Chapter 31 Part 2

Chen Wen shot back without an ounce of tact, “Dumbass. Rules are made for regular folks.”

Regular folks? Nobody here was regular. Some people’s talent just broke the curve.

Yun Qi trailed Chen Wen to the elevator. On the ride up, he decided he couldn’t stay in the dark if he was advancing. He picked his words carefully. “Can I jump right to the fourth floor?”

Chen Wen glanced over his shoulder. “You don’t seem to know your own strength.”

Yun Qi explained, “No, I just don’t know my way around here yet. I don’t want to undermine the fairness by relying on anyone’s favoritism and end up in a position that isn’t truly mine.”

Neither he nor Yu Jin needed connections—they had absolute confidence in their own abilities wherever they stood.

Chen Wen stood with his hands in his pockets. The elevator doors served as a mirror, reflecting their expressions clearly. Gazing at Yun Qi’s reflection, Chen Wen said, “Rules are made for ordinary folks. I checked your match history yesterday. I don’t get why he stuck you on the third floor. You should’ve started straight with the Second Team.”

Yun Qi was already familiar with the process: beat the Second Team to claim a spot on their starting roster, or challenge KRO’s substitutes to climb even higher.

What Chen Wen couldn’t fathom was that Yu Jin surely knew this guy’s strength inside out. He’d know exactly which floor he belonged on. So why start someone this capable at rock bottom? Curiosity getting the better of him, Chen Wen asked, “What’s your deal with Eidis?”

In the mirror, Yun Qi looked lean and unassuming. Chen Wen’s burly build dwarfed him, sapping any presence from Yun Qi’s side, and his movements were restrained—he clutched his wrist without so much as glancing up. “Nothing,” he replied flatly.

Chen Wen eyed the reflection, a faint smile playing on his lips. “I’ve never seen him vouch for anyone before. No matter how good they are, they’re just small-time to him. But he brought you in personally, so he must rate you highly. He knows your skill level, that’s for sure. So why make you grind from the basement?”

The elevator hummed steadily upward. Yun Qi had a clear grasp of Yu Jin’s reasoning. “I faced a lot of skepticism in my old esports team. He probably wants me to shut down the doubters, follow your standard process so everyone on every floor buys in completely.”

“Are you friends or something?” Chen Wen couldn’t quite pin down their relationship.

“…No.” Yun Qi wanted no part of that. He’d never acknowledge it, not in a million years.

The fourth floor arrived in a flash. Chen Wen stepped out first, with Yun Qi right behind him.

Yun Qi had passed through here on his first day, tagging along with Little Ji for a quick tour, but he’d never gone inside. Now, following Chen Wen, he found the layout much the same as the floors below—split into several training rooms.

Chen Wen tracked down the fourth floor’s manager and laid out the situation. The manager raised an eyebrow. “He passed all the tests downstairs?”

Chen Wen’s tone brimmed with pride. “Didn’t even play.”

The man blinked in surprise. “Didn’t play?”

“No need. Just match him against your best top laner, and you’ll see.”

Realization dawned on the manager—this was a ringer, fast-tracked right to them. His gaze turned wary as he sized up Yun Qi, then summoned the floor’s top top laner. The four of them headed to an empty training room, firing up the machines and chairs. Without a word of greeting, the two players dove straight in.

Yun Qi noted his opponent skipping the usual pre-game chit-chat—probably from steamrolling too many challengers to bother. He didn’t force it either, settling into his seat and swiping his trial card. Under the manager’s watchful eye, their 1v1 kicked off.

“You know all the fighter side laners?” his opponent asked.

“Yeah,” Yun Qi replied.

“First three games, same hero each time. Last two, random picks. That work?”

Yun Qi gave a curt nod.

Chen Wen and the manager took seats nearby. Chen Wen crossed his legs with the smug assurance of a man who knew what was coming. The manager, seeing his confidence, grew even more intrigued by this shortcut player.

It didn’t take long for him to figure out why Chen Wen had bent the rules.

In the first game, both picked Tuxie. Five minutes of trading blows, and the fourth-floor player lay dead six times. Yun Qi? Zero deaths.

Game two went to Lian. Both played it cagey, the fourth-floor guy landing silky-smooth combos without a single mistake. But each time his skills went on cooldown, Yun Qi turned the tables and took him down. It happened three times.

The third featured Yuri, a hero neither mains. Yun Qi still came out on top.

Chen Wen shot the manager a satisfied look. “Told you.”

The manager asked, “When did this kid join up?”

“Last week.”

“Last week? That’s only—”

“Five days, to be exact.”

The man went quiet, letting out a low whistle of admiration. After a beat, he said, “Send him straight to the Second Team.”

