September 13, Beijing — Capital International Stadium.
At exactly 14:00 in the afternoon, the fourteen entrances of the main stadium opened.
This was the largest venue within the capital’s sports complex. It had hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of multiple Olympic events and was also one of the city’s most famous landmarks.
The four-sided single-slope stands allowed 95,000 spectators to enjoy the widest possible viewing angle while still being able to clearly see the extinguished fire pit at the very top of the dome—the place where the Olympic flame had once been lit.
During non-Olympic periods, the main stadium was leased out to host major sporting events.
The HPL tournament organizers had begun modifying the venue long in advance, ensuring that this place—once mainly used for track-and-field competitions—could also become a stage impressive enough for esports players and fans.
The first thing they did was build a massive stage on the central running track, then partially close the stadium’s sky dome and suspend an enormous sixteen-sided screen high in the air.
With the sunlight from outside blocked, the atmosphere inside the stadium instantly became dark and mysterious.
Spectators arriving from all over the country—and even from overseas—entered the venue under the guidance of spotlights. If they lifted their heads even slightly, they could see two gigantic hanging banners dropping down from the main beams of the stadium roof. Printed on them were two team emblems that everyone recognized:
Natus Vincere and Phoenix Nirvana Gaming.
A gust of cool air stirred the edge of the canvas, causing it to sway slowly. The fans instantly understood its meaning—they were meant to sit on opposite sides of the stadium.
“Damn… why does the atmosphere feel so serious…”
One fan finally found his seat and asked quietly to the friend beside him.
As they fumbled their way forward earlier, the stadium had intermittently echoed with the deep, pleasant sound of bronze chime bells, as if reminding everyone to hurry up.
“I don’t know. The match doesn’t start until 17:00, right? There should be some performances first.”
“There are way too many people… I almost got crushed walking over here.”
“…I just want to know what happens if I need to go to the bathroom later. Will we even be able to get out?”
“It’s the finals—what bathroom? Just hold it!”
At 3 PM, more than 90,000 spectators had all entered. The lights on the main stage began to glow faintly. The audience members who had been chatting instantly fell silent, stretching their necks toward the center of the arena with nervous anticipation—
——
Backstage.
Several PNG players had followed the staff and were now huddled together near the exit of the passageway, sneakily peeking outside.
When Chen Chen arrived, he saw the five of them crouched in a row with their faces pressed to the crack of the door. The veins on his forehead twitched as he grabbed the culprit by the collar and dragged him back. “Still looking? Still looking?! Just look at yourselves!”
Lin Zhaoxu, caught like a cat by the scruff of its neck, didn’t dare resist. The other four immediately straightened up and pretended they had merely been passing by, looking completely innocent.
Sui Ning avoided Chen Chen’s gaze, feeling a bit embarrassed himself.
It wasn’t that he had never attended a high-profile grand final before—but he had never actually seen the pre-match performances prepared for the audience in person. Usually, he only watched the recordings afterward.
After Lin Zhaoxu stirred things up, his own curiosity had gotten the better of him, and he’d joined in sneaking a look. In short—this definitely wasn’t his fault.
If something went wrong with PNG’s double C, it must be the marksman’s fault.
“Alright, it’s just some singing and dancing performances. Nothing worth seeing.”
Wei Ye protested pitifully, “But I heard they invited national-level singers and dancers, and even the Berlin Symphony Orchestra—super classy stuff. After that there’s sand painting, Shaolin kung fu, an ice sculpture exhibition, some group dance called Howling Wolf Under the Moon, and another group dance called Phoenix Nirvana that was choreographed specifically for us…”
Chen Chen: “…Where would they even get ice sculptures in the middle of summer? It’s all fake.”
“That’s exactly why we’re curious—!!”
“Watch the replay later. Same difference!”
The merciless coach dragged the players back into the lounge. Assistant coach Sun Wei quickly joined the staff in repeatedly explaining the stage entrance procedures, afraid they might make a mistake.
“Our entrance tunnel is separate from the other team’s. Go out in order—the top laner first. Once you reach the stage, stand—”
Wei Ye interrupted, “Stand about two meters to the right of the team logo projection on the floor! We’ve rehearsed this a million times!”
