Gardevoir, hiding behind Jiang Chen, continued to provoke Xiao Luoxue.
Xiao Luoxue's fists were tightly clenched as she stared at Gardevoir with indignation. "If you've got the guts, stop hiding behind Jiang Chen!"
"Calm down, you really need to calm down. You're absolutely no match for Gardevoir," Jiang Chen quickly intervened. How could a human fight a Pokémon? It wouldn't be a fight; it would be a total stomp.
"I've awakened Psychic powers too!"
It was true; Xiao Luoxue had indeed awakened Psychic abilities. However, could her meager power really compare to a Gardevoir? The gap between them was as vast as the distance between a Caterpie and Arceus.
"Even with your Psychic powers, you're still not Gardevoir's opponent. She could pin you down effortlessly without even using her powers."
While Gardevoir's physical build was relatively fragile compared to other Pokémon, she was still leagues beyond any human.
"And you, stop causing trouble," Jiang Chen turned around to scold Gardevoir.
Being reprimanded, Gardevoir finally behaved herself, at least stopping her blatant provocations toward Xiao Luoxue.
"We almost missed quite a show."
Ling Wanqiu and the others arrived at the backstage area. From a distance, they had seen Xiao Luoxue and Gardevoir performing a farce around Jiang Chen that looked like the King of Qin circling the pillar.
"You actually wanted to duel a Gardevoir?" Ling Wanqiu had a strange expression, looking at Xiao Luoxue as if she were a total "big brain."
"Humph, I had her running just now," Xiao Luoxue snorted lightly.
"Give it a rest. That was only because Gardevoir had no intention of actually fighting. Otherwise, you'd be lying on the ground waiting for an ambulance by now," Ling Wanqiu retorted, deflating Luoxue's ego.
"So, how does it feel to be eliminated? Any thoughts?"
"Exactly the same as you feel," Xiao Luoxue snapped back.
Even though she had been eliminated, Ling Wanqiu had been knocked out as well. They both finished in the Top 16, so neither had the right to laugh at the other.
"In the upcoming Quarterfinals, I hope we don't run into each other," Jiang Chen said, looking toward Gu Shuangyue.
In truth, Jiang Chen didn't like the idea of eliminating his acquaintances. Facing a stranger carried no psychological burden.
Gu Shuangyue was equally reluctant to face Jiang Chen. After all, a match against him was a guaranteed loss. She wasn't someone who gave up easily, but she was well aware of the immense strength gap between them.
The probability of them meeting next was only one in eight. As long as their luck wasn't terrible, they wouldn't cross paths.
The next day, the transition to the Top 8 concluded. On the third day, the matches to decide the Semifinals began.
With opponents assigned randomly, Jiang Chen and Gu Shuangyue's luck held out; they weren't matched against each other. However, anyone who had made it to the Top 8 was bound to be formidable. One couldn't stumble into the Quarterfinals on pure luck alone.
"Your opponent is a real beauty, Avril. Hearing that name, I thought she'd be a foreigner," Xiao Luoxue remarked while looking over the data on Jiang Chen's opponent.
"She's actually mixed-race," Ling Wanqiu added, leaning in to look at the profile.
Ling Wanqiu couldn't help but think that if she had faced Avril in the Top 16 instead of her previous opponent, she might have had a real chance of winning. If it weren't for their poor luck with the brackets, both Ling Wanqiu and Xiao Luoxue might have advanced to the Top 8.
"She has two Pseudo-legendaries. Her background must be anything but simple," Ling Wanqiu noted after seeing Avril's Pokémon lineup.
If someone had one Pseudo-legendary, it could be attributed to incredible luck, much like how Xiao Luoxue had managed to capture a Larvitar. But owning two made luck an unlikely factor. Unless one was the lover of the Goddess of Fortune, capturing two Pseudo-legendaries in the wild was virtually impossible.
"I didn't go out of my way to collect data on her family background," Ning Ya told Ling Wanqiu. She had focused on gathering information regarding the opponent's Pokémon and only knew basic personal details.
"Don't you dare go easy on her just because she's pretty," Xiao Luoxue said, eyeing Jiang Chen.
"Do you really think I'm the type to go easy?"
