Full-time master: I have a spirit behind me.

"I'm not exactly a founding member of the Embers anymore, am I?" Chu Yunxiu, sitting in the duty room, was taken aback.

"But Captain Chu is still a member of the league's golden generation, an indelible and glorious generation in the league," Old Zhao said with a cheerful smile.

At this point, Chu Yunxiu's face fell: "Why does it feel like you're saying I'm old?"

"Huh? No, no, no!"

"Damn it, I'm asking you!" Chu Yunxiu skillfully lit a cigarette and glared fiercely at Old Zhao: "Is twenty-nine years old old?"

"No, no, no, Captain Chu looks only eighteen." Cold sweat dripped down Old Zhao's forehead. He felt that if he said the wrong thing, he might not be able to leave this room!

"My family keeps pressuring me to get married, I need a partner! Do I not want to get married? Yes, I just don't want to, so what!" Chu Yunxiu sighed. "What's so good about marriage? Look at my sister and Xiao Wen… uh, look at your Xiao Liu and Lao Zhang… look at Da Sun and… look…"

"Damn it, what's so great about getting married?!"

It seems like Captain Chu has finished speaking!
Old Zhao wiped the sweat from his brow: "Um, Captain Chu, how about we get back to the interview? Um, you joining Ember..."

"You know I was just fooled." Chu Yunxiu slammed her hand on the table. "Everyone outside says Yu Jin is a good place to retire, but I'll be damned! Don't let me find out who told me that! These old geezers are all so lazy! Sun Zheping comes at six o'clock to lead the youth training camp players in hand exercises, and after that, he can go home at seven to cook dinner for his wife before coming back... Old Wei is a little better after he got married, but before he got married, he and Old Lü took turns staying up all night every day!"
I was hoping to snag a championship or something, but what happened? The old guys retired, and in the following seasons, even the gods didn't dare to share the title! It's a scam, a complete scam!

……

"What happened just now? Did you piss Old Chu off?" Lu Liang looked at Old Zhao, who was still shaken, with some curiosity.

"Well... never mind." Old Zhao sighed. "Captain Lü, did you choose to join the Ember Team because you saw hope of rekindling everything in them?"

"Huh?" Lü Liang was taken aback. "Who said that?"

"Ah? Isn't it?"

"Of course not. I was planning to go back to China back then. After being away for so long, I still think home is the best. Luckily, I ignored those idiots when they said they wanted to immigrate. Now they regret it." Lu Liang said smugly, "Joining Ember was just a coincidence. I happened to know Bai Shu. He said he was going back to China to form a team with his friends and needed me to join."

I was thinking there wouldn't be much to do back in China, maybe becoming a coach would be nice, but when I got back, it was all familiar faces. Old Wei and Old Fang, the two former kingpins of Lanyu, were both there, and they wanted me to play professionally again with them. Can you believe it's exciting...?

Lü Liang laughed, but as he laughed, his expression turned wistful: "At the time, I only had one thought: were they here to make a fool of themselves? A few old guys, plus a kid who just turned down invitations from other teams, and another kid with natural advantages who could easily become an idol—what were they up to? My first reaction was that they absolutely couldn't last. To be honest, at first, my plan was just to hang out with some old acquaintances for a few days and then leave..."

"What changed your mind?" Old Zhao asked in a low voice.

"It's probably because I'm getting older. The more I spend time with people, the more I miss the days on the field." Lü Liang smiled. "Besides, back then everyone was saying that I was defeated by Wang Jiexi in my rookie year. I felt really uncomfortable about it. So I thought, 'You can't go crazy once in your life, right? Let's do it!' And that's how I've been going on."

It wasn't as stirring and passionate as I had imagined, nor as bizarre as I had imagined.

I simply wanted to go back to China and find something to do; that's how the idea was naturally sparked.

Embrace the remaining embers, together trying to ignite new firewood.

It's that simple.

Old Zhao stopped writing, a hint of melancholy on his face.

"It's getting late. I have an appointment with President Cheng for dinner to discuss investment matters. I'll head out now, Lao Zhao. Let's have a drink together tonight." Lu Liang glanced at the time, smiled, and waved.

"Ah good!"

……

"Attracted..." Qiu Fei hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Yes."

