leaving the Los Angeles Rams stupefied and taking a commanding ¡°17:35¡± lead into halftime.


    Coming back from halftime, the Los Angeles Rams awoke from their slumber, chasing with determination, surprisingly catching up midway through the fourth quarter.


    ¡°35:35¡±.


    An impassable deadlock, as the game seemed to be heading into a stage of fierce combat.


    In the crucial moment, Brees stepped up, providing continuous powerful offensives, scoring a field goal and a touchdown pass, snatching ten points to secure the victory.


    The final score was ¡°35:45,¡± with the New Orleans Saints breaking the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ unbeaten streak of the season in a rollercoaster of a game that left fans thrilled.


    Not only that, the New Orleans Saints overtook the Rams, snatching the National Conference¡¯s number one seed position straight from the jaws of the Los Angeles Rams.


    With the conference championship rematch set, the anticipation among fans has already ignited.


    No matter how you look at it, it¡¯s worth staying up for!


    But!


    Turning to the American League, fans were simply dumbfounded.


    Do we need more words for Brady¡¯s New England Patriots versus Li Wei¡¯s Kansas City Chiefs?


    From the season opener upset last season to the double elimination in the divisional games, and the chaos on and off the field in Week 6 of this regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs have undoubtedly become the strongest rival of the New England Patriots in the American League¡ª


    Arch-enemies.


    No need for further words, everything else is superfluous, it¡¯s time to roll up our sleeves and enter the fray.


    So, who should be scheduled for the night game?


    Who will emerge victorious, the elite quarterbacks led by Brees and Brady, or the rebels led by Donald and Li Wei?


    Who can break through and seize the advantage of securing a position ahead of the others amid the complete chaos?


    On one hand, the League is still in a quandary; the debate over the choice of night game on social media is relentless and unceasing.


    On the other hand, New England Patriots fans could hardly wait to strike back¡ª


    They certainly hadn¡¯t forgotten the provocation by the Indianapolis Colts fans.


    After the second divisional game ended, both Colts and neutral fans lamented that the Los Angeles Chargers just fell short, ultimately failing to stop the New England Patriots:


    #It¡¯s up to Li Wei after all.


    This hashtag took off on social media, rocketing into the trending lists in just a few short hours, and those out of the loop even thought something had happened to Li Wei.


    Now, the New England Patriots fans could hardly wait to launch their counterattack.


    #Forget about Li Wei thanks next.


    Tit for tat, back and forth, the atmosphere became immediately tense and confrontational.


    Since Week 6 of the regular season, the New England Patriots had been holding their breath, having defeated the Kansas City Chiefs at home, which should have been a celebratory occasion, but instead they became the laughing stock of the League due to post-game conflicts¡ª


    A bunch of losers who blindly attacked New England for the sake of political correctness.


    Moreover, frustratingly, the New England Patriots had a good performance this year, yet they were consistently ranked below the Kansas City Chiefs in the American Federation rankings, finishing as the number two seed and feeling incredibly aggrieved.


    Now, the chance had finally arrived, and these fans just couldn¡¯t control themselves.


    #Next stop Kansas City


    #Kansas City, wait for the expeditionary force


    #Chiefs, clean your necks and wait for death


    One after another.


    Even though the American Federation championship game was about to be held in Kansas City, New England Patriots fans didn¡¯t care at all, each one ready to go, making the arduous journey to Kansas City, cheering for their team away from home.


    Judging from the atmosphere on social media, things didn¡¯t look good.


    The assaultive comments spread like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, covering the entire field of vision, and they were becoming increasingly nasty, dirty, and utterly out of control.


    Not just Li Wei and Mahomes, even Reed wasn¡¯t spared, becoming a target; Kansas City¡¯s blue-collar majority was demeaned as worthless, facing fire from all sides, top to bottom.


    The faces of rage were distorted to the point of being maniacal.


    Without words, one could see that the New England Patriots fans were truly incensed; even the Manning brothers didn¡¯t receive such treatment, as fans from the New England region completely abandoned all pretenses to reveal their most authentic yet ugliest form.


    ¡°New England Patriots vs Kansas City Chiefs,¡± the rivals had officially been born.


    The air was thick with smoke, and the tension continued to escalate.

 Chapter 775: 774 Never Rest Until Death

    Chapter 775: 774 Never Rest Until Death


    Abuse, curses, humiliation.


    It was overwhelming.


    The situation was gradually getting out of control; this was another side of competitive sports, dirty and ugly, violent and twisted, it was not beautiful.


    Perhaps there was no grievance between the two cities, perhaps the fans were complete strangers, perhaps away from the team everyone was just an ordinary person like you and me in real life, yet because of the wins and losses in sports, they stood in opposition, wishing they could tear each other into countless pieces.


    Verbal attacks were still minor matters¡ª


    Just block it, as long as you don¡¯t look at social media, the world would quiet down.


    However, physical attacks were another matter entirely, and the situation was escalating.


    A group of New England Patriots fans arrived in Kansas City five days in advance, clearly jobless vagrants who didn¡¯t need to work, those idle people. They sneaked into the Kansas City Chiefs Training Facility¡¯s parking lot and vandalized three team buses of the Kansas City Chiefs with paint, eggs, and wet tissue.


    As a result, the security guard noticed the scene through surveillance footage.


    The security guard appeared, tried to expel them but was knocked down and beaten by six New England Patriots fans, punched and kicked, and they laughed wildly.


    In the end, the security guard suffered severe injuries, including fractured ribs, a broken arm, and internal bleeding. If it weren¡¯t for the stadium security discovering him in time and calling an ambulance, the consequences... could have been unimaginable, with life at risk.


    The Kansas City Chiefs immediately called the police, who accurately arrested the six suspects through the parking lot surveillance footage, ready to prosecute.


    Clearly, the situation had seriously crossed the line.


    Upon learning this, Li Wei was uncontrollably angry, rarely seen so enraged.


    ¡°A bunch of cowards.¡±


    ¡°If you had the guts, you should¡¯ve come for me, I don¡¯t denounce you for ganging up. You know my residence, my workplace, you¡¯re always welcome to visit,¡± he said.


    ¡°A group of people attacking an unarmed ordinary man over fifty just shows your cowardice and incompetence. If you¡¯re scared of losing the game and want us to go easy, just say it, I won¡¯t mock you,¡± he said.


    All barrels blazing.


    Anyone who knew Li Wei could see that he was furiously angry.


    And it wasn¡¯t just Li Wei.


    The entire Kansas City Chiefs organization was uncontrollably angry, even Reed, typically all smiles when meeting people, rarely issued a formal denunciation in front of the media¡ª


    Stern condemnation.


    Such incidents were not uncommon in the United Kingdom; football hooligans were notoriously infamous. Whenever seeing football hooligans rambling in the European Championship or the Premier League, North American media buzzed with strong condemnation and proudly emphasized that the Big Four leagues in North America did not have such thugs.


    They never expected that this time they would be so embarrassingly proven wrong, and with such a malicious incident, UK media one after another couldn¡¯t wait to kick them while they were down using their mockery skills, even emphasizing that the New England Patriots were the most successful NFL team since the millennium, essentially the face of the league¡ª


    Now, not only the media was shame-faced; the league officials were also furiously indignant.


    Swipe, swipe, swipe.


    All arrows pointed at the New England Patriots.


    For a moment, the New England Patriots were like rats crossing the street.


    Knowing they were in the wrong, Belichick and Brady also publicly stated their strong condemnation of such behavior, absolutely refusing to condone or shelter the culprits.


    However, apologies were of no avail.


    On social media, the exchange of insults continued to escalate. New England Patriots fans showed no remorse, even cheering for the mob, adding fuel to the fire, or believing that the parking lot incident was a setup¡ªa conspiracy¡ª


    ¡°Someone wants to harm me.¡±


    Ferocious, ugly, distorted¡ªvarious opinions swirled around the internet.


    Whether it was the fans¡¯ personal behavior or Li Wei¡¯s response, all was seen as targeted attacks, ¡°You are targeting me,¡± leading to an all-out war between the fans of the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs, using the internet as their battlefield.


    The situation escalated beyond the scope of just a game.


    Undoubtedly, it had evolved into a do-or-die situation, extending from the game itself to the fans and even the entire cities involved, everything had entered a state of high tension.


    Although the meeting between the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs didn¡¯t need any provocation to be tense; now, things were clearly out of control, and the sparks and smoke between the two teams continued to intensify.


    Comparable to a powder keg.


    Of course, the National Conference championship game was no less intense.


    The New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams had an even longer history.


    In 2002, the league restructured its divisions, resulting in the current divisional alignment; before that, the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams were both part of the National Conference West Division, rivals for half a century with countless high-profile face-offs in their history.


    After the league¡¯s restructuring, the two teams belonged to different divisions, but their grievances remained a significant topic in the league.


    Let¡¯s set aside the on-field matters for now; off the field, the two teams were also constantly entangled.


    In the 2012 season, the Los Angeles Rams¡ªthen still the St. Louis Rams¡ªsecretly contacted Gregg Williams, the defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints, attempting to poach him; but unexpectedly, just a week later, the NFL exploded with the shocking ¡°Bountygate.¡±


    The main characters behind ¡°Bountygate¡± were New Orleans Saints¡¯ head coach Sean Payton and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, offering bonuses to defensive players to deliberately injure opponents, with Gregg Williams believed to be the main conspirator.


    The incident shocked the entire league, representing behavior utterly void of sportsmanship and professional ethics.


    Eventually, Gregg Williams was suspended indefinitely, and Sean Payton was also suspended for a year.


    Among New Orleans Saints fans, it was rumored that the St. Louis Rams, unable to successfully poach Gregg Williams, spitefully blew the whistle¡ª


    Of course, there was no evidence; but that didn¡¯t stop New Orleans Saints fans from slinging all the mud at their former rivals from the same division.


    Moreover, even more bizarrely, two years later, Gregg Williams, after persistent appeals, was finally reinstated; his first job back was as the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams.


    New Orleans Saints: ...


    Other teams and fans in the league: ...


    Now, the New Orleans Saints were about to face the Los Angeles Rams, noteworthy that this was only the second postseason meeting in the history of the two teams.


    The previous occurrence was during the 2001 season, at the peak of the Los Angeles Rams era, just two years after their Super Bowl victory, and they were heralded as ¡°The Greatest Show on Turf¡±; however, the New Orleans Saints delivered a stunning upset over their arch-rivals in the wildcard game, winning the team¡¯s first-ever playoff victory in its history.


    Seventeen years had passed, and although times had changed, the enmity between the arch-rivals was not forgotten. The New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams were both sharpening their knives, with only one expected to leave standing.


    The air was thick with tension, ready to ignite at any moment.


    The National Conference had its historical roots, and the American League had its own grievance-filled rivalries, but undoubtedly, both Conference Finals would be anything but boring, with everyone grinding their teeth and sharpening their knives, all set to go.

 Chapter 776: 775 Fighting Belief

    Chapter 776: 775 Fighting Belief


    All eyes were on the match; it was a fight to the end, just as Goodell had predicted.


    The Wild Card and Divisional games were less thrilling than expected?


    No matter.


    Once the Conference Championship matchups were set, everything was resolved. Whether it was the National Conference or the American League, fans couldn¡¯t wait to engage in verbal warfare. Spectators poured in with great interest, unable to contain their joy and excitement, creating an extraordinary bustle.


    Social media was another battleground.


    In the midst of chaos and smoke, the League finally announced the Conference Championship schedule.


    January 20, Sunday.


    Afternoon, Pacific Time 2:05 PM, ¡°New Orleans Saints VS Los Angeles Rams¡±.


    Evening, Pacific Time 5:45 PM, ¡°Kansas City Chiefs VS New England Patriots¡±.


    It¡¯s set!


    The American League¡¯s battle of the century would take place at night, witnessing the peak showdown between ¡°Goat VS Rookie¡± for the second year in a row. The ring was ready!


    It caused a huge stir!


    The atmosphere clearly started to tense up.


    The biggest difference from last year was that, this year, the Kansas City Chiefs had the home-field advantage; the American League Championship game was about to unfold at Arrowhead Stadium.


    Early on, Kansas City could feel the change in the air¡ª


    There were more unfamiliar faces in the streets, and the city corners that weren¡¯t usually tourist attractions saw surging crowds.


    Perhaps it was an illusion?


    But soon, the increase of people wearing New England Patriots jerseys or hats, even just to take out the trash, was evident; the unchallenged provocations of Patriots fans were in plain sight, and the reality of the impending battle became clear.


    For this reason, Kansas City was noticeably on guard¡ª


    After the parking lot incident, the city was as nervous as a field of grass being swayed by the wind.


    On the one hand, there was concern that Patriots fans would cross the line again; on the other, there was worry about possible retaliation from Kansas City residents. This place was not as unruly as Texas, but there were still some individuals who were not to be trifled with; an unintentional heavy hand could lead to inescapable consequences.


    Previously, they had the moral high ground, leaving the Patriots embarrassed; but now, on their own turf in Kansas City, even the slightest stir could result in them being sullied.


    The more it was like this, the more cautious they needed to be.


    The team worried about this too. During Wednesday¡¯s training, Li Wei reminded the fans.


    ¡°Stay calm. Football issues should be resolved on the football field, leave it to us.¡±


    His simple words had a profound impact among the fans.


    Although they were burning with rage to see Patriots fans brazenly showing off in their city, the fans urged and stopped each other¡ª


    ¡°The rookie said to stay calm and leave it to them, let¡¯s not add to the chaos.¡±


    Anderson had no choice but to constantly dissuade the patrons in the bar who grew impulsive after a couple of beers, ¡°New England has their way, we have ours, we won¡¯t stoop to their filthy level, we have our principles.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t become one of them.¡±


    Time and again, with earnest pleading, he finally tightened the reins.


    In the city streets, there were some verbal altercations, but they never escalated, just crazily probing at the edge of crisis, with the atmosphere becoming increasingly tense and fraught. The entire city was like a pressure cooker, with the pressure continuously rising and inching closer to the edge of explosion.


    Not just the city dwellers, the Kansas City Chiefs felt this tension as well.


    This was a first¡ª


    On some level, even more tense, more thrilling, and more intense than the divisional matchups, not even the Oakland Raiders¡¯ games were comparable.


    After all, divisional matchups were civil wars, while the conference championship was a unified front against the outside world.


    There was no need for media and netizens to remind them constantly; the Kansas City Chiefs knew all too well how bone-deep the three losses this season were.


    It was not just about losing. It was about losing to the top teams in the League, and by a margin as slim as missing a field goal range.


    It also proved that while the team was on the road to becoming a powerhouse, they were just one layer of window paper away. They needed to perform better in important matchups against strong teams, paying more attention to details, to make the final transition from quantity to quality and transform into a top-tier team inside and out.


    One layer of window paper might seem easily breakable, but it is indeed the most difficult and arduous part in the world of competitive sports. Countless teams have stumbled at this last step and have never managed to cross it.


    Therefore, facing the New England Patriots in the conference championship was crucial for the Kansas City Chiefs, not just for defending a title but also as an important gateway for the team to step into the next phase.


    Li Wei, his fighting spirit high.


    Even though the Kansas City Chiefs, from top to bottom, were all passionately engaged and eagerly anticipating the game, the sense of impending tension filled the air; Li Wei was still different.


    More focused, more dedicated, calmer.


    A belief was burning¡ª


    Not a belief in certain victory, but a fighting belief. A belief in victory is concerned with winning or losing, but to Li Wei, winning or losing was secondary. What he craved was the battle, to surpass himself and his limits, to encounter the strongest and most excellent opponents, and to unleash all his energy in the midst of battle.


    Being solely focused on winning often leads to losing one¡¯s composure due to desire and longing, which can cause performance issues; but by setting aside winning and focusing on oneself and the game, with a grander blueprint in mind, one can maintain a relaxed state of mind despite the tension.


    Clearly, in this regard, Li Wei was a master.


    Kelsey couldn¡¯t help but feel envious¡ª


    He understood the philosophy, but he just couldn¡¯t control his excitement, eagerness, tension, and anxiety, especially after the incident in the parking lot, which had his blood boiling.


    Kelsey hadn¡¯t rested well for two nights and had dark circles under his eyes.


    ¡°Rookie, how exactly do you do it? Yoga? Chanting? Or is it the sauna?¡± After a whole day of training, the players were laughing and teasing as they walked toward the parking lot, and Kelsey joked half-seriously.


    By his side, the other players joined in the teasing, with Fuller leading the noise, shouting nonsensically, ¡°Travis, that¡¯s not fair of you, you¡¯re missing the most important and crucial possibility¡ªyour girlfriend.¡±


    Ha ha, laughter all around.


    Mahomes was giggling when Kelsey threw in a remark, ¡°Patrick, that¡¯s you. You!¡±


    Mahomes¡¯ smile froze on his lips; how did they know Brittany had been in Kansas City these past couple of days?


    Mahomes blinked repeatedly, ¡°I, I didn¡¯t, I just... Hey, Li Wei, so what¡¯s the secret?¡±


    Li Wei, walking ahead, heard Mahomes¡¯ plea for help, ¡°Rookie. I¡¯m just a diligent rookie, there¡¯s no need to attribute too much meaning to things. It¡¯s just the New England Patriots, so what?¡±

 Chapter 777: 776 stopped abruptly

    Chapter 777: 776 stopped abruptly


    ¡°...It¡¯s just the New England Patriots, so what?¡±


    Casually, leisurely walking.


    As expected, Li Wei is truly one-of-a-kind, a different kind of firework.


    With just one sentence, suddenly everyone let out strange shouts, the atmosphere buzzingly lively, followed by one after another joining the ruckus.


    ¡°It¡¯s just Brady, so what?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just Belichick, so what?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just the New England Patriots who won three championships in four years, so what?¡±


    ¡°Haha, that¡¯s the courage and boldness we need, look at Li Wei, vision, that¡¯s what vision is!¡±


    ¡°Ignorance is fearless, and that¡¯s the spirit we need from a rookie.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, history has already become history, we need to focus on the present, the next game is a brand new start.¡±


    A burst of giggles and laughter, the players bid each other farewell amidst light-hearted laughter, each preparing to head home.


    Knock knock.


    Someone knocked on the passenger-side window, Li Wei looked over from the driver¡¯s seat and saw Kelsey there waving his hand; he pressed a button and rolled down the window.


    Kelsey glanced at Li Wei, ¡°Not looking for you.¡± His gaze immediately turned to Mahomes, who was fastening his seatbelt in the passenger seat, and leaned in to say, ¡°Tomorrow night, we¡¯re discussing the receiving plays handbook at your place, Brittany won¡¯t mind, right? If she does, we can just go to the rookie¡¯s place; after all, he¡¯s a bachelor.¡±


    Li Wei immediately protested, ¡°Hey, did you guys ask how I feel about it?¡±


    Kelsey completely ignored him.


    Mahomes, however, reacted, ¡°Wait, was it you who told them Brittany was coming over?¡±


    Kelsey put on an innocently hurt expression, exaggeratedly displaying a wounded look, ¡°Patrick, I can hardly believe it, you suspect me like this? Brittany isn¡¯t some Rapunzel, locked in an ivory tower who never appears; she¡¯s hardly a secret in Kansas City, okay?¡±


    Buzz buzz buzz.


    Li Wei¡¯s phone vibrated, and he glanced at Kelsey with a smile full of deeper meaning; Kelsey immediately showed a naive smile.


    In the end, Li Wei didn¡¯t expose Kelsey and answered the call.


    ¡°Hello, this is Li Wei.¡±


    Meanwhile, Mahomes noticed the exchange of glances between Li Wei and Kelsey, and suspiciously looked at Kelsey, ¡°I think you¡¯re talking nonsense.¡±


    Kelsey was just about to argue.


    But Mahomes stopped him, ¡°Travis, you¡¯d better think carefully before you talk nonsense, I¡¯m watching you.¡± While saying this, he gestured with his index and middle fingers to his eyes.


    Kelsey couldn¡¯t believe his eyes and showed a sad expression, ¡°Patrick, you¡¯ve gone bad.¡±


    Mahomes: ???


    Chatter, giggles, and laughter.


    The two were frolicking about when Mahomes was the first to notice Li Wei¡¯s quietness.


    It was more than just quiet; an aura slowly settled around him, the noise and the brightness quietly faded, as if the sun was slowly setting, disappearing, the world plunging into darkness.


    The atmosphere, subtly cooled down.


    Mahomes paused, stopped joking, and called out worriedly, ¡°Rookie?¡±


    Li Wei hung up the phone, calmly placed it down, turned to look at Kelsey, took a deep breath, and smiled slightly.


    ¡°Tomorrow night, let¡¯s still have it at my place. All the equipment for the strategy meeting is there, I can set up the projector in advance.¡±


    ¡°Sherlock, Brittany is at home waiting for you, sorry, how about you let Travis give you a ride tonight, I need to make a trip to the hospital now.¡±


    The air, froze solid.


    Because it was so unexpected and sudden, the brain couldn¡¯t even begin to ponder in detail.


    Mahomes, ¡°Rookie, what happened?¡±


    Li Wei was about to speak, but he paused and then found his voice, ¡°Annie Galas has passed away.¡±


    The world fell silent, utterly still, as if one could clearly hear the chaos and clamor continuously surging¡ª


    The roaring engines on the highway, the clanking of equipment being moved at the training base behind, the noise and laughter lingering in the air of the parking lot, birds chirping forlornly atop the trees, the whisper of the breeze caressing the arm with the afterglow of the setting sun...


    Everything was so noisy, yet so quiet.


    Mahomes was completely stunned, his mouth agape, ¡°But... ¡±


    He tried to say something but found his brain had stopped working, rigid like a puppet, the chaos in his mind continually resounding.


    But why?


    Wasn¡¯t it said that Annie had been getting better? Wasn¡¯t it said that the chemotherapy had been effective? The last time he saw Annie, wasn¡¯t she all right?


    This... How could it be? So sudden? With no mental preparation at all, no sense of reality, as if it were all a dream.


    Who am I, where am I, what am I doing?


    Kelsey stood rigid, suddenly straightening up and taking a deep breath, attempting to shout, but realizing there were more important things at hand, forced himself to calm down, bent back down, and looked at Li Wei through the passenger side.


    ¡°Rookie, this isn¡¯t funny.¡±


    A plea showed in Kelsey¡¯s eyes:


    This is a joke, right? This is just a poor prank, right?


    Kelsey struggled to force a smile, but his slightly trembling voice betrayed him.


    Li Wei tried to find more appropriate words, but unfortunately, he still failed. At this moment, there were no suitable words, nor a way to lessen the hurt.


    Perhaps, being blunt is the only correct approach.


    ¡°Just now. Thirty minutes ago.¡±


    ¡°...Ms. Galas thought she still needed to let me know, and I think I might need to go to the hospital to see Annie for the last time.¡±


    ¡°So... ¡±


    Kelsey didn¡¯t speak again, he just opened the car door, sat in the back, ¡°Li Wei, drive, I¡¯m coming too.¡±


    Mahomes nodded blankly, his nose tingling, he fumbled to rub his face, took a deep breath, ¡°We¡¯re going together.¡±


    Li Wei didn¡¯t respond, simply looking at Mahomes and Kelsey through the rearview mirror.


    Kelsey, ¡°Annie was a Chieftain, wasn¡¯t she? We need to be there.¡±


    Ultimately, Li Wei didn¡¯t say anything more, he started the engine and pressed the gas pedal.


    The vehicle, like a submarine, moved forward in the shadows blending sunset and nightfall, silent and quiet, the noise and clamor of the world gradually receding.


    Kelsey couldn¡¯t hold back¡ª


    Bang.


    Kelsey fiercely punched the back of the front seat, ¡°Damn!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not fair.¡±


    Kelsey muttered under his breath, only to realize how powerless he was, unable to do anything or change anything but seethe with impotent rage.


    He couldn¡¯t help muttering again, his body weakly leaning back into the seat, allowing himself to slowly sink into the embrace of the sponge, silently turning his head to look out the car window, slowly being pulled into the shadows.


    Time seemed to lose its meaning as they moved directionlessly through the chaos, eventually completely lost.


    The hospital, brightly lit, stood quietly in the night, like a silent monster, devouring all vitality and hope completely, towering over these tiny lives¡ª


    Their struggles, their anger, their sorrow and pain, all seemed so foolish, merely futile. Standing before birth, aging, sickness, and death, they were like ants, ultimately powerless.


    No matter how many times he came to the hospital, Li Wei still couldn¡¯t like this place.


    And today, he disliked it particularly.

 Chapter 778: 777 falls apart

    Chapter 778: 777 falls apart


    The corridor, long and desolate, with glaring white walls and ghastly pale light, blurs the boundaries, seemingly extending endlessly to the end of the world.


    Involuntarily, I lightened my footsteps, but the rustling sounds still echoed in the eerily silent space, as a sinister chill crept up my arms, causing goosebumps to madly emerge and hair to stand on end.


    From a distance, Li Wei immediately spotted Jenna.


    The woman who was always elegant and calm, no matter how tired, pained, or helpless, her hair neatly done, her clothes always clean. Her slender shoulders, like poplar trees, remained ramrod straight, proudly bearing the onslaught of life¡¯s storms, never once misplacing her composure.


    But now, she hunched over in her chair, shoulders seemingly collapsed under a weight they could no longer bear, her hair at the temples messily breaking free from its confines, her eyes spiritlessly fixed ahead, devoid of any energy.


    Her complexion pale, her eyes red-rimmed, her cracked lips split open with crevices, flaking with dead skin, but now it seemed irrelevant.


    A mere silhouette, yet it was too painful to look at.


    Kelsey came to a screeching halt, turning away, unable to bear the sight; Mahomes felt helpless as he gazed at Jenna, not knowing how to assist her.


    Li Wei took a deep breath to regain composure, approached Jenna, and carefully squatted in front of her, seeking out her eyes in the void, softly calling out to her.


    ¡°Jenna?¡±


    However, Jenna did not respond. Even as Li Wei was right before her, her eyes remained unfocused, as if she saw through him to some vacant abyss above¡ª


    Unable to see the soul.


    Those eyes were merely acidic, but not a single tear was visible.


    Li Wei could hardly contain his sorrow¡ªhe didn¡¯t even want to disturb Jenna, feeling it cruel; yet was it any better to let Jenna lose herself in grief? He was just as uncertain.


    In the end, Li Wei gently patted Jenna¡¯s knee.


    Jenna flinched, gasping for air, her gaze frantically searching as if she were a startled butterfly, finally settling on Li Wei¡¯s face in a panic, desperately clinging to a glimmer of light in the darkness, her lips dryly curling into a strained smile.


    A glimmer of hope ignited in those red eyes.


    ¡°Ah, Li Wei...¡±


    ¡°Li Wei! You¡¯re here, Annie... Annie has been waiting for you.¡±


    ¡°Annie? Annie? Li Wei is here, Annie!¡±


    Jenna was frantically searching around, unable to focus her eyes, like a drowning person, calling out in a frenzy, thrashing at the water.


    All Li Wei felt was heartache.


    Li Wei quickly patted Jenna¡¯s arm again, calming her down.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll find Annie.¡±


    ¡°Do you remember? Annie loves hide-and-seek, always expecting us to find her. I¡¯m best at that, leave it to me.¡±


    Jenna seemed confused, uncertain, but she still convinced herself, ¡°Annie likes it. Annie likes it. I know, Annie loves it the most.¡±


    She repeated time and again, then sat quietly in the same spot, rocking back and forth, murmuring to herself.


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t bear it, standing up to turn around and saw Jeff standing at the doorway of the ward.


    Jeff was wiping his eyes, using the palms and backs of his hands to clear away his tears and snot all at once, though he still looked haggard.


    ¡°Sorry, Jenna... she... ¡±


    Jeff tried to explain, tried to apologize, but the words choked in his throat, hanging there, unresolved.


    Li Wei nodded slightly with a look that stopped Jeff from continuing to explain and glanced into the ward, ¡°What happened?¡±


    Jeff turned following Li Wei¡¯s gaze, took a deep breath without letting it out, and his hand went up to scratch his hair vigorously.


    ¡°The cancer has spread.¡±


    ¡°Her condition worsened, began attacking her internal organs, then her heart, until her body couldn¡¯t take it anymore.¡±


    ¡°Annie... was in unimaginable pain, but she didn¡¯t cry or scream, she just worried about me and Jenna...¡±


    ¡°Oh, God...¡±


    Jeff¡¯s words also broke down, as he tried with all his might to control himself, taking deep breaths, over and over, his entire body tensed up, but the pain firmly seized his heart, beyond what words could ever convey.


    ¡°Three hours? Or four hours? Or was it six hours?¡±


    ¡°I... I don¡¯t remember... I wished Annie could keep growing up, but now... at least Annie is no longer in pain...¡±


    ¡°Oh, Jesus Christ, I can¡¯t, I just... I just can¡¯t...¡±


    Jeff, no longer mindful of decorum, turned to face the wall, just standing there, stunned, leaving only his trembling back in view.


    Li Wei¡¯s heart was gripped tight.


    He couldn¡¯t imagine the pain and torment Annie had gone through, the scenes depicted in a few words suffocated him.


    Maybe, they shouldn¡¯t have been so surprised.


    Remember? The chance meeting between Li Wei and Annie.


    Felix said that one of his friends, whose condition was worsening, wished to meet with Li Wei, and Li Wei agreed, that friend was Annie.


    From that moment, Annie¡¯s condition had already been quite terrible.


    But.


    Ever since they met, Annie had always been full of life, bursting with vibrancy, showing no signs of sickness or suffering, making them completely forget the truth, that Annie had always been fighting cancer, taking her brief vitality for granted as part of her everyday life.


    Until one day, she could endure no more.


    This reality hit Li Wei hard, freezing him in place, as he tried to clench his fists, but found his fingers immovable.


    Suddenly, Jeff turned around to look at Li Wei, and tried to say something, but couldn¡¯t manage it and once again turned to face the wall, muttering to himself.


    ¡°I should have taken her to the game, I should have fulfilled her wish, I¡¯m just... I¡¯m just so selfish, I just wanted her to be alright, I wanted to see her jumping around, and then trapped her in a warm house, but that didn¡¯t help...¡±


    ¡°It damn well didn¡¯t help at all, I... I shouldn¡¯t have stopped her...¡±


    Over and over again.


    Again and again.


    Those jumbled emotions churned inside him, tormenting his nerves.


    Despair. Regret. Pain. Confusion. Struggle.


    Jeff was falling apart, bit by bit, and Li Wei couldn¡¯t help him.


    Li Wei took a deep breath, ¡°Jeff, may I go in to see Annie?¡±


    Jeff hurriedly turned, ¡°Of course. Of course! Annie must be waiting for you.¡± His gaze never lingered, and he turned back to face the wall once more.


    Li Wei tried to offer Jeff some consolation.


    But suddenly, he realized that, in this moment, any consolation, any persuasion, was feeble and might even be cruel, for they were still immersed in their grief, still steeped in their pain, not yet ready to accept and digest it, how could they possibly forget?


    Even a simple ¡°hang in there¡± might become an overwhelming burden.


    Because no one knew what pain Mr. and Mrs. Galas had gone through, no one knew how agonizing this moment was for them, they had no more strength to keep going, they just needed some time and space, to drift in their sorrow, and that was enough.


    Those light words held no power in the face of true sadness and agony.

 Chapter 779: 778 sleeps quietly

    Chapter 779: 778 sleeps quietly


    Words tumbled on his tongue, but Li Wei found that language at this moment was so pale and powerless, so ridiculously absurd, that it helped none.


    He mulled them over again and again, then ultimately swallowed them down, letting out a gentle breath. The right hand that he had barely lifted, intending to pat Jeff on the shoulder for comfort, eventually missed its mark. He just waved it slightly from a distance, brushing away invisible dust, hoping to alleviate some of the burden.


    Then, he awkwardly stepped forward into the hospital room.


    Standing at the door, Li Wei paused, subconsciously looking at his own attire. He straightened his clothes before walking towards the head of the bed.


    Annie Galas lay there in tranquil peace, her face calm, showing no signs of pain or struggle. It seemed as if she had drifted into a dreamless sleep, content to wait for the sun to rise again. A lingering blush still graced her pale cheeks, not yet fully faded, and her serene, natural appearance betrayed no anomaly.


    It was as if she were just asleep.


    And then, waiting patiently, waiting for Li Wei to draw near, waiting for that instant when he let his guard down, the next second, Annie would open her eyes, make a fierce, threatening face on purpose, and suddenly pounce on him with a ¡°bang!¡±


    Watching Li Wei¡¯s startled confusion and panic, Annie would triumphantly roar with laughter.


    ¡°Hahaha, you really should see your face right now!¡±


    However, nothing happened.


    No scare, no prank, no laughter, no whimsical antics.


    Nothing at all.


    Peace prevailed, and Annie still lay here, quietly, as if mocking Li Wei¡¯s rich imagination by deliberately refusing to cooperate with the performance.


    Time stretched in the quiet air, further and further.


    Disappointment dragged Li Wei¡¯s heart down slowly.


    Li Wei took a deep breath, forcing calmness and retrieving his smile.


    ¡°Hey, Annie, it¡¯s Li Wei, your favorite number 23 player.¡±


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t help but scrutinize the face before him closely. It lacked a sense of reality. Just a few days ago, they had been discussing the upcoming divisional game, attending Felix¡¯s pre-funeral together.


    Yet, with a turn, they were now on opposite sides of life and death.


    All of it, without any warning, not even a slender chance for mental preparation.


    ¡°Dear little one, you didn¡¯t miss our divisional game, did you? Look, we¡¯re just that awesome now, Indianapolis Colts got a good taste of the upgraded Kansas City Chiefs.¡±


    ¡°Impressive.¡±


    ¡°What about it, did you see my touchdown? Those touchdowns were for you.¡±


    ¡°Haha, did you like them?¡±


    Li Wei longed for that Annie, bright-eyed and beaming with smiles, Annie who never forgot to face challenges with a laugh even in difficult times.


    Even knowing that she was fighting a battle with no chance of victory, Annie never relented, standing tall and proud, fighting to the end.


    ¡°This weekend, we¡¯ll be facing the New England Patriots again, but sadly, you¡¯ll miss it.¡±


    ¡°You know it will be an exciting game, I¡¯m all set. Do you think I can score a touchdown? What do you predict for the final score?¡±


    ¡°Haha, we¡¯ll win, I know it. No matter what the score, we may lack confidence but we will win, it¡¯s that simple.¡±


    Blah blah blah, blah blah blah¡ª


    Yet it¡¯s only uninteresting.


    Li Wei, who was always articulate, even holding his own against journalists, suddenly found himself at a loss for words. The silence in front of him taunted his helplessness and insignificance without restraint.


    So what if he had traveled through time? So what if he had won a second chance at life? So what if he had won the Super Bowl?


    Standing in the face of life and death, he remained as powerless as a newborn.


    Then, a surge of anger sprouted instantly, sweeping across his brain in an uncontrollable frenzy, throwing everything off course.


    ¡°Hey!¡±


    ¡°Hey, Annie, wake up!¡±


    ¡°Our renowned Annie Galas wouldn¡¯t easily break a promise, right?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to head to Arrowhead Stadium for our game against the New England Patriots? Didn¡¯t you agree that, in the next game, you would be there in person to see me score a touchdown?¡±


    ¡°How could you just give up?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to fight to the end? Didn¡¯t we say that the Chieftain would never easily surrender? Didn¡¯t we agree...¡±


    However.


    There was no response, nothing at all.


    Li Wei suddenly realized that the hospital ward was terrifyingly quiet, not a single sound, this wasn¡¯t like Annie, Annie was always full of smiles, always chattering away, always brimming with energy, a space where she resided was always overflowing with noise and laughter.


    Not like now, exceptionally quiet.


    He didn¡¯t like this kind of silence.


    This realization, in an instant, seized Li Wei¡¯s heart; his strength deflated abruptly.


    Words got stuck in his throat, unable to continue any further.


    All that anger, that sadness, that pain, just made him feel all the more insignificant.


    So wretched.


    He still remembered Annie¡¯s bright and splendid smile, he still remembered how Annie faced the Grim Reaper with humor and grace, he still remembered how Annie¡¯s small stature harbored an unbelievably strong spirit fearlessly facing life and death.


    If Annie were watching this scene right now, she would probably be laughing incredibly brightly, the kind that makes you roll back and forth, even unable to help but pound the bed.


    That was Annie, like a little sun, laughing in the face of life and death, exposing the weaknesses of those of us who lose control in the face of mortality.


    Perhaps, life has an endpoint; everyone¡¯s long journey ultimately must confront the same destination, but each life is different from the next.


    Some people live their entire lives but never find true happiness and joy, just going through the motions numbly, drifting aimlessly, reaching the end of their lives without ever finding the meaning of their existence.


    Some people, in just a short span of ten years, continue to shine and warm the world, firmly seizing every moment of life to freely bloom and burn recklessly, inspiring others not just for their sake, but to not let themselves down.


    Some people are alive, but they are already dead; some are dead, but they continue to live, the meaning and value of life are never that simple.


    Annie was the latter, a short ten-year life, yet she possessed a century¡¯s worth of grandeur and brilliance.


    Involuntarily, he clenched his fist, silently feeling the beating of his heart within his chest, listening to the rhythm and sound of life¡¯s pulse like never before.


    Li Wei took a deep breath and finally, the anger within him settled down.


    ¡°Heh.¡±


    Li Wei chuckled awkwardly, unable to help but marvel.


    ¡°Shoot, the perfect image has a flaw.¡±


    ¡°Shh, keep it a secret, just between you and me, okay?¡±


    ¡°Turns out, we¡¯re even now, because I already know your fear, and now, in exchange, you also know my vulnerability, fair trade.¡±


    Quietly, quietly, he gazed at the face before him, inside that fragile and breakable body resided a strong and resilient soul.


    ¡°You¡¯re afraid of being remembered, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Li Wei still remembered, remembered clearly, that youthful face lit with the wisdom of life.


    ¡°You¡¯re afraid we¡¯ll get trapped in the memories, unable to move forward, so you¡¯d rather be forgotten. The departed have indeed passed away, but the living must still go on, right?¡±


    ¡°But, Annie, you were wrong...¡±

 Chapter 780: 779 is not goodbye

    Chapter 780: 779 is not goodbye


    Li Wei quietly gazed at that pale face and finally rediscovered inner peace, able to face everything before him calmly.


    ¡°...but Annie, you are wrong,¡± he said.


    ¡°You are a wonderful being, who should not and will not be easily forgotten.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been an honor to know you, and I hope you don¡¯t mind if I call myself a friend. In the future, I look forward to bragging about it: ¡®Hey, do you know Annie Galas? She¡¯s an amazing girl.''¡±


    ¡°Please, allow me this moment of pride.¡±


    ¡°However, I won¡¯t stand still; I won¡¯t stay wrapped in sadness and refuse to move forward. Life must go on, and dreams are still waiting to be fulfilled, right?¡±


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t forget, we¡¯re still giving it our all to defend our title.¡±


    He would continue to strive, continue to fight, and continue to step onto the field to face setbacks and challenges, launching attack after attack with all his might¡ª


    Refusing to surrender, refusing to give up.


    And, refusing to stop.


    This time, however, things were slightly different; he would fight not only for himself but also carry Annie¡¯s dreams, battling alongside her.


    Taking a deep breath, Li Wei stood up and took one more glance at Annie, preparing to leave.


    Suddenly, a voice called out from outside the window¡ª


    ¡°Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    Li Wei hurried to the windowsill, violently pushed open the window, and a piercing cold wind hit him in the face, almost blinding him as chill bumps wildly appeared all over his body.


    Taking a deep breath and barely managing to open his eyes, Li Wei could see in the small garden behind, Annie dressed in a number 23 red jersey, holding a football, and waving her arms at him with a bright, radiant smile.


    ¡°Li Wei, come down quick, I¡¯m still waiting to see you run for a touchdown,¡± she said.


    Li Wei paused.


    His voice stuck in his throat, his mind dazed, not knowing how to respond.


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    Annie¡¯s joyous, clear laughter echoed through the air, and she waved her hand to show she didn¡¯t mind.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take the field first, you hurry up.¡±


    Without stopping, she turned and ran with full energy.


    She sprinted, then sprinted again, running vigorously, faster and faster.


    In a blink, she had disappeared from sight.


    Li Wei¡¯s gaze only managed to catch a glimpse of her, and subconsciously, his upper body leaned out of the window.


    ¡°Annie!¡±


    Unexpectedly, a gust of wind surged, striking him squarely and forcibly pushing him back as his thoughts and soul were stuffed back into his body, leaving him breathless.


    Looking out the window again, there was no one there, only a vague night sky, the boundless night appearing vacant and lonely.


    However, his heart was still pounding, a roaring sound filled his ears.


    His knees trembled slightly, feeling somewhat weak.


    Li Wei turned around, leaned against the windowsill, and looked at the still silent Annie, feeling his heart slowly return to his chest, his mixed emotions spreading on his tongue.


    Finally, he realized it was over, truly.


    Then,


    Li Wei returned to Annie¡¯s bedside, carefully examining her features, trying to engrave her face into his memory with his eyes.


    Beneath those pale cheeks, the blue veins seemed to be slowly draining life from deep within her soul, scattering little by little into the air; but between her brows, a stubborn resilience lingered as if she were loudly laughing, mocking death standing before her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, no one can stop me.¡±


    ¡°Remember? ¡®You¡¯ll never walk alone.¡¯ Someone has always fought alongside me, and you will witness this journey with me, right? So, I won¡¯t stop, not ever.¡±


    Then.


    Bending over, Li Wei gently kissed Annie¡¯s forehead.


    ¡°Good night, Annie Galas.¡±


    Not goodbye.


    Because Li Wei knew that Annie would continue to fight alongside them.


    Lifting his head, Li Wei could see Mahomes and Kelsey standing at the door.


    Mahomes turned his head awkwardly, staring at the wall to the side, daring only to glance at the room through the corner of his eye.


    Kelsey stood at the door with a complex expression, her body visibly stiff, lacking the courage to cross the threshold, still lacking a bit of bravery.


    Noticing Li Wei approaching, Kelsey lifted her gaze, took a deep breath, stepped forward past Mahomes, and walked briskly into the room toward Annie.


    Mahomes quickly glanced at Kelsey, then averted his gaze again.


    Li Wei walked up to him, gently patted Mahomes on the shoulder, and said in a low voice, ¡°It¡¯s Annie. Just like before.¡±


    Mahomes hesitated as he looked at Li Wei.


    Li Wei gave Mahomes an encouraging look, then took a step forward.


    At the door, Jeff still faced the wall, caught in an agony he could not escape.


    Though still hesitant, though his words still lacked strength, Li Wei had now found his strength and calmly looked at Jeff.


    ¡°Jeff, this is not your fault.¡±


    Jeff trembled slightly, his whole body stiffening, his muscles from neck to arms completely taut. His face was unseen, yet it seemed as if his expression was visible.


    Li Wei gazed deeply for a moment at Jenna, who appeared soulless and stunned, ultimately choosing not to say more, but simply murmured.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Thank you to Jenna for still being willing to notify him amidst her grief, and thank you for letting him, an outsider, say goodbye to Annie, because he knew how difficult and agonizing this moment was for Mr. and Mrs. Galas.


    Then, Li Wei took a step, no longer able to stay here any longer, where there was no air, suffocating.


    Jenna, baffled, raised her head and watched as Li Wei walked away confidently, holding her breath:


    She seemed to see Annie, wearing a number twenty-three red football jersey, her hair neatly tied in a high ponytail, running wildly down the hospital corridor, her bell-like laughter reverberating continuously as she turned and shouted at Li Wei, ¡°He¡¯s here, he¡¯s there, he¡¯s everywhere, he¡¯s the Edgerunner, Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei.¡±


    Again and again.


    Life¡¯s vibrancy surged in the song, no longer restrained, free from sickness, Annie could finally run freely and joyously in the sunlight.


    Jenna froze, staring blankly down the corridor, murmuring softly, ¡°Annie...¡±


    Her vision blurred, Jenna watched the figure of Li Wei, as time seemed to pause, quietly, just quietly watching the figure grow further and further away.


    Jeff noticed the sounds and turned around, ¡°Jenna?¡±


    Jenna instinctively looked at Jeff, ¡°Annie, Annie is there.¡±


    Jeff followed Jenna¡¯s gaze, but saw nothing, his heart wrenching. He took a deep breath, sat down beside Jenna, and pulled her tightly into his arms, squeezing hard, as if exerting all his strength and energy.


    Li Wei continued walking without stopping, hurrying along, almost fleeing from the hospital room toward the parking lot, preparing to wait in the car for Kelsey and Mahomes.


    The night deepened.


    The whole city seemed peaceful and serene, with cars passing, people still talking, the dim street lights holding up the night sky, displaying the cityscape.


    Though someone¡¯s life had pressed the pause button, forever set in tonight, forever fixed at age eleven, not even having a chance to feel the tumultuous waves of adolescence, yet ending prematurely; but countless other lives continued, bustling for family, for dreams, striving to live.


    ¡°...Who, who is that?¡±

 Chapter 781: 780 Covered in Blood

    Chapter 781: 780 Covered in Blood


    A gust of wind, hitting the face, the bitter cold penetrating the pores, freezing the blood sans temperature into ice, goosebumps emerging.


    However, Li Wei didn¡¯t notice at all, his mind completely oblivious to these sensations, simply hurrying forward, stumbling into the night.


    It wasn¡¯t until Li Wei caught a glimpse of a shadow out of the corner of his eye, a figure like the Grim Reaper, quietly waiting at the hospital¡¯s entrance, that it seized his heart.


    ¡°...Who, who¡¯s there?¡±


    In the dim night light, the figure curled up beside the steps at the hospital¡¯s entrance, the frail body seeming unable to bear the weight of the night, nearly crushed and swallowed by it, shivering slightly, as if its life force was fading bit by bit in the darkness, like a candle in the wind.


    That, clearly, wasn¡¯t the Grim Reaper.


    Coming to a halt, Li Wei turned around and carefully discerned the figure in the blurry glow of the hospital lights and moonlight.


    He couldn¡¯t help doubting his own eyes.


    ¡°...Felix?¡±


    No sooner had he called out than the image in his mind became clear.


    ¡°Felix!¡±


    Li Wei quickly approached, looking around but not seeing Karen¡¯s figure; Felix didn¡¯t even bring his wheelchair, simply sitting on the cold steps.


    How had Felix gotten here?


    But now Li Wei had no time to think about this as the sight of Felix shivering before him was much more worrying, his heart contracting violently.


    A feeling of unease quickly filled his chest.


    ¡°God, Felix, are you okay?¡±


    As he approached, he took off his own coat, wrapping Felix up tightly, then looked up, ready to go into the hospital to find a wheelchair.


    Felix couldn¡¯t stay outside indefinitely.


    ¡°Why are you sitting here alone, let¡¯s go inside...¡±


    But unexpectedly, Felix grabbed Li Wei¡¯s arm, stopping him.


    Li Wei, confused, sat back down and looked at Felix.


    Felix lifted his head, tugging at the corner of his mouth to show a smile, uglier than crying, ¡°I... I¡¯m afraid.¡±


    Afraid?


    Afraid of what?


    Li Wei didn¡¯t understand.


    Felix took a deep breath, ¡°It should have been mine. It shouldn¡¯t be Annie, it should have been me.¡±


    ¡°She... how could she... no, this isn¡¯t right, it should be me.¡±


    His words trailed off, Felix¡¯s hand, like a withered branch, clung tightly to Li Wei¡¯s arm, staring blankly at him with the desperation of clutching at a lifeline.


    Then, he broke down.


    Without expression, without words, tears simply burst forth from his eyes, plopping onto the back of Li Wei¡¯s hand, almost scalding him.


    That despair, that pain, swept through destructively, all resilience and courage completely shattered, their defenses completely lost.


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t breathe, ¡°No, Felix, it¡¯s not like that.¡±


    However, there wasn¡¯t a hint of sparkle in Felix¡¯s eyes, just a gentle shake of his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s unfair.¡±


    That one sentence, like a hammer, fiercely struck the chest.


    ¡°This, it¡¯s not fair. It should have been me. Annie was getting better, wasn¡¯t she? Annie was always cooperating with the hospital treatments, right? The doctors said that this round of chemotherapy had shown results, didn¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°But why... why?¡±


    Each a rhetorical question, each an accusation, hammering down, but Li Wei had no answers, mute and dumbfounded like a fool.


    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t have been like this, she¡¯s only eleven, her twelfth birthday is in two weeks. We were still discussing how to celebrate it; I was thinking about what birthday present to give her, but now it can¡¯t be given.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei, tell me, how about I give Annie a signed jersey as a birthday present? Not just from you, but from all fifty-three players on the team, and Coach Reed, and Veach, everyone, not one less, how about that? Because all of us are with her.¡±


    ¡°She would like it, she definitely would.¡±


    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t have unfolded this way, it shouldn¡¯t have ended like this. No!¡±


    One sentence, then another.


    Felix plunged into deep anger and despair, staring blankly at his rigid hands, his muscles tense to the limit as if his hands were stained with blood.


    That pain, heart-wrenching.


    The guilt of a survivor, truly cruel.


    But what¡¯s even more cruel is that Felix himself was also struggling on the brink of life and death, the invisible shadow of death still throttling his throat.


    Even though Felix hadn¡¯t done anything wrong, not only that, but he himself was enduring great pain, having narrowly escaped death¡¯s door; now the fact of his survival tortured him, as though it was he who had taken Annie¡¯s life, making each breath a torment.


    Such a struggle, indescribable with words.


    Li Wei took a deep breath but tasted only bitterness, unable to utter a word.


    Seeing Felix fall apart before him, Li Wei also sat down on the steps, sitting beside Felix, providing him with a small haven.


    Felix carefully hid behind Li Wei¡¯s shoulder, sheltering in the shadows, unable to control himself any longer, he sobbed quietly.


    He bit his mouth, lips tightly clamped, trying with all his might to control himself, crying silently, because of the intense pain and the effort, he curled up, emitting no sound.


    ¡°I can¡¯t... I don¡¯t dare...¡±


    ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t dare.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t face her, in front of her, I¡¯m like a coward, I don¡¯t even dare to fight properly...¡±


    As he spoke, tears drowned his voice, Felix buried his face in the palms of his hands, hiding all his pain, all his struggle.


    Mahomes, rubbing his eyes, followed Kelsey who had suddenly stopped in his tracks, and Mahomes stopped too, looking in the direction of Kelsey¡¯s gaze.


    He saw the two figures on the steps at a glance, ¡°Li Wei...¡±


    The next second, Mahomes noticed Felix beside him, the muffled and suffocating sobs tearing through the air, striking straight at his heart.


    Mahomes opened his mouth, but before he could make a sound, his eyes moistened again with tears, and he turned away in disarray.


    Memories of the living funeral flooded his mind, those scenes still vivid, with Felix thinking he might be Death¡¯s next target.


    Little did he expect that the girl with the brilliant sunny smile, the girl who said with strength and confidence, ¡°I hope people will forget me,¡± the girl who was worried her parents might never recover, the girl who kept talking about wanting to go to Arrowhead Stadium to watch a game...


    unexpectedly departed first.


    Kelsey kept telling himself to move forward, to take a step, that there was nothing to be nervous or afraid of, to go and offer some comfort to the boy.


    But his feet remained rooted to the spot, motionless as if a grand chasm lay before him, and he finally stopped, too timid to move.


    He didn¡¯t like such cowardice. More precisely, he despised it.


    Today, they¡¯d experienced too many such moments, those sorrows, those pains, those angers, reminding them time and again:


    In truth, they weren¡¯t that powerful, even superheroes couldn¡¯t defy fate, let alone them, because they were not superheroes.

 Chapter 782: 781 superhero

    Chapter 782: 781 superhero


    ¡°Travis, you are my hero.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, thank you for saving my life.¡±


    ¡°Ah, ah, ah, I¡¯m crazy for you! You are perfection!¡±


    Time and again, voice after voice, fans surrounded him in a tight circle, incessantly repeating that he was their hero, that he had changed their lives.


    Kelsey gradually started to believe that competitive sports weren¡¯t simply about winning or losing, he was changing the world in his own way, just like a superhero.


    However, the cruel reality lay before him, his powerlessness, his insignificance, his cowardice, were so trivial in the face of actual life-or-death situations.


    If they wanted to change the world, it was far from enough.


    Unwilling to continue watching, Kelsey closed his eyes, as the repressed and suppressed crying in the air cruelly tightened around his heart.


    Suddenly, the peace was shattered by the roaring of an engine, followed almost immediately by the shrill sound of tires desperately gripping the road, and an emergency brake tearing through the night. The black SUV had not even come to a complete stop before a figure burst from the driver¡¯s seat¡ª


    Karen Gray.


    Karen sprinted at full speed, hurriedly scanning for a direction, but stopped abruptly when she saw Felix and Li Wei¡¯s figures.


    ¡°Feli...¡±


    Karen was about to move forward when her words and actions were suddenly cut off; she stood there gasping for air, a flicker of relief in her eyes. But that joy didn¡¯t last long, quickly overwhelmed by pain and sorrow, she looked up to the sky and took repeated deep breaths.


    Should she be grateful? Grateful that Felix was unharmed?


    No, she couldn¡¯t.


    Because she knew what had happened to Annie that night could happen to Felix at any time.


    In the recent past, each night before going to sleep, she was filled with anxiety; every morning upon waking, her first task was to check on Felix. Every day could be the end; every day could bring a farewell. Such torment visibly wore Karen down.


    Until tonight.


    When Jenna called to inform her of Annie¡¯s death, Karen had to admit her selfishness.


    Her first thought was that she couldn¡¯t let Felix know the news.


    Upon realizing her own thoughts, Karen was flooded with shame, guilt, and self-reproach. She couldn¡¯t believe that upon receiving the terrible news from Jenna, she had such awful, selfish, narrow-minded, and ugly thoughts.


    But worse still, she couldn¡¯t control herself.


    It was only after hanging up the phone that Karen realized Felix had left.


    Felix must have overhead her conversation and had left the house without even taking his wheelchair, which threw Karen into a panic, flailing about like a headless fly.


    Now that she had finally seen Felix, Karen¡¯s tension, her chaotic thoughts, completely collapsed. She couldn¡¯t even cry, just stood there taking deep breaths, using all her strength to gasp for air, still feeling oxygen-starved, her wildly racing heart almost exploding, and then she just stood there foolishly.


    The world seemed to have hit the pause button at that moment.


    No one moved, no one spoke, only the muffled sobbing heartbreakingly trembled in the biting wind, it wasn¡¯t just sadness.


    Eventually, Felix cried himself out.


    Without a sound, without the strength, although Felix wanted to go upstairs and see Annie one more time, his current physical condition didn¡¯t allow it.


    Li Wei picked up Felix in his arms and escorted him to Karen¡¯s car.


    Karen stood by the car door, not knowing what to do, ¡°I should go up and say hello to Jenna.¡±


    Li Wei stopped Karen, ¡°Go back first. You can still come to the hospital tomorrow, Jenna will understand.¡±


    Karen stood there with mixed feelings, not even daring to look directly into Li Wei¡¯s eyes. She quickly expressed her gratitude before turning to get into her car and driving off.


    The three of them, including Li Wei, also returned to their car. Li Wei first dropped Kelsey off at his home, and then he and Mahomes went back to their place, all the while remaining silent throughout the trip.


    The night passed without a word.


    Early the next morning, Kelsey arrived at the training base early, only to find, to his unease, that Li Wei had arrived ahead of time and had already begun his warm-up exercises without any equipment.


    Looking at Mahomes, but Mahomes just spread his hands and shrugged lightly, indicating that he had no idea either.


    Li Wei seemed... exceptionally calm and composed, as if nothing had happened, methodically and flawlessly diving into training.


    Just like any other day.


    But it was precisely this behaviour that was disconcerting, because they all knew that today was not an ordinary day, something significant had happened.


    Gradually, the players arrived at the training base, having already heard the news¡ª


    Clearly, Annie was not just an ordinary fan. Everyone in the locker room knew her and held the optimistic and cheerful girl in high regard, for she was no longer just a rumor, a symbol, a stranger¡¯s name, but a real, flesh-and-blood person who had lived among them.


    When the tragic news broke, words failed them as they all felt a profound sense of loss and lament.


    A somber mood pervaded the entire locker room, casting a heavy atmosphere.


    However, seeing Li Wei still focused and diligent was strangely unsettling. Houston and Hill inquired and expressed their concerns one after another, even Burns approached Li Wei privately, uneasy.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t the end,¡±


    Li Wei said.


    Annie didn¡¯t wish for their lives to come to a halt because of her departure; she wanted them to move forward, she wanted them to continue being happy.


    More importantly, she wished for the Kansas City Chiefs to fight to the end.


    Although Annie ultimately couldn¡¯t make it to the Arrowhead Stadium to watch the conference finals, the battle that belonged to both her and the team would continue.


    The best tribute was not to be mired in sorrow and pain, unable to escape, but to face the storm, difficulties, and challenges head-on with pride.


    ¡°I hope I can be well-prepared.¡±


    The Kansas City Chiefs that day were slightly odd.


    The mood was tense, the atmosphere oppressive, yet the team, in their silent dedication, threw themselves into training with all their heart, exceeding the usual training quality, not just in field training, but in tactical training as well.


    Meanwhile, Kansas City was noisy with the influx of New England Patriots fans and other neutral fans, and the city was rife with minor conflicts, feeling the distinctive vibe of the approaching game. However, in the midst of the noise and hubbub, the Kansas City Chiefs rediscovered their focus.


    Gradually, the team inwardly forged a steadfast spirit¡ª


    For Annie, and for themselves as well.


    As the entire day of training came to an end, the atmosphere in the locker room was particularly oppressive.


    There were no jokes, no laughter, no banter or roasting, and even the mere act of walking became tentative and gentle.


    One by one, their gazes drifted towards Li Wei, prompting Kelsey to step forward and ask, but even Kelsey lacked the spirit to do so; he truly didn¡¯t have the energy for it.


    Even the typically jovial and carefree Mahomes seemed quiet and sorrowful, as if the boy who knew nothing of worries had grown up overnight.


    In an exchange of glances, a figure finally broke the deadlock and walked towards Li Wei.


    ¡°Rookie, do you have a moment?¡±

 Chapter 783: 782 in a difficult situation

    Chapter 783: 782 in a difficult situation


    ¡°Rookie, do you have a moment?¡±


    The small voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet locker room, to the extent that all the players¡¯ gazes tumultuously gathered around, realizing their action, they hurriedly retracted their gaze and stealthily pricked up their ears, paying attention to the movements over there, involuntarily holding their breath.


    After this exchange, the locker room became even quieter.


    Li Wei turned, just in time to see Eric Berry¡¯s serene face.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Li Wei said with a smile, ¡°The Offensive group is having a meeting at my house tonight, and I was about to head home early to set things up.¡±


    Huh.


    A collective intake of breath could be heard in the locker room¡ªhow had they forgotten about that.


    A hint of amusement appeared in Berry¡¯s eyes, ¡°It won¡¯t take long, five minutes should be enough.¡±


    Li Wei nodded, ¡°No problem. Let¡¯s step outside to talk, if we continue to stay here, I¡¯m afraid the locker room will run out of oxygen.¡±


    A jest made Berry laugh out loud¡ª


    The faces in the locker room looked at one another, each of them relaxing a little.


    Berry inwardly nodded to himself, indeed, Li Wei had now become a leader in the locker room, this young man had grown so much in just two short years.


    Li Wei and Berry left the locker room one after another, but the atmosphere inside remained heavy. Jones thought for a moment and walked up to Mahomes.


    ¡°Patrick, the funeral... when is it being held?¡±


    Coincidentally, Berry was asking Li Wei the same question.


    Li Wei was taken aback, as this was an unexpected question.


    Berry explained, ¡°If Mr. and Mrs. Galas don¡¯t mind, I would like to attend the funeral to pay my respects. Maybe, you should pay them a visit.¡±


    The smile at the corners of Li Wei¡¯s mouth revealed a trace of bitterness, ¡°Perhaps they need some time and space. What else can we say if we show up now, other than to offer our condolences and hope for the deceased to rest in peace? We can¡¯t help with anything.¡±


    Berry shook his head gently, ¡°That¡¯s not the case.¡±


    Li Wei didn¡¯t respond.


    Berry continued, ¡°I know you think words have no power, and indeed, in the face of death, our words seem pale and weak.¡±


    ¡°The same is true for injuries. When I was struggling with my own body, it was often not something I could just deal with as I wished; I¡¯ve put in enough effort, but the body just wouldn¡¯t listen.¡±


    ¡°Over these two years, my body felt like the Amazon jungle. Sometimes, venomous snakes would emerge, then I¡¯d be chased by Tigers, occasionally things would get a bit better, but then I would fall back into endless darkness.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes it feels like my efforts don¡¯t get me anywhere, or even that I¡¯m continuously falling behind. I don¡¯t know what else I can do, and neither do my doctors or my physical therapists. Besides asking for my patience, they¡¯re useless, merely repeating phrases I already know by heart like a parrot.¡±


    ¡°If someone were to tell me then, ¡®You got this! Everything will be okay,¡¯ I¡¯d punch them in the face and tell them to get lost.¡±


    Medically speaking, Berry had recovered, and his body was healthy; but real life isn¡¯t that simple. They aren¡¯t game characters who are 100% healthy once treated. Those injuries and cracks always remain in their bodies, changing them bit by bit.


    Berry had resumed training and even tried to rotate into games, including during the division match against the Indianapolis Colts.


    However, Berry¡¯s performance was a disaster. It was beyond subpar¡ªhe was like a baby who had just learned to walk. Whether it be feel, awareness, or judgement, everything was lagging behind the intensity of the game.


    Healing from injuries didn¡¯t mean life could immediately get back on track.


    Li Wei looked at Berry, his face filled with horror: What about all those pep talks I gave you?


    Berry looked at Li Wei seriously, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t take a swing at you, because I can¡¯t beat you.¡±


    Li Wei let out a long sigh, showing a relieved expression.


    Berry¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°How can you just admit to that so calmly?¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s face was the picture of innocence.


    Berry couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, no longer kidding around, he brought the topic back on track.


    ¡°But still...¡±


    ¡°From a certain point of view, we need those words again.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not the words, but rather the need to have someone by our side, to fight against the world with us, because relying solely on our own strength, we really can¡¯t do it.¡±


    ¡°Even if those words are light and unforceful, we need you to repeat them tirelessly, a hundred times, a thousand times.¡±


    ¡°If you give up too, I don¡¯t know if I can keep going.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the same for Mr. and Mrs. Gallas.¡±


    Saying goodbye to their children is one of life¡¯s innumerable reluctant and heart-wrenching cruelties, and Annie is only eleven years old.


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t help but recall Felix¡¯s words¡ª


    Annie¡¯s birthday is coming up, but she will never have the chance to celebrate her twelfth birthday.


    Berry observed Li Wei¡¯s expression carefully, hesitating a moment.


    ¡°And...¡±


    ¡°I know you look normal today, but this kind of normal is exactly not normal. Today should be abnormal.¡±


    Seeing Li Wei trying to argue, Berry shook his head and raised his hand to stop him.


    ¡°I understand, you are the captain now, you need to show your strength, you need to shoulder that pressure, so you can¡¯t reveal your vulnerability in the team.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s also okay to grieve, to be vulnerable. You are not a superhero, nor should you be one.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei, you need comfort too.¡±


    His voice quietly permeated the air, and the tumultuous thoughts slowly settled.


    Yet, Li Wei remained unchanged.


    Berry let out a soft sigh; Li Wei needed time and space, and it wasn¡¯t something that could be resolved with a few words.


    ¡°So, you should go see Mr. and Mrs. Gallas. As you try to comfort them, they too can comfort you. You need to do this.¡±


    Li Wei looked at Berry, his face filled with astonishment.


    Berry didn¡¯t say much more but looked toward the field in the distance, exhaling deeply.


    ¡°Ah, who knows how many more games I can play at Arrowhead Stadium. This weekend, I really hope to be on the field.¡±


    Between his words, a hint of reluctance seeped through.


    Li Wei understood immediately: Berry was contemplating his retirement.


    Whether willing to admit it or not, the reality was brutally clear in front of him. Although Berry had spent two years overcoming his injury and finally making a return to the field; age and injuries were still devastating his game.


    Even if Berry could continue to hang on in the games, what dignity would remain?


    This was too cruel.


    Two years, nearly two years of countless struggles, efforts, and perseverance, but in the end, the result was still a sigh-inducing one, with Berry unable even to start as a first-string for the Kansas City Chiefs again.


    So, what were those two years for?


    Berry turned around, and immediately noticed Li Wei¡¯s expression, struggling for words, ¡°It¡¯s rare to see you at a loss for words.¡±


    Li Wei tugged at the corner of his mouth, ¡°Can¡¯t help it, I¡¯m not good with words.¡±


    ¡°Haha,¡± Berry laughed heartily, ¡°Actually, I knew two years ago, even with rehabilitation, even if I recovered from the injury, there were no guarantees. No one could assure I would return to my peak, nor could anyone ensure I could continue to play.¡±


    ¡°It was all my choice.¡±


    ¡°See, I understand all that, but...¡±


    Taking a deep breath, Berry shouted towards the field.


    ¡°Not satisfied, damn it, I¡¯m really not satisfied.¡±

 Chapter 784: 783 A Quiet Place

    Chapter 784: 783 A Quiet Place


    Quiet, deathly quiet, the whole house was eerily silent without a single sound. It was terrifyingly quiet, so much so that one couldn¡¯t help but hold their breath, fearing their own noise might disturb such stillness. This oppression and frustration heavily burdened the chest.


    Jeff Galas had never known the mornings at home could be this quiet.


    If it were a usual day, at this moment, one would be able to hear Jenna¡¯s nagging and Annie¡¯s protests. Annie always wanted to try some junk food, but Jenna always refused on the grounds of health. Their war never ended.


    The sound of the school bus¡¯s engine stopping at the door would become the start of another argument, with Annie wishing to return to school, but Jenna always believed that Annie¡¯s health did not permit it, and then Annie would look to him for help.


    With his eyes closed, Jeff tasted bitterness in his mouth¡ª


    ¡°Dad, I hardly have any friends. I don¡¯t know any of the kids at school. If this continues, I won¡¯t have many people to invite to my funeral.¡±


    Then, Jenna would scold Annie harshly, she couldn¡¯t stand the word ¡°funeral.¡±


    A lump stuck in Jeff¡¯s throat, why not let Annie eat some junk food, why not let her return to school and enjoy life like other kids her age... Were they being too selfish?


    Such quietness was unbearable.


    A surge of nameless anger rose, and Jeff just wanted to find someone to argue with.


    Without reason.


    Suddenly looking up, Jeff saw Jenna in front of him, busy with breakfast but then stopping abruptly, standing there dazed, staring into nothingness, her soul already lost somewhere, without sadness or pain, just emptiness.


    The rage, stuck in his chest, yet ultimately dissipated.


    Jeff felt annoyed and dejectedly dropped his fork.


    Clang.


    The fork and the plate collided with a crisp sound that, in the quiet house, was especially loud, almost like thunder.


    Jenna startled, her body shook, but she hurriedly tried to cover her panic, pretending to continue bustling about, saying in a fluster.


    ¡°Alright, alright, it¡¯s almost ready.¡±


    Watching Jenna strive to pretend everything was normal, the breath stuck in Jeff¡¯s chest. He too hastily bowed his head to hide his eyes, afraid they might betray fear and sadness.


    Suddenly, Jeff stood up, speaking in a low voice.


    ¡°I just remembered, I have a meeting this morning, I better head over soon, I¡¯ll handle breakfast at the office.¡±


    Jenna was still trying to persuade him, ¡°I could just make you a sandwich right now...¡±


    Jeff waved his hand, ¡°No need.¡±


    Turning around, he took big strides, almost running away, he just wanted to leave this place, this quiet that was suffocating.


    Suddenly, as he pulled open the door, Jeff was about to rush out when he saw Li Wei, who was about to knock on the door. Both of them were stunned.


    Jeff¡¯s eyes widened, at a loss, his voice stuck in his throat.


    Li Wei showed a polite smile, ¡°Heading to work so early?¡±


    Jeff shook his head then nodded, his mind a mess, ¡°You... Li Wei... I mean, how did you end up here?¡±


    Li Wei peeked inside, ¡°I came specifically to visit you, but if you are busy, I can come back this afternoon or tomorrow.¡±


    Jeff, ¡°Oh, no, that¡¯s fine, now is good. Is there anything you need? Sorry, please come in. It¡¯s certainly not hospitable to make guests stand at the door.¡±


    Incoherently, Jeff stepped aside, welcoming Li Wei into the home.


    Upon entering, Li Wei saw Jenna coming out of the kitchen.


    Li Wei felt a pang of heartache.


    Not because Jenna was disheveled and messy; on the contrary, Jenna had returned to her usual neat and elegant self, her hair meticulously done up, even wearing makeup, lightly dusted, everything just as normal.


    It was apparent that Jenna was doing her utmost to keep everything just as it had been¡ª


    as if Annie had never left.


    It wasn¡¯t just Mr. and Mrs. Gallas, even Li Wei himself couldn¡¯t quite grasp the reality that Annie was gone.


    Subconsciously, Li Wei looked up the stairs directly in front of the main door and waited briefly, but with no sign of activity, he sheepishly shifted his gaze away.


    ¡°Hey, Jenna, sorry for disrupting your morning like this,¡± Li Wei said with a smile as he greeted her.


    Jenna waved her hands dismissively, ¡°No, not at all, we were just about to have breakfast. Would you like to join us?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Although I¡¯d love to, I had breakfast before I came over, and I still have to head to the team later. If I don¡¯t want to throw up during practice, I better control myself.¡±


    A light joke slightly eased the atmosphere.


    But soon, it became quiet again, a painful silence filling the space.


    Jeff quickly extended an invitation for Li Wei to go to the dining room, where it was easier to sit down.


    Li Wei saw, at a glance, three sets of neatly arranged cutlery on the dining table.


    Mr. and Mrs. Gallas busied themselves, boiling water and rummaging for tea leaves, insisting on their task despite Li Wei¡¯s repeated refusals.


    After the commotion, a cup of green tea brewed from a Lipton¡¯s tea bag was placed in front of Li Wei. He was slightly amused by it, but he did not refuse their kindness.


    Jeff sat down opposite Li Wei, while Jenna stood by the sink, and then again fell into an awkward silence. Even Li Wei could feel how torturous this quiet was.


    Everything was just as Annie had said.


    So Annie knew her parents well, accurately predicting the future.


    Li Wei tasted a hint of bitterness on his tongue but still flashed a smile, ¡°Jenna, please sit down, you really don¡¯t need to keep standing.¡±


    Jenna declined at first, but seeing Li Wei¡¯s insistence, she finally sat down.


    Li Wei was thinking, pondering, how should he start the conversation?


    This was somewhat difficult.


    Taking a deep breath, Li Wei decided to cut to the chase, ¡°Jeff, Jenna, this Sunday, we will be facing the New England Patriots at Arrowhead Stadium. I hope you can come to the match.¡±


    Mr. and Mrs. Gallas were taken aback, completely unprepared for Li Wei¡¯s purpose, exchanging glances but neither had any clues.


    Jenna looked at Li Wei, ¡°Thank you, really, I appreciate the invitation, but...¡±


    Even before she could finish her sentence, Jenna could see Li Wei flashing a bitter smile.


    Despite her confusion, Jenna continued without pausing, ¡°We can¡¯t accept. Honestly, neither of us understands football at all, just the occasional excitement. I don¡¯t even know the rules of football, nor do I understand the purpose of all the tackling on the field.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s not personal, I feel the same about all sports, I don¡¯t see the point. So we¡¯ll pass on such an opportunity, better leave it for the fans who do enjoy football.¡±


    ¡°Karen, Karen and Felix would surely love it.¡±


    Li Wei quietly waited for Jenna to finish speaking, then glanced at Jeff, who nodded in affirmation. This allowed Li Wei to release a slight sigh.


    ¡°Indeed, Annie was right.¡±

 Chapter 785: 784 Spiritual Continuation

    Chapter 785: 784 Spiritual Continuation


    Li Wei let out a long sigh, a hint of bitterness seeping into his smile.


    ¡°Indeed, Annie was right.¡±


    Jenna was stunned, and so was Jeff.


    Jenna abruptly looked up at Li Wei, her lips trembling slightly as she tried to speak; then, like slamming on the brakes, she cut herself off, staring wide-eyed at Li Wei, a torrent of emotions surging within her.


    Realizing her own lapse, Jenna hurriedly forced a stiff smile, trying to lift the corners of her mouth in an effort to mask her panic, feigning ease as she spoke.


    ¡°What did Annie say? Heh, that girl never has a quiet moment.¡±


    Instantly, the chattering image of Annie came to mind for Li Wei, vivid as if alive, and he couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    ¡°Annie said, she hoped you could forget her.¡±


    Jenna was taken aback.


    Jeff¡¯s eyes bulged, ¡°Bullshit.¡±


    The swear word slipped out without a thought.


    At this moment, Mr. and Mrs. Galas were too distraught to care about Li Wei in front of them; they would not allow anyone to speak ill of Annie.


    Jeff took a deep breath, but he still couldn¡¯t contain his anger, ¡°Mr. Li Wei, this is my house, and if you came here to spout nonsense, I ask you to get out immediately. You¡¯re not welcome here.¡±


    However, Li Wei did not shrink back, standing tall as he met Jenna and Jeff¡¯s gaze head-on.


    ¡°Annie said, after she left, you would become like zombies, staring blankly at the air in silence, you¡¯d be at a loss without the center of your lives, you would deny reality, you¡¯d be trapped in your memories unable to pull yourselves out, you would torture yourselves in pain and sorrow.¡±


    ¡°Winter passes, spring comes, but you still can¡¯t forgive yourselves, forever staying in that world of ice and snow.¡±


    ¡°You would wonder if it was something you did wrong that led to such a tragedy, you would repeatedly regret your decisions, you would agonize over not giving Annie a better childhood, you refuse to move on, to forget the past, and you would continue to punish yourselves.¡±


    Jeff was stunned.


    He forgot to breathe, ¡°I didn¡¯t...¡±


    But the rest of the words disappeared in his throat, as if struck by lightning, he stood frozen in place, his eyes devoid of tears, but pulled into a vast sadness, crumbling bit by bit.


    Jenna shook her head repeatedly, ¡°No, I won¡¯t, I didn¡¯t.¡± She sat up straight, quickly explaining, ¡°I didn¡¯t, how could Annie think that.¡±


    ¡°Annie heard it,¡± Li Wei said.


    Jenna, ¡°What?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°In the ICU, she heard everything you talked about.¡±


    ¡°Others advised you that after Annie¡¯s death, you should pick up the pieces of sadness, that life must go on, that you can¡¯t be trapped forever in Annie¡¯s illness, that you should conceive another child and continue living.¡±


    ¡°But you refused.¡±


    ¡°You said you would always be Annie¡¯s mother.¡±


    ¡°Annie heard it all.¡±


    Jenna covered her mouth, gasping in shock, as if her spine had been snapped in an instant, her whole body slumping, ¡°Oh, God.¡±


    Jenna¡¯s eyes widened, her mouth agape, staring blankly at Li Wei, unable to express or move, yet tears simply slid down her face.


    All of this was just too cruel.


    Jeff tried to comfort his wife, but when his left hand lay on Jenna¡¯s shoulder, it had no strength. He turned his head away, his whole body shaking uncontrollably.


    Li Wei was no different.


    In an instant, as if drained of strength, Li Wei¡¯s shoulders sagged as well.


    ¡°So, Annie hopes that you will forget her, that everyone will forget her. She doesn¡¯t want you to be imprisoned by memories; she needs you to move on with your lives, she needs you to find happiness and joy again.¡±


    ¡°Just like Annie did.¡±


    ¡°She always faced everything with positivity and sunshine, even in the presence of the Grim Reaper.¡±


    His voice was strained.


    Li Wei took a deep breath, struggling to keep his overwhelming emotions in check.


    ¡°But, Jenna, Jeff, do you know?¡±


    ¡°Annie won¡¯t be forgotten.¡±


    ¡°Annie will fight with us; she will accompany the Chieftain in their relentless struggle and run, she will become a part of the Chieftain, a continuation of life.¡±


    ¡°We will continue to move forward, carrying Annie¡¯s dreams, carrying Annie¡¯s spirit.¡±


    ¡°Jenna.¡±


    Li Wei called out, and Jenna looked up, staring blankly at Li Wei, completely losing her ability to respond.


    Li Wei gazed into Jenna¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°You know, Annie always wanted to witness my games in person; she regretted missing the divisional playoffs, but now there¡¯s still the conference championship.¡±


    ¡°So, I hope she can see.¡±


    ¡°I will reach the end zone, just like Annie hoped.¡±


    Words have both temperature and weight.


    Li Wei took an envelope out of his pocket, which contained two tickets for the conference championship, placed it on the table, and then pushed it toward Mr. and Mrs. Galas.


    Li Wei wanted to say more, but he found that all words seemed pale and powerless, and he ended up swallowing them all.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m off to train now.¡±


    ¡°For the conference championship, we¡¯re not just looking forward to a single touchdown, are we? We should take Annie with us to the Super Bowl final.¡±


    Then, without saying anything more, Li Wei stood up, turned around, and left.


    Jenna tried to call Li Wei back, but looking up at Li Wei¡¯s retreating figure, clad in the red number twenty-three jersey, she felt as though she saw Annie.


    ¡°Run, Li Wei, run!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s here, he¡¯s there, he¡¯s everywhere, he is the Edgerunner, Li Wei Li Wei Li Wei!¡±


    Annie was jumping for joy, shouting and singing with all her might, her radiant smile and excited cheers reverberating in the ears, shining like a little sun.


    Suddenly, Jenna was struck fiercely, unable to control herself any longer, she completely fell apart, burying her head in Jeff¡¯s arms, crying her heart out.


    Jenna cried so sorrowfully and painfully, as if her heart were tearing apart.


    Li Wei stood at the door, hearing the sounds from inside, he looked up to the sky of Kansas City. The weight on his chest seemed to ease a little, and he felt his blood and passion slowly stir within him.


    ¡°Hey, Annie, ready to fight?¡±


    ...


    ¡°David...¡±


    ¡°David!¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to go to the game?¡±


    West looked toward the Old Oak Tavern and shouted.


    Anderson waved his hand, ¡°I need to be here, with everyone. You go, take my strength with you, we might need it this year.¡±


    West didn¡¯t say much else, waved his hand, and walked out.


    Looking up, he felt a touch uneasy¡ª


    Today, Sunday, the conference championship match day, with the drums of war formally sounding.


    However, the weather in Kansas City was discouraging.


    Clouds covered the sky, a mass of darkness, devoid of any brilliance, layers of gray pressed above, suffocating.


    Barely on tiptoes, it seemed possible to touch the sky.


    Oppressive, rolling, thundering, the wind howled as if heralding the end of the world.


    It was still morning, and the perceived temperature had already fallen below minus ten degrees Celsius. Snow or rain might have improved the conditions; but for now, the darkness simply hung overhead, brewing a storm.


    Huh.


    West exhaled deeply, it seemed the weather knew as well, how critical this match was, expressing its mood blatantly¡ª


    Against the New England Patriots, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ most important and toughest fight of the season, a match not inferior to the Super Bowl in any way.


    The storm, starting mightily from Foxborough, made its way south to reign over Kansas City.

 Chapter 786: 785 Temporarily Convened

    Chapter 786: 785 Temporarily Convened


    Over two seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots had met a total of three times¡ª


    All three encounters occurred in Foxborough, with the Kansas City Chiefs always playing on the road and having to face the unpredictable and thoroughly miserable weather of Foxborough.


    Now, at their fourth meeting, the Kansas City Chiefs finally had the chance to host the New England Patriots. But what was up with the weather this time?


    In a daze, it was hard to tell whether this was Foxborough or Kansas City.


    So, after nearly two decades of New England Patriots dominating the NFL, did they now even have the ability to control the weather? Could they truly transform Kansas City into Foxborough, preparing to play as if it were a home game?


    Complaining felt futile.


    ¡°Charles...¡±


    Directly in front, Provo could hardly wait and was calling out continuously.


    ¡°Today¡¯s game day, parking is difficult, we must leave earlier.¡±


    West snapped back to attention, hurriedly hoisted up the bags large and small in front of him, quickly got into the car, and headed towards Arrowhead Stadium with Provo¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs vs. the New England Patriots game was scheduled at five forty in the afternoon, and as of now, there were almost ten hours before the game began.


    Even the typically crowded Old Oak Tavern was eerily quiet on game day, without a soul in sight.


    Nevertheless, Provo and West set out.


    Because today¡¯s game carried a heavy responsibility. It was not just a conference final but also a face-off against the formidable opponents, the New England Patriots.


    Rarely, West had left the Old Oak Tavern, heading to Arrowhead Stadium after a long absence.


    Just a moment ago, when Provo urged him, West didn¡¯t argue and quickly got into the car, thinking they were early enough. Full of thoughts about the upcoming event, they had seriously underestimated Kansas City¡¯s enthusiasm¡ª


    From afar, about a kilometer from Arrowhead Stadium, traffic had already started to jam.


    West was completely dumbfounded: one kilometer, what exactly does that entail?


    There are not many skyscrapers in Kansas City, offering an open view¡ªthey could already see Arrowhead Stadium, but though it seemed close, it felt impossibly far, with the dense multitude of vehicles ahead stretching out like ants, creating the illusion that this short one kilometer might never be reached.


    Regular season tickets are often dominated by home fans, mostly season ticket holders, with only a small fraction of fans buying tickets temporarily.


    But for postseason games, each ticket is sold separately, requiring everyone to wait in line, both online and offline, leading to a sudden increase in the number of away and neutral fans, thus changing the entire stadium atmosphere.


    This conference final didn¡¯t only attract fans from the New England region. Because of the spectacular and high-profile nature of the game, countless neutral fans also thronged to take part, marking a peak tourism moment for Kansas City as tens of thousands of unfamiliar faces flooded the city.


    And now, they thronged towards Arrowhead Stadium together.


    The event was unprecedented.


    Kansas City had not been this bustling and crowded in a long, long time.


    Provo and West were early enough, but some were even earlier; soon, a lengthy line formed behind them, with congested vehicles meticulously aligned, stretching toward the city along the overhead bridge¡ª


    The line of cars swiftly exceeded two kilometers and continued to grow.


    Because of the traffic jam, vehicles moved slowly. Many drivers rolled down their windows to chat, waving their red home jerseys in the air, gradually connecting into a continuous stream, flowing like red magma.


    ¡°Chieftain, we must win!¡±


    ¡°Soar!¡±


    ¡°Fight! Fight! Fight!¡±


    Then, not to be outdone, the New England Patriots fans emerged, waving their blue home jerseys despite being in an away game, shouting at the top of their lungs.


    ¡°Patriots are the champions!¡±


    The next second, New England Patriots fans chimed in one by one, the roars echoing in every nook and cranny, forming a confrontation.


    Roar, roar, roar!


    ¡°Patriots are the champions!¡±


    ¡°Patriots are the champions!¡±


    Shouts rose and fell, signals of war were all around.


    In the flowing magma appeared a deep and bright blue, the vivid colors colliding, becoming even more dazzling, igniting passion, and everyone¡¯s blood started boiling.


    No wonder people always say, from time immemorial red and blue have...


    In the football leagues of the United Kingdom, the red and blue rivalry is the theme that has spanned decades, essentially becoming a match emblematic of the ¡°national derby,¡± like ¡°Liverpool vs. Chelsea,¡± ¡°Manchester United vs. Manchester City,¡± where each duel embraces passion.


    And now, the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots seemed to be inheriting the mantle, becoming NFL¡¯s emerging classic ¡°Red and Blue Battle.¡±


    This was only the morning of game day, and fans¡¯ enthusiasm had already sparked flames.


    West¡¯s face was filled with shock.


    Provo noticed, ¡°I¡¯ve warned you, we need to hurry up.¡±


    West took a deep breath, clenched his fists tighter, his blood boiled even more, ¡°It looks like we¡¯re in for a tough fight today.¡±


    Despite the slow progress, it never completely stalled, and Provo and West made their way to Arrowhead Stadium at a snail¡¯s pace.


    In a corner of the parking lot, one could easily see a surging crowd dense around a black SUV.


    At that moment, the SUV¡¯s rear compartment was open, and one could see it fully packed with boxes, neatly stuffing every corner.


    Provo sprinted over, ¡°Hey, come over here and help out, we need to unload the stuff in the rear compartment too. Let¡¯s distribute them here.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Karen; hey, Felix, looking sharp today.¡±


    Roar, roar, the surroundings erupted.


    A small group followed Provo, with Felix sitting in a wheelchair, his cheeks slightly flushed, trying to respond to Provo but realizing he had already turned and left, Felix could only spread his hands in helplessness.


    Then, he refocused his attention.


    ¡°We need to be like dandelions, relying solely on our own strength, we can¡¯t cover the entire field, but we need to cover every corner of Arrowhead Stadium.¡±


    ¡°So, we are the seeds, spreading like dandelions.¡±


    ¡°We explain the situation to every fan, then hope they will help, if they don¡¯t, no worries, we quickly move on to the next fan, we need to act fast.¡±


    Karen patted Felix on the shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everyone will help out, because we are the Chiefs.¡±


    Felix was still anxious, hearing his mother¡¯s reassurances, he took a deep breath and in the midst of panic and tension, found his courage again.


    It wasn¡¯t easy, but Felix believed in himself. He could do it, he had to.


    ¡°Guys, we¡¯re pressed for time.¡±


    ¡°I know this is all happening last minute, and it¡¯s really difficult to ask for this suddenly; but I still hope it can happen.¡±


    ¡°I believe in everyone, as Li Wei said, because we are the Chiefs. We are not some major city, we don¡¯t have any fancy gimmicks, we are just a bunch of blue-collar workers, diligently, down-to-earth living; but we¡¯re still fighting at our posts, living strong, we won¡¯t easily bow down to fate.¡±


    ¡°Today, we¡¯ll show that tenacity.¡±


    ¡°Thank you to everyone willing to participate, please make sure this gratitude reaches every spectator who comes to the venue, including New England Patriots fans, because we don¡¯t need to be despicable, we aren¡¯t that ugly, we face defeat and challenges with integrity.¡±


    ¡°Guys, let¡¯s be the proud Chiefs!¡±

 Chapter 787: Burning Fire

    Chapter 787: Burning Fire


    ¡°Damn!¡±


    ¡°Get out of the way!¡±


    ¡°Cheater! You stole our victory!¡±


    ¡°Weasel!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you, I¡¯m going to kill you!¡±


    In one instance, Kansas City was preparing for the upcoming league finals.


    In another, the National Conference finals in New Orleans had just concluded. Chaos erupted at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome with curses and insults raining down.


    Above the field, however, was a different scene.


    Ah, ah ah ah!


    Aaron Donald clenched his fists, raised his head to the sky, and let out a primal roar. His baby face was fierce and murderous, bursting with lethal rage, spreading bloodlust without reservation.


    Not far away, Drew Brees stood hands on hips, dejectedly hanging his head, his face hidden inside the helmet, unrecognizable, yet conveying deep frustration and anger¡ª


    So close, just a tiny bit close.


    This could have been the New Orleans Saints¡¯ best chance to clinch the championship in the Super Bowl since their peak in the 2009 season, after a whole decade.


    Yet, they still missed it.


    The American Conference finals were set to start before the National Conference finals.


    The New Orleans Saints were hosting the Los Angeles Rams, and while people expected a high-scoring game, surprisingly, the defensive group took center stage.


    Whether it was Goff or Brees, both were restricted in their passing performances. Even Brees, who had the highest career pass completion rate among active players, fared poorly. Not only did his pass completion rate drop below 50%, but he also threw two interceptions, and the expected shootout did not take place.


    It was not until the official game clock paused in the fourth quarter that the struggle remained unresolved, with the Saints leading by just one field goal; then the Los Angeles Rams clawed back from the brink with a forty-three-yard field goal, tying the score and forcibly dragging this NFC Championship into overtime.


    However.


    The deadlock persisted in overtime.


    The New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams both had opportunities, but they squandered them, and each team ended up punting on their two offensive possessions.


    With no team scoring and the deadlock continuing, it meant whoever could score first, be it a field goal, touchdown, or safety, would take the victory.


    The Los Angeles Rams seized the opportunity.


    Rather than attributing the achievement to Goff¡¯s offensive group, it was the special duty group¡¯s kicker, Greg Zuerlein, who descended from the sky like a superhero on a Rainbow Cloud and saved the Los Angeles Rams:


    After tying the score with a forty-three-yard field goal in the final moments of regulation time, Zuerlein kicked a fifty-seven-yard field goal with just two minutes left in the first half of overtime, astonishingly ending the game.


    Field goal victory.


    Final score, ¡°26:23¡±.


    Fierce, tenacious, agonizing, grueling.


    The National Conference finals ended in a tragic and brutal manner.


    This year, Brees was thirty-nine years old; he did not know how many years he could continue to play, nor if such an opportunity would arise again.


    The unfulfilled ambitions of the veteran made the usually calm Brees stand in place for a long time, unable to recover, needing more time than in previous years to swallow the bitterness of this defeat.


    In stark contrast, the vibrant Los Angeles Rams cheered and celebrated exuberantly. If there could be anything more joyful than advancing to the Super Bowl, it would be advancing on the shoulders of a defeated rival in an away game, a joy that could double their happiness.


    The Mercedes-Benz Superdome was not pleased¡ª


    The victory should have been theirs, the despicable Los Angeles Rams stole their victory.


    The events unfolded like this, occurring with one minute and forty-five seconds left in regular game time.


    Before Los Angeles Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein became a superhero, pulling the game out of the fire, the New Orleans Saints¡¯ offensive group tightly held the initiative.


    At that time, the score was ¡°20 to 20.¡±


    Brees once again showcased his elite quarterback prowess, with a series of smooth passing attacks reverting to peak form, achieving a one hundred percent pass completion rate, and leading the New Orleans Saints past midfield in less than two minutes.


    Then, facing a third and ten, Brees calmly made a precise pass, finding his wide receiver Tommylee Lewis. However, Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman hit Lewis before the ball arrived, knocking him down and resulting in an incomplete pass.


    According to league rules, hitting a player without the ball is illegal pass interference, a penalty of ten yards.


    That means Robey-Coleman¡¯s illegal hit on Lewis directly awarded the New Orleans Saints a first down, allowing the offensive group to enter the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ red zone. Next, the New Orleans Saints would have three attempts to reach the end zone.


    If they had scored, the score would have been ¡°27 to 20,¡± and the New Orleans Saints could have seized control of their fate.


    However, there is no ¡°if¡± because no penalty was called, so the New Orleans Saints struck out, and what could have been a touchdown became just a field goal, altering the score to ¡°23 to 20.¡±


    Afterward, Zuerlein kicked a field goal to tie the score.


    The precondition was a penalty call.


    But the referees turned a blind eye, literally blind, making no call at all. Thus, Robey-Coleman successfully defended, and Brees¡¯ pass was incomplete.


    Then overtime ensued.


    Then the Los Angeles Rams pulled off the kill.


    That moment shocked the entire league because Robey-Coleman¡¯s foul was overt, with absolutely no room for controversy¡ªit was a clear foul.


    In fact, the league also realized it. Right after the game ended, the league office immediately issued a statement admitting it was a wrong call.


    But that was all, the league merely admitted the misjudgment, without any additional remarks, bearing in mind that it was a misjudgment that altered the outcome and history of the game.


    Only two weeks after the season ended did the league belatedly issue an apology letter, expressing regret for the erroneous call in the final moments of the National Conference finals.


    It was too late.


    An apology letter could not change any facts, nor could it salvage Brees¡¯ career.


    Many indications suggest that the league was manipulating the outcome, as they needed a new icon, they needed to build Donald¡¯s image; thus, Brees and his New Orleans Saints became the sacrificial lambs, as an obvious foul was overlooked¡ªit was that simple.


    Although there was no evidence, this is what the fans of the New Orleans Saints believed.


    In fact, not only the Saints¡¯ fans, but many neutral fans also expressed the same view¡ªnobody likes an immoral victory.


    No wonder after the game ended, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome went completely wild, nearly rioting¡ª


    ¡°Thieves!¡±


    ¡°Cheaters!¡±


    ¡°Rats!¡±


    ¡°You stole our victory!¡±


    ¡°Shame, your so-called victory is a disgrace! You should be ashamed of yourselves!¡±


    The fans of the New Orleans Saints were furiously outraged, and their historical enmity with the Los Angeles Rams only made the bitterness and anger of this moment surge even more, seeing the Los Angeles Rams celebrating their victory in their own backyard¡ªthe fans¡¯ rationality completely collapsed.


    Cursing and abuse quickly escalated into violence.


    A storm of water bottles, umbrellas, shoes, and cell phones flew down onto the field; the Los Angeles Rams players could not celebrate any longer and, under the protection of security personnel, covered their heads as they left the field and hurried onto the team bus to leave the scene without even catching their breath.


    If they had lingered on the field, nobody knew what would have happened next.

 Chapter 788: 787 Never Walk Alone

    Chapter 788: 787 Never Walk Alone


    The air was burning.


    The air in New Orleans was burning, and so was the air in Kansas City.


    Today, the weather in Kansas City was bad, to put it accurately, terrible. It was overcast and gloomy all day long. The sky looked as if it could collapse at any moment, yet stubbornly, there was neither rain nor snow. It was more than just subzero temperatures¡ª the bone-chilling wind made it courageous to step out of the warmth of indoors.


    However, near Arrowhead Stadium, one could distinctly feel a force, a tenacious and intense energy, strong enough to ignite the air.


    The cold persisted, but hearts trembled with scorching heat.


    Jenna couldn¡¯t believe her eyes; everything in front of her was completely different, at least from the atmosphere when she had come to the VIP box to watch a game during the seventeenth week of the regular season. It was as if it were a whole new world.


    Jenna wasn¡¯t sure if she should have come, hesitating until the very last moment, but ultimately, it was Jeff who convinced her.


    So, they arrived at Arrowhead Stadium¡ª


    After enduring three kilometers of queuing and a full two hours of cheering and singing, they finally broke through the crowd of packed sardines to reach the stadium.


    The next second, they were astonished by the carnival-like scene before them.


    Astonishment filled their eyes.


    Jenna, ¡°This...¡±


    Jenna looked to Jeff, seeking an answer, but saw that Jeff too was puzzled, ¡°Who am I, where am I, what am I doing?¡±


    A life¡¯s interrogation.


    She had clearly been to Arrowhead Stadium before, but now it felt as if the north, south, east, and west had all been swept up into a storm, confused and indistinguishable.


    Jenna was considering asking for directions, but then¡ª


    Her vision was filled with a surging heat, and every movement, every glance overflowed with a scorching energy. Everything was so bright, it was hard to look directly at it.


    Jenna felt like an outsider, as if merely being there, without even getting closer, her sadness, her pain, her repression almost suffocated her.


    She wanted to leave.


    ¡°Jeff...¡± Jenna felt that ultimately, she couldn¡¯t stay here, let alone watch a game¡ª


    Her Annie was gone; how could she care about the life or death of football?


    However, before Jeff could respond, a figure in a red jersey approached.


    Jenna instinctively stepped back to make room, but then stopped the next second.


    It was a girl, about seventeen or eighteen years old, her face full of vitality and zest, wearing a number twenty-three jersey.


    Jenna was stunned, she felt as if she were seeing Annie.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, good afternoon. Are you here to support the Kansas City Chiefs?¡±


    Jenna nodded absentmindedly.


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s great. We¡¯re preparing to hold an event today at Arrowhead Stadium, initiated by a girl named Annie Galas...¡±


    Jenna gasped, ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Annie Galas. She¡¯s a committed Kansas City Chiefs fan. She has been fighting cancer, knowing it was a battle she couldn¡¯t win, but she kept fighting until the last moment. Like the Chiefs, she gave her all, leaving no regrets, regardless of the outcome, standing tall and telling everyone, I have no regrets.¡±


    ¡°So, Annie wanted everyone to know, no matter how hard it is, no matter how painful, you¡¯re never walking alone. We face it together.¡±


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, would you like to join today¡¯s home event?¡±


    Jenna stood there, tears streaming down her face.


    The girl, a bit concerned, quickly fumbled in her backpack and handed her a tissue, ¡°Ma¡¯am, are you okay?¡±


    Jenna took the tissue, shaking her head, ¡°No, I¡¯m fine, I really am fine.¡±


    Tears breached, but this time, a smile also began to lift the corners of her mouth.


    Raising her head, Jenna looked at Jeff, took a deep breath, then slowly straightened her back and opened her shoulders, her tears shimmered with determination.


    ¡°What do we need to do?¡±


    ...


    Phew.


    He released a long breath and stood still, looking up with his chest puffed out at the exit of the player¡¯s tunnel¡ªnervous yet excited in just the right measure, prepared for the game ahead.


    A gentle pat came from a shoulder, and when Li Wei turned, he saw Mahomes.


    ¡°Rookie, your shoelaces.¡±


    Looking down, Li Wei noticed his shoelaces had come loose, so he quickly bent down to retie them.


    Mahomes noticed a small name tagged on the side of Li Wei¡¯s sneakers:


    ¡°Annie.¡±


    From today, Li Wei was not going to run alone on the field.


    Mahomes¡¯s eyes grew slightly watery, but he regained his composure¡ªthe more so, the more they needed to stay united and give their all.


    Not just Li Wei, but all the other players in the tunnel as well turned their eyes towards him, their gazes bustling and converging on him.


    Houston, Kelsey, Berry stood by his side, yet they all turned to look at Li Wei. Everyone thought Houston, being the most experienced, would lead the pre-game pep talk, but to their surprise, he, too, looked at Li Wei.


    A smile lifted the corners of Li Wei¡¯s mouth as he scanned the crowd, then raised his voice and declared,


    ¡°Hey, let¡¯s grab some touchdowns.¡±


    Effortlessly casual and brimming with confidence.


    Hey!


    The crowd shouted in unison, then Houston was the first to high-five Li Wei and confidently ran towards the tunnel, followed by others, who similarly high-fived him and proudly raced to the field.


    One by one.


    Felix was watching the tunnel intently, the first to notice Houston¡¯s figure, then turned back to look at Karen, West, and the others beside him, not saying a word, only lifting the red scarf in his right hand and waving it once.


    Like a fireworks signal¡ª


    They¡¯re coming!


    ¡°When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high, and don¡¯t be afraid of the dark.¡±


    The singing began.


    The start was not good¡ªstumbling, intermittent, and out of tune; however, no one gave up, they continued to sing out loud, freely releasing themselves.


    ¡°At the end of the storm, there¡¯s a golden sky, and the sweet singing of the Oriole.¡±


    Gradually, the singing coalesced. The voices of thousands bound together, eventually transforming into a formidable force.


    Jenna was stunned, completely stunned¡ª


    Today, she was not in the VIP room but in the stands with all the fans, immersed in that energy, feeling its powerful surge up close.


    She... she knew this song.


    She remembered!


    When Li Wei faced the humiliation and provocation of New England fans at Gillette Stadium and fought back resolutely, Annie had always hummed this song.


    Annie said that Li Wei would never walk alone because she was there with him, alongside countless fans from Kansas City, facing all the storms together.


    They fought side by side.


    Now, as Jenna heard the song again, it was as if Annie was singing it aloud.


    Uncontrollably, a surge of emotions swelled; a hard-to-describe warmth gathered at her chest, pulsating, swelling, nearly exploding.


    ¡°Forward, through the wind; forward, through the rain.


    Perhaps, dreams might be betrayed.


    Forward, forward! With hope in your heart, you¡¯ll never walk alone.¡±


    One line after another, so tender yet so resilient, so tragic yet so grand, the song resounded and swirled ceaselessly around Arrowhead Stadium.


    When Li Wei entered the field, he witnessed firsthand this sea of red flames.


    Mighty and fierce, defying and fiercely blazing, like the force of life itself, standing against the raging storms, standing at the edge of the world, singing aloud¡ª


    You¡¯ll never walk alone.

 Chapter 789: 788 grand scroll

    Chapter 789: 788 grand scroll


    ¡°Forward, forward, with hope in your hearts! And you¡¯ll never walk alone!


    Forward, forward, with hope in your hearts! And you¡¯ll never walk alone!¡±


    Again and again, the grand and resilient singing reverberated through Arrowhead Stadium, the power that came from deep within the soul, the warmth generated from the beating heart, surging forth like a sudden, torrential summer downpour.


    And then.


    Felix raised his red scarf high, West, Provo, and others quickly followed suit, the swath of red scarves like a giant wave, rolling out in a formidable spread, sweeping across the entire audience.


    Jeff noticed and quickly raised his right hand.


    He saw that Jenna hadn¡¯t moved, completely immersed in the thunderous atmosphere, and hurriedly nudged Jenna¡¯s shoulder; Jenna also raised her hand high.


    The waves, rolling on.


    One after another, until finally, all of Arrowhead Stadium raised their hands¡ª


    Red and white.


    With red as the canvas, white as the brushstrokes, although there were some New England Patriots fans who refused to cooperate, making the canvas incomplete, it was enough. The Arrowhead Stadium, with its capacity for eighty thousand people, was filled to the brim, forming a spectacular panorama that unfolded before them.


    There, it was clearly a painting.


    A girl, with large eyes and a radiant smile that could light up the entire world.


    Beside the profile of the girl was a phrase, ¡°You¡¯ll never walk alone.¡±


    Jenna had no idea what was happening, frantically and curiously looking around the stadium, but soon the answer came to her. She couldn¡¯t believe her eyes, staring blankly around, her eyes wide open, looking over again and again, muttering to herself.


    ¡°That¡¯s Annie. That¡¯s Annie!¡±


    That girl, was unmistakably Annie, Jenna gaped in disbelief at the scene before her.


    She gasped.


    Drawing in a sharp breath!


    Annie had always dreamed of coming to Arrowhead Stadium, standing among the audience, watching the game with the eighty thousand Kansas City Chiefs fans, witnessing Li Wei reach the end zone, accompanying the team in battle.


    However, Annie still missed it.


    But she never imagined that she would arrive at Arrowhead Stadium in such a way. Looking at that smiling face, Jenna could no longer hold back and broke into tears.


    Her ears caught the anthem that continued to echo and resonate.


    ¡°Forward, forward, with hope in your hearts, and you¡¯ll never walk alone!¡±


    In the center of the field, the Kansas City Chiefs players stopped in their tracks and looked up at the stadium.


    All this time, they were the protagonists, standing tall under the spotlight while the Arrowhead Stadium fans concentrated on watching them, witnessing their performance; but today, they swapped roles.


    The fans took the stage beneath the spotlight, and the players looked up at those faces, both familiar and unfamiliar, witnessing them ignite Arrowhead Stadium with the heat of their souls.


    Awe, struck them square in the face.


    No one was an exception.


    Li Wei just stood among the crowd, quietly observing this scene, deeply etching the impressive sight before his eyes into his memory.


    This was Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ moment, and it was also Annie¡¯s moment.


    ¡°... We are witnessing a scene that is heartbreakingly Kansas City¡¯s own,¡±


    Inside the broadcasting booth, the duo of Nantz and Romo provided the live commentary, but even before the match began, they were faced with a serious challenge.


    Nantz was overwhelmed with emotion, his words slightly strained.


    ¡°Annie Galas, an eleven-year-old Kansas City Chiefs fan, passed away four days ago from leukemia, forever departing from this world.¡±


    ¡°Clearly, for this city, for this team, it hasn¡¯t been easy,¡±


    ¡°Amid the adversity of an economic crisis, they have been striving and persisting, waiting for the first light of a turnaround in life. Finally, the Kansas City Chiefs emerged, winning the Super Bowl last season and igniting hope for the city.¡±


    ¡°However, reality is still full of bumps, delivering yet another blow to this city.¡±


    ¡°Life is never easy. Just when we think one storm has passed, the next one unexpectedly sweeps us into the torrent all over again.¡±


    ¡°This time, they¡¯re doing the same, united as one, gathering at Arrowhead Stadium, standing tall with the team, and facing life¡¯s hardships.¡±


    ¡°You will never walk alone.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what Kansas City said to Annie Galas, and it¡¯s also what the Kansas City Chiefs are saying to every person facing adversity.¡±


    ¡°Amidst the hardships and twists of life, in endless darkness and pain, everyone is moving forward with a heavy load, surrounded by loneliness and confusion. But the Kansas City Chiefs are taking concrete actions to make their voices heard, telling every solitary soul¡ª¡±


    You, will never walk alone.¡±


    Overwhelmed with emotion, Nantz¡¯s heart surged.


    Turning around, he caught Romo secretly wiping his eyes.


    He knew Romo was reminded of his final years with the Dallas Cowboys.


    Romo had always been Romo¡ªhumble, down-to-earth, sincere, dedicated. He had the skill and ability, but always lacked that final breath in crucial moments.


    Character determines fate.


    Because Romo was always the good guy, he lacked that killer instinct when it mattered the most.


    In Dallas, he never really had the full and wholehearted support of the fans. He was always alone in his pursuit of the dream.


    On the surface, as the quarterback for America¡¯s Team, Romo seemed to have endless glory. But the pain, the hardship, the loneliness, the struggle¡ªhe alone knew them. He could not speak out; otherwise, he¡¯d be seen as an ungrateful jerk.


    Yet, those scars and those torments were real.


    The scene before him revived Romo¡¯s painful memories.


    Nantz understood, he understood everything.


    Romo nodded to Nantz, with a smile of gratitude, then spoke in a voice thick with nasal congestion.


    ¡°Without a doubt, for the Kansas City Chiefs, this is the most important game in two seasons, even more important than last season¡¯s Super Bowl,¡±


    ¡°Not only do they need to face the most powerful team in the league over the past twenty years, but they also face an important test of growth and transformation into a true powerhouse.¡±


    ¡°Climbing to the top of the Super Bowl is hard, but holding onto the summit and becoming the true strong is even harder.¡±


    ¡°We, shall wait and see.¡±


    The hum, the hum.


    The air at Arrowhead Stadium was turbulent with rolling heat waves, clashing with the cold front, stirring incredible gusts, almost enough to knock one off their feet.


    Brady watched quietly, his expression solemn.


    He realized this was going to be a tough game.


    If the Arrowhead Chiefs targeted the New England Patriots with a bitterness characteristic of sworn enemies, it wouldn¡¯t be novel or surprising. Brady had seen this in countless away games and wouldn¡¯t care.


    But there was none of that at Arrowhead Stadium.


    Rallied with the soul of their fans, their focus wasn¡¯t on attacking the Patriots but on igniting their fighting spirit for the game. This calm and rational energy made the Kansas City Chiefs a more dangerous opponent¡ª


    Because on some level, they were not just facing the New England Patriots; they were battling life, fate, themselves. Such focus and courage can often unleash incredible strength.


    Brady knew it would be a fierce battle, and he had to be on his guard.


    He, was ready.

 Chapter 790: 789 exactly the same

    Chapter 790: 789 exactly the same


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    Mahomes couldn¡¯t help swearing.


    He took deep breaths, trying his hardest to maintain composure, but the anger was still burning fiercely. Beneath the helmet, his brows were furrowed, showing the tension of the moment.


    Watching from the TV, Aaron Donald noticed, ¡°The pressure is too much on him, the more he tries to prove himself, the more he can¡¯t get his arms and legs to move properly.¡±


    Pausing for a moment, Donald turned to look aside, ¡°Just like Jared.¡±


    Jared Goff, a handsome young quarterback often teased as a Hollywood star due to his resemblance to actor Ryan Gosling, had finally proven himself in his position this season, but his performance in the recent National Conference finals was not up to par.


    Goff felt a bit embarrassed and cleared his throat, ¡°But they don¡¯t have Aaron Donald.¡±


    Donald chuckled softly, not responding, and looked back at the TV screen.


    The American League finals were starting.


    The Los Angeles Rams players were now trapped in a hotel, surrounded by an immense crowd of excited and furious New Orleans fans; they were temporarily unable to leave the hotel, so a group gathered in a room, turned on the TV, and watched the matchup between the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs¡ª


    The winner would be their opponent in the Super Bowl.


    In Week 6 of the regular season, the Patriots and the Chiefs delivered one of the season¡¯s most exciting and visually stunning bouts at Gillette Stadium; and now, meeting again in the League finals, there were high expectations from everyone in the League.


    Furthermore, all signs, both on and off the field, indicated that it would be a fantastic showdown, with the Chiefs united and spirited from top to bottom.


    However, the reality did not reflect this.


    Sports are such that the more one wants to prove themselves, the harder it becomes to perform normally; the more one craves victory, the more they falter on the edge of success. Too much tension can lead to a breakdown in performance; the same goes for too much excitement.


    There is a delicate balance between nervousness and excitement, and only by finding that balance can one perform at one hundred percent of their capabilities.


    The biggest challenge in reality is that players often fail to achieve this balance. Even peak athletes in various sports don¡¯t always manage to do so; thus, sports competitions are not only a contest against rivals but also a struggle within oneself.


    That was exactly the case at the moment.


    The Chiefs, too eager and keen to demonstrate their prowess, playing at home, seeking revenge, and having witnessed a fan memorial event pre-game, hoped for a commendable performance at Arrowhead Stadium; but this sentiment became a binding burden instead.


    Since the beginning of the game, Mahomes¡¯ pass completion rate was very poor, not even reaching 40%, undoubtedly his worst performance of the season.


    As his first full season starting professionally, Mahomes delivered a season comparable to an MVP, replicating the miraculous emergence of Li Wei from last year, undoubtedly the current rising star of the league, and this made him even more eager to continue his excellent form into the playoffs.


    However, this desire turned into a tight constraint, fully exposing his lack of experience and tendency to become impatient during critical moments.


    Belichick, a cunning veteran, naturally wouldn¡¯t miss such a moment.


    The Chiefs¡¯ passing attack struggled to make headway, resulting in all the pressure falling on the ground game, where Li Wei¡¯s performance was still impressive; however, when the pressure fell entirely on running the ball, the tactics were quickly exposed, and Li Wei was constantly bogged down in positional battles, unable to leverage his strengths.


    Reed made a prompt adjustment, assigning more of the running duties to Damien who was adept at positional battles, yet the push forward was inefficient, and the entire offense was fragmented.


    What made matters worse was that the weather was no help at all.


    The perceived temperature had plummeted to nearly minus fifteen degrees, forcing the players, who were waiting by the field, to don long down coats and turn on heaters just to keep warm and prevent injuries when they took to the field again.


    As a result, the Football leather hardened, making control even more difficult, affecting not only the quarterback and Wide Receiver but also the running back.


    Just when it seemed things couldn¡¯t get more chaotic, one third into the second quarter, it began to drizzle, relentlessly so, and as time went on, the light rain only seemed to intensify.


    The icy rain wormed its way through the jerseys into their bodies, quickly sapping what little heat was left, soon turning to ice, making toes and then fingers numb, stretching the connection between the brain and the body longer and longer, making control increasingly difficult.


    Chaos, disaster, mud.


    Not just Mahomes, it was also Li Wei¡¯s first time facing such dreadful game conditions, with the entire Arrowhead Stadium engulfed in curtains of rain¡ª


    The game, however, continued unabated.


    All these factors combined, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ usually unstoppable offense was deeply mired right from the first minute of the game.


    And chaos was exactly what Belichick and Brady thrived in.


    Experience was one factor, an invaluable asset; fundamentally, the reason the New England Patriots had firmly held the top spot in the American League over the past years was their prowess in chaotic situations, their roster might not have been the most talented or strongest, but Belichick and Brady knew how to make full use of what they had, finding order in chaos.


    Moreover, in the last divisional game against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Patriots¡¯ ground game had been critical, continuing to be a key advantage in this game¡¯s dreadful weather.


    Then, the New England Patriots took the lead.


    ¡°14:0¡±.


    A touchdown pass, a touchdown run, the New England Patriots led in the biting cold rain away from home, firmly seizing the initiative.


    This scenario, it inevitably brought to mind the divisional game of the American League last season.


    A whole year ago, the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs met in the divisional round, with the then-defending champions comfortably ahead ¡°0:21¡± in the first half, nearly everyone thought the outcome was a foregone conclusion, that the Chiefs would once again fall at this stage.


    But, Li Wei emerged unexpectedly, completely rewriting that game, pulling off a last-second ¡°Wanfu Mary¡± to defeat the New England Patriots and advance to the American League finals.


    A year later, a strikingly similar situation was unfolding again.


    Initially, people were expecting a reenactment of the intense matchup from Week 6 of the regular season, with both teams together delivering a high-scoring game; but it actually turned out to be a repeat of last year¡¯s divisional game, and if the Chiefs wanted to keep their defending hopes alive, they needed to pull off another miraculous comeback¡ª


    Comebacks, honestly, are getting tiresome, right? Always falling behind and then catching up, it¡¯s just utterly boring.


    This...


    Indeed, the Kansas City Chiefs just aren¡¯t up to the mark, looking very impressive on the surface but proving to be paper tigers in the face of real challengers, the three regular season losses being the hard evidence, and now the disaster was set to repeat itself?


    After all, the New England Patriots surely remembered the lessons from last year¡¯s divisional game all too well, Belichick and Brady would definitely not make the same mistakes again.


    So, were the Kansas City Chiefs ready to call it a night?

 Chapter 791: 790 struggling desperately

    Chapter 791: 790 struggling desperately


    The curse from two years ago, again enacted?


    At that time, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Houston Texans by thirty points in the wild card round, only to fall in the divisional round to the New England Patriots after a hard-fought battle.


    This year, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Indianapolis Colts by thirty points in the divisional round, only to trail ¡°14:0¡± against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.


    Could the curse be at work? Was the likelihood of a Hail Mary comeback from a twenty-one point halftime deficit, like last year¡¯s divisional round game, now intercepted by a curse?


    So, which is more potent, the curse of three years prior or the good fortune of last season¡¯s narrow escape?


    So, are the Kansas City Chiefs a pseudo strong team, tiring of comeback dramas from repeated predicaments, and when can they initiate a strong versus strong showdown, facing real strong teams like this every time!


    Romo shook his head gently, offering a different perspective as a quarterback.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not the same.¡±


    ¡°Last season, Brady¡¯s performance was perfect in the first half, completely dominating the game, trying to prove himself; his spirit and condition were peaked. However, he peaked too early and ran out of steam in the second half, leading to the comeback.¡±


    ¡°To be honest, that victory for Kansas City had an element of luck.¡±


    ¡°But today, the entire atmosphere is different. In fact, both teams are underperforming, similar to what we just saw in the National Conference finals. They are so evenly matched, their preparations and strategies so meticulous, that pulling formations from the get-go restricts both sides. The weather has become the true protagonist of the first half, resulting in the current situation.¡±


    ¡°The game is hard to watch, even downright bad.¡±


    ¡°The Patriots¡¯ lead relies on their experience and groundwork, the gap between a true strong team and a strong team in waiting. Simultaneously, that is the gap the Chiefs have been trying to bridge this season. The excitement of the game is far from what the score indicates; the performances are very, very close, and a game-changing twist could occur at any moment.¡±


    ¡°Undoubtedly, the Chiefs would be the least willing side to start trailing. For neutral fans, a desperate comeback is thrilling; but for the participants, to constantly chase after putting oneself in a dire situation is too tough and not always feasible.¡±


    ¡°More than anyone, the Chiefs would be the last ones wanting such a situation; moreover, the awful weather today adds more uncertainty, tipping the scales of victory toward the New England Patriots.¡±


    ¡°Although the Patriots¡¯ lead is not as significant as last year¡¯s divisional round, the overall situation and circumstances are more favorable to the Patriots, with Belichick and Brady playing in a collected manner.¡±


    ¡°This may be the toughest game this young Chiefs team has faced.¡±


    Calm, neutral, Romo pinpointed the crux of the matter¡ª


    His heart clenched.


    Romo had always favored the Kansas City Chiefs because he liked the spirit demonstrated by this young team, awakening his own competitive spirit and passion.


    After today, Romo¡¯s affection for the Chiefs increased, seeing in them the dream he had always longed for but had never achieved.


    At this moment, Romo knew he should remain impartial as a commentator, but his heart uncontrollably leant in favor of the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Unprecedentedly, Romo hoped for the Chiefs to turn the situation around.


    However.


    Difficult, as difficult as ascending to heaven.


    Oh.


    A groan of annoyance echoed throughout the venue; spectators hugged their heads in disbelief¡ª


    Kelsey, the most trusted of the Chiefs, actually fumbled it.


    Second down, seven yards to go, Mahomes created an opportunity with a play-action fake, made a quick pass, and connected with Kelsey.


    In the dismal first half, Mahomes¡¯ pitiable pass completion rate finally saw a ray of hope, but after Kelsey had made the catch, he failed to control it, resulting in a fumble.


    ¡°Butterfingers.¡±


    The pass was incomplete.


    Kelsey, frustrated and dejected, held his helmet tightly and held his breath.


    Li Wei stepped forward to pat Kelsey on the shoulder as a sign of comfort:


    The rain is heavy, the hands are slippery, mistakes are inevitable.


    Originally, footballs become harder to control due to the cold weather making the leather stiff; now, with the rain causing slipperiness, Mahomes¡¯ bullet passes are even more difficult to control.


    Mahomes stepped forward as well, ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s all my fault, I didn¡¯t control my strength.¡±


    But Kelsey knew that because of the difficulty in controlling it, the parabolic trajectory of the rainbow pass was prone to deviations, and that was why Mahomes had opted for the bullet pass and added more strength, trying to increase the stability of the football¡¯s flight¡ª


    It wasn¡¯t Mahomes¡¯s fault.


    The result was still his own mistake: impatience.


    Without having full control of the football, he was already thinking about turning around and continuing to push forward, leading to the fumble because of ¡°Butterfingers.¡±


    Kelsey waved his hand, ¡°No, it¡¯s my fault.¡±


    Seeing Kelsey and Mahomes ready to continue consolations, Li Wei half-joked, ¡°Alright, alright, it¡¯s both of your faults, can we move on now? Third and seven.¡±


    Even in adversity, Li Wei still maintained a positive attitude.


    Just like Annie.


    Taking a deep breath, Mahomes and Kelsey both pulled themselves together.


    Third and seven, the situation was still tough.


    Rain, cold wind, low temperatures.


    This weather was simply worse than Buffalo¡¯s, hard to imagine this was Kansas City.


    Yet, this was the reality.


    The Kansas City Chiefs quickly lined up, ready to continue the offense.


    Generally speaking, in bad weather, the passing game might face obstacles, and it would be advisable for teams to opt for a ground attack to open up the game, which is what both the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs had been doing up until now.


    But now, facing third and seven, with ground attack efficiency generally low, the Kansas City Chiefs might take a risk on the passing game¡ª


    No matter whether it succeeded or not, they always had to give it a shot.


    If the quarterback was still Smith, Reed might be slightly more conservative; now that the quarterback is Mahomes, Reed is much bolder in crucial moments.


    So, the run or the pass?


    Especially with Li Wei on the field and Damien taking a break, is this a signal?


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Mahomes announced the snap.


    With a turn, Mahomes handed the football to Li Wei standing beside him.


    A run?


    No, right after that, Mahomes drew back his right hand, took a quick retreat, lifted his chin and scanned the field for a passing target.


    A fake run and a real pass!


    In an instant, the defensive group of the New England Patriots went on full alert, with only thirty seconds left in the first half. If they were to be caught off guard now by Mahomes with a ¡°Wanfu Mary¡±¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs would not only be able to catch up with the score but also raise their morale.


    Absolutely not!


    Immediately, the Patriots¡¯ defensive group bustled their steps, always on alert deep inside against the pass from the Chiefs.


    To be precise, Mahomes choosing to pass wasn¡¯t unexpected.


    However!


    Just then, Mahomes turned around yet again and after a feint, lightly tossed the football, which landed in Li Wei¡¯s arms, once again transforming the play.


    A fake pass and a true run!

 Chapter 792: 791 Goddess of Fortune

    Chapter 792: 791 Goddess of Fortune


    Play fake turns into a real pass!


    Play pass turns into a real run!


    In just a second, Mahomes¡¯s deceptive movements had totally deceived the New England Patriots¡¯ defensive group, despite the game revealing many of his shortcomings; but it also showcased the young player¡¯s immense potential¡ª


    In the critical moment, he remained unflustered.


    Then, with a feint, the football was already in Li Wei¡¯s arms.


    Drip, drip, drip.


    Rain beat against the helmet, mist obscured the view, and entirely immersed in the game, the bone-chilling cold that might have penetrated the skin was temporarily forgotten, a heat steaming from his entire body.


    Burning fiercely.


    In the field of vision straight ahead, only blurry halos flickered.


    Red flames, white lightning, and an endless green sea.


    Push off, initiate.


    Light-footedly pulling to the right, on the left-hand side, from within the meat grinder of the Chu River and Han border, a menacing white lightning bolt charged forth.


    Li Wei was very calm, on tiptoes, a pause, a push, rotated counterclockwise, dodging the white lightning¡¯s charge, barely brushing past the storm to break through, and after three hundred sixty degrees, the line of scrimmage was already underfoot.


    Overcome, advance.


    Straight ahead, there was a small gap, not large, limited, beyond ten yards one could see streaks of white lightning racing through the curtain of rain, bursts of air pressure instantly enveloping Li Wei, and the chest sustaining an impact.


    However, Li Wei was completely focused, unmoved.


    Amidst chaos and surging waves, Li Wei carefully observed, three bolts of lightning, three directions, different speeds, timing of encirclement slightly offset.


    Though subtle, it created gaps within the encirclement¡ª


    Third Gear, seven yards; if Li Wei wanted to make the first down transition, he must break out of the encirclement.


    Push off, initiate.


    Li Wei sprinted at full speed towards the diagonally forward right side of the encirclement, with unstoppable force charging directly into it, clearly seeing two bolts of white lightning suddenly tense up, hesitating, their anxiety and tension revealing their vigilance.


    Opportunity.


    That was when Li Wei changed direction, dashing diagonally forward to the left.


    The figure in the center clearly had a stiff left half of the body prepared to face the hit, causing the gap between him and another player on his right to widen.


    That was Li Wei¡¯s breakthrough.


    Power up, accelerate.


    Li Wei sprinted at full speed, raindrops flying, wind howling, the world sped up in an instant.


    Approach.


    Even closer!


    However, just then, his foot slipped¡ª


    Damn!


    The field was waterlogged, not just with puddles, but the surface was also uneven, the force from his push off was uneven, at the moment of acceleration, the ground couldn¡¯t provide enough frictional support, and the force went awry.


    Damn it!


    Li Wei braced himself with his left hand on the ground, using hands and feet, trying to keep moving forward.


    But, that slip gave the encirclement a chance, on the left and right they closed in during the breathless moment, striking a fatal blow to the unstable Li Wei.


    ¡°Oh, God.¡±


    ¡°Regrettable, really, really regrettable.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei had created an opportunity, but a fatal slip occurred, failing to break through, regrettably failing to complete the first down transition.¡±


    ¡°This...¡±


    Nantz was somewhat caught between laughter and tears.


    ¡°It seems, the Goddess of Fortune is not standing on this side of Arrowhead Stadium tonight.¡±


    ¡°But, Fourth Gear, one yard, the Kansas City Chiefs should choose to power through.¡±


    ¡°Now, with twenty-one seconds left in the first half, Reed wouldn¡¯t risk letting Brady on the field, and the Kansas City Chiefs can still try a fourth and one to see if they can create a miracle.¡±


    Damn!


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t control himself and slammed the ground hard, venting his frustration.


    The weather, the field, the temperature; everything was going wrong; but more than anything, Li Wei was annoyed at his own oversight¡ªhe should¡¯ve taken extra precautions knowing the ground was slippery.


    In his chest, rage boiled over.


    ¡°Heh heh.¡±


    Right in front, laughter sounded, and in front of Li Wei appeared a right hand¡ª


    Linebacker Kyle Van Noy.


    In week six of the regular season, Li Wei and the New England Patriots¡¯ linebacker group had a clash, with this year¡¯s rookie linebacker Bentley leading the charge. Bentley had tried to use a lethal tactic to get Li Wei off the field once and for all, nearly resulting in a physical altercation, with tensions running extremely high.


    However, to everyone¡¯s surprise, a week later, Bentley tore a ligament and was out for the season, not only missing the playoffs but also the chance to face Li Wei again.


    How¡¯s that for karma?


    Today, Bentley didn¡¯t even come to Kansas City, honestly staying in Foxborough.


    However, Bentley¡¯s absence didn¡¯t mean the New England Patriots¡¯ linebacker group had buried the hatchet¡ªthey hadn¡¯t forgotten the grudges.


    And here was Van Noy, never missing any game for two consecutive seasons, 100% not missing a chance to humiliate Li Wei.


    Van Noy stood tall in front of Li Wei, looking down at him stuck in the mud with contempt and provocation in his eyes, hidden behind the helmet, along with some Schadenfreude.


    Li Wei reached out and grabbed Van Noy¡¯s right hand.


    Van Noy: ??? Something¡¯s off.


    Although Van Noy extended his right hand, he never expected Li Wei to actually accept the help; he had already prepared what to say after Li Wei¡¯s refusal, and now, his planned words were stuck in his throat, almost choking him.


    What¡¯s going on here?


    As Li Wei grabbed Van Noy¡¯s right hand, he could clearly feel Van Noy¡¯s forearm muscles tense, and the next second, Li Wei yanked hard deliberately.


    Not just with his own strength, he was also preparing to get up, combining his body weight and the strength of his right hand, he pulled down fiercely.


    Van Noy gasped and, before he could react, fell face first into the mud.


    Li Wei¡¯s face remained calm, not at all surprised, and with no hint of sympathy, he asked emotionlessly, as if he were an AI robot.


    ¡°Ah. Are you alright?¡±


    Van Noy: Damn!


    The anger just started to rise, but Li Wei was already crisply standing up and, without paying any attention to Van Noy, walked away.


    Van Noy was just... left behind.


    Fourth and one.


    The Kansas City Chiefs opted for the strong play, this time attempting a quick short pass between Mahomes and Kelsey to complete the transition, but... it failed.


    Belichick saw through Reed¡¯s strategy¡ª


    Three players surrounded Kelsey, and, relying on the defensive line, they raised their hands like windshield wipers to obstruct Mahomes¡¯ passing vision.


    The connect, unsuccessful.


    Not only was it unsuccessful, but Van Noy almost intercepted it.


    Bentley: Oh!


    Sitting in his living room on the big sofa, Bentley held his head, even more aggravated than Van Noy.


    ¡°You should take the opportunity to completely crush them.¡±


    ¡°Stomp them, stomp! Ants dare to challenge the great Patriots? Haha, now let them see what true foundation means, even if I¡¯m not on the field, I can still easily crush these ants.¡±


    With a fierce and demonic expression, Bentley yelled at the television screen, alone, yet as if facing an army of thousands.


    Next to him, Bentley¡¯s girlfriend curled up on the sofa, looking bewildered at the mad scene unfolding in front of her, considering if she should leave the house, perhaps to get her nails done, as they needed a touch-up.


    Bentley, completely unaware, eyes red.


    ¡°Kill them! Yes, kill them! Aaaah!¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, that¡¯ll teach you to challenge the king!¡±

 Chapter 793: 792 Push through in one go

    Chapter 793: 792 Push through in one go


    Beeep¡ª


    The whistle sounded, and the main referee announced that the first half had ended.


    This disaster had finally come to a temporary halt, allowing Arrowhead Stadium a brief respite.


    Jenna took a deep breath, her heart racing uncontrollably, then took another deep breath as she looked at the glaring red digits on the scoreboard.


    ¡°14:0¡±.


    In the end, she couldn¡¯t control herself and suddenly stood up.


    ¡°I¡¯m going home.¡±


    Jeff was startled and called out to his wife, ¡°Jenna?¡±


    Jenna felt she couldn¡¯t breathe, ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of this.¡±


    Watching Annie face a long and arduous battle with almost no chance of victory, to eventually lose terribly and completely, and now to witness the Kansas City Chiefs endure all that?


    She couldn¡¯t do it.


    ¡°Maybe, it¡¯s all because of me?¡± Jenna was somewhat panicked.


    ¡°I¡¯m the jinx, I¡¯m the curse, I¡¯m the culprit behind this situation. I should leave, for the sake of the Chieftains and for my own sake.¡±


    While speaking, she attempted to leave.


    In her panic, Jenna tried to find the direction, but she found herself surrounded by people¡ª


    She couldn¡¯t breathe.


    Jeff caught hold of her, ¡°Jenna... Jenna.¡±


    ¡°Jenna!¡±


    Jenna froze, finally calming down.


    Jeff roared, and after he finished, he realized that all the spectators around were looking at them, but at that moment, he didn¡¯t care about the gazes of others.


    ¡°Jenna, Annie didn¡¯t give up, and the Chiefs haven¡¯t either.¡±


    ¡°Remember? Annie fought until the end, smiled until the end. We won¡¯t give up because we can¡¯t let Annie down.¡±


    Jenna was avoiding eye contact, refusing to meet Jeff¡¯s gaze. She was still afraid, still fearful, still lacking the courage to face the possibility of heartbreak again¡ª


    If the Kansas City Chiefs lost too, would it mean that Annie¡¯s final dream was shattered as well?


    Jenna couldn¡¯t face it.


    ¡°Hey, believe in the team.¡±


    Someone beside shouted.


    This time, Jenna looked over, it was a stranger, a fellow fan.


    ¡°The situation is tough, terribly so, even the weather isn¡¯t helping, but if anyone can turn things around, it¡¯s definitely our Chiefs.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, just last year we were behind ¡®0:21¡¯ at halftime, but we still won.¡±


    ¡°Today is different, maybe we can¡¯t turn things around and might lose, but I know, the New England Patriots can win, but they definitely can¡¯t just let us hand the victory to them.¡±


    ¡°Right, right, right. In the second half, we¡¯ll counterattack. We will fight with all our strength until the very last moment.¡±


    ¡°No matter what the outcome, we¡¯ll be here in Arrowhead Stadium to support the guys until the very last moment.¡±


    ¡°Hey, what was that thing the rookie said?¡±


    One after another, Jenna was overwhelmed by the barrage of voices, and then, in unison, they all shouted.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have confidence, but we will win!¡±


    Ha ha ha!


    Laughter erupted.


    Jenna was somewhat bewildered; she thought the fans would complain, be disappointed, be angry, or at the very least, be nervous and worried¡ªsuch a first half performance was indeed worrisome.


    However, they did not.


    Far from it, they looked up with optimism and positivity, bravery and perseverance, facing adversities and challenges head-on.


    In them, Jenna thought she saw... Annie.


    A warm stream surged to her chest.


    Jenna looked left and right, and finally her eyes settled on Jeff.


    Jeff took a deep breath, ¡°No matter the result, we face it together. That¡¯s what we promised Annie, remember?¡±


    ...


    The rain kept falling, relentless and never-ending.


    The gentle patter of the rain sealed off the noise and commotion of Arrowhead Stadium, as if the locker room were cast into another dimension of space-time¡ª


    Extraordinarily quiet.


    There was not just an absolute silence; the sounds of breathing, coughing, metallic clangs, footsteps murmured continuously, but it was precisely these subtle sounds, incessantly flowing, that highlighted the quiet of the locker room as no one spoke.


    A silence. A frustration. An oppression. A dejection.


    Reed knew they were facing a brand-new predicament, another shackle on their path of growth and transformation:


    The fighting spirit, the morale, the will¡ªall were in place, their spirits soaring before the game started; yet they were unexpectedly defeated by the sudden mishap and an even stronger, more mature, and more seasoned opponent.


    An initial momentum, followed by decline, then complete exhaustion.


    Once faced with a direct hit, unable to achieve a breakthrough, they might never be able to break through, trapped within this shackle for life.


    In NFL history, countless strong teams have stalled at this stage.


    Recently, there were Andrew Luck¡¯s Indianapolis Colts, Matt Ryan¡¯s Atlanta Falcons, Cam Newton¡¯s Carolina Panthers, and so on.


    Wer§Ö they not outstanding? Did they lack talent? Were they not strong enough?


    No, they had everything they needed and were also ready to climb to the peak of the Super Bowl, only to encounter such a threshold and never manage to rise again.


    In the past, there were Little Manning¡¯s New York Giants, Roethlisberger¡¯s Pittsburgh Steelers, Wilson¡¯s Seattle Seahawks, Flacco¡¯s Baltimore Ravens, and so on.


    They had reached the pinnacle of the Super Bowl, perhaps more than once, but they could never break through the mental shackles. Between excellent teams and absolute powerhouses, between winning championships and establishing dynasties, they were awkwardly stuck, forever living under their own shadow.


    Now, the Kansas City Chiefs were the same¡ª


    This season, in Week 6 of the regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs could fight toe-to-toe with the New England Patriots, and it was no different against the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers afterward; however, they¡¯re back to the predicament of last year¡¯s divisional round, thoroughly outpaced by the New England Patriots.


    That feeling was as though after struggling for an entire year, thinking they had grown and transformed, they were suddenly hit by a heavy blow, sending them back to square one, like waking from a dream.


    The overwhelming assault easily shattered the defensive line.


    With just a slight lapse of attention, this might be the start of a collapse or perhaps the sprouting of a psychological shadow.


    The positions were different, the states were different, the hardships they faced were utterly different. The current game was not the same as the divisional elimination by the New England Patriots two years ago, nor the comeback victory over the New England Patriots after trailing in last year¡¯s divisional round. It felt familiar but was a completely new dilemma.


    The problem was that the pre-game motivation had already pushed the spirit to new heights. Because of Annie, the entire team took the field carrying a belief in certain victory. So now, how should they adjust the atmosphere, and how should they awaken the will to fight and ignite hope?


    Reed fell into deep thought.


    Reed knew the situation was tricky, but he also knew that breaking could lead to reconstruction, and that crises were often opportunities. This team, mainly composed of sophomores and juniors, might be facing a real chance for transformation. What remained to be seen was how he would guide these young players to achieve that breakthrough.


    Inside, a turmoil like overturning seas.


    On the surface, calm and untroubled.


    Reed was still composed and calm, and then, he solidified his thoughts¡ª


    He would start with tactics.


    Frankly speaking, in the first half, the Kansas City Chiefs didn¡¯t play badly, looking at the score and the data, it might seem terrible, but Reed believed that neither the tactics nor the performance of the players were problematic, they just lacked a bit of luck. The gap between them and the New England Patriots was still very slight.


    The score wasn¡¯t the problem.


    What they needed was just a breakthrough, a single opportunity would be enough, and the situation could be completely reversed.

 Chapter 794: 793 Guilt-free

    Chapter 794: 793 Guilt-free


    The brain, operating at high speed.


    Reed was thinking about tactical layout, he needed to make these youngsters believe on a tactical level:


    Though they were behind in the score, they were on the right track, as long as they kept faith, as long as they remained patient, as long as they persevered, they could turn the tide.


    Despite how ridiculous the current situation might seem, Reed thought this game was not much different from that collision in the sixth week of the regular season.


    So.


    Turning defeat into victory was, in fact, a matter of an instant.


    Reed stood in front of the strategy board, started bustling about, becoming immersed¡ª


    Against the clock.


    However, somewhat unexpectedly, a voice rang out.


    ¡°Sorry to interrupt, coach, may I borrow sixty seconds?¡±


    It was Li Wei.


    Dripping wet, like a drowned rat, steam rising and shivering uncontrollably, unable to restrain the light tremors of his body, a staff member handed Li Wei a towel and hot soup, hoping Li Wei could deal with it immediately.


    In such weather, such confrontation, setting aside the outcome of the game, a slight lack of attention might lead to injury, they had to be extra cautious.


    Li Wei took the towel, but there wasn¡¯t time to take care of himself, he stood up.


    On the side, Veach had a serious look on his face, ¡°rookie...¡±


    He was worried that Li Wei would catch a cold or get injured, and right now his physical well-being was most important.


    However, Li Wei didn¡¯t respond to Veach¡¯s comment, he was just staring at Reed¡¯s back.


    Reed turned around, silently looking at Li Wei, the air in the locker room stiffening slightly.


    Veach exclaimed, ¡°Coach?¡±


    Reed¡¯s chubby, pale cheeks were expressionless, he ignored Veach¡¯s call and just nodded slightly to give permission.


    Li Wei held his breath, enduring and suppressing, but in the end, he couldn¡¯t hold it back.


    ¡°Dammit!¡±


    ¡°Please forgive my language, but¡ª¡±


    ¡°Dammit! This feels terrible! Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!¡±


    Phff.


    Houston was the first one who couldn¡¯t hold back, ¡°Sorry, I am a bad example, rookie, you¡¯ve picked up bad habits.¡±


    Ha ha.


    Sparse laughter surged, finally easing the tension in the locker room a little.


    Li Wei and Houston exchanged a glance, silently coordinating.


    Then, Li Wei motioned for everyone to calm down, drew all attention to himself, took a deep breath, the entire locker room fell silent, and all gazes were concentrated on Li Wei alone¡ª


    Bedraggled and covered in mud, Li Wei still stood tall with pride, his head held high.


    ¡°Hey, listen.¡±


    ¡°I know, not everyone has special feelings for this city, it¡¯s not Los Angeles or New York, it¡¯s not Foxborough or Green Bay, it¡¯s just... Kansas City, a city that¡¯s not so wonderful yet not so terrible, a city built by hard-working blue-collar workers.¡±


    ¡°I know you think this is the Professional League, a cold-blooded league where interests come first and even the Super Bowl¡¯s starting quarterback might leave next season, so who is safe?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, manager.¡±


    Veach cleared his throat, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±


    Ha ha ha.


    The locker room erupted into laughter once again.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t pause, he kept speaking.


    ¡°So, any of us might leave at any time, including me, including Sherlock, including the coach, we¡¯re all the same, this might just be a stop in our professional careers.¡±


    ¡°But for them, it¡¯s not.¡±


    ¡°We are a part of their lives, they suffer and get excited with us, when they need encouragement they think of us, we¡¯re what they can cling to at the end of despair, then they tell their kids to be as good as we are.¡±


    ¡°Annie Galas, an ordinary child, she has no talent, no ability, she can¡¯t even go to school to make friends her age, but she looks up to us, we¡¯re her faith, her strength to keep fighting, to battle with death, she makes our work worthwhile.¡±


    Taking a deep breath carefully, Li Wei tried to mask the tremble in his voice.


    Then, he continued to raise his voice.


    ¡°As the captain, I need each of you to shoulder this heavy responsibility, which is insignificant compared to the millions of US dollars in your pockets; but it is the lifeblood and hope of this city.¡±


    ¡°When we step onto the field, we need to give it our all, not just for ourselves, not just for victory, but also for this city, for the people living in this city who fill Arrowhead Stadium and cheer for us every Sunday.¡±


    ¡°This is the only way we can repay them.¡±


    Smack.


    Li Wei struck his chest heavily.


    ¡°Touch your hearts and promise yourself that you¡¯ve given your all, that you have no reservations, that when you leave Arrowhead Stadium, you can hold your head high, without shame, and say ¡®I have no regrets¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Otherwise.¡±


    ¡°Get out of here right now, because you don¡¯t belong here!¡±


    Bang, bang, bang!


    Kelsey and Mahomes fiercely pounded their chests, leaping to their feet, roaring out loud.


    ¡°But.¡±


    ¡°If you choose to stay, then good, because you¡¯re not alone.¡±


    ¡°When we stand on Arrowhead Stadium, we¡¯re not fighting alone!¡±


    Roar, roar, roar!


    Houston, Hill, and Berry all stood up, responding with a roar.


    ¡°They have seen our worst, our most vulnerable side, but they haven¡¯t seen our best yet, and that¡¯s what we owe them.¡±


    Ah, ah, ahhh!


    The entire locker room was bustling as everyone stood up, without exception.


    Not even one, even Burns, Clark, and the coaching staff joined in the cheering, as rolling waves of heat surged through the air.


    ¡°In the first half, we fought, and although the score looks very bad, in fact, we didn¡¯t perform badly, and the gap between us and our opponents isn¡¯t as bad as the score suggests.¡±


    ¡°In the second half, we will continue to fight, not because we refuse to surrender, but because we are ready to fight to the last moment.¡±


    ¡°Let me tell you, we will win.¡±


    Buzz, buzz, buzz.


    All eyes in the room looked toward Li Wei, filled with incredulity¡ª


    Li Wei, different from last year, even different from the last sectional match.


    So, does Li Wei have confidence now?


    No, Li Wei still has no confidence, because he knows how strong the opponent is, how dire the situation is.


    But.


    Li Wei took a deep breath.


    ¡°For no other reason, we will win, it¡¯s as simple as that.¡±


    No grandiose words, no resounding rhetoric, but that casually uttered sentence was so powerful, echoing in the locker room for a long time.


    Calmly, serenely, Li Wei looked around, meeting everyone¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°We will win.¡±


    Then, Li Wei turned his head to look at Reed.


    The always calm and composed Reed, under Li Wei¡¯s gaze, couldn¡¯t help but become passionately agitated.


    Reed nodded, ¡°We will.¡±


    Roar, roar, roar.


    The atmosphere in the entire locker room completely solidified.


    Reed knew the opportunity had come¡ª


    ¡°In the first half, everything was fine, our tactics were not the problem. The main reason we are behind now is due to mistakes, we need to be more focused, to make fewer errors.¡±


    ¡°Additionally, the rain is not letting up and will probably not stop anytime soon, which means there is an even greater chance for mistakes, implying we need to be even more focused.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes, in a real top-notch contest, what determines the outcome is not who performs better or who plays more impressively, but who makes fewer mistakes.¡±


    ¡°Next, in the second half, we will not make major adjustments to our tactics, but in terms of details, we need to...¡±

 Chapter 795: 794 Braving the Wind and Rain

    Chapter 795: 794 Braving the Wind and Rain


    The continuous drizzle persisted.


    The rain didn¡¯t get heavier, which was not good news. In the bone-chilling month of January, the unrelenting moisture made their hands and feet grow colder and colder. If they sat in one place for even a short while, they would unconsciously curl up into a small ball.


    The longer they sat, the colder they became.


    For a second, Jenna couldn¡¯t help but question life. Why were they enduring this misery here?


    Turning her head, Jenna caught sight of Felix, unable to suppress her worries.


    However, it seemed Karen had come to terms with the situation. She didn¡¯t stop Felix but stayed with him throughout, steadfastly remaining at the scene¡ª


    as if tomorrow was the end of the world.


    As if the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ game was Felix¡¯s battle.


    Unbidden, Jenna felt envious.


    If she could turn back time, she too would have wanted to come with Annie to Arrowhead Stadium to watch the game, if Annie had come to see the last divisional round...


    A myriad of ifs filled her head.


    Jenna shook her head vigorously, trying to rid herself of all those thoughts. She couldn¡¯t let herself fall into such a quandary, or she would never be able to extricate herself.


    Just then, a commotion came again from the players¡¯ entrance¡ª


    Were the players getting ready to take the field?


    Li Wei had been keeping his body moving. Although they had experienced quite a few cold days, today¡¯s conditions were truly awful, his body temperature never really picked up, causing him to shiver continuously.


    During halftime, the team doctor had checked him and noticed some signs of hypothermia, which needed attention.


    The real concern was for veterans like Houston and Berry, whose physical functions inevitably declined with age, compounded by various injuries and ailments¡ªthey were struggling to cope.


    The team doctor suggested that Houston should reduce his playing time in the second half.


    But Houston refused; he wanted to keep playing and was determined to do so.


    Li Wei had just drunk two bowls of chicken soup¡ª


    Not metaphorical soul-stirring ¡°chicken soup¡± but literally, actual chicken soup.


    Now, his fingers and toes finally began to feel some warmth.


    However, standing at the players¡¯ tunnel exit, the world outside was still enveloped in incessant rain. He didn¡¯t even need to step forward, as the chilling wind and moisture easily revived the goosebumps and made his muscles tense up slightly.


    Looking up, the sky was covered with dark clouds, a heavy gloom, with no sun in sight.


    The tougher and more extreme the conditions, the more they ignited Li Wei¡¯s fighting spirit.


    ¡°Rookie, what are you thinking about now?¡± Mahomes, who was also warming up, had stiff fingers, a bigger issue for a quarterback. He was holding a hand warmer, trying to soften his fingers.


    Beside him, Kelsey said, ¡°Miami. I¡¯m missing Miami right now.¡±


    Li Wei shook his head, ¡°Atlanta.¡±


    Mahomes and Kelsey paused, puzzled. Although Atlanta was also in the south with an average winter temperature of 18 degrees Celsius, it clearly wasn¡¯t a holiday destination.


    Moreover, Atlanta sometimes experienced freezing rain in winter. The freezing rain in the winter of 2014 had caused even more damage than blizzards and cold waves¡ª


    Freezing rain. It was like a magic attack, just like what Kansas City was currently facing.


    However, Li Wei revealed a smile, ¡°Mercedes-Benz Superdome can be an indoor stadium, right?¡±


    The Mercedes-Benz Superdome in Atlanta, completed just last year, was the league¡¯s most advanced and newest large stadium.


    The stadium has a retractable roof, which can be closed during bad weather, allowing the game to proceed in an indoor environment.


    This year¡¯s Super Bowl will be held in Atlanta.


    Instantly, Mahomes and Kelsey both understood.


    A holiday?


    No, no, no, vacation can wait; Li Wei had a more important goal right now.


    After bumping shoulders with Mahomes and Kelsey, Li Wei turned his head to look at the other players and raised his arms high to wave at them.


    ¡°Forward!¡±


    First, Li Wei bravely entered that winter rain with his head held high.


    Rustling, rustling, Arrowhead Stadium was stirred up once again.


    Facing the wind and rain, facing the cold, all the fans in the stadium joined together to sing aloud¡ª


    ¡°...at the end of the storm, there is a golden sky and the sweet song of the Oriole.¡±


    Uncontrollably, irresistibly, Jenna too found her spirits swelling and her blood boiling; she sang out loud before she even realized it.


    ¡°Forward, through the fierce wind; forward, through the torrential rain.


    Perhaps, dreams may ultimately be disappointed.


    Forward, forward! With hope in your heart, you¡¯ll never walk alone!¡±


    The second half of this League championship game began.


    In the first half, the New England Patriots took the offensive; in the second half, it was the Kansas Chiefs Offense¡¯s turn to begin.


    The first kickoff once again put Kansas City Chiefs in a challenging position.


    The Patriots¡¯ kickoff, taking full advantage of the poor weather, sent a low ball that hit the ground early and rolled wildly on the grass, pursued relentlessly by a swarm of players, but no one could control it.


    In the end, the football came to a stop exhausted at the thirteen-yard line before the end zone.


    Belichick still excelled at using the Special Duty Group to create trouble for the opponents.


    Thus, the Kansas Chiefs Offense had to start their effort from their own thirteen-yard line. In the continuous drizzling weather, a slight mistake could lead to a safety, or even worse, allow the opposing defensive group to score a touchdown.


    Then, Li Wei took the field.


    First gear ten yards, running play, Li Wei with the ball, met with an interception, just advanced three yards.


    Second gear seven yards, running play, Li Wei with the ball, surrounded by four men, just advanced two yards.


    Third gear five yards.


    Just took the field, and immediately faced a third gear predicament.


    The starting point was due to the kickoff created by the Patriots¡¯ Special Duty Group, in such a dangerous position and under such poor weather. Reed had no choice but to push forward solidly, to avoid a passive start devoid of scoring and more, which would be disastrous.


    Thus, Reed chose to go with a ground attack.


    Moreover, Reed intentionally didn¡¯t use Damien, who excels in trench warfare, and threw a small smoke bomb.


    But Belichick wasn¡¯t fooled, decoding Reed¡¯s tactics in two gears of defense, setting a snare and just waiting for Li Wei to walk into it.


    ¡°...The situation is slightly delicate.¡±


    ¡°Looking at the yardage numbers, Li Wei hasn¡¯t shown his usual advancement efficiency; but Li Wei forcefully advanced five yards against focused defense and encirclement, meaning the Kansas City Chiefs have moved away from the Red Zone front. Now at the eighteen-yard line, the offensive tactics are free to expand.¡±


    ¡°Thus, as the New England Patriots defensive group didn¡¯t completely halt Li Wei, it¡¯s not considered excellent defense in two gears. Now the Kansas City Chiefs have more options, third gear five yards, opportunity is in the home team¡¯s hands.¡±


    Yard by yard, inch by inch, there are large yard gains that ravage and small yard tugs that are contentious; this is the essence of football.


    Third gear five yards, the tense atmosphere pushed to the extreme, Arrowhead Stadium erupted with incredible energy.


    ¡°Fly!¡±


    ¡°Fly!¡±


    A thunderclap boomed overhead; Mahomes also roared out¡ª


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Exploding in the muddy ground, it was no less impressive than the thunder.

 Chapter 796: 795 Wolf in sheeps clothing

    Chapter 796: 795 Wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing


    Third Gear, five yards, a pass or a run?


    However, the New England Patriots didn¡¯t care because Belichick chose to take the initiative, firmly grasping their fate in his palms¡ª


    Rush.


    This season, Brady remained the undisputed superstar of the New England Patriots, and those who only glanced at the data without watching the games assumed it was still Brady leading the New England Patriots to soar.


    After all, the offensive group of the New England Patriots ranked fourth in the league, only behind the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, and New Orleans Saints¡ªexactly the top four teams in the conference finals.


    But in reality, it was otherwise.


    This season, Brady¡¯s performance had clearly declined. It might not have been noticeable usually, but during crucial moments, his pass completion rate, second-reading ability, and other data all fell sharply, with personal mistakes also remaining high, which wasn¡¯t a good sign.


    In such a predicament, it was the defensive group of the New England Patriots that constantly stepped up, ranked seventh in the league this season and becoming key to the team¡¯s backstopping.


    Among them, the pass defense of the New England Patriots was a mess, just like the Kansas City Chiefs, both were at the bottom of the league; however, in ground defense and frontline rush pressing, the New England Patriots were in the league¡¯s top tier.


    Clearly, Belichick was far-sighted.


    Although Brady had won the regular season MVP last season, the underlying reason was that the overall performance of quarterbacks across the league was not up to par. Even Wentz, a second-year quarterback who hadn¡¯t played the full season, could get MVP votes, not to mention Li Wei and Donald in the bustling discussions occupying important positions.


    All signs indicated that the thirty-nine-year-old Brady, like Brees, was beginning to decline, and from that time, Belichick realized the team needed to slightly change¡ª


    Usually, they still relied on the offensive group in games, but at crucial moments, they needed to learn to use the defensive group to break the deadlock. The defensive tactics and actual performance of the New England Patriots had significantly improved this season.


    Right now, that was the case, if they didn¡¯t strike, they didn¡¯t, but once they did, they exploded fully, aiming at their prey like a rattlesnake.


    Six men rushing!


    Beyond the four linemen, two more linebackers joined in, leaving one linebacker in the short pass area for flexible defense, the New England Patriots released all the pressure from the front line, breaking the balance with the ferocity of a tiger pouncing down the mountain.


    Waves of force, hitting them head-on!


    Mahomes felt the pressure immediately, in between steps backward, Li Wei on the right jogged over to assist, Mahomes decisively handed the football to Li Wei¡ª


    Choosing to run for the third consecutive Gear?


    Unexpected! One hundred percent unexpected!


    From all indications, the Kansas City Chiefs should have chosen to pass, which was also the reason Belichick chose to rush to pressure further intimidating Mahomes.


    However, Reed unexpectedly chose to run.


    The collision, the misty rain, and the cold were intertwined in chaos, with Van Noy leading the rushing players unfazed, resolutely stepping forward at full speed.


    The difference was that the target switched from Mahomes to Li Wei, that¡¯s all.


    Slap, slap, slap.


    Van Noy¡¯s footsteps splashed through puddles, generating lotus with every step, propelling his body forward at full speed, his blurred vision firmly locking onto the number twenty-three.


    Closing in, aiming, sniping.


    But he found that Li Wei was moving away from him, they were caught in a cat-and-mouse chase.


    After getting the football, Li Wei didn¡¯t push forward in a straight line as usual, but instead moved horizontally, passing in front of Mahomes, shifting from the right to the left.


    Was Li Wei evading Van Noy?


    This thought spurred Van Noy to run faster, chasing with the thrill of a cat playing with a mouse, his smile broadening¡ª


    Li Wei, there was nowhere to escape.


    Because to the front left, he could see another linebacker¡¯s figure.


    Dont¡¯a Hightower, affectionately known as ¡°Hightower¡± by fans, a linebacker chosen in the first round twenty-fifth overall by the New England Patriots in 2012, placed with great expectations, yet only truly shone after his rookie contract ended, making his first Pro Bowl in 2016.


    Usually, Hightower appeared unremarkable, but at crucial moments, he always managed to be in the right place at the right time.


    The scene was similar.


    Van Noy¡¯s lips curled upward, with danger both in front and behind, now he watched to see where Li Wei would try to escape.


    Sure enough, Van Noy was right.


    Accurately, Van Noy saw Number 23 running straight into Hightower¡¯s blocking trap¡ª


    Bang!


    A full-on collision.


    Van Noy: Got him.


    Without hesitation, he pushed off with his feet, trying to speed up. Despite the slippery field, Van Noy quickly adjusted and caught up, completing a ¡°one plus one¡± defensive maneuver with Hightower, sandwiching Li Wei in between them.


    But, wait, something seemed off.


    Van Noy noticed at the corner of his eye, a streak of red moving through the drizzly, grey rain, too blur to see the number, already circling out from the outside of Hightower.


    Who was that?


    However, Li Wei was still colliding with Hightower, trying to break through. The continuous impacts and dodges left Van Noy no room to think, forcing him to stay focused. Finally, Li Wei was down, and as Van Noy fell into a puddle, his brain started working again.


    In the pocket, who else¡ª


    Mahomes.


    Uh, who?


    Mahomes reminded himself to stay focused.


    Whether it was nervousness or excitement, whether he wanted to prove himself or defeat the opponent, if his mind was cluttered, it was easy to get distracted.


    Distraction led to errors.


    Hence, he needed to focus, to be completely engrossed in himself and the game situation.


    A trick play?


    No surprise, the New England Patriots always chose trick plays at cunning moments. Belichick had a real knack for timing, but Mahomes remained unflustered.


    A feint, handing off the football to Li Wei, but his right hand quickly pulled back.


    Mahomes acted as naturally as possible, without overly bending or hiding, casually letting his right hand hang down with the football.


    Normally, one might need to hide; but now, with the fine rain and disturbed visibility, no one could see clearly, thus the feint was even more deceptive.


    Mahomes moved laterally in step with Li Wei, swiftly assessing Hightower and Van Noy, always staying alert.


    Perfect, both experienced linemen were completely fooled by the feint, their attention firmly on Li Wei.


    Mahomes moved with agility, like a gentle breeze, circling around Hightower¡¯s position, then cutting inside, his path becoming a straight line, instantly accelerating¡ª


    He powered up, gaining speed.


    The style changed dramatically, the lamb transformed into a mighty wolf, not giving Hightower and Van Noy any time to think, his body already shooting forward vertically.


    In a robust and vigorous surge.


    Mahomes unleashed his speed, crossing the kickoff line, facing no resistance, an open field ahead of him, slicing through the New England Patriots¡¯ short pass defense as effortlessly as a knife.


    Three yards. Five yards.


    In just two steps, Mahomes had easily secured the first down, his peripheral vision catching a glimpse of white to the right¡ª


    The last lineman.


    So, should Mahomes decide on the spot to go down or keep going?

 Chapter 797: 796 Breakthrough from the Front

    Chapter 797: 796 Breakthrough from the Front


    Focused. Calm. Collected.


    Mahomes knew that he should have just gone down, the first down was already secured, and as a quarterback, there was no need to show off by pushing forward.


    But after a calm analysis and judgment in his mind, there was only one thought at that moment:


    What would Li Wei do?


    Elandon-Roberts, a junior who alternated as a starting linebacker with Bentley this season, showed inconsistent performance, fluctuating between good and bad; and after Bentley was out for the season due to an injury, he firmly stood his ground in the starting position, though still a bit shaky.


    In front of him, Roberts was completely baffled by the scene¡ª


    What¡¯s going on?


    Wasn¡¯t it because Li Wei running the ball? Why did Mahomes suddenly dash out? Is Mahomes planning to pass, and if so, to whom?


    Wait, is this a Read Option Offense? The Kansas City Chiefs are actually choosing the Read Option Offense; what kind of absurd notion is this? But it seems not correct either because Mahomes didn¡¯t make any Read Option moves.


    So, what exactly is it?


    Roberts¡¯s mind was full of question marks.


    In the blink of an eye, while his mind was still processing, his body reflexively reacted, Roberts drove forward, instinctively lunging toward that flash of red.


    Just then, Mahomes braked.


    A sudden stop, controlling his body, halting his forward momentum.


    Roberts: ???


    Now, it was Roberts who couldn¡¯t brake in time nor control his body, staggering forward and brushing past Mahomes.


    Roberts looked back at Mahomes with eyes full of longing and reluctance, but Mahomes had already turned and left without a backward glance, maneuvering around Roberts from behind, cutting into the central territory of the New England Patriots, regaining yards without any physical contact.


    It was only until the Patriots¡¯ secondary defense caught up and encircled him that Mahomes didn¡¯t get greedy; before the circle closed in, he neatly slid to the ground on his own, ending the advance.


    Twelve yards, easily secured.


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    Nantz looked at Romo, Romo looked at Nantz, both couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, as if that was the most appropriate thing to say.


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    ¡°At the start of the second half, the Kansas City Chiefs demonstrated their tenacity with a series of ground attacks, forcefully and decisively tearing through the New England Patriots¡¯ ground defense.¡±


    ¡°Direct breakthrough!¡±


    ¡°Clearly, the Kansas City Chiefs didn¡¯t opt to cut through the Patriots¡¯ mediocre pass defense but chose a direct approach via the ground, knowing well that under such dire weather conditions, a ground attack was the only way to break open the field, needing a frontal breakthrough.¡±


    ¡°However, surprisingly, the Kansas City Chiefs used Li Wei as a decoy, handing the ball off to Mahomes, allowing the team¡¯s quarterback to complete the run, catching the New England Patriots¡¯ defensive group completely off guard.¡±


    ¡°Mahomes secured twelve yards with ease.¡±


    ¡°This is a promising start, and now we¡¯ll see just how much the Kansas City Chiefs have adjusted during the halftime break; truly something to look forward to.¡±


    ¡°This season, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ Offense ranks first in the League, even outperforming the Denver Broncos¡¯ offense from the 2012 season. This young offensive group demonstrates their skills in both passing and running aspects.¡±


    ¡°However, the Denver Broncos in the 2012 season ultimately couldn¡¯t make it further, which reminds people of the saying ¡®Offense wins games, defense wins championships.¡¯ Now, the Kansas City Chiefs face a severe test as well, with the pressure from both the weather and the opponents causing offensive difficulties, making the situation far from easy.¡±


    ¡°Next, we¡¯ll see if they still have the potential to dig deeper. It¡¯s not easy to play beautiful offense, but it¡¯s even harder to persistently challenge for the championship through adversity.¡±


    The answer was definite.


