translator: xiin
editor: apricot
As the last team, Pro didn’t have to draw a team. There was only one team left to be their opponents.
The match list for the eight into four came out, fresh out of the oven, and the brightest highlight was undoubtedly the third game, L&P vs FTW!
Old G was unable to smile anymore after getting this result. He looked gloomy and sad, as if FTW was a strong enemy who couldn’t be defeated.
This undoubtedly made the audience from China feel great.
Some were complacent, “FTW’s pretty good. They made last year’s runner-up feel so worried.”
“Although I don’t think we have a high chance of winning, I’m happy just seeing Old G look like this!”
“Sigh, this is bad luck. If the Team of Gods encountered each other, then maybe we could’ve grabbed a bargain and rushed into the top four.”
“Unfortunately, the competition committee is inhuman and insists on letting the top four stay around until the end…”
“There’s no helping it. They’re strong, and the strong are untouchable.”
There were some who were puzzled, “Does God G have to go so far? If L&P plays against FTW, I might not dare to say that their win rate is 80%, but it’s at least 70%.”
“How could there be such an absolute thing? FTW was super strong in the sixteen to eight!”
“But that doesn’t mean you can just step on other people’s prestige to increase your ambitions. Oh, even though that’s us…”
I think… it might be mostly guilt?”
“What’s there to be guilty about? They’re just borrowing a place from FTW. They just have to pay rent and be done with it, it’s not like they have to give up the championship for them too!”
“It must be because of Captain Yuan…”
Many fans of the Team of Gods burst out into tears when these words came out.
The director also purposely switched the camera over to show a close up of Old G’s face. He had thick features, but his eyes were a particularly clear blue and his eyelashes were very long. When he looked towards a corner beneath the stage, his expression seemed a little timid.
Yuan Ze sat there.
The fans who saw this scene, “…………”
“Right through the heart!”
“So, this means Yuan Ze didn’t want to go up against FTW, and now, Old G feels bad for the captain’s sake?”
“Why does Old Dog Yuan not want to play against FTW?”
“Oh man, like I said, Scum Man Yuan is actually the most soft-hearted one!”
“What’s he being soft-hearted about?”
“He doesn’t want to be the one to eliminate Lulu!”
Many people really started shedding tears on the spot when they saw this scrolling comment.
They might scold and curse or they may hate on them.
But they still loved this Team of Gods who had once led the China competition zone in shocking the entire world.
No one had a good time during that first year after the Team of Gods had split up.
Of the three that had gone abroad, even Yuan Ze, a mixed blood who had lived in North America for many years, encountered obstacles everywhere and had a rough time.
Not to mention Yan Jiang and Xie He who were in the European competition zone.
Players who had been safe in their own home country who got labeled with the title of ‘betrayer’ for going to a foreign country and losing favour at the same time. Nobody would bless their leaving.
In front of them were strange and hostile ‘teammates’, while behind them were compatriots who shamelessly abused them and wanted them to die while abroad…
The old fans who were unable to let go of them were almost tortured into pieces that year.
They cursed FTW, called the management trash, scolded fate for being unfair…
But they could only curse and scold.
Close was having difficulty holding up at home, while they travelled alone abroad.
That year had been the darkest year. The Team of Gods was like fallen stars, becoming insignificant rubble that almost sank to the bottom of the water.
However, they were unwilling and unreconciled to being ordinary, and they didn’t give in.
The next year, they began to glow and heat up.
Top four!
Runner up!
In just one season, they stood on the brightest stage again, thriving and glorious.
Only Close, only their FTW, fell again and again. They went from being the top team in the world to the laughing stock of the China competition zone.
Did the Team of Gods want to meet FTW in the globals?
Yes.
And no.
They wanted to have another good fight.
But they were also afraid of completely destroying their former home.
Yuan Ze was the most promising player for the singles championship, but he had abstained.
L&P’s senior management had criticized this and given Yuan Ze trouble over this many times.
Later, Yuan Ze picked out Old G from the youth training camp, taught him to play jungler, taught him how to play thieves, and also taught him solo…
Only after Gary could participate in the single player competition did LP&P let Yuan Ze off the hook.
From time to time, the post game interview for the globals would also include a question to Yuan Ze: “Why not participate in the singles? Is it because of Close?”
Yuan Ze was not the type to speak the human language. He opened his mouth and started, “Yeah…”
The host: “For the sake of old memories…”
Without waiting for the rest of such words to come out, Yuan Ze’s arrogant and domineering reply came, “Because I hate him, I hate this kind of favored genius the most.”
At the time, China had scolded Yuan Ze for a whole season because of this sentence. After that, L&P won the globals, and the fans wanted to throw tomatoes at their own computers.
They were so angry! How did this scum deserve to win the championship!
At the time, many people felt distressed for Close and distressed for FTW. The domestic fans were unprecedentedly united.
And it was in that year that Close found Quiet.
