Chapter 173: Unt.i.tled
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
There was nothing wrong with what he had said, the stats a.n.a.lyzer actually did not rebuke him, he rolled his eyes then said, “I keep having this feeling that Tall Boots would be pulling some big moves in the next match, do you guys want to use the 4-for-1 strategy? We’ll leave Captain as the only high burst damage one, Nuo can be more tank-like and the others have to be agile. Also Noh.o.m.o, don’t go towards the top-lane in the next match, stay close and you can pull a jungler-ADC team up with Captain.”
Ji Zhiyao agreed at once. “Okay, no problem.”
Mo Huaifeng nodded. “We’re good as long as you do not steal my red buff.”
“What’s up with you? Am I still your little darling? Is a red buff worth you remembering it till now?”
Mo Huaifeng did not expect Ji Zhiyao to say that and paused for a moment before saying, “If you continue to challenge my bottom like this, very soon, you wouldn’t be anymore.”
“Turns out I’m not even as worthy as a red buff in your heart?”
“You must learn to look beyond the appearance of things to perceive their essence. For example, what you are provoking is not my red buff, but my dignity as an ADC.”
Yuan Wei ended their squabble. “Shut up, the both of you! Little darling here, little darling there, how disgusting.”
Mo Huaifeng and Ji Zhiyao met eyes for a moment, evidently a little discontented, not yet done expressing their views.
The stats a.n.a.lyzer who had been quietly serving as the wall in the background the whole time rolled his eyes again, then said, “Any objections? If not just pick your lineup accordingly for the next match, I’m staying in the waiting room, I shall not go on stage.”
Everyone expressed their agreement. Just then, it happened to be the end of the break time, Mo Huaifeng stood up and called out, “Let’s go.”
One line of people moved out together to go up the stage once again.
Put their equipment in place, wore their ear-mics, the selection of champions ended, the fourth match officially began.
As Heng and Mo Huaifeng were carry positions, after the three matches with a consecutive competing duration of two and a half hours, their wrists were already starting to feel the strain. Before they began, Mo Huaifeng said, “Try to speed things up.”
Heng nodded fervently as an indication of his agreement. Ji Zhiyao was the first to run out, “Yes sir.”
The match began.
Ji Zhiyao together with Mo Huaifeng, stealthily sneaked to the opposite side to counter-jungle.
Lan Guang has a habit of first taking the red buff at the start of the game, hence they ran towards where the opponent’s blue buff was. Though a blue buff was not as effective as a red buff was for Mo Huaifeng, but on the basis of the wonderful virtue “not leaving any bit for the opponent even if it means having to finish everything yourself”, they still proceeded without hesitation to steal the blue buff.
Mo Huaifeng did the practical work while Ji Zhiyao kept a lookout for him. As Mo Huaifeng was especially familiar with the Valley, he was extremely clear about which blind spot to hide in. By the time Lan Guang realized, it was already too late, Tall Boots’ first blue buff was already in Mo Huaifeng’s sack.
Mo Huaifeng ran once he harvested the buff. Ji Zhiyao who followed behind couldn’t hold in his playfulness and slowed down on purpose, resulting in a fight with Lan Guang right beside the little dragon. Both of their standards were about the same and were considered well-matched in strength. Just as both of them were left with trifles of their health and were preparing for the last strike to see who the luckier, Ji Zhiyao accidentally hit the little dragon with an auto-attack, the little dragon went wild and trampled both of them to death with a stomp.
How great now, no one got any kills.
The corner of Mo Huaifeng’s lips lifted in a smirk. “The honor of a double kill at the start of the match has been bestowed upon the little dragon, I’ve never seen this in my four to five years of playing eSports. How is it, Yao-G.o.d? Does it really make you so happy to be playful for a while?”
A humiliated expression was all over Ji Zhiyao’s face. “d.a.m.n it, why did it suddenly stomp on me?”
Mo Huaifeng: “You were fighting on its doorstep, if it doesn’t stomp on, was it supposed to ask you stay to celebrate the New Year there?”
Ji Zhiyao felt very insulted. He aggrievedly waited to resp.a.w.n, then did not dare to fool around after that as he obediently stayed in the jungle.
With the exception of the bottom lane, the top and middle lanes were both using the strategy of developing safely and remaining stable, to develop well to become a backing force for Mo Huaifeng.
Yet presently, Heng’s condition at the middle wasn’t too good as he narrowly escaped being caught by Xiaoye several times. He couldn’t get to killing any minions and called Ji Zhiyao for help in a fight. Hence Ji Zhiyao compliantly rushed from the jungle to the middle lane, realizing that Lan Guang had also appeared there.
They met eyes without rhyme or reason, then as if they were on steroids, began a small fight of 2v2.
Mo Huaifeng knew he wouldn’t be able to hold then the restless duo at the middle lane and decided to constantly keep an eye on their movements.
In the 13th minute, Lan Guang couldn’t hold back and was the first to use his ultimate ability, Ji Zhiyao flickered away in the opposite direction but Heng could not dodge in time and was stunned in place. Yet before he was stunned, he had also used his ultimate ability to save himself. Lan Guang and Xiaoye’s health decreased rapidly.
