Chapter Thirty-Five: Victory

The match was over.

Soon, several young women in Chansey costumes came over to carry the two severely injured elf girls into the infirmary, and the doctors offered a few words of comfort to the two trainers.

Lin Tian and Tang Yi waited outside for a while. Seeing Tang Yi still looking worried, Lin Tian reassured him, “All these doctors have been temporarily transferred from the city’s First People’s Hospital. They’re very experienced—there’s nothing to worry about.”

Tang Yi had seen it for himself yesterday—under the miraculous healing waves of Chansey, the medicine of this world was truly impressive. He nodded and sighed, “I know, I just feel bad. Ralts has never been hurt this badly before—she must be in a lot of pain.”

Lin Tian’s gaze lingered on Tang Yi for a few extra seconds, slightly surprised. “For elf girls, this is something they inevitably have to go through. My Poochyena girl also suffered her first serious injury and lost consciousness. Still, you’re really something.”

Setting aside his heartache for Ralts’s injuries, the match itself had been a valuable experience for Tang Yi. He thought for a moment and then asked, “That move your Poochyena used to counter Alluring Voice—was that something you specifically trained to deal with me?”

Lin Tian laughed. “I’m not clairvoyant. Actually, I’d trained her in that before. But after learning yesterday that my opponent would be Ralts, I did put in some extra training last night. Even though everyone calls you a dead fish, I never underestimate any opponent. I just assumed your Ralts would know Alluring Voice.”

No wonder, Tang Yi thought, nodding.

Unlike Qin Donghai, Lin Tian was not arrogant—a worthy opponent, someone Tang Yi could respect and learn from.

Now it was Lin Tian’s turn to ask, curious, “Based on my previous training, using noise should greatly reduce the damage from Alluring Voice, or at least keep it within a range my Poochyena girl could endure. What I don’t understand is, why did your Ralts’s final Alluring Voice ignore all that noise and knock my Poochyena girl out in one blow?”

Tang Yi smiled and praised him, “You’re so sharp—I think you can guess the reason.”

Lin Tian returned his humility, “So your Ralts really does have a hidden ability. I’ve never heard of using telepathy this way in any of the training courses. I’m impressed.”

They exchanged a glance and found this mutual flattery a bit awkward.

Just then, the treatment in the infirmary was finally finished.

Ralts and Poochyena both emerged, once again lively and full of energy, though still looking a little tired. Fortunately, today’s matches were over.

“Both Qin Donghai and I lost to you fair and square. Add me on WeChat! Good luck at the city-level tryouts!”

After exchanging contacts, Lin Tian took his leave.

What happened next no longer concerned him. As the victor, Tang Yi returned to the main hall. Amid countless astonished gazes, he joined the other three winners and received an honorary certificate from the principal in a brief award ceremony.

The certificate, stamped and certified by the city’s education bureau and officially archived, would later provide a valuable advantage in applications to certain key universities.

“Today you have brought honor to our school, and I hope that one day, the school will be proud of you as well. I sincerely look forward to your outstanding performance in the official tryouts!”

With the principal’s powerful closing remarks, the first stage of the college entrance selection tournament came to an end.

The second stage would bring even fiercer battles among the top trainers from each school, but that was still more than a month away.

Each stage of the competition was separated by ample time for preparation.

Leaving the battle hall, Tang Yi pulled out his phone and sent a few messages.

To his parents: I won the match—here’s my certificate [photo]

To Gu Qingyue: Let’s have lunch today! I’m looking forward to your treat!

To the class group: Lucky day—won another one [smiley.jpg]

Replies came quickly.

Mother: My son is the best [proud.jpg]

Father: Oh.

Gu Qingyue: Got it. See you at 12:30, third floor of Zhengyang Plaza.

In the class group, several people lined up to congratulate him, while others tried to stir things up by tagging Qin Donghai.

Tang Yi checked the time—it was still early for his lunch with Gu Qingyue. He turned and asked, “How are you feeling now? Want to rest somewhere?”

“I’m fine,” Ralts answered with a gentle smile.

“Then let’s go walk around the mall. You haven’t been to Zhengyang Plaza yet, have you?”

That was the city center of Qingjiang, bustling and well-equipped with shops. As a genuine homebody, Ralts rarely went out, and although she hesitated at the thought of the crowds, she glanced at her evidently excited trainer and nodded her agreement.

Tang Yi checked the map—there was quite a distance from the battle hall to Zhengyang Plaza, at least an hour’s walk. He hesitated.

Taking the bus would be easy, but that would mean putting Ralts back into her Pokéball. No elf girl was allowed to ride public transport openly, which meant he wouldn’t be able to hold her little hand.

After a long internal struggle, the second reason won out.

“You’ve been cooped up at home too much lately; you need exercise. Today, let’s walk a bit more—it’ll be good for you,” Tang Yi declared decisively.

Obedient as always, Ralts accepted this perfectly logical explanation with a nod.

Strolling along the roadside, Tang Yi savored this rare moment of leisure.

“Today, at the end of the match, you used telepathy to unleash Alluring Voice. Was that your first time trying it that way?” Tang Yi chatted curiously.

At its core, Alluring Voice was a mental attack, while telepathy could sense the opponent’s mental state. By using telepathy, the song bypassed the physical barrier of sound, delivering itself directly to the opponent’s mind.

Tang Yi had actually thought of this last night and discussed it with Ralts. Since she still couldn’t fully control telepathy, it had remained just an idea.

By theory, Alluring Voice was supposed to be unavoidable, but if the target couldn’t hear or had soundproof abilities, it wouldn’t have any effect.

This new technique, however, made Alluring Voice truly inescapable. Even if you couldn’t hear the song or could barely make it out, the melody would pierce straight through, reaching the opponent’s innermost spirit and inflicting direct harm.