You promised a top lane tutorial, but you're just using Worlds as material for your videos?

Chapter 529 Zhou Shen doesn't have one flaw that other top carry-type top laners all have!
The intercontinental finals ended, and it was already very late.

Therefore, the four LPL teams that participated in the Intercontinental Cup did not leave the venue of the Intercontinental Cup until the second day, and returned to their respective team bases.

As soon as he returned, Guo Hao called White Crescent to his office.

As soon as White Crescent sat down, Guo Hao asked, "What do you think of Zhou Shen's current strength level?"

Upon hearing this, White Crescent immediately understood why Guo Hao had summoned him.

It seems they are truly disappointed with the 69 mark!
“Zhou Shen is quite strong now!” White Crescent replied.

“I know Zhou Shen is quite strong right now,” Guo Hao said immediately. “The question is, just how strong?”

"Uh... I'll tell you the truth!"

After a pause, White Crescent continued, "Judging from his performance in this year's competition, Zhou Shen is indeed not as strong as he was in the previous two years, and he's actually much weaker than he was in the previous two years!"

"Is that so!" Upon hearing this, Guo Hao fell into deep thought, his right index finger unconsciously tapping the table.

White Crescent naturally knew what Guo Hao was struggling with.

He felt it was necessary to make things clear.

"To be honest, Zhou Shen is a bit of a letdown this year. I don't think Zhou Shen's strength has really declined!" White Crescent said again.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Guo Hao suddenly looked up at the white crescent moon.

"You already know that Zhou Shen isn't planning to stay with LGD anymore. Given how badly LGD is doing this year, there's no need for Zhou Shen to play like he used to!"

White Crescent shrugged and continued, "Practicing and fighting relentlessly takes a heavy toll on a person's mental strength and can easily deplete their competitive edge."

"Since Zhou Shen wants to leave, I think it's perfectly reasonable for him to conserve his energy and prolong his potential peak in the future!"

"Of course, this is just my guess. It's also possible that Zhou Shen has really become worse this year!" White Crescent added at the end.

White Crescent has already made it very clear: whether or not to take a big gamble before the LPL loan window closes is up to Guo Hao himself.

After pondering for a while, Guo Hao asked the last question he wanted to ask the white crescent moon.

"Let's say Zhou Shen is having a tough time with LGD this year. If we loan him over and he can perform at the level he did in the previous two years, how far do you think we can go this year?"

"I really can't make any guarantees for you!" White Crescent hesitated for a moment, then said, "After all, a competition isn't a one-man show. To win the championship, every position needs to be solid. So I can't guarantee a championship, but we need Zhou Shen at his peak. As long as our teammates are decent, getting into the World Championship is a piece of cake!"

Therefore, the white crescent moon's words put the question back on Guo Hao's shoulders.

What are your expectations for TES this year?
To be honest, Guo Hao's biggest expectation for TES this year is really to make it to the World Championship.

There are no greater ambitions.

Making it to this year's World Championship would be considered exceeding expectations.

Guo Hao was quite confident about this when the Spring Split regular season ended.

However, TES was crushed when it faced IG, while JDG and PFX rose to prominence.

And RNG, who won both the LPL Spring and Summer Championships and the MSI Championship last year, still has its core structure intact and remains a force to be reckoned with.

This made Guo Hao increasingly lose confidence in TES.

After experiencing such a series of events at the Intercontinental Cup, Guo Hao completely lost confidence.

After this exchange with the white crescent moon, he finally made up his mind.

"Damn it, let's bet!"

Guo Hao slammed his hand on the table, startling White Crescent.

After sending the offer to LGD, Guo Hao prepared to visit the players' training room.

Actually, we just returned this year, and the coaching staff has not arranged any training matches or assigned any training programs.

However, as soon as Guo Hao entered the training room, almost all the computers inside were occupied.

There is a computer in front of no one.

Guo Hao carefully looked around the training room and found that 369 was absent from training.

He couldn't help but shake his head slightly.

After waiting for a while, Guo Hao saw that the jungler Xx had just finished a ranked game, so he walked up behind Xx, patted him on the shoulder, and gestured for Xx to come out with him, saying that he had something to say to him.

Xx followed Guo Hao out of the training room.

He thought Guo Hao was coming to talk to him about the conflict he had with 369 the day before yesterday.

After all, 369 didn't come to training today.

So, as soon as they stepped out of the training room, Xx said, "Brother Hao, I apologized to 69, but he ignored me! There's nothing I can do if he doesn't come to the training room today. I can't exactly beg him to come back to training!"

Actually, the two had a fight that day. The next day, after LPL finished playing the Intercontinental Cup semi-finals and returned to the hotel, Xx went to 369 to express some apologies.

The reason it's only a "some" apology is that Xx doesn't think he was wrong to say 369's line, "If I help you, you won't win; if I don't help you, you'll definitely fail!"

This statement is at most biased.

After all, 369 can still be tanky and deal damage against weaker top laners.

But once he encounters a strong team or a skilled top laner, 369 truly lives up to Xx's assessment.

Therefore, Xx's apology wasn't particularly sincere, as Xx never believed that what he said was wrong.

Therefore, even if there were steps available, 369 wouldn't take them.

369 thought the steps were too narrow.

What gives you the right to say that about me?
In his anger, 369 sometimes even had thoughts like, "I will never play games with Xx again."

Anyway, in future matches, it's either me or him; it's impossible for me to play alongside this jungler.

Unbeknownst to 369, Guo Hao had already made the choice for him.

If Guo Hao hadn't had the opportunity to loan Zhou Dian, he would definitely have tried to appease 369 and mend his relationship with Xx so that the two could work together on the field.

