Xia Huanao and Yu Rui chatted outside the arena until noon. All the matches for Yulongdu had concluded, and it was now Xia Huanao's turn to perform.
Xia Huanao, Yulongdu, and Yu Rui had a simple lunch outside the arena. Xia Huanao then went in to prepare for his match, leaving Yulongdu to accompany Yu Rui. Just as Xia Huanao was about to enter, he turned back to Yulongdu and said, "A'du..."
Yulongdu blinked, "Is something wrong?"
Xia Huanao placed a hand on Yulongdu's shoulder, "A'du, go for it. She's such a great girl. Go, try your best, fighting! I support you mentally and emotionally!"
Yulongdu pouted, "Why don't you support me in other ways? What good is mental and emotional support..."
"Are you coveting my physical form? Absolutely not!"
Yulongdu quickly turned Xia Huanao around, "Alright, alright, stop talking. If you continue, we'll both be abnormal. Go in and compete."
Yulongdu ushered Xia Huanao into the arena and then returned to "flirt" with his good friend Yu Rui, the little pastry chef. Meanwhile, Xia Huanao waited inside the arena with boredom.
While waiting, he saw someone familiar approaching. Xia Huanao recognized them as a fan of Yi Mengbi.
Speaking of which, Xia Huanao actually admired Yi Mengbi greatly. His fans would do anything for him. This grand arena was only accessible to participants, yet his fans, driven by their admiration, had flooded in to compete, regardless of their actual skill level. It was truly touching.
However, having sent Yi Mengbi to the hospital just yesterday, Xia Huanao was personally reluctant to encounter Yi Mengbi's fan club. If a conflict erupted, a one-for-one exchange between him and Yi Mengbi's fans wouldn't be good news.
But Xia Huanao was clearly overthinking. The fan approached him and nodded slightly, "Thank you, Chairman Xia."
Xia Huanao was taken aback. This young lady didn't seem like a fan of Yi Mengbi. If she were, she would probably want to kill him right now. Why was she apologizing? Could she be a hater?
Xia Huanao forced a charming smile, "Ah, it's nothing. It doesn't really have anything to do with me."
It truly didn't have much to do with him; he didn't even know why he was being thanked. The young lady quickly explained, "Yesterday afternoon, a few of us fans went to the hospital to see him. We saw a different side of him, completely unlike what's on television. So, thank you, Chairman Xia, for letting us see his true self. And please be careful yourself."
Watching the fan's retreating back, Xia Huanao was momentarily overwhelmed with emotion, "There are still so many good people in this world..."
However, Xia Huanao's excitement didn't last long; his afternoon match began soon after.
...
With a blink of an eye, days passed.
That evening, Xia Huanao sat at the former site of Yunlai Restaurant, now Qingrui Dessert Shop, with a somber expression. In front of him, Yu Longdu was feasting, while Yu Rui was preparing desserts for them in the back.
Yu Longdu, seeing the deeply contemplative Xia Huanao, asked, "What's wrong, Old Xia? Why aren't you talking or moving? Xiao Rui's cooking is excellent, try some."
Yu Rui walked out, carrying a plate of pastries as white as jade, "Huh? Why aren't you eating? Is it not to your taste?"
Xia Huanao shook his head, "No, the pastries taste very good. I'm just thinking about other matters."
Yu Longdu looked at him, "Really? What matters? Don't tell me you're studying Meng Tianya's Mudkip and contemplating life all day. You're not even eighteen yet, don't act like an old man. Youth is beautiful."
Xia Huanao shook his head, "I'm not contemplating life. I understand life thoroughly, I've achieved great enlightenment. I have other problems that I can't figure out."
Yu Longdu took a pastry from Yu Rui's plate and popped it into his mouth, "What can't you figure out? Master Yu will enlighten you, and it's free of charge."
Xia Huanao rested his chin on his hand, "Two questions. First, a few days ago, Yi Mengbi's fan warned me to be careful, but after all this time, why haven't I encountered anything?"
Yu Longdu swallowed his pastry, "What do you expect to encounter? A terrorist attack or something? Are you overthinking? Yi Mengbi isn't that powerful. Have you forgotten who my sister is?"
