The moment Jian Rong hit the key to recall to base, he was nearly deafened

Xiao Bais scalp was tingling. Waaaahhhhh nice! Nice!!!

Pine: Good.

Yuan Qian: Ahhh woahhhh

Moon: Ahahah!!!

The referee supervising the team chat in the back felt like he was listening to four ancient monkeys play a video game.

Jian Rong wasnt fond of playing ranked in five-person parties. Whenever he outplayed before, at the most the barrage would kick up some fuss, so this was his first time hearing a barrage that came with sound.

This made him pause for a second in the middle of buying items. Then he said, After another wave, we can go for Baron.

How are you so badass?! Yuan Qian sucked in a breath of air. This is my first fucking time seeing someone win a 1v5 in the semifinals!!!

Moon understood what he was implying. Has it happened before in the regular season?

It has, Master has also won a 1v5 in the regular season before, but he was using LeBlanc. Its way easier to outplay on that champion that on CassiopeiaXiao Rong youre way too fucking badass!!!

Xiao Bai said, Im covered with goosebumps all over, if you dont believe me tell Pine to feel my arm! Really!!!

Do you want me to be banned? Pines voice was as collected as always.

In reality, Jian Rongs heart was beating extremely fast. The purpose of playing games was for the excitement of it, after all.

Fighting Tiger wanted to kill him too badly, leading to many holes in that 5v1. In addition, his feel for the game was especially good today

Force a team fight. Jian Rong said, Im unsurpassable this round.

The instant that Jian Rong had achieved the penta kill, the major streamers livestream rooms, shopping plazas broadcasting the match live, gaming chat servers and so on were all flooded with screams.

Including the break room backstage.

Good heavenshow did he do that? Is this what the reaction speed of a young person is like The assistant coach had already shouted for a while now, and currently his voice wasnt much better off than that of the three commentators. Hoarsely, he said, That wave alone is enough to give him the title of a god, right??

Ding-ge drew in numerous deep breaths and said with a smile, No need for the right.

The assistant coach paced back and forth for a long time in the break room before finally calming down. Then, the first thought that popped into his head was: Ge, did we only sign him on for one season?

Ding-ge gave an en.

his value is gonna skyrocket immediately. The assistant coach tugged out a tissue and wiped away the sweat on his forehead. I bet a lot of teams want to steal him. In that case, we have to discuss renewing the contract with him soon

Whats the rush, we arent even done with the spring season yet. Also Ding-ge peeled apart a tangerine and stuffed a section into his mouth, subconsciously glancing towards the sofa.

The assistant coach followed his line of sight and looked at Lu Boyuan too. Also what?

also, we have money. What, you think Fu-ge wears that gold chain around his neck for nothing? Ding-ge swallowed the tangerine slice. Whats more, this opportunity was given to him by our team. Have you ever seen a team that dares to promote a streamer straight into a starting position? Jian Rong isnt the type of person to bite the hand that feeds him.

Lu Boyuans tightly clenched hands relaxed only when the director begrudgingly shifted the camera away from Cassiopeia at last.

He let out a long exhale before he ducked his head and laughed.

Jian Rong was very strong; that was something he had known all along. Just by watching a few of Jian Rongs streams, it was clear that his hand speed, reaction speed, and technique were definitively the best among the new generation of pro players.

His only shortcoming was his playstyle: it was impulsive and self-centered, reckless and headstrong. This made him appear to be incompatible with competitive gaming.

But that was also the part that Lu Boyuan liked the most.

Judging from the cheers that could be heard even through the door and the comments spamming the barrage to the point that it laggedthe competitive arena needed this kind of pro player.

Twenty-eight minutes in, TTC effortlessly destroyed Fighting Tigers base, winning the first round of the match.

Amidst the audiences applause and screaming, Jian Rong was the first one to take off his headphones and walk backstage.

Right as he entered the break room, Ding-ge greeted him with, The worlds number one Cassiopeia is indeed badass.

