"Whoosh~"
Ninetales walked over, nuzzled Lin Yu's leg, and licked his hand.
Its touch was cool and refreshing.
"Ninetales looks even more graceful after evolving."
Lin Yu praised it as he patted its head.
"You've changed so much, senior! I almost didn't recognize you."
Lin Yu exclaimed in surprise.
Before, Xue Nai had seemed cold on the outside but was actually easy to get along with.
Now, though,
an air of icy aloofness radiated from her inside out.
"Hello, senior~"
A light, clear voice came from nearby.
Lin Yu turned to see Ye Qingxue wink playfully at him before fixing her gaze on Xue Nai.
In that moment, their eyes met, and sparks seemed to fly between them.
This senior sister really is persistent, Ye Qingxue thought to herself.
She knew exactly how outstanding she was among her peers.
But…
Last time they met, this Ninetales had still been a Vulpix at the Normal tier.
Had it already reached Lord-tier?
She and Ninetales must have worked incredibly hard to catch up to Lin Yu.
"Hello."
Xue Nai's gaze held a hint of complexity.
The two said nothing, yet everything was said between them.
"Hey, Lin Yu!"
Misty waved at him from nearby but didn't come over.
Both girls turned to look at Lin Yu at the same time.
For no reason, Lin Yu felt a chill run down his spine.
Thankfully, the draw ended right then, and all contestants headed for the spectator stands.
Lin Yu quickly said, "Let's watch the match! Let's watch the match!"
"Heehee~"
Ye Qingxue pressed her lips together and sat down unapologetically on Lin Yu's left.
Not to be outdone, Xue Nai stepped past and took the seat on his right.
As contestants, they sat in the front row of the stands.
The commentator rode on a Pidgeot, circling above the arena, his powerful voice echoing throughout the stadium.
"Our first match: Qing Fei, champion of Guangdong Province, versus Qi Yue, selected from millions in the capital's qualifiers!
Let's see what battlefield they've drawn!"
"Grass Field!"
As the commentator's voice fell,
a massive Venusaur stepped heavily into the enormous arena.
"Venusaur!"
A deep cry rang out, and green grass rapidly spread across the stadium floor.
Grass Field!
A Pokémon nearly at Elite Four level was being used just to set up a battlefield.
Truly,
the capital's resources were on a whole different level.
To Lin Yu's relief, both girls beside him turned their attention to the match.
But with the crowd so dense, Lin Yu hadn't activated his Wave Guiding Aura —
which meant he never noticed a pair of dim, resentful eyes staring at him from behind.
The Ye family's influence in the capital went without saying.
As a family allied with Dragon Isle and in possession of a Metagross,
it was no wonder they would remain powerful for generations to come.
Moreover, various Pokémon clans in the capital had heard that the young lady who returned to the Ye family three years ago possessed the greatest Dragon-Taming talent the family had ever seen —
and she was a girl at that.
The implications were obvious.
It was a shallow tactic, but an effective one.
If any clan's young successor could win her over, they would be tied to the Ye family.
Perhaps they might even be granted a Beldum in the future.
But the truth was,
none of the young elites her age or older could catch her eye.
China had 32 provinces. While each province sent one guaranteed contestant to the national tournament,
what about the remaining spots?
Were they filled by the second-place finishers from each province?
Not at all. Secret Realms varied in rank and size across provinces, so Trainer strength differed wildly.
In some provinces, the second-place contestant was already an Advanced Professional Trainer.
In others, the provincial champion was only a Professional Trainer.
Many reserved spots therefore went to young Trainers from the capital's great Pokémon clans.
Xie Bi'an had received his spot in this way.
He was the grandson of the current principal of Zhongqing University
and attended the capital's top high school, with impressive strength
and a solid reputation.
He often battled underclassmen and gave them useful advice.
Unsurprisingly, his family had urged him to pursue Ye Qingxue.
Who did Xie Bi'an think he was?
A Trainer determined to become Champion!
Though his heart had skipped a beat at her beauty when they first met,
he quickly regained his composure.
After hearing how this unattainable flower had rejected countless suitors,
he'd joined in just to please his family.
But when he saw a boy sitting beside her now, his expression turned shocked.
There really was a boy she liked?
Soon enough, Xie Bi'an broke into a grin.
"If this kid doesn't have the strength to back it up, he's in for it!"
He was just one of many admirers.
These young capital Trainers all had egos the size of mountains.
"Is the fun about to start?"
Watching a Trainer stand up and walk over to Lin Yu, Xie Bi'an watched with great interest.
"Hm?"
Watching Qing Fei send out Arcanine, which had bitten straight through Marowak's bone club,
Lin Yu frowned.
Just as he'd suspected.
Arcanine also had Elite Four-tier potential
and was at Lord-tier.
What kind of stone slab had this much power?
It couldn't be…
Lin Yu's frown deepened at the thought.
And Qing Fei's fighting style was still as brutal as ever!
Just as Lin Yu focused on the match, a figure blocked his view.
"Excuse me, you're in my way."
Lin Yu spoke politely.
"Qingxue, may I ask who this is?"
The boy ignored Lin Yu entirely, addressing Ye Qingxue instead.
"Hm?"
Lin Yu blinked in confusion.
Ye Qingxue's delicate eyebrows furrowed. She tensed up and spoke coldly:
"Student! First, do not call me Qingxue — we are not familiar. Second, you are blocking our view. Please leave at once!"
"Wait, I —"
"Dragoon!"
Before the boy could speak again,
a blue-and-white Dragonair emerged from its Poké Ball, its gentle eyes turning sharp and fierce.
"Leave, or I won't hold back."
The boy couldn't believe she would summon her Pokémon in the stands, but judging by her serious tone, he left grumbling.
"Huh?"
Xie Bi'an watched, wide-eyed, from nearby.
She even stood up for him?