Pokémon: I have no choice but to do this old thing?

Chapter 124 Mischievous Panda

At the edge of the Oruans Forest, winter sunlight filters through the sparse treetops, casting dappled shadows.

The massive body of the Salamence slowly descended to the ground, its crimson wings stirring up a chilling gust of air. Zhang Jianying leaped off the dragon's back, his feet landing on the soft, snow-covered ground.

"Thank you for your hard work, everyone."

He patted the Salamence's neck reassuringly.

However, Salamence's behavior was somewhat abnormal. It no longer stood tall and proud as usual, but instead seemed a bit listless.

Its scarlet dragon eyes were half-closed, its huge wings were folded tightly, and its whole body trembled slightly.

"Roar—"

Salamence lowered its head and nuzzled against Zhang Jianying, its eyes filled with a pitiful look, before turning its head to glance at the Poké Ball on the trainer's waist.

Zhang Jianying was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled, "Alright, alright, stop playing the victim. Come back and rest."

He took out a Poké Ball, a red light flashed, and Salamence was recalled as a streak of light.

Zhang Jianying held the slightly cool Poké Ball and shook his head helplessly: "Seriously, you're always full of energy flying thousands of meters in the air, but now you're feeling cold in Kalos? Does that make sense?"

The Poké Ball wobbled gently, and Salamence, hiding inside the Warm Ball, scratched at the ball's walls in dissatisfaction. After all, it was a Flying-type and Dragon-type Pokémon!

The memory passed down in its genes tells it that it should find a warm cave to sleep in during this cold season, instead of flying around in the snow and ice!

"Okay, okay, I got it."

Zhang Jianying put the Poké Ball back on his waist, feeling somewhat sentimental.

Four times the cold resistance is really tough; I'll have to work on my cold resistance during special training.

Fortunately, the League Tournament was held on Lily of the Valley Island, where it has a spring-like climate all year round. Otherwise, Pokémon that are afraid of the cold would not have needed to participate.

He took out the Pokédex, and the screen displayed his real-time location shared after contacting Cynthia. The green dot representing Cynthia was flashing deep within the map, about ten kilometers away from his current location.

"It's quite far—"

Zhang Jianying adjusted the shoulder straps of his backpack and walked deeper into the forest.

Upon entering the forest, Gardevoir quietly appeared beside him, its long, sky-blue hair swaying gently in the forest breeze. It used its psychic abilities to sense its surroundings, its orange antennae glowing faintly.

The two of them, along with their Pokémon, followed the directions indicated by the GPS and ventured deep into the Oriannes Forest.

Meanwhile, deep underground in the Oruans Forest.

An ancient mine tunnel winds its way through the rock walls, where stones that emit a faint glow barely illuminate the path ahead.

Cynthia and Karune walked side by side, both dressed in outfits more suitable for their adventure.

Cynthia's long golden hair was tied into a neat ponytail, while Karune had her hair pinned up behind her head. Behind them, Garchomp followed silently, its sharp dragon eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

"The signal is getting stronger."

Cynthia looked down at the life energy detector in her hand; the green ripples on the screen were pulsating violently. "It should be not far ahead."

Karuni nodded, and by the light from the ore on the rock wall, she turned her head to look at her best friend.

"Speaking of which, Blatano mentioned a legend to me before. He said that the Mega Stones in the Carlos region were likely formed three thousand years ago when King Az activated the ultimate weapon to revive Flower Leaf."

Cynthia paused slightly: "It was that one who released Xerneas's life energy and Yveltal's destructive power..."

The theory that the energy of annihilation, through the illumination and transformation of ordinary evolution stones into Mega stones by two types of light, is...?

"That's right."

"Do you think this legend is reliable?" Karuni asked.

The two reached a wider fork in the mine road, and Cynthia gestured for Garchomp to stop. She took a water bottle from her backpack and handed it to Karune, then leaned against a protruding rock, deep in thought.

"I don't have much research on life energy, so I can't confirm its authenticity."

Cynthia took a sip of water and said slowly, "But when I was in God and Town, my grandmother told me stories about the Hoenn region."

"It is said that a thousand years ago, Sootopolis City in the Hoenn region was hit by a meteorite, and there are also some records from the Meteor Clan about Rayquaza quelling the war between Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre through autonomous evolution."

She paused, her gaze particularly focused in the glimmer of the ore: "At present, both arguments seem to make a lot of sense."

The legends of AZ explain the concentrated distribution of Mega Stones in Kalos, while the accounts of the Meteor Dwellers point to a more ancient, global origin of Mega evolution.

