Lingqi took a deliberate step back, a calculated retreat as Chen charged forward, reaching the ball first. Lingqi's mind worked quickly; he was certain he could outmaneuver the portly teenager with his superior speed and agility. If he could do that, the ball would be his, and a goal would soon follow.

Chen's every move was a study in slow motion for Lingqi. The way he circled, the sluggish shuffle of his feet—Chen was not built for speed. This would be over quickly.

Lingqi saw his moment and lunged forward, sliding his leg out to kick the ball away from him, but Chen anticipated the move, pulling the ball back in a deft maneuver. Lingqi's momentum carried him past his target, leaving the goal exposed. Chen seized the moment, sending the leather ball sailing past the goal line with a confident kick.

"Nice one, Chen," Li Bie cheered, his voice carrying across the field.

"One to nothing," Gao called out, marking the score with a note of finality. "First to three wins."

"You can do it, Lingqi!" Yuyan's voice was a beacon of encouragement.

Lingqi nodded, steeling himself for the next round.

Chen once again circled Lingqi, both boys locked in a cautious dance. Chen's eyes never left Lingqi's, and despite his lack of speed, his footwork was surprisingly crafty. Lingqi could see Chen's intent—to bait him, to misdirect and capitalize on any mistake. But Lingqi would not be fooled a second time.

As Chen advanced, a sudden burst of energy propelled him towards the goal. Lingqi stood firm as the statues perked on the gates of the Huadu. Chen feinted left, and Lingqi shifted, deliberate, a ruse of his own. He anticipated and recovered, lunging for the ball. Chen tried to pull back sharply, but Lingqi was faster this time, cutting him off.

With the ball in his possession it was a forgone conclusion - he was simply far too quick for Chen to keep up with him. He advanced the ball a couple paces beyond the centerfield mark and kicked it past the goaline, where it rolled and stopped just short of the shrubbery.

"Yes!" Yuyan's cheer echoed, her fist punching the air.

"One to one," Li Bie counted, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Don't underestimate him, Chen," Gao warned, pride evident in his voice.

"Yeah, yeah, shut up. I got this," Chen growled, cracking his knuckles with a determined glare.

Lingqi's confidence caused his chest to swell.

The round began anew with Chen pacing around Lingqi, the ball dancing between his feet. Lingqi watched, every muscle in his body coiled like a spring. Chen moved forward, then pulled back, testing the junior student. Lingqi didn't flinch, he didn't fall for the bait.

Then Chen made his move. A sudden dart forward, and Lingqi stayed put, eyes locked on his opponent. When Lingqi sprang forward, it was with precision and intent. He stuck his leg out, having counted the dribbles. One, two, pull-back– that was his senior’s rhythmic pace, and Lingqi had timed it right to disrupt him. He intercepted the ball, causing it to slip between Chen's feet and he took off towards the goal. Chen gave chase, but once again, he was no match for Lingqi's speed.

Lingqi aimed and kicked, the ball crossing the goal line effortlessly.

"Woo! Go Lingqi!" Yuyan's voice was full of joy, her leap into the air a testament to her excitement.

"Well done, Lingqi!" Li Bie clapped, his approval clear.

"Nice work, Lingqi. I'm impressed," Gao added, nodding in respect.

Chen retrieved the ball, his face a mask of frustration. "Don't get too cocky, Lingqi! I'm still gonna win!" he shouted, his annoyance palpable.

"Two to one," Gao tallied.

"Okay, enough warming up," Chen muttered, slapping his face as if to wake himself up. "Can we use our Prana?"

Li Bie pondered for a moment, rubbing his chin, then nodded. "Well, it would be good practice, so... I don't see why not."

"Good," Chen smirked, cracking his knuckles with renewed vigor. "No more holding back."

Lingqi nodded. He had no intentions of holding back, either.

The boys faced off again, their gazes locked in a silent challenge. Li Bie placed the ball at the center mark.

"Go!" Li Bie shouted.

Both surged forward. Chen reached the ball first, and Lingqi fell back into his earlier strategy. But Chen was no fool; he recognized the tactic. This time, he adjusted, his eyes narrowing in concentration.

Stolen novel; please report.

There was a shift in Chen's breathing, a subtle change that Lingqi noted. Controlled, measured—a stark contrast to his usual frantic gasps.

"Is he..." Lingqi wondered, the thought trailing off as Chen moved.

Chen darted forward, and Lingqi readied himself. But Chen was faster, a blur of motion that Lingqi barely had time to process. Chen had faked him out, moving across his body with a speed that was almost inhuman. Lingqi felt as if he had been stuck in mud, his movement too slow. Chen’s feint had been quicker, sharper, more decisive.

It wasn’t a one-two-pull, no, instead it was a one-two-dart with speeds that mirrored Lingqi’s own. After he cleared past the junior student and left him in the dust, he had an open shot for the goal, which he took and made with little difficulty.

"Wow," Yuyan gasped, her eyes wide with surprise. "I guess Chen has taken his training seriously."

"I'll say," Li Bie marveled, stroking his chin in thought.

"I guess Chen is serious about taking over the family business," Gao remarked, impressed by the teenager's growth.

"Come on, Lingqi!" Yuyan's cheer was a beacon of hope.

"Lingqi! Remember what we went over this morning!" Gao called out, his voice a guiding hand.

"Right!" Lingqi replied, focusing his mind.

"I hope you're ready, Lingqi. Because I'm not going to go easy on you this time," Chen warned, determination etched on his face.

