Return – League of Legends c3

“You gambled?” Behind Zhang Xiao, Sun Hao asked in a low voice.

Zhang Xiao’s family wasn’t that well off, so it was hard to believe this guy had the capital to bet with. Besides, he remembered that Zhang Xiao have only played League a few times, not even owning a level 30 account. And he was sure that a few of his teammates hadn’t touched League before, yet, he’s betting?

“Not much, just a hundred bucks, and we’ve already won the last game. Don’t worry, if we win, I’ll invite you to eat barbecue with us,” Zhang Xiao said confidently.

Sun Hao didn’t say anything else, if Zhang had won with this same group of people against that guy, then everyone here must be really new to the game.

Both sides got into their sides in the lobby room, and the game began once they locked in their champions.

Zhang Xiao had picked Shyvana, the half dragoness. The middle lane seemed to be Ryze, the rogue mage and the ADC, Lucian, the light slinger with the yeti, Nunu as support… isn’t that Ahri? It seemed that Zhang Xiao was going to play jungle, and the Ryze was heading top; the mid lane belonging to the nine tailed fox, Ahri.

Well, that was according to his knowledge – Sun Hao had never seen anyone jungle with Ahri, although her ability to gank wasn’t bad, she took too long to clear the jungle and needed to hit level 6 to make use of her potential.

Across on the red side was the explorer, Ezreal as the ADC and Annie, the dark child as support. Ziggs, a bomber took the mid lane, and Jayce, the defender was top, with the jungler being Nidalee, a huntress. The team lineup had a lot of remote poke damage, but with low amounts of crowd control and a lack of a front line, it really depended on how well they played.

Although in his mind Sun Hao visualized how the game should’ve turned out to be, the reality was cruel and harsh.

Both sides went up to their lanes, but there was no jungler on the blue side – it was a 2 1 2 setup, with 2 champions top lane and bottom lane, and 1 in the middle. What the h.e.l.l? He groaned.

New players often ignored the jungle, because it was a strange area that was hidden from the wide view provided by the safety of the towers. And due to this, the mentality was probably that they should follow on those lanes, so the top lane suddenly was filled with two champions.

It wasn’t much better on the other side though, Sun Hao saw that Jayce and Nidalee ended up in the top lane as well. Ah, this really was going to be a legendary game.

Minions poured through the lane, and both sides waited as the minions clashed.

In League of Legends, last hitting was a very important skill that directly determined how much money a player would get. Only the killing blow on a minion would grant gold, and gold was essential to winning the game. After all, items bought with gold enhanced the stats of the champion, and without any items, the champion’s fighting ability would be low.

Much gold wasn’t earned so far, leaving it to luck for the minions to die or not, and level 2 came by without much ado. Then, Zhang Xiao sprayed fire with his Flame Breath on Shyvana, and activating Burnout, rushed towards the enemy champions.

The player controlling Jayce clearly was shocked, and just stood around hitting minions, but the Nidalee player calmly controlled the champion to accurately land a Javelin Toss, and pounce forwards as a leopard – Shyvana’s health dropped below half.

Alarmed, Zhang Xiao shouted, “How could they transform at level 2?!”

Listening to those words, Sun Hao almost face palmed; this guy actually thought that Nidalee needed until level 6 to level her R? Too stupid, unlike Shyvana, Nidalee had access to her transformation skill, R, at level 1.

Jayce snapped back to attention, and to follow up on the damage, leapt and struck Shyvana with his hammer. Zhang Xiao could only escape in a panic, luckily, his Burnout still was active and granted him the bonus movement speed to escape while Ryze rooted the chasing Nidalee in place, or else his team would’ve gotten first blooded.

First blood was the first kill in the game, and it gave bonus gold which could help s...o...b..ll the advantage early on.

Retreating to the towers, Zhang Xiao was relieved and pressed B, to recall back to base. The Ryze also didn’t dare fight, and after the enemy champions killed their minions, the minions pressed to the tower. Under the tower, the minions started to die from the turret shots. However, it seemed like Nidalee had also gone back as the champion was out of sight, so Zhang Xiao cancelled his recall and moved to grab the a couple of minions.

Sun Hao wrinkled his brow, because there was no vision present in the middle of the lane and the Nidalee had been out of sight for a while. This was a dangerous situation for sure. Suddenly, a cougar jumped from out of the bushes on the right side of the tower and came in range, a javelin closing on the dragoness.

First Blood!

A laugh came from the cougar as it leapt back towards the jungle.

“Where did they come from?!” His face was pale, feeling astonished as this female cougar came and left too quickly.

Sun Hao sighed, Nidalee’s pounce skill was a jump that could close a small gap of distance rather fast. With a gray screen, Zhang Xiao was going to resp.a.w.n back at the base in a couple of seconds. The worst part about his death was that the enemy didn’t even need to use any Summoner Spells, it could be described as a clean, profitable kill.

And just before Zhang Xiao’s Shyvana revived at the base, his screen lit up with another message.

Double Kill!

Zhang Xiao couldn’t help but swallow, and looked across the screens at Guo Zhi in disbelief. A look of scorn met his eyes, and he smirked. “I did say, there were some problems the last time I played. Let’s make this short, how about you surrender right now and give me the money.”

Surrender votes in the game were not available until the 20 minute mark, if he surrendered before 20 minutes, it would really be shameful.

His face ugly, Zhang Xiao muttered, “The win or loss hasn’t been determined yet, who knows, you might not get the 100 bucks.”

“100 bucks? Wasn’t it 1000?”

“What did you say?!”

Zhang Xiao angrily stood up and glared at Guo Zhi. “We agreed before that it’ll be 100!”

Sneering, he shook his head. “I can’t even drink tea with a 100 dollars? You’re just as poor as you look.”

The group of people nodded in agreement, some jeering. “100 dollars when we haven’t played this before? Are we beggars?”

“And Guo Zhi only getting a hundred bucks, what a joke.”

Zhang Xiao trembled with anger, but no one on his team spoke up. Seeing his teammates stare at him, he didn’t look too good. “Okay, let’s make it a 1000 dollars, let’s go!”

Those words were valiant, but Sun Hao shook his head. From both sides, it was obvious that the red side was much stronger, as well as having the early advantage, Zhang Xiao acted too much on impulse. And knowing Zhang Xiao’s family, 1000 dollars wasn’t a small number – it was equal to a month’s living expenses at least.

The match continued as the two sides continued to battle, and in addition to the top lane, the middle lane’s first line of turrets fell extremely early. If this trend continued, there would be no towers and left, certainly meaning defeat for Zhang’s team.

Their team fell dejected, and their faces showed that they didn’t simply think it was possible to win. Was it true, that Guo Zhi and his team threw the game on purpose last time? Else, how could the gap be so big? The Nidalee had already raked up 4 kills at this point.

“Zhi!”

At that moment, a cute voice ringed throughout the café, and an exposed figure strode towards Guo Zhi, kissed him and sat on his lap. The entire crowd of guys watched in envy, except Zhang Xiao, who, with a gloomy face held his head down as his hand holding the mouse quivered.

Sun Hao looked at her, and became very surprised – was this Yang Li? He didn’t recognize her, as in high school he recalled Yang Li dressed simply; he didn’t think that she’d change so much once she entered university.

“Come on, don’t disturb me right now, I’m gambling with your pathetic ex-boyfriend.” Guo Zhi moved her out of the way.

Yang Li yawned, and glanced to the opposite site with disdainful eyes. “What ex-boyfriend? Back then, I was young and naïve, and didn’t say a thing when he said was my boyfriend. Though… gambling?”

“Yeah, 1000 dollars.”

“Huh, only a 1000 dollars, that’s barely enough to eat a meal.” Yang Li curled her lips upwards.

Guo Zhi laughed. “No way, I didn’t decide to bet that much, it was your ex-boyfriend here. Can you believe it? He even started the bet with 100 dollars.”

“Wow, really?”

The two people spoke loudly, intent on provoking Zhang Xiao to put forth more money. Embarra.s.sed, Zhang Xiao was about to cry out in protest that although he may not have money, who did they think they were to insult his pride? But suddenly, Sun Hao sneered at the two. “Ah, it seems that you have a lot of money.”

“What’s the matter?” Guo Zhi turned towards Sun Hao.

Sun Hao pointed at Yang Li. “Since you have so much money, you bought your girlfriend a fake bag. I didn’t mention did I; my brother makes fakes for a living, and that precisely isn’t Chanel.”

“What?!” Guo Zhi was furious, and yelled, “How could a store bought bag be fake?”

“Oh, but there’s gold lining on the bag. The last time I talked with my brother, he said that the gold lining package is specifically used to cheat suckers. You should go back to the store, and press charges, get money from damages, and buy your girlfriend a new bag to make up for it.” Sun Hao said, as he winked at Guo Zhi.

Nidalee Double Kill