Pokémon: I picked up a reborn Eevee at the start of the game.

The elves responded and then scattered in all directions.

Fortunately, the deck was large enough that even with several dozen square meters of space left for Guleton in the corner, there was still room for the other elves to move around freely.

Although Xia Chen had said not to pay too much attention to Guleton, it was impossible to ignore such a large, previously unseen creature, which appeared to be a legendary elf, lying there.

Xia Chen could clearly see that every time Gu Leton's gaze fell on the sashimi, a hint of longing appeared in its eyes, but under the intense gaze, it chose to endure.

Xia Chen smiled knowingly and clapped his hands to attract the elves' attention. "Everyone, come over here for a moment. Even though we're on vacation, we shouldn't neglect training. There's a battle arena on the yacht, and Miss Curious Tree is here too. Let's go in and have a couple of matches so she can give us some pointers."

The clever elves vaguely guessed Xia Chen's intentions, while the less clever fools were also dragged in by the clever ones, leaving only Gu Leton on the deck, staring blankly at their backs.

…………

Although the training was just a pretext, as the old saying goes, since we're already here, it wouldn't be right not to play a couple of matches.

Xia Chen issued a challenge to Ms. Qi Shu, which was not a match of the level of a gym battle, but a real 3v3 battle against a gym-level trainer.

Although he knew there was no hope of winning, Xia Chen still bravely attacked, then typed GG, resulting in a brutal 3-0 score, with Da Dian Haiyan soloing the victory.

How much force did you use?

Despite being bloodied, Xia Chen wasn't upset. It was originally a battle of perception, and he didn't even think about learning anything.

Miss Qishu was in a good mood, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly. "Don't be too discouraged. At least Daiden Kaien used half of its strength."

She spoke comforting words in the most irritating tone imaginable.

Xia Chen glanced at the giant electric sea swallow leisurely preening its feathers and fell silent.

Fifty percent, that's really a blow!

Xia Chen didn't doubt that Qi Shu was bluffing him. The strength requirements for a gym leader are far higher than those for an ordinary gym-level trainer. A gym-level three-star trainer is just the threshold.

As for myself now, I might even have a hard time beating elite-level three-star trainers.

However, there's no way around it; the path of a trainer is different from that of a researcher, and it's a linear progression path.

Accumulating resources, gaining experience, and spending time—this is not something that can be accomplished overnight.

After handing the injured Pokémon over to the Chansey on the yacht for treatment, Xia Chen returned to the battlefield.

At this moment, Froakie and Totodile are battling it out. The two are about the same strength, both appearing to be experienced intermediate-level players.

"Xia Chen, what are you going to do with that Pokémon?"

Mingyi was referring to Guleton, which she had just rescued. Although she didn't know it was a genuine legendary spirit, she could clearly sense that Guleton was extraordinary.

Xia Chen was also a little troubled. "What should we do? Let's just treat it like a Buddha statue for now. Anyway, it's not like we need another mouth on the ship."

Qi Shu suddenly asked, "Didn't you think about subduing it?"

Xia Chen smiled wryly and said, "I dare not think about it."

To be honest, I've definitely thought about it.

But he felt that this behavior was like the Cowherd stealing the Weaver Girl's clothes while she was bathing and then forcing her to marry him.

It's not that Xia Chen has a moral fastidiousness and is unwilling to do something like taking advantage of the elf's vulnerability. The main thing is that he feels that as long as the Weaver Girl is a normal person, she shouldn't just throw a spell at him and blast the Cowherd, that scoundrel, into dust.

Xia Chen was afraid that he would be treated the same way by the recovered Gu Leton, so he naturally couldn't bring himself to subdue him.

"Let's release it once it's healed and recovered, so we can make a good connection."

What Xia Chen said was actually nonsense. If Gu Leton wanted to leave, could he possibly stop him?

But we don't know if this guy is really starving himself, or if he's just really enjoying it.

Thinking this, Xia Chen said, "You guys keep fighting, I'll go out and check on it."

…………

When Xia Chen came out of the cabin, Gu Leton on the deck was slurping up the last piece of light cod fillet, and his little eyes, which were looking around, unfortunately met Xia Chen's.

Their eyes met, and Gu Leton subconsciously swallowed the fish slice in his mouth, then quickly lowered his head, the two feathers on his head twitching slightly, revealing Gu Leton's unsettled state of mind.

Xia Chen: "."

So you really are a comedian? Where did your legendary elf dignity go?

Even so, Xia Chen still wanted to save face for the giant lizard.

He slowly strolled over, muttering to himself, "These guys were just trying to eat you, but now you've eaten them instead. What a karmic cycle, what a fitting end!"

