Before departing, Mu Li had discussed the matter with Fu Peiyao: "There are some things I want you to witness with me."
Mu Li didn't say what it was, but Fu Peiyao didn't press him and readily agreed.
The island everyone was currently on was a special island run by Pokémon, originally established by a group of Slowpoke.
Initially, it was just a gathering place for Slowpoke, but as a Slowking emerged among them, the Slowpoke tribe rapidly developed, establishing a small, unique city on this island.
It had everything one could need for daily life, including food, clothing, housing, and transportation.
At the Slowpoke hotel on the island, Mu Li informed the others of his and Fu Peiyao's itinerary.
"You two are going out alone for a day?" Mu Qingqing could hardly believe what she heard, while Wang Yijia looked at the two with a knowing, ambiguous gaze.
"There's something I need to do," Mu Li didn't explain, but his tone was very low.
Mu Qingqing had known Mu Li for so long and seemed to have never seen him with such an expression, so she subconsciously didn't press further.
"We'll be back in a day, so you don't need to worry; this trip is very safe," Mu Li explained.
It was tough for the accompanying staff; they hadn't expected their main subject to disappear on the very first day of filming.
But there was nothing they could do. Only after Mu Li's repeated assurances did the staff feel comfortable letting him leave.
Under the cover of Gardevoir's Psychic abilities, the two floated on the sea, quickly drifting towards the deep ocean.
"How are we getting there?" Fu Peiyao asked curiously. "We can't just float all the way, can we?"
"You'll know soon," Mu Li said with a smile.
It wasn't until the island gradually disappeared from their sight that the two and Gardevoir stopped.
"Alright, this must be the place."
As soon as Mu Li finished speaking, a white figure broke through the water from the seabed and flew in front of Mu Li and Fu Peiyao.
"We'll be going with him this time. You can call him Lugia," Mu Li said.
Lugia's speed was incredibly fast. Even though the two were riding on Lugia's back, they didn't feel a hint of wind.
"Our destination this time is Tapu Fini's home," Mu Li explained, and at the same time, he recounted the story between Tapu Fini and her island.
After listening, Fu Peiyao remained silent for a long time, seemingly unsure what to say.
After a long while, she finally asked, "So what are we going to do there this time?"
Mu Li smiled and took out a photo from his pocket. The photo showed a statue of Tapu Fini.
"This is a new city, a new archipelago formed by the people who originally lived on the Kapu Islands moving there," Mu Li explained. "The purpose of this trip is to awaken the other three sleeping Tapu Guardians and invite them to the New Kapu Islands."
Fu Peiyao hesitated for a moment and asked, "Will they be willing to go? After all, it's not their home."
A hint of confusion flashed in Mu Li's eyes. He shook his head and replied, "I don't know either, but we have to try, right? We can't just let them sleep under that ocean forever. Wouldn't that be even more pitiful?"
Fu Peiyao's pupils widened. She gently held Mu Li's hand and suddenly smiled: "I think they'll like it too."
"Really?" Mu Li also smiled.
In fact, everything developed much more smoothly than Mu Li had imagined.
With Lugia's help, they quickly found the place where the Kapu Islands had disappeared and found the other three Tapu Guardians in a frozen state at the bottom of the sea.
Through telepathy, the three Guardians gradually unfroze from their icy state.
The rest of the work was unrelated to Mu Li; Tapu Fini would communicate with them.
While the four Guardians were discussing, Fu Peiyao looked at this sea area with some emotion: "Who would have thought that this was originally a prosperous archipelago?"
"Indeed, in the face of the vast ocean, both humans and Pokémon seem incredibly small," Mu Li couldn't help but sigh.
Fu Peiyao looked at the young man in front of her and suddenly laughed: "You're like a little old man, but sometimes you're incredibly childish."
"How am I childish?" Mu Li protested that this persona didn't fit him at all.
Fu Peiyao shook her head and didn't explain: "By the way, how did you discover this place in the first place?"
"Uh..." Mu Li said a little awkwardly, "Actually, when I came here, I just wanted to catch the four Guardians to guard my house."
Fu Peiyao's eyes widened instantly: "Huh? Catch them to guard your house? These are four legendary Pokémon, aren't they? Their power..."
"Actually, there are some things I've been hiding from you, and I haven't had a chance to tell you, so I'll tell you everything today," Mu Li confessed. "Actually, your previous guesses were correct; my strength is indeed above Heavenly King Level, just a bit higher."
"Wait, you're not saying you're the Champion, are you?" Fu Peiyao exclaimed.
"That's not wrong to say," Mu Li explained. "But in reality, I'm also a bit stronger than a Champion. I call that level the God Level."
"Huh?" Fu Peiyao felt that the information was already overwhelming.
"For example, Lugia is a God Level Pokémon," Mu Li said. "Don't look at him like this; he can truly destroy the world."
"Destroy the world???" Fu Peiyao felt her thoughts were completely unable to keep up with Mu Li's pace.
"That's right, do you know Rayquaza?" Mu Li asked.
