DSF Chapter 9

During the exhibition match, professional players had to appear on camera. Sun Tianjiao dragged them out of bed at nine in the morning to do their makeup.

The makeup artist was a teacher from a makeup school who had returned from Korea just last month. She was highly skilled, though her style wasn’t very masculine.

Yan Yibing had slightly longer hair. The makeup artist used their middle fingers to press against his ear, admiring and praising him as she went, “Young man, you look good! You have good natural features, easy to work with. Look at the jawline, those big eyes, and even a hint of natural waves in your hair. Your hairstyle is also quite versatile.”

The makeup artist had a strong perfume scent about her, and as she leaned in closer, the scent of essential oils on her hands grew stronger.

Yan Yibing furrowed his brow, “Keep it simple. We’re mainly here for the competition.”

The makeup artist flicked up a strand of his slightly wavy hair with their little finger, playfully swirling it around their fingertip, “You can trust my skills. I guarantee the girls in the audience will be smitten.”

Yan Yibing raised an eyebrow and shifted the conversation, “I see. Then feel free to do as you like.”

All the players would have a close-up photo session before entering the arena. It was a moment that measured their popularity, and Yan Yibing naturally hoped that the cheers for his appearance would surpass everyone else’s.

However, half an hour later, he stared at himself in the mirror with a complicated expression, feeling utterly lost.

How should he put it? The makeup was a bit too refined, making him stand out from the others.

The makeup artist had even braided his hair, and while it was done beautifully, it was unnecessary. After all, he wasn’t a celebrity.

Song Tang had just finished applying hairspray, turned his head, and exclaimed, “Damn!”

Xu Rui, who heard the commotion, also turned his head and took a sharp breath, “He’s too handsome! If Manager Sun posts this picture, the entire base will be overrun by fanboys and fangirls.”

Fu Haifeng, with a simple and honest laugh, said, “Both of you, shut it. The captain’s face is turning dark.”

Yan Yibing raised an eyebrow, pointing at his own face, suppressing his anger as he asked the makeup artist, “Do you think this is appropriate?”

The makeup artist replied, “Absolutely appropriate! Young man, you don’t understand fashion. I just learned this at an international makeup exchange conference. It’s going to be trendy this spring and summer. Celebrities will be wearing it soon.”

Yan Yibing: “…”

Sun Tianjiao rushed in frantically, “Hurry up, hurry up, the bus is leaving soon. Make sure to bring your team uniforms and phones.”

He finished speaking and looked at Yan Yibing, pausing for a moment.

A few seconds later, Sun Tianjiao’s lips curled, and he said excitedly, “I’ve thought of an opportunity for our team to earn some extra money, a little bit obscene. Do you want to hear it?”

Xu Rui eagerly responded, “Tell us, tell us!”

Yan Yibing coldly glanced at them, saying, “Listen to me, you know what? Pack up your stuff and be on your best behavior today. We must deliver results.”

With that, he was the first to grab his team uniform and put it on.

As he took a few steps, he glanced at Lei Ming standing aside.

Lei Ming had his head down, completely engrossed in reviewing the replays of last year’s PGC Global Championship.

He was watching the game where Han Mo, for once, struggled with his marksmanship. The opponent was the North American TM team, and that match had dragged on for a long time, ultimately ending with Han Mo succumbing to the toxic circle.

The TM team was indeed a formidable opponent in the global championship. All four of their players were in peak form, with almost no weaknesses.

Yan Yibing thought to himself that even if he were in Han Mo’s difficult position, facing a 1v3 situation, he wouldn’t have survived either.

Lei Ming reviewing this match was utterly pointless.

Because Han Mo hadn’t done anything wrong. On the contrary, he had tried his best to secure the maximum points for Prince.

Yan Yibing furrowed his brow but refrained from saying anything, seeing Lei Ming engrossed in the video.

As they boarded the bus and arrived at the competition venue, they entered the stadium through the players’ dedicated entrance.

In front of the arena, the audience had already taken their seats, and the commentators were making light-hearted remarks to pass the time.

This exhibition match featured a total of eighteen teams, with eight clubs from Shanghai, and the rest specially coming from other provinces.

Yan Yibing wasn’t familiar with the teams from other provinces, but he had heard their names to some extent.

As they arrived backstage, they ran into the Prince team and the Aurora team.

Yan Yibing’s eyelid drooped slightly, showing no intention of greeting them, as he planned to bypass them and head to their own resting room.

However, unexpectedly, Lei Ming, who was behind them, suddenly spoke, “Han Shen, I look forward to meeting you in the free-snipe arena. The captain said if I beat you soundly, I can join the first team.”

Lei Ming concluded with a smile, brimming with competitiveness, as he cast a hostile gaze toward Han Mo.

