Chapter 4

Four years ago.

The place was bustling with people, surrounded by flowers, and countless people were cheering for the emergence of a new generation of genius.

“Hello, do you want to go pro?”

Bian Yan had just stepped down from the podium when two people suddenly appeared and blocked his way, making it hard for him to move.

Dressed in suits and looking extraordinary, they seemed like big shots, Bian Yan silently mocked.

“Bian Yan!”

Shi Yi waved his hand and ran over from a distance, grinning as he wrapped an arm around Bian Yan’s neck, looking at the trophy in his hand and exclaiming, “Awesome, man, I told you you’d be fine.”

“Let me borrow it for a photo, a hundred bucks each time,” Bian Yan said, full of spirit, extending his hand to him.

Shi Yi rolled his eyes, “It’s already good enough that I’m not asking you to treat me to a meal. This is the champion of the Northwest Division of the Youth Challenge Cup, you’re one step closer to your esports dream!”

The Youth Challenge Cup, officially known as the Sacred Domain Clash National Youth Challenge Cup, was initiated and hosted by the Sacred Domain Clash official, and has been held for five editions.

It mainly targets youth training camp members of clubs aged 16-18 and amateur esports talents, aiming to select backup talents for professional competitions.

Since the competition is a points-based system, highly professional and comprehensive, it has always been very popular since its inception.

It’s always been a great place for major teams to snatch people in advance and show their skills.

Bian Yan, a newcomer, participated in the competition for the first year as the youngest contestant and won the division championship of the Youth Challenge Cup, receiving a high level of attention.

“Who are these two?” Shi Yi, after holding Bian Yan for a while, finally remembered the two people beside him, “Do you know them?”

Bian Yan shook his head.

“Hello, young man, my surname is Ge, and this is the owner of our newly established club.” The man in the suit with a slicked-back hairstyle handed over a business card, smiling kindly, and began to introduce the person next to him, “We sincerely invite you to join our NB club, directly into the first team as a starting player.”

NB? Awesome?

A new club, and a starting player in the first team?

What a big pie.

Shi Yi’s alarm bells were ringing, and he looked at the two in front of him with ill intentions.

Bian Yan glanced at the business card and directly asked the two with a fake smile, “Minors are not allowed to play in professional arenas, I’m only sixteen, with more than a year or almost two years of youth training time left, how can you be so sure to give me a starting position?”

The club owner didn’t seem very old either, but there was always a prickly arrogance between his brows, and he spoke rather rudely.

“If you don’t believe it, forget it, Xiao Ge, let’s find someone else.”

“Take care.” Shi Yi waved at the two with a fake smile.

“Hey, hey, don’t be in such a hurry!”

The man with the slicked-back hairstyle gave his boss a look and pulled Bian Yan aside for a few steps.

…

“So, you’re saying your boss is a rich kid who studied abroad, has some money, and wants to form a team for fun, to experience life, and doesn’t care about time and money costs?”

Bian Yan accurately summarized, unable to hold back a laugh.

The life of a young master is something he doesn’t understand.

“Exactly, and the marksman we recruited recently was just to make up the numbers. As soon as you come of age, you can immediately take his place.”

The man with the slicked-back hairstyle rubbed his hands, his eyes full of excitement.

A new team starting from scratch, new teammates with no tacit understanding, a new boss who might run away at any time…

The buffs are really stacked.

“So, do you want to join our NB team?” The man with the slicked-back hairstyle persisted.

Bian Yan smiled and patted the other on the shoulder, “Of course…”

The man with the slicked-back hairstyle opened his mouth wide in excitement—

“No way.” Bian Yan said firmly, “Please find someone else~”

Bian Yan has had a high talent for games since he was a child, and playing esports has always been his dream. Now that he finally has a stepping stone, it would be really foolish to join an unreliable team.

He turned to find Shi Yi.

Who knew that after taking just a few steps, he was surrounded by a few more people…

——

On the other side, in the audience.

“Brother Shen, why are we here again this year?” Qin Yu Xuan asked with sleepy eyes, full of resentment, “Didn’t we already recruit a genius last year, someone recommended by the big boss? We just have to wait for this kid to finish youth training, why waste the effort? Besides, if you ask me, this year’s batch isn’t as good as last year’s.”

Shen Chuan didn’t answer his question, instead pointing to a young man in the field, “What do you think of him?”

Qin Yu Xuan looked in the direction of his finger, “The one from the Northwest Division? His talent is indeed high.”

“I’ve watched the replays, he’s the most spirited player among the six division champions this year. Train him for a year, and he’ll definitely surprise people.” Shen Chuan’s eyes were full of appreciation.

Qin Yu Xuan was indifferent, “But he’s a marksman, isn’t our team…”

“Yu Xuan.” Shen Chuan interrupted him, “Have you noticed how many people have thrown olive branches at this kid since he stepped down from the podium? Look at the people who just walked away from him.”

Shen Chuan pointed to the scattered groups of people below the stage.

Qin Yu Xuan squinted his eyes to carefully distinguish, “Judgment, Quantum, ETC, and OT… This kid is really popular!”

“Not just them, look who that is?” Shen Chuan nodded towards the distance.

“Holy crap! Old Ye from KP, why is he here too?!” Qin Yu Xuan immediately perked up, lowering his voice, “Could the rumors about KP’s marksman being in a slump be true?”

Shen Chuan nodded, “It’s very likely, it seems KP is looking for a suitable replacement.”

“Others are fine, but if KP recruits him, that’s unacceptable!” Qin Yu Xuan realized the urgency, “Hey, Brother Shen, where are you going!”

