The journey went smoothly, and by the time Liu Qing returned to Mountain Spring Town, it was already evening. Beneath the setting sun, Spring Lake shimmered with dazzling golden light. As he admired the lake and the surrounding mountains, splashing water and a familiar voice caught his attention.
"You're back just in time. Well? You got your Badge, right?!" Liu Qing followed the voice, and the moment he rounded a bend, the speaker spotted him. With a faint smile, he stood up from the ankle-deep water and stepped onto the shore.
"Do you even need to ask? You certainly look relaxed, though. Didn't you say you were looking for a good fishing spot? Found one yet?" The speaker was none other than Xun Chaoze, whom he hadn't seen in about two weeks. In the lake before him, Swampert, Black Gyarados, Tentacool, Carracosta, and Swanna were all soaking quietly in the water, while a Croagunk stood on Black Gyarados's head.
"Of course I have. The competition starts tomorrow. Would I be lounging around here otherwise?" Xun Chaoze chuckled. "From what I've seen, this lake has an incredible variety of Water-type Pokémon! Oh, right, registration hasn't closed yet. Looks like you're entering too?"
"Of course. Without me competing, I doubt you'd be happy even if you won!"
"Listen to you!" Xun Chaoze feigned indignation, then added, "So what if you're entering? I'm winning this competition no matter what!"
"Have you already set your sights on some Pokémon?" Liu Qing asked curiously.
"Want to know?" Xun Chaoze asked with a grin.
"I can tell what you're going to say just from that look!" Liu Qing waved a hand, speechless. "I'm not going to ask and give you the satisfaction of turning me down. But I won't go easy on you just because you've