boyutpedia Chapter 121 Zhao Qingshuang, with Outstanding Strength
Chapter 121 Zhao Qingshuang, with Outstanding Strength
Chapter 121 Zhao Qingshuang, with Outstanding Strength
Zhao Qingshuang, who was talked about and respected by everyone, was not training at the moment.
She was in a private room at a quiet and elegant restaurant in Xinyuan City. Besides her, there were four other women sitting around her: Zhao Yan, Li Qingqing, Shen Yu'er, and her aunt, Zhao Lan, the director of the Emergency Response Bureau.
The atmosphere was completely different from the somber atmosphere of the training ground; instead, it was somewhat warm and homely, though a complex emotion was subtly woven in.
Li Qingqing picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and said to Zhao Qingshuang with lingering fear.
"Qing Shuang, if you're going to face that Hong You, don't be careless. This afternoon, I was completely overwhelmed by his Gyarados. Even if Snorlax tried to trade blows, it couldn't. That power is too overwhelming."
Unlike her aloof and unapproachable demeanor during the competition, Zhao Qingshuang's temperament is much gentler in private, though her eyes remain clear and bright.
She smiled and said, "Thank you, Qingqing. I watched the video, and its attack power is indeed astonishing. However, Xiaobing and I are also confident."
His tone was calm, yet it conveyed an undeniable certainty.
She gently stroked the smitten-lipped "Xiao Bing" sitting quietly beside her, her eyes closed in rest. The confidence that stemmed from her absolute strength and deep bond was naturally revealed.
Zhao Yan nodded in agreement, "I also think Qing Shuang can win. When I battled Hong You today, he relied more on Gyarados's instincts and overwhelming power; his command and adaptability were far inferior to Qing Shuang's."
Three trainers from Xinyuan City made it into the top 16 this time, but today's two matches were against Hong You. Zhao Yan and Li Qingqing were eliminated one after another, leaving only Zhao Qingshuang as the sole survivor.
This result left many proud and arrogant local supporters of Xinyuan City somewhat disappointed.
But Zhao Qingshuang's existence is like a pillar of stability.
Before the competition, some people might have murmured about her ranking of 255th in the main event, but after seeing her easy and almost crushing way to the finals, all doubts turned into deeper expectations and awe. Even the local trainers knew about Zhao Qingshuang's strength early on and had long regarded her as their leader.
Seeing her niece's calm demeanor, Zhao Lan deliberately put on a stern face to dampen her enthusiasm.
"Already thinking about the finals? Tomorrow is the semi-finals. Liu Yu and Big Wolf from Rongcheng are not easy to deal with. Be careful not to be caught off guard and get upset. Let's see what you do then."
Zhao Qingshuang glanced at her aunt, a slight smile playing on her lips, but her words left Zhao Lan speechless.
"So what if we lost? If Grandpa hadn't insisted that I participate, I would have preferred to take Xiaobing back to the snow mountain to continue analyzing the cold-resistant gene sequences of the fruits on the snowfield."
She spoke in a relaxed tone, as if she were talking about something that had nothing to do with her.
"What's the point of winning a championship compared to developing a new grain that can be stably produced in high-altitude, cold regions?"
Zhao Lan was speechless for a moment after hearing this, and could only glare at her.
She knew all too well her niece's stubbornness and her tendency to "go against the grain."
Back then, Zhao Qingshuang applied to an agricultural university with top scores, which infuriated her father, Zhao Zheng, who wanted her to go into politics.
Only after the old man Zhao Jun spoke did the family refrain from forcibly intervening, but Zhao Zheng also cut off her financial support and ordered the family not to help her.
Zhao Qingshuang completed her studies through scholarships and part-time jobs, and distinguished herself in plant research. After graduation, she was exceptionally recruited by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Feeling that she benefited from her family background, she worked even harder, always choosing the most challenging grassroots projects. Initially, when it came to the research on the adaptability of fruits in New Edge City, she was the first to volunteer, as the others were worried about being attacked by Pokémon. She also took the initiative to choose the most difficult project: the research on the adaptability of fruits in high-altitude and cold regions.
