Chapter 744
Voldemort
Su Mo looked at the screen, a helpless yet extremely gentle warmth rising in his deep eyes.
He turned and walked into the 24-hour convenience store on the side of the road.
The convenience store was well-cooled. Su Mo walked confidently to the freezer and grabbed a box of strawberry-flavored Häagen-Dazs. Just as he was about to pay, he thought for a moment, then turned around and grabbed a box of matcha-flavored ice cream, along with a few bottles of warm milk.
When I got to the cashier, the cashier on the night shift was a young man wearing glasses, who was looking down at his phone scrolling through short video clips about EDG's championship victory.
"That'll be 115 yuan in total." The young man scanned the barcode without even looking up.
Su Mo handed over his phone to scan the QR code.
A "beep" sound.
The young man looked up and caught a glimpse of the familiar black thermos cup out of the corner of his eye. Looking further up, although the baseball cap was pulled low, the angular face with its cold and aloof air was still very recognizable.
"Holy crap... Brother Mo, Brother Mo?!" The young man's voice instantly rose eight octaves, and he almost dropped the barcode scanner in his hand.
Su Mo raised a long, slender index finger to her lips, making a shushing gesture, and smiled gently: "Keep your voice down. Good evening."
"It really is Brother Mozi! Holy crap, I actually saw Brother Mozi in person at the convenience store!" The young man was so excited that his face turned red, and he frantically rummaged through the counter to pull out a notebook. "Brother Mozi, I've been a big fan of yours for ages, I've been watching your matches since S7! Can you give me an autograph?"
Su Mo put down the ice cream in her hand, took the notebook and pen, signed her ID smoothly, and wrote "Good luck with your work" as a side note.
"Thank you, Brother Mozi! Thank you! That Draven at MSI was so cool!" The young man hugged the notebook like it was a treasure.
"Thanks, I'll get off work early." Su Mo, carrying a plastic bag, pushed open the glass door of the convenience store and stepped back into the warm night of Shanghai.
Pushing open the keypad door of the river-view penthouse, you're greeted by a cool breeze from the air conditioner and the cheerful sounds of television games.
"Brother Mozi is back!"
Rita, who was sitting on the carpet playing Mario Kart with Luo Xin, immediately threw down the controller and ran over barefoot when she heard the door open.
She was wearing a loose-fitting men's white T-shirt, the hem of which just covered the top of her thighs, and her cleavage was intermittently revealed as she ran.
"Oh my, my strawberry ice cream!" Rita spotted the plastic bag in Su Mo's hand at a glance, cheered, and tried to grab it.
Su Mo slightly shifted his body, causing Rita to miss her. He then lifted the bag high with one hand and naturally wrapped his other arm around her slender waist, his deep voice carrying a hint of reproach.
"The ground is cold, why aren't you wearing shoes?"
Rita leaned into Su Mo's arms, pouting her red lips coquettishly: "I was just in a hurry to welcome you. Brother Mo, hurry up and give me the ice cream, I've been craving it all night."
"Go put on your slippers first." Su Mo's tone was calm, yet it exuded an unquestionable authority.
Rita pouted and obediently took out a pair of fluffy pink slippers from the shoe cabinet in the entryway and put them on.
At this moment, Yu Shuang came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of sliced fruit. She was wearing an elegant silk nightgown, her hair casually tied back. When she saw Su Mo, a gentle smile appeared in her eyes.
"You're back. Have the team members finished eating?" Yu Shuang stepped forward and took the plastic bag from Su Mo's hand.
"Yes, they've all been sent back to base. We'll assemble tomorrow morning." Su Mo changed into slippers and walked to the central island platform to wash his hands.
Yu Shuang took out the box of matcha ice cream from the bag, somewhat surprised: "Why did you buy matcha ice cream?"
"Didn't Xiran say she wanted to eat this a couple of days ago?" Su Mo dried his hands and walked to the sofa area.
hope Ran, who was sitting on the sofa with a face mask on, was moved to tears and nodded repeatedly when she heard this. Because of the face mask, she didn't dare to make any big movements and could only mumble, "Waaah... Brother Mozi still loves me the most."
"Drink a glass of warm milk first to fill your stomach before eating anything cold, be careful not to get a stomachache." Su Mo placed a bottle of warm milk in front of hope Ran.
"Okay, thank you, Brother Mozi!" Xiran obediently picked up the milk bottle.
