ADAPTED FROM BUTTERFLY BLUE'S NOVEL OF THE SAME NAME, THE KING'S AVATAR
GLORY
Did you go all-out this time?
I go all-out in every match.
Are you really giving up?
Giving up doesn't mean I'm admitting defeat.
Okay.
Don't run away when the time comes.
Then I'll see you at next year's All-Star!
Dragon Raising Its Head!
When you've reached the bottom, you'll bounce back.
Never ever say you'll give up.
-God Ye Qiu! -God Ye Qiu!
-Where's God Ye Qiu? -Where's God Ye Qiu?
Where's God Ye Qiu?
-Tell us! -Where's he?
He just...
left.
Hurry!
Every unwilling departure
is for one final return.
Ye Qiu is back.
Ye Xiu?
Your name is so similar to our best player.
Could you help with troubleshooting?
No.
What can you do, then?
I can...
play Glory well.
I'm the one who has been with Ye Qiu in his entire Glory career.
But now that we've seen it was a total failure, why do you insist on it?
-Exactly! Why? -Exactly!
Ye Qiu is still a top player! Why did you replace him with Sun Xiang?
Why?
I'll give you guys an answer.
Actually, the reason why Ye Qiu retired
and was replaced with Sun Xiang
was because it was Ye Qiu's own decision.
The cup is a vase now.
Maybe he has walked on a new path to start over.
Ye Xiu...
Ye Qiu?
ONE AUTUMN LEAF, TEAM EXCELLENT ERA
He's really Ye Qiu.
He really came back.
Whether he's Ye Xiu or Ye Qiu,
does it really matter?
Whether he had never left or just came back,
it makes no difference.
The most important is he has always been by your side.
I didn't expect Ye Qiu's comeback.
He's still that good.
-A ten-game winning streak. -Exactly.
Our nemesis is back.
Let's continue with the PK then.
Who's afraid of him?
-See you next year. -See you.
Little Tang.
What's up?
Guo Guo, you're...
I'll throw away everything from the past.
I'll accompany the master on his path to greatness again.
Now we'll call ourselves, Lord Grim.
What's your plan for the path to greatness then?
Return to the hotel now.
I'll get to know the master all over again.
Why don't you stay inside and enjoy the cheer a little longer?
It's cold out here.
You may catch a cold.
Who said I'm waiting for you?
I'm here to see
how you'll thank me for the three tickets.
You gave me three tickets.
What do you want in return?
The usual.
But it's cold.
It's for the best.
I can enjoy it slowly.
It won't melt quickly.
-Hi! -Hi!
I'll have this, this, and this one.
Excuse me, miss.
I want another thing.
Hang on.
Why did you become Brown?
The shop assistant had to go.
She asked me for help.
A five-minute part-time job.
Thanks for coming.
Balloons are for pleasing the kids.
What about ice cream?
Ice cream is for healing myself.
Just give it a try.
Get a new life experience from your first bite of ice cream.
Run!
Do we run away after causing trouble?
If not?
So?
Does it feel good to create trouble?
Do you feel good?
I already bought all the balloons.
Why did you buy the balloons and tease me?
I already told you.
Balloons are for pleasing the kids.
Does it feel good to tease me?
Why aren't you eating the ice cream?
Do you want it?
Give me if you don't want.
Come and get it!
Come on!
Stop!
Jeez.
Guo Guo. What are you doing?
The master has been in his room for a long time.
What is he doing?
If you want to know, go knock on his door.
It's improper.
A boss finding her employee.
It's not improper.
Just go.
Sounds plausible.
I'm off.
From today on,
you'll have to take care of the network management,
the cleaning work,
and the lifting work.
I can take care of your food and lodging.
But you won't get a single cent.
Not even one cent.
Gosh, I was way too mean.
He's a master.
How can I order him around like an Internet cafe attendant?
I even criticized him for failing to change the light bulb.
I thought he was a loser.
How could he be a loser?
It's his natural cuteness.
Will I never see Ye Qiu again?
You're the one with the least right to say that now.
My master was right.
I have no right to say so.
I was closely associated with him for so long.
He cares about me so much.
But I was in the dark.
Little Tang.
Do you think it's my blessing?
