If you walk by the river often enough, your shoes are bound to get wet.
The Galarian Meowth came to Li Xiang's house almost every day, leaving for the entire afternoon and only returning in the evening. There was no way Perrserker wouldn't notice. In fact, it had discovered it the first few times.
But when Perrserker, furious, was about to rush over and stop the Galarian Meowth, and demand to know why Incineroar and the others were doing this—leaving it alone in a forest it didn't know—the Galarian Meowth's expression made it freeze in place.
Its face was so lost, so confused, like a child who had come to a strange place and gotten separated from its parents. Yet its steps never stopped.
It just kept walking, step by step, toward a destination that seemed completely unknown. It was like a guiding light in an unknowable world, illuminating the path. So determined, yet completely at odds with its outward appearance.
The further the Galarian Meowth walked, the more vivid its expression became, proving that its spirit was growing more and more excited. To maintain this state, it even picked up a piece of wood off the ground, carving it with its claws as it walked.
What was a simple act for others was utterly unbelievable when it happened with the Galarian Meowth.
As its closest relative, Perrserker thought it knew everything about its grandchild. But the last time it had seen the Galarian Meowth so "stubbornly" determined to do something was when it was first learning Total Concentration—using cooking to improve its focus.
Perrserker suddenly realized it didn't truly know its grandchild at all. It had only ever given it protection, given it ingredients to cook with, thinking that would solve everything. Did it really know what the Galarian Meowth wanted?
No. Perrserker didn't know, which was why it was so shocked and lost when the Galarian Meowth showed such pure desire. It made Perrserker feel ashamed.
So it followed the Galarian Meowth all the way to Li Xiang's residence. It followed every time the Galarian Meowth came. It never got close, always watching from afar.
When it realized it couldn't stop it, had no reason to stop it, and that everything in the past might have been born of care but also of selfishness, Perrserker chose to confront Li Xiang directly—to face each other, understand everything, and then make a final decision.
So, when Pokémon have a resolve, their execution is usually astonishingly high.
Perrserker was invited into Li Xiang's home. They sat on the sofa and discussed the matter of the Galarian Meowth.
Li Xiang had been through this before. Earlier, Corviknight's father, the Corviknight leader, had also been very reluctant to let Corviknight go.
But in less than two months, Li Xiang had earned the Corviknight leader's complete trust. It had even relented on the matter of "going back to its mother's home." The Corviknight leader was relatively easy to talk to, as long as you earned its trust.
And Perrserker was willing to come and investigate in person for the sake of the Galarian Meowth, including communicating with them. Li Xiang felt he had already won half the battle. If it were truly a stubborn, demonic parent, he wouldn't even have had the chance to communicate.
The Galarian Meowth's request was very clear: "change" and becoming a "master chef."
That was its dream, its life's pursuit. No matter how difficult, the Galarian Meowth would work hard to overcome it. No pain could surpass the feeling of not being able to control itself.
The only difference between it and someone in a vegetative state was that it could occasionally come out, get some air, do things it was capable of, and relieve its feelings. But that feeling was too painful.
Its memories were completely fragmented, scattered, and disjointed. It was like someone constantly hitting fast-forward while you were watching a movie, whether you liked it or not. It was a form of mental torture.
And regarding the Galarian Meowth's experience in this regard, as someone who had once died, Li Xiang could actually relate. Fortunately, that feeling hadn't troubled him for long.
As for whether the Three-Blind Perception Method could save the Galarian Meowth, he wasn't sure. But he could use his available resources and connections to take the Galarian Meowth to various medical institutions and Pokémon research institutes.
Getting it checked out certainly couldn't hurt. The level of black technology in this world, including Pokémon research, was extremely high. There might be a solution.
Li Xiang had heard of people researching and using parts of Pokémon's bodies to make medicine, like Shroomish and Paras's spores, Corsola's horns, and Pyukumuku's mucus.
But despite Li Xiang's enthusiasm, Perrserker remained unchanged, its guard completely up.
There's no such thing as love without reason, nor hate without reason. Li Xiang must have ulterior motives for being so good to the Galarian Meowth. Whether good or bad, it would listen first before deciding.
"Honestly, I want it to help share the pressure. My cooking skills are only passable at best—far inferior to its."
Li Xiang knew his own culinary level. Without the boost of fresh ingredients and novelty, it was just home-cooking level. And the Galarian Meowth, in his opinion, differed from hotel chefs mainly in equipment and ingredients, since chefs used tools completely different from household ones.
"My daily life is quite packed, with little free time. Martial arts training, battles, and Pokémon training take up most of it."
