Chapter Summaries

Wolverhampton Wanderers defeated Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford, eliminating them from the FA Cup and ending their unbeaten season. After the loss, Tang Ye confronted Cristiano Ronaldo over his failure to follow the team’s pressing tactics.

• At halftime, Tang Ye and Cristiano Ronaldo argued over whether Manchester United should attack through the middle or down the wings, and Erik ten Hag backed the team’s high-pressing approach.
• Tang Ye received a yellow card after Cristiano Ronaldo’s offside goal was disallowed, and later Cristiano’s rushed shot failed to beat the goalkeeper.
• João Moutinho led a Wolves counterattack, and Rúben Neves scored from the edge of the box to put Wolves ahead in the 75th minute.
• Manchester United failed to equalize despite late attacks, and José Sá saved Ousmane Dembélé’s shot before the final whistle confirmed Wolves’ 1-0 victory.
• After the match, Tang Ye blamed Manchester United’s failure to press for Wolves’ goal, argued with Cristiano Ronaldo, and warned him to respect the tactics or not play.

After Manchester United’s 1–0 FA Cup defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tang Ye confronted Cristiano Ronaldo over his refusal to follow the team’s tactics, and Ronaldo abandoned his planned criticism of Erik ten Hag to avoid worsening his position. The chapter ended with Ronaldo waking from a dream in which Tang Ye was an emperor who had him flogged.

• Tang Ye cornered Cristiano Ronaldo in the dressing room and insisted he respect the tactics or stop playing, while B. Fee, Rodri, and Mitchell van der Gaag intervened to prevent a fight.
• Cristiano Ronaldo turned away from the mixed zone without giving an interview, deciding against publicly criticizing Erik ten Hag and Tang Ye.
• Rodri, Ousmane Dembélé, Haller, and Tang Ye discussed the confrontation in the car, and Rodri advised Tang Ye not to apologize immediately.
• Cristiano Ronaldo complained to Jorge Mendes, who urged him not to retaliate while he still had time left on his Manchester United contract.
• Cristiano Ronaldo dreamed that Tang Ye was an emperor who ordered him flogged for calling him by name, then woke beside Georgina.

Cristiano Ronaldo struggled to repair his relationships at Manchester United as he remained a substitute, while Tang Ye prepared for the World Cup and faced questions about Ronaldo and Ten Hag. Manchester United’s match against Aston Villa began with a promising attack that reached Rodri at the edge of the box.

• Ronaldo recalled a disturbing dream about Tang Ye and admitted to Dalot that he was unsure whether he regretted returning to Manchester United.
• Ten Hag told Van der Gaag that Ronaldo would not become Manchester United’s core player, while Van der Gaag believed Ronaldo’s only remaining chance was to build a relationship with Tang Ye.
• Ronaldo invited Rashford to dinner and tried to befriend Dembélé, but both players declined to make plans with him.
• Tang Ye told CCTV and Sky Sports that he felt pressure ahead of the World Cup and was confident China could qualify, then gave an uncertain answer about whether Ronaldo and Ten Hag’s relationship had improved.
• Ronaldo was named on the bench for a second consecutive match as Manchester United visited Aston Villa.
• In the 17th minute, Martial, Rashford, and Dalot combined to set up Rodri at the edge of the box.

Manchester United defeated Aston Villa 4–0 after Tang Ye scored twice, Ousmane Dembélé opened the scoring, and David de Gea saved a penalty. The match ended with Rashford injured and Cristiano Ronaldo still left out, while Tang Ye converted a late penalty.

• Ousmane Dembélé scored from Rodri’s cross to give Manchester United an early lead, and Aston Villa pressed Manchester United’s center-backs.
• Erik ten Hag replaced Rodri with B. Fee, David de Gea saved Ollie Watkins’s penalty, and Tang Ye volleyed in Manchester United’s second goal before halftime.
• Manchester United increased the tempo after the break, and Anthony Martial scored to make it 3–0.
• Tang Ye’s corner led to Rashford being injured and Martínez conceding a penalty; Tang Ye converted it to make the score 4–0.
• Cristiano Ronaldo waited on the bench as ten Hag chose Mason to replace Rashford, and Tang Ye teased Martínez after scoring the penalty.