I don't think it's a blessing.
It's revenge.
It's revenge for not recognizing the master
when he's in front of you for the whole month.
Ms. Chen?
You picked a nice poster.
He looks very sharp. The cardboard cutout is great too.
It's taller than Ye Qiu himself.
The clips are good too.
Why don't we go the distance
and change the cafe's password too?
Make it,
Ye Qiu is an unrivaled super hottie.
I like that.
It'll completely change the ambiance here.
You must have noticed my tone of voice.
It's called sarcasm.
"Sarcasm"? The master is criticizing me.
Why do I always push him so hard?
I was expressing my love as a fan while scolding him as a boss.
Look at how quickly I switched my mode.
What should I do, Little Tang?
What if the master leaves?
What if he doesn't leave today but tomorrow?
What if it's not tomorrow but the day after tomorrow?
Turn right. The second room.
You can either go in and kidnap him,
or wait for him quietly at his door until he's touched.
Wait.
Kidnapping isn't a good option.
It'll make me look crude.
But waiting isn't a good option too.
It'll make me look stupid.
What do you want then?
I heard some noise.
He's throwing things.
Is he in a bad mood?
He closed the closet.
He's coming out.
Ms. Chen.
What are you doing?
Ms. Chen. Please move aside.
You're blocking the door.
Please enter.
Are you okay?
I'm okay.
Are you really okay?
Yes.
Did he just smile at me?
-Did he? -Yes.
But it was a creepy smile.
Is he going to part ways with me?
I know I'm domineering at work, but I don't mean it.
Hey, Little Tang!
Get back here.
Little Tang!
Don't do it.
Did anything happen?
It really depends
on your willingness to tell me.
My willingness to tell you
depends on your question.
Do you want a drink?
Anything.
Tea then.
Dragon Raising Its Head is such an amazing skill.
Why is it not in the strategy guide you gave me?
So you can't learn it if it's not in the guide.
I don't mean that.
I can always steal from others.
Steal?
The skills you stole are more valuable.
Aren't they?
So...
A stolen name is more valuable, right?
I'll value my salary more.
Please ask Ms. Chen when the payday will be.
Didn't Guo Guo tell you?
She doesn't pay monthly salaries.
It's a ten-year contract.
Salaries are paid every six months.
So it's a contract for selling myself.
Do you want to break it?
That contract means
I can never leave even if I want to.
Have a good rest.
Did you hear everything?
Go to bed.
He said, "I can never leave even if I want to."
What did he mean?
Does he want to leave?
Or he can't leave?
Hang on.
Will he leave or not?
I'll put it here.
Guo Guo.
What's your plan?
Keeping his luggage means keeping him.
-Pretty lady. -Yes?
Well, this is my seat.
-We're friends. We wanted to talk. -Friends?
-Yes. -It's okay. Take my seat.
-I'm sorry. -It's okay.
Hey, you look familiar.
Do I know you?
I remember now.
You look like an eSports player.
Really?
I always get that.
I knew it.
Hey, we're done.
Hang on. You're Ye...
You can return to your own seat.
Troubling Rain.
Exactly!
He looks like him.
He really looks like him.
So alike.
If I remember correctly, a month has passed
since God Ye Qiu announced his retirement.
Lots of fans are very curious about
what the master has been doing during this entire month.
If I were him, after going through seven years of Glory Pro League
and competing for such a long time,
I would take a long vacation.
I'd go to a remote island and enjoy the sunshine, the beach,
-the sea waves and views. -Ms. Chen.
-The sunshine and the beach... -Ms. Chen.
on the past weekend
You're pulling my seat belt.
God Ye Qiu has a unique skill, Dragon Raising Its Head.
It's something that many people don't expect.
Yes. We want to hear what players in other teams would like to say.
No comment.
Our captain means we don't know what's going on with Ye Qiu.
But if he wants to come back to the Alliance,
we'll support him.
-In my opinion... -We don't know what's going on
with Excellent Era and Ye Qiu.
But as his friends,
we believe there must be a reason behind what he has done.
-Every class has its own best skill. -Well said.
The key is who's playing it.
Xiao Luo, during All-Star Weekend,
you were invited as the live host.
Any insider information you can share with us?
