But he had studied so much literature before and had found nothing about Jirachi in any of it. Why did Ye Qing know about it?
Wang Yao returned to the hotel with a host of questions, hoping to find some clues online.
Lying in bed, Ye Qing opened his Moments feed and saw that his mother had gone straight into flood mode, posting nine videos of his matches in one go-a full ninefold return to the source.
Then came a barrage of sixty-second voice messages. He did not even need to open them to know what she wanted to say.
To prepare for tomorrow's round of 32, Ye Qing hastily sent a few replies and got ready for bed early.
The next day.
Dark clouds filled the sky, and scattered snowflakes drifted down.
A biting wind howled past. The bad weather over the past few days had prompted the spectators in the arena to put on extra layers.
As the competition grew fiercer, the crowd's enthusiasm rose with it. Even those with headaches or fevers endured them to keep watching.
"The competition has now reached the round of 32, and by the end of today, the eight quarterfinalists will be decided."
The host was still riding on Noivern's back, shivering in the cold wind overhead.
"Chirp!"
Just as the matches were about to begin, a vast cry suddenly rang out from the volcano on Champion Island!
The sky trembled, and the dark clouds scattered.
Fiery-red wind spread outward from the volcano's summit. Wherever it passed, the clouds retreated and the snowflakes evaporated. In the blink of an eye, the blazing red sun emerged again.
"Ho-Oh?"
At the sight of such a miracle, the entire crowd erupted, all looking toward the volcano.
It took a long while for everyone to