Old Zhao's eyes lit up: "Is it that feeling of mutual respect, and then resolutely giving up the inheritance of One Autumn Leaf to join the Ember team, which is currently registering for the challenge?

"Well, there's a slight discrepancy." Qiu Fei shook his head with a smile: "Initially, it was Captain Ye who sent me."

Old Zhao's eyes lit up: "Is this an investment from a senior to a junior?"

"Not exactly." Qiu Fei shook his head: "Initially, it was probably mutually beneficial, right? The challenge schedule was a bit tight, and there wasn't enough room for rotation. My skills had reached a bottleneck, so Captain Ye suggested that I come to Ember to train for a while, and... well, to learn from the seniors."

Although Ye Xiu's original words were that Lü Liang and Lao Wei from Yu Jin's team were quite shameless, and Qiu Fei should learn from them in this regard if he wanted to become an excellent professional player, at that time, Team Excellent Era's performance was not good. Ye Xiu didn't have much time to focus on guiding Qiu Fei, so he simply sent him over to gain experience...

As a result, this experience transformed Qiu Fei into the "Battle Demon," a title that was the counterpart to the Battle God and belonged to Qiu Fei himself.

The Demon Fighter, belonging to the Ember Team.

"I see..." Old Zhao nodded with emotion: "Back then, Captain Qiu probably didn't expect that he would stay with the Ember team and one day become the captain of the Ember team, right?"

"I really didn't think of that." Qiu Fei smiled. "Learning from the seniors and progressing together with the captain and Bai Shu, every day was fulfilling. I was a little dazed when Captain Ye retired, but with everyone's support, I finally let go of all the shackles and constraints."

"Well, if, I mean if," Old Zhao thought for a moment, "if he hadn't come to Ember Team and had stayed with Excellent Era Club, after Ye Xiu left and ruined Excellent Era, would Captain Qiu have joined Happy Team?"

"No." Qiu Fei said seriously, "If such a thing were to happen, I think I would do what Captain Ye did, to take up the banner of Excellent Era again, and in the name of Excellent Era, re-enter the professional league from the Challenger League."

……

"It feels like Brother Zhao hasn't visited Yu Jin in a long time." Li Wen smiled and served Old Zhao a cup of tea.

Finally, there's water to drink! Old Zhao was quite excited; those old guys hadn't even thought about this before!
Old Zhao took a satisfied sip of tea: "Good tea!"

"I don't really know much about this, as long as Brother Zhao is having fun," Li Wen smiled.

Old Zhao thought for a moment, looked at Li Wen, and suddenly laughed: "Captain Li, do you still remember the first time we met?"

“I remember.” Li Wen nodded: “That was when we first started, Brother Zhao came here for a pre-match interview…”

"Yeah, I was furious and started berating Captain Zhang back then, but Captain Sun gave me a piece of his mind." Old Zhao said nostalgically, "I've been pretty afraid of Captain Sun ever since." "Eh? So you were afraid? I'm Boss Wei, you must be talking nonsense." Li Wen laughed.

"Uh... never mind, I'll just pretend I didn't hear it. I'm sure what Wei said wasn't anything nice." Old Zhao laughed. "Thinking about it, it feels like time has flown by. Back then, I was just a junior reporter who had just been promoted. I was exploited by my seniors every day, and they made me run errands for everything. At the time, he was just too lazy to come, so he sent me over."

Looking back now, I realize that my senior was my benefactor!

"Speaking of which, I don't recall ever meeting the important person Brother Zhao keeps talking about." Li Wen thought for a moment, and indeed he hadn't.

"Oh, not long after that, he was reported for spreading rumors about a retired athlete, got embroiled in lawsuits, and was fired." Old Zhao sighed, "Journalists still have to be down-to-earth. Now that there are so many self-media outlets, most of them just start with a picture and then start making up stories."

"Being a good reporter is very tiring," Li Wen said with a smile, pouring himself a cup of tea.

