Hua Nation.
The once bustling streets had lost their usual clamor; only a few pedestrians hurried by, occasionally glancing down at their phone screens.
Today God Hunt was starting the Fourth Mixed-Nation Team Competition, and the government had specially granted an extra one-day holiday.
At this moment most people stayed home to watch the mixed-team competition livestream.
——
Ji Yang adeptly adjusted his equipment. As soon as he started his stream, a wave of viewers poured into the chat.
[So many people, Old Ji you’re really blowing up]
[That’s true, the host used to be popular on the site too]
[Not the same, Old Ji used to only be big in the horror gaming circle, now he’s crossed over]
Ji Yang’s lips twitched upward, then he lowered his hand: “Hey, keep it low-key, low-key. Whether I’m popular or not doesn’t matter. Bringing better commentary for my viewers is what I’ve always aimed for.”
[Oh ho, look at you pretending]
[Fine, let the kid show off a bit]
[Host is still too humble, fam come to my stream and I’ll show you something big]
[All those beads of a counting abacus just shattered on my face]
Ji Yang smiled. Once the mood warmed up, he spoke more seriously: “Actually we should thank a certain 248 master.”
[Even the host changed how he addresses him]
[Not surprising. If there were a player popularity ranking I bet 248 would be number one right now]
[Indeed, Master Xu Xi alone supports who knows how many streamers and marketing accounts]
[Name me another player who cleared five instances in half a month]
[By the way, Master Xu Xi is also taking part in the selection for the mixed-team competition, wonder if he’ll get picked]
Ji Yang skimmed the chat and replied: “Yeah, few players actively choose to enter instances. Unless they have powerful items or real confidence in themselves, most passively wait seven days for forced matching. Clearing five instances in half a month? I think it’s reasonable I changed how I addressed him.”
Seeing the comment speculating whether Xu Xi would be chosen for the mixed-team, Ji Yang’s next sentence paused: “...hard to say. Over eight thousand players passed the selection this time, so randomness is huge.”
[I actually hope they pick Master Xu Xi]
[Plus one. There are many strong players, but none have that unique sense of security Master Xu Xi gives]
[If they pick someone else I’ll be on edge, afraid they’ll get screwed by another nation’s players]
[But if they pick Master Xu Xi]
[I want to see which blind fool dares provoke that schemer]
[Lol dead]
[Master Xu Xi is just cold, holds grudges, a little scheming, but he’s a good person—just don’t piss him off]
[If you do: check the record (still can’t forget the three consecutive kills in the hotel instance)]
The chat buzzed, mostly debating which player people hoped would be chosen for this mixed-team match.
Most nominations named Xu Xi.
Ji Yang didn’t join in.
To be honest, he actually didn’t want Xu Xi to be selected.
Ji Yang turned on multi-screen.
The two screens on his page were still dark, but each already had many active comments.
On the left was the public stream provided by God Hunt, where selected players appear in small windows together.
That meant viewers from all nations couldn’t enter players’ personal streams, only watch this large stream.
The advantage was viewers got an absolute god’s-eye view; no need to switch screens to watch every player. The downside was chat from all nations mixed together into chaos.
If languages didn’t match that would be one thing, but surprisingly God Hunt’s chats auto-translated into each viewer’s language.
That meant during every mixed-team match not only did players clash beyond comprehension, the chat did too.
On the right was the official central commentary channel, dedicated to broadcasting the mixed-team competition commentary.
A moment later the right screen lit up.
——
Central Television.
Hosts Yao Han and Jiang Jin sat upright on the left sofa in formal attire.
As frequent partners they had developed good chemistry.
Jiang Jin smiled and said: “Hello viewers, welcome to the Central Broadcasting Television’s live commentary for the Fourth Mixed-Nation Team Competition. I’m your host Jiang Jin.”
Yao Han continued: “I’m host Yao Han. Today we gather to once again witness a pinnacle showdown between nations.”
Jiang Jin glanced across: “Viewers who watched the previous three broadcasts should already be familiar with our two experts opposite us.”
Yao Han introduced them one by one: “On the left is Professor Lin Miao from B University’s psychology department, an authoritative scholar and a criminal psychological profiler who cracked century-old cold cases. On the right Mr. Luo Zongyun is president of the Mysterious Culture Research Association, currently a leading interdisciplinary figure studying supernatural phenomena.”
