Chapter Twenty-One: A Bit Stifled

Page (1/3)

Soon after, a player using Da Qiao requested to join the team. Unreliable thought he seemed decent and accepted. However, Precious Gold instantly kicked him out: "He only plays mage and support. Forget it." Stingy chimed in, "He’s not a team player." Unreliable felt a bit sorry for the guy. "His Da Qiao is well played, and his awareness is solid. As for harmony..." Precious Gold said, "He started the fight—he took my Da Qiao." Stingy added, "Exactly, Unreliable, don’t confuse right and wrong. Don’t forget who carried you to victory. Think about those N consecutive defeats before."

Alright, Unreliable decided to comply. "By the way, Gold, you don’t have a boyfriend, do you?" No sooner had he asked than he heard choking noises through the headset. "Don’t be so worked up, take care." Precious Gold coughed twice, holding down the mic. Stingy didn’t say anything, but he was curious too.

"Why do you ask?" Precious Gold inquired.

"Because you always roast people at the drop of a hat, and prickly at the slightest provocation. With that fiery temper, not everyone can handle you," Unreliable exaggerated.

"It’s just a game, can’t take it seriously." Precious Gold didn’t answer directly.

Stingy couldn’t help but ask, "What are you like in real life?"

"Pretty much the same," Precious Gold muttered, changing the topic. "Unreliable, play Gongsun Li again."

This round, Yao was banned once more, but Precious Gold finally got her beloved Da Qiao.

Glancing at her Da Qiao, Unreliable asked, "Your proficiency isn’t high, is it?"

"Yeah, never got a chance to play her in ranked," Precious Gold replied.

"Never played ranked? Zero matches!" Unreliable was unsettled. "Maybe we should practice first?"

"Told you, never got the chance. Relax, I know what I’m doing."

Stingy said, "Didn’t you say my master’s Taiyi is top-tier? Both are support, pretty similar."

Unreliable thought it over. "True, both are support, but Da Qiao’s playstyle is very different from Taiyi. Especially the way you place the return circle..."

"I get it. If the circle isn’t well-placed, you can just avoid stepping in," Precious Gold replied with a hint of annoyance.

Unreliable chuckled. "I trust you."

Both Unreliable and Stingy tacitly dropped the boyfriend topic.

At the start, Da Qiao headed mid to help secure the wave, then strolled leisurely along the river, even peeking into the enemy jungle.

"The enemy jungler started red, coming for blue," Precious Gold announced, entering the enemy jungle and attacking the blue buff.

Unreliable acknowledged quickly and rushed over.

"Our jungler Zhao Yun’s at mid, contesting the river spirit," Stingy reported. "Got it, he’s heading your way."

Zhao Yun joined, speeding up the takedown.

"The enemy jungler is heading to the blue side, watch out," Stingy warned.

No sooner had he spoken than the enemy jungle, Mirror, charged in, popped her ultimate, and tried to lock them down.

Precious Gold had already placed Da Qiao’s circle in advance. Watching Zhao Yun’s health drop, just as he was about to die, he vanished.

Gongsun Li, after returning, used her umbrella to get back to the river, heading under the tower.

Da Qiao followed, blocking the remaining damage from Mirror.

"How was that circle just now?" Precious Gold asked.

"Pretty good, very timely," Unreliable affirmed. "Keep it up."

"Da Qiao’s circle has a four-second delay. I know—just need to place it early. It’s simple," Precious Gold said.

"It’s not just timing, but also positioning," Unreliable reminded, about to say more when Stingy interrupted, "Are you addicted to nagging?"

Page (1/3)

Page (2/3)

Fine, Unreliable shut up, venting his frustration by hitting minions. No one appreciates a good guy!

After clearing the wave and seeing only the enemy marksman under the tower, Da Qiao placed a circle. "Tower dive, hit it twice." With that, she entered first, Gongsun Li threw her umbrella, followed in, tapped the tower, and teleported back just as the tower damage was about to finish them off.

"Isn’t it a bit early to dive and take down the tower? Wait for more damage," Unreliable commented.

"I need the practice," Precious Gold replied.

Alright, Unreliable could only accept it.

Jungler Zhao Yun arrived, comboed the careless marksman, leaving only the enemy support. Precious Gold placed another circle under the tower, and the three went in to attack the turret.

The enemy support used the interference summoner skill, making the turret invincible.

"Retreat," Unreliable gave up on hitting the tower, used her umbrella to retreat.

In a flash, Mirror rushed in, unleashed her ultimate. Zhao Yun was at half health, took two more tower shots, his health dangerously low. The return circle hadn’t activated yet, and Zhao Yun was gone. Da Qiao got lucky, teleporting back with just a sliver of health left.

Zhao Yun’s player was unsettled: "Death elevator!"

Precious Gold: "An accident—I forgot their support had interference."

"You forgot that?" Zhao Yun typed a string of question marks.

Precious Gold replied, "Then why didn’t you remember either?"

Unreliable said, "I’m partly to blame too, retreated too quickly."

Zhao Yun’s player: "Alright, you two teamed up to sell me."

Precious Gold was getting annoyed. "Can’t you be a little more magnanimous? It’s just one mistake, and you chose to go in yourself."

Zhao Yun’s player: "Alright, got it."

