"Interested in entering the Academy Tournament?"
Zhuo Yue patted Chu Xin on the shoulder and smiled at the boy.
Feeling the weight on his shoulder, Chu Xin helplessly reached up to push Zhuo Yue's hand away. But Zhuo Yue was far too strong. No matter how hard Chu Xin tried, he couldn't budge it, so he could only sigh and look at him.
"I'd like to enter the Academy Tournament too. It'd be great to compete in something like that, but I'm nowhere near your level. I'm not sure I'm strong enough to make the team yet."
Chu Xin was right. He was strong now, but only compared with others his age, like Zhuo Xing. Against a true expert like Zhuo Yue, he was still far too weak.
Chu Xin had won every battle he faced before, and without realizing it, he had begun to grow cocky. His trip to Wudang Mountain for the Kendo Championship was the perfect example. He had always believed in giving every match his best, yet he had been arrogant when he fought Genjiro. Although he had won in the end, only now, looking back, could he see just how conceited he had been.
His experience in the Third Nature Reserve had been incredibly dangerous, but it had also helped Chu Xin settle his mind.
The Team Rocket members who had tried to kill Chu Xin had all been at Gym Leader level, and he had given his all in every fight against them. Yet whether it was the woman he had encountered among the Nidoran group or the two Team Rocket members who had chased him afterward, all Chu Xin could do was flee. He had never stood a chance of fighting them.
Only this setback had made Chu Xin fully understand his own