Chapter 712
Little Star
She gazed at Su Mo's face, still sharp and clear even in his sleep, and her eyes overflowed with tenderness. Last night, in this man's arms, she had the most restful sleep she had in years. No insomnia, no anxiety, only a comforting sense of surrender.
The two got up and washed up. Su Mo changed into a simple black casual sweatshirt and went into the kitchen.
Ten minutes later, two bowls of clear broth noodles with poached eggs and scallions were served.
"Just grab something to tide you over; your stomach needs something mild in the morning." Su Mo handed a pair of chopsticks to Lin Xuan, who was already seated at the table, and then picked up his signature black thermos and took a sip of hot water.
Lin Xuan took the chopsticks, took a bite of noodles, and her eyes welled up slightly. For a female celebrity who eats a diet for years and drinks heavily at various social events, a bowl of simple yet steaming hot home-style noodles is more precious than any delicacy.
"Thank you..." she said softly, her head bowed, her eyes sparkling with happiness.
After breakfast, Su Mo picked up his car keys and accessory bag.
"I'll give you a ride, it's on my way." Su Mo looked at Lin Xuan, who was putting on her shoes in the entryway and was bundled up tightly, and said in a calm tone that left no room for refusal.
Lin Xuan put on a mask and hat and nodded obediently. She found that in front of this man, she was becoming more and more accustomed to relying on his arrangements. This feeling of not having to think and being taken care of reliably was really addictive.
A black SUV smoothly navigates the morning rush hour traffic in Shanghai.
After dropping Lin Xuan off at the underground parking garage below the filming studio, Su Mo didn't linger. He simply said, "If you want to come over tonight, send me a WeChat message in advance," and then drove to the EDG base.
Watching the taillights disappear around the corner, Lin Xuan stood still, taking a deep breath of the cool morning air through her mask. At that moment, she felt the whole world had become exceptionally bright.
……
Nine o'clock in the morning, EDG base tactical meeting room.
Mingkai stood in front of the whiteboard, his expression somewhat solemn. Although they had just defeated BLG over the weekend, the LPL Spring Split schedule was so packed it was almost unbearable.
"Brothers, beating BLG is something to be happy about, but we don't have time to celebrate." Mingkai tapped the whiteboard, which had the schedule for week six on it. "We'll play OMG this Wednesday, and on Saturday, we'll face TES."
Upon hearing the name "TES," the atmosphere in the meeting room noticeably tensed up.
As one of the teams with the biggest roster moves this transfer window, TES not only welcomed back top laner 369, but also formed a super all-Chinese roster consisting of Tian, Creme, JackeyLove, and Meiko. They have recently achieved a five-game winning streak and are in red-hot form.
Especially in the bottom lane, the departure of JackeyLove and Meiko was a significant wound for EDG fans.
"The highlight of this week is the match against Top Esports on Saturday. Their bot lane has extremely strong pressure, and Tian's jungle rhythm has been excellent recently." Abu pushed up his glasses, his gaze sweeping over his own bot lane duo—Leave and Vamp, the two young players. "You two will be under a lot of pressure this week."
Leave swallowed hard. Although he had grown a lot after half a season of training, he was still a little nervous when facing the former champion bot lane duo.
Just then, Su Mo, who was sitting in the corner with a thermos in her left hand and a pen in her right, slowly spoke.
"Don't feel pressured."
Su Mo's voice wasn't loud, but it instantly drew everyone's attention. He put down his pen, unscrewed the lid of his cup, took a sip of water, and his deep eyes were as calm as a stagnant pool.
"TES' core strength lies in lane control in the bot lane and the jungler's influence. As long as the bot lane doesn't collapse, the game will remain in our control."
He turned to Leave and Vamp, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable confidence: "This week in scrims, you guys only practice withstanding pressure. Pick champions with high margins of error, like Tahm Kench and Ezreal. Control the lane under the tower and don't give them a chance to dive."
"What about the upper half?" Ah Chen couldn't help but ask.
“Leave the top half of the jungle to me and Ah Chen.” Su Mo’s gaze returned to the TES lineup on the whiteboard. “369’s ability to withstand pressure is indeed good, but he likes to flex his game. As long as he doesn’t pick a tank, I can lock him under the tower. Ah Chen, what you need to do this week is to relentlessly invade Tian’s top jungle.”
Mingkai's eyes lit up slightly after hearing this. This tactic seemed simple and brutal, but it was based on Su Mo's absolute dominance in the top lane. As long as Su Mo could gain a huge lane advantage or even get a solo kill in the top lane, A Chen's Lee Sin or Vi could plunder TES's jungle resources without restraint, thus disrupting Tian's rhythm.
