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

Chapter 98 Forest Badge, Plastic Sisterhood (Happy New Year to everyone)

The next morning, Zhang Jianying was awakened by a wet sensation.

He groggily opened his eyes and saw the ferocious head of the Flying Dragon right in front of his face, its scarlet pupils gleaming with the light of a cunning scheme. A rough, large tongue had just licked his face, leaving behind glistening traces of saliva.

Zhang Jianying sat up abruptly, wiped his face, and exclaimed in disgust, "Batalisk! What are you doing?!"

"Roar~"

The Salamence swished its tail triumphantly, and then—it strode forward with its powerful limbs and collided with the Evil that had just emerged from the garden, and began to run wildly on the beach!

One used its wings to glide low overhead, while the other, with its short legs, chased after it desperately, occasionally tapping the tip of the Salamence's tail with its [Thorn Vine Stick], having a great time.

Zhang Jianying: "————"

He watched as the quasi-divine dragon, which should have been soaring through the heavens with majesty and power, was now running wildly on the beach like some kind of not-so-bright large canine, and felt the veins on his forehead throbbing.

"Is something wrong with my dragon?"

Zhang Jianying rubbed his temples, sinking into deep self-doubt. "Since its evolution, it seems like it's never actually flown high in the sky? In battle, it just glides. Are those two wings just for decoration? If this continues, won't it forget how to fly?"

No!

This bad habit must be changed! How can a magnificent flying dragon be treated like a "free-range chicken"!

After getting up and washing up, amidst the aroma of the sumptuous breakfast prepared by Gardevoir, Zhang Jianying temporarily put the "Baldur Correction Plan" on hold.

He carefully left enough Energy Cubes and Berries for two months for wild Pokémon such as Azulli, Cotton, and Oddish, and also carefully checked the automatic irrigation systems in the orchard and nursery.

With everything ready, he took a deep breath, looked at the Salamence still chasing and fighting with the Evil Phantom, and shouted in anguish, "Salamence! Come here!"

The Flying Dragon was chasing the Evil Ghost in circles when it heard this and slammed on the brakes, sending sand flying all over Zhang Jianying's face.

It looked down at its trainer, exhaling two puffs of hot air from its nostrils, its scarlet eyes filled with displeasure at being disturbed during its play.

"You are a dragon! A flying dragon! A noble quasi-god!"

Zhang Jianying pointed to its magnificent yet seemingly decorative blood-red wings, his tone heavy with sorrow, "Even though we're four times weaker than ice, that's still proof of our strength! Can't you be a little more dignified and stop lying around like a chicken on the ground?"

"roar!"

Salamence curled its lip in disdain. Suddenly, it remembered the trainer who had kicked it while it was down yesterday, and a cunning glint flashed in its eyes. It lowered its body, brought its ferocious head close to Zhang Jianying, and made a low, provocative gurgling sound in its throat.

The meaning is obvious.

You say I don't fly well? Fine, come up here and try it yourself, then you'll see.

Zhang Jianying was taken aback, then his eyes lit up.

That's right! He's never properly ridden an evolved Salamence before. He's only ever experienced flying taxis with bird Pokémon, and he's never been a dragon rider!

With its imposing body, the Salamence is more than capable of carrying people and flying!

Besides, flying to Bourne City with your own Pokémon is so cool!

Just do it!

Zhang Jianying quickly stuffed the luggage into Gengar's Shadow Cube. He then put all the other Pokémon back into their Poké Balls, leaving only Gardevoir, Gengar, and Salamence, who was going to be "rehabilitated" today.

He handed the Trainer's Belt to Gardevoir for safekeeping, then rubbed his hands together and walked over to Salamence, who was crouching slightly.

The Salamence has a broad back covered with tough, dark blue scales, and two low bony protrusions at the base of its wings, which can be used as gripping points.

Zhang Jianying climbed up, sat down near her neck, and gripped the bony prominences on both sides tightly with her hands.

"Alright! Go—" He hadn't even finished saying the word "go."

"Roar—!!!"

The Salamence let out a long, excited roar, full of vengeance, its blood-red wings flapping wildly, and its thick hind legs slamming into the ground!

It wasn't a smooth ascent, but a lightning-fast sprint, like a rocket bursting from the ground! Like a crimson rocket, it shot straight into the sky!

