With 2 days left until the S10 World Tournament Grand Finals, all members of Tianhuan began intense, targeted tactical training. The main team of Jingzhe, who hadn't returned to China yet, stayed to serve as sparring partners for Tianhuan, allowing them to experiment with new tactics.
After two days of scrims ended, Xie Yuan privately said to Fang Zhengqing, "Do you feel like Chi Shu has returned to his state when he first debuted in S6? He's playing even more fiercely than in the regular season."
Fang Zhengqing analyzed, "After God Ming retired, Chi Shu put too much pressure on himself, always wanting to cater to team coordination, which actually suppressed his own rhythm. Now, with Ye Shaoyang, a very compatible partner, and other teammates who can keep up with him, he has completely let go of the burden, right?"
Xie Yuan turned back and asked, "Haven't you thought of other reasons?"
Fang Zhengqing raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What other reasons could there be?"
Xie Yuan said, "Chi Shu is an Alpha, Ye Shaoyang is an Omega. Being together day and night, coordinating tacitly—don't you think there might be something more than just simple comradeship between them?"
Fang Zhengqing chuckled lightly and adjusted his glasses. "You're overthinking it. Chi Shu has remained single until now based on his own ability. In his eyes, there's definitely no distinction between Alpha and Omega; there's only one thing in his mind, and that's the competition. Never mind Ye Shaoyang being an Omega, even if Ye Shaoyang were a cat, as long as he could coordinate with him in matches, Chi Shu wouldn't mind."
Xie Yuan teased, "Based on your tacit understanding with Chi Shu, are you sure?"
Fang Zhengqing's smile stiffened slightly, and he asked back, "You think there's something wrong with their relationship?"
Xie Yuan said, "I just have a premonition that Chi Shu will be the first among us to leave singlehood."
Fang Zhengqing frowned. "No way? They look like ordinary teammates."
Xie Yuan roasted, "Since you said that, my guess should be correct."
Fang Zhengqing: "…"
So, you asked me this question just to verify your guess in reverse?
Just then, Fang Zhengqing received a message from Chi Shu on his phone: "Thanks. The scrims these past 2 days helped us find a lot of problems. For tomorrow's finals, I will play well carrying yours and A-Yuan's wishes."
Last year in S9, Jingzhe lost to ATB in the World Tournament. After the match ended, the 5 members of ATB hugged each other excitedly, leaving all members of Jingzhe hanging on the side. Jingzhe waited for a long time before ATB came to the soundproof booth to shake hands.
This was a very impolite practice.
Fang Zhengqing and Xie Yuan actually felt uncomfortable inside, but there was nothing they could do. They lost back then, and losers didn't need to make excuses; they had to endure the scolding when returning home.
In this year's World Tournament, Tianhuan made it to the finals, coincidentally meeting ATB.
Chi Shu and Fang Zhengqing were old friends who had known each other for many years. Seeing him stand on the stage of the Grand Finals, Fang Zhengqing was also very happy for his old friend.
This was also the reason Jingzhe stayed to accompany Tianhuan for 2 days of scrims.
Fang Zhengqing replied: "Add oil."
After saying that, he added another sentence: "A-Yuan is still waiting for you to treat."
He didn't ask what exactly the relationship between Chi Shu and Ye Shaoyang was. With the big tournament approaching, there was no need to disturb Chi Shu's thoughts with these questions. He believed that Chi Shu would definitely grasp this rare opportunity and leave no regrets.
On December 20th, the World Tournament Grand Finals officially opened at the Seoul E-sports Center.
To Ye Shaoyang's surprise, they saw a familiar figure backstage—Ming Sheng, the second-generation captain of Tianhuan, Chi Shu's mentor, and the talent scout who discovered Ye Shaoyang.
Chi Shu couldn't hide his excitement and walked forward quickly. "Why did Master come?"
Ming Sheng smiled and patted his shoulder, but his gaze turned to Ye Shaoyang, saying gently, "My flight arrived in Seoul this morning. I wanted to come to the scene personally to cheer for you."
