Part 3
Group One, the group containing the champion team ZAP.
The ASH coach’s expression instantly turned into a helpless, bitter smile.
A line of [Tragic, a bad start] scrolled across the livestream bullet chat.
As the representatives from each team went up for the draw, the chatter in the venue gradually quieted down, and an invisible tension spread.
Currently, it seemed Group One had the most pressure, because after ASH, a Round-of-16 team was also drawn into this group.
The most relaxed was Group Six. Besides the fixed seeded Top-8 team, the other two teams were those that hadn’t advanced to the knockout stages in the Autumn Split. The remaining spot essentially drew the burning gazes of all the teams that hadn’t drawn yet.
By this time, there were only six or seven slots left before their turn to draw.
[I wonder which team stepped in dog poop luck and can draw into Group Six.]
[The teams drawn into Group Six must be smiling so hard their faces are breaking.]
[Among the remaining teams that haven’t drawn, the number of Round-of-16 teams and teams that didn’t advance in Autumn is about half and half. Everyone has a chance.]
“Is Coach nervous?”
Zuo Chi paused his wishing and turned his face toward Ning Luzhao, answering, “I’m not nervous.”
The other’s gaze fell on his sleeve. He looked down and saw his sleeve had been kneaded into a wrinkled mess, likely an unconscious movement while he was spacing out. Fortunately, the team uniform’s material didn’t hold creases easily.
Ning Luzhao whispered: “It doesn’t matter which group we’re drawn into; we can play against anyone.”
“I know—but looking at that last spot in Group Six, it’s really hard not to be envious!”
Ning Luzhao gave a light laugh: “True. Over there, someone has already started performing ‘rituals’ on the spot.”
Zuo Chi took a look and couldn’t help but be amused—on the other side of the venue, a team’s players had pulled out Buddhist beads, sutras, and amulets from somewhere… one player even pulled out a woodfish and a mallet from his peripheral bag.
The ASH coach slapped his thigh: “Holy crap! Could it be that I didn’t draw a top-tier seed because my preparations weren’t complete enough?!”
[Which team is this ‘abstract’?!]
[Others rely on luck for the draw; they rely on ‘rituals,’ huh.]
The tournament officials soon gave reaction shots of the other teams’ players. There were those with bewildered faces, those shouting “Awesome”…
Zuo Chi suspected he was grinning so wide his teeth were showing, such that when he caught a glimpse with his peripheral vision, the camera had already given a shot to him—and Ning Luzhao beside him.
He and Ning Luzhao exchanged a glance and, in a tacit understanding, quickly adjusted their expressions and retracted their smiles, sitting upright and looking straight at the big screen, putting on a front of seriously watching the draw.
[VEX’s new coach was laughing so happily just now, and his face changed in a second when he saw the camera. Does he think we can’t see?]
[Speaking of which, when the camera just swept over the VEX seats, I thought two minor celebrities had come to this event…]
[To be fair, this coach and Land sitting together is quite eye-pleasing.]
[Look at this screenshot I just took. If you can’t ship this, then what can you ship? ‘Thumbs-up.jpg’!]
The two young men were both wearing VEX’s red-and-black team uniforms. The young man sitting on the left had his jacket half-unzipped. His features were like a painting, his soft almond eyes were a clean ink-black, appearing exceptionally clear and bright under the venue lights, and there was still a trace of a smile on his lips that hadn’t had time to fully retract.
Beside him, the youth with light grey short hair turned his face slightly. His jacket zipper was pulled all the way to the top, the collar pinned at the level of his Adam’s apple. His brow lines were bold and intense, his expression cold, yet the light in the depths of his eyes was very deep.
[What a pity. If VEX’s results weren’t so trash, with their looks, they should easily be able to become popular.]
[VEX is still able to smile. Watch out for the reward of Group One.]
[These two look quite relaxed, but with their draw slot being so far back, they really can’t rush it. They can only take whichever seed the others leave behind.]
The livestream was discussing intensely, and the team performing rituals on-site also went up for the draw.
