Chapter 365: Rice Fortress (Daily Transition)

The match ended.

Mourinho and Wenger had no further friction within the 90 minutes.

They shook hands on the touchline at the center circle.

Since 2004, their quarrels have never ceased, whether on or off the pitch.

'Checkbook coach.'

'Peeping Tom.'

'Failure expert.'

The opponent with the deepest animosity, when they learn you are leaving this battlefield, often feels the most sorrowful.

Mourinho watched the white-haired figure walking toward the tunnel, and suddenly felt that an era had ended.

The Manchester United manager wiped his eye sockets, restoring his arrogant and proud expression.

Well, it's not that easy to reconcile.

I'll have to see how he writes about me in his autobiography.

Yin Bu was encouraging the dispirited youngsters.

"Lift your heads! Don't act like a girl!"

"We only conceded three goals—isn't that an improvement over last time? Damn it, we were just a point away from leveling the score!"

"Manchester United's most important task now is to secure a top-four finish!"

"Our journey isn't over yet—the Europa League, the Champions League!"

Yin Bu's mood was still not great: his newly founded clothing brand's sales have recently picked up, but it has already lost nearly 13 million pounds sterling; if next year's market worsens, it will have to shut down.

The youngsters all shuddered in awe, looking up admiringly at their big brother.

There are nine rounds left in the Premier League! The Red Devils still have hope of clinching a Champions League spot!

The media reporters waited half a day, but never got a chance to capture the anticipated scene: the midfield duo exchanging jerseys.

Pogba was fixing his hairstyle, but out of the corner of his eye he saw Li Kang brushing past and heading toward De Gea.

A bit awkward.

Even so, he still struggled to keep his expression in check: his agency had told him to mind his image!

Arsenal's number 10 jersey and Manchester United's number 1 jersey swapped owners.

De Gea said: "Li, I'll be waiting for you at the Confederations Cup—come on, win the Champions League!"

Li Kang nodded.

The two embraced tightly.

Morata, wearing a tracksuit, jogged over quickly and urged: "Let go, I've noticed for a while—you keep spitting into your own gloves!"

VIP box.

Ferguson leaned on his cane and angrily struck the floor.

"After the Champions League qualifier back then, why didn't we try to bring him to Old Trafford?"

"A release clause? His back then was only 2 million euros!"

"The Red Devils' dynasty should have been revived long ago!"

The story of Arsenal and Manchester United came to a close this season.

Manchester United's name was absent from the FA Cup semifinal list.

This year's FA Cup semifinalists can be said to be the most luxurious lineup in the eighteen years since the 1998‑99 season.

Manchester City.

Arsenal.

Tottenham Hotspur.

Chelsea.

Over the past eighteen years, the FA Cup semifinals have always thrown up a dark‑horse side—Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Reading, Wigan Athletic… This reflects that the Premier League giants, under the strain of fighting on multiple fronts, do not give enough weight to domestic cup competitions.

Although Arsenal are dubbed "top‑four maniacs" in the league, their nickname in domestic cup competitions is "FA Cup kings."

That night.

Li Kang returned home.

The system notification sounded softly.

-【Ding! Premier League weekly quest completed.】

-【Quest feedback: You were just a step away from transferring to Manchester United back then, with no chance to tackle Hell difficulty—do you regret it?】

-【Quest reward: Golden Treasure Box.】

Regret?

Hell difficulty?

Li Kang had never considered this question.

【The treasure box is opening...】

【Congratulations on obtaining: Lingard's "Wembley Prince" module!】

【Wembley Prince: Triggerable at Wembley Stadium, effect unknown.】

Why could the Golden Treasure Box yield such a modifier module?

The answer is obvious.

It's not much use...

Days just passed one by one.

Li Kang's life was calm and monotonous.

Off-field tabloid reporters racked their brains but couldn't find any dirt on Liang Yi Xian Sheng.

Fans had long grown numb to the endless stream of praise-filled news.

Wenger, in preparation for the Champions League semi-final, made extensive rotations in the upcoming matches.

Premier League Matchweek 30.

Li Kang and his teammates arrived at a small town in Northeast England, the Middlesbrough area of North Yorkshire.

The coal and steel industries of the last century left few traces on this land.

An old man sat by the fountain feeding pigeons.

Children chased and played.

The scenery outside the car window exuded tranquility and ease everywhere.

Maguire pointed at a building and said, "That's Captain Cook's former residence museum! The Captain Cook who discovered New Zealand..."

Immediately, Ma Datou launched into a lengthy account of Captain Cook's seafaring exploits.

Arsenal's opponent this time is Middlesbrough.

Nickname: Smog Monster.

In 2006, this club fought its way into the UEFA Cup final, ultimately losing 0-4 to Sevilla and finishing as runners-up.

Among Premier League clubs, Middlesbrough has the highest number of domestic female fans.

Meanwhile.

Their fans' fighting spirit is also quite formidable.

Last season, over 200 Middlesbrough fans trounced more than 2,000 Derby County fans...

The most iconic incident was that they even urinated in the water cup of Queens Park Rangers' goalkeeper.

Thinking of this,

Cech decided not to place his water bottle by the goalpost...

"ESPN! ESPN! Good evening, viewers."

"We are now broadcasting the 2016/17 Premier League Matchweek 30."

"Middlesbrough host Arsenal!"

"The promoted team versus the league leaders."

Riverside Stadium.

Middlesbrough fans stood ready,

They wanted to repay the humiliation they suffered two years ago in the FA Cup, double, to the fans of Yin Si Ling Dun?!

Frantic boos and shouting filled the air.

Head Coach Agnew, feeling somewhat wistful.

Since Carvalhal was sacked, Middlesbrough has gone over two months without a win.

The hope of avoiding relegation grew ever slimmer.

Second-to-last in the Premier League table, they led bottom-placed Sunderland by just one point.

Li Kang sat on the bench.

Morata handed him a bottle of mineral water.

"I saw Negredo at Real Madrid's youth academy; he was a few years older than me and stood out back then..."

"Traoré? That kid left La Masia's youth academy the same year as you, but he transferred to Aston Villa for a fee of €10 million!"

"It's fine; they pose no threat to Arsenal's defense."

No sooner had the words left his mouth,

Riverside Stadium erupted in a wave-like roar.

Middlesbrough scored!

Traoré powered through, easily shoved Holding aside, burst into the box and delivered a lovely pass, as Negredo tapped in to make it 1-0!

Morata: "..."

Holding indicated to the referee that Traoré's arm had something smeared on it.

It was a slippery, wet... liquid.

Make that kid as slippery as an eel!

The referee paid no heed.

Cazorla dragged away his chattering companion.

Play resumed.

Arsenal gradually settled into the game.

In the 42nd minute, Maguire began dribbling from the back, breezed past two Middlesbrough players, and launched a long pass! Giroud leapt high, headed the ball down, and Oxlade-Chamberlain struck to make it 1-1!

1-1!

In the 68th minute, Arsenal's front line executed a mercurial one-touch move, with Ramsey finishing from the edge of the box for the decisive strike.

1-2!

Finally, the referee blew the whistle for full time.

Arsenal won the match again.

Cech rushed to the touchline for a drink.

Enraged Middlesbrough fans began chasing and attacking the foul-mouthed Yin Si Ling supporters!

The Arsenal coaching staff were very satisfied with this score; soon they will head to Turin to face the Champions League semi‑final, challenging Serie A champions Juventus!