Indeed, Ye Feng's bold claims on television about conquering all regional gymnasiums and tournaments, and becoming your new champion.
Anyone who witnessed that scene on television could have guessed.
"If that's the case, please follow me. I'll take you to Teacher Du Juan."
The principal led the way, with Ye Feng following behind. As they walked, the principal introduced:
"Teacher Du Juan is the most outstanding student since our Pokémon Trainer School was founded."
He appeared very proud.
Ye Feng didn't quite know what there was to be proud of, but thinking about it, Du Juan was a gym leader after all, so she was indeed quite accomplished.
Outside a classroom.
"Pokémon are everyone's friends and partners. You must cherish them."
"But Teacher, I think what you're saying is wrong."
"Wrong? Why?"
"Because of Ye Feng!"
"Look at the trainers Ye Feng defeated, and the Elite Four and the League Champion. They all used to say that Pokémon are friends and partners, and we must cherish them. But Ye Feng, who once said that Pokémon are just tools, has never lost. They were all utterly defeated in front of him."
"So, we should also learn from him and treat Pokémon as tools. That's how we can become stronger!!!"
At this moment, it was a clash of ideals between the children and the teacher.
On the stage was Teacher Du Juan.
Black hair, a bun, and twin ponytails.
Her face was very pretty.
She was very young, wearing a blue skirt on her upper body and tight pants in a blend of pink and deep red on her lower body.
Overall, she looked both cute and sexy.
Ye Feng's eyes glinted.
He secretly thought, "This Du Juan doesn't look bad."
Anyone who has played the Pokémon series games knows that in the games, these characters are just pixelated figures, and no one knows what they really look like.
You only get a vague sense of their general appearance and clothing.
When Ye Feng played, he felt Du Juan probably wasn't pretty.
But his biggest impression of Du Juan was from "Dark Rising."
He habitually chose a fire-type at the start. Ye Feng remembered that the fire-type back then was Tepig.
Then, the breakdown came.
The first gym in Granite Cave, a rock-type gym, was a nightmare to beat!!!
Brothers!!!
The type advantage was too damn severe!!!
Ye Feng specifically remembered that his Tepig had been trained to its second form, was five levels higher than Du Juan's Pokémon, and still couldn't win!!!
And then, the despair set in.
Why was "Dark Rising" so different from other versions he had played?!
So Ye Feng resolutely restarted and chose a grass-type Snivy.
This led to Ye Feng having a bit of a psychological shadow and lingering unease about Du Juan.
But today, seeing her appearance, those negative emotions instantly vanished.
Meanwhile, inside the classroom.
Faced with the students' question, Du Juan was momentarily at a loss for words.
After all, you couldn't really say Ye Feng's actions were wrong when he was a two-time champion.
Du Juan encountered perhaps the most challenging situation of her career.
As she hesitated, Ye Feng pushed open the door and entered with an air of nonchalance.
Seeing a stranger suddenly burst into the classroom, Du Juan was about to speak.
Then she heard a student from below exclaim, "Ye Feng! It's Ye Feng!!!"
Immediately, the classroom erupted in excitement.
Even Du Juan was stunned.
Ye Feng actually appeared here?
Ye Feng walked to the podium, first offering Du Juan a faint smile.
Although Du Juan didn't have a great impression of Ye Feng, she was still affected by his smile.
Then, Ye Feng looked earnestly at the primary school students below:
"Children, I've heard your question just now."
"Should Pokémon be treated as tools?! Or as friends and partners?"
"My answer is..."
Just as everyone present expected Ye Feng to say, "Tools."
Ye Feng instead said, "Friends and partners."
"????"
"But Ye Feng-gege, you didn't say that at the Indigo League back then?"
"Yeah! Yeah! You didn't say that back then!!"
The children became agitated.
Because they felt deceived.
You're the one who said they were tools, and now you're changing your tune?!
Ye Feng put on a wry smile: "Sigh, you're all still too young."
"I said that back then intentionally."
Ye Feng's face was filled with a heavy seriousness. "I said that back then entirely for all the Pokémon trainers in this world."
"They all claimed to treat Pokémon as their friends and partners, but their actions were all those of treating them as tools. I said those words to admonish them directly and to keep them from forgetting their original intentions."
"Therefore, my answer to your question is: if I treated Pokémon as tools, they wouldn't be this powerful and help me achieve two championships."
These words immediately silenced everyone present.
Du Juan's gaze towards Ye Feng was now complex.
She had actually held a negative opinion of Ye Feng.
After all, her feelings for Pokémon were genuine.
And then there were incidents like Ye Feng causing opposing Pokémon to never wake up again at the Silver Conference.
This further intensified her feelings.
But today, it seemed she had misunderstood him?
Ye Feng: "Therefore, I would rather the world misunderstand me than be the target of everyone's scorn!!!"
"But what about the Pokémon you faced in the Silver Conference?"
A child asked.
Ye Feng: "Don't worry, they're just temporarily asleep. They're just sleeping for a longer period."
Yes, for a lifetime, essentially.
"The reason I did this was to teach those hypocritical trainers a lesson. See, those who truly cared about their Pokémon, didn't they all give up battling me?"
"So I misunderstood him. But he's truly great, willing to bear such infamy to do this. His path must be very lonely."
Du Juan's opinion of Ye Feng had almost completely changed by now.
After all, you have a negative impression of someone for a reason. Once that reason is resolved, and you realize you've misunderstood them, and their actions were all well-intentioned.
You will feel doubly guilty.
"Alright, children, keep working hard. A more brilliant future awaits you on the road ahead."
Class ended.
This class, with Ye Feng's participation, had become exceptionally spectacular.
At the school.
Du Juan handed Ye Feng the gym badge representing the Granite Cave Gym.
Ye Feng accepted the Rock Badge, a smile spreading across his face: "You're just giving it to me like this? Oh, I see, Du Juan, this must be a token of your affection for me, right?"
Du Juan's face immediately turned red.
She stammered, "What nonsense are you talking about..."
"Alright, since it's not a token of affection, then I'll be going. I still need to head to the next gym location."
Du Juan: "So soon?"
"So, if I said it was a token of affection, would you stay?"
Ye Feng: "Of course."
Du Juan's face was now even redder.