Chapter 160: The Second Half of the Test, Changing Routes

Huo La puts away the three Pokemon that have already started practicing skills, returns the Silver Feather and Secret Learning Machine to his backpack, lies back on the bed again, and the system panel interface immediately appears before his eyes.

On the main interface, the League Coin balance shows — the money "taken" from his father, plus his own surplus, the Rocket Team compensation, and the P1 Competition prize; the amount is quite reasonable.

In the reputation column, Rocket Team reputation 1400, League reputation 2000, but unfortunately the "become a Rocket Team Executive" task is not completed, the shop is not unlocked, so extra reputation is useless.

He opens the Badge tab, the Qian Hong City Badge he just earned is already lit up, arranged neatly with the other five badges:

-Gray Badge: Rock-type skill proficiency permanently +5%

-Blue Badge: Water-type skill proficiency permanently +5%

-Orange Badge: Electric-type skill proficiency permanently +5%

-Rainbow Badge: Grass-type skill proficiency permanently +5%

-Gold Badge: Psychic-type skill proficiency permanently +5%

-Qian Hong City Badge: Poison-type skill proficiency permanently +5%

"System, have these skill proficiency bonuses already been applied to my Pokemon?" Huo La asks in his mind.

"Beep beep… all badge bonuses are in effect. However, the Host Pokemon's current skill proficiency has not reached 100%, so it is not displayed separately, nor does it trigger additional special effects," the system's mechanical voice sounds in his head.

Huo La nods, a number forms in his mind — it seems he must quickly train his Pokemon's core skills to full proficiency to unleash the badges' full effect.

He closes the system panel, rubs his temples, and fatigue gradually washes over him: "Let's get a good night's sleep first; if luck is bad, someone might still 'visit' tonight!"

Gastly drifts to the bedside, gradually merging into the shadows: "Jie Jie, does anyone 'visit' need me to invite them in for you?"

Huo La ignores its teasing, rolls over, and soon falls into dreamland.

After a night of silence, early the next morning, Huo La and Xiaogang Ge pack their luggage and follow A Xing to the entrance of the Qian Hong City Gym.

Gym Leader (A Ju) stands on the steps, holding two parcels; seeing them approach, he hands over the parcels: "Inside are my personally supplied dry food and Antidote, keep them as reserves."

"Thank you, Gym Leader (A Ju)!" Xiaogang Ge quickly takes the parcels, feeling a bit warmer inside.

Only after the two figures disappear into the deep forest does A Xing look at Gym Leader (A Ju) and can't help saying: "Big brother, you really didn't go look for Huo La last night? I thought you'd chat with him about the Rocket Team."

"Yeah, didn't go," Gym Leader (A Ju) replies lightly, his gaze still fixed on the direction Huo La vanished, and after a few seconds continues, "But he probably already knows my identity by now."

"Then… should we mention his situation to Headquarters?" A Xing asks hesitantly.

She knows Gym Leader (A Ju)'s position in the Rocket Team isn't low; if she brings it up, Headquarters would definitely take it seriously.

Gym Leader (A Ju) shakes his head, eyes narrowed, his tone gaining a hint of depth: "No need. People who are both 'Rocket Team' members don't necessarily have to intersect. Moreover, this little guy always seems not as simple as he appears on the surface."

He recalls the look Huo La gave the evolved Muk, there was no greed, only curiosity and a trace of regret, completely different from those in the Rocket Team obsessed with "power modification."

"He seems to have his own plans in mind; we don't need to join that hustle."

Gym Leader (A Ju) withdraws his gaze, turns and walks into the Gym: "Just do our own business, ignore the rest, and don't worry about it."

He knows the internal factions of the Rocket Team are complex; involving someone like Huo La could possibly invite unnecessary trouble.

"Yes, big brother!" A Xing quickly follows.

Huo La and Xiaogang Ge soon return to the Xuanya Muban Qiao where they came from.

Morning dew still clings to the vines by the bridge, the planks glisten with a faint light under the rising sun; just as Xiaogang Ge lifts his foot to step onto it, Huo La grabs his arm.

"Eh? Huo La, what's wrong?" Xiaogang Ge asks puzzled, looking at him incomprehensibly.

Huo La stares at the canyon below the bridge, ponders for a moment, then says: "Xiaogang Ge Ge, let's take a different route, we won't go to Red Lotus Town."

"Change route? Not going to Red Lotus Town?" Xiaogang Ge is taken aback, follows Huo La's gaze to the continuous mountains beside them, "You want… to cross the mountain here, follow the waterway to Shuangye Town?"

"Right." Huo La nods, pointing to the faint river visible deep within the mountains, "Crossing the mountain leads to the waterway; following the water route gets straight to Shuangye Town."

Xiaogang Ge rubs his chin, his eyes full of confusion: "Are you sure about this? To get back to Shuangye Town, taking a bus from Qian Hong City City is so convenient, fast and safe; there's no need to cross the mountain—these mountains look hard to traverse, we might even be attacked by Wild Pokemon."

"I'm sure." Huo La's tone is firm, without any hesitation.

Xiaogang Ge looks at his serious demeanor, stays silent for a few seconds, then smiles and pats his shoulder: "Alright, since you've decided, we'll take the mountain! Yesterday we already resupplied in Qian Hong City City, and with the dry food and Antidote Gym Leader (A Ju) gave us today, half a month's worth is definitely fine, crossing the mountain is enough."

He pauses, then adds: "I don't know why you suddenly changed your mind, but I know you have your reasons. Following you is the right choice."

"Xiaogang Ge Ge…" Huo La watches his unhesitant back, a trace of warmth rising in his heart, and sighs softly—Xiaogang Ge always does this, no matter what decision he makes, he will unconditionally trust him.

Xiaogang Ge doesn't wait for him to say more, already leads the small path up the mountain, not forgetting to call back: "Hurry up, Huo La! The sooner we cross the mountain, maybe we can catch the early boat on the waterway!"

Huo La quickens his steps, after only two strides, Gastly's voice rings in his mind, teasing: "Tsk tsk tsk, skipping the nice bus to climb the mountain, little devil, what are you scheming? Could it be you're deliberately taking a detour to avoid someone?"

"Maybe, maybe not." Huo La doesn't hide this time, answers directly, "It's still a test. Letting Ash change the route was the first half of the test. Now I'm deliberately taking a detour, just to see in the second half, if I deliberately change the route, will I still run into him."

"Run into Ash?" Gastly's voice instantly fills with doubt, "He's just an ordinary Trainer, if we run into him it's just a run‑in, what's there to test? Does he have something special on him?"

"Nothing special." Huo La replies lightly.

Gastly wants to ask more, but Huo La has already quickened his pace, caught up with Xiaogang Ge ahead, and drops the topic.