Chapter 48: The Wonderful Tree Juice

Guang Tai rolled up his sleeves, ready to get to work!

Harvesting medicinal herbs requires processing them into traditional medicine, so that the medicine-making craft can also yield new materials for me.

As for cultivating the saplings, Guang Tai first chose a hillside and planted them; after the initial planting was done, Shikongluxing patted his chest and declared everything would be fine!

This oak sapling was planted on a hillside not far from the workshop; Shikongluxing used his ability to make the sapling grow at an incredible speed, rapidly progressing through stages of growth—tallening, thickening—until a towering tree suddenly rose from the ground!

Guang Tai watched this astonishing sight, while Shikongluxing flew over, beaming with pride, wearing an expression that clearly said, “Praise me!”

“You’re really amazing!”

Guang Tai naturally didn’t hold back his praise: “This tree alone is enough for me to make unique charcoal.”

“And I can carve even stronger wooden sculptures from the oak trees.”

And if one can be planted, why not two? Though a single tree doesn’t make a forest, who says Shikongluxing can’t bring a second oak sapling?

“Perhaps once I obtain various unique saplings, I can plant them across different spots near the workshop and create a distinctive forest of myriad forms—strange trees from different regions, each representing unique abilities and characteristics, all growing together.”

Just imagining this scene made Guang Tai already excited.

But transplanting certain rare tree species to other areas might cause invasive ecological disruption and upset local balance, so even if planting, I shouldn’t transplant too many—but Guang Tai gazed at the vast, deep Shenhezhen Forest in the distance.

Would that immense, boundless forest even care about invasive trees? The number of towering trees within Shenhezhen Forest is simply incalculable!

Foreign tree species probably get swallowed up moments after invading.

And the Dugtrio also gnaw on tree roots—they seem to have no preferred trees, which is also a form of ecological control.

After cultivation was complete, Guang Tai ordered Doujianshao to cut, harvest, and organize the branches of the giant oak tree, while ordering Baihegenwawa to join him in making medicine.

Shikongluxing watched Doujianshao swing his blades, chopping trees while practicing “Chain Slash Cancel,” and was deeply impressed, letting out an exclamation—but he couldn’t fully grasp such advanced sword techniques, so he soon flew to the workshop’s front door.

Shikongluxing floated lightly in midair, curiously observing Guang Tai making medicine.

Baihegenwawa shook the leaves on her head; Guang Tai plucked one leaf and combined it with other herbs he’d previously gathered to begin drying them.

“Use Sunny Day.”

Guang Tai gave the order; Baihegenwawa shook her head, and even though the leaf had been plucked, a new one instantly grew back—though only when her energy was sufficient.

“Bai! ()o☆”

Baihegenwawa used “Sunny Day!”

Intense sunlight shone upon the herbs—the most traditional “sun-drying method,” using solar energy to directly extract moisture from medicinal parts, drying them out.

But this method doesn’t suit all herbs; for some fruit-based herbs, “oven-drying” must be used. Some herbs mustn’t be exposed to sunlight at all, or their medicinal value diminishes—these require shade-drying.

Heat from fire pits, fire walls, or direct burning of crop stalks, branches, or firewood can be used to rapidly dry them; for juicy fruit herbs, a temperature of 70–90°C can quickly dry them without destroying nutrients.

Guang Tai vaguely remembered that higher-grade traditional medicine could incorporate spores to balance medicinal properties—meaning he could learn Pokémon with “Spore” abilities, which greatly aid medicine-making. Some Pokémon materials, like Weezing’s poison or Seaking’s spines, can also be used medicinally.

I’ll try that later.

Shikongluxing kept glancing between the drying herbs and Doujianshao’s double-speed tree-chopping; time passed quickly. In about an hour and a half, Guang Tai’s herbs were mostly dried—thanks to Pokémon help, the speed was remarkable.

“The first batch of herbs is dried—now let’s grind them!”

Guang Tai carried the dried herbs into the workshop’s alchemy room, prepared his grinding tools, and began processing them.

Soon, “traditional medicine” was produced.

“Completed a craft process!”

“Obtained: Unique Good Medicine!”

“Description and effect: Through your unique processing, this medicine significantly restores Pokémon HP, but tastes much more bitter, lowering Pokémon friendship. However, if given to a Pokémon that enjoys bitter flavors, friendship won’t drop—it will actually increase.”

“Obtained knowledge: 1”

“Medicine compatibility: Mixing herbs or traditional medicine with corresponding tree juice creates different flavors and enhances Pokémon friendship and vitality.”

Guang Tai: “Huh? Then I don’t have to worry about medicine lowering friendship… Tree juice medicine? That sounds kind of disgusting—could it really taste good?”

