Chapter 238: The Quiet Hidden Cave

As Adi said, Guang Tai has left Flycloud City, but this departure is only temporary.

Tianjian Bridge, Shichu Forest, Qibao City, Sanyao City—upon reaching Sanyao City, first see if you can find Dr. Shiniku; if her location is the same as in the game, hmm, that would be troublesome.

In reality, cities have countless houses—you can’t go door to door like in a game, knocking and rummaging through trash bins; doing that in reality is trespassing.

After finding the doctor, check the progress of the C-device’s development; right now, it’s speculated that the C-device’s connection function is merely an artificial psi wave, and I have a Leafeon capable of releasing such waves.

Perhaps it could help a little—that’s one of the purposes of this journey, something both I and the Link Tree eagerly anticipate.

It’s also tied to the crucial dream-link knowledge I seek.

Nari has returned to class; the Flycloud City Pokémon School has reopened. After watching the Gym battle, the girl gained deep insight and solidified her resolve to transfer schools. Only then did Guang Tai learn from Nari that Flycloud City actually has a university, and its Professor Jimo is a TV celebrity.

The Hoenn region’s teaching resources are indeed formidable—almost every city has a Trainer School and a Pokémon Academy, even a place like Lei Wen, an entertainment city, has a school. Can you really learn in such an environment?

Ah, there was that one kid who graduated from Lei Wen’s school and transferred to Blueberry Academy.

Guang Tai looked ahead.

Tianjian Bridge.

This steel bridge spanning Hoenn stands majestically over the sea; it is the largest and longest bridge in Hoenn, connecting the central and eastern continents.

Walking across this bridge would take a long time, but fortunately, Guang Tai rode Shieldon through the sky.

Meanwhile, Guang Tai received some information from the Flycloud Gallery and the Link Tree!

[Reward: Recognition from Artist Jonathan of Lei Wen City—Joyful Style—Cheerful works uplift the spirit.]

[Reward: Recognition from Artist Jiwen of Longmu Town—Serene Style—Melancholic works express gloom and solitude.]

[Reward: Recognition from Painter Karl of Chuji City—Heavenly Soul Style—Works on life and death may slightly stir the soul.]

[Reward: Recognition from Sculptor Maino of Shanlu Town—Tribal Art—Primitive handmade crafts increase partial faith and soothe spirits.]

[Reward: Recognition from Winterfield, the wealthy Young Master of Lei Wen City—Gratitude +50%, Luck +10%.]

[Reward: Recognition from Gentleman Marcel of Black Market—Desire +50%, Higher chance of encountering enemies.]

[Reward: Recognition from Fashion Designer Emily of White Forest—Recommendation +70%, Fashion Celebrity +50%.]

[Reward: Recognition from Fashion Designer Sean of Gongmen City (Galar)—Recommendation +80%, Inspiration +50%, Galar Fashion Level +30%.]

Gongmen City? It seems outsiders have appeared.

Ah, I’m an outsider too—never mind.

Fashion designers travel the world seeking inspiration; that’s not strange.

[The Link Tree sensed many new wills and grew slightly faster!]

[Decaying branches are gradually regaining vitality! Though only a little—keep going!]

[The rewards from the Release Jade will slightly increase—you can now obtain a bit of Release Power from the Link Tree to restore Pokémon HP, find berries, or collect money.]

[Reward: Recognition from Xiao Juer!]

[Note: This recognition comes from Xiao Juer, the famous teenage model and Gym Leader of Lei Wen City. She sincerely believes your works possess an inexplicable quality, carrying historical weight, and may spark a small fashion trend.]

[After your EX outfit is displayed at the Lei Wen Fashion Show, it will subtly alter Hoenn’s collective spirit, enriching people’s emotions and making them slightly more expressive.]

[Obtained: Awareness +50%, Attention +50%, Joy +50%, Popularity +100%.]

Oh—this is what Adi meant by “promotion”!

Lei Wen’s shining beauty, official character Xiao Juer, was 15 in Black and White—so she’s only 14 now?

14 years old and 190 cm tall?

Just thinking about it made Guang Tai fall into deep thought.

She reportedly entered modeling as a child, deeply influenced by her mother, and within a few years became a massive influence in Hoenn, a renowned “top idol.”

It’s like the Black and White protagonist going to Hollywood—she became a superstar almost overnight. And Hoenn has young stars like Liu Li and A Tie.

This place has so many young top idols.

“Not bad! If Hoenn’s young top idols promote it, Hoenn’s collective spirit will surely gather quickly—the Link Tree must be pleased too?”

