My Soulmate is A Libero
Volleyball Frontline
Wu Di: “Hello, dear viewers. We are currently live broadcasting the group stage of the 2018 FIVB Men’s Club World Championship Group B. The teams competing today are the Hamster Club in white jerseys and the Barbecue Skewer Club in red jerseys.”
Li Laiheng: “These are two very strong teams, both being perennial contenders in the Italian and Russian Super Leagues, respectively. They have both challenged the dominance of the top teams in their leagues. The Hamster Club, in particular, managed to dethrone the reigning champion in the Russian Super League finals last year. It will be interesting to see their performance today.”
Wu Di: “What’s intriguing is that both teams have Chinese players. For instance, the Hamster Club has Qin Chunxiao and Li Ling, while the Barbecue Skewer Club has Qiao Mingming and Fu Biyang. They are close friends on the national team. It remains to be seen how they will perform on opposite sides of the net.”
Li Laiheng: “Let’s watch and see.”
At this moment, Qin Chunxiao was already gathered with his teammates, hands stacked together.
Anton shouts loudly: “Let those Italians see our strength! Ura!”
“Ura!”
On the other side, the Barbecue Skewer Club also had their arms around each other’s shoulders. Their captain and setter, Eric, said firmly, “Let those Siberian hamsters taste defeat!”
The group of sturdy men shouts in unison, “Oh!”
Lu Yunchen returned in his changed pants and heard the roars coming from both sides. He couldn’t help but agree with what internet users say – volleyball is indeed a noisy sport.
Live chat comments:
“Hahaha, familiar style, familiar taste.”
“I love watching these muscular men play. Don’t ask why, it’s just that I love their vigorous energy. You can tell they won’t need any Six Flavor Rehmannia Pills before turning 50.”
“Hope our wolf will still dominate the defense today.”
“Don’t worry, your wolf might be inconsistent in offense, but he’s always slaying in defense.”
In this match, one of men’s volleyball’s biggest attractions – power – was showcased before Lu Yunchen and many fans witnessing a live game for the first time.
In the 2012 London Olympics, during the men’s volleyball match between Russia and Brazil, Russia was down 0-2 but bravely changed their tactics. In the third set, they made a comeback against the odds, shattering Brazil’s dream of Olympic gold that year.
One commentator says, “Russia realized in that match that they still had the towering attack in their blood.”
From that moment on, the towering attack became a romantic symbol for Russian volleyball fans and the entire men’s volleyball community.
No matter how tactics evolve, no matter the team’s style, one thing remains true for men’s volleyball – the yearning for the sky.
Lorenzo, the coach of the Barbecue Skewer Club, embodies this romantic spirit to the fullest in Europe.
Lorenzo pursued height, power, and unparalleled courage. He encouraged every player to attack and score, while also nurturing their all-around abilities.
When a team displayed absolute power and height, many flashy techniques became irrelevant. In volleyball, there was never a shortage of those situations where a team was down 0-2, only to turn the tables by relying on powerful spikers.
Absolute strength was indeed formidable. This was why mythical players were so precious – they could instantly transform a team’s fighting capabilities when they appeared.
Many coaches, when they found such a player, would initiate their ultimate tactic when the team faced adversity – giving that darn ball to XX and letting them smash-or set.
Lorenzo had taken this ultimate tactic a step further. Apart from the libero and setter, all four of his players could execute towering attacks.
It could be said that almost every Italian volleyball superstar who emerged had studied under Lorenzo. He was the patriarch of Italian volleyball, capable of coaching both men’s and women’s teams.
Current captain of the Barbecue Skewer Club, Eric, stands tall at 2.17 meters, exuding immense strength. Despite his leg injuries that had reduced his height compared to before, his powerful diagonal spike remains a deadly weapon on the volleyball court, capable of drawing blood as soon as it was unleashed.
However, — just like Lorenzo, one of the three renowned male volleyball coaches — Nikolai wears a confident smile. Today was the day they decipher Eric’s powerful diagonal spike!
In the 1st position, Qin Chunxiao, who was playing as the opposite hitter today, crouches down to dig the ball, using his impregnable defense to create counterattack opportunities for his teammates!
Li Ling was well aware that when receiving such unfamiliar balls, Qin Chunxiao’s first few sets might not be of high quality. So, he quickly runs towards Qin Chunxiao, one-handedly pushing the ball towards the net. Ruslan, hailed as the new generation of towering attackers for Russia, started his approach.
Takeoff, spike!
The best way to counter these towering spikes was to follow the classic tactic of “you do your thing, I’ll do mine.” When the opponent attacked, they defended, and if they successfully defended, they counterattacked and gave them hell!
Wu Di enjoyed watching the power battles in men’s volleyball and was so excited that he almost wanted to stand up and commented, “Excellent! The Hamster Club has probably been mixing with the Russian Super League for a while. They have plenty of experience against towering attacks. This counterattack is simply splendid!”
Li Laiheng remained composed, “When playing against a team like this, the most important thing is to remain calm and not let the opponent’s offense disrupt the rhythm. This really tests the defensive abilities.”
Not long after the match began, Qin Chunxiao had already rolled on the ground several times. Many times, the balls spiked by the opponents were so heavy that they made the fans’ hearts skip a beat. But Qin Chunxiao’s steps chasing after them showed no hesitation. He shouted for the block, and he blocked.
In the first three sets, Qin Chunxiao secured at least 7 counterattack opportunities for the Hamster Club each set. Even if the probability of converting these opportunities into points was only fifty percent, it still amounts to 3.5 points. Can they turn these 3.5 points into an advantage?
These 3.5 points manage to compensate for the Hamster Club’s slight weakness in offense, miraculously helping them secure two sets. It was only in the third set that Qin Chunxiao’s efficiency in digging started to decline, allowing the Barbecue Skewer Club to win one set back.
Because the Barbecue Skewer Club’s attacks were so fierce, every time Qin Chunxiao dug a ball, the fans felt their hearts in their throats. In their minds, if many other players were in his position, there would be no hope of successfully receiving these balls. But Qin Chunxiao dared to take them.