Lin Xuan had just returned from a job event and was currently wearing yoga clothes, stretching in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. Hearing the noise, she stopped her movements, walked to the sofa, and handed Su Mo a cup of warm tea that she had prepared.
"Teacher Su, is the night view outside beautiful?" Lin Xuan blinked, her tone teasing. "I just saw it on the trending topics, 'Mo God was confessed to by a female college student in the street,' there are even photos."
The living room fell silent instantly upon hearing this.
Rita, who was scooping ice cream, paused, and Luo Xin and Xiao Yu also put down the handle, their beautiful eyes all turning to Su Mo.
"Brother Mozi, your charm is as strong as ever," Rita said sourly. "You've only been on vacation for a few days, and you're already attracting attention just by going out for a meal."
Although Yu Shuang did not speak, her hand, which was pouring tea, paused slightly.
Despite the palpable jealousy in the room, Su Mo remained as calm as still water.
He picked up the teacup, gently blew on the steam rising from the rim, and took a sip.
“She’s just a regular fan. I didn’t accept the love letter, I only signed her name.” Su Mo’s voice was calm, without the slightest awkwardness or attempt to hide anything. “Tell her I’m already full.”
"Is it full?" Luo Xin asked curiously.
"Hmm." Su Mo put down his teacup, his deep gaze slowly sweeping over the five girls in front of him. There was no coldness in his eyes as he did on the field, only a calm and tolerant gaze like a mountain.
"I have people at home waiting for me to have soup, so I don't have the energy to accept any extra sentiments."
This simple yet profound love confession instantly shattered everyone's defenses.
Rita's sourness vanished, and blushing, she moved closer to Su Mo, boldly straddling his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck: "You're smart, Brother Mo. If you dared to accept that love letter, you can sleep in the study tonight."
Yu Shuang smiled gently beside her, her eyes filled with reassurance and tenderness. Lin Xuan also gave a soft hum, but couldn't help but smile.
hope Ran was so moved that her eyes welled up with tears. She was about to rush over when Rita glared at her and pushed her away.
"Get in line! Mozi is mine tonight!" Rita declared domineeringly.
Su Mo shook his head helplessly, his large hands firmly supporting Rita's waist to prevent her from slipping down.
"Stop fooling around. We have to get up early to get back to the team tomorrow." He spoke gently, with a hint of indulgence.
"I don't care, we'll deal with tomorrow's problems tomorrow," Rita said coquettishly, then lowered her head and kissed his lips.
Outside the window, the night breeze along the Huangpu River remains gentle.
In this private domain belonging to the seven-time champions, there is no outside noise, no smoke of battle on the field. There is only this intoxicatingly constant temperature and their most peaceful daily life.
……
The next morning.
Su Mo woke up at 7:30 sharp.
Rita was still fast asleep beside him. He got up quietly, washed up, and changed into a black tracksuit.
Stepping out of the master bedroom, the aroma of millet porridge wafted from the kitchen.
Yu Shuang was standing in front of the stove, carefully stirring the porridge. Hearing footsteps, she turned around and handed Su Mo a cup of warm water.
Good morning. Breakfast will be ready soon.
"Good morning." Su Mo took the water glass, walked to the French windows, and did a few simple stretching exercises.
For professional gamers, sitting in front of a computer for years on end takes a toll on their necks and wrists. Su Mo's ability to maintain his peak performance for seven years is not only due to his extraordinary talent, but also to his unwavering, ascetic-like self-discipline.
At eight o'clock sharp, Su Mo finished breakfast and slung his black backpack full of peripherals over his shoulder.
"I'm leaving. You all get some rest at home."
"Be careful on the road, Brother Mozi. Send me a WeChat message with what you want to eat tonight." Yu Shuang straightened his collar and gently reminded him.
Su Mo nodded, pushed open the door, and stepped into the elevator.
9:30 a.m.
A black SUV drove into the EDG base.
As soon as I stepped into the training hall, a familiar aroma mixed with the smells of coffee and instant noodles hit me.
Good morning, Brother Mozi!
"Hello, Brother Mo!" When the youth training team members and staff at the base saw Su Mo, they all stopped what they were doing and greeted him respectfully.
Su Mo nodded slightly in response and walked straight up to the starting training room on the second floor.
Pushing open the door, besides Ah Chen and Xiao Yue catching up on sleep at the table, Ming Kai and Abu were having an intense discussion in front of a tactics board.
