Chapter 26 – Four Innings
At 6 o’clock in the evening, the members of the DCT team gathered to discuss the lineup and tactics they would use.
It was the pre-match trash talk time for Glory Talk King.
Everyone was quite reserved, exchanging only a few casual words without that intense and provocative feeling.
They had originally planned to end this segment on a friendly note, but FG team captain Han Chuan spoke up, saying, “I hope you can see our team’s lineup in the fifth game.”
The provocation had begun.
Cheng Che responded with a smile, “Unfortunately, I doubt you’ll last that long.”
Wu You said, “Do your best, and hopefully, we’ll see you in the fifth game next season.”
FG team, which had a temporary seat in the Spring Season, was shut out by several KPL teams in the playoffs, so Wu You’s words hit hard.
Sure enough, when Hanchuan heard this, his face turned black. He said, “We’re evenly matched, so no one should laugh at anyone.”
“We can’t afford to lose face…” Cheng Che shook his head and made a “no” gesture, shaking his index finger. “I dare not. We are just rookies and can’t compare to you.”
FG’s top laner smirked and sarcastically said, “Take a good look at your own team. You also have the old, weak, sick, and disabled… Don’t try to put a good face on yourself.”
Lin Xingling, who was labeled as ‘old, weak, sick, and disabled,‘ sighed.
It was no secret that he had wrist and hand injuries, and he was indeed older than this group of young people… thinking about it this way…
“If Yanzi were here, even if you had half the ability to speak, you would drop dead on the spot.”
Cheng Che interrupted his wandering thoughts with a single sentence, “What old, weak, sick, and disabled? He is the tiger and dragon you should fear.”
It’s okay to say anything else, but if you dare to mention Stars, then you can’t handle it.
…
Knowing that he was good at arguing, the members of DCT didn’t take it seriously.
The pre-match ‘friendly‘ interaction between Cheng Che and Wu You had a great effect on the program and intensified the hatred of the opposing team.
In the first game, FG invaded DCT’s blue area with the jungle, ADC, and support.
Phantom arrived in time, and Liu Ying followed Lin Xingling to clear the first wave of minions, resulting in a small skirmish between the two sides but no casualties.
By the time Wu You finished clearing the red area and arrived at the blue area, everything was intact.
“Han Chuan’s pace is quite damaging.” Wu You punished the blue buff and looked at the opponent’s jungler, who was at level 3, on the economy panel and laughed.
After that, he went to the mid lane to get some gold and experience, then followed the mid and support to create a fake vision a few steps down and proceeded top lane alone.
“Xiao Pei, be ready to cooperate. I’ll make a play top lane.”
Phantom: “Okay.”
“Captain and I will come down to support Brother Che.” Liu Ying’s words had just fallen when the game interface played the first blood sound.
“First blood!“
Cheng Che clicked his tongue and said, “Thought they were so capable, daring to be so arrogant.”
“Brother Che, six!” Wu You whistled and cooperated with Phantom to take down the FG support. “Ah, how did the marksman with low health manage to escape?”
Phantom: “Sun Shang Xiang is critically injured, Clear.”
“Luban No.7, with an IQ of 250, I worship you, remember to worship.”
Luban No.7 used his second skill to secure a double kill.
Lin Xingling controlled Zhang Fei[mfn]
[/mfn] to shield Cheng Che’s Luban No.7 with his second skill, “Be careful with your attacks.”
“Okay.”
After a wave of minions, Liu Ying’s Shiranui Mai [mfn]
[/mfn] solo killed the opponent’s mid-lane Zhen Ji[mfn]
[/mfn] by diving under the turret.
Cheng Che and Lin Xingling took down the bottom lane turret.
Phantom made a crucial Dominance steal at eight minutes, and Wu You controlled the Dark Tyrant.
…
The pace accelerated.
“Victory!“
Sixteen minutes, easily securing the first game.
