We shall tell the story from multiple angles, first focusing on Su Xiao Jiu who went to the infirmary to find the doctor. Ever since she received that piece of paper from Xia Hu Nao, her mood had been a world apart. Although Xia Hu Nao hadn't explicitly stated Dragon Country's decision regarding her, the absence of news was precisely the best kind of news. If there had been a decision, with Xia Hu Nao's concern for everyone, he would have certainly given her a heads-up.
Feeling a bit relieved, Su Xiao Jiu pushed open the curtain to the infirmary and walked in. She saw their doctor sitting on the infirmary bed, staring blankly. This wasn't entirely his fault, as most visitors were either team members or researchers. The team members were in good physical condition due to constant training, and on this tropical island, with minimal insect infestation, it was difficult for them to get into trouble.
As for the researchers, all researchers on Spirit Monster Star also held trainer identities. Every single noteworthy researcher was a top-tier trainer. To give an example, if the Ming Long team and the researchers had an eight-on-eight match, the score would be at most six to two. The physical fitness of these researchers could truly put the team members to shame. Even if a few were older and their physical condition wasn't as good as before, they wouldn't fall ill so easily.
Because of this, even though Ming Long Country brought a team doctor, he had little practical use. However, as a doctor, he couldn't just leave his post. So, this doctor was stuck sitting there. Fortunately, he had his Pokémon companions, which kept him from falling ill out of boredom.
Hearing Su Xiao Jiu enter, the bored doctor sitting on the bed instantly jumped up and came over to Su Xiao Jiu's side: "Young lady, where are you feeling unwell? Come, sit down."
Su Xiao Jiu shook her head: "No, no, it's not me who's unwell. One of our team members has run into some trouble. Please come with me quickly."
The team doctor nodded: "Alright, where is it? I'll go right now."
The doctor, in a flurry of haste and excitement, left the infirmary with Su Xiao Jiu to find Miao Long Que, who was still suffering. Miao Long Que had just emerged from the restroom and was sitting on a chair, leaning forward, wishing he could just collapse onto the table. He was clutching his stomach with both hands, his eyes vacant as he looked at Meng Tian Ya, constantly groaning, "Ah, this is killing me."
His miserable state pained everyone. Meng Tian Ya stared at the table before him, trying to figure out what was wrong that had turned Miao Long Que into this state.
However, there was no need to ponder. They had all eaten breakfast together, and only Miao Long Que was like this. It had to be Xia Hu Nao causing trouble. If that was the case, there was no point in investigating, at least not today.
As he was thinking, he saw Miao Long Que shakily stand up from his chair and sway towards the restroom. He happened to brush past Su Xiao Jiu and the doctor. As soon as the team doctor entered, he asked, "Where's the patient? Where is the patient?"
Meng Tian Ya walked over and said, "The patient, he just left. He's one of our team members. Please pay close attention when you examine him; he might have caught a chill."
The doctor looked at Meng Tian Ya and then nodded: "Don't worry, I'm a professional doctor, I'll have him cured in no time."
While Meng Tian Ya was instructing the doctor during Miao Long Que's absence, Xia Hu Nao had already arrived at the competition management committee. After knocking and entering, he saw them sitting idly by the table, their current form of entertainment being the popular card game Dou Dizhu.
Several tables were engrossed in lively games of Dou Dizhu. No one acknowledged Xia Hu Nao when he entered. Xia Hu Nao shook his head: "You guys sure got into it quickly. Is there anyone in charge?"
The person sitting there, without turning their head, replied, "I'm in charge. What is it? Are you here to cause trouble?"
Xia Hu Nao casually replied, "Yes, I'm here to cause trouble."
As soon as he said this, all the Dou Dizhu games stopped. The pair who had just played a "three" card held back the subsequent "three" in their mouths. A group of people glared at him menacingly. Xia Hu Nao, realizing he had misspoken, quickly explained, "You've misunderstood me. I'm here for a reason. One of our Ming Long team members is unwell, so we hope to postpone his match."
Xia Hu Nao's request was, in theory, perfectly reasonable. One person stood up and said, "Alright, tell us which team member. We need to officially report it to the Li Xing team so they can prepare in advance."
"It's Miao Long Que, our vanguard for the second half."
While the organizing committee reported to the Li Xing team, they continued their Dou Dizhu games. Xia Hu Nao wandered over to a Ming Long Country staff member: "So, you're playing Dou Dizhu? I thought you'd be playing something like Blackjack."
The Ming Long Country staff member, while sorting his cards, replied, "It's just that, well, there's no dealer. If there were a dealer, who would be playing Dou Dizhu?"
Xia Hu Nao looked around: "With so many people on your committee, you can't find a dealer? Isn't that ridiculous?"