Hearing the noise, Mingkai turned around, his eyes lighting up: "Mozi, you've come at the right time. Let's take a look at the summer season's version update announcement."
Su Mo walked to the water dispenser, unscrewed the thermos, filled it with hot water, and then walked to the tactical board.
"What's wrong?" he asked in a flat tone.
Abu adjusted his glasses, his expression grave: "The Riot designers are determined to change the top lane meta this time. Teleport cooldowns have been increased, and more importantly, the stats of Mythic items have been significantly adjusted. Fighter items have been generally nerfed, especially 'Divine Separator' and 'Bloodthirsty Axe'. Conversely, tank items have received epic buffs."
Mingkai added, "This means that the top lane in the Summer Split is likely to become garbage time for tank duels. It will be exponentially more difficult to break through the situation by split pushing a single lane, just like in the Spring Split and MSI."
Leave, who was sitting next to him, also woke up and rubbed his eyes, complaining, "Yeah, Mozi, I see that in the Korean server ranked games right now, the top lane is full of tanky champions like Maokai, Ornn, and Sion. They barely lose any health even after fighting for ages."
This is a weakened version that is almost tailor-made to counter his "invincible split push" playstyle.
Su Mo's expression remained completely calm.
He picked up his thermos and slowly took a sip of the steaming hot goji berry water.
His deep eyes gazed at the densely packed data analysis on the tactics board, a faint, cold smile playing on his lips.
"Weaken the soldiers? Strengthen the tanks?"
Su Mo put down the thermos and tapped his slender fingers lightly on the table twice, producing a crisp echo.
"The designer may have made a mistake."
His voice remained gentle and soothing, yet it carried an absolute air of dominance, as if he looked down upon the world and regarded all things as ants.
"On my line, there are no tanks that can't be killed, only assassins who don't want to work overtime."
Su Mo raised his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.
"Tank version, huh? Then let them see what a real 'armor-piercing' build is all about."
Mingkai and Abu exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of shock and fervor in each other's eyes.
As long as this man retains this invincible spirit, EDG's dynasty will remain unshakable!
"Alright! Then let's develop a new strategy around the armor penetration system!" Mingkai slapped his thigh. "The rallying cry for the Summer Split has officially sounded!"
The last week before the start of the Summer Split.
To allow the team members to completely relax after continuous high-intensity training, the EDG management generously booked a high-end private resort in Qiandao Lake, Hangzhou, to organize a three-day team building activity for the entire team.
Not only were the starting five and coaching staff present, but several promising young players from the youth academy were also brought along, ostensibly to "experience the team culture of a championship team."
Of course, Su Mo, as the absolute core and elder brother of the team, naturally accompanied them. However, before setting off, he specifically informed Yu Shuang and the others of his itinerary, which prompted Rita to complain in WeChat for quite a while that he would rather go to the mountains to "feed the mosquitoes" than stay at home with them.
The bus traveled for three hours on the winding mountain road before finally arriving at the resort nestled among green hills and clear waters.
The air here is so fresh that you can't help but take a few deep breaths. A gentle breeze sweeps across the lake, bringing a refreshing coolness that completely dispels the early summer heat of Shanghai.
"Wow! This place is amazing!" Ah Chen had just gotten out of the car and was already jumping around like a monkey with excitement. "The boss really went all out this time, this resort looks expensive!"
Xiao Yue took a deep breath of fresh air and stretched: "Finally, I can get away from the computer screen. I feel like my eyes are going blind."
Su Mo was the last to get off the bus. He was wearing a simple black tracksuit, still sporting his logo-free baseball cap, and carrying a thermos.
Mingkai walked over and handed him a room key: "Mozi, I've arranged a lake-view suite with the best view for you, complete with a private hot spring. Take a good rest these next few days and don't think about tactics anymore."
"Thanks." Su Mo took the room key, his tone gentle.
The first day's itinerary was quite relaxed, mainly consisting of free time and a self-service barbecue in the evening.
In the afternoon, Ah Chen and Xiao Yue took a few of the younger trainees to the lake to ride jet skis, and their screams could be heard from a great distance.
Mingkai and Abu sat under a parasol, drinking tea and discussing the future development of youth training programs.
Su Mo did not participate in any strenuous activities. He changed into a loose bathrobe and stayed alone in the private outdoor hot spring pool in his room.
The warm spring water enveloped his muscles, which were somewhat strained from years of high-intensity use, bringing an indescribable sense of relief.
