The celebration ended, and the New Kapu Islands also experienced a rebirth, and Mu Li and the others were about to leave.
On the second day after the celebration ended, everyone had packed their luggage and were ready to depart.
Tapu Fini was already waiting for Mu Li at the pier.
"Let's go." Mu Li didn't have many emotional words, he just smiled at Tapu Fini, "I'll come back when I have time."
It was already the second farewell, and Tapu Fini seemed to have grown accustomed to this atmosphere.
Between one person and one Pokémon, there was no sadness, only blessings and anticipation.
Wishing each other well and looking forward to their next meeting.
Sitting on the ship leaving the city, everyone thoughtfully watched the New Kapu Islands gradually disappear from their sight.
"All of this feels like a dream," Song Ling'er murmured.
"Isn't it?" Mu Li also gazed into the distance in the direction of the Kapu Islands, the memories of the past few days flowing through his mind like water, everything seeming both real and illusory.
Everyone was immersed in the sadness of parting, and they didn't care about the show's effect or anything else, just quietly enjoying the last views of this island.
After leaving the island, everyone returned to the airport, preparing to head to France.
After nearly ten more hours of travel, everyone set foot on this brand new land.
"Ah! This side is still more familiar!" Song Ling'er and the others couldn't help but exclaim as soon as they got off the plane.
As famous celebrities, they travel to France quite frequently every year.
Whenever there's a fashion week, fashion show, or film festival, they come to this land.
For Zhang Ruoyun and the others, their understanding of this land might be no less than their understanding of the Demon Capital.
"Where are we staying this time?" Zhang Ruoyun asked the director team, "We didn't mention arranging accommodation for this stop, did we?"
As the Pokémon All-Star Exhibition Match approached, France was bustling with people. At this time, let alone hotels, finding any place to stay would be considered good.
"Don't worry, we've already prepared," Director Li Chao said, "This itinerary will be arranged by us."
"You?" A bad premonition arose in Mu Li.
"Our main purpose for coming to France this time is to follow the Pokémon National Team and experience the lives of athletes!" Li Chao shouted excitedly.
Li Chao's mood had reached its peak at this moment.
This was an opportunity to film the National Team up close! Usually, such filming opportunities are only available to central government-level programs, and their local travel variety show was able to participate in such a high-level shoot.
It could be said that if just a few people from the National Team appeared on screen, the ratings would explode, wouldn't they?
Especially now, during the All-Star Game, surely all the viewers would want to see the National Team members' private lives.
"Director, where exactly are we going? Why is it so mysterious?" Song Ling'er also asked, puzzled.
Li Chao didn't explain. He played coy and said, "You'll know later."
The film crew waited at the airport for about ten minutes, and a large bus pulled up in front of them. The bus also had the Chinese flag emblem on it.
"Why does this bus look so familiar?" Mu Li was still murmuring, apparently not yet realizing.
A person stepped off the bus.
The moment he saw this person, Mu Li was stunned and subconsciously asked, "Zhu Yudao? Why are you here?"
The person who arrived was none other than Zhu Yuping.
Unlike his usual self, Zhu Yuping was wearing a red Chinese sports team uniform, looking full of vitality.
Hearing Mu Li's words, Zhu Yuping's eyes widened in surprise, and he said, "A Li? Why are you here?"
Mu Li looked at the film crew, then at the car that had come to pick them up, and suddenly realized.
No wonder he said the car looked familiar; it really was a car he had seen before.
Hearing Zhu Yuping's words, Mu Li immediately rolled his eyes and said unhappily, "Act, keep acting. I don't believe you don't know about this..."
Zhu Yuping immediately put on an expression of not being involved, just smiling sheepishly, trying to escape.
Mu Li finally understood now why he had a bad feeling; it turned out he had been tricked.
No wonder Ling Fei had agreed so readily to his request not to participate back then, and Zhu Yuping had only mentioned it briefly. It turned out they were waiting for him here.
"No? You guys are really..." Mu Li was also a bit exasperated, "You don't need to go to such lengths..."
Zhu Yuping, however, looked at Mu Li with some resentment and said unhappily, "If we didn't do this, would you have come?"
"This..." Clearly, Mu Li would not have come.
But now, Mu Li couldn't just throw in the towel.
The film crew, however, looked at Mu Li with puzzled expressions, and Li Chao even asked, "A Li, you know Zhu Yudao?"
Mu Li chuckled and replied, "Well... I also participated in the National Team's special training back then, so... so..."
Everyone showed expressions of sudden understanding.
Zhang Ruoyun punched his palm, "I knew why your battles were so powerful, and why you could defeat that professional player before. So you were also someone who entered the National Team!"
Song Ling'er also showed a surprised expression, "No wonder you carried so many Pokémon with you. So you really were a professional player before..."
As for why Mu Li didn't join the National Team later, come on, he must have been eliminated.
After all, the competition in the country is so fierce, being eliminated is a very normal thing.
Seeing everyone talking, Zhu Yuping quickly called out, "Come, come, let's go first, and we can catch up later."
Catch up? Catch up with what?
How many days has it been since they last met?
Mu Li's eyes were almost rolling to the heavens.
However, in front of so many people, Zhu Yudao's face still needed to be preserved, after all, he was already at that age.
After getting on the bus, Fu Peiyao deliberately leaned close to Mu Li and asked, "What's going on?"
Mu Li shrugged, "According to my guess, they want me to participate in the All-Star Game, and then they paid off our production team..."
Fu Peiyao also laughed helplessly, a little speechless.
"But it's fine, I can take you all to watch the game for free," Mu Li spread his hands, "I haven't participated in such an event for a long time either, so let's just consider it a trip down memory lane."
"You're only 22 years old, okay? You're acting like an old man in his forties or fifties," Fu Peiyao said unhappily.
"Who told me I've been retired for 5 years," Mu Li sighed, "Time flies so quickly in the blink of an eye..."
Fu Peiyao didn't know what to say, so she just withdrew and couldn't be bothered to respond to him.