After Manchester United beat Aston Villa 4-0, Tang Ye considered how to handle Cristiano Ronaldo while preparations began for Tang Ye’s return to China and the World Footballer of the Year ceremony. China led its World Cup qualifying group and could secure qualification early by beating Vietnam if Oman failed to win.

• Manchester United beat Aston Villa 4-0, with Tang Ye scoring twice and converting a penalty, while Cristiano Ronaldo remained on the bench for a second consecutive match.
• Sky Sports pundits Jason and Luis discussed Ronaldo’s strained relationship with Erik ten Hag, and Jason suggested Ronaldo seek Tang Ye’s help.
• Tang Ye read a system mission requiring him to make Ronaldo his underling and wondered whether pressuring Ronaldo would advance it, though he did not want to hurt him.
• Jorge Mendes urged Ronaldo to build relationships with Rodri, Ousmane Dembélé, and de Jong while Tang Ye was away, then use their help to reconcile with Tang Ye.
• China stood first in its World Cup qualifying group, and analysts said a win over Vietnam plus Oman failing to win would secure China’s qualification for the World Cup finals.

China arrived in Vietnam needing a win to strengthen its World Cup qualification hopes, while Tang Ye joked about Oman coach Ivan Ivanković and celebrated becoming a deputy to the National People's Congress. Tang Ye helped China take a 2–0 lead over Vietnam, scoring first through Zhang Yuning and then directly from a free kick.

• Tang Ye and his teammates discussed Vietnam’s weather and joked that Oman coach Ivan Ivanković would lose to the United Arab Emirates and help China qualify for the World Cup.
• News confirmed that Tang Ye had been elected a deputy to the National People's Congress, and a Peking University senior praised him during a pre-match interview.
• Escribá urged China to stick to its tactics before the team began its away match against Vietnam with Tang Ye and Wu Lei in the starting lineup.
• Tang Ye dribbled down the right and crossed for Zhang Yuning to score in the 11th minute, giving China a 1–0 lead.
• Tang Ye scored directly from a free kick to extend China’s lead to 2–0.

China defeated Vietnam 3:1 away, with Tang Ye scoring twice, but Escribá warned the team that poor passing and complacency could threaten their World Cup qualifying campaign. Tang Ye left looking ahead to the upcoming match against Saudi Arabia and said one more win would secure qualification.

• Tang Ye celebrated China's 2:0 lead by dancing near the Vietnam supporters, then scored in the 32nd minute to make it 3:0.
• Escribá sent Wei Shihao on after halftime to test tactics, but Vietnam scored through Pham Tuan Hai after China mishandled possession, reducing the score to 3:1.
• Tang Ye set up a chance for Wei Shihao with a long pass, but Wei Shihao failed to control the ball, and Escribá later substituted Tang Ye and Wu Lei as China shifted toward defending.
• China won 3:1 for its sixth consecutive group-stage victory, with Tang Ye scoring twice, including a direct free kick.
• Escribá criticized the team's panicked passing in the locker room and warned that first place did not guarantee World Cup qualification.
• Tang Ye told reporters he would watch the United Arab Emirates–Oman match and looked forward to facing Saudi Arabia, saying one more win would secure China's qualification.

After the China national football team beat Vietnam, the players watched Oman take a late lead over the United Arab Emirates, preventing China from securing early World Cup qualification. Tang Ye reassured the team that they could qualify by avoiding defeat against Saudi Arabia, while news of his company PPBond’s planned London listing circulated.

