[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-pokemon-the-reemployment-of-a-paldea-former-cham":3,"chapter-pokemon-the-reemployment-of-a-paldea-former-cham-pokemon-the-reemployment-of-a-paldea-former-cham-chapter-681":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Pokemon: The Reemployment of a Paldea Former Champion",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2324698,4546,"Chapter 681: Luo Mu: I Really Can","pokemon-the-reemployment-of-a-paldea-former-cham-chapter-681",681,"\u003Cp>Go home?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As it chewed over those two words, the bear disciple’s mind automatically conjured the silhouette of a lone island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That island was where it was born—it could also count as its home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it had likely lost its sense of direction and could no longer find the right path, the island wasn’t just home to wild Pokémon—it also held many humans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, it was itself a descendant of the Pokémon owned by the old man who bought the island, having lived all its life within a small clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it might be somewhat unremarkable—at least, not as gifted in martial arts as its elder brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bear disciple didn’t know how its disappearance would be received back home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could vaguely sense that if it voiced its desire to return home, this human would go to any lengths to help it find its way back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After observing him all yesterday and learning some things from interacting with Luo Mu’s Pokémon, it was certain Luo Mu was this kind of person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——But it felt a flicker of resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it went back like this, it would still be the same unremarkable self, enviously watching its brother pull farther and farther away, no matter how hard it tried, never catching up to his shadow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, an opportunity lay before it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps it was through witnessing the battle between Dragonite and the former Dragonite chieftain that the bear disciple caught a glimmer of hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it heard that fierce, regal Raichu say Dragonite had been raised from a Dratini entirely by Luo Mu, the bear disciple began to form ideas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would Luo Mu agree to help it grow stronger?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Luo Mu’s patient, non-pressuring, and genuinely warm gaze, the bear disciple gradually felt its inner hesitation and uncertainty ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Summoning courage, it lifted its head to meet Luo Mu’s eyes and voiced its plea through cries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baaah—?” (Could you help train me—?)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Fire-type telepathy translation arrived just in time; Luo Mu’s gaze shifted from patient to surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did it mean by “help train it”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it the meaning he thought it was—did the bear disciple want him to train it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the bear disciple cried out again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baaah baaah!” (I want to become as strong and powerful as it is!)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It pointed at the bewildered Dragonite, summoning the greatest courage it had mustered since birth—beyond even its recent ocean training—to express its plea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve decided?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mu didn’t crush its confidence; instead, he asked a counter-question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baaah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bear disciple nodded firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand.” Seeing its resolve, Luo Mu nodded, then added, “But if you don’t go back to let your family know, they might be heartbroken.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bear disciple didn’t know if this was Luo Mu’s agreement to help train it, but at his next words, its eyes flickered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would they care—or be heartbroken? It felt they’d likely focus more on its elder brother, eagerly awaiting his enlightenment from the tower’s scroll, hoping he’d become the new Martial Arts Bear Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the bear disciple’s hesitant, evasive expression, Luo Mu understood it didn’t want to discuss this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wondered whether its reluctance to return home was tied to the root of this personality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mu had no intention of digging deeper; he simply placed a hand on the bear disciple’s shoulder and gave it a light pat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, then tell me when you’re ready.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, we’re heading back to our own ‘home.’ For now, come with us—I’ll make you a training plan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s get ready and set off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing Luo Mu’s clear response, the bear disciple froze for a moment, then its eyes lit up with a joyful cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baaah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It followed Luo Mu step by step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The daylight was perfect; warm sunlight spilled through gaps in the clouds, as if illuminating the path ahead for the bear disciple’s courageous choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Galar Sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Armor Island—or simply, Armor Isle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a massive floating island, its backside lined with tides washing ashore, while its interior held forests, wetlands, stalactite caves, and sand dunes—natural landscapes unseen elsewhere in Galar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The island teemed with rich Pokémon ecology, hosting many species not native to Galar, living peacefully there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet on this island preserving its pristine natural beauty stood a martial arts dojo built in Chinese architectural style.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the original Fighting Gym Leader of Galar and former undefeated Champion who had held the title for eighteen straight years, the aged Master Matsuda now wore a faint look of anxiety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his hands tucked into the pockets of a green sport jacket worn over his training uniform, he paced anxiously, occasionally brushing his goatee, and asked his elegant, youthful wife countless times:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Any leads yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wife, Mieh, whose age contrasted sharply with Matsuda’s, gently shook her head and replied patiently: “Not yet, dear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mieh cradled her cheeks with well-kept hands, her eyes also filled with worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they’d sent apprentices to search the island for the bear disciple, its natural habitat among wild clans made tracking nearly impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, most apprentices knew little about this kind of Pokémon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on current clues, the bear disciple’s footprints ended at the shore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But due to the tides, they couldn’t determine whether it left the beach or plunged straight into the sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Add to that last night’s heavy rain—if the bear disciple truly entered the sea, its physique might not survive the danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Mieh’s reply, Matsuda’s stooped back bent further; his gaze fell on the restless, bear-shaped Pokémon beside him, and he sighed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old friend, I never interfered with your clan’s life in the wild, yet now this has happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Martial Arts Bear Master’s head sank even lower, like an ostrich burying its face, unwilling to face reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Matsuda could do nothing about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Could he really blame the Martial Arts Bear Master for focusing too much on its other, more gifted child, personally training it to unlock the tower’s scroll?