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

Chapter 91 The Truth Behind the Mask

After searching for two days near Ghost Mountain, Zhang Jianying and Albert found nothing except a few old, simple stone piles and severely weathered wooden structure remains.

The so-called "ghostly figures" or sealed places seem to be nothing more than the villagers' imaginations passed down by word of mouth.

"It seems that the 'ghost' is either gone or hidden deeper than we thought."

Albert put away the detection equipment and pushed up his glasses with some regret.

Zhang Jianying remained noncommittal, only looking up into the depths of Ghost Mountain.

He could vaguely sense that a gaze had been falling on their camp many times.

But the feeling was elusive; whenever he tried to capture it with a waveguide, it would vanish without a trace.

"Let's go back to the village first."

Zhang Jianying looked away. "Perhaps we can hear more details from the villagers."

The two walked back to Beishang Township along the mountain path.

As soon as I entered the village, I noticed that the atmosphere was completely different from when I left.

The once quiet streets were now brightly lit and decorated, and the villagers' faces were filled with smiles and busy expressions.

Colorful strips of cloth hung under the eaves, and the air was filled with the aroma of various delicacies. Temporary stalls lined the street, selling all kinds of handmade masks and amulets.

"Is this a festival?" Albert asked, somewhat surprised.

"It seems so."

Zhang Jianying watched as a child ran past holding a mask with a picture of a awesome dog.

They planned to go to the management station to consult with Mao and discuss their next steps.

"Oh, you two are back!"

The administrator, Mao, had a beaming smile on his face.

He was busy putting a decorative wreath on a motorcycle lizard when he saw Zhang Jianying and the other person return. He greeted them warmly, "You're back just in time! You've caught the biggest annual event in Beishang Township, the Face-Covering Festival! There's a spectacular 'Demon-Slaying Festival' tonight, don't miss it!"

"A ghost-beating ritual?" Albert asked curiously.

"Yes! It's the climax of the festival!"

As Mao groomed the Motolizard, he enthusiastically explained, "Trainers wear special masks and reenact the battles the Pokémon fought to exorcise evil spirits in the open space in front of the altar! The battles are incredibly intense!"

The "final victor" will receive a special medal and blessing from the village! If you're interested, you can buy a couple of masks at the mask stall over there and have some fun together tonight!

After thanking the administrator, the two followed the flow of people toward the festival center.

The square has been newly decorated, with a temporary battle platform set up in the center, surrounded by an expectant crowd.

Many trainers have donned all sorts of masks, some imitating the Three Kingdoms, others depicting various exaggerated "ghosts."

The atmosphere was lively and the overall design was excellent.

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do?" Albert looked at Zhang Jianying, his eyes questioning.

Zhang Jianying nodded, his gaze sweeping over a mask stall by the roadside. The stall had several "ghost" masks with a slightly peculiar style, which were out of place with the exquisite Sanbaoban masks around them.

He walked over and picked one up.

The mask is a simple wooden blank painted with rough lines, depicting a slightly aggrieved yet somewhat fierce ghost face, with the shape of several leaves outlined in paint on the top of the head.

"You have great taste, buddy!"

The stall owner was a smiling old woman. "This is based on the oldest legend of the demon," she said, "but hardly anyone buys these anymore. Everyone prefers the Hoban mask. But I think a festival needs both good and bad characters to be interesting! I'll sell it to you cheap!"

Zhang Jianying paid and took the mask in his hand. The wooden mask felt warm to the touch, and the paint smell was very faint.

Albert opted for a relatively neutral half-face mask with a blessing pattern.

As dusk fell, the atmosphere of the festival grew increasingly festive. The sound of drums and music filled the air, and the crowd cheered.

This year's "Demon-Beating Festival" has officially begun.

No one noticed that a small green figure was quietly squatting among the dense branches of a large tree on the outskirts of the square.

The eyes beneath the green mask peered through the gaps, gazing blankly at the bustling human world below.

A warm atmosphere, cheerful laughter, and the aroma of food—

These things, which it had briefly touched and lost long ago, stirred a bittersweet ripple in its heart.

It just peeks, that's all—

The two young trainers who appeared to be in their early twenties were the ones who stepped onto the "Demon Festival" battle platform.

