You Will Build Your City-State Upon the Ruins

[PS: This chapter is best read while listening to "Lonely Warrior."]

"Is that Lu?"

"He's here?"

"He's wearing our Real Madrid jersey?"

"That's the new season's jersey, right?"

"Lu in gold trim! I feel like we might be in for a great season!"

The Madridistas buzzed with discussion.

The vote on the big screen had ended.

It was replaced by a video.

The Old President had clearly prepared for this long ago!

A sixteen-year-old boy stood on the pitch at Italy's Marassi Stadium. He had just been brought down by Soto, the former fierce Italian midfield ace. He was the lucky spectator that day.

Clang!

Music began to play along with the footage.

Below the video were lyrics in both Chinese and Spanish.

Text annotations occasionally appeared on the screen.

For example: "Sixteen-year-old Lu Yang's first appearance before the world," "On this day, he dribbled past Italy's stars and shone at Marassi Stadium," "Before this, he was a center-back," and "But over the next four years, the entire world would go mad over this center-back"!

With the music and footage, the singing soon began.

The lyrics were in Chinese, but through the melody and the Spanish translation, the hundred thousand Madridistas could understand that they were an account of Lu Yang's past.

"Every scar is courage. The wound on your forehead, your differences, your mistakes— None of them need be hidden. Your battered toy, your mask, your true self."

Onscreen, during the Serie D title decider, Lu Yang made a desperate headed clearance. Talista's boot struck him in the face, and blood instantly covered half his cheek!

"They say you must carry the light, tame every monster. They say your wounds must be stitched, for no one loves a clown. Why can't loneliness be glorious? Only the imperfect are worth