Meanwhile.
In Chen Mo's livestream.
[If I remember correctly, Teacher Mo only started training Pichu during the livestreams after entering Evergreen Forest, right? Which means that by then, Teacher Mo had probably already changed his way of thinking.]
[Honestly, after hearing this story, the image of Teacher Mo in my heart gained a tiny flaw… but for some reason, I like him even more now.]
[It's actually pretty simple. Whether Teacher Mo stopped his Pokémon from training in the beginning, or later trained together with them, both came from his love for Pikachu and the others. The only difference was the way he expressed that love.]
[Admiration is the emotion furthest from understanding. Teacher Mo feels much more approachable and real now.]
[Heh, the guy saying Teacher Mo's image now has a flaw—did you forget how many streams Teacher Mo used to ditch on us?]
[If you go back and watch Teacher Mo's early streams, you'll realize he was actually an extremely laid-back and casual person. He'd go into the wilderness to teach people about Pokémon while carrying a hotpot with him, treating it like a vacation. If he got tired, he'd just rest without caring about the audience at all. But honestly, that grounded personality was exactly why I started liking him.]
[Same here. I started liking Mo-bao back then too. But ever since Mo-bao became Teacher Mo, I rarely see that lazy and carefree side anymore. I heard from people in Anping City that these days you can apparently see Teacher Mo leading his Pokémon in morning training near a park every day…]
[That's normal. Teacher Mo is no longer just someone teaching us basic Pokémon knowledge. The things he carries on his shoulders are definitely far heavier than we can imagine. Otherwise, how do you think he managed to stop such a huge disaster back at Mount Zangqing? It's because both he and his Pokémon put in tremendous effort.]
[Poor Teacher Mo. I hope one day there'll be more trainers who can fight alongside him against all kinds of difficulties.]
[Isn't that basically talking about me? One of the reasons I signed up for the Pikachu Cup is so I can become stronger and help Brother Mo in the future.]
One of the purposes behind hosting the Pikachu Cup, just as the Charmander trainer Gao Tianming had said, was to show the entire country—and even the world—the bond between humans and Pokémon, proving the possibilities that existed between them.
Another important purpose was to discover trainers with potential.
Although the Pikachu Cup had only just begun, and although there had already been bizarre battles like Metapod versus Metapod that left people laughing helplessly, Chen Mo was already quite satisfied with what the tournament had displayed so far.
Potential did not equal immediate combat strength.
As the organizer of the Pikachu Cup, aside from evaluating a trainer's battle awareness and skill, what Chen Mo valued even more was the trainer's attitude toward Pokémon, the bond displayed during battle, and the conduct shown after the battle ended.
Since beginning the livestream commentary at eight in the morning, Chen Mo had already commentated on more than twenty matches over the course of nearly two hours. The trainers and Pokémon varied wildly in strength.
However.
The bonds displayed between the trainers and their Pokémon had given Chen Mo many pleasant surprises.
Compared to the original Pokémon world, this world was still far behind in terms of trainer culture and Pokémon culture.
But in this conflicted era, anyone willing to approach Pokémon proactively, or even risk danger to capture one, undoubtedly possessed a love for Pokémon that, in Chen Mo's eyes, was no less genuine than that of trainers in the original world.
As long as they continued forward with that attitude, this world would eventually catch up to that one.
That was also why Chen Mo did not mind personally shattering the halo surrounding himself.
He did not need people to worship him like some god.
What Chen Mo needed were comrades who could stand and fight beside him in the future. By using himself as an example, he hoped to inspire these still-inexperienced newcomers, helping them mature quickly enough to shoulder this world's future.
Without question.
Chen Mo's story and his words caused a tremendous stir among the crowd.
The crowd buzzed noisily. Just as the livestream comments had said, after Chen Mo personally shattered his own flawless image, the trainers did not feel disillusioned. Instead, they felt a sense of closeness.
There were no saints in this world.
At least, Chen Mo was not one.
Yet everyone was willing to follow the ideal world Chen Mo described like a banner guiding them forward.
"Don't deny yourself…"
Wan Yushu muttered softly while holding Snubbull in his arms.