Fu Peiyao subconsciously nodded: "Of course, I know. The Sky Dragon, right? Legend has it that China's dragon totem evolved from him as a prototype."
"Lugia is a Pokémon on the same level as Rayquaza," Mu Li said indifferently.
Fu Peiyao immediately took a deep breath. Although she didn't know how powerful Rayquaza was, there were too many legends about Rayquaza since she was little, such as destroying a city with a mere gesture, or even using the legendary "Dragon Ascent" move to shatter a small planet that was about to collide with Blue Star, saving humanity.
Thinking that such a powerful being was now carrying her in flight, she suddenly felt her legs go weak.
"But you don't have to worry; those rumors are exaggerated. They're not actually that powerful," Mu Li explained. "However, if they truly intended to destroy humanity, then humanity would still be unable to resist."
"Alright." After forcing herself to accept this information, Fu Peiyao asked, "Then why does Lugia listen to you?"
"Oh, we just had a fight, and he thought my strength was good, so he was willing to hang out with me," Mu Li said with a smile. "After all, for beings like them, it's not easy to find an opponent. It's strange, these legendary Pokémon are not very easy to talk to, and their tempers are weirder than the last. When they fight, they often get really heated."
"There are two legendary Pokémon in a neighboring world who fight whenever they meet, and they've ruined several worlds already," Mu Li explained. "Like if Lugia were to find Rayquaza, the other party would probably think Lugia was trying to take his territory, and they'd fight to the death. Unlike me, I fight when I say fight, and rest when I say rest. I'm much easier to talk to."
Fu Peiyao couldn't help but laugh: "So you're just a big punching bag, then?"
Mu Li shrugged and smiled: "If you want to understand it that way, you're not wrong. I'm a sparring partner and a conversationalist. Where else can you find such a good punching bag?"
"Then since you're so powerful, why didn't you compete in battles?" Fu Peiyao suddenly asked.
"It became boring," Mu Li said with a smile. "I'm not bragging, but five years ago, I had no opponents, which is why I retired."
"Retired?" Fu Peiyao seemed a bit confused.
"That's right, I used to be on the National Team, the one who always wore a mask when competing," Mu Li explained.
"A Li? Mu Li?" Fu Peiyao murmured. "Ah, no wonder I always felt your name was familiar, but I didn't dare to think in that direction."
Mu Li asked curiously, "How come you don't seem surprised?"
Fu Peiyao retorted, "With a legendary beast sitting under my butt, what is there to be surprised about when you win a Champion title?"
Mu Li smiled: "You don't doubt me at all."
"That's right." Fu Peiyao leaned closer and looked into Mu Li's eyes, saying, "I just feel like you wouldn't lie to me."
Mu Li felt a gust of fragrant wind blow towards him. In a trance, Fu Peiyao was already less than a fist's distance from him.
Thump, thump...
Mu Li seemed to hear the sound of his own heartbeat, but he no longer had the presence of mind to pay attention. His vision was completely occupied by the girl in front of him.
Unconsciously, he felt the distance between them seemed to be getting closer and closer. He could even see his own reflection in the girl's pupils.
"Kiss her! Kiss her!"
These two words kept floating in Mu Li's mind. In fact, he was gradually leaning in.
He even saw the blush rising on Fu Peiyao's face, and the surprise and annoyance in her eyes, but he couldn't care about any of that anymore.
Just as he was getting closer and closer, suddenly, he felt as if several pairs of eyes around him were watching him.
He subconsciously turned his head and saw the four Tapu Guardians staring at him and Fu Peiyao with curious expressions.
Mu Li was startled and immediately took a step back, exclaiming, "What are you doing?"
"Shouldn't that be what we ask you?" A strange voice rang out, and Mu Li didn't know which of the Tapu Guardians had spoken.
Seeing this, Mu Li quickly changed the subject: "What? Have you decided?"
"We've decided. We're going to take a look, and if we don't like it, we'll come back and continue sleeping."
Mu Li's mouth twitched: Heh heh, you guys are really casual.
At this moment, Fu Peiyao had also recovered, and the blush on her face gradually receded.
"Were you trying to kiss me just now?" Fu Peiyao suddenly said.
"Huh? What?" Mu Li visibly panicked. "I just... I just... I mean... that's right..."
Seeing that he couldn't explain himself, Mu Li finally had to admit it.
He tentatively asked, "You're not angry, are you?"
Fu Peiyao feigned composure, but a faint smile subtly appeared at the corner of her mouth: "I'll forgive you this time. If there's a next time, hmph, just wait until I teach you a lesson!"
With that, she defiantly extended a finger, aiming for Mu Li's waist. Mu Li subconsciously jumped back, dodging the attack.
However, seeing Fu Peiyao's actions, Mu Li also breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's good that you're not angry, it's good that you're not angry," Mu Li murmured.
Fu Peiyao suppressed her laughter and shouted loudly, "Aren't we going to the New Kapu Islands? Aren't we leaving yet?"
"Of course!" Mu Li smiled and waved to the four Guardians, "Destination: New Kapu Islands! Let's go!"