Ice

Seeing Ming Xu fall, Xue Wei immediately rushed out of his position to confiscate the gun, tossing it to Zhao Xiaoyi, who was following behind.

The system’s cold, silent male voice announced: “Terrorists win.”

Zhao Xiaoyi followed, rushing to pick up the C4 and plant the bomb, securing the economic reward.

The director had no choice but to provide lengthy close-up shots and highlight replays.

Highlight close-ups, this was a fixed, unchangeable custom.

After two rounds, two rounds of highlights, the young man named Xue Wei’s brilliance could no longer be concealed.

The director had no way to suppress his camera time; he had to give it, because all the highlights were on him!

“Holy crap, this person is really a human hacker, right? How did he know he was there?? If it weren’t for this being the All-Star Game, I’d honestly think he had natural wallhacks…”

“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, he really looks like he’s playing with an overhead view!”

“I’m not gonna lie, this is too outrageous…”

The new round of preparations quickly began.

The commentators on stage were still discussing the performance of the recently concluded round.

Commentator 1: “Now there’s a question: how did NOW know someone was there? That’s a very, very unconventional ambush position. It should be said, the situation they encountered in the previous round was very unconventional.”

Commentator 2, having partnered with him for a long time, very naturally picked up the conversation: “Indeed, although this is a common map, this time it was unconventional because… the three-man protect-one didn’t quite work, leaving two sides to mutually constrain and guess positions. Actually, Ming Xu’s position does have a basis. I don’t know if you remember, but there was a playstyle for that position in ancient times. Captain Wen should be familiar with it; he comes from that era.”

Commentator 1: “Now that you mention it, I remember. The penetration playstyle that used to be popular was before it was introduced in China. Audiences wouldn’t know, but in the early days, some people thoroughly studied every map’s cover and wall thickness. Where to shoot and how many shots to fire—these are all details. This concept has been carried over to our professional matches.”

Commentator: “Captain Wen should be familiar with this playstyle. In the earliest days, he participated in the European World Championship with a partner. Audiences might not be familiar, but professional players should remember that it was the first CHN team, CHN.Ice, I remember the ID was that. He was a player extremely familiar with map terrain and positions.”

Commentator 1 echoed: “Right, right, it can be seen that SSQ actually did their homework too, but this wave of tactical confrontation wasn’t completed. NOW is clearly also familiar with this position.”

Bullet comments began to discuss: “Really? Is it really an existing tactic? I just started following the esports scene, so I don’t quite understand.”

A helpful person explained: “That was way, way, way back in the early days, before the Chinese server even opened. God Wen and three teammates formed a team and went to Europe to compete. They were indeed the first CHN team. Many national team fans now followed them since then. But there wasn’t much information back then, and no photos. Ice was God Wen’s exclusive sniper-observer teammate. The remaining assaulter and free agent were also very strong. Although the official team didn’t acknowledge it, fans always called them the national team’s predecessor.”

“Explaining all that is meaningless. Ice and the others were so good; did Wen Man keep them? He abandoned his old teammates for the current national team. That’s why I can’t like Wen Man; a captain who abandons teammates isn’t trustworthy.”

“Holy crap, gossip? Can someone dig deeper?”

“Go search for yourselves. Four people went to the World Championship, but only Wen Man received the award in the end. He and Ice dominated that era. They must have broken up back then. New fans don’t know, but while old fans are few, they’re not non-existent.”

“Don’t derail the topic! We’re talking about this EGT newcomer!”

“Truly fierce. I’ll say it here: no one can stop him. Although this is just an All-Star Game, no team in this year’s All-Star Game is playing without seriousness, no one can deny that, right?”

The match was still ongoing.

SSQ’s morale clearly began to collapse.

In the third round, their entry positions were already chaotic.

Originally, EGT hadn’t arrived, but they believed they had guessed the wrong point, creating internal disorder.

Their formation was first broken up, and the battlefield was split by a smoke grenade from Dangdang.

Xue Wei, Wanshi, and Zhao Xiaoyi successfully completed the mop-up.

In the director’s room, the assistant director’s nose was a bit sweaty.

“Camera, to commentator, three seconds, okay, back to player seats, close-up.”

“Replay, replay, audience on the side, pull back, close-up! Highlight play.”

Highlight, highlight, highlight.

Even if they wanted to suppress Xue Wei’s camera time—they couldn’t at all.

Because no one could suppress a player’s highlight reel.

Ming Xu played his most mentally collapsed match since the season began.

“How could he possibly know where I am? How could he? Why does he always know?!” He shouted hysterically over the mic, “Are there hacks even on the professional stage?!”

This time, even his teammates spoke up to warn him: “Watch your words! In-match voice chat is recorded!”

Ming Xu found that no matter which position he chose for ambush and holding an angle, Xue Wei always seemed to know his location, as if he had a ‘ward’ placed on him, without the slightest surprise.

