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Prologue: GloryIn his dream, the lady boss had chosen to laminate and frame up the new article written by Chang Xian for Team Happy’s new captain.No matter his protests about his oncoming retirement, Boss Chen Guo did not pay any heed. Sis Mu and Sis Rou had just picked out a frame and cleared a spot on the wall, and Senior Ye’s reply when directed to comment on distractions to the team was answered by a group photograph posted on Weibo.He read it, of course. The article was on him, after all:
Qiao Yifan: The Ship which Carries the Flame
June 20XX, eSports Home. Regular correspondent journalist Chang Xian writes about Team Happy’s captain welcoming its tenth anniversary since its explosive Season 10 debut on the eve of welcoming the possible start of another dynasty in the Season 18 finals.
In the twenty years of the Chinese Glory scene, the top twenty teams of the whole country formed the Glory Professional Alliance – the top of the Glory pro scene, as it was. The famous teams and their equally famous characters had been titled as gods, and their controllers the deities of the MMORPG world of Glory – Tyranny’s Desert Dust; Tiny Herb’s Vaccaria; Blue Rain’s Troubling Rain.
And then, there was Team Happy.
The most neutral assessment of Team Happy came in Season 18 from the guest-star and commentator, retired pro Li Yibo. ‘Hero or villain; Team Happy is the sort of formidable entity which we openly despise but secretly admire. In a story like Romance of the Three Kingdoms, they would be the crafty hero in a troubled land, who should be toyed with by fate’.
In reply, the team’s Cleric An Wenyi had written on Weibo, to great acclaim by fans and pro-players alike: ‘The State of Wei won all under the heavens in the end. Why are you putting a conclusion to a story still ongoing?’
What a story it was, though; a grassroots team which killed its way from the Challenger League to the top of the Glory scene in two years. More miraculous than the Team Miracle which debuted in the same season as Team Happy, discussion and controversy about Happy was never lacking.
No matter its glowing victories on the playing field, it seemed like everyone tended to point at their playing dirty. Wolves, warmongers, pirates; Team Happy had borne all of those nicknames, their bloodthirsty style of fighting harder with backs against the wall established since their roots in the online game to the Pro Alliance. Only their third and current captain Qiao Yifan tended to escape that nickname, and that was because the press already had one for him – ‘Ghost in Broad Daylight’.
Compared to Team Happy’s two previous captains Ye Xiu and Su Mucheng, Qiao Yifan’s story was going through adversity to glory. The first two were respectively the grandmaster God, and the Golden Generation’s number one Launcher.
It was fair to say that few had any expectations of Qiao Yifan, a comparatively quiet player lost amidst a sea of ‘New Generation’ talents groomed to succeed God-level accounts. Qiao Yifan’s Season 8 debut in Team Tiny Herb was overshadowed by Team Thunderclap’s Dai Yanqi and his then-fellow teammate Gao Yingjie, the current captain of Tiny Herb and controller of God-level Witch, Vaccaria. After his transfer to Team Happy for the Challenger League, he was forgotten amidst the debuts of Team Blue Rain’s Lu Hanwen and Team Void’s Gai Caijie. This was not counting the other young debutants in this time which would form the bulk of the ‘New Generation’ – Team Tyranny’s Song Qiying; Team Happy’s Tang Rou, who won Season 10’s Best Newcomer Award; Team Miracle’s Guo Shao; Team Excellent Era’s youngest captain Qiu Fei, and so on.
Yet, Qiao Yifan would go on to beat all of them to reach the championship first under Ye Xiu in Season 10’s historic dark horse victory. No matter the ups and downs, it seems as though the glow of Team Happy’s legendary first year would never be erased, not even after Team Happy gained a runner-up and another championship under Happy’s second captain, Su Mucheng. Here Qiao Yifan’s new fighting style of imploding Boundaries to create an almost-perfect outline of his Ghostblade One Inch Ash developed into an unprecedented technique in Glory history; the ‘Ghost in Broad Daylight’ continues to this day to inspire Ghostblades and researchers of Glory alike.
Worries about Qiao Yifan being chosen to lead the team over the many seniors persisted in the press upon Su Mucheng’s announcements of retirement, which Team Happy’s first and only lady boss Chen Guo had put to rest with a declarative statement:
“Everyone of importance agree unanimously to Qiao Yifan taking the helm as Happy’s third captain.”