The skill level of the top KPL team is just average, not deserving of praise… Cheng Che took off his headset and turned to look at Lin Xingling, his attention caught by the sparkling diamond earring on his right ear.
Lin Xingling had a cold expression on his face, then opened his mouth, “Do you want water?… Are you hungry?… Do you want to eat a sweet osmanthus candy?”
Cheng Che: “…”
As a mature man, I choose to decline.
Wu You: “Can we go backstage first?”
A crowd of people in the audience seats watched.
Everyone went to the backstage lounge, listened to Brother Feng’s analysis of the previous game, and made arrangements for the next game.
“This time, let me go to the solo lane and face the opponent’s marksman and support… Let’s give it a try.”
Cheng Che, with a sweet osmanthus candy in his mouth, spoke somewhat unclearly.
Brother Feng nodded after thinking, “Hmm, Xiao Pei, you go to the top lane to face the opponent’s solo laner… That’s fine. Xiao You, remember to focus on catching the enemy marksman. Liu Ying, you can adapt accordingly.”
“…”
In the second game, FG once again prioritized the “True Fragrance” combination. Da Qiao was banned, and DCT calmly picked Sun Shangxiang paired with Guiguzi.
Cheng Che played aggressively, facing two opponents on his own, but he didn’t miss any last-hits or blood pressure, even contesting for river crabs.
On the other hand, the enemy marksman was timid, afraid that Guiguzi would flash away from them.
At level four, Sun Shang Xiang, with the jungle Han Xin coming to assist Guiguzi, made a play and Guiguzi used their flash. Sun Shang Xiang managed to escape with low health.
Knowing that Guiguzi didn’t have Flash, Sun Shang Xiang started to become arrogant and camped in place, blocking Sun Shangxiang’s minion waves.
Cheng Che, who sneered at such tactics:…
Lin Xingling: Speechless.
Dirty tricks, no positive energy, disgusting!
“My Flash has 46 seconds left.” Lin Xingling counted.
Cheng Che frowned, “Captain, you go pull Guiguzi. I can’t wait any longer.”
“Okay.”
So, without hesitation, a certain Guiguzi went up.
…Sun Shang Xiang evaded with her first skill, and Guiguzi successfully pulled the real Taiyi Zhenren as planned.
Sun Shangxiang, with low health, was pressured by Guiguzi’s second ultimate, going all out under the tower and using the passive and second skill to secure the kill, then using the first skill to escape the range of the defensive tower’s attacks, wearing down Taiyi Zhenren with basic attacks.
“First blood!“
The KPL commentator restrained his urge to applaud and excitedly said, “…It’s another first blood! Clear is the first blood killer!”
“Double Kill!“
Taiyi Zhenren also had their head taken.
Cheers erupted from the audience, but unfortunately, the players on the stage couldn’t hear them well.
Cheng Che excels at snowballing advantages, and with favorable winds, they won directly.
“The enemy jungler is in his red area. We’ve pushed the lanes and rotated to the mid lane to support. Wu You, go top lane and clear the minions.”
Wu You received the blue buff, “Okay.”
A small advantage in the mid lane, and on the Phantom side, a solo kill against the enemy top laner.
Start the dragon, repeating the process of the first game.
The second game was easily won again.
The same went for the third game.
For Cheng Che, who is used to playing in the KPL Strength Series, playing in K-Jia is truly a waste of talent.
In the fourth game, FG managed to secure the first Dark Tyrant, and then DCT made some mistakes in team fights, rushing in twice without full team coordination, getting counter-attacked by the enemy… It became a bit of an uphill battle.
“Hold on, don’t make mistakes. Wait for me to respawn.”
Cheng Che focused intently on the black screen in front of him, with a calm and composed tone in his voice.
This is the esports arena, his home ground.
After Bai Li Shou Yue[mfn]
[/mfn] respawned, he went straight to the mid lane, coordinated with Shangguan Wan’er, and with one combo and one shot, took down the enemy general Mo Ye[mfn]
[/mfn].
