Chapter 124: Brother Upstairs, Would You Mind If I Called You Dad?

“Whoever loses has to lie on the ground and bark like a dog. Do you dare?”

As Bai Qingming’s words rang out sharply, everyone watching the livestream was stunned.

“Is this guy a bit crazy? He’s not a professional player—how can he say something like that?”

“Exactly, just refuse if you don’t want to. No need to make a fuss.”

“He’s acting on impulse, honestly, this guy’s a little reckless.”

“Though he’s got spirit, this move is definitely not very sensible.”

Online, people debated vigorously.

It wasn’t mockery of Bai Qingming’s overconfidence, but rather concern over his rashness.

Then, suddenly, someone posted a comment.

“Maybe this guy is actually an incredible table tennis master? Like the Sweeper Monk from Shaolin Temple or the old gatekeeper of the scripture library in novels—aren’t those people really formidable?”

That sparked a brief flicker of hope among netizens.

But it quickly faded.

“Do you think this is a TV drama? A Sweeper Monk? That’s all nonsense.”

For now, all they could do was sympathize with Bai Qingming in spirit.

Meanwhile, upon hearing that Bai Qingming was the one imposing the condition, Noda Koji agreed without hesitation.

Just imagine—someone more handsome than himself lying on the ground, barking like a dog. What a delightful scene!

He was determined to record this moment on his phone and savor it later.

So, with a swarm of reporters and cameramen trailing them, Noda Koji and Bai Qingming arrived at the National Sports Administration’s table tennis training hall.

“Mr. Noda Koji, would you like to wait a bit longer? The professional players arranged for your friendly match have returned,” a staff member tried to intervene.

But Noda Koji wouldn’t hear of it.

“What? Besides being timid, you Chinese can also go back on your word?” he sneered.

Faced with this, the staff member had no choice but to cast a sympathetic glance at Bai Qingming.

“Best of ten, any problem?” Bai Qingming asked Noda Koji.

“No problem. Want me to give you a few points?” Noda Koji scoffed, picking up a ping pong paddle nearby.

Bai Qingming also grabbed the other paddle.

But the next moment, he frowned.

This paddle feels awkward to hold!

For some reason, Bai Qingming felt uneasy gripping the paddle.

He switched several paddles, but the feeling persisted.

It was like when your hands have grown accustomed to a certain size and shape, and one day you suddenly undergo a surgery that changes everything.

Then, late at night, when you want to practice your inherited skills in private, the grip feels strange and unfamiliar.

Without a firm grip or the right feel, performance suffers; it’s uncomfortable and even painful.

That’s exactly what Bai Qingming was experiencing.

After some thought, he realized where the problem lay.

“Pause.”

Just as they were about to start, Bai Qingming made a gesture. “My paddle isn’t comfortable.”

Hearing this, Noda Koji laughed.

“Is that your excuse?”

He thought Bai Qingming was just finding a reason to blame his inevitable loss.

But Bai Qingming ignored him, scanning the surroundings instead.

After looking around, he sighed and shook his head.

“Looking for something? Can I help?” a staff member approached.

“Could you get me a piece of cardboard?” Bai Qingming requested.

“What kind of cardboard?”

“Anything—like a shoebox or something.”

The staff was baffled but complied, quickly fetching a square delivery box.

Bai Qingming took it and cut out a piece roughly the size of a ping pong paddle.

Waving it in his hand a few times, he immediately felt much better.

If you’re going to play table tennis, you need something like this.

It needs to feel right.

“All set. Let’s start,” Bai Qingming said, looking at Noda Koji.

Once everyone understood the purpose of the cardboard, the room fell silent.

“How ridiculous. Using that to play against me? You must be sure you’re going to lose,” Noda Koji laughed arrogantly.

Yet at this moment, the online community erupted.

Those watching the livestream recognized Bai Qingming’s familiar move.

Instantly, everyone was thrilled.

“It’s him! It’s really him!”

“Who? Explain!”

“He’s the man who defeated the Great Demon King!”

“Great Demon King? Which one?”

“How many Great Demon Kings are there in table tennis?”

“Oh! I remember now—the Great Demon King was utterly crushed by him using cardboard!”

“Wow, could it really be the Sweeper Monk alive today?”

“No wonder he dared to accept the challenge. Looks like this game is a sure win.”

“I strongly suggest recording the scene of that little Japanese guy barking like a dog and including it in national educational materials for children to watch from a young age.”

...

Since Zhang Park’s attempt to play dumb was exposed by Bai Qingming, almost everyone knew of the man who could make a world champion doubt his life using nothing but cardboard.

Now, Bai Qingming had unveiled his signature move, and the atmosphere reversed instantly. Those who knew relaxed and lit cigarettes in early celebration.

At the venue, the match began.

“You serve first. Otherwise, I’m afraid you won’t touch the ball again,” Bai Qingming said calmly.

Those who understood knew he wasn’t bluffing.

But Noda Koji was slightly surprised.

“Smooth talk,” he thought.

He wondered why he never said anything like that before matches with his opponents.

Good, these two lines are mine now!

With that in mind, Noda Koji casually served the ball, feeling pleased with his newfound bravado.

The next second—

Bai Qingming struck like lightning—not with a paddle, but with the cardboard.

Smack!

Noda Koji didn’t even have time to react. The ping pong ball flew straight into his forehead.

He was stunned.

At that moment, the translator beside him applauded.

“Mr. Noda Koji’s save was absolutely perfect—it looked like he didn’t touch the ball at all.”

Only then did Noda Koji realize and hurriedly said, “Yes, yes, I let that one go on purpose.”

Then he looked at Bai Qingming, his expression turning serious.

“I’m going to get serious now.”

And then...

After ten minutes, Noda Koji was hammered 0–10.

Online, netizens erupted in cheers.

“Cardboard killer!”

“Well done!”

“So satisfying!”

“I always wondered why I couldn’t play well—turns out I chose the wrong equipment. Next time, I’ll try cardboard.”

“I run a table tennis club. I’m tossing all my paddles and ordering cardboard instead. Suppliers, please DM me.”

“Just asking quietly, I own a scrap factory with plenty of cardboard like this. Am I about to get rich?”

“Do you even have a clue? If you had time to watch the livestream, you’d be out looking at your dream car.”

“I lost both parents as a kid and want to feel some family love. Scrap factory guy, do you mind if I call you Dad?”