LOL: What does it mean to torture players?

……

[On camera: LPL Regular Season Week 7, EDG vs WBG, Game 1]

At the Hongqiao Performing Arts Center, Miller and Wawa, the Haier Brothers, were on the commentary panel.

"Alright, let's move on to the ban/pick phase! WBG is on the blue side, and their first three bans are Fiora, Camille, and Gwen! It's still a very targeted pick against Mozi's split-pushing champion pool." Miller quickly explained.

"WBG immediately locked in Udyr, who is tanky, fast, and has a strong lane sustain in the current version!" Wawa exclaimed. "Zdz picked Udyr, which is clearly a way to play Tai Chi with Mozi! If I can't beat you, I'll push the lane and then run away, getting through the laning phase in an annoying way."

The lineups for both sides were quickly finalized.

Blue side WBG: Top lane Udyr, Jungle Maokai, Mid lane Azir, ADC Varus, Support Lena.

Red team EDG: Jungler Sejuani (Achen), Mid laner Neeko (Xiaoyue), ADC Kalista, Support Ashe.

The pressure has shifted to EDG's fifth floor, to Su Mo's counter-pick position.

"Mozi, the enemy team's lineup has extremely strong kiting ability, and Udyr is a slippery eel. Should we pick Cho'Gath or Sion to farm against him?" Mingkai asked from behind.

Su Mo took a sip of hot water from the thermos with one hand, his gaze calmly sweeping over Udir's profile picture.

"Playing Tai Chi? That depends on how fast he can run."

Su Mo put down the cup and lightly clicked the mouse.

"Where it goes, not a blade of grass grows!"

Berserker Olaf!!!

"Olaf!! Mozi picked Olaf!!" Miller's voice instantly rose, "When facing a parkour-style top laner like Udyr, Mozi directly picked the simplest and most brutal mad dog champion! You run? I'll chase you down and hack you to pieces with my ultimate and Ghost!!"

Game loading.

As soon as the minion waves met, Zdz's Udyr learned the ultimate skill, Phoenix Stance, intending to use the AOE to quickly clear the wave and then dive into the jungle.

But Su Mo's Olaf is completely unreasonable.

Having learned the Q skill [Reverse Throw] at level 1, a precise axe shot slowed down Udyr the instant he stepped forward to attack minions!

Su Mo did not retreat, but instead took heavy steps across the minion wave, picked up the axe on the ground, and instantly refreshed the cooldown of his Q skill, hitting the target with the second axe!
"Brother Mozi has made his move!! He crossed the minion wave at level one and started chasing Udyr down!!" Wawa shouted.

Zdz was startled and quickly switched to bear form, intending to knock Olaf unconscious and then escape.

But Su Mo, maintaining his distance, pulled back a step the instant Udyr raised his hand, dodging the stun effect, and then the third axe hit precisely!
With the Conqueror stacks and Olaf's passive providing a huge attack speed boost, Udyr's health plummeted like a floodgate had been opened!
In just one level of trade, Zdz's Udyr was forced to use Flash and could only cower under the tower, trembling in fear.

The game has been going on for six minutes.

WBG's jungler Xiaohao couldn't stand it anymore and went to the top lane to help Udyr clear the wave.

"The big tree is here! WBG's top and jungle are flanking Olaf, he's pushing too far, can he escape?!"

Facing the Asian Binding W skill of the tree and Udyr's bear form charge, Su Mo's eyes remained as still as a pool of water.

He didn't use Flash.

Just as the big tree was lifted up!

Ragnarok!!!

Su Mo calmly pressed the R key!
Olaf was enveloped in crimson blood energy, making him immune to all control effects! The tree's binding and Udyr's stun hit him like mud sinking into the sea, without making the slightest ripple!

Immediately afterward, Su Mo activated [Sprint] without hesitation!
"You want to arrest me? Then leave them all here."

In the voice message, Su Mo's voice was calm, but his actions were extremely violent!
Olaf slowed down both of them with a single Q skill axe, becoming like a heavy tank out of control, ignoring the damage from the tree, and unleashing a barrage of attacks on the squishy Udyr with his double axes!
[Reckless Slash] The E skill strikes down with true damage!

"Crack!"

Udyr's health bar was instantly emptied!
"EDG.Mo has killed WBG.Zdz!"

Upon seeing this, the tree was terrified and used its teleportation ability to escape.

But how could Olaf, under the combined acceleration of Ragnarok and Sprint, possibly let him leave?
Pick up the axe, slow down again, catch up to the tower, and chop the tree down with three swings!
"Double Kill!!"

