A water-type trainer who specializes in dragon-type water.

The afterglow of the setting sun, like molten gold, was generously poured onto the shimmering sea.

Cheng Lan greedily inhaled the fresh air, which carried a salty, fishy smell. Each expansion of her lungs was filled with the relief of surviving a disaster.

She turned her head and looked at Zhang Heng beside her, who was also wet and slightly tired but whose eyes were still clear. An indescribable sense of fantasy welled up in her heart.

In just one day, he and this "blind date" whom he had forcibly chosen actually went through a life-or-death ordeal together and glimpsed the power of a legendary mythical beast. This encounter was so extraordinary that no one would believe it if they told others.

"Someone is waiting for us on the shore."

Zhang Heng's voice interrupted Cheng Lan's thoughts. It was slightly hoarse, a symptom of the continuous high-intensity battles and mental exhaustion that had left him in a state that was not as relaxed as he appeared.

Cheng Lan followed his gaze and saw two figures standing on the rocks on the shore.

A woman sat calmly in a wheelchair, with a large, solemn-looking baboon faithfully holding the wheelchair handle behind her—this was her cousin, the former Fire-type Heavenly King Cheng Feng.

The other person was a young man wearing a sharp suit, with his hair neatly combed and so shiny it almost reflected the setting sun.

Although the man was young, his deliberately cultivated maturity and the smugness in his eyes gave off an unsettlingly "greasy" feeling.

"It's my brother!" Cheng Lan's face immediately lit up with a smile, her tone light and cheerful.

"He must have been worried sick because we hadn't heard from him for so long."

Thinking of her cousin, who had come to the shore to wait for her despite his physical limitations, she felt both touched and somewhat guilty.

However, Zhang Heng's expression turned slightly serious after he saw the situation on the shore.

He stopped and turned to Cheng Lan, his gaze honest and serious: "Cheng Lan, there's something I'd like to ask you for help with."

Cheng Lan was taken aback when she saw how serious he was, but then she understood that he must want her to keep the secret.

In an instant, images flashed through her mind of the majestic, combo-style martial arts Urshifu, Heatran, and that Pokémon named Waterpuff, which resembled Suicune...

All of this goes far beyond the scope of an ordinary trainer, or even most geniuses.

It goes without saying that Zhang Heng harbors a huge secret.

Without the slightest hesitation, she met Zhang Heng's gaze and nodded earnestly: "No problem."

Then, a sly glint flashed in her eyes, and she added in a tone that was both playful and affectionate, with a slight smile on her lips.

"After all, you're my 'blind date,' so isn't it only right that I keep your secret?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Heng's face immediately showed a hint of helplessness. He opened his mouth, but ultimately swallowed back the words of correction.

He knew it would be difficult to reverse the situation in a short time, especially since she had just experienced a huge shock and seemed to need some kind of emotional anchor.

He could only shake his head helplessly, which was tantamount to acquiescing to the misunderstanding about the title.

The two continued swimming towards the shore. Cheng Feng saw the two surfacing in the distance, and his tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed, his face filled with a relieved joy.

He pushed the wheels of the wheelchair with all his might, and the baboons cooperated perfectly, quickly moving closer to the water's edge.

One is his cousin, whom he regards as his own sister, and the other is the son of a champion who saved his life. If either of them were to get into trouble, it would be an unbearable burden for him.

Stepping onto solid ground, Zhang Heng immediately recalled Milotic into its Poké Ball.

This adventure in the secret realm yielded far more rewards than expected—not only did we complete the main storyline quests, but we also unlocked future restrictions on taming monsters.

It also gained the opportunity to fuse with "super-power" and successfully captured Shiny Codkarr and the legendary Pokémon Heatran.

However, the huge gains also came at a heavy price.

The situation of his companions flashed through his mind: Wave-like Water, Combo-style Martial Arts Urshifu, and Charizard were all injured in the previous battle and, although treated with medicine, still needed treatment.

The newly acquired Great Charcoal Cart and Seadra were even more battered and bruised.

A sense of urgency welled up in Zhang Heng's heart; he had to provide his partner with the best possible treatment and recovery as soon as possible.

At this moment, Cheng Feng and the man in the suit had already walked up to them.

"You two!" Cheng Feng's voice was filled with obvious worry and reproach, his gaze mainly fixed on Cheng Lan.

"Do you even know what time it is? How long has it been since our agreed-upon contact time? The satellite signal was even interrupted for a while! I thought... I thought something had happened to you down there!"

"What am I supposed to do, a useless person in a wheelchair? Just worry helplessly? If something really happens to me, how am I supposed to explain it to my uncle and aunt?!"

His tone was excited, tinged with lingering fear. Following Cheng Lan's usual diving habits, she would periodically send him a message via a specially designed waterproof communication device to let him know she was safe, and the depth of her dives was always strictly controlled.

