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Sharpening The Knife Doesn’t Delay The Cutting of Vegetables With The Bow[eSports]: Chapter 112
112. Armory
Post-match interviews are often a fan-favorite segment. Many iconic moments from tournaments originate here, and if a player decides to stir up some drama, it can guarantee gaming media outlets a stellar month in performance metrics.
As the team that ranked first in points this round, ZMD’s post-match interview was scheduled first.
Led by Fu Zhou, Chen Xingran and the others walked into the backstage interview room. They took their seats one by one, faced with a sea of cameras and flashing lights. The scene resembled a celebrity press conference. For first-timers, it could be a bit intimidating.
Chen Xingran unconsciously tightened his jawline in front of the cameras. His handsome and refined face took on a slightly serious expression. He sat properly in his seat, unsure of what to say or not to say, so he chose silence, leaving the speaking to the more experienced Yang Yunche and others.
“Congratulations to ZMD on taking the top spot in this round! Was the strategy you used pre-planned?”
“Yun God, are you satisfied with your team’s performance this match?”
“What are your thoughts on your opponents this round? In the second match, you faced Shen Tang at Sinking Boat Beach. Did you feel any pressure?”
Microphones and cameras were thrust forward, almost in their faces. The high-definition lenses magnified every detail of their expressions, leaving no room for imperfection. Fortunately, Yang Yunche and Chen Xingran’s impressive looks stood up to the challenge, with both appearing as striking as idols even under the harsh lighting.
Yang Yunche remained composed. His deep, steady voice projected an air of reliability, free of his usual casual demeanor. He answered the reporters’ questions smoothly and without any missteps.
“Our strategy was pre-planned. Before the competition, we prepared multiple strategies to handle various scenarios. This match went as expected, and the execution was relatively smooth.”
“As for our performance? It was satisfactory, though there are still details we could improve on. There’s always room for growth.”
“Shen Tang? They’re a formidable team, and we look forward to seeing them perform even better in future matches.”
The interview was broadcast live, allowing players to watch the segment in real time.
【Hahaha, Yun God’s answers are so dull—no buzz at all!】
【This doesn’t seem like the Yun God I know! Shouldn’t he be throwing in some spicy jabs or trash talk here?】
【It’s a formal post-match interview. Probably Manager Fu warned him beforehand, haha.】
【Ran Bao looks so well-behaved sitting there!!】
【ZMD’s looks are out of this world. For a moment, I thought I stumbled into a celebrity live stream.】
【Ask Ran Bao more questions! He’s barely talking—it’s killing me!】
“Chen Xingran, we have a question for you.”
A reporter raised their hand, directing the question at him. “Since joining ZMD, how has it been? Are you adapting well to working with your teammates? Any conflicts in your interactions?”
Suddenly being called on, Chen Xingran froze for a moment before taking the microphone. After a brief pause, he replied, “Uh… The atmosphere in the team is very harmonious. Everyone gets along really well. It’s been great.”
When Chen Xingran spoke, he unconsciously imitated Yang Yunche’s tone. This made him sound like a smaller version of Yang Yunche. Apart from the difference in voice, it was as if they were both reading from the same prepared script.
【Hahahahaha!】
【Did these two attend the same language training class?】
【Serious Yun God and Ran Bao look even more compatible now! Ahhh, I’m obsessed!】
【Serious Ran Bao is so handsome! His looks are killing me!】
【When will Chen Xingran’s merchandise be released? I’ll buy it immediately!】
“……”
The reporter asking the question was momentarily taken aback. They had assumed Chen Xingran, being a rookie, would be an easy target for probing questions. But to their surprise, the young player answered smoothly, leaving no room for any controversy or sensational headlines.
“Chen Xingran, during today’s match, you used a new technique. Was it something you developed yourself?”
A female reporter asked, “The switching between different melee weapons was something we’ve never seen in a match before. How long did it take you to train for this technique?”
“Uh… for a while now.”
Chen Xingran nodded and glanced at Yang Yunche beside him. “The inspiration came from the captain’s Gun Kata. Actually, it’s pretty simple—just weapon switching. There are plenty of tutorials online.”
He spoke as if it were the easiest thing in the world. However, anyone familiar with Destiny knew that while the technique itself might seem straightforward, its implications were profound. To replicate it, one would first need to master several types of weapons and seamlessly switch between their different styles. That alone was enough to deter most professional players.
The reporter followed up, “Does this move have a name?”
Just like Yang Yunche’s Gun Kata, when professional players invent a specialized technique, it often becomes their signature. Chen Xingran’s all-melee weapon-switching tactic deserved a striking name.
“Yes,” Chen Xingran nodded. “It’s called… Armory.”
Armory?
The name sounded peculiar.