Live chat comments:
“Qin’s courage and determination on the defensive end always shine through.”
“Moreover, his serves today, both his and Er Leng’s, were really powerful. Especially Er Leng’s – he even managed to put a spin on a floating serve! I heard he learned quite a bit from Squid. The poor guy really worked hard.”
“Squid is also in the Club World Championship. He’s currently playing against the Lynx Club. He truly is the number one serving powerhouse in Asia. He’s become the Asian region’s top defensive player, just like our Wolf.”
“Looking at Mingming and Chicken King’s performance today, their attacking power is also becoming more robust. Qin might get tired to death or crushed if he continues like this. Ouch, that ball coming down looks painful!”
Nikolai decisively rested Qin Chunxiao in the fourth set.
Qin Chunxiao walked back to the bench, and a group of players immediately surrounded him, handing him a towel to wipe the sweat and offering him a water bottle.
Yashenka places a cold pack on Qin Chunxiao’s shoulder, causing him to shiver. Yashenka scolds, “Don’t move.”
He squatted in front of Qin Chunxiao, removed his arm sleeve, and noticed the sorry state of his arms.
Usually, veteran players wouldn’t have arms bruised and swollen from balls like this anymore. At least not as severely as before. But Qin Chunxiao’s arms looked like he’d been practicing for two days straight, just like a rookie. His fair skin made any injury more conspicuous.
Finally back at his seat, Lu Yunchen watched the Hamster Club’s team doctor and first appeared surprised, then clenched his fists in annoyance. It’s this troublesome uncle who got his pants dirty!
Soso looked at Qin Chunxiao’s arms and gasped, “They look painful.”
Qin Chunxiao replied, “They sure are. That jerk on the other side keeps targeting me with his serves.”
Targeting the libero with serves was a common strategy. Although Qin Chunxiao was playing as the opposite hitter in this match, volleyball fans worldwide knew him as the defensive anchor. His opponents were also well aware that if they managed to eliminate this defensive powerhouse, the Hamsters would become much easier to handle. Thus, Qin Chunxiao had grown accustomed to being singled out in various major tournaments.
Nikolai strokes his chin, “They’re starting to pull their libero off serving.”
In other words, from now on, apart from the setter in position six, the Barbecue Skewer Club would have attackers in all other positions.
The current positioning of the Barbecue Skewer Club was as follows ↓
Position 4 (Small attacker Bobby) – Position 3 (Opposite hitter Eric) – Position 2 (Small opposite hitter Colson)
Position 5 (Big opposite hitter Fu Biyang) – Position 6 (Setter Cece) – Position 1 (Big main attacker Qiao Mingming)
The difference between big and small main attackers was quite easy to distinguish. In a typical rotation, there were six positions, and each time a team gained the right to serve, all players shifted clockwise by one position.
According to the positions mentioned above, Qiao Mingming was in the front row for two rotations. In these two rotations, the front row only had two attackers, which means two-point attacks. In the rotation where there were three attackers in the front row (three-point attack), Qiao Mingming was also positioned in position 2, which was contrary to the position best suited for main attackers, position 4, a reverse rotation.
Of course, since many fans were too lazy to keep track of how rotations work, they have come to a simple conclusion – Did you see the setter? The player next to him was the big main attacker.
Lorenzo deliberately placed Qiao Mingming in this position because he possessed exceptional jumping ability and strength. He excelled in powerful attacks and was particularly skilled at hitting from a fixed point.
A fixed point attack involves staying in a specific position instead of constantly moving around the court like other players. The player waited for the setter’s pass and then jumps to smash the ball. This type of player had a strong attacking ability and could score crucial points for the team, breaking through the opponents’ defense and helping the team transition into a more advantageous rotation as quickly as possible.
In short, it meant, “Kid, score quickly and snatch the serve from the other side so that we aren’t stuck defending against their serves all the time, allowing us to rotate to the next round.”
In many teams, the big main attacker was responsible for scoring the rotating points, though not all teams follow this.
Fu Biyang served as the big opposite hitter. In the rotations where he was in the front row, two out of three rotations were two-point attacks, and he also stood next to the setter.
As mentioned before, players with powerful towering spikes could disrupt the opponent’s tactical system by attacking forcefully at crucial moments. Qiao Mingming possessed these qualities.
The Hamster Club had a strong serving line, with Soso being a serving specialist. As long as they maintain serve, they could achieve a higher probability of scoring consecutively compared to other teams.
This was why Qin Chunxiao often put in the extra effort to receive the opponent’s balls, preventing them from scoring and retaining their serve. Especially during the opponent’s serving rotation, he ran towards the ball with a burst of energy, pumping himself up mentally. Many attackers got frustrated with this, as Qin Chunxiao blocked their serving rotation. Although this tactic irritates others, those who understand volleyball acknowledge his remarkable nuisance value.
However, facing the onslaught from the Crimson River Battleship, getting targeted with difficult serves and spikes felt almost like getting beaten up.
Qin Chunxiao’s arms were both swollen and bruised!
In this match against the Crimson River Battleship, he not only actively defended against the onslaught but also bravely counters – got hit. He did both admirably.
If it weren’t for Li Ling, Anton, and Grigory providing some support on defense, Qin Chunxiao might had been forced off the court by the powerful attackers from the Barbecue Club as early as the second set. Even so, after completing three sets, Qin Chunxiao was already on the brink of exhaustion. His 17-year-old frame was not yet robust enough to withstand a five-set match against these powerful players.
Nikolai understood Qin Chunxiao’s importance as a defensive core. After all, the team had no one to replace him. This was why he decided to substitute Qin Chunxiao in the fourth set, giving him a breather.
He squatted down beside Qin Chunxiao, saying, “I need you to give your best performance in the fifth set.”
Qin Chunxiao lifted his eyelids, responding wearily, “You don’t have to tell me. I’ll do it.”
