Invitation to Qiao Yifan
"Who are you?" Zhang Xinjie asked as Grieving Haze and Hateful Sword approached.
"Liu Hao," Liu Hao introduced himself, followed closely by Sun Xiang, who also stated his name.
Hearing Liu Hao's name, Zhang Xinjie frowned slightly. Although Liu Hao had recently been in the spotlight, hailed as Jia Shi's saviour and rumoured to be Su Mucheng's boyfriend, with fans even respectfully calling him "Lord Hao," Zhang Xinjie couldn't fathom why Liu Hao would be in an online game.
"You guys want to kill Ye Qiu, right? Count me in!" Liu Hao said with a smile.
"And me!" Sun Xiang added.
Zhang Xinjie turned to Han Wenqing, seeking the team leader's instruction. Han Wenqing glanced coldly at Liu Hao and shook his head. "Ba Tu's team needs obedient members."
Zhang Xinjie understood Han Wenqing's meaning and calmly replied, "Sorry, we refuse to let you join."
Liu Hao was momentarily stunned but quickly grasped Han Wenqing's reasoning—it was still about his conduct. What conduct issue? Naturally, it was his lack of obedience. Ba Tu had always valued team cooperation and command execution.
"If you don't let us join, then so be it. Who cares?" Sun Xiang pouted, feeling embarrassed after being rejected, but no one on the scene cared about his feelings.
Seeing that no one paid attention to him, Sun Xiang grew increasingly agitated. Ye Qiu had clearly retired, and as the captain of Jia Shi, how could he still be ignored like this?
Liu Hao noticed Sun Xiang's unease and thought to himself, "Kids are susceptible, huh? But it's not good to sulk alone."
"Sun Xiang, do you hate it?"
Sun Xiang didn't respond.
"You must hate this feeling of being powerless and ignored, right?" Liu Hao's voice was laced with temptation.
Sun Xiang still didn't reply but gritted his teeth and nodded forcefully.
"Good, remember this feeling. It will be the motivation that makes you stronger. When you become as strong as Ye Qiu, no one will dare to ignore you."
"Aren't you upset that you were rejected? Don't you feel anything?" Sun Xiang asked, puzzled.
"Of course I do, but I can control my emotions." Liu Hao bared his teeth in a grin. "I don't care whether they accept us or not. If they let us join the team, I can help them kill Lord Grim. But if they refuse, I'll kill everyone here!"
"Kill everyone here!" Liu Hao's boldness took aback Sun Xiang. Looking at Liu Hao, who was sitting calmly in front of his computer, a thought crossed Sun Xiang's mind: Could Liu Hao be a psychopath?
"I never live by the face others show me," Liu Hao said calmly. "To achieve my goals, I can either team up with anyone or kill everyone in my way."
"That's so childish," Sun Xiang retorted. He had always thought he was pretty childish, but now, standing next to Liu Hao, he felt like a minor player in comparison.
Liu Hao just smiled. "I've always been a bit childish. I think it's fun. Childish people are usually brave because they often talk about fighting against the world."
"Fighting against the world?"
"We're in eSports. It's better to be a bit childish because, with passion, your talent won't be buried by reality," Liu Hao smiled slightly. "Now, Sun Xiang, I'll give you a choice: be my little brother, and I'll help you kill everyone here. Then, you'll become famous overnight!"
Liu Hao quietly started recording the scene.
Sun Xiang swallowed nervously. Although Liu Hao's words were inexplicably childish and embarrassing, Sun Xiang was tempted. Who was present? The Battle God Ye Qiu, the Sword and Curse from Blue Rain, Han Wenqing, and Zhang Xinjie from Ba Tu... If he could kill them all, no one would dare ignore him again. No one would dare underestimate him.
"I won't be your little brother, but I'll help you kill everyone here!" Sun Xiang said proudly. He would never stoop to being someone's subordinate!
"Fine, but you'll eventually have to call me 'Brother Hao'...," Liu Hao thought with a smile. "Now, follow my lead. Let's kill off the people from Tiny Herb first! As for Ye Qiu and Han Wenqing, let them fight until both are exhausted, and we'll reap the benefits."
"Got it!" Sun Xiang immediately raised his heavy sword and charged at the Tiny Herb players.
Gao Yingjie was startled. They were just watching the excitement, and now Sun Xiang and Liu Hao were targeting them again. He hadn't forgotten that just a few minutes ago, they were wiped out by Sun Xiang and Liu Hao.
