Chapter 55

It was easy to guess who ‘that person’ was; who ‘that person’ was that Shi Luo didn’t even want to mention back then.

“Shi Luo’s really tough.” That afternoon, in the lounge, Old Qiao hadn’t noticed the slight change in Yu Sui’s expression after hearing that statement. He sighed, “At the time, the match was supposed to start right away. There were four players from the NSN second team and none of them left the lounge. The competition organizers were in a hurry. No matter what the situation, they wanted them to compete first and then discuss the matter later. The three other players on NSN’s second team hesitated on whether they should just play the match first. What if the other team hadn’t played a fake match just now? What if they were penalized because of this later on...”

“Shi Luo though insisted that there was something wrong with the other team. He couldn’t be persuaded by anyone. He sat smoking in the lounge and refused to come out. It was his refusal that created quite the commotion and the secondary league officials launched a thorough investigation regarding the fake matches. ”

“When you pull out carrots, mud goes with it. A bunch of dirty players were suspended from the competition. All three of Xiao Jun’s teammates were banned for life. Xiao Jun was hit hard at that time and almost got into a fistfight with his former teammates, but fortunately, in the end, he slowly got over it.”

“His own personal skills are pretty good, only that he was dragged down by his bastard teammates. With his bastard teammates gone, he trained hard and played hard. He played better and better. A year ago, there was a match where his skills shined and all of a sudden, Ten Thousand Mountains’ senior management took notice of him and had him join their team as a starter. Now... Xiao Jun’s in the first league and Ten Thousand Mountains’ senior management values him a lot. His teammates here work together with him to play really well. He’s proven the saying that out of extreme adversity comes the beginning of good luck.”

“Xiao Jun has always been very grateful to Shi Luo but he’s never had a chance to cross paths with him. And you know Shi Luo. It’s not easy for people to get close to him. So the two of them aren’t friends, they’re just sort of old acquaintances.”

“Shi Luo himself doesn’t like mentioning these things. But at the time, after he refused to play the match, NSN’s executives and Gu Gan were very satisfied when they found out about it. Later, they told me that he had proved himself worthy of being a player from e-sports’ holy land, Team FS; he’s a truly proud and unyielding character. ”

It still wasn’t too late in the evening by the time they finished eating hotpot. The place where they ate hotpot was next to Hongyadong. Instead of going back directly to the hotel, they decided to walk around Hongyadong.

Yu Xie walked very slowly. He looked at Shi Luo’s tall back and recalled what Old Qiao had said. He thought that it had nothing to do with FS.

Although Shi Luo had later mentioned Yu Sui, Yu Sui didn’t think it had anything to do with him either.

Shi Luo was born like this.

Yu Sui had just been overly anxious.

With or without him, Shi Luo wouldn’t have let himself go, nor would he have given in to despair. He would have grown into an admirable player regardless.

Yu Sui didn’t think he deserved any credit for this, because Shi Luo’s proud and unyielding spirit was something innate to him; he was born with it.

“What’s the matter with you?” Old Qiao fell back two steps to walk beside Yu Sui. He looked at Yu Sui’s face. “Your face has been looking all blank since we ate. What’s the matter? Are you still thinking about that matter with Shi Luo? It’s been so long. Shi Luo himself has probably forgotten about it.”

Yu Sui shook his head and put his hands in his pants pockets. “No.”

“But to be honest, there is one thing I haven’t figured out.” Old Qiao said frankly, “Who was ‘that person’ Shi Luo mentioned at the time? He looked at me like I was a stranger. So I just listened to what he said but didn’t dare to ask.”

Yu Sui slowly turned his head to look at Old Qiao. Through Old Qiao’s sincere eyes, he confirmed that he wasn’t deliberately pricking his heart for the second time nor was he messing with him. When he really couldn’t find anything there, Yu Sui couldn’t help laughing out loud.

People belonging to the species known as ‘straight men’ really were so slow, it was scary.

Yu Sui didn’t feel like explaining it to him.

Old Qiao was still out of the loop. He whispered, “Right? Aren’t you curious about who Shi Luo was talking about?”

“I am curious...” Yu Sui nodded for a while, trying to keep a straight face and help him with his analysis, “First of all, we can eliminate Chen Huo...”

