Playing cards, I am your ancestor!-Chapter 298 Mountain Ghost and Mount Flower Training Match_1
"Brother Tan, you’re back?"
When Luo Juerao, who was in the conference room, saw the suddenly appearing Tan Heming, he couldn’t believe it at first. Then, he leaped up in great joy, almost wanting to throw himself at Tan Heming. "Brother Tan, it’s really you?"
The coach, Su Yifeng, also looked at Tan Heming with surprise. "Heming, you’re back?"
"Brother Tan, Brother Tan!"
Aside from the somewhat shocked Ming Fuzhi and Duan Yuleng, the other two teammates were also extremely surprised to see Tan Heming. They had competed together for several years, and apart from the traitor Duan Yuleng, Tan Heming was such a good-tempered person that he naturally had a good relationship with the other two teammates.
Tan Heming smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I’m back."
He walked into the conference room and said straightforwardly to the coach, "I’m off this year anyway. The higher-ups have asked me to help you, Coach, review past games and make strategic decisions."
This was indeed a good thing, as Coach Su Yifeng knew of Tan Heming’s abilities. He just glanced subtly at Duan Yuleng and Ming Fuzhi, then his face broke into a smile as he patted Tan Heming’s shoulder. "Didn’t I say that before? But it’s good that you can come back." Obviously, he hadn’t considered whether Tan Heming’s spiritual power had recovered or not.
Luo Juerao was even more pleasantly surprised. "Really, Brother Tan?"
Without a change in expression, Tan Heming’s eyes swept over Duan Yuleng and Ming Fuzhi, noticing their subtle yet evident displeasure. The Black Tortoise within him also remained silent. It seemed that, just as Wen Jiang had said, he had to find a way to prove himself.
He looked at Luo Juerao and the other two teammates. "It’s true."
Duan Yuleng then mockingly spoke up with a sneer, "Brother Tan, has your spiritual power recovered? Otherwise, when we start playing, can your eyes keep up with the changes in the game?"
A commoner’s observational skills, of course, aren’t as strong as those of a Spirit Card Master.
Luo Juerao’s expression darkened, ready to curse Duan Yuleng. They had quarreled quite a bit during this time, and if it weren’t for the competition, he would have bagged this brat and beaten him to death long ago.
Tan Heming was the first to reply, casually saying, "Of course I have recovered. Without spiritual power, why would I come back?"
"Ah?"
"Really?!"
"Is it true, Brother Tan?"
Tan Heming’s words caused a stir in the meeting room. Luo Juerao and Su Yifeng looked at him in disbelief. "Heming, have you truly recovered?"
Meanwhile, Duan Yuleng and Ming Fuzhi, despite their best efforts to conceal their emotions, failed to escape Tan Heming’s peripheral vigilance. He still noticed the ugly expressions on their faces and the subtle exchange of looks between them at that moment. It seemed as if they couldn’t believe it.
Of course, his recovery of spiritual power was somewhat unbelievable, but everyone had expected his spiritual power to recover sooner or later. The reason these two couldn’t believe it—was it truly shock, or... were they certain he couldn’t recover?
Tan Heming narrowed his eyes slightly. He turned to share the joy with Luo Juerao and the others. It was a while before Ming Fuzhi spoke, his smile slightly stiff, "Brother Tan, it’s such a pity. If you had come back earlier, before the roster had been submitted, this damage dealer position wouldn’t have fallen to me."
Motherfucker! Does he think we can’t hear the sarcasm in his words, huh? Luo Juerao thought. After such a long time together, he found Ming Fuzhi even more disgusting than Duan Yuleng. Duan Yuleng was openly despicable, whereas Ming Fuzhi liked to say things in that mocking tone, letting Duan Yuleng take the heat. In summary, they were both idiots.
Everyone thought Tan Heming would just laugh it off, but Tan Heming looked at Ming Fuzhi and seriously said, "Yeah, so this is the opportunity I’ve given you. You’re lucky. I hope you don’t disappoint me. Mountain Ghost at least took third place under my leadership. I don’t have such high expectations for you, but I hope you can make it into the top five this year."
Ming Fuzhi: "..."
The openly provocative words left everyone else stunned.
Luo Juerao nearly wanted to applaud Tan Heming. Before, Brother Tan had a temper so good it was almost unreal. He would occasionally speak sternly if a teammate made an error in a match, leading to serious criticism, but he never cared about others expressing dissatisfaction with him. Now, however, this remark could be considered quite harsh!
Tan Heming actually didn’t usually speak in a way that would sting people. However, he remembered what Wen Jiang had said: if you want to find the problem, you have to come down hard on the problematic areas. Duan Yuleng’s dissatisfaction with him was obvious. However, he really didn’t understand this Ming Fuzhi and could only provoke him verbally a bit to see if the other party would reveal any flaws. If nothing happened, he would just have to assume he had misjudged.
In the end, it was Su Yifeng who came out to smooth things over, barely managing to bring the meeting to a peaceful close.
After it was over, Ming Fuzhi and Duan Yuleng were the first to leave, their faces grim. Tan Heming, the coach, and the others remained to discuss tactics and gossip about Mount Flower. After all, Wen Jiang had become an opponent, and that was something that had to be taken seriously.
*
"Damn!"
Back in the dorm, Duan Yuleng cursed, "What’s he being so arrogant about? Does he think everything’s perfect just because his spiritual power has been restored?"
Ming Fuzhi pursed his lips and said nothing.
Duan Yuleng looked back at him, trying to be comforting. "Fuzhi, it’s okay, this spot is still yours for now. As long as you perform better than him in the competition, Mountain Ghost won’t replace you with him next year."
Worry flickered across Ming Fuzhi’s brow. "What he said isn’t really wrong; he’s at least won third place before. I’m afraid I might not perform better than him."
Duan Yuleng didn’t say anything for a long while.
After some time, Duan Yuleng spoke again, his voice slightly cold, "What if we win the championship?"
Ming Fuzhi’s heart skipped a beat.
But they both knew all too well that with this team alone, beating the likes of Temple of the Gods and Divine Punishment was a pipe dream, not to mention that Mount Flower had revealed a trump card today. If Wen Jiang was a freak on the same level as the Great Emperor, they would have more than just two major powers looming over them.
Ming Fuzhi slowly parted his lips. "Too risky, besides... Tan Heming shouldn’t..."
"Shh." Duan Yuleng put a forefinger to his lips, a hint of a smile actually appearing on his face. "Indeed, it’s difficult, but there’s always a way, isn’t there?"
Ming Fuzhi’s heart beat faster, but he didn’t continue to speak.
"But this thing with Tan Heming really is strange," Duan Yuleng muttered. "It seems I need to ask around."
He said to Ming Fuzhi, "I’m going home for a bit. Keep an eye on things here for me."
Ming Fuzhi nodded.
Duan Yuleng gave him a smile.
After Duan Yuleng left, Ming Fuzhi sat down on the dorm bed, thinking about the words Tan Heming had said today. He held his phone and fiddled with it, his face expressionless.
Losing spiritual power was still too kind.
If only Tan Heming were dead, that would be great. Pity that idiot Duan Yuleng didn’t dare make a move.
Soon, in the Mountain Ghost coaching room, Su Yifeng finished a phone call. He turned to Tan Heming and the others, saying, "Mount Flower called to schedule a training match. The final roster deadline is tomorrow, and the selection competition won’t get to us that quickly. I’ve agreed. The match is set for the day after tomorrow. It’ll be a good chance to see what the upgraded Wen Jiang is like—whether he’s become more terrifying, or just mediocre."
