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"Name."
"Li Xiang."
"Age."
"Fifteen."
"Hmm... Next time, don't roughhouse with your Pokémon in public. It's dangerous. Since it didn't use any moves, we'll let you off with a warning this time."
"Okay, okay, my apologies. I'll definitely be more careful next time!"
Clutching the two ID cards in his hand, Li Xiang offered an embarrassed smile as he saw the two armored police officers off.
As they left, the two muttered something about kids these days becoming more and more useless.
Beside him, Doublade gently swayed, its eyes full of embarrassment.
"—Ya—ta—ma—!"
The suppressed angry voice and the unusually formal address made Doublade's body stiffen slightly.
A flicker of panic flashed in its eyes, and it swayed even more vigorously, as if saying, "It wasn't my fault, oh, I didn't do it on purpose."
"Heh."
Li Xiang sneered and declared, "For the next week... no, half a month, I won't recite a single poem or open any website related to martial arts! 'Ancient Sword Love Story'? Catching up on updates? Dream on!"
Clang clang clang!
Heart and lungs stop!
Doublade's eyes widened, and it shook its body desperately, its blades rattling inside the scabbard, so agitated that its metallic body seemed to break out in a cold sweat.
Seeing Li Xiang's stern expression, it moved closer, rubbing its hilt against his cheek and using its tassel to knead his shoulder.
However, it was useless. The iron-hearted Li Xiang pushed it away, turned, and left, acting as if he wanted nothing to do with it.
Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Doublade could only follow dejectedly behind him.
To their left was a huge screen, looping a trailer for a period drama.
The sequence of events was simple.
They were just passing by when Doublade got captivated by the trailer and, like any child who spots their favorite toy, refused to leave.
Li Xiang tried reasoning with it to no avail and had to resort to force.
Doublade, in turn, threw a tantrum. And then, they were caught by the patrolling armored police.
Roughhousing with his Pokémon in a public place like an airport, with Doublade nearly drawing its swords, naturally warranted a lecture.
Fortunately, it wasn't a big deal.
Today was the fourth day after the New Year.
Li Xiang had bid farewell to his family early, gathered his Pokémon and luggage, and set off ahead of time for Mist City.
The mode of transportation was a plane—simple and efficient.
Arriving nearly half a month early was to first enroll in the Tang Family Martial Arts School.
Through Song Jie's connections, Li Xiang had already contacted them. After confirming they were the right people, they arranged for him to visit after the New Year.
Unlike the semi-closed Zhenxing Dojo, which no longer accepted disciples, the Tang School, like most modern martial arts clubs, was completely open to the public and accepted anyone.
As long as you paid, the relationship was that of customer and service provider, or employer and employee.
At best, it was coach and student, not master and disciple.
Their situation was also much better than Zhenxing's, with several dozen students from top to bottom.
They even mentioned recently planning to open a branch.
This situation was ideal. Li Xiang had been worried they would be like Zhenxing, clinging to old-fashioned ideas and causing unnecessary trouble.
Before the New Year, he attended Jiang Shangrong's graduation ceremony.
As the outstanding graduate representative, Third Senior Sister's bright and graceful figure and clear, pleasant voice on the podium were mesmerizing.
Unfortunately, regarding the Junior World Tournament, Yuzhou University was still stuck in the top eight, unable to advance further.
For most students at the school, maintaining this result was already considered quite good.
Jiang Shangrong wasn't satisfied, but it was too late; the ship had sailed. Being outmatched left little room for argument.
After graduation, Li Xiang asked his senior sister about her plans—whether she would fully commit to the trainer path or had other ideas.
He originally thought Jiang Shangrong's answer would be clear. Unexpectedly, she hesitated for several minutes before giving him an answer: to continue developing in the trainer industry.
Clearly, Jiang Shangrong herself hadn't made up her mind.
Li Xiang guessed she might be hesitating about whether to inherit the Dojo. After all, it was common for trainers to have side jobs.
...
Surrendering his PokéBalls, boarding the plane.
The journey from Qingcheng to Mist City wasn't short, taking a little over three hours.
Li Xiang lay back in his seat, wearing an eye mask, and began recalling his previous phone call with Bai Wanhua.
As a student, not only did he have the principal's private number, but he also received a New Year's greeting from her during the holiday.
This made Li Xiang feel quite honored. At the same time, he understood just how much importance Bai Wanhua placed on him.
On Bai Wanhua's end, upon learning that Li Xiang planned to arrive at school early, she didn't hesitate to offer her support.
She emphasized that many of the things previously promised to him were already prepared and would be arranged as soon as he arrived. After exchanging more pleasantries, they ended the call.
Before boarding the plane, he had spoken with her again.
According to her, after landing, someone would be there to pick him up, with a dedicated car to take him to Mist City University and arrange everything for him.
He didn't need to do anything.
'Good grief.'
Hearing this, it sounded less like Li Xiang was a student going to school and more like he was going to be treated like royalty.
Perhaps this was "privilege."
The privilege of a genius.
Through the airplane window, Li Xiang looked at the strangely shaped clouds outside, a strange emotion stirring within him.
...
Waking up, they had already reached their destination.
