The Prince of Tennis Episode 23 Recap
> The Prince of Tennis Recap
After dinner, Lu Xia, Qiao Chen, and He Xinglong clean up. He Xinglong leaves early, prompting Qiao Chen and Lu Xia to follow him to a dark court, where they discover him diligently practicing tennis—a necessary habit due to his family responsibilities, allowing him enough time to train. The final day of training begins with a grueling long-distance run to build stamina, which everyone endures. Immediately following, they are made to practice serves without rest.
A sudden downpour forces them to seek shelter. Qi Ying, attempting to deliver umbrellas to them, falls on the way due to a spinal injury from recent assistance, gets drenched, and develops a high fever. Lu Xia, learning of her efforts, rushes back to find her, carries her back to the camp, and she is later sent to the hospital by Qi Na. That night, a power outage plunges the camp into darkness.
To combat boredom, Zhuo Zhi proposes they practice tennis with flashlight beams, turning the room lively as Xu Ziping and others watch enviously. The next morning, the rain stops, and the temperature drops. Despite the cold, a rising sun lifts spirits as Yuqing prepares for their match against Yufeng, aiming to reclaim their team uniforms. Mu Siyang leads the team to watch the sunrise, where they each vow to become an unbeatable team, giving their all in every match.
In the first doubles match, Tang Jiale intends to showcase their "golden duo" power, but Chi Dayong feels unwell, forcing Tang Jiale to forfeit. The second doubles match sees Zhang Baiyang and Yan Zhiming team up. Despite their differing personalities, they cooperate exceptionally well and secure a victory. Qiao Chen, facing his old rival Shen Weiming in singles, adapts to Shen Weiming's rhythm and wins, though Shen Weiming remains unbowed.
Xu Ziping plays a singles match against Mu Siyang but loses due to his lingering past trauma; Mu Siyang urges Xu Ziping not to live in the past. In the fourth game, He Xinglong faces his master, Shi Tienan. He Xinglong unleashes the full power of his "fluctuating ball" and even a "jumping fluctuating ball," demonstrating his immense strength and winning the match.
After his victory, He Xinglong formally requests to rejoin the team, to which Mu Siyang warmly responds that he never truly left. Yufeng concedes, returning Yuqing's uniforms. As Yuqing dons their uniforms, both captains exchange words, vowing not to lose in future encounters. Qi Na concludes the training with a celebratory group photo.
Upon returning home, He Xinglong informs his father of his return to the tennis team, much to his father's delight, who urges him to commit to his decision. Lu Xia also decides against going abroad with his mother, opting to stay with Yuqing to pursue the national championship.
His father, Lu Xiangqian, is pleased by Lu Xia's good relationship with the Yuqing team but cautions that winning the national championship will be a significant challenge, though Lu Xia remains confident in his team. On Sunday, Yuqing's main players spontaneously gather at the training ground to prepare for the upcoming provincial qualifiers. Lu Xia, arriving, jokingly questions if it's a rest day, but Tang Jiale's enthusiastic response highlights their growing team synergy.
While waiting for Qiao Chen, Lu Xia encounters Kui Jian from Sixth Middle School. As Kui Jian inquires about a vending machine, Qiao Chen nearly drops a cake, and both Lu Xia and Kui Jian instinctively use their tennis rackets to catch it, leading Lu Xia to notice Kui Jian's unique racket.
Kui Jian, learning Lu Xia is from Yuqing, challenges him to a match, which Lu Xia is eager to accept, but Qiao Chen intervenes and takes Lu Xia away. Meanwhile, Yuqing's rival, Sixth Middle School, intensifies their training for the national competition. The atmosphere is tense at the draw ceremony for the provincial qualifiers, attended by representatives from various schools, including Mu Siyang, Xu Ziping, and the arrogant Xingyao Middle School.
