PCJ – Chapter 528 Dangerous Mission

“There’s no need to waste too much of your time! With your talent, why should you train like an average student? As long as you’re willing, you don’t need to join every practice. Just participate in the important competitions. You can even skip the less important ones—give others a chance. Like that classmate Zheng Wendong in your class—he’s quite skilled too,” Shen Honggang said, clearly willing to offer generous terms.

Zhang Jiaohua smiled. “In that case, I might consider it.”

Shen Honggang didn’t expect Zhang Jiaohua to agree so suddenly and was momentarily stunned. Then it dawned on him—Zhang Jiaohua hadn’t been refusing outright but was simply negotiating for better terms. Once all the benefits were laid out, he agreed.

Zhang Jiaohua hated trouble. If joining the team didn’t bring too much hassle, participating in a few group activities wasn’t a big deal.

Zheng Wendong and a few others had been waiting nearby. When Zhang Jiaohua walked over, Zheng asked excitedly, “Jiaohua, did Coach Shen invite you to join the school team?”

“More or less. He’s the one in charge of the team?” Zhang Jiaohua asked.

“You didn’t know? He’s the coach! He must’ve seen your performance just now and decided to recruit you. I’m so jealous! You haven’t even played in a class tournament and already got selected.” Zheng Wendong was also hoping to join, but compared to the athletic students, he lacked the strength—unless he had Zhang Jiaohua’s shooting skills.

“Coach Shen mentioned you too. Maybe he plans to bring you in as well,” Zhang Jiaohua said.

“Really?” Zheng Wendong lit up with excitement.

“Of course!” Zhang Jiaohua replied with a grin.

Zheng was thrilled but soon looked downcast. “Honestly, I know my limits. I’m not even as good as Wang Peng. Even if I make the team, I probably won’t see any playtime.”

“Then train! Nobody’s born good at basketball. You can get there with practice. Remember the six-word mantra from our military training? Use that during basketball practice, and I guarantee you’ll become strong enough to earn a spot in the main lineup in no time.”

“Seriously?” Zheng clearly remembered the six-word mantra. After military training, many classmates practiced it daily, but few stuck with it. Zheng had kept it up for a few days before slacking off. Now hearing that it could improve his basketball skills reignited his interest.

Zhang Jiaohua modified the mantra slightly and told Zheng to integrate it gradually into his training. As for how far Zheng could go, that would depend on his own determination.

“Zhang Jiaohua, you’re amazing! That long-range shot scared off those pro players from the Beijing team! How are you so good at basketball?” Xu Xiaoting approached with a charming smile.

“I’ve been playing every day since elementary school. Nothing special—just muscle memory.” Zhang Jiaohua smiled.

“No wonder.” Xu Xiaoting clearly believed him.

Wang Peng slunk away in shame. He had completely lost face. Who would’ve thought even pro players from the Beijing team couldn’t handle Zhang Jiaohua and his crew? He regretted not bringing five pros and staying off the court himself. That Class 1 really was cursed. One Zhang Jiaohua was bad enough, but the other four had held their own against professionals too.

Frustrated, Wang Peng left campus and ran into a boy about his age—Feng Junbin, his sworn buddy. They met in middle school after getting into a fight. Wang initially lost, but later used his family’s influence to get revenge, even nearly landing Feng’s father in jail.

But Feng was a shrewd one. After his loss, he didn’t hold a grudge and instead called Wang “big bro,” becoming his loyal sidekick. Even his father, Feng Shachuan, obeyed Wang.

Wang didn’t treat Feng poorly either. He used his family connections to help Feng’s father rise to local power in Beijing.

“Big bro, you look upset. Something wrong?” Feng asked.

“Don’t even mention it. Some country bumpkin embarrassed me completely.” Wang told him what happened during the game.

“That bad?” Feng was shocked.

“Even pro players couldn’t beat them. It’s like some kind of curse.” Wang was fuming.

“Let me handle it. I’ll teach him a lesson. I’ll go to school with you tomorrow. Once I see him, I’ll find someone to rough him up.” Feng patted his chest in assurance. Wang, imagining Zhang Jiaohua getting beat up, felt better.

“Thanks. I won’t feel at peace until that kid gets what he deserves.”

To Wang, losing a game wasn’t just losing—it was humiliation. Zhang Jiaohua had “slapped him in the face” twice, and Wang couldn’t stand it. So when Feng suggested payback, he readily agreed.

The next day at school, Zhang Jiaohua sensed someone watching him. He turned and saw a stranger smiling at him eerily, while another figure skulked nearby.

“Someone’s trying to mess with me?” Zhang Jiaohua sneered.

He didn’t need to guess—either Zhou Qimu or Wang Peng. Zhou’s grudge had eased since joining the basketball team, which left Wang Peng. The figure’s height clearly ruled out Zhou.

The stranger watching him didn’t look like a student—more like a street thug.

“And this kind of punk thinks he can mess with me?” Zhang Jiaohua smirked.

After school, Zhang Jiaohua had nearly forgotten about being followed. As he neared Guluba Alley, several men suddenly blocked his path. They looked like adults, their voices low and threatening.

“You’re Zhang Jiaohua?” one asked.

“That’s me. You here to cause trouble?” Zhang Jiaohua asked.

“Someone paid us to teach you a lesson. Sorry, nothing personal,” the man said, reaching for him.

Zhang Jiaohua responded with a flurry of kicks—BAM, BAM, BAM—sending them flying several meters onto the main road.

Feng Junbin had stayed in the car, thinking a high schooler would be easy to deal with. But instead of seeing Zhang Jiaohua get touched, he watched his guys get launched like rag dolls.

Sensing trouble, Feng turned to run, only to find Zhang Jiaohua standing in front of him.

“W-what do you want?” Feng stammered. He’d thought Zhang Jiaohua was a pushover—turns out he was a beast.

“Wang Peng sent you, right? Tell him—stay away from me, or he’ll regret it for life.” Zhang Jiaohua glared at Feng, who collapsed in fear.

Zhang Jiaohua didn’t waste more time on the thug. He headed home, not giving it another thought.

Back at Guluba Alley, Zeng Lei had arrived. Lately, he hadn’t been around much. He was wearing plain clothes.

“Zeng Lei, where have you been?” Zhang Jiaohua asked.

“On a mission. Slipped out today,” Zeng Lei replied.

“Still not done?” Zhang Jiaohua was surprised.

Zeng Lei nodded. “I was worried I might run into you guys during the mission, so I came back to warn you—if you see me outside, don’t acknowledge me or mention I’m with the police.”

“You’re undercover?” Zhang Jiaohua’s eyes widened.

“Yep. I haven’t worked here long, haven’t handled many cases, so not many people know me. That’s why I was chosen.”

“Must be dangerous.”

Zeng Lei smiled faintly. “Danger comes with the job. Don’t worry, I’ve been trained. I just wanted to tell you—please pass the message to Fatty and Haoyue.”

“Haoyue doesn’t know what mission you’re on?”

“She knows I’m on a mission, but not what kind.”

“Then be careful. Here—take this talisman. If you’re ever in danger, tear it, and it’ll save your life. Remember that.” Zhang Jiaohua handed him a yellow talisman.

Zeng Lei didn’t dare underestimate it. It looked like an ordinary piece of yellow paper with strange symbols, folded oddly—but coming from Zhang Jiaohua, it might actually be powerful. Zeng Lei solemnly tucked it into his pocket.