The Korean ranked ladder was the most competitive one in League of Legends. Professional players from every region visited Korea just to have a shot at reaching Challenger on this server. And most of them failed. They got to Master and then found out why it was so difficult to get any higher. Pure, raw talent. There were so many outstanding players on the Korean server that the level of each game was far above the worldwide average. Even the Ionia server, the most competitive server in China, couldnt come close in prestige to the Korean server. Yet One threw Lin Feng at it as if it were nothing.

Lin Feng still held his phone close to his ear, but he wasnt talking or listening. His eyes were focused on his laptop and he was chewing on his lip. He wants me to hit Top 5 Challenger? Can I even do that? I know the rankings Back in the day, yeah, but Im not there yet. Im not anywhere near to that point yet. Chinese professional players are better than I am right now. And most of them cant even make it to Challenger on the Korean server! What am I going to do?

Chinese players challenged themselves to climb the Korean ranked ladder every season. They wanted to prove to their Korean rivals that there was some talent in China. That there was hope for China on the international stage. That the League of Legends world wasnt centered around Korea! But they never got all that far. The Chinese players who reached all the way to Master were proud of themselves, and the couple who made it to Challenger were either professional players or players being scouted by professional teams. But none of them ever made that final step into the Top 10. It was just too difficult to beat the many talented players on the Korean server.

Top 5, Top 5 Collegiate Cup and Top 5 Where am I going to find the time to even do that? Can I even do that? But I told One Lin Feng chewed on his lip, biting off a thin layer of skin. His stomach dropped and he grimaced. I wanted to take it one step at a time. Slowly make my way back to the top. But Ones right. I cant do it like this. Theres no challenge for me here. The Collegiate Cup is just another tournament where I dont really have to try. I can just I can take it easy. It doesnt matter if I screw up a bit, because I can just turn it around later He scratched his forehead, tense. I cant go on like this. I need to challenge myself sooner or later. One is right. I need to fight. And the Korean ladder is probably the best bet for that!

Something swirled in the pits of Lin Fengs stomach. His heart started racing faster and faster, pounding against his ribs. He felt his face heat up. A real challenge! And One gave it to me. He trusts me. He believes I can do it! He believes I still have it! Lin Feng closed his eyes and tried to push the rush of adrenaline down. One trusts in me! Ill repay him with results! Top 5 Challenger? Ok. Yes. Ill do it! Itll be hard. But Ill do it!

Lin Fengs eyes shot open. A new fire burned in them. He tossed the Winter Collegiate Cup to the back of his mind. What am I getting all worked up about a university tournament? I made it all the way to the world finals! I need to remember why Im even competing. To find good teammates and to start building a team! But its not to get back in form. I need to do something else for that. This might just be that something! The Korean ladder He took a deep, long breath and closed his eyes again. Rake. Rake will be there. Ill have to play against him if I want to make it to the top of Challenger. Ill have to play against him Im not good enough yet He chewed off a second bit of skin from his lips and then suddenly slammed his palm against his head. NO! Ill face him! Ill play against him, with him, whatever! Its not a big tournament. Its practice. I need to get better, and to do that I need to face better players. He nodded, confident, and said to One, I can. And I will.

Good to hear, One said, laughing. Oh, right, he added. Do you have a Korean account?

Uhhh Lin Feng scratched the back of his head and grinned sheepishly. I was so caught up about beating Rake My account isnt Challenger yet. Its going to be really hard just to get there. He said, Well, I do. But its not in Challenger yet. I can get to the top of Master, but someone needs to lose their Challenger spot for me to take it

Yeah, that wont do. There isnt enough time for that, One agreed. He briefly paused and then said, Ill just give you my Challenger account.

Give a Challenger account? The words went off like a bomb in Lin Fengs mind. Give a Challenger account? GIVE? He muttered a few incoherent words, trying to make sense of it. A Challenger account is super expensive! Its way better to just buy something in Plat for $5! How can he just borrow me a Challenger account? Thats insane! I dont have that much mon

Of course, One interrupted Lin Fengs thoughts. If you fail to reach the Top 5, Ill just take my account back. But how about this. If you do make it to the Top 5, the account is yours to keep.

...my account. Lin Feng finally understood what One was implying. One has a Challenger account? Is he playing again? He actually made it to Challenger on the Korean server? How is he still that good!? He was so good at DotA, but that was DotA and this is League! How can he still be this good? Hes better than I am right now He breathed unevenly and his head started swirling. D-do you Wait! DID YOU

Alright, Ive kept you up for too long. Youll need every second you can get. Ill send you the account information in a bit. Just gotta change the password around, One said over the phone. Oh, and kid, dont let me down.