Yan Yibing silently rolled his eyes and silently cursed Lei Ming a couple of times in his heart.

While the league officially discouraged pre-match trash talk between players, some players just couldn’t seem to remember and insisted on provoking others. And, in this case, the target was Han Mo.

Yan Yibing pursed his lips, about to defuse the situation, but just as he was about to speak, he noticed that Han Mo’s gaze was openly fixed on his face.

Han Mo hadn’t bothered to respond to Lei Ming’s trash talk. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and earnestly examined Yan Yibing.

From the sunlit strands of brown hair that were tinged golden to the smooth curve of his throat, Han Mo paid meticulous attention to every detail as though trying to discern something from Yan Yibing’s face.

Yan Yibing furrowed his brow slightly and subconsciously wiped his face with his hand.

This kind of gaze made him feel as though there was something dirty on his face. There wasn’t, of course; the makeup artist had made sure of that.

Yan Yibing dropped his hand, feeling uncomfortable, and turned to admonish Lei Ming, “I said it’s for a substitute position. Be modest, don’t let Han Shen make fun of you. Let’s go.”

Yan Yibing was about to leave when suddenly Han Mo spoke, “Isn’t it you?”

Yan Yibing raised an eyebrow, puzzled.

Han Mo took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing slightly, appearing more focused. He repeated his question, “Free-sniping, isn’t it you?”

Yan Yibing smiled and said, “Ah, tactical change. I’ll discuss it with the team manager later.”

Han Mo didn’t say anything more.

On the other side, a player from the Aurora team chimed in, “It’s a pity, Bing Shen. I thought I could compete with you in the free-snipe arena.”

Yan Yibing glanced over, not recognizing the person.

He was probably a newcomer, quite young, and looked spirited. However, there was a touch of arrogance in the corners of his eyes and eyebrows.

Yan Yibing raised an eyebrow and said, “You can still catch me at the PCL stage.”

The young player continued, “Bing Shen, I grew up watching your matches when I was a child. I really admire you.”

Yan Yibing lazily dragged out his words, “Thanks.” He could tell that this kid meant to imply that he was old and should retire.

The young player added, “I’ve even prepared some pre-game trash talk in the live broadcast room and promised the fans that if I don’t get five kills on Bing Shen, I’ll give away a hundred thousand yuan.”

The free-snipe arena allowed unlimited respawns within the first half-hour, and then ranking was determined by K/D¹ ratio in the latter half. Professional players had skins in their team’s colors, and although they couldn’t see each other’s names in the game, the skin colors usually indicated the team they belonged to.

Yan Yibing quirked an eyebrow and said with a smirk, “Oh? How many viewers are in your live broadcast room, and when are you giving away the money? Such a great deal; I’ll make a note of it.”

In the sniping arena, trying to claim five kills against him showed either arrogance or not taking him seriously.

Yan Yibing had a good temper, but it didn’t mean he was willing to be taken advantage of. Except for Han Mo, he hadn’t shown restraint with anyone. It didn’t matter whether you were a newcomer or younger. If you lost your confidence, it was your bad luck.

The young player’s face twitched, and his expression cracked slightly.

He had thought he could ride on the coattails of the ancient god and boost his own reputation. He hadn’t expected Yan Yibing to be so shameless and even planned to make money from his live broadcast.

“No chance this time.”

Yan Yibing regretfully clicked his tongue, reaching out to Sun Tianjiao’s chest, and pulled out a business card from inside, saying, “This is our team manager’s WeChat. When you’re giving out the red envelopes, be sure to let us know. Once our manager receives it, the entire team will receive it.”

The young player’s mouth corner twitched, and his eyes widened.

Did he think he could lead the entire team to snatch the red envelopes?

The four major powerhouses, was this their level?

Yan Yibing handed the business card to the young player and then glanced at Han Mo. He found that Han Mo was glaring coldly at the young player.

Yan Yibing touched his nose and reluctantly shifted his gaze away, then leisurely led the team to the resting room.

Nestled in the resting room, he heaved a sigh of relief, lazily reclining on the sofa, and turned to ask Song Tang.

“Does Han Mo think I’m scared of him, always staring at me like that?” Yan Yibing remarked.

Song Tang paused for a moment and said somewhat sarcastically, “Even if I were a man, I’d want to stare at you today with that appearance.”

Yan Yibing felt a shiver run down his spine, then gave Song Tang a playful kick, saying, “Get lost.”

The backstage and the recording PD were finally in place. On the big screen in front of the audience, the close-up shots of the players began to roll.

From backstage, the fans’ screams and cheers were clearly audible. When the camera focused on Han Mo, Yan Yibing could tell that the number of female fans was far greater than the number of male fans. Their cheers were at least an octave higher.

“Ahhhhhh, Momo, so handsome!”

“Han Mo! My husband!”

