translator: Ciel
The score of 2:0 displayed on the large screen was proof that Xiao Han and Qin Mo were the first players to qualify for the top 4.
Seeing this, Ye Chao asked Cheng Wei for a comment. “Su Cheng’s teleportation trick was unexpected,” Cheng Wei explained seriously. “However, this style of play ought to be more useful in a five-player team battle. Of course, Qin Mo’s response is very beautiful. He used the damage transfer secret book to resolve the chaos control of ‘Tall Mountains Flowing Waters’. On the whole, both sides performed admirably in this round.”
He was somewhat unaccustomed to a serious Cheng Wei, Ye Chao thought. “Did god Wei study hard for today’s commentary?”
“Of course,” Cheng Wei smiled. “I’m a responsible and diligent guest commentator.”
Ye Chao: “…” The acting was too fake.
“The next match will be between Frost Moon’s martial siblings Chen Jiang and He Yue against Dynasty’s Lin Yao and Huaxia,” Liang Ru changed the topic smoothly. “Dynasty is a team under Huaxia club. God Wei should have a deeper understanding of Lin Yao and Wen Hua, yes? Can you give our audience a brief introduction?”
Cheng Wei nodded. “Wen Hua is an excellent assassin, and used to be a substitute for our team. He wasn’t in the main lineup not because he isn’t good enough, but because of our team’s tactical configuration, which doesn’t leave much room for an assassin to play. However, his performance in competitions is very stable, so he followed Dynasty to this new project.”
“What about Lin Yao?” Ye Chao asked. “I seem to recall that he was originally a newcomer taught by Qin Mo back in Wind Colour.”
“En,” Cheng Wei nodded. “Before Qin Mo retired, he transferred to Huaxia and joined Time. At that time, our team was short of a long-ranged archer, so Lin Yao took on the role of secondary output to assist our captain Tan. This time, when the new project was launched, Lin Yao wanted to go to Peerless Jianghu with Xiao Chu. Captain Tan agreed, because he felt that Lin Yao could become part of the team’s core, instead of being an additional output behind him all the time.”
“So, both you and captain Tan are very sure about Lin Yao’s level?” Ye Chao continued.
“Yes!” Cheng Wei smiled. “Qin Mo’s vision is not bad. Lin Yao is indeed a very talented player. However, captain Tan is too powerful, and constantly covers up his light.”
Lin Yao: “…”
Hearing this from the backstage lounge put Lin Yao in a complicated mood. In the past few years, he had played just at the level of ‘average’, in fear that his sharp edge would affect captain Tan’s impression of him. After all, he was just a greenhorn brought in to assist captain Tan’s output. As a result, he had been restricted in Time team, constantly unable to show his ability, and suppressing his own ideas.
This time, he took the initiative to follow Chu Jianxin to the new project in order to give himself a new opportunity. Facts had proved that he made good progress here, managing to reach the quarter-finals for both the individual and partner competitions.
In Wind Colour, Qin Mo had a good understanding of him; in Time, captain Tan treated him sincerely; and in Dynasty, Chu Jianxin saw him as a good friend, as well as let him take on the duty of being the team’s long-ranged main output—— he had switched teams three times and owed many people for their goodwill, but he was also fortunate to have received everyone’s care.
A pair of hands suddenly landed on his shoulder. Turning around, Lin Yao met captain Chu’s encouraging gaze. “Chen Jiang is not easy to deal with, good luck.”
Lin Yao nodded. “En.”
“Relax,” Vice-captain Sang Jun chimed in. “There’s no need to stress yourself. Since our Dynasty team has two pairs in the top 8, we’re guaranteed at least 16 points. From this point of view, we’re already the biggest winner.”
“As expected of our Sangsang, who was from the Department of Mathematics,” Chu Jianxin praised. “He can summarise the key point with a single sentence.”
Sang Jun frowned. “I don’t want to hear this evil name of ‘Sangsang’ any more.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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“Do I need to thank you for your favour?” Sang Jun asked sincerely.
“Love is blind, no need for thanks.” Chu Jianxin replied.
These two people couldn’t not squabble every day, disgusting all the surrounding players by their childish topics. Hiding his smile, Lin Yao thought to himself: perhaps most people wouldn’t have guessed that under the domineering name of ‘Dynasty’ was hidden an extremely comedic captain and vice-captain.
***
As the stipulated start time for the match drew near, Lin Yao and Wen Hua walked onto the stage together.
