Chapter Twenty-Five: The Man Who Can Never Be Defeated

A man may be destroyed, but he can never be defeated. Lin Fei had read "The Old Man and the Sea," and that classic image of the indomitable hero had long been etched deep into his mind. Whether on or off the court, Lin Fei was that sort of person—he could be destroyed, but never beaten. In Lin Fei’s world, the word “surrender” simply did not exist.

“Ready to be crushed?” Those four words struck the hearts of the Business Department team like arrows. Their next opponent was the formidable Sports Department, known across the campus as the school team itself. Of the fifteen members on the school’s main roster, nearly ten came from the Sports Department. During their match against the Mathematics Department, players number 2 and 5 were barely reserves for the school team, which gave a sense of just how terrifying the Sports Department’s line-up truly was.

Lin Fei and Cui Yong knew well the vast gulf in strength between the teams. In truth, their victory over the Mathematics Department had already seemed a stroke of luck, and now they were to face the mighty Sports Department. The difference in skill was one thing, but what troubled Lin Fei the most was that, after beating Mathematics and making it to the finals—a new record for their department—his teammates had lost their desire to win. They were satisfied. None believed they stood a chance against the Sports Department. It was like going to war with broken morale—a certain path to rout.

This must be turned around! At all costs! Lin Fei himself wasn’t sure why the hunger for victory burned so fiercely in him. Even when facing the strongest of foes, he could not help but think of ways to win. Many called him a dreamer, but he would always persist in his dreams. Even if the whole world laughed at his foolishness, he would simply turn and smile up at the sky. Like the characters in “11 Degrees of Youth: Old Boys,” Lin Fei was the kind of man who held to his dreams no matter the circumstances. Time itself seemed unable to blunt his edge or wear down his will. Even as a duck, he would strive to grow wings and fly.

During practice, his teammates laughed, relaxed and at ease, for they were the pride of their department, boasting the most glorious history. Lin Fei, however, trained alone on the court, refusing to rest even when others urged him to. He yearned for night, for solitude to hone his skills in peace, away from the bustle and the burden of small achievements. How he wished someone would quietly watch him play, someone who could understand his loneliness. In his team's darkest hour, he had stepped forward to reverse their fate, and after victory, he faded quietly from the dazzling stage.

During a break, Lin Fei unconsciously hummed his favorite song: “I am constantly disappointed, constantly hopeful; I taste my own tears, and share my laughter with you. Now I stand on stage, eyes shimmering with tears. If I want to soar, I must leave the horizon behind.” Was he singing to forget today and start anew, or was he reflecting on his journey thus far? Both. “Today.”

That afternoon, Lin Fei and Cui Yong went to observe the Sports Department’s practice. Despite their reputation, there was no sign of tension for the coming do-or-die match against the Business Department. The players were casually shooting around, as if tomorrow’s game meant nothing to them.

“Did you know?” Cui Yong remarked, “They’re treating tomorrow as a rest day. Their daily training is far more intense than a single game, so they probably won’t even field their main lineup.”

Lin Fei gritted his teeth. “Brother, do you believe we can beat them?” He stared intently at Cui Yong, as if seeking his approval.

Cui Yong smiled. “Anything is possible.” His tone was odd, and Lin Fei knew that even his most loyal supporter, the team captain, had little faith.

Trying to change the subject, Cui Yong said, “Look at their practice—just dunk drills. With their movement, we’re almost powerless. You know number 24? The one who styles himself after Rukawa Kaede—last year’s MVP. They call him ‘Mountain Finance Kobe.’ And the tall number 10, nicknamed Akagi—he’s 205 centimeters, the center, a truly intimidating figure! Then there’s the blonde, ‘Nowitzki’—a power forward, 190 tall, but with a soft shooting touch, deadly from the outside. The shorter number 3, about 170 centimeters—point guard, with speed to match yours. He calls himself ‘Iverson.’ And number 1—guess what he’s called?”

“Mountain Finance McGrady?”

“Not bad!” Cui Yong laughed.

“Impressive—a whole All-Star team!” Lin Fei scoffed. “Let’s get back to practice. Trust me this once—listen to me. I’ll show you all how we can beat them.”

Cui Yong gaped in surprise, unable to recover his composure for some time. Lin Fei had always been called a madman on the court, but today, his words were calm and his resolve unwavering. Perhaps he truly had the right to be confident. Yet one man’s belief was not enough.

Back on the court, Lin Fei threw himself into practicing long-range shots, constantly stopping and pulling up for jumpers. Did he really think he could defeat the Sports Department with these moves? Sweat poured down his face, but he didn’t relent. He asked his teammates to guard him, and when they went easy, he asked his seniors to double-team him. He wanted to get used to tough defense. Every time, he shook off his defenders and scored with ease—layups, jumpers, it didn’t matter.

Cui Yong and the others watched Lin Fei. “We’ve already succeeded,” they told him. “Winning or losing isn’t so important. What matters is that we tried and we achieved something.”

Lin Fei ignored them. He was angry—they didn’t believe in him. But they would see; he would prove that he could lead them to challenge the Sports Department.

Suddenly, he became brash again—such is youth, often paid for with a price.

On the court, it was like two different worlds. On one side, Lin Fei trained relentlessly—the man who dared to challenge the sea. On the other, his teammates enjoyed the taste of victory and the prospect of facing the Sports Department. For them, having the chance to challenge that team was reward enough.

As practice drew to a close, Cui Yong said, “Rest up for tomorrow—save your strength. If victory is possible, it will be because of you.” His words meant he was still unsure, but wished Lin Fei the best.

“Brother, I only hope each of you can score a point tomorrow. To score in the finals would be the best memory for teammates like you who are about to graduate. But I’d rather give you a championship as a farewell. Who knows when our department will reach the finals again—this might be our only chance.”

Cui Yong was stunned—so that was Lin Fei’s real thinking. “All right, I believe you.” Tomorrow, I’ll fight with everything I have to help you win.

Now there were two determined hearts on the court.

One was Lin Fei, resolved to win at all costs.

The other was Cui Yong, who, though knowing defeat was likely, would still draw his sword in the face of overwhelming odds.