“Olympic Champion? Old friend?” Mu Li asked, somewhat puzzled, “Have they been to the Mushroom House before?”
He Lin smiled, “They were among the first guests to come to the Mushroom House. They’re quite interesting people.”
Before his words fell, a noisy commotion came from the doorway.
“Guests, guests!” Before seeing anyone, Mu Li heard a slightly boisterous Northeastern male voice.
Mu Li turned his head to look, and Huang Xiaochu and Zhang Xiaoyang had already gone out to greet them.
Suddenly, the entire Mushroom House became very lively.
These two people instantly created the atmosphere of a dozen people.
Mu Li couldn't help but feel a jolt in his heart: “Why do I have a bad feeling? This chatterbox, it couldn't be that guy, could it?”
He Lin heard the sound and also got up to go out and greet them. Mu Li followed closely behind He Lin.
They saw two tall, slender men, nearly one meter ninety tall, standing in the courtyard of the Mushroom House. One of them, who looked slightly older, was wearing sunglasses, while the other looked much more reserved, wearing gold-rimmed glasses.
“Come, A Li, let me introduce you.” He Lin introduced, “You should know this one wearing sunglasses, our country's only active Ice-type Champion, Wu Bing. The other is Ice-type Elite, Ren Wei.”
Mu Li looked at Wu Bing, stunned: It really was this guy.
The two subconsciously greeted everyone, and He Lin also briefly introduced everyone to the two, finally pointing to Mu Li and saying, “This is our youngest brother, his name is Mu Li. You can just call him A Li.”
Upon hearing Mu Li's name, Ren Wei was fine and politely shook hands with Mu Li, but Wu Bing was momentarily stunned. He immediately took off his sunglasses, stretched his neck, and stared intently at Mu Li, “No, why does your name sound so familiar to me?”
Mu Li rolled his eyes, annoyed, “What's wrong? You don't recognize me after five years?”
This remark surprised everyone else.
“A Li, do you know Big Ice?” He Lin asked.
Mu Li nodded and said, “Old friends, we've known each other for many years.”
Wu Bing was also surprised now, his face full of astonishment: “No, is it really you? How did you end up here?”
Mu Li said, annoyed, “You're here, so why can't I be?”
Wu Bing was choked up and couldn't speak for a long time.
“I didn't expect you two to be old friends.” He Lin smiled, “This is great, I didn't expect my brother's friends to come too.”
After a round of pleasantries, Wu Bing found an opportunity to pull Mu Li aside. After ensuring they were alone, he covered his microphone and whispered, “How did you get here?”
“To record a show?” Mu Li pointed to the microphone, then explained, “I'm a new singer now.”
“You? A singer?” Wu Bing had a look that said, 'You must be joking,' “No, why did you go and become a singer?”
Mu Li said, somewhat helplessly, “What else? What else could I do if I didn't become a singer?”
Wu Bing was silent for a long time, then finally sighed, “True, being a singer is pretty good. Anyway, you can't compete.”
Mu Li shrugged, saying helplessly, “Right, being a singer is pretty good. They can't stop me from Sing, can they?”
“Alright.” Wu Bing smiled, looking in the direction of the others, “Then your identity?”
“They don't know yet. Just say I used to train with you. Wang Xin also agreed to that story.” Mu Li explained.
Wu Bing was startled, then quickly realized, “You've met Wang Xin?”
Mu Li nodded, “When I was recording 'Wu Ha' before. No, I've noticed that your National Team members all seem to like going on variety shows lately?”
Before Wu Bing could respond, Mu Li continued to ask, “By the way, you're already quite old, aren't you? Why haven't you retired yet?”
Wu Bing was also speechless and just rolled his eyes at Mu Li, “I retired last year, okay? I'm 31 this year.”
“I knew it, you're 31 already.” Mu Li couldn't help but exclaim.
“Hehe…” Wu Bing said, annoyed, “If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have had to retire.”
Mu Li shrugged and smiled, “Don't thank me too much. It's great to retire early and rest. Otherwise, where would the young people get their opportunities?”
Mu Li pointed to Ren Wei, who was still chatting outside, and asked, “Is that your successor?”
“More or less.” Wu Bing smiled and said, “He's young, and more talented than me.”
Mu Li said with some disdain, “No matter how powerful, he's just an Ice-type. Can he even reach the sky?”
Wu Bing said, annoyed, “Who's comparing themselves to a monster like you?”
“But you're impressive. Wang Xin hasn't even reached Champion-level, but you're faster than him.” Mu Li exclaimed.
“He's younger than me. He's from your generation and is only 24 now. I'm almost two generations older than him.” Wu Bing said, annoyed, “But he's almost there too. His Dragonite is already at Elite peak condition.”
Mu Li glanced at Ren Wei beside them, a mischievous smile appearing at the corner of his mouth: “What do you say, should I do something for the National Team?”
“Don't be like that, when I see that expression on your face, I get scared.” Wu Bing's face showed an unnatural expression, “Last time I saw you like that, you directly crushed me 6:0, almost making my Dao heart shatter and making me retire on the spot.”
Mu Li couldn't help but roll his eyes: “Just tell me, do I have any credit for you breaking through to Champion so quickly?”
Wu Bing's mouth twitched, but he finally nodded, “You do have a tiny bit of credit.”
