Pokémon: I have no choice but to do this old thing?

"Thump!"

As Milotic completed an elegant turn, Zhang Jianying completely forgot how to control his body and fell straight backward into the sea.

The salty seawater rushed in instantly, and he felt as if he had forgotten how to swim. His limbs stiffened, and he struggled to sink.

A smooth, powerful tail gently wrapped around his waist, lifting him out of the water.

"Cough! Cough cough cough..."

He lay on Milos's cold body, coughing violently, his face flushed red, whether from choking on water or something else.

Cynthia steered her surfboard to his side, leaned over, and reached out her hand. Her wet hair fell down, and water droplets slid down her beautiful neck, disappearing into her swimsuit, which was soaked with seawater and now clung to her body, outlining her full curves.

She had a bright smile on her face:

"The waves seem much bigger than I expected? Or... am I simply captivated by the view of the sea and sky?"

Looking at her smiling face so close to his, and her breathtaking figure encased in her swimsuit, Zhang Jianying's heart pounded wildly, and he couldn't utter a single word.

……

As the sun began to withdraw its last rays, it painted the sky and sea a warm golden-orange hue. The sound of the waves softened, as if providing accompaniment for this private coastal feast.

Zhang Jianying and Shirona sat side by side on the soft sand, with a crackling campfire behind them and the boundless sea sinking into twilight in front of them.

Milotic swam gracefully in the shallow waters not far away, its scales reflecting the last rays of sunlight.

The air was filled with an irresistible aroma.

The succulent ingredients are roasted until their skin is golden and crispy, and the oil drips onto the embers, creating an even more enticing smoky aroma.

Next to it was a colorful platter of various fruits, precisely cut and beautifully arranged by Gardevoir using its telekinesis. The rich, flavorful juices from the jugs shimmered in the glass.

In the shadows a little further away, Gastly crept up to Shuttle, tapping its misty claws on Shuttle's shell, its big eyes flashing with a mischievous grin as it prepared to cause trouble.

Its original plan was to, like last time, give its boss or the champion a "special tea" and see if the subtle atmosphere would produce any "interesting" chemical reaction.

However, just as it was about to act, its movement stopped.

Gastly's gaze passed over the leaping flames and landed on the two people.

It saw Cynthia tilting her head slightly, talking to Zhang Jianying. Her golden hair was being blown by the sea breeze, and a few strands playfully clung to the corners of her smiling lips, which she casually tucked behind her ear with her fingers.

In the firelight, his grey eyes no longer held their usual all-seeing depth, but instead shimmered with a soft luster.

Gastly also saw its boss, though it occasionally felt a little awkward when the other got close.

But when they talk about topics they're both interested in, their eyes light up, and even the observer can clearly feel the heartfelt resonance and joy.

The unspoken understanding and gentle warmth flowing between the two acted like an invisible barrier, separating the space around the campfire from the outside world.

Its mischievous thoughts vanished at that moment, like a sandcastle washed away by a gentle wave.

Gastly silently retracted its claws, unusually refraining from any strange laughter, and simply floated there quietly, watching this tranquil scene.

"Pfft?"

Shushu poked its head out in confusion, glanced at Gastly, then at the two people over there who were having a good time, and then at Gastly's retracted claws.

Its little head seemed to understand something; its beady eyes widened, filled with disbelief, and it hissed twice: "You actually gave up such a perfect opportunity to play a prank?"

Gastly felt a little uncomfortable under Shuttle's astonished gaze. It flicked its tongue, deliberately putting on a mysterious air, pointed over there with its paw, then pointed to its gaseous body, and then shook its finger.

The gist of it is: "The atmosphere is so good, and I'm in a good mood today, so I'll let them off the hook."

It casually picked up a few strings of perfectly roasted tree fruits from the side and offered them to the pot with its paw, indicating "Eat yours, don't think too much."

Shushu took the berry with some skepticism, taking small bites while occasionally glancing at Gastly with an expression of discovery.

Beside the campfire, Cynthia turned her head slightly, and the young man beside her had his youthful yet angular profile outlined by the firelight.

Her grey eyes appeared exceptionally deep in the twilight, reflecting the flickering light of the campfire and his silhouette.

She didn't hide her admiration; her gaze was open and honest, yet carried a perfect sense of propriety.

"The waves seem to be especially kind to you today."

She spoke, her voice softer than usual, with a hint of teasing, "It showed me a different side of you, beyond your role as a trainer."

Zhang Jianying felt that she was really struggling to withstand her older sister's effortless advances.

He took a deep breath of the salty sea breeze and tried to keep his voice steady: "It's probably because... the scenery today is indeed quite distracting."

