The night passed uneventfully, and before long, the next day arrived. As ceremonial fireworks shot into the sky, Sunyshore Town's Hot Air Balloon Race finally began. The starting point was a vast grassy plain, where more than twenty hot air balloons stood while the competitors made their final checks.
"Today's race could be really exciting. Give it your best, Liu Qing, and put yesterday's training to use. I believe that if you do, you can win even if this is your first Hot Air Balloon Race!" Nurse Joy stood beside Liu Qing with Chansey, offering encouragement once he finished checking the connecting ropes and the balloon's integrity, airtightness, heat resistance, and other crucial points.
"I hope you're right, Nurse Joy. I'll do my best!" Liu Qing gave an inward, wry smile. He could already imagine what a disastrous combination it would be: his first time competing, aboard a hot air balloon Nurse Joy had only just operated for the first time herself.
"Then I can rest easy. I'll head to the finish line now and wait for you!" With that, Nurse Joy left with Chansey.
"Is this your first Hot Air Balloon Race too? Same here!" a competitor beside Liu Qing suddenly said from a Vespiquen-shaped balloon.
Liu Qing turned toward the voice. The speaker looked about seventeen or eighteen, with flowing black hair and long bangs half covering his right eye. He wore a fairly close-fitting black outfit dotted with faint silver-blue patterns, like a sea of stars in the night sky, giving him an air of mystery.
"My name's Xinghui. I was lucky enough to watch your battle a couple of days ago. It was incredible. I was one of the people who wanted to challenge you, but I gave up on that since you had to prepare