"Me either," Lingqi said, matching Chen's intensity.

They faced off once more. Li Bie placed the ball at the center mark.

"Final round!" he shouted.

Both boys sprinted for the ball. Lingqi's speed allowed him to take the lead, stealing the ball from Chen. He attempted to break away, but Chen was faster, more focused. He intercepted Lingqi's stride, reclaiming the ball with precise timing.

Lingqi gritted his teeth, pursuing Chen with a newfound resolve.

Chen lined up his shot, but Lingqi remembered Gao's advice. He drew a deep breath, visualizing his Prana. It was a flame within a dark cauldron, growing hotter with each inhale. He focused this energy into his movements.

Chen shot the ball towards the goal, and it glided through the air like a bird in flight.

Lingqi surged forward, his speed rivaling the wind itself. He leapt, a blur of motion, and met the ball at its apex. His body was twisted, his dominant leg reared back, and he struck the ball, clipping its wings and sending it sailing past Chen’s shoulder and onto the goaline.

The courtyard fell silent, astonished by his superhuman maneuver.

For a moment, silence reigned. The senior students' faces were masks of astonishment, their mouths agape.

"He... he did it..." Li Bie said in amazement.

"Yay Lingqi! You won! You won!" Yuyan cheered, leaping and hugging him, her face alight with joy.

"What? How did he do that?!" Chen demanded, utterly flabbergasted.

"I'm... not sure," Li Bie admitted, his face scrunched in thought.

"I know he's mastered Ohm but... to move like that... that's... not normal," Gao mused, still processing what he'd seen.

"It's true. What Lingqi did just now... it was... supernatural," Li Bie agreed.

"That's my Lingqi," Yuyan giggled, beaming at her friend.

"You're a beast, Lingqi," Chen complimented him, begrudging respect in his voice. "You might have been holding out on me this whole time."

"No, I really wasn't," Lingqi assured him, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. Sweat dripped from his brow, but his breathing remained steady.

"Hey, don't sell yourself short. You're really something," Gao said, ruffling his hair.

"Gao is right," Li Bie nodded. "You have a gift, Lingqi."

"Heh," Lingqi smiled, feeling bashful.

Chen retrieved the ball from the shrubbery and tossed it to Li Bie, who caught it with ease.

"Okay, now let's go! It's my turn!" Yuyan proclaimed, eager to show off her skills.

"Alright, you're up again, Lingqi," Li Bie said, taking his seat on the sidelines with Gao.

"Let's go!" Yuyan exclaimed, bouncing with anticipation.

"You got this, Lingqi!" Chen encouraged.

"Ready?" Yuyan asked.

"Yeah, I'm ready," Lingqi replied, nodding.

Li Bie placed the leather ball down.

"Okay, start!" Li Bie declared.

Yuyan charged forward, taking the ball with Lingqi chasing her. She kicked it towards the goal, and Lingqi caught up, but before he could intercept, Yuyan skillfully performed a slide tackle, to not only ward Lingqi off, but to advance the ball further past him before he could gain control of it. The ball rolled against the terrain and her shot was true as it made it beyond the goal line.

"Goal!" Li Bie called out, arms wide.

"Yeah!" Yuyan cheered, pumping her fist. "Take that, Lingqi!" She teased, sticking her tongue out.

"One to zero," Gao counted.

"Nice one, Yuyan," Li Bie complimented, grinning.

"That was amazing, Yuyan! I'm impressed," Chen praised.

"You're amazing, Yuyan," Lingqi said, genuinely amazed. "But I don't plan on losing."

"Neither do I," Yuyan giggled, giving him a wink.

"Okay, enough talk, you two," Li Bie cut in, placing the ball back.

"Go!"

This time, Lingqi took the offensive, not allowing Yuyan to set the pace. He gained control of the ball, but Yuyan was quick and agile, shadowing his movements. Her Prana guided her, enhancing her speed and reactions, matching Lingqi's own enhancements.

Lingqi knew he couldn't catch Yuyan by surprise; she was already fast. He needed a new strategy. An idea came to him, and he shifted his play. Yuyan tried to steal the ball, but Lingqi kept one step ahead, denying her. She sprinted ahead to block his shot, but he stopped suddenly, dragging the ball back with his heel.

Yuyan stood defending the goal, her eyes focused. Lingqi felt his Prana swell within him, muscles stronger, vision sharper. Visualization was key here - precision was his goal, and it came to him like an epiphany.

He took a step away from the ball, took one step forward, measured his strike, and then kicked the ball with his toes pointed inward. The ball careened towards Yuyan, seemingly head on, but when she went to deflect it, the ball instead curved at the last moment, slipping past her and across the goal line.

"Amazing! One to one!" Gao called out.

"How did you do that?" Chen asked, amazed.

"I can't believe it..." Yuyan gasped, wide eyes looking back at the ball. "How did you curve the ball like that?"

"I visualized it in my mind, and my body moved on its own," Lingqi explained.

"You're so talented, Lingqi. I might have to take it up a notch," Yuyan said, tying her raven hair into a bun. Lingqi felt a shift in the air, a heavy tension that rose with each passing moment.

"Yuyan! Are you going to use Sh—Mmhm!" Gao quickly covered Chen's mouth.

"Shh!" he shushed, wanting his mentee to figure it out.

Li Bie placed the ball at the center. "Alright! Begin!"

Yuyan and Lingqi surged forward, both intent on victory.