Indeed, Qiao Yifan’s consistency is a thing remarked upon by many experts, who comment that having a player like Qiao Yifan would let most bosses laugh themselves awake from their dreams in joy. Let us also recall that Qiao Yifan has led Team Happy to three championships amidst multiple play-offs, with the current record being two continuous championships in Seasons 16 and 17.
Always there with timely assistance, always watching the field to support the team’s assaults; this is the unbelievable captain who has navigated the team through the winds and rains to their shared glory. The team’s players are always the main force, but their captain is the sail which blows them forward on their course to the stars – like his name, a propitious wind to blow the sails.
Here is the unbelievable captain, who has beaten out the rest of his generation in achievements where their promise once outshone him.
In Season 18, the world will see if Qiao Yifan will emulate his seniors to lead Happy to be the second to establish a dynasty of three continuous championships. We at eSports Home wishes Captain Qiao all the best of luck.
No matter how much praise that their friend Chang Xian had heaped onto him, or the proud look on his seniors’ faces at the return of a dynasty for their team, their Team Happy. He had taken the trophy cup –– a flash of green later, he was back in the past, in his young body, starting all over again.He is a pro-player; the fact that he was also emotionally invested in helping his seniors get Happy back onto track was motivation enough to beat out Excellent Era.It could only be easier the second time around.
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1. Water SkyGlory Heavenly Domain, Weaving Silver Lake.In the distance, on the lake shore, waves lapped as an X-1 Extruder whistled by and tossed many characters into the originally peaceful surface. This was fired, not by any player, but an NPC; the Level 75 wild BOSS – Silver Lake Guardian Frederica.Being of the Gunner superclass, Silver Lake Guardian Frederica fulfilled the Glory game tradition of fielding shameless skill-sets in their BOSSES. Frederica was a tall pirate wench whose primary weapon of Hand-cannon belied her access to the entirety of the Gunner superclass skills. Boasting not only the longest range in the game and the ease of switching range of a Sharpshooter, the multiple trinkets of the Mechanic which were tossed out every now and then made her an additional danger to unwary groups. Most guild groups hunting her had learnt to put their backs to the Weaving Silver Lake, since monsters were hardly likely to erupt from there.“Launchers!” The guild leader of Misty Castle was hollering. Misty Lock had the guild leader tag prominently fixed atop his character’s head, but now it seemed like his authority was wavering as the collective two hundred elites of Misty Castle seemed to fail at DPS output. “What is up with all of you?!”“MY WEAPON!”“ATTACK FROM BEHIND!”One Launcher had already made to turn around to aim, but a Sacred Fire lit his entire form ablaze.From there, an Ice Wolf leapt from the waves to chomp on his throat.Across the surface of the lake, a brilliant light shot out in a straight laser – the Laser Rifle went in a straight line for a different Launcher, messing up the long-range combatants’ formation. Stingers whistled through the air as they impacted upon the formation, scattering it all around.The waves of the lake lapped before receding, a shadow of footprints in the sand traced over by a wave of shadow which glowed purple before it swallowed up a whole team – the Ice Boundary glittered, freezing solid part of the lake surface in its unravelling. From the heavens itself descended Satellite Beams, and the lake twinkled to reflect the snowflakes within the Ice Boundaries in between the glare of Angel’s Wings and Gatling Guns.“Shit!” Misty Lock hollered as a literal army started to rise – Heavenly Justice, Conquering Clouds. “It’s the Alliance!”“But Lord Grim is still doing the Hundred Demons Night Parade dungeon!” Someone yelled.“Then find the commander!” Misty Lock was an Elementalist, and thus a long-range fighter. He was desperately defending himself as a Phantom Cat almost winked into existence out of thin air. “Crap, they’re infiltrated us! Hunt down One Inch Ash!”“I see One Inch Ash! He’s in the lake!” Someone complained. “I’m not getting in there for a repeat of the 10th server’s Thousand Waves Lake!”West Riding Wind had actually been present for that siege, and its aftermath. Nobody wanted a repeat of Thousand Waves Lake. Yet, this was Thousand Waves Lake’s sequel – all right up to the monster rising from the waves.In the mists which were a cosmetic effect over the Weaving Silver Lake, it looked like a battleship was awaiting them, all cannons ready to open fire to their doom...Misty Castle’s troops fell, as with the BOSS, and Happy split the drops three ways.