To help Qin Chunxiao deliver his best performance, Yashenka brings over some sports tape and starts wrapping it around his arms, one layer after another.
Although Yashenka was the leading expert in the volleyball scene, he couldn’t perform miraculous healing magic. Without enough time and proper equipment, he could only provide some massage and apply tape. That was how they manage to get Qin Chunxiao back on the court for the fifth set.
After the fourth set ended, Nikolai laid out the strategy, “Enhance our attacking efficiency. Grigory, Oleg, Ruslan, and Tulengchika, apart from scoring yourselves in the fifth set, you should also create opportunities for Misha’s attacks when necessary.”
Ruslan looked surprised, “Misha’s attacking too?”
Li Ling suddenly understood, “Right, Xiao Zai is playing as the opposite hitter today!”
Nikolai smiles faintly, “Exactly. Currently, our two teams are deadlocked. The scores are tight in each set. To break this deadlock, we have two options. First, further strengthen our defense.”
Looking at the battered Qin Chunxiao, everyone felt this option was not practical. Today, Misha had been practically throwing himself around the court on defense.
Nikolai continued, “The second option is to increase our scoring efficiency. As long as we can reach 15 points quickly, the game will be over.”
So, at this moment, Misha needed to step up and score as well.
In other words, Coach Nikolai decided to employ the ultimate tactic from all the coaches – letting his most trusted players break the deadlock.
The exhausted and hurting Qin Chunxiao happened to be the person Coach Nikolai had in mind to complete this task.
Anton, the main setter of the Hamsters, had good defensive skills, but his attacking skills were still in development. At this moment, the responsibility fell on second-in-command, Xiao Qin.
The fifth set was about to begin. Qin Chunxiao and his teammates gathered, shouted in unity, and dashed onto the court with determined expressions. Meanwhile, Yashenka knelt on the floor, tidying up things.
Nikolai squatted beside him and said, “Sometimes, I also wonder if coaches and team doctors used to look at us this way before we retired.”
“Knowing that our players face the risk of injury as soon as they step onto the court, and yet, for victory’s sake, combined with the players’ desire to charge onto the court, we can’t stop them. Even when they’re injured, we can’t sigh in relief and let them recover. We can’t even share their pain. But I don’t regret being a coach. In the end, I can only convince myself to be more accepting.”
Yashenka stopped in his tracks, “Why? Is giving pep talks to athletes not enough? Do you want to serve me a big bowl of soul-soothing too? Just so you know, I’m already retired. No matter how much you pour into me, as a doctor, I can’t conquer sports injuries.”
Coach Nikolai chuckled, “Young man, I’m just trying to comfort you.”
Yashenka was speechless, “You better focus on the players.”
He touches his own knee, an injury he got from pushing himself to the limit in training. Compared to that, Misha Qin hadn’t encountered such injuries yet, as their talents overflowed.
People were different from one another. For instance, the hip technique that both sprinters and long-distance runners use was a skill that required reaching a certain speed. Yashenka’s younger brother, who also loved sports, started to get obsessed with running after reaching the speed needed for the first hip movement. He ended up running 800 meters at that speed every day, until after 20 days, he developed periostitis.
Misha Qin transitioned from being a professional 100-meter sprinter to volleyball. Yashenka had seen him run in training, the pinnacle of coordination and flexibility allowing him to move with a beautiful rhythm. His explosive power and acceleration made him look like he was flying, and even when he reached a terrifying speed, his expression remained relaxed.
In that moment, Yashenka was sure that this kid would excel in any sport he chose because his limits surpassed those of ordinary people.
Many volleyball fans who were drawn into the sport by the scenes of Qin Chunxiao battling the “Beast” like to said this: Qin Chunxiao was the mortal who challenged the gods on the volleyball court. However, as his team’s doctor, Yashenka knew that this kid was also somewhat divine. He was just a bit smaller in stature, which put him at a disadvantage at the net.
Yashenka mumbles to himself, “I’m not worried about Misha. He hasn’t even touched his limits yet.”
Sure enough, after resting for a set, Qin Chunxiao, with renewed energy, started adapting to the Crimson River Battleship’s attacks. He and Li Ling once again form a twin star pattern, further diminishing the Barbecue’s defensive efficiency.
And Misha Qin could attack too, he was quite shrewd. In front of these burly guys, he resolutely avoids powerful spikes, instead opting for crafty and slower plays, occasionally throwing in a feint.
Qin Chunxiao jumped: I’m going to spike it.
The burly guy from the Barbecue Skewer Club also jumps up to block: Alright, spike away!
Using his powerful core, Qin Chunxiao hanged mid-air: Hey, just teasing you guys, I haven’t spiked yet~
The burly guy from the Barbecue Skewer Club started descending.
Seizing the opportunity, Qin Chunxiao lightly tapped the ball. The ball travels at a speed of less than 60, a speed that could be considered a leisurely stroll for a grandfather in the men’s volleyball scene. It precisely navigated through the Crimson River’s defense and elegantly landed.
Some might think the ball looked soft, but due to the players’ highly flexible wrists, the trajectory was unpredictable. The block just couldn’t stop it.
This play had even the women’s volleyball fans saying, “Is this kid a disciple of Meng Yuqing? Why does he remind me so much of her style after an injury?”
But just when everyone thought he would continue with softer plays, Qin Chunxiao surprises by spiking powerfully. After all, despite his short stature, Little Qin had a touch height of 3.55 meters. When provoked, he even dared to block William at the net! Oh, and he could use his hands too.
As the pace picked up, the Barbecue Skewer Club not only fails to disrupt the Hamster Club’s rhythm with powerful attacks, but they also got their own rhythm thrown off by the Hamsters.
Frontline of Volleyball
Li Laiheng: “Oh my, Qin Chunxiao’s court sense and vision… it’s not an exaggeration to call him the number one in China’s men’s volleyball. He missed several attacks earlier because he didn’t read the game.”
Wu Di: “Absolutely right. Don’t be fooled by the slower speed he used just now. He can accurately place the ball in the weak spots of the opponents’ defense. This requires both keen eyes and mental agility.”