Replay!! Wheres the match replay?! Xiao Bai rushed in and said, I was buying items at the time and didnt see it! Replay it so I can watch!

Look at it after the match! Ding-ge tugged Jian Rong back as he started making his way towards the couch. Lets discuss the strategy for the next game. Jian Rong, youre definitely going to be targeted after this, can you pick a champion that you can survive on?

Jian Rong swept a glance at Lu Boyuan and stopped in place. Are there options?

The intermission was very short. Before they could even finish discussing tactics, a staff member came to rush them back onstage.

Ding-ge stood up. Lets go.

Jian Rong let out an en and suddenly remembered something. He picked up the water bottle that he took offstage with him. Wait a moment, let me fill up my water.

The water dispenser is empty. The assistant coach quickly said, Give it to me, Ill run next door and fill it up, itll be fast

No need. Lu Boyuan, who was sitting on the sofa and listening to them discuss strategy the entire time, spoke up mildly. He picked up his own thermos and said, Coffee. I brought it from the base, but I didnt drink that much you dont mind, do you? God Jian.

A beat later, the LPLs newly minted God Jian walked towards the stage with his teammates, holding his captains thermos.

Commentator A: Alright, our players are returning to the stagewho knows if its because of that Cassiopeia, but now that Im looking at Soft again after ten minutes, it seems like hes become a little bit more handsome.

Commentator B: Fighting Tiger still seems to be very relaxed. Veteran players are just in a different class, their mentalities arent affected by the outcome of one game. Thats pretty good.

Softs thermos is a new item from TTCs merch line, right? The design is quite nice. Commentator C smiled as he helped to market it. I heard that the players signature is printed on it too.

At that moment, Jian Rong just happened to pick up the bottle. The signature on the side of the thermos was revealed to the camera as Commentator C continued

See, the side is engraved with a Road?

The three commentators:

Commentator C tried for innocence. Im not the one stirring up rumors this time!

A few seconds later, he said, at the very least, I didnt do it on purpose!!!

The pick/ban phase started soon after. The first thing that Fighting Tiger banned was Jian Rongs Cassiopeia.

Respect. Xiao Bai was delighted. God Jian, whatcha playing this round? Actually, I feel like you can still outplay, ssI havent seen your Talon on the competitive stage yet

Ding-ge lifted up his notebook and knocked him on the head again. If Twisted Fate is available, choose that, otherwise take Orianna!

In the end, Twisted Fate was banned by Fighting Tiger. TTC had first pick and immediately helped Jian Rong lock in Orianna.

As Ding-ge had predicted, Fighting Tiger realized that when playing against Jian Rong, you either had to assist each other or you had to suppress him.

But Orianna wavecleared too fast. If Da Niu left the mid lane at all, it was easy for him to be short on minions, so they could only go with the latter option.

After being ganked by the enemy jungler yet again, Jian Rong recalled to base with low health and said, Their jungler has ganked me three times now.

Moon: Ill be right there

Dont come.

Ah?

The other side is on Kassadin, you wont be able to kill him. Jian Rong checked the minimap and discovered that their teams bot lane was playing very fiercely. They were suppressing the enemy under the tower once more. Go countergank in another lane that has the advantage. Dont come mid, they wont be able to gank me to death anyway.

As soon as he finished saying that, the enemy jungler arrived at the bot lane.

By now, both bot lanes had already started fighting each other, and the situation was quite unfavorable for Xiao Bai and Pine. Fortunately, they still had a fair amount of health, and their positioning was decent too. After dodging the enemy support Threshs hook, it looked that they would be able to escape by the skin of their teeth, but then an ice arrow suddenly shot straight at Pinethe enemy ADC Ashes ult was off cooldown.

Upon being struck by the ice arrow, judging from the distance it had traveled, he would be stunned for at least 1.5 seconds.

1.5 seconds in a situation where they were being triple-teamed was enough time for Pine to die twice.