• On the flight to Saudi Arabia, Tang Ye teased nervous Wu Lei about World Cup qualification and worked on a jigsaw puzzle to train his focus.
• Zhang Yuning read claims that Cristiano Ronaldo might have social anxiety and that his relationship with Tang Ye was not as close as fans believed.
• News spread that Tang Ye’s company PPBond planned to list on the London Stock Exchange, with Boer serving as its CEO and Tang Ye expected to remain its largest shareholder.
• The China national football team watched Oman lead the United Arab Emirates 3:2 late in their match, dashing the players’ hopes of qualifying early.
• Escribá criticized the team’s lack of improvement and praised Oman’s progress under Ivan Ivanković.
• Tang Ye calculated that China would remain safe if it avoided defeat against Saudi Arabia and tried to reassure Escribá, despite having wrongly predicted a United Arab Emirates win.

China national football team faced Saudi Arabia with a chance to secure World Cup qualification, while Oman’s result against Japan remained an alternative route. The match began with China creating several chances but failing to score, and Saudi Arabia won a free kick after Tang Ye fouled an opponent.

• Oman defeated the United Arab Emirates, forcing China national football team’s qualification hopes into the final round, and commentators discussed the scenarios and Tang Ye’s fit within the national team.
• China national football team fans gathered at King Saud University Stadium as Tang Ye and his teammates prepared for the crucial match, and coach Escribá urged them to stay composed.
• China national football team and Saudi Arabia began the match, with Al-Dawsari leading an early Saudi attack that China’s defense contained.
• Tang Ye launched a counterattack that led to Wei Shihao’s blocked shot, then hit the crossbar with a long-range effort before setting up another chance for Wei Shihao, who was denied by the goalkeeper.
• Jiang Guangtai cleared the ball, and Tang Ye conceded a free kick to Saudi Arabia.

China national football team took the lead against Saudi Arabia through Tang Ye and Wu Lei after falling behind, but controversial officiating and defensive lapses let Saudi Arabia regain the advantage. At halftime, China trailed 2:3, with Tang Ye having scored and assisted.

• Kanno's free kick went in, putting Saudi Arabia ahead 1:0, and Tang Ye urged his teammates to pass to him more.
• Tang Ye scored a long-range goal to equalize at 1:1 after China cleared a Saudi counterattack.
• Tang Ye and Wu Lei combined with Zhang Yuning to score, giving China a 2:1 lead.
• The referee awarded Saudi Arabia a disputed penalty, and the resulting goal made it 2:2.
• Al-Shehri scored with a header after Al-Muwallad's cross, giving Saudi Arabia a 3:2 lead before halftime.

China fell two goals behind Saudi Arabia, and Escribá urged Tang Ye to take charge of the attack. Tang Ye’s long pass set up Wu Lei to score in the 76th minute, leaving China trailing 3–4 and chasing an equalizer.

• At halftime, Escribá admitted China had played terribly and called for more passes to Tang Ye and Wu Lei, while Tang Ye proposed faster attacks and long balls.
• Saudi Arabia scored soon after the restart when Yan Junling parried Al-Shehri’s header and Al-Dawsari converted the rebound to make it 4–2.
• After Wei Shihao went down injured, Escribá told Tang Ye to focus on his own ability and create goals; Tang Ye then whispered a plan to Wu Lei.
• In the 76th minute, Tang Ye sent a precise 50-meter ground pass to Wu Lei, who beat the goalkeeper and scored to cut Saudi Arabia’s lead to 4–3.
• Tang Ye praised Wu Lei as the best striker in the world and urged his teammates to hurry back for the restart.

China came back from 2–4 down to draw 4–4 with Saudi Arabia, securing an early place at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The chapter ended with the team celebrating their qualification and fans discovering the result after waking up.

• Wu Lei scored to bring China within one goal, and Saudi Arabia tightened its defense as the players tired.
• Tang Ye set up Elkerson with a Rabona pass, and Elkerson scored in the 84th minute to make it 4–4.
• The referee confirmed the goal after a VAR check, and Escribá urged the team to avoid mistakes in the final minutes.
• Zhang Xizhe and Jiang Guangtai dispossessed Al-Dawsari, while Tang Ye held onto the ball to run down the clock.
• Yan Junling saved Al-Dawsari's late shot, and the final whistle confirmed the 4–4 draw and China's qualification for the World Cup.
• Tang Ye, Elkerson, Escribá, and their teammates celebrated as fans reacted to the result, including those who had gone to sleep when China trailed.

