Chapter 287: Hope in Solitude

Huo La again gave a definite answer, his tone firm and unquestionable, which instead left AZ frozen in place, his face full of disbelief.

He stared blankly at Huo La, and in those eyes that had settled a thousand years of solitude, all his obsessions and burdens quietly loosened at that moment, even his breathing forgot its rhythm.

After a long while, he finally slowly lifted his hand, gently pressed it to his chest, exhaled a heavy breath, his voice hoarse yet bearing an unprecedented sense of relief, murmuring over and over: "Having it is enough, having it is enough......"

Those four words seemed to lift the thousand‑jin burden he had carried for millennia, causing his upright yet rigid frame to slump slightly, his floor‑length hair falling to his shoulders, covering the surging emotions in his eyes; only the hand gripping his wooden staff still trembled faintly.

Thousands of years of wandering, countless days and nights of searching and torment, countless struggles in despair—the only thing that kept him moving forward was the obsession to see that one face.

Now Huo La's affirmative words were nothing less than the best tonic for him.

Huo La stood where he was, watching AZ's regained state, and couldn't help letting out a soft sigh.

He knew deep down that AZ had been wandering alone in the river of time for a thousand years to see Hua Ye Di again, and that more than two thousand years of solitude still awaited him.

He recalled the Fireburst Beast, the Stinger Tail Scorpion, the Leaf Eevee, and those companions trapped in future Pokeballs.

He also had a deep bond with his Pokemon, willing to risk everything for them, ready to give his all to protect each other.

But if he were to endure three thousand years of solitary years like AZ, repeatedly torn in endless darkness and longing, where life and death blur, leaving only endless waiting and searching, he would ask himself honestly that he simply could not do it.

Such a bond that transcends the boundaries of life and death, soaked in a thousand years of solitude, is too heavy and too cruel for ordinary people to bear.

AZ remained silent for a long time, the relief in his eyes gradually settling into calm; when he spoke again, his hoarse voice had regained a detached steadiness: "What I wanted to know, you have already told me. Let's go, I'll take you to see Wusi."

"Hm?" Huo La's eyes flashed with confusion, and Ma Jia Mu and Xingyue also furrowed their brows together.

Seeing this, AZ slowly added, "I came this time not only to ask you about Hua Ye Di, but more importantly, Wusi specifically entrusted me to make sure I bring you to see her."

"Why didn't Wusi Lady come herself?" Ma Jia Mu was the first to ask, his tone carrying the Team Galactic Captain's caution toward the unknown.

AZ looked up at Ma Jia Mu, slowly shook his head, his tone flat yet tinged with an elusive meaning: "She can't get out."

"Can't get out?" Huo La repeated instinctively, his brows furrowing even tighter.

AZ clearly had no intention of further explanation; as soon as the words fell, he slowly rose.

Being already extremely tall, when he stood upright his head nearly brushed the low ceiling beams of the meeting room, and the Intimidation around him grew ever more evident.

He looked at Huo La, silent for a moment, as if recalling something, lifted his hand, fumbled in his tattered clothing pocket, pulled out a round deep‑blue stone, and tossed it over casually.

"Consider this payment for you telling me 'hope'." AZ's voice was flat, "I don't know whether this thing still exists in your later age, but now you should be able to use it."

Huo La instinctively raised his hand to catch it; the moment his fingertips touched the stone, he felt the dense energy it contained.

He glanced down, his pupils contracting slightly, and blurted out, "Gyarados Super Evolution Stone!"

AZ gave a slight nod, his tone carrying a hint of casual regret: "It seems the thing I unintentionally created has somehow been passed down to later generations."

Huo La held the Super Evolution Stone, silent.

He knew all too well that the origin of the Super Evolution Stone lay in the aftermath of AZ activating the Final Weapon millennia ago, when the life force of countless Pokemon was forcibly extracted, transformed, and condensed into it, bearing heavy sin and sacrifice.

But now, this thing has become a rare item that the Pokemon World can generate on its own, and the causal changes within it remain unknown to him.

To Huo La at this moment, the Gyarados Super Evolution Stone was somewhat of a chicken‑rib—he possessed a Key Stone, but he currently had no Gyarados. Though Magikarp were common, a Magikarp with good Su Xing was truly rare, especially since he had a Golden Magikarp mission, and he had little interest in other Magikarp.

But he still stored it carefully; after all, Super Evolution Stones are extremely rare, and having one is better than none. When he returns to his own world and catches that Magikarp, it will come in handy.

Ma Jia Mu and Xingyue, though unaware of the stone's origin, said nothing further upon seeing it.

AZ was already moving toward the door, his wooden staff striking the floor with a "thud, thud" sound, steady and rhythmic: "Don't delay; the Ancient Hidden Residence isn't far from here, so set out early and aim to arrive before sunset."

Huo La carefully slipped the Gyarados Super Evolution Stone into his pocket and told everyone, "Wait, I need to go to the training ground first to pick up the Fireburst Beast and the Stinger Tail Scorpion, and also restock some special training and travel supplies; let's meet at the entrance of Zhuxing Village."

Before AZ could speak, Ma Jia Mu responded first: "Alright. Xingyue and I will also head back to prepare some outdoor supplies, medical gear, and dry rations; see you at the village entrance."

The few of them then split up, and Huo La walked straight toward the Ginkgo Chamber of Commerce Outpost in Zhuxing Village.

Reaching the wooden stall, he halted, his gaze landing on the busy figure behind the stall. "What would the customer like to buy?"

A crisp voice rang out as the short‑haired yellow‑hair woman behind the stall looked up, a gentle smile on her face, her hands still wiping the tools before her.

Huo La looked at the stranger's face, pondered briefly, and asked, "Is Wang Luo not here?"

"Oh, you're looking for Brother Wang Luo." Zhi Meng suddenly understood, then showed an apologetic expression, gently shaking her head, "Unfortunately, he's been out for several days; he said he's gone to investigate the Tian Guan Mountain Foothills and hasn't returned yet."

She paused, then introduced herself enthusiastically: "I'm Zhi Meng, I help Brother Wang Luo look after the stall. Whatever you need, you can buy from me; I'm familiar with all the Guild's supplies."

Huo La said evenly, "I'd like the Arceus Stone Tablet; can you sell it as well?"

"Arceus Stone Tablet…" Zhi Meng murmured.

The next second, she seemed to recall something, her eyes widening dramatically, scanning Huo La up and down, and with surprise exclaimed, "You… you're Huo La!"

Seeing Huo La give a slight nod, Zhi Meng patted her chest, relieved, "No wonder you're asking for such a special thing! Brother Wang Luo specifically instructed me that once you arrive, whatever you want, I must not sell."

"Not sell?" Huo La raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised—Wang Luo was always deep‑thinking, surely he had a plan. "He didn't give a reason?"

"No." Zhi Meng shook her head, her tone curious yet politely not probing further, "Brother Wang Luo only said that what you want isn't something the Guild can provide, nor something money can buy; he told me to tell you that when he returns, he'll naturally find you."

"I have other matters, I'll go now; if Wang Luo returns, please tell him I was here."

"Alright!" Zhi Meng waved, watching Huo La's back, murmuring softly, "Huo La… what kind of person is he, that makes Brother Wang Luo care so much......"