But the Link Tree did not respond; Guang Tai faintly sensed a hint of... awkwardness from it?

Of course, he was still grateful—it was just that this old tree found “this kind of promotion” unfamiliar.

I can understand. After all, your existence long predates Hoenn. Elderly people aren't accustomed to the young world, and you're a tree—far removed from human emotions. To you, who have witnessed Hoenn's transformations, the present world feels alien and hard to integrate into.

“You’re just unaccustomed to modern society’s customs. Hmm—perhaps that’s why you believe heroes should always come from remote places like Lu Zi Town or Hui Shan City? A traveler from afar changing the heart of Hoenn’s center—is that the hero story you like?”

After speaking, Guang Tai felt the Link Tree’s emotions grow slightly happier.

It seems right—it truly does like such “hero stories.”

While gathering countless recognitions and engaging in mental conversation, Tianjian Bridge was soon left behind. Then, vast emerald-canopied trees appeared before him.

Shichu Forest.

Passing through the luminous gate, entering the dark forest—though Shichu Forest is called a natural labyrinth, a beautifully paved asphalt road runs through it; following this road leads straight to Qibao City, so even within the forest, many people travel back and forth.

In the game, what Guang Tai remembered most about this place was

a little girl from a kindergarten, the Hoenn equivalent of Poppy, holding a level 60 Dratini, Dragonair, and Shellos, and saying she admired Master Xia Ka of Double Dragon City and wanted to become as strong as him when she grew up.

“Good thing I arrived early—this little girl must be only three or five years old now, not yet at the stage of battling with three Legendary Pokémon on the roadside.”

Guang Tai did not intend to follow the main road.

He intended to head toward the deep, natural places—Nari had discovered the four-leaf clover in such spots.

Guang Tai moved forward cautiously; normally, if a giant tree blocked the way, he’d have Shieldon cut through it.

But Shieldon began glancing around.

It faintly heard a sound from within the forest, carried by the wind.

“Adi said he once found a lost four-leaf clover, but a Bug Pokémon stole it—so let me take action.”

As proof of defeating the Flycloud Gym, he received the Beetle Badge and a gift from the Link Tree—Guang Tai can summon wild Bug Pokémon and gain slight assistance from them.

A strange whistle echoed deep in the forest, strangely carried by the wind in all directions.

Come to think of it, the Link Tree also seemed to grow more active, and this forest felt...

[Note: The Link Tree senses that Shichu Forest’s nature welcomes the Link Tree’s arrival—and yours. This forest has not sensed the Link Tree’s presence in a long time—follow the guidance of nature! Nature possesses unique power!]

Rustling—the forest’s insects heard the call. They were puzzled, but the wind-carried sound felt familiar, so Bug Pokémon raised their heads slightly, listening to the wind’s message.

The lost four-leaf clover, glowing four-leaf clover—someone needs this plant. He carries a giant Sword Pokémon—the king of Pokémon. Huh, who is he?

Bug Pokémon began communicating; not only did the wind carry the message, but also fragments of that man’s inner thoughts. The Bug Pokémon sensed nature rejoicing at his arrival—even they felt the human might be a very powerful Bug.

This feeling was truly strange!

But since he opened his heart to us, let’s lend a hand.

“Hey, where are you going?”

Shichu Forest isn’t just filled with kindergarten teachers and elementary students on excursions—it also has climbers, backpackers, and other adventurers. Of course, beyond them, the majority are Rangers.

Rangers sent by the Ranger Alliance to protect the forest, and local Hoenn residents registered as local Rangers—these Trainers hide, train, meditate, and patrol within the forest.

A female Ranger named Bonnie stared in disbelief as her Soundbug ran off from her, sprinting deep into the forest.

“Hey, that’s not on patrol route! What are you suddenly looking for? Did you lose something?”

“Bzz!” Soundbug replied succinctly. Rangers, having spent long periods with Pokémon, could roughly sense their meaning—Bonnie was stunned:

“Huh? You say someone’s asking you to help find something—not a Pokémon? Hey, don’t scare me—I’m terrified of ghosts!”

What’s going on! I’ve been in Shichu Forest this long and never heard of ghosts here! I haven’t even seen a Ghost-type Pokémon! Who else could be in this patrol zone besides me?

Soundbug gracefully waved its forelimbs:

I’m going to find something. Stay here. Don’t move. Wait for me.

Saying that, it dashed off in a flash.

Other Trainers’ Bug Pokémon, if kept in Poké Balls, showed no reaction—but those accompanying their Trainers on the excursion, after listening to the forest’s wind, began keenly searching their surroundings.

