Chapter 623: Frozen Time Begins to Flow

Legend has it.

Poni Island's guardian deity, Seeing Seeing Kapu Finneon, possesses truly miraculous power.

It can condense clear water that purifies all filth, and summon thick mist that intertwines the present world with the netherworld.

Within this mist, those harboring obsession and regret, yearning to reunite with someone already departed, may find their wish fulfilled; in this extraordinary realm where present and netherworld intertwine, they can see that person again.

Those seeking the clear water, those seeking traces of the departed.

Such legends have drawn countless seekers hunting for Seeing Seeing Kapu Finneon's whereabouts, sparking numerous disputes and conflicts.

The ultimate consequence was provoking the guardian deity's wrath, altering the nature of the thick mist, trapping many greedy souls within it, never to return to the present world.

—When seeking something, an invisible price often accompanies it.

In that realm where present and netherworld intertwine, a single misstep or unyielding obsession will cause one to lose their way forever, unable ever to return to the present world.

After experiencing many things, Seeing Seeing Kapu Finneon now reveres its own power and has resolved never to misuse it again.

The thick mist it generated enveloped only the Dragonite leader, Luo Mu, and the Dragonite; before they vanished from sight, Seeing Seeing Kapu Finneon let out a soft cry.

"Lai-xi."

I will be waiting for your return.

Having been included within the mist's scope several times before, Luo Mu and the Dragonite were now quite familiar with the process.

In contrast, under Lei Guan Wang's power, the Dragonite leader, whose mind had temporarily regained clarity, looked around blankly in all directions.

Under the influence of its obsession, the seemingly endless world shrouded by the mist suddenly underwent a transformation.

As if realizing something, the Dragonite leader began moving, sprinting wildly toward a specific direction.

Though Luo Mu and the Dragonite harbored no obsessions themselves, they knew clearly they must follow the Dragonite leader closely; otherwise, even a moment's lapse would cause them to lose sight of her.

The human and the Dragonite hurried after, yet those few dozen steps felt like crossing a vast spatial distance.

The environment, which should have been the open ground near Thunder Cry Lake, had transformed into a hazy lakeside shrouded in dense fog.

Ahead lay a lake island blooming with a field of flowers.

Luo Mu instantly realized he was no longer in Ping Die Town but had appeared at Great Pot Lake, thousands of miles away!

"As expected, this relates somewhat to space; that Seeing Seeing Kapu Finneon connected the Ping Xing Shi Jie through this very mist."

As this conclusion formed in his mind, Luo Mu and the Dragonite simultaneously halted their steps, gazing forward.

—Because there, standing quietly within the flower field on that lake island, was a figure.

Not an elderly person nearing death, nor a middle-aged woman who had abandoned dreams for a settled life, but rather the image of the young girl from the Dragonite leader's memory: hair tied in two braided pigtails, dressed in a mail carrier's uniform.

Though he had never actually met her, Luo Mu instantly realized this was Lya, the mail carrier who had forged a deep bond with the Dragonite leader.

"Bo-wu!"

At this moment, the Dragonite leader's voice trembling, she exerted all her strength and speed, rushing toward that figure.

When she truly embraced the still-slender figure in her arms, nearly a decade of longing burst forth as tears; though her form far towered over the other, the Dragonite leader now wept like a child.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry; I couldn't bid you farewell, I left you behind before you could return."

"You must have suffered greatly..."

Though appearing as a young girl, the girl's voice sounded aged yet gentle.

She simply held the Dragonite leader's body, repeating her apologies over and over.

Can the departed truly know the experiences and emotional shifts of those close to them after they have gone?

Judging from Lya's reaction, Luo Mu felt he already knew the answer.

Though the thick mist allowed not a single ray of sunlight to penetrate, at this moment, a beam of sunlight pierced into the Dragonite leader's closed heart.

Her obsession had always been this: regretting not spending the final moments with the most important person, regretting not bidding a proper farewell, regretting her past self-deception.

Sorrow? Resentment? Stubbornness?

No, how could such emotions possibly arise?

Meeting a departed soul whom one could never otherwise see was itself a miracle; the Dragonite leader clung to the girl's slender figure almost greedily, unwilling to let go.

Luo Mu and the Dragonite still remembered Seeing Seeing Kapu Finneon's admonition, wondering whether they should intervene in this touching scene.

But that Grandma Lya seemed to understand the limitations of this misty world far better than Luo Mu and the Dragonite did.

Just like those departed souls and Pokémon from Poni Island that Seeing Seeing Kapu Finneon had summoned when they were previously on Poni Island.

After a brief moment of warmth, Lya lifted her face from the Dragonite leader's soft belly, whispering softly, "Time is nearly up; let me go, Dragonite."

"Bo-wu!"

The Dragonite leader, disregarding everything, hugged even tighter.

Now that they had finally met, couldn't they stay together a little longer? Couldn't she leave with her?

If nothing else, she could even stay here herself to keep Lya company!

Perceiving the Dragonite leader's shameless thoughts, Lya's voice took on a touch of helplessness.

