It Turned Out We Were Just Too Weak

In the stands, as Ye Lan's battle came to an end, the spectators who had come specifically to watch him gradually began leaving the second-floor battle arena.

Liu Yan also rose with the Elite Class students, preparing to head to the infirmary to check on Ye Lan and Servine.

Just then, several people from the nearby stands walked toward them.

The middle-aged man in the lead spoke. "Hello, I'm the team advisor from Jindu No. 2 High School. I just heard your explanation of the battle. Are you also a school team participating in this provincial tournament?"

"Yes. I'm the team advisor from Mianzhou No. 1 High School. My name is Liu Yan." Looking at the balding middle-aged man across from her, Liu Yan calmly waited for him to continue.

"That's wonderful. Would your school team be interested in having a friendly match with us? With the provincial tournament so close, I think it would benefit both sides."

The balding man wore an enthusiastic smile. On the surface, he merely wanted a friendly match to help both teams improve, but he had his own ulterior motives.

He had originally brought several students competing in the provincial tournament here today so they could learn some of the unique battle tactics and experience of independent Trainers.

Who could have expected them to run into Ye Lan, who was challenging a high winning streak?

Watching Ye Lan, who was around their age, sweep through the arena, the students from Jindu No. 2 High School had no mood left to watch the battles. They had been utterly crushed.

It would have been one thing if Ye Lan had used a pseudo-legendary Pokémon, but he had used a starter Pokémon like Servine. While starter Pokémon were certainly good for Jindu's students, they were not that rare.

The balding middle-aged man panicked when he noticed this.

If they entered the provincial tournament in this state, how was that any different from surrendering outright?

As luck would have it, Liu Yan's professional commentary reached his ears just then, and the balding man's thoughts began to turn.

Jindu had a strong educational system, with three Trainer schools and two Breeder schools.

The balding man had met the advisors from the other two Trainer schools, and seeing the student-like group beside Liu Yan, he guessed that they might be a competing team from some small city.

Though he did not know how strong they were, this was Jindu No. 2 High School!

Other than the two other schools in Jindu, the balding man had absolute confidence in his students.

As long as they could crush a school team from a small city with their strength, the students would surely regain their confidence.

"Sorry, but our school team captain's Pokémon is still receiving treatment. We may have to postpone the friendly match for a few days." Liu Yan thought for a moment before agreeing.

Being able to spar against a strong team like Jindu No. 2 High School in advance would be excellent experience for the children of Mianzhou No. 1 High School, regardless of whether they won or lost.

"Of course, that won't be a problem. But may I ask how badly his Pokémon is injured? That way, we can arrange a suitable time."

Though that was what the balding man said, he was already feeling smug inside.

They had come to watch the battles wearing Jindu No. 2 High School uniforms. The other side had clearly recognized them and was afraid of Jindu No. 2 High School's strength!

"Our school team captain is Ye Lan, the one who was just battling in the arena. His Servine is seriously injured and will probably need around three days to recover."

The balding team advisor: ?

The students behind him from Jindu No. 2 High School: ???!!!

"Huh? Teacher Liu, why did they turn around and leave? Do they think Mianzhou No. 1 High School isn't very strong?" Cheng Xiaolu asked in confusion as she watched their retreating backs.

"Sigh, Jindu No. 2 High School really is exceptionally strong. Since they would have to wait three days to battle us, they probably couldn't wait that long, could they?"

"When we get back, all of you train properly. Don't let people look down on us like they did today!" Liu Yan turned and warned the Elite Class students.

"Yes!"

"Cotton!"

Cottonee bounced into the infirmary. Before the people from Mianzhou No. 1 High School and Jindu No. 2 High School had run into each other, the little fellow had already slipped away on its own.

"Cotton~"

Holding a get-well gift for Servine, Cottonee hopped onto the bedside table and placed a Poké Ball before Servine.

"Ss?"

"Cottonee, where did you get this Poké Ball?" Ye Lan, who was holding a bowl and feeding Servine a nourishing supplement, froze when he saw the shrunken Poké Ball.

He picked up the Poké Ball and pressed the switch. Amid a flash of white light, a Swellow appeared in the ward.

"Caw~~~" The moment Swellow appeared, it pulled Ye Lan into a tight embrace.

"Swellow, calm down! It's me!" Ye Lan was speechless. That little troublemaker Cottonee had actually stolen Teacher Liu Yan's Swellow.

"Caw?" Realizing that Ye Lan was in its arms, Swellow hurriedly loosened its wings and scooted away with a look of disgust.

"Sure enough, Grass-type Pokémon are the cutest!"

After checking the message on SuperChat and informing Liu Yan about Swellow, Ye Lan finally looked up at Swellow in the corner. "Teacher Liu Yan and the others will be coming to the ward later. Just wait here."

"Ye Lan, Manager Lin is looking for you."

A staff member called out from outside. Hearing this, Ye Lan turned and walked out of the ward. Before closing the door, he instructed them, "There's food I prepared for you on the table. If you're hungry, have something first. We're having a big meal tonight."

Cottonee waved toward the door and continued boasting to Servine about the underling it had found for it.

Back when it had been in Cheng Xiaolu's arms, it saw Servine being carried away by the medical staff and immediately became worried.

In its eyes, Servine had fought so many Pokémon and was now seriously injured. If those Pokémon recovered and came back for revenge, Cottonee was too weak. Even together with Ye Lan, it would not be able to protect Servine!

So while Liu Yan was deeply absorbed in explaining the battle, Cottonee snatched the Poké Ball from her waist. After jumping out of Cheng Xiaolu's arms, it dashed all the way here.

Everyone from Mianzhou assumed the little fellow had gone to find Ye Lan, so they did not pay it much attention.

"Cotton, cotton cotton~"

So? So? Isn't the bodyguard I got you great? Its aura is a whole major level stronger than yours~

Looking at Cottonee excitedly introducing Swellow as its "bodyguard," Servine sensed its goodwill. Though it did not understand Cottonee's actions at all, it still felt warm inside.

"Sss~" Maybe this was what Ye Lan meant by a companion. It then began explaining the rules of Trainer battles to Cottonee.

Honestly, it was not entirely Ye Lan's fault for failing to teach it properly. He had started battling almost immediately after catching Cottonee, so he simply had no time to explain these things to the little fellow.

After chattering away for a long time, Cottonee began to feel tired as well.

Looking at the bread on the table, Cottonee hopped up and picked one up, bringing it before its face.

This was bread Ye Lan had made using berry juice that Grass-type Pokémon liked. He usually used it to tide Servine over between meals, and it could also serve as emergency rations when they traveled in the future.

Since Servine could only eat liquid food right now, Cottonee planned to keep it all to itself. Just as it was about to take a bite, it noticed Swellow in the room.

"Cotton?"

Do you want to try some?