"Holy crap—!!"

Caught off guard, Zhang Jianying felt a terrifying acceleration that slammed him hard onto the dragon's back. The gale tore at his clothes and filled his mouth and ears!

The scene before my eyes changed from a beach to blurry patches of color in an instant, and then to the ground rushing away at high speed.

The words "free-range chicken" were swallowed back down, replaced by a deafening scream: "Gardedoll—! Help me!!!"

On the ground, Gengar, carrying a small backpack full of snacks, was leisurely floating around. Seeing this scene, it used its short paws to create a sunshade, and looked at the figure that had turned into a small red dot in the blink of an eye, clicking its tongue and shaking its head.

"Giggle~ Forget it, it's hopeless, it's already dead."

It turned its head and gestured to the Gardevoir beside it, making several hand gestures, "Giggle giggle! Big sister, shall we divide the luggage and go home?"

Gardevoir shook its head and chuckled, giving Gengar a sidelong glance, a flash of blue light in its crimson eyes.

Instant teleportation!

With a series of flashes, Gardevoir appeared high in the sky, catching up with the creature that was desperately clinging to Salamence's neck.

The trainer's face was deathly pale.

A gentle superpower quietly spread, transforming into an invisible shield that blocked most of the violent airflow for Zhang Jianying.

At the same time, he used telekinesis to firmly "fix" him to the back of the Salamence, so that he would no longer have the fear of being thrown away.

"hiss--"

Zhang Jianying gasped for breath, his pale face slowly regaining some color. Still shaken, he glanced at the Gardevoir floating beside him, then looked down at himself—

Wow, that was so exciting!

At this moment, Gengar, carrying a small backpack, floated slowly up from below like a purple balloon, munching on snacks and looking quite relaxed, as if it didn't mind watching the fun.

Zhang Jianying glared at it fiercely, but before he could say anything, the Flying Dragon beneath him moved.

After its initial mischievous dash, Salamence seemed to have had enough fun.

It stopped climbing and instead spread its enormous blood-red wings, beginning to glide smoothly at high altitude.

The morning sunlight pierced through the thin clouds, shining on its scales, which were a mix of deep blue and dark red, and refracted a magnificent luster.

Below, the scenery of the Sinnoh continent unfolds like a slowly unfurling scroll.

The winding river is like a silver ribbon, the continuous forest is like a green velvet carpet, and towns and roads are scattered among them.

Not far away, a flock of Starhawks soared through the sky in neat formation. The Salamence glanced at them, deliberately raised its head, and let out a majestic and exhilarating roar!

"Roar!"

The intimidation, accompanied by a roar, spread out, startling the lead M'K Eagles so much that their feathers bristled and their formation instantly broke apart. Some even forgot how to flap their wings, frantically flapping their wings a few times before regaining their footing, and then speeding away without looking back.

The Salamence shook its head smugly, its eyes crinkling with delight.

It felt the weight of its trainer on its back, the free-flowing wind high in the sky, and the unparalleled lift and speed brought about by each flap of its wings.

At this moment, it finally realized its dream, which it had kept deep in its heart since it was a baby dragon, to soar together with its trainer under this boundless sky.

Excitement burned within his chest. Without pausing, the Salamence flapped its Bloodwing, adjusted its direction, and flew at full speed towards the direction of the Hundred Generations Forest like an arrow released from a bow!

A strong wind brushed past my ears, and white clouds drifted around me.

Zhang Jianying's tension was gradually replaced by a feeling of excitement and grandeur.

He held Salamence tightly by the neck, looking down at the mountains and land rushing past below, feeling the rhythm and power of Salamence's muscles as it flew.

So this is what it feels like to be a dragon knight.

An hour later, in a relatively open area near the Pokémon Center in Bourne City.

The Salamence slowly descended, its blood wings outstretched, and silently landed on the ground.

Zhang Jianying dismounted from the dragon's back and landed on his feet.

He stood ramrod straight, expressionless, his eyes fixed intently ahead, as if the lousy trainer who had just cried for help wasn't him at all.

His calm demeanor, combined with the image of him dismounting from the back of the mighty dragon, immediately attracted the attention of several trainers passing by the entrance of the Pokémon Center.