“Husband, go for it! MVP!”

“Hubby slay! Husband, I love you!”

“Han Mo, Han Mo, Han Mo, Han Mo!”

When the camera switched to Yan Yibing, the male fans finally got excited.

“Yan Yibing, the Eternal Light!”

“Bing Shen, crush them!”

“Bing Shen is just getting started!”

“Damn that makeup artist! Is this a game or a runway show?”

Yan Yibing was sour.

Was he really that unattractive to women?

He had such a good temper, and he even sent red envelopes to female fans, but he still couldn’t compare to Han Mo, who never pampered his fans and always had a cold face during his live streams?

The Free-Snipe competition started quickly, and the backstage staff informed the players to get ready.

As Lei Ming put on his team uniform, he turned to Yan Yibing and said, “Captain, just wait and see.”

Cheng Bin, with a straightforward mind, thought Lei Ming was more resolute and gave him a pat on the shoulder, saying, “Good luck, brother. Fight for our Team 2!”

Yan Yibing smiled, not giving a clear response.

The players entered the preparation room, and adjusted their mouse, keyboard, and headphones, connecting to the custom servers set up by the organizers.

Ten minutes later, the 41 players landed at Erangel Airport.

In the Free-Sniping mode, the only safe zone was the airport. Once they went beyond its boundaries, they would be immediately eliminated by the poison zone.

Upon landing, each player only had a VSS with 30 rounds of ammunition, without any vest or helmet.

The VSS rifle came with a built-in scope and was well-equipped, but its major drawback was its low single-shot damage, slow bullet speed, and significant bullet drop.

To acquire better equipment, players had to take risks and loot buildings.

The most resource-rich areas included U-shaped buildings, shipping containers, and factories, but these places were also where most players assembled, making them easy targets.

It was highly likely that a player could get eliminated before even gearing up.

The players landed one by one, and the camera first switched to Han Mo’s point of view.

Professional players compete based on landing speed. From Han Mo’s perspective, his speed was already considered exceptionally fast.

Yan Yibing stared at the screen, murmuring, “From this angle, he should be landing near the cargo containers; they provide good cover.”

Han Mo, not content with just a VSS, was sure to go for the 98K sniper rifle.

The container was a suitable choice – it refreshed frequently, offered good concealment, and allowed him to take high-ground shots comfortably. If everything went smoothly, he could also take care of the players in the factory and office building.

But Han Mo didn’t do that.

He drifted toward the poison zone and, taking advantage of his parachute descent, opted not to rush into the circle to loot equipment. Instead, he immediately took a shot at opponents.

【Prince-momo has eliminated TZS-ming with a VSS rifle. 】

Ming Lang was extremely annoyed and opened the public voice chat, “Brother, you’re not giving me face.”

Han Mo didn’t respond. He methodically looted Ming Lang’s ammunition, then used the barbed wire fence as cover to take shots at opponents moving on the elevated platforms.

【Prince-momo has eliminated YHC-lili with a VSS rifle. 】

Lili from the Firefly Team had a good hiding spot, but Han Mo was far away. He adjusted his aim and shot him down using eight bullets.

Song Tang frowned, saying, “Han Mo is still amazing, but the VSS damage is too low, and he’s not used to it. It’s not common for people to practice with VSS. Han Mo missed several shots.”

Yan Yibing raised an eyebrow and softly said, “Have you noticed, Han Mo has changed his tactics.”

Song Tang realized, “You’re right. Given his style, he would normally land near the U-shaped building. What is he thinking? It’s a chaotic area, and he’s still scavenging there. That’s too conservative.”

Yan Yibing shook his head and spoke in a soft tone, “I’m sure Coach Prince came up with something to counter my playstyle. Han Mo has learned habits from me, but he need to quickly wash them out.”²

At that, Song Tang bit his lip and discreetly glanced at Yan Yibing.

Yan Yibing’s long eyelashes curled, and the corners of his eyes were a light pink, his eyes bright and clear, almost glistening.

Song Tang muttered softly, “Captain, don’t… don’t be sad.”

Yan Yibing grumbled, “How can I not be sad? Han Mo changed his style. How are we going to outsmart Prince in future matches?”

Song Tang: “…”

Soon, Han Mo got six kills but lost half his health. He didn’t have many bullets left and no first aid kits. If he didn’t go to a supply drop soon, he’d be finished.

At the same time, Lei Ming had secured three kills, but unfortunately, he was killed once. It was an unfortunate moment as he was searching everywhere for Han Mo’s blue hoodie.

Prince’s emblem was dark blue, and Han Mo’s outfit also had a similar shade. Lei Ming was eliminated while scanning for someone amidst the chaos.

