"Teamfight... Tactics?"
Xiao Wu took the card glowing with a golden light and turned it over and over in her hands, studying it several times. It felt warm and smooth as jade, and a faint golden halo flowed across its surface. Four bold characters stood in the center, their strokes powerful and forceful, carrying an air of mystery that was hard to put into words.
"Is this some kind of Soul Tool?" she asked, tilting her head. Her bright, lively eyes brimmed with curiosity.
Yi Chen smiled faintly. Instead of answering, he reached out and lightly tapped the card.
Humm—
The card suddenly burst into dazzling golden light. To everyone's astonishment, a translucent virtual screen unfolded in midair. A finely detailed chessboard appeared on it, with several empty spaces on either side, each marked with different symbols and words.
"Wow!" Xiao Wu exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "It's so pretty!"
Ning Rongrong, standing behind her, couldn't help leaning closer. Her beautiful eyes fixed on the screen, filled with amazement. "What is this? How does it work? I've never seen a Soul Tool like this!"
Even Zhu Zhuqing, who was usually so aloof, found herself taking a closer look.
Watching the three girls' curious expressions, Yi Chen nodded to himself. It seemed the Golden Spatula's appeal to women was just as powerful in every world.
"This is called Teamfight Tactics," he explained, his voice clear and pleasant. "It's a... well, a strategy battle game. Simply put, two people each build a team, then face off on a chessboard. Whoever has the better strategy wins."
"Build a team? Face off?" Xiao Wu blinked. "Like a Spirit Master battle?"
"More or less, but not exactly." Yi Chen shook his head. "Spirit Master battles depend on individual strength and Martial Soul quality. Teamfight Tactics depends on strategy, luck, and team composition. Even an ordinary Spirit Master could defeat a stronger opponent if they know the right team composition and how to equip their units."
"Really?" Ning Rongrong sounded doubtful.
She had grown up in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and had known since childhood how much talent and bloodline mattered. An ordinary Spirit Master defeating a genius was practically impossible. Yet this so-called "game" could somehow make it happen?
"Don't believe me?" Yi Chen raised an eyebrow and looked at Xiao Wu. "Want to try it?"
"Sure, sure!" Xiao Wu nodded without hesitation, her face full of anticipation. "How do I play?"
At a thought from Yi Chen, two options appeared on the screen: [Create Room] and [Match]. He chose the first, and the screen split in two. An empty chessboard appeared on the left, while rows of tiny character portraits appeared on the right.
"Stand over here." Yi Chen gestured for Xiao Wu to move to the other side of the screen.
Xiao Wu did as he asked. As soon as she stopped, she found another identical chessboard in front of her. To her surprise, her consciousness seemed to have formed some kind of connection with it, allowing her to sense every detail on the board.
"Now I'll teach you the basics." Yi Chen's voice sounded beside her ear. "See those portraits on the right? Those are called 'units.' Each one represents a Spirit Master or a Soul Beast. You can buy them with coins and place them on the board."
"Coins?" Xiao Wu asked, puzzled.
Yi Chen pointed to a row of numbers above the board. "At the start of each round, the system gives you some coins automatically. You can use them to buy units, reroll the shop, or level up your population. Your population is the maximum number of units you can field. You start at one, and each level adds one more slot."
He explained it simply, but Xiao Wu was still lost, staring at him in confusion.
"Never mind. I'll show you first." Yi Chen smiled helplessly and quickly swiped his fingers across the screen.
He swiftly bought three low-cost units and placed them in the front row of the board. Then he tapped the [Start Battle] button in the bottom right corner.
The next moment, all three units sprang into action and charged at a virtual enemy on the other side. The battle ended in just a few seconds, with Yi Chen's units victorious and unscathed.
"Get it?" Yi Chen asked.
Xiao Wu nodded as if she understood, then shook her head.
"It's fine. Take your time." Yi Chen wasn't in a hurry. He guided her through the controls for a few rounds.
