Chapter 44: Arriving in Tokyo, National Team Debut!

Li Kang didn't have any further story with Claudia.

The appearance of the middle-aged woman was very timely.

The two never had a chance to exchange contact information.

It was just an advertisement for Feltins, and they still had to shoot a new series later.

Perhaps they would still have a chance to meet.

Whenever he thought of this,

the shadow in his mind would frantically contract.

His mood would gradually become positive and optimistic.

As for that curvaceous female model, he didn't know when she had been added to his social media contacts.

Once verified, several blood-vessel-bursting self-portrait photos popped out.

He kept emphasizing: find some time to teach Li Kang boxing.

At that moment, the shadow in his mind would frantically spread.

Li Kang couldn't endure the pain of being suppressed by the shadow for long, so he decisively deleted the female model from his friend list.

Madrid Las Rosas Training Base.

Li Kang met the teammates of the Spanish national team.

There were no big stars like Yinniesita, Ramos, or David Silva.

Most were young players from powerhouse clubs.

De Gea waved at him and shouted, "Li, no need to put down your luggage—we'll be flying to Japan in two hours!"

Li Kang suddenly heard a bang!

The ball carried a fierce spin.

In the air it traced a rainbow-like arc.

It landed precisely in front of him.

He leaned back slightly, lifted his foot to take the ball's momentum, and stepped on it.

Smack smack smack!

Twenty meters away, Dennis clapped and said, "Frankly, your trap is just average! The applause is merely a welcome ritual for the Lewokusen midfielder."

At that moment.

The other teammates warming up all turned their heads.

Arsenal's Bellerín.

Everton's Deulofeu.

They also came from La Masia's youth academy, but they were a generation above Li Kang, so they weren't that close.

In the distance.

Assistant coach Miniano saw this and flew into a rage: "These little brats, are they going to fight each other as soon as they meet?"

Bosque stepped in and laughed, "It's just two little lions roughhousing—let's not disturb them..."

While speaking,

The ball left Li Kang's left foot.

It rolled swiftly along the grass.

Like a sharp dagger.

It pierced through the gap between teammates.

It slowed to a stop in front of Dennis.

Immediately,

The teammates burst into laughter and applause.

Each has their own merits!

Dennis scratched his head and said, "All right, your ground pass is just a bit better than mine."

The staff handed out the brand-new national team jerseys to the guys.

Li Kang's number was 98.

In official matches like the World Cup and the European Cup, the national team's numbers are 1–23.

But in an international A-level friendly like the match against Japan, there are no restrictions on jersey numbers.

They did not conduct a scrimmage.

After the Spanish youth players changed into their national team gear, they dragged their luggage onto the plane and headed for Asia.

Of course, there was still a "veteran."

Morata.

This guy actively encouraged the newcomers: "Don't be afraid, go all out on the attack—if we can't break the deadlock, I'll come on!"

At that time he was Juventus's main striker; although his league goal-scoring efficiency was ordinary and his chance‑taking ability weak, in the previous season's Champions League he repeatedly breached the defenses of European powerhouses, and even Real Madrid and Barcelona could not escape.

The youngsters all looked at him with admiring eyes.

Just like a group of newbie villagers encountering a max‑level veteran.

Morata secretly gloated: back in the national team he used to be the junior, never expecting to become the senior so quickly.

But he soon sensed something off—why was the Dragon Descendant sitting beside him so quiet?

He must be too nervous after meeting a superstar like himself.

He was about to offer words of comfort.

His gaze was then drawn away by the exaggerated figure of the flight attendant.

The 23-year-old Morata has a clean private life and enjoys pure online romance.

Busquets started to doze off.

Minamino was originally a fitness coach; only a few months ago he was promoted to the position of head assistant coach of the national team. He was doodling on a blank sheet of paper, muttering softly:

"A bunch of dwarves..."

"Among the midfielders... Li Kang is the tallest, Deulofeu has the quickest cadence—who should occupy the arrowhead position in the strikerless formation?"

"If the Japan team gives up midfield, defends densely in the penalty area, compressing space... they should play even better at home."

Twelve hours later.

The Spanish youngsters arrived at Tokyo International Airport.

A large crowd of fans gathered at the arrival gate.

Morata waved excitedly to greet them: "Look, so many Spanish compatriots are welcoming us! We must put on a good show!"

Li Kang suddenly heard someone calling his name in Chinese.

He followed the sound and looked over.

He saw a bunch of youthful, vibrant East Asian faces.

Minamino patted his shoulder: "Don't just stand there stupidly—go over and greet your fans. The Japan Football Association has sent lots of security personnel; you're not a big star, nothing will happen."

These fans numbered only a dozen or so, consisting of overseas Chinese from Japan and international students from the Dragon Kingdom.

Li Kang wasn't afraid of trouble; he just hadn't reacted yet.

He walked over slowly.

Cheers erupted from the crowd.

"Li Kang, can we take a photo together?"

"Tokyo nights are a bit chilly—why aren't you wearing a jacket?"

"Everyone, quiet down, hurry up with the photo—Li Kang still has to go back to the hotel to shake off the jet lag!"

The security personnel took the camera.

Li Kang, behind the police line, was surrounded by his compatriots.

The flashbulbs went off.

On that bleak Tokyo night, they left behind a warm photograph.

"Li Kang! Go on! Kill those little devils!"

