Chapter 10

Bian Yan didn’t have dinner and spent the whole night inhaling secondhand smoke at the internet cafe. By 3 a.m., he couldn’t take it anymore and went to the front desk to buy a cup of instant noodles.

After downing a bowl of hot instant noodles, Bian Yan’s stomach felt a bit better. He rubbed his dry, red eyes, put on his headphones, and continued watching the replay of the afternoon’s duel.

He was intensely focused.

By the time Bian Yan finished reviewing everything, it was already 6 a.m.

The youth training camp started at 8:30 a.m., and Bian Yan had to sneak back before then, leaving him little time to catch up on sleep.

He stretched, propped his head up with one hand, and was just about to take a nap when the guy next to him lit another cigarette to stay awake, and the smell wafted over, choking him.

This was the time when it was easiest to feel sleepy. Eighty percent of internet-addicted teens relied on smoking to stay awake, and the sound of lighters flicking on and off echoed in Bian Yan’s mind, magnified a thousand times and exploding.

Bian Yan couldn’t sleep.

The weather in the north in October was dry and cold in the morning. The cold wind felt like a dull knife cutting into his face, so Bian Yan wrapped his coat tighter around himself, buried his face in the collar, and longed for his white scarf.

The base had a facial recognition entry system, no guards.

At this time, everyone was asleep, and unless someone deliberately checked the surveillance, only his two roommates might notice he hadn’t come back.

As for Lu Chang Kong and Pan Shi, they didn’t seem like light sleepers who would wake up at the sound of a door opening.

He could still sleep for over an hour.

Freezing in the cold wind, Bian Yan missed his warm bed and quickened his pace.

“Door unlocked, please enter.”

Bian Yan entered with facial recognition, and a gust of cold wind hit him, stinging his face. He tightened his clothes, took a deep breath, and rushed inside, running straight to the dormitory door to enter the password and open it.

As the sound of the door unlocking echoed, there was also a noise behind him.

Bian Yan turned around in shock—

Pei Yun Chang came out wearing a sweater and slippers. The first thing he saw was Bian Yan’s face, red from the cold and with a runny nose, looking completely different from the spirited guy who had faced him in the training room on the first day.

A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, making him forget the opening line he had prepared.

Seeing this rival who had shut him out, Bian Yan naturally didn’t have a pleasant expression, especially since it seemed like Pei Yun Chang had caught him in the act.

“What do you want!”

Bian Yan’s eyes were wide and fierce.

He intended to intimidate Pei Yun Chang, but his runny nose betrayed him, dripping down his skin.

The next second—

A loud sniffle echoed in the silent hallway.

Bian Yan saw Pei Yun Chang’s inexplicable smile again, which he attributed to mockery.

Noticing Bian Yan’s murderous glare, Pei Yun Chang quickly stifled his smile, coughed twice, and suddenly blurted out a sentence.

“The team doesn’t allow youth trainees to stay out all night.”

He knew this guy was up to no good.

Bian Yan sniffed, leaned against the door, and with a fearless attitude, said rudely, “Oh, I’m so scared, please, go ahead and report me!!”

After saying his piece, he quickly made a face and swaggered inside.

Everything happened so fast that Pei Yun Chang stared at the empty hallway for a moment before realizing someone had indeed gone in.

He stared at the tightly closed door across the hall, his face turning cold.

Pei Yun Chang pulled out his phone from his pocket, opened the alarm clock, and deleted all seven or eight alarms he had set the night before in a fit of anger.

Then he rolled his eyes, turned back to his room, and turned off the kettle that was boiling water.

After doing all this, he finally calmed down a bit.

What a waste of energy.

Bian Yan had just taken off his coat when he heard a super loud “bang” from the room across, shaking his door frame with a couple of hums.

That act of bravado felt good, but Bian Yan regretted it as soon as he entered the room.

Knowing Pei Yun Chang, he wouldn’t miss this chance to report him, and he might even bring up old grievances.

Mixing truth with lies in a report wouldn’t do him any good.

Bian Yan lay on his bed, closed his eyes, and tried to think of a solution, but he was too tired. Resigned, he muttered to himself.

“Fine, I’ll write a self-criticism if I have to…”

As soon as he said that, he fell asleep.

——

[Training Room]

Bian Yan had barely slept for more than an hour last night, and he felt like he was floating as he walked.

He slumped in his seat, forming a natural barrier with the group of laughing and joking people next to him, including Lu Chang Kong.

“Is it a 60-40 split?”

“This kid may be young, but he’s really good. Brother Pei’s level could easily make him a starter on another team.”

“Yeah, they’re both really good. I mean, look who their roommate is~”

“Nova, you’re the one.”