They were all wearing Boban-style masks representing the "heroic" side, but the surrounding villagers seemed to recognize them from their figures and postures, and a buzz of discussion arose.

"Are they the Kang and Xiao Meng brothers?"

"Of course, they fight every year during the festival."

"Sigh, that kid Meng is at it again—"

The young man named Akang stood tall and straight, and even with a mask on, his composure was palpable.

Xiao Meng, who was opposite him, was tense, his fists clenched slightly.

Without much talk, the two simultaneously threw out their Poké Balls.

The battle unfolded swiftly.

The process was intense but there wasn't much suspense.

As the villagers whispered, it seemed that the younger brother, Xiao Meng, had never won against his older brother, A Kang, in a formal duel.

Attribute advantages, tactical responses, and on-the-spot reactions—

Ah Kang always seemed to be in complete control, while Xiao Meng was constantly being restrained.

When Xiao Meng's second Pokémon fell, he took off his mask, revealing a young face filled with resentment and stubbornness, his eyes fixed on his composed older brother opposite him.

"It's not over yet—"

Xiao Meng's voice was hoarse. He took out a crystal bead that shimmered with a special luster.

A-Kang seemed to sigh, but he also raised his own Taijing Bead.

Two powerful energies shot into the sky!

Xiao Meng's Pokémon transformed into a dazzling Crystal Gem in the light. A Kang's Pokémon also donned the Crystal Gem form.

The highly crystalline energy dramatically elevated the combat level!

Two types of crystalline energy collided violently in mid-air, exploding into a dazzling and blinding ball of light, with energy turbulence sweeping across the entire area.

Just as the two streams of crystalline energy were about to collide for the last and most intense time, a sudden change occurred!

In the center of the square, on the altar where the Three Jewels were enshrined, the three stone statues suddenly lit up with an eerie purple light.

To the villagers' astonishment, three translucent and distorted phantoms made of purple energy slowly rose from the stone statue!

You can vaguely make out the outlines of a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant.

But the three phantom companions had empty and greedy eyes, radiating an unsettling obsession and malice, staring intently at the two colliding primordial energies on the field.

"It's the Treasure Companions! The Treasure Companions have come back to life! They've come to bless our village!" An elderly man knelt down in excitement.

"wrong--"

Administrator Mao stared at the malevolent phantom of the Pokémon, his face turning pale. "This feeling—isn't right."

Zhang Jianying gripped the ghost mask tightly, his eyes icy cold.

The three phantoms greedily absorbed the air's atmosphere of obsession with victory and resentment at defeat.

Amidst the lively discussion at the scene...

The small figure among the branches was struck dumb the moment it saw the three phantoms.

It's them!

These are them!

That nauseating aura of greed, even in its illusory afterimage, will not be mistaken!

The grief, loneliness, and remorse that had been suppressed for centuries over the years broke down all the barriers of reason at this moment.

What do you mean by "watching quietly"? What do you mean by "not wanting to cause trouble"?

All of them were burned to ashes by the flames of fury!

"Bonnie!!!"

A piercing, furious scream tore through the clamor of the festival!

The green figure, like a cannonball, plunged down from the treetops, carrying a deep hatred, and landed heavily at the edge of the plaza. The [Thorn Vine Staff] was aimed directly at the three phantoms!

After a brief silence, the crowd erupted!

"It's a ghost! A ghost has come down from the mountain!"

"It's disrupting the festival! It's going to attack Baoban!"

"Protect our precious companion! Stop it!"

A sense of ignorance and panic spread instantly.

Many villagers threw out their Poké Balls, Froakie, and Dratini without hesitation.

Various Pokémon stood between Urgot and the three-way companion phantom, their faces filled with anger and a sense of justice to "protect the hero."

"Boni..."

As the evil creature gazed at the villagers who had once again stood in its way, protecting the three true murderers, a painful whimper emanated from beneath its green grass mask.

Why—again—

It was clearly them—who stole the mask—who killed him—

Why do you always help them?

Despair and anger completely overwhelmed his heart.

Without further hesitation, it raised the [Thorn Vine Staff], unleashing a surge of Grass-type energy!

"Albert."

Seeing the tense atmosphere escalate, Zhang Jianying calmly asked, "Are we just going to stand by and watch?"