    First Gear, ten yards, Li Wei ran the ball, advancing four yards.


    Second Gear, six yards, Li Wei ran the ball, advancing three yards.


    Third Gear, three yards, Hill ran the ball, advancing thirteen yards.


    Wait, what happened in this wave of Third Gear offense?


    Purely ground attacks, the Kansas City Chiefs were very forceful, with the strategic core still being Li Wei. Everything started with Li Wei.


    Offensive line, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, all were set up to create opportunities and pave the way for Li Wei, relying on his personal ability to forcefully break through the defense.


    From the advancement data, Li Wei¡¯s advancement efficiency was far less than his regular-season performance; however, the tough posture that Li Wei showed in the positional battle forced the New England Patriots Defensive group to strengthen their defense.


    Moreover, there was a key point; Reed did not use Damien, who is good at positional battles, to open the proceedings, continuing to use Li Wei as the team¡¯s starting running back. This confused the judgment of the New England Patriots Defensive group, who had to be wary of Li Wei¡¯s deep-area breakthrough ability and Mahomes¡¯s possibility of a sneaky pass¡ª


    Judgment became complicated.


    Reed¡¯s purpose was to force the New England Patriots Defensive group to think, hesitate for a second longer, half a second of doubt, and that might be the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ opportunity.


    Then, unexpectedly, the Kansas City Chiefs suddenly changed the rhythm.


    Mahomes. Hill. Kelsey.


    Players in different positions, all took turns playing as running back, charging forward with the ball.


    Originally, during the first wave of offense, when Mahomes charged with the ball, Belichick thought the Kansas City Chiefs were preparing to use the Read Option Offense¡ª


    While Reed could deceive other coaches, Belichick always had an inkling; he knew Mahomes¡¯s physical condition and running ability. Despite the few instances Mahomes had charged with the ball during the season, Belichick remained vigilant.


    Fooled the first time, absolutely not the second or third time.


    Belichick instantly became alert, specifically using the veteran linebacker Hightower to guard Mahomes, preventing the Kansas City Chiefs from capitalizing on the Read Option Offense.


    But, Belichick guessed wrong.


    Reed wasn¡¯t planning to deploy the Read Option Offense, but instead varied the ground attacks, relying on Li Wei¡¯s personal threat to attract attention, strangely making the Double running back tactic diverse and variable.


    The New England Patriots Defensive group couldn¡¯t keep up, further compounded by the full alert on Li Wei and Hightower wrongly guarding Mahomes which wasted a defensive matchup, momentarily completely overturning the confrontation situation.


    Kelsey¡¯s ground run was still unskillful, merely forcibly breaking through with brute strength, with mediocre efficiency; but unexpectedly, Hill fully utilized his agile and nimble advantage, seizing the gap when Li Wei attracted the defense, continuously running notably effective advances.


    The New England Patriots were helpless¡ª


    This was the overt scheme.


    The Kansas City Chiefs clearly displayed a ground attack stance, even clearly utilizing Li Wei¡¯s personal capabilities, but they constantly concealed their sharpness, forcing the New England Patriots to be defensive.


    Because Belichick knew Reed¡¯s ability, passing was the most formidable, and once they lowered their guard, Mahomes¡¯s pass could overturn the situation.


    They had to be defensive.

 Chapter 798: 797 Sleeping on Brushwood and Tasting Gall

    Chapter 798: 797 Sleeping on Brushwood and Tasting Gall


    For a moment, engrossed elsewhere, the New England Patriots were sucked into the rhythm of the Kansas City Chiefs, and Belichick also failed to come up with a better response.


    The situation was slipping towards the Kansas City Chiefs.


    What was worse, the Kansas City Chiefs executed a bulldozer style ground offense that was not slow, methodically advancing¡ª


    One link following another.


    The New England Patriots had no time to breathe, their front-line defense, which had performed well all season, was dizzy in the strange offensive rhythm of the Kansas City Chiefs, losing themselves in their breathing, footsteps, and heartbeat. They were just coming out of halftime but felt unable to keep up.


    After pressing forward for over four minutes, the Kansas City Chiefs had already approached the twenty-yard line of the opposite half of the field. This was perhaps the most steady yet unstoppable offense of the entire game, reminiscent of musketeers advancing a formation of cold-weapon infantry, leaving the New England Patriots no room to retreat.


    Then!


    The New England Patriots, as if waking from a dream, finally managed to turn the situation around slightly. Amid a full retreat and compression in the defensive area, they showed their defensive strength twice in a row¡ª


    Capturing Li Wei and heroically grabbing Kelsey just in time, pushing the Kansas City Chiefs into a third and six situation.


    Barely steadying themselves.


    As the Kansas City Chiefs moved ever closer to the Red Zone, the confrontation between the two teams became increasingly fierce and hard; simultaneously, the New England Patriots exploded with energy, the Defensive group clawing back some disadvantage, with the confrontation¡¯s smoke filling the air.


    But Belichick still dared not relax:


    In this wave of offense, the Kansas Chiefs Offense was highly focused. Even facing a third and long, everything was under Reed¡¯s calm and measured plan. What seemed like a third-down crisis was actually all under Reed¡¯s control, leaving the New England Patriots still in a difficult situation.


    A slight lapse in attention, and the New England Patriots might face a counterattack at the start of the second half.


    Belichick had not forgotten and would not forget the humiliation of last year¡¯s divisional game, once was enough, there was no need to experience it a second time.


    The rain kept falling.


    Belichick covered his mouth with the tactic board, continually issuing orders, determined to ramp up the defensive intensity and pace before the Red Zone.


    Opposite, the Kansas City Chiefs continued in their pistol formation unswervingly.


    Moreover, Mahomes, without any hesitation, signaled the start of the play, seemingly unaffected by the third and long situation.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    After the snap, with a turn, Mahomes extended his right hand towards Li Wei¡ª


    A handoff? Or a fake play as a smoke bomb?


    In that split second, the New England Patriots¡¯ Defensive group momentarily hesitated. Their bodies, tensed to the extreme, leaned forward initially, ready to intercept Li Wei; but their strength and speed were not fully unleashed, fearing a full forward pressure might lead them all astray if Mahomes managed a well-timed fake run.


    Sure enough, in the next instant, Mahomes pulled the Football back.


    Adjusted on the spot, looking up to observe.


    Belichick: Dangerous.


    Here on the edge of the Red Zone, on one hand, the area the New England Patriots needed to cover was condensed, allowing their defensive intensity to be increased; on the other hand, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ passing offense also had less area to cover, enhancing their offensive pace. Mahomes only needed quick short passes to deliver lethal blows.


    At this moment, watching Mahomes¡¯ observant actions, Belichick¡¯s heart tightened, feeling both tension and a surge of excitement.


    ¡°Accurately predicted!¡±


    A fake run but a real pass.


    Reed was still Reed; the long ground-offensive setup ultimately pivoted back to a passing game.


    If the quarterback were Smith, Reed might still rely on Li Wei, especially since crucial moments required explosive power from the rookie; but now, with Mahomes as quarterback, the passing play also had its own explosive power in critical moments. Given Reed¡¯s personality, the probability of opting for a pass play soared.


    Especially since this entire wave of attack centered on ground offense.


    The only difference was, when would the stealth passing attack come?


    That was all.


    It was all about timing, Reed was waiting, Belichick was calculating; it was a gamble.


    After losing to the Kansas Chiefs twice, and barely winning in the sixth week of the regular season, Belichick remained vigilant, repeatedly studying game footage to try and fathom Reed¡¯s psyche and accurately predict Reed¡¯s critical choices.


    Like now.


    Belichick was pleased: his prediction was accurate.


    The New England Patriots¡¯ defensive group made a noticeable stepping-forward movement, ostensibly preparing for ground defense, but they were poised, seemingly wary of Hill, Kelsey, or Watkins acting as running back beyond Li Wei¡¯s role, and hesitant to make a move; but in reality, they were truly guarded against the pass defense.


    So.


    When Mahomes began to locate his passing targets, Van Noy made his move¡ª


    There it was.


    They had been biding their time, honing their strategy, waiting for such a moment to deliver a shock lesson to the passionate yet inexperienced rookies of the Kansas Chiefs; a Super Bowl victory might be luck, but climbing the summit a second time or defending the title wouldn¡¯t be that easy.


    Tap tap, tap tap tap.


    Van Noy quickly retreated, and it wasn¡¯t just him¡ªHightower and Roberts also fully pulled back.


    This wasn¡¯t man-to-man coverage, but zone defense.


    In just a second, the entire demeanor of the New England Patriots¡¯ defense shifted, revealing sharp fangs, ready to fiercely harm the Kansas Chiefs Offense.


    Retreating while observing, Van Noy quickly confirmed his judgment¡ª


    Kelsey, Hill, Watkins¡ªall their receiving points scattered, each within just over twenty yards of the end zone, filled with red figures.


    Among them, Hill led the charge, swiftly and agilely heading straight for the end zone.


    Van Noy swiftly adjusted his center of gravity, his gaze shifting back to Mahomes like a rhinoceros looking at the moon, searching for Mahomes¡¯ passing direction.


    Belichick¡¯s tactics were precise and sharp; the defensive line applied full pressure, and though it was just the basic four-man rush, this time with tactical cooperation, it pressured the opposing offensive line, indirectly impacting Mahomes to keep him from passing comfortably.


    Thus, Van Noy saw Mahomes taking small steps back, trying to find space to adjust, while also widening his perspective for secondary defense reading.


    Hill?


    Van Noy noticed Mahomes¡¯ gaze and reacted immediately.


    The next second, Mahomes passed the ball.


    Van Noy¡¯s heart tightened: indeed, it was towards Hill.


    Digging in, powering up, speed unleashed.


    As Van Noy sprinted furiously trying to gain some space in the race against the football, he continued to watch Mahomes¡¯ passing trajectory to find an appropriate defensive position.


    Then.


    Van Noy was astounded: ...


    Li Wei?


    Why would Li Wei be here?


    Wasn¡¯t Li Wei supposed to act as a decoy, then become the sixth man on the offensive line to protect Mahomes, ultimately rendered useless because the New England Patriots deciphered their strategy?


    Why did Mahomes turn around and lightly toss the football back to Li Wei?


    What the heck!


    Running the ball?


    The Kansas Chiefs chose to run the ball again? Had Reed lost his mind?


    ...Darn.

 Chapter 799: 798 Walking Between Rain

    Chapter 799: 798 Walking Between Rain


    Fake run or real pass? Fake pass or real run?


    Between truth and deceit, the essence of warfare lies in psychological manipulation.


    Reed did want to pass, but the timing wasn¡¯t right, so he continued with a diverse ground attack strategy. It wasn¡¯t just Li Wei as the running back¡ªall players outside the offensive line turned into weapons for the ground assault, mirroring the tactical ingenuity of the Shotgun Formation with five wide receivers. Their primary goal was to disrupt the New England Patriots¡¯ predictions and rhythm.


    This was a setup, as well as a gamble.


    Then.


    The football came back to Li Wei ¡ª


    Observing, starting, powering forward.


    In one fluid motion, Li Wei dashed forward like an arrow released from a bow.


    Directly ahead, the offensive line and defensive line were tangled in fierce combat, blades clashed and blood was drawn, momentarily locked in a stalemate.


    Thud, thud, thud, Li Wei took a detour, like a gentle breeze, lightly sweeping by.


    Although the defensive end Flores attempted to interfere, his center of gravity was clearly off. Despite his best efforts, he couldn¡¯t break free and watched helplessly as a shadow streaked by, the next second engulfed in a misty blue-gray haze.


    Thump, thump.


    The bright red, like a heart beating quietly in the misty haze, silenced the entire world.


    Cornerback Jason McCourty was the first to rush over.


    Actually, McCourty was slightly later than Van Noy in realizing this was not a pass. However, since he was positioned closer to Li Wei, he immediately closed in, ready to intercept him from the side.


    McCourty sprinted sideways, preparing to cut off Li Wei¡¯s longitudinal run as the two rapidly neared a convergence at the crossroads.


    Huh.


    McCourty took a deep breath, held his breath, and readied himself.


    Because he knew Li Wei¡¯s capabilities, any slight relaxation could be disastrous. His focus was entirely concentrated, stretched to the utmost.


    Bang!


    The collision occurred.


    But it wasn¡¯t McCourty colliding with Li Wei, but rather a force from the right hitting McCourty ¡ª


    Kelsey.


    However, McCourty didn¡¯t have time to react; he felt like he had been run over by a truck, his head roaring.


    The next second, McCourty¡¯s blurry vision saw a flash of red passing in front of him, effortlessly, without any disturbance, capturing only a blurred glimpse of the number twenty-three on the back before the world started spinning.


    McCourty: Damn it.


    Li Wei stayed focused, never distracted by Kelsey¡¯s block, his attention fixed ahead, relentless, easily leaving the twenty-yard line behind.


    Third and six, almost there, but a defensive circle was closing in.


    To his front left, the safety Chung Family and linebacker Van Noy were swiftly converging; to his front right, safety Devin McCourty and Watkins were quickly entangled and closing in.


    Ambushes on all sides, danger looming everywhere.


    The light drizzle steadily fell on the helmet, as if keeping nature¡¯s rhythm, gently tapping, the heartbeat and pulse silently mingling with it, distinctly capturing the movements of the figures through the foggy rain.


    Li Wei¡¯s pace didn¡¯t slow, becoming lighter and more agile, weaving through the rain, breaking the shackles of time with speed.


    Van Noy, the first to chase down.


    Fully concentrated, holding his breath, Van Noy¡¯s eyes flashed with a killing intent, determined to dive towards Li Wei¡¯s fleeing figure.


    Whoosh.


    The forward charge, breaking through the air, raindrops scattered all around, the splashing mist blurred the view, but Van Noy kept his eyes wide open, firmly locking onto the number twenty-three figure ¡ª


    This was a rainy day, this was the realm of linebackers, he was about to awaken Li Wei¡¯s first-half nightmare.


    Crack.


    Footsteps landed, water splashed, and power erupted instantly, bursting forth.


    However, just then.


    Van Noy¡¯s eyes dazzled, only seeing a halo of red diffusing in the mist, vibrant and bright against the blue-green background.


    Spinning, jumping, weaving through the gaps between raindrops, the falling drizzle seemed to naturally avoid the splash of red, silently clearing a path.


    In an instant, he changed position.


    Van Noy lunged forward but grasped at air¡ª


    Ahead, there was nothing.


    A chill ran through Van Noy¡¯s heart, as if plummeting into an abyss, gravity pulling at his heart, body, and soul, crashing vehemently into a splash of green, the cold water blurring the entire world.


    So, where was Li Wei?


    Li Wei tiptoed, jumping between puddles with the softness and lightness of a ballerina, a counter-clockwise 360-degree spin later, he identified the direction, but then he saw Chung¡¯s figure.


    Firm, solid, substantial.


    This season, at thirty-one, the Chung family inevitably faced physical limits and injuries, with a slight decline in form; but the veteran still held his starting safety position with his experience and perseverance.


    In critical moments, Chung remained trustworthy.


    Chung deliberately slowed the pace, waiting for Van Noy to lunge first, then moving in close, not needing to exert much force, just blocking the path was enough.


    After all, they were near the fifteen-yard line; there was no space left to retreat.


    Moreover, this was where Li Wei aimed to complete the third gear six-yard line, Chung skillfully blocking the position, ready to strike as Li Wei was about to make the first down conversion.


    Step up, position, press.


    That was already enough.


    Chung accurately blocked the position, not even needing to step forward, standing like a wall¡ª


    Li Wei, falling into the trap, delivered himself.


    After a high-speed spin, Li Wei had no way to stop or turn quickly on the wet field, and with no space to adjust in the blink of an eye, he simply went with the flow and accelerated instead.


    Bang.


    A direct frontal collision.


    Li Wei shook, Chung did the same, both evenly matched, but Li Wei was prepared, using Chung like a wall to help himself brake, turn, and change direction.


    His body, light, not fully exerting force.


    After the collision, using the reaction force to move backward, tiptoeing, stepping in Skimming Steps to maintain balance.


    Chung: Not good.


    The veteran stayed alert, immediately noticing Li Wei¡¯s tactical intent. His second reaction was also timely, following the body¡¯s shake, he simply fell forward, pressing down toward Li Wei.


    Bang.


    The second collision.


    Chung hit Li Wei before he could stabilize his center of gravity.


    Li Wei stumbled, like a spider wearing ice skates, unable to control his body, slightly swaying, his feet slipping again.


    So, just like that, he fell?


    So, did the third gear six yards convert successfully or not?


    A slip, a fall, the whole world spinning, but Li Wei had no time for regrets¡ª


    The weather and the field were just like that, better to adapt than to complain.


    Li Wei quickly squatted, lowered his center of gravity, flung himself forward during the fall instead of sprawling backward, then supported himself with his left hand on the ground, his legs continuously kicking, trying to find supporting force on the ground.


    A little slippery, a bit shaky.


    But employing both hands and feet, Li Wei once again demonstrated his unmatched core strength, hurriedly regaining his balance, and somehow staggering forward in a semi-crouch.


    Finished?


    Li Wei refused.

 Chapter 800: 799 Red Spear

    Chapter 800: 799 Red Spear


    Chung Family: Damn.


    Instantly, Chung Family noticed Li Wei¡¯s escape and his rapid response.


    Towards this young man, Chung didn¡¯t dare underestimate him. It wasn¡¯t just a matter of caution, accurately speaking, it was deep admiration, complete respect and admiration, so he wouldn¡¯t let prejudice misguide his own judgment.


    Every time he faced Li Wei, Chung ensured he was fully prepared:


    The first time, the second time, the third time, he might need multiple reactions.


    The present was no different.


    His body had already fallen, his center of gravity had already collapsed, but Chung still didn¡¯t relax, his blurry vision always firmly locked onto that swath of red.


    Then, he struggled forward, stretched out his right hand, and began rapidly swiping like a windshield wiper, trying to disrupt Li Wei¡¯s footing and complete the defense.


    Slap.


    Chung¡¯s wrist hurt: He got it!


    Li Wei, seeking to regain his balance, appeared as though he encountered a hand stretching out from hell like in ¡°Carrie the Witch,¡± his feet slipping as if on garlic skins, his partially gathered steps becoming staggered once more.


    ¡°Fly!¡±


    Persist, Li Wei clenched his teeth tightly.


    ¡°Fly!¡±


    Burn, Li Wei refused to give up, refused to surrender, the flame inside his body blazed fiercely even though the cold and the heavy rain could not quench it.


    ¡°Fly!¡±


    It was all due to sheer willpower, an unbelievable energy burst forth from the depths of his Dantian.


    His lungs were burning, his muscles were burning, constantly changing direction, continually contending, continually maintaining control, his nerve control over his body had reached its peak, each cell was fiercely blazing.


    However, bathed in the chilling, bone-chilling rain, this still seemed not enough, his brain completely cool, transforming the flame into energy, releasing it without any reservations.


    He stomped the ground, exerted force, splashing water everywhere.


    Initiate, sprint, the ground trembled.


    Li Wei¡¯s knees slowly straightened, his body incredibly stood upright again, within two or three steps, he had already left Chung behind.


    Continue moving forward!


    A flame, majestically burning fully, not holding back any power.


    Ah, ah, ah!


    Right ahead, Safety Devin McCourty had just shaken off Watkins and appeared before him¡ª


    Like a crab, arms spread wide, lowering his center of gravity, barricading Li Wei¡¯s path.


    Yet, Li Wei pulled towards the right, planning to break through from McCourty¡¯s left. Just as McCourty had started moving, Li Wei had already swiftly changed direction, pulling his body back to the other side, transforming into a wisp of green smoke.


    Fast, everything was too fast.


    Devin McCourty: Huh???


    Devin could hardly react¡ªhe felt as though he just blinked, the rain blurred his vision, and the figure of Li Wei had vanished before him.


    Literally, vanished.


    By the time he realized, his peripheral vision could only catch the tail end of a red blur to the right; Devin attempted to reach out to intercept, only to find his body couldn¡¯t move, standing there stunned like a wooden chicken.


    Who could tell him how that number twenty-three managed it?


    ¡°Danger, Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°New England Patriots Defensive Group misjudged, the Kansas City Chiefs handed the football to Li Wei again, the number one seed choosing a ground offense yet again.¡±


    ¡°Jason McCourty! Marseille Turn past a man!¡±


    ¡°Kyle Van Noy! Counterclockwise rotation past a man!¡±


    ¡°Incredible! Li Wei¡¯s movements were as if stepping on gusts of wind, barely gasping for breath but had already effortlessly shaken off two defenders, and...¡±


    ¡°Chung Family! Wall crash!¡±


    ¡°New England Patriots¡¯ number twenty-three stopped Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ number twenty-three!¡±


    ¡°Oh, no no no!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei! Li Wei didn¡¯t fall, Li Wei miraculously continues to advance!¡±


    ¡°High knee! Break free! Li Wei continues to advance!¡±


    ¡°Jesus Christ, how did Li Wei manage that?¡±


    ¡°Li Wei, like a red spear, piercing through layers of rain, piercing through layers of defense, with an unstoppable force headed towards the New England Patriots¡¯ end zone!¡±


    ¡°Devin McCourty!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s through!¡±


    ¡°Beautiful! Li Wei¡¯s second reaction was outstanding, he absolutely nailed McCourty to the spot, like a wooden stake, and the path ahead was clear.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei! The five-yard line!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei! The end zone!¡±


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    ¡°Touchdown! Touchdown! Unbelievable! Incomprehensible! That was a touchdown! No doubt about it! We are witnessing a touchdown!¡±


    ¡°Jesus Christ!¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs with a strong, intelligent, and composed offense have advanced eighty-seven yards, forcibly breaking through the defensive line of the New England Patriots, scoring the first touchdown of this American League final!¡±


    ¡°Is this the offensive-leading Kansas City Chiefs from the regular season league back?¡±


    Jenna admitted honestly, she didn¡¯t care¡ª


    She had witnessed a touchdown, through a live television broadcast.


    She knew the excitement and exhilaration of scoring were indescribable, but that was it; she didn¡¯t think being there in person would make any difference.


    However, Annie wanted to witness it, especially Li Wei¡¯s, so she still stayed focused.


    Run after run, breakthrough after breakthrough, this kind of trench warfare was somewhat dull; and the cold icy rain slapping randomly on her face didn¡¯t help either.


    Even when Li Wei held the ball again, Jenna didn¡¯t think much of it.


    ¡°Maybe this is just another trench warfare run,¡± Jenna thought.


    But then, it happened¡ª


    One man down. Two men down.


    Jenna¡¯s heart slowly climbed to her throat.


    A collision, rallying again.


    Jenna herself didn¡¯t realize that she had slowly left her seat to stand.


    A change of direction, and off he went.


    Jenna was now fully standing, her eyes glued to that figure, mighty, unstoppable, like lightning striking directly at the enemy¡¯s heart.


    The ten-yard line. The five-yard line. The end zone.


    A heart-piercing arrow!


    In an instant, Jenna¡¯s heart exploded, she couldn¡¯t control herself, her mind roared, and she didn¡¯t even know how to react, just instinctively raising her hands high and letting it out.


    Ah!


    Jenna heard her own shout burst in her eardrums, that excitement, that exhilaration, that joy, vigour boomed through her veins.


    Ahhhhh!


    What on earth was this?


    Jenna couldn¡¯t understand the impulse but couldn¡¯t resist the emotion, and uncontrollably started to scream.


    Turning her head, Jenna saw Jeff standing in place, tears streaming down his face¡ª


    Jenna paused, still not understanding, but the next second, Arrowhead Stadium gave the answer.


    ¡°He¡¯s here, he¡¯s there, he¡¯s everywhere, he is the Edgerunner, Li Wei Li Wei Li Wei!¡±


    Jenna blankly stared at the field.


    In the end zone, that man whom the whole stadium was paying homage to, pulled open his soaking wet jersey to reveal the white undershirt beneath, which read:


    Annie, you will never walk alone.


    Next to her, the stadium song was still booming, and Jenna suddenly understood it all, all the confusion and doubt seemed to have found their answers.


    ¡°Dear Annie,


    Mom saw it, Li Wei¡¯s running touchdown, now Mom finally understands why you never forget it, it truly is an art, so beautiful, so thrilling, the heart pounding uncontrollably, as if never having lived this genuinely before.


    Annie, did you see that?¡±


    Emotions surged, Jenna¡¯s eyes instantly blurred into one, unable to tell if it was tears or rain, but it no longer mattered.


    Jenna still had many things she didn¡¯t understand, but that didn¡¯t stop her from following her heart¡¯s response, raising her hands high, singing loudly with the entire audience.


    ¡°He¡¯s here, he¡¯s there, he¡¯s everywhere, he is the Edgerunner, Li Wei Li Wei Li Wei!¡±


    As she kept shouting, a smile bloomed proudly amidst the storm.


    Even if the storm was fierce, what did it matter? They would still fight shoulder to shoulder, battling to the last drop of their blood.

 Chapter 801: 800 Wild Growth

    Chapter 801: 800 Wild Growth


    Ah ah ah, ah ah ah!


    Again, and again, and once more, Li Wei stood tall and proud in the end zone, roaring and screaming his heart out, exhaling a deep breath of heavy air.


    The game was just beginning.


    Mahomes, Kelsey, Hill, Watkins, and even the usually reserved offensive line all gathered in the end zone without exception, forming a row, and unleashed furious howls towards the stands.


    Boom!


    Instantly, Arrowhead Stadium was ignited.


    The entire first half was riddled with ups and downs, a tough, grinding battle seemingly impossible to break apart. The Kansas City Chiefs Offense had been lackluster all along, with the New England Patriots Offense also struggling to shine; yet the score was significantly disparate, leaving a sense of frustration lingering.


    Until now, Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offense that had dominated the season finally found their rhythm. At the beginning of the second half, their brilliant ground offensive tore through New England Patriots¡¯ defense and culminated in a flawless touchdown run by Li Wei.


    ¡°14:7.¡±


    Suddenly, everything changed.


    Not just the score¡ªthe momentum, the energy, everything was shifting.


    Ah ah ah, ah ah ah!


    On the sidelines, the Kansas City Chiefs were boiling over. Burns clenched his fists tightly, his eyes glued to the field, radiating an unmistakable killing intent.


    Houston was roaring, and Berry was roaring, too.


    The defensive group captains exchanged a glance, and both broke into grins.


    Berry gave Houston a firm shoulder bump, ¡°Your turn next. Can these old bones still manage? If not, I¡¯ll take over.¡±


    Ignoring the bone-deep cold and aching body, Houston puffed out his chest stubbornly, ¡°Even if these old bones are left out there, I can still push forward.¡±


    Turning to the field, Houston felt a surge of heroic spirit brewing in his chest¡ª


    New England Patriots, huh.


    He knew that some folks in the New England region couldn¡¯t stomach Li Wei, Mahomes, and even himself as outsiders dominating football, a sport they claimed as theirs. If they could, they¡¯d tear them apart and drink their blood.


    But these rebels wouldn¡¯t let those revolting and crooked old relics have their way¡ªthey thrived furiously and defiantly within the league, building a new world until even those ancient dinosaurs began to see beauty in the faces of these unruly outliers.


    Taking a deep breath, heads may roll and blood may flow, but they¡¯d never surrender. Even if his old bones gave out, he¡¯d make sure to leave the New England Patriots bloodied.


    The rookie, as expected, dazzled again, turning the tide. Now it was their turn.


    Houston turned to look at the defensive squad, wiping the rainwater off his face.


    ¡°Hey, did you see that? The rookie¡¯s challenging us. What say we rise to the occasion?¡±


    Roar roar roar, roar roar roar.


    Jones and Fuller were the first to lead the charge, but Berry wasn¡¯t satisfied. Looking at this group of young bloods, he shook his head repeatedly¡ªhis expression screaming, ¡°This generation isn¡¯t cutting it¡±¡ªand led by example with a thunderous roar that could rival a storm.


    Ah!


    Berry fixed a determined gaze on the young players. As if provoking their fighting spirit, his action immediately charged up the entire defensive squad.


    And then, the defensive squad took the field.


    On the other side of the field, Belichick was visibly frustrated¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offense had played tough and solid this time, their ground game breaking down barriers relentlessly. It had left plenty of opportunities for the New England Patriots, but ironically, Belichick¡¯s meticulous strategy had been outmaneuvered by Reed¡¯s straightforward and single-minded approach.


    Was this the curse of brilliance?


    A single touchdown, yet the tides were subtly turning.


    Still, Belichick had been through wars and quickly regained his composure. He didn¡¯t dwell on frustration or regret¡ªhe looked forward.


    After all, the New England Patriots were still leading. If Brady could secure another touchdown and swing the game back to the score-trading rhythm they had during Week 6 of the regular season, victory would still remain firmly in their grasp.


    Belichick didn¡¯t even need to take a deep breath; he turned to look¡ª


    Brady was already at the ready.


    Evidently, Brady had been sharpening his knives as well. Despite their current lead after the first half, Brady himself wasn¡¯t pleased with his performance. His pride had been triggered, especially after watching Li Wei¡¯s celebratory antics, which to Brady felt intensely personal¡ªa direct provocation aimed squarely at him.


    The Kansas City Chiefs would regret awakening the beast.


    New England Patriots¡¯ legendary superstar Brady took the stage.


    Both the home and guest teams could sense the subtle shift in atmosphere. The upcoming round of offensive and defensive clashes could very well define the tone for the entire second half. Whoever won this battle would seize control of the game, which drove both teams to elevate their intensity, clearly making their collisions even more fierce.


    On one side, the New England Patriots Offense, ranked fourth in the league this season¡ªa powerhouse.


    On the other side, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense, the weakest among the four conference finalists¡ªa clear underdog.


    By all logic, the Kansas City Chiefs shouldn¡¯t be able to put up a fight, and the first-half score seemed to corroborate that. But football isn¡¯t a numbers game; the first seed doesn¡¯t automatically defeat the thirty-second.


    In truth, Brady¡¯s performance today had been mediocre, constantly adjusting and searching for rhythm. But the unfavorable weather was, in some ways, aiding him, as Brady¡¯s rich experience better equipped him to adapt to the shifting dynamics of the match.


    Today, the New England Patriots Offense had a standout performer: wide receiver Julian Edelman.


    This veteran, selected in the seventh round at 232nd overall in 2009 by the New England Patriots, had ascended twice as a Super Bowl Champion with the team. Yet the past two seasons had been a whirlwind. Last season, he was sidelined with an ACL tear; this season, after finally recovering, he failed a drug test during the offseason and was suspended for four games by the league. Although Edelman appealed, the committee dismissed his case.


    In Week 5 of the regular season, Edelman finally returned to the lineup, but the extended absence had left him searching for form, with inconsistent performances throughout the season. By Week 16, he racked up fines for three unnecessary personal fouls, leaving his season lackluster in the end.


    But come playoffs, Edelman transformed into a Super Saiyan.


    Last game, during the divisional round, Edelman caught the ball nine times to advance 151 yards¡ªhis astounding performance reduced the Los Angeles Chargers¡¯ cornerbacks to mere props.


    The story remained the same in this game. Even as Brady struggled to find his touch, leaning heavily on short passes of three or five yards connecting with Edelman, Edelman relied on his sheer personal ability to dodge, weave, and carve left and right, turning three or five yards into advances of more than ten.


    This¡ªthis was individual brilliance, turning the game¡¯s tide singlehandedly¡ª


    It reminded people of Li Wei.


    For the Kansas City Chiefs, how to contain Edelman had become one of the most daunting tests in this matchup¡ªand let¡¯s not forget, they still had to deal with the seasoned Brady.


    This wouldn¡¯t be easy.

 Chapter 802: Bite the bullet at 801

    Chapter 802: Bite the bullet at 801


    ¡°...Edelman, Edelman again and again!¡±


    ¡°Connection! Caught!¡±


    ¡°Beautiful!¡±


    ¡°Edelman once again demonstrates his top-tier ability to create receiving space in tight quarters. It¡¯s hard to believe how clumsy Cornerback Fuller looks in front of him.¡±


    ¡°A short three-yard pass, and Edelman, relying on his individual abilities, completes the catch amidst tight defense. But it¡¯s clear Edelman hasn¡¯t planned to stop advancing.¡±


    ¡°Edelman is dodging and weaving, like a nimble armadillo.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Houston! Justin Houston makes a timely tackle, cleanly and decisively ending Edelman¡¯s breakthrough attempt.¡±


    ¡°Still, the New England Patriots completed a six-yard third down conversion and extended their drive. Brady is now playing with lethal intent.¡±


    Huff, huff.


    Houston pants heavily, taking big, desperate breaths. His lungs feel like they¡¯re burning, and the freezing cold air stabs at his alveoli like embroidered needles, a sharp pain spreading through his chest. His knees tremble slightly, barely able to keep him upright¡ª


    The physical toll is harsher than usual. The second half has just begun, yet he feels as though he¡¯s already in overtime. This is despite having gotten a first-round bye in this year¡¯s Wild Card round, making this physical rebellion by his body unprecedented.


    The game remains a deadlock.


    Edelman. Damn Edelman.


    At 5¡¯9¡ä¡ä (178 cm), Edelman is small in stature and looks like a dwarf invading a land of giants when surrounded by defenders. But Edelman is incredibly adept at using his size, relying on quick footwork and keen instincts to create gaps in crowded defenses.


    Whether it¡¯s man-to-man coverage or zone defense, Edelman always finds a flaw.


    Especially against zone defense¡ªif defenders aren¡¯t careful, Edelman will find the gaps in the ¡°Heavenly Net,¡± allowing Brady to thread the needle for a successful connection.


    If man-to-man coverage is chosen instead, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ secondary lacks a defender who can fully shadow Edelman. Fuller is already the closest match for Edelman¡¯s speed and agility.


    Thus, the Chiefs¡¯ pass defense now faces a stern challenge.


    However, to be fair, if Edelman were the only receiving option, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ defense wouldn¡¯t seem nearly as beleaguered. The real issue lies in New England¡¯s cohesive teamwork.


    First, rookie running back Sony Michel, selected 31st overall in this year¡¯s first round.


    Second, tight end Gronkowski, the heavy artillery weapon.


    Statistically, Michel, Gronkowski, and Edelman all had average seasons this year, none reaching a 1,000-yard benchmark. Yet, the New England Patriots¡¯ offensive unit ranks fourth in the league¡ªthe fundamental reason being their teamwork. Brady always finds the right target at the right moment.


    A running back, a tight end, and a wide receiver¡ªthe exact same top-tier configuration as the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offense but with a slightly different style. The Patriots still manage to find ways to sustain their advancements in tough situations.


    This moment is no different.


    The Kansas City Chiefs Defense has performed admirably, forcing the New England Patriots into a third-down predicament four times already, three of which were on long yardage.


    Still, in moments of adversity, the Patriots¡¯ offense elevates its game. In critical moments, they consistently rise to the occasion, converting on third downs and stubbornly continuing their drive.


    And now, in the blink of an eye, they¡¯ve crossed midfield and are nearing the Red Zone.


    This is Belichick and Brady¡¯s direct response to the Chiefs¡¯ recent offensive drive.


    Houston fixates his gaze on Brady, his knees nearly giving out, but the unyielding determination in his eyes burns fiercely:


    Let¡¯s see them test our mettle.


    ¡°Pressure!¡±


    ¡°Blitz!¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs defensive front suddenly applies immense pressure without any warning.¡±


    ¡°Chris Jones! Justin Houston!¡±


    ¡°Brady feels the heat, throws the pass¡ªthe target is¡ª


    Gronkowski!¡±


    ¡°Brady attempts to connect with his tight end, but the trajectory of the pass is off, the arc uncontrolled. The pass is incomplete¡ªclearly, he felt the pressure.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Fake handoff! Run play!¡±


    ¡°The ball is in running back Michel¡¯s hands. Whoa!¡±


    ¡°Where did Houston come from? Like a beast out of nowhere, he pounces directly on Michel, slamming him to the ground with a clean, decisive stop to end this rushing play.¡±


    ¡°Third and seven.¡±


    ¡°The New England Patriots face yet another long third down, with the outcome hanging in the balance.¡±


    ¡°But this time, how will Belichick and Brady handle it?¡±


    The atmosphere in Arrowhead Stadium surges, the crowd thunderously chanting, ¡°Defense!¡± The deafening cries pierce through the rain, reverberating across the field, igniting the icy night with fiery intensity.


    Houston readies himself.


    His knees still tremble slightly, his forward-leaning body teetering as he struggles to stay steady. Yet, from his calves to his thighs, his muscles are taut, every fiber of his being focused and poised to explode into action at any moment.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Amidst the sound of the rain, Houston locks onto a voice and launches forward in an instant.


    Without hesitation, he goes on the offensive¡ª


    They must apply pressure, even at the cost of weakening their coverage in the short-pass zones. Brady must feel the impact.


    This is the key.


    Pushing off, mustering strength, his knee locks straight, and his body¡¯s protests are silenced. His mind fixates entirely on the figure standing in the pocket.


    Number 12.


    Bam! Bam! Bam!


    The solid collision of bodies, the fierce clash of strength against strength, sends waves rippling through the air. The moisture in the atmosphere seems to boil from the intensity.


    But Houston remains unfazed.


    He sidesteps the tangle at the line and prepares to pierce into the pocket. At that moment, he spots the handoff between Brady and Michel¡ª


    Run play?


    Is Belichick planning to surprise them with a rushing tactic to convert this long third down?


    No. Houston doesn¡¯t believe it.


    On the surface, the Patriots appear to attempt a sudden ground assault to disrupt the rhythm. Yet Houston¡¯s intuition sounds alarms.


    He halts, brakes, pivots, and backpedals.


    The sharp, sudden movements flow seamlessly as Houston glances diagonally backward¡ª


    Edelman and Gronkowski have taken position along different routes.


    As expected, Belichick leverages the Chiefs¡¯ aggressive blitz strategy with a fake run to set up a pass. The real intention remains a throw.


    The question is, Edelman or Gronkowski?


    Experience suggests it¡¯s Gronkowski. Even under triple coverage, Gronkowski can effortlessly snatch the ball to advance. He has always been Brady¡¯s most reliable partner for third-down conversions.


    For a fleeting moment, Houston instinctively shifts his gaze toward Gronkowski.


    However, his instinct pulls him swiftly toward Edelman.


    Splish, splash.


    His steps splash through the rain as he zeroes in on Edelman.


    Amid the chaos and congestion, Edelman surgically carves out a gap. A quick stop, a sudden turn, and the three-yard pass from Brady lands cleanly in Edelman¡¯s hands, right on target.


    Edelman doesn¡¯t even turn around. With his back to the end zone, he digs into the turf, readying to keep advancing.


    But this time, before he can take a step, a fierce figure leaps out like a wolf, wrapping tightly around his waist. The combined force of momentum and physical power drives Edelman to the ground abruptly.

 Chapter 803: A miss is as good as a mile

    Chapter 803: A miss is as good as a mile


    ¡°Gronkowski?¡±


    ¡°No, Edelman!¡±


    ¡°Beautiful footwork, precise judgment! Edelman is in godlike form tonight, leaving the Kansas City Chiefs Defense flustered and overwhelmed.¡±


    ¡°Edelman...¡±


    ¡°Hah!¡±


    Time paused in an instant. Every moment turned into still-frame animation, evolving scene by scene, frame by frame¡ª


    Edelman was in top form, carving out an opening in the dense defensive zone woven between the linemen, safety, and cornerback with his running.


    Stop, catch, push forward.


    Smooth as water.


    But as he was just about to move, a flash of red flame darted toward him¡ªit was so fast against the cold, wet rain that it almost scorched Edelman¡¯s calf.


    Edelman was startled, and his feet dug into the ground, accelerating quickly in an attempt to break free.


    Houston wasn¡¯t surprised. He knew Edelman¡¯s speed and agility inside out. The moment he made his decision, there could be no hesitation¡ªit had to be ruthless, straightforward, and decisive¡ª


    If his judgment was wrong and Brady¡¯s target was Gronkowski, so be it. But if he was right, Houston had to seize the chance.


    No second-guessing, no delay. With a single push-off, Houston threw his entire body forward, lunging to snatch that fleeting millisecond before it vanished.


    It was impossible to measure the infinitesimal moment precisely, but Houston managed to buy himself an opportunity. Before Edelman could fully take off, Houston fearlessly tackled him to the ground.


    Teeth clenched. Energy igniting. Murderous intent unleashed.


    Then, a single decisive strike.


    Bam.


    Houston knew he had done it.


    ¡°Wait, Edelman gets stopped and brought down! Edelman is down!¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°Houston! Oh, God, Justin Houston has completely lost it tonight!¡±


    ¡°Three and out!¡±


    ¡°New England Patriots, three and out!¡±


    ¡°No one could have predicted this¡ªa sudden, abrupt halt. The New England Patriots¡¯ offensive drive looked incredibly strong, only to get slammed into a dead stop.¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°Even Brady can¡¯t believe his eyes. He¡¯s looking at Belichick for confirmation, but even Belichick doesn¡¯t have a better answer.¡±


    ¡°This wasn¡¯t a case of a poor tactical setup or execution by the New England Patriots¡ªit was the Kansas City Chiefs Defense Captain stepping up in the clutch.¡±


    ¡°With an unmatched performance, Justin Houston shut down Edelman, delivering a crucial three-and-out for the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half. They¡¯ve marked their resurgence with utter dominance. The fate of this American League Championship game is now completely unpredictable.¡±


    Ah!


    Houston clenched his fist and closed his eyes, unleashing a surge of energy from deep within his dantian, letting it out in a skyward roar.


    Ahhh!


    His chest boiled with hot blood, his spirit ablaze.


    After venting it all, Houston opened his eyes, turning his gaze toward Brady, piercing through the layers of rain. With unyielding resolve, he declared his belief¡ª


    The game had only just begun.


    Brady could feel the menacing aura rushing toward him, an unstoppable tide of energy pouring out across Arrowhead Stadium, mixing with the rain and smacking wildly at his face.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    Brady ultimately couldn¡¯t suppress it and spat out an expletive.


    ¡°Now, all the pressure falls squarely on New England Patriots kicker Gostkowski.¡±


    ¡°In Week 6 of the regular season, it was Gostkowski¡¯s game-winning field goal that allowed the Patriots to narrowly edge out the Kansas City Chiefs at home. This kicker has repeatedly proven his coolness and reliability in critical moments.¡±


    ¡°But today, the circumstances are slightly different. Rain interference has introduced an element of unpredictability. So far, neither team¡¯s kicker has attempted a field goal, and the level of difficulty may exceed expectations. A hidden crisis looms.¡±


    ¡°Still, for the New England Patriots, this field goal leaves no room for error.¡±


    ¡°Coming out of halftime, the Kansas City Chiefs showcased remarkable strength on both offense and defense. First, their Offensive group scored an incredible touchdown with brilliant run plays. Then, their Defensive group struck with absolute force, forcing a three-and-out.¡±


    ¡°The New England Patriots have adjusted impressively in response to the aggressive Kansas City Chiefs, but they ultimately couldn¡¯t achieve a touchdown¡ªinstead, it all came down to this field goal.¡±


    ¡°Right now, the Patriots should be feeling the weight of the pressure. If they fail to deliver here, this pressure will translate to the scoreboard, compounding even further. The Chiefs¡¯ offensive momentum will undoubtedly surge.¡±


    ¡°In the first half, the Patriots had a commanding lead, but they weren¡¯t able to control the game¡ªit seemed they simply had a bit more luck than the Chiefs.¡±


    ¡°In the second half, the Goddess of Fortune has changed her mind. The Patriots¡¯ advantage is fading fast. This American League Championship game has only just begun.¡±


    Flying, thwack!


    Flying, thwack!


    Jenna watched Arrowhead Stadium¡¯s roaring crowd in wide-eyed bewilderment. She joined in the cheers and clapped along. Even though she didn¡¯t entirely understand what was happening, she could feel her heart pounding harder and faster.


    The sea of restless eyes focused entirely on Gostkowski.


    A 43-yard field goal.


    An awkward position¡ªnot too hard, but not entirely easy either. Even a slight lapse in focus could spell failure.


    Arrowhead Stadium exerted its full pressure on Gostkowski.


    Gostkowski remained unmoved, laser-focused on the goalposts.


    A deep breath. A few steps forward. A kick. The shot¡ª


    Swoosh.


    The football arced through the air, full and round, but wavered unsteadily amidst the rain and fierce winds, like the last withered leaf clinging to a branch in late autumn, trembling and fragile.


    Suddenly, Jenna held her breath, her heart lodged in her throat, her unblinking eyes locked onto the russet parabola traveling across half the field.


    And then¡ª


    Clang.


    The ball struck the left upright.


    In that instant, the air was entirely sucked out of the stadium. Even Gostkowski¡¯s heart seemed to explode.


    A moment later, the football ricocheted inward, grazing the post and slipping through.


    ¡°Field goal, good!¡±


    The referee raised both arms high to signal the score.


    Jenna grabbed her head in disbelief. ¡°Oh.¡± A mix of regret and frustration flooded her chest instantly.


    On the field, Gostkowski fell to his knees, overwhelmed.


    ¡°Thrilling. Absolutely nerve-wracking.¡±


    ¡°Gostkowski¡¯s kick veered slightly off course but managed to scrape through. The Patriots narrowly escaped disaster.¡±


    ¡°¡¯17-7.¡¯ The New England Patriots maintain a ten-point lead over the reigning champions. It¡¯s not much, but Belichick¡¯s team has managed to stabilize themselves¡ªjust barely.¡±


    Jenna covered her face, unable to watch what might come next.


    She hadn¡¯t expected, however, a wave of shouting to ring in her ears, expanding into a whirlwind that spread like wildfire across Arrowhead Stadium¡ª


    ¡°Offense! Thwack!¡±


    ¡°Offense! Thwack!¡±


    Was it disappointment? Frustration?


    The answer was obvious¡ªyes. Arrowhead Stadium had hoped for the Patriots to miss that field goal, but unfortunately, reality didn¡¯t align with their desires. That didn¡¯t mean they¡¯d wallow, though. One by one, fans stood straighter, heads held high.


    Provo was the first to shout.


    West turned to him in utter shock, not believing this was the same guy he knew.


    Provo noticed West¡¯s gaze and nudged him with his shoulder.


    ¡°Stop spacing out!¡±


    Then, one shout after another. A full-throated roar erupted, his eyes blazing with light.

 Chapter 804: 803 Bull Rushing Tactics

    Chapter 804: 803 Bull Rushing Tactics


    Drip, drip, drip. Drip, drip, drip.


    Then, it gradually stopped.


    The audience at Arrowhead Stadium was completely immersed in the game and didn¡¯t notice; but Clark noticed immediately and quickly sounded the alarm.


    ¡°The rain has stopped.¡±


    ¡°Rookie, the rain has stopped! Dry the football, and also dry your hands.¡±


    Involuntarily, the camera lens tilted upward, aiming at the sky over Kansas City.


    It was nighttime, so no Sun could be seen, but under the stadium lights projected toward the sky, faint hints of starlight and a shy crescent moon peeked through the dissipating heavy clouds¡ª


    Amazingly, the rain had cleared.


    In front of his TV, Goff suddenly stood upright. ¡°The turning point is here. Anything is possible now.¡±


    Donald remained steady as a mountain, staring at the screen without saying a word.


    He, of course, knew the immense power of the New England Patriots. Once Belichick advanced to the Conference Championship, their experience became a formidable weapon.


    And yet, he had always harbored unwavering faith in the Kansas City Chiefs. He believed Li Wei wouldn¡¯t bow out easily and that he would fight to the bitter end for victory.


    In the first half, the New England Patriots had unleashed all their Eighteen Martial Arts and successfully taken the lead. However, they still couldn¡¯t fully suppress the Kansas City Chiefs; as expected, the entire situation flipped in the second half.


    Now, even the weather was lending a hand.


    If the Kansas City Chiefs could continue to score touchdowns...


    A trace of anticipation and exhilaration filled Donald. Facing off against the New England Patriots at the peak of the Super Bowl was thrilling, but he looked forward even more to a life-or-death showdown with the young, tenacious, and unrelenting Kansas City Chiefs.


    Seated before the TV screen, Donald couldn¡¯t help but feel his blood boil.


    Then.


    Without saying a word, Donald stood up, went to the bathroom door frame, and banged out a set of fifteen pull-ups. Everyone else in the room stared at him in utter shock.


    What?


    ¡°Offense! Clap, clap!¡±


    ¡°Offense! Clap, clap!¡±


    Back at Arrowhead Stadium, the crowd was starting to notice the rain¡¯s cessation and the gradual clearing of the skies. Despite still shivering in the damp and cold, their bodies began to reconnect with sensations of prickling pain and numbing tingles¡ª


    This was a good sign.


    Because of it, the cheers grew louder, the leaps grew wilder, and the burning passion dispelled the cold as fiery energy charged the air like gunpowder.


    Sparks flew.


    On the field, Li Wei was glancing down to feel the ground with his feet.


    The rain had stopped, and visibility improved, which was a good thing. However, the waterlogged and uneven surface meant he still needed to tread carefully while running.


    Turning around, Li Wei locked eyes with Mahomes. ¡°Watch your footing.¡±


    Mahomes nodded, constantly flexing his hands to try and regain his touch.


    In the first half, Brady performed so-so, relying on Edelman to save the day. On the other hand, Mahomes struggled badly, with a pass completion rate still under 50%. In poor weather conditions, under intense game pressure, and in a single-elimination playoff, his lack of experience had been exploited by Belichick.


    But Mahomes¡¯ strength lay in his humility and ability to learn quickly.


    Each of the team¡¯s three regular-season losses had been a lesson, a classroom in its own right, especially the defeat to the New England Patriots. Mahomes remained convinced that his interception had been the key to that loss.


    Now, facing the Patriots once more, Mahomes was noticeably steadier.


    Despite an underwhelming first-half performance, Mahomes hadn¡¯t lost his patience or confidence.


    Mahomes looked over at Li Wei, flashing a wide grin. ¡°Ready?¡±


    Li Wei shrugged lightly, ¡°As ready as I¡¯ll ever be.¡±


    The mock-humble posture made Mahomes burst out laughing.


    On the other side, Van Noy and Hightower fixed their gazes on Li Wei. Seeing this interaction, they were briefly at a loss for words before bursting into sardonic laughter, corners of their mouths curling upward.


    Chung Family noticed it and issued a reminder.


    ¡°Stay focused. That guy¡¯s just trying to get under your skin.¡±


    Hightower immediately snapped back to his senses. ¡°Ha, I nearly fell for it. That rookie¡¯s secondary passes have had terrible trajectory control all game. If we apply enough pressure, he might just wet himself out of panic.¡±


    Ha ha ha.


    A wave of laughter followed.


    When their eyes returned to Mahomes, the New England Patriots had regained their momentum¡ª


    ¡°Defense!¡±


    ¡°Defense!¡±


    A small but potent sound arose from a pocket of New England Patriots fans at Arrowhead Stadium. Tiny as it was, their snarling faces and exaggerated gestures hurled waves of menacing energy at Mahomes and Li Wei, adding to the intimidation.


    ¡°Defense!¡± You bastard.


    ¡°Defense!¡± Go to hell.


    From the now notorious Week 6 incident at Gillette Stadium, public opinion had rallied around Li Wei, deeming him the victim. Yet the truth was¡ª


    Gillette Stadium was the real victim. All they had done was toss out a few harmless jokes, only to be vilified and painted as the ultimate villains. Meanwhile, Li Wei, with his verbal jabs and mental warfare that inflicted actual psychological trauma, emerged as some kind of hero. This world had clearly lost its mind.


    Ha!


    Tonight, at the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ home turf, they planned to restore their honor. Right here at Arrowhead Stadium, they¡¯d pack off the defending champions, avenge last year¡¯s divisional heartbreak, and exorcise the psychological shadow from Gillette earlier this season.


    From fans to players, everyone stood tall, brimming with energy. The time to rise had come.


    Since the second half began, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ momentum had been steadily climbing. The New England Patriots were ready to deliver a swift counterpunch:


    Give them a glimmer of hope, only to snuff it out and send them crashing into despair in one decisive blow.


    No rain, no wind, only the disruptive chants of the Patriots fans attempting to obstruct Mahomes as he set up the play. Arrowhead Stadium reclaimed some of its usual electric atmosphere, though the biting chill clung tightly to the skin, freezing their very insides. The tension tightened inexorably.


    Until¡ª


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Mahomes called the snap.


    Van Noy lunged forward without hesitation, closing in at lightning speed.


    Blitz!


    Belichick, recognizing the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive surge, made timely tactical adjustments. Though blitzes had been few in the first half, he wasted no time pulling the trigger on this second offensive drive of the half.


    And he set a trap.


    Six-man pass rush!


    Van Noy and Roberts charged ahead; Roberts advanced through the middle, executing a switch-up with the defensive line, allowing a Defensive Tackle to attempt a middle blitz.


    The key was for the Patriots to create pressure in the middle and on the left side, tightening coverage in the short-pass zones with a Cornerback and Safety closing in, creating an invisible wall of pressure.


    In doing so, no matter whether the Chiefs chose to pass or run, they¡¯d instinctively lean toward the less crowded left side.


    This was the herding tactic.


    The Patriots had already packed the right side of their defensive formation, compressing space and cranking up the heat.


    Sure enough, Belichick¡¯s preemptive strategy was taking effect.


    Pressure mounted layer by layer, stacking up relentlessly.


    Mahomes clearly felt the heat. Without enough time to scan the defense, he instinctively shifted left, his first glance seeking out Li Wei, his ever-reliable option on the play.


    So, the Chiefs still opted for a ground game breakthrough upfront?

 Chapter 805: 804 Lure the tiger out of the mountains

    Chapter 805: 804 Lure the tiger out of the mountains


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Mahomes announced the snap, and immediately felt the pressure¡ª


    Right in front, lineman Roberts charged straight at him, like a horror movie, his fierce face rapidly enlarged in his pupils, and the overwhelming rush of air forced Mahomes to step back.


    One step, two steps.


    Creating space, not yet having time to breathe, he noticed out of the corner of his eye the mounting pressure crashing down from the right, almost reflexively, Mahomes moved laterally towards the blind side.


    Instinctively, Mahomes looked at Li Wei.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t leave; instead, he stayed next to Mahomes like a satellite, following his every move laterally but more steadily.


    An exchange of glances¡ª


    Run?


    In a flash of lightning, Li Wei took a step forward, meeting Mahomes, ready to complete the handoff before Van Noy or Roberts could tackle and take them down.


    Mahomes extended the football.


    Van Noy: sped up, stepped forward, sprinted fully.


    Whether Mahomes passed or Li Wei ran, it wouldn¡¯t change the New England Patriots¡¯ pass-rush pressure strategy, pushing them into a corner as soon as possible.


    This way, all the pressure would fall on Li Wei.


    On one side, Van Noy sped up, relentlessly pursuing, like driving chickens.


    On the other side, Li Wei sped up, his nimble steps dodging Mahomes as he continued forward.


    No handoff.


    Van Noy, behind them, without the cover of rain and fog, could see clearly; but Van Noy knew his teammates ahead might not realize it was a fake move.


    Van Noy: I¡¯ve seen this play before!


    The next scene should be Li Wei opening the path, while Mahomes carries the ball himself. Even if the New England Patriots had heavily fortified this side, if they didn¡¯t detect the fake move and focused on Li Wei, the bait, Mahomes could still easily break through.


    Damn!


    Van Noy increased his pace, seeing Mahomes also speeding up, following closely behind Li Wei, confirming his guess, making Van Noy even more urgent.


    He needed to tackle Mahomes and cut the attack off at its source.


    Speed up, speed up again!


    Van Noy gritted his teeth and sprinted with all his might, watching Mahomes within reach, able to easily tackle him from behind; just then, Mahomes seemed to have eyes on his back, not forgetting the persistent tailing.


    A sidestep, a dodge.


    Mahomes opened up the space, and Van Noy lunged into open air.


    Van Noy tried to react, turning to attempt another tackle on Mahomes, but his sprint speed was too fast, unable to brake, watching the red figure drift past his position.


    Wait, what¡¯s going on?


    So, did the ¡°little train¡± of Mahomes and Li Wei derail?


    Van Noy was evaluating, when he saw the other New England Patriots defensive players also realize:


    The football was in Mahomes¡¯ hands, preparing to continue the mode of carrying the ball from the previous drive.


    Just in time, Mahomes had broken out of the pocket, exposed.


    One after another, New England Patriots defenders all advanced, closing the defensive net, pressure mounting rapidly.


    One second, just one second.


    Van Noy braked, turned to Mahomes, ready to step forward, when profanity escaped:


    Shit.


    Turning, Van Noy saw Mahomes take a brief pause, raise his hand, swing his arm, and pass the ball, the entire action seamless and decisive.


    Pass?


    A pass?


    Van Noy wanted to stop his teammates, but it was too late.


    Van Noy wanted to raise his hands to interfere with the pass, but it was too late.


    Helplessly, like a fool, he watched the football gracefully soar over his head, flying forward, the target was Li Wei.


    A simple wall pass, Mahomes and Li Wei outsmarted the overly aggressive New England Patriots defense.


    In the previous attack, the New England Patriots defense was constantly speculating, preparing for Mahomes¡¯ pass, always on edge, and the Kansas City Chiefs surprisingly broke through with ground attacks, a straightforward approach that even left the experienced Belichick bewildered.


    In this attack, the New England Patriots defense wasn¡¯t unprepared, the blitz strategy was typical against Mahomes, yet they didn¡¯t expect Mahomes and Li Wei to expertly use deception, their sensitive nerves easily led into the trap.


    Then, Mahomes passed the ball.


    Van Noy: ...


    Is this some kind of circus performance?


    Van Noy felt like a monkey.


    Not far ahead, Li Wei, after crossing the line of scrimmage, casually caught the five-yard short pass, then turned and moved forward.


    Immediately, linebacker Hightower realized the situation was critical, halting and turning sharply, lunging at Li Wei during the brief moment he stopped to adjust for the catch.


    However, everything was too rushed, Hightower didn¡¯t have time to fully exert himself, mid-leap, gravity already pulled his body down.


    Ugh.


    Hightower descended along Li Wei¡¯s long legs, unable to grab hold, finally crashing to the ground, relying solely on experience, stacking his force to interfere by colliding into Li Wei¡¯s lower body.


    Although Li Wei managed to break free, his steps staggered on the slippery grass.


    This made Li Wei acutely alert, so he simply tiptoed and leaped, barely touching the ¡°water surface¡± as he gracefully soared.


    However!


    His steps didn¡¯t have time to fully accelerate, when the next figure hit him head-on¡ª


    Chung Family.


    At this moment, you could feel the full press of the New England Patriots¡¯ defensive group, including the cornerbacks and safeties, all positioned forward.


    After Li Wei crossed the scrimmage line and advanced just five yards, the Chung Family already closed in.


    After the previous ground assault, the New England Patriots moved their defensive line forward, forming a chain-link defense to lock down the running back¡¯s progress.


    Not just against running plays, but equally effective against short passes.


    If Mahomes tried a long pass now, it might succeed as a sneak attack; but to prevent such a disaster, Belichick chose a six-man pass-rush.


    Overall, the rhythm and intensity of the New England Patriots defense matched the pace.


    Despite the successful wall-pass play by Mahomes and Li Wei, Li Wei couldn¡¯t exploit his speed advantage before falling into a continuous barrage.


    It must be said, Belichick¡¯s quick tactical adjustments and in-game commands were outstanding, exemplifying the adversary everyone sought to defeat in the league.


    Ahead, Chung Family, prepared and waiting, and Devin McCourty closing in quickly from the side.


    In front, Li Wei¡¯s steps were light, his balance unstable, yet to fully recover from the impact by Hightower, and about to walk right into Chung Family¡¯s trap.


    The ebb and flow of advantage and disadvantage was starkly apparent.


    So, would this drive end like this?

 Chapter 806: 805 Firm Stance

    Chapter 806: 805 Firm Stance


    Li Wei, falling behind, facing a clear disadvantage, watching as this offensive push is about to come to an end, what follows might be a second gear with three yards or two yards situation.


    Objectively speaking, such a push can definitely be considered efficient.


    After all, the previous offensive drives were steady and methodical, with each averaging about three to four yards per play. The Kansas City Chiefs patiently maintained their composure and eventually secured a touchdown.


    Right now, there¡¯s no reason it shouldn¡¯t be the same.


    However.


    Li Wei had a different idea¡ª


    The previous sequence of plays had the ground attack taking center stage, with steadiness, solidity, and patience being key; impatience as the enemy of offense.


    But for this series of plays, the New England Patriots sought to seize control of the momentum, while the Kansas City Chiefs aimed to break the balance and regain the upper hand.


    Thus, the situation has changed, and naturally, the response must change too.


    Li Wei remained calm.


    In a flash, Li Wei didn¡¯t hastily force a change of direction but charged straight into the Chung Family deliberately¡ªeverything was planned.


    The collision happened.


    Li Wei maximized the impact power by treating the Chung Family like a human brake to stabilize his balance, leveraging the recoil from the collision to prepare for a turn.


    Marseille Turn!


    Yet¡ª


    Li Wei didn¡¯t manage to complete the turn.


    Chung Family understood Li Wei. From the moment Li Wei didn¡¯t dodge but instead accelerated, it was clear to him that Li Wei intended to make the collision into a turning opportunity, converting a challenge into an advantage¡ªthis was Li Wei¡¯s most admirable trait.


    Chung Family was ready.


    He not only absorbed the force of Li Wei¡¯s collision, which couldn¡¯t fully exert itself, but also quickly locked him with both hands, executing a tackle that turned Li Wei¡¯s deliberate collision into a futile effort.


    Chung Family seized the opportunity and wrapped him up.


    ¡°Chung Family VS. Li Wei,¡± in this round, Chung Family wins.


    But is that really true?


    Chung Family held his breath, enduring the impact to complete the tackle, holding onto a breath stuck in his chest without exhaling, his muscle tension reaching its peak¡ªthen, in the next moment, he felt a force smash into his chest hard.


    ¡ª¡ªLi Wei.


    Despite being trapped in the tackle, Li Wei didn¡¯t give up easily, continuously pumping his legs, continuously ramming, using his legs to push his body forward, attempting brute force to drive forward against Chung Family, shoulder slamming into Chung Family¡¯s chest.


    At this moment, Li Wei¡¯s feet returned to the ground, forcibly reclaiming stability, with steady pressure from his legs. His shoulder mimicking the motion of a jackhammer compressed Chung Family¡¯s chest, sending the confrontation between the two to an extreme level.


    A short stalemate.


    But Chung Family couldn¡¯t hold out for long, unable to withstand the crushing force, the breath stuck in his chest couldn¡¯t hold¡ª


    Released.


    One moment of relaxation, and Chung Family¡¯s footing was no longer able to keep up.


    Step by step retreat!


    Then, a force from behind helped Chung Family come to a halt.


    Devin McCourty!


    Chung Family: ???


    No gratitude, only confusion.


    This isn¡¯t a strongman competition, what is McCourty doing colliding body-to-body with him? McCourty should be tackling Li Wei into the ground instead¡ªdid the guy¡¯s brain malfunction?


    McCourty continued pressing against Chung Family¡¯s body with enjoyment, while Li Wei took advantage of the forceful impact to break free of Chung Family¡¯s bind¡ª


    Chest pressure released, the strength from the tackle visibly loosened.


    Momentum shift, escape.


    Turning, launching.


    In a shocking turn of events, Li Wei completely freed himself and burst forward once more.


    Chung Family: Damn.


    The field behind him was already wide open. If Li Wei picked up speed and broke loose, the New England Patriots defense wouldn¡¯t have anyone capable of catching up.


    It would be a disaster.


    Losing consecutive touchdowns was bad enough, but one offensive play losing consecutive touchdowns in mere fifteen seconds? That would be a nightmare, and it might be impossible to contain the Kansas Chiefs Offense Group anymore.


    No way!


    A surge of energy exploded in Chung Family¡¯s body, using McCourty as a support pole, treating him like a steel bar as he spun clockwise, decisively launching himself toward Li Wei¡¯s retreating figure.


    Kicking off, stepping forward.


    There wasn¡¯t even time to gather strength, purely acting on instinctive reflex. Chung Family barely managed to grab Li Wei¡¯s lower leg, trying to destabilize him once more.


    Li Wei was preparing to push further forward, but his foot suddenly caught on something.


    The ground slipped under him, failing to provide traction, leaving only his upper body continuing forward.


    Even so, Li Wei stubbornly strived ahead clawing two more powerful steps forward before finally collapsing to the ground due to exhaustion.


    ¡°Roar! Roar! Roar!¡±


    The stadium erupted in cheers!


    McCourty, caught in complete dedication to pressing back, now found his support wall removed, stammering unbalancedly forward before crashing face-first into an ungainly sprawl, his mind overflowing with questions:


    What happened? What just happened? Wait, what?


    ¡°Strong!¡±


    ¡°The New England Patriots defense ramped up the pace and intensity, trying to control the game, but the Kansas Chiefs offense had been prepared and responded with more agility and toughness, tearing through a gap.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei, through tackles and disruptions, stubbornly advanced ten yards, easily securing a first down. The New England Patriots¡¯ rushing pressure failed to work and the intensity of the confrontation has clearly escalated.¡±


    Thirty-five-yard line, first gear, ten yards.


    Li Wei turned five yards into ten using relentless effort, earning a first down and maintaining a hard-nosed attitude throughout the direct confrontation.


    Springing to his feet instantly, Li Wei locked eyes with Chung Family, staring him down, unyielding as ever.


    Chung Family returned the gaze with equal firmness only to start panting heavily¡ªin deep gulps¡ªas soon as Li Wei turned to run toward Mahomes.


    ¡°That kid, tough¡ªreally tough. If I were a few years younger...¡±


    Chung Family couldn¡¯t help but feel a rush of fighting spirit himself. So be it, let them clash again.


    Over there, Li Wei and Mahomes exchanged a quick celebratory slap of hands. Li Wei shot Mahomes a meaningful look: They didn¡¯t notice.


    Mahomes nodded, showing his understanding.


    He regulated his breath and reentered his zone¡ª


    This offensive sequence, Reed deliberately directed Mahomes to employ the Read Option Offense.


    It¡¯s the first time in the postseason, and even during the regular season it wasn¡¯t commonly used, largely because Reed didn¡¯t want Mahomes to develop a habit of overly relying on his legs to run the ball; the preference was still to trust passing strategies.


    In this scenario, Reed wasn¡¯t focusing on letting Mahomes personally run the ball but leveraging the groundwork laid by the prior ground game to sow confusion, aiming to throw off the New England Patriot defense¡¯s ability to read Mahomes¡¯ tactical intentions¡ªwith the true goal being to open up the passing attack.


    In some ways, Belichick¡¯s assessment of Reed was correct. Fundamentally, Reed does believe in passing offense, but thanks to Li Wei¡¯s presence, Reed could deploy different methods through ground strategy to approach his passing game.


    The ground offense will always be the strongest shield for ensuring threat from passing plays.


    In the 2012 and 2013 seasons, when Big Manning led the Denver Broncos Offense to dominate the league, they undoubtedly became one of history¡¯s most powerful offenses. However, their fatal weakness was the lack of a truly top-tier running back to complement the ground game, making it easier for opponents to focus their defense¡ªespecially in playoff scenarios.


    Reed learned from that lesson and refused to repeat the same mistake.


    Now, Reed was methodically bringing the Kansas Chiefs Offense back on track.


    If they rediscovered their rhythm, Belichick would face a massive headache.

 Chapter 807: 806 health restored in one second

    Chapter 807: 806 health restored in one second


    Mahomes remained calm.


    For a quarterback like him, who had no trouble reading playbooks, Read Option Offense posed no difficulty¡ªit was basically as simple as basic arithmetic¡ª


    Keep an eye on the lineman and adapt to the situation; that¡¯s all there was to it.


    But this simplicity worked to his advantage, helping him gradually regain his touch for passing and sharpening his instinct for reading defense. Even his brain and fingers, numbed by the cold rain, could start to thaw a little.


    What¡¯s more, with Li Wei by his side, there was always another option.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Mahomes called out the snap.


    His first instinct was to turn, extending his hand as if to hand the football directly to Li Wei¡ª


    The Read Option Offense wasn¡¯t just a straightforward Read Option; it concealed traps and deception. Fake runs disguised as passes and Li Wei¡¯s role as a decoy were always there to confuse and mislead. They wouldn¡¯t let the New England Patriots easily figure out the play.


    And indeed, the New England Patriots defensive group remained focused on Li Wei, immediately pulling their attention toward him. Li Wei truly lived up to the title of ¡°top bait.¡±


    Mahomes quickly scanned the field, taking in the opponent¡¯s defensive formations at a glance. It was clear to him that the New England Patriots defensive group was consistently stepping forward to apply pressure, collapsing coverage on the short pass zones.


    Belichick wasn¡¯t the type to back down under pressure; they continued to stick to their strategy.


    Well then, Mahomes decided there was no need to hold back.


    This time, Mahomes didn¡¯t wait for the Patriots¡¯ pass rushers to invade the pocket. After swiftly observing and assessing, he decisively made his throw.


    Near the right sideline, a seven-yard short pass successfully connected with Kelsey.


    Kelsey faced off against cornerback Jason McCourty in a one-on-one, easily catching the football before advancing another five yards. Only then was he forced out of bounds by two defensive players.


    Then!


    Another fake run disguised as a pass¡ªrepeating the same trick!


    This time, Mahomes targeted Watkins. After a successful five-yard short pass connection, Watkins advanced another five yards before the defensive coverage closed in, comfortably securing the first down.


    Unstoppable!


    The New England Patriots defensive group seemed baffled¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive rhythm wasn¡¯t fast. To be exact, it even seemed somewhat clumsy. Mahomes had performed three consecutive fake run-pass plays, each time using Li Wei as a decoy. The motion of pretending to hand off the ball to Li Wei had visibly slowed down the pace of the offense.


    Yet, Mahomes completed all three of his passes successfully, each hitting the target.


    Not just the target, but open spaces. After catching those short passes, the receivers were able to continue advancing, assertively securing first downs.


    Each of the three attempts played out the same way.


    Thus, despite the Chiefs¡¯ offensive rhythm appearing slow and somewhat rigid, their efficiency in advancing was astounding. Within no time, they had crossed midfield, reaching the New England Patriots¡¯ forty-three-yard line.


    What was going on?


    Speaking of which, Mahomes¡¯ passing accuracy in the first half was below 50%. Suddenly, he was hitting every single throw. While the rain stopping might have helped a bit, it couldn¡¯t explain such a dramatic turnaround.


    The New England Patriots defensive group looked utterly disoriented¡ªtrouble was brewing.


    Belichick had been observing all along but hadn¡¯t yet pinpointed the root of the Chiefs¡¯ strategy.


    He immediately realized Reed was trying to open up the passing game. That wasn¡¯t surprising. What was puzzling, though, was how Reed managed to pull it off.


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offense looked ordinary on the surface, but their progress was unstoppable, piling layer upon layer of pressure. The New England Patriots recognized the importance of this round of plays. They had to stop it.


    The more critical the situation, the greater the anxiety.


    In this ever-changing scenario, Belichick didn¡¯t dare make any reckless moves for now. The only thing he could do was stick to the strategy, continuing to pressure Mahomes. As long as Mahomes showed signs of wavering, the power of the passing game would also falter.


    That didn¡¯t mean Belichick was doing nothing, sitting idly by.


    Full-court press.


    Every player bore immense responsibility.


    While maintaining pressure at the front line, the secondary defense switched to man-to-man coverage.


    Man-to-man coverage required greater physical exertion and placed intense demands on the players, especially cornerback Jason McCourty, who was tasked with covering Kelsey. While man-to-man defense might not completely stop the Chiefs¡¯ passing game, the close-pressing strategy could still cooperate with the front line¡¯s pressure, adding challenges from both the passing and receiving ends and increasing Mahomes¡¯ workload.


    Of course, the front line also featured three rotating linemen. Two focused on stepping forward for pass rushes while the third marked Li Wei.


    Much like McCourty¡¯s matchup against Kelsey, the Patriots¡¯ three linemen matching up against Li Wei wouldn¡¯t have it easy either. But at least there wouldn¡¯t be any coverage gaps.


    One player for each spot¡ªthis was the essence of the full-court press. Pressure was distributed equally among every offensive point, testing individual capabilities. A single mistake in any area could lead to catastrophic results.


    Belichick was all too aware that the Patriots¡¯ defensive group lacked the personal skillsets necessary for this approach. At this moment, adopting the full-court press was merely a temporary solution, pushing the pressure gauge to a new height in a short period of time to force errors from the Chiefs or disrupt Mahomes¡¯ rhythm¡ª


    Specifically, it was about preventing Mahomes from fully regaining his touch for passing.


    Then Belichick would have time to devise a countermeasure.


    Immediately, Mahomes felt the intensity of the full-court press, which permeated every corner of the field. The Patriots poured everything into the strategy with an all-or-nothing attitude, as if burning their very essence.


    Throughout the field, the tension was palpable.


    Mahomes instantly recognized the pressure. This was Belichick¡¯s intention¡ª


    Pressure from the front line, pressure from the secondary¡ªevery aspect of the defensive tactics unfolded methodically. The disciplined defense and quick reactions revealed a sense of composure and confidence, bringing additional psychological stress while showcasing the Patriots¡¯ poise. They weren¡¯t panicking.


    Belichick concealed his own sense of urgency, swiftly regaining footing. At least on the surface, the tension was shifted to Mahomes. Any uncertainty on his part¡ªeven the slightest¡ªcould disrupt his rhythm, especially given his unstable passing accuracy today. That moment of hesitation was all Belichick needed.


    The tension spread rapidly.


    Yet Mahomes remained composed. The reason? Belichick hadn¡¯t yet seen through the smoke bomb. This style of defense still wasn¡¯t addressing the core issue¡ª


    Mahomes noted how the defensive players were scattered, each covering their assigned spot tightly. All he needed to do was manage the two linemen stepping forward to rush from his left and right sides.


    Suddenly, things seemed simpler.


    Read Option Offense.


    Mahomes didn¡¯t need to risk a pass with high difficulty. He simply needed to choose between breaking past Hightower on the left or Van Noy on the right.


    Mahomes paused, quickly using his peripheral vision to analyze the two linemen on either side, making his judgment within the blink of an eye.


    Hightower¡¯s approach was firm and unwavering. He charged directly into the pocket, focused on slamming into Mahomes. Whether or not he managed a sack didn¡¯t matter¡ªhis priority was disrupting the pass play and intimidating Mahomes. His reckless forward charge resembled that of a raging bull¡ª


    After all, it was coming from Mahomes¡¯ blind side. Hightower didn¡¯t need to disguise his moves nor refine his technique; he could afford to go all out.


    Haha, rookie number two, here he comes.

 Chapter 808: 807 Read Option

    Chapter 808: 807 Read Option


    Step, adjust, observe.


    In a flash of lightning, Mahomes used his peripheral vision to make a judgment.


    Initially, Mahomes habitually prepared to break through from the right side; but this time, it was a Read Option Offense, simplifying the tactics and leaving space for observation and adjustment. Mahomes noticed an opportunity on his blind side.


    The blind side, which was usually in the ¡°weaker focus¡± zone, even when caught by peripheral vision, often wasn¡¯t clear enough. This made Hightower¡¯s step-up and hit even tougher and more brute-like, without finesse, like a bull seeing red.


    Mahomes immediately seized the opportunity¡ª


    Push off, step forward, accelerate.


    Hightower lunged forward with reckless determination, charging toward that spot of red light, a rush of elation in his heart: Got him.


    But just as the hit was about to land, a blur passed in front of Hightower¡ªhe missed entirely! Yet the momentum of his unleashed power couldn¡¯t be stopped. He staggered forward, crashing onward like a fool.


    Hightower: ???


    There stood Mahomes, like a Matador, flicking the red cape, shifting his steps lightly, effortlessly evading. The road ahead was wide open.


    Take off, sprint¡ª


    It was just that simple.


    Because the New England Patriots were using a full-blitz, every defensive player was locked onto their match-up target. If one offensive player broke free, there was no backup.


    What no one expected was that the first to break free would be the quarterback.


    Belichick: Read Defense Offense!


    ...Shit.


    Belichick held his tongue for a moment, but couldn¡¯t resist cursing under his breath.


    He had been bracing for it, anticipating it, because he knew Mahomes possessed that capability. Yet, he had still fallen into the blind spot, failing to see through Reed¡¯s smoke bomb in time.


    He could only watch as Mahomes, like a nimble colt, despite his seemingly sturdy and clunky frame, moved with surprising agility. He easily gained ten yards and slid to the ground before the defenders closed in on him¡ª


    First down, secured.


    Belichick stood there for half a second, restraining himself from more profanity, issuing a slew of instructions to the Defensive Group instead.


    The key to cracking the Read Option Offense lies with the linebackers.


    Assign a linebacker to keep a tight watch on the quarterback, shadowing his movements and adjusting accordingly.


    Of course, NFL-level defenses are rarely that simple.


    From the 2011 to 2013 seasons, the Read Option Offense also shone brightly in the Professional League. Though not as dominant as in the NCAA, it still achieved significant success. However, beyond that period, its brilliance gradually faded, becoming just one among countless offensive strategies. The core reason was the evolution of defensive strategies within the league.


    Defenses could apply more pressure on the front line, disrupting the Read Option Offense¡¯s setups and complicating the offensive-defensive standoff. In such moments, running quarterbacks might falter, lose pace, or make misjudgments. In the ever-changing nature of the game, even a brief hesitation can shift the tide.


    At this moment, Belichick was orchestrating his adjustments¡ª


    Now, it wasn¡¯t just a battle of offensive and defensive plays; it was a clash of momentum.


    Since the second half began, the Kansas City Chiefs were surging in momentum. If they scored another touchdown here, the New England Patriots might not be able to contain it.


    Thus, in this clash of plays, Belichick was especially assertive. The New England Patriots had to be tough.


    Across the field, the Kansas City Chiefs were just as aware.


    After a brief celebration of Mahomes¡¯ rushing first down, Li Wei turned to Mahomes, ¡°Next, they might tighten the defensive net even further.¡±


    Mahomes¡¯ eyes lit up. He tapped his helmet, signaling at the headset: ¡°You and the coach are saying the same thing.¡±


    Belichick was studying Reed, and Reed was analyzing Belichick¡ª


    And, naturally, Li Wei was doing the same.


    As previously mentioned, the New England Patriots¡¯ Defensive Group played a pivotal role this season. When Brady¡¯s performance faltered, they stepped up to change the momentum of games.


    When neither the New England Patriots¡¯ pass defense nor the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ passing game was exceptional, how did Belichick leverage defense to alter the game?


    Keyword: Pressure.


    This season, the New England Patriots¡¯ blitz rate on quarterbacks reached 30.9%, one of only eight teams in the league with a rate exceeding 30%. Aside from the blitz-heavy Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, the other six teams had similar percentages.


    And the results?


    Quarterback sacks: 30, tied for third-lowest in the league.


    Quarterback hits, meaning contact after a pass: 53, third highest in the league.


    This indicated that the individual prowess of the New England Patriots¡¯ defensive players wasn¡¯t outstanding. Despite frequent blitzes, their sack numbers were dismal. More often than not, they only managed to hit the quarterback post-throw.


    Efficiency, decidedly average.


    Still, this didn¡¯t deter Belichick¡¯s commitment to blitz tactics. The rationale lay in the psychological warfare: imposing hard-nosed, aggressive pressure on quarterbacks and running backs at the front line, endlessly accumulating mental strain.


    Ultimately, at crucial moments, such intangible pressure could become the breakthrough to disrupt the balance. The New England Patriots relied on their seasoned experience to create opportunities.


    To Belichick, raw statistics meant little. Even if a game¡¯s blitzes resulted in zero sacks, it wouldn¡¯t matter. As long as, in a pivotal moment, a single pass disruption or quarterback hit secured the win¡ªthat was enough.


    Thus, by the numbers, the New England Patriots¡¯ Defensive Group wouldn¡¯t be considered ¡°strong.¡± Yet, the perception persisted: they won games through defense.


    And now, the same principle applied.


    Since the second half, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offense seemed to have regained its groove, albeit in an unconventional manner. Yet, the New England Patriots stuck to their strategy of relentless front-line pressure, steadily building up the intensity.


    Right now, Belichick had likely deciphered Mahomes¡¯ Read Option Offense strategy. He was bound to tighten the defense further, unleashing maximum pressure up front¡ª


    Targeting not just Mahomes, but also zeroing in on Li Wei.


    Thus, the likelihood of the New England Patriots¡¯ Defensive Group shrinking their net was extremely high, a prediction aligned between Li Wei and Reed¡¯s tactical foresight.


    And the proof? It was immediate¡ª


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    The moment Mahomes called the snap, the entire New England Patriots¡¯ defensive front surged forward.


    Defensive line, linebackers, cornerbacks, safeties¡ªall eleven players simultaneously stepped up. From different positions and angles, the white tidal wave came crashing down, an overwhelming assault.


    In an instant, a crushing wave of pressure¡ªvisually and psychologically¡ªdescended on Mahomes like an unstoppable force.


    Perhaps, in broad strategy, there were no secrets; but in tactical execution, Belichick¡¯s rich on-the-fly adjustment experience shattered the balance in an instant.


    Not just Mahomes; even the spectators felt the immense power of the New England Patriots¡¯ sudden eruption. The air was sucked out of the stadium.


    Buzzing¡ª


    Roaring chaos.

 Chapter 809: 808 psychological pressure

    Chapter 809: 808 psychological pressure


    First and ten yards.


    The Kansas City Chiefs have effortlessly secured ten yards on first down for four consecutive plays, completing first-down conversions with fluid precision. Their offense is now surging ahead, seizing control.


    Now, the New England Patriots have finally offered a direct response, not waiting for second or third down to strike. On first and ten, they launch an attack to shatter the equilibrium in one decisive move.


    Tough, dominant, relentless¡ª


    Eleven players from the defensive group step forward in unison.


    Of course, a calmer mind would recognize that the Patriots wouldn¡¯t actually employ an ¡°eleven-man blitz pressure tactic¡±; that would be a recklessly suicidal strategy. But in the ever-changing dynamics of the game, it¡¯s hard to maintain clarity. Players might easily get swept up in the storm.


    Then, they lose their judgment.


    Once the ability to make clear judgments is gone, mistakes become inevitable.


    This is the true intent behind the Patriots¡¯ defensive group stepping up en masse¡ªespecially since the opposing quarterback is an inexperienced rookie. If he opts for a quick short pass or hands the football off to the running back, it would play right into the trap the Patriots have set in the pocket¡ª


    Van Noy and Roberts, the two linebackers, are entirely focused on Li Wei, their eyes locked on him without distraction.


    This time, the Patriots¡¯ defense isn¡¯t just putting on a show. The pass rush isn¡¯t merely a feint; it¡¯s real and intense, albeit slightly different from usual.


    Typically, the Patriots prefer to have their linebackers execute the blitz. But now, their defensive line suddenly breaks the norm to disrupt the balance.


    The initial wave of impact comes from the collective step-up, while the defensive line¡¯s sudden blitz creates a second wave of crushing pressure. Briefly awaiting Mahomes¡¯ decision, if he doesn¡¯t opt for a quick pass or hastily hand off the football to Li Wei, the linebackers will then close in with a third wave of assault.


    On paper, it sounds methodical, but during the heat of the game, the intervals between waves are almost indistinguishable, separated by mere milliseconds. It all hinges on real-time reactions and adaptability. In this first-down showdown, the Patriots¡¯ defensive group has truly elevated the intensity to a whole new level.


    The air is taut with tension.


    Pressure builds, wave after relentless wave, crushing down on Mahomes and Li Wei with an overwhelming force.


    The entire world, the entire space-time continuum seems to have shifted into accelerated mode. It¡¯s as if everything is moving at five times, ten times the normal speed, evolving into a swirling kaleidoscope of rapid motion.


    Mahomes thought he was mentally prepared¡ªat least, that¡¯s what he told himself. But as the pressure bore down on him, his fingertips still tightened ever so slightly.


    Danger!


    This was an instinctive signal, a subconscious warning flashing to life.


    Yet, through the corner of his eye, Mahomes glanced at his teammate nearby. Amid the roiling waves of white pressure, Mahomes couldn¡¯t catch sight of his wide receivers or tight ends, but Li Wei¡¯s figure stood clearly in his field of vision¡ª


    Steady and resolute, focused and composed.


    Not only was there no sign of panic, but there was a subtle hint of anticipation shimmering across his demeanor.


    Opportunity!


    This was the second signal to flash in Mahomes¡¯ mind. While danger was indeed present, danger could also be transformed into opportunity¡ªthe key lay in how he responded in the moment.


    With a brief glance at Li Wei, Mahomes felt a surge of emotion and adrenaline igniting within him.


    Their gazes intersected in the air for the briefest moment before the two split off in different directions¡ª


    Mahomes retreated; Li Wei advanced.


    Despite the overwhelming onslaught from the Patriots¡¯ defensive group, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive machine began turning its gears, step by deliberate step.


    It was arduous¡ªbut resolute.


    Immediately, Van Noy and Roberts locked onto Li Wei¡¯s movements:


    The player wearing number 23 darted nimbly past the rampaging defensive line¡¯s pressure and the shaky disaster zone of his offensive line. He crossed the line of scrimmage, ascending vertically along the slot.


    At nearly the same moment, Roberts and Van Noy activated their movements, albeit with completely different reactions.


    Roberts glanced at Van Noy out of the corner of his eye; Van Noy likewise glanced at Roberts. Both seemed to regard the other as a fool¡ª


    Roberts charged forward toward Mahomes, immediately recognizing Li Wei didn¡¯t have the ball. Mahomes was preparing to pass, and Roberts needed to push through to support the defensive line, adding to the pressure storm enveloping the rookie quarterback.


    Van Noy shifted laterally, advancing toward Li Wei. Although Li Wei wasn¡¯t holding the ball, there was a strong possibility Mahomes intended to connect with Li Wei via a quick short pass. Rather than chasing the football, it made more sense to obstruct the passing target in the short-yardage zone.


    Instantly, their visions collided briefly; neither altered their judgments, each stubbornly following their chosen line of action¡ª


    What an idiot.


    Roberts surged forward at full speed. The fragile protective pocket around Mahomes, constructed by the Chiefs, failed to endure for long and collapsed entirely. Mahomes was left completely exposed, isolated and defenseless.


    Roberts¡¯ eyes gleamed. Don¡¯t worry, Little Red Riding Hood, let the Big Bad Wolf guide you out of this lonely, uncharted forest journey.


    Planting his feet, stepping forward, accelerating.


    Roberts didn¡¯t even need to dodge obstacles. Charging straight down the center, he effortlessly tore through the resistance created by the offensive line¡¯s players, recklessly driving forward like an untamed bull toward Mahomes.


    Hey, brace yourself¡ªit might hurt a bit.


    But Mahomes stood calm and poised in the pocket, stepping back repeatedly to buy himself some room. Amid the chaos of the broken pocket fragments, he maneuvered skilfully. Even though the pocket was gone, the Chiefs¡¯ offensive line players held their ground, fighting one-on-one to stave off the defensive line and buy Mahomes precious moments to finalize his pass.


    Yet Mahomes delayed his throw. He continued to linger within the pocket, like a lost Little Red Riding Hood¡ª


    Unable to find an open receiver.


    The Patriots¡¯ defensive group stepping up en masse had been nothing more than a decoy. After their initial feint, they quickly closed in on the routes of the receiving targets, maintaining their tight coverage scheme and eliminating Mahomes¡¯ passing weapons.


    Mahomes needed to stay patient.


    But patience requires time¡ªand Roberts was already breaking through.


    The moment of collision approached swiftly!


    Yet Mahomes remained composed, even deliberately slowing his movements to bait Roberts. At the critical juncture, he sidestepped expertly, causing Roberts to lunge at nothing but air.


    Immediately after, Mahomes rotated a full 360 degrees counterclockwise, completely evading Roberts.


    Roberts gritted his teeth, slamming on the brakes to regain control of his momentum, refusing to give up as he chased after Mahomes like a young girl trying to catch a butterfly.


    One in front, the other behind¡ªthe chase was on.


    Mahomes shifted laterally, his footwork nimble in the turbulent chaos as he scanned the field, his gaze sweeping to the left.


    Roberts didn¡¯t have time to analyze further¡ªwas it Hill?


    Reflexively, Roberts glanced behind him. As he whipped his head back around, he saw Mahomes already preparing to throw.


    Damn it¡ªplayed for a fool!


    Mahomes hesitated briefly, then unleashed his throw. His arm powered forward in rapid motion, bursting with strength as energy erupted from deep within his core¡ª


    Ha!


    A rainbow-like pass tore through the air.

 Chapter 810 - 810 809 three heads and six arms

    ?Chapter 810: 809 three heads and six arms Chapter 810: 809 three heads and six arms Planting his feet, rotating his torso, swinging his arm¡ª


    The football shot through the air, a magnificent arc carving a rainbow trail.


    Roberts: Damn.


    A beat too late, Roberts arrived sluggishly, lunging at Mahomes and crashing to the ground with him; but it was already too late, the timing was missed again.


    As always.


    The New England Patriots defensive group¡¯s issues throughout the entire season remained unresolved.


    In the whirlwind moment, Roberts barely had time to feel frustrated or annoyed, hastily searching in the night sky for the football¡¯s flight path.


    Wait, wait¡ª


    No way?


    A deep pass!


    Mahomes actually chose a deep pass¡ªchoosing this exact moment.


    Belichick: Got played.


    Now, Belichick finally understood; he had fallen into Reed¡¯s trap.


    Since halftime, everything was a setup.


    From relentlessly pounding forward with ground offense to baiting with Li Wei in passing plays, to creating confusion and eventually opening up through the Read Option Offense, every step meticulously led the New England Patriots into the snare.


    When Belichick opted for full-field press defense, Reed¡¯s plan had solidified. No hesitation, no second-guessing¡ª


    The deep strike.


    The timing wasn¡¯t perfect, Mahomes¡¯ passing touch hadn¡¯t fully recovered yet, the rain had just stopped, and the humidity, chill, and strong winds were still factors. Because of this, Mahomes had stuck to three consecutive short passes as he cautiously regained rhythm, focusing on stability and control. At this moment, taking a risk was highly likely to result in an incomplete pass.


    But Reed didn¡¯t hesitate.


    Because Reed understood the key lay in being unpredictable. And with the situation already shaped, especially now at this position, about thirty-five yards from the end zone, it was within Mahomes¡¯ regular range¡ª


    A bit farther, and the odds of success given Mahomes¡¯ current form would drop. A bit closer, and the Patriots¡¯ full-field press would tighten further, ratcheting up the pressure.


    Perhaps the timing wasn¡¯t ideal, but considering all factors, if they wanted to gamble, now was the only window.


    Reed made the call.


    Decisive and ruthless, resolutely opting for the deep pass. Truly catching Belichick off guard.


    Despite Belichick being wary of the deep pass all along, Reed still managed to outsmart him.


    Now all the pressure fell upon Mahomes and his intended target.


    If successful, the Kansas City Chiefs would completely overturn the stalemate.


    If unsuccessful, the New England Patriots would regain their momentum and control.


    Suddenly and without warning, the intensity and stakes of the game reached a brand-new peak.


    Belichick held his breath and focused his gaze on the end zone.


    Roberts, despairing, didn¡¯t even have time to curse, his eyes following that red-brown arc aiming straight for the end zone with a game-changing precision.


    ...


    Sprinting.


    Charging.


    Li Wei effortlessly unleashed his full speed, moving like a shadow, light as a feather, cutting through the field in a straight line, crossing the line of scrimmage.


    It was like a hundred-meter dash.


    But then, a figure rushed in laterally from the left to cut him off directly.


    Van Noy.


    Van Noy didn¡¯t understand the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ strategy, nor did he grasp the overall situation. He simply followed his instincts, locking onto Li Wei as his target immediately.


    Step for step, he stuck close to him.


    At this moment, Li Wei wasn¡¯t carrying the ball, so Van Noy had to be cautious about avoiding illegal contact; pulling on him would result in a penalty flag. The Los Angeles Rams avoided a critical defensive foul at a crucial moment, but Van Noy didn¡¯t believe the New England Patriots could escape penalty in the presence of Li Wei, the league¡¯s favorite child¡ª


    Thus, he needed to be extra careful, not giving the league any excuse to interfere.


    During Week 6 of the regular season at Gillette Stadium, they had already been victims of ¡°political correctness.¡± He wouldn¡¯t allow it to happen again.


    Van Noy gritted his teeth hard, relying on his early positioning advantage to stick close to Li Wei, sprinting stride for stride and constantly using his body to jostle, bump, and destabilize Li Wei¡¯s balance, trying to suppress him.


    Van Noy knew that in terms of pure speed, he couldn¡¯t keep up with Li Wei¡¯s pace; therefore, he needed to rely on his experience to maintain his position.


    Visibly, shoulder-to-shoulder clashes, footstep intrusions¡ªhe maintained a facade of fairness.


    Secretly, his left hand worked tirelessly, tugging at Li Wei¡¯s waist and stomach area, landing elbow jabs, constantly disrupting¡ªsly little moves piling up.


    Thirty-yard line.


    Twenty-five-yard line.


    Li Wei and Van Noy clashed and tangled relentlessly; Li Wei was visibly annoyed. Suddenly, he slammed on the brakes, coming to an abrupt halt.


    Van Noy: ???


    Van Noy failed to control his momentum, still accelerating and rushing forward. Critical to the moment, though, his left hand yanked at Li Wei¡¯s jersey¡ª


    Tugging, tugging, tugging.


    As Van Noy darted forward, it was clear to see Li Wei¡¯s stretched jersey. Van Noy realized his covert actions had been exposed but remained unflustered, promptly raising both hands high in an exaggerated gesture of innocence, appearing like a eunuch wrongly accused of impropriety.


    However.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t have time to watch Van Noy¡¯s theatrics; his feet burst back into motion, like a streak of wind slashing across the field.


    Van Noy tried to recover, hoping to stick to Li Wei again. But this time, he lost his advantage, unable to close the gap in time as Li Wei surged ahead, extending his lead in seconds. His desperate reach only grasped at a glimpse of red fading away.


    Damn it.


    If he had known, he would¡¯ve just committed the foul and taken Li Wei down earlier.


    Van Noy attempted to chase Li Wei, only to discover the sight of number twenty-three disappearing into the distance. Li Wei ran faster and faster, the gap widening visibly with every stride.


    Twenty-yard line.


    Fifteen-yard line.


    Less than a breath later, Li Wei¡¯s feet reached the ten-yard line.


    The air was electric.


    Van Noy panicked and quickly looked up. That red-brown arc, like a shooting star, descended toward Li Wei¡¯s trajectory, aiming directly for the end zone.


    Damn it.


    Van Noy pushed into full gear.


    Fortunately, there was one more figure rapidly cutting in toward the end zone.


    Chung Family.


    Van Noy from behind, Chung Family from the side¡ªtogether, they boxed Li Wei in.


    Five-yard line.


    The football fell with authority.


    Li Wei turned his gaze skyward, adjusting his steps to align with the ball¡¯s arc, subtly slowing down to pinpoint his catch angle, walking straight into a trap¡ª


    Chung Family was already in place.


    Immediately, Chung Family moved in. He knew he couldn¡¯t let Li Wei leap for the catch, needing to preemptively press against him lest he lose his position.


    Chung Family prepared to lock Li Wei away.


    One step forward, Chung Family looked at Li Wei, and Li Wei met his gaze. Their stare penetrated the helmets, colliding mid-air.


    Tension crackled.


    Both players bit hard on their teeth, unleashing an explosion of force.


    Impact, entanglement.


    Li Wei moved first.


    Chung Family didn¡¯t anticipate Li Wei¡¯s response, leveraging control to press against Chung Family¡¯s position and using him as a springboard to leap upward.


    Chung Family: ???


    Did this kid think he was a gymnast?


    Chung Family followed suit, jumping up anyway, his body restrained by the weight pressing against it. Gritting through the burden, he leapt, aiming to destabilize Li Wei¡¯s center of gravity.


    Just then, Van Noy, who had been rushing relentlessly forward, used every ounce of momentum to launch into the air.


    For a brief instant, all three broke free from gravity, soaring in succession. Six hands extended, reaching skyward, clawing for the falling football.

 Chapter 812 - 812 811 The Giant Dragon Su Awakens

    ?Chapter 812: 811 The Giant Dragon Su Awakens Chapter 812: 811 The Giant Dragon Su Awakens Taking a deep breath, Nantz had to use all his strength to barely control his excitement and agitation, watching with blood boiling the figure in the end zone¡ª


    Ah!


    Li Wei was roaring and howling, the entire Arrowhead Stadium at his feet, worshipping him, with deafening cheers echoing throughout the arena.


    Ah, ah, ah!


    Without holding back, Li Wei unleashed all his energy and emotions; this match far exceeded the significance of a championship game.


    ¡°He¡¯s here, he¡¯s there, he¡¯s everywhere, he is the Edgerunner, Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei!¡±


    Over and over.


    Again and again.


    The audience roared, endlessly.


    Jenna watched the sea of red in front of her with excitement and amazement, so different from Week 17 of the regular season. This momentum, this atmosphere, the whole world shaking along, her heart pounding and her head boiling as she was swept into this endless storm.


    Now, she finally understood why Annie was so eager to watch the game live.


    As she shouted, Jenna wiped the warmth in her eyes and jumped up, losing herself.


    Bang, bang, bang¡ª


    Li Wei had finally truly awakened Arrowhead Stadium, the sleeping dragon was fully awake, displaying its might to the New England Patriots, overwhelming them with its majesty.


    This scene was like a world-famous painting.


    Nantz had never believed in Goodell¡¯s star-making formula.


    In Nantz¡¯s view, Goodell was not creating stars, but topics; the focus was never on the players but on creating buzz and heat. The league has inexhaustible material from which Goodell could draw, whether it be Donald, Li Wei, Watt, Little Beckham, or anyone else.


    The so-called star-making was essentially just a part of commercial promotion, and the players were merely tools, something Goodell didn¡¯t really care about.


    For twenty years, the league has only truly built top superstars like ¡°Big Manning vs. Brady¡± and the ¡°Four Elite Quarterbacks,¡± which are barely part of the era¡¯s trend. However, the commercial influence of Brees and Rodgers is far inferior to that of Big Manning and Brady.


    But now, Nantz realized, maybe this time Goodell had really struck gold¡ª


    A blind cat finding a dead mouse.


    Li Wei might actually become the league¡¯s next top superstar.


    And he¡¯s not even a quarterback.


    Could the league truly be on the verge of a new era?


    His heart was suddenly surging with excitement.


    Turning his head, Nantz saw Romo, who, like him, was filled with passion but didn¡¯t know how to express it. This joy, excitement, and thrill came from a passionate love for the sport.


    Finally, in a rare moment, it was Romo who found his voice first.


    ¡°In the next offensive drive, all the pressure falls on Brady¡¯s shoulders.¡±


    ¡°17:14.¡±


    A glance at the score shows how this year is indeed different from last year¡¯s divisional game; the urgency of a three-point difference permeates the arena. Even seasoned as the New England Patriots are, they feel the pressure deeply.


    Belichick took a deep breath, steadying himself¡ª


    The rationale he understood; however, Belichick couldn¡¯t hold back and cursed a few harsh words, reprimanding the New England Patriots defensive players; only after venting his anger did he regain his composure.


    They cannot dwell on the past; they need to focus on the present.


    Next, they still need to rely on the offense.


    Currently, the New England Patriots remain in the lead, even if it¡¯s a field goal lead. Never underestimate this slight lead. The New England Patriots are undoubtedly one of the best teams in the past eighteen years at winning close games, always managing to be the last one smiling after a tight contest.


    Next, as long as the New England Patriots manage to score and stay on their feet, whether it¡¯s a field goal or a touchdown, they can stabilize the situation.


    Pressure, on Brady¡¯s shoulders.


    However¡ª


    Three and out.


    ¡°Sack!¡±


    ¡°Justin Houston sacks Tom Brady, delivers a three and out to the New England Patriots!¡±


    ¡°Beautiful!¡±


    ¡°Kansas City Chiefs defense captain since the second half has gone completely red-eyed, showcasing peak form in two defensive stops, exerting immense pressure on Brady with absolute aggressiveness and focus.¡±


    ¡°This time, the pressure directly transformed into a sack!¡±


    ¡°The situation has reversed.¡±


    ¡°Under the relentless assault of the Kansas City Chiefs, the New England Patriots should have gained a solid footing and delivered a fierce counterattack, yet they never caught the rhythm; instead, they¡¯re retreating steadily under the aggressive Kansas City Chiefs Defense, and now the situation has entirely turned around.¡±


    ¡°The defending champions¡¯ offense is about to take the field again, continuing their momentum!¡±


    Everything is just like Li Wei said¡ª


    Faith, will, momentum, united as one.


    Since halftime, the Kansas City Chiefs have shown an unbelievable demeanor, overwhelmingly crushing the New England Patriots from strategy to tactics to execution.


    Belichick and Brady hadn¡¯t been this ragged and embarrassed for a long time.


    Clearly, the New England Patriots just wanted revenge at Gillette Stadium, but the Kansas City Chiefs have higher and greater goals.


    Then.


    ¡°Li Wei! Li Wei! God, it¡¯s Li Wei again!¡±


    ¡°Fake run, real pass!¡±


    ¡°Mahomes escapes two sack crises, completes a twenty-yard pass.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei and Hill cross run, successfully deceive the New England Patriots defensive group. Li Wei pulls away into open space, encountering no defense, and easily completes the catch.¡±


    ¡°Kansas City Chiefs have taken the lead!¡±


    The situation has ultimately overturned, Kansas City Chiefs rewrite the score.


    ¡°17:21¡±, the defending champions lead for the first time in the game.


    Until this point, after missing a lot of chances, Brady and his offense awoke as if from a dream, a strong sense of crisis gripping their throats, with the New England Patriots regaining form just in time, slamming on the brakes.


    Considering Houston had gone red-eyed, the New England Patriots decided to avoid a direct confrontation, opting for a ground game to stabilize the situation.


    Simultaneously, assisted by short passes to advance, the entire play was very cautious and solid, consuming seven minutes and forty-five seconds to finally reach the Red Zone.


    Ultimately, running back Sony Michel runs a one-yard rushing touchdown.


    ¡°24:21.¡±


    The New England Patriots reclaimed the lead, more importantly, they consumed significant game time, pushing all the pressure back onto the Kansas City Chiefs.


    After scoring the touchdown, Brady could no longer hold back, roaring with fury, looking murderously at Li Wei. Although there were no extra words, the confrontational stance was unmistakable:


    He was not prepared to lose.


    Similarly, neither was Li Wei.


    As Li Wei and Mahomes took the field again, the Kansas Chiefs Offense had completely shaken off the first-half slump, back on track, and with a beautiful combination of passes and runs, took only two minutes and thirty-three seconds to storm into the Red Zone.


    In the Red Zone, facing the New England Patriots defensive group¡¯s tenacious resistance, but Li Wei still relied on personal ability to carry the ball and complete a two-yard rushing touchdown.


    Once again, helping the Kansas City Chiefs to regain the lead, taking control of the victory.


    ¡°24:28¡±.

 Chapter 813 - 813 812 Burning Soul

    ?Chapter 813: 812 Burning Soul Chapter 813: 812 Burning Soul ¡°Li Wei! Li Wei! Li Wei!¡±


    In a grand and thunderous manner, a unified chant reverberated over Arrowhead Stadium, calling out the same name in unison.


    Igniting the soul.


    Mad. Completely mad. Totally insane¡ª


    Li Wei had fully lost it.


    Ground rushing: 123 yards, two rushing touchdowns.


    Receiving: 103 yards, two receiving touchdowns.


    The game was still ongoing, but the data had already driven the commentators into a frenzy.


    Dominating completely. With an unrivaled stance, an unstoppable vigor, practically single-handedly tearing apart the New England Patriots¡¯ defensive group, smashing this highly anticipated American League championship into a crescendo.


    Living up to expectations!


    From the pregame, the fourth ¡°GOAT vs. rookie¡± collision had already drawn countless eyes; paired with the Gillette Stadium incident, it had added even more drama.


    Now the rookie was showing a state fully comparable to the GOAT, truly thrilling the spectators, making it impossible for anyone to sit still.


    Exhilarating!


    The fourth-quarter score swept away the suffocating atmosphere of the previous three quarters, rekindling the exhilaration of their Week 6 regular-season clash¡ªoffense red-hot, trading blow for blow.


    Of course, the Kansas City Chiefs were the main protagonists, currently boasting four touchdowns from the defending champions, three of which came in the fourth quarter as they erupted with full might.


    Both teams¡¯ defensive groups were falling apart and had receded entirely, giving way completely to the offensive lines¡ª


    ¡°Offensive showdown,¡± realized to perfection!


    Yet, despite the thrill, one had to be mindful: most of the excitement was coming from the Kansas City Chiefs, and more precisely, from Mahomes and Li Wei.


    In stark contrast, the New England Patriots¡¯ Brady remained in a slump.


    Since the second half began, Brady had yet to connect on a passing touchdown. At this point, two of the Patriots¡¯ three touchdowns came from their running back, Michel.


    Moreover, facing the fully unleashed Kansas City Chiefs in the second half, the Patriots managed just one rushing touchdown, which also explained their deficit.


    ¡°24:28.¡±


    The scale of victory was subtly tilting toward the Kansas City Chiefs, with the lead and the momentum entirely in the hands of the defending champions. The New England Patriots were half-footed off the edge of a cliff, teetering, dangerously close to being eliminated by the same opponent in consecutive playoffs¡ª


    Two minutes and three seconds remaining.


    In the NFL, there¡¯s a stat that tracks the number of times teams have won through a final offensive drive in the fourth quarter. This data highlights a quarterback¡¯s ability to maintain composure on the brink of defeat and lead their team to victory, showcasing their mental fortitude.


    This stat earned Little Manning the title ¡°Big-Hearted Terminator¡± after twice clinching Super Bowl victories with last-minute strikes against the New England Patriots; Rodgers gained the moniker ¡°Wanfu Mary Mr.¡± for his repeated fourth-quarter come-from-behind victories involving Wanfu Mary plays.


    Yet, among those ranked in history¡¯s top five for most comebacks, neither of them appears.


    Big Manning leads with 43 comeback victories.


    Brady, 35.


    Brees, 34.


    Roethlisberger, 33.


    Undoubtedly, Brady stands among the elite.


    Don¡¯t forget, in Week 6 of the regular season, Brady led a victorious final drive, clinching the game with a decisive field goal against the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Now, the pressure was back on Brady¡¯s shoulders once again.


    The official timed break concluded as Brady, his head held high, marched back onto the field.


    Arrowhead Stadium¡¯s atmosphere reached a boiling point.


    ¡°Defense! Bam Bam!¡±


    ¡°Defense! Bam Bam!¡±


    At this moment, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense was also in solid form, applying comprehensive second-half pressure that left Brady repeatedly unable to find his footing.


    Houston took a deep breath and quietly reminded himself, ¡°Justin, focus. Stay focused.¡±


    Never underestimate this quarterback simply because Brady¡¯s overall performance today lacked highlights and relied heavily on his teammates. The consequences of overconfidence could be dire.


    Knees trembling slightly; calves subtly twitching.


    His energy was completely drained. Even just standing on the field, Houston felt as if his soul had fled his body, floating in the bone-chilling wind over Arrowhead Stadium. His uniform had alternated between drenched and dry so many times, Houston felt like he¡¯d rolled through the Amazon swamp.


    Every ounce of him was utterly spent, even his little finger couldn¡¯t move anymore.


    But then.


    Houston saw Brady lining up and took a deep breath, snapping himself back with a furious blow to his thigh, emitting a primal roar.


    His gaze locked, his eyes burned.


    ¡°Fight to the end.¡±


    At this moment, Houston¡¯s mind was a blank slate. Only this thought filled him. They weren¡¯t fighting alone¡ªalongside them stood the entirety of Arrowhead Stadium, the whole city of Kansas City. The dreams and hopes of countless ordinary people rested on their shoulders. He had to fight to the end.


    Until the final whistle blew, nothing was over.


    Fight to the end.


    Houston zeroed in, refocusing and quickly scanning the Patriots¡¯ offensive lineup.


    The previous drive saw the Patriots score a touchdown, emphasizing ground attacks, with Brady serving as the decoy, and the tactic worked.


    Now, the Patriots were lining up in a standard shotgun formation again. At least on the surface, it didn¡¯t reveal much. Would they persist with ground plays?


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Brady signaled for the ball.


    Houston pushed off with all his might, his strength and momentum propelling him forward, targeting the pocket¡ª


    Pressure remained the keyword.


    But this time, the Patriots were prepared; the offensive line adjusted and provided cover. A figure shifted position and stepped slightly forward, cutting off Houston¡¯s path to the outside and delivering a collision.


    Boom.


    Caught off guard, Houston¡¯s right shoulder took the hit. The full release of power sent him off balance, his left side sinking from the overexertion, and he stumbled, barely managing to stay upright¡ª


    Alarm bells rang.


    Houston immediately recognized the Patriots¡¯ tactical adjustment. In a split second, he had to choose between pressing forward or retreating for pass defense. Peripheral vision caught sight of a figure darting past his left side, an instinct gripping him fiercely.


    Quickly spinning counter-clockwise, he decisively followed the movement.


    And then, Houston saw the figure adjusting his steps and preparing to catch the ball¡ª


    Edelman.


    Houston¡¯s intuition was on the mark. Looking up, the red-brown arc of the pass was rapidly approaching; Brady and Edelman had connected.


    A quick short pass, relying on the offensive line¡¯s coverage to buy Brady time.


    This looked like a five-yard short pass, prioritizing tempo and disrupting the defensive setup.


    Houston entered a state of pure focus, releasing all his energy and speed. Amid the chaotic struggles, he lunged toward Edelman with everything he had.


    Closing in.


    Drawing nearer.


    On the verge of contact, Edelman exhibited his expertise:


    Agility.


    With a slight sidestep, he adjusted his trajectory, avoiding Houston just as the collision was imminent. Simultaneously, Edelman plucked the football from the air.


    Then¡ª


    Boom.


    Houston¡¯s right shoulder crashed against Edelman¡¯s left hip.

 Chapter 814 - 814 813 Godlike State

    ?Chapter 814: 813 Godlike State Chapter 814: 813 Godlike State Bam.


    Houston was surging forward, trying to cut off Edelman¡¯s advance in time.


    However, his steps were a chaotic mess¡ªfirst encountering a block, then abruptly halting and pivoting to change targets, and finally lunging for the tackle with no time to catch his breath, let alone adjust. In the end, he simply flung his body forward¡ª


    A desperate gamble.


    Edelman had anticipated this scene, instinctively shifting positions, securing himself a crucial pocket of space. This maneuver caused Houston to miss a full-body tackle, as his force failed to land properly.


    Impact. Turbulence. Jolt.


    Edelman stomped the ground repeatedly, fighting through the chaos to shake off the incomplete hold Houston dared to make, staggering and twisting as he broke free.


    Houston: Damn.


    At the moment of collision, Houston already knew he wasn¡¯t able to control Edelman, but he didn¡¯t have time to react. Edelman had escaped, leaving Houston hollowly following through with his forward motion.


    Stumbling, teetering, almost falling.


    Houston looked on the verge of collapse.


    But he refused.


    Houston¡¯s eyes locked solely on Edelman¡¯s figure, his teeth grinding fiercely. A surge of energy ignited in his body as he planted his feet repeatedly, regaining balance by sheer inertia despite wobbling wildly, managing to stabilize and keep pace with Edelman.


    He ran faster. Faster and faster.


    Deep within his very being, Houston was entirely ablaze, heedlessly charging toward Edelman.


    The air crackled.


    At this moment, a sea of red clouds closed in fast, trying to tighten their encirclement; but the white lightning anticipated it, cutting diagonally toward the right front, breaking through mere moments before the net could close in.


    On the right, Fuller was closing in, but Gronkowski stood like a fortress.


    Gronkowski threw himself into a brief block, slowing Fuller¡¯s advance, allowing Edelman time to break through and change direction once more, accelerating vertically toward the end zone.


    Light, nimble steps crossed the thirty-five-yard line, then the forty-yard line, racing full-speed toward midfield, tearing open a hole in the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ defensive line.


    Then, the safeties arrived.


    Darting and weaving, halting and pivoting, Edelman¡¯s steps and figure dazzled the eye, unbelievably finding seams within the tight defense to keep moving forward¡ªall this under the watchful silence of Arrowhead Stadium¡ª


    Pop.


    That streak of white lightning sliced through the clustered red clouds.


    Like a razor-sharp blade.


    Staggering, Edelman scrambled past the forty-five-yard line, wobbling as he regained balance, gritting his teeth with everything he had, clawing his way over midfield. Meanwhile, his peripheral vision caught a red tidal wave looming large, crashing over him, engulfing him in its entirety.


    Instinctively, Edelman backed off repeatedly, trying to squirm free from the shadow¡¯s grip.


    No luck.


    Houston saw Edelman prepare to escape again, lunging forward with all his might, arms wide open, clinging onto Edelman in a vicious tackle.


    Ugh.


    Houston groaned through clenched teeth, throwing every ounce of strength behind his grip.


    Edelman wasn¡¯t about to surrender. Planting his feet, twisting his torso, and breaking away amidst the collision and compression, Edelman managed to retreat step by step before Houston solidified his arms, creating necessary distance and slipping free yet again.


    A thrilling escape.


    Edelman¡¯s heart pounded uncontrollably, nearly bursting free of his rib cage as his feet slid precariously on the verge of collapse; his left hand scrambled to support himself on the ground, forcing back balance. He couldn¡¯t afford to acknowledge Houston¡¯s presence. A sole thought consumed his mind:


    Run.


    This entire sequence passed through Fuller¡¯s eyes.


    Houston lay motionless on the field, depleted.


    Fuller¡¯s heart thundered violently against his ribcage, feeling as though it would explode, but he couldn¡¯t be bothered. Edelman¡¯s figure occupied his entire mind, his field of vision¡ª


    The entire backfield stood wide open, the defensive gates shattered with no remaining players to hold the line.


    Fuller couldn¡¯t let Edelman charge forward unchecked.


    Breaking away from Gronkowski¡¯s interference, Fuller gritted his teeth and launched into an all-out sprint, surging to intercept Edelman faster than lightning.


    One dive¡ªFuller shockingly watched Edelman curl into a compact ball, slipping improbably beneath his left arm and evading capture.


    Whiff.


    Fuller turned to see Edelman unfold himself, twisting counterclockwise and circling behind his back to break free. His slippery movement rendered Fuller unable to exert force, even turning Fuller into an obstruction that shielded Edelman from the advancing safeties behind. Escape against all odds carried on.


    Fuller held his breath, pivoting swiftly to mount a second reaction chase.


    Fuller didn¡¯t follow Edelman¡¯s rotation, instead spinning clockwise as his right arm extended straight across to block Edelman¡¯s path.


    Edelman: Huh.


    Prepared to burst through, Edelman suddenly spotted the outstretched arm in front of him. Bending backward and ducking low, he squeezed beneath the block, his relentless strides continuing unbroken but now losing formation¡ªhis balance faltered, his speed waned.


    Then Fuller caught up, Murray stepped in, and the two successfully combined forces to take Edelman to the ground.


    Edelman tackled.


    ¡°...Edelman! Edelman!¡±


    ¡°My God, Edelman at this moment is practically a divine presence on the field¡ªsmall-scale stoppies, instant pivots, and lightning-fast direction changes all displayed with unparalleled brilliance.¡±


    ¡°Tackled! Broken free!¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°Edelman was teetering on the brink in the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ dense defensive zone, suffocating with no breathing room¡ªbut he never fell. His feet maneuvered through the impossible spaces, continuously finding ways to keep the play alive.¡±


    ¡°And then, breaking through the defense.¡±


    ¡°Edelman did it! Edelman!¡±


    ¡°Unfathomable. It¡¯s absolutely unfathomable.¡±


    ¡°Who could have predicted it¡ªEdelman, of all players! In the midst of New England Patriots¡¯ offensive struggles, with Brady having an off performance, it¡¯s Edelman who stepped up. Without a doubt, this is the best and most stunning game of Edelman¡¯s career.¡±


    ¡°Twenty yards!¡±


    ¡°Thirty yards!¡±


    ¡°Edelman is unstoppable!¡±


    ¡°Forty yards!¡±


    ¡°Fifty yards!¡±


    ¡°Edelman sets his sights on the end zone, aiming to deliver the game-winning blow¡ªthe reigning champions are standing on the edge of a cliff!¡±


    ¡°God!¡±


    ¡°Evade, pivot, reposition.¡±


    ¡°Wow, Edelman...like a magician! After a grueling four-hour match, he still has this kind of play left in him.¡±


    ¡°But!¡±


    ¡°Fuller and Murray came through¡ªthey finally brought Edelman down, preventing him from charging directly into the end zone with one last powerful push.¡±


    ¡°Still, Julian Edelman¡ªa miraculous and extraordinary performance. If the New England Patriots win tonight, Edelman will undoubtedly be the game¡¯s MVP. Almost single-handedly, he spearheaded New England Patriots¡¯ offense, keeping their championship hopes alive.¡±


    ¡°In this drive, Brady¡¯s five-yard short pass failed to find its usual opening to create space for his wide receiver; but Edelman didn¡¯t care. He broke through three tackles, advancing a staggering fifty-three yards to bring the New England Patriots to the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ twenty-two-yard line.¡±


    ¡°Reed had no choice but to call a timeout.¡±

 Chapter 815 - 815 814 Physical Overdraft

    ?Chapter 815: 814 Physical Overdraft Chapter 815: 814 Physical Overdraft ¡°Deadlocked.¡±


    ¡°The situation is incredibly deadlocked right now. In basketball, the final seconds can bring infinite possibilities¡ªtimeouts, plays; plays, timeouts¡ªthe back-and-forth combat becomes fully entangled. But in football, due to the turn-based nature of the game, the rhythm of offense and defense transitions isn¡¯t as rapid, making such occurrences rarer.¡±


    ¡°Tonight, we might just witness it.¡±


    ¡°Edelman¡¯s unbelievable long run not only brings the New England Patriots close to the Red Zone but also pushes the Kansas City Chiefs into an awkward predicament¡ª


    time management.¡±


    ¡°Right now, both Belichick and Reid have three timeouts. If the New England Patriots fail to score a touchdown, the Kansas City Chiefs will win the game; however, if the Patriots score, the Chiefs will still have one offensive opportunity. Deciding how to use their timeouts is a subtle art.¡±


    ¡°At this moment, one minute and forty-three seconds remain in the game.¡±


    ¡°If Reid doesn¡¯t use his timeouts, Belichick¡¯s strategy is very clear¡ªrely on ground offense to burn through the clock, not hesitating to risk three plays just to gamble on a fourth down, going all in for the touchdown. Whether successful or not, Belichick will maintain control.¡±


    ¡°Thus, Reid is forced to use his timeouts to disrupt Belichick¡¯s strategy of running down the clock, forcing Belichick to gamble on a final attempt. This would also leave the Chiefs a chance to adjust and potentially counterattack.¡±


    ¡°The stakes are tight and tangled.¡±


    ¡°Every ensuing play could lead to countless possibilities, and Edelman¡¯s long run has granted the New England Patriots the upper hand.¡±


    ¡°This turn of events was clearly something none of us anticipated.¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs have Li Wei, while the New England Patriots have Edelman. Two non-quarterback players become the focal points of this American League Championship game.¡±


    Not far behind, Houston lay sprawled on the ground, his body in a starfish pose as he stared up at the night sky¡ª


    ¡°Shit. Shit shit shit!¡±


    He wanted to curse, pound the ground, and slap himself across the face. His chest was steaming with rage, colliding violently in every direction.


    Yet, he couldn¡¯t.


    Because he had no strength left.


    He didn¡¯t even have the energy to be angry. He just lay there like a limp carrot, unable to move even a single finger. Every muscle in his body was numb.


    No pain, no soreness, no sensation¡ªnothing at all.


    His brain had completely lost control over his body¡ª


    Not in the sense of paralysis, but rather... sheer exhaustion.


    He felt utterly and entirely drained.


    And yet, he refused to give up. He was still unwilling to accept it.


    The whole season, he had been battling his body and himself. Age and injuries constantly reminded him that his professional career likely didn¡¯t have much time left.


    Logically, he¡¯d already had a commendable career, including last season¡¯s championship win. Even if he retired next season, there would be no regrets. But he was still unwilling to let go. He still wanted to run on the field.


    He still wanted to burn bright.


    Not for the championship, nor for the victory¡ªsimply because he loved those moments on the field. The running, the collisions, the strategy. The moments of blood pumping and passion roaring.


    Those moments made him feel alive.


    Just like Annie Galas.


    He didn¡¯t want to give up. He didn¡¯t want to surrender. He didn¡¯t want life to drift by insignificantly. Even if it was just one more minute on the field, he wanted to burn passionately for every second of it.


    Goddammit, in that last defensive play, he had read Edelman perfectly not once, but twice. And yet, that damn guy still managed to cunningly evade him.


    Unacceptable. He just couldn¡¯t accept it.


    ¡°Justin, are you okay?¡± Chris Jones appeared overhead, looking down at him.


    Houston took a deep breath. ¡°Help me up.¡±


    With Jones¡¯ assistance, Houston stood back up. Despite his knees trembling violently and threatening to give out, he still straightened his back once more¡ª


    He wasn¡¯t done yet. This game? He would fight to the bitter end, even if it shattered him.


    ¡°Houston, can you still go?¡± Reid had already noticed the defensive group¡¯s stamina issues.


    Forget about Houston¡¯s worn-out body¡ªJones, Fuller, and the other younger players were all gasping for air and drenched with sweat. Everyone was running on fumes.


    What¡¯s more, Houston had quite literally been burning his life away during the second half, unleashing an astonishing amount of energy in a short time to help secure the Chiefs¡¯ comeback.


    Now, it seemed Houston was completely spent.


    And yet.


    If Reid could, he¡¯d rotate out his players. The problem was the Chiefs¡¯ defensive bench had no depth left. Injuries had decimated his options, leaving him with no one viable to sub in. Reid was in a tough spot.


    As Reid looked at Houston, he hesitated. Should he pull him out?


    Houston locked eyes with Reid. ¡°Coach, I¡¯ve got this.¡±


    Reid remained silent.


    Houston grew anxious but continued staring at Reid with unwavering resolve, his gaze firm and resolute, refusing to relent.


    Beside them, Berry also stood up and looked at Reid, as if wanting to say something. Yet, in the end, he kept quiet:


    Faith and willpower had always been there, but Berry knew that sports didn¡¯t solely rely on faith and will. Without the ability to back them up, they meant nothing.


    Berry wanted to vouch for Houston but realized he had no standing to open his mouth.


    He could only quietly clench his fists and pray for Houston.


    Finally, Reid gave a small nod, granting Houston permission to stay on the field.


    Berry pumped his fist. ¡°Go, man, go!¡±


    Houston exhaled a deep breath, locking his gaze onto Brady.


    He was ready.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    The moment Brady announced the snap, all of Houston¡¯s fatigue and pain seemed to vanish. He entered a state of total focus once more, as if this was the first defensive play of the game, calmly observing and decisively striking.


    ¡°Brady! Scanning the field! He¡¯s passing!¡±


    ¡°Fake handoff and run! Brady hands the football to Michel.¡±


    ¡°Michel is watching the gaps. Michel is attempting to break through the slot!¡±


    ¡°Houston! Justin Houston!¡±


    ¡°Beautiful!¡±


    ¡°Houston, with a clean and decisive stance, stops Michel dead at the line of scrimmage! The standout performance from Michel tonight finds no chance in this ground game push. Houston delivers a textbook running back tackle once more.¡±


    ¡°God, Houston has been absolutely phenomenal tonight!¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs have used their second timeout.¡±


    ¡°The two coaches are locked in a battle of wits.¡±


    ¡°As expected, Belichick is leaning heavily on ground offense to drain the game clock, putting all his hopes on one final attempt at a touchdown. Of course, trailing as they are, the New England Patriots already have no other choice.¡±


    ¡°Reid fully understands the importance of this defensive play. He¡¯s utilizing the timeout to carefully layout tactics, guarding against the Patriots launching a surprise passing assault. Edelman remains the Patriots¡¯ greatest threat, but we can never underestimate Gronkowski¡¯s presence.¡±


    ¡°Though Gronkowski has been pretty quiet this game, a player like him only needs one opportunity¡ªjust one chance to completely flip the script and seal the game.¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs Defense must proceed with absolute caution.¡±


    Then.


    Brady announces the snap once more.

 Chapter 816 - 816 815 Reluctant at Heart

    ?Chapter 816: 815 Reluctant at Heart Chapter 816: 815 Reluctant at Heart ¡°Attack!¡±


    Houston locked his eyes firmly on Brady, this time not making a reckless move¡ª


    Edelman, or Gronkowski?


    Houston was clear that Brady had two offensive chances, and if a fourth-down gamble was included, there would be three; but the defensive group had only one chance¡ªone mistake, and it was game over.


    Thus, Houston needed to focus, one hundred percent.


    Without blinking, he kept his gaze fixed on Brady and then saw Brady raise his hand, aiming in Edelman¡¯s direction, preparing to throw.


    Trigger?


    No, Houston wasn¡¯t fooled and stayed cautious¡ª


    Edelman was already the primary focus of their defense; plus, in the confined space of the Red Zone, without much room to maneuver, this wasn¡¯t Edelman¡¯s optimal area of play.


    If it were Gronkowski, that would be a different matter.


    Moreover, despite being absolutely exhausted, Houston didn¡¯t let his attention drift; he noticed the New England Patriots employing a double running back tactic on this offensive sequence.


    Alongside Michel, the second running back Rex Burkhead had also entered the field.


    In tonight¡¯s game, Burkhead¡¯s ground running hadn¡¯t been productive¡ªeight carries for only 21 yards; however, as a receiver, he had made a notable impact, with four catches gaining 33 yards.


    Now, Burkhead was on the field at this critical moment. Houston didn¡¯t think Belichick would carelessly waste a position by placing a pawn with no strategic value.


    So, looking at the bigger picture, Brady targeting Edelman seemed more like bait.


    At least, Houston¡¯s intuition didn¡¯t set off alarm bells.


    Sure enough, a fake play.


    Brady pulled back, refraining from throwing, and instead turned to hand the football to Michel.


    A running play!


    The New England Patriots opted for another ground run, continuing to eat away at the game time.


    However, Houston couldn¡¯t let his guard down¡ªhe had to quickly intercept Michel.


    Pushing off, stepping forward, all in one fluid motion.


    Houston immediately took a position in the gap, blocking Michel¡¯s path, while his peripheral vision caught Brady and Burkhead making a handoff motion.


    Wait, what¡¯s happening?


    A fake handoff after a fake pass, followed by a double running back tactic¡ªwas the Patriots¡¯ real weapon Burkhead?


    Belichick had gone mad.


    But Houston didn¡¯t have time to dwell on his error in judgment. He reacted quickly a second time.


    Head-on collision¡ªMichel rushed straight toward him, aiming to break open a path for Burkhead; Houston sidestepped swiftly, shifting positions, brushing against Michel¡¯s body, wobbling as he braced himself on his left leg, and lunged toward Burkhead.


    Burkhead noticed and didn¡¯t dodge¡ªhe charged directly at Houston.


    Houston barely had time to plant his feet before he was met with an overwhelming surge of force.


    BANG.


    A muffled grunt escaped as the metallic taste of blood exploded in Houston¡¯s mouth, but he held firm, teeth clenched tightly, his battered body yearning to collapse yet surging forward again to ram into Burkhead.


    No matter the cost.


    The next moment, the force shifted.


    Burkhead stumbled backward, retreating to the right, staggering away from his position.


    Houston suddenly felt his body lighten, teetering forward uncontrollably. At the last second, he gritted his teeth and impossibly pivoted on his left leg, lifting his right leg to spin toward Burkhead.


    So close, just a little closer.


    Houston¡¯s strength was completely drained, and his knee refused his third attempt to apply force, giving out completely as he collapsed to the ground, helplessly watching Burkhead break free in the chaos.


    Dammit.


    Houston couldn¡¯t contain himself. ¡°Justin, get up, get up immediately! It¡¯s not over, it can¡¯t end like this. No, NOO!¡±


    Yet his body didn¡¯t respond; he couldn¡¯t move, he had no strength left.


    ¡°Burkhead?¡±


    ¡°God, who is Burkhead?¡±


    ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°Michel opened the path, creating space for Burkhead, and Burkhead seized the opportunity!¡±


    ¡°Burkhead, Burkhead escaped Murray¡¯s tackle and broke through into the end zone.¡±


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable! Unbelievable! All of Arrowhead Stadium has fallen into despair!¡±


    ¡°New England Patriots touchdown! Viewers, the New England Patriots have miraculously pulled off another touchdown to retake the lead¡ªthis is practically a dagger to the heart. The New England Patriots hold the key to victory firmly!¡±


    ¡°God, Burkhead! Rex Burkhead has risen as the New England Patriots¡¯ superhero!¡±


    ¡°But, who is Burkhead?¡±


    Drafted in the sixth round, 190th overall, by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2012, Burkhead had failed to make much of a mark in the first six seasons of his career.


    Even this season, Burkhead¡¯s regular-season performance had been underwhelming; in eight rotational appearances, he was mostly a role player.


    However, in the most important game of his career, Burkhead stepped up, shouldering the responsibility entrusted to him by Belichick. He embraced the moment, delivering an extraordinary performance in response to Belichick¡¯s trust.


    One touchdown.


    This is professional sports¡ªalways witnessing miracles in the least expected moments.


    Last season, it was Li Wei; tonight, it¡¯s Edelman and Burkhead.


    ¡°31:28.¡±


    The New England Patriots lead.


    ¡°...A decisive blow.¡±


    ¡°Once again, the New England Patriots have done it. Standing on the edge of the cliff, they¡¯ve turned the tide. Could this be a repeat of Week Six of the regular season?¡±


    ¡°But now, the game isn¡¯t over¡ªremember, the game isn¡¯t over yet.¡±


    ¡°Thirty-nine seconds¡ªNew England Patriots have left the reigning champions thirty-nine seconds to strike back. Anything is possible; never underestimate the Kansas City Chiefs¡ªthey still have a shot at a Wanfu Mary.¡±


    ¡°The game is not over.¡±


    Arrowhead Stadium, a fierce wind erupted¡ª


    A gust of cold air pounded down, overwhelming the heat, leaving the entire stadium vulnerable as intense silence enveloped it.


    Either perish in silence, or erupt from it.


    Houston turned to Li Wei, ¡°...Sorry.¡±


    Choking on bitter words, his voice hoarse to the brink of failure.


    Looking at Houston, barely standing, seemingly ready to crumble at any moment, the frustration, anguish, and sadness crushed his shoulders.


    Anyone could see Houston had given everything.


    It wasn¡¯t just Houston¡ªthe defensive group players all looked like they had crawled out of hell.


    Murray hung his head, biting his lip hard, tears shimmering in his eyes, yet he dared not cry aloud, exerting every ounce of strength to contain himself¡ª


    He wasn¡¯t even sure if he had the right to shed those tears.


    This game meant too much; it transcended mere victory or defeat.


    They didn¡¯t want, nor could they afford, to lose¡ªbut they had reached this point regardless.


    Then, Li Wei smiled.


    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s with you guys? You look like we already lost the game.¡±


    ¡°Everyone, pull yourselves together. Chin up, shoulders back¡ªface the result with pride. We left everything on this field, without regrets. Whatever the outcome, we can face it head-on.¡±


    Houston looked up, ¡°If I had just...¡±


    If he had just gritted his teeth a little harder, pushed himself a little farther, fought just a little longer¡ªwould the result have been different?


    But Li Wei interrupted, ¡°No ifs.¡±


    ¡°Captain, what we need is not ¡®if.¡¯ What we need is to fight until the very end. Don¡¯t forget¡ªuntil the game is truly over, nothing is decided.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve got thirty-nine seconds left.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Sherlock, are you ready?¡±

 Chapter 817 - 817 816 Walking Through Wind and Rain Together

    ?Chapter 817: 816 Walking Through Wind and Rain Together Chapter 817: 816 Walking Through Wind and Rain Together Attention! Line up! Prepare to take the field.


    The Kansas City Chiefs Offensive group stood neatly in formation, their heads held high and their chests puffed out.


    Houston looked at the scene before him. Despite his knees no longer holding up and himself slouched exhaustedly on the bench, he still straightened his back.


    Beside him, someone took a seat.


    It was Berry, ¡°Old man, still holding up?¡±


    Houston took a deep breath, yet his lungs felt like countless needles stabbing in, a bitter metallic taste rising, even breathing transforming into agony.


    Still, Houston chuckled, ¡°No, I¡¯m done.¡±


    Houston turned his head to Berry, ¡°Every part of my body is staging a rebellion; they¡¯re ready to go on strike. But Eric, would you believe it? I want to take the field again, I want to fight those guys one more time.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not finished yet.¡±


    A fiery resolve ignited in his chest.


    Berry followed Houston¡¯s gaze to the back of the jersey number 23.


    ¡°The game isn¡¯t over yet.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t just them.


    In the stands, Jenna watched the Kansas City Chiefs Offensive group lining up neatly by the field, ready to step on. Her heart swelled with emotion.


    She tried to vent, tried to express, but couldn¡¯t find the words.


    Not far away, a voice rang out.


    ¡°When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high, don¡¯t be afraid of the dark.¡±


    That was... Karen.


    She stood, her gaze resolute, fixing on the field, singing loud and clear.


    Beside her, Felix stared at his mother in shock, his face filled with disbelief.


    Without warning, the scene hit Jenna hard.


    She knew that no matter what happened, Karen would always walk with Felix to the very end. Just like her ¡ª she shouldn¡¯t leave Annie alone. She would always open her arms to shield Annie, offering her a safe harbor.


    Just like the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Tears fell.


    But Jenna didn¡¯t care, nor did she wipe her tears away. Instead, she stood up, joining Karen, no matter how many storms or thorns lay ahead, they would never let their children walk alone.


    Never.


    ¡°At the end of the storm, there¡¯s a golden sky and the sweet song of orioles.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t passionate, it wasn¡¯t fierce, it wasn¡¯t blood-pumping, it wasn¡¯t grand.


    It was even a little gentle.


    Yet, the song resonated throughout, lingering across Arrowhead Stadium.


    ¡°Walk on, through the wind; walk on, through the rain.


    Though your dreams may be disappointed.


    Walk on, walk on! With hope in your heart, you¡¯ll never walk alone!¡±


    Perhaps they would win; perhaps they would lose. Anything was possible.


    But no matter what, they would never walk alone.


    Majestic, mighty, the entire Arrowhead Stadium was tightly united as one.


    Mahomes looked at Li Wei in disbelief.


    Li Wei tilted his head back, quietly marveling at the brilliance before him¡ª


    Compared to the jeers and curses at Gillette Stadium, the gentle inferno before him was far more inspiring, because love was more powerful than hate.


    ¡°Sherlock, it¡¯s time.¡±


    Li Wei lightly patted Mahomes on the shoulder. As he walked into the field, he donned his helmet, relaxed and casual, as if this were the first offensive play of the game.


    Mahomes took a deep breath and caught up to Li Wei¡¯s strides.


    They were ready.


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ Offensive group and the New England Patriots¡¯ Defensive group formed their lineups again.


    The formation of the New England Patriots Defensive group was immediately clear¡ª


    A deep ¡®V¡¯ shape, guarding the deep zones and sidelines, focused on Wanfu Mary throws and sideline-out passes, aiming to kill danger by exploiting remaining game time.


    Strategy clear, objectives defined. The New England Patriots Defensive group appeared particularly composed, methodically deploying their layout with remarkable precision.


    First, the game time was running out.


    Second, Reed only had one timeout left.


    Third, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ secret weapon had already been exposed¡ªwithout Hunter¡¯s support, Li Wei lacked the out-of-nowhere impact he possessed last season, and the team roster wasn¡¯t equipped with a wildcard like Burkhead.


    Everything was laid bare.


    At a glance, the New England Patriots chose not to opt for man-to-man defense, instead persisting with zone defense, as Belichick understood Reid¡¯s tactics could include numerous variables. The New England Patriots had to rely on collective power, not individual excellence.


    Thus, zone defense, mutual support.


    It was evident that the eyes of the defensive players continually darted between Li Wei, Kelsey, and Hill, the three top targets.


    If Mahomes chose any of those three as his passing targets, waiting for them could be a storm-like assault of three- or even four-man coverage¡ª


    Belichick refused to repeat past mistakes.


    In such adversity, Reed¡¯s only breathing space lay in the score difference.


    ¡°31:28.¡±


    Three points, just a single field goal.


    Which means the Kansas City Chiefs could attempt a Wanfu Mary touchdown to seize the game; alternatively, they could opt for a field goal to tie the score and enter overtime.


    The crux was, overtime meant starting again. Did the Kansas City Chiefs have the stamina?


    Strangely enough, stamina concerns were now pressed on the Kansas City Chiefs, the reigning champions who received plenty of rest in Week 17 of the regular season and a first-round bye in the playoffs, logically should be dominant.


    But don¡¯t forget, the New England Patriots¡¯ schedule wasn¡¯t drastically different.


    The root issue came down to experience.


    The miserable weather disrupted rhythms. The New England Patriots, battle-hardened veterans, managed stamina allocation and dynamic adaptation far more adeptly; the Kansas City Chiefs, on the other hand, paid a price for their youth.


    Hence, from a theoretical perspective, Reed might be reluctant to enter overtime, whereas Belichick wouldn¡¯t shy away from overtime¡¯s trials¡ª


    Which allowed the New England Patriots to be even more unbridled in their approach.


    The situation was indeed exceptionally challenging.


    However, there was no time for worry or anxiety, as the countdown following the snap was about to end. The Kansas City Chiefs had to execute their play.


    Thirty-nine seconds, their own twenty-five-yard mark, first-and-ten.


    The Kansas City Chiefs were ready.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Mahomes announced the snap, the New England Patriots¡¯ defensive front line immediately tightened¡ª


    No blitz, still a four-man pass rush, the remaining players spread across defensive positions. Yet precisely because of this, the front line pressure was visibly more assertive, denying Mahomes the comfort to make a clean pass.


    But as Mahomes turned sharply, he unhesitatingly handed the football off to Hill.


    Not a quick pass, but a run.


    Not Li Wei, but Hill.


    Belichick: ???


    Even someone as seasoned as Belichick was bewildered by Reed¡¯s offensive tactics. Had Reed forgotten that there were only thirty-nine seconds left?


    In that brief moment of confusion, the New England Patriots Defensive group was caught off guard.


    Li Wei paved the way with blocks, while Hill carried the ball forward.


    Ten yards.


    Hill advanced just ten yards. As the New England Patriots Defensive group rapidly closed the encircling circle, continuing forward would simply consume more time.


    Hill went to ground.


    Decisively and cleanly ending the advance himself.


    Then Reed burned his last timeout.


    Game time, thirty-three seconds.


    With only six seconds consumed, the Kansas City Chiefs had secured a fresh set of downs with ease.


    Without any collisions or even contact, the Kansas City Chiefs completed their advance and achieved a first down. The entire drive appeared effortless, smooth, and graceful.


    Belichick felt an ominous premonition. Could Reed be setting the stage for a Wanfu Mary zone challenge? Should he reconsider his defensive scheme?

 Chapter 818 - 818 817 Home Field Dominance

    ?Chapter 818: 817 Home Field Dominance Chapter 818: 817 Home Field Dominance Tick-tock, tick-tock.


    The sound of the sand timer gently strikes the eardrum, disrupting the rhythm of the heartbeat, anxiety and tension uncontrollably taking over.


    So, what is Reed thinking? Could it be like last season¡¯s victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers?


    Should Belichick change formations? Avoid the fate of last season¡¯s division game?


    Thoughts racing endlessly.


    However, time is equally fair to both Reed and Belichick.


    Reed doesn¡¯t have the luxury to hesitate and immediately commands Mahomes for the next wave of offense.


    Belichick is no different; the Defensive group inherently doesn¡¯t hold the initiative.


    ¡°Keep your eyes on 23.¡± Belichick gestures to Van Noy.


    Belichick saw it clearly. Maybe with time Mahomes will grow into the team leader, but for now, Li Wei remains the soul of the team.


    Van Noy is tasked solely with marking Li Wei, while the rest of the strategy remains unchanged.


    Then, without pause, Mahomes announces the next play.


    Van Noy¡¯s pupils contract sharply, instantly catching sight of Li Wei bursting forward like an arrow released from the bowstring. No hesitation, no delay, fully assuming the role of Wide Receiver and racing vertically along the slot.


    Danger!


    Van Noy quickly locks his position, shadowing Li Wei step by step.


    Tough! It¡¯s really too tough!


    Li Wei, in a no-ball situation, instantly pushes his speed to the extreme. Although Van Noy positioned himself on Li Wei¡¯s path early and was ready, his steps still get drawn into Li Wei¡¯s rhythm.


    Thud-thud, thud-thud.


    Van Noy has already elevated his pace to the limit, but still can¡¯t match the rhythm or hold his position, helplessly watching as Li Wei overtakes him by force with sheer speed. He tries to catch up, only to find his own footwork disrupted, stumbling awkwardly.


    Damn it!


    It was supposed to be a side-by-side race, but just five yards in, Van Noy looks like a heartbroken lover in denial, clinging and hanging onto Li Wei¡¯s shoulders.


    What¡¯s worse, even then, he can¡¯t hold onto him.


    This scene unfolds before everyone¡¯s eyes, and the Defensive group¡¯s zone coverage net quickly contracts.


    Just as Van Noy is about to be shaken off, Cornerback Jason McCourty and Safety Devin McCourty rush in from both sides.


    A three-man sandwich.


    Van Noy feels a glimmer of hope: Now, where are you going to run?


    But before a smile even forms on his face, the whistle blows.


    Penalty?


    No, the play is over.


    Van Noy, bewildered, wonders¡ªwas Li Wei just bait?


    Looking back, Kelsey casually tosses the football to the referee, an expression of utter ease on his face.


    Indeed, Li Wei was just bait, drawing all of the right-side attention, including Cornerback McCourty, to clear the space for Kelsey.


    Kelsey advances ten yards with the ball and steps out of bounds to stop the clock.


    Van Noy can hardly believe it and furiously shouts at McCourty, ¡°Hold your position, don¡¯t meddle! I already had him covered¡ªdidn¡¯t you see?¡±


    Devin McCourty replies, ¡°You had him covered, you say?¡±


    Jason McCourty, unwilling to escalate the situation, pulls his brother back and restores order.


    In truth, the key just moments ago was that Mahomes didn¡¯t opt for a pass; Kelsey stuck to a running play. McCourty misjudged and let his focus be drawn by Li Wei, leaving the right sideline wide open.


    Kelsey advanced smoothly and stopped the clock with ease.


    Nine seconds.


    Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offense completed the advancement in just nine seconds this time.


    Twenty-four seconds, forty-five-yard line, first down and ten yards.


    Kansas City Chiefs have successfully approached midfield without shedding any blood.


    Belichick realizes the gravity of the situation¡ªit¡¯s now within Mahomes¡¯ Wanfu Mary range¡ª


    Damn it, they¡¯ve been tricked.


    New England Patriots¡¯ defensive focus was entirely on the passing game, the most traditional and conventional strategy during the decisive moments of the fourth quarter; meanwhile, Reed dared to take a bold approach, utilizing Li Wei to mislead twice and achieving advancement on the ground, expertly managing time.


    Even more importantly, the offensive advancement was seamless and orderly, leaving the New England Patriots¡¯ Defensive group with no chance to apply counter-pressure. This allowed Kansas City Chiefs to stabilize themselves amid crisis and adversity, igniting momentum instantly and flipping the dynamics of the game.


    Momentum¡ªthis is the keyword.


    Kansas City Chiefs leveraged their home-field advantage to keep the match alive.


    Belichick raises his head and surveys the crowd, Arrowhead Stadium is on its feet, singing passionately, united as one. That immense energy solidifies into a driving force, becoming a formidable ally for the Kansas City Chiefs.


    The situation has become somewhat tricky.


    Belichick retrieves his gaze, his eyes narrowing as he decisively makes adjustments.


    Change or not¡ªthere¡¯s no right answer because he can¡¯t predict Reed¡¯s tactics; yet to stay unchanged would mean leaving the initiative to the opponent. Thus, Belichick would rather proactively adjust¡ª


    Even if he loses, it should be losing while going all-in.


    At the critical juncture, Belichick once again radiates the boldness and toughness of a true mastermind.


    Then, New England Patriots¡¯ Defensive group explodes with energy once more.


    Interception!


    ¡°Belichick made his move!¡±


    ¡°Abruptly and without warning, New England Patriots¡¯ Defensive group takes a bold gamble. Belichick opts for a seven-man pass rush, relying on sheer numerical advantage to break through the pocket, aiming to crush Mahomes with absolute force and domination.¡±


    ¡°Kansas City Chiefs were completely suppressed.¡±


    ¡°Though Mahomes hurriedly hands the football to Li Wei, Li Wei faces a three-man blockade, maneuvers with all his might, and still gets intercepted.¡±


    ¡°Taken down at the line of scrimmage.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei was lucky not to lose yardage.¡±


    ¡°New England Patriots deliver a harsh wake-up call to Kansas City Chiefs, but worse yet¡ª¡±


    Tick-tock, tick-tock.


    Time continues to pass.


    Seventeen seconds, sixteen seconds...


    Hurriedly, Mahomes scrambles to set up formation, with no time to strategize, directly spiking the ball to stop the clock, forfeiting an offensive chance just to freeze the game time.


    Fourteen seconds, forty-five-yard line, third down and ten yards.


    The situation has immediately flipped around.


    New England Patriots undoubtedly showcase their championship resilience at critical moments.


    Nonetheless, Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offense cannot afford regret¡ªthey must maximize every second. At this moment, the focus isn¡¯t whether it¡¯s third down or fourth down; time is the only blade hanging overhead.


    No time even for communication, Li Wei merely exchanges a brief glance with his Offensive group teammates, and the firm resolve in his eyes reignites the atmosphere.


    Then, formation is set.


    Mahomes doesn¡¯t have time to feel nervous, his focus sharp and undistracted.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    With the command, Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ Offensive group launches into action.


    Van Noy takes the first step forward, prepping for his second consecutive pressure attempt.


    Belichick made the right call¡ªno matter what Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ tactics are, even if they¡¯re risking a Wanfu Mary, their focus shouldn¡¯t only be on the end zone. Mahomes is not Smith; unless they put enough pressure on Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive explosiveness will remain an unpredictable weapon¡ª


    No one knows when it might be unleashed.


    Pressure¡ªthis is the core.


    New England Patriots had just achieved a crucial interception. This time, they feigned aggression with only a five-man rush, focusing their efforts on applying pressure.


    Van Noy moves in, ready to make an intimidating charge towards Mahomes, but his peripheral vision catches a shadow, and his heart sharply contracts:


    Li Wei?


    What is Li Wei about to do?

 Chapter 819 - 819 Instincts Collide Amid Arrowhead Chaos

    ?Chapter 819: Instincts Collide Amid Arrowhead Chaos Chapter 819: Instincts Collide Amid Arrowhead Chaos Push off, initiate, step forward.


    Instinctively, fluidly, Van Noy reacted without any hesitation, stepping forward for pressure while still maintaining balance and mobility.


    Five-man rush, not seven.


    The reason is simple. The Kansas City Chiefs should already be prepared for such a blitz; it¡¯s no longer unexpected, and the rushing pressure might become less effective. In response, the Chiefs are likely to explore entirely new offensive routes.


    So, regardless of the Chiefs¡¯ offensive strategy, the New England Patriots must stay ready. With a five-man rush, the two linemen must adapt tactically, ensuring the ¡°Chiefs Special¡± does not happen again.


    As Van Noy stepped forward, he caught a glimpse of a figure:


    Li Wei.


    That damn number twenty-three.


    Van Noy never overlooked twenty-three¡¯s presence, always keeping vigilant. More importantly, he noticed Li Wei¡¯s movements.


    Li Wei. Kelsey.


    A crossover switch¡ªLi Wei moved forward while Kelsey retreated.


    What¡¯s going on? Is Kelsey preparing for a ground-forward drive?


    The team hasn¡¯t forgotten how the Chiefs used an all-running-back approach at the start of the second half to completely disrupt the Patriots¡¯ defensive rhythm and launch a counterattack.


    Now, are they repeating the tactic?


    In a flash, Van Noy¡¯s steps hesitated for just a second.


    But he didn¡¯t stop; he immediately turned and chased after Li Wei at full speed.


    The reason?


    No reason, pure instinct.


    Van Noy observed how Li Wei¡¯s steps drove forward without pause¡ª


    Clearly, this wasn¡¯t just a protective block for Kelsey.


    Could it be another decoy tactic to divert attention, like before?


    Van Noy couldn¡¯t deny the possibility, but at this moment, his focus was entirely on Li Wei. In that fleeting moment, he chose to trust his instincts.


    Push off, drive forward, expend effort.


    From the beginning, Van Noy withheld nothing, learning from the earlier mistake and unleashing his full speed, chasing at maximum effort.


    However, it wasn¡¯t enough¡ªit still wasn¡¯t enough.


    Van Noy¡¯s brief hesitation due to Kelsey cost him the advantage, leaving him increasingly strained against Li Wei.


    Van Noy adjusted his position, cutting horizontally to cling closely to Li Wei¡¯s forward charge. But this time, over a mere five yards, it already felt like he couldn¡¯t keep up, watching as Li Wei was about to break free with ease.


    Big trouble.


    Damn it. Damn it, damn it, damn it.


    Van Noy was pushing his speed to the limit, but his feet couldn¡¯t keep pace with his brain. His body began to wobble as he tried to disrupt Li Wei¡¯s balance through physical collision, only to end up swaying dizzily himself.


    Damn it!


    It was utterly humiliating¡ªnot only was his speed crushed, but his strength was clearly no match. Standing in front of Li Wei felt shameful beyond measure.


    Disgrace!


    The nightmare of being outrun fifteen seconds ago resurfaced to haunt him, tightening Van Noy¡¯s chest to the point he could barely breathe.


    With the Patriots¡¯ forty-yard line now in sight, Van Noy knew there wouldn¡¯t be another opportunity if he didn¡¯t act immediately.


    He decided swiftly.


    Van Noy reached out and grabbed Li Wei¡¯s jersey, subtly pulling at it twice¡ªit had no effect, as if scratching through a shoe sole. Li Wei didn¡¯t even seem to notice.


    Resolutely, Van Noy gritted his teeth and boldly yanked Li Wei¡¯s jersey, now clearly entering wrestling mode.


    ¡°Foul!¡±


    ¡°God, Van Noy, foul!¡±


    ¡°Such a blatant foul, and yet no penalty flag! What are the referees doing? It¡¯s de?ja? vu from the closing moments of the last National Conference final in regulation!¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable¡ªfoul! Foul!¡±


    Romo slammed the desk, his face full of shock, anger almost erupting from his chest.


    Nantz initially wanted to calm Romo, urging objectivity and composure, but witnessing Van Noy¡¯s brazen and shameless foul still going unflagged, he also froze¡ª


    Where¡¯s the promised home-field call? Where¡¯s the League¡¯s supposed favoritism for Li Wei?


    Arrowhead Stadium went into uproar, unable to believe their eyes.


    Boos erupted everywhere.


    Jenna didn¡¯t understand what was happening. She didn¡¯t know about fouls; even the basic rules were still unclear. But her attention wasn¡¯t focused there:


    Li Wei!


    Li Wei didn¡¯t give up.


    Whether there was a penalty flag or not, Li Wei didn¡¯t give up, didn¡¯t concede easily¡ªhe kept running, battling Van Noy¡¯s shameless tactics with speed and strength¡ª


    He refused to compromise.


    Collision, tugging, driving, sprinting.


    Li Wei displayed incredible determination amid the chaos and impact. But before he could break free, Jason McCourty arrived and formed a double-team.


    This scene felt eerily familiar.


    However, this time, Mahomes passed the ball.


    ...


    Retreat. Move. Observe. Wait.


    Mahomes stayed patient, focusing entirely on reading the entire field while the Patriots¡¯ rushed pressure created chaos around him.


    Li Wei?


    No¡ªLi Wei remained a decoy. His and Kelsey¡¯s crossover switch was purely a smoke bomb. The real passing targets were Hill or Watkins¡ª


    Adapt on the fly.


    Hill sprinted directly toward the end zone, aiming for the touchdown without hesitation, while the Patriots¡¯ cornerback stuck close to Hill, and the safety seemed to notice something too, quickly moving in to tighten the safety net.


    Just as Mahomes looked for Watkins, a bolt of lightning suddenly approached from close range.


    Danger!


    Mahomes took a step back as Kelsey collided sideways to create a block.


    Perfect coordination.


    Mahomes gained breathing room and was about to adjust his stance when another flash of lightning appeared in the corner of his left eye.


    Blindside.


    Mahomes: ???


    Before he could react, Hightower had already tackled him from behind, tightly locking both arms like the romantic pottery scene in ¡°Ghost.¡± Unlike the movie, Mahomes was not amused.


    Ugh.


    With a grunt, Mahomes¡¯ knees buckled, almost collapsing to the ground. However, at the critical moment, he gritted his teeth, repeatedly pushed off, and astonishingly broke free from Hightower¡¯s tackle, once again charging horizontally.


    Trouble!


    The force exerted to break free was so immense that his calves struggled to support him. His knees trembled, his ankles wobbled, as if walking a tightrope on a high wire.


    Danger! Danger!


    Every cell in Mahomes¡¯ body screamed warnings, but he had no time to worry. Using his left hand to stabilize himself on the ground, he regained his balance and staggered forward, scanning the field rapidly.


    But his unsteady stance had lowered him below the horizontal plane, making it hard to survey the space clearly.


    Where¡¯s Hill? Where¡¯s Watkins?


    Wait¡ªLi Wei!


    Mahomes spotted the one-on-one skirmish involving Li Wei and nearby Jason McCourty, who was watching intently. Li Wei was clearly not in the best position for a catch¡ªshould Mahomes find someone else?


    Meanwhile, Hightower and Roberts, who had gotten past Kelsey, were closing in again.


    On the brink!


    No time to hesitate.


    Push off. Rotate. Swing. Power through.


    With his unsteady lower body providing almost no effective support, Mahomes relied entirely on his upper body strength to forcefully release the football, which traced a trajectory¡ª


    It launched into the air.


    The next moment, Hightower viciously tackled Mahomes to the ground like a beast.


    Yet, Mahomes kept his gaze firmly locked on the ascending arc of the football.


    Flying, still flying.

 Chapter 820 - 820 819 Shameless

    ?Chapter 820: 819 Shameless Chapter 820: 819 Shameless Pressure, overwhelming pressure.


    In the vast expanse of the stadium, every corner was suffused with a suffocating sense of pressure. The red and white clashed fiercely, leaving no breathing room, no space to advance, like a fishing net covering the entire field.


    The Kansas City Chiefs were fighting tooth and nail, the New England Patriots were engaged in a brutal battle.


    Neither side willing to yield an inch.


    Kyle Van Noy had already gone berserk, relentlessly pulling on Li Wei.


    But Li Wei unleashed astonishing energy of his own. At this moment, he was completely focused, leaving no room for distractions, stomping the ground repeatedly, using his speed and strength to break free.


    The forty-yard line.


    The thirty-yard line.


    Charging ahead at full speed, Li Wei adopted an all-or-nothing stance, breaking through without hesitation, knowing that only by making his efforts genuine could he create opportunities for his teammates.


    But still no pass¡ªMahomes hadn¡¯t thrown the ball.


    Li Wei realized that Mahomes might be in trouble. Kelsey¡¯s blocking and separation technique was not refined enough¡ªhe was a top-class tight end but only a barely-qualified offensive lineman. This was the price to pay for Li Wei and Kelsey swapping roles.


    Now, Coach Reed needed Li Wei¡¯s advantage in speed to open up opportunities in the deep part of the field.


    Looking back, Li Wei saw what he had expected¡ªa fragmented pocket and a scrambling Mahomes, with the New England Patriots launching consecutive blitzes on the frontline.


    Sacks were beside the point, the crisis and pressure were undeniably real.


    Then, in that moment¡ª


    It came.


    Li Wei immediately recognized the direction of the pass. It was his moment to step forward.


    Without hesitation, making a split-second decision, Li Wei burst forward.


    Kyle Van Noy clung to him ferociously but realized that Li Wei was just about to break free. Stumbling precariously, Van Noy struggled to keep up, finding himself about to lose his grip.


    Desperation kicked in¡ªno turning back now.


    Kyle Van Noy leaped into the air like a raging bull, slamming into Li Wei with brute force.


    ¡°Foul...¡±


    ¡°FOUL!¡±


    ¡°Damn it, ref! Open your damn eyes and look at that disgusting, low move!¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable! The ref is blind!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll kill you! Damn you, referee, I¡¯ll kill you!¡±


    All of Arrowhead Stadium sank into despair. No one could believe what was unfolding before them. Jenna clasped her hands together so tightly she forgot how to breathe.


    BANG!


    Kyle Van Noy slammed directly into Li Wei¡¯s waist. Although running at full speed with chaotic footwork, Van Noy couldn¡¯t precisely aim his force, but his 250-pound (113 kg) frame hit like a sledgehammer, smashing Li Wei with overwhelming impact and shattering his balance.


    ¡°Ugh.¡±


    A muffled groan escaped.


    Li Wei felt a jolt of power hit his body, knocking him airborne. His feet couldn¡¯t keep up with the momentum. It seemed as if he was escaping gravity altogether, losing control. A dull, ferocious force radiated from his waist and abdomen, churning his insides violently; a metallic tang surged at the back of his throat.


    The twenty-five-yard line.


    ¡°Push off the ground, Li Wei. Push off!¡±


    This was the only thought in Li Wei¡¯s mind, echoing Annie Galas. Don¡¯t give up. Don¡¯t surrender. Face the storm with your head held high.


    ¡°PUSH!¡±


    Ah, ahhhh!


    A surge of unbelievable strength erupted within Li Wei as he relentlessly pushed off the ground, striving to stabilize his center of gravity amidst the chaos.


    The twenty-yard line.


    His gaze remained fixed, unwavering. His upper body held steady, locking onto the arc of that reddish-brown projectile. Unflinching amid the turbulence, stretching out both hands, amid confusion and collisions, amid danger and thorns¡ªhe clenched his jaw and seized the spiraling football.


    Smack.


    Despite the frenzy and instability, the football¡¯s texture was real within Li Wei¡¯s palms.


    ¡°God, Li Wei, look out!¡±


    Jenna covered her mouth, holding her breath. The next second¡ª


    Jason McCourty lunged for a lateral tackle, crashing into Li Wei with an airborne force.


    This time, Li Wei¡¯s footing couldn¡¯t grasp the ground. He broke free of gravity¡¯s grip, soaring upward. His heart was tossed into the air by an overwhelming force but hadn¡¯t had a chance to embrace the sky when gravity yanked it back down again, dragging it towards earth, engulfed by the storm of impact.


