Chapter 102: “illegal” Trainer
“Can’t you tell? This is a match.” Yu Zhonggang said with a smile.
“A match?” Lu Li was full of confusion.
Yu Zhonggang did not directly answer Lu Li’s question, but smiled and said, “Come with me first.”
Led by Yu Zhonggang, Lu Li arrived at a huge quarry, or more precisely, an abandoned quarry.
At this moment, many Onix stood tall in the quarry, and besides them, there were quite a few people at the edge of the quarry.
Yu Zhonggang asked, “Do you know what the two most famous Pokémon in the Qingyun Secret Realm are?”
Lu Li honestly shook his head.
Yu Zhonggang explained on his own, “Bidoof and Onix. Both tribes have more than two Gym Level combatants.”
“These people are here begging for eggs.” Yu Zhonggang pointed to the group of young and old men at the edge.
“As everyone knows, Pokémon in the secret realm have growth limits. Some powerful Onix also desire to go out and venture, and some Onix hope their children can leave the secret realm and see a wider world.
So there is this match venue here to prove one’s ability. If you want to take an Onix from here, you have to prove your strength on the battlefield. Only strength that is powerful enough can attract an Onix to follow you.
If you want a Pokémon Egg, then you have to compete with others. The Onix parents will give them to the person with stronger strength.”
Lu Li nodded in sudden realization.
“What about Jin Huang? Why haven’t I seen that kid?” Lu Li asked curiously.
Yu Zhonggang smiled and said, “He got the Pokémon Egg yesterday and should now be in the Gym hatching that egg.”
While the two were talking, an old man and a youth came over.
“Little Yu, is this the commoner you found for Lili?”
The old man had a kind smile on his face, but Lu Li always felt that the other’s gaze at him was somewhat cold.
“Yes, Second Uncle, why do you have time to come here today?” Yu Zhonggang asked with a smile.
The old man chuckled and explained, “I heard that your disciple defeated that kid Jin Ji, so today I brought my grandson to take a look.”
“This is Gym Leader Yu, hurry up and call him Uncle.” The old man pushed the young man beside him.
The youth quickly shouted, “Hello, Uncle Yu.”
“What’s the name of this fine young lad?” Yu Zhonggang asked with a smile.
“Jin Longyu, Uncle Yu can just call me Little Fish.” Jin Longyu answered nervously.
At this time, the old man smiled squinted at Lu Li and asked, “Young lad, don’t you want to get to know this old man?”
“Hello, old lord, this kid is called Lu Li.” Lu Li smiled and nodded, then introduced himself.
The old man suddenly asked, “I heard you previously rejected our Jin Family’s sponsorship?”
“Yes, this kid is really used to being free and unrestrained, so I rejected the Jin Family’s goodwill.” Lu Li admitted with a smile.
Lu Li also knew that this old guy was deliberately picking a fight, amiable on the surface but actually a smiling tiger.
The old man answered irrelevantly, “I heard you’re also a trainer?”
Lu Li nodded.
“My grandson is exactly the same age as you. Do you two want to go up and spar? If you’re lucky, you might even get the favor of an Onix,” the old man asked.
Jin Longyu pretended to be troubled and reminded, “No, right? Grandpa, you should know that my companion just broke through recently and it’s hard to hold back in battle.”
“Getting injured in battle is inevitable, and there are professional medical services here anyway, what are you afraid of?” The old man speechlessly rolled his eyes at his grandson, but his gaze remained fixed on Lu Li.
Yu Zhonggang said in a tone as if it was for Jin Longyu’s good, “No need, right? Little Li’s strength is too overkill for a rookie trainer.”
Hearing this, Jin Longyu’s eyes lit up, then he said excitedly, “That means this commoner’s strength is very strong? Then I won’t worry about my Pokémon not holding back. How about we go up and compete?”
Lu Li did not directly accept the challenge, but turned his gaze to Yu Zhonggang.
Yu Zhonggang quietly reminded, “Go up and play. If you don’t show your strength, they might keep pestering.”
Lu Li did not want to get involved in the fights of wealthy families, but since Yu Zhonggang had spoken, he could only helplessly choose to accept.
Yu Zhonggang comforted, “You go up and win the match first, I’ll explain the detailed reason to you later.”
Lu Li nodded.
Jin Longyu, full of malice, entered the match venue first.
“Come out! My invincible Aggron.” Jin Longyu shouted excitedly.
Looking at the Aggron on the field, Lu Li frowned deeply.
Veteran Level Aggron, this was a very unscientific level.
The reason Tropius could break through to Veteran Level in two months was because both he and Tropius were cheating, and not just with one cheat.
But what did Jin Longyu and Aggron have to rely on?
Lu Li, who secretly activated his Spiritual Vision Eye, quickly found the truth.
“So it’s premature nurturing? No wonder the bond between the Pokémon and trainer is so vague.” Lu Li sneered inwardly.
This was another noble family disciple who didn’t believe in the curse. Childish mentality, some adults naively thought that as long as they educated well, they could break the curse of not being able to nurture Pokémon prematurely.
The result was situations like Aggron and Jin Longyu, where their bond was deep but unclear.
