A strong gust swept past. Liu Qing turned his head slightly and nodded toward empty space, then pressed the accelerator and sped toward Fine Wave Town. He did not return home until evening. As it happened, that same day, Cynthia had met Ash and his companions while buying Beartic ice cream in Virbank City. When Ash learned that Cynthia had come to take part in an exhibition battle at the Junior Cup, he declared that he would enter too, and followed her to the villa in Fine Wave Town.
"Ash, Nana told me you've earned your Eight Badges. Congratulations!" After entering the living room, Liu Qing sat beside Cynthia and accepted the coffee Jeremy handed him with a small smile.
"Thanks!" Ash was clearly delighted about earning his Eight Badges. After a pause, he added, "It's a shame you aren't entering tournaments anymore, though. Otherwise, we'd be rivals!"
"Ash, you know Mr. Liu Qing too? According to my information, he's already qualified to challenge the Kanto Elite Four Champion. There are even rumors that his true strength is more than enough to make him a League Champion!" exclaimed a boy beside them, dressed formally, with green hair and green eyes.
"Liu Qing and I have known each other since Kanto, and we always challenged the same League. But after our journeys in Sinnoh ended, he stopped taking on League challenges," Ash explained.
"You look as energetic as ever, Ash. Pikachu too!" Liu Qing nodded slightly, then looked at the green-haired boy who had just spoken and the dark-skinned girl. "These two must be your traveling companions in Unova?"
"I... I'm Cilan, a Pokémon Connoisseur!" the green-haired Cilan introduced himself, stammering nervously.
"Um, my name is Iris, and this is my partner, Axew!" The dark-skinned girl, who had been watching him