"Smash little Japan!"

Li Kang boarded the national team bus, waving goodbye to his compatriots.

He hadn't expected to have fans of his own.

His Spanish teammates glanced over in surprise.

Dennis wondered aloud: "Li! Have you played in Japan?"

De Gea quickly corrected: "Don't talk nonsense—those fans are Dragon Descendants or from the Dragon Kingdom. I've been to the Dragon Kingdom several times, I understand a bit of Chinese, and they're cheering Li Kang to defeat Japan."

Dennis continued: "What does 'little devil' mean?"

De Gea rubbed his chin, thought for a moment, and said: "'Little devil' is a nickname for Japanese people."

The youngsters suddenly understood.

On the plane, the bragging Morata now clutched his stomach, his face ashen.

Two days later.

Tokyo Ajinomoto Stadium.

Tens of thousands of Japanese fans arrived early at the stands.

They wore dark blue jerseys and waved flags printed with three-legged crow feathers.

Before the 1990s, Japan's international standing in football was only second-rate in Asia.

In 1993, Football Association Chairman Saburō Kawabuchi proposed Japan's hundred-year football plan.

At the time, it became a laughingstock in Asia: "You can't even make it into the World Cup finals."

Who would have thought that since 1998, the Japan team has never missed a World Cup?

"CTV5! CTV5! Good evening, viewers!"

"Welcome to watch this East-West showdown on this day's international match!"

"Japan takes on Spain!"

"I am the commentator for this match, Duan Xuan!"

"I am He Wei!"

"The starting lineup has been announced; Japan is fielding a half-strength side, while Spain has many youngsters making their first appearance in the national team squad."

Inside the player tunnel.

Takumi Minamino warmly greeted the Spanish players.

When he saw Li Kang,

he forced out a smile.

Dennis also warmly shook hands: "Little devil!"

His pronunciation wasn't very accurate.

Takumi Minamino also didn't understand Chinese, thought it was Catalan, and quickly nodded.

Immediately after.

Deulofeu and Bellerín, following suit, politely greeted: "Little devil!"

The other Japanese players bowed and nodded in turn.

Li Kang watched this scene, his face darkened.

The formation moved.

The referee team led the players of both sides out of the tunnel!

Ajinomoto Stadium instantly erupted with a cheer like a landslide and tsunami.

The drumbeats thundered.

The moment Li Kang stepped onto the pitch.

The system notification sounded softly:

【Ding! National team mission triggered: Crush the pride of the Blue Warriors!】

【Mission briefing: You cannot fight for your country, but you must win this match, defeat them!】

【Mission reward:???】

The stadium broadcast played the Japanese national anthem 'Kimigayo'.

The Japanese players were excited, solemn and dignified.

Tens of thousands of Japanese fans sang in unison.

"The Japanese team's national anthem is probably the shortest in the world."

"Only 28 characters, repeated over and over."

"After repeated verification by historian Tomoji Fujita, this is a lament sung at the emperor's funeral."

-【No wonder, listening to it feels like a song from a crematorium.】

-【Just missing the shouts and gong sounds!】

-【It feels weird, Li Kang will have to sing the Spanish national anthem later? I can't quite accept that in my heart!】

-【It was hard to come by a good seedling, but he ended up joining the Spanish national team, sigh...】

-【Messi also often doesn't sing the national anthem.】

-【Come on! Li Kang is mute, how can he sing the national anthem?】

The Japanese national anthem is very short.

One minute later.

The Spanish national anthem 'Royal March' sounded.

The young players held expressionless faces, mouths tightly shut.

"After Franco's dictatorship over Spain ended, the lyrics of the national anthem were abolished!"

"So Spanish athletes do not need to sing the national anthem when participating in international competitions!"

Dragon Kingdom livestream room.

Netizens were a bit dazed.

-【Can't hold it in! Haha!】

-【The previous generation of Spanish players would at least hum a couple of bars; this bunch of new-gen youngsters is too casual!】

-【Count them, how many Basques, how many Catalans are in there? They definitely couldn't hum it.】

The guessing ends.

Players from both sides took their positions.

With the referee's whistle.

The match officially began!

"Next, we'll introduce the starting lineups of both sides!"

"Wearing dark blue, attacking from left to right is the Japanese team, they have set up a 4-3-3 formation!"

"Goalkeeper: Xīchuān Zhōuzuò!"

"Left back: Chángyǒu Yòudū!"

"Center back: Jítián Máyě partnering with Xiànyě Zhìzhāng!"

"Right back: Sēnzhòng Zhēnrén!"

"Midfield: Yuǎnténg Háng, Yín Dōngchún Yě, Bǎimù Yángjiè!"

"Forward: Nányě Tuòshí, Qiǎnyě Tuòmó, Língmù Wǔzàng!"

-【The Japanese team's back line fielded the full main force from last year's World Cup!】

-【The midfield and forward players, a few domestic players from the J-League are also strong; this should be an attacking battle!】

"The Spanish national team's formation, looking at the scene.... is 4-6-0, a strikerless formation!"

"Goalkeeper: Déhèyà!"

"Left back: Méiléi!"

"Center back: Jiàyà partnering with Róngní!"

"Right back: Bèiláilín!"

"Midfield: Li Kang, Déwūluòfèiwū, Dānnīsī, Sāiwǎngluèsī, Kǎsīdìlièhuò, Àolìfú!"