Chapter 26: Monster Attributes

The reason Sheng Xingming only began his shooting practice when his stamina was completely exhausted was because this state represented the norm during actual matches.

The loss of physical strength causes an athlete’s shooting form to deform, sometimes even leading to a complete breakdown of coordination and balance. Yet, Sheng Xingming’s day-after-day of high-intensity training was precisely to allow himself to transcend this so-called norm.

The video was short—only half an hour—but Sheng Xingming’s resolute expression and determined gaze cut through the screen and carved themselves into Xia Chiyi’s mind.

Xia Chiyi suddenly recalled an interview he had watched as a child, where a teammate had said that Sheng Xingming was irreplicable because if they used his training methods, the entire team would be wiped out within a single day. Yet, Sheng Xingming had persisted for years.

As the video ended, the screen remained frozen on the image of Sheng Xingming taking a shot.

Xia Chiyi let out a long breath. The excitement he had felt earlier receded like a tide, exposing the jagged reefs beneath the surface and leaving him feeling heavy.

Zhou Zhexiao reached out, took off Xia Chiyi’s headphones, and leaned in close, whispering into his ear, "Ling Huanzhen was one of Sheng Xingming’s close friends. The training program he designed is likely very similar to this. Are you sure you want to accept it?"

It was half-threat, half-probe, and a test, yet Zhou Zhexiao’s voice was soft and gentle, sounding more like a lure in Xia Chiyi’s ear.

It was like the One Ring, drawing out the most genuine desire from the depths of his heart.

"Yes, I accept it," Xia Chiyi said, looking into the other's eyes.

He didn't even need to hesitate; perhaps this was the desire he had buried deep within himself since he was a child. To feel everything Sheng Xingming had once endured, to understand him, and to surpass him.

Zhou Zhexiao raised his hand and ruffled the top of Xia Chiyi’s head. "Then get some sleep."

"Alright." Xia Chiyi felt drowsiness creeping in. For some reason, lying next to Zhou Zhexiao gave him an inexplicable sense of peace, and he didn't even want to crawl back to his own bed.

Just then, the sound of a whistle suddenly pierced the quiet night outside the dormitory window, sharp and urgent.

What was happening?

Immediately following it was the instructor’s roar: "Emergency assembly—"

Ye Chaoying bolted upright from his bed, cursing, "Which sewer wasn't closed properly to let the instructor crawl in?"

The next second, the lights in the entire building flickered on one by one.

Pang Shuai lay on the opposite bed, completely unresponsive. Ignoring everything else, Ye Chaoying grabbed Pang Shuai’s unwashed, stinking socks and slapped them onto his face. "Get up! Emergency assembly—"

Xia Chiyi’s sleepiness vanished instantly. He yanked Zhou Zhexiao. "Get down quickly. This is a staple of military training; there’s always one night where they won't let you sleep!"

While struggling to put on his pants with one leg, Ye Chaoying looked shocked. "What on earth is going on with you two? Why do you always end up rolled together when you wake up in the middle of the night?"

"Watching videos together," Xia Chiyi replied, putting on his clothes without changing his expression.

"Ha! What exactly is your relationship? Even Zhang Fei didn't crawl into Guan Yu’s bed every night!"

"Careful, or Sadako might come looking for you tomorrow night!"

By the time they had tied their belts, Xiao Pang was finally awakened by the stench of the socks, scrambling down in a panic with his pants on backward.

Fortunately, their room wasn't the slowest.

With the moon hanging high, the instructor was timing them. As the last student joined the formation, the instructor roared, "Twenty minutes and thirty-five seconds! If this were the battlefield, you would have already been leveled by enemy artillery!"

Xia Chiyi sighed inwardly. No wonder the instructor had ended training half an hour early today—it was to make them pay double in the middle of the night.

The night drill required them to hike from the school to Mount Mei, five subway stops away. At the summit, instructors would stamp their hands, and after being stamped, they had to return to the school, where another instructor would verify the stamp at the gate.

All of this had to be completed before six in the morning, or those who failed would face additional training.

A chorus of groans erupted instantly.

The instructor noted that there were patrols at the foot of the mountain, the subway entrance, and the station. Anyone caught taking shortcuts or using transportation to complete the task would be disciplined with a demerit. There were stations set up along the way where students could get water, steamed buns, hard-boiled eggs, and sugar water.

Xia Chiyi tugged at his collar and smiled.

"What are you smiling at?" Zhou Zhexiao asked.

"Isn't this where the endurance training comes in? Want to race and see who’s faster?" Xia Chiyi asked.

"Overestimating your capabilities."

"Perhaps it's you who thinks too highly of yourself?"

Listening to their conversation from the back row, Ye Chaoying rolled his eyes as usual. "Do you guys still remember Pang Shuai back at the lake? With his physique, I can’t carry him by myself!"

Pang Shuai: "Is it too late for me to play dead now?"

At the instructor’s whistle, the students set off. Zhou Zhexiao took off with long strides, and everyone couldn't help but sigh—those who play basketball really do have great bodies!

Xia Chiyi suddenly realized that since the other guy went out for morning drills every day, he might really not be able to beat him.

But should he give up just because he might lose?

Absolutely not. Isn't life all about challenging one's limits?

Xia Chiyi started running, following close behind.

Zhou Zhexiao was a monster of stamina. Xia Chiyi was already struggling by the time they reached the halfway point of Mount Mei, yet Zhou Zhexiao maintained a steady pace up the mountain.