Bian Yan was zoning out when PP suddenly patted him on the shoulder and gave him a thumbs up.

Lu Chang Kong nodded along, also giving a thumbs up.

Bian Yan was a bit confused, but he was too tired to ask.

Until Pei Yun Chang came in.

A black-faced monster, anyone who didn’t know better would think someone owed him money.

Bian Yan silently mocked in his heart.

This morning’s training focused on vision control and positioning awareness. Everyone watched recordings of famous matches, and the coach led the analysis.

In the afternoon, they continued with free team training in the same profession, lasting until the Monday after next.

Shen Chuan seemed busy, so only Qin Yu Xuan came today.

Bian Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

He’d rather offend the seemingly hot-tempered Qin Yu Xuan than the unpredictable Shen Chuan.

Everyone studied together in the screening room, and Bian Yan diligently noted down every point Qin Yu Xuan made, reflecting on his own performance from the day before to improve in his mind.

“That’s the end of the first game. Let’s take a ten-minute break.” Qin Yu Xuan nodded, taking his water cup to refill it.

Lu Chang Kong slumped in his chair with a dazed look, lamenting, “Aren’t I supposed to be playing esports? Why do I have to take notes? It’s like being back in Chinese class.”

Pan Shi nodded heavily, looking no better.

The screening room was momentarily lifeless.

“Hey, I’ve got canned yellow peaches here. Anyone want some?” Xiao Zi suddenly stood up from his seat and opened his backpack.

“Whoa, Brother Zi! Over here!”

Lu Chang Kong was the first to raise his hand.

Pan Shi also suddenly perked up, clamoring for some.

The offer of canned peaches stirred everyone in the training room, and they all gathered around.

“My dear brother! Don’t forget me!”

“I want some too, or I’ll fall asleep!”

Xiao Zi’s can of yellow peaches made the rounds, and soon there was no fruit left.

“Hey, hey, you guys are all grown-ups, have some shame, will you? Leave some for the kid.” Xiao Zi snatched the can back and handed one to Bian Yan.

Bian Yan didn’t hold back and ate it with the fork Xiao Zi provided.

“Thanks, Brother Zi.”

“Brother Pei, want some?” Lu Chang Kong asked, his mouth still full, speaking unclearly.

Bian Yan was looking at his notebook, but upon hearing this, he couldn’t help but glance in Pei Yun Chang’s direction.

Pei Yun Chang’s back seemed to have eyes, as he immediately turned around, and their eyes met.

“No, I’m good, thanks.”

Then he followed Qin Yu Xuan out.

As expected.

He couldn’t have high hopes for Pei Yun Chang’s character.

After the ten-minute break, the two returned from the door.

Bian Yan rubbed his temples, his fingers curling slightly on the notebook.

He had already thought of an explanation, ready to take a scolding. They couldn’t really kick him out, could they?

But Qin Yu Xuan didn’t even spare him a glance and continued with the review.

“This time, we’ll watch the perspective of the jungler Self from Team One.” Qin Yu Xuan opened the video.

“Whoa!”

Hearing that they were watching the top team’s gameplay, Lu Chang Kong perked up, muttering, “Let me see what kind of skill it takes to be a starter on Team One.”

Bian Yan straightened his back, rubbed his face vigorously, and focused intently on the screen.

Self was playing Night Stalker, known for its invisibility, a classic sneaky hero.

So he didn’t start in the jungle but hid in the mid-lane bush, helping the mage set the pace.

It was a strategy that fit the hero’s characteristics well.

Mid-laner Lao Miao’s skills were precise, and the two coordinated seamlessly, successfully securing the first blood for the mage.

Night Stalker got an assist and then entered the jungle.

Only to find his red buff had already been countered by the enemy jungler.

“Lost the watermelon, picked up the sesame.” Bian Yan commented quietly.

The enemy jungler was Wind Wolf, a dual-form hero with strong invasion capabilities.

Self, as the jungler, didn’t adapt flexibly to counter this and stuck to his strategy, so losing the jungle was inevitable.

The Night Stalker on screen, realizing his red buff was stolen, spoke unfriendly words in the team chat, pressuring the support.

“Why didn’t you help me watch the jungle?”

“The enemy ADC and support are together. If I help you watch the jungle, I’ll have to detour, and then Gale will be outnumbered two to one and will definitely be worn down.” The support’s tone was steady, providing his explanation.

The ADC Gale’s condition was declining, and as the support, he had to protect him fully to avoid a natural disadvantage.

Self had to admit, the support’s choice was correct.

The team chat fell silent.

Self chose to clear the small jungle camps and, with an economic advantage, directly invaded the enemy’s red area, signaling the mid-lane in advance.

