Chapter 101: Yes, I Did It On Purpose!
Li Fan’s silent yet highly penetrating lip movements precisely stabbed into Jiang Zhangchuang’s heart.
It was obvious that the little tricks they prepared had been completely seen through.
After all, no normal person could be so magnanimous, with Second Place yielding the position to Third.
Then afterward, they kept launching attacks, trying to affect Li Fan’s chase.
Li Fan naturally wasn’t made of clay either; no matter what future Car King with several crowns you were, he showed no mercy in front of him, spraying without hesitation!
Just those simple four words, paired with that calm, unruffled gaze, made Jiang Zhangchuang feel more embarrassed and angry than any fierce taunt.
Because he had just understood it perfectly… In this situation, the hands on the keyboard began to tremble, not out of fear but from pure frustration.
They had all prepared for this, and Li Fan had just chosen the highly confrontational Western Mine map, so it was a case of the schemer caught off guard, yet they still couldn’t stop him… Was he really that strong?
Truth be told, he wasn’t some top player before, but mixing with so many top players taught him plenty of operations; it was like enduring humiliation for the greater good, calling everyone “bro.”
But if he couldn’t win this championship now, all that previous bootlicking would have been for nothing?
He absolutely could not accept this!
Jiang Zhangchuang took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
From the previous confrontation, it was clear there was still a good chance; it wasn’t like there was zero opportunity.
It was just that this map was truly his King Map!
In this situation, getting outplayed by the opponent at the end was normal; though he didn’t get this point, it was completely acceptable.
Though unexpected, it wasn’t unacceptable. There were still chances later; as long as they kept the pressure on, he would make a mistake eventually!
Next, they just needed to lock him down…
He couldn’t possibly have such good opportunities later!
However, they seriously underestimated Li Fan’s strength and overestimated the effectiveness of such clumsy cooperation against absolute strength.
Second game, the map was Jiang Zhangchuang’s chosen Old Street Construction Site; this map had many right-angle turns, heavily testing car control and nitrogen rhythm in confrontations.
Once drifting, speed would inevitably drop, so in this case, as long as they confirmed Li Fan’s position, they could proactively launch attacks.
After the start, the three still tried to replicate the first game’s tactics, with one temporarily leading and the other two alternating interference on Li Fan.
But this time, Li Fan didn’t give them any chance to get close.
As soon as he shot out, he started Song Qian Card Gas, plus a right-side block…
By the first turn, he had gathered one and a half bars of gas.
Then he immediately released nitrogen to stack a CW, completely pulling away the sustained speed.
This way, even hearing the audience’s cheers and screams on site and knowing Li Fan was First Place, they still couldn’t attack; mainly because the gap was too wide, even nitrogen attacks wouldn’t work.
Li Fan followed up with several consecutive small cuts, very short drift times, perfectly controlling the nitrogen rhythm, maximizing details; upon landing, a Song Qian Card Gas.
After breaking out, he entered individual time trial rhythm.
The people behind, even giving their all, could only eat taillights.
And Hu Xu’s mentality had already changed somewhat.
He knew Li Fan was First Place…
Last game he was Third.
If they kept playing like this, with few Second Places, advancing would be impossible.
So this game, he had to grab Second!
The other two were equally aware of this.
As a result, the three behind fought bloody battles.
In the end, Jiang Zhangchuang edged out Liang Haihui…
Successfully taking Second Place.
Hu Xu looked at the podium, his eyes changing.
After all, he wasn’t close with Jiang Zhangchuang and the others, and even had grudges; cooperating with them could indeed grab a spot if successful, but if it failed… he’d be fighting desperately behind with no advance.
No matter how you looked at it, he had become the scapegoat.
In this situation, Hu Xu felt like he had been tricked.
A team united for benefits could easily disband in an instant over exploitation.
Especially in the third game…
The situation was completely one-sided.
It was utter dimensional suppression; their running method was far too outdated in front of Li Fan!
Especially Hu Xu, nearly Dao Heart Shattered.
On 66 Highway, Li Fan ran 18.66 using an a-car…
This result might not seem fast, but it was extremely exaggerated on the arena.
They were generally five seconds behind in the chase!
After all, on the arena, your Renault couldn’t just gain twenty extra mph for free.
Completely unable to catch up…
All their preparations seemed like a joke.
What three-on-one?
Clearly, it was an old man toying with three kids.
Fourth game, the map came to Akina Mountain.
Hu Xu knew they absolutely couldn’t continue this rhythm; he needed more Second Places, or if Li Fan ended six games with insufficient seconds, he’d be eliminated.
