Chapter 1307: The Bashful Boy

In the conversation that followed.

Beishang slowly recounted his experiences after arriving in Xicui.

Roughly divided into five stages——

Found by the Pearl Team, nowhere to go after losing his memory, displayed a talent for taming Pokémon, participated in the competition for Field Chief, got on good terms with Dawu La.

It could practically make a splendid movie!

What filled Baimu with emotion was that, also being a person of unknown origin, the game protagonist rushed about in the Galaxy Team solving many troubles and incidents, yet was driven out of Zhuqing Village due to Maza Mu's suspicion.

To avoid offending the Galaxy Team, neither the Pearl Team nor the Diamond Team dared take him in; had Wang Luo not guided the protagonist to the Ancient Retreat, he would likely have had to sleep rough for a long time.

Even after the misunderstanding was resolved later, in the end he was merely a minor member of the Survey Corps.

A pure tool person!

In contrast, Beishang, taken in by the Pearl Team, actually managed to become one of the Pearl Team's five Field Chiefs, dispatched to look after an important "King".

Clearly the Galaxy Team is an organization composed of people from various regions, and should logically be more open than the Pearl Team which has settled in Xicui for hundreds of years……

It's blatantly bullying the protagonist for being young and ignorant!

Of course, Baimu himself certainly wouldn't be manipulated by the Galaxy Team.

"Going by that, you've been in Xicui for at least several months?" he asked about the time.

Beishang thought for a moment and said: "Probably half a year."

There was no calendar inside the Pearl Team, or rather he had never paid attention to it, so he could only roughly estimate the time of his arrival in Xicui.

So how exactly did he come to Xicui, and whether he went back after the game's main story ended?

Unknown.

Baimu pulled out a pile of Unova specialties from the belly of the Shiny Gengar.

"I don't have anything good on me, take these for now, consider it seeing objects and thinking of the person."

The Unova specialties were mostly bought in Hiougi City on the way to the Dragon's Den last time.

But many things weren't urgently needed, so they had been sitting in Gengar's belly gathering dust; coincidentally he remembered them this time and gave them to Beishang.

Beishang took them in a daze; it was fine when he had no memory, but now that his memory had returned, seeing so many familiar objects, he really couldn't hold it together.

He couldn't help but shed tears.

"We…… can we really go back?"

"Of course, just not right now, I still have things to do." Baimu patted his shoulder lightly, "I have to retrieve the stone slabs scattered across the land of Xicui."

Beishang recalled the dark purple small board Dawu La had just handed to Baimu, and said: "Are all the stone slabs in the hands of the 'Kings'?"

"Not all."

Baimu said: "Counting Dawu La's Toxic Stone Slab, I've already obtained seven stone slabs, there are eighteen stone slabs in total."

Hearing this, Beishang eagerly said: "Let me help you! There's still a 'King' near the foot of Tenguan Mountain!"

Although his relationship with the Diamond Team's Mu Chun wasn't great, Beishang felt he could persuade him to make the Xicui Pichu hand over the corresponding stone slab.

Baimu shook his head: "No rush, I haven't gotten the Cobalt Coastlands stone slab yet, it's getting late, I'm hurrying to the Shinto Temple Ruins."

Beishang actively said: "I know that place! I'll guide you!"

This time Baimu didn't refuse again.

The two set off toward the higher reaches of the Tenguan Mountain range.

Crossing one mountain peak after another, walking along one uneven mountain path after another, until the sky began to darken and white snow drifted all around, did they finally arrive at their destination.

Shinto Temple Ruins.

Buildings dilapidated, jagged rocks everywhere, only two majestic statues towering here.

Respectively Dialga and Palkia.

And in a far-off corner, hidden away, was a statue's destroyed pedestal; if Baimu guessed correctly, that should be Giratina's statue.

Because long ago the Lord of the Underworld Dragon ran amok on the land of Xicui, the angered Shinto people destroyed it and moved it to the corner.

Baimu stepped forward quickly, and surprisingly found a deep purple Mystery Stone Slab in the broken rock pile.

He smiled and said to Beishang: "Eighth one~"

"Soon, soon!"

Beishang's face was full of anticipation.

Although the Pearl Team took good care of him, he was ultimately a person from the future, with too many things he couldn't let go of.

Like his younger brother, like his Pokémon, like his beloved Battle Train.

"Then I'll head back to Cobalt Coastlands first, come find you after I get the stone slab there."

Baimu didn't chat more with him, recalled Bastiodon, released Hydreigon and left straight away.

Beishang originally wanted to go with Baimu, but sensing the gaze Dawu La conveyed, he sighed.

"Alright, I still have responsibilities."

He ultimately couldn't abandon Dawu La and casually leave Tenguan Mountain.

At the very least he had to say a word to Leader Zhu Bei, and find a suitable next successor.

After all, the Pearl Team had treated him well.

Turning his thoughts, he then thought of the Diamond Team's Mu Chun, preparing to negotiate with the other party to save Baimu the trouble of communicating with Mu Chun.