“We did it!” Wu Chen exclaimed, his voice carried by the game’s voice system. “Damn, floating in the lake nearly killed me, I don’t think Dawn Rifle has faced this kind of crazy playing since Season 6... Little Qiao? Little Qiao?”“Little Qiao!!” Luo Ji’s voice was next to Qiao Yifan’s One Inch Ash.“Sorry!” Qiao Yifan exclaimed, controlling his character to look away from the lake’s surface. “I just... thought about floating on the lake.”“Exactly,” An Wenyi commented from the direction of Little Cold Hands. “Nobody else has thought about floating on the lake, until you.”In real life, all three newbies swivelled their heads towards the other side of the practice room, where their five strongest DPS players were fighting a Ghost King in the summer event Hundred Demons Night Parade’s dungeon.“Do we... tell Senior?” Luo Ji hazarded. “We did just ask Guan Rongfei to dedicate resources on this... insane idea.”“Arena, water map, we’ll assess it,” Qiao Yifan announced. “BOSS hunts and actual battle conditions have fewer players, not easy to stage such an assault. Plus, the shield floatation device is still a significant weight to put up in a team competition.”He began to stand up, stretching as he raised his voice. “I’m going to get some water, does anyone want some?”“We’re good! Steamed Bun, target!” Ye Xiu directed. “Old Wei, we got the two BOSSES?”“We sure did!” Team Happy’s other elder god, Wei Chen, rebutted as Qiao Yifan walked out of the practice room. “I still wonder what kind of dog-shit luck Old Ye got...”Their newest and yet most significant player smiled. “I think,” Su Mucheng mused, “that there is only what we haven’t thought of where everyone in this team is concerned. Of course, that includes Little Qiao, heh-heh~”“Mucheng, when did you start to laugh so wretchedly?” Ye Xiu commented absently, still in the midst of holding off Tyranny. “Old Wei, BOSS.”“Fuck, Old Ye, why’d you insult the sister,” Wei Chen tutted.“No problem,” Su Mucheng drawled. “Team Thunderclap’s Dai Yanqi is asking me for ideas about AllYe doujin comics.”Ye Xiu: …Wei Chen: …Wei Chen coughed. “... Sister... good job, making sure that Old Ye can’t retort.”“Really?” Su Mucheng’s tone was doubtful. “I think Yifan retorts a lot better than me.”“Little Qiao is naturally black, you can’t match him for a while,” Wei Chen cackled. “Don’t even know why the punk respects this lazy senior of his, just chucking all the BOSS hunts to him and me while in the dungeon.”“Able persons have much work, and Little Qiao is definitely able,” Ye Xiu agreed. “Just don’t know why he decided to follow a team like ours though...”Downstairs at the interior of the Happy Internet Café, Qiao Yifan laid out a tray of drinks and snacks in the same area meant for food preparation. In this point, Happy Internet Café was rather firm on the minimum hygiene standards. The cup of water in his hand trembled with each movement, swaying with each turn of the mug.“That ship...” he sighed. “It wasn’t a dream. Later... later I’ll look at it. For now... we still have a season to prepare for.”Gao Yingjie had lovingly scrap-booked a newspaper article. The article was from halfway through Season 8, in the sixth All-Stars Weekend. It was barely related to Tiny Herb; in the dawn of Season 10, it could hardly be related to Team Tiny Herb. However, Gao Yingjie still kept it, a reminder of when his friend’s talents had stunned the world in a crowning glory.It was now a year ago and into July, summer was rife with sweltering heat, Season 10 loomed, and an old god Ye Qiu, now called Ye Xiu, had just deposed his former team Excellent Era in the Challenger League. Gao Yingjie’s friend, his best friend, was now under the flag of Ye Xiu’s Team Happy, and would be his opponent come September.“Welcome back... Yifan.”
Ghost in Broad Daylight at All-Stars Weekend Opening
Unknown rookie debuts unprecedented Ghostblade technique to start off New Year
20XX may mark the middle of Season 8, but it is certainly starting off a new era in Glory history. In the third Rookie Challenge in Day 1 of the sixth All-Stars Weekend at Club Samsara, Tiny Herb’s substitute player Qiao Yifan, shocked the Glory professional circle in debuting a new technique unknown to the number one Ghostblade player Li Xuan – who also happened to be his opponent in the shocking match.