It was also that year that Mo Hui and Fu Li entered the professional arena.
That year, there were signs of recovery for China…
The Yuan Ze who brought about bloody rain and storms, who was referred to as Old Bandit Yuan by thousands of people…
––Was gentler and softer than anyone else.
After the draw, it was unusually silent inside L&P’s van on the way back to the base.
Yuan Ze sat on his own in the front row. His posture was still arrogant, and his long legs were stretched out. His elbows rested against the side of the window as his light gray eyes stared out into the traffic outside.
Old G didn’t say anything. No one made a single sound.
The car was quiet, filled only with the sound of breathing.
It wasn’t far from the venue to the base. When they arrived, Yuan Ze got off first.
Gary followed.
Yuan Ze gave him a sidelong look. “Cigarette?”
Gary hesitated.
Seeing Yuan Ze frowning in impatience, Old G could only take out his box of cigarettes and lightly tip out a thin cigarette.
In order to smoke less, Old G had recently started bringing ladies’ cigarettes with him!
Yuan Ze made an expression of distaste. “Feminine.”
Gary: “…………” He felt aggrieved but didn’t dare say it!
A ladies’ cigarette was still a cigarette. Yuan Ze took one, and Gary could only take out his lighter.
Yuan Ze accepted it, and there was a snap as he lit it up.
His slender fingers curled around the slim cigarette, while the five digits of his other hand played casually with the lighter. If this scene could be seen by his fans, there would be another round of shrill screams.
Old G wanted to scream too. He wanted to tell him to be careful and avoid dropping his lighter onto the ground!
Yuan Ze stared at him.
Gary’s eyes were glued to the lighter.
Yuan Ze tossed it at him. “How promising.”
Old G caught it like it was a treasure and stopped just short of blowing on it.
Yuan Ze spoke leisurely, “Big brother will buy you another one if it’s broken.”
Oh, this had also been a gift from Yuan Ze to Gary. It was last year’s birthday present.
Gary: “It’s a limited edition one; it can’t be bought!”
Yuan Ze rolled his eyes at him.
Old G knew that Yuan Ze was in a bad mood, but he didn’t know how to coax people. Let alone when it was Yuan Ze…
Gary wouldn’t be able to understand his captain in this lifetime.
Yuan Ze smoked the ladies’ cigarette and felt that it just lacked flavour. “Let’s go.”
Gary: “Ranking?”
Yuan Ze: “To buy cigarettes.”
Gary: “…………”
Compared with the depressed mood in L&P, FTW was actually better off.
Even the most timid Little Ning was in good shape. Wei Xiao tilted his head to look at him, “Aren’t you scared?”
Ning Zhehan spoke boldly, “I am!”
Wei Xiao: “……”
Ning Zhehan then went to scratch at his hair. “Just… I’m also not.”
This being scared, then not being scared.
Ning Zhehan felt embarrassed, but he still had some ideas in his heart. “I… I’m not thinking so much about it. Right now, winning any game is considered as having gained something!”
There was a smile in Wei Xiao’s eyes. “That’s great, Little Ning.”
Chen Feng heard this too. He’d originally been slightly nervous, but it turned into him being comforted by a cub.
Tang Chen clapped his hands and shouted, “You’re right!”
Every game they played was a game they’d gained. This mentality was really good.
Just think about FTW’s situation or even the situation for the entire China competition zone.
It was already an unexpected achievement for them to be able to break through from sixteen to eight. It was something they wouldn’t have dared think about last year.
A new team, with two newcomers who were new to the arena.
Even Bai Cai and Yue Wenle had never fought officially on the global stage.
Their only experienced player was Lu Feng, and he’d also switched positions.
For the new FTW, for them to be able to reach this point meant that every step had been an upward battle!
Ning Zhehan, who was most prone to mental collapse, had already survived the most painful period of growth.
Even when faced with the Team of Gods, there wasn’t anything to be afraid of.
There was no need to be nervous for the fight for the top four.
They had broken records with every step taken. They just had to fight without feeling pressured and see it through!
Everyone in FTW was in excellent form, while their fellow brother teams were even more nervous.
First, there was RR. Money almost sent himself into poverty inviting a Michelin level chef to the FTW base to prepare dinner.
All the ingredients were imported by air. There were rare delicacies and exotic fruits. Except for things that hadn’t been discovered yet, there was nothing that Money couldn’t obtain.
How much did it cost?
Don’t mention it. Mentioning it hurt Captain Mo.
Everyone from RR came along. Money spoke past the pain, “There’s good food and drink!” In particular, he winked at his team members and gave an extremely obvious suggestion, “Eat back the money that Laozi spent!”
Brother Cai was surprised. “You said this was a show of support. Why are you eating more than we are!”
Money: “We’re helping you eat. What if you eat too much and get indigestion that affects you during the game?”
After saying that, he put the last piece of Wagyu beef into his own bowl.
