For three whole minutes, Nie Chuan's eyes were filled with the images of Reese and Seton confronting each other, but in the intertwined images of the two, Nie Chuan didn't know how to pull himself back.

When the first quarter ended, DK was chasing Azu and the score difference remained at twelve points.

Everyone returned to Coach Gordon, waiting for his instructions. Carlo handed the water to Ewing, whose fingers were still shaking.

"Why hesitate? Even if we missed the shot, Montenegro and I would definitely grab the rebound." Carlo grabbed Ewing's fingertips.

"You're really good at bragging." Ewing pulled the corner of his lips helplessly.

"It seems that you are a little arrogant. Edgar and The Rock are not easy to deal with. But you always pursue the most perfect shot, which is a good thing. But there is no perfection in reality. Even Ben Robbins, who is known for his instant shooting, cannot hit the target every time." Carlo tilted his head back and put his hands behind Ewing's head.

Coach Gordon did not make any major adjustments to his tactics and still emphasized that all players should play in their own style.

"I hope you enjoy this game, but enjoyment doesn't mean going with the flow. You have been led by Azu, although it is largely because they took the initiative. But every minute and every second of the game should be in your own hands, not controlled by Azu. If you are strangled by Azu, I don't believe you will feel happy. Ewing, you only scored six points in the whole game. This is not like you."

Ewing clenched his teeth. He was very clear about his own problems.

But knowing is one thing, but overcoming is another.

"Kid, there is a cliff in front of you. You always want to escape and hesitate, waiting for the best time, but every escape and wait will bring you closer and closer to the cliff. Either jump with the determination to die, and maybe you can reach a wider place on the other side. Or you will be forced to fall down." Coach Gordon's gaze was very powerful, and Ewing seemed to be pushed hard and broke out in a cold sweat.

Ewing subconsciously clenched his fingers, squeezing Carlo's fingers until they made a crackling sound. Carlo clearly felt pain, but did not make any sound.

Reese sat next to Nie Chuan. He said nothing, but just stretched out his hand to Nie Chuan.

Nie Chuanjiang unscrewed the lid of the water bottle and handed it to him. This was a tacit understanding between them. Even without saying a word, they knew what the other wanted.

Reese raised his head, his throat surging, and Nie Chuan couldn't help but speak as he looked at him.

"I can't seem to keep up with Seton. Although I know I can't continue to be influenced by him, I can't control it. Reese, have you ever had this feeling? It seems that no matter how hard you try, you are still in his territory. Every time you think you are about to make a breakthrough, you find yourself disappointed again and again that you are still under Seton's control."

"Of course I did." Reese poured the water on the chair and turned his head to look at Nie Chuan. His eyes were open. "The first practice match between DK and Azu. When I played against Seth Lind."

Nie Chuan was stunned: "You...you were also..."

"Yes, in just 20 minutes of play, I lost 26 points to Seton."

How can this be?

Nie Chuan opened his eyes wide and looked at Reese. But with Reese's personality, he would not comfort anyone. But Nie Chuan could never imagine that Reese would be controlled by others.

"The harder I work and the faster I go, the more mistakes Seton can make me make. And my energy is depleted very quickly. Even though it's just a practice match, I can't afford to lose."

Nie Chuan knew that although Reese seemed indifferent, he was very persistent. This persistence was not about winning or losing, but about another level of persistence.

"I can't afford to lose, because I know that if I can't get out of Seton's control in this practice game, then the next game might be the finals, and I will still waste a lot of time to adapt to him. And I can't afford to waste it. So I know how you feel, the feeling of repeating the moment that you can't surpass in your mind. You will doubt yourself and feel helpless."

"Then what?"

"Then... Connor kicked me. He said he hated egomaniacs like me who were immersed in their own world."

"Connor?" Nie Chuan couldn't imagine that the mild-mannered Connor would do such a thing.

But now Reese and Seton are evenly matched, and it is hard to imagine the dilemma of being restrained by Seton. Moreover, DK and Azu did not meet in the finals last year, which means that Reese and Seton did not have many opportunities to fight, just one or two practice games. How did he adjust himself?

"How did you erase those shadows of Seton from your mind and find yourself again?"

"I'll listen to Vangelis's 'Conquering Heaven.'" Reese replied calmly. He didn't seem to be worried about Nie Chuan's current condition at all.

"'Conquering Heaven'... Do you think you are Alexander? You are so narcissistic." Nie Chuan said with a smile.