There's nothing. I was very surprised too.
Team Samsara planned to invite God Ye Qiu as our VIP
to attend the live event.
But after the master's retirement,
all his contact info doesn't work anymore.
In the end, we didn't manage to invite him to this event.
But I have a concern.
Why did God Ye Qiu announce his retirement suddenly?
Excellent Era's official reason for Ye Qiu's retirement
was his declining performance.
So he decided to stay behind the scenes.
Since he can still execute Dragon Raising Its Head,
declining performance doesn't sound true then.
What you just said sent a chill down my spine.
We don't know what goes on behind the scenes.
But what I know is that
no media has access for interviews within Excellent Era.
What's actually going on?
Let's wait for more firsthand information.
That's bullshit.
"A chill down his spine"?
It's a chill in my heart.
The moment Team Excellent Era kicked God Ye Qiu out,
they replaced him with the rookie Sun Xiang.
What the hell?
Sun Xiang is quite good.
-After all-- -Hold it.
Was it really a coincidence?
An instant replacement.
Excellent Era must be calculating everything covertly.
He didn't perform well in Team Conquering Clouds earlier on.
Transferring to Excellent Era is a promising future.
I'll be damned! Rookie King?
No matter how strong he is, he's at most a rookie.
How can he be compared to my God Ye Qiu?
You saw it too.
One Autumn Leaf was given to him.
Could he handle it? He was defeated by Desert Dust.
Am I right?
-You're new, aren't you? -Yes.
-You just started interviewing people? -Yes.
When you're in this industry long enough, you'll know.
Rookies laugh while the old weep.
The laws of nature.
I only believe in my master.
Keep doing that.
Take a look!
They are back!
Hurry up! Follow them!
Protect the master!
You! Hurry up!
Don't come any closer!
Go away!
It seems this master isn't their master.
Guo Guo.
You went too far.
-What happened? -Who knows?
Ms. Chen.
You messed up my hair.
Xiao Chu.
You did a good job.
President Tao!
Please open your car window.
President Tao!
How could Ye Qiu execute Dragon Raising Its Head yesterday?
You said his performance is declining.
But if that's not the case, why did he retire?
Captain Sun. As the account owner of One Autumn Leaf,
you can't execute Dragon Raising Its Head.
Do you think you're under-qualified?
Captain Sun, please explain.
Captain Sun.
-Who asked that question? Show yourself. -Shut up!
Watch out!
Thanks for your attention.
We'll hold a press conference soon.
I welcome everyone to it.
Thank you.
Let's go.
Don't go. Answer the question.
Ms. Chen, do you still need this exercise book on the front desk?
Is it so scary?
Dragon Raising Its Head!
Soft Mist successfully executed
God Ye Qiu's unique skill, Dragon Raising Its Head!
Reappearance of Dragon Raising Its Head has caused a sensation.
Players in other teams express their support for Ye Qiu's comeback.
The Dragon Raising Its Head incident is getting popular.
The media flooded into Excellent Era's building today.
See?
All the media are focusing on Excellent Era.
After your three successive championships,
you haven't seen such a big crowd.
You don't have to worry about the media.
I sent someone from public relations.
The reporters waiting outside won't stay for long.
Once the press conference is held, everything will go away soon.
Don't tell me you know nothing about Ye Qiu showing up at All-Star Game.
Ye Qiu...
-He didn't attend All-Star Game. -Really?
So what the media reported was fake.
It could be true.
It could be fake too.
Ye Qiu has never showed himself in public.
The media didn't take a single photo of him this time.
No one saw who executed Dragon Raising Its Head.
So if we say it wasn't Ye Qiu, it's not that hard to believe.
President Tao, you're really something.
You're so calm when deceiving others as well as yourself.
It's Dragon Raising Its Head.
Only Ye Qiu can execute it.
The fans aren't blind.
About all this,
you don't have to worry.
Just spend more money.
When the PR work,
I'll send someone to manage the fans.
Things are going to be different soon.
I don't care about the media or the fans.
What I'm expecting is the market value of Excellent Era.
It'll make the next round of financing possible.
President Tao, we are both clear that eSports is just business.
I invested in it because I saw its commercial prospect.
But a month ago,
the market value hit rock bottom within these two years.