The enemy jungler was to the left, so he couldnt shift that way, and his blink skills and flash were still on cooldown. Right as it appeared that Pines Caitlyn was about to be finished here

There came the sound of a flash. Xiao Bai, controlling Leona, charged over behind Pine and blocked that arrow for him!

Commentator A: Bye helped to block it although Leona is tanky, Byes current level is still very low. Hes most likely going to end up dying here.

Commentator B: Theres no helping it, its always better for the support to die rather than the ADC. If Pine was killed this wave, the bot lane would explode even more.

Commentator C nodded. Thats right. The other side also used up four Summoner Spells, so if Bye dies, it wont be too much of a loss hm??

Before the commentator could finish his sentence, he watched as Pine, who was silently running for his life, instantly turn around the moment his flash came off cooldown. He flashed back through the line of minions blocking the way and decisively threw a net onto the enemy Ashes face!

Simultaneously, he retreated a bit because of the recoil and widened the distance between him and the enemies once again!

If struck by Caitlyns net, her next basic attack would trigger a headshotwith a bang, Pines headshot directly killed off the low-health Ashe!

Commentator A: Beautiful! By exchanging a support for an ADC, TTC ends up not losing but profiting! Werent Pines mechanics way too meticulous here?!

That flash probably gave Fighting Tiger a scare Commentator B couldnt help but laugh. No whats up with TTC today? Theyre all so fierce and full of outplays?

Seeing Ashe collapse onto the ground, the already dead Xiao Bai could peacefully buy his items at last. He also didnt forget to pitch his voice high and convey his flattery. P-baby is so handsome! P-baby is so amazing! P-baby is a gun god! P-baby mwah mwah mwah!

For a brief moment, Jian Rong thought that he had invited in a female accompanying gamer who was tagged with adorable little sister and sleep coaxer, and he nearly yanked off his headphones.

Pine also paused for a second because of Xiao Bais kissing noises. dont be disgusting, buy a control ward.

Wuwu, I just bought a Cloth Armor, Im broke. Xiao Bai wavered. Maybe I should undo it and buy the ward

Its fine. Pine stiffly interrupted him, I bought it, shut up and get in the lane.

Sensing Jian Rong and Moons speechlessness, Yuan Qian typed in the team chat

[TTC Qian: This is Xiao Bais ultimate trick for getting on the Mic Check.]

[TTC Bye: ^3^]

Jian Rong:

[TTC Soft: Lose weight and go be an actor]

[TTC Bye: Who are you trying to imply is fat?]

[TTC Bye: Wuwuwu QvQ, P-baby hes mocking me!]

Play the game. Pine coldly cut through their harmonious interaction. Dont bother me.

Fighting Tiger played extremely carefully this round, especially Da Niu.

It would be a lie to say that they werent affected at all. Being 1v5d in the semifinals, even an immortal would go into self-seclusion after that.

A period of time passed peacefully for both sides. Finally, at seventeen minutes, a team fight erupted.

Yuan Qian caught Fighting Tigers jungler red-handed stealing the Rift Herald. Both teams swiftly rushed to the scene

Jian Rong gave his ball to Yuan Qians Sion, who immediately used his ult and charged forward like a speeding trainknocking the enemy top laner and jungler straight into the sky!

Jian Rong and Xiao Bai followed up with their own ults, with Pine furiously dealing damage from afar. A chaotic fight later, TTC won the team fight with no losses and three kills.

No rush, dont chase them. Lets go for the Rift Herald and drake. Yuan Qian said, Well play it slow and steady, dont give Fighting Tiger any chances.

Jian Rong called back his ball and turned around to go back into the jungle.

Fighting Tiger was a team that excelled at seizing opportunities.

But TTC evidently didnt plan on giving them a sliver of a chance this time. Even Soft didnt pursue the champions with low health.

Everyone in Fighting Tiger held their breath and forcefully dragged the game out to forty-eight minutes. Da Niu encouraged his teammates in their voice chat, Just wait, its down to a single fight now, we can overturn it as long as we hold out until they make one mistake

Before he could finish, a kill announcement sounded.

