FOG

Shi Luo choked and pulled his hand back like hed suffered an electric shock. He was so ashamed and resentful that he blurted out, You were pretending and you actually admitted it?!

Yu Sui adjusted the hem of his T-shirt and said softly, You were rubbing so earnestly that my conscience couldnt bear it.

Shi Luo wanted to say you still have a conscience?. But thinking about it carefully, this person was indeed very conscientious. Saying this would be too hurtful. Shi Luo tried to hold back his blush.

Gritting his teeth, he said, Thats so magnanimous of you...

Shi Luo took a couple steps back and sat down on a cushion on the floor. He took out a cigarette and held it between his lips. He lighted it up and with ears completely red, he said nothing and began to smoke.

Yu Sui looked silently at Shi Luo. You were acting strange since we came back from the game. I dont know whats the matter with you. So I thought of tricking you into coming out so I can ask you.

Shi Luo blew out some smoke and frowned, You couldnt have just...called me?

Yu Sui looked at Shi Luo and asked in return, If I had called you, would you have come? Could you have let your guard down...and be honest?

Shi Luo took a puff and did not answer.

Lets chat. It seemed like the last time this happened between the two of them was two years ago.

Since their reunion, there have always been other people or other matters between the two of them. But even when theyre alone, they were unable to be completely calm.

Yu Sui actually didnt feel all that sad about how things have changed between them. If he wanted them to go back to those times when there werent any unpleasantness between them then that would take time. Theyve been apart for so long.

How was it possible to say, let bygones be bygones and let things just pass?

Misunderstanding can be clarified, gross injustices can be wiped clean, but wounds needed to slowly recover.

Yu Sui carefully observed Shi Luos expression. What did I accidentally do to make you unhappy?

Nothing. Shi Luo sullenly said, I was just shocked when I saw that feelings mediation talk show on your computer when we got back. I thought, I thought...

Yu Sui was at a loss. Thought what?

Shi Luo indignantly mumbled, I thought you really wanted to send me and Violent Shu to that kind of show.

Yu Sui: ...

Yu Sui tried his hardest to make himself appear like a normal person. I just havent seen this kind of thing before. I was curious. I wanted to take a look.

It would be impossible to send you to participate in this kind of thing...

Yeah. I figured that after some thought. Shi Luo smoked another cigarette. He said reluctantly, My brain just short-circuited during dinner. Afterwards, I didnt think about it anymore.

Shi Luo looked distrustfully at Yu Sui. Is your stomach really ok?

Its really fine. Yu Sui made his slag-ness clear. Its not uncomfortable at all. I was pretending all that time just to trick you into looking for me.

Shi Luo was so furious that he snatched back the cup of water he had just gotten for Yu Sui.

Yu Sui reminded him. But I already drank it.

Shi Luos eyes were black and bright. Hes already drank it so theres no way to retaliate?

Shi Luo took a puff of cigarette. He raised his hand and flicked soot into Yu Suis cup.

This action simply couldnt be any ruder.

But when Yu Sui looked at him, Shi Luo obviously had on a flippant and impudent expression touched with a bit of regret that he might have been too rude. The corner of Yu Suis lips slightly ticked up.

Hes still a little brat.

Yu Suis cell phone suddenly rang. Shi Luo frowned. Zhou Huo? He was the one who asked me to look after you just now.

You talk to him. Im gonna head out.

Before Shi Luo could get up, Yu Sui shook his head. Gu Gan.

Yu Sui pressed the hands-free option.

Yu Sui?

Over the phone, Gu Gan said, Congratulations to Yu Shen on your first victory.

Thanks. Yu Sui raised his eyes and looked at Shi Luo. Shi Luos here with me. Is something the matter?

Gu Gans voice came over the loudspeaker, Evil, I watched your game today. You played well.

Shi Luo said in a muffled voice, I didnt really play well. I wasnt able to cooperate well.

Youve just formed a team. Thats normal. Just try to learn to get along slowly. Ive got something to tell you guys. Over at the other end of the line Gu Gans voice dropped a bit deeper.

European Divisions Sacred Sword Team asked us for a practice match.

Yu Suis eyes met with Shi Luos.

Gu Gan added, By the way, Sacred Sword scheduled a practice match with Saint yesterday.

Saint, Angel Swords team, the Chinese Division champions last year.