Sun Wei continued, “Once you’re in position, the host will introduce you one by one. When the spotlight hits you, remember to react—smile, wave, anything like that! When returning to your seats, move to the right together…”
“Got it, got it—”
“Put on your team jackets. Double-check your equipment. Xiao Wang, touch up their makeup again…”
The PNG lounge became busy again.
Sui Ning casually tugged at Ji Yunyu’s sleeve and asked softly, “Are you nervous?”
“Not at all.” Ji Yunyu held his hand in return and smiled. “Because the strongest mid laner is helping me.”
They exchanged a smile.
Chen Chen: …I’m so sick of this damn couple. The worst part is, I even have to cover for them.
——
As the preparation time drew to an end, PNG lined up as usual. On the other side of the arena, Navic did the same.
Just like every previous time, they arranged themselves in the order of top, jungle, mid, marksman, and support. Standing in the middle of the line, however, Xiang Jin looked extremely hesitant. His toes tapped anxiously against the floor as he repeatedly glanced up at Meng Xiyue, the team captain pacing nearby. Whenever Meng Xiyue actually looked his way, Xiang Jin immediately avoided his gaze, looking like he wanted to say something but couldn’t.
Meng Xiyue stopped beside him and asked gently, “What’s wrong?”
“I…” Xiang Jin seemed embarrassed to speak. Shrinking his shoulders, he finally muttered an awkward apology. “Captain… I’m sorry.”
Meng Xiyue paused for a moment before understanding what he meant.
Before the finals, there would be a grand player introduction segment. Each starting player would receive their own spotlight. And today, the spotlight for Navic’s mid lane would fall on Xiang Jin.
Letting Xiang Jin start was the decision reached by Coach Panpan, Meng Xiyue, and the entire Navic coaching staff.
Objectively speaking, Xiang Jin had played from the very first game of the Summer Split until now, laying a solid foundation for the team’s results. He was completely qualified to stand on the stage and receive the audience’s applause.
From a technical standpoint, however, Game One required Navic to test whether they could defeat PNG with an even more extreme mid–jungle roaming strategy than PNG’s. If it failed, they would immediately switch tactics. Strictly speaking, Xiang Jin was more like an experimental piece—a sacrifice, the whetstone Navic handed to Wind. If anyone should feel guilty, it should be the coaching staff.
Yet he actually felt guilty for something like “stealing the captain’s spotlight.” No… the fact that he even had that thought at all was incredible.
“Stand properly.”
Meng Xiyue suddenly dropped his smile and stared at him sternly. “What do you think this place is?”
Xiang Jin jumped in shock, his whole body trembling slightly.
Meng Xiyue didn’t comfort him. Instead, his tone became even harsher.
“You’re standing in the Capital Stadium. Outside is the stage of the HPL Summer Grand Finals. Your opponent is PNG, first place in the regular season, first in the winners’ bracket, undefeated all season. The player laning against you is the most highly praised mid-laner this year. And you’re going to face them with your head hanging like this?”
“Lift your head.”
Red-eyed, Xiang Jin raised his head and straightened his back. Meng Xiyue leaned forward gently, wiping the moisture from the corner of his eye. “That’s it,” he said softly. “Go enjoy your spotlight. You earned it yourself.”
Xiang Jin sniffled and nodded, then promptly wiped his tears onto the teammate beside him.
Zou Jiayou immediately displayed the reaction speed of a top-tier marksman and sidestepped the attack. Pei Xingyi, standing next to him, wasn’t so lucky and ended up sacrificing his team jacket.
Pei Xingyi: …damn.
Coach Pan Pan, who had just arrived, couldn’t help sighing. “Now that you’re back, you look even more like this team’s coach than I do.”
“Not at all,” Meng Xiyue replied with a light laugh. “None of this could be done by me alone.” Whether it was providing data analysis or helping the players develop strong mental resilience.
Pan Pan scratched at the few remaining hairs on his head. Just as he was about to speak, a staff member called from the player tunnel.
“Coach, are you ready?”
——
When the final performance ended, the stadium lights suddenly went completely dark. Aside from the glow of fan lightboards in the stands, everything else was pitch black. If not for the background music still playing, many spectators might have thought there had been a power outage.