Chen Jiang and He Yue were Frost Moon’s trump card and tactical core. Furthermore, the double whip’s control of the field had always been very strong. Lin Yao and Wen Hua were a combination of a long-range poison master and an assassin. Wen Hua was unable to tank the damage in the front row, and Lin Yao’s long-distance poison attacks were constantly getting interrupted. Although they tried their best, eventually managing to beat the other party to residual blood, they were unable to finish the job.
The final score was 2:0.
Vice-captain Sang had obviously guessed this result long ago, so he used their points to comfort them before the start of the game.
After his return backstage, Lin Yao’s teammates immediately gathered around to congratulate him. Even Sang Jun patted him on the shoulder with a smile. “Don’t take the results to heart; have a good rest once you get back to the hotel.”
“En,” Lin Yao replied seriously. “Is vice-captain Sang confident for the afternoon match?”
Hearing this, Sang Jun glanced at Chu Jianxin. “Since it’s against Nie Yuzhu, we have to prepare for a fierce battle.”
Chu Jianxin nodded in agreement. “Old Nie is truly a troublesome opponent.”
Only when they were discussing the game would these two not bicker, and their style became much more normal.
Since Lin Yao’s match was the last game of the morning, everyone quickly packed up their things and left the backstage lounge. They also sent a message to the guest commentator Cheng Wei, inviting him out for lunch.
At the restaurant, Cheng Wei couldn’t help knocking on the table as he asked, “Xiao Chu, I haven’t cursed you with poisonous milk today, can you win in the afternoon?”
“Master, Nie Yuzhu is currently the oldest captain in the Peerless Jianghu alliance. Even Qin Mo has to be cautious around him,” Chu Jianxin pointed out. “If I said I would win, would you believe me?”
Cheng Wei thought for a few moments. “I don’t believe you; I believe in Xiao Sang.”
Sang Jun smiled. “Against the combination with Nie Yuzhu, our odds of victory should be fifty-fifty.”
“So, by this statement, do you mean that it wasn’t originally fifty-fifty?” Cheng Wei questioned.
Sang Jun nodded. “Nie Yuzhu has rich competition experience, and his tactical awareness isn’t any worse than Qin Mo’s, but the shortcoming of their combination is also obvious—— Jing Yang is a very talented rookie and attacks fast. His combined rhythm with Nie Yuzhu’s is not stable.”
Cheng Wei’s eyes brightened. “You’re saying that Jing Yang’s speed is too fast. In order to cooperate with Nie Yuzhu, he ought to suppress his usual rhythm?”
Sang Jun nodded. “The reason why Qin Mo and Xiao Han can cooperate so well is because Xiao Han has suppressed his own rhythm, actively looking for a balance point where he can cooperate with Qin Mo. Xiao Han’s ‘Thousand Lights Ghost Walk’ can produce nine shadows, but it has only ever been seen once, in the individual competition. The fact that it has never appeared in the partner competition is proof.”
Chu Jianxin touched his chin, considering the matter. “That is to say, Jing Yang’s attacking speed is faster than Nie Yuzhu’s. In order to cooperate with captain Nie, he will suppress his original rhythm.”
“Correct. However, Jing Yang isn’t Xiao Han,” Sang Jun added. “He can’t change his attack rhythm at will—— so, he will definitely make mistakes. That moment will be our chance.”
Chu Jianxin sighed. “No wonder you made arrangements for targeting Jing Yang. You really are more meticulous at observing our opponents than I am.”
“With Xiao Sang’s plans, the original fifty-fifty odds can become sixty-forty, right?” Cheng Wei questioned.
“Master, why are you suddenly so concerned about whether we win?” Chu Jianxin wondered.
Cheng Wei glanced at him guiltily. “Because you constantly lose. It makes master feel guilty, as if I never taught you well.”
Chu Jianxin: “…”
Have you ever. Taught. Me. Seriously?!
Chu Jianxin was simply dumbfounded, unable to laugh or cry. Other people’s masters taught them playstyles and tactics, caring for their apprentices with kindness, while his own master only knew how to take him out to eat and drink every day, and occasionally make him run an errand or two. Thankfully, captain Tan brought him along for a little while, otherwise, he would not have been able to become a first-class tank.
Still, although this master of his was unreliable, Cheng Wei had always been good to him. Smiling, Chu Jianxin nodded. “Rest assured, master. I won’t keep losing all the time, and Sang Jun will help me.”
***
Qin Mo and Xiao Han went back to the competition venue to watch the afternoon’s games. As per Qin Mo’s instructions, Li Muran had also tagged along with his laptop to take notes.
In the first game, Sang Jun and Chu Jianxin faced off against Nie Yuzhu and Jing Yang. The captains and vice-captains of Dynasty and Without Fire faced each other head-on.
Since all four people were melee professions, this close-combat battle was extremely intense.
