Chapter 114: The Final Match of 2004

The 400-meter final at the Fengtian stop, the last leg of the Indoor Athletics Invitational, could be considered the final domestic sprint event of 2004. After all, today was December 31st.

Having gone through the previous three legs, the other competitors appeared somewhat fatigued. Yet, on the final 80-meter straightaway of this 400-meter final, the professional audience—coaches and athletes alike—perceived an intense atmosphere reminiscent of clashing steel on a battlefield.

This impression was no illusion; even the few ordinary spectators in Fengtian who lacked professional experience found themselves standing up involuntarily, their eyes locked on the two runners trailing each other closely down the final stretch.

It was fierce!

They had been biting at each other's heels the entire way, separated by only half a body length or less. Sports reporters rarely witnessed such intense sprinting; it felt like masters of martial arts locked in combat, where every move was critical and a single strike could decide the victory, yet every attempt was parried by the opponent. This suspenseful tension held until the very end.

"Go! Go! Go!"

They couldn't help but erupt into cheers. Almost everyone was shouting—not just for one specific runner, but purely captivated by the allure of competitive sports. This relentless pursuit, which fully manifested humanity’s dedication and resolve to be higher, faster, and stronger, was the most beautiful scene one could witness in athletics.

Lu Su had no energy to pay attention to the cheers in his ears. Every ounce of his focus was on his own willpower and body. If every 400-meter race was a supreme test of spirit, will, and stamina, then this contest against Xiao Qiang was like casting his mind and body into a blast furnace—burning himself, unleashing everything. In this moment, he could see nothing but the finish line, and hear nothing but the beating of his own heart.

*Overtake, overtake, overtake, overtake…*

The fourth turn was about to end. Overtaking would be even more difficult once they entered the straightaway. Realizing this, Lu Su’s body reacted faster than his brain. He increased his stride frequency and stepped from the innermost lane toward the outermost, beginning his move to pass.

Compared to outdoor 400-meter races, overtaking on the bends is easier in indoor events because indoor tracks are banked. Since indoor tracks are shorter, athletes accustomed to outdoor rhythms can easily fly off the track on the turns if they don't slow down, which would significantly impact their performance and the spectacle. To counter centrifugal force, the IAAF mandates that indoor tracks have a banking of slightly over 10 degrees on the curves, allowing athletes to release the pressure of high speeds and run to their heart's content.

Thus, the slight acceleration provided by that 10-degree incline on the exit of the turn became the key for Lu Su to overtake Xiao Qiang. At this stage, it was all about willpower, and that little bit of slope provided a massive boost. As Xiao Qiang navigated the final turn, he felt a shadow flash behind him and the pressure spiked; glancing over, he saw Lu Su already side-by-side on his right.

"Good!"
"What a great overtake!"
"The technique was flawless!"

"Beautiful!"

Applause erupted in the stadium. It didn't matter that there were few spectators; as long as their professional understanding was sharp enough to appreciate the nuance, that was enough. The timing of the acceleration and the pass via the banked curve was truly impeccable. Even in a video replay, it would be considered textbook-perfect.

Entering the final stretch, the two were neck and neck. Both of their minds were now a bit hazy. The intensity of this 400-meter race surpassed all previous ones. A formidable opponent brought an overwhelming, overloaded pressure. Neither had the energy to even glance at the other. Even though their bodies and stamina had reached—or even exceeded—their limits, every pore on their skin acted like a radar, alerting them to the other's presence:

*You are here.*
*I am here.*

Sparks of mental energy collided in the air, fleeting yet sharp as clashing sword blades, each displaying their ultimate skill.

The moment Lu Su crossed the finish line, he felt completely drained. He had never experienced such an intense race, but the feeling… it was exhilarating!

*Thud.* Lu Su collapsed to the ground.
*Thud.* He heard another sound; Xiao Qiang had collapsed beside him.

The two looked at each other with dazed eyes, struggling to focus, then recognized each other and burst into laughter. They had no strength left for real laughter, but they were genuinely happy.

Their coaches began to help them up, walking them slowly around the track. It was common knowledge that one shouldn't rest immediately after intense exercise, as it could cause a lack of blood supply to the brain or even shock, but the two runners were truly spent. As they passed other coaches, athletes, and reporters, Lu Su heard applause and voices saying, "A spectacular race," "A well-matched battle," "A beautiful win."

*Win…? Did I win?*

Lu Su looked up at the electronic display. He saw his name hanging at the top:

"Lu Su, 47.55 seconds
Xiao Qiang, 47.62 seconds
..."

47.55 seconds. That was more than a second faster than his previous performance. Even for the "long" indoor 400-meter track, this was a significant improvement. The national record for this event was 47.10 seconds.

Although Xiao Qiang had lost, he gave Lu Su a thumbs up. "We'll race again in the 400-meter outdoor event at the National Games!"

"See you at the National Games," Lu Su replied.

With that, Lu Su’s 2004 Indoor Athletics Invitational journey came to a complete end. He had accumulated three first-place finishes in the 60-meter, four in the 200-meter, and one in the 400-meter. At this final Fengtian stop, he had achieved a domestic indoor sprint "Grand Slam"! Of course, compared to the "Grand Slam" of Olympic champions, World Championship winners, and world record holders, this might only be called a "Little Slam." But a record is a record, and a result is a result; this unprecedented victory was enough for sports reporters to write volumes about Lu Su.

However, Lu Su declined all interviews. As soon as the race ended, he grabbed Lu Jinrong and took a taxi straight to the airport. Because today was December 31, 2004—the last day of the year. New Year’s Eve. Lu Xiaoyu was waiting for him at home, and Lu Jinrong’s family was waiting for his return.

The race ended at 4:30 PM. They were on a plane by 6:00 PM, arrived at Pengcheng Airport at 10:00 PM, and Lu Su opened his front door at 11:00 PM.

Beyond the door, it wasn't the lonely scene Lu Su had imagined for Lu Xiaoyu. Instead, a table was set for a feast. Juno, Tian Shiwei, Zheng Ni, and Lu Xiaoyu were sitting around it. Seeing Lu Su return, everyone broke into joyful smiles. The scene was as beautiful as a dream.