At noon, at the dining table of the Liu Ling Great Villa, everyone looked at the empty seat next to Zheng Xiaoxiao. Lu Bingming spoke, "So, where did Coach Xia actually go?"
Tong Ruo, sitting opposite the empty seat, shook her head. "We don't know either. But didn't he say he had something urgent to attend to and would be back before the match against the demolition team? What are you worried about?"
Wei Chiting put down his chopsticks. "That's not what we mean. Coach Xia received a package this morning, and after opening it, he ran out. So I suspect someone sent him something, threatening him to do something."
Tong Ruo looked at Wei Chiting. "So, what was inside that package?"
Wei Chiting shook his head. "I don't know. I only know the box wasn't big, about the size of a phone box. Tu Zhuanghai saw the package, right?"
Tu Zhuanghai nodded. "Yes, I opened the door. A delivery person knocked and came in with that box, saying he had a package for Coach Xia. Then I called Coach Xia down."
After listening, Li Qiufeng asked, "Did you get a clear look at the delivery person's face, or what they were wearing?"
Tu Zhuanghai shook his head. "No, he was wearing a baseball cap and a mask, so I couldn't see his face at all. But I'm sure it was a man because his voice was deep. As for his clothes, it was a blue tracksuit, nothing unusual."
Chu Xiaodie sighed. "Then it's definitely not a delivery person. The Pokémon League and Rainbow Star delivery personnel have uniforms. And he was wearing a hat and mask, clearly trying to disguise his identity."
At this point, everyone looked at Zheng Xiaoxiao, who was sitting at the head of the table. During the previous match between Liu Ling Great and Ming Yi Great, she had also been in the audience dressed like that, even wearing sunglasses to hide her identity. If no one had paid attention to her, who knows how much of a sensation she would have caused that day.
Seeing the expressions on everyone's faces, Zheng Xiaoxiao flared up. "Stop looking. Do you think I would disguise myself to deliver a package and lure Xia Huanao out?"
Hearing Zheng Xiaoxiao's words, everyone shook their heads. What a ridiculous story. If Zheng Xiaoxiao wanted Xia Huanao to do anything, all it would take was a single word, and it would be settled. There would be no need for such tactics.
Just then, Wei Chiting suddenly said, "I remember now. Coach Xia was very excited after opening the package and seemed to say, 'To think someone could get something like this, and even send it to me...'"
Everyone fell silent. These words were almost as good as saying nothing, because if something couldn't make Xia Huanao lose his composure, how could he be lured out? But then again, what kind of treasure would be needed to make Xia Huanao lose his composure?
Suddenly, Lu Bingming slammed the table and stood up. "I get it! Coach Xia was tricked into going out by a spy from Li Xing Country to avenge Ming Yi Great!"
Everyone looked at Lu Bingming like he was an idiot. Zhu Feng patted his shoulder. "Hey Little Lu, your conspiracy theory is a bit too far-fetched. While I sometimes believe Ming Yi Great is a Li Xing Country stronghold, Li Xing Country wouldn't be stupid enough for this."
Yes, to expose their mole in Ming Long Country for just one Ming Yi Great would be too foolish. And to target a young trainer who was currently the talk of Ming Long Country. This would be no different from declaring war.
Tu Zhuanghai, sitting next to Zhu Feng, also nodded. "Yes, if you said it was some fanatic from Ming Yi Great seeking revenge, that would be somewhat plausible. But your theory is too far-fetched."
Lu Bingming sat back down. "I'm just worried about Coach Xia. Concern makes one confused... But if it really were a fanatic from Ming Yi Great wanting revenge, what should we do?"
Wei Chiting looked at Lu Bingming. "No, Tu Zhuanghai just said it casually, and you're actually believing it? What do you think Ming Yi Great is, a cult? Fanatics? Where would Ming Yi Great get fanatics from? Do you really think all the students at Ming Yi Great are foolish and easily deceived?"
"Alright, let's eat. Although Xia Huanao's name is 'Huanao' (acting up), he's not one to fool around. I believe he has the bigger picture in mind. You all continue with your training. Today is the second day of the top sixteen going into the top eight. The top eight going into the top four is just a few days away. Are you all prepared?"
Hearing Zheng Xiaoxiao say this, everyone had to put their concern for Xia Huanao aside, finish their meal, and continue with their training. Tong Ruo looked at Xia Huanao's empty chair and whispered, "You must come back."
...
A day passed. It was the third day of the top sixteen. The previous year's runner-up, Jing Hai Great, successfully advanced to the top eight. In the afternoon matches, Gui Shan University emerged victorious. Meanwhile, at the Liu Ling Great Villa, training continued, and Xia Huanao was still nowhere to be seen. No one knew what was going on.
