This year’s World Champion slots are determined by points. The domestic team VIT and CH secured their spot in the World Champion and subsequently competed against fifteen teams from around the world.

On the CH side, having just lost the national championship, they were immediately focused on preparing for the World Champion. There was no time for regret or sadness. They went into seclusion as a team to discuss strategies for the World Champion.

On the other hand, VIT continued with their regular training routine. Their training was not solely focused on winning the domestic championship; they aimed to surpass everyone.

Strong foreign teams, including QILIN, had all been analyzed by AI, and the VIT team thoroughly discussed their strategies.

CH had no previous experience preparing for the World Champion, and even Lu Feng was still pondering how to counter VIT’s tactics. It was only after being reminded by someone else that they realized their biggest enemy at this moment was not VIT but the other team from their country.

Ironically, they were the only two teams from their country to advance.

Their opponents were the same.

The strategies of other regional teams had already been studied, so currently, it was not a problem for VIT.

A few days ago, they played against teams from Japan and South Korea in the Asian group stage, and they performed well.

Among the seventeen teams participating in this year’s World Champion, fifteen teams utilized wild or sub-core lineups, while only VIT and the Korean team GET employed mid-core strategies.

When the two teams faced each other, victory or defeat was determined.

GET relied on a more traditional mid-core system for coordinated movements, and they also used traditional mages in the mid lane, requiring economic advantage. In contrast, VIT exhibited seamless coordination like gears interlocking, making it challenging for their opponents to counter them.

After the group stage in the region, eight teams remained out of the seventeen, and they proceeded to the single-elimination playoffs.

Due to the single-elimination format, it was quite peculiar that until the semifinals, QILIN and VIT had not faced each other in a match.

The drawing of lots for the two sides had consistently avoided each other. In the eyes of viewers around the world, it was as if the two teams were hiding from each other.

Before the final showdown, they each cleared all other obstacles, igniting the passion in everyone’s blood.

VIT completed their matches in the quarterfinals earlier than anyone else, giving them around ten extra days to prepare for the upcoming finals.

During this time, VIT made preparations and held discussions within their club. After the intense domestic matches, everyone was relatively calm.

In the living room, each person held a planning board and discussed strategies. As the evening training session came to an end, the rest of the team members went to rest, while Rong Yi and Xiao Yin continued discussing and exchanging ideas.

The two of them were very close, leaning against each other playfully. It wasn’t very formal, but that’s how the meetings had been all day, and no one dared to say anything.

In recent days, the observant individuals in the club had already noticed that Rong Yi had a men’s ring on her left ring finger. Similarly, Xiao Yin also had the same style of ring on his left hand.

Mainly due to lack of time, otherwise everyone would have wanted to ask if they had secretly gotten married during their preparations for the World Champion.

“Brother Yin, can you give us a hint?” Rong Yi tugged at Xiao Yin’s sleeve and joked, “QILIN is your team, can you keep it a secret from your own palm?”

Xiao Yin shrugged, “I’m just the boss. The team’s current tactics and strategies are confidential to me too.”

However, it was true that Xiao Yin had left the team a year ago, and this year QILIN’s tactics and strategies for the World Champion had completely changed.

Most importantly, before Xiao Yin left, QILIN used a wild-core lineup, and their newly added jungler, LOCK, was a fairly standard player. QILIN’s overall playstyle this year leaned toward stability.

Rong Yi found a live recording of a QILIN match from two years ago and started watching it.

They had analyzed this match countless times, remembering every instance where someone missed a minion wave.

Rong Yi’s focus was on Xiao Yin.

Back then, Xiao Yin’s invisibility was truly deadly. He disregarded vision predictions throughout the entire game, always securing a kill when he landed, and his blind effect was like a shadow, as if he had a third eye.

The team played around the jungle core, with everyone opening up paths for Xiao Yin. The mid lane was stable, the bottom lane was agile, the top lane handled pressure well, and the support coordinated seamlessly. In every aspect, it was flawless.

Five years of a jungle core, five years of world-class dominance.

