Chapter Three: The Abstract Player

Early on, Caitlyn gained the upper hand, while Lee Sin briefly focused on the bottom lane. Breaking through the outer turret and taking it down was an easy task. Following the rhythm of a professional match, a lane swap could be achieved by the ten-minute mark to maintain pressure.

However, this was not a professional match—it was just a typical Korean solo queue game at the Challenger rank.

After securing two kills, Lin Ruo returned to base and purchased a Stormrazor, signaling his damage was beginning to show.

In the subsequent plays, Ruler could only use Ezreal’s Q to clear minions on the lane, too cautious to step forward and contest.

At ten minutes, a team fight erupted near the river in mid lane. Both supports joined in succession, resulting in a one-for-two trade favoring the red side.

In the bottom lane battle for the royal city, Lin Ruo relentlessly pressured, gradually chipping away at the first turret.

Seeing Caitlyn ignoring the low-health turret, Ruler—second place AD carry—showed some fight. After landing a sneaky Piercing Arrow, he boldly dived in, hoping to leverage the turret’s high damage for a counterattack.

Caitlyn was unfazed; she tanked the turret shots and swiftly struck it twice. Then she initiated with her E, followed up with a passive-powered Precision Shot, dealing significant damage. Taking advantage of the turret’s attack range, she effortlessly dodged the Mystic Shot with a quick sidestep.

Ruler was stunned. Caitlyn activated Heal and Move Speed, stepped forward, and took down the weakened turret with a single shot.

“Seriously, how can you, someone who just bought a Tear of the Goddess, dare to compete with me who’s got a Stormrazor?” Lin Ruo smirked in front of the screen, expertly kiting and attacking Ezreal.

Ruler popped Heal, determined to fight back, firing another Q, but Caitlyn’s movement was too agile—she twisted away, evading it easily.

Charging with E, Caitlyn preemptively placed a trap right in front of him.

Caught off guard, Ruler stepped on it. Caitlyn’s passive triggered a critical Precision Shot straight to the vital spot.

Ezreal died, and Lin Ruo secured first blood, the turret, and his third kill, dominating the game!

“Damn it.”

Far across the ocean, Ruler felt like quitting after that play.

Not only did his skills miss, but he also walked into a trap—he was being completely outplayed.

After taking down the bottom lane turret, Lin Ruo wasted no time rushing top to farm, tightly controlling the turret-pushing pace.

Lee Sin understood the winning formula and stuck closely to Caitlyn, acting as the bulldozer.

By twenty minutes, not a single outer turret remained for the blue side.

Feeling liberated, Ruler typed “GG” in all chat, and the blue team surrendered unanimously.

After the game ended, Lin Ruo, now at Challenger rank with 777 points, grinned crookedly. “That’s it? That’s it? Just some bots.”

“I swear, he really has some skills.”

“Destroying Ruler in lane is something to brag about forever.”

“So good, why not go pro and make a name for yourself instead of wasting time as a small streamer?”

“The streamer got kicked off—no club would want him.”

“Oh, I thought the streamer had retired already.”

“Stop the nonsense. The streamer never retired; he just wasn’t wanted,” Lin Ruo joked.

He was currently a free agent, unrestricted by transfer windows. As long as he had the skill, clubs would come calling. There was no need to rush.

A great horse needs a good trainer, after all.

Lin Ruo planned to focus all his effort on climbing to Korean solo queue’s top rank and making his reputation known.

“In the next ten days, I’ll be grinding rank hard. Brothers, just watch me go wild in Challenger games,” Lin Ruo boldly declared.

Before he could start another game, his phone lit up with a WeChat notification.

He glanced at it and saw a message from his good friend Tian Ye inviting him to a trial. Energized, Lin Ruo quickly ended his stream. “Guys, plans have changed. No more Challenger grind. I’m debuting tomorrow.”

Closing his laptop, Lin Ruo stretched out on his bed.

Luckily, he had established a connection with Tian Ye back in Season 4 before Tian Ye’s debut. Now that his skills were up to par and EDG needed an AD carry, it was the perfect opportunity.

Lin Ruo had anticipated Tian Ye would reach out.

After all, Tian Ye had high standards for AD carries—he even found Iboy a bit lacking, let alone Zet.

Probably after hearing management wanted a mid laner to try AD, Tian Ye had immediately recommended Lin Ruo overnight.

After two and a half years, official competitions were finally within reach.

Lin Ruo was ecstatic.

The current LPL was under LCK’s dark dominance, with only a handful of teams truly capable of contending. Joining EDG was undoubtedly a great choice.

EDG’s AD spot was currently held by Iboy, who could only play in the summer split, making the battle for starting position easier.

Besides EDG, IG was also a good option.

But since EDG had already come knocking, why refuse?

Plus, the nickname “Guodian” was fun to use.

Everyone knew Season 7 was the brief shining peak for Chawy, whose Worlds performance was on par with other top-tier junglers.

The group stage exit was due to multiple factors and couldn’t be blamed on Chawy.

As a world-unique, dream-style jungler, Lin Ruo resolved to ignite his willpower and help Chawy fulfill his dream.

After Season 7, Chawy’s strength sharply declined, nearing retirement with championships seemingly out of reach.

Even haters were fans at heart, weren’t they?

...

The next morning, Lin Ruo dressed sharply in a suit and tie, slicked back his hair, and looked every bit the successful man as he left home.

At 2:30 p.m., he arrived punctually at the EDG base.

Tian Ye, who came out to greet him, nearly froze: “Why are you so formal? You’re not here to interview for a coaching job.”

With an elegant demeanor, Lin Ruo explained, “You know, I care about image. I heard that pro players in Europe and America have been rocking slicked-back hair lately.”

Although Europeans were known for their refined style, Koreans also favored center-parted bangs and neat hairstyles.

Compared to that, LPL players often neglected their appearance. It got so bad that the officials had to step in with strict rules after players wouldn’t even wash their hair.

It was a disgrace to the LPL’s reputation—though the LPL didn’t have much reputation anyway years later.

Regardless, Lin Ruo decided to lead by example, correcting bad habits and preventing another “Yuyu Xiaotian” from showing up in the pro scene.

Greatness needs no words.

Tian Ye was convinced and led Lin Ruo inside the EDG club.

With his fair complexion and stylish outfit, Lin Ruo actually stood out, catching the eyes of several female staff members.

Lin Ruo cheerfully greeted them, taking his usual abstract approach: “Hello, I’m EDG’s new AD carry Lin Ruo. Please take care of me.”

Tian Ye’s smile froze.

He hadn’t met Lin Ruo many times, just occasionally duo queued. Seeing him today, he didn’t expect such an eccentric personality.

“Where did this weirdo come from?”

In the corridor on the second floor, EDG’s current starting top laner and “Top Lane Light,” Mouse, scratched his head and said to Chawy:

“Does this guy have no family? He’s way too unrestrained and abstract.”

He wasn’t wrong: Lin Ruo was indeed an orphan.

A classic trait of a time traveler—both parents gone.