Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 213 Lin Yan on Top

Before the shock from the physical test results had subsided, Coach Carter swiftly divided the 20 students present into four groups for a 5-on-5 half-court scrimmage. As soon as the whistle blew, Tom and Mike, as if afraid of losing a precious treasure, clung tightly to Lin Yan's jersey and shouted in unison, "We're on Lin's team!" While the other students were also astonished by Lin Yan's test results, most adopted a wait-and-see attitude, or even a hint of resentment, and the groupings were quickly completed.

Coach Carter stood on the sidelines with his arms crossed, and whispered to his two assistant coaches, "Pay close attention to that Lin, and see how good he really is in actual combat."

Lin Yan's team attacked first. Tom controlled the ball, attempting a simple pick-and-roll. He gestured for Lin Yan to come up and set a screen. Lin Yan understood the gesture and immediately stepped forward, but his screen was very stiff and clumsy—his feet weren't wide enough, and he didn't lower his center of gravity properly; it looked more like he just stood there casually. The defender easily squeezed through, blocking Tom's driving route.

"Lin, stand firm when you're blocking the way!" Tom shouted hurriedly.

The problems became even more apparent when it came to defense. Lin Yan's defensive awareness was almost nonexistent; he frequently missed his assigned defender and his attention was easily drawn to the ball handler. When the opponent made a simple off-ball run, Lin Yan's acceleration was indeed astonishing, and he caught up instantly. However, he charged too aggressively and almost knocked the opposing player out of bounds, resulting in a defensive foul being called.

"Watch your body! Don't foul!" Mike reminded him from the side.

However, as the competition entered an open phase, Lin Yan's terrifying physical talent began to shine uncontrollably.

The opponent's shot missed, and the basketball bounced off the rim. Lin Yan and the opposing center, who was over 190cm tall, jumped simultaneously. Lin Yan didn't even fully exert himself to push off the ground; his body seemed to spring up like a spring, his ascent speed far exceeding his opponent's. There was even a momentary pause in mid-air as he effortlessly caught the rebound with one hand. When the center landed, his face was filled with bewilderment and disbelief—he had barely felt any contact, and the ball was gone.

The game transitioned from offense to defense, and the opposing guard attempted a fast break. Lin Yan, who was still in the opponent's half, suddenly appeared in a flash, catching up with the sprinting guard in just a few steps. His speed made Coach Carter's pupils shrink on the sidelines. "So fast!" The next second, Lin Yan attempted a steal, his movement direct and brutal. He slapped the ball down, making contact with it, but also hitting the opponent's arm squarely.

"Beep—!" The thug committed a foul.

Lin Yan raised his hand sheepishly; he hadn't yet learned how to precisely slice the ball.

What was most astonishing was the physical contact. Lin Yan received the ball in the low post and tried to turn, but a burly forward immediately closed in, trying his best to push him out of the paint. However, a shocking scene unfolded—Lin Yan's slender body remained completely still during the confrontation, as if rooted to the spot. On the contrary, the forward felt as if he had crashed into a reinforced concrete wall, being bounced back two steps by the recoil. Taking advantage of this, Lin Yan executed an extremely awkward, almost simultaneous hook shot, the ball bouncing a few times on the rim before actually rolling in.

As the score became increasingly close, Lin Yan's innate competitive spirit was ignited. He slightly relaxed his extreme suppression of his physical strength.

In a crucial defensive possession, the opposing small forward used a crossover to shake off Tom and drove straight to the basket. Lin Yan came to help defend from the wing, taking two large strides to get outside the restricted area and leaping with all his might!

"boom!"

A clean, crisp, yet terrifyingly powerful block! The basketball was slammed onto the backboard with one hand, the resounding thud echoing throughout the gymnasium. The attacking player, landing on the ground, stared dumbfounded at Lin Yan, still suspended above the rim as if defying gravity.

In the ensuing attack, Tom missed his shot, and Lin Yan, like a crane among chickens, leaped high again amidst the crowd, grabbing the offensive rebound. This time, he didn't use any complicated moves; relying purely on his jumping ability and wingspan, he took a second leap in mid-air, slamming the ball into the basket over the opposing center who hadn't even had time to jump!

"Bang!"

The basketball hoop groaned in pain.

The entire stadium fell silent instantly. Everyone stopped what they were doing and watched the young man from the East swing gently from the rim before landing.

Coach Carter and his two assistant coaches were dumbfounded.

"God... he definitely hid his true abilities during the physical test!" a teaching assistant murmured.

"That speed, that absolute height, that core strength... dunking over someone? Is this a high school student?" another assistant coach added.

Coach Carter's eyes gleamed with extreme excitement. He rubbed his face vigorously: "Damn, his technique is rough! His movements are horribly awkward, his defensive positioning is a complete mess, and his tactical runs are like headless flies... But this physique, this athleticism... He's an uncut diamond! No, a rough gem! We have to get him into the basketball team!"

