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Bao Rongxing, otherwise known as ‘Buns’ is an enigma that have puzzled the gamers since he first started playing the game. It wasn’t just his peculiar choice of decision-making that threw people off their game, but also his way of speaking to people.
One moment he was bursting into songs, another moment he was asking you about your horoscope. Insults were thrown to enemies and allies alike. None were spared from his mouth.
If there was one thing that people understood about Buns, it was the fact that he had a certain love for the move ‘Brick Buster’. That’s the official name for the move, anyways. Most referred to the move as ‘brick’.
This move caused a dizzying effect that any player would loathe to allow to land on their character.
This hyperactive brawler loved Brick Buster so much, it was as though he’d use it as soon as it came off cooldown, and no one knew why. Did he think it was a cool move? Maybe it was the CC effect that appealed to him.
What people didn’t know was that his partiality for Brick Buster was closely related to his ‘Boss,’ Ye Xiu. This Brick embodied something special to Bao, and this partiality is what had him subconsciously using it at any chance he got.
You could consider it like a good luck charm or a silent prayer that he came to trust in time and time again without fail, much like how he trusted his own Boss.
Speaking of Boss, this all started with a certain Hidden Boss...
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A small group of players were attacking Blood Gunner desperately, aiming to have their names etched with the honor of being the first to kill this Hidden Boss. The situation was dire, and hope was quickly dwindling, but a ray of light shone upon them. This ray of hope joined their team before promptly giving them orders. It took a moment before they finally realized who had joined their ranks.
Lord Grim, the famous expert had joined their team and took charge by giving them instructions! ‘Steamed Bun Invasion,’ a Brawler character, was being controlled by a complete n00b. This isn’t a surprising sight to see given that the 10th server had just opened, but that didn’t mean that other players were willing to be so patient and forgiving towards him.
The game has been in service for many years, and alliances were already firmly set in stone. The inner workings of Glory was clear and laid out, and some experts from various guilds were given the task to develop the newest server. These Experts were busting their tails to make a name for their guild in order to offer support to the Professional team associated with their guilds. They didn’t have the time to spend time teaching a n00b who couldn’t even understand how to use his skills properly!
More than once has Bao been tossed aside because of his inadequacy. There were times where his DPS output would stall because he wanted to study the skills he had in his arsenal. This coupled with the fact he was severely lacking in knowledge made people misunderstand his speed.
N00b?
He’ll get the experience and play better!
Slow fingers?
That’s because he’s new to the game and he’s adapting! He needs time to understand the complexities of Glory!
An idiot?
That’s fair but mean. You must be a Scorpio, huh?
These are the thoughts that ran through Bun’s head as insults were thrown his way. Did he let their words bother him? Not at all! As they say, ‘Sticks and stones may bruise me, but words give me the reason to punch your lights out!’
Don’t bother trying to tell him he’s got the idiom wrong, he’ll simply tell you that he likes his version better.
Normally, there were patient players around who were willing to take the time in teaching a new player, but things were different in this newly opened 10th server. Lord Grim had made a name for himself, and he was wreaking havoc with new dungeon records and first kills! The guilds were desperate trying to claim first kills for themselves.
No one had the time to patiently rear a new player from scratch.
Only Lord Grim had the patience to carefully teach him everything that he knew after they got acquainted with each other.
Not only was he extremely smart and talented, he was very generous! The Boss bought him equipment before! How nice! He even noticed that Bao’s finger speed was fast! No one else had noticed such a thing before! He’s awesome!
Such a master cannot be understood through simple means. His brains were beyond those of the simple plebs! You only need to listen to his every command, and everything will turn out okay! Even the impossible will become possible!
Thinking back on the Blood Gunner scene…
“Leave!”
“What?”
“If you don’t run, then you’re looking to die!”
“Run Further! It’s dangerous over here!”
“But they haven’t come to kill us!”
“Trust me.”
Those who were skeptical of Lord Grim’s warnings died for their transgressions. With his expert leading skills, their small party managed to fall the Blood Gunner! Amazing! Cool! Awesome!