“Centipede, what are you doing? Ah, so many Centipedes—are you performing some mysterious ritual?”

A boy in shorts followed his Centipede, curiously joining the treasure-hunting group. Other Trainers found this strange—such commotion had never occurred in Shichu Forest before.

What are the Bug Pokémon doing?

“Hey, listen to me—there’s supernatural power in this forest!”

Ranger Bonnie opened her PokéGear and contacted other Rangers scattered across the forest, saying her Soundbug had suddenly gone to help a ghost find something—she turned pale. Other Rangers replied with “...?” on their PokéGear.

“Shichu Forest has always had special power—didn’t you already know that?”

“Did you encounter a Psychic?”

“Even if there were ghosts, it wouldn’t be strange. How could a forest lack Ghost Pokémon? Actually, it’d be odd if Shichu Forest had none.”

“You’re right—now that you mention it, I’ve been in Hoenn two years and never encountered a Ghost Pokémon here.”

“No, White Forest has some—but Shichu Forest truly has none.”

“Hey, I saw something incredible!”

Bonnie stared blankly as her colleagues veered into bizarre speculation—then she saw more insects gathering, searching for something. Even some Grass-type Pokémon joined the search, within the Bug Pokémon’s communication.

Though Bug and Grass Pokémon are both nature-favored lifeforms, due to type opposition, they rarely stay together—they thrive in separate territories.

“Is the forest’s... no, is Shichu Forest’s nature stirring?”

“I heard the echo of insects—ah, and humans too.”

“The commotion seems too large.”

Guang Tai heard the Bug Pokémon’s responses, but accompanying them were their Trainers’ voices. The insects closely tied to the forest obeyed his request—but it had unexpectedly turned into a “mass search for herbs.”

So Guang Tai asked the forest’s wind to carry another message.

Friends, we’ve made too much noise.

The Bug Pokémon quickly replied!

Received! We’ll proceed covertly now!

Bang—

Suddenly, the Poké Ball at Guang Tai’s waist opened automatically, and Treecko emerged.

It looked around, as if listening to something; Shieldon asked if it too had heard the voice of this forest.

“Haaen.” Treecko hesitated, searching for a direction, then moved toward a patch bathed in light.

It felt it—the forest’s call was clear!

If the great forest of Shen Du gave off a sense of chaos and fury, this forest offered it something never before experienced: gentleness, reason, and wisdom.

Guang Tai picked up some of the soil here, placing the moss-covered earth into a storage bottle.

【Item: Soil of Shi Che Forest.】

【Description: Soil that has endured countless ages within Shi Che Forest. It brings calm and inspiration to Pokémon, purifies minor impurities, thanks to the great plants of this forest, which release special plant bactericides to cleanse the air, leaving both humans and Pokémon feeling refreshed.】

【Effect: Purify Aura—enhances growth of Grass-type Pokémon, purifies and cleanses contaminants, greatly reduces chance of poisoning, increases soil vitality.】

【Note: Nevertheless, Shi Che Forest still harbors many toxic Bug-type Pokémon; signs at the entrance warn visitors to carry extra antidotes. Yet the toxins of Bug Pokémon are innate—not impurities, but natural parts of this ecosystem.】

Treecko felt deeply at ease in this forest, sensing the power of earth and soil; the forest’s call echoed constantly in its ears, as if curious about its very existence.

Why?

Following that whisper, it led Guang Tai and Shieldon to a massive ancient tree.

This ancient tree could be seen from anywhere in the forest—it was the unnamed giant from the anime, where Adi often meditated, camouflaging himself as a cocoon to seek inspiration.

Around the tree grew many fragrant mushrooms and faintly glowing luminous moss; the tree’s vigorous life force had turned this place into a green sanctuary.

Continuing toward a certain direction of the tree, Guang Tai’s gaze sharpened: several trees grew clustered around the ancient trunk, revealing within them a hidden space.

Hidden Cave.

This is a special location from Pokémon Black 2/White 2; within Hidden Caves, there is a chance to encounter Pokémon with Hidden Abilities or special items. That is, here—

【Event Quest: The Silent Hidden Cave.】

【Description: Discover the source of this place’s unique power! Hint: Your Treecko seems to sense something unusual here—is it because it bears the wild blessing of another forest? A mysterious place of Shen Du Forest, one of its blessings is to make Pokémon born from Shen Du Forest more likely to find secret groves in other forests.】

【Reward: Release Gem ×2, Shi Che Forest Badge ×1, Power of Nature ×1, Shi Che Branch ×1.】

【Note 1: The power of dreams has surged here; Li Ru Shu senses a stronger connection. This place is a gift from the forest—a hidden cave.】

【Note 2: Your Treecko seems to possess peculiar power, blessed by some great force; its plants undergo continuous transformation and can nurture ecosystems, drawing Shi Che Forest’s attention? This new power differs from all other Grass-type Pokémon—if placed in a small forest, this Pokémon could become the core of an entire ecosystem.】

It is the protection of the Yu Hu Stone.