Jiang Jin: “Once again let’s follow these two experts, and walk the bridge between the rational and the supernatural to enter a dual world of psychology and the uncanny.”
Lin Miao and Luo Zongyun nodded toward the camera: “Hello everyone.”
[It’s starting, it’s starting, saving seats]
[Last time twelve countries were drawn, dunno how many this time, will Hua Nation be included]
[Of course it will. It was in all three previous times; the major countries are always included]
[So nervous]
[Wonder which player of ours will be chosen]
[It’s starting, God Hunt is selecting countries and players!]
The central large screen suddenly brightened.
Jiang Jin immediately said: “Looks like God Hunt is beginning to select the participating countries and players.”
Lin Miao also tensed: “Let’s look forward to this selection of participants.”
When the words fell, the two hosts, two experts, and all viewers collectively held their breath and stared fixedly at the big screen.
Hundreds of dizzying national flags spun rapidly. After nearly a minute, eleven country emblems remained on the interface, and Hua Nation was plainly among them.
The player name shown after Hua Nation startled everyone.
[wk! It’s actually Master Xu Xi!!!]
——
Prettyland.
Elira sat cross-legged on a yoga mat, stirring her coffee and watching with relish the chats on the dark screen opposite.
[I can’t believe in the first two mixed-team matches we lost to Tricolor Nation and Hua Nation. This time our player will redeem us (ip Prettyland)]
[Arrogant one don’t talk big. Tricolor Nation got lucky, but luck is part of strength. And that kid from Hua Nation—at your age you probably still haven’t mastered even basic things like peeing properly (ip Unitedstate)]
[Hope they pick Westgismon, he’s one of our country’s best players (ip Hansland)]
[Our player won’t let us down either (ip Gao Nation)]
[Wowowow so many people.jpg (ip Hua Nation)]
[I will beg God Hunt on my son’s behalf for him to be single for ten years if they pick Kid Brother again!!! (ip Hua Nation)]
[Oh my god, what a terrible father you are, seriously awful (ip Unitedstate)]
[Nervous nervous, which player of ours will it be (ip Hua Nation)]
Countless comments from different IPs flashed like fireworks, among them those from Hua Nation were the most numerous—after all the population counter in the upper right showed Hua Nation firmly on top with 1.08 billion.
Some of the messages made Elira laugh.
At that moment the dark screen suddenly began to flicker.
“It’s finally starting.” Elira sat up straight.
Under her tense gaze the eleven country emblems slowly halted on the screen.
Before she could see who Prettyland’s player was, chat messages from Hua Nation exploded within a single second, instantly drowning out all other nations’ comments.
[Holy crap holy crap I’m not blind right, who is Hua Nation’s participant??? (ip Hua Nation)]
[Aaaaaah it’s Master Xu Xi!!! (ip Hua Nation)]
[Wtf wtf wtf!!! Hahahahaha this mixed-team match is secured!!! (ip Hua Nation)]
[Kid Brother I’m sorry you’re still young, this brutal match let your Xu Xi brother handle it. Master Xu Xi forever!!! (out of voice)(ip Hua Nation)]
[Red-hot and dazzling, 248 rise up!!! (ip Hua Nation)]
[248! 248! 248! (ip Hua Nation)]
Later the screen was literally full of nothing but 248, dense and compact. Though mere text, it felt deafening.
Elira’s hand stirring her coffee froze, eyes wide, stunned by the surreal scene.
“Xu Xi... 248...” Elira murmured, “So familiar.”
The next second she suddenly opened her eyes wide.
She remembered—the Hua Nation player who cleared an instance in 2 minutes 48 seconds on his first try and set a new world Guinness record!
——
Ji Yang’s stream.
[No way!!! It’s really Master Xu Xi!!!]
[My god my god (flailing)(incoherent)(screaming)]
[I bet on it, I bet on it hahahahaha, when the master finishes the instance I’m going to roll for gold]
[Shiver foreign friends, after Kid Brother you’ll welcome another schemer]
Ji Yang hadn’t expected God Hunt would actually pick Xu Xi this time.
He stared at the God Hunt stream where the three digits 248 almost dominated everything. The tension in his nerves eased slowly, and he finally typed 248 into the chat.
If he was chosen, then he was chosen.
He believed that person would definitely be the last one alive.