August twenty-ninth.
This was the day new students at Liuling University began to report for enrollment. Students who had been admitted from across the country would start arriving in waves.
Second and third-year students, who were a year ahead, typically arrived a bit earlier around this time, responsible for arranging various campus activities. Besides them, another early arrival was Shen Yu.
Since Xia Huanao had decided to lie low and disappear from the public eye, Shen Yu had been living on the Liuling University campus with Zheng Xiaoxiao and Tong Ruo. The house Xia Huanao had lived in, which had been completely burned down, had already been rebuilt by Liuling University, and Shen Yu was now residing there.
At nine in the morning, Shen Yu, dressed and ready, walked through the Liuling University campus. The late August heat in Liuling City was still quite oppressive, and Pokémon like Yanmega and other Bug-types gathered under the trees, venting their dissatisfaction and complaints. Shen Yu waved at the Pokémon under the trees before leaving the campus's small lake.
Following the path, she turned a corner, and ahead lay the square where new students reported to Liuling University. Although Shen Yu had already completed all the necessary procedures under special privilege, she still wanted to experience the atmosphere.
As Shen Yu walked towards the square, she was suddenly grabbed from behind, her eyes covered: "Guess who it is?"
Shen Yu playfully guessed, enraging the person behind her, who then released her and playfully tickled her sensitive spots.
"Senior Sister Xiao Die, I was wrong, I surrender."
Shen Yu was helpless against this tickle attack. Xia Huanao had used this move to control her for over a decade. She had no idea how others had learned it.
The person behind Shen Yu chuckled and took two steps back. It was indeed Chu Xiaodie, Xia Huanao's "star disciple." Chu Xiaodie walked beside Shen Yu, "Shiniang, are you thinking about my master again?"
Hearing Chu Xiaodie's teasing, Shen Yu, annoyed, put her hands on her hips, about to assert her "Shiniang's dignity." Chu Xiaodie, however, immediately adopted a "senior sister's" authoritative stance. The two girls, laughing and talking, walked towards the small square of Liuling University. The square was crowded, and Chu Xiaodie, holding Shen Yu's hand, led her towards the Battle Department registration area.
Chu Xiaodie was well-known in the Battle Department, not only because she had the eccentric coach Xia Huanao but also due to her outstanding performance alongside Yu Longdu in the World Pokémon Competition.
As Chu Xiaodie arrived at a registration booth for the Battle Department, a commotion erupted in the square, with people chattering about various things.
"Did you know, I originally wanted to enroll in the Battle Department too, but I didn't get good enough results in the final martial arts exam, so I was forced to join the Research Department."
"Really? I thought I wouldn't even get into the Battle Department at first, but my score on the final martial arts exam was so astonishing that it pushed me just over the admission line for the Battle Department."
...
The commotion in the square did not disrupt the registration process. Occasionally, a few newly registered students would bravely approach Chu Xiaodie for a brief chat before leaving with smiles.
Everything was proceeding as planned until one of the students at the registration desk pulled out their phone to check the news, and that's when things went awry.
"Dear viewers, we interrupt this program with an urgent news bulletin. At two o'clock this morning, the Linjiang branch of the Pokémon League received a report of unidentified individuals gathering on the outskirts of Linjiang City, engaging in arson and violence. Upon receiving the report, the League branch immediately rushed to the scene and apprehended one hundred and seven suspects..."
The news itself was not particularly unusual. The problem was that the student listening to the news had the volume turned up, and Shen Yu overheard it.
Although Shen Yu and Xia Huanao had been "living separate lives" for the summer, they were aware of each other's general whereabouts. Hearing about the incident in Linjiang City, Shen Yu instinctively thought of Xia Huanao and quickly walked over to look at the news behind the student.
Chu Xiaodie followed closely behind her Shiniang and stood behind the student with her, both of them staring at the small screen.
The news continued to play on the screen:
"By the time we arrived, the criminals were inactive, but we were unable to save the victim's life."
Seeing the burnt-out wreckage of the camper van on the screen, Shen Yu felt the world spin, and she leaned involuntarily against Chu Xiaodie. Chu Xiaodie quickly reached out to support her, "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
Shen Yu stretched out her hand, "This car, this car is..."
Perhaps due to the immense shock, Shen Yu could barely articulate her words. As Chu Xiaodie continued to listen to the news, she began to understand why Shen Yu was so distressed, and it felt as though the sky was collapsing for her as well.
"After investigation, we have confirmed the identity of the victim as Xia Huanao, the founder of the Awakening Team..."
