Pokémon: I picked up a reborn Eevee at the start of the game.

On a luxury minibus from Funan University, a representative enthusiastically introduced the city to guests who had traveled from the capital.

"Because of the mountainous terrain, Funan is one of the few cities in the Donghuang region that does not prohibit flying. However, everyone needs to take a simple test to obtain a city flying spirit riding certificate. There is a test center in our school, so interested students can take the test. It is quite convenient."

The novel local laws sparked quiet discussions among the students, most of whom had never been here before, and they seemed quite interested.

But this doesn't include Xia Chen, because he still can't fly—no, his spirit still can't carry him.

Hearing the excited discussions around him, he felt a little depressed as his wounds were reopened.

Groudon, I understand your pain!

Dorgonmesia, who was perched on Xia Chen's head, sensed the trainer's emotions and ran down to circle around Xia Chen to comfort him.

He flew back to Xia Chen and waved his little paws.

Once I evolve, I can take you flying!

Meanwhile, Zoroah was pondering another question: if Xia Chen obtained a Devil Fruit with a move like [Flying] or [Electromagnetic Levitation], would he be able to fly after eating it?

Xia Chen had no idea what the elves were thinking. He was holding the portable incubator containing the GooBaby elf egg and looking out the window at the scenery.

Actually, once the egg enters the normal incubation period, it no longer needs Fairy Cloth to supply life energy. The due date is still far away, so it's fine to leave it in Shangjing to be cared for by Long Yue and the others.

But Xia Chen knew that the sticky baby inside the egg could hear the sounds of the outside world, so he decided to bring it with him to Funan.

Although it has not yet been born, it is already my own spirit, and I cannot show favoritism to one over the other.

…………

After about an hour's ride in the minibus, Xia Chen and his group finally arrived at their destination, Funan University.

Unlike Kyoto University, which is located in the bustling city center of Kyoto, Funan University is located in a more remote suburb.

Nestled against mountains and beside water, far from the hustle and bustle, the campus is also unusually large.

The minibus drove for quite a while after entering the school gate before taking Xia Chen and the others to their temporary accommodation.

Because the school itself is large, compared to the team dormitory area of ​​Kyoto University, this place is larger and has a better environment.

Guests from Beijing couldn't help but compare their dormitories to their own, which led to a barrage of complaints and grumbles.

However, it was mainly those few guys who raised the ground rocks and steel-type giant beasts who were complaining.

For a trainer like Xia Chen, whose largest Pokémon is Milotic, the living space is still quite spacious.

After getting off the bus, everyone first gathered at the dormitory of the team leader, Lin Quan.

She first introduced the arrangements for this trip to Funan.

"Let me reiterate the competition schedule and format. The qualifying rounds will be from the 10th to the 15th, using a double-elimination system. Out of three to four hundred participants, only sixty-four will advance to the main tournament. After a two-day break, the main tournament will begin. Note that once you enter the main tournament, it will be a single-elimination system with sudden death."

The rules are simple, and Xia Chen and the others already knew them; emphasizing them once was enough.

Afterwards, Teacher Lin Quan said a few more words about urging everyone to be united and friendly and not to cause trouble, and then let them go back.

The participants in the competition are all seasoned seniors with excellent self-management skills.

As for the underage person who had sneaked in, Teacher Lin Quan made a special exception and kept him behind to say a few more words.

After Xia Chen answered all the questions, Lin Quan let him go back to his dormitory.

Although Funan University is not as strong as Kyoto University, it is still one of the best universities in the southwest of the Donghuang region. Its accommodation and training facilities are no worse than those of Kyoto University.

Coupled with the rather quiet and elegant scenery around them, Xia Chen and the elves were quite satisfied after taking a stroll.

After putting away my luggage and settling into the room, it was almost dinnertime.

Since they had just arrived and didn't know where to get ingredients, Xia Chen decided to take the elves to experience the cafeteria at Funan University.

They went in high spirits, but left in disgrace.

Xia Chen and his elves ordered a total of ten dishes, almost all of which were bright red at first glance.

They put eggplant in every dish they cook!

Even Milotic, who is not picky about food, couldn't stand it anymore after a while, so Xia Chen had to buy some Energy Cubes for the Pokémon to eat.

But who knew that the energy cubes you could buy here were all spicy?

Upon looking at the packaging, he saw four large characters printed on the outside: "Special Supply from Funan".

Xia Chen had no choice but to lead the elves in retreat.

…………

On his way back to the dormitory, Xia Chen was thinking about how to get some ingredients when a fragrant aroma suddenly wafted into his nose.