Now, VIT had shifted their core to the mid lane, and Xiao Yin’s individual carry playstyle had taken a backseat. All five players concealed their personal styles and habits, becoming a united force.

The name Yin was wiped away, giving birth to the new name VIT, representing all five players.

It wasn’t regrettable, just a longing for the past.

After watching for a while, Rong Yi closed the video and nestled into Xiao Yin’s arms.

Xiao Yin embraced him and stroked his hair. “Don’t worry. Trust in the choices we’ve always made.”

“Did you never consider this playstyle when you were with QILIN?”

“I did consider it, but it was just my personal imagination. Firstly, the software hadn’t been developed at that time, and secondly, the game version was different.” Xiao Yin explained.

Rong Yi knew about this.

At the beginning of last year, there was a major update and overhaul of the game, with significant changes to long-standing fundamental values. Overall, there were major resource and map changes, which created an opportunity for VIT’s rise.

Since last year, Rong Yi had also realized that playing a mid-lane carry would be more suitable. However, he was the only one diving into the details.

“VIT continues to follow my line of thinking: high risk, high reward. As for QILIN, it’s hard to say. They are all seasoned veterans who can adapt to any changes. After five years, they know each other like the back of their hand.”

“LOCK has been with the team for a year now, and from the current situation, he’s still very strong,” Xiao Yin added.

Xiao Yin held Rong Yi with one hand and used the other to retrieve a set of data. “These are the files I obtained about LOCK. You said you wanted to see them, so I wrote them down.”

Rong Yi remained nestled in his embrace and didn’t move. “Hmm, I’ll look at them tomorrow.”

“Resting?” Xiao Yin asked in a low voice. “How have you been feeling these past few days?”

“Pretty… pretty good,” Rong Yi blushed slightly, whispering, “Can you carry me upstairs?”

Xiao Yin lowered his head and lightly kissed his cheek, then lifted him horizontally and headed upstairs.

The schedule had been tight recently, and it didn’t seem to be easing up anytime soon.

Their usual evening activities were scheduled for their weekly rest day, but these past few days were an exception.

There were some more serious matters that needed to be accomplished through this not-so-serious matter.

That matter was the new rule announced by the Global League this year. During the finals, all participating professional players had to be shown on camera, revealing their true appearances.

This change was based on the overall trend in professional esports this year. The games attracted the audience, and the audience sustained the games. They were mutually beneficial.

The league ultimately chose this rule, and when it came to rules, they were determined by the larger environment and no longer subject to personal influence.

Everyone in VIT knew that this rule, ironically, was Rong Yi’s weakness.

Of course, individuals might still have some influence, but Xiao Yin had always believed that this matter wasn’t so important because Rong Yi didn’t need to force himself.

“Do you really feel good?” Xiao Yin carried him upstairs, lightly pushing open the partially closed door. “Are you uncomfortable?”

“If it’s uncomfortable, there’s no need to force yourself.”

Xiao Yin said in a low voice, “It’s just a matter of making them change the rule back.”

“In the past, I couldn’t stand it.”

Rong Yi was placed on the bed by him. His breath was uneven, and his fingertips gripped the bedsheets.

Half of it was because there was a fully automated tracking camera set up next to them.

The other half was because Xiao Yin leaned over, pressing down on him.

“Back then, even without all of you, I felt it was unnecessary.”

“Now it’s a rule, so I consider it a hurdle that must be overcome on the professional path.”

“What if I can’t overcome it?”

“Either overcome it or it means I’m not suited for this path.”

Just like the most brilliant surgeon getting queasy at the sight of blood. There’s no need for melodrama. If you’re not suited for it despite your talent and the current environment, then don’t compete.

“I’ll make them change it back.”

Xiao Yin kissed the corner of his mouth. “I always feel like you’re pushing yourself too hard.”

…

After a moment of silence and the sound of water.

Xiao Yin paused his movements and looked at Rong Yi with confusion.

“There’s no need to change it.”

Rong Yi said softly, grabbing Xiao Yin’s sleeve, his cheeks slightly flushed. “Just help me overcome it.”