Where the noise did not reach

Chapter 123 Humans Born Cold-Blooded

"Would you stab me 11 times for KG?"

In 1999, Pierce was stabbed 11 times in a nightclub and nearly died; this is a dark chapter in his history that he least wants to be told.

Pierce's smile vanished completely. His eyes shifted from contempt to malice, as if two flames were burning within them.

“You damned bastard.” Pierce took a step forward, looking extremely enraged.

But before Pierce could finish speaking, Kevin Garnett stepped aside, like a moving black wall, blocking the path between Pierce and Xu Ling.

“That’s enough, PP,” Garnett’s voice was deep and growling like a hungry beast, “Ignore what he says, let’s teach him a lesson in the game!”

Xu Ling's smile had faded.

Does he like to provoke his opponents? Yes. Angering his opponents makes the game easier. But if his opponents don't provoke him, he won't say anything too offensive.

One thing must be made clear: Pierce initiated the conflict; he was merely retaliating passively.

Pierce exposed a weakness common to all veterans in this unpleasant opening exchange: their dark history is public and easy to attack.

As the focus of the entire event, this opening dispute naturally attracted attention.

Even if some viewers are slow to react, ABC, the television network that broadcast the game, will remind them what just happened.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the jump ball hasn't even started yet, but the atmosphere is already incredibly tense!" Brin's voice carried a professional sharpness. "We saw Eli walk towards KG, seemingly wanting to have a pre-match discussion, but he ended up arguing with Paul Pierce, and the situation instantly became very tense!"

The camera followed the events unfolding on the court closely. Pierce pointed at Xu Ling and said something, to which Xu Ling responded calmly.

That one sentence made Pierce's face suddenly darken. He lunged forward, and if Garnett hadn't stopped him in time, a conflict might have already broken out.

“Although we couldn’t hear exactly what they said,” Jeff Van Gundy analyzed, “judging from the players’ body language and reactions, it was definitely not a friendly greeting. Pierce was completely enraged.”

Mark Jackson added, "I agree. More importantly, look at KG's reaction—he stopped his teammate immediately. What does that mean? It means even KG thought the situation could get out of control. Eli must have said something unpleasant."

Van Gundy said seriously, "This kind of start is very unusual. Usually, young players would be in awe of a championship team like the Celtics, but Elie did the opposite. He was not only technically prepared to challenge his opponents, but also psychologically unyielding."

Although no direct conflict occurred, Xu Ling's act of directly contradicting "Truth" still aroused strong dissatisfaction among Bostonians.

Immediately, boos erupted from the crowd, and some unscrupulous racists hurled vicious curses at Xu Ling.

The habit of ignoring the fans has repeatedly helped Xu Ling avoid being affected by the away team's malicious attacks at times like these.

When the referee tossed the ball into the air, Darko Milicic, with his youth and height advantage, overpowered Kendrick Perkins and passed the ball to Jason Kidd.

Kidd dribbled the ball across half-court but didn't rush to attack. Instead, he held up two fingers and made a simple tactical gesture.

Xu Ling understood immediately and started from the bottom corner, trying to cut out with the help of Warrick's cover.

However, Paul Pierce, the seasoned striker, while not exactly a defensive elite, now clung to him like glue, constantly using his strong physique to challenge him and disrupt his rhythm of receiving the ball.

"You fucking think you can catch the ball?" Pierce said. "Keep dreaming!"

Xu Ling really didn't expect Pierce to be so crazy. Not only did he actively defend against mismatches, but he also went all out. Who would defend like that right from the start?

But this also shows that Xu underestimated the destructive power of his trash talk.

Once a person has memories, they will remember any violent assault they have experienced, let alone a life-or-death ordeal like being stabbed 11 times in a nightclub.

Those with fragile temperaments might be easily awakened by nightmares, while someone with a more easygoing personality like Pierce would also take that incident to heart. When Xu Ling brought it up in response to him, she was conveying a message: I don't care about you at all, and your feelings are worthless to me.

At this moment, Pierce had long since abandoned all reason. He didn't care that he was the one who had verbally abused Xu Ling in front of thousands of viewers, nor did he consider any sense of veteran decorum.

Kidd didn't force it, and the Grizzlies' first offensive possession ended up in the hands of Milicic in the low post. The Serbian tried to isolate Perkins, but Kevin Garnett's help defense arrived like a ghost in an instant. With his long arms interfering, Milicic's hook shot missed the basket.

Garnett grabbed the backboard, let out a deep roar, and threw the ball to Rajon Rondo.

However, the Celtics' counterattack failed to materialize.

Because everyone on the Grizzlies except Milicic had retreated to defense.

Paul Pierce called for the ball deep in the left midfield and backed down Josh Howard.

Pierce's broad back firmly held Howard in place, and then, after receiving a pass from Rondo, he moved inside, step by step, using solid footwork and powerful core strength to press inwards.