Team Free was able to nab the win without any problems for their regular season game in Chongqing. With training and their other regular season games waiting, they only stayed in Chongqing for one night. The next morning they hurriedly flew back to Shanghai.

Once they got back to the Free base, everyone washed up and went back to their dorm rooms to rest for a while. After sleeping for less than three hours, they woke up one after the other towards the evening and headed downstairs to eat, preparing for their training that evening.

While everyone was eating dinner, Zhou Huo took the time to say, “There’s something I need to discuss with everyone. Don’t worry, this won’t take up too much of your time.”

Everyone was so sleepy that they all just hummed in reply without raising their heads. Zhou Huo chuckled, “It’s like this, all the other teams have an assessment system. Before, we had just established the team and you’re using your recently retrieved accounts so I didn’t bring this up before. It’s been a few days now, so I think it’s time that we settled this matter regarding your assessment.”

There was nothing wrong with what Zhou Huo was saying. Each team had to assess the record of the player’s main account every month. Everyone was already accustomed to this and they continued to focus on eating. Puppy nudged Chen Huo, “Give me another plate of Siumai.”

“As you know, I used to be the NSN’s deputy manager. NSN’s assessment standard is the top 500 in the national server. If they drop out of the top 500, their salary will be deducted; they lose their bonus for that month which is basically a third of their monthly salary.” Zhou Huo looked around at everyone and continued, “However, this was before they were provoked by the Sacred Sword. After being provoked by Sacred Sword from across the sea, NSN now adjusted their criteria to within the top 200 of the national server. Saint adjusted theirs to within the top 100 in the national server. I originally wanted to draw the line according to Saint’s standards, but Sacred Sword, those assh*les have been pissing me off these past two days and now I’m also a little anxious. I think we should bring our criteria to be in line with international standards, so I wanted to ask...”

Zhou Huo looked at the three former Sacred Sword players and asked, “Up to what rank was the assessment criterion for Sacred Sword?”

Yu Sui: “500.”

Puppy: “300.”

Chen Huo: “200.”

The three spoke quickly, each person giving a different number. An awkward silence suddenly descended over their table.

Zhou Huo held back from cursing out these bunch of liars and resigned himself to searching on the internet for Sacred Sword’s assessment criterion. Coincidentally, a player of the Sacred Sword’s revealed in an interview a month ago that their assessment criteria was within the top 30 for the European server.

Zhou Huo said bitterly, “Did you have to go that far? Did you all have to make up those lies just so I wouldn’t find out Sacred Sword’s assessment criteria? Fine! We’ll set ours to be the same as Sacred Sword’s, within the top 30.”

“Don’t, why do we need to compare ourselves with that kind of inhumane club?” Chen Huo was eating while also hurriedly selling misery. “When I was at Sacred Sword, pouring out my blood, sweat and tears for that capitalist, there was never a month that I was able to get my full salary. Why must I suffer this same injustice now that I’ve returned to my motherland’s arms? Forgive me if my ranking has dropped but sometimes I run across pig teammates, not to mention that I sometimes have to help out others by teaming up with them.”

Zhou Huo hesitated, “Weren’t you all ranked high before? Why...”

“That was accumulated over the course of a season. It was cleared to zero at the beginning of this season. How could it be that easy?” Puppy took the opportunity to request for the standard to be lowered. “It will be easier towards the latter part of the season when we’ve gathered some points. For now, cut us some slack, ok?”

Zhou Huo hesitated and looked at Yu Sui.

Yu Sui took a sip of soup, “Top 100.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Zhou Huo reluctantly agreed. “Okay, we’ll start this month. The points will be counted at midnight on the 1st of next month.”

The assessment was a rule that every team has. Top 100 in the national server was much easier than the top 30 in the European server. No one tried to reach for a yard after getting an inch and they all went to the training room after their dinner.

“Time to look at daddy’s ranking...” Chen Huo opened the game client to logged in with his account. He opened the national server rankings and gave a bitter laugh. “I’ve been playing so many days already, why’s my rank still so low? Why? Where did all my motivation go? ......Pushing Wawa onto me must have been some sort of conspiracy by Yu Sui and Shi Luo. I’m 346 on the national server. Anyone lower than me?”

Puppy sighed, “I’m 288.”

Puppy pulled up the ranking list. “Whisper’s ranked at 196 and Evil’s at 168...”

