Aspiring to become a Pokémon trainer

"Hearing that you were coming, Master Ma and his wife have been waiting at the martial arts school for a long time. Please follow me."

Leading the two outside, the girl didn't forget to introduce herself and the history of the martial arts school as she walked.

"Our martial arts school has a very deep history. Even the champion Dan Di once knelt down and became a disciple of Master Ma. Therefore, the difficulty is not low. Even if you become a king, you must be prepared to fail and be disappointed."

"That's natural. Those who hold a dismissive attitude are destined to go nowhere."

Clara was startled by these solemn words and withdrew her subsequent attempts to dissuade her.

She had just heard the fairy tale between her master and the Pill Emperor from the silver-haired girl in front of her.

Sharp-minded and decisive, he once defeated a legendary Pokémon head-on; just these words alone make one's heart tremble.

Her dream is to become the head of a dojo with poison attributes. If such a powerful guy comes to the dojo, won't he outshine her?

"That's true, but, however..."

The lower her voice became, the more a sense of insecurity welled up inside her, choking her.

"Little Lala, snap out of it."

It's a deep, resonant bass voice, yet it doesn't lack vitality.

"Master, Master, you've arrived?!"

Clara easily recognized the man's voice. Looking up, she caught a glimpse of the old man's back.

"Yes, it's okay."

Leaning on his cane and with a hunched back, Mastedt slowly walked up to the two girls.

"Nanyin, Ke'erni, may I call you that?"

His lips were slightly upturned, a kind smile.

"As long as the old gentleman finds it convenient, that's fine with him."

Nan Yin has never cared about this. She came here with the intention of learning the craft, and arrogance is an inappropriate attitude.

"Haha, no need to be so respectful. This old man doesn't have any special skills. I'm getting old, so teaching students and enjoying a peaceful retirement is my only hobby."

With a smile on his face and his hands behind his back, the old man seemed to have a glimpse of the past in his eyes.

"Speaking of which, although it was Dan Di who introduced the two of them, that stubborn old man Cocobul actually had some friendship with me when he was young."

"You still recognize Grandpa!"

Upon hearing this, Korni immediately widened her eyes, her expression showing surprise.

"No matter how unfamiliar we are, we are still trainers who have studied in the same field. As we battle, we all end up getting along well. However, he is very stubborn, and even now, he probably hasn't let go of that stubbornness."

"Grandpa is like that, naturally he's not as open-minded and cheerful as you."

The young girl naturally couldn't get a word in edgewise when her elders were praising or criticizing her, and could only helplessly agree with a few words.

"I wouldn't call myself magnanimous. I've just been watching the development of Galar and I know that if you want to become stronger, you have to adapt to these ever-changing things. If you don't know how to adapt, you'll eventually fall behind, and if you're too stubborn about the past, you'll also fall behind."

Masted stroked his gray beard, his gaze fixed on the undulating waves in the distance.

"However, some things will never change—such as the passion during battles and the deep bond between Pokémon and their trainers."

He turned and pointed to the towering waterfall behind the martial arts school, where the rushing water refracted different colors of light under the sunlight.

"The most precious thing about the Isle of Armor is not the Max Soup, but the land where trainers and Pokémon can grow together."

Overwhelmed with emotion, the old man turned and left, leaving behind only one last thought.

“Nanyin, Ke'erni, the martial arts school is just ahead. I have some things to attend to here. Your master's wife is waiting inside to welcome you, so there's no need to worry.”

"Okay, then we'll head out first."

As their footsteps grew lighter, the girls' figures gradually receded into the distance and faded from view.

It was at this moment that Mastedt spoke up, uttering a question towards the empty space behind him.

"How did you feel about those two girls?"

"Beh..."

A short but spirited gray-white figure leaped out—it was a little bear, worthy only of wearing a headscarf, full of fighting spirit.

It shook its head, pondered for a moment, then nodded, looking rather contradictory.

"Did you see satisfaction and happiness on her Pokémon face? Then continue to observe. The choice is yours, and I will not speak up to influence your judgment."

Mastedt bent down and patted the little bear on the shoulder, saying nothing, yet conveying his patience.

Chapter 251 Battle Against Mast

"Welcome to our big family, Nan Yin, and Ke Er Ni."

