Chapter 52: Xiao Pei, you're too kind! (Please keep reading)

That night.

After returning to the hotel, Xu Dongmen and the others once again arranged a practice match with SKT.

With 3 wins and 2 losses, QG held the advantage in the practice match.

Leaving aside the game content, the mental outlook shown by both sides is not on the same level.

One side has suffered four consecutive losses, its state sunk to the bottom.

The other side has won all six matches, its momentum is like a rainbow!

"Great! If we keep this up, we will definitely get a good result at this MSI!"

Pu Longyun's face was flushed with excitement, full of anticipation.

Before, he was still a bit worried; although they had won all their matches, their practice performance had always been inferior to SKT's.

Today marks QG's first victory in a practice match!

The team is thriving, and everything is developing in a good direction.

Unlike Pu Longyun, who pours all his heart into his own team, Lin Ke pays closer attention to every move of SKT.

"In today's practice match, Ben Ji didn't play a single game?"

Upon hearing this news, the provocateur's eyes lit up, while a hint of doubt also arose in his heart.

What does SKT mean, still protecting Blank to the death even after four straight losses?

Great! This gives me an even more legitimate reason!

【Hello, have you had a late-night snack, sexy hero player】

Lin Ke opened Kakao.

After several minutes, he finally received a reply from Bengi, to which he responded with a single "No".

Thejungle is a bit cold-hearted.

"He seems to be in a bad mood, no doubt—who could be in a good mood if it were them?"

Lin Ke immersed himself wildly.

【SKT must have saved the galaxy in a past life, otherwise how could they simultaneously have you and Faker, such perfect players?】

【As a fan of the airplane combo, especially Bengi, I can never forget that heart-stopping BO5 against CJ in the LCK Spring Split last year.】

【Now whenever people talk about that match, they can't escape mentioning the fourth game where Marin's tree TP disconnected and he begged heaven for twenty more seconds; only true fans like me who watched the livestream know that without Bengi, there wouldn't have been a fourth game at all.】

【In the first game, Easyhoon went up and lost; in the second, they switched to Faker but still fell short by a breath; until the third game, when the savior Bengi descended.】

【Come back from two down to three, defeat CJ!】

【Do you know? Tom earlier this year spent some time on my team, but it's a shame he never got a chance to play.】

【I regret that.】

Lin Ke sent over a photo of himself with Tom.

In that SKT vs. CJ series, the first two games were played by Tom on stage.

As soon as that photo was sent, it took effect.

It's still true that acquaintances are easier to talk to!

Under Lin Ke's enthusiastic offensive, the other side's reply speed noticeably increased.

【By the way, Bengi, do you know Coach Pu? He also came from your SKT, and now he's my best partner.】

Going all out with the act, Lin Ke snapped a photo and sent over Pu Longyun, who was flipping through the practice match footage.

From Tom to Pu Longyun, from the past to the present.

I just don't believe I can't get you to let down your guard!

【SKT is very lucky, but they haven't treated their lucky star well—before it was Tom, now it's Blank.】

【As a fan, sometimes I feel it's not worth it for you.】

【Some say this is your region's culture, but if a player helped my team win two world championships, I would never allow anyone to ride on his head for the rest of his life.】

【In this spring split you only played a dozen or so small games, and you didn't appear in a single playoff match; fans are heartbroken.】

【Do you know? Many Chinese fans are looking forward to you taking the stage; everyone wants to see you and Faker play together.】

【I don't understand why SKT only lets you play when things are dire—doesn't a veteran's life count as a life?】

【Don't you Koreans always talk about respecting your elders? Why, in your team, do the veterans end up wiping the newcomers' bottoms instead?】

【After two straight losses in the spring split, did you voluntarily apply to be a substitute? Oh, and what about Blank—Blank has four straight losses; has he ever applied?】

【Xiao Pei, you're too kind!】

Lin Ke went on a frenzied output.

Only when the other side indicated that the next practice match was about to start did he temporarily let Bengi off the hook.

He put away his phone, the corner of his mouth curling into a sly smile.

After SKT's four consecutive losses, many people had a bold idea.

But while everyone else merely thought about it, only Lin Ke put it into practice.

You could say that other competing teams striving in practice matches to boost their strength also counts as action, and that would be passable.

But playing matches is the business of the coaching staff and players.

As a veteran over thirty who has been grinding in the esports scene for years, Lin Ke is not particularly skilled at League of Legends.

He only understands people!

As the saying goes, instead of spending time striking opponents, it's better to use that time to improve oneself.

No no no!

Improving oneself is hard, but striking opponents is much easier.

Unlike other club managers, Lin Ke has never been someone who just loafs around waiting to die; he prefers to be involved.

Who wouldn't want to contribute their share of strength to the ultimate great victory?

…………

"Ying Bi Ge, I have a suggestion for you."

In the training room, after Xu Dongmen and Doinb finished a game in duo queue, he finally couldn't hold back and said: "How about we just stop practicing Ryze and practice something else? After all, this version of Ryze won't be viable for long."

"Huh? What won't be viable for long?"

Da B didn't react right away; he misunderstood: "Dongmen, don't be mad, I know my Ryze is a bit weak, give me some more time and I'll definitely get him good!"

"Stop practicing, I'm serious."

Xu Dongmen wore a serious expression, he didn't doubt the other's determination.

During this period, Da B had indeed practiced a lot; after going through the bench turmoil, his professional attitude underwent a complete transformation, a full 180-degree turn.

However, many champions aren't something you can play well just because you want to practice them.

This version of the Thunder Mage King is clearly not suited to Doinb's orientation.

Rather than continue wasting time on this champion, it'd be better to make other plans early.

"But if I don't practice Ryze, what should I practice?" Da B said cutely.

"Practice the Sand Emperor!"

"………"

"Haha, I was just joking!"

After Xu Dongmen finished last-hitting, he became serious: "Ying Bi Ge, what do you think is the strongest mid-lane champion in this version?"

"I don't know, but if you ask me, I'd definitely say Viktor is the strongest."

Doinb was somewhat confused, and even now he still feels a bit uncertain: "Dongmen, were you really not angry just now?"

"No, I'm really not angry; I'm seriously giving you advice."

"So I won't practice Ryze from now on?"

"No, we'll go tell the coach later to permanently ban Ryze, anyway it won't survive more than a few patches."

"Really? That's great!"

Doinb beamed with joy.

This was undoubtedly a relief for him; being forced every day to play a champion he neither likes nor excels at, getting beaten and still having to apologize to teammates first— that feeling is truly unpleasant.

"What should I practice then?" Da B still had that old question.

Throughout the spring split, he had used only seven champions in total, far fewer than other top mid laners.

Rookie had used thirteen, Pawn fifteen, both roughly double his number.

This is also the biggest bottleneck in Doinb's career; his champion pool is really too shallow— while the ones he plays well are indeed strong, many regular mid‑lane champions don't even reach first‑tier level.

"How about the plane?" Xu Dongmen suggested.

"Huh?"

Da B made a reluctant face: "Wasn't the plane just heavily nerfed? Its attack damage coefficient dropped from 1.1 to 1.0, and now nobody plays it."

"That's exactly why it's worth practicing."

Xu Dongmen encouraged: "There's another champion I think is especially suited for you; you can skip practicing the plane, but this one you absolutely must start practicing!"

"Oh really? Which champion is it?" Doinb became interested.

"That someone, Lulu's spare tire!"

"………"