"Miracles are not easily come by; being able to cross between the present world and the netherworld to see you once more, to resolve my regrets and the hurt I caused you, is already enough for me."

"Your path ahead is still long; don't let yourself be bound by me, okay? Be good~"

Lya's tone was just like when she used to coax the Hakuryu into swallowing bitter, astringent medicine; at such times, whenever the Dragonite leader met her gaze, she could not muster even a shred of intention to refuse her.

"Is that your child? It has grown so healthily too. And those Hakuryu, they are all waiting for you."

Amidst the Dragonite leader's astonished expression, Lya spoke with a smile, as if she had long perceived all her secrets.

Having spent so many years together, whenever the Dragonite leader so much as twitched her hips, Lya knew whether she wanted head pats or to roll around.

Secrets that had never been exposed to the Dragonite leader were, to her, merely things understood without words.

Freeing herself from the astonished Dragonite leader's embrace, Lya waved toward Luo Mu and the Dragonite, who stood dazed nearby.

As the human and Dragonite approached, Lya, despite her youthful appearance, exuded the demeanor of a kind elder.

"This is the Dragonite's child, so you must be this child's Trainer?"

Liya looked Dragonite and Luo Mu up and down, her eyes brimming with warmth.

"Bo-wu~"

"Hello, Grandma Liya."

Somewhat awkwardly greeting the "child" who was about the same size as Hearing Hearing Nimo's partner, Dragonite and Luo Mu had no time to dwell on trivial thoughts.

He merely thought, So this is what it feels like to converse with the departed. Truly wonderful.

"Hello."

Liya grasped Dragonite's chubby paw with one hand and held Luo Mu's hand with the other.

"Are you a Trainer? How has the Paldea region changed nowadays?"

"Yes, though my main duty now is being a farmer."

"Nowadays, education is fully universal in the Paldea region; anyone who wishes can become a Trainer. Schools and the League distribute starter Pokémon for free, travel comes with subsidies, Nurse Joy at the Pokémon Centers is very kind, and even while working part-time to earn money, one can save enough to raise a Pokémon."

Luo Mu introduced the changes in the Paldea region to Liya as concisely as possible.

From the Dragonite Leader's memories, it was also evident that although she had failed to fulfill her childhood dream, she sincerely hoped this region would become better.

"I see, that is truly wonderful."

Listening to Luo Mu's account with a beaming smile, Liya felt genuine joy for the current state of the Paldea region.

The surrounding mist seemed to thin slightly; a gentle breeze blew past, carrying away the petals of the blooming flowers in the flower field.

This was Seeing Seeing Kapu Finneon reminding them that time was running out.

"It seems it is indeed time to say goodbye."

Liya sighed softly; how could she bear to leave?

Yet some decisions had to be made by her; she could not become the knot forever binding Dragonite's heart.

She looked again at the Dragonite Leader, whose face was filled with reluctance and eyes red with tears, and gently pressed her cheek against its belly.

"I am not asking you to forget me, but I hope you will continue moving forward; even if you cannot see me, I will always be by your side."

"Wonderful, this time I was able to bid you farewell in person."

"It was truly wonderful that Hakuryu could meet you."

That voice, tearful yet infinitely gentle, seemed to fade into the distance as the mist grew thinner.

Liya's figure also began to transform into pure points of light, gradually vanishing before the Dragonite Leader.

The Dragonite Leader stared blankly into those eyes brimming with blessings.

The regret in its heart was filled, and the knot trapping it was untied by the person it held dearest.

The time of the Dragonite Leader, which had frozen the moment Liya passed away, slowly began to flow again.

Wiping away its tears, the Dragonite Leader adjusted the hat on its head, straightened the satchel on its shoulder, and broke into a smile.

"Bo-wu~" I love you the most, Liya~

Seven o'clock in the morning, sharp.

No. 145 Renmin Road, Pingdie Town.

The doorbell of the single-family house rang right on schedule.

Zhengxing, long accustomed to a delivery person arriving at this hour every day with fresh Tapu Tapu Moumou milk, adjusted the tie around his neck, responded with a "Coming," and walked familiarly toward the entrance.

At the same time, his mind, still slightly groggy from just waking up, was pondering which one would be today's delivery person.

Indeed, at least when counting the delivery personnel of this farm, the measure word "one" was truly more appropriate.

This was also a specialty of that farm; employing a Pokémon named Corviknight as delivery personnel, mistakes like wrong or missed deliveries almost never occurred, making them quite reliable.

Calculating the time, it had been over half a year since Zhengxin started ordering Tapu Tapu Moumou milk from that farm.

His daughter Xiangrikui, who used to suffer from frequent minor illnesses, had not only become healthier but recently, like a sprouting plant, had started growing taller every so often.

Since Chairwoman Geeta implemented sweeping reforms, the school issues that had worried them were also resolved.

Thus, the couple could rest assured that next year they would send their daughter to the Orange Academy in Mesagoza to experience boarding school life.

During this period, his work had progressed quite well; not only had he been promoted with a raise, but he also had much more time to spend with his wife and child, and his finances were no longer as tight as before.

The beginning of all these changes seemed to have occurred right after ordering the Tapu Tapu Moumou milk from that farm.

