Chapter Eleven: You Are So Protective of Your Own

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After joining the team, Qu Le Yu discovered there was another person in the group. She was so excited she could barely contain herself, typing “Master” over and over again, her enthusiasm practically spilling out of the screen.

Yuan Zhong opened the team voice chat and said, “I’ll play with my friend for a while, join us if you have time.”

Qu Le Yu responded with a string of “Okay” messages.

Lin Hui laughed and said, “This one’s a broken record.”

Yuan Zhong explained, “I haven’t played since the start of winter break—it’s been a while.” He noticed the rank of ‘Dislikes Stingy People’ and asked, “Why did you drop stars?”

Qu Le Yu sighed and typed an ellipsis, wanting to say it was hard to explain.

Lin Hui said, “Let’s start. I’ll play a couple of rounds then have to go.”

“Alright,” Yuan Zhong confirmed and started the game.

“What’s your apprentice playing?” Lin Hui asked.

“She’ll play support. What about you?” Yuan Zhong replied.

“Mid lane or top,” Lin Hui said.

“I can jungle, let’s see what the other two teammates pick,” Yuan Zhong said.

Qu Le Yu typed: Master, which support should I pick?

Lin Hui said, “Hey, why isn’t she using voice chat?”

Yuan Zhong banned Galo and said, “Maybe she’s shy—she is a young lady, after all.”

Lin Hui smiled, turned off voice chat, and asked, “Why do you sound different as soon as we enter the game?”

Yuan Zhong also turned off voice chat, laughed twice, and said, “In games, everyone’s bottom line drops a bit, or they just become a different version of themselves. It’s the freedom of the virtual world.”

Lin Hui blinked, looking as though she wanted to examine him closely.

“Actually, calling it freedom isn’t quite accurate—it’s more about opportunity. The chance to be a different person,” Yuan Zhong corrected himself.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Lin Hui raised her eyebrows.

Qu Le Yu’s message popped up again: Master, which support should I pick?

Yuan Zhong saw the team composition was a bit fragile, so he replied via voice: Pick Lian Po, just use the one-two-one combo, stack tank items.

As soon as he finished, Qu Le Yu instantly selected the hero.

Yuan Zhong reminded her, “Bring Interference.”

“So you’re planning to dive towers?” Lin Hui thought for a moment and chose Milady. “I’ll join the tower-pushing squad.”

Yuan Zhong glanced at the shooter, Gongsun Li, and the top laner, Hua Mulan, and picked Jing for jungle.

While waiting to enter the game, Gongsun Li spoke up: Why didn’t the support pick Da Qiao? Don’t you know the Qiao-Li combo? Clearly inexperienced.

Qu Le Yu didn’t respond. In the gaming world, if your skills aren’t good, you should talk less—that’s what her master taught her.

Lin Hui said, “Feels like this Gongsun Li is either really good or really bad.”

Yuan Zhong agreed, “Let’s hope it’s the former.”

The game started. Each hero went to their lane. Yuan Zhong had Lian Po follow his Jing, quickly clearing a part of the jungle, then moving to mid lane to secure the River Spirit.

The opposing mid mage was Wang Zhaojun, who tried to contest the River Spirit. In a three-on-one situation, Yuan Zhong seized the opportunity, killed the opponent, and earned first blood.

“Steady, precise, ruthless,” Lin Hui commented.

“Of course. In this situation, not getting a kill would be a waste,” Yuan Zhong said, leading Lian Po to the next part of the jungle.

The opposing jungler, Zhao Yun, arrived. Their Milady was low on health and had already retreated under the tower, recalling to base. Jing was down to a third of her health.

Yuan Zhong instructed Lian Po, “Go in, use one-two-one combo, I’m behind you.” He sent a “Request Assistance” signal to Gongsun Li on the farm lane.

Gongsun Li continued to clear minion waves, showing no sign of coming over. Yuan Zhong had used up Jing’s skills and had to retreat behind Lian Po again.

“I’m coming,” Lin Hui said, controlling Milady and rushing from the fountain.

“Alright, I’ll clear some small jungle camps to regain health. This Zhao Yun is greedy—let’s pin him down in our jungle.”

Qu Le Yu controlled Lian Po, using the one-two-one combo twice, hesitating whether to retreat, but Zhao Yun pressed on, clearly targeting the low-health Jing behind him.