    Buzzing filled the air¡ªthe world fell into a roaring hum.


    The entire stadium fell silent.


    Including Nantz and Romo.


    Romo stood up, his headset dangling haphazardly around him, but he didn¡¯t care, staring wide-eyed at Li Wei, utterly speechless.


    All that remained was the stretched-out hum in his ears, long and winding, like a flat-line on an EKG.


    The next instant, Li Wei, lying on the ground, raised his right hand high¡ª


    The football was securely in his palm.


    Li Wei had completed the catch.


    Ah!


    Arrowhead Stadium exploded into chaos.


    AH!


    Nantz jumped up abruptly, hugging Romo with force.


    AAAHHH!


    Jenna could no longer control herself. She balled her fists tightly, unleashing her rage and fiery passion at Van Noy, McCourty, and the referee.


    ¡°Unbelievable, oh God.¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei... ah, Li Wei did it again. To be precise, Mahomes and Li Wei pulled off another unimaginable thirty-yard connection.¡±


    ¡°Mahomes escaped two near-sack crises and made the pass while teetering on the brink of collapse; Li Wei endured what was clearly defensive pass interference, then withstand two collisions from defenders¡ªwhile losing his balance¡ªto make the catch. Together, they saved the Kansas City Chiefs.¡±


    ¡°I... I...¡±


    For once, Nantz was at a loss for words, his mind blank, overwhelmed not only by excitement but also by admiration and awe.


    ¡°Without a doubt, Kyle Van Noy committed defensive pass interference, an indisputable call without room to argue. But the referee threw no flag, an obvious missed call. Yet Li Wei, with an incredible performance, defied Van Noy¡¯s foul play and completed the catch through sheer willpower.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei¡¯s displayed belief and resolve have completely ignited Arrowhead Stadium.¡±


    ¡°Meanwhile, the League¡ªtwo consecutive conference championship games, in the game¡¯s defining moments, the referee failed to call defensive pass interference. This is an unbelievable mistake. We cannot, nor should we ever, allow referees to become the protagonists of the game¡ªespecially not in a conference championship!¡±


    ¡°This is disgraceful.¡±


    AAAAHH.


    AAAAHH!


    Felix roared on, yelling until his skull started to throb, unwilling to stop¡ªit was raw emotion, sheer fury, and absolute catharsis.


    Gazing unwaveringly at the figure lying on the field, that flash of red lighting up the entire world.


    But then.


    On the sideline, two coaches were now pressuring the referee.


    Belichick: ¡°Time, time! There¡¯s no time remaining! The game is over! The game is over!¡±


    Reed: ¡°Referee, stop the game! The player is down! Damn it, God, didn¡¯t you see he¡¯s down?¡±


    Nearby, Burns had already stormed forward¡ª


    Reed didn¡¯t stop him.


    Burns glared fiercely at the referee. ¡°That was interference. Let me tell you¡ªit was interference. Your choice to turn a blind eye is disgraceful. And now, you¡¯d better pray that my player is alright, or I¡¯ll make you regret ever coming into this world.¡±


    The referee looked at Coach Reed. ¡°Coach Reed, get control of your staff!¡±


    Reed quietly turned his head to the other side, not responding.


    Burns: ¡°I¡¯m talking to you. Damn it, I¡¯m talking to you! Can¡¯t you meet my eyes? Huh? You¡¯d better start praying earnestly NOW.¡±


    Having said that, Burns ignored the referee entirely and sprinted toward the field, with only one thought in his mind:


    Damn kid, you¡¯d better be alright. You absolutely HAVE to be alright.

 Chapter 821 - 821 Argue with reason and strength

    ?Chapter 821: Argue with reason and strength Chapter 821: Argue with reason and strength Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock.


    At this moment, every second is extraordinarily precious, and time should even be measured with a stopwatch¡ªa single millisecond might become the key to changing the outcome of the game.


    Just now, Mahomes and Li Wei completed an astonishing thirty-yard pass connection, pulling the Kansas City Chiefs back from the edge of the abyss. However, playing the role of bait in the middle lane, Li Wei went down near the 20-yard line, failing to get out of bounds or stop the clock.


    The game clock was still ticking¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs had no timeouts left.


    Eight seconds. Seven seconds. Six seconds.


    The relentless ticking seemed to be signaling the end of the defending champions¡¯ season journey.


    Bill Belichick started arguing fiercely: The game was over.


    But Reed reminded the referee that it wasn¡¯t their unwillingness to continue playing; they could¡¯ve quickly lined up and spiked the ball to stop the clock, earning another chance to attack. The only reason they didn¡¯t was because a player was injured and down¡ªLi Wei, after catching the ball, hadn¡¯t gotten up off the ground.


    Belichick was furious, yelling, ¡°Fake injury! That¡¯s a fake injury!¡±


    ¡°I will not allow you to show leniency out of guilt and turn a blind eye to their theatrics. I won¡¯t allow it!¡±


    Belichick stood his ground.


    Indeed, Van Noy had just committed a foul, but in Belichick¡¯s view, it didn¡¯t matter since Li Wei completed the catch and gained yards¡ªthe penalty call made no difference. Now, however, the referee was overlooking Li Wei¡¯s supposed fake injury out of sympathy, allowing the Kansas City Chiefs to delay the game despite having no timeouts.


    Shameless! Filthy! Low!


    Belichick argued relentlessly.


    Yet all this chaos had nothing to do with Burns.


    Burns rushed over immediately. ¡°Hey rookie, rookie? Are you okay?¡±


    Burns¡¯ voice was tight with worry, his heart pounding uncontrollably, so much that he didn¡¯t even realize it almost felt like it would leap out of his throat.


    ¡°Cramp. Coach, my right leg is cramping.¡± Li Wei wasn¡¯t injured, nor was he faking¡ªhis right leg was completely seized up in cramps, the muscles locked tight.


    He couldn¡¯t even sit upright, let alone stand.


    ¡°Li Wei looks like he¡¯s cramping.¡±


    ¡°This is a tough match. If I¡¯m not mistaken, this is the first time I¡¯ve seen Li Wei facing complete physical exhaustion in a game.¡±


    ¡°Up until now, he¡¯s been completely immersed, losing himself in the game without realizing, but enduring consecutive hits while still making that kind of catch finally pushed his body into alarm mode.¡±


    ¡°Clearly, today¡¯s cold and damp weather didn¡¯t help, combined with facing such a formidable opponent like the New England Patriots. Li Wei truly gave it his all.¡±


    ¡°Look at Li Wei¡¯s stats¡ªboth rushing and receiving have exceeded 100 yards, plus his blocking, decoying, and baiting. He¡¯s undoubtedly the soul of the Kansas City Chiefs, with a total running distance and intensity of engagement that¡¯s downright insane. The fact that he held on until now before hitting a physical wall is astonishing to me.¡±


    ¡°But right now, the situation is extremely bad, very, very bad, because the Kansas City Chiefs are still the trailing team.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t just his right leg.


    As Burns treated Li Wei, his left leg suddenly cramped up as well.


    Mahomes hurried over, lifting Li Wei¡¯s left leg to stretch it out.


    The offensive players gathered beside them, faces filled with worry. The unrelenting intensity of the match had left everyone physically drained, teetering on the edge of exhaustion¡ªand now, watching their team¡¯s superstar cramping, the atmosphere grew tense and grim.


    ¡°Oh, God, perfect. When this gets broadcast, I bet I¡¯ll end up living as a meme forever on social media. Is my face covered?¡±


    Lying on the ground receiving treatment, Li Wei didn¡¯t lose his humor, delivering a lighthearted jab that instantly drew laughter from the offensive players.


    ¡°Shoo, shoo, get out of here! This isn¡¯t some exorcism ritual. Why are you all gathered around like this? Show me a little dignity!¡±


    Li Wei flailed his arms dramatically, prompting the Kansas City Chiefs players to burst into laughter as they dutifully turned away. Finally, grabbing water bottles from ball boys and coaches, they remembered to replenish their fluids and energy.


    Burns looked down at Li Wei laying on the ground, gritting his teeth through the pain. His eyes warmed slightly. ¡°You silly kid, worrying about everyone else at a time like this?¡±


    Li Wei winced, taking a deep breath. ¡°Coach, the game¡¯s not over yet. I don¡¯t want to fight alone. I¡¯m not interested in being some Superman saving the world all by himself¡ªI need my teammates.¡±


    Burns couldn¡¯t hold back and laughed out loud, accidentally blowing out a snot bubble through his nose.


    And then¡ª


    Pop.


    The snot bubble burst.


    Now it was Li Wei and Mahomes¡¯ turn: ¡°Haha, hahahaha.¡±


    ...


    In the stands, the entire crowd held their collective breath, watching the field as Li Wei was finally helped to his feet with Mahomes and Burns¡¯ assistance.


    Clap, clap, clap.


    Applause rippled slowly at first, then swept through the stadium in waves, morphing into a roaring symphony.


    Despite Li Wei¡¯s legs still disobeying him, his movements shaky, his balance unstable¡ªat least he didn¡¯t need ¡°crutches¡± and was able to walk under his own power.


    This scene reignited hope at Arrowhead Stadium.


    Facing him, Li Wei caught Reed¡¯s concerned gaze. ¡°How is it?¡±


    Li Wei felt fortunate; thanks to the system, the cramps weren¡¯t as severe and his recovery was faster than expected. He should be back to full strength soon. ¡°No problem.¡±


    Li Wei took a deep breath, moving his legs to shake them out, trying to restore some agility. ¡°I can play right now.¡±


    Reed stared into Li Wei¡¯s eyes. He knew Li Wei was serious. So what choice should he make?


    Nine seconds. No timeouts.


    Though Belichick persisted in protesting, the referees concluded after review that Li Wei¡¯s injury was legitimate and unavoidable, forcing the game to be paused. They reset the clock.


    Not only was the game still alive, but the time was restored to nine seconds¡ªwith possession still belonging to the Kansas City Chiefs.


    In simple terms, this meant one final chance at offense. The Kansas City Chiefs had two options.


    The first: a Hail Mary, sending the offense back onto the field to challenge for a touchdown¡ªa do-or-die gamble.


    The second: a field goal attempt, deploying the Special Duty Group to tie the score and fight it out in overtime.


    The dilemma was clear¡ªLi Wei¡¯s cramping meant that even if he returned, he¡¯d likely be ineffective, whether as a target or bait; his impact would be significantly diminished.


    So, what now?


    Reed deeply desired victory, but not at the cost of his players¡¯ careers. ¡°Rest for now.¡±


    Li Wei was anxious. ¡°Coach, I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Reed turned to him again. ¡°Rookie, this game¡ªwe can afford to lose. But you¡ªwe cannot afford to lose you.¡±


    With that, Reed stepped away to focus on leading the offense¡ª


    Nine seconds, no matter what, they had to try. Leave nothing on the field.


    The Kansas Chiefs Offense lined up. Damien, the second running back, replaced Li Wei.


    Standing on the sideline, Li Wei was a whirlwind of frustration and resignation. The game¡¯s decisive moment, and he couldn¡¯t be on the field. The feeling was suffocating.


    He wanted to curse.


    But taking a deep breath, Li Wei reigned himself in: Trust your teammates.


    Just like Berry, just like the Defensive Group¡ªdespite being unable to play, they found other ways to fight alongside their teammates.


    Leading by example, Li Wei started clapping and shouting encouragement to the offense. ¡°Focus. Focus!¡±

 Chapter 822 - 822 821 Starting from scratch

    ?Chapter 822: 821 Starting from scratch Chapter 822: 821 Starting from scratch The game was exceptionally intense.


    Nine seconds of game time felt like three whole minutes.


    First, the Kansas City Chiefs committed a foul, losing ten yards; then the New England Patriots committed a foul, losing ten yards as well.


    Then the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots got into a physical altercation, causing chaos on the field, and the referee gave both teams a stern warning.


    Although Mahomes made a seven-yard short pass to Kelsey, with Kelsey stepping out of bounds to stop the clock; soon after, the Kansas City Chiefs had a critical false start penalty, costing them five yards, once again putting the defending champions in danger.


    After Damien pushed forward four yards with the ball, Mahomes attempted a 17-yard pass to Hill standing in the end zone, but the pass was slightly too high. Safety Devin McCourty made what might be the most valuable defensive play of his career, blocking Hill and causing an incomplete pass.


    Strikeout!


    Back and forth, relentless struggle, and finally, the New England Patriots¡¯ defensive group once again demonstrated their foundation and experience, clinging to the situation to gain a glimmer of hope.


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ all-out effort ultimately did not result in a decisive end, but their risky attempt did not sink the team into the abyss, as they still had a chance for a field goal.


    Then, all eyes focused on the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ special duty group¡ª


    In week six of the regular season, the New England Patriots defeated the Kansas City Chiefs with a field goal; now in the American League Championship, the Kansas City Chiefs needed a field goal to tie the game.


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ special duty group withstood the pressure.


    ¡°It¡¯s right on target!¡±


    ¡°Thirty-three-yard field goal, right on target, with no unexpected issues.¡±


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen! The Kansas City Chiefs have successfully tied the game with a field goal, ending the full-time match as the clock hits zero, marking the end of the regular game.¡±


    ¡°¡¯31:31¡ä, it¡¯s a tie.¡±


    ¡°Overtime!¡±


    ¡°Following the National Conference Championship, the American League Championship is also heading into overtime.¡±


    ¡°Exciting! It¡¯s truly exciting! Wow!¡±


    ¡°After somewhat disappointing outcomes in the wild card and divisional rounds, the Conference Championships brought excitement, propelling the 2018 season to a new pinnacle with its unparalleled performance and roller-coaster process.¡±


    Unexpected, completely unexpected, a script that even Hollywood writers couldn¡¯t conjure¡ª


    Amid the general underperformance throughout the first two rounds of the playoffs, the thrilling face-offs in the two Conference Championships banished the previous gloom, turning this Sunday into a collective celebration for fans.


    In the first National Conference Championship, the number one seed, the New Orleans Saints, had the chance to finish the game but were thwarted by the referee. The second seed, the Los Angeles Rams, survived and secured victory in overtime.


    In the second American League Championship, the number two seed, the New England Patriots, had the chance to finish the game, but the number one seed, the Kansas City Chiefs, overcame the referee¡¯s decision to seize a lifeline and secured an opportunity for overtime.


    So, what will the outcome be?


    Commentators, fans, and onlookers are all making predictions, and the Los Angeles Rams, having advanced to the Super Bowl and awaiting their final opponent, are no exception.


    ¡°I think New England, Brady and Belichick are too familiar with such situations.¡±


    ¡°I support Kansas City; their resilience in the playoffs is on another level.¡±


    ¡°It still depends on the coin toss¡ªluck plays a huge part in overtime.¡±


    Chatter, debates, and discussions continue.


    Then, ¡°Aron, what do you think?¡±


    All eyes turned to Donald, who had been quietly watching the TV screen, and he didn¡¯t speak immediately, letting silence fill the room.


    Just when people thought Donald wasn¡¯t going to give any opinion, he took a deep breath, ¡°It¡¯s a hard battle, no matter who it is.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m ready to face them head-on, to decide a victor.¡±


    After speaking, Donald cracked his knuckles, a popping sound echoed, and his eyes sparkled with intense determination¡ª


    For the Los Angeles Rams, they had just defeated their arch-rival, the New Orleans Saints, avenging the regular-season loss and years of past grievances. No matter the final call, they defeated the New Orleans Saints in overtime, and that¡¯s the simple truth.


    What comes next, whether against the New England Patriots or the Kansas City Chiefs, Donald is prepared, ready for the battle at the Summit of the Forbidden.


    Blood boils!


    Honestly, Donald believes overtime tests willpower and desire, and luck is just a garnish; the focus remains on the belief in victory.


    In this regard, Donald believes both teams have that burning belief, whether Brady or Li Wei, both carry a blazing spirit. So, who can unleash this energy to lead their team?


    It¡¯s fifty-fifty.


    The chances of victory for the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs are evenly split.


    Unconsciously, Donald leaned slightly forward, concentrating fully on the TV screen.


    ¡°Now, it¡¯s anyone¡¯s game, with the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs back to square one, both teams must start anew.¡±


    ¡°Of course, having the right to attack is a positive start, but the key lies in the upcoming offensive and defensive confrontation and strategic battles.¡±


    ¡°For the Kansas City Chiefs, there¡¯s a piece of good news, Li Wei, the team captain, is on the field to do the coin toss. It seems he¡¯s recovered, but since the cramp occurred just three to five minutes ago, one must wonder how much he¡¯s actually recovered.¡±


    ¡°Also, Brady¡¯s stamina remains a question.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to imagine that this American League Championship has endured such tests and twists, akin to a Super Bowl showdown, irrespective of the winner. It¡¯s an epic game worthy of remembrance.¡±


    Li Wei, has made his entrance.


    The whole arena roared, Jenna, Felix, everyone raised their arms and cheered for the spiritual leader of the team, eagerly anticipating Li Wei¡¯s return¡ª


    They know that it was only three minutes ago that Li Wei had leg cramps, and he might still struggle to walk, but they find satisfaction in his reappearance, feeling as if his presence alone reignites hope.


    Brady was also observing Li Wei carefully, staring intently at him.


    In the sixth week of the regular season, the New England Patriots clinched victory over the Kansas City Chiefs with a field goal; now in the American League Championship, the Kansas City Chiefs tied the game with a field goal, dragging the New England Patriots into overtime. Is this some kind of cycle?


    Frustration. Aggrieved. Absurd. Laughable.


    Then, all these emotions transformed into fighting spirit and started burning fiercely.


    Brady believes they will win; even if it goes into overtime, it doesn¡¯t matter¡ªthey will win, they will render the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ struggles futile, they will step over the rookie¡¯s corpse to advance to the Super Bowl, they will avenge last year¡¯s divisional loss.


    He will prove that it is still the era of the New England Patriots and Brady in the league¡ª


    He hasn¡¯t become a part of the past; he is still the present.


    Taking a deep breath, Brady looked at the referee and declared his choice, ¡°Heads.¡±


    The referee displayed the coin and then tossed it into the air, watching it flip rapidly.


    In the air, pausing, and descending.


    The coin lay quietly on the grass, surrounded by eager gazes.


    The chief referee¡¯s voice resounded throughout Arrowhead Stadium.


    ¡°Heads.¡±

 Chapter 823 - 823 Power of Primordial Chaos

    ?Chapter 823: Power of Primordial Chaos Chapter 823: Power of Primordial Chaos ¡°Coin toss.¡±


    ¡°The New England Patriots have chosen to receive.¡±


    Hmph.


    Amidst the surging sound of sighs and exclamations throughout the stadium, Brady slightly lifted his chin, gazing at the young rookie with sweat-soaked hair standing before him.


    ¡°Looking forward to a great game.¡± Brady displayed the poise of a legendary superstar, exuding confidence as he looked down at his challenger.


    Hah.


    Li Wei grinned lightly, flashing a set of neat, pearly white teeth. Meeting Brady¡¯s gaze without inferiority or arrogance, he replied, ¡°Hope you enjoy playing here.¡±


    Declaring sovereignty¡ª


    This was Arrowhead Stadium, and the New England Patriots were guests here. Thus, the Kansas City Chiefs showed the grace of a host, allowing the guests to make the first move. Next, it would be the host¡¯s turn to demonstrate their courage and determination.


    Soft on the surface, sharp underneath¡ªunwilling to yield.


    Brady stared into Li Wei¡¯s eyes, still clear and bright despite the sweat. With a cold snort, he chose not to engage further in verbal battles.


    He turned and strode off.


    From here on, actions would speak louder than words.


    With one turn, Li Wei saw Houston standing at the front of the team, smiling broadly as he raised his right hand. He walked up, gripped Li Wei¡¯s hand firmly, bumped shoulders, and pulled him into a hug.


    ¡°Thanks for giving us the chance to make things right. Trust me, we¡¯ll get it done this time.¡±


    ¡°All this time, it¡¯s always been the offense playing the role of superheroes. Tonight, it¡¯s finally our turn.¡±


    Behind them, the defensive group players roared one after another, declaring their resolve.


    Roar! Roar! Roar!


    Everyone knew how critical possession was in overtime. The team that held the ball first often gained the upper hand, significantly increasing its chances of victory.


    Now, all the pressure fell squarely on the shoulders of the Kansas City Chiefs Defense. Even the slightest misstep would deny Mahomes and Li Wei any opportunity to take the field, halting their march toward a title defense.


    And yet, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense rallied.


    They weren¡¯t fighting just for victory but fighting shoulder to shoulder with their offensive teammates.


    A smile blossomed at the corner of Li Wei¡¯s mouth as he heavily patted Houston¡¯s shoulder. Then, looking at the rest of the defensive group, he said, ¡°We¡¯re counting on you.¡±


    With that, Li Wei stepped off the field as Houston led the defensive group onto it.


    This time, however, Li Wei didn¡¯t sit down. Instead, he stood on the sideline, quietly watching. Whether or not he got to play again no longer mattered. What mattered was that they would fight together until the very last moment of the game.


    Silently, a flurry of other players gathered around Li Wei¡ªMahomes, Kelce, Hill, and more¡ªstanding shoulder to shoulder, cheering on the defense and joining the voice of Arrowhead Stadium.


    ¡°Clap, clap! Defense!¡±


    ¡°Clap, clap! Defense!¡±


    The entire stadium, united as one!


    Then, overtime began, and the showdown commenced¡ª


    Deadlock.


    As anticipated, from the very first second of overtime, the game was entirely deadlocked.


    The Kansas City Chiefs Defense shrugged off their regular-season form and erupted with unimaginable energy. The defensive net tightened up at the front, relentlessly pressuring Brady with unceasing attacks.


    Even Nantz couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°The Chiefs have entered playoff mode!¡±


    None of the defensive players were an exception; one by one, they seemed to lose themselves in the battle.


    Among them, Houston remained the brightest star. After a lackluster and dull season, Houston finally found his form in the American League finals. Despite being completely drained, looking as though he could collapse at any moment, as soon as the play commenced, he turned into a different person¡ªconstantly disrupting the pocket, wreaking havoc.


    Meanwhile, the New England Patriots were no less determined, holding on with the will to win.


    Brady, who had been lackluster throughout the game, finally awakened his superstar spirit. Precise short passes and acute secondary reads carved opportunities from fleeting gaps in the chaos of the fierce clash, repeatedly pulling the Patriots back from the brink.


    Edelman continued to shine as the brightest star of the Patriots¡¯ offensive group. Remarkably, though, running back Burkhead seemed to have gained immense confidence, hitting a godlike state. Alongside the scorching-hot Michel, the two running backs broke through the defense with power and tenacity, continuously delivering crucial yardage.


    Without a doubt, both teams were in a frenzy.


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ exceptional performance forced the Patriots into third-down situations five times. Yet the Patriots astonishingly converted all five, teetering on the tightrope like acrobats above the abyss.


    Back and forth they went, the intensity of the game climbing ever higher¡ª


    Ten minutes.


    A full ten minutes of grueling back-and-forth deadlock. The first fifteen-minute half of overtime was nearing its end, yet the game remained tightly locked.


    The Kansas City Chiefs performed brilliantly but just couldn¡¯t seem to find that final, decisive blow. On the other hand, the Patriots, though hanging by a thread, continuously demonstrated the resilience of a team that had dominated the league over the past two decades.


    Bayonets met flesh, a brutal hand-to-hand struggle.


    Then, the Patriots stumbled their way into the opposing half at the eighteen-yard line. In the face of desperation, they unleashed awe-inspiring strength, embodying the immense willpower of the Belichick-Brady duo.


    The next step would determine it all: touchdown or field goal. The Patriots were on the verge of seizing victory and claiming the pivotal edge in this climactic battle.


    But the Kansas City Chiefs refused to yield¡ª


    Refused to surrender.


    On first-and-ten, Fuller and Murray teamed up to trap tight end Gronkowski. After a three-yard short pass, Gronkowski was mired and went no further. It was a rare sight; both Fuller and Murray had expended everything they had, gritting their teeth to barely hold Gronkowski down.


    On second-and-seven, Jones and Houston blitzed, interpreting Brady¡¯s fake handoff and pass attempt toward the end zone. Rushing in with precision, they mounted a siege. Burkhead broke Jones¡¯ sack attempt, and just as Brady was about to escape, Houston dove headlong, tackling Brady as they both went down together.


    Sack!


    Third-and-twelve, Brady lost five yards.


    Arrowhead Stadium erupted.


    But the roar didn¡¯t last long before turning into stunned silence¡ª


    Houston lay motionless on the ground. He had used up every ounce of energy for that sack and now couldn¡¯t get back up.


    Hearts clenched tightly.


    Sacked, Brady jumped up in a fury, lashing out at his offensive line for failing to protect the pocket in such a crucial moment.


    The offensive linemen were at a loss for words. Houston was practically insane, unstoppable and relentless. Watching him pour everything into the game and now lying still on the ground, some of them couldn¡¯t help but let out a sigh of relief:


    That devil was just too terrifying.


    The Kansas City Chiefs Team Doctor rushed onto the field immediately.


    On the sidelines, Reed watched the scene with visible worry. His usually composed and stoic face showed a rare furrowing of brows.


    Houston was completely spent.


    Fuller and Murray were barely holding themselves upright.


    Jones¡¯ cheeks were unnaturally flushed.


    The situation was dire¡ªcritically dire. The defense was visibly drained inside and out, and there were no substitutes left on the Kansas City bench.


    What now?


    Turning to the right, Reed scrutinized carefully. His gaze landed on Berry, who stood on the sideline with clenched fists, cheering tirelessly for his defensive teammates. Reed paused his thoughts momentarily. Now was not the time for hesitation.


    ¡°Eric, Eric! Get ready to take the field!¡±

 Chapter 824 - 824 823 Crushed to Pieces

    ?Chapter 824: 823 Crushed to Pieces Chapter 824: 823 Crushed to Pieces ¡°Hey, great job! Keep it up, keep it up!¡±


    Berry was cheering on the defensive group. He knew that at this moment, nothing else mattered¡ªwhat mattered was gritting their teeth and holding on.


    What they needed was a belief: the belief to fight, the belief to persist.


    Berry always remembered what Li Wei had once said: that they would fight side by side no matter where they were. They were always part of the Kansas City Chiefs team, embracing victory together, facing defeat together, and fighting to the very end together.


    The situation now was extremely challenging, very, very challenging. They were up against Brady, resolute and determined to win, along with Edelman and Burkhead in their godlike states. Only by giving their all could they seize a sliver of hope.


    If possible, Berry would have loved to step onto the field and battle to the end with his teammates.


    But he couldn¡¯t. It didn¡¯t matter; he was still standing together with Li Wei and the others, facing the storm head-on with pride.


    ¡°You¡¯ll never walk alone.¡±


    Berry held those words firmly in his heart.


    Then, a call rang out by his ear.


    ¡°Eric, Eric! Get ready to go in!¡±


    Berry froze, unable to react at first, and stared blankly at Reed.


    Reed gave a confirming nod, and the wave of heat in Berry¡¯s chest instantly exploded.


    Taking a deep breath, Berry stepped onto the field¡ª


    Just in time to see Houston lying on a stretcher, being carried off.


    Houston wasn¡¯t injured; he was simply dehydrated and exhausted, completely spent.


    Houston mustered a smile, trying to clench his fist to cheer on the defensive players, but he couldn¡¯t even tighten his grip, his face devoid of color.


    Berry approached and grabbed hold of Houston¡¯s right hand.


    ¡°Buddy, the game¡¯s not over.¡±


    Houston nodded heavily before the stretcher carried him further away.


    Despite his attempt to control his emotions, Houston ultimately failed. His hands covered his face as he broke down in tears.


    He was unwilling, deeply unwilling. He had longed to fight with the team until the final moment, but to end like this was not the conclusion he had wanted.


    Berry straightened his back slightly, holding his head high¡ª


    This time last year, he had longed to step onto the field. Four months of hard work had been aimed at getting to the Super Bowl stage, only for a new injury to crush his efforts. He could only stand on the sideline with crutches, watching helplessly.


    Until now.


    Sixteen months. Sixteen whole months later, he once again set foot on this field.


    This time, they were fighting for the last sliver of hope to reach the Super Bowl.


    Berry knew why Reed had chosen him to step in. It wasn¡¯t because his condition met the demands of the game, but because Houston was forced off the field, and the defensive group needed a leader to rally their energy.


    So, Berry replaced Safety Murray and took on the captain¡¯s duties.


    This responsibility was critical.


    But Berry was ready, because behind him stood Li Wei, Arrowhead Stadium, and the entire population of Kansas City.


    Together, they would fight.


    Without words, Berry went around, patting each player on the shoulder, locking eyes with them, awakening their energy with actions rather than speeches.


    ¡°Clap! Defense!¡±


    Li Wei was clapping and shouting.


    ¡°Clap! Defense!¡±


    Jenna and Felix were shouting in unison.


    ¡°Clap! Defense!¡±


    In the crowded Old Oak Tavern, packed to capacity, everyone stood up. Even though they weren¡¯t at the stadium, not a single person refrained from joining the chant.


    At this moment, as they gazed at Houston, who was crying uncontrollably, at Berry, who stood tall and resolute, at the offensive players yelling alongside them in solidarity, the entirety of Kansas City united.


    Fight. Until the bones were ground to dust.


    Chris Jones spotted Li Wei in the crowd and couldn¡¯t help but wonder:


    At this moment, what would Li Wei do?


    Retracting his gaze, Jones locked his eyes tightly on Brady, focusing with absolute intensity.


    Third Gear, Twelve Yards. The New England Patriots faced another grim situation.


    Generally speaking, it was inevitable to choose a pass play in Third Gear and Twelve Yards; however, considering Burkhead¡¯s form and the Patriots¡¯ ability to fall back on a field goal, Belichick¡¯s tactical choices seemed freer.


    So, what would Belichick choose?


    Jones thought: passing.


    With Brady, Edelman, and Gronkowski at their disposal, the Patriots had no reason to be conservative; moreover, they might rely on a field goal as a fallback, but this was overtime. If they could go for a touchdown to clinch the game, why give the opposing offensive group a chance?


    At least, that¡¯s what Jones believed.


    Thus¡ª


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Brady signaled the snap, and Jones surged forward without hesitation.


    In an instant, Jones spotted Brady and Burkhead attempting a handoff, but Jones didn¡¯t falter. His charge gathered momentum, becoming unstoppable.


    Fearlessness.


    This was Jones¡¯s answer. If it were Li Wei, he wouldn¡¯t waste time hesitating; he¡¯d trust his instincts and go all in, seizing the initiative firmly.


    Now, Jones was ready to do the same¡ª


    Charging ahead, unstoppable.


    Burning everything into the effort.


    Jones tore through the pocket in an instant, diving in like a tiger descending the mountain. The Patriots¡¯ offensive line seemed to be made of paper, collapsing in an instant. Then, Brady was right in front of him.


    The football was still in Brady¡¯s hands.


    Without hesitation, Jones lunged forward, crashing into Brady head-on.


    Brady retreated rapidly, rushing to evade Jones and find a target to pass to, but Jones¡¯s pressure was relentless.


    Danger.


    At the critical moment, Brady¡¯s experience came into play. With a subtle feint to his right, he dodged Jones¡¯s position. Just as Jones was about to hit him, Brady¡¯s peripheral vision caught sight of a flash of white light. Flicking his wrist, relying solely on his forearm strength¡ª


    Like cracking a whip¡ª


    The football was already airborne, tracing a moonlit arc.


    BAM!


    Almost simultaneously, Jones tackled Brady, sending them tumbling to the ground together.


    However, the football was already flying, and the intended receiving target was¡ª


    Edelman.


    Berry stood near the end zone¡¯s central area, surveying the entire field.


    Though his competitive state was average and he had only hastily warmed up before taking the field, his wealth of game experience helped him settle quickly.


    He knew now wasn¡¯t the time to panic; there was no room for chaos in a game.


    Immediately, Berry could clearly pinpoint the Patriots¡¯ running routes.


    Burkhead was out. Gronkowski was out. Edelman was out.


    The Patriots had plenty of offensive weapons, all in excellent form; yet Brady himself was in mediocre condition. Even though overtime had seen him elevate his performance, Kansas City¡¯s relentless pressure lingered.


    And now, it was the same.


    Jones had once again applied effective pressure.


    In the rush, Brady had no time for a secondary defensive read. The instinctive throw meant the choice of target was simplified.


    Berry immediately locked onto Edelman.


    Edelman wasn¡¯t a player who excelled in physical confrontations; instead, he thrived on route-running and finding gaps in coverage. Today, he had showcased his strengths to the fullest.


    And now was no exception.


    Edelman weaved through the crowd quickly, finally settling about five yards out from the end zone¡¯s frontline. He cut into the central territory from the outside, finding a gap at the junction of the lineman, cornerback, and safety¡¯s defensive zones.


    A space as small as a palm¡ªabout three to five yards.


    But for Edelman, it was enough.


    In the chaos and crisis, Brady¡¯s wobbling throw flew shakily toward Edelman.

 Chapter 825 - 825 The old general will not perish at the age of 82

    ?Chapter 825: The old general will not perish at the age of 82 Chapter 825: The old general will not perish at the age of 82 Focus, calm, steady.


    The more dangerous it gets, the more you need to keep your mind clear. That¡¯s the trick.


    Berry noticed the connection between Brady and Edelman. His steps came to a halt, not rushing forward immediately. It looked like a veteran hesitating at a critical moment after being away from the game for so long, unsure of what to do.


    But no, it wasn¡¯t that.


    Berry was eager to take the field, but that didn¡¯t mean he was blindly confident.


    He knew his current condition wasn¡¯t great. He couldn¡¯t play like he did in his prime. Rushing in recklessly to block the pass would only result in missed defensive opportunities.


    He needed to be smart.


    When you¡¯re young, you play with your body; as you get older, you play with your mind.


    Berry was watching and waiting¡ª


    Edelman had noticed him but didn¡¯t think much of him. A fully in-form Edelman chose to ignore Berry.


    After all, he had been invisible for two seasons, and now he was taking the field in the final moments of tonight¡¯s game as an emergency substitute. Even though Berry¡¯s name once echoed in the league, he was no longer what he used to be.


    At the moment Edelman turned his back to the end zone and faced the football, ready to catch it, Berry knew:


    Opportunity.


    He moved, taking off.


    On the balls of his feet, Berry glided noiselessly across the turf, light and nimble as if he were a phantom closing in swiftly on Edelman¡¯s position.


    Edelman was completely unaware, his focus locked on the incoming ball.


    Planting his feet, leaping, extending his body, and leaning slightly back, Edelman was ready to catch the ball. He even quickly glanced left and right, assessing the defense for his move toward the end zone. Only in his peripheral vision did he catch a flash of red behind him.


    Edelman: ??? Who?!


    Everything happened in a flash. The football was plummeting fast, wobbling slightly and unsteady, but Brady had placed it where it needed to be.


    Then, Berry launched himself upward¡ª


    Edelman, standing at just 5.9 feet (178 cm), reached for the ball as Berry, despite jumping a beat late, still managed to ascend alongside him to contest the high point.


    Edelman¡¯s hands made contact with the ball, seemingly about to secure possession.


    But like a ghostly hand from behind, Berry¡¯s right hand shot between Edelman¡¯s two arms, a quick jab from below, followed by a subtle flick.


    The football popped free from Edelman¡¯s control, back into the air.


    Edelman¡¯s heart soared alongside the ball, freed from gravity¡¯s pull. Eyes wide, he watched as the football hung tantalizingly above him¡ªso close yet utterly out of reach.


    Damn it. Damn it, damn it, damn it!


    Edelman was furious.


    But Berry didn¡¯t care. Or more precisely, he didn¡¯t have time to care about the defeated.


    With his right hand, Berry gave the ball another gentle nudge. The football, light and spinning, began to fall rapidly toward the ground. Meanwhile, gravity pulled Berry and Edelman back down as well.


    Berry reached out and pulled the football securely into his chest.


    Time stopped in that moment.


    ¡°Interception!¡±


    Nantz leapt out of his seat.


    ¡°Interception!¡±


    A heart-pounding moment, leaving only a buzzing roar echoing in the ears. The brain stalled, overwhelmed by the rapid-fire assault of sound like a machine gun.


    ¡°Berry! Eric Berry, captain of the Kansas City Chiefs Defense, returning after a severe injury and sixteen grueling months of rehabilitation, finally suited up again in this critical, pivotal moment of the American League Championship game!¡±


    ¡°People doubted Berry¡¯s worth, questioned if a nearly year-and-a-half recovery for a backup role was justified. But now, Berry has answered with action.¡±


    ¡°Interception! Brady¡¯s third interception of the game! And it comes during the closing moments of the first half of overtime¡ªBerry has rewritten this match!¡±


    ¡°My God, unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°What are we witnessing? At Arrowhead Stadium, we are witnessing the most electrifying, intense, and extraordinary game of the season. The defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, have clawed back from the brink for the second time to secure a sliver of hope!¡±


    ¡°Eric Berry! Remember this name!¡±


    ¡°Veterans never die!¡±


    Edelman realized his costly mistake and immediately turned to tackle Berry, preventing him from initiating a return and minimizing further damage.


    Edelman tried to wrest the ball from Berry¡¯s grip but failed.


    Berry clung to the football with unrelenting force, shook off Edelman¡¯s grasp, and rose to his feet. Hugging the football tightly, he roared toward Arrowhead Stadium.


    Aahhhh! Aahhhh!


    This was the moment Berry had been waiting for¡ª


    A moment to ignite, to feel the coursing heat of passion, to truly feel life in its full exuberance.


    Sixteen months of endless struggles to resist giving up, countless moments of self-doubt, standing at the edge of darkness time and again. But he never gave in, never surrendered, assured that even if his efforts didn¡¯t get him back on the field, it didn¡¯t matter.


    Because he refused to surrender.


    Now, he had a chance to run on the field again, to fight alongside his teammates once more.


    Aahhhh! Aahhhh!


    Arrowhead Stadium erupted into pure pandemonium, a tidal wave of roaring frenzy.


    No giving up. No surrender. No compromise.


    Until the final whistle blows, nothing is over.


    Then Jenna called out at full volume.


    ¡°Fly!¡±


    Again and again, her call swept across the stadium.


    On the sidelines, Houston sat weakly on the ground, refusing to leave as he watched the field, witnessing every moment unfold before his eyes.


    And so, he roared.


    With fiery, soul-burning passion, he shouted, ¡°Aahhhh!¡± using every ounce of strength¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs defense team fought tooth and nail till the very end.


    Berry, still dazed, ran across the field, eventually stopping in front of Li Wei. Taking a deep breath, he solemnly held out the football.


    ¡°It¡¯s your turn now.¡±


    The entire stadium watched this scene.


    The legendary captain of the Kansas City Chiefs finally got his moment on the field, passing the torch of locker room leadership to the young generation¡¯s rising captain.


    Li Wei stood tall, accepting the football with a wide smile.


    Then, he turned to Mahomes and Kelsey.


    ¡°Hey, guys, it¡¯s our turn.¡±


    Roar!


    The offensive unit clenched their fists and roared as they jogged onto the field one by one.


    Crossing paths, Li Wei spotted Chris Jones, and they bumped fists in celebration.


    Without Jones¡¯ fearless pressure, Brady¡¯s pass wouldn¡¯t have been unstable, creating the opportunity for Berry¡¯s interception.


    As they bumped fists, Jones instinctively said, ¡°Let¡¯s do this!¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s grin widened, ¡°Let¡¯s have some fun!¡±


    Jones couldn¡¯t help but glance at Li Wei¡¯s number 23 jersey, his heart racing. He, too, yearned to be like Li Wei, a true leader of the defensive team.


    Ahead of him, Li Wei could see Brady. Despite seeming composed, the frustration and fury in Brady¡¯s body language were unmistakable. He lingered on the field until the last possible moment, throwing a venomous glare at Li Wei before storming off.


    Li Wei understood that feeling. The taste of near-victory brushing against your fingertips, only to slip through at the final moment. Though the game was still undecided, the initiative had shifted out of Brady¡¯s hands.


    Now, Li Wei¡¯s mission was clear: prevent that same heartbreak from happening to them.


    Overtime¡ªthe moment of truth. Missing this chance would come at a price. To avoid that outcome, they had to seize the opportunity the instant it appeared.


    The Kansas City Chiefs offense, which had been spectacular all season, now faced their toughest, most challenging test of the year.

 Chapter 826 - 826 825 All relies on acting skills

    ?Chapter 826: 825 All relies on acting skills Chapter 826: 825 All relies on acting skills Fatigued?


    The answer is undoubtedly yes, one hundred percent.


    Even though Li Wei had obtained a brief respite, and his body¡¯s recovery speed far surpassed expectations with the help of the system, the energy consumed during the game could never be fully restored in such a short period of time.


    However, Li Wei was not worried¡ª


    Because the Kansas City Chiefs were exhausted, and the New England Patriots were equally drained. At this moment, one could see players from the Patriots¡¯ defensive group stretching, clearly struggling with cramps, dehydration, and physical exhaustion.


    Moreover, the Patriots had just advanced to the edge of the Red Zone, seemingly grasping the throat of destiny, only to be struck down heavily with a devastating blow that left even deeper scars.


    Brady had his chance but missed it; now the momentum belonged to Kansas City Chiefs.


    So, Li Wei wasn¡¯t concerned.


    The New England Patriots¡¯ defensive group and the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive group took the field once again.


    ¡°Momentum is with the Kansas City Chiefs right now. They¡¯ve narrowly escaped death twice in a row; but the New England Patriots still hold onto an opportunity.¡±


    ¡°After Berry¡¯s interception, Edelman¡¯s timely reaction prevented Berry from returning the ball, allowing the Kansas City Chiefs to regain possession smoothly. However, they must now commence their offense from their own seven-yard line.¡±


    ¡°This is not an ideal starting position for an offense. If the New England Patriots secure a safety, they can still kill the game.¡±


    In overtime, a safety has the same lethal impact as a touchdown.


    Hence, the situation was delicate. On the surface, it appeared as though the Kansas City Chiefs held the initiative, with a chance to clinch victory; yet the New England Patriots still had an opening to deliver a knockout blow before the Chiefs could stabilize.


    In this ever-changing game, the atmosphere and intensity had tightened to their limits.


    Van Noy, burning with frustration but regaining his calmness, stared fixedly at Li Wei in the pocket.


    It was intentional. In truth, his peripheral vision was firmly locked onto Mahomes.


    On the seven-yard line, common sense dictated that the Kansas City Chiefs should opt for a ground attack¡ªrelying on the run to open up the field, regardless of the distance gained. Moving out of the Red Zone first would mitigate any risk of errors.


    Especially in overtime¡ªa single misstep could spell complete disaster.


    Reed handing the ball to Li Wei was almost a 99.99% certainty.


    But Belichick understood this, just as Reed did. Given the visibility of this tactic, whether Reed would persist with a ground attack or have Mahomes take charge to open the field was another layer of strategical chess.


    Thus, Belichick instructed¡ª


    Focus on Li Wei, but do not ignore Mahomes.


    Belichick remained wary of Mahomes opting for a Read Option offense. If the Chiefs indeed went with the run, but Li Wei wasn¡¯t carrying the ball, then who would take on the responsibility? If the Chiefs doubted Hill or Kelsey¡¯s capability to move the ball, who could step up alongside Li Wei?


    The answer was now clear.


    The Patriots¡¯ defensive group still had a moment to kill the game, but this opportunity might only last one or two downs. They couldn¡¯t risk it, nor could they afford to overlook Mahomes¡¯ mobility.


    Not just Van Noy. Hightower and Roberts were both keeping a close watch on Mahomes.


    The battle was about to erupt.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Mahomes called the snap, and in an instant, chaos erupted at the frontline.


    On one side, the Patriots launched an all-out blitz, applying pressure with five rushing defenders, seizing their chance to create havoc near the end zone.


    On the other side, Mahomes bypassed Li Wei entirely. After taking the football from the center, he quickly stood up and began retreating, scanning the field instantly¡ª


    A pass.


    Backing up swiftly, Mahomes threw a quick short pass, his arm aiming directly at Kelsey.


    Both Li Wei and Kelsey posed threats for gradual offensive progress.


    The atmosphere immediately tightened. Were the Kansas City Chiefs attempting to escape the danger of the end zone by defying expectations with a quick short pass?


    Van Noy noticed it instantly¡ªMahomes¡¯ passing motion seemed a bit stiff.


    A fake?


    Acting on intuition, Van Noy stepped forward, cutting into the pocket from the outside.


    Whether it was a fake pass followed by a run or a risky long pass, Van Noy needed to close into the end zone immediately, transforming pressure into a threat.


    Six-man rush!


    The Patriots¡¯ initial five-man rush was merely smoke, revealed now as an adjusted six-man blitz. It was evident that their defensive line and linemen had successfully coordinated, shifting into a full-on six-man charge.


    A misstep left the Chiefs¡¯ offensive line caught off guard, with mismatched force distribution spreading unevenly. Suddenly, a burst of white lightning tore through the pocket, rushing toward Mahomes.


    Belichick showcased both courage and strategy, deploying a bold defensive play on the first down without hesitation, demonstrating none of the confusion or despair from their earlier setback. Their focus was razor-sharp. Regardless of whether Reed chose to pass or run, the Patriots were set on taking control of the game themselves.


    Danger! Danger! Danger!


    Mahomes felt the impending crisis fully. The pocket had become a battered fishing net, riddled with holes and leaks.


    Disorder, panic, tension.


    Mahomes seemed frenetic, terror-stricken, as if overwhelmed by the Patriots¡¯ threat; whirling around hurriedly, he shoved the hot potato in his hands to Li Wei.


    Due to the haste and apprehension, Mahomes¡¯ exaggerated movements naturally drew the defensive players¡¯ attention. Believing they had destinies firmly in hand, they poured their strength forward, focusing entirely on taking down Mahomes. The split-second shift when realizing the target had changed to Li Wei made it difficult to adjust for a second burst.


    Van Noy grinned:


    So it was still Li Wei after all.


    In the end, Reed entrusted the Chiefs¡¯ offensive captain once more.


    However, before the joy could fully ignite, the figure in front of him blurred. Van Noy froze, staring at the empty pocket ahead in confusion.


    Where was he?


    Van Noy adjusted to the pocket, ready to chase down Li Wei and keep the pressure on, transforming the chaotic pocket into a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game. But to his utter shock, Li Wei had vanished from his view.


    His heart sank fast¡ªVan Noy was lost.


    So, where was Li Wei?


    The middle.


    Known for breaking open plays with speed and lateral movement, Li Wei abandoned his usual strategy of wing-side breakthroughs. Instead, he opted for a direct frontal assault, stepping into the middle lane, leaving Van Noy completely outmaneuvered on the side.


    The dense clash of the front lines in the middle now opened up into broken gaps, and Li Wei navigated the fragmented battlefield with light, nimble steps, crossing the line of scrimmage.


    Straight ahead, Hightower caught sight of Li Wei¡¯s movement and charged to intercept, but before he could get close, Li Wei¡¯s left-side figure suddenly collided with him. Hightower had no time to react, and his chest heaved with a muffled grunt.


    It was Mahomes.


    All those exaggerated flustered gestures, ¡°hot potato¡± and ¡°headless chicken¡± behavior¡ªit was all a performance.


    The Patriots¡¯ defensive group was utterly baffled:


    Indeed, life is theater¡ªall depends on acting skills.


    Mahomes shadowed Li Wei closely, breaking out through the central gap like a vanguard, intercepting Hightower just in time and clearing a critical path for Li Wei.


    Hightower: ???

 Chapter 827 - 827 826 portals wide open

    ?Chapter 827: 826 portals wide open Chapter 827: 826 portals wide open Belichick had always been wary of Mahomes¡¯ extraordinary physical talents, knowing they could play a pivotal role¡ªand indeed, they did. But what no one expected was that it wasn¡¯t a run, but a block. Mahomes assisted the ground offense, paving the way for Li Wei and completing a critical block.


    Hightower let out a muffled grunt, watching helplessly as Li Wei¡¯s figure flashed past his fingertips, leaving behind only a streak of red.


    ¡°Shit!¡±


    Roberts reacted half a beat slower than Hightower. As he took a step forward, he suddenly realized that Li Wei was charging toward him like a fireball. The speed, power, and momentum far exceeded his imagination. Before he could even blink, that streak of red was growing exponentially in his vision.


    Roberts took a deep breath, holding it in, bracing himself for the collision.


    However, the collision never came.


    A gust of wind rushed past, whipping against his face. The red figure disappeared from view, leaving behind only a fragmented pocket. Roberts stood frozen in place, all his muscles coiled to the max, like a wooden post.


    ¡°A cut!¡±


    ¡°Beautiful! Li Wei just pulled off a gorgeous cut, leaving Roberts rooted to the spot, regaining precious yardage.¡±


    ¡°Wide open!¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable! The New England Patriots¡¯ defense group has completely left the middle lane exposed. Li Wei is breaking through!¡±


    ¡°Five yards!¡±


    ¡°Ten yards!¡±


    ¡°First down in the bag!¡±


    ¡°Fifteen yards!¡±


    ¡°Chung saved the New England Patriots! He and Safety McCourty timely locked onto their positions. Li Wei, showing restraint, didn¡¯t recklessly push forward¡ªhe chose to carry the ball down himself, halting this ground advance at the sixteen-yard line.¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡±


    ¡°Just now, we were discussing the potential troubles the Kansas City Chiefs might face and the opportunities the New England Patriots could exploit in the next two plays.¡±


    ¡°With just one turn, Li Wei solved the problem for his team, effortlessly, as if strolling through a courtyard. Like a magician, with a mere snap of his fingers, he escaped the red zone...¡±


    Li Wei didn¡¯t celebrate excessively. He didn¡¯t even spare a glance at Chung and McCourty. Instead, he turned and signaled to the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive group to quickly set up again¡ª


    He wasn¡¯t satisfied yet.


    In truth, his body still felt uncoordinated. Although the cramping had subsided, the constant lactic acid buildup left his muscles unable to relax completely, making his balance unstable while running.


    Precisely because of this, Li Wei didn¡¯t force his way forward. After securing the first down and spotting the encirclement, he decisively chose to go down on his own.


    Then, he quickly turned to organize the next offensive play.


    At this moment, he understood that more important than individual heroics was the overall offensive tempo of the team. They needed to control the rhythm of the game strategically, breaking through before the New England Patriots could stabilize their footing.


    The opportunity was theirs¡ª


    First, Brady¡¯s interception at the edge of the end zone wasted a potential game-winning chance; then, the defensive group at the edge of the end zone completely misjudged the situation and tactics, allowing Li Wei to lead the Kansas City Chiefs out of trouble effortlessly.


    Two events, one after the other, happened so quickly that they overturned the momentum. Even someone as experienced as Belichick couldn¡¯t react in time. The Kansas City Chiefs needed to seize this opportunity to quickly dominate the tempo of the game.


    Li Wei noticed this, which is why he didn¡¯t celebrate. He immediately prepared the formation and exchanged a glance with Mahomes, giving him a subtle reminder. Mahomes nodded in understanding, quickly grasping the shift in momentum.


    Then, Mahomes moved swiftly¡ª


    First down, ten yards.


    The New England Patriots wasted no time, once again opting for a five-man rush. With Li Wei blocking, Mahomes bought himself valuable observation time. As he took a series of steps back, Mahomes opted for a short three-yard pass.


    The target? None other than... Kelsey.


    Kelsey lined up on the team¡¯s left wing. He ran vertically, made a sharp ninety-degree turn, and cut across the gap between the linemen and the defensive line with a horizontal route. He completed the catch in the right slot and turned for yardage.


    The New England Patriots¡¯ defensive group... left him unguarded.


    After making the catch, Kelsey advanced with ease, securing the first down before being tackled by three defenders, as effortlessly as taking something out of a bag.


    Again, first down, ten yards.


    The New England Patriots increased pressure this time, opting for a six-man blitz. They had eyes on their chance¡ªLi Wei joined the route as a receiver, leaving Mahomes without a block. The pocket was wide open.


    Yet, just at the critical moment, Mahomes quickly released a short pass before Hightower¡¯s tackle brought him down hard to the ground. Despite landing awkwardly, the football arced through the air.


    Seven-yard short pass, but Mahomes, in buying time, sent the pass high up¡ªa moon ball of sorts¡ªgiving the defense a chance to intercept.


    Unexpectedly, there wasn¡¯t a single defensive player in the pass¡¯s trajectory. Kelsey, once again under no defensive pressure, completed the catch with ease and turned to secure the first down, continuing the simple and efficient offensive strategy.


    The situation grew... delicate.


    ¡°The New England Patriots¡¯ defensive group has made repeated judgment errors.¡±


    Romo¡¯s sharp eyes spotted the key issue amidst the chaos and pointed it out immediately.


    ¡°In the previous play, the New England Patriots anticipated a long pass from Mahomes. Li Wei¡¯s block and Mahomes¡¯ pocket footwork misled them, coupled with Hill¡¯s deep route as a decoy. Kelsey, on the short route, went completely unguarded and easily made the catch.¡±


    ¡°In this play, the New England Patriots attempted to blitz and disrupt Mahomes¡¯ rhythm. While Mahomes indeed felt the pressure, he also identified a weakness in the opponent¡¯s man-to-man defense. Li Wei and Kelsey executed a wall screen and a cross-switch, leaving Kelsey, once again, wide open to complete the catch.¡±


    ¡°Now, the New England Patriots¡¯ defensive group is making serious judgment errors. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs are maintaining excellent focus, consistently leveraging their tactical layouts to create advantages and play the game at their own pace.¡±


    ¡°The key factor is that the Kansas City Chiefs are refusing to give their opponents any breathing room, consistently maintaining a high offensive rhythm and compressing decision-making time. They¡¯re driving the game forward in a simple, efficient manner, pulling the opposition into their own tempo.¡±


    ¡°This has been the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ greatest strength throughout the regular season.¡±


    Timeout!


    Belichick called for a timeout.


    In the NFL playoffs¡¯ overtime rules, any leftover timeouts from regular time are voided. Instead, both teams are granted three new timeout opportunities.


    However, managing timeouts during overtime operates under a distinct strategy compared to regular time.


    Belichick sensed the looming crisis and didn¡¯t hesitate to call for a timeout to disrupt the rhythm and pull the New England Patriots back from the brink¡ª


    They couldn¡¯t allow the Kansas City Chiefs to settle into their familiar and comfortable pace.


    From a tactical perspective, Belichick didn¡¯t believe there was anything fundamentally wrong in his planning. The issues stemmed more from mindset, atmosphere, and stamina, factors that affected execution. A tiny lapse in reaction during a highly dynamic game led to the current predicament.


    What Belichick needed to do was to stabilize the mindset of the defensive group.


    That would be enough.


    After the timeout, the New England Patriots once again demonstrated why they were a championship-caliber team. They quickly regained their composure, shed any distractions, and fought with their backs against the wall. The intensity and pace of their play increased on all fronts as the defensive group finally displayed their brilliance.

 Chapter 828 - 828 827 Deadly Mistake

    ?Chapter 828: 827 Deadly Mistake Chapter 828: 827 Deadly Mistake First and ten, effective quarterback hit. Although Mahomes still managed to get the football out, the force of the hit knocked him off balance, affecting his accuracy. Watkins received the pass but couldn¡¯t advance further.


    Second and seven, effective running back tackle. Mahomes¡¯ fake handoff strategy didn¡¯t deceive the New England Patriots. Li Wei barely caught the football before being double-teamed. Despite his determined effort to push forward, he could only make it back to the line of scrimmage.


    Third and seven.


    The tide was quietly shifting.


    The New England Patriots defensive group stopped dwelling on past frustrations and refocused on the moment at hand. Slowly but surely, they brought the game back into balance, establishing effective resistance. The field leveled out, and it was a stalemate once again.


    Now, the Kansas City Chiefs faced the challenge of a long third down.


    Yet, Reed stayed calm. He didn¡¯t hastily call for a timeout but instead trusted his players and methodically devised a plan.


    Inside the pocket, Mahomes and Li Wei were both gasping for air. They exchanged a glance and a small nod, quietly syncing up.


    Then, Mahomes snapped the ball.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Impact occurred instantly, as the New England Patriots stuck to their relentless pass rush strategy.


    Success or failure wasn¡¯t the point; the goal was to apply constant pressure, keeping the opposition on edge and waiting for them to show cracks or slip-ups during critical moments.


    This time, it was another five-man rush.


    But Van Noy immediately noticed that the Kansas City Chiefs offense had made an adjustment¡ª


    The entire offensive line was shifting horizontally to the left, pulling the defensive line¡¯s pass rush along with them.


    A screen pass?


    Not just Van Noy¡ªother defensive players also quickly picked up on the anomaly. Understanding that the defensive line wouldn¡¯t punch through the pocket immediately, they subconsciously turned their focus to the short-pass area.


    Kelsey. Hill. Watkins.


    All accounted for.


    Hill hadn¡¯t utilized his speed to penetrate deep¡ªan unmistakable signal.


    The New England Patriots defensive group moved like a storm, swarming toward Kansas City¡¯s passing targets.


    But what about Li Wei?


    Van Noy realized a blind spot.


    He swiftly shifted his focus, feeling a bit tense. In the brief moment he¡¯d looked away, Mahomes might have already completed the screen pass.


    Redirecting his gaze forward, Van Noy still couldn¡¯t spot Li Wei. Instead, he saw Mahomes.


    Wait, Mahomes?


    Mahomes wasn¡¯t moving left along with the offensive line. Instead, he was single-handedly rolling out to the right.


    A quarterback leaving the pocket and exposing himself typically signaled two things:


    One, setting up for a long pass with a clear field of vision.


    Two, running with the ball himself.


    Read Option Offense?


    Van Noy¡¯s alarm bells went off. Whatever Mahomes¡¯ plan was, this wasn¡¯t a simple screen pass.


    Step up, surge forward.


    Van Noy exploded into action, accelerating towards Mahomes at full tilt.


    With no linemen in his way, there were no obstacles between them. Van Noy unleashed his full speed, shooting toward Mahomes like a cannonball.


    Closer.


    Even closer.


    Just as Van Noy felt a surge of excitement, a figure darted out from behind Mahomes¡ª


    A shadow?


    Van Noy blinked but didn¡¯t have time to focus. Mahomes casually flicked his wrist, transferring the football.


    Damn it.


    Van Noy slammed on the brakes, pivoting sharply and attempting to recover in time for a tackle.


    However, Mahomes shifted sideways, throwing himself between Van Noy and the action like a mischievous troublemaker sabotaging a lovers¡¯ meeting.


    Van Noy lost his footing, slipping to the ground as he watched a figure sprint away.


    Number Twenty-Three.


    With an unobstructed path ahead, Li Wei had a clear field in front of him, the world entirely open.


    Rather than breaking straight forward, he veered off at a forty-five-degree angle, maintaining calculated control over his speed¡ª


    Pause. Assess.


    The short-pass clash remained tightly contested, with defenders¡ªlinebackers, cornerbacks, and a safety charging in¡ªcolliding like a tidal wave.


    Li Wei searched for an opening, looking to inflict maximum damage.


    His steps were light but deliberate.


    Without haste, Li Wei crossed the line of scrimmage, gradually approaching midfield. Cornerback Jason McCourty came rushing at him like a ferocious predator.


    But!


    Li Wei sidestepped twice to the right, leaving McCourty grappling at air, thanks to Kelsey dropping back just in time to disrupt the chase.


    The teamwork was seamless.


    Then, with a sudden push-off, Li Wei launched himself like an arrow loosed from its bow. In the blink of an eye, both McCourty and Kelsey were left trailing in his wake.


    Speed unleashed.


    Kansas¡¯ own forty-five-yard line.


    The midfield stripe.


    New England¡¯s forty-five-yard line.


    In mere moments, the field blurred behind Li Wei¡¯s powerful strides. His footsteps danced along the sideline, leaving nothing but streaked shadows behind as he bolted past the Patriots¡¯ sideline players.


    Before anyone could react, the third-and-seven conversion was effortlessly secured.


    ¡°Edgerunner!¡±


    ¡°A defensive lapse on New England¡¯s right sideline proves costly.¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable! The Kansas City Chiefs have once again exploded with energy, strategically exposing a weakness and ripping through in this long-yardage situation!¡±


    Devin McCourty gave it everything he had, even as his knees, calves, ankles, lungs, and every organ in his body screamed in revolt. Igniting his fighting spirit, he charged laterally in pursuit of Li Wei, desperate to make the tackle.


    Pushing off, pushing off, pushing off.


    Devin McCourty felt like he¡¯d ignited into flames¡ª


    Ridiculous!


    Humans couldn¡¯t actually catch fire, could they? But that¡¯s exactly how he felt now, throwing himself fully into the chase.


    Then, leaping, diving, he hurled his body toward Li Wei.


    Split-second timing!


    But Li Wei, still sprinting at full speed, displayed an awe-inspiring level of body control. With a nimble spin, he rotated 360 degrees clockwise, sliding past the white hurricane¡¯s edge, perfectly dodging the tackle.


    McCourty lost all control and tumbled into the pile of Patriots¡¯ offensive players.


    Li Wei spun away elegantly and continued forward without leaving a trace.


    The forty-yard line fell behind.


    The thirty-five-yard marker was within reach.


    One challenge resolved, another arose.


    Chung Family, with a calm expression and focused eyes, locked onto Li Wei, choosing not to rush the tackle but instead bide his time and wait for his moment.


    Stay calm.


    Stay calm!


    Then he struck.


    Chung Family, just like McCourty, used his body as a weapon, throwing himself at Li Wei with reckless abandon¡ª


    Bam!


    A direct hit.


    Li Wei let out a low grunt, his body briefly defying gravity as he floated upward. But clenching his jaw, planting his center of gravity, and sinking all his strength into his core, he regained balance. Teetering yet grounded, like a kite barely holding onto an invisible string, he pressed forward.


    Forward. Forward. Keep moving.


    The thirty-five-yard line.


    Pushing off.


    The thirty-yard line.


    Sprinting.


    Until he finally lost his footing, flying past the twenty-five-yard line before landing like a gust of wind, the play eventually coming to a close.


    Ahhh! Ahhh!


    The Edgerunner roared, electrifying Arrowhead Stadium once again.

 Chapter 829 - 829 828 Shocking Waves

    ?Chapter 829: 828 Shocking Waves Chapter 829: 828 Shocking Waves Teetering, precarious, like a dance on a high-wire.


    Yet graceful, agile, elegant, effortlessly stealing the breath of the entire stadium.


    Until that streak of red burst past the thirty-yard line, unable to stay balanced, floating to the ground, ending the show.


    Ah!


    The entire Arrowhead Stadium.


    Ahhh!


    The entire Kansas City.


    Exploded into a frenzy, roars and howls crashing like tidal waves, reverberating everywhere.


    Li Wei again.


    Who would have thought, trapped in a third-and-seven predicament, the Kansas City Chiefs chose a screen short-pass fake handoff running play, giving the football to Li Wei again. The collaboration between Mahomes and Li Wei seamlessly tore through the New England Patriots¡¯ freshly sparked momentum, overwhelming them with thunderous force and seizing the initiative of victory.


    At this moment, Li Wei was king, accepting the worship of his loyal subjects!


    But Li Wei was not satisfied. His eyes, filled with killing intent, scanned the entire stadium. After briefly celebrating, he turned back to the lineup.


    The game wasn¡¯t over yet.


    Gunpowder was thick in the air.


    The New England Patriots¡¯ defensive group felt frustrated, confused.


    Though their efficient defense on the previous two downs had forced the opposing team into a third-and-long, overall, their defensive efforts during overtime had been thoroughly dominated. From a tactical standpoint, they were outmatched, with no positioning, no coordination, riddled with holes¡ªa sieve, essentially.


    The Kansas City Chiefs were advancing with total superiority, controlling the game entirely.


    If things continued this way, the game might end in the next thirty seconds.


    Panting heavily, drenched in sweat, the exhausted players turned to Belichick.


    The legendary coach remained expressionless, still calm, still steady, seemingly oblivious to the crisis at hand. He made swift and decisive moves to command the situation¡ª


    Looking at Li Wei¡¯s movements, it was clear the Kansas City Chiefs wouldn¡¯t leave any breathing room; they intended to keep up their momentum and aim for an end-zone touchdown.


    So, there was no time to be confused.


    The New England Patriots wouldn¡¯t lose.


    Belichick firmly remembered what had just happened¡ªthey¡¯d reached the red zone, but Berry¡¯s interception of Brady had completely shifted the tide.


    Looking further back, the Super Bowl against the Atlanta Falcons, down by twenty-five points at their worst; and the Super Bowl facing the Seattle Seahawks, where the Seahawks were poised on the one-yard line for a game-winning play.


    In those moments, did the New England Patriots ever falter?


    No.


    The Kansas City Chiefs now were essentially a rehash of that year¡¯s Seattle Seahawks¡ªboth reigning champions, both teetering on the edge of the cliff, both erupting with unbelievable offensive energy, forcing the Patriots defensive group to the brink.


    Back then, in the dying seconds, the Seahawks, perched on the one-yard line in front of the end zone¡ªone touchdown would clinch a comeback victory, securing back-to-back Super Bowl titles and cementing their legacy as the second team in the millennium to achieve this. But the New England Patriots, with one intercept, rewrote history, snatching the championship right out of the Seahawks¡¯ grip.


    It was that simple.


    So, against the Kansas City Chiefs, Belichick wasn¡¯t fazed in the slightest.


    Immediately, Belichick formulated his plan, his gaze sharp as a hawk¡¯s, keenly observing every move unfolding on the field, fully grasping the situation.


    ¡°Apply pressure!¡±


    Belichick stuck firmly to his strategy.


    It wasn¡¯t obstinacy but unshakable belief that constant pressure could crush Mahomes.


    Perhaps it wouldn¡¯t break Li Wei, this rookie had repeatedly proven his mental toughness and resilience; but Mahomes was still too young. During the regular season this year, interceptions had consistently plagued Mahomes. Indeed, back in Week 6, the Patriots had turned the tables through an interception from Mahomes.


    Just one would do¡ªlike they had against Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.


    So, persistent pass-rushing pressure. Belichick¡¯s command rang unwaveringly clear.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    The Kansas City Chiefs wasted no time, quickly snapping the ball, getting into rhythm.


    Mahomes immediately felt the heat; his fingertips had barely grazed the football¡¯s rough leather, not even a blink of an eye, when crashing sounds mixed with sweltering heat waves lunged at him, wild and ferocious.


    Backpedaling, backpedaling, continuously retreating.


    Mahomes shuffled his feet back rapidly, creating distance; but there was still no time to survey the field. He instantly realized the Patriots had sent a six-man rush. Moreover, Belichick had adjusted the pass rush strategy, exploiting positioning and timing changes to tear straight through pocket protection.


    Directly ahead, charging full force¡ª


    Hightower. Roberts.


    The duo burst through gaps like deranged writers from ¡°The Shining,¡± smashing through doors, arms furiously flailing in frenzied menace.


    Menacing!


    Mahomes reflexively scanned the short-pass area for targets.


    Damien and Kelsey were there.


    This time, the Chiefs had deployed the double running back tactic, with Li Wei and Damien on the field simultaneously, lined up in shotgun formation. Right from the onset, they had treated the two running backs like wide receivers, hoping to mislead Belichick with the positioning.


    On the surface, it looked like a shotgun formation paired with a double running back tactic to mask a fake handoff play; but in reality, it was a pure shotgun passing strategy. Both backs had sprinted outward, scattering five receiving options across the field.


    However, in this game of chess, Belichick wasn¡¯t deceived. Staying true to his methods, he focused on pass-rushing pressure to shatter the pocket and establish momentum.


    Simultaneously, the secondary defense tightened, employing man-to-man coverage¡ª


    A perfect fit.


    Total one-on-one, tight coverage.


    This usually meant Kelsey, as a tight end matched against a cornerback, had the advantage. So Mahomes instinctively searched for Kelsey¡¯s position.


    But Kelsey had two defenders converging on him in a double-team.


    Mahomes froze momentarily but quickly realized¡ªwait, then who was left uncovered?


    It couldn¡¯t be Li Wei or Hill, could it be Watkins?


    In the blink of an eye, thoughts raced; Mahomes had no time to continue seeking Damien¡¯s position. Seeing Kelsey trapped in double coverage implied that targeting him required pinpoint accuracy, or it could lead to another interception risk.


    Mahomes didn¡¯t want an interception at this critical juncture.


    But the priority was Hightower and Roberts weren¡¯t giving him breathing space to adjust.


    Two devastating forces at the door!


    The two figures advanced head-on, forcing Mahomes to refocus his attention forward, confronting the sack threat with his body coiled in tension.


    Darting left, sliding right, yet finding no escape.


    In continuous retreat, Mahomes feigned a move to break left but executed a fake-out, abruptly shifting right instead. With a quick stop and change in direction, he bought himself precious seconds, darting cross-field to the right.


    Roberts lunged for a takedown, only to inadvertently block Hightower¡¯s path. The two, eyes locked, were about to stumble together.


    Incredibly, Mahomes slipped through again, narrowly ducking under Roberts¡¯ grasping arms, pivoting back to move laterally to the left once more.


    Roberts attempted to follow, shifting to his right.


    Hightower reacted slower by a beat, sticking to his left.


    Crunch!


    Hightower and Roberts collided head-on.


    Opportunity!

 Chapter 830 - 830 829 Cross Running Back

    ?Chapter 830: 829 Cross Running Back Chapter 830: 829 Cross Running Back Sudden stop, sudden turn!


    Then, once again, sudden stop, sudden turn!


    In the blink of an eye, Mahomes executed two rapid shifts, creating a breath of space, decisively leaving the pocket, his vision opening up completely.


    Passing target?


    Hill was sprinting down the left sideline, his steps already entering the Red Zone, but a defender was glued to his side, stride for stride, not allowing him to break free.


    Watkins and Li Wei were on the right. Since Mahomes was standing on the left, from this angle, his vision was blocked by the tangled area of the front line, rendering it unclear. Vaguely, he could see the two continuing their vertical advance.


    No, the view was obstructed.


    Just as Mahomes was about to keep moving, the corner of his eye caught sight of Hightower lunging at him¡ª


    Damn it!


    Mahomes darted left; Hightower relentlessly pursued.


    Although Hightower¡¯s steps were faltering, he threw his body forward with all his momentum. Unlike Mahomes, who had to split his focus to search for passing targets, Hightower was singularly locked onto his objective, gaining speed instead.


    Hightower¡¯s eyes flared with a dangerous glint:


    The New England Patriots¡¯ defensive group had finally seized a rare opportunity, precisely at the moment when the Kansas City Chiefs were preparing a pass, but Belichick had seen through their intent. Their relentless pressure on the frontline pass rush was paying off.


    He wasn¡¯t going to let it slip away.


    With full commitment, Hightower charged recklessly at Mahomes.


    Got you!


    But just as Hightower was about to execute his tackle, his vision blurred¡ªthere was a flicker of red that wavered and returned, another sudden shift. Instinctively, Hightower reached out with both hands, his upper body responding just in time.


    His arms barely touched Mahomes¡¯ body when, in the next instant, he was caught in a whirlwind. Only then did Hightower realize during the sudden stop and turn that his feet hadn¡¯t followed through. His body twisted awkwardly into a contorted mess, losing balance.


    Damn it, damn it, damn it!


    Just moments prior, Mahomes had stopped abruptly and turned on a dime, pulling off a sharp pivot to evade Hightower¡¯s tackle, moving horizontally to the right once more.


    Everything happened in the blink of an eye.


    Now, Hightower looked awkwardly at Mahomes, as Roberts also charged in at full speed. The two figures flanked Mahomes from left and right.


    Trap him like a rat in a cage.


    Mahomes realized the danger too¡ªlike shadows following him, impossible to shake off.


    Hit the brakes, pause, observe, swing an arm.


    Within the crevice of chaos, Mahomes made a swift judgment. Before Hightower hit the ground and as Roberts encroached, his right hand unleashed a quick pass


    Hightower: Damn it.


    Roberts: Damn it.


    At that very moment!


    The two defenders abandoned Mahomes entirely, flinging themselves toward the football instead. They pushed off the ground, leaped, stretched out¡ªevery movement seamless.


    But just as they lost their balance mid-dive, the realization struck:


    They were duped.


    Mahomes¡¯ gaze had focused sharply on Hill, clearly signaling an intent to connect; but as the football released from his wrist, the arc shot rightward instead.


    And so, both Hightower and Roberts lunged at thin air.


    This...


    Bodies soaring midair, yet their gaze remained locked on the ball.


    Mahomes¡¯ target was¡ª


    ...


    Lightning-fast, sprinting ahead.


    Li Wei charged forward in a straight line. From the moment the play began, he showed no hesitation, no second-guessing, and no time wasted in conflicts. With unwavering determination, he unleashed his speed entirely.


    Van Noy kept a steadfast eye on Li Wei, tailing him step-for-step. Speed wasn¡¯t his forte, but he preemptively positioned himself as an obstacle, blocking Li Wei¡¯s path forward, forcing him to change direction.


    His build, like an immovable barricade¡ªunyielding and impassable.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t intend to engage.


    The focus now was on unleashing the deep field potential. The New England Patriots had been guarding against it nonstop, always on high alert. If the Kansas City Chiefs failed to exploit it soon, the tight defense inside the Red Zone would introduce a completely different type of passing opponent.


    Thus, whether or not Mahomes initiated a deep pass, Kansas City needed to demonstrate this intent to hold New England¡¯s defensive unit in check.


    Li Wei and Hill played this pivotal role.


    Without hesitation, Li Wei cleanly shifted lanes and pushed forward. After all, the space on the field was vast¡ªVan Noy couldn¡¯t possibly cover it all.


    Just as Li Wei made his move, Van Noy immediately recognized the threat¡ª


    Li Wei had discerned New England¡¯s strategy of man-to-man marking rather than zone coverage. This gave him freedom to roam across various zones and utilize his speed to break free.


    Van Noy had already suffered at the hands of Li Wei¡¯s sheer pace. Even resorting to fouls couldn¡¯t stop him¡ªhumiliating.


    This time, Van Noy played smarter.


    He didn¡¯t close in but maintained some distance, like flying a kite¡ªnever too close or too far, leveraging the space to buy himself time. If and when Li Wei became a passing target, he¡¯d make his move.


    Like leopard chasing gazelle, they kept their tense distance, advancing steadily.


    Li Wei noticed this¡ªit was unnerving.


    Simultaneously, Li Wei noticed two defenders enveloping Kelsey, leaving Watkins open in a gap. What did this mean?


    Making a snap decision, Li Wei ran toward Watkins¡¯ position.


    Watkins: ???


    Clearly, Watkins didn¡¯t immediately understand Li Wei¡¯s tactical intent. When it came to synergy, Kelsey and Hill were superior.


    But Watkins, intensely focused, observed the trouble brewing in Mahomes¡¯ pocket, the defenders pressuring Damien and Kelsey. He quickly deduced that he might be the open target and needed to make himself visible to Mahomes.


    Sprinting, repositioning¡ªWatkins tried to stretch the gap wide open.


    It was then that Watkins noticed Li Wei. Then he noticed Van Noy shadowing Li Wei from behind and Chung leaving his position to cover Hill. Watkins suddenly felt he was onto something.


    Inexperienced rookie, what should I do?


    No time for feedback¡ªLi Wei had already darted past Watkins from behind. Watkins froze momentarily, then noticed Van Noy¡¯s steps pause ahead of him, a hint of hesitation breaking through.


    Clearly, the one-on-one marking had been disrupted.


    Van Noy kept his gaze glued to Li Wei but began wavering internally.


    On impulse, Watkins sprinted forward, glancing at Li Wei.


    As Li Wei approached the sideline, he suddenly pivoted sharply, turning a ninety-degree angle and cutting along a forty-five-degree diagonal toward the end zone.


    Watkins understood immediately and accelerated along a forty-five-degree diagonal toward the right, breaking through between Li Wei and Van Noy.


    The two ran a diamond-shaped crossing route, leaving Van Noy utterly overwhelmed.


    Wha...What¡¯s happening?


    Previously, Van Noy had tailed Li Wei step-for-step; now he hesitated, faltering briefly. It dawned on Van Noy that he was caught in a one-against-two predicament¡ªbut it felt like twenty red jerseys lined up against him.

 Chapter 831 - 831 830 Moments of Eternity

    ?Chapter 831: 830 Moments of Eternity Chapter 831: 830 Moments of Eternity Left. Right. Then left again.


    The coordination between Li Wei and Watkins was dazzling, leaving the defense scrambling. Van Noy was caught in a mental tug-of-war, overwhelmed¡ª


    Defend Li Wei, Watkins is open.


    Defend Watkins, Li Wei is open.


    What to do?


    At that moment, Van Noy saw Jason McCourty abandon Kelsey and charge forward. Looking up at the sky, he instinctively followed suit.


    A streak of reddish-brown arched through the sky, slicing through the heavens, soaring majestically towards the End zone.


    Van Noy¡¯s heart tensed up, just as he prepared to accelerate. Suddenly, two crimson figures crossed paths again right before his eyes¡ªWatkins cut inside, Li Wei outside¡ªleaving him in their dust in an instant.


    So, Li Wei or Watkins?


    Li Wei!


    Van Noy couldn¡¯t hesitate any longer. Clenching his teeth and steeling his resolve, he turned to chase after Li Wei, only to realize:


    He had lost him.


    Li Wei had been toying with Van Noy¡¯s judgment, exploiting even the briefest hesitation. Even a millisecond was enough.


    Planting his foot, channeling his energy, Li Wei launched into a full-speed sprint.


    He unleashed every ounce of speed as he tore past Van Noy, racing towards the End zone¡ª


    Faster, and faster.


    Without holding back, with absolute focus.


    In the blink of an eye, Li Wei was nearing the End zone.


    With a quick glance backward, Li Wei tracked the football¡¯s trajectory against the sky. He had created enough separation¡ªeither Watkins or himself¡ªand now it was up to Mahomes¡¯ second read to make the right decision.


    One second. Hold your breath.


    ¡ªHere it comes.


    That reddish-brown arc, like a meteor across the deep blue sky, silently yet irresistibly drew all eyes upward, ensnaring attention completely.


    Then.


    Majestically, it soared downward, speeding toward Li Wei¡¯s position.


    Belichick¡¯s heart clenched: Stop him!


    At that moment, a streak of white lightning burst across the field from the opposite side, slicing through with unparalleled speed, like an untamed stallion unleashed, whipping up a storm as it went.


    Chung Family.


    In the critical moment, Chung Family had read Mahomes¡¯ passing lane, decisively abandoning Hill and throwing everything into a lateral sprint, burning through his energy reserve like wildfire.


    Watkins was startled and instinctively tried to intercept Chung Family.


    But Chung Family bulldozed forward in a straight line, forcefully shoving Watkins aside. The slight delay in his sprint dissolved in an instant.


    Thunderous momentum!


    Then, convergence.


    At the final split-second, Li Wei, with his back to the End zone and facing the flight path of the football, felt an intense wave of heat rushing in from his right.


    One step back.


    Just one step, and Li Wei dodged Chung Family¡¯s deadly hit.


    At the same time, both of Li Wei¡¯s feet were now firmly planted in the End zone.


    Chung Family watched helplessly as his target vanished, lunging forward into empty space. He reached out with his left hand, aiming to slam into Li Wei, hoping to take him down with him.


    ¡°23 versus 23.¡±


    In that moment, white collided with red, generating an explosive force.


    Smack.


    Li Wei felt an impact on his right arm¡ªbefore he could even register the pain, the entire right side of his body had gone numb, the sensation fading entirely.


    Li Wei had no time to think. Instinctively, his body reacted, rotating counterclockwise with the force of Chung Family¡¯s tackle and pull.


    Spin!


    The overwhelming force threatened to topple Li Wei¡¯s balance, with an unrelenting drag almost pulling him to the ground.


    Li Wei used his left foot to stabilize, accelerating his rotation as much as possible.


    Most importantly, he kept his body within the boundaries of the End zone.


    The margin for stepping out was half a step at most, a razor¡¯s edge of precision, where even the slightest miscalculation could spell disaster.


    Ninety degrees. One hundred eighty degrees. Two hundred seventy degrees.


    His body spun rapidly, the solitary stance resembling a single-legged dance, as his gaze locked on the descending football overhead.


    Oh no!


    Li Wei held his breath, twisting as he spun, using his shifting weight to assist his extension. Stretching his arms far out, his eyes stayed laser-focused on the football.


    Three hundred sixty degrees. Five hundred seventy degrees. Six hundred thirty degrees.


    The big toe of his left foot had already gone numb, his body teetering on the edge of control, seemingly about to topple over. But Li Wei gritted his teeth, holding his breath, keeping his frame light and poised.


    His mind, crystal clear.


    The football, now falling, aligned with his fully extended upper body. Finally, his hands reached out¡ªgrasping the meteor securely.


    But his balance was lost¡ª


    His feet. His feet. His feet.


    Li Wei¡¯s body tilted drastically forward, angled at forty-five degrees as he neared the ground. He took a small step forward with his right leg¡ª


    Precariously halting within the End zone boundary, maintaining complete control. Then his left foot followed, toes lined up perfectly.


    Like a ballet dancer, he froze at the far corner of the End zone¡¯s right side.


    First the right foot. Then the left.


    At the same time, he clutched the football tightly, raising it triumphantly like the Holy Grail for all the world to see.


    Time stopped in that moment.


    Li Wei defied gravity, challenging Newton¡¯s laws of motion, elegantly reenacting Michael Jackson¡¯s iconic moonwalk.


    Everything, frozen.


    The moment, eternal.


    Just a millisecond, only a fleeting millisecond.


    Then, time resumed as gravity yanked Li Wei¡¯s body down¡ª


    Soaring through the air.


    He vaulted high, then crashed hard, tumbling uncontrollably. Rolling like a bowling ball, he slid towards the sideline¡¯s buffer area, disappearing entirely from view.


    Silence. Complete silence enveloped the stadium. Not even the wind could be heard.


    The Arrowhead Stadium stood quietly in the corner of Kansas City, yet it felt like Atlantis, drawing every eye to this singular moment. One by one, they held their breath, their hearts skipping beats, eyes wide in desperate search of the vanished figure.


    Until¡ª


    That figure emerged, rising slowly, hoisting the reddish-brown meteor aloft once more. Bruised and exhausted, Li Wei stood tall and unwavering, his gaze fixed on the End zone referee as the crowd collectively held its breath.


    Whoosh.


    The referee in the End zone extended his arms straight up, pointing to the sky with unwavering authority.


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    A voice erupted, shattering the silence, igniting an explosion that rocked the entire world.


    Aaaaaaah... Boom!


    The frenzy was so overwhelming, so wild that the sound became indiscernible, leaving only a deafening buzz swirling in the eardrums.


    But in their vision, fans clearly saw countless faces at Arrowhead Stadium erupting in joy¡ªunadulterated jubilation, absolute happiness, uncontainable excitement, and sheer delirium. Everything poured out without reservation. No words could encapsulate this moment; there were only screams, unabashed, unrestrained screams.


    It all felt surreal. The entire stadium was ablaze and roaring, yet the world seemed oddly silent, like a frozen comic strip, with images but no sound. And still, the madness and heat were unmistakable.


    It was almost enough to burn through one¡¯s heart.


    Touchdown. Game-winner.


    Victory belonged to the Kansas City Chiefs.

 Chapter 832 - 832 831 Victory Significance

    ?Chapter 832: 831 Victory Significance Chapter 832: 831 Victory Significance Touchdown. Game-winning play.


    ¡°31:37.¡±


    The match has ended. This thrilling game full of twists and turns finally reaches its conclusion, halting abruptly at its peak climax.


    Victory belongs to the Kansas City Chiefs.


    The reigning champions continue their journey to write history.


    Long and grueling, marked by passivity and looming crises¡ªfrom the struggles of the first half to the assault of freezing rain, from the shootout before the end of the regular season to the ten-minute marathon defense in overtime, escaping by a whisker¡ªall before claiming the game-winning play. The Kansas City Chiefs endured countless difficulties and tests.


    But.


    They ultimately braved the chaos and successfully reached the shores of victory.


    Ultimately, they arrived.


    Li Wei silently gazed at the surging scene before him, chaotic and wild, roaring, burning, and transforming into a red ocean.


    Annie Galas¡¯s face surfaced again.


    ¡°Fly, Chiefs! Fly!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, everyone makes mistakes.¡±


    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s so unfair¡ªI really wanted to witness your touchdown in person.¡±


    ¡°Edgerunner, Edgerunner, do you know? I like you.¡±


    ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t want to attend the prom with Li Wei? I¡¯ll be the brightest girl in the entire school.¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to be remembered. I hope you all forget me and continue living.¡±


    ¡°Shh. It¡¯s just a prank.¡±


    Annie¡ªthe girl with big eyes, always smiling, always bright and lively; the girl whose dream was to attend the prom but didn¡¯t want people to be so consumed by her memory that they couldn¡¯t move forward with their lives; the girl who fought death with remarkable tenacity and resolve during her short span of life.


    She was gone.


    Unable to witness the Kansas City Chiefs endure such a challenging game, unable to follow them to a second consecutive Super Bowl, unable to see Li Wei score a touchdown with her own eyes.


    Her life was forever frozen at age eleven, turning away before her twelfth birthday could arrive.


    This victory should have been joyful because this game was dedicated to Annie. Like her, the Chiefs kept fighting, refusing to surrender, persisting stubbornly until the very last moment, sealing it with a triumph. Now, they should revel in celebration.


    But why does it feel so bitter?


    Li Wei could no longer hold on. He crouched down, head bowed, keeping his helmet on, silently letting the scalding tears soak his cheeks.


    Things weren¡¯t supposed to be this way.


    Li Wei seemed overwhelmed with grievances he could no longer contain, his insides twisting into knots as sorrow and bitterness utterly crushed his shoulders.


    When did the story begin to change?


    In the beginning, Li Wei was reluctant. He clearly had no interest in football, stumbled into this world by accident, and transitioned into the profession with an easy, carefree attitude, treating life as a game, casually drifting. Victories and championships were merely unexpected bonuses.


    But at some point, football ceased to be simply football. It carried responsibilities and power. It embodied hope and dreams. It wasn¡¯t just a game anymore; it intertwined with this city and its vibrant, real people, kindling a gleam of light in an endless darkness.


    Unknowingly, he infused passion and soul into this sport, truly feeling the throbbing pulse of life.


    Annie¡¯s story wasn¡¯t supposed to end here.


    Amidst the bustling crowd, Mahomes was the first to notice Li Wei, his immediate reaction being concern for an injury.


    Mahomes quickly rushed over, no longer caring about celebrating the victory, his heart tightening suddenly. Then he saw Li Wei seated on the ground, hands resting on his knees, head bowed, shoulders trembling, suppressed sobs reaching Mahomes¡¯s ears, causing him to stop.


    In that instant, Mahomes understood, and bitterness lightly spread at the tip of his tongue.


    This victory was far more than just a game. Much more than a step toward defending their championship. It carried a power greater than any title.


    Unable to hold back, Mahomes hurriedly wiped at his own eyes, lifting his head to gaze at the sky, his vacant eyes scanning the vast red sea. When he glimpsed Felix and Karen among the crowd, the realization hit him that Annie would never be there again¡ªnot even Felix.


    Mahomes quickly bowed his head, clumsily wiping his face.


    Then.


    Li Wei placed his hands on the ground, summoning his strength to stand up. Though his knees trembled, his calves quivered, and no strength remained in his body, he stood tall and firm.


    Li Wei noticed Mahomes, gently patted him on the shoulder without saying much, and stood in the end zone, turning to face the Arrowhead Chiefs crowd in the stands.


    The entire stadium roared, feverish and frenzied, losing all reason.


    Taking a deep breath, Li Wei carefully surveyed the scene, determined to etch this moment into his mind forever.


    Then, Li Wei raised both hands high, offering applause to the crowd¡ª


    Victory didn¡¯t belong only to the players; it belonged to the fans as well. They fought side by side, from the first second to the final moment of overtime, unwavering and fully committed, facing the result together.


    ¡°...Li Wei, Li Wei, Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Ahhhh! Touchdown! It¡¯s a touchdown! Li Wei wins the game, the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the New England Patriots and advance to the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year!¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable! Unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°We have to review the replay.¡±


    ¡°Left foot. Right foot. Exceptional footwork control. Li Wei defies gravity for the second time today, dazzling the field with moves that rival Michael Jackson¡¯s magic steps.¡±


    ¡°Undeniably perfect¡ªthis is a touchdown!¡±


    ¡°Kansas City Chiefs! The Kansas City Chiefs return to the Super Bowl stage once again!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei¡ªstill Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°In the team¡¯s toughest, most desperate moments, it¡¯s still Li Wei who steps forward. A ground run for a long-distance rush, then a game-winning touchdown catch¡ªLi Wei¡¯s superhuman performance secures the overtime win over the New England Patriots.¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s not all.¡±


    ¡°From the second half onward, Li Wei displayed a resolute drive and belief. You could see it: ¡®I¡¯ve decided to win this game.''¡±


    ¡°And then, he did.¡±


    ¡°It may sound unbelievable, but Li Wei¡ªa running back¡ªis genuinely becoming the soul of the Kansas City Chiefs. Not just with his performance on the field, but as a spiritual leader. His extraordinary personal display reignited the Chiefs¡¯ fighting spirit, completely rewriting the narrative of this game.¡±


    ¡°After losing to the New England Patriots on a last-second field goal in week six of the regular season, this time the Kansas City Chiefs refused to repeat the mistake. First tying the score during regulation with a field goal, then delivering a ten-minute defensive masterpiece in overtime to reverse the tide with an interception, and finally obliterating the opponent with textbook-worthy offense.¡±


    ¡°Facing Belichick and Brady, the Kansas City Chiefs proved with their actions that their rise is no coincidence.¡±


    ¡°Following the National Conference Championship... wait, something magical is happening in Arrowhead Stadium...¡±

 Chapter 833 - 833 832 Sing to Your Hearts Content

    ?Chapter 833: 832 Sing to Your Heart¡¯s Content Chapter 833: 832 Sing to Your Heart¡¯s Content Nantz was like he was drunk, face flushed, eyes red, his words firing with the rapidity of a machine gun, as his fast-moving brain continued to spew thoughts before adjusting its trajectory.


    In one go, without stopping.


    The redness in his cheeks growing deeper and deeper, seemingly ready to explode, yet the excitement and thrill continued to gush uncontrollably.


    Beside him, Romo rubbed his eyes, hiding the tears welling up.


    It is in such games, such moments, that Romo was constantly reminded of how much he loved this sport. Even though he had retired, he couldn¡¯t help but miss those adrenaline-fueled moments, clashing with rivals, fighting alongside teammates, experiencing highs and lows, joy and bitterness, burning life between victory and defeat.


    The charm of competitive sports is far more than just championships and victories.


    Then, Nantz stammered, like a broken tape, spluttering. Romo took a deep breath, preparing to assist his partner, only to see Nantz staring wide-eyed at the front of the commentary box.


    Romo looked over as well¡ª


    It was surging, magnificent, grand, spectacular.


    The entire audience, standing together, shoulder to shoulder, standing tall and gazing at the field.


    They sang loudly in unison.


    ¡°When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high, and don¡¯t be afraid of the dark.¡±


    ¡°At the end of the storm, there¡¯s a golden sky, and the sweet silver song of the oriole.¡±


    Resounded to the skies.


    Jenna couldn¡¯t believe the scene in front of her, Li Wei standing in the end zone, standing upright with solemnity, quietly watching all the fans, that vast sea of red singing heartily, bonded together¡ª


    They were dedicating the victory to Annie.


    Her Annie.


    Suddenly overwhelmed, Jenna could no longer control herself, tears streaming down her face.


    Berry stood on the sidelines, smiling broadly, happy watching this scene unfold. The stadium filled with eighty thousand people was so grand, it ironically made him look particularly small, but at that moment, a roaring gust of fervent enthusiasm enveloped him, as if he were standing atop the Himalayas.


    Without warning, Berry began to weep.


    He raised a hand to wipe away the tears, revealing a smile anew. It wasn¡¯t a moment for sadness, but for happiness, for celebration. They should enjoy this moment, but the tears wouldn¡¯t stop, flowing down like pearls from a broken string.


    Sixteen months, a full sixteen months.


    There were countless times he thought he might never make it back to the field again, countless times he considered just turning away and leaving gracefully.


    But he ultimately found himself here, fighting alongside his teammates.


    Not far away, Houston finally regained some composure and sat up cross-legged.


    Feeling deeply moved, he quietly enjoyed the happiness and release of the moment, as if appreciating a world-famous painting.


    Unintentionally, his peripheral vision noticed Berry.


    Ha ha.


    Houston burst out laughing, he understood, understood a hundred percent, because he was just like Berry, both body and age could no longer be ignored. If they wanted to step onto the field, to compete with those young players, it may require five or ten times the effort. It wasn¡¯t easy.


    Houston tried to stand up to comfort Berry, but found he still had no strength. His legs were simply noodles, unable to hold him up.


    ¡°Eric, Eric!¡±


    Houston shouted loudly.


    ¡°Old man, come here to report, don¡¯t block the party of the young guys.¡±


    Berry didn¡¯t move, just silently raised a middle finger towards Houston.


    Jenna tearfully watched the scene before her, she saw Felix and Karen singing passionately, she saw West and Provo cheering and jumping, she saw Li Wei, Mahomes, and Kelsey standing side by side in the end zone.


    In a daze, Jenna seemed to see Annie.


    Wearing a number 23 jersey, running and laughing on the grass, her bell-like laughter ringing through the air, shouting ¡°touchdown, touchdown¡± while raising her arms in celebration.


    Life, blossoming proudly in Arrowhead Stadium.


    Then, Jenna took a deep breath, looked at the tear-stricken Jeff, took his left hand tightly, joining the chorus with the crowd.


    ¡°March on, through the wind; March on, through the rain.


    Perhaps, dreams will ultimately be let down.


    March on, march on! With hope in your heart, you¡¯ll never walk alone.¡±


    Line after line, released with abandon.


    The entire stadium, resounding.


    Brady watched the scene quietly, a rage burning in his chest¡ª


    Not just because of the loss.


    Indeed, losing was bitter and torturous. Brady felt it burning in every fiber of his being. Losing for the third time to the Kansas City Chiefs in four meetings over two seasons left him with no excuses, he could no longer ignore these young people. Li Wei was now Brady¡¯s biggest enemy in the League.


    Brady hated losing, always did. Every loss was a test, but such a degree of suffering and torment hadn¡¯t been felt for a long time, not since Big Manning retired, seemingly.


    Now, every cell in his body soaked in bitterness.


    But what was more painful, more humiliating than the loss, was the scene unfolding before him.


    A form of humiliation.


    People often say that a vile person sees a world filled with hate and darkness, while a noble person sees a world filled with love and hope.


    The same showdown, switching from Gillette Stadium to Arrowhead Stadium, ended with both home teams winning, yet at Gillette they displayed victory aggressively, while at Arrowhead they celebrated with song.


    In the world of competitive sports, it¡¯s tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye that is the norm, with debts paid in blood that¡¯s repaid double, that is the truth. Here, there¡¯s no concern for nobility or decorum, everything is like the gladiatorial arenas of ancient Rome, hand-to-hand combat with knives drawn, only the victors are seen.


    Reality, that¡¯s just how it is.


    Meanwhile, in Indianapolis.


    Roar!


    When Li Wei completed the touchdown, Indianapolis erupted with a frenzy no less intense than Kansas City, with flames igniting throughout the city.


    Andrew Luck stood up with a clenched fist and shouted with abandon, the deafening cheers coming from the streets outside.


    ¡°Beat the Pats!¡±


    ¡°Beat the Pats!¡±


    Although the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Indianapolis Colts, with no mercy; but likewise, they beat the New England Patriots, and that was enough.


    Raucous celebration, party.


    Indianapolis felt as if they had reached the Super Bowl, their season ended with a satisfying conclusion¡ªthat was enough.


    Tonight, Indianapolis should sleep soundly.


    Therefore, Brady knew well the significance of the game in front of him, what it would mean if the New England Patriots lost at Arrowhead Stadium.


    Revenge. Retaliation.


    Brady was mentally prepared, he knew Arrowhead would pay back double, with curses, with taunts, with attacks, he understood the storm he was about to face; but he wasn¡¯t worried, wasn¡¯t afraid, those voices wouldn¡¯t hurt him. After so many years on the field, he was long used to all kinds of storms. He had seen it all. Kansas City¡¯s revenge was still too young, too immature, to hurt him at all.


    However, he was wrong.


    Completely, utterly wrong, embarrassingly wrong.


    Watching that scene unfold, Brady, for the first time, felt his own smallness and insignificance.

 Chapter 834 - 834 833 King Style

    ?Chapter 834: 833 King Style Chapter 834: 833 King Style Brady thought Arrowhead Stadium would humiliate him, just like Indianapolis celebrating the New England Patriots¡¯ loss.


    But Kansas City did not.


    Arrowhead Stadium chose not to attack him, as if he were just... a loser.


    Instead of proving their strength by crushing a loser, it¡¯s better to focus on celebrating their victory and aiming for greater, more magnificent goals.


    Rather than trampling on the enemy¡¯s corpse to vent their emotions, they have more important things to focus on.


    Despicable versus noble¡ªit¡¯s crystal clear.


    The songs, the cheers, the passion¡ªpure and fiery¡ªlanded like a resounding slap across Brady¡¯s face.


    Brady froze, utterly unprepared for this scenario. The enormous psychological disparity left him unable to adapt; he stood there, stunned.


    Victory or defeat¡ªthe spotlight is always on Brady, capturing his every reaction. But tonight, for the first time, no one cared about Brady, as if he were just the loser, discarded in the unnoticed shadows of a dark corner.


    In this moment, Brady truly felt the bitterness and humiliation of failure like never before.


    Because... he was, indeed, the loser.


    A loser¡ªfrom the outside in, through and through.


    Damn.


    Brady couldn¡¯t hold back; he cursed out loud.


    Taking a deep breath to try and steady himself, he reminded himself: The more he lost, the more he had to maintain his dignity and pride. He would not¡ªcould not¡ªbecome the ¡°sore loser¡± the media would love to depict. After all, the name ¡°Tom Brady¡± represents victory, represents a brand worth tens of millions of US dollars.


    He was supposed to be the victor, even when losing, he must face it gracefully.


    Anger and bitterness?


    Leave that in the locker room.


    Yet at this moment, Brady was on the verge of losing control, especially when he saw that rookie.


    ¡°Goat vs Rookie¡±¡ªwhen such a topic surfaced, Brady smirked. He could immediately see through the League¡¯s promotional scheme behind it¡ª


    Online traffic demands such hype; the more exaggerated, the more buzz it generates.


    A rookie?


    Brady didn¡¯t even take him seriously. Who was he, and who was the rookie? The fact that the two of them were being put together as a topic was already something of a big deal. The rookie should feel grateful instead.


    But unexpectedly, the rookie ¡°ignored¡± the Goat¡¯s existence as if he¡¯d never even heard of ¡°Tom Brady,¡± delivering a gut-wrenching punch to Brady¡¯s pride.


    The media said that back then, Brady was just an unknown rookie too, picked 199th in the seventh round to enter the League. His rookie training camp physical data and body photos are still mocked by fans as a bad joke. But Brady transformed from rookie to Goat, achieving an incredible feat, undoubtedly securing his legacy in NFL history.


    Now, it¡¯s this rookie¡¯s turn.


    For Brady, this felt like a direct insult. Him and Li Wei? There¡¯s no way they should be placed on the same level for discussion, right? Li Wei doesn¡¯t even deserve it!


    But now?


    Let alone if the Kansas City Chiefs could successfully defend their title, Li Wei already led Brady in head-to-head records three wins to one, including two playoff eliminations against Brady.


    For years, the ¡°Big Manning vs Brady¡± showdown was hailed as the defining rivalry of the new century NFL and extended into the GOAT debate.


    In regular season matchups, Brady led with eleven wins to six losses; in playoff matchups, Big Manning held the edge with three wins to two losses.


    Initially, during Manning¡¯s time with the Indianapolis Colts, Brady dominated in both regular and playoff records. But after joining the Denver Broncos, Manning made a strong resurgence, closing the gap with Brady, especially impressing the League with his comeback post-career-threatening injury.


    Moreover, in terms of regular-season MVP awards, Manning claimed five times, not only surpassing Brady¡¯s three but setting an unparalleled benchmark. Not to mention quarterback statistics¡ªas of 2018, Manning led all NFL historical charts across the board.


    But in the GOAT debate, Brady consistently held an edge over Manning, mainly due to Super Bowl championship counts. Brady¡¯s five rings trump Manning¡¯s two.


    This was Brady¡¯s confidence and his pride.


    Yet now, Brady had been knocked out of the playoffs by Li Wei for two consecutive seasons, missing the chance to further expand his lead in Super Bowl championship rings¡ªessentially allowing Li Wei to overtake him in his most prized, most confident domain.


    Previously, Brady could still loftily declare: ¡°How many rings do I have? How many does he have? What qualifies him to even talk to me?¡± But now, the situation seemed to be quietly shifting step by step.


    Unbearable.


    Without noticing, imperceptibly, ¡°Goat vs Rookie¡± had already emerged as a new League topic, and the Goat was entirely on the defensive.


    Brady tried to endure and control himself¡ªagain and again¡ªthis time, he ultimately failed.


    Damn. Damn damn damn damn damn.


    A string of curses burst out from Brady¡¯s chest; rare as it was, he found himself losing control in front of the camera. His chaotic mind surged with anger and humiliation.


    If¡ªjust imagine¡ªif the Kansas City Chiefs succeed in defending their title, Li Wei¡¯s unstoppable momentum would only grow more overwhelming; next season, the League¡¯s main narrative might well become ¡°Can the rookie become the next Goat?¡±


    For God¡¯s sake, Li Wei has only been in the League for two seasons, alright? Two seasons!


    Goat?


    Ha.


    So absurd, so unbelievable. Yet Brady knew this was exactly how the media operates. He could already foresee news flooding social networks everywhere.


    However... if the Los Angeles Rams win the Super Bowl, then that would be another story entirely. The guy with just one Super Bowl ring can step aside; there¡¯s no place for him to show off before Brady.


    Taking a deep breath, Brady struggled to regain a semblance of composure¡ª


    First shaking hands with Mahomes, then shaking hands with Reed.


    Finally, amid the bustling swarm of media, Brady sought out Li Wei.


    The reporters, as always hungry for drama, instinctively parted to create a pathway¡ªas if clearing a ceremonial aisle at a wedding, linking Brady and Li Wei together.


    Li Wei: ???


    Li Wei was busy thanking the fans. When he turned around, he noticed a human-formed corridor lined up. What on earth were these people doing?


    At the end of the pathway stood Brady¡¯s figure.


    This...


    For Brady, situations like these were nothing new. He knew that now was the moment of focus; he needed to present his perfect image.


    Brady approached Li Wei with a smile, offered a polite handshake, then leaned closer to whisper into Li Wei¡¯s ear amidst the thunderous roar of the crowd.


    ¡°Super Bowl, good luck.¡±


    Loaded with meaning.


    In Brady¡¯s view, the Kansas City Chiefs would need all the luck they could possibly muster; and Li Wei even more so, to achieve a successful title defense.


    ¡°When a rookie becomes the Goat¡±¡ªthis was a form of attention, but also an immense burden. Brady could only hope the young man could survive the frenzy of media and internet hype ready to crush him.


    Brady was sincere.

 Chapter 835 - 835 834 finishing touch

    ?Chapter 835: 834 finishing touch Chapter 835: 834 finishing touch That¡¯s just enough, but profoundly meaningful.


    Brady knew exactly how to hurt his opponent. They were adults now; no need to throw punches or hurl insults like elementary school kids.


    Li Wei understood.


    This was the first time Li Wei truly saw Brady lose control¡ªnot as the GOAT, standing lofty before the media, nor as the perfect gentleman in the public eye. His anger, his struggle, his pettiness, and his cunning¡ªall revealed, if only a sliver of truth slipped through.


    Li Wei wasn¡¯t angry.


    Because there was no need. Quite the opposite, actually. This version of Brady seemed far more human. Li Wei believed he¡¯d done a great job, finally dragging the GOAT down to earth, pulling off the mask to reveal his true self. Now, they stood as equals¡ªa mere mortal¡ª


    Not a god.


    This version of Brady felt... almost approachable.


    And so, Li Wei flashed a brilliant smile at Brady. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re so kind.¡±


    Brady: ...


    For a fleeting second, Brady¡¯s expression froze, his eyes filled with bewilderment.


    The sight made Li Wei burst into hearty laughter. He stepped forward and gave Brady a deliberate hug, whispering in his ear, ¡°Better luck next year.¡±


    Snap.


    It was as if a string in Brady¡¯s mind suddenly snapped. His fists clenched, just a hair¡¯s breadth from swinging at Li Wei¡¯s face, but he quickly regained composure¡ª


    Because of the cameras, absolutely not because Li Wei was a mixed martial artist. Definitely not.


    Then, Li Wei turned and walked away, head held high, with an unhurried stride.


    For once, Brady stood there like a defeated stray dog, unable to hide his expression.


    And this scene? Broadcast live on television for all to see.


    At the post-game press conference, Brady elegantly addressed questions about the incident.


    Brady: ¡°I¡¯m still processing this loss. This might be the most difficult and painful defeat of my career. I need some time to come to terms with it.¡±


    Reporter: ¡°Harder than the 2007 Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants that ruined your perfect season?¡±


    Brady: ¡°...Thank you for remembering that.¡±


    Although Brady remained composed and calm, in the eyes of the public, it didn¡¯t come across that way¡ª


    A sore loser is still a sore loser.


    Later, the screenshot of Li Wei hugging Brady and whispering in his ear, coupled with Brady¡¯s face of forced endurance, became a viral meme, spreading like wildfire across social media.


    Netizens added all kinds of captions for Li Wei, with Brady¡¯s expression as the pie?ce de re?sistance.


    It was a party¡ªa raucous internet-wide party, with social media platforms exploding with unprecedented commotion.


    In this moment, the deep-seated hatred for the New England Patriots became palpable. Outside the New England region, almost everyone celebrated the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ victory¡ªor more accurately, the Patriots¡¯ defeat.


    New York, jubilant.


    Buffalo and Miami, jubilant.


    Indianapolis, jubilant.


    And still, that wasn¡¯t all.


    Further south on the North American continent, another city erupted with unparalleled energy.


    In New Orleans, bars big and small were packed with fans drowning their sorrow, grief, pain, and anguish in alcohol, refusing to accept the outcome of the afternoon¡¯s National Conference Championship. They still believed the League had stolen the conference title from them, dubbing the Los Angeles Rams as the damned thieves.


    But when Mahomes and Li Wei connected on a game-winning play, drunken New Orleans seemed to awaken at last, taking to the streets with fists raised high.


    ¡°Beat the Rams!¡±


    ¡°Beat the Rams!¡±


    Roars, screams, cheers¡ªbuilding into an unstoppable force, pulling Saints fans out of their drunken despair and into reality, reigniting a glimmer of hope¡ª


    Hadn¡¯t the Kansas City Chiefs perfected vengeance on behalf of the Indianapolis Colts?


    Hadn¡¯t the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the GOAT?


    If anyone could stop the Los Angeles Rams, wouldn¡¯t ¡°Playoff Chiefs¡± be the undisputed choice?


    ¡°Beat the Rams!¡±


    The chants shook the heavens and reverberated through all of New Orleans.


    All eyes turned toward one destination. With countless gazes locked on it, the NFL¡¯s 2018 season had boiled down to one climactic showdown.


    The conference championships ended in breathtaking fashion.


    In the National Conference Championship, the Los Angeles Rams exacted revenge for their Week 9 regular-season loss with an overtime victory over the New Orleans Saints to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl.


    In the American Conference Championship, the Kansas City Chiefs pulled off a stunning overtime comeback against the New England Patriots, avenging their Week 6 grudge and keeping their title hopes alive.


    Two games, two overtimes¡ªcomplete with controversy, suspense, comebacks, and game-winners.


    Absolutely exhilarating.


    Undoubtedly, this was the perfect realization of every imaginable scenario in the conference championships, pushing the season to its zenith in spectacular fashion.


    And yet, behind the applause, controversies stole countless headlines.


    Immediately following the games, the NFL admitted that a significant missed call occurred at the end of regulation time during the American Conference Championship, overlooking a crucial penalty.


    And then... nothing. Nothing followed...


    As with the National Conference Championship, the League merely acknowledged the officiating error but offered no apologies, no statements, no follow-up of any kind.


    Clearly, the League was unwilling to associate itself with rumors of ¡°fixed games.¡±


    Especially at such a critical juncture.


    Both the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs filed formal complaints, demanding the League establish an independent third-party committee to investigate the matter and provide an official response.


    The New England Patriots, not to be outdone, argued that ignoring Li Wei¡¯s game-tying injury timeout tactic favored the home team, suggesting possible corruption. They also filed a complaint demanding an investigation.


    One after another, the grievances piled on. This wasn¡¯t over, not by a long shot.


    Now it was up to Goodell to navigate the chaos.


    But no amount of complaints could alter the outcomes of the games.


    No matter the controversies, Goodell ultimately got what he wanted.


    Both conference championships concluded with young teams clinching overtime victories over veteran squads. For the second consecutive year, youth storms swept through the League¡ª


    Last season, the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs meeting in the Super Bowl was deemed an upset, a chaotic culmination of a season rife with parity. Now, with young, vibrant teams advancing to the Super Bowl for a second straight year, does this herald the rise of the next generation in the NFL?


    Particularly as both Brees and Brady, the elite quarterbacks, performed far below expectations in the conference championships. Their stats were nothing to celebrate. After dominating the League for so many years, their limitations finally became apparent.


    Experience was no match for the biological clock of aging.


    So, does this signify the NFL¡¯s full-blown generational shift?


    Perhaps Big Manning¡¯s retirement marked the beginning. The golden generation of the League is now in decline¡ªnot just the four elite quarterbacks, but also the mid-generation led by Little Manning, Rivers, Roethlisberger, and Flacco, all showing signs of fatigue. Is it time to shift focus to the young guns?


    Has the new generation finally arrived?


    For instance, Luck and Prescott.


    Or Goff and Wentz.


    Or how about Mahomes and... Jackson?

 Chapter 836 - 836 Battle of Destiny 835

    ?Chapter 836: Battle of Destiny 835 Chapter 836: Battle of Destiny 835 Waited and waited, hoped and hoped¡ªthe League¡¯s long search for the new generation¡¯s ultimate showdown¡ªis it finally arriving during this year¡¯s Super Bowl?


    Perhaps it is, perhaps it isn¡¯t, because only time can provide the definitive answer. But without a doubt, this year¡¯s Super Bowl perfectly aligns with Goodell¡¯s expectations.


    ¡°Los Angeles Rams VS Kansas City Chiefs¡±¡ª


    The drums beat, resonating.


    In Week 11 of the regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs traveled to the Los Angeles Rams for an away game.


    It was already a match attracting the League¡¯s attention. Goodell had been longing for a ¡°Li Wei VS Donald¡± clash of titans¡ªnot the same old quarterback duel, but a unique confrontation between offense and defense. Goodell believed this could become the League¡¯s next classic matchup.


    Originally scheduled to be a game in Mexico, a crucial part of the NFL International Series plan, it was unexpectedly canceled due to poor field conditions, leaving the match to take place in Los Angeles.


    Disappointment!


    Yet, Goodell was not let down¡ª


    The game was spectacular.


    Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs teamed up to deliver a historic peak showdown, a relentless offensive battle that showcased the allure of passing offense to its fullest. Thrilling beyond words, it became an internet sensation.


    It won countless fans.


    In the end, the Los Angeles Rams narrowly defeated the Kansas City Chiefs by three points.


    The final score was ¡°51-54.¡±


    Incredibly, the Kansas City Chiefs became the first team in NFL history to score over fifty points and still lose, a record not worth celebrating¡ªrather, it bore a bitter sting.


    Unquestionably, the game ignited fiery discussion, momentarily crashing social networks.


    Later, this match was hailed as a ¡°Mid-Season Super Bowl,¡± dominating headlines even after the regular season concluded, with countless experts and fans recognizing it as possibly the most exciting game of the season.


    What¡¯s more, the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams have an intricate historical entanglement, built over countless years. Their rivalry weaves together past and present, creating emotional resonance for their ongoing collision.


    The bond, inseparable.


    Finally, we arrive here.


    At the fifty-third Super Bowl, the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs meet in what evolves from a Mid-Season Super Bowl into a genuine Super Bowl epic showdown.


    Though not a ¡°Number 1 seed VS Number 1 seed¡± clash, it is close enough¡ªin some ways even more thrilling and passionate than matchups like ¡°Kansas City Chiefs VS New Orleans Saints.¡±


    The youth storm, always a picturesque feature of the sports world.


    Could there be anything more perfect to conclude the 2018 season? Past regrets and controversies no longer matter. As long as the Super Bowl delivers excitement, it redeems everything.


    Whether the Kansas City Chiefs defend their title, or the Los Angeles Rams claim the throne, the result points to the rise and shine of new-generation teams. And above all else, it¡¯s the offensive war between these two teams that matters most.


    In the World Cup finals, people always hope for a goal-driven battle¡ªyet it often ends in disappointment. Over the past two decades, only the 1986 Argentina victory over West Germany counted as a spectacle of goals¡ª


    ¡°3-2.¡±


    It¡¯s the same with the Super Bowl.


    That¡¯s why last year¡¯s Super Bowl finale, an offensive battle between Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, continues to captivate and is praised by younger fans as the most exciting Super Bowl of the decade.


    Now, the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams rank first and second in offensive performance this season; combined with their historic Mid-Season Super Bowl score-drenched spectacle, the signals are clear.


    The entire social network exploded, an outpouring of voices flooding in. Fans of not just the final four teams, but casual viewers and even football-uninterested onlookers joined the fervor. A surging heatwave in North America¡¯s winter creates an illusion of summer.


    Since last season, Goodell has been yearning for such a moment; after twists and turns, this season finally delivered.


    Thinking about it deeply¡ªit¡¯s not about arriving early but arriving timely.


    One more season of buildup, Donald¡¯s league status sky-rocketing, Li Wei no longer bearing the lucky rookie aura, Goff completing his transformation, and Mahomes replacing Smith as the starting quarterback¡ªthe youth storm is now fully at the core of the competition.


    This season¡¯s matchup might be even more perfect than last season¡¯s timing. Perhaps, it was all destiny.


    Amazing, beyond words.


    Goodell couldn¡¯t help but rub his hands¡ª


    Indeed, everything is going according to plan. The chaos of the wild-card and divisional rounds is forgotten; now, everyone is celebrating the spectacular conference finals and eagerly anticipating the upcoming Super Bowl.


    Bustling and noisy, the entire North American continent enters carnival mode, embracing the year¡¯s biggest spectacle with unparalleled fervor.


    Perhaps Kansas City is an exception.


    At least, it is in one remote corner of the city.


    Jenna Galas knows Kansas City needs this moment¡ª


    After the magical 2017 season, the team¡¯s extraordinary performance proves that last year¡¯s memories were not fleeting fireworks, and the city¡¯s hope is not naive fantasy.


    And then, the Kansas City Chiefs delivered, continuing the hope with a stunning 2018 season that illuminated the path forward, enabling the city¡¯s blue-collar workers to recognize that the endless darkness now welcomes a streak of light¡ªthey can believe, they can dream, hope remains.


    Hold on just a little longer, and life¡¯s turnaround might arrive.


    A remarkable regular season was a gift, the divisional round victory a beacon, the conference finals comeback a testament¡ªunifying the city¡¯s spirit.


    Now, Kansas City celebrates regardless of the Super Bowl¡¯s outcome¡ªthey are already winners, continuing life¡¯s one strand of hope.


    Jenna understands this deeply, as she herself shares those sentiments.


    So Jenna kept things quiet¡ª


    Annie¡¯s funeral.


    Quiet, private, a small ceremony where Jenna finally prepares herself to say goodbye to her daughter. Amid Kansas City¡¯s revelry, she allows herself one moment of grief, to whisper a farewell.


    Today, Kansas City again drizzles its light, continuous rain, the air filled with a chilly crispness.


    Standing before the tombstone, fewer than ten people gathered sparsely. Their voices subdued in the drizzle, silence permeating through the sound of rain.


    Jenna turned, glancing at Jeff, sighing softly.


    ¡°Annie always wanted to go to school, make friends her age; otherwise, she worried that at her funeral, we wouldn¡¯t know who to invite.¡±


    ¡°We should have honored her wishes...¡±


    The words trailed off. Jenna began to choke with emotion.


    She thought she was ready, but clearly, she was not.


    Jenna turned, burying her head into Jeff¡¯s shoulder, using every ounce of strength to hold back her tears, yet the overwhelming grief still consumed her.

 Chapter 837 - 837 836 Final Farewell

    ?Chapter 837: 836 Final Farewell Chapter 837: 836 Final Farewell The black coffin lay there quietly, serene and peaceful. Only the sound of rain surged in the air, and the world had never been so silent.


    Jenna thought she had prepared herself mentally, but as she watched the scene before her, her Annie was now eternally at rest, with not a single friend by her side.


    This reminded Jenna that, during Annie¡¯s brief life, most of her time had been spent in the hospital. Patients, doctors, and nurses became her entire world. She had no opportunity to make friends, no chance to see the outside world; she didn¡¯t even have the chance to step outside the boundaries of Missouri.


    It shouldn¡¯t have been this way. Annie¡¯s world should have been so much more.


    At this thought, Jenna was overcome with sorrow.


    Turning her head hastily, Jenna buried her face in Jeff¡¯s shoulder, trying to hide her tears.


    After the Conference Championships, she had promised Annie that she would no longer grieve, no longer immerse herself in the past to the point of being unable to move forward. She was ready to live again and refused to let sorrow suffocate her any longer.


    She made that promise.


    But today, standing before the coffin, she found herself unable to hold it together.


    ¡°Jenna...¡± Jeff gently patted her on the shoulder, softly calling her name.


    Jenna scrambled to wipe her eyes, trying to cover up her disheveled and distraught state. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m fine. Cough. I¡¯m okay, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Jeff, ¡°No, Jenna, look, over there... is that Li Wei?¡±


    Jenna froze. ¡°Li Wei? How could it be...¡±


    But before she could finish her sentence, the words were caught in her throat.


    A tall, slender figure, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, walked solemnly through the light drizzle with a black umbrella in hand.


    His face was obscured under the umbrella, unclear and indistinct. From his broad shoulders and long legs, one could only make out a hint of his tall and upright stature, leaving no way to identify him with certainty.


    Yet, this figure effortlessly drew everyone¡¯s gaze.


    He approached.


    Closer.


    The umbrella tilted slightly upward, and that clean, refined face came into view. The faint drizzle gradually outlined the sharp contours of his ink-black brows and deep-set eyes.


    Who else could it be but Li Wei?


    A gasp.


    Jenna opened her mouth but made no sound, standing rooted to the spot, unable to believe her eyes. Her mind couldn¡¯t process the sight before her.


    Why was Li Wei here?


    After the Conference Championships and before the Super Bowl, the league had a one-week break for rest and adjustments. Both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams had days off, allowing players to relax their taut nerves. However, full relaxation was not an option, as the upcoming championship was the real focus.


    Due to this, players usually spent time with family and friends, loosening up slightly without fully unwinding, before reporting back to their teams to prepare for the biggest game of the year.


    Jenna didn¡¯t want to take up Li Wei¡¯s time with his family. Annie had told her that Li Wei¡¯s parents still worked in New York and hadn¡¯t retired early. They lived apart most of the time, making every holiday they spent together extraordinarily precious.


    Jenna also didn¡¯t want to disrupt the team¡¯s preparation routine. Including herself, they were all eagerly anticipating the Super Bowl. She believed Annie was as well. Annie must be in heaven right now, gearing up with excitement for the Super Bowl.


    So Jenna hadn¡¯t informed Li Wei.


    But¡ª


    The patter of rain on the umbrella drew nearer and nearer until Li Wei¡¯s footsteps stopped not far away. He didn¡¯t come too close, maintaining a respectful distance.


    ¡°Hey, Jenna, Jeff.¡±


    Li Wei raised his voice to greet them. Nearby, a few murmurs of surprise rippled through the group, as no one could believe Li Wei had appeared before their eyes just like that.


    Li Wei gave a polite nod to them, then turned back to look at Jenna.


    ¡°Sorry to show up uninvited. I hope I¡¯m not disrupting the peacefulness of the ceremony.¡±


    Jenna waved her hands quickly.


    ¡°I just...¡± Li Wei hesitated slightly. ¡°I just wanted to come and say goodbye to Annie. You know, this is the last opportunity.¡±


    Jenna tried to explain why she hadn¡¯t informed Li Wei, but the words lingered on her lips before dissipating. In the end, she swallowed them all.


    The reason no longer mattered. What mattered was that Li Wei was here now.


    ¡°Of course, you¡¯re welcome,¡± Jenna said. ¡°I mean, seeing you here¡ªAnnie would be so happy. I should be the one thanking you.¡±


    Li Wei offered a polite smile. ¡°Annie once told me her biggest regret was not being able to go to school, not being able to make more friends. Even at her funeral, she thought perhaps no friends would attend.¡±


    ¡°So I thought...¡±


    ¡°I know it¡¯s a bit presumptuous, but hey, I¡¯m Annie¡¯s friend. I couldn¡¯t miss the chance to say goodbye to her.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s voice quietly cut through the sound of rain.


    Jenna¡¯s eyes instantly reddened. She quickly took a deep breath to steady herself, then gave a big smile. ¡°Of course. You are absolutely Annie¡¯s friend. Thank you for coming to bid her farewell.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    A thousand words condensed into just one sentence.


    Li Wei hesitated slightly before looking at Jenna. ¡°Jenna, it¡¯s not just me. Some other Chiefs players also wanted to come and say goodbye to Annie.¡±


    Jenna froze. ¡°Others?¡±


    Li Wei nodded gently. ¡°Jenna, Annie wasn¡¯t just my friend.¡±


    ¡°We understand this is a private funeral, and you might not want others intruding. If that¡¯s the case, I can represent them and extend our respects. They can leave after that¡ªwe just wanted to express our thoughts.¡±


    But only if it wouldn¡¯t disturb the Gallas family¡¯s private time.


    After speaking, Li Wei brought out his left hand, which he had kept behind him. In it was a single lily, elegant and pure white, its petals cloaked in a fine mist of raindrops. Standing still, his gaze rested on the coffin before him.


    Jenna was taken aback. She hadn¡¯t expected this at all.


    She looked up at Jeff in a daze, seeking confirmation with her eyes.


    Jeff gave a small nod. ¡°Annie would have liked it.¡±


    Jenna thought about it seriously. ¡°Of course. If you all want to come, I think... Annie would be happy. She¡¯s always loved the company of a lively crowd.¡±


    Li Wei smiled. ¡°That¡¯s classic Annie Gallas, isn¡¯t it? When we¡¯re all frazzled and losing our minds, she¡¯d be standing off to the side, watching us flail, plotting her next prank.¡±


    Involuntarily, both Jenna and Jeff started to laugh as well.


    At that moment, Li Wei turned toward the cemetery¡¯s entrance and raised the lily high in his left hand, swaying it side to side as a signal.


    Then, drawing his gaze back, Li Wei stepped forward to the coffin. His eyes lingered quietly on its surface. Although Annie¡¯s face was no longer visible, at least he could bid her one final farewell:


    Hey, Annie, we won.


    Despite the world¡¯s overwhelming silence, with only the sound of rain gently reverberating in his ears, Li Wei seemed to hear Annie¡¯s vibrant cheers, her arms raised high as she jumped with joy, celebrating the victory.


    Until the very point of exhaustion.


    Breathing heavily, her face pale, while everyone around her looked on with worry and concern. Yet Annie would be the only one laughing heartily, saying, ¡°Haha, you guys should¡¯ve seen the looks on your faces.¡±


    So uninhibited. So free. So rebellious and untamed.

 Chapter 838 - 838 837 A group of friends

    ?Chapter 838: 837 A group of friends Chapter 838: 837 A group of friends Hey, Annie, we won.


    But this isn¡¯t the end.


    Rest assured, we won¡¯t stop fighting, just like that girl named Annie Galas¡ªin a battle she knew would end on purpose from the start, she kept fighting, kept running, and always kept smiling.


    Now, we will carry her dreams and continue fighting all the way.


    Not just this season, but next year, and the year after, and the year after that. We will never forget that there was a girl, who, in her short eleven years of life, seized every moment to burn brightly and release it all, making time lose its meaning while giving life a whole new meaning.


    To live shouldn¡¯t simply mean just living.


    Fly, Annie, fly¡ªjust like a Chieftain.


    No, it should be that the Chieftain flies like her, refusing compromise, refusing surrender, refusing to give up, standing tall and proud in the face of all unknowns and challenges.


    Softly exhaling, Li Wei¡¯s fingertips rested on the surface of the coffin, icy to the touch. The light drizzle danced delicately onto his fingers, fluttering and carefree, as if performing a tap dance.


    Indeed, even the rain is like Annie, smiling in the face of storms.


    Thus, a smile climbed up Li Wei¡¯s lips, and he placed the lily on the coffin.


    ¡°Goodbye, Annie Galas.¡±


    Looking up, Li Wei caught sight of Jenna, her expression full of confusion and panic. He followed Jenna and Jeff¡¯s gaze, turned around, and glanced back at Mr. and Mrs. Galas with a knowing look.


    ¡°Annie¡¯s friends might be a bit more numerous than we imagined.¡±


    A bit?


    Judging by the scene before them, it should be ¡°a great deal more,¡± shouldn¡¯t it?


    This... completely shattered expectations!


    Leading the procession at the front were Mahomes and Kelsey. In their black suits, they looked slightly uncomfortable, as if they were kids sneaking into their father¡¯s wardrobe. Following closely behind them was a long trail.


    Berry and Houston, two veterans; Hill, Jones, Watkins, Fuller, and the third-year group; Buck, Damien, and even those quieter players from the locker room were all present without exception.


    One, two, three, four, five¡ªit was an unending, majestic line slowly advancing amidst the bluish rain curtain, orderly, uniform, and disciplined.


    Unbelievable¡ªthey had all quietly waited at the cemetery gate.


    Solely for Annie¡¯s funeral.


    Even Jenna and Jeff couldn¡¯t disguise their astonishment.


    Jenna, unfamiliar with football, knew only bits and pieces about the rules of the game, let alone identifying every Kansas City Chiefs team member. But now, Jenna was certain the entire Kansas City Chiefs team was in attendance, with nobody left out, including even those from the practice squad.


    Because there were far more than fifty people present.


    Suddenly, Jenna realized¡ª


    They were all Annie¡¯s friends. Annie, who had always worried no one would attend her funeral, was now surrounded by a group of kindred friends in the end.


    The thought left Jenna frozen in place, and when she spotted Felix and Karen at the tail end of the procession, she could no longer hold herself together. She fell apart, standing dumbly in place, letting her tears flow unchecked.


    Sob sob sob.


    Jenna stood quietly in place, crying softly, her sobs swallowed by the sound of rain.


    Jeff tried to comfort his wife, but as his right hand reached Jenna¡¯s shoulder, he froze, a deep, indescribable sadness tightening around his heart, leaving him unable to control himself. He turned away in a fluster to wipe at his overheated cheeks.


    Karen pushed Felix to the coffin¡¯s side, ready to assist, but Felix tapped Karen¡¯s hand gently. ¡°Mom, I need to do this myself.¡±


    Karen¡¯s gaze met Felix¡¯s, steadfast and resolute, leaving her unable to object. She nodded quietly.


    Felix struggled to grip the wheelchair¡¯s armrests firmly, using his own strength to stand, wobbling, teetering, on the verge of falling¡ªbut deep breaths steadied him, and he managed to stay upright.


    A figure approached quickly. Felix lifted his head to see the umbrella shielding him from the rain, then met Li Wei¡¯s calm yet determined gaze. Felix wanted to decline but was interrupted by Li Wei.


    ¡°You¡¯re not planning to reenact *The Notebook* by crying under a storm, are you?¡±


    Felix broke into a muted laugh and followed with a small joke. ¡°A storm? Come on, the famous Li Wei is afraid of just a little drizzle?¡±


    Li Wei was unfazed. ¡°You don¡¯t know? After the last game, my knee was so swollen, it still hasn¡¯t straightened out.¡±


    Felix paused in confusion, unsure whether Li Wei was joking or serious. A beat later, he caught the hint of a smile in Li Wei¡¯s eyes.


    Felix let out a soft breath and turned his gaze to the coffin before him. ¡°Annie, look, the rookie¡¯s spouting nonsense again. What do we do? Want to spar with him some more? None of us can shut him up.¡±


    Though Felix tried his best to smile, sorrow seeped through, like the slow creeping tides of dark blue sea, swallowing everything above.


    ¡°Haha. I had hoped you¡¯d speak at my funeral instead, but you beat me to it. That¡¯s just like you, Annie Galas, breaking the rules and catching us all off guard.¡±


    ¡°Things...¡±


    Words drowned in tears, Felix fumbled to wipe them away with the back of his hand, forcing a smile and doing his best to level his lips.


    ¡°Sorry. We agreed, didn¡¯t we? Whichever one of us left first, the other would flash a big smile as a farewell. Annie, if you saw me like this now, you¡¯d laugh yourself silly. I shouldn¡¯t be this way...¡±


    But the tears didn¡¯t stop.


    Felix eventually abandoned trying to dry them. His shoulders slumped as he stared helplessly at the coffin, unable to fight back against the inevitability of death. His grip on the white lily weakened as his arm hung limply at his side.


    The rain danced lightly on the umbrella¡¯s surface, moving with ease.


    Finally, Felix regained control over himself, his knees trembling slightly, his stance unsteady, but he still refused Li Wei¡¯s help and stood tall on his own strength.


    Felix gazed at the coffin, stepping closer to place the lily gently on top. Lowering his voice, he whispered words meant only for her.


    ¡°Until the final whistle blows, it¡¯s not over. I won¡¯t give up, Annie. I won¡¯t.¡±


    Softly, gently, yet emanating an undeniable strength from his soul.


    He understood. He knew. On the surface, Annie seemed so brave, strong, optimistic, and cheerful; but it was all a facade. In the quiet of night, the fear within would gnash its teeth and claw at her soul, each smile a careful balance requiring endless energy to mask the vulnerability beneath.


    But fear does not equal weakness.


    Quite the opposite. When fear is released, it gives one the courage and tenacity to continue a destined-to-fail battle.


    And so, he would emulate her¡ªknowing the ending is already written, he would fight until the last moment.


    Felix straightened his body once more, his fingertips brushing along the edge of the coffin with lingering fondness before bidding a final farewell.


    ¡°Good night, Annie.¡±

 Chapter 839 - 839 838 Anonymous Floral Tribute

    ?Chapter 839: 838 Anonymous Floral Tribute Chapter 839: 838 Anonymous Floral Tribute Sparse applause echoed intermittently within the theater. The space, which could accommodate two hundred people, was less than a third full, and some audience members were already getting up to leave with indifferent expressions.


    However, on stage, the actors still dutifully completed their curtain call¡ª


    Left side. Right side. Center.


    Bowing, curtsying, expressing gratitude.


    This kind of scene was completely commonplace in New York¡¯s Off-Off-Broadway theaters.


    Broadway actually refers specifically to a street in Manhattan, Broadway Avenue, flanked by countless theaters on either side. This street represents the pinnacle of theater across North America.


    But not just any production can grace the stages of these theaters, so around the Broadway theater district emerged a cluster of new theaters, offering a platform for independent plays, experimental productions, and low-budget artistic performances.


    Later, this cluster of theaters came to be known as Off-Broadway.


    With costs not as prohibitively high, these venues were not only more accommodating to theater companies but also offered affordable tickets, making them friendlier to audiences. Furthermore, theatergoers often unearthed works driven by pure artistic passion¡ªproductions that refuse to compromise for commercial success¡ªturning Off-Broadway into a haven for true theater enthusiasts.


    Thus, before certain Broadway productions officially debuted, they often tested the waters in Off-Broadway theaters to gauge reviews from professional audiences and market feedback, thereby assessing whether a play was ready for Broadway.


    Over time, Off-Broadway blossomed and thrived.


    Later still, outside of the Off-Broadway district emerged yet another ring of theaters. Here, productions with even lower budgets, more experimental ideas, and more artistic flair found a stage. This area became known as Off-Off-Broadway.


    Compared to Broadway and Off-Broadway, this place was far more raw and unrefined, devoid of any pretense or ceremony¡ªit was all purely organic.


    Like a primordial jungle.


    So, the scene before them was unsurprisingly ordinary, nothing special.


    Yet, while that might be true, the actors¡¯ confidence couldn¡¯t help but take a hit¡ª


    Was the play really that bad? Or was their performance lacking?


    After the curtain call, the backstage atmosphere was notably downcast.


    Some people continued to chatter and complain about the audience¡¯s poor manners or mistakes during the performance, but the responses from those nearby dwindled. One by one, they seemed disinterested, the entire dressing room steeped in gloom. Even gossip and complaints couldn¡¯t lift their spirits as they began to worry about their futures.


    Perhaps Talia Ryder was one of the few exceptions¡ª


    She felt satisfied, because tonight¡¯s audience was larger than the previous show¡¯s.


    Talia still remembered the play¡¯s premiere night.


    That evening, since it was the first performance, the actors all invited their family and friends to show support. Adding in media reporters and theater critics who might attend, they had hoped for a packed audience, a strong opening night to propel the play towards Broadway.


    And the result?


    Twenty-three audience members.


    Every single one of them could be counted clearly, scattered sparsely across the corners, their expressions visible from the stage.


    The sense of disparity, the shock, was utterly devastating.


    And now?


    After just two weeks, without the support of family or friends, a full third of the theater seats were filled. This was, undoubtedly, progress.


    Talia believed things were slowly improving. Though the process was slow, it was indeed moving in a positive direction. They had every reason to be optimistic.


    ¡°...Talia.¡±


    The dressing room door swung open, and a figure walked in holding an enormous bouquet of flowers.


    The bouquet itself was so massive that it completely obscured the person behind it¡ªonly the flowers were visible, easily seizing everyone¡¯s attention.


    The previously somber dressing room instantly erupted into chaos.


    ¡°Talia, who? Who¡¯s it from?¡±


    ¡°Talia? These are for Talia?¡±


    ¡°Whoa, someone has a secret admirer!¡±


    ¡°Who knew our little play could catch the eye of some affluent patron?¡±


    ¡°Wait, who is it exactly?¡±


    ¡°Is this really a good thing? There wasn¡¯t exactly a dashing gentleman in the audience tonight. Could it be some potbellied, balding middle-aged man harboring shady intentions toward a teenage girl? Gross.¡±


    Chatter filled the air.


    The entire dressing room swarmed forward, preventing Talia from even getting close. The bouquet was intercepted almost immediately, the room buzzing with excitement.


    Talia: ???


    Honestly, Talia was just as puzzled. She was still in a haze, unable to connect the bouquet to herself.


    Yet, she was already swept up in the commotion, with the teasing and uproar showing no signs of stopping. This left Talia stunned but amused, a smile creeping up her face.


    ¡°So glad to see you¡¯re all so full of life, transforming from a funeral parlor to a disco in mere seconds.¡±


    This one sarcastic remark effortlessly set off a wave of banter and chaos.


    Then, someone finally came to their senses and focused on the critical detail.


    ¡°There¡¯s a card in here!¡±


    ¡°Talia, you¡¯re still underage. We, as your guardians, will read this on your behalf, alright?¡±


    Talia rolled her eyes in exasperation¡ª


    Come on, she¡¯s already old enough to have her driver¡¯s license!


    Talia spread her hands wide open. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind your own age, go ahead, dads and moms.¡±


    Oof!


    A collective gasp swept the room as laughter and complaints turned into absolute mayhem.


    But it wasn¡¯t enough to extinguish the fire of curiosity and gossip. They pulled the card from the bouquet and read it aloud for everyone to hear.


    ¡°Talia,


    May this just be the beginning of your acting journey.


    Twenty-three.¡±


    Wait, that¡¯s it?


    No romantic admirer, no quiet supporter, no glowing praise about tonight¡¯s performance, and definitely no cryptic hotel room number... That¡¯s it?


    Everything was so simple, so plain, that the group¡¯s gossip fizzled out quickly.


    Everyone exchanged glances, searching for answers but finding none.


    The card was passed to Talia. ¡°Who¡¯s this twenty-three?¡±


    Talia was just as baffled¡ª


    No clue, okay?


    ¡°I don¡¯t know either...¡± Her words trailed off as a flash of realization struck her, a figure appearing in her mind.


    Could it be him? The Twenty-Three?


    No way...


    ¡°Talia, what¡¯s going on? Did you figure it out?¡±


    ¡°Who is it? Who exactly?¡±


    Talia didn¡¯t have time to entertain their curiosity. She turned to the person who had delivered the flowers. ¡°Who gave you the bouquet? Where¡¯s the sender?¡±


    ¡°At the back door. He left after giving it to me, wearing a baseball cap¡ªprobably a delivery guy...¡±


    Before the words were finished, Talia grabbed the card and bolted, completely ignoring the calls behind her. She burst through the door and sprinted out onto the street.


    Looking left, looking right, New York¡¯s night lights were blurry and hazy. Visibility was poor, but Talia didn¡¯t give up. She continued her search meticulously¡ª


    If it really was him...


    Talia¡¯s heart pounded wildly, though she couldn¡¯t tell if it was the sprint or her emotions causing it. She felt both excited and nervous.


    Then.


    Talia saw a figure¡ªtall and slender, with a navy blue long coat that couldn¡¯t hide his striking build. Amid the bustling crowd, he stood out instantly.


    Talia took off running, chasing after him.


    Crossing the street, she finally closed the distance and stood in front of him, blocking his path.


    Panting heavily, Talia looked up at the man¡¯s face. A smile spread across her lips, her eyes reflecting the shimmering lights of Manhattan.


    ¡°Hey, Twenty-Three, good evening.¡±

 Chapter 840 - 840 839 Midnight New York

    ?Chapter 840: 839 Midnight New York Chapter 840: 839 Midnight New York Over the past couple of days, social media has been collectively celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ victory. Following in the steps of the Seattle Seahawks, another team has earned a chance to defend their title. But the predicament the Seahawks faced after their failed title defense looms ahead, so the challenge for the Kansas City Chiefs is all too clear.


    The lively discussions buzz incessantly.


    However, Thalia noticed a small piece of news buried in the corners of the noise¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs, under Li Wei¡¯s leadership, collectively attended the funeral of one of their fans, Annie Galas, each offering a lily to pay their respect.


    It was just a tiny, inconspicuous news bit, quickly lost amid the controversies of the Conference Championship and the wave of hype for the Super Bowl.


    But Thalia remembered a detail.


    During the American League Championship, Li Wei dedicated his first touchdown to Annie, even having her name taped onto his cleats.


    She knew this fan must have held special significance for Li Wei and for the Kansas City Chiefs. And yet, this fan had passed away far too young.


    Eleven years old. So young, not even old enough to see her spring bloom before withering too soon.


    Thalia didn¡¯t know how to describe her own feelings¡ªa mixture of lament and sorrow, a faint bitterness spreading on her tongue. Turning her gaze back to the city streets, the bustling and vibrant scenery suddenly felt different.


    In one moment, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder, what must Li Wei be feeling?


    Until tonight.


    Thalia finally saw Li Wei with her own eyes¡ªthe Li Wei who had seemingly disappeared from the public eye ever since the end of the Conference Championship.


    He looked... thinner.


    Not in the literal sense, but something leaner, more subdued, with a quiet gentleness in his gaze and smile. He seemed more reserved, more inward.


    People often think of grief as tears, as though weeping uncontrollably is the only proof of deep wounds.


    But actually, everyone processes grief differently. The cold indifference and detachment of a shattered heart can sometimes be even more painful than tears, because some sadness cannot be expressed, not even with a soundless cry.


    Thalia closely studied the face before her. Even though it was partially obscured by a baseball cap, she could still recognize his eyes.


    ¡°Number 23?¡± Thalia held up the card in her hand, a sly glimmer flickering in her eyes. ¡°So, do you want me to guess, or not guess? You know, there are an overwhelming number of players who¡¯ve worn 23. But the greatest Number 23 in history must be...¡±


    She paused. ¡°Michael Jordan, right?¡±


    Thalia did it on purpose.


    Li Wei looked at the playful girl in front of him. His eyes couldn¡¯t help but reveal a faint smile. ¡°Yet you still guessed correctly on your first try. I¡¯m guessing either Michael Jordan isn¡¯t interested in Broadway for now, or someone might have started watching Kansas City Chiefs games over the past year.¡±


    A quick counter.


    Thalia froze for a moment before realizing she¡¯d given herself away. Still, she wasn¡¯t embarrassed, nodding openly, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve started watching football.¡±


    ¡°After all, when you happen to know a superstar, it¡¯s hard not to glance at the screen when everyone else is watching football. And then, of course, you brag about it to other fans, like, ¡®Hey, guess what? I once served that guy coffee. Honestly, he¡¯s not that special.''¡±


    She rambled on, her expression full of fake disdain.


    Li Wei¡¯s smile bloomed wide in response.


    Thalia was quite satisfied with her comeback, but she wasn¡¯t finished yet. ¡°So, what about you? Why are you here? And why the flowers?¡±


    Li Wei responded casually, ¡°What if I said I was just passing by, saw the poster at the entrance, noticed a familiar face, and decided to show some support? I didn¡¯t even watch the play. Would you believe me?¡±


    Thalia: ...


    ¡°I do.¡± With crisp certainty, Thalia nodded. ¡°After all, our show has practically zero promotion. If you knew about it, that would be strange. I¡¯d almost suspect you¡¯ve been silently stalking my social media and scrolling through my daily updates. But clearly, that¡¯s not your style.¡±


    Li Wei raised an eyebrow lightly. ¡°Such confidence? Didn¡¯t your mother teach you never to trust strangers so easily, especially those suave and polished ones?¡±


    Thalia flashed a dazzling smile, her upturned lips igniting the night as though fireworks were bursting in the background. ¡°So, should I be cautious? Should I call the cops now, dear Number 23?¡±


    For once, under the bold and open gaze of Thalia, Li Wei averted his eyes. But he still confessed, ¡°Yes, you should. I think I should head back now.¡±


    Thalia noticed Li Wei¡¯s hesitation, his careful attempt to conceal the wound in his heart. She quickly offered a warm smile. ¡°Going home already? No way. Don¡¯t you know New York¡¯s nightlife is just getting started? People are used to this city¡¯s daytime, but it¡¯s at midnight that New York is truly captivating.¡±


    ¡°I bet you haven¡¯t truly seen this city¡¯s charm either.¡±


    As she spoke, Thalia began stepping back, raising her voice at Li Wei.


    Li Wei glanced around, a hint of worry in his tone. ¡°It¡¯s so late. Where are you planning to go?¡±


    Thalia¡¯s voice drifted in the wind, ¡°An adventure. What do you say? Wanna join me?¡±


    Li Wei: ???


    Just now, Li Wei had told nothing but the truth.


    Today, Li Wei had flown from Kansas City to New York to reunite with his family and enjoy some simple pleasures. But even then, he¡¯d ended up busying himself in the restaurant all day, especially for the guests who¡¯d come specifically because of him. Li Yi and Jiang Yin always went all out to greet them with twice the usual enthusiasm, and Li Wei felt he should contribute as well.


    Still, after a full day of work, the clamor inside his mind wouldn¡¯t settle down, like countless dissonant noises roaring against his eardrums.


    So, Li Wei had left the apartment and planned to take a walk through Central Park.


    By chance, he noticed the poster outside a theater, stirring a memory. Li Wei thought of the young woman he¡¯d coincidentally met last year. Out of a small sense of camaraderie, he decided to show his support.


    Now, however, watching Thalia¡¯s lively and energetic spirit, Li Wei instinctively wanted to turn and flee.


    A primal reaction.


    Fresh from the sting of grief and subconsciously afraid of getting close to life¡¯s bright vibrancy, as though avoiding a devil, all he wanted was to escape.


    His footsteps froze in place. Li Wei wanted to call out to Thalia, to tell her he wouldn¡¯t be joining her for the adventure.


    Thalia turned, glancing back at the frozen-in-place Li Wei. She beamed a dazzling smile and waved enthusiastically, ¡°Come on!¡±


    As she shouted, she walked backward, her arms swinging, trying to draw Li Wei¡¯s attention, not caring whether she drew the attention of others.


    The New York night, flickering and flashing, its dazzling neon lights like fallen stars scattered across the sky, slowly, slowly all faded into the background. In the brilliance of that bold, blooming smile, everything else paled in comparison.


    Li Wei glanced at the direction of the street. He wanted to tell Thalia: You¡¯re heading the wrong way. He had planned to go north, toward Central Park, while Thalia was heading south.


    This was, quite literally, heading in opposite directions.

 Chapter 841 - 841 840 Rabbit Hole Entrance

    ?Chapter 841: 840 Rabbit Hole Entrance Chapter 841: 840 Rabbit Hole Entrance Thalia completely ignored Li Wei¡¯s destination, not even giving him a chance to speak. She walked backward all the way, arms wide open in the night, bravely and freely embracing the wild wind.


    Li Wei sighed lightly in helplessness and eventually took steps toward Thalia.


    However, Thalia had no intention of interacting with Li Wei and turned around to proceed on her own.


    The young girl stood on tiptoes at the edge of the curb, the spot where the sidewalk met the driveway, with a small step elevation. She balanced wobbly near the edge, walking in the posture of tightrope dancing, muttering endlessly to herself.


    ¡°To the left, it¡¯s a sea of flames; to the right, it¡¯s a cliff. Be extremely careful.¡±


    ¡°Number twenty-three, watch out! You¡¯re walking through purgatory right now. Can¡¯t you see your health bar is constantly dropping? Hurry, hurry, climb back up!¡±


    Turning back, Thalia saw Li Wei¡¯s calm face.


    Heh heh.


    Thalia grinned, ¡°What¡¯s up? Do you think this is really childish?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand why everyone wants to grow up. After growing up, life becomes dull, devoid of imagination or vitality. People always care about this and that; face becomes more important than joy, money more important than happiness. Everyone chases something but never stops to think if it¡¯s what they truly desire.¡±


    ¡°If people think being childish is silly, then let them think so. I don¡¯t mind at all.¡±


    So pure, so simple, like a little sun, making the night feel gentle.


    Li Wei quietly watched the utterly serious Thalia, as if genuinely worried that one wrong move in this imaginary scenario might send her plummeting into the abyss.


    That serious profile was filled with focus and happiness.


    Li Wei took off his trench coat and handed it to her, ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed the cold wave attack in the air? Your health bar is dropping faster than mine.¡±


    It was only now that Thalia realized she had rushed out without wearing a coat. In January¡¯s New York, the biting cold wind made her shiver.


    No wonder her knees had been trembling¡ªbut she had been so focused on Li Wei that she hadn¡¯t noticed.


    Thalia¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly. Without being overly reserved, she quickly took Li Wei¡¯s coat, fumbling to put it on, then looked down to examine it, touching here and there, studying it closely.


    ¡°So long? What size do you wear, anyway? Are you a giant?¡±


    Looking up, Thalia met Li Wei¡¯s deep eyes, which seemed as though they were peering into her soul, making her mutter awkwardly, ¡°I was just checking if it¡¯s a designer brand or not.¡±


    Then, without warning, she looked up and pointed behind Li Wei, ¡°Ah, a shooting star!¡±


    Unfortunately, Li Wei remained unmoving, simply gazing at her quietly, with a hint of amusement in his eyes.


    Thalia scratched her nose in annoyance. ¡°Everyone else would have fallen for it; only you remain indifferent. You¡¯re definitely weird.¡±


    Suddenly, Li Wei¡¯s eyes widened, and he looked over Thalia¡¯s shoulder with an expression of surprise.


    Thalia noticed and asked, ¡°What?¡±


    She followed Li Wei¡¯s gaze, turning her head to look behind her¡ªbut there was nothing in the night sky. Muttering to herself, she said, ¡°What did you see, exactly?¡±


    Turning back, Thalia found Li Wei as composed as ever. ¡°A UFO.¡±


    In that instant, Thalia realized she had been played.


    Li Wei said, ¡°This is how pranks should really work.¡±


    Thalia huffed and puffed for a moment, looking as though she was about to shed golden beans.


    Li Wei was suddenly flustered. ¡°Uh, Thalia, I... I¡¯m sorry... I was just¡ª¡±


    Thalia stuck out her tongue and made a playful face at him. ¡°Haha, caught you!¡±


    As Li Wei stared at her stunned expression, Thalia laughed wholeheartedly and spun around, breaking into a little jog. Her cheerful laughter filled the air, spilling everywhere, but more remarkably, even then, she still tiptoed, wobbly balancing on the curb¡¯s edge, embodying a pure joy and happiness.


    Li Wei was momentarily dazed before a smile crept across his lips.


    ...


    ¡°I never knew the Lower City could look like this. Is this even legal?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m guessing not. So if the police raid, they¡¯d have to pack up quickly and leave. It¡¯s kind of part of the charm.¡±


    Compared to the structured, grid-like layout of Manhattan¡¯s Upper City and Midtown, the Lower City¡ªthe area initially settled by Europeans upon arriving in New York¡ªis erratically unorganized. A chaotic web of streets and alleys sprawls out unpredictably, and you could easily get lost if you weren¡¯t paying attention.


    Such was the scene before them. A perfectly straight main road suddenly branched out into a winding, nonsensical side path that twisted and turned unexpectedly, leading to another street. Out of nowhere appeared a small park with two unidentified trees whose dense canopies sheltered a little haven.


    During the day, Li Wei was certain this was a resting area.


    People skateboarded here, others played chess¡ªunsurprisingly, given this spot¡¯s proximity to Chinatown, where many Chinese gathered. Not far away, another small park served as a mahjong space shared not just by the Chinese but also Italians, Mexicans, and Spaniards alike.


    However, Li Wei had never ventured here at night.


    The night became a perfect veil, transforming this space into one even noisier than it was during the day. Mobile vendors clustered together, selling a dizzying array of goods.


    The din of voices mingled with the bustling crowd, packing the tiny space to the brim. Rolling waves of heat energy pushed the icy chill of winter back just a little.


    It was like stepping into the Rabbit Hole.


    A quick glance revealed stalls selling counterfeit designer bags, including LV and Gucci luxury items, as well as Nike and Adidas sports brands¡ªlikely ¡°Made-in-China.¡± There were also stalls selling various antiques and even furniture.


    Setting aside whether those antiques were authentic, the only thought running through Li Wei¡¯s mind was: if the police raid, how could they possibly move the furniture?


    In his previous life, back in his homeland, Li Wei was no stranger to night markets like this. Yet he hadn¡¯t expected to find such a familiar and endearing sight on the opposite side of the Pacific Ocean.


    Thalia stopped in front of one stall, crouching down to carefully examine the wares.


    Li Wei squatted down alongside her. It was a vinyl record stall, displaying hundreds of records waiting to be discovered.


    Li Wei casually flipped through the collection. Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Beyonce?, Justin Timberlake, One Direction, Drake¡ªthey were all there, including the latest releases.


    ¡°Ah, you actually have this one?¡± Thalia exclaimed in delight.


    The vendor glanced at her. ¡°Of course. It¡¯s a must-have. Ten dollars.¡±


    Thalia held it reverently with affection.


    Li Wei looked over. ¡°Glory to Death: Nearing Fame.¡± He raised an eyebrow in surprise. ¡°You like it? If you do, buy it.¡±


    Thalia gently shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ll keep looking for now.¡±


    Li Wei was puzzled. Ten dollars seemed like a steal. If it was a rare vinyl, missing this chance would likely mean missing out entirely.


    Could Thalia have run out of pocket money? Or did she forget her wallet? If necessary, he could help her out.


    Thalia appeared to sense Li Wei¡¯s gaze. She sneaked closer, leaning in to whisper secretly into Li Wei¡¯s ear, ¡°They¡¯re all knockoffs.¡±


    What did she mean? Bootleg copies?

 Chapter 842 - 842 841 all the way with you

    ?Chapter 842: 841 all the way with you Chapter 842: 841 all the way with you ¡°They¡¯re all fakes.¡±


    ¡°The covers look like regular albums, but inside, it¡¯s actually this brother¡¯s own recordings. Trust me, he might¡¯ve even recorded a whole album himself.¡±


    Talia whispered into Li Wei¡¯s ear. Only then did Li Wei realize just how clueless he had been. He had no idea there could be tricks like this.


    Li Wei stared at Talia in stunned disbelief, then once more at the man in front of him ¡ª thick lips, dreadlocks ¡ª his thoughts tangled into knots.


    Talia clung to Li Wei¡¯s arm, leaning in even closer.


    ¡°Look, Taylor, Ed, Beyonce? ¡ª you happily take them home, only to find every single one of them is just this guy¡¯s hip-hop tracks.¡±


    Pfft.


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t hold back and almost burst out laughing. Instead, he sifted through the stack of vinyl before picking out a Drake album. ¡°Then let¡¯s go with this one. At least it¡¯s the same genre.¡±


    This time, Talia couldn¡¯t hold it anymore. She buried her face into Li Wei¡¯s arm, muffling her laughter.


    Even though she hid her voice, her shoulders trembling gave her away.


    The man with dreadlocks noticed the odd behavior and looked at Li Wei. ¡°That one¡¯s fine too. Or, fifteen dollars for two ¡ª you can¡¯t put a price on love, right?¡±


    Li Wei met his gaze with utter seriousness. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m from Kenny-G¡¯s camp.¡±


    Kenny-G, the saxophone virtuoso, also one of North America¡¯s most famous jazz artists.


    The man froze for a moment. ¡°Oh, his album? I¡¯ve got that too. Hold on.¡±


    Li Wei: That¡¯s a thing?


    Talia finally cracked. ¡°Run!¡±


    She grabbed Li Wei¡¯s arm and bolted, stumbling as they ran.


    The two of them sprinted away, while the vendor¡¯s voice trailed behind them, reluctant and persistent. ¡°Three for twenty! Three for twenty! You sure you don¡¯t wanna reconsider?¡±


    Haha, hahaha.


    Talia and Li Wei burst into laughter as they ran, and before long, Talia found herself lagging behind. Naturally, it turned into Li Wei pulling her along by the hand.


    His broad, warm palm fully wrapped around hers, and laughter scattered into the wind as they sped through the streets.


    It wasn¡¯t until Talia couldn¡¯t keep running anymore and stopped that she noticed the heat of his hand. Her cheeks flushed as her pounding heartbeat became impossible to ignore. For a moment, she couldn¡¯t quite make sense of the whirlwind of feelings. Shyly avoiding Li Wei¡¯s gaze, her eyes darted away in a flustered attempt to control herself.


    ¡°Ah, pizza.¡±


    Talia¡¯s gaze landed on a nearby shop, her face lighting up as she skipped toward it in delight.


    Standing at the pizza shop¡¯s entrance, Talia looked inside with yearning eyes and involuntarily swallowed.


    Li Wei caught up, following her gaze inward but seeing nothing particularly special.


    Talia eagerly began her explanation. ¡°This is a hand-tossed pizza place that¡¯s super famous in this part of town ¡ª hand-tossed, wood-fired, and authentic Italians. Places like this are rare now. They stick to the original flavors and use top-notch ingredients. It¡¯s super famous.¡±


    ¡°Look at the walls inside. Half of Hollywood knows about this place! Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, Al Pacino, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lawrence ¡ª you couldn¡¯t count them all.¡±


    ¡°And occasionally, if you drop by late at night, you might even run into these actors. People share their encounters on social media all the time.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d think this place runs on hype, but it doesn¡¯t. It¡¯s been around for over seventy years, still refusing to do delivery.¡±


    Li Wei raised an eyebrow slightly, intrigued. He knew Italian-Americans had always been a cornerstone of New York¡¯s community, but hadn¡¯t quite experienced it in this depth. Thinking back, in Manhattan, Chinese and Italian food always topped the delivery charts ¡ª it was woven into the city¡¯s rhythm. Not surprising at all.


    Li Wei smiled faintly. ¡°So you secretly hope your photo ends up on that wall one day?¡±


    Talia blushed, uncharacteristically shy. ¡°If it could happen, it¡¯d be amazing, of course, but there¡¯s no need to force it. I know how difficult it is. Constantly aiming for fame and fortune sounds so dull.¡±


    Li Wei studied her closely. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s see what this famed hand-tossed pizza is all about.¡±


    Talia hesitated. ¡°No, I can¡¯t. I need to watch my weight.¡±


    Despite her words, her gaze kept drifting back into the shop, betraying her cravings.


    Li Wei smirked knowingly. ¡°Constantly aiming for fame and fortune sounds so dull.¡±


    Saying that, he casually pushed open the pizza shop¡¯s door and walked inside.


    Talia bit her lip, hesitating for a moment. In the end, she couldn¡¯t resist and followed Li Wei inside.


    ¡°Anything you¡¯d recommend?¡± Li Wei asked the chubby middle-aged man behind the counter.


    The man looked up. ¡°Margarita and Salami are timeless choices, but today, I¡¯d especially recommend Naples. We just got a batch of fresh tomatoes straight from Italy ¡ª they¡¯re exceptional. I can¡¯t get enough.¡±


    His exaggerated Italian hand gestures betrayed his enthusiasm and excitement.


    Li Wei made his decision without hesitation. ¡°One of each, please.¡±


    The man busily prepared their pizzas, glancing at Li Wei curiously. ¡°Has anyone told you that you look just like Li Wei? You know, Kansas City¡¯s running back.¡±


    Li Wei hadn¡¯t expected this comparison, turning to Talia. ¡°That¡¯s the second time tonight. Thought I¡¯d nailed my disguise.¡±


    The man beamed with surprise. ¡°To be honest, it¡¯d be harder *not* to recognize you now. Incredible game, by the way ¡ª and thanks for beating New England.¡±


    Li Wei replied calmly, ¡°Let¡¯s hold off on the praise for now. One game at a time. There¡¯s still another match ahead.¡±


    The man laughed heartily. ¡°No wonder everyone likes you. Sorry if this seems intrusive ¡ª I don¡¯t want to interrupt your date, but could you leave us an autograph before you go?¡±


    Initially, Li Wei had planned to deny it, not wanting misunderstandings. It wouldn¡¯t bother him, but any rumors spreading could become a burden for Talia. Yet hearing that last sentence sparked an idea.


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯d be an honor.¡± Li Wei flashed a brilliant smile. ¡°But you know, I think you should grab an autograph from the lady behind me too ¡ª she¡¯s Hollywood¡¯s next big thing! You don¡¯t want to miss out.¡±


    Talia blinked in disbelief. ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    The man, however, was quick and effusively agreeable. ¡°Absolutely, I wouldn¡¯t want to miss that! Miss, could you leave an autograph for our shop too?¡±


    Talia froze, caught between joy and nerves, uncertainty and excitement. She glanced at Li Wei, mouthing silently, ¡°Really?¡±


    Li Wei gave her a reassuring nod, his gaze full of encouragement.