Minutes into the Ghostblade vs Ghostblade mirror match, it had become clear that Team Void’s Captain had been playing as a Sword Demon against his challenger, who was playing as a Phantom Demon, a class style of Ghostblade more inclined towards team battles than player-vs-player fights. Yet, when Player Qiao had triggered the Ghostblade ultimate Ghost Feast, it seemed as though Captain Li had been tricked into an ambush and was attacking in the opposite direction from Player Qiao’s character. The resulting Ghost Chain led the match to an impasse where Captain Li managed to turn the tables only with incredible luck by destroying a wall in the map to escape his opponent’s Ghost Chain and find a way to turn the tables.
It was only following the conclusion of the match and reviewing the recording, that the infamous ‘there’s a ghost in broad daylight’ would name the Ghostblade technique – a human-shaped outline in the exact form of Player Qiao’s character, formed in the implosion of Dark and Ice Boundaries from Ghost Feast.
Player Qiao himself has commented that this was perhaps an accident. “My hand’s a bit tender,” was Player Qiao’s reply. “I apologise to Senior Li [Li Xuan] for my upsetting performance today.”
On this itself, Captain Li and his partner, Team Void;’s vice-captain Wu Yuce, have claimed complete shock. “We’ve never seen anything like it,” says the other All-Star Ghostblade. “Player Qiao has proven himself an incredible rookie, to have created such a technique to trick our captain. The little Phantom Demon will take the world by storm,” he added, in an echo of Li Xuan’s praise for this rookie Phantom Demon.
Official records from the Glory Professional Alliance report that Qiao Yifan is registered as an Assassin. It is unknown about his ability in this Nightwalker subclass, given that Player Qiao has yet to play in any Tiny Herb match as yet. Qiao Yifan’s decision to switch classes to Ghostblade, especially to a Phantom Demon style, seems unusual for Tiny Herb who already has a Ghostblade substitute. Tiny Herb captain Wang Jiexi has declined to comment on this matter.
Despite his loss, Player Qiao’s glorious defeat has shocked pro-players and audiences alike. It remains to be seen how Tiny Herb’s management would react to their unknown rookie’s unexpected talent.
Shen Cheng, eSports Home S City headquarters, Samsara correspondent
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2. Purkinje ImageQiao Yifan is a time-traveller.Technically speaking, he was an involuntary time-traveller. The time-travel was an honest accident – one did not go from being in Beijing at the closing of Season 18 back ten years to Season 8. He himself did not know and could not guess – one moment the Season 18 Champions trophy was in his hands, and the next moment he was waking up in a body ten years younger in surroundings he had not dwelt in for nine years.Although Qiao Yifan had made his mark in history under Happy’s banner, the start of his career as a Glory pro-player had always been in Tiny Herb. It just made sense to make his way back... the slow way.At least he had experience in grinding.Come September, the Glory competitive scene would have been around for ten years. It would be the first complete season with the Level 75 level cap. This summer was shaping up to be a bloody one...Not for the first time, Ye Xiu took a look at Happy’s material inventory spreadsheet and sighed. “Yifan... I need you to pull your own weapon’s materials.”Qiao Yifan looked up from his practice across the room to Ye Xiu. “Senior Ye?”“Blade Master Lan Rui. I’m hunting Dinglong again.”“Yes, Senior.” Qiao Yifan made to move One Inch Ash but was interrupted.“Also... what do you think of Boundless Sea?” Ye Xiu added. “Between the All-Star account or an All-Star player, which should we pick?”Blue eyes flickered. “Senior is planning to buy Boundless Sea?”This is why the boss likes Little Qiao so much, Ye Xiu sighed in his heart. Little Qiao connects the dots so fast, and manages to explain everything to our lady boss so simply. He could not have heard my conversation with the boss; this statement was definitely the product of a quick assessment of Happy’s current situation and the current news. “Why do you think that Team Seaside would sell their star character?”Qiao Yifan took his hands away from the keyboard, placing them palms down on the table. “Senior Zhao Yang... chose to retire, despite being in his prime. He did not have the drive to continue.”The second statement was said with more confidence than the first. It seemed obvious that Qiao Yifan could already guess as to the state of Seaside’s motivations – absolutely none.