After the preliminary rounds ended, Lin Yan's team undoubtedly won, with most of the credit going to his unreasonable rebounding, defensive coverage, and simple, brutal scoring methods.

Tom and Mike excitedly surrounded Lin Yan, beaming with pride. Lin Yan, however, looked at his hands, slightly red from occasionally using too much force, and sighed helplessly, "Looks like I lost control again. Basketball is harder to control than fighting a monster."

Coach Carter, unable to wait any longer, approached Lin Yan and formally extended an invitation he couldn't refuse: "Lin! You have to come to the selection trials next week! I'll personally coach you! I guarantee that as long as you're willing to learn, you will become the strongest player in the history of Bryant High School!"

After class, the noise in the locker room gradually subsided, and Tom and Mike immediately gathered around Lin Yan, who was quietly changing clothes. They both keenly noticed the unusual low spirits on Lin Yan's face. It wasn't because he was excited about his outstanding performance in the physical test and the competition, but rather as if he was pondering some difficult problem.

"Hey Lin, what's wrong?" Tom nudged him with his elbow. "You were like Superman on the court! We were all stunned!"

Lin Yan tied his shoelaces, looked up, and said with a helpless smile, "It's nothing, I just feel... I have a lot of problems." He counted on his fingers, "My movements are not standardized, I don't know how to position myself on defense, I'm clueless when running tactics, and I can't coordinate with you guys... I rely entirely on brute force. Compared to those classmates who have trained, the gap is too big."

He was indeed a little frustrated. Lin Yan hadn't actually played basketball much in either his past or present lives, but he loved the sport. He knew it was a sport that combined stream of consciousness with technical skill; he could control every shot he took with his mind, making it fly into the basket. But what was the point? He could make his physical abilities slightly stronger, but even that wasn't easy for him. After all, since learning boxing in Hong Kong, all his power control had been geared towards injuring people. This sport, which required teamwork and finesse, exposed many of his weaknesses. In particular, his easily aroused competitive spirit and his lack of control over his body's strength, which had surged to 150,000 jin, left him with a feeling of "having strength but not being able to use it" or "overdoing it when he tried." Controlling tone in piano lessons and power on the basketball court both required extreme micro-management, which he hadn't fully adapted to yet.

Mike quickly reassured her, "Lin, don't say that! This is your first official meeting!"

Tom slapped Lin Yan hard on the shoulder, his tone brimming with certainty: "Lin! Listen to this! You're a peerless genius, you know? I've played basketball for so many years, and I've never seen anyone like you! Coach Carter's eyes practically popped out of his head! What you lack is technique and experience, but that can be trained! And your talent is a gift from God, it's historic! As long as you find a good coach and get a little guidance, you'll absolutely soar to new heights! I... my skill level may be average, but I can teach you some basics!"

Hearing Tom's words, especially the phrase "find a coach," Lin Yan's eyes lit up, and an idea instantly formed in his mind. He looked at Tom, his gaze intense: "Tom, how much do you earn a month working at a bar every afternoon?"

Tom paused for a moment, not understanding why Lin Yan was asking this, but still honestly answered, "Uh, probably... a little over a hundred dollars? Mainly from tips."

Lin Yan immediately and decisively said, "I'll double it! No, I'll triple your salary! From now on, every afternoon after club activities, you'll practice with me for an extra hour, mainly practicing teamwork, positioning, and some basic movements. As a bonus, I'll take care of your dinner every day—Lunch cooked by Yu Ling—and drive you home. How about it?"

"Oh my God! Lin! Me too! Me too!" Mike's eyes were red with excitement as he grabbed Lin Yan's arm and yelled, "I can be your sparring partner! I can retrieve the ball! I can be your defensive sparring partner! As long as you provide meals!"

Tom was stunned by this windfall—he no longer had to work as a waiter in a smoky bar, he could earn three times his salary, eat top-notch Chinese food every day, be chauffeured around in luxury cars… and he could even practice with his "future superstar"?

"I...I promise! Of course I promise! Lin, you're so great!" Tom was so excited he couldn't speak coherently.

Seeing the two excited people, Lin Yan smiled, his initial frustration dissipating considerably. He said earnestly, "Okay, it's settled then. Starting tomorrow. Also, I'll try to contact someone today to see if we can get an NBA basketball coach to provide systematic guidance. We also need to find piano and violin teachers..." He muttered to himself as he planned, his usual drive for perfection returning once he decided to do something.

"An NBA basketball coach?" Tom and Mike exchanged a glance, both seeing the astonishment in each other's eyes. Is this the world of the wealthy? Discovering a problem, they immediately solve it in the most direct and effective way—splurging money to hire the best teachers!

The three packed their things and walked out of the gymnasium side by side. The setting sun cast its golden rays across the campus. Lin Yan contacted Alexander through telepathy, instructing him to use his resources to quickly find the best private basketball coach, piano teacher, and violin teacher in the New York area. Tom and Mike, one filled with anticipation for the daily delicious meals, the other hoping to get a chance to audition a coaching session.