As he looked at Snubbull, Snubbull looked back at him.
Amid the noisy crowd, the man and Pokémon somehow felt an unusual sense of peace.
At that moment—
A voice sounded beside Wan Yushu's ear.
"Looks like you understand now."
Wan Yushu hurriedly raised his head to look at Chen Mo. Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, he bowed slightly in gratitude.
"Thank you, Teacher Mo."
Then Wan Yushu looked up again with a smile.
"I don't really understand all the big principles, but staying trapped in self-pity won't solve anything. And… I can tell that Snubbull really didn't like the way I acted just now."
"Mhm."
Chen Mo nodded, gently stroking the Pikachu on his shoulder before softly asking,
"Do you know why Pichu secretly trained behind my back back then?"
"Huh… why?"
Wan Yushu looked puzzled. He had genuinely never thought deeply about that question.
The surrounding trainers also quieted down after hearing it, while Gao Tianming, the Charmander trainer, quickly leaned closer with curiosity written all over his face.
Facing all those eyes fixed on him, Chen Mo smiled faintly.
"Actually, I already said it at the very beginning of the story. The young man had a distant dream, and Pichu—as well as the other Pokémon—wanted to help him achieve that dream."
Everyone froze slightly.
Realizing something, Wan Yushu glanced at the Snubbull in his arms. The pink Pokémon immediately turned its head aside, and for once, a trace of shyness actually appeared on its face.
Chen Mo smiled softly.
"Even though Snubbull carried fear in its heart, it still chose to fight until the very end. And the reason was you. Because at that moment, your wish had also become its wish."
"Never forget this: humans and Pokémon have always been of one heart and mind. How far you can go in the future depends on how much you trust your Pokémon."
Chen Mo gently patted Wan Yushu's shoulder.
The surrounding trainers all looked down at their own Pokémon, thoughtful expressions appearing on their faces.
"One heart and mind…"
Gao Tianming stared into Charmander's bright eyes as a faint realization rose within him.
At the same time, Wan Yushu recalled the words he had spoken to Snubbull before battling Gible earlier that day.
[I've always believed in you.]
Wan Yushu slowly clenched his fists before gradually relaxing them again.
He gently stroked Snubbull's head, his voice warm and gentle.
"I'm sorry, Snubbull. My resolve just wasn't firm enough. I hope you can trust me one more time. Next battle… we definitely won't lose again."
"Bulu…"
Snubbull stared at Wan Yushu quietly for a long while.
Then—
It stuck out its red tongue and gently licked his face.
The surrounding trainers all burst into laughter at the sight.
The livestream viewers were equally emotional.
[After this defeat, the bond between this guy Wan Yushu and Snubbull will probably become even stronger.]
[As expected of Teacher Mo. His counseling skills are really something else.]
[More than that—I feel like Teacher Mo's counseling skills have improved way more compared to the beginning. He's basically at the level of a life mentor now.]
[Mainly because Teacher Mo has experienced so much more now. Combined with his words, it naturally becomes much more moving.]
More and more trainers arrived at the Pokémon Medical Center.
Some had rushed over after hearing Chen Mo was here to join the excitement, while even more came to treat Pokémon injured during battle.
After expressing his thoughts, Chen Mo began guiding the gathered trainers away from the medical center.
Only after order had mostly returned did Chen Mo finally turn his gaze toward the bearded shop owner, Xiao You, and the few Pokémon hiding behind them who had been watching the entire time.
"Sorry for troubling you and Xiao You to bring Gible over for treatment. Thank you so much."
"No problem at all."
The bold and easygoing bearded owner waved his hand dismissively.
After offering a simple thanks, Chen Mo quickly focused his attention on the true target of this visit.
"Geh-gui…"
gengar's body instinctively began sinking downward, and soon half of it had already disappeared into the ground.
"If you dare sneak away now, then don't bother coming back ever again."
A calm voice sounded overhead.
gengar's body stiffened instantly.
Though it normally had no concept of cold, at this moment it felt a chill shoot straight to the top of its head. Terrified, it hurriedly stretched out both arms and desperately pulled itself back out of the ground.