Albert was quickly assessing the situation: "The situation is chaotic, the villagers are agitated, let's try to separate them first—"

Before he could finish speaking, he saw Zhang Jianying put on the rough ghost mask, take a step forward, and throw out several Poké Balls at the same time!

"What are you staring at?"

Zhang Jianying's voice came through the mask, "Help me."

"Whose side are you helping?!" Albert exclaimed in astonishment.

"Of course we'll side with the one who's in the right."

Gardevoir, Torterra, Gengar, Slamshell, Shuckle, and Gecko all appeared, forming a solid defensive line between the villagers' Pokémon horde and the Grimer's Barrier!

The figure of the evil spirit, which was about to rush forward, suddenly stopped, turned its head in surprise, and looked at the stranger wearing a ridiculous ghost mask who suddenly blocked its way.

"???"

Albert was completely taken aback by his colleague's decisive support for "the devil," which was entirely contrary to Interpol's normal procedures for handling emergencies!

I'm afraid I'll have to write my resignation letter when I get back this time.

But seeing Zhang Jianying's resolute back and the momentary confusion and helplessness shown by the little "devil," he gritted his teeth and made a decisive decision.

"Thunder Beast, move to the flanks and protect the non-combat personnel!"

Albert's order followed immediately.

He chose to trust his companion's judgment while trying to control the situation so as not to affect innocent spectators.

"What are you doing?! Strangers, get out of the way! That's an evil spirit!" a villager shouted.

"A demon?"

Zhang Jianying chuckled, seemingly oblivious, and merely tilted his head towards E Gui behind him: "What are you daydreaming about? Your enemy is over there."

Ergui shuddered, the last trace of hesitation in his eyes replaced by rage.

The anger accumulated over hundreds of years has been transformed into power, and the Green Grass Mask is bursting with surging grass-type brilliance!

It wielded the [Thorn Staff], transforming it into countless sharp green staff shadows that bypassed Zhang Jianying's Pokémon and struck the three phantoms with precision and ferocity!

The phantoms of the Three Treasures seemed to instinctively fear the attack, their silent shrieks a hurried attempt to defend themselves.

But they are ultimately just phantoms of lingering obsessions, their power far exceeding what they possessed in life.

Under the onslaught of the evil spirit, the purple phantom, like ice and snow under the sun, quickly melted and disintegrated, finally turning into wisps of green smoke and disappearing completely.

The square was silent.

The villagers stared blankly as their "resurrected" "hero" was easily shattered by the "evil spirit," their faith seemingly collapsing in an instant.

"Baoban—Baoban has been separated."

"How could this be—the evil spirit won?"

"It's these despicable outsiders! They've helped the evil spirits!"

Shock quickly turned into anger and accusations, which were directed at Zhang Jianying and Erguilan.

After dispelling the illusion, Ergui leaned on his wooden stick and breathed slightly.

As it watched its enemy's phantom vanish, it felt no joy at having avenged its great grudge, only a desolate emptiness.

So what if it's scattered?

He—will never come back.

It raised its head and looked around.

The villagers' faces were filled with confusion and anger, and many Pokémon bared their teeth and growled at it.

Only the two outsiders and their Pokémon remained blocking the way.

The bespectacled man was speaking loudly, trying to calm the villagers down, pointing out that the phantom aura from before was "greedy and obscure, definitely not a benevolent being."

Upon hearing this, some villagers showed expressions of surprise and uncertainty, clearly having also noticed something amiss with the illusion of the Three Treasures.

Just as the atmosphere reached a stalemate and some villagers continued to shout agitatedly, a hoarse, stern voice rang out: "Stop!"

The crowd parted, and an elderly man with white hair and a cane walked over, supported by an excited young girl.

The old man wore an old carpenter's badge around his neck.

"It's Grandpa Yuki and Danyu!"

The old man known as Snowman ignored everyone else. He walked to the front of the crowd, his gaze lingering for a moment on Zhang Jianying and the Pokémon behind him, before he looked intently at the small figure wearing a mask.

A complex mix of emotions flashed in the old man's eyes: guilt, pain, and relief.

"Put all the Pokémon away."

