Chapter 284: Exercise Self‑Discipline (Daily Transition)

Ajinomoto Stadium.

Dirges rose up on all sides.

The stands, covered in deep blue, were like a turbulent sea under the night sky.

Countless small flags printed with the three‑legged crow fluttered in the wind.

Island nation fans wore expressions of intoxication, their eyes burning with fervor, and they showered applause on Spain's number 6.

The ticket price was a great deal!

Every goal Li Kang scored was this spectacular.

Terrifying air superiority.

Elegant, suave passing and running.

Irresistible sprint.

Valiant header.

The fifteen minutes of playing time in the final stretch changed the course of the match.

The dirge, halfway through, was suddenly cut off by hysterical shouts.

"Lee!

"!"

"Lee!

"!"

"Lee!

"!"

Li Kang was pulled by the referee team and the fourth official to take a group photo together.

The system prompt sound kept going "ding! ding! ding…"

【Ding! Teammate Morata's recovery has reached the safe threshold.】

【The "Reverse the Tide" module effect has disappeared.】

【Header:??? → 99 → 88.】

【The "All‑round Forward" module disappears…】

【Ding! Mission completed: Blue Warrior's nightmare!】

【Rewards are being calculated…】

Only then did Li Kang feel a faint pain in his forehead.

Youth training camps around the world gradually became aware of the problems brought by heading: prohibiting U7‑U11 age‑group children from practicing heading, limiting heading frequency for U12‑U16 age‑groups, and youth team matches must implement the

concussion substitution protocol."

This is not alarmist talk.

A mild concussion is still okay.

According to big‑data statistics from the past thirty years: frequent heading practice leads to anxiety, depression, sleep problems, dizziness and headaches, memory issues, listlessness, etc., and can cause chronic brain disease.

Especially because adolescents' necks are overly fragile, starting heading practice too early brings long‑term harm.

Morata didn't know when he had emerged from the player tunnel, and was now being interviewed by Asian media reporters.

Because he is good‑looking, photogenic, and well‑spoken… he was recommended as the player representative.

"You're right—I often exchange heading techniques with Li!"

"Li's head isn't as big as mine, so the contact point is harder to judge… that's his only flaw."

"As for the problem of new‑old turnover in the Spanish squad? As long as Li is around, the Bullfighters will remain the top championship contenders for the next ten‑plus years!"

"Any advice for the Japanese team? Well… the locker‑room toilets should be stocked with plenty of toilet paper!"

Kagawa Shinji was still hesitating.

He had once treasured a Lewokusen number‑10 jersey… but his performance today wasn't good enough, so how could he still have the face to proactively swap jerseys with Li Kang?

In his thoughts,

A short, stocky figure burst out from Japan's bench—Takumi Asano!

Arsenal's temporarily sole Asian forward.

Asano Takumi waddled over to the player‑tunnel entrance and blocked Li Kang.

"Li Kang, take a look at my muscles—haven't they gotten a bit bigger?"

"It's a pity we couldn't compete on the same field!"

"I'll keep working hard…"

After spouting a few nonsense lines, this guy happily snatched Spain's number‑6 jersey, his excitement almost making him bury the shirt in his nose to sniff it.

Li Kang noticed that the "Reverse the Tide" module on the system panel had flickered faintly.

Could it be that Asano Takumi's work permit might actually get approved?

Wenger's reason for picking this Japanese forward wasn't without cause.

Quick stride, low center of gravity, strong impact, low transfer fee, low wages, high cost‑effectiveness.

Ordinary international friendlies, by rights, have no post‑match press conference segment.

But the Japan FA organized it to the same standard as an official cup.

The Asian media present actually numbered as many as thirty‑two outlets.

"Mr. Bosque, Li Kang's defensive involvement in this match has dropped sharply—was the Spanish national team inspired by Arsenal?"

"Will Li Kang be converted into a center forward for the national team?"

"Will we see him often in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers?"

Will he play in the World Youth Championship?

The absence of the press officer caused reporters to fire off a series of questions one after another.

Bosque's memory is still pretty good.

After listening patiently, he began answering them one by one.

"Martinez, as long as he doesn't encroach on the defenders' defensive space, Li doesn't need to drop deep at all."

"We won't switch him to striker; we have excellent players like Diego Costa and Morata up front, so Li's role in midfield will be even more evident—he will always be the commander of the Bullfighters."

"Considering the international friendlies... just kidding, the Premier League schedule is packed, so we won't let Li play in the World Youth Championship."

"Asensio will become the core of the Spain youth team."

In contrast.

Halil Hodzic's treatment, however, was different.

Before the 72nd minute of the match.

He was also called by island fans: a master tactician, a brilliant strategist, a Zhuge Liang...

After the match, although he temporarily avoided abuse, the nightmare of being overturned by six goals in just a few minutes became an indelible blot on his career.

"Let me emphasize this again."

"Li's strength is not just reflected in his individual ability."

"He broke through the dense defense set up by our coaching staff, and his attacking runs are always unpredictable!"

"If he didn't play, Japan's international ranking would rise several places!"

The Ajinomoto Stadium is about an hour's drive from the city center.