    Talia swallowed hard, gathering her courage as she nodded emphatically. ¡°Of course, it¡¯d be my pleasure.¡±


    As she carefully took the card offered by the shop owner, Talia realized her hands were trembling slightly. She¡¯d never signed anything for anyone before.


    Then, a warm, low voice came softly from her side. ¡°Dear Talia Ryder, may I ask for your precious signature first?¡±


    Looking up, Talia found herself caught in Li Wei¡¯s bright, starry gaze ¡ª like an endless sea of constellations.


    Her heart skipped a beat.

 Chapter 843 - 843 842 days before sunrise

    ?Chapter 843: 842 days before sunrise Chapter 843: 842 days before sunrise ¡°Ah, ah ah ah... hahaha...¡±


    Thalia sprinted down the street, arms raised high to feel the breeze brushing over her head. The hem of her long coat fluttered wildly.


    Then, in a sudden twirl, her radiant, dazzling smile bloomed like a night-springing flower under the hazy glow of the evening light.


    ¡°I just signed an autograph for someone.¡±


    Even from a distance, the happiness sparkling in Thalia¡¯s eyes was unmistakable. It was so contagious that the corners of Li Wei¡¯s mouth lifted as he raised his voice.


    ¡°So, how was the pizza?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I said, how was the pizza?¡±


    ¡°Good, so good¡ªit was absolutely delicious! This is the most amazing pizza of my life.¡±


    Their voices echoed across the distance, shouting back and forth like two fools. Their exuberance spread through the night, creating ripples that enveloped the air.


    Only now did they realize it was getting late. Without doing anything particularly noteworthy, time had quietly slipped through their fingers.


    Having just witnessed New York¡¯s noisy side, they were now soaking in its tranquil aspect. Though New York¡¯s nightlife offers countless options, the city gradually quiets down past midnight. Except for a few areas concentrated with clubs and bars, the rest of the city enters its slumber earlier than expected¡ªa side of New York few had probably imagined.


    Thalia noticed it too, and a new idea sprang to her mind.


    ¡°How about heading to the dock near the Statue of Liberty to watch the sunrise?¡±


    Li Wei hadn¡¯t been prepared for this suggestion. ¡°Sunrise? Are you sure? Won¡¯t your mom be worried if you come home so late? Did you tell your family before heading out tonight?¡±


    Thalia pouted. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re such a stickler for the rules.¡±


    Li Wei laughed outright. ¡°This is the first time someone has called me old.¡±


    Thalia thought it over and couldn¡¯t help herself; a smile bloomed once again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I already told my mom, gave her a heads-up, and let her know I was hanging out with Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ number 23. If anything goes wrong, she¡¯ll be quick to expose your true colors to the media.¡±


    Li Wei: ¡°Hahaha, looks like I better tread carefully.¡±


    Thalia: ¡°So, are we going for the sunrise or not?¡±


    Normally, at this hour, Li Wei would¡¯ve been getting ready for bed. A regular sleep cycle is crucial for professional athletes, and he hadn¡¯t forgotten about the upcoming final showdown next week.


    But tonight, he had stepped out because he couldn¡¯t calm his restless mind. Taking a stroll and indulging in a rare deviation from routine seemed like a good way to reset.


    Li Wei waved his hand dramatically. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll hail a cab.¡±


    Thalia sprinted back to him and quickly grabbed his right hand. ¡°Wait, wait¡ªwhat¡¯s the point of taking a cab? It¡¯s just a little bit farther; let¡¯s walk.¡±


    Li Wei: ¡°Walk? Are you serious? It¡¯s at least thirty blocks to the dock from here.¡±


    Thalia looked at him as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. ¡°Yeah, but it¡¯s just thirty blocks. If we keep walking, we¡¯ll get there. The air in New York at night is especially fresh¡ªlet¡¯s just think of it as a way to unwind.¡±


    Li Wei shot her a strange look.


    Thalia refused to back down and glared right back. ¡°What, are you worried you can¡¯t handle it? I thought thirty blocks would be nothing for someone like you.¡±


    Was this a provocation?


    Li Wei laughed helplessly and didn¡¯t argue back. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll walk.¡±


    ...


    The night felt both endless and fleeting. Before they had time to fully savor it, the sky was already transitioning to blue¡ªa deep, vivid blue.


    It was immediately recognizable as the blue hour right before the Sun¡¯s rise.


    Li Wei turned to look at Thalia, who had slipped into dreams while leaning against his shoulder, her mouth wide open as if waiting for an unsuspecting bug to fly in.


    The night¡¯s trek left Li Wei only slightly tired; for Thalia, though, it had drained her completely. Coupled with her endless chatter throughout, her body and mind had been pushed to their limits¡ªit would¡¯ve been strange if she weren¡¯t exhausted.


    To top it off, Thalia had already performed in a show earlier in the evening.


    Li Wei had thought she wouldn¡¯t manage to make it to Manhattan¡¯s southern docks, but to his surprise, she gritted her teeth and soldiered on.


    Once they finally arrived, however, the blurred shadow of the Statue of Liberty in the dark wasn¡¯t enough to keep Thalia awake for long. Her eyelids began drooping almost immediately.


    Li Wei hesitated for a moment but decided not to wake her and let her rest.


    He quietly turned his gaze eastward, waiting for the Earth to complete its steady rotation and welcome daylight back to this northern hemisphere city.


    Bit by bit, a faint orange glow appeared at the junction of sea and sky, pulsating gently as though imitating the beat of a heart.


    The soft radiance slowly seeped into the pitch-black night, painting the sky a deep peacock blue¡ªrich, mysterious, and seemingly stirring the sleeping heavens awake.


    The moment seemed frozen, waiting for ages.


    Then, suddenly, the transformation began. Orange shifted to red, then into gold. The infinite tapestry of night tore apart into countless fragments, dissipating within the span of a breath. In no time, the Sun broke free from its constraints, bouncing into view. Its brilliant rays overflowed, spreading mightily.


    Dawn had arrived.


    The lazy light warmed the skin, the sudden chill of goosebumps quickly leveling off into tranquility. The gentle warmth kissed the face, inviting one to close their eyes and savor it.


    Thalia curled herself tighter into a ball, scooting closer to Li Wei like she was cozying up to a fireplace. Her body gradually began to relax.


    Finally, overwhelmed by the bright sunlight, Thalia slowly opened her eyes, raising her hand to rub at them.


    She leaned her head back onto Li Wei¡¯s shoulder without hesitation and murmured in a raspy voice, ¡°Looks like a soft-boiled egg.¡±


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t hold back and burst into laughter. ¡°Are you hungry now?¡±


    Thalia admitted openly and shamelessly, ¡°Mm-hmm.¡±


    Li Wei nodded lightly. ¡°Alright, no problem. Let¡¯s go grab breakfast. I¡¯ll call the taxi company.¡±


    In New York, hailing a cab on the street was always an option. But if you worried about catching a ride, calling a taxi company was always a reliable alternative.


    Thalia¡¯s sleepy eyes suddenly widened. ¡°Taxi? Why a taxi? Isn¡¯t walking good enough?¡±


    Li Wei looked at her curiously. ¡°Do you have some particular attachment to walking?¡±


    Thalia giggled, letting out a silly laugh. ¡°What if I told you that I¡¯ve never been on a plane¡ªwould you believe me?¡±


    Li Wei froze.


    Yet Thalia remained candid and upbeat. ¡°My sister and I are interested in acting jobs, which is why our parents moved to New York for us. But, clearly, it costs a fortune to become an actor in New York.¡±


    The memory suddenly clicked for Li Wei: during their first meeting, Thalia had been working part-time.


    Li Wei tilted his chin slightly upward. ¡°So, should I offer to buy you a car right now?¡±


    Thalia widened her eyes in mock shock. ¡°There¡¯s no parking spot in front of my apartment. So, does that mean the car comes with a house?¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡± Li Wei let out an unrestrained laugh at her unexpected response.


    Thalia straightened up and adjusted her posture. ¡°I actually think this kind of life has its charm. Not everyone can own a car or a house whenever they want. If you don¡¯t, are you supposed to sit on the ground and cry? Might as well enjoy what you¡¯ve already got¡ªlike indulging in daydreams, losing yourself, and even lying to yourself. That¡¯s one way.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s eyes sparkled with amusement. ¡°Or, you know, enjoy the free, beautiful sunrise right in front of us¡ªa beachfront property.¡±


    Thalia¡¯s smile bloomed brightly once more. ¡°Exactly¡ªpriceless beachfront property.¡±


    Ahead of them, the Sun was fully risen. The city stirred awake gradually, while the calm sea shimmered with a dazzling glow that was breathtakingly beautiful.

 Chapter 844 - 844 843 Sweep the Charts

    ?Chapter 844: 843 Sweep the Charts Chapter 844: 843 Sweep the Charts The 2018 NFL season has come close to its end, with only one ultimate showdown remaining¡ª


    The Super Bowl.


    The National Conference¡¯s No. 2 seed Los Angeles Rams and the American Conference¡¯s No. 1 seed Kansas City Chiefs battled through fierce challenges to clinch their spots, transforming Week 11¡¯s ¡°Midseason Super Bowl¡± into the season finale¡¯s ¡°Battle at the Summit of the Forbidden.¡± It effortlessly ignited passion and commanded attention.


    The discourse surrounding the Super Bowl showdown is already unfolding in full momentum; however, before delving into the in-depth analysis and predictions of the Super Bowl, league professionals momentarily divert their focus from the two spotlight teams to acknowledge the other thirty teams across the league by distributing awards.


    Perhaps the wild card and divisional rounds were underwhelming, and perhaps the ultimate focus of the season still fell upon the final four teams in the conference championship games. Yet looking back at the regular season, the moments of brilliance extended far beyond that¡ªveterans standing firm and rookies shining bright, the steadfastness of traditional powerhouses alongside the emergence of rising stars¡ªall combined to bring together a spectacular season.


    Undoubtedly, this was a legendary season defined by offensive brilliance¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, and New England Patriots occupied the top four spots in the league¡¯s offensive rankings. Not only did these teams secure the top two seeds in their respective conferences during the regular season, but they also advanced through the playoffs to reach the conference championship games, continuing their dominant performance throughout.


    In stark contrast stood the defensive rankings.


    The Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, and Houston Texans claimed the top four positions in defensive rankings, yet the Titans failed to qualify for the playoffs, while the other three teams delivered disappointing playoff performances, exiting early.


    The long-standing adage ¡°Offense wins games, defense wins championships¡± seemed ineffective this season. Instead, the league¡¯s push for higher viewership by promoting ¡°pass-first, offense-dominant football¡± swept through, fundamentally transforming the league and solidifying the trend of prioritizing offense.


    Moreover, after last season¡¯s low point for quarterbacks, this season witnessed a resurgence across the board. Although there were no performances at the level of dominance showcased by legends like Big Manning or Rodgers, quarterbacks of all generations had achievements worth noting.


    Veteran quarterbacks like Brady and Brees upheld their reputations as ageless wonders.


    Middle-aged quarterbacks, including Roethlisberger, Rivers, Matt Ryan, Rodgers, Luck, and Cousins, stepped up as reliable pillars for their teams. Among them, Rivers and Luck revitalized their careers with performances worthy of acclaim.


    Young quarterbacks such as Goff, Mahomes, Watson, Prescott, and the late-emerging Jackson painted a promising picture for the league¡¯s future.


    Flourishing diversity and robust competition.


    Though there may not be a single quarterback commanding unparalleled dominance across the league, the collective rise paints a picture of thriving vigor and growth.


    Even more noteworthy is the widespread brilliance of wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs, reminding the league that stars are not exclusive to quarterbacks.


    This season, star running backs played pivotal roles; following top-tier running back Bell¡¯s boycott and holdout with the Pittsburgh Steelers, league-wide attention shifted to the position like never before. Running backs seized this moment to rise to the occasion and deliver explosive performances.


    Standouts like Dallas Cowboys¡¯ Elliott, New York Giants¡¯ Barkley, Los Angeles Rams¡¯ Gurley, Washington Redskins¡¯ Peterson, Tennessee Titans¡¯ Henry, and Carolina Panthers¡¯ McCaffrey performed remarkably, each fulfilling distinct roles within their teams.


    And then there¡¯s Li Wei, who revolutionized the league¡¯s perception. Delivering back-to-back seasons of epic, top-tier performances, Li Wei electrified the league with his sensational contributions, particularly his heroic efforts in the American Conference Championship Game, turning all eyes onto the position of running back.


    The spotlight on him was unmatched.


    All of this is reflected in the regular season¡¯s major award lists.


    The 2018 season¡¯s All-America First Team/Second Team rosters were just unveiled.


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive unit, having crafted one legendary moment after another this season, emerged as the highlight. Mahomes, Li Wei, Kelsey, and Hill¡ªthe Four Great Kings¡ªalong with offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz, collaborated to claim five spots on the All-America First Team, creating a dazzling display of excellence.


    Mahomes¡¯ sudden rise to stardom placed him shoulder to shoulder with Brees on the All-America First Team roster while also earning recognition on the All-America Second Team¡¯s starting lineup¡ªa feat overshadowing other quarterbacks who failed to make the cut.


    Including Los Angeles Rams¡¯ Goff and New England Patriots¡¯ Brady.


    This reflects the immense acknowledgment of Mahomes¡¯ performance this season.


    Li Wei similarly earned his rightful place on the All-America First Team as a starter, tying with Los Angeles Rams¡¯ Gurley for spotlight, leaving other skilled running backs unable to secure a spot.


    Barkley and Elliott both made the All-America Second Team, while McCaffrey impressed with his dual-threat abilities in rushing and receiving, securing the Second Team¡¯s flex position, a hybrid role few teams have at their disposal.


    Additionally, defensive tackle Chris Jones earned his first career All-America Second Team nomination for his stellar performance, making him the sole defensive representative.


    Although the defensive group saw only one player nominated, it still underscored that, despite the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ defensive weaknesses, there were standout moments this season.


    In total, Kansas City Chiefs players claimed six spots across the All-America First Team/Second Team nominations, surpassing the five achieved by the New Orleans Saints to lead all teams in nominations¡ªundoubtedly making them the biggest winners of the season.


    Looking back to the season opener, with the Kansas City Chiefs entering as defending champions amidst crises and challenges¡ªthe doubts and skepticism following their Cinderella run last season escalated fully into the new season. Yet, the team countered all criticism with an impeccable series of performances, delivering a convincing response even without factoring in their playoff run.


    If the All-America roster represents professional acknowledgment, then the Pro Bowl reflects fan recognition.


    Throughout this season, it seemed as though the Kansas City Chiefs attracted a fair share of negativity, facing continuous criticism, disdain, provocation, and attacks. Every minor incident seemed capable of igniting social media frenzy, as many continued to view the Kansas City Chiefs as ¡°newcomers¡± or ¡°underdogs,¡± withholding true respect.


    Even as they kept winning, doubts lingered relentlessly.


    Fans remained loyal to the traditionally popular teams like Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New Orleans Saints, which continue to boast immense nationwide support even outside their home cities.


    However, social media discourse and online traffic can be misleading and biased. To truly gauge the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ popularity across the North American continent, we await the Pro Bowl roster announcement to provide evidence.


    So, outside of Kansas City, can this emerging team that disrupted the league¡¯s landscape gain widespread appeal across North America similar to the Seattle Seahawks or Denver Broncos? Or will they, like the Atlanta Falcons or Philadelphia Eagles, struggle to break through city barriers and establish a stronger presence?

 Chapter 845 - 845 844 repeated as box office champion

    ?Chapter 845: 844 repeated as box office champion Chapter 845: 844 repeated as box office champion Outside of Kansas City, and even outside of Missouri, how popular are the Kansas City Chiefs? Are the passersby friendly? Are the neutral fans friendly?


    Everything is revealed in the Pro Bowl roster.


    Last season, after entering the Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs had only six players selected to the Pro Bowl roster, and like the Philadelphia Eagles, both Super Bowl opponents could be described as companions in adversity.


    This season, the Kansas City Chiefs have risen comprehensively, proving with action that ¡°the more controversy, the higher the popularity; the more criticism, the better the performance¡± ¡ª


    Li Wei: I just love seeing you grit your teeth but have to watch us keep winning.


    So, the number of Pro Bowl selections is ten, surpassing the Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, and New Orleans Saints, who had eight, making the Kansas City Chiefs the biggest winners on this year¡¯s Pro Bowl roster, proving themselves distinguishably beyond Kansas City.


    Offensive group: Mahomes, Li Wei, Kelsey, Hill, Damien, Fisher.


    Apart from the ¡°Four Great Kings,¡± the selection of running back Damien Williams and offensive tackle Eric Fisher is considered a surprise, especially Damien, who, after Hunter left, made his debut mid-season and in just a few games brought himself into fans¡¯ view and won tremendous popularity.


    Defensive group: Jones, Houston, Fuller, Ford.


    Lineman Houston and Ford both made it to the list, remaining the absolute core of Kansas City Chiefs Defense. This season, Houston¡¯s regular season performance was mediocre, mainly relying on accumulated popularity over the years for recognition, but this also indirectly shows that the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ fan base is continually expanding.


    A small comparison, this season the Los Angeles Rams, who captured countless eyeballs and focus and advanced powerfully from the regular season to the Super Bowl, had only four players selected to the Pro Bowl:


    Offensive group: Goff and Gurley, Defensive group: Donald, Special Duty Group: Cory Littleton.


    That¡¯s all.


    Is it because the team¡¯s performance wasn¡¯t outstanding enough? Are the players not strong enough?


    No, none of that, it¡¯s purely because the Los Angeles Rams haven¡¯t yet built their fan base, which indirectly highlights the territory the Kansas City Chiefs have established in just two seasons, making significant progress quietly changing their position in the league.


    Here, it¡¯s worth mentioning that JJ-Watt still shines this season, being selected to the Pro Bowl and All-America First Team as a defensive tackle and to the Pro Bowl and All-American Second Team as a lineman, proving with actions that when healthy, he remains one of the most threatening existence in the league.


    At the same time, all major news outlets nationwide quickly spotlighted ¡ª


    ¡°Li Wei, once again crowned as the king of the Pro Bowl votes for the second consecutive year.¡±


    ¡°Leading the way all the time, with an insurmountable gap, Li Wei¡¯s crowning as the Pro Bowl vote king was without suspense.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei again makes history as a running back, topping the Pro Bowl voting for two consecutive years.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei inverts the unfavorable position of running backs single-handedly, garnering fan attention.¡±


    ¡°Defeating Watt and Mahomes, Li Wei clinches the Pro Bowl fan voting.¡±


    Attention, cheers, celebration.


    Of course, there¡¯s also astonishment.


    If two years ago someone said that a running back would emerge, becoming the most topical, popular, and influential player in the league, not only leading in jersey sales but also dominating Pro Bowl voting and, more importantly, reversing the league¡¯s neglect and bias against running backs.


    Then, it would likely have been met with ridicule and disdain.


    Nobody believed it, literally no one.


    But that¡¯s exactly what happened, with Li Wei¡¯s emergence altering the league¡¯s dynamics.


    For the second consecutive year, Li Wei defeated popular players like Watt, Mahomes, Donald, and Brady in the Pro Bowl voting, pulling away with a singular lead.


    The point being, there¡¯s no dissent.


    Even though social media rants sourly with, ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know Hua Xia fans¡¯ crazy voting ability¡±; Li Wei¡¯s unparalleled on-field performances rendered these voices frustrated and petty, while those genuinely supporting Li Wei didn¡¯t even bother to argue ¡ª


    No need, really.


    Every aspect is proving that Li Wei¡¯s presence indeed brought new changes to the league.


    Rookie. Chinese. Running back.


    Different labels collided to create a chemical reaction, ultimately causing a stir with unrivaled performances on the field and rapidly rising team achievements as a foundation.


    Moreover, with the rise of Gurley and Henry, Bell¡¯s strike, the comprehensive rise of a new generation of running backs represented by McCaffrey and Barkley, and the strong return of veteran running backs typical of Peterson, the time, place, and people all converged together.


    Ultimately, Li Wei almost single-handedly levered the league¡¯s dynamics.


    History, thus born.


    The Pro Bowl is merely the tip of the iceberg; the main event is yet to come.


    Since the regular season fully concluded, discussions about the regular season MVP and other major awards have not ceased, advancing further on last year¡¯s clamorous base:


    When will the habitual quarterback choice bias be changed? Should running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends be spotlighted? How long will defensive group players be ignored?


    And so on and so forth.


    After three weeks of playoff battles during the wild card, divisional, and conference finals, lively discussions reached a peak, and the season awards list finally emerged under public attention with fervor.


    It¡¯s no exaggeration to say, this might be the most fiercely discussed, densely focused, and vigorously trafficked regular season awards selection since the millennium.


    Thump, thump, thump, thump in a pounding drumroll, the league finally announced the results of the regular season awards selection for the year.


    2018 Season, Regular Season MVP ¡ª


    Li Wei, running back, Kansas City Chiefs.


    Boom, boom boom boom, boom!


    Earth-shaking, the entire league roared in astonishment and cheers, with voices of support, opposition, and spectators among them.


    Finally, witnessing history.


    Since Adrian Peterson was honored as the regular season MVP in the 2012 season, after five years, finally, another running back won this highest regular-season honor.


    Meanwhile, it¡¯s the second instance since the 1984 season when quarterback Dan Marino, a second-year player, being chosen as the regular season MVP after twenty-four years.


    Of course, most importantly, this is the first Asian regular season MVP in NFL history, equivalent in sensation to Jackie Robinson becoming the MLB regular season MVP in 1949, being the first non-white regular season MVP in both baseball league history and the history of the four major sports leagues in the United States.


    Now, all eyes are on Li Wei, because Li Wei became the first Asian player in the history of the major four sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL) to be crowned as the regular season MVP.


    History, born.


    This is a milestone moment, not just on the North American continent, not just on the Asian continent, Europe¡¯s and Oceania¡¯s eyes are also fully focused here.


    From Jackie Robinson¡¯s historic breakthrough to Li Wei overthrowing prejudice, this step took a half-century of long wait and overcoming obstacles.


    The selection of one award, however, brewed a storm, sweeping vigorously across the globe without halting its steps.

 Chapter 846 - 846 845 Historical First

    ?Chapter 846: 845 Historical First Chapter 846: 845 Historical First 2018 season NFL regular season MVP winner, Li Wei.


    This result not only shook the history of the NFL but also the history of North America¡¯s Four Major Sports Leagues, and even on a global scale, it marked an unprecedented, groundbreaking event. It transcended the realm of competitive sports and went viral, igniting a frenzy of heated discussions akin to a tidal wave.


    Making history.


    Taylor Swift: ¡°Congratulations on making history! You absolutely deserve all the praise. You¡¯ve earned this honor with your actions! @Li Wei.¡±


    Rafael Nadal: ¡°This is Li Wei¡¯s moment, and he deserves all the accolades and glory.¡±


    Prince William: ¡°This is a historic moment. I sincerely hope Li Wei and the Kansas City Chiefs can visit Wembley next season as honored guests.¡±


    Liu Xiang: ¡°The words I said in Athens in 2004 now also apply to Li Wei. He has once again proven that those prejudices are foolish.¡±


    Ohtani Shoyo: ¡°Li Wei is my role model and my source of inspiration. I hope to have the opportunity to exchange experiences with him face-to-face in the future.¡±


    Jack Nicholson: ¡°Li Wei makes football so much more interesting. Who knows? Maybe one day, I¡¯ll head to Arrowhead Stadium to watch a game.¡±


    Leonardo DiCaprio: ¡°I don¡¯t usually watch football, but Li Wei is my only exception. Did you see his performance in overtime during the American League Championship game?¡±


    Cristiano Ronaldo: ¡°@Li Wei, respect, admiration, and 100% reverence. You deserve it.¡±


    Lewis Hamilton: ¡°Li Wei demonstrates through action that anything is possible in competitive sports. He adds a unique charm to athletics.¡±


    Jose Mourinho: ¡°This day should have come long ago; it happened too late, but better late than never. Li Wei deserves this honor.¡±


    Rihanna: ¡°Amazing! @Li Wei.¡±


    Jennifer Lawrence: ¡°Wow, unbelievable, utterly incredible. Have you watched the highlight reel of Li Wei¡¯s matches? He makes football look incredibly sexy.¡±


    Katy Perry: ¡°Li Wei? He looks truly extraordinary. Should I start paying attention to football now?¡±


    Stephen Curry: ¡°I cast my sacred Pro Bowl vote for Li Wei. I¡¯m a fan of his.¡±


    LeBron James: ¡°That¡¯s my brother.¡±


    Manny Pacquiao: ¡°Oh, what a pity. Truly a pity. Li Wei should try boxing. I believe he¡¯d carve out his own space in the boxing world as well. Of course, I think he hasn¡¯t yet reached his full potential in football either. I¡¯m still looking forward to his future.¡±


    Frenzy, an all-encompassing frenzy.


    The above is just the tip of the iceberg. Leaders from various industries and sectors¡ªsociety, politics, culture, influencers, and more¡ªjoined this frenzy. Millions of ordinary people couldn¡¯t suppress their excitement and joy, sparking an uncontainable wave of enthusiasm.


    History is happening.


    All along, American football was seen as North America¡¯s own carnival. Despite all 32 NFL teams being among Forbes¡¯ top 50 most valuable professional clubs globally and collectively occupying half of the top 10 positions, showcasing their unparalleled value.


    However, on a global scale, football (soccer) remains the undisputed number-one sport. Even rugby (English-style) has its World Cup and is fervently expanding markets in Africa, Oceania, and other regions.


    American football has always been teased as North America¡¯s sport¡ª


    A pastime for its own amusement.


    It¡¯s precisely because of this that Goodell has been trying to unlock the global market. The market value for football in North America has already been nearly fully excavated, and if the League wishes to grow further, it must go global.


    Pushing flag football into the Olympics is one such effort.


    Flag football, simply put, involves no tackling or collisions. Defenders merely need to remove flags attached to players¡¯ waists to complete a defensive play. These rules lower the risks of impact while retaining football¡¯s strategic charm, with other rules essentially aligning with American football.


    In recent years, Goodell¡¯s efforts have achieved significant results. This is also why his support rate among team owners remains high¡ª


    Profit and value.


    Yet even as football¡¯s global influence steadily rises, it¡¯s undeniable the journey ahead remains long. When compared to sports like soccer, basketball, racing, tennis, and golf, whose global penetration is established, football still lacks a solid foundation and wields less impact in competing disciplines.


    Every sport has iconic flagbearers¡ªa single name synonymous with the sport¡ªwho break barriers, infiltrate broader aspects of society, and make profound impacts. Football, however, has lacked such figures.


    In 2018 and 2019 seasons, even legends like Big Manning or Brady, who epitomize the League, had very limited international and cross-disciplinary influence. It wasn¡¯t entirely absent, but it was minor, with out-of-sport recognition nearly zero.


    Until now¡ª


    Li Wei.


    Not only the first Asian regular-season MVP in North America¡¯s Four Major Sports Leagues, but also the first in the Five Major European Football Leagues.


    A stunning breakout!


    Whether people like football or have never even heard of it, everyone is swept into this storm at this historic moment.


    The situation Goodell had been brewing and the moment the League had been awaiting finally arrived in an unexpected way, breaking the impasse.


    Perhaps the historic moment football has long awaited is now at hand¡ª


    Everything, just like Roger Federer breaking down barriers for tennis; just like Tiger Woods bringing golf into mainstream awareness.


    Everything, just like Michael Schumacher introducing F1 racing into the lives of countless ordinary people; just like David Beckham sparking women¡¯s interest in soccer; just like Michael Jordan demonstrating that basketball¡¯s commercial value was unparalleled.


    One person, in the tide of an era, at the right moment, can leverage the world with a single move.


    Amid the bustling waves of attention flooding in.


    This time, it¡¯s real¡ªmighty, monumental, and revolutionary¡ªigniting a frenzy that commands global attention across industries.


    After so much anticipation and yearning, few could have imagined that the first breakthrough for Asians in Europe and America would come in the world of football.


    And it¡¯s a running back.


    Though all of this already seems incredible, delving deeper reveals it exceeds imagination, and the shock never ceases.


    For the first time in history, football has crossed barriers, with everyone discussing football; everyone is now an expert casually sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm. Even knowledge-sharing platforms have seen football-focused accounts sprout up overnight like mushrooms after rain.


    What is real influence?


    This is real influence¡ªfrom overlooked and neglected to sizzling hot, turning everyone into an overnight expert¡ªall because of one luminous moment writing history.


    Imagine even those with no knowledge of football feeling its impact; then consider the shockwave felt by the insiders who truly know the sport.


    A shockwave, tenfold, hundredfold!

 Chapter 847 - 847 846 The future is promising

    ?Chapter 847: 846 The future is promising Chapter 847: 846 The future is promising Turbulent and overwhelming, the shock and impact are all-encompassing.


    Some netizens said, just asking because I don¡¯t know, for us bystanders, the shock is real and sincere congratulations to Li Wei for making history, but how do they react in the American Football League? Is there anyone questioning Li Wei¡¯s regular season MVP?


    Netizens replied, thank you for the invitation. In fact, the applause and praise within the NFL are even more exaggerated, after all, the regular season MVP is chosen by votes from real professionals.


    Controversy?


    Of course, it¡¯s objectively there. As long as there¡¯s a selection, there will inevitably be differences; a selection that satisfies everyone 100% may never happen.


    Last year, Brady crowned the regular season MVP, causing controversy. People questioned whether Brady deserved such an honor, and many felt Li Wei was unfairly overlooked while some believed Donald should receive more attention.


    This year, Li Wei is crowned the regular season MVP, similarly raising controversy. People questioned whether a running back should receive such an honor, advocating for Mahomes instead and thinking Donald and Watt deserved more attention.


    Bla bla bla, it goes round and round.


    Everything seems familiar, a year passes, something seems to have changed, yet it¡¯s as if nothing has changed.


    But without a doubt, within the NFL, most players collectively applaud.


    McCaffrey, Bell, Peterson, Henry, Barkley, and others all stand behind Li Wei without exception, united in their support.


    And Asian players, led by the Chung Family, also expressed their admiration. At this moment, setting aside their own team stances, Li Wei¡¯s victory is a victory for the Asian community, rallying around him without hesitation.


    Moreover, Kansas City Chiefs internally also unwaveringly stand as Li Wei¡¯s supporters, with Mahomes being the first to express that Li Wei deserved it, saying, ¡°If I had the voting rights, I would also choose Li Wei. In fact, Li Wei was also our team¡¯s internal MVP this year, and I chose him.¡±


    Quarterbacks like Foles, Smith, Little Manning, and Brees also expressed similar views, believing Li Wei is worthy of the honor.


    Of course, the defensive players, who have the most say, are no exception either.


    Watt, ¡°100% agree. God, even putting aside the fact that he¡¯s my friend, his performance on the field is enough to conquer me. He¡¯s completed an outstanding season and led the team all the way forward. I can¡¯t wait to head to Atlanta to watch the Super Bowl showdown.¡±


    Donald, ¡°He is also my regular season MVP in my heart. It¡¯s an unparalleled season, not only strong but also consistent. He¡¯s redefined the running back, and I don¡¯t think there¡¯s a more suitable choice.¡±


    For a moment, all the focus within and outside the league was on Li Wei, from making waves off the field to league acclaim, the news was explosively pervasive.


    Undoubtedly, this is the highlight moment of the 2018 season.


    At the same time, it¡¯s also the true highlight for the NFL since the new millennium.


    The long-awaited moment finally arrived, and the NFL office was full of joy. Even though the Super Bowl hasn¡¯t started yet, this has already been a perfect season. The upcoming market promotion finally has new material again, and they are convinced that in the next three years, the football market will see great leaps forward.


    Then, the league announced the detailed voting results for the regular season MVP.


    First place, Li Wei, thirty-three votes.


    Second place, Mahomes, ten votes.


    Third place, Donald, four votes.


    Fourth place, Brees, three votes.


    The entire league had four players receiving votes. Although Li Wei was far ahead, it still reveals the main theme of the season, extending last season¡¯s controversy, as discussion around football not being limited to quarterbacks reached new heights, showing a flourishing scene.


    It wasn¡¯t easy for non-quarterbacks like Li Wei and Donald to break through and win votes; however, defensive players led by Donald still remain underappreciated, with a mere four votes, and the league¡¯s trend towards offense could not be reversed¡ª


    The road ahead remains long and arduous.


    In direct contrast are the two quarterbacks effortlessly entering the regular season MVP discussion and seizing the spotlight.


    So, despite the objective existence of controversy, overall, the league still believes that compared to the old story of quarterbacks being crowned regular season MVPs, Li Wei¡¯s sudden rise is worth applause and affirmation.


    Of course, the real focus is that both Li Wei and Mahomes, teammates of the Kansas City Chiefs, entered the regular season MVP discussion and occupied the top two spots, marking an unprecedented and perhaps never-to-be-repeated moment.


    It also further proves the professionals¡¯ recognition of the Kansas City Chiefs this season.


    More than one person said, if not for Li Wei¡¯s dominantly performance this season, Mahomes undoubtedly should have been this year¡¯s regular season MVP.


    Yet precisely because of this, it highlights the irreplaceable role of the ground attack represented by Li Wei within the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive system. Mahomes was able to quickly adapt to the league thanks to Li Wei¡¯s unparalleled performance, showcasing his potential, signifying a promising future for the young man.


    The Kansas City Chiefs have truly secured a future.


    With Li Wei from last season and Mahomes this season, the two rookie contemporaries emerged one after another, not only changing the situation for the Kansas City Chiefs but also completely altering the league landscape, indeed a spectacle.


    By the time the 2018 regular season concluded, people realized what the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ gamble in the draft the previous year truly represented.


    Of course, the ¡°scapegoat¡± Chicago Bears didn¡¯t become the laughingstock of the league. This season, under the leadership of new head coach Nagy, they underwent a complete transformation. Even the so-called ¡°bust¡± second overall pick Trubisky didn¡¯t seem as bad, so the media didn¡¯t relentlessly target the Chicago Bears.


    Conversely, the Cleveland Browns, having the No. 1 draft pick two years in a row, despite their selections of Garrett and Mayfield proving their potential, at least currently not considered wrong decisions, still missed the playoffs two consecutive seasons¡ª


    Where¡¯s the problem?


    If the Cleveland Browns had chosen Li Wei, or perhaps Mahomes, could they have changed their situation?


    The glory belongs to the Kansas City Chiefs, and the unwanted attention falls on the Cleveland Browns, who expressed their helplessness.


    Moreover, the Cleveland Browns are not the only ones unwittingly in the line of fire.


    In the beginning, the NFL awards aren¡¯t limited to one, mainly to commend all players who had outstanding performances in the regular season, to avoid the focus being on one person or Super Bowl teams. However, now with Li Wei¡¯s first-time crowning as regular season MVP, he made waves globally, overshadowing everyone else in the award lists.


    This was unforeseen¡ª


    Having won the award yet seemingly not having won it; gaining recognition and attention yet seemingly having none; finally standing under the spotlight summarizing a season¡¯s hard work, yet like a wallflower, encountering neglect.


    Clearly deserving to be the award recipient, yet feeling like a victim, is this normal?


    So, who are the other victims¡ªother wallflowers, the unlucky ones?

 Chapter 848 - 848 847 The Second Li Wei

    ?Chapter 848: 847 The Second Li Wei Chapter 848: 847 The Second Li Wei The 2018 NFL regular season awards results¡ªdoes anyone still care about the other outcomes?


    The answer, undoubtedly, is yes.


    Although all eyes have been drawn entirely by the historic moment in the regular season MVP race, leaving the other awards in the shadows, there are still people who care.


    Coach of the Year: Matt Nagy, Chicago Bears.


    Assistant Coach of the Year: Vic Fangio, Chicago Bears.


    For the second year in a row, Andy Reid has regretfully missed out on this award, but overall, the journalists are still inclined to reward those who bring transformative changes to their teams¡ªlast year it was Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams, and this year it¡¯s Matt Nagy of the Chicago Bears.


    As the former Offensive Coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs, Nagy is experiencing the peak of his career. Last year, he followed the Kansas City Chiefs in their Cinderella ride to the Super Bowl Championship, and this year, he has proven his capabilities as a head coach. The next step should be leading the Chicago Bears to the Super Bowl and claiming his own championship ring.


    Offensive Player of the Year: Patrick Mahomes, Quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs.


    Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald, Defensive Tackle, Los Angeles Rams.


    For the second consecutive year, the regular season MVP and Offensive/Defensive Players of the Year belong to different athletes, revealing underlying controversies:


    Last year, Brady¡¯s regular season MVP lacked unanimous recognition, leading Li Wei to claim Offensive Player of the Year.


    This year, Li Wei¡¯s regular season MVP genuinely won over the public, yet seeing a running back sweep the awards remains perplexing. Compared to Peterson¡¯s MVP era of 2012, things are now entirely different¡ªthe votes subconsciously leaned toward quarterbacks.


    Of course, Mahomes¡¯ performance this season was undoubtedly striking. Despite unimpressive interception numbers, his composure, courage, and resilience are commendable. In his first season as a starter, he made a bold declaration.


    And then.


    For the second consecutive year, Donald dominated the competition, claiming Defensive Player of the Year again¡ªa feat not seen since Watt.


    Although Donald and Watt are players with markedly different styles, their ability to demonstrate dominance on the field is equally awe-inspiring.


    Moreover, Watt finally completed an entire season in full health this year, slightly shy of his peak yet still among the league¡¯s top defensive ends. Perhaps the day when a defensive player earns the regular season MVP again isn¡¯t far off.


    Rookie of the Year: Saquon Barkley, Running Back, New York Giants.


    Offensive Rookie of the Year: Saquon Barkley, Running Back, New York Giants.


    Defensive Rookie of the Year: Shaquille Leonard, Lineman, Indianapolis Colts.


    A minor upset¡ªor rather, a predictable ¡°upset¡±:


    The 2018 Draft was hailed as a ¡°Quarterback¡¯s Year,¡± with six quarterbacks selected in the first round. Top pick Mayfield and 32nd overall pick Jackson stole the spotlight.


    Yet in the end, Barkley shattered expectations with his unparalleled performance, overpowering Mayfield and Jackson, and leaving players like Josh Allen and Danord in his dust, sweeping the regular season awards.


    Not only did he claim Offensive Rookie of the Year but also secured Rookie of the Year.


    Mayfield was heartbroken, Jackson stunned, and the league... indifferent, as all eyes were on the brand-new regular season MVP. Nobody even bothered to lament Mayfield and Jackson¡¯s fate.


    However, the New York media didn¡¯t overlook this¡ª


    ¡°Barkley: The second Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°Following in Li Wei¡¯s footsteps, Barkley proves his worth with action.¡±


    ¡°Barkley: My goal is to surpass Li Wei next season.¡±


    Last season, Li Wei overturned the league as a rookie running back, causing a storm; this season, Barkley stood out among the rookie quarterback frenzy, eclipsing them all.


    In a flash, people eagerly compared Barkley to Li Wei, longing for another sensational running back in the league.


    Over the past year, Li Wei enjoyed immense popularity in New York¡ªpartly because he hailed from New York, and partly because he defeated the New England Patriots back-to-back. Now, fans hope Barkley will rise so that New York can finally have its own running back hero.


    It must be said, New York, as North America¡¯s leading city, truly is a cradle for stars¡ª


    From Wide Receiver Little Beckham to Running Back Barkley.


    Among non-quarterback top stars of the new generation, the New York Giants already lead by half a step, with the Kansas City Chiefs barely catching up.


    But the mismanagement of the bitterly cold controversy surrounding the sidelining of Little Manning during last season¡¯s finale, along with a dismal 5-11 season finish this year, shows that even the duo of Little Beckham and Barkley couldn¡¯t save the team.


    Thus, you can¡¯t blame New Yorkers for still cheering passionately for Li Wei.


    Leonard: What about me?


    In the divisional playoffs, Leonard was embarrassed by Li Wei, and now, in the award season, he finally secured a spot, only to have Li Wei and Barkley overshadow him.


    Leonard is just... left speechless.


    Comeback Player of the Year: Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Indianapolis Colts.


    Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award: Chris Long, Defensive End, Philadelphia Eagles.


    Here, Luck deserves a special mention.


    After enduring repeated injuries and the darkest moments of his career, this quarterback seems finally back on track, realizing his talent. In the tight race for Comeback Player of the Year, he edged out Watt and Peterson, receiving 25 out of 50 expert votes. Through his pain, persistence finally seemed to bring meaning.


    On this note, not only Berry but Li Wei also had conversations with Watt and Peterson.


    Overcoming injuries entails a long and grueling recovery¡ªa process that makes tasks once taken for granted excruciatingly difficult, requiring tenfold or even hundredfold effort to achieve. This struggle is not only the most challenging and darkest facet of competitive sports but life itself.


    Birth, aging, illness, and death¡ªthis curriculum seems forever arduous.


    Yet, the cruelest truth is that life continues, offering no pause.


    Some people and things are left to grieve alone in the bitter, stormy winter, while time marches on relentlessly, and the world rushes forward, indifferent to these shadows.


    This is life. This is reality¡ª


    Sadness, helplessness, bitterness, pain, despair, scattered all around. A mess nobody slows down for, as everyone is busy dealing with their own chaos, leaving no room to breathe.


    At such moments, the feats of Luck and others like Watt, Peterson, Berry are even more valuable, praiseworthy, and inspiring.


    Luck, Watt, Peterson, Berry¡ªall demonstrate such resilience.


    And every soul trudging through the mud yet still looking up at the stars does too.

 Chapter 849 - 849 848 Gain and Loss

    ?Chapter 849: 848 Gain and Loss Chapter 849: 848 Gain and Loss At dawn, the sky was just getting light.


    The sky was clear, stretching endlessly. The thick clouds were no longer visible, as Kansas City¡¯s winter returned to its usual dryness and sharp cold. It was as if last Sunday¡¯s freezing rain was nothing but a minor anomaly, leaving no trace.


    It¡¯s hard to imagine that in just a few days, they had turned a desperate situation under terrible weather into a victory against the New England Patriots, and then bid farewell to the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ biggest fan in a light drizzle. It felt like a passage through autumn and winter, and by the time they returned to the training field, it seemed like ages had passed.


    However, the season was far from over¡ª


    There was still one final showdown to go, and it was also the most important match of all.


    As players and coaches from the League¡¯s other thirty teams flocked to Orlando, Florida, for the annual Pro Bowl, Li Wei had already returned to Kansas City to resume the final round of training.


    In previous years, the Pro Bowl was always held in Honolulu, Hawaii, essentially serving as a group vacation or team-building event. Players could experience the island¡¯s unique charm in the everlasting summer of the Pacific Ocean.


    Back then, as long as players were selected for the Pro Bowl, they were more than willing to attend. It was an honor and an essential opportunity for self-promotion. Whether they were young rookies or seasoned veterans, none would miss it.


    But in recent years, concerns about injuries combined with the long-haul flights to Hawaii led more and more players to skip it under various excuses, sapping the League¡¯s annual All-Star Game of its charm.


    In an effort to persuade players to return to the Pro Bowl stage and actively participate, the League brought the event back to the North American continent.


    This way, the vacation vibe remained, but the need for an arduous transoceanic journey was removed. Players already planning to vacation in Florida or the Caribbean Sea now greeted the event with obvious enthusiasm, cheering all the way.


    Unfortunately, the Kansas City Chiefs skipped out for the second year running¡ª


    And so did the Los Angeles Rams. After all, no one wanted to risk the Super Bowl.


    The League regretted this deeply. Goodell had always hoped that Li Wei would appear at the Pro Bowl stage, as the game¡¯s lack of intensity would perfectly showcase Li Wei¡¯s flawless, flowing ground game. It was the ideal spectacle of rushing for casual fans to applaud.


    Especially this year, with Li Wei crowned the regular season MVP, drawing attention worldwide.


    If Li Wei could grace the Pro Bowl with his presence...


    But gains always come with losses. Goodell had to strike a balance. For the epic showdown of ¡°Li Wei vs. Donald 2.0¡± on the Super Bowl stage, sacrificing the Pro Bowl was no big deal.


    Besides, the Pro Bowl this year had another star sharpening his blade¡ªBarkley.


    Everyone claimed that the New York Giants¡¯ abysmal performance reaffirmed the quarterback¡¯s critical role as the heart of a team. An elite running back couldn¡¯t change the game, and Barkley, after all, was not Li Wei. His efforts didn¡¯t warrant excessive praise.


    Barkley: ...


    One could imagine Barkley simmering with determination, ready to prove himself¡ª


    And what better stage for a showcase than the performance-oriented Pro Bowl?


    Over there, Barkley was raring to shine at the Pro Bowl, yet little did he know another lurking rival, McFry, was quietly preparing to ambush him.


    Meanwhile, Li Wei had returned to the training field, starting again with restorative basic routines.


    It was tough, unquestionably tough.


    The season had been grueling enough, mentally and physically. Following such rigorous challenges, getting back into training felt like a trial, an ordeal.


    But thinking of Annie, of her dream he was carrying, Li Wei clenched his teeth, steeled his will, and stepped onto the field again for the season¡¯s final push.


    Gradually, Li Wei had gotten used to being the first to arrive at the training ground each day. But today was different¡ªsomeone had already taken to the field and was warming up.


    ¡ªBerry.


    It was unexpected, but Li Wei didn¡¯t say anything. He merely gave a silent nod of acknowledgment and joined Berry, beginning his own warm-up routine.


    Though called a warm-up, the intensity was no joke, and soon sweat started to drip.


    Li Wei was only slightly damp on his forehead, but Berry looked like he had been pulled straight out of a pool. Inside and out, he was soaked through, and even standing still, his knees and shoulders trembled faintly.


    Berry had clearly been pushing himself to match Li Wei¡¯s warm-up level, but it was evident now that he was struggling.


    Finishing a set, Li Wei picked up a water bottle nearby and waited. Then he handed it to Berry.


    Berry didn¡¯t have time to thank him and just gulped it all down in one swig.


    He drained the entire bottle in one go, catching his breath slightly before glancing at Li Wei. Adjusting his breathing, he suddenly blurted out, out of nowhere:


    ¡°I¡¯m planning to keep going.¡±


    Li Wei looked puzzled.


    But Berry didn¡¯t need prompting. He continued talking on his own.


    ¡°I know, no matter how this season ends, everyone will be waiting for me to make a decision, like Revis did.¡±


    Last season, Revis had announced his retirement after winning the Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs, capping off his career with a championship ring.


    Leaving at the peak, avoiding an ugly ending.


    But Berry had other thoughts.


    ¡°I want to keep going.¡±


    ¡°I know persisting further might get ugly. There¡¯s no mercy in the League. Everyone says I should retire while I have the chance, but I still want to run on the field.¡±


    ¡°Not because of that interception.¡±


    ¡°I know it doesn¡¯t mean much. I¡¯m still far from my peak, with so much to work on. I shouldn¡¯t get carried away over a single moment.¡±


    ¡°I just...¡±


    Berry hesitated, thoughtfully searching for the words to describe his feelings.


    Li Wei quietly watched him, patiently waiting. Catching something in Berry¡¯s expression, he gently tested the waters: ¡°You just want to keep playing football, right?¡±


    Berry froze. Slowly, a smile crept over his face. He nodded softly, ¡°Yeah, I just want to keep playing football.¡±


    Li Wei: ¡°Then you should keep pushing yourself.¡±


    At that moment¡ª


    ¡°Hey, you two! Yeah, I¡¯m talking to you two blockheads. Don¡¯t you know this is a private training ground? What are you doing here so early? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re here to train!¡±


    Following the voice, they turned to see Houston swaggering toward them.


    Laughing and joking, Houston gave his two friends a hug each.


    Berry finally retorted, ¡°We should be the ones asking you that. The guy who couldn¡¯t even get off the ground. Did you come here just to keep lying down?¡±


    Without hesitation, Houston flipped Berry off, raising his middle finger. ¡°They may wish I¡¯d stay down, desperate for me to retire, but I won¡¯t let them have it their way. Their misery is my joy.¡±


    He rubbed his hands together eagerly. ¡°I think I can keep playing for another ten years.¡±


    Berry looked genuinely shocked.


    Houston realized ten years might be pushing it. ¡°Well, at least a few more years.¡±


    ¡°Honestly, I was thinking of retiring after this season, no matter what. Regardless of the results, whether we made it deep into the playoffs or not, I was just done.¡±


    ¡°My body doesn¡¯t cooperate. Injuries are endless. Now I can¡¯t even sleep comfortably¡ªI¡¯m no better than an eighty-year-old man.¡±


    Grumbling and complaining in his usual rambling manner, Houston¡¯s words felt painfully real.


    But neither Berry nor Li Wei could bring themselves to laugh.

 Chapter 850 - 850 849 Refuse to Admit Defeat

    ?Chapter 850: 849 Refuse to Admit Defeat Chapter 850: 849 Refuse to Admit Defeat During the 2018 season, Houston struggled constantly, wavering between ups and downs; even at its best, the performance still felt chaotic and disjointed.


    Li Wei had always been aware of this.


    But Houston had never talked to Li Wei about his considerations of retiring.


    Within the team, Berry¡¯s absence left Houston as the only pillar among the senior players. Even with Li Wei¡¯s rapid development and Kelsey¡¯s growing reliability, Houston remained the unshakable cornerstone.


    Clearly, there were some burdens Houston still carried alone.


    Berry glanced at Li Wei, silently asking with his eyes: Did you know?


    Li Wei shook his head slightly.


    Houston didn¡¯t notice. Immersed in his own thoughts, he poured out a torrent of emotions and ideas.


    Because finally, he could say it out loud.


    ¡°Back then, I seriously thought, damn it, I¡¯ve had enough of this life. Once the season¡¯s over, I¡¯ll go home, lounge on the sofa, eat and drink till I die. I won¡¯t train anymore, I won¡¯t endure all this torment ever again.¡±


    ¡°But.¡±


    ¡°During the last game, playing until the very end, lying on the ground unable to even move a finger, I just couldn¡¯t accept it. I felt stifled.¡±


    ¡°I still want to keep running. I still want to chase Brady all over the field. I still want to fight tooth and nail with those guys till the very end.¡±


    ¡°Why should Brady still be jumping around out there¡ªsomeone so despicable yet hailed as the League¡¯s hero? Just because he has enough championship rings to do as he pleases without facing consequences, I should be the one to retire and enjoy old age?¡±


    ¡°Bah.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t make it easy for him.¡±


    ¡°So, to hell with retirement. I¡¯ll keep going, unwavering and relentless, just like Annie Galas. Right?¡±


    After speaking, Houston glanced at Li Wei, a faint smile flashing in his eyes. Without pausing, he turned to Berry, and the two exchanged a look.


    Compared to the darkness they had faced, words seemed light, feather-like, devoid of weight. But having endured storms and trials, just like Kansas City greeting the sunshine anew, they rediscovered their belief and courage.


    That, was the only thing that mattered.


    Houston let out a smile and shouted loudly.


    ¡°So, who¡¯s ready? We¡¯ve got one more Super Bowl waiting for us.¡±


    Berry gently lifted his head, looked toward Li Wei, and also raised his voice high, ¡°Rookie, the man who collapsed last game is throwing down the gauntlet¡ªhow about we teach him a lesson or two?¡±


    Before Li Wei could respond, Houston protested, ¡°Shut up, Eric. You¡¯re not up for it. You can¡¯t do it. A man who just spouts nonsense can¡¯t get it done.¡±


    ¡°Hey, I was just joking. Why so sensitive¡ªcould it be you really can¡¯t handle it?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t believe me? Come on, try me, try me!¡±


    Laughter swirled over the training field.


    When Reed arrived at the training ground, he didn¡¯t hide his surprise¡ª


    Pressure, adversity, exhaustion, all these problems were undeniable realities. It wasn¡¯t just the players; even Reed himself had sleepless nights.


    The stress of defending the championship far exceeded expectations, and the toll of the long season combined with fierce competition continued to pile on. After surviving the last breathtaking, roller-coaster game, the team, from top to bottom, was worn out.


    It wasn¡¯t as simple as enduring one stormy winter match.


    The pressure of the final game of the season had been ratcheted up to the limit.


    This year was different from last year. Last season, they were the underdog¡ªthe role of pursuers and challengers¡ªand they could risk it all without any baggage. That¡¯s how they teamed up with the Philadelphia Eagles to produce a brilliant game.


    But this year, not only were they defending champions, but they were also the League¡¯s number-one seed. As a so-called powerhouse, they had become the team to beat, allowing the Los Angeles Rams to lower their stance and make their challenge. This meant they had transformed into the role of front-runners.


    The circumstances were entirely different. Just look at their performance in the first half of the conference championship game. It might not be entirely fair to call it disastrous, but it was certainly an abnormal display. The pressure awaiting at the Super Bowl would only continue to mount, presenting an even tougher challenge.


    Because of this, Reed wanted the players to relax, to balance work and rest. Sharpening the axe before chopping wood¡ªit wasn¡¯t necessary to rush.


    Yet, on the first day of recovery training, as Reed arrived at the training ground, the team was already mostly assembled. It looked like they had finished their warm-ups and were engaged in fundamental recovery training. The level of enthusiasm was beyond expectations.


    If that were all, it would only be a minor surprise¡ªnot enough to make Reed truly astonished. After all, over the past two years, thanks to Li Wei and Mahomes leading by example, the team atmosphere had quietly shifted¡ª


    Maybe Li Wei had once again stirred up positivity in the locker room?


    But what lay before him was not just an early arrival at the training ground. There was a palpable, easygoing, and carefree energy lingering in the air.


    It wasn¡¯t the kind of loud laughter or jovial camaraderie; everything felt simple and light, calm but harmonious, orderly yet tranquil. This quiet, serene scene subtly eased the strained nerves.


    A sense of peace.


    Not the calm before the storm, but a self-contained composure when completely focused.


    Such a state was rare, and it was precisely the dream-like scenario desired before a decisive battle.


    Reed had been racking his brain, pondering how to help the team adjust. For a game of this magnitude, psychological preparation was even more critical than tactical planning. Yet he hadn¡¯t anticipated that the issue would resolve itself... like this?


    It was hard to believe.


    So, what exactly happened?


    Standing at the edge of the field, Reed quietly observed¡ª


    Houston and Berry.


    These two locker-room leaders had both undergone their defining moments during the conference championship, one fighting with all his might and collapsing on the field but still refusing to surrender, and the other emerging from a long, dark era to finally claim the spotlight on his dream stage. At this moment, the conviction they emanated had become the team¡¯s stabilizing force.


    This was a good sign.


    However, as Reed continued his observation, he noticed both Houston and Berry instinctively focusing on Li Wei, with a subtle yet powerful sense of connection gradually converging toward him.


    Reed was slightly taken aback¡ªnot because Li Wei lacked leadership qualities, but because of his youth¡ª


    Li Wei had yet to face the trials of age and injury, especially considering his transition to football in just three short years, during which he had already achieved brilliance others couldn¡¯t imagine over their entire careers. Such a prodigy often embodied more arrogance and confidence, without the tempering of thorns or the grind of reality.


    So, how had Houston and Berry found resonance in Li Wei?


    This wasn¡¯t merely a simple shift in locker-room leadership.


    Then, a figure emerged in Reed¡¯s mind: Annie Galas.


    As Reed watched Li Wei immerse himself fully in training, Annie and Li Wei¡¯s spirits seemed to merge unknowingly, resilient and strong.


    Reed had a premonition. Though the NFL was a professional league, and ultimately everything boiled down to business, they couldn¡¯t afford too much sentiment within the team. But this Kansas City Chiefs team seemed to be forging a unique kind of strength called ¡°team spirit.¡±

 Chapter 851 - 851 850 Network Paralysis

    ?Chapter 851: 850 Network Paralysis Chapter 851: 850 Network Paralysis ¡°...Kansas City Chiefs, it¡¯s absolutely the Kansas City Chiefs, I have no doubt about it!¡±


    ¡°No, no, no, the Los Angeles Rams are the ones holding the upper hand.¡±


    ¡°The difficulty of defending the title speaks for itself.¡±


    ¡°From the standpoint of experience and mentality, the Kansas City Chiefs have the advantage.¡±


    ¡°Folks, don¡¯t forget, the Los Angeles Rams beat the Kansas City Chiefs during the regular season.¡±


    ¡°Personally, I believe that overall strength-wise, the Kansas City Chiefs are obviously the more favored side.¡±


    Back and forth, neither side giving an inch.


    Opinions clashing, endless bickering.


    It¡¯s clear that it¡¯s once again the annual time to predict the Super Bowl champion¡ª


    Everyone has their own opinion, literally everyone.


    On one side, the Kansas City Chiefs steadily return from their break, diving into training with methodical preparations for the season¡¯s final showdown.


    On the other side, the entire social network is in meltdown, faces flushed, tempers flaring.


    Without a doubt, this is probably the most talked-about and hotly debated Super Bowl in recent years, with buzz levels skyrocketing to the max.


    First, ¡°Los Angeles VS the defending champions.¡±


    As the second largest city in North America, the potential of Los Angeles¡¯ football market and its influence on surrounding cities is undeniable; yet, the last time a Los Angeles football team made it to the Super Bowl stage was way back in the distant 1983 season¡ª


    That year, the Los Angeles Raiders qualified for the Super Bowl, facing defending champions Washington Redskins, and ultimately claimed victory in a resounding win to take the title.


    Twenty-five years later, a Los Angeles team finally makes it back to the Super Bowl stage, once again facing the reigning champions. Could history be repeating itself?


    One can imagine the sheer frenzy of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area.


    Over the past two years, both the Rams and the Chargers relocated to Los Angeles but failed to ignite the city¡¯s passion for football.


    Until now.


    Compared to a prime football market like Los Angeles, Kansas City doesn¡¯t even register on the map; but the key point is, the Kansas City Chiefs are the defending champions and the league¡¯s No. 1 seed. After a season of hard work, even casual football fans now have their eyes firmly on Kansas City, rivaling the attention on Los Angeles.


    Second, the unforgettable brilliance of the ¡°Midseason Super Bowl.¡±


    Both the game¡¯s progression and final result made it the highlight of the 2018 season, setting the standard for match excitement¡ª


    ¡°This Wild Card game was basically 30% of a Midseason Super Bowl,¡± ¡°A divisional game that didn¡¯t deliver even 50% of a Midseason Super Bowl¡¯s greatness,¡± ¡°Exciting for sure, but I personally think it reaches just 75% of the Midseason Super Bowl level.¡±


    Comments like these abound.


    Breaking barriers, not just limited to the NFL, even comparisons with events from other major sports leagues frequently pop up. This classic showdown has become a central topic for North American sports fans.


    Now, in the same season, the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs face off again?


    No one should miss it.


    Third, regular-season MVP Li Wei.


    Thanks to Li Wei¡¯s historic achievements, the news spread far and wide. Not only that, but Li¡¯s groundbreaking run last year¡ªleading the Kansas City Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory and being crowned Super Bowl MVP¡ªleft an impact that still resonates globally, drawing all eyes to this year¡¯s Super Bowl.


    Here, it¡¯s not just football fans being discussed, but casual spectators, curious onlookers, and even those who ¡°don¡¯t know a thing about football, yet suddenly see endless discussions on their timelines and reluctantly realize they need to catch up or risk being left out, pretending to care just to fit in.¡±


    In other words, non-football audiences are waking up to the Super Bowl frenzy.


    The bustling discussions surrounding the Super Bowl are reaching new heights. For a moment, it feels like the whole world is tuning into the showdown¡ª


    Finally, there¡¯s a faint resemblance to the atmosphere of a World Cup final.


    Meanwhile, the North American continent feels like it¡¯s in festival mode, inside out, top to bottom, with only one thought on everyone¡¯s mind:


    ¡°Super Bowl, Super Bowl, Super Bowl.¡±


    As mentioned earlier, it¡¯s rare, but this year the Kansas City Chiefs find themselves as the favorites.


    In fact, insights from All-America First Team/Second Team voting, Pro Bowl selections, and regular-season awards have revealed clues. The endorsements and praise from professionals for the Kansas City Chiefs far exceed those for the Los Angeles Rams.


    At this moment, Los Angeles fans are ready to protest, accusing experts of obvious bias due to controversial calls at the end of the National Conference championship game.


    ¡°The controversial calls weren¡¯t our fault,¡± ¡°We could¡¯ve beaten New Orleans without those calls,¡± ¡°There¡¯s no controversy, period,¡± ¡°Anyway, the league just blindly worships Li Wei, right?¡± ¡°Haha, we¡¯re just sacrificial lambs to shield The Chosen One, right?¡±


    Comments like these abound.


    But professionals argue that those votes were based on the regular season. Take the Chicago Bears, for example, who were eliminated by the Philadelphia Eagles in the first playoff round¡ªthe recognition should not diminish. The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ overall performance in the regular season is undeniably convincing, building their success step by step.


    However, Los Angeles fans cover their ears, ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, we beat the Kansas City Chiefs, period. No need for further discussion, that¡¯s the simple truth. We¡¯ll always hold that record. We won the Midseason Super Bowl, and we¡¯ll win the Super Bowl too.¡±


    From another perspective, professionals aren¡¯t bothered; there¡¯s no need to argue with online users.


    The bottom line is that when it comes to the Super Bowl, everyone has an opinion, and no one can convince another¡ªpeople have their own loyalties and focus points.


    This is part of what makes team sports so captivating.


    From the perspective of professionals, whether you support the Los Angeles Rams or the Kansas City Chiefs, one thing is indisputable:


    Needle meets thread.


    From all angles, this year¡¯s Super Bowl matchup indeed feels like a perfect script. Even Goodell couldn¡¯t have written a better grand finale for the season.


    From a conspiracy theorist¡¯s standpoint, Goodell would¡¯ve preferred a Super Bowl ending like ¡°Los Angeles Rams VS New England Patriots.¡± The controversial calls in the final moments of both conference championships pointed to this notion.


    At that time, voting results for regular-season MVP hadn¡¯t been announced yet, and Li Wei, as the breakout star, had already been milked for almost all his value. Compared to the Kansas City Chiefs making it to the Super Bowl, the collision between old-school East Coast powerhouse New England Patriots and West Coast upstart Los Angeles Rams offered the league greater opportunities for maneuvering.


    Of course, the main narrative of ¡°the old wave VS the new wave¡± could elevate the season to a fresh peak.


    Unfortunately, the Kansas City Chiefs ruined Goodell¡¯s perfectly laid plans.


    Who would¡¯ve thought that the Kansas City Chiefs, playing the role of disruptor for the second consecutive year, would accidentally complete a Hollywood-style narrative, bringing the 2018 season to its climax in a very different way?


    Indeed, God is the best storyteller, and destiny writes the greatest scripts¡ªa truth that never changes.

 Chapter 852 - 852 Hand of God 851

    ?Chapter 852: Hand of God 851 Chapter 852: Hand of God 851 A ¡°what if,¡± or rather, a conspiracy, a fantasy, a master plan¡ª


    ¡°Los Angeles Rams VS New England Patriots,¡± packed with topics, ranging from geography to culture, from politics to economics. From a broader perspective, this is a grand chessboard.


    Although it doesn¡¯t quite match the enduring hype of ¡°Los Angeles VS New York,¡± the heavyweight clash of ¡°Los Angeles VS Boston¡± is more than enough to drive fans mad. Just imagine the half-century of entangled grudges between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics in the NBA, and then consider this NFL showdown¡ªyou can feel the atmosphere already.


    Once the matchup is set, there¡¯s no doubt¡ªthis will become a battle of the century, perhaps even a landmark in the half-century history of the Super Bowl.


    Yet.


    The Kansas City Chiefs suddenly burst out of nowhere, throwing a wrench into the mix, making a declaration with their sudden rise to prominence¡ªthey¡¯re not ready to surrender their reigning champion title without a fight.


    Kansas City? A Midwestern city? A small-town entity that emerged from some desolate backwater? A place with less than 500,000 residents, a city whose national GDP ranking doesn¡¯t even crack the top 25? A barren wasteland devoid of culture, economy, and history?


    And it¡¯s become the spoiler?


    Ridiculous!


    If we assume, hypothetically, that all of this is indeed a conspiracy, that everything has been meticulously planned behind the scenes, then the League¡¯s refusal to formally address the critical miscalls during both conference championship games, continuing to play deaf and dumb, shouldn¡¯t come as a surprise.


    In that case, Kansas City¡¯s disruption of a potential celebratory extravaganza likely thrilled some while resulting in incalculable economic losses.


    After all, those big shots accustomed to calling the shots don¡¯t like things going off-script.


    But this time, it¡¯s a little different.


    Once things veered off course, they inexplicably collided to create fresh sparks, sweeping away the ¡°stale, tacky, boring matchups only uncles and grandpas find interesting¡± vibe. Instead, the era¡¯s progress is being fully embraced, welcoming a new dawn for the League as younger fans collectively jump into the excitement.


    Sure, ¡°Los Angeles VS Boston¡± might be classic. But for the millennial generation, they neither understand nor care about the grudges buried in history; what they care about is what they see, what they experience¡ª


    Like the mid-season Super Bowl.


    That game happened not too long ago¡ªthey saw it with their own eyes, a truly spectacular showdown. They can endlessly recount every detail of it and have every reason to look forward to the continuation of that matchup.


    Things, in truth, are just that simple.


    Indeed, the birth of history often accompanies certain serendipities.


    An invisible hand, the hand of God, makes a gentle push at just the right moment, and then¡ªbehold history unfolding.


    The Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs¡ªtwo teams that are strong, exceptional, and... young. This is precisely what the sluggish League desperately needs.


    At the same time, the two teams create matchups on multiple levels and at various positions. Reed and McVay have built championship-contending teams in ways that are similar yet slightly different. That was the reason the mid-season Super Bowl was so breathtaking; naturally, it¡¯s also why the actual Super Bowl deserves the spotlight.


    First, quarterbacks: ¡°Goff VS Mahomes.¡±


    A third-year versus a second-year. Both players represent the League¡¯s future, carrying immense expectations and attention. The former endured hardship and finally proved his worth as a first overall pick. The latter burst forth from obscurity, shattering all stereotypes and prejudices, and both delivered top-tier performances this season.


    For Goff especially, he¡¯s eager to prove himself.


    Last season, Wentz, selected one pick after Goff, was the first to break out, delivering two-thirds of an outstanding season and even entering the MVP conversation. But this season, in McVay¡¯s ingenious tactical system, Goff also showcased his potential, yet he hasn¡¯t received corresponding recognition.


    Now, facing Mahomes, who, in his inaugural starting season, posted a legendary performance and legitimately became an MVP finalist, Goff has a battle of his own still to fight.


    Second, running backs: ¡°Li Wei VS Gurley.¡±


    Last offseason, Gurley and Bell, two elite running backs, took drastically different paths:


    Gurley signed an extension, becoming the League¡¯s highest-paid running back; meanwhile, Bell entered a prolonged standoff, sitting out an entire season without playing a single game.


    Of course, some condemned Bell as selfish, while others criticized Gurley for his four-year, $60 million contract as an equally selfish act¡ª


    Because running backs are in dire straits. Gurley didn¡¯t join Bell¡¯s protest, choosing instead to ¡°bend the knee for a handful of grain,¡± thus squandering an opportunity to change history for his position.


    These disputes weighed heavily on Gurley as he entered the new season.


    As it turned out, Gurley still delivered an outstanding season¡ª1,251 yards, once again surpassing the thousand-yard mark. Yet, there was no joy or satisfaction for him.


    On the rushing leaderboard, Li Wei, Elliott, and Barkley all outranked Gurley. Meanwhile, McCaffrey dazzled with his multifunctional prowess, drawing the spotlight and making Gurley¡¯s all-around performance seem far less remarkable.


    Previously, rushing touchdowns were Gurley¡¯s pride, but this year, he trailed behind Li Wei again, finishing second.


    Completely overshadowed. Despite performing well, there seemed to be nothing about Gurley worth praising.


    ¡°Li Wei. Li Wei. Li Wei.¡±


    The constant chatter about Li Wei nearly gave Gurley PTSD.


    Worse yet, Li Wei not only delivered elite performances on the field but also took a proactive stance in advocating for social responsibility¡ªspeaking up for running backs, defending Bell, and persistently addressing the challenges facing their position.


    As a result, Gurley, titled the ¡°highest-paid running back in the League,¡± constantly found himself a target of criticism. On and off the field, he was comprehensively overshadowed by Li Wei.


    Relentlessly badgered by reporters, Gurley could no longer hold back and finally snapped during the regular season¡¯s closing stretch.


    ¡°Wait until he gets his extension; let¡¯s see how principled he really is.¡±


    Later, when the media turned the question to Li Wei, Li Wei responded with nonchalance.


    ¡°I¡¯ll fight with everything I¡¯ve got. What choice do I have? All I see is money.¡±


    Self-deprecating, his remark not only triggered uproarious laughter but even earned applause.


    At the same time, this made Gurley dislike Li Wei even more¡ªutterly intolerable.


    The Super Bowl duel isn¡¯t just about Gurley sharpening his blade to teach Li Wei a hard lesson; if they can defeat the Kansas City Chiefs and claim the title, all controversies will evaporate. Both inside and outside the League, everyone is anticipating the roles these two running backs will play¡ªwho can prove their worth?


    Third, defensive line: ¡°Donald VS Jones.¡±


    This season, Chris Jones underwent a transformative breakout, becoming the Kansas City Chiefs Defense¡¯s only standout highlight.


    But let¡¯s be honest¡ªno matter how phenomenal Jones is, he¡¯s still not in the same league as Donald. After all, Jones made the All-American Second Team, while Donald claimed consecutive Defensive Player of the Year honors. The difference in skill and consistency is stark.


    To be accurate, it should be phrased as ¡°Donald VS the entire defensive group.¡±


    How the Kansas City Chiefs Defense handles Goff¡¯s offensive group and how Donald counters Mahomes and Li Wei¡¯s dazzling collaboration¡ªthese were the focal points of the mid-season Super Bowl, and they will undoubtedly remain the focal points of the Super Bowl itself.


    Perhaps, yet another offensive shootout is brewing?

 Chapter 853 - 853 852 The so-called curse

    ?Chapter 853: 852 The so-called curse Chapter 853: 852 The so-called curse A matchup, another matchup, needle tip against awl point.


    At this moment, it becomes clear that the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs share many similarities in style and strategy this season. Though constructed in different ways, the two teams demonstrate a comparable rhythm, creating excellent squads. Their fierce collision in the Super Bowl will hinge on in-game adjustments and on-field performances¡ª


    Just like the midseason Super Bowl.


    ¡°...Yes, I understand, I know.¡±


    ¡°Based on numerous analyses, the outcome should be a fifty-fifty split. The two teams are neck and neck, nearly indistinguishable. We can absolutely look forward to a peak showdown.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s more, weren¡¯t the Los Angeles Rams the victors of the midseason Super Bowl? So, why is everyone unanimously favoring Kansas City?¡±


    Blair Butt remarked: all sides besieged.


    During the ¡°Inside the League¡± program, Butt once again found himself in a tough spot. Out of ten professional commentators, the support was skewed ¡°8:2¡± in favor of the Kansas City Chiefs. This was a scenario Butt did not anticipate at all.


    In a flash, the nightmares returned, the haunting memories of last season¡¯s ridicule shaking his belief in himself. This season had seemed to grant him some respite, shifting the spotlight slightly away from him. But now, the all-too-familiar spectacle had reappeared.


    Butt shivered uncontrollably: Should I change my stance?


    But¡ª


    Butt didn¡¯t like Li Wei. No particular reason.


    Of course, he could list a hundred reasons to justify himself, but the truth was, he and Li Wei were inherently at odds. He just couldn¡¯t bring himself to like him.


    Even after two seasons of undeniably exceptional performances from Li Wei, Butt still refused to offer any praise.


    If the match were one-sided, he didn¡¯t mind objectively analyzing and acknowledging the dominance of the Kansas City Chiefs. But if the game was closely contested, after a rational, objective, and technical breakdown, he would still lean toward opposing Li Wei.


    Butt kept waiting for the moment when Li Wei would fall from grace.


    Unless Li Wei could produce continuously stellar and efficient performances across three, even five seasons like Peterson, Butt would never be truly convinced.


    The American League Championship? Just missed it by a little.


    And now the Super Bowl?


    After a brief half-second pause, Butt¡¯s thoughts still instinctively drifted to the other side¡ªthe side opposite Li Wei. ¡°I still believe in Los Angeles.¡±


    Sure, both the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs might have a shot in the Super Bowl. But with eight out of ten analysts bending the knee for the Kansas City Chiefs, Butt found it unbearable and felt the need to make his stance clear.


    ¡°Hey, let¡¯s be rational here.¡± Butt straightened his back, assuming a battle-ready posture.


    ¡°I know, we¡¯ve gone several rounds discussing data analytics, matchups, mentality, experience, tactics, and strategy. Everyone has their own points of reference to support their views.¡±


    ¡°But I only want to say one thing.¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs had an outstanding season, but they still lost three games. That¡¯s all I¡¯ll say. I just want to remind everyone of that.¡±


    The subtext couldn¡¯t be clearer: the Los Angeles Rams had beaten the Kansas City Chiefs before and could do it again to claim the Super Bowl crown.


    From the sidelines, a dissenting voice quickly chimed in, ¡°Indeed, they lost three games. But they haven¡¯t lost twice to the same opponent all season.¡±


    Los Angeles Chargers, one win, one loss.


    New England Patriots, one win, one loss.


    So, for the upcoming Los Angeles Rams?


    Perhaps, the Los Angeles Rams, who claimed a regular-season victory, should tread carefully.


    Butt choked on his words, nearly gagging on his own saliva, but he swiftly rallied, ¡°The Los Angeles Rams are the same¡ªexact vengeance taken in the National Conference Championship.¡±


    ¡°And don¡¯t forget about the MVP curse.¡±


    Competitive sports often intertwine with superstitions and curses, and the NFL is no exception. The Super Bowl carries a plethora of lore.


    For instance, the ¡°Super Bowl Loser¡¯s Curse.¡±


    If a team loses the Super Bowl in one year, it¡¯s said the following season will likely be unlucky. The Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, and Carolina Panthers from the last three years have all emphatically proven this theory.


    Or the ¡°home curse.¡±


    To date, no team from a Super Bowl host city has ever made it to the Super Bowl¡ª


    Not even once.


    In other words, no team has ever truly held a home-field advantage in the Super Bowl.


    Even more bizarre, since 2005, having home-field advantage in the Super Bowl has seemingly become a curse. Teams wearing away white jerseys have won the championship ten times, while only four teams triumphed donning their home colors.


    There are also legends like the ¡°Yankee Stadium Curse¡± and the bye-week curse in the regular season¡¯s final week. These tales, grounded in historical data and coincidences, have no guarantee of scientific validity, yet they remain fan and media favorites year after year.


    Among them, the most renowned, baffling, and inexplicable is the ¡°regular-season MVP curse.¡±


    Since the turn of the millennium, the regular-season MVP has gone without a Super Bowl victory for seventeen consecutive years. This includes elite players like Brady, Big Manning, and a host of legendary Hall-of-Famers. None have managed to break free.


    But why?


    No explanation!


    The regular-season MVP symbolizes consistent excellence across the season, only to fade out during the postseason¡ªor more specifically, underperform on the Super Bowl stage.


    Among these MVPs are players like Cam Newton, Matt Ryan, and Adrian Peterson, who only received the accolade once. But it also includes veteran masters like Brady, Big Manning, and Rodgers, who repeatedly proved themselves, yet all without exception faltered in the Super Bowl.


    Pressure, expectations, visibility¡ªsuch explanations fall far short.


    In the 2007 season, Brady led the New England Patriots to an undefeated regular season and secured an unquestionable unanimous MVP. Yet, shockingly, he lost in the Super Bowl to Little Manning¡¯s wild-card blitz. To this day, it remains a mystery.


    Still, it happened. What else could it be but a curse?


    The last regular-season MVP to lead his team to a Super Bowl championship was Kurt Warner in 1999. It was also the same year he authored his Cinderella story.


    That year, Warner was the quarterback for the St. Louis Rams.


    After an unearthly season that earned him the MVP title, Warner¡¯s Super Bowl performance was mediocre. But the St. Louis Rams¡¯ defensive group rose to the occasion, delivering a goal-line stand at the one-yard line in the dying seconds to quash the Tennessee Titans¡¯ last resistance. That moment was hailed as ¡°The Longest Yard.¡±


    Ultimately, the St. Louis Rams secured their franchise¡¯s first Super Bowl championship with a 23¨C16 victory.


    A full circle¡ª


    After the 1999 and 2001 seasons, the Los Angeles Rams are once again standing on the brink of a Super Bowl triumph. This time, they plan to take down another regular-season MVP, extending the curse of no MVP leading a team to a Super Bowl win since Warner, while clinching their franchise¡¯s second championship ring.


    Once again, all eyes turn to this season¡¯s regular-season MVP: Li Wei.


    So¡ªcan Li Wei break the curse?

 Chapter 854: 853 Unorthodox

    Chapter 854: 853 Unorthodox


    A regular season MVP¡ªwhat should have been an honor¡ªhas, since the turn of the millennium, gradually morphed into a hot potato due to the infamous curse.


    Awkward, to say the least.


    And this year, with Li Wei and Mahomes ranking first and second in the MVP voting, does that mean the curse will double in strength?


    Mortifyingly awkward.


    Each year, the MVP winner boldly declares they don¡¯t believe in the curse and are 100% confident they¡¯ll break it, but the reality...


    In 2015, Newton played his worst game of the season in the Super Bowl.


    In 2016, Ryan blew a 25-point lead in the Super Bowl in a historic collapse.


    In 2017, Brady fell victim to Smith¡¯s last-second Wanfu Mary Hail Mary in the divisional round¡ªAlex ¡°what the hell¡± Smith?


    Thus, every MVP fell silent, puckering up nervously, shutting their eyes and choosing to play it safe¡ªbetter to believe in it than not, right?


    Including Li Wei.


    Right after the MVP results were announced, reporters rushed to interview Li Wei.


    ¡°Are you afraid?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± The unexpectedly candid response left the reporters dumbstruck. Something about this seemed... off, no?


    ¡°Do you believe in the curse?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely. Without a doubt, the curse¡¯s endurance within the league over so many years must have its reasons. I don¡¯t think I understand football better than you guys.¡±


    The room erupted in laughter. A ¡°rookie¡± joke popping up in such an unexpected context caught everyone off guard.


    But Li Wei wasn¡¯t done.


    ¡°I know, last season, a lot of people were bringing up Kurt Warner, saying Foles was the second Warner, or Smith was the second Warner. I¡¯m just glad no one said *I* was the second Warner, though I¡¯d love to be the second Warner, especially the 1999 Warner, but I¡¯m not sure Goff would feel the same.¡±


    ¡°Of course, if I remember correctly, they¡¯re in Hollywood now, not St. Louis, and Halle Berry is one of their fans¡ªcompletely different from twenty years ago.¡±


    Laughter erupted again, filling the room with cheers and whistles, creating a lively atmosphere.


    Without a doubt, this was another unforgettable moment in the NFL. As expected, Li Wei never misses in crafting these iconic memories.


    With ease, Li Wei poked fun at his Super Bowl opponents:


    This season, the Los Angeles Rams had an outstanding record, earning the nickname ¡°Cosmic Rams¡± thanks to their lightning-fast offense and fluid playing style, winning the hearts of countless fans. They even managed to ¡°break out¡± mid-season.


    On November 11, the Los Angeles Rams hosted the Seattle Seahawks. The game was neck-and-neck, and during one series of offensive plays, Goff repeatedly shouted ¡°Halle Berry¡± as part of his play-calling strategy. This moment, caught by live broadcast cameras, sparked a viral storm on social media, even drawing a response from Halle Berry herself. Goff later reacted with a shy and bashful demeanor, which only added to the buzz.


    In the end, the score was ¡°36¨C31,¡± with the Los Angeles Rams narrowly defeating the Seattle Seahawks.


    These off-the-field anecdotes undeniably enhanced the Rams¡¯ ¡°Hollywood image,¡± drawing even more attention to the team.


    The media never stopped joking about the Los Angeles Rams.


    Now, it was Li Wei¡¯s turn.


    It¡¯s no wonder reporters adore Li Wei; he always delivers headlines.


    Reporter: ¡°Are you serious? Are you truly scared of the curse? If so, what adjustments will you make for the Super Bowl? Clearly, your team didn¡¯t make it to the Super Bowl just to lose easily, right?¡±


    Li Wei: ¡°I¡¯m serious. So at this moment, I lack confidence.¡± He paused. ¡°But we will win.¡±


    One second, two seconds¡ª


    Thunderous applause and cheers erupted.


    Love him or hate him, there¡¯s no denying that interviewing Li Wei is always a delight.


    So, the regular-season MVP curse¡ªhow should it be viewed?


    In some ways, Bart got it right.


    Li Wei isn¡¯t a quarterback; he doesn¡¯t have the same game-controlling ability that quarterbacks do. Over the years, quarterbacks who won the regular-season MVP have all fallen short in their quest for the Super Bowl, and non-quarterback MVPs have historically fared even worse in the playoffs.


    In 2000, the regular-season MVP, St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk, was stopped in the divisional round.


    In 2005, regular-season MVP, Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander, lost the Super Bowl to the Pittsburgh Steelers.


    In 2012, regular-season MVP, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, was eliminated in the divisional round.


    And now, it¡¯s Li Wei¡¯s turn.


    On one hand, another running back has made history, with a regular-season MVP win after a five-season drought. This is particularly remarkable given the league¡¯s pass-heavy trends.


    On the other hand, the challenge of leading his team to a Super Bowl victory as an MVP grows exponentially harder¡ª


    Perhaps this curse will continue.


    Even professionals within the league must admit that while the curse is absurd, laughable, and impossible to explain, its presence is undeniably real.


    Although the support ratios for the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs haven¡¯t shifted, they too recognize Bart¡¯s perspective: Li Wei is facing extreme challenges and immense pressure.


    Then, Bart noticed Josh Lawson stirring.


    Over the past two seasons, as the most vocal ¡°Li Wei Fan,¡± Lawson had essentially become the league¡¯s leading figure in this camp, thanks to his remarkable rise in accuracy on one side of the debate.


    But in Bart¡¯s view, Lawson had only ever done one thing: support Li Wei unconditionally. Period. Professionalism? Analysis? None of that mattered¡ªit was just blind worship and unwavering defense of Li Wei. What¡¯s professional about that?


    So, now, as always, Lawson was bound to speak up for Li Wei¡ªjust a matter of when.


    This time, Bart struck preemptively, speaking up before Lawson could.


    ¡°If you¡¯re about to say that Li Wei¡¯s entire career is about breaking perceptions, that he¡¯s already shattered countless records, then save your breath. I can¡¯t convince you, and you can¡¯t convince me. I believe the curse reigns supreme, and you¡¯re devoted to the cult of Li Wei. Why don¡¯t we just agree to disagree?¡±


    Snark. Teasing. Mockery.


    On the surface, Bart seemed to be dodging conflict; in reality, he had preemptively dismissed Lawson¡¯s points as ¡°blind faith,¡± striking first to gain an advantage.


    From here on, no matter how Lawson defended Li Wei, it would inevitably seem like nonsense.


    However, Lawson remained unruffled.


    The ever-straightforward Lawson always sought truth in facts. No matter what Bart thought of him, he methodically conducted his research before delivering his conclusions.


    ¡°Sorry, you might be disappointed. My perspective is a little different.¡±


    Uh, what?


    Not just Bart, but everyone in the league turned their attention to Lawson. Had the sun started rising in the west? Was Lawson about to betray his alliances and switch sides?


    Once again the center of attention, Lawson was his usual composed self.


    ¡°I think the Super Bowl might end up being a blowout.¡±


    Whoa.


    Unexpected, absolutely unexpected¡ªLawson¡¯s opinion diverged completely from everyone else¡¯s, making him truly stand out.


    ¡°From past experience, defensive groups often play a key role on the Super Bowl stage, while offensive groups are prone to faltering due to nerves or overexcitement.¡±


    ¡°Last year¡¯s Super Bowl was an exception.¡±


    ¡°This year, both teams face immense pressure. Making it to the Super Bowl has everyone¡¯s attention, and the ¡®Halfway Super Bowl¡¯ has already brought pressure to a boiling point. Coupled with the enormous toll of the conference championship games, the match might end in a blowout, with the outcome decided by the defensive groups.¡±


    ¡°But because of this, ground games will also play a crucial role. I believe Li Wei has a chance to take control of his own destiny.¡±

 Chapter 855: Hot potato

    Chapter 855: Hot potato


    ¡°Defend the title, defend the title!¡±


    ¡°Los Angeles is the champion!¡±


    ¡°Chieftains, no doubt about it, 100% support for the Chieftains!¡±


    ¡°A question: If Li Wei wins the championship at this year¡¯s Super Bowl again, will he qualify to contend for GOAT in the future?¡±


    ¡°Cosmic Rams, please rise!¡±


    Clamor, frenzy, spotlight.


    The bustling and boisterous season has come, the annual Super Bowl is finally here, and it¡¯s once again time for collective celebration across the North American continent.


    ¡°Within the league¡±¡ªthis is just the tip of the iceberg. Everyone is predicting the champion, and both teams are showcasing their massive fan bases simultaneously¡ª


    as the internet heats up.


    However, along with the frenzy, the discordant voices are becoming increasingly loud.


    Protests, boycotts, backlash.


    Negative sentiment peaks as the frenzy escalates, ultimately evolving into a sweeping movement.


    It¡¯s not aimed at the Kansas City Chiefs, nor at the Los Angeles Rams, but rather at the Super Bowl.


    Or perhaps more accurately, at the league.


    Two things.


    First, racial discrimination.


    The issue dates back to the 2016 season.


    That year, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick protested against police brutality and racial discrimination by sitting on a sideline bench during the national anthem before a preseason game.


    Subsequently, under advice from veteran and former NFL player Nate Boyer, Kaepernick switched to taking the knee during the anthem, a move that both expressed respect toward the military while still conveying his protest message.


    And Kaepernick stuck with it for the entire season.


    This sparked a furor across the league, with voices of support and opposition exploding in full force.


    Supporters saw Kaepernick¡¯s actions as a necessary protest against violence and injustice; detractors believed he disrespected the flag and the military, criticizing the timing and manner of his protest.


    In March 2017, when Kaepernick became a free agent despite being in his prime, he never found another job. This was widely believed to be a league-wide collusion among teams to ostracize him, despite the league never officially taking sides. This action, however, conveyed their stance.


    This led to broader protests as more players joined Kaepernick¡¯s cause¡ªnot only from the NFL but also from other leagues, garnering wide attention.


    The matter persisted for two years.


    Before the start of the 2018 season, the NFL implemented a new rule requiring players to stand during the national anthem or remain in the locker room.


    Though the decision seemed to reconcile both sides, it proved to be a case of Zhu Bajie looking into the mirror¡ªpleasing neither group¡ªand faced heavy criticism from both perspectives.


    Adding fuel to the fire, the NFL recently reached an out-of-court settlement with Kaepernick¡ª


    Kaepernick had formally sued the league, accusing them of colluding with teams to block him from signing with those interested.


    The league opted for damage control.


    This resolution further stirred the hornet¡¯s nest, leaving both supporters and detractors dissatisfied.


    For this reason, the ¡°Gillette Stadium vs. Li Wei¡± news incident of Week 6 in the regular season ignited such explosive energy, hitting sensitive nerves and drawing a flurry of voices from all directions.


    The matter never fully settled and continues to ferment today.


    Second, player violence.


    The Kansas City Chiefs find themselves at the epicenter of the storm; running back Hunter¡¯s case has kept the focus on player violence alive, with the league yet to produce an investigation outcome.


    Netizens emphasized: This incident has not been forgotten.


    Everything, once again, escalated with the Super Bowl making waves.


    Some outraged netizens even suggested that the NFL awarded the regular-season MVP to Li Wei solely to silence their protests.


    Thus, the boycott movement began¡ª


    led by actors, singers, and public figures, bolstered by online momentum, they openly and subtly declared their decision to boycott the Super Bowl.


    New Orleans: Seconded!


    The controversial decision in the final moments of the National Conference Championship robbed the New Orleans Saints of their chance to return to the Super Bowl stage. Worse still, the league¡¯s refusal to address the issue has left New Orleans infuriated.


    An entire city is now rallying to urge fans to take real action to compel the league to hear their anger¡ªboycotting the Super Bowl as a way to inflict financial pain¡ª


    as a drop in viewership ratings would directly impact the league¡¯s and broadcasters¡¯ revenue. After all, dissatisfied advertisers would pressure the league and broadcasters to address the issue.


    A wave of boycotts is surging forth.


    In fact, the truly insightful individuals noticed the shifts early on and made their decisions even before the ¡°Super Bowl boycott¡± movement began¡ª


    five months ago.


    Rihanna, Jay-Z, Cardi-B (Cardi-B), in order, all declined the league¡¯s invitations to perform at the halftime show¡ªa coveted gig once highly sought after¡ªtransforming the opportunity into a political hot potato.


    Rihanna was the first to refuse, publicly stating her decision to reject the proposal in support of Kaepernick.


    Jay-Z and Cardi-B communicated similar reasons during interviews, accusing the league of attempting to use minority performers as a facade to mask their troubles.


    League response: ¡°...Could we keep this discreet, please?¡±


    The halftime show performer lineup experienced baffling delays, with no updates.


    Then came the rumor: Maroon-5 was invited¡ª


    White performers.


    It seemed the league finally shifted tactics.


    Upon hearing this, fans even petitioned for Maroon-5 to reject the invitation, urging them to distance themselves from the NFL.


    Nevertheless, Maroon-5 accepted the offer.


    Furthermore, the league invited up-and-coming Black rapper Travis Scott to perform alongside them.


    It was rumored that Jay-Z advised Scott to withdraw, but Scott ultimately decided to participate, with the condition that the league donate $500,000 alongside him to the charity Dream Group.


    The league agreed.


    This Super Bowl undoubtedly stands as the most chaotic and noisy in two decades.


    On one hand, the off-field negative headlines remain relentless, the ¡°Super Bowl boycott¡± campaign roars on, leaving even Goodell struggling to manage the situation.


    On the other hand, the matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs offers plenty of intrigue¡ªnot only as the second consecutive head-to-head clash of rising forces but also as a contest between the season¡¯s two most entertaining teams.


    Thus, various voices have exploded across social networks.


    Enthusiastic and oppositional, elated and furious, eager and indignant, resolute or trying to persuade others¡ªit¡¯s all on full display.


    On-field and off-field incidents converge at the Super Bowl, sparking fierce clashes of opinions, generating massive waves of emotion.


    And don¡¯t forget, Li Wei made history as the first to claim the regular-season MVP and break into the mainstream, drawing the attention of diverse industries.


    Then, casual viewers unfamiliar with football or the Super Bowl were left startled¡ª


    ¡°Is it...this lively?¡±

 Chapter 856: 855 Friend or Foe

    Chapter 856: 855 Friend or Foe


    The night, sparse and bright, not a cloud in sight¡ª


    Looking out from the hotel window, the city lights obscure the vast array of stars, yet the moon remains clearly visible. Its serene glow gently spills down, outlining the distinctive charm of this city.


    Atlanta, without a doubt, is a city like no other.


    Quietly nestled in the South, it bears the fleeting yet tumultuous history of the North American continent. The blood and tears once witnessed here, the weight and hardships experienced, have etched themselves deeply into the city¡¯s veins and bones. Jazz, blues, and rock intertwine in melodies that mournfully narrate the vitality and energy preserved on this land.


    After a long period of development and revival, Georgia¡¯s tax incentives opened its doors to Hollywood. From ¡°The Walking Dead¡± to ¡°Avengers,¡± film studios have set up shop in Atlanta, allowing this Southern gem to keep pace with the modern era in its own unique way.


    In just a few short days, this city will host the 53rd Super Bowl in a brand-new stadium, becoming the focal point of the entire North American continent¡ª


    Perhaps even the world.


    Though debates and chaos are escalating, the bustling clamor shows no sign of subsiding, yet Atlanta is no stranger to such things.


    Don¡¯t forget that this city nurtured and gave birth to Martin Luther King. Over more than a century, this land has witnessed numerous births and deaths, disputes and confrontations, chaos and disasters. Undoubtedly, Atlanta is a critical stop in the southern part of North America.


    Atlanta is ready. They¡¯re not worried about thorny problems. They¡¯re more concerned that places like New Orleans, Dallas, Houston, Nashville, and other major hubs would overshadow Atlanta¡¯s presence.


    So, they¡¯re prepared to show the world what they¡¯ve got.


    ¡°Looks like the weather should be good for the weekend¡¯s game.¡±


    Aaron Donald pulled his gaze back, feeling slightly reassured¡ª


    Used to Los Angeles¡¯ perennial spring-like climate, Donald genuinely believed that playing outdoor games in the cold winter weather was downright inhumane.


    Look at tennis tournaments: when it¡¯s winter in the northern hemisphere, they play in the southern hemisphere; when it¡¯s southern hemisphere winter, they return to the northern hemisphere, always chasing the warmth of spring and summer.


    It seems like only the fools playing football and football are still battling it out with nature in rainy or snowy conditions.


    Thinking back to the terrible weather during the American League championship game, Donald couldn¡¯t help but shiver.


    Nearby, the Los Angeles Rams players noticed Donald¡¯s expression, and one by one they started teasing, ¡°Aaron doesn¡¯t like rainy days. Aaron doesn¡¯t like rainy days.¡±


    Donald kept an innocent expression and chuckled softly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even on rainy days, I can easily give you a lesson.¡±


    Whoa.


    The players burst into laughter, the room buzzing with energy.


    Donald, unmoved, glanced at the mirror in the hotel lobby to straighten his outfit, while the surrounding banter erupted again.


    ¡°Aaron, Aaron, do you think Li Wei meeting you before the game is to drag you to a ¡®party¡¯? Everyone knows Atlanta¡¯s reputation¡ªNBA players live it up here, it¡¯s decadence central.¡±


    ¡°Right, right, just make sure you keep yourself in check. Don¡¯t let a single whiff of Atlanta air cause you to lose all your principles. Overspend your energy tonight, and if your legs give out on Sunday, that¡¯ll be a disaster. Li Wei sees he can¡¯t beat you on the field, so he¡¯s going with a roundabout tactic. What does The Art of War say again?¡±


    ¡°The Art of War? Do you even know who Sun Tzu is?¡±


    ¡°Everyone calm down, calm down. Li Wei isn¡¯t like that. He doesn¡¯t care much about Atlanta¡¯s temptations. If you ask me, Li Wei is probably planning a mental attack tonight, just like Professor X, invading your mind from the spiritual level to uncover our strategies. Careful, he¡¯s not your ordinary running back.¡±


    ¡°Gurley, I think he¡¯s making fun of you.¡±


    Chuckling erupted once again amidst the group.


    The Rams arrived in Atlanta on day one for light field adjustments and basic training. The Kansas City Chiefs practiced in the morning, while the Rams took the afternoon slot.


    During lunch, the two Super Bowl teams briefly crossed paths. Don¡¯t be misled by exaggerated media reports of drama. True, the Rams and Chiefs have a history of rivalry long enough to fill pages, and sparks could easily fly even from a passing glance.


    But in private, Li Wei and Donald happen to be good friends, especially since the mid-season Super Bowl. Both men have great respect for each other.


    Even though the Chiefs lost, Li Wei found inspiration and motivation. Eager for a rematch against the Rams and Donald, he extended an olive branch to show respect; later, Donald proactively asked for Li Wei¡¯s contact information.


    After exchanges back and forth, the two became friends.


    As the big showdown approached, Li Wei invited Donald to experience Atlanta¡¯s charm, and Donald cheerfully agreed.


    Which brings us to the scene at hand.


    Donald looked at his group of teammates and shook his head lightly, ¡°You guys act like rookies. For rookies, winning or losing honorably, facing outcomes with your head held high¡ªthat¡¯s the true beauty of competitive sports.¡±


    ¡°No worries, no worries. We don¡¯t mind the means to an end. Aaron, tonight you can spy on the Chiefs a little, see what tactics they¡¯re preparing. We¡¯re all in for the win,¡± Goff joked from the side.


    The room burst into laughter again.


    Perhaps Gurley was the only exception, sitting gloomily in the corner sharpening metaphorical knives with laser-focus eyes.


    Donald glanced down at the baseball cap in his hand¡ª


    Should he wear it, or not?


    After all, with the Super Bowl approaching, being spotted by fans while dining with Li Wei privately... it might not look too good.


    Looking at his shiny, round buzz cut, Donald finally decided to put the cap on.


    ¡°Agent, agent, agent.¡±


    Amid the clamoring chants from the Rams players, Donald set off.


    However!


    Upon arriving at the restaurant, Donald spotted Li Wei standing openly by the door. Bathed in the restaurant¡¯s bright lights, his tall, confident figure turned heads, with women passing by constantly throwing flirtatious glances his way¡ªas if he were a mini sun.


    Donald glanced down at his own modest, plain black suit, feeling slightly awkward and clumsy¡ª


    The discrepancy was clear.


    That guy was undoubtedly the dashing ¡°007¡± James Bond, while here he was, the rugged and scruffy Jason Bourne.


    Donald: ...


    As his steps prepared to close the distance, he paused because Li Wei was opening his arms to welcome a petite, curvaceous woman with a high ponytail¡ªa stunning beauty.


    So¡ªis she the Bond Girl?


    The guy didn¡¯t play fair. Not telling him companions were allowed, now with his bitter solitude compared against Li Wei¡¯s dazzling entrance...it was just plain miserable.


    Donald seriously pondered if he should call in someone breathtakingly gorgeous to act as an emergency date.

 Chapter 857: 856 Manufactured Coincidence

    Chapter 857: 856 Manufactured Coincidence


    ¡°...You didn¡¯t tell me this was a dinner party where you had to bring a date.¡±


    Donald wasn¡¯t great at making jokes, but in private his personality was cheerful and carefree. Without the spotlight of the media cameras, he always managed to keep the mood light. At this moment, he was looking at Li Wei in a teasing tone.


    Li Wei spread his hands with a serious expression.


    ¡°The whole point is to aim for the element of surprise, so I can create a big enough mental impact. Aron, you¡¯ve walked straight into my trap.¡±


    Donald blinked a few times and purposefully shook his head with a deadpan expression, ¡°Rookie, you¡¯ve changed.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha.¡± Li Wei burst into laughter.


    In front of the media, the honest and straightforward Donald rarely managed to spark much excitement or interest, especially compared to Watt; but in private, Donald was much more entertaining. His tiny moments of humor always kept conversations light and enjoyable.


    Unfortunately, this side of him remained unseen by the media.


    Li Wei spread his hands, ¡°Welcome to my show.¡±


    Donald widened his eyes in disbelief, speechless: you can really be this shameless? Rookie, I had no idea you could be so bold!


    Li Wei¡¯s eyes were filled with laughter as he turned toward the ponytailed beauty beside him, taking on the role of introducer.


    ¡°Aron, this is Ariana; Ariana, this is Aron.¡±


    ¡°If I said that Ariana being here was purely a coincidence, Aron, would you believe me?¡±


    Ariana Grande extended her right hand, ¡°No matter what he says, we¡¯ll believe it, right?¡±


    After speaking, Ariana shot a playful wink at Donald, which immediately made his grin widen.


    Donald extended his right hand and completed the handshake with Ariana.


    Ariana smiled brightly at Donald, ¡°Sorry for interrupting your date. I promise I¡¯ll only stay for a while and won¡¯t take up too much of your time.¡±


    Donald scratched his head sheepishly, ¡°If interruptions look like this, we should open our arms and welcome them. More interruptions, please.¡±


    Wait... was this flirting?


    Li Wei looked at Donald in shock, ¡°Hey, James Bond, I had no idea you had this side to you. Could you tell me where you¡¯ve been hiding it all this time?¡±


    Donald kept his straightforward expression and looked at Li Wei, ¡°Sorry, buddy. Appreciate the love, but I¡¯m not interested.¡±


    Uncharacteristically, Donald had just teased Li Wei¡ª


    Ariana couldn¡¯t help herself and let out a soft laugh.


    But Li Wei didn¡¯t mind, playing along as he held his chest dramatically, ¡°This is the first rejection of my life¡ªout of a hundred confessions, this is my first failure.¡±


    Even Donald hadn¡¯t anticipated Li Wei¡¯s reaction and burst into hearty laughter, a booming sound resonating from his chest.


    It was then that they realized they¡¯d been standing at the restaurant entrance all this time, with passersby noticing them.


    To be honest, it wasn¡¯t easy to ignore them: one was strong, one was tall, and the third had an iconic ponytail. Even a casual glance would turn into a double-take.


    Especially during Super Bowl weekend.


    Li Wei noticed people¡¯s attention and mused, Is this what it feels like to be a panda in a zoo?


    ¡°So, how long do we plan on standing by the door? If I¡¯m not mistaken, restaurants are for eating, not for being displayed in the back.¡±


    Ariana also noticed this, ¡°Oh, in that case, I¡¯ll leave you two to your meal and won¡¯t intrude.¡±


    Donald didn¡¯t hide his surprise, ¡°You¡¯re not joining us?¡±


    Ariana hesitated slightly and looked toward Li Wei.


    Donald said, ¡°You¡¯re welcome, truly welcome. I¡¯ve always been a fan of your music. I know everyone says that when they meet you, but I mean it; Rookie, aren¡¯t you going to say something?¡±


    Li Wei shrugged, ¡°You¡¯ve stolen all my lines. What do you expect me to do?¡±


    Ariana still looked at Li Wei with bright eyes, seemingly waiting for a response.


    Li Wei smiled, ¡°Ariana, would you care to join us for dinner? Only if you¡¯re not meeting up with someone else.¡±


    Ariana¡¯s smile blossomed beautifully, ¡°Thank you so much. I was planning to dine alone tonight, actually.¡±


    ¡°Really? You were planning to eat alone?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Aron, that hat of yours¡ªis it really working for you?¡±


    ¡°I just wanted to keep things low-key.¡±


    ¡°Buddy, I think you might have misunderstood yourself. Wearing a hat and sunglasses doesn¡¯t make you inconspicuous; it makes you stand out even more. What do you think, Ariana?¡±


    Looking at Donald¡¯s slightly shy and awkward demeanor, Ariana laughed softly again. The atmosphere was relaxed and cheerful.


    Once seated, with the appetizers and the first dish served, Li Wei finally had a moment to ask Ariana, ¡°So, how did you end up in Atlanta? For a concert?¡±


    Donald looked at Li Wei with an odd expression, clearly surprised. He had assumed Li Wei had invited Ariana, but now it seemed it was a coincidence after all?


    Li Wei noticed Donald hesitating mid-bite with a piece of asparagus. ¡°Well, we didn¡¯t get a chance to chat earlier, thanks to some third wheel showing up.¡±


    Donald pursed his lips, ¡°Are you sure who¡¯s the third wheel here?¡±


    Ariana¡¯s eyes were sparkling with laughter. If not for the restraint of being in a French restaurant, she would¡¯ve laughed openly. ¡°No, I came specifically to watch the Super Bowl.¡±


    Both Donald and Li Wei were visibly surprised.


    Donald blurted out, ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were into football!¡±


    Ariana shook her head lightly, ¡°No, I don¡¯t usually watch.¡±


    Donald asked, ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re here for the halftime show?¡±


    Ariana replied, ¡°No, I¡¯ve recently developed an interest in football. I¡¯m learning and trying to adapt. I think football might inspire me.¡±


    As she spoke, her gaze naturally fell on Li Wei.


    Li Wei blinked, and as Ariana¡¯s eyes shifted, Donald followed her gaze. Li Wei shrugged casually, ¡°Sorry, can¡¯t help it¡ªtoo much charm. But you might have to take a number. The list of date requests has already stretched from New York to New Jersey.¡±


    Pfft.


    Ariana laughed out loud, ¡°Just New Jersey? A bit disappointing. I thought it would at least reach Toronto. You should have more confidence, dear Rookie.¡±


    Back-and-forth banter filled the air, sending pink bubbles floating as the atmosphere bubbled with lighthearted sweetness.


    Suddenly, Donald felt like maybe he should be under the car.


    In some way, Ariana was serious. She wasn¡¯t lying.


    The past two years had been a low point in Ariana¡¯s life. In May 2017, her concert in Manchester was struck by a terrorist attack, causing 22 fatalities. This event had left a lasting psychological scar, haunting her with nightmares as she struggled to heal from that night¡¯s trauma.


    To her shock, last May she ended her two-year relationship with Mac Miller. Though publicly labeled as an amicable split, Ariana was deeply shaken by feelings of failure.


    Things worsened when, in September, Mac Miller tragically passed away from an overdose at just 26 years old, leaving Ariana reeling in devastation.


    Additionally, her career had seemed stuck in a rut these past two years. Everything had plateaued, with no visible exit or future. Ariana felt trapped, as though she were being dragged into an endless abyss¡ªsinking slowly, slowly, like a drowning woman.


    Until she accidentally caught the American League Championship game.

 Chapter 858: 857 Official Challenge

    Chapter 858: 857 Official Challenge


    Since releasing her first album in 2013, Ariana Grande has won countless attention, bursting onto the scene like a shooting star; but ever since then, Ariana has been spinning her wheels, stuck in the same place, unable to find a breakthrough.


    Some people say, debuting at the peak.


    However, the key is, that wasn¡¯t truly the peak. Ariana hasn¡¯t had any number-one singles, hasn¡¯t won any Grammy awards; on the surface, her career appears thriving and unstoppable, but it¡¯s all just a bubble on social media, lacking any substantial weight.


    A bottleneck?


    If this is a bottleneck, then Ariana has been trapped from the very beginning.


    In Ariana¡¯s eyes, it¡¯s quicksand. Though her feet are still on flat ground, she is being swallowed bit by bit, and her struggles only cause her to sink deeper.


    Then came the Manchester tragedy in 2017, followed by Mac Miller in 2018. The shadows of death and violence left Ariana exhausted and scarred, both physically and emotionally.


    Ariana even began fearing the arrival of nightfall. The night was too quiet, allowing her to hear the voice in her mind, leading to endless insomnia.


    Until one sleepless night, as she flipped randomly through TV channels, she accidentally came across the live broadcast of the American League playoffs and inexplicably stopped.


    Football?


    The first thing that popped into her mind was Li Wei¡¯s figure, the player she had coincidentally met during last year¡¯s Super Bowl night.


    Miraculously, watching this group of players with helmets, whose faces couldn¡¯t even be seen, Ariana couldn¡¯t help but search for Li Wei among the crowd.


    Then, she joined the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ fans in witnessing this game.


    Overcoming the cold, defeating the freezing rain, and creating a glimmer of hope amidst adversity; fighting until their legs cramped during the final moments of the regular season, igniting the team¡¯s energy; finally, in the knife¡¯s-edge overtime, exploding with unparalleled determination and courage to secure victory.


    Everything seemed impossible, but eventually, it became possible. So intense, so thrilling, so focused ¡ª showcasing the full essence of competitive sports.


    Not just a victory, but a battle, a fight, a testament to perseverance. The unwavering will in the face of hardship and darkness, the passionate blaze in the heat of competition ¡ª it was all so captivating.


    In that man, there was a spirit, a passion, a charm, like the vortex of a black hole, firmly capturing her gaze.


    Ariana didn¡¯t even realize that, before she was aware, she had already been drawn in, unconsciously watching the entire game through the live broadcast.


    But the truly moving moment happened after the game ended.


    When Li Wei knelt on the ground, quietly wiping away his tears, Ariana¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t help but redden. She understood the sigh of relief and release after overcoming immense difficulties and forging ahead; yet, it wasn¡¯t until the commentator recounted Annie Galas¡¯s story with the Kansas City Chiefs that Ariana understood Li Wei¡¯s sadness and vulnerability wasn¡¯t because of the victory ¡ª


    It was for a little girl who fought for her life but tragically couldn¡¯t smile until the end.


    In that moment, Ariana¡¯s heart began to race uncontrollably. It was the first time she truly felt the appeal of competitive sports, just like music.


    Motivational speeches, you hear them all the time. When faced with hardship and darkness, outsiders can¡¯t truly empathize and always advise you to stay strong and persevere; but the problem is, doesn¡¯t she already know that? Doesn¡¯t she want that? It¡¯s precisely because she can¡¯t do it that it becomes a problem.


    But Li Wei didn¡¯t.


    No empty words, no emotional appeals, just action ¡ª a fiery resistance and release, letting the energy of life bloom without reservation.


    Maybe they can¡¯t control the outcome of the game; maybe they can¡¯t predict if tomorrow or an accident will come first. But at least they can seize every moment in front of them, fight with everything they¡¯ve got, and interpret, perform, and feel the weight of life in the time they do have.


    And then, Ariana knew she needed to go to Atlanta. She needed to watch the Super Bowl live. She needed... to see Li Wei again.


    She didn¡¯t even know why. Her music career wouldn¡¯t find answers in Li Wei or the Super Bowl; but somehow, she was convinced she needed to go to Atlanta. In the endless, boundless night, she would follow Polaris as her guide, even though she didn¡¯t know what she would find at the end of the road, she still resolutely took the first step.


    When she saw Li Wei again, Ariana just knew ¡ª


    Her instincts were right.


    With just a few words, Li Wei could make the air feel lighter. Even with night falling, Ariana could still sense that brightness and levity.


    Smiling, Ariana gave Li Wei a deep look, ¡°So, what about you guys? Super Bowl opponents having dinner together before the game ¡ª do your fans know about this?¡±


    Li Wei glanced at the passersby outside the restaurant snapping photos through the glass window and even raised his right hand in greeting, ¡°I guess they know now.¡±


    Donald still looked a little uneasy. If it weren¡¯t for Ariana, he was confident he could¡¯ve kept his whereabouts hidden ¡ª he¡¯d planned it all out.


    Caught red-handed glancing at Ariana, Donald quickly looked away, hastily diverting attention, ¡°I¡¯m also curious why a rookie suddenly invited me to dinner.¡±


    Li Wei looked utterly serious, ¡°I¡¯m using beauty as a tactic to distract the opponent. So far, everything seems to be going according to plan.¡±


    With that one sentence, Donald was left speechless while Ariana couldn¡¯t suppress a light chuckle.


    Then, Li Wei continued, ¡°Remember our Week 11 game? Last time, during the regular season, Aron led Los Angeles to defeat us.¡±


    The latter part of the sentence was directed as an explanation to Ariana.


    Donald chimed in with a smile, ¡°And then the rookie came out with that classic line, ¡®I hate Los Angeles.''¡±


    Ariana gave Li Wei a disappointed look: she lived in Los Angeles.


    Li Wei raised both hands, ¡°New York and Los Angeles, sorry, I just can¡¯t.¡±


    No excuses, just a candid acknowledgment. Ariana and Donald shared a conspiratorial glance and bumped fists in camaraderie.


    Li Wei seized the moment to quip, ¡°See? This is why I could never like Los Angeles.¡±


    The atmosphere grew even more cheerful.


    Finally, Li Wei added, ¡°After that game, I told Aron I was looking forward to meeting again. Next time, I¡¯d beat him fair and square.¡±


    ¡°So tonight was just a reminder, Aron ¡ª don¡¯t forget. Hey, buddy, you¡¯d better rest up and give it 100%, because I¡¯m counting on a peak showdown.¡±


    Donald froze, taken aback that Li Wei had essentially come to issue a challenge?


    Everyone assumed that, given the long-standing rivalry between the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs ¡ª whether the historical regional animosity or this season¡¯s midterm Super Bowl matchup ¡ª the relationship was one of irreconcilable hostility.


    Not to mention the league¡¯s constant fueling of the ¡°Li Wei VS Donald¡± narrative. Over the past two seasons, the clash between the league¡¯s best offensive player and best defensive player had undoubtedly been the focus of everyone¡¯s attention.


    Shouldn¡¯t they be mortal enemies?

 Chapter 859: 858 Gossip Crisis

    Chapter 859: 858 Gossip Crisis


    In the eyes of the world, victory is victory, even if it means using all sorts of underhanded tactics to win. Look at the New England Patriots¡ªpeople remember their five Super Bowl rings now, but how many remember the dirty tricks they used on their way to the top? When people talk about the Patriots and Brady, the long prelude is always ¡°five-time Super Bowl champions,¡± not SpyGate, DeflateGate, or any of the other scandals.


    The same goes for the Los Angeles Rams.


    Don¡¯t be fooled by New Orleans collectively boycotting the Super Bowl right now. If the Los Angeles Rams were to beat the Kansas City Chiefs and ultimately take the Super Bowl Championship, everyone would remember them as champions. No one would bring up the controversial calls in the final moments of the National Conference championship game.


    Championships are the ultimate truth.


    So, the Rams and the Chiefs should be locked in a life-or-death battle¡ª


    The Los Angeles Rams need the championship trophy to ¡°rewrite¡± the collective memory of that National Conference game, while the Kansas City Chiefs need it to silence their critics and naysayers.


    Now, with only one opponent standing in their way to the championship throne, it¡¯s logical that both teams would do everything in their power to secure the win.


    But now?


    Li Wei and Donald aren¡¯t sizing each other up in a warlike stare down; instead, they¡¯re sitting down for dinner together in perfect harmony. And not only that, Li Wei openly issues a challenge, eager for a showdown at the pinnacle of competition.


    Doesn¡¯t this feel a bit... off?


    Nearby, Ariana places her knife and fork down on the plate, pretending to enjoy her meal, but her bright eyes are fixed on Li Wei, a faint smile curling at the corners of her mouth.


    Donald is the same.


    Momentarily stunned, he finally reacts, a surge of fiery determination swelling in his chest. He sets his knife and fork aside, looks at Li Wei, and solemnly declares:


    ¡°Those words should¡¯ve come from me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We won¡¯t be overconfident or underestimate you. We¡¯ll come into this game at one hundred percent, in our best condition.¡±


    ¡°When the time comes, there will be no friendship on the field. I won¡¯t go easy on you. Once we step onto that turf, we¡¯re competitors, fighting for the same thing.¡±


    ¡°Trust me. We¡¯re ready to beat you again.¡±


    ¡°And I mean it.¡±


    Donald¡¯s baby face may lack menace, but the sheer determination in his eyes and his sharp, unwavering expression radiate undeniable strength as he stares straight at Li Wei, leaving no room for compromise.


    So, rookie, do you still remember the fear of being utterly dominated by Donald?


    ...


    Dinner was cheerful and relaxed, the atmosphere light. After a brief moment of tension, smiles returned to everyone¡¯s faces, as thoughts of the battlefield faded away for now. Li Wei and Donald chatted and laughed like old friends.


    With the grand showdown approaching, both being consummate professionals, neither Li Wei nor Donald touched alcohol. Instead, toasting with water, the two engaged in an easy back-and-forth filled with jokes and banter.


    Within moments, the news that these two football megastars were ¡°sharing a festive drink¡± together spread like wildfire. And with the ever-popular Ariana sitting with them, it wasn¡¯t long before streams of passersby began stopping in their tracks, stealing glances at the trio. Some even mustered the courage to ask for autographs and photos.


    Fortunately, this upscale French restaurant was known for its etiquette, and the patrons were generally restrained enough not to disrupt the group¡¯s meal.


    But on social media, the pictures of the three dining together had already set the internet ablaze, creating a stark contrast to the calm inside the restaurant.


    The buzz exploded.


    No one could believe that Li Wei and Donald were in the same place, let alone that Ariana was sharing a table with these two football giants.


    So, what was this all about?


    Soon, the seemingly impossible hit the trending lists¡ª


    #CloserWithFriendsClosestWithEnemies


    #MostUnbelievableDinnerScene


    #WhenArianaAndFootballCollide


    And the hashtags just kept piling up.


    Underneath it all, a bustling wave of discussions erupted, spreading instantly as the internet collectively reached a fever pitch.


    Spectators and mess-makers alike were giddy with laughter. ¡°Look at those jokers, still fighting tooth and nail online over whether the Rams or the Chiefs will come out on top. Meanwhile, their team leaders are having a grand old time together. Hilarious!¡±


    Whether fueling the chaos or simply observing in amusement, the flood of traffic was undeniable.


    Meanwhile, Li Wei and Donald, entirely oblivious of the trends lighting up social media, finished dinner amid good cheer and laughter.


    At the restaurant¡¯s entrance, a small crowd of fans had gathered¡ªsome football enthusiasts, some music lovers¡ªrestless with excitement, their gazes burning with anticipation.


    Li Wei decided he should act like a gentleman and escort Ariana back to her hotel.


    ¡°...Someone said it was a coincidence.¡± Donald shot Li Wei a knowing look, his expression dripping with sarcasm.


    Li Wei gave a helpless smile. ¡°It really was.¡±


    Donald shrugged lightly. ¡°Sure. Whatever you say. But, buddy, the showdown¡¯s almost here. Be cautious. Don¡¯t exhaust yourself and mess up your performance. Honestly, I¡¯d like to see the best version of Li Wei on the field. Beating someone at their peak is the real satisfaction.¡±


    His tone made it clear¡ªhe didn¡¯t buy Li Wei¡¯s explanation.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t bother arguing, shaking his head lightly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Even if I¡¯m dead on my feet, by the Super Bowl, I¡¯ll still make it more than you can handle.¡±


    Donald wasn¡¯t expecting that comeback. He spread his hands. ¡°Alright, buddy. Bring it on. I¡¯ll be waiting.¡±


    ¡°See you on the field.¡±


    ¡°See you on the field.¡±


    Watching Donald walk away, Li Wei turned back to Ariana, who had been patiently waiting nearby. With a gentlemanly gesture, he motioned for her to follow. ¡°I hope I didn¡¯t keep you waiting too long.¡±


    Ariana glanced in the direction Donald had gone, hesitated, then said, ¡°I think... maybe I should head back on my own?¡±


    Li Wei looked puzzled.


    Ariana explained, ¡°You don¡¯t understand the media. If Aron¡¯s not around and they see just the two of us together, tomorrow¡¯s headlines are going to be completely wild.¡± She paused and added with her face slightly flushed, ¡°It could be a distraction, because those reporters definitely won¡¯t let up on you.¡±


    Li Wei suddenly understood. ¡°Ah, tabloid news.¡±


    Ariana nodded. ¡°Exactly. They can make up stories out of nothing and make them sound awful. You really don¡¯t want to see those headlines. If they catch a photo of just the two of us...¡±


    Her voice trailed off, still worried about affecting Li Wei¡¯s focus before the Super Bowl.


    But Li Wei seemed amused. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about that. Even if they take pictures of all three of us, they might crop out Aron and claim we had dinner alone. Or maybe they¡¯ll crop me out and say you and Aron had a private dinner.¡±


    He paused, then added thoughtfully, ¡°Do you think they¡¯d crop you out and claim I had a candlelit dinner with Aron?¡±


    ¡°Oh, God. I fervently pray they don¡¯t let their imaginations go that far.¡±


    Clearly, Ariana hadn¡¯t expected Li Wei¡¯s line of reasoning. She was briefly stunned, then couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter, her smile bright and radiant in the colorful glow of the night, transforming her mood entirely.


    Silently, all the chaotic thoughts melted away. The night seemed less daunting, less overwhelming.

 Chapter 860: 859 Absolute Focus

    Chapter 860: 859 Absolute Focus


    Pfft.


    Ariana couldn¡¯t help but let out a laugh.


    Li Wei stood there like a gentleman. ¡°See? Isn¡¯t this much better?¡±


    Ariana tilted her head. ¡°What?¡±


    Li Wei smiled. ¡°Smiling, I mean.¡±


    Ariana¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t seem to notice. ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry about the media and online commenters. It¡¯s brutal, but that¡¯s real life. We can never please everyone. At least we can decide: do we live for the people who love us or the ones who hate us?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not easy, but it¡¯s a direction to aim for.¡±


    ¡°No matter how the media frames it, truthfully, they¡¯ve already gotten what they wanted¡ªphotos of the two of us together. There¡¯s no need to drag Aron into this unnecessarily.¡±


    Ha! Ariana caught the teasing undertone in Li Wei¡¯s words and broke into another smile.


    ¡°So, I¡¯m guessing even if I escort you back to the hotel, it shouldn¡¯t make things worse.¡±


    ¡°Wait, or maybe...¡±


    A hotel? If reporters see it, would they really refrain from jumping to conclusions?


    But clearly, Li Wei wasn¡¯t actually worried; he was joking around.


    The smile Ariana wore reached her eyes fully this time. She dropped her pretensions and gave Li Wei a straightforward gaze. ¡°Then I¡¯ll trouble this gentleman.¡±


    Li Wei chuckled, ¡°Thank you for giving me an opportunity to polish my image.¡±


    Ariana joined in the playful banter, lifting the hem of her dress and curtsying. ¡°The honor is mine.¡±


    Chatting amiably all the way, they didn¡¯t even notice time flying by until they reached the destination. Li Wei escorted Ariana to the hotel lobby but stopped courteously at the entrance, gentlemanly watching her head to the elevator.


    He waited until the elevator doors shut tightly before finally turning to leave.


    Just as he opened the taxi door and was about to get in, a sudden shout came from behind.


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    He turned instinctively toward the sound, spotting Ariana standing breathless at the hotel lobby entrance, having rushed out of the elevator in a hurry.


    Li Wei looked puzzled. Had she forgotten something?


    ¡°Good luck in the Super Bowl! You¡¯ll never walk alone.¡±


    Li Wei froze.


    Before he could respond, Ariana had already spun back around and dashed inside again.


    Huff, huff.


    Heart racing wildly to the point it might leap out of her chest, and ears humming with a steady roar, Ariana stood before the elevator, waiting for the doors and feeling her emotions surge high.


    Li Wei, lagging a moment behind, finally responded, shouting a belated ¡°Thank you¡±¡ªonly to catch sight of Ariana¡¯s retreating figure. His lips curved into a light smile before he got into the cab.


    In the rearview mirror, Li Wei caught the driver¡¯s amused expression.


    Li Wei: ¡°You¡¯re not a Chiefs fan, are you?¡±


    Driver: ¡°Nope. Falcons. Diehard Falcons fan for life. But hey, you guys beat the Patriots, so Atlanta¡¯s practically your second home field. Rest assured, I¡¯ll keep this confidential.¡±


    Li Wei: ??? Confidential? Confidential about what? There¡¯s nothing secret here, hey!


    Still, the ¡°secret¡± managed to leak¡ª


    ¡°Li Wei, Li Wei! Are you dating Ariana Grande?¡±


    As soon as the question was asked, the surrounding reporters collectively held their breath.


    To be precise, it wasn¡¯t just the reporters¡ªthe other ongoing interviews nearby briefly paused as one person after another surreptitiously tuned in.


    The scene was downright absurd.


    Today was Super Bowl official media day, the last chance for players to relax before the game, and the air bubbled with lively, festive vibes.


    Having experienced last year¡¯s Super Bowl hype, Li Wei¡¯s return to the spotlight this year seemed much more composed.


    Both the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs were cooperating with interviews exceptionally well, at least judging from the team press conference. The mood was friendly, brimming with mutual admiration and respect, while keeping things light and upbeat.


    McVay and Reed, the two head coaches, expressed plenty of praise for their competition. Reed¡¯s steady demeanor and McVay¡¯s youthful exuberance crafted the tone of the interviews perfectly¡ªan atmosphere completely devoid of pre-Super Bowl tension.


    With the group interviews wrapped up, players moved on to individual Q&A sessions.


    Early predictions had already pointed to Li Wei and Donald as major focuses, followed closely by quarterbacks Mahomes and Goff.


    In reality, the attention paid to Li Wei far exceeded expectations.


    Last year, his emergence as a rookie and as both a Chinese and American player made him the darling of media day. This year, boosted by his regular-season MVP title and status as defending champion, he became a full-fledged superstar.


    Layer upon layer of appeal stacked high.


    At Li Wei¡¯s dedicated interview station, it was packed on all sides¡ªso much so that Donald, Mahomes, and Goff combined couldn¡¯t match the turnout. With seemingly half the event¡¯s reporters clustered around him, the human sea surrounding Li Wei left one speechless.


    Even other players wandered over to gawk, clicking their tongues in amazement.


    Humorously enough, Li Wei himself was stranded outside the throng due to the sheer density of people.


    No way in.


    Unperturbed, Li Wei stayed on the outskirts, striking up casual conversations with journalists around him. When someone finally noticed, reporters scrambled messily to open a path, ushering him to the center of the circle.


    The moment he stepped in, Li Wei cracked a joke.


    ¡°Just make sure you¡¯re at the right podium. If you¡¯re here for news about a California governor campaign, you need to head left¡ªthird station past Goff¡¯s.¡±


    Following Li Wei¡¯s gaze, everyone turned to count. One, two, three... Sure enough¡ª


    Goff.


    Laughter erupted everywhere.


    Right from the start, Li Wei¡¯s interview station had become the highlight of the day. Only now was the scale of his public magnetism beginning to sink in.


    Then, true to form, the opening question focused entirely on gossip. Nearby listeners craned their necks to eavesdrop, their eager expressions unmistakable.


    Faced with such a spectacle, Li Wei could only sigh lightly.


    Just as Ariana predicted, the rumor mill eclipsed the Super Bowl itself, stealing more headlines than they had any right to.


    Fed up, Li Wei opted for honesty over humor, cutting straight to the chase.


    ¡°No.¡±


    Plain and simple, without leaving any room for speculation.


    The reporters: ...


    They¡¯d expected at least a little elaboration, maybe a sentence or two explaining the situation. But this was it?


    Unwilling to let go so easily, one reporter pushed further.


    ¡°But someone caught photos of you and Ariana entering a hotel together.¡±


    Whoa.


    Every bystander inhaled sharply, no effort spared in masking their astonishment.


    Li Wei, somewhere between amused and exasperated, couldn¡¯t decide whether to call them out for pretending not to read social media news or for acting so startled over something this trivial.


    Unlike Ariana¡¯s concerns about dinner snapshots or edited images, what circulated now was a photo of them heading to the hotel. Naturally, this plucked at deeper implications.


    But Li Wei had come prepared.


    ¡°I imagine there are also photos of me entering and exiting hotels with Coach Reed.¡±


    The crowd: ???


    Coach Reed: Achoo!


    Not only did teammates and players gape, but even the reporters were momentarily stunned.


    Li Wei shrugged lightly. ¡°I¡¯m just saying¡ªa photo is no big deal.¡±


    ¡°When the hotel in your mind is a place of romantic intrigue, everyone going in and out becomes evidence of intimacy. But when the hotel in your mind is simply where the team stays while playing an away game, then my coming and going with Coach Reed is purely business.¡±


    ¡°Trust me, the lobby doorman probably doesn¡¯t want to be implicated in celebrity gossip either.¡±


    Or else, every passerby would spark rumors.

 Chapter 861: 860 Leader Charisma

    Chapter 861: 860 Leader Charisma


    The reporters, as they circled around, found themselves unconsciously nodding gently.


    At the side, Mahomes immediately realized that Li Wei had once again eloquently weaved a web of persuasion, leaving a crowd in awe.


    Yet, some journalists retained a shred of rationality and continued their aggressive questioning.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re not dating Ariana?¡±


    ¡°Correct, just friends.¡±


    ¡°Then why were you two having dinner together?¡±


    ¡°There were other friends, too.¡±


    ¡°But someone snapped photos of just the two of you.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunate, Aron would be very disappointed¡ªalong with a group of other friends, including Patrick, Travis, Chris, Justin, and so on.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lying. It was only Aaron Donald.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    With that brief exchange, it ended abruptly and without warning. Li Wei chose not to pursue it further.


    The reporters looked at each other, only now realizing they had been outmaneuvered by Li Wei once again.


    They had laid a trap, expecting Li Wei to stumble into self-incrimination. But, to their astonishment, the reporters themselves ended up caught in a lie.


    So...


    At the very least, it confirmed that whether or not Li Wei and Ariana were dating, Aaron Donald had indeed been at the scene that night ¡ª a fact that couldn¡¯t be disputed.


    Looking at it objectively, it didn¡¯t seem like a date at all.


    Reporter: ...


    Gradually, more and more spectators ¡ª curious onlookers, journalists, players from both teams, Atlanta organizers, Super Bowl volunteers, and so on ¡ª gathered in droves without exception.


    Seeing the unfolding scene, Li Wei cracked a witty remark.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t come any closer. Otherwise, we might need to apply to the Atlanta City Hall for a special gathering permit. That could be... a bit of a hassle.¡±


    As he spoke, Li Wei pinched his thumb and forefinger together to illustrate his point with a small gesture.


    The crowd erupted into laughter.


    Finally, the reporters realized that they couldn¡¯t dig up more dirt on the romance rumors. So, they shifted their focus to a recent hot topic ¡ª


    The Super Bowl boycott.


    Of course, at such a convivial event, the reporters wouldn¡¯t blatantly bring up controversial matters to ruin the joyful atmosphere. They had subtler ways of getting the answers they wanted.


    ¡°Regarding your former teammate Hunter, who left the team mid-season and left you lacking a key figure, it must have been a challenge for the team. Despite reaching Atlanta, what¡¯s your opinion on the punishment Hunter received?¡±


    Taking a tactful detour, they probed Li Wei¡¯s stance.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s a serious issue. Violence should be banned on the field ¡ª and even more so off the field. This applies not just to civilians but to interactions between players as well.¡±


    ¡°Football has always been seen as a violent sport, but that¡¯s not the true nature of the game. It¡¯s a sport about strength and competition. However, competition does not equate to violence. There¡¯s a clear distinction between the two.¡±


    ¡°At the same time, this sport is much more than that. A glance at our playbook is enough to see it. Even the Oxford English Dictionary might bow to its complexity.¡±


    ¡°What I mean is that behaviors excusing violence under the pretense of football need attention and guidance, not just for the sake of the victims but also for the mental health of the players and the overall competitive environment of the sport.¡±


    Bravo!


    From a distance, someone whistled and led the applause.


    One major reason behind the Super Bowl boycott was the leniency of the league toward domestic violence cases involving players, as well as the broader issue of football being stigmatized as inherently violent ¡ª


    In fact, this stigma extends to all contact sports, including boxing, soccer, basketball, and so on, where these sports are directly equated with violence.


    The reality is far more complex.


    Now, Li Wei was emphasizing this complexity, skillfully pulling the league onto his side ¡ª


    Treating violent players strictly helps not only the players themselves but also the league as a whole. Goodell should take a longer-term perspective.


    Most importantly, even when addressing his former teammate, Li Wei neither harshly criticized nor shielded him, ensuring he wouldn¡¯t be implicated.


    Such a response, presented on the Super Bowl stage, truly showcased leadership ¡ª


    This was the demeanor expected of a league¡¯s representative.


    Still, the challenges weren¡¯t over. Another thorny issue loomed.


    Colin Kaepernick.


    A sensitive topic that even the league hesitated to address directly, yet the reporters couldn¡¯t resist asking. No one wanted to miss a potential bombshell.


    ¡°Li Wei, recently, the controversy surrounding Gillette Stadium during Week 6 of the regular season has resurfaced. Based on your experience, as an Asian player in the league, have you faced additional obstacles?¡±


    Taking the long way around, all roads led to Rome.


    New England Patriots: ???


    Li Wei wasn¡¯t surprised.


    He neither confirmed nor denied it: ¡°Imagine a panda playing in the league. What do you think that would be like?¡±


    ¡°Yes, exactly what you¡¯re picturing right now ¡ª the positives, the negatives, the good, the bad. Multiply all of that by ten, and you¡¯ll have your answer.¡±


    Vivid and lifelike, his analogy hit the mark.


    The reporters all flashed knowing smiles.


    ¡°But, I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°Because I understand that in the world of competitive sports, nothing else matters. The only thing that counts is ability. Everything comes down to performance.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t like me, that¡¯s fine. Beat me and my team ¡ª that¡¯s your stance. And defeating you happens to be mine.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s as simple as that.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s just one thing I hope you understand: whatever doesn¡¯t kill me makes me stronger. So, either make sure to eliminate me completely, or be prepared for a counterattack.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re standing here today.¡±


    Confident, composed, and unapologetic.


    Li Wei remained quintessentially himself, always finding ways to turn challenges into opportunities to amplify his voice, repeatedly proving his worth.


    Discrimination?


    No, there was no need for fear or hesitation because he would respond with concrete actions and turn those detractors into clowns.


    Just like the New England Patriots.


    For the second consecutive year, Li Wei stepped over Brady¡¯s shoulders to advance further in the playoffs, driving the envious, the jealous, the hateful, the prejudiced, and the disdainful into fits of impotent fury, making them victims of their own narrow-mindedness.


    Everything is really that simple.


    So, Li Wei didn¡¯t mind. He wouldn¡¯t back down. Let the storm come even fiercer!


    The Super Bowl media day concluded amidst a cacophony of noise and exhilaration.


    Li Wei unarguably became the main event ¡ª


    The overflowing scene at the Mercedes-Benz Dome during his press interview became a spectacle, attracting not only reporters but also players who seemed content to serve as his audience. This was an unprecedented moment in Super Bowl history.


    That day, Li Wei was the sole superstar of the event. Even at Brady¡¯s peak, he had never commanded such attention on the Super Bowl stage.


    Meanwhile, the content of the interviews sparked massive waves of discussion.


    Once again, Li Wei received the league¡¯s official endorsement, a recognition of the highest order. When it came to those sensitive topics, all the players faced tough questions from the reporters. Yet, Li Wei¡¯s responses stood alone, earning applause and cheers from everyone present.


    Even the league publicly acknowledged him, further solidifying his status as the singular star.


    ¡°Li Wei: Let the storm come even fiercer!¡±

 Chapter 862: Pursue relentlessly without giving up

    Chapter 862: Pursue relentlessly without giving up


    ¡°...Ladies and gentlemen, Happy Super Bowl Sunday!¡±


    ¡°The 2018 NFL season has come down to this final game, the grand finale of this season¡¯s ultimate showdown. All the suspense will be revealed in just twelve hours.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s clear that Atlanta¡¯s weather isn¡¯t cooperating. That¡¯s not exactly good news...¡±


    Early in the morning, CBS¡¯s Super Bowl special programming had already kicked off.


    Like Christmas, the streets and alleys were soaked in the atmosphere of the Super Bowl, especially in Atlanta. Fans could already be seen celebrating everywhere, embracing this annual feast with open arms and full spirits.


    Drawing the curtains open, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window of the luxurious 21st-floor room in the Marriott Hotel, Jiang Yin gazed at the sky, her worry unconcealed.


    Li Yi walked over and also cast his eyes toward the gray, cloud-covered sky, blocking out the blue heavens with no sign of sunlight.


    Li Yi furrowed his brows slightly, ¡°What does the weather forecast say?¡±


    ¡°Light rain,¡± Jiang Yin said.


    The abnormal weather during the American League Championship still lingered in their minds, like a long nightmare. Just when they thought they¡¯d left it behind, it had relentlessly followed them all the way to Atlanta.


    Clearly, this wasn¡¯t good news.


    Jiang Yin was still worried about Li Wei.


    She understood the logic: injuries, stamina, setbacks¡ªall these were part of competitive sports. But at the same time, as a mother, worrying about her child¡¯s health and safety was instinctive. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to calm down.


    Li Yi understood too. After a moment of thought, he said, ¡°For now, there¡¯s no sign of rain. Even weather forecasts can be unreliable; there¡¯s no need to overthink it.¡±


    Jiang Yin didn¡¯t respond.


    Li Yi added, ¡°Didn¡¯t Xiao Wei mention that this stadium¡¯s roof can be closed? If the weather turns bad, they should just close the roof.¡±


    Jiang Yin nodded softly, ¡°Hmm, hopefully.¡±


    On Super Bowl Sunday, before the game even began, the weather had already delivered the first bad news.


    Things were looking bleak.


    The League immediately began discussions:


    Should the roof be closed?


    After all, football is fundamentally an outdoor sport. If no rain had fallen yet, closing the roof in a hurry based solely on forecasts seemed unnecessary.


    But from another perspective, neither the Los Angeles Rams nor the Kansas City Chiefs would favor playing in rain. If both teams underperformed as a result, compromising the game¡¯s quality and thus the viewership, what then?


    The temperature in Atlanta was around ten degrees Celsius today. Though not as warm as Miami, it was decent. However, if it rained, the story would change entirely.


    Additionally, the weather could affect lighting, broadcasting, and other technical aspects. Most importantly, what would happen to the halftime show?


    One thing leads to another.


    A single Super Bowl carries tens of billions of US dollars in economic significance. Even minor rainfall could send all Super Bowl teams scrambling, yet they might still fail to manage the situation fully. Closing the roof could resolve everything at once.


    However, given the current outcry against the Super Bowl, the League also had to weigh the public¡¯s response. Would closing the roof aggravate those criticisms? And what about the die-hard fans not opposed to the Super Bowl¡ªwhat if they also started protesting because they disliked the roof closure? Things could escalate further.


    For a moment, heated debate raged within the League¡ª


    The 2018 season had indeed been plagued by misfortunes, and even on Super Bowl Sunday, challenges remained.


    On one side, the League had yet to finalize a decision.


    On the other, Li Yi and Jiang Yin had already arrived early at the Mercedes-Benz Dome. Thanks to last year¡¯s experience, they now knew to arrive at the venue ahead of time.


    It wasn¡¯t just because queuing for entry and security checks could take a while, but also because the Super Bowl frenzy starts well before the game itself¡ª


    The annual carnival kicks off with pre-game festivities and fan support events.


    So, while the Kansas City Chiefs were staying at the same Marriott Hotel as Li Wei¡¯s parents, Li Yi and Jiang Yin chose not to disturb his pre-game preparations. Instead, they headed to the stadium early to join the wave of fans.


    Sure enough, from afar, they could already see the bustling scene. Red, blue, white, and black jerseys clashing together¡ªnot only from the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs but from fans of other teams who had journeyed to Atlanta to partake in the celebration.


    However, red remained the dominant hue. Vibrant reds, subdued reds, bright reds, understated reds¡ªall interwoven yet distinct, layered like a volcanic eruption.


    After all, this was the Atlanta Falcons¡¯ home turf, and their team¡¯s jerseys were red.


    As the cab driver had said, because the Kansas City Chiefs had defeated the New England Patriots, avenging the Falcons¡¯ painful Super Bowl loss two years ago, Atlanta had essentially become Kansas City¡¯s second home.


    Atlanta Falcons fans donned their home jerseys to rally behind the Kansas City Chiefs, hoping to see them fulfill their Super Bowl dreams.


    Even so, amid the bustling crowd, Jiang Yin easily spotted the cluster of Kansas City Chiefs fans¡ªtheir red distinctively different.


    ¡°Over there,¡± Jiang Yin accurately identified the direction amidst the dense crowd.


    Beside her, a voice chimed in, ¡°Wow, you¡¯re right! Looks like you¡¯ve watched plenty of Chiefs games over the past year¡ªyou spotted the difference in their jerseys instantly, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Jiang Yin hadn¡¯t even realized this. Reflecting on it, she couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Seems like it.¡±


    Standing next to Jiang Yin was an old acquaintance, Donna Kelsey.


    Ever since they¡¯d met at last year¡¯s Super Bowl, the warm and welcoming Donna had become fast friends with Jiang Yin. Not only had she traveled to New York to visit, but she also hosted Jiang Yin in Westlake. Later, she organized a trip to Philadelphia to check in on Jason Kelce. In just a year, their bond had grown exceptionally close.


    Li Yi and the rarely seen Ed Kelce had also formed a good friendship.


    This time, they both arrived in Atlanta one after the other, staying on the same hotel floor. Today, they headed to the stadium together to join in the festivities.


    Donna and Jiang Yin led the way. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go join the fun,¡± Donna said.


    Ed and Li Yi trailed behind. Clearly, neither had a say in the matter. Exchanging a glance, they obediently followed without a word.


    ¡°Fly!¡±


    ¡°Fly!¡±


    Unified and deafening chants reverberated through the air, igniting and filling the Mercedes-Benz Dome with waves of heat and raw energy.


    Clearly, these were Kansas City fans.


    Each wore red jerseys, faces streaked with colorful paint, excitedly waving red scarves. Their voices were hoarse from shouting, as if their lungs were about to explode, with roars reverberating and prematurely setting Super Bowl sparks ablaze.


    The rolling heat made even the overcast sky seem to brighten.

 Chapter 863: 862 each stick to their own

    Chapter 863: 862 each stick to their own


    ¡°Fly!¡±


    ¡°Fly!¡±


    The entire stadium roared, a deafening wave of sound, all shouting the same chant¡ª


    Kansas City Chiefs fans began to dominate the Mercedes-Benz Dome.


    This... wasn¡¯t surprising.


    The Los Angeles Rams¡¯ move to California was too recent. Last season, they faced the dilemma of poor attendance, forcing Goff and Donald to repeatedly appeal to Los Angeles spectators, saying, ¡°Come watch us play. We¡¯re winning games.¡± This is one of the challenges big cities face¡ªeven with tremendous potential for a thriving sports market, the audience has countless entertainment options.


    But Kansas City was different. Currently, Kansas City only has the Chiefs as their sole team in the Big Four leagues. Regardless of how well or poorly the team performs, its fans remain steadfast and loyal. Together, they endured the lows, slowly climbed back up, and reached the pinnacle of success. Over the years, this journey has deeply intertwined their bond with the team.


    Now, Kansas City Chiefs fans effortlessly transformed Atlanta into their home field. Meanwhile, the scattered Los Angeles Rams fans attempted to make their voices heard, but disorganized and overwhelmed, they were soon drowned out by the deafening cheers.


    However, what the ears perceived was just an illusion. The visual scene unfolded differently¡ª


    Amid the vast sea of red, the Rams¡¯ iconic royal blue jerseys spread like a thick blanket, filling every corner of the field within sight.


    Why?


    It boiled down to one simple and cruel truth: money.


    The Super Bowl¡ªa ticket that money often struggles to buy.


    This year, the NFL found itself mired in controversy, with a series of influential celebrities publicly calling for a boycott of the Super Bowl, which cast a shadow on its prospects.


    When Super Bowl tickets went on sale, although they quickly sold out, the speed and enthusiasm noticeably declined¡ªespecially compared to the previous year.


    Last season, the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs were hailed as dark horses. Both teams, storied franchises with deeply rooted histories, boasted large fan bases. With both teams having a genuine shot at the championship, the match was one of the most suspenseful games in recent years. Super Bowl tickets were priced and resold to astronomical figures.


    But this year, with the general atmosphere of public opinion opposing the Super Bowl, replicating last year¡¯s incredible frenzy became impossible.


    The breakthrough came after the NFL Regular Season Awards were announced. On one hand, the unveiling of the Regular Season MVP; on the other hand, the Super Bowl match-up of ¡°Offensive Player of the Year VS Defensive Player of the Year.¡± Coupled with mid-season Super Bowl buzz, the event¡¯s popularity surged despite opposition.


    The NFL listed official Super Bowl ticket prices starting at $500 USD, with the average price being $4,657 USD. However, since those tickets had already sold out, fans had no choice but to turn to secondary markets or even the black market.


    Initially, this year¡¯s Super Bowl tickets were ¡°not insanely sought-after,¡± with peak prices hovering around $10,000. But as interest reignited, prices soared to $20,000, even $25,000¡ª


    And there was no sign of stopping.


    In this scenario, Kansas City fans, many of whom had endured years of economic downturn and unemployment, truly couldn¡¯t afford to travel to the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, Los Angeles painted a different picture.


    Moreover, Kansas City residents faced massive financial pressure for the second consecutive year to support their team, whereas this was Los Angeles¡¯ first time. Household financial reserves naturally differed.


    Thus, the scenario was set.


    From an auditory perspective, Kansas City Chiefs dominated the Mercedes-Benz Dome. Visually, Los Angeles Rams solidified their home-field advantage.


    Without a doubt, this was a unique experience¡ªone that crafted an unprecedented spectacle for the fifty-third Super Bowl, destined to go down in history.


    Both Jiang Yin and Donna were wide-eyed with wonder, their emotions gradually stirring. Excitement and curiosity coursed through their veins at lightning speed.


    ¡°...Felix, there will be another chance, next time, next time...¡±


    ¡°No, Mom, there won¡¯t be a next time. Don¡¯t you understand the reality yet? Every day could be my last...¡±


    ¡°No, Felix, stop, stop saying those things!¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s the truth¡ªcruel but undeniable. I know... I don¡¯t want it to be this way either. That¡¯s why I can¡¯t let Annie down. I need to seize this opportunity.¡±


    Within the crowd, their tearful argument drew all attention. Jiang Yin glanced over and immediately spotted Karen.


    The warm, chubby woman who always wore a radiant smile and freely gave hugs now stood shattered and fragile, rooted to the spot in utter despair.


    Seeing Felix, stubborn and angry despite being seated in a wheelchair, Karen¡¯s heart nearly broke.


    Karen took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain composed. ¡°Felix, I understand. I¡¯ve always supported your decisions. Look¡ªhere we are in Atlanta, right? I even agreed that not having tickets wouldn¡¯t matter, that we could watch the game just outside the stadium with other fans.¡±


    ¡°But in this weather? No! If it rains, it could kill you. I... I can¡¯t.¡±


    Felix¡¯s eyes were still filled with stubbornness. ¡°Even if it¡¯s not the rain, it could be a gust of wind or a single sneeze. I could leave this world at any moment. If that¡¯s the case, I want to choose how I say goodbye. I want to leave as a Chief. I want it to be on the stage of the Super Bowl, even if today is the day I die.¡±


    Karen kept shaking her head, unable to hold back anymore. ¡°No!¡±


    Her scream was heart-wrenching.


    At that moment, the sky began to drizzle lightly. The rain, soft and delicate, brushed across their faces like a gentle breeze.


    Even so, this was enough to alarm Karen.


    ¡°No. I won¡¯t allow this,¡± Karen shook her head. ¡°I¡¯d rather you suffer through life in pain, even hate me, than accept your departure. I can¡¯t let that happen. I won¡¯t go through the agony of Jenna and the others. I¡¯m not ready.¡±


    Not far away, Jenna and Jeff overheard.


    Jenna began to step forward but froze upon seeing Karen looking back at her. Tear-streaked, Karen shook her head and mouthed, ¡°Sorry,¡± before turning back to Felix, her mind set. She rushed forward to forcefully wheel him away.


    It seemed Karen and Felix hadn¡¯t secured Super Bowl tickets, yet they had still made their way to Atlanta, planning to stay outside the stadium and watch the game alongside countless other fans denied tickets.


    But in weather so terrible, Karen was helpless. She feared it might become Felix¡¯s death knell.


    Karen forcibly wheeled Felix¡¯s chair, determined to leave.


    Felix tried to resist but couldn¡¯t match Karen¡¯s swift actions. Watching as Karen prepared to take him away, Felix suddenly rolled out of his wheelchair with a tumble.


    ¡°Felix!¡±


    Amid startled cries, Karen screamed in despair.


    Jiang Yin quickly patted Li Yi¡¯s shoulder. ¡°There¡¯s an ambulance parked by the stadium entrance. Hurry and get the medics here.¡±


    Without saying a word, Li Yi turned and sprinted away.


    Karen tried to approach Felix, but he raised his hands in defiance, struggling and retreating further. The action tore Karen¡¯s heart apart.


    ¡°Mom, I can¡¯t... I...¡± Felix struggled. ¡°Mom, I promised Annie. I promised her. At least... this is the only thing I can do for her.¡±

 Chapter 864: 863 Life Blooms

    Chapter 864: 863 Life Blooms


    The fine drizzle dispersed in the air. Karen tried to get closer, but Felix refused, and the two stood in confrontation like that.


    Not far away, Jenna and Jeff were completely stunned, standing frozen in place, staring at the scene.


    Jiang Yin couldn¡¯t bear it, almost unable to watch¡ª


    She understood Karen. Entirely. During the American League Championship, she had felt the same way. Watching Li Wei fall to the ground over and over, his figure defeated again and again. She hadn¡¯t cared about winning or losing the game; she just wished Li Wei could finish it intact. So, when Li Wei collapsed from cramps, she could barely breathe.


    Now, seeing Karen, those memories came flooding back. The light rain in Atlanta perfectly mirrored the scene of that night.


    Yet Felix wouldn¡¯t relent.


    ¡°Mom, I thought I would leave this world first. It should¡¯ve been me. Bone cancer recurrence¡ªwe all know the odds. I even asked Annie to write my eulogy. But... it wasn¡¯t me.¡±


    ¡°Annie left just like that. I didn¡¯t even dare to see her one last time. I¡¯m just a coward. When Annie faced death courageously, fighting to the very end, what was I doing?¡±


    ¡°I was afraid no one would remember me. I wanted to make myself immortal. I feared death, feared the pain. I¡¯m just a coward, a nobody. How desperately I wish I could have Annie¡¯s courage to face all challenges, but I don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Now, at least I can fulfill one of Annie¡¯s dreams¡ªto fight like a rookie, to fight alongside the Chieftains until the very end. Regardless of victory or defeat, regardless of the outcome, we can face it with heads held high and tell ourselves we have no regrets, no regrets at all.¡±


    ¡°I¡ªI just hope I can leave without regrets, even if this is my end.¡±


    Karen could no longer hold herself together. ¡°Oh, God.¡± She turned away from Felix, tears streaming down her face like rain.


    Jenna finally understood why Annie and Felix went to the church that night. The answer was unexpected, yet it made her see her daughter in a whole new light again.


    Jenna stepped forward, crouched down, opened her arms, and gave Felix a hug. She tried to say something but found any words hollow. In the end, she simply held Felix tightly. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. It¡¯s not your fault.¡±


    That one sentence broke down all of Felix¡¯s defenses. ¡°But she¡¯s gone. She won¡¯t be able to see the Super Bowl. She won¡¯t be able to see the rookie¡¯s touchdown. It shouldn¡¯t have been like this.¡±


    Jiang Yin turned away to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes, then stepped forward. ¡°Hey, Felix, maybe... you should come to the box seats to watch the game.¡±


    If Jiang Yin remembered correctly, they were allowed to invite some people into the VIP box. That should be able to resolve the conflict between Felix and Karen.


    Hope ignited in Karen¡¯s eyes. She turned to Jiang Yin, unable to hide her excitement.


    But unexpectedly, Felix looked at Jiang Yin and shook his head. ¡°Thank you so much, Mrs. Li, but I want to stay here.¡±


    Jiang Yin froze.


    Felix took a deep breath and gave a smile. ¡°Like the rookie, like Annie, we need to face our own storms.¡±


    ¡°Sure, I could go to the box seats to watch the game today, but there¡¯s still no guarantee I¡¯ll see the Sun tomorrow. Every day I live now is borrowed from God, and I want to treasure it. I want to make the most of it.¡±


    ¡°Look, all these fans around us came from Kansas City. We don¡¯t have tickets, but that doesn¡¯t dampen our enthusiasm for fighting alongside the team. We¡¯ll stay here no matter what, rain or snow, to see this fight through with the team.¡±


    ¡°This is my promise to Annie¡ªnot to be afraid, to face it bravely.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I hope I can witness the game from the stands, but I¡¯m very content with where I am now. I won¡¯t leave, and I won¡¯t back down.¡±


    Jiang Yin couldn¡¯t help but be stunned.


    She finally realized what Li Wei¡¯s existence had brought¡ªcourage and resilience, dreams and hope.


    Just at that moment, Li Yi arrived with the paramedics. They quickly moved forward and surrounded Felix, while Jiang Yin and Jenna hurriedly stepped back to make room.


    The two mothers, as if by prior agreement, walked toward Karen, while Donna, already standing nearby, offered Karen her shoulder.


    Karen¡¯s eyes were still filled with tears. She gave a wry smile. ¡°Am I being too greedy? Felix has already borrowed several months from God, but I still...¡±


    As Felix had said, the doctors thought his life might end three months ago. Felix had been mentally prepared, but unexpectedly, day after day, he had hung on. Yet, it was Annie who left first.


    Gradually, Karen had started to grow greedy, hoping her son could hold on a little longer, a little longer¡ªthe desire surging more and more fiercely.


    After voicing her thoughts, Karen realized what she had said. She turned to Jenna. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to...¡±


    Jenna stopped Karen. ¡°I know. I understand. If it were me, I¡¯d think the same way. And now...¡± Jenna took a deep breath. ¡°I finally understand why Annie liked Li Wei so much.¡±


    Li Wei was more than just a football player. A rookie, an Asian, yet in the running back position, he had carved out a path of his own.


    Through his sweat and blood, he turned the impossible into possible. Through his effort and tenacity, he seized every second of life and burned it to the fullest. What he brought was hope, passion, and courage.


    Life is finite, but in that limited time, how to expand every second and evolve into infinite possibilities is the true meaning of life.


    Perhaps Annie was the youngest among all of them, but her finite life was more brilliant and colorful than most present.


    Jenna finally felt at peace. She looked at Jiang Yin. ¡°Li Wei is a good kid.¡±


    Jiang Yin¡¯s nose tingled with emotion.


    Karen finally regained her composure amidst her chaotic thoughts. ¡°Thank you for your invitation, but I think I¡¯ll stay with Felix outside the stadium to watch the game. If this is Felix¡¯s final chapter, I want him to write it in his own way.¡±


    Jenna almost broke down in tears.


    Jiang Yin and Donna tried to persuade them again, but Karen wouldn¡¯t change her mind. They had no choice but to respect Karen and Felix¡¯s decision.


    Fortunately, after the paramedics¡¯ examination, Felix was fine.


    Jiang Yin and the group left the fan gathering area and headed toward the stadium. No one spoke, and the mood felt slightly heavy.


    Because all of them were parents, Felix and Annie¡¯s story didn¡¯t feel like something distant or unfamiliar.


    At that moment, Jiang Yin stopped, stretched out her right hand, and opened her palm in front of her. ¡°The rain has stopped.¡±


    Everyone looked up at the sky. The light drizzle that had been falling intermittently had miraculously stopped. Though the Sun remained hidden behind thick clouds, the sky seemed to reveal a faint hint of blue through the gray.


    Maybe this was a good sign.


    Unconsciously, smiles appeared on their faces, and their mood lightened. They turned to look around. The fans were cheering passionately and fervently.


    Then Jiang Yin and Donna exchanged glances. The two joined in the crowd, shouting with all their hearts.


    ¡°Fly!¡±

 Chapter 865: 864 Unusual

    Chapter 865: 864 Unusual


    ¡°The roof of the Mercedes-Benz Dome is finally closed. Although the light drizzle in Atlanta has already stopped, the League ultimately decided to close the roof for multiple considerations.¡±


    ¡°This is good news for both the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs. With the indoor temperature maintained at around 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius), there¡¯s no interference from wind or rain, nor any temperature impact. For a passing offense, this couldn¡¯t be more ideal.¡±


    ¡°In the lead-up to this Super Bowl, controversies and discussions surrounding the NFL have been heating up. Off-field topics have even surpassed the allure of the game itself, which is obviously not a good thing. For both teams, figuring out how to adjust their mindsets and stay focused is undoubtedly key.¡±


    ¡°Although the Kansas City Chiefs are the defending champions, both teams are actually very young. Their core players are primarily in their second or third year and have continually shown upward trajectories. In such a critical championship showdown, overcoming external distractions is certainly no small feat.¡±


    ¡°That said, we¡¯ll wait and see how the two coaches make adjustments.¡±


    ¡°McVay is a beacon of positivity, facing everything with an optimistic attitude, as if he¡¯s powered by an endless energy source.¡±


    ¡°Reed, on the other hand, is the calm and seasoned captain. He has to address numerous complex challenges, but he always manages to find the right solutions and doesn¡¯t hesitate to delegate responsibilities to the right people.¡±


    ¡°Clearly, in terms of tactics, skill, and strategy, both teams are incredibly close. No result would be considered an upset. The determining factor will lie in mindset adjustments and mental control.¡±


    ¡°Whoever can find focus and composure first in this Super Bowl clash will have the upper hand in the decisive moments.¡±


    Bzzzz, bzzzz¡ª


    The air was filled with buzzing excitement, as if you could visibly see heat waves surging and rolling. Fans of the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs were shouting their lungs out in support, engaging in an unyielding showdown, while casual spectators laughed and soaked in the spectacle before their eyes.


    According to League regulations, the hosting duties for the Super Bowl rotate between the two conferences. Last year was the American League¡¯s turn, so this year it¡¯s the National Conference¡¯s home game.


    The home team gets the privilege of choosing their jersey color.


    McVay isn¡¯t the superstitious type. He didn¡¯t opt for the historically higher win-rate white jersey but instead chose the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ iconic royal blue jersey¡ª


    After all, the Kansas City Chiefs wore red jerseys last year when they claimed their championship, didn¡¯t they?


    As a result, this year, the Kansas City Chiefs will take the field in their white away uniforms.


    Perhaps this will serve as a small psychological hint:


    The Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs are both among the teams with the highest home game winning percentages this season. The Los Angeles Rams only lost one home game, while the Kansas City Chiefs were undefeated at home all season. Clearly, both teams are capable of unleashing astonishing energy on their own turf.


    Now, on the Super Bowl stage, the Los Angeles Rams maintain their home-field advantage, immediately putting the Kansas City Chiefs in a more passive position.


    No wonder Kansas City Chiefs fans have all donned their signature red jerseys, trying to bring luck to the defending champions and offset the so-called curse.


    ¡°The game has begun.¡±


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, you are now watching the 53rd Super Bowl, the culmination of the 2018 NFL season¡¯s championship battle. Facing off are the No. 1 seed from the American League, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the No. 2 seed from the National Conference, the Los Angeles Rams. Undoubtedly, this is the season¡¯s ultimate showdown.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see what unfolds.¡±


    The waves surged, the adrenaline pumped, and Nantz and Romo unconsciously sat up straighter.


    However, the excitement didn¡¯t last long¡ªit quickly subsided.


    The scene was vastly different from what was expected, so much so that the gap resembled the difference between staged promotional photos and real-life buyer photos.


    The Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs were facing entirely different issues.


    On the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ side, as the defending champions, they did show glimpses of being in their groove.


    Their first offensive drive was impressive. Mahomes used sharp, short passes to slice through Donald¡¯s pass rush, connecting with Li Wei and Hill to break through, surging all the way to the opposing 27-yard line, just outside the Red Zone. As spectators had anticipated, this seemed poised to be an offensive shootout.


    However, at a critical moment, Donald relied on his individual brilliance to apply pressure and force a hurried throw from Mahomes¡ª


    Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman, the infamous protagonist from that controversial non-call during the NFC Championship¡¯s final moments, once again stole the spotlight on the Super Bowl stage.


    Coleman intercepted the pass, stepping in front of Kelsey before the football could connect.


    The defending champions¡¯ first offensive drive ended with a turnover.


    On their second drive, they successfully pushed into field goal range, only for something completely unexpected to happen: kicker Butker¡¯s 46-yard field goal missed wide, leaving the fans inside the Mercedes-Benz Dome clutching their heads in disbelief.


    On their third drive, Donald delivered the game¡¯s first sack and caused a fumble. Luckily, Li Wei recovered possession to avoid a second turnover, but ultimately, the Kansas City Chiefs succumbed to the Rams¡¯ relentless defense and went three-and-out.


