Zhenzi's voluntary surrender meant Ye Feng won the third round and advanced to the next.
Despite the unexpected outcome, the audience erupted in enthusiastic cheers.
Ye Feng shook his head and strode off the battle stage, once again surrounded by a throng of reporters and cameras.
He held up a finger, signaling for one question.
"Please, what are your thoughts on your opponent surrendering this time?"
Ye Feng: "No thoughts."
With that, he slipped away, leaving the reporters bewildered.
...
Yesterday's faint had been due solely to extreme tension. Xiao Li was discharged from the hospital today.
Upon learning that Zhenzi's opponent was Ye Feng, he couldn't help but worry for her.
But when he saw that Zhenzi hadn't even competed, having forfeited directly, he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.
He was almost back in the hospital.
"Hey, isn't that Xiao Zi?"
As he strolled through the park on Mt. Quetzal, he unexpectedly saw some of his former classmates.
Recalling last night's events, he felt a surge of anger.
When he wasn't sure if he was still the heir, these people treated him like a brother. But the moment it was confirmed he wasn't, they scattered like frightened birds.
Yet, being magnanimous, he decided to give them another chance.
But at this moment.
He saw Xiao Zi, surrounded by his classmates, laughing and chatting animatedly.
Furthermore, he had a young woman nestled in his left arm.
The woman was strikingly beautiful, wearing a wine-red cheongsam that accentuated her perfect, voluptuous figure.
In his right hand, Xiao Zi held a cigarette.
His classmates formed a circle around him, and the woman, Xiao Zi, was even acting shyly towards him.
"Damn it!"
Seeing this scene, Xiao Li's fury erupted.
He instantly decided that opportunity was no longer on the table for them!
What traitors!
Such sycophants!
The moment he lost his edge, they all changed!
Especially the spot where the former purple-haired youth, Xiao Zi, stood – that was supposed to be his position!
And what was even more outrageous!
The woman he was now embracing was his own mistress!!!
That's right!!
The mistress he had been doting on with thirty thousand yuan a month!!!
"Xiao Zi!! You shameless bastard!!!"
Xiao Li could no longer contain himself.
He had stolen his place as the 'big brother' and now he had stolen his woman!
If he could tolerate this, he'd be a grandson!
He stepped forward, enraged, wanting to throw a punch at Xiao Zi.
But he quickly came to terms with reality, as his former classmates and subordinates blocked him.
They were all menacing.
"Xiao Zi! You scoundrel!!"
"And you too!!"
Xiao Li glared at the alluring woman.
"I provided you with the best of everything for thirty thousand a month! And now that I'm down, they've changed, and you've changed just as quickly?!"
"I..."
The woman was startled by Xiao Li's fierce demeanor, stammering in fear.
But Xiao Zi pulled her closer and said with a laugh, "Darling, why are you scared? He's just a Prodigal dog."
"Mmm, hubby."
The woman brought her beautiful face close to Xiao Zi's and gave him a big kiss.
Seeing this, Xiao Li's anger intensified.
He furiously swung his fists, but just like before, his former classmates and subordinates, a dozen of them, easily pinned his shoulders, rendering him immobile.
"Xiao Zi! You bastard!!"
"Bastard? Xiao Li, haven't you faced reality yet?"
Xiao Zi dangled the lit cigarette in his right hand in front of Xiao Li's controlled face.
"You're no longer the Li family heir. You're nothing. Forget everything else, can you still afford the woman in my arms?"
"I..."
Xiao Li was instantly speechless.
Indeed, although he still retained the status and treatment of a young master of the Li family, this treatment only amounted to a little over twenty thousand a month.
How could he afford her?
To put it bluntly, that money wasn't even enough for his own expenses. Back then, he'd spend millions every month!
This was the difference between a family heir and an ordinary scion.
Although Xiao Zi's family was only a second-rate affluent family, he was the heir.
He definitely couldn't compare to Xiao Li before, but now he was streets ahead.
Forget everything else, he could easily afford to keep the delicate beauty in his arms.
"Let go of me!!"
Xiao Li roared at those holding him.
After all, Xiao Li had been their leader, their backbone. The men loosened their grip.
"Fine."
Xiao Li pointed at them.
"You're all ganging up on me, bullying me because you have numbers, and I can't beat you, right?!"
"But don't forget!! My Pokémon training skills are still above yours!!"
"Come on!!! Bring it on!!!"
Saying this, Xiao Li reached for a Poké Ball at his waist, about to release his Pokémon.
But just then, he saw the dozen or so people beside Xiao Zi, all with sneering expressions, reaching for Poké Balls at their own waists.
"This..."
Xiao Li was instantly embarrassed.
While his strength as a trainer was indeed superior to theirs, he wasn't so strong that one of his Pokémon could take on over a dozen of theirs...
Simply put, he chickened out.
"Alright, Xiao Li, from now on, you'll call me Brother Zi. I'll look after you."
Xiao Zi smiled faintly.
He took a smug puff of his cigarette.
The white smoke escaped his lips, scattering across Xiao Li's face.
"Brother Zi is mighty!!"
Immediately, a subordinate fawned.
Xiao Li was so enraged that he felt smoke coming out of his ears. Just then, he suddenly heard a voice from behind:
"Xiao Li, what a coincidence, you're here too?"
Hearing the voice, Xiao Li turned around.
It was a beautiful woman with long, straight black hair. It was none other than Zhenzi.
He forced a smile, but when he saw the man beside Zhenzi, his smile vanished.
"Ye Feng?!"
Xiao Li exclaimed.
Zhenzi was actually accompanied by Ye Feng!!!
After winning his match, Ye Feng had intended to return to his dorm and sleep.
But Zhenzi was waiting for him outside, saying she wanted to explore Mt. Quetzal with him.
So, feeling somewhat bored, he agreed.
They then came to the park and saw Xiao Li and his group.
"What's wrong? So much resentment towards me?"
Ye Feng asked, looking at the angry Xiao Li.
"No, nothing."
Xiao Li turned his head away stubbornly.
"There's indeed nothing wrong. It's just that he used his family's influence to alter the match-making rules. He originally wanted to teach you a lesson, but you turned the tables on him. He tried to steal a chicken but ended up losing the rice. Now, he's even lost his position as the family heir."
Xiao Li remained silent. Zhenzi recounted the entire incident.
After she finished, Ye Feng naturally understood.
Although he was an ordinary person, he was aware of the differing treatment between a family heir and ordinary scions.
However.
"What does that have to do with me?"
Ye Feng waved his hand.
Xiao Li flew into a rage: "Ye Feng, if you had deliberately lost to me back then, I wouldn't have ended up like this!!!"
Ye Feng: "Blame me? Didn't I say back then that I'd lose if you paid me?"
Xiao Li: "You were playing me!! Three billion! Do you think my family runs a bank?!"
Hearing this, Zhenzi and Xiao Zi and the others also instantly understood what was going on.
No wonder these two had talked for so long before Wartortle came out.
"But speaking of which, Xiao Li, was it this that scared you into fainting?!"
Upon learning the truth, Xiao Zi covered his stomach and burst into laughter.