Bai Cai: “………………………………”
Money, why don’t you get lost and go back to your family and inherit the business? Why do you insist on living the ‘hard life’ here!
After dinner, the two teams played training matches for several hours. Moonlit also took Little Ning away for solo training.
Money was sour. “My family’s Little Moon-moon is the real number one mage king in China!”
Even before Bai Cai could disdain him, Fu Li, who’d just arrived, replied, “Ha-ha.”
Money was immediately on alert against Fox Fu. “What are you doing here!”
Fu Li had never gotten along smoothly with this prince, and he mocked him impolitely, “In short, not acting like you, someone who only knows how to eat, drink, and have fun.”
Money: “……”
Fu Li went directly to the coaching team and plugged in a USB. The contents were loaded up, and the door to the coaching team room closed, no longer allowing anyone else in.
Eurostar-star smiled like a fox. “Captain Mo is here too.”
Mo Hui hated Fu Li, but he was very fond of Eurostar. “I came with Little Moon.”
Eurostar blinked. “Where’s Moonlit?”
Mo Hui raised his chin. “Special training in the doubles room.”
Eurostar got it.
He smiled slightly. “Okay then, Captain Mo, you can keep playing. I’m going to go and be busy.” He purposely emphasized the word ‘busy’.
Mo Hui: “???”
Eurostar: “Lele is waiting for me.”
Oh… you all have special training goals. There was only Mo Hui…
As a jungler, what kind of special training could he do? Wouldn’t he just be beaten up until his face was all bruised up by FTW’s two jungler kings?
Eurostar also went into the training room. Mo Hui only realized after the fact. “Caicai, was Eurostar mocking me?”
Bai Cai: “………………”
Mo Hui thought it over. “F*ck! The fox’s subordinates really are little foxes!”
Out of those who came to provide support, other than Mo Hui who had brought food and drink, everyone else was quite busy.
Captain Fu went straight to the coaching team and gave a first class tactical revision course.
Moonlit led little Ning around, testing fighting with everything from the immortal warlock to even the void mage.
Eurostar and Yue Wenle could play around, too. One of them was timid, while the other was reckless. There were really things that they could learn from each other.
From 3U, although Captain Asleep was also a ‘useless’ jungler king…
Combining Cong Yi and Asleep made them super useful.
3U was also able to use the soul warlock system.
Cong Yi had already mastered much of the soul warlock. Although he wasn’t as much of an all-rounder as Wei Xiao, he had an awfully deep understanding of Asleep’s talent pool.
Asleep gave pointers to Brother Cai.
Cong Yi directly attached himself to Brother Cai.
Caicai was too busy to worry about anything else.
Therefore…
Money became even more lonely. Even that vegetable stalk had abandoned him!
FTW, who was going ahead at full steam, had their time filled to the brim every day.
They strengthened the soul warlock line-up, the double thief line-up, Yue Wenle’s late stage marksmen, and Ning Zhehan’s assassin mage talents.
Brother Cai…
The salted fish vegetable was even more bitter! He was a small support who sought to live a zen life. Why did he have to undergo double training with Brother Sleep and God Yi at the same time!
Bai Caicai couldn’t figure it out and went to talk to Brother Soy in the evening.
Brother Soy’s tongue was lolling, its blue eyes open wide. It accosted him. “Ao!”
Caicai looked at it.
Brother Soy: “Arooo!”
Brother Cai said suddenly, “Brother Soy, how about I find you a wife?”
Brother Soy tilted his head.
Brother Cai hugged it. “Living as a single dog is really difficult!”
The entire China competition zone was very fired up about the battle for the top four.
The fans were all clear about professional players’ game accounts. As long as they looked them up slightly, they would be able to see hints of what they were doing.
This, coupled with the paparazzi’s candid shots, which showed Mo Hui going in and out of FTW’s base the most often…
At first, everyone thought that it was because he had a good relationship with Lu Feng. They thought Money was hanging out for free food and board while cheering for the team.
Later on…
“Holy shit, Moon God is soloing with God Ning again!”
“My Star-star has been training with Yue Lele for two hours!”
“Let me say something scary… Brother Cai is in a doubles game with God Yi…”
Two supports playing doubles? The fans could feel goosebumps rise up on their skin!
Many scripts were submitted to the Gossip Emperor. This mixture of random gossip was enough to really spark fireworks across the China competition zone.
However, their Gossip Emperor was busy honing his skills. He didn’t have time to read those short articles; he himself had already become the protagonist of many of them!
And he was the always, always, always, always the shou!
The gossip Emperor was suffering, but the gossip Emperor couldn’t say it out loud.
While they charged ahead at full steam, the great demon king remained cool and calm.
Mo Hui would occasionally catch sight of Wei Little Xiao. He remarked, “Close is really capable. He doesn’t even know what tension and fear are in this life!”
Wei Xiao naturally praised his own captain for a while, but then he considered it again carefully and realized that his captain’s mood really didn’t seem quite right…
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