Mu Li grumbled, annoyed, “So, do you want it or not?”
Wu Bing glanced at Ren Wei, who was smiling innocently, gritted his teeth and said, “How do you want to do it?”
Mu Li smiled mysteriously: “I'll call you guys tonight after everyone else is asleep.”
At this moment, Ren Wei suddenly felt a chill come from behind him and couldn't help but shiver: “What's wrong with me? I'm shivering on such a hot day? Am I catching a cold?”
Just then, Ren Wei happened to see Mu Li and Wu Bing walking out of the corner, arm in arm.
Ren Wei was still curious: Are these two so close?
He turned to He Lin and asked, “Teacher He, are A Li and Brother Ice that close?”
This question stumped He Lin. He looked over and happened to see the two of them walking arm in arm, smiling mischievously, and he had no idea what they were talking about.
“I'm not sure either?” He Lin asked, puzzled, “A Li didn't seem to know Big Ice was coming. If they were very close, A Li should have known about his arrival from Big Ice beforehand.”
As He Lin spoke, he happened to see the two of them fooling around. Mu Li even kicked Wu Bing's butt, but Wu Bing was laughing, clearly showing that they were used to playing around together.
Seeing the two of them playing around as if no one else was there, He Lin, although full of questions, didn't ask them right then.
After chatting for a while, the two sat directly on the chairs outside on the first floor, each holding a cup of iced coffee, looking at the sea.
“How is it? The environment here is pretty good, right?” Mu Li asked, looking at the distant sea horizon.
“It's really good. Beautiful environment, and seafood to eat.” Wu Bing also looked at the sea horizon, “It's just a bit hot.”
Mu Li turned to look at Wu Bing: “Speaking of which, why don't you let your Ice Nine Tails out? It would cool things down nicely.”
Wu Bing said, annoyed, “She's a Champion-level Pokémon now, you think she's an air conditioner? Besides, don't you have Gengar? Is the temperature not low enough for you?”
Mu Li shrugged, “I'm not hot, but aren't the others hot? Look at the staff, they look like they want to hug an Ice-type Pokémon each.”
“Alright, alright, I can't argue with you.” Wu Bing said, annoyed, “It's so hot, she's definitely going to get angry when she comes out. Will you be responsible for comforting her then?”
Mu Li patted his chest: “Leave it to me, there's no Shell Smash Pokémon I can't comfort.”
“Hehe.” Wu Bing rolled his eyes and casually threw out a Poké Ball. With a flash of red light, a pure white Ice Nine Tails appeared in the courtyard.
Almost instantly, the temperature of the entire Mushroom House dropped by more than 10 degrees.
After Ice Nine Tails appeared, she subconsciously surveyed her surroundings and immediately caught sight of Wu Bing drinking coffee, her expression instantly turning sour.
She looked entirely like, “You'd better explain yourself.”
Wu Bing helplessly pointed to Mu Li beside him and said to Ice Nine Tails, “He wanted to see you.”
Mu Li immediately greeted Ninetales, saying, “Long time no see!”
The rest of the Mushroom House crew were still wondering why the temperature had suddenly dropped, and then they saw an Ice Nine Tails in the middle of the courtyard.
Ice Nine Tails' appearance was truly beautiful, pure white all over, like a Pokémon from heaven and earth. Everyone was captivated by Ice Nine Tails' appearance with just one glance.
“Is this the Champion Ice Nine Tails? She's so beautiful!” Zhang Xiaofeng couldn't help but exclaim.
“Just her appearance for an instant made the temperature of the entire Mushroom House drop so much. Her power is so strong.” Peng Xiaochang exclaimed.
While everyone was constantly marveling at Ice Nine Tails' charm and power, Ren Wei was remarkably clear-headed.
As an Ice-type Elite, he had spent years with Wu Bing's Ice Nine Tails and knew her personality inside out.
Most Ice-type Pokémon don't like very hot places, and this Ice Nine Tails was especially so.
Unless it was during a battle, Ice Nine Tails usually hated hot environments.
Wu Bing certainly knew this even better.
Moreover, Pokémon like Ninetales seem to have a 'princess syndrome'; once they get angry, even their trainer can't easily appease them, and this Ice Nine Tails was no exception.
Ren Wei still remembered one time when Wu Bing was recording a show and merely showed Ice Nine Tails, and she stayed angry for a long time. Wu Bing finally managed to appease her after more than half a month.
Since then, Wu Bing never summoned Ice Nine Tails outside of Ice-type environments and battle scenarios.
But to his surprise, today Wu Bing actually summoned Ice Nine Tails without anyone mentioning it.
Seeing Ice Nine Tails' angry expression, Ren Wei knew that Wu Bing would have to go back and kneel on the washboard again.
But just then, Ren Wei saw the person named Mu Li actually taking the initiative to greet Ice Nine Tails. He seemed to be an old acquaintance of Ice Nine Tails.
The next moment, he saw the change in Ice Nine Tails' expression.
From anger, it turned to confusion, then to surprise, and finally, Ice Nine Tails' original angry expression completely disappeared, leaving only a look of confusion.
“She's asking Mu Li why he's here?” A pleasant female voice suddenly echoed in Ren Wei's mind, and at the same time, he saw a Gardevoir appear beside Mu Li, he didn't know when.