"True. You didn't show me any mercy, so I doubt you'll spare this woman. Besides, her looks aren't even close to mine," Xiao Luoxue said, nodding with a self-satisfied air.
"She's not inferior to you at all, okay?" Jiang Chen couldn't help but interject. He had seen the woman's photo; her looks were definitely on par with Xiao Luoxue's.
"So, what you're saying is, you're interested in this woman?" Xiao Luoxue's gaze turned dangerous, looking at Jiang Chen as if he were total scum.
"Don't talk nonsense. I don't even know her," Jiang Chen said, throwing up his hands. He wasn't that shallow; he didn't just get interested in someone because they were pretty.
"Good. Let me tell you, a woman like that is definitely trouble. Don't go making any mistakes," Xiao Luoxue said, her expression relaxing significantly.
"And how do you know she's 'trouble'?" Jiang Chen asked, curious. Was Xiao Luoxue familiar with this Avril?
"I'm guessing."
Jiang Chen was left speechless by her answer. Then, he felt a gaze fall upon them from the side and instinctively looked over. When he saw the owner of that gaze, his expression froze. Talk about a coincidence.
Standing there was none other than his Quarterfinal opponent, Avril.
Did she hear what we just said?
Jiang Chen felt the probability was quite high. What do you do when you're caught talking behind someone's back? This was the definition of social death.
Wait, it wasn't me talking trash! If anyone is suffering social death, it's Xiao Luoxue.
Feeling relieved that it wasn't him, Jiang Chen relaxed instantly.
"Why are you poking me?" Xiao Luoxue asked, annoyed, after Ling Wanqiu nudged her.
"Candidate Xiao Luoxue, may I ask exactly why I'm 'not a good woman'?"
A voice tinged with anger rang out from behind Xiao Luoxue. Luoxue turned her head instinctively, and her expression instantly froze in utter embarrassment.
It couldn't be. The very person they were discussing was standing right there, and it seemed she had heard everything Luoxue just said. At that moment, her heart was filled with nothing but pure, unadulterated awkwardness.
"I'd like an explanation," Avril said, her tone brimming with fury.
She had originally intended to come over and introduce herself to her next opponent, only to overhear Jiang Chen and the others discussing her. When this woman in front of her called her "not a good woman," Avril's temper flared instantly.
"Sorry, my apologies. I'm so sorry."
Xiao Luoxue was quick to admit her fault. Talking behind someone's back was indeed wrong, though her words had mostly been driven by the fear that Jiang Chen would be attracted to this woman. Regardless, she had been caught, so she offered a sincere apology.
Seeing Xiao Luoxue apologize so earnestly, Avril found it difficult to keep pressing the issue. Being unreasonable when the other party had already bowed their head would leave a poor impression.
"Hello, my name is Avril. I'm your next opponent." Avril put on a sweet smile and gracefully extended her hand to Jiang Chen.
Looking at the hand, Jiang Chen reached out and shook it. "Hello. I apologize for what my companion said just now."
"It's fine. You don't mind if I call you by your name, do you?" Avril waved it off as if it were nothing.
"I don't mind."
"You're much more mature than certain little girls, Jiang Chen," Avril said warmly, her words laced with a subtle jab.
Xiao Luoxue's eyes widened. Much more mature than certain little girls? Was she implying that Luoxue was immature? She had thought this woman was being magnanimous, but it turned out she was just as petty. Otherwise, she wouldn't have thrown such a pointed shade.
Under normal circumstances, given Xiao Luoxue's personality, she never would have let this slide. But this time was different; she was the one in the wrong, so she had no choice but to swallow her anger.
Ten minutes later, as Ling Wanqiu and the others watched Avril chatting amiably with Jiang Chen, their expressions shifted.
"I think you were right before. She's definitely not a good woman," Ling Wanqiu said with a hint of irritation. Xiao Luoxue felt the same; she regretted apologizing.
They had realized that this mixed-race beauty seemed to have designs on Jiang Chen; otherwise, she wouldn't be chatting with him so happily. If they hadn't been standing right there, this woman probably would have been clinging to him by now.
The "bad woman" label was officially stuck on her. Their encounter definitely wasn't an accident; she had sought Jiang Chen out on purpose.
Was she trying to use a honey trap to get Jiang Chen to go easy on her? If that was the case, she was in for a disappointment.
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