Pokemon: I refuse to be a supporting character!

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Ten minutes later.

Litten finally finished its meal after eating slowly and thoroughly, then began grooming itself.

Li Xiang picked up the plastic bowl and dish, carried them outside to the garden, and cleaned them with water from his canteen.

Returning to the hall, he sat back on the floor and resumed reading.

After grooming itself, Litten grew bored and started playing with the peculiar wooden contraptions scattered around.

Seeing this, Li Xiang warned it to be careful and not break anything.

If those were antique pieces made from rare woods, and Litten managed to damage one, the 18,000 PokeDollars he had wouldn't even begin to cover the cost.

"Meow~"

Litten mewed softly, though it was unclear if it understood the warning or was just responding instinctively.

...

Up in the rafters, the boy who had been spying shifted his position.

After lying there for most of the day, half his body had gone numb. Still, he found it odd—how could someone be so patient?

The entire morning had passed, yet Li Xiang still hadn't stepped out.

If the boy had been in his shoes, he would've gone outside to take a look ages ago.

Who could stay in one place for an entire morning?

.....

Time ticked by slowly.

The more Li Xiang read, the more interesting facts he discovered.

For instance, the book mentioned that most Litten had a strong sense of pride. They often appeared calm, rarely showing emotions on their faces, and were reluctant to openly express their feelings.

Gaining their trust required time and effort.

Is that so?

"Little Litten, smile for me!"

Li Xiang called out to Litten from across the hall.

Litten, which had been considering whether to use a wooden post to sharpen its claws, immediately trotted over when it heard him.

"Meow~"

It rubbed its head against Li Xiang's hand.

"Smile for me."

Li Xiang stroked its chin, setting his book down to gently pull at the corners of its mouth. He even demonstrated with a smile of his own.

Although Litten looked utterly confused, it made an earnest attempt to mimic him.

And so—

A grinning little cat appeared before Li Xiang.

"Hmm... looks like my cat isn't quite the same as the one described in this book."

Li Xiang patted Litten's head before picking up the book again.

However, when he read the part stating that even after growing close to their Trainers, Litten would not tolerate excessive physical contact and might retaliate if boundaries were crossed, he couldn't help but glance down.

There lay his Litten, sprawled across his lap, completely relaxed and letting him rub its belly.

So—

Was the book wrong about Litten?

Or was his Litten just an exception?

Li Xiang pondered this for a moment before turning the page.

The section on Litten ended there.

Since it was still in its first evolutionary stage, it wasn't surprising that the book didn't devote much space to it. The focus shifted to Torracat and Incineroar, especially the latter.

For most ordinary people, a Pokémon reaching level 30 or 40 was the end of its growth, but for most Trainers, a Pokémon's final evolution marked only the beginning.

Li Xiang felt it was worth learning about, even if the information wasn't entirely accurate.

After all, it would be useful someday—unless Litten decided to follow in the footsteps of Ash's Bulbasaur and Squirtle, stubbornly refusing to evolve.

However—

Before he could start reading about Torracat, an elderly man wearing a crimson robe stepped briskly into the hall.

He had snow-white hair, a lean but upright posture, and a stern yet vigorous demeanor that exuded authority.

Finally!

Li Xiang's heart skipped a beat. After waiting all morning, the martial artist whom his father had highly praised was finally here.

Not daring to dawdle, Li Xiang set his book aside and stood up quickly, ready to greet the man.

But when he got a good look at the elder's face and attire, he couldn't help but show a hint of surprise.

Li Shuwen?!

(Trivia- For those not familiar with the name, Li Shuwen was a famous master practitioner of Bājíquán, nicknamed - 'God Spear Li'. It was said that he never had to strike the same opponent twice.)

The moment he saw the elder, this name popped into Li Xiang's mind.

The resemblance was uncanny! Especially those sharp, hawk-like eyes—if the elder put on sunglasses, he could easily pass for the real deal!

Was he about to learn Bājíquán?

Li Xiang instinctively thought of this renowned martial art.

Probably not.

Li Shuwen was a historical figure from the early 20th century. This world didn't even have a Qing dynasty or a Republic of China; the histories were entirely different.

Besides, the real Li Shuwen didn't look like this. That design was clearly an FGO invention.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I had some matters to attend to," the elder said, his expression calm and composed.

There wasn't a hint of guilt on his face for having made Li Xiang wait all morning without even offering lunch.

Li Xiang couldn't help but grumble internally—

If this guy were running a proper gym or martial arts school in modern times, he'd definitely starve to death!

Of course, Li Xiang understood that capable individuals often have their own rules and pride. Waiting an entire morning was just part of the process, and his grumbling was merely a way to vent some frustration internally.

Still, it was their first meeting, and he had to greet the elder properly.

"Good day, sir. My name is Li Xiang, and I'm here to learn martial arts from you."

Li Xiang spoke respectfully.

Unexpectedly, the elder didn't respond right away. Instead, he stared at Li Xiang's face for a moment before saying:

"Don't call me teacher just yet. I have a question for you, and I hope you can answer it."

A question-and-answer session? How traditional.

Li Xiang nodded quickly.

At his feet, Litten, which had been resting against his calves, now fixed its gaze on the elder. Its feline instincts told it that this man was extremely dangerous.

Must protect Li Xiang!

Recalling Purugly's warning before they left, Litten lowered its body slightly, ready to pounce at any moment.

Duan Tianxing's expression remained neutral. His tall stature—over 1.8 meters—made him appear imposing and cold as he looked down at Li Xiang.

He asked, "Do you think you have the perseverance to learn martial arts?"

Perseverance?

Li Xiang blinked in surprise.

Duan Tianxing wasn't asking about his talent for martial arts or whether he was willing to endure the hardships of training.

He was asking about perseverance.

What did that mean?

Li Xiang lowered his head, pondering the question for several minutes before he thought he understood Duan Tianxing's meaning.

So-called "perseverance" meant staying the course without turning back or stopping. To falter even once would mean failing the test of perseverance.

In essence, it was a combination of determination, willpower, and consistency.

"...If martial arts can help me, then I believe I have it," Li Xiang said earnestly. He nodded solemnly, deciding not to lie but to express his honest opinion directly.

As expected, honesty is his best trait.

"..."

Duan Tianxing didn't reply immediately. His face remained impassive as he continued to scrutinize Li Xiang, as though trying to read something deeper from his expression.

After a long pause, he finally said, "You can go home for today. Come back tomorrow for your first lesson. Same time, 7 a.m."

"And wear loose clothing. From now on, you can call me 'sir' or 'master.' Don't call me teacher."

He offered no feedback on whether Li Xiang's answer was satisfactory. Without further explanation, he turned and walked away.

However, the fact that he instructed Li Xiang to return for lessons made it clear that the test had been passed.

Li Xiang silently breathed a sigh of relief.

"Understood—sir."

Duan Tianxing didn't respond, striding away with his hands behind his back, exuding an air of someone perpetually busy.

Li Xiang didn't ask further questions. He simply watched the elder leave until he disappeared from sight, then began packing his things to head out.

In the end, he still had no idea what kind of martial art he would be learning.

However, that was something he would find out in due time—no need to rush.

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