China drew 4-4 with Saudi Arabia, and Tang Ye helped the national team become the first team besides Qatar to qualify for the World Cup finals. As the players celebrated and fans gathered across China, Tang Ye’s interview looked ahead to the team’s next match against Japan.

• China drew 4-4 with Saudi Arabia, securing World Cup qualification, and Tang Ye shared a Chinese flag with Wu Lei and Feng Xiaoting before trying unsuccessfully to bring Escribá under it.
• Tang Ye told reporters that China had earned its qualification but still needed to improve, praised Escribá’s contribution, and said the team would compete for first place in the group.
• Tang Ye and Wu Lei discussed a Japanese reporter’s pointed question about China’s chances against Japan, while Tang Ye joked that Japan would fear the team’s best striker.
• Tang Ye returned to the locker room, explained the flag incident to Yan Junling, and joined teammates watching a livestream of fans celebrating China’s qualification.
• Fans paraded with Chinese flags in cities including Guangzhou, where a man waved a number ten jersey as the crowd chanted Tang Ye’s name.

After China qualified for the 2022 World Cup, Tang Ye and head coach Escribá celebrated while public attention focused on the team’s prospects and Tang Ye’s fame. On the flight afterward, Tang Ye worried that China was not strong enough and realized he still needed one more elite player to complete his task.

• China’s World Cup qualification sparked media coverage, and a viral paper comparing Tang Ye, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Messi through evolutionary theory drew attention to its author, Liu Chen.
• Tang Ye reposted James’s congratulations with the word “King,” while Escribá said qualifying was only part of his mission and hoped China would at least match its previous World Cup result.
• Tang Ye apologized to Escribá for not celebrating with him immediately after the match, and the two joked about their years together and Tang Ye’s ADHD.
• Betting odds placed China eleventh among World Cup contenders, while news outlets reported Tang Ye’s company and foundation donating money and supplies to disaster-hit regions.
• On the plane, Tang Ye worried about China’s ability to repeat its previous World Cup success and checked his unfinished Nine Lords Unite task, which required one more starting player from a top-ten national team.

After Manchester United qualified for the World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo tried to enlist teammates to help mend his relationship with Erik ten Hag, but they feared Tang Ye’s influence. Tang Ye then guessed Ronaldo would approach Mason Greenwood, and Rodri worried Mason might agree.

• Japan beat Oman 3-1, moving within two points of China in the World Cup qualifying group.
• Cristiano Ronaldo asked Rodri to arrange a dinner with Erik ten Hag, but Rodri refused because helping Ronaldo could threaten Tang Ye’s standing.
• Cristiano Ronaldo asked Ousmane Dembélé for help, but Dembélé also turned him down.
• Cristiano Ronaldo approached Mason Greenwood, who refused because he feared Tang Ye would scold him.
• Tang Ye joked that Mason would help Ronaldo, prompting Rodri to message Mason and ask to talk.

Tang Ye scored twice as Manchester United extended their unbeaten league run and opened a commanding lead in the standings, while his company PPBond went public and its stock price surged. Tang Ye then focused on the first leg of Manchester United’s Champions League round-of-16 tie against Inter Milan, where Cristiano Ronaldo was again benched and Inter prepared to face United with a back three.

• Tang Ye scored his second goal against Leeds United in the 74th minute, helping Manchester United preserve their unbeaten league record after 26 rounds.
• Erik ten Hag announced that Manchester United’s next target was 30 unbeaten matches and lamented that they had missed the chance to win 26 league matches in a row.
• Manchester United widened their lead over Manchester City and Liverpool to seven points, while reports noted Tang Ye’s scholarship and PPBond’s London listing and sharp first-day rise.
• Tang Ye reviewed Boer’s report, worried that PPBond was barely profitable, then turned his attention to completing the Champions League knockout chain mission.
• Manchester United traveled to face Inter Milan in the round of 16, and Erik ten Hag named Tang Ye alongside Ousmane Dembélé and Marcus Rashford while leaving Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench.
• Inter Milan announced a 3-5-2 lineup featuring Lautaro Martínez and Edin Džeko up front, as fans gathered outside the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium.

