The afternoon sun was so hot that the metal frames on the beach were scorching to the touch, and the air felt like sparks when inhaled.
The sound system near the main stage was booming, and the crowd’s cheers rose higher and higher in waves.
Thanks to the perk of being with the staff, Li Younan and Jing Chaoyi not only had a great spot to watch the competition, but they also had a huge sunshade overhead, standing in the cool shade, sipping cold coconut water while watching the game.
Zhou Xiaotiao was in the shade of the competitor’s preparation area not far away.
His vest was already soaked through, clinging tightly to his body.
The first event was a race, and perhaps because he got familiar with the venue in the morning, he ran very smoothly and won the championship.
Next up was the technique competition.
He unscrewed the half bottle of water left from the morning, the cold water slid down his throat, slightly quelling the heat. His eyes were glued to the figure warming up on the opposite side – Park Jae-hyun, the smiling tiger from South Korea.
Last time in Taiwan’s chase race, this little brat relied on his knowledge of the course, slithering like a loach, giving him lessons with his forward and reverse tricks.
The phony courteous "Good game" felt like needles dipped in kimchi brine.
But today is different! Guanyin Mountain Beach, my turf!
Right next to the shadow of Gulangyu Island, he must regain face in the technique competition!
What’s the technique competition about?
It’s all about being bold, having fierce movements, and looking stylish!
Zhou Xiaotiao was stretching his wrists and ankles, vigor oozing from his joints.
He was rehearsing in his mind the combo set he would perform later, especially the spectacular finale – a side wall back push followed by an airborne 1080-degree spin with a tucked body!
It’s already a professional gymnastics move!
The difficulty level is maxed out; as long as he lands stably, he can totally max out on creativity, difficulty, and execution points!
Park Jae-hyun’s routine? Textbook-standard but too steady, boring! Like lukewarm water, how interested can the judges be?
"Technique competition, first round, Park Jae-hyun, get ready!" The judge’s voice came through the microphone.
Park Jae-hyun took the stage.
Black sleeveless vest, clean and crisp movements, like a precision machine. Darting over the small wall, balancing on the barrel, using the inclined board for a front flip... Every move was flawless, textbook-level fluidity. His landing was as steady as if welded to the ground. The applause from the audience was quite enthusiastic.
The scores lit up swiftly from the judges’ side, and they weren’t low.
Alright, steady huh? I’ll give you something explosive!
It was Zhou Xiaotiao’s turn.
Zhou Xiaotiao took a deep breath, the scorching air tasted gritty.
He started purely by feel.
Zhou Xiaotiao moved! Starting with a burst, he sped to the small wall in a few steps, executing a supremely clean double King-Kong dart, his body slithered through the triangular iron frame like a loach, landing without delay, transitioning directly into a smooth side flip, nailing the sand steadily!
A "Wow!" came from the audience, the atmosphere heated up!
Jing Chaoyi put down his coconut water, unable to help but comment, "Senior, this guy is pretty amazing, seems like out of our country’s competitors, he’s the most stable, right?"
The staff guy beside him said, "Zhou Xiaotiao, indeed the highest level among the domestic competitors this time, though whether he can beat Park Jae-hyun from South Korea is yet to be seen."
Keep watching.
Zhou Xiaotiao continued toward the high wall.
The target was the highest side! Using the wall for leverage, his body rose to an astonishing height! It wasn’t just a simple wall climb, but at the moment his body reached the peak and was about to fall, his left leg drove hard, kicking powerfully on the vertical container side wall!
"Whoa—!"
The audience gasped in surprise!
With this powerful counterforce, his body shot out like a slingshot, instantly gaining tremendous lateral speed and rotational momentum!
Now is the time!
Core strength exploded in an instant, tucking, legs retracted, knees hugged, his whole body folded into a rapidly spinning top in mid-air! In his vision, the blue sky, graffiti-covered containers, the audience seats, and Park Jae-hyun’s expressionless face in the distance... all turned into wildly spinning blocks of color! The wind howled sharply by his ears!
One turn! Two turns! Three turns! 1080 degrees! A perfect spin!
His body unfolded, preparing to land! Only one thought in mind: land steady! Cool as hell! Championship in hand!
However...
Just at the moment when my body spread out and my feet were ready to find the sand for the final buffer—
Crunch!
A subtle yet unmistakably clear sound, like ice cracking, came from deep within my left ankle!
It wasn’t intense pain that hit first, but a sense of losing control as if all my strength was suddenly drained away!