“Alright, let’s do as Mozi says.” Mingkai made the decision. “In the afternoon’s training match, we’ll focus on practicing top-jungle synergy and the bot lane’s ability to withstand pressure.”
……
In late March, temperatures in Shanghai gradually warmed up.
Saturday afternoon at 5 pm, Hongqiao Tiandi Performing Arts Center.
This highly anticipated match between EDG and TES attracted countless eyes. The atmosphere inside the arena had already reached a fever pitch an hour before the game.
In the commentary booth, Guan Zeyuan is partnered with Tong Xi today.
"Welcome to the highlight match of Week 6 of the 2024 LPL Spring Split!" Guan Zeyuan's signature passionate voice resounded throughout the venue. "Today's BO3 is crucial for both sides. EDG remains undefeated, while TES, after the initial adjustment period at the start of the season, has already demonstrated the terrifying strength of a super team!"
"Yes, especially TES's bot lane duo. Facing their former team, they're bound to clash fiercely today," Tongxi continued. "However, we can't ignore the top lane matchup either. 369 recently stated in an interview that he's ready to face Mozi's challenge."
The players from both sides take the stage.
When Su Mo calmly walked out of the passage carrying his peripheral bag and a black thermos, thunderous cheers still erupted from the crowd.
Meanwhile, on the TES side, 369 chewed gum, his gaze resolute, but a closer look revealed a slight tightening in his grip on the mouse. No one can truly be without pressure when facing the man known as "God."
BP begins.
TES was on the blue side, and coach Dian decisively banned Camille and Gwent, giving the third ban to Chen's Lee Sin.
"TES is limiting EDG's top and jungle rhythm," Guan Zeyuan analyzed.
On EDG's side, Mingkai stood behind Sumo and banned Lucian, Draven and Kalista, directly banning all three of JackeyLove's signature lane bully ADCs!
"Explicit pressure!" Tongxi exclaimed. "EDG's strategy this game is very clear: to prevent TES's bot lane from gaining a crushing advantage in lane control."
As the draft progressed, TES picked Xin Zhao, a popular jungler in the current meta, on the second pick, and Renekton and Renekton were chosen as their top laners on the fourth pick!
"Crocodile! 369 has picked his most confident champion, Renekton!" Guan Zeyuan shouted. "This is a lane bully in the early game! It looks like TES is going to have a top-half matchup this game!"
All the pressure once again descended upon EDG's fifth-floor counter-position.
Su Mo looked at the crocodile opposite him, a very faint smile curving his lips.
He didn't choose tanky champions for those who needed to withstand pressure, nor did he choose split-pushing champions like Fiora who needed to farm.
His mouse hovered for a moment over the portrait of a hero holding a spear and wearing armor, then clicked lightly.
"Even if the enemy outnumbers us, this humble general can still take the enemy general's head amidst a sea of soldiers!"
Zhao Xin, the Grand Marshal of Demacia?
Do not!
Is he the prince of Demacia? No, he isn't!
The moment the profile picture locked onto the target, an incredulous gasp erupted from the entire arena! "The spear remains!"
Xin Zhao, the Grand Marshal of Demacia!
No, it's not Xin Zhao! It's the Demacian General—the Grand Marshal Fiora? No, it's not either!
The director suddenly switched the camera to the big screen!
"One against a thousand!"
Garen, the Might of Demacia?!
Do not! !
"A flash of cold light appeared first, followed by the spear thrusting out like a dragon!"
Xin Zhao, the Grand Marshal of Demacia!
"Holy crap!! Xin Zhao top lane?!" Guan Zeyuan jumped up from his commentary chair, his voice cracking. "What is Mozi doing?! The enemy team has Renekton! In today's professional scene, Xin Zhao top lane is practically a rare breed!! And TES's jungler has already picked..."
Before Guan Zeyuan could finish speaking, the director's camera flashed, and Vi, who had originally been selected on the second floor by EDG, was switched to the jungle position, while the hero selected on the fifth floor was an extremely unpopular and highly aggressive warrior.
"My blade is ready to serve you!"
Irelia, the Blade Dancer!
"Irelia!!! Mozi picked Irelia as his last counter pick!!!" Miller's voice instantly took over the entire arena, "My God!! Facing 369's Renekton, Mozi actually picked Irelia, a hero with extremely high skill ceiling and very low margin for error!! This is absolutely going to be a clash of titans!!"
On the battle stage, 369's expression instantly turned serious when he saw the Irelia's icon.
In the hands of a skilled player, the Renekton vs. Irelia match is an extremely meticulous battle of wits. If Renekton's W skill, Relentless Hunt, is blocked by Irelia's W, Dance of Despair, or if his empowered rage isn't timed correctly, he can easily be outmaneuvered and stunned by Irelia using minion dashes.
