Jiang Shuiyun nodded; she believed that no one would let her down.
After a short break, the game continued. Team Fengjue was still holding firm, not giving Team Shenji any chance to break through. Team Shenji didn't seem to be in a hurry or care, and didn't seem to have any intention of continuing to attack.
Just when everyone thought it might be difficult to get a result today, Jiang Shuiyun's striker surprised everyone by launching a rapid attack in an almost suicidal manner.
This was unexpected not only by the Fengjue team, but even the commentators almost couldn't keep up with the turn of events. Jiang Shuiyun's attack caught them off guard. The Fengjue team reacted quickly, focusing all their firepower on Jiang Shuiyun. However, even so, Jiang Shuiyun still managed to take away one of the Fengjue team's control abilities before she died, and also caused some damage to the other members of the Fengjue team.
Without giving the Wind Extinction Team a moment to catch their breath, the Miracle Team quickly followed from a short distance away. The Slaughter Apostle followed the opening Jiang Shuiyun had torn open and directly pushed into the interior of the Wind Extinction Team. His excessively thick health bar allowed him to hold on for a while while absorbing all of the enemy's firepower.
Yao Yao Ling, wielding a sword, also entered the battlefield with lightning speed. Viper appeared in the distance and took away the sharpshooter of the Wind Absolute Team.
With the Wind Team's fate sealed, and thanks to coordinated attacks from both inside and outside, the game was quickly decided, and victory belonged to the Miracle Team.
Everyone couldn't help but stand up, clenching their fists. Although the fight was incredibly tough, they had won! They had truly defeated the Windfall Team!
The cheers from the audience continued for a long time. Jiang Shuiyun remained seated, looking at Yi Jinbai below the stage. The two exchanged a glance, understanding each other's meaning.
With the conclusion of this match, the top four teams have been determined. Miracle Team defeated Wind Absolute Team by one point to become number one.
After the match, the two teams shook hands. Feng Jue looked at Jiang Shuiyun and said, "Truly, each generation is stronger than the last."
"You flatter me."
Jiang Shuiyun was a little modest, and the two shook hands with smiles. In the eyes of countless game fans, it was like a kind of inheritance and handover. The legendary Fengjue team was about to step down from its pedestal, while the new legendary Shenji team would once again stand at the top.
After an interview, Jiang Shuiyun was finally able to leave. She had changed her clothes and was sitting in the lounge when she sent a message to Yi Jinbai.
Jiang Shuiyun: Where are you?
[Yi Jinbai: At the door.]
Jiang Shuiyun: I'm coming over now.
Jiang Shuiyun put away her phone, stood up, and looked at the other team members, "You guys go back to the hotel first, I'll go back later."
"Oh~ You must be going to see Sister Jinbai, right? We miss Sister Jinbai too, let's go together."
Yao Yao Ling immediately saw through the deception and deliberately teased Jiang Shuiyun.
"Stop being so cocky, let's go," Viper, who was known to deal with Yao Yao Ling, grabbed her and, along with Jiao Yang, led her away. "Have a good date, Captain!"
"Go, Captain!" The Killing Apostle nodded and winked; this kid was starting to learn bad habits from Yao Yao Ling.
"Captain, put on your hat and mask properly, so you don't get recognized."
Jian Mang carefully reminded Jiang Shuiyun to cover her face, and Jiang Shuiyun nodded in agreement.
After everyone left, Jiang Shuiyun put on a hat and mask. Actually, she felt a little complicated. They had never known that she and Yi Jinbai were not in a romantic relationship at all. They still thought that she and Yi Jinbai were a married couple. But she didn't know how to explain it. It seemed like she would be making a fuss over nothing.
Unable to come up with a solution, Jiang Shuiyun simply stopped thinking about it, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and walked out.
The audience had all left, and although Yi Jinbai was wearing a hat and a mask, Jiang Shuiyun still recognized her at a glance.
