Xu Cheng

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xu Cheng (许澄)
Alias(es)	Data Monster; Cheng Cheng; Murder; Buddha Lord; Teacher Xu 8 9 54 182
Gender	Male
Affiliation	EDG Esports Club; Chinese national team 38 205
Occupation/Role	Professional League of Legends player and EDG top laner; formerly a high-school student and boosting player 1 54
First Appearance	Chapter 1 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
King rank	1	Reached King in roughly two months; even in Normal games, he handicapped himself by skipping starting items or intentionally falling behind. 1
Master rank	25	Reached Master with a 90% ranked win rate during his National Server climb. 25
CN Server Top 10	27	Climbed to 10th on the CN Server with an 84% win rate. 27
CN Server First	28–29	Finished the S6 climb at National Server First with an 80.1% win rate, breaking the record. 28 29

Background / History

Xu Cheng was a high-school sophomore in 2016. His parents ran a steamed-bun shop, and he accepted League of Legends boosting work in his spare time to help shoulder the family’s burden while remaining an above-average student. 1 3

After only a little over two months with the game, Xu Cheng displayed unusually rapid growth: champion details, wave control, and laning information came naturally to him, though he initially lacked a clear understanding of macro play and professional-game fundamentals. 3 19

Before revealing himself publicly, he used the female online persona Cheng Cheng to obtain boosting clients and joined a group of female League players. His deception was later exposed; he felt guilty, confessed to Xiao Yu, and temporarily withdrew from the scene. 9 25 30

His antics in matchmaking—especially his Blitzcrank play and deliberate “gifting” of kills—brought him attention as the Data Monster. Ming Kai, initially known to Xu Cheng only as “Xiao Kai,” recognized his potential, began privately teaching him game sense and teamwork, and pushed him toward the professional scene. 3 8 19 21

After returning for the Official Commentator Cup, Xu Cheng’s identity was exposed to the wider esports community. Nearly every major club pursued him, but he ultimately signed with EDG as a reserve player, with his debut delayed six months for his college entrance examinations. 33 35 38

Appearance

Xu Cheng is a notably handsome young man whose looks are repeatedly remarked upon by fans, hosts, and viewers. He is described as having naturally good skin and strong on-camera presence. 54 210

• Wore EDG’s black jersey during the 2018 World Championship. 248
• Was recognized as attractive both in person and during broadcasts, contributing to his popularity beyond esports audiences. 54 128
• His appearance became the subject of the trending topic #WhyIsXuChengSoHandsome. 257

Personality

Xu Cheng is candid, competitive, and prone to teasing. Early on, he provokes stronger opponents in chat, plays elaborate in-game pranks, and bluntly repeats criticism of Clearlove without realizing he is speaking to Ming Kai himself. 2 7 15

Despite his confidence, he is initially cautious about professional esports and guarded about his real-life identity. He worries about his family’s approval, his education, and whether going professional would disappoint his parents. 29 30 35

He is also conscientious toward people who support him. He takes Ming Kai’s money seriously enough to offer Lee Sin lessons, apologizes to Xiao Yu, and remains attentive to his family even after becoming famous. 14 32 155 156

As his career develops, Xu Cheng becomes more composed without losing his arrogance. He can be restrained and diplomatic in interviews, yet openly claims to be the world’s number one when bantering with teammates. 54 68 182

Abilities & Skills

Exceptional Mechanics and Reaction Speed

Xu Cheng possesses elite hand speed, reaction time, positioning, and execution. EDG’s testing rated his overall talent at the highest S-rank. 42

• Recorded cooldowns, base statistics, and damage calculations for every player in a ten-player game. 5
• Dodged Smeb’s Fiora engage through prediction and precise positioning before securing First Blood. 85
• Flashed away from Cuzz’s Lee Sin Q during a dive attempt, then killed Khan. 132
• Reversed a level-one Fiora-versus-Jayce duel by accurately predicting and striking Fiora vital points. 228

Champion Versatility and Rapid Learning

Xu Cheng can adapt to unfamiliar champions extremely quickly and has demonstrated proficiency across a broad pool. 12 13

• Won Ming Kai’s challenge games while using obscure top-lane champion picks. 12
• Learned champions during live games, sometimes struggling initially before rapidly turning the matchup around. 13
• Has played Blitzcrank, Thresh, Fiora, Camille, Jayce, Taliyah, Jarvan IV, and other champions in high-level or professional settings. 2 7 17 132 182 198

Aggressive Top-Lane Style

Xu Cheng’s defining style is extreme lane pressure and a willingness to force mechanical duels, dives, and counter-kills. 46 95

• Solo-killed Jayce in the first minion wave as Fiora. 46
• Uses wave manipulation to deny and pressure opponents, including Khan’s Jayce. 125
• Built a reputation for defeating elite LCK top laners such as Smeb and Khan. 85 125 228
• Had to consciously restrain his habit of engaging whenever an opponent was low on health. 51