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Human logic didn’t apply to Pokémon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just the Martial Arts Bear Master—even some humans naturally gave more attention to the more charming or talented child, neglecting the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it wasn’t the Martial Arts Bear Master’s intent, the fact remained: the bear disciple was missing because of its neglect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If all else fails, I’ll ask Little Dandan to use his connections—see if anyone went out to sea that night and happened to spot the bear disciple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he knew this was likely futile, Matsuda could only throw himself into this effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While searching Armor Island, he’d also cast his net as wide as possible across the vast ocean for any trace of the missing bear disciple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he and Mieh had a child of their own; as a father, he understood the Martial Arts Bear Master’s anguish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All he could do was humble himself and beg every acquaintance for any clue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paldea Region, outside Pingdie Town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahh—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lying on his bed after more than half a month away, Luo Mu felt himself melting into pure comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Not to mention, he was surrounded by all manner of fluffy Pokémon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after returning to the farm for some time, the longing of half a month couldn’t be so easily satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mu was undoubtedly drowning in a blissful kind of trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet that didn’t stop him from picking up his phone to review the new semester schedule Principal Clavell had sent him long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d ignored it entirely before, not wanting work to ruin his vacation mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, reading it felt like a completely different experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Just thinking about tomorrow’s vacation ending made his brain tremble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, Pape and the others were still assigned to his class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Nimoh’s stellar reputation, Luo Mu’s teaching ability—already rarely questioned—was now confirmed; even before vacation, he’d occasionally encountered parents and students eager to meet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this semester, he only gained two new students—and both had expressed interest long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Uli and Danyu, the two he and Yeci had successfully poached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d already transferred out of Blueberry Academy; by tomorrow’s opening, they’d likely already moved into the new house Yeci arranged for their grandparents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mu could imagine the stunned expressions on Principal Xilan and Adack’s faces when they received this thunderclap of news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unethical—but if it’s me, I don’t care~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After another round of affectionate cuddles with Pokémon who kept piling on him—finally free of the full-length Kingdra draped over him and the combined weight of Frostette and the Eevee sisters threatening to warp his shoulders—Luo Mu walked into the living room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The living room still glowed brightly; Pokémon gathered in small groups, eagerly listening to returning companions recount their Hoenn journey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, the bear disciple stood out as oddly out of place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Pokémon who made efforts to include it—like Victini—were now caught up in animated storytelling, gesturing wildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This left the newcomer bear disciple feeling utterly alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this situation didn’t require Luo Mu to intervene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, a similarly fluffy Pokémon appeared before the bear disciple, its eyes filled with confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meeeh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Combusken bent its brows in friendliness, lifting its small black paw to greet the bear disciple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice suddenly echoed in Luo Mu’s mind as he smiled slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like I don’t need to step in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to see Cosmog, freshly bathed in sunlight, held in the arms of Reuniclus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing Luo Mu’s gaze, the ghostly Reuniclus smiled. “I bet you were thinking exactly that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mu: “.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good guess. No more guessing after this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re the former King of Fengrao, how come you still act like some mischievous brat stealing my lines every day?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How was your trip? Did you enjoy it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like casual chat between friends, Regigigas suddenly asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was okay, just… you know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mu’s expression was hard to describe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be fair, he did enjoy plenty of things in Hoenn and brought back a whole pile of local specialties—things like Kamex Crisps, for instance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he also got tangled up in a lot of trouble, and was utterly exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand, but after all you went through, why didn’t you call me once? It makes me wonder if I’m no longer needed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Luo Mu staring in shock, Regigigas delivered this bombshell line through telepathy, expressionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s because everything was manageable if I just thought a bit harder, so I didn’t call you—wasn’t that right?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mu cut himself off mid-explanation and turned to question Regigigas instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“—Who taught you to be this manipulative?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regigigas pointed at the living room TV. “I saw it on TV.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Watch less of that stuff.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mu looked utterly defeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What on earth had Regigigas been watching all day?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite their bickering, Regigigas didn’t forget the main topic. “By the way, about that crystal you brought back—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Regigigas was about to say it had checked the crystal during its afternoon break and detected some unusual reactions—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doorbell rang suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without Luo Mu moving, Genesect, who was cleaning with a pair of Rattata, stepped forward and opened the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mu happened to be in a position where he could see the entrance; when the figure standing outside appeared in his view after the door opened, he froze in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Aoki, what are you doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Telling Regigigas they’d discuss it later, Luo Mu walked a few steps to the door and looked at Aoki, whom he hadn’t seen in over half a month. He couldn’t help but feel Aoki looked even more worn down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aoki’s dull eyes flickered slightly, as if building up some inner resolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—If he could help it, he’d never set foot in this farm, which he regarded as a “curse of overtime!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he had no choice—circumstances forced him to bow his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t answer Luo Mu’s question directly. Instead, he said something unrelated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does your farm still need Pokémon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mu blinked, not understanding what Aoki meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the next second, Aoki pulled out from his magical briefcase a… Poké Ball?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aoki thrust the Poké Ball into Luo Mu’s hands with a pained shout: “I really can’t afford to keep it anymore!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2029,"2026-06-20T17:11:50.049Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","1bd9e6fef2492aeacc89e61286b1c20dcafa87fc43affc0f71d6602e8a6af565","pokemon-the-reemployment-of-a-paldea-former-cham-chapter-682","pokemon-the-reemployment-of-a-paldea-former-cham-chapter-680",695,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fpokemon-the-reemployment-of-a-paldea-former-cham-cover.jpg"]