Volume One: Our Own League 140: The Assessment Match Officially Begins

It was a sunny Sunday, with just enough sunlight to feel pleasantly warm rather than scorching. The weather was perfect for a game of football.

The students participating in the third day of assessments stood in neat rows on the pitch. On the podium, Yangtong Mingxiong spoke immediately: "Today marks the final day of assessments for the Jinguan City No. 17 Middle School football squad. Those who pass will join the team; those who fail will be eliminated."

A wave of tension swept through the group. The most critical moment had arrived—success meant staying, while failure meant leaving. It was brutal. However, having survived layer upon layer of selection, these students were confident, perhaps even a bit arrogant. They were all convinced they would pass the final test and secure their spots.

Yangtong Mingxiong continued, "Today, we will hold two trial exhibition matches!"

Xu He looked up, his eyes locked on Yangtong Mingxiong, his heart filled with anticipation. Finally, it was time to play. After all, the ultimate test of football is decided on the pitch. Xu He hoped the matches would start soon.

"One match will take place in the morning and one in the afternoon," Yangtong Mingxiong explained. "We will divide you into three teams shortly."

Xu He was puzzled. Three teams? How could they play two matches with three teams? Would one team have to play twice? With sixty-four players in total, they could easily have formed four or five squads. Why only three? The others were equally confused, but remained silent, waiting for further instruction.

Yangtong Mingxiong seemed pleased by their discipline. He knew they had questions, so he continued, "Let me explain the grouping. First, the students from the second and third years will form one team—the sixteen of you on this side."

Xu He nodded slightly. So, the seniors would form one team. That meant the first-year students would be split into two teams of twenty-four—that made sense. But how would they play? Would both first-year teams take turns playing against the seniors?

"Some of you have likely already figured it out," Yangtong Mingxiong confirmed. "Yes, the remaining first-year students will be split into two teams, and each will face the squad composed of the second and third-year students."

The first-years turned their heads toward the seniors, their gazes filled with both competitive spirit and skepticism. Were these seniors really that good? Could they serve as proper whetstones to sharpen their skills? Xu He doubted their ability. He had seen them in gym class; while some were decent, they were generally far inferior to the first-year students. He felt a surge of defiance, itching to face them and teach them a lesson.

Yangtong Mingxiong added, "The morning match begins in half an hour, and the afternoon match will be around five o'clock. We want to give the seniors as much rest as possible to minimize any disadvantage."

It was true that playing two matches in a day was physically demanding. However, for middle schoolers, the intensity was rarely high enough to cause excessive fatigue—which was why many students could play all afternoon without exhaustion. Still, Yangtong Mingxiong clearly favored the seniors, believing the first-years wouldn't pressure them enough to reach a high intensity.

"I will personally lead the team of second and third-years," Yangtong Mingxiong announced. "The two first-year teams will be led by Xu Dongsheng and Luo Dongqing. Once the groups are assigned, find your respective coaches and make every second count."

Xu He nodded. The squads had actually been decided the previous night through a draft. Luo Dongqing had won the coin toss and selected Zhong Haokun, the player Yangtong Mingxiong valued most. Xu Dongsheng had naturally chosen Xu He. Since they were on different teams, they wouldn't face each other; instead, they shared a common enemy: the seniors.

Xu Dongsheng stepped forward. "When I call your name, step to the right."

Xu He was the first to be called. He was surprised, but mostly thrilled—it was a sign the coaching staff held him in high regard. He watched as his teammates were chosen, recognizing some like Zhang Zhen, Zhuo Jun, and Xu Liuxian. He felt confident in their strength; they should be able to defeat the seniors.

"You are teammates now," Xu Dongsheng told them as he led them aside. "You must be united. Put the team's interests first and do everything in your power to win. Our opponents are strong, but do not underestimate yourselves. You have a chance if you play as one."

"Understood! We will win!" the group shouted, though the lack of a coordinated chant made it sound a bit chaotic.

"Since our match is in the afternoon, we have plenty of time to prepare and observe our opponents," Xu Dongsheng noted. He promised that every one of the twenty-four players would get a chance to perform. While this eased the anxiety of those worried about playing time, it made others nervous about having to prove themselves in a limited window. Xu He wasn't worried about his own performance, but he did wonder if such frequent substitutions would hurt the team's cohesion and their chances of victory. He hated losing.

"Come with me to the stands," Xu Dongsheng directed. "I will analyze our opponents for you. Even though this is an individual assessment, I want my team to win. Listen carefully."

"Understood!" they replied in unison. Xu He felt a sense of camaraderie with the coach; they shared the same winning mentality.

They climbed to the stands to watch the first match: Luo Dongqing’s first-year team versus Yangtong Mingxiong’s seniors. Xu He cheered for his peers, hoping they would give the seniors a wake-up call.

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The referee blew the whistle, and the match began.