So in the fourth game, when Jiang Zhangchuang launched an attack, Hu Xu seized the chance to grab first, then blindly rushed forward, ignoring everything else…
“Damn it! Slow down! Hu Xu, what the hell are you doing!” He roared madly in his mind, itching to spray right then.
He subconsciously thought Liang Haihui would sensibly cooperate, so this brainless forward idiot must be Hu Xu!
And it indeed was Hu Xu…
Grabbing first, he believed Li Fan could catch up anytime.
In this case, forget three-on-one.
Securing his own position was most important!
As a result, even under repeated attacks, Li Fan stabilized his car with corner dodges, then entered chase mode.
A small reset at the shortcut position, successfully closing the gap.
Immediately after, a light bump stuck Hu Xu to the wall.
“Overtaken again! Li Fan consecutively passed Liang Haihui and Jiang Zhangchuang, now surpassing Hu Xu, reclaiming First Place once more! My god, is the fourth game going to be five points again?” Commentator Cui Jin shouted.
As Li Fan’s race car streaked across the finish line like a red meteor, the electronic timer froze—First again!
“Boom——!”
The long-pent-up roar at Hongqiao Tiandi Performing Arts Center fully burst at this moment!
Cheers, screams, and applause swept the venue like a tsunami, more fervent and prolonged than ever before.
This was not just celebration of victory, but an emotional release and declaration of stance.
After observing four games, the vast majority of the audience already knew full well.
There was an unspoken cooperation between Jiang Zhangchuang, Liang Haihui, and Hu Xu…
Though they didn’t know how they identified Li Fan, whenever Li Fan took first, someone would anxiously come to attack.
Of course, smart people could react; obviously, they shouted when Li Fan took first.
The shouting was very easy to cue!
Most crucially, this match had no delay.
In this case, they started cueing everyone not to shout when seeing Li Fan in first with cool operation.
At least pull the distance first; only shout if they really couldn’t catch up.
The vast majority on site supported Li Fan.
Naturally, they chose to cooperate!
This way, at the start of the fifth game, Jiang Zhangchuang and the others couldn’t hear the screaming cues at all.
So they couldn’t judge immediately.
Unable to distinguish who was leading, they didn’t act rashly.
But once they stopped, the detail gap immediately showed; this time it was even faster!
Li Fan fully entered personal performance time.
Completely pulling four car lengths ahead.
This distance meant the rear cars, even using nitrogen, had no chance of effective attack before the finish.
“That’s it!” Someone shouted.
Instantly, the pent-up roar erupted! Cheers and screams swept the venue.
This delayed support was both for Li Fan’s flawless lead and a successful counter and mockery of that despicable tactic.
This deafening roar also exploded like thunder in Jiang Zhangchuang’s ears.
“It’s Li Fan! First again!” Jiang Zhangchuang’s heart sank sharply, panic instantly gripping him.
He immediately realized that if Li Fan took first again this game while he failed to get second, the points situation would plummet.
Seeing the cars closing in behind, he understood the others had realized this too.
And… all eyed Second Place covetously.
As for cooperation? Before the cruel reality of advancing, the fragile alliance crumbled instantly.
The next half lap turned into a brutal “dog-eat-dog” infighting among Jiang Zhangchuang, Liang Haihui, and Hu Xu.
But Jiang Zhangchuang, with his front advantage, deadlocked the inside line.
Finally, amid thunderous applause and cheers, Li Fan’s race car undisputedly crossed first… Jiang Zhangchuang narrowly grabbed Second Place.
No one paid attention to this, as all focus was on Li Fan.
“Finish line! Fifth game, still Li Fan first!!” Commentator Cui Jin’s voice was hoarse.
“Incredible dominance; Li Fan responded to everything with a perfect personal show! Only one point left to semifinals end!”
The big screen showed 5+1 points, boiling the audience’s blood with excitement.
So cool!
Too cool.
What Speed professional players?
Not even as good as a half-road outcast wildly slaughtering here; hilarious.
At the fifth game results, Jiang Zhangchuang felt no joy, even scalp-numbing.
If he hadn’t grabbed second just now, it would really be big trouble.
He glanced at the points standings; the situation was already precarious.
Hu Xu and Liang Haihui’s gazes toward him were full of unwillingness.
The fragile alliance, under Li Fan’s absolute strength crush and advance pressure, completely collapsed.
Now it was truly every man for himself.
Contesting first… seemed a bit too much, but the Second Place battle would be fierce.
Jiang Zhangchuang two Second Places.
Hu Xu two Second Places.
Liang Haihui one Second Place.
In this case, the sixth game was crucial.
Whether three with two points, or one of Hu Xu or Jiang Zhangchuang advancing, all depended on this game.