At the dinner table that day, the atmosphere was a bit somber. After all, Xia Huanao was very good at livening up the dinner table. His absence made the Liu Ling Great team feel unaccustomed, as they had been together every day for such a long time.
Another day passed. It was the fourth day of the top sixteen. Ling Ling Great broke through and would face Qing Yuan University, which had also fought its way through, in the top eight. At the Liu Ling Great Villa, Lu Bingming had already started preparing an ancestral tablet for Xia Huanao... Three days had passed. There was no news from this person. If Zheng Xiaoxiao hadn't stopped them with her position as principal, they would have already reported him missing.
After the top sixteen matches concluded, Tong Ruo convened a meeting for all the team members. "Alright, everyone focus. What are you all looking so dejected for?"
Lu Bingming pointed at Xia Huanao's seat and said anxiously, "But Coach Xia still hasn't returned! The top sixteen matches are over!"
Tong Ruo tapped the table. "Everyone, calm down. Although the top sixteen matches are over, isn't there a rest day between the top eight and the top four matches? Coach Xia might just return tomorrow."
Lu Bingming shook his head. "What if Coach Xia can't come back?"
As soon as he said this, Lu Bingming shivered all over. He looked around and saw everyone glaring at him as if they wanted to tear him apart and roast him. Lu Bingming quickly covered his mouth with both hands. "I'm just talking nonsense. Coach Xia will definitely come back. Even if Groudon could fly, Coach Xia wouldn't be in any danger."
Groudon: ...Are even non-protagonists allowed to persecute me now?
After a slight pause of one or two seconds, Lu Bingming added, "I... I was just saying 'what if'."
Everyone: [Stare...]
Lu Bingming lowered his head. "I didn't say anything..."
Wei Chiting couldn't help but laugh at Lu Bingming's reaction. "Little Lu, you deserve it. How can you casually make up stories about Coach Xia?"
Hearing this, Lu Bingming said, "Vice-captain, what do you mean? You don't seem worried about Coach Xia at all!"
Wei Chiting ignored him and turned to ask Tong Ruo, "Sister Ruo, has Coach Xia's girlfriend contacted you these past few days?"
Tong Ruo shook her head. "No, why?"
Wei Chiting nodded. "Oh, then it's fine. Coach Xia is perfectly safe. He'll be back in time."
The others were confused. How could you be so sure? Do you know something?
Seeing everyone's attention on him, Wei Chiting stood up and explained, "As you all know, Coach Xia and I live together, so I know some of his habits. Coach Xia video calls his girlfriend every night. If something happened to Coach Xia, the video call would have stopped. Then Coach Xia's girlfriend would definitely have contacted us. Since neither of you teachers has received a call from Coach Xia's girlfriend, it means Coach Xia's video call has not been interrupted. Therefore, Coach Xia is absolutely fine. Maybe he's gone to the headquarters of the Awakeners to do something big again. You should be excited."
The others breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Wei Chiting's explanation. They were quite willing to believe Wei Chiting's analysis. Lu Bingming, however, whispered from the side, "It's also possible that..."
Before he could finish, everyone said in unison, "Shut up!"
After tentatively confirming that Xia Huanao was not in danger, the Liu Ling Great team began their operational meeting. Since Xia Huanao was absent, although Tong Ruo presided over the meeting, the de facto leader was Wei Chiting. Wei Chiting took the tablet Xia Huanao always used, looked at the various strategies Xia Huanao had left him, and made the first phase of the tactical arrangements.
On the second floor of the villa, Zheng Xiaoxiao watched the group huddle together in discussion and nodded slightly.
...
Time quickly flew by until the day of the competition. In the morning, Liu Ling Great would compete against Bei Mo University, that demolition team. In the afternoon, Jiang Ling Pokémon Technology University would compete against Southwest Fire Great... By the way, the full name of the seemingly irritable and unhealthy-sounding Southwest Fire Great is the Southwest Fire-Attribute Pokémon Specialization University of Ming Long Country. When admitting students, they only accepted trainers who used fire-type Pokémon. Of course, since it wasn't particularly easy to find pure fire-type trainers, Southwest Fire Great's admission requirement was that as long as all the Pokémon in the team had the fire attribute, they would be admitted, regardless of whether it was their primary or secondary attribute.
Getting back to the point, the members of Liu Ling Great sat nervously in their tents, looking at their watches. However, until the staff requested the Liu Ling Great team members to enter the arena for check-in, they did not see Xia Huanao.
Upon arriving at the battle arena, the referee announced, "As Liu Ling Pokémon University reported a personnel adjustment in advance, this match will proceed with Liu Ling Pokémon University having no coach."
Hearing this, both sides were stunned. Bei Mo University was surprised that Liu Ling Great was playing such a bold move by not having a coach, while Liu Ling Great was surprised by the personnel adjustment, as no one on the entire team knew about it.