He closed his eyes, leaned against the pebbles by the pool, and enjoyed this rare moment of tranquility.
Just then, my phone, which was placed by the pool, vibrated.
Su Mo opened her eyes and picked up her phone. It was a WeChat video call invitation from Lin Xuan.
He answered the video call, and Lin Xuan's aloof and stunningly beautiful face appeared on the screen. She seemed to have just finished filming a scene, still wearing an elaborate ancient costume, with fine beads of sweat on her forehead.
"Teacher Su, what are you doing?" Lin Xuan asked, blinking at the screen while the makeup artist touched up her makeup.
"Soaking in a hot spring." Su Mo lowered the camera slightly to show the swirling steam around them.
Lin Xuan's eyes lit up instantly, her gaze lingering on Su Mo's barely visible collarbone and muscular chest, a slight blush rising on her cheeks: "Wow, you're so carefree outside, hiding it from us. Are there any pretty girls over there trying to chat you up?"
Su Mo smiled faintly and said in a calm tone, "There's only a bunch of loud and boisterous male team members."
"That's more like it." Lin Xuan snorted. "You'd better stay in the manor these next few days and don't run around. My filming will wrap up in two days, and when I get back, you'll have to make it up to me."
"Okay. Take care to rest while filming, and don't get heatstroke," Su Mo reminded him before hanging up the video call.
As evening fell, a bonfire was lit on the open lawn of the mountain resort.
The sizzling lamb skewers on the grill, the garlicky oysters, and the ice-cold beer created a lively and cheerful atmosphere.
"Brother Mo, come on! This is a toast to you!" Ah Chen, holding a mug of draft beer, his face slightly flushed, slurred, "If it weren't for you, how would we bastards have had a chance to stand on the MSI podium? You're our pillar of strength, our god!"
Xiao Yue chimed in, "Yeah! Brother Mo, we'll keep relying on you in the Summer Split!"
The young players from the youth training program sat nervously to one side, looking at Su Mo with adoring eyes. In their eyes, this seven-time champion was a living fossil of League of Legends, an insurmountable monument.
Su Mo sat on a bench, holding a cup of warm barley tea. He didn't drink alcohol because alcohol would affect his nerve reaction speed—a rule he had adhered to for many years.
He picked up his teacup and clinked it against Ah Chen's.
"No need to thank me, the game is a team effort." Su Mo's voice was gentle and steady, and it sounded particularly clear next to the noisy campfire. "You can rely on others, but you have to walk your own path. No one can play for you forever. The summer split version is not friendly to the top lane, so you mid and jungle players have to take on more responsibility."
These words, though devoid of grand pronouncements, served as a wake-up call, striking a chord in the hearts of every young team member. Ah Chen and Xiao Yue, their playful expressions fading, nodded solemnly.
The next day, the resort arranged a unique "live-action CS" competition.
The team members changed into camouflage uniforms, put on goggles, and took laser guns, and were divided into two teams.
Achen, Xiaoyue, and two youth training players form one team; Mingkai, Leave, and two other youth training players form another team.
"Brother Mo, you should be the referee. With your reaction speed, if you were on the field, what would we be able to play?" Ah Chen looked at Su Mo with lingering fear. He hadn't forgotten the terrifying scene of Su Mo catching ten glow sticks with his bare hands in the mall.
“Okay.” Su Mo did not refuse. He changed into camouflage clothing, put on a hat, picked up a walkie-talkie, and slowly walked into the jungle battlefield.
As soon as the match began, gunfire erupted in the jungle.
Ah Chen was clearly a "prone-to-the-ground" guy, hiding in the bushes with Xiao Yue, specializing in sniping. Ming Kai, on the other hand, displayed his command skills, leading the team step by step.
Su Mo, carrying a thermos, moved like a ghost around the perimeter of the battlefield. His steps were extremely light, as if he had become one with the jungle, and even the sound of his footsteps on the fallen leaves was barely audible.
He would occasionally use the walkie-talkie to report the number of survivors on both sides, while watching the young men crawling and rolling in the mud, a faint smile on his lips.
Just as the competition reached its climax, Ah Chen and Ming Kai engaged in their final showdown by a dried-up stream.
The two men took cover and exchanged fire wildly.
Su Mo stood on a nearby earthen slope, quietly watching the battle.
Suddenly, his deep eyes narrowed sharply. (End of Chapter)