Lao Miao understood, took a few steps toward the top lane, then spun in place and returned to the bush.

Qin Yu Xuan suddenly paused the video.

“Chang Kong, what’s the purpose of Lao Miao’s spinning move here?”

A random question out of nowhere.

Lu Chang Kong, caught off guard by the sudden question, was startled.

His reaction was so comical, like a student not paying attention in class, that everyone covered their mouths, stifling laughter.

Although Lu Chang Kong played support and wasn’t familiar with the mage’s laning strategy, he could deduce the answer with some thought.

“He’s creating fake vision for the enemy mage, making them think he’s going to support the top lane, tricking the enemy ADC and support into retreating under the tower. Meanwhile, he’s hiding in the bush, either to ambush the enemy mage or to coordinate with Self to invade the jungle.” Lu Chang Kong analyzed accurately.

“Exactly.” Qin Yu Xuan’s eyes were full of appreciation, continuing to ask, “Do you think they can successfully invade this time?”

Lu Chang Kong rubbed his chin, hesitating, “…They should be able to. Miao’s fake vision was well executed, and Self is in full condition. Moreover, the enemy jungler just showed up in the blue area, leaving the red area unguarded. If not now, when?”

Everyone nodded in agreement, praising the well-executed strategy.

In a corner where no one paid attention, Pei Yun Chang listened to Lu Chang Kong’s judgment and shook his head slightly.

The next second—

“No, they can’t.” Bian Yan’s voice came from the side.

His index finger tapped rhythmically on the notebook, and he suddenly interjected, drawing everyone’s attention to him.

Including Pei Yun Chang.

His lips curled up involuntarily, his eyes filled with an excited curiosity.

“Oh? Bian Yan, why do you think they can’t?” Qin Yu Xuan was intrigued.

Bian Yan stood up, pointing at the screen where the action was unfolding.

“The answer lies here.”

“Our ADC and support are outmatched, suppressed under the tower, far from the enemy’s red area. This means they can’t support the jungle invasion in time. Even if they could, they’d be worn down by the enemy ADC and support on the way.” Bian Yan analyzed clearly, pointing to the corresponding spots on the screen, “Moreover, the enemy mage has respawned and will definitely support the jungle.”

“But the enemy only has one mage, while we have both a jungler and a mage, so we’re still at an advantage.” Pan Shi also shared his opinion.

“Only one? I don’t think so.” Bian Yan smiled confidently, “Did you forget about Lao Miao’s fake vision?”

“While this fake vision might ease the pressure on the top lane, it also brings risks to the jungle. If the enemy ADC and support get the signal that Lao Miao is coming to gank, they’ll definitely retreat under the tower.”

“And at that moment, they’re closest to their red area. Once Night Stalker invades, they can abandon the lane to support, turning the situation into a three-on-two. But our ADC and support are still under our tower recovering, and by the time they arrive, the jungle fight will be over.” Bian Yan simulated the process in his mind.

“So I believe this jungle invasion will fail.”

Lu Chang Kong listened to Bian Yan’s analysis with his mouth agape, unable to help but sigh.

“Whoa, yeah… The state of the development lane greatly affects the success of jungle fights.”

Qin Yu Xuan recalled the day he and Shen Chuan recruited Bian Yan at the awards ceremony. He had the same spirited look, talking about things he was passionate about, his eyes shining.

Shen Chuan’s judgment was spot on.

However…

Qin Yu Xuan gave Bian Yan a thumbs up, praising, “Not bad, very thorough analysis, but… there’s another reason, a potential factor for this jungle invasion’s failure.”

Qin Yu Xuan teased a bit.

Another one?

Bian Yan furrowed his brows, carefully observing the screen, reviewing again.

Everyone started thinking, and the screening room fell silent.

“The teleportation array on the bottom lane.” Pei Yun Chang suddenly spoke, leaning back slightly, his shoulders spreading wide.

It was an extremely confident body language.

Bian Yan immediately turned to look at him, his expression complex.

Pei Yun Chang nodded toward the screen, “The development lane is struggling, and the top lane isn’t doing much better, also being suppressed. Moreover, the enemy jungler is in the blue area, completely preventing our side lane from supporting, but the enemy’s side lane can.”

“Just as the teleportation array’s cooldown is up, if a fight breaks out in the top lane, he’ll definitely teleport over.” Pei Yun Chang’s analysis was clear and convincing, “So, this jungle invasion seems like a two-on-one, but it’s actually a four-on-two against us.

“Self and Lao Miao will both die in the enemy jungle.”

Pei Yun Chang squinted slightly, slowly uttering the last few words, his lips curling up.

Casually.

His smile carried disdain, mockery, and the arrogance of a young prodigy.