Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 219 The Coaching Staff Being Raped

After school in the afternoon, Lin Yan, Mike, and Tom appeared on time at the spacious and solemn Madison Square Garden. Former NBA coach Marcus Holt was already waiting on the sidelines with his tactical board. He had specially arranged for two capable assistant coaches to conduct a more competitive three-on-three mock game, focusing on testing Lin Yan's technical application under pressure.

During warm-up, Holt vaguely sensed that Lin Yan was different. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but it was no longer the stiffness caused by deliberate restraint or the occasional reckless outbursts of uncontrolled energy that he used to exhibit. Instead, it was a kind of... unusual stability and coordination. His warm-up movements were fluid and natural, and his dribbling and shooting had a softness that he hadn't felt before.

"Alright, guys," Holt blew his whistle, "we're playing 3-on-3 today. Lin, Tom, and Mike on one team, and me and the two assistant coaches on the other. Simple rules, half-court offense, play seriously!"

Game start.

On the first attack, Lin Yan had the ball.

A tall assistant coach immediately stepped forward to press him, trying to overpower him with his body and experience. If it were yesterday, Lin Yan might have chosen to tough it out or pass the ball somewhat hastily. But today, he simply shifted his weight slightly to the side, flicked his wrist gently, and the basketball seemed glued to his hand. With a light crossover and a smooth turn, the assistant coach only saw a blur before Lin Yan slipped past him like a slippery fish, not even giving him a chance to exert force to contest it.

breakthrough!

His first step, unlike before, didn't explode and groan on the floor, but it was breathtakingly fast, with a long and springy stride. The other assistant coach, who was covering, had barely moved his feet when Lin Yan had already jumped.

It wasn't the cannonball-like charge of before, but a light yet swift leap. In the air, he had an extremely brief, physics-defying hang time, as if time had slowed down for him. He calmly observed the basket, and with a gentle flick of his wrist, released the ball.

"Whoosh!"

Hollow as it enters the net. The sound is crisp.

The sidelines fell silent instantly. Tom and Mike stared, mouths agape. Coach Holt raised an eyebrow.

This feeling…something’s not right! Holt’s heart skipped a beat. It’s too easy! Unbelievably easy!

On the defensive end.

Coach Holt took possession of the ball, intending to use his experience to one-on-one against Lin Yan. He leaned against Lin Yan and used his back-to-the-basket move to score – one of his signature skills from his NBA days.

However, he felt as if he had crashed into an incredibly resilient wall! Lin Yan's lower body was as stable as a rock, his core strength unfathomable, but the feedback from the confrontation wasn't hard; instead, it was a supple force that "dissipated" the impact. Holt tried to exert force several times, but each time he felt his power inexplicably neutralized and deflected, completely unable to find his familiar rhythm. He managed a weak turn and fadeaway jump shot—

A figure arrived before him, Lin Yan's leap completely blocking Holt's view of the shot! The speed and height of that leap made Holt feel as if he were seeing those flying beasts in their prime! Moreover, Lin Yan's hand precisely touched the ball, not with a rough swatting, but with a clean and neat block!

"Snapped!"

Lin Yan firmly grabbed the basketball with one hand and confiscated it!

"Holy...!" Tom and Mike both cursed simultaneously. A block! And a block on a former NBA player's shot! This is insane!

The following matches completely turned into Lin Yan's solo show, or rather, it was time for the "monster" to shine:

Offensively: His drives are unpredictable, sometimes like a stream winding around rocks, easily getting past defenders with speed and change of direction; other times like a flood bursting its banks, crushing through with unstoppable power and speed. His shooting is almost unstoppable, whether it's a mid-range pull-up jumper or a three-pointer, his high release point, fadeaway, combined with his terrifying leap and hang time, leaves defenders hoping they miss. Even more terrifying is his finishing around the basket. Once he jumps, whether facing one or two defenders, he can contort himself in mid-air with various graceful movements, either using a soft touch to lay the ball up or using his powerful core strength to slam it into the hoop.