Manchester United dominated Inter Milan in the first half, with Dembélé, Tang Ye, and a penalty putting them 3–0 ahead. B. Fee made it 4–0 after the break, and Cristiano Ronaldo came on for Rashford as Manchester United closed in on victory.

• Handanović stopped early attempts from Tang Ye and de Jong, but Dembélé scored from close range to give Manchester United a 1–0 lead.
• Tang Ye headed in a rebound in the 17th minute to extend Manchester United’s lead to 2–0.
• Inzaghi urged Inter Milan to press, while Tang Ye told Rodri to raise Manchester United’s tempo because he expected a counterattack.
• The referee awarded Manchester United a penalty after Rashford went down in the box, and Tang Ye converted to make it 3–0 before halftime.
• B. Fee volleyed in Tang Ye’s corner in the 58th minute, making the score 4–0.
• Cristiano Ronaldo came on for Rashford in the 62nd minute.

Manchester United crushed Inter Milan 5:0 away, with Tang Ye setting up Cristiano Ronaldo’s late goal, while the aftermath brought scrutiny of Erik ten Hag and speculation about the team’s coming fixtures. As Tang Ye prepared to leave for China’s national team, PpBond’s wildly fluctuating stock price remained a topic of ridicule and speculation.

• Tang Ye won the ball with a sliding tackle, dribbled past Lautaro Martínez, and later cut a pass into the box for Cristiano Ronaldo to score Manchester United’s fifth goal.
• A fan threw a bottle that hit Tang Ye, and Erik ten Hag later substituted him for Jesse Lingard as Manchester United completed the 5:0 win.
• Inzaghi admitted Inter Milan had misunderstood Manchester United and said his side would still try to respond in the second leg.
• Li Laoba accused Erik ten Hag of being petty after the manager avoided questions about Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal.
• Manchester United fans celebrated the result as newspapers reported that Tang Ye would miss several major fixtures while representing China in the Asian Cup qualifiers.
• PpBond’s share price swung sharply, prompting a Barclays Securities warning and mockery from online investors.

A birthday video depicted Tang Ye as an aging martial arts master pushing Po, a stand-in for the China national football team, to keep training and beware stronger opponents. As China prepared to face Japan in the Asian Cup qualifiers, the video and Japanese media coverage fueled public soul-searching and pressure on both teams to compete seriously.

• Po struggled to follow Tang Ye across the mountains, but Tang Ye insisted that he train to survive against stronger opponents.
• Po learned that Tang Ye kept training despite winning three martial arts tournaments, and Tang Ye told him to prepare for visiting fishermen from the island nation.
• The chapter explained that the short film celebrated Tang Ye's twenty-third birthday and portrayed the China national football team as Po.
• Japanese radio host Tanaka predicted that China might not go all out against Japan because both teams had already qualified for the World Cup.
• Japanese fans criticized their team's hopes of relying on China to lose, and concern grew ahead of the March 10 match.

China prepared to face Japan in Changsha, where coach Escribá urged a cautious approach despite Tang Ye and Wu Lei wanting to pursue a win. After the Chinese fans’ thunderous anthem, the match began with Japan attacking first and Tang Ye launching a counterattack; the chapter ended as Wei Shihao received his through ball.

• Escribá told the China players that a home draw against Japan would be enough, while Tang Ye and Wu Lei argued that they should try to win.
• Hajime Moriyasu said Japan’s main disadvantage against China was Tang Ye and traced the gap to youth development.
• Hiroki Sakai apologized to Tang Ye on Yuya Osako’s behalf, but Tang Ye said they should talk after the match.
• Chinese fans sang the national anthem with such force that the Japanese players were stunned, and Tang Ye reminded Wu Lei and Zhang Yuning to start steadily.
• Japan opened with a dangerous attack, but China recovered possession, and Tang Ye sent a through ball to Wei Shihao before Morita Hidemasa pulled him down.