Karuni took the water bottle and sipped the water.

She knows her best friend too well; she can tell from Cynthia's slightly furrowed brow that the champion and mythologist is currently in a state of unfulfilled academic thirst.

"Don't rush."

Karuni smiled gently, "After the Alliance Conference ends, you'll have at least a year of free time, right? You can come to Carlos anytime to conduct in-depth investigations then."

She handed the water bottle back to Cynthia, paused, and then smiled gently. "It just so happens that I'm also planning to take a break from making movies next year, after all—"

Cynthia's eyes lit up instantly; she knew exactly what her best friend meant. Karuni had told her the news a few days ago, and the two had celebrated it for an entire afternoon at a café in the coastal city.

"Let me hear it~"

Cynthia immediately leaned in, completely disregarding her champion image, and pressed her ear directly against Karuni's lower abdomen. Her movements were practiced and natural, as if she had done it many times before, and her golden ponytail slid down to Karuni's legs with the movement.

"You really are... sigh~"

Karune was both amused and exasperated, but she didn't push her away. Instead, she gently stroked Cynthia's soft golden hair.

"I already said we can't hear you now. Besides, if your fans saw you like this, your image as the Sinnoh champion would be completely ruined."

Cynthia looked up, her eyes sparkling in the dim light of the mine tunnel: "So what? I never care about my image. Besides, there's a little life growing here. Remember to let me take care of it for a couple of days, okay?"

Her fingers gently touched Karuni's lower abdomen, the movement as tender as if she were touching a fragile treasure.

Seeing her best friend's expression, Karuni's smile deepened. She suddenly leaned down and whispered in Cynthia's ear, "If you're so curious—why don't you get one with your boyfriend too?"

Karune's warm breath brushed against her earlobe, and Cynthia's ears turned red at a visible speed.

She sat up abruptly, her fair cheeks flushing red in the dim light of the mineral, even her neck turning pink.

"Ka-Karuni!"

Cynthia's voice held an unusual panic, "What are you saying—"

Did I say something wrong?

Karuni tilted her head, a few strands of hair slipping from her bun, gleaming softly in the faint light emanating from the minerals.

She deliberately moved closer, their cheeks almost touching. "Still not admitting it? The way you looked at that kid at the beach that day wasn't like you at all."

Cynthia opened her mouth, but found herself unable to utter a rebuttal.

The image of Zhang Jianying standing in front of Kyogre flashed through her mind—his calm and determined eyes during the battle, and the gentleness he inadvertently revealed when facing Pokémon.

"He's too young."

Cynthia only muttered something under her breath and turned her face away, but her bright red ears betrayed her thoughts.

Karni smiled like a sly little fox. She put her arm around Cynthia's shoulder, and the two leaned against each other in the dim mine tunnel, their body heat passing through their clothes.

"So what if I'm young?"

Karuni's voice held a hint of teasing, yet also seriousness, "That kid isn't naive. And—"

She paused, then gently twirled a strand of Cynthia's blonde hair between her fingers: "What are you afraid of?"

Cynthia remained silent for a moment.

The only sounds in the mine were the faint glow of the ore on the rock walls and the distant dripping of groundwater. After a long silence, she whispered, "I'm afraid it will change our relationship."

"stupid."

Karune gently touched Cynthia's forehead with her own. "Some relationships are just meant to change."

The two champions leaned against each other quietly in the dark mine tunnel, a warm and ambiguous atmosphere filling the air.

They forgot about the time and place, as if they had returned to their teenage years, sharing secrets in their dormitory at night.

Garchomp watched silently from the side, its massive head swaying slightly, its usually arrogant dragon face now filled with complex emotions.

It finally decided to turn around and face the rock wall, thinking, "Out of sight, out of mind."

I'm too ashamed to look, I'm too ashamed to look.

But Garchomp remembers that debt very clearly.

Damn humans, when we get to special training, I'll make you pay the price for seducing my cabbage!

Achoo!

'

While the two best friends were enjoying great success, Zhang Jianying was doing the same.

An untimely sneeze suddenly broke the tense atmosphere.

Two mischievous pandas hiding behind the domineering panda's legs were startled by the sudden sound and quickly retreated behind their parent.

This action made the already furious and domineering pandas' faces even darker.

You little brat! You dare to sneeze and mock us while surrounded by our entire family?

Zhang Jianying rubbed his nose, a question nagging at him.

Who! Who's cricketing behind my back?

But the power of the waveguide sent a warning that the four domineering pandas were becoming even more agitated, forcing him to concentrate on dealing with them.