“Alright,” Ye Xiu allowed. “Then, the competition for this Qi Master?”“Minimal,” Qiao Yifan stated. “In Season 9, within the top 8 teams, only Wind Howl and Blue Rain fielded Qi Masters as part of their main roster. Wind Howl’s...”“I’m not sensitive about Excellent Era,” Ye Xiu commented.“...Qi Breaker and Senior Guo Yang transferred from Excellent Era, and the result of their choice was not quite ideal, so they are more likely to give up a Qi Master in their team match-up. As for Blue Rain, their Qi Master character Receding Tides is not weak. It is cheaper and more sensible to buy some of Boundless Sea’s Silver equipment rather than package Boundless Sea wholesale.”And I have sat through your explanation to our boss regarding the wisdom of considering Boundless Sea and the results the first time around, Qiao Yifan though but did not say.“...”“...I’m going to hunt the BOSS now. Senior should hunt Dinglong before going to bed.” Qiao Yifan said after a long pause and no sign of a reply. “As for who to control Boundless Sea, perhaps Senior Fāng Rui could consider a transfer to Happy, and bring some surprises back to his roots as a Qi Master under our flag.”“Oh?” Ye Xiu drawled. “Why? I’m looking forward to your thoughts.”Ordinarily he would not pay too much attention, but Qiao Yifan’s experiments with Luo Ji with Ice Boundaries and Dancing Rain’s Laser Rifle were simply too interesting to ignore. Ye Xiu could claim with some confidence that Luo Ji and Qiao Yifan were definitely at the peak of Glory’s innovation scene, to have surprised him twice.“Steamed Bun needs a babysitter.”“...”Little Qiao did not just mess with me, Ye Xiu firmly told himself. That’ll be like... like... like seeing a ghost in broad daylight.
Lord Grim (XXXXXXXXX) 12:22:00
Wretched Fāng, ever thought about a change of subclass? How about a Qi Master, it’s waiting for you!
Doubtful Demon (XXXXXXXXX) 12:23:25
What joke are you making?
Lord Grim (XXXXXXXXX) 12:24:00
Not a joke, very serious, think about it
Doubtful Demon (XXXXXXXXX) 12:25:15
Change class?
Lord Grim (XXXXXXXXX) 12:25:50
Yup!
Doubtful Demon (XXXXXXXXX) 12:26:47
Qi Master?
Lord Grim (XXXXXXXXX) 12:26:80
Yes.
Doubtful Demon (XXXXXXXXX) 12:27:20
You’re not joking?
Lord Grim (XXXXXXXXX) 12:27:50
Course not!
Doubtful Demon (XXXXXXXXX) 12:28:05
Who are you kidding?!
Lord Grim (XXXXXXXXX) 12:29:00
The class of Qi Master, you’re not unfamiliar with it, right? I recall you started in Blue Rain’s training camp, you were a Qi Master at the time, right?
Doubtful Demon (XXXXXXXXX) 12:29:50
Fuck fuck how’d you know all this?!
Lord Grim (XXXXXXXXX) 12:31:50
Excellent Era always kept an eye on Qi Masters. If we had pulled in Zhao Yang ╮(－_－)╭ but we have to give up for the sake of the Alliance, Excellent Era had to hold back for the sake of competition.
Doubtful Demon (XXXXXXXXX) 12:32:50
Damn damn damn are you for real?
Lord Grim (XXXXXXXXX) 12:33:00
So gullible? And you’re still a master of playing dirty? Looks like I need to reconsider offering you a place in Happy then.
Doubtful Demon (XXXXXXXXX) 12:33:20
0.0
Doubtful Demon (XXXXXXXXX) 12:34:20
0.0
Doubtful Demon (XXXXXXXXX) 12:35:00
Hurry up and reconsider, stop bothering me
Lord Grim (XXXXXXXXX) 12:35:20
Looks like you have a lot of confidence in your future?
Doubtful Demon (XXXXXXXXX) 12:35:25
It’s still alright...
Lord Grim (XXXXXXXXX) 12:36:50
Intending to go to Samsara to create a complete All-Star line-up? Only, Samsara won’t commit to that, would they? Raising five All-Star players is difficult, and next summer Zhou Zekai’s contract is up for renewal. This is the guy that Samsara would give up everything to keep, you dare to compete with him for a salary?
