Glory [e-sports]

After returning back to China, the days seemed to get shorter and shorter.

The opening day for the regular season had already been set, and the roster of teams had been released.

The 14 teams were divided up into two groups, and there would be two intra-group cycles and one mixed group cycle.

During the regular season that would last for over two months, each team would play 19 games.

If they won all of them, the highest score they could get was 19 points.

This was the current highest possible score for the regular season in China. No club had ever achieved this.

The FTW from back then had taken a grand slam during the regular season, but the domestic regular season had still been following the old competition system where there was just a single intra-group cycle and one mixed group cycle, adding up to only 13 games total.

The Team of Gods had won every game, and the highest score they’d gotten was only 13 points.

The regular season was a BO3 point snatching system. After all the competitions were completed, the stats of the two groups would be put together based on the points ranking.

The top four teams from each group would enter the playoffs.

The playoffs were held in a brutal elimination system.

If they lost, they’d go on holiday early.

If they won, they could keep on fighting.

Fighting until they won the championship!

FTW was very clear about the competition system.

Wei Xiao was no stranger to it; during the 2020 domestic competition, he’d basically accompanied Bai Cai the whole way through.

When fans spoke about the Jungler King behind Brother Cai, they were talking about Wei Xiao.

The domestic competition was a protracted war. This was particularly the case during the regular season, which not only required obtaining points, but also training.

After undergoing over two months of the competition, any professional player would undergo a great transformation.

RR’s Moonlit, TPT’s Eurostar, 3U’s Asleep…

These players who’d all been hammered and beaten by the grandmaster and hadn’t toppled, and had all made great progress after going through the domestic competition.

Without having had that experience in the domestic competition, there wouldn’t have been such an outstanding winter training camp performance.

This year, the Chinese competition zone was really filled with a strong momentum!

Wei Xiao looked at the list and was very delighted, “The opening fight is between us and RR.”

Chen Feng nodded, “It’s a convention to have the first place and the runner up start up the season.”

There was an opening game on the first day of the regular season.

This so-called opening game was actually a performance competition.

Winning or losing didn’t affect their points. It was just a game that started off the new season of the year!

Over the years, the inauguration game had always been between the champion and the runner up.

The competition season of each division would always be inaugurated by the champion and runner up.

This same event in the global competition would be inaugurated by the world champion and runner up.

This was a stage that only belonged to them.

It showcased the glory of the past, and also a new starting point, setting down the burdens of the past and beginning a new journey.

In 2020, the China competition zone’s champion was FTW, and the runner up was RR.

In 2021, the first match of the China competition zone would also be between them!

The inauguration battle would be held ten days later.

After explaining the general situation, Chen Feng said, “You guys now have your last three days of free time.”

The four little ones of FTW all perked up their ears.

Chen Feng’s cold and heavy gaze swept over each of them, and he said seriously, “This is the last holiday of the year. Take good advantage of it and deal with anything that needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. After that, there will be no free time until we’ve won the championship.”

Brother Cai and Yue Wenle had experienced this before. They nodded, then said, “Understood.”

Little Ning was already boiling with passion. His voice was very loud, “Got it!”

Wei Xiao wasn’t interested in this holiday. His thoughts and heart were all filled with something else––applying for his school suspension.

The club had already submitted this application to the school, but he still had to show up and deal with it himself.

One of these three days had to be allocated towards getting it done.

Requesting a suspension wasn’t difficult.

Although it may sound a bit incredible for a student with an examination score of 985 to run off and play professionally, there was the outstanding student Fu Li from Northern University to pave the way. This made it so that Wei Xiao, who was from a teaching university, didn’t appear so prominent.

FTW also wasn’t planning to use this to establish Wei Xiao’s public image, so they hadn’t specifically publicized it.

Wei Xiao was worried about going home.

If it required a parent’s signature, he would certainly have to see them.

Regardless of whether it was Wei Quan or Li Su, he didn’t want to see either of them.

If he’d had any expectations for them when his grandma had still been around, his heart was now completely cold after her death.

When it came to fatherly love or motherly love, for Wei Xiao, their familial relationship had disappeared on the day his grandma died.