So Leighton suddenly raised his head, which had been buried in his hands. Yes, that's it!

I'm not eating it because I'm hungry, but because I want revenge!

I am the terminator of all things, the destroyer of the world!

I am the most wicked dragon!

"Want me to get you some more fish fillets for revenge?"

"Okay."

Seeing Guleton nodding blankly, Xia Chen tried his best to suppress his laughter and went back to the cabin to prepare some light cod fillets for it.

However, this means that he and Mingyi will have nothing to eat.

Forget it, let's just suffer a little longer with the light cod.

They called Zoroark and Milotic, and the two Pokémon went back to sea to "collect" fish slices.

On this day, a legend about a giant tongue clam that could be seen but never touched began to circulate among the cod population in this sea area.

Therefore, the arrival of Leton did not bring much change to Xia Chen and the elves' long voyage. After getting used to the presence of such a big guy on the deck, no one paid much attention to it.

Of course, apart from Xia Chen and Xianbu, who knew its details.

Xianbu would always run over to Guleton without saying a word, and heal it with his life energy, much like watering a flower when he had nothing else to do.

Therefore, after initially resisting, Leighton found that resisting was inconvenient and began to enjoy it.

I don't know how a fighting dragon that's four times weaker than fairies could be healed by pure fairy energy.

Under the combined influence of Xia Chen and Xianbu, Gu Leton's gaze gradually softened.

However, a faint trace of worry still lingered in its eyes.

…………

Night falls early in Parthia; after dinner, the setting sun and evening glow disappear completely above the horizon.

There is no moon tonight, so we won't see the beautiful sight of the moon rising over the sea. But on a moonless night, the stars always twinkle, their light reflected on the deep blue sea.

If it weren't for the occasional ripples, it would be impossible to tell which was the sky and which was the water.

"In my drunken dream, I knew not the sky reflected in the water; a boat full of sweet dreams pressed down on the Milky Way."

As the gentle sea breeze blew and Xia Chen lay on the deck basking in the moonlight, he recited half a poem in a fitting manner.

He turned his head with a smug look, raised an eyebrow at the strange tree not far away, and asked, "How was it? Not bad, right?"

Qi Shu frowned. "Are you drunk?"

Xia Chen muttered to himself in confusion, "Isn't it said that the heroine would throw herself into his arms as soon as the poem is recited? Novels are really deceiving people."

Qi Shu scoffed sarcastically, "Looks like he's not drunk, he's just out of his mind."

With Mingyi absent, Qishu never hides his true self.

Perhaps because he had been suppressing his feelings for too long, Xia Chen discovered that this girl particularly enjoyed bickering with him.

But Xia Chen, the king of verbal sparring, was not just a name without substance. He retorted sarcastically, "Oh my, oh my, I forgot you're an illiterate idol. It's normal that you can't understand poetry."

Qi Shu did not refute, but simply said, "You are right, but not everyone has a wealthy childhood like you."

Xia Chen was speechless for a moment, and even felt a little guilty.

What I just said seems a bit excessive.

Before the guilt in her heart could even subside, Qi Shu's lips curled into an infuriating smile.

"Hey, you really should feel guilty! Are you really that trusting? Be careful not to get scammed when you go out!"

Xia Chen was furious. Sure enough, how could this scheming and wicked woman be so easily defeated by a single sentence?

"You win."

Xia Chen sullenly conceded defeat in this war of words without bloodshed.

Qi Shu, however, relentlessly pursued him, saying, "What do you mean by 'calculate'? It means you should honestly admit your defeat."

Xia Chen suddenly waved towards the distance, "Mingyi, we're here!"

This shout silenced Qi Shu, who was about to declare victory, and she immediately shut up, pretending to be a gentle and serene young girl.

For some reason, she didn't want Mingyi to see that side of her.

Therefore, this also gave Xia Chen a chance to turn defeat into victory.

The expected footsteps did not come. Qi Shu glanced coldly at Xia Chen.

The latter simply smiled and replied, "Are you that trusting of others?"

The strange tree remained silent.

Bored in the corner, Gu Leton watched the whole thing and yawned.

Humans are such boring creatures.

However, it's not all bad.

This afternoon was the weakest it had been since it came into this era, yet also the most reassuring.

But the more this was the case, the less Leighton wanted to involve the human who had saved him, because that guy was just too dangerous.

It silently sensed its body's condition and knew in its heart that in another day, it would definitely be able to recover to the point where it could move freely.

Then I can leave this place and continue my exile.

I just hope that guy doesn't catch up with us too quickly.

So Leighton looked up at the starry sky and thought to himself.

------

"The eye-catching electric grid captures your gaze; who is narrating this wonder? It is I, the Wonder Tree!"