Howard stood his ground, arms outstretched, but Pierce's experience prevailed. Pierce positioned himself comfortably, then expertly turned to the right, subtly shifting his shoulder forward. Howard's center of gravity was slightly shifted, and Pierce immediately followed up with a fadeaway jump shot.

hit!

"Damn Chinese clown!" Pierce started to speak recklessly, facing Xu Ling, who was guarding Ray Allen, "You're all talk, do you dare to guard me?" Xu Ling's expression didn't change at all. He ran up the court and landed directly on the right low post, also reaching out for the ball.

Kidd frowned slightly. He knew very well that Xu Ling's one-on-one play was part of the team's offensive system, but it was clear that Xu Ling had many unplanned one-on-one plays, especially when he felt offended. He would completely ignore the team's established tactics and demand the ball like a vengeful ghost.

From this perspective, he is no different from Kobe.

However, he was quite calm most of the time.

Kidd didn't like the whole team catering to one person, but he couldn't do anything about it. Xu Ling was making such a gesture to ask for the ball, and if he didn't give it to him, not only might the young man develop a bad temper towards him, but even that jerk Pierce would use it to continue humiliating Xu Ling.

The ball must be passed.

Kidd made a quick decision, passing the ball to the other players and directing them to clear the way.

One on one!

The crowd erupted in even louder cheers and boos, eager to see Pierce teach this arrogant rookie a lesson.

Xu Ling received the ball and faced Pierce's close defense. Instead of a clumsy back-to-the-basket move, he faced the basket, adopted a triple-threat stance, and scanned Pierce's defensive footwork.

Suddenly, Xu Ling made a shooting fake, which Pierce saw through. He didn't jump, but hesitated slightly.

At that very moment, Xu Ling put down the ball, made a sharp change of direction, and broke through from the right side.

While his first step wasn't the fastest in the league, it was fast enough to instantly gain half a body length advantage.

Pierce reacted quickly, immediately sliding to the side to close the distance and using his body to counter.

During the high-speed confrontation, Xu Ling used a slightly backward archery stance to throw the ball!
2 is better than 2
"Can you even defend?" Xu Ling retorted, "The American clown?"

When the other party displays complete hostility and it seems there is no way to turn the situation around, any attempt to ease tensions will only appear as a sign of submission and cowardly concession, which will only embolden the other party to take further advantage. Xu Ling will only retaliate with even greater force.

Pierce's face flushed red, and he gritted his teeth, about to utter the racist curses against Chinese people that he had heard somewhere.

However, a voice inside him told him that he absolutely could not do that!
Enraged, Pierce was determined to fight back.

Moreover, Xu Ling took the initiative to switch defenses with Josh Howard and match up against Pierce.

Pierce called for the ball in the same spot. This time, he played with more determination, executing a series of back-to-the-basket moves before suddenly turning towards the baseline.

But this time, Pierce's moves were completely anticipated by his young opponent.

Xu Ling accurately anticipated the shot and firmly held his position. Pierce's attack lost its balance, and he managed a weak shot that bounced off the front of the rim.

Milicic protects the rebound.

The Grizzlies launched a counter-attack, with Xu Ling rushing towards the frontcourt like an arrow, followed by a pass from Kidd.

Xu Ling received the ball, only to find Ray Allen retreating on defense in front of him.

Xu Ling didn't hesitate and pulled up for a jump shot from beyond the three-point line.

Ray Allen leaped up to block with all his might; in terms of shooting speed alone, he is one of the fastest shooters in the league.

However, no matter how fast Jun Zilei's shot is, it is still a two-action shot. But Xu Ling's release speed is considered fast even in a one-stage single-action shot.

In an instant, Xu Ling's ball had already flown over Ray Allen's head, a realm that mortals could no longer reach.

The moment the basketball was about to leave his hand—even after the ball had completely left Xu Ling's fingertips—his body began to rotate.

It wasn't a celebration that came to mind after the shot was taken; it was an integral part of the shooting motion itself.

Xu Ling's head turned first towards the Celtics' bench, his gaze already leaving the flying basketball. Then his shoulders rotated as easily as if a trivial burden had been lifted.

Finally, Xu Ling turned his entire body completely away from the basket, leaving the basketball, which was still arcing through the air, and a stunned Ray Allen behind him.

What angered the Celtics players and the Boston fans even more was that Xu Ling's shooting hand was still raised high, his index finger pointing to the sky, not towards the arena ceiling, but towards the scorer's table—as if to say, "Add a three!"

That damned, arrogant, despicable bastard!!!
That's what all 20,000 people in the audience thought.

then
"Ugh!!!!"

“Eli Xu!” the well-informed Michael Brin exclaimed. “He’s practically a born cold-blooded human being!”

(End of this chapter)