Next came Baihegenwawa’s craft reward.

“Baihegenwawa helped you complete a task, gaining experience and growth.”

“Obtained knowledge: Herb Cultivation—Herb Cultivation Efficiency +5%.”

“Learned move: Grass Slide.”

“Bai?”

Baihegenwawa sensed her change; she spun around on the floor, then suddenly slid away!

Grass Slide!

A green Grass-type energy surged where she slid, as if forming grass—but since the room was small, Baihegenwawa immediately crashed into the wall, dizzy and disoriented; Shikongluxing quickly flew down and cheerfully caught her.

“Be careful when using new moves!” Guang Tai shook his head.

Then came a new random material clue.

Clue:

【Material: Soft Sand.】

【Obtain locations: Rock Mountain Ruins, Lavender Town, deep caves, natural sand piles, Fierce Lake shore, Pale Beach.】

【Corresponding craft: Unique Glassmaking Craft.】

Oh—it’s soft sand that boosts Ground-type power!

“Glassmaking—looks like I can use the forge more often. I heard glass art sells well in Kanto.”

Guang Tai took out a juicer from the cabinet; its shape resembled Seaking.

He placed the harvested tree fruits inside to crush into juice, then poured in the freshly ground medicine, adjusted the blend according to his knowledge, and quickly prepared four servings.

“Alright, want to try some?”

Doujianshao had returned; Guang Tai placed the juices before the three Pokémon and picked up one himself:

“I didn’t use bitter-tasting fruits—don’t worry.”

Orangecherry + Good Medicine (Healing Grass).

Blukberry + Good Medicine (Vitality Bud).

Pinap + Good Medicine (Royal Leaf).

“Bai!”

Baihegenwawa was the first to approach the juice—but her “drinking” method was to extend the leaves on her head into the cup; soon, the Blukberry medicine juice was fully absorbed, and Baihegenwawa immediately wore a delighted expression!

“Bai~Waa!”

So tasty!

“Blukberry has a faint spicy taste; the medicine contains Vitality Bud, which cures one abnormal status.”

After seeing Baihegenwawa enjoy it, Shikongluxing imitated her—but drank normally.

“Shi!”

As expected, Shikongluxing also showed surprise; she drank the “Orangecherry + Good Medicine (Healing Grass)” cup!

“Orangecherry has mixed flavors; adding Healing Grass greatly restores Pokémon HP.”

The last cup was for Doujianshao—but his drinking looked terrifying: two red ribbons touched the cup’s rim, fighting each other, while the liquid gradually vanished as ghostly energy absorbed it!

“Youp! Yow!” Doujianshao’s eyes widened.

So good!

“Of course—this one’s blended with Royal Leaf, known as the King of Herbs; it slows Pokémon fatigue and increases move usage limits.”

Guang Tai also drank the fourth juice: a blend of Oran, Revival Leaf, Pecha, and Good Medicine (Royal Leaf). The taste was bizarre—bitter, sweet, sour, astringent—all mixed into a mysterious brew, and the effect… was to fully restore the HP of a fainted Pokémon and enhance the drinker’s vitality!

Guang Tai felt his fatigue fade; a surge of vigorous life energy flooded his body!

Come to think of it—if I mastered true “Tree Juice Blending Craft,” if such a craft existed… could I make “nutritional drinks”?

Nutritional drinks—meaning various “enhancers”!

The three Pokémon exchanged their juices, then all fixed their eyes on Guang Tai’s last cup; they crowded around him—Shikongluxing sat on his lap, Doujianshao hovered behind, Baihegenwawa stood on his left shoulder, all chirping pleadingly!

“Alright, alright—I’ll make more!”

Guang Tai sighed; Shikongluxing snatched his juice, and Baihegenwawa and Doujianshao each took a sip—soon all three emitted happy, satisfied sounds.

Guang Tai stood up, took out his notebook, and wrote down notes.

“Shikongluxing, Pokémon from Shenhezhen Forest.”

“Ability: Natural Recovery.”

“Bold personality.”

“Met at the doorstep of the abandoned workshop.”

“Dislikes spicy flavors.”

“Highly curious.”

In a corner of the small room, unnoticed by anyone, behind the old pendulum clock.

The E-shaped Unknown Toxin watched enviously as the Pokémon and Guang Tai interacted.

I’m part of this family too—and this place was originally my home!

Last time I messed up, I haven’t dared show myself since… and those guys down there look so happy… how envious!

I—I must choose a time to appear!

The Unknown Toxin E couldn’t bear this joyful atmosphere; he felt Pokémon and Pokémon didn’t share each other’s joys and sorrows—he used psychic power to phase out of the room!

(End of Chapter)