Ye Shaoyang and Chi Shu exchanged a glance.
Today was ATB's home game. 99% of the audience at the scene were local Korean spectators and fans of ATB. However, God Ming's arrival was like a shot of adrenaline for Team Tianhuan.
—Master coming personally to cheer was better than thousands of fans.
Ming Sheng whispered in Chi Shu's ear, "I heard from Coach Lin that you plan to bring out [Bloodstained Assassin]?"
Chi Shu said, "Yes."
Ming Sheng smiled and said, "Back in S6, we lost in the Grand Finals because your [Bloodstained Assassin] didn't play its role effectively. But I believe history won't repeat itself. Master is very happy for you that you are willing to bring out this signature hero again."
Chi Shu nodded to him without saying much.
But his determined eyes told his master that he would definitely recreate the sharpness of that year.
Ming Sheng looked at everyone and said mysteriously, "Today, other old friends will also be present."
As soon as his voice fell, familiar voices were heard from behind: "Long time no see!"
Chi Shu turned around and met three pairs of familiar eyes.
Two of them were the bot lane duo who retired after the S9 season, Old Nie and A-Ning.
There was another person Ye Shaoyang hadn't seen before, tall and burly, with a very neat buzz cut.
Chi Shu couldn't hide the joy in his eyes. He walked over and hugged the three of them. Qu Jiang and Old Qin also ran over excitedly to hug them. Chi Shu turned back and introduced to Ye Shaoyang, "This is Brother Long, Tianhuan's top laner back then; Old Nie and A-Ning, Tianhuan's marksman and support."
Ye Shaoyang knew Old Nie and A-Ning; he had met them when watching the match in Star City. After he joined Tianhuan, these two old members even used alt accounts to send gifts in his livestream room to welcome his arrival.
As for Brother Long, Ye Shaoyang had only heard Chi Shu mention him. Before Qin Yizhu became Tianhuan's top laner, he was the starting top laner for Team Tianhuan, with a very fierce playstyle.
Ming Sheng laughed. "Finally all here."
In the S6 season, Tianhuan's lineup for the World Tournament expedition was Top Brother Long, Jungle Chi Shu, Mid Ming Sheng, Bot Duo Old Nie and A-Ning. In the end, they unfortunately lost 2:3, only getting runner-up, which was also Tianhuan's best result ever.
Now in the S10 season, except for Chi Shu, the other 4 had retired and left Tianhuan. The current Top was Qin Yizhu, Mid became Ye Shaoyang, and Bot was Qu Jiang and Cheng Xing.
Two generations of players met backstage, and Ye Shaoyang's heart was filled with warmth.
—This was the Team Tianhuan he chose.
Those retired players were still paying attention to Tianhuan's matches. Having weathered 10 years of wind and rain, what remained unchanged for Team Tianhuan was the determination to win the World Championship from the very beginning of the team's establishment.
The previous generation of players coming collectively to the finals to cheer for them was like a passing of the torch.
And Chi Shu, the tender youth who once followed his seniors on the expedition to the World Tournament, had now become Tianhuan's captain who could hold his own. He looked at the old and new teammates beside him and actively extended his slender and powerful right hand.
Ming Sheng also placed his hand on top. Following closely were the players of the previous generation, the members of this generation, and Coach Lin who had always accompanied Tianhuan.
10 hands stacked layer upon layer. Finally, everyone's voices converged into one sentence: "Tianhuan, Add Oil!"
A-Ning withdrew his hand and joked, "I remember when retiring, Old Nie said that if Tianhuan could win the World Championship, he would be willing to livestream in women's clothing!"
Old Nie's face turned red. "Cough cough, did I say that?!"
Qu Jiang laughed. "I testify; I even recorded it at the time."
Words spoken when drunk had to be admitted too. Old Nie scratched the back of his head and went all out: "Fine, if you guys really win the championship, women's clothing it is! It's just that my feet are too big; high heels don't have my size!"
Imagining Old Nie in a skirt, the group burst into laughter.
