Jason Luo, with the system inside him, didn't pay much attention to what his coach said. What he wanted most was to fight more matches. As long as he kept winning, he believed his physical fitness and punching power would keep improving.
Naturally, he kept those thoughts to himself. The string of victories had left him a little cocky and restless. And spending so much time together had made him somewhat dependent on his coach. Given his unique upbringing, it was easy for him to place Pedro in his heart as a father figure.
Pedro was especially gentle today. After calling Jason Luo to sit by his side, he spoke slowly.
"Jason, there are less than twenty days until the Golden Gloves Tournament preliminaries. Once it begins—whether in the prelims or the main event—the schedule will be relentless as long as you aren't eliminated. It will test your resistance, your ability to adjust your condition, and even your recovery from injuries."
"That's why professional physical conditioning before the tournament is crucial. At first, I only wanted you to go for the experience. But since you've already beaten Morduk, it shows you've reached the level of a third-tier boxer. Advancing through the prelims shouldn't be a problem. Given that, why not aim higher? You might even secure a decent ranking..."
Jason Luo frowned, not fully satisfied with those words.
"Coach, don't worry. I'll give everything in this tournament. I'll bring you back a trophy!"
Pedro chuckled.
"What? You really dare to boast. Even Kamman wouldn't say something like that before the fight, let alone you!"
"You... I know a few wins have built your confidence, and that's good. But don't let it turn into arrogance! Right now, you're only at the starting line. Once you're in the real competition, you'll see—every opponent in the ring has their own trump card. If you can break into the top 1500 in the super middleweight division, I'll already be very satisfied. A trophy?..."
Jason Luo felt a stubborn unwillingness, yet he couldn't deny his coach's reasoning.
"Coach, will there really be that many strong fighters in an amateur tournament?"
"Of course," Pedro said, shaking his head. "You think you're the only clever one? The world works like this: the more profitable the industry, the more people it draws in. Once the tournament starts, amateur fighters from all over the world will flood in. Sometimes even the preliminaries are brutally competitive. I'm telling you this so you can adjust your mindset."
Those words calmed Jason Luo's restless spirit.
Pedro gently patted his shoulder and continued, "Don't rush. Considering you've only been boxing for two months, your progress is remarkable. Jason, I see a spark of hope in you. Maybe my lifelong wish can still be realized. Take it step by step."
Jason Luo hesitated. "Your wish is..." He already had an idea but didn't dare confirm it.
"Of course, it's to train a world champion!" Pedro let out a sigh. "But it's so hard. I've coached all my life, yet every time I've fallen short by a hair's breadth. You can't understand what that feels like. Kid, you're my last hope. I might as well tell you—the doctor told me six months ago that my cirrhosis had already developed into cancer. But I don't want you rushing ahead blindly. What matters most is building a solid foundation and keeping your mindset steady."
"What? Coach, you..." Jason Luo shot to his feet. He couldn't believe the old man before him was fighting a terminal illness. Remembering the strict demands Pedro had placed on him every day, he suddenly felt as if he had matured years in an instant.
He didn't know how to comfort his coach, so he blurted out, "I'm sorry... I didn't know. From now on, I'll train seriously and never make you angry again. I..." His eyes reddened as he spoke.
Seeing the boy's genuine emotion, Pedro smiled.
"How old are you? Why are you crying like a child? Many people live more than ten years with this illness. I'm not pessimistic, so why should you be? Straighten your back. You're already a grown man. Remember this: as long as there's even a glimmer of hope, never give up. Even if death itself stands before you, stay strong and keep smiling."
Jason Luo nodded hard. Pedro pressed on while the mood was still hot.
"So... about contacting the new coach?"
"I'll follow your lead. Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it."
Just then, Raúl hurried over.
"Well, what's going on here today? I almost don't recognize things without Coach Pedro's strict scolding."
Pedro composed himself. "Nothing serious, just giving the kid a reality check. What's the matter?"
...
That evening, Sonny drove the two of them straight to Coach Brown's house.
It was a unique, manor-style villa—clear proof that Coach Brown was quite wealthy. After stepping out of the car, they walked through a small grove and into the yard, where they found Coach Brown, his face glowing with good health.
Sonny stepped forward to greet him. "Ha, old friend, I've brought the kid. As for Pedro, I don't think I need to introduce him, do I?"
Brown let out a hearty laugh. "Of course not! It's been years. You look surprisingly well—I really ought to thank God for that."
Pedro forced a small smile. "The feeling's mutual. To be honest, hearing you're still around was a surprise, so I came especially to see an old friend."
Listening from the side, Jason Luo was confused. Just what was the relationship between these two? The undertones in their words were hard to read.
Sonny quickly cut in, smoothing things over. "Well, after so many years apart, of course there's a lot to say. But I think we should get to the point first. Coach Brown is very interested in Jason, and now that he's here..."
Brown turned his gaze to Jason Luo, looking him up and down before squeezing his bones and muscles with both hands. Only then did he speak.
"Hmm, not bad. This kind of natural physique is rare, especially among Asian fighters. That's part of why I'm so interested in him. What's your name again?"
Jason Luo felt awkward—the old man was handling him like livestock. But seeing his coach remain calm, he forced himself to endure.
"My name is Jason Luo. You can just call me Jason."
"Jason? I heard you're only eighteen. Is that right?"
"Yes, sir."
"Hmm, good! Your eye is as sharp as ever. This kid really is a fine seedling." Brown nodded approvingly, but then his tone shifted. "But where's his manager? Why isn't he here?"