The Urban Medical Martial Immortal

Chapter 1425: Chapter 1418: Free Agent

”That kid was actually noticed by Minister Tan, seems like he must have some talent in playing football!”

”So what if he was noticed? If he goes on the field later, he’s definitely going to get wrecked by Liu Zhenlong, that tall center forward!”

”This kid won’t escape this time! Even if he chickens out and doesn’t play, he won’t escape Liu Zhenlong’s revenge afterward...”

...

As Liu Zhenlong walked back, a lot of people in the stands began to buzz and whisper again.

”Are you scared?”

Tan Ye looked at Liu Zhenlong walking away, his expression slightly relaxed, and turned his head to Lin Tian.

Having offended Liu Zhenlong, Tan Ye had no way to help out now.

To go against Liu Zhenlong head-on, he’s just evenly matched with the opponent, maybe even both would be injured, and he still couldn’t protect Lin Tian.

Besides, for a newcomer club member, he has no obligation to protect him.

”Scared? Just a clown jumping on the stage!”

Lin Tian shook his head and smiled with composure.

”Alright, your matters, I won’t get involved, this is a school!”

Tan Ye gave Lin Tian a deep look, nodded, and said, ”You’re now a substitute for the reserve team! Hmm... Our club usually has two teams, the first team and the reserve team. The first team usually plays in matches against Western Medical College’s club or other schools in University City, and your reserve team trains and competes with the first team to improve your skills! Usually, I lead the reserve team, supervising you to improve...”

After briefly explaining, Tan Ye pointed to the substitute bench on the right side of the football field and continued, ”Go change your clothes and wait at the substitute bench!”

”I don’t have a jersey yet...”

Lin Tian was a bit stunned, shook his head, and said, ”I’m fine like this, if I can go up, it’s just to get used to it!”

”Alright! Go on then!”

Tan Ye didn’t insist. In his eyes, Lin Tian was a member with great potential and should be nurtured carefully, no rush.

After Tan Ye left, Nian Ziqi widened her beautiful eyes, full of excitement, clenched her fist, and shouted to Lin Tian, ”Lin Tian, you must go up later, we’ll cheer for you!”

”Class President, don’t forget me! When I get a chance to play in the future, you have to cheer for me too!”

Xiao Feiyuan said from the side, finally giving Nian Ziqi a wink.

As for Lin Tian being threatened by Liu Zhenlong, since witnessing Lin Tian’s skills, Xiao Feiyuan felt reassured. As for Liu Zhenlong, he just sneered coldly, without any worry.

Lin Tian patted Xiao Feiyuan’s head and then stepped towards the reserve team’s substitute bench.

There were already four people sitting on the substitute bench.

When they saw Lin Tian coming over, their brows furrowed, and their expressions showed some displeasure.

The reserve team’s substitutes had already covered the positions of center forward, winger, midfielder, and defender, which was enough.

Now with one more person, it meant competition for a position.

”Classmate, are you new here? Minister just told us, you’re a freshman named Lin Tian? I’m Zhao Lei, a substitute center forward for the reserve team!”

One of the taller youths among the four greeted Lin Tian proactively.

The others also looked over, examining him.

”I’m Yin Zhengyang, substitute winger!”

The one with a smaller build greeted Lin Tian along.

On the football field, wingers are generally responsible for side breakthroughs and crossing. They usually have good technique, nimble bodies, outstanding foot skills, and are good at dribbling.

”Xiang Cheng, organizing midfielder!”

Another youth with a very typical build also spoke.

An organizing midfielder, often known as the metronome, can maneuver, defend, organize, and more in the midfield, one of the cores of a team!

And finally, a taller youth nodded, ”I’m a substitute defender, Pang Qi! Classmate, what position are you substituting for?”

What position?

Lin Tian was a bit perplexed.

He only knew the basic football rules, like no handball and no fouling in the box, just to kick the ball into the goal.

But about specific positions, he had no idea.

After a moment of confusion, Lin Tian sat down beside them and helplessly said, ”Minister Tan hasn’t told me what position I’ll be playing!”

Hearing this, all four visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

Beep beep~

At this moment, the referee’s whistle sounded from the field.

The match between the first team and the reserve team had begun.

Only then did Lin Tian notice that Tan Ye was the goalkeeper, temporarily serving as the reserve team’s goalkeeper.

Once the match started, the skill gap between the reserve team and the first team immediately became evident.

The opening possession belonged to the reserve team, but as soon as they tried to pass it forward, a forward from the first team, Liu Zhenlong, snatched it away.

As the vice-minister of the Football Club and the starting center forward of the first team, Liu Zhenlong’s skills were undeniable.

Throughout University City, he was well-known in the football circles!

His dribbling, shooting, headers, etc., ranked in the top ten in the various football clubs in University City.

Especially his long shots and headers, they were a headache for opponents who had played against Yanjing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s Football Club first team.

Headers were Liu Zhenlong’s strong suit, with very few defenders able to stop them.

The only thing to do was to cut off wingers’ crossing opportunities!

However, Liu Zhenlong’s dribbling skills were no less formidable. If he got to the top of the penalty arc, his long shots had an 80% accuracy and a 50% chance of scoring!

That was truly terrifying!

At this moment.

Liu Zhenlong intercepted the ball from the reserve team’s player and sprinted like a gust of wind, passing two defenders in a row, reaching the penalty arc.

As the goalkeeper, Tan Ye’s expression tensed, eyes focused.

Bang~

Liu Zhenlong evaded the defenders and unleashed a powerful shot.

Fortunately, Tan Ye was focused, diving to the side and securing the ball firmly.

”Stay focused!”

Tan Ye shouted at the reserve team and then threw the ball out.

The reserve team continued their attack.

However.

The match’s situation continued to be one-sided.

Throughout the first half, the first team maintained a 70% possession rate and took fifteen direct shots.

Especially Tan Ye, he faced off with Liu Zhenlong several times directly.

The reserve team’s defenders felt as if they were made of paper, unable to stop Liu Zhenlong, who shot about ten times, scoring three goals!

If not for Tan Ye’s performance, it wouldn’t just have been three goals that simple.

At the end of the first half, the reserve team members walked off the field, all dispirited.

”Alright, everyone don’t feel discouraged! After all, your skills naturally have a gap compared to the first team members, this is already not bad!”

Tan Ye clapped his hands, encouraging the reserve team members present, then he looked at Pang Qi and said, ”Pang Qi, you’re going up in the second half, keep a solid defense! At the very least, don’t lose too badly! No matter what, winning or losing isn’t important, the key is to know your weaknesses to improve!”

Hearing this, Pang Qi’s face lit up with joy, eager and excited.

Other reserve team members nodded, though their expressions were not pretty, they could somewhat accept it.

At this moment, Tan Ye walked over and sat next to Lin Tian, looking at the field, and said in a low voice, ”Mr. Lin, your footwork shouldn’t be weak, at least for shooting, few can block that force! Later in the second half, if I ask for a substitution, that’s when you’re going on the field, you can play freely! That means, you are a free player on the field. You just need to feel right, you can take up any position, as long as you don’t make basic fatal mistakes!”

A free player?

Lin Tian didn’t fully understand, but he could grasp the main point: as long as he could win the match, he could position himself anywhere, then he nodded, indicating his understanding.