Lin Feng nodded, too dazed to realise One couldnt see his response. Oh, and kid, dont let me down. Dont let me down Lin Fengs hands were trembling. Hes passing his account on to me. His hard work. I have to pick up and carry on for him! One is giving me a real test! To prove to him that Im good enough to pick up where he left! He balled his fist and grinned. I have the talent! He knows I do! But I have to move forward. I cant stop taking the safe route. The Top 5 on the Korean server is just the first step. Ill do it. For One. For myself. Ill do it. He nodded to himself again and then said, his voice trembling, Ill do it. I mean, I wont.

One chuckled when he heard the response. Good. It sounds like he understands what this means. Hes going to have to try really hard, but he can do this. He just has to want it. Anyway, that settles that. He said, Something else entirely, I heard BunBun moved to Shanghai? You two are on the same team then, I take it?

Yeah! Lin Feng replied, rediscovering his usual grin. Were on the same team in the Collegiate Cup! Shes our coach and the Jungler! Its amazing! Just like the old times! Shes a really good coach!

Huh? Shes jungling? One asked in surprise. Did she jungle before? He shook his head and moved past it before Lin Feng could latch on. Sounds like shes still a great coach then! Hey, do me a favour. Tell her to give the missus a call. Shes been asking about BunBun a lot lately.

Five? You mean five? The missus is Five, right? Right? Lin Feng exclaimed, excited. How is Five? Are you two on your honeymoon right now? Is she having a good time? How is Five?

Hey! Her name isnt Five! One interrupted. He briefly paused to breathe and then complained, Thats Mrs. One! Were engaged now! Ha! If she hears you call her Five, shell give you a spanking! And a couple of jabs too!

Lin Feng grinned and said, Lies! Shed never do that! Five is way too nice for that! Shes the best! How is she doing? Did she ask about me too? What did she say when I won the Shanghai 16 School Tournament? Did you watch it with her?

One listened to another minute of Lin Feng badgering him with questions before giving up. He shook his head and said, Youre hopeless. You know what, Im hanging up. Talk to you later. He put the phone away from his ear and could still hear Lin Feng firing off questions. That kid. He shook his head and chuckled, ending the call. Hell understand. One then leaned back on his sofa and looked at the television that was playing Lin Fengs most recent game at the Winter Collegiate Cup. I wonder if he can do it. I hope he can. Itd be fun to see him up there with Rake again.

One closed his eyes and thought back to the Season 5 World Finals. Lee Dojae really went all out with that award ceremony. That was quite the thing. Passing on the torch, haha! I like it. It has a nice ring to it. Would be kind of cool if Lin Feng can help me do something like that. But He chuckled and shook his head. That kid is still far away from getting there. But Im in no rush. Theres still plenty of time to make that happen. Ill pass my torch onto him eventually. Im sure hell get there. And my torch is way bigger than Lee Dojaes torch!

The next couple of minutes were spent laughing about Lee Dojaes torch. But then One narrowed his eyes. Lin Feng needs time. Hes nowhere near ready to face Han Seho again. Rake Lin Feng just isnt there yet. And I wouldnt mind letting him take his sweet time. Its just He took a deep breath and shook his head in annoyance. The Chinese esports circle isnt going to be so patient. Theyre going to find out soon enough that hes back and then theyre going to push him. I just need to give Lin Feng a couple of pushes right now, so that when it comes to that, hes ready. Besides, its not like a little bit of added pressure is bad for the kid.

One laughed as he remembered the excited tone in which Lin Feng told him about the Shanghai 16 School Tournament a while back. And how excited he now sounded about beating two university teams. Hes having a good time and slowly making his way back. Thats his way. We should respect that. But hes also going out of his way to not really push himself. A university tournament? Thats just too easy for him. Top 5 on the Korean ladder. He can do it and itll also be an actual challenge. He might even start losing some games and remember what thats like. And hell have to play with and against Rake. Against Rake He nodded and mumbled, Thatll be good for the kid.

The television mounted on the wall in Ones living room played scenes of Lin Feng toying around with a random Midlaner. One shook his head and mumbled, No challenge, no growth. He needs to put himself out there. Just not so much that he breaks again. Ill have to make sure those esports guys dont try and push him too hard. He continued watching the screen that switched focus from Lin Feng to An Xin. One rubbed his chin and wondered, That girl, did she always Jungle? I dont recall her ever Jungling