Pokémon: I just became a Gym Leader, and Cynthia proposed to me.

Chapter 703 Pikachu by the Sea

At Zhuqing City's airport, sunlight streams in through huge floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the entire waiting hall brightly and warmly.

Li Shuwen and Shirona stood in front of the security checkpoint, neither of them speaking first.

The surrounding area was filled with travelers, businessmen dragging suitcases, parents holding children, and couples reluctantly saying goodbye.

"Remember to message me when you get to Kanto," Cynthia said first, her voice softer than usual. "Don't be like last time, not contacting me for three days straight. I thought you'd been carried off by a wild Pokémon."

Li Shuwen slightly curled the corners of his mouth: "Even if you get carried away, you'll still be visited in your dreams."

Cynthia glared at him, but there was no intimidation in her eyes, only an unyielding reluctance.

"At the Quartz Conference," she paused, "I'll take care of my work and come find you."

Li Shuwen nodded.

"Let's go watch Mei Ning's match together," he said. "She's been talking about it for a long time, saying she wants to see you."

Cynthia's expression softened, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up.

"That girl..." she said softly, then fell silent again.

The two fell silent again.

Li Shuwen watched as her long golden hair shimmered softly in the sunlight, as she slightly pursed her lips, and as her usually calm and composed eyes now churned with a complex mix of emotions.

He wanted to say something.

But when those words reached my lips, they felt too light, too thin, to bear the weight of my feelings at that moment.

All I could do was reach out and gently hold her hand.

Cynthia paused for a moment, then grasped his hand in return.

Two hands clasped together, warm, real, carrying each other's warmth.

Just then.

"Cough cough."

A dry cough broke the momentary tranquility from not far away.

Li Shuwen and Cynthia turned their heads at the same time and saw a purple figure walking towards them.

Wu Song.

One of the Sinnoh Elite Four, Cynthia's colleague, a pitiful man whose face at this moment clearly showed the words "I have no will to live".

He had noticeable dark circles under his eyes, his hair was more disheveled than usual, and there were even wrinkles on his suit that he hadn't had time to smooth out.

He was carrying a briefcase, bulging with documents, so full that it was suffocating to look at it.

"Champion Cynthia." Gosho walked over, his tone as calm as if he were reciting a eulogy, "You've finally come back."

Cynthia blinked: "Gossong? Why did you come in person?"

Wusong looked at her, his gaze indescribably complex.

"Because," he said, emphasizing each word, "you dumped all the work of the past two weeks on me!"

He took a deep breath, seemingly trying to control some kind of emotion.

"I've been working overtime for two weeks straight, Champion Cynthia." His voice finally betrayed a hint of accusation. "I suspect that if you don't come back soon, I'll become the first Elite Four member in Sinnoh history to die from overwork."

Cynthia looked away somewhat guiltily.

"Um... I'm back now..."

Wusong looked at her, his eyes clearly saying, "You still know how to come back?"

Then he looked at Li Shuwen, his gaze becoming even more complicated.

"Let's go, Champion Cynthia." He turned to the side. "The car is waiting outside. If you don't leave soon, I suspect those documents will grow legs and come to you."

Cynthia gave Li Shuwen one last look.

That glance was very long.

It's so long that it seems I want to etch his image into my eyes and carry it with me until the next time we meet.

Suddenly, Cynthia tiptoed and gently kissed his lips.

It's very light.

Like a feather brushing past.

Then she took a step back, a faint blush rising on her face.

"I'm leaving." She turned and walked towards the security checkpoint.

Li Shuwen stood there, watching her retreating figure.

After taking a few steps, Cynthia suddenly turned back.

"Books and texts".

"Um?"

I will miss you.

After saying that, she turned and walked into the security checkpoint, never looking back.

Li Shuwen stood there, watching the direction they had disappeared in.

a long time.

He raised his hand and gently touched his lips.

The corners of his mouth rose slightly.

Then he turned and walked toward the boarding gate.

Kanto region, Kōjin City Airport.

Li Shuwen collected his luggage and rented a Jeep at the airport. He specifically chose this sturdy and durable vehicle because there might be some difficult roads near Zhenxin Town.

The jeep drove out of the airport and headed south along the highway.

Outside the window is the pastoral scenery of Northeast China, with vast fields of farmland, neatly arranged farmhouses, and occasionally a few Tauros leisurely grazing on the grass.

The sky was blue, the clouds were white, and everything seemed so peaceful and serene.

As soon as Li Shuwen turned off the engine of the Jeep in front of the Ooki Research Institute, he heard a lively commotion coming from inside.

Then, a group of people poured out of the research institute.

Leading the way was a girl wearing a blue T-shirt, her short pink hair bouncing in the sunlight, and her face beaming with excitement.

Li Meining, his younger sister.

Three familiar figures followed behind her.

The boy wearing a hat, Ash.

Xiao Gang, a dark-skinned young man.

Xiaoxia, a girl with orange hair.

The four of them were chatting and laughing, carrying things like swim rings, beach bags, and sunscreen, clearly looking like they were about to go out for fun.

Li Shuwen pushed open the car door and got out.