Li Xiang pointed to the books on the table and the battle recordings on the TV. His life was simple. If he wasn't doing these things on a given day, it meant he was secretly slacking off or taking a day off to rest.
Though time was tight, Li Xiang didn't intend to drive himself crazy. He absolutely needed a little half-day of personal time every now and then.
"The Galarian Meowth's arrival has, to some extent, made my schedule more relaxed."
Li Xiang recalled the things the Galarian Meowth had made. He thought that if being a Breeder only required making Pokémon food, this one would be at a high-level Breeder or above.
"Also, it has some talent in battles. If it's willing, I'd also like to train it in that direction. Getting stronger only has benefits, no downsides."
Li Xiang replied seriously. Does raising levels and training intensity shorten a Pokémon's lifespan due to physical wear and tear? No.
These were Li Xiang's reasons for keeping the Galarian Meowth.
Of course, "the most important thing is that when I need it, it can be by my side at any time to help me."
Li Xiang said. If he only wanted someone to help with cooking, that need would already be met. The school would be happy to send him a Breeder.
But that would be an outsider. If one day Li Xiang found himself in some isolated place, the Galarian Meowth's importance would become clear.
"Meow..."
Perrserker pondered for a long time. Essentially, the two were taking what they needed.
The Galarian Meowth wanted to change, wanted to compete and become a master chef. Li Xiang needed a chef and bodyguard who could be by his side twenty-four hours a day and share secrets. It was mutually beneficial—a win-win.
As the Galarian Meowth's grandfather, did it have a reason to refuse? No.
But Perrserker still felt a little uncomfortable, not toward Li Xiang, but toward itself. If it had the ability to cure the Galarian Meowth and help it reach the stage of becoming a master chef, it wouldn't have to watch it drift further away.
Perrserker abruptly downed the scalding tea in one gulp and ran out of the living room, sprinting all the way.
Li Xiang and the other Pokémon in the living room were dumbfounded. What just happened? Why did it run off?
The Galarian Meowth on the sofa immediately chased after it. Li Xiang, worried about the Galarian Meowth, followed behind.
And then he witnessed a scene straight out of an anime or manga.
Perrserker stood at the top of the steps, backlit, meowing at the Galarian Meowth. Its face was filled with seriousness and resolve.
The Galarian Meowth stood below, looking dazed, but from its occasional meows, it was clearly listening too.
Li Xiang didn't even need Rotom to translate. He was already imagining a whole dramatic scene in his head, like: "Don't follow me! That place is where you belong!" "Grandpa will be watching you on TV. Take care of yourself!" "Do your best! You have to do your best!"
At that moment, a few tears actually fell from Perrserker's eyes as it ran out of sight.
The Galarian Meowth stood below, looking up, lost in thought. It was like a scene of parting.
Comparable to Charizard and Ash's farewell in the Charicific Valley, or James leaving Cacnea with Gardenia.
In reality, the Galarian Meowth still had to go back tonight, as it had many personal belongings it hadn't brought over. Li Xiang wondered if Perrserker would feel awkward then. It might be a spectacular scene.
"...You have a great grandfather."
Li Xiang stood beside the Galarian Meowth, not really knowing what to say. After a long pause, he managed to force out those words. He couldn't resist patting the Galarian Meowth's head—fluffy and soft.
"Meow~"
The Galarian Meowth turned its head, flashing an exaggerated grin like the Cheshire Cat. Sincere to the core.
With Perrserker's approval, the matter of joining up was officially settled.
In the cat's nest, Perrserker's word was absolute. Apart from the Galarian Meowth, no one would question its decisions. That included the Galarian Meowth's parents and the group of female cats in the nest who liked the Galarian Meowth.
Yes, despite its dazed appearance and somewhat strange design, it was very popular in the cat's nest. Riolu had seen it being licked by several female cats more than once.
Although the rule among cats was that the higher-ranking cat licks the lower-ranking one, these female cats wouldn't lick just anyone. And that saying about "first come, first served when it comes to stealing a male cat" was something Riolu found deeply embarrassing, thinking it would never be able to forget it.
The Galarian Meowth's departure caused the entire Iron Meowth group to mobilize, all seeing it off. The scale was so large it attracted the attention of the patrol team.
Li Xiang had to come out to clean up after these cats, sending the campus patrol team away. There were just too many cats, and a gathering of so many Pokémon could easily cause all sorts of unnecessary trouble. As the protectors of the campus environment, it was understandable that the patrol team would be nervous.
This incident caused a small stir on campus, and many people were curious how Li Xiang had come into contact with so many cat Pokémon.
This guy was becoming increasingly hard to figure out.