This Lee Sang-hyeok is very strong, but he lacks self-awareness.

Time flies, and the 2017 LPL Spring Split has already begun.

Due to the so-called tactical integration, Lin Xiu and Lee Sang-hyeok did not travel to the venue with the team at the beginning of the competition.

For the past two months, they have been kept in a somewhat remote practice room at the base, where even the heating was inadequate.

Since there were no matches to play, Lin Xiu spent every day playing ranked matches with Lee Sang-hyeok, a near-self-torture level of intensity.

[EDG's substitutes aim for rank 1 in the Korean server!!!]

Initially, the audience was simply curious about the skill level of the two players EDG had signed but never played.

However, as the two players swept through LCK professional players in the Korean server with an almost bulldozing win rate,

They even took turns leading with Dopa, who had been in first place for a long time, and the entire LPL's attention was drawn to this small practice room.

At this point, with the enemy's crystal destroyed, the two players once again surpassed the enemy jungler Dopa in Rank.

The number of viewers in the live stream exceeded 100,000, and the scrolling of comments was so fast that it was difficult to see with the naked eye.

"Get out of here! I'm the number one in the Korean server!"

Lin Xiu patted Lee Sang-hyeok's shoulder hard, then played the date and started dancing to the side.

[Damn, rank 1 in Korean server, this is a true pro. Why isn't EDG letting these two play?]

Can profession and rank be the same?

Look at how smug Lin is! If he were actually given a starting position, wouldn't he jump onto the roof of the arena?

"Brother Li, it's almost time."

Ignoring the questions in the live chat, Lin Xiu glanced at the time on the screen, turned off the background music, sat back down, picked up the teacup beside him, and took a sip.

"Guys, our regular program is here!"

"This afternoon is the main event, the match between EDG and RNG is about to start. I watch every single EDG match."

Lee Sang-hyeok rubbed his slightly tired wrists, looked up from the computer screen, and calmly responded.

Although his Chinese still has a lingering Korean soybean paste stew accent after two months in China,

However, basic tactical communication and daily life communication are no longer difficult.

Lin Xiu's lips curled into a wicked smile, and he casually changed the title of his live stream to:

[EDG substitute provides online guidance: I could predict the outcome of this pig-dog battle even with my eyes closed]

This highly topical title, combined with Lin Xiu and Lee Sang-hyeok's status as EDG substitutes, instantly attracted hundreds of thousands of fans and haters to flood the live stream.

[It's you, Sima, a substitute, who's been riding the IEM wave, backstabbing EDG, and causing the match against IG to be postponed, right?]

[A pig vs. a dog war? Pig offspring and dog offspring, huh?]

[Cover your mouth, are you out of your mind?]

[Here we go again? You, a mere water boy who can't even get to the second floor of the base, dare to coach the first team against RNG?]

I still remember the smug look on Lin's face when EDG had their first three wins!

[And then there's the incident where EDG lost to NB, and the streamer was sending good luck messages during the broadcast; it's really something.]

The rising sun in the east, the lingering warmth of the evening sun.

[Can the streamers please stop exploiting Scout and Ai Luoli? They're fighting tooth and nail on stage, while you two are playing ranked games and eating takeout in the practice room. Have you no shame?]

Am I the only one who thinks Lin Gengxin and Li Ge are really better than Scout and Ai Luoli?

[Only you think so!]

In the live chat, EDG's die-hard fans were cursing each other, while only a few of Lin Xiu's fans were speaking up for him.

Lin Xiu was already immune to this. He slowly opened the char siu rice that had just been delivered, and the aroma of the sauce filled the practice room.

He pointed to the BP interface that had just opened on the secondary screen, like a leisurely spectator.

"Brothers, stop arguing! We're all EDG members, we're family!"

"Regarding the IEM incident, I only revealed some information I knew as an insider. As for the blitzkrieg against Poland, that kind of smear campaign definitely didn't originate from me!"

"As for the commentary, it's only for three things: objectivity, objectivity, and fucking objectivity!"

Lin Xiu took a big bite of food and spoke indistinctly to the camera.

On the screen, the first game officially entered the ban/pick phase.

EDG is on the blue side, and RNG is on the red side.

In the first round of bans, EDG seemed extremely wary of RNG's top and jungle duo, banning Graves, Jayce, and Kha'Zix first.

RNG also specifically banned Varus, LeBlanc, and Rengar.

"Brother Li, look at the bans. Abu's strategy is very clear: target the top and jungle, but who's going to take care of Uzi?"

Lin Xiu pointed at the screen.

Lee Sang-hyeok stared at the screen, adjusted his glasses, and spoke slowly:

"EDG will definitely pick Camille, this champion is too strong."