Both Chu Xiaodie and Shen Yu felt the world shatter. They took two steps back and sank onto chairs that nearby students had moved for them. Not only could they not accept it, but even the students at the registration desk stopped their work.
Although Xia Huanao had only caused a stir at Liuling University for two years, during those two years, Liuling University's influence had grown exponentially. Almost half of the new students had chosen Liuling University because of Xia Huanao. Now, the banner that Liuling University had raised had fallen...
The atmosphere in the square instantly fell silent. Meanwhile, in an office at Liuling University, Zheng Xiaoxiao and Tong Ruo sat facing each other across a table. "Ruoruo, this must be fake, right?"
Tong Ruo clutched her teacup tightly, "It should, it should be fake, right? What kind of person is Xia Huanao? How could he be so easily..."
"Exactly! He's used these tactics before, faking his death and then reappearing to strike when his opponents think they've won. This must be the same..."
Even as they tried to console themselves with such words, they were, after all, high-ranking officials of Liuling University and could not live in denial forever. Finally, Principal Zheng Xiaoxiao stood up, "Let's go. We should check on Xiao Yu. If she doesn't know yet, we'll have to find a more tactful way to tell her. If she does know, she must be the most heartbroken right now."
The two arrived at the house Xia Huanao had left behind. Shen Yu had already been brought back to her room by a mentally resilient Chu Xiaodie. Zheng Xiaoxiao pushed the door open and, looking at Shen Yu on the bed, knew she was already aware of everything.
Seeing Shen Yu's dispirited state, Tong Ruo patted her shoulder, "Xiao Yu..."
Before she could finish speaking, Shen Yu looked up, "Don't worry, I'm not that fragile. This isn't the first time, is it?"
As she spoke, her phone lying nearby suddenly rang. Shen Yu reached for it, saw the name "Meng Tianya" displayed on the screen, pursed her lips, thought for a moment, and then pressed the answer button.
"Is this Xiao Yu? The situation you..."
"Yes, I know everything."
...
At three o'clock that afternoon, a plane slowly landed at Liuling City Airport. Several staff members in uniform disembarked, followed by Yu Longdu, who carried a box and walked out of the cabin step by step.
Looking at the box in Yu Longdu's hands, Shen Yu stepped forward and touched the lid of the box, asking, "Is it him?"
Yu Longdu nodded, "It is. We tested the DNA."
"Why can't I see him?"
Yu Longdu shook his head, "His appearance was unrecognizable. That's why we had to use DNA testing. We even put him directly into this box, otherwise, it wouldn't be this large."
"That's good. He won't be wronged."
After a few more words, Yu Longdu produced a brand-new belt, on which were several Pokémon Balls that had been blackened by fire. "Keep these safe."
Accepting Xia Huanao's belongings from Yu Longdu, Shen Yu caressed the Pokémon Balls, and tears flowed uncontrollably once more.
"The Pokémon inside the Poké Balls..."
"No. These Poké Balls are severely damaged. We tried various methods but couldn't open them to rescue the Pokémon. In the end, we found Mu Zhishui, and she told us that the Pokémon inside were already..."
"I understand. Let them accompany Xiaxia then."
Perhaps because of Xia Huanao's exceptionally high profile, the Pokémon League, usually known for its slow pace, acted with unusual speed in response to his death. Within a single day, they confirmed his death, issued an obituary, and delivered a eulogy. Since his appearance was unrecognizable due to the burns, the farewell ceremony was skipped, and his remains were directly brought to Shen Yu. Not only that, but his burial was also completed by eight o'clock that evening.
Xia Huanao's death was a sudden event, not only catching Shen Yu off guard but also the entire Minglong Kingdom. Yet, humans have a strange relationship with life. Under certain preconditions, the passing of one life can lead to the revelry of a group.
On a notorious forum in Minglong Kingdom, the topic of Xia Huanao's death had been trending since the news broke.
"What a shame, such a promising young man. It's only been two years since he founded the Awakening Team, but in those two years, our Pokémon technology has advanced so rapidly."
"Yes, not only talented but also handsome. I heard last year a website held a 'Dream Lover' poll, and he actually beat out numerous so-called stars to enter the top five."
"Some say this year's college entrance examination ruined his good reputation, but aren't all Pokémon trainers forged in the crucible of danger? It's just that incapable parents want both ambition and safety."
"Who's to say, right? Well, I wish him a good journey."
"Yes, may he rest in peace."