“Top 100 Content Creators Award Ceremony?”

Lu Ye thought for a moment, then it hit him.
It was January, and the Modu-hosted awards gala was just around the corner.
The official DM had been sent two days ago—
but only showed as “read” now that Teacher Lu had finally logged into his account.

He vaguely remembered getting a call or two from the organizers recently…
But he’d hung up the moment they started talking.

“Should I go, or not…”

Lu Ye fell into contemplation.

According to the invite, it seemed he was being recognized as a content creator from the gaming section.
Though it also mentioned his music and cooking side projects.

Unlike the traditional award-only format he remembered,
this one sounded more like a massive fan meet-up, with all kinds of segments and activities.

It was two days away, held in Modu—the same city Teacher Lu had been in not long ago.

After a moment’s thought, Lu Ye nodded.
With the Spring Festival around the corner and his parents off vacationing in the Alola Region,
he’d probably be spending the holiday away from home anyway—
a trip back to Donghuang didn’t sound so bad.

Besides, winter break was near.

Lu Ye looked up at the sky.

“Wait… I think I’m still technically enrolled in Modu University’s Finance Department?”

The thought of upcoming final exams made his expression go weird.

I literally just saved the World Tree, and you want me to take finals!?

“Hold on… if I’ve got enough credits, don’t I qualify for exam exemptions?”

More pondering.

Or maybe… he could just solo the Dean in a battle?

Still, Principal Du probably wouldn’t be that unreasonable.

And since nothing major was going on lately,
Teacher Lu made up his mind.

Award or not, what mattered most… was dealing with those exams!

Worth noting,
many of the invited content creators were familiar faces.

However, folks like Professor Oak wouldn’t be flying to Modu just for this.
And fashion star Nessa was busy filming ads, obviously not available to attend.

Teacher Lu was just… a bit less busy than most.

And thanks to the Pokémon Company’s recent collab with Bilibili for several games,
Lu Ye was also attending as a partner brand representative.

Add in all his random side gigs—mentor, inspector, Aura Guardian…

Lu Ye let out a complicated laugh.

“Guess this is really the Dragon King’s return…”

He opened the group chat and casually mentioned that he’d be heading back to Donghuang.

Gold’s eyes widened:

“Teacher Lu, you’re really going back for the Elite Four Summit?!”

Teacher Lu:

“What the heck is that?”

Lorelei explained with a chuckle:

“Every year at the beginning of the season, the League gathers the Elite Four and Champions to coordinate the tournament schedule.”

“Still, given Teacher Lu’s personality, I doubt he’d go,” she added.

Lance massaged his temples with a sigh.

“I’m already sick of those formalities.”

Steven paused, then smiled.

Good thing he’d already passed the Champion’s cape to Wallace!

“Maybe Donghuang’s process is different,” Red suggested.
“Teacher Lu, want me to fly you over?”

“No need…”

Images of airport runways and dramatic ‘Warlord Returns’ scenes flashed through Lu Ye’s mind.
He cleared his throat.

“I’m just going for a few days. Still got students to look after at Yuhong University.”

“That celebration by the video platform?” Erika tilted her head.
“Oh? You know about it, Miss Erika?”

“I uploaded a few flower arrangement videos before,” she replied with a gentle smile.
“But the gym’s been busy—I won’t be able to make it to Modu.”

After asking around, it seemed like Lu was the only one free.

Just then, someone pinged him in the chat.

Brock:

“@Teacher Lu, I’ll come along.”

Teacher Lu:

“You got invited too?”

Brock scratched his cheek.

“I uploaded a few cooking videos. Got a decent following…”

Lu nodded in realization.

Makes sense—with Brock’s cooking skills, you don’t even need fancy editing.
A million followers was easily within reach.

And with cross-posting to other platforms, there were some pretty decent creator bonuses too…

In that moment, bound by their Broke Bros bond,
Teacher Lu shed a single tear of solidarity.

No one understands me… like Brock does!

“Me too! Don’t forget me!” boomed Lt. Surge, jumping in.

