By linking my account to the check-in system, I became a leisurely traveler.

Chapter 63: I Can't Jump Anymore
The afternoon sun made the iron frames on the beach scorching hot, and the air you breathed in felt like it was carrying sparks.

The sound system on the main stage was deafening, and the cheers from the crowd grew louder and louder.

Taking advantage of the staff, Li Younan and Jing Chaoyi not only had excellent viewing spots, but also a huge sunshade overhead, allowing them to stand in the shade and drink ice-cold coconut water while watching the game.

Zhou Xiaotiao was in the shadows of the contestants' preparation area not far away.

His vest was soaked through and clung to Zhou Xiaotiao's body.

The first event was a sprint race. Perhaps because he had familiarized himself with the venue in the morning, he ran very smoothly and won the championship.

Next up is the skills competition.

He unscrewed the half-empty bottle of water he had left from the morning, the ice water sliding down his throat, quenching some of the heat. His eyes were fixed on the figure warming up opposite him—Park Jae-hoon, that smiling tiger from Korea.

Last time in the chase race in Taiwan, this little rascal took advantage of knowing the route and slipped like an eel, so I taught him a lesson from both sides.

The hypocritical "concession" after the match was as piercing as a needle dipped in kimchi juice.

Today is different! Guanyin Mountain Beach, our own territory!

With Gulangyu Island right next to us, we have to get our revenge in the skills competition!

What does the skills competition test?
It's all about being bold, ruthless, and stylish!

Zhou Xiaotiao moved his wrists and ankles, his bones radiating strength.

He kept replaying the combo he was about to unleash in his mind, especially the final move—a side wall back kick followed by a 1080-degree mid-air spin and twirl!
This is already a professional gymnastics routine!

The difficulty level is off the charts. As long as you land and stand firm, you'll get full marks for creativity, difficulty, and execution!
Park Jae-hoon's approach? It's textbook-standard, too predictable, boring! Like lukewarm water, how much interest can the referees have?
"Skills Competition, Round 1, Park Jae-hoon, get ready!" The referee's voice came through the microphone.

Park Jae-hoon has come on stage.

Wearing a black sleeveless vest, her movements were clean and crisp, like a precision machine. Crawling through low walls, balancing on metal buckets, performing front flips using ramps… every move was flawless, textbook-perfect fluidity. Her landings were as stable as if welded to the ground. The audience applauded enthusiastically.

The referees quickly displayed the scores, which were quite high.

Okay, you think you're safe? Well, I'll blow you up!

It was Zhou Xiaotiao's turn.

Zhou Xiaotiao took a deep breath; the scalding air carried the smell of sand.

It starts entirely based on intuition.

Zhou Xiao jumped! He started with explosive speed, rushing to the low wall in a few steps. With a clean double diamond drill, his body glided over the triangular iron frame like an eel, landing without any hesitation. He then followed up with a smooth side somersault, landing firmly on the sand!
The audience erupted in cheers, and the atmosphere heated up!
Jing Chaoyi put down the coconut in her hand and couldn't help but say, "Senior, this guy is pretty good. It seems like he's the most consistent player among our country's competitors, right?"

The staff member next to him said, "Zhou Xiaotiao is definitely the best among the domestic contestants this time. I just don't know if he can beat Park Jae-hoon from South Korea."

Keep watching.

Zhou Xiaotiao then rushed towards the high wall.

The target is the highest side! Using the wall as leverage, the body is lifted up to an astonishing height! It's not just a simple climb up the wall; it's about to fall at the highest point of the body, when the left leg suddenly exerts force and pushes hard against the vertical side wall of the container!
"Huh—!"

The audience erupted in screams!

Using this powerful reaction force, the body was launched like by a slingshot, instantly gaining enormous lateral speed and rotational kinetic energy!
It's now!

His core strength exploded instantly! He tucked in his legs! He hugged his knees! His entire body shrunk into a rapidly spinning top in mid-air! In his field of vision, the blue sky, the graffiti-covered shipping containers, the stands, and even Park Jae-hoon's expressionless face in the distance... all turned into wildly spinning blocks of color! The wind howled sharply in his ears!
One rotation! Two rotations! Three rotations! 1080 degrees! A perfect spin!
Stretch out your body! Ready to land! Only one thought in my mind: Stand firm! Awesome! Championship in hand!

however……

Just as the body stretched out and the feet were about to find the sand for cushioning—

Boom!

A very faint sound, yet as clear as the cracking of ice, came from deep within the left ankle!
It wasn't the excruciating pain that came first, but rather the feeling of losing control as if my strength was instantly drained away!
The feeling was terrifying, like the support beneath my feet had vanished into thin air! My body was still following the momentum of rotation, but my ankles were no longer under my control, unable to provide the stability and cushioning needed for a landing. "Crack!"