    Three drives, zero points. It was reminiscent of the American League Championship game.


    But this time, things were slightly different. On one hand, it was the tough, unrelenting performance of the Los Angeles Rams Defense, with Donald unleashing his full energy without holding back. On the other hand, the Kansas City Chiefs were plagued by mistakes, unable to find their rhythm and squandering opportunities.


    Similar to, yet distinct from, the American League Championship game.


    As for the Los Angeles Rams, their ambition to claim the throne was derailed... in disastrous fashion.


    Yes, disastrous.


    Goff: Five passes, one completion, for seven yards.


    Gurley: Five carries, zero yards gained.


    The numbers above are accurate. As unbelievable as they may seem, both Nantz and Romo witnessed this live and could attest that the stats were not an error.


    The Los Angeles Rams Defense started the game by forcing a turnover, leading everyone to believe that the Cosmic Rams¡¯ Offensive group would soon shine brightly.


    But no, they didn¡¯t.


    Three-and-out.


    The next two drives? Also, three-and-outs.


    In the entire first quarter, the Los Angeles Rams secured only one first down¡ª


    Yes, just one. Goff¡¯s seven-yard pass, followed by Goff¡¯s own three-yard scramble, brought them that sole first down. That¡¯s the entirety of it. Every other attempt ended in failure.


    You could attribute this to the Kansas City Chiefs Defense¡¯s incredible intensity or criticize the Los Angeles Rams Offensive group¡¯s disorganized strategy and tactics¡ª


    On the tactical front, McVay was utterly exposed when matched against Reed, seemingly paralyzed and ineffective. On the execution front, Goff and Gurley were completely lost.


    Disastrous.


    In the entire first quarter, the Los Angeles Rams Offensive group advanced just ten yards.


    Seven yards through the air, three yards on the ground.


    That¡¯s it. Goff was singularly responsible for all of the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ offensive progress.


    That¡¯s the sum total. Any way you look at it, under any circumstances, it¡¯s laughably bad, almost impossible to believe it¡¯s happening on the Super Bowl stage.


    This buyer photo... Are you serious?

 Chapter 866: Joke of the year 865

    Chapter 866: Joke of the year 865


    ¡°0:0.¡±


    End of the first quarter, and the entire North American continent was completely stunned.


    Is this some kind of joke?


    Really?


    Both teams, ranked first and second in offensive performance this season, who rewrote history in the ¡°Midseason Super Bowl¡± with a combined score exceeding 50 points, and who both relied on offensive group touchdowns in overtime nail-biters to advance to the Super Bowl¡ª


    This is it?


    Even if it¡¯s a joke, isn¡¯t this joke going a bit too far?


    A joke should at least be moderate!


    Besides, this isn¡¯t funny at all.


    One team blundered repeatedly, while the other literally tripped over its own feet; both teams looked like circus acts, utterly laughable, with the match devoid of any excitement.


    Moreover, despite the fact that Atlanta wasn¡¯t raining, the League decided to keep the roof of the Mercedes-Benz Dome closed, hoping to deliver an awe-inspiring passing duel. After all, the League has been extolling a passing offensive frenzy.


    However, Goff¡¯s miserable 1-for-5 completion record was catastrophic, and Mahomes¡¯ paltry 4-for-9 stats were equally unimpressive. The chaotic state of their passing offense made the League¡¯s elaborate effort look like a joke¡ªthis time, they didn¡¯t even have the weather as an excuse for justification.


    What is going on?


    Inside the VIP suite, Goodell¡¯s expression was inscrutable, giving away nothing¡ªbut the entire room was holding their breath and walking on eggshells, trying their best to avoid making the smallest noise, as if navigating around a dinosaur. The suffocating atmosphere was a clear reflection of Goodell¡¯s mood.


    Honestly, it¡¯s not the first time the Super Bowl was boring; no need for such shock and dismay. But the crux this time lies in heightened fan expectations¡ªfollowing last season¡¯s shootout of a Super Bowl and the history-making Midseason Super Bowl, the anticipation had reached unprecedented levels. Now, after a first quarter that was downright soporific, without even a proper duel, the disappointment was so palpable it was hard not to curse out loud.


    Perhaps, the 2018 season was destined for disappointment, much like the Wild Card and Divisional rounds; maybe the conference finals were merely a brief flash of brilliance; or maybe the Midseason Super Bowl really was the pinnacle of the entire season.


    It must be said, the 2018 season certainly delivered one unending wave of misfortune after another¡ªeven the Super Bowl was no exception.


    Viewership numbers continued bleeding out.


    In the ¡°Inside the League¡± livestream, all eyes turned to Lawson¡ª


    Everything was unfolding exactly as Lawson had predicted.


    Incredibly, the progress of the game followed Lawson¡¯s script to a tee. Amidst all the speculation before the game, only Lawson foresaw a different possibility:


    An unwelcome possibility.


    Lawson let out a weary sigh. He wished his judgment had been wrong¡ªwho wouldn¡¯t want to witness a peak showdown akin to the Midseason Super Bowl?


    But alas, truth is always more meager than hope. It¡¯s a familiar refrain.


    ¡°In my personal opinion, the current situations of the two teams are slightly different.¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs are overly intense.¡±


    ¡°Their power, speed, and emotions are too amplified, similar to the American League Championship game, including Li Wei and Reed. Considering the historic challenge at hand¡ªto win back-to-back titles, an accomplishment no team has achieved in 15 years¡ªit¡¯s no surprise. They are also the first team since the Seattle Seahawks to have this opportunity. They have a hundred reasons to ramp up their momentum, but they¡¯ve overdone it. They need to dial it back a little.¡±


    ¡°The Los Angeles Rams are too nervous.¡±


    ¡°Both McVay and Goff, their minds seem stuck in a rut, unable to open up their vision and broaden their perspective. They¡¯re boxed into their familiar patterns, trying to rely on strategies they¡¯re comfortable with to crack the code, failing to recognize that the defensive group in front of them is no longer the opponent they faced during the Midseason Super Bowl. They keep running into walls¡ªeach collision muddling them even further. Right now, they¡¯re trapped in a vicious circle.¡±


    ¡°At the root, it¡¯s still a matter of psychological adjustment.¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs are too eager to defend their title. The Los Angeles Rams are too eager to capture it. Additionally, both teams are overly determined to replicate the fluidity and dominance of the Midseason Super Bowl. The more they push for this, the more counterproductive it becomes. External distractions add another layer of limitation, creating invisible uncertainty factors.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why the defensive groups, instead, have managed to excel, staying focused and delivering solid performances.¡±


    ¡°Yet to be perfectly honest, Aaron Donald¡¯s performance has also fallen short of expectations. His obsession with suppressing Mahomes and Li Wei has inadvertently exposed his intentions. So far, the standout performer in the Los Angeles Rams defensive group has been Defensive End John Franklin-Myers.¡±


    ¡°This fourth-round rookie, selected 135th overall this season, had an almost negligible impact throughout the regular season, serving as a third-string substitute. Yet here he is, seizing his moment on the Super Bowl stage, unrelentingly pressuring Mahomes on the line of scrimmage. He¡¯s currently the metronome of the Rams¡¯ defense.¡±


    ¡°The issue is, Franklin-Myers himself likely doesn¡¯t grasp this dynamic, making it hard for him to help the Rams defense find its rhythm again. The responsibility falls back on Donald to temper his eagerness and rein in his passion within reasonable bounds.¡±


    Insightful and well-structured.


    This time, Lawson opted to analyze the psychological aspects of the match, presenting a different perspective rather than diving into technical breakdowns.


    After all, there wasn¡¯t much to dissect technically anyway.


    Bart patiently waited to intervene at the right moment, ¡°So, where do you think the turning point of this match lies? I bet you¡¯re going to say Li Wei.¡±


    Faced with Bart¡¯s combative jibe, Lawson wasn¡¯t bothered. ¡°I believe the turning point hinges on the leadership of both teams. When their respective figureheads regain their focus and help their teams find stability, we¡¯ll see a shift in the game. It could happen in a matter of minutes.¡±


    ¡°Whichever team accomplishes this first will gain the upper hand; if both teams do it one after the other, the match will get exciting.¡±


    ¡°Naturally, yes, Li Wei is included in this equation. On the offensive side, Mahomes and Li Wei, Goff and Gurley; and on the defensive side, Houston and Donald.¡±


    Unhesitatingly, Bart pursued further, ¡°So from what you¡¯re saying, you still believe the Kansas City Chiefs will be the first to make this adjustment?¡±


    Lawson nodded earnestly, ¡°I believe in Li Wei, and I believe in Houston¡ªthey¡¯re actively working through their issues. Of course, the Los Angeles Rams are also aware of this dynamic. This is the moment for Goff and Donald to prove their adaptability.¡±


    Lawson paused before turning to Bart, ¡°Do you still think the Rams will make the adjustment first?¡±


    Bart didn¡¯t hesitate, ¡°Absolutely. In fact, if this game ultimately trends toward a defensive showdown, I think the Rams¡¯ chances of winning will steadily increase. Right now, I see no valid reason for the Rams to lose. If they do, I¡¯m willing to kiss a donkey¡¯s backside.¡±


    Boom, boom, boom.


    Social network: What?


    The groggy online viewers, bored stiff from the first quarter, suddenly perked up. Did Bart from ¡°Inside the League¡± just say...?


    Kiss a donkey¡¯s backside?


    And just like that, the internet went ablaze.

 Chapter 867: 866 Rainbow Cloud

    Chapter 867: 866 Rainbow Cloud


    The Super Bowl fell far below expectations, bleeding viewership numbers severely. Netizens flocked to social media, scratching their heads and unleashing waves of ridicule.


    However, the game itself was dreadfully dull¡ªthree-and-outs, punts, kickoffs, more three-and-outs¡ªit was like the meaningless midfield passing of football. Even if you wanted to mock it, the overwhelming boredom made even witty comments repetitive after hearing the same joke a hundred times.


    Until Bart stepped in.


    ¡°Kiss a donkey¡¯s ass?¡± Lawson, being the straight-laced guy he was, couldn¡¯t comprehend Bart¡¯s thought process. ¡°Blair, are you sure about this?¡±


    Bart casually shrugged. ¡°Why not? In my opinion, I can¡¯t lose. The Los Angeles Rams are controlling the game. They¡¯ve relied on their offensive group throughout the season to advance, so much so that people often overlook the pivotal role Donald plays. This defensive group has the ability to carry the team forward too.¡±


    Clearly, not everyone agreed. ¡°Oh, no, Blair, I disagree. The Los Angeles Rams have hardly won any games this season based on their defensive group...¡±


    It wasn¡¯t just one or two dissenters. Bart once again became the target for collective criticism, finding himself surrounded by opposing voices.


    But, ¡°within the league¡± wasn¡¯t all that important anymore. Netizens¡¯ focus had entirely shifted to Bart¡¯s wager. The flood of creative ridicule was overwhelming, as one by one, people began showcasing their outrageous bets and jumping into bizarre competitions.


    Initially, these wagers revolved around the game¡¯s outcome. Gradually, things started going off the rails.


    ¡°I bet the Los Angeles Rams will score first, or I¡¯ll live-stream eating a shoe.¡±


    ¡°I bet the Kansas City Chiefs will get a touchdown first, or I¡¯ll live-stream eating crap.¡±


    ¡°I bet the Los Angeles Rams won¡¯t get a first down in the next offensive drive, or I¡¯ll live-stream letting my girlfriend spank me.¡±


    The bets became increasingly absurd, so ridiculous they bordered on a spectacle of human folly.


    Nonetheless, discussion about the Super Bowl finally regained a bit of momentum. The dreary, lifeless social media platforms began to show slight signs of warmth¡ª


    A stark contrast to the previously frigid reception.


    Because the second quarter of the game was just as dismal.


    Los Angeles Rams: three-and-out.


    Kansas City Chiefs: three-and-out.


    Los Angeles Rams: three-and-out.


    Back and forth, with both teams taking turns. Another five minutes of game time passed, and the score was still ¡°0:0.¡±


    The lack of scoring was bad enough, but it was even worse that neither team dared move much beyond the opening line, preferring to stay trapped in their own half of the field. Even managing a first down was a grueling feat. What was there to even watch?


    Even ridiculing the game couldn¡¯t stir enthusiasm.


    This was unexpected, completely unexpected.


    In the broadcast studio, Nantz had to flip through some materials just to confirm something.


    ¡°So far, the lowest scoring half in Super Bowl history occurred during the 1974 season, when the Pittsburgh Steelers faced the Minnesota Vikings. That year, halftime ended with a score of ¡®2:0,¡¯ thanks to a single safety.¡±


    ¡°But the issue is, both teams back then were defensive powerhouses; whereas today, we¡¯re watching two offensive juggernauts. This situation is frankly... very strange.¡±


    Psychologically, it¡¯s like this:


    Strike while the iron is hot, lose steam on the second go, and burn out on the third attempt.


    The Kansas City Chiefs started off with tremendous energy, showcasing their determination to win. But after an interception, a missed field goal, a quarterback drop, and a host of other mistakes leading to no points, their momentum hit rock bottom.


    Young teams often suffer from this issue. When everything goes smoothly, they can dominate with ease, but once they hit a wall, they struggle to pivot, often persisting headfirst until they¡¯re bloodied and battered.


    So, what now?


    Start with the defensive group?


    The Los Angeles Rams were doing just that. McVay¡¯s defensive front visibly increased pressure and frequency, hoping to stall the Chiefs and buy the offensive group time to adjust.


    Strategically, this was the right move, since ¡°defense wins championships.¡±


    If the Kansas City Chiefs had similar defensive prowess, Reed would adopt the same tactic. Truly elite teams know how to leverage their weaknesses and hidden strengths during slumps to eke out victories¡ªjust like the New England Patriots. But crucially, the Chiefs lacked that defense¡ª


    Houston was trying hard to keep up the pace, but the toll of the American League finals had drained them. In this game, Houston couldn¡¯t match the required intensity or rhythm.


    Moreover, neither the Kansas City Chiefs nor the Los Angeles Rams were teams known for winning via defense. Abandoning offense to focus on defense? It didn¡¯t look feasible at all.


    Standing on the sidelines, Reed¡¯s brain was actively churning. He stepped forward, covered his mouth with a tactic board, and hurriedly issued instructions to Mahomes.


    The Kansas City Chiefs still needed to rely on their offensive group to break through.


    If all their passing options failed, what was the solution?


    ¡°Give the football to Li Wei,¡± Reed said.


    Mahomes nodded without hesitation, his eyes resolutely fixed on Li Wei.


    If possible, Mahomes too wished he could be the heroic figure who stepped up to save the day for his team; but he knew he wasn¡¯t ready yet. He needed to learn from Li Wei and continue growing.


    Mahomes believed deeply that the heroic savior descending upon the Mercedes-Benz Dome on a Rainbow Cloud to revive the offense and rescue the field would be none other than Li Wei.


    He exchanged a look with Li Wei, and Li Wei instantly understood his intention.


    Passing plays were blocked; short passes and medium passes were under close man-to-man coverage, while the front line faced intense pressure from pass rushes. The entire offensive and defensive battle had tightened significantly, leaving only one option¡ªto break through the defense on the ground.


    This wasn¡¯t going to be easy, but Li Wei was ready¡ª


    Aaron Donald!


    In Week 11 of the regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs focused heavily on their passing offense. Mahomes delivered a classic game, but the ground game didn¡¯t find much room to operate. That was the objective reality. At the same time, Li Wei had an underwhelming performance against Donald, failing to make significant breakthroughs, which was also fact.


    Since then, Li Wei had been eagerly awaiting a rematch with Donald.


    Now, the opportunity had finally arrived.


    Instinctively, Li Wei licked his lips, suppressing his excitement. What he needed now wasn¡¯t adrenaline or passion, but calmness and focus.


    For example, today, Donald was overly excited and amped up, leading to tension in his movements and a slight lack of rhythm. He hadn¡¯t reached his peak form.


    For example, despite Donald¡¯s slightly below-par performance, the other players on the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ defensive front were delivering a strong performance, ensuring consistent pressure output.


    So, for a ground breakthrough, Li Wei needed to remain wary of Houston but couldn¡¯t focus solely on Donald.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Mahomes announced the snap.


    No hesitation, no gimmicks¡ªa quick turn, seamlessly handing the football directly to Li Wei, aiming for swift execution.


    Since the game began, the Kansas City Chiefs had tried multiple ground attacks, though their overall strategy remained focused on passing, particularly short passes¡ªa tactic tailored to mitigate Donald¡¯s individual strengths.


    But now, instead of obsessing over Donald, the Chiefs needed to focus on themselves. Handing the football back to the ground game was their new priority.


    Mahomes refrained from using a passing decoy, explicitly to secure time for Li Wei.


    Push off, take off, pivot.


    Li Wei took possession of the ball and immediately burst to the right, his steps gaining traction. Unsurprisingly, in his line of sight, a royal blue whirlwind barreled straight toward him¡ª


    Aaron Donald.

 Chapter 868: 867 peerless hero

    Chapter 868: 867 peerless hero


    The line of scrimmage, like a mirror, reflected two entirely different yet perfectly synchronized figures, both charging toward each other at full speed, a double-sided collision.


    Donald, starting, stepping forward, unleashing full power in a straight line at a 45-degree diagonal to his left.


    Li Wei, starting, stepping forward, accelerating instantly in a straight line at a 45-degree diagonal to his right.


    Both men started perfectly aligned, with only six yards between them, each positioned three yards beyond the scrimmage line, simultaneously moving and exerting full force.


    Their paths collided head-on at the apex of the pyramid.


    Donald was gathering speed, and it was clear he was going all out. From the moment of takeoff, his target was Mahomes. Relentlessly hammering the quarterback, his ability to apply non-stop pressure throughout the game, giving the quarterback no room to breathe, was what earned him the title of Defensive Player of the Year for two consecutive seasons.


    At this moment, it was still the first half, and Donald, brimming with energy, refused to ease up.


    In that split second of takeoff, Donald caught the handoff between Mahomes and Li Wei. With no weather interference, he saw it all crystal-clear. His feet shifted subtly¡ªhe didn¡¯t even need to deliberately alter direction to complete the target switch.


    No hesitation.


    Even so, Donald still needed to adapt¡ª


    Facing Mahomes and facing Li Wei were two entirely different scenarios.


    Thus, Donald accelerated, charging at Li Wei with everything he had.


    But here¡¯s the catch: Donald¡¯s style involved lowering his center of gravity, bending his knees, and maintaining an attacking posture like a tiger descending a mountain. Facing Li Wei, however, required him to slightly elevate that center of gravity.


    Li Wei possessed exceptional agility and explosive speed. If Donald kept his center low but missed the first tackle, Li Wei could instantly break free. Therefore, Donald had to raise his center slightly, boosting his ability to deliver a secondary hit if he failed to secure the first.


    Back in Week 11 of the regular season, Donald¡¯s success in containing Li Wei stemmed precisely from this tactic. Once Donald inflicted damage, it wasn¡¯t just a minor scratch. The Los Angeles Rams¡¯ other defenders would quickly converge to extinguish Li Wei¡¯s follow-up plays.


    The same principle applied here.


    Every time he faced Li Wei, he knew it required 100% concentration and effort; even the slightest lapse could prove fatal.


    Donald¡¯s focus locked in perfectly, his gaze fixed firmly on Li Wei.


    But Li Wei was also accelerating.


    Donald¡¯s pupils constricted. Something felt off¡ª


    Li Wei: 6.1 feet (185 cm), 218 pounds (98 kg).


    Donald: 6.1 feet (185 cm), 280 pounds (127 kg).


    In front of Donald, Li Wei seemed almost shrunken, an entire size smaller. In terms of physique and raw power, there was no contest. Yet here Li Wei was, crashing headlong as if ready to shatter glass with an egg. What on earth was going on?


    Reckless? Foolish? Blinded?


    No, Donald didn¡¯t think so. This wasn¡¯t the Li Wei he knew.


    In the blink of an eye, Donald didn¡¯t have time to think. Trusting his instincts, he assumed it was Li Wei¡¯s strategy¡ªa feint.


    The likelihood of a fake move was high; he couldn¡¯t let himself be baited.


    Throughout his career, Li Wei had repeatedly used deceptive moves to change direction, turning defenders into clowns chasing shadows.


    The thought flashed past in an instant, not even allowing full consideration before the collision took place.


    Bam!


    The entire stadium collectively gasped, watching as Li Wei plunged into Donald¡¯s embrace like a lamb charging into a tiger¡¯s den, seemingly blind to the colossal figure before him¡ª


    Impact!


    Even Donald was momentarily stunned, his chest tightening.


    It wasn¡¯t a fake move. It was sheer, solid force colliding straight into his chest. Instinctively, Donald tried to lower his center of gravity to brace, but there wasn¡¯t enough time to bend his knees. A torrent of power surged through his upper body like a storm.


    ¡°Damn!¡±


    Donald instantly recognized he¡¯d fallen into a trap. His upper body leaned back, teetering on the brink of falling over.


    In that critical moment, his core strength exploded, desperately fighting for balance despite being off-kilter. Leaning into Li Wei¡¯s position with his shoulder, he tried to force Li Wei into exhaustion, pulling him down to the ground¡ª


    Mutual destruction.


    The Defensive Player of the Year lived up to his title. People saw Donald and Watt as pure power players due to their physique, but Donald was, in truth, a master technician. His footwork and hand techniques ranked among the league¡¯s finest.


    Yet Donald quickly realized he¡¯d underestimated Li Wei once again.


    In this clash, Li Wei seized every initiative, undergoing a transformation from the inside out, suppressing Donald¡¯s movements step by step.


    In that instant, following the collision, Li Wei didn¡¯t unleash his full force. Instead, he maintained stable footing, using Donald¡¯s right shoulder as a pivot point. Executing a clockwise spin, he both evaded Donald¡¯s grasp and left Donald¡¯s attempted shoulder tackle entirely behind him.


    The next second, Li Wei was free.


    ¡°Hah!¡±


    Amidst the crowd¡¯s gasps and cries of disbelief, Donald collapsed spectacularly¡ªsprawled flat on the turf.


    Like a fallen giant.


    The sight was nothing short of shocking.


    On the other side, Li Wei grunted in pain. Donald¡¯s strength was still overwhelming; the head-on collision had his insides churning.


    Though on the surface Li Wei appeared effortlessly nimble as he evaded Donald, in reality, he was utterly spent, a fac?ade of strength hiding weary exhaustion.


    Still, Li Wei didn¡¯t quit. Biting down hard, his eyes gleamed with ferocity as he pressed forward. The killing intent radiating from him overwhelmed the defenders.


    Despite his waning stamina, he astonishingly escaped another tackle and surged forward ten yards before finally being brought down by a double-team.


    First down, secured.


    Li Wei rolled back to his feet, ferociously roaring at the Los Angeles Rams Defense players like an avenging god descending upon the field.


    ¡°Ah! Ahhh!¡±


    A single breakthrough. A single domination. A single face-off. The previously insurmountable struggle for a first down, the constant three-and-outs, was instantly reversed.


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ morale ignited in an instant.


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    Outside the Mercedes-Benz Dome Stadium, Felix was the first to cry out, his voice hoarse, an immense energy erupting from his very soul¡ª


    The Edgerunner... have they awakened?


    Once again, it was Li Wei. When the offense was gridlocked with no way forward, it was always Li Wei who stepped up and broke through.


    Like a legendary hero, descending from the heavens on a Rainbow Cloud.


    It wasn¡¯t surprising, but the key was this: even though everyone knew Li Wei was likely to spark the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ counterattack, they still couldn¡¯t stop him?


    Donald lay on the turf briefly, taking a deep breath to collect his thoughts before standing up. Turning to look at Li Wei, his lips curled into a broad grin, devoid of frustration, rage, or disappointment¡ªonly electrified excitement and eagerness:


    So, is the battle just beginning?

 Chapter 869: 868 Twin-pack Sandwich

    Chapter 869: 868 Twin-pack Sandwich


    Focus, composure, dedication.


    ¡°Donald vs. Li Wei,¡± the leading figures of the defensive and offensive groups over the past two seasons in the league finally shine on the stage of the 53rd Super Bowl.


    Not just the two players, but the commentators, the live audience, and the fans who remain glued to their screens at this moment, unwilling to abandon the Super Bowl¡ªall hold their breath.


    A ten-yard attempt, Kansas City Chiefs on the thirty-five-yard line.


    Then.


    ¡°Attack.¡±


    Mahomes announces the snap once again, decisively and efficiently, turning for the second time to hand the football off to Li Wei, executing the strategy with unwavering determination.


    Again, it¡¯s Li Wei, for the second consecutive ground offensive play.


    Unexpected? Expected?


    No matter the case, Donald sets off immediately, like a tiger pouncing down a mountain, unleashing his full speed and force.


    Notice, the Los Angeles Rams are employing a ¡°3-4¡± defensive formation, three defensive linemen and four linebackers¡ªa formation that prioritizes pass coverage. While the Rams¡¯ pass defense is indeed superior to their ground defense, their pass-rush pressure and ground defense should not be underestimated either:


    Because they have Aaron Donald.


    Such as now.


    With two offensive linemen standing directly in his way, Donald collaborates with his partner, Ndamukong-Suh, to create an opening. Ndamukong steps laterally toward Donald¡¯s position to block an offensive guard, creating space for Donald.


    Donald faces a one-on-one confrontation with the defensive tackle. He leans in deeply, using his body size to overpower while leveraging his hands to shove the opponent¡¯s arms aside with a sweeping push, demolishing the opposition effortlessly, channeling the resultant force to propel himself directly toward the open space to the left.


    Smooth and fluid, all in one seamless motion.


    Footwork, hands, body, speed¡ªall elements collide perfectly together. Donald breaks through the offensive line¡¯s blockade effortlessly, appearing jubilant and energized. His dominance in strength is on full display¡ªtruly deserving of the title of the league¡¯s Defensive Player of the Year.


    Without any delay, Donald stands face-to-face with Li Wei.


    Everything transpires in the blink of an eye.


    Yet, Li Wei remains undeterred.


    Li Wei¡¯s gaze locks firmly onto Donald¡¯s movements, fully anticipating Donald¡¯s ability to break through with such fluidity. Simultaneously, his footsteps shift laterally to his right, exiting the pocket without pausing, maintaining high-speed momentum as he charges toward the sideline.


    Donald: ?


    Donald cannot comprehend Li Wei¡¯s movements. A running back¡¯s breakthrough usually occurs within the slot zone. Once they move laterally out of the slot space, they enter the cornerback¡¯s coverage zone. By continuing lateral movement without advancing vertically, they sacrifice progression and open themselves to a safety quickly stepping in. This kind of decision only squeezes the running back¡¯s available space for breakthrough further.


    In other words, unless absolutely necessary, a running back should move vertically as soon as possible instead of foolishly persisting with lateral movement¡ªit results in extensive running with zero actual yardage gained and could even lead to losses.


    Typically, a running back¡¯s lateral movement occurs when the defensive group opts for a blitz, where the defensive line and linebackers create an obstacle near the slot, forcing the running back to search for an opening laterally.


    However, in this offensive sequence, the Los Angeles Rams have not chosen a blitz, but instead, set up a Heavenly Net defense entirely in the short pass zone to counter Mahomes¡¯ throws.


    In other words, this is merely a one-on-one matchup between Donald and Li Wei, so why is Li Wei moving laterally?


    Is he fleeing?


    Impossible.


    Donald cannot grasp Li Wei¡¯s tactical intent; if it were any other running back, recklessly charging forward with brute force to confront the obstacle head-on, this strategy would be adequate. But against Li Wei, any recklessness might become the opening for Li Wei¡¯s breakthrough.


    Donald must guard against Li Wei¡¯s sharp, sudden changes in direction.


    Donald remains on high alert.


    This very sense of ¡°tension and vigilance¡± prevents Donald from fully committing to stepping forward, leading him to neglect that he has already moved out of the comfort zone of the defensive line, leaving the boundary of frontline entanglements, and entering a broad and open space¡ªthe domain of cornerbacks and safeties.


    Then, another familiar figure appears: Marcus Peters.


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ top cornerback last season, who, due to his temper, found himself clashing numerous times with referees over yellow flags, including disputes over both his own flags and those of his teammates. Despite his commitment to defending the team¡¯s interests, his repeated provocations of officials led to two personal foul ejections and fines from the league.


    During the offseason, Peters had fierce confrontations with the coaching staff, reportedly escalating to physical altercations, even damaging the office of the defensive secondary coaching staff.


    Ultimately, with his rookie contract conveniently reaching the end of its four-year term, Peters was traded to the Los Angeles Rams.


    Unexpectedly, Peters finds himself standing opposite the Kansas City Chiefs on the grand stage of the Super Bowl finale.


    Motivated by this twist of fate, Peters has been performing exceptionally well, consistently predicting Mahomes¡¯ quick short passes with precision. As one of Reid¡¯s proteges, Peters displays his keen intuition for his mentor¡¯s tactics, unleashing unparalleled fighting spirit.


    This time, Peters notices Li Wei moving laterally into the cornerback zone, and a sinister smile emerges at the corner of his mouth:


    Now, look at this¡ªKansas City Chiefs¡¯ crown prince? From the moment he entered the league, he¡¯s been the flawless darling of the masses, seemingly poised to become Kansas City¡¯s next king. Well then, let this exiled ¡°criminal¡± show the young prince the harsh realities of life!


    Without hesitation, Peters shakes off his matchup, Watkins, rapidly retreats, and races back toward the snap line, forming a double-team with Donald.


    Still, Li Wei shows no intention of moving vertically, continuing his lateral movement¡ª


    Even the Edgerunner can¡¯t run out of bounds, right?


    Both Donald and Peters are puzzled, yet Li Wei¡¯s swift approach to the sideline escalates their tension. Like the calm before a storm, they simultaneously accelerate, attempting to close the encirclement and preemptively crush Li Wei¡¯s strategy.


    However, just as Donald speeds up, Li Wei¡¯s pupils catch this instant.


    Sudden stop, sudden turn.


    Lateral feint, speed burst¡ªin a split-second switch from leftward lateral movement to rightward lateral movement, without hesitation or reserve, Li Wei rockets away in just two or three steps like an arrow off the string.


    Donald: This is bad.


    Moments ago, Donald left his comfort zone, stood upright, raised his center of gravity, and released his speed to generate pressure¡ªonly to lose his balance amidst Li Wei¡¯s lightning-fast directional shift. His feet slide, his steps falter, and his rhythm is shattered.


    It turns out everything was a trap; Li Wei was merely waiting¡ªto exploit the moment Donald and Peters lost their patience.


    So, what if they didn¡¯t rush in, continuing lateral movement while maintaining their encirclement? What would Li Wei have done then?


    Unfortunately, they¡¯ll never find out.


    Donald¡¯s slip disrupts Peters¡¯ counter-routing, enabling Li Wei to exploit this opening to disengage both defenders, regaining space for advancement.


    Damn it!


    Donald refuses to concede. Planting his foot forcefully, he throws caution to the wind and lunges at Li Wei¡ª


    All or nothing, leaping into the air.

 Chapter 870: 869 following every step carefully

    Chapter 870: 869 following every step carefully


    Donald launched himself into the air, using his right leg as a pivot, spinning like a whirlwind, and finally throwing his entire body recklessly toward Li Wei.


    Such a physique, such mass, defying gravity in an extraordinary leap, caught the wind to soar, using explosive power and timely secondary reactions to close the gap, incredibly catching up to Li Wei¡¯s stride, and then¡ª


    A forceful tackle.


    Donald grabbed hold of Li Wei¡¯s calf, pulling down hard while entangled in a struggle, using his body as a weapon and slamming him horizontally like a bowling ball, sweeping across Li Wei¡¯s lower half.


    Ugh!


    The entire crowd gasped sharply; they had never seen Donald struggle so desperately before. Watching as the shadow of peril completely enveloped Li Wei.


    And it was at this very moment, in the split-second before collision, that Li Wei caught Donald¡¯s movement in the corner of his eye. Without time to think, survival instincts kicked in:


    A stomp on the ground, two leaps, a triple-jump maneuver, hastily propelling forward like Indiana Jones fleeing a rolling boulder, stepping on the Wind Fire Wheel to save his life, stumbling and careening to narrowly escape Donald¡¯s all-or-nothing lunge. His rhythm and balance spun into chaos like a whirlwind, precariously teetering¡ªthough evading Donald¡¯s strike, it seemed he was about to fall.


    Step, step, step-step.


    A quick succession of stomps regained his footing amidst a wavering center of mass and turbulent currents, left hand bracing the ground, barely maintaining balance while adjusting and moving forward¡ª


    Vertical progression.


    One step, two steps, in a flash, crossing the scrimmage line, Li Wei was regaining his balance and speed.


    From the left, a sapphire-blue figure closed in fast; Li Wei didn¡¯t even have time to make out their jersey number, holding his breath as he braked sharply to yield space with a courteous gesture, inviting the figure to pass through first.


    The sapphire-blue figure swept past Li Wei like a gale storm.


    Only then did Li Wei restart his stride. He barely had time to catch a breath when from the right, Peters came charging in, face twisted in fury.


    In that fleeting moment, Peters couldn¡¯t tell whether Li Wei was humiliating Donald or himself. He hadn¡¯t even managed to graze Li Wei¡¯s jersey and instead seemed discarded like trash¡ªeffortlessly tossed aside.


    He refused.


    Despite his stumbling steps, Peters chased on, staggering forward to stop that man before Li Wei released his full speed.


    Right then, Li Wei hit the brakes abruptly; Peters didn¡¯t hesitate¡ªhurling his body forward in a diving tackle aimed directly at Li Wei¡¯s waist.


    This time, Li Wei didn¡¯t have the chance to shake off the hold the same way. Instead, he took only a small step forward, not for evasion but to create misalignment, and then¡ª


    Jumped straight upward.


    No mistake¡ªit was an in-place vertical leap, as if he were a basketball player pulling up for a three-point shot, effortlessly ascending into the air.


    Peters couldn¡¯t believe his eyes at this unexpected decision. Watching as collision seemed inevitable, he was forced to lift his head and search for Li Wei¡¯s silhouette above.


    Li Wei knew his jump height wouldn¡¯t suffice to clear Peters completely, so he consciously spread his legs open, extending them straight to avoid contact.


    The Mercedes-Benz Dome witnessed an astonishing sight¡ªa scene akin to ¡°ballet versus breakdance¡±¡ªas Peters slid beneath Li Wei¡¯s open stance, and Li Wei gracefully vaulted overhead, the two narrowly missing an impending crash.


    Then, gravity yanked Li Wei back to the ground, landing next to Peters. Mentally prepared for the impact, Li Wei executed a gazelle-like leap over Peters¡¯ sprawled body, stumbling but continuing forward through the chaos and counterforces of the collision.


    ¡°Unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°This... unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°Wow, Li Wei! Li Wei being Li Wei once again!¡±


    ¡°Not once, not twice, but three times! Three tackles¡ªeach entirely different in style¡ªLi Wei tore through the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ defensive line with a dazzling show of skill.¡±


    ¡°Was this poor performance by the Los Angeles Rams Defense?¡±


    ¡°No, it was Li Wei¡¯s sheer brilliance.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei is advancing, he¡¯s charging forward, even with faltering steps, exhausted and seemingly on the verge of collapse¡ªLi Wei keeps running.¡±


    ¡°Forty-yard line!¡±


    ¡°Forty-five-yard line!¡±


    ¡°Midfield!¡±


    ¡°God, the Los Angeles Rams are in crisis¡ªbut Corey Littleton and John Johnson save the Rams!¡±


    ¡°Corey Littleton, a contender in the discussions for Defensive Player of the Year, justified the votes that placed him in the All-American Second Team. On the grand stage of the Super Bowl, he delivered a stellar performance. This young lineman responded precisely in time to halt Li Wei¡¯s advance, tackling him before another incredible touchdown after his breathtaking long-distance scurry.¡±


    ¡°But!¡±


    ¡°Who can stop Li Wei? Who can stop this man?¡±


    ¡°A full twenty-yard rushing advance. Once again, Li Wei broke Donald¡¯s containment, transforming what could¡¯ve been a backfield takedown into a twenty-yard gain, securing a critical first down for the Kansas City Chiefs and... crossing midfield.¡±


    ¡°Folks, it might seem implausible, but this marks only the third time any team has crossed midfield in this game, all three by the Kansas City Chiefs.¡±


    ¡°So, could this be the turning point that allows the defending champions to break the game¡¯s deadlock?¡±


    Huff, huff.


    The air was on fire, breaths burning in unison.


    Both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams were stepping up their intensity and tempo in this critical moment.


    Li Wei¡¯s extraordinary performance came at the steep cost of intense short-term exertion; the level of physical confrontation escalated sharply, raising the stakes and intensity. But this was the turning point¡ªLi Wei knew it, and Donald knew it too.


    Donald stood up again, not discouraged but instead raising his thumb in approval toward Li Wei.


    Seeing Li Wei perform at such a high level, how could Donald afford to fall behind?


    Without hesitation, Donald rallied the Los Angeles Rams Defense, quickly boosting morale and demanding the defenders to step up their resilience and toughness.


    And they delivered.


    Next, the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ defensive front delivered harsher, fiercer pressure, targeting not just Li Wei but the entire offensive line, as if a storm hit them relentlessly. Their opponents could feel the rising aggression.


    On one side, the Kansas City Chiefs secured two additional first downs, maintaining their advance.


    On the other side, the Los Angeles Rams unleashed their explosive prowess at the edge of the Red Zone. Safety John Johnson and Cornerback Peters combined efforts to shut down Kelsey, successfully breaking up a pass, forcing a three-and-out, and holding back the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ charge once again.


    Fierce clashes, uncompromising defense¡ªthe Los Angeles Rams showcased their strength, proving that the entire defensive group represented elite standards in the league, beyond Donald¡¯s individual brilliance.


    Even against Li Wei¡¯s unparalleled individual performance, the Los Angeles Rams adjusted rapidly, suppressing the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offense before they could seize full momentum.


    Still, no touchdown appeared.


    The intense consumption of energy was evident on both sides. Players were red-faced, dripping sweat, keeping a fragile balance amid thrilling, nerve-wracking exchanges, unable to break the stalemate just yet.


    Nonetheless, the Kansas City Chiefs secured a forty-three-yard field goal opportunity. This time, Buck made no mistake, scoring perfectly.


    ¡°3:0.¡±


    The scoreboard¡ªfinally no longer blank.

 Chapter 871: 870 Innately Talented

    Chapter 871: 870 Innately Talented


    Deadlock, stalemate, confrontation¡ª


    ¡°Li Wei vs. Donald 1.0,¡± ultimately concluded with the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ field goal.


    Although Li Wei exploded with a complete breakout performance, shattering the balance with unmatched feats; Donald followed closely behind, relentlessly dragging the game out.


    At the very least, he didn¡¯t let Li Wei gallop ahead uninhibited, rushing through to claim a touchdown in one swift motion.


    Li Wei glanced at Donald.


    Donald looked back at Li Wei.


    Li Wei applauded Donald; his recent performance commanded respect.


    Soon after, Li Wei withdrew his gaze, mentally preparing himself for the next play.


    Donald similarly turned away and high-fived both Goff and Gurley, attempting to pass his energy onto the offensive group to inspire a rebound.


    Earlier, though neither team scored, at least the Kansas City Chiefs managed to secure initial drives and maintain momentum; while the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ offensive group utterly lost their rhythm, with both Goff and Gurley underperforming.


    With the same scoreless outcome, the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ offensive group found itself in deeper trouble.


    Now that Li Wei had made the first move, the Los Angeles Rams must catch up, or else...


    No ¡°or else.¡± They had no other choice¡ªraising their spirits was the only path forward.


    After motivating the offensive group, Donald stole another look at Li Wei:


    Li Wei was different today.


    Donald¡¯s assessment was accurate¡ªLi Wei had come prepared.


    Ever since their matchup in Week 11 of the regular season, Li Wei had been anticipating another face-off with Donald.


    To be precise, both Watt and Donald¡ªtwo of the league¡¯s top defensive players over the past five years¡ªhad caught Li Wei¡¯s attention. With Clark¡¯s assistance, Li Wei dived deep into studying them.


    This was Li Wei¡¯s own research project, completed during his leisure time.


    Watt, Defensive End.


    Donald, Defensive Tackle.


    From a tactical standpoint, their roles differ. Defensive Tackles focus on interior pressure and middle defense, while Defensive Ends specialize in edge rushes and wide-zone defense. Naturally, their skill sets and styles vary.


    But the Houston Texans use a ¡°4-3¡± formation while the Los Angeles Rams deploy a ¡°3-4,¡± meaning their positioning resembles one another¡ªthey both line up outside the defensive line, tasked with pass rushing and run defense.


    Thus, they possess similar abilities, yet each boasts individual characteristics.


    Their similarity lies in their extraordinary explosiveness and agility, often bulldozing through the offensive line effortlessly; at the same time, both have elite hand and foot techniques, an aspect frequently overlooked when marveling at their physical gifts.


    Their differences, however, reveal that Watt is taller and sturdier, standing at 6.4 feet (196 cm) and weighing 288 pounds (132 kg), giving him a beastly presence on the field. Watt leverages his physical dominance to gain the upper hand easily. On the other hand, Donald confronts the offensive line without the advantage of stature and relies on speed, agility, and, of course, power.


    Additionally, Watt displays more versatility, excelling as a Defensive End, Defensive Tackle, Cornerback, and Tight End; Donald, however, focuses on mastering his craft as a Defensive Tackle, making his technical prowess an important weapon.


    Naturally, these differences are relative terms¡ªwhen comparing the best of the best, their overall capabilities remain well-rounded with no significant weaknesses.


    Watt, three-time Defensive Player of the Year.


    Donald, two-time Defensive Player of the Year.


    Their dominance is undeniable; and because of their sheer strength, duels between top players often hinge on subtle details.


    Compared to Watt, Donald habitually holds a lower center of gravity, using speed and agility to showcase his flexibility and swift movement.


    In summary, Watt is more versatile, while Donald is more focused.


    To some extent, one could even claim Donald relies on his ¡°one move¡± to dominate the league. Why, then, has Donald managed to win Defensive Player of the Year for two consecutive seasons?


    The answer lies in how overpowering and ferocious his ¡°one move¡± truly is.


    From a tactical perspective, Defensive Tackles are interior defenders, while Defensive Ends operate on the exterior. Generally speaking, interior defenders weigh 30 to 40 pounds more than their exterior counterparts, and while their additional mass provides advantages, it also results in slower speed¡ªa natural disadvantage.


    Although interior defenders are closer to the quarterback, exterior defenders benefit from better angles for rushing the passer. Interior defenders often need two or three efficient lateral sliding steps to penetrate the pocket.


    By comparison, even if interior defenders position themselves on the exterior side of the offensive guards, the offensive guards and center can use simple sliding steps or jabs to obstruct their path and entangle them in a bull rush.


    Furthermore, while exterior defenders often face symbolic double-teams from Tight Ends or running backs, interior rushers frequently contend with two or even three blockers.


    As such, achieving standout sack numbers as an interior defender is an uphill battle.


    The last time an interior defender ranked in the top three for sack data during a season dates back to 2000. Eighteen years have passed, and no Defensive Tackle has broken through. In other words, the twenty-first century has yet to produce an interior defender with elite pass-rushing capability.


    In recent years, top Defensive Tackles often focus on run defense or becoming balanced defenders with solid contributions against both the pass and the run, but their pass-rushing skills rarely match those of Defensive Ends.


    Then came Donald.


    This season, Donald led the league with 20.5 sacks, far ahead of Watt¡¯s 16 sacks. This not only made Donald the twelfth player in history to record 20 sacks in a single season but also marked him as the first-ever interior defender to achieve such a feat, making history.


    All this, thanks to his ¡°one move¡±; when that move reaches such heights, even an ordinary punch can land a man atop the pyramid.


    Donald¡¯s build and physical talents define his uniqueness. His shorter stature¡ªhe¡¯s smaller than many Cornerbacks¡ªallows him to maintain a low center of gravity. In battles against the offensive line, he avoids losing his balance; instead, he actively lowers his stance, forcing the offensive line to retreat repeatedly.


    Moreover, Donald¡¯s lightweight frame earned him the ¡°undersized Defensive Tackle¡± label during the draft, but it ensured his agility. The combination of speed and explosiveness makes his ¡°first step¡± unrivaled.


    That is, his first reaction after the snap.


    Donald relies on the fusion of low center of gravity, speed, and strength to take that first step, initiating a bull rush¡ªa seemingly simple move that serves as the foundation of his remarkable success.


    One bull rush, creating mismatches in shoulder-to-shoulder clashes, converting into lane disruptions, and achieving breakthroughs; supplemented by arm strength, technique, tackling mechanics, and other technical aspects, few offensive lines in the league can withstand Donald¡¯s first-step bull rush.


    This dominant display enabled Donald to shine during his Week 11 regular season matchup against Li Wei and Mahomes, leaving no doubt in his annihilation of the opposition.

 Chapter 872: 871 Facing the Giants

    Chapter 872: 871 Facing the Giants


    In the mid-game Super Bowl, Donald achieved two sacks on Mahomes and forced two fumbles; additionally, Donald stopped Li Wei four times, along with a series of effective collisions and hurried throws. Without the dominant performance from the defensive group, the Los Angeles Rams would never have secured victory¡ª


    As everyone focused on the unbelievable scoreboard, the defensive group led by Donald turned out to be the unsung heroes.


    During that game, Li Wei feared Donald¡¯s ¡°bull rush,¡± referring to his raw muscle and strength. After all, in head-to-head power clashes, Li Wei had no advantage and instead relied on his speed to attempt breakthroughs.


    Yet, he repeatedly hit a wall.


    Donald¡¯s 20-yard and 40-yard speed tests might lag behind Li Wei¡¯s. Once Li Wei unleashed his speed, his acceleration could indeed suppress Donald.


    However, Donald¡¯s explosive power within the five-yard and ten-yard zones, coupled with his critical foot agility and flexibility, was entirely comparable to Li Wei. Even when Li Wei maneuvered for small directional changes, it was still difficult for him to escape.


    Thus, Li Wei often found himself stuck in a rut.


    This time, on the Super Bowl stage, Li Wei slightly adjusted his strategy.


    Power clashes?


    No, definitely not.


    In a direct power duel, Li Wei estimated that he still couldn¡¯t break through Donald. Instead, Li Wei needed to trust in his own ability, activate his ¡°Eighteen Martial Arts,¡± remain more focused and nimble, and respond tactically to each challenge.


    Strength, naturally, cannot be overlooked.


    After repeated training under Lynch¡¯s modeling, Li Wei should trust his ability to engage in power battles, even though facing Donald felt as futile as striking a stone with an egg.


    Whether it¡¯s against Watt or Donald, facing such top-tier players demands confidence and focus as the first step, while the rest depends on in-game adjustments.


    Donald might rely on his ¡°One Move¡± to dominate opponents effortlessly, but Li Wei breaking through Donald can¡¯t be that simple. A single tactic will never suffice.


    Such lazy thinking is destined for defeat.


    Just recently, Li Wei worked on elements such as center of gravity, rhythm, and speed, deliberately dragging Donald out of the pocket to diminish Donald¡¯s bull rush impact. By moving the confrontation space to an open area, Li Wei weakened Donald¡¯s advantages and, after some twists and turns, successfully broke through twice.


    But still, it wasn¡¯t enough¡ª


    They needed a touchdown.


    Next, Donald would likely be on guard, utilizing his strengths fully and imposing more pressure before Li Wei could break out of the pocket.


    Thinking this, Li Wei rubbed his hands, itching to take the field again, eager and impatient to face Donald head-on once more.


    The Kansas City Chiefs understood that one field goal lead would never be enough; the Los Angeles Rams also understood that before the score gap widened, they needed to find their footing quickly and at least regain their rhythm.


    McVay understood, Goff understood, and Gurley understood too.


    However, things didn¡¯t go as planned.


    ¡°Three-and-out.¡±


    ¡°Oh God, the Los Angeles Rams offense... it¡¯s an absolute disaster. This offensive group was ranked second in the league during the regular season, but now they¡¯ve completely lost their way.¡±


    ¡°Gurley seems particularly anxious and overly eager to prove himself, but his route running is a complete mess. Up until now, he still hasn¡¯t advanced a single yard.¡±


    ¡°Yes, the league¡¯s highest-paid running back has outright disappeared in the Super Bowl. With the first half nearing its end, his rushing yards on the ground remain at zero.¡±


    ¡°And Goff, he¡¯s still too nervous.¡±


    ¡°When a quarterback gets nervous, it often leads to significant blind spots in their vision. Defensive reads fail, and passing options vanish. With the Kansas City Chiefs Defense applying just a little pressure at the front line, Goff¡¯s view falls apart completely, leaving him unable to see anything.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s worse, McVay¡¯s tactical adjustments haven¡¯t been effective. In fact, the Los Angeles Rams simply need one or two successful short-yardage connections to steady the offensive group and open up the field.¡±


    ¡°McVay needs to figure out a solution.¡±


    ¡°But right now, the Los Angeles Rams have only achieved one first down in the first half. Another three-and-out, and they hand the opportunity back to the Kansas City Chiefs.¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable. The Los Angeles Rams offensive group is struggling this badly in the first half.¡±


    ¡°Next, the pressure shifts onto the shoulders of Donald and his defensive group; meanwhile, the chance lands in the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ young offensive unit.¡±


    ¡°This could very well be the series that decides the outcome of the game.¡±


    ¡°Maybe. Let¡¯s wait and see.¡±


    The one speaking just now wasn¡¯t Nantz but Romo.


    As a former quarterback, often criticized for faltering in key moments, Romo was all too familiar with the current situation.


    Romo empathized deeply with Goff, fully sharing his feelings. The stronger the desire to perform well and prove oneself, the easier it is to lose one¡¯s way in an intense competition, becoming overwhelmed by uncontrollable nerves and even starting to loathe oneself¡ª


    No need for online backlash; he despised this version of himself more than anyone else.


    However, after retiring, Romo realized that this is part of the game.


    Character determines destiny.


    Some people are born for the spotlight, while others repeatedly falter when faced with critical opportunities, sabotaging the very chances they¡¯ve spent their lives waiting for.


    After the Kansas City Chiefs made their field goal, the Los Angeles Rams should have responded with strength, even if they didn¡¯t score¡ªat the very least, they should¡¯ve demonstrated a refreshed spirit, applied pressure, and sent a message to their opponents that surrender was not an option.


    Unfortunately, none of that happened.


    A rushed three-and-out, a mundane routine play, and then the opportunity was handed back to the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Although Romo felt great sympathy and empathy for Goff, he couldn¡¯t help but eagerly anticipate Li Wei¡¯s upcoming performance.


    Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Li Wei took the field once again, standing tall. His light steps and vibrant energy immediately showcased his confidence.


    The atmosphere inside the Mercedes-Benz Dome was ignited.


    ¡°Fly! Clap, clap!¡±


    ¡°Fly! Clap, clap!¡±


    The cheering was deafening.


    Though Kansas City Chiefs supporters were fewer in number, their spirit and vitality perfectly matched the team¡¯s determination and fearlessness.


    Other fans couldn¡¯t help but turn their heads¡ª


    Tonight¡¯s Super Bowl finally seemed to spark some flames and deliver the tension that everyone had been waiting for.


    Li Wei was ready, and so was Donald.


    ¡°Li Wei, Li Wei! Breaking free!¡±


    ¡°Beautiful!¡±


    ¡°What was initially likely to be a tackle behind the line turned into a dazzling display of small-range footwork from Li Wei, managing to avoid Donald¡¯s grasp and forcefully gain five yards. The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ ground attack is proving resilient, and clearly, Li Wei isn¡¯t satisfied with such results yet.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Donald!¡±


    ¡°Bull rush! Sack!¡±


    ¡°This is a sack! The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ pocket protection was completely breached, and Donald sacked Mahomes from his blindside. Mahomes never saw it coming and was caught completely off guard.¡±


    ¡°Just like Donald¡¯s first sack on Mahomes during the eleventh week of the regular season¡¯s mid-game Super Bowl¡ªit¡¯s identical! Donald made the Kansas City Chiefs offensive line look like a flickering candle at the mercy of the wind, effortlessly piercing through the pocket and leaving Mahomes no chance to escape.¡±


    ¡°A fatal blow!¡±


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, the Donald we all know has finally returned. Spurred on by Li Wei¡¯s stellar performance, Donald has rediscovered his rhythm.¡±


    ¡°Has the real showdown finally begun?¡±


    Romo delivered yet another spot-on prediction¡ª


    The main event has kicked off.

 Chapter 873: 872 Fourth Down Two Yards

    Chapter 873: 872 Fourth Down Two Yards


    ¡°Roar, fly! Fly!¡±


    ¡°Defense! Clap-clap! Defense! Clap-clap!¡±


    ¡°Hut!¡±


    Gasps, exclaims, and sharp inhales filled the Mercedes-Benz Dome, the air thick with roaring heat waves surging across the crowd.


    Back and forth, neither side giving an inch, the Kansas City Chiefs Offense and the Los Angeles Rams Defense finally hit their stride. The head-on clash sent waves of excitement roaring through the stands, bringing the Super Bowl to an electrifying high.


    Still, the Kansas City Chiefs held the upper hand. After Li Wei¡¯s ground offense opened up opportunities, Mahomes began to find his rhythm in passing. With a balanced attack of both passing and rushing, they pressed forward with relentless determination.


    Although the Los Angeles Rams forced the Kansas City Chiefs into three different third-and-long situations, the Chiefs leaned on Kelsey and Hill to bail them out. Play after play, they converted their third downs with improbable precision, steadily crossing into enemy territory.


    Clearly, the Kansas City Chiefs weren¡¯t content with just a field goal. Their aim was a touchdown, and every component of their offensive unit was firing on all cylinders.


    The tension in the air grew taut.


    With the Rams¡¯ Offense faltering with no end to their slump in sight, and the Chiefs¡¯ Offense weathering adversity and surging forward as one, momentum was clearly shifting to Kansas. The Los Angeles Rams Defense was furious.


    More specifically, Donald was furious.


    Donald didn¡¯t lash out at his teammates. Instead, he led through action:


    A direct stop on Li Wei. An impactful hit on Mahomes. Blocking for Ndamukong to force a rushed throw. He was like a volcano¡ª


    Erupting in full force.


    This explosion of power was oppressive and dominant, once again proving why he was a back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year.


    Three-and-out.


    The stadium let out a collective sigh, a chorus of groans and lamentation rippling across both shocked Rams fans and despairing Chiefs supporters. Another three-and-out¡ªagain and again¡ªit was exasperating, not the game either side hoped to see tonight.


    But then, just as players began leaving the field, they came back!


    Wait, were they going for it on fourth down?


    Just moments earlier, although Ndamukong had succeeded in forcing a rushed throw, Mahomes still managed to connect with Kelsey, who lunged forward in a diving catch. Unfortunately, they fell short of converting the third down.


    Fourth and two.


    No one saw it coming¡ªReed deciding to go for it on fourth down in this moment.


    An unexpected yet logical decision¡ª


    ¡°At this moment, the Kansas City Chiefs are near the Los Angeles 33-yard line with 1:47 left in the first half.¡±


    ¡°If the Kansas City Chiefs punt here, they give the Rams¡¯ Offense another chance to find momentum. Even if Goff suffers another three-and-out, Mahomes likely won¡¯t have enough time to mount another drive.¡±


    ¡°Plus, there¡¯s always the risk of Goff suddenly finding his rhythm.¡±


    ¡°But by going for it on fourth down, the Kansas City Chiefs not only take control of the clock but also have the opportunity to advance closer into field goal range.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a calculated risk worth taking.¡±


    ¡°Even if the fourth down attempt fails, the Rams¡¯ starting field position isn¡¯t ideal. Reed can afford to roll the dice.¡±


    Crack-crack! Nantz immediately understood Reed¡¯s tactical reasoning, rattling off a wild explanation¡ª


    To casual fans, it¡¯s just entertainment; to insiders, it¡¯s strategy.


    Nantz recognized the game¡¯s momentum: the Chiefs steadily building, trying to seize the initiative and break the deadlock, while the Rams kept pace through Donald¡¯s exceptional performance, refusing to back down.


    Now, it came down to a battle of momentum, far more significant than a single fourth-down conversion.


    If the Rams stopped the Chiefs here, they could reverse the game¡¯s tide. Their Offense would rally and regain their confidence.


    If the Chiefs converted, they might capitalize on their momentum and widen the gap.


    This was the story of how, in previous high-scoring Super Bowls with both sides surpassing 50 points, the Rams managed to secure victory.


    The answer lay in decisive moments like this, where they reversed a losing situation completely.


    Though the current circumstance was different, the stakes were just as high.


    Unconsciously, Nantz held his breath.


    Spectators were suffocating with tension, hearts pounding, veins pulsing, nerves stretched taut, ready to snap. But on the field, it was a different scene altogether.


    Laser focus, textbook routines.


    Fourth and two¡ªno big deal to them, just another down to execute properly.


    No hesitation, no delay. Mahomes called for the snap.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Pass? Run?


    Read Option Offense?


    Donald¡¯s concentration spiked. Fourth downs were often decided in an instant. Whatever the Offense decided, they wouldn¡¯t hesitate, meaning the Defense had no second chances¡ªit had to hit the mark in one shot.


    Normally, Donald¡¯s first step would be explosive, unleashing his bulldozing charge¡ª


    The essence of this move lay in its speed and power, embodying the raw force of a human battering ram, tearing through the opposition mercilessly.


    But this time, Donald paused for half a beat. His focus wasn¡¯t on Mahomes or Li Wei, but on the offensive line.


    He studied the line¡¯s movements. Were they spreading apart, or closing up?


    If they were ¡°closing,¡± it likely meant the Chiefs aimed to push through for ¡°one yard.¡±


    After all, with only three Rams Defenders on the line, and Donald not being a stereotypical massive lineman, if McVay had anticipated a heavier focus on pass defense, the Rams wouldn¡¯t have the upper hand in straight-line collisions. The probability of successfully pushing for one yard would be higher.


    Donald needed to remain extra vigilant for this.


    But what if that wasn¡¯t the case?


    Spread!


    Donald caught the offensive line¡¯s subtle movements and immediately charged forward. If it wasn¡¯t a push for one yard, then all that mattered was applying pressure¡ªwhether it was Mahomes or Li Wei.


    Donald moved decisively and aggressively, cutting straight between the gaps in the offensive line rather than looping outside.


    A charge, a mismatch, a collision.


    Shoulder met shoulder. With unrelenting force, Donald treated the white wall before him like it didn¡¯t exist, blasting through and flipping it over without delay. His momentum and energy remained unabated, storming forward as if brushing off dust, his presence thunderous and unstoppable.


    Li Wei!


    Donald¡¯s focus was razor-sharp. He recognized Mahomes¡¯ feints and was well aware of the chemistry between Mahomes and Li Wei. Locking his gaze firmly on the football, his movements tracked it precisely, undeterred by any blinding techniques¡ª


    A fake pass, real run.


    The Kansas City Chiefs faked a pass, with Mahomes posturing as though targeting Kelsey downfield. The offensive line¡¯s stance and formation matched the look of a passing play, pulling the linebackers and cornerbacks out of position before handing the ball to Li Wei.


    All along, the Chiefs used Li Wei as the bait to set up passing plays. This time, they flipped the script.


    Everything was meticulously orchestrated, nearly enough to fool the entire Rams¡¯ Defensive unit.


    Except Donald.

 Chapter 874: 873 to overcome the hard with gentleness

    Chapter 874: 873 to overcome the hard with gentleness


    Donald¡¯s burst was lightning-quick, slicing through the defense like a lone blue streak cutting against a sea of white, surging forward with unstoppable momentum.


    Like an arrow, aimed straight at the heart.


    By the time Mahomes handed the football to Li Wei, Donald was already barreling in, closing the distance in mere moments, his arms spreading wide, ready to secure the tackle.


    A moment of sheer devastation, leaving no time even to catch one¡¯s breath.


    Mahomes was startled but instinctively lunged at Donald to try and stop him. Still, propelled by inertia, Donald managed to beat Mahomes by a split second.


    Mahomes: ¡°Damn it.¡±


    But Li Wei had no time to curse, no time even to be surprised. As Donald charged at him, bearing down ferociously, Li Wei had only one thought in his mind:


    Protect the ball.


    Li Wei knew just how devastating Donald¡¯s sheer impact could be; even a slight lapse in focus could lead to a fumble.


    In the football world, fans endlessly debate one topic: ¡°Which is more spectacular, an interception or a sack?¡±


    Everyone has their own opinions, but the mainstream consensus is that while a sack showcases the physical thrill and essence of football, an interception holds greater strategical significance as it shifts possession.


    In Donald¡¯s dictionary, though, why choose only one? Only those lacking skill need to choose. A true beast takes both.


    Sack, force a fumble, and reclaim possession.


    A triple crown, executed in one seamless motion¡ªthis was the height of Donald¡¯s prime, a time when his power against both quarterbacks and running backs struck terror into hearts.


    After all, during Rookie Training Camp, when others were boasting about managing twenty-something bench presses, Donald had already reached thirty-five reps, leaving opponents swallowing hard at the thought.


    So when Li Wei sensed the crisis, his immediate reaction was to shield the ball¡ª


    In that frantic moment, Li Wei even forgot that this was a fourth-down gamble. Failing to convert here would still mean turning over possession.


    Nonetheless, in this very instant, Li Wei was utterly focused, mind clear of distractions. After a grueling half of the Super Bowl and nearly two full quarters of clashing, as he once again faced Donald¡¯s bull-like charge, Li Wei was starting to adjust.


    Step back, one step, a step and a half.


    Though Li Wei retreated quickly, Donald¡¯s momentum and speed still had the upper hand. Donald closed in immediately, leaving no escape.


    Precise, forceful, ferocious.


    Bam.


    ¡°Donald VS Li Wei,¡± a head-on collision.


    At that moment, Donald realized his strength had hit nothing but air¡ª


    What the hell?


    In a split second, Li Wei sidestepped, shifting slightly to align his right shoulder with Donald¡¯s right shoulder.


    This was Donald¡¯s signature move: using tight-angle misdirection to create mismatch positioning, avoiding a frontal collision while delivering a shoulder-to-shoulder blow, leveraging sheer force to bulldoze through opponents. A method honed into perfection, leaving rivals with no time to react, Donald would storm through them like a freight train.


    Unstoppable.


    But it was also Li Wei¡¯s trump card.


    Clark: ¡°I¡¯ve seen this move before! The very first day the rookie tried out for the team!¡±


    The exact same feint, the exact same misalignment, the exact same shoulder-barging technique. Only, where Donald would simply plow forward to achieve a crushing breakthrough, Li Wei adopted the subtle art of yielding to redirect force, spinning away with a pliant finesse.


    Clockwise, spin, reposition.


    Everything happened in a flash.


    Donald tried to regain control of his body, only to find that Li Wei had used his momentum against him. Sticking close to Donald¡¯s frame, Li Wei pivoted a full 360 degrees, shedding Donald behind him and creating open space ahead.


    Hah!


    The crowd collectively gasped, watching Donald¡¯s sure-kill charge disintegrate before their eyes as Li Wei wriggled free against all odds.


    Donald¡¯s chest seized up. He didn¡¯t even have time for regret before he tried to pivot and give chase. But as soon as his turn was halfway complete, another force slammed into him from behind, toppling him forward and throwing him off balance completely¡ª


    Mahomes!


    Meanwhile, Li Wei paid no attention to the chaos behind him. His entire right shoulder was numb¡ªso numb, it didn¡¯t even hurt. There was simply no sensation at all.


    Not just his shoulder¡ªthe numbness extended through his arm, his body, and even down his thighs. His head spun dizzily, balance teetering as though he were standing on a trampoline.


    But there was no time to hesitate, no time to recover. His body moved instinctively, ahead of his mind.


    Push off.


    A single act¡ªa forceful push with his legs against the ground. He relied on the repeated motion of his feet to regain his equilibrium even as he surged forward, every step faltering but determined.


    One step, two steps, three steps.


    In the space of a single breath, his vision cleared once more.


    Right ahead: a wide-open lane.


    In the brief but fierce clash between Li Wei and Donald, the Los Angeles Rams Defense remained focused on Kelsey and the others, distracted by the Chiefs¡¯ feints. In a fraction of a second, they failed to notice Li Wei¡¯s escape, giving him the space his team¡¯s misdirection had worked so hard to create.


    The first-down marker was within reach.


    Crossing it would seal the fourth-and-two conversion. Even if the remaining defenders reacted now, they wouldn¡¯t have enough time to stop him.


    Except for one¡ª


    Defensive tackle, Ndamukong Suh.


    Known across the league as ¡°Violent Suh,¡± ¡°The Man Everyone Loves to Hate,¡± and ¡°Ndamukong Infamous Suh.¡±


    In 2010, drafted second overall by the Detroit Lions, Suh entered the league with accolades, including three All-America First Team selections, two All-America Second Team honors, five Pro Bowl appearances, and a strong case for being part of the NFL¡¯s All-Decade Team for the 2010s.


    Yet, despite his elite skill, the Rams were already his third team in eight seasons. He could never seem to remain with one team for long.


    The root cause? Suh¡¯s dirty play, infamous across the league, was a problem that persisted despite repeated warnings and penalties.


    From reporters to players to fans, almost no one liked him. Suh broke records¡ªnot for his performance, but for the most personal fouls in two seasons, the highest number of league fines over four years, and being voted ¡°Dirtiest Player in the NFL¡± by his peers. He was widely dubbed ¡°The Least Likeable Player in the League¡± by numerous outlets.


    Despite his undeniable talent, Suh¡¯s sportsmanship¡ªor lack thereof¡ªleft many appalled. He wasn¡¯t just provocative; he seemed to genuinely relish injuring others.


    To him, football felt less like a sport and more like an officially sanctioned melee.


    This made him a headache for general managers, who hesitated to sign him despite his skills.


    This offseason, the Los Angeles Rams signed Suh to a one-year contract amidst a flood of criticism from across the league. The Rams were clearly assembling a mercenary squad to launch an all-out bid for the Super Bowl. Besides Suh, they had also signed several other top-tier veterans on one-year deals¡ª


    Their intent was as plain as day to everyone.


    This approach earned the Rams the nickname ¡°Cosmic Rams,¡± a term originally coined as a jab. Much like Real Madrid¡¯s ¡°Gala?cticos¡± strategy, they aimed to forge a Galactic Battleship for a single season with no regard for building long-term team chemistry, leveraging hired guns to claim the Super Bowl title, strengthen their foothold in the Los Angeles market, and generate economic returns before worrying about team rebuilding.


    ¡°Cosmic Rams¡± began as a sarcastic insult.


    But criticism aside, the Rams had bulldozed their way into the Super Bowl!


    And now, in this critical moment late in the first half, with fourth-and-two on the line, Li Wei had dodged Donald¡¯s assault and seemed poised to break through¡ªbut Ndamukong Suh loomed ahead, blocking his path to victory¡ª


    Mercenary? So what. As long as the job gets done and the goal is achieved, a championship is still a championship, even if it¡¯s earned by a squad of mercenaries!

 Chapter 875: 874 Flying Pig Soaring into the Sky

    Chapter 875: 874 Flying Pig Soaring into the Sky


    Ndamukong: Heh heh, poor rookie, now he finally has the chance to savor the taste of ¡°Violent Su.¡± He doesn¡¯t even realize what he¡¯s missed out on.


    In Ndamukong¡¯s eyes, the New England Patriots¡¯ dirty tactics against Li Wei were nothing but gentlemanly moves, completely harmless, gentle as a spring breeze, lightly coddling him¡ªand yet Li Wei was whining at Gillette Stadium, all teary-eyed.


    The young generation has seen nothing of the real world. Now let Violent Su teach him a soul-shaking lesson, and he¡¯ll understand what football is all about.


    But Ndamukong couldn¡¯t make his move immediately, because Donald had already charged forward heedlessly. Ndamukong had to fend off two opponents on his own. Despite seeing Li Wei breaking through, there were still obstacles in the way.


    In the blink of an eye, suddenly¡ª


    A fist hammered the stomach, a hand yanked the helmet¡¯s chin strap, covert little moves dancing out of the referee¡¯s view. All too familiar. With skilled precision, Ndamukong cleanly maneuvered past the offensive line player in front of him. Then, in one fluid motion, he used the player as a sandbag and tossed him toward another offensive lineman, shoving him for added measure. In mere moments, he had cleared his path.


    Referee: Wait, is this a foul? It seems like...


    With his view obstructed by Ndamukong, the referee couldn¡¯t properly see it. Just as he hesitated to throw the penalty flag, Ndamukong had already moved into position.


    He opened his arms, akin to a hawk catching chicks, intercepting the advancing route.


    But this was just a smoke bomb. Ndamukong¡¯s real plan was to use his body to lean forward and exert pressure, secretly using his helmet to collide with the opponent¡¯s helmet¡ªdelivering a tremendous force to knock out the running back, leaving them defenseless.


    From a different angle, this was indeed like a hawk catching chicks.


    The root of the issue was that Ndamukong¡¯s stepping motion was still slightly slower. He didn¡¯t lock down the positioning completely, and watching Li Wei about to break through, Ndamukong needed a special tactic to achieve the defensive play.


    He was all too familiar with this.


    ¡°Helmet collision equals foul¡±¡ªdid Ndamukong care?


    Heh.


    Ndamukong fixed his eyes on Li Wei, a glint of savage light flashing. He couldn¡¯t wait to tenderly crush this guy before him:


    Rest assured, he would show no mercy, delivering the purest, unfiltered taste of violence.


    Six-foot-three (193cm), 313 pounds (141kg)¡ªan absolute beast of a figure. A shadow loomed over Li Wei, fully enveloping him under its oppressive weight as turbulent winds and pounding rain crashed down.


    Danger! Danger! Danger!


    The warning signs fully blared. Titanic was about to collide with the iceberg¡ªan epic-scale disaster was imminent, unbearable to witness.


    But¡ª


    Who¡¯s the Titanic, and who¡¯s the iceberg?


    As the collision was seconds away, in a fleeting instant, Li Wei sidestepped, turning his back to Ndamukong, bending his knees and lowering his center of gravity. Without hesitation, he dove straight into the impact forcefully.


    Ndamukong: ???


    Clearly, due to his massive frame, Ndamukong¡¯s reaction time was considerably slower. He couldn¡¯t keep up with Li Wei¡¯s rhythm. Before Ndamukong could adjust his motion, the overwhelming collision had already crashed down like an avalanche with an explosive burst.


    BANG!


    Ndamukong: ¡°Jack, I¡¯m flying!¡±


    Quite literally, Ndamukong defied gravity. Like a flying pig, he was launched into the air, performing a full 360-degree somersault mid-air.


    His heart lodged in his throat, his organs screamed as they rolled and tumbled.


    Ndamukong felt an urge to vomit.


    Li Wei wasn¡¯t spared either. With a muffled grunt, his entire skeleton seemed ready to collapse under the continuous battering¡ªfirst with Donald, now Ndamukong. Successive power clashes rippled through all two hundred and six bones in his body, each eager to abandon ship. His balance and center of gravity had long since been tossed into a black hole.


    Staggering, wobbling.


    But Li Wei didn¡¯t give up¡ª


    Push off. Push off! Push off with all his might!


    Clamping his jaw tightly shut, summoning the last fragments of reason and energy coursing through his body, he pushed off the ground over and over, forcing his movement forward.


    Through his vision, he saw a sweeping ocean of blue waves surging in from all directions. His upper body was nearly parallel to the ground as he sprinted like ¡°Flash.¡± He knew he couldn¡¯t maintain this posture for long.


    So, what did he do?


    Push off, muster strength¡ªah! Aaaaaah!


    A force erupted from deep within his dantian, propelling his entire body forward, like a torpedo launched at full speed.


    The next second, the stadium exploded. Roars thundered down like tidal waves crashing ashore.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    ¡°Fourth-and-two conversion complete!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei! My God! Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Once again, Li Wei delivers an unbelievable performance¡ªpowerfully breaking through both Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh in a perfect fourth-down defense from the Los Angeles Rams, carving out a path and forcing a breakthrough! Not only converting the fourth down but pushing forward an incredible five yards!¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°This is Li Wei¡¯s response to the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ heightened pace and intensity. This season¡¯s regular MVP proves his worth with unparalleled, extraordinary resolve, showing he¡¯s not afraid of the Super Bowl curse!¡±


    ¡°Powerful! Determined! Decisive!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei showcases unprecedented strength, slicing through head-on opposition. This sequence is likely something McVay never anticipated.¡±


    ¡°Wow! Such thrill! The real excitement is just beginning!¡±


    Donald, uncharacteristically frustrated, pounded the grass in dissatisfaction with his recent play.


    Getting up, Donald caught sight of Ndamukong still sitting on the ground, his head surrounded by imaginary circling birds. Donald had never seen Ndamukong in such a pitiful state.


    Unable to help himself, Donald glanced toward Li Wei.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t celebrate. He simply stared boldly at Donald and Ndamukong¡ª


    Radiating killing intent.


    Despite sweat streaming down his face, despite the flush of exertion coloring his cheeks, Li Wei resembled a blood-soaked war god, exuding an air of homicidal dominance, a commanding presence bursting forth fiercely.


    Silently, Donald¡¯s fighting spirit ignited too. This clash¡ªthis was what he lived for.


    Li Wei wasn¡¯t interested in celebrating. Converting a fourth down wasn¡¯t enough for him; the offensive drive wasn¡¯t over. He won¡¯t stop moving forward.


    The offense lines up again.


    Li Wei high-fived his teammates one by one, finally reaching the exuberant Mahomes.


    Tonight, Mahomes wasn¡¯t nervous¡ªhe was far too excited, overflowing with adrenaline, unable to cool down. Exchanging a glance, Li Wei gestured for Mahomes to focus and find composure.


    Mahomes chuckled twice.


    Then, they restructured the strategy.


    The air became even more charged with tension. The Los Angeles Rams Defense, eyes bloodshot¡ªespecially Ndamukong, whose murderous gaze seemed ready to execute Li Wei three thousand six hundred and fifty-five times.


    Yet Mahomes focused even more intently.


    This was what Smith had taught him¡ªwhen the opponent visibly grows tense, it means they¡¯ve successfully drawn attention; it heightens their awareness and aggression, but also creates openings in their strategy. If they seize this fleeting moment, they could rapidly flip the scenario in their favor.


    In the past, Mahomes was too inexperienced to grasp this concept.


    Now though, Mahomes understood. At halftime during the Super Bowl, Donald created such an opportunity to help the Los Angeles Rams break the deadlock. The current setting was utterly familiar, memories flooding his mind like a tidal wave.


    So, was this the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ chance?

 Chapter 876: 875 Picking Stars with Bare Hands

    Chapter 876: 875 Picking Stars with Bare Hands


    Focus. Focus. Still focus.


    This was the only thought in Mahomes¡¯ mind. Fully engaged in reading the defense, he realized the atmosphere was entirely taut. Flaws and gaps flickered in and out of sight, and the tenser the moment, the more patience was required.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Mahomes called the snap. At the very first moment¡ª


    He stepped back. Continued stepping back.


    His light footwork created distance. Sure enough, next came Donald charging like a tiger descending the mountain, executing a bull rush with unstoppable force, breaking through with devastating might.


    Blitz!


    The Los Angeles Rams Head Coach McVay knew exactly how critical the current situation was. He also knew they had to apply immense pressure at the frontlines.


    Despite the recent Fourth Down with two yards to go, where McVay had expected Reed to opt for a pass but had been caught off-guard by Li Wei¡¯s fierce ground assault that audaciously stole five yards,


    McVay didn¡¯t hesitate to attack again. For the second consecutive time, he chose a blitz. He was certain Reed would stick to a passing play, and Donald¡¯s target was clear: Mahomes. Ruthlessly, Donald cast Li Wei entirely aside.


    When Donald operates at 100% focus, he¡¯s a god of destruction.


    To Donald, the offensive line was no tougher than paper. A single step forward, a bull rush¡ªit all happened faster than a blink as he cut into the pocket.


    Yet Mahomes, too, had prepared. He had already stepped back to create space¡ª


    The primary aim being to evade Donald¡¯s initial bull rush.


    Despite Donald¡¯s overwhelming ability to follow up, his greatest danger lay in that first rush. Thus, by predicting ahead of time and pulling back early, Mahomes could carve out crucial breathing room, allowing himself to duel with Donald.


    However, Mahomes underestimated one thing: Donald¡¯s resolve.


    Sparked by Li Wei¡¯s earlier outstanding performance, Donald was now surging with 200% intensity, his acceleration and power even more ferocious than normal. Like an unstoppable predator, he clung to Mahomes, relentless in pursuit.


    Mahomes kept retreating but couldn¡¯t make enough space. He had no time to reset or survey the field. He had to throw.


    ¡ªBang. Impact.


    ¡ªWhoosh. The pass.


    Contact made!


    Donald¡¯s hit and Mahomes¡¯ pass execution happened nearly simultaneously. In the chaos, Mahomes didn¡¯t even have time to complete a full throwing motion. Relying merely on a wrist flick, he barely controlled the ball, which arced in a shallow parabola, skimming above the tangled fray at the line.


    It rose high, then fell rapidly.


    The intended target was¡ª


    Kelsey?


    Right after the snap, Kelsey had darted in a diagonal route to the right, matched up against his former teammate, cornerback Peters.


    Peters stayed fully alert. He was well aware of Kelsey¡¯s prowess. One-on-one against Kelsey, Peters knew he was at a disadvantage, but his confidence didn¡¯t waver. Attention sharp as a blade, Peters kept two to three steps of separation while closely shadowing Kelsey¡¯s movements, sparing only the barest peripheral glance toward the pocket.


    It¡¯s coming!


    Donald¡¯s relentless pressure on Mahomes left no time for adjustments or waiting. This meant whoever the target was, they had to be ready this instant.


    Peters couldn¡¯t afford to scan the field for other options. He fixated solely on Kelsey. What Peters didn¡¯t notice, however, was his teammate moving in to assist with marking Kelsey. Understanding dawned in an instant: the Kansas City Chiefs had tactically spread their receivers across short passing zones to pin down the safeties in the defensive backfield while creating a numerical advantage for their offensive group up front.


    Wait, hold on¡ªthose numbers don¡¯t add up.


    The Los Angeles Rams were rushing five men. Two linebackers and two cornerbacks handled man coverage in the short passing zones, leaving exactly four receivers matched up for the Kansas City Chiefs.


    So, where was the numerical edge?


    The game moved too fast to think it all through. Peters immediately noticed Kelsey cutting back and internal alarms flared. He lunged forward without delay.


    Though strenuous, though difficult, Peters managed to close the gap with Kelsey just in time, seeking to block him off¡ª


    But where was the football?


    Peters tilted his head upward, searching for the ball, and caught a glimpse of a streak of white speeding toward the sideline in his peripheral vision.


    His eyes faltered, struggling to track everything. He almost doubted his own vision.


    On pure reflex¡ªguided by instinct¡ªhe abandoned Kelsey and pivoted, sprinting towards the fleeting streak of white.


    But it was already too late, half a step behind.


    The figure in the white jersey, number twenty-three, executed a stunning turn, leaping into the air. His slender frame fully extended, poised and graceful.


    The football¡¯s flight was unstable¡ªa visibly imperfect parabola, with inconsistent force control causing the ball to wobble precariously. It wasn¡¯t a clean spiral. Instead, it looked like a fallen autumn leaf trembling in a whirlwind, as though any second it might vanish into the storm.


    Shaky and swaying, the ball seemed bound to soar overhead and out of reach.


    Although fraught with difficulty and danger, rushed and precarious, Mahomes had threaded the needle under Donald¡¯s suffocating pressure. This was a bold ten-yard pass, and following the conversion on the recent Fourth and Two, it was clear that Mahomes intended to capitalize on the momentum with a daring attempt on First Down.


    But due to Donald¡¯s fierce embrace, Mahomes¡¯ control faltered. The throw veered between eleven and twelve yards and edged slightly toward the boundary line, even as the parabolic arc was just contained. By all accounts, this seemed destined to be¡ª


    An incomplete pass.


    Then, that elongated silhouette reached its utmost extension, every ounce focused, eyes locked unerringly on the ball. No distractions, no hesitation. His back arched into a crescent bridge, his right hand tracing the descent of the football, fingertips giving the faintest nudge to alter its falling trajectory.


    In the next heartbeat, body and ball plunged together.


    Yet those hands reached forward assertively, as if plucking stars from the heavens, firmly cradling the unruly ball into his grasp.


    ¡°Caught!¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable!¡±


    Gasps of astonishment froze mid-throat, trapped unwillingly. The catch alone wasn¡¯t enough¡ªhis feet now had to stay inbounds.


    The sideline, razor-thin like a cliff¡¯s edge, held the gaze of the entire stadium¡ªand indeed the entire North American continent¡ªfixated on the white-jerseyed number twenty-three¡¯s feet, dancing precariously on the brink.


    Time, momentarily suspended.


    Left foot down. Right foot down. His body defied gravity, balanced perfectly within the sideline.


    Exhale.


    A brief hold on breath broke.


    Then, he pivoted mid-air¡ªa clean 360-degree spin¡ªto recover balance and poise, landing flawlessly.


    The performance was complete.


    Boom.


    In an instant, roaring passion surged across minds and hearts, tearing through the constraints of time and space. Frenzied cheers and shouts erupted, so fierce it drowned out all sound into a muffled ringing. Eyes widened, jaws dropped, staring in stupor at the scene unfolding.


    Peters gave everything he had but failed to join the act, reduced to a mere bystander as he overshot his mark and tumbled out of bounds in awkward surrender.


    ¡°Shit!¡±


    Peters couldn¡¯t stop a curse from slipping out. Turning around, he spotted Li Wei and Kelsey high-fiving in celebration, their shoulders bumping in camaraderie.


    A perfect play!


    The defense delivered brilliantly; the offense executed masterfully. Blow after blow exchanged between titans, neither side giving an inch. Blades clashed, crimson stakes rose high, and the metallic tang of blood tainted the air, igniting an all-encompassing energy.


    This is the peak showdown.

 Chapter 877: 876 God of Killing Appears

    Chapter 877: 876 God of Killing Appears


    Tense, stalemate, panting.


    Whether it¡¯s Donald or Li Wei, every player on both teams is no exception, blood boiling, passion surging. In just this short time, everyone¡¯s energy has burned explosively, and the intensity and pace of the confrontation continue to escalate, with each player unleashing themselves without reservation.


    Donald: The situation is not good.


    Donald sensed the crisis arriving imminently, even more overwhelming and forceful¡ª


    Fourth down and two yards, a head-on breakthrough completed the conversion.


    First down and ten yards, after the quarterback encountered an effective hit, he completed a ten-yard short pass connection.


    In other words, the intensity of the Los Angeles Rams defense is steadily rising, fully assaulting, and the Kansas City Chiefs genuinely felt the pressure and predicament; however, the Kansas City Chiefs still found a way to break through and turn the tide.


    Now, the Kansas City Chiefs have already reached the Los Angeles Rams¡¯... 24-yard line.


    This area is already within field goal range, at the forefront of the Red Zone, one step further, and it¡¯s the end zone.


    Obviously, the Kansas City Chiefs won¡¯t be satisfied with a field goal; their sights are set on a touchdown, erupting with incredible energy in dire situations.


    The key is, shouldn¡¯t it be the Los Angeles Rams in trouble now? Aren¡¯t the Los Angeles Rams the ones trailing in score, Li Wei, my friend, are you sure you don¡¯t want to look at Goff and Gurley¡¯s offensive group? How are they still bursting with such energy?


    Since the Kansas City Chiefs are standing so firm as if on the precipice of a cliff, then the truly cliff-edged Los Angeles Rams must not slack off even more.


    This is a crisis; but it¡¯s also an opportunity.


    Just imagine if the Los Angeles Rams can intercept the Kansas City Chiefs here, delivering a severe blow to their high-spirited opponent, even creating a turnover, the entire situation could be turned around.


    Never mind whether Goff and Gurley can step up, at least the defense still has him, Aaron Donald¡ª


    The lone defender who can hold off thousands.


    A fierce energy erupted from Donald, an unconquerable energy, and he exerted pressure on Mahomes even before the kickoff.


    So, are you afraid?


    Fear is correct because fear can save your life, preventing needless deaths.


    On the 24-yard line, first down and ten yards.


    The Los Angeles Rams defense group exudes a palpable energy, an energy waiting to explode, not just Donald, each and every player has their eyes fixed on Mahomes¡ª


    Focussed, focussed, focussed.


    Like the gaze of a demon.


    Mahomes clearly felt the pressure, a little tense, before preparing to kick off, he stood straight again to adjust, and then arranged again.


    This delay, time was pressing, Mahomes had to kick off immediately, or it would be a delay of game penalty, costing five yards.


    The pressure was still escalating.


    Mahomes seemed a bit rushed.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    But Donald didn¡¯t get distracted, regardless of Mahomes¡¯ actions and the situation, he stayed focused and tense throughout, staying vigilant at all times.


    Always waiting.


    The moment the ball was snapped, with a push-off, start, misalignment, and collision, the movements flowed smoothly, Donald continued to launch his attack with the same method and strategy.


    However, it still worked.


    Rip.


    Like tearing paper, the pocket scene unfolded before Donald¡¯s eyes.


    Three consecutive defensive downs, three times in a row, Donald made the offensive line seem non-existent, exposing the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ quarterback helplessly before him.


    This is Donald¡¯s capability.


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive line¡¯s double-team strategy still failed to stop Donald¡ª


    Beast.


    The God of slaughter has arrived!


    Donald fixed his eyes on Mahomes, who was habitually retreating to create distance and space, opening his jaws wide and letting out a roar.


    At that moment, a figure cut in horizontally, charging toward Donald.


    Li Wei!


    Donald didn¡¯t evade, not only did he not evade, but he also paused his steps to deliberately push forward.


    ¡°Strength VS Strength.¡±


    A surge of air waves.


    Donald displayed his strength, actually managing to knock Li Wei flying.


    Li Wei grunted, stumbling backward repeatedly, this time losing sensation in the left shoulder and arm, the lingering strength resonating in his chest, almost losing control over his balance, his steps chaotic, as if surfing in the waves, constantly adjusting his center of gravity to barely stand, with core strength in the waist and abdomen.


    Indeed, in a pure battle of absolute strength, Li Wei was still unable to withstand.


    And Donald?


    Merely a pause in his steps, without gasping or adjusting, he lunged forward again.


    But Donald also knew, Li Wei¡¯s intervention had interrupted the momentum of his initial charge, now he had to reorganize his steps and strength.


    Therefore, Donald didn¡¯t hesitate, following his inertia, his body lunging forward directly.


    Skipping the process of gathering strength, and skipping the process of restarting and readjusting, he spread his arms ready to tackle, even if the impact was somewhat weaker, he could still complete the tackle.


    Mahomes was startled, clearly not realizing Donald was this determined, completely ignoring the possibility of the Kansas City Chiefs choosing a ground attack, single-mindedly targeting the quarterback, pushing Mahomes to the brink.


    Disastrous.


    Mahomes¡¯ retreating steps failed to shake off Donald, not even blinking before Donald had already tackled his thighs.


    Damn it!


    Mahomes lost balance¡ª


    Originally intending to find Hill or Watkins with a mid-pass again, adding chaos to the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ defensive formation, to gain respite for the Kansas City Chiefs, otherwise, the pressure from the defense group would become increasingly strong, potentially overwhelming them.


    But now, the entire plan was disrupted.


    In the moment of collapse, Mahomes only had time to see one figure.


    Not far, also in the pocket, unable to maintain his balance, being buffeted by the storm... Li Wei.


    Falling while waving his arm, Mahomes, like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, before completely losing balance, hastily threw a short-distance two or three-yard pass, a hurried toss.


    One thought raced through his mind: Avoid a sack and losing yardage.


    The world tilted in his view, everything turned upside down, chaotic, with Mahomes and Donald both falling together, but the football¡ª


    Landed in Li Wei¡¯s arms, comparable to a hot potato.


    Li Wei was adjusting his steps, catching the ball was merely a conditioned reflex, but his hands and arms weren¡¯t positioned properly, causing the football to jump randomly in his arms, seemingly refusing to stay still.


    Li Wei felt like a clown juggling bicycles, his steps constantly adjusting, hands busy trying to control the football, eyes not forgetting to quickly scan around to judge his position.


    One-on-one on the offensive line?


    The targeted strategy on the offensive line, because they knew they couldn¡¯t stop Donald, so simply chose one player to match up with Donald, while the other four offensive linemen matched up against the defensive line and... the lineman.


    This scene was rare, a different version of the ¡°Chiefs Special.¡±


    Finally, with Li Wei assisting in defending Donald, the goal was to buy Mahomes time to pass, to find Hill or Watkins with a mid-pass.


    At this moment, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ receivers had all gone out, and it wasn¡¯t a smoke bomb.


    No one expected the football to end up in Li Wei¡¯s hands.


    And in front of him, the pocket wide open, a straight path leading directly to the end zone.

 Chapter 878: 877 Who is the clown

    Chapter 878: 877 Who is the clown


    ¡°Li Wei. Li Wei. Li Wei.¡±


    Ndamukong had only one thought in his mind, just one single thought.


    Not because of any personal vendetta, but because of McVay¡¯s strategic layout.


    Donald was going all out to pressure Mahomes, so what about Li Wei?


    McVay hadn¡¯t forgotten Li Wei, nor had he forgotten the ¡°Chiefs Special.¡± The Los Angeles Rams¡¯ pass rush concealment carried two layers of impact, targeting Mahomes and Li Wei, unleashing the ultimate weapon to precisely shut down the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offense. McVay knew they had no fallback.


    If adjustments were delayed until halftime, it could be too late.


    So.


    Ndamukong came.


    Patience, patience. Despite his bear-like build, his movements were as sharp as a rattlesnake¡ªcalm and lucid, waiting for the opportunity to strike devastatingly.


    On the surface, Ndamukong was assisting Donald, holding off two players to shield him, without any attempt to advance. Meanwhile, the offensive line player kept trying to break free and turn around to help block Donald.


    Perfect moment, Mahomes seemed ready to pass the ball, but his target wasn¡¯t Li Wei; this made it simpler for Ndamukong, who only had to cling tightly to the offensive line player without rushing forward.


    Until Donald completed the hit, forcing Mahomes to hurriedly release the ball¡ª


    It was no longer a deliberate pass but an act of passive survival.


    The Los Angeles Rams once again capitalized on Donald¡¯s individual ability to create a chance.


    Clear-headed, Ndamukong seized the brief moment after Li Wei caught the ball amid the chaos to adjust his footing and balance, still holding back from moving forward, instead utilizing the offensive line players as cover to conceal his presence and intentions.


    Waiting, waiting some more.


    Ndamukong stealthily observed, seeing Li Wei notice an open path ahead¡ªa straight, clear corridor. In the split-second dynamics of the game, with the secondary defense yet to reset and amid the whirlwind of imbalance, there was no time for hesitation. A slight adjustment of his steps led him shakily yet decisively straight ahead.


    Gotcha!


    Having waited and observed all along, Ndamukong decisively delivered an elbow strike to the opposing player, shoving away two figures before charging suddenly and unanticipatedly from the side, flying in for a tackle¡ª


    Targeting the lower body.


    In football, a tackle aimed below the knees is called a low tackle, which is often prohibited due to the immense force and speed risks causing knee injuries. Low tackles against quarterbacks especially come with stringent penalties¡ªstrictly prohibited, with a yellow flag meaning a direct loss of fifteen yards.


    As a seasoned foul player, Ndamukong was naturally well aware of this.


    But at the same time, Ndamukong also knew that low tackles for wide receivers and running backs were punished less severely. Clearly, the league aimed to protect quarterbacks, while wide receivers and running backs were considered expendable¡ªespecially running backs.


    Although low tackles against wide receivers and running backs might sometimes result in fouls, the judgments were far more lenient, with rough tackle penalties rarely imposed.


    Now, Ndamukong set his sights on Li Wei¡¯s knees.


    Clenching his teeth, pouring all his power into the move.


    Just earlier, Li Wei had delivered a shoulder throw to him; now, he¡¯d return the favor with a season-ending ¡°gift.¡± Perhaps something like an ACL tear?


    Too bad the season only had two hours left at most. This gift still felt a little light. Hopefully, Li Wei wouldn¡¯t mind.


    Heh heh.


    Ndamukong let out a sinister grin, accelerating swiftly, unleashing every ounce of his strength with no restraint.


    Closer. Closer still.


    Ndamukong dove like a swimmer plunging into deep waters, aiming for Li Wei¡¯s knees, ankles, and the fragile shinbones that could snap in two with just a gentle twist, charging full force.


    ¡°Farewell, rookie. Goodbye forever!¡±


    As Li Wei¡¯s shins loomed within reach, the tackle and impact were about to succeed when Ndamukong¡¯s grin started stiffening at his lips¡ª


    Where is he?


    Out of sight, Li Wei had stopped abruptly, his feet making a sudden cut and halting, avoiding the cosmic collision about to occur and breaking away forcefully.


    And then, Ndamukong slid past Li Wei majestically, utterly failing his sure-hit tackle with shocking ease.


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±


    Glancing upward, Ndamukong saw Li Wei¡¯s eyes beneath the helmet¡ªcalm and puzzled, akin to Teletubbies cutely admiring a duckling waddling by, almost seeming ready to wave hello.


    Humiliation!


    But the next moment, Ndamukong¡¯s face hit the ground, sliding away.


    Thud thud thud, thud thud thud, his helmet and chin kept banging repeatedly against the turf¡ªa series of sharp slaps that left Ndamukong seeing stars.


    So, who really is the clown?


    Soon after, Ansen moved past without pause, stepping over Ndamukong¡¯s tightly clasped ¡°mermaid tail.¡±


    Literally stepping, not leaping¡ªmore like crossing over a filthy ditch.


    Ndamukong: ...


    Quietly watching the back of the twenty-three jersey disappear, he forgot his anger and shame, overwhelmed entirely by shock and disbelief as he slid farther off.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t concern himself with Ndamukong, deeming him inconsequential.


    Confusion may be present, chaos may be rampant, but Li Wei hadn¡¯t forgotten to observe the defense. Blindly charging forward would only land him in trouble, and like sharpening a knife without wasting precious seconds, patient observation paired with calm decision-making was crucial to finding openings to advance.


    Stop, observe, break through.


    Bell¡¯s signature move had now become a part of Li Wei¡¯s skillset.


    With an emergency halt, Li Wei adjusted his rhythm, regained his balance swiftly, and restarted again, entering his element.


    Step one, step two¡ªbefore he could fully accelerate, barely crossing the five-yard line from the snap, a massive engine powered through¡ªa freight train barreling straight at him¡ª


    Corey Littleton the linebacker.


    This linebacker was unarguably the hot topic player of this year¡¯s Los Angeles Rams. An undrafted rookie from 2016, he¡¯d spent two ordinary seasons with the Rams before erupting in his third year into full transformation and growth.


    Playing vital roles for both the defensive group and Special Duty Group, Littleton had earned Second-Team All-American honors and his Pro Bowl invite thanks to clutch performances in crucial game moments¡ªhis Cinderella story even eliciting praise from McVay himself.


    Some claimed his breakout was fueled by his rookie contract nearing its end.


    Perhaps, but nonetheless, not just any undrafted player could seize their chance and push their team into the Super Bowl.


    Tonight, on the Super Bowl stage, Littleton remained spectacular.


    This time was no exception.


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ receivers scattered wide, running toward mid-range and deep throws, leaving the short pass zone open.


    After Li Wei effortlessly humiliated Ndamukong, Littleton had instantly realized the danger. He needed to stop Li Wei right here¡ªotherwise... the consequences would be unimaginable.


    Pushing off the ground, advancing.


    Littleton focused entirely, picturing himself as Spider-Man¡ªa seemingly ordinary high-schooler, insignificant and invisible, transformed into a superhero. From the skies, he would descend to become his team¡¯s savior and decision-maker on the Super Bowl stage, as all of the City of Angels roared his name.


    Littleton! Littleton! Littleton!


    The cheers echoed to the heavens!

 Chapter 879: 878 All the Way

    Chapter 879: 878 All the Way


    Corey Littleton, 6.2 feet (191 cm), 225 pounds (102 kg).


    Lean and wiry, almost to the point of being skinny, this was exactly why he was overlooked by every team during the 2016 draft ¡ª


    Lack of strength.


    After all, in his rookie year, he was even lighter.


    Over the past three seasons, Littleton has not deliberately bulked up but instead worked on building muscle mass. His sinewy build makes him look even skinnier, almost like a bamboo pole.


    As an inside linebacker, Littleton¡¯s primary job is to confront running backs. With a frame and strength like his, skepticism about his capability is perfectly normal.


    However, this season, Littleton has fully capitalized on his strengths, turning his weaknesses into his assets. Relying on speed and agility, he has become a critical player in both run defense and short-pass coverage. Add to that his long arms and legs, and he¡¯s managed an impressive seven pass deflections this season.


    The Pro Bowl isn¡¯t just about being a talking point.


    Still, to professionals in the league, there are better linebackers out there. Littleton remains off the radar; his All-American Second Team selection came under the Special Duty Group designation.


    A linebacker, categorized as Special Duty Group.


    Littleton still has something to prove.


    And now, the opportunity stood before him.


    ¡°Successfully defending the regular season MVP on the Super Bowl stage and becoming the turning point for the team¡¯s comeback¡± ¡ª what could be a better chance to prove himself than this?


    Littleton felt a spark of excitement.


    Speed, agility, and direction changes ¡ª Li Wei¡¯s strengths perfectly mirrored Littleton¡¯s own. He wasn¡¯t daunted at all, fully convinced he could go head-to-head against Li Wei.


    And even if it didn¡¯t work out, it didn¡¯t matter. He just needed to tie Li Wei up long enough for the other defenders to back him up. The outcome would be the same ¡ª


    He¡¯d still be the MVP on defense.


    Small steps, staying light on his feet, maintaining full concentration.


    Littleton knew exactly what Li Wei was likely to do. He understood Li Wei as if they were mirror images, and so he was already prepared.


    In fact, he often imitated Li Wei¡¯s running style during team simulations to help his teammates prepare for similar opponents.


    He believed Li Wei had never encountered a rival this much like himself.


    Focusing all his attention on Li Wei¡¯s every move, not missing a single detail, he knew that direction changes and bursts of speed often happened in a fleeting instant.


    But Littleton didn¡¯t settle for passive defense; he went on the offensive.


    That¡¯s what set Littleton apart from other linebackers ¡ª at least when facing Li Wei. Littleton knew he couldn¡¯t let Li Wei make the first move. He had to strike first and disrupt Li Wei¡¯s rhythm.


    A feint to the left, then quickly pulling his balance back, his sharp gaze locked onto Li Wei. Arms outstretched, he blocked Li Wei¡¯s forward path, intentionally leaving a small gap on the left side to bait Li Wei into making a miscalculation.


    Then, he waited for the payoff ¡ª


    But just then, Li Wei extended his left hand, quietly, slowly, yet decisively, reaching for Littleton¡¯s left shoulder. Like a ghost, it moved without force or momentum, softly landing.


    A sudden outburst of power.


    Straight Arm Block!


    Littleton barely had time to catch his breath. The smile still lingered at the corner of his mouth before, in the next second, his entire world flipped upside down.


    Littleton: ???


    This was it?


    Softer than papier-ma?che?.


    ¡°Straight Arm Block!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei! Unbelievable Li Wei! Unstoppable Li Wei! Beast Mode Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°First, a sudden stop smoothly evaded Su, and now a Straight Arm Block has knocked Littleton to the ground. Amidst chaos and upheaval, Li Wei¡¯s performance once again proves his brilliance.¡±


    ¡°Against Li Wei, Littleton looks like a paper-thin man, defenseless and completely overpowered. He¡¯s utterly flattened. Li Wei is unstoppable!¡±


    ¡°Incredible!¡±


    ¡°Who could believe that this is the same Li Wei who wobbled after a direct collision with Donald? A quick turn and rapid adjustment turned the impossible into the miraculous, single-handedly pushing the Los Angeles Rams into the abyss once more.¡±


    ¡°Five yards!¡±


    ¡°Ten yards!¡±


    ¡°First down secured!¡±


    ¡°And now, the Red Zone is just ahead!¡±


    ¡°My God! Cornerbacks Peters and Talib are in pursuit. Safeties Johnson and Joelle are closing in. But they¡¯re up against Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°The Edgerunner, lethal in a single strike!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei! Li Wei is sprinting! With absolute speed, he leaves Peters in the dust. Peters has completely lost his balance. Li Wei has entered the Red Zone!¡±


    Calm, steady, ruthless.


    Like an assassin.


    After flattening Littleton with a Straight Arm Block, Li Wei unleashed his full speed without reservation. The Edgerunner was once again shining on the Super Bowl stage!


    Past one defender!


    One was still running alongside him, while another crouched ahead to the left, knees bent, shoulders lowered in anticipation.


    But Li Wei didn¡¯t bother. He ran faster and faster, transforming into a whirlwind.


    Fifteen-yard line, a mad dash forward.


    Ten-yard line, an all-out sprint!


    Despite two blur-blue figures on his left relentlessly pursuing and refusing to give up, they couldn¡¯t find an opening to dive or tackle amidst Li Wei¡¯s high-speed charge.


    Three men, deadlock in motion, charging forward together as the stalemate continued.


    In the blink of an eye, Li Wei cut through the Red Zone like a knife through butter, racing head-on for the End Zone.


    But then, on the right diagonal ahead, stood the final line of defense before the End Zone:


    Safety John Johnson.


    A third-round, 91st overall pick in 2017, Johnson was in the same rookie class as Li Wei.


    Height, weight, build ¡ª Johnson matched Li Wei almost identically. So he was fearless, standing resolutely in Li Wei¡¯s path, ready to use his body to stop Li Wei in his tracks.


    If Li Wei wanted the End Zone, he¡¯d have to roll right over Johnson¡¯s corpse.


    Five-yard line ¡ª in the blink of an eye, no time to think, Li Wei collided head-on with Johnson.


    No evasive maneuvers, no Straight Arm Block, no slowing down to adjust ¡ª just a full-speed collision.


    Unstoppable, ferocious. Li Wei¡¯s cold gaze held no emotion, as if Johnson was nothing more than a meaningless paper wall. Instead of slowing down, he sped up even more.


    Planting his foot, powering through.


    Planting again, accelerating further.


    In an instant, Li Wei unleashed an unstoppable force of sheer dominance, overwhelming Johnson and grabbing his very soul.


    Johnson shuddered. It felt... moist. A primal survival instinct kicked in, and he reflexively tried to spin away, like a rabbit spotted by a cheetah on the African plains.


    Fleeing wasn¡¯t shameful ¡ª dignity is precious, but life is priceless.


    But before Johnson could retreat, the impact came faster than anticipated, slamming into him head-on.


    Johnson: Ugh.


    A muffled grunt escaped as Johnson felt like a ten-ton truck had slammed into him and rolled over. Before he could take a breath, his body was airborne. The world around him exploded in vibrant colors, erupting like a volcanic blast.


    Amidst the vivid chaos, a flash of white wind swept gracefully across.


    Crossing the End Zone Line, Li Wei didn¡¯t stop but barreled through the entire End Zone with unstoppable momentum before crashing into the stadium¡¯s sideline barrier, his hurricane-like momentum carrying him into the spectator stands. His inexhaustible energy electrified the Mercedes-Benz Dome.


    Ah!


    A roar.


    Ahhhh!


    An eruption.


    Ahhhh!


    Goosebumps. Shivers. It was like electricity racing from one¡¯s toes to the crown of their head, blasting through the entire body and releasing every suppressed emotion in the depths of their soul.


    Ahhhh!


    The Mercedes-Benz Dome became a blazing firestorm of seething chaos.

 Chapter 880: 879 shining bright

    Chapter 880: 879 shining bright


    ¡°Fifteen-yard line! Unstoppable!¡±


    ¡°Ten-yard line! Keep accelerating!¡±


    ¡°Five-yard line! The God of War steps in!¡±


    ¡°Johnson gets knocked flying¡ªGod, what did we just witness?¡±


    ¡°Edgerunner lands a fatal blow, pierces the heart of the Los Angeles Rams!¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable! Inconceivable! Extraordinary!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei! Oh, Jesus Christ, Li Wei! Li Wei pulls off another impossible feat, his performance even makes Iron Man pale in comparison.¡±


    ¡°Against Donald, teasing Su, toppling Littleton, devouring Peters alive, crashing into Johnson! Relentless all the way, breaking through all the obstacles, crushing every challenge¡ªpower, speed, agility, direction changes, blocks¡ªwhether it¡¯s physical attributes, technical prowess, or sheer warrior spirit, Li Wei singlehandedly tears through the entire defensive line of the Los Angeles Rams.¡±


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re witnessing a touchdown!¡±


    ¡°The 53rd Super Bowl, first touchdown of the game, scored by Li Wei, Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ number 23¡ªthe reigning champions finally break the stalemate.¡±


    Ahhhh!


    Li Wei finally lets loose entirely, clenches his fists, unleashes a heavens-splitting roar, as if a God of War descends to earth. The fiery energy emanating from him makes the entire audience bow in awe.


    All of a sudden, Felix rises, breaking free from the confines of his wheelchair, clenching his fists, roaring thunderously. He lifts his gaze toward the big screen beneath the cloudy sky. It¡¯s as though a ray of light tears apart layers of despair in the pitch-black darkness, illuminating a path to keep climbing and keep fighting.


    Again and again, unstoppable¡ª


    This is Li Wei.


    Always fighting, always striving, always standing tall, always blooming brightly. Not shining because of victory, but shining to carve the path towards victory time and time again.


    ¡°Beloved Felix,


    If I¡¯m the one to leave first, please don¡¯t be saddened, because we both know that everyone¡¯s life has its end¡ªmaybe it¡¯s you, maybe it¡¯s me, or maybe it¡¯ll be anyone around us.


    We shouldn¡¯t be sorrowful about life¡¯s end. On the contrary, we should celebrate its brilliance. This is what Li Wei taught me¡ªseize the day, make every moment bloom brightly while life still has the chance to shine. Then, when we reach the finish line, we can say confidently:


    ¡®I have no regrets.¡¯


    Keep fighting.


    Yours, Annie.¡±


    Felix takes a deep breath: Annie, rest assured, I won¡¯t give up. I won¡¯t surrender. I won¡¯t let fear of the ending bring me to despair.


    Then Felix starts shouting his lungs out.


    ¡°Keep fighting!¡±


    Again and again, with all his might.


    Beside him, Karen watches the tear-streaked yet radiant Felix. She¡¯s on the verge of breaking down, just one step away, but she musters her courage, swallows her tears, and joins Felix in his shouts.


    Immediately, Jeff turns to look at Jenna.


    Jenna responds with a smile. She had promised Annie: no more tears.


    No more clinging to the past and refusing to move forward; no more dwelling in memories and rejecting progress. She would remember Annie, forever her unique daughter, but she¡¯d continue to live with these memories.


    So, no tears.


    Jenna begins to laugh joyously. She knows how Annie would react to this scene, so she does the same.


    ¡°Keep fighting!¡±


    Jenna joins in the shouting and gestures for Jeff to do so too.


    Jeff hesitates for a moment. Despite being parents, they¡¯re actually just in their early thirties, a fact he had almost forgotten.


    Quietly, Jeff joins Jenna, shouting together. A smile gradually creeps onto his lips.


    A surging tide of voices floods into the Mercedes-Benz Dome from outside, transforming into a wave of power that explodes in a burst of red energy crashing down.


    It engulfs the whole venue¡ª


    No one can escape.


    ¡°Li Wei, again Li Wei, always Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°When people ask me why everyone talks about Li Wei, why a rookie can become Regular Season MVP in just his second professional season.¡±


    ¡°This is the reason, this is the inspiration, this is the source.¡±


    ¡°In moments of struggle, in moments of stalemate, in moments of tension, in moments of crisis, in clashes between titans, in knife-edge encounters.¡±


    ¡°Time and again, over and over, Li Wei steps up, breaking through barriers with his performance, his will, his energy.¡±


    ¡°His unparalleled display leaves us, the audience, reliving childhood¡ªstaring jaw-dropped at the TV while marveling at the brilliance, unable to find words to accurately describe our emotions, only gasping in awe and sharing excitement, realizing language fails to capture the essence; it¡¯s pure amazement, joy, admiration.¡±


    ¡°He makes us rediscover the simplest, purest emotions.¡±


    ¡°This is Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°Without a doubt, this has been a tough game. Both the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs face unique challenges, resulting in a prolonged stalemate.¡±


    ¡°Yet it is these very moments that give rise to legends.¡±


    ¡°In the Los Angeles Rams, Donald is the undisputed leader. On the Kansas City Chiefs, it¡¯s Li Wei taking center stage¡ªand ultimately, Li Wei prevails.¡±


    ¡°Starting with a direct confrontation against Donald without being at a disadvantage, he helps open up the ground offense, putting Kansas City Chiefs ahead with a field goal to break the deadlock.¡±


    ¡°Then, during a team crisis, he steps up again, orchestrating an incredible display to ignite the entire offensive group. Finally, his long-distance dash ends in a decisive touchdown.¡±


    ¡°How can you not admire this man? How can you not respect this man?¡±


    ¡°Oh, wait, who did I just see?¡±


    ¡°Was that... Ariana Grande? Can someone confirm for me why Ariana Grande is in the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ VIP box?¡±


    Ariana pauses slightly, her bright gaze fixed on the field.


    Suddenly, the deafening cheers from the crowd sweep through, startling Ariana as her heartbeat races uncontrollably. Only then does she realize she may have lost composure.


    And there are so many cameras.


    Ariana takes a deep breath, raises her arms high, and joins the chants like everyone else, partaking in this carnival.


    Keep fighting.


    Keep fighting!


    Once, then once more¡ªAriana¡¯s heartbeats align with the waves of the roaring crowd, pounding intensely.


    ¡°Tonight, under the spotlight of the Super Bowl stage, Li Wei proves once again that he was born for the big stage. Last year¡¯s Super Bowl MVP and this season¡¯s Regular Season MVP steps up in Atlanta tonight, defying the Super Bowl curse.¡±


    ¡°At this moment. At this instant. Li Wei¡¯s performance has ignited the Kansas City Chiefs fans¡¯ wildest passions.¡±


    ¡°I know, after the first quarter, many people might¡¯ve already turned off their TVs; but if you still have any interest in the Super Bowl¡ªand not just for Maroon 5¡¯s halftime show¡ªthen now¡¯s the time to turn it back on. You won¡¯t want to miss Li Wei¡¯s brilliant performance.¡±


    At home, Talia Ryder watches the scene unfold.


    For a fleeting moment, Talia feels a hint of disorientation¡ªthe figure donning the helmet and gear seems like a stranger she doesn¡¯t recognize; but in the blink of an eye, the image of him clenching his fists and roaring to the heavens overlaps with the man in her memories who accompanied her on late-night walks.


    His passion, his dreams, his soul¡ªradiating brightly on the field.

 Chapter 881: 880 Headless Dragons

    Chapter 881: 880 Headless Dragons


    The second half begins.


    Heavy breaths. Chris Jones is gasping for air, Justin Houston¡¯s words in the locker room during halftime still seem to echo in his ears¡ª


    ¡°The game isn¡¯t over. What we need to focus on now isn¡¯t victory or the championship, but the first wave of defense in the second half. The opponent won¡¯t simply roll over. During halftime, McVay will undoubtedly formulate a plan to turn the tide, and our task is to shut them down.¡±


    Focus! Passion! Resolve!


    Yet now, Houston is lying on the field, slipping into unconsciousness.


    Jones feels as though time is scrambled, and scenes from the locker room mix with the images before his eyes, crashing together in his mind, making it hard to breathe.


    ¡°Oh, this is not the kind of start Kansas City Chiefs were hoping for in the second half.¡±


    ¡°Justin Houston, captain of the Kansas City Chiefs Defense and starting linebacker, has seemingly sustained an injury just moments ago while stopping Los Angeles Rams¡¯ running back Todd Gurley on the ground. He collapsed and couldn¡¯t stand up on his own. It¡¯s unclear what happened, but Houston¡¯s condition doesn¡¯t look promising.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s take a look at the replay.¡±


    Jones knows what happened¡ªit occurred right in front of him.


    Goff faked a pass and pretended to run, a brief deception, but the Defensive group didn¡¯t bite. Jones blocked the middle zone, forcing Gurley to break out toward the outside. Houston judged the play correctly, stepped up promptly, and executed a precise tackle behind the line of scrimmage, causing Gurley to lose a yard, but their helmets collided¡ª


    Concussion?


    Jones¡¯s heart clenched fiercely.


    The team doctors ran onto the field, and after a quick check, decided to escort Houston back to the locker room for further examination. However, Houston managed to get the doctor¡¯s approval to stand up using his own strength.


    The crowd collectively let out a small sigh of relief.


    But now, after cramping during the final minutes of the American League Championship and with a suspected concussion in the Super Bowl, Houston, already thirty years old, no longer has a body as youthful as before¡ªwas he really okay?


    ¡°Chris?¡±


    ¡°Chris!¡±


    Houston¡¯s voice pulled Jones out of his train of thought.


    Jones snapped his head up, seeing Houston¡¯s face breaking into a wide smile.


    ¡°The team is in your hands. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be back on the field soon. The game isn¡¯t over yet.¡±


    Jones nodded dazedly, watching Houston¡¯s back as he turned and walked away. It seemed weary and weathered, emanating a faint sense of tragic resolve.


    Throughout the season, they had fought side by side, and Jones understood Houston¡¯s circumstances all too well. He knew how Houston had struggled physically and mentally this season, enduring the playoffs with sheer grit and spirit.


    So what now?


    Jones felt a hint of bewilderment.


    Houston left the field, Berry stepped in to substitute, leaving the Kansas City Chiefs Defense leaderless on the field. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams ramped up their aggression, their offensive threat escalating. It was clear that McVay would seize this opportunity.


    What should they do?


    Instinctively, Jones turned toward Li Wei.


    ¡°In this situation, what would Li Wei do?¡±


    ¡ªBelieve in your teammates.


    Football games cannot be won by relying on one person alone. Though all team sports say this, football especially requires collective effort. Even when everyone¡¯s eyes are fixated on the quarterback, they all know they play critical roles themselves.


    This was Li Wei¡¯s belief and his way of playing. Even as a running back, a position that has become increasingly marginalized and undervalued in the league, and despite being sidelined within the team, Li Wei never let it affect him. He focused solely on his performance.


    Believe in your teammates, believe in the team, believe in everyone¡¯s ability to shine in their own position, believe every individual plays an indispensable role within the team.


    Likewise, he should do the same.


    Taking a deep breath, Jones pulled himself together. Even without the on-field captain, the Defense still had to operate as usual.


    Turning, Jones looked at his Defensive line teammates, then glanced at the second-year linebacker Tanoh Kpassagnon rushing to substitute. Ford, Regland, and others patted Kpassagnon on the shoulder in welcome. Cornerback Fowler and rookie undrafted Charvarius Ward, rotating in Nelson¡¯s spot, exchanged glances one after another.


    No words were spoken, but the fire of determination in their eyes burned on.


    In that moment, Jones felt his fighting spirit surge once more. The countless hours of training and preparation throughout the season, all the relentless efforts¡ªthey were waiting for moments like this.


    Pulling his focus back, Jones set his sights on the Los Angeles Rams ahead of him, fully aware¡ª


    He was ready.


    The situation, as Houston anticipated, was delicate.


    At halftime, no one had the mind to enjoy the Maroon-5 performance; all attention remained fixed on the game, preparing for the second half.


    ¡°10:0.¡±


    The Kansas City Chiefs held a narrow lead as the first half ended. This was certainly not the high-scoring Super Bowl shootout many had anticipated; but both teams understood, with the score difference within two possessions, the outcome remained an open question.


    The Chiefs gained the upper hand through brilliant plays late in the first half, but the halftime break reset the momentum. The second half was essentially a new contest, and it was clear McVay¡¯s Los Angeles Rams wouldn¡¯t surrender easily.


    And indeed, that was the case.


    As the second half commenced, the Los Angeles Rams Offensive group launched their attack, with wide receiver Brandin Cooks stepping up.


    This player, selected 20th overall in the first round of the 2014 draft by the New Orleans Saints, is a capable troublemaker. Over the last three seasons, he has played for three different teams¡ªthe New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, and Los Angeles Rams. Meanwhile, his exceptional personal ability has earned him the distinction of being the first player in NFL history to achieve 1,000-yard seasons with three different teams across consecutive years, making history.


    What does this indicate?


    Unparalleled talent!


    No matter who the quarterback is or how the coaching staff adjusts and restructures the offensive strategy, Cooks has the ability to effortlessly handle the game.


    Strong. That¡¯s the word.


    In this game¡¯s first half, Cooks was targeted as Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ defensive focal point, leaving him limited opportunities to shine. McVay took note of Reid¡¯s defensive strategy, so Cooks was used as bait instead, hoping Goff could utilize other receiving options to break open the game.


    Unfortunately, things didn¡¯t go as planned.


    The second half began, and McVay¡¯s first adjustment was to unleash Cooks.


    A suppressed Cooks finally found his freedom.


    Three consecutive passes¡ªGoff found Cooks successfully all three times. Cooks relied on his individual skills to secure catches amidst tight pursuit, and the Los Angeles Rams Offensive group, muddled throughout the first half, seemed to find their rhythm again.


    Offense works like this: once the momentum builds, confidence grows, and every segment clicks, making the entire operation seamless.


    However, the Los Angeles Rams still needed to contend with Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ stance on the matter.


    Right on cue, Houston executed a tackle behind the line of scrimmage, making Gurley eat dirt, wiping out his momentum completely. The Rams¡¯ strategy of reviving ground offense by leveraging passing plays suffered an abrupt setback. The specter of the first-half woes still lingered over McVay and Goff.


    The tug-of-war continued, the situation remaining uncertain.

 Chapter 882: Take advantage of the weakness and make a move

    Chapter 882: Take advantage of the weakness and make a move


    The progression of the 53rd Super Bowl clearly exceeded expectations.


    Not just for the audience, even the two head coaches were caught off guard¡ªit was entirely different from their pre-game preparations.


    The first half was undoubtedly the lowest point in Coach McVay¡¯s career:


    The Los Angeles Rams¡¯ offensive unit, combining passing and rushing yards, only managed to advance 57 yards, achieving just one first down¡ªin both respects, setting a career low for McVay as a head coach.


    Moreover, this was the first time since McVay took over as head coach that the Rams were shut out in the first half.


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ precise and disciplined defensive strategy was a crucial factor, but the Rams¡¯ disastrous offensive performance also played an important role.


    A complete mess, absolutely terrible.


    McVay, the youngest head coach in NFL history to achieve early fame and carry such high hopes, faced the biggest crisis of his career on the Super Bowl stage.


    However, Reed did not underestimate McVay.


    In the world of competitive sports, experience is indeed vital, but it is not everything. McVay¡¯s youth could be a shortcoming, but it might also become the key to turning the tide.


    Reed knew and firmly believed the Rams would inevitably counterattack with offense in the second half¡ªit was McVay¡¯s proven signature weapon that had earned him accolades across the league.


    Thus, the Kansas City Chiefs prepared for the challenge they might face in the second half. Although Goff and Cooks connected on three consecutive plays with markedly improved execution, the Chiefs¡¯ defensive unit remained unfazed, keeping their focus and methodically completing their assignments.


    Houston tackled Gurley behind the line, rendering the league¡¯s highest-paid running back completely ineffective¡ªleaving him frustrated and unable to unleash his potential, once again showcasing Kansas City¡¯s defensive prowess.


    However, a potential concussion could become a pivotal turning point¡ª


    After all, Houston was the stabilizer of the defensive unit.


    The Chiefs noticed it, and so did the Rams. The atmosphere grew more tense, with a sense of gunpowder lingering in the air.


    Halftime proved to be an invaluable period, allowing McVay to calm down, reorganize his thoughts, and regain his composure. His boiling blood cooled down slightly.


    Seizing the opportunity at hand, the young coach made the most of it.


    After Houston left the game, the Rams instantly ramped up the pace, giving the Chiefs¡¯ defensive unit no time or space to adjust, nor allowing Kpassagnon, Houston¡¯s replacement, a chance to settle in. McVay launched a flurry of fast-paced short passes.


    Although it wasn¡¯t the perfect no-huddle offense, the breaks between plays were incredibly brief¡ªcompressed as much as possible¡ªemphasizing the short-pass sequences rehearsed countless times in practice. Goff would snap the ball quickly, not allowing the Chiefs¡¯ defensive unit time to reset and strategize.


    The tempo skyrocketed.


    The key here was that McVay understood Houston¡¯s pivotal role within the Chiefs¡¯ defensive group¡ª


    Even though his performance had been inconsistent this season, Houston still started every regular season and playoff game. Whether his physical condition and performance were at their peak or not, Houston¡¯s significance at the psychological and tactical levels was irreplaceable.


    And now, with Houston unexpectedly out of the game¡ªand this after the ¡°meltdown incident¡± in the American League Championship¡ªthe Chiefs¡¯ defense lacked a central pillar.


    In the American League Championship, Reed had brought in Berry to stabilize the situation, and that substitution became a stroke of genius. Berry¡¯s interception overturned the game¡¯s outcome.


    But today, the situation was different. The Chiefs were in the leading position, so Reed didn¡¯t hastily put Berry on the field. Instead, Kpassagnon came on as a substitute linebacker in a simple positional swap. No matter the plan, McVay¡¯s tactical adjustments effectively suppressed the opponent with tempo.


    Finally!


    The Rams¡¯ previously dismal offensive unit finally displayed the qualities of the league¡¯s second-ranked powerhouse this season, achieving three consecutive first downs and crossing midfield.


    The Mercedes-Benz Dome erupted in cheers.


    ¡°...I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m about to say this, but, hey, the Los Angeles Rams just crossed midfield.¡±


    ¡°The league¡¯s second-highest-scoring team this season has, for the first time in this Super Bowl, crossed midfield¡ªand we¡¯ve waited two full hours for it. Let¡¯s hope we¡¯ll see more of this shortly because the second half still holds the potential to be a classic.¡±


    Step by step, staying patient yet assertive, the Rams needed to maintain 100% focus and effort, seizing this opportunity tightly.


    At the same time, the Chiefs¡¯ defensive unit began to sense the mounting pressure and the surging offensive force coming their way, but they did not panic¡ª


    This was to be expected.


    ¡°While everyone hopes their opponent surrenders easily, allowing for a breezy triumph, I don¡¯t know what the Rams are thinking¡ªbut I, for one, wouldn¡¯t want that.¡±


    ¡°If it were me, even if I lost, I¡¯d give it everything I had until the very end. Make the opponent uncomfortable. Ideally, irritate them. Make sure that even in victory, they don¡¯t feel any pleasure or satisfaction.¡±


    These words were from Li Wei, his face calm and composed, a faint, devilish smile playing on his lips.


    Evidently, the Rams felt the same way.


    Little by little, amidst the constant challenges back and forth, the Chiefs¡¯ defensive unit too gradually calmed down. The resilience forged through repeated hardships, paired with the indomitable fighting spirit Li Wei had cultivated in them, unified them in critical moments, helping them rediscover their balance.


    ¡°Apply pressure.¡±


    Reed didn¡¯t have time to reconfigure defensive strategies. The Rams¡¯ tempo and intensity crushed like a steamroller, leaving no room to maneuver. Amid these gaps, Reed could only repeatedly emphasize the need for the Chiefs to maintain pressure on both the defensive front and in the short-pass zones.


    Pressure¡ªthis was the keyword.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    No space to breathe. Goff called for the snap again.


    Pressure was also the Rams¡¯ key word, though differently expressed. They utilized tempo to fight back and return the pressure.


    Defensive end Jones charged forward, pressing into the offensive lineman directly before him¡ªnot breaking away, not disengaging, but shoulder against shoulder, feet tracing arcs around the opponent¡¯s body, relentlessly advancing step after step¡ª


    Like tightening a screw, he was the wrench and the opponent the screw.


    After the high-speed rotation, the screw lost its balance, teetering unstably as the wrench¡¯s force pushed onward, toppling the pocket¡¯s edge through sheer will.


    Planting his foot, stepping forward, zeroing in on Goff.


    Goff was retreating but hadn¡¯t identified a target yet because the Chiefs¡¯ secondary defense was executing tight man-to-man coverage:


    The moment the ball was snapped, every defender stepped up, extending a defensive net, with each defender sticking closely to Goff¡¯s passing targets¡ªcornerbacks and linebackers doing their jobs perfectly.


    One second¡ªjust a single second¡ªand Goff hadn¡¯t found an open receiver. In the blink of an eye, the pocket pressure came crashing down on him.


    And it wasn¡¯t just one source of pressure.


    From the right, Jones was bearing down, and from the center, another defender was closing in.


    Goff¡¯s rapid backpedaling left him no time to adjust. Watching Jones close in, he stepped back once more to create space and forced a throw.


    At the very moment he released the ball, Goff saw a looming wall directly ahead¡ªa blocker resembling a volleyball defender cutting off his line of sight to the throwing zone.


    Impenetrable, unyielding, standing firm like a blade on a battlefield!

 Chapter 883: 882 United as One

    Chapter 883: 882 United as One


    ¡°Focus.¡±


    Kpassagnon reminded himself.


    Kpassagnon had been trying his best to keep up with the rhythm, but obviously, this was no easy task.


    Even though this wasn¡¯t his first time rotating in for Houston, nor his first time experiencing such a moment in the American League finals overtime, every situation was different, and it always took some time to adapt.


    What¡¯s more, the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ offensive group was making things even more difficult.


    Kpassagnon knew he couldn¡¯t rush; the more he rushed, the more mistakes he¡¯d make. The only thing he could do was remind himself to stay focused and observe the game as a whole.


    Like a quarterback, linebackers also needed to clearly understand their position on the field and the situations they faced, or the outcome would look pretty ugly.


    At the snap, Kpassagnon hesitated slightly, feinting as if to prepare for pass coverage, fooling the offensive lineman in front of him, but then quickly accelerated, slipping sideways through the gap between the offensive line and defensive line standoff ¡ª


    It wasn¡¯t easy.


    Because Kpassagnon, born as a defensive end, was even more robust and powerful than Watt: 6¡¯6¡ä¡ä (201 cm), 289 lbs (131 kg). After being selected by the Kansas City Chiefs at pick No. 59 in the second round last season, Reed saw his versatility. Learning that he had even played tight end in college, Reed converted him into a linebacker.


    A 6¡¯6¡ä¡ä linebacker?


    That sounded like something out of a fantasy, but in fact, after two seasons of training, Kpassagnon was beginning to truly shine in his linebacker role.


    At this moment, Kpassagnon¡¯s movements were slightly clumsy and sluggish. ¡°Slithering through a gap¡± wasn¡¯t something just anyone could pull off.


    However, Kpassagnon fully utilized his strength and size advantage, forcefully squeezing through as if he were a giant enveloping Goff.


    It seemed too late now for a sack. As Goff prepared to throw, Kpassagnon reflexively raised his hands, ready to block the pass.


    With his height and arm length, Kpassagnon resembled a massive ape, entirely blocking Goff¡¯s view.


    The 6¡¯3¡ä¡ä (191 cm) Goff had a slender build, but at this moment, standing a mere 3 yards away from Kpassagnon, it felt as though he were facing the Himalayas¡ªlofty and imposing.


    A pause, a swallow, his heart tightening.


    But Goff had no time to hesitate. With Jones right on top of him, unable to adjust, Goff swung his arm and forced the pass¡ª


    The football arced high, barely clearing Kpassagnon¡¯s fingertips. But what about the downward trajectory?


    Evidently, to avoid the ¡°mountain¡± and complete the throw, Goff had to throw with a high parabola. Yet, without a clear passing vision, afraid to risk a long pass, the football was ultimately aimed at the mid-range area. The arc stretched out, and the air time lengthened, drawing everyone¡¯s attention in the stadium.


    For a moment, the atmosphere was electrified.


    Goff¡¯s target was clear: Cooks.


    In the most difficult, dangerous, and rushed moments, Goff¡¯s mind always defaulted to the receiver he trusted the most.


    In a flash, a sea of white defensive jerseys surged toward Cooks.


    Linebacker Ford, Cornerback Fowler, Cornerback Ward, Safety Murray.


    From all directions, they swarmed in unison.


    Fowler, already matched up against Cooks, immediately stepped closer to him, quick on his feet as he positioned himself in front of Cooks, getting even closer to the football¡¯s landing spot. Cooks, however, immediately fought to reclaim his position, the two of them jostling shoulder to shoulder without giving an inch.


    Fowler, lacking the upper hand.


    Cooks, a smaller wide receiver, had a height and size disadvantage compared to Fowler. Yet, Cooks made full use of his strengths, weaving with agility and slipperiness, impossible to pin down.


    Though Fowler wasn¡¯t a large cornerback, in contrast to Cooks, he now appeared sluggish and clumsy. Cooks looked ready to break free.


    In a critical moment, Fowler forcefully used his shoulder to block, shoving Cooks outward in an attempt to push him off the route.


    But unexpectedly, Cooks bent his knees, slipped under Fowler¡¯s arm, and quickly rebounded using his straightened knees, springing upward like a coiled spring.


    Cooks and the football, like Michelangelo¡¯s ¡°The Creation of Adam,¡± surged closer together. But unlike that legendary separation, here, Cooks and the football seemed destined to unite, an electrical current pulling them together.


    At that moment, a figure soared through the air¡ªa streak across the galaxy, tearing apart the destined meeting.


    It was... Ford?


    Linebacker Ford, who had temporarily taken over defensive playcalling duties after Houston¡¯s exit, was now focused with absolute precision.


    Squat, sprint.


    Stop, brake.


    Squat again, leap.


    A series of actions, agile in their stopping and turning, his light-footed movements executed with full concentration as his eyes remained locked on the football.


    Then.


    Leaning back, stretching, his body and arm at full extension, reaching backward to intercept between the football and Cooks.


    But it wasn¡¯t enough¡ªthe arc of Goff¡¯s pass exceeded expectations.


    Ford immediately realized he couldn¡¯t snatch the ball with a single hand; he couldn¡¯t control the football.


    Unhesitating, undeterred, Ford extended his fingers into the ball¡¯s descent, giving it a subtle tap.


    He could feel the texture of the football¡¯s leather against his fingertips, unable to grasp it. He gave it his all, just one subtle tap.


    The ball¡¯s flight trajectory altered, escaping Cooks¡¯ reach and veering laterally, holding the entire stadium¡¯s collective breath.


    Then, a shadow dove headlong to seize the ball midair.


    It was... Ward.


    The entire stadium fell silent.


    Charvarius Ward, this year¡¯s undrafted rookie, subbing in during the second half of the Super Bowl¡ªa relative unknown with barely any scouting notes. But given the abysmal state of the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ secondary defense, his substitution hardly raised eyebrows.


    And now, this overlooked rookie burst forth from the cracks¡ª


    A diving motion, akin to a baseball slide, sliding forward with determination.


    Positioning himself where the football was falling, he extended both arms, cradling the ball in his grasp.


    Then, holding on tightly, using every ounce of his strength.


    ¡°Interception!¡±


    Nantz roared, slamming the table as headphones and equipment clattered to the ground. But he ignored the chaos, grabbing his mic and unleashing a flood of words.


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs Defense delivers yet another textbook display of teamwork.¡±


    ¡°Jones¡¯ blitz, Kpassagnon¡¯s disruption¡ªpiling unthinkable pressure on Goff.¡±


    ¡°Fowler¡¯s close coverage, Ford¡¯s leaping deflection, and Ward¡¯s diving snatch¡ªall seamlessly shutting down Cooks.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s not all.¡±


    ¡°From the pressure from the defensive line to the safeties and cornerbacks locking down the short pass options, layer upon layer of pressure crushed the opposition.¡±


    ¡°In the end, it was teamwork that allowed the Kansas City Chiefs Defense to secure this interception together.¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable, oh God, this¡ªthis is undoubtedly the triumph of teamwork!¡±


    ¡°Interception!¡±


    Nantz¡¯s voice was a roar.


    ¡°Interception!¡±


    Hoarse, passionate, electrifying.


    ¡°Interception! This is an interception! The Kansas City Chiefs Defense has intercepted Goff¡¯s passing attempt!¡±


    Blood boiled, excitement overflowed.

 Chapter 884: 883 forgets the reason

    Chapter 884: 883 forgets the reason


    ¡°Wow, we are witnessing it! Without a doubt, we are witnessing legends!¡±


    ¡°This season, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense has been criticized more than once; yet at the same time, it is this defensive group that has repeatedly held the line, undoubtedly becoming the key to the reigning champion¡¯s return to the Super Bowl.¡±


    ¡°In the tough predicament of losing their defensive leader, Houston, to a suspected concussion, faced with the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ suddenly awakened and aggressive offensive group, the battered and struggling Kansas City Chiefs Defense delivered an unparalleled team effort to achieve an interception, extinguishing the Rams¡¯ forceful halftime surge and turning the tide.¡±


    ¡°This is the power of teamwork!¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs Defense demonstrated their team spirit in action, link by link, supporting one another, advancing together, to deliver a crucial defensive play.¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°After halftime, the Los Angeles Rams Offensive Group finally found their footing again. Ranked second in the league this season, the offensive group prepared to sound their rallying cry, eager to stage another Super Bowl midgame offensive showdown.¡±


    ¡°However, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense had a different opinion.¡±


    ¡°Interception! It¡¯s an interception!¡±


    Majestic and vast.


    An uncontrollable surge of passion erupted, blood boiling to the surface, as Nantz shouted in exhilaration, his eyes brimming with tears¡ªtears of joy and happiness. Yet, at this moment, he cared little about that, his eyes fixed on the field, clutching the microphone, his voice racing wildly without pause.


    ¡°As people increasingly focus on offense, fully disregarding the role of defense, the Kansas City Chiefs Defense showcased the unique charm of football with unwavering determination and perfect coordination¡ªproving that defense can be just as fascinating.¡±


    ¡°As people overwhelmingly favor passing, as football evolves into an aerial game, to the point that the fundamentals of this sport are gradually forgotten, Kansas City¡¯s Li Wei demonstrated through his comprehensive and versatile performance that everything begins on the ground.¡±


    ¡°This is football¡ªa sport balanced between offense and defense, a sport that combines passing and running, a sport that cannot function properly without any single component, a sport that perfectly blends intelligence and power, strategy and confrontation.¡±


    ¡°Tonight¡¯s game, despite the start of the second half, the suspense of victory and defeat still holds various possibilities; but undoubtedly, regardless of the outcome, the Kansas City Chiefs played in their own style and character, announcing their presence¡ªa team worth watching and anticipating.¡±


    ¡°Next, the Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Group will take the field. Let¡¯s wait and see.¡±


    With an unrestrained flourish, Nantz finished, his face radiant as if he had just downed an entire bottle of strong liquor. Only then did he notice Romo beside him, constantly giving exaggerated facial expressions and twitching his mouth. Nantz threw him a look:


    What¡¯s the matter?


    Romo froze. Nantz actually bothered to ask what¡¯s wrong?


    Nantz¡¯s commentary just now not only poured heaps of praises onto the Kansas City Chiefs, essentially uplifting them to divine status, but also fiercely criticized and attacked the league¡¯s overall developmental trends. His sharp words showed no signs of pulling back.


    Clearly, this was not what Goodell or the television higher-ups wanted to hear¡ª


    ¡°Passing is king,¡± a trend driven by the pressures of TV ratings would not change.


    Romo had tried multiple times to interrupt Nantz but feared that acting too conspicuously would instead spark unnecessary controversy. Ultimately, he chose to remain silent.


    But now it seemed Nantz didn¡¯t care at all.


    Romo chuckled, shook his head lightly: Forget it. At least Nantz had tempered his praise somewhat towards the end, avoiding outright favoritism for the Kansas City Chiefs. The situation left room for maneuver, so no need to worry unnecessarily.


    Thus, Romo patted Nantz on the shoulder, gesturing for him to focus on the field.


    ¡°Fly!¡±


    ¡°Fly!¡±


    The entire Mercedes-Benz Dome erupted.


    Because of the interception, and even more because of the way the Kansas City Chiefs achieved it, every defensive unit¡¯s link played a role. Although Ford touched the ball and Ward completed the interception, it was the result of collective action.


    This was the peak showdown everyone hoped for.


    Despite the Los Angeles Rams stumbling repeatedly with Goff and Gurley still unable to find their groove, the intensity of the offensive and defensive encounter fully met expectations, igniting passion in the crowd.


    Kansas City Chiefs fans, Atlanta Falcons fans, and countless neutral spectators gathered in excitement¡ª


    The Mercedes-Benz Dome was transforming into the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ home field, even though they were clad in visitor white jerseys.


    In the VIP suite, Ariana stared intently at the figure wearing the number 23 jersey on the sidelines. Then, she slightly lifted her chin amidst the overwhelming heat of the roaring stadium, looking around the arena, her mouth opening slightly in awe.


    ¡°Fly.¡±


    Repeated over and over, such a simple chant carried a magical power, as if her heart was a balloon soaring freely in the air. Subconsciously, she joined the crowd, raising her arm to cheer alongside them.


    Her gaze inevitably returned to the figure in number 23.


    Amidst the dense crowd, peering from the VIP suite above the field, it should only look like a mass of matchstick figures, yet she could easily spot him¡ªslender, upright, strong, and polished¡ªimpossible to look away.


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ defensive players exited the field, and the offensive unit began to emerge.


    It was merely a simple transition, but number 23 proactively stepped forward, giving each defensive teammate a high-five. The defensive players naturally gravitated towards him, one by one responding with high-fives.


    Ariana couldn¡¯t tell if they exchanged words, but the transmission of belief and momentum was unmistakable. The baton was passed through the high-fives.


    Then, Li Wei finally merged with the offensive group¡ª


    Patting shoulders one by one.


    No words, just channeling the energy and momentum from the defensive unit to the offensive side. Finally, he reached Mahomes, and the two shared a high-five.


    Energy. Explosive.


    A unified force of determination brought the Kansas City Chiefs offense together.


    Indeed, the defense achieved the interception, delivering a remarkable and critical stop. But if the offensive group couldn¡¯t capitalize on this possession¡¯s full potential, the game would remain locked in tense back-and-forth drama.


    Now, this was the Kansas City Chiefs offense¡¯s first appearance after halftime. Whether they could carry their stellar performance from the closing moments of the first half remained a key point of interest.


    Would the adjustments made during the locker room break disrupt their rhythm or reinvigorate their dominance? How would the Los Angeles Rams Defense respond, regaining momentum to once again constrain their opponent?


    The Kansas City Chiefs stood at their 43-yard line.


    Thanks to Ward¡¯s interception, the Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Group started with a favorable field position¡ªa test of nerve for both sides.


    Step by step, the reigning champions were steadily accumulating their advantage, while the Los Angeles Rams were visibly crumbling.


    Donald felt it and wasted no time responding in his own style.


    ¡°Stopped!¡±


    ¡°Aaron Donald sacks Li Wei behind the line¡ªKansas City loses three yards!¡±

 Chapter 885: 884 without reservation

    Chapter 885: 884 without reservation


    Aaron Donald, Defensive Tackle.


    Despite being crowned Defensive Player of the Year for two consecutive seasons, undoubtedly the league¡¯s top defender, once overshadowing Watt¡¯s brilliance.


    However, Donald remains clear-headed.


    Watt won the Defensive Player of the Year honor three times in four seasons. His absolute dominance on the field made him a true icon of the league.


    Yet still, it has been insufficient to place Watt in the discussion for regular-season MVP. Why?


    The reason lies in the defensive ends/defensive tackles. While they can terrify quarterbacks and running backs, contribute twenty sacks in a single season, and turn football¡¯s power and collisions into an art form, they still cannot single-handedly determine the outcome of a game.


    In the years Watt was crowned Defensive Player of the Year three times in four seasons, the Houston Texans failed to advance to the American League finals even once.


    The lack of team success has been Watt¡¯s regret¡ªan enduring bitterness.


    The same goes for Donald.


    This season, Donald delivered a phenomenal performance, single-handedly reversing two decades of decline for defensive tackles. Yet the media continues to praise Goff and Gurley.


    No regular-season MVP? Fine. Donald¡¯s brilliance remains overshadowed by the offensive group.


    Of course, football is the same; offensive players will always garner more attention and recognition than defensive players. Donald knows this well.


    But this doesn¡¯t mean Donald feels discouraged.


    Perhaps defensive players often struggle to influence the pivotal moments that dictate victory, but Donald still has his fight. He will battle to the end, putting his hands and legs to work, and go all out.


    Launch, step forward, bull rush.


    Donald stays focused, instantly deciphering Mahomes and Li Wei¡¯s run-pass option¡ª


    A fake handoff run.


    Like a tiger descending the mountain, he strikes swiftly, mercilessly halting Li Wei.


    And it¡¯s a tackle behind the line, forcing Li Wei to lose three yards.


    Li Wei lies sprawled on the ground, disheveled.


    Donald rises and looks at Li Wei, flashing a big smile, ¡°How are you feeling? Hurting? Need a hand?¡±


    Li Wei doesn¡¯t respond, extending his right hand to grab Donald¡¯s right hand and attempting to yank him down. But Donald, already prepared, counters with raw strength and pulls Li Wei up instead.


    Li Wei stiffly stands like a puppet.


    Donald pats Li Wei on the shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡±


    Li Wei: ??? ¡°That beast!¡±


    Mahomes quickly approaches, ¡°Rookie, are you okay?¡±


    Li Wei smiles again. No wonder Donald stands at the top of the league pyramid. Just when Mahomes thought Donald might be losing morale and feeling dejected, Donald responded head-on¡ªthe challenge wasn¡¯t over.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Li Wei looks at Mahomes, ¡°They¡¯re still full of energy, at least that beast is. Looks like we¡¯ll need to keep strong too.¡±


    Mahomes seems thoughtful¡ª


    When it comes to reading the momentum and dynamics of a game, he¡¯s still not seasoned enough, not sharp enough. Moments like these are crucial for his learning.


    Initially, an interception was supposed to decisively deliver a lethal blow to the opponent, disrupting all of McVay¡¯s halftime plans and strategies. At this point, the Los Angeles Rams should have been in utter chaos.


    However, the confrontation between the two teams hasn¡¯t lost its balance; rather, it has fired up the Los Angeles Rams Defense to erupt with a do-or-die energy, sparking clashes into new heights.


    Second Gear, thirteen yards to go, the Kansas Chiefs Offense faces a minor headache.


    Mahomes gathers his thoughts, steadies his footing, refocuses his attention, and carefully surveys the Los Angeles Rams Defense¡¯s formation.


    Li Wei is doing exactly the same.


    In the last moments of the first half, the Kansas Chiefs broke through and finally scored a touchdown, breaking the stalemate. Objectively speaking, the Los Angeles Rams Defense did a commendable job¡ª


    They only conceded ten points in the first half, marking this as the Kansas Chiefs¡¯ second-worst first-half performance since being shut out by the New England Patriots in the American League finals.


    Moreover, this time there was no weather interference; the Los Angeles Rams Defense genuinely excelled.


    Because of this, during halftime, McVay made no major adjustments to the defensive group, choosing to extend his first-half strategy and continue applying pressure.


    The only small difference is that the Los Angeles Rams didn¡¯t put all their effort into an all-out frontline blitz. They understood that once their move was exposed, whether it¡¯s Mahomes escaping the pocket and completing a throw or Li Wei escaping to continue running, the consequences would be disastrous.


    So, the Los Angeles Rams maintained a three-person pass rush on the defensive line, relying entirely on the individual abilities of Ndamukong, Donald, and Meyers to sustain pressure. Meanwhile, the linemen allocated more focus to defending ground plays and short passes. McVay¡¯s strategy becomes clear.


    The Los Angeles Rams¡¯ approach isn¡¯t about completely shutting down Li Wei¡¯s runs or Mahomes¡¯ short passes. It¡¯s about preventing the Kansas Chiefs Offense from turning short gains into long gains and guarding against Mahomes¡¯ explosive long throws.


    Measured compromises, focused priorities, and systemic adjustments¡ªMcVay showcased his tactical capability as a coach through these halftime tweaks.


    Of course, this is Li Wei¡¯s analysis and prediction, based on game footage and changes in the Rams¡¯ formations. Whether the conclusions hold up will require direct confrontation to verify.


    But at least, judging from the previous down, the Los Angeles Rams do have the skill. Their defensive line is undoubtedly one of the league¡¯s finest.


    And the second play is no exception.


    As the second half begins, encountering a deciding blow, Donald realizes there¡¯s no way out; no reservations, no hesitation¡ªpure, full-force assault. At this moment, conserving strength or energy would be meaningless.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    As soon as Mahomes calls the snap, Donald is already charging forward:


    Strength, speed, momentum, drive.


    Everything is perfect. Even though the Kansas Chiefs offensive line prepared well in advance, Donald¡¯s talent and skill still elevate his ¡°One Move¡± strategy to its peak.


    Throughout the season, many questioned Donald¡¯s reliance on sheer ability and physical strength for his ¡°One Move.¡± They asked¡ªwhen his physical peak wanes, what then? After being crowned Defensive Player of the Year last season, repeating the feat this season seemed ten times harder, or more.


    Yet Donald provided his answer through performance¡ª


    What happens five years from now? That¡¯s too far ahead; even Donald can¡¯t predict it. What happens when physical capabilities diminish and his natural gift erodes? What happens then?


    But for now, Donald¡¯s ¡°One Move¡± remains impervious in the league; no one has found an effective counterstrategy yet.


    The key lies in how Donald maximizes his natural talent. If other players¡¯ talent fails to measure up, there¡¯s no way to compete.


    Even if two players team up, Donald can still maneuver expertly. Using movements and feints, he swiftly identifies gaps and bull-rushes his way through.


    Rip!


    The Kansas Chiefs¡¯ pocket collapses once again.


    Donald boldly appears in front of Mahomes.


    However, this time, the situation seems a little different.

 Chapter 886: 885 passed four levels in a row

    Chapter 886: 885 passed four levels in a row


    One rush, one collision, breakthrough.


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive line is like a paper wall in front of Donald, completely unable to resist, Donald remains unstoppable.


    However, does Mahomes, knowing Donald¡¯s capability, just foolishly wait to be sacked without any preparation?


    Obviously not.


    The reason a blitz is called a blitz is because of its suddenness, making it hard to guard against; but now, the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ blitz is becoming a regular tactic, and naturally, Mahomes won¡¯t just sit still and be captured.


    Step back!


    Continuous backpedals!


    No matter what the tactic is, Mahomes¡¯ first move is to step back.


    Reed also seriously considered a quick short pass, relying on a quick release to exploit openings and avoid the sack crisis, making Donald unable to fully utilize his power.


    But there are two problems.


    First, Donald¡¯s stride-speed is incredibly fast, a bull rush solves the problem, and if Mahomes has to race against Donald for time, the pressure invisibly increases.


    Second, the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ short pass defensive area is rigorous and dense, making it hard to find gaps, and a hasty short pass may not be effective.


    So, Mahomes did not go for a quick short pass, but stepped back to create space.


    His eyes scanned the entire field observing the defensive matchups, with his peripheral vision always locked on Donald, Mahomes¡¯ steps were light and lively, pulling away in an instant.


    Then, he locked on Donald.


    Donald, with a bull rush, had just entered the pocket, immediately realizing the trap¡ª


    To Mahomes¡¯ left, Li Wei on the right.


    The two stood side by side, one on the left, one on the right, with only about three yards apart, which is the standard stance of the quarterback and running back in a pistol formation.


    So?


    Donald didn¡¯t have time to carefully assess, the bull rush¡¯s essence is seamless execution, once the rhythm is interrupted, the entire threat and momentum slow down, significantly reducing its power.


    He had to choose.


    Instinctively, Donald still chose Mahomes.


    Because he is the quarterback, and the football is still in Mahomes¡¯ hand, then Li Wei should be ready to block.


    Donald tensed his left shoulder muscle, at full speed charging forward, both body and mind ready to collide with Li Wei.


    But, it didn¡¯t happen.


    Donald didn¡¯t capture the sight of Li Wei stepping up, instead, as he continued to surge forward, he watched helplessly as Mahomes tossed the football laterally to Li Wei.


    Donald: ???


    Is this considered a two-on-one pass?


    Donald hastily stopped and turned, attempting to restart quickly to catch up with Li Wei; he immediately realized that Li Wei was prepared, speedily accelerating and instantly widening the distance.


    Although speed is also one of Donald¡¯s strengths, that is relative to the defensive line, in front of Li Wei, it¡¯s inadequate.


    Donald couldn¡¯t even touch the dust on Li Wei¡¯s heels, watching helplessly as Li Wei shot out from the right slot.


    Donald didn¡¯t give up, grit his teeth, and continued relentlessly pursuing from behind, but that number twenty-three silhouette was opening the gap at a visibly rapid pace.


    The lineman appeared, one in front and one behind¡ª


    Donte-Flower and Corey Littleton.


    Two formidable barriers! Double ghost blockades!


    The Los Angeles Rams¡¯ linemen are very distinctive; Flor and Littleton in front of him are both 6.2 feet (191 cm), tall and large, with Flor originally from a defensive end background, one who switched to a lineman after joining Los Angeles.


    So, for an average running back, the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ linemen are like an impenetrable wall, surrounding the running back like a hawk chasing chickens.


    At this point, although Mahomes and Li Wei¡¯s cooperation tricked Donald, McVay had anticipated it, deploying Flor and Littleton for an encirclement.


    A fierce onslaught!


    With wolves in front and tigers behind, Li Wei was trapped in the ambush of ten sides.


    Yet, Li Wei¡¯s steps did not pause, continually pushing off, continually accelerating, seeing the moment he would encounter Flor and Littleton, his steps jerked in Littleton¡¯s direction.


    Littleton was fully alert, recently having been single-handedly flipped by Li Wei¡¯s straight arm block, flipping a 6.2-foot giant embarrassingly on the spot.


    Reflexively, Littleton bent his knees and lowered his center of gravity, ready to meet the collision.


    He didn¡¯t expect Li Wei to feint, return his steps, and dart out in a slanted diagonal direction towards the left, directly colliding with Flor.


    Flor held his breath: There is a road to heaven yet you don¡¯t take it, only arriving at the door of hell.


    Then you can¡¯t blame me.


    Unlike the slender Littleton, Flor, with a defensive end background, is 261 pounds (118 kg), 15 kg heavier, like a mass of muscle.


    At this moment, Flor didn¡¯t step forward but waited in position, ready for Li Wei to throw himself into the net and then giving him a big hug¡ª


    He promises it will be full of warmth.


    At that moment, Li Wei unexpectedly changed direction for the third time without any pause, his right leg smoothly pulled his body past Flor¡¯s left shoulder, sliding out, not giving Flor time to close his hands, his steps already squeezed out between Flor and Littleton.


    Light, agile, fluid, like a tango dance, frantically spinning on the edge of a knife.


    Flor immediately closed his arms but clumsily and slowly, like a bear, grabbing nothing but hot air.


    Beside him, Littleton also realized that his vigilance had rendered his muscles stiff, standing like an idiot; quickly reacted, pushing his right shoulder towards Flor, trying to close the door and block Li Wei¡¯s path.


    Bam!


    Littleton was happy: Hit him.


    Just as Li Wei was about to succeed, Littleton¡¯s shoulder had successfully collided into Li Wei.


    Bang bang, bang bang.


    Amid collision and compression, Li Wei staggered, besieged front and back, one side by Littleton, the other by Flor, like bumper cars; but stumbly he didn¡¯t stop, kept surging, kept stepping forward, escaping from the crushing intense heat.


    The center of gravity suddenly fell forward.


    The greenery of the field rapidly enlarged in his eyes, instinctively, Li Wei supported the ground with his left hand, propelling his body to dash forward two or three steps; then, his left hand supported the ground a second time, using the reaction force to lift his upper body, steps becoming firmer.


    Two steps, three steps.


    Five steps, six steps.


    In just a brief moment, Li Wei regained balance, but before he could stabilize, a violently explosive blue wave barreled down his path violently.


    Safety John Johnson.


    Johnson, a strong safety of similar height and weight as Li Wei, is tenacious, well-built, and in a fierce contest does not fall behind, hesitating not for a moment, plunging with a tackle, mercilessly hurling towards Li Wei, giving him no chance to catch his breath.


    Li Wei was still stumbling, the rolling heat waves rushing in, in crisis he instinctively spun counterclockwise.


    Three hundred and sixty degrees spin!


    From changing direction to thrusting, then spinning, his stop-start control and explosiveness showcased Li Wei¡¯s talent brilliantly, narrowly avoiding Johnson, both colliding back-to-back.


    One headed north, the other south, meeting for just a moment, then parting.


    Li Wei attempted to move forward amid staggering and to falter, just two steps in, a blue storm from behind accurately tackled Li Wei¡¯s waist, with a do-or-die attitude, tumbling him forward.

 Chapter 887: 886 retreats step by step

    Chapter 887: 886 retreats step by step


    ¡°Li Wei crosses the kickoff line.¡±


    ¡°Donald is in pursuit, but Li Wei¡¯s speed is fully unleashed, and the gap between the two is visibly widening.¡±


    ¡°Five yards!¡±


    ¡°Flor! Littleton! Both sides closing in!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Direction change! Another direction change! A feint!¡±


    ¡°Breakthrough!¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable, Li Wei actually found the gap between Flor and Littleton¡¯s double-team, using unparalleled footwork to break through.¡±


    ¡°So smooth! So elegant! So brilliant!¡±


    ¡°Ten yards!¡±


    ¡°Opportunity! Li Wei¡¯s steps lose balance, now staggering! But Li Wei still hasn¡¯t gone down, refusing to fall, still advancing.¡±


    ¡°Johnson intercepts directly, striking first and aiming to stop him!¡±


    ¡°Whoa!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei manages to spin away with a Marseille Turn against Johnson!¡±


    ¡°In consecutive bumps and turbulence, Li Wei showcased incredible control, with an unmatched display that made the defenders look like a group of Barbie Dolls.¡±


    ¡°Johnson couldn¡¯t believe it, but Li Wei showed no mercy or pity, adjusting his footing amidst chaos and continuing to push forward.¡±


    ¡°Where is everyone?¡±


    ¡°The Los Angeles Rams Defense is completely tied up in the short pass area, leaving the backfield empty, with a wide-open view.¡±


    ¡°The entire world unfolds before Li Wei¡¯s eyes¡ªopportunity!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei prepares to accelerate!¡±


    ¡°Fifteen yards!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei... Oh! Number 99!¡±


    ¡°A tackle from behind¡ªdragging him down together.¡±


    ¡°Brilliant! Number 99 of the Los Angeles Rams Defense, Donald, after initially misjudging and missing Li Wei, refuses to give up, chasing relentlessly and seizing the chance to accurately tackle Li Wei to the ground.¡±


    ¡°Such scenes are rare¡ªDonald leaves the pocket, enduring a long chase, and executes a secondary defense, saving the Los Angeles Rams through sheer persistence.¡±


    ¡°But... it still comes down to Donald, ultimately relying on Donald. He thrillingly stopped Li Wei before things could get worse.¡±


    ¡°Wow, stunning¡ªtruly stunning!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei had just escaped Donald, broken through Flor and Littleton, and shaken off Johnson. Despite the intensified short-pass defense pressure from the Los Angeles Rams Defense, Li Wei broke through on the ground, advancing a full fifteen yards to tear open a gap.¡±


    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Donald refusing to back down...¡±


    ¡°Wow! Incredible!¡±


    ¡°Nonetheless, with second-down and thirteen yards, Li Wei converts again with unparalleled performance, breaking through consecutively to successfully shift the momentum. The Kansas City Chiefs had just been in crisis but swiftly neutralized it.¡±


    ¡°The game has entered its knife-edge stage, with increasingly intense direct clashes between the leaders of both teams. Donald had just executed a backfield tackle, and Li Wei responded with a phenomenal four-gate breakthrough.¡±


    ¡°Now, the Kansas City Chiefs have once again entered the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ territory!¡±


    The air continues to burn.


    The tension grows stronger, tighter.


    Donald stands up, panting, looking at Li Wei, ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    This tackle from behind¡ªDonald didn¡¯t hold back.


    Though dripping with aggression, it doesn¡¯t mean Donald was truly planning to ¡°take out¡± Li Wei. Competition is competition, and friendship is friendship; the two can coexist.


    Li Wei also rises on his own strength, smiling broadly at Donald, ¡°You might need to try a little harder.¡±


    Donald chuckles twice, ¡°Then I¡¯ll try a little harder.¡±


    Neither says more as they turn away, walking toward their teammates, preparing for another duel.


    Though Li Wei didn¡¯t deliver a decisive strike into the end zone, he successfully drew Donald out of his comfort zone for a long chase¡ªthis is not Donald¡¯s strength in defense.


    On one hand, this exposes Donald¡¯s weaknesses; on the other, it exhausts Donald¡¯s stamina. Most importantly, Li Wei intensifies the sense of threat¡ªif no one from the Los Angeles Rams Defense can stop Li Wei, his threat keeps growing, forcing Donald to split his focus on defense¡ª


    This could mean Mahomes gains breathing space.


    Step by step, the Kansas Chiefs Offense is gradually unleashing their power.


    First-down, ten yards¡ªa screens pass. The Kansas Chiefs offensive line uses swift lateral movement to entangle Donald, while Li Wei, Kelsey, and Watkins pull three routes to the right. Mahomes threads a pass to Kelsey.


    Kelsey, after catching the ball, is immediately swarmed by a triple-team, yet still forces his way forward for three yards with outstanding individual skill.


    Second-down, one yard¡ªMahomes repeats his deceptive tactics. Together with Li Wei, they stand side by side, adopting a Read Option Offense-like formation. If Donald defends Mahomes, Mahomes passes the ball to Li Wei; if Donald marks Li Wei, Mahomes continues with the play.


    This time, Donald comes prepared¡ªfeigning a move toward Mahomes but swiftly changes direction toward Li Wei, attempting to deceive Mahomes into throwing the ball to Li Wei, then executing the defense. Yet Mahomes, exceptionally composed, accurately judges and smoothly avoids Donald¡¯s trap to deliver a flawless pass.


    Twelve-yard medium pass!


    On the left sideline of the field, Mahomes connects with Hill, matching up against cornerback Aqib-Talib.


    Talib, previously crowned Super Bowl Champion with the Denver Broncos and a Pro Bowl selection for five consecutive years, now plays as one of the hired stars for this season¡¯s ¡°Cosmic Rams,¡± alongside Ndamukong and Peters.


    However, Talib¡¯s individual performance has waned this season, missing the Pro Bowl for the first time in five years.


    Hill faces off against Talib, using abrupt stops and sharp turns to open half a step of space, leaping to snatch the football ahead of Talib, completing the connection.


    The stadium erupts.


    Immediately after, with first-down, ten yards¡ªthe Kansas City Chiefs deploy a Double running back tactic. But McVay considers it a smoke bomb, believing Mahomes will still pass, with Li Wei likely being the target, as the Chiefs have used similar strategies multiple times in the regular season.


