Chapter 63: Chapter 58: 45 Is the Prime of Life

Equipment?

Li Wei froze.

When the system first appeared, an equipment slot had shown up in Li Wei’s attribute panel.

But even now, more than a month after getting the system, he still hadn’t triggered any information related to equipment.

This was the first time he’d ever seen a quest that awarded equipment.

"Li? Li Wei!" Seeing Li Wei lost in thought, Wen Si couldn’t help but ask, "Do you have any questions?"

"Questions?" Li Wei snapped out of it and waved his hand. "No, no, it’s just... Wen Si Scout, I was wondering, what are the highest-level competitions a high school student can participate in?"

"Eager to make a name for yourself and burst onto the scene so soon?" Wen Si was surprised for a moment, then chuckled. "For a high school student, the highest-level event you can participate in is the Under Armour All-America Game, held every January."

"Oh?" Li Wei’s eyes lit up. "Can I participate? Am I eligible?"

"Er..." Wen Si spread his hands. "Sorry, no. At least, not right now."

"The Under Armour All-America Game is held every January in Orlando, Florida. There are only thirty spots for the entire country," he explained. "Only five-star players get invited, and every single five-star player is pretty much number one in the nation at their position."

Florida? Li Wei paused. ’That place is famous for being the wildest state in America. The "Florida Man" meme comes from there, after all.’

"But I’m very optimistic about you," Wen Si said, patting Li Wei’s shoulder. "If you can perform well at the All-America Game, it will be a huge help for your future."

He added with a smile, "The Under Armour All-America Game is the most-watched super-event a high schooler can join. The live broadcast alone pulls in terrifying numbers—over 50,000 people in person and three million watching online."

This would definitely satisfy the system’s quest requirements. It was the highest-level competition he could currently participate in.

"Alright!" Li Wei decided on the spot. "I want to do this! How do I sign up?"

"Well..." Wen Si said, "First, you need to go to a hospital for a physical. After the physical, you go to a training camp. Once you get your five-star player certification, you’ll be eligible for an invitation."

...

That evening, Li Wei walked out of the boxing gym.

[2/3 Training Sessions Completed]

[You have once again defeated a powerful enemy.]

[Quest Reward: Constitution +0.1]

On the way home, Li Wei was still thinking about what Wen Si had said earlier. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

He felt the pulse on his wrist, sensing his own heartbeat.

A resting heart rate of 35 beats per minute. His 2.4 Constitution stat had already caused some obvious, inhuman changes in his body.

It wasn’t an unheard-of number. The heart rates of world champion long-distance runners and cyclists were even lower than his.

For example, Miguel Indurain, the five-time consecutive Tour de France champion, had a heart rate of 28 beats per minute. Some world champion marathon runners also had frighteningly low heart rates, generally around 30, because a low resting heart rate often signifies powerful blood circulation and muscular endurance.

However, strong endurance usually meant relatively weaker explosive power.

For someone like Li Wei, who had high endurance, high explosive power, and high absolute strength, going to a hospital for a physical would absolutely cause a sensation.

When that time came, what awaited him might not be a star-player evaluation and a million-US Dollar image rights contract, but being secretly abducted for research and dissection.

’I can’t go for a physical exam yet.’

’Fortunately, Wen Si Scout gave me two months. I just need to get the physical done before December...’ Li Wei thought to himself, clenching his fists.

For some reason, he had a strange feeling, a premonition in the back of his mind.

It seemed he needed another advancement for his Knight’s Body. When all four of his attributes reached 3.0, he would be able to solve this problem once and for all.

"I need to add points faster and get more quests," Li Wei muttered to himself. "I still have to solve this physical exam problem quickly."

When he got home, Don Quixote was sitting on the sofa with two cans of discount Budweiser in front of him.

"Li Wei, I got in touch with Jose today," he said. "He agreed to work with us."

Although his words were good news, his tone and expression were anything but cheerful.

"Isn’t that a good thing?" Li Wei asked. "Why the long face?"

"But he’s not in a good state, and Jose is a timid, honest guy," Don Quixote said, shaking his head and taking a sip of Budweiser. "To be honest, I never expected him to get involved in our plan. My original backup was another friend."

"So you think something happened at home, and he had no choice but to agree to your request?" Li Wei asked after a moment of thought. "What are you going to do?"

"I’m a little busy this week," Don Quixote said, thinking. "I plan to visit Jose this weekend to see what’s wrong. Want to come with?"

"Sure," Li Wei nodded. "By the way, Uncle, have you picked up your knight novels again recently?"

"I’ve been reading them a bit less lately," Don Quixote said, taken aback. "Why?"

Li Wei secretly activated [Eloquent Speech].

Since he had to raise his stats quickly, Li Wei had no choice but to resort to some "underhanded" tactics.

’Sorry, Uncle. Losing a little sleep won’t kill you. Time to help me farm some more stats.’

’Forty-five is the prime of your life, the perfect time to be working hard.’

"I bought this today at the comic book corner," Li Wei said, pulling out a knight-themed comic book he’d bought from a roadside bookstore. "I saw one you might not have read. Want to take a look? Maybe you’ll even dream about knights tonight."

"Who dreams about knights in this day and age?" Don Quixote roared with laughter. "If someone still fantasized about being a knight, especially in the United States of America, they’d be a complete and utter fool."

...

「Late that night.」

"My friend, it has been too long!" Don Quixote’s voice echoed through the house again. "After rescuing those farmers from the Demon Forest last time, we have not yet checked on their recent situation. Shall you patrol my domain with Knight Don Quixote once more?"

"It would be my honor," Li Wei said, "to travel with Knight Don Quixote."

Under the cover of darkness, Li Wei and Don Quixote left the house, one after the other.

It had rained again in Brooklyn a few days ago, and the night wind carried a hint of a chill.

Li Wei watched Don Quixote clanking ahead in his armor, wondering if he should add a layer of insulation or something else inside the suit once winter arrived.

’If Uncle catches a cold, I won’t be able to have him help me farm stats anymore.’

Just as he was thinking about how to logically justify this idea, Don Quixote suddenly spoke:

"My subjects seem to require aid. I hear a noise."

With that, he continued walking forward on his own.

Li Wei followed him, and after a few minutes, they surprisingly ended up back at the doorstep of Mr. Stanford, the head of the community homeowners’ association.