Live Screen Comments
[“Although Sister Yuqing has retired, she left behind a successor in men’s volleyball. With this style of play, another player with the potential to play until 40 has emerged! Given my age, he can conservatively play for another 23 years!”]
[“This is the first time I’ve seen Qin Qian play so sharply on the attack. By the way, wasn’t he playing like this when he was on the Guangdong provincial youth team?”]
[“Ancient fans, come answer this. Yes, he used to play like this back then, especially when he was the captain. From his time on the provincial youth team, he was plagued by the ‘Old Fritter’ ball style.”]
[“Everyone, this is where Coach Nikolai stands out. We all know he never makes a bad deal, so no matter how practical our Wolf Team appears, don’t be surprised.”]
[“I, a Wolf, was once known as the fifth main attacker among the four main attackers on the provincial youth team, okay? Don’t complain about his height. His efficiency in scoring is there. When playing domestic games, he was Guangdong’s top scorer. He’s got both solid offense and defense!”]
[“Now there’s only one question left: this ‘Old Fritter’ style really invites trouble. Yuqing can pull it off because she’s 206 cm tall, and generally, female volleyball players have milder temperaments compared to the hot-headed male players. With Little Qin’s small frame, is he not afraid of getting beaten up after the game?”]
[“Hahaha, this play has made even Wolf fans worry about his personal safety.”]
Since both the Barbecue Skewer and Hamster clubs had two Chinese players each, except for a few special individuals who were fanatical about team culture in team sports, most people approach this game with a calm attitude.
Anyway, regardless of who wins, it was a victory for Chinese players!
Furthermore, today, not only had Qin Chunxiao stepped up for the Hamsters, but Li Ling had as well. He was not only good at setting and defending, but today he was also serving well, earning 8 points, showing a decent performance in offense, and even imitating Qin Chunxiao’s ‘Old Fritter’ style, adding a few points to their tally.
As the Hamster Club’s score approached 15 points, Lorenzo could tell that the Barbecue Skewer Club was likely to lose this match today.
However, he had initially thought that the Hamster Club was going to break through the Barbecue Skewer’s defense in this set. He expected that Nikolai would once again pull out his motivational notebook and gave a hearty dose of encouragement to Ruslan, the young player with obvious great potential. But unexpectedly, that motivation seemed to have landed on Misha Qin.
Lorenzo muttered to himself, “Nikolai really isn’t afraid of exhausting that underage kid.”
He glanced at Qin Chunxiao again, feeling a bit envious. This young athlete truly lived up to the $750,000 annual salary that the Hamster Club offered him. With his defensive efficiency, his clear room for improvement at his age, and his ability to step up in crucial moments, he was just amazing!
And the fragrant and skillful player Qin Chunxiao finally sat down on the ground after the Hamster Club secured victory in the fifth set.
Qin Chunxiao gasped for breath, “Damn, it’s been a while since I went all out on both offense and defense like this!”
Li Ling sat next to him, “Luckily, we’re playing against the Fugu Club tomorrow. We just need to pay more attention to You Ziyu and Terencio. Otherwise, we won’t be able to survive.”
The twin stars exchanged a smile.
Fortunately, Nikolai had made it clear before the game that he knew Qin Chunxiao’s ‘Old Fritter’ playstyle was effective against primate-type teams like the Crimson River Battleship. This allowed him to take on more responsibility, but when facing other teams, his focus should still be on defense.
Otherwise, if Qin Chunxiao was exhausted like this for several games, he would end up in the hospital.
After shaking hands with the opponents, as both sides began to relax after the game, the audience also started leaving. Considering his younger brother’s fatigue, Lu Xuandong, who must have felt quite uncomfortable after watching the entire match, sent a text to Qin Chunxiao and left with him.
At this moment, Yashenka rushed onto the court carrying an ice bucket and pressed an ice pack against Qin Chunxiao’s arm, “Quick, apply some pressure.”
Qin Chunxiao winced, “Ouch!”
Li Ling quickly intervened, “Yashenka, be gentle, Xiaozai isn’t feeling well.”
Yashenka and Li Ling playfully bickered, “I’m going to give him a massage later, what do you mean by gentle?”
They had become close during Li Ling’s injury rehabilitation. The other players laughed as they watched their antics.
Li Ling accidentally tugged at Yashenka’s sleeve and blinked, pointing at the intricate flower tattoos on his arm, “Hey, Yashenka, did you get a new tattoo again?”
There were two types of flowers tattooed on Yashenka’s arm: lavender and red hibiscus.
The language of lavender flowers signifies that love can be achieved through effort.
The language of red hibiscus flowers signifies a desire to be loved.
And now, among the purple lavender flowers on his forearm, a set of numbers sat quietly.
239:59:59
Yashenka looked at these numbers and instinctively muttered, “Mute!”
Qin Chunxiao stood up, grasped Yashenka’s arm, and looked at the numbers, his expression turning coarse, “What the hell!”
The Hamster Club players gathered around.
“What’s going on with Yashenka’s tattoo? Su-ka!”
“Yashenka… Ahhhh!”
“I’ll take a look, oh my god!”
Seeing the players so excited, Nikolai also came over to take a look, “Let me see what’s going on. Oh my god!”
Qin Chunxiao urgently asked the team doctor, “Yashenka, when did you meet him? Do you know who he is?”
Yashenka looked bewildered, “I have no idea when this thing appeared. Generally, the countdown for soulmates is in a much larger font, like the initial font size for Word. Why is mine in font size 5? Who can see such a small thing?”
The poor doctor hadn’t paid any attention to his arm after breakfast. As he pondered his activities after breakfast and the people he had encountered afterwards, his vision suddenly went black.
Did he have to end up with countdowns appearing in places he couldn’t see, like his butt or behind his ears, to the point where he wouldn’t notice meeting his soulmate for a long time? Was he going to be a poor schmuck who missed the chance to meet his soulmate?
Goddess of Fate, are you messing with me or what?!