They all looked on with envy.

"Wow! It's a Salamence!"

"So cool! That trainer is awesome too!"

Zhang Jianying listened to these whispered discussions, and although he felt bitter inside, he kept quiet.

He wasn't calm at all.

They were clearly numb from the strong winds at high altitude!

My facial muscles are stiff, and I can't make any expressions! My legs are sore and numb from the tension and strain I had just put in. It took all my strength to stand up.

"Roar~"

The Salamence folded its wings, lowered its head, and leaned close to Zhang Jianying's ear, letting out a gurgling sound with obvious laughter in its throat. "Are you still going to call me 'free-range chicken'?"

Zhang Jianying took out a Poké Ball without any expression.

A flash of red light, and the world became quiet.

Gardevoir stepped forward promptly and subtly supported his arm. Her gentle psychic powers flowed like a warm current through his numb and stiff limbs, helping his muscles relax and regain sensation.

Gengar landed slowly, stretched comfortably, and then looked the trainer up and down, who was still trying to maintain his "expert demeanor." Its scarlet eyes narrowed, and a smug grin spread across its face.

"Gen-yi—"

It was about to let out its signature snarl.

Zhang Jianying reacted swiftly, pulling out the Poké Ball with lightning speed.

The red light flashed again.

Gengar was taken back along with its unspoken mockery, leaving behind only a small backpack full of snacks.

Zhang Jianying finally breathed a long sigh of relief. With Gardevoir's help, he slowly moved his hands and feet, and his complexion finally returned to normal.

"Let's go, let's rest at the Pokémon Center first, and then go to the gym."

The Baidai Dojo is lush with vegetation and full of vitality.

-

The restaurant's owner, a vibrant young woman in a green dress with short, refreshing hair, was already waiting by the battlefield, which was filled with plants.

She was accompanied by several Grass-type Pokémon, who curiously observed the visitor.

Without much small talk, after confirming the challenger's identity, Cai Zhong readily announced the start of the challenge.

The rules are standard 3v3 singles, where challengers can freely switch Pokémon, but Gym Leaders are not allowed to.

After the referee finished reading the rules, the vegetable was the first to throw out its Poké Ball: "Let's warm up! Spiky Cactus, you're the one!"

A flash of light appeared, and a Pokémon covered in spikes, wearing sunglasses, and looking rather arrogant, struck a boxer's pose.

Zhang Jianying's gaze sharpened, and his data vision quietly unfolded:

Spiny Cactus

[Attribute: Grass]

【Characteristic: Sand Cloak】

[Skills: Absorption Fist, Spiked Arm, Seed Machine Gun, Energy Ball]

Upon seeing the skill [Absorb Fist], Zhang Jianying's heart stirred.

This spiky cactus—

Could it be the one that Kojiro is keeping here?

He hesitated for a moment, then took out today's combat troops: "Ice Goose, prepare for battle!"

"Iceman!"

The ice-carved goose leaped into the arena with boundless energy, flapping its little wings vigorously, its round eyes filled with excitement and determination.

This is its first official appearance in a gym battle since hatching! It's determined to win for its trainer!

"Oh? A Pokémon rarely seen in the Sinnoh region."

The vegetable's eyes lit up. "Trying to use Ice-type to counter my Grass-type? Well, you're in for a disappointment! Spiky Cactus, [Drain Punch]!"

Upon hearing this, the Spiky Cactus's eyes flashed with a sharp light behind its sunglasses, and its fist, covered in fighting energy, swiftly struck towards the small Ice Goose!

Fighting skills are also effective against ice-type attacks.

Zhang Jianying did not reply; in reality, he simply lacked a suitable fire-type main force.

If you send in a Salamence, you might just shut up.

"Ice Goose, [Ice Pillar Strike] to stop!"

"Iceman!"

With a flap of its small wings, the Ice Goose conjured several thick ice pillars out of thin air, which slammed into the charging spiky cactus with a whooshing sound.

The seed remained calm: "Crush it, and keep going!"

The spiky cactus unleashed a flurry of punches, its [Absorption Fist] continuously shattering the incoming ice pillars. Amidst the flying ice shards, its momentum undiminished, it had already reached the Ice Goose!

"【Water Stream Crack】Counterattack!"