Wei Quan and Li Su were nothing but strangers who were related to him by blood.

After they were allowed to disperse, everyone packed up their luggage and prepared to return home for a few days.

Brother Cai was humming a small tune as he packed his bags.

Wei Xiao wasn’t feeling happy, so he tried to bury him too, “Why aren’t you using your 66,000 suitcase.”

One of Brother Cai’s vegetables was that 66,000 suitcase, which he’d given himself as a championship gift. It was a brand name suitcase, very expensive and very luxurious.

Bai Cai rolled his eyes. “What do you understand? With that nest of chickens that my mom raised up, if I drag my little cutie back, it’ll just be used for chicken shit.”

Brother Cai had made money over the past two years, enough to help his parents build a villa in their village.

Unfortunately, Mother Bai loved farming, so the garden of the villa was filled with seasonal vegetables. While she was at it, she’d also filled in the swimming pool and remodeled it into a chicken coop.

Bai Cai had ‘gone home loaded with honor and wealth’, and when he saw that his million dollar villa courtyard had become a big farming compound, he’d collapsed and spent half an hour on the phone with Wei Xiao.

Wei Xiao had suppressed his laughter, “Turn on the video so that big brother can see.”

Brother Vegetable had turned on the video.

Wei Xiao had only taken a glance at it when he burst out honking and laughing like a goose.

Brother Vegetable was incredibly angry, “Can you not show some f*cking sympathy.”

Wei Xiao was laughing so hard he couldn’t breathe, “It’s-it’s very good like this, it’s filled with life.”

Not only was it filled with life, there was also the scent of chicken shit, pig manure, and cow dung!

When he recalled that incident, Wei Xiao was amused and patted Brother Cai on the shoulder, “You can do it!”

Brother Cai glanced at him, “What about you?”

He knew about Wei Xiao’s situation.

Wei Xiao’s smile faded slightly, “It’s fine.”

Brother Cai thought briefly, “How about I go back with you?”

Bai Cai thought back and forth, and ultimately couldn’t not worry about this beast.

Don’t look at how Wei Xiao never seemed to worry about anything; once it came to anything related to those black-hearted parents of his, there was always a chance he’d close himself up.

Bai Cai was very worried.

How could Wei Xiao be willing to waste his rare holiday? He glanced at him, “Can you drive?”

Bai Cai: “……”

Wei Xiao: “Are you as tall as me?”

Bai Cai: “……”

Wei Xiao’s voice was careless, “Firstly, you can’t drive, and secondly, you can’t fight as well as me, but you still want to look out for me? What are you thinking, it’s not like my family is the Glory canyon.”

His words shifted, and Wei Xiao said happily, “I’m going to go and ask the captain to accompany me!”

Brother Cai: “……”

I’m the stupid one for worrying about you!

After coaxing and sending off Brother Cai, Wei Xiao was actually embarrassed to speak up and ask Lu Feng.

The captain had been busy ever since they returned back to the base. He hadn’t seen him all morning…

Wei Xiao rubbed the husky’s forehead and muttered, “Your dad doesn’t want you anymore.”

Soybean cooperated with him, “Ou…”

Wei Xiao poked it, “Your dad doesn’t want you, but he wants me!”

Soybean’s large eyes were innocent, “Aouu…”

[Who the hell knew what my dad was talking about?!]

FTW, sixth floor.

Lu Feng, who’d been busy all morning, shifted his left shoulder, his eyebrows drawing together in a frown.

Xiang Liu, who was to the side, saw his movements and asked anxiously, “Do you want to rest for a while?”

Lu Feng shook his head, “It’s fine.”

Xiang Liu was worried, “You haven’t done physiotherapy for over half a month. Do you want…”

Lu Feng glanced at him from the corner of his eyes.

Xiang Liu shut up.

Lu Feng looked down at the documents, “I know what I’m doing.”

As the only one who knew what was happening, Xiang Liu was often worried and frightened.

He wanted to say it, but he didn’t dare to. Yet not saying it meant that he was always worried.

It hadn’t been easy for FTW to gain this new atmosphere. If something happened to Close at this time…

The consequences were too terrible, and Xiang Liu didn’t dare to think about it.