Approaching Yi Jinbai from behind, Jiang Shuiyun patted her shoulder from the left, stood to Yi Jinbai's right, and seeing that Yi Jinbai had been successfully fooled, raised her hand and ruffled the top of her head through her hat, "Why did you suddenly come over?"
"I've already finished recording the single, so I came to watch your competition."
Yi Jinbai straightened his hat and scoffed at Jiang Shuiyun's childish game, "Why are you alone? Where are Viper and the others?"
"They thought we were on a date, so they kindly gave me some space."
Jiang Shuiyun put her arm around Yi Jinbai's shoulder and showed her her reddened hand. "My joints were already stiff from exhaustion, and then I slammed my hand on the door frame when I left."
Yi Jinbai's face was slightly flushed under her mask, but she quickly checked Jiang Shuiyun's hand. There was a red mark, but it wasn't serious. "It seems to be nothing. It will disappear in a few minutes and won't affect your upcoming match."
"Are you staying in H City for the next few days? Will we go back together after the competition?"
Speaking of this, Jiang Shuiyun took two quick steps, backing up to face Yi Jinbai and asking him, her eyes filled with anticipation. She thought that if she could really win the championship, then Yi Jinbai would be able to see it with his own eyes.
"Walk carefully, be careful not to bump into telephone poles," Yi Jinbai had originally planned to wait until their competition was over before going back, but now that Jiang Shuiyun asked this, he felt a little embarrassed and answered more tactfully, "Going back early won't cause any problems."
"Then come back with us. By the way, which hotel are you staying at now?"
Jiang Shuiyun made no attempt to hide her joy and asked Yi Jinbai in a lighthearted tone.
"It's a hotel a bit further from yours, over there."
Yi Jinbai could easily find the hotels arranged by the organizers for each team online; this was all public information. However, the rooms at that hotel had already been booked, and she still had to go to great lengths to book a hotel that wasn't too far away.
"Why stay so far away? There's a pretty good one right next to our hotel. I'll go with you to check out. Staying next to us will make it easier for you to go to the competition with us."
Before checking in, Jiang Shuiyun would always pay attention to the surrounding area. There were two large hotels in their area, both of which were quite nice.
Yi Jinbai knew about the hotel next door, of course, but it was a five-star hotel with ridiculously high prices. "No need, it's not that far. The hotel rooms there are too expensive."
“But I feel more at ease if you stay there,” Jiang Shuiyun said, adding that a slightly higher price also meant greater safety. As a girl staying in a hotel alone, Yi Jinbai needed to be extra careful. Jiang Shuiyun gave her no room for doubt and hailed a taxi on the roadside. “Let’s go, I’ll help you with your luggage.”
Yi Jinbai couldn't persuade Jiang Shuiyun, so he could only tell the driver the name of the hotel he was staying at, and then go there with Jiang Shuiyun.
After checking out, Jiang Shuiyun took Yi Jinbai's meager luggage and went with him to a nicer hotel. They checked in and stayed there until the day after the finals ended, as there might be more events later on, and it was always good to be well-prepared.
Yi Jinbai's arrival was like a shot in the arm for the Miracle Team. Coupled with their victory over the Wind Absolute Team, their confidence soared as they prepared for the final showdown.
The final four teams will compete in a double-elimination tournament. This means that the first and second place teams, Miracle and Wind, will compete in the winners' bracket, while the third and fourth place teams, Wave Chaser, will compete against another team. After one round of matches, the winners from each group will form the winners' bracket, and the losers will form the losers' bracket. Then, another round of matches will be held, with the losers from the winners' bracket playing against the winners from the losers' bracket, and the winners from the losers' bracket playing against the winners from the winners' bracket. The winner of the final round will be the SWC champion.
On the first day of the semifinals, Miracle Team faced Wind Absolute Team again. With the confidence gained from the first match, they swept through the competition this time, winning the fourth game in a best-of-five series and defeating Wind Absolute Team once again.
Similarly, in the afternoon match, the Zhulang team defeated the fourth-place team and will face the Shenji team again in the morning match the following day.