It was terrifying, like the ground beneath me had vanished! My body continued to follow the inertia of rotation, but my ankle no longer obeyed, unable to provide the stability and cushioning needed for landing.
"Crash!"
The anticipated heroic, steady landing turned into an awkward, unbalanced tumble!
The body slammed onto the thick protective mat, and the massive impact shook my insides. Only then did the excruciating pain in my left foot flood in, as if red-hot pincers were cruelly clamping down and twisting the bones!
"Fuck—!!!"
A roar of pain uncontrollably squeezed out from my throat, half physiological, half an extreme frustration!
Not because of the pain, but because... it was just too humiliating!
In front of Park Jae-hyun! On my home stage! Under so many eyes, under so many cameras... a disgraceful landing!
Damn it, the two thousand dollars’ worth of photos taken in the morning aren’t even warm yet, and this happens?!!
Zhou Xiaotiao could imagine the judges’ pens scribbling low scores, could imagine the look in Park Jae-hyun’s eyes, hidden under his calm face, watching the spectacle!
The medical team rushed over, acting quickly. Zhou Xiaotiao lay on the mat, sweat mixed with sand caked on his face, stinging his eyes, but he was more afraid to look around.
An ice pack was promptly pressed onto the swollen ankle, the bone-chilling cold making him shudder all over.
"Don’t move! It might be a torn ligament!" The team doctor’s voice was urgent and grave.
Zhou Xiaotiao struggled to lift his head, seeing through the gaps that Park Jae-hyun stood in the waiting area, calmly watching this side, with the same expressionless face, but the "as expected" look in his eyes pierced like a needle. This was a hundred times more painful than direct ridicule!
"Can you continue?" The judge also came over, with a formal inquiry, but his eyes said "let it go."
"I can!" Zhou Xiaotiao almost shouted, struggling to prop himself up with his hands. As soon as he put weight on his left foot, a piercing pain shot straight to his head, his vision darkened, and a layer of cold sweat instantly broke out, his body uncontrollably went limp, pinned firmly by the medical team members.
"Nonsense! Are you trying to lose your foot?!" The team doctor was truly angry, his voice overpowering the surrounding noise. The spotlight-like gaze from the audience focused on Zhou Xiaotiao, full of sympathy, regret, and... damn it, just watching the show! Zhou Xiaotiao felt as if hot oil had been poured on his face, fiery pain.
With two people supporting his arms, he was almost dragged like a dead dog to the temporary medical point at the side, plunked down onto a plastic chair. The left ankle was already swollen like a large steamed bun, bruised and twisted. The doctor crouched to spray pain relief and wrapped it in an elastic bandage, quick but not gentle.
Zhou Xiaotiao turned his head away, unwilling to look at his sorry state, less willing to watch other competitors’ fluid performances on the track. His throat felt like it was stuffed with seawater-soaked cotton, salty and bitter.
His confidence was utterly shattered by this fall, leaving only the scattered sand and humiliation.
Just then, coincidentally, he saw Li Younan and Jing Chaoyi beside him.
The injury treatment was right next to Li Younan.
"Damn..." Zhou Xiaotiao bit his back molars, voice muffled in his throat, fists clenched tight, fingernails digging into the palms.
Not because of the foot pain, but because he wanted to muster his strength on his home turf, to regain his footing in his best technique, but... the first big move, and he messed it up?
Face lost all the way to the Pacific Ocean! Thinking about keeping the championship at home? Keep what shit! Damn it, even standing up was hard!
Li Younan was still holding the camera at this time. Zhou Xiaotiao couldn’t help but ask, "Did you take a photo when I landed just now?"
Li Younan nodded.
Zhou Xiaotiao gritted his teeth, "Can you... delete it?"
Li Younan looked at the photo in the camera, somewhat amused, paused, nodded.
But when he looked up, he was stunned.
Zhou Xiaotiao suddenly sniffed, barely holding back tears.
Jing Chaoyi said with some sadness, "It must hurt, right?"
The doctor next to him then said, "Don’t worry, it shouldn’t affect your career."
Zhou Xiaotiao gritted his teeth, glaring angrily at the competition field, saying, "What do you guys know..."
PS: I’m writing a fantasy novel, a feel-good story, I’m very pure, I pursue serving the emotions of most readers, I haven’t read so-called travel writings, and please don’t use the so-called "what travel writings should be" to define this book.
I already said, before listing, I will try all kinds of plots, see everyone’s reactions, and then decide which plot to focus on after the listing, striving to find a common denominator that everyone loves. Before that, I still think a novel with millions of words should convey just one emotion, it’s too monotonous.

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