“Wait, you too? You’re an old-school anime fan?”
“What are you talking about?” Lt. Surge scoffed. “I’m an electronic music artist!”

“Mr. Surge,” Gold chimed in, “I just checked your profile. Isn’t your follower count under 10k?”

“?? That’s slander! I’ve got 11k!” Surge shot back, eyes wide.

Teacher Lu glanced at his own account, inching toward 10 million followers.

Hmm. Not that big a difference.

Ah, screw it—he cleared his throat.
Might as well bring a retired major along as a bodyguard.

No idea why Surge was interested in Modu.
Maybe it’s a sailor thing—harbor cities have a certain romantic charm?

In the end, the Teacher Lu Travel Trio was formed: Lu, Brock, and Lt. Surge.
With Lu Ye acting as the host.

Seems like after hanging around Teacher Lu long enough,
even the Gym Leaders had picked up his “work-shirking” ways.

Brock’s Pewter Gym was now being run by his brother Forrest as acting Leader.
And Surge’s dojo was managed by his vice-captain, Biscuit.

They were about to book plane tickets—
but Surge insisted they could just take his ship, the Waterstream, and sail overnight to Modu.

“Using a public vessel for personal trips?” Lu Ye asked.

“What are you talking about…” Surge coughed.
“Port cities like Modu? That’s a sailor’s dream!”

Brock nodded.

“Bottom line… cheap ride, money saved.”

With the itinerary set,
Lu Ye now faced a more pressing question:

How do I pack Blastoise’s water tank into my luggage?

“Gengaaa! Σ(っ°Д°;)っ” Gengar was horrified.
Don’t look at me—I can’t help you fit that thing in a suitcase!

“Kameh…” Blastoise waved it off.

Then knocked on his own shell, showing off its Iron Defense durability—better than the tank.
He even pulled out a Max Potion and sprayed the exact spot he’d just hit.

Lu Ye twitched at the corner of his mouth.

No surprise there, Turtle Bro.

Blastoise’s Mega Stone was something he always carried on him.
You couldn’t tell just by looking—probably hidden in his shell.

After all, Mega Evolution gear is easy to spot,
and opponents could use it to figure out your held item.

But if you suddenly pop a surprise Mega mid-battle…

“Yeah,” Lu sighed, “Pokémon really do start resembling their Trainers…”

As for Sylveon’s roller wheel, no need to pack it.
Just bring a White Herb and use it as a cat toy.

Then there was Sirfetch’d—
who was already swinging his leek around inside the room.

“Gah~!”

He was on fire!

Lu Ye’s expression grew odd.

I’m supposed to be the slacker here, right?

But Sirfetch’d’s intense gaze was filled with the words: Hard Work and Perseverance.

Trying to surpass Togepi… and take over the role of resident slacker!

Soon, the leek-blade spun faster and faster, slicing through the air and leaving afterimages.

Lu Ye’s eyes narrowed.

“GAAAH!” Sirfetch’d’s eyes blazed with fire.

His leek whirled around in a Blade Storm,
sweeping every decoration off the coffee table!

Clatter!

Lu glanced at his enamel cup. His brow twitched.
Good thing it’s enamel—doesn’t break!

But Sirfetch’d wasn’t done yet.

CRACK!
The leek smacked into the wall, leaving a visible crack behind.

Lu looked complicated as he opened the Pokédex.

Just as he suspected—Sirfetch’d had learned Swords Dance!

After a while, Sirfetch’d finally stopped, snapping out of his frenzy.

“GAH!” He looked totally refreshed.

So this is what wrecking the house—strike that—training feels like!

“Gengarrr!”
“Kameh!”

Gengar and Blastoise gathered around “Coach Duck,”
giving full approval to that Swords Dance performance.

The room was filled with harmonious training vibes.

On the night before departure,
Lu Ye dialed a familiar number with practiced ease.

“Yeah, it’s me. All good.”

The messages were getting shorter and shorter.

This unspoken understanding left Lu with mixed feelings.

At this rate, wouldn’t a single ringtone be enough
to summon the entire renovation crew to his doorstep!?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read