The whole movement looked ridiculously comical.
But—
Absol and Gible standing nearby did not dare show even the slightest hint of laughter. Their nerves were stretched tight, panic filling their hearts.
"gengar."
"Geh-gui!" (Present!)
No one knew where it learned it from—or maybe it was simply instinct—but the moment gengar heard Chen Mo call its name, it immediately straightened its chest, placed its short little arms stiffly at its sides, and stood there exactly like a misbehaving elementary school student being scolded by a teacher.
Seeing this, Xiao You couldn't help laughing out loud.
gengar rolled its eyes and cast her a deeply resentful glance from the corner of its vision.
Not helping me plead my case is one thing, but you're even laughing at me…
"And what are you staring at Xiao You for?"
"Geh-gui!"
gengar instantly snapped its gaze back forward.
Chen Mo glanced at the three Pokémon of varying sizes before finally looking at gengar and slowly asking,
"Where's Pidgeotto?"
"Geh-gui…" (Went back to take care of Magikarp…)
"So you still remembered the Magikarp at home, huh."
Chen Mo shook his head.
"Geh-gui…"
gengar felt wronged.
Of course it remembered Magikarp.
Originally, only the three Pokémon had gone out together this time, while Pidgeotto stayed home to care for Magikarp. But after entering the city, gengar realized there were simply too many people around. Then while following the map, it somehow got lost.
Left with no choice, gengar had gone back home and asked Pidgeotto—who had the advantage of flying—to escort them over.
Thankfully, they arrived in time and didn't miss the competition.
Of course.
gengar only dared keep those words buried in its heart. Saying them aloud would probably just earn it an even harsher lecture.
Answer only. Don't argue back.
That was the survival strategy gengar had developed after spending so much time around Chen Mo.
Just as gengar prepared to shoulder all responsibility for the incident, it suddenly realized that after asking about Pidgeotto, Chen Mo simply walked over to Gible instead.
This instantly made both gengar and Absol anxious.
At that moment, Xiao You softly spoke to the two Pokémon, temporarily stopping them from rushing forward.
"Don't worry. Big Brother Chen Mo probably won't do anything to Gible."
"Absol?"
Absol looked utterly confused.
But by then, Chen Mo had already crouched down in front of Gible.
He slowly raised a hand.
Gible immediately shut its eyes tightly while simultaneously retracting its Rough Skin defense instinctively.
But contrary to the little shark Pokémon's expectations, the imagined slap never came down.
Instead, that hand gently landed on its dorsal fin and softly stroked it.
"Ka-ao?"
Gible tilted its head in confusion, its big eyes filled with puzzlement.
Then Chen Mo's voice slowly rang out.
"Pikachu already told me everything. I'm sorry… once again, I let my own thoughts influence me and forced them onto you."
"To be honest, Gible, at least at this stage, I don't want you to feel pressured into doing things because of my wishes. I want you to spend this period of your childhood happily and healthily."
"Because… my own childhood wasn't especially happy."
"But those few carefree days I did have remain, even now, among my most precious memories."
"So… I'm really sorry, Gible. I wasn't deliberately ignoring you or refusing to let you train."
Listening to Chen Mo's gentle voice, light flickered within Gible's eyes.
Then, it suddenly avoided Chen Mo's hand, taking several steps backward.
Normally, Gible was always timid and worried. But now, after hearing Chen Mo speak honestly from the heart, it instead became calm.
"Ka-ao ka-ao!" (As long as I'm with you, I'm already happy!)
Gible's expression turned serious.
Finally.
Finally, it had gathered the courage to directly tell Chen Mo what it truly felt.
"Ka-ao, ka-ao ka-ao."
Chen Mo froze slightly, his expression filled with both guilt and relief.
Happiness practically overflowed from Gible's eyes.
As long as I'm together with all of you, I can do anything. I can achieve anything!
I don't want to keep waiting anymore. I want to participate in battles. I want to grow stronger. I want to achieve that dream together with you and everyone else.
Your wish had long since become my wish too.
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