111: The power to devour the body! The gates of monsters!

Lin Feng's answer was broadcast worldwide through countless cameras.

The reporters at the press conference still wanted to continue their questioning.

But D'Antoni had already stood up. He patted Lin Feng's shoulder, signaling the end of the press conference.

Escorted by staff, Lin Feng left the room filled with flashes and noise.

The relaxed atmosphere of victory echoed in the hallway.

Every team staff member who passed by gave him a thumbs-up, their faces showing sincere smiles.

Lin Feng smiled and responded to each one.

The moment he pushed open the door to the home team locker room.

"Splash—!"

Cold, bubbly champagne and sports drinks poured down on him from all directions!

"Hahaha! Our MVP is back!"

Howard held an empty Gatorade bucket, laughing like a three-hundred-pound child.

Gasol also let loose for once. He was shaking a bottle of champagne and spraying white foam toward Lin Feng.

"Nice job, Lin!"

"You maniac! Fifteen three-pointers! Are you trying to shoot the rim into sparks?"

The entire locker room turned into a sea of joy.

The players laughed and shouted, lavishly giving all their praise to the sole hero of the night.

Lin Feng was somewhat disheveled by the sudden "attack." He wiped the liquid from his face and started laughing too.

He laughed, embracing and chest-bumping every teammate who rushed up to him.

The joy of victory, in this moment, was so real and so exhilarating.

The celebratory revelry lasted for nearly ten minutes.

When everyone was done messing around and laughing, and the locker room gradually quieted down.

The exhaustion that had been suppressed by adrenaline finally rushed toward Lin Feng like a burst dam.

His smile froze on his face.

He felt as if his legs were filled with lead, and every step he took was incredibly heavy.

For a moment, his vision blurred and darkened.

He shook his head, forced himself forward, walked to his locker, and then sat down heavily with a thud.

He didn't even have the strength left to take off his soaking wet jersey.

"Lin? Are you alright?"

Team Doctor Gary Vitti noticed something was wrong immediately and quickly walked over, concern etched on his face.

"Give him some space!"

Vitti pushed aside the surrounding players, squatted down, and began to check Lin Feng's condition.

He picked up a towel, handed it to Lin Feng, then reached out and gently pressed on Lin Feng's thigh muscle.

"How do you feel?" Vitti asked.

"A little tired." Lin Feng's voice was somewhat weak.

Vitti didn't speak, but his brow furrowed.

He began using professional techniques to give Lin Feng a muscle relaxation massage.

His fingers slowly pressed and kneaded Lin Feng's rock-hard quadriceps.

As the massage went deeper, Vitti's expression grew increasingly serious.

His fingers could clearly feel it.

Deep within Lin Feng's solid muscles, there was an abnormal, faint tearing sensation.

That was not a normal reaction after strenuous exercise.

It was a cry of distress from muscle fibers overwhelmed by the body being pushed beyond its limits!

"Lin."

Vitti stopped his hands, looked up, and spoke in an extremely serious, unequivocal tone.

"This isn't ordinary fatigue."

"Your muscle fibers show signs of slight tearing."

"This is the direct consequence of your body operating under an excessive load."

He looked at Lin Feng, warning him word by word.

"Tonight's explosive playing style has caused immense damage to your body."

"This cannot become your regular weapon. Otherwise, I guarantee you, your career will absolutely not last two seasons."

Vitti's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over the fiery atmosphere that had just ignited in the locker room.

Everyone quieted down, looking at Lin Feng, who was sitting there exhausted, their smiles replaced by worry.

Just then.

A figure appeared at the locker room door.

Kobe Bryant.

He stood there quietly, leaning on a crutch, his right foot encased in a thick plaster cast.

Everyone's eyes in the locker room focused on him.

Kobe's gaze was complex.

He looked at the pale young man sitting on the chair, receiving treatment from the Team Doctor.

In his eyes, there was admiration and relief, but more than that, there was a deep concern that only a veteran could understand.

He ignored everyone else.

He just used his sharp eyes to scan the surrounding players and staff.

"Everyone out."

Kobe's voice was not loud, but it carried a natural authority.

"I need a word with him."

Everyone, including Team Doctor Vitti, quietly filed out.

Before leaving, Howard glanced at Lin Feng worriedly, but after meeting Kobe's gaze, he obediently left.

The heavy locker room door was closed.

The noisy world was shut out.

Only Lin Feng and Kobe remained in the room.

Kobe slowly limped over to Lin Feng, leaning on his crutch.

He pulled up a chair and sat down next to Lin Feng.

He didn't offer any congratulations.

He just looked at Lin Feng, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke in a low, resonant voice.

"Tonight, you opened a door."

Lin Feng looked up at him, puzzled.

Kobe's gaze was as deep as the night sky.

"A door leading to the realm of monsters."

"But remember this," Kobe's voice dropped even lower.

"This power is a double-edged sword. It can bring you everything you desire: victory, glory, cheers..."

"But at the same time, it will devour you."

Kobe reached out and pointed to Lin Feng's still slightly trembling thigh.

"It will devour your body, your health, everything about you."

He withdrew his hand, patted his right leg encased in plaster, and gave a self-mocking smile.

"When I was young, I also thought I was omnipotent. I thought my body was forged from steel."

"I flew through the air, I ignored all defense, I thought I was a god."

"But what happened?"

Kobe pointed to his leg.

"A body full of injuries, countless stitches, and this ruptured Achilles tendon. This is the price."

"This is the payment the monster demanded from me."

Lin Feng looked at Kobe, at the weariness on his face, and at the leg that could no longer allow him to take flight.

His heart sank.

He finally understood the true weight of the Team Doctor's previous words.

And he finally understood the source of the worry in Kobe's eyes at this moment.

Just as the atmosphere in the locker room became somewhat heavy.

The expression on Kobe's face suddenly changed.

The veteran's weariness and emotion vanished.

It was replaced by a coldness and sharpness, like the striking of a black mamba.

His gaze became extremely serious.

"Don't think that just because you won tonight, you can relax."

"Do you think you defeated Popovich?"

"No, you just completely enraged him."

Kobe leaned closer, his voice sounding like it was squeezed through his teeth.

"Tonight, he abandoned all his tactics, and he abandoned the dignity of a famous coach. Do you know what that means?"

"It means that in Game 4, he will use a crazier, more primal method to deal with you!"

"He will abandon basketball itself and use every means possible to stop you. They will constantly crash into you, pull at you, provoke you, and even... injure you!"

Kobe's eyes stared intently into Lin Feng's eyes.

"Be ready, kid."

"The next game is the real hell."