    But unexpectedly, Mahomes opts for a fake pass and real run. His convincing fake pass completely deceives the Los Angeles Rams, handing the football to... second running back Damien.


    Damien tears through midfield, shielded by Li Wei¡¯s blocks, forcefully breaking through Donald and Ndamukong¡¯s double-team for four yards.


    Though a mere four yards isn¡¯t much, the key lies in the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ entirely unexpected offensive strategy¡ªMcVay loses his sense of judgment.


    Without even time to breathe, the Chiefs continue their relentless momentum. Before the Rams Defense can adjust, they¡¯re already on the seventeen-yard line just outside the end zone, aggressively breaching the Rams¡¯ Red Zone.


    The ¡°Cosmic Rams¡± are faltering.


    The danger level continues to rise step by step.


    How did all this come to be?


    Coming out of halftime, the Los Angeles Rams were ready to go all-in. If the Offensive group¡¯s struggles in finding rhythm were understandable, their Defensive group falling behind in this make-or-break situation was baffling. What¡¯s wrong with this star-studded defense?


    Although it¡¯s still early in the second half, Donald is already feeling cornered¡ª


    The sensation is utterly terrible.

 Chapter 888: 887 Demon Kings Advent

    Chapter 888: 887 Demon King¡¯s Advent


    Huff, huff.


    Aaron Donald realized: heavy breathing, muscle soreness, trembling knees, his body was persistently sending him signals¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs were purposefully wearing him down.


    Indeed, Donald¡¯s bull rush was as dominant as ever, unmatched in the league, peerless; but the price was obvious¡ªmassive exhaustion.


    Donald couldn¡¯t bull rush every time, nor could he burn at full power for an entire game. This was the only piece of evidence proving that Donald wasn¡¯t from another planet.


    Since the second half started, the Kansas City Chiefs had made a series of tactical adjustments, focusing on ground attacks, relentlessly forcing massive energy consumption from Donald. They had locked onto the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ all-or-nothing mentality and instead slowed down their offensive tempo, with one clear target:


    Donald.


    Now, Donald found himself in a dilemma. His physical consumption rate had far exceeded expectations, and his defensive efficiency was visibly fluctuating.


    What to do?


    Keep rushing? Keep pressuring?


    In terms of raw stamina, Donald had no issue; even into the fourth quarter or overtime, he could still bull rush. However, things weren¡¯t that simple.


    It was like running interval sprints during a marathon. At the start of the second half, Donald dashed to the forefront, accelerating and sprinting for 400 meters, 800 meters. Even if he could still finish the marathon, maintaining that intensity throughout the race was an impossibility¡ªhe needed adjustments.


    But if the Kansas City Chiefs suddenly picked up their tempo now, the initiative would immediately shift to the offense.


    So, what should Donald do?


    And that was the reason Donald felt deeply trapped.


    Donald turned his head toward the sideline, hoping to seek answers from McVay. McVay gestured repeatedly, asking: Are you okay? Can you keep going?


    Donald understood McVay¡¯s meaning¡ªit wasn¡¯t about whether he could stay in the game but whether he could continue placing pressure on the frontline¡ª


    The Los Angeles Rams had no retreat. Behind them was the Red Zone and then the end zone. Within these seventeen yards, they had to crank up the intensity.


    Otherwise...


    Donald refused to think about ¡°otherwise.¡± He took a deep breath, a surge of energy igniting in his eyes, clenched his fists tightly, and cheered himself on.


    ¡°I can.¡± Donald looked at McVay.


    ¡°I can.¡± It was also Donald boosting his own morale.


    ¡°I. Can!¡±


    Donald took a deep breath and lined up again.


    If the Los Angeles Rams wanted to stop the Kansas City Chiefs, pressure was essential. They had to make Mahomes feel it¡ªhe couldn¡¯t be allowed to comfortably orchestrate plays in the pocket. At the same time, they needed to remain calm and intelligent, making full use of their strength.


    Because the Kansas City Chiefs still had Li Wei.


    When Li Wei was on the field, no one could ignore his presence.


    Donald¡¯s eyes flashed with a sharp light, focused and calm. Despite his chest heaving like bellows, his concentration had hit its peak.


    First and ten.


    The Kansas City Chiefs surprisingly continued with their double running back tactic. Damien and Li Wei were both on the field. Damien lined up as a fullback behind Mahomes, while Li Wei stood parallel to Mahomes in a shotgun formation.


    In other words, the Kansas City Chiefs still kept the possibility of Li Wei serving as a fourth receiving option, providing even more variations for their offensive tactics.


    Facing Reid in the head coach position, one always needed to think more and execute decisively.


    Donald shut out all distractions, fully focused. His scorching and heavy breathing roared in his eardrums, reminding him of his fatigue, but his blood was boiling instead, adrenaline pumping nonstop.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Mahomes called the snap.


    At the first moment, the Los Angeles Rams defense surged forward.


    Everyone!


    All eleven defensive players charged forward without exception. Every angle, every corner, piled on the pressure, creating a relentless wave of force that bore down on Mahomes.


    The pressure, alarms blaring at the highest level.


    Truth and deception intertwined, deception and truth mingled. Though everyone knew the Los Angeles Rams couldn¡¯t really send every player on a full-out blitz, the key to the tactic was confusion, making it impossible for the quarterback to judge:


    Who¡¯s blitzing and who¡¯s faking?


    Within the oncoming wave of pressure, the Rams defense executed a second wave of reactions¡ªsome continued blitzing, some retreated for man coverage, and others actively repositioned. In the blink of an eye, it was impossible to clearly distinguish each move.


    Among them, Donald led the front.


    Bull rush, break through, stab forward.


    The motion was still seamless. In his peripheral vision, Donald caught the Chiefs¡¯ offensive adjustments: Li Wei moving to catch the ball, Mahomes retreating further to create space, and Damien acting as a sixth offensive lineman.


    It was equally dazzling and hard to predict. The Kansas City Chiefs offense brought out dynamic play designs once again, trying to extend their dominance near the Red Zone.


    However, Donald was unmoved.


    The blood was boiling.


    Donald surged forward. Damien charged at him head-on, carrying an air of suicidal determination, his gaze betraying a glimpse of ruthless ferocity; but Donald shifted half a step left, sidestepping the lineup, and, with a shoulder-to-shoulder collision, exploded into a second bull rush.


    A hit, a slam.


    Damien felt his entire right shoulder dislocate, completely losing sensation. The next second, he was sent spiraling into the storm like a kite with a broken string.


    His soul was on fire.


    Donald didn¡¯t pause for a second, accelerating faster and charging harder, tsunami-like, unstoppable as he closed in on Mahomes.


    Mahomes attempted a right spin, preparing to evade Donald, but was caught off guard. Donald didn¡¯t bite on the fake and was waiting on Mahomes¡¯ left side. He spread his arms wide, sealing off any escape route.


    Too fast, too fast. Mahomes had no time to adjust.


    Adrenaline surged.


    Donald, like a blazing inferno, annihilated everything in his path.


    ¡°Sack!¡±


    ¡°Aaron Donald sacks Patrick Mahomes for the second time this game.¡±


    ¡°Tough! Tenacious! Relentless!¡±


    ¡°Donald gave Mahomes no chance.¡±


    Springing back to his feet, Donald clenched his fists and spread his arms, letting out a thunderous roar¡ª


    Ahhhhh! Ahhhhh!


    Like Thor descending to earth.


    Despite the fatigue, despite the energy drain, Donald kept burning with unyielding force, delivering another brilliant sack.


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ meticulously planned offense was interrupted once again by Donald.


    This was the ability of the league¡¯s Defensive Player of the Year for two consecutive years.


    The Los Angeles Rams fans inside the Mercedes-Benz Dome finally found their voice. Maybe an interception could shift possession of the ball, but no one could deny the morale boost a sack brought. Instantly, it reignited the energy of the fans, transforming the stadium into a Los Angeles Rams frenzy¡ª


    The neutral fans, like reeds swaying in the wind, almost effortlessly leaned entirely toward the Rams.


    Not only that, but the rest of the Los Angeles Rams defense was also fired up, exhilarated as if rain had finally quenched a long drought, all celebrating the sack enthusiastically.


    So, had the turning point in the game arrived?

 Chapter 889: 888 Smiling at the World

    Chapter 889: 888 Smiling at the World


    Ahhh, ahhh.


    Donald completed the sack with the demeanor of an executioner, forcefully declaring his presence.


    The Los Angeles Rams have not lost, and more importantly, they have not given up. If the Kansas City Chiefs think this game is already in the bag, then they are gravely mistaken.


    Under Donald¡¯s imposing aura, the entire audience collectively submits.


    ¡°Rams! Clap clap!¡±


    ¡°Rams! Clap clap!¡±


    A single defensive play reversed the momentum in the dire situation.


    Thalia stared at the television screen. Without even realizing it, her hands were tightly clasped together, fingers intertwined, her wildly beating heart silently praying as she searched for Li Wei¡¯s figure amidst the fierce crowd.


    Li Wei was smiling¡ª


    Thalia blinked, thinking her eyes were deceiving her. But in the live broadcast, the corner of his mouth beneath the helmet was unmistakably lifting, relaxed and carefree.


    Then Thalia realized: this is him, the him she knew so well¡ªstanding tall even at the edge of a cliff, fighting to the very end with clenched fists, welcoming every challenge with confidence, laughing through storms.


    Li Wei walked toward Mahomes, looking at the battered and defeated Mahomes lying on the ground, and his smile grew brighter. He extended his hand, pulling Mahomes up and patting him on the shoulder.


    ¡°Can you hold on?¡±


    Over here, they kept pushing the pace and tempo.


    Over there, Donald remained unstoppable.


    But this is football: a turn-based game where the core lies in the offense-defense chess match.


    After rising, Mahomes jumped in place, his gaze lighting up. From Smith and Li Wei, he had learned a great deal, evolving these lessons into something of his own.


    Mahomes wasn¡¯t discouraged¡ªnot at all, in fact. He was eager and ready.


    Mahomes leaned close to Li Wei¡¯s ear, and the two exchanged a few quick words. Afterward, Mahomes connected with Reed through his headset, engaging in a brief back-and-forth conversation. Within moments, the Kansas City Chiefs Offense reassembled.


    Second Gear, a 17-yard play.


    Donald¡¯s earlier sack cost Mahomes a full seven yards, pushing the starting line from the 17-yard line back to the 24-yard line.


    The Kansas City Chiefs upheld their double running back tactic without making immediate adjustments.


    The Los Angeles Rams followed suit with no evident changes in formation.


    The difference lay in the Rams Defense. The players radiated a killing intent, their fighting spirit burning intensely¡ªa palpable presence in the atmosphere.


    Tension gradually tightened.


    Unmoved, Mahomes methodically announced the snap.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    Donald¡¯s pupils shrank, stepping forward without hesitation, fatigue seemingly forgotten entirely.


    Pressure¡ªthis was key.


    This time, the Los Angeles Rams didn¡¯t all step forward; instead, they stepped back to clear out the short-pass zone.


    McVay¡¯s defensive strategy had been carefully calculated and designed. Facing Second Gear at 17 yards, conventionally the Kansas City Chiefs had two choices:


    First, hand the football to Li Wei, relying on ground advancement to ease the challenge of Third Gear.


    Second, Mahomes could go for a long-pass surprise play, aiming directly for the end zone in one decisive strike.


    Thus, the Rams¡¯ defensive focus was on the ground game and the long pass, deliberately leaving the short-pass zone open. Under pressure, Mahomes would see the short-pass gap and, in haste, would likely choose the short pass.


    Then the Rams¡¯ secondary defense would immediately close in.


    This is called ¡°inviting the enemy into the trap.¡±


    On the surface, the Rams Defensive group¡¯s running positions seemed chaotic; but in reality, every player had their assigned role.


    There was man coverage and zone coverage.


    Of course, everything ultimately hinged on pressure. If the defensive line couldn¡¯t apply enough pressure, all other tactics would be worthless.


    This time, the Rams didn¡¯t pressure en masse but didn¡¯t forget its importance.


    Only three men on the defensive line applied pressure; but alongside Donald, Ndamukong also stepped forward.


    Normally, Ndamukong dismantles blocks while Donald breaks through. However, the Rams didn¡¯t always follow this playbook¡ªMcVay was switching things up in this moment.


    Donald charged like a raging bull¡ªsimple yet effective.


    Ndamukong dismantled walls like an unstoppable wrecking ball.


    The two stormed into the pocket, one behind the other. Ndamukong¡¯s view was obstructed by Donald, unable to pinpoint Mahomes¡¯ position; but Donald sounded the alarm.


    Something was off.


    The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive tactic was identical to the previous First Gear:


    A fake run, real pass.


    Li Wei and Damien both approached Mahomes, posturing as if ready to receive the ball for a ground-running play. But immediately, they split.


    Li Wei sprinted toward the slot; Damien stepped forward to block Donald.


    Meanwhile, Mahomes retreated further, creating space as he searched for a passing target.


    The tactic was nearly unchanged.


    But why?


    Donald instinctively sensed something amiss, like a hunter detecting a trap; yet in the blink of an eye, there was no time to analyze, and no room to hesitate.


    Donald¡¯s bull charge had to be swift¡ªotherwise, fatigue would take over.


    No matter what the Chiefs were scheming, as long as Donald could sack Mahomes, everything would come to a decisive end.


    Donald unleashed his energy, surging forward relentlessly.


    A directional shift allowed him to easily shrug off Damien, continuing his rush at Mahomes.


    Damien prepared to lunge at Donald but noticed Ndamukong closing in; clearly, he couldn¡¯t let Mahomes fall into a double-team trap.


    Hastily, Damien positioned himself to block Ndamukong.


    Bam! Bam, bam!


    A barrage of collisions and clashes¡ªboth teams were fully red-eyed and furious.


    Donald charged at Mahomes unstoppably, finding Mahomes still scanning and searching. He instantly realized he must act quickly¡ªhe couldn¡¯t let Mahomes find a long-pass opening and had to force him into a short-pass play, creating opportunities for the defense group.


    Or simply deliver a clean sack to write the final chapter.


    Similar situations, similar moments¡ªFirst and Second Gear were nearly identical; yet Mahomes was slightly different this time: calmer.


    Mahomes moved laterally, his agile and nimble footwork fully unleashed.


    Lure the snake out of its hole.


    This thought flashed in Donald¡¯s mind, but there was no time for hesitation; he pursued resolutely.


    In the cat-and-mouse chase, Mahomes deliberately left the pocket, exposing himself.


    But there was no danger.


    Because the Rams had pulled their defensive players back, clearing the short-pass zone. Even when players saw Mahomes step out of his pocket protection, the linebackers and cornerbacks didn¡¯t have time to step in and assist Donald in surrounding him.


    What mattered was Mahomes¡¯ footwork, elongating the chase and gradually draining Donald¡¯s surge of strength and power.


    Donald now understood Mahomes¡¯ plan:


    He was bait, drawing fire¡ªbut who was the real passing target?


    Donald had no time to look back or analyze. He gritted his teeth, summoning another burst of energy, chasing at full tilt.


    Speed and power erupted instantly, closing the gap to Mahomes in giant strides.


    Ahhh, ahhh.


    Donald unleashed with everything he had, to the very limit.


    In the split second, ever watchful and alert, Mahomes looked toward the wide-open left zone and swung his arm forcefully.


    Effortless yet seismic.


    Whoosh!


    The football left his hand, rising swiftly.

 Chapter 890: 889 Grasshopper Arm

    Chapter 890: 889 Grasshopper Arm


    One move to lure the serpent out of its hole.


    In the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ offensive strategy, this tactic is frequently employed, all thanks to Li Wei. Leveraging Li Wei¡¯s immense individual talent, the offensive group easily uses him as bait to set up tactical plays.


    But now, Mahomes is using himself as bait, daringly risking a one-on-one face-off against Donald.


    Throughout the entire game, it has been ¡°Li Wei VS Donald,¡± but they can¡¯t let Li Wei shoulder all the responsibility alone, can they?


    After all, they¡¯re a team.


    This time, it¡¯s Mahomes¡¯ turn to step up. He is growing, he is transforming.


    Steady, calm, sharp.


    At this moment, Mahomes fully reveals his audacious courage and bold spirit¡ªdaring to take risks, daring to make moves, daring to envision, act, and bear the consequences.


    In a critical split second, he manages to complete the pass just before Donald¡¯s collision.


    Arm swing, wrist flick, power release¡ªall in one fluid motion.


    Following Mahomes¡¯ gaze toward the left wing¡¯s far corner of the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ field, the target of the pass is revealed¡ªHill, the Chiefs¡¯ number-one Wide Receiver.


    Donald: Damn it.


    This time, the defensive group fell for it¡ªcompletely and utterly. Both Li Wei and Mahomes played bait sequentially, while Hill lurked in the shadowed corner. In the ¡°Hill VS Talib¡± matchup, Hill clearly has the upper hand.


    The key now is: will Mahomes choose a medium pass or a long pass? Does Los Angeles still have a chance?


    At the exact moment Donald and Mahomes collide, Donald instinctively turns to look behind him¡ª


    There¡¯s nothing.


    What¡¯s going on?


    Donald doesn¡¯t understand. But he knows everything seems to have spiraled out of his control; he can¡¯t even locate the football now.


    Where in hell is that football?


    ...


    Step, step, step. Step, step, step.


    Li Wei is charging forward.


    After crossing the snap line, he feigns slowing down, briefly tangling with the lineman, but doesn¡¯t give Littleton a chance to step forward and block. Li Wei has already dashed toward the sideline.


    From the start to the acceleration, his actions are resolute.


    Littleton rushes to catch up, but it¡¯s only through firsthand experience that one can truly grasp how terrifyingly freakish Li Wei¡¯s off-ball speed is.


    Littleton doesn¡¯t hesitate or pause; he releases his speed immediately, but still can only watch helplessly as the gap between him and the number twenty-three jersey steadily grows.


    Pushing off, exerting force, sprinting wildly.


    Li Wei¡¯s steps follow the sideline, sprinting all the way. His light, rapid figure is like a streak of flowing light, sweeping across the edge of the field mightily.


    Elusive, understated, deadly.


    None of the other defensive players scattered across the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ field notices Li Wei¡ªexcept for Peters, who keeps a sliver of attention on him.


    After all, last season as teammates, Peters had witnessed it all firsthand up close time and time again.


    Peters¡¯ heart tightens, an inexplicable foreboding sounding the alarm¡ªbut he forgets, a monster stands just in front of him.


    Kelsey!


    Kelsey takes a step forward, blocking Peters¡¯ path to the sideline completely, forcing Peters into his arms like a helpless bride.


    Then, in the corner of Peters¡¯ vision, he glimpses the trace left by Li Wei¡¯s full-speed sprinting form¡ªa fleeting streak of motion.


    Edgerunner!


    Twenty-yard line.


    Fifteen-yard line.


    Li Wei runs faster and faster, because he must buy Mahomes time. The later he arrives, the longer Mahomes must fend off Donald, and the greater the risk of Mahomes being sacked by Donald.


    Li Wei holds nothing back.


    Ten-yard line.


    In the blink of an eye, without catching his breath, Li Wei has surged full-force into the Red Zone.


    Finally, someone notices the unguarded Edgerunner and the struggling Littleton trailing behind, still unable to close the distance.


    Safety, Johnson.


    Despite not making the Pro Bowl this year and remaining a nobody in the League, second-year Johnson has earned McVay¡¯s trust, firmly holding the starting position as one of the team¡¯s unsung heroes.


    Both second-year players, Li Wei and Mahomes are already in the regular-season MVP discussions, while Johnson remains a nameless figure. Does Johnson feel regret?


    No, not at all.


    Because Johnson knows his own capabilities. He¡¯ll prove himself by stopping Li Wei, letting everyone in the League know the name John Johnson¡ª


    It won¡¯t take much, just this once, this one critical defense.


    Like now.


    Johnson is sprinting. He¡¯s fully aware of how frightening Li Wei¡¯s off-ball speed is; the tiniest hesitation could cost him the chance to tackle.


    As he runs, Johnson seems to ignite, as if propelled by a Wind Fire Wheel, racing laterally along the Five-yard line toward a dramatic interception.


    Throwing caution to the wind, he targets Li Wei¡¯s figure and decisively leaps:


    A flying collision!


    Johnson assumes an all-or-nothing stance, aiming to shove Li Wei out of bounds directly.


    On the Five-yard line!


    The two figures rapidly close in, seemingly on the verge of impact.


    Then, the unbelievable happens¡ªLi Wei¡¯s speed peaks to an extreme. Like a gust of wind, he surges past Johnson¡¯s block, his light, explosive stride taking one crucial step ahead.


    Breakthrough!


    Before Johnson¡¯s leap connects, Li Wei miraculously completes the breakthrough.


    Like the Flash.


    No, not the Flash. He¡¯s the Edgerunner, the one-of-a-kind Edgerunner.


    Johnson can hardly believe it. Despite unleashing his maximum speed, Li Wei forcefully broke through¡ªhow does that guy do it?


    There¡¯s no time for regret, nor time for shock; Johnson reacts instantly to follow up.


    With gritted teeth and outstretched arms, he makes up his mind to risk it all, stiffly jabbing toward Li Wei¡¯s body with his left arm.


    Smack, smack, smack, smack.


    Now Johnson finally understands what it feels like to be a Grasshopper Arm against a cart¡ªa hopeless struggle. Suspended mid-air, he¡¯s caught in a vortex, spinning quickly in high-speed rotation, the world descending into chaos.


    Nonetheless, Johnson¡¯s interference still disrupts Ansen¡¯s balance.


    The faster the sprinting momentum, the easier any interference causes backlash.


    A hit, a block.


    Li Wei¡¯s center of gravity also falls into a whirlpool of disarray, spinning rapidly like a dryer.


    Pure instinct, no thought or hesitation¡ªhe rotates counterclockwise.


    Through rotating amidst chaos, he dissolves the force and impact, regains balance.


    But in this flash of a moment, it¡¯s still not enough. Staggering, he rotates counterclockwise once more.


    This time, before completing a full 360 degrees, and halting at 180 degrees in a chaotic spin, Li Wei catches sight of the football¡¯s trajectory¡ªhis gaze locking onto that red-brown shape amidst the turmoil.


    And then, Li Wei realizes something is off.


    On one hand, Mahomes opts for a blind throw¡ªwhile facing Hill¡¯s direction, he passes toward Li Wei. Although the Los Angeles Rams Defense fell for it, leaving Li Wei space to advance, the ball¡¯s parabolic control overshoots, dangerously close to going out of bounds.


    On the other hand, Li Wei himself, spinning like a top, hasn¡¯t regained full control of his steps.


    A golden opportunity arises¡ªand yet, it¡¯s as if it hasn¡¯t.

 Chapter 891: 890 Hang Time

    Chapter 891: 890 Hang Time


    Shaking, trembling¡ª


    The football was like this, and so was Li Wei.


    The white light and the maroon light moved at completely different frequencies.


    The entire world fell silent, watching as the football was about to fly out of bounds.


    Johnson was soaring through the air, Littleton lunging with all his might, Peters tangling with Kelsey but unable to tear his eyes away from Li Wei, and the prone Donald finally traced Mahomes¡¯ gaze to locate the football¡¯s trajectory.


    In the VIP box, Ariana, and in front of their TVs, Thalia, held their breaths. Outside the Mercedes-Benz Dome, Felix and everyone else felt their hearts stop beating; even Goodell was no exception.


    Time, in that moment, pressed the pause button. All the roaring and clamor vanished.


    Perhaps, there was one exception.


    Li Wei.


    A full 360-degree spin, followed by another 180-degree twist.


    His right leg stood alone as support, tiptoes touching the ground, the top of his foot straightened. His body seemed weightless, like a prima ballerina, balancing precariously on his toes to stave off the powerful centrifugal force threatening to hurl him away.


    Then.


    Another 45-degree pivot to readjust his positioning¡ª


    Face to the heavens, back to the ground.


    Amidst the mayhem, his left leg lightly skimmed the ground, propelling his body forward, his core muscles straining to control his balance while his body and arms stretched to their absolute limits.


    His upper body had already crossed out of bounds, suspended in mid-air past the sideline.


    Chest. Arms. Hands.


    Each extended step by step, barely grasping the football milliseconds before it escaped his fingertips. It was sheer fingertip strength that kept it in control, though there was no time to stabilize the ball.


    His next move: keep rotating.


    Forty-five degrees. Ninety degrees.


    His feet left the ground, centrifugal force overpowering gravity, and Li Wei flew through the air, left foot first, then right foot. His spiraling body seemed certain to lose all control¡ªuntil he barely tapped the ground one last time.


    A push with both legs.


    It wasn¡¯t so much a forceful jump but a subtle tap, a gentle nudge.


    His body floated through the air like a cloud, spinning, flying, yet still moving forward.


    Soaring skyward!


    The wind howled around his ears.


    Li Wei, however, maintained 100% focus. Arms and legs completely stretched, he transitioned from a two-handed grip on the football to controlling it with his right hand alone.


    Without even taking a breath, gravity once again reasserted itself, pulling his body down at rapid speed. Still, Li Wei didn¡¯t ease up.


    Clenching his teeth, his right hand and upper body remained perfectly straight, fully extended, aimed like a missile at the orange pylon.


    A slap. A collision.


    Smack.


    The next second, centrifugal force violently hurled Li Wei out, his entire body crashing to the ground.


    The spell that froze time was lifted.


    Yet the entirety of the Mercedes-Benz Dome remained eerily silent, utterly still, every person frozen in place¡ªunable to breathe.


    Jim Nantz and Tony Romo were no exceptions.


    Until the end zone referee straightened his knees, stood upright, and raised both arms high, pointing toward the sky¡ª


    ¡°Touchdown!¡±


    Nantz lost it, almost unable to believe his eyes. His mind went completely blank.


    ¡°Touchdown! Touchdown! Touchdown! That was a touchdown¡ªno doubt about it, absolutely spectacular! The most remarkable touchdown of the season!¡±


    ¡°A 24-yard connection from Mahomes to Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°One fatal strike! A dagger to the heart!¡±


    ¡°No suspense, no controversy. Once again, Li Wei conquers the Mercedes-Benz Dome with his impossible brilliance, and the Los Angeles Rams Defense surrenders completely.¡±


    ¡°Surrender!¡±


    ¡°God, oh God!¡±


    ¡°Super Bowl MVP!¡±


    The air bristled with an undercurrent of turbulence, like the deep rumbling of an earthquake rising from the earth¡¯s core, growing louder and stronger as it reverberated through the soul.


    A tidal wave of shock, an impact so overwhelming it stirred tempests in its wake¡ª


    Mahomes and Li Wei, Li Wei and Mahomes. One dared to pass, the other dared to catch. One lured the enemy in, the other boldly broke through alone. Together, they risked it all at the edge of life and death to carve open a fleeting opportunity.


    When the Los Angeles Rams Defense tried to counterattack, when Donald sought to prove his worth again, when the scales of victory tilted toward the Kansas City Chiefs, they seized the moment.


    Creating a breathtaking miracle.


    And then, surrender.


    In a flash, Felix raised both arms high, his gaze ablaze as he looked around, silently expressing, through his stance, his expression, and his gestures:


    Touchdown. That was a touchdown.


    Indeed, the Los Angeles Rams had been fighting back all along; indeed, the Rams, teetering at the edge of defeat, refused to give in; indeed, after halftime, the Rams¡¯ resurgence on both offense and defense was undeniable.


    But the Kansas City Chiefs withstood the pressure and delivered yet another fatal strike, shattering Donald¡¯s forceful rebuttal.


    Strength. Dominance. Authority!


    On the screen, just outside the end zone, Li Wei was sent crashing hard into the padded barriers. His entire body groaned in pain, his organs and bones aching unbearably. But Li Wei didn¡¯t have time to concern himself with all that. He got back on his feet.


    Like a blood-drenched war god.


    Slowly, firmly, he walked back to the end zone, standing tall, solid as a rock, his gaze and expression saying unmistakably:


    Who else? Bring it on!


    Li Wei tilted his chin slightly upward, surveying the crowd inch by inch with his eyes. His surging aura of dominance seemed almost to burst through the confines of the Mercedes-Benz Dome.


    Felix could no longer contain himself. He was the first to shout out passionately.


    At the top of his lungs, ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    Once, then again.


    In the blink of an eye, the chant rippled across the stadium like wildfire.


    Echoing endlessly.


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    Ariana, slightly shy, glanced around cautiously. Realizing that no one was immune to the contagious atmosphere, she couldn¡¯t suppress her excitement any longer and softly murmured Li Wei¡¯s name. Like magic, her smile spread wider and brighter, as if a new world had opened up.


    Meanwhile, the scene in a New York bar was entirely different.


    Thalia looked around at the boisterous bar, shaking her head with a light chuckle.


    ¡°Come on, show some spirit! The kid from New York is about to take down Los Angeles.¡±


    The response was immediate¡ªgrumbles and wisecracks from the football-loving rowdies. Unbothered, Thalia hopped onto the bar counter, waving a red jersey emblazoned with the number 23 high in the air, leading a chorus of shouts.


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    With fiery passion and unbridled enthusiasm, her heart burst forth like fireworks.


    Her energy was contagious, as one patron after another began pounding on tables, finally succumbing to the fevered chant. They joined in, one after another, until the entire bar was united.


    A single, unbreakable voice.


    And it wasn¡¯t just in New York.


    Kansas City. New Orleans. Atlanta. Indianapolis.


    No exceptions¡ªwhether in bars, cafes, or family restaurants, every corner of every city erupted into flames. The transformation¡ªfrom indifferent to fully enthralled in the Super Bowl spectacle¡ªcame faster than expected.


    The flames of excitement swept across the entire North American continent.


    During halftime, Maroon-5¡¯s performance had failed to reignite the public¡¯s dwindling passion, leaving fans lukewarm and halfhearted. But now, Li Wei, this year¡¯s historical regular season MVP, had risen to the occasion once again, turning the Super Bowl into his personal stage.


    And then, it happened.


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    Everyone was shouting the same name, their chants flooding the arena and the airwaves. The entire world bowed before him, offering their reverence.

 Chapter 892: Give an inch and theyll take a mile

    Chapter 892: Give an inch and they¡¯ll take a mile


    ¡°Li Wei! Li Wei! Li Wei!¡±


    The entire stadium united in one voice, chanting in unison.


    At this very moment, the Mercedes-Benz Dome had indeed transformed into the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ home turf¡ªa unique, unparalleled fortress.


    Unconsciously, Donald lifted his head and scanned the surroundings, only to discover that the majority of the audience in the stands had their eyes fixed on Li Wei. The fervor and excitement flashing in their eyes wove into waves of heat surging like a storm, engulfing the venue.


    Donald was no exception.


    Following the audience¡¯s gaze, Donald quietly observed Li Wei, his mouth filled with bitterness.


    Although he was reluctant to admit it, the truth was that Li Wei had indeed performed outstandingly today, delivering his most brilliant and exceptional game of the season. His resilience, toughness, and burning passion never waned¡ªhis desire and belief in the battle even outweighed the significance of a championship trophy.


    From running plays to catching passes, to his role as the tactical hub and spiritual leader, Li Wei¡¯s performance was faultless.


    It wasn¡¯t that the Los Angeles Rams Defense didn¡¯t put in effort, nor that Donald failed to mount a resistance, but each time they rose, Li Wei seized the moment to retaliate again and again, applying multiplied pressure and impact until it exceeded the Rams¡¯ capacity to endure.


    This wasn¡¯t the first time, but Donald became acutely aware once again that there were still many lessons to learn on his path to growth.


    But now was not the time¡ª


    The Super Bowl isn¡¯t over yet, right?


    Donald wasn¡¯t ready to give up, nor was he prepared to surrender. Whether winning or losing, he would fight honorably until the last second.


    ¡°The tide is quietly shifting.¡±


    ¡°The Rams have recalibrated after halftime. McVay made adjustments, and Los Angeles is rising once again¡ªand it¡¯s working. You can clearly see that the Rams are still fervently battling.¡±


    ¡°We must acknowledge that over the last few defensive plays, Donald¡¯s individual performance has remained top-notch, entirely dominating his opposition.¡±


    ¡°However, tonight the Rams face the Kansas City Chiefs¡ªthe ¡®Playoff Chiefs.''¡±


    ¡°More specifically, they are up against Li Wei¡¯s team.¡±


    ¡°So, when the Rams attempt to get back on track and counterattack, the Chiefs find cracks amidst the storm and retaliate with an even tougher and more ruthless approach. Once again, they suppress the Rams¡¯ rebound and regain control of the game.¡±


    ¡°Wow, what else can we say except breathtaking?¡±


    ¡°¡¯16:0.¡¯ Next, the Chiefs intend to kick for the extra point to widen their lead further.¡±


    ¡°Of course, challenges aside, this game isn¡¯t entirely decided yet¡ªthe Rams are only three possessions behind. Anything is possible.¡±


    ¡°Wait.¡±


    ¡°The Chiefs opt for a two-point conversion.¡±


    ¡°This...is a choice.¡±


    ¡°Though an extra one-point or two-point attempt makes no difference right now¡ªeven with a successful two-point conversion, it¡¯s still a three-possession gap¡ªReed still chooses the two-point attempt.¡±


    ¡°It can be seen as a tactical gamble, with Reed trying to push the pressure further, completely shattering the Rams Defense¡¯s confidence. On the Rams¡¯ side, however, this may be perceived as a provocation.¡±


    Outrageous!


    Johnson¡¯s eyes burned with rage as he bit his lower lip so hard it almost bled.


    Looking up, Ndamukong had an amused, detached expression, while Peters seemed indifferent, as though he¡¯d seen it all before. Littleton, on the other hand, appeared absent-minded.


    And Donald?


    Donald held his breath as well, but he had never been good at rallying his teammates with words. Instead, he simply took a deep breath.


    ¡°Line up!¡±


    The Chiefs wanted to ride their momentum and use the two-point conversion to further demoralize the Rams, at least making the Rams Offense coming up next feel discouraged. But first, they¡¯d have to deal with Donald¡¯s agreement¡ªor lack thereof.


    The Rams Defensive line possessed top-tier players like Donald and Ndamukong, coupled with the linebackers and cornerbacks¡¯ ability to man-mark¡ªthe two-point conversion was now a battle on the two-yard line, and the Rams clearly had the capability to defend it.


    This season, the Rams only faced two two-point conversion attempts, both of which they successfully defended, outright denying their opponents.


    This was their competence.


    And now, the Chiefs had just embarrassed them with a long touchdown pass¡ªand followed up with a two-point conversion in an attempt to further crush their morale?


    Unacceptable!


    The Rams Defense fired up immediately, swiftly completing their lineup.


    In football, the battle on the one-yard line is hailed as the simplest yet most challenging confrontation¡ªthe difficulty level of a two-point conversion speaks for itself.


    However, the Chiefs Offense remained undeterred.


    Assembly, alignment, snap.


    Everything was executed seamlessly, Mahomes¡¯ voice echoing across the field.


    With both Li Wei and Kelsey as the Chiefs¡¯ dual juggernauts, their short-distance offensive strategies often revolved around these two focal points. In the blink of an eye, the Rams Defense adapted accordingly to block these threats.


    Over there, three defenders surrounded Kelsey.


    Over here, Ndamukong and Donald targeted Li Wei, launching a frontal breakthrough.


    Clash¡ªstalemate.


    Evidently, the Chiefs recognized the difficulty of the two-point conversion, as their offensive line compressed toward the middle like an accordion, attempting to block the Defense purely by stacking bodies.


    But they were facing the Rams Defensive line¡¯s trio.


    Donald already saw it¡ªMahomes was turning to hand the football to Li Wei.


    No feint, the football genuinely landed in Li Wei¡¯s grasp.


    Clash¡ªstalemate.


    Donald stepped forward without hesitation, while Littleton followed suit.


    The linebacker¡¯s involvement became the final straw to break the equilibrium¡ªthe Chiefs¡¯ pocket crumbled once again, and Donald and Ndamukong surged forward like unleashed floods, their muscle mass cascading over the proverbial dam.


    Donald locked eyes with Li Wei, gritted his teeth hard, and unleashed his full strength.


    Once, twice, thrice¡ªexploding with power continuously, Donald remained true to himself, displaying sheer strength, speed, and an unstoppable force.


    Sure enough, Donald saw the football cradled in Li Wei¡¯s arms¡ªthis wasn¡¯t a fake run for a pass; this was undoubtedly a ground play.


    Yet, Li Wei hadn¡¯t anticipated how quickly the pocket collapsed. Before he could reposition his feet, Donald emerged.


    Donald honed in on Li Wei¡ª


    Stride, sprint; stride, sprint.


    Then came the moment he finally noticed something amiss.


    Li Wei hadn¡¯t fled the pocket; instead, he was retreating. That posture unmistakably signaled...


    A pass?


    The thought had just flashed through Donald¡¯s mind when he saw Li Wei¡¯s arm swing. While retreating, Li Wei executed a precise throw using his forearm and wrist.


    The football cut through the air.


    It arced over Donald¡¯s head, over Ndamukong and Littleton¡¯s heads.


    Donald stared in shock as, for the second time in a row, he helplessly watched the football soar overhead. Only as it nearly collided with Li Wei did he finally trace its flight path.


    This time, Li Wei had made no feint.


    The football indeed flew toward the left¡ªa mere five-yard short pass¡ªbut its aim was clear: evade Donald¡¯s blitz and create breathing room.


    The target of the pass was unmistakably¡ª


    Mahomes.


    This was...¡±Chiefs Special!¡±

 Chapter 893: 892 Like taking something out of a bag

    Chapter 893: 892 Like taking something out of a bag


    Chiefs Special.


    A thought flashed through Donald¡¯s mind, a chilling terror and shock surged from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, exploding in the depths of his scalp.


    His entire body went numb.


    Donald was completely frozen, losing even the ability to think, as he collided with Li Wei, rolling to the ground.


    A breath stuck in his throat, unable to swallow yet impossible to cough out.


    ¡°It¡¯s over.¡±


    Donald¡¯s mind went blank, extinguishing every thought and idea.


    ...


    Mahomes handed the football to Li Wei, silently retreating consecutively, moving out of the radar range of Donald and his teammates from the left side.


    He gracefully navigated the meat grinder where the offensive line and defensive line were entangled, effortlessly crossing the two-yard line and quickly cutting into the end zone.


    At this moment, the Los Angeles Rams were entirely convinced that the Kansas City Chiefs would opt for a ground attack, pushing wave after wave into the central territory; only a small handful of players surrounded Kelsey.


    No one noticed Mahomes.


    The quarterback, ghost-like after leaving the pocket.


    Adjusting, turning.


    Mahomes saw the football flying in an arc over the line, extending his arms and effortlessly drawing it into his embrace.


    Catch, control.


    Standing firm.


    Effortless.


    Mahomes stood in the end zone, holding the football high, scanning for the referee, silently inquiring with his eyes.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not going to stop this group of crazies from wrestling before me?¡±


    Everything, like taking something out of a bag.


    It was so simple, so easy, so smooth that even Nantz was momentarily stunned.


    ¡°Oh, the conversion is complete.¡±


    Just that?


    Nantz took half a beat to react.


    ¡°¡®Chiefs Special¡¯!¡±


    ¡°Wow, who would have thought? The Chiefs Special showed up here, catching everyone completely off guard¡ªincluding Tony and me¡ªbut this precisely captures the essence of trick plays.¡±


    As he talked, the shock washed over him.


    Even though today had already witnessed a series of classic moments, it was impossible to hold back emotions at this very moment.


    ¡°Reid and his team have done it again.¡±


    ¡°Faced with the attacking attempts of the Los Angeles Rams, faced with the lingering spark of hope from the Rams, faced with the Rams who refused to surrender or compromise, they shattered the Rams¡¯ last remnants of resolve with the smartest yet toughest, cleverest yet boldest approach.¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs have practically replicated last year¡¯s Super Bowl¡¯s ¡®Philly Special,¡¯ a running back throwing a pass, a quarterback catching the ball, completely shaking up offensive formations.¡±


    ¡°Effortless yet thunderous in their dominance over the Los Angeles Rams, completing the two-point conversion.¡±


    ¡°And this time, it was Li Wei passing, Mahomes catching¡ªand somehow, that scene doesn¡¯t seem strange to me at all.¡±


    ¡°With Li Wei and Mahomes connecting for the second time, Li Wei has likely made history again. He¡¯s become the first running back in history to have consecutive Super Bowl passing records.¡±


    ¡°If this ¡®Chiefs Special¡¯ had resulted in a touchdown, the history Li Wei has created would¡¯ve been even more unbelievable. But even as it stands now, Li Wei deserves all the applause.¡±


    As these words were spoken, the Mercedes-Benz Dome finally regained its composure¡ªno longer cheering wildly but a full-blown celebration filled with laughter, applause, and whistles surged forth.


    Who would¡¯ve thought that the Super Bowl would offer such a ¡®lighthearted moment?¡¯


    Was this Super Bowl exciting?


    No. At least not in the traditional sense, nowhere near comparable to last year¡¯s Super Bowl or even this year¡¯s halftime showdown.


    But simultaneously, this Super Bowl was indeed exciting¡ªit highlighted the importance of defense, showcased the intricacies of the offense-defense chess match, and, of course, featured Li Wei¡¯s remarkable performance.


    One thing was certain: it certainly wasn¡¯t boring.


    ¡°Now, the Los Angeles Rams may face a daunting challenge.¡±


    ¡°From the score perspective, ¡¯18:0,¡¯ there¡¯s still a three-possession gap, and the game has plenty of time left¡ªanything is still possible.¡±


    ¡°But the real challenge now for the Rams lies in how they can regain their composure, shake off their slump, and believe they can still win.¡±


    ¡°When they returned after halftime, the Rams did seem to possess such faith. But after enduring successive waves of pressure from Kansas City Chiefs on both offense and defense, how much team spirit does this mercenary squad still possess? How much energy can they still unleash? That¡¯s an open question.¡±


    ¡°But.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see: after all, McVay¡¯s team made it all the way to the Super Bowl¡ªnot due to mere luck. They¡¯ve proven themselves. Now, they need to continue proving themselves.¡±


    As rough and blunt as Nantz¡¯s words might be, the truth was undeniable¡ªthis team of mercenaries was hastily thrown together during the offseason, hired to get the job done. They would try hard and fight hard, but it didn¡¯t mean they had fully integrated with the team.


    Moreover, let¡¯s not forget: the team¡¯s leader, Goff, is only in his third year¡ªstill young, still raw.


    Under these challenging circumstances, can Goff rise up to shoulder the burden? Or perhaps Gurley and other players can rally the team together?


    Inside ESPN¡¯s studio, it was dead quiet¡ªeveryone lost in their own thoughts, even forgetting to poke fun at poor Buck.


    Even though the ¡®League insiders¡¯ overwhelmingly believe Kansas City Chiefs have the upper hand, given the breathtaking halftime showdown, audiences collectively expected the Super Bowl to deliver an intense clash with sparks flying.


    However...


    The Los Angeles Rams¡¯ performance failed to meet expectations¡ªthe offensive group remained sluggish up to this point; meanwhile, the defensive group had brief moments of brilliance, with Donald burning himself out trying his hardest. But a single Donald wasn¡¯t enough to turn things around¡ªnot when faced with a Li Wei on the opposing side.


    The balance of victory and defeat was repeatedly overturned and disrupted by Li Wei¡¯s precise and exceptional punches, throwing the situation completely off its trajectory.


    The atmosphere in the studio was subtly awkward.


    But when the camera accidentally glanced at Buck, his despondent, soul-crushed expression was genuinely amusing enough to cause suppressed laughter to escape.


    Buck, with a face full of despair, was now absolutely certain:


    He and Li Wei were fated to be incompatible, and it seemed the two of them could never reconcile. Today, Li Wei was purely here to wreck things¡ªeven though the two teams were evenly matched, it was just Li Wei.


    Damn Li Wei.


    ¡°Blair...¡± Lawson spoke up, his face sincere, hesitating out of sympathy. ¡°How about we call off the bet?¡±


    Buck¡¯s eyes widened, and his face flushed red in an instant, looking almost ready to explode:


    The bet, yes¡ªthere was a bet he had made in desperation. If this guy hadn¡¯t brought it up, he might¡¯ve nearly forgotten it existed. Bringing it up now was like hitting the sore spot.


    A breath was caught in his chest.


    ¡°No way, I stick to my bets. It can¡¯t be called off.¡± Buck squeezed out words through clenched teeth, spelling them out one at a time as if he were gnashing his teeth to pieces.


    ¡°The game isn¡¯t over yet. The Los Angeles Rams might still come back¡ªthree possessions are nothing. We shouldn¡¯t jump to conclusions so soon.¡±


    ¡°Heh.¡±


    Buck grinned, forcing a smile that looked worse than crying.

 Chapter 894: 893, centered on me

    Chapter 894: 893, centered on me


    ¡°18:0.¡±


    The scoreboard displayed a particularly glaring score.


    But to be fair, such a point gap is not uncommon in NFL history and hardly shocking.


    Whether it was the New England Patriots against the Atlanta Falcons in the Super Bowl two years ago, or the New England Patriots against the Kansas City Chiefs in last year¡¯s divisional playoff, the deficit was even larger. In both cases, the trailing team staged a comeback and turned the tide.


    Anything is possible¡ª


    This is the charm of competitive sports.


    Ultimately, the focus still lies on the Los Angeles Rams themselves.


    Especially the offensive group.


    Is McVay still trying to come up with solutions? This is likely the most challenging game in McVay¡¯s short coaching career. Excelling in favorable conditions is no surprise; the true test of a coach¡¯s essence lies in their ability to turn the tide when facing adversity.


    Does Goff still have the will and spirit?


    What about Gurley? The league¡¯s highest-paid running back, who has always scoffed at Li Wei and refused to openly support Bell¡¯s holdout¡ªcan he step up, play savior for the team, and prove himself like Li Wei?


    Can the offensive group, which has been dominant and unstoppable all season, rediscover its form?


    The situation is indeed challenging, but the key to reversing the predicament remains firmly in the hands of the Los Angeles Rams.


    Thousands and thousands of eyes weighed heavily on the shoulders of Goff and Gurley.


    A quarterback is naturally expected to serve as the team¡¯s fulcrum for resurgence; a star running back, who shone brilliantly all season but has now vanished without a trace, must rise above the occasion.


    Gurley: Frustrated.


    Never has he felt so cornered. Even before the Super Bowl matchup was finalized, Gurley harbored a simmering determination¡ªhe wanted to prove himself; he yearned to defeat Li Wei.


    In the locker room, Gurley even made bold remarks, hoping the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams would meet at the Super Bowl. He vowed to show Li Wei what the league¡¯s top running back should really look like.


    But now?


    Gurley¡¯s stats for the game: negative three yards.


    Forget teaching Li Wei a lesson¡ªhe now wished that he could bury himself alive and vanish completely from the league.


    He couldn¡¯t lift his head at all, not even a trace of anger for cursing could escape him.


    Gurley took a deep breath, continually trying to psych himself up. Have you seen the movie ¡°Rocky¡±? Failure isn¡¯t frightening; the key is to rise again and stage a king-like comeback. Every time, it¡¯s the same story.


    Since Li Wei could lead the Kansas City Chiefs to dramatic comebacks time and again, Gurley believed he could do the same. He would prove himself, he would crush Li Wei, he would demonstrate who deserved to be crowned the league¡¯s best running back.


    Then, Gurley rose to his feet, his face heavy with determination, ready to return to the field.


    But what he didn¡¯t see coming was McVay¡¯s voice echoing beside him.


    ¡°For this drive, Anderson takes the lead.¡±


    It felt like a bolt out of the blue. Gurley stood stunned, lifeless, incapable of responding.


    CJ Anderson, an undrafted rookie in 2013, spent five years with the Denver Broncos and followed the team to clinch the 50th Super Bowl championship. Last season, he achieved his first career 1,000-yard season, but unexpectedly, his form nosedived in 2018. After briefly joining the Carolina Panthers and Oakland Raiders without success, he only transferred to the Los Angeles Rams in December.


    At the time, Gurley was sidelined with an injury, making Anderson the temporary starter.


    But now?


    Gurley felt hurt.


    McVay didn¡¯t have time to console Gurley¡¯s wounded ego. Instead, he urgently needed Anderson to leverage his Super Bowl experience and stabilize the situation¡ª


    First, to get the ground game rolling and then stimulate the passing game.


    The Los Angeles Rams had poured immense effort and borne tremendous pressure to reach the Super Bowl stage. They refused to surrender without trying everything possible.


    There might be some who judged McVay harshly due to his youth, but let¡¯s admit one thing¡ªMcVay is undeniably talented and capable of his role as a head coach.


    McVay¡¯s ideas and strategies were spot-on:


    Anderson¡¯s experience could anchor the offensive group, methodically searching for opportunities on the ground while steadily regaining momentum. Meanwhile, it could help Goff find his footing. Instead of aiming for sensational long passes to dazzle the stadium with touchdowns, he focused on developing consistency through short passes¡ªlike a child learning to walk.


    The objective wasn¡¯t a touchdown, but merely a first down.


    Start small, regain rhythm gradually, and rediscover confidence.


    The talent of the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ offensive group was undeniable; they merely needed to adjust their mindset. Anderson¡¯s championship-winning background played a vital role.


    Finally, the ¡°Cosmic Rams,¡± through all the stumbles and setbacks, found a sliver of their old form. Despite the struggles and ongoing adaptations, there were signs of progress¡ª


    Goff connected with targets on three consecutive short passes, pushing the offense past midfield. Though they eventually faced a three-and-out and couldn¡¯t advance further, they entered field goal range.


    The kicker came onto the field¡ªit was no longer just punts and kickoffs.


    A 33-yard field goal attempt went through cleanly.


    ¡°18:3.¡±


    The Los Angeles Rams had finally cracked the scoreboard.


    The stadium erupted.


    Who could have expected the Rams to take until halfway into the third quarter to score? In the regular season, scoring had seemed as effortless as breathing, yet this moment felt like a tremendous struggle¡ªespecially since the opponent wasn¡¯t even a top-tier defensive team. Los Angeles fans could finally breathe a little easier.


    It was a positive turn.


    Even if it was just a field goal, it signified that the Rams¡¯ offense had rediscovered some semblance of rhythm, and the atmosphere of the game began shifting subtly.


    Could this potentially mark another turning point?


    However, the Kansas City Chiefs weren¡¯t having it.


    In the next offensive drive, empowered and confident, the Chiefs played with remarkable patience and composure. They showed full respect for Donald and the Rams¡¯ defensive group, staying steady and tough throughout.


    Seventy-five yards, eleven plays, five runs, six passes, consuming four minutes and forty-seven seconds. Mahomes executed a fake run and delivered a surprising pass, connecting with wide receiver Watkins¡ªa rarely targeted receiver in this game¡ªwho found an opening to complete a seven-yard touchdown pass cleanly and swiftly.


    The lead widened again.


    ¡°25:3.¡±


    The Rams¡¯ offense had barely begun rediscovering its footing in such adversity, glimpsing faint rays of hope and finally exhaling.


    But the Chiefs promptly showcased their capability, methodically and confidently making Donald and the Rams¡¯ defense powerless, effortlessly clinching a touchdown.


    The point gap widened once more.


    More critically, the Chiefs¡¯ offense displayed unwavering determination and composure. Even when facing Donald¡¯s defensive group, they manifested the same offensive brilliance that made them the league¡¯s top-ranked unit during the regular season.


    In other words, the Chiefs were performing entirely on their terms.


    No matter what the Rams attempted, the Chiefs had thoroughly entered their rhythm. Moving forward, the defending champions would lock the game into their own frame, taking total control.


    This was the real danger¡ª


    Giving the Rams a harsh, sobering blow.

 Chapter 895: 894 garbage time

    Chapter 895: 894 garbage time


    After endless struggles, the Los Angeles Rams finally managed to find a glimmer of hope, giving everything they had to secure a field goal. The entire team was elated, as though victory was within reach.


    And then, with effortless ease, the Kansas City Chiefs strolled forward, confidently executing their balanced attack strategy, seamlessly scoring a passing touchdown to further enlarge their lead.


    Splash.


    A bucket of cold water was poured over the Rams¡¯ hard-won spark of fighting spirit, extinguishing their flame and leaving behind only faint, murky embers.


    One glance exchanged, then another, until everyone silently avoided eye contact.


    This time, Anderson had no answers either.


    All eyes discreetly shifted toward Goff, standing slim and forlorn at the sideline. His broad, straight shoulders sagged, his vacant eyes staring at the field, silently radiating melancholy and vulnerability.


    McVay, who was supposed to have the answers, instead stood quietly. He neither spoke with Goff nor conferred with his coaching staff. His gaze lingered on the special teams on the field, briefly clouded with hesitation before settling back into calm determination.


    ¡°Come on! Keep pushing, one down at a time. It¡¯s not over yet!¡±


    McVay called out stiffly, his fist clenched as he desperately tried to rally the team with forced optimism. Even so, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to meet the eyes of his staff and players.


    The words of encouragement ultimately fell flat.


    When the Rams¡¯ offensive group returned to the field, despite Goff¡¯s attempts to find strength, Anderson¡¯s efforts to steady the ship, and McVay bringing on Gurley for an aggressive gamble on a long third down,


    it all amounted to nothing.


    Three and out.


    After halftime, the Rams mounted two brief flashes of offensive revival, hinting at potential success and evoking glimpses of the ¡°Cosmic Rams¡± glory. On two occasions, they crossed midfield, even securing a field goal the second time.


    Ultimately, it was just a fleeting glimmer of life, dying out quickly without brilliance or flare, fading once more into obscurity.


    McVay grew increasingly anxious, pacing the sideline tirelessly, shouting commands and encouragement, clapping incessantly to motivate his players and staff. Yet, his efforts continued to meet defeat after defeat¡ª


    and plunged into despair.


    The Rams etched a shameful record: the most consecutive three-and-outs on the Super Bowl stage, eight in total, failing to make any progress before being forced off the field.


    In other words, the offense barely stepped onto the field before being sent right back, as if stuck on a carousel.


    While the Rams were mired in their struggles, the Chiefs firmly controlled the game. They did not merely rely on ground play to run out the clock, but instead maintained a balanced pass-and-run strategy, applying constant pressure that prevented the Rams¡¯ defensive group from finding a way to turn the tide.


    Though the Chiefs experienced some three-and-outs themselves in the back-and-forth, they stubbornly pushed past midfield multiple times, racking up two additional field goals to solidify their commanding position in the game.


    Gradually, time slipped away, ushering the game toward its inevitable conclusion¡ª


    the outcome was clear.


    ¡°...For fifteen years since 2004, no team in the league has successfully defended their Super Bowl title, a testament to the unique allure of the NFL.¡±


    ¡°Fierce competition, tightly contested battles, the belief that anyone has a chance. Winning last season doesn¡¯t guarantee continued domination; it might instead mark the beginning of new challenges, making successive Super Bowl victories an almost unattainable feat.¡±


    ¡°This season is no exception.¡±


    ¡°Even up until the Super Bowl, the landscape remained unclear. Uncertainty lingered, as the skill gap among the top teams was razor-thin. Both conference finals ended in overtime¡ªa testament to the tension. Everything pointed toward this Super Bowl being a grand showdown where the victor might only emerge in its final moments.¡±


    ¡°But the Kansas City Chiefs had a different message to deliver.¡±


    ¡°The defending champions once again entered ¡®Playoff Chief¡¯ mode, displaying resilience and strength at crucial junctures, dominating the Rams on both sides of the ball. Although the Chiefs narrowly lost to the Rams during the regular Super Bowl tentpole game, tonight¡¯s matchup unfolded as an unrelenting personal showcase for Kansas City.¡±


    ¡°Defending the title was never in doubt.¡±


    ¡°What matters is how they did it¡ªa commanding defense of the title, making what had stumped the league for the past fifteen years seem startlingly easy.¡±


    ¡°Viewers turning on their TVs at this moment might be shocked at the scoreline, mistaking this for a lopsided blowout.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not exactly the case.¡±


    ¡°Donald and the Rams¡¯ defensive group gave Mahomes and Li Wei headaches for the better part of the game. In the end, it was Li Wei, shining in the battle of titans, who seized control of the critical turning points to break the game open.¡±


    ¡°The current score stands at ¡¯31:3.¡¯ With the result now all but certain, this margin does not rank among the top five in Super Bowl history, sitting only at sixth.¡±


    ¡°The most commanding Super Bowl victory remains the San Francisco 49ers¡¯ 55:10 demolition of the Denver Broncos in 1990¡ªa scoreline that still stuns even today.¡±


    ¡°Post-millennium standings tell a similar story, with Seattle Seahawks achieving a more dominant win by defeating the Denver Broncos 43:8 in 2014¡ªthe pinnacle of the Bombing Corps¡¯ era.¡±


    ¡°In comparison, this game¡¯s final score isn¡¯t overly exaggerated.¡±


    ¡°Yet, it¡¯s important to note that this was the Chiefs¡¯ title defense, making it far more challenging than any ordinary matchup.¡±


    ¡°Last season, they ascended as unexpected dark horses to lift the trophy, shocking countless skeptics¡ªa delightful surprise.¡±


    ¡°This season, under the spotlight, the defending champions braved a turbulent regular season, suffering losses to the New England Patriots, Rams, and Chargers, leading many to question their status as the American League¡¯s top seed.¡±


    ¡°But the Chiefs responded with actions rather than words¡ªproving that no one could beat them twice in one season. A thrilling overtime victory over the Patriots in the AL Conference Championship, followed by their Super Bowl domination of the Rams, sealed their redemption and pending title defense.¡±


    ¡°An unbelievable journey and undoubtedly an extraordinary tale.¡±


    ¡°With this game, the Chiefs have likely become the league¡¯s newest public enemy, with every team hungry to topple their reign. The question remains: How will the Chiefs respond? The upcoming 2019 season promises intrigue.¡±


    As the game entered the fourth quarter and early garbage time, even Nantz and Romo struggled to salvage the Rams¡¯ dignity, though Nantz used his breadth of knowledge to maintain viewer interest¡ª


    as difficult as that was.


    No one had anticipated that the Super Bowl would... turn out like this?


    ¡°Oh, Justin Houston is back on the field. Eric Berry steps up to welcome him. The Chiefs defense¡¯s two leaders are now poised to share in the team¡¯s moment of glory.¡±


    Slow, yet resolute.


    Houston returned to the field, gazing at the sea of red stretching across the stadium, then back at his team¡¯s relentless intensity on the field, every move deliberate and focused.


    At this instant, Houston realized the team had found its next generation of leaders, ensuring their legacy would continue unbroken.

 Chapter 896: 895 defending champion

    Chapter 896: 895 defending champion


    ¡°Hey, buddy.¡± Berry gently bumped Houston¡¯s shoulder, warmly welcoming back the old-timer with a smile, ¡°So, what did the test results say?¡±


    Houston looked at Berry¡¯s careful movements, as if handling something fragile, ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so cautious, do you?¡±


    Berry maintained his smile, ¡°The answer should come from you, shouldn¡¯t it? Do I need to be careful?¡±


    Houston sighed lightly, his old friend still understood him, ¡°Mild concussion, mandatory four weeks of rest, at least.¡±


    Berry patted Houston¡¯s shoulder again. For their age and bodies, any injury was difficult, as their bodies were becoming more fragile and recovery was harder, and the news of injuries was always disheartening.


    Then Berry smiled again, ¡°Fortunately, it seems we two old bones won¡¯t need to be on the field tonight.¡±


    Following Berry¡¯s gaze, Houston took a deep breath and paused there for a long time before exhaling deeply.


    ¡°Who would have thought, on the Super Bowl stage, we¡¯d have a chance to joke around here?¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡± Berry laughed heartily, ¡°Catching a ride on the bandwagon occasionally feels pretty good. Justin, we seem to have no worries about the team.¡±


    Although Houston didn¡¯t follow Berry¡¯s gaze, he knew who Berry was talking about as he watched that figure silently, the figure wearing jersey number twenty-three.


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Houston said, nodding lightly.


    Even though the game had entered garbage time, Li Wei was still on the field, remaining fully focused¡ª


    Because this was the Super Bowl, the ultimate stage of the year, where so many players longed to set foot, even for just one chance to showcase themselves, yet it always eluded them, and they should not waste it.


    Because Donald was still fighting, despite the score, Donald never gave up, always burning and striving, he deserved respect, and Li Wei felt compelled to fight till the end.


    Also because of Annie Galas.


    Not for victory, not for the championship, but to blossom life without regrets, with full abandon. Annie longed to fight, to fight with all her might, even if just one more day, but she had no chance as time froze forever before her twelfth birthday.


    This game, this battle, its meaning and value had long surpassed that of a championship, it was the stage where Li Wei bore Annie¡¯s dream.


    Therefore, Li Wei would not slack off, not be proud or complacent, he continued to diligently complete the game on the field.


    Moreover, he refused to hold back.


    Collision!


    Li Wei and Donald faced off once more.


    Donald was ready to tackle, but saw Li Wei plant his back into Donald¡¯s chest, suddenly exerting force, subduing Donald.


    Donald¡¯s chest felt heavy, his arms numb, unable to exert force.


    Immediately, Li Wei used the recoil to spin counterclockwise, freeing himself from Donald¡¯s arm control, sliding past Donald¡¯s body.


    A 360-degree rotation.


    Li Wei and Donald had switched positions.


    As Li Wei was about to break free, Donald couldn¡¯t react in time, but with his center of gravity pressed against Li Wei, forcibly leaned back, directly pressing down.


    With force and weight combined with inertia, it piled on layer upon layer.


    Li Wei was just about to run forward, when he felt the weight of a mountain toppling behind him, his center of gravity suddenly lurching forward, dragging his upper body with quick, heavy steps.


    The balance, completely lost.


    Stumbling, tottering.


    Li Wei struggled to control himself, watching helplessly as he was about to fall, supporting himself with his left hand on the ground, scrambling forward a few steps with his hands and feet, his feet barely touching the ground as he staggered a few paces forward. Just before completely losing balance and falling, energy from the depths of his dantian burst forth.


    Kick, jump, leap.


    The body, almost parallel to the ground, in a torpedo-like posture, surged forward, defying gravity, as Li Wei took off ahead.


    ¡°... Beautiful!¡±


    ¡°Wow, Li Wei! Li Wei did it again, Li Wei completed it once more.¡±


    ¡°In the head-to-head clash with Donald, Li Wei once again turned the mundane into the extraordinary, in an unbelievable display, turning a three-yard advance into seven.¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°This means Li Wei has once again completed the third gear conversion, the Kansas City Chiefs once again secured the first down; simultaneously, it also means the entire game has concluded prematurely.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei has ended the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ last effort with a direct breakthrough, sealing the game with absolute strength and dominance.¡±


    Donald knew, time was up, the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ Super Bowl time had ended.


    The entire fourth quarter had been garbage time, and Donald thought he was mentally prepared; but when the moment came, it was still bitter in his mouth.


    Sighing in discontent.


    Damn Li Wei, damn Li Wei, truly didn¡¯t ease up at all, remained relentless and focused until the last moment, personally ending the game.


    ¡°Hey, buddy.¡±


    A hand appeared in front of him, and Donald looked up to see Li Wei¡¯s face.


    Donald couldn¡¯t help but feel stifled, grabbing Li Wei¡¯s right hand and giving it a hard pull, trying to pull Li Wei down.


    But unexpectedly, Li Wei was mentally prepared, not only holding firm but using Donald¡¯s distraction to pull Donald up.


    Donald suddenly stood up, looking at the forthright and bright-eyed Li Wei before him.


    Finally, a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and Donald patted Li Wei¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Thank you. Thank you for fighting till the very end.¡±


    If Li Wei had chosen to step out during garbage time, or had slackened off at the last moment, Donald wouldn¡¯t be happy, instead he¡¯d see it as an insult.


    And now, although the scene was ugly, at least it proved that he had driven Li Wei to give his all till the end, making this loss bitter yet ultimately precious.


    With just a few words of thanks, the two didn¡¯t continue the conversation, turning to line up again¡ª


    At least, the game clock hadn¡¯t run out.


    In a football game, like the current situation, where the Kansas City Chiefs were far ahead and had possession, they could directly kneel to run out the clock.


    So-called kneeling means giving up this play, letting the game clock automatically count down forty seconds.


    Just now, Li Wei secured the first down for the Kansas City Chiefs once more, granting them three offensive plays, Mahomes needed only to kneel three times to declare the entire game over.


    The outcome was already beyond doubt.


    However, Mahomes despite the excitement and exhilaration, calmly completed the kneels.


    After the third kneel, the Kansas City Chiefs, who had been waiting anxiously at the side of the field, could no longer contain their excitement and exhilaration, rushing onto the field as a group.


    Mahomes raised the football high in his right hand, shouting loudly, ¡°Brothers, let¡¯s go!¡±


    About to celebrate, Li Wei was confused, glancing at Mahomes intending to ask, only to see his teammates swarming over to surround him.


    One arm and one leg, they didn¡¯t care about Li Wei¡¯s protests and collectively lifted him, tossing him into the air.


    ¡°Ho, hey, champions!¡±


    ¡°Ho, hey, champions!¡±


    Bip, bip bip.


    The whistle marking the end of the game blew, officially ending the 53rd Super Bowl¡ª


    Champions, Kansas City Chiefs!

 Chapter 897: 896 Passion Ignites

    Chapter 897: 896 Passion Ignites


    ¡°The game is over, the game is completely over!¡±


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, the 53rd Super Bowl has officially concluded.¡±


    ¡°The AFC¡¯s number one seed, the Kansas City Chiefs, delivered an unparalleled performance to suppress the NFC¡¯s second seed, the Los Angeles Rams, throughout the game. With near-perfection, they defeated their opponents and claimed the championship.¡±


    ¡°Final score, ¡¯31:3.''¡±


    ¡°The Kansas City Chiefs have become the first NFL team in fifteen seasons to defend their championship title!¡±


    ¡°Wow, this scenario was absolutely unexpected.¡±


    ¡°After Peyton Manning¡¯s retirement, the league underwent a complete reshuffle.¡±


    ¡°The NFC continued its tradition of fierce competition among multiple teams, especially with the Green Bay Packers struggling as quarterback Rodgers battles injuries, further shaking up the hierarchy.¡±


    ¡°The AFC faced similar changes. Big Manning, Brady, Roethlisberger, and John Harbaugh¡¯s twenty-year dominance over the conference fragmented, exposing them to numerous challenges.¡±


    ¡°Yet, no one could have foreseen Kansas City Chiefs seizing the opportunity amidst the chaos, rising like a dark horse to deliver an immense surprise.¡±


    ¡°Andy Reid, one of the most outstanding and legendary coaches in the league¡¯s history, had always fallen short of claiming the Super Bowl Champion title¡ªa lingering unanswered mystery in the league.¡±


    ¡°Seeing the chaotic, leaderless terrain, he snapped his fingers and made a bold decision during the 2017 draft.¡±


    ¡°¡®You know what, I¡¯m going to take a risk and see if I can carve out a path through this chaotic battlefield. Since it¡¯s a gamble, it has to be decisive and daring.''¡±


    ¡°¡®And let¡¯s make it crazier, too.''¡±


    ¡°They chose a running back as the third overall pick. Perfect. The entire league was terrified.¡±


    ¡°With the tenth overall pick, they selected a quarterback. Fantastic. Everyone thought the Kansas City Chiefs had lost their minds.¡±


    ¡°However.¡±


    ¡°Only those who dare to step up and take risks during chaotic times can achieve greatness.¡±


    ¡°Reid and his Kansas City Chiefs did just that¡ªnot only rising as unexpected dark horses to claim the Super Bowl title and ending Reid¡¯s championship drought; but also commanding an unstoppable force to accomplish the remarkable feat of defending their title.¡±


    ¡°We are witnessing history.¡±


    Outside the Mercedes-Benz Dome.


    Felix kept his eyes glued to the large screen, patiently waiting.


    Even though the fourth quarter of the game was already garbage time, even though the suspense over the outcome had completely dissipated, even though everyone was just waiting for the clock to run out as a formality.


    The waiting was still a painful ordeal.


    The closer to the finish line, the more torturous it felt. The nearer to the end, the more nerve-wracking it became.


    It wasn¡¯t just him. It wasn¡¯t just Annie either. It was also the thousands of ordinary residents in Kansas City, and the countless individuals struggling at the edge of survival.


    They had been waiting, patiently yet agonizingly, trudging endlessly in the darkness, straining every fiber of their being for a single glimmer of hope.


    And then last year, that glimmer of hope appeared¡ª


    They climbed to the top of the Super Bowl, after half a century.


    It wasn¡¯t long, no, just half a century. But they finally waited it out.


    And no one could have expected that, in just one short year, they would experience it all over again.


    Thump, thump, his heart pounded like a drum.


    Felix¡¯s gaze never wavered from the giant screen. Until that moment.


    It happened. It truly happened. It wasn¡¯t a dream.


    Suddenly, Felix raised both arms high in the air, stood up from his wheelchair, filled with joy and elation. He glanced around in disbelief and delight.


    If the Kansas City Chiefs could claim the championship, and even defend it, did it mean he, too, could keep fighting? For that faint, nearly indistinguishable sliver of hope¡ªcould he grab hold of that 0.01% chance and keep burning?


    Maybe that wasn¡¯t the point.


    A possibility, a longing, surged in his chest to the point where he couldn¡¯t make a sound. He looked left, then right, and finally saw Jenna.


    Jenna wasn¡¯t crying.


    Instead, she smiled brilliantly, raising both arms straight and high above her head, her eyes and cheeks radiant with joy and excitement.


    Felix froze.


    Jenna shouted loudly, ¡°I promised Annie.¡±


    That was all she said. But what exactly was promised, she didn¡¯t make clear.


    Jenna simply unleashed a triumphant cheer, ¡°Champions.¡±


    They defended their title.


    The wave of joy and passion burst forth in Felix¡¯s chest, roaring and blazing uncontrollably.


    ¡°Champions!¡±


    Felix found his voice, shouting and shouting, as a smile crept across his lips.


    Karen stood nearby, watching the flush on Felix¡¯s cheeks and the vitality in his eyes, and found herself nearly breathless¡ª


    She shouldn¡¯t have tried to stop Felix.


    Though she still worried, though her every day still felt like walking on thin ice, though the torment and pain wouldn¡¯t simply vanish, she wouldn¡¯t try to stop Felix anymore.


    If the Kansas City Chiefs could ignite a sliver of hope, then she should hold onto it tightly and let it burn, running wild like Li Wei.


    Dreams don¡¯t exist because they¡¯re real; they¡¯re real because we believe in them.


    Now, she wanted to believe.


    After all, hadn¡¯t the Kansas City Chiefs defended their title?


    ¡°Champions!¡±


    Karen finally found her voice and joined in the shouts.


    Roar, roar, roar.


    Kansas City, Old Oak Tavern.


    In an instant, an earth-shattering cheer erupted, shaking the whole world.


    The game seemed so easy, the suspense gone early on, yet in the moment it officially ended, joy and elation still erupted without restraint.


    One after another, they cheered, they screamed, they lost themselves in the moment.


    Anderson stood behind the bar, quietly watching the live broadcast on the television. He thought that experiencing it once last year would prepare him for this year. But it didn¡¯t¡ªthis year¡¯s emotions were even more overwhelming.


    Defending a title is never easy.


    Last year, they had no expectations, and winning the championship had felt like a bonus prize. This year, under the weight of expectations and pressure, the road to defending the title had been riddled with thorns.


    And yet, they still made it¡ª


    To the other side of victory.


    Anderson took a deep breath, but still couldn¡¯t control himself.


    He turned, pushed open the bar¡¯s back door, stepped outside, and let the breeze wash over him, offering a moment of relief for his eyes.


    He looked up at the Kansas City night sky, clear and studded with stars. The gloom and shadows that had long loomed over the city seemed to have finally faded, as if the North Star had led them to their destination.


    Behind him stood the Old Oak Tavern, still and quiet, bearing witness to the city¡¯s storms over the years.


    Anderson had a feeling that the hardships of life might finally be coming to an end.


    ¡°Roar, hey, champions!¡±


    ¡°Roar, hey, champions!¡±


    Again and again, Li Wei was tossed high into the air inside the Mercedes-Benz Dome. Not just the offensive group players, but the entire defensive group rushed in to join the fun.


    Gravity kept trying to pull Li Wei back down, but every time, stronger and more charged forces defied it, letting Li Wei soar into the air once more.


    Li Wei¡¯s face was filled with helplessness: How did it come to this?


    Amid the ups and downs, Li Wei twisted around, trying to find help within the crowd. He spotted Burns and Clark and weakly waved his hand.


    But Burns just grinned at him, egging everyone on.


    Clark went even further, stepping forward to join the players and add to the revelry.


    This scene caught everyone¡¯s eye, even the coaching staff couldn¡¯t resist and plunged into the fray, crowding together and tossing Li Wei up into the air.


    So, what was this? The Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ latest exclusive performance:


    The Flying Li Wei?

 Chapter 898: 897 Absolute Focus

    Chapter 898: 897 Absolute Focus


    ¡°Roar, hey, champions!¡±


    ¡°Roar, hey, champions!¡±


    Surrounded by layers upon layers of players and coaches¡ªwithout exception¡ªeveryone joined in Li Wei¡¯s celebratory post-game performance.


    Nobody understood the hardships of the season better than the Kansas City Chiefs players, and nobody understood the tense battles behind this seemingly effortless title defense better than them.


    At this moment, as they stood here celebrating their championship defense, everything had to be attributed to Li Wei.


    It wasn¡¯t just on the tactical level, but also on the spiritual level. Thanks to Li Wei¡¯s on-the-spot brilliance, the Kansas City Chiefs were able to stay united and overcome obstacles.


    Now, it¡¯s time to express their ¡°gratitude.¡±


    In the VIP box, Goodell looked down silently at the scene below¡ª


    The game turned into a blowout after all.


    No matter how Nantz and Romo tried to sugarcoat things or how ¡°League insiders¡± attempted to argue that the game was closer than the scoreboard suggested,


    to the broader public, the game had flopped.


    The Los Angeles Rams were disappointing¡ªshockingly so, in fact.


    Goodell didn¡¯t even need to look at the numbers to know that this year¡¯s viewership ratings would be dismal, nowhere close to last year¡¯s Super Bowl.


    There was no avoiding it¡ªsports are cruel, and the numbers don¡¯t lie.


    Yet, Goodell wasn¡¯t worried at all.


    Viewership numbers do matter, but so does the process and outcome¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs defending their title and becoming the next dynasty after the New England Patriots signaled the emergence of a new power structure within the American Federation.


    Li Wei had burst onto the scene, undoubtedly becoming the League¡¯s new face. The League¡¯s two-year star-making effort was finally about to pay off in full.


    Whether it¡¯s ¡°New England Patriots vs. Kansas City Chiefs¡± or ¡°Li Wei vs. Donald,¡± the void of attention left after Big Manning¡¯s retirement had finally been filled. Next season, the League promises to be more exciting than ever.


    The star had been made; now, it was time to create a god.


    Creating a star is easy; creating a god is hard.


    Even Goodell wasn¡¯t sure if Li Wei could attain god-like status. After all, the running back position had too many limitations. Peterson came close but ultimately fell short, and Li Wei might face the same challenge.


    But Goodell was looking forward to it; he couldn¡¯t wait to see the unveiling of Li Wei¡¯s next chapter¡ª


    If he failed, so be it. The League was vast, with fresh talents joining every year and rising stars emerging constantly. There was no need to worry.


    But what if he succeeded?


    On the field, the players finally put Li Wei down. Looking at Li Wei, who was grinning ear to ear, Kelsey was the first to turn around and run, afraid of becoming the next victim. Only Mahomes, that goofy idiot, stayed where he was, laughing heartily.


    Li Wei glanced left and right, exchanging eye contact with his teammates in perfect sync.


    The next second, they all swarmed Mahomes, who was utterly dumbfounded.


    No one expected Li Wei to charge forward like an arrow, grabbing an unsuspecting Reed in the process and yelling out loud.


    ¡°Guys!¡±


    Reed: Rookie, you?


    Reed didn¡¯t even have time to react before he was hoisted up.


    Reed, utterly flustered, looked like a 300-pound baby, sweating profusely while flailing his limbs helplessly.


    One lift, followed by another.


    Until Chad Steel appeared.


    ¡°Li Wei... Li Wei!¡±


    Chad Steel¡ªLi Wei recognized him¡ªthe vice president of public relations for the Baltimore Ravens.


    Apparently, Li Wei hadn¡¯t anticipated running into Steel here.


    ¡°Chad, what are you doing here?¡± Li Wei set down the now-drenched Reed, whose glasses and cap had fallen off. The old coach¡¯s nose and forehead were drenched in sweat, making for an unusually disheveled look.


    Steel glanced at Reed, barely suppressing his laughter. ¡°Coach Reed, we need to head to midfield.¡±


    The game was over, but the Super Bowl wasn¡¯t.


    Swarming media flooded onto the field, preparing to witness the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs post-game handshake. This was the moment everyone had been waiting for, and it was why Steel was here.


    Every time the Super Bowl ended, reporters, League officials, and staff swarmed the field, leaving it packed to capacity. The scene was always chaotic, with quarterbacks and head coaches as the focal points. Someone had to lead them to the broadcast cameras to complete the post-game ceremony under nationwide scrutiny.


    And with the League¡¯s public relations team stretched thin, they often borrowed personnel from team PR departments to assist.


    Steel, despite working in PR, stood at 6-foot-6 (200 cm) and weighed 240 pounds (109 kg). A former college basketball player, he was both physically imposing and highly skilled, making him a perfect choice.


    In fact, over the past seven years, Steel had helped out at the Super Bowl on five occasions.


    This time was no different.


    While the Kansas City Chiefs celebrated their victory, Steel had to interrupt to remind them of their Super Bowl obligations¡ª


    McVay, Goff, Donald, and other Los Angeles Rams players stood miserably under the flurry of red fireworks confetti. They would¡¯ve loved to leave the field immediately but were forced to stay.


    The faster the post-game handshake ended, the sooner they could leave.


    Reed patted Li Wei on the shoulder, and Li Wei helped steady him.


    Without looking back at Li Wei, Reed remained composed. ¡°Don¡¯t do that again.¡±


    Li Wei obediently replied, ¡°Yes, Coach. We¡¯ll wait until next year.¡±


    Reed adjusted his glasses and looked at Steel. ¡°Chad, lead the way.¡±


    Steel bent slightly in a bow. ¡°Coach, your guide is over there. Tonight, I¡¯m assigned to the rookie.¡± He finished with a knowing glance at Li Wei.


    Li Wei: ??? ¡°What about our quarterback over there?¡±


    The post-game handshake ceremony was supposed to focus on the head coach and quarterback. Why was a running back like him being dragged into it?


    Steel said nothing, simply patting Li Wei on the shoulder.


    Li Wei looked up at Steel, towering like a giant, and wore the expression of a truant student caught red-handed by the principal. Reluctantly, he entered the field.


    Donald was already waiting.


    Quarterbacks had their own circle, and coaches had theirs. Clearly, they were all focal points of attention tonight. Countless cameras zeroed in on them.


    But tonight was slightly unusual. Normally, quarterbacks were surrounded by the largest crowds, but this time, the biggest, densest group kept scanning, searching, until they spotted Steel¡¯s towering frame. Then, like a wave, they surged slowly but powerfully toward them.


    From afar, Steel raised his right hand high, like a tour guide.


    ¡°Maintain distance, maintain order.¡±


    Now it became clear why the League had sent their ace, Steel, to escort Li Wei.


    In a matter of seconds¡ªless than thirty¡ªan overwhelming crowd consumed Li Wei and Donald, swelling like cotton candy.


    Sure, the ¡°Mahomes vs. Goff¡± face-off between new-generation quarterbacks was worth attention; and the ¡°Reed vs. McVay¡± clash of veteran and young coaches was full of intrigue. But none of this year¡¯s Super Bowl storylines came close to matching the buzz around ¡°Li Wei vs. Donald¡±¡ª


    Not even one percent of it.

 Chapter 899: 898 wins best in a row

    Chapter 899: 898 wins best in a row


    ¡°Li Wei VS Donald¡±¡ª


    Absolute focus!


    To be precise, it started brewing last year, but regrettably fizzled out early in the playoffs. Li Wei and Donald¡¯s first encounter didn¡¯t materialize, yet the anticipation persisted all the way to this year. Bolstered by the interplay of timing, opportunity, and mutual readiness, the clash gradually gained momentum.


    From the mid-season Super Bowl stirring anticipation to the thrilling crescendo of the conference finals leading to the perfect matchup, despite the slightly regrettable ¡°Summit of the Forbidden¡± duel at the end, the collision between these two leaders extended to the final moments of the game, living up to expectations.


    It became even more of a sensation than the game itself, attracting not just the attention of viewers but also all media reporters waiting for this moment.


    Layer after layer, circle upon circle, the crowd enveloped the two players.


    Donald had calmed down. Though he still felt bitterness and struggle, he was able to face Li Wei and the countless eyes upon him with composure.


    Donald graciously shook Li Wei¡¯s right hand and bumped shoulders.


    ¡°Congratulations. Your performance tonight was impeccable¡ªit was a beautiful victory.¡±


    Respect won.


    But it didn¡¯t mean conceding, ¡°Next season. Next season, we¡¯ll go again.¡±


    Such simple words nonetheless revealed the bitterness in Donald¡¯s voice.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t console Donald, knowing that any words would feel hollow. Instead, he said, ¡°Now, it¡¯s one to one.¡±


    Mid-season Super Bowl, Donald won.


    Real Super Bowl, Li Wei won.


    Over the last two seasons, the league¡¯s best offensive and defensive players each claimed a victory. Yet, all of that now belongs to history.


    When they meet next time, everything will start again.


    That single sentence was enough.


    Donald nodded heavily, a surge of courage brimming within him. ¡°Next season, I hope we¡¯ll meet on this stage again.¡±


    Li Wei put on a helpless expression. ¡°Oh, oh, oh, humility¡ªdo have some humility. I¡¯m only thinking about the season opener right now. I didn¡¯t realize you were this kind of Aron.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha.¡± Donald burst into hearty laughter.


    As Donald turned away, Li Wei spotted Goff waiting quietly nearby.


    Goff had an utterly dejected look, seemingly about to cry at any moment. Yet, he mustered courage to offer his congratulations to Li Wei.


    Li Wei thought of Foles.


    After a brief hesitation, he spoke, ¡°This is just the beginning. People will keep telling you that this is your last chance. But whether it really is¡ªonly you get to decide.¡±


    Goff was currently despondent, immersed in his disappointment, and didn¡¯t react. It wasn¡¯t until he left the crowd and stood aside that he snapped out of it, taking a deep breath as he stood there dazed:


    Would this really not be the last time? Did he truly have a chance to return to such a stage? After enduring a season like this and ending it in such a way, did he genuinely have the courage to face the media and the trolls online?


    Goff¡¯s gaze returned to Li Wei, as if looking at a worthy idol to follow. So during these two years, how had Li Wei done it?


    Yet completely unexpectedly, Li Wei was busy¡ªhe¡¯d already been swallowed up by the crowd once again, while Steel continued to diligently fulfill his duties¡ª


    McVay also arrived, wanting to personally say something to Li Wei.


    ¡°Now I finally understand what Coach Burns meant when he talked about being a genius.¡±


    After saying that and exchanging some pleasantries, McVay turned and left.


    At the post-game press conference, a reporter asked McVay what he had said to Li Wei. McVay repeated his perspective.


    ¡°I understand that in this league, everyone¡¯s a genius because genius is the minimum threshold for entering the professional stage. Donald is also a genius, but when I look at Li Wei, I now understand what true genius is.¡±


    ¡°In just two short seasons¡ªeven if we count the NCAA, it¡¯s only been three¡ªcan you believe that three years ago Li Wei knew nothing about football?¡±


    ¡°So who was it that made him play football?¡±


    Burns: ¡°Guess it¡¯s my fault?¡±


    Donald: ¡°...Hey, Coach, it¡¯s not my problem!¡±


    Praise from the opposing coach¡ªundoubtedly the highest form of recognition.


    In fact, McVay wasn¡¯t the only one who thought so¡ª


    Soon after the game concluded, the Super Bowl MVP results were announced.


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei retains the Super Bowl MVP award for the second consecutive season.¡±


    ¡°Unquestionable¡ªa unanimous selection from everyone involved.¡±


    ¡°At this moment, listing the stats is no longer relevant, though they do showcase just how extraordinary Li Wei¡¯s performance was during this game¡ªeasily his most outstanding and comprehensive showing of the season.¡±


    ¡°But beyond the numbers, what stood out was Li Wei¡¯s ability to interpret the game, elevate his performance at crucial moments, precisely grasp the rhythm of play, and perfectly embody the roles of commander and spiritual leader, leading the Kansas City Chiefs to defend their throne step by step. He was undoubtedly the best-performing player of both teams.¡±


    ¡°Super Bowl MVP¡ªdeserved beyond dispute!¡±


    ¡°This achievement not only breaks the Super Bowl curse for regular season MVPs but also makes Li Wei the first player in twenty years to claim both Regular Season and Super Bowl MVP honors in the same season, dominating the field with an unrivaled performance.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s unbelievable¡ªthis young player is merely a sophomore, yet his legendary journey rivals and stands toe-to-toe with Kurt Warner, each having their own merits.¡±


    ¡°Back then, Warner led the St. Louis Rams to two consecutive Super Bowls, only to fall short in defending the title in the second year. But now, Li Wei has rewritten fate¡ªand history.¡±


    ¡°Defense!¡±


    ¡°Through his performance, Li Wei has left a small, indelible mark on the vast river of history and is continuing to march down a path toward greatness.¡±


    Clap, clap.


    Someone lightly patted Li Wei¡¯s shoulder from behind.


    Li Wei turned and found Li Yi and Jiang Yin standing there.


    A smile spread across his face as he prepared to call out to them, only for Jiang Yin to open her arms and pull Li Wei into a hug.


    Li Wei... wasn¡¯t used to it.


    Despite Li Yi and Jiang Yin living in North America for so many years, in their household, they maintained Hua Xia¡¯s tradition of avoiding physical contact or openly expressing emotions.


    However, at this moment, Jiang Yin hugged Li Wei tightly.


    Li Wei chuckled awkwardly. ¡°Mom, thank you.¡±


    He thought Jiang Yin was expressing her congratulations in this way, but to his surprise, Jiang Yin didn¡¯t immediately let go. Instead, she held the hug for a long time.


    Long enough that Li Wei began to question it, glancing at Li Yi, who offered no explanation and gestured as if to say, ¡°No idea either.¡± ¡°Mom?¡±


    Jiang Yin had too many thoughts but didn¡¯t know how to express them. She knew how much hardship lay behind this championship trophy, and she understood how priceless and significant this moment was¡ªit was far more than just a championship. So all she could do was hold Li Wei tightly.


    ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡±


    In the end, all her thoughts boiled down to a simple sentence.


    Finally, Jiang Yin released the hug and displayed a wide smile. ¡°Our Xiao Wei is now a champion¡ªfor the third time in a row.¡± Jiang Yin held up three fingers, her joy understated yet genuine, shining through her eyes.

 Chapter 900: 899 Dream Come True

    Chapter 900: 899 Dream Come True


    The Vince Lombardi Trophy has made its appearance.


    Escorted by Joe Namath, the legendary quarterback of the New York Jets and winner of the third Super Bowl. This year marks fifty years since Namath¡¯s Super Bowl triumph, and next year will be the fiftieth anniversary of the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ first Super Bowl victory.


    This is precisely why Namath was chosen to escort the championship trophy tonight.


    The Kansas City Chiefs players bustled about, lined up on both sides, welcoming Namath and the Vince Lombardi Trophy.


    Oh oh oh... hey!


    Oh oh oh... hey!


    They began creating waves of sound, rising and falling, and again rising and falling, with each person reaching out to try and touch the Vince Lombardi Trophy.


    Namath understood this feeling well, so he slightly slowed his pace, trying to let everyone experience the warmth of the championship trophy.


    Chris Jones stood quietly on the outskirts of the crowd, looking a bit shy.


    A little anticipation, a little curiosity, but ultimately hesitating out of nerves and shyness, his feet refused to move forward.


    Even though this was Jones¡¯s second time, it still didn¡¯t feel real. When he turned his head, he saw Kendall Fuller standing dazed and absent-mindedly in place.


    Drafted into the league in 2016, but traded during the third year of his rookie contract, Fuller¡¯s journey seemed to signal that the Washington Redskins didn¡¯t see much of a future in him. For Fuller, this was a hardship; yet, against all odds, he found himself standing atop the world with the Kansas City Chiefs.


    This journey has indeed been insane.


    Jones and Fuller exchanged glances, mutually recognizing the embarrassment in each other¡¯s demeanor, and couldn¡¯t help but laugh softly.


    At that moment, both of them felt a force on their backs. They turned around to see Li Wei¡¯s smiling face. ¡°You guys can try touching it; it doesn¡¯t bite, I promise.¡±


    After speaking, Li Wei gave them a gentle push on their backs, then moved forward without lingering.


    Jones hesitated slightly but couldn¡¯t resist the anticipation and took a small step forward.


    Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins were already welcoming the Vince Lombardi Trophy. When they turned and saw Jones, both instantly extended their welcome. Jones reached out his hand and touched the silver trophy.


    Immediately after, another hand, unable to resist its yearning, stretched out to touch the trophy just before Namath continued forward¡ª


    It was Fuller.


    It¡¯s nothing more than a trophy, not the legendary Holy Grail, so logically speaking, it shouldn¡¯t feel extraordinary. Yet, both Jones and Fuller couldn¡¯t contain their emotions. A tangled complexity churned in their chests, slipping out uncontrollably and exploding into cheers.


    Pure. Intense.


    It was as if they had returned to childhood, that time of simple happiness that¡¯s so easy to grasp. Just the joy of running and shouting with friends could fill the whole afternoon with delight.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t halt his pace.


    Though he yearned to stand in the crowd and celebrate together with his teammates, as offensive team captain, he had a responsibility to fulfill.


    He patted Patrick Mahomes on the shoulder, who was standing among the laughing, cheering crowd, before moving forward to the edge of the stage, where Travis Kelce was doing his quirky dance moves while Justin Houston and Eric Berry stood nearby, laughing and clapping gleefully. Together, they prepared to ascend the stage to receive their second championship trophy in two years.


    Mahomes left the crowd but kept his eyes fixed on Namath, who was slowly approaching the podium. Leaning slightly toward Li Wei, he spoke with wonder, ¡°Can you believe it? We really defended our title?¡±


    Everything feels like a dream.


    Even as they waited at the edge of the podium and many Kansas City Chiefs players had already touched the Vince Lombardi Trophy, the moment still didn¡¯t feel real.


    Vivid memories came rushing back¡ªoffseason upheavals, tearful goodbyes, navigating hopes and setbacks, and facing a brand-new season. These scenes felt as if they had just happened yesterday.


    Then, they recalled the moment Alex Smith ultimately decided to step aside, giving way for young Mahomes to rise. Mahomes, filled with anticipation, simultaneously experienced a mix of sorrow, uncertainty, nervousness, and bitterness. Together, they had gazed up at the stars, dreaming of the future and imagining a path to defending their title.


    And now, the dream had come true.


    Li Wei¡¯s chest swelled with a warm, overwhelming sense of emotion. ¡°Believe it. This is all real. We fought side by side to get here.¡±


    Mahomes broke into a wide grin, clenching his right fist and thumping it against his chest. ¡°Fight till the end, persevere to the finish, right?¡±


    Li Wei mirrored him, clenching his own right fist and patting his chest. ¡°Fight till the end, persevere to the finish.¡±


    Finally!


    The Vince Lombardi Trophy was brought onto the stage.


    Packed tightly together, a group of strong men crammed into the narrow podium, awaiting league commissioner Roger Goodell to present the championship trophy to the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Team owner Clark Hunt, head coach Andy Reid, defensive representatives Justin Houston and Eric Berry, offensive representatives Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Li Wei¡ªall took turns raising the Vince Lombardi Trophy high into the air as the crowd erupted in waves of celebration.


    Following tradition, players began delivering their championship speeches one by one. Unexpectedly, the host skipped over Li Wei, first passing the microphone to others: from Hunt to Reid, then to Mahomes.


    One after another.


    Assuming that the ceremony would be kept brief to save time, it seemed reasonable to let other teammates speak, considering Li Wei had already spoken last year.


    But surprisingly, the host intentionally saved Li Wei for last, springing a surprise just as everyone thought the speeches were over.


    ¡°...Ladies and gentlemen, you thought it was over, right? No, no, no, no, we mustn¡¯t forget this gentleman. Nobody should miss his clever and humorous words. Once more, let¡¯s be captivated by his charm¡ªboth on-field and off-field. Your regular season and Super Bowl MVP, Mr...¡±


    Drawing out the last syllable, progressively building the anticipation to its peak, that stretched breath seemed to vacuum all the air from the Mercedes-Benz Dome.


    And then.


    The entire crowd, unequivocally and with one voice, roared aloud.


    Li Wei!


    Grand. Magnificent. Overwhelming.


    This treatment was one-of-a-kind. Even legendary figures like Manning or Brady had never experienced such an atmosphere on the Super Bowl stage.


    All eyes were fixated on Li Wei, eagerly watching and waiting. Millions of people, through the broadcasting cameras spread across corners of the North American continent, converged their attention on him.


    All focused on his shoulders.


    Only at moments like this can one truly grasp the magnitude of the influence Li Wei has built here in a mere two professional seasons.


    From Travis Kelce¡¯s hands, the Vince Lombardi Trophy was passed to Li Wei, and even the Kansas City Chiefs players couldn¡¯t contain their excitement, egging him on and playfully teasing.


    ¡°Li Wei. Li Wei. Li Wei.¡±


    The voices were quiet, not screams or shouts, but deeply resonant sounds simmering from within their throats. These murmurs gathered into a collective energy, lifting the hot air within the Mercedes-Benz Dome higher and higher, sparking renewed waves of enthusiasm just as the lengthy championship speech segment threatened to dull the spirits.


    Who could possibly miss this scene?

 Chapter 901: 900 unique

    Chapter 901: 900 unique


    In the 2018 Super Bowl season, the disappointing performance of the Los Angeles Rams caused viewership ratings to plummet.


    The rating was 44.9, with 98 million viewers, both numbers hitting the lowest in a decade.


    Multiple professional media outlets expressed that the overwhelming expectations before the game plummeted after a lackluster first quarter, leading to audience loss, with the rest of the game failing to regain traction; the viewership in Los Angeles, which had high hopes pinned on it, fell far below expectations due to the team¡¯s abysmal and scattered performance, completely lacking the explosive viewership power expected from a Super Bowl city.


    Ultimately, the Los Angeles Rams were the original sin.


    Statistics showed that New York, Buffalo, New Orleans, and Indianapolis led in viewership ratings across North America¡ªthanks to the New England Patriots generating animosity, which garnered widespread support for the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Of course, Kansas City achieved a historic high¡ª


    71.7% rating.


    The viewership rating was an astonishing 27 percentage points higher than the nationwide average. In Kansas City, more than 70% of the population aged 18 to 49 tuned in to watch the Super Bowl.


    The influence was undeniable.


    It is worth mentioning that when Maroon-5 performed during halftime, it should have been the moment for ratings to explode¡ªeven those uninterested in the Super Bowl would tune in to avoid falling behind on trending social media topics, much like Lunar New Year Gala performances. But unexpectedly, the opposite happened¡ªit was a jaw-dropping moment.


    Ratings and viewer numbers didn¡¯t rise; they declined instead, and discussion buzz completely plummeted.


    Unbelievable!


    So, when was the highest viewership moment in the entire game?


    The answer: during the awards ceremony, when Li Wei delivered his acceptance speech.


    The ratings shot up to 49.7, with viewership surpassing 120 million, breaking historical records in a mind-boggling fashion.


    In a chorus of cheers and applause, Li Wei once again held the Vince Lombardi Trophy.


    Although he had experienced this moment last year, Li Wei thought he would be fluent this time, that his emotions would be somewhat calmer, yet his heart still raced uncontrollably. At the instant his hands touched the trophy, a feeling of happiness and excitement, indescribable with words, quietly ignited within¡ª


    Different, after all, it still felt different.


    Every journey, every challenge, the obstacles and scenery along the way are unique, and so are the mindset and feelings.


    As he carefully felt the weight of the trophy, countless words swirled on the tip of his tongue.


    But in the end, what remained in Li Wei¡¯s mind was still that young girl, Annie Galas.


    The mischievous girl who played hide-and-seek pranks on everyone in the hospital, the stubborn girl who sang ¡°You¡¯ll Never Walk Alone¡± loudly in the parking lot after the Gillette Stadium incident, the sunshine-filled girl who murmured during her funeral, ¡°I hope you¡¯ll forget about me.¡±


    She faced a battle destined to fail, yet she was still a victor.


    With all eyes on him, the crowd waited patiently, filled with anticipation and excitement. They saw Li Wei take half a step forward, standing at the microphone.


    He began to sing¡ª


    Not an acceptance speech, but a song.


    The entire stadium was utterly stunned.


    But Li Wei wasn¡¯t; Li Wei knew exactly what he was doing.


    Stubborn and resolute, he sang, expressing the mixed and surging emotions that could only be fully conveyed through that melody.


    ¡°When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high, and don¡¯t be afraid of the dark.¡±


    Each word and phrase came from the heart.


    Suddenly, it struck Jenna, hard and unguarded. Tears broke free from their restraints, surging uncontrollably as she stood defenseless¡ª


    Sorry, Annie. I promised you I wouldn¡¯t dwell on past memories, wouldn¡¯t let the past bind my feet; but... just this once, one last time.


    In an instant, Jenna realized that Lucas¡¯s acceptance speech was dedicated to Annie.


    Her Annie, though no longer here, continued her life in another form. She would accompany the Kansas City Chiefs, accompany Li Wei, battling forward together.


    She would never walk alone.


    Jenna cried uncontrollably.


    ¡°At the end of the storm is a golden sky and the sweet sound of the oriole.¡±


    Jenna wasn¡¯t alone.


    Talia instantly understood, gazing quietly and deeply at the man on the television screen.


    He smiled warmly, his bright eyes shining. His messy short hair revealed he had just undergone a grueling match. Yet, he still calmly sang, pouring all the emotions into the melody.


    While everyone¡¯s attention was on the championship trophy and the countless historical records, he alone remembered that girl.


    A seemingly insignificant girl, yet one who weighed heavier than mountains.


    Talia¡¯s eyes sparkled with faint tears. She no longer cared about the stares of others and joined Li Wei, singing aloud.


    She believed that Li Wei would never walk alone.


    Talia wasn¡¯t alone.


    Slowly, the fans inside and outside the Mercedes-Benz Dome also understood.


    Felix was the first to lift his chin high, following Li Wei¡¯s footsteps, singing with abandon. Although his eyes glistened with tears and his voice quivered uncontrollably, he remained unwavering.


    One by one, voices joined together.


    Kansas City Chiefs fans, Atlanta Falcons fans, and countless others fixed their gaze on this moment, overwhelmed by emotion.


    Undoubtedly, it was a moment unlike any other¡ªa moment for the annals of history.


    ¡°Walk on, through the wind; walk on, through the rain.


    Though your dreams be tossed and blown.


    Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart, and you¡¯ll never walk alone.¡±


    The song, unified and spirited, resounded richly and fervently through the Atlanta night sky, binding every fan¡¯s heart tightly together.


    At this moment, Los Angeles Rams fans who refused to stay any longer and had begun leaving the stadium stopped in their tracks, listening to the all-encompassing song.


    Suddenly, they froze¡ª


    If, just hypothetically, if they¡¯d been willing to stand by the team until the very end, if they¡¯d been willing to grow with the team through victories and defeats, if they¡¯d been willing to become part of the team and share its hardships and lows, would the conclusion of tonight¡¯s Super Bowl have been different?


    Since the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers returned to the City of Angels, this city, abundant in entertainment, had always resisted giving its passion. Until this year, when the Los Angeles Rams built a winning streak, ¡°fair-weather fans¡± swarmed to witness the Super Bowl championship moment.


    However, a little setback, a small obstacle, was enough to make these fair-weather fans turn away, scattering like loose sand.


    After all, beyond the Los Angeles Rams, they had plenty of other options.


    But sports shouldn¡¯t be this way. Even the Los Angeles Lakers or the Los Angeles Dodgers faced peaks and valleys, endured setbacks, and rallied stronger. Fans persistently stayed by their side, journeying together through tough times¡ªthat¡¯s the only way victory can truly resonate with the soul.


    So, did they get it wrong?

 Chapter 902: 901 World Center

    Chapter 902: 901 World Center


    The Kansas City Chiefs are the Kansas City Chiefs not merely because they defended the Super Bowl title, but because special moments like these bring together the scarred and weathered citizens of Kansas City, helping them face the storms of life and ultimately forge legends.


    It¡¯s not just about the championship, nor simply about defending it¡ªthe city, the team, and all the ordinary people struggling in the mire of life made tonight¡¯s battle profoundly different. Even if the Kansas City Chiefs clinched victory with an easy and decisive triumph, it still stirs boundless passion and endless fervor.


    This moment. This place. This is evidence enough.


    The Los Angeles Rams fans, who were gradually leaving the stadium, bore witness to this moment. Many paused, standing amidst the surging crowd, silently listening to the sounds echoing throughout the venue.


    By all rights, they should hate the Kansas City Chiefs¡ªnot because of the ancient grudge between ¡°St. Louis Rams vs. Kansas City Chiefs,¡± but because the Chiefs¡¯ unparalleled performance tonight made the Rams appear as helpless as lost children.


    Yet, at this moment, they couldn¡¯t help but feel admiration and yearning.


    It¡¯s unimaginable how tightly bonded those fans are, weathering storms together, hand in hand, facing all the challenges and heartaches, waiting for the rainbow after the rain.


    The song, melodious yet resilient, sorrowful but steadfast.


    Jenna sang with all her heart, her soul blooming stubbornly and resolutely like a flower thriving on desert rock.


    ¡°Forward, forward, full of hope! You will never walk alone!


    Forward, forward, full of hope! You will never walk alone!¡±


    Over and over again, endlessly reverberating.


    It wasn¡¯t just the fans¡ªeven Goodell couldn¡¯t take his eyes off Li Wei¡ª


    Mahomes, Houston, and all of them stood shoulder to shoulder, joining Li Wei. Every Kansas City Chief at the podium was no exception.


    No one was left behind.


    Even someone as steely as Goodell couldn¡¯t help but be slightly moved by the scene.


    In the world of sports, there are indeed gifts that transcend victory and championships.


    The entire North American continent fell silent, quietly listening to Li Wei¡¯s voice filling the Mercedes-Benz Dome, feeling the pounding of hearts and the fiery warmth of blood coursing through veins. Over 120 million live viewers bore witness, catching a rare glimpse of the hidden soul of football.


    Not until the song ended.


    The venue became utterly silent. Not a single sound could be heard¡ªjust breaths and heartbeats, filled with hope and anticipation, watching that tall figure with unwavering focus.


    At this moment, where Li Wei stood was the center of the universe.


    For a fleeting instant, Li Wei¡¯s emotions surged, but he controlled himself, straightened his back, squared his shoulders, and gazed brightly into the distance.


    He spoke again.


    ¡°Hey, Annie Galas, we won.¡±


    As the words left his lips, his nose tingled, tears welling up in his eyes, glittering under the thousand lights.


    Through the vibrant, dazzling haze of lights, Li Wei seemed to see her petite figure among the crowd¡ª


    She was wearing a red number 23 jersey, her hair in a fishtail braid, almost swallowed by the bustling throng, but the little girl didn¡¯t care. She raised her hands high, bouncing and cheering exuberantly, overflowing with happiness, her voice ringing out in victory.


    ¡°Fly!¡±


    She shouted.


    ¡°Rookie, fly. You will never walk alone.¡±


    Then, she broke free from the crowd, spreading her arms like an eagle, sprinting along the edge of the field with no restraints, no suppressions, no worries¡ªrunning wild and free.


    Finally, she could run without the shackles of illness.


    At this moment, the grief was overwhelming and heartbreakingly real, flowing uncontrollably like tides surging, drowning all reason in an instant.


    Behind him, Mahomes, Kelsey, and the others were no exception. One by one, their eyes reddened, casting sidelong glances, covertly wiping away the falling tears.


    Annie¡¯s passing felt like a thing of the past century, so distant, yet it had only been half a month ago. They had immersed themselves completely in the AFC Championship and the Super Bowl, temporarily casting aside their sorrow and pain as they charged forward relentlessly.


    Now, though, those memories surged back like a tidal wave.


    No one was immune.


    Annie should have been there at Arrowhead Stadium, witnessing their last-second triumph over the New England Patriots. She should have been at the Mercedes-Benz Dome, witnessing their successful title defense.


    Annie should have stood in the stands, beaming, cheering with all her might.


    This Super Bowl Championship Trophy was a twelfth birthday gift from the Kansas City Chiefs to the world¡¯s most loyal and strongest fan, Annie Galas.


    Li Wei took a deep breath, lifted his chin, and rediscovered his courage¡ª


    He would not stop running. He would not stop fighting. He would carry dreams and hope forward until the end of time.


    Dreams, undying.


    With a swift motion, Li Wei hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy high above his head.


    The crowd erupted in thunderous applause.


    ¡°We are the champions!¡±


    Felix roared with all his might.


    For the first time ever, in an unparalleled moment, Felix felt truly alive¡ªunconcerned about his illness worsening, unafraid of never waking up again after falling asleep, unbothered by the thought of being forgotten. He seized this moment and embraced life wholeheartedly.


    Not just Karen¡ªJenna and Jeff also turned to Felix. In him, they seemed to see Annie¡¯s brilliant spirit shining brightly.


    Then, they joined in the shouting, expending all their energy, burning everything they had. Despite an exhausting day, they now gave themselves entirely, screaming, laughing, jumping, and dancing as though it were the last day of their lives.


    ¡°We are the champions!¡±


    Provo, West, and the others roared without restraint.


    Perhaps life would remain a struggle; perhaps reality would stay harsh. After tonight, nothing might change. Two Super Bowl trophies couldn¡¯t reverse real-life challenges. But for now, they were willing to believe in dreams and dared to embrace them.


    That was the motivation to keep going.


    The night, long and grueling, seemed without end; but now, they could take a deep breath, hold on for a moment, and then hold on just a moment longer, awaiting the dawn.


    Dreams made life bearable.


    ¡°We are the champions!¡±


    Ariana was utterly awestruck.


    She had never witnessed such a scene before. Or rather, she had occasionally glimpsed it on TV or accidentally scrolled past it on social media; but she had never felt this energy, never understood why people could act so crazily over the outcome of a game.


    Now, though, she seemed to understand.


    Victory was more than just winning. It was a belief, a spirit that guided people through the long night, giving them the courage and strength to keep going.


    Pain would not vanish. Problems would not resolve.


    But at the very least, they could confront them and turn that suffering and hardship into the strength to move forward.


    ¡°What doesn¡¯t kill you makes you stronger.¡±


    Ariana had never truly understood the meaning of that phrase, but tonight, in the Kansas City Chiefs, in Li Wei, she seemed to find the answer.

 Chapter 903: 902 Miscellaneous Personnel

    Chapter 903: 902 Miscellaneous Personnel


    ¡°We are the champions!¡±


    ¡°We are the champions!¡±


    Thunderous cheers filled the stadium, echoing across the skies.


    Without a doubt, this was the most iconic moment of the 53rd Super Bowl.


    Not only did Kansas City Chiefs fans erupt in celebration, but even Atlanta Falcons fans joined in, hoping to mend the heartbreak from two years ago when victory slipped through their fingers. One by one, they went wild, blending into the jubilant chaos.


    And surprisingly, many Los Angeles Rams fans stayed behind in the stadium¡ª


    This, truly, was a rare sight.


    Wait, why were the Rams fans still lingering? Isn¡¯t seeing the Chiefs celebrate their victory agonizing? Why were they staying to torture themselves?


    Yet somehow, Rams fans indeed lingered.


    Later, curious reporters approached for interviews, and those fans explained:


    The Kansas City Chiefs deserved their victory and championship, earning both respect and admiration. Li Wei¡¯s tribute to Annie during the game transcended the rivalry inherent in competitive sports, awakening a deep resonance that everyone could relate to.


    So, they chose to stay.


    Still, they eagerly anticipated the next encounter with the Kansas City Chiefs, promising that the Rams would defeat them fair and square.


    Unintentionally and unexpectedly, this stirred up a new kind of rivalry between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams, creating a narrative that quickly gained momentum.


    Without a doubt, this moment was destined to be etched in history.


    Not only because of the Chiefs¡¯ championship defense, but also due to the recognition from rival fans.


    Later, Time magazine featured Li Wei raising the Vince Lombardi Trophy as its latest cover, redefining the moment with a new headline:


    ¡°Li Wei Dominates Another Super Bowl¡ªIs the NFL Entering the Era of the Running Back?¡±


    Cover story, headline, spotlight.


    Both regular season and Super Bowl MVP¡ªthis is what comes with the territory.


    Yet, this was merely the beginning.


    The stadium was surging with passion, waves of enthusiasm spilling over in every direction. Amidst the bustling crowd, a figure threaded its way forward, steady all the way until it came to a stop at the focal point of the stadium.


    Li Wei.


    At that moment, Li Wei was finally free of the chaos. The venue was packed corner to corner with people. After sharing moments of celebration with teammates, Li Wei stood quietly at the entrance to the player¡¯s tunnel, gazing out toward the stands, slightly lost in thought.


    The figure did not disturb Li Wei but patiently stood there.


    Li Wei hadn¡¯t noticed yet, though the reporters had keenly picked up on it. Cameras quickly swiveled and, one after another, shutters began firing away, reluctant to miss even an instant of potential headline material.


    The sound of shutters snapped Li Wei out of his reverie.


    He turned¡ªand looked¡ª


    The figure had their hands clasped behind their back, eyes quietly brimming with curiosity as they took in Li Wei. Then, as if deciding on something, they lifted their right hand and greeted him with a radiant smile.


    ¡°Hey, Champ.¡±


    Li Wei froze, glancing left and right before replying with an earnest expression, ¡°Unauthorized personnel aren¡¯t allowed on the field. Don¡¯t the security staff know this?¡±


    Ariana hadn¡¯t anticipated this reaction from Li Wei¡ªher original joke to surprise him backfired as he deftly turned the tables on her.


    Momentarily delayed, Ariana caught on and, tossing her high ponytail, responded, ¡°Maybe they recognized me, seeing I¡¯m a special guest. Not like¡ªyou¡ªwho doesn¡¯t know how to appreciate my uniqueness.¡±


    Li Wei tilted his chin slightly, ¡°So, are you hoping I¡¯ll treat you like a superstar?¡±


    Ariana faltered, immediately grasping the subtext in his words, her cheeks flushing slightly. ¡°Just treat me like a normal friend. Being a friend is enough.¡±


    A superstar implies distance, with compliments and sycophantic gestures hiding behind a facade where connections fade after the show ends.


    But a friend? Friendship meant something else entirely.


    Li Wei¡¯s smile tugged wider at the corners of his mouth. ¡°Hey, thanks for coming to the game, Ariana.¡±


    Instinctively, Ariana couldn¡¯t help but break into a smile herself.


    *Snap*. *Snap snap snap snap*.


    Nearby, reporters were on the verge of losing their minds¡ª


    Breaking news! Absolutely breaking news!


    Clearly, the pre-Super Bowl dinner between Li Wei, Donald, and Ariana wasn¡¯t as innocent as it seemed.


    Moments ago, the excitement over Li Wei¡¯s championship defense gripped everyone.


    Now, gossip and speculation roared to life just as fiercely.


    ¡°Li Wei, Ariana, are you two dating?¡±


    Ariana appeared somewhat shy.


    Li Wei responded casually, looking directly at the reporter, ¡°Would you schedule a first date in full view of a massive crowd? If that¡¯s the case, it explains why you¡¯re still single.¡±


    ¡°How do you know I¡¯m single?¡± The words slipped out instantly.


    The reporters burst into laughter collectively.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t address the question further; instead, he turned to Ariana with an inviting gesture. ¡°Want to take a stroll around the field? Leave this crowd behind us?¡±


    Ariana noticed the look in his eyes¡ªit seemed he was implying something.


    Nervously uncertain, Ariana nodded despite herself.


    The next moment, Li Wei shouted, ¡°Run!¡±


    He extended his right hand toward Ariana.


    Confused, Ariana stared at him blankly. Without thinking, she reached out and grabbed Li Wei¡¯s hand¡ªand ran as fast as she could.


    Reporters: ???


    Li Wei¡¯s hand was large and warm, easily engulfing hers entirely, almost as if it could burn her skin.


    But she didn¡¯t mind.


    Unconsciously, she gripped tighter, harder, and then harder still.


    She followed Li Wei at full throttle.


    Unexpectedly, this simple act of running made her heart soar, happiness and delight spilling effortlessly into her chest.


    Her smile gradually blossomed wide.


    Ariana couldn¡¯t restrain herself any longer¡ªthe sound of her melodious laughter scattered like tiny bells across the field.


    Briefly, she felt glad her assistant had advised her to switch to sneakers before entering the stadium. It made her look smaller, more delicate, but it was an act of respect¡ªand at least sneakers wouldn¡¯t damage the grass like heels might.


    Now it felt like the right decision all along.


    Behind them trailed a fluffy group of reporters, all bustling to keep up.


    Journalists had no clue what was happening. Instinctively, they followed¡ªno time to analyze. They reflexively rushed after them.


    Can¡¯t miss this.


    And thus unfolded a surreal scene¡ª


    A group of reporters chasing after Li Wei and Ariana, running laps around the field.


    Yes, laps; on the field.


    Li Wei and Ariana hadn¡¯t left the field or sought out any hidden corner¡ªthey were simply running freely right in the open. Why reporters insisted on following them around was a mystery.


    No one could make sense of it, but the spectacle left everyone stunned.


    Was this Li Wei hosting a training session for reporters?


    The surreal moment left everyone around dazed and in disbelief, despite witnessing it directly.


    Mahomes looked at Kelsey, ¡°Did I miss something important?¡±


    Kelsey broke out into a grin. ¡°No, you didn¡¯t miss a thing. Come on, let¡¯s cheer on the reporters¡ªthey¡¯re just rookies, you know.¡±


    Mahomes blinked, slightly bewildered. Shouldn¡¯t they be cheering for Ariana instead?


    But it was too late¡ªKelsey had already rallied the troops.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, paparazzi!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, paparazzi!¡±


    Reporters: ??? I have a feeling you¡¯re insulting me, and I have evidence to prove it.

 Chapter 904: 903 Conquest Era

    Chapter 904: 903 Conquest Era


    Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.


    Ariana ran wildly forward, unable to recall the last time she felt this happy, this blissful.


    Singing. Performing. Meeting with fans. Attending Hollywood celebrity parties. Shopping. Traveling. Vacationing.


    It was all the same, as if she were trapped in an unremarkable bottleneck, endlessly struggling and wandering in futility and chaos.


    Slowly but surely, happiness began to feel out of reach.


    But tonight¡ªmore accurately, at this very moment, everything became simple again. It was just running, and yet it cleared away all the cluttered thoughts in her mind, making her feel as though she had returned to childhood, finding joy in trivial things.


    Laughter pulsed through her chest.


    Yet, Ariana was no professional athlete¡ªespecially considering the person running beside her was none other than Li Wei.


    After a short while, Ariana¡¯s footsteps began to falter, but she didn¡¯t want to stop. She tilted her head slightly and gazed at his profile, losing herself in the moment, running alongside him until the ends of the earth.


    Little did she know that Li Wei had already noticed.


    With a swift halt, he turned around.


    Caught off guard, Ariana collided directly into Li Wei¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Ariana barely had time to cry out before she was surrounded entirely by Li Wei¡¯s breath and warmth. Her heart suddenly felt like it stopped beating.


    The whole world spun around her¡ªshe could almost hear the thudding of a heart echoing in her chest but couldn¡¯t tell if it was hers or his.


    How Li Wei managed it, she didn¡¯t know, but while holding her, he moved swiftly, leading them into the crowd, where Kansas City Chiefs players noisily stirred up a commotion, blocking all reporters and isolating them completely from the flashing cameras.


    Finally, peace returned.


    Li Wei released his embrace, and Ariana¡¯s world lit up again.


    Still, Ariana lingered with a hint of reluctance, sneaking another glance at Li Wei.


    ¡°Oh no, caught red-handed.¡±


    As Li Wei turned to look at her, Ariana quickly darted her eyes upward before shifting back to him again, stumbling over her words.


    ¡°A... a bee. Just now¡ªI saw a bee.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s face lit up with curiosity as he looked at Ariana. ¡°You¡¯re saying there¡¯s a bee here?¡±


    Chewing on her tongue, Ariana hesitated. ¡°Yes, I really saw a bee.¡±


    Li Wei pressed his lips together, a ripple of amusement sparkling in his eyes. ¡°Alright then, if you say there¡¯s a bee, there must be a bee. Has it flown away now?¡±


    Ariana¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly, her tone softening. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s... flown away.¡±


    Just then, Mahomes, standing nearby, began earnestly scanning the surroundings. ¡°A bee? There¡¯s a bee here? Seriously? There¡¯s a bee here?¡±


    Drowning in embarrassment, Ariana shot a glare at Li Wei before spreading her hands out helplessly. ¡°Fine, laugh if you want. Holding it in could be worse.¡±


    Ha! Hahaha!


    Laughter exploded everywhere.


    Only Mahomes, the earnest one, remained baffled, looking around earnestly. ¡°Be careful! Ariana said there¡¯s a bee here...¡±


    Ariana had barely managed to call out to Mahomes before laughter swallowed their conversation entirely.


    Before the night ended, rumors had already gone viral.


    ¡°Ariana Grande and Li Wei openly declare their love!¡±


    ¡°No longer rumors¡ªAriana Grande and Li Wei officially dating!¡±


    ¡°Breaking headlines! Ariana Grande graciously supports Li Wei!¡±


    Each claim was more exaggerated, each statement more confidently assertive, to the point where the next headline might as well say Ariana and Li Wei were preparing to move in together.


    In truth, the media frenzy outshone the reactions of the couple involved.


    It was all reminiscent of when David Beckham and Victoria Adams fell in love¡ªvivid and spectacular!


    Twenty years later, despite endless controversies and challenges, the Beckham pair remain the pinnacle model of sports and entertainment convergence, with global commercial influence that remains irreplaceable.


    To this day, it¡¯s fair to say Victoria made Beckham, but equally, Beckham made Victoria¡ªa partnership of mutual success and inseparability.


    The search for the next ¡°Beckham couple¡± has gripped the sports and entertainment industries for years. Back when F1 racer Lewis Hamilton and singer Nicole Scherzinger dated, they were fixtures under the paparazzi spotlight for eight long years, but ultimately, the relationship ended in heartbreak.


    Finally!


    Hope is reignited!


    One is a rising star transforming the NFL landscape, the other is an idol who debuted at the peak and continuously stirs conversations. Their parallels to Beckham and Victoria are uncanny, almost identical!


    And to add spice to the story, there¡¯s the potential for a love triangle:


    Donald.


    The perpetually sidelined and forgotten Donald is suddenly being dragged into the limelight by various media outlets eager to amplify the drama.


    After all, Ariana and Li Wei dating is already sensational enough. Add Donald into the mix¡ªtwo rivals on the field becoming foes in their personal lives¡ªand you¡¯ve got an instant recipe for explosive storytelling.


    Rumor has it Hollywood agencies are already planning a film adaptation of the saga.


    The media frenzy is relentless and crazed.


    ¡°Regular season and Super Bowl MVP, Li Wei¡¯s private life finally unveiled!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei publicly acknowledges his first romance¡ªis this his first love?¡±


    ¡°Have we found our Royal Couple at last?¡±


    The previously quiet social media networks erupted like never before, bursting with immense energy that shattered all records.


    Who could have imagined that Super Bowl, once the king of stealing attention, would one day have its spotlight seized by a rumor?


    No matter the case, Li Wei emerged as the biggest winner¡ª


    Defending champion, MVP, his lover, and massive popularity.


    Everything he could potentially desire.


    And indeed, though rumor-driven hype reached frenzied extremes, it didn¡¯t take long for the excitement to return to the Super Bowl itself, fully focused on Li Wei.


    ¡°Defending champion! Li Wei breaks countless curses, leading Kansas City Chiefs to the top for the second consecutive year!¡±


    ¡°Game-changer! Li Wei once again plays the hero, earning Super Bowl MVP honors!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei, the trailblazer, NFL¡¯s first to achieve historic feats!¡±


    ¡°Conquering New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams back-to-back, not only avenging losses from the season but becoming the first in fifteen years to defend his title¡ªLi Wei is pioneering a brand-new era!¡±


    ¡°As the running back rises¡ªLi Wei single-handedly reshapes the league¡¯s dynamics.¡±


    ¡°Does Li Wei¡¯s success mean other running backs can achieve similar feats? Or is Li Wei a one-of-a-kind force?¡±


    ¡°Rewriting history, redefining perception¡ªthe ¡®rookie¡¯ storms onto the scene and reshapes the league.¡±


    ¡°In turbulent times, heroes arise¡ªbut no one anticipated the unifier of the chaos to be Li Wei!¡±


    Praise! Praise! More praise!


    Headlines everywhere!


    All media outlets went utterly mad, dedicating the front pages of over three hundred publications to Li Wei¡ª


    And that¡¯s only traditional media, once again showcasing the unrivaled influence of the Super Bowl.


    Factor in social networks and streaming platforms, and the reach becomes unimaginable. The whole world seems to orbit Li Wei.


    In this moment, Li Wei is the sun, the center of the galaxy, uniquely irreplaceable.


    Even Brady, steering New England Patriots to three championships in four years, never received such treatment.


    It¡¯s simple¡ªpeople are tired of the quarterback storyline. But the dominance of a running back? That hasn¡¯t been seen in over thirty years¡ª


    No one wanted to miss it.

 Chapter 905: 904 superheroes

    Chapter 905: 904 superheroes


    At this moment, Li Wei has completely overturned the twenty-year status quo of the league¡ª


    Football is no longer just the sport of quarterbacks.


    Thirty years ago, football was a golden age when quarterbacks and running backs flourished side by side, with countless legendary running backs leaving their mark in the annals of history.


    But over the past twenty years, driven by television broadcasts, the dominance of viewership ratings, and the pursuit of profits, the league has continuously modified its rules to provide increasing protection for quarterbacks. The power of passing offenses skyrocketed, changing the tactical playbook of football, and quarterbacks rose to an unparalleled stature.


    In the last decade, running backs, once the core of teams, have been gradually marginalized, even viewed as ¡°disposable assets,¡± facing comprehensive disregard.


    But now, because of Li Wei, the keywords ¡°Asian,¡± ¡°rookie,¡± ¡°running back¡± collide and intertwine; with his regular-season MVP performance and his crowning as Super Bowl MVP, he¡¯s shaking the foundation of the league, quietly pulling the spotlight back towards running backs and reminding fans with his actions:


    Running backs remain an indispensable part of football; they continue to evolve, advancing from the simplistic role of brute-force tanks to players who fully exhibit strength and intelligence, speed and agility. Running backs can still play the role of game-changers.


    Eyes are now eagerly drawn in. Running backs, long absent in the spotlight, once again take center stage¡ªbut not solely running backs.


    Centered around the ¡°Li Wei VS Donald¡± clash of titans, the discourse has dramatically shifted. Running backs, defensive tackles, defensive ends, wide receivers, tight ends, cornerbacks, linemen... and more.


    Players in other positions have received unprecedented attention this season.


    And it all stems from Li Wei.


    When the league discusses ¡°championship defense,¡± though challenging, it no longer seems so unattainable.


    The New England Patriots accomplished the feat during the 2003 and 2004 seasons, the Denver Broncos during the 1997 and 1998 seasons, and the Dallas Cowboys during the 1992 and 1993 seasons.


    Now, add the Kansas City Chiefs to the list.


    Over the past twenty-five years, the Kansas City Chiefs are the fourth team to achieve such a monumental accomplishment.


    However!


    In the NFL Super Bowl era, becoming back-to-back Super Bowl MVP is the true challenge. In the past fifty years, only two players have managed to pull this off.


    One is Green Bay Packers legend Bart Starr, who achieved it in the inaugural and second Super Bowls of the 1966 and 1967 seasons.


    The other is Pittsburgh Steelers great Terry Bradshaw, who achieved it in the 1978 and 1979 seasons.


    And both of these legends were quarterbacks.


    Now, Li Wei has become the first player in thirty-nine years to win consecutive Super Bowl MVPs, and he is the third player in the NFL Super Bowl era to achieve this feat.


    More importantly, he is the first non-quarterback to accomplish this.


    Shock, impact, unbelievable.


    It has already far surpassed imagination, shaking the league with unstoppable momentum.


    ¡°Football shouldn¡¯t just be about quarterbacks.¡±


    Truth be told, if a running back merely challenges the quarterback¡¯s dominance, it wouldn¡¯t be enough to change the long-established narrative of the league¡¯s passing-focused strategy and the quarterback¡¯s central image, even for Li Wei. The power gap is too substantial because the quarterback¡¯s unparalleled stature has been solidifying for thirty, even forty years.


    But now, it¡¯s different.


    Li Wei is just the starting point, the lever that shifts the narrative. Through Li Wei, attention has begun extending to positions beyond quarterbacks, prompting a reevaluation of football as a unique ¡°team sport.¡± The outcome is fundamentally transformative.


    Indeed, quarterbacks are crucial, incredibly crucial; they remain the foundation upon which football teams are built. But quarterbacks aren¡¯t the only pillar, nor should they be.


    Thanks to Li Wei¡¯s rise and dominance, players in offensive and defensive groups from other positions have garnered the spotlight, ushering in unprecedented noise and brilliance in the league.


    It¡¯s like a carnival.


    And that¡¯s what makes it so rare and spectacular.


    Without a doubt, every step Li Wei takes is rewriting history.


    Do you remember? Just a week ago, Li Wei became the first Asian regular-season MVP in the history of North America¡¯s Four Major Sports Leagues, creating a sensation worldwide.


    Now, Li Wei has taken it a step further, challenging racial, age, and other physical stereotypes while revolutionizing player positions, league history, and other professional norms to usher in a brand-new era.


    Because of this, ¡°The New York Times¡± hailed Li Wei as the ¡°record breaker¡± and ¡°history maker.¡± Right now, every move he makes on the field is changing the league and even transforming the global landscape of competitive sports.


    And that is the most astonishing part.


    No wonder!


    No wonder the media has overwhelmingly shifted all attention onto Li Wei, with endless waves of praise flooding the scene.


    Regardless of whether the league agrees, Goodell can no longer reverse the trend¡ª


    For the first time in twenty years, running backs have overshadowed quarterbacks.


    This sounds like a far-fetched fantasy, truly hard to believe; but reality tells a different story¡ªthe league hasn¡¯t stopped this narrative.


    The reason is painfully simple:


    The Asian market, and even the global market, needs such a story. Whether it¡¯s an underdog¡¯s comeback or an outsider¡¯s triumph, whether it¡¯s running backs redefining the game or Asian athletes reaching the summit, these tales catch their eyes.


    Moreover, using running backs as a starting point to rebuild football¡¯s image as a ¡°team sport,¡± addressing the criticism and protests sparked by the league¡¯s overwhelming emphasis on quarterbacks in recent years, ensures the league remains the ultimate beneficiary.


    So, Goodell has no reason to reject this trend.


    Although the league still champions passing offenses and quarterbacks remain precious, this doesn¡¯t prevent Goodell from reigniting the public¡¯s attention on star running backs.


    This is the power of a superstar.


    Any topic with a connection to Li Wei instantly ignites debate.


    After the Super Bowl, ESPN¡¯s ¡°Inside the League¡± aired a special episode reviewing the Super Bowl and summing up the season.


    Live on air, Bart was glaringly absent. Gloating netizens began speculating that Bart might have stormed off in embarrassment and refused to appear on a national broadcast, fearing ridicule. Social media erupted with playful mockery aimed at Bart.


    But no one expected this¡ªBart suddenly appeared, leading a donkey onto the stage. Though he looked utterly defeated and his expression showed struggle, he steeled himself and struck a ¡°ready-for-anything¡± pose. Under the stunned gazes and gasps of the studio guests and the nationwide audience¡ª


    He kissed the donkey¡¯s rear.


    And since he committed to it, he didn¡¯t just rush through it.


    Bart kept kissing it for five full seconds, leaving viewers unsure whether to pity Bart or the poor, innocent donkey.


    The moment spawned endless photos from the live broadcast and spurred netizens to capture countless screenshots.


    Statistics showed that this episode garnered a staggering thirteen million viewers, breaking the record for ¡°Inside the League¡¯s¡± highest ratings for the entire 2018 season.


    As for social media, it felt like an erupting volcano.


    Whether they watched the live broadcast or the replay, one thing is certain¡ªGIFs of the iconic moment, immortalized as viral memes, spread far and wide and became forever etched in digital history.


    So, does this count as eternal infamy?

 Chapter 906: 905 Mega Star Halo

    Chapter 906: 905 Mega Star Halo


    ESPN, ¡°Inside the League.¡±


    No one expected it¡ªcompletely unexpected¡ªthat the program would go viral in such a manner, and Bart¡¯s meme-filled expressions were plastered across every corner.


    After this battle, ¡°Li Wei Hater¡± Bart and ¡°Li Wei Fan¡± Lawson reached their peak of fame across North America, becoming undoubted NFL superstar commentators on social media.


    See, this is Li Wei¡¯s influence. Even as commentators, they can effortlessly step into the spotlight by relying on the topic of Li Wei.


    When internet users joined in complaining about this year¡¯s Super Bowl being dull and boring, when the boycott of the Super Bowl became mainstream on social networks, Li Wei rose against the tide, becoming the only highlight.


    Even those voicing criticism admitted that this year, on key issues, Li Wei fully displayed the stance of a true leader. Perhaps Li Wei was the only redeeming quality of this terrible Super Bowl, and he naturally deserved to be the face of football.


    Unexpected but perfectly reasonable, Jay-Z and Rihanna openly discussed Li Wei.


    The two top stars publicly rejected invitations to perform at the halftime show and firmly expressed their stance against the Super Bowl, successfully escaping its overshadowing negative reputation this year. Yet in interviews, one after another, they mentioned the Super Bowl for the first time.


    To be precise, not the Super Bowl, but Li Wei.


    Jay-Z: ¡°Yes, I watched the Super Bowl. The Li Wei clips.¡±


    Let¡¯s not forget, Jay-Z was born in New York, rooted in New York, and remains one of the top figures in East Coast hip-hop. His support for Li Wei is hardly surprising.


    Reportedly, after the Super Bowl, Jay-Z even personally invited Li Wei to his home, with Beyonce? warmly welcoming him as well.


    Rihanna: ¡°We need more Li Wei. Players like Li Wei are who can truly become the face of a sport.¡±


    Brady: Wait a minute, are you throwing shade at me?


    It¡¯s hard to imagine how, even amidst the whirlwind of negativity surrounding the Super Bowl boycott, Li Wei managed to rise and become the sole winner of this year¡¯s Super Bowl.


    No wonder even the league rarely abandoned its tradition of ¡°Pass is King¡± and ¡°Quarterback is Core,¡± wholeheartedly thrusting Li Wei into the public spotlight.


    With influences, topics, and accolades, Li Wei continually broke boundaries, elevating his presence beyond football and into other realms. Even rumors became a helpful wind pushing Li Wei further on his climb, achieving a level of media intensity unimaginable.


    Ultimately, it created the current scenario¡ª


    ¡°GOAT vs Rookie.¡±


    Two years ago, when this topic first emerged, it was just a joke, a diversion, an entertaining headline. Everyone was talking about it, but with a playful attitude.


    Now, without a doubt, this topic has become the focal point of the league. Li Wei has clearly surpassed Brady, becoming the undisputed new face of the NFL.


    Within the league, when this topic arises, it¡¯s regarded as a head-to-head matchup between the two best players today. Outside the league, Brady and Li Wei are unmistakably considered the representatives of the NFL, directly equated with football itself.


    In other words, Li Wei¡¯s superstar status has officially been cemented!


    At this moment, revisiting Roger Goodell¡¯s series of moves, it¡¯s no surprise to find this economics-trained leader keenly attuned to the pulse of the era.


    Goodell had long prepared for this, rarely abandoning his push for quarterbacks. ¡°Mahomes vs Goff¡± would have been an excellent narrative; but now, his top priority is clearly Li Wei, sincerely hoping Li Wei can deliver again next season.


    The ¡°Deification Plan¡± has already set its gears in motion.


    Then, across the North American continent, a peculiar yet fresh trend emerged¡ª


    Go to Kansas City.


    In North America, population movement has always been a norm. Moving, migrating¡ªit¡¯s simply a part of life. Young people leave their hometowns and head to another city or state to carve out a new future; or perhaps embark on road trips, working while wandering, settling wherever feels right.


    Thus, besides the mega-cities of Los Angeles and New York, only Chicago and Houston boast populations exceeding two million across North America. Other cities, big or small, typically hover around one million¡ªa figure enough to mark a spot on the map.


    Cities like Detroit and New Orleans, scarred by hardships, see their populations depart; cities like San Jose and Atlanta, filled with opportunity, draw people in.


    Just like the ¡°Gold Rush¡± of the past.


    Now, it¡¯s happening again.


    For a long, long time, Kansas City¡ªlacking appeal and competitiveness¡ªfaded into oblivion amid the vast, desolate central region.


    Economically, historically, culturally, and even in terms of unique features, there was hardly anything to draw attention. The city sank into quiet decline, an unremarkable presence slipping deeper into the sands of time. More and more young people chose to leave, and passing travelers seldom lingered; the vitality of the city drained away, bit by bit.


    Until now.


    People who¡¯ve never lived in Kansas City might not understand the place, but when they see the Kansas City Chiefs, see Li Wei, especially glimpses of fan-and-team unity during the American League Championship and the Super Bowl, they can¡¯t help but feel a surge of passion and longing.


    It¡¯s as if they¡¯ve glimpsed Oz from ¡°The Wizard of Oz.¡±


    Thus, a new hashtag emerged on social media platforms: #GoToKansasCity.


    Initially, it started with just a handful of people, indistinguishable from the usual routine of young travelers embarking on road trips¡ªthis time, with Kansas City as the destination.


    Yet gradually, piece by piece, this small group found fellow travelers joining them, the momentum quickly swelling under the hashtag.


    When fresh blood flows into a city, it sparks new vitality. After all, a city is ultimately a space for its people.


    At the most basic level, everyday consumption drives activity, and visible signs of life return to streets and alleys.


    However, if it stopped at a mere influx of visitors, high unemployment would persist, and the apparent boom would only be fleeting. When the tourists leave, the city would sink back into silence.


    Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t just people. Businesses, big and small, also began pouring into Kansas City, betting on the city¡¯s prospects. Companies in agriculture, manufacturing, and processing started emerging, cautiously yet optimistically injecting energy into the region.


    That¡¯s the key.


    After so much waiting and enduring, Kansas City finally seems to have encountered a turning point. The city as a whole is awakening, like the arrival of spring.


    Undoubtedly, this is rare; yet it¡¯s also a blessing welcomed by city hall.


    If anyone is curious why cities hope for professional athletes to call them home, why they aspire to host events like the Super Bowl, why the New Orleans Saints garnered widespread praise for staying put after Hurricane Katrina¡ª


    Kansas City today is the answer.

 Chapter 907: 906 profound influence

    Chapter 907: 906 profound influence


    When people discuss influence, metrics such as trending topics, advertising sponsorships, and other numbers are often more direct and specific.


    This is a fact, and undoubtedly these comprise an important part of influence; however, this is not the whole picture.


    In the world of competitive sports, influence also encompasses increasing attention to the sport, inspiring young players and amateur enthusiasts, changing the industry¡¯s overall conditions for survival, and so on.


    Michael Jordan. Roger Federer. Tiger Woods. Michael Schumacher. Serena Williams.


    And many others.


    These legends, without exception, all possess this kind of invisible yet undeniably existent influence¡ªa profound legacy immortalized in history with a power greater than numbers, transcending even the status of GOAT to carve their names into the annals of time.


    Of course, players capable of such influence are themselves GOATs.


    Now, Li Wei has this kind of opportunity.


    With just two short seasons in the NFL, coupled with the uniqueness of the running back position, Li Wei is not yet part of the heated debates about the GOAT; but as an Asian, combined with the distinctiveness of being a running back and his legendary resume, Li Wei has unparalleled influence, silently transforming the global attention to the sport.


    This kind of influence undoubtedly elevates this young running back to an entirely new level¡ª


    This is a brand-new domain, a realm untouched even by Brady or Big Manning, where every step Li Wei takes may write a new chapter in history.


    #ToKansasCity.


    This trending tag is just the tip of the iceberg¡ªand also just the beginning.


    Within days, fervent crowds surged into Kansas City from all directions like a flood, as the city collectively entered carnival mode.


    Last year, the Kansas City Chiefs reclaimed the Super Bowl title after a forty-eight-year gap, sparking a frenzy¡ªmobilizing two million attendees and shattering North America¡¯s Big Four leagues¡¯ championship parade attendance record in astonishing fashion, causing a sensation across the North American continent.


    Looking back now, that likely marked Kansas City¡¯s first impression as passionate, united, and optimistic for the broader public.


    Because last year¡¯s madness was so extraordinary, most assumed it would be hard to surpass this year, despite the Chiefs¡¯ successful title defense. Without the drought-breaking impact of last year combined with the dominance of this year¡¯s Super Bowl win, which lacked the nail-biting suspense of the previous one, it seemed unlikely to once again gather two million participants.


    And indeed, it was not a repeat of last year¡¯s insanity.


    However, the true surprise was that this year was still feverishly enthusiastic, leaving a distinct mark with ease¡ª


    Over 1.5 million fans joined this championship parade.


    Though far from matching last year, it still ranked as the second-highest attendance for a championship parade in the history of North America¡¯s Big Four leagues, second only to the record set by the Kansas City Chiefs last year, showcasing the city¡¯s energy rivaling any major sports town in overwhelming fashion.


    What made this year particularly special was the participation of newly-minted Kansas City residents, young people who had only recently settled in the city, all of whom joined the parade. Their influx of fresh enthusiasm infused the annual celebration with a new peak, becoming a striking feature of the day.


    A sea of humanity, packed to overflowing.


    The highlight of the entire championship parade came at a slightly unexpected moment¡ª


    Felix, seated in a wheelchair, appeared on the Kansas City Chiefs players¡¯ parade float, accompanied by Karen, Jenna, and a group of children.


    Upon inquiry, it was discovered that this group of children were all cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and they were friends of Annie and Felix.


    The Kansas City Chiefs had specifically invited them to join this title-defense parade.


    When Felix stood at the front of the float and saw Li Wei and Mahomes leaving their nearby float to walk toward them, Felix couldn¡¯t contain himself and raised his arms high, shouting loudly.


    ¡°Fly!¡±


    The heartfelt, uncontrollable joy and happiness unexpectedly ignited the parade scene. The fans on both sides who witnessed Li Wei and Mahomes also raised their fists in cheers, inadvertently joining Felix¡¯s chant.


    Then, it spread like wildfire.


    One after another, sweeping across the venue, those newly arrived Kansas City residents found themselves deeply moved and overwhelmed, their blood boiling as they joined in, eagerly pushing the carnival atmosphere to new heights.


    Glenn Carter, who had just arrived in Kansas City yesterday and was set to graduate college this June with no plans yet for his future¡ªno job search, no internships, no clear direction.


    In his confusion and uncertainty, Carter watched the American League championship game and then the Super Bowl, which sparked his interest in Kansas City¡ª


    He admitted he was a fair-weather fan. If the Kansas City Chiefs had lost those games, he might never have felt drawn to this city and perhaps would have headed for Boston or Los Angeles instead. But now, he was here in Kansas City.


    Carter thought Li Wei was an intriguing player.


    Kansas City¡ªit was spontaneous.


    His luggage was still in a cheap $20-per-night motel. He hadn¡¯t even started searching for a place to stay, yet he came out early this morning to join the championship parade.


    Previously, he lived in Portland, which only had one professional team¡ªthe NBA¡¯s Portland Trail Blazers, who hadn¡¯t won a title in ages. His university experience in Richmond was dominated by NCAA¡¯s prominence.


    Thus, he had never experienced anything like this.


    Watching this scene, his exhaustion from the long journey vanished in an instant. With pounding excitement, he raised his hands high, joining the crowd.


    ¡°Fly!¡±


    Again and again.


    Carter shouted until he couldn¡¯t help himself, overcome with excitement. For the first time, Carter realized what true celebration felt like¡ªwhat a real party looked like.


    Portland or Richmond¡ªthey truly had no clue about parties.


    Raising his arms, Carter jumped and cheered without restraint, becoming just one drop in the ocean of people, together creating waves that shook the heavens.


    He thought he was starting to fall in love with Kansas City.


    At that moment, the unified chants of ¡°Fly¡± reverberated beneath the Kansas City sky, sealing the conclusion of the entire 2018 NFL season with perfection.


    Party. Celebration. Parade.


    Not just the players, but the entire city was engulfed in jubilant madness. Even after the parade ended, the air still brimmed with happiness and cheer. Not even returning to work could dampen their joy.


    Every street corner flaunted Kansas City Chiefs flags. Wearing Chiefs jerseys to walk the streets was becoming a trendy new fashion. Offices constantly buzzed with Super Bowl chatter.


    Even breathing felt blissful.


    This celebration might carry on for a while longer¡ª


    Whether or not this was a dream, Kansas City didn¡¯t want to wake up just yet. Let this bliss last a little longer, just a little longer.

 Chapter 908: 907 Last Farewell

    Chapter 908: 907 Last Farewell


    In February, the sky over Kansas City was coated in soft shades of blue and gray, stretching high and far. Gazing into the expanse above, it seemed endless, extending all the way to the horizon¡¯s edge, where the imagination of the world kept expanding, limitless and boundless.


    Not a cloud in sight, a gentle sunlight spilled slowly across the land¡ªnot searing, not burning, and yet neither cold nor biting. The body involuntarily relaxed just a little.


    ¡°Weather like this, so calm and tranquil, makes it truly hard to imagine the storms of last month. The day of the American League Championship, that should be unforgettable for a lifetime.¡±


    ¡°Let me tell you a secret. That day, I realized for the first time how little control we actually have over the game. Even when we lost before, I never felt that sense of powerlessness.¡±


    ¡°Like the weather, there are indeed things we can¡¯t control. Just like illnesses, right?¡±


    ¡°It was then, for the first time, that I truly understood how you and Felix felt. You were fighting with everything you had, harder than anyone could ever imagine. Even the everyday acts of breathing, walking, running¡ªthings people take for granted¡ªyou had to put every ounce of strength into fighting for them.¡±


    ¡°So when people praise me for how great I am, I often think to myself, I¡¯m not that extraordinary. Truly, every ordinary person working diligently day after day, living with earnest effort, has their own greatness.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary guy running around with a football, that¡¯s all.¡±


    As he spoke, laughter gently bubbled up from his chest. Calm, lighthearted.


    The cemetery was serene and peaceful. Only Li Wei lay on the grass, one leg crossed over the other, a sprig of foxtail grass between his lips as he mumbled softly to himself.


    Behind him rested Annie Galas in her eternal slumber.


    Li Wei wasn¡¯t really talking to himself. He was chatting with Annie¡ªcomplaining, joking, having the time of his life. It was as if nothing had changed, as if they were still sitting on the steps, lounging in the chemo room, standing outside the training grounds, bantering and laughing, sharing the little snippets of their daily lives.


    Outside, the world was still buzzing.


    All of Kansas City remained in party mode, recklessly celebrating back-to-back Super Bowl victories. The revelry might just carry on into March.


    But that vibrant joy and bustling splendor had nothing to do with this tranquil place.


    Li Wei thought Annie probably wouldn¡¯t like it here. She was such a lively person, always full of joy and laughter, always playful and mischievous, never able to stay still for long.


    Just like now.


    Annie¡¯s stillness felt like a game of hide-and-seek. Maybe, just maybe, at this very moment, she was covering her mouth, stifling giggles, waiting for Li Wei to let his guard down¡ª


    And then.


    ¡°Boo! Gotcha!¡±


    ¡°How about that? Still think I¡¯m impressive, huh? I knew I¡¯d catch you eventually.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha.¡±


    Bright, carefree, unrestrained.


    Li Wei felt an illusion, as if he could still hear Annie¡¯s laughter, as if all this¡ªeverything before him¡ªwas just one big joke Annie and everyone else were in on.


    He knew, though, that it was an illusion.


    Annie was gone. The unrelenting illness had taken her life and energy away from her. And yet, she no longer had to endure chemo, no longer had to have her physical metrics scrutinized by doctors, no longer had to fear all her hair falling out or the sleepless nights wracked by pain.


    In this moment, lying on the cemetery grass, with the gravestone behind him, Li Wei felt entirely conscious, both physically relaxed and mentally lucid. Rational, clear-eyed. He knew it was all just in his imagination. Yet he still couldn¡¯t stop wondering¡ª


    What if?


    What if Annie were still here?


    Time seemed to freeze on that early winter afternoon in Kansas City. They had finished training and stood by the back door, where fans had gathered to cheer them on. Annie was among them, and they ended up laughing and chatting there, other players joining in, creating an atmosphere of lighthearted camaraderie.


    ¡°Hey, Annie, can I tell you a secret?¡±


    ¡°To be honest, I¡¯ve never liked football.¡±


    ¡°Not exactly hate, either. It¡¯s more like... indifference. I didn¡¯t know anything about football.¡±


    ¡°Coach Burns scouted me out of sheer desperation. The team had no substitutes left.¡±


    ¡°The only reason I agreed to join Crimson Tide Storm was because I accidentally tackled and broke a robber¡¯s arm. The school offered to smooth out the legal trouble for me on the condition I joined the team.¡±


    ¡°See? It¡¯s that simple. No dreams, nothing romantic about it.¡±


    ¡°I kept playing football just because I could. Plus, it seemed to pay well. It¡¯s just a job, really.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I can stay calm. Because I¡¯ve never truly cared.¡±


    ¡°But...¡±


    The words stopped there.


    Li Wei gazed quietly at the sky, emotions surging. It took effort just to calm himself down again.


    ¡°But you made me realize it¡¯s more than just a game.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a hope, a belief, and, yes, a dream. I should thank you, just as I should thank the Old Oak Tavern.¡±


    ¡°You made team spirit real. You gave the game meaning. You made it possible for dreams to come true.¡±


    ¡°Annie, honestly, I¡¯m not that great, and I¡¯m nothing special. I can¡¯t bear the weight of everyone¡¯s dreams. I¡¯m really afraid of messing it all up.¡±


    The American League Championship¡ªthat was the first time Li Wei truly felt things were spiraling out of control. It was the first time he was genuinely scared. Scared of disappointing Annie¡¯s dreams. Scared of not being able to face the results of the game, even after giving it everything he had. Scared of carrying that regret forever.


    He shut his eyes sharply as a wave of warmth surged through him. In the darkness, flashes of that game played repeatedly in his mind, his heart pounding violently, almost ready to burst apart.


    And yet, it was precisely at that moment that Li Wei felt, for the first time, the uniqueness of this sport. He was no longer just a passerby, no longer someone who had ended up in football by circumstance. He had become a part of football itself.


    It was the weight of dreams, and it was the weight of belief.


    For the first time ever, Li Wei felt connected to this city and to the fans¡ª


    They were moving forward together, battling side by side.


    ¡°Now, when I¡¯m running down the field, I¡¯m no longer alone.¡±


    This was a secret, one he had kept in his heart, never daring to say aloud. As the team captain, Li Wei believed he had to bear such pressures and face such challenges¡ª


    To wear the crown, one must bear its weight.


    Not until today, not until the season had fully ended, did Li Wei quietly share the secret with Annie.


    In that instant, a ray of sunlight fell on Li Wei, tender and warm, as if wrapping him in an embrace. A gentle breeze swept past, brushing his shoulder lightly, almost as though it were comforting him.


    Suddenly, Li Wei opened his eyes wide, staring dazedly at the sunlight in the sky. It was as if he could see Annie again, still laughing, still running, still shouting.


    ¡°Rookie, you¡¯ll never walk alone.¡±


    And in that moment, Li Wei finally realized¡ªclearer than ever before:


    That Annie was gone. The girl who had used every ounce of energy in her life to light up a small corner of the world, the girl who had looked forward so eagerly to attending her own graduation, had withered away before she could turn twelve.


    This thought gripped Li Wei¡¯s heart tightly, squeezing it with merciless force.

 Chapter 909: 908 Higher Challenge

    Chapter 909: 908 Higher Challenge


    Pale sunlight spilled down, quietly dissolving the bitterness and sorrow swirling in his chest.


    A faint warmth unfolded, slowly relaxing the tense muscles and the aching sting in his eyes.


    The lingering warmth of tears swirled in his eyes, yet had not dissipated. But this time, the corners of his mouth lifted gently into a smile, as a firm courage took root deep within his soul, blossoming proudly and steadily.


    He would be like Annie¡ªcapable of being hurt, afraid, and vulnerable, yet steadfastly refusing to give up.


    Propping his hands on the ground, Li Wei sat upright and turned to face the tombstone behind him.


    ¡°Annie Galas, 2007¨C2019. I know this was a battle with an ending preordained, yet I still held my head high and fought until the very last moment.¡±


    As expected, Annie was still Annie¡ªa soul far older and more mature than her body suggested, which appeared to be just seven years old but housed someone eleven, or perhaps even wiser.


    Competitive sports are not worshipped for their victories but for the determination to fight to the very end and snatch even the slimmest chance of success¡ªthat¡¯s where the irresistible allure lies.


    This was especially true for the Kansas City Chiefs.


    In the first year, they seized the championship, shocking the league and making many believe it was a fluke.


    In the second year, they defended their title, filled with challenges, and suspense lingered until the final moment. People had difficulty believing they were the team that broke a fifteen-year drought of Super Bowl back-to-back champions.


    Now, in their third year, expectations might have no surprises¡ª


    Li Wei was an outsider; he knew nothing about football, but Clark had explained it to him.


    In Super Bowl history, no team has ever achieved three consecutive championships.


    Not once. Not ever.


    In the past half-century, numerous teams have shown dominance across multiple consecutive seasons.


    In 1973, 1974, and 1976, the Minnesota Vikings made three Super Bowl appearances in four years, yet all ended in defeat.


    In 1986, 1987, and 1989, the Denver Broncos had three Super Bowl runs within four years, and each time they fell short.


    From 1990 to 1993, the Buffalo Bills reached the Super Bowl for four consecutive years, suffering four straight losses.


    Additionally¡ª


    In 1992, 1993, and 1995, the Dallas Cowboys achieved three championships within four years.


    In 2001, 2003, and 2004, the New England Patriots also won three titles within four years.


    In simple terms, only two teams in history¡ªthe Dallas Cowboys and the New England Patriots¡ªmanaged to secure three championships in four years. That¡¯s all.


    As for others, leave alone three consecutive championships¡ªeven three consecutive Super Bowl appearances have only been accomplished by the Buffalo Bills.


    This is precisely the charm of the NFL.


    A hard salary cap combined with the massive 53-player rosters creates a bottleneck neither surpassed nor shattered.


    So far, no team has achieved this history-making legendary feat¡ªeven Brady, crowned prematurely by his fervent fans as the ¡°GOAT¡± before his retirement, couldn¡¯t achieve such groundbreaking glory.


    Evidently, up next, the Kansas City Chiefs face this very challenge.


    An epic quest¡ªthe third year promises to be even more challenging, even more daunting, than all the preceding obstacles combined. But isn¡¯t that the very essence of adventure?


    Li Wei¡¯s gaze fell upon the epitaph, carefully reading it again¡ª


    To outsiders, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ next season might also seem like a ¡°battle with an ending preordained.¡± Yet he was already prepared.


    Life ought to be like Annie Galas: fight proudly and relentlessly until the very last moment.


    Anyway, Li Wei was ready; the question was whether the other thirty-one teams in the league were ready.


    Bending down, Li Wei gently placed the white lily he held onto the tombstone, raised his right hand, hesitated for a moment, and finally let it rest on the tombstone¡ªas if brushing off nonexistent dust from Annie¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°See you on the field, Annie Galas.¡±


    This time, there was neither sadness nor hesitation. Li Wei turned and walked away.


    At that moment, the sky suddenly brightened, and the gray world was flooded with golden sunlight, vivid and warm. The clear chill of winter seemed to melt like ice and snow, halting Li Wei¡¯s steps.


    Slightly startled, he looked up at the sky, his eyes filled with disbelief as he saw the world bathed fully in light. The damp and cold cemetery was suddenly drenched in golden hues, until his gaze landed on the white lily resting in front of the tombstone.


    Previously a bud, the flower astonishingly began to bloom before his very eyes.


    Li Wei froze.


    Fixing his gaze quietly on the lily, Li Wei seemed to hear Annie¡¯s voice, filled with fervent passion and excitement.


    Unconsciously, a sound deep in Li Wei¡¯s throat emerged.


    ¡°Fly.¡±


    A smile spread across his face, and he nodded gently, repeating the word once more.


    ¡°Fly!¡±


    Turning, Li Wei strode forward, his shoulders squared, and his back straightened. His figure revealed an unprecedented resolve, brighter and more intense than even the determination that fueled this year¡¯s Super Bowl defense.


    From a distance, at the cemetery¡¯s entrance, Li Wei caught sight of two silent figures.


    Though their gestures or expressions were subtle, their silent presence conveyed a faint sadness¡ªlike thick snow under sunshine, warm yet slow to melt.


    Nonetheless, as soon as they saw Li Wei, they raised their right hands to wave, their smiles gentle and warm, lifting faintly at their mouths.


    ¡°Hey, rookie.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s smile grew, his hand raised in greeting, ¡°Mr. Galas, Mrs. Galas.¡±


    The formal and ceremonial tone made Jenna and Jeff burst into light laughter.


    Jeff chuckled, ¡°Oh, we¡¯re supposed to feel hurt now¡ªyou sound so distant.¡±


    Li Wei replied calmly, ¡°Well, during my last visit, the mood was a tad solemn.¡± He gestured lightly with his thumb and finger, ¡°So, I need to be extra cautious today.¡±


    The laughter grew even livelier.


    Jenna waved her hand, ¡°No worries. In that case, maybe we should adjust how we address you as well¡ªMr. Li?¡±


    The air of distance was immediately palpable, yet comically amusing.


    Li Wei¡¯s eyes gleamed with humor as he gestured behind him, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to check on Annie?¡±


    Jenna exhaled softly, ¡°Later. We¡¯ll go in later. You invited us here today¡ªthere must be something you wanted to talk about, right?¡±


    Li Wei nodded lightly, ¡°I do have a favor to ask of you.¡±


    The Galas couple exchanged glances.


    They hadn¡¯t anticipated this development. After receiving Li Wei¡¯s call yesterday, both had speculated¡ªfirst thinking Li Wei had arranged an event here, indulging in wild guesses about various possibilities, but¡ª


    ¡°A favor?¡± Jeff asked. ¡°Whatever it is, tell us, and we¡¯ll help right away.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s expression turned serious, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve been feeling a little tight on funds recently...¡±


    Jeff: ...


    Jenna: ¡°No problem.¡±


    Now, it was Li Wei¡¯s turn to be stunned by their response to his playful tone.


    Jenna shrugged lightly, ¡°You¡¯ve already done enough for Annie. If there¡¯s something we can help with, then of course such a small thing isn¡¯t a problem.¡±


    Small thing?


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°I meant it as a joke, and I ended up being the joke myself.¡±


    ¡°I guess my mom was right¡ªdon¡¯t get cocky as a person.¡±

 Chapter 910: 909 Charity Fund

    Chapter 910: 909 Charity Fund


    Haha, hahaha.


    A light chuckle stirred within his chest, relieving the mood of Jenna and Jeff.


    After a small tease, Li Wei didn¡¯t continue to be mischievous. Instead, he shifted to the main point.


    ¡°I want to do something for Annie.¡±


    ¡°To be precise, in Annie¡¯s name, I want to help families who are still struggling and fighting.¡±


    ¡°I know that cancer remains a daunting challenge. It doesn¡¯t just take a toll on someone¡¯s energy¡ªit drains finances as well. Whether it¡¯s you, Felix, or others like you, the financial pressures are overwhelming. It¡¯s truly not easy.¡±


    ¡°So, I want to establish a charity foundation in Annie¡¯s name, specifically to support minors battling severe illnesses. I hope this can provide them with some form of aid, enabling them to keep fighting forward.¡±


    Unexpected, entirely unexpected.


    Jenna was completely unprepared for this revelation. She widened her eyes, first looking at Jeff and then turning back to Li Wei, ¡°Is this your mother¡¯s suggestion?¡±


    Li Wei froze for a moment, ¡°How did you know?¡±


    Jenna¡¯s nose tingled as emotion swelled, yet she beamed a gentle smile. ¡°Because we¡¯re all mothers.¡±


    After the Super Bowl, Jiang Yin couldn¡¯t forget Felix and Karen.


    Learning the finer details of Annie¡¯s story left Jiang Yin sleepless through many nights.


    Forget critical illnesses¡ªeven when Li Wei was competing on the field, Jiang Yin was always anxious. She worried about him getting injured, feared for the possibility of concussions.


    She¡¯s a simple woman¡ªher sole wish was for Li Wei to be healthy and happy. Accomplishments and historic legacies never mattered to her. Truly, not at all. Money, fame, status¡ªthey all seemed unnecessary complexities. To her, seizing present happiness was enough.


    So, she could completely empathize with the feelings of Karen and Jenna, two mothers.


    After much tossing and turning, Jiang Yin eventually approached Li Wei.


    ¡°Xiao Wei, there¡¯s something Mom wants to discuss with you.¡±


    ¡°For the past two years, the pocket money you¡¯ve given me¡ªI¡¯ve been saving it. I realize you meant for me to buy clothes, makeup, or maybe travel; but I¡¯ve been thinking about your future, when you retire and transition to a different career. After all, professional sports is fleeting, and we have to consider life beyond it.¡±


    ¡°When that time comes, if you need seed money for something, this savings could be of assistance.¡±


    ¡°But now, Mom wants to use this money to make a small contribution. Within my abilities, I wish to help families like Karen¡¯s and Jenna¡¯s. After all, it is your gift, so Mom wants to hear your thoughts.¡±


    Jiang Yin always put Li Wei¡¯s needs before hers, no matter the moment or matter.


    From Li Wei¡¯s perspective, this was the first time Jiang Yin had shared something she truly wanted to do herself. He had no reason to say no.


    In truth, that pocket money? It had been given to both his father and mother each month¡ªit was always meant to belong to Jiang Yin. No matter how she chose to use it, Li Wei would support her wholeheartedly.


    Especially when it came to charity.


