Wednesday, October 9th.
Since its upload, "Teacher Lu Teaches You Battle #10: Tailwind Teams" had dominated the top spot in the gaming category.
Not only was it added to the "Must-Watch of the Week" list, but it also surpassed the latest episode of Professor Oak's Backyard in popularity—amassing over 3 million views in just three days.
The success of the Tailwind strategy was clear.
Straightforward. Easy to learn. Highly effective.
It received universal praise from both casual players and professional trainers alike.
"Even my grandma hit Master Rank with this team!"
"Finally, a strategy I can actually use. I'm crying."
"Just rush 'em down. No thoughts, only violence!"
But the biggest talking point wasn't just the strategy—It was the match footage.
Raihan, one of the Eight Masters, had been completely dominated by Teacher Lu from start to finish.
The level of prediction and strategy displayed in the battle left viewers stunned.
"Wait, wasn't he a Ground-type specialist before? Now he's destroying with Flying-types too?!"
"Is this what they call… All-Type Mastery?!"
Lu Ye's versatile battle comprehension once again showcased his terrifying foundation as a trainer.
"Other than his bad luck, this guy is literally top-tier in everything."
"You guys are just casuals—I'm a veteran trainer, and even I had to kneel."
With so many trainers reposting the video—including Winona (Flying-type Gym Leader), Eusine (Johto Investigator), and even Lance (Dragon Master)—
Teacher Lu's credibility as a battle expert reached an all-time high.
---
As someone with mild OCD, Lu Ye opened his channel analytics.
Nearly 4 million followers—in just half a year of content creation.
And on YouTube, Niconico, and other platforms, he was already considered a top-tier gaming influencer.
But… Why was his bank account still empty?
Lu Ye frowned.
The numbers didn't add up.
He had millions of followers… Millions of views per video… Yet somehow, he was still broke?!
"…Whatever."
Lu Ye scratched his chin.
"As long as the debt collectors aren't knocking on my door, I'll take it slow…"
---
That afternoon, Gengar grabbed a shopping basket and went out for groceries.
Squirtle was doing bicep curls with tiny dumbbells.
And Lu Ye…
Lu Ye was lounging on the sofa, idly playing with Sylveon's pink ribbon while gently brushing its silky white fur.
The gentle strokes of the brush made the process effortless.
Sylveon stared at Lu Ye, pouting slightly with its big, ocean-blue eyes.
Unlike cats, Sylveon didn't shed fur.
Brushing its coat helped with massage and bonding, making it an essential part of affection training.
Halfway through, the comfortable sensation made Sylveon yawn adorably, its tiny fangs peeking out.
Then, without a care, it curled up in Lu Ye's lap.
Its half-lidded eyes flickered shut—And soft, content purring filled the room.
Lu Ye smiled fondly, looking every bit like a proud father.
But then…
His smile suddenly froze.
"…My legs are numb."
Having a 50-pound Sylveon sprawled across his legs was both a blessing and a curse.
But Lu Ye refused to wake up the little one.
So, in an effort to distract himself, he pulled out his phone and checked the group chat.
---
[Lu Ye: [Image]]
The photo showed Sylveon peacefully napping in his lap, its little fangs visible even in sleep—adorably fierce.
[Lorelei (Soft-Hearted Auntie Mode): OHHH!!! SO CUTE!!!]
[Gold: I feel like Auntie Lorelei's comments are kinda… dangerous?]
[Silver: …Agreed.]
As expected from "The Fighter", Red reacted instantly.
His expression slightly shifted, and without hesitation—
[Group Members 'Gold' and 'Silver' have been muted for 2 hours by 'Red'.]
It wasn't that he wanted to mute them—He was just saving them from being frozen into ice statues by Lorelei.
Red sighed.
But then, an idea popped into his head.
Maybe… having Gold come to Mt. Silver for some "training" wouldn't be a bad idea…
Red crossed his arms, contemplating this dangerous thought.