Before even stepping into the martial arts gym, a pleasant and friendly female voice rang out from nearby. A tall woman with a smile on her face slowly walked up to the two girls.

Unlike the aged-looking Mastedt, the woman in front of him was quite young.

She looked to be only in her thirties, with dark brown hair and bangs that reached just to her neck, giving her a free and simple look.

With light blue eyeshadow and a beautiful face, if it weren't for the dark sweater that concealed her, one couldn't see a trace of weariness.

"Ah."

Accompanied by her friend, Nan Yin bowed slightly and greeted her.

"Don't be so reserved. Whatever the reason, now that you're here, just treat the martial arts school as your temporary home."

Seeing the girl's polite demeanor, the woman didn't say anything, but her eyebrows and eyes relaxed slightly.

“My name is Miye, and I should be considered your teacher’s wife. Of course, learning skills is up to oneself, not others, so you can just call me teacher’s wife in daily life.”

With her hands outstretched and her gaze glancing at Clara standing to the side, Honey Leaf continued.

"I think you already know her. This is Clara, a very hardworking girl."

Suppressing her thoughts, the woman did not reveal the truth.

Clara, as a trainee, is a bit jealous and sometimes slacks off in training. She's also a bit childish. But saying things in public is too ruthless. It not only hurts the other person's feelings but also disrupts the harmonious atmosphere in the gym, which is not good.

"...Huh?"

Clara was surprised and puzzled when she heard praise instead of the expected praise.

Her face flushed slightly, the girl covered her face and looked away hurriedly.

"The students here are all very straightforward, so there's no need to keep a straight face. Come in, the smell of sweat is a bit strong, so please bear with it for a moment."

Watching Clara's figure run further and further away, Honey Leaf simply raised her lips slightly and smiled softly.

It is a gentle curve.

Pushing open the door, the narrow field of vision expands.

The first thing that catches the eye is the dazzling array of training equipment and a group of students engrossed in it, ranging in age from twenty or thirty to seven or eight.

Contrary to what the woman said, the smell of sweat in the room was not strong; on the contrary, the fragrance of bamboo and wood was more prominent.

The sound of the door being flipped open was not quiet, but few of the trainees who were still training looked up or cast a concerned glance. Even though their clothes were soaked with sweat, not one of them stopped.

"Focus is the first lesson in martial arts. If the mind is restless, the punches will be scattered."

Miye led them through the long corridor to a tea room with a strong Japanese atmosphere. Low tables were placed on the tatami mats, and the aroma of tea was refreshing and pleasant.

"Take a rest first, and I'll show you around later." Mi Ye smiled as she poured tea for the two of them. "Although Master Ma seems easygoing, once you've joined the martial arts school and have the heart to learn, he treats everyone the same, regardless of their status."

"Of course." Nan Yin took the teacup and took a small sip.

The tea soup is slightly bitter, with a long-lasting sweet aftertaste, making it an excellent light tea.

Korni looked around curiously, her gaze falling on a calligraphy and painting hanging on the wall—'Mind and Skill as One,' the brushstrokes vigorous and powerful, revealing the sedimentation of time.

“This is Master Ma’s handwriting.” Mi Ye explained, following her gaze, “The core philosophy of the martial arts school is that only through the fusion of mind and skill can true power be unleashed.”

“Just like the bond between the trainer and the Pokémon during Mega Evolution.” Korrina nodded thoughtfully.

Unlike her friend, Nan Yin's gaze lingered on the photograph below the calligraphy and painting—a young Ma Shide standing side by side with a martial arts bear master, against the backdrop of the turbulent coast of Armor Island.

"Madam, that Pokémon..."

“It…” A hint of nostalgia flashed in Honey Leaf’s eyes. “It was Master Ma’s first partner, a martial arts bear master, who now lives in seclusion on the other side of the island, cultivating his skills. Having experienced so much, he is content with peace and doesn’t like to get involved in events anymore.”

A gentle breeze blew in, and suddenly a commotion arose outside the door. With a dull thud, something heavy seemed to have fallen to the ground.

"Here we go again." Honey Leaf sighed and rubbed her forehead. "You guys sit down first, I'll go take a look."

As soon as she opened the door, a blond boy stumbled in. He was covered in mud and was carrying a dazed, electric baby.