Some time ago, during the Champion Assessment livestream that sparked massive discussion and attention across the entire Paldea region, which even his company leaders were talking about, this farm boldly ran advertisements.

Although the timing was not ideal, Zhengxin still felt a strange sensation that his treasured farm had been discovered by the world.

Nowadays in Pingdie Town, that group of delivery personnel composed of Corviknight and Rookidee was quite popular.

These Corviknight, each with distinct personalities, allowed people to distinguish them at a glance.

Especially their leader, a Corviknight with three claw marks on its chest; its domineering appearance had even influenced some children's decisions on choosing their starter Pokémon.

Besides these Corviknight delivery personnel, occasionally an even rarer delivery person would appear: a simple-minded Pokémon named Dragonite, who was also very popular among children.

But once one considered the identity of that farm's owner, everything seemed less strange.

Zhengxin occasionally encountered that Dragonite making deliveries; once, his daughter Xiangrikui happened to be awake and even dragged it over to take a photo together.

The photo was now framed and displayed in their home.

Picking up the milk every morning was like opening a blind box, utterly irresistible.

Perhaps this was one of the reasons why Zhengxin, and many other families, firmly continued their milk subscriptions.

Despite the myriad thoughts in his mind, Zhengxing briskly opened the door.

Before his eyes was a cream-colored belly that looked incredibly soft, and a somewhat simple-minded body covered in orange dragon scales.

"Hit the jackpot today!"

Just as this joyful thought surfaced in Zhengxin's mind, he suddenly noticed something amiss.

This Dragonite was currently taking three bottles of Tapu Tapu Moumou milk and one bottle of Wooloo milk out of its somewhat worn satchel to hand to Zhengxin, while its honest voice sounded simultaneously.

"Bo-wu~"

Zheng Xin looked up again and discovered the other party was wearing a hat with a red top and black brim; from the attire, one could tell at a glance it was a delivery worker—no, more like a postman.

Logically speaking, the Dragonite should have just dressed up.

But a certain feeling made Zheng Xin instantly realize that although this Pokémon was also a Dragonite, it was not the same Dragonite that had visited several times before.

—As for why, one could tell from its eyes, which seemed to have experienced much, appearing somewhat weathered yet unable to hide an underlying gentleness.

Moreover, whether it was the hat it wore, the satchel it carried, or its overall image, all gave Zheng Xin a faint sense of familiarity.

Behind him came his wife Hinata's puzzled call; stunned, Zheng Xin fumbled to accept the glass bottle handed over by the other party, who tilted its head, and after expressing thanks, watched the Dragonite fly away before finally using his foot to hook the door handle and shut the door.

Even while sitting at the dining table with an opened glass bottle of milk, already half-drunk, placed before him, Zheng Xin was still pondering why he found the other party's attire so familiar.

In a certain instant, inspiration struck Zheng Xin's mind like a comet colliding with the earth.

He put down his chopsticks and, under his wife's bewildered expression, ran to the home storage room and began rummaging through it.

Soon, a dusty little box was held in Zheng Xin's hand.

Every boy probably has his own "treasure chest" from childhood; this small box was the "treasure chest" that carried and sealed away Zheng Xin's childhood memories.

Blowing off the dust, Zheng Xin carefully opened the box and began searching inside.

Soon, a slightly yellowed stamp was gripped in his hand.

On it was faintly outlined the image of a Dragonite wearing a hat, carrying a satchel, and looking endearingly clumsy.

He remembered that in childhood, collecting such stamps was a trend among children like them; especially this stamp, which occupied a rather extraordinary position in Zheng Xin's childhood memories.

At that time, letter delivery was still prevalent in the Paldea region, and the Paldea Post Office had not yet gradually declined.

If one were to speak of the most popular "star" of the post office back then, it would certainly be a postman Dragonite.

This stamp in Zheng Xin's hand was issued in limited quantities for free based on that figure's image.

Because the number of acquisition slots was limited, Zheng Xin remembered that at the time, he had ransacked his home for every postcard and mailed them all off in one go.

Even though he received a severe beating after his parents discovered it, when holding the stamp personally delivered by that "star" postman Dragonite, the young Zheng Xin felt as satisfied as if he had obtained the whole world.

Looking at this stamp, Zheng Xin's childhood memories continuously revived.

He remembered that the postman Dragonite was dressed exactly like the Dragonite from just now.

"Was it just a role-play?"

Zheng Xin was somewhat uncertain whether the other party was truly that postman Dragonite.

But afterwards, as the post office began closing due to poor management, the other party disappeared without a trace.

He remembered that after becoming an adult, on one occasion when passing by the post office, which had changed its appearance and focused on express delivery services, he seemed to have seen a "Dragon-Seeking Notice" posted at the entrance.

Zheng Xin could not recall the detailed content clearly; at the time, he merely thought, hoping that this postman Dragonite, which carried his happy childhood memories, was safe and sound.

Exhaling a breath, he carefully placed the stamp back into the small box, murmuring as if talking to himself.

"If it really is it, then that would be wonderful."

(End of Chapter)