“Way ahead of you,” Chen Wen murmured. Then, almost to himself: “Eidis has one hell of an eye.”

In those mirror matches, Yun Qi swept all three. Even when his opponent pulled out his strongest heroes for the final two games, he couldn’t turn the tide. The guy across from him was leagues above—utterly untouchable, leaving him with zero comeback potential, even in favorable matchups.

After getting crushed in two more games, the guy on the fourth floor proved surprisingly honest—and humble enough to admit it. “I’m done,” he said. “Your skills are way above mine.”

The person in charge stirred the pot. “I’ve never seen you quit like this against anyone.”

“It’s not Brother Wen,” the player said as he stood up. “This guy’s from the first team, right?”

Chen Wen laughed. “Don’t you know everyone on the first team?”

The opponent eyed Yun Qi. “With skills like that, why send him down here? You trying to humiliate me?”

Chen Wen stood and walked over to Yun Qi. “We still have to follow the proper procedures.”

Then he flashed Yun Qi a thumbs-up. “You heard the man. You’re not cut out for this place.”

Yun Qi rose without any dramatics, calm as if nothing had happened. “Can I head down now?”

Chen Wen clapped his hands. “Go on.”

Before they left, the beaten rival shot Yun Qi several lingering glances. Chen Wen led his group away, and even the fourth floor’s person in charge couldn’t hold back. “This guy’s… probably something special.”

In those few games against Yun Qi, he’d had no chance to fight back at all. Forget trading blows—his best champions had been utterly dominated. In just a handful of matches, it left a deep scar on the fourth floor’s top top laner. “Brother Wen said he’s only been here how long?” he asked.

“Five days,” the person in charge replied, hands in his pockets. “Another Ziwei Star has shown up. The higher-ups are gonna be over the moon.”

“Five days,” the young man muttered to himself. “Five days…”

The person in charge was sharp and patted his shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t sweat it. Keep grinding. That’s the esports world—talent doesn’t pull punches. Producing another Eidis would be legendary.”

The young man slunk off into the training room.

The moment Chen Wen brought Yun Qi back to the third floor, a crowd swarmed them, demanding details. Chen Wen ignored the questions and ordered everyone to sit down.

A few sharp words from him, and the group settled down obediently.

Yun Qi took his seat at his computer station. Chen Wen slid a water cup over to him and leaned on the desk edge, voice low. “No need to climb the ladder one rung at a time. Head to the second team tomorrow. I’ll square it with Eidis.”

Yun Qi fingered his cup, staying level-headed. “If he wants me to go rung by rung, that’s what I’ll do. Plenty of people doubt me—this proves them wrong.”

Chen Wen shook his head. “Not necessary. This isn’t your old team. Whatever rules or skepticism they had there, I wouldn’t know. But here? Strength rules everything. We haven’t had a real standout in months, and the bosses upstairs are more antsy than we are. Boss Xu built this setup to unearth gold. You’ve got the goods—no one’s gonna question you. Not even Eidis.”

Yun Qi considered it, then nodded. “Your call.”

Only then did Chen Wen relax. “Good. I’ll update the higher-ups. Sit tight the next couple days, follow orders, keep practicing. Don’t let the noise get to you.”

Yun Qi flicked his eyes around the room, catching Chen Wen’s drift. The place buzzed with too much impatience.

Having won him over, Chen Wen turned to leave—but paused after a few steps and came back. “Almost forgot. One last thing before you go: help reclaim some pride around here.”

Yun Qi nodded knowingly. “The group PK match?”

Chen Wen’s eyes lit up with undisguised approval and fondness. “Exactly. Grab a few teammates and crush the next room over. Call it a parting gift for the crew.”

His confidence in Yun Qi was absolute. “In a few years, some folks here might brag about having played with you.”

Chen Wen made no secret of his admiration, and for the first time, Yun Qi truly felt what a meritocracy felt like. He recaptured that youth trainee vibe—adored by peers, valued by the bosses, days flowing peacefully.

But peace wouldn’t hold today.

When training wrapped, Yun Qi lingered.

Players drifted over, probing about the upstairs showdown. Yun Qi kept it modest. “Went fine. Close wins.”

He wasn’t about to gloat. After all the drama he’d weathered, he knew not everyone rooted for him.

They chatted briefly until Little Ji showed up, clapping enthusiastically. “You’re a beast! Stormed upstairs and owned them. Weren’t you a support before? How’s top laner this savage?”

Yun Qi dropped his guard with Little Ji. “Top lane’s my roots. Just back where I belong.”

“Then why switch to support in your old team?”

“They needed one, so I filled in. Complicated stuff.”

Little Ji whistled. “Respect. Can’t argue with that. Brother Wen’s beaming today—haven’t seen a monster like you in forever. I’m rooting for you.”