Ji Zhiyao turned back and guarded Heng who had a snippet of health left to recall back to the fountain. He then also used his ultimate ability, and finished off Lan Guang but was caught by Xiaoye again. Just as he thought that he was dead for sure, an arrow suddenly came flying from the bottom lane, right on target, Xiaoye was dead.
Ji Zhiyao was very happy that he managed to keep his life. “Captain, you’re virtually the most handsome lad in the entire Valley.”
Mo Huaifeng gave him a “heh” and commented. “Could you not be dissolute?”
Hence Ji Zhiyao was frightened again.
He started to roam the bottom lane and decided to hide the bush behind the opponents’ first turret, preparing to lure them to start a team fight. Mo Huaifeng understood what he wanted to do and got ready to start things. At the 21st minute, Mo Huaifeng held on to the opposite top-laner, luring the already resp.a.w.ned Lan Guang over, followed by Xiaoye… When everyone was gathered in the bottom lane, the opponents then slow-wittedly realized that Mix was missing one player and started to retreat swiftly, but it was too late.
Ji Zhiyao and Heng pulled a 2 deaths in exchange for 5 kills, Mix earned a fortune.
Then it was logically followed by pus.h.i.+ng down turrets, taking down the big dragon and killing their opponents.
At the 38th minute, the entire Mix had already arrived at the opponents’ base… Ji Zhiyao was striking wildly at their last turret in the middle lane, he felt layers and layers of gooseb.u.mps rising on his arms, blood rus.h.i.+ng right into his brain.
Mo Huaifeng: “Don’t panic, attack the turret, attack the crystal.”
Ji Zhiyao: “I’m doing it, I’m doing it, my hands are already shaking… d.a.m.n it! We won! We won ahhhhh!”
Under the eyes of all the audience, amidst the echoes of their cheers…
Tall Boots’ base collapsed with a crash.
In that second, the surroundings seemed to have lost its sound. Ji Zhiyao leaped up from his chair and jumped in joy with his teammates.
The serious commentator who had been seated the whole time and hadn’t said much the whole time was finally put to use. As the entire Mix was jumping and shouting for joy, he announced, “After the conclusion by the judge, Mix battleteam’s result has been deemed valid. Now I announce, China eSports battleteam, Mix battleteam is the champion of the national qualifiers and will directly qualify for the international league!”
Just as the sound of his voice was dying away, the cheers from Mix’s fans under the stage grew louder, the deafening sound that almost burst one’s eardrums filled the entire gymnasium. On stage, before the seats reserved for the red team, the five big boys who had formed a circle finally lifted their heads. Even Mo Huaifeng who was usually a cool and indifferent person could not hide the smile on his lips, K’s eyes had even turned red.
It had been three years.
Three years ago, Mix battleteam became the champion of the national qualifiers under the public spotlight. Following that, suffered a crus.h.i.+ng defeat at the international league, a teammate who once fought alongside them quit the team out of displeasure. China’s number one eSports battleteam Mix had to undergo a rea.s.sembly, this incident had been mocked by an immeasurable amount of people.
Later on Xiao joined the team.
Xiaofei joined the team.
Then, Xiao who had been a teammate for two years was diagnosed with a hand injury, so serious that he needed to undergo surgery.
After that, Ji Zhiyao joined the team.
Because of Ji Zhiyao’s ident.i.ty as a broadcaster and the incidents that followed- losing training tournaments, turning on livestreams and being accused by an ex-teammate publicly, so many people were waiting to laugh at Mix, waiting for them to be held down and ruffled against the ground, never to stand up again.
They had no say and could only ceaselessly train train and train.
Now, they can finally prove…
Mix, will never be resigned to being placed beneath others!
They will not yield to anyone else, because they themselves are enough to walk to highest position.
Everyone loosened their hands.
Ji Zhiyao’s eyes were a little red too.
The compet.i.tion may have ended, but the post-match formalities still had to be done. All of Mix queued up and shook hands with Tall Boots one by one.
The queue was formed according to their seating arrangement during the compet.i.tion, K was the first, followed by Heng, Ji Zhiyao, Mo Huaifeng and lastly Nuo. Ji Zhiyao walked towards Lan Guang and as they shook hands, Lan Guang said, “Congrats.”
Ji Zhiyao hurriedly bowed to him. “Senior, ever since I joined the team, you’ve always been my example to learn from. I’m really thankful.”
Lan Guang was stunned for a moment, then he smiled sincerely. “I hope to be able to see you on the international stage in the future.” And you will definitely go even further.
Lan Guang did not vocalize the second half of his sentence, but Ji Zhiyao’s eyes had already lit up. He nodded to Lan Guang again, continued to walk to the next person.
The formalities ended, signaling the start of the award ceremony.
Xiaofei, Xiao, the stats a.n.a.lyzer and Yuan Wei, all four of them went onto the stage from the partic.i.p.ants pa.s.sageway. Xiaofei and Xiao were directly pulled onto the podium by Heng and Ji Zhiyao, seven people squeezed on the spot meant for five, bright smiles were on every face.
With a click, seven smiling faces were frozen in time in the photograph.