During the next team fight, Zhao Yun avoided Da Qiao’s return circle, comboed, dodged enemy skills, jumped away, and hid in the bush to recall.

"I’m speechless, why don’t you just take the elevator back and rejoin?" Precious Gold said.

"I chose not to," Zhao Yun’s player had his own style.

"You’re crazy! Stingy!" Precious Gold cursed.

Stingy answered, "Yes, Master, what do you need?"

"No, I was cursing him as Stingy. It’s just one death." Precious Gold explained.

"Yeah, not entirely your fault. Unreliable’s responsible too," Stingy said.

Unreliable sighed; Gold’s mechanics were good but she always stirred up trouble. So he tried to smooth things over. "Zhao Yun, we men don’t hold grudges. Let’s play well."

Zhao Yun’s player asked, "Are you Unreliable? That streamer?"

"Haha, that’s me." Unreliable admitted readily. It’s normal to be recognized while gaming.

Zhao Yun’s player: "I’ve watched your streams. Rare to run into you."

"Yeah, fate! Let’s play well, brother." Unreliable encouraged.

"Alright, for your sake."

Precious Gold added, "I’m with him." Intentionally provoking.

Zhao Yun’s player: "Unreliable, are you recording? I’ll show off, not holding it against you, Da Qiao."

Precious Gold was curious, asking Unreliable, "Are you streaming?"

"No, but I am recording to make videos later. Gold, play well."

"I am playing well. Occasional mistakes are normal, and I admitted it humbly—actually, it wasn’t even a real mistake." Precious Gold insisted.

Zhao Yun’s player: "Supports should pay attention to enemy summoner skills, and not randomly place death elevators."

"You really are... petty!" Precious Gold confirmed again.

Unreliable yelled, "Enough! Fight, hurry up and fight!"

Page (2/3)

Page (3/3)

Precious Gold, watching her teammates’ positions, placed the return elevator, then used her ultimate, reviving her allies and calling them back again. Da Qiao’s strength lay in pulling—after a combo, low health, teleport back, return at full health, and keep fighting.

Chasing under the enemy tower, Precious Gold saw the enemy marksman at half health, clearing minions under the turret. "Zhao Yun, attack the marksman, I’ll give you a circle."

This time Zhao Yun didn’t hesitate, skillfully struck and secured the kill, then took the elevator back.

Unreliable also tapped the tower twice, took the elevator back, jumped over with her umbrella, and returned at full health. "These last two fights were well played."

"I haven’t had much chance to use Da Qiao, but I’ve studied her," Precious Gold said.

"Hey Gold, you’re so fixated on playing support—who are you trying to support?" Unreliable noticed and asked.

Precious Gold paused, saying nothing.

"To support your boyfriend, of course," Zhao Yun’s player chimed in. "But with your personality, can you even have a boyfriend?"

Stingy spoke up, "Hey, cut the nonsense!"

Zhao Yun’s player: "Step aside, disciple. This Da Qiao could use a beating, but she’s playing decently. Look at your stats—do you even have the right to talk?"

Stingy: "…" Had no choice but to call his master.

Precious Gold retorted, "You Zhao Yun only have seven kills. That’s about it for this match. Can’t carry, so you have no right to criticize others."

Zhao Yun’s player: "Are you blind? I’m playing so well."

"Seems you’re not only petty, but also lack self-awareness," Precious Gold said. "If I were playing Zhao Yun, in a match like this, ten kills would be the minimum."

"You’re bluffing!" Zhao Yun’s player didn’t believe it.

"If you’ve got guts, don’t leave next match. Watch my master play Zhao Yun and blind you with brilliance!" Stingy declared.

Unreliable was losing patience with this master-disciple pair and started singing.

"Awful!" The three responded in unison.

Unreliable shifted attention. "We’re so lively, yet our other teammate is totally silent."

"No in-game chat, probably just focused on playing," Precious Gold said. "He’s playing well, contributed in the last teamfight."

"So let’s stop chatting and focus on the game," Unreliable advised.

Top lane, Zhao Yun had a skirmish with Mirror. Da Qiao brought Gongsun Li over, together they secured Mirror’s kill.

Zhao Yun, with low health, waited for Da Qiao’s elevator.

Precious Gold controlled Da Qiao, placing the return circle outside the canyon wall.

Zhao Yun’s player: "What’s your deal?"

Precious Gold: "Zhao Yun’s good at jumping. Try and see if you can leap in." Then walked off.

Unreliable was speechless. "You can’t be picky with teammates when playing Da Qiao—you rely on them to fight."

Precious Gold: "I can do without him."

Unreliable: "You’re stirring up trouble again!"

Despite a bit of internal squabbling, the game was going smoothly. Unreliable’s Gongsun Li was carrying, Zhao Yun and the tank were solid, and Precious Gold fully utilized Da Qiao’s pull effect. Even if Stingy was just along for the ride, it didn’t matter. They quickly clinched victory.

"Next match, I’ll pull you in. Don’t run," Stingy said.

Zhao Yun’s player: "Alright!"

Unreliable asked Precious Gold, "So you won’t play support next match?"

"Not just for buns, but for pride—I want to show off," Precious Gold said. Yes, playing support could be a bit stifling.

Page (3/3)