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Following Li Xiang's wishes, the victory celebration wasn't a grand affair. It was simply divided into three small gatherings with some close friends and family, just to make do.
The matter was quietly laid to rest like that.
This left several news agencies that had been hoping for a big story deeply disappointed.
Surprisingly, Yang Tianwang's family was in the media industry, yet they never approached him. Li Xiang had even prepared to do them a favor and appear on television.
Unexpectedly, the guy had gone on a trip with his family and was daily posting scenic photos in the group chat.
All that preparation for nothing.
For Li Xiang, by this point in August, there was nothing left worth cherishing.
.....
September.
With his parents' permission, everyone from the Dojo gathered at Qingcheng Airport.
On Third Senior Sister's end, she had advanced to the top eight in the regional phase of the Junior Tournament. There were no matches for the next two months.
The second half of the regional tournament wouldn't resume until November.
Without a doubt, for Yuzhou University, which hadn't even made the top ten last year, this was a well-deserved achievement.
After all, beyond this were the top six universities.
Headlines flooded the newspapers, and the students of Yuzhou University were overjoyed, decorating the campus with lanterns and banners.
This also showed that everyone's expectations for Yuzhou University weren't particularly high, but reaching the quarterfinals meant no one could call Yuzhou University a weak school anymore.
As the team leader, Jiang Shangrong was naturally thrilled with the external recognition Yuzhou University received. On the other hand, she began to worry about what would happen after she graduated.
"The current starting lineup are all sixth-years. Once I graduate, they'll graduate too, and Yuzhou University will drop again," Jiang Shangrong said quietly to Li Xiang.
Among the few fellow disciples, only the two of them being higher academy students, discussed the Junior World Tournament matters.
"Don't worry. After you graduate, new juniors will join. There might be a decline for a year or two, but a resurgence is inevitable," Li Xiang said, feeling quite confident in Lin Feng.
Although Lin Feng didn't dominate his peers like Li Xiang did, he was a late bloomer. For someone from a purely common background to come this far, both talent and determination were essential.
Moreover, Lin Feng had gained an additional mentor and had earned the recognition of Xu Wan's father. He could be considered to have connections now.
"Mhm." Jiang Shangrong nodded. Initially, she hadn't wanted to come on this trip, planning to devote herself entirely to the second half of the tournament.
But her coach, seeing how tense she was, feared she might break under pressure and insisted she take a break.
After some self-reflection, Jiang Shangrong felt her coach had a point and decided to join.
Additionally, although she was a girl, she was equally interested in cold weapons. She also fancied a custom-made large sword.
Nearby, Qi Sunsun watched the two standing close together and couldn't help but show a knowing, auntie-like smile, poking First Senior Sister Bai Ji's waist.
Bai Ji had established a law firm in Qingcheng last year and, having no ongoing cases recently, joined to relax.
"What is it?" Bai Ji asked curiously, looking at Qi Sunsun.
"Don't you have any thoughts looking at those two?" Qi Sunsun said, frustrated as if her student was failing her.
As among the earliest students of the Dojo, though a few years apart in age, the two were inseparable best friends.
"Thoughts?"
Bai Ji's expression turned strange. She glanced at them again, then blushed slightly and hit Qi Sunsun. "What are you thinking! They're senior sister and junior brother! And there's a six-year age gap!"
Qi Sunsun stuck out her tongue playfully. "Height isn't a barrier, age is just a number! Don't you get it? No wonder your previous boyfriend dumped you!"
"Stop talking nonsense! I was the one who broke up with him!" Bai Ji reached out to pinch Qi Sunsun's waist.
Qi Sunsun laughed and dodged. This woman had been unruly in the Dojo for years. Only Duan Tianxing and Jiang Shangrong could occasionally keep her in check.
The group chatted and joked around.
Before long, the plane was ready. Pokémon above level 20 and those with large body sizes were not allowed in the passenger cabin. They had to be placed in specialized boxes and transported uniformly by the airport.
After all, if something happened mid-air, few on the plane would survive.
This was clearly stipulated by law. The same applied to trains, though it was relatively more lenient.
But honestly, the strength of airplanes in this world far surpassed that of the previous one, equipped with various technologies.
Just not to the extent of the original Pokémon world.
The image from the movies of a massive fortress with propellers spinning lazily like snails, yet still flying, remained vivid in Li Xiang's memory.
He still hadn't figured out the principle behind it.
After security checks, watching the boxes containing Incineroar and the others being taken away, Li Xiang felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
But there was no helping it. Such was air travel.
Fortunately, the distance from Qingcheng to Sakura Island wasn't far, taking at most three hours. A nap or watching a couple of movies on a tablet would pass the time.
Li Xiang hesitated until the plane stabilized, then decided to play card games with his two senior brothers.
As long as they kept their voices down and stayed in first class, it shouldn't be a problem.
.....
Three hours later.
Sakura Island, Nai City.
The moment the eight of them stepped off the plane, a unique cultural atmosphere washed over them.
"Nai City is a typical tourist city, so it preserves many ancient buildings and traditions, placing special emphasis on craftsmanship and handicrafts. You can find things here that aren't available on the mainstream market," Bai Ji explained to the group.