Both sides won their home map, tying with a score of 1:1, and forcing a tiebreaker. For the final round, the system randomly selected a forest map. Nie Yuzhu used his traps to control the field, wanting to cooperate with Jing Yang to kill Sang Jun, but Chu Jianxin stood in the front row, taking all the damage for Sang Jun, and giving him the opportunity to turn things around and kill Jing Yang.
In a battle with four melee professions, the various light effects of their skills dazzled the audience, causing them to be unable to look at the process of the battle.
“What was the key factor to Dynasty’s victory?” Qin Mo asked Li Muran.
Li Muran watched the slow-motion playback of the video once, before finally replying. “Jing Yang made a mistake.”
Qin Mo shook his head. “You need the slow-motion playback to recognise it, but Sang Jun seized the opportunity during the battle itself. This is the gap.”
Li Muran was ashamed. “My observation skills are still insufficient.”
“Don’t be impatient, you still need to accumulate lots of experience in the game.” Turning away from Li Muran’s notebook, Qin Mo glanced at Xiao Han. “Have you discovered it?”
“En,” Xiao Han nodded. “The shotcaller in this match was Sang Jun.”
Qin Mo frowned slightly. “I had always thought that Dynasty was commanded by Chu Jianxin, but it seems like I was wrong.”
“Generally, most teams are under the captain’s command,” Xiao Han mused. “I’m not sure why Dynasty flipped things around.”
“Sang Jun could accurately seize the time when Jing Yang and Nie Yuzhu were out of sync, and was able to use this short gap to suppress his opponent,” Qin Mo mused. “This person cannot be underestimated.”
Xiao Han smiled. “Relax. No matter how strong he is, he isn’t as strong as you.”
The team members: “…”
As a loyal fan, god Han has never forgotten to praise Qin Mo.
Having already gotten used to it, Qin Mo did not bother to reply, instead turning his focus back onto the match.
The last game of the afternoon was a duel between Qiu Zongping and Yuan Xi against Li Junru and An Ling; the double summoners would be facing the double poison maters. Both sides took advantage of the home court to win a game, and in the tiebreaker, Qiu Zongping’s control of the field allowed Yuan Xi to kill Li Junru with a big move, winning them the match.
Thus, the list of the top 4 pairs were released.
The double melee of Xiao Han and Qin Mo, the double long whip of Cheng Jiang and He Yue, the broadsword and fan combination of Chu Jianxin and Sang Jun, as well as the double summoners of Qiu Zongping and Yuan Xi.
According to the points system, the champions would earn 12 points for their team, while the other three teams in the semi-finals would earn 10 points each. Having reached this stage, if the focus was on earning points, then the mission was basically completed. It’s just that having already made it this far, everyone naturally wanted to fight for the championship.
The system quickly drew lots to determine the matchup of the semi-finals——
Tomorrow morning would be a match between Qin Mo and Xiao Han against Qiu Zongping and Yuan Xi, while the afternoon match would be Chu Jianxin and Sang Jun against Chen Jiang and He Yue.
The Qiu Yuan combination was a pair he had taught personally. Qin Mo wanted to see just how much Qiu Zongping and Yuan Xi had improved over these past few years.
Hmm… Are Chu Jianxin and Sang Jun a side couple? I mean…they keep flirting with each other~ 😳
Poor Chu Jianxin for having an unreliable master…though Cheng Wei’s good point is that he does his best and is kind to him~ In a way he is a good master~? So Qin Mo and Xiao Han will be matched up against Qiu Zongping and Yuan Xi~? I am looking forward to their match~ Though I predict that the finalists will be Qin Mo and Xiao Han against Chu Jianxin + Sang Jun~ Thank you for the chapter 💛💖💙💜
Yes, they aree~ Lol, Cheng Wei is bad at teaching, but he is a good guy 🤣Yes, they will be match against Chu Jianxin and Sang Jun, cause huaxia club is their rival~You’re welcome~ ❤
So my intuition was right~ A bickering couple~? That’s nice! 🤩
lol, but they are not a couple yet~
Not even a couple yet but already flirting with each other~ 😍
Chu Jianxin and Sang Jun wow the sexual tension.
Also, we haven’t really read any of the matches for Qiu Zongping and Yuan Xi, they’ve just been slowly making their way up in the competition as ‘the other bracket’ so it will be nice to finally see how they match up against twin stars.
Lol, they’re flirting 🤭
They still have a long way to go against the other great gods, and also still long way for their relationship 😣
i’m guessing tan shitian did ‘something’ to make cheng wei a decent commentator. it’s extremely shocking for him to changed from his previous unreliability as a commentator