In Chapter 4, in the wooden sleeve, Xia and
"Growlithe, use Fire Fang after Agility!"
"Riolu, use Quick Attack and Metal Claw!"
...
Following Xia's commands, Growlithe and Riolu launched a series of attacks, defeating the last two Beedrill.
Unfortunately, none of these Beedrill were worth Xia's attention.
Two hours of continuous fighting, thankfully with the replenishment of medicine, otherwise, encountering this swarm of Beedrill would have been fatal.
In short, after Xia's passionate speech, the two little ones, full of fighting spirit, fought their way through the entire forest.
Their levels were high, and their strength was increasing, so they could easily dominate even facing twenty or thirty Beedrill.
Of course, it was also fortunate that although this forest was the largest on Round Island, there weren't many high-level Pokémon on the island. Most of these Beedrill were around level 10 or 20, with only five or six exceeding level 20, and the highest being only level 26.
The highest-level Grass-type and Bug-type Pokémon Xia Mu encountered in the forest were a level 40 Vileplume, a level 39 Scyther, and a level 38 Victreebel.
Of course, there were many more, but he hadn't encountered them yet.
Even when he did, he wouldn't actively provoke them, given the vast difference in strength between the two.
But now things were different. Growlithe had broken through the level 30 barrier, reaching level 32, a significant leap in strength, and had even learned the Crunch move.
Riolu was also level 25, having learned Vacuum Wave.
Of course, Riolu still couldn't easily defeat Pokémon above level 30, but Growlithe could now fight against higher-level Pokémon, and with type advantages, its moves were incredibly powerful.
This was Xia Mu's plan for Growlithe and Riolu tomorrow.
Although the experience gained from hunting wild Pokémon might not be much, it was faster and more convenient, and he didn't need to specifically seek out suitable trainers to battle with.
Most importantly, they can gang up on each other even if they can't win.
"That's enough for today, thank you for your hard work, Growlithe and Riolu." After encouraging the two little ones, Xia Mu didn't recall them. Instead, he sprayed them with healing medicine and then fed them Energy Cubes to replenish their stamina.
Stamina is worth mentioning; it's different from HP in the game.
Stamina isn't HP, but it affects performance and battle endurance.
Healing medicine can heal injuries but can't restore stamina. Only by feeding Pokémon Energy Cubes or special dishes can they quickly recover stamina.
Once the two little ones had recovered some of their injuries and stamina, Xia Mu took them back.
Of course, he wasn't going to be foolish and just run home. Instead, he took out his mountain bike from his spatial backpack.
This is a unique piece of technology in the Pokémon world. The foldable spatial backpack can hold a lot of items, and the bike is also a product of spatial principles, capable of being enlarged and shrunk, just like a Poké Ball. It's only because Xia
Mu's family is extraordinary, or at least quite wealthy, that such a thing is not something the average person can afford.
This mountain bike is an official exclusive model from the Indigo League, with the base model costing 100,000 League Coins and the high-end model costing 300,000 to 500,000 League Coins.
The original owner wasn't a Pokémon Trainer, but loved cycling and would often ride around Tsubaki Island. This bike was a gift from her father for her 18th birthday not long ago.
Returning along the same route, Xia Mu rode her bicycle, while the two little ones ran alongside her.
It wasn't that Xia Mu intentionally made them run; they simply enjoyed the feeling of running.
This reminded Xia Mu of the Pokémon games where the protagonist could set a Pokémon to follow them.
Even in the game world, this was the case; as real living beings, Pokémon wouldn't want to stay in their Poké Balls forever.
...
After safely returning to Tsubaki Island City, Xia Mu first went to the Pokémon Center to have Nurse Joy and Chansey help heal Growlithe and Riolu before returning home.
Although his family was wealthy, and one of the few large households in Yuandao City, they did not live in a luxurious manor or villa, but only in a three-story self-built courtyard house.
Of course, the house's size and layout were top-notch; after all, it was a wealthy family's home.
"I'm home,"
Xia Mu greeted as she entered.
She then changed into slippers and went into the living room, smelling the delicious aroma wafting from the kitchen.
Hearing Xia Mu's call, her mother, Mu Xiu Li, peeked out from her busy work, holding a spatula and a ladle.
"You're back. Go wash up first. You look so travel-worn; did you go train Growlithe and Riolu again?"
"Yeah," Xia Mu replied, glancing at the time and then upstairs to make sure there was no noise before asking, "Is Dad still not back?"
"Probably soon. He told me not to tell you; he's planning a big surprise for you tonight," Mu Xiu Li said with a mysterious smile.
She then greeted Growlithe and Riolu with a smile.
The two little ones obediently ran to Mu Xiu Li's side and each received some freshly fried crispy pork from her.
Gentle, virtuous, beautiful, and dignified.
These eight words perfectly describe this mother.
Although Xia Mu had only been here for ten days, he had already completely integrated into the family.
"A big surprise? What is it?" Xia Mu was a little confused.
The original owner's parents doted on him so much that they would basically fulfill any of his needs.
However, in the ten days since he merged with the original owner, he didn't seem to have any requests, and he even refused the money they offered him.
"You'll know when your father comes back. Go wash up first, and we'll eat in a bit." Mu Xiu's words made Xia Mu even more suspicious.
Not telling him was obviously not something ordinary. He
couldn't recall anything from the original owner's memories.
Helpless, Xia Mu could only nod and take Growlithe and Riolu out of the kitchen to the bathroom to wash up.
Actually, Riolu wanted to stay by Mu Xiu's side and help prepare the food, as it had often done in the past ten days.
But it had just come back from outside and had been fighting all day, so it was covered in dirt and needed to be cleaned up.
More than half an hour passed before Xia Mu finally emerged with the two little ones, their fur dried.
Mu Xiuli had already prepared a sumptuous meal and was on the phone, seemingly confirming when Xia
He would return. "Your father is on his way back and will be home soon," Mu Xiuli said after hanging up.
Xia Mu nodded. It was still early; since it was summer, it wouldn't be dark even past six.
During this time, Xia Mu and Mu Xiuli chatted about their day's experiences, and then, intentionally or unintentionally, the Indigo League was mentioned.
Speaking of the Indigo League, Mu Xiuli became incredibly excited and launched into a long explanation.
It turned out that Mu Xiuli had also participated in the Indigo League, but due to her lack of skill, she hadn't even made it past the preliminaries.
Later, realizing she didn't have the talent to be a trainer, Mu Xiuli gave up, and it was then that she met Xia Mu's father, Xia He.
They fell in love at first sight, traveled and adventured together, and later married, inheriting the family business and running a freight logistics company.
(End of Chapter)