La Gazzetta dello Sport soon revealed Barbara's plans: "Barbara has set out to find a wizard who can break Inter Milan's curse. We should have an answer soon."
Avvenire, the most prominent member of the Italian Catholic Press Association, issued a strongly worded statement: "Since the ancient Greek Olympic Games of 776 BC, sports have been developing for 2,780 years. Football is the most popular sport in the world. Showing passion and striving on the pitch is part of humanity's pursuit of beauty. In light of this, we stress that any human interference is inappropriate. For pagans to use such dirty methods against a footballer is barbaric, unacceptable, repugnant, and blasphemous. If this is not remedied and corrected soon, everyone involved will be punished."
They didn't care whether it was true or not. At a time like this, making their presence felt was a good thing.
After two industrial revolutions, the Vatican's standing in Europe had grown increasingly awkward. Once, it could interfere in dynastic succession and the accession of kings. Later, it had been reduced to a mascot: politicians brought it out when they needed it and ignored it when they didn't.
They had long been looking for a way to make their presence felt.
The player's curse was just the perfect opening.
And by not having someone powerful make a definitive statement, they'd have a way out if things went wrong.
Otherwise, what would they do if they brought in a cardinal and still couldn't break the "curse" on Huang Kaiwen?
That statement also made people across Italy—and Europe as a whole—accept the story as true.
Huang Kaiwen hadn't expected things to develop this way.
All this superstitious nonsense really did have an audience in Europe. If he brought some kind of religion over from Korea, or found a few people with experience in pyramid schemes to help promote it, he might actually be able to swindle quite a few people.
On October 3, AC Milan hosted Reggina.
Huang Kaiwen was put on the bench.
Ancelotti wasn't sure whether Huang Kaiwen would get injured again.
Things had already gotten into the realm of theology. There wasn't much a football manager could do about that.
Ancelotti planned to wait until the game was nearly over before putting Huang Kaiwen on to see how he did.
Not long after kickoff, Kaka made a long-distance run into the opposition's half and slipped a through ball forward. Shevchenko beat the offside trap and easily slotted it past the keeper.
After that, the game looked intense, and Milan created plenty of chances, but they couldn't find the net again.
In the 67th minute of the second half, Shevchenko returned the favor with a layoff. Kaka fired a long-range screamer and changed the score once more.
Ancelotti looked over at Huang Kaiwen. After hesitating for a long while, he finally said, "Kevin, Filippo, get up and warm up."
Looking at his expectation value of 100, Huang Kaiwen decided to draw a card.
[ Ding! You obtained a single-match experience card for Caniggia in Atalanta vs. Juventus, 1989–1990 season. ]
Whoa,
Huang Kaiwen hadn't expected to get so lucky.
Wasn't Caniggia the "Son of the Wind," Maradona's great partner?
But he didn't forget to get up and warm up.
Just as Huang Kaiwen took off his jacket and stood, Ancelotti called out to him.
The Milan manager pulled a necklace with a cross hanging from it out of his pocket and handed it over mysteriously. "A little gift. They say it's a holy relic. I hope it keeps you safe today."
"Thanks."
Huang Kaiwen took it wordlessly, put it around his neck, and tucked it beneath his jersey.
The fourth official pretended not to notice.
The poor guy had already been cursed. Was he really not allowed to wear a cross too? Where was the humanity in that?
Players weren't normally allowed to wear accessories during a football match, but Huang Kaiwen's situation was too unusual. The fourth official was afraid that if he stopped Huang Kaiwen from wearing the necklace and Huang Kaiwen got injured, the story would be exposed.
The consequences would be serious. Better to avoid trouble and pretend not to see.
Huang Kaiwen felt two necklaces hanging around his neck and grimaced.
He was already wearing the Lucky White Tiger Tooth, so he might as well wear another one. Ancelotti had meant well, after all.
"Oh, Kevin and Inzaghi are getting ready to come on. It seems this gifted player hasn't been beaten by the curse. He really is brave!"
The fans at San Siro gave him a warm round of applause, repeatedly chanting Huang Kaiwen's name.
Rui Costa hugged Huang Kaiwen and patted him on the back without saying a word.
Huang Kaiwen played along, lowering his head to touch the grass. When he stood, he made the sign of the cross, touching his chest, then his shoulders.
Another round of applause followed.
In Europe, having no religious faith was scarier than being a criminal. In their eyes, someone like that had no sense of reverence. By contrast, the devout were always more well-liked. Just look at Kaka.
Quite a few female Milan fans had already started crying.
Look at those awful Inter Milan players. What had they done to their poor Kevin?
Kevin looked pretty good now, sure, but they preferred the spirited young man who had juggled the ball at San Siro for the first time.
After exchanging a high five with Kaka, Huang Kaiwen sprinted to the right flank.
Gattuso was on the left today.
Play resumed, and Andrea Pirlo took the ball from the back.
Cafu advanced with the ball on the right. When he came under pressure, he immediately chipped a pass to Huang Kaiwen up ahead.
Huang Kaiwen felt great.
Caniggia had been a winger, and a speedster at that.
The instant he received the ball, he took off down the right touchline at full speed. The advertising boards seemed to fly backward. Even Kaka, who had been keeping a close eye on the right flank, was amazed by Huang Kaiwen's pace.
"That's incredible speed! Kevin is so fast! I think he could run 10.5 seconds—or no, he might even break 10 seconds. I finally understand why Ancelotti signed Kevin after seeing him charge onto the field and kick the ball around just a few times. No manager could turn down a player like that," the Italian commentator exclaimed in astonishment.
Reggina defender Zamboni's head was spinning.
The team was playing a 3-5-2, with only three defenders at the back.
He couldn't just let Huang Kaiwen run past.
But when he moved across to cover the right flank and tried to stop Huang Kaiwen with his body, Huang Kaiwen held his ground, nudging the ball several meters ahead.
Huang Kaiwen accelerated and darted around Zamboni along the touchline.
By the time he caught up with the ball again, he had left Zamboni behind. He kept tearing forward, leaving his opponent further and further back. His explosive speed sent the Milan fans into a frenzy.
"It's like he passed it to himself three seconds later!"
The Italian commentator couldn't help but shout in amazement.
He was unbelievably fast!
It hadn't been so obvious before, but this time Huang Kaiwen knocked the ball past his opponent and ran around him on the outside of the touchline. The sheer pace and acceleration with which he left his opponent in the dust were impossible to miss.
Ah, I went out for dinner today, so the update was a little late. Sorry, sorry!
Before you continue