"Gentlemen, it's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding!"

Zhang Jianying raised his hands to indicate that he meant no harm, and explained quickly, "I just happened to see it stuck in a tree branch, so I rescued it. I really didn't mean to hurt it!"

He pointed to the smallest, most mischievous panda, who was timidly hiding behind its older brother, peeking out.

It was small in size, noticeably two sizes smaller than the playful panda in front of it, and looked like it hadn't been hatched for long.

"Girl, no, little darling."

Zhang Jianying said to the mischievous panda, "You'd better explain this to your parents!"

The smaller, mischievous panda who was called hesitated for a moment, then nervously peeked out from behind its older brother.

It barked at the four domineering pandas in front of it a few times, and even used its little paws to anxiously gesture the disheveled look of being stuck in the tree branch earlier.

The four domineering pandas were all taken aback.

They looked at each other, and an awkward, human-like expression appeared on the furry bear's face.

What to do—it seems like I've made a mistake?

After a moment of silent eye contact, the oldest-looking, domineering panda was tacitly "elected" by its companions to handle the awkward situation.

It slowly walked up to Zhang Jianying, stared at the human for a few seconds, and then suddenly bent down and gave a standard 90-degree bow!

Then, as if by magic, it pulled out a pair of black glasses from its thick fur and presented them to Zhang Jianying in its two paws.

After doing all this, the older, domineering panda covered its face and fled back to its troop with a speed completely disproportionate to its size.

Zhang Jianying took the black glasses, which still carried the warmth of the domineering panda's body, and was momentarily at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

He looked up and saw the older, domineering panda scolding the other three younger ones, while the three younger, domineering pandas crouched down in a defensive posture, exchanging knowing glances.

Through the feedback transmitted via the waveguide, Zhang Jianying roughly understood the content of their conversation: the older, domineering panda was cursing loudly at its three juniors—

The gist of the story is that after the mischievous panda was rescued, he ran home in a panic, unable to explain what had happened. When the three younger, more domineering pandas heard that their little darling had been wronged, they were furious.

Without listening to any further explanation, they hurriedly dragged the leader over to demand an explanation.

Zhang Jianying smiled and shook his head, took out a can of dark attribute energy cubes that he usually prepared for the Great Sword Demon from his backpack, handed it to the smaller, mischievous panda, and rubbed its fluffy little head.

"Okay, okay, it's alright now."

The mischievous panda hugged the energy cube jar, happily squinting its eyes, completely oblivious to the large hand rubbing its head.

Hmm, it's fluffy, soft, and feels amazing to the touch.

Zhang Jianying's eyes narrowed slightly, and a satisfied smile unconsciously appeared on his face.

He let out a sigh of delight, "As expected of Pokémon designed based on a national treasure, the feel of it is amazing!"

He recalled the Pikachu he had petted before. Although it was nice to touch, it still couldn't compare to the plush toy-like feel of the Panda.

"I hereby declare."

While rubbing Panic's head, Zhang Jianying solemnly told Gardevoir, "Pikachu is just a roadside monster, Panic is the real idiot!"

Gardevoir: "————"

It glanced silently behind the trainer.

The four domineering pandas had finished their "family education" and were now staring intently at Zhang Jianying, who was engrossed in petting the pandas, with complex expressions on their faces.

Especially when they saw Zhang Jianying go so far as to start rubbing the naughty panda's ears, the four domineering pandas clenched their paws in unison.

Gardevoir gently tugged at Zhang Jianying's sleeve.

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

Without turning his head, Zhang Jianying touched the naughty panda's belly with his other hand. "Just a little longer, just a little while."

""

In my mind, the warning from the waveguide suddenly became sharp.

He slowly turned around and saw that the domineering pandas were staring at his hand, which was still rubbing the head of the naughty panda.

The atmosphere suddenly became subtle again.

"Ahem!"

Zhang Jianying coughed lightly and casually withdrew his hand. "Uh, well, I'll be going now. Remember to keep an eye on the children; there are still quite a few dangers in the forest—"

Before he finished speaking, he had already grabbed Gardevoir and dashed into the depths of the forest.

Behind them came the helpless sighs of the domineering pandas and the adorable farewell of the mischievous little panda.

Zhang Jianying kept looking back as she ran, making sure no pandas were chasing her before slowing down.

He pushed up his black glasses and a smile appeared on his lips.

"Hey, it suits you perfectly. I didn't expect Boss Xiong to have such good taste."

Gardevoir pretended to cooperate and let him pull her to float beside him, gently shaking her head. The trainer's reckless personality was truly incurable.