Not long after Henry Luo returned home, Brown and Raul arrived, carrying a stack of newspapers. When they saw Jason Luo already up and moving around, both of them burst into hearty laughter.
"You're recovering fast! That's great news. Looks like you might be discharged in a day or two. Jason, take it easy for now—get some more rest. Here! Take a look at these papers when you've got time. They're all about you."
Jason Luo flipped through them casually. Most of the reports were positive, but he wasn't too concerned about that yet. What really caught his attention were the updates about the upcoming matches.
Raul perked up at the topic. "Jason, things are looking fantastic! In Group B's second round, Tutkason knocked out his opponent—but we've analyzed him, and he's nowhere near Carl's level. That means our chances in the next match are really strong. Beat him, and we're into the semifinals. Feels like a dream, huh?"
Brown added, "Tutkason's a bit shorter than Carl, and you've got a reach advantage. As long as you can get back in form before the match, your chances look very good. You've got five days left. Once you're discharged, we can start some recovery training right away."
Jason calculated silently. After defeating Carl, his own Strength had improved significantly. Facing Tutkason next, his odds of winning were indeed high.
Raul couldn't sit still anymore. "The semifinals, man! If you give it your all, even getting runner-up would be amazing. Jason, second place comes with two million in prize money—you'll be rich! Fame and fortune, all at once!"
"These past few days, I've already gotten in touch with several major promotion companies. We're just waiting for your results. Ha! From now on, I, Raul, will have a name in the amateur circuit too!"
Brown rolled his eyes at Raul's excitement and turned to Jason. "Ignore this maniac, Jason. You need to stay grounded. Boxing isn't about daydreams—you take it one step at a time. Nothing is ever certain in the ring. We've got to take every match seriously. Otherwise, Carl wouldn't have lost to you."
Jason nodded. "You're right. I completely agree. Without your pre-fight strategy, I wouldn't have had a chance at winning."
Brown smiled, clearly pleased with Jason's attitude. "That's the spirit. The road is still long. Keep your composure and humility, and you'll go far."
The three of them then discussed match strategies in detail. Brown also shared updates about rule changes in the professional circuit and some famous stories from boxing history, which Jason listened to with keen interest.
Among those stories, the journey of Manny Pacquiao—the legendary champion from Asia—deeply captured Jason Luo's attention.
Pacquiao was born in 1978, a child from a poor family in the Philippines. The eldest of six children, he bore the weight of supporting his family from a young age.
At ten, he often slept outdoors in cardboard boxes, sometimes going an entire day without food.
At twelve, he started selling doughnuts on the streets to feed his family.
At fourteen, he traveled alone to Manila, stepping into the amateur boxing world for just two dollars.
In 1996, he officially entered professional boxing.
In 1998, just before his birthday, Pacquiao won the WBC Flyweight World Championship—the first Gold Belt of his life.
That once small, skinny boy who rose from poverty spent the next twelve years—from 1998 to 2010—climbing through eight weight divisions, from flyweight to super welterweight, winning eight world titles and setting an unprecedented record in boxing history.
Pacquiao's boxing style was straightforward and fierce, built around relentless offense and explosive combinations. He had no habit of full defense—his signature move was the "Barrage Punch." With terrifying speed and power, he conquered opponents across the world and won the hearts of fans everywhere.
He was hailed as the greatest fighter to conquer the West since Genghis Khan.
What made him even more remarkable was that despite his fame and fortune, Pacquiao never forgot his roots. He continuously donated to help the poor and earned immense respect as a national hero—so much so that his popularity even surpassed that of President Duterte.
In 2007, during a period of civil conflict in the Philippines, both sides of the military called a seven-hour ceasefire just to watch Pacquiao's fight against Marquez before continuing their battle.
In 2008, during his bout with De La Hoya, crime rates across the Philippines astonishingly dropped to zero throughout the match—a true phenomenon.
And in his "Fight of the Century" against Floyd Mayweather, Pacquiao earned $120 million. While Mayweather flaunted his wealth by buying jewelry for his girlfriend, Pacquiao used part of his earnings to build and donate 1,000 homes to impoverished families.
Now 42, Pacquiao was still active in the ring, continuing to write his legendary story.
When Brown and Raul finally left, Jason Luo remained lost in thought. Pacquiao's real-life journey had deeply inspired and moved him.
This was what a true champion looked like.
What a shame he wasn't one of their own—how amazing it would be if someone like that emerged among their people someday...
Feeling bored, Jason picked up a newspaper from the bedside table and flipped through it.
A Dark Horse Rises in the Golden Gloves Tournament!
Brave Clash Ends in Miraculous Comeback!
Champion Defeated in Shocking Upset!
...
"Hmph, all just flashy headlines," Jason muttered, uninterested.
Big victories always drew attention. Media hype thrived on success, but Jason knew most of it was just tabloid chatter. After all, this was still an amateur tournament—mainstream outlets didn't really care.
There were still five days until the next match. His body would be fine, but he needed to resume training quickly. Otherwise, the stiffness in his back and hips from lying in bed too long would make it hard to handle the ring's intensity.
With that thought, Jason started doing some light stretching in the hospital room.
Grace immediately protested. "Bro, you just woke up yesterday! The doctor said you need rest. How can you be moving around already?"
"Relax, I know my body. A little exercise feels good. You don't understand—lying in bed too long makes your waist ache."
"Fine then! Since we've got nothing to do, you can teach me some boxing moves. Next time I run into bad guys, I'll knock them out!"
Jason laughed. "Ha, sure! But would you really hit anyone?"
"No way! Even if I learned, I couldn't do it… If your back's sore, I can give you a massage instead."
Jason blushed. "That's not necessary. I'll be fine after a few stretches."
"It's fine—you're my brother! What's there to be embarrassed about? I used to massage Mom all the time. Trust me, it's no problem."
Just then, Tony Huo burst through the door, grinning. He froze at the sight before him—Jason Luo lying there with a look of pure bliss while Grace massaged his back.
"Holy crap, Jason! Your hospital stay's better than a hotel service! That's just unfair! Uh… Grace, I kind of twisted my back getting out of the car. How about giving me a turn?"
Grace's face flushed crimson. "Don't be ridiculous! What's wrong with me massaging my brother's back? You came at the right time, though—I'm not strong enough, so you can take over. I'll go grab some medicine from the doctor!"
And with that, she bolted out of the room…
Laughter echoed behind her as Tony burst out laughing and Jason rubbed his head, half embarrassed, half amused.
...