He didn't look directly at her, but they both understood the meaning behind his words.

Cynthia smiled and smiled, but instead of asking any further questions, she moved a little closer to him.

The distance between their arms shortened to almost the point where they could feel each other's body temperature, yet they didn't actually touch.

This kind of ambiguous distance makes your heart race even more than direct contact.

"Speaking of which," Cynthia turned her gaze back to the sea sinking into the night, naturally changing the subject with the brilliance she possessed when discussing history and mythology, "I found some very interesting fragments of ancient manuscripts in the library of Canal City a while ago."

She paused, then continued, "It mentions several very ancient myths, some even poorly documented in the League archives. For example, there are three legendary Pokémon known as the 'Guardians of the Lake,' which are closely associated with concepts like wisdom, emotion, and will..."

Zhang Jianying's heart skipped a beat, realizing that she was referring to Yukshi, Emlido, and Akhnom.

He continued, "The Veiled Tales? I've also seen it mentioned in some scattered documents. It's said to be the record of an ancient swordsman who glimpsed the Inverted World and the ancient ruler—Giratina—through a special rift in Veiled City?"

Cynthia's eyes lit up instantly, as if she had discovered a rare treasure.

She leaned forward slightly, her gray eyes fixed on Zhang Jianying: "You know? There's also that book, 'Ancient Stories,' which explains the origin of the world, and 'Terrifying Myths,' which warns people not to disturb the guardians of the lake… These legends are so ancient that even many historians may not know the whole story!"

Her tone was filled with excitement and eagerness at finding like-minded people.

As a mythologist, the joy of meeting someone with whom she could delve into these obscure legends, and the resulting spiritual resonance, was far more captivating than any praise.

"It was just something I dabbled in."

Zhang Jianying smiled sheepishly, but under Cynthia's intense gaze, he continued to share his understanding of the creation myth in "Ancient Tales" and his views on some ancient allegories about the coexistence of humans and Pokémon in the three volumes of "Sinnoh Folk Tales".

By the campfire, the two immersed themselves in the world of ancient myths and legends, their eyes flickering in the firelight.

Cynthia would occasionally add details and ask questions, her eyes shining brighter than the stars in the sky.

At this moment, she is not only a champion, but also a researcher who has found a kindred spirit.

And the interactions between the Pokémon around them were equally heartwarming.

Gardevoir floated in the shadows a little further away, sensing the complex emotions in the trainer's heart, and "saw" the equally turbulent mental fluctuations on Cynthia's side. It smiled gently.

Gardevoir used its psychic powers to precisely deliver a string of perfectly roasted berries to the two of them, silently expressing its support.

Baby Dragon tried to challenge Garchomp, but was stomped on the head by the Garchomp. Despite its best efforts, it couldn't gain any advantage and ran back to play with Togekiss in frustration.

Haunter and Lucario are together again.

Gastly gestured to Zhang Jianying's embarrassing moment of falling into the water while surfing, chuckling mischievously. Lucario nodded with its arms crossed, conveying the message that the young trainer still needed experience, but its eyes also softened when it looked in the direction where its trainer was talking to Zhang Jianying.

The forest turtle, the pot-shaped rock monster, and the wedge-shaped rock monster lay in the warmest spot by the campfire, enjoying the tranquility of the night.

The Ice Goose seemed to have gotten tired of playing. It leaned against Milotic's cool, smooth body, its square ice head nodding as if it were dozing off.

As night deepened, starlight filled the deep blue sky.

Cynthia stood up, tucking her hair behind her ears, her posture still elegant, but her eyes were softer than starlight: "It was a very pleasant night."

Her gaze lingered on his face for a moment, carrying a subtle yet profound meaning.

Zhang Jianying also stood up and stood opposite her.

The sea breeze carried the faint fragrance of her hair and the warmth of the campfire.

"Thank you for your help all this time," he said sincerely, meeting her gaze openly.

Cynthia smiled slightly, her champion's confidence and feminine charm perfectly blending together at that moment.

She didn't say anything more, but just looked at him deeply, her eyes seeming to say, "I look forward to the future."

She then turned around, and with her Pokémon, her figure slowly blended into the villa's lights.

Zhang Jianying stood on the beach, gazing in the direction she had left. After a long while, he slowly exhaled.

Gardevoir quietly floated to his side, its telepathic message carrying a hint of teasing: "Looks like you've made up your mind, Swordsman?"

Zhang Jianying touched his nose, not denying it, but looked up at the brilliant starry sky with a smile on his lips.

Gardevoir stood quietly to the side, watching the stars and the sea with its trainer.