"Have fun..." Li Meining's voice abruptly stopped.

She saw Li Shuwen.

The smile on his face froze.

Xiao Zhi, Xiao Gang, and Xiao Xia also saw Li Shuwen and stopped in their tracks.

The air suddenly became quiet.

Li Shuwen leaned against the jeep, arms crossed, his gaze slowly sweeping over the faces of the four people.

His gaze was as calm as a stagnant pool, yet it sent chills down the spines of all four of them.

"You guys aren't training properly," Li Shuwen said calmly, "where are you planning to go?"

Li Meining's body was as stiff as a stone.

Her brain was racing. How could she explain things in a way that wouldn't make her brother angry?

"Um...brother..." she forced a smile, "Our training these past two days has been incredibly tough! Really! We've been training until really late every day! So today we're planning...going to the beach in the south..."

She glanced at Li Shuwen furtively, and seeing his expressionless face, quickly added:

"It's not just for fun! We're going to Binu! Yes! Binu! We'll train on the beach! A change of scenery will be more effective!"

Ash nodded vigorously from the side: "Yes, yes, yes! Training at the beach!"

Xiao Gang chimed in, "The beach is also a great training ground!"

Misty raised her hand: "I can use a Water-type Pokémon to help!"

The four of them stared at Li Shuwen, their eyes filled with anticipation.

Li Shuwen watched them for a while.

Then he asked, "Where's Shinji? Why isn't he going?"

Li Meining quickly explained, "Shinji thinks he can train in Pallet Town, and if he has any questions, he can ask Professor Oak. The pond can simulate a water-based training ground, which he thinks is sufficient."

She paused, then lowered her voice: "Besides, brother, you know Shinji has never been interested in going out to play. Sending him to the beach is less useful than letting him practice for a couple more hours."

Li Shuwen nodded and did not expose them.

"Get in the car." He opened the jeep door. "I'll drive you there."

Li Meining's eyes lit up.

"Really?! Brother, you're going too?!"

Li Shuwen glanced at her.

"Is there a problem?"

"No problem, no problem!" Li Meining darted into the passenger seat. "Quick, quick, let's go!"

Xiao Zhi and the other two quickly climbed onto the back seat.

The jeep started and drove toward the beach to the south.

Li Shuwen gripped the steering wheel, his gaze fixed on the horizon that was gradually appearing in the distance.

He remembered that there seemed to be a special Pikachu near the beach south of Pallet Town.

Let's go take a look together.

Binu Beach.

Sunshine, waves, white sand, and an endless expanse of azure sea.

Ash and his friends changed into their swimsuits and cheered as they rushed into the sea, splashing up a lot of water.

Pikachu followed Ash, excitedly leaping among the waves.

"Haha! It feels so cool!"

"Pikachu, Pikachu!"

"Ash, don't run so fast!"

Laughter echoed across the beach.

Li Meining had also changed into her swimsuit and was about to rush into the sea.

"Xiao Ning."

Li Shuwen's voice came from behind.

Li Meining paused and turned around.

Li Shuwen leaned against the jeep, a faint smile on his face.

That smile was beautiful.

But Li Meining inexplicably felt a chill down her back.

"Remember what I told you," Li Shuwen said slowly, "to use surfing for Pokémon balance training?"

Li Meining's face fell.

"Brother...aren't you here to play?"

Li Shuwen nodded: "Yes, we came here to have fun."

"Then why...?"

"Playing and training at the same time," Li Shuwen's smile deepened. "The best of both worlds."

Li Meining: "..."

She took a deep breath and sighed resignedly.

I knew it would be like this.

She walked to the beach and released two Poké Balls.

Nidoking landed with a thud, its massive purple body gleaming with the hard sheen of armor in the sunlight.

The armored tyrannosaurus followed closely behind, its thick rock armor shimmering with a faint light.

Two heavyweight Pokémon stand side by side on the beach, waiting for their trainer's instructions.

Li Meining rented two surfboards from the rental point next door and placed them on the sea.

"Come on," she said to the two Pokémon, "let's go up and give it a try."

Nidoking tilted his head and looked at the small surfboard with a skeptical expression, as if to say, "Are you sure this can support me?"

The armored tyrannosaurus was even more direct, extending its claw to poke the surfboard, causing it to shake violently and almost flip over.

Li Meining: "...Be careful!"

Under Li Shuwen's watchful gaze, the two Pokémon finally cautiously stepped onto the surfboard.

As soon as Nidoking stepped onto the surfboard, it sank down, and the seawater submerged the surface.

Quickly regaining his balance, Nidoking stepped onto the other board, causing the surfboard to shake violently. He frantically waved his arms and barely managed to steady himself.

The Ironhide Tyrannosaurus Rex wasn't in much better shape either. Its massive body, standing on the surfboard, was like a small mountain pressing down on a small boat, and it could capsize at any moment.

"Keep your balance!" Li Meining shouted from the side. "Bend your knees slightly! Lean forward! Feel the rise and fall of the waves!"

A wave crashed over us.

Nidoking's surfboard jerked upwards, and it cried out as its entire body leaned back.