Gradually, Xiao Wu got the hang of it. She copied Yi Chen, buying units and setting up her team. Her movements were still clumsy, but at least she understood the basic process.
"That's it, exactly!" Yi Chen encouraged her. "Try placing your units where they'll do the most good. Put the tanks in front and the damage dealers in back, and make sure to protect your core units."
"Mm-hmm!" Xiao Wu grew more and more absorbed in the game. Before she knew it, she had played more than ten rounds.
She realized the game really was interesting. It wasn't as dull as cultivating Soul Power, nor as dangerous and thrilling as hunting Soul Beasts. All she had to do was think about how to build her team, where to position it, and how to counter her opponent's strategy—and she felt a deep sense of accomplishment.
And best of all—she had actually beaten Yi Chen in one round!
"Yay! I won!" Xiao Wu jumped up excitedly, pumping her little fists as a brilliant smile spread across her face.
Seeing how happy she was, Yi Chen found himself smiling too.
"So, is it fun?"
"It's fun! It's so much fun!" Xiao Wu nodded repeatedly, tugging at Yi Chen's sleeve and pleading, "One more round! Just one more!"
"Not now." Yi Chen shook his head and pointed to the sky. "It's almost dark. Don't you still have Soul Beasts to hunt?"
"Oh, right!" Xiao Wu finally remembered why she had come here, and her expression turned conflicted.
She wanted to keep playing Teamfight Tactics, but she couldn't hold up her companions' hunt for Soul Beasts. For a moment, she was caught between two difficult choices.
"How about this..." Yi Chen said at just the right moment. He pulled three golden cards from his clothes and handed them to Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing. "Take these trial cards. They have a beginner's guide and basic lessons inside. You can study them at your own pace when you get back. If you want to keep playing, just crush the card, and I'll sense it."
"Really? That's wonderful!" Xiao Wu treasured the card, carefully putting it away.
Ning Rongrong took her card and turned it over several times, a glimmer of interest flashing in her eyes. "Can this really make ordinary Spirit Masters stronger?"
"Why not try it and find out?" Yi Chen smiled meaningfully. "And I can promise you, this thing is worth far more than you imagine."
Ning Rongrong nodded thoughtfully and didn't press him further.
Zhu Zhuqing silently put her card away. She hadn't said a word the whole time, but her gaze lingered on Yi Chen for a moment, a subtle, peculiar look passing through her eyes.
"All right, I'll be going." Yi Chen waved and turned to leave.
"Wait!" Xiao Wu called after him. "You still haven't told me your name!"
Yi Chen stopped and glanced back at her, giving two short words:
"Yi Chen."
Then he flashed away, vanishing into the dense forest and leaving Xiao Wu and the others staring at one another.
"Yi Chen..." Xiao Wu murmured, repeating the name. The corners of her mouth lifted without her noticing. "He really is an interesting person."
"Xiao Wu, don't tell me you've fallen for him already?" Ning Rongrong teased.
"No way!" Xiao Wu's cheeks reddened, and she shot Ning Rongrong an annoyed look. "I just think he's really impressive!"
"Is that so?" Ning Rongrong smiled meaningfully, but didn't call her out.
At that moment, Tang San, who had been silent until then, finally spoke. "Xiao Wu, that man... is no ordinary person. He's probably even stronger than we think."
"I know." Xiao Wu nodded, excitement shining in her eyes. "But isn't that even better? If we have such an impressive friend, someone will be there to help us if we're ever in danger!"
Tang San opened his mouth, then hesitated.
What he wanted to say was that the man gave him a dangerous feeling, and they'd be better off keeping their distance. But seeing how excited Xiao Wu was, he couldn't bring himself to rain on her parade.
Forget it. They'd only met by chance. They probably wouldn't see him again.
That was what Tang San thought, never imagining that this man named Yi Chen would completely change the course of the entire Douluo Continent.