Chapter One: A Decade of Glory and Shame
The vast arena of the WCA Professional Grand Finals simmered with excitement; the crowd roared and cheered incessantly. On the giant screen, the decisive match between the Dongjia Squad and the Fierce Tiger Squad was unfolding. Slender hands, nimble and graceful, commanded keyboards and mice, weaving a silent battle cry. Every assault, every bullet fired tugged at the heartstrings of countless fans.
After fighting through four consecutive matches, Dongjia had clawed their way back into the finals via the revival bracket, and its members appeared utterly exhausted. Compared to the energetic and vigorous Fierce Tiger team, they were clearly at a disadvantage.
At last, the final bullet sped from the steely AK, and Dongjia’s last player, “Muddy Waters,” fell with a crash, ending the match.
Fierce Tiger Squad claimed their first-ever championship, while Dongjia lost the honor of defending their title for the ninth consecutive year.
Heavily setting down their mice, Dongjia’s players swiftly gathered together, leaving without even exchanging words with the Fierce Tiger team. Upon returning to the lounge, the four who arrived ahead and the managers who joined them wore grim expressions as they all turned to the man at the back.
He was unkempt, bearded, slightly overweight, and his steps were slow and heavy.
“Li Xin, this is all your fault! If you hadn’t lost control of Point A’s corner so early, we wouldn’t have been defeated so quickly.”
“That’s right. We said Pengpeng should play, but you insisted on showing off. Are you happy now?”
“You’re the disgrace of Dongjia!”
“Useless and stubborn, refusing to let go!”
Everyone joined in, accusing Li Xin with angry eyes, as if they wished to beat him on the spot.
At that moment, a young man in a suit sneered coldly from the crowd, “Li Xin, given your current physical condition, Yang Yu will take over as captain. The club has decided to give you a long holiday. Go home and rest.”
Yang Yu, game ID: Muddy Waters, was the last Dongjia player to fall. At twenty-two, he was at the peak of his career, with top-tier skills and command ability, now securely holding Dongjia’s leadership.
Only half a year ago, that position of captain belonged to Li Xin.
Lowering his head in contemplation, Li Xin felt a surge of emotion. He was no longer the hot-blooded champion of his youth; age had ground away his temper, and now even his form was gone. If not for Yang Yu’s exceptional performance leading Dongjia out of the revival bracket, they would have been sent home long ago.
If the nine-time champion failed even to reach the finals, it would be more humiliating than finishing as runner-up.
A long holiday?
Li Xin shook his head with a bitter smile and looked up. “Forget it, President Zhang, I’ve decided to retire.”
“Good!” General Manager Zhang Yuan immediately smiled. “Since you have made up your mind, I won’t force you. You’re an old hand of the team and have made great contributions. I’m not heartless—fifty thousand will be transferred to your account shortly.”
Fifty thousand!
Li Xin was moved. “President Zhang, after all these years, my total prize money and advertising income must be at least ten million.”
“Ten million?” Zhang Yuan’s voice dripped with sarcasm, his face twisted with ridicule.
The Dongjia club staff around him burst into laughter, all looking at Li Xin with disdain, as if he were a clown.
“Your contract still has a year left. Retiring early is a breach, so naturally I’ll deduct the penalty fee.”
“You...”
Li Xin’s anger flared, but he had nowhere to vent it. At this point, if he still didn’t understand, he really would be a clown.
The club executives and players alike looked down on him, treating him as nothing but a useless burden. If he stayed, he’d cost them three million a year in salary—a waste. The so-called long holiday was just a loophole in the contract: unpaid leave.
Zhang Yuan’s intention was clear—he wanted Li Xin to rest until his contract expired.
Now, Li Xin had taken the initiative to retire. Zhang Yuan must have been delighted, saving three million and gaining a hefty penalty fee from the once-legendary Gun King.
“Fine, President Zhang, I agree. I’ll go pack up.”
“No need. Your junk isn’t worth keeping. I’ve had it brought to your car,” Zhang Yuan said coldly, the ridicule in the eyes around him intensifying.
Li Xin’s face went pale—they’d planned for this.
“You still need to leave one thing behind,” Zhang Yuan said.
“I know.” Li Xin forced a bitter smile, took out his phone, logged into the security center, and selected ‘unbind.’
From this moment on, the account “Gun King Dawn” no longer belonged to him. By unbinding it, Dongjia would soon have a new player take over, and even if he regretted it, he couldn’t secretly change the password.
Satisfied, Zhang Yuan nodded, sneering, “You can leave.”
Li Xin’s face grew paler, a glimmer of tears flashing in his eyes. He turned to look at a pure, beautiful woman nearby—Lin Guo, his girlfriend, captain of the women’s team.
“Guoguo, will you come with me?”
Lin Guo was startled, then arched her brows and sneered, “You’re retiring. If I leave with you, I’d have to give up my honor and status. Sorry, I can’t go with you. Let’s break up.”
“You...” Li Xin was stunned, his heart filled with panic and loss. He had always believed that Lin Guo would support him unconditionally, no matter what. Yet today, she hadn’t said a word until her final, cold, heartless “break up.”
Enough—a forced union is never sweet.
“Wish you happiness.”
Leaving her with a blessing, Li Xin turned, dragging his heavy silhouette out of the lounge. He could faintly hear the celebrations and jeers behind him.
“Brother Yu, you’re finally the captain. I always said the position was yours.”
“Brother Yu, that old loser Li Xin should have left the stage ages ago. Stubbornness leads only to disgrace.”
“Yang Yu, the Dawn account is yours now.”
Yang Yu laughed arrogantly, boasting, “I don’t care for that fool’s account. I’ll make my ‘Muddy Waters’ the new Gun King.”
Everyone laughed.
“Lin Guo, now that Yang Yu is captain and so handsome, maybe you should consider him?”
“What are you saying? I just broke up, okay?” Lin Guo feigned shyness, maintaining her pure demeanor.
...
Humiliated, Li Xin’s lips trembled, his steps faltered, nearly stumbling. But what could he do? The truth was clear—he no longer had the ability or support to stay with Dongjia. He could only hope a capable newcomer would inherit his account.
The Gun King Dawn was an honor he had fought for over two years as an amateur and nine as a pro. It represented more than just glory—it held countless other meanings.
It was early June, the weather scorching, and yet a sudden gale swept through the ancient capital of Chang’an.
The wind howled,
Hearts grew cold,
Only two lines of mournful tears remained,
Memories alone stirred his courage.
With one long song, ten years of effort ended—a period was drawn.
The nine-time champion Dongjia Squad would soon embark on the quest for glory anew under their new captain Yang Yu. As for the former king Li Xin, he faced nothing but endless sorrow.
Where was he to go?
Driving nonstop for a day and a night, Li Xin finally returned to his hometown of Wujiang City early the next morning, utterly exhausted. Forcing himself, he wandered the city for a long time before stopping at the entrance of a quaint shop.
Mingran Herbal Pharmacy.
The old red wooden doors were tightly shut, covered in dust. An aged lock hung on the latch, speaking of the pharmacy’s desolation.
Seeing all this, Li Xin was filled with grief. He stepped forward, took out a rusty key from his pocket, and entered. Immediately, a rich scent of herbal medicine mixed with a pungent whiff of formaldehyde assaulted his senses, making his eyes tingle and nose sting.
He quickly opened the windows for ventilation, closed the door behind him, and walked to the back of the pharmacy. Finding his long-unused bedroom, caring neither for its filth nor smell, he lay on the damp bed, covering his head to nap.
“Dad, Mom, I’m so tired.”
Murmuring softly, Li Xin soon drifted into sleep.