Chapter 159: Can We Stay Overnight in the Gym?

A Xing hurried forward, crouched beside Weezing and checked for a few seconds, then raised a hand and loudly announced, "Weezing has lost combat ability! The winner of this Gym battle is Huo La!"

Huo La's tense shoulders finally relaxed, and just as he was about to recall Chou Ni, a soft white glow suddenly flared on its body—the light intensified, tinting the whole battle arena with a warm tone.

As the light faded, the once‑small Chou Ni had evolved into the larger Muk; its deep‑purple hue had become a riot of colors, its body littered with shards of stone and debris, and its gaze now held a few extra sparks of liveliness.

"This… a modified Pokemon can actually evolve?" Huo La stared at the evolved Muk and fell silent.

He had previously scoured many sources trying to restore Chou Ni, and most modified Pokemon have altered genes, making normal evolution as with ordinary Pokemon very difficult.

Gym Leader (A Ju) also recalled Weezing, his eyes settling on the evolved Muk; after a moment he slowly said, "I don't know. I've seen many modified Pokemon, and this is the first that can evolve."

After speaking, A Ju pulled a light‑red Badge from his pocket, raised his hand and tossed it to Huo La: "This Badge is yours."

"Thanks, Gym Leader A Ju." Huo La caught the Badge steadily, a cool sensation tingling his fingertips.

Nearby, Xiao Gang could no longer hold back, hurried over, slapping Huo La's shoulder with an excited grin: "Huo La, that wave of skills you just unleashed was insanely cool! I counted for a while—at least seven or eight skills—completely crushing Weezing so it had no chance to strike back, awesome!"

"Indeed." A Ju unusually concurred, his tone laced with self‑mockery, "Your Chou Ni… now should be called Muk; its skill count is insane. It's my own fault for letting it grow; had I set a limit on skill usage in the rules, I wouldn't have lost so completely."

Huo La tucked away the light‑red Badge and said to A Ju, "Gym Leader A Ju, it's getting dark, the forest outside isn't safe; can we stay overnight in the Gym?"

A Ju glanced at Huo La, then at the excited Xiao Gang beside him; after a few seconds of silence, he turned to A Xing and ordered, "A Xing, take them to the east‑side rooms and find two clean rooms for them to stay in."

"Alright, big brother!" A Xing immediately nodded, a smile finally breaking onto his face, gesturing "follow me" to Huo La and Xiao Gang, "Come with me, the guest rooms are clean, with private washrooms, you can rest well tonight."

Huo La and Xiao Gang quickly thanked him and followed A Xing deeper into the Gym.

As they passed the hallway, Huo La couldn't help glancing back at A Ju—who stood at the edge of the battle arena, looking toward Huo La, his thoughts unknown.

After dinner, Huo La returned to the guest room.

The room wasn't large, furnished very simply—a wooden bed, a desk, a chair, no decorations; the bedding was sun‑softened, and the air carried a faint scent of grass and trees, making it especially comfortable.

"Ah… refreshing." Huo La plopped onto the bed and couldn't help stretching a lazy yawn.

After nonstop traveling and Gym battles, he was already exhausted, and having a clean bed to lie on was better than anything.

"Heh heh heh…" Old Ghost's semi‑transparent form suddenly slipped out from the wall, hovering before Huo La, eyes full of teasing, "Using accommodation as an excuse, you're not planning something else again, are you?"

"What else could I do? Who wants to sleep outdoors when there's a bed?" Huo La rolled his eyes, retorted casually, then shifted, his tone becoming serious, "By the way, Old Ghost, how's Marshadow? It's been staying in Xiao Gang's shadow, nothing happened, right?"

"Marshadow…," Old Ghost floated around the room, tone casual, "It's still staying in Xiao Gang's shadow. I can sense its presence, but whether it wants to come out or what it's doing in there, I can't control that."

"Is that so…?" Huo La sat up, looking toward the next room—the wall was thin, faintly hearing Xiao Gang humming. He was silent for a few seconds, then lay back down, then, as if recalling something, got up, walked to the desk, opened his backpack and began rummaging.

Inside the backpack, besides spare clothes and Pokemon food, there was a separate compartment holding his saved "treasure".

Huo La pulled out three faintly glowing cards, the Secret Learning Machines he'd earned from a failed battle mission: "Surf, Iaido Slash, Fly… these three skills should be taught to the Pokemon."

He casually tossed three Pokeballs, and a Flying Mantis, a Big‑Mouth Bat, and a Giant Crab appeared in succession, curiously circling Huo La.

"One each, try to master them first." Huo La handed the Surf Learning Machine to the Giant Crab, the Iaido Slash Learning Machine to the Flying Mantis, and the Fly Learning Machine to the Big‑Mouth Bat, "Once they learn these skills, traveling will be much easier."

The three Pokemon immediately took the Learning Machines and began absorbing the skill energy within.

Huo La again pulled a silver feather from his backpack—the very Silver Feather he'd obtained from the system before, still faintly shimmering with silver light, its mysterious power undiminished after all this time.

"Wow, this is the Silver Feather that can summon Lugia?" Old Ghost floated over, circling the silver feather twice, voice full of curiosity, "It can really summon the legendary Pokemon?"

"Of course." Huo La nodded affirmatively, his fingertips lightly brushing the feather, "The Rainbow Feather can summon Ho‑Oh; you saw that yourself before, so this Silver Feather can naturally summon Lugia."

"Heh… so you really intend to help Marshadow and the Three Sacred Beasts find Ho‑Oh?" Old Ghost's tone suddenly turned serious, his eyes fixed on Huo La.

"What else? Since I promised Marshadow, I can't break my word." Huo La tucked away the Silver Feather, his gaze darkening, "Besides, I have a feeling that once Masked Man learns I have the Silver Feather, he'll definitely come looking for me."

"Masked Man…" Old Ghost's voice unusually carried a hint of apprehension, then he grinned mischievously, circling Huo La, "Do you know that guy?"

Huo La's heart sank sharply, he looked up at Old Ghost, and after a moment smiled and waved his hand, "Didn't you say you're just my employee and I can't trust you? This kind of 'confidential' info, how could I just tell you?"

"Tch, I could guess it without you saying." Old Ghost sneered, humming contemptuously, his tone a bit dry, "Even if you don't know him, that little Bilan girl definitely does."

Huo La's smile froze instantly, and he fell silent again. After a few seconds, his expression turned serious as he looked at Old Ghost, "Don't say that in front of Marshadow."

"Heh heh heh… looks like you share the same guess as I do?" Old Ghost laughed cunningly, his red eyes flashing, "Only a few knew about our quest for Ho‑Oh, yet Masked Man managed to block exactly there; combined with the mask he carries, some things have become obvious."

"Enough." Huo La interrupted him, his tone softened, "That Bilan girl probably has an unspeakable secret, not a bad person—otherwise Viridian Power wouldn't have chosen her."

Old Ghost shivered, and said nothing more.