Wang Jiexi frowned as Sun Xiang charged forward. He stepped up quickly, saying, "Let me handle this."
"Oh," Gao Yingjie quickly made way for Wang Jiexi.
After taking over the character, Wang Jiexi immediately reversed his position, using a Night Cloak to throw Sun Xiang's Berserker out of the way.
"What a fast attack!" Sun Xiang was shocked. "Did they switch players?"
Liu Hao also noticed the difference. So, Gao Yingjie had been replaced by Wang Jiexi?
At that moment, Qiao Yifan saw an opportunity and controlled his assassin to stab Sun Xiang's Berserker with a dagger swiftly.
Just as the dagger was about to strike Sun Xiang's Berserker, a grenade suddenly appeared in front of Qiao Yifan and exploded, knocking him away in a burst of flames.
Wang Jiexi sighed when he saw this. Qiao Yifan was simply too inexperienced. Although he was the quickest to react and step in to add damage, he had overlooked Liu Hao's Ammo Expert.
Qiao Yifan noticed his team leader's disappointed gaze and his heart sank. He had naturally intended to show off his skills in front of Captain Wang Jiexi and earn his recognition. He had been careful to monitor the Ammo Expert's situation, but somehow, he had missed that grenade.
From an outsider's perspective, Qiao Yifan just seemed inexperienced, failing to notice the apparent grenade thrown by Liu Hao. But from Qiao Yifan's point of view, the grenade had appeared out of nowhere.
Liu Hao had used an advanced technique to obscure Qiao Yifan's view, perfectly hiding the grenade's trajectory.
It was rather cruel for Liu Hao, a newly crowned god-tier player, to use such tactics against a kid who was on the verge of being eliminated from the youth training camp.
"Your assassin is terrible!" Liu Hao said bluntly. "You were bad before, and you're even worse now."
Qiao Yifan remained silent. Liu Hao was his senior, and he didn't dare to refute a senior's criticism. He was so aggrieved that he was about to cry.
"I'll give you some advice: either quit playing professionally or switch to another class."
Qiao Yifan was stunned. Was Liu Hao saying he was too bad and should be kicked out of the Glory scene? But playing professionally was his dream. Even if everyone said he had no talent, he didn't want to retire.
"You're going too far!" Wang Jiexi frowned.
Although Wang Jiexi also believed Qiao Yifan lacked the talent for professional play, Liu Hao's blunt ridicule was too hurtful.
Hearing this voice, Liu Hao immediately recognised Wang Jiexi on the other side.
"Big-eye!"
The Tiny Herb members were taken aback. Liu Hao was fearless, daring to call their captain "Big-eye."
Wang Jiexi's expression didn't change. After experiencing the loss in the Sixth Season Finals, he had learned to ignore all trash talk. What did "Big-eye" matter?
"Stop pretending to be a good guy," Liu Hao retorted bluntly. "You actually want to kick Qiao Yifan out of the team, right? Once your Tiny Herb's youth training assessment is over, Qiao Yifan will be out of Tiny Herb as well."
Qiao Yifan shivered and looked hopefully at his most respected captain.
But Wang Jiexi made no response, implicitly confirming Liu Hao's words.
Gao Yingjie noticed his friend's distress and quickly comforted him, "It's okay, Yifan. You'll definitely pass this youth training camp assessment."
Qiao Yifan smiled and nodded, but his smile looked forced to others.
"So, stop assuming people are all bad. If your Tiny Herb is going to kick someone out, don't pretend to care about them. If you don't want him, he can join Jia Shi! Jia Shi is willing to take him!" Liu Hao said with a smirk.
"Are you here to poach our player?" Wang Jiexi frowned.
"You're throwing away a worthless stone, yet you don't want anyone else to pick it up? Or are you worried that this worthless stone might actually be a jade?" Liu Hao said quietly.
Wang Jiexi was silent for a moment. "The choice isn't mine to make."
"Of course not!" Liu Hao chuckled. "The choice naturally isn't yours, and Qiao Yifan doesn't belong in Tiny Herb!"
"But that also depends on whether Yifan wants to go with you!" Gao Yingjie retorted. He didn't want Qiao Yifan to leave Tiny Herb; he still hoped that one day they could fight side by side!
(End of the Chapter)