They’d been enduring for a full three years.

From having nothing at the beginning, to becoming the current domestic champions.

Xiang Liu had personally seen their performance records from the winter training camp. Wei Xiao joining FTW had given them a completely new outlook and let everyone see a new ray of hope.

Three years…

How many ‘three years’ did professional players have?!

Lu Feng had already been waiting for too long, and FTW had fallen silent for too long.

They needed a brilliant, golden trophy, a world championship that represented infinite glory.

During this critical time, there could be no mistakes.

However… Xiang Liu tried briefly to restrain himself, but wasn’t able to hold back, “The regular season lasts for over two months, followed by the playoffs, then the national championships…”

The intensity level of this competition schedule was too high.

Not only were there competition games, their training matches were also fully booked. As Chen Feng had said, as soon as the main season began, the starter players were on a constant rotation. Unless they were eliminated, there would be no rest.

Countless healthy players couldn’t endure this pace, let alone with Lu Feng’s shoulder…

Xiang Liu gritted his teeth, “It’s better if you go for systematic treatment. This year, FTW will definitely be able to enter the global competition. When the time comes, you’ll have to play in both the individual and team competitions. How will…”

He held back the rest of his words and didn’t finish them, but Lu Feng’s eyebrows drew together, and he said, “Xiang Liu.”

Xiang Liu: “……”

Lu Feng: “Go out.”

At the end of the day, Xiang Liu didn’t dare to continue to persuade him. He let out a long sigh and turned to go outside.

When there was nobody left in the big office, Lu Feng got up and stood in front of the French windows.

Outside the window was the FTW base’s canyon garden. The designer had recreated the Glory Canyon and moved the map from the game into reality.

Brilliant green grass, elaborate defense towers, and the red and blue crystals that represented their respective camps.

If the crystals exploded, the game was over.

How many matches had ended with that exact explosion?

Lu Feng stared out the window, unblinking. Xiang Liu’s words echoed through his mind, “When the time comes, you’ll have to play in both the individual and team competitions…”

It wasn’t just the individual and team games. There were also the doubles games.

The youth’s clear and clean voice had long embedded itself into his heart:

“Captain, shall we sign up for the doubles this year?”

“We’ll definitely be more tacit than Kim Sung-hyun and Li Heran!”

“The singles championship is ours, the doubles championship is ours, and the 5v5 will also be ours!”

“Taking down three championships in one go, won’t we be bullying others a little?”

“Whatever, we’ll just bully them anyway!”

Lu Feng bowed his head and clenched his fist gently. His fingertips felt numb, and pain spread up like a needle straight from his forearm to his shoulder.

He quickly released his hand, a thin layer of sweat oozing out from his forehead.

Wei Xiao was bored to death. He tossed the husky aside and was preparing to go queue for ranked games when his cell phone rang.

Wei Xiao quickly picked up his cell phone. He smiled as soon as he saw who the caller was.

Lu Feng: “Are you inside?”

Wei Xiao: “I was just about to go to the training room. Captain, are you finished with your work?” He missed him.

Lu Feng: “Mm. I’ll go find you.”

Wei Xiao: “Okay!”

Wei Xiao had originally been planning to head to the spacious group training room. Now… of course he had to head to the doubles training room!

Ah, the FTW base was really good. It actually had something as sweet as a doubles training room.

Wei Xiao had only just stepped into the room when he heard the sound of footsteps approaching. He hid behind the door and deliberately concealed his breathing.

The door opened, and Lu Feng stepped in.

There was nobody in the training room, but Lu Feng noticed Wei Xiao’s cell phone on the table. His mouth curved up slightly.

There was a bang.

The door closed behind him.

Lu Feng turned his head, his black eyes locking onto Wei Xiaoxiao who’d been hiding behind the door.

Wei Xiao was surprised, “You… um…”

How had he known that he was hiding there?

He hadn’t even asked the question when Lu Feng wrapped an arm around his waist and kissed him.

How could Wei Xiao still be concerned about this and that? He clung to his body and took the initiative to kiss him back.

By the time the two of them separated, Wei Xiao’s cheeks were flushed, “I like this kind of greeting very much.”