No one’s reached the standard. Puppy instantly calmed down and said lazily, “There’re still ten days until the end of the month. Good luck to everyone.”

Shi Luo had already opened the client. He also took a look at his national server rankings. He felt that this wasn’t too big of a problem. There were still ten days left. As long as he doesn’t jump off a cliff and cause himself to lose points, it shouldn’t be too difficult to get into the top 100. Shi Luo was considering whether to start a live broadcast when he heard Chen Huo pleading with Yu Sui, “Yu Shen, look kindly upon your brother. Team up with me for a bit, okay? I’m not asking you to play milktank. Just play like your normally do. There are too many sh*tty passerby medics. I can’t waste any more time.”

Shi Luo subconsciously looked at Yu Sui. Past two computer screens, their two eyes met.

Shi Luo looked away. Over on his side, Yu Sui still hadn’t agreed. Chen Huo began to try and exploit morality. “Yu Sui, you were the one who set the standard to within the top 100!”

It would have been fine if Chen Huo hadn’t said anything. Hearing that, Yu Sui nodded and said, “It was because I wanted to intentionally deduct your salary. Get lost.”

“No, no, no, no. Please team up with me tonight.” Chen Huo grew panicky, “Just one night, I’ll get off at midnight.”

Yu Sui sent Chen Huo and invite to team up and Chen Huo hurriedly, groveling, agreed.

Wawa, whose team’s assessment criteria had been adjusted to within the top 200, also came crying to Shi Luo. After Wawa repeatedly vowed that he’d stop trying to practice Yu Sui’s style of play and that he would be a milktank even more milktank-y than Angel Sword, Shi Luo allowed them to team up.

Sacred Sword’s provocation of the Chinese league was no longer a hidden matter due to the Zhou Huo’re previous post. Although Zhou Huo has never revealed the results of NSN and Saint’s matches, the other teams more or less guessed it. After these three teams raised their assessment criteria one after the other, the remaining nine teams also adjusted their assessment criteria. Now, the lowest cutoff line was set to within the top 300. This was like a stab at the hornet’s nest and all at once, the national server’s ranking list became a bloody battlefield.

Chen Huo, who was bitterly trying to rise to the top 100 and yet still couldn’t do so, wanted nothing more than to find the other eleven teams and curse them soundly. What were they doing joining in on the fun!

Passerby players were curiously watching the miserable national server rankings. What was going on here? The rankings were almost constantly changing. These were all professional player accounts with their team names attached. What kind of ultimate KPIs were the 12 domestic league teams pursuing?

Once all the other teams raised their assessment criteria as well, Team Free’s players were no longer able to rise in the rankings as fast as before. Thankfully, they were all very skilled players and by the end of the month all four of them managed to make it through the cutoff.

But because all the major teams raised their assessment standards, there would always be those who due to carelessness would be squeezed out of the top 100. Chen Huo used to always love playing recklessly in passerby matches. Now, he didn’t dare relax anymore. He played every game seriously.

“Actually, this isn’t so bad.” At the end of the month, Puppy, who finally got into the top 100 after much difficulty, sighed, “Now, if anyone wants to play around, they’ll have to use their side accounts. Their main accounts are for playing seriously. Looks like everyone’s taking things really seriously. That’s good.”

Puppy looked at Shi Luo who was in the middle of slaughtering on the national server using his side account. He said sarcastically, “People who have passed the assessment line a long time ago sure have it easy... hey!”

Puppy looked left and right. He glanced at Yu Sui’s empty seat and raised his eyebrows. “Where’s Yu Sui? His match is about to start.”

Shi Luo glanced at Puppy. He hadn’t heard him clearly. He frowned and said, “What?”

“It seems that Yu Sui was called away by Zhou Huo just now.” Puppy slowly pointed to Yu Sui’s seat, “He forgot to cancel the queue. The match is about to start, the countdown’s about done.”

Chen Huo, who was still struggling to secure his position on the national server, said with satisfaction, “You get a hundred point deduction for abandoning a high-level match. 100 points is kinda a lot. Even I’m not sure I’d be able to get a hundred points in a day. Thank you, Yu Sui. Thank you for oh so generously freeing up a spot.”

Shi Luo took off his headphones and frowned, “Stand in for him for a while.”

Puppy spread his hands. “I don’t know how to play a medic. How am I supposed to sub for him? He didn’t bring his mobile phone, and it’s too late to call him...”