On the defensive end: he became a shadow looming over the entire court. His coverage area was astonishingly large, extending from beyond the three-point line to the basket. His steals were quick, accurate, and ruthless, seemingly able to predict the opponent's dribbling trajectory; his blocks were equally devastating, with those block-catching scenes reappearing twice. His defense no longer relied solely on physicality, but also on insight and guidance, always appearing in the most dangerous positions, making the opponent's offense incredibly sluggish.

Although his coordination with Tom and Mike was still unfamiliar and his timing in passing and receiving the ball was not perfect, this slight lack of coordination seemed insignificant compared to his unstoppable offensive and defensive performance!

When the game ended, Coach Holt and his two assistant coaches were panting heavily, drenched in sweat, and their faces were filled with disbelief and a sense of bewilderment after being crushed.

Holt looked at the scoreboard, then at Lin Yan, whose breathing was even and who seemed to have just warmed up. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found his vocabulary so limited.

Shocked? That's an understatement.

Unbelievable? That's far too simplistic.

This isn't "progress," this is evolution! It's a complete transformation!

"Lin..." Holt's voice was a little hoarse, "You...did you make some kind of devil's deal last night? Or were you captured by aliens and modified?"

Lin Yan smiled, not explaining the mysteries of the water's essence, but simply saying, "Coach, I've just figured out some things about how to control power."

Coach Holt stepped forward, patted Lin Yan's shoulder forcefully, his eyes filled with complex emotions, which finally turned into a long sigh and a gleam of extreme excitement: "Monster...you really are a monster! But let me tell you, I like this monster! From today onwards, our training plan will be completely overhauled! You're no longer a student who needs to learn the basics; you're a combat weapon that needs honing! We're going to get you used to higher intensity, more complex environments, to bring out all of your...all that damn, enviable talent!"

Tom and Mike gathered around, looking at Lin Yan with their initial shock gone, replaced by utter admiration and pride.

"Lin," Tom murmured, "I now believe that even if you want to go to the NBA, it's just a matter of tomorrow..."

Mike nodded vigorously: "Aren't we witnessing the birth of a legend?"

Looking at his excited teammates and coach, Lin Yan said, "Coach, you've worked so hard. Let me treat you to a whole roasted lamb at my house."

As soon as the car entered the villa's courtyard, an extremely domineering and complex fragrance, like an invisible wave, instantly enveloped everyone.

This is definitely not just the aroma of grilled meat fat.

A rich, mouthwatering meaty base is layered with a deep, complex aroma.

Coach Holt unconsciously took a deep breath, trying to discern: "Is this... the smoky smell of some kind of wood? And... a scent I've never smelled before, one that makes my tongue itch?"

Tom and Mike, as if bewitched, turned their heads in unison towards the source of the aroma—the specially made grill in the corner of the courtyard. There, Wang Yuling calmly brushed a glistening layer of her secret sauce onto the whole lamb, already roasted to an enticing amber color. The sauce sizzled as it touched the scalding hot lamb skin, and instantly, an even more intense and aggressive aroma exploded forth!

The aroma contained the smoky fragrance of roasted cumin; the unique spiciness of Sichuan peppercorns that numbed the tongue yet was irresistible; and a rich, layered blend of star anise, cinnamon, and many other oriental spices they couldn't name.

"My God..." Tom murmured, feeling his taste buds screaming wildly, "This taste...it's so mysterious, I've never smelled anything so delicious before!"

Mike, the foodie, nodded vigorously, his eyes fixed on the sheep as if it were the only treasure in the world: "I feel like just smelling this would make me eat three bowls of rice!"

Coach Holt and his two assistant coaches were completely captivated by the spectacle and aroma. It was far beyond their understanding of "barbecue."

Looking at this group of country bumpkins from the food desert, Lin Yan thought, "Well, I declare that Chinese food is invincible!"