Will you release your Servine?

One Fake Out, one Shadow Claw, and the match was over.

The entire battle was so short that most of the live chat was still guessing who would win when the referee blew the whistle to signal that one side's Pokémon was unable to battle.

"I feel like Sprigatito's going to have a hard time winning. Hitmonlee is evolved, after all??? Holy shit, what just happened?"

"Holy crap, one Shadow Claw straight-up one-shot him!"

"Sprigatito: No idea. I thought he was a Caterpie, so I just slapped him dead."

"What kind of attack power is that? Even if Hitmonlee's squishy, surely he shouldn't go down in one hit?"

"Professional Trainer analysis here: Shadow Claw did most of the damage, but [High Jump Kick] has a mechanic where missing the enemy hurts the user. After using Shadow Claw, Sprigatito became a Ghost-type, immune to Fighting-type attacks, so High Jump Kick naturally couldn't connect and hit the ground instead. That made Hitmonlee's already meager health situation even worse. That said, none of this changes the fact that Sprigatito's attack power is seriously high!"

"Lmao, so he aggravated his own infected toenail with that kick and died from the recoil?"

"What happened? My girlfriend called me over to do some cooking when the match started. How was the match over as soon as I finished?"

"Does bro think he's the Flash?"

"It's okay. Three seconds is already pretty impressive."

"Lmao, Hitmonlee went down in seconds, and so did you, Quick-Draw Lee?"

"."

After all, this was the shortest match since the main tournament had begun, not to mention the unbelievable sight of a Sprigatito one-shotting a Hitmonlee.

The live chat erupted into heated discussion.

Xia Chi knew none of this, though. Having won his match and advanced smoothly to the round of sixteen, he took Sprigatito to the professional medical room provided by Hongqiao Arena.

Sprigatito had only taken damage from Fake Out during the entire match.

But even the smallest injury needed treatment. What if that single sliver of health came back to bite them in the afternoon match?

He walked into the medical room and handed the young doctor Sprigatito's Poké Ball. Suddenly, he spotted someone unexpected out of the corner of his eye: Lin Lange.

She was sitting in the medical room's waiting area, looking at her phone, most likely waiting for Servine's treatment to finish as well.

Actually, it wasn't that surprising. Xia Chi's match had ended quickly, so running into Lin Lange, who had only just finished hers, in the medical room made perfect sense.

Xia Chi made no particular effort to avoid her. He simply sat down near his "ex-wife," leaving a polite distance of two seats between them.

Then he watched the next match's livestream. Its winner would be his opponent that afternoon.

"Thank you for catching Sprigatito."

A cool voice suddenly reached his ears.

Xia Chi pretended not to hear and kept looking down at his phone.

The breathing beside him grew a little heavier. Xia Chi could even sense the girl turning to stare at him.

Xia Chi curled his lip disdainfully. He had no intention of indulging a rude "Gym Leader's daughter" or "campus goddess."

After staring at him for a while, Lin Lange realized he really wouldn't speak unless she addressed him.

With a hint of resignation, she said, "Xia Chi, I'm talking to you."

"Oh, you were talking to me?"

Xia Chi looked up as though he had only just realized, his expression innocent. "I thought you were on a call. Bluetooth earbuds or something. You didn't actually say my name, right?"

His mild words carried a barb, but Lin Lange couldn't even lose her temper. Both reason and etiquette were on his side.

As for throwing a fit just because she was his senior?

The Donghuang Region wasn't like Kanto or Johto, where social hierarchies had become downright pathological.

Naturally, she couldn't say something like, "Xia Chi, do you think your senior's cup is going to refill itself?"

Lin Lange took a deep breath to steady herself. "Xia Chi, I truly am grateful that you caught Sprigatito."

Xia Chi nodded. "And I truly am grateful that you abandoned Sprigatito. Otherwise, how would I have found such a perfect partner?"

Xia Chi could swear that every word came straight from his heart, entirely sincere and without the slightest trace of sarcasm.

Lin Lange clearly didn't think so. She only felt that he was mocking her lack of judgment, and her expression instantly turned cold.

Completely unconcerned by the sudden chill in the air, Xia Chi continued, "By the way, if you lose later, will you release Servine?"

Lin Lange's mood had hit rock bottom.

She turned to stare at Xia Chi and said in a low voice, "I didn't give up on Sprigatito because of that match I lost... Forget it. You wouldn't understand. You think your approach to raising Pokémon is the right one, do you? What gives you the right-"

"No, no, no. Don't get me wrong."

Xia Chi hurriedly interrupted her. "I don't care why you abandoned Sprigatito, and I have no intention of criticizing your approach to raising Pokémon, much less changing it. I just wanted to ask..."

After a pause, he said a little sheepishly, "Could you tell me where you release Servine when the time comes? I think you've raised that Servine pretty well too."

Bang!

Before Xia Chi could finish, Lin Lange shoved her chair aside, stood up, and walked away.

"Hey, contestant Lin Lange! Your Servine!"

The young nurse called loudly after her. In the end, the girl returned with a dark expression to collect her Poké Ball, then shot Xia Chi a vicious glare before storming off.

"She could at least give me a straight answer about whether she'll tell me."

Xia Chi muttered under his breath.

He really did want that Servine.

Not only could he build a Grass-type synergy, but with Serperior's speed after evolving, he might even put together a [Speedy Attacker] synergy. It couldn't have been more perfect.

As for criticizing Lin Lange's approach to raising Pokémon, that was a colossal misunderstanding.

Xia Chi was no bleeding heart.

"Contestant Xia Chi, your Sprigatito's treatment is finished too."

The nurse's call interrupted Xia Chi's thoughts.

"Oh, great. Thank you."

Taking the Poké Ball she handed him, Xia Chi returned to his contestant lounge.

As Shanghai's premier rookie tournament, the Shanghai Pokémon Cup provided excellent services for its contestants.

Lunch was delivered by staff, with extra servings available, and fresh Berries and high-quality Pokéblocks were supplied without limit.

Xia Chi and Sprigatito treated the place like an all-you-can-eat buffet and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

So much so that Sprigatito's belly was still bulging when the second match of the afternoon began. It nearly cost them the match.

Regardless, their opponent's Haunter ultimately failed to stop Xia Chi and Sprigatito from claiming victory.

After they advanced to the final eight, their quarterfinal match in the Shanghai Pokémon Cup would take place the following weekend.

First, this gave the contestants' Pokémon plenty of time to rest.

Second, what normal person went to watch a tournament on a workday?

"I'm back."

"Meow!"

After the tournament, Xia Chi and Sprigatito didn't stay at Hongqiao Arena for dinner. Instead, they headed straight back to the dorm.

Poor Misdreavus must have been bored at home all day.

The moment he opened the door, a rich aroma of smoked meat greeted him.

At the dining table in the living room, Chen Zhenze and his Clefairy were drooling uncontrollably over a huge slab of beef ribs glistening enticingly on the table.

As soon as Xia Chi entered, Chen Zhenze called out, "Dad, you're finally back! Go wash your hands, then come eat."

Xia Chi: "."

Wait, did Misdreavus get you possessed?

(Today's follow-up readership is really important. Please, I'm begging you!)