“Naisu! (Yong)” “Six (Che).”
Wu You said, “Be careful, K’ai[mfn]
[/mfn] is flanking you guys. Run towards me.”
Han Chuan flanked from behind and prepared to engage C. Cheng Che wanted to cover Liu Ying, who didn’t have a significant escape, and ended up getting heavily damaged himself… In a critical moment, Lin Xingling’s Mozi made a big flash to control K’ai, and Bai Li Shou Yue took down K’ai with two shots and an ultimate.
Cheng Che swallowed his saliva and said, “That was close…”
Hearing him start to stutter again, Lin Xingling coughed lightly as a reminder, “Focus your attention.”
The child usually stutters, but when playing in a match, due to being fully focused and highly concentrated, their speech is much smoother than usual.
This is something they realized… by searching on Baidu.
Just Baidu it, and you’ll know everything.
Cheng Che didn’t say anything else and followed Wu You and Phantom to take down the Lord. They used the Lord Vanguard to push and destroy FG’s mid-lane tower.
They also helped Liu Ying take down the enemy’s blue buff.
With the blue buff, Shangguan Wan’er can even take off with 8G.
Wu You counter-invaded the enemy’s red buff and went back to farm in their own jungle, saying, “Cheng, I’m giving you our red buff.”
“No need, give it to Xiao Pei.”
Cheng Che led Lin Xingling to clear minions and glanced at the surrounding vision and minimap, saying, “Something’s not right, let’s retreat quickly, Captain.”
The two hurriedly used their displacement skills to leave the bottom lane tower, and then FG’s mage and support appeared there.
…They didn’t catch anyone.
Lin Xingling frowned and said, “Shou Yue’s Double Infinity Edge is already built, it’s not difficult to fight now. Xiao Pei, Liu Ying, follow me, let’s poke and pressure down the second mid-lane tower.”
Cheng Che’s Bai Li Shou Yue had Attack Speed boots, one Slaughter, Double Infinity Edge, and a Meteor Hammer, with considerable damage.
Phantom also didn’t hesitate and joined the team after obtaining the red buff. They successfully took down the enemy’s second mid-lane tower.
“Retreat, retreat.”
At that moment, Lin Xingling took command of the overall situation and led them to retreat a bit. Seeing that the opponents were no longer pursuing, he said, “Push the minion wave forward, but don’t go too far.”
“Retreat!”
“Push forward!”
“Come back, come back, hurry back.”
…
<The Dog-Walking Support>
Cheng Che felt dizzy and overwhelmed by his commands and said, “Captain, please don’t rush. Let’s take it slow.”
“Why slow down? We go wave by wave!”
Lin Xingling activated the Wolf Emblem and led the charge, completely ignoring the child’s suggestion.
“Victory!“
After winning the match, Lin Xingling finally reacted and said, “What did you just say?”
Cheng Che replied, “…Nothing, it’s nothing.”
“You were amazing, you were strong.”
As the commentators announced the winners, the five of them stood up and went to shake hands with the opposing team, who had lost the game.
…
This temporary seat challenge ended with a score of DCT 4:0, completely shutting out FG.
During the post-match interview, Cheng Che gestured with a ‘thumbs-up’ sign. The female host asked him about the meaning, and he said, “…a winning streak.”
The barrage in the live chat was filled with [“666.”]
[“Clear is indeed worthy of being Star’s child, hahaha”]
[“Quite reminiscent of his father’s bravery back then”]
[“What the heck, Stars is not an old veteran. The support displayed the spirit of the strongest jungler”]
[“That’s great! My small team finally secured a spot in KPL”]
During the interview, Phantom hardly said anything. When pressed, he simply said, “I’m just like Clear.”
He tried to pretend to be calm and used the least amount of words to hide the fact that he stutters, while also brushing off all the host’s questions… Cheng Che felt mentally exhausted.