Guang Tai understood.

Back when Turtwig evolved, it was due to the Yu Hu Stone’s blessing, triggering abnormal changes—that was the fundamental reason it differed from its kin; in some ways, Turtwig carried the power of Arceus.

Moreover, both he and Da Wu received the Yu Hu Stone’s blessing, eliminating negative effects—even Da Wu’s eye ailment was cured.

【Note 3: Li Ru Shu has had a curious thought—it wishes to attach part of its power to your Treecko, enabling constant connection with nature across lands. This can be achieved using Shi Che Forest’s natural energy. If accepted, when your Treecko evolves into Torterra, the giant tree on its back may unlock into the form of “Li Ru Shu,” allowing you to enter the Dream World or Li Ru Forest from anywhere? But only after Li Ru Shu’s main body regains its full strength.】

【Note 4: Seek more strange forests and ancient trees—your Treecko can still evolve! Focus your mind, use the power of the Spatial Echo to listen to the forest’s murmurs and secret words!】

Guang Tai knelt down, linking his power with Treecko’s.

Treecko lifted its head; the previously faint sounds now became vividly real!

It heard! The trees were whispering! And it saw something else!

Treecko’s vision grew slightly monochrome, but it could not see more clearly—Guang Tai understood Treecko’s limitation and released Leafeon.

“Please, help Treecko make a special connection.”

“Aww?” Leafeon paused, then sensed the forest’s unique power; the blue puppy released its aura, and under Leafeon’s special aura, Treecko saw something entirely new!

A pink dream? Or a rift?

Yet no Pokémon were nearby; this dream rift appeared only in the colorless world, perceptible only through the forest’s call, Leafeon’s aura, Guang Tai’s psychic power, and Li Ru Shu’s energy combined.

It was the forest’s “Dream!”

“Haya!” Treecko’s call caused the dream rift to begin dissipating—faintly fading, yet a great power was coalescing within.

“The item isn’t in reality—it’s in another world accessed through connection. The forest is dreaming… dream and rift… ‘Dream Rift’?!”

Guang Tai recalled a little-known “world setting.”

Before finding Professor Zhen Gu, one thing must be known: during university, Professor Zhen Gu had a partner who once studied dreams with her.

That dream-research partner was… Professor Ba Nei Te!

She discovered the Dream Rift and found the spirit forms of the Three Cloud Deities appearing within dreams; Dream Cloud was a unique product of the Dream Rift—striking it with a special beam yielded a rare item called Dream Pearl, which could also be seen as a form of energy crystal.

Because of her research on Dream Rifts, Professor Ba Nei Te later became director of the Space Research Institute in Alola, formally naming such “special regions connected to yet separate from the world” as “Extra-Dimensional Spaces.”

“Dream Cloud is tied to space-time. Though I lack a specialized beam to shatter Dream Cloud, I have another tool… Capture begins!”

From Guang Tai’s fingertips oozed black clouds crackling with lightning!

The “Black Cloud” from the Inverted World!

Of course, the Black Cloud itself was unimportant—it was merely a pollution product of space-time distortion from the Inverted World.

What mattered was that through obtaining this material, Guang Tai gained knowledge of the “Space-Time Collector,” enabling storage of space-time-related items in a special dimensional space—though he did not know where that place was.

The Black Cloud, like a hungry wolf, swallowed the vast space before the Hidden Cave; in Treecko’s view, the nearly vanished Dream Cloud was entirely consumed and cast into some dimensional space. The forest gradually awoke—and what fell from the Dream Rift was not a Dream Pearl, but a special “Gemstone Tablet!”

Thud! The tablet dropped from the black-and-white world, then floated up automatically.

Then, from the dream rift leapt forth a Pokémon!

【Note: A Pokémon guarding the forest’s secret has appeared. All Pokémon appearing in Hidden Caves possess Hidden Abilities. To touch the sealed tablet, you must defeat this special Pokémon.】

Li Ru Shu explained what was happening.

Treecko fixed its gaze on the Pokémon that had suddenly appeared.

It knew: its own unique future was beginning—to come to the forest, to listen to the forest, to become the forest.

The Pokémon before it was…

Shiny, with the Ability Sniper: “Shiny Pinsir!”

(End of Chapter)