Are all the teams in the European division dead? They couldnt find anyone to practice with so they absolutely had to insist on practicing with the team in our division? Shi Luo narrowed his eyes. Who won?

Gu Gan said, Sacred Sword.

They played three games? Shi Luo frowned and questioned closely, How many to how many?

Gu Gan sighed, Two to zero.

Shi Luo extinguished the cigarette butt. F*ck.

The details of the practice match cant be made public. This is the most basic professionalism.

It was inconvenient for Saint to tell us more but they contacted our manager today and told him that if Sacred Sword asks for a practice match, we should find a way to politely refuse. Gu Gan paused for a few seconds. Its probably because...

Although their entire team has been replaced, their overall style is still the same. They love to crush their opponents to the point of breaking their spirit. They play a bit dirty...you understand.

Worried that the two didnt understand, Gu Gan said it more bluntly, Even if they crush you in the game, they wont end the match. They wont destroy the resurrection stone either. They also love making their medic guard the resurrection stone and having him kill anyone that resurrects.

Yu Sui said, exasperated, No need to jog my memory. I remember my sins full well.

Gu Gan, his straight-man-ness going off the charts, nodded, saying, Right, thats what you did to Shi Luo back then.

Shi Luo felt entirely ill at ease and quietly lit a cigarette.

Gu Gan said to himself, I thought that when you guys left Sacred Sword, they would at least need one season to recover. I never thought theyd be able to crush our no. 1 team right after theyd just reorganized.

They have nothing they need to recover from. Yu Sui put down the phone between himself and Shi Luo. He said slowly, Our departure wasnt sudden. As early as half a year ago, the management of the Sacred Sword Team was already asking me to renew the contract. I never expressed any desire to.

Sacred Sword must have been forming a new team half a year ago or even earlier than that.

So thats it... On the other end of the line, Gu Gan sounded lost in thought. That makes sense. They had ample time. Not to mention, this time they absorbed two teams in one go.

They have more than enough players to choose from.

Gu Gan added. Now I understand.

Two years ago, I didnt understand how a European club like theirs could be so clear on the situation of the clubs over here and were even able to immediately contact Ji Yanhan...turns out theyre the kind of club that specializes in buying teams and stripping it down, ah.

Shi Luo didnt care about what kind of foul operations Sacred Sword was involved in. He interrupted Gu Gan and questioned closely, Captain Gu, so after Saints manager warned you, what happened? Did you decline their invitation for a practice match?

Gu Gan said over the phone, No.

Shi Luo: ...

Gu Gan said, We agreed.

Yu Sui smiled.

Captain Gu, you... Shi Luo gritted his teeth, ... Should I be thanking Sacred Sword in advance for their Mental Collapse Gift Package to Wawa?

What could we have done otherwise? Reject them? Gu Gan said, Although NSN doesnt have any achievements to show in recent years, were also an old club that has survived for ten long years. No matter how great the disparity we must face it with our all. They have already come right at our doorsteps.

How could we possibly reject their invitation because were afraid?

Shi Luo was speechless for a while.

Yu Sui whispered, The pride of an old veteran. They cant refuse.

Evil, although you were only with NSN for two months, I still think of you as one of my former teammates. Gu Gan said, voice deep, Dont throw away the arrogance of a pro-player just because you squandered away two years at IAC. We may lose but we may not be afraid. Always remember this.

... Shi Luo wanted to defend himself, explain that he was only worried for Wawa, who had weak psychological endurance. If it were himself, of course, he wouldnt be afraid. But Shi Luo has always been very respectful towards Gu Gan and he didnt want to talk back.

He couldnt only behave himself and listen to his admonishment. Im sorry, Captain Gu. I understand.

Gu Gan was also worthy of playing as a striker. When he attacked, he made sure to gun everything down. He added, Whats more, you shouldnt give up on yourself just because youve gone to Free, this new team of less than a month, with absolutely no heritage to speak of.

You can always treat NSN as your mother team. Remember our NSNs team training, take our motto as yours. Never say never, remember?

... Yu Sui asked hesitantly, Gu Gan, are you trying to use a crowd taunt? Shi Luos mother team should be FS, shouldnt it?

But this ID, Evil, was registered with our team. Gu Gan didnt even have to think about it. No matter how you think about it, Evil is a player who emerged from our team. Back then, when he was at NSN, he dared to stand firm against Sacred Sword, now, hes actually thinking of running away.

Shi Luo was intimidated by Gu Gans overwhelming sense of moral courage and righteousness. He gave up on trying to explain and reluctantly said, I-I understand. I wont...give up on myself.

Gu Gan was relieved. Tomorrow, after the match, I will tell you the result. Ill hang up.

Gu Gans vehement presentation of his views thoroughly diffused the charm that had suffused Yu Suis room just now. The two of them looked at each other and then helplessly got up and headed towards the training room to continue practice.

With a strong enemy eyeing them menacingly, where would they have the time to fix that matter about that stomachache?

The next day, Zhou Huo returned to the base, taking advantage of everyone having lunch in the dining room, he said, looking mysterious, Have you all heard that Saint had a practice match with Sacred Sword the day before yesterday?

We know. Puppys face was calm. Yu Sui told us, two to zero. Our former boss is rich, our former boss is terrifying, our former boss is scary good.

Hey, stop praising them! Zhou Huo said, Then do you know how miserably they bullied around Saint during the second game?

Old Qiao frowned. How would you know this kind of detail? Let me remind you guys now, we dont play dirty here. Stealing the details of another teams training matches must never ever be done.

Never, no matter when or in which competitive region.

Relax, would I invite this kind of trouble upon myself? Zhou Huo whispered, It was Saints sniper, Illusion. He was so angry that he let it slip during his live broadcast. Illusions not very popular and not a lot of people watch his broadcasts so not a lot of people know.

It only spread to a small group.

Old Qiao breathed out a sigh of relief. Then elaborate.

Theres not much to tell either. Illusion only said a few things.

They played two games. The first was fine, they lost, thats all. You know, Sacred Swords style has always been that the more they win, the more confident they are, and the more confident they are, the better they play. Their performance was even better during the second game.

From the very start, they pushed around Saint. Saint never could have imagined that a newly formed team could abuse their championship team that much. Their mentality was a bit unstable. The more they played, the more they went to pieces.

In the end...

It seems that Sacred Sword heard that Angel Swords the best medic in our region. Oh, the former being... Zhou Huo looked at Yu Sui and waved his hand, So they deliberately targeted Angel Sword. But Angel Swords a pure milktank-type medic. He cant even use his dagger.

He was abused but had no way to fight back. He could only endure. They attacked him the entire game. He couldnt even leave the resurrection stone.

Sigh...

Chen Huo and Angel Sword teamed up just yesterday. He frowned. F*ck, hes a good guy! What are they bullying him for?

Theyre deliberately making people sick with disgust. Zhou Huo spreads his hands. Thankfully, Angel Sword has a good mentality. He didnt say anything despite being targeted and abused for an entire game. After the game, he did what had to be done and even took the team to review the game.

It was Illusion who couldnt take it. He refused to do the game review and went off on his own to play single row. Finally, it was Angel Sword by himself, who dragged Illusion to do the game review. He couldnt help telling this during his live broadcast, thats how I found out.

A small incident of going AWOL. Puppys thoughts were starting to drift. The more he heard, the more wistful he became. Why is their medic so warm and so gentle?

Illusion refused to go to the game review and not only was he not beaten for it, Angel Sword even brought him to do a personal game review? What kind of angel is that?

Yu Sui swallowed his mouthful of food and looked at Puppy. What were you saying?

Nothing, nothing. Puppy gave a forced laugh. I was so moved I just couldnt help it. Sigh, Sacred Sword is sick. Everyone knows they bought the players from two whole teams.

What do they think theyre doing crossing over the ocean just to show off?!

Throwing down the gauntlet in advance. Zhou Huo shook his head. They asked NSN for a practice match today. I hope NSN can teach them to have some decency.

Old Qiao nodded. Lets keep our hopes up. NSNs not some vegetarian. Theyve also added a genius sniper this year.

Theyre very fierce.

Shi Luo put down his chopsticks. I hope so.

That evening, just after their practice game, Shi Luo received a message.

[AWA]: [Shi Ge, is it too late for me to change to a striker now?]

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Translators Notes: Alsooooo, its summer, baby! BBQs, surf, sand, the works! Though, not really, coz a lot of us are at home because of covid. But!

That doesnt mean theres no fun to be had! Because CG is hosting a contest to celebrate reaching 5000 members on discord. So time to show your stuff and win some great prizes too! So check it out!

PS: Theres a fanfic and drawing contest there too and even if you dont enter any of the contest, I suggest you check out the submissions! =)