Wang Tu was a lone cultivator who only joined a sect in his twilight years. His passion in life, above all else, was football. It all started in his childhood. He was born in a remote and poor village. His parents died of a mysterious disease leaving him orphaned and destitute with no way to fend for himself. Luckily for him a caravan stopped by and he was taken in as an apprentice by a leatherworker. He traveled with the caravan until they were ambushed by mountain bandits. Wang Tu's mentor was brutally murdered by the bandits in the battle that followed. Miraculously Wang Tu survived by hiding in their cargo, a huge pile of footballs. In the morning when the bandits were asleep after having either murdered or captured everyone, Wang Tu escaped by kicking a football in the head of the bandit standing guard and running into the woods nearby. His life was saved by footballs not once, but twice. A ball and his foot was all that stood between a dreadful roulette of life, death, or enslavement and the ball landed on life.
Dave yawned. "Yeah that's cool and all but I really don't need to hear his entire life story."
Dong Yao nodded. "Okay captain, I'll get to the point. Wang Tu studied football in secluded cultivation for most of his life. Only when his lifespan was nearing its end did he travel in search for a method to extend his lifespan, and that's how he ended up joining our sect."
"Didn't you say he died of old age?"
"Well yeah. Lifespan extension methods are extremely costly. Wang Tu was only a football coach so there's no way they would expend such a vast amount of resources on him."
So this guy was like a cultivation gym teacher? That's fucking stupid.
"If the sect couldn't help him why didn't he search for lifespan extension methods somewhere else?"
"I think it was his love for football. If he stayed here he could coach a team and pass down his extensive knowledge of football as his inheritance. But if he continued traveling he would in all likelihood simply die in the wilderness. His cultivation was on the level of a beginner because he only studied football after all."
Was this guy actually just an idiot? "Ok… He must have been a really good coach then."
And then, Dong Yao cleared his throat, awkwardly explaining: "Err… Well… The thing is… By the time he came here was extremely old and dementia was beginning to set in, so he actually forgot most of his football mastery. He was sort of alright…"
"Oh my god… That's actually just sad."
"Yeah. But his eyes lit up when he spoke of us winning the tourney and taking home the cup. He was so passionate you could tell he truly loved football more than anything. If we managed to win even once while he was coaching us, I think it would have made his dedication to football all worth it in the end."
"Yeah, he tried so hard," Dave looked over his shoulder towards Genevieve who was conversing with her gloomy companion. He would much rather talk to her but felt compelled by social norms to not just abandon Dong Yao mid tale. "and got so far…"
"But in the end?" Tears rolled down Dong Yao's rosy cheeks, crashing into the cruel soil much like the soil covering Wang Tu's casket in a graveyard.
"It doesn't…." Dave looked at Dong Yao with a light smirk, as if he was expecting him to finish the sentence for him. "It doesn't even…"
"It doesn't even come close to fulfilling his dreams!"
"Oh… Never mind that then... Dong Yao, you," he pointed dramatically at Dong Yao, "you were the captain for all the years Wang Tu coached you guys. I think if Wang Tu was still around he would blame you for losing."
"That's the bitter truth isn't it. The cold and bitter truth… Thank you… Captain Dave. Thank you," Dong Yao, wiping the tears with his sleeve, hid his face not wanting to make it obvious that he was crying, but it was obvious because he was crying. "No one else is willing to say it because they care too much about my feelings. But it's true! I am the one who failed Wang Tu most of all! It was my fault he died without ever seeing it come home! Waaaaaaaaaah!"
At this point Dave silently prayed that Dong Yao had at least one friend on the team who would be summoned by the wails to console him. Looking to the left, looking to the right, no one did. Genevieve covered her mouth in surprise, making Dave's brain and heart both skip a beat, because what is a troubled woman if not an opportunity for a man to look good.
My heart will freeze over like hell before I actually feel bad for Dong Yao. I haven't forgotten he tried to frame me for not booking the field.
Slinging an arm over his shoulder, Dave pulled him to his side and said "Wang Tu is surely looking down from heaven right now. If he saw you crying, what would he think? That you have given up all hope? Dong Yao, this cup is a chance to redeem yourself and bring Wang Tu peace in the afterlife. His soul will rest easy when it sees you lifting the trophy victoriously. So, Dong Yao, why don't you become captain again and lead this team to victory entirely by yourself to show Wang Tu how much you care."
"Waaaaahhh! You're too kind brother Dave! Waaaaaahhhhh! You are truly fit to be our captain!" Dong Yao cried as he embraced Dave, who at the last moment tried and failed to slither away.
"Ough! Get off m–" just as he was about to use force, Dave saw Genevieve. She looked touched by the emotional display.
Bing Feng wept openly, praising Dave all the while. "Such a great person! How blessed we are!"