My Soulmate is A Libero
Volleyball Frontline
Wu Di: “Hello, dear viewers. We are currently live broadcasting the group stage of the 2018 FIVB Men’s Club World Championship Group B. The teams competing today are the Hamster Club in white jerseys and the Barbecue Skewer Club in red jerseys.”
Li Laiheng: “These are two very strong teams, both being perennial contenders in the Italian and Russian Super Leagues, respectively. They have both challenged the dominance of the top teams in their leagues. The Hamster Club, in particular, managed to dethrone the reigning champion in the Russian Super League finals last year. It will be interesting to see their performance today.”
Wu Di: “What’s intriguing is that both teams have Chinese players. For instance, the Hamster Club has Qin Chunxiao and Li Ling, while the Barbecue Skewer Club has Qiao Mingming and Fu Biyang. They are close friends on the national team. It remains to be seen how they will perform on opposite sides of the net.”
Li Laiheng: “Let’s watch and see.”
At this moment, Qin Chunxiao was already gathered with his teammates, hands stacked together.
Anton shouts loudly: “Let those Italians see our strength! Ura!”
“Ura!”
On the other side, the Barbecue Skewer Club also had their arms around each other’s shoulders. Their captain and setter, Eric, said firmly, “Let those Siberian hamsters taste defeat!”
The group of sturdy men shouts in unison, “Oh!”
Lu Yunchen returned in his changed pants and heard the roars coming from both sides. He couldn’t help but agree with what internet users say – volleyball is indeed a noisy sport.
Live chat comments:
“Hahaha, familiar style, familiar taste.”
“I love watching these muscular men play. Don’t ask why, it’s just that I love their vigorous energy. You can tell they won’t need any Six Flavor Rehmannia Pills before turning 50.”
“Hope our wolf will still dominate the defense today.”
“Don’t worry, your wolf might be inconsistent in offense, but he’s always slaying in defense.”
In this match, one of men’s volleyball’s biggest attractions – power – was showcased before Lu Yunchen and many fans witnessing a live game for the first time.
In the 2012 London Olympics, during the men’s volleyball match between Russia and Brazil, Russia was down 0-2 but bravely changed their tactics. In the third set, they made a comeback against the odds, shattering Brazil’s dream of Olympic gold that year.
One commentator says, “Russia realized in that match that they still had the towering attack in their blood.”
From that moment on, the towering attack became a romantic symbol for Russian volleyball fans and the entire men’s volleyball community.
No matter how tactics evolve, no matter the team’s style, one thing remains true for men’s volleyball – the yearning for the sky.
Lorenzo, the coach of the Barbecue Skewer Club, embodies this romantic spirit to the fullest in Europe.
Lorenzo pursued height, power, and unparalleled courage. He encouraged every player to attack and score, while also nurturing their all-around abilities.
When a team displayed absolute power and height, many flashy techniques became irrelevant. In volleyball, there was never a shortage of those situations where a team was down 0-2, only to turn the tables by relying on powerful spikers.
Absolute strength was indeed formidable. This was why mythical players were so precious – they could instantly transform a team’s fighting capabilities when they appeared.
Many coaches, when they found such a player, would initiate their ultimate tactic when the team faced adversity – giving that darn ball to XX and letting them smash-or set.
Lorenzo had taken this ultimate tactic a step further. Apart from the libero and setter, all four of his players could execute towering attacks.
It could be said that almost every Italian volleyball superstar who emerged had studied under Lorenzo. He was the patriarch of Italian volleyball, capable of coaching both men’s and women’s teams.
Current captain of the Barbecue Skewer Club, Eric, stands tall at 2.17 meters, exuding immense strength. Despite his leg injuries that had reduced his height compared to before, his powerful diagonal spike remains a deadly weapon on the volleyball court, capable of drawing blood as soon as it was unleashed.
However, — just like Lorenzo, one of the three renowned male volleyball coaches — Nikolai wears a confident smile. Today was the day they decipher Eric’s powerful diagonal spike!
In the 1st position, Qin Chunxiao, who was playing as the opposite hitter today, crouches down to dig the ball, using his impregnable defense to create counterattack opportunities for his teammates!
Li Ling was well aware that when receiving such unfamiliar balls, Qin Chunxiao’s first few sets might not be of high quality. So, he quickly runs towards Qin Chunxiao, one-handedly pushing the ball towards the net. Ruslan, hailed as the new generation of towering attackers for Russia, started his approach.
Takeoff, spike!
The best way to counter these towering spikes was to follow the classic tactic of “you do your thing, I’ll do mine.” When the opponent attacked, they defended, and if they successfully defended, they counterattacked and gave them hell!
Wu Di enjoyed watching the power battles in men’s volleyball and was so excited that he almost wanted to stand up and commented, “Excellent! The Hamster Club has probably been mixing with the Russian Super League for a while. They have plenty of experience against towering attacks. This counterattack is simply splendid!”
Li Laiheng remained composed, “When playing against a team like this, the most important thing is to remain calm and not let the opponent’s offense disrupt the rhythm. This really tests the defensive abilities.”
Not long after the match began, Qin Chunxiao had already rolled on the ground several times. Many times, the balls spiked by the opponents were so heavy that they made the fans’ hearts skip a beat. But Qin Chunxiao’s steps chasing after them showed no hesitation. He shouted for the block, and he blocked.
In the first three sets, Qin Chunxiao secured at least 7 counterattack opportunities for the Hamster Club each set. Even if the probability of converting these opportunities into points was only fifty percent, it still amounts to 3.5 points. Can they turn these 3.5 points into an advantage?
These 3.5 points manage to compensate for the Hamster Club’s slight weakness in offense, miraculously helping them secure two sets. It was only in the third set that Qin Chunxiao’s efficiency in digging started to decline, allowing the Barbecue Skewer Club to win one set back.
Because the Barbecue Skewer Club’s attacks were so fierce, every time Qin Chunxiao dug a ball, the fans felt their hearts in their throats. In their minds, if many other players were in his position, there would be no hope of successfully receiving these balls. But Qin Chunxiao dared to take them.
