Soon, the match began. Kuang Xingran didn’t understand the rules of HW, but with the help of the commentary, she was able to follow along. Everyone’s eyes were glued to the big screen, occasionally frowning or shaking their heads in frustration. Ten whole minutes passed, and first blood still hadn’t appeared.

Mu Wan watched as Kuang Ye chased a low-health opponent and sighed regretfully. The enemy had entered the tower, and Kuang Ye couldn’t catch up. But then, Kuang Ye followed the opponent straight into the tower.

Commentator A: “Oh no, ST’s jungler is overcommitting! There are no minions here, so he’s taking tower damage. Even if he gets first blood, he won’t survive. From the positions of both teams, it’s not worth it to exchange a jungler for a mid-laner.”

First blood! Kuang Ye secured the first kill, but no one in the audience cheered. The reason was simple: Kuang Ye went into the tower to secure the kill, and early in the game, with his low health, he couldn’t survive the tower’s damage. But what was surprising was that Kuang Ye flashed out of the tower just as the tower damage continued to follow him. His health dropped drastically, yet he didn’t die.

Commentator A: “???”

Commentator B: “What’s going on? ST’s jungler didn’t die? That’s not supposed to happen. His hero isn’t exactly tanky.”

Commentator A: “Let’s cut to ST’s jungler’s perspective and replay that moment.”

The big screen soon displayed a replay of Kuang Ye’s gameplay. First, he was focusing on jungle farming, then when he saw the enemy mid-laner, he bought a Meteor Cloak from his item shop. This item was quite expensive, costing over 1000 gold, and its main purpose was to absorb tower damage and quickly restore health when low. Normally, this item would be bought in the mid-game, after players had more gold to spare. In the early stages of the game, most players focused on buying damage-dealing items, except for the support role.

Commentator A: “…”

Commentator B: “Did he buy that cloak just to dive the tower and kill the mid-laner?”

Commentator A: “With a defensive item like that, his damage won’t be enough, and he can still take down LQ’s mid-laner to low health?”

Commentator B: “It’s all about skillful dodging. The LQ mid-laner’s abilities probably didn’t hit him.”

The fans behind Mu Wan and Kuang Xingran erupted into cheers.

“Ye Shen is amazing!”

At that moment, Commentator A laughed.

Commentator B asked, “Why are you laughing?”

Commentator A: “I just remembered something. When Ye Shen’s girlfriend, Wan, first played HW, she was so scared of dying that she would always save up for a Rebirth Armor or a Cloak in the early game. Maybe Ye Shen got the idea from her?”

Commentator B and the fans in the venue burst into laughter.

Kuang Xingran nudged Mu Wan and asked, “Are they talking about you?”

Mu Wan hadn’t expected to be publicly teased and quickly shrunk her head into her collar, explaining in a low voice, “I didn’t know how to play back then!”

How long ago was this? How could these people still remember? Such bad reviews! After a simple tease, everyone turned their attention back to the match. The excitement from securing first blood seemed to heighten the energy in the arena. Though the first game was tight, ST still managed to win. The “Victory” sound effect echoed through the stadium, and more excited cheers erupted from behind Mu Wan. Kuang Xingran, caught off guard, quickly covered her ears from the loud noise.

After a ten-minute break, the second game began. The screen flashed past the ten players getting ready. Mu Wan immediately focused her eyes on Kuang Ye, then frowned. Did his right hand just tremble?

Meanwhile, in the backstage lounge, Coach Yang An was angrily scolding Zhang Qinan.

“Zhang, tell me what’s going on with Kuang Ye’s right hand. Why did you want to put the substitute, O Lan, in just now?”

Zhang Qinan looked worried. The first game had dragged on for nearly 40 minutes, and he was worried Kuang Ye’s hand wouldn’t hold up. He had tried to suggest bringing O Lan in for the second game, but Coach Yang An overheard him. Now, it was too late to hide it.

“Didn’t Kuang Ye hurt his hand four years ago?”

Yang An’s face paled. “It flared up again?”

Kuang Ye’s hand injury had always been a concern. Since he was fifteen, in order to make extra money for living expenses, he had spent nearly every day playing games at a high intensity. Without a professional coach and proper nutrition, he had injured his wrist four years ago to the point where it nearly ruined his career. Thankfully, he had the willpower to endure long and difficult treatments and rehabilitation. He managed to return to the competitive scene. But now, only four years later, the injury had flared up again.