“Of course, to poach him, or it’ll be too late.” Shen Chuan’s voice drifted from afar.

——

“Hello.”

Ye Li walked over to Bian Yan with a confident demeanor, not even sparing a glance at the crowd that had just left, smiling as he bent down and extended his hand.

“I believe you know why I’m here.”

Bian Yan, holding a trophy and a pile of business cards, really couldn’t free up a hand.

But the more he looked at the person in front of him, the more familiar he seemed.

It was Shi Yi who first shouted excitedly, “You’re…! You’re!?”

“Yes, I’m KP’s coach Ye Li, are you interested in joining our team as a youth trainee?” Ye Li smiled warmly, looking at Bian Yan.

“Holy crap…” Shi Yi couldn’t help but blurt out a national curse.

Bian Yan also reacted immediately, feeling a bit excited, after all, the person standing in front of them was no small character.

KP team, established just over two years ago, won last year’s national finals and represented the country in the Intercontinental World Cup Invitational, winning second place.

Their team, from starters to substitutes, was all cultivated from the youth training period, with high team synergy and formidable overall strength.

Head coach Ye Li had an extremely sharp eye for talent, being a stabilizing force for KP.

If there’s any team that could compete with KP in terms of configuration, it would probably be the veteran WIN team.

WIN is the oldest team in the country, established for a long time, with rich experience, like a mountain that other small teams can only look up to.

And their biggest feature is—they’re not short of money, and they love to buy talents at high prices.

Although the team’s synergy is lacking, and their current strength is not as good as KP, after all, problems that can be solved with money are not really problems.

If KP is a newborn tiger, then WIN is a dragon that dominates the area.

“Hey…” Shi Yi whispered to Bian Yan, “Which team are you planning to join?”

“Haven’t decided yet.” Bian Yan answered honestly.

“Bro, this is KP, do you even need to think about it?” Shi Yi was exasperated.

Bian Yan shook his head, “KP’s marksman is strong, and there’s no news of him retiring yet.”

Shi Yi also fell silent.

If he can’t ensure a starting position, joining the best team is pointless, as he’d still be stuck on the bench.

Ye Li wasn’t in a hurry, just standing there with his hands behind his back, waiting for Bian Yan and Shi Yi to finish their discussion.

He had absolute confidence in KP.

“Ye Li? Haha, it really is you.”

From a distance, Shen Chuan walked over with a smile, followed closely by Qin Yu Xuan.

Ye Li turned his head—

Why is it these two, this is troublesome.

These two, Bian Yan knew, were the head coach and assistant coach of the veteran WIN team.

Ye Li nodded politely to Shen Chuan and Qin Yu Xuan, “I didn’t expect you two to come to watch the competition, isn’t your team’s recruitment strategy always to go for the highest bidder?”

“How can we compare to Coach Ye’s sharp eye for talent, we naturally can’t miss such a good learning opportunity.” Shen Chuan deflected skillfully.

The air was thick with tension.

“Young man, would you like to join our WIN team? We really need talent like you.”

Shen Chuan somehow “produced” a business card and handed it to Bian Yan.

Shi Yi was truly amazed, watching the two major teams openly competing for talent.

Although Ye Li was a bit displeased, there really was no first-come, first-served rule in this matter, it was entirely up to Bian Yan’s personal choice.

Shen Chuan and Ye Li, both head coaches of top teams, were used to seeing geniuses, so they naturally couldn’t keep pitching over and over, just standing by and waiting.

Bian Yan rubbed the two business cards, his expression dark, lost in thought.

“I’m a marksman.”

Bian Yan suddenly said out of nowhere.

Ye Li’s tone was calm, “I know, KP welcomes you.”

But the two on the other side exchanged a glance.

After a long while.

“We’ve been looking for a new talent to succeed Ji Feng.” Shen Chuan hit the nail on the head.

Ye Li glanced at Shen Chuan.

No matter how sincere KP was, they wouldn’t risk being targeted by tactics just to recruit a small division champion, by confirming their marksman’s slump in front of Shen Chuan.

And the fact that WIN’s marksman Ji Feng was about to retire due to poor skills was well-known in the esports circle.

In this battle for talent, KP had already lost.

——

Bian Yan signed the contract with WIN, and today was his reporting day.

“My name is Xu Ke, I’m the new nutritionist at WIN. Coach Shen and Assistant Qin aren’t here today, so I’ll show you around the base.”

Xu Ke, twenty-two years old, just graduated this year, and because of her diligent work and high emotional intelligence, she stayed at WIN right after her internship.

Although Bian Yan hadn’t fully grown yet, his superior potential was already visible, and Xu Ke couldn’t help but take a few more glances at this handsome kid.

Bian Yan, dragging his suitcase, looked around.

“Sister Xu Ke, wasn’t it announced that the youth trainees would report today? Why am I the only one?”

“You didn’t know?” Xu Ke frowned, “Our team hasn’t recruited youth trainees for a long time, you’re the only one this time.”

“Huh?” Bian Yan couldn’t believe his ears, “Doesn’t that mean I’ll be training alone?”

“Of course not, didn’t you hear the noise from the mischievous ones up front?” Xu Ke’s tone was light, “Just because we haven’t recruited for a while doesn’t mean we never did.”

“Look, you’ll be training with last year’s batch.”

With that, Xu Ke pushed open the door to the training room—

“Bang!”

An empty water bottle flew out from the door, and Bian Yan, quick-eyed and quick-handed, pulled Xu Ke aside.

Almost got hit in the head.

The next second, a loud voice shouted from the training room.

“Pei Yun Chang! I want to duel with you!”