While their ADC was going for one of their own monsters, he was caught and bound to the spot by Xiao Bai. Then he was killed by Pine, who was following after Xiao Bai.

At a late game disadvantage and with their carry gone, Fighting Tigers loss was inevitable.

At forty-nine minutes and fifty-two seconds, TTC pushed Fighting Tigers base and won the second round of the match.

In the third game, Fighting Tiger pulled out the strategy that they were the most proficient athalf-map support flow.

Twisted Fate was banned, but that wasnt an issue; Taliyah was also capable of providing assistance. Ashe ADC, Shen support, Gangplank top, Nocturne jungle

In addition, Fighting Tiger didnt target the bot lane this time. Instead, they went for the top lane, and Yuan Qian was visited so often that he couldnt even leave the tower. Adding onto that, his teamwork with Moon wasnt good enough, so if Moon came, it was basically a buy one get one free. This led to the enemy top laner, Gangplank, being enormously fed in the early game

Xiao Bai was speechless. Their ADC has played Ashe for three games now, is he not sick of it?!

Moon sighed. Fighting Tiger has always been the type to do whatever it takes to win.

Because the top lane was cleared too thoroughly in the third round, at thirty-four minutes, TTC regretfully lost the game.

Currently, the score was 2:1.

In the fourth round, Yuan Qian finally snapped.

Ive been pressured for three games now

I know. Ding-ge patted his shoulder and asked, Can you play Irelia?

When he said that, everyone was startled.

Every pro player had their own signature champion.

Unexpectedly, Yuan Qian, who resisted pressure every single game nowadays and acted as a tanky engager, had become well-known because of Irelia, a champion that was unparalleled in dueling and laning but was extremely weak in terms of team fighting.

Yuan Qian was also stunned. Pick Irelia? Then whos going to engage

Ill do it. Xiao Bai immediately said, Ill take Nautilus, Moon can choose Nocturne, we can easily engage whenever we want.

Yuan Qian: Its been over a year since Ive last played Irelia in a competitive match

Werent you playing her a lot these past few days in ranked? Ding-ge asked, Are you gonna pick her? If so, then lock her in, otherwise you can continue to bear the pressure.

Yuan Qian went briefly silent before he clenched his teeth. Ill do it, Ill fucking do it! If I dont slaughter the other side, I wont eat for three days!!

Jian Rong locked in Fizz this time.

Upon seeing that, Commentator A was astonished. Fizz mn last time when he played with Fizz against Fighting Tiger, the results didnt seem to be very good.

He probably wants to create an advantage in the early game, Commentator B said. After all, Da Niu got his Orianna this time around. Da Nius Orianna is quite strong, theyll have to suppress him early on Yuan Qian picked Irelia???

Commentator C smiled. To tell the truth, no matter what champion TTC picks or what kind of team fight they create nowadays, I dont feel shocked at all anymore.

This game, the intent behind both team compositions was very clear: fast-paced versus slow-paced, lets see wholl be laughing in the end.

The answer to that question came quickly enough.

Seven minutes in, two kill announcements sounded in the map

[TTC Qian has slain ZHhubi]

[TTC Soft has slain ZHcattle]

TTCs top and mid laners simultaneously got their solo kills!

Commentator A: Every member of TTC has a really great feel for the game today!

Isnt this their usual standard? Commentator B paused. Fighting Tigers jungler came to gank Qian-ge, but Soft and Moon are right behind him!

Yuan Qian also knew that he was going to be ganked soon.

Seeing that his teammates were currently hurrying towards him, he dispelled the idea of running away and continued to play pretend in his original spot.

The enemy jungler RekSai broke through the ground. Yuan Qian flashed and distanced himself, forcefully buying six seconds of time under the onslaught of the other two champions attacks

Fizzs ult came out from the darkness, hitting the enemy top laner. Two seconds later, a shark emerged from the air, directly finishing him off.

If Irelia got the early game advantage, then nobody even had to think about playing anymore.

