"Hey kid, why are you in such a hurry to leave?"
Lin Yu was packing his things, about to depart from the edge of Water Metropolis,
when someone called out to him.
He looked up.
It was Ye Rong, riding on Dragonite.
"Ah… Elite Four Ye. Hello."
Lin Yu had no idea why the man had sought him out.
But as an Elite Four Trainer, he deserved proper respect.
At the same time, Lin Yu couldn't help guessing his reason.
Had he come to award him for stopping the disaster in Water Metropolis?
"Do you know who I really am?"
Ye Rong raised an eyebrow.
Lin Yu frowned in confusion. "Aren't you the Dragon-type Gym Leader—"
He glanced at the Dragonite beneath him
and suddenly realized. "You're related to Xiaoxue?"
"I'm her older brother."
This time, Lin Yu wasn't too surprised.
The national Dragon-type Gym Leader, a symbol of Dragonite, surnamed Ye, and so young —
easily one of the youngest Elite Four Trainers in China!
His identity wasn't hard to guess.
But he still had no idea why Ye Rong was here now, so he just stared questioningly.
Ye Rong had zero complaints about this future brother-in-law.
Great talent, upright, and an Aura Power user.
But he was still too weak…
yet already so sharp and conspicuous.
Ye Rong wanted him to grow stronger, fast.
"Your Charmeleon is strong with Fire-type moves, but its Dragon-type energy is lacking — not sharp enough. Take this Dragon Stone. Evolve it soon. You're drawing too much attention."
He tossed over a glittering diamond-shaped crystal.
Fierce Dragon-type energy washed over Lin Yu instantly.
Lin Yu's eyes flickered automatically.
[Dragon Crystal — SS+ Rank Secret Treasure]
A crystal nurtured for years on Dragon Isle, formed from pure condensed energy.
When held long-term, it boosts Dragon-type talent and energy.
SS+ Rank Secret Treasure!
Even for Dragonite beside him,
this was top-tier treasure.
And he was giving it to him?
Lin Yu immediately had the weird feeling
like "take this and stay away from my sister".
"I can't accept this."
Lin Yu guarded himself cautiously.
"Xiaoxue is like family to me, in a way."
Ye Rong laughed in exasperation.
"Then you definitely should take it. With only this much strength, how will you protect her later?"
Through his Aura Power, Lin Yu immediately realized he'd misunderstood.
Watching Lin Yu take the Dragon Crystal,
Ye Rong said sternly:
"If you ever fail to protect Xiaoxue, I'll cut you down."
"Thank you, Elite Four Ye…"
Lin Yu smiled bitterly. The treasure in his hand suddenly felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.
Ye Rong chuckled, jumped off Dragonite, and slung an arm around his neck like a high school kid.
Lin Yu's image of a stern "Elite Four" crumbled instantly.
"Alright, you owe me one more favor!"
He suddenly grew shy and awkward.
"Go on."
What did a tough, iron-blooded man look like when acting bashful?
Lin Yu was seeing it now.
The 185cm-tall man glanced around nervously, as if too embarrassed to speak.
"I heard you say in the underground temple… that Luo Qingfeng is your teacher…"
Lin Yu's eyes widened.
Oh.
He wants to hit on my teacher?
"Look, I'm an Elite Four Trainer, but I'm still feeding my Dusknoir Expert-tier Energy Cubes. Pretty pathetic, right?"
Lin Yu blinked in surprise. "So… you want me to ask her for some Energy Cubes?"
"...Yeah."
Ye Rong actually wanted to ask for her contact info too.
"Sure. I'll ask my teacher."
It was a small favor — Lin Yu had no reason to refuse.
They exchanged contacts and chatted a while longer.
Ye Rong asked what Lin Yu planned to do after the Provincial Tournament.
Lin Yu answered honestly:
head to the coast.
"Got it. Don't forget what I asked. And don't let Xiaoxue down!"
Just as Dragonite was about to take off,
a surge of Psychic energy rippled out.
Lin Yu wielded Aura Power, and Ye Rong had Dragon Master Power.
Both sensed it immediately.
"Mmm~"
(Lin Yu, I came to find you!)
A red figure flashed past — it was the girl who'd given him Latias's scale.
Lin Yu had already learned how unpredictable Psychic users could be.
But what shocked him more was how powerful her Psychic was!
His Aura Power was active nonstop,
covering nearly a kilometer in every direction.
Yet he hadn't sensed her at all.
To control Psychic power this well…
she was unbelievably strong.
"Here, Dira. These are the Psychic Energy Cubes you wanted."
Lin Yu pulled a box from his backpack, filled with Psychic-type Energy Cubes he'd made recently.
She carefully took it, opened the lid, and picked one up.
After taking a bite, Latias's bright orange eyes lit up even more.
Hugging the box happily, she leaned right up to Lin Yu.
Before either of them could react,
Latias gently pressed her lips against Lin Yu's cheek, then handed the box back to him.
"Hm?"
To Latias,
she not only loved Lin Yu's aura — he'd saved her and her brother.
But Lin Yu froze. "What's wrong? Don't you like the Energy Cubes?"
"Mmm~" (No, they're delicious!)
"WHAT THE—?!"
Ye Rong was still hovering in midair, ready to leave. When he saw the red-haired girl lean in, he'd thought: No way, she's not gonna kiss him…
Wait — this kid's luck with girls is that good?
But in the next second, Ye Rong's Dragon Master Power activated instinctively.
Latias, part Dragon-type…
her transformation couldn't hide from his power.
He immediately realized her true identity!
The Latias from the underground temple.
A legendary Pokémon!
And she was this fond of him!
Even as an Elite Four, he couldn't help feeling jealous.
"Whatever. Let them handle it."
He patted Dragonite, and it soared away.
"Mmm~"
"You… you want to come adventure with me?"
Lin Yu stared at the cute girl in front of him, feeling a headache coming on.
"Do you have Pokémon? The places I go to are Secret Realms — they can be dangerous."
"Mmm~" (I am a Pokémon~)
Latias squinted and unleashed her Psychic power. A light breeze swirled around her.
Fine, fine. You're a human-shaped Pokémon, happy now?
Feeling Psychic energy nearly as strong as Gardevoir's, Lin Yu reluctantly agreed.