Opening the envelope and displaying it: Group One.
The whole venue erupted in loud laughter.
[The first team of the ‘Reverse Ritual.’]
[They couldn’t draw into Group Six even while worshipping Buddha on-site. So which ‘Child of Destiny’ can draw it?]
[Maybe it’ll be left for the last one, letting VEX pick up the bargain.]
[If VEX’s luck can be this good, I’ll eat it directly!]
[Actually, group stage luck at most only lets you ‘dodge’ into the knockout stages. Once in the knockouts, it still comes down to strength.]
The sixth-to-last team went up; didn’t draw it.
The fifth-to-last, fourth, third…
The envelope containing “Group Six” remained firmly in that glass box.
“There are now two teams left that haven’t drawn, and the much-anticipated Group Six is within one of the remaining envelopes…” The host paused. “Next, please welcome the draw representatives from both teams to the stage together!”
Zuo Chi was well-prepared this time. He had fixed a calm and indifferent expression early on, and he stood up to head for the stage.
Walking through the aisle between seats, he heard Ning Luzhao’s voice again: “Any group is fine.”
Zuo Chi nodded imperceptibly and quickened his pace to the stage.
According to the order, the other team drew first, and Zuo Chi took the last envelope.
“Please open the envelopes together and face the slips inside toward the camera—”
[????]
[Holy crap?! Where’s that person from before who said they’d ‘eat’ if VEX drew Group Six? Come out and eat!]
[The person is here. I’ve already started eating cheese turkey noodles. Image.jpg]
[Poisoning people late at night is truly shameless!]
[VEX shouldn’t be happy too early. After all, the three teams in Group Six are about the same as them. They might not even be able to dodge into the knockout stages.]
[The thought of one of the three ‘noobs’ in Group Six mixing into the knockout stages just because they’re less of a ‘noob’ than the others makes my whole body uncomfortable.]
Zuo Chi walked down the stage with the legendary lucky seed and returned to his seat. Just as he sat down, Ning Luzhao held his phone up before them. The phone screen clearly showed a video call. Several cubs and Manager Li were crowded together before the camera, like a group of penguins huddling for warmth, their mouths grinning almost to their temples.
“Coach Zuo—You. Are. My. God!!!” Fugui shouted at the top of his lungs, causing the players from the teams sitting on either side of them to show expressions of envy.
On the system panel, “Spring Split Ultimate Draw Luck” had completely turned black, with a few large characters stamped in the top left corner: Used.
What a pity. He was originally thinking whether this luck could be used for every Spring Split next year, the year after, and the year after that. If that were the case, maybe a legend that VEX was the “Child of Fortune” would even circulate in the Arena Professional League…
As it turned out, the system didn’t give him that loophole at all.
Manager Li was glowing: “Coach Zuo, Land, when are you two coming back? For this grouping, I have to send a red envelope to celebrate.”
“After the show match ends, we’ll head for the airport.”
Manager Li had booked their flight tickets for tomorrow morning, but Zuo Chi thought the show match would end at 8:30 PM, and going back tonight wouldn’t delay the next day’s training, so he changed the flight.
Speaking of red envelopes, Zuo Chi: “Have we not built a team group chat yet?”
“Oh right! Build it, build it! Coach Zuo, hurry and build the group and pull us in!”
He created a new group chat and pulled in all the cubs along with Manager Li: “Everyone, let’s pick a group name together.”
Despite still being on the video call, the cubs all lowered their heads and started typing in the group.
[Fugui: The group name should be called ‘First Under Heaven, Invincible Under the Sun Team.’]
[Land: Ugly.]
[Wall: Let’s be a bit more low-key, okay?]
[Fugui: Ying.]
[Wu Yang: Group name ‘Give Me More Bonus.’]
[Beyond: The wish is certainly good, but currently our boss’s financial strength doesn’t seem to allow it…]
[Fugui: It’s too hard to think of… how about Brother Li sends the red envelope first?]
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