ATIBTF Chapter 76

While the JW team members were full of confusion, far away in his hometown, Yan Junying released the mouse, took his hand off the keyboard, leaned back in his gaming chair, and stroked his chin.

There was a reason why he, who usually never provoked professional players, suddenly engaged in a solo match with the JW team members.

The specific reason traces back to the previous day.

Because he had to take care of his bar business, Yan Junying usually got home very late, played some games to unwind, and went to bed only around dawn, so he woke up late.

Living alone, Yan Junying had a mild case of morning grumpiness. Therefore, when his sweet dream was interrupted by a phone call in the morning, he was very impatient.

The phone displayed an unfamiliar number.

Yan Junying originally wanted to hang up, but for some inexplicable reason, he groggily answered it.

“Hello?” He buried his head in the pillow, sounding uninterested.

“Yan Zi?” The voice on the other end was somewhat familiar.

“…Who are you?” Yan Junying was puzzled.

Since retiring from the esports circle and starting his own business, people around him had been calling him “Brother Yan” all the time. It had been a long time since anyone called him “Yan Zi.”

“It’s Lao Bai.” The other party revealed his identity.

Among the people Yan Junying knew, the only one who called himself Lao Bai and referred to him as “Yan Zi” was Bai Yin, the current head coach of the JW team’s WOC division.

Bai Yin and Yan Junying had once been in the same club. Bai Yin was an assistant coach at that time, while Yan Junying was in his prime.

Bai Yin had a good understanding of the game, but his hands couldn’t keep up with his brain. So he gave up his initial dream of becoming a player and turned to coaching.

The two had a lot to discuss about the game and gradually became good brothers.

When Yan Junying retired, Bai Yin was one of the few who knew it was due to a hand injury, so besides feeling regretful, he didn’t try too hard to persuade him to stay.

After a few years, Bai Yin had become the head coach of a rising new team, while Yan Junying quietly ran a small bar in his hometown, occasionally following WOC matches silently.

When Yan Junying left, he didn’t leave any contact information and changed all his original contact details to avoid reminders of the esports circle.

For several years, he had never contacted Bai Yin.

Why was this happening today? Why did he suddenly receive a call from Bai Yin?

Yan Junying was suddenly wide awake and sat up.

“Lao Bai…” Yan Junying was silent for a moment, “Congratulations, you guys did well in the Spring Finals.”

“…Thanks.” Bai Yin said over the phone, “You kid, after disappearing for so long, I finally found you. I had to ask your cousin’s brother-in-law’s friend’s wife’s best friend’s boyfriend to get your number!”

“…Why go through all that trouble…” Yan Junying was speechless, not expecting Bai Yin to be so persistent. “Shouldn’t you be focusing on preparing the JW kids for the upcoming matches? Why are you looking for me?”

“I do have something to ask you.” Bai Yin said, “We’ll catch up later. What I need to say now is urgent.”

“I’ve been out of the circle for so long. What could you possibly need from me?” Yan Junying still sounded indifferent, sitting on the edge of the bed, ready to light a cigarette.

“I want you to come to JW as the head coach.” Bai Yin dropped a bombshell.

The lighter in Yan Junying’s hand fell to the ground, and the cigarette in his mouth slipped out in surprise.

“You…what did you say?” Yan Junying doubted his ears.

Bai Yin was doing well as the head coach, so why would he say such a thing?

“I want you to take over as the head coach at JW.” Bai Yin repeated himself.

Yan Junying ran his hand through his hair several times, “No, Lao Bai, aren’t you doing fine as the head coach? Why, are you resigning?”

Bai Yin said, “Brother, to be honest, I have to undergo surgery for an illness and will be out for a while. The team can’t be without a head coach. After thinking it over, you’re the only suitable one I could ask.”

Yan Junying: “…”

“What do you say, brother? Give me a straight answer.” Bai Yin said, “Given our relationship, no need for extra words. Just a yes or no, so I can inform the team. Don’t worry about the salary and benefits; our club isn’t short on money.”

Yan Junying remained silent.

“Yan Zi? Are you listening, Yan Zi?” Bai Yin seemed a bit anxious on the other end.

“…I’m listening.” Yan Junying picked up the cigarette, bit it in his mouth, picked up the lighter, lit it with one hand, took a puff, and exhaled a cloud of smoke.

“So, what do you say?”

Yan Junying’s eyes fell on the bookshelf in the room, where the trophy he had won back then was displayed, his gaze complicated.

“…Give me some time to think about it.” After a long silence, Yan Junying finally spoke slowly.

He had been away from this scene for too long, and stepping back into it required enough determination and courage.

“…Alright.” Bai Yin understood Yan Junying’s hesitation; if it were him, he would also be uncertain about such a sudden invitation.