You said the key was to find new talent.
You named Sun Xiang. Okay, fine.
What now?
It still hasn't improved.
Excellent Era ruined its reputation instead.
Sun Xiang has more commercial value than Ye Qiu.
You and I both know it clearly.
They are just having a run-in period.
We need to be patient.
I'll try my best to deal with this emergency
and strive for a smooth transition.
Don't worry.
Excellent Era will bounce back soon.
President Tao.
I hope you're not making empty promises.
Please give me some results.
With all the opportunities in the market,
I have plenty of choices.
Ye Qiu is really something.
Look at Dragon Raising Its Head.
How interesting.
A single move of Rising Dragon Soars the Sky.
If you execute wrongly, you can reverse it.
Making a bad move doesn't matter
as long as you can make a timely recovery.
So in my eyes,
whether it's Dragon Raising Its Head or Dragon Looks Back,
it's a good move if you win.
HAPPY INTERNET CAFE
Ms. Chen, something's wrong with this computer.
Gosh, go fix it then.
-Ms. Chen. -Xiao Chu.
Xiao Chu. What's wrong with the computer?
Did you check it?
Ms. Chen.
I need to wash this jacket.
Why is Guo Guo avoiding you like you're a virus?
I think she's very ill.
What's wrong?
Final stage of social awkwardness.
It seems
we have to take drastic measures.
Director Cao, listen to me.
I don't have pictures of Sun Xiang.
But I got news that
God Ye Qiu left Excellent Era on the day before the press conference.
Something fishy is going on.
Sun Xiang is a small potato.
Who really matters is God Ye Qiu.
No, Director.
Why are you on Excellent Era's side now?
I'm not splitting hairs.
Didn't you teach us?
News reporting must be true, objective and fair.
That's what I'm doing.
What about this?
Director, grant me some business trip allowances.
I'll wait at Excellent Era's entrance.
I'll find God Ye Qiu.
After that, we can interview him.
Hello?
He hung up on me again.
HAPPY INTERNET CAFE
God Ye Qiu, where are you?
It's near Excellent Era. What if...
Hey, attendant. Such a nice mask!
Is that so? Thank you.
May I know your surname?
It's Ye.
I knew it.
What do you know?
Honestly, I...
I'm a reporter.
May I interview you?
Why would you interview me?
I heard you have the same play style as Ye Qiu.
My boss said so.
How do you view Ye Qiu?
He's my boss' idol.
Do you know about Dragon Raising Its Head?
My boss does.
Why do you keep talking about your boss?
I'm just the attendant.
If you want to interview me, you need to get her consent.
Where's your boss?
Sleeping on the second floor.
Thank you.
Ms. Chen, it's time to wake up.
Ms. Chen.
Let me sleep. Don't disturb me.
Ms. Chen.
What are you doing?
Ms. Chen, congratulations.
Happy Internet Cafe will rise to fame soon.
Can you move your big belly?
No problem.
What the hell?
Ms. Chen, on the launch day of Glory's Tenth Server,
I was fighting Midnight Phantom Cat right here.
This was still fine just now.
Turn the screen around.
Done.
Are we in the same industry?
Get me a bottle of water.
Coming.
How's the treatment at your Internet cafe? Are you looking for manpower?
Who's in the same industry with you?
Was that the first day Mr. Ye started working here?
Yes.
I'm right.
What are you talking about?
I have an assumption.
Your attendant, Mr. Ye, could be God Ye Qiu.
How is it possible?
Listen to me.
Based on my investigation,
the launch day of Glory's Tenth Server is the day God Ye Qiu left Excellent Era.
Think about it.
When he left Excellent Era,
the master looked around.
He had nowhere to go.
So he crossed the street
and walked into your Internet cafe.
He ended up being your attendant.
You wanted to check out, right?
I'm here for a job.
HIRING NETWORK MANAGERS
It's impossible.
Are you surprised?
Me too.
But just now, it suddenly dawned on me
that my assumption is flawless.
How is it flawless?
Hang on. Think about it.
The weak stay hidden in the suburbs,
while the great does so in the city.
But unexpectedly, the master has been hiding here.
It seems he's telling us.
"Look. I'll be back again.
I'm right in front of you."