But now, even if Xx takes the initiative to make concessions, he's too lazy to coax the other party involved.

"Damn it, I'm the team manager, not a babysitter." Hearing Xx's words, Guo Hao waved his hand and said, "Fine, I won't bother you then. It's not like we don't have a top laner!"

"Uh..." Xx was speechless for a moment.

What does Hao Ge mean by this?
Does this mean we really don't need 69 anymore?
Xx originally thought that Guo Hao had come to persuade him to give 369 a more "sincere" apology.

I never expected to hear something like this.

At this moment, Xx was not happy about his "victory"; he was just surprised.

Because he knew very well that the team's substitute top laner, Moyu, was not good enough and was inferior to 369.

369 still has some potential, and can occasionally score a point. In terms of raw skill, he is much stronger than Moyu, but his mentality is too bad.

If we don't use 369 anymore, what will happen to the team's performance?
Just then, Xx heard Guo Hao say, "Xiongxiong, can I ask you a question?"

"Uh, Hao-ge, go ahead and ask!"

Who do you think is stronger, Zhou Shen or TheShy?

Upon hearing this, Xx immediately laughed and said, "Brother Hao, why are you asking this? I feel like this question is meaningless. Who cares who's stronger? It's not like he's our top laner!"

"So let's say these two are our TES top laners. If you were the coach, who would you start and who would you substitute?"

"Whether it's Zhou Shen or TheShy, they wouldn't be able to be substitutes on any team!" Upon hearing this, Xx shrugged.

"So who do you think is stronger between these two?"

Well, here we go again. It seems this question absolutely has to be answered!

Xx began to think seriously and decided to give this issue a thorough consideration.

This question has actually been discussed countless times online, but as a professional jungler, Xx hasn't really thought about it much.

Guo Hao looked at Xx's thoughtful expression. He had originally thought that Xx would answer "TheShy".

After all, from viewers to commentators, the general consensus this season is that TheShy is currently stronger than Zhou Dian, and his performance on the field certainly reflects this.

TES can be considered "TheShy's victims," ​​as 369 always falls apart when facing TheShy, and Xx happens to have a problem with 369.

But to Guo Hao's surprise, Xx only thought for a few seconds before saying decisively, "Zhou Shen is stronger!"

“But Zhou Shen’s performance in the past year or so has been far inferior to TheShy’s!” Guo Hao said immediately, curious about Xx’s reasons.

"Isn't this about individual ability? What's there to talk about in terms of results!" Xx said. "If we're talking about results, Zhou Shen has a single-year Grand Slam and all the Finals MVPs. Who can compare?"

"That"

Guo Hao was interrupted as soon as he started to speak.

Xx continued, "Actually, players like Marin, Zhou Shen, TheShy, and several top laners from the LCK, all of them are pretty much the same when they carry!"

"But everyone else has one problem: they're easy to catch. There's no way around it; if you want to win, you have to suppress others, and if you suppress others, you'll get caught!"

“Look, even 69 isn’t as good at C as them, and he’s easier to catch than them!” Xx said with a chuckle.

Guo Hao's eyes widened, "You still mention 69!"

Xx shrank his neck and continued, "But Zhou Shen is impossible to catch because of this flaw. He's even harder to catch than Mouse and Letme before. It's just ridiculous!"

"It seems you greatly admire Zhou Shen!" Guo Hao said with a half-smile.

"Of course! Which jungler doesn't like a top laner like Zhou Shen!" Xx said. "Let me tell you, being on the same team as a top laner like Marin or TheShy can be really tough sometimes. They keep pressuring you, and if you don't protect them, you keep getting ganked. If you keep protecting them, your own jungle rhythm gets completely messed up!"

"Of course, these top laners really can carry if you help them out!" Xx chuckled again, clearly making another subtle dig at 369.
Guo Hao naturally understood what Xx meant, and he said with a smile, "If Zhou Shen were your teammate, you wouldn't say that Zhou Shen 'doesn't carry when he helps you, and will definitely feed when he doesn't help you,' right?"

"How could that be? If Zhou Shen were my teammate, he could call me a 'stupid jungler' all he wants!" Xx touched the short stubble on his head.

"Then you can just wait to be a 'stupid jungler'!"

After making that sarcastic remark, Guo Hao turned and left.

Xx was left somewhat confused.

What does Hao Ge mean by this?

Guo Hao had just returned to his office when he received some bad news.

LGD has replied.

They rejected Guo Hao's loan offer.

Of course, they only rejected the offer, not the lease.

LGD's point is that if you come to loan them before the start of the Summer Split, they can even give Zhou Shen to them for free, as long as they cover Zhou Shen's salary.

This can be seen as the club fulfilling Zhou Shen's pursuit of results.

But the Summer Split has been going on for a month now, and I've already loaned Zhou Shen to you, so my team doesn't have a top laner!
You can't have four people playing a game!

LGD's intentions are quite clear: they're willing to loan Zhou Shen.

But you'll have to pay extra!

This is only because Zhou Dian had clearly expressed to LGD's management that he did not want to renew his contract and wanted to go elsewhere to pursue better results; otherwise, there would have been no point in discussing it.

LGD, in turn, proposed the loan amount they wanted to TES.

The amount is quite large.

But it was just a casual remark; after all, if someone asks for an exorbitant price, you have to bargain on the spot!

If it really can earn more money, why not?

Even if TES is unwilling to pay more, LGD will still release the player.

As I said before, loyalty is the foundation, and Zhou Dian has absolutely done right by LGD. LGD is also willing to support Zhou Dian.

But to LGD's surprise, Guo Hao actually agreed to increase the money!

We've finally caught a real traitor!
(End of this chapter)