"Double kill!!! Mozi achieved an incredible 1v2 double kill in the top lane!!!" Miller slammed his fist on the table. "What kind of monster is this?! Olaf with his ultimate activated is completely unreasonable, immune to all fancy moves, he just uses numbers and axes to shred you to pieces!!"

In that match, Su Mo's Olaf achieved a terrifying 11-0 score, directly destroying WBG's base in the 22nd minute.

……

[Camera Switch: LPL Regular Season Week 8, EDG vs LNG, Game 2]

The television screen then switched to a key game in Week 8 of the regular season.

Their opponent is LNG, who boast top-tier mid laner Scout and top-tier ADC GALA. LNG's top laner, Zika, is a rising star in the LPL known for his exquisite mechanics.

“This match was equally classic.” In the living room, Xiaoyu pointed at the screen, her eyes full of admiration. “Zika picked Jax that game, and in the pre-match interview, he even said he would teach Mo a lesson with his weapon.”

The scene shows the business pairing (BP) phase.

Blue side LNG: Top lane Jax, Jungle Xin Zhao, Mid lane Orianna (Scout), ADC Aphelios (GALA), Support Thresh.

Red team EDG: Jungler Vi, Mid laner Taliyah, ADC Lucian, Support Milio.

Faced with Zika's signature Jax, Su Mo still did not choose the conventional heavy warrior on the fifth floor.

His mouse hovered over the hero list, locking onto a Yordle wielding a small round shield.

Do you know what it means to have a final, decisive decision?

Poppy, the Keeper of the Hammer!
"Poppy?! Mozi picked Poppy against Jax?!" Guan Zeyuan was stunned in the commentary booth. "Although Poppy is very strong at preventing dives, she is definitely no match for Jax in split pushing! Has Mozi decided to play the role of a support and tank?" However, the course of the game slapped everyone in the face.

The game lasts four and a half minutes.

Zika's Jax activated his E skill [Counter Strike], intending to use his Q skill [Leap Slash] to jump onto Poppy's face and harass her.

At exactly 0.1 seconds into Jax's leap into the air!
Su Mo tapped lightly with his left hand.

W skill: Unwavering Demeanor!
A golden defensive line instantly appeared around Poppy!

"boom!"

Jax, who was leaping in mid-air, was like a fly that had hit a windowpane. He was slapped down from the air by Poppy's W skill and was briefly stunned!
Not only did it fail to deal any damage, but the Counterattack Storm also missed!
Su Mo remained calm and unhurried, unleashing his Q skill [Holy Hammer Smash], combined with his passive [Iron Ambassador] ranged shield auto-attack, and inflicting magic damage with Grasp of the Undying, slamming it hard onto Jax's head!
After the blood transfusion, Poppy was unharmed, but Jax lost a significant amount of health.

"That reaction speed is insane!!!" Miller exclaimed, "Zika's Q skill is almost instantaneous, and Mozi was able to perfectly interrupt it with Poppy's W!!"

Twelve minutes later, LNG panicked.

Jungler Xin Zhao and mid laner Orianna roamed to the top lane together, attempting to tower dive and kill Su Mo with the help of Jax.

The three surrounded Poppy under the top tower, and Orianna's ball had already been passed to Xin Zhao, preparing to dive the tower.

Su Mo's eyes remained calm as he took a sip of water from his thermos.

"Too many people? Let's go look around somewhere else."

Just as Zhao Xin charged in with his E skill, Su Mo immediately activated his ultimate skill, [Guardian's Judgment]!
Poppy lifted the massive holy hammer, spun it twice in the air, and then slammed it down onto the ground!
"boom!!!"

A massive shockwave swept across the ground, striking Zhao Xin, who had just charged into the turret, and Orianna, who was following behind!
The two were thrown like they were on a helicopter, and Poppy's ultimate ability sent them flying behind the top lane's second turret!

What was originally a three-on-one situation instantly turned into a true man's battle between Poppy and Jax in a 1v1!
Zika's Jax was dumbfounded; his newly activated Counter Strike was still spinning, but his teammates were gone.

Su Mo wouldn't stand on ceremony.

Jax's E skill, Heroic Charge, pins him against the turret wall! Stunned!

With his Q skill slamming down, combined with the turret's laser beam, Jax was instantly killed under the turret with just two hammer blows!
"A counter-kill!!! Mozi used Poppy's ultimate to knock up the jungler and mid laner, and then solo-killed Zika's Jax under the tower!!!" Guan Zeyuan's voice was completely hoarse, "《Refuse to Work Overtime》!! Mozi took those four words to the extreme!! You want to 3v1? Sorry, I'll just send you back to the high ground and then 1v1!!