This expert called for reinforcements the moment he was added to the team. He instructed them on the proper timing to consume their potions. Knowledge was power, and this wasn’t something that you gave to others without compensation.
Lord Grim was different. He enjoyed the thrill of the game. Any information you wanted to learn, he would provide it. If you had the willingness to learn, Lord Grim would teach you until you committed his lessons to heart.
Earlier, Bao made a mistake with his execution of Brick Buster against the Blood Gunner. He didn’t hit the back of the Gunner’s head with the brick. The other player next to Lord Grim chastised him for it, calling him an idiot, but Lord Grim didn’t say anything about it.
That left a lasting impression on the n00b.
Though he didn’t let words hurt him, being chastised left and right had an impact on one’s drive and confidence. No one liked to feel like a burden. Being attacked constantly for a deficit of knowledge was stifling.
It could drive people to give up and quit the game.
Leading by example, Lord Grim showed them what to do and kept an eye for everyone in the party. He gave the proper warnings, and advice. Seeing how responsible and respectable he was, Bao had no problem with handing the party leader role to Lord Grim when asked to do so.
“Give the Blood Rifle to me. You guys can have the rest!”
The Expert had every right to be as demanding as he wanted after having led their small party to defeat the Blood Gunner, but instead he only asked for the ‘Blood Rifle’ from the many drops. How generous!
“Run run run! Hurry and run!!”
“You guys run first. I’ll hold them off!”
Bao dares you to tell him that his Boss isn’t the coolest man alive! This scene was like something you’d read out of a fantasy novel. For the sake of his comrades, he held off the butt-hurt enemies who lost out on the Blood Gunner first kill!
It was this very scene that prompted Bao to decide to follow this expert and learn from him.
First, he was going to approach the reinforcements that Lord Grim called over. He’ll learn a bit from them first, before he learns from the big master!
It’s only right to learn from your seniors first before you get guidance from the master!
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Before becoming a pro gamer, Bao was a bouncer for an internet café. He was a real-life brawler who became a brawler in game.
If one asked him why he didn’t choose a different class to play in the game, he would answer:
“Who can control a brawler best than an actual brawler!”
Essentially, he would use his own experiences and his ‘instincts’ to help him control his character. You could say that Bao was the type of person who threw himself head first into everything that he did. It was easy for him to get immersed with whatever it was he was currently preoccupied with.
For that reason, he chose a class that he could personally identify with so he could truly master the class and make it his own special dominion.
Lord Grim was a player he looked up to and respected. This character was his Boss who taught him patiently and guided him to becoming a pro player! Lord Grim was his Boss in game, while Ye Xiu was his Boss in real life. Chen Guo? She was the BIG lady boss!
Anyways, as his loyal pupil, Bao planned to follow him forever. A student-teacher relationship never dies if the student remains filial. Everything his teacher taught him, he kept close to his heart.
This teacher didn’t force Bao to conform to any set way. Bao was given advice and was guided in the right direction, but he was always given the chance to exercise his own creative freedom! He was given the right to spread his fiery wings and run up the summit of Glory.
With his guidance, Bao Rongxing became a professional gamer.
Their journey started with a Brick, and it was going to end with one. In truth, everything started with Sand Toss, but that’s not nearly as cool as a Brick! Besides, he didn’t realize it was Lord Grim giving him an order at that time, so it doesn’t count!
Brick Buster encompassed Bao’s feelings towards Ye Xiu. Absolute trust and his passionate desire for acknowledgement. This move was the start of everything. If their gaming relationship had to be summed up with one move, it would be Brick Buster.
Sometimes Lord Grim would take the time to lead Steamed bun Invasion through something, and other times he let him whizz through the field, leaving their enemies dizzy.
Bao wanted to show the world that a simple skill could open many doors like it opened his life to the life of professional gaming!
“Hey Boss! Did you see it? My masterful skill with my Brick! I was amazing right?”
“Yes, you did well today. Excellent timing, good job.”
“Thanks Boss! I’ll train hard and become a master Brick Thrower! I found a Brick outside, and I’ll practice with that in real life!”