Grandpa Xuexia's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority. Many villagers subconsciously complied.

"Grandpa Xuexia, what's wrong with you?!" a villager asked, puzzled.

The old man took a deep breath, as if making a firm decision, and slowly spoke, his voice clearly audible in the silent square: "We were all wrong. Wrong for centuries!"

"What did you say?!"

"The so-called guardians we worship," Xuexia's gaze swept over the three stone statues, "are not heroes who protect the village at all. They are three despicable thieves, murderers."

The entire audience erupted in uproar!

"Impossible! Xuexia, are you senile?!"

"Bao Ban Mingming protected our village!"

"Protect?"

The young girl, Danyu, who was supporting the old man, couldn't help but speak up; her voice trembled with excitement.

"Is their way of 'protecting' someone simply to kill an innocent person and steal their things?!"

Ignoring her grandfather's shaking of his head, she continued speaking loudly.

"The real story is nothing like what's being told in the village! It's not about ghosts causing trouble or Baoban's heroic sacrifice!"

"The truth is, a man from out of town and his companion, Ergui, simply wanted to live a quiet life in Ghost Mountain. They had four magical masks made for them by our ancestors."

Danyu pointed at Ergui: "That's it! It's not some evil spirit; it just wants to live peacefully with its trainer!"

"However, the three Pokémon, Gothamn, and Kyogre, coveted those masks. While Urquid was away, they sneaked into the mountains and forcibly stole the masks! Urquid's trainer was attacked and killed by them while trying to protect the masks."

The girl's voice choked with emotion: "That's why Egui Peng angrily came down the mountain to attack the three thieves."

The old man took over, closing his eyes in anguish: "My ancestor was the only one who knew the whole truth. He tried to tell the truth—but was regarded as a heretic by the villagers and was ostracized and persecuted."

"To protect his family, he established an ancestral precept of keeping it a secret, passing it down orally from generation to generation, only admonishing his descendants to remember the true facts and sins—because truth and faith are completely opposed, and speaking of them would only cause greater chaos."

The truth, like ice water, extinguished the blind anger in many people's hearts, leaving only a chilling cold and shame.

In the square, the bonfire burned quietly, making crisp crackling sounds.

Tears welled up in the old man's cloudy eyes.

Danyu's grandfather, Xuexia, bowed deeply to Egui, "I'm sorry—child, it is our Beishang Township that has wronged you and your trainer. This apology comes far too late."

Many villagers lowered their heads, especially the younger generation, whose faces burned with embarrassment.

A few older people had changing expressions and trembling lips. Their ingrained beliefs were hard to change instantly, but looking at the somber scene before them, they ultimately couldn't say anything more.

Erguilan stood there blankly.

The Green Grass Mask faced the bowing old man, glanced at the surrounding villagers, and finally its gaze fell on the young trainer who had just stood in front of it.

Long-standing misunderstandings and stigma were suddenly unveiled, revealing the light of understanding and apology.

Its heart, filled with hatred and sorrow, was momentarily overwhelmed by the complex emotions swirling within it.

At this moment, the green grass mask on Erguilan's face, which had been worn for many years and already had fine cracks, made a soft "click" sound due to the previous fierce battle and emotional fluctuations.

A noticeable crack spread across the mask, then slid off its face and fell to the ground with a "thud".

"Bonnie!"

Ergui cried out in surprise, hurriedly covering his face with his two small hands. Like a frightened little animal, he turned around abruptly, pushed through the crowd, and fled quickly towards Ghost Mountain, disappearing into the night in the blink of an eye.

A commotion broke out in the crowd.

Zhang Jianying stepped forward, bent down, and picked up the cracked green grass mask with a smiling face carved on it from the ground.

He weighed it in his hand, then raised his voice and shouted in the direction the strange barrier had disappeared, "Hey! Little guy! Your brick fell!"

The already far-off Ergui Pong seemed to stumble, and a muffled, tearful voice could be faintly heard, "Bo Ni?"

Zhang Jianying suppressed a laugh, cleared his throat, and shouted again, "I misspoke! It was your mask! Your mask fell off!"

The night was still, and the mountain breeze blew by, but there was no response.

Only the cold, cracked smiling mask in his hand gleamed faintly in the still-burning lights of the festival.