He simply loved it to death. He wished that they could kiss every time they met.

Lu Feng looked at him, “Do you want to solo?”

Upon hearing this, Wei Xiao’s eyes became even brighter, “Now?”

Lu Feng: “Mm.”

Wei Xiao was stunned, “How could I not want to?! I want to even in my dreams!”

Lu Feng’s low voice was filled with indulgence, “I’m free these next few days, so we can solo for as long as you want.”

Wei Xiao was shocked by this sudden wonderful surprise, “As… as long as I want?”

Lu Feng: “As long as you want.”

Wei Xiao was so excited that he jumped on him, “Captain~”

Lu Feng hugged him, “Yes.”

Wei Xiao rubbed his face against his neck, “Is this a benefit of being in love?”

Lu Feng: “No.”

Wei Xiao let go and looked at him.

Lu Feng kissed him, “This is.”

The tip of Wei Xiao’s heart tingled: F*ck, he would be seduced to death by the captain sooner or later!

Wei Xiao was truly too happy that afternoon.

Simply soloing was already enough to make him excited, but he’d thought of something even better.

“Captain, we can’t just solo, there has to be rewards.”

“What reward?”

“For example, if you win, I’ll kiss you. If I win, you kiss me, okay?”

After saying this, Wei Xiao felt that he was really too smart. He wanted to give himself 9999 thumbs up!

Lu Feng laughed briefly and said, “Change it slightly.”

Wei Xiao: “???”

Lu Feng spoke slowly, in a very serious tone, “If I win, I’ll kiss you, if you win, you kiss me.”

It was the same words, but two words were switched around, and it was spoken by another person. The effect was completely different.

Wei Xiao blushed and his heart thumped, “Captain…”

Lu Feng: “Hm?”

Wei Xiao accused him, “You’re not allowed to use your beauty to get what you want!”

This affected his ability to play too much!

One game of solo averaged out to be half an hour, and after playing, the two of them spent around five minutes fooling around.

In the blink of an eye, the sky had already grown dark.

Wei Xiao felt like he hadn’t even started––in all senses.

Lu Feng hugged him, settling him on his thighs, “Hungry?”

Wei Xiao, who’d just lost a game and had been kissed until his face was flushed, “Not hungry.”

Lu Feng knew what he was thinking, “We’ll continue after dinner.”

Wei Xiao immediately changed his words, “Hungry!”

Lu Feng set him down, “Let’s go, eat first.”

The two of them played all the way until eleven o’clock at night.

Wei Xiao was as satisfied as could be with this, “Captain, you still have to get up early. Go sleep.”

When it came to solo, or even kissing, all of it had to be sustainable.

Wei Xiao wasn’t in a hurry!

Lu Feng asked him, “No more?”

Wei Xiao’s heart was super itchy, “Can we continue?”

Lu Feng: “Sure.”

Wei Xiao: “…………”

The captain would really make him die of happiness.

One hour later, Wei Xiao felt heartache for Lu Feng and said that he didn’t want to play anymore.

Back then, he’d been young and ignorant and soloed for 48 hours straight. Now, the days were long, and he wasn’t anxious about waiting for this short amount of time.

Lu Feng saw that he was content and quit the game.

Wei Xiao lay there paralysed in the e-sports chair, and he had the tired feeling that came after a period of high excitement.

Lu Feng drank a sip of water and called out to him softly, “Wei Xiao.”

Wei Xiao was languid and lazy, “Hm?”

Lu Feng stared at the word ‘Glory’ on the screen and said, “You’ll represent FTW in this year’s singles competition.”

Only one person from each club could take part in the singles competition.

From the day he joined FTW, Wei Xiao had never thought about signing up for the singles.

Because everyone knew that Lu Feng was the best candidate.

He was the three times singles champion and was unquestionably the number one person when it came to solo.

Wei Xiao thought that he’d misheard, “What?”

Lu Feng turned his head to look at him, “This year’s singles, you’ll sign up for the competition.”

Wei Xiao heard him clearly. The smile hanging on the corner of his lips faded, and his back straightened, “Why?”

xiin: uh oh…