The reporters exchanged puzzled glances before jotting down the name in their notebooks.
Once the creator had named the technique, *The Armory* officially became a unique skill. Whether others could learn it later or not, any similar moves seen in professional matches would now have a unified name to refer to.
For this rising star of the professional scene, the reporters had plenty of questions, including some about his personal life. Seeing how cooperative Chen Xingran was with answering, they bombarded him with even more.
“Chen Xingran, we’ve heard your motion correction is 0%. Does that mean most of your in-game actions can also be performed in real life?”
“Have you been studying traditional martial arts? It’s quite niche. When did you get into it?”
“Does learning traditional martial arts have any special requirements? Does it provide any particular advantage in the game? Could you share some insights?”
These were all questions the audience was dying to know. A motion correction of 0% was shocking, and many were eager to witness it firsthand. The focus of the interview shifted entirely to Chen Xingran, leaving Yang Yunche and the other star players somewhat overlooked.
But Yang Yunche didn’t seem bothered in the slightest. He smiled as he watched Chen Xingran evolve from awkward responses to handling the reporters’ tricky questions with ease.
He’s growing up fast.
The interview grew increasingly lively. At one point, a reporter even brought in a prop sword from outside, asking Chen Xingran to demonstrate his skills on the spot. Fu Zhou quickly jumped in, announcing the end of the interview in a panic.
“These reporters are really desperate for a story.”
Fu Zhou patted his chest. “With so many people watching, bringing out a sword? What do they think we are—performing monkeys?”
Walking side by side, Yang Yunche said to Chen Xingran, “You did great just now. Quite stylish.”
“Of course.” Chen Xingran narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression carrying a hint of pride. “I didn’t embarrass the team, right?”
“Far from embarrassing.”
Yang Yunche chuckled, raising his hand as if to ruffle Chen Xingran’s hair but stopping midway. “You brought glory to ZMD.”
Competing on the battlefield was one thing, but dealing with a horde of enthusiastic and gossip-hungry reporters was another. Chen Xingran now felt more drained than after playing three matches, his face showing signs of fatigue.
“You must be exhausted right? Go back and get a good rest tonight.”
Fu Zhou flipped through the match schedule as he led them toward the player tunnel. “Our second regular season match is in three days. Don’t rush into training over the next few days. Besides, no one’s scheduling scrims right now anyway. The most important thing is to relax and adjust your mindset. I’m giving you all a break for the next two days. If you want to go out and explore, go ahead, but make sure to stay safe.”
The usual training was already sufficient. During the competition phase, proper rest was more important than high-intensity practice. Fu Zhou wasn’t worried about them slacking off; he was more concerned about them burning out by overtraining.
“Awesome! A break!”
Luo Baibai clapped his hands in excitement.
“Anywhere you want to go?”
Back in the locker room, Yang Yunche and Chen Xingran picked up their phones. Yang Yunche asked casually, “Want me to take you out somewhere?”
“…Huh?”
Chen Xingran looked down at his phone. “No need. I’ve got plans tomorrow.”
“What’s up?” Yang Yunche blinked in surprise.
Appearing in the regular season of the Karma Cup and delivering so many standout plays, Chen Xingran was undoubtedly the star player of the night. His phone was flooded with messages of congratulations from all corners. Fei Wei, Lu Mingyu, Yun Yin, Li Haoyuan, and even school friends like Wu Feiang had sent him texts. Teachers and classmates, even those he wasn’t particularly close with, had all reached out to congratulate him on achieving the top score in the regular season.
“Uh… Wu Feiang asked me to hang out tomorrow,” Chen Xingran said as he opened each chat window, replying while talking to Yang Yunche. “It’s been a while since we last met. I’m going to catch up with him.”
After joining ZMD, Chen Xingran and Wu Feiang stayed in touch, frequently chatting every few days. With the recent school exams wrapping up, Wu Feiang immediately invited him out to celebrate. It had been a while since they’d gone out together, so Chen Xingran readily agreed.
“…Oh.”
Yang Yunche pursed his lips, feeling an inexplicable sense of disappointment.
“Want to come?”
Chen Xingran looked up and asked casually.
“Me?”
The sudden joy caught Yang Yunche off guard. He instantly looked up, his earlier disappointment vanishing. With a faint smile, he coughed lightly and said in a serious tone, “Wouldn’t that be a bit inappropriate? You’re all classmates, after all. I might not fit in.”
Chen Xingran nodded thoughtfully. “True. Forget it, then.”
Yang Yunche: “…”
The smile on his lips froze awkwardly. He opened his mouth as if to say something more, but Chen Xingran had already lowered his head, busy chatting with Wu Feiang again, oblivious to the change in his expression.
Yang Yunche’s smile faltered completely.
…Serves you right for asking.
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