Nie Chuan had also heard the song "Conquering Heaven" when he was watching "Alexander the Great". It was indeed passionate and had a very obvious sense of rhythm.

"So what's your favorite music?" Reese asked.

Nie Chuan shook his head. Even if he could tell it, he couldn't find it at the moment.

"So what's your favorite rhythm?" Reese asked again.

Nie Chuan glanced at Coach Gordon. At such an important moment, he did not make a comprehensive tactical arrangement but was talking to Carlo and Montenegro. He suddenly couldn't understand the coach.

"I... like yours the most..."

I like the sound of your breathing the most.

But now is not the time to say such things.

But every time in the quiet night, when Nie Chuan heard the breathing sound coming from behind him, he always had the illusion that his thoughts were being pushed to the highest point by the other person's breathing.

Just when Nie Chuan half opened his mouth, not knowing how to finish this sentence, Reese suddenly stretched out his hand and pressed him towards himself.

"Then listen to the voice you want to hear now. This is the only thing I can do for you, Xiaochuan."

Nie Chuan swallowed his saliva and closed his eyes. Reese stretched out his other hand, covered Nie Chuan's left ear, and put his right ear against his chest, as if to block out all the noise in the world for him.

Reese's breathing was rhythmic, but not fast, as if it was the wind blowing from far away, whistling through the cracks in the canyon, sweeping across the desert, raising clouds of dust, galloping towards the endless distance, rushing towards the scorching sun.

Then the sound of Reese's heartbeat became clearer and clearer, coming in waves, like the sound of a basketball bouncing on the ground.

"Nie Chuan seems to have been hit hard by Seton. Alas..." Larven showed a regretful expression.

"For any competitive game, the rhythm of athletes is very important, which is part of the competitive skills. When you encounter a strong opponent, once you fall into the opponent's rhythm, it is difficult to extricate yourself. Therefore, when we face an opponent of equal strength, we always hope to control the rhythm and control the opponent in our hands. Seton not only affected Nie Chuan's rhythm, but also suppressed his confidence. In fact, compared to you and me, Nie Chuan was originally a newcomer to the NCAA. To have reached this level, he can be called a genius."

"Maybe the more talent he shows, the more people expect of him, and the more pressure he puts on himself."

At this time, Coach Gordon came to Nie Chuan and said with a smile: "I know that Reese's arms make you feel safer than on the court. I also know that compared to Seton, you are like a child in front of an adult. Just watching you walk along the way, I believe you have your own judgment and determination. Whether you want to move forward or retreat, I can't actually replace you. Because DK has no better point guard than you, even if you are at your worst."

Nie Chuan's heart was shocked. He knew that Coach Gordon sounded like he was blaming him, but in fact he was telling him that he was Coach Gordon's only choice.

"Half a minute left." Coach Gordon turned and left.

Nie Chuan took a breath, took the basketball for warm-up, sat on the chair, and patted the ball rhythmically with his palms.

All the sounds in my ears were like the noise of a boiling point dropping to freezing point. Everything seemed to be still, except for the sound of Nie Chuan's dribbling when he touched the ground.

He closed his eyes and let the sound of dribbling overlap with his own heartbeat, neither fast nor slow, neither too fast nor too fast.

He had always wanted to overtake Seton. In fact, it didn't matter if he let him pass, he could still catch up.

"Tell me, if Seton passes me the first time, can I still catch up with him?"

Nie Chuan suddenly asked.

"Of course." Reese answered without hesitation.

"Then can I do the opposite and trap him?"

"Of course."

"By the way...you like to listen to "Conquer Heaven". Do you really think you can conquer even the realm of God?" Nie Chuan asked with a smile.

“Alexander thought he could conquer the world, but the world finally conquered him. God’s domain belongs to God, and I only need to conquer your domain.”

"Connor is right." Nie Chuan stood up and threw the ball back to Reese, "You are indeed an egomaniac."

When Reese stood up, there was a faint smile on the corner of his lips.

"I really wish there was someone who could make Seton look like he was eating fly shit." Larven made the sign of a cross on his chest, as if he was praying to God.

At this time, the game was about to start and everyone returned to the court.

Azu launched a fast break. Seton was extremely fast and broke through the joint defense of Ewing and Carlo with the ball. As soon as he reached the three-point line, he encountered Nie Chuan.

Everyone is waiting to see how Nie Chuan, who was dribbled past by Seton countless times in the last quarter, will respond.