The Prince of Tennis Episode 6 Recap
> The Prince of Tennis Recap
The tension was palpable as Shen Weiming and Zhang Baiyang battled it out, both determined to win. In the end, it was Zhang Baiyang who proved superior, securing another victory for the Yu Qing team. Shen Weiming was distraught after the loss, but Yu Feng's captain, Xu Ziping, comforted him, vowing that their team would emerge victorious in the next match. Next up was Lu Xia, a first-year high school student who had just returned to the country.
His opponents, including Sima Yiwu from the Yu Feng team, looked down on him because of his age and newcomer status. Unbeknownst to most, Lu Xia had made a promise to his father, Lu Xiangqian: if he could win this match, his father would play him with his true skill. Lu Xiangqian himself, disguised, was secretly watching from the stands, though he was spotted by Qiao Chen.
Lu Xia started with an aggressive Outer Spin Serve, immediately shocking Sima Yiwu and the rest of the Yu Feng team. He continued to dominate, easily winning the first half of the match and leaving Sima Yiwu frustrated. In the second half, Sima Yiwu retaliated with his own Outer Spin Serve, hoping to turn the tide. However, Lu Xia quickly found a way to contain him, preventing any counter-attacks, which worried Xu Ziping.
Despite Lu Xia’s strong lead, Sima Yiwu managed to score a point by using his unique Up-Down Spin Ball, which temporarily caused muscle paralysis in Lu Xia’s hand. Sima Yiwu used this move again, and as Lu Xia tried to counter with a spin of his own, his hand went numb, causing his racket to fly out. The racket hit the net post, broke, and rebounded, striking Lu Xia directly in his left eye.
Fortunately, Lu Xia's eye itself was unharmed, though his eyelid was injured and bleeding. Despite the obvious pain and impairment, Lu Xia adamantly refused to quit. Seeing that persuasion was futile, Mu Siyang lent Lu Xia his racket and gave him an ultimatum: he had ten minutes to finish the match and secure a win, or he would have to forfeit. Lu Xia returned to the court.
The muscle paralysis, combined with his impaired depth perception from the eye injury, caused him to lose several more points. Yet, incredibly, Lu Xia quickly adjusted, finding his distance and devising a strategy to counter Sima Yiwu's Up-Down Spin Ball. He began to force Sima Yiwu into quick serves, leaving less time for his opponent's deceptive techniques. Employing a Double Volley Technique and even switching hands, a move he mimicked from his father, Lu Xia pressed Sima Yiwu.
As the match reached its critical point, with only a minute left on Mu Siyang's clock and Lu Xia’s wound bleeding again, the crowd held its breath. In the final seconds, Lu Xia executed a powerful Reverse Spin Shot, winning the match and sending the crowd into a frenzy. Immediately after the match, Qiao Chen and the team rushed Lu Xia to the hospital, giving him no chance to refuse.
The doctor confirmed that the injury was not severe, though Qi Ying's concern was palpable; when the doctor asked Lu Xia if it hurt, Qi Ying instinctively answered for him, revealing her true feelings. Meanwhile, the Yu Feng players, though disappointed, apologized to Xu Ziping, who encouraged them not to dwell on the loss but to focus on the upcoming national league.
Later that evening, Tang Jiale organized a celebration dinner at He Xinglong’s father’s restaurant, inviting Qi Ying to join them. At the table, Tang Jiale slyly asked Qi Ying who she had been cheering for that day, causing her to blush and remain silent. Mu Siyang urged everyone to eat, and Qiao Chen, who had been a substitute for the day, heartily dug in, becoming the target of playful teasing from his teammates about his relationship with Xingzi.
As the playful banter continued, Qi Ying noticed Lu Xia had fallen asleep at the table from sheer exhaustion and gently urged everyone to quiet down. Seizing the opportunity, Qiao Chen mischievously poked Lu Xia's bandaged eye.