At 16:30, a thunderous drumbeat crashed down like lightning. Then a second. A third.
Guiding lights lit up along the left side of the stage, revealing a long pathway reflecting different team logos. First AQ, FR, Star.L, then HTG, GEN…
One after another they appeared amid bursts of fireworks. Though growing farther from the audience, they drew closer and closer to the center of the stage—until, with a violent shake, they shattered into dust.
When HTG’s logo appeared again, someone in the audience finally realized. “That’s Navic’s playoff bracket! Those are all the teams they beat!”
The right-side path displayed the same process. PNG had encountered very few opponents in the playoffs, so many regular-season rivals appeared among the projections.
Lights ignited along both paths step by step, symbolizing the teams’ constant advance and ascent.
Finally, the lights from both sides met in the center of the stage, forming a circular area.
It was just large enough for a 1.5-meter-wide display pedestal to rise slowly from golden smoke.
“Holy—holy—holy—”
Fans sitting close by didn’t dare even breathe as they stared unblinkingly at the silver platform.
Soft golden light like flowing spring water fell onto it, revealing the object atop the stand.
A silver trophy slowly rose. Golden laurel leaves—the symbol of victory—coiled along both sides of the cup. In the center, several diamonds formed crown-like claws around a ruby, holding up three clear letters above: HPL.
At the base of the trophy, a small line was engraved: HPL Professional League Grand Champion.
“Summoners—!!!”
The host stood behind the trophy and shouted into the microphone. “Welcome—!!!”
“OOOOOOOHHHH!!!”
“AHHHHH! Damn it, I need to save energy to shout later, but I can’t hold it in—AAAHHH!”
“So this is the finals’ production value?! That’s insane!!”
“Holy crap, the championship trophy looks this cool?!”
“That trophy looks like something I couldn’t afford to compensate if I broke it!”
The crowd’s excited discussions gradually boiled over. When the music switched to the theme song “Bettertha”, the players of both teams finally made their official entrance.
“Let’s welcome Navic, and—”
The crowd instantly roared the rest with all their strength: “—P! N! G!”
Amid thunderous cheers, the two teams entered from opposite sides, each led by their top laner. They stopped face-to-face at a measured distance.
Top Mistake, jungle Truik, mid Fiw, marksman Lime, support Nx, along with head coach Pan Pan and substitute Cpyhc. The host waved his arms enthusiastically, passionately introducing each player. Every time an ID was spoken, the stands erupted in screams.
Sui Ning stood quietly in place waiting. The swelling waves of noise pounded his eardrums, making his heartbeat quicken as well—thumping in rhythm with the rapid drums echoing throughout the arena.
His gaze swept across the opposing players one by one. It felt like just yesterday he had been watching Navic’s matches on broadcast. Everything had happened too quickly. In just one summer, he had reached the grand finals stage alongside the former domestic overlords.
Finally, his eyes stopped on Xiang Jin, the opposing mid-laner.
For some reason, Xiang Jin suddenly straightened his back even more, stubbornly lifting his chin as if trying to stare back down at Sui Ning.
Sui Ning: …?? What are you doing?
Instead of looking away, Sui Ning quietly compared the heights of the Navic players. In the end, he reached a conclusion: Xiang Jin was definitely shorter than him.
Among the mid-laners of the top five playoff teams, he wasn’t the shortest one.
Sui Ning felt inexplicably relieved. As for Meng Xiyue, who was standing farther away, it was hard to tell. In Sui Ning’s opinion, it was simply “about the same height—definitely about the same.”
He kept thinking these random thoughts with a blank expression until a milky-white spotlight descended from above. Only then did he realize—
The host was roaring his ID.
“PNG’s third player! The mid-lane killing god who burst onto the scene this season! Tell me his name—!”
“—Winnnnnnd!!!”
“Wind!! AHHHH my Wind!!”
“Holy crap, Wind Wind Wind Wind!!”
The moment Sui Ning looked over, the fans below seemed to receive some kind of signal. Excitedly, they raised massive lightboards above their heads.
Each board looked strange on its own, but when hundreds and thousands of them combined together, a huge phrase lit up directly across from the stage: “Listen to the Wind’s Song.” Like a polar star shining in the night.
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