The person who answered, arranging his cards, said, "How should I put it, who among the people here do you think could be a dealer?"
Xia Hu Nao glanced at the tables playing Dou Dizhu. None of them looked like staff members; they were all like red-eyed gamblers. Expecting them to be dealers was a pipe dream.
Soon, a reply came from the Li Xing team: they had received and agreed to the competition committee's arrangement. Upon receiving the news, Xia Hu Nao headed back. There was still over an hour before the competition officially began, and he needed to do some preparation for the match.
When Xia Hu Nao returned to the Ming Long Country camp, he stopped by the infirmary. Everyone was anxiously awaiting the doctor's conclusion. After examining Miao Long Que for a long time, the team doctor turned around and said, "Well, his diet and sleep schedule are extremely irregular. Coupled with the fact that the weather has warmed up recently, but it can still get quite cold at times, it's not surprising to see such a condition."
Miao Long Que asked the doctor with a trembling voice, "When, when will I get better?"
The doctor shook his head with a troubled expression: "It's hard to say. While your body is good, your symptoms are a bit severe, so it's difficult to predict."
Xia Hu Nao comforted Miao Long Que a few times, then said to everyone, "Alright, alright, let's go. Let Miao Long Que rest well. We'll work harder in the upcoming matches, carrying his share too!"
The others left the infirmary one after another. Xia Hu Nao and Meng Tian Ya lagged behind. Once they had put some distance between themselves and the others, Meng Tian Ya quietly asked, "You did it, didn't you?"
Xia Hu Nao's gaze drifted: "Can't you ask something more valuable? Like..."
"How did you do it?"
Xia Hu Nao nodded with satisfaction: "That's more like it. I came early, so I administered a little something."
Meng Tian Ya cast a fearful glance towards the infirmary: "It's not that I want to say it, but where did you get that medicine? Isn't the effect a bit too strong?"
Xia Hu Nao looked somewhat embarrassed: "Yes, it was a bit strong. I was afraid it wouldn't be potent enough, so I chose one meant for Snorlax..."
"It's a miracle he's alive..."
The two continued their conversation as they walked towards the competition arena: "I'm regretting it a little now. I shouldn't have given him that medicine."
Meng Tian Ya hummed and asked, "Why would you have such a thought?"
Xia Hu Nao spread his hands: "He was scheduled for the fourth match. After him, it would only be Wu Gong Ping and me. Even if he won three to zero, it would at most affect Wu Gong Ping's mindset. Now that he can't compete, it's thrown off the mindset of all five of them. The pressure is a bit too much."
Meng Tian Ya glanced at the team members walking ahead of them: "I don't think it's adding too much pressure on them; rather, it's giving them a lot of motivation. Look at Wang Zhen and Su Xiao Jiu; they don't seem affected at all."
Xia Hu Nao looked at Wang Zhen, who was eagerly preparing, and Su Xiao Jiu, whose condition was improving: "Those two, if we know one hundred percent, they at least know ninety percent. Who knows how happy they are inside right now. But are you sure you're not going to give Su Xiao Jiu a shot of courage or something? The results should be out by now."
Meng Tian Ya took out his phone and tapped it a couple of times: "You go tell her yourself. You probably have more rapport with her than I do."
Xia Hu Nao looked at his phone. On the screen was a message from Meng Tian Ya, forwarding him the decision from the Ming Long Country Pokémon Alliance regarding Su Xiao Jiu and Miao Long Que. Xia Hu Nao clicked his tongue: "Alright, I'm going over now."
Xia Hu Nao quickly walked over to Su Xiao Jiu, who was warming up with her Ninetales. He glanced around; no one was paying attention to them, so he quietly said, "I have good news for you. Ming Long Country's decision is out."
Su Xiao Jiu's movements paused, and she was accidentally nudged in the stomach by Ninetales. She got up, rubbing her stomach, and nodded: "I know, thank you. I'll do my best."
Xia Hu Nao smiled. That was the good thing about talking to smart people; they could understand you without you saying everything. Yu Long Du glanced over: "Old Xia, did you teach Su Xiao Jiu some secret technique again?"
Xia Hu Nao said half-jokingly, "Something like that. I told her to compete well, and I'll try to get her an Ice or Fire-type Z-Crystal. Do you want one too?"
Yu Long Du shook his head: "I wouldn't dare. After taking your benefits, who knows how much I'd have to give back? Keep your treasures for the lovely girls, right, Xiao Die?"
Chu Xiao Die leaned in and asked Xia Hu Nao, "Coach Xia, is there anything for me? How long has Xiao Jiu known you? I'm your favorite student!"
Xia Hu Nao smiled and said, "Who knows? You have to compete well too."
Xia Hu Nao was surrounded by a warm atmosphere, but there were always those who disliked such scenes and wanted to throw a fly into the ointment.