Chapter 63: Heat Maxed Out

Evening, 6:45 PM,

On Huya's League of Legends regional viewer count, a new heat level was reached, with the top spots occupied by Su Xing, theshy, Ning, Uzi, and Bao Lan.

Since the agreed start time was exactly 7:00, Su Xing and the others logged on half an hour early, watching the match and chatting while waiting for 7 o'clock.

"Here we are, here we are, sorry, just got out of a meeting."

Soon after, tabe appeared in YY; because tonight's opponents were a full roster of active professional teams, tabe was extremely interested and volunteered to help with BP.

"It's fine, it's not time yet."

Uzi said cheerfully, "Just watched Samsung's game; they seem so fierce this year."

"Indeed, they're quite strong."

Su Xing sharply commented, "What's puzzling is that Samsung beats BLG effortlessly, BLG beats T1 effortlessly, T1 beats G2 effortlessly, G2 beats TES effortlessly, yet Samsung struggles against TES. I have no idea what's wrong at the moment."

Is it strange that teams from different regions can now form a closed loop with each other?

"Haha, indeed strange."

Upon hearing that, Uzi burst out laughing; the G2 vs TES match yesterday was truly chaotic, and he couldn't figure out what this year's MSI was like.

"Jack's form is off."

Ning sharply remarked, "The coach also has a big problem; being shaved bald by G2 is too painful."

"G2 isn't strong."

Even the usually silent theshy gave his assessment: overall this year's MSI schedule shows G2's strength isn't really high, yet they can sweep the LPL region's runner‑up 3‑0.

"No, what's the chat about?"

A moment later, Ning seemed to argue with the chat, saying, "No, buddy, shy hasn't lost to G2, so why can't we say G2 isn't strong?"

"You forgot which region the S8 champion stepped on to win, right? Jack not beating G2 doesn't mean we can't beat G2. You chatters are being a bit ridiculous."

Everyone: We're used to Ning's habit of constantly confronting the chat.

A few minutes later, Huya staff began private messaging each person into a custom room; soon ten people, plus the spectators' seats, were already filled.

"These guys are pretty good at playing, all new accounts."

Ning checked the opponent's ID, trying to find clues from their match history, but found nothing.

"No, buddy, who are you guys? Why are you so mysterious in a practice match?"

At the same time, other Huya League of Legends regional streamers took their positions, ready to comment on this unusually high‑heat practice match.

"GO?"

To emphasize the importance of today's practice match, Huya even brought in an actual professional tournament referee.

"GO."

"GO."

Both sides signaled they could start and entered the BP screen; as the match began, even the chatty Ning gradually fell silent.

What Su Xing didn't expect was the opponent immediately banning Rumble, Swain, and Orianna. "Hiss, this BP feels oddly familiar," he thought.

Uzi inhaled sharply, something was off; this BP was extremely off! Anyone who has been watching the Old Man Cup streams these past days knows what those three champions represent—they're Su Xing's best heroes.

Doesn't that show the opposing coach is also following the Old Man Cup?

And this BP isn't just casual interest; it's the kind of daily‑followed attention. "Indeed, it's a bit familiar."

tabe paused briefly and asked, "So, Su Xing, any other heroes you're good with?"

Tonight's opponents aren't old‑men but real active professional players, so Su Xing can only pick heroes he's proficient with.

"Yes."

Su Xing paused a few seconds and said, "Just give me Jhin." "Jhin?"

tabe thought for a moment and asked, "Has the current patch changed Jhin, removing his AP damage?"

"Yeah, changed."

Su Xing replied, "I played many games on the Korean server today and think this version of Jhin is crazy."

"Is that so?"

tabe hesitated again and said, "Alright, then Jhin it is."

"Should I add AP then?"

Ning blinked slightly and said, "I haven't played much AP lately; this is a bit hard to choose."

"It's fine, you can pick a warrior jungle if you want."

Su Xing smiled and said, "The new Jhin lost magic damage but gained noble true damage."

True damage is the most terrifying thing in this game, period.

"OK, then I'll just pick Vi."

Hearing Su Xing's confident tone, Ning stopped being pretentious and locked in Vi.

"The opponent banned Lan Bo and the card, wow, they even know shy has been playing the card lately."

In the following BP phase, the opponent also showed theshy enough respect, banning the card, Lan Bo, and everything related.

"How exaggerated, are they watching our old‑men's streams every day?"

Uzi said with a wry smile, "No, they even have to ban shy's Lan Bo; that's just too insightful."

"I can play something else."

theshy just smiled, banned two top‑lane champions, and thought, "Who do they look down on?"

With the BP phase over, both sides' lineups were set.

Su Xing's team has Quisanti top, Vi jungle, Jhin mid, and Kai'Sa + Titan bot.

The opponent fields a top‑lane Aatrox, jungle Lee Sin, mid‑lane Hui, and bot‑lane Varus + Frost.

"I think I know who the opponent is."

Tabe was a little surprised and doubtful about this BP result; the whole league seems to have only one team that would draft in this style, yet he thought it was unlikely.

Ah, who is it?

Ning Xin, blunt and quick, asked, "Never mind, let's not say it for now."

Tabe rubbed his nose and said, "That's absurd; if it really is that team, the pace would be huge. I can see why they'd stay anonymous for a scrim."

Honestly, he didn't even dare believe it was that team, but this extremely familiar BP style—"OK, let's finish the game and talk later."

Uzi said, "This round feels like the bottom lane is going to be crushed; can we switch lanes?"

Viruss + Frost together form a top‑tier lane‑dominating combo in the professional league; Uzi thought that he and Bao Lan, those two veterans, could actually beat such a combo.

The lane pressure is too high; "I think it's best not to switch lanes."

Tabe thought for a moment and said, "But if you really feel uncomfortable, discuss it with Shy, or after the game starts you can decide among yourselves whether to switch lanes."

Normally they'd switch lanes, but our top lane is TheShy, there's no reason to make such a player endure pressure in the bottom lane, right?

(End of chapter)