Chapter Four: The Floor-Level Marksman

“How is it?” Lin Hui patted her head. “Just hearing his voice is enough to satisfy you?”

Yuan Zhong nodded dumbly.

“There’s him, two classmates, and a random player. With you, that makes five,” Lin Hui said.

“Do you all know each other?” Yuan Zhong asked.

“One of his classmates happens to know me. At first, he looked down on girls, but now he often invites me to team up. The other one is probably his roommate—I don’t know him,” Lin Hui replied.

“Do you all use voice chat?” Yuan Zhong was concerned; she didn’t want to reveal herself.

“I rarely turn it on. Just listening is enough. You know me—I like to scold people, and sometimes I can’t help it even with teammates. If they hear it, it hurts their pride. Honestly, the one you like plays marksman pretty ordinarily. If not for his teammates, he’s just another typical player.”

Yuan Zhong’s eyes curved in a smile, refusing to admit anything, while continuing to silently give her idol a thumbs-up in her heart.

Returning to her own game interface, Yuan Zhong thought for a moment. This wouldn’t do—solo queue meant she couldn’t rely on teammates; it was safer to depend on herself and improve her rank first.

But what role to play? Marksman was definitely reserved for her idol. There were still mage, assassin, and warrior for damage output. She decided to try mage. With this in mind, Yuan Zhong bought quite a few mages and began a new round of learning.

She arranged “extra tutoring” for herself, following a gaming streamer, watching their video guides whenever she had time, and even started watching KPL tournaments to study lineup strategies.

Some skills she’d never have known if she hadn’t watched—turns out there was a lot to learn. Of course, many of the KPL strategies couldn’t be used in random matches due to lack of teamwork, but the hero countering tips were very useful.

The streamer’s explanations of hero techniques were far more detailed than the official tutorial videos, and the advice on rune and equipment choices was especially helpful.

In actual games, Yuan Zhong used only Angela, Zhen Ji, and Xiao Qiao to win streak after streak, quickly reaching Platinum rank. Gazing at the shining Platinum badge, she decided to wait a bit longer, to improve her skills and climb higher—only then would she make a good impression when queueing together.

Of course, she needed more heroes in her arsenal. Starting from Diamond rank, there was a draft mode where some heroes would get banned—relying on just three mages wouldn’t be safe.

Yuan Zhong resumed her routine of going home on weekends. In fact, she spent less time at school, because playing games in her own room at home was much more comfortable.

One night, she queued up for a solo match as usual. Watching her teammates’ picks, Yuan Zhong chose Mi Yue, a mage-tank who could jungle or split-push.

One minute in, the marksman gave away first blood. He revived and returned to his lane, but before two minutes had passed, he died again.

Teammate: Play safe, don’t feed.

Marksman: Sorry, wasn’t paying attention.

Another teammate: Pat, it’s okay.

So there were still good people in the game, Yuan Zhong thought. The marksman humbly admitted his mistake, and a teammate showed understanding—it was a harmonious match.

Having seen too many in-game arguments, Yuan Zhong preferred polite matches and, like Lin Hui, kept her mic off when cursing.

But over the next ten minutes, this marksman managed to become the enemy of his own team and a friend to the opponents, feeding seven kills.

Teammate: Are you on their side? Throwing on purpose!

Marksman: No, my connection’s bad.

Teammate: If your connection’s bad, don’t play.

Marksman: I’ll try standing by the window, see if it gets better.

Teammate: If your skills suck, just admit it. Bad connection—what a lousy excuse!

Marksman: I’ll do my best.

No sooner had he spoken than he died for the eighth time.

Marksman: Sorry! Really sorry!

Teammate: Surrender, don’t waste our time.

Another teammate: Girl or little kid? Go do your homework!

Yuan Zhong couldn’t hold back and typed: Play properly, stop whining.

She couldn’t understand why being bad at the game always got you labeled as a girl—or a brat. Why was that?

Teammate: Are you queueing together? He’s fed them so much, how can we win!

Yuan Zhong seized an opportunity. Using Mi Yue’s second skill, she chained the enemy mid-lane mage, Wang Zhaojun. Wang Zhaojun used her ultimate, but Mi Yue’s third skill granted immunity and dealt damage. As Wang Zhaojun, barely alive, tried to retreat, Mi Yue’s first skill was already waiting. She leaped forward, added a basic attack, and took the kill.

Yuan Zhong: See? This is how you play.

The marksman quickly gave a thumbs-up.

Teammate: Look at you, only one kill, huh.

Yuan Zhong said nothing, just signaled “Follow me,” and the marksman obediently trailed after Mi Yue.

At least this marksman was cooperative. Yuan Zhong led him through a jungle camp, then hid in the bushes, preparing to ambush the enemy marksman.

Mi Yue’s damage was limited, but her positioning was agile and she was tanky enough to draw fire. The marksman followed up with shots from behind, and together they took down the enemy marksman and support. The enemy mid-laner arrived for backup, their own assassin joined, and in the ensuing brawl, the enemy mage fell too.

Marksman: Amazing!

Yuan Zhong: Thanks.

The teammates fell silent. In King’s Canyon, strength speaks. There was another rule: to thrive here, you needed to be rich—your gold count had to be high. Yuan Zhong’s Mi Yue, with the marksman in tow, moved nimbly, cleverly securing two buffs and a jungle camp, narrowing the gold gap.

Their support joined, and the three of them pressed lanes, took jungle camps, and the enemy, used to their early advantage, failed to react in time. After one team wipe, Yuan Zhong’s side took down both inhibitor turrets.