Zhu Lang looked at Jiang Shuiyun with a wry smile. He really felt that there was something magical about the Miracle Team. Not only did they seem to get stronger when facing stronger opponents, but they also had a strange growth rate. In just one or two months, their growth rate was faster than that of others in one or two years. It was as if they had taken hormones and were growing rapidly.
"I've faced you guys so many times and I've never won."
As expected, Team Zhulang lost, "but we also won a game against you this time."
"I look forward to seeing you all again in the future."
Jiang Shuiyun also respects such an opponent.
"Seriously? You guys have so little faith in us? You're convinced we can't beat the Windfall Team?"
Captain Zhulang shook his head with a wry smile. Indeed, it was obvious without even looking at the results of the next group that the Fengjue team would be strong. So, the next match would definitely be between the Zhulang team and the Fengjue team, with the winner going on to compete against the Shenji team in the final.
"I misspoke, next time."
Jiang Shuiyun smiled and changed her tune, then saw the Zhulang team off.
As expected, the next afternoon, the Fengjue team easily defeated the fourth-place team and faced off against the Zhulang team.
The rematch between these two old rivals was quite a spectacle, but in the end, the Fengjue team won the final game, defeating the Zhulang team 3-2.
The final matchups have been decided: Miracle Team versus Windless Team.
The final night has arrived, and all the live streaming platforms are ready. It has been trending on social media for a whole day, and the promotion is very thorough. With the help of various activities, the cumulative number of viewers has broken records. This year's SWC is also known as the battle of the gods. After all, such a powerful showdown may only happen once in a lifetime, and it has completely surpassed the level of so many previous editions.
From a third-rate team to standing at the top, the Miracle Team's journey is legendary, and Jiang Shuiyun is the core of this legend. Her record for consecutive highest and fastest scores remains unbroken and is unlikely to be broken in the future. Her skills are unprecedented and will be unparalleled in the future, making her an indelible figure in everyone's memory.
Sitting in front of the computer again, everyone's expression turned serious. Jiang Shuiyun also breathed a slight sigh of relief. This was the last competition, and success or failure depended on this one move.
That night, almost every match ended with a new trending topic. It was a glorious night for the Miracle Team and Jiang Shuiyun's legendary performance. Her marksman and forward skills once again created a miracle, and the match recordings were even permanently displayed at the top of the official showcase.
When she saw the enemy's last high ground fall and their last soldier die, Jiang Shuiyun raised her hand. Finally, she had done it.
When the game ended and the host announced the results, everyone on the Miracle Team was stunned. All their hard work over the past few days seemed to have suddenly come to fruition. Their past despondency and low points had become history. They were no longer a trash team that could be insulted and despised at will. They had stood at the top again and reclaimed the glory that belonged to them.
This will also mark the beginning of a new era for them.
When the Miracle Team stood on the podium and finally won the championship trophy, everyone cheered and celebrated. Confetti rained down, dazzling everyone's eyes. Excitement rang out from countless places. Jiang Shuiyun lowered her eyes and looked towards the audience.
Yi Jinbai wasn't the type to show her emotions outwardly, and she seemed a bit out of place among the excited crowd, but she tried her best to clap for them, her hands turning red from clapping.
Having finally succeeded, Jiang Shuiyun handed the trophy to Jian Mang beside her. At this moment, she had put the game behind her. She had achieved her goal and climbed to the highest peak of this mountain. Now, she was ready to move on to another high mountain.
Everyone was celebrating that night, except for Jiang Shuiyun. At the Miracle Team's victory celebration, she left early, told Xi Rong to take care of the people, and then prepared to leave.
Xi Rong chased after him, "Teacher Jiang, are you really going to retire?"
“Yes, retire now,” Jiang Shuiyun nodded, taking a deep breath as the evening breeze blew in her face. “From now on, they will be in your hands. Jianmang is a very good candidate for captain, and Jiaoyang’s control of the field is already very good. I believe in them. On their own, they can once again ascend to this throne.”