But this time, not only did it take an extremely long time, but the signal was also completely lost. How could he not be extremely anxious?

Although Cheng Feng and Cheng Lan are cousins, they are both only children and grew up together since childhood. Their relationship is even deeper than that of many biological siblings.

Knowing she was in the wrong, Cheng Lan unusually refrained from arguing. She quickly stepped forward, squatted down beside Cheng Feng's wheelchair, and gently shook his arm, her tone carrying a hint of coquetry.

"Brother, I'm so sorry... This time the situation was a bit unusual, we encountered some... accidents, and our communication equipment broke down. See, we're back safe and sound, aren't we? I'll definitely be more careful next time and absolutely, positively let you know in advance!"

Zhang Heng also spoke up at the right time, explaining sincerely to Cheng Lan: "King Cheng, please don't blame Cheng Lan too much. This dive was my own idea to go deeper, and Cheng Lan only risked her life to be my guide."

"We did encounter some unexpected troubles during the process, but thanks to her experience and Pokémon, we were able to get through them safely. This expedition was very meaningful to me, and I am very grateful for your help, brother and sister."

Hearing Zhang Heng's words and seeing that the two had indeed returned safely, Cheng Feng's anger subsided considerably. He sighed, his tone softening.

He said, "Never mind, it's good that everyone's alright. Don't I know Xiao Lan well? Whenever she's involved in something related to Water-type Pokémon or underwater exploration, she forgets everything else and dives right in, even forgetting about important matters like blind dates."

His words were pointed, and he glanced casually at the man in the suit next to him.

Cheng Lan was taken aback upon hearing this. She followed her cousin's gaze to the unfamiliar man, then looked at Zhang Heng with a puzzled expression, and subconsciously repeated the words.

He said, "Serious business? Blind date? What serious business? I haven't forgotten..."

Just then, the man in the suit who had been ignored seemed to finally find an opportunity to interject.

With what he thought was a proper smile on his face, he tidied his already perfectly styled hair, which was covered in excessive hairspray, and then stepped forward, extending his hand to Cheng Lan.

He spoke in a deliberately slow, seemingly calm but actually undeniably arrogant tone:

"Ms. Cheng, hello. Let me formally introduce myself. I am Lu Xin, the blind date introduced by King Cheng Feng!"

He paused slightly, seemingly waiting for Cheng Lan's reaction of surprise or delight, before continuing, "I currently work for the Pokémon Water Conservancy Bureau of the Shanghai Alliance, serving as the deputy head of the Project Management Section. Please give me your guidance."

His words seemed humble, but his eyes were uncontrollably scanning Cheng Lan.

Cheng Lan wore a close-fitting professional diving suit. The wet fabric clung tightly to her slender and fit body, outlining curves full of strength and beauty, making her look exceptionally attractive.

Lu Xin's eyes held a mixture of assessment and a barely perceptible greed, which greatly diminished his so-called "politeness."

The Pokémon Water Management Bureau is by no means an insignificant department in this world.

It nominally undertakes important responsibilities concerning the national economy and people's livelihood, such as water resource management, flood control and drought relief, water conservancy projects, and river and lake management.

At a deeper level, it governs the habitat designation of Pokémon in coastal waterways, the permitting of mining in special waterways, the planning and approval of diving areas, and the import and export control of related items, involving a vast and complex chain of interests.

Lu Xin rose to this position at a young age thanks to his family background and his scheming, and he has a very high opinion of himself.

In the past, when he revealed this identity, he was almost always successful, and he always won the favor of women or at least looked up to them.

Cheng Feng also took the opportunity to speak, trying to ease the tense atmosphere and steer the conversation back on track.

He said, "Yes, Xiao Lan. Section Chief Lu is young and promising. He works at the Water Resources Bureau and is well-informed. If you want to explore any new diving spots or handle any related procedures in the future, he can help you."

"I think it would be quite suitable for you young people to communicate more."

However, at this moment, Cheng Lan's attention was not on Lu Xin's self-introduction or her cousin's matchmaking.

Cheng Feng's words and Lu Xin's self-introduction echoed in her mind, and an absurd idea gradually became clear.

She turned her head sharply, her beautiful eyes fixed on Zhang Heng, her gaze filled with astonishment, questioning, and a hint of panic and loss that she herself didn't even realize.

Faced with her intense gaze, Zhang Heng could only shrug helplessly and say in a clear and certain tone, "I think... I explained to you from the beginning that I really am not..."

"—Your blind date."

These last few words exploded in Cheng Lan's ears like a thunderclap.

She instantly recalled that when they first met, Zhang Heng had indeed repeatedly denied it. It was because of her previous experience that she was prejudiced and did not believe him at all. She even threatened him with "not exploring" to force him to "admit"... She understood this point.

A surge of intense shyness instantly rushed to her cheeks, making her ears turn bright red.