Xia Huanao nodded, "That makes sense. Second, my recent matches have been too smooth. I haven't lost a single one. I'm undefeated after dozens of matches."
Yu Longdu was puzzled, "Hmm? What's wrong with being undefeated? Do you plan to lose a few matches?"
Xia Huanao picked up a pastry, "I don't have that intention, but I just can't figure it out. As the capital of Minglong Kingdom, the trainers in Linglong City should be very strong. Why don't I feel any pressure?"
Yu Longdu embraced a large teapot, "What's wrong with that? You can't expect all the trainers in Linglong City to be at your level, that's absurd."
Xia Huanao retorted, "That's what you say, but you're ignoring a premise: I've crossed a group. I'm not competing in the under-20 group; I'm in the under-25. Are the trainers under 25 so weak? I've seen students from Lingling University. The average strength of my opponents might not even be enough to defeat Lingling University."
Yu Longdu continued to hold his teapot, "You, you just think too highly of Linglong City. Although it's the capital, there's a saying: 'The truly skilled are often hidden among the people.' No one strictly requires powerful trainers to be in Linglong City, like sister Xiaoxiao. Lingling University, on the other hand, attracts students from all over Minglong Kingdom, so their strength is naturally much greater."
Xia Huanao pondered. There was indeed some truth to that. Otherwise, what would be the purpose of the annual university Pokémon competition?
Yu Longdu continued to explain, "Besides, I think many people have the same idea as you."
The same as me? Xia Huanao seemed to grasp something. Seeing Xia Huanao fall into thought again, Yu Longdu cheerfully swept the remaining pastries into his stomach, "Comfortable, this is what living is about."
Yu Rui glanced at Yu Longdu, "Why are you like this? You can come anytime you want to eat. I wouldn't turn you away. If you eat all this, what will he eat?"
Xia Huanao looked up then, "No need. Give it all to him. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have figured this out."
Xia Huanao had come to understand. He believed Linglong City was strong, and its people thought so too. So, to increase their chances of advancing to the next round, what should they do? Register in another region and compete against opponents they considered less strong.
The truly strong disdained such tactics, and the weak wouldn't improve anywhere. Only those who were mediocre and unsure of themselves would seek opportunities elsewhere. This would significantly reduce the competitive intensity in Linglong City. Combined with some trainers who, like Xia Huanao, wanted to avoid internal conflict, the intensity in Linglong City would be even lower.
As for the trainers who came to Linglong City in the first round, they were a minority. What kind of formidable trainer would idly come to Linglong City to challenge local contenders? Even if they weren't a ferocious dragon, most would choose the second round. Only trainers like Xia Huanao, who seemed to attract all sorts of complications, would come to Linglong City.
Xia Huanao felt he had thought it through clearly, but the system within him clearly thought more profoundly, "Host, do you think there's a possibility that you've been set up, like your previous life's Summit?"
Xia Huanao was startled and asked the system in his mind, "You mean, fixed matches? Dare people do that in Minglong Kingdom?"
"Ordinary trainers wouldn't dare, but what if the officials are fixing matches for you?"
Xia Huanao wasn't stupid. Upon hearing the system's words, he immediately understood. This was likely arranged by Ma Lanqi. Since he could influence the matches of Shen Yu and others through his own means, Ma Lanqi could naturally arrange his situation perfectly using his authority.
Xia Huanao was well aware that Ma Lanqi wanted him to cooperate with Mu Zhishui in the upcoming two-on-two battles. If there was no interference, he might be eliminated in the first round. It was better this way, with all the scheduled matches appearing evenly matched, but in reality, being an eight-two or even a nine-one situation.
Xia Huanao leaned back in his chair, his entire body seeming to collapse as if his spine had been removed. He now felt utterly devoid of any sense of accomplishment. To hell with it!
Yu Longlu, seeing his sister still had the leisure to eat pastries, was relieved, "Sister, seeing you like this, does it mean Xia Huanao is alright?"
Yu Linglong looked at Yu Longdu, "Who told you that? I never said that."