“Who says otherwise? I was just lucky back then. Thanks to Captain Li, Boss Chu, and others, I became the team's reporter for Ember. With experience, I could always get firsthand news, and eventually I rose through the ranks.” Old Zhao laughed. “Now, I can finally take care of others…”

“Taking care of others is also very difficult.” Li Wen nodded seriously: “Speaking of which, I’ve only ever been the one being taken care of by everyone…”

Dear brothers, sisters, Xuejie, seniors in the professional circle, fans and audience...

"Why did Captain Li want to form an Ember Team back then?" Old Zhao asked curiously.

"Back then... it was also to fulfill someone else's wish." Li Wen glanced subconsciously at the lion plush toy on the table; now, it was just an ordinary plush toy. "That person said that the professional league shouldn't be like this—formulaic, template-based, lacking any innovation, with players' mindsets rigid and tactics fixed..."

Those predecessors who retired in disappointment should not be like that either. Their silence was quiet and unnoticed. They should roar, they should shout, and they should sprint towards the trophy again.

They may fall on the road ahead, but they cannot leave with despair.

Li Wen spoke calmly, and Lao Zhao quietly took notes.

"Some people say that you are the lucky star of the professional league. Some players who were originally destined to never win a championship have won the championship they dreamed of after coming to Ember or with your help. What do you think about this?" Old Zhao asked.

“That’s a misconception.” Li Wen shook his head. “I was never the key factor. I was just an excuse, giving them a reason to fight again.”

As long as they are willing, as long as they want, they will eventually go back even without me.

We're just sticking together for warmth.

"The team that created the first dynasty in Glory history says they're just sticking together for warmth... I'll get scolded if I write that, Captain Li." Old Zhao chuckled.

“But that’s the truth.” Li Wen laughed. “When we first joined the alliance, didn’t many people say we were old, weak, sick, and disabled…”

Old Zhao was somewhat speechless; back then, that sound was indeed quite loud.

"Just like what Brother Ye said after the World Invitational Tournament that year, the trophy of Glory is very heavy, and no one can lift it without the help of others." Li Wen said seriously, "Just like how Glory has never been a game for one person alone."

The pioneering spirit of our predecessors, the current hard work, and the hopes of our successors—from the past to the present and into the future… this spirit of glory will never be extinguished.

If this flame dies down, another, and the next, or even more embers will appear and reignite them.

There are no eternal champions, nor are there ever absolutely prosperous dynasties, just like the former Excellent Era, or like the current Ember.

No one can win forever...

Old Zhao put down his pen; his interview was over. Now, all he wanted to do was chat with Li Wen and have some tea.

Outside the door, the orange-haired boy smiled. The child he had watched grow up since he was a child had completely grown up.

Tsk, what a pity. It will probably be several more years before I can get an exclusive interview. This is a loss for Lao Zhao!

……

"Has Xiao Zhao left?" Chu Xue led Li Xue in and extended her other hand.

“Yeah, Brother Zhao just left not long ago…” Li Wen lowered his chin and rubbed it.

Li Xue's eyes lit up, and she stood on tiptoe and stretched out her hand, but her mother subtly slapped it down. Li Xue glared at Chu Xue, while Chu Xue simply raised a smug smile on her lips.

"Oh, right, Boss Wei said it's rare for everyone to be here today, so we're having dinner together tonight." Li Wen sat up and smiled, "He said we're having a barbecue on the kindergarten rooftop, Xiaoxue, do you want to come along?"

"want!"

"If you're sleepy, you're not allowed to make a fuss about going home."

"Then Daddy will have to carry me home..."

"Mom will get drunk tonight." Chu Xue shook her head. "You'll have to walk back by yourself."

"do not want!"

Li Wen smiled, took Chu Xue's hand, picked up Li Xue, and walked out of the office.

"I was just about to call you, let's go, Xiao Wen!" Old Wei waved from the other side.

Zhang Jiale and Sun Zheping stood to the side watching Bai Shu and Fang Rui argue again for some unknown reason. Lü Liang muttered something and loosened his tie. Fang Shijing, wearing a white coat, shrugged and said something to Lü Liang. Lin Jingyan walked along while listening to Chu Yunxiu's complaints. Qiu Fei turned his head to look at the sunset outside the window.

The setting sun shone on the orange hair at the forefront, casting a gentle glow, just like the young man in that alley back then, speaking to the crying child.

He laughed and said, "Let's go!" (End of Chapter)