"thump!"

Nidoran crashed into the sea, creating a huge splash.

The armored tyrannosaurus watched from the side, and before it could even laugh out loud, another wave crashed over it.

"thump!"

The two Pokémon fell into the water one after the other, and struggled to their feet in the sea, looking quite disheveled.

Li Meining couldn't help but laugh.

But she quickly stopped smiling and reached out her hand to them.

"Again!"

Nidoking and Tyrannosaurus Rex exchanged a glance.

Then he climbed ashore and got back on his surfboard.

Time and time again, I stood on it, and time and time again, I fell into the water. Time and time again, I fell into the water, and time and time again, I climbed up.

The sunlight shone on them, the seawater wet their skin, but their eyes grew brighter and brighter.

Li Meining stood on the shore, looking at them, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up.

"Yes, that's it! Hold on!"

"Lower your center of gravity! Bend your knees a little more!"

"Nidoking, you're too tense! Relax! Feel the waves!"

"Armored Tyrannosaurus, don't fight the waves head-on, go with the flow!"

Her voice echoed across the beach.

There was concern, encouragement, and pride in that voice.

This is her Pokémon.

This is her partner.

They trusted her and were willing to try the tasks she assigned them time and time again. She also trusted them and believed that they could definitely do it.

—This is the bond between trainers and Pokémon.

When Xiao Zhi saw this, his eyes widened immediately.

No, sister, we agreed to come and play, how could you secretly take money?

"Ash! Watch out!"

Xiao Gang's exclamation came from the sea.

Li Meining turned her head and saw Xiaozhi being knocked over by a sudden big wave, his whole body swallowed by the waves.

Pikachu struggled beside him and was also swept into the waves.

"Xiao Zhi!" Xiao Xia exclaimed.

Just then...

A figure emerged from the waves on a surfboard!

He was a dark-skinned middle-aged man whose bronze muscles gleamed in the sunlight.

His surfboard steadily sliced ​​through the crests of the waves, and he was like a king of the sea, calm and agile.

A unique Pikachu perched on his shoulder.

Her eyes were a deep, jewel-like blue.

She perched on the man's shoulder, showing no fear whatsoever, and calmly gazed at the sea.

The man bent down, reached out, grabbed Xiaozhi who was being swept up by the waves, and pulled him out of the water.

"Are you alright?" His voice was cheerful.

Xiao Zhi choked on some water and coughed violently.

Pikachu poked its head out from his arms and coughed twice.

"N-nothing...cough cough..." Xiao Zhi looked up, saw who had saved him, and his eyes lit up immediately. "Wow! Uncle, you're amazing!"

The man smiled and placed Ash and Pikachu on the shore.

"Young man, you need to watch the waves when you're surfing," he said. "That wave just now wasn't big, but it was a backwash, which could easily get you swept in."

Ash nodded repeatedly, but his eyes remained fixed on the Pikachu on the man's shoulder.

"Uncle, your Pikachu... has blue eyes!"

Pikachu looked down at Ash and softly called out, "Pika~"

That voice was more steady than that of a regular Pikachu.

Li Shuwen walked over.

His gaze fell on Maguire, scrutinizing him carefully.

"Sir," he began, "your Pikachu looks quite special."

The man turned around and looked at Li Shuwen.

His face was beaming with a sunny smile, the kind of cheerfulness and enthusiasm unique to people who spend their lives by the sea.

"Haha, you figured it out too!" He held out his hand. "My name is Min Chuan Te, and I'm the best surfer in Binu!"

Li Shuwen shook hands with him.

Min Chuan patted Maguire on the shoulder, his eyes filled with pride and affection.

"I rescued this Pikachu from the sea years ago. The waves were particularly big that day. When I was walking back after surfing, I saw it lying on a broken piece of wood, drifting with the current."

His gaze softened, as if he were recalling that special encounter.

Maguire called out at just the right moment, "Pikachu!"

Min Chuan laughed heartily.

"From then on, he followed me, and we went surfing all the waves of Binu together."

Li Shuwen nodded and said:

"Mr. Minkett, may I examine Maguire's body? Perhaps I can find out where he comes from."

Min Chuan nodded readily.

"No problem, I'd also like to know Maguire's background. Maybe there are even bigger waves waiting for us to conquer in Maguire's hometown!"

Li Shuwen stepped forward and gently placed his hand on Maguire.

Waveguide power surged in.

He closed his eyes and carefully sensed the flow of energy within Maguire's body.

Superpowers.

It's very faint, but it definitely exists.

Li Shuwen opened his eyes.

“Mr. Minkett,” he said, “Maguire should be from the Alora region.”

Min Chuan was stunned.

"Alolan?"

"That's right," Li Shuwen explained. "In the Alola region, Pikachu evolves into a special form that gains the Psychic attribute and can use its tail to surf."

He looked at Maguire.

"Maguire's superpowers are proof of that potential. The reason he loves surfing is perhaps because he has an innate instinct to dance with the waves."

Min Chuan's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

"I see...I see!" He excitedly picked up Maguire and hugged him. "No wonder you love surfing so much, you were born to surf!"