Chapter Sixty-Four: Review and Reflection

Evening sessions were mainly devoted to reviewing the day’s training. Li Yaowen would analyze each person’s issues during practice, offer suggestions for improvement, and point out directions for future progress.

For example, Zhang Chen’s Spearow was fast enough when using Quick Attack, but struggled to change direction mid-move. Yang Fu’s Swablu had mastered the most moves, but clearly lacked proficiency in each. Ralts, too, had her own set of problems. The girl’s constitution was rather frail, making her slow on her feet and weak in maneuvering. With the second round of the selection tournament fast approaching, it was unrealistic to expect any significant improvement in her physique at this stage.

Thus, Li Yaowen’s advice was to focus as much as possible on mental training and to learn Teleport as soon as possible to compensate for her lack of speed. All in all, Tang Yi felt he had gained a lot today. He decided that from now on, he would bring Ralts here two or three times each week; the rest of the time, they would continue practicing psychic power and improving proficiency with telekinesis at home.

Tang Yi also consulted Li Yaowen directly about Teleport and Hypnosis. Li Yaowen neither approved nor disapproved of Tang Yi’s training methods: “This must be the kind of training they used decades ago. Now it’s all standardized education, and hardly anyone trains this way anymore. The main issue is that it’s less targeted, but each method has its merits. The way you’re doing it does help slowly build basic abilities and improve telekinesis proficiency.”

“By the way, where did you learn about this method? Did you find it online?” Li Yaowen was a bit curious.

“Oh, I overheard it at the hospital,” Tang Yi replied.

“At the hospital?” The others looked at him in surprise.

“Yes, remember I mentioned a while back that I was taking Ralts to the hospital for treatment.”

“That’s right, but what does that have to do with training Pokémon?” Jiang Hai still didn’t get it.

“Well, it’s like this,” Tang Yi gathered his thoughts. “Ralts was having more severe symptoms those days, so I took her to the hospital. Through hypnosis therapy, her symptoms were alleviated, and that’s when I decided to have her learn Hypnosis.”

Everyone exchanged puzzled glances, still unable to see the connection between hospital visits and learning Hypnosis. Did doctors now need to be able to teach moves just to qualify for the job? Surely things hadn’t become that competitive?

Tang Yi couldn’t be bothered to explain further. In truth, he understood that much of what the old doctor had told him was now considered outdated training method, long replaced by modern approaches. He didn’t want to complicate things by mentioning the old doctor.

The evening review was a fairly relaxed time. Occasionally, the group would chat idly like this. In the past, Zhang Chen and the others had misunderstood Tang Yi, which was why their comments in the group chat sometimes carried a sarcastic edge. Today, however, they realized Tang Yi wasn’t just the lucky layabout rumors had made him out to be; his Ralts, though seemingly delicate, had been trained into quite a formidable battler.

With misunderstandings cleared up, the group got along much better. After all, in the second round of the tournament, their opponents would be students from other schools; as schoolmates, it was natural to feel a sense of camaraderie.

Zhang Chen even offered a subtle reminder: “There are always some rumors about you at school—you’ve probably heard them. Some people we beat in the first round still hold a grudge, but wise people ignore gossip. Don’t let it bother you.”

Tang Yi frowned slightly. The message was clear. When Gu Xiaoyue had mentioned the rumors before, he’d already guessed who had started them.

“If I hear anyone talking about you like that again, I’ll set them straight,” Yang Fu added. Even though his Swablu had suffered a rather embarrassing defeat today, he wasn’t petty about it.

“I will, too,” Jiang Hai chimed in.

“Thanks, you guys. Honestly, it doesn’t bother me. A few words won’t hurt me. Once the topic fades, no one will care anymore.” Tang Yi was genuinely unconcerned. The rumors were nothing more than claims that he lacked ability, stopped improving after advancing, looked down on others, or wasted the school’s quota. He believed that once the second round began, these rumors would be dispelled by his performance.

On his way home at dusk, Tang Yi chose to walk instead of taking the bus since the school was nearby. That way, Ralts wouldn’t have to be put back into her Poké Ball, which she didn’t particularly like.

After a day of intense study and training, being able to walk home hand in hand with Ralts, bathed in the golden afterglow of sunset, was the greatest form of relaxation for Tang Yi. No matter how exhausted or troubled he felt, whenever he turned his head and saw Ralts’ delicate, artistic profile in the twilight, all his worries would instantly vanish, and he would feel whole again.

Ralts had by now grown used to being led by her trainer in public. Of course, the main reason was that Tang Yi was simply stronger than she was—she had tried to break free several times, but to no avail. Now she had resigned herself to her fate and simply turned a blind eye to it.

Fortunately, there were other trainers and Pokémon girls strolling together along the roadside, which helped alleviate her instinctive shyness. Still, she wasn’t quite used to the unreserved stares from other trainers. The girl twisted her hands nervously, turning her flushed face slightly away.

Tang Yi chuckled softly and averted his gaze. He had gradually figured out Ralts’ temperament—he couldn’t push things too far, or she really would stop talking to him. At just the right moment, he started a conversation to distract her. “How did you feel about today? I saw you chatting with Spearow and Swablu’s trainers just now.”

“They’re both very nice,” Ralts replied.

“Did they ask you anything?”

“Spearow’s trainer asked me if you’re always this nice to me, or if you were just putting on a show for them today.”

Tang Yi laughed. “And what did you tell her?” He was confident he knew the answer.

“I said you’re usually awful and always bullying me.”

Ralts shot him a sidelong glance, watching his smile freeze. Hmph, she thought, I’m not going to let you get too pleased with yourself. Besides, it was the truth.

Setting aside this little episode on the way home, Tang Yi felt the day had been both rewarding and enjoyable. He even thought that, even after the tournament ended and there was no need for specialized training, he should still bring Ralts to meet other trainers more often. More contact with her kind would surely help her grow.

His good mood lasted right up until bedtime. Then he received a phone call. The news left him both angry and helpless. It made him realize that not every trainer treated their clever, adorable Pokémon girls with the same care and devotion he did.