Xia Chiyi slowed down, adjusting his breathing. To his surprise, Zhou Zhexiao still had the energy to grab a sports drink from a rest station, double back, and hand it to Xia Chiyi after opening it.

"What... what are you doing?"

"Drink." Zhou Zhexiao didn't lower his hand holding the drink.

Xia Chiyi took it and gulped down several mouthfuls. As he tilted his head back, his throat moved rhythmically, like waves stirred up by a tsunami.

Because of the angle, his neck line stretched longer, as if it might snap at any moment. Sweat slid down his chin, and as he swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbed. Zhou Zhexiao’s eyes darkened, and he subconsciously hooked his fingers at his own collar.

Though he was used to buttoning his shirt to the very top, he suddenly felt it was suffocating.

Xia Chiyi looked over, his gaze full of trust, innocent and guileless, his wet lashes reflecting the light. Zhou Zhexiao stopped the hand that had wanted to undo his buttons, as if proceeding with the action would release some terrifying monster.

Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, Xia Chiyi looked up at Zhou Zhexiao, who was three or four steps above him. "Why are you standing so far away? Can I eat you or something?"

Zhou Zhexiao remained silent, his face hidden in the shadows of the streetlamp.

Xia Chiyi’s camouflage collar was already pulled open, revealing the round neck of his t-shirt and the upper part of his collarbone. Crystal-clear sweat flowed down the line of his neck and into the hollow of his collarbone.

The unseen parts were always particularly alluring.

If there were a gap... that would be even more dangerous.

Shouldn't it be me eating you?

The thought appeared out of nowhere in Zhou Zhexiao’s mind.

Xia Chiyi rolled up his sleeves to his elbows. The lines of his forearms were also beautiful, reminiscent of wheat fields in spring; the entire world felt filled with a refreshing fragrance and the anticipation of his transformation into gold.

Just as Xia Chiyi was about to brush past Zhou Zhexiao in the shadows, he suddenly went, "Eh—"

Zhou Zhexiao tensed up for no reason.

"You can't be serious, right? When doing a mission, the instructor won't care if your camouflage uniform is neat or if your belt is fastened. What’s with this 'ready to march' look?"

"...Hmm?"

"Aren't you uncomfortable? Aren't you sweating?" Xia Chiyi stuffed the sports drink back into Zhou Zhexiao’s hand, and the next second, his fingers reached for Zhou Zhexiao’s collar.

In that instant, an invisible force surged from all directions. Zhou Zhexiao didn't know how to react. He stepped back, his back hitting a tree by the side of the road, the jolt feeling just like the vibration of a backboard after a slam dunk.

Xia Chiyi stepped onto the same stair as him, his fingers pinching the top button. As his knuckles lightly brushed the area below Zhou Zhexiao’s Adam’s apple, the skin felt as though it were being scorched. Zhou Zhexiao pushed back hard, but the tree left him nowhere to go.

Or perhaps he should be grateful for that tree; otherwise, he might have retreated a thousand miles.

As the collar loosened, the power suppressed deep in the shadows gushed out. His breathing smoothed, and he felt as though he could sense the blood flowing through his capillaries.

Xia Chiyi folded his collar back and tapped lightly on the highest point of his collarbone, visible through the round neck of his shirt. "You didn't know, did you? Lots of people love looking at this nowadays!"

Zhou Zhexiao wanted to grab the hand causing the mischief, but the other had already snatched the sports drink back and sprinted ahead.

"I'm going to beat you—"

Before Zhou Zhexiao could react, Xia Chiyi had already run ahead.

Zhou Zhexiao lowered his head and let out a long breath.

"Not even knowing how to distribute stamina—you'll be bitten to death by your opponents."

Zhou Zhexiao didn't rush to chase him; instead, he continued forward at his own pace.

Ten minutes later, Xia Chiyi arrived at the summit and held out his hand for the instructor to stamp it.

"Whoa! This is a new record!"

"I thought I’d have time for a game!"

Xia Chiyi looked at the stamp on the back of his hand, his excitement echoing the feeling of receiving a gold star in elementary school.

He shouted to the instructor, "There’s another one behind me! He’s fast, too! I’m heading down now!"

Xia Chiyi headed down via another path. However, perhaps due to the heavy exertion of the climb, he felt a bit short of breath. Once he reached the flat sidewalk, he walked slowly to adjust his breathing and heart rate.

A tall figure passed him effortlessly from behind. With that breezy, nonchalant attitude, who else could it be but Zhou Zhexiao?

"Darn... are you a monster?"

Xia Chiyi quickly picked up his pace to keep up. This time, he didn't dare to overtake the other recklessly. Instead, he carefully observed Zhou Zhexiao’s arm swing and stride. Although he wasn't sprinting, his speed was actually quite high. Xia Chiyi caught up to his side, watching his profile and feeling his breath.

The more he followed, the more he subconsciously mimicked him, and then realized... it was exhausting.

After running for another stretch, Zhou Zhexiao suddenly stopped and reached out to pinch Xia Chiyi’s nose.

"Oof—what are you doing—"

"You have your own rhythm and heart rate; don't mimic mine."

"Because you look cool," Xia Chiyi said, expressing exactly what he saw with total honesty. "It makes people wonder if your heart is a machine, beating at a constant speed forever."

Zhou Zhexiao looked at Xia Chiyi in another awkward, heavy silence.

As Xia Chiyi was about to try his trick of running ahead again, Zhou Zhexiao suddenly extended his arm, cupped the back of Xia Chiyi’s head, and pressed him against his chest.