Chapter 511: Next Cup, Brazil

That evening, the post-match group interview clip of VG and EDG's final went viral online.

Netizens were in an uproar.

The fervent public opinion, following news of VG's victory, gradually spread to the overseas internet.

Netizens worldwide joined the heated discussion, each voicing their own opinion.

LPL netizens:

【It feels like EDG is passing the buck……】

【Hahaha, dying laughing, researching MSI? You also need to first get a slot! If you can't even get a slot, what are you researching for? You're just trying to fool ghosts!】

【What Jiao Shen said is correct; the 7.8 patch indeed lacks substantive content. If it's really as he said, the new hero Xialuo couldn't be used in MSI, so MSI would be the 7.7 patch environment. Then the question arises: what exactly is Changzhang researching?】

【Jiao Shen is awesome; hope he doesn't get slapped in the face. Nothing much to say.】

【I think Changzhang isn't lying; EDG has indeed won many LPL championships before! And this time it's a spring title with lower prestige, so one more or less really doesn't affect EDG much.】

【I'm not BB-ing, I just look at the results. If VG really gets crushed going out, then sorry, I have to lash out!】

Ou Mei netizens:

【VG is not looking good; if they can't win the MSI championship, they'll really get slammed.】

【If Kelerteer's sexy dance is telling the truth, I admire his vision; if Firrrrrre is correct, then Kelerteer's sexy dance is lying.】

【In the LPL, it seems there are still more people supporting EDG?】

【If you mean Weibo fans, EDG indeed still has more. But if VG can win the MSI championship and then a summer season championship, they should surpass EDG.】

【I don't care how many fans VG has; I only care whether my Monster Brother gets the treatment he deserves in the LPL! The fact proves the LPL doesn't deserve him!】

【I really envy the LPL audience; this region is so lively, unlike us, we only have one invincible G2, so boring, hehe~】

【VG is also invincible in the LPL; I don't understand why they're being questioned like this—maybe that's just the LPL, where even the audience loves a fight.】

LCK netizens:

【All the same, kid, all the same】

【Indeed all the same; no matter who comes, they're just KT's plaything!】

【KT: Oh, the experience baby has arrived】

【Is more research needed? How strong can a team be that got swept 4-0 by Europe? All we can say is that Firrrrrre is really good at bullying weak teams.】

【Oh oh! The comment on the first floor is too brilliant; I remember, this is a famous quote from our sci-fi masterpiece *The Three-Body Problem*!】

【Um… the big Liu who wrote *The Three-Body Problem* seems to be Chinese, right?】

【Remember! Liu cx is of Korean ethnicity! He's Korean!】

……

The online uproar had no effect whatsoever on VG holding their victory feast.

In a renowned Huaiyang restaurant called Jiangnan Zao, with antique-style decor in its private rooms, the joy of victory and the steam rising from the medicinal chicken soup in the center of the revolving table blended together, creating a lively atmosphere.

Ding Jun took the lead in handing out red envelopes, then Lu Wenjun also started handing out red envelopes; after finishing, Lu Wenjun returned to his seat, took off his suit jacket and draped it over the chair back, undid the top two buttons of his shirt, and raised his wine cup with a beaming smile.

「Not hiding it from everyone, after investing in esports for so many years, I feel today I've saved the most face!

「No need to say more, I'll toast everyone with a cup! 」

Easyhoon raised his cup with everyone, then after sitting down took off his glasses and wiped the corners of his eyes.

Lu Wenjun set down his cup, noticed Easyhoon's detail, and with a smile gently scanned everyone with a soft yet solemn gaze, then said:

「Over this long period, you've indeed worked hard.

「Fortunately, we've finally made it through, but I hope everyone will temporarily set aside their high spirits, avoid arrogance and impatience, take steady steps, and solidly complete all this year's matches; by year's end, we can then slowly savor the fruits.

「Saying these things now is indeed untimely, so I won't say more.

「So what comes next, how about we all say a few words? 」

Lu Wenjun looked at Zhu Xiaolong, his eyes full of encouragement,

「Coach, you go first? 」

「Um……」

Zhu Xiaolong smiled a bit embarrassedly, raised his wine cup and stood up,

「Alright, then I'll say a couple of sentences……」

Zhu Xiaolong first looked toward Liang Yan, then scanned the crowd, smiling as he spoke:

「I never even dreamed I could win an LPL championship in my lifetime, whether as a coach or a player, my skill……

Zhu Xiaolong raised his wine cup,

「It's all thanks to the brothers carrying me; this round I just lay back.

「But I will definitely study hard and strive to keep up with everyone's level! 」

Zhu Xiaolong tilted his head back and poured most of the cup of baijiu down his throat.

Sima Laozei looked at Zhu Xiaolong and suddenly interjected:

「This sip is worth about five hundred bucks. 」

Everyone burst out laughing.

After Zhu Xiaolong sat down, Xiao Duan stood up, hehe-laughing: 「I can't speak, I'm also just lying back! 」

Gurgle gurgle.

Sima Laozei: 「……」

Gurgle gurgle.

Gangzi: 「Hehehe, hehehehe…… Thanks to Jiao Shen for bringing me onto the team, thanks to the brothers for helping me lift the cup! 」

Gurgle gurgle.

Fu Lan Duo: 「In the Mid-Season Invitational I want to compete with Liang Yan for FMVP, but it's unlikely I'll get it, so I'll first punish myself with a drink. 」

Gurgle gurgle.

Everyone clapped vigorously and shouted their approval.

Fu Lan Duo wiped her mouth, looked at Liang Yan, and then said: "But if I manage to grab it, Liang Yan, you'll have to treat everyone to three hot-pot meals—Haidilao doesn't count; it has to be a small western-style house!"

Liang Yan: "???"

To be frank, the small western-style house is pretty far from VG!

But in the end Liang Yan still shrugged: "Fine, I'll go along with this round."

Everyone shouted their approval again.

Then Li Zhixun and Wang Liangyi also stood up and said a few words.

Finally, Liang Yan slowly rose to his feet under everyone's gaze, raised his hand to gesture at his drink, and gave a calm smile:

"The next round, Ba Xi."

Everyone was momentarily stunned, then they reacted and understood Liang Yan's meaning.

Gao Jun led the applause, cheering loudly:

"Good! Great!"

Well, that's awkward.

The celebration banquet went on past twelve; reeking of alcohol, they returned to the hotel, and a staff member of the watch fist delivered a full set of MSI-themed team uniforms; everyone tore open the packaging and put them on, standing in a row in the hallway, each with a flushed face, heads held high, chests out.

Gao Jun stood in front of everyone, placed his phone on a table moved out from the room, used a tissue box as a stand to set it upright, aimed the camera at everyone, after setting up the timed shot he hurriedly sprinted to his reserved spot in the line and stood there, then excitedly faced the camera and shouted:

"Everyone, stay energetic!"

"Smile!"

"Three, two, one, eggplant!"

Afterward, Gao Jun posted this battle-ready group photo on VG's official microblog.