"Master, Master's wife!" The blond boy looked up, panting, and flashed a bright smile. "I've finished repairing the special training grounds on the back mountain!"

"Saibaoli!" The brown-haired beauty quickly handed over a towel. "How many times have I told you, you need to wear waterproof clothing when cleaning up silt!"

"Hehe, it's inconvenient to move around in that." The boy named Sai Baoli scratched his head, then noticed the unfamiliar faces in the tea room. "Ah, are you a new student?"

His eyes lit up when he saw Nan Yin: "Is this young lady also here to learn martial arts? If you need a sparring partner, feel free to contact me anytime!"

"Hey!" Korni immediately raised her arm and shoved in like a meerkat protecting its cubs. "Nanyin, I'm enough to keep you company!"

Saiboli was bewildered by the sudden hostility. Miye coughed lightly at the right moment: "These two are guests staying at the martial arts school temporarily, Nanyin and Ke'erni. Saiboli, go take a shower first and then come over."

After the boy left, Mi Ye shook her head with a wry smile: "This child is the most diligent student in the martial arts school, but he's a bit... overly enthusiastic."

"I can tell." Nan Yin smiled slightly, not because of the former's enthusiasm, but because her heart was blooming with joy at her friend's concern.

"I'm glad you can understand. Master Ma has already arrived in the backyard."

Following the lead of the former, they walked together through the bamboo path behind the martial arts school. As the sound of water grew louder, a magnificent waterfall suddenly appeared before them. The rushing water cascaded down from a cliff a hundred meters high, stirring up white waves at the bottom of the pool. Ma Shide stood with his hands behind his back on a huge rock by the pool, as if he had been waiting for a long time.

“Girls, I have already heard the reason why you came to study. However, to have already achieved the position of Heavenly King at the age of marriage is indeed an extraordinary achievement.”

"Ordinary topics may not be of much meaning to you, but I would like to ask, what areas do you feel you still lack? Or, what kind of knowledge do you most want to acquire?"

Upon hearing this, Nan Yin gave her answer without hesitation; she knew her own child perfectly well.

"Supporting the main output moves, or creating an environment to force the opponent to retreat."

Satisfied with the girl's answer, the old man smiled kindly and strode towards the center of the front courtyard.

“I watched all the matches that were shown on screen. Just like what Dan said, even though your partner, Nan Yin, has not yet reached his peak, the specific system has already been established. Psychic field, rotation and substitution, magic manipulation, rock spikes and scale powder, forcing the opponent to fall into their own rhythm, thus making it impossible to make up for the unevenness time and time again.”

"You are indeed very talented. You are experienced, mature, calm, and warm-hearted. You don't seem like a trainer who has only been in the industry for a year. This is great. It is gratifying that the new generation of young people are so successful. But observation can never compare to actual combat."

"Let's have a match. I'll take this opportunity to test your strength."

It was a straightforward and decisive challenge.

"It's impossible."

Chapter 252 Martial Arts Master Xiong

Even though the opponent was an undefeated champion for the past ten years, Nan Yin showed no fear whatsoever.

Rather, it was precisely because of her status as an old woman that she had a stronger fighting spirit.

What exactly is the difference between a Champion and a Master? How can one flexibly adjust tactics to remain invincible when facing different trainers? Even with memories of her past life, Nan Yin cannot guarantee victory against those renowned champions, such as Dan and Cynthia.

Therefore, real-world experience is the best way to test yourself.

The thin mist stirred up by the pool reflected iridescent colors in the sunlight. Ma Shide unbuttoned his outer robe, casually tossing aside his martial arts uniform to reveal his lean upper body wrapped in the inner lining.

"The rules are simple—" the old man stamped his slipper, "four-on-four doubles, until all of one side's Pokémon are unable to battle."

Nan Yin nodded, her fingertips brushing against the ball at her waist, while Eevee lightly leaped down from her shoulder, its ribbon wrapping around the girl's wrist and gently tugging.

"Buyi!"

It is a petition challenging us to a duel.

"Next time, Eevee." She lowered her gaze, gently rubbed the little guy's pointed ears, and silently apologized.

As soon as the thought was transmitted, Egui Peng and Scorpion King, who were still admiring the fighting equipment, immediately put down their curiosity and stood in front of the young lady.

"The Mythical Pokémon that just logged in is really not to be underestimated. This old man is a little scared."