When the award ceremony ended, Yuan Wei announced, “It’ll be about another half an hour before we can leave, an eSports column has asked for a post-match interview and Tall Boots and us, it’ll be done in the hall later.
With that, he added after an “oh”, “I almost forgot. The club said two days ago, if we win the national qualifiers, five hundred thousand yuan bonus per person, and a seven day tour to Sanya-”
Ji Zhiyao cut him off as he exclaimed, “Ahhhh bonus! d.a.m.n I finally see some hope for my deducted salary!”
“Look at how hopeless you are! You are in a relations.h.i.+p with Captain and he didn’t give you a card?”
“No, I do not wish to be a kept man.”
Mo Huaifeng replied to that. “Tsk.”
At this moment, a staff member knocked on the door of the waiting room, informing them to go to the room next door for the interview.
As Xiaofei and Xiao did not compete, they asked to not go over and to wait in the waiting room.
Hence Mo Huaifeng brought the remaining four others next door, once they opened the door, they found that there were two sofas placed side by side, the members of Tall Boots were seated on the one on the left and at present they looked especially like idiots with how they had all turned back to look at them.
Mix’s members arranged themselves and took their seats.
Reporter: “Today we are very honoured to have invited Mix battleteam and Tall Boots battleteam to be the guests of our ‘eSports If I’d Known Earlier’. Firstly we’d like to congratulate Mix battleteam for winning the champions.h.i.+p and Tall Boots for coming in second.”
Mo Huaifeng: “Thank you.”
Xiaoye: “Thank you eSports If I’d Known Earlier.”
Reporter: “Let’s have our two Captains first describe how you feel after the end of today’s compet.i.tion.”
Mo Huaifeng: “The result was in accordance with expectations, there’s nothing much to be surprised about.”
Xiaoye: “I have quite a bit of mixed feelings, after all we tumbled in Mix hands at the previous national qualifiers too, today when we shook hands at the end, I suddenly had a scary thought: Would it be that my hand would be shook by Mix this way all the way till I retire?
Everyone laughed out loud in good humor.
Reporter: “We saw that Mix battleteam’s jungler has been Yao-G.o.d from the start till the end today. Could you explain the reason?”
Mo Huaifeng: “Previously, in order to not affect the fans’ mood, we did not announce it earlier. I’ll explain now, due to a relapse of his hand injury, Xiao-G.o.d needs to recuperate for the time being and is unable to compete, hence it has been Yao playing for the whole time today. Of course, as everyone can tell, he did very well.”
Reporter: “Fi-G.o.d has a lot to say at the mention of Yao-G.o.d. Seems like, our Fi-G.o.d really dotes on Yao-G.o.d a lot.”
Ji Zhiyao: “They all joke around saying I am Captain biological son, actually I’m very thankful for Captain’s help to me.”
Mo Huaifeng coughed twice.
Heng took over the buck. “Noh.o.m.o joined the team late and he’s also young, so he is our team’s pet.”
Reporter: “I see. Now the national qualifiers have ended, may I know what are both teams’ plans for the future?”
Mo Huaifeng: “We will probably rest for a period of time, then begin training in preparation for the international league. Because time is very tight and there are many strong international eSports teams, we need to be substantially prepared.”
Xiaoye: “We will continue to train hard for a period of time, then strive for a breakthrough, to get a spot in the international league. On this point I must agree with Fi-G.o.d, we’re really tight with time, if we want to get a placing at the international league, we must put in the corresponding amount of effort needed.”
Reporter: “Very positive words. Then have both teams ever considered, if you do place in the first few ranks at the international league, what would you do after that?”
This question was answered from the left to right. The first to speak was K. He thought for a while before answering, “I’ll firstly go get a lottery ticket? After all something so hardly possible has happened to me, what else would be impossible?”
Heng: “After that I would want to fall in love and date someone, having to face this bunch of males everyday at the base, it’s terrible.”
Ji Zhiyao: “I don’t have any big dreams. ‘Most famous crosstalk actor in the eSports scene’, how about that?”
Everyone speechlessly looked towards Ji Zhiyao at once.
Mo Huaifeng could not help but face-palm.
Yet Ji Zhiyao felt that there was nothing wrong with his dream, even thinking that it was very ambitious, seeing that everyone was looking at him, he also bowed his head to glance at himself as he questioned, “What’s wrong? Why are all of you looking at me?”
Everyone was speechless.
Reporter: “Our Yao-G.o.d’s ideas are really refres.h.i.+ng and unusual… how about Fi-G.o.d?”
Mo Huaifeng: “At first I wanted to say that there’s no need to dream about such things, now… How about watching Yao-G.o.d’s solo crosstalks everyday?”
The remaining three members of Mix had to hold their tongues.
Were they the only ones who knew that this was a blinding act of PDA?
Shameless couple! Oh how infuriating!
Seeing how the reporter appeared rather puzzled, Nuo quickly took over the conversation, virtually worried sick about helping his Captain and Noh.o.m.o hide their secret. “Ask me. My dream is to be an ADC. This way I can take the red buff without fear, and don’t have to be worried that I would be dissed.”