His proud spray-transfer was directly intercepted; his famous smoke-penetration tactic resulted in missed shots every time.

When defending with a three-man protect-one, Xue Wei could directly find his position and snipe him.

When attacking with a three-man protect-one, Xue Wei would hide in a spot where they absolutely couldn’t find him.

Watching this match later, the audience seats were filled with boos.

“SSQ is so bad today, huh? Has Ming Xu’s mentality collapsed?”

“His mentality really did collapse. He just ran into a wall while walking; it’s suffocating. Is this all SSQ’s star sniper has to offer, is this it?”

“Don’t talk nonsense! Ming Xu’s recent poor health affected his condition; there’s no need to criticize him so much.”

“Dying laughing, esports is the original sin. If you make plays bad enough to be ‘dinner,’ are you still afraid of people talking?”

“No need for everyone to worry; our team’s fans are already cursing him. This season, they’ll demand the training group be reinforced; they can’t hinder the players’ bright futures.”

“Who cares if you’re a fan or if you curse? If you play badly enough to be ‘dinner,’ then just shut up. Why are fans worrying more about the players than the players themselves?”

“NOW, we remember this ID. See you next season in National Team Two! Plays really well, amazing!!”

As expected, SSQ was defeated 2:0 again, a shutout.

After the match, both teams retreated from the player seats and walked to the stage front for a handshake.

Ming Xu’s face was pale.

When he shook Xue Wei’s hand, his voice trembled: “You… how do you play…”

The time spent on stage couldn’t be too long, and a lengthy conversation between two people would be strange.

Xue Wei glanced at him, withdrew his hand, didn’t reply, and walked off with the others, hands in his pockets.

Wen Man also stood up from the audience seats.

The EGT members were much calmer than yesterday.

Firstly, this wasn’t their long-awaited first victory.

Secondly, they had also realized that a large part of their victory was due to Xue Wei’s individual skill.

The disparity was clear; they could now view their victory and their own abilities more humbly.

“NOW, NOW, wait a moment.”

After Xue Wei and the others finished their group photo and left the stage, the SSQ coach chased him into the backstage, sweating profusely and panting as he asked: “How did you play? How did you know?”

Xue Wei had already picked up his small thermos, preparing to get water.

He was startled by being sought out, turned his head to look, and as he turned, a pair of hands gently clasped his shoulders, shielding him.

Wen Man smiled at the SSQ coach: “Isn’t this non-compliant? EGT’s tactical secrets, since when could you ask directly like this?”

No one noticed when he appeared.

Xue Wei, however, noticed that Wen Man had an identical small thermos in his hand, though it was new and seemed heavy with water already filled.

Xue Wei looked at that thermos, wondering if it was for him.

Wen Man handed him the thermos, saying: “Yours.”

At the same time, he looked up at the SSQ coach again.

The other party was startled by his gaze, quickly composed himself, and stammered: “It’s just… I just thought it was too amazing, wanted to ask.”

“I don’t think you need to ask about this, but whether he tells you or not depends on his mood,” Wen Man said, releasing his grip on Xue Wei’s shoulder and walking to the other side to get water in a paper cup, his voice indifferent.

Xue Wei unscrewed his thermos and saw that it was filled with brewed goji berry and red date tea.

It had rock sugar in it and smelled sweet.

Xue Wei held the cup.

Warm steam wafted over, dampening his eyelashes.

A sweet aroma filled his breath.

He didn’t drink, just stared at the amber liquid in the cup.

He was expressionless; his lone wolf persona truly lived up to its name.

The SSQ coach, after Wen Man’s words, felt almost too embarrassed to stay.

Just as he was losing hope, he heard Xue Wei speak.

Xue Wei said: “I didn’t really want to say it, because I told you before, and you didn’t listen. Now we are enemies.”

The SSQ coach looked at him in surprise.

Xue Wei cautiously took a sip, then exhaled, his eyelashes calm: “Your main carry sniper, he’s all flash and no substance. The M82A1 armor-piercing sniper shouldn’t be used with his playstyle. If I were him, I wouldn’t crouch there waiting for people; I’d directly spray the ground.”

“For specifics, you can look at others’ playstyles. I can’t say more; these are my tactical secrets. However, I don’t play M82A1 either; it’s not part of my system.”

Xue Wei said, “You can take a look at… uh.”

He abruptly stopped speaking, because he saw Wen Man finish getting water and walk over to him again, sitting down very naturally beside him.

Xue Wei stopped talking.

He pointed at Wen Man to the SSQ coach: “That, you know.”

The SSQ coach was a bit exasperated.

‘He didn’t understand!’

‘If they could learn Wen Man’s playstyle, would they still be unable to make it into the World Championship?!’

“I’ve said all I’m going to say.” Xue Wei focused on his cup, expressionless, “Alright, don’t come looking for me anymore. The next time we meet in a match should be the regular season and playoffs. I will crush all of you. You can prepare in advance.”

SSQ coach: “…………..”