Chapter 183

Perhaps spurred on by Sabrina, or perhaps for some other reason, he was determined to Champion this Performance Competition.

"There's still a week until the official Competition starts. How about we go check out the Gym in the city first?"

Qiao Ran offered his suggestion: staying here for training and Performance Competition all the time wasn't a good idea. Changing the mood a bit and challenging the Gym would be a better choice.

Moreover, since

I've been putting it off for so long, it's time to go see my cousin.

He felt a little guilty if he kept postponing things like this.

"OK."

Mei had a similar thought, and Lillie nodded slightly in agreement.

Perhaps because she's been performing on stage more often lately, this once shy young lady has gradually become more accustomed to it. Judging from her current demeanor, she probably won't refuse to challenge the Gym anymore.

"Alright, let's go check out the city tomorrow."

Qiao Ran lay down on the grass. This peaceful and tranquil life wasn't so bad after all.

"Xia Fei? What are you looking at on your phone?"

"Hmm... it's that, Miss Sabrina's Performance Competition video, it's even on the front page of the website."

"Let me see?"

In an ordinary bubble tea shop in Modu City, two cute girls in junior high school uniforms sat together, watching a video playing on their phones.

One of them was rather quiet, while the other was very outgoing.

In the video, Sabrina is dressed in a simple, cool summer Outfit. Although it is a very plain outfit, she wears it with the feel of a professional model.

"Miss Sabrina... she really is very beautiful." The cheerful girl's face was full of longing.

"Yes."

Sabrina's looks were already outstanding enough, and coupled with her supermodel-like figure and aloof, unattainable aura, she possessed immense allure for both men and women.

"And Miss Sabrina's Pokémon are also very well-bred. Look at this Espeon, its body is well-proportioned, its fur is outstanding, and most importantly, look at the Gem on its head! Look at the luster inside!"

The girl, known as Xia Fei, was visibly excited, clearly a huge fan of Sabrina, even though the video only made it into the top ten of a minor category on the website. This didn't diminish Sabrina's place in her heart.

"Indeed... truly amazing. So talented, both in Pokémon battles and Performance Competition. It's like..."

Another girl was also gradually stunned. They weren't good at any Performance Competition. Besides going to school, they would go to the Magic City Gym for extracurricular tutoring in their spare time and were working hard as reserve Trainer.

Sabrina's excellence has indeed broadened their horizons.

"Oh... right, didn't you say you were going to pick up your cousin from the station today? If we keep looking like this, we'll miss our turn."

The quieter girl looked at her companion. She was interested in Sabrina, but not to the point of being fanatical. Besides, she remembered clearly that their purpose in coming out was not to see these things.

"Why the rush? That guy said he was coming, and my mom even bought groceries and waited for him, but he stood her up for days."

Xia Fei snorted coldly, clearly extremely dissatisfied.

"I was only able to pick them up because of my mother."

Is... is that so?

The quiet girl was taken aback by what she heard; it seemed that her cousin's character was probably questionable.

"But, isn't it a bit inappropriate to keep the guests waiting like this?"

"Go away, I'll go in a bit, why are you nagging like my mom?"

Xia Fei replied somewhat impatiently, her eyes still fixed on her phone screen.

Why is it that someone as perfect as Miss Sabrina exists in this world?

Arriving in the Modu City, there's more to it than just challenging Gym. Experiencing life in this most prosperous metropolis in China with Lillie and the others is also one of the reasons Qiao Ran came here.

Just like Saffron City, the economic center of the Kanto Region, Magic City is in a similar position. Sabrina's concern about becoming the Gym Leader here is probably due to this reason, besides the fact that Shanghai happens to be Psychic type Gym.

But...

Sitting in the car on the way to the city, Qiao Ran glanced at the two girls who were dozing off next to him.

Compared to Mei or Lillie, Sabrina's Adaptability is terrifyingly high. If he hadn't heard her say it herself, he would hardly have believed that she had only just arrived in this world and had been awake for less than a month.