    During halftime at the Conference Championship, Li Wei addressed his teammates, telling them how deeply connected they were to the city. His words weren¡¯t empty, feel-good platitudes¡ªthey came straight from the heart. He reminded them of the endless support they¡¯d received from the city and its residents and asserted that it was now time to return the favor.


    To this end, Li Wei sought advice from his agent, then from his financial manager, and even consulted JJ-Watt¡ª


    Watt had single-handedly founded the ¡°JJ-Watt Foundation,¡± devoted to supporting athletic programs in middle schools.


    Across North America, many public schools faced budgetary constraints, often slashing budgets for sports or limiting support to just one program. This left countless working-class students without access to sports activities. For those struggling academically, it also stripped away another avenue for growth.


    Recognizing this, Watt created the foundation: Teach a man to fish, rather than merely giving him one.


    After gathering insights from multiple perspectives, Li Wei reached out to Mr. and Mrs. Gallas, hoping to borrow Annie¡¯s name for this endeavor.


    Li Wei¡¯s face brimmed with genuine sincerity as he looked at Jenna and Jeff.


    ¡°I understand that Annie wanted to be forgotten. If we hold on to her memory too tightly, we may never move forward. She hoped to disappear completely after she left.¡±


    ¡°But I want to say¡ªAnnie was wrong. Remembering someone doesn¡¯t mean being trapped in the past. It can also mean carrying their energy to courageously open new doors to the future.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to forget Annie, because she made a promise, didn¡¯t she? ¡®You¡¯ll never walk alone,¡¯ right? So, I intend to carry her dream forward with me.¡±


    Jeff hadn¡¯t realized it until tears streaked down his face. Clumsily, he wiped his cheeks while muttering apologies under his breath.


    Yet this time, Jenna didn¡¯t cry.


    Not only that¡ªshe lifted her head high, radiating a bright light in her eyes. ¡°We always think parents are the ones teaching their kids. But truthfully, shouldn¡¯t parents learn from their children too? We were always protecting Annie, but weren¡¯t there times when Annie was protecting us as well?¡±


    Jenna caught sight of Jeff¡¯s emotional state and Li Wei¡¯s earnest gaze. Her smile grew even warmer. ¡°I promised Annie that I wouldn¡¯t be stuck in the past, walking in circles. We won¡¯t use losing Annie as a reason to hurt each other. We should treasure what we still have, shouldn¡¯t we?¡±


    Jenna silently watched Li Wei. ¡°I understand what you mean. But, Li Wei, why not use your own name?¡±


    ¡°I believe that using your name as the foundation would easily attract more donations and support.¡±


    Li Wei chuckled softly, ¡°Jenna, this isn¡¯t about me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I could launch a ¡®Li Wei Foundation¡¯ focused on supporting Asian athletes living in North America¡ªnot just in football but across other sports as well. I hope to provide opportunities for them to explore and take risks. I¡¯ve always believed Asian players hold untapped potential.¡±


    ¡°That would be my domain.¡±


    ¡°But this one¡ªit¡¯s not. This is Annie Gallas¡¯ story. It¡¯s Annie¡¯s and Felix¡¯s story. And it¡¯s Annie¡¯s story with the Kansas City Chiefs. I want the foundation to bear Annie¡¯s name. Then, I¡¯ll rally more players and even entire teams to lend their support¡ªto ensure our voices reach farther.¡±


    ¡°This foundation is special because of Annie, not because of me.¡±


    ¡°One day, I¡¯m going to stand onstage and share our story again. I¡¯ll remind everyone that behind the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ championship defense is a young girl named Annie Gallas, who was part of the team. We shouldn¡¯t forget her, and we won¡¯t.¡±


    Jenna listened intently, paying extra close attention.


    As she gazed steadily at Li Wei¡¯s youthful face, she saw earnestness and passion.


    Unbidden, Jenna¡¯s thoughts turned to Annie¡¯s birthday wish that had forever gone unfulfilled¡ª


    Peering past Li Wei¡¯s shoulder, Jenna could almost imagine Annie in a beautiful white lace dress, her soft, fluffy hair braided long, wearing a floral crown. Shyness tugged at the corners of her lips before giving way to a radiant, happy smile.


    She stood on a lush grass field, eagerly waiting for Li Wei, dressed sharply, to arrive and invite her to his graduation ball.


    After a brief moment of restraint, Annie couldn¡¯t help but break into excitement, her true self emerging as she dashed forward, grabbing hold of Li Wei¡¯s right hand and tugging him along as they raced together.


    Now, Jenna understood why Annie had wished for Li Wei to be her partner at the graduation ball.


    Gently nodding, Jenna agreed, ¡°Alright. Li Wei.¡±

 Chapter 911: 910 Holiday Begins

    Chapter 911: 910 Holiday Begins


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Li Wei pushed open the door to his house and was immediately greeted by the sight of Donald Yee sitting on the sofa, leafing through the latest issue of the ¡°Wall Street Journal.¡± Judging by the crisp, fresh ink, it must have just rolled off the press.


    It seemed that Donald had just arrived from New York to Kansas City.


    Li Wei grinned, ¡°I thought it was Sherlock coming back for an encore.¡±


    Donald wasn¡¯t fazed, ¡°Where¡¯d they go?¡±


    ¡°The Caribbean,¡± Li Wei replied. ¡°Which specific island, I didn¡¯t ask. Travis, on the other hand, went to the Mediterranean with his girlfriend.¡±


    Donald neatly folded the newspaper, ¡°I didn¡¯t know Travis was dating someone.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing new. He¡¯s gotten back together with Kayla,¡± Li Wei said.


    Donald¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly.


    Li Wei laughed outright, ¡°I know, dating among millennials is always this way¡ªbreaking up, getting back together, rinse and repeat.¡±


    Unlike his brother Jason Kelce, Travis Kelce has always embraced modern dating trends. His first publicly known girlfriend came from his very own dating show, similar to ¡°The Bachelor,¡± where a group of female contestants competed for the chance to date him. After the show concluded, he started seeing the winner.


    Unfortunately, the relationship lasted only six months before they split.


    Later, Kelce began dating internet influencer Kayla Nicole Brown. The two started seeing each other before Li Wei and Mahomes joined the Kansas City Chiefs, but their relationship has been a series of on-again, off-again cycles¡ª


    Kayla had caught Kelce red-handed twice, finding him in bed with other women. They broke up decisively each time, but Kelce couldn¡¯t let her go and managed to win her back.


    Their love story has become a subject of gossip in the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ locker room, rivaling Colombian soap operas in its sheer melodrama¡ªscandal after scandal.


    Not just Donald, but even Li Wei and Mahomes often found themselves taken aback.


    Donald decided to drop the inquiry, ¡°And how did your meeting with the Gallas family go?¡±


    Li Wei nodded lightly, ¡°It went smoothly; we can officially move into the prep stages now.¡±


    ¡°I talked to JJ. He said February and March are the busiest times in Hollywood with the Oscars happening¡ªparty after party. Maybe I should organize one myself to fundraise for the foundation.¡±


    Donald replied, ¡°Ah, March might be a bit tough.¡±


    Li Wei paused mid-motion as he was about to sit down, ¡°I thought it was just February. March doesn¡¯t work either?¡±


    Donald nodded, ¡°It¡¯s going to be tricky.¡±


    Li Wei threw himself onto the sofa, sprawling out dramatically, ¡°Everyone else is on vacation, and here I am working. It¡¯s not fair.¡±


    With the Super Bowl over and the offseason underway, Mahomes, Kelce, and the rest of the crew had jetted off to island resorts, eager to escape winter. For professional players, this brief window is the only time all year to truly let loose. Even if it¡¯s not a complete and reckless escape, it¡¯s still a precious break from year-round training and competing.


    During this short period, players don¡¯t have to worry about training regimens, dietary restrictions, or playbooks¡ªthey can simply relax.


    But Li Wei was the exception.


    Even before the victory parade, Donald had already delivered the bad news¡ª


    A packed schedule.


    While others were resting, this was precisely the time for the season¡¯s regular-season and Super Bowl MVP to capitalize on availability. Especially for training maniacs like Li Wei, who barely has any downtime, everyone was clamoring to book him, completely filling up his calendar.


    Donald couldn¡¯t help but smile warmly as he saw Li Wei act so childishly defiant for once. It brought out a rare sense of humor in the veteran agent.


    Li Wei looked over at Donald. ¡°Tom¡¯s vacation schedule isn¡¯t this packed too, is it?¡±


    Donald shook his head, ¡°No, the sponsors have already had their fill of him. He¡¯s currently doing crazy things in the Caribbean, and everybody thinks he¡¯s gone mad.¡±


    Li Wei curled his lip, ¡°What¡¯s so crazy about cliff diving? I want to try it too.¡±


    Donald remarked, ¡°If it were you, it wouldn¡¯t be crazy at all. But for him? I question whether his brain is working right. Could it be that losing to you at the Conference Championship hit him that hard this year?¡±


    Donald very seriously roasted Brady, making Li Wei laugh heartily¡ª


    Brady, too, was vacationing with his family.


    He posted a video on Instagram of himself cliff-diving, captioning it as part of his vacation fun¡ªonly to get roasted by netizens. This backlash was entirely unexpected.


    The reason? Brady had just turned forty-one, and taking on such high-risk extreme sports could lead to injury, which was seen as highly irresponsible and unprofessional. The offseason has seen countless non-training-related incidents resulting in injuries, which could have severe consequences for both players and teams.


    In 2015, Jason Pierre-Paul lost fingers while setting off fireworks. In 2016, Darren McFardden fractured his elbow after slipping in his kitchen. In 2017, Ramon Foster severed a fingertip while DIY renovating his home.


    And so on.


    Accidents aside, the aftermath could throw a team¡¯s plans into disarray.


    Historically, Brady has been extremely disciplined and professional, rarely drifting off course. But this year, he suddenly snapped.


    Netizens speculated that Brady might be experiencing a midlife crisis triggered by his loss at the Conference Championship. Seeking to prove he¡¯s still young, he¡¯s turned to extreme activities¡ªsimilar to those stereotypical middle-aged men embarking on bizarre adventures to claw at the fading remnants of youth.


    The reaction was undoubtedly outside Brady¡¯s expectations.


    Li Wei shrugged lightly, ¡°Maybe he¡¯s just trying to prove something. But we shouldn¡¯t stop him¡ªhe¡¯s on vacation, okay?¡±


    For emphasis, Li Wei added weight to the word ¡°vacation.¡±


    Donald replied, ¡°Everyone¡¯s on vacation, but you¡¯re raking in money. They should be envious of you instead.¡±


    Li Wei tilted his head back, gazing at the ceiling, ¡°Sure, but earning money is supposed to let you relax and sprawl out on vacations. If you make all the money but don¡¯t have time to spend it, isn¡¯t that heartbreaking?¡±


    Donald laughed aloud, ¡°Want me to schedule a vacation for you right now?¡±


    Li Wei took a deep breath, ¡°How about we hear the offer first? If it¡¯s a good deal, there¡¯s no need for me to act all aloof and play hard to get, right?¡±


    ¡°Haha,¡± Donald couldn¡¯t help himself¡ª


    Transparent.


    This side of Li Wei was exactly what Donald loved.


    So, Donald didn¡¯t keep him in suspense any longer.


    ¡°I¡¯ve gone through four rounds of filtering, and this final list¡ªevery brand here is trustworthy and worth considering. You can take your pick.¡±


    ¡°First up is Net-Jet, a company specializing in executive and private jet services, including private jet rentals, catering to high-end clientele.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve always been cautious in choosing spokespersons, aiming to position themselves as premium and exclusive. They¡¯ve never compromised on quality when it comes to brand ambassadors.¡±


    ¡°Their previous ambassador was Roger Federer.¡±


    ¡°However, with Federer¡¯s career winding down, they¡¯ve been searching for someone to take over. I was surprised they offered a bid.¡±


    ¡°And they¡¯re serious about it.¡±


    ¡°Seven million US dollars annually, with a ten-year contract.¡±

 Chapter 912: 911 brand image

    Chapter 912: 911 brand image


    Seven million per year, signed for ten years, that¡¯s a contract worth seventy million US dollars¡ª


    A significant value.


    Donald thought so too. Initially, Net-Jet¡¯s offer was five million US dollars annually, which was already quite sincere; through negotiation and discussion, Donald ultimately convinced Net-Jet that Li Wei¡¯s future was worth investing in, securing for Li Wei an industry-leading endorsement contract.


    By comparison, in 2017, Nike¡¯s blockbuster contract with Li Wei¡ª¡±three and a half million US dollars per year, for five years¡±¡ªsuddenly paled in comparison.


    Nike¡¯s true strength lies in its decisiveness and vision, capturing Li Wei¡¯s meteoric rise and signing him ahead of competitors, which proved to be a groundbreaking strategy. Net-Jet, on the other hand, sealed the deal only now, when the market situation had completely changed.


    Of course, Donald felt these details weren¡¯t necessary for Li Wei to be aware of; he preferred to focus on the essentials.


    ¡°Their approach emphasizes quality, stability, and longevity. They don¡¯t want to change endorsers frequently; after carefully selecting, they commit to one thoroughly.¡±


    ¡°Personally, I¡¯m quite satisfied with this contract.¡±


    ¡°The offer is part of it, but the most important aspect is their brand image.¡±


    ¡°Generally speaking, football tends to be associated with power, impact, and similar attributes. For running backs especially, this means the brands seeking endorsements are often low-tier products targeting primarily blue-collar demographics.¡±


    ¡°The issue is, such products could just as easily enlist professional athletes from boxing, wrestling, ice hockey, basketball, and other fields. The landscape is crowded, and the endorsers¡¯ brand value struggles to stand out.¡±


    Although Li Wei graduated with a degree in journalism, he wasn¡¯t entirely uninformed about advertising and marketing.


    When Donald spoke, Li Wei¡¯s mind immediately connected some dots. ¡°So what¡¯s the main type of product running backs in the league endorse right now? Land Rover?¡±


    Donald looked solemn. ¡°Land Rover? You¡¯re overestimating the standing of running backs.¡±


    ¡°Primarily brands like Nike and Adidas.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying, aside from sports brands?¡± Li Wei caught Donald¡¯s gaze. Donald thought for a moment. ¡°I need to do further research, but if I recall correctly, presently in the league, there are only two running backs endorsing non-sports brands.¡±


    ¡°One is New York Giants¡¯ Barkley, who has short-term endorsement deals with Dunkin¡¯ Donuts, Pepsi, and Campbell Soup.¡±


    ¡°The other is...¡±


    Donald looked at Li Wei, his expression calm.


    Li Wei raised an eyebrow slightly. ¡°All food-related?¡±


    This was truly intriguing¡ª


    How to build a public persona¡¯s brand image had always been an art.


    Put simply, the category of the endorsed product, the brand positioning of the product itself, and the target audience of the product all interrelate.


    Currently, running backs in the league endorse products that are either sports-related or food-related; and even among food-related endorsements, only Barkley had deals, which were for donuts, soda, and condensed soup.


    The positioning was crystal clear:


    Fast food.


    Disposable consumer goods.


    Unwittingly, the market realities and the league¡¯s demographic positioning reinforce each other, clearly reflecting the challenges running backs face in gaining broader recognition.


    This is precisely why Li Wei¡¯s role is particularly significant¡ª


    Li Wei represents a breakthrough.


    Regardless of whether sponsors were drawn by the Asian market or by the unique aura Li Wei projected, as long as Li Wei could break through the barriers and free himself from limitations, other running backs would stand a chance to transform the market landscape and unlock more opportunities.


    More importantly, Li Wei¡¯s endorsement products weren¡¯t ¡°disposable items.¡± Thanks to Donald¡¯s patience and meticulous strategic planning, a new framework was fully taking shape. Li Wei¡¯s image in the brand sponsorship world and among the broader public was reshaping the stereotype of running backs, marking a critical turning point for future development.


    No wonder Donald, upon receiving the olive branch from Net-Jet, was unusually excited. More than a simple brand endorsement, it carried a deeper significance.


    Moreover, it¡¯s worth noting that Emirates Airline, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and similar companies sponsor sports events, but mostly teams rather than individual athletes.


    For example, Delta Airline sponsors events like the US Open, teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, New York Yankees, and Atlanta Falcons.


    Now, Net-Jet was willing to collaborate with Li Wei individually, spotting potential among more than two thousand football players to single him out as an exceptional talent.


    This was undoubtedly a special privilege.


    Li Wei¡¯s expression grew thoughtful, then he turned to Donald. ¡°So does this mean I¡¯ll travel on private jets in the future?¡±


    Donald blinked, ¡°Of course.¡± He paused briefly. ¡°Li Wei, if you¡¯re willing, you could buy your own private jet now.¡±


    Li Wei waved his hands. ¡°That¡¯s too early. After all, my salary is still rookie-level; maintenance costs would be too high. Plus, my mom would nag me about it.¡±


    It seemed the latter part was the real reason.


    A slight smile flickered in Donald¡¯s eyes; he completely understood. ¡°I flew into Kansas City this time using Net-Jet¡¯s corporate jet. Their VIP services are outstanding. If you¡¯re interested, you could try it out yourself.¡±


    Li Wei rubbed his hands together¡ª


    It truly was a whole new world.


    At this moment, looking at Li Wei¡¯s existing endorsements: Nike. Pepsi. Gillette. Rolex. Net-Jet.


    A sophisticated yet timeless, gentlemanly yet stylish persona had already begun to take shape, showcasing the brand value Donald had envisioned and cultivated since Li Wei¡¯s NCAA days. This image, even more distinct and layered than Brady¡¯s, had preliminarily formed into a unique branding orbit entirely dedicated to Li Wei.


    Steady and deliberate, but never idle; with the foundation solidly set, the gateway to an entirely new world lay ahead.


    Net-Jet was merely the first major step; the good news Donald brought with him extended far beyond that.


    Mercedes-Benz, the globally renowned luxury car brand, has historically maintained close ties with football, sponsoring multiple stadiums, including this year¡¯s Super Bowl venue, Mercedes-Benz Dome. They deeply understand football¡¯s ability to drive car sales.


    Thus, Mercedes-Benz¡¯s interest in Li Wei came as no surprise. What stood out was their offer for Li Wei to become the exclusive spokesperson for their high-end sedan series.


    Of course, the prerequisite was for Li Wei to become the brand¡¯s overall ambassador, signing an exclusive agreement with Mercedes-Benz, wherein Li Wei would only use Mercedes-Benz vehicles for his public appearances. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz hoped Li Wei could elevate the image of their premium sedan series.


    This was truly rare.


    Mercedes-Benz proposed a contract worth six million US dollars annually, signed for five years. Moreover, every six months, they would provide Li Wei with a brand-new premium sedan, ensuring that whenever Li Wei appeared in public, his car would always be fresh, high-end, and luxurious.


    It was evident from this offer that Mercedes-Benz not only believed in Li Wei but also carried considerable ambition in seeing him as a crucial component of their upcoming promotional strategy.

 Chapter 913: 912 standing out

    Chapter 913: 912 standing out


    Mercedes-Benz has demonstrated its boldness.


    In fact, as Li Wei had speculated, ¡°running backs and cars¡± share a subtle connection, and many automobile brands had set their sights on Li Wei.


    Among them were top competitors in the industry¡ª


    BMW. Audi. Hyundai. Kia. Toyota. Chevrolet. Ford.


    And so on and so forth.


    Furthermore, after the Super Bowl ended, Jeep and Land Rover also reached out to Donald.


    The competition is far fiercer than imagined.


    Clearly, these car brands are beginning to recognize the direct connection between football and engines, speed, and power, with running backs being prime examples; previously, they had completely overlooked running backs due to the League¡¯s disregard for them, but now, the tides have quietly shifted.


    Li Wei is a unique presence. Putting everything else aside, just look at how much Nike has profited from selling jerseys, sneakers, and hats over the past two seasons¡ªthat alone is enough to make people envious.


    Thus, openly and covertly, the eyes of all these big corporations are firmly fixed on Li Wei.


    The choice lies entirely in Li Wei¡¯s hands.


    Donald engaged in detailed and in-depth conversations with each company, discussing brand image, positioning, collaboration formats, and contract terms. It wasn¡¯t simply about ¡°the highest bidder wins¡±; Donald hoped that Li Wei¡¯s brand image could complement each endorsement product and ultimately achieve a win-win outcome.


    Truthfully speaking, the contract from Mercedes-Benz wasn¡¯t the highest-priced, nor was their approach the most aggressive, but their sincerity moved Donald. Their entire vision, positioning, and image presented a comprehensive blueprint, and their contract terms reflected substantial value.


    Donald believes that the partnership with Mercedes-Benz could become a crucial step in enhancing Li Wei¡¯s brand value further.


    Ultimately, Mercedes-Benz emerged victorious in the stiff competition, with their ambition now aligned closely with Donald¡¯s. This collaboration is about to unfold.


    In the grand scheme of things, Donald remains unwavering in his approach, selecting valuable partnership opportunities from an endless stream of sponsorship and endorsement offers.


    Such treatment is something that neither David Beckham nor Tom Brady had ever experienced in their time.


    That was a distant era when neither agents nor brands had a clear concept of how to leverage professional athletes to build brand images and boost market value; likewise, there was no solid strategy for expanding the commercial potential of sports like football on a broader scale.


    Everything was trial and error.


    But now, Donald finally has the chance to make history and pioneer a new era.


    Godiva Chocolates, for instance, is inviting a professional athlete to serve as their spokesperson for the very first time¡ªand they¡¯re starting with football, an unfamiliar domain.


    A $10 million-per-year contract for two years. Clearly, they are earnest about testing the waters. Despite the short duration, their approach is undeniably on point.


    Barilla, the century-old Italian pasta brand¡ªand currently the largest and highest-selling brand worldwide¡ªhas also set their sights on Li Wei.


    After the American League championship game, they contacted Edgar and entered negotiations. Ultimately, they offered Li Wei an $8 million-per-year contract spanning three years.


    Like Barkley, food brands have also targeted Li Wei, given that football players are notoriously big eaters. However, unlike Barkley, this isn¡¯t fast food or disposable goods. On the contrary, Barilla¡¯s refined image as an established brand sets it apart entirely.


    Of course, that still isn¡¯t the whole story.


    The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, renowned for luxury hotels and resorts, has traditionally collaborated globally with sports like golf and tennis. Now, they¡¯re making their first foray into the football market by inviting Li Wei to become their promotional ambassador¡ªa bold move.


    A $5 million-per-year contract for three years.


    This reflects a cautious approach from the Ritz-Carlton. Yet despite their caution, they¡¯ve entered negotiations and displayed a proactive attitude.


    This is what Donald finds most gratifying. To establish Li Wei¡¯s brand image, collaboration with brands is indispensable; coordinated efforts are necessary to accomplish this goal and ultimately achieve mutual success.


    JPMorgan Chase Private Bank is already globally renowned and doesn¡¯t need to increase its visibility¡ªbut it still seeks to enhance its professional image. This time, they¡¯ve set their sights on Li Wei, offering a $2.5 million-per-year contract for three years.


    ¡°...Honestly, I¡¯m not satisfied with the figures in the contract¡ªthe negotiations are still ongoing.¡±


    Donald speaks candidly.


    ¡°Their offer is calculated: if you sign the deal, they¡¯re willing to provide VIP services and waive commission fees. But basically, they want you to invest your assets with JPMorgan Chase.¡±


    Donald purses his lips, not hiding his dissatisfaction¡ª


    Still, it¡¯s not surprising. This is typical of dealings with Wall Street elites: a group of vultures.


    Nevertheless, Donald continues to consider JPMorgan Chase. The main point lies in the potential for collaborating with such a top-tier private bank to upgrade Li Wei¡¯s brand image to an elite level, severing ties completely with blue-collar, muscle-driven stereotypes, disposable goods, and the like.


    This is crucial, especially when Li Wei negotiates his contract extension with the Kansas City Chiefs in the future; it could play a pivotal role.


    Ultimately, it boils down to a game of tug-of-war.


    After venting frustrations, Donald lifts his gaze toward Li Wei. ¡°But I have an idea now.¡±


    Li Wei looks over, signaling he¡¯s listening intently.


    Donald says, ¡°We could ask JPMorgan Chase to commit to making annual contributions to your charitable foundation¡ªlet¡¯s say $1 million as a starting figure¡ªon top of the contract fee itself. Whether it¡¯s the Li Wei Foundation or the Annie Gallas Fund, they must contribute $1 million yearly.¡±


    ¡°This amount wouldn¡¯t be paid directly to you; instead, it would help JPMorgan Chase enhance their charitable image while simultaneously strengthening the influence of your foundation. Beyond the contract value, this adds extra points to both parties¡¯ reputations. I doubt they would say no.¡±


    Li Wei tilts his head. ¡°Wow, I never realized things could unfold this way. So, I wouldn¡¯t even need to host a charity gala or auction off ¡®Li Wei¡¯s Date Vouchers¡¯ to easily raise $1 million?¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s a great idea.¡±


    Donald shrugs nonchalantly. ¡°If Wall Street wants to, they have endless ways to simplify or complicate matters. For them, money is just a numbers game.¡±


    ¡°But.¡±


    ¡°To be honest, I was genuinely surprised when JPMorgan Chase reached out. They don¡¯t need spokespersons, and even if they did, a football player wouldn¡¯t be their choice.¡±


    Over the past season, Li Wei has dominated the field, while Donald has worked tirelessly off the field to carefully cultivate opportunities. Now, it¡¯s finally harvest season.


    ¡°However, this still isn¡¯t the most unexpected thing.¡±


    Li Wei raises an eyebrow slightly. ¡°There¡¯s something even more surprising?¡±

 Chapter 914: 913 Brand Ambassador

    Chapter 914: 913 Brand Ambassador


    Net-Jet. Mercedes-Benz. Ritz-Carlton. JPMorgan Chase.


    Including Godiva and Barilla.


    Every brand is a surprise, some big, some small; from every aspect, they seem distant from football and running back; yet they all set their sights on Li Wei and showed enough sincerity, eagerly waving their checks, hoping to win Li Wei¡¯s favor.


    However, these surprises are not entirely unexpected.


    After all, Donald has been managing and promoting, through media reports, public opinion guidance, social network management, and more, he has been meticulously selecting partnership brands and steadily building Li Wei¡¯s brand image ever since his time signing with NCAA.


    Now, it¡¯s the season for harvest.


    On the surface, it seems surprising, but behind it all, there¡¯s a thread of logic.


    These brands chose this timing to enter the NFL and selected Li Wei as the entry point, and it¡¯s all for a reason.


    Donald believes that the historical moment of the regular season MVP played an important role, justifying his efforts in stirring a social media frenzy worldwide.


    In other words, everything is under control.


    Except for one exception that not even Donald anticipated; things briefly deviated from the track¡ª


    A good thing.


    ¡°Louis Vuitton (LV)?¡± Li Wei was stunned.


    Donald nodded gently; this was a true surprise, ¡°They want to sign a global endorsement contract with you.¡±


    Li Wei blinked his eyes, ¡°Why?¡±


    For once, Donald¡¯s eyes showed a hint of a smile, ¡°Because you¡¯re Li Wei.¡±


    Li Wei burst into laughter, ¡°Yes, indeed, I just checked my driver¡¯s license, the name¡¯s correct, but...¡±


    Taking a deep breath, Li Wei looked at Donald.


    ¡°What I mean is, why does Louis Vuitton want to venture into the sports field? Not just football, I can¡¯t understand their collaboration with any professional athlete.¡±


    ¡°Of course, professional athletes aren¡¯t lacking in fashion sense, but the point is, our daily lives are all about sportswear; whether in competition or training, it¡¯s all training gear. No one dresses up for training and then dresses up again after training.¡±


    ¡°Oh, sorry, please forgive me, maybe during the Super Bowl, when every appearance is in the spotlight, but that¡¯s only once a year, right?¡±


    ¡°Even LeBron James wouldn¡¯t dress up every day going to the court, right? Or does he?¡±


    LeBron James: ??? Li Wei, I did nothing to offend you!


    Donald heard the sarcasm in Li Wei¡¯s words but didn¡¯t react, ¡°He wouldn¡¯t. But David Beckham would.¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Oh, him.¡±


    Beckham: ??? Hey, what¡¯s with that tone?


    Li Wei, ¡°But the point is, even Beckham didn¡¯t have a fashion brand signing him as an endorser while he was still a professional athlete, right?¡±


    ¡°So, what are they expecting?¡±


    ¡°I wear Louis Vuitton clothes every day, carry a Louis Vuitton suitcase, and go to the training field with a bunch of gold chains?¡±


    As soon as he said that, he imagined the scenario, and Li Wei couldn¡¯t hold back. He burst into laughter.


    Laughter thundered out.


    ¡°Hahaha, that would be quite a spectacle. I¡¯m really looking forward to Coach Reed¡¯s expression when he sees that, just like when Sir Ferguson saw Beckham making a glittering entrance surrounded by paparazzi.¡±


    Beckham: Hey!


    ¡°That would be quite a show, not a fashion show, but I don¡¯t know what kind of show, but certainly spectacular, haha.¡±


    Li Wei was having a blast on his own.


    Donald had a serious face, ¡°Li Wei...¡± but after calling out, even he couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    No matter what, Donald had to admit Louis Vuitton¡¯s olive branch was... very unexpected and very shocking.


    In fact, among professional athletes, there are indeed many whose fashion sense is highly recognized, but as Li Wei pointed out, they all wear training uniforms and game uniforms daily, not to mention football players have to wear gear, so fashion brands never sought professional athletes as endorsers.


    Of course, there are exceptions¡ª


    In 2007, Armani invited the Beckham couple to endorse their underwear series, sparking a global hot topic.


    In 2012, in the later stages of Beckham¡¯s career, H&M once invited him to be an underwear designer and endorser, as well as part of a casual series.


    There are many specific cases, but from here, it¡¯s clear that fashion brands themselves realize that inviting professional athletes to endorse clothing is a very foolish move.


    Underwear, luggage, jewelry, etc., these are fine, even understandable; but if it¡¯s clothing, there¡¯s truly no need to waste the effort, it¡¯s better to choose special occasions like award ceremonies, the Super Bowl, charity dinners, etc., and sponsor a suit individually.


    That¡¯s why Donald was especially shocked¡ª


    It¡¯s not just unexpected.


    When Donald saw Louis Vuitton¡¯s endorsement proposal, the first thought that came to mind for this seasoned sports agent was also bewilderment.


    ¡°Mistaken?¡±


    If not, Louis Vuitton hopes Li Wei endorses a luggage series or underwear/perfume series; despite the surprise, it¡¯s not impossible.


    After expressing curiosity in a conversation, Donald was utterly stunned:


    Louis Vuitton invited Li Wei to be their brand ambassador.


    What does that mean?


    Simply put, it includes all products under the brand, including luggage, perfume, underwear, and also clothing, as a global image ambassador.


    A complete surprise.


    So, hearing Li Wei¡¯s teasing remarks now, even Donald couldn¡¯t control it, his eyes revealed a helpless smile.


    Only after the laughter subsided did Donald speak, ¡°So, you don¡¯t like it?¡±


    Li Wei was stunned.


    Donald continued, ¡°What I mean is, if you don¡¯t like it, we can refuse. The initiative is in your hands.¡±


    After a brief impact and shock, Li Wei thought seriously, then gradually became excited.


    ¡°No, why would we refuse? That¡¯s Louis Vuitton, I can already imagine the league¡¯s shocked faces, who could have thought a running back would don a sharp suit?¡±


    ¡°Besides, if Louis Vuitton wants me for endorsement, why would I push away the check offered on a plate? Donald, I¡¯m not that noble.¡±


    A little teasing brought back a smile on Donald¡¯s face, but he knew Li Wei¡¯s words weren¡¯t finished, ¡°But?¡±


    Li Wei nodded gently and followed Donald¡¯s lead, ¡°No buts. No twists. I¡¯m just curious, what did they say?¡±


    ¡°I assume they should have a proposal explaining why they chose me as an endorser and some preliminary ideas for their advertisements.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m interested in; likewise, that¡¯s also what convinced you, right?¡±


    ¡°Out of so many choices, so many invitations, you specifically chose Louis Vuitton; I believe there¡¯s a reason behind it, either they offered enough money or had a good plan, there¡¯s always a reason, and that¡¯s what I want to know.¡±


    Donald nodded, not hiding his admiration, this is what he likes most about Li Wei:


    Candid, sincere, and smart enough to remain calm in the face of opportunities and temptations.


    Clearly, Louis Vuitton saw this trait in Li Wei as well.


    ¡°Your charisma,¡± Donald said.

 Chapter 915: 914 Fashion Trend

    Chapter 915: 914 Fashion Trend


    Charisma.


    An intangible yet undeniably real quality.


    Take a simple example, JJ-Watt and Aaron Donald, both top-tier players, both winners of the League¡¯s Defensive Player of the Year, and both exemplary athletes on and off the field. But why is Watt more loved by sponsors?


    The answer is charisma.


    Mannerisms, style, public image, and other intangible assets¡ªthis is what elevates a star athlete to a celebrity icon, relying on personal charisma.


    Louis Vuitton saw this unique charisma in Li Wei.


    Whether as the leader unifying the team¡¯s spiritual power on the field, the hero carrying social responsibility off the field, or his unwavering stance in the face of doubts and provocations, he commands attention in every aspect.


    ¡°...They hope Louis Vuitton can become part of your image.¡±


    ¡°Of course, they understand the daily habits of professional football players. They¡¯re not asking you to dress extravagantly like David Beckham every day on your way to training¡ªthat kind of high-profile approach would feel too deliberate.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re expecting two things.¡±


    ¡°First, they will design a series of professional training gear and bags specifically for you, the ¡®Li Wei Collection,¡¯ hoping you¡¯ll use these items for training and games.¡±


    ¡°Second, when you appear at formal occasions, you¡¯ll wear Louis Vuitton attire¡ªprimarily tailored suits crafted just for you.¡±


    ¡°Additionally, they¡¯ll provide you with a personal stylist to curate a collection of everyday outfits and even stock your wardrobe. When you go out casually, you can opt to wear Louis Vuitton or other clothes¡ªthere¡¯s no rigid requirement.¡±


    ¡°Their ultimate goal is to discreetly integrate Louis Vuitton into your personal life, avoiding overly explicit advertising campaigns. Instead, they want Louis Vuitton to become a seamless part of your brand image and daily existence.¡±


    Ambition begins to reveal itself¡ª


    No wonder they¡¯re a top-notch luxury brand; the entire blueprint unfolds meticulously.


    Clearly, Louis Vuitton came prepared.


    Since they decided to break the rules and be the first to dive into uncharted territory, they¡¯re determined to seize the opportunity and become pioneers in the industry.


    In such situations, the outcome often boils down to two results.


    Either massive success, ushering in a new era for the industry and setting trends.


    Or complete failure, crashing and burning into ridicule.


    There¡¯s no middle ground.


    Louis Vuitton does not plan to be the latter.


    Li Wei was slightly surprised, ¡°Looks like they¡¯ve been planning this for a long while.¡±


    Donald responded, ¡°Think carefully, it¡¯s about time.¡±


    ¡°You should know Armani has always had a tradition of sponsoring Italy¡¯s men¡¯s soccer team, and every World Cup, Italy gets nicknamed as the ¡®male model team¡¯ by fans online¡ªthis has deeply influenced brand perception. Plus, with Beckham¡¯s integration into fashion over the years, they¡¯ve had their eyes on this for a while, itching to break the mold.¡±


    ¡°Now, the opportunity is here. Simply put, Louis Vuitton just happened to move a bit ahead of the curve.¡±


    Li Wei tilted his chin slightly, a trace of playful intrigue flashing in his eyes, ¡°So when you said you wanted to create a superstar modeled after Beckham back then, that wasn¡¯t a joke?¡±


    Donald responded matter-of-factly, ¡°I don¡¯t joke.¡±


    ¡°Ha.¡± Li Wei chuckled, ¡°So, you want me to sign the deal?¡±


    Donald said, ¡°As you just mentioned, there¡¯s no reason for us to refuse.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, Louis Vuitton came with full sincerity, offering an incredibly persuasive proposal. Eight million US dollars annually, for a five-year contract.¡±


    Wow.


    That was astonishing.


    Inevitably, Li Wei remembered the iconic line from *The Godfather*: ¡°I¡¯ll make him an offer he can¡¯t refuse,¡± signaling Louis Vuitton¡¯s determination.


    But Li Wei was more curious, ¡°How did you respond to that?¡±


    Donald¡¯s face remained composed as he said nonchalantly, ¡°Ten million US dollars annually.¡±


    Negotiation, after all, is an expected game of bargaining.


    Donald quickly caught on to Louis Vuitton¡¯s strategy. They threw out a shockingly good offer upfront to seize the upper hand amidst the surprise¡ªa tactic not unlike calling out a jaw-dropping bid at an auction to intimidate rivals, showcasing both decisiveness and resolve.


    Having weathered many ups and downs, Donald wasn¡¯t easily cornered by traps.


    And so, Donald countered.


    However, Donald still underestimated Louis Vuitton¡¯s commitment.


    Donald glanced at Li Wei and wasted no time escalating the stakes.


    ¡°They agreed. Very decisively.¡±


    Li Wei: ...


    Briefly stunned, Li Wei quickly caught on, his smile curving upward.


    ¡°Looks like they were just waiting there, ready to swiftly cut through negotiations and eliminate any conflict with an assertive approach.¡±


    ¡°So, do you regret not throwing out an even higher number on the spot?¡±


    Donald shook his head, ¡°That¡¯s hindsight talk.¡±


    Regret is inevitable, but Donald remained clear-headed and refused to let greed cloud his judgment.


    ¡°From the very beginning, they mapped everything out and planned every step ahead. My response didn¡¯t catch them off guard¡ªthis round, they had the upper hand.¡±


    Li Wei chuckled dryly, ¡°Your tone sounds like we suffered a loss. If we sign this contract, it¡¯ll be worth fifty million US dollars. Plus, wouldn¡¯t I be the first professional athlete to collaborate with a fashion brand?¡±


    Donald remained calm and humble, fitting for an agent¡¯s demeanor.


    Donald refrained from reacting but instead fixed his gaze on Li Wei, ¡°So, what¡¯s your decision? Ready to sign?¡±


    Li Wei spread his hands, ¡°Hey, do you think I¡¯d turn down a fifty-million-dollar paycheck? Vacation? What vacation? I love working.¡±


    ...


    The offseason had begun.


    Yet the League remained bustling.


    On one hand, the Free Market became the focus, with top players awaiting contract renewals attracting a lot of attention. Neither they nor team managers found much time to rest, diving into intense negotiations as the market buzzed with movement.


    Several professional commentators from ¡°inside the League¡± stated this could be the busiest offseason in five years due to several marquee players facing pivotal contract decisions¡ªagents would truly showcase their talents now.


    Simultaneously, attention turned toward rookie players. The likes of Goff and Wentz from 2016, Li Wei and Mahomes from 2017, and the five first-round quarterbacks from 2018 have shown that rookie players hold increasing significance in the League over the past three years. The wave of younger athletes has never been clearer.


    Add to that the hard salary cap, and the hassles of haggling with veteran players over contracts are nowhere to be found with rookies. This year¡¯s Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs offer a striking contrast¡ª


    One team splurged on a lineup of mercenaries, only to get obliterated in the Super Bowl. The other boldly invested in developing rookies and achieved the glory of defending their championship title.


    The answer couldn¡¯t be clearer, staring everyone in the face¡ª


    More teams now believe the rookie contract period is no longer just a promotional gimmick. Exploiting rookie contracts strategically to build teams is the proper route to pursuing the Super Bowl.


    Countless eyes, hungry and sharp like wolves, converged on the rookies.


    Though the draft is an annual sensation, this year it seemed to generate even more fervor.


    And amid the chaos of these heated developments, Li Wei once again emerged out of nowhere, effortlessly stealing the spotlight from every corner inside and outside the League.

 Chapter 916: 915 a heavy bomb

    Chapter 916: 915 a heavy bomb


    ¡°Li Wei appears in Los Angeles to shoot the latest endorsement advertisement for Net-Jet.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei heads to Rio de Janeiro to join a group of stars in shooting the latest Nike commercial.¡±


    ¡°Pepsi superstars gather in Egypt for a new ad campaign, with Li Wei and Barkley playing pivotal roles.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei arrives in Stockholm to film a Mercedes-Benz 007 blockbuster.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei spotted on the streets of New York, filming JPMorgan Chase¡¯s newest commercial. Crowds completely blocked the streets, causing a temporary traffic shutdown.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei is set to grace the cover of ¡®Time Magazine,¡¯ becoming the new face of the NFL.¡±


    ¡°Breaking news! Li Wei shoots his first personal fashion feature for ¡®GQ¡¯ magazine!¡±


    Hot topics, hot topics, everywhere hot topics¡ª


    During the offseason, Li Wei managed to trend on social media headlines almost every three days, consistently igniting a frenzy across the internet.


    Endorsements. Magazines. Events. Interviews.


    A fully packed schedule¡ªhe¡¯s in Europe in the morning and aboard a plane to South America by the afternoon. One moment you catch news of Li Wei in Alaska, and the next, social media reports he¡¯s strolling the streets of Rome, showcasing his global omnipresence.


    Yet, that¡¯s still not everything.


    ¡°Li Wei + Louis Vuitton = A history-breaking partnership defying all conventions.¡±


    A bombshell quietly lands, throwing the entire globe into chaos¡ª


    The news comes from ¡°Vogue.¡±


    Now, let¡¯s talk about ¡°Vogue,¡± the world¡¯s best-selling and most influential fashion magazine with editions across the globe. Its U.S. version reigns supreme, while the French and Italian editions also top the industry. Undoubtedly, it is the pinnacle of the fashion world.


    The movie ¡°The Devil Wears Prada¡± is based on the real-life experiences of the former assistant to ¡°Vogue¡±¡®s editor-in-chief.


    Anyone¡ªliterally anyone¡ªwould take pride in featuring on the U.S. edition of ¡°Vogue,¡± even if it¡¯s not the cover but just an inside feature.


    This magazine holds unparalleled influence, shaping fashion, culture, and trends alike.


    To date, ¡°Vogue¡± has adhered to a longstanding tradition of featuring only women on its covers, with very few exceptions where men appear¡ªand even then, only partnered alongside female co-stars.


    By the end of 2019, only eight men had ever graced the U.S. ¡°Vogue¡± cover, and every one of them appeared with a female counterpart.


    Among them, LeBron James made history in April 2008 by appearing on the cover with legendary supermodel Gisele Bundchen, marking the first and only time a male athlete adorned the ¡°Vogue¡± cover.


    That remained true until the April 2019 issue, when history was rewritten.


    The U.S. edition of ¡°Vogue¡± featured a man once again, and this time it was the second athlete in history to be featured¡ªbut here¡¯s the real shock:


    This time, it was a solo cover.


    Witness history.


    Li Wei becomes the first man in history to appear solo on the U.S. ¡°Vogue¡± cover, igniting worldwide attention in a groundbreaking fashion.


    Furthermore, this solo cover came with another bombshell announcement: Louis Vuitton signed Li Wei as its global brand ambassador.


    One explosive announcement collides with another, and the ripple effect is far more than a simple sum; it¡¯s an exponential detonation, catching everyone off-guard.


    At this moment, people united to bear witness¡ªwitnessing the clash between sports and entertainment, witnessing the collaboration between fashion and sports, witnessing Li Wei¡¯s dominating entrance that disrupted everything familiar, witnessing him transcending boundaries and taking the global stage.


    Before this, Li Wei had already made history numerous times, including earning a regular-season MVP title. Though impressive, those feats were confined to his professional field, generating admiration and awe centered around his ¡°prodigious talent.¡± This led to McVay¡¯s comments after the Super Bowl.


    Strictly speaking, it wasn¡¯t out of scope.


    But now things are different. Li Wei, as an outsider, has casually disrupted rules across fashion, trends, entertainment, and cultural fields, invading mainstream public consciousness far beyond his professional realm, bringing football into the spotlight.


    The most astonishing aspect? When people saw Li Wei in a perfectly tailored Louis Vuitton suit posing stylishly on the cover of ¡°Vogue¡±¡ª


    It didn¡¯t feel out of place.


    Not only did it feel natural, but it also felt refreshing. The vibrant, youthful image of Li Wei in his casual wear flashes through people¡¯s minds, stirring their emotions and excitement.


    Everything, seamless and perfect, showcasing yet another charming side of Li Wei beyond the sports arena.


    Awe-inspiring.


    Overnight, Li Wei became the dream man of countless women, skyrocketing support for football, prompting ESPN to exclaim:


    ¡°The Beckham effect returns.¡±


    Back then, Beckham¡¯s suave and handsome image dominated the media. Many players and coaches sneered, dismissing him as a ¡°pretty face.¡± Yet reality painted a different picture: Beckham¡¯s presence attracted a massive influx of female fans, boosting the popularity of soccer.


    Thanks to this, sponsors and financial backers turned their attention to soccer leagues. This influx of funding ushered in a period of rapid growth for professional soccer leagues.


    Of course, the phenomenon had many contributing factors, but undeniably, Beckham¡¯s charisma and appeal brought attention and popularity, genuinely propelling the sport forward.


    Now, ESPN marvels at a familiar scene seemingly reappearing.


    First came Asian fans, then female fans. Li Wei¡¯s presence is gradually breaking barriers, opening doors. People assumed football had already reached its zenith in North America¡¯s expansive market, and further expansion seemed impossible despite Goodell¡¯s persistent efforts; but now, Li Wei is bringing new hope.


    Everything feels surreal¡ªa rookie, an outsider, stumbles his way into the world of football, stirring up a refreshing breeze.


    Perhaps Li Wei truly can bring profound change, and maybe only Li Wei can achieve it.


    And yet, this bombshell is merely the beginning.


    The ¡°Vogue¡± cover debuts, and people are still digesting the shock, while Louis Vuitton and Nike jointly announce:


    The two brands are set to collaborate and launch a co-designed collection centered around Li Wei. This ¡°Li Wei series¡± will be released simultaneously by Louis Vuitton and Nike.


    Boom, boom, boom! Boom, boom, boom!


    Jaw-dropping, eyes wide open.


    What are they witnessing?


    Two industry titans joining forces to launch a dedicated ¡°Li Wei series¡±¡ªwhat kind of prestige and significance does this imply?


    Can anyone explain how this even came to be?


    Shock, wave after wave.


    Initially, some wondered what would happen to Nike after Li Wei signed with Louis Vuitton for endorsements.


    Before questions could arise, the giants already had answers:


    Mutual collaboration.


    Though, one can¡¯t help but wonder what role Li Wei¡¯s agent Donald played in this grand event. After all, convincing two industry leaders to join hands is no trivial task, but Donald pulled it off.


    Thus, this moment unfolds, and the unbelievable becomes reality. Undoubtedly, this marks one of 2019¡¯s milestones destined for the history books.

 Chapter 917: 916 Strong Alliance

    Chapter 917: 916 Strong Alliance


    Li Wei. Nike.


    No one will forget the epic collaboration between Li Wei and Nike, the second professional athlete in history, after Michael Jordan, to earn dividends.


    At the time, Li Wei was just ¡°the Sun Wukong who sprang forth from a crack in the rock,¡± and Nike¡¯s contract was ridiculed by everyone as ¡°insane and irrational.¡±


    So, what about now?


    Not long ago, major companies began releasing their 2018 financial reports, and after compiling the data, Forbes listed a ranking¡ª


    The annual revenue of exclusive series collaborations between professional athletes and sports brands, providing a direct focus on the market influence of top athletes.


    ¡°Air Jordan¡± series, three billion US dollars, still the most successful and glorious product line in sports history, unmatched to this day.


    LeBron James series, Nike, six hundred million US dollars.


    Kevin Durant series, Nike, one hundred seventy million US dollars.


    Kyrie Irving series, Nike, one hundred million US dollars.


    Stephen Curry series, Under Armour, sixty million US dollars.


    Kobe Bryant series, Nike, fifty million US dollars.


    James Harden series, Adidas, forty-five million US dollars.


    Numbers don¡¯t lie¡ªthey are crystal clear.


    Over the years, Nike¡¯s insistent hold on LeBron James is plain to see. Undoubtedly, his market appeal is right there for all to witness; yet at the same time, the gap between LeBron James and Michael Jordan is significant, a key factor Nike uses to constrain contractual terms.


    Within this ranking, Li Wei¡¯s name is also visible¡ª


    Li Wei series, Nike, five hundred million US dollars.


    A single set of figures is already enough to stir up a storm, monumental and world-shaking.


    Reportedly, even Nike¡¯s internal teams were stunned.


    The reason is simple.


    First of all, Li Wei is a football player. He cannot sell sneakers the way basketball players do.


    Strictly speaking, it isn¡¯t that he can¡¯t sell; Nike has indeed released Li Wei¡¯s series of running shoes and basketball shoes. The issue lies in the fact that these shoes fail to evoke the ¡°step onto the court in these shoes, and I become Li Wei¡± sensation that basketball shoes inspire, and sales often fall short¡ªa reality already affirmed by football players¡¯ product lines.


    Second, Li Wei is a rookie. Even including NCAA exposure, he¡¯s only been in the public eye for three years.


    When you consider Li Wei alongside the other names on this ranking, the connection between athletes and the masses¡ªthis requires time, seasoning, and the forging of bonds over games played. Gradually influencing the market through steady progress cannot be achieved by one or two advertisements alone.


    Nevertheless, Li Wei effortlessly overturned those rules.


    In just his second year of collaborating with Nike, Li Wei reached staggering heights, rocketing upward to challenge LeBron James¡¯ position with formidable momentum.


    Unstoppable!


    Thus, it becomes easier to understand an industry rumor.


    The rumor states that two years ago, Nike signed a five-year agreement with Li Wei, including a priority matching option for the fifth year. Now, even though the second year of the agreement hasn¡¯t yet concluded, Nike has seriously begun discussions about whether they should sit down with Li Wei to draft a new contract and show increased sincerity.


    The reason is straightforward¡ªlook at LeBron James¡¯ ups and downs over the years. Despite this, Nike continues to hold tightly to his contract.


    And now, with market influence comparable to LeBron James¡¯, Li Wei gives Nike no reason to let go.


    Furthermore, the key lies in Nike needing to act preemptively. Before Li Wei¡¯s value continues to skyrocket, they must seize the opportunity to demonstrate sincerity; otherwise, if competitors appear, even if Nike retains Li Wei later, the cost could be astronomical.


    In the blink of an eye, Li Wei and Donald seem to hold the reins, calm and composed. After Li Wei crowned himself as regular season MVP and Super Bowl MVP, they show no urgency in renewing the Nike contract. Confidence and unyielding poise subtly shift the balance of power in the partnership.


    Unsurprisingly, Nike¡¯s attitude is proactive and unwavering.


    The entry of Louis Vuitton happens to occur at a sensitive moment.


    Unable to immediately persuade Li Wei to renew the contract and temporarily lacking a better, longer-term offer, Nike refuses to allow competitors like Louis Vuitton to disrupt their collaboration.


    The answer is plain to see.


    Win-win cooperation.


    No need for internal conflict or malicious competition. Instead, join forces, earn money together, and elevate the Li Wei brand on a global scale.


    Consequently, a remarkable scene unfolded.


    ¡°Nike X Li Wei X Louis Vuitton,¡± a wave of crossover collaboration aggressively arrived, sweeping globally with unstoppable momentum, rocketing to the top of worldwide trends in an instant.


    Shocking!


    Impactful!


    Adrenaline-charged!


    Eardrums shaken, an overwhelming roar of voices surged and burned, spilling over from social media platforms into real life.


    Despite the surprise, reality speaks volumes¡ªafter entering the offseason, Li Wei¡¯s headlines seem to have only increased.


    After all, during the season, it¡¯s all training followed by games, and games followed by training, with bustling news revolving entirely around the field; the offseason is different. Freed from constraints, a new world opens, with various headlines cropping up, as if unleashed in a frenzy.


    Amid the flood of news mania, some noticed a tiny, seemingly inconspicuous detail¡ªa very, very minor detail that brought shockwaves anew:


    Endorsements. Endorsements. All endorsements. Creative collaborations.


    One wave after another, unstoppable.


    So, how about Li Wei¡¯s income?


    Last year, as a rookie player, Li Wei already broke into the top five of the NFL player salary ranking with endorsement income as his driving force.


    Whether as a rookie or as a running back, Li Wei¡¯s meteoric rise has become the league¡¯s most dazzling spectacle¡ªimpossible to ignore.


    At the same time, his success inevitably attracted endless animosity, yet Li Wei smashed through the hatred, continuing to climb higher, even surpassing the brilliance of his rookie season, leaving detractors in the dust.


    This year, the ranking hasn¡¯t been released yet, as the free market hasn¡¯t opened, and player-team negotiations have only just started.


    But that hasn¡¯t stopped sharp observers from prematurely declaring the champion of this ranking, likely heralding a historic moment¡ª


    Li Wei.


    Obviously, the answer couldn¡¯t be more apparent¡ªwho else could it be if not Li Wei?


    Armed with magnifying glasses, netizens channeled their inner Holmes, piecing together information from news reports:


    Endorsements signed last year, endorsements signed this year, player wages, bonuses, Nike product line dividends, and more.


    Although many endorsements did not publicly disclose contract figures, leaving only speculative data, the final numbers still await Forbes¡¯ confirmation and may not be entirely accurate. However, based on current deductions, netizens have drawn an irresistible conclusion¡ªa jaw-dropping conclusion:


    Li Wei¡¯s annual salary is estimated to be between one hundred million and one hundred thirteen million US dollars.


    Witnessing history¡ª


    Once confirmed, Li Wei will become the first NFL player in history to achieve an annual salary exceeding one hundred million US dollars.


    A groundbreaking, first-ever achievement.

 Chapter 918: Annual salary of 100 million in 917

    Chapter 918: Annual salary of 100 million in 917


    It has been mentioned before that, due to the existence of a strict salary cap and the sheer number of players in the League, NFL players¡¯ average salaries rank quite low in professional sports.


    Currently, after Rodgers signed his latest contract last year, the annual salary for quarterbacks officially breached the $30 million threshold, but it¡¯s still not comparable to the NBA or the Five Major European Football Leagues; moreover, with the overwhelming number of players, endorsement opportunities are relatively scarce, and total income remains below expectations.


    In terms of earnings, sports like tennis, golf, boxing, and racing¡ªwhich revolve around individual competitors¡ªtend to give professional athletes a slight edge in average income.


    Thus, in NFL history, player annual earnings have always been relatively modest.


    As of 2019, the historical rankings for NFL player annual income are as follows¡ª


    Rodgers, Green Bay Packers quarterback, 2018 annual salary: $89.3 million.


    Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks quarterback, 2018 annual salary: $79 million.


    Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons quarterback, 2018 annual salary: $67.3 million.


    Clear as day.


    Including salaries, endorsements, bonuses, and more, players with an annual income exceeding $60 million are few and far between; even those earning over $50 million annually are scarce. Whether we¡¯re talking about average or peak earnings, NFL players¡¯ income reveals a stark gap compared to soccer, basketball, tennis, and other professional sports.


    Furthermore, the highest-earning players are almost exclusively quarterbacks, reflecting the increasingly apparent imbalance in the League¡¯s focus¡ªso much so that when people talk about football, quarterbacks are usually the only position that comes to mind.


    Until now.


    The situation has finally changed.


    In 2019, a running back¡ªa young Asian player¡ªmight break the $100 million annual income threshold, perhaps even exceed it. Considering the new season hasn¡¯t begun yet, additional revenue opportunities could arise, sweeping away all the criticisms surrounding NFL salaries with an unstoppable force.


    Unbelievable¡ªa football player¡¯s annual earnings have, for the first time in history, surpassed the $100 million mark!


    Even on a global scale, this income ranks confidently among the top three, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with global icons like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, boldly stepping into the pinnacle of professional sports¡¯ hierarchy. This achievement transforms the NFL¡¯s market value into visible player income, overturning football¡¯s disadvantages in one fell swoop.


    And to top it all off, this feat comes from a running back, making the story even more legendary.


    Boom!


    History is made just like that.


    Step by step, Li Wei is indeed pioneering a new era, an entirely new realm¡ªone that belongs neither to others nor to football players of the past. He¡¯s entirely overturning a sports paradigm and opening the doors to a new age.


    At this moment, if anyone doubts whether ¡°Goat vs Rookie¡± is worthy of being the League¡¯s face, reality will crush their skepticism under its sheer momentum: Li Wei is reaching into territories that Brady has never ventured into, pushing football to an entirely new level.


    Don¡¯t agree?


    Tough luck.


    The offseason is bustling with extraordinary activity, making headlines left and right.


    Among the flurry of news, Li Wei¡¯s return to New York and the announcement of his charity fundraiser party emerged as the talk of the town.


    According to the ¡°New York Times,¡± this marks the first time Li Wei is hosting a party under his own name for the ¡°Annie Gallas Foundation,¡± a charity aimed at supporting minors suffering from critical illnesses and complex conditions by aiding their treatment and recovery.


    Originally, it was just an ordinary charity gala¡ªsomething seen regularly in New York, nothing noteworthy. But this particular gala represents Li Wei¡¯s first public appearance in social circles after his busy offseason and the first time he¡¯s hosted a social gathering using his personal brand.


    Additionally, the event is being held at Li Wei¡¯s newly acquired penthouse apartment in Manhattan¡¯s Lower District¡ªhis first time publicly opening up his residence to New York¡¯s elite. Known for fiercely guarding his private life, Li Wei made an exception for this charitable cause.


    Suddenly, the ¡°Li Wei Charity Gala¡± became the hottest topic across the city¡ª


    Attending Li Wei¡¯s gala instantly became a badge of honor.


    Literally, everyone.


    Anyone who received an invitation became the envy of all; anyone who attended the gala became the center of conversation for weeks to come.


    Thus, a seemingly modest charity event evolved into the social event of the year.


    Rumor has it that socialites pulled countless strings for a single invitation, and there were even inquiries about prices on the black market¡ªthough none were available for sale.


    Ultimately, the event lived up to its hype.


    Reports indicate that Li Wei¡¯s new apartment in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, spans three floors and is breathtaking in design.


    Two floors were merged to form a single space¡ªthe first floor being a grand living room and the second floor hosting bedrooms. The third is a rooftop area, featuring an outdoor pool and garden, where one can enjoy the stars above while overlooking Manhattan¡¯s hustle and bustle below.


    Decorated with deep blue, light gray, and off-white tones, the apartment exudes a clean, modern style that highlights Li Wei¡¯s unique taste.


    No wonder Louis Vuitton chose to collaborate with Li Wei.


    That evening, the gala¡¯s guest list filled the space with dazzling personalities, quickly becoming the city¡¯s hottest talking point.


    The attendance by NFL players like Watt, Donald, Foles, Goff, Bell, Peterson, and others (including Kansas City Chieftains¡¯ players) was expected¡ª


    But still, it paled compared to the dramatic reunion of NBA giants Curry and James at the same party.


    It¡¯s hard to imagine anyone but Li Wei pulling off gathering these two under one roof.


    Finally, the arrivals of the Manning Brothers and Brady reclaimed the spotlight for football, reminding everyone whose gala it was.


    Indeed, football players stayed the stars of the evening.


    But... Brady?


    Spectators found themselves torn between being amazed that Li Wei invited Brady or stunned that Brady actually showed up.


    Only then did people belatedly realize¡ªBrady and Li Wei share the same agent!


    Still, having the same agent doesn¡¯t necessarily mean the players get along, especially considering Li Wei and Brady¡¯s fierce on-field battles while Li Wei is actively dethroning Brady in the sport¡ª


    As the saying goes, ¡°Yangtze River¡¯s waves push the old waves ashore.¡±


    Brady is the unfortunate ¡°old wave,¡± with a hundred reasons to avoid the gala. Fans wouldn¡¯t object to his absence either.


    But surprisingly, Brady showed up¡ªand at a gala where Li Wei and the Manning Brothers were also present, it¡¯s guaranteed to become a trending topic, effortlessly lighting up social media.

 Chapter 919: 918 Charity Party

    Chapter 919: 918 Charity Party


    Li Wei¡¯s charity party saw the Manning Brothers in attendance, and Tom Brady was also present.


    But why?


    Some say it¡¯s a charity party, and if Brady failed to attend after receiving an invitation, he could face criticism from the public. Especially when heavyweights like Watt, the Manning Brothers, and Donald were all present, it would only make Brady appear petty.


    Of course, that is part of the reason, but not the whole story¡ª


    If this were the only factor, Brady could simply sign a large check to show his goodwill, easily silencing the criticism without attending.


    The real core reason lay in public relations and image.


    Precisely because Brady had a hundred reasons to skip the event, that gave him even more reason to attend, showcasing his grace and poise.


    After a buzzer-beater loss in the American League Championship, facing severe challenges to his position in the league, and seeing his status as the ¡°Greatest of All Time¡± under attack from all sides, Brady had to be extra mindful of his image.


    Indeed, he could have skipped the party and sent a large check to dismiss Li Wei. But he chose to attend, proving his magnanimity through actions¡ª


    He, Tom Brady, the GOAT, could hardly be rattled by a minor challenge from Li Wei. Li Wei still had a long way to go to catch up with him, and next season, Brady intended to prove just that.


    Thus.


    Brady made his appearance, arriving in style with his wife, Gisele Bundchen.


    Brady believed the media would surely not miss such a spotlight moment, and he would once again score a victory in the battle of public image.


    Since the Manning Brothers, top-tier stars entirely unrelated to Li Wei, attended, Brady had even less reason to skip. Falling behind his old rivals wasn¡¯t an option. From every angle, Brady had to attend, and he had to do so in a grand and high-profile manner¡ªthis was the only correct approach.


    In some sense, Brady was right¡ª


    ¡°Curry vs. James,¡± ¡°Manning Brothers vs. Brady.¡±


    No one could have predicted seeing these combinations at Li Wei¡¯s charity party. The sheer buzz exploded immediately across social media.


    However, Brady underestimated Li Wei¡¯s current pull and influence.


    When global icons from other fields like David Beckham, Roger Federer, Lewis Hamilton, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Serena Williams began to show up one after another, the entire event¡¯s caliber and prestige skyrocketed. The football stars¡¯ glow dimmed in comparison, and even Brady found himself overshadowed.


    And that wasn¡¯t all.


    Scarlett Johansson, Ariana Grande, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, Beyonce? and Jay-Z, Rihanna, Chris Evans, and countless other Hollywood A-listers also made appearances, creating a dazzling, almost overwhelming scene.


    Highs followed one after another, completely breaking down the barriers between industries and unveiling Li Wei¡¯s current global influence.


    The presence of Jay-Z, Rihanna, and this year¡¯s Super Bowl performer Travis Scott was undoubtedly another focal point amid the whirl of attention.


    In the midst of the backlash against the Super Bowl, Jay-Z and Rihanna stood up for Li Wei, an Asian player, actively opposing discrimination and prejudice. By ultimately conquering the Super Bowl, they demonstrated immense admiration.


    Heroes emerge when the times demand them.


    The crux lies in both timing and the hero, and in the end, Li Wei seized his moment.


    Worth noting is how Li Wei acted as the facilitator, connecting Rihanna and Mahomes. Mahomes finally got to meet Rihanna in person, and if Brittany hadn¡¯t also been at the party, Mahomes might not have been able to suppress his howls of excitement, radiating sheer joy from head to toe.


    And the above still only scratches the surface.


    Even Taylor Swift, the current reigning queen of popularity and chart-topping hits, was just a small part of the luminous whirlwind that was the party.


    No wonder everyone said receiving an invitation to Li Wei¡¯s charity party was an honor in itself, the most talked-about event in town.


    Additionally, tech moguls, Wall Street experts, venture capital tycoons, and New York¡¯s aristocratic descendants¡ªalong with the high-ranking executives of sponsoring corporations¡ªformed the backbone of the charity party, ensuring the evening shone brilliantly as a wild celebration.


    All of it, all of it.


    The sheer volume of focal points and trending topics was staggering. Unexpectedly, Li Wei¡¯s charity party turned into the social event of the year, flooding social networks with unprecedented viral traffic, creating a surge of attention that spread everywhere.


    Against this backdrop, Brady¡¯s attendance at Li Wei¡¯s charity party seemed... not all that special, not worth making a fuss over.


    Such a situation was something even Brady hadn¡¯t anticipated.


    Yet amid the countless discussions, Li Wei remained at the center.


    On one hand, people marveled at Li Wei¡¯s now-unparalleled influence, confirming his status as the ¡°Number One in the NFL.¡± Even if Brady held a charity party, it might not reach the same scale or lineup.


    On the other hand, the charity party was far more than a mere social showcase. The top-tier celebrities, elites, and prominent figures who attended never lost sight of the event¡¯s true purpose¡ª


    This was for Annie Galas, and for the millions of children battling illness and desperately in need of greater support.


    The party was just the occasion; the real stars were the kids.


    Ultimately, one night, one party, the ¡°Annie Galas Fund¡± raised an astounding $30 million.


    An incredible figure, an extraordinary achievement.


    All of it, thanks to Li Wei.


    Yet, Li Wei refused to take credit.


    ¡°I¡¯m merely a facilitator,¡± Li Wei said during an interview with the ¡°New York Times.¡± ¡°As the foundation¡¯s name suggests, the real stars are the kids. And also every guest who attended the party; they are the ones who remind us to believe in hopes and dreams.¡±


    Even so, Li Wei¡¯s debut on the social stage achieved stunning and unimaginable success¡ªsomething even more impactful than endorsements in numbers and stature. It proved that ¡°Li Wei,¡± the name, not only captivated the general public but also held sway among the elite.


    At this point, Li Wei officially ascended to the pinnacle of the industry, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the best from all walks of life and industries, gaining the initial leverage to move not just the sport, but the world.


    ¡°A brand-new face¡ª


    An accidental outsider who inadvertently became the turning point for an entire sport.¡±


    Time magazine, in a rare move, followed in the footsteps of Vogue, featuring Li Wei on its cover and dedicating an in-depth profile article to him.


    Taking six entire pages, this profile recounted Li Wei¡¯s career journey up to now, witnessed the miracles he had created, and placed him squarely in the spotlight as someone capable of reshaping eras, leagues, and even global professional landscapes.


    Praise, and the pinnacle.

 Chapter 920: 919 Absolute Focus

    Chapter 920: 919 Absolute Focus


    ¡°... A galaxy of stars.¡±


    ¡°A lavish feast...¡±


    ¡°... Witnessing Li Wei¡¯s dazzling debut.¡±


    ¡°Once again, Li Wei stirs up a storm...¡±


    Everything unfolded just as Donald Yee predicted¡ª


    Despite a packed schedule, Li Wei still wanted to organize a charity party. It was one of his goals for this offseason, something he didn¡¯t want to miss.


    Since Li Wei had already expressed this desire, Donald naturally had no reason to refuse.


    Thus, Donald proposed an idea:


    Why not make it more formal, more grand¡ªturn it into Li Wei¡¯s official debut in the social scene and truly ignite his influence to its full potential.


    The plan proceeded without a hitch.


    The next day, major news outlets and social media platforms responded in full force.


    Li Wei. Li Wei. Still Li Wei.


    Every news page, large and small, was dominated by coverage of Li Wei¡¯s first charity party, showcasing his cross-industry influence from every angle.


    Without a doubt, it was a breakthrough.


    As unbelievable as it might sound, Li Wei was indeed expanding the influence of football¡ªeven on its home turf, the North American continent.


    Incredible!


    Yet, this is the reality¡ªthis is the level of influence Li Wei commands now.


    ...


    Snap snap snap.


    Blinding flashes flooded the scene, the sound of shutters roaring in all directions.


    At the same time, calls erupted one after another, echoing through the streets.


    ¡°Li Wei! Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei, over here, here!¡±


    ¡°Rookie, hey, rookie!¡±


    ¡°Edgerunner!¡±


    ¡°Fly, Li Wei, fly!¡±


    Every kind of shout imaginable competed for Li Wei¡¯s attention.


    A brand-new silver-gray Mercedes-Benz slowly pulled to a stop in front of the crowd. Li Wei had just stepped out, barely steadying himself, when the sea of flashbulbs engulfed him, plunging the world into a cacophony.


    Then.


    ¡°Ariana Grande!¡±


    Suddenly, a heart-wrenching scream tore through the crowd. The sheer surprise and wildness of it stunned everyone as all eyes instinctively turned toward the source of the shout, their faces brimming with astonishment.


    The reporter responsible: Uh...


    Looked utterly startled, shoulders hunched. ¡°I didn¡¯t think that would actually work.¡±


    Ha ha, ha ha ha.


    The crowd collectively burst into laughter.


    At an event teeming with reporters, where voices often drowned in the noise, breaking through the chaos required unconventional tactics. Thus, reporters tried all sorts of bizarre methods to grab their target¡¯s attention¡ª


    Whatever worked, worked.


    So in the press horde, Li Wei often heard weird and random calls. At the Super Bowl¡¯s media day, someone had even yelled out ¡°Crimson Tide Storm.¡±


    Of course, it succeeded in catching Li Wei¡¯s attention, who responded with a clenched fist and replied, ¡°Crimson Tide Storm.¡±


    And now, here was another wild display¡ªsomeone shouting Ariana¡¯s name.


    As for the reporter, they looked utterly bewildered, unsure of how to react: You¡¯re kidding, it worked?


    Under the spotlight of everyone¡¯s stares, the reporter blinked rapidly, swallowed nervously, and looked at Li Wei, blurting out instinctively.


    ¡°So, are you and Ariana dating?¡±


    The question, which had been lingering in their mind, slipped out involuntarily.


    In the next moment, all eyes turned to Li Wei in unison¡ª


    Last night, Li Wei¡¯s first charity party had been filled with numerous highlights; even so, Ariana¡¯s presence easily captured the spotlight.


    A smile played at the corners of Li Wei¡¯s mouth. ¡°No.¡±


    A crisp, straightforward reply. No hedging, no explanation. A clean and gracious denial that left no room for speculation.


    Not even the typical ¡°we¡¯re just friends¡± excuse¡ªjust a single flat denial, shutting down any lingering fantasies. The reporters were stunned¡ª


    Since the Super Bowl, had all those rumors been wishful thinking on their part? The ¡°Royal Couple¡± they had imagined, their dream pairing, was shattered just like that?


    Li Wei could clearly see the shock and disappointment in the reporters¡¯ eyes. It was as if they were witnessing a genuine breakup, the ¡°Golden Boy and Wildflower¡± parting ways after failing to live out a fairy tale ending. The sighs of regret were palpable.


    This look, that gaze¡ªit was too much for Li Wei, and he couldn¡¯t hold back his laughter. ¡°Sorry to disappoint you.¡±


    Oh.


    Audible sighs echoed through the crowd. Li Wei¡¯s grin grew even brighter. Why did this feel like a ¡°my OTP ended before it even began¡± moment?


    Soon after, a reporter quickly followed up. ¡°Tonight, you¡¯ll be making your debut on ¡®SNL.¡¯ Did Ariana give you any advice?¡±


    A tactical maneuver!


    Nearby, the shippers revived like phoenixes, brightly-eyed and hopeful as they looked at Li Wei in eager anticipation.


    Ha.


    A sly glint appeared in Li Wei¡¯s eyes, his mischief unmasked, as he looked at the reporter. ¡°Justin feels so betrayed, like he¡¯s been shot straight through the heart.¡±


    A brilliant move, effortlessly diverting attention and extinguishing the freshly reignited flames of gossip, leaving the reporters visibly deflated.


    As Li Wei watched one disappointed face after another, he decided not to linger. He turned toward the imposing Blackstone Building ahead and strode forward.


    The reporters, dumbfounded like puppets on strings, helplessly watched as Li Wei, the puppet master, effortlessly controlled the scene. They could only step aside, unconsciously creating an open path¡ªa grand welcome procession of sorts.


    The connection from the car to the building complete, they could only watch as Li Wei moved on.


    It wasn¡¯t until Li Wei disappeared into the building that the reporters snapped out of it¡ª


    What just happened?!


    Had they really just let such a big fish slip away?


    They weren¡¯t like some laid-back fisherman waiting lazily by the river; this was supposed to be *The Old Man and the Sea*!


    In an instant, the reporters surged forward like a tidal wave, chasing after Li Wei.


    But Li Wei, tall and long-limbed, widened the gap in just a few swift strides. Before the reporters could encircle him again, the Blackstone Building¡¯s security team had already slammed the glass doors shut.


    Thud, thud, thud. Bang, bang, bang.


    One reporter after another collided with the glass like sparrows, producing muffled thumps. A tide of people pressed forward, packing the entrance tight, shouting, pounding, pushing, all trying to elicit a response from Li Wei.


    From a distance, their faces contorted wildly, pressed up against the glass. Even from a slight remove, one could hear the glass creaking and groaning under the pressure, seemingly on the verge of collapse.


    It was like a scene straight out of *The Walking Dead*.


    Li Wei realized he couldn¡¯t linger further. Otherwise, the reporters wouldn¡¯t back down, and the situation might spiral out of control, leading to a true disaster.


    The best way to regain control was simple: leave.


    After all, when the ¡°food¡± disappears, the zombies will naturally disperse.


    With the help of security, Li Wei quickly entered the elevator.


    The world finally grew quiet.


    The undead, now deprived of their new target, began wandering the streets aimlessly¡ª


    A crisis averted.


    Yet, they still didn¡¯t retreat. One by one, they set up camp at the entrance, lying in wait.


    The second opportunity was still to come. They knew Li Wei would leave from here. One hundred percent.

 Chapter 921: 920 Important Invitation

    Chapter 921: 920 Important Invitation


    In the history of American television programs, the historical status and social significance of talk shows are irreplaceable. They are far more than just entertainment.


    The fundamental reason lies in how talk shows use a relaxed and humorous approach to delve into life, merging current events and trending phenomena with satire and commentary. They use entertainment as a vessel for education, intertwine with everyday life, and even evolve into a barometer for people¡¯s focus on politics, society, and culture, integrating fully into daily life.


    ¡°The Oprah Talk Show,¡± ¡°The Ellen Show,¡± ¡°Tonight Show,¡± ¡°Daily Show,¡± and so on.


    Tonight, Li Wei is about to make his debut on an American television talk show¡ª


    What¡¯s more, it¡¯s a live broadcast.


    ¡°Saturday Night Live (SNL).


    From the name of the show, it¡¯s clear that this is a live talk show airing late on Saturday night, and in New York, it has become a unique part of New York¡¯s Saturday night landscape.


    Produced and broadcast by NBC since its premiere in 1975, the show has enjoyed enduring popularity and provocative discussion, becoming one of the longest-running programs in North American television history, remaining evergreen and immensely popular to this day.


    The hallmark of this talk show is its ability to blend the hottest current topics with comedic sketches that critique current events. It can also be seen as a mirror for pop culture, mocking phenomena such as fast food culture and the ¡°entertainment till death¡± mentality.


    Of course, because the show airs late at night, the content tends to be a bit edgier, packed with cutting humor and topics that are always trending.


    Each episode of ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± features one performance guest and one musical guest, collaborating to complement each other.


    The performance guest is usually a top-tier celebrity or trending public figure¡ªafter all, a season typically consists of only twenty-four to twenty-six episodes, so the guest selection process is extremely rigorous. Not just anyone can appear on SNL.


    In Hollywood, there¡¯s even a ¡°Five-time Host Club,¡± which is an honorary group for those who have served as hosts on SNL five times. It represents a major accolade, as these guests have managed to sustain top-level activity for extended periods while continuously driving strong ratings.


    Performance guests participate in the sketches, allowing audiences to see a different side of them. The most crucial ability is learning to laugh at oneself and embrace self-mockery¡ªfundamental skills for thriving in a talk show environment.


    Musical guests are usually popular singers in their promotional period, performing live renditions of new songs¡ªgenerally two: one during the intermission and one during the program finale.


    The most essential part is that the entire program is conducted live.


    Of course, it¡¯s not 100% live.


    A small portion of the sketches might require adjustments due to unique circumstances, such as the speed of actor costume changes or major set modifications. These sketches would need to be pre-recorded, but generally speaking, only one to two sketches fall into this category. Most of the show strictly adheres to the live format.


    Thus, when actors lose composure and break into laughter during live broadcasts, it becomes a hilarious highlight. It¡¯s at moments like these that the cast¡¯s improvisation and recovery skills are truly put to the test.


    Because of the live format, ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± operates on an intense schedule during its broadcast season, with live airing on Saturdays. Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday are reserved for scriptwriting¡ªmost of the show¡¯s regular cast members are talented comedians, and many scripts are written by them. Writers and actors often swap roles as well.


    Wednesday and Thursday are dedicated to rehearsals, while Friday is for final dress rehearsals. During rehearsals, if fresh news or trending topics arise, the team must adjust the scripts in real-time.


    It¡¯s truly a nonstop, high-speed operation with no downtime.


    As a performance guest, to ensure the smooth execution of the live broadcast, they are required to arrive in New York at least two days in advance for rehearsals with the show¡¯s team.


    Only under extremely rare circumstances would a performance guest rehearse just one day prior. In such cases, the team has to adjust the live broadcast, limiting the guest¡¯s roles to non-speaking parts while giving the main performance responsibilities to the regular cast members.


    As the United States¡¯ most prestigious and influential talk show, ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± stands out in that other talk shows focus more on interviews and discussions, while SNL emphasizes performances and sketches. This also means that for professional athletes, it¡¯s an exceptional opportunity to showcase their personality.


    A plethora of top basketball, baseball, and hockey stars have graced the stage of ¡°Saturday Night Live,¡± and football is no exception.


    Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, and Tom Brady have all been invited to appear on SNL as performance guests, especially after winning the Super Bowl.


    In this context, the invitation itself signifies recognition, reward, and honor.


    Super Bowl champions are crowned every year, but not every year sees a football player invited to ¡°Saturday Night Live.¡±


    This year, Li Wei received the invitation.


    The key detail? They invited Li Wei, not quarterback Mahomes.


    This marks significant progress and subtly underscores the rising prominence of Li Wei across the North American continent.


    Nonetheless, this honor also comes with challenges.


    Live performances are no walk in the park.


    In football games, it¡¯s common for players to underperform during night games broadcasted live, let alone a comedic performance that has nothing to do with football¡ªtwo entirely different worlds.


    Difficult. As difficult as reaching for the stars.


    Due to this, Li Wei has been exceptionally busy over the past three days.


    From Wednesday and Thursday rehearsals to Friday¡¯s dress rehearsal, Li Wei poured himself into preparations for SNL. Only after completing all the preparation work did he attend the meticulously planned charity event.


    Then, on Saturday morning, Li Wei headed to NBC Studios bright and early to prepare for tonight¡¯s live broadcast, observing the highest standards and staying on edge.


    It¡¯s precisely because of this that a reporter posed the earlier question¡ª


    Did Ariana lend a hand?


    Ariana has appeared on SNL multiple times as a musical guest and made her debut as a performance guest in March 2016.


    The reporter¡¯s question was less about Ariana¡¯s involvement and more about her rumored connection with Li Wei.


    Unfortunately for them, Li Wei didn¡¯t take the bait.


    Justin Timberlake, a distinguished member of the ¡°Five-time Host Club,¡± would clearly be a more appropriate figure for Li Wei to seek advice from if he genuinely needed suggestions.


    With just one response, Li Wei defeated the reporter¡¯s angle entirely.


    And then... there was no follow-up.


    Li Wei smoothly evaded the reporter¡¯s ambush and entered the nearby Blackstone Building to prepare for tonight¡¯s live broadcast.


    The ¡°zombies¡± reluctantly dispersed after failing to get their story, knowing there was a full day ahead before the live broadcast at 11 p.m. They could easily focus on other pursuits and return to Blackstone Building at night for another attempt at intercepting Li Wei after the show.


    But¡ª


    Not a single person left. They roamed the building¡¯s entrance restlessly, curiosity eating away at them as they wondered: what¡¯s happening on the inside right now?

 Chapter 922: 921 Surprise Appearance

    Chapter 922: 921 Surprise Appearance


    ¡°¡±¡±


    Ding.


    The elevator doors opened, and before Li Wei could react, a paper confetti cannon went off right in front of him¡ª


    ¡°Surprise!¡±


    A figure stood before him, wearing a t-shirt, jeans, and slippers, hair only half-done, held in place with little clips.


    Confetti fired; cheers prepared.


    But the elevator offered no response¡ªlike facing a puff of air, no fright, no joy, nothing at all. The atmosphere quickly cooled.


    Awkwardness hung in the air.


    Li Wei quietly examined the figure in front of him, his gaze akin to studying a statue, silently brushing past the person and stepping out of the elevator.


    Statue: ...Something feels...just a little off.


    ¡°Wait, wait!¡±


    The statue called out to Li Wei.


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±


    Li Wei turned back to look at him, full of confusion.


    Statue: ¡°I meticulously prepared a welcome ceremony, and that¡¯s your reaction?¡±


    Li Wei looked innocent, ¡°I came here to visit you guys personally, and this is the welcome ceremony? This? Are you sure? Feels like I¡¯ve walked into a daycare center.¡±


    The statue shrugged lightly. ¡°Then, what were you expecting?¡±


    Li Wei thought about it seriously, ¡°I don¡¯t know, but shouldn¡¯t you guys be the ones surprising me?¡±


    The statue froze momentarily, straightened up, shoved the confetti cannon handle behind him, then turned and walked away in large strides, leaving Li Wei standing alone in front of the elevator, disoriented like a lone figure in a swirling wind.


    And, no twist came.


    One turn of the corner, gone.


    Outwardly composed, but inwardly, Colin Jost panicked. Sure enough, Li Wei was a tough nut to crack.


    Jost kept convincing himself: Stay cool, stay cool, don¡¯t freak out; it¡¯s now a matter of who can keep their cool and take the upper hand.


    After turning into the adjacent corridor, Jost closed his eyes and counted down from three.


    Three! Two! One!


    Then, Jost spun around and jumped back towards the elevator, shouting loudly.


    ¡°Surprise!¡±


    But...


    ¡°Li Wei?¡±


    Where was he?


    The corridor was empty, no sign of him. Li Wei, who had stood here moments ago, had disappeared without a trace.


    Jost froze: Damn it! The prank backfired.


    Shit!


    Jost hurried over, frantically pressing the elevator button.


    Ding!


    The elevator doors opened once more, and a dark figure lunged forward.


    ¡°Surprise!¡±


    The shout stunned Jost, making his eyes widen and breath freeze. His knees buckled, nearly dropping him to the floor as he supported himself with both hands on his knees, his calves shaking uncontrollably.


    Seeing Jost¡¯s utterly defeated appearance, Li Wei couldn¡¯t hold himself back any longer.


    ¡°Hahaha, hahahaha.¡±


    Laughter erupted like thunder.


    And not just laughter¡ªfull-on belly laughs.


    In an instant, heads began poking out of the ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± workspace and the writers¡¯ room, watching the scene unfold. One after another, no one could suppress their smiles¡ª


    He had only just arrived, and Li Wei had already bested Colin Jost, one of the show¡¯s head writers.


    Looks like tonight¡¯s show is worth anticipating!


    Jost gasped for air, ¡°God, my heart practically jumped out of my chest. I mean it¡ªI couldn¡¯t tell how far you¡¯d go with jokes. If you¡¯d stormed off in a rage, tonight¡¯s live broadcast might have turned into a disaster.¡±


    Yet Li Wei, grinning ear to ear, remarked, ¡°Exactly, and that¡¯s why my counterattack worked so well.¡±


    Jost couldn¡¯t believe his ears, ¡°Oh, God.¡±


    Li Wei laughed wildly, ¡°Hahaha.¡±


    Having worked at ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± for over ten years, Jost was no stranger to pranks, and he finally regained his composure, letting a smile appear on his face, ¡°Scarlett was worried about you, but now it seems totally unnecessary.¡±


    Li Wei spread his hands wide, ¡°Who knows? Maybe I seem fine now, but once I¡¯m in front of live TV cameras, I¡¯ll turn into a puppet.¡±


    Jost wasn¡¯t buying it, ¡°No, no, no, impossible. The way you handled that just now proves again why the core of ¡®Chiefs Special¡¯ lies in your performance. Are you sure you¡¯re not interested in working in Hollywood?¡±


    Li Wei, utterly at ease, replied, ¡°Looks like I won¡¯t need to worry about retirement life.¡±


    Jost let out a hearty chuckle.


    Colin Jost, the writer at ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± who later took over the show¡¯s headline segment ¡°Weekend Update,¡± had become one of the pillars of the program.


    Simultaneously, Jost had another title¡ªhis girlfriend was Scarlett Johansson. The two had been dating steadily for two years. Not long ago, Jost proposed, Scarlett said yes, and the two were planning to get engaged next month.


    A happy event was just around the corner.


    Li Wei had met Scarlett at last year¡¯s Super Bowl victory party¡ªjust a passing acquaintance. But this year¡¯s Super Bowl, Scarlett had gone to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium to watch the game, and they¡¯d formed a closer bond off the field, enough to call each other friends.


    What truly changed their relationship, however, was the Annie Gallas Foundation.


    Scarlett had a daughter and deeply empathized with Li Wei and Annie¡¯s story. At last night¡¯s charity gala, she not only attended but wrote a sizable check to sincerely support Li Wei in making a difference.


    After hearing that Li Wei had been invited to appear on ¡°Saturday Night Live,¡± Scarlett showed her straightforward, loyal side, asking Jost to take good care of Li Wei and offer some guidance.


    Jost wasn¡¯t worried about Li Wei¡ªWednesday and Thursday¡¯s rehearsals had made it clear that Li Wei was a natural performer with comedic potential. Still, given the live broadcast¡¯s uniqueness, Jost came to personally greet him.


    Now, it seemed even that wasn¡¯t necessary.


    As they wandered corridors together, Jost introduced Li Wei to people, knocking on dressing room doors for greetings one by one. Although Li Wei could¡¯ve done this on his own, having a guide made everything much easier.


    Without exception, Li Wei was met with cheers.


    In just three days of rehearsal, Li Wei had blended in seamlessly with the crew.


    Jost couldn¡¯t help himself, ¡°At this rate, I feel like a third wheel.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, no need to worry. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll perform excellently. And even if something goes wrong live, don¡¯t sweat it¡ªwe trust the cast will handle it. We do this week after week; we know how to manage mistakes.¡±


    Li Wei quipped, ¡°But if things go really south, you guys won¡¯t be able to save the day, right?¡±


    Jost shrugged lightly without a moment¡¯s hesitation, ¡°Then we¡¯ll just call upon the God of Shows.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯d be a good thing¡ªwe might witness an epic live broadcast. The show could blow up.¡±


    His nonchalant attitude showcased his veteran confidence to Li Wei.


    Jost shot a glance at Li Wei.


    ¡°No matter what happens, we¡¯ll benefit in the end. After all, you¡¯re an ¡®Edgerunner,¡¯ so we¡¯re quietly praying for the God of Shows to descend.¡±


    Wait, why does that statement sound a bit off?


    But before Li Wei could respond, Jost moved forward, knocking on another door. After receiving permission, he pushed it open and walked in first.


    ¡°Hey, Taylor, welcome.¡±


    Li Wei stared at Taylor Swift, who was posing nonchalantly in front of a vanity mirror with a magazine in hand, utterly baffled.


    Swift, however, acted like she hadn¡¯t noticed Li Wei¡¯s astonishment at all. Breezily greeting Jost, she gracefully stepped in front of Li Wei.


    ¡°Welcome to ¡®Saturday Night Live.''¡±


    Li Wei glanced at Jost, then at Swift, his face filled with disbelief.


    In the next moment, Swift flashed her left hand from behind her, showering Li Wei in glitter, then cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone.


    ¡°Surprise!¡±


    Ah, so the real ambush was here all along.


    ¡°¡±¡±

 Chapter 923: 922 Tight-lipped

    Chapter 923: 922 Tight-lipped


    Over the past few days, Li Wei kept asking, ¡°Who¡¯s the musical guest?¡±


    He hadn¡¯t kept up with pop culture in a while and was worried about falling behind the times.


    Just last week, Saturday Night Live had invited BTS as the musical guest¡ªmarking the first time the show had featured a K-pop group.


    However, Li Wei knew absolutely nothing about them; he didn¡¯t even know how many members were in the group.


    If he showed up on set like that, it¡¯d be downright embarrassing.


    So, in a move to demonstrate the hospitality of his ¡°Eastern land of etiquette,¡± Li Wei wanted to do a bit of homework beforehand. That way, he could make some polite small talk and avoid exposing his ignorance.


    But to his dismay, Jost and the gang kept teasing him, refusing to give any hints and mysteriously claiming there¡¯d be surprises and suspense on the day.


    This immediately raised Ansen¡¯s suspicions, and after persistent grilling, he finally got the answer:


    Sara Bareilles.


    A rising pop star. While her most well-known single is ¡°Brave,¡± she¡¯d actually been nominated twice for the Grammy¡¯s Big Four general categories¡ªproof of her talent.


    One nomination for Record of the Year. Another for Album of the Year.


    Even though she didn¡¯t win, the nominations themselves spoke volumes about her ability.


    Following some research, Li Wei found out that Bareilles had just released a new album and would be coming on Saturday Night Live to promote it¡ªprompting him to purchase the album online and cram-listen to it multiple times.


    And then¡ª


    He got played!


    Last night, Taylor Swift showed up at his party, diligently keeping her lips sealed.


    Not a single hint slipped out.


    Li Wei was completely stunned as he watched Taylor and Jost high-five each other. Trying to calm his racing heart, he gazed helplessly at the laughing pair.


    Taking one step forward, he extended his right hand. ¡°Sara, it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you. Has anyone ever told you that you bear a slight resemblance to Taylor Swift?¡±


    Speaking with a mischievous tone, Li Wei pinched his left thumb and index finger together to make a gesture, squinting his left eye and scrunching his nose for effect¡ªthe expression was spot-on.


    Taylor immediately recognized the danger radiating from Li Wei, hardly giving herself time to laugh. She raised her finger to point at Jost, ¡°It was him¡ªthis was all his idea!¡±


    Jost: ??? Wait a second, wasn¡¯t this supposed to go differently?


    Li Wei narrowed his eyes and slowly turned toward Jost.


    In an instant, Jost felt like he had become a rabbit under the watchful gaze of a cheetah. Every hair on his back stood on end, and without hesitation, he lowered his head.


    ¡°Sorry, my bad. I swear, it won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    No excuses, no protests¡ªjust an entirely submissive expression.


    How could he have forgotten that Li Wei was a professional football player, not to mention trained in mixed martial arts? Jost decided his bones were perfectly fine staying where they were¡ªno need to relocate them.


    To yield when needed, that¡¯s what makes a real man!


    Li Wei¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile, ¡°Relax. I don¡¯t bite¡ªreally.¡±


    But the nonchalant tone only made his words sound more chilling.


    ¡°At most, I¡¯d just rearrange your bones a little and let you experience something new. You know, life is all about taking risks.¡±


    Jost shook his head vehemently, ¡°No, thank you! I think my bones are perfect where they are now. I¡¯m very traditional¡ªdefinitely not into risks. Really. Thank you, Li Wei, thank you!¡±


    Li Wei let out a sigh, ¡°Ah, such a shame.¡±


    With a faint look of disappointment on his face, Li Wei began cracking his knuckles loudly, like a host welcoming a guest. ¡°Are you sure about that?¡±


    Jost shifted half a step back, daring to force out a grin. ¡°Scarlett told me this was just a trick¡ªlooks impressive but has zero real threat, correct?¡±


    Li Wei smiled warmly. ¡°Oh really? Is that so? Should we test that theory?¡±


    Jost¡¯s smile dripped with bitterness. ¡°Li Wei. Li Wei! Rookie!¡±


    Seeing Jost¡¯s expression, Li Wei knew he was playing along, so he didn¡¯t continue the joke. Instead, he turned to Taylor.


    ¡°You¡¯re really tight-lipped, huh? Didn¡¯t drop a single clue last night. So, what¡¯s the deal with Sara? She¡¯s not coming at all?¡±


    Taylor pressed her lips together, fighting hard to suppress a grin. ¡°No, Sara is next week¡¯s musical guest¡ªthat¡¯s all. The timing was off.¡±


    Li Wei finally understood why he¡¯d fallen for their ploy.


    Jost, sensing the danger dissipate, quickly threw in another joke. ¡°I was worried Taylor couldn¡¯t keep it a secret¡ªwhat with her diary and all.¡±


    The abrupt silence following his words was palpable¡ªcue the awkward pause. Talk about hitting the wrong nerve.


    Jost, unable to suppress his usual joking habits, had accidentally overstepped¡ªsome jokes are best left unsaid.


    As soon as the words left his mouth, his expression stiffened slightly. He looked at Li Wei, while Li Wei looked back at him, and the conversation came to a halt mid-air.


    The atmosphere was, well... awkward.


    Pfft.


    Taylor was the first to burst out laughing. ¡°Relax, relax. I¡¯m not Li Wei. Pretty much everyone in America already knows my diaries are my creative inspiration, and Colin hasn¡¯t been the first one to poke fun. If I got upset every time someone made a joke, the Sahara Desert would probably be filled with green forests by now.¡±


    Self-deprecation.


    That¡¯s the number one trait needed to be a musical guest on Saturday Night Live.


    If you don¡¯t know how to laugh at yourself, you¡¯d better steer clear of the show, or you¡¯re in for a world of pain¡ªemotionally, mentally, and physically.


    But Taylor wasn¡¯t just self-mocking; she smoothly added a jab at Li Wei. That playful, mischievous look didn¡¯t quite match her typical good-girl image. She even glanced toward Li Wei with a cheeky smile, eyes twinkling with playful challenge¡ª


    Was she... taunting him?


    Li Wei tilted his chin slightly, ¡°Well, at least your diary isn¡¯t a ¡®Death Note.¡¯ For that, we should all be grateful.¡±


    One second. Two seconds.


    Taylor clapped her hands and burst into laughter. ¡°Haha, Li Wei, now that¡¯s a fresh one¡ªa hot and spicy new joke, fresh out of the oven. No one¡¯s ever framed it like that.¡±


    Li Wei shrugged casually. ¡°Taylor, looks like your fans in Neon aren¡¯t as active. If they were, someone would¡¯ve already made the connection on social media. Keep up the good work.¡±


    Taylor could no longer hold it in, laughing so hard she was practically doubling over. It was clear that she was genuinely enjoying herself.


    In reality, people on social media had nicknamed Taylor ¡°The Sniper.¡±


    This was because her music often drew inspiration from her exes, and every time she released a new track, everyone wanted to know who her next ¡°target¡± was¡ªlike public executions without the gory details.


    Taylor didn¡¯t mind, though. After all, artistic inspiration comes from real life. Even so, she had no patience for nosy bystanders who didn¡¯t have a clue yet felt entitled to judge.


    That¡¯s why Li Wei¡¯s ¡°Death Note¡± joke¡ªdrawing on the infamous Neon manga¡ªwas a witty twist on her private diaries. It wasn¡¯t offensive but managed to get the point across, instantly brightening Taylor¡¯s mood and sending her into uncontrollable fits of laughter.


    Jost, meanwhile, stood there clueless, looking back and forth between Li Wei and Taylor, utterly lost and feeling like a fool.


    A full two beats later, Jost finally pieced it together and involuntarily shivered. ¡°Oh God, Li Wei! Are all your jokes this sharp and deadly?¡±

 Chapter 924: 923 Unfamiliar Territory

    Chapter 924: 923 Unfamiliar Territory


    ¡°God, Li Wei, are all your jokes this aggressive?¡± Jost raised his eyes to the heavens, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and found his throat dry.


    Li Wei, ¡°What, are you worried my opening monologue tonight will be the same?¡±


    Jost choked, ¡°You¡¯re planning to go off script?¡±


    Li Wei shrugged nonchalantly¡ª


    On ¡°Saturday Night Live,¡± the guest host is responsible for the opening monologue, a solo performance equivalent to stand-up comedy.


    This monologue is often the highlight of the show, relying entirely on the guest host¡¯s ability to captivate the audience.


    Regular viewers often misunderstand, thinking the monologue is entirely created by the guest host themselves. In reality, the monologue is crafted by the team of writers on the show, tailored to the guest¡¯s style and characteristics to make it feel like their own words.


    In live broadcasts, preparation is paramount¡ªit¡¯s impossible to solely rely on improvisation.


    Of course, whether it¡¯s stand-up comedy or a talk show, the brilliance of the script is critical, but the performer matters just as much.


    The same jokes told by different people can be either painfully dull or explosively funny. It all comes down to the performer¡¯s rhythm, tone, demeanor, and delivery style. Comedy is the genre that tests theatrical talent the most.


    So, while the opening monologue on ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± is written by the same talented team of writers, the final presentation varies dramatically.


    Generally, guest hosts don¡¯t perform off-script¡ªeven seasoned comedians rarely put themselves in such a risky position.


    But what about Li Wei?


    Jost originally wanted to say, ¡°I don¡¯t believe it,¡± but as he looked at Li Wei, his confidence faltered. He blinked repeatedly, and the words stuck in his throat.


    Truth be told, even Jost couldn¡¯t quite imagine it¡ª


    While many NFL players have hosted ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± over the years, most of them were quarterbacks. The last time a non-quarterback hosted the show was back in 1995.


    That year, legendary cornerback Deion Sanders appeared on ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± and achieved impressive ratings.


    Now, after 24 years, a running back was set to step onto the ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± stage.


    The biggest difference between running backs and quarterbacks lies in the physicality and visual intensity they bring.


    Looking at Big Manning or Brady, everything feels under control¡ªthey perform according to a ¡°playbook.¡± But looking at Li Wei now, a sense of uncertainty filled the air.


    Hesitating for a moment, Jost exclaimed, ¡°Whoa,¡± imagined the scene, and couldn¡¯t help but mutter again, ¡°Whoa. This is shaping up to be an epic disaster. I... can¡¯t wait.¡±


    Swift couldn¡¯t believe her ears, ¡°Colin!¡±


    Jost shrugged, ¡°See, this is exactly the kind of effect we¡¯re looking forward to. Li Wei, our ratings are counting on you.¡± With that, Jost even clenched his fist to cheer Li Wei on¡ª


    Something felt a little off.


    ...


    Standing backstage, Li Wei took a deep breath and felt his heart pounding furiously, almost bursting out of his chest¡ª


    A strange emotion: nervousness.


    From NCAA to NFL, Li Wei had weathered countless challenges but rarely felt nervous. That was his area of expertise; he never needed to be anxious within his domain of skill. However, this stage was entirely foreign¡ªperformance, monologue, commanding the room¡ªnone of it was something Li Wei had ever tried in his life.


    And to top it off, it was a live broadcast. No delay whatsoever¡ªhowever he performed on stage, it would be transmitted exactly as is with no room for error.


    Even the slightest slip-up could end up as a meme across social media.


    ¡°Twenty-five cents for your thoughts.¡± A voice sounded beside him.


    Li Wei turned his head and saw Swift¡¯s smiling face. He tugged at the corner of his mouth, ¡°Nervous.¡±


    Then he quipped, self-mockingly, ¡°To be precise, my mind is completely blank. I think repeated rehearsals have erased all my prepared monologue from memory.¡±


    Swift chuckled lightly, ¡°If you¡¯ve still got the energy to joke, you can¡¯t be that nervous.¡±


    Li Wei raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t say a word.


    Swift now saw through it¡ªLi Wei was genuinely nervous. ¡°Just be yourself. What I mean is, for your first time hosting ¡®Saturday Night Live,¡¯ no one¡¯s expecting you to deliver a groundbreaking performance that blows everyone away. Audiences just want to see a different side of you¡ªsome playful teasing and a little self-deprecation is all it takes.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at Peyton Manning now, mastering talk shows and even mocking himself effortlessly in commercials, seeming much more comfortable than Tom Brady; when he first hosted ¡®Saturday Night Live,¡¯ his opening monologue was flat as a pancake¡ªbarely passable.¡±


    ¡°We all need to grow.¡±


    Li Wei tilted his chin slightly, ¡°What about you?¡±


    Swift froze, ¡°What?¡±


    Li Wei kept asking, ¡°What about you? You¡¯ve hosted ¡®Saturday Night Live¡¯ before, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    After hesitating for a moment, Swift¡¯s shoulders slumped in resignation, ¡°Disaster¡ªan absolute disaster.¡±


    Li Wei laughed outright.


    Swift, ¡°I only hosted once... uh, in 2009? God, I absolutely lack acting talent or any sense of comedy. It was catastrophic. I wish I could erase all traces of that broadcast.¡±


    Then, she spread her hands wide, ¡°After that, ¡®Saturday Night Live¡¯ never invited me back as a guest host again.¡±


    Li Wei looked at Swift earnestly, ¡°Well, God blessed you with musical talent. You¡¯re an amazing singer.¡±


    Swift froze, completely unprepared for this response. She couldn¡¯t control it¡ªher mood instantly brightened, ¡°Are you serious?¡±


    Li Wei tilted his eyes skyward, ¡°No, just small talk. I¡¯ve never actually listened to your music, you know. Because thanks to a certain prankster, I spent all my time diving into Sara Bareilles¡¯ work and didn¡¯t have a chance to focus on another artist¡¯s albums.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha.¡± Swift laughed out loud. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve regained your confidence¡ªhumor comes naturally to you.¡±


    ¡°Besides, you have a perfect cautionary tale right in front of you. You should be confident.¡± Swift spread her hands, ¡°The worst-case scenario is...¡±


    Li Wei jumped in, ¡°Coming back next time as the musical guest.¡±


    Swift couldn¡¯t hold back anymore; she laughed until she was bent double, and she had to cover her mouth to suppress the sound, avoiding interrupting other staff preparing for the live broadcast. She lowered her voice as much as possible, ¡°Just be yourself, Li Wei.¡±


    Right then, a staff member appeared, ¡°Li Wei, one-minute countdown. Hey, Taylor, why are you here? Are you planning to watch the live broadcast from the audience or staying in the dressing room?¡±


    Swift instantly raised her hands in a surrender pose, ¡°The dressing room. Please, please, please¡ªI don¡¯t want to appear live on camera in the audience. I have psychological trauma.¡±


    Her expression was hilarious enough to make people chuckle.


    Swift dashed off in a hurry, leaving Li Wei alone at the backstage entrance.


    The space gradually quieted, with only the magnified sound of his heartbeat pounding in his eardrums. Then, the countdown from the staff continued.


    Thirty seconds.


    Ten seconds.


    Five seconds.


    Closer, ever closer.


    As the countdown reached three, two, one, Li Wei took a deep breath, opened his eyes, and looked ahead. The thundering noise and chaos dissipated; there wasn¡¯t a trace of tension left.

 Chapter 925: 924 Solo Crosstalk

    Chapter 925: 924 Solo Crosstalk


    Classic jazz music rippled through the air, lively and light, as if one were in a small tavern in Lower Manhattan. In the cozy space, friends whispered intimately, chatting about life amidst the elegant romance of the music, stealing a moment of carefree leisure that floated effortlessly in the air.


    Then¡ª


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, please give a round of applause to...¡±


    ¡°Li... Wei...¡±


    Clap clap clap. Cheering and roaring.


    The audience in the studio erupted into applause and cheers, an explosive surge of energy swallowing the entire space in an instant.


    Directly ahead, there was a small stage. Members of the band were seated in a tiered space on either side, creating a central aisle.


    The door opened, and a tall and slender figure appeared, wearing a deep blue suit¡ªsleek, tailored, and sharply defined. Its clean lines perfectly traced a proportionate and impeccable physique, exuding an elegant and debonair aura, completely different from his usual look.


    With a single entrance, he effortlessly seized everyone¡¯s attention and stirred up crashing waves.


    Li Wei, made his grand entrance.


    Ahhhhh, ahhhhhhhh!


    The applause and cheers somehow reached an even higher crescendo, surging to an impossible peak and unleashing an overwhelming energy that seemed to topple the studio. The vibrations of the space could be distinctly felt.


    Wave after wave.


    It wasn¡¯t until Li Wei reached the front of the stage, standing mere steps away from the audience, that the sense of his towering presence and physical strength truly hit home¡ªbreaking the barrier of distance and space. His dominating aura was both palpable and real. It was a sharp contrast to the elegance and sophistication of his appearance.


    At once, whistles and screams spiraled out of control, plunging the entire world into chaos¡ª


    Stunning. Electrifying.


    Even if Little Manning himself were to make an appearance, he wouldn¡¯t receive such a reception.


    Let¡¯s not forget, when Little Manning led the New York Giants to shatter the New England Patriots¡¯ dreams of an undefeated season and clinched the Super Bowl, his fame soared to unprecedented heights. It was in this context that he was invited as a guest performer on ¡°Saturday Night Live.¡±


    Yet, compared to the moment¡¯s atmosphere surrounding Li Wei, even Little Manning seemed overshadowed.


    Right now, the overwhelming waves of cheers showed no sign of ending, continuing to roar in a never-ending symphony of noise.


    This was a Li Wei people hadn¡¯t seen before¡ªa Li Wei who shed his sportswear for a suit, a Li Wei debuting in a Louis Vuitton suit for the first time.


    Although the ¡°Louis Vuitton X Li Wei X Nike¡± collaboration had already stirred up excitement for weeks, it wasn¡¯t until today that people truly understood:


    Louis Vuitton had made an incredibly wise and brilliant choice.


    The suit, the lines, the proportions, and the aura ¡ª all were flawless. Instead of awkwardness or stiffness, Li Wei exuded an innate elegance and debonair charm, qualities unseen under his helmet and equipment.


    Now, people finally understood why so many women were willing to scream for Li Wei.


    Who could have imagined that Li Wei¡¯s first appearance with Louis Vuitton would ignite such a frenzy on live television?


    Not just within the studio¡ªsocial media exploded almost instantaneously, with the frequency of posts becoming absurdly overwhelming.


    Surging heatwaves threatened to engulf the entire studio.


    Jost: ???


    Jost¡¯s segment was scheduled for later in the program and often referred to as the climax of the show. During the earlier half, he would allow himself some downtime, avoid repeatedly fixating on his script to prevent mental overload, and instead monitor the flow of the show, adjusting his mindset to align with the live atmosphere.


    At that moment, standing in the waiting room, Jost could hear the commotion up front. Such treatment right at the start of the show was indeed rare.


    Then¡ª


    Boom!


    A volcanic eruption.


    The atmosphere climbed to yet another level, even prompting Jost to fling open the waiting room door and sprint toward the studio, covering the distance in a few quick strides.


    Soon, Jost realized he wasn¡¯t alone¡ªmany staff members were also congregating near the stage. The legendary producer of the show, Lorne Michaels, was already standing there.


    The producer affectionately nicknamed ¡°Brother Long¡± was the show¡¯s founder and undisputed cornerstone, wielding absolute authority over its operations. Furthermore, countless individuals had transitioned through ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± to become comedy writers and actors, making Michaels a true mentor to countless talents with lofty reverence in both Los Angeles and New York.


    Occasionally, Michaels would personally visit the studio during live broadcasts and wouldn¡¯t mind being the subject of jokes or skits, even actively participating in special guest performances¡ªshowing no airs of superiority.


    However, underestimating Michaels based on his on-screen persona would be a grave mistake. Known for his decisive and commanding personality, he wielded ironclad power that no one dared defy.


    Tonight, Michaels was present to oversee Li Wei¡¯s live broadcast personally.


    Jost glanced at Michaels but didn¡¯t have time for a greeting. Following Michaels¡¯ gaze toward the stage, Jost almost choked on his saliva.


    Li Wei had just pulled out a pack of cigarettes and casually extracted one, wearing an utterly nonchalant expression as he admired the raucous crowd before him.


    Jost was practically about to wet his pants¡ª


    Brother Long! It wasn¡¯t me! This part wasn¡¯t written into the script by our team!


    Smoking on live television?


    While it didn¡¯t necessarily violate any laws or moral boundaries, it definitely wasn¡¯t setting a good example.


    Michaels said nothing, maintaining an impassive expression as he continued to watch the stage.


    Onstage, Li Wei held the cigarette between his fingers, looking utterly relaxed, seemingly unaware that Michaels was watching him directly.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t light the cigarette; instead, he lifted his gaze toward the audience.


    ¡°Let¡¯s take the length of a cigarette, then we¡¯ll officially begin.¡±


    The underlying message was clear: giving the audience a cigarette¡¯s worth of time to keep applauding and screaming before the show would officially start.


    His calm composure and audacious swagger instantly reignited the studio.


    Laughter, applause, whistles¡ªa cacophony of excitement.


    Li Wei casually held the cigarette in his mouth, raising one eyebrow slightly as he observed the audience¡¯s rumbling eventually begin to settle. He removed the cigarette and spread his hands, his face hinting at playful resignation.


    ¡°Looks like we might need to start earlier than planned.¡±


    Ha ha ha, the laughter was endless.


    With effortless charm, he commanded the room completely, orchestrating the energy to perfection.


    Li Wei calmly tucked the cigarette back into his suit pocket.


    With just that one motion, the chaos in the studio gradually subsided. All attention began to focus on Li Wei, breaths held and gazes transfixed.


    Then, Li Wei placed his right hand into his pants pocket, his posture relaxed yet authoritative.


    ¡°First of all, my last name is Li, and my first name is Wei.¡±


    ¡°I thought, after I snagged half of America¡¯s advertising sponsorship contracts and...¡±


    An eruption of laughter interrupted his line.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t lose his rhythm and continued.


    ¡°And won two Super Bowl Championship Trophies, at the very least, the team at ¡®Saturday Night Live¡¯ would learn how to pronounce my name properly. But evidently...¡±


    No further explanation was needed; Li Wei gave a slight shrug, an expression of helplessness.


    Hahaha, hahaha.


    Who would have guessed that Li Wei¡¯s opening line would aim directly at the show itself?

 Chapter 926: 925 control at will

    Chapter 926: 925 control at will


    Jost¡¯s back muscles were completely stiff¡ªwho could have thought that Li Wei would modify the script with his opening remark and aim the gun squarely at the production team?


    Beside him, Michaels kept a straight face, pulling the corner of his mouth slightly, ¡°Interesting.¡±


    Cold sweat broke out all over Jost¡¯s body; his knees felt weak. He imagined witnessing an epic disaster might be incredibly entertaining, giving viewers a glimpse of Li Wei¡¯s off-field persona. But standing next to Michaels and witnessing it firsthand was a completely different experience¡ªhe couldn¡¯t focus at all.


    And then.


    ¡°So, I guess I should have a nickname like OJ instead of just being called some ¡®Runner.''¡±


    Uproarious laughter!


    The whole audience burst out laughing, applause thundering¡ª


    ¡°OJ,¡± shorthand for orange juice, is also the nickname of O.J. Simpson, the Hall of Fame NFL running back who famously became infamous for the ¡°wife-killing case¡± that went down in history. That sensational nationwide trial was dubbed the ¡°Trial of the Century,¡± encapsulating the turbulence of American society.


    If you¡¯re curious about the profound impact of the O.J. Simpson case, you can watch the Oscar-winning documentary ¡°O.J.: Made in America.¡±


    Evidently, in this moment, Li Wei purposely brought up Simpson in a playful tone¡ªbold and sharp, launching a counterattack revolving around his own name.


    No doubt about it, this was exactly what ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± needed. The audience in the studio loved this kind of joke, cheering and whistling wildly.


    Beside him, Jost was dumbstruck: So, this is Li Wei¡¯s version of being nervous?


    And if Li Wei weren¡¯t nervous, what would happen?


    Standing on the stage, Li Wei had now completely relaxed, effortlessly moving from one beat to the next.


    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m very nervous.¡±


    Hahaha, the audience erupted into laughter and applause¡ªno one believed him.


    Li Wei looked wholly innocent.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious! Hey, not everyone can sneak off to appear on a talk show while leaving their teammates stranded in some barren patch of the Midwest.¡±


    ¡°Shh, don¡¯t tell Patrick.¡±


    The laughter wouldn¡¯t stop; it was hard to imagine that within just thirty seconds, Li Wei had completely brought the audience under his control.


    ¡°So, after confirming I¡¯d appear on the show, I seriously studied the previous performances of Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, and Tom Brady.¡±


    ¡°No doubt about it, they¡¯re legends, with huge fanbases, and their opening remarks are always heartwarming.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure this isn¡¯t because the production team was worried quarterbacks couldn¡¯t fill a three-minute monologue on their own and had to use crowd tactics to pad the time.¡±


    Haha.


    Jost couldn¡¯t hold back and laughed aloud, conspicuously standing out even amid the thunderous laughter. He snuck a glance at Michaels, only to find the man still staring intently at Li Wei, expression unchanged, which made him feel slightly reassured.


    His smile grew a little wider.


    The first half was scripted; the punchline at the end? That was Li Wei improvising.


    Jost had to admit¡ªthis guy was incredibly audacious, bringing his Super Bowl-sized nerves straight onto the ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± stage.


    Amid the uproarious laughter, Li Wei looked particularly composed, brimming with confidence as he continued.


    ¡°Peyton¡¯s parents and brothers all showed up; Eli even brought his entire offensive line. And Tom? For God¡¯s sake, he has a supermodel wife. Phew, I can¡¯t compete with that.¡±


    This time, amidst the laughter, cheers and whistles joined in, making the studio impossibly lively.


    ¡°Sorry, I have nothing.¡±


    ¡°Just me. Alone. By myself. Flying solo. If this were a Western movie, it¡¯d be thrilling; but unfortunately, this is New York.¡±


    Satire, self-deprecation, barbed humor.


    The applause thundered once again.


    ¡°Back when I told my dad I was considering playing football, he was thrilled: ¡®Oh yeah, my son is finally going to be the next David Beckham!''¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Dad. I appreciate your supreme confidence in your looks, but Beckham? Really?¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s skeptical expression made the audience dissolve into hysterics.


    A woman in the front couldn¡¯t hold back her excitement and yelled, ¡°Li Wei, I love you!¡±


    Li Wei flashed a perfectly deadpan smile, ¡°Thanks. I¡¯m sure you told David the same thing.¡±


    Hahaha.


    This time, Li Wei didn¡¯t pause. ¡°And Dad, this football isn¡¯t that football. We live in the United States. My dad spent quite a bit of time coming to terms with the fact that his dream of me becoming a player who relied solely on good looks like Beckham was over.¡±


    Hands spread, helpless.


    Again, the audience laughed uncontrollably.


    Li Wei continued, ¡°But now, it seems that dream has been revived.¡±


    As he spoke, Li Wei adjusted his suit¡ª


    Louis Vuitton.


    Instantly, the crowd went wild. Cheers and shouts surged like waves; undoubtedly, this topic was the hottest of the off-season.


    Perhaps even the hottest, period.


    After all, while other topics might have barriers to entry, gossip about football players endorsing luxury fashion brands was open to everyone.


    Then, Li Wei stopped talking, stood his ground.


    At first, the audience didn¡¯t understand what was happening.


    Swift¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Oh no, Li Wei forgot his lines.¡±


    After waiting briefly, observing Li Wei strike another pose and remain frozen, people finally realized¡ªLi Wei was mimicking a model¡¯s stance.


    So, was this self-mockery as a pretty-boy idol?


    It was a little chilly; not quite laugh-out-loud funny.


    The next moment, Li Wei moved¡ªleaning back, kicking out his right leg. Though not perfectly identical, it was obvious he was imitating Beckham¡¯s signature curveball free kick pose.


    Haha.


    Though it was cold humor, it was still undeniably funny¡ªno one could have imagined Li Wei¡¯s opening monologue tonight would roast Beckham. Clearly, Louis Vuitton¡¯s endorsement deal has been far-reaching in its impact, to the point people were now comparing Li Wei and Beckham¡ª


    But in a negative light, using biting sarcasm and sharp commentary to predict Li Wei¡¯s downward spiral into becoming a fashion celebrity like Beckham.


    Confronting such rumors directly seemed too serious and stiff; ignoring them might come across as evasive and guilty. So ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± handed its stage over to Li Wei, allowing him to respond with humor and mockery.


    Judging by the audience¡¯s reaction, Li Wei executed this mission brilliantly. It also subtly revealed that Li Wei and Beckham likely share a friendly relationship.


    Murmurs, subtle chuckles swirled around.


    Li Wei returned to his normal stance, shaking his head lightly, looking regretful, ¡°British humor doesn¡¯t work so well here. Cold sweat.¡±


    A self-deprecating line perfectly eased the awkwardness¡ª


    If the joke didn¡¯t land, what do you do?


    Li Wei gave a flawless answer.


    Jost¡¯s eyes widened; even he couldn¡¯t help himself and applauded, cheering for Li Wei. Amid roaring applause throughout the studio, Jost shouted loudly.


    ¡°This is New York, not London!¡±


    Adding to the moment brilliantly, the comedic effect amplified as laughter reverberated across the set.


    Li Wei spread his hands, still composed.


    ¡°It seems I still have a lot to learn about making a living off my looks. This leaves me with no choice; I¡¯ll have to win another championship next year.¡±


    And what kind of twist was that?


    For a moment, everyone was stunned¡ªbefore the studio erupted into cheers, whistling, and clapping, with shouts of ¡°Giants are champions¡± peppered in, the atmosphere electric.

 Chapter 927: 926 Everything is perfect

    Chapter 927: 926 Everything is perfect


    ¡°Roar, roar, roar, the Giants are the champions!¡±


    ¡°Chieftain! Chieftain! Chieftain!¡±


    The studio was in chaos, the audience pumped their fists vigorously, waves of enthusiasm surged, once again demonstrating the irresistible allure of football.


    Li Wei arched his brow slightly, exuding confidence.


    ¡°At a party last night, someone asked me, ¡®Hey buddy, what¡¯s your motivation to come back to the Super Bowl next year?''¡±


    ¡°Of course, I could say a three-peat, but apparently, in their mind, a three-peat might lack a bit of appeal...¡±


    Ha ha ha, laughter broke out again, but Li Wei¡¯s words didn¡¯t falter.


    ¡°So, I told them a story.¡±


    ¡°Not too long ago, I visited Boston and stopped by a veterans¡¯ hospital. There was this veteran, Joe O¡¯Malley¡ªoh, dear Old Joe¡ªwho warmly shook my hand and asked me, ¡®Do you know what Brady and a circus have in common?''¡±


    Laughter, starting to bubble uncontrollably. Clearly, Li Wei was setting Brady up as the target this time.


    Li Wei shrugged lightly. ¡°I had no clue.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Joe, dear Old Joe, with the most sincere eyes said, ¡®They both have three more rings than you.''¡±


    Instantly, the crowd got it, and they couldn¡¯t stop laughing anymore: was this equating Brady with a clown?


    Li Wei spread his hands.


    ¡°Alright, looks like I have an undeniable reason to return to the Super Bowl.¡±


    ¡°So, where¡¯s the Super Bowl next year?¡±


    ¡°God bless, please tell me it¡¯s not Kansas City. That horrendous weather during the conference finals was a disaster. I¡¯ve really had enough.¡±


    ¡°Oh no, slip of the tongue.¡±


    ¡°Kansas City, I love you.¡±


    Smooth and seamless, almost in the blink of an eye, Li Wei delivered a miraculous Sichuan Opera face-changing act, changing his stance three times in just one sentence.


    Finally, he directed a flattering smile at the camera, even raising both hands to form heart shapes with his fingers, embodying total showmanship.


    The studio erupted entirely.


    Marvelous, absolutely marvelous, even Taylor Swift couldn¡¯t hold back and left the standby room, heading toward the studio¡ª


    She never expected that the opening monologue on ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± could be this entertaining!


    Then, Swift witnessed an astonishing scene.


    Layer upon layer, throngs of people packed everywhere, spilling over. The entire studio was crammed completely to capacity, incredibly crowded.


    Even ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± crew members who weren¡¯t preoccupied gathered at the front to watch the live performance.


    The bustling crowd focused their eyes entirely on Li Wei, as though an invisible spotlight enveloped him; yet Li Wei remained perfectly composed and unaffected.


    It was almost unbelievable that the calm and collected Li Wei backstage was real.


    ¡°When Travis Kelce, my teammate, heard I was heading to New York for ¡®Saturday Night Live,¡¯ he got a bit excited.¡±


    ¡°Rookie, will you get to meet Beyonce?? Charlize Theron? Ana de Armas?¡±


    ¡°No, Travis, I wasn¡¯t planning to visit Madame Tussauds.¡±


    Ha ha ha!


    The first part seemed like it was going to roast Kelce, but with a sharp twist in the second, it started poking fun at Hollywood instead. This unexpected humor set the crowd ablaze.


    ¡°Well, at the very least, can you find out who wins in ¡®Game of Thrones¡¯?¡±


    Of course¡ª


    The crowd went wild, shrieking and cheering.


    This year, the most buzzed-about event in the entertainment world was undoubtedly the conclusion of the decade-long ¡°Game of Thrones.¡± Everyone was talking about it, with no exceptions.


    But no one expected it to make an appearance in Li Wei¡¯s opening monologue!


    Wait, wasn¡¯t Li Wei a football player?


    Li Wei nodded slightly.


    ¡°Yes, we¡¯re football players¡ªwe¡¯re a bunch of muscleheads who only know how to tackle each other; but yes, we also watch ¡®Game of Thrones.''¡±


    ¡°At least I know there¡¯s a silly girl who talks to dragons in it.¡±


    The moment exploded with laughter.


    Unbelievable, Li Wei had mercilessly roasted ¡°Game of Thrones¡±¡ªor more accurately, this cultural phenomenon¡ªright on stage.


    Perhaps, many people hadn¡¯t even seen the show but merely pretended to like it to stay trendy.


    Including football players.


    This effortless jab managed to mock ¡°Game of Thrones,¡± football players, and of course, himself.


    How could the atmosphere not be wild?


    Li Wei shrugged casually.


    ¡°Travis just wants to know who ultimately wins the Game of Thrones.¡±


    ¡°But...¡±


    Roar, roar, roar, roar, roar.


    The entire audience egged him on. When this episode aired live, the final season of ¡°Game of Thrones¡± had just premiered, and speculation about its ending dominated everywhere¡ªnot just Kelce, everyone wanted to know how the series concluded.


    ¡°But I have no idea who Jon Snow really is, even though my computer desktop has the leaked script sitting right there.¡±


    Laughter continued¡ª


    This was Li Wei¡¯s subtle nod to the hacking incident where HBO¡¯s ¡°Game of Thrones¡± final season script was leaked. Hackers had attempted to extort HBO, but when HBO refused, the script was published online.


    ¡°So I¡¯m guessing, it¡¯s probably not Jon Snow who wins the ¡®game,¡¯ right? Because it¡¯s HBO¡ªthey never let the good guys save the world. Just like this year¡¯s Super Bowl, the big bad villain defied expectations.¡±


    This time, not just laughter¡ªapplause and whistles surged all around, filling the room with excitement.


    ¡°Unfortunately, Jon Snow won¡¯t be appearing live tonight, and HBO¡¯s forbidding me from discussing ¡®Game of Thrones¡¯ anywhere, but...¡±


    Li Wei was about to charge ahead but got interrupted by laughter again.


    Li Wei spread his hands and smiled generously.


    ¡°Alright, I know I nailed it. I have a hunch the show will invite me back next year¡ªI bet the ratings will be great...¡±


    Ha ha ha ha, talk about shameless self-promotion!


    Yet, it was impossible to dislike!


    The studio couldn¡¯t have adored it more, and even Swift was beaming.


    Li Wei took a deep breath and rubbed his hands together.


    ¡°So, you can look forward to tonight¡¯s show. I promise I¡¯ll disappoint you¡ªthe guy only has a solid three-minute opening act.¡±


    Coming out of left field, Li Wei caught everyone off guard.


    ¡°But tonight, there¡¯s also Taylor Swift¡ªyou wouldn¡¯t want to miss her performance. Now, let tonight¡¯s live show begin!¡±


    Cheers! Applause! Screams!


    It was a total frenzy, the room brimming with excitement!


    And more than that, audience members from all over the studio started standing up one by one, whistling and giving standing ovations, showering Li Wei with praise.


    Madness, absolute madness!


    Even the most devoted fans who were already looking forward to tonight¡¯s live broadcast didn¡¯t anticipate things to surpass expectations by this far.


    Li Wei¡¯s nimble, effortlessly witty opening monologue kept the energy buzzing throughout, mixing humor and self-deprecation just right.


    It was flawless.


    Forget just being a football player¡ªeven Hollywood¡¯s finest talents would struggle to envision a debut like this on ¡°Saturday Night Live.¡± Without a doubt, Li Wei utterly owned the night.

 Chapter 928: 927 Collective Frenzy

    Chapter 928: 927 Collective Frenzy


    Ahhhh, ahhhh!


    The entire venue was electrified, hard to believe this was just the opening monologue.


    Swift was clapping, cheering, and smiling brightly as she jumped up and down. Despite the fact that her own guest appearance and opening monologue had been a complete disaster¡ªturning into a psychological shadow, making her vow never to attempt stand-up comedy again¡ªat this moment, seeing someone else perform brilliantly on stage, she couldn¡¯t help but feel happy too, as though she had delivered the performance herself.


    Ahhhh, ahhhh!


    The entire studio was overflowing with a wild and unstoppable wave of heat¡ªwhether audience members or staff, everyone temporarily lost their minds.


    It was clear once again just how popular Li Wei was in New York.


    No wonder it¡¯s considered his second home.


    Even Jost couldn¡¯t hold back. He let out a whistle in admiration, smug for a moment, only to realize Michaels was standing right beside him. He immediately straightened up like an obedient child, his nervousness betraying him.


    The opening tonight, about 75% to 80% of the content was written by the show¡¯s writing team, while Li Wei only added a touch of his own flavor on top of the script.


    But Jost, a writer himself, could instantly spot the difference:


    The parts where Li Wei improvised¡ªthat was the true essence of the monologue.


    The fact is, ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± remains somewhat conservative overall. Different industries have their barriers; they¡¯ve always worried about the performance of these professional athletes.


    Hence, as Li Wei mentioned, when Big and Small Manning or Brady appeared on the show, the writing team took a slightly lazy approach.


    First by inviting family and friends of the players to fill the time.


    Second by having the show¡¯s cast play the role of questioners, relying on professional actors to handle the interaction and cover up any weaknesses.


    The same applied to Li Wei.


    Even without teammates or family appearances, and without interactive questions from the cast, the writing stayed firmly within a conservative framework.


    No mistakes, no surprises¡ªbut also lacking some wow factor.


    However, Li Wei used his clever quips to seamlessly connect the dots, sparking excitement without disrupting the framework. The entire monologue shone brightly as one of the highlights of the season¡ªabsolutely brilliant.


    A mix of admiration and surprise.


    Jost sneaked a glance at Michaels¡¯ expression.


    Michaels showed no particular reaction. A seasoned producer who¡¯s seen it all, he wouldn¡¯t lose his composure over small matters.


    Michaels turned his head toward Jost.


    Jost was startled and immediately dodged his gaze, swallowing hard and desperately trying to act nonchalant.


    Michaels said, ¡°This kid¡ªhe¡¯s something else.¡±


    Jost: ??? What does that mean?


    But Michaels didn¡¯t elaborate. He turned and walked away as the crowd automatically parted to create a path, watching Michaels leave effortlessly.


    And yet, this was just the tip of the iceberg.


    Talia Ryder tilted her head back, her eyes fixed on the TV screen.


    Behind her, the restaurant erupted in waves of laughter that couldn¡¯t be stopped.


    The locals in New York were all immersed in the show¡¯s vibe. Li Wei¡¯s effortless humor lit up the atmosphere with ease.


    This version of Li Wei felt a tad unfamiliar but overwhelmingly familiar.


    Ryder herself didn¡¯t realize her lips had already curled into a smile.


    ¡°Talia, what¡¯s this? You like him too?¡±


    A voice from behind the bar suddenly caught Ryder¡¯s attention. Her heart skipped a beat as she nervously tried to conceal her feelings. Instinctively, she straightened her posture, diverted her gaze, and prepared to deny the allegation.


    She was caught off guard when the other person spoke first.


    ¡°Careful now, men like him are often playboys.¡±


    ¡°Every day, countless women throw themselves at him. They ask for nothing¡ªthey just hope for one night. No man could resist that kind of temptation.¡±


    ¡°Falling for a man like that might mean preparing for heartbreak.¡±


    Ryder swallowed the words she was about to say and turned to face the bar¡¯s familiar patron, a glimmer of brightness in her eyes.


    Ryder didn¡¯t argue but instead raised her chin slightly.


    ¡°Why do I detect a hint of envy in your tone? Are you jealous of his charisma?¡±


    The patron paused, staring at Ryder¡¯s mischievous grin. ¡°Oh no, it seems someone¡¯s already fallen, haven¡¯t they?¡±


    Ryder¡¯s cheeks instantly flushed, but she made every effort to maintain her composure. ¡°That¡¯s just prejudice. If he can play around, why can¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a new era. That old-fashioned, faithful stuff is outdated.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s just for fun, then obviously you¡¯d pick a ridiculously charming hottie. Why settle for the bunch of nerdy losers around here?¡±


    Hahaha!


    The bar erupted into a commotion, fists pounding on tables in collective excitement.


    Ryder cleared her throat and spoke confidently.


    ¡°Alright, quiet down, all of you. Don¡¯t distract me from watching the hottie being funny.¡±


    Everyone burst into laughter.


    At this moment, millions of viewers were tuned into ¡°Saturday Night Live.¡±


    In the past two years, with the gradual departure of talented actors and writers, ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± had suffered a heavy blow. Though it remained an influential late-night talk show, the reality of declining ratings was undeniable.


    This was also part of a broader trend. People had more entertainment options these days, and streaming platforms had siphoned off large numbers of younger viewers. All major networks were struggling, and NBC was no exception.


    Yet, even amidst such challenges, Li Wei was undeniably the man of the moment, demonstrating his immense influence and appeal in every aspect.


    The opening monologue was just the beginning.


    Li Wei¡¯s presence lasted through the entire evening on ¡°Saturday Night Live,¡± performing in sketches, delivering jokes, spoof ads¡ªevery segment featured him. He was not only dedicated but enthusiastic, unafraid to look silly or make fun of himself, revealing a side of him beyond the stadium.


    It was eye-opening.


    This became a key opportunity for the general public to truly get to know Li Wei.


    Normally, Li Wei is a running back, the Kansas Chiefs Offense leader, a rookie, a Sun Wukong-like figure who disrupts everything, and a pioneer rewriting history. He¡¯s covered with countless labels and glows with so many rays of brilliance he¡¯s become a symbol.


    But with all the spotlight, his real self can be hard to see.


    Especially since Li Wei¡¯s social media accounts are entirely managed by professionals, he avoids appearances and leaks no personal information, further reinforcing this distance.


    ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± became the perfect window to see Li Wei shed his armor and mask, revealing another side beneath his label¡ª


    The humor and sharpness displayed when engaging with the media came from Li Wei¡¯s innate wit.


    It was obvious Li Wei wasn¡¯t hung up on maintaining a picture-perfect image.


    Not only did he actively participate in sketches and jokes, but his performance stood out spectacularly. Without a doubt, he delivered one of the best guest performances ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± had seen in recent years.


    The live broadcast wasn¡¯t a source of pressure; it became a stage for Li Wei to display his talent.


    This persona won him waves of applause and praise.


    As expected, unstoppable¡ªeven on a talk show, it¡¯s collective hysteria!

 Chapter 929: 928 Amateur Expert

    Chapter 929: 928 Amateur Expert


    Li Wei, riding high!


    According to statistics, this episode of ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± saw viewership and ratings surge, surpassing Matt Damon¡¯s Christmas special, setting a new season-high record.


    Not only is it the most-watched episode of the 2018¨C2019 season, but it is also the only episode of the season to break the 10 million mark, ultimately reaching 12 million viewers¡ªa surprise hit with universally positive feedback from the 18-to-49 age group.


    A strong comeback!


    Breaking new heights!


    From the football field to the stage, from football to talk shows, Li Wei keeps serving surprises!


    The usually aloof and reserved ¡°New Yorker¡± hasn¡¯t hesitated to join the frenzy this time¡ª


    ¡°The crossover stranger, the amateur expert, Li Wei stirs up another storm of excitement!¡±


    In its feature story, ¡°New Yorker¡± pinpoints a particular detail:


    From mixed martial arts to football, from football to fashion and talk shows, Li Wei has always been an outsider, an intruder. He has never hidden his rookie identity, like not knowing who Brady was back then¡ªa complete and utter stranger.


    Yet!


    Time and again, Li Wei has shaken things up as an outsider, leaving the pros dizzy and speechless, turning the tide in spectacular fashion.


    This is talent, this is ability¡ªit¡¯s impossible to look away.


    Looking back to Li Wei¡¯s debut during the NCAA, despite continuous challenges, doubts, and struggles, Li Wei has never backed off, never hesitated, and never given up.


    ¡°... So, what¡¯s next? The daunting task of three consecutive championships already lies ahead¡ªthis time, what kind of answer will Li Wei deliver?¡±


    ¡°New Yorker¡± ends its feature story this way, once again showcasing its knack for in-depth reporting by tying football back to talk shows and throwing pivotal questions to its readers.


    It also indirectly confirms one thing: whether you love him or hate him, care or not¡ªwe are witnessing Li Wei breaking barriers and transcending the football arena bit by bit.


    Hard to imagine, this all stemmed from merely recording one episode of ¡°Saturday Night Live.¡± Not only were the ratings record-breaking and social media buzzing, but the news media also jumped in, forming an overwhelming tide surrounding Li Wei. The ripple effects are spreading far and wide.


    It feels strangely familiar.


    Is there anyone who still remembers the Super Bowl ratings curve?


    Who would have thought the highest viewership spike during the Super Bowl occurred when Li Wei delivered his award speech?


    This rookie who seemingly came out of nowhere is shattering barriers and boundaries across the board, with his influence continuing to rise at a breathtaking pace.


    Now, after the Super Bowl, Li Wei has once again proven his unmatched dominance¡ªboth in talk shows and societal impact.


    Based purely on this, Li Wei is undeniably the League¡¯s First Man.


    Forget Brady or Big Manning¡ªregardless of who the GOAT is, at least in terms of influence and breakout success, no one can surpass Li Wei.


    Before him lies an entirely new path, where every step becomes history.


    That night, the pandemonium was deafening.


    After wrapping up the live ¡°Saturday Night Live¡± show, Li Wei clocked out only to face a media frenzy: over 300 reporters swarmed the entrance of the Blackstone Building in a fever pitch. Camera flashes turned night into day.


    All this just for clocking out of a show¡ªa ridiculous amount of reporters fighting for a simple post-work shot.


    Amid the sea of flashes, they finally captured Li Wei wearing his Louis Vuitton casual ensemble. A hoodie paired with shorts and skate shoes instantly became the hot topic across social media.


    In just one night, Louis Vuitton reaped massive traffic, proving their decision to sign Li Wei¡ªalthough risky¡ªwas bold and innovative.


    Miracles often favor those willing to take risks.


    But the most bizarre part was yet to come.


    Li Wei, Swift, and Jost left together after work and headed to a jazz bar to meet Scarlett Johansson for a special performance¡ª


    A saxophone performance by director Woody Allen.


    The chatty New York-native director still holds the record for Oscar nominations in Best Original/Adapted Screenplay categories and has won accolades like Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay during his career, with nearly fifty films under his belt.


    Yet, he has a long-standing hobby: performing at a jazz bar as just another band member¡ªa pastime he¡¯s dedicated himself to for over thirty years to enjoy his cultured lifestyle.


    Scarlett, who collaborated with him on movies like ¡°Match Point¡± and ¡°Vicky Cristina Barcelona,¡± introduced the group to his performance.


    After the show, they even had drinks with the director.


    A night spent among friends.


    But reporters spun a familiar narrative¡ªin their lenses, Jost disappeared, leaving Li Wei and Swift seemingly alone leaving work together.


    Later, Jost reappeared¡ªbut now the story evolved into Li Wei and Swift pairing off, while Jost and Scarlett did the same for a romantic double date. Woody Allen? Entirely scrubbed from the coverage, turning this into an alleged night of dating.


    The news went nuclear.


    ¡°Li Wei x Ariana Grande x Taylor Swift.¡±


    This supposed love triangle exploded social media with unparalleled intensity, sparking countless versions of the drama.


    Unexpectedly, fans of Ariana and Swift lost their cool and clashed online, hurling accusations and insults, refusing to yield. Chaos reigned supreme.


    It spiraled out of control.


    Jost and Scarlett were eventually forced to come forward to clarify, setting the record straight. Li Wei stated that both Swift and Ariana were merely friends. Swift and Ariana backed his claims by posting a joint selfie in response to the rumors.


    But, to no avail.


    Fans continued their madness, dismissing the subjects¡¯ words and steadfastly believing the ¡°truth¡± had been covered up, with their idol as the ¡°victim.¡±


    Swift and Ariana¡¯s fans accused each other of being a third party. Li Wei¡¯s supporters argued their idol had no interest in romance right now, while onlookers joked that maybe Li Wei was secretly stealing Jost¡¯s partner while the two pop stars fought over another triviality.


    In short... it was an utter mess.


    Fame breeds controversy.


    And on social media, the situation continued to escalate¡ª


    Utter chaos, complete madness.


    Jost commented, ¡°I don¡¯t envy Li Wei¡¯s position one bit.¡±


    Even just imagining the drama from an outsider¡¯s perspective was enough for Jost to shy away; he preferred to stay far from these controversies. The thought of being the center of such a storm was unimaginable.

 Chapter 930: 929 Avoid being in the limelight

    Chapter 930: 929 Avoid being in the limelight


    Whether he wanted to or not, whether it was planned in advance or not, Li Wei was back in the spotlight, stirring up a storm on social media with overwhelming force.


    The situation, faintly slipping out of control, was now spreading on a grand scale¡ªsomething even the paparazzi hadn¡¯t anticipated.


    Even Donald Yee was showing a hint of concern¡ª


    Donald¡¯s worry wasn¡¯t misplaced; football players had never quite stirred such waves before. In contrast, basketball often saw drama, thanks to the Kardashian sisters stirring the pot, with the NBA perpetually caught in storms every now and then.


    Now, a spectacle comparable to the Kardashians¡¯ drama was roaring past in full force. Donald had never faced anything of such magnitude; even Brady and Bundchen, despite their fame, had long settled into a calm and uneventful life together.


    These rumors, seemingly harmless, were actually a headache of a different level. Speculations, based on mere fragments, could expand limitlessly thanks to the wild imaginations of netizens. The future development of the scandal might not be pretty, with no limit to how dramatic and absurd the gossip could get, dragging him into unnecessary entanglements.


    In the end, it could lead to backlash.


    Take a look at the NBA¡¯s ongoing ¡°Kardashian storm,¡± or Beckham¡¯s whirlwind of gossip. While Donald hoped Li Wei could generate a global sensation akin to Beckham¡¯s, he absolutely did not want Li Wei to become surrounded by endless scandals. The paparazzi¡¯s intrusions and pursuit could shift Li Wei¡¯s focus away from the field.


    That might very well spark the beginning of calamity.


    So Donald thought to himself, better to tread cautiously. They needed to cool things down before the situation escalated further.


    ¡°...Li Wei, perhaps it would be wiser to lay low for now and let things quiet down.¡±


    ¡°You know how online trends move, don¡¯t you? The hot topic refreshes every hour. All it takes is three to five days, and this wave will pass. By then, no one will even mention it anymore.¡±


    Li Wei revealed a smile. ¡°Like goldfish, with only a seven-second memory, right?¡±


    Donald looked slightly exasperated; it was obvious Li Wei wasn¡¯t worried at all.


    Not only was he unworried, but he seemed utterly at ease and completely unconcerned.


    Donald tried to convince himself that this was a good thing. If Li Wei remained unaffected by all the chaos, then it wouldn¡¯t have any real impact on him. Yet, Donald knew it wasn¡¯t that simple. Li Wei might not care, but the team and other players noticed, and the coaching staff couldn¡¯t help worrying and speculating.


    The uncontrollable, unpredictable nature of human minds was the true challenge here.


    Over the past two seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs had managed to overcome crises in key moments, and one key factor had been the solidarity of the locker room.


    Donald didn¡¯t want these harmless-seeming off-field distractions to become a factor disturbing the team¡¯s chemistry next season. Beckham¡¯s past lesson was a cautionary tale that could not be forgotten.


    Taking a deep breath, Donald still patiently advised him.


    ¡°Take one step back, and the sea will widen.¡±


    ¡°In the current situation, letting the noise settle down a bit would only do us good. Everything has its limits.¡±


    Though Donald¡¯s words were somewhat veiled, not directly spelling it all out, Li Wei instantly understood¡ª


    Even he hadn¡¯t expected to be caught up in such a whirlwind.


    And yet, this was the nature of the universe. Good things often came paired with bad; hardships might conceal opportunities. Everything was a double-edged sword. When Li Wei broke through the mold and created historic achievements, the accompanying attention carried potential troubles¡ªbaseless, fabricated troubles.


    Fame breeds controversy¡ªit was as simple as that.


    Donald¡¯s advice was perfectly clear to Li Wei.


    Tonight, Li Wei was planning to attend the global premiere of ¡°Avengers 4¡± at the Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles¡ª


    An invitation sent personally by Marvel Studios¡¯ head Kevin Feige.


    Undoubtedly, the release of ¡°Avengers 4¡± was the biggest event of the year. As a major milestone marking ten years of meticulous planning by Marvel and Disney, the movie had been drawing attention since a year ago, with anticipation and discussion skyrocketing to carnival levels.


    Just like how sports fans eagerly anticipate the World Cup, Super Bowl, or the Olympics, film lovers had their own annual excitement.


    And that was ¡°Avengers 4¡±!


    Whether you loved superhero movies, hated them, or looked down on them, there¡¯s no denying that over the past decade, superhero movies had become a major part of pop culture¡ªand now they were about to reach their peak.


    Clearly, everyone wanted to be part of this movie¡¯s history, everyone wanted to step onto the red carpet of its premiere, akin to the Super Bowl.


    Feige, Hollywood¡¯s most influential producer of the past ten years, had tracked down Li Wei¡¯s phone number himself and extended a personal invitation.


    He said, ¡°For a landmark event like this, we shouldn¡¯t be missing another cultural icon representing this era.¡±


    Li Wei had no reason to refuse¡ª


    Perfect timing too, no need to wait for spoilers.


    Li Wei jokingly responded to the invitation, and Feige personally expressed how very excited he was to finally meet Li Wei in person.


    However, all of this happened *before* ¡°Saturday Night Live.¡±


    Neither Donald nor Feige anticipated that what seemed like a simple talk show appearance would unexpectedly unleash a remarkable wave of energy, and the accompanying off-field drama would ignite social media, overshadowing even the summer blockbuster season.


    Now, Donald was worried:


    Li Wei was already on the razor¡¯s edge of public scrutiny. If he attended the ¡°Avengers 4¡± premiere, it might further fuel the frenzy.


    They couldn¡¯t afford to add fuel to the fire.


    Look, Li Wei had just been swept into a Hollywood storm with Swift, Ariana, and Scarlett. And now, was he about to jump into an even more turbulent, exaggerated, and insane catastrophe?


    Anyone could guess: the spotlight of the ¡°Avengers 4¡± premiere would be ten, even a hundred times brighter¡ªeffectively pouring gasoline onto the already burning Li Wei.


    And they¡¯d just stand there, watching him charge into the oil depot?


    No, this shouldn¡¯t happen.


    After all, no one knew Feige had invited Li Wei. No one was expecting Li Wei at the premiere. If he skipped it entirely, there wouldn¡¯t be any reaction.


    On the contrary, it¡¯d be perfect to let the ¡°Avengers 4¡± premiere¡¯s hype overshadow everything else, diverting the netizens¡¯ attention and cooling down Li Wei¡¯s heat.


    In the digital age, every news cycle was fleeting. Hype rarely lasted long. Soon enough, the goldfish minds would latch onto the next big thing.


    Donald¡¯s calculations were entirely reasonable¡ª


    They had been planning and forecasting to expand Li Wei¡¯s influence, yet never had they imagined a day would come where they¡¯d worry about him being *too* popular!


    That being said, from the perspective of branding and long-term strategy, overexposure wasn¡¯t a good thing either. Control was necessary.


    Donald looked at Li Wei earnestly, offering his professional advice.


    But Li Wei had a different opinion.

 Chapter 931: 930 Calling the Storm

    Chapter 931: 930 Calling the Storm


    Li Wei understood Donald; it was Donald¡¯s professional opinion as an agent, but Li Wei had a different perspective.


    ¡°Indeed, if we take a step back and let other hotspots dominate the headlines, things will quiet down soon enough.¡±


    ¡°But quiet doesn¡¯t mean disappearing, right?¡±


    Li Wei looked at Donald, his face calm, with a composed and serene smile.


    ¡°Quiet is just lying dormant, temporarily unseen; and then, waiting for the right moment to resurface without warning and cause devastation.¡±


    Donald choked on his words and thought seriously for a moment, ¡°But if we cool things down temporarily, we can avoid escalating the conflict and gain some breathing room.¡±


    Li Wei nodded, ¡°Of course. It¡¯s a stalling tactic, and it will likely work, giving us three to five days of peace. But the problems are still there; they won¡¯t disappear.¡±


    ¡°Donald, to wear the crown, you must bear its weight. That¡¯s just the way it is.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s done is done. From now on, my every move will be scrutinized under the spotlight. Avoidance won¡¯t solve the problem. Do you remember what you told me back then?¡±


    ¡°People will love my story ¡ª a clueless rookie clumsily stumbling onto the college football field, then stirring up waves in the professional league. A Chinese kid, a grassroots unknown standing at the pinnacle of success ¡ª it¡¯s the classic American dream. People will go wild for it.¡±


    ¡°People will put me on a pedestal. Even the smallest of my achievements will be exaggerated beyond recognition. They¡¯ll turn me into something that never even existed, as if my every action could change the world.¡±


    ¡°And then?¡±


    Li Wei looked at Donald.


    Donald, usually expressionless, managed a smile; he remembered. Li Wei remembered it word for word.


    These were the exact words Donald had used to persuade Li Wei to sign with him back then.


    Two years later, what was once said was becoming reality, unfolding step by step. And now, it was Li Wei who was truly showing the courage to face the storm head-on.


    Donald picked up where Li Wei left off, ¡°And then, they¡¯ll tear you off that pedestal.¡±


    ¡°People will attack you, betray you, humiliate you, slander you, doing everything they can to destroy you.¡±


    ¡°Climbing to the peak of fame and fortune is hard, but many have done it. What truly destroys them is what comes after ¡ª the downhill path. That¡¯s the truly difficult part.¡±


    ¡°So, what will you do? Will you muster the courage to overcome it all, to keep fighting and rise again?¡±


    Donald¡¯s tone was measured, true to his usual style, but this time, it wasn¡¯t about persuading Li Wei. It was about awakening the ambition and fighting spirit within himself.


    Similar words, different context.


    As Li Wei said, the media wouldn¡¯t relent, netizens wouldn¡¯t stay silent, rumors and storms wouldn¡¯t vanish. They would always be there. Avoidance wouldn¡¯t solve the problem.


    It¡¯s precisely in these challenging moments ¡ª how one faces them, handles them, and fights back ¡ª that define a person. It¡¯s also the inevitable road to greatness.


    Donald¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of resignation. Li Wei¡¯s growth had far outpaced his expectations.


    Quietly observing Li Wei, Donald saw a bright light shimmering in his eyes; even though Li Wei didn¡¯t speak, Donald already had his answer ¡ª


    That determination, vigor, and resilience were exactly what had drawn Donald to Li Wei in the first place, weren¡¯t they?


    Donald worried that Li Wei might follow in the footsteps of Beckham and Brady, losing himself in the pain of negative press and tabloid rumors. Granted, Beckham and Brady eventually found their way, building their careers in their own ways. But still, Donald hoped Li Wei wouldn¡¯t have to go through those twists and turns.


    Yet now, it seemed his worries were unnecessary.


    Donald couldn¡¯t help but feel invigorated himself. ¡°So, are you ready?¡±


    Li Wei shrugged lightly.


    Donald chuckled despite himself. He realized his own hesitation and caution, drew a deep breath, and regrouped. ¡°Then let¡¯s face it together.¡±


    In sharp contrast, Li Wei had remained composed and at ease throughout. The root of it all was simple: nothing significant had actually happened. It was merely the paparazzi chasing shadows and netizens overthinking. If a small storm of attention like this was enough to cause a meltdown, the future would only get tougher.


    Li Wei looked at Donald. ¡°I think we might be overthinking things.¡±


    Donald was puzzled.


    Li Wei: ¡°Look, this is a movie premiere. It has nothing to do with football. For this year¡¯s Super Bowl, the Los Angeles viewership ratings were only on par with the nationwide average, right? If I recall correctly, this is Hollywood, where people have countless entertainment choices.¡±


    ¡°So I¡¯m guessing most of the moviegoers might not even know who I am.¡±


    ¡°And during this premiere, with so many stars gathered ¡ª top-tier Hollywood celebrities ¡ª there¡¯s no way a complete outsider like me could steal the spotlight.¡±


    ¡°Maybe, we¡¯ll attend, only for no one to pay any attention. By the next day, I¡¯d just be a footnote in the papers. If football fans are curious about what I¡¯m up to, they might even need to dig through social media hashtags to find me among a sea of stars. It might take some effort.¡±


    Teasing, joking, bantering.


    Clearly, that was the right approach ¡ª


    After all, it was just a movie premiere.


    However, Li Wei still underestimated his own crossover appeal. After months of constant media bombardment, this NFL superstar had shed his ¡°newcomer¡± label, fully transforming into a ¡°superstar.¡± Even in Hollywood, his handsome and striking Chinese features easily stood out.


    The key was, he was noticeable.


    Amid the crowd of blonde hair and blue eyes, his black hair and dark eyes were already distinctive. What¡¯s more, his tall, lean, well-proportioned physique rivaled that of Hollywood stars. The carefree elegance in his brows effortlessly drew every gaze.


    The moment he appeared, he stood out.


    The vehicle slowly came to a stop outside the Chinese Theater. Li Wei stepped onto the red carpet.


    Tonight, Li Wei wore a custom suit ¡ª


    A plaid blazer paired with black trousers, featuring a patchwork of dark green, deep blue, burgundy, and jet black. The design was understated yet luxurious, refined yet bold. Underneath, a black shirt and black bow tie complemented black dress pants and polished black shoes. Not a hint of excess, yet a subtle sense of fashion radiated effortlessly.


    The red carpet was bustling, teeming with people. As stars continued to arrive and enter the venue, the theater¡¯s entrance was a cacophony of activity.


    Yet, as the crowd¡¯s gaze swept across the scene, it would invariably return to Li Wei.


    Rustling whispers, buzzing chatter ¡ª the murmurs wouldn¡¯t stop. People speculated whether he was a new cast member debuting in ¡°Avengers 4¡± or perhaps the lead in an upcoming Marvel series. One after another, they couldn¡¯t contain their excitement.


    The air sizzled with energy.


    Donald quietly let out a sigh of relief.


    As expected, film and football were worlds apart. Li Wei¡¯s recognition here was lower compared to the NFL. He felt like a fresh, curious party crasher. Although eyes lingered on him, they maintained distance. The chaos and frenzy they feared hadn¡¯t materialized.


    It seemed Li Wei had been right after all.


    But that relief lasted only three seconds¡ª


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±

 Chapter 932: 931 caught in a hurricane

    Chapter 932: 931 caught in a hurricane


    The Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, situated on the northern end of Hollywood Avenue, shares the same street with the Chief Theater and the Dolby Theatre, with less than a hundred meters in between. Not far behind it stands the iconic ¡°Hollywood¡± sign, a landmark of the city for decades.


    This area could be considered the heart of Hollywood. Countless films premiere here every year, while the annual Oscar ceremony is firmly held at the Dolby Theatre. With visitors from all over the world treading the Star Avenue underfoot, this place buzzes with activity year-round.


    Today is no exception.


    The year¡¯s most anticipated film, ¡°Avengers 4,¡± which will draw the decade-long Marvel Universe to a close, is undoubtedly the hottest of hot topics.


    Since 24 hours ago, fervent fans have been lining up along Hollywood Avenue, brimming with excitement and anticipation for the premiere.


    Sure enough, the scene does not disappoint¡ª


    Undeniably worthy of being the event of the year, half of Hollywood has turned out in force. From actors to producers, celebrities to corporate executives, they all show up in style.


    Whether directly connected to the film or not, everyone desires to be present here; it has practically become a badge of trendiness.


    No one wants to miss out.


    The first half of the red carpet sees all sorts of people making their entrance, warming up the atmosphere early. Entire blocks surrounding the Chinese Theatre are cordoned off, flooding every square inch of four streets with frenzied fans, shouting at the top of their lungs.


    Finally, the cast of ¡°Avengers 4¡± makes their grand appearance.


    Leading the pack is... ¡°Thor,¡± Chris Hemsworth.


    A somewhat unexpected choice.


    But upon reflection, it makes perfect sense¡ªChris Hemsworth himself half-jokingly admitted, ¡°No one wants to go first; it¡¯s going to be absolute chaos later on. So, I thought I might as well kick things off. Look, the entire red carpet is mine now.¡±


    Indeed!


    The Chinese Theatre erupts into frenzy at the arrival of the first main cast member¡ªand it¡¯s Thor. The screams and shouts instantly soar two levels higher. Girls summon every ounce of strength they have to call ¡°Chris¡¯s¡± name, hoping this sizzling, primal force of a man will turn his head toward them.


    A single glance would be enough, enough to leave them melting into a puddle.


    In modern Hollywood, there¡¯s no shortage of ¡°Chris.¡± Even within the ¡°Avengers¡± cast, there are three¡ªChris Evans, Chris Pratt, and Chris Hemsworth.


    If one shouted ¡°Chris,¡± like the legendary ¡°Golden Horned King and Silver Horned King,¡± echoes would respond from all directions within the cast. By making his early entrance, Hemsworth cleverly monopolizes the crowd calling ¡°Chris,¡± a truly wise move.


    The star-studded cast strategically arranges their order, aiming for grander entrances later. Besides Robert Downey Jr., who stands irrefutably as the absolute leading figure, figuring out the pecking order of the rest becomes an intricate game. Even Hollywood¡¯s top agents and publicists would struggle to sort it out.


    Here, Hemsworth demonstrates his savvy.


    Kicking things off, stealing the spotlight.


    Standing before the press, his smile radiates ease and brilliance.


    Afterward, Karen Gillan, Tessa Thompson, Sebastian Stan, and others make their appearances one after another. Yet none of them manages to overshadow Hemsworth; the focus remains firmly on him.


    Hemsworth relishes the moment¡ªa time meant solely for him¡ªas he transforms the premiere of ¡°Avengers 4¡± into his personal ¡°Thor¡± premiere.


    With his spirits soaring, he feels as if he¡¯s flying high.


    But then, chaos brews from the front of the red carpet. Surging heatwaves rumble, ready to explode at any second. Everyone¡¯s attention shifts in unison.


    Including Hemsworth.


    So, who could it be?


    Scarlett Johansson? Or Chris Evans?


    Judging by the commotion, it could even be Chadwick Boseman.


    Hemsworth glances wistfully¡ªhe¡¯d hoped his exclusive spotlight could last a while longer.


    At the end of the scene, amidst the bustling crowd and cacophony, a gut-wrenching scream pierces the air. It explodes with an energy so immense that it tears through the heatwave.


    ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    Whipping all around, heads snap toward the origin of the sound. Suddenly, the throng rushes madly toward Li Wei.


    ¡°Levi¡±?


    Which Hollywood celebrity goes by that name? Could he be an up-and-coming influencer or a buzzworthy Gen Z personality?


    No one reacts immediately¡ªthe connection doesn¡¯t click.


    Hemsworth is utterly confused: ??? Who?


    The rolling tide of commotion on the red carpet pauses momentarily in an almost surreal freeze-frame¡ªthanks to the confusion and surprise, as more and more pairs of eyes lock onto the entrance.


    Carefully scrutinizing the tall, upright figure, thoughts slowly begin to coalesce¡ª


    ¡°Ariana!¡±


    ¡°Swift!¡±


    Some recognize Li Wei through Ariana, others through Swift; the image in each person¡¯s mind varies completely.


    Enemies meet, and tensions flare sharply.


    In an instant, the atmosphere is taut like a bowstring stretched to its limit.


    And then, adding to the sudden shift, a third voice emerges with commanding authority.


    ¡°Edgerunner!¡±


    Finally¡ªfinally, someone recalls Li Wei from his Super Bowl performance.


    And then?


    Then everything boils over¡ªlike an erupting volcano.


    The space plunges into chaos, swept up in a whirlwind of madness.


    Li Wei?


    Wait, Li Wei?


    What on earth is Li Wei doing at the international premiere of ¡°Avengers 4¡±?


    Who invited him? Could it truly be Scarlett? Were Ariana and Swift mere smoke bombs, with Li Wei scheming something bigger?


    Following his appearance on ¡°Saturday Night Live,¡± Li Wei turns up again in the entertainment spotlight¡ªwhat does this signify? Could Li Wei actually be positioning himself as the next Dwayne ¡°The Rock¡± Johnson?


    A flood of questions, like a herd of alpacas, rushes in waves.


    Hemsworth: Huh? Wait, what¡¯s going on? Which Li Wei is this? Why does it seem as though everyone has completely lost their minds? Can someone explain?


    But before Hemsworth can react, the intensity immediately morphs into hysteria, unleashing an astonishing burst of energy.


    Ah!


    Ahhh, ahhhhhh!


    The crowd explodes, with roaring waves of mania sweeping across everything and engulfing Li Wei in a swirling tempest.


    Donald pauses: This wasn¡¯t supposed to happen.


    Online, the traffic wasn¡¯t like this; how did reality turn into this chaos?


    Suddenly, Donald realizes their understanding of social media dynamics might have been slightly off.


    ¡°Li Wei ahhhhhh...¡±


    ¡°I love you, Li Wei!¡±


    ¡°Li Wei, marry me!¡±


    The chants erupt everywhere, wildly overlapping in the air.


    Hands reach out one after another, frantically stretching toward him, shouting hoarsely to the point of tears, entirely losing their minds.


    The scene descends step by step into uncontrollable madness, as if the red carpet beneath their feet has ignited into blazing flames. The air twists, waves of heat saturate the space, pores open across the body desperate for oxygen¡ªand yet the sensation is one of melting away into oblivion.

 Chapter 933: 932 Scene Stealer

    Chapter 933: 932 Scene Stealer


    Ah ah ah, ah ah ah.


    Screams and roars, completely out of control.


    This scene has completely shattered expectations, and it¡¯s nothing like imagined.


    A frenzy, erupting in an instant, surging higher and higher, sweeping the entire venue; the small square in front of the Chinese Theater and the red carpet laid on Hollywood Avenue all felt this energy. Hearts slightly trembled, uncontrollably turned heads to look over, the scorching gaze poured down overwhelmingly.


    The temperature is still soaring. Even the skin surface can clearly feel the boiling of the air.


    ¡°Li Wei? Ah, Li Wei!¡±


    The reporters¡¯ thoughts paused for a moment in their minds, finally reacting to what happened at the ¡°Avengers 4¡± premiere¡ª


    Maybe Captain America and Iron Man haven¡¯t shown up yet; maybe Spider-Man and Black Widow are still on standby. Currently, the biggest focus on the red carpet is Thor.


