Chapter 24: Elite Four Yishu, Master of Psychic Powers

Guang Tai placed the prepared package into the box, while Charizard held several cards, seemingly verifying the shipment details.

Guang Tai gave Charizard a berry, but the latter waved its claw, letting out a low growl.

“Aow!” Charizard waved its claw, acting as if they weren’t familiar—but that wasn’t the real meaning.

“Yoo~” Singlehorn drifted over to Guang Tai’s side to translate.

Charizard was saying that food delivered by others must not be eaten during work hours; if it caused stomach trouble, deliveries would be delayed, even leading to lost packages, and it had already eaten its work meal before departure, with emergency Pokémon food stored inside the box.

Charizard growled softly as it pulled from the box something that looked like a steamed bun.

A specialty of Kagi Town—and a signature snack of the Johto region: Anger Bun!

This specialty snack is sold throughout all towns in Johto; Charizard flying from Vermilion City carries some too, and if it encounters an abnormal situation or status condition on the route, it bites into one.

“Hmm, that makes sense—I really shouldn’t eat food delivered by others.” Guang Tai paused, realizing that working Pokémon differ from wild ones.

Their food safety awareness is top-notch.

I’m just a customer—I overstepped.

“Aow~”

Soon, Charizard flapped its wings, said nothing more, faithfully carried out its delivery duty, and flew away, gradually shrinking into a black dot as it vanished into the sky.

Amidst the wind whipping up grass leaves, something seemed to fall from the sky, landing on Guang Tai’s head.

It was a strikingly white grass leaf.

“Huh?” Guang Tai plucked the white leaf from his head.

【Rare Material: White Sage.】

【Description: A white sage leaf, retaining a pleasant fragrance. Sage is a plant occasionally found in grasslands and forests, sometimes blown into the air by Flying-type Pokémon or carried to distant places on their bodies.】

【When the Pokémon carrying it suffers a stat drop, it can restore to its previous state only once.】

【Knowledge Gained: 1】

【Leaf Collector: Occasionally obtains sage leaves from grass or wind-blown fallen leaves, 5% chance.】

Sage can indeed be found in nature, but its exact location is unpredictable—finding a full plant is purely a matter of luck. Still, flower shops across regions often cultivate sage, and even Grassia Flowers are commonly seen.

The Pokémon associated with sage is Bellsprout; it’s said that sage is often found among its vines, and the vines themselves function similarly to sage, though the two seem entirely unrelated!

Drip—

The computer beeped.

A new wild client has refreshed—drop rates are truly high.

Thinking this, Guang Tai returned indoors.

He opened the computer to check the email, only to find the message read:

【I foresaw that you possess “Light Clay.” To be honest, I heard that using this clay enhances the duration of Light Screen and Reflect, but this clay is only found in small quantities beneath Sinnoh’s ground, absent entirely in Kanto and Johto. If you have any…】

Foresight?

Is this a Psychic user?

“ID is 【Natural Bird】?”

This ID was unfamiliar—nothing could be deduced from it—but guests are guests. Since this person foresaw Light Clay and asked if I’d sell it…

Of course I’d sell it!

I originally planned to fire the Light Clay into pottery, but never got around to it—and now someone wants to buy it outright.

Drip—

The computer received another email.

【I foresaw that you intend to fire the Light Clay into a unique pottery. I’m very interested in this pottery—please be sure to fire it well. I’ll pay double.】

“Huh?”

Guang Tai froze.

This guy is impressive—Psychic users usually need to be close to read minds or foresee events, right?

To prevent further emails, Guang Tai quickly added him as a friend and began messaging.

“You know Light Clay’s effect, right? When a Pokémon carrying it uses Light Screen or Reflect, the duration is longer than usual.”

“Light Clay costs 50,000. If I fire it into pottery, the price rises—around 100,000. Double that is 200,000. Are you still sure you want to buy the fired pottery at double price?”

Guang Tai had planned to quote 20,000, but then remembered this was a rare item here—20,000 was far too low.

【Natural Bird】: “No problem. Money means little to us Psychic users. Also, I’m a world-traveling magician, somewhat famous in the magic circle—you needn’t worry about my funds.”

“Regarding your earlier question—how can a Psychic user read minds from such distance? Hehe, I didn’t read your mind. I foresaw the future—I knew you’d say that at that moment. I also used Pokémon power; my partner is Natural Bird.”

“My Natural Bird uses Future Sight to find special items—all of which possess incredible power!”

Huh? Future Sight?

In Pokémon battles, Future Sight is a delayed-damage move—but outside battle, this move truly allows “foresight.”

Precisely foreseeing the near future and acting accordingly—that’s the essence of the move. Natural Bird can not only glimpse a person’s future but also their past.

“You seem very interested in Psychic powers.” 【Natural Bird】 sent a message, along with a questioning emoji, then another strange message:

“If you wish to know whether you possess Psychic abilities, or are interested in cultivating them to gain greater power, I can offer you some advice.”