Seeing that it was about time, Ming Sheng took the old teammates to the viewing area, and Tianhuan's starting players followed Coach Lin into the prep room.
On the big screen in the prep room, the situation at the venue was being broadcast.
The audience seating was packed with people. The entire venue was filled with dense posters cheering for ATB. Fans held high the avatars of ATB members, and colorful glow signs made it look like a superstar's concert scene.
The excited voice of the Korean commentator came through the screen: "The S10 Grand Finals are about to begin. We see that the venue today is full of spectators cheering for the players. Let the players hear everyone's voice!"
The audience at the scene shouted in unison: "ATB Add Oil! ATB Victory!"
Deafening Korean echoed over the stadium. The home audience's cheering had an absolute advantage. The scattered voices of a few China fans cheering for Tianhuan were completely drowned out.
But it didn't matter. Ye Shaoyang believed that the smiles of the audience at the scene wouldn't last long.
Ye Shaoyang sat in front of the computer in the prep room, ten fingers tapping the keyboard rapidly, engaging his muscle memory to keep his fingers in a "hot hand" state for the match.
Seeing his fingers moving fast and steady, Chi Shu couldn't help asking in a low voice, "Not nervous?"
Ye Shaoyang said, "Mn, just treat it as a scrim and play freely."
Thinking back to before his rebirth, that World Grand Final was also a narrow miss with the championship. He and Chi Shu had the same regret and the same obsession—this was the key to their ability to quickly establish tacit understanding.
Ye Shaoyang believed that today's Sun-Moon duo would be as tacit as ever, and they would fight side by side like in every previous match.
The two looked at each other and smiled.
No need to say much; a simple glance was enough to understand each other's hearts.
At the commentary desk, Yao Mu and Brother Dong's voices were also much more excited than usual: "The S10 World Tournament Grand Finals are about to begin. There are many Korean fans at the scene cheering for ATB. Our players are playing away and also need everyone's encouragement. Domestic audience friends, spam the bullet comments!"
The livestream rooms of major websites were instantly overwhelmed by "Tianhuan Add Oil" bullet comments.
Dense white characters plastered the screen.
For many fans following the Gods' War Professional League, tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.
They couldn't travel to Korea to cheer for Tianhuan at the scene, but many people stayed in front of their computers, paying attention to this match and silently spamming bullet comments to cheer for Team Tianhuan.
They believed that Tianhuan's members could feel everyone's encouragement.
In the backstage prep room, a staff member knocked on the door and entered: "Tianhuan members, prepare to go on stage."
Lin Feng looked at the members and smiled. "I won't say much more. Everyone performed very well in the scrims these past two days. Stabilize your mentality for today's match, relax, and play out our Tianhuan style!"
The 5 of them nodded in unison, looked at each other, and walked side by side towards the main stage.
Dazzling lights shone on the faces of the 5 young people.
They wore Tianhuan's blue and white team uniforms. Even though the stage was full of opponents' fans below, they didn't show the slightest stage fright when appearing on stage, looking calm and determined.
The 5 walked into the soundproof booth, quickly connected their keyboards and mice, and debugged the equipment.
The referee signaled the start of the match.
At the commentary desk, Yao Mu raised her voice: "Audience friends, the S10 Season Grand Finals, the ultimate showdown between Team ATB and Team Tianhuan, is about to begin. Let's enter the BP for the first game."
Brother Dong said, "ATB randomly got Blue Side, banning and picking first. Their first ban slot… indeed went to the Mid-laner [Abyssal Lord]!"
The domestic audience sighed.
Ye Shaoyang was the first Mid-laner to get [Abyssal Lord] banned. It was often banned in domestic matches and also banned multiple times in the World Tournament, proving how wary coaches of major teams were of his harvesting mage assassin.
However, Ye Shaoyang's hero pool was unfathomably deep.
He was also the Mid-laner who could play the most heroes among all current Mid-laners.
Yao Mu said expectantly, "Today, what hero will Yangyang choose for the Mid lane?"