Li Xiang gazed into the distance, finding the surroundings saturated with a strong traditional aesthetic.
Like the delicate pagodas in the distance, and cultural buildings that differed from the mainstream—temples, shogunates, and the like.
Pedestrians in strange attire and peculiar hairstyles, along with rows of low-rise houses. He couldn't help but sigh; it was ultimately different from his previous life.
In his previous life, no matter how touristy a city was, it could never preserve this level of ancient appearance.
It felt like stepping into the past, yet this place had achieved it.
He turned to look at the Nai City Airport behind him and found that even this structure was designed to resemble a massive castle from the outside.
'Impressive. Truly impressive.'
Duan Tianxing, having been here last year, looked around and led the group to two men in martial arts uniforms holding up signs.
"Master Duan!"
They shouted upon seeing Duan Tianxing, drawing the attention of those around.
Duan Tianxing's expression remained unchanged. As he approached, he asked, "Where are Yan Hu and Zong Sheng?"
Yan Hu was the daughter of Grandmaster Yan Tianyin.
Zong Sheng, full name Sakata Zongsheng, was Yan Hu's husband.
"Uncle, I'm right here."
A gentle, refined man with glasses stepped out of a nearby car, his face apologetic.
"Sorry, I was on a call just now," he said.
Li Xiang looked at this man named Sakata Zongsheng, his first impression being favorable.
Both his appearance and demeanor were excellent. A good man.
Then, a bold, cheerful female voice came from behind the group.
"Uncle! You're finally here! Hello, junior sisters and brothers! Are you hungry? I just bought some rice balls; they're really delicious."
Li Xiang turned to see a tall, muscular yet curvaceous short-haired woman who appeared to be in her thirties, with a bright and generous smile.
'This must be Yan Tianyin's daughter, Yan Hu.'
How to put it...
The name suited the person.
'Well, that might be a bit impolite.'
After brief self-introductions and polite exchanges, the Zhenxing Ryu side had brought three cars and five people, including the Zongsheng couple, all core disciples of Zhenxing Ryu.
Yan Tianyin's son hadn't come. This brother named Yan Cheng seemed to have some unresolved issues with Yan Hu.
It wasn't about inheritance, but simply differing aspirations.
Yan Hu wanted to work with her husband to promote and expand Zhenxing Ryu.
Yan Cheng, however, believed times had changed and personal martial prowess was meaningless. He chose to inherit his grandfather's business.
He hoped his sister would abandon her unrealistic pursuits soon and come help him. Together, they could make the business bigger and stronger.
But Yan Hu refused. Being straightforward, she had argued with Yan Cheng after their father's passing.
If not for Sakata Zongsheng and their mother, Kawashima Eko, mediating, the two might have come to blows right then and there.
However, their relationship had undoubtedly soured. Yan Cheng's opinion of martial artists had hit rock bottom.
So much so that even when Duan Tianxing, who was as close as a brother to his father and had insisted on seeing him one last time, arrived, he couldn't be bothered to show up and greet him.
Duan Tianxing didn't mind; he didn't even care who came to pick him up.
This time, the main purpose was to seize the opportunity to visit his senior brother and to have a weapon custom-made for Li Xiang as a gift for advancing to higher education.
That's right.
The weapon forging was actually Duan Tianxing's idea. It just so happened that there were excellent swordsmiths here on Sakura Island.
This saved him the trouble of contacting his old, frail friends and asking them to fire up their forges again.
Everyone got into the cars.
Their destination was the Zhenxing Ryu Dojo.
Li Xiang was assigned to the car with First and Second Senior Sisters. The driver was Yan Hu.
Third Senior Sister and Duan Tianxing were in Sakata Zongsheng's car.
'A gathering of the three leaders?'
Li Xiang didn't know how to react, thinking that Duan Tianxing, as expected, hadn't given up on having Third Senior Sister inherit the Dojo.
In the car, his seatmate was Qi Sunsun.
As a mischievous woman, even in front of Yan Hu, she couldn't resist teasing Li Xiang with small actions. This made Li Xiang miserable, inwardly sighing at her shamelessness.
As if sensing their antics, Yan Hu, who was driving, suddenly said,
"Junior Brother."
"I'm here, Senior Sister." Li Xiang calmly leaned forward, turning his back to Qi Sunsun.
Only then did the latter hum and let him off.
"Junior Brother is Li Xiang, right?" Yan Hu glanced in the rearview mirror. "I have a friend at Sakura Island University who's a professor. She said there's a kid among this year's trainers who ranked first nationally, with ridiculously strong strength and skills."
"Uh, if there isn't another Li Xiang in the youth camp, then that's probably me," Li Xiang scratched his cheek. "But it's just an inflated reputation. I'm merely one of the top among my peers."
"Not at all! Don't be modest!" Yan Hu suddenly said in a heavy dialect, "My friend said that if nothing unexpected happens, the next six years will be your era of dominance in the National Tournament scene."
'Whoa.'
This place, modeled after traditional Japan, was really into this kind of middle-school drama.
An era of dominance...
"Exaggerated, exaggerated," Li Xiang said awkwardly, then suddenly felt a warm breath near his ear.
"Wow~ Junior Brother is so amazing~"
'Dammit, causing trouble again!'