Yan Yibing observed his expression and raised an eyebrow. Lei Ming’s gameplay was overly focused on countering Han Mo. Given his skills, he shouldn’t have been so recklessly fixated. But it seemed he treated Han Mo as his only enemy, relentlessly pursuing anyone wearing a blue outfit.

Soon, he was killed a second time.

In the container area, Han Mo finally began to loot for equipment.

Along the way, gunshots kept ringing out around him, some hitting just behind him, and others in the distance. He was continuously weaving and trying to use cover, barely escaping many bullets.

He finally reached the containers and looted a supply drop nearby.

Luckily, the crate contained some valuable items, indicating that the previous player had just looted it before being eliminated.

He looted the crate in a matter of seconds, switching to an M24. However, before he could use a first-aid kit, a gunshot echoed from the rooftop of the office building.

A single shot shattered the level three helmet he had just picked up.

Han Mo quickly took cover, and in a fleeting moment, he saw the person wearing a deep red outfit with black and white striped pants.

He chuckled to himself and used a first-aid kit.

Now that he had the M24, he wasn’t afraid of anyone.

After healing up, Han Mo made a precise shot to eliminate the player on the rooftop.

The commentator was thrilled, clapping his hands and exclaiming, “Wow, that quick scope shot was amazing, Han Shen!”

The screen displayed:

【Prince-momo has eliminated JG-anxinghuo with an M24 sniper rifle.】

Anxinghuo was the young Aurora player who boasted about taking five kills from Yan Yibing before the match.

Han Mo raised an eyebrow slightly.

In front of his computer screen, Anxinghuo was fuming, stomping his foot in frustration.

The supply drop that Han Mo looted belonged to him. Anxinghuo had finally acquired good equipment and finished his early-game looting, but before he could even utilize it, he was ambushed and killed from behind.

He hadn’t even fired a single bullet from his hard-earned M24.

He knew that someone would come to loot his crate, so he purposely chose a spot to land where he could watch his own crate.

He thought he had a good chance at securing it, but unexpectedly, someone killed him with his own M24.

Five seconds later, Anxinghuo wasn’t willing to give up and planned to land near the cargo containers to seek revenge on Han Mo.

But before he could land, a suppressed shot flashed, and his screen went dark.

【Prince-momo has eliminated JG-anxinghuo with an M24 sniper rifle.】

Anxinghuo: “…”

Twenty seconds later, on the elevated platform.

【Prince-momo has eliminated JG-anxinghuo with an M24 sniper rifle.】

Another twenty seconds passed, at the poison zone’s barbed wire fence.

Anxinghuo had just crouched in the grass.

【Prince-momo has eliminated JG-anxinghuo with an M24 sniper rifle.】

Anxinghuo: “…”

Yan Yibing asked Song Tang, “Do you think Han Mo realized that Lei Ming is targeting him?”

Song Tang shrugged. “It’s unlikely with so many players.”

Yan Yibing clicked his tongue. “But our skins are quite distinctive, desert yellow, making us easy to spot.”

Thirty minutes later, the match concluded.

Han Mo secured an impressive 25 kills, earning himself the MVP title. In contrast, Lei Ming had only ten kills, trailing far behind Han Mo.

In the preparation room, Lei Ming hung his head, his face flushed, and his wrists slightly trembling.

He felt like he had given it his all, and there were moments when he left Han Mo with barely any health. He wanted to make Han Mo realize that in this free sniper match, he would be the one to crush Prince under his foot.

Unfortunately, he was destined to remain unnoticed by the captain, who was focused on Han Mo.

Lei Ming fiercely kicked the table leg, and his toes went numb and painful from the impact.

But what hurt the most was not losing the match but that Han Mo knew he was being targeted yet never took him seriously from start to finish.

Han Mo was simply tormenting a relatively unknown rookie, and Lei Ming couldn’t accept that he was even inferior to a newcomer.

Yan Yibing tilted his head and blinked his eyes, muttering, “How many Aurora players’ heads do you think are among these twenty-five kills?”

Song Tang: “?”

Yan Yibing was perplexed, “Is Little Beast out of his mind? What does he have against Aurora? He keeps relentlessly targeting them, he might drive the poor kid insane.”

In the final ten minutes, Anxinghuo was killed by Han Mo shortly after landing, so he didn’t even get the chance to score any kills. His kill-death ratio was terrifyingly low.

No matter which team he was on, such a performance would be ridiculed as “a blind fools handling guns, shaking the heavens and the earth.”

Song Tang: “…”

Translator’s Note:

Hiii, I’m back 😊. I’m really sorry for going missing for the past 5 weeks and not uploading at all. I’ll start translating again today, and let’s just say I have a debt of 5 chapters for you guys since at first I promised that I’ll update at least once a week. I’ll try to catch up to those 5 chapters as soon as possible, please look forward to it. There’ll be another update tomorrow!!!

Thank you for reading!