He had boarded the plane around 5 or 6 in the morning, when it was pitch black outside, and landed just before noon.
Mist City, the Foggy Capital.
How could it be called the Foggy Capital without smooth, silk-like fog?
Carrying his luggage out of the airport, even though it was winter, Li Xiang still felt a wave of dampness splash against his face.
It was inland, yet more humid than a coastal city.
Probably only Mist City was like this in the whole world.
"So hot."
Li Xiang silently loosened his black scarf. Mist City had mild temperatures year-round; the cold-weather gear from Qingcheng was like heavy armor with negative effects here.
Utterly useless.
Speaking of which, this scarf was knitted by the female Indeedee at home, given to him as a New Year's gift.
It was the first time he had received a gift from a Pokémon, and Li Xiang had been overjoyed, treasuring it immensely, even specifically wearing it to Mist City.
Little did he expect it would have to go into the suitcase as soon as he arrived.
"Junior! Junior Li Xiang !"
A unfamiliar voice called out, but it was his name.
Li Xiang turned and saw a girl in a dress, looking about eighteen or nineteen, standing by the roadside on the other side of a low iron fence, waving frantically at him.
Next to the girl was a black business van.
This was probably the person sent to pick him up. But why was it a girl? And alone? Without even a Pokémon by her side?
He walked over calmly.
"Hello, Senior. Thank you for your trouble. Are you here to pick me up?"
"Yes, yes."
The girl, quite familiar, took the luggage from him, grunting as she lifted it high, climbed over the fence, and placed the luggage in the trunk.
"Climb over. No one's around."
'That's not the issue…'
Li Xiang thought to himself but still climbed over to the other side. "Are you the only one—"
"Yeah, just me. And no need for formal 'you's. My name is Su Qian, fifth grade. Just call me by my name, or Senior is fine."
The girl extended her hand. Her fingers were fair and slender, her nails rosy, surprisingly without nail polish.
Li Xiang shook her hand silently, taking the opportunity to take a closer look at this Senior Su Qian.
She had an oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, rosy complexion, fair skin, a curvaceous figure, and sleek, dark hair.
Her smile was approachable, her demeanor steady, making one feel favorably inclined.
At first glance, she gave off a big-sister vibe. A bit like Asuka from Sound! Euphonium.
But the most important thing was the name Su Qian—the captain of Mist City University's team.
The captain herself, before the New Year was even properly over, coming to pick him up... This was just too much.
"Get in, get in! The school is quite far from here. If we leave early, we can make it for lunch."
Su Qian smiled at Li Xiang and walked to the driver's side.
"Okay, Senior."
Li Xiang obediently took the passenger seat.
They set off.
Su Qian's driving skills were as steady as her demeanor, neither rushed nor slow, giving off a veteran driver feel.
On the road, Su Qian initiated conversation, asking about this and that. While responding, Li Xiang couldn't help but recall information about her.
This nineteen-year-old girl came from a good family background. Her father was a high-ranking trainer, and her mother was a famous Coordinator in the industry.
Born with a silver spoon, Su Qian naturally had high expectations placed on her.
She lived up to them, showing unusual potential from a young age.
After smoothly testing into one of the Big Six universities, she became the team captain at a young age, leading her fellow students through one victory after another in the Junior World Tournament.
Unfortunately, this year, luck wasn't on their side. They narrowly lost by just two points, missing the chance to advance to the global level.
But Su Qian had still proven to others that choosing her as captain was the right decision.
In short, this was a woman with wealth, looks, background, and formidable personal strength. Not someone to be trifled with.
"Junior, your timing is perfect. After the last graduating class, there are almost no boys left in the team. Only Chao remains. The newspapers have even started saying we're turning into an all-girls school," Su Qian said with a laugh.
Li Xiang was slightly taken aback. "The team... has more girls than boys?"
"More than that? It's not just more; boys are few and far between. There are only two in the reserves."
Su Qian responded helplessly.
"No way." Li Xiang showed a skeptical expression.
Mist City University was, after all, one of the Big Six. How could there be no male students?
"I'm not lying to you. You'll see for yourself soon enough. Anyway, junior, you're basically a single spot of green in a sea of flowers. Heeheehee."
Su Qian giggled incessantly. "Remember to protect yourself."
'What the hell — a single spot of green? You're the green one!'
Li Xiang turned his head to look out the window. "Senior, you've got it wrong. There will be plenty of green in a field of flowers."
Song Jie and Gong Xu were both at Mist City, weren't they? They were the green ones.
He would just contentedly be the soil.
Su Qian didn't comment, changed the subject, and continued chatting with him.
The content was mostly about the situation inside Mist City University's campus and the thing Li Xiang was most concerned about: the team.
"Senior, there should be a senior in the team named Abigail, right?" he asked.
"There is. A regular member of the team, Abigail... You know her?" Su Qian looked at him in surprise.
"We met once a long time ago. She's close with one of my classmates."
Li Xiang recalled Song Jie's reluctance to speak whenever he saw Abigail and couldn't help but smile.
Question: Who is the type of the opposite sex that the aloof, cool guy is least able to handle?
Answer: His sister Anya and her good friend, Abigail.