You're just hallucinating. It's impossible.
But I really think I'm making sense, aren't I?
You're Ye Qiu's fan, right?
I can tell from what you did with the decorations here.
Think about it.
Our idol is in front of us right now.
Nobody else knows about it except for you and me.
Now we're kind of on the same boat.
Wait for me. I'll investigate him further.
Don't stop me.
You can't!
He isn't Ye Qiu.
Look at him.
He's mean and clumsy.
He's clueless about work or casting.
How could he be Ye Qiu?
Am I right?
Really?
I swear.
If it's true, why are you willing to keep him here?
Mind your own business.
Do you have an agenda?
No.
You know it's him. So you want to keep him here.
You're wrong.
You kidnapped, threatened and house arrested him.
-I didn't! -Let me investigate him then.
Thank you.
Hold it!
Mr. Ye!
Your boss agreed to it.
I didn't!
You did!
Mr. Ye, are you doing well here?
I...
Meals, lodging and Internet are included.
He's doing very well.
Yes. My boss is right.
It's my dream job.
Mr. Ye!
Are you still training regularly?
Cleaning tables, moving chairs and fixing computers.
He's training every day.
-Is that right? -Yes.
I'm the best Internet cafe attendant.
Do you still play Glory?
Which server?
Are you performing amazingly?
A rookie in Tenth Server.
Just as a pastime.
-He's an amateur. -Yes.
An amateur indeed.
You're in the Tenth Server too.
What's your account name?
Are you in a guild?
That's something private.
Mr. Ye!
Ma'am!
It hangs. Fix it!
I'm Sleeping Moon, the master of Full Moon Guild.
So it was you!
Mr. Ye, you've heard about me.
Well, I'm on the leaderboard.
No big deal.
Are you on the leaderboard?
You're amazing then.
You flatter me.
I'm a veteran in three servers.
Creating a record is no big deal.
Wasn't it because someone helped you?
That's true.
But it's not important.
Mr. Ye, what class are you playing?
A Battle Mage?
I'm...
-Done. -Thanks!
Sorry for that.
An Unspecialized.
What? An Unspecialized?
What is it?
Stop it, Little Moon Moon.
Little Moon Moon?
Are you Lord...
Your benefactor.
Lord Grim.
I told you.
It's not him.
Impossible!
It's impossible!
Sorry, I have something to do. Bye.
Think about it thoroughly.
-He's definitely not One Autumn Leaf. -He's gone.
Don't you ever expose your identity easily.
You're finally talking to me.
Ms. Chen.
What are you saying?
Focus on your work!
Due to our internal inspection,
we'll close the Internet cafe from today.
If there is any inconvenience...
Do whatever as you see fit.
Guo Guo.
What are you doing?
You scared me.
Why were you walking without any sound?
The Internet cafe is closing.
What happened?
I'm worried something bad will happen.
Haven't you seen the reporter coming in and out every day?
If he does the same thing again, what should we do?
My master's identity will be exposed.
If that happens,
he can't stay here anymore.
If he can't stay here, where would he go?
He'd be homeless.
I won't allow it.
I must keep him here.
I may as well just close the Internet cafe.
Close it?
But have you ever thought that if you close it,
the reporter would be more suspicious.
Right?
Yes.
-I'd make a confession without duress. -Exactly!
You won't close it, will you?
Where is it?
What are you looking for?
If I can't stop others from intruding,
I need to make internal changes.
How many locks should I put on the attic?
What? Locks?
Or...
I can demolish the attic ladder.
He's introverted.
It won't be a problem if he stays there for a few days.
Hang on, Guo Guo.
That's outrageous.
I'll give him his computer.
In his world, Glory is more than enough.
As long as he doesn't show himself, the reporter will never know.
Perfect plan.
How is it perfect?
Even if the reporter won't come, the police will.
It seems like nothing will work.
What should I do?
I'm running out of options.
Guo Guo.
If you really want to keep him here,
it's not very complicated.
How should I do it?
Are you suggesting to break his legs?
It could be done.
He only needs his hands.
Of course not.
What the hell are you thinking?
I mean...
If you want to keep someone, win his heart first.
How?
Two words.
Spoil him.
"Spoil him"?