Chapter 56: The Second Man to Make Old Trafford Rise and Applaud
1:4!
The score on the stadium LED — 1:4 — looked so bloodied and raw.
Ferguson's face had gone ashen and he roared, "You bastards, do you want me to send you back to the youth team for retraining?"
After the hairdryer,
United's next restart was steadier and less frantic.
But Arsenal's momentum had already built.
In the 10th minute, Santi Cazorla and Mikel Arteta both pressed Ashley Young and cut out the ball.
Arteta launched a long pass into the box.
Xia Qi surged in front of Rio Ferdinand and jumped again.
"You dare come? I'll elbow back!"
That was the mood.
Ferdinand did elbow him, but knowing the whole stadium watched, he didn't dare strike as heavily as before.
When Ferdinand tried to be sneaky again, Arsenal fans roared: "Elbow him!" "Elbow the son of a bitch!"
The AI has no emotions and won't retaliate like humans do — a strength and a weakness.
In the air, Xia Qi didn't strike back; instead he fought to hang on and extend his hang time.
"You're so soft — hit him back!"
"Hit him!"
"Punch him!"
"Feign balance then slap him in the face!"
"Swing your arm!"
"Red or yellow card is a man's medal — what are you afraid of?"
Xia Qi's restraint made Arsenal fans ache — they all knew Xia Qi wasn't weak; a coward wouldn't stand there after being elbowed and still face the fight.
They only hated that life punished the honest.
Xia Qi's restraint infuriated Rio Ferdinand to the point of madness.
"Damn it, you have no shame, huh?"
Ferdinand irrationally grabbed Xia Qi's arm and yanked him down.
That's human weakness — a lack of composure.
He should have focused on the ball — this is a football match.
Both men fell,
Ferdinand hit the turf and then quickly rose.
But the AI still had its mission.
Xia Qi, stumbling to his feet, pushed off with his hands, hunched forward and staggered on!
The two showed the contrast in ability.
"Idiot!" Ferguson snarled from the sideline.
From his view, Xia Qi limped forward with the fighting light of a Red Devil — a successor to Eric Cantona or Roy Keane, perhaps?
"Damn Mancini — he sold my kid to Arsenal!"
"Shit!"
"Crap!"
…
"Danger!"
"Xia Qi!"
"Danger! Watch out!"
"Xia Qi! Go!"
United and Arsenal fans belatedly realized Xia Qi's effort and began shouting in alarm and encouragement.
The ball hopped on the turf near Xia Qi…
Evra, Evans…
Podolski…
Everyone rushed for it; even the fallen Rio Ferdinand scrambled up.
A critical moment!
The AI no longer tried to maintain Xia Qi's balance but had him plant his legs and, with a spray of turf behind, launch himself forward.
He slid along the turf!
The friction and sting on his face and body came through.
Xia Qi's mind bizarrely slipped to: is it true that beauty pairs with the ugly man?
"Ah!…"
"God!"
"Xia Qi!" (breaking voice)
It was insane!
It was burning!
For a goal he truly risked everything!
This is a real man!
Sliding on the grass, Xia Qi lifted his head, leaned back, whipped his head, and astonishingly used his face to strike the ball!
The ball flew toward the goal along with a smear of crimson…
David de Gea dived rapidly, but the ball struck by Xia Qi's face had as much speed as if booted by a foot; de Gea's save came a beat late!
De Gea must have wondered: does Xia Qi know that face belongs to himself?
The ball crossed the line before de Gea could stop it!
1:5!
Five goals in nine minutes!
"Nine minutes, five goals — Xia Qi has gone mad tonight, achieving a once-in-history Nine-Five Supreme!"
Zhan Jun misspoke; three years later a Polish player also completed a Nine-Five Supreme.
Old Trafford erupted in thunderous applause.
This applause wasn't just for the supreme goalscorer Xia Qi, but for the tenacious fighter Xia Qi!
"Xia Qi!"
"Xia Qi earned a standing ovation — he's the second man since Ronaldo to conquer Old Trafford…"
Manchester United fans, players, Sir Alex… were stunned.
Too brutal,
Truly shameless!
Too savage!
Only eleven minutes in, they hadn't taken their seats properly and it was 1:5!
How is this different from saying the match's outcome is decided?
The so-called top-of-the-table contest was a joke!
Fans who had once mocked Ronaldo in this stadium felt they owed him an apology.
In truth,
Humans are the most brutal species in the universe!
They apologized for their past shallowness.
…
Football hit him in the face??
Ahem, ahem,
A face smacked by the ball, nose bleeding and smeared across the face, did not change Xia Qi's expression.
A unique nine-minute five-goal spree did not change his expression.
Old Trafford's standing ovation did not change his expression.
Just as United fans thought Xia Qi was a poker-faced tough guy, he stepped off the pitch and a flurry of emotions crossed his face: pain, fear, anger, pride — even a hint of shyness.
Can one face hold so many expressions?
Is this world real?
…
On the sideline sporting staff treated Xia Qi; the cameras closed in.
Up close, his injury looked "serious" — nose bleeding still and clamped, small cuts that aren't visible on regular broadcast now exposed.
What made Xia Qi's supporters furious was that when he lifted his shirt his left waist was bruised — a mark from Ferdinand's grab. The elbow blows were internal injuries, easily overlooked.
"Real grit!"
Ferguson glanced at the LED screen and remarked.
"Like our player."
"You think he should be one of ours?"
"Of course, boss — don't you think he reminds you of Cantona? Art in the midst of dominance, dominance filled with artistry!"
"Arsenal won't sell him — at least not to us — unless… Gary, check his agent…"
On Arsenal's bench:
"Xia, want to rest next?"
"Boss, Rebecca says I can play on."
"But wearing a mask is inconvenient."
"Head coach, without a comeback it isn't a Red Devil! Although my teammates are fabulous and we lead by four, I want to fight with them — we've been humped three times already!"
Minutes later, wearing a protective mask, Xia Qi stood at the touchline waiting to come on.
Old Trafford rose again in applause!
"At the 30th minute, after treatment, Xia Qi returns wearing a mask. The score is still 1:5."
(END CHAPTER)
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