What was expected to be a heroic, steady landing turned into a disheveled, unbalanced side fall!

My body slammed onto the thick protective pad. The huge impact made my internal organs shudder. Only then did I belatedly feel the excruciating pain in my left foot, which surged up like a tidal wave, as if my bones were being squeezed and twisted by red-hot iron clamps!
"Hold--!!!"

A painful roar was uncontrollably squeezed out of his throat, half physiological and half furious with frustration!
It wasn't because it hurt that much, it was because... it was so embarrassing!
In front of Park Jae-hoon! On his own home turf! Under so many eyes and so many cameras... he landed in a pathetic state!
Damn it, I haven't even had a chance to enjoy those photos I bought for two thousand yuan this morning, and they give me this?!

Zhou Xiaotiao could imagine the pens scribbling low scores on the judges' bench, and the look of amusement hidden beneath Park Jae-hoon's calm face!
The medical team swarmed around him quickly. Zhou Xiaotiao lay on the mat, his face covered in sweat and sand, his eyes stinging, but he dared not look around.

He pressed the ice pack hard against his swollen ankle, and the biting cold made him shiver.

"Don't move! It might be a torn ligament!" The team doctor's voice was urgent and deep.

Zhou Xiaotiao struggled to lift his head and, through the gaps in the crowd, saw Park Jae-hoon standing in the waiting area, calmly watching them. His face remained expressionless, but the "I knew it" look in his eyes pierced him like a needle. This was a hundred times more painful than direct mockery!
"Can we continue?" The referee came over, asking in a businesslike tone, but his eyes seemed to say, "Let's just forget about it."

"Yes!" Zhou Xiaotiao almost shouted, struggling to prop himself up with his hands. As soon as he put his left foot down, a piercing pain shot straight to the top of his head. His vision went black, and another layer of cold sweat broke out. His body went limp uncontrollably, and he was held down firmly by the medical team.

"What the hell! You don't want your leg?!" The team doctor was truly furious, his voice drowning out the surrounding noise. The gazes of the audience were focused on Zhou Xiaotiao like searchlights, filled with sympathy, pity, and... well, they were just there for the spectacle! Zhou Xiaotiao felt as if boiling oil had been poured on his face; it burned with pain.

Two people grabbed his arms and dragged him almost like a dead dog to the makeshift medical station next door, where he was shoved onto a plastic chair. His left ankle was swollen like a large, bruised bun, a hideous mess. The doctor squatted down and sprayed him with pain-relieving spray and wrapped an elastic bandage to immobilize it; his movements were swift but not gentle.

Zhou Xiaotiao turned his head away, not wanting to see his miserable state, and even less wanting to see the smooth performances of the other competitors on the track. His throat felt like it was stuffed with a ball of cotton soaked in seawater, both salty and astringent.

His confidence was completely shattered by this fall, leaving only a mess of sand and humiliation.

Just then, by sheer coincidence, he saw Li Younan and Jing Chaoyi standing next to him.

……

The place where the wound was treated was right next to Li Younan's.

"Damn it..." Zhou Xiaotiao gritted his teeth, his voice muffled in his throat, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms.

It wasn't because of foot pain, but because he was determined to regain his footing on his own turf using his best skills, and the result... his first big move ruined him?

They've completely lost face! And they still think they can keep the championship in the country? Keep it my ass! They can barely even stand up!

Li Younan was still holding a camera in his hand. Zhou Xiaotiao couldn't help but ask, "Did you take a picture when I landed?"

Li Younan nodded.

Zhou Xiaotiao gritted his teeth: "Trouble... delete it."

Li Younan looked at the photos in the camera, found it somewhat amusing, paused for a moment, and then nodded.

But when he looked up, he froze.

Zhou Xiaotiao suddenly sniffed, almost unable to hold back her tears.

Jing Chaoyi said sadly, "It must hurt a lot, right?"

The doctor next to him said, "Don't worry, it shouldn't affect your career."

Zhou Xiaotiao gritted his teeth, glared at the competition venue with hatred, and said, "What do you guys know...?"

------

P.S.: I wrote a wish-fulfillment novel, a lighthearted and enjoyable read. I'm very pure in my approach, and I aim to cater to the emotions of most readers. I haven't read any so-called travel novels, and please don't use the so-called "what a travel novel should be like" to define this book.

As I mentioned before, before the novel is released, I will try out all kinds of plots to see everyone's reaction, and then decide which plot to focus on after the release. I will try to find the greatest common denominator that everyone likes. Before that, I still feel that a novel of several million words with only one emotion is too monotonous.

(End of this chapter)