Did they already set their sights on becoming the Performance Competition Champion and defeating the Gym Leader within this month?

Could it be... that she, like Mei before her, didn't have the idea of returning to the Pokémon World?

Or perhaps she had already deduced from her past experiences that going back wouldn't make much of a difference?

"Psychic..."

Qiao Ran looked at his two outstretched palms. Now, his left hand could generate the Tokiwa Power, and his right hand could generate the power of Aura. Both of these powers originated from the user's "heart." However, unlike the Tokiwa Power, which always represents gentleness and healing, Aura changes with the user's emotions. Gentle Aura can produce a certain healing effect and transmit power to the other party, while violent Aura can condense powerful attacks.

Then—by fusing these two powers, a completely new power can be created. However, no matter how Qiao Ran tried, he could only ultimately unleash an enhanced version of the Super Heal Pulse.

He wasn't sure if it was because the effect of the Tokiwa Power suppressed the Aura's power, or... because the target he was aiming at was someone very close to him, so at that time his Aura just couldn't bring himself to use it.

However, those Pokémon who had received the "Heal Pulse" raved about it, and it became a legendary, unparalleled pleasure. Compared to Lillie and her friends, who were still somewhat reserved, the Pokémon were much more relaxed about it, after all, this wasn't the first or second time they had embarrassed themselves like this.

"... Because it incorporates Aura, does it also have a healing effect on the mind?"

Based on the Pokémon's experience reports, Qiao Ran has grasped the root cause of the "Heal Pulse's " effectiveness. While the full-body massage effect is excellent, its healing effect on the mind is something that the previous Tokiwa Power could not achieve.

At this moment, Qiao Ran had clearly gained a deeper understanding of these special powers, but he was still somewhat ignorant about the unknown "Psychic".

"Asking Sabrina would probably be pointless; asking Latias... that's probably useless too; and forget about Nebby."

Qiao Ran had indeed asked Latias about this before, but the red-haired Maid tilted her head and thought for a long time without giving a clear answer.

However, Qiao Ran could tell from her eyes that she had already given her answer.

--Isn't it enough for this thing to just have a brain?

Qiao Ran immediately regretted it; asking such a question about a legendary Pokémon was clearly a sign of his madness.

This kind of question is like asking Reshiram how to Eruption or Zacian how to use the Behemoth Blade.

Isn't it enough to just have a mouth?

Is something this simple really that difficult?

Therefore, if Qiao Ran wants to experience the origin of Psychic, he still needs to go to the Magic City Gym and ask the humans there. Ideally, he should ask the Old Gym Leader before he retires.

"If Psychic were added, would these powers change in any way?"

Qiao Ran's mind was gradually becoming active. Although the fusion of the two powers did not bring him a significant increase in combat power, his logistical capabilities were undoubtedly significantly improved.

Even Mei would secretly come to see him after that day... Of course, Lillie didn't seem to notice anything.

"..."

After resting in the car with their eyes closed for a while, the group arrived at their destination in no time.

This time, after being disciplined, Nebby didn't sneak around doing bad things while the others were asleep, just like before. Qiao Ran and the others also successfully reached their destination.

Where are you?

After getting out of the car, Qiao Ran took out his phone and dialed a number he had reserved. It was his "cousin's" number.

Before setting off, he had already contacted the other party. As agreed, the other party would pick them up at the station. After helping Qiao Ran and the others settle their luggage, they would go to her house for a get-together and dinner.

Since it had been a long time since they last met, and Qiao Ran had no memory of their last encounter, she wasn't sure if she could recognize him in a crowd. It would be better to make a phone call to confirm.

"Please wait a moment... I might have to wait another hour or so."

A girl's voice came from the phone. She didn't say much, and after a few words, she hung up.

Qiao Ran frowned, sensing something was amiss. What on earth had they been doing? There was still an hour's time difference?

Wait a minute, could she also be from the suburbs?