Lu Ye's expression turned… complicated.
Gold and Silver got muted together?
Are we sure they're not secretly in love?!
After Gold's usual goofing around, the group chat suddenly shifted in tone.
---
Old man Lt. Surge suddenly sent a voice message.
Lu Ye tapped to play it—only to hear booming laughter on the other end.
"HAHAHAHA!! I just got completely wiped by some newbie from Pallet Town!"
[Erika: [Nervous Emoji]]
[Erika: Um… Are you sure you're okay?]
[Lu Ye's eyebrow twitched.]
Getting crushed in battle… and you're this happy about it?!
Are you secretly from the Optimistic Clan?!
…Wait.
A newbie from Pallet Town?!
Lu Ye's mind froze for a second—
Then he saw Green typing.
[Lu Ye: Oh, so you ran into Ash, huh?
[Lt. Surge: Yep, he's sitting right next to me!]
A photo popped into the chat.
It showed Lt. Surge casually slinging an arm around Ash's shoulder—
With Swellow and Pikachu photobombing in the background.
Lu Ye's eyes widened.
Holy crap, it's Ash Ketchum!
The kid in the picture looked fresh-faced and full of energy—
Still looking like a 10-year-old, just as expected.
The ultimate forever-young protagonist…
The Truth Behind Green's Request
[Green: @Blue, wait… did you commission Teacher Lu just for Ash?]
[Blue: [Nods.] With his level of intelligence, there's no way he'd understand a complex strategy. Tailwind is perfect for him.]
Lu Ye blinked.
So Blue asked me to develop the Tailwind strategy… just for Ash?
If that's the case…
Does that mean I'm technically Ash's first strategy teacher?!"
Lu Ye rubbed his chin and muttered: "Well… That's another weird title added to the list."
Lt. Surge Master's Badge Ceremony
Though deeply curious about how exactly Ash managed to 3-0 an Elite Four veteran,
Lu Ye decided to respect the old man's dignity and not ask.
---
Meanwhile, back in Vermilion Gym—
Lt. Surge snapped his fingers, suddenly remembering something.
"Oh, right! Here's your badge!"
He handed Ash the Thunder Badge, still chuckling.
"Man, when you sent Swellow out, I was scared for my life. Didn't expect you to actually win!"
Earlier, Pikachu had taken down two of his Pokémon—shocking him completely.
Then, Swellow, despite having a type disadvantage, managed to defeat his Magneton in an insane comeback.
Lt. Surge had to admit—
There was something special about this kid.
"…Though he's kind of a reckless idiot." He muttered under his breath.
"Swellow!!"
Swellow perched proudly on Ash's shoulder, letting out a triumphant cry.
Ash, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly, spoke with determined eyes:
"I want to train hard with my Pokémon… so that one day, we can become as strong as Teacher Lu and Red!"
The Influence of Tailwind
Ever since watching Lu Ye's Tailwind tutorial, Ash had been so excited he couldn't sleep.
So when today's Gym Battle arrived, he specifically chose his most fired-up Pokémon—Swellow.
And after securing victory, his confidence soared.
Learning from veteran Trainers is never a bad idea!
(Note: "Learning" here refers to mindless aggression, type disadvantage battles, dodging at the last second, and yelling to boost morale.)
Gaming Talk—"Angry Dodrio"
Lt. Surge suddenly looked thoughtful as he twirled his phone, 'Hey, Lu Ye, when's your next game coming out?'
He grinned.
"I need to ask Gadget King to make me another cheat tool."
Ash, overhearing this, perked up instantly.
"Wait! You play 'Angry Dodrio' too?!
"I'm a hardcore veteran," Ash declared, his eyes shining with excitement.
"I've been grinding it for ages!"
Lt. Surge smirked knowingly.
"Tch. No need to grind—just use a cracked version."
"W-WAIT, WHAT?!"