In simple terms, Jin Longyu’s trainer level couldn’t keep up with Aggron’s training level, and their bond was unclear. The best outcome now might be that Aggron wouldn’t listen to commands.
But worse outcomes were also possible. If you treat Pokémon like toys, they can treat you like grass.
“My Aggron has too arrogant a personality. If you find your Pokémon can’t hold on, you must surrender early. I’m afraid Aggron won’t hold back then.” Jin Longyu said smugly. Though it sounded like a kind reminder, Lu Li felt it was a threat.
Lu Li toyed with Tropius’s Poké Ball, then asked teasingly, “Are you sure it’s because of Aggron’s arrogant personality?”
“Are you doubting the bond between me and Aggron?” Jin Longyu asked angrily.
Lu Li smiled without speaking, then put away Tropius’s Poké Ball.
“I always prefer to convince others with facts, even opponents.” After Lu Li said that, he released Milotic.
The stunningly beautiful Milotic attracted everyone’s attention around the battlefield as soon as she appeared.
“It’s actually a Milotic? It looks so beautiful. This should be Qingfeng City’s first Milotic, right?”
“Probably, I haven’t heard of anyone locally having a Milotic before.”
“It’s so beautiful, no wonder it’s called the world’s most beautiful Pokémon.”
“Elite Level? Oh my god! This is an Elite Level Milotic!” A perceptive Jin Family trainer suddenly shouted.
“Wait! This Elite Level Milotic seems to be that youth’s Pokémon?”
“No, something is very wrong! How could such a powerful Pokémon have such a bond with that rookie trainer?”
“You’re talking nonsense! This is a rookie trainer? He’s now an Elite Level Trainer, with an unbreakable bond. Even if Arceus came, they’re Elite Level Trainers!”
“That seems to be Little Fish? Why is he battling Milotic’s trainer?”
“This Milotic wasn’t prematurely nurtured, was it?”
Amid the surrounding discussions, there was amazement, suspicion, but mostly disbelief.
Lu Li directly ignored the surrounding discussions.
He had no intention of playing weak to eat strong. Though he didn’t know why the old man from the Jin Family suddenly came to pick a fight, Lu Li wasn’t prepared to indulge the old man.
Since you want to come show off, this young master will slap your faces swollen!
A 16-year-old Elite Level Trainer, tell me, are you afraid!
With Yu Zhonggang as backing, Lu Li wasn’t afraid of offending people. And even if Yu Zhonggang wasn’t reliable, with his current strength, he didn’t need to worry about a family whose highest strength was only Gym Level.
“La~”
（Goddess!!!）
As soon as Milotic appeared, Aggron turned into a simp.
The Aggron who instantly became a simp directly ignored Jin Longyu who was hopping mad behind it.
“Aggron! Charge up and use Headbutt!”
Seeing Aggron standing still for half a day, Jin Longyu shouted furiously from behind, “What are you giggling about? Go up and use a skill!”
Aggron glanced disdainfully at the trainer behind it. You ugly jerk can stay single for all I care, but I, Aggron, want to win the goddess.
“La~”
（Goddess, can I simp for you?）
Aggron asked fawningly.
Not just Jin Longyu, Lu Li’s facial expression also darkened.
At this moment, Lu Li somewhat regretted activating Telepathy.
“Milotic, deal with this guy, go easy.” Lu Li commanded helplessly.
“La~”
（Come on, my goddess! I’m willing to lose everything for you.）
Lu Li: “…”
What kind of titanium alloy simp is this!
Worthy of a Steel-type iron simp.
Lu Li speechlessly watched as Aggron was sent flying out of the battlefield by Milotic’s single Dragon Tail.
Watching Aggron’s embarrassing performance, Jin Longyu’s facial expression alternated between black and white.
Half unwilling, mostly depressed.
Veteran beating Elite and losing is fine, but the problem is you can’t lose so embarrassingly.
It’s just a slightly prettier Milotic!
Aggron!
Simping for everything will only harm you!
Jin Longyu, embarrassed enough to want to crawl into a crack, gritted his teeth and said, “You’re a genius like me, unafraid of worldly rules and gazes. I admit you win.”
Lu Li: “???”
Lu Li felt this guy was trying to leech off him. What do you mean “like me,” both geniuses unafraid of worldly rules and gazes? We’re not the same, okay?
I prematurely nurture Pokémon because I believe they will become my companions and family, but what about you?
Never naively think this worldview is easy to shape. Take the simplest example: a white family, a family of three. One day the father suddenly brings back a little black child, then tells his own kid this black child is your younger brother from now on.
What would a normal kid think? White and black are at least both humans, but humans and Pokémon are two completely different species.
Seeing this scene, Yu Zhonggang curiously asked the old man beside him, “When did Little Fish start nurturing Pokémon?”
“Age 13.” The old man gritted his teeth.
“Even age 13 doesn’t work!” Yu Zhonggang sighed, feeling more fortunate in his heart.
When Yu Lili was 13, he had such thoughts too, but later his wife stopped him, reasoning that their precious daughter didn’t lack those three years.
