Dominate the Super Bowl-Chapter 849 - 848 Gain and Loss

Chapter 849: 848 Gain and Loss

Chapter 849: 848 Gain and Loss

At dawn, the sky was just getting light.

The sky was clear, stretching endlessly. The thick clouds were no longer visible, as Kansas City’s winter returned to its usual dryness and sharp cold. It was as if last Sunday’s freezing rain was nothing but a minor anomaly, leaving no trace.

It’s hard to imagine that in just a few days, they had turned a desperate situation under terrible weather into a victory against the New England Patriots, and then bid farewell to the Kansas City Chiefs’ biggest fan in a light drizzle. It felt like a passage through autumn and winter, and by the time they returned to the training field, it seemed like ages had passed.

However, the season was far from over—

There was still one final showdown to go, and it was also the most important match of all.

As players and coaches from the League’s other thirty teams flocked to Orlando, Florida, for the annual Pro Bowl, Li Wei had already returned to Kansas City to resume the final round of training.

In previous years, the Pro Bowl was always held in Honolulu, Hawaii, essentially serving as a group vacation or team-building event. Players could experience the island’s unique charm in the everlasting summer of the Pacific Ocean.

Back then, as long as players were selected for the Pro Bowl, they were more than willing to attend. It was an honor and an essential opportunity for self-promotion. Whether they were young rookies or seasoned veterans, none would miss it.

But in recent years, concerns about injuries combined with the long-haul flights to Hawaii led more and more players to skip it under various excuses, sapping the League’s annual All-Star Game of its charm.

In an effort to persuade players to return to the Pro Bowl stage and actively participate, the League brought the event back to the North American continent.

This way, the vacation vibe remained, but the need for an arduous transoceanic journey was removed. Players already planning to vacation in Florida or the Caribbean Sea now greeted the event with obvious enthusiasm, cheering all the way.

Unfortunately, the Kansas City Chiefs skipped out for the second year running—

And so did the Los Angeles Rams. After all, no one wanted to risk the Super Bowl.

The League regretted this deeply. Goodell had always hoped that Li Wei would appear at the Pro Bowl stage, as the game’s lack of intensity would perfectly showcase Li Wei’s flawless, flowing ground game. It was the ideal spectacle of rushing for casual fans to applaud.

Especially this year, with Li Wei crowned the regular season MVP, drawing attention worldwide.

If Li Wei could grace the Pro Bowl with his presence…

But gains always come with losses. Goodell had to strike a balance. For the epic showdown of “Li Wei vs. Donald 2.0” on the Super Bowl stage, sacrificing the Pro Bowl was no big deal.

Besides, the Pro Bowl this year had another star sharpening his blade—Barkley.

Everyone claimed that the New York Giants’ abysmal performance reaffirmed the quarterback’s critical role as the heart of a team. An elite running back couldn’t change the game, and Barkley, after all, was not Li Wei. His efforts didn’t warrant excessive praise.

Barkley: …

One could imagine Barkley simmering with determination, ready to prove himself—

And what better stage for a showcase than the performance-oriented Pro Bowl?

Over there, Barkley was raring to shine at the Pro Bowl, yet little did he know another lurking rival, McFry, was quietly preparing to ambush him.

Meanwhile, Li Wei had returned to the training field, starting again with restorative basic routines.

It was tough, unquestionably tough.

The season had been grueling enough, mentally and physically. Following such rigorous challenges, getting back into training felt like a trial, an ordeal.

But thinking of Annie, of her dream he was carrying, Li Wei clenched his teeth, steeled his will, and stepped onto the field again for the season’s final push.

Gradually, Li Wei had gotten used to being the first to arrive at the training ground each day. But today was different—someone had already taken to the field and was warming up.

—Berry.

It was unexpected, but Li Wei didn’t say anything. He merely gave a silent nod of acknowledgment and joined Berry, beginning his own warm-up routine.

Though called a warm-up, the intensity was no joke, and soon sweat started to drip.

Li Wei was only slightly damp on his forehead, but Berry looked like he had been pulled straight out of a pool. Inside and out, he was soaked through, and even standing still, his knees and shoulders trembled faintly.

Berry had clearly been pushing himself to match Li Wei’s warm-up level, but it was evident now that he was struggling.

Finishing a set, Li Wei picked up a water bottle nearby and waited. Then he handed it to Berry.

Berry didn’t have time to thank him and just gulped it all down in one swig.

He drained the entire bottle in one go, catching his breath slightly before glancing at Li Wei. Adjusting his breathing, he suddenly blurted out, out of nowhere:

“I’m planning to keep going.”

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Li Wei looked puzzled.

But Berry didn’t need prompting. He continued talking on his own.

“I know, no matter how this season ends, everyone will be waiting for me to make a decision, like Revis did.”

Last season, Revis had announced his retirement after winning the Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs, capping off his career with a championship ring.

Leaving at the peak, avoiding an ugly ending.

But Berry had other thoughts.

“I want to keep going.”

“I know persisting further might get ugly. There’s no mercy in the League. Everyone says I should retire while I have the chance, but I still want to run on the field.”

“Not because of that interception.”

“I know it doesn’t mean much. I’m still far from my peak, with so much to work on. I shouldn’t get carried away over a single moment.”

“I just…”

Berry hesitated, thoughtfully searching for the words to describe his feelings.

Li Wei quietly watched him, patiently waiting. Catching something in Berry’s expression, he gently tested the waters: “You just want to keep playing football, right?”

Berry froze. Slowly, a smile crept over his face. He nodded softly, “Yeah, I just want to keep playing football.”

Li Wei: “Then you should keep pushing yourself.”

At that moment—

“Hey, you two! Yeah, I’m talking to you two blockheads. Don’t you know this is a private training ground? What are you doing here so early? Don’t tell me you’re here to train!”

Following the voice, they turned to see Houston swaggering toward them.

Laughing and joking, Houston gave his two friends a hug each.

Berry finally retorted, “We should be the ones asking you that. The guy who couldn’t even get off the ground. Did you come here just to keep lying down?”

Without hesitation, Houston flipped Berry off, raising his middle finger. “They may wish I’d stay down, desperate for me to retire, but I won’t let them have it their way. Their misery is my joy.”

He rubbed his hands together eagerly. “I think I can keep playing for another ten years.”

Berry looked genuinely shocked.

Houston realized ten years might be pushing it. “Well, at least a few more years.”

“Honestly, I was thinking of retiring after this season, no matter what. Regardless of the results, whether we made it deep into the playoffs or not, I was just done.”

“My body doesn’t cooperate. Injuries are endless. Now I can’t even sleep comfortably—I’m no better than an eighty-year-old man.”

Grumbling and complaining in his usual rambling manner, Houston’s words felt painfully real.

But neither Berry nor Li Wei could bring themselves to laugh.