    However, it doesn¡¯t matter.


    Because the hottest superstar on the North American continent and even globally has appeared.


    That¡¯s good enough.


    Without hesitation, the reporters started moving, swarming towards the front half of the red carpet, the roaring crowd visible to the naked eye.


    Hemsworth: ???


    One second, a reporter was asking Hemsworth, ¡°Can you spoil the ending of the movie?¡± Hemsworth was just about to sell a little mystery.


    The next second, the crowded reporters in front of Hemsworth suddenly dwindled to just two or three, he couldn¡¯t even find the reporter who had just fought hard for the question opportunity.


    The smile remained on the corner of his mouth, Hemsworth tried his best to maintain the curve of his lips, but obviously, it was not an easy thing to do.


    The curve, slightly chaotic, slightly stiff, still lifting up, but the expression revealed was of irritation, anger, and frustration.


    A mix of emotions charged around in his chest with no outlet, leaving him standing dumbfounded, suffocated.


    Things weren¡¯t supposed to be like this.


    And ahead, less than fifteen yards away, reporters gathered layer upon layer like a human pyramid, surrounding Li Wei. People with fear of crowded spaces would probably faint on the spot.


    ¡°Li Wei, why are you here...¡±


    ¡°How does it feel to attend the premiere for the first time?¡±


    ¡°Here, Li Wei, look here, give us a smile!¡±


    One after another, eagerly, without any reaction time, questions rained down overwhelmingly, the atmosphere instantaneously burning bright.


    Even more astonishing, the reporters¡¯ voices were actually suppressed by the screams and shouts around, making the questions sound fragmented, far exceeding expectations.


    In an instant, dizzying, the world spun like thoughts thrown into a kaleidoscope, spinning rapidly.


    Li Wei thought he had encountered countless grand scenes, but standing at the door of the Chinese Theater now, he actually had a disorienting feeling.


    Is this normal?


    Is this usual for a premiere?


    Is this the difference between Hollywood and football?


    Li Wei hesitated for a moment, unsure whether he should stay or continue forward¡ª


    After all, this was not his domain. If he were to be interviewed, what would he say? Anyway, he had no understanding of Marvel superhero movies.


    Then, a figure appeared diagonally ahead, leaning forward slightly, and the bright smile at the corner of the mouth first entered Li Wei¡¯s vision.


    With a gentle nod, with eyes gesturing, taking a step forward, approaching Li Wei¡¯s ear, becoming unintentionally intimate, whispering.


    ¡°Need a little help?¡±


    Li Wei looked up, returned a smile, gestured to the front, looking at the delirious reporters and audience, ¡°I¡¯m worried they might need help.¡±


    Elizabeth Olsen¡¯s smile surged fully in her eyes, tiptoeing again, closing the distance a little more.


    ¡°What, you haven¡¯t experienced such a scene at Arrowhead Stadium?¡±


    Li Wei spread his hands, full of helplessness, ¡°They love football. They need me to score on the field, not to marry them.¡±


    Haha.


    Olsen couldn¡¯t help herself, directly laughing out, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about them. They¡¯re fine, trust me. They¡¯re okay. If you really agreed to a marriage proposal, they might faint on the spot, then that would be a real problem.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Li Wei sighed, ¡°That¡¯s good. I was worried about committing bigamy. If I agreed to all, Las Vegas might not be able to handle it.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡± Olsen¡¯s smile completely bloomed, ¡°I guess, you¡¯re Li Wei, right? The hottest topic of the first half of the year.¡±


    Li Wei raised his hands in a surrender gesture, ¡°Guilty as charged. So, who are you?¡±


    Olsen noticed Li Wei¡¯s inquiring gaze, immediately responding, ¡°Elizabeth Olsen, I, uh, I play the Scarlet Witch in the movie.¡±


    Li Wei suddenly realized, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve never watched this series of movies.¡±


    Olsen¡¯s eyes showed a hint of amusement, ¡°Not surprising. If you were to watch the entire Marvel Universe, I guess you wouldn¡¯t have time to train properly?¡±


    Not waiting for Li Wei to answer, Olsen continued, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve never watched a football game either. This year¡¯s Super Bowl halftime show wasn¡¯t my cup of tea.¡±


    With that, Olsen blinked and showed a playful smile.


    Clearly, she did it on purpose, specifically mentioning the halftime show without mentioning the main event of the Super Bowl.


    Li Wei looked straightforwardly, ¡°Normal. I didn¡¯t have the chance to appreciate it either. I heard they performed many classic tunes, ¡®hmm hmm hmm, I¡¯ll fix you...¡¯ ¡±


    Olsen widened her eyes, ¡°That¡¯s Coldplay, not Maroon 5.¡±


    Li Wei blinked, ¡°So, what¡¯s Maroon 5?¡±


    Olsen, ¡°¡®Sugar, yes please.''¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Oh.¡±


    Drawling meaningfully, looking at Olsen with a serious face.


    A full beat slower, Olsen realized she had completely exposed herself, ¡°Oh, God, you¡¯re such a devil.¡± Olsen involuntarily looked up at the sky, but the curve of her lips couldn¡¯t be controlled, wildly lifting up.


    Li Wei lightly shrugged, ¡°Thanks for the compliment. I guess that¡¯s why I can win games.¡±


    Olsen directly laughed out loud, ¡°I guess that¡¯s a blessing for your team?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°A nightmare for Los Angeles.¡±


    Olsen, ¡°I thought you hated Los Angeles?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Wait, I thought you never watched a football game?¡±


    Otherwise, how would Olsen know Li Wei¡¯s famous quote?


    Olsen slightly opened her mouth, exposing her slip for the second time in the short span of fifteen seconds, wanting to bury herself now, but it seemed she had missed the chance.


    Unexpectedly, Olsen felt a bit shy and a little awkward, her cheeks slightly heating up¡ª


    Not shyness, definitely not, just a normal reaction to being caught fibbing, right?


    And this scene, falling into the eyes of the reporters and audience, one by one their minds exploded on the spot, not expecting the gossip to become even more intense?


    Click, click, click click click.


    From the frequency and volume of shutter sounds, it was clear that all the reporters went crazy, collectively going mad.


    Who would have thought that the first climax of tonight¡¯s premiere wouldn¡¯t be Hemsworth, but Li Wei?

 Chapter 934: 933 Stand out like a crane amongst chickens

    Chapter 934: 933 Stand out like a crane amongst chickens


    The sound of shutters and flashes engulfed the surroundings like a torrential midsummer storm, cascading down in a waterfall-like frenzy, wrapping the entire world in a cocoon of deafening chaos.


    This spectacle was completely unexpected for Donald Yee.


    But upon second thought, perhaps this was the right way to handle things?


    As social media spiraled into madness over Ariana and Swift, Li Wei countered the narrative at the movie premiere with undeniable charm. Add Olsen, add Scarlett, sprinkle in more speculation, and ultimately ignite chaos comparable to an inferno, leaving netizens¡¯ brain capacity utterly fried.


    Could this be considered a strategy?


    Donald wasn¡¯t so sure. He suddenly felt old, unable to keep up with the younger generation¡¯s mindset.


    However, judging from the grand scene unfolding before him, Li Wei had at least proved one thing: facing challenges head-on, breaking through barriers directly with an open demeanor is the right course of action. No need for guilt, no need to evade, no need to flinch¡ªjust maintain an air of transparency and integrity, leaving the dark corners no place to hide.


    The entire venue erupted.


    Donald even started worrying that some audience members and reporters might literally burst a blood vessel at any moment.


    Energy continued to erupt like a geyser. Olsen lowered her head and glanced at the ground. Even though she had attended countless premieres and witnessed many grand occasions, she had to admit that tonight¡¯s premiere was absolutely insane.


    Was all of this due to Li Wei? Or was it simply because of ¡°Avengers 4¡±?


    Olsen regained her composure, the smile on her lips blooming anew. ¡°Does anyone need a little guidance? I¡¯m happy to help.¡±


    Li Wei decided to quit while ahead, raising his right hand high, looking the picture of innocence.


    Olsen examined Li Wei carefully before nodding in satisfaction, deliberately tilting her chin in a scholarly manner, ¡°Welcome to the ¡®Avengers 4¡ä premiere.¡±


    This scene was captured through the lenses of the on-site reporters¡ª


    The sound of shutters roared in waves, exploding like fireworks, as silver flashes wove together into a curtain of light cascading down like a waterfall.


    The grand spectacle before them was comparable to the frenzy of Super Bowl media day, perhaps even surpassing it. After all, media day focuses on interviews rather than snapshots; no one cares about professional athletes¡¯ hairstyles and makeup during media day. But here, the shutters pumped out an almost flood-like intensity.


    Thunderous echoes boomed all around.


    Seeing Li Wei take his first steps to leave, the reporters joined the throng of fans in calling out frantically.


    The scene was truly spectacular.


    ¡°Li Wei! Li Wei, ahhhh...¡±


    The gut-wrenching cries revealed the bulging veins on reporters¡¯ necks, looking like they might explode at any moment as if they had hit their breaking point.


    Olsen paused in her steps, naturally halting before the reporters¡ª


    This was routine protocol.


    The reporters assumed Olsen was about to escort Li Wei away from the red carpet, but when the two stopped simultaneously, their faces lit up with gratitude.


    Li Wei turned toward Olsen, his gaze asking, ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    Olsen gestured invitingly.


    Li Wei shrugged lightly and took a small step forward, surrendering to the moment.


    ¡°Li Wei, why are you here tonight?¡±


    The first question was packed with surprise. Even Olsen turned to Li Wei, her eyes brimming with curiosity she couldn¡¯t suppress.


    Under the glaring spotlight, Li Wei shrugged lightly. ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m just as curious. I have absolutely no idea why I¡¯m standing here being interviewed.¡±


    His self-deprecating tone drew laughter from the crowd.


    ¡°I merely heard there¡¯s an opportunity tonight to watch a free movie without spoilers while also learning the epic conclusion to ¡®Avengers.¡¯ I thought, hey, why not? My teammates in the locker room are going to be seriously jealous later. And then, well, here I am.¡±


    The laughter grew even merrier.


    ¡°Li Wei, how are you feeling right now?¡±


    Li Wei shrugged lightly, ¡°Nervous?¡±


    The single word triggered waves of teasing responses.


    Li Wei continued, ¡°I¡¯m being serious. Honestly, I completely underestimated the crowd tonight. It¡¯s...¡±


    He earnestly scanned his surroundings, prompting an explosion of disbelief from reporters and fans that drowned Li Wei and Olsen.


    ¡°So many people.¡±


    Hahaha, hahaha.


    His sincere, undiluted awe made the reporters guffaw collectively.


    Not far away, Hemsworth, abandoned toward the back of the red carpet, awkwardly lingered while debating whether to leave or stay. He stretched his ears to eavesdrop, desperately trying to catch snippets of Li Wei¡¯s conversation with the reporters.


    ¡°After all, it¡¯s my first time in Hollywood. My head feels like a hot mush of chaos, unable to process anything properly. The only thing I remember about coming to Los Angeles last time was... it wasn¡¯t pleasant.¡±


    ¡°I hate it here.¡±


    Hemsworth only caught the last line. Doubting his ears, he wondered why Li Wei hated Los Angeles. Even more baffling, the reporters burst into laughter, chuckling so hard they doubled over.


    Hemsworth: ???


    What¡¯s going on? Has everyone lost their minds?


    Li Wei didn¡¯t elaborate, pressing forward with his response.


    ¡°So, tonight, I¡¯ll try my best to stay quiet and keep a low profile.¡±


    After saying this, Li Wei smiled exuberantly, looking docile.


    That serene expression paired with Li Wei¡¯s baby face was deceptively endearing, given any fan who¡¯s watched Li Wei play knows there¡¯s faint resemblance between him and ¡®well-behaved.¡¯ This mismatch only fueled the humor.


    Soon, a reporter tried to expose his act.


    ¡°Li Wei, aren¡¯t you dating Ariana? And what about Elizabeth¡ªis that also a date?¡±


    The words had barely settled before another reporter jumped in, yelling, ¡°Taylor Swift!¡±


    A wave of questions piled up, whether the audience cared or not; the reporters were relentless in pursuing Li Wei.


    It was inevitable.


    Li Wei remained composed as ever, turning toward Olsen, who was enjoying the show. ¡°We¡¯re dating? Should I have given you some kind of heads-up?¡±


    Pfft.


    Olsen couldn¡¯t hold back and burst out laughing.


    Initially, Olsen had intended to poke fun at Li Wei, but his unexpected counter left her momentarily speechless. On reflex, she nodded, ¡°From a gentleman¡¯s perspective, yes, that¡¯d be proper etiquette.¡±


    Then, Li Wei actually performed a knightly bow, his face radiating charm, as he gazed at Olsen. ¡°My dear Miss Olsen, may I request the honor of you being my date for the evening?¡±


    Completely unexpected.


    Olsen couldn¡¯t predict Li Wei¡¯s antics nor anticipate becoming the center of attention herself. Should she agree?


    A mischievous glimmer sparkled in Olsen¡¯s eyes; since Li Wei used her as a shield, he should brace for her retaliation.


    Li Wei seemed to sense Olsen¡¯s intent and was about to interject, but she seized the moment.


    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m already booked tonight, so I¡¯ll have to decline regrettably. Maybe try asking someone else¡ªI¡¯m sure there¡¯s no shortage of volunteers.¡±


    A perfect reversal!


    Olsen flashed Li Wei an elegant, playful wink and grinned broadly, her eyes twinkling as though reveling in the counter-drama she orchestrated.

 Chapter 935: 934 Marvelous Hand Restores Youth

    Chapter 935: 934 Marvelous Hand Restores Youth


    Oh no, counter-killed.


    Li Wei¡¯s eyes revealed a trace of helplessness as he exchanged glances with Olsen.


    Olsen eagerly awaited Li Wei¡¯s next move.


    Li Wei¡¯s plan to use Olsen as an escape strategy had fallen through. Now what?


    Not just Olsen¡ªthe reporters in front of them stared at Li Wei like wolves eyeing their prey, their eager postures instantly igniting the heat of the moment.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t evade them. Spreading his hands, he turned to face the reporters, a look of resignation on his face.


    ¡°Rejected.¡±


    Reporters: ???


    Olsen: ???


    Li Wei¡¯s bluntness was unexpected. Wait a minute, what is Li Wei plotting?


    However, Li Wei left no time for reactions and directly followed up.


    ¡°I blame you all for this.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all because of your baseless gossip, making the girls steer clear of me. Just now, Elizabeth and I were having a delightful conversation¡ªit was all on track, but you¡¯ve ruined everything.¡±


    ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to stay single tonight. Truly regrettable.¡±


    Brilliant! Utterly brilliant!


    The whole time, Li Wei never mentioned Ariana or Swift¡¯s names, nor did he touch on the rumors directly. Yet, with such a poised approach, he managed to dispel all the gossip.


    Marvelous!


    Now, what if Olsen had agreed?


    Then Li Wei could¡¯ve smoothly declared that all the rumors about Ariana and Swift were entirely fabricated; Olsen, in front of everyone, would¡¯ve extended an invitation, putting everything out in the open.


    That forthright and upright stance would¡¯ve directly addressed all the rumors.


    Attack if possible, retreat if necessary¡ª


    Flawless.


    Of course, reporters could continue pressing, pursuing different angles, but Li Wei had already taken the invincible position. They could even predict their questions would hit a dead end like a wall.


    Precisely because they understood this, a sense of powerlessness welled up inside.


    Unbelievable!


    The sizzling hot rumors of the past few days¡ªLi Wei had dismissed them with casual ease, not only protecting Ariana and Swift but leaving no room for further manipulation.


    The reporters stood frozen on the spot, their brains momentarily crashing.


    After waiting painstakingly and preparing meticulously, the result¡ª


    That¡¯s it?


    Everything collapsed instantly.


    Olsen, standing aside, knew it wasn¡¯t the best time to laugh. But seeing the dumbfounded, disheartened reporters, she couldn¡¯t help herself. She quickly turned away, stifling her laughter as her shoulders shook uncontrollably.


    However, as the person at the center of it all, Li Wei seemed completely unaware of the ripples he¡¯d caused, continuing to smile brightly.


    ¡°I¡¯m not the star of the night, so I¡¯ll take my leave and let the true stars shine on stage.¡±


    With that, Li Wei turned to go, throwing the reporters into panic.


    Entirely, completely, they¡¯d been led by Li Wei¡¯s nose.


    ¡°Li Wei, can I ask¡ªcan I ask who designed your outfit tonight?¡±


    In their frantic scramble, they could only grasp at the last straw¡ª


    Fashion.


    In this context, ¡°who designed the outfit¡± is more about the designer, not the brand, which is rarely named at events like this. Designers typically take the spotlight.


    Li Wei paused mid-step.


    ¡°You¡¯ve stumped me.¡±


    What kind of answer was that?


    ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about fashion. My stylist gives me something, and I wear it. In areas I¡¯m not well-versed in, the best I can do is shut up and listen.¡±


    ¡°So, I truly, truly, truly thank certain brands for choosing to sponsor me and hope they won¡¯t regret it now because of my performance.¡±


    Wait a minute, was Li Wei joking about Louis Vuitton?


    Li Wei actually teased the sponsor?


    Everyone exchanged glances, and one reporter couldn¡¯t contain their excitement.


    ¡°Li Wei, are you sure this isn¡¯t Louis Vuitton¡¯s work?¡±


    Li Wei immediately placed his index finger to his lips. ¡°Shhh. No advertisements allowed.¡±


    Reporters: ???


    In the next second, laughter erupted uncontrollably, even spilling into applause and whistles from some reporters who couldn¡¯t contain themselves.


    If Li Wei had simply said ¡°Louis Vuitton¡± earlier, the answer would have been dull, swallowed by the night¡¯s larger stories.


    But now, with this maneuver, he¡¯d instantly crafted a headline.


    Brilliant!


    Not just the reporters¡ªthe surrounding audience also couldn¡¯t hold back their collective laughter.


    Amidst the chaos, Li Wei extended a gentlemanly invitation gesture toward Olsen, maintaining a respectful distance as the two moved forward under the intense scrutiny of countless gazes.


    Only then did the reporters snap out of it, frantically calling Li Wei¡¯s name and chasing after him amidst the jostling crowd.


    The scene was truly astonishing.


    Hemsworth realized far too late that his cover had been blown. He stood there, helplessly gazing off into the distance, visibly disgruntled and looking utterly defeated.


    Instinctively, Hemsworth turned around, attempting to flee the scene of the ¡°crime.¡±


    Unfortunately, it was already too late.


    ¡°Chris!¡±


    Olsen called out.


    Hemsworth closed his eyes, struggling with annoyance, reluctantly stopping in his tracks, and eventually turned around, trying his best to appear nonchalant, flashing an exaggerated smile.


    ¡°Hey, Elizabeth!¡±


    Olsen didn¡¯t pick up on the subtle tension in the air, eagerly stepping up to introduce the two gentlemen to each other.


    Not far away, Li Wei and Hemsworth shook hands and exchanged pleasantries amidst the chaotic clicks of flashing lights, the scene relentlessly documented.


    Slowly, slowly, the reporters began to notice something was off.


    But what was it? They couldn¡¯t put their finger on it.


    Mulling it over more carefully, they finally realized that the cameras¡¯ focus was entirely on Li Wei¡ª


    Was that normal?


    Professional athletes attending Hollywood movie premieres wasn¡¯t particularly unusual¡ªRodgers, Brady, Watt, and others had all attended movie premieres at some point, further proving the overlapping dynamics of the entertainment and sports worlds.


    But truth be told, athletes generally didn¡¯t steal the spotlight at film premieres, in the same way Hollywood stars weren¡¯t the stars of the Super Bowl stage.


    The boundary between industries was unmistakable.


    Tonight, the same was expected for Li Wei. Even Li Wei himself knew this¡ªhe was just a supporting act, a spectator who naturally deferred the spotlight to the true stars.


    But here? That wasn¡¯t the case.


    Standing before Hemsworth¡ªarguably Hollywood¡¯s hottest heartthrob of recent years, the epitome of sex appeal¡ªLi Wei¡¯s height and build didn¡¯t pale in comparison.


    In fact, Hemsworth was five centimeters taller than Li Wei.


    But!


    When the two of them stood side by side, the entire presence, posture, and aura subtly tilted toward Li Wei, irresistibly drawing the focus onto him.


    There was even an uncanny feeling, as if Hemsworth appeared slightly timid and dwarfed¡ªhis efforts to stand tall and confident made him seem all the more breathless and faint-hearted.


    The visual impression suggested ¡°Thor Li Wei, amateur Hemsworth¡± might have been the proper narrative all along.


    Reporters couldn¡¯t help but recall Hemsworth¡¯s early days in Hollywood when his thick Australian accent earned endless ridicule¡ªthe nightmares now seemed to resurface.


    Was this normal?

 Chapter 936: 935 Snow White

    Chapter 936: 935 Snow White


    Something seems a little off¡ª


    Li Wei looks like the superstar, and Hemsworth looks like the sidekick.


    This must be an illusion, right? Surely, it¡¯s just an illusion. The ¡°Sexiest Man Alive¡± chosen by *People* magazine back in 2014 couldn¡¯t have fallen so far, could he?


    Seriously thinking about it, it¡¯s probably because of Li Wei¡¯s performance just now¡ªeffortlessly navigating the press and commanding the room. His presence, a solid 3.8 meters of charisma, stunned the reporters into submission. So now, seeing Li Wei and Hemsworth together must trigger some kind of psychological effect, making Hemsworth seem like the sidekick.


    Yes, it has to be an illusion!


    However, as time went on, things began to feel increasingly...off.


    One by one, the key figures from *Avengers 4* began to arrive.


    Jeremy Renner, Paul Rudd, Tom Holland, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Mark Ruffalo, and so on.


    A strange phenomenon unfolded: Li Wei seemed like the North Pole of a magnet, while everyone else was the South Pole, naturally gravitating toward him. Gradually, a social circle formed, with Li Wei at the center.


    Initially, the reporters joked around, saying Li Wei was like a panda and that Hollywood stars are always surrounded by actors¡ªnot surprising at all. But today, seeing an ambassador from another planet extending friendly relations left everyone unable to control themselves.


    Thus, the *Avengers 4* premiere was transformed into a zoo.


    Slowly but surely, the atmosphere began to shift.


    The first to notice the oddity weren¡¯t the reporters, but fans standing nearby.


    Whispers of ¡°Snow White,¡± ¡°Seven Dwarves,¡± and similar chatter spread among them. The reporters didn¡¯t get it at first, but looking in the direction of their gazes, they finally saw the truth¡ª


    Li Wei wasn¡¯t a panda at all; he was Snow White!


    And the ones surrounding him? Obviously the Seven Dwarves. So what about Hemsworth? Was he the Evil Queen?


    Once this imagery popped into their heads, it was game over¡ªthey couldn¡¯t unsee it.


    The more they looked, the more vivid the scene became!


    It was perfect chaos!


    Hollywood journalists had always known this: when it came to *Avengers 4*, the average height of its cast wasn¡¯t exactly stellar. Robert Downey Jr. famously relied on platform shoes to hold his own, while only the three Chrises could help maintain some semblance of dignity. But they¡¯d never expected this¡ª


    The moment they put Li Wei in the equation, the contrast became shockingly apparent.


    Those clustered around Li Wei instantly transformed into servants¡ªif not dwarves, then what?


    And once Robert Downey Jr. arrived, things would likely get even more unbearable.


    What was going on here?


    A group of Hollywood stars crowding around a football player at a movie premiere, only for the one who *actually* seemed like a star to be the football player?


    Here¡¯s the kicker: this was a superhero movie, but the person who truly looked like a superhero...hadn¡¯t even acted in it!


    In this teeming crowd, all attention was drawn to that one small social circle. Li Wei¡¯s striking appearance and charisma effortlessly captured every gaze, locking in the spotlight.


    Fresh off the Super Bowl, Li Wei had now become Hollywood¡¯s newest focus of attention¡ª


    Tall, poised, strikingly refined. His elegant yet understated demeanor shone with a quiet brilliance, and tonight, clad in a simple suit, he radiated an irresistible charm that compelled attention without even trying.


    On the red carpet, reporters had seen all kinds of bizarre attempts to stand out¡ªwild showboating, flashy stunts, desperate cries for attention. Whether newcomers or seasoned stars, everyone craved the limelight, determined to make their mark amid the glittering competition.


    But then there were exceptions.


    People who could simply stand there¡ªno outrageous outfits, no exaggerated moves¡ªand still draw all eyes to them. Inadvertently, the crowd would double back for another look, unable to resist taking in their presence again, and again.


    That¡¯s what it meant to be a true star.


    Hollywood hadn¡¯t seen one like that in ages. The 21st century was often called the era without stars, with Leonardo DiCaprio hailed as Hollywood¡¯s last true superstar. Times had changed; social media had diluted the mystique of fame, and the golden age had receded into history.


    Until now.


    Among the bustling throngs, in an endless sea of faces, Li Wei emerged effortlessly. Unmistakably.


    Each time a gaze swept across him, the same thought escaped from astonished lips again and again¡ª


    That Louis Vuitton outfit? With every glance, it looked more flawless. Absolutely perfect.


    Who could resist Li Wei?


    Which leads to the question: if Li Wei were to play a superhero, which one would suit him best?


    Wild fantasies began flying. The scene outside the Chinese Theater became extraordinarily lively.


    But... who¡¯d have thought? Li Wei ended up stealing the movie¡¯s thunder. Was this really okay? Tomorrow¡¯s entertainment headlines would be all about Li Wei¡ªwas that really all right?


    And just imagine the scene.


    Robert Downey Jr. showing up, standing next to Li Wei¡ªthe contrast would be brutal.


    ¡°Oh, no. No, no, no. That¡¯s too much.¡±


    Wait¡ªwho invited Li Wei to this premiere?


    Seriously!


    ¡°Quick! Get him inside! Sit him down!¡±


    The premiere became frantic and disjointed. Staff buzzed around like headless flies.


    There was no way around it. Li Wei had become the undeniable focus of the red carpet; the staff struggled to figure out a way to guide him inside without bruising the egos of the actors.


    Several staff members stammered and fumbled, failing to string together a coherent sentence.


    In the end, the big boss stepped in.


    Kevin Feige himself appeared, flashing a big smile as he invited Li Wei inside.


    Li Wei was puzzled. ¡°Iron Man isn¡¯t here yet. I wanted to see him!¡±


    Feige responded cheerily, ¡°No rush, no rush! You can see him inside later. Let¡¯s sit down first. You must be tired.¡±


    Li Wei laughed, ¡°Tired? Haha, you¡¯re hilarious. That¡¯s a good joke. But, seriously¡ªI want to see Iron Man.¡±


    Feige replied firmly, ¡°No, you don¡¯t.¡±


    Meanwhile, news arrived from the front of the red carpet: Robert Downey Jr.¡¯s car had entered the secured area and was steadily approaching the theater.


    Feige raised his eyebrows meaningfully and enlisted the help of Scarlett Johansson. Scarlett and Chris Evans quickly caught on and moved toward Li Wei.


    ¡°Come on, come on! Let us introduce you properly to everyone in the Avengers.¡±


    Li Wei: ???


    Looking at Black Widow and Captain America standing before him, Li Wei sensed something was off. His grin widened as he wittily quipped¡ª


    ¡°Hey, why do your expressions look like Batman just showed up unexpectedly? Relax, I didn¡¯t come here to ruin your night. Look how well-behaved I am.¡±


    Scarlett joked back, ¡°Why Batman? Shouldn¡¯t it be Superman?¡±


    Li Wei grinned, ¡°Because of his superpower.¡±


    Evans chimed in, ¡°Wait a second, what superpower? Batman doesn¡¯t have any superpowers.¡±


    Li Wei replied, ¡°Oh, he does¡ªand it¡¯s pretty epic.¡±


    Laughing all around, Scarlett and Evans escorted Li Wei into the screening hall. Meanwhile, the red carpet staff were drenched in sweat, but too frazzled to wipe it away. That was because Robert Downey Jr. had finally arrived.


    Ahhh, ahhhhh!


    Downey stepped out of his car, grinning ear to ear as he waved enthusiastically to the crowd of fans losing their minds, radiating the confidence of someone standing atop Mount Everest and owning the world.

 Chapter 937: 93.6 billion billionaires

    Chapter 937: 93.6 billion billionaires


    ¡°Oh, God, please forgive me, you can interview Scarlett, I¡¯ll just step aside.¡±


    Entering the Chinese Theater screening room, there were still media formally invited by the film crew inside. Upon seeing Scarlett and Evans, they immediately surrounded them, but none of them rushed to ask questions and just eagerly stared at them.


    Li Wei quickly realized that standing here seemed to be an obstacle, hindering others¡¯ work, so he promptly smiled apologetically.


    However, the reporters exchanged glances and called out to Li Wei, who was about to turn and leave.


    ¡°...Can we ask you two questions?¡±


    Li Wei: ???


    Scarlett looked at Evans and quipped, ¡°Looks like we¡¯re the obstacles here.¡±


    Li Wei smiled at the reporters and politely said, ¡°No, you can¡¯t. This is a movie premiere, and I¡¯m just someone who¡¯s here to join the fun, so I¡¯m ready to thoroughly enjoy the movie.¡±


    ¡°As for interviews,¡± Li Wei patted Scarlett and Evans on the shoulders respectively, ¡°that¡¯s their job. Trust me, you wouldn¡¯t want to ruin my vacation.¡± After speaking, he beamed warmly.


    Li Wei turned and walked away briskly.


    The reporters looked at each other: Is this really happening?


    But the important thing was, after exchanging glances, none of them dared to chase after him, a scene that amazed Scarlett and Evans, who had experienced the tricks of reporters.


    Scarlett, ¡°They must be afraid of Li Wei hitting them, right?¡±


    Evans, ¡°Yeah, one hundred percent, definitely. It seems having strong fists is the hard truth.¡±


    And Li Wei?


    He was serious. His task for today was already over, and now his only thought was to watch a good movie. Lately, he had been so busy without a moment to breathe, so he was indeed looking forward to watching a popcorn movie to relax.


    But, where should he sit?


    Cinemas in the United States don¡¯t have seat numbers, so you can sit anywhere once you¡¯re inside.


    Li Wei wasn¡¯t sure if it was the same at the premiere.


    Looking around, he could see that the seats in the center had name tags to ensure the ¡°Avengers 4¡± creative team could sit in the spotlight and that there wouldn¡¯t be any discrepancy in importance; but the other seats didn¡¯t have name tags and were all open.


    Li Wei was wondering if the media, guests, and audience all sat mixed together, or if there was a designated area?


    Then, an elderly man with white hair walked towards Li Wei¡ª


    He looked like he was in his sixties or seventies, with neatly trimmed white hair, a well-groomed mustache above his lips, holding a gentleman¡¯s hat in front of him with his left hand. He walked at a leisurely pace, but very steadily, demonstrating an energetic demeanor.


    ¡°Hey.¡± The old man greeted first.


    Li Wei looked around and, after confirming that the old man was indeed talking to him, he flashed a smile, ¡°Good evening. Is there anything I can help you with?¡±


    Even though Li Wei knew nothing, he still tried hard to appear friendly.


    The old man had a hint of a smile in his eyes, ¡°Are you sure you can help?¡±


    Li Wei laughed directly, ¡°So, is my confusion so obvious? I thought I was hiding it well, but now it seems my Hollywood actor dream is shattered.¡±


    The old man¡¯s lips curled slightly, ¡°But clearly you don¡¯t need to worry about making a living. To be precise, the actors tonight should all envy you.¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Oh, do you know me?¡±


    The old man, ¡°Of course, Edgerunner. Los Angeles lost to you this year, how could I not know?¡±


    Li Wei waved his hands repeatedly, ¡°Don¡¯t frame me. I still have coaches and teammates to take care of. The credit can¡¯t all go to me.¡±


    The serious manner made the smile in the old man¡¯s eyes ripple slightly, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t frame you. You should blame the media instead. Otherwise, why else would you be the only one here tonight, and not your teammates.¡±


    Li Wei nodded slightly, ¡°Alright, guilty as charged. I couldn¡¯t resist the temptation, and I¡¯m ready to face a barrage of locker room banter; but jealousy won¡¯t help, there¡¯s nothing to be done. Looks and charisma are innate, unless reincarnation is an option, nothing can change that.¡±


    The old man slightly raised his chin, ¡°Envy means you lose?¡±


    Li Wei spread his arms, entirely at ease.


    The old man chuckled softly, ¡°No wonder you can be the focal point of the night.¡±


    Li Wei hurriedly put his finger to his lips, ¡°Shh. Let¡¯s enjoy the rare quiet moment. Wait, you¡¯re not a reporter, are you? Or a producer? Then I might be making a fool of myself now.¡±


    Li Wei paused and seriously scrutinized the old man in front of him.


    The old man didn¡¯t mind and spread his hands, gracefully accepting the scrutiny, ¡°So, who do you think I am?¡±


    Li Wei pursed his lips, ¡°First, not a reporter.¡±


    ¡°Handmade suit, gentleman¡¯s hat, custom shoes, low-key and restrained manner, yet appearing at tonight¡¯s movie premiere.¡±


    ¡°I guess, if not a billionaire, then a high-ranking executive at a movie company.¡±


    ¡°If I¡¯m wrong, please don¡¯t tell me. I promise not to come back to Hollywood in the future.¡±


    The old man was once again amused by Li Wei¡¯s smile, slightly raised the corners of his mouth, and in the end, couldn¡¯t hold back, lightly laughed out loud, ¡°Then that¡¯s our loss.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not planning to come back to Hollywood? I¡¯d hope to see more players like you; otherwise, the NFL would be too boring.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t guess wrong, but you didn¡¯t guess right either.¡±


    ¡°Stan Kroenke. You can call me Stan.¡±


    The old man extended his right hand for a self-introduction, looking at Li Wei with bright eyes.


    Li Wei politely completed the handshake and also introduced himself.


    Initially, Li Wei didn¡¯t react, as this name was particularly unfamiliar. He thought perhaps it was a high-ranking executive at a movie company or a top Hollywood producer. After all, his understanding of Hollywood was limited, so it was normal not to know. At this moment, he really needed his friends¡¯ help¡ª


    A proper introducer could dissolve 99% of social awkwardness.


    But after thinking about it, Li Wei realized that Kroenke had come over proactively, seemingly waiting for an opportunity, a chance for some quiet time around them, and from the details of the conversation, the other seemed to know him very well.


    The situation was just a bit off.


    Then, a thought struck Li Wei.


    ¡°Silent Stan?¡± Li Wei¡¯s eyes widened.


    Kroenke remained expressionless and said calmly in a steady tone, ¡°I don¡¯t like that nickname.¡±


    This was tantamount to an admission.


    Li Wei almost choked on his own saliva¡ª


    Stan Kroenke, billionaire, owner of the Los Angeles Rams.


    Of course, this was just a small part of Kroenke¡¯s multi-billion-dollar assets.


    Kroenke¡¯s real identity is a real estate tycoon and a fifty percent shareholder of Wal-Mart, but the more widely known identity of this tycoon is the world¡¯s largest sports industry magnate.


    He is passionate about sports, low-key, and avoids journalists, almost rarely appearing in any news reports, always staying behind the scenes, which earned him the nickname ¡°Silent Stan.¡±


    Among Kroenke¡¯s assets, the Los Angeles Rams are his most recent acquisition, starting with a stake in 1995, and by 2010, he fully owned the team; besides that, he also owns Arsenal, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, and a total of nine professional teams.


    Yes, the Arsenal mentioned here is the famous Arsenal of the Premier League.

 Chapter 938: 937 Silent Stan

    Chapter 938: 937 Silent Stan


    In the world of professional sports, there are countless famous and flamboyant billionaire team owners, but Stan Kroenke is completely different. He is undoubtedly the wealthiest figure in the professional sports world, yet he is so low-key that he seems almost invisible.


    Across North America¡¯s major professional sports leagues, except for baseball, Kroenke owns teams in every league, along with a series of stadiums, ensuring he can operate entirely self-sufficiently.


    Whether it¡¯s the NBA or the NFL, stadium-related issues for professional teams are always center stage because stadium construction often requires negotiation with city governments, involving countless complexities¡ª


    In 2019, the Golden State Warriors relocated from Oakland to San Francisco; in 2020, the Oakland Raiders moved to Las Vegas. There were numerous factors behind these moves, but stadiums were a significant consideration.


    In March 2024, the Kansas City Chiefs, fresh off defending their Super Bowl Championship title, were dealt a heavy blow when their Arrowhead Stadium renovation proposal was rejected in a city-wide vote. This put the Hunt family, the team¡¯s owners, in a bind, as the aging stadium posed many challenges.


    These instances are entirely real and not uncommon; their frequency far exceeds imagination.


    Kroenke¡¯s most visionary move is that when purchasing a team, he often buys its stadium as well, taking full control of its operation and profits, avoiding the challenges faced by other teams.


    Even more astonishing, every team owned by Kroenke has at least once fought for the championship in its respective league¡ªan exceptional track record.


    There¡¯s no doubt about it: in the realm of professional sports, Kroenke is an unequivocal giant.


    However, when people bring up famous team owners, few¡ªvery few¡ªimmediately think of Kroenke.


    ¡°Silently raking in big money,¡± Kroenke has his own approach and philosophy.


    Such a figure can command respect even from professional leagues.


    And now, Kroenke was standing right in front of Li Wei, indistinguishable from an ordinary elderly man. True to his nickname, ¡°Silent Stan,¡± he looked utterly unremarkable.


    Li Wei paused for a moment and motioned behind him, ¡°Should I be turning around and leaving right now?¡±


    Kroenke looked puzzled, ¡°Why?¡±


    Li Wei replied, ¡°To avoid suspicion. If the media snaps a photo, it won¡¯t even take until tomorrow¡ªsocial networks will explode tonight. I shouldn¡¯t be casually chatting with the owner of a rival Super Bowl team.¡±


    Kroenke looked calm, ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? Didn¡¯t you go to Madison Square Garden to watch a game last year?¡±


    Li Wei gave a bitter smile, ¡°That¡¯s precisely why¡ªlast year, in my youthful naivety, I got publicly caught. Now I should be smarter about these things.¡±


    Kroenke¡¯s beard quivered slightly, ¡°Do you fear those rumors? I thought nothing scared Li Wei.¡±


    Li Wei laughed, ¡°That¡¯s a misunderstanding. A complete misunderstanding. There¡¯s plenty I¡¯m afraid of; the media simply shaped me into some fearless hero. In truth, I¡¯m quite timid.¡±


    Kroenke asked, ¡°Such as?¡±


    Li Wei replied, ¡°You don¡¯t expect me to willingly expose my weaknesses, do you?¡±


    Kroenke responded, ¡°At least I tried.¡±


    Relaxed and unrushed, Kroenke exuded a serene calmness, with no visible sharpness. Yet his poise and subtle humor hinted at his unique charm.


    Li Wei had heard tales of this legendary figure, whose career beginnings were thanks to his wife¡ª


    Kroenke¡¯s wife was a Wal-Mart heiress. The two met at a ski resort, and through her introductions, Kroenke got to know the then-head of Wal-Mart. Together they traveled extensively, observing birds in the mountains and forests.


    A textbook example of ¡°skip thirty years of struggle.¡±


    Everyone envied Kroenke¡¯s ¡°good luck.¡± But the truth hidden behind those rumors was how Kroenke won his wife¡¯s heart and proved himself before those industry titans. These were no easy feats, nor were they opportunities that just anyone could seize.


    Standing before Kroenke, Li Wei inadvertently revealed his own inexperience¡ª


    Despite his reincarnation and living two lifetimes, Li Wei lacked accumulated wealth, had never been exposed to the billionaire¡¯s world, nor weathered its storms. The objective gap between them was undeniable.


    In front of such a giant, petty tricks were useless.


    Li Wei looked at Kroenke, ¡°Us meeting here¡ªis this truly a coincidence?¡±


    Kroenke asked, ¡°Do you believe in coincidences?¡±


    Li Wei refused to be pulled into Kroenke¡¯s conversational rhythm, ¡°That¡¯s not my question.¡±


    Kroenke seemed slightly surprised, ¡°You¡¯ve got a sharp tongue.¡±


    Li Wei replied, ¡°Thank you for the compliment. But you¡¯re still evading my question.¡±


    Kroenke responded, ¡°No, it¡¯s not a coincidence.¡±


    Li Wei answered, ¡°Oh.¡± Then he blinked, ¡°So... is there anything I can help you with?¡±


    After circling back, they¡¯d somehow returned to square one!


    When Li Wei said this, Kroenke instantly realized Li Wei was being purposefully playful, with a hint of jest. Yet the mood at this very moment was entirely different, and the same words took on an entirely new nature.


    This young man was even more impressive than Kroenke had anticipated.


    Now Kroenke understood why Li Wei had become a superstar. ¡°I thought you already knew my intentions¡ªafter all, didn¡¯t you experience this once last year?¡±


    Li Wei shook his head lightly, ¡°I don¡¯t speculate recklessly.¡±


    Kroenke suggested, ¡°Why not take a guess?¡±


    Li Wei quipped, ¡°Your child¡¯s a fan of mine, and you need an autograph?¡±


    Kroenke: ...¡±Haha.¡± Unable to hold it in, the elder burst out laughing¡ªa rare sight indeed. ¡°No, I simply want to get to know you better.¡±


    Li Wei asked, ¡°Friends? Are you sure? I thought billionaires like you don¡¯t make friends easily.¡±


    Kroenke replied, ¡°No, we don¡¯t. Because you never know if someone is approaching you for your wealth. But I imagine it¡¯s the same for you, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Now that Li Wei had reached the pinnacle of the pyramid, the temptations coming his way were endless¡ªthough behind them, genuine intentions might be scarce.


    It¡¯s lonely at the top.


    Li Wei was entering an entirely new realm.


    But he never expected Li Wei to shake his head lightly, ¡°No, you are the chess players; we are merely the chess pieces. It¡¯s not the same.¡±


    Kroenke¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Very few players are willing to admit that.¡±


    Li Wei replied, ¡°But that¡¯s the truth. And the truth doesn¡¯t change just because we deny it.¡±


    Kroenke asked, ¡°So what do you plan to do?¡±


    Li Wei answered, ¡°One step at a time¡ªstart by changing what I can. If it doesn¡¯t work... then I¡¯ll accept it calmly.¡±


    ¡°Ha.¡± Kroenke chuckled softly once more, ¡°So, would you be interested in coming to Los Angeles?¡±


    Li Wei: ...¡±Mr. Kroenke, I thought you were here to make friends.¡±


    A cunning gleam flickered in Kroenke¡¯s eyes, ¡°No, I never actually admitted to that. But now, I genuinely feel inclined.¡±


    Li Wei replied, ¡°I¡¯m happy in Kansas City.¡±


    Kroenke said, ¡°I know. You¡¯re happy now, but whether you¡¯ll remain happy in the future¡ªwell, no one knows, right?¡±


    Clearly, ¡°Silent Stan¡± wasn¡¯t as silent as his reputation suggested.


    Not only was he not silent, but his words were sharp, effortlessly hitting key points and leaving ample room for interpretation within his understated phrasing.

 Chapter 939: 938 Just Friends

    Chapter 939: 938 Just Friends


    ¡°...I¡¯m happy now, but whether I¡¯ll stay happy in the future, who knows, right?¡±


    No sarcasm, Kroenke maintained his composure, speaking in an unhurried tone that left plenty of room for interpretation, his words carrying a subtle weight.


    Li Wei raised an eyebrow slightly, ¡°If anyone thinks Silent Stan is meant literally, they must be dumbfounded right now. Like me.¡±


    A small joke, attempting to change the subject.


    But Kroenke wasn¡¯t having it; he continued at his own pace, casually dropping bombshells.


    ¡°Next year will be your third year. If you come to Los Angeles now, we can offer you a history-making contract.¡±


    The air suddenly fell silent.


    In the NFL, rookie players are at the bottom of the food chain. Typically, it¡¯s not until the end of their four-year rookie contract that they get to sit down with the team to negotiate. Because of that, young and inexpensive rookie players are often referred to as the ¡°rookie contract advantage.¡±


    Occasionally, for top-tier players after their third year, teams will show goodwill by talking renewal a year early. That¡¯s already considered special treatment.


    However, teams almost never start renewal negotiations for a player at the end of their second year.


    The most direct example is Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. After his second season, Newton¡¯s agent approached the team, requesting an early renewal. The Panthers had to take it seriously because they believed Newton was their franchise quarterback.


    Even so, negotiations between the Panthers and Newton dragged on for over a year, spanning the entire 2013 season. It wasn¡¯t until the offseason after Newton¡¯s third year that both sides reached an agreement and finalized the contract.


    Players have their own demands, but teams aren¡¯t foolish either.


    And now Kroenke unexpectedly offered a sophomore player, Li Wei, a contract¡ª


    A running back, no less.


    Rare. Truly rare.


    Li Wei looked at Kroenke, ¡°My mom always told me, ¡®there¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch; the seemingly free ones are often the most expensive.¡¯ So I¡¯m not curious at all, not tempted at all.¡±


    Despite his words, Li Wei¡¯s eyes were bright as he stared at Kroenke, full of curiosity.


    Kroenke was amused by Li Wei¡¯s expression. ¡°Really? You¡¯re sure you don¡¯t want to hear the terms?¡±


    Li Wei hesitated, ¡°I¡¯m afraid if I do, I might actually be tempted. Then I won¡¯t feel like watching a movie tonight.¡±


    Kroenke raised an eyebrow slightly, ¡°You¡¯re different. Others, even if they don¡¯t agree or consider the offer, would at least want to hear our numbers.¡±


    ¡°After all, just a number, right? Listening won¡¯t hurt.¡±


    Li Wei shrugged lightly, ¡°I¡¯ve always believed that self-awareness is a virtue. I know I might be tempted; I won¡¯t deny my desire for a better salary. To you, it might be just a number, but for me, it could lead to sleepless nights for days.¡±


    ¡°So, I should cut off the temptation at its root.¡±


    Calm, rational, wise, yet sprinkled with self-deprecating humor.


    Kroenke saw Li Wei in a new light. ¡°But aren¡¯t you curious about my number?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°I am. But I¡¯d still say no, because I¡¯m worried you might give me an offer I can¡¯t refuse.¡±


    Kroenke: ...¡±Were you just quoting a line from ¡®The Godfather¡¯?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Yes. Welcome to Hollywood?¡±


    Laughter welled up in Kroenke¡¯s eyes. ¡°Now I¡¯m certain we should extend an olive branch.¡±


    Li Wei: ??? So all those previous conversations were just tests?


    Li Wei sighed, ¡°Ah, standing in front of a billionaire really makes me feel so small. I should leave here quickly and head back to Kansas City where I can regain my confidence.¡±


    Kroenke couldn¡¯t hold back, bursting into laughter¡ªha, ha, ha.


    The laughter couldn¡¯t stop.


    Kroenke was dead serious¡ª


    It was all just curiosity, nothing more.


    Kroenke owned multiple professional teams and had long established his management style. He personally selected and vetted executives like the team president and general manager, entrusting them with maximum decision-making autonomy, leaving professional matters to the professionals.


    Because Kroenke knew very well, while he excelled at investing and loved sports, it didn¡¯t mean he was good at team management. Maintaining professionalism and independence within the team was the correct way for it to grow.


    Kroenke rarely, if ever, got involved in specific team decisions.


    So, his offer of an irresistible contract to sophomore Li Wei was purely a joke, a minor probing gesture fueled by curiosity.


    Still, Kroenke genuinely felt that the Los Angeles Rams needed a player like Li Wei¡ª


    Not just a running back. Not merely an ordinary player.


    A superstar. A leader. Someone who could change the mood and momentum on and off the field.


    Kroenke was a businessman who understood the power of a figurehead in the competitive sports market.


    Perhaps Li Wei was the key. The key to transforming the Los Angeles Rams, not only with championship potential but also by reshaping the team¡¯s market outlook.


    However...


    Kroenke still wouldn¡¯t say everything out loud.


    He wouldn¡¯t interfere with the Rams¡¯ general manager or head coach¡¯s work, nor let his business-focused perspective meddle with the team¡¯s construction and growth.


    Because he knew how foolish that would be.


    Setting aside everything else, at least Kroenke could do the math. The NFL operates under a hard salary cap. If they handed Li Wei a massive paycheck, adjustments in other areas would be inevitable. Breaking records would mean significant sacrifices elsewhere.


    As such, Kroenke wouldn¡¯t say a word, not even a sentence like, ¡°I personally think Li Wei fits our team.¡±


    He¡¯d remain silent.


    That didn¡¯t change Kroenke¡¯s admiration for Li Wei. He thought, perhaps he and Li Wei could be friends¡ª


    Not the kind of friends who share heartfelt conversations over drinks, but more of a gentlemanly camaraderie rooted in mutual respect and engaging discussions about life.


    At the very least, tonight had been worthwhile.


    The smile lingered on his lips as Kroenke looked at Li Wei. ¡°It¡¯s not just you. Me too.¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Oh, why?¡±


    Kroenke, ¡°Here, people look at me in only two ways: either with the thought, ¡®I should convince him to invest fifty million dollars into my movie project,¡¯ or thinking, ¡®Did that old guy bribe the guards to sneak in, like some homeless drifter?¡¯ I don¡¯t think I belong in Los Angeles either.¡±


    Li Wei shared a smile with him.


    Kroenke, ¡°Which is why I prefer Montana, staying in a desolate place far away from humanity.¡±


    Li Wei shook his head slightly, ¡°There¡¯s a difference here. Some people live in Montana, embracing nature, sleeping under the sky and lying on the ground to return to their primal roots. Others reside in their three-hundred-million-dollar mansions, attended by ninety-nine servants. That¡¯s not really ¡®away from humanity.''¡±


    ¡°I only have fifteen servants in my house.¡±


    ¡°Oh, fifteen. That does sound modest.¡±


    ¡°Yes, considering it takes fifteen minutes by car to get from the kitchen to the living room¡ªimagine that, fifteen isn¡¯t much.¡±


    ¡°Haha, this must be a billionaire¡¯s sense of humor, right?¡±


    Through their back-and-forth, they unexpectedly hit it off.

 Chapter 940: The darker, the redder

    Chapter 940: The darker, the redder


    ¡°Li Wei surprises at the global premiere of ¡®Avengers 4¡¯!¡±


    ¡°¡®Avengers 4¡¯ global premiere: Li Wei steals the spotlight.¡±


    ¡°From the Super Bowl to Hollywood, the spotlight remains on Li Wei.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei: I still hate Los Angeles.¡±


    ¡°The one and only true superstar¡ªLi Wei is equally sought after in Hollywood.¡±


    ¡°Enjoying panda-level treatment¡ªLi Wei shines at the ¡®Avengers 4¡¯ premiere, red-hot in demand.¡±


    Focus, focus, unquestionably still the focus.


    Even in Hollywood, even at the premiere of ¡®Avengers 4,¡¯ Li Wei bursts onto the scene, stealing all attention and standing at the center of the storm.


    Grand and dazzling, news headlines flood every corner.


    Is this all a joke?


    This is the ¡®Avengers 4¡¯ premiere, a galaxy of stars, brilliance overflowing¡ªevery single actor, every single role in this film holds an incredible fan base. And putting that aside, as a finale of a decade-long buildup in the Marvel Universe, its topical heat is off the charts.


    But then, Li Wei?


    A football running back¡ªwhere did this gate-crasher come from, breaking into the party and effortlessly hijacking all the spotlight?


    Is this normal? Are we sure it¡¯s not a joke? Even if it were an April Fool¡¯s prank, wouldn¡¯t this go too far?


    Especially on social media, one photo caused a massive uproar¡ª


    A group of Marvel superheroes surrounding Li Wei, the scene resembling stars orbiting their sun, leaving Li Wei unquestionably in the spotlight as if the megastars themselves became mere props.


    Like Snow White and the seven dwarves.


    Unbelievably, hardcore ¡®Avengers¡¯ fans flooded Li Wei¡¯s social media, unleashing an onslaught of vitriol so shocking it broke boundaries and expectations.


    What they didn¡¯t realize was that Li Wei never personally manages his social media accounts. All that trash talk ultimately became nothing more than junk data, entirely incapable of hurting Li Wei.


    At the same time, the more hate, the hotter the fame.


    The attackers¡¯ flowing traffic pushed Li Wei to the top of trends, completely overshadowing the promotional buzz of ¡®Avengers 4.¡¯ What was supposed to be a moment for the movie turned into a prime opportunity for Li Wei¡¯s explosive publicity growth¡ªfull marks for going viral.


    Things are starting to deviate from the intended track.


    And it¡¯s not just happening on social media; traditional print media caught wind of it as well. Leading outlets like the ¡®New York Times¡¯ shined a spotlight on last night¡¯s entertainment scene.


    Li Wei, once again, became a headline keyword.


    The assumption was that with the NFL off-season, free agency opening, and the draft approaching, professional players might temporarily step out of the public eye.


    Who could¡¯ve predicted that Li Wei¡¯s exposure rate would skyrocket instead? Whether it¡¯s ¡®Saturday Night Live¡¯ or the ¡®Avengers 4¡¯ premiere, he effortlessly dominated attention. Amid this whirlwind craze, Louis Vuitton emerged as the biggest winner of the year so far¡ª


    Following Nike¡¯s lead, another bold risk-taker harvested an extraordinary reward as Li Wei¡¯s market value continued to climb!


    Amidst the loud clamor, the news of Li Wei and Kroenke chatting amicably at the ¡®Avengers 4¡¯ premiere lost its punch¡ª


    After all, Marvel superheroes wield endless charm, with all the attention pooling there.


    Moreover, Kroenke has always been discreet. Even at the premiere, his photo was almost absent from news coverage¡ªattending but effectively invisible.


    Yet, sharp-eyed insiders still noticed the interaction. Despite the lack of emphasis in reporting, industry experts keenly sensed a storm brewing.


    Kroenke, owner of the Los Angeles Rams.


    It¡¯s widely known that Kroenke rarely meddles in team matters. Precisely because of this, when Kroenke speaks, few can refuse.


    With the 2019 season about to begin, what kind of shake-up might occur if Kroenke is determined to bring in Li Wei?


    After all, the ¡®Cosmic Rams¡¯ are akin to a Galactic Battleship now, with a hundred reasons to recruit the league¡¯s hottest superstar.


    Of course, skeptics will say, ¡°Impossible! Li Wei¡¯s rookie contract still has two years left. How could the Kansas City Chiefs let him go?¡±


    But on the flip side, this is the Professional League¡ªif the size of the paycheck is big enough, anything is possible.


    Just visualize it: an offensive group with Goff and Li Wei, and a defensive group with Aaron Donald¡ªhaving the league¡¯s strongest offensive weapon and defensive pillar united under one roof. What kind of spectacle would that be?


    Gurley: I should just stay under the car.


    Rumors have quietly started circulating, and at this very moment, professionals realize that the off-season¡¯s battlefield of scheming has officially begun¡ª


    Everything commences with rumors surrounding the league¡¯s most high-profile superstar transfers.


    Forget about opening a social media account¡ªeven lifting a traditional newspaper, it¡¯s effortless to spot Li Wei¡¯s face splashed across the sports, entertainment, and even society sections.


    Knock knock.


    A rapping noise at the door, followed by Alex Smith¡¯s voice, ¡°Come in.¡±


    The door swung open, and a tall figure peeked inside. Without raising his head, Alex could sense an unmistakable hint of mirth in the voice, ¡°Hey, Alex.¡±


    Smith looked up, his lips curling into a grin. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be in San Francisco watching the game?¡±


    The visitor paused briefly. ¡°How¡¯d you know?¡±


    Smith flipped open the ¡®Los Angeles Times.¡¯ Turning it around, he displayed the page. ¡°It should¡¯ve been Warriors¡¯ victory taking the headlines, but over half the section was about someone being cheered at Oracle Arena.¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t overlook it even if I wanted to.¡±


    At the center of the sports section, a striking photo of Li Wei high-fiving Curry in celebration dominated the space, as if Li Wei were part of the Golden State Warriors.


    The visitor was indeed Li Wei.


    Li Wei flashed a smile. ¡°The atmosphere was truly amazing. It¡¯s different from our football games. The smaller venue lets you sit close enough to high-five players right from the front row. Maybe because the team¡¯s moving to San Francisco next season, Oakland is savoring these last games even more.¡±


    ¡°This year, the Warriors are unstoppable again¡ªstrong chance of defending their title.¡±


    Smith offered no mercy and quipped, ¡°After seeing you, Oakland fans wouldn¡¯t throw water bottles at you?¡±


    Li Wei shrugged lightly. ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯d like to, but they¡¯re afraid they might lose the fight. They¡¯re all on good behavior.¡±


    The banter drew hearty laughter from Smith¡ª


    The real story is that Warriors fans knew Li Wei and Curry were good friends. Earlier this year at the Super Bowl, Curry even traveled to Atlanta to show support. So when Curry invited Li Wei to Oracle Arena, fans greeted him with the highest honors, warmly welcoming his presence.


    Nonetheless, Li Wei didn¡¯t linger in Oakland; he promptly returned to Los Angeles.


    And now, seated on a sofa diagonally across from Smith, Li Wei closely observed Smith¡¯s heavily bandaged right leg.


    Like a Mummy.


    Li Wei turned his gaze toward Smith. ¡°So, when does rehab start?¡±

 Chapter 941: Life and Death Line

    Chapter 941: Life and Death Line


    On November 18, 2018, the Washington Redskins played at home against the visiting Houston Texans.


    At that time, the Washington Redskins had a season record of six wins and three losses, leading the National Conference East Division.


    The quarterback Alex Smith, who led the Kansas City Chiefs to the top of the Super Bowl the previous season, transferred to Washington amidst controversy and doubt. Meanwhile, Mahomes, left in Kansas City, needed to prove himself, and so did Smith, who had arrived in Washington¡ª


    He did.


    Smith persevered under pressure, demonstrating his brilliance. Even with the Redskins¡¯ roster incomplete, he played his role as an excellent leader.


    Without question, the Washington Redskins showcased strong competitiveness in the National Conference East Division. After consecutive victories over division rivals Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants, they held a leading edge in the playoff race.


    That game, the Washington Redskins were set to face the Houston Texans, who had the same season record of six wins and three losses, in a direct clash for a playoff spot.


    The game was highly contested and closely watched by many.


    However, no one could have expected that this match would be remembered for entirely different reasons.


    During a play, Smith was brutally sacked by Houston Texans¡¯ dual force Kareem Jackson and JJ-Watt. This joint tackle caused Smith¡¯s right tibia and fibula to suffer a spiral compound fracture.


    Simply put, his leg was broken.


    In that game, the Washington Redskins were forced to send in their backup quarterback. Tragically, the backup quarterback was also injured and had to leave the field. The team ultimately lost by a narrow margin of ¡°23:21.¡±


    Worse still, the Redskins¡¯ nightmare had only just begun. In the remaining games of the season, they managed only one victory and missed the playoffs; meanwhile, both the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles advanced out of the National Conference East Division, leaving behind Washington¡¯s devastating collapse.


    Yet nothing compared to the disaster Smith experienced.


    This fracture turned out to be far more severe than anticipated.


    After the first surgery, Smith¡¯s wound suffered multiple infections and complications. If the situation continued to worsen, the doctors would have no choice but to amputate.


    During the fight against infection, Smith developed sepsis. The doctors issued a critical condition notice: either amputation or risk to his life.


    Smith fought bitterly on the line between life and death. He underwent a total of seventeen surgeries, spending much of the time in a semi-comatose state. Visits from even his family were strictly limited, and he spent nearly two months in the intensive care unit before finally escaping danger.


    Li Wei still remembered the last time he spoke with Smith¡¯s wife, Elizabeth, over the phone, how Elizabeth broke down on the other end.


    ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know how to help him.¡±


    ¡°The doctor has to give him sedatives and painkillers to bring him back from the pain, only to tell him, ¡®You¡¯re infected again, we need surgery, and amputation might be necessary. These are your choices, what do you want to do?''¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s forced to fight for his life in a haze, half-awake, half-dreaming.¡±


    ¡°Rookie, I¡¯m scared, I¡¯m really, really scared.¡±


    Standing before death, they felt so small and helpless.


    Though Li Wei understood that injuries were inevitable in pro sports, he never imagined they would come so dangerously close to death.


    It was during that time that Felix barely avoided death and Annie unexpectedly passed away, leaving Li Wei deeply reflective.


    Those games, those battles, were no longer just simple competitions.


    Fortune smiled on Smith in the end. He survived the complications and sepsis, endured seventeen surgeries, and finally regained consciousness.


    However, at this very moment, seeing Smith in person, Li Wei still couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. A whirlwind of emotion surged deep in his throat.


    Even though so much time had passed, Smith¡¯s body and right leg remained unnaturally swollen. His right leg was encased in a contraption reminiscent of Iron Man, with layers of iron rings securing the plaster within. The entire leg¡¯s diameter exceeded eighty centimeters, resembling a cannon barrel.


    Sitting in a chair with difficulty, Smith¡¯s mechanical leg snarled viciously at any visitors, as though baring sharp teeth in mockery.


    Honestly, Li Wei couldn¡¯t imagine what Elizabeth had gone through, let alone what Smith had endured.


    Taking in a deep breath, Li Wei asked, ¡°So, when can you start rehabilitation?¡±


    At this moment, Smith, unshaven, had deep gray hollows under his eyes. Despite the smile tugging at his lips, he exuded a strange sharpness and hostility.


    This was a far cry from the captain Li Wei remembered¡ªalways affable and harmonious.


    Smith chuckled lightly, ¡°Beth sent you here, didn¡¯t she?¡±


    His first words were laced with mockery.


    Li Wei shrugged, ¡°Of course. If it weren¡¯t for Elizabeth, do you think I, such an important busybody, would find the time to visit a useless wreck like you? Captain, is that how you see me? After defending the Super Bowl title, I¡¯ve become arrogant like Brady and full of myself?¡±


    A string of jabs¡ªmocking, teasing, attacking¡ªeffortlessly rolling off his tongue.


    Smith struggled to respond.


    Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Smith eventually spoke, ¡°You know I didn¡¯t mean that.¡±


    Yet Li Wei didn¡¯t reply.


    Smith didn¡¯t hear a word back and had to open his eyes. He was greeted by Li Wei¡¯s smile, which left him stunned.


    Li Wei said, ¡°Captain, you¡¯re still so easy to fool. There¡¯s no sense of achievement. Elizabeth said you¡¯ve changed, drowning in depression with no way out. I was expecting more of a challenge from you. I haven¡¯t even warmed up, and you¡¯re already throwing in the towel. What does that make me?¡±


    Smith froze, letting out a powerless smirk before it quickly faded. ¡°A bad guy?¡±


    Li Wei seriously considered the remark. ¡°I¡¯ve always thought villains have more style than superheroes. Superheroes are too tied up in restrictions; villains seem to live more freely. So... thanks?¡±


    The last word hung with a slight upward inflection.


    Smith ultimately couldn¡¯t hold back. Li Wei was still Li Wei¡ªwitty, humorous, seemingly capable of solving any problem with ease.


    This time, though... it might prove too much.


    Smith¡¯s grin faded again as he glanced at his right leg. ¡°Rehabilitation? With that monstrosity? I look like a creature Frankenstein created, a monster. I might scare kids just by walking around.¡±


    Li Wei tilted his head. ¡°Hey, you know the Winter Soldier has a robotic arm, right?¡±


    Smith hadn¡¯t anticipated this angle at all, unsure how to respond, staring blankly at Li Wei.


    Li Wei shrugged lightly. ¡°Sorry, I attended the ¡®Avengers¡¯ premiere recently, so my head¡¯s full of superhero stuff.¡±


    The self-mockery, poking fun at his own celebrity appearances, caught Smith off-guard. He couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter.

 Chapter 942: 941 Reluctant at heart

    Chapter 942: 941 Reluctant at heart


    Laughter echoed in the chest cavity, the gloomy and oppressive mood brightened slightly.


    Smith looked at Li Wei, hesitated for a moment, ¡°So, how do you plan to convince me? Like you convinced Eric?¡±


    The Kansas City Chiefs all knew that Li Wei had a solid relationship with Berry, and it was under Li Wei¡¯s encouragement that Berry successfully returned to the field.


    Now, is it Smith¡¯s turn?


    Li Wei looked innocent. ¡°Why does everyone think I¡¯m some kind of persuader? If I were good at this, my career goals should have been in Washington.¡±


    After a bit of sarcasm, he changed his tone.


    ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t need to convince you at all. You¡¯ve already made up your mind, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    Li Wei met Smith¡¯s gaze, and Smith frowned in confusion.


    ¡°The doctor once said the best solution was amputation, because the infection was too severe. If you insisted on keeping the limb, even if you managed to overcome the crisis, the future would still bring you more pain than most people can imagine.¡±


    ¡°But you refused the doctor¡¯s advice.¡±


    Deep down, Smith still possessed a stubborn tenacity, a refusal to surrender. He clenched his teeth and fought back, and it was precisely this spirit that had helped him achieve amazing comebacks in last season¡¯s playoffs, bringing bursts of energy to turn the tide with the team. It was this same resilience that kept him holding onto the slimmest thread of life in the face of his complications, leaving himself a glimmer of hope.


    That¡¯s why Li Wei believed Smith already had his answer in his heart.


    With the complications completely gone and the condition finally stabilized, Smith fell into darkness. He became irritable and despondent, seemingly losing hope in life and rejecting all help. This caused his family to suffer as well, the difficulties far beyond anyone¡¯s imagination.


    But in Li Wei¡¯s eyes, this was a manifestation of defeat. It precisely proved Smith¡¯s unwillingness to give up, his inability to truly accept reality. He just wouldn¡¯t let go of his hope to return to the field. Yet the obstacles before him were so gigantic, so excruciating, so terrifying, that surviving the ordeal left him consumed by dread.


    This is human nature.


    Put Li Wei in the same situation, and he doubted he would do any better.


    Not everyone can be strong all the time, and not all struggles can become trivial just because they¡¯re faced with the positivity of motivational speeches.


    They¡¯re professional athletes, but before that, they¡¯re also ordinary people¡ªordinary people who can get hurt, feel fragile, and be fearful.


    Smith froze, pierced by Li Wei¡¯s words.


    They hit directly at the raw nerve¡ªthe instinctive reaction Smith had made while muddled under the effects of sedatives.


    And because it was instinctive, it was all the more genuine.


    Until the anesthesia wore off and he fully regained consciousness, only then did he realize the pit he was trapped in. Pain and despair overwhelmed his mind, dragging his soul into a deep abyss; when he confronted his own fear and cowardice, he began to loathe himself, and anger and restlessness became uncontrollable.


    He even avoided looking in the mirror, afraid of seeing a hideous face staring back at him.


    Smith averted his gaze, ¡°You misunderstood. No need to overanalyze it. I just don¡¯t want to use a cane, that¡¯s all. Having to use one for the rest of my life and being seen as a disabled person¡ªI¡¯d rather end it once and for all.¡±


    Li Wei hit a wall but didn¡¯t worry. Instead, he showed a smile.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s affirming words made Smith turn his head again in disbelief.


    He hadn¡¯t expected Li Wei to look so calm.


    ¡°You¡¯re speaking for yourself. I, as an outsider, have no grounds to refute it.¡±


    ¡°No one understands your situation better than you do. You are absolutely right.¡±


    ¡°In fact, you could choose to retire. Elizabeth would probably be ecstatic. She didn¡¯t bring me here to convince you to return to the field. She would likely hope very, very much that you take this opportunity to just retire outright.¡±


    ¡°You already have everything.¡±


    ¡°A championship ring, proving your skills on a new team, more than a decade of ups and downs in the league, and a self-contained career. If you retired now, it would be the perfect moment.¡±


    ¡°You could stay home with your kids, maybe get a commentary job, or simply enjoy retirement life like Peyton Manning. After years of relentless training, you absolutely deserve to indulge yourself a little.¡±


    ¡°For Elizabeth, this would be great news.¡±


    With an unhurried tone, Li Wei painted a picture of post-retirement life, and Smith found himself unexpectedly caught in a trance, zoning out during Li Wei¡¯s remarks.


    ¡°Look, just like Revis.¡±


    ¡°One day, he suddenly got tired of it, and resolutely turned his back and walked away.¡±


    Smith froze and looked at Li Wei, ¡°Did he say something to you?¡±


    During last season¡¯s offseason, Revis announced his retirement, bidding the league goodbye. It wasn¡¯t an earth-shattering headline, but still unexpected.


    In the 2017 season playoffs, Revis once again played the role of key player, proving through his actions that his skills hadn¡¯t waned. Such an experienced cornerback was still in demand in the league. Knowing Revis¡¯s reputation for being money-driven, if he wanted, he could have continued earning a year or two of salary in the league.


    Yet Revis chose not to.


    In the Kansas City Chiefs locker room, Revis didn¡¯t have many friends, leaving everyone unaware of the true reasons behind the legendary cornerback¡¯s decision.


    Could it be that Revis and Li Wei had a private connection?


    Under Smith¡¯s probing eyes, Li Wei shrugged lightly, ¡°He just said he was tired of it.¡±


    ¡°Injuries. Rehab. Games.¡±


    ¡°And then, repeat.¡±


    ¡°Injuries. Rehab. Games.¡±


    ¡°And having to constantly prove he was worth the paycheck, that he wasn¡¯t greedy, that he wasn¡¯t the money monster teams portrayed him as. He was just trying to claim what he deserved.¡±


    ¡°He was tired. So this time, he chose to walk away.¡±


    Smith paused, unable to believe his ears. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±


    Li Wei smiled and nodded slightly. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it.¡±


    ¡°You can too. Everyone can. One day, you just get tired of it all, leave the mess behind, turn around, and walk away for good.¡±


    ¡°Maybe office workers can¡¯t, because they still have livelihoods to sustain. But you can. You don¡¯t need to. You could leave right now.¡±


    ¡°Elizabeth would be very, very happy.¡±


    At the door of the hospital room, Elizabeth Barry stopped in her tracks. Her hands clenched into fists involuntarily, her heart nearly stopped beating¡ª


    She wanted Smith to retire.


    Yes, deep down, that¡¯s exactly how she felt.


    She had witnessed her husband struggle bitterly between life and death, waiting outside the operating room throughout seventeen surgeries, tossing and turning in the dead of night worrying that Smith might need an amputation or could disappear at any moment.


    The fear, the agony, the suffering¡ªit had exhausted her completely.


    If even she felt this way, then how much more so for Smith, who had gone through it all firsthand?


    Right now might be the perfect chance for Smith to bid farewell to football and embrace a new path in life. Could they perhaps find greater happiness?


    But Elizabeth couldn¡¯t bring herself to say it; she worried it might provoke Smith.


    Unexpectedly, Li Wei was the one to say it, causing Elizabeth¡¯s heart to wrench painfully, almost to the point of suffocation.


    Inside the hospital room, there was silence¡ªutter stillness with no sound at all.

 Chapter 943: 942 Mixed Flavors

    Chapter 943: 942 Mixed Flavors


    In the air, an utter silence pervaded.


    It wasn¡¯t absolute silence; you could still hear the sounds of machines, footsteps in the corridor, conversations next door, all those trivial noises flowing around. However, all of this only made the quiet in the hospital room even more pronounced, a kind of silence and stillness that clutched the heart and left one breathless.


    Until Smith broke the silence¡ª


    ¡°I¡¯m not a coward.¡±


    ¡°Choosing to retire doesn¡¯t mean weakness.¡± Li Wei nodded gently, ¡°Sometimes, choosing to let go or back down requires incredible courage, because you¡¯re saying goodbye to a career and dream you¡¯ve dedicated your life to, and letting go might be harder than holding on.¡±


    Smith stared blankly at Li Wei.


    Since the injury, everyone treated him like a fragile glass doll, with utmost care and patience, accommodating his every need, fearing that even a little criticism could cause him to collapse entirely. But such kindness made him feel suffocated and endlessly frustrated.


    Not Li Wei.


    There was no pampering but also no harshness, keeping a level relationship, conversing like friends, and the mixed emotions unknowingly settled down.


    Smith said, ¡°I thought you came to cheer me up, to get me back on my feet.¡±


    Li Wei didn¡¯t answer directly but laughed, ¡°Haha. Hahaha. Captain, am I so heartless? Can¡¯t I just come purely to see you?¡±


    Smith glanced awkwardly outside, trying to control himself, ¡°I¡¯m no longer your captain.¡±


    Li Wei nodded, ¡°True. We¡¯re not that close to talk about ¡®once a captain, always a captain,¡¯ right?¡±


    Smith immediately picked out the sarcasm in Li Wei¡¯s words, ¡°Ha. Ha. Ha.¡± He gave a dry laugh, indicating it wasn¡¯t funny at all.


    Li Wei¡¯s smile grew brighter, ¡°Cheering someone up doesn¡¯t always mean taking a single path. Facing life calmly, embracing the unknown bravely, and confronting difficulties serenely is also a positive attitude.¡±


    ¡°I just hope you can find happiness again, Captain.¡±


    Smith turned his head sharply to look at Li Wei, a sharpness appearing in his gaze.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t back down.


    ¡°Because I know it¡¯s difficult, even ten or a hundred times harder than I can imagine. You¡¯ve just survived a life-and-death ordeal, and even facing your current situation calmly is a challenge.¡±


    ¡°So, I just hope you¡¯re happy.¡±


    ¡°Life is too precious; we don¡¯t have time to wallow in self-pity and torment ourselves.¡±


    Smith was immersed in Li Wei¡¯s words, feeling a bit lost, with a bitter taste on his tongue, as tumultuous thoughts filled his mind.


    When he looked at Li Wei again, Smith had regained his composure, ¡°Is it because of Annie Galas?¡±


    Li Wei replied with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s because of Annie, and also because of you.¡±


    With a gentle exhale, it was clear that these matters were also not easy for Li Wei.


    ¡°Annie faced a battle with a predetermined outcome, she gave her all, she held nothing back, yet she still lost in the end.¡±


    ¡°And you, too, are facing a battle with unpredictable results, or rather, a fight that doctors believe has already been determined. You fought, you countered, and you escaped death¡¯s clutch.¡±


    ¡°So, whatever choice you make next, and whatever the future holds, you¡¯ve already won. I just hope you can find happiness.¡±


    Candidly, sincerely, yet finding a touch of strength in the vulnerability of the gaze.


    Under Li Wei¡¯s gaze, Smith felt somewhat embarrassed.


    Then, Li Wei¡¯s smile blossomed fully, ¡°Of course, if you ask me, I¡¯d still love to see you back on the field.¡±


    ¡°People always say that Alex Smith is too mediocre, too ordinary, completely without characteristics, but you know what? Those who say such things might end up breathless after running ten yards, with daily diets of fries, beer, and steak turning themselves into mounds of fat, without a clue of their own ignorance and foolishness.¡±


    ¡°Just look at how tragically the Washington Redskins ended their season.¡±


    ¡°Honestly, is there a tiny part of you that¡¯s relieved the team fell apart at the end of the season?¡±


    Smith couldn¡¯t believe his ears, ¡°Li Wei!¡±


    Li Wei raised his hands in surrender, ¡°Most importantly, I hope we can face off on the field, and then help Sherlock beat you personally.¡±


    Nonchalantly, Li Wei issued a challenge, catching Smith off guard once again¡ª


    How many times has that been now?


    But that¡¯s Li Wei, always catching people off guard, always breaking boundaries, inadvertently drawing his audience into his rhythm.


    That¡¯s why Li Wei could grow into a locker room leader and become the core soul of the Kansas City Chiefs.


    Smith imagined the scenario of standing opposite Li Wei and Mahomes, the Washington Redskins facing off against the Kansas City Chiefs, and it couldn¡¯t help but set his blood boiling.


    The emotion, so turbulent and passionate, almost scalded his chest, forcing Smith to hurriedly control himself and change the subject.


    ¡°Just between us, after the anesthesia wore off, I checked the team¡¯s record, and I¡¯m somewhat relieved we didn¡¯t see a Keenum scenario.¡±


    Last season, after Minnesota Vikings¡¯ quarterback Sam Bradford got injured, the unknown quarterback Keenum seized the opportunity to take over the team and lead them all the way into the National Conference finals.


    It turned out, that even the always straightforward Smith has his own scars¡ª


    After all, he¡¯s gone through it once with the San Francisco 49ers, having missed games due to a concussion and then completely losing his starting job.


    Li Wei lowered his voice for a light-hearted jab, ¡°Keenum is no longer in fashion; the League is all about Lamar Jackson now.¡±


    Smith let out a gentle sigh, ¡°I also wonder what¡¯s next for Joe Flacco.¡±


    In the Baltimore Ravens, given Li Wei¡¯s understanding of Harbaugh, Flacco probably won¡¯t have a chance, and he might be traded to any team and then start anew.


    Although the League leans toward young players, a seasoned veteran quarterback like Flacco should still be in demand, unlikely to be without work.


    Smith glanced at Li Wei, showing a bitter smile, and made a self-mocking remark, ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought I¡¯d one day be compared to Flacco?¡±


    Li Wei was puzzled.


    Smith shrugged gently, ¡°A championship ring seems to earn some reputation in the League, making you not as obscure as an unknown, yet it¡¯s hard to pinpoint any standout features.¡±


    ¡°And as the age and injuries pile up, one might have to wander between different teams, just wishing for a job.¡±


    Li Wei suddenly understood, ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡±


    ¡°At least, your half-season stint with Washington has already proven your capability unless you chose to retire now, then perhaps your demonstration record might seem insufficient; otherwise, you still have the chance to prove yourself.¡±


    Smith squinted his eyes at Li Wei for a moment, ¡°So you¡¯re still trying to persuade me to return to the field, right?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Shh, don¡¯t let Elizabeth hear.¡±


    Smith didn¡¯t anticipate that response and burst out laughing.


    Elizabeth stood at the door, listening to Smith¡¯s long-lost hearty laughter, momentarily stunned.

 Chapter 944: 943 Turbulent Times

    Chapter 944: 943 Turbulent Times


    The offseason slowly unfolded. Even before the free market officially opened, team managers and agents had already been bustling about, overwhelmed with work.


    There¡¯s no doubt that this year will be incredibly busy, especially after the Kansas City Chiefs defended their title¡ª


    Everyone wants to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs!


    What¡¯s more, this offseason already carries a whiff of brewing storms and instability, with the League seemingly preparing for seismic shifts.


    Rumors began spreading throughout the League immediately after the Super Bowl ended.


    The last remaining member of the Seattle Seahawks¡¯ ¡°Bombing Corps,¡± safety Earl Thomas, was reported to be a ¡°locker room bomb.¡± He had been stirring trouble all year long starting from last year¡¯s offseason. After enduring yet another season, head coach Carroll finally hit his limit, and both sides decided to part ways.


    This also marked the disappearance of the once-dominating Bombing Corps.


    After delivering a phenomenal performance during the 2017 season and earning the nickname ¡°Saint Nick,¡± quarterback Foles sat obediently on the bench in the 2018 season and cleaned up Wentz¡¯s mess once again. Although not as dazzling as the prior season, he still managed to lead the Philadelphia Eagles into the division stage with a clutch performance.


    However...


    The Philadelphia Eagles still placed their hopes in Wentz.


    Disheartened, Foles eventually put away his fantasies and submitted a trade request to the team, ready to test the free market.


    What didn¡¯t occur in last year¡¯s offseason inevitably happened this year.


    Similarly testing the waters was Baltimore Ravens veteran quarterback Flacco. Harbaugh had long expressed his commitment to building around Jackson as the starting quarterback. Flacco, who once made significant contributions to the team, was left no choice but to seek work elsewhere, bearing witness yet again to the ruthlessness of the professional arena.


    The truly brutal story, however, belonged to Le¡¯Veon Bell.


    After a full season of sitting out, the relationship between this Pittsburgh Steelers star running back and the team was irreparably fractured. The Steelers were quick to hang a ¡°for sale¡± sign and wait for interested suitors.


    Bell, in turn, began gearing up, eager to join a team and prove himself.


    There¡¯s no doubt that Bell was this year¡¯s most unpredictable factor in the free market.


    On one hand, Li Wei¡¯s meteoric rise subtly revived the market value of running backs, and Bell remains one of the most talented running backs in the League.


    On the other hand, a year away from the field left questions about Bell¡¯s form and abilities. Coupled with his reputation as a troublemaker, notorious for contract disputes and drama far surpassing that of the money-hungry Revis, there were lingering concerns about whether Bell might become a locker room bomb after signing.


    Judging from the mounting public chatter, it seemed the Pittsburgh Steelers were looking to scapegoat Bell for their locker room troubles, using his contract disputes as a narrative for destabilizing the team¡¯s atmosphere.


    Now, Bell wasn¡¯t having it¡ª


    Why should I take the blame?


    With bridges already burned between Bell and the team, he went all-out.


    ¡°The real cancer in the locker room is Roethlisberger!¡±


    Boom, boom, boom!


    A single revelation triggered waves of shock throughout the League.


    It all made sense because Bell wasn¡¯t the first ¡°victim.¡±


    In the 2018 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers bore immense pressure, leading to widespread criticism of Tomlin¡¯s decisions. Wide receiver Antonio Brown stood up and accused certain teammates of shirking responsibilities during practice, acting distracted in meetings, and undermining the locker room¡¯s atmosphere¡ªbut no one dared to speak out.


    All fingers pointed toward quarterback Roethlisberger.


    In this scenario, Roethlisberger maintained a ¡°humble and honest¡± image. Instead of arguing back, he defended Brown, admitted he needed to reflect on himself, and promised to become a better leader¡ªwords that left Brown feeling like Zhu Bajie looking into a mirror¡ª


    Blamed from all sides.


    Throughout the season, Brown and Roethlisberger experienced multiple conflicts, with Brown consistently on the losing side. By season¡¯s end, allegations about a locker room helmet incident emerged, whereby Brown reportedly slammed his own helmet in anger, only for it to bounce and hit Roethlisberger, escalating tensions.


    Still, the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room kept a tight lid on matters.


    All evidence suggested Brown, the arrogant wide receiver, was the root cause of trouble.


    Early this year, before the Super Bowl, Brown went completely off the rails. Without consulting the team, he announced intentions to leave and issued a departure manifesto, making himself the target of widespread criticism.


    Because, publicly, the Pittsburgh Steelers appeared to be ¡°exhausting every effort¡± to retain their top wide receiver, seemingly tolerating Brown¡¯s unruly behavior from every angle.


    Until Bell spoke up.


    Only then did people realize why all the blame seemed to fall elsewhere¡ª


    Bell and Brown were cast as the guilty figures in breaking the Pittsburgh Steelers¡¯ locker room unity, akin to the gaslit victims in a psychological game, while quarterback Roethlisberger remained perfectly invisible.


    The situation exploded.


    In the ensuing uproar, the Pittsburgh Steelers found themselves shamefully thrust into the spotlight of the offseason in the worst possible way.


    Clearly, the once-golden trio of the Steelers had irreversibly fallen apart, never to reconcile; yet, the fate of those three individuals remained unknown. What would the 2019 season bring?


    Last offseason, quarterbacks were indisputably the focal point:


    Rodgers¡¯ extension with the Green Bay Packers, the decisions surrounding Wentz and Foles, Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ choice between Smith and Mahomes, and the Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars¡¯ quarterback strategies.


    And so on.


    This offseason, quarterback narratives receded slightly, while the impending futures of other top-tier players ignited the fire earlier than expected.


    The Green Bay Packers¡¯ wide receiver Randall Cobb and linebacker Clay Matthews, New England Patriots¡¯ wide receiver Amendola and defensive tackle Flor, New Orleans Saints¡¯ running back Ingram, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Bortles¡ªthe list goes on.


    All of these players entered free agency upon their contracts expiring. Whether they re-sign or transfer, they are poised to be the marquee attractions in this year¡¯s free market, potentially reshaping next season¡¯s League landscape.


    However!


    No one anticipated the biggest bombshell to drop on the very first day of the free market.


    The New York Giants and Cleveland Browns finalized a massive trade involving four players and two draft picks¡ªa blockbuster deal!


    Among those players was none other than Odell Beckham Jr.


    The entire League was floored.


    Last season, the New York Giants were a laughingstock over quarterback Little Manning¡¯s situation. This season, they audaciously traded away their biggest star. The once-future of the League, Odell Beckham Jr., now headed to Cleveland.


    This???!


    Odell Beckham Jr., still under contract, was traded away by the New York Giants. What on earth happened? The first big move of the offseason brought nothing but shock.


    And yet, this was merely the tip of the iceberg.

 Chapter 945: 944 Scattered to the Ends of the Earth

    Chapter 945: 944 Scattered to the Ends of the Earth


    Year after year, there¡¯s always bombshell news, always great drama.


    The NFL offseason never disappoints, and this year is no exception.


    Little Beckham, the league¡¯s top rising star outside the quarterback position in recent years, had become the face of the new generation before Li Wei¡¯s meteoric rise. Off the field, he was drowning in endorsement deals, and for the New York Giants, he was their box office golden boy. Yet no one expected it¡ª


    The transfer happened without any warning.


    Reason?


    The rumor mill churned endlessly, but the most credible one suggested that the New York Giants were ready to burn it all down and rebuild from scratch, aiming to select young talent from the draft and capitalize on rookie contracts to build a competitive team.


    Clearing out Little Beckham was, on one hand, to free up cap space, and on the other hand, to clean up the locker room and prepare for the rebuild.


    And the most absurd and laughable part? Little Manning stayed.


    Everything points to Little Manning preparing to play the babysitter role, nurturing young quarterbacks for the New York Giants. Little Manning, like an overworked cow, devoted himself tirelessly¡ªeven at the twilight of his career, he was burning out the last of his energy for the Giants.


    In this situation, you¡¯re not sure whether to pity him or admire him.


    Little Beckham¡¯s transfer was merely the opening act of offseason chaos.


    Flacco moved to the Denver Broncos, officially saying goodbye to the Baltimore Ravens.


    The baffling part? The Denver Broncos had only acquired ¡°Cinderella¡± Keenum from the Minnesota Vikings last season, yet after just one year, they traded Keenum to the Washington Redskins and brought in Flacco¡ª


    Since Big Manning¡¯s retirement, Denver Broncos have been struggling with their quarterback woes.


    Brown finally got what he wanted, leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers for the Oakland Raiders. The trade only cost a third-round and a fourth-round pick in the 2019 draft. Compared to Brown¡¯s worth, it was a major underdeal.


    And the recipient was the Oakland Raiders.


    Clearly, Pittsburgh Steelers were eager to offload this troublemaker as soon as possible.


    Looking back at last offseason, Brown was rallying for the Pittsburgh Steelers while calling out Bell in a heartfelt manner, presenting himself as the image of a loyal teammate. It feels like an era ago.


    Similarly, Bell wasn¡¯t spared either.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers swiftly cut ties with Bell, finalizing a deal with the New York Jets. Bell fulfilled his dream of signing a lucrative contract¡ª


    Four years, 52.5 million US dollars, with 35 million guaranteed.


    The 13 million annual salary made Bell the league¡¯s second-highest-paid running back, trailing only the Los Angeles Rams¡¯ Gurley.


    Bell was fired up and raring to go, ready to return to the field and showcase his abilities. He could hardly wait to step onto the New York stage and prove himself.


    The Steelers¡¯ iconic trio that once dominated the league eventually dispersed, leaving Roethlisberger as the sole figure holding onto the Steel Curtain.


    But alas, Roethlisberger was no longer that carefree young star. Much like the demise of Seattle Seahawks¡¯ ¡°Bombing Corps,¡± the Pittsburgh Steelers could never regain their aura of dominance. Later, after Seahawks head coach Carroll resigned and Steelers quarterback Roethlisberger retired, it marked the end of an era.


    Years later, reflecting on the 2017 and 2018 seasons, Bell said:


    ¡°I was pretty foolish.¡±


    During an interview, Bell revealed that negotiations between him and the Steelers for the 2018 offseason had nearly reached an agreement, with guaranteed money being the sole sticking point.


    Bell wanted a deal that surpassed Gurley¡¯s to assert his status, but the Steelers refused. Bell felt the Steelers lacked sincerity, leading to a stalemate.


    ¡°I consulted Li Wei for advice at the time. Li Wei thought I should sign and not let it drag out over a slight difference in guarantees¡ªit would be wiser to take the long view. I accused Li Wei of being timid and hung up the phone.¡±


    Social media had leaked a contract and accused Bell of being arrogant, turning down the Steelers. But the truth was far from that; the salary offered by the Steelers was much lower than the rumors on social media. Regardless, Bell¡¯s focus was solely on the guaranteed money.


    After all, a salary is just a number¡ªit¡¯s the guaranteed money that goes straight into your pocket.


    ¡°Looking back now, Li Wei was right.¡±


    ¡°Missing an entire year at my peak over a million or two in guarantees¡ªthat was fatal.¡±


    ¡°Li Wei also mentioned the coaching factor¡ªit¡¯s different for quarterbacks and running backs alike. At the time, I thought Li Wei was talking nonsense, but evidently, I was wrong.¡±


    But it was too late.


    Of course, all of this was hindsight. Just as Bell couldn¡¯t foresee the future, neither could the Steelers or Roethlisberger.


    Later, leaked reports from the Steelers¡¯ locker room revealed that Roethlisberger had long been a toxic presence¡ªa tyrannical and lazy figure who, backed by team executives, operated without restraint.


    The Steelers¡¯ downfall certainly wasn¡¯t solely due to Bell.


    Additionally, Foles left the Philadelphia Eagles for the Jacksonville Jaguars, while the Jaguars¡¯ former quarterback Bortles headed to the Los Angeles Rams as a backup for Goff. This quarterback couldn¡¯t maintain his starting role in the end.


    So much happening, so much chaos.


    In the midst of this frenzy, reigning champions Kansas City Chiefs made moves too. Last season¡¯s starting linebacker Dee Ford was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2020 draft.


    This was just the beginning as the free market got underway¡ªa series of bombshells, and the shifting tides of the 2019 season already loomed with anticipation.


    And everyone knew that the challenges facing Kansas City Chiefs this year would increase exponentially¡ª


    Though the Chiefs cashed in on rookie advantages and built a young squad, after their championship run, the players¡¯ mentalities would inevitably shift. With the rigid salary cap looming, the front office now faced the daunting task of deciding how to renew contracts, restructure finances, and manage the salary cap.


    It¡¯s not just about managing 53 players on a football team¡ªeven in the NBA, with its five-player starting lineup and a locker room of eleven, every individual has their own agenda. So the reigning champions¡¯ locker-room issues are easy to imagine.


    The human heart is always the most unpredictable and unfathomable variable.


    The departure of starting linebacker Ford is merely the crack in the dam; rumors of a meeting between Kroenke and Li Wei, which had sparked heated speculation, were just subtle signs of the turbulent undercurrents.


    The excitement of the offseason is just beginning.


    ¡°Rookie...¡±


    ¡°Rookie!¡±


    From afar to near, the calls came riding the wind, carrying irrepressible joy and excitement, finally crashing into the villa¡¯s poolside living room next door. Upon seeing the figure inside, the caller skidded to a brief halt.


    ¡°Hey, Justin, Eric.¡±

 Chapter 946: 945 go their separate ways

    Chapter 946: 945 go their separate ways


    Full-speed sprint, emergency brake¡ªMahomes hurriedly rearranged his expression, forcibly suppressing his excitement and joy, and politely greeted them.


    He had thought Li Wei was watching game footage alone, but unexpectedly, Houston and Berry were also there. He quickly swallowed the words at the tip of his tongue.


    Taking a deep breath, ¡°Are you guys planning to join the rookie training camp too? Be prepared mentally because this year¡¯s rookies are ready to strike big.¡±


    At this moment, they were not in Kansas City but gathered in the scenic Miami, where the boundless orange-red sunset painted the blue ocean into a stunning shade of gold. Even the breeze tasted sweet.


    Houston noticed Mahomes¡¯ abrupt halt but didn¡¯t mind or expose it. Instead, he followed Mahomes¡¯ topic seamlessly.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard about it¡ªthis year JJ and Aron are both planning to attend your training camp? Our rookies are no joke; they go big from the start.¡±


    Li Wei spread his hands, his expression full of helplessness. ¡°I¡¯ve already turned them down. If both show up, the training camp will immediately turn into a living hell. Yet, they came uninvited and insisted on crashing here regardless.¡±


    ¡°Sigh, I¡¯ve got a headache now.¡±


    This offseason, Li Wei was planning on going self-sufficient by organizing his own training camp, conducting targeted training to prepare for the new season.


    But unexpectedly, rumors spread, and they came flocking¡ª


    The Watt brothers, all three, heard that TJ Watt was already sharpening his skills at home in preparation for a head-to-head match with Li Wei on the training grounds.


    Bell also volunteered himself. After a year off the field, he was desperate for high-intensity training to raise his game because he knew the entire league was watching him.


    Donald even went straight to Li Wei¡¯s villa with his luggage, skipping any accommodations and occupying the guest room without hesitation.


    Additionally, within the Kansas City Chiefs, a group of sophomores and juniors led by Chris Jones flooded Li Wei with inquiries about participating.


    Something seemed slightly off.


    Originally, Li Wei had planned a small-scale training camp for seven to ten participants, focusing less on intensity or strength training and more on resilience and endurance. He wanted to make full use of Miami¡¯s geographical setting with projects on the beach, in the sea, and through forests to enhance adaptability to environmental challenges.


    Reason one: The extreme weather during the American League Finals. Clearly, they were unprepared, as everyone was utterly drained by the time overtime hit.


    Reason two: Li Wei himself had reached a bottleneck in his training. Further speed or strength progress showed no apparent effects, so he aimed to unlock his physical potential, stimulate growth, and find a breakthrough.


    From outsiders¡¯ perspectives, Li Wei had topped the championship podium for three consecutive seasons, from NCAA to NFL. He was already someone the league had to look up to, seemingly able to step down from his relentless growth.


    But Li Wei thought differently.


    If Li Wei had to bear Annie¡¯s dreams and keep moving forward to fight; if he had to face challenges like Berry and Smith and seek breakthroughs, he had no choice but to relentlessly challenge himself.


    After an intimate discussion with Coach Burns, Li Wei consulted his private training coach, Tony Villani, for an in-depth analysis of his physical condition, eventually crafting a detailed and unique training plan.


    The result?


    Now, Li Wei¡¯s small-scale training camp had grown to include twenty participants. Watt and Donald outright abandoned their own camp plans and crowded into Li Wei¡¯s, leaving Li Wei feeling both exasperated and amused.


    News spread from one to ten, then to a hundred.


    Half the league probably knew by now.


    Once, people joked that Li Wei was Goodell¡¯s lost illegitimate child as the league supported him, though no genuine pro players liked him.


    And now?


    Things clearly took off in an entirely different direction.


    Berry chuckled heartily, ¡°It¡¯s just these young guys have too much energy and nowhere to spend it. Start charging fees¡ªclear-cut charges¡ªand see how they react.¡±


    Houston added, ¡°JJ and Aron would be the first to obediently pay up, and Patrick too. Rope in Travis, and the problem solves itself. The rest would all fall in line.¡±


    Imagining the scenario, everyone burst into laughter.


    But Houston and Berry didn¡¯t linger for long. After some idle chatter, they both left one after the other.


    Mahomes, bewildered, muttered, ¡°Weren¡¯t they coming here for the training camp?¡±


    Li Wei smiled. ¡°Their offseason training is focused on recovery and conditioning. Ours focuses on strengthening and improving¡ªit¡¯s naturally different.¡±


    ¡°They came to say goodbye.¡±


    One sentence stunned Mahomes, causing him to exclaim in surprise.


    ¡°The earliest could be the day after tomorrow; the latest by next Monday, the official announcement will be out.¡±


    ¡°Justin wanted us to hear it directly before learning it through the media or official press release. Eric felt the same way.¡±


    In just two short sentences, so much emotion was packed within.


    Mahomes stood there in disappointment, speechless. ¡°But why? I thought...¡±


    His words were abruptly cut off.


    Then, Mahomes¡¯ shoulders slumped slightly.


    ¡°I know, nothing is eternal in the professional league. Transfers are as normal as anything else. Ultimately, it¡¯s just a job. But I thought at least some things were special¡ªthey¡¯re our captains, aren¡¯t they?¡±


    Li Wei remained silent.


    Mahomes raised his gaze toward Li Wei only to find him gripping his teacup in contemplation. ¡°Rookies?¡±


    Li Wei snapped out of it. ¡°Oh, sorry, got lost in thought.¡±


    ¡°Last season, we bid farewell to Alex. I thought I was beginning to adapt to the rhythm of professional leagues¡ªwe tried our best to stay objective. After all, separations aren¡¯t always forever. When we meet again on the field next time, it¡¯s still a reunion.¡±


    ¡°But evidently...¡±


    Li Wei exhaled deeply. It was still hard.


    And moreover, the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ defensive group¡¯s two captains faced very different outcomes.


    Houston¡¯s contract expired this offseason, and he intended to sit down with the Kansas City Chiefs to negotiate an extension. He was even willing to restructure his salary, hoping to remain part of the team and their bid for a three-peat championship.


    However, team manager Veach didn¡¯t see things the same way. In the past season, Houston¡¯s performance had significantly declined, leaving him in the playoffs running on fumes. The Kansas City Chiefs had no plans to renew his contract¡ªthey were ready to move forward.


    The negotiations were anything but smooth, even ugly.


    Houston didn¡¯t deny it; he felt humiliated and underestimated. He was eager to continue fighting and prove Veach¡¯s judgment wrong.


    In some ways, Houston was right. His search for a new team went exceptionally well, as he had already finalized negotiations with the Indianapolis Colts.


    What¡¯s left is simply the medical checks and signing. The official news should be coming soon¡ªHouston was ready to continue proving himself.


    If Houston still had opportunities to speak up, then Berry¡¯s situation was drastically different¡ªa completely opposite one.


    Berry was about to be released by the team.

 Chapter 947: Lets talk business

    Chapter 947: Let¡¯s talk business


    Eric Berry, thirty-one years old, selected by the Kansas City Chiefs as the fifth overall pick in the first round of the 2010 draft, gradually grew into the captain of the defensive group at Arrowhead Stadium.


    However, after nearly two years of prolonged injury struggles, although Berry finally returned to the field this season, he could never regain his peak form.


    In the AFC Championship overtime, Berry intercepted Brady, staging a triumphant comeback and laying the critical foundation for Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ final counterattack¡ª


    This was his last moment of brilliance.


    But unfortunately, this brief spark was not enough to light up his future.


    Berry and the Kansas City Chiefs are still under contract. If by March 13, when the free agency market opens, the two sides continue to uphold their agreement, Berry¡¯s salary for the 2019 and 2020 seasons will be fully guaranteed. To avoid this, the Kansas City Chiefs decided to release Berry.


    In other words, terminate the agreement.


    The verdict is brutally harsh and coldhearted. The Kansas City Chiefs no longer believe Berry can return to his peak, or even reach the league¡¯s average standard. Over the past two seasons, the Chiefs have patiently waited and even offered Berry opportunities in this year¡¯s playoffs, but it still wasn¡¯t enough.


    And so, Berry became unemployed.


    The two captains of the Kansas City Chiefs¡¯ defensive group both departed the team during this offseason in such a disheartening manner, again revealing the cold and ruthless nature of professional leagues.


    Viewed this way, Revis clearly understood the workings of the league, so he gracefully turned and left before being pushed out.


    Mahomes¡¯ mood was somewhat heavy, ¡°So, what will happen to Eric next?¡±


    Li Wei took a deep breath, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Eric said he doesn¡¯t plan to give up and won¡¯t give up. He will still try to reach out to different teams and see if he can find job opportunities.¡±


    ¡°Meanwhile, he will continue training to maintain his physical fitness and competitive state. He believes he can still perform above the league average.¡±


    The words faltered here, and Li Wei didn¡¯t continue, but Mahomes could sense the turning point that followed¡ª


    However, the decision is no longer in Berry¡¯s hands. He needs to convince other coaches or team managers that he can still shine on the field.


    This is not easy.


    Mahomes couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°So, two years, a long two years, and this is Eric¡¯s final treatment?¡±


    ¡°Sherlock...¡± Li Wei called softly.


    Mahomes looked up.


    Li Wei gently shook his head, ¡°We shouldn¡¯t think of it that way.¡±


    Mahomes, ¡°But...¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°I understand what you mean. We are all grieving for Eric. But you know, and I know, Eric himself knows full well that when he chose to keep fighting and striving, there were no guarantees.¡±


    ¡°We all know that he might never return to the field, or perhaps, after returning, he might quickly be discarded by the professional league again, like now.¡±


    ¡°Yet, he still chose persistence. Just like Annie Galas, facing a battle with a foregone conclusion. Everyone said they should give up, everyone pompously declared, ¡®I can already see your outcome,¡¯ yet they continued to fight until the very last moment, burning their lives in the process.¡±


    ¡°Their perseverance and spirit make those judgmental spectators look ridiculous.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t forget Annie because of her ending. On the contrary, she made me realize that we don¡¯t fight just for victory or championships.¡±


    ¡°Similarly, I won¡¯t pity Eric because of his situation. In fact, Eric had his moments. He yearned to stand on the Super Bowl stage and fight alongside everyone. He longed to use his strength to be part of the team, then face the outcomes boldly, whether it was victory or defeat.¡±


    ¡°He achieved that.¡±


    ¡°So, no matter what happens next, he is the winner of his own life.¡±


    Sighs of admiration, helplessness, bitterness, sadness.


    Indeed, this is the truth. Not only in professional leagues, but reality is also much the same. However, life encompasses more than success and failure; there are many precious things too.


    At least for Berry, this journey left him without regrets.


    If back then, he had given up, missed two consecutive Super Bowls, and passed up the chance to intercept Brady in overtime of the AFC Championship, only to sit at home watching the games on TV and imagining all the possibilities¡ªthat would have been the real tragedy.


    Mahomes pondered deeply before heavily nodding, ¡°What he needs isn¡¯t pity, but applause, right?¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s smile lifted again, ¡°Who knows, maybe we¡¯ll meet again. After all, Eric doesn¡¯t plan to give up and leave, does he?¡±


    Just like Coach Burns and Clark.


    Back then, they thought Clark¡¯s football career was over, that perhaps they would never cross paths again, or maybe it would be like a Hollywood movie where years later, they reunite and Clark has become a pot-bellied real estate agent showing Li Wei potential properties.


    But unexpectedly, the reunion came so quickly, and it was still within the world of football, where they stood side by side and fought for their dreams.


    Life is full of challenges, but also surprises.


    One can choose to despair and blame fate, or believe in dreams and focus on themselves.


    The reasoning isn¡¯t difficult; the challenge lies in maintaining clarity amidst personal struggles.


    Mahomes stretched and exhaled a long breath, ¡°I thought after experiencing it once last year, this year would be easier.¡±


    Li Wei responded with a smile, ¡°Not becoming numb or taking things for granted¡ªthat¡¯s a good sign. After all, we¡¯re partners fighting side by side.¡±


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the reason for your excitement when you rushed in earlier?¡±


    Mahomes was startled, ¡°Is it that obvious?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Didn¡¯t you notice how quickly Justin and Eric left?¡±


    Mahomes chuckled awkwardly, ¡°Looks like I haven¡¯t mastered the art yet.¡±


    After speaking, his smile froze briefly, and Mahomes hesitated, ¡°But now it seems inappropriate. Thankfully, I didn¡¯t mention it earlier.¡±


    Li Wei raised an eyebrow, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? The team approached you about a contract renewal?¡±


    Mahomes¡¯ eyes widened, ¡°How did you know?¡±


    The words slipped out before he realized he had completely spilled the secret. Realizing his mistake, he quickly covered his mouth, his eyes filled with a panicked ¡°Oops.¡±


    Li Wei burst into laughter.


    ¡°We¡¯re discussing the departure of two team captains. Clearly, the team is reorganizing and planning, and then you come in looking guilty and uneasy, as if the team manager let them go because of you. Doesn¡¯t the answer become obvious?¡±


    Mahomes chuckled awkwardly and scratched his head. He was still young and couldn¡¯t keep things to himself.


    From another perspective, this was proof of his simplicity, his lack of guile, and his pure heart.


    In the NFL, it¡¯s rare for teams to discuss contract renewals for second- or third-year players, particularly in the case of long-term contracts.


    The reason is simple¡ªstretching the timeline increases unforeseeable factors such as injuries, form, and development curves, and teams don¡¯t want to take risks.


    However, exceptions occasionally occur.


    After all, the league isn¡¯t short of truly smart managers, like Veach.

 Chapter 948: 947 A Risky Move

    Chapter 948: 947 A Risky Move


    In 2012, during the NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins made a massive trade with the St. Louis Rams, giving up their first-round picks for the next three years and a second-round pick that year to acquire the second overall top pick and gamble everything on selecting Robert Griffin III, using the future of the team to secure this cornerstone quarterback.


    This move remains one of the best cautionary tales in NFL Draft history.


    On one hand, Griffin III suffered injuries. Despite showcasing exceptional performance in his first two seasons, making it seem like Washington had found its dynasty cornerstone, Griffin III quickly burned out like a meteor, leaving the Redskins wounded and diminished.


    On the other hand, the Redskins bet their team¡¯s future for three years. Whether Griffin III was worth it or not, it was a risky gamble. Even if Griffin III had stayed injury-free, forfeiting three years of first-round picks proved to be a critical weakness.


    Every experience is also a lesson¡ª


    Don¡¯t sacrifice your team¡¯s future lightly. In the world of football, although quarterbacks are incredibly important, it is a team sport, and building a complete team cannot be narrowly focused on just one position.


    For this reason, even though NFL teams have increasingly prioritized young talent, including identifying potential stars among rookie and sophomore players, the league as a whole still shuns risk. Teams often need more time to observe before deciding whether to make their move.


    Thus, over the years, rookie players are typically considered for contract negotiations only after their four-year rookie contracts end. Only an exceptionally small number of third-year players garner enough attention to be offered early renewal, becoming genuine cornerstones for their teams.


    As for second-year players?


    That¡¯s almost unheard of.


    However, there are exceptions to every rule. General managers shouldn¡¯t always follow conventions but rather evaluate situations on a case-by-case basis.


    Take the 2017 NFL Draft, for instance, when the Kansas City Chiefs made one of the most successful and exciting draft moves in history.


    Now, Veach is making moves again¡ª


    Extending Mahomes¡¯ contract.


    In the eyes of outsiders, Mahomes is merely a second-year player with only one full season. Objectively speaking, Mahomes is still developing. His high interception numbers suggest his decision-making in critical moments needs refinement.


    Of course, Mahomes¡¯ exceptional talent is undeniable. This year, finishing second only to Li Wei in the MVP voting and leading the team to a second consecutive championship as the starting quarterback in his debut season is testament enough to Mahomes¡¯ value.


    Extension?


    Absolutely.


    But an ordinary general manager might hold off just a bit, watching and waiting carefully instead of revealing their eagerness to the quarterback¡¯s agent prematurely. Otherwise, those sharks won¡¯t let go easily¡ªthey¡¯d tear off a hefty piece of the team¡¯s flesh first.


    Veach, however, doesn¡¯t believe in that.


    The 2018 season has just ended, and Veach has already prioritized his offseason plans, clearly placing Mahomes¡¯ extension at the top of the list.


    So, is Veach¡¯s decision a foolish gamble or a wise strategy?


    Mahomes himself was caught completely off guard, utterly unprepared for the career turning point arriving at the end of his second year.


    This was something Mahomes never imagined.


    He was eager to share his joy and exchange thoughts.


    After speaking with Veach on the phone, the first person Mahomes thought of was Li Wei. He sprinted over the short villa fence, ran straight to the hall of the neighboring house, and suddenly found the three team captains gathered there. Unable to react, he skidded to a halt.


    After the whirlwind of excitement, joy, and happiness began to settle slightly.


    Mahomes scratched his head and grinned sheepishly. ¡°The general manager just called me, and I was startled, thinking I might¡¯ve broken some team rules. But it turned out Mr. Veach wanted to discuss my contract renewal, asking if I¡¯d like to sign a long-term deal with the team.¡±


    ¡°God, oh God, God, God.¡±


    ¡°I can hardly believe this has actually happened.¡±


    Watching Mahomes bounce up and down on the sofa, Li Wei could genuinely feel that explosion of joy¡ªa simple kind of happiness.


    Li Wei¡¯s lips curled upward as well. ¡°Did you talk to your agent yet?¡±


    Mahomes shook his head. ¡°No, my first reaction was to come and tell you. Should I tell my agent? What should I do?¡±


    Li Wei burst into laughter. ¡°Of course. You should let him know. This is something your agent should handle with the team. We¡¯re not professional negotiators, and the process could become messy and ugly.¡±


    ¡°What I mean is, the specifics of the negotiation and haggling should be left to him. But if the team is willing to sit down and have an honest discussion, you should also show sincerity and engage in dialogue. After all, this is a long-term deal¡ªa chance for mutual benefit between both sides, more complex and important than a mere contract.¡±


    Mahomes nodded repeatedly, agreeing enthusiastically.


    ¡°Oh, okay, I get it.¡±


    Standing in place and thinking seriously, Mahomes still found it hard to believe this was happening.


    ¡°Rookie, do you think this is real?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve always dreamed of this day¡ªproving my worth on the field, winning the Super Bowl, securing a life-changing contract, and earning the opportunity to keep fighting for my dreams. Now that day is here. Is this real?¡±


    It felt so perfect that it lacked a sense of reality.


    Li Wei nodded. ¡°Why don¡¯t you fall over, like in *Inception*, to test whether it¡¯s real?¡±


    Looking at Li Wei¡¯s serious expression, Mahomes actually jumped up and landed heavily on the sofa. The sudden action startled Li Wei, who choked on his own saliva and coughed violently.


    Li Wei had only been joking¡ªwho could¡¯ve guessed Mahomes would take it seriously?


    Completely oblivious to Li Wei¡¯s discomfort, Mahomes grinned brightly at him. ¡°I felt weightless, but the dream didn¡¯t vanish. So this must be real, right?¡±


    Li Wei stared at Mahomes, torn between laughing and crying. With a helpless thumbs-up, he praised Mahomes, ¡°Looks like your experiment was a success.¡±


    Mahomes laughed stupidly, lost in joy and unable to extricate himself.


    Only now did Mahomes catch a minor detail.


    ¡°Ah.¡± He gasped suddenly.


    Li Wei frowned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Mahomes looked at him, nervously smiling, avoiding Li Wei¡¯s gaze in embarrassment. ¡°Rookie, I think I might¡¯ve done something wrong.¡±


    Li Wei: ??? ¡°What happened? Did you say something to the general manager?¡±


    Mahomes shook his head, only sneaking a glance at Li Wei.


    After a brief moment of thought, Li Wei finally understood¡ªMahomes was worried about him. If the team was negotiating to extend Mahomes¡¯ contract but hadn¡¯t included Li Wei, how would Li Wei feel?


    Li Wei laughed outright. ¡°If you¡¯re worried about me, don¡¯t be. The general manager already called me as well.¡±

 Chapter 949: 948 Full of Expectation

    Chapter 949: 948 Full of Expectation


    Mahomes took a full three beats to realize his impulsiveness¡ª


    Li Wei.


    As the reigning regular-season MVP from last season and the Super Bowl MVP for two consecutive years, the unquestionable core of the team, Li Wei is undoubtedly the leader of the Kansas City Chiefs now.


    If Veach were to prioritize negotiating an extension with Mahomes just because of Li Wei¡¯s role as a running back and overlook Li Wei¡¯s contributions, it would undoubtedly be hurtful.


    Running backs¡ªare they truly just disposable assets?


    Can top-tier running backs really not influence a game like ordinary ones?


    Lynch, Peterson, Bell, Gurley, Henry, Elliott, Barkley, and so many other outstanding running backs have carried their teams¡¯ offenses on their backs. Are they not worthy of recognition?


    The brutal reality is no less painful than what the Professional League subjected Houston, Berry, and others to.


    And now, Mahomes is adding salt to Li Wei¡¯s wounds?


    This made Mahomes feel awkward and uneasy. Even though it wasn¡¯t his decision, he still felt as though he had inadvertently hurt Li Wei.


    Maybe he shouldn¡¯t have come to tell Li Wei.


    But the truth is, over the past two seasons, Mahomes has grown step by step under Li Wei¡¯s guidance, unconsciously beginning to look up to Li Wei and trust him. The role Li Wei plays on the team is far from simple.


    If the team truly sees Li Wei as nothing more than a disposable asset, Mahomes would be the first to speak out for Li Wei.


    Thinking of this stirred Mahomes with emotions such as anger and shame. A chaotic flood of feelings surged forward, leaving his words muddled and unclear.


    The hesitating, tangled, and cryptic expression fell into Li Wei¡¯s eyes. After some reflection, his thoughts became clear.


    A smile climbed onto his lips.


    ¡°If you¡¯re worried about me, actually the team manager already gave me a call.¡±


    Mahomes instantly held his breath, his eyes widening, ¡°To discuss a contract?¡±


    Li Wei nodded lightly, ¡°Yes, to discuss a contract.¡±


    Mahomes lifted himself off the couch, half-floating in the air, almost ready to leap up, ¡°The team is preparing to extend your contract as well?¡±


    Li Wei: ¡°It seems so.¡±


    In an instant, Mahomes leapt high into the air, almost like a circus performer, lunging toward Li Wei and shouting with unrestrained excitement.


    ¡°I knew it! Haha, I knew it!¡±


    ¡°Rookie, we¡¯re about to become multimillionaires! We¡¯re about to become multimillionaires!¡±


    ¡°Ahhh, let¡¯s extend our contracts together, let¡¯s keep fighting side by side, let¡¯s go for the championship!¡±


    ¡°Championship! Championship! Championship!¡±


    Pure joy and happiness burst forth relentlessly, unstoppable¡ª


    Even though negotiations had yet to start, and the team had merely expressed interest, the details of the contract remained unknown, with countless uncertainties.


    But for the young second-year players, this was already an affirmation¡ªa recognition of their potential and a readiness to build the future together.


    For Mahomes, just his first starting season had convinced the team manager; and for Li Wei, just two seasons had been enough to break the stereotype that running backs are disposable commodities. From every perspective, this was a monumental achievement.


    It was worth celebrating.


    After unleashing all his emotions, Mahomes finally calmed down a bit, ¡°Rookie, what kind of contract do you think we can get?¡±


    Li Wei: ¡°That will depend on our agent¡¯s capabilities.¡±


    Mahomes rubbed his hands secretly.


    Li Wei had always been waiting, focused, proving his value through his performance on the field¡ªnot out of modesty but to bide his time for that moment when he could achieve a major breakthrough and secure a substantial paycheck.


    As Li Wei had told Hunter, his running back teammate, before:


    ¡°Don¡¯t rush. Be patient.¡±


    Originally, Li Wei thought he would have to wait until his third season ended; after all, the status of running backs across the League was an undeniable reality. If Li Wei wanted to break history, he would need to accumulate energy for one decisive blow.


    Now, the opportunity had arrived earlier than expected¡ªthis was the best reward.


    ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to a record-breaking contract,¡± Li Wei said earnestly.


    Mahomes couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of excitement from this statement, ¡°Breaking records? What kind of contract are we talking about?¡±


    ¡°How much for an annual salary?¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s the highest-paid quarterback right now? Rodgers? Or Cousins?¡±


    ¡°What about running backs? Bell? The New York Jets would definitely offer him a fat contract.¡±


    ¡°Rookie, what¡¯s your dream annual salary?¡±


    Babbling away.


    Mahomes¡¯ excitement and exhilaration were unstoppable, and his imagination ran wild.


    Li Wei was no exception¡ª


    Currently, the highest-paid player in the League by position: For quarterbacks, it should be Rodgers, with an annual salary of around $33 million. If Li Wei remembered correctly, that was a four-year, $134 million contract with $55 million in guaranteed money.


    For running backs, it should be Gurley, with a four-year, $60 million deal, an annual salary of $15 million, and $45 million in guaranteed money.


    No matter how the Kansas City Chiefs planned to negotiate with Mahomes and Li Wei, these two contracts were undoubtedly the benchmarks. Should the new deal exceed the benchmark or fall below it? And if it exceeds, by how much?


    Mahomes cautiously envisioned possibilities without actually expecting Li Wei to reply, immersing himself in his thoughts and letting his imagination soar.


    ¡°Rookie, do you think...an annual salary of $30 million is possible?¡±


    Turning to Li Wei, Mahomes¡¯ eyes held a mix of nervousness and anticipation.


    Li Wei¡¯s lips curled upward, ¡°Hey, Sherlock, since we¡¯re dreaming, let¡¯s dream big. How about $50 million annually?¡±


    Cough cough.


    Mahomes immediately choked on his own saliva.


    ¡°Roo...kie...rookie...cough cough...¡±


    Li Wei quickly poured a glass of water for Mahomes, who gulped it down, yet his expression and gaze still carried traces of shock.


    He stared at Li Wei with wide-eyed disbelief, as if Li Wei had just uttered something earth-shatteringly outrageous¡ª


    And it certainly was outrageous.


    In the context of 2019, within the NFL and the constraints of its hard salary cap, an annual salary of $50 million for a football player was genuinely unfathomable.


    In fact, it wasn¡¯t just the NFL; even basketball¡¯s notoriously exorbitant salaries in the NBA didn¡¯t come close.


    In 2019, excluding bonuses, the top three annual salaries in the NBA belonged to Stephen Curry, Chris Paul, and LeBron James, with the highest sitting at $35 million.


    Of course, the NBA did have higher average salaries, with over ten players earning at least $30 million annually, but in the NFL, only Rodgers reached that figure, let alone most players earning under $10 million annually.


    So when Li Wei casually threw out a bait of $50 million annual salary, it was no wonder Mahomes looked like he¡¯d taken a massive blow.


    Li Wei remained composed.


    ¡°Dare to dream big. It¡¯s not impossible; you need to believe in yourself.¡±


    Mahomes stood there holding the glass, his mind buzzing with countless thoughts, unable to sort them out.


    Then, he looked at Li Wei, this time with genuine curiosity.


    ¡°What about you? You¡¯re hoping for a historic salary figure, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°And you deserve it¡ªafter all, you¡¯ve fundamentally changed people¡¯s perception of running backs.¡±

 Chapter 950: 949 Visionary

    Chapter 950: 949 Visionary


    Calm, composed, confident.


    Li Wei slightly nodded his head, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m looking forward to a record-breaking contract. More importantly, I¡¯m looking forward to seeing the sincerity from the team.¡±


    Previously, Li Wei had already expressed his beliefs and goals to Veach¡ª


    His patience and focus are not due to being content, but because of his ambition.


    In fact, from Li Wei¡¯s perspective, Veach choosing to negotiate his contract during this offseason was itself part of a strategy.


    Before, when Hunter was still with the team, he stirred things up inside, attempting to negotiate an early extension. Based on Veach¡¯s attitude at that time, it was clear he wasn¡¯t planning to talk contract extensions with a second-year running back.


    However, a lot has changed since then, including Hunter¡¯s departure, the team¡¯s title defense, and the glory of a regular-season MVP award.


    Veach realized that if he waited until after Li Wei¡¯s third year to discuss an extension, the leverage in Li Wei¡¯s hands could increase significantly. By then, the Kansas City Chiefs would find themselves in a real tight spot¡ª


    On the one hand, they¡¯d need to meet Li Wei¡¯s expectations and satisfy the fans¡¯ demands. On the other hand, they¡¯d have to consider the League and other teams¡¯ responses.


    Once the valuation of running backs flips entirely, it could set off a ripple effect, with running backs across the league uniting in protest.


    The tough and hardline stance shown by the Pittsburgh Steelers in handling Bell¡¯s situation serves as a clear example. Despite public backlash, other teams were, in fact, supporting Pittsburgh Steelers on that issue.


    Therefore, after weighing the situation, Veach decided to advance contract negotiations by a whole season.


    It was precisely because Veach knew Li Wei had been brewing a storm.


    Li Wei has never shied away from this fact.


    ¡°But.¡±


    Li Wei shifted his tone mid-sentence, causing Mahomes, who was initially excited and jubilant, to pause in shock. Was there a twist?


    ¡°I don¡¯t intend to drain the pond to catch all the fish.¡±


    Mahomes didn¡¯t understand what Li Wei meant.


    A smile spread across Li Wei¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Do you know why Revis carries so much infamy? Is it simply because he fought for the pay he deserved?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s because he greedily fought for more, and more, and more¡ªhurting the interests of others in the team and squeezing their salary cap space.¡±


    ¡°The NFL operates under a hard salary cap. The limit is there, and no one can exceed it. Each team has a specialized group that handles salary cap calculations, monitoring every single contract and transaction to ensure compliance and avoid penalties under League regulations.¡±


    ¡°When one individual¡¯s salary increases, it inevitably means that others¡¯ cap space gets compressed. Not everyone is willing to sacrifice their interests.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why the offseason for a Super Bowl-winning team often feels like a strategic game. The team manager must let go of some players to free up cap space for contracts with others who are more valuable or essential.¡±


    ¡°Every year, team rosters can undergo dramatic changes, and it all stems from this.¡±


    ¡°Revis repeatedly made demands, often requesting renegotiations even before his contract expired, just because he felt he¡¯d just delivered an exceptional season. This kind of greed didn¡¯t just cut into others¡¯ cap space but also disrupted the locker room atmosphere.¡±


    Now, Mahomes finally understood. ¡°Because he only cared about himself and didn¡¯t consider the team as a whole.¡±


    Even in Kansas City, Revis remained a lone wolf, never fully integrating into the team¡¯s culture¡ªa solo fighter only thinking of himself.


    Li Wei nodded gently.


    ¡°Last season, when Cousins joined the Minnesota Vikings, he signed a historic fully guaranteed contract. Logically speaking, it should¡¯ve been a milestone, paving the way for other players to aim higher and secure better deals. But that¡¯s not what happened. Clearly, players don¡¯t like him.¡±


    ¡°Do you understand the reason now?¡±


    Last season, the Minnesota Vikings and the Jacksonville Jaguars both made historic appearances in the conference finals, but neither managed to advance further. Both teams were gearing up in full force for the new season.


    However, reality turned out to be hard. Both teams ultimately missed the playoffs.


    Among them, the Minnesota Vikings¡ªwho spent lavishly during the offseason¡ªwere undoubtedly the most shocking case.


    Mahomes froze where he was, remaining silent for a long time.


    Suddenly, Mahomes lifted his head to look at Li Wei, his expression revealing a hint of hesitation.


    ¡°Rookie, did the team choose to release Justin and Eric just to make room for negotiating extensions with the two of us?¡±


    The connections came together like puzzle pieces.


    For Mahomes and Li Wei, it was good news. But for Houston and Berry, it was a farewell notice.


    Li Wei didn¡¯t try to sugarcoat it, ¡°Partly, yes.¡±


    Although there were far more complex reasons behind Houston and Berry¡¯s departures, and the reality was much more intricate, it was undeniable that Veach was making comprehensive plans¡ªletting go of some to gain others. Thus, they were the ones sacrificed.


    Mahomes let out a long breath, collapsing onto the sofa, once again experiencing firsthand the harsh realities of professional sports.


    Mahomes glanced at Li Wei, ¡°So, what are you planning to do?¡±


    Li Wei replied, ¡°I¡¯m not Captain America, willing to sacrifice myself to save others. I will still fight for my own interests; that won¡¯t change.¡±


    ¡°But I won¡¯t sacrifice what truly matters for short-term gains.¡±


    Mahomes asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Li Wei clarified, ¡°I¡¯m still expecting a record-breaking contract, but I won¡¯t push for an outrageous number. There¡¯s no need to be excessively greedy.¡±


    ¡°Maybe, we can consider signing a long-term contract, with a more forward-looking perspective.¡±


    ¡°I know the League is growing rapidly, and every year the hard salary cap increases, causing player salaries to rise as well. Signing a long-term deal might make the contract seem undersized three or five years down the line.¡±


    ¡°But rather than focusing on the annual salary numbers, we should prioritize maintaining the team¡¯s balance.¡±


    ¡°Maybe the team can utilize the salary cap space to sign more outstanding players or promote talented rookies, ultimately forming a strong lineup.¡±


    ¡°Salary is important¡ªextremely important. This is a professional league, and anyone claiming it doesn¡¯t matter is absolutely deceiving themselves. But teamwork is equally important because that¡¯s the foundation for us to compete for victories and championships.¡±


    ¡°Maintaining the team¡¯s competitiveness is more important than salary itself.¡±


    In the NFL, players like Brady, Brees, and Big Manning¡ªthese top-tier athletes¡ªhave all voluntarily restructured their contracts, reducing their annual salary income. They didn¡¯t chase numbers but instead helped their teams build more competitive rosters to aim for Super Bowl championships.


    This is Li Wei¡¯s vision¡ª


    Fight for what he deserves, but there¡¯s no need to obsess over making history.


    Excessive greed leads to only one outcome: apart from having extra digits in a bank account, when leaving the game, you end up with nothing else.


    ¡°Besides, to be honest, my endorsement income outweighs these annual salaries.¡±


    ¡°If we can maintain competitiveness and keep winning titles, the off-field earnings and bonuses will keep rolling in.¡±


    ¡°The math isn¡¯t that hard to figure out.¡±

 Chapter 951: 950 Weighing the pros and cons

    Chapter 951: 950 Weighing the pros and cons


    Mahomes was amused by the confidence radiating from Li Wei¡¯s words, ¡°Even if you add up the ads of half the players in the League, they still can¡¯t compare to yours alone.¡±


    Li Wei spread his hands as if it were only natural, ¡°I can¡¯t help it. When popularity comes, you can¡¯t stop it. Don¡¯t envy me¡ªenvy is the root of all loss.¡±


    Mahomes burst out laughing, clutching his stomach while shaking his head repeatedly. ¡°No, no, no, I¡¯m totally envious¡ªso much so that my stomach hurts. The other day, Brittany said she sees your ads everywhere she goes. What¡¯s next? Are you going to endorse makeup too?¡±


    Li Wei actually gave it some serious thought. ¡°Makeup... might be a bit tricky. But perfume? That¡¯s doable. Look, even JJ has his own line of perfume.¡±


    Mahomes imagined Watt¡¯s image and remarked, ¡°What, Eau de Sweat?¡±


    Li Wei couldn¡¯t believe his ears. ¡°Sherlock, you¡¯ve gone bad. I blame Travis.¡±


    Mahomes, seeing Li Wei¡¯s look of innocence, collapsed onto the couch, laughing uncontrollably.


    After goofing around, Mahomes lay flat on the couch, staring blankly for a moment. ¡°But not everyone can be like you.¡±


    Li Wei understood this perfectly. ¡°That¡¯s why you need to calmly figure out what you really need.¡±


    Mahomes turned to look at Li Wei, his gaze filled with inquiry.


    Li Wei thought for a moment. ¡°Look at Le¡¯Veon Bell.¡±


    ¡°Everyone in the League criticizes Bell for being greedy, but is that really the case? The highest annual salary for running backs took nearly a decade to rise from 10 million USD to 15 million USD. Meanwhile, the growth in average salaries has lagged far behind the League¡¯s increasing salary cap.¡±


    ¡°For quarterbacks, Rodgers¡¯s annual salary of 30 million USD seems mind-boggling now, but do you believe it?¡±


    ¡°Five years from now, that number might feel insignificant. Annual salaries of 50 million USD might be everywhere.¡±


    Mahomes inhaled sharply, finding it hard to believe his ears.


    But Li Wei remained composed. ¡°It¡¯s entirely possible. After all, the attention focused on quarterbacks in the League just keeps skyrocketing because Goodell needs to create stars.¡±


    ¡°With so many players on a football team, if you don¡¯t elevate a star position, it doesn¡¯t help global marketing efforts.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s like soccer. If there are player stars, you push those stars. If not, you promote positions¡ªlike forwards or midfielders¡ªfocusing all attention on one position. For casual viewers, that lowers the barrier to entry. That¡¯s the correct approach to broadening a sport¡¯s fan base.¡±


    ¡°In the League, quarterbacks are that position.¡±


    Even though Li Wei had time-traveled back, he knew nothing about football, so he had no idea what the League would look like five years down the line.


    All of this was simply Li Wei¡¯s analysis based on the League¡¯s current situation.


    And as it turns out, Li Wei was right.


    In the original timeline¡¯s 2024, the highest annual salary for running backs still hadn¡¯t broken 20 million USD, while that of quarterbacks had effortlessly surpassed 50 million USD¡ª


    And it wasn¡¯t an elite quarterback. It wasn¡¯t Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals, or Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens¡ªbut Jordan Love, the fourth-year quarterback who succeeded Rodgers on the Green Bay Packers.


    Love had only one full season as a starting quarterback under his belt. That season wasn¡¯t even elite¡ªbarely excellent. Yet, due to the significant overvaluation of quarterbacks, he signed an astonishingly lucrative contract during the 2024 offseason.


    This was reality. Ridiculous but real.


    And it wasn¡¯t an isolated case.


    Back in the previous offseason, Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings had signed a fully guaranteed contract, already signaling the League¡¯s trajectory.


    Indeed, Li Wei knew nothing about the NFL. But precisely because he was an outsider, he could see things more clearly.


    ¡°I agree with Bell.¡±


    ¡°He was merely trying to fight for the respect running backs deserve. Between his team¡¯s victory and his personal needs, he sought a proper balance to slot himself into.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, he failed in the end.¡±


    ¡°Up next, it¡¯ll be the same for you. If you sign a long-term contract now, your salary might be undervalued five years from now. People might feel bad for you: ¡®Oh, poor Mahomes, what a shame,¡¯ and then urge you to renegotiate with the team for a new deal.¡±


    ¡°On the flip side, with a steadily rising salary cap, the room freed up by quarterback salaries could allow the team to sign more excellent players.¡±


    ¡°For instance, an offensive line that could properly protect the quarterback; or a group of wide receivers who don¡¯t have Butterfingers.¡±


    Before Li Wei could even finish, Mahomes clutched his face and groaned, ¡°No, rookie, this is a curse¡ªa curse!¡±


    Wide receivers with Butterfingers are every quarterback¡¯s nightmare. Even if the quarterback throws a perfect pass straight into the receiver¡¯s hands, only for them to drop the ball, it¡¯s a disaster. There¡¯s nothing the quarterback can do¡ªit renders half their skills useless.


    Li Wei chuckled.


    In Li Wei¡¯s view, this was the charm of football. Whether you¡¯re a quarterback or a running back, you rely on your teammates¡¯ cooperation. Otherwise, you¡¯re like a lone hand clapping¡ªpowerless.


    Li Wei looked at Mahomes. ¡°So, you have to think for yourself. Is it personal needs or team victories?¡±


    ¡°Of course, everyone knows that without team success, individual achievements mean nothing. The key point is, how much of your personal needs are you willing to sacrifice for team victories, and to what extent? Finding that balance is the hardest part.¡±


    Mahomes turned his head to Li Wei. ¡°What about you? If it were you, what would you do?¡±


    Li Wei spread his hands. ¡°Sherlock, you¡¯re a quarterback. My situation is different from yours. I can¡¯t decide for you. You should think it over yourself¡ªor discuss it with your agent.¡±


    Mahomes waved his hand. ¡°I know, I know. I¡¯m just curious about what you think. You know you¡¯re the smartest person I know.¡±


    Li Wei¡¯s lips curved into a smirk. ¡°My condolences to Brittany.¡±


    Mahomes groaned dramatically.


    Li Wei laughed heartily but soon dropped the jokes, giving it some serious thought. ¡°If it were me, I¡¯d aim to break the League¡¯s highest annual salary, then demand a long-term contract¡ªsay, five or even seven years.¡±


    ¡°That number might seem shocking now, but we all know that five or seven years from now, it could become very common, even below the League¡¯s average.¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s fine. I¡¯d have already enjoyed top-of-the-League pay for five solid years. Even if the subsequent salary is below average, I could live with that.¡±


    ¡°Because the cap space saved would allow the team to sign more talented players, letting us chase more victories and championships together.¡±


    ¡°Looking at it from another angle, it¡¯s like a rookie contract in another form.¡±


    ¡°Signing a long-term deal with relatively stable numbers, providing the team with the flexibility to build around it.¡±

 Chapter 952: Strive to the utmost

    Chapter 952: Strive to the utmost


    Thoughts surged wildly in the mind, stirring up crashing waves.


    Mahomes carefully studied Li Wei¡¯s casual, indifferent expression. Finally, he couldn¡¯t hold back, a sigh of amazement roared in his chest.


    Wow!


    Mahomes realized he was simply a relentless sigh machine.


    Li Wei remained exceptionally composed.


    ¡°Quarterbacks and running backs, they¡¯re ultimately different.¡±


    ¡°When negotiating contracts for quarterbacks, teams often start with four- or five-year deals; but for running backs, it¡¯s typically two or three years.¡±


    ¡°Of course, running backs aren¡¯t fools¡ªthey often demand four or five years; but at this point, teams start to negotiate. They¡¯re willing to extend the duration, but in turn, the annual salary figure must be adjusted down.¡±


    ¡°The entire tone of negotiation is different.¡±


    After all, running backs are considered ¡°expendable.¡± Once injured, the situation could completely change.


    Running backs like Peterson, who return from injury and still maintain peak performance, are the exception; moreover, even after enduring three severe injuries, Peterson inevitably began to slide into the abyss, until last season¡¯s triumphant comeback once again proved he remains one of the league¡¯s top running backs.


    But the reality?


    People still hold pessimistic views about Peterson¡¯s future.


    ¡°So, you should seize this opportunity.¡±


    ¡°Still, I¡¯m sure your agent knows all this and is far more professional than I am. I strongly believe you should sit down and have a serious talk with your agent.¡±


    It¡¯s easy to guess¡ªMahomes¡¯ agent probably doesn¡¯t appreciate Li Wei meddling and giving unsolicited advice.


    Yet Mahomes hadn¡¯t absorbed any of it¡ªhis left ear had heard it, his right ear let it out, his thoughts lost elsewhere.


    ¡°But you¡¯re different, aren¡¯t you? You¡¯re a... rookie. For God¡¯s sake, you¡¯re a rookie!¡±


    Li Wei chuckled speechlessly, ¡°Last year, Bell in his prime was supremely confident yet tore apart his relationship with the Pittsburgh Steelers; meanwhile, Gurley quickly reached a deal with the Los Angeles Rams, which goes to show teams don¡¯t even need to say a word¡ªthey¡¯re already on the same page.¡±


    Mahomes shot upright, ¡°But Cousins broke through the league¡¯s barrier and got fully guaranteed money, didn¡¯t he?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°He¡¯s a quarterback. Quarterbacks always have exceptions. Teams are willing to take risks for them. Cousins wasn¡¯t the first, and certainly won¡¯t be the last.¡±


    Moreover, there¡¯s an immediate blind spot¡ª


    The Kansas City Chiefs are currently trying to negotiate extensions for both Li Wei and Mahomes, which means salary cap pressure might be far beyond expectation. If forced to choose, it¡¯s evident where Veach¡¯s priorities lie.


    So, Li Wei indeed faces thorny challenges.


    Mahomes let out a long breath, his face full of frustration, ¡°That¡¯s not fair.¡±


    Li Wei, however, remained extraordinarily calm. Shortly after joining the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm, through Clark, Li Wei had already grasped the running back predicament.


    To Li Wei¡¯s understanding, the system guiding him toward the running back role must have its reasons. This would be the true advantage he holds over other running backs.


    Moreover, wouldn¡¯t Veach have already considered this?


    After decisively letting go of Houston and Berry, as well as trading starting linebacker Ford, Veach¡¯s series of moves undoubtedly hinted at an impending storm.


    Thus, Li Wei ought to trust himself more¡ªand trust Veach more.


    So, Li Wei flashed a smile, ¡°Sherlock, don¡¯t worry. Leave these matters to the agents. Have you ever seen me back down without a fight?¡±


    ¡°Rest assured, though my salary might not compare to yours, I¡¯ll fight to the bitter end.¡±


    Mahomes took a deep breath, ¡°That¡¯s true. If I don¡¯t trust myself, I should trust you. I feel like you won¡¯t be put in a difficult spot by the team manager.¡±


    He lowered his voice slightly, even though they were the only two people here, Mahomes still acted conspiratorially, ¡°Honestly, I feel like Mr. Veach is a little afraid of you.¡±


    Li Wei spread his arms, ¡°I¡¯m so kind-hearted. Please don¡¯t falsely accuse an innocent man.¡±


    Mahomes doubled over laughing.


    Veach: Achoo! Who? Who¡¯s bad-mouthing me?


    After a small joke, Mahomes¡¯ emotions¡ªexcited and anxious, elated and tense¡ªfinally began to settle, ¡°So what should we do now?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°Train.¡±


    Mahomes, ¡°Huh?¡±


    Li Wei, ¡°I¡¯m serious. We¡¯re professional players. Our job is to train well and prepare for the new season. Chasing the three-peat in the new season isn¡¯t just empty talk.¡±


    Mahomes widened his eyes, blankly paused before finally catching on¡ª


    Last year, around this time, they had also gathered here for off-season training.


    Back then, Smith decided to leave the Kansas City Chiefs, ¡°playing the bad guy,¡± and relinquished the position of starting quarterback to the young Mahomes; Mahomes was both excited and uneasy, and even now, he couldn¡¯t forget the chaos of emotions back then.


    He and Li Wei stood beneath the starry sky, shouting their wishes¡ªhoping to take over Smith¡¯s mantle and lead the Kansas City Chiefs to successfully defend their title.


    A year later, there they were again; but now, the challenge ahead wasn¡¯t about defending a title, it was an unprecedented feat.


    ¡°Three-peat!¡±


    Mahomes bounced to his feet, raising his right hand high, shouting boldly and loudly.


    ¡°Ho ho ho, three-peat! Three-peat!¡±


    The challenge quietly waited ahead¡ªa towering mountain behind which loomed another towering mountain.


    In the world of competitive sports, there is no end: ¡°higher, faster, farther.¡± What they sought to challenge wasn¡¯t just their limits, but the limits of humanity itself.


    Perhaps in the NFL universe, the three-peat remains an unconquered peak. Whether in the Super Bowl era or before, no team has ever achieved such a feat; precisely because of this, the challenge is all the more intriguing and thrilling.


    Passion erupted like a volcano, surging endlessly.


    Ho ho ho, ho ho ho.


    Li Wei joined Mahomes, cheering exuberantly.


    When Kelsey arrived, what he saw was this scene¡ªhe looked around suspiciously before staring again at the two lunatics in front of him.


    ¡°Wait a second, is this Planet of the Apes? Sorry, wrong door.¡±


    But Mahomes didn¡¯t seem to care, he even enthusiastically mimicked gorilla movements, pounding his chest like King Kong, loudly cheering without restraint.


    Kelsey hesitated for a moment before finally catching on¡ªthe two gorillas in front of him were shouting about a three-peat. Standing there, he tilted his head toward the sky in helpless despair.


    Reluctant yet conflicted, in the end, he still charged in with a heroic expression, imitating their antics and joining the cheering.


    At the door¡ª


    Watt silently exited, only to bump into Donald getting out of his car. Watt shook his head, ¡°Nope, not going in. The place has been invaded by aliens.¡±


    Donald, ¡°Huh?¡±


    Under Miami¡¯s blue skies, the sunshine was perfect¡ªthe hubbub of the football off-season was slowly unfolding.


    Evidently, it wasn¡¯t just Li Wei and company¡ªtheir competitors were gearing up too, one by one sharpening their blades. Next season, they would pour every ounce of effort into targeting the Kansas City Chiefs. Across the league, other teams shared a singular goal¡ª


    Defeat the Kansas City Chiefs!

 Chapter 953: 952 Real European Emperor

    Chapter 953: 952 Real European Emperor


    Regarding the three-peat, Li Wei is serious.


    As for the offseason training, it¡¯s the same¡ª


    Li Wei is especially excited for this year¡¯s offseason.


    All of it is thanks to the system. The card draw delivered again!


    Over the past six months, the system¡¯s card draws have provided some opportunities, but honestly, the gains were limited, with only one Training Effect Doubling Card standing out:


    Five times.


    The other cards aren¡¯t even worth mentioning.


    Even this five-times Training Effect Doubling Card had limited impact during the season; first, because daily training time is restricted; second, because Li Wei¡¯s physical and technical abilities are already reaching maturity, making any further improvement face inevitable bottlenecks.


    So, despite sporadic card-draw opportunities, Li Wei has remained diligent and grounded, focusing entirely on his own efforts. He¡¯s gradually shedding dependency on the system, prioritizing his own training. Even if the system can¡¯t offer better assistance in the future, Li Wei hopes to continue improving through his own hard work.


    He firmly believes this is still not his limit.


    After all, he¡¯s only been playing football for three years; his peak is likely still far off.


    However!


    Just when Li Wei thought he could let go of reliance on the system, the system surprised him with a huge reward during its post-Super Bowl card draw.


    First, a Recovery Effect Doubling Card: seven times.


    No matter if it¡¯s his rookie year or sophomore year, Li Wei deeply understands how grueling the NFL is, where intense clashes place immense strain on both body and mind. The deeper one gets into the playoffs, the more likely they are to face the limits of their endurance.


    For this reason, a first-round bye in the playoffs is critically important.


    Last season, during the final moments of the American League Championship, players were cramping one after another¡ªeven with a wild-card round bye¡ªthe team was put on notice.


    Now, drawing this seven-times Recovery Effect Doubling Card is an exceptional treasure for Li Wei.


    Second, an Injury Risk Reduction Card: 75%¡ª


    Game-changer!


    The Injury Risk Reduction Card has always been Li Wei¡¯s trump card. For a running back often plagued by injuries, it¡¯s the ultimate cheat code.


    Last season, Li Wei narrowly avoided a concussion.


    Now, it¡¯s easy to imagine how, after claiming the regular-season MVP title, defensive players will target Li Wei aggressively next season. The threat level of potential injury risks is skyrocketing.


    Yet, right now, Li Wei acquires a 75% Injury Risk Reduction Card. What a surprise! An outright game-changing surprise!


    This will undoubtedly become Li Wei¡¯s cornerstone of confidence for pushing his limits next season. It may even prove pivotal in redefining his professional football career as a running back.


    After all, injuries are the root of all turning points.


    Setting aside everything else, the gloom of poor luck during the season¡¯s previous card draws is completely dispelled solely thanks to this Injury Risk Reduction Card.


    Right after the Super Bowl, drawing this card has left Li Wei utterly satisfied.


    Even if the system only gifted him this one card for all the effort he put into the entire season, it¡¯s already worth far more than enough. Li Wei feels confident enough to launch his campaign for next season¡¯s three-peat. After all, in real life, he¡¯s hitting the jackpot; it¡¯s better not to be too greedy.


    But!


    Perhaps it¡¯s precisely due to this calm mindset that Li Wei suddenly found himself incredibly lucky during the last card draw opportunity, and he received the ultimate jackpot¡ª


    ¡°Template: Barry Sanders (S-level).¡±


    A training template, and an S-level card appears again!


    So, who is Barry Sanders?


    ¡ª¡ªGOAT.


    The answer is just that simple.


    Of course, GOAT is relative, not absolute. Everyone has their own historical greatest in their hearts. Rarely does any player win unanimous approval.


    Sanders, naturally, is no exception. However, there¡¯s no doubt Sanders is one of the most dominant and versatile elite running backs in NFL¡¯s 100-year history.


    Barry Sanders, 5.7 feet (173 cm) tall, 200 pounds (91 kg). He was selected third overall in the first round of the 1989 draft by the Detroit Lions and played only ten seasons in the League, retiring abruptly in 1998¡ªa career relatively short compared to other players.


    And yet, in those ¡°brief¡± ten seasons, the level of dominance Sanders displayed was enough to cement his place in the annals of history:


    Rushing yards: second all-time, only behind Walter Payton.


    Rushing touchdowns: sixth all-time.


    Rushing attempts: second all-time.


    As of 2022, over 14 years since Sanders retired, these three records still rank in the top ten of the historical lists.


    He averaged 1,527 rushing yards per season and 99 rushing yards per game.


    Throughout his career, Sanders never had a single season with fewer than 1,000 rushing yards. Across ten league seasons, he recorded ten 1,000-yard seasons. He holds the record for the second-most 1,000-yard seasons in NFL history among running backs.


    Add to that one regular-season MVP award, two Offensive Player of the Year titles, six All-America First Team selections, four All-American Second Team selections, ten Pro Bowl appearances, and four seasons leading the League in rushing yards.


    Efficient, fierce, consistent.


    Sanders delivered highlight-worthy performances season after season for ten unparalleled years, totally redefining people¡¯s perceptions of running backs and bulldozing through the League with unthinkable ability.


    ¡°Ten years of nonstop excellence¡±¡ªthis phrase best encapsulates Sanders¡¯ greatness.


    Interestingly enough, Sanders¡¯ retirement wasn¡¯t due to injury.


    In the 1997 season, Sanders and Green Bay Packers¡¯ quarterback legend Brett Favre shared the regular-season MVP award. In the 1998 season, Sanders still racked up a monstrous 1,491 rushing yards, proving that even at the ¡°old age¡± of 31, he remained the top running back in the League.


    Yet before the start of the 1999 season, in peak condition with no injuries, Sanders suddenly stunned the League by announcing his retirement. His decision sent shockwaves across the League, especially since Sanders was only a little over 1,000 yards away from breaking Walter Payton¡¯s all-time rushing yards record¡ªa feat he could have achieved in just one more season.


    But Sanders felt no reluctance. He walked away at the pinnacle of his career.


    Sanders, who always valued his privacy and often avoided the media, has never publicly disclosed the true reason for retiring at his zenith. However, widespread speculation among reporters suggests that Sanders was deeply disappointed with the Detroit Lions¡¯ disastrous management team.


    An iconic NFL commentator once expressed a poignant sentiment:


    ¡°Even a player as extraordinary as Barry Sanders could not salvage the Detroit Lions from this ugly quagmire.¡±


    During Sanders¡¯ ten-season professional career, he led the team to victory in only one playoff game. Just one.


    For a legendary player, that¡¯s humiliating and powerless¡ª


    Much like what Watt is experiencing now.


    In football, an inherently team-oriented sport, such a sense of helplessness gets magnified exponentially.


    In the 1998 season, the Detroit Lions finished with a 5¨C11 record, missing the playoffs yet again. Disillusioned, Sanders announced his retirement in the offseason.


    Because of this, even when looking purely at the stats, Sanders fails to occupy first place in most of a running back¡¯s historical leaderboards¡ªafter all, he only played ten seasons. Yet, Sanders¡¯ decade-long commitment to consistent and effective performances earned him widespread recognition among experts as the GOAT.


    One key detail says it all: In 2019, the American Football League celebrated its 100th anniversary with a series of activities, including selecting the All-Time NFL Team.


    It¡¯s easy to imagine how fierce the competition must have been for spots on such a historic roster.


    And the running back starters who ultimately prevailed:


    Barry Sanders.

 Chapter 954: 953 Touching Stone into Gold

    Chapter 954: 953 Touching Stone into Gold


    Barry Sanders, a legend, a master, a GOAT.


    And now, Li Wei has obtained the training model of Sanders, giving him the opportunity to continue learning directly from this legendary running back through the system.


    This is an honor.


    Some might wonder, where exactly does Sanders¡¯ greatness lie?


    The answer is: all-around excellence.


    Sanders¡¯ physique is highly unique. He stands at just 5 feet 7 inches (173 cm), remarkably short among football players and almost lacking any field of vision; yet he weighs 200 pounds (91 kg), a tower of steel and muscle, while still maintaining agility.


    Speed, direction changes, strength, resilience, observation, judgment, adaptability on the field.


    He can do it all.


    Previously, Li Wei had received the training model of Tomlinson. This running back¡¯s versatility lay in his ability to run, catch, and throw, creating a brand-new style, and the league has since widely adopted running backs like Tomlinson. Aside from Li Wei, McCaffrey is also one of the standouts in this category.


    Sanders, however, is slightly different. His all-encompassing skill set lies in one thing ¡ª taking the fundamental responsibilities of the running back position and pushing them to the extreme.


    He can bulldoze straight ahead like Lynch, dodge continuously like Peterson, or find gaps amidst tight defenses like Bell.


    Put simply, when people marvel at how explosively a running back advanced on a given play, Sanders could not only do it all but do it even better.


    Today¡¯s younger generation of running backs may each have their own preferences, but no one is unfamiliar with the legendary status and unmatched ability of Sanders.


    In fact, Bell¡¯s signature ¡°pause, scan, and push through¡± technique evolved from lessons he learned while imitating his idol, Barry Sanders.


    Since his initial introduction to football, Li Wei has experienced various training models, exploring his style during learning and testing. Last offseason, he achieved a boost through the Lynch and Tomlinson training models, which were then validated throughout the season.


    To outsiders, it might seem like Li Wei has already reached his peak, as though he cannot get any stronger.


    However, Coach Burns doesn¡¯t see it this way. He believes Li Wei still has untapped potential and can continue improving.


    Before the offseason began, Coach Burns had told Li Wei to take the opportunity to study Barry Sanders¡¯ game footage. He believed Li Wei could develop into a well-rounded running back, combining Tomlinson¡¯s versatility across positions with Sanders¡¯ mastery of the running back role at its highest level.


    Perhaps Li Wei could touch a brand-new peak and usher in a new era for running backs.


    Now, the timing is perfect.


    Li Wei doesn¡¯t need to watch Sanders¡¯ footage, because he can delve into Sanders¡¯ entire gameplay directly through the system¡¯s training model.


    If there¡¯s any reward that can rival the 75% reduced injury risk card, then an S-tier Barry Sanders training model surely qualifies.


    So, as the offseason began, Li Wei had been eagerly anticipating his return to the training field, looking forward to following in Sanders¡¯ footsteps.


    A while ago, amidst his busy schedule, Li Wei had already dipped his toes into Sanders¡¯ playing style via the system¡¯s training model ¡ª


    Impact.


    To be honest, Li Wei is no longer a rookie. After three seasons of grinding and practicing, including studying the game footage of various running backs, he has gained a deep understanding of running back styles, types, and how they perform against defensive groups. He wouldn¡¯t call himself an expert, but he¡¯s certainly seen a lot.


    Yet within Sanders¡¯ training model, Li Wei still felt his own insignificance.


    His shortcomings, his weaknesses, his flaws ¡ª they all surfaced one by one. He thought he had already stood at the peak, only to look up and realize:


    There¡¯s always someone greater.


    The clearest and most immediate realization lay in Sanders¡¯ understanding of the game.


    First, his understanding of himself.


    A player must have a profound awareness of their own body and condition. Even the elite cannot maintain high-intensity performance throughout an entire game. Fluctuations in form, physical reactions, energy distribution, lapses in focus ¡ª all these factors can lead to deviations in running results.


    This wasn¡¯t as apparent in the early part of Sanders¡¯ career, but it became increasingly evident later on. Why could Sanders maintain peak performance year after year for a decade? Why could he sustain his efficiency in running despite declining physical attributes and inevitable injuries?


    Understanding oneself is the first step.


    Second, his understanding of defensive strategies.


    This is something Li Wei has also persistently worked on, even attending defensive group meetings to examine offensive strategies from a defender¡¯s perspective.


    Sanders was the same. He remained constantly focused, always observing tactical shifts and developments among defensive groups, adapting on the fly.


    This perfectly aligns with the essence of football: a turn-based battle of wits.


    The duel and confrontation between offense and defense are always fluid. Sanders wasn¡¯t a god; he couldn¡¯t demolish defenses with every run or every advance. The opposing defensive group would continually adjust and improve, and naturally, Sanders constantly kept up with the game¡¯s evolving dynamics.


    There is a stereotype that running backs are just brute forces of muscle power, barreling ahead with the ball. But the truth is far from that. A running back who understands route running is entirely different from one who doesn¡¯t. A running back who can read defenses is worlds apart from one who cannot. When a running back begins to think, it heralds a return to the very essence of football ¡ª


    It¡¯s more than just collisions.


    So, what does this prove?


    It proves that the game doesn¡¯t start when the clock does.


    Before stepping onto the field, a player¡¯s training regimen, their tactical mastery, and their analysis of the opposition all signify that the battle has already begun.


    When spectators see players shine on the field, the sweat and effort behind those fleeting moments far exceed the time spent on the game clock.


    For Sanders to dominate the running back position in the league for a decade, the work and sacrifice he put in far surpass the stats on paper.


    Undoubtedly, for Li Wei, this marks another shock to his system. Entering the world of football for three years, he¡¯d only occasionally heard of Sanders, but never grasped the significance of his existence ¡ª until now, as a new door opens before him.


    When running backs look up to Sanders, they see not just talent and capability but also his understanding and interpretation of the running back position, his perspective on the chess match between offense and defense. All of this proves that the pinnacle of the running back position has yet to be reached.


    At the same time, Sanders¡¯ legacy serves as a powerful rebuttal to the notion that ¡°running backs are just disposable commodities.¡± His career is more legendary and brilliant than any other running back¡¯s, maintaining exceptional performance over a decade. Even age could not diminish his brilliance¡ª


    So why, in reality, have running backs gradually been relegated to disposable roles?

 Chapter 955: 954 New Challenge

    Chapter 955: 954 New Challenge


    A sincere question: why have running backs gradually become expendable in real life?


    The root cause lies in the league drastically changing game rules for the sake of ratings, providing quarterbacks with as much protection as possible. This inevitably leads coaching staff to spend more time on passing strategies, squeezing the space available for running backs to shine.


    As rushing tactics become increasingly simplistic, the chances of running backs using sheer physicality to break through grow higher, making ground attacks cruder and more straightforward.


    Meanwhile, defensive groups are shackled when facing quarterbacks¡ªslight mishaps invite yellow flags and yard losses. When confronting wide receivers and tight ends, the strict rules against rough defense leave defenders hesitant, while running backs remain the exception.


    Under league rules, running backs are discarded like unwanted stepchildren, where defensive players¡¯ tackles and hits can fully unleash their power.


    Sometimes, defenders even channel their pent-up frustration completely onto running backs, leading to increasingly rampant incidents of rough defense.


    Moreover, running back inherently emphasizes physical confrontation and breakthroughs¡ªcompared to other positions, the intense collisions and contact frequency are significantly higher. The role itself bears a distinct blue-collar hue, inevitably pushing running backs deeper into a quagmire.


    All these factors combined put running backs at a higher risk of injury.


    From a data perspective, running backs indeed face the highest injury risks among football positions.


    Naturally, teams just say, ¡°Hey, look, running backs are just expendables.¡±


    However!


    Sanders demonstrated through action that the commodification of running backs is not their fault but rather a consequence of the league¡¯s commercial evolution targeting them as sacrificial lambs.


    At the same time, Sanders¡¯ career proved that running backs surviving in the cracks can still retaliate through perseverance and effort¡ª


    They can showcase their abilities in versatile ways like Tomlinson or utilize tactical acumen to highlight their strengths like Bell.


    As the league progresses, running backs are also expected to evolve. If they stagnate in place, lamenting their fate and simplistically shifting all blame onto others, they will grow increasingly passive in the tides of time, eventually trapped in the ¡°expendable¡± narrative.


    Although Sanders excelled in the comparatively less commercialized 1990s, no one knows if he could withstand the sweeping changes of the post-millennium era. Yet, his training template remains a mirror, reflecting Li Wei¡¯s path forward.


    The insight offered by the training model is unprecedentedly abundant, so much so that even after completing the system training, Li Wei still sought out game footage in real life, analyzing Sanders¡¯ performance from the game¡¯s overarching strategies and offense-defense tactical confrontations.


    Sanders was no god¡ª


    He was still an ordinary man. So, what Sanders could achieve signifies that Li Wei or anyone else can achieve it too.


    This is a tedious process, but also an enchanting one.


    It was within this process that Li Wei gradually realized: his understanding of his physicality was still inadequate.


    Indeed, Coach Burns recognized Li Wei¡¯s unique physical talents early on, as vindicated by Li Wei¡¯s performance over the past three seasons.


    But now, Li Wei understands that his body still holds untapped potential waiting to be discovered.


    In his two NFL seasons, Li Wei constantly wrestled with a training conundrum: how to enhance his physical resilience while maintaining his agility and quickness?


    On one hand, aspiring to activate Beast Mode like Lynch, and on the other, hoping to preserve Peterson¡¯s unparalleled ability for multiple directional changes.


    It felt a bit greedy.


    But Sanders provided an answer.


    The man, like a dwarf intruding upon a Giant Clan, achieved a delicate balance between power and speed, confrontation and agility, becoming a versatile warrior with multiple dimensions.


    Sanders repeatedly showcased ¡°David vs. Goliath¡±-style contests¡ªit wasn¡¯t simple at all.


    All along, physical aptitude and natural talent were Li Wei¡¯s greatest weapons. Now, Li Wei realizes he can continue exploring his physical potential, improving on a fundamental level. Setting aside techniques, tactics, and awareness, even the most basic aspect¡ªhis body¡ªstill offers room for growth¡ª


    This realization is both a wake-up call and good news.


    Objectively speaking, this could be considered another reminder or update from the system, encouraging Li Wei to challenge his limits, transcend himself, and strive to become a better player.


    When it comes to challenges, Li Wei has an unending passion, ready and eager to dive in.


    This offseason, Li Wei has a lot of work to tackle.


    With nearly three months until the team¡¯s spring voluntary training camp begins, it sounds like plenty of time¡ªlonger than summer vacation even. But when taking into account physical training, watching footage, template exercises, and reviewing and summarizing, the training checklist becomes overwhelmingly packed.


    Looking at it this way, the time feels far from sufficient.


    So, rather than relaxing or idling away, once Li Wei arrived in Miami, his offseason training camp began intensively without delay.


    Word quickly spread among NFL players and agents.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Lamar Jackson suddenly sat up straight from his beach chair, taking off his sunglasses and staring at his teammate Mark Andrews, his wide eyes brimming with disbelief. The ice in his cocktail slowly melted, dripping down the glass¡¯s exterior.


    Andrews and Jackson both entered the league during the 2018 draft. The tight end was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round at pick 86. After a year of playing together, the two rookies naturally became familiar with each other.


    Andrews bobbed his head to the booming music around the pool, ¡°I said, Watt and Donald have both headed to Li Wei¡¯s training camp.¡±


    Jackson still doubted his ears, ¡°Wasn¡¯t that rookie living it up in Los Angeles not long ago?¡±


    First it was Saturday Night Live, then Avengers 4, with Li Wei¡¯s frequent appearances in Hollywood¡¯s glitz and glam. They were just joking about how that guy must have gotten mesmerized by the fame and fortune, predicting that he¡¯d show up next season with a beer belly.


    So how did he start training already?


    And more surprising¡ªthis year, Li Wei organized his own mini training camp, and NFL players streaming in on their own initiative to join him?


    Jackson: I don¡¯t get it.


    Andrews chuckled, plopping down onto another beach chair by the pool, searching for his cocktail. ¡°Who knows.¡±


    ¡°Maybe he realized that after wasting too much time in Hollywood, it¡¯s time to finally catch up. Who knows if he was lost in the land of temptation for a bit. Haha.¡±