The Ice Goose did not back down. Sharp streams of water swirled rapidly on its small wings as it slammed them head-on into the spiky cactus's fist!

boom!

The water flow collided with the force of the punch, producing a muffled sound.

The ice-covered goose was jolted back a small step, and the spiky cactus also swayed.

In their first encounter, their strengths were evenly matched.

"Not bad! [Seed Bomb]!"

The pressure on vegetable seeds continues.

The spiky cactus leaped backward, shooting out several hard, green-glowing seeds that hurtled towards the ice goose like miniature cannonballs.

"【Stand】, then 【Frozen Wind】!"

The Ice Goose quickly condensed into an adorable stand-in doll made of energy, resembling a small alligator.

The seed bombs all hit the Stand, causing it to shake and then disintegrate and disappear.

Meanwhile, the real Ice Goose took the opportunity to open its small beak and unleash a [Frozen Wind] that accurately hit the Spiky Cactus that had just released its skill!

The effect is outstanding!

The spiky cactus was enveloped by the cold wind, its movements visibly stiffened, and frost began to condense on its body.

"Now's the time! Finish off the enemy with [Ice Pillar Slam]!"

Another icicle fell from the sky, slamming heavily onto the slowed-down spiky cactus.

The spiky cactus swayed, its sunglasses tilted, and finally, unwillingly, it started spinning its eyes in circles.

"The Spiky Cactus is unable to fight! The Ice Goose wins!" The referee waved the flag.

"Bingqi, Bingqi!"

The ice-cure goose excitedly hopped around in place, its little wings flapping merrily against its belly. It won! First victory!

"Well done, Ice Goose!" Zhang Jianying praised generously. "Can you continue?"

The ice-cure goose nodded vigorously, patted its chest with its little wings, indicating that it was perfectly fine!

"Excellent! Let's press on with this!" Zhang Jianying's confidence soared.

The vegetable seed was retrieved from the prickly cactus, the smile on his face undiminished, but instead becoming even more serious: "Very good teamwork and timing. Well then, the second one—the hoodoo mushroom—I'm counting on you!"

A mushroom Pokémon with sharp eyes nimbly leaped into the arena, assuming a fighting stance.

A New Perspective on Data:

【Hylocereus undatus】

[Type: Grass/Fighting]

[Specialty: Poison Therapy]

[Skills: Mushroom Spore, Sonic Punch, Explosive Punch, Seed Machine Gun, Low Kick]

【Item Carried: Poisonous Orb】

Poisonous Hatchomp, a classic combination.

Zhang Jianying understood and roughly guessed Cai Zhong's tactical approach.

"Ice Goose, use Protect to start, then Substitute!"

The ice-clad goose was just beginning to glow with a pale green protective light.

Almost simultaneously, the figure of the Mushroom rushed forward like a ghost, and its [Sonic Fist] slammed into the light barrier with afterimages, but was steadily blocked.

Missing its first attack, the Hat-shaped Mushroom didn't stop. With a gentle shake of its hat, countless tiny spores quietly spread out and drifted towards the Ice Goose [Mushroom Spores]!

However, the Ice Goose had already condensed another substitute doll the moment the "Protect" light shield disappeared.

The spores landed on the stand-in, which swayed slightly but nothing happened. The real Ice Goose was also unharmed.

"Tsk."

The vegetable stalk slapped its cheeks in frustration. "Did I get seen through again? I haven't been able to do any effective damage so far. Hathorn, come back here!"

The lizard mushroom nimbly leaped backward, dodging the Ice Goose's probing [Frozen Punch], and returned to the front of the vegetable seed.

The highly poisonous orb it carried had already taken effect, leaving purplish-black marks of poisoning. However, its [Poison Healing] ability activated simultaneously, and a faint healing glow negated the poison damage, slowly restoring the stamina it had lost after being grazed by [Frozen Fist].

"We can't delay any longer. Hathorn, [Sunny Day]!"

The mushroom tilted its head back, and a burst of intense energy shot into the sky, filling the battlefield with blazing sunlight!

Is this paving the way for future Pokémon? Zhang Jianying raised an eyebrow. It seems the third Pokémon from the Caizhong series has an ability that's well-suited to the Sunny Day system.