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Seeing Milady nearing, Yuan Zhong said, “My skills are ready. Lian Po, control him.”

Qu Le Yu prepared to use one-two-one again, but Zhao Yun was faster, jumping in and controlling Lian Po first, preventing Lian Po from using his skills in time.

Yuan Zhong maneuvered to avoid Zhao Yun directly, used his skills, but the damage wasn’t enough, so he had to retreat again. Luckily, Milady arrived and used her skills to block an attack.

“Lian Po, use your skills,” Yuan Zhong prompted again.

Qu Le Yu hurriedly clicked, but missed Zhao Yun, who dodged.

The opposing mid mage arrived in top condition and froze Milady.

“No, I have to retreat,” Lin Hui said.

“Got it, fall back,” Yuan Zhong used skill movement.

Zhao Yun, seeing his team had backup, wouldn’t let Jing go, chasing her relentlessly.

Jing tried to use Lian Po as a shield, but Lian Po’s skill direction was off, bringing Jing and Zhao Yun face-to-face.

“This is bad!” Yuan Zhong knew things weren’t going well, so he just used his skills.

“I’ll come,” Lin Hui tried to return.

“No, go back. If you come, you’ll die too,” Yuan Zhong said, maneuvering to the limit. In a two-on-one situation, he managed to trade and take down Zhao Yun.

“Lian Po, you’re not very loyal—selling your master in broad daylight,” Lin Hui opened voice chat.

“Not a total loss,” Yuan Zhong said, opening the equipment panel to adjust his build.

Qu Le Yu typed: I panicked a bit just now, didn’t pay attention to the direction keys.

“It’s fine, you’re rusty after not playing for so long,” Yuan Zhong replied.

Lin Hui turned off voice chat, smacking her lips.

Yuan Zhong wasn’t nearly as polite to Gongsun Li. Using full team voice, he said: Hey Gongsun, what’s up—are your legs broken or are you blind? There’s a fight right next to you and you don’t come to help?

Gongsun Li: I need to farm and defend the tower. The support won’t come, what am I supposed to do?

Just as they were talking, Zhao Yun went over. Yuan Zhong hurriedly told Lian Po, “Go to the farm lane first, I’ll respawn soon.”

Lian Po obediently followed instructions but, after a round of actions, still couldn’t protect Gongsun Li.

Gongsun Li got angry: Lian Po, are you playing for the enemy?

Yuan Zhong guessed his apprentice had made another mistake. Honestly, when Jing stood behind Lian Po’s sturdy frame just now, it felt safe, but then Lian Po suddenly moved aside—thrilling stuff.

But he said: The enemy support is Zhuang Zhou, don’t you recognize him?

While speaking, he controlled the respawned Jing to enter the jungle.

“Zhao Yun is stealing the red buff, Lian Po come over, Milady provide support.” Yuan Zhong spotted this as soon as he entered the jungle.

Seeing Jing arrive, Zhao Yun fought while retreating. Yuan Zhong saw the red buff’s health dropping, activated his ultimate, and used Smite, but was a step too late—Zhao Yun took the red.

“If he took it, I’ll carve it off him,” Yuan Zhong trapped Zhao Yun, jumping around in the magic circle, slicing away.

Milady’s little robot chased Zhao Yun, biting fiercely.

“The enemy roaming Zhuang Zhou is coming—be careful,” Lin Hui warned.

Jing’s last hit should have finished Zhao Yun, but Lian Po made another mistake and pushed Zhao Yun out, allowing Zhuang Zhou to help him escape.

Lin Hui smacked her lips again.

Gongsun Li arrived and saw everything, starting to complain: I said Lian Po wasn’t up to it, right?

Yuan Zhong sighed, unsure what to say—after all, it was his apprentice, so he sent an encouragement signal.

Gongsun Li continued: Should’ve taken red myself, look at the jungler’s economy.

Yuan Zhong, frustrated, retorted: I saw it—so what? Those few hundred coins gonna change the game? I think you’ve gone mad for gold.

Qu Le Yu felt a bit guilty. She always got nervous in team fights and messed up skill directions. Seeing Yuan Zhong and the shooter arguing, she became even more embarrassed.

So she typed: It’s my fault, I’ll be more careful next time.

Lin Hui laughed: Not skilled, but good attitude.

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Yuan Zhong: Who’s not skilled!