In Beishang's memory, facing the Pearl Team's himself, Mu Chun appeared rather difficult to deal with.

——A settlement supremacist?

This isn't rare in Unova.

——

Cobalt Coastlands.

Under the clear moonlight, Baimu saw a cluster of firelight on the beach from afar.

A Mang?

He lightly patted the Three-Headed Evil Dragon's heads, signaling it to approach, and discovered it was indeed that Field Chief responsible for caring for the Youwei Xuan Fish.

"A Mang!"

Baimu shouted, and the hesitant A Mang instantly shuddered in fright, nearly dropping the torch into the water.

But before he could identify who had come, the Three-Headed Evil Dragon had already rapidly approached and landed.

"Were you waiting for me? How long have you been waiting?"

Baimu dismounted from the dragon.

A Mang, his heart pounding extremely fast, opened his mouth; after a good while he calmed down, "Not long... are the ingredients all ready?"

One could see he was carrying a basket, filled with the ingredients he had previously asked Baimu to bring.

And on his back he carried a pitch-black large pot.

Clearly, seeing Baimu not return for a long time, A Mang thought he hadn't managed to gather all the ingredients, so he simply made a trip himself and brought everything over.

"You're really warm-hearted!"

Baimu couldn't help but exclaim.

A Mang scratched his head bashfully, "It's nothing really, let's make the stuff quickly, in a while we'll use the Divine Closure Flute to call the Youwei Xuan Fish, and it will appear."

"Good."

Baimu nodded, thought for a moment, didn't use a natural gas stove, but accepted A Mang's kindness and piled stones into a simple stove.

After having the Three-Headed Evil Dragon help start the fire, then having it release Evil Waves into the large pot simmering the ingredients.

To avoid puncturing the pot, the Three-Headed Evil Dragon had to control its power to the strength of a normal sneeze, but even so the pot shook violently, spilling quite a lot.

"... Slurp."

The Huslong earnestly expressed it wasn't intentional.

Baimu waved his hand, "I know, I know, step aside!"

He chased away the trouble-making Huslong, while reducing the thick soup he told A Mang about encountering the Youwei Xuan Fish in the afternoon.

A Mang stared blankly, "You encountered it?"

"Mm, it was attracted by my Milotic, but acted rather shy, and ran off on its own."

Baimu raised his hand and released the Alternate-Color Milotic.

Bang!

Light flickered.

Under the moonlight, a bewitching beast like the goddess Venus seemed to descend, its eyes like limpid autumn water, captivating the soul.

"Meow~~"

A Mang took a deep breath, "What a beautiful Pokemon!"

He knew the Youwei Xuan Fish very well, knew it definitely couldn't resist Milotic's allure.

However, he also knew the Youwei Xuan Fish, like him, couldn't express its true feelings well.

"Done."

Baimu saw the soup in the pot was basically reduced, fished it out and placed it on leaves emitting a unique fragrance, tied it up with grass rope.

The food emitted a faint fluorescence, clearly having become a luminous dish, but A Mang didn't seem to notice; his attention was elsewhere.

After Baimu reminded him once more, A Mang responded with oh-ohs, took out the white Divine Closure Flute and played it.

Toot~ toot toot~

Accompanied by the eerie tone, mixed with the sound of surging sea tides, the distant bay suddenly lit up with ghost-fire-like light.

A Mang's throat bobbed, "Is it the Youwei Xuan Fish?"

"You're asking me?"

Baimu curled his lip, "A Mang, are you very afraid of the dark?"

A Mang scratched his head embarrassedly, "Not exactly afraid of the dark..."

He was actually afraid of ghosts, afraid of Ghost-type Pokemon, so afraid he basically didn't dare go out at night.

Baimu was speechless.

The ghostly firelight gradually approached; as A Mang said, it was the Youwei Xuan Fish summoned by the Divine Closure Flute.

But when it saw Baimu, Milotic, and the Three-Headed Evil Dragon accompanying A Mang, it didn't come forward, instead staying in place swinging its cloud-mist-like tail.

"Lido~"

"Youwei Xuan Fish~ come quickly~ we prepared what you love to eat! Dumplings with Evil Waves added!"

A Mang called out to the Youwei Xuan Fish with all his might.

Hearing his voice, the hesitant Youwei Xuan Fish slowly approached.

One could see it strenuously ignoring Milotic, raising its head and opening its mouth.

Seeing this, Baimu decisively threw the leaf-wrapped dumpling in his hand, "I'm here for the stone slab! Reminding you once more!"

The dumpling was thrown into the Youwei Xuan Fish's mouth; it closed its mouth and used its tongue to peel open the leaves.

"Li... do?"

The Youwei Xuan Fish widened its eyes in disbelief.

This fragrance!

This taste!

This texture!

Far exceeding the Youwei Xuan Fish's imagination!

It dared to swear that the buns it had eaten before, mixed with the fluctuations of evil, were nothing like this flavor.