Jiang Zhangchuang was still very smart.
As Second Place with map selection right, he directly picked Rainbow Windmill Island.
Hu Xu’s darkened face led to direct cursing.
Because they had agreed earlier to always pick confrontation maps no matter what.
But Rainbow Windmill Island wasn’t confrontation at all.
And he had no play anymore, because Jiang Zhangchuang had secretly learned some, though stiffly executed, it did improve results.
“I’m eating lemon!”
“Can’t I eat your lemon?” Jiang Zhangchuang cursed back directly.
The referee hurried to warn; more cursing meant direct disqualification.
Since the sixth game was Rainbow Windmill Island…
Jiang Zhangchuang sneaking into finals?
Afraid you’re overthinking…
A direct “mistake” at the jump point affected the trailing Jiang Zhangchuang.
An even more despairing scene followed: finals shortcut entrance ahead, Li Fan easily cut in.
However, after entering the shortcut, his speed didn’t pick up immediately; instead, he cleverly blocked the narrowest inside line spot, just obstructing Jiang Zhangchuang’s path.
“He did that on purpose!” Jiang Zhangchuang’s eyes nearly popped, yet helpless.
He could only grit his teeth for a reset, heading to the longer main road.
And Hu Xu had already pulled away completely…
Even with Air Break Drift, Jiang Zhangchuang couldn’t catch up.
Match entered second lap.
Jiang Zhangchuang chased desperately, but mentality unbalanced, operations continuously deformed.
But Li Fan was unaffected.
Another traction Sky Break Drift, Three Boost Pull…
Reclaimed First Place.
“Finish line! Li Fan! Seventh point! My god! Perfect score advance!”
7000! Another 7000!
“Buzz”—Jiang Zhangchuang felt hot blood rush to his head, vision edges turning red.
As future Car King, he now felt helplessly like Xiao Hai.
Especially the last game, Li Fan’s “mistakes” and positioning replayed in his mind.
“Ah!” Jiang Zhangchuang suddenly stood from his seat, grabbing the mechanical keyboard beside him and, under all audience and camera gaze, smashing it viciously onto the desk!
This sudden violent act halted the cheers; everyone was stunned.
“Damn it! Li Fan! You did that on purpose! Last game you absolutely did!”
Instantly, deafening boos erupted from the audience!
In competitive sports, being a sore loser is more despised than losing!
League of Legends has Wu Zhuang Tai, Speed has Jiang Zhangchuang, huh?
Li Fan tilted his head, hands spread.
“Yes, I did it on purpose.”
Then, with a mocking smirk, he continued: “But so what?”
Finished, he didn’t look at Jiang Zhangchuang anymore, standing from his seat.
The venue exploded again, but this time not boos—more fervent applause and cheers!
Jiang Zhangchuang froze in place, face from red to white to green, pointing at Li Fan with trembling lips, speechless.
Li Fan really feared he’d faint on the player seat.
Luckily, the referee hurried over, pulling Jiang Zhangchuang down.
You, eliminated, what are you doing here?
Hu Xu watched Li Fan with a complex expression…
Staff half-escorted, half-dragged Jiang Zhangchuang from the player seat; his dejected back contrasted sharply with the venue’s fiery atmosphere.
Hu Baibing watched the live stream, bursting into pig-like laughter at this scene.
Heh heh heh… Jiang Zhangchuang, your day has come.
The audience’s emotions didn’t cool from this farce; instead, they surged higher.
They welcomed Li Fan and Hu Xu to the final stage with even hotter applause and cheers.
Finals duel race system was points-based, race to seven for a point; first to two points is champion.
Couldn’t beat three-on-one in melee, let alone duel; Hu Xu was cleanly 7:0’d by Li Fan in two games…
“It’s over! Champion belongs to Li Fan! An undisputed victory!” Commentator Li Li’s voice brimmed with excitement and respect.
“As a League professional player, taking Speed champion is quite an achievement!”
“Boom——!”
Hongqiao Tiandi Performing Arts Center completely boiled over!
Confetti rained down, spotlights on Li Fan; he slowly stood, still calm, just raising a hand in gentle salute to his supporting audience.
On the podium, Li Fan stood tallest, bathed in golden rain and cheers.
#UnrealSSC Spring Split Champion!#
#EDG Mid Laner Champion!#
Almost instantly, this Weibo shot to hot search.
【Damn, I saw hot search EDG Mid Laner Champion, wondering what champion it was—turns out Speed champion?】
【This hot search is ultimate clickbait; I was wondering too what champion.】
【No way, is Unreal this ridiculous? Speed champion too? Are Speed professional players that weak?】