The national team bus crept along the narrow road.

Lights lined both sides of the road, and occasionally small Japanese fans would run a few steps after the bus, loudly shouting the name of Spain's number six.

No one responded.

Li Kang held a tablet, watching recordings of other countries' matches: "Germany vs Croatia".

Yin Si Ke sat aside, analyzing the characteristics and hidden habits of Real Madrid's midfield in the ceremony.

Asensio and Vazquez had ashen faces, wanting to speak but holding back.

Ramos and Pique were reviewing the match details with Martinez; the three's discussion on defensive space yielded no result for the moment.

The Spanish center-backs' style differed greatly from that of Bayern's Boateng and Benatia.

De Gea, meanwhile, pulled Minamino aside and whispered: "When will Saul, Yinniesita, David Silva, Cazorla, Koke and the others be able to rejoin the team..."

After all, the stronger the midfield control, the fewer opportunities this goalkeeper will face to be tested.

The club has already had it rough—who wouldn't want to return to the national team to enjoy some blessings?

One hour later.

The Spanish squad finally arrived at their hotel.

Minamino gave De Gea and Yin Si Ke a look, and the three tiptoed out the back door to experience Tokyo's local customs.

No need to worry about language barriers.

In the red-light district's gathering places, there are many people responsible for soliciting clients; they come from all over the world, and there are even English-speaking blacks, making the area quite international.

Other married players, meanwhile, calmly returned to their rooms to video-call their wives and children.

Morata was no exception.

He has recently fallen into a love affair, the object being a model from Milan.

How did they meet? Online dating.

Li Kang returned to his room.

A mechanical electronic synth sound rang in his mind.

【Ding! Reward settlement complete.】

【Congratulations on completing the mission: Blue Warrior Nightmare!】

【Mission receipt: Nightmare? You plunged this city into a morbid frenzy.】

【Congratulations on obtaining: Eight-Bridge Cake.】

【Eight-Bridge Cake: Consumable, you and your teammates can simultaneously maintain a pleasant competitive state.】

This time the reward finally returned to normal.

It seems the effect isn't great.

It's just that the item description is a bit weird.

The phone screen suddenly lit up, full of unread messages.

Wo Le Er, Tuop, Professor Belenta, Wenger and the other old-timers all expressed concern about whether his head felt uncomfortable.

Brandt, meanwhile, sent several messages reminding him not to forget to buy local specialties.

Zhifu said what a coincidence, she's also in Tokyo, and the picture she posted is still of Ginza Street in Tokyo.

He scrolled down the screen.

It was Asuka-chan, with no special content, just reminding him that Tokyo nights are a bit chilly.

Li Kang didn't reply, silently deleting the other party's message.

If they kept chatting, it would waste his rest time, and there's a high chance they'd end up meeting in person.

He needed to exercise self-discipline.

He couldn't just go somewhere and start dating the local girls.

Professor Belenta once said: "A person's worth is decided in the instant they face temptation."

Li Kang put down his phone, picked up the tablet, and continued watching the match recordings.

Without moonlight like water, there is romance among the Chinese toon blossoms.

The young Arsenal midfielder must still strive for countless championship honors...

That night.

Japanese media went crazy again.

What a fierce tiger descending the mountain!

What an unparalleled head explosion!

What a swallow's fall!

One chuuni-style headline after another, accompanied by special-effect photos, occupied the front pages of major online media.

The match's exciting highlights were quickly compiled.

Li Kang's goal-scoring clip, paired with energetic BGM, quickly spread across Asia.

-【Ah shit, why didn't the Korean Football Association invite the Spanish national team to Seoul? Li Kang could boost fans' enthusiasm, indirectly increasing relevant departments' emphasis on youth training!】

-【Overthinking! If your Korean team injures a few more key players, you won't even need to play the World Cup qualifiers!】

-【Arsenal's number 10 jersey and Spain's number 6 jersey also sold out wildly!】

-【A phenomenal star!】

-【Doesn't the Japanese team have their own Li Mingdeng? You're fawning over him too much! It's just like fawning over Romance of the Three Kingdoms!】

-【Haha, Little Japan bought Li Mingdeng's portrait rights and is going to release a football manga...】

-【Li Mingdeng is awesome, scoring four headers in fifteen minutes... but, the opponent is the Japanese team, not worth bragging about!】

-【Can brag! Little Japan isn't weak; at least they're on the correct development path.】

The time on international match days is very ample.

Next morning.

The coaching staff then announced that the players had one day of free time.

Miniano was exhausted and holed up in his room, unable to go out.

De Gea sported dark circles, his steps unsteady.

Li Kang and his teammates, escorted by security personnel, came to the bustling city to buy local specialties.

Media reporters followed them all the way.

Traffic in some areas fell into congestion.

Li Kang found there wasn't much worth buying.

Under the influence of the template, his material desires have remained at a very low level.

Even the scenic spots didn't hold much interest for him to browse.

He picked a bunch of handicrafts and a gift for Havertz, then hurried back to the hotel.

As for Brandt's requested specialty?

Energetic Yin Si Ke said he would take care of it.