Later, during an in-depth exploration of the snow-capped mountains, she encountered a Jynx who lived in seclusion due to its overly powerful superpowers and frequent uncontrollable headaches.
After a blizzard, she found the little guy unconscious in a snowdrift due to exhaustion from a burst of mental energy, and rescued and cared for him despite the danger.
To help it, she even used her previously disdainful connections, eventually finding Lin Dao to ask for help.
Upon seeing the Jynx's condition, Lin Dao immediately recalled a similar case: Misty's Psyduck in the anime had a similar situation. After scanning the Jynx's condition with his Arceus phone, he gave key advice.
While Dark-type energy cubes can be used to calm disordered mental energy, the fundamental solution lies in systematic mental training and practical application of mental energy. After evolution, the problem will most likely be resolved.
So Zhao Qingshuang applied for a long leave and took the pucker to Xinyuan City to start a "challenge" style challenge.
After defeating almost all the trainers who publicly accepted battles, at Li Qingqing's urging, she once again approached Lin Dao, hoping to have a battle against a strong opponent as an opportunity for evolution.
In that battle, Lin Dao sent out Pikachu.
Under immense pressure, Jynx unleashed its pent-up mental power, withstanding Pikachu's fierce attacks in battle. Then, at the crucial moment, the white light of evolution enveloped it, and Jynx "Little Ice" was born.
Finally, by using his evolved and freely controlled "psychic power" to manipulate and disrupt Pikachu's rhythm, he delivered the final blow and defeated Pikachu.
Afterwards, Shen Yu'er jokingly asked Lin Dao what it felt like to be defeated by a "newbie".
Lin Dao simply laughed heartily.
"I'm not some kind of combat genius, I just know a bit more."
"The stronger trainers like Zhao Qingshuang become, the happier I am. It means that we have more reliable pillars for the future."
Privately, he commented on Shen Yu'er that Zhao Qingshuang's talent and temperament would be among the top tier even in the Pokémon world.
After evolving, Zhao Qingshuang originally planned to send Xiaobing back to the Snow Mountain Clan, but Xiaobing firmly chose to stay by her side.
The relationship between them has long transcended that of rescuer and rescued.
Touched by this bond, Zhao Qingshuang tamed it and named it "Xiao Bing".
All of this, of course, did not escape the notice of her family, who had been secretly watching her (or rather, had not completely given up on her).
When news of Zhao Qingshuang's potential as a top-tier trainer reached the Zhao family, it caused a stir.
Despite the gentle persuasion of her mother and aunt Zhao Lan, and the father Zhao Zheng's personal visit, which ended in a huff due to disagreements, it was ultimately a phone call from the old man Zhao Jun that convinced Zhao Qingshuang to participate in the newcomer competition as a member of the Zhao family, with the aim of "striving for a respectable ranking."
As for what "acceptable" meant in terms of ranking, the grandfather and grandson kept it to themselves.
"Alright, alright, Sister Zhao," Shen Yu'er said with a smile, trying to smooth things over as the atmosphere became a little awkward.
"Have faith in Qing Shuang. Lin Dao also said that the combination of Qing Shuang and Xiao Bing has a very high chance of winning the championship."
Zhao Lan sighed, looking at her niece with a complicated expression, and softened her tone.
"Qingshuang, the final is the day after tomorrow—your grandfather, and some other family members, will be coming to watch the match."
She paused, then lowered her voice, "Your mother asked me to tell you—when the time comes, please save face for your father, and don't argue with him to his face until he can't speak. These past few years—haven't been easy for him either."
Zhao Qingshuang was silent for a moment, then softly hummed in agreement: "I understand, Aunt."
The private room fell silent for a moment, with only the faint sound of cutlery clinking. The family dinner ended in a complex and subtle atmosphere.