Doubtful Demon (XXXXXXXXX) 12:37:00
...don’t dare.
Lord Grim (XXXXXXXXX) 12:38:50
Team Tyranny. Has your old partner Lin Jingyan, and the old brothers aren’t far from retirement, your position in the future would be more secure. Not a bad option! But, your future position might be secure, but once these old generals are all gone, who’s left? Would Tyranny still have the power to contest the championship? Tyranny right now has staked it all on one throw, the future is still uncertain.
Lord Grim (XXXXXXXXX) 12:39:30
Tiny Herb, had a big expansion last year, their teamwork this year’s not bad, but adding in a new player would need a complete readjustment, I think they’ll rethink offering to you.
Doubtful Demon (XXXXXXXXX) 12:39:80
How long more do you plan to harass me...
Lord Grim (XXXXXXXXX) 12:40:00
Oi, pay attention. Blue Rain, they have a brand new rookie, and Yu Feng’s place is not easily made up for. Blue Rain definitely needs a strong player, but I doubt it’ll be you since Huang Shaotian is pretty much a loose cannon. In a team competition, two people disappear and leaves behind a healer, a crippled-hands and somebody else, Blue Rain would consider only if they had an M tendency.
Lord Grim (XXXXXXXXX) 12:42:00
Actually from this point, the second-string teams would be a good option for you. Misty Rain, they’re a bit more unorthodox, their main attackers are all long-range, only one short-range in Li Hua. And Team Void as well, Li Xuan made you an offer on Weibo about how they need a lower limit? Not a bad idea, the Two Ghosts do need a helper. And now Hundred Blossoms, retracing the beaten path but with a new style, if you join now they could have a breakthrough. The above three were in the top 8 last season, but after them I’d recommend another team.
Doubtful Demon (XXXXXXXXX) 12:43:00
Happy?
Lord Grim (XXXXXXXXX) 12:43:10
╭（╯_╰）╭ Thunderclap. With Xiao Shiqin around, you won’t have to worry about not having a chance to shine, especially after he came back from Excellent Era after this year.
Doubtful Demon (XXXXXXXXX) 12:43:40
What... not mentioning your Team Happy?
Lord Grim (XXXXXXXXX) 12:44:00
What, you have an interest in us? Look, I just knew that you had an interest in our Team Happy, didn’t you? In Happy, on one hand you can display your rich experience in changing classes.
Doubtful Demon (XXXXXXXXX) 12:44:30
Take a hike, whose rich experience in changing classes?!
Lord Grim (XXXXXXXXX) 12:44:40
You started as a Qi Master, then Wind Howl dug you away with the intention of training you as Old Lin’s successor, but you became his partner as a Thief, and you still say you don’t have rich experience in changing classes? Our Little Qiao looks forward to meeting you as comrades who changed classes!
Doubtful Demon (XXXXXXXXX) 12:45:00
How does that count?! Why bring that rookie you dragged out of Tiny Herb into the Revival League for this?!
Lord Grim (XXXXXXXXX) 12:45:20
How would I know? Little Qiao used an empty Ghostblade account to make ghosts appear in broad daylight, I don’t even know what he’ll do with a useless dessert like you. Either way, our rookies are like shining stars with all the teams clamouring for us to trade, can’t even kick them away. We’re just a bit weaker in characters, but we’re still upgrading!
Team Wind Howl’s vice-captain, currently on the brink of transferral, stared at the screen of his computer. Never mind the fact that Ye Xiu even mentioned Qiao Yifan – Ye Xiu was actually taking a rookie’s ideas into this?Season 8 All-Stars Weekend. Qiao Yifan had not appeared beforehand, and would continue not to appear for the rest of the season until dropping out of Tiny Herb to go fight in the Challenger League, but his one and only match in that weekend had been memorable; if not to see the number one Ghostblade get schooled in his paramount class, then to see in the new holographic display a second outline of the enemy Phantom Demon surrounding Li Xuan’s Sword Demon. It was definitely not a bug; that technique had left everyone present taken aback – including, apparently, the Glory Textbook who had showed everyone up the next day with a Dragon Raising its Head.Putting aside Ye Xiu’s jab, Fāng Rui found himself typing back to Ye Xiu, pulled towards the inevitable meeting with Team Happy’s future past.