"In that case, Ice Goose, let's not hold back! Now's the time to attack with all our might!"

"Bulbasaur, [Sonic Punch] Charge!"

The hoodoo mushroom once again transformed into a blur and attacked. Zhang Jianying, seeing the substitute doll still present in the arena, did not send the Ice Goose to probe, but instead attacked directly.

"Use a substitute to catch it, then [Blizzard]!"

Ice Goose's round eyes lit up, and it threw the substitute doll behind [Sonic Fist].

Two tiny wings tightly hugged its square, icy head, and the icy energy in its entire body surged and converged!

Ugh—!

A cold wind, mixed with ice blades and snowflakes, suddenly erupted around the ice-covered goose!

A blizzard swept across the entire battlefield! Even the sunlight seemed dim in the face of this raging snowstorm!

The hooded mushroom was the first to be affected!

It gritted its teeth, braving the incredibly effective blizzard, and tried to force its way forward, making a final desperate attempt with its Explosive Fist!

The Grass/Fighting type is really at a disadvantage against Ice-type attacks!

The Ice Goose also mustered all its strength; even the tuft of hair on its icy head seemed to be straining, as it continuously channeled its power into the [Blizzard].

In the middle, they firmly blocked the charge of the hyacinth mushroom.

Finally, amidst the raging snowstorm, the hyacinth mushroom's progress slowed, and the frost on its body grew thicker and thicker.

It glanced unwillingly at the ice-covered goose so close at hand, and finally, exhausted, it collapsed to the ground with a thud, its eyes rolling in circles.

"The Breath of the Breath is unable to fight! Ice Goose wins!"

"Whoosh—whoosh—"

95

The ice-cure goose was also panting heavily, its little wings almost too heavy to lift, but its eyes were still incredibly bright.

"Well done! Ice-carved goose!" Zhang Jianying shouted encouragingly. "Keep going, it's the last one!"

The Ice Goose nodded vigorously at the ice block, exhausted but its fighting spirit undiminished! It was determined to secure its first victory!

Cai Zhong retrieved her Breloom, her expression one of appreciation and seriousness. She threw out her last Poké Ball: "Your Goosebumps were really great! Well then, the final opponent, Victreebel, enters the fray!"

A Pokémon with a huge, trumpet-shaped mouth and blades as sharp as knives appeared on the scene.

As soon as it appeared, its leaves began to glow faintly under the bright sunshine.

Chlorophyll properties triggered, speed doubled!

"Giant Flower, [Powerful Whiplash]!"

"An ice-covered goose, blocked by its frozen head! [Snow scene]!"

The giant food flower was incredibly fast. Several thick, python-like vines shot out from its body, lashing out at the ice goose like whips, covering a huge area!

Ice Goose looked at the vines rushing towards it, a hint of resentment on its little face.

But it still obediently—it stretched its square, icy head towards the vine that was being pulled out.

Click!

A crisp cracking sound rang out!

The iconic, square ice block head of the Ice Goose was shattered by the powerful whip! Ice shards flew everywhere!

Beneath the broken ice, the "true form" of the ice-carved goose head was revealed.

An oval shape, currently topped with shards of ice, with an expression that inexplicably appears somewhat melancholy and dejected.

Thawed head shape!

At the same time, the ice and snow energy gathered by the Ice Goose soared into the sky, forcibly dispelling the scorching sunlight, and fine snowflakes began to fall, turning the weather into a snowy day!

The chlorophyll properties of the giant food flower are rendered ineffective, and its speed instantly returns to normal.

"very good!"

Zhang Jianying's eyes lit up. "Ice Goose, you're even faster now! Weave in attacks, use [Blizzard] and [Frozen Fist] to disrupt it!"

The Ice Goose, now in its thawed head form, seemed to have shed its heavy helmet, and its speed suddenly increased!

It is no longer clumsy, but rather like a figure skater, gliding nimbly across the vine-covered ground!

Although Victreebel has lost its speed advantage, its attacks remain fierce. Alternating between Leaf Storm and Power Whip, its sharp leaves resemble a green storm, and its thick vines are like wildly dancing pythons, turning the field upside down.

With its suddenly increased speed, the Ice Goose darting precariously through the gaps between leaves and vines, occasionally spewing out Blizzard to destroy large swaths of vines, or suddenly closing in to deliver a Freeze Punch to the Giant Victreebel.

