Chapter 171: Liu Bo: The hot-tempered one is the Black World's Liu Bo—what does it have to do with me of the White World!

I've watched your battle; your performance at the Stone Conference was excellent. I also heard Kenan talk about you—since she returned from the Orange Islands, she's spoken highly of you and really approves.

Adu was very impressed with Ash; it was the first time he'd heard such high praise for a Trainer from Kenan, and with Ash's Poké Balls performing well in battle, his impression of Ash was also deep.

Hehe, it was Champion Kenan who went easy on me, and I also need to thank her for teaching me some techniques; I've benefited greatly.

Ash is grateful to Kenan; she's beautiful and kind-hearted.

Are your Poké Balls all right?

Upon hearing that, Adu turned his head to look at Ash's Poké Balls and asked concernedly.

Just now, in the battle against Team Rocket, due to the influence of the Accelerated Evolution Wave, evolution occurred.

Strong Croc, and another red Gyarados.

Strong Croc feels fine now, but since its body has grown considerably, it seems less agile than before, so it has also curbed its former bouncy habit.

As for the red Gyarados, although it was initially uncomfortable during evolution, it has now fully adapted to its new body and looks vibrant.

Gyarados, are you okay?

Ash looked at the red Gyarados standing upright in the water, used Aura to check its condition, and found no serious problems.

Roar!

Gyarados shook its head, indicating it's fine.

This Gyarados seems to like you; you can catch it!

Adu recalled the recent battle: Gyarados stepped up at a critical moment, helping Ash block Team Rocket's attack.

Even before evolving, it was ready to take that deadly Hyper Beam for Ash; although it didn't fully block the attack, it deflected it enough for them to dodge more easily.

Ash gave an 'hmm' and looked at the red Gyarados.

Gyarados looked at Ash, seemingly feeling his gratitude, opened its mouth in a smile that looked a bit silly yet full of power.

You two are amazing—no wonder you're the Gym Leaders of the Kanto region. Thanks for helping Gyarados get out of trouble; without you, I'd really have a hard time dealing with them. Thanks!

Adu looked at Xiaoxia and Brock, also knowing they're Ash's travel companions; their skills are not bad, and they even stepped in to help against Team Rocket, so he approves of their actions.

Hmm, this is what we should do.

Xiaoxia nodded.

Champion Adu, rest assured—we stand against evil.

After Brock finished speaking, he saw Miss Junsha, who had arrived late, come over; he immediately went up to greet her, kept helping her, and also gave a detailed account of the situation at Angry Lake.

Miss Junsha took those Team Rocket people away; from then on they had a new job with food and lodging provided.

Adu applied for a substantial reward for Ash and his party, successfully boosting their travel funds.

【Ash: I, of the Black World, also caught a red Gyarados!】

【Yulongdu: Not only did he catch the red Gyarados, he also helped sabotage Team Rocket's plans; indeed, Ash of both the Black and White Worlds is Team Rocket's nemesis—any plan involving him ends in failure.】

【Uncle Xia: You don't say, but it's true—the secret scheme Team Rocket cooked up was indeed thwarted by Ash; all we can say is that Team Rocket is very unlucky, and if they want to do evil in the future they'd better steer clear of Ash, or they'll surely fail.】

【Xiao Jian: Black Satoshi's Gyarados and Strong Croc both reacted to Team Rocket's Accelerated Evolution Wave; they seem fine, unharmed—I don't know if those waves cause any aftereffects on the Poké Balls that evolved because of them!】

【Yulongdu: Those Poké Balls suffered great pain when evolving—not just physical but mental—and need a long time to recover; as for aftereffects, none have been found so far.】

【Professor Buratano: Team Rocket's Accelerated Evolution Wave does great damage to Poké Balls; only few can react to it, and those that evolve because of it are furious at the instigator and won't obey them.】

【Xiangtai: So using this wave is indiscriminate between friend and foe—it's useless!】

Black World—

After settling the Angry Lake affair, Ash and his party arrived at Kaji Town, still without finding the Gym Leader.

Inquiries revealed that Gym Leader Liu Bo was training outside at the waterfall.

Brock stayed at the Poké Ball Center to check in, while Ash took Xiaoxia to look for him and soon found Liu Bo.

Before Ash could speak, Liu Bo saw Pikachu and Celebi playing around, with Ash and Xiaolia following behind laughing; his face darkened instantly, and he stepped forward to reprimand Ash.

He thought humans could never be friends with Poké Balls, and letting them out of their Poké Balls at random was bad.

Faced with Liu Bo's questioning, though unhappy, Ash still replied: he wants to be friends with Poké Balls, treat them as companions, so he trusts him and letting them out to play together is fine.

Finding Ash's idea of befriending and partnering with Poké Balls naive, Liu Bo harshly scolded him for that notion and his breeding methods, saying they're utterly useless.

Whenever Poké Balls are involved, Ash is interested; seeing Liu Bo's unfriendly Poké Balls, it's his first encounter—just like Ma Zhishi never had such—so there must be a story here.

After telling Liu Bo some things Professor Oak had said about Poké Balls and humans getting along, Liu Bo listened and became even more irritable, finally snapping and refusing to accept Ash's Gym challenge.

Liu Bo continued his waterfall training, refusing to be persuaded by Ash and his group; unable to convince them, he had no choice but to drive them away.

It's fine—we'll have a look around here, then talk to Liu Bo later; if that doesn't work, we'll try challenging other Gyms.

Ash smiled faintly; the Gym Leader was talking about himself, and Xiaoxia was even angrier than he was.

Ash soothed them with a few words, and they just wandered around the area.

【Brock: The Black World's Liu Bo has such a temper—can't reason with him, he just drives people away......】

【Liu Bo: Uh-uh, that's Black Liu Bo, not my business!!!!】

【Ma Zhishi: You with the White Light Curtain are no different—six of one, half a dozen of the other!】