Shi Luo quickly got up after destroying the opponent’s resurrection stone in his game.

Puppy laughed and continued playing his own matches. Chen Huo let out a regretful “sigh” and grumbled while playing, “What’s with you, Evil? Don’t you dare bring NSN’s team unity crap into our team. Why do you always have to go wrecking our team’s style?”

Shi Luo ignored Chen Huo and hurriedly put on Yu Sui’s headphones and bought him the initial photon shield and long dagger.

It’s been a long time since Shi Luo played as a medic so he was a little bit rusty. Fortunately, his foundation from all those years before had already formed into muscle memory. Shi Luo upped his tempo and kept up with the rhythm.

Yu Sui must have completely forgotten that he’d queued up for a game. He still hadn’t come back even after ten minutes. Shi Luo looked helplessly at Yu Sui’s phone on his desk. They couldn’t give him a call. Chen Huo and Puppy were also playing their main accounts and couldn’t get away. He had no choice but to continue playing.

He’d taken over in a hurry and didn’t have time to think about it much but now that he’d been playing for a while, Shi Luo gradually reacted. He was using Yu Sui’s account, typing on Yu Sui’s keyboard, holding Yu Sui’s mouse, and wearing Yu Sui’s headphones, trying to adapt to using Yu Sui’s keyboard settings...

Shi Luo gritted his teeth and scolded himself inwardly. What are you suddenly getting all f*cking embarrassed for!!!

Time passed and this match gradually proceeded into a deadlock. Shi Luo wanted to type something to spray his passersby teammates who keep making mistakes. Can you stop getting yourselves killed? ! I can’t keep f*cking healing all of you. If I keep playing here and Whisper comes back and sees me here, you’re not the ones who’re going to die of embarrassment, are you?! So stop getting yourselves killed!!!

Fortunately, his passers-by teammates seemed to be able to feel “Whisper’s” irritation. In the latter stage, they managed to pull off a passable team cooperation. Ten minutes later, they smoothly leveled the opponents and ended the game.

Fortunately, Yu Sui hadn’t yet returned.

Shi Luo sighed in relief.

The team chat interface was filled with praises for Whisper. Shi Luo didn’t reply and just wanted to quit when he saw a message from one of his teammates.

[Free forever nb]: [Yu Shen, I’m your fan! ! ! I’m so excited! My several days of playing to get into the top 500 has not been in vain! I actually ran into you. Me and my dorm buddies all like you! ! ! ]

[Free forever nb]: [Whisper is awesome, Free is awesome! ! ! ]

[Free forever nb]: [Please tell Evil for me that Shi Shen is awesome! ! ! ]

[Free forever nb]: [Yu Shen, did you quit already? Or are you still reading? I adore you ah ah ah ah ah ah...]

If it were his own account, meeting such a die-hard fan, Shi Luo would have replied back with some sort of emoticon. But this was Yu Sui’s professional account and he hadn’t even gotten his consent. It wasn’t convenient for Shi Luo to say anything. He was about to quit when the other party typed out—

[Free forever nb]: [Oh, yeah. I’ve gotta ask for my girlfriend. Yu Shen, Yu Shen. You don’t like that EE anchor from the other day, right? She’s particularly concerned about this.]

Shi Luo frowned and typed——

[Free-Whisper]: [I don’t like her!]

When Shi Luo finished typing, he suddenly felt guilty. He was just about to leave when the passerby quickly typed—

[Free forever nb]: [Great! My girlfriend’s very satisfied! She still wants to ask you though, do you have someone you like? ]

Shi Luo paused.

Shi Luo looked at the computer screen. It was as though his slender fingers were possessed. His finger gently swept the letter between the number keys 3 and 4.

Shi Luo pressed it and then quickly deleted it again.

“F*ck, I’m sick...”

Shi Luo felt that he must really be possessed. He frowned and cursed. He took off the headphones and was about to get up when he was met with the sight of Yu Sui standing behind him for God know how long already.

Shi Luo’s heart went ‘badump’.

Yu Sui’s face was the same as usual though. He said softly, “Thanks.”

Shi Luo’s ears instantly turned red. He quickly set down Yu Sui’s headphones, vaguely muttered that it was nothing and ran back to his seat.

—————>>>>

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