Despite the unfavorable weather, the giant carnivore was incredibly resilient, launching wave after wave of attacks.

It seemed to sense that the Ice Goose was exhausted, and several thick vines that had been lurking underground suddenly burst out of the ground, lashing out at the Ice Goose, which had just released [Blizzard] and was slightly panting, from an extremely tricky angle!

Zhang Jianying had been on guard since he sensed it through waveguides.

The moment the ground trembled slightly, his command arrived: "Ice Goose, restore the ice! [Frozen Head Form]! Then [Bellis Drum]!"

Upon hearing this, the Ice Goose stopped dodging and quickly gathered ice energy!

The broken ice blocks reformed and shaped on its head at an astonishing speed, and in the blink of an eye, that square, endearing ice head reappeared!

The newly healed frozen head solidly blocked this insidious [powerful whip], shattering once again with a teeth-grinding impact sound.

At the same time, Bingqie's round eyes turned red.

[Abdominal bulge]!

At the cost of consuming a lot of physical strength, one can increase their attack power to the limit!

"Now!"

Zhang Jianying's command came through: "Full power [Frozen Fist]!"

With the speed boost from its thawed head form, the Ice Goose transformed into a blurry black afterimage, the ice beneath its feet shattering as it instantly lunged at the Giant Flower at incredible speed!

Its tiny wings held all its remaining strength and its attack power pushed to the limit!

The ice energy was extremely compressed, gleaming with a chilling light!

One punch!

A simple, unadorned "Freezing Fist" landed squarely in the center of the giant flower's massive body!

Bang-!!!

With a muffled thud, the giant Victoire's massive body was slammed into the ground by the fully buffed [Freeze Punch], cracking the ground and cleanly spinning around.

The Ice Goose maintained its wing-flapping posture, its small body swayed, the red light in its eyes faded, and it began to roll its eyes in circles.

The snowflakes stopped falling.

The referee paused for a moment, then quickly waved his flag: "Victoire and Goosebumps are both unable to battle! Since all three of the Gym Leader's Pokémon are unable to battle, the winner is Zhang Jianying!"

"Ice-clad Goose!"

Zhang Jianying rushed into the field immediately and carefully took the exhausted little penguin into her arms.

Ice Goose wearily opened its eyes, saw the trainer's concerned face, and managed a weak grin.

Zhang Jianying tenderly stroked its cold, oval-shaped head, then quickly took out a soothing energy cube that she had prepared beforehand, suitable for its constitution, and fed it to it little by little.

"Well done, little penguin."

He said softly, his eyes full of relief, "You've grown up and can stand on your own now."

After eating the Energy Cube, the Ice Goose regained some of its energy, nuzzled its trainer's palm affectionately, and then closed its eyes peacefully, falling into a deep sleep in his arms.

Cai Zhong also retrieved the giant food flower and walked up to Zhang Jianying, clapping and sincerely praising, "A truly wonderful battle! Your command and the performance of the Ice Goose were both superb. Judging by its size, it must be quite young, right?"

Zhang Jianying nodded: "Yes, all things considered, it's been less than four months."

"Less than four months?!" Caizhong's eyes widened in surprise, then her admiration grew even stronger. "Truly remarkable potential and trust. It trusts you completely."

She took out a delicate little box, opened it, and inside was an exquisitely designed badge.

Caizhong carefully placed the forest badge on the chest of the sleeping ice goose.

"This is the glory it has worked so hard to earn," Cai Zhong said with a smile.

Then, she took out a translucent, pale blue crystal from another small pouch at her waist, which was constantly emitting pure ice-type energy fluctuations.

Ice Stone.

"This is an extra reward for the little guy."

Cai Zhong gently placed the Ice Stone in the Ice Goose's arms, feeling the pure ice energy. The Ice Goose unconsciously hugged its little wings tightly in its sleep.

Cai Zhong then rubbed his hands together somewhat embarrassedly, "Um—actually, I have another favor to ask."

"Please speak," Zhang Jianying said, somewhat puzzled.

"Could you and your ice goose stay here a little longer?"

Cai Zhong's face flushed slightly, but her eyes were serious. "I'd like to ask you to help me train my newly