"Looking ahead to the jungler this game," 369 said to Tian over the voice chat, taking a deep breath.
"Understood, I'll come after I finish clearing the bottom half of the map." Tian's Xin Zhao was also eager to get started.
Game loading.
Blue side TES: Top laner Renekton, jungler Xin Zhao, mid laner Ahri, ADC Varus, support Lena.
Red team EDG: Top lane Irelia, Jungle Vi, Mid lane Taliyah, ADC Ezreal, Support Tahm Kench.
Welcome to Summoner's Rift!
The lanes converge.
369's Renekton learned the Q skill [Tyrant's Strike] at level 1, wanting to use AOE damage to push the lane and reach level 2 first.
But Su Mo's Irelia played extremely aggressively. Having learned her Q skill [Blade Impact] at level one, the Irelia transformed into a blur as three melee minions were low on health, weaving through them with three consecutive Q skills, instantly stacking four layers of her passive [Ionia Fervor]!
A fully stacked Irelia is invincible in a level 1 duel!
"Brother Mozi has made his move! Level 1 with maxed passive, he's directly attacking the crocodile face-to-face!" Guan Zeyuan shouted.
369 reacted quickly, immediately using his Q skill to hit Irelia and the minions, restoring some health, while trying to pull back.
But Su Mo's positioning was too precise. He perfectly timed the crocodile's basic attack animation, using his kiting to continuously deal high amounts of extra magic damage to the crocodile.
In the initial exchange at level one, the crocodile lost nearly half its health, while Irelia, thanks to Doran's Blade and the healing from her Q skill, maintained her health at three-quarters.
"This suppression is terrifying! 369 doesn't even dare to enter the experience zone!" Tong Xi exclaimed.
Three minutes later, both sides reached level three.
This was an extremely dangerous moment. Tian's Xin Zhao had already cleared the bottom half of the jungle and was stealthily making his way to the top lane along the river bushes.
"I'm here. He's pushing really deep. This wave is going to be a death sentence," Tian said in the voice chat. Zhao Xin, carrying his spear, activated his scan to confirm there were no wards.
At this moment, Su Mo's Irelia was standing not far from the TES top lane tower, seemingly completely unaware of the impending danger.
"Attack!" Seeing Zhao Xin in position, 369 activated his E skill [Charge] without hesitation, using two E attacks to cross the minion wave and get close to Irelia. He then unleashed his red-rage W [Ruthless Hunt]!
If this red-rage W bites, combined with Xin Zhao's damage and knock-up, Irelia will have no chance of escaping!
However, in just a fraction of a second after Crocodile E came up!
Su Mo lightly pressed a key on the keyboard with his left hand.
W skill: Dance of Distance!
The Irelia stood in a defensive stance, her two blades crossed in front of her chest.
"clang!"
The crocodile's potentially lethal, enraged W landed squarely on Irelia's W! Although it caused a stun, the damage was significantly reduced!
"It's blocked!! Brother Mozi's reaction was too fast!!" Guan Zeyuan roared.
As soon as the stun ended, Tian's Xin Zhao emerged from the bushes, using his E skill [Fearless Charge] to poke at Irelia, and his Q skill [Triple Claw] was about to knock her into the air.
Su Mo's eyes turned cold as he faced the two men surrounding him.
The moment Zhao Xin stabbed him, he used the first part of his E skill, Twin Blades, placing it at his feet.
Then, Irelia used her Q on a low-health ranged minion, instantly creating distance between herself and Xin Zhao, thus dodging the most fatal third knock-up!
At the same time, the second part of the E skill is unleashed!
"Shh!"
Two sharp blades intertwined in the air, striking the pursuing crocodile and Zhao Xin with extreme precision at the same time!
Dizziness! Double dizziness!
"Holy crap!! Double stun!! Mozi's E skill was so tricky!!" Miller stood up immediately.
In the moment of dizziness, Su Mo did not run away. Instead, he pressed the Q skill and turned into a blur, rushing directly towards Zhao Xin, who had low health!
Basic attack, Q, tap the ground, basic attack!
With the Conqueror stacks and full passive stacks, Xin Zhao's health instantly dropped to below half!
Tian was shocked and tried to use Flash to create distance.
But Su Mo's killing intent was already made up.
Irelia used her Q to hit a nearby minion, using it as a springboard to instantly reach Xin Zhao, who had used Flash, and finished him off with a final auto-attack!
"EDG.Mo has killed TES.Tian!"
"A counter-kill!!! Despite being ganked by the top and jungle, Mozi's Irelia used minions to dash around and killed the jungler first!!" (End of Chapter)