The chef's nose was exceptionally sharp, and Xia Chen immediately realized that this person's culinary skills were quite good!

Following the scent, Xia Chen finally arrived at a dormitory building.

As luck would have it, it was right next door to me.

The second seed is naturally next to the first seed, so... is this Populus euphratica's dormitory?

Xia Chen was surprised. He didn't expect that someone with thick eyebrows and big eyes like you would also be a chef!

Xia Chen rang the doorbell, intending to ask Hu Yang where he bought his groceries.

A short while later, the dormitory door was opened.

The man who opened the door was burly and had a smiling face, but his eyes were red as if he hadn't slept well. It was none other than Hu Yang's ace Pokémon, Gengar.

"Gengar?"

The purple-clad fat man wasn't as ferocious outside the battlefield; instead, he looked rather adorable and innocent, tilting his head and asking Xia Chen what he was doing there.

Xia Chen smiled and replied, "Oh, I wanted to ask where you bought your groceries?"

"Sana~ (The food here is too spicy, we want to cook it ourselves.)"

Gardevoir, standing next to Xia Chen, patiently added to what her trainer hadn't finished expressing.

Gengar remembered the person who had come from the capital with them. As the saying goes, you can rely on friends when you're away from home. After thinking for a moment, it let Xia Chen and the others in.

A gentle voice came from inside the house, "Gengar, who's here?"

"Gengar!"

Gengar darted back to deliver the message, as if Hu Yang could truly understand it.

Hu Yang opened the door and saw Xia Chen and Shanaduo walking into the courtyard, and he showed a rather surprised expression.

Out of politeness, he invited, "Would you like to grab something to eat?"

Xia Chen paused for a moment, then subconsciously replied, "Okay."

Ok?

I just came to ask a question, how did I end up getting a free meal?

…………

Xia Chen didn't know why he ended up sitting at the dining table in Hu Yang's dormitory. Maybe it was because Hu Yang had a kind of approachable quality about him.

Anyway, while enjoying Hu Yang's cooking, Xia Chen chatted with him casually.

First and foremost, of course, is Xia Chen's biggest concern: grocery shopping.

"Well, since my Pokémon are used to eating my cooking, I cook for myself when I go out to compete. The team leader knows this, and the school arranges for the Pokémon to deliver the food regularly. You can just talk to Ms. Koizumi."

Xia Chen nodded in realization. Is this the status of the top dog at Shanghai University?

No way, I want to be a school bully too.

Having made up his mind, Xia Chen decided to go and talk to Teacher Lin Quan about this later.

Wait, why did he just call Lin Quan "Teacher Xiao Quan"? What kind of weird verbal tic is that?

Taking a bite of the tender and juicy pork chop, Xia Chen silently complained to himself.

To be fair, Hu Yang's cooking is quite delicious, at least 70% as good as his own.

This is not boasting; Xia Chen's culinary skills are hailed as the "Cooking World's Herona."

Although this title was only recognized by Xia Chen, Shirona herself, and Gadria.

In short, Xia Chen, who had just eaten half a meal, filled his stomach to full capacity here.

Gardevoir ate gracefully beside her, and by all accounts, she had eaten quite a bit.

Finally, naturally, there wasn't enough food. Sylveon and Milotic looked at the bewildered Poplar elves and gave them embarrassed smiles.

In the past, it was always other people's elves coming to their house for a free meal, but occasionally the roles were reversed, and it felt quite strange.

Seeing this, Hu Yang went into the kitchen to prepare some more food, and Xia Chen felt embarrassed and went over to help.

Hu Yang knew that this junior was also a food vlogger, so he didn't refuse.

In the kitchen, the two cooks chatted about their culinary skills and daily routines of raising elves, and the atmosphere grew increasingly harmonious.

After talking, the two discovered that they had many common interests.

For example, furry, furry, and furry things.

After the meal, Xia Chen felt that Hu Yang was one of the people he got along best with at Beijing University.

After all, he hadn't spent much time at school in the past six months, and basically didn't know anyone.

…………

After meal.

"Interested in a match?"

This was Hu Yang's suggestion; as a trainer, battling is undoubtedly the best post-meal activity to aid digestion.

Xia Chen would certainly not refuse the invitation from the pastry chef.

It seems that, apart from the teachers, there is no one stronger than Hu Yang on this campus.

Xia Chen readily accepted the challenge.

Night always falls earlier in winter; it was only a little before seven o'clock, but it was already pitch black outside the window.

Although there was a fairly large battlefield in the dormitory courtyard, it was pitch black without any large lights, making it impossible to fight.

After discussing it, the two took their Pokémon to the battle arena in the school team dormitory area to fight.