Jiang Shuiyun had already made her own plans, and naturally she wouldn't ignore the fate of the Miracle Team. Jiaoyang could play every position, but he wasn't proficient in any of them. Because he was the Miracle Team's only substitute, he had to make sure he could fill in for anyone who was absent. He was a very responsible kid, and Jiang Shuiyun naturally noticed this. So she often had Jiaoyang take over her control position in order to train him.
The team's biggest weakness is a player who can control the game. After these days of training, Jiao Yang has made great progress. He's so young, and Jiang Shuiyun believes he has a bright future. So, she can leave with more peace of mind.
As for Jianmang, apart from being a bit quiet, Jiang Shuiyun could see Jianmang's role in the team in every other aspect. Similarly, when Jiaoyang replaced him to train with them, it was Jianmang who was in charge of the overall command. Moreover, Jiang Shuiyun also knew that before he came, Jianmang was basically the one who organized their training and took on the role of commander. Although their condition was very poor at that time, Jianmang still did so.
Jiang Shuiyun was confident in her judgment of people. After handing these instructions to Xi Rong, she continued walking forward, waving goodbye to Xi Rong with her back turned, thus announcing the end of her e-sports career.
After Jiang Shuiyun slipped away from the celebration banquet, she went directly to Yi Jinbai's hotel next door. Originally, they wanted to bring Yi Jinbai along to the celebration banquet today, but the organizers needed to shoot some footage, so it wasn't convenient. After the organizers left, it was already late, so they could only discuss finding another time to have dinner together later.
Upon arriving at the hotel entrance, Jiang Shuiyun sent a message to Yi Jinbai, who quickly came down to pick her up.
"Why did it end so quickly?"
Yi Jinbai looked at Jiang Shuiyun standing under the light. Jiang Shuiyun was carrying takeout and wine, which she had just bought on a whim.
"I snuck out."
Jiang Shuiyun waved the food in her hand. "Have you eaten?"
Yi Jinbai smiled and took the takeout from Jiang Shuiyun's hand, "You can have some more late-night snacks."
The two returned to Yi Jinbai's room. The room was spacious, but since it was a single room, it wasn't very big. A table was placed on the carpet next to the bed, and the two of them sat on the carpet against the bed. Opposite them was the floor-to-ceiling window, where they could see a panoramic view of H City, which looked exceptionally pleasant.
Jiang Shuiyun opened two bottles of beer and watched Yi Jinbai open the bags of takeout food. "I don't know if you can eat these. I didn't ask you to put anything spicy on them."
Yi Jinbai glanced at them briefly. Although they were all high in calories, it didn't seem to matter. "I can eat them all. It's okay to eat spicy food. Anyway, I don't have anything to do these days, unlike the other day when I was recording a song, so I can't just eat whatever I want."
"Oh, I see. By the way, I heard from Gao Zhouzhou that there's another theme song for a TV series. Have you finished recording that too?"
Jiang Shuiyun felt relieved, handed the beer in her hand to Yi Jinbai, and casually asked Yi Jinbai a question.
"No, that requires me to write a new song. I just finished reading the script and have written a little bit, but I'm not quite satisfied with it yet, so I'm still revising it. There's no rush for now; I still have more than a month to go."
Yi Jinbai picked up the beer Jiang Shuiyun handed him, took a small sip, and frowned slightly. "It's not very good."
"It was my oversight. I was so focused on celebrating that I forgot to buy you a drink. I'll go down and buy one."
Jiang Shuiyun simply treated beer as a beverage, forgetting that it wasn't suitable for everyone. She stood up, holding onto the table, and went to buy some.
"No need, there are drinks in this refrigerator, I'll just go get them."
Yi Jinbai put down the wine. The hotel refrigerator usually had water and drinks prepared for the guests, but Yi Jinbai didn't usually drink beverages, so he rarely touched it.
Jiang Shuiyun watched as Yi Jinbai brought over drinks and cups, and the two sat down again.
"I have already retired."
Jiang Shuiyun raised her glass, looked at Yi Jinbai, and said, "Will you help me celebrate my retirement?"