Chapter 124: Rescue

"Ms. Bamboo, hold on a little longer! Someone will definitely come to rescue us!" In the thick smoke, Xiao Gang gritted his teeth and, together with the Rockruff beside him, firmly braced a blackened beam.

Under the beam, Ms. Bamboo curled up, her ankle twisted at an unnatural angle, clearly injured.

Noibat hovered above their heads, beating its wings nonstop, using the airflow to barely keep the surrounding flames and heat at bay, but its wing tremors grew increasingly violent, clearly about to give out.

Here the space was cramped, so Xiao Gang couldn't summon a Golem to help; he could only rely on his own and Rockruff's strength to hold it.

The charred fragments of the beam kept falling onto his shoulder, scorching him so he gritted his teeth, yet he dared not move—if he let go, Ms. Bamboo would be crushed beneath.

"Hold on!" At that moment, Huo La's voice suddenly came from deep within the smoke.

In the next second, a massive figure rushed forward—it was Nidoqueen! Without hesitation it positioned itself beside Xiao Gang and Rockruff, its sturdy limbs planted firmly on the ground, forcibly taking the beam's weight.

"Nido!" Nidoqueen let out a deep, steady growl, forcibly lifting the beam a few inches, creating more space below.

"Xiao Gang, are you okay?" Huo La followed closely, hurried forward, and asked, looking at Xiao Gang's ash‑covered face.

"I'm fine!" Xiao Gang exhaled, collapsed on the ground as if his strength had left him, pointed at Ms. Bamboo beside him, "It's just Ms. Bamboo's foot that got twisted, she can't walk."

"Good that you're okay." Huo La nodded, his gaze sweeping the surrounding flames, "Nidoqueen has already cleared a safe passage outside; you should now help Ms. Bamboo out first. Outside, Xiao Xia and the others are fighting the fire; once out you can get treatment."

"No!" Ms. Bamboo shook her head, enduring the pain, "Li Jia Guan Zhu is still in the Pei Yu Shi behind us; we have to rescue her!"

"I know; I've already sent a Pokemon to locate her, and I'm heading there now." Huo La said confidently, turning to the still‑trying‑to‑stand Xiao Gang, "You take Ms. Bamboo out first; leave this to me."

"I'll go with you! More people, more strength!" Xiao Gang immediately pushed off the ground and stood up.

"No." Huo La refused decisively, "We need someone outside to provide support, and most of your Pokemon aren't good at handling fires; staying here would just be a hindrance. Besides, I'm uneasy about Bilan outside. You go out first; I'll bring Li Jia Guan Zhu out soon."

Xiao Gang still wanted to argue, but seeing Huo La's unyielding gaze and the injured Ms. Bamboo beside him, he finally nodded, "Then you must be careful!"

After speaking, Xiao Gang carefully helped Ms. Bamboo up, and, guided by the passage Nidoqueen had cleared, stepped outward step by step.

Watching their silhouettes vanish into the thick smoke, Huo La finally exhaled, turned his head toward the Noibat still persisting overhead and the Scolipede beside him.

Flying‑type and Bug‑type Pokemon have an innate fear of flames; the fact they have held out this long is thanks to their regular training and willpower.

Huo La took out two Pokeballs, "You've worked hard; go back and rest first."

A flash of Red Light, and Noibat and Scolipede were instantly pulled back into their balls.

Huo La then pulled out another Pokeball, threw it forcefully, "Kingler, you're up! Use Bubble Beam to clear the surrounding sparks for us!"

"Claw!" Kingler responded, and although less agile on land than in water, it immediately sprayed fine bubbles, extinguishing the scattered flames around.

Huo La patted Nidoqueen's head, his tone apologetic, "Nidoqueen, thanks for your effort; hold on a bit longer—once we rescue Li Jia Guan Zhu, we'll get out."

"Nido~" Nidoqueen gently nudged his hand.

"Old Ghost, from now on it's up to you to guide the way." Huo La looked up at the air ahead, where a faint violet mist drifted.

"Don't worry, follow me!" the voice of Gastly came, and the violet mist immediately drifted toward the deeper smoke, "The Pei Yu Shi is right ahead; that girl and the little imp are temporarily not in mortal danger."

Huo La nodded, signaling Kingler to clear the way ahead, while he and Nidoqueen followed closely, quickening toward the Pei Yu Shi.

Inside the Pei Yu Shi, thick smoke poured in through the door cracks, the air filled with the smell of burnt flora, the temperature so high it made breathing difficult.

Ash was straining, repeatedly slamming his shoulder against the heavy iron door; sweat drenched his forehead, soaking his clothes.

His Pikachu, Squirtle and Bulbasaur also gathered at the door; Pikachu repeatedly jabbed the door panel with its tail, Squirtle sprayed water into the room trying to cool it, and Charizard gripped the handle and pulled with all its might, but the iron door wouldn't budge.

This door was designed to protect the Pokemon and seeds inside the Pei Yu Shi, far sturdier than a regular door; their strength alone could not force it open.

"Damn! Why won't it open!" Ash wiped the sweat from his face, charged at the iron door again; a sharp pain shot through his shoulder, yet he gritted his teeth and stayed silent.

Li Jia curled in a corner of the Pei Yu Shi, clutching two faintly glowing Pokemon Eggs tightly to her chest, her expression tense.

The Grass-type Pokemon behind her were all tucked inside Pokeballs, unwilling to emerge—outside temperature was too high, Grass-type Pokemon naturally fear fire and would be burned by the heat wave.

Only Squirtle persisted, continuously spraying water onto the ground around Li Jia, trying to lower the local temperature, but the effort was futile; the mist evaporated as soon as it emerged.

"Li Jia Guan Zhu, hold on a little longer! Someone outside is definitely rescuing us! Xiao Xia and Lilian are surely working on a solution, and Xiao Gang and Huo La have surely arrived!" Ash said while pounding the door, his tone urgent, also as self‑encouragement.

"Cough… I know…" Li Jia, choked by the thick smoke, coughed twice, her voice a bit weak, yet she tried to soothe, "Don't push yourself too hard, Ash. When this Pei Yu Shi was built, fire hazards were specifically considered; the ventilation system is independent. Though the temperature is high, there's no risk of suffocation. We'll just wait a bit longer."

Even so, Li Jia's gaze couldn't help drifting to the Pokemon Eggs in her arms—the faint glow on the eggs was dimming, clearly from prolonged exposure to high heat, the life signs inside weakening.

She felt a secret urgency inside, but didn't dare voice it, fearing it would further unsettle Ash.

At that moment, a familiar voice suddenly came from outside the door, "Li Jia Guan Zhu! Ash! Are you inside?"