Taming the Hawk [Esports]

# Upcoming Column Novel: Snow Blankets the Bow and Blade: Dual Female Leads, an Alternate-History Period Ensemble. Blurb at the End #

The Greatest Falconer [Autumn] (Su Xingqiu) x The Top Healer in the Full-Dive Game [Raven] (Bai Tang)

An original full-dive game, DOME Full-Dive, with a duo of support players.

A story about two support classes teaming up to win a championship and, along the way, falling in love.

As the only solo-class healer in the top hundred of the full-dive rankings, Bai Tang watched the little falconer sit to one side, panting after fighting the enemy for only a short while. Unable to resist, she teased, "Hey, friend, your stamina's not great, is it?"

At the time, she had no idea that this "friend" was Autumn, Su Xingqiu, the legendary coach known to everyone in the DOME Esports scene.

It had been half a year since DOME Full-Dive launched, and all the major clubs were busy putting together their full-dive teams. Autumn had resigned as head coach of Team MOOD and submitted an application to the officials to form a team of his own.

[Autumn's already 27, isn't he? Can he still compete professionally?]

[He's just trying to ride the hype and make money, right? What, was MOOD not paying him enough?]

Su Xingqiu himself paid no mind to the doubts. He invited Bai Tang to join him, and she asked him just one question: Was a double-support lineup really viable?

"No," Su Xingqiu said. "But you and I are."

-

Everyone knows that, in the history of DOME professional Esports, there have been two eras named after player IDs: Shiqi and Qingqing.

But only a handful of veteran players know that even earlier, at the very beginning, there was an era that players named themselves. That era was called "Xingqiu."

And Raven's era has only just begun.

-

They say the eagle is a noble creature, born to be free.

If one day it folds its wings and bows its head before you, then it must have chosen, willingly, to let you tame it.

Su Xingqiu is the finest falconer there is, and also the eagle who willingly makes his home by Bai Tang's side.

Tips: 1. There will be one GL couple in the story, but they have very little page time;

2. There is a secondary couple, but they also have limited page time;

3. This is an original full-dive game with an independent setting. Its competitive format is similar to a battle royale, and the details will be gradually explained in the story;

4. The leads are eight years apart in age;

5. The leads aren't perfect people. If anything makes you uncomfortable, please stop reading;

6. Much of the Esports-related material is based on author-created details. DOME Full-Dive is open to players aged 17 and older, which may not be entirely rigorous, so readers who care about strict accuracy may want to skip it;

7. The completed novel in my column, I Hold a Blade to Protect You [Esports], tells the story of Yan Shiqi and Tang Chaomu, who also appear in this book;

8. Thank you, lovely readers, for your support~

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Blurb for the upcoming column novel Snow Blankets the Bow and Blade:

Main couple: Tang Fuyi (courtesy name Tingya) x Su Dao'an (courtesy name Shechuan)

"I was sent to devote my life to the realm's peace, yet I never knew where the general might be of use."

Tang Fuyi spent over half a year locked in a dungeon where not a sliver of daylight could reach. When she emerged, it was around the New Year, with heavy snow swirling through the air. Su Dao'an, holding a fur cloak, waved to her from behind a stone bollard not far from the dungeon gate.

When the cloak fell open, inside was a red plum branch still dusted with snow.

She was the one precious daughter General Su had in his later years, the most dashing archer on the Beixiao grasslands, and the Princess Anle whom the Empress Dowager of Beixiao had raised by her side since childhood.

Later, Su Dao'an was sent to the Cold Palace for plotting against the Empress Dowager. Tang Fuyi never once went to see her.

Only after the Su family was convicted of treason and wiped out did Tang Fuyi rush to the Cold Palace to share the "good news" with Su Dao'an.

"Does it feel good to be stabbed in the back?" The sharp blade pierced her pale wrist, instantly severing its fragile tendons.

"Su Dao'an, do you know that every action has its consequences? When you fired that hidden arrow and slaughtered my master's entire family, did you ever think this day would come?"

"How dare you claim the name Anle, meaning peace and joy?"

-

Su Dao'an thought she ought to hate Tang Fuyi. But you were the one who said an ambush was hard to guard against, and you were the one I fell for at first sight. You were cold and ruthless, and yet you were also the one I could never forget.

"Tang Fuyi, I honor your master's entire family for their loyalty and sacrifice for the country. But I, Su Shechuan, have always acted with complete integrity. I would never use a hidden arrow, nor would I stoop so low."

You say I don't deserve the name Anle, but I have always been Anle.

-

Some serve in the imperial court, while others guard the land. When all is done, she brushes off her robes and goes, as snow blankets the bow and blade.

Content warnings: 1. A groveling redemption arc;

2. Only the two female leads are in a GL relationship;

3. The romance is a slow burn;

4. A mix of sweetness and angst, with a guaranteed happy ending.

Theme: Neither love nor dreams should be let down.