Protected by the System (Seeking Collection, Seeking Recommendation)

The referee on the pitch was also terrified; such a malicious foul occurring in a match he was officiating was a disaster for his professional career!

But when the referee saw the Barcelona players charging toward Real Valladolid's right-back Olaza like enraged bulls, he frantically blew his whistle.

Don't be impulsive!

There must not be a brawl!

Damn it!

Although the Real Valladolid players knew they were in the wrong, they couldn't just watch Olaza get bullied by the Barca players, so they rushed over as well.

However, they knew better than to throw punches and tried to de-escalate the situation with words.

But the Barca players were going insane.

Li Mingyu had not only earned their respect with his skill but had also treated them to a Chinese meal, effectively integrating him into the Barca family.

Furthermore, Li Mingyu was a product of Barca's own youth academy, naturally protected by the club's aura.

It was like seeing one's own child kicked to the ground; even the most mild-mannered guardian would be overcome with rage.

Messi did not join the others in surrounding the opponent; instead, he knelt beside Li Mingyu, asking anxiously, "Li, how do you feel?"

Messi felt his own question was redundant; as footballers, they all knew the consequences of being tackled from behind on the standing leg.

The Achilles tendon had to be ruptured; he just hoped it wouldn't end his career.

This was Messi's silent prayer.

Barca had gained momentum this season, and at such a critical juncture, in such an unnecessary match, the psychological blow of losing a key substitute—or rather, a starter in all but name—was immeasurable.

On the sidelines, Koeman was stunned. When he saw Li Mingyu tackled to the ground, he didn't explode in rage; instead, he slowly squatted down, clutching his head, the despair on his face visible to everyone.

The team doctor nearby didn't wait for a signal from Koeman or the referee; he grabbed his medical kit and sprinted onto the pitch.

Li Mingyu felt a sharp sting in his heel. As a professional player, he knew exactly what kind of foul he had suffered and the potential consequences, and he was acutely aware of the danger.

But what puzzled him was that as he lay on the ground, touching his left Achilles tendon with his hand, he could still feel his ankle moving freely.

"Li, how do you feel?"

The team doctor, Sandro, a middle-aged man with a thick beard, slipped and fell flat on his back as he rushed to Li Mingyu's side. Ignoring the fall, he scrambled over and asked nervously.

Li Mingyu replied in a muffled voice, "It hurts a bit!"

Sandro's eyes were bloodshot as he gently supported Li Mingyu's left foot and began a cautious examination with his assistant.

While the check-up was underway, a riot on the pitch was on the verge of breaking out.

Security personnel inside the stadium mobilized, rushing to the base of the stands to restrain fans attempting to storm the field.

Olaza stood at the back of his team, his face filled with guilt and unease; he knew how malicious his tackle had been.

He had acted on a moment of impulsive rage. He had been dribbled past too many times, and every time he was beaten, the entire Camp Nou erupted in jeers, causing his negative emotions to boil over.

Consequently, after being beaten again, Olaza completely lost his composure and committed such a vicious foul.

"Mr. Messi, I need you to urge your players to stop immediately; there must be no further conflict!"

The referee, Cruz, approached Messi with a stern expression and spoke with grave sincerity.

Messi's eyes were filled with hatred, but he knew the team was on the edge of a disaster. If a massive brawl broke out, not only would Li Mingyu be finished, but other players would face sanctions from the football association. At that point, forget the league title; they might not even hold onto a top-three spot.

Messi suppressed his inner fury and went to his teammates to calm them down.

Under the mediation of both captains, the players returned to their respective halves.

Messi also went to the edge of the stands to urge the frantic fans to calm down.

All eyes were fixed on Li Mingyu, who lay motionless on the grass.

The team doctor and his assistant checked for a long time, then looked at each other in bewilderment.

What the hell!

It was only a minor abrasion!

Could it be that the tackle from behind had only grazed Li Mingyu's standing leg?

That couldn't be right; everyone had seen Li Mingyu sent flying by Olaza's challenge!

After regaining control of the situation, the referee sent Olaza to the locker room with a straight red card.

He also issued a verbal warning to the indignant Barca players.

The punishment for Olaza would certainly not end with just this red card; the football association would never go easy on such a foul, especially one directed at a superstar prospect.

"Li, are you really okay?"

Sandro asked in disbelief.

Li Mingyu had been confused when he was tackled, but after resting for a moment, he realized he really seemed to be fine.

It's the system! Li Mingyu suddenly realized.

[Host is bound to Camp Nou. When playing in this stadium, the host's condition is always at maximum, and injury resistance is always at maximum value.]

Haha, no wonder his form was always so good at home, and maximum injury resistance meant he was virtually immune to injury while playing on home turf.

That kick just now would have likely ended the career of any ordinary player.

Yet, for Li Mingyu, who was playing on his home turf, it resulted in nothing more than a minor scrape.

Even so, the team doctor, having witnessed the scene, decided to carry Li Mingyu off on a stretcher just to be safe.

On the sidelines, a frantic Koeman hurried over to ask about the extent of the injury.

Sandro stammered, unsure of how to explain the situation.

Under the shocked gaze of the entire stadium, Li Mingyu stood up from the stretcher and hopped twice on the ground.

In an instant, the entire Camp Nou was once again submerged in joy.

The crowd showered Li Mingyu with applause for his narrow escape.

However, a still-terrified Koeman immediately substituted Li Mingyu out of the match.