As soon as the words were spoken, EDG's blue team immediately locked in Camille on the first floor!

"First pick Camille, there's definitely no problem with the draft."

"But even with such strong champions, it depends on the player's ID. If they weren't certain that A-Guang couldn't play Camille well, why would they let him pass?"

In the subsequent champion selection, RNG immediately picked the mid-jungle duo of Elise and Syndra.

The moment these two heroes were chosen, Lin Xiu's expression turned playful.

"The mid-jungle duo is incredibly strong."

Lin Xiu put down his chopsticks.

"Syndra and Elise, Faker, what lineup do you think EDG needs to build to withstand this?"

Lee Sang-hyeok was silent for two seconds, then pointed to the screen:

"It's hard to find a team stronger than this one; EDG will likely play defensively and counter-attack."

As expected, EDG countered by picking Ekko and Gragas, focusing on mid-game burst damage.

In the bot lane, RNG first secured the Karma + Ezreal duo.

EDG opted for a combination of Caitlyn and Nami.

"EDG picked Caitlyn and Nami, which are quite strong picks, and they want to pressure the bot lane to relieve the pressure on their mid and jungle."

Lin Xiu chuckled, "But are you sure you can beat Uzi?"

The final lineups for both sides were selected.

EDG: Top lane Camille, Mid lane Ekko, Jungle Gragas, AD Caitlyn, Support Nami.

RNG: Top laner Shen, Mid laner Syndra, Jungler Elise, AD carry Ezreal, Support Karma.

"I knew EDG was in trouble as soon as the lineups were picked."

Lin Xiu spoke to the camera with a more confident tone.

"Looking at the lineup alone, EDG is perfectly fine. Both the top and bottom lanes can gain an advantage, and they also have assassins to cut through the backline in the mid and late game."

"But like I said, it depends on the ID."

"This lineup requires you to initiate and kill people first. Gragas and Ekko are heroes who can't get out without their ultimates once they go in."

"Unless Camille completely dominates Shen in the early game, who can EDG kill with Shen's ultimate in the mid-game?"

"If you fail to kill someone instantly and get counterattacked, you'll definitely suffer a huge loss."

[Shut up, Lin Gou! You got Camille and still can't win? Do you even understand champion strength?]

[Gragas, Camille, and Ekko—three of them diving the backline together, how can RNG possibly succeed? Streamer, stop your unwarranted criticism!]

[I hate these kinds of streamers the most. No matter how good you are, can you be as good as a professional? Why don't you go play professionally?]

[Uh, the one in front of me, he really is a professional, he just can't get to play.]

[Be specific, what is your profession? Are you a professional League of Legends player, or a professional base security guard?]

The comments section erupted with questions.

Lin Xiu didn't say much, just watched the game silently.

Not long after the start of the game, EZ was caught out by Gragas for pushing too far into the lane, giving Caitlyn first blood.

In the ensuing skirmishes, EDG, through their mid-jungle synergy, took down RNG's top and bottom towers, establishing a significant economic and vision advantage.

Why isn't Lin Gou talking? Is he having a relapse of depression?

I want to hear the haters bark like dogs.

[Still questioning! EDG is already first in Group B, and they still can't shut up the haters!]

The barrage of comments has entered an unlimited firepower mode.

However, for the next ten minutes, EDG was unable to widen the economic gap.

After the Baron Nashor spawned, Syndra was ganked unsuccessfully, but Ezreal countered and secured a double kill.

RNG then took down Baron Nashor, completely widening their economic gap.

[They didn't get instantly killed? RNG is incredibly lucky!]

[Lin Gou, that jinx, is he secretly plotting something?]

There's still a chance; the high ground is still there!

[What kind of opportunity is there? With an 8,000 yuan economic disadvantage, I'd take it.]

The comments section began to show differing opinions.

The two sides remained deadlocked for several more minutes until the second Baron Nashor spawned.

RNG forced a team fight at Baron Nashor, resulting in a 5-0 exchange, and then took the game.

EDG is trash!

After EDG gained an advantage within ten minutes, they failed to secure another kill against RNG.

[The streamer is amazing! He saw right through these EDG slackers!]

[God? Uzi is the real god!]

The comments section began to haile their new king.

"I told you, draft picks aren't just about roster strength on paper; you have to look at the player's ID!"

"The core of this lineup is clearly Camille and Caitlyn, but do Mouse and Zet really have the skill?"

"What's the point of constantly giving Scout and Ai Luoli things they can play comfortably? Will it help them win the game?"

Just as Lin Xiu joined the live chat in mocking the EDG team, his phone on the table suddenly vibrated violently, and the name "Abu" flashed wildly on the caller ID.