Game Sense and Macro Development

Xu Cheng began with overwhelming instinctive laning talent but limited formal knowledge of macro play. Ming Kai’s coaching gradually gave him a more complete understanding of awareness, teamwork, and professional fundamentals. 19 21

• Predicts enemy movements and creates favorable outcomes even when unable to directly join a fight. 182
• Controlled tempo and resources while playing Jarvan IV during his debut livestream. 182
• Sacrificed top-lane experience to support Xiang Guo’s jungle during the World Championship final against TheShy. 269
• Served as captain of the Chinese national team. 205

Champion Repertoire

• Blitzcrank — Used to establish his early Data Monster reputation through skilled play and intentional kill-gifting. 2 3
• Thresh — Trapped Uzi and Xi Ye, then humiliated them by throwing Uzi a lantern rather than immediately finishing the fight. 7
• Fiora — One of his most iconic champions; associated with his “Fiora Auto Attack Flash” and numerous solo-kill performances. 17 20 46
• Camille — Used against Smeb and TheShy in high-profile international duels. 85 269
• Jayce — Pressured Khan’s Darius to LZ’s second turret and evaded Cuzz’s ambush. 132
• Taliyah — Selected for top lane in EDG’s unconventional MSI Grand Finals strategy. 198

Achievements

Event	Result	Notes
S6 CN Server ranked season	National Server First	Reached first place with an 80.1% win rate, setting a record. 28 29
2017 LPL Summer Split	Professional debut victory	Debuted as EDG’s top laner under the ID Murder. 54
2017 World Championship	Champion and FMVP	Helped EDG win the LPL’s first World Championship in seven years. 177 179
Asian Games	Gold medal	Competed as national-team captain and won gold for China. 205 210
2018 World Championship	Champion	EDG defeated IG 3–1, earning Xu Cheng his second consecutive world title. 317

Relationships

• Ming Kai / Factory Director / Clearlove7 — Mentor, recruiter, teammate, and frequent target of Xu Cheng’s teasing. Ming Kai discovered his potential, coached his macro play, and secured his EDG contract. 19 21 38
• Father Xu and Mother Xu — Xu Cheng’s supportive parents and owners of a steamed-bun shop. Their acceptance of his professional path remains deeply important to him. 3 35 156
• Yu Shuang — Friend from the female-player group and later an LPL interviewer. She helped mediate Xu Cheng’s conflict with Xiao Yu and interviewed him after his professional debut. 31 32 54
• Xiao Yu — Former boosting client and friend who felt betrayed by Xu Cheng’s Cheng Cheng persona; Xu Cheng joined the Commentator Cup partly to apologize to her. 25 31 32
• Rita — Longtime friend who supported Xu Cheng during his time away from home; they officially began a romantic relationship after the 2018 World Championship. 123 329
• Uzi — Fellow star player and EDG teammate by the 2018 World Championship; they appeared together after EDG’s title victory. 196 317
• TheShy — Elite top-lane rival and admirer. TheShy considers Xu Cheng an idol but refuses to yield to him in their World Championship final matchup. 269
• Smeb — Recurrent LCK top-lane rival whom Xu Cheng repeatedly outplayed in major international matches. 85 221 228

Story Role / Major Arcs

Data Monster’s Rise

Xu Cheng enters the high-level League scene as an unknown King player whose abnormal mechanics, trolling style, and Blitzcrank performances provoke Ah Shui and other top players into searching for his identity. 2 3

National Server Challenge

At Ming Kai’s urging, Xu Cheng enters ranked play alone to prove himself against the CN Server’s strongest players. He rises from Master to National Server First and then disappears to consider his future. 23 25 27 30

EDG Recruitment and Debut

Following his Commentator Cup return and public exposure, Xu Cheng receives offers from major clubs before choosing EDG. He joins as a reserve player, completes his delayed debut, and wins his first LPL match as Murder. 33 38 54

International Breakthrough

Xu Cheng becomes EDG’s central carry on the S7 world stage, helping the team survive its group-stage crisis and break through its historic quarterfinal barrier. 116 122 138

World Champion and National Representative

After winning the 2017 World Championship and FMVP, Xu Cheng becomes a national esports figure, launches an enormously successful livestream, leads the national team at the Asian Games, and wins gold. 179 182 205 210

Second World Championship

Xu Cheng remains EDG’s defining player through the 2018 World Championship, faces rivals including Smeb and TheShy, and wins a second consecutive title as EDG defeats IG 3–1. 221 269 317

Notable Quotes

“As long as I’m not dead, I can turn the tables.” 259

“Brother, what championship do you have?” 221

“Stop talking about geniuses, I’m just the world’s number one.” 182

Trivia

• Xu Cheng’s early account ID was Bro! Our Family Is Rich Now! 24
• His “Cheng Cheng” persona included fabricated stories about a second uncle asking him to inherit billions. 15
• His first livestream rapidly exceeded 10 million popularity and later drew 70 million viewers. 181 182
• Despite his professional success, Xu Cheng later enrolled at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics through direct admission. 329