Live chat comments:
“Qin’s courage and determination on the defensive end always shine through.”
“Moreover, his serves today, both his and Er Leng’s, were really powerful. Especially Er Leng’s – he even managed to put a spin on a floating serve! I heard he learned quite a bit from Squid. The poor guy really worked hard.”
“Squid is also in the Club World Championship. He’s currently playing against the Lynx Club. He truly is the number one serving powerhouse in Asia. He’s become the Asian region’s top defensive player, just like our Wolf.”
“Looking at Mingming and Chicken King’s performance today, their attacking power is also becoming more robust. Qin might get tired to death or crushed if he continues like this. Ouch, that ball coming down looks painful!”
Nikolai decisively rested Qin Chunxiao in the fourth set.
Qin Chunxiao walked back to the bench, and a group of players immediately surrounded him, handing him a towel to wipe the sweat and offering him a water bottle.
Yashenka places a cold pack on Qin Chunxiao’s shoulder, causing him to shiver. Yashenka scolds, “Don’t move.”
He squatted in front of Qin Chunxiao, removed his arm sleeve, and noticed the sorry state of his arms.
Usually, veteran players wouldn’t have arms bruised and swollen from balls like this anymore. At least not as severely as before. But Qin Chunxiao’s arms looked like he’d been practicing for two days straight, just like a rookie. His fair skin made any injury more conspicuous.
Finally back at his seat, Lu Yunchen watched the Hamster Club’s team doctor and first appeared surprised, then clenched his fists in annoyance. It’s this troublesome uncle who got his pants dirty!
Soso looked at Qin Chunxiao’s arms and gasped, “They look painful.”
Qin Chunxiao replied, “They sure are. That jerk on the other side keeps targeting me with his serves.”
Targeting the libero with serves was a common strategy. Although Qin Chunxiao was playing as the opposite hitter in this match, volleyball fans worldwide knew him as the defensive anchor. His opponents were also well aware that if they managed to eliminate this defensive powerhouse, the Hamsters would become much easier to handle. Thus, Qin Chunxiao had grown accustomed to being singled out in various major tournaments.
Nikolai strokes his chin, “They’re starting to pull their libero off serving.”
In other words, from now on, apart from the setter in position six, the Barbecue Skewer Club would have attackers in all other positions.
The current positioning of the Barbecue Skewer Club was as follows ↓
Position 4 (Small attacker Bobby) – Position 3 (Opposite hitter Eric) – Position 2 (Small opposite hitter Colson)
Position 5 (Big opposite hitter Fu Biyang) – Position 6 (Setter Cece) – Position 1 (Big main attacker Qiao Mingming)
The difference between big and small main attackers was quite easy to distinguish. In a typical rotation, there were six positions, and each time a team gained the right to serve, all players shifted clockwise by one position.
According to the positions mentioned above, Qiao Mingming was in the front row for two rotations. In these two rotations, the front row only had two attackers, which means two-point attacks. In the rotation where there were three attackers in the front row (three-point attack), Qiao Mingming was also positioned in position 2, which was contrary to the position best suited for main attackers, position 4, a reverse rotation.
Of course, since many fans were too lazy to keep track of how rotations work, they have come to a simple conclusion – Did you see the setter? The player next to him was the big main attacker.
Lorenzo deliberately placed Qiao Mingming in this position because he possessed exceptional jumping ability and strength. He excelled in powerful attacks and was particularly skilled at hitting from a fixed point.
A fixed point attack involves staying in a specific position instead of constantly moving around the court like other players. The player waited for the setter’s pass and then jumps to smash the ball. This type of player had a strong attacking ability and could score crucial points for the team, breaking through the opponents’ defense and helping the team transition into a more advantageous rotation as quickly as possible.
In short, it meant, “Kid, score quickly and snatch the serve from the other side so that we aren’t stuck defending against their serves all the time, allowing us to rotate to the next round.”
In many teams, the big main attacker was responsible for scoring the rotating points, though not all teams follow this.
Fu Biyang served as the big opposite hitter. In the rotations where he was in the front row, two out of three rotations were two-point attacks, and he also stood next to the setter.
As mentioned before, players with powerful towering spikes could disrupt the opponent’s tactical system by attacking forcefully at crucial moments. Qiao Mingming possessed these qualities.
The Hamster Club had a strong serving line, with Soso being a serving specialist. As long as they maintain serve, they could achieve a higher probability of scoring consecutively compared to other teams.
This was why Qin Chunxiao often put in the extra effort to receive the opponent’s balls, preventing them from scoring and retaining their serve. Especially during the opponent’s serving rotation, he ran towards the ball with a burst of energy, pumping himself up mentally. Many attackers got frustrated with this, as Qin Chunxiao blocked their serving rotation. Although this tactic irritates others, those who understand volleyball acknowledge his remarkable nuisance value.
However, facing the onslaught from the Crimson River Battleship, getting targeted with difficult serves and spikes felt almost like getting beaten up.
Qin Chunxiao’s arms were both swollen and bruised!
In this match against the Crimson River Battleship, he not only actively defended against the onslaught but also bravely counters – got hit. He did both admirably.
If it weren’t for Li Ling, Anton, and Grigory providing some support on defense, Qin Chunxiao might had been forced off the court by the powerful attackers from the Barbecue Club as early as the second set. Even so, after completing three sets, Qin Chunxiao was already on the brink of exhaustion. His 17-year-old frame was not yet robust enough to withstand a five-set match against these powerful players.
Nikolai understood Qin Chunxiao’s importance as a defensive core. After all, the team had no one to replace him. This was why he decided to substitute Qin Chunxiao in the fourth set, giving him a breather.
He squatted down beside Qin Chunxiao, saying, “I need you to give your best performance in the fifth set.”
Qin Chunxiao lifted his eyelids, responding wearily, “You don’t have to tell me. I’ll do it.”
