A Modest Test of Skill

Chen Jue had no idea what was going on with himself.

Just moments ago, during the warm-up, he’d been quite nervous, yet his performance in the first three darts was outstanding! Not only was Wei Jinsheng, his competitor, left dumbfounded, but even Liu Songfu, who was acting as referee, was stunned.

Damn it!

He’d planned to show off in front of the girls and assert his presence, only to run into someone who seemed like a professional. Wasn’t this just serving his own face up to be slapped? Even the club members watching nearby erupted in commotion when they saw the score of 125 points, exclamations echoing throughout.

“Could I be the type of player who thrives in big matches? A natural showstopper?”

“Does my performance actually improve with a bigger crowd?”

“No, that can’t be right! I’m supposed to be socially anxious!” Chen Jue glanced up at the scoreboard with suspicion, then walked up to retrieve his darts.

A “big match” player was someone who, the larger and more enthusiastic the crowd, the better they played. These players might only perform at sixty or seventy percent in practice, but in a major competition, it was as if they’d been supercharged, suddenly dazzling everyone with unexpected strength.

“Jue, you’re amazing!”

“So impressive!”

Seeing the result, the two beautiful girls, Lin Ling and Hu Feifei, clapped excitedly at the sidelines.

...

The pace of international darts matches was brisk, especially in singles—one match could conclude in just a few minutes.

Wei Jinsheng, rattled by Chen Jue’s nearly perfect opening, instantly lost his composure. He knew he’d encountered a true expert this time! In the following two rounds, his unstable mindset led to a mediocre performance, ending with just 210 points after nine darts—a complete flop.

On the other hand, Chen Jue’s proficiency soared, his hand growing ever steadier. He finished with a high score of 300 points.

The second game ended much the same: 295 to 230, a landslide victory.

In the best-of-three format, Chen Jue’s two consecutive wins ended the match outright.

But what surprised him most was that, the moment the outcome was decided, the panel popped up with a new prompt:

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[Ding~]

[You have completed a qualified technical contest and emerged victorious, gaining unique insights into the sport of darts.]

[Darts Proficiency +100]

——————

[Ding~]

[You’ve participated in an unofficial offline match, felt the crowd’s enthusiasm, and experienced the thrill of competition. Your mindset, willpower, and focus have all been exercised.]

[Mental Attribute +0.01]

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A cool, refreshing sensation surged to his head. The match had been exhausting; his eyes were sore and his temples throbbed from staring at the board too long.

But as his mental attribute increased, the discomfort vanished.

“So competing with others actually has this benefit?” Chen Jue was taken aback.

He suddenly recalled the e-sports matches he loved to watch—the pro teams not only trained intensely but also entered all sorts of tournaments, big and small, to stay sharp and maintain their competitive edge.

The more tournaments they played, the higher their skill level. Take a break from practice, and their abilities would quickly decline.

It was the same with darts: competing with others could rapidly improve proficiency.

Just as the outcome was decided, the club members watching began to cheer.

The receptionist had already brewed dozens of cups of coffee, and with the help of several staff members, delivered them to the competition area on serving carts.

“Xiao Wei, thanks for the coffee!”

“Old Liu, hurry up! Everyone’s waiting for you to treat them to cake!”

Hearing the teasing remarks as he paid, Wei Jinsheng’s face twitched. It was bad enough to be trounced, but to be mocked like this was another blow entirely.

As for Liu Songfu, upon hearing that the cake was on its way, he snorted, “It’s not over yet!”

He took off his jacket and began warming up at the line.

But in sports, tough talk doesn’t win matches.

With the same best-of-three rules, Chen Jue maintained his hot streak, landing at least one bullseye every round, and took easy victories again with scores of 285 to 255 and 305 to 260.

When it was over, the grinning receptionist brought the payment code to Liu Songfu, thanking him profusely.

Because it was a treat for everyone, even the staff on duty got a free coffee and a slice of exquisite cake.

“No need to thank me, it’s just a small expense.”

“As long as everyone’s happy.”

“We’re all in the same club—friendship first, competition second!” Liu Songfu laughed it off, now putting on a gracious face, a far cry from his earlier stubbornness.

But everyone had a competitive streak. Though Liu Songfu and Wei Jinsheng were polite on the surface, in their hearts they were cursing. Treating everyone wasn’t a big deal for them—it was losing to a club newcomer in front of everyone that stung, especially with the girls they liked watching. That was hard to swallow.

...

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Liu Songfu and Wei Jinsheng, Chen Jue took the coffee and cake handed to him by the receptionist and savored them slowly, reflecting on the match.

It was his first competitive darts match. Although his opponents weren’t professionals, the experience gave him a firsthand feel for the competition.

During the match, he found his focus sharper than usual, his movements more precise, which led to his proficiency skyrocketing.

And when the results were in and the tension released, he felt almost transformed! The rush from the sudden release of pressure and emotion was addictive.

His victory proved that all his hard work and practice hadn’t been in vain.

This sense of achievement and reward, where effort truly paid off, was something he’d never experienced in his years of grinding away at work.

“This must be the true charm of sports competition!” Chen Jue thought.

He checked his attribute panel—the Darts proficiency was now at Level 3 (1826/2000), just a little more to level up.

With some time left in the afternoon, he resolved to squeeze in more practice.

But to his surprise, after the two matches, Lin Ling’s close friend Hu Feifei suddenly changed her attitude. She came over to congratulate him, added his contact info, and even invited him to coach their practice.

Suddenly, Chen Jue became the envy of all the club’s single male members.

This time, though, he was no longer a rookie attracting ridicule—after two crushing victories, he was now metaphorically clad in invincible armor, free to do as he pleased within the club.

For a reserved bachelor like him, this little moment in the spotlight had been an absolute win.

...

Amid envious gazes, Chen Jue began to practice with Lin Ling and Hu Feifei. One dart after another, the trio played enthusiastically at the same board.

During practice, Chen Jue would occasionally correct their posture and technique. For the two girls, both fitness instructors, this slight physical contact was perfectly normal.

But for the other practicing members, it was enough to make them green with envy.

Damn it! Why do others get to practice with the girls—two at once, even?

Is this what being a master earns you?

If looks could kill, Chen Jue would have been reduced to a battered dartboard.

Fortunately, after about half an hour of practice, with his last dart striking the electronic bullseye, he finally maxed out his proficiency.

At that moment, the attribute panel popped up a new message:

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[Ding~]

[Proficiency has reached 100%. Skill level up.]

[Darts Lv3 (2000/2000) → Darts Lv4 (1/5000)]

[Through your relentless efforts, your steel-tip darts skills have reached professional level. There are no more technical secrets in this sport for you.]

[Suggestion: It’s time to make some changes. Try new types of darts techniques or add new challenges to push your limits!]

[Restriction: Routine practice with traditional steel-tip darts no longer increases proficiency.]

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