In the end, Qiao Ran shrugged helplessly and looked at the two girls beside him.

She said the person hadn't arrived yet, so why don't we just wander around the area for a bit?

"OK."

Before coming here, Lillie and Mei had already looked at the map. There was also a sizable commercial area near the station. Since Sabrina provided accommodation, Qiao Ran and the others saved a considerable amount of money.

It would be excellent to use this money to buy something.

Besides, the previous Performance Competition had a small amount of prize money, which, while not a huge sum, was enough.

"Let's call Yveltal and the others out for a walk too."

Yveltal, Pokémon who recently achieved Humanoid Transformation, has never had an outfit that she particularly likes. When they were in the suburbs, Qiao Ran took her to look around, but ultimately there were still too few choices.

The saying goes, "It's not scarcity that's the problem, but inequality." She might be able to live without these things, but with other Pokémon having them, things definitely can't go on like this.

As a Pokémon Trainer, Qiao Ran knew this all too well.

Otherwise, they would probably start fighting amongst themselves before he could even do anything.

"Xia Fei, you'd better hurry up and go."

"I know, I know, humph... I actually wanted him to wait a little longer."

Meanwhile, Qiao Ran was unaware of the wicked intentions her sulking cousin harbored.

However, under the repeated urging of her friends, Xia Fei was the one who couldn't hold on any longer.

She had originally wanted her cousin to experience what it felt like to be stood up, but now it seems that he probably won't be standing up for very long.

In the end, she arrived half an hour earlier than the agreed hour, but when she picked up her phone and dialed Qiao Ran's number, she was told that they were no longer at the station.

"Huh...? You went shopping for no reason?"

Xia Fei was stunned. She had originally planned to stand him up for an hour just to get a little Revenge, but in the end, she was persuaded by her best friend to soften her stance. When she arrived, she discovered that he had gone shopping!

"What's your exact location? Where exactly are you located?"

Suppressing her deep-seated dissatisfaction, Xia Fei asked questions as she hurried in the corresponding direction.

However, when she arrived at her destination, she saw an even more outrageous sight.

"Cousin?"

Inside the dessert shop, a casually dressed young man tentatively greeted her, while two very beautiful women sat beside him.

Yes, it's very beautiful.

Even though she had long been captivated by Miss Sabrina's charm, she had to admit that the two girls in front of her, while not as mature and noble as Miss Sabrina, both had the potential to rival her.

As for this man...

Upon hearing that voice, Xia Fei was already certain that it was her cousin.

Good grief, I deliberately stood him up, and he still ended up hanging out here!

"Hmph, really..."

On the other side, Qiao Ran, after seeing the other party's reaction, basically confirmed the other party's identity.

"Who are you..."

Since mastering the Aura Power, Qiao Ran's sensitivity to details has been significantly enhanced, allowing him to distinguish one person from another without relying solely on appearance.

Xia Fei —has she grown into such a lovely child?

Although her past memories had long since faded, Qiao Ran was still willing to treat her kindly, after all, she was still his blood relative.

Standing next to her was a girl who looked rather quiet; was she her friend?

Qiao Ran observed the other party and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, after receiving the call, he quickly sent his Pokémon back to the Wild Area, otherwise it might have been too late.

However, even so, some Pokémon skilled in the art of trading still managed to swindle him out of a fortune, especially Yveltal. After Qiao Ran secretly promised her many benefits, she returned to the Wild Area very politely.

"Don't lie to me, you're dead if you do."

Although Qiao Ran really wanted to take his Pokémon around, he was going to his cousin's house next, and taking Lillie and Mei was already the limit. If he brought several more Humanoid Transformation Pokémon... people probably wouldn't know if he was there to visit or just to eat.

Besides, their relationship is unclear, and these kinds of things only get more complicated the more you try to explain them. Qiao Ran doesn't want any strange rumors about her circulating among her relatives.

"Would you like to come in and sit for a while? If you have time, we can also take a walk around the neighborhood later."