“But you’d better make your decision quickly; time waits for no one. The regional qualifiers in Country R are about to start, and the kids need a head coach.” Bai Yin said, “I’m not exaggerating, the JW kids are quite capable. With better teamwork, they have the potential to be a top-tier team, really.”

Yan Junying suddenly thought of the “Mid Lane Veteran” he had frequently encountered in ranked matches.

That person seemed to be JW’s mid laner, known as the Sugar God, Lollipop.

A few days ago, Yan Junying had also silently watched the Spring Finals.

JW’s members had potential, but their tactics and teamwork needed improvement. Otherwise, they would struggle against top international teams.

However, there was no doubt that winning the Spring Finals had given them hope of contending for the highest world championship trophy.

Over the years, Yan Junying had been avoiding everything related to the esports circle because he feared that recalling the past would make him sad.

He hadn’t dismissed the idea of returning to the esports circle but had never found the right opportunity.

Now, the opportunity had arrived. If he were to return, JW would indeed be a good choice.

But whether to give up his current peaceful life and return to the esports scene to fight for his dream again was a dilemma for Yan Junying.

After chatting with Bai Yin for a while, Yan Junying hung up the phone.

He spent the whole day pondering whether to return as a coach.

That evening, after managing the daily tasks at the bar, he strolled down the street, heading home.

He wandered past an internet cafe by the street.

This internet cafe had large floor-to-ceiling windows, usually covered with thick blackout curtains, but there was no need for them at night.

Through the uncovered glass, Yan Junying saw a few young boys near the window playing WOC.

As the most popular MOBA game globally, WOC had a massive player base.

However, despite this large player base, the Z country had never won a world championship since the establishment of the WOC esports league.

Standing outside the glass, Yan Junying silently watched the young boys passionately playing the game.

Once upon a time, he was just like these boys, passionately battling it out in internet cafes. From there, he took step after step, advancing to a top-tier team and participating in various competitions.

The current esports environment is much more mature and stable compared to his time, and players now have better training conditions.

The Z country’s WPL is developing well, but it still lacks a world championship.

Watching those young boys, something seemed to ignite in Yan Junying’s heart.

He might have a hand injury, and he might be older now, but his heart hadn’t aged.

He could still reach the top of the national server with his game understanding and remaining game skills, which meant he wasn’t entirely washed up.

So why not give it a try?

Instead of just feeling nostalgic, he should take a bold step forward.

Yan Junying looked at the boys in the internet cafe through the glass.

Even though he couldn’t hear them, he was sure they were happy.

Why not fight for what he loves one more time while conditions still allow it?

Yan Junying felt a sudden clarity.

When he got home, he couldn’t contain his excitement.

The thought of returning to the arena he had dreamed of countless times made it hard for him to sleep.

The next day, he began to take action.

Since he had decided to return as a coach, he needed to understand his future team members.

He hadn’t responded to Bai Yin because he wanted to test the JW team members first.

Seeing their performance in matches was one thing, but experiencing it firsthand was the only way to truly understand their level.

Since he had decided to come back, he had to do his best.

As a coach, he would be responsible for daily training and BP, but on the battlefield, it was up to the players themselves.

So, the players’ skills were crucial for achieving good results.

He was unsure about JW, so he didn’t reply to Bai Yin hastily.

Thus, he prepared to secretly test the JW players’ abilities.

Among the JW players, the only in-game ID he knew was Jiang Min, so as soon as he logged in, he targeted Jiang Min.

Having spent a long time in a team, he was familiar with most teams’ schedules. He accurately caught Jiang Min just as he came online for ranked training.

And so, the scene of him soloing against the team members unfolded.

Yan Junying lit a cigarette, lazily taking a puff.

His expression was relaxed, but his sharp eyes were glowing.

These kids had their shortcomings, but they also had ample potential.

JW winning the Spring Finals meant that as long as they didn’t completely mess up the global points tournament, they should have no problem making it to this year’s world championships.

With proper training and guidance, there was a lot of hope.

Yan Junying finally made up his mind. He took out his phone and dialed Bai Yin’s number, which he had saved just the day before.

“Hello?” On the other end, Bai Yin immediately answered the phone. “Have you thought it over, Yan Zi?”

Yan Junying exhaled a cloud of smoke, squinting his eyes, and said, “Lao Bai, I’m in.”

¹TL: YSIAD “You can support me if you like my translations by leaving a comment below, or by sending me a Ko-fi. Thank you and Enjoy reading! ❤️”

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  TL: YSIAD “You can support me if you like my translations by leaving a comment below, or by sending me a Ko-fi. Thank you and Enjoy reading! ❤️”