TTC rapidly adopted a 4-1 split push strategythe mid laner, jungler, and bot lane duo grouped together to push the mid lane, while Yuan Qian carried the bot lane and destroyed the towers there by himself.

Fighting Tigers top laner went to defend the turret and ended up being solo killed by Yuan Qian.

Fighting Tigers jungler and support rushed over to assist. Yuan Qian killed off the support before he slipped into the underbrush with low health and disappeared

Just like that, they kept grinding and grinding, all the way until the game was thirty minutes in. The inhibitor in Fighting Tigers mid lane was still present, but the ones in the top and bot lanes had been snatched by Yuan Qian

At thirty-four minutes, Yuan Qian flashed and used his ult, detaining two Fighting Tiger players. Jian Rongs Fizz jumped straight into the air and charged in. Without losing any of their own teammates, TTC wiped out Fighting Tiger, proclaiming their victory for this match

However, they werent in any rush to push Fighting Tigers base.

Everyone still remembered how Da Niu had taunted TTC in the post-match interview

Who said that you guys could win as long as Road wasnt here?

Who in TTC was someone easy to deal with?

LoL wasnt a single-player game, nor had TTC ever relied solely on the support of one person.

If Road was there, they would depend on him.

If Road wasnt there, they would take on the match together, seize the victory, and wait for him to return.

In the broadcast, the spectators watched as each member of TTC ran over to the area outside Fighting Tigers fountain and initiated some friendly interactions: flashing their team icon, dancing, tossing out random skills

The scene was too chaotic, to the extent that a certain tiny figure appeared particularly out of place in comparison

Among countless allied minions, Jian Rongs Fizz was pushing the enemy Nexus extremely painstakingly and diligently. Fizzs trident prodded again and again at the Nexus; he might as well have carved the words I want to win onto his forehead

[Am I seeing things? Is the person obediently pushing the base my son??!]

[WTF, little dumbass whatcha doing??? You should be flashing into Fighting Tigers base right now and using Zhonyas Hourglass OK????]

[@LPL this really isnt him! Its a fake!! How many times do I have to say it!!!]

[Has Soft gone stupid from all his climbing in the Korean server?]

[Damn, its like hes never won before?!]

[Hes become a diehard point grubber.]

Fighting Tigers base was finally destroyed by Jian Rong, and TTC successfully won the semifinals with a score of 3:1.

After shaking hands and exchanging bows, the moment Jian Rong went backstage, he saw Lu Boyuan leaning against the wall next to the door, waiting.

There was a cameraman at Lu Boyuans side as well, a staff member from their team. They were in charge of filming raw footage to be edited into a documentary later.

Ge! We won!!! Xiao Bai said excitedly.

Lu Boyuan nodded. Mn, you guys played pretty well.

Xiao Bai: Did you see that last engage of mine? Wasnt it super awesome? Qian-ges freaking treasured blade never becomes dull

Jian Rong couldnt interject a single word, and the cameraman was also nearby. As a result, he had no choice but to walk sullenly next to Lu Boyuan, chewing unhappily on the gum in his mouth and pretending that it was Xiao Bai.

Xiao Bai: And in the second game, P-babys flash, net toss, and headshot

Headshot my ass.

Ill headshot you.

Xiao Bai: Of course, I feel like there werent any problems with my Leona that round at all. With me there, they still dared to think about touching P-baby? Theyre dreaming

Lu Boyuan listened to Xiao Bai quietly as he cast a glance at the person next to him from the corner of his eye. Did you drink all the coffee?

Jian Rong stared blankly for two seconds before he realized that Lu Boyuan was talking to him. No, theres still half of it left.

Right as he said that, Lu Boyuan took the thermos from Jian Rongs hand. In front of their other three teammates and the camera, he very naturally twisted open the top and took a sip from it.

After he was done, he put the lid back on and said to the dumbfounded Xiao Bai, You can continue.

Yan: Happy birthday to God Lu sharing some more weibo fanart for the occasion! (these past two chapters were so long and full of gaming content I hope it sorta makes sense)