“A simple cultivation method: Nighttime enhances Psychic power. Stare at a tree ahead, focus all your attention on it—this trains concentration, helping you stay focused in battle! Even if you never awaken Psychic power, your spirit will gradually strengthen!”

“I have other methods, but those are secrets. Revealing my cultivation techniques is like revealing my greatest strength!”

Hmm, dealing with Psychic users felt novel at first, but now it’s becoming uncomfortable.

Whatever I say or do, he’ll foresee it!

“Can you stop foreseeing my future?” Guang Tai replied helplessly: “As a craftsman, I don’t want my skills seen by others either.”

【Natural Bird】: “Apologies—I forgot that. Please fire the pottery for me. When done, message me anytime—I’ll always be here.”

After sending this, he fell silent. Guang Tai immediately rose, retrieving the sealed package of Light Clay.

This material is rare in Johto—most Light Clay originates from Sinnoh.

Could I use the forge room for firing?

Without a professional kiln, I’ll use the most primitive method—yet with my craftsmanship and knowledge, I’m confident.

The forge room door opened; the cleaned furnace was reactivated, and the sealed outer walls slowly pushed aside.

No anvil yet—I’ll need to buy one. More forging and firing tools too—I’ll just order online and have Vermilion City’s delivery bring them?

The village might have spare anvils and forging tools.

In simple pottery firing, there’s a method called Shichirin—literally charcoal furnace firing, and the furnace is about the size of a small coal stove.

In primitive areas, pottery demands are low, so kilns aren’t needed—fuel is piled directly on the ground to fire pottery, though the finish won’t be fine.

But Guang Tai has a furnace.

Raw material processing, clay shaping, glazing—Guang Tai completed these three steps quickly, using unique pottery techniques; glazing was the most troublesome.

Glaze is made by grinding certain natural stones or plants into powder, mixing with clay to form a slurry, then coating the vessel. After firing, it forms a glassy layer on the surface.

Thus, the earliest glaze was wood ash. Guang Tai took time to make the glaze slurry—luckily, his mineral stock was plentiful.

Once everything was ready, the firing began. Pottery firing time varies by factors, usually hours to days. Different clays require different times and temperatures; some special clays need longer to reach ideal sintering.

Light Clay was fired in just a few hours.

During this, Singlehorn entered to watch, but felt the heat and immediately left!

Steel-type is weak to fire!

“You can’t do this job—you’ll turn it into a sword-forging contest.”

Guang Tai muttered.

Soon, Guang Tai used tools to remove the fired pottery.

【Craft: Light Pottery (Jar).】

【Description: A pottery piece crafted from rare Light Clay using unique firing techniques.】

【Retained Effect: When a Pokémon carrying it uses Light Screen or Reflect, the duration is longer than usual. Ground- and Rock-type Pokémon greatly favor this pottery; Light Clay slightly enhances their type energy.】

【Unique Effect: Psychic-type Pokémon that remain near Light Pottery for extended periods gain enhanced power in their Psychic-type moves.】

“Huh? I know Poison-types like Poison Barb, Fire-types like Flame Orb—but does Light Clay affect Psychic, Rock, AND Ground types?”

“Indeed—this is clay of the Ground type, yet enhances Psychic moves. Pokémon items and materials are truly strange. There’s an ancient Pokémon called Baltoy, and its evolution Claydol, said to have formed from ancient clay figurines. In Unova, the Claydol family has similar legends.”

“Claydol is Ground+Psychic, Claydol is Ground+Ghost—so, is Light Clay the raw material for these clay Pokémon?”

Guang Tai let his thoughts wander briefly, then returned to the computer, informing the buyer of the finished product and urging an order—but the buyer said no need for such trouble.

【Natural Bird】: “I’m currently cultivating in Kagi Town. Since I can foresee you through the computer, my Psychic power can also reach you through it.”

“I’ll have Natural Bird use Teleport to retrieve the item. Your craftsmanship will surely make its mark!”

Make its mark? What does that mean?

“It means I’ll challenge other powerful Pokémon Trainers. Sorry—this is the last time I’ll foresee your future. Let me end with an introduction.”

“I am Yishu, a former world-traveling magician and current Elite Four member of the Johto League. Pleased to meet you!”

As a payment sound played, Guang Tai opened his PokéGear and saw his account credited with 200,000!

Swish—

A strange psychic fluctuation appeared. Guang Tai turned—and the freshly fired Light Pottery began to "shatter," vanishing in an instant!

“Teleport to retrieve this from so far? This Psychic power is…”

Guang Tai was stunned—it was just like Mountain Grandpa’s Kadabra!

Wait—shouldn’t Kadabra be the impressive one?!

“Psychic-type Pokémon are so convenient! By the way, if I fire pottery again, should I make a Taoxun?”

(End of Chapter)