Lin Hui: Alright, alright, I won’t say it.

Yuan Zhong focused on clearing jungle camps, and even went to mid and top lanes to grab some minion waves. After finishing top lane, he dived into the enemy jungle and sent a request for teammates to gather.

Then he saw Lian Po’s avatar abandoning Gongsun Li, eagerly heading toward Jing.

Lin Hui couldn’t stop laughing.

Yuan Zhong had to say: Lian Po, protect the shooter first. I’ll counter-jungle with Hua Mulan.

“Your little apprentice is adorable,” Lin Hui said, clearing minions with Milady, while reminding, “Wang Zhaojun is coming.”

“Zhao Yun’s not here, so it’s fine. Push mid tower with your robot,” Yuan Zhong replied, quickly finishing off nearby jungle camps and then hiding in the brush, waiting for someone to take the bait.

Hua Mulan was clever, starting to attack the red buff to draw enemies in. Yuan Zhong saw Wang Zhaojun approaching, and before she could use her skills, he struck first, activating his ultimate to kill her, then used Smite to take the red buff—a series of actions as fluid as running water.

Qu Le Yu saw her master score a kill and quickly tapped “666.”

Suddenly, Zhao Yun jumped out of the brush, charging straight at Gongsun Li, whose health evaporated, and the defeat prompt appeared.

Gongsun Li: Lian Po, I won’t let you off!

Yuan Zhong asked: What happened now? Gongsun Li’s supposed to be agile—do you even know how to play?

Gongsun Li: What do you mean, “do I know how to play?” That tank uses me as a shield—what kind of support is that!

While speaking, Yuan Zhong and Hua Mulan hid in the brush again in the enemy blue buff area, ambushing Zhao Yun as he tried to take the buff, killing him and securing the blue buff.

Yuan Zhong said: Gongsun Li, it’s all about skill—don’t blame others if you can’t play.

After clearing the enemy jungle, he saw Zhuang Zhou and Lu Ban approaching. Jing and Hua Mulan retreated; Hua Mulan returned to lane, but Jing looped around to hide in the brush and prepare to ambush the shooter.

“Milady, come over—I’m about to get Little Lu Ban,” Yuan Zhong told Lin Hui.

Lin Hui nodded, “Here—I won’t let him farm comfortably.”

Checking Lian Po’s position, Yuan Zhong instructed, “Lian Po, back up a bit and let Little Lu Ban out.”

Qu Le Yu, of course, listened to her master and backed up directly.

“Hmm, this apprentice is too honest, can’t even fake it,” Milady commented from the other brush, “He abandons the minion wave and just backs up—looks suspicious. You’ll probably miss your ambush.”

Yuan Zhong remained silent.

At that moment, Zhuang Zhou tossed a skill into the brush, forcing Milady out. Lin Hui was about to retreat, but Little Lu Ban was aggressive and chased after her.

Yuan Zhong laughed, “He wants to fight—let’s indulge him. Lian Po, charge in. Either Lu Ban or Zhuang Zhou, doesn’t matter.”

Zhuang Zhou used his ultimate to cleanse, but Lian Po’s one-two-one combo cooled down faster and finally controlled Lu Ban. Jing entered smoothly and took Lu Ban’s head.

Gongsun Li arrived, ready to finish off Zhuang Zhou, but the enemy mid, Wang Zhaojun, appeared, used her ultimate, and froze Gongsun Li.

Yuan Zhong used a skill to dodge Wang Zhaojun’s ice rain, chained his combo, and sent her back to the fountain as well.

Qu Le Yu quickly liked, tapping over and over.

Gongsun Li didn’t even get an assist, feeling disgruntled. Not daring to complain about Jing, he vented at Lian Po: Useless!

Yuan Zhong replied: The support has three assists already. You’re the carry—don’t talk about kills, you don’t even have an assist, yet you still complain.

Qu Le Yu thought to herself: Exactly, if you can’t play, talk less.

Gongsun Li: …

Lin Hui said, “Didn’t expect you to defend your apprentice so fiercely.”

Yuan Zhong looked serious, “Focus—push the tower properly.”

In the end, Yuan Zhong fully leveraged Jing’s early-game advantage, suppressed Zhao Yun’s development, limited Lu Ban’s output, and their side secured the win in the mid-game.

Seeing the victory sign, Qu Le Yu let out a long breath: Now this is enjoyment.