Chapter 24

In the dark, lush forest, Bai Pengpeng, its fur fluffy, looked panicked, desperately using Cotton Spores to block the foul-smelling liquid sprayed from the tip of the purple beast’s tail.

The moment the liquid touched the air, a stench dozens of times worse than a sock worn for a month and sealed in a closed space for a year filled the space.

Bai Pengpeng felt it hard to breathe, its face turning purple; even breathing felt like torture.

But it could not fall.

During its defense, Bai Pengpeng glanced anxiously at the two baby Cottonweeds behind it, already unconscious from poisoning.

They had been drifting in the wind when a sudden gale struck, and unable to adjust their direction, they were blown straight into the territory of this Tank Skuntank.

Tank Skuntank allowed no other beings to intrude into its territory; at first glance, it poisoned the baby Cottonweeds, leaving only Bai Pengpeng still struggling to resist.

Bai Pengpeng shook its body, shedding the cotton spores soaked in poison, and with its weakened frame released another burst of Cotton Spores to block Tank Skuntank’s attack, despair creeping in.

If this continued, it would collapse soon.

Anyone, please—anyone at all—come save us!!

“Damn it, Kingdra, how did you lead us here? This stink is awful!” (Half-annoyed)

A startled male voice rang out; Tank Skuntank, as if enraged, bristled its fur completely and glared fiercely at the newcomer.

In Bai Pengpeng’s eyes, a spark of hope instantly ignited.

“Cough cough cough cough...!”

Pappa nearly fainted from the stench, feeling a burning hallucination from his nostrils to his throat, coughing uncontrollably.

Master Ao had already tucked its tail and covered its nose with its forelegs.

Its sense of smell was dozens of times keener than a human’s; Pappa and Luo Mu had nearly been knocked out by the stench, let alone Master Ao.

Kingdra lightly tapped Luo Mu’s palm with its tail tip in warning—was now the time to care about the smell?

If you don’t act now, those three future farm laborers will truly be poisoned to death.

Kingdra’s reminder struck Luo Mu: now was not the time to worry about the smell. The baby Cottonweeds’ bodies were tinged purple—clearly poisoned.

Bai Pengpeng had held off Tank Skuntank’s attacks for so long; the toxin’s explosion was merely a matter of time.

Bai Pengpeng clearly had just evolved; its level was roughly in the early 20s. Tank Skuntank, however, had clearly completed its evolution some time ago—possibly nearing level 40.

So, now comes... the hero’s entrance!

Luo Mu covered his nose and mouth with his right hand, waved his left hand, and ordered: “Cover this stench first—Sweet Fragrance!”

Kingdra rarely used this move, but if it didn’t act now, Luo Mu and Pappa would be the next to faint.

Fine, I’ll make an exception today. (ω)

Kingdra coiled its body, and a rich aroma of plants and trees spread rapidly from its center.

In that instant, the stench was overwhelmed by the fragrance, creating an indescribable odor.

But that was enough—so long as Tank Skuntank’s stench was suppressed, there were many ways to handle it.

Tank Skuntank, unable to bear it any longer, sprayed multiple streams of foul-smelling poison from the tip of its raised tail.

Kingdra had no desire to let its vine whips touch that substance; its serpent eyes narrowed, and grass-type energy formed sharp leaves that converged into a miniature whirlwind, shot from its tail tip.

This was not Leaf Storm—if it used Leaf Storm, Tank Skuntank would surely be severely injured, since technically, their group had intruded into Tank Skuntank’s territory.

Luo Mu had always taught it: even with power in hand, one must never act recklessly.

Grass Mixer instantly shattered the poison into fragments; the dripping liquid struck the ground, and the grass there withered instantly.

Then, the Grass Mixer surged forward without pause, engulfing Tank Skuntank.

In an instant, Tank Skuntank screamed under the assault of the Grass Mixer; when it met Kingdra’s gaze—filled with authority and nobility—it immediately understood that Kingdra was a being far beyond its capacity to challenge.

Without hesitation, Tank Skuntank tucked its tail, abandoned its territory, and fled without looking back.

“Wild Pokémon survive the perilous wilds by knowing when to assess the situation; when faced with an enemy beyond their strength, they flee immediately.”

Luo Mu seized the moment to explain to Pappa, who was curious why Tank Skuntank had fled.

“Then why didn’t Bai Pengpeng run away?”

“Because they are family. With bonds and attachments, many things become impossible to abandon.”

“Oh...”

“Alright, this is fine now.”

Luo Mu gently placed the second baby Cottonweed on a temporary vine bed woven by Kingdra; watching the purple tinge on its body fade rapidly, his tense face finally broke into a smile.

I have to admit, this antidote really works.

For most Pokémon poisoned, just a small vial of this antidote could save them.

Luo Mu exhaled in relief, turned to the tense Bai Pengpeng, and smiled: “The baby Cottonweeds are out of danger. Now, will you accept treatment?”

Bai Pengpeng hesitated, remembering that Luo Mu and Kingdra had saved them, and seeing the baby Cottonweeds improving—it chose to trust him.

Bai Pengpeng closed its eyes and surrendered its body completely to Luo Mu.

Luo Mu first used the half-empty antidote to detoxify Bai Pengpeng, then pulled another bottle of wound ointment from his canvas satchel and carefully applied it to the wounds left by Tank Skuntank’s bites.

Watching Luo Mu calmly resolve the situation, Pappa felt a sudden admiration: a reliable adult really is cool.

He... wanted to become someone like that too.

Kingdra’s tail tip twitched uncertainly—Luo Mu hadn’t treated it so gently in a long time. Should it pretend to be injured to seek comfort?

But wouldn’t that seem too forced and eager?

Kingdra fell into inner conflict.

Bai Pengpeng opened its eyes and found its body, once numb and weak from poison and wounds, now light and free of discomfort—all thanks to this human.

Bai Pengpeng looked at Luo Mu with gratitude.

Seeing Bai Pengpeng’s condition improving, Luo Mu finally spoke to invite—not to take advantage, but to give Bai Pengpeng the choice.

After organizing his thoughts, Luo Mu said plainly: “Have you ever considered living on a human farm?”