Although that one was also delicious, compared to this one, it was as bland as the coarse seaweed commonly seen everywhere.

The vigorous appetite instantly drowned out the bashful desire, and in the eyes of the Yǒuwěi Xuányú, there was no longer Mèinàsī—only Baimu remained.

"Wōduō! Wōduō!"

One more! One more!

Āmáng, seeing this, was a bit troubled: "Yǒuwěi Xuányú, we haven't prepared too much, please hand the stone slab to Baimu."

"Wōduō! Wōduō!"

The Yǒuwěi Xuányú did not answer, only incessantly demanding that Baimu feed it.

Baimu was nearly laughed into anger by this thick-skinned fish: "No stone slab, no buns!"

"Wōduō!"

No buns, no stone slab!

The Yǒuwěi Xuányú's clever brain came online, turning to threats and inducements.

Baimu was very straightforward: "You ate my stuff and still want to turn hostile and deny people? Mèinàsī, get on it!"

"Mīgē!"

Mèinàsī hesitated not at all, charging into the water.

"Eh? Eh!?"

Āmáng was frightened, hurriedly trying to stop the fight from happening: "Don't! If it can be negotiated, don't resort to violence!"

Baimu, however, did not want to entangle with the Yǒuwěi Xuányú anymore.

In fact, when he negotiated with Pokémon before, he tended to favor fighting first, then asking about the situation afterward.

Earlier, he hadn't sought trouble with the Yǒuwěi Xuányú mainly to give Āmáng—or rather, the Gānggāng Duì—face, not wanting to make things too ugly.

Now that the other party dared to sit on the ground and raise the price, he had a reason to strike!

"Wōduō?"

The Yǒuwěi Xuányú also didn't expect Baimu to be so decisive, turning and swimming straight toward the deep sea.

But this time, Mèinàsī was completely unlike before; even if it charged into a very deep place, it still pursued relentlessly.

And the distance between the two was rapidly closing.

It actually swam faster than itself!

The Yǒuwěi Xuányú's heart trembled, and then it sensed an irresistible suction coming from behind.

It turned its head and saw, to its astonishment, that Mèinàsī had been replaced by a massive whirlpool!

"Wōduō!?"

The Yǒuwěi Xuányú exerted all its strength, yet still could not escape the grasp of the tide vortex, being drawn into it.

The next moment.

The Yǒuwěi Xuányú felt the world spin.

It seemed to be inside a washing machine, unaware of up, down, left, right, nor what heaven and earth were.

When its confused vision cleared again, it immediately discovered it had returned to the beach.

Āmáng was anxiously crouching beside it: "Are you alright? Yǒuwěi Xuányú!"

"Don't worry, just let it spin a few times—how fragile could a 'King' be?" Baimu didn't think Mèinàsī had caused much harm to the Yǒuwěi Xuányú.

He likewise crouched down, saying to this genuine, valuable dead fish: "Hand over the stone slab, and I'll make you another bun. If you don't hand over the stone slab, I'll make you spin while watching the buns fed to other Pokémon!"

"..."

The Yǒuwěi Xuányú widened its fish eyes, completely unimpressed by this threat.

Obviously, language couldn't intimidate it much; action was necessary.

Baimu was equally straightforward, immediately restarting the preparation.

Having done it once, he called upon the Happy Egg to assist, quickly producing another product, and this time the quality was better, the emitted light stronger.

Āmáng stared blankly: "Why is the bun glowing?"

"Because this is the legendary bun!"

Baimu snapped his fingers.

Mèinàsī laughed as it split its tail fin, stirring the seawater to envelop the Yǒuwěi Xuányú, then reactivated the drum washing machine.

The Yǒuwěi Xuányú was forced to spin, still staring fixedly at the bun in Baimu's hand; seeing wild Pokémon attracted, it began to panic.

"Wōduō! Wōduō!"

Āmáng earnestly advised: "Yǒuwěi Xuányú, just hand the stone slab to him."

"Wōduō! Wōduō!"

"Yo~ so fragrant~ who wants to eat something this fragrant?"

Baimu spoke with a yīnyáng guàiqì tone, looking at the attracted Pokémon—actually the family of Dìyá Hǎishī seen during the day.

He hesitated not, directly throwing it over.

The plumpest Dìyá Hǎishī, disregarding gravity, surged upward and swallowed it, then chewed happily.

"Mūmū~"

The taste is so unique~

The spinning Yǒuwěi Xuányú only felt the sky collapse.

Seeing Baimu again making the next bun, while the Dìyá Hǎishī surrounded the pot, the Yǒuwěi Xuányú finally tearfully agreed to Baimu's condition.

"Wōduō!!"

Put down that rice ball!!

It was like a beloved girl was about to be snatched away; it scuttled toward the great pot, then flicked its tail, tossing out a water-blue stone slab.

The Three-Headed Evil Dragon swiftly caught it in its mouths, "Glup~"

"Thanks~"

Baimu accepted it with a happy smile.

The ninth stone slab, successfully obtained!