To help Qin Chunxiao deliver his best performance, Yashenka brings over some sports tape and starts wrapping it around his arms, one layer after another.
Although Yashenka was the leading expert in the volleyball scene, he couldn’t perform miraculous healing magic. Without enough time and proper equipment, he could only provide some massage and apply tape. That was how they manage to get Qin Chunxiao back on the court for the fifth set.
After the fourth set ended, Nikolai laid out the strategy, “Enhance our attacking efficiency. Grigory, Oleg, Ruslan, and Tulengchika, apart from scoring yourselves in the fifth set, you should also create opportunities for Misha’s attacks when necessary.”
Ruslan looked surprised, “Misha’s attacking too?”
Li Ling suddenly understood, “Right, Xiao Zai is playing as the opposite hitter today!”
Nikolai smiles faintly, “Exactly. Currently, our two teams are deadlocked. The scores are tight in each set. To break this deadlock, we have two options. First, further strengthen our defense.”
Looking at the battered Qin Chunxiao, everyone felt this option was not practical. Today, Misha had been practically throwing himself around the court on defense.
Nikolai continued, “The second option is to increase our scoring efficiency. As long as we can reach 15 points quickly, the game will be over.”
So, at this moment, Misha needed to step up and score as well.
In other words, Coach Nikolai decided to employ the ultimate tactic from all the coaches – letting his most trusted players break the deadlock.
The exhausted and hurting Qin Chunxiao happened to be the person Coach Nikolai had in mind to complete this task.
Anton, the main setter of the Hamsters, had good defensive skills, but his attacking skills were still in development. At this moment, the responsibility fell on second-in-command, Xiao Qin.
The fifth set was about to begin. Qin Chunxiao and his teammates gathered, shouted in unity, and dashed onto the court with determined expressions. Meanwhile, Yashenka knelt on the floor, tidying up things.
Nikolai squatted beside him and said, “Sometimes, I also wonder if coaches and team doctors used to look at us this way before we retired.”
“Knowing that our players face the risk of injury as soon as they step onto the court, and yet, for victory’s sake, combined with the players’ desire to charge onto the court, we can’t stop them. Even when they’re injured, we can’t sigh in relief and let them recover. We can’t even share their pain. But I don’t regret being a coach. In the end, I can only convince myself to be more accepting.”
Yashenka stopped in his tracks, “Why? Is giving pep talks to athletes not enough? Do you want to serve me a big bowl of soul-soothing too? Just so you know, I’m already retired. No matter how much you pour into me, as a doctor, I can’t conquer sports injuries.”
Coach Nikolai chuckled, “Young man, I’m just trying to comfort you.”
Yashenka was speechless, “You better focus on the players.”
He touches his own knee, an injury he got from pushing himself to the limit in training. Compared to that, Misha Qin hadn’t encountered such injuries yet, as their talents overflowed.
People were different from one another. For instance, the hip technique that both sprinters and long-distance runners use was a skill that required reaching a certain speed. Yashenka’s younger brother, who also loved sports, started to get obsessed with running after reaching the speed needed for the first hip movement. He ended up running 800 meters at that speed every day, until after 20 days, he developed periostitis.
Misha Qin transitioned from being a professional 100-meter sprinter to volleyball. Yashenka had seen him run in training, the pinnacle of coordination and flexibility allowing him to move with a beautiful rhythm. His explosive power and acceleration made him look like he was flying, and even when he reached a terrifying speed, his expression remained relaxed.
In that moment, Yashenka was sure that this kid would excel in any sport he chose because his limits surpassed those of ordinary people.
Many volleyball fans who were drawn into the sport by the scenes of Qin Chunxiao battling the “Beast” like to said this: Qin Chunxiao was the mortal who challenged the gods on the volleyball court. However, as his team’s doctor, Yashenka knew that this kid was also somewhat divine. He was just a bit smaller in stature, which put him at a disadvantage at the net.
Yashenka mumbles to himself, “I’m not worried about Misha. He hasn’t even touched his limits yet.”
Sure enough, after resting for a set, Qin Chunxiao, with renewed energy, started adapting to the Crimson River Battleship’s attacks. He and Li Ling once again form a twin star pattern, further diminishing the Barbecue’s defensive efficiency.
And Misha Qin could attack too, he was quite shrewd. In front of these burly guys, he resolutely avoids powerful spikes, instead opting for crafty and slower plays, occasionally throwing in a feint.
Qin Chunxiao jumped: I’m going to spike it.
The burly guy from the Barbecue Skewer Club also jumps up to block: Alright, spike away!
Using his powerful core, Qin Chunxiao hanged mid-air: Hey, just teasing you guys, I haven’t spiked yet~
The burly guy from the Barbecue Skewer Club started descending.
Seizing the opportunity, Qin Chunxiao lightly tapped the ball. The ball travels at a speed of less than 60, a speed that could be considered a leisurely stroll for a grandfather in the men’s volleyball scene. It precisely navigated through the Crimson River’s defense and elegantly landed.
Some might think the ball looked soft, but due to the players’ highly flexible wrists, the trajectory was unpredictable. The block just couldn’t stop it.
This play had even the women’s volleyball fans saying, “Is this kid a disciple of Meng Yuqing? Why does he remind me so much of her style after an injury?”
But just when everyone thought he would continue with softer plays, Qin Chunxiao surprises by spiking powerfully. After all, despite his short stature, Little Qin had a touch height of 3.55 meters. When provoked, he even dared to block William at the net! Oh, and he could use his hands too.
As the pace picked up, the Barbecue Skewer Club not only fails to disrupt the Hamster Club’s rhythm with powerful attacks, but they also got their own rhythm thrown off by the Hamsters.
Frontline of Volleyball
Li Laiheng: “Oh my, Qin Chunxiao’s court sense and vision… it’s not an exaggeration to call him the number one in China’s men’s volleyball. He missed several attacks earlier because he didn’t read the game.”
Wu Di: “Absolutely right. Don’t be fooled by the slower speed he used just now. He can accurately place the ball in the weak spots of the opponents’ defense. This requires both keen eyes and mental agility.”
Live Screen Comments
[“Although Sister Yuqing has retired, she left behind a successor in men’s volleyball. With this style of play, another player with the potential to play until 40 has emerged! Given my age, he can conservatively play for another 23 years!”]
[“This is the first time I’ve seen Qin Qian play so sharply on the attack. By the way, wasn’t he playing like this when he was on the Guangdong provincial youth team?”]
[“Ancient fans, come answer this. Yes, he used to play like this back then, especially when he was the captain. From his time on the provincial youth team, he was plagued by the ‘Old Fritter’ ball style.”]
[“Everyone, this is where Coach Nikolai stands out. We all know he never makes a bad deal, so no matter how practical our Wolf Team appears, don’t be surprised.”]
[“I, a Wolf, was once known as the fifth main attacker among the four main attackers on the provincial youth team, okay? Don’t complain about his height. His efficiency in scoring is there. When playing domestic games, he was Guangdong’s top scorer. He’s got both solid offense and defense!”]
[“Now there’s only one question left: this ‘Old Fritter’ style really invites trouble. Yuqing can pull it off because she’s 206 cm tall, and generally, female volleyball players have milder temperaments compared to the hot-headed male players. With Little Qin’s small frame, is he not afraid of getting beaten up after the game?”]
[“Hahaha, this play has made even Wolf fans worry about his personal safety.”]
Since both the Barbecue Skewer and Hamster clubs had two Chinese players each, except for a few special individuals who were fanatical about team culture in team sports, most people approach this game with a calm attitude.
Anyway, regardless of who wins, it was a victory for Chinese players!
Furthermore, today, not only had Qin Chunxiao stepped up for the Hamsters, but Li Ling had as well. He was not only good at setting and defending, but today he was also serving well, earning 8 points, showing a decent performance in offense, and even imitating Qin Chunxiao’s ‘Old Fritter’ style, adding a few points to their tally.
As the Hamster Club’s score approached 15 points, Lorenzo could tell that the Barbecue Skewer Club was likely to lose this match today.
However, he had initially thought that the Hamster Club was going to break through the Barbecue Skewer’s defense in this set. He expected that Nikolai would once again pull out his motivational notebook and gave a hearty dose of encouragement to Ruslan, the young player with obvious great potential. But unexpectedly, that motivation seemed to have landed on Misha Qin.
Lorenzo muttered to himself, “Nikolai really isn’t afraid of exhausting that underage kid.”
He glanced at Qin Chunxiao again, feeling a bit envious. This young athlete truly lived up to the $750,000 annual salary that the Hamster Club offered him. With his defensive efficiency, his clear room for improvement at his age, and his ability to step up in crucial moments, he was just amazing!
And the fragrant and skillful player Qin Chunxiao finally sat down on the ground after the Hamster Club secured victory in the fifth set.
Qin Chunxiao gasped for breath, “Damn, it’s been a while since I went all out on both offense and defense like this!”
Li Ling sat next to him, “Luckily, we’re playing against the Fugu Club tomorrow. We just need to pay more attention to You Ziyu and Terencio. Otherwise, we won’t be able to survive.”
The twin stars exchanged a smile.
Fortunately, Nikolai had made it clear before the game that he knew Qin Chunxiao’s ‘Old Fritter’ playstyle was effective against primate-type teams like the Crimson River Battleship. This allowed him to take on more responsibility, but when facing other teams, his focus should still be on defense.
Otherwise, if Qin Chunxiao was exhausted like this for several games, he would end up in the hospital.
After shaking hands with the opponents, as both sides began to relax after the game, the audience also started leaving. Considering his younger brother’s fatigue, Lu Xuandong, who must have felt quite uncomfortable after watching the entire match, sent a text to Qin Chunxiao and left with him.
At this moment, Yashenka rushed onto the court carrying an ice bucket and pressed an ice pack against Qin Chunxiao’s arm, “Quick, apply some pressure.”
Qin Chunxiao winced, “Ouch!”
Li Ling quickly intervened, “Yashenka, be gentle, Xiaozai isn’t feeling well.”
Yashenka and Li Ling playfully bickered, “I’m going to give him a massage later, what do you mean by gentle?”
They had become close during Li Ling’s injury rehabilitation. The other players laughed as they watched their antics.
Li Ling accidentally tugged at Yashenka’s sleeve and blinked, pointing at the intricate flower tattoos on his arm, “Hey, Yashenka, did you get a new tattoo again?”
There were two types of flowers tattooed on Yashenka’s arm: lavender and red hibiscus.
The language of lavender flowers signifies that love can be achieved through effort.
The language of red hibiscus flowers signifies a desire to be loved.
And now, among the purple lavender flowers on his forearm, a set of numbers sat quietly.
239:59:59
Yashenka looked at these numbers and instinctively muttered, “Mute!”
Qin Chunxiao stood up, grasped Yashenka’s arm, and looked at the numbers, his expression turning coarse, “What the hell!”
The Hamster Club players gathered around.
“What’s going on with Yashenka’s tattoo? Su-ka!”
“Yashenka… Ahhhh!”
“I’ll take a look, oh my god!”
Seeing the players so excited, Nikolai also came over to take a look, “Let me see what’s going on. Oh my god!”
Qin Chunxiao urgently asked the team doctor, “Yashenka, when did you meet him? Do you know who he is?”
Yashenka looked bewildered, “I have no idea when this thing appeared. Generally, the countdown for soulmates is in a much larger font, like the initial font size for Word. Why is mine in font size 5? Who can see such a small thing?”
The poor doctor hadn’t paid any attention to his arm after breakfast. As he pondered his activities after breakfast and the people he had encountered afterwards, his vision suddenly went black.
Did he have to end up with countdowns appearing in places he couldn’t see, like his butt or behind his ears, to the point where he wouldn’t notice meeting his soulmate for a long time? Was he going to be a poor schmuck who missed the chance to meet his soulmate?
Goddess of Fate, are you messing with me or what?!