In that match, Su Mo's Poppy not only completely dominated Jax in the laning phase, but also became a wall of lamentation in the late-game team fights. She not only perfectly blocked Xin Zhao's entry with her W, but also pinned GALA's Aphelios to the wall.

EDG once again crushed LNG.

……

"drop--"

The television feed was paused.

Su Mo walked out of the kitchen wearing a dark gray turtleneck loungewear.

He held an exquisite purple clay tea tray in his hands, on which sat a pot of freshly brewed pre-Qingming Longjing tea and five crystal-clear teacups.

“Watching video replays is my job. Aren’t you bored watching these at home on the weekend?” Su Mo’s tone was calm and gentle. He placed the tea tray on the coffee table and gracefully poured tea for the girls.

The subtle aroma of tea instantly filled the spacious living room.

"How could I be bored! Watching you crush those arrogant little geniuses on the field is more stress-relieving than reading a wish-fulfillment novel!" Luo Xin sat barefoot on the carpet, took the teacup with both hands, and said with a grin.

“Exactly.” Lin Xuan’s voice came through the speakerphone, with a hint of coquettish laughter. “Teacher Su was dominating on stage, and we were thrilled watching from below. It’s just a pity that I’ve been busy with promotions lately and haven’t been able to go to the stadium to watch your match.”

“Work is important. I can watch the game recording anytime.” Su Mo picked up his black thermos, leaned back on the single sofa, and his deep eyes revealed a tranquility that came from having seen it all.

Yu Shuang picked up her teacup, gently blew away the foam, and looked at him tenderly: "The regular season has finally ended with a perfect record. The league has already scheduled the playoffs. Our first match is in the lower bracket, and we will most likely play the winner between NIP and JDG."

"It doesn't matter, it's the same whoever comes." Su Mo's tone was calm, without the slightest ripple.

Just then, the phone on the coffee table suddenly vibrated.

The screen displayed the caller ID: Xiaohu.

Su Mo raised an eyebrow slightly and pressed the speakerphone button.

"Hey, Mo Ge! Happy New Year, or rather, happy end of the regular season!" Xiaohu's distinctive laughter came from the other end of the phone, and the sound of WBG players typing on their keyboards could be heard in the background.

"Get to the point." Su Mo took a sip of goji berry water.

"Hey bro, you're still as aloof as ever." Xiaohu sighed on the other end of the phone, his tone tinged with resentment. "I'm calling on behalf of the entire WBG team to express our deepest 'accusations' against you! In that game in week seven, it was one thing for your Olaf to chase and kill Zdz, but why did you also chop me up? I'm a weak Azir, I even used Flash, and you still used Ghost to jump over two towers and chop my head off! Don't I have any dignity?!"

Upon hearing Xiaohu's aggrieved complaint, the girls in the living room burst into laughter.

A faint smile appeared in Su Mo's eyes, but his tone remained serious: "Your Tsar clears the wave too fast. If I don't send you back to the fountain, that wave of minions won't be able to get to the tower. Efficiency is key in this job, and I'm just trying to get off work early."

"..." Xiaohu on the other end of the phone was speechless for a long time. "Fine! You win! But seriously, Brother Mo, WBG has recovered its form in the playoffs. If we meet in the semifinals, we won't let you 'get off work' so easily again."

“I’m looking forward to it. Please give my regards to TheShy,” Su Mo replied calmly.

"Alright! I won't disturb your rest, Brother Mo. See you in the playoffs!"

After hanging up the phone, the atmosphere in the room felt exceptionally warm.

In the competitive and brutal world of esports, Su Mo is an anomaly. He possesses the power to suppress everything, yet he never actively makes enemies; he defeats all his opponents to the point of submission, yet he still maintains a calm and friendly relationship with them off-field, like old friends.

"Brother Mo, your popularity is so good that it makes people jealous." hope Ran, wearing a pink loungewear, naturally moved closer to Su Mo and leaned half of her body on his broad shoulder. "You clearly beat people to a pulp on stage, but they still call you to try and get close to you after you're offstage."

“In this industry, strength is the best passport. If you are strong enough, others will respect you.” Su Mo did not push Xi Ran away. Instead, he pulled the cashmere blanket draped over the back of the sofa and covered her smooth thighs, which were only covered by shorts. “Don’t wear so little even at home.”

hope Ran felt the warmth emanating from her legs and shoulders, her cheeks flushed slightly, and her heart felt as sweet as honey. She obediently nodded. (End of Chapter)