Chapter 50: Cang Yan Ren Gui's Little Happiness

Wenxiang Wenxiang Kedou gazed at the marks on Luo Mu's arm, its expression curious.

"Wu-lu-lu-lu?" (Was this caused by Tan Xiao Shi?)

Though Luo Mu couldn't understand Wenxiang Wenxiang Kedou's words, he could roughly guess their meaning from experience, and sighed with emotion: "Yes, this is a mark left behind when I was trying to befriend Tan Xiao Shi... a testament to the story between us. Back then, I didn't have the means to afford high-grade burn ointment like I do now, so this scar remained."

"But you don't need to worry about bearing scars from Growlithe's flame burns on your back; after all, I now have the ability to provide better conditions for all of you."

"Wu-lu-lu!"

Wenxiang Wenxiang Kedou wanted to say its worries weren't about something so superficial, but Luo Mu just shook the small bottle of burn ointment in his hand, patted Wenxiang Wenxiang Kedou's head, and said: "Now it's quiz time! Do you know how much this bottle of burn ointment costs?"

"Wu-lu-lu?"

Wenxiang Wenxiang Kedou tilted its head; it was only a Wenxiang Wenxiang Kedou, how could it possibly know such things?

"It costs only 600 League Coins; its effect is much better than ordinary burn ointments, hence the doubled price." Luo Mu spread his hands, speaking in a relaxed tone: "And the daily food consumption for the four of you Wenxiang Kedores doesn't even reach one hundred coins; even if you ate for free and did nothing, I could still afford to keep you with plenty to spare."

Of course, this was merely the cost of meals providing the normal nutrition needed to sustain their activities; once training began, significant expenses would be required to increase nutritional intake.

Wenxiang Wenxiang Kedou's eyes grew somewhat dull; it realized its little schemes seemed to have been seen through completely by Luo Mu.

"Of course, I captured you and brought you to the farm because I need your abilities; even though your current utility is minimal, I value long-term development more."

Seeing Wenxiang Wenxiang Kedou's expression and reaction, Luo Mu knew his guess was correct, and said softly: "There's no need for such fear and anxiety; the reason I chose to tell you about Cang Yan Ren Gui's past experiences was to let you know that I will never abandon any Pokémon I have captured for all sorts of nonsensical reasons."

"Look, even that Moltres with the biggest appetite, who eats and stays for free, I haven't driven away."

Luo Mu pointed to Moltres not far away, flipping its belly up, looking somewhat like a roasted chicken, sleeping soundly at noon without a care in the world, and casually placed the sleeping Growlithe onto its belly.

Wenxiang Wenxiang Kedou: "........"

The topic suddenly became incredibly sharp.

However, a feeling of sudden enlightenment enveloped Wenxiang Wenxiang Kedou; instantly, it felt its worries were a bit ridiculous.

That's right, just as Bai Bai Pengpeng and the others said, this place is home.

Night fell.

Consider it a belated celebration for the farm earning its first sum of money; Luo Mu brought Dragonite to the market and purchased abundant ingredients, including both meat and vegetables.

Under Cang Yan Ren Gui's direction, they happily skewered ingredients all afternoon.

Wenxiang Wenxiang Kedou's concerns were perfectly resolved through Luo Mu's heart-to-heart talk; it volunteered to help, but lacking hands, it couldn't perform such delicate work, so it could only follow Luxray and the others into the wild to gather firewood.

Gazing at two large platters filled with marinated meat and vegetable skewers, Cang Yan Ren Gui silently brought out its ancestral barbecue grill, skillfully ignited a fire using its Flame Greatsword, controlled the heat, and began the grilling process—which appeared simple on the surface but actually required precise control over the optimal cooking time for various types of food.

Finally able to rest, Luo Mu sat on the ground without caring about his image, playing and frolicking with several Pokémon.

When his gaze swept past Cang Yan Ren Gui, as if remembering something, Luo Mu quickly stood up, walked into the house, and found a bright yellow apron.

Although this apron appeared to have experienced quite a few "battlefields," it was still folded neatly, showing that its user cherished it greatly.

Luo Mu smiled helplessly, carried the apron over to Cang Yan Ren Gui, and said with a slightly complaining tone: "Look, oil has splashed onto your armor again; it's very troublesome for me to maintain!"

Cang Yan Ren Gui stopped its movements somewhat awkwardly, its purple pupils wandering slightly, filled with guilt.

Luo Mu first carefully wiped the fresh oil stains off Cang Yan Ren Gui's armor, unable to help but sigh that as a Trainer, he was acting as both father and mother, having to constantly monitor his Pokémon's mental health as well.

Luo Mu tied the small yellow duck apron onto Cang Yan Ren Gui, feeling that the contrast between the cool swordsman and the cute-style apron was simply too overwhelming.

During Cang Yan Ren Gui's previous grilling sessions, he hadn't been present to observe due to various matters, never expecting its old habit to resurface.

This small yellow duck apron was a gift he gave Cang Yan Ren Gui on the day it completed its evolution; usually, Cang Yan Ren Gui would rather let its handsome armor become stained than bear to wear this apron.

Those various large and small marks on the apron were left behind when he forcibly made Cang Yan Ren Gui wear it.

Luo Mu felt that aprons were meant to be worn; even though this apron held certain commemorative significance, during the decades he would remain here afterward, Cang Yan Ren Gui would receive even more aprons from him.

Being overly protective would contradict his original intention in giving this apron.

"Si-luo......"

Unable to refuse Luo Mu's request, Cang Yan Ren Gui could only helplessly put on the apron and continue grilling.

However, this time its movements were a hundred times more careful.

Cang Yan Ren Gui had always regretted its behavior in its youth; even that burn scar on Luo Mu's arm was caused by it.

Yet even so, Luo Mu still accepted it, this hedgehog that had been abandoned and covered entirely in thorns.

It learned cooking skills hoping to make up for the mistakes it had committed as much as possible, but alas, its arms were naturally unsuited for such tasks, leaving grilling as the only thing slightly easy to get the hang of.

Luo Mu was unaware of Cang Yan Ren Gui's inner thoughts; he merely felt a touch of emotion upon seeing Cang Yan Ren Gui flipping skewers and sprinkling seasoning with such a serious expression.

That once solitary Tan Xiao Shi, covered entirely in thorns, had grown into what it was now; although its emotions remained somewhat restrained, it was still taciturn, to the point where even he sometimes couldn't see through it.

But nowadays, Cang Yan Ren Gui had completely integrated into this collective; for him, that was enough.

Wenxiang Wenxiang Kedou, having returned after gathering firewood, witnessed the interaction between Luo Mu and Cang Yan Ren Gui; a thoughtful glint flashed within its dark, bright eyes.

Late at night, Luo Mu and the Pokémon, full and satisfied, returned one by one to their little nests to rest, and the battlefield had already been cleaned up by everyone.

Cang Yan Ren Gui, having found a random spot to sit down, carefully hugged the apron which, inevitably, had gotten some oil stains on it, and sighed softly.

It seemed it would have to trouble Swampert again to carefully clean it with water streams.

Last time they cleaned it, in order to control the water stream's force so as not to damage the apron, those who didn't get the least bit nervous even when facing the Elite Four were made so anxious they broke out in a cold sweat.

Just then, Wenxiang Wenxiang Kedou, who should have already returned to Thunder Cry Lake, suddenly popped up from the side, smiling brightly as it greeted Cang Yan Ren Gui: "Wu-lu-lu!"