Marksman: Amazing! 666! Well played!

But then, getting carried away, he greedily stayed too long for a jungle bird and was killed by the enemy assassin.

Yuan Zhong was both exasperated and amused. Checking the gold panel, she saw the Storm Dragon King was about to spawn—this would be tricky. After a moment’s thought, she signaled: Play safe, don’t overextend; clear the waves.

The marksman responded eagerly: Got it.

Recalling Lin Hui’s critique of her idol’s marksman skills, Yuan Zhong thought, That’s just because marksmen have it tough, always getting targeted. See, the difference is clear. Completely unaware she was comparing the worst of the worst.

Teammate: This won’t work. Late game needs a good marksman. Surrender, don’t waste time.

Yuan Zhong refused: What’s to be afraid of!

She checked the enemy’s items and their turrets, thinking, We have a two-lane advantage—time to use it. Grab the Storm Dragon King, group up and see what happens.

She glanced at her marksman’s build and typed: Buy a Guardian Angel.

Marksman: Not enough gold.

Yuan Zhong: Sell your boots and Witch’s Cloak.

Marksman: But that’s defense gear. Should I really sell it?

Yuan Zhong thought, With or without that cloak, could you possibly die any more? She replied: Sell it!

The marksman continued to tag along eagerly, clearing every creep and jungle monster he could.

Up ahead in the brush, Yuan Zhong sensed someone lurking and pinged for attention. Their assassin replied, “On it”—a good sign of awareness.

Support: I’ll activate Wolf Pack. Charge?

Yuan Zhong: Wait.

Assassin: I’ll check the vision, see if I can catch someone out.

If they could reduce the enemy’s numbers, contesting the Dragon King would be easier. Yuan Zhong replied, “Got it,” and hid with the marksman.

The enemy, used to their early lead, grew uncomfortable in a stalemate, and their mage foolishly waited alone in the bushes—easy prey for the assassin.

The minion wave was pushing in, and the enemy warrior showed up to clear it, exposing himself. Yuan Zhong found it amusing and signaled to attack the Dragon King, leading the marksman to start it decisively. The support and mage quickly joined, the assassin arrived, and with a Smite, they secured the Dragon King.

With the Dragon King buff closing the gold gap, they finally had a fighting chance.

Support: Initiate attack!

Support led the charge, followed closely by the mage and Mi Yue. Out of the corner of her eye, Yuan Zhong noticed the marksman being trailed by the enemy assassin—fatal! Mi Yue used her first skill to body-block for the marksman, absorbing most of the damage. At low health, she popped her third skill; their own assassin stepped in and took out the enemy assassin.

Up front, support was about to fall, the mage was barely alive, but thankfully the marksman caught up and started dealing damage. However, as a squishy with no mobility, he was soon clipped and killed, and Mi Yue couldn’t save him.

It’s over, Yuan Zhong’s heart sank. But in the next instant, the marksman revived with Guardian Angel!

Thank goodness for the Guardian Angel! What a close call—three for five, enemy team wiped.

The marksman was barely alive, his bodyguards all dead, and he got timid, actually starting to recall to base.

What are you thinking?! Yuan Zhong frantically pinged: Attack! Attack!

The assassin charged forward, pinging Attack! Attack! as well.

Thankfully, the marksman wasn’t completely hopeless and followed along.

With a bit of luck, the super minions charged in, and soon the enemy crystal was destroyed.

Support: That was really tough.

Marksman: Thanks, master.

As expected, Yuan Zhong earned MVP. As she exited the room, she glanced at the marksman’s account—“Not a Stingy Ghost”—and his stats at the end were passable.

Moments later, she received a friend request. She ignored it, preparing for the next match, but the queue took ages—four people were fighting over the mage role.

Checking the time, Yuan Zhong decided to log off. Another friend request popped up: Master, please carry me!

She opened it—it was “Not a Stingy Ghost” again. He actually called her “Master.” It was the first time anyone had called her that, and Yuan Zhong felt quite happy.

Thinking back, during the game, the other three mostly used voice chat, while she and the marksman typed in chat. This marksman must be a girl too, she guessed. After a moment’s thought, Yuan Zhong accepted.

In the second game, Not a Stingy Ghost stuck with marksman, this time picking Di Renjie. With his built-in cleanse, Yuan Zhong thought he’d be easier to carry, but he still unceremoniously gave away first blood at the start.

They fought over two Storm Dragon Kings that match. Yuan Zhong’s Angela scored thirty-one kills, repeatedly refusing her teammates’ surrender votes—it was exhausting.

At the start of the third game, Yuan Zhong typed: Pick someone more agile this time?

Not a Stingy Ghost: Sure!

Then chose Gongsun Li.

Yuan Zhong thought of “Chaplin’s Smile” and their nimble Gongsun Li, hoping this game would go better.

But it was just wishful thinking. Not a Stingy Ghost’s Gongsun Li was painful to watch, cementing her reputation as a bottom-tier marksman. If Yuan Zhong weren’t carrying, she’d have joined her teammates in flaming her.

Luckily, Yuan Zhong picked the meta-strong Chang’e, who could tank, deal damage, and jungle well, and their support, Xiahou Dun, was an initiation expert. They finished the game mid-match with a win.

A win was a win, but Yuan Zhong was mentally drained. She declined Not a Stingy Ghost’s fourth invitation, thinking: You really aren’t suited for the marksman role.

A message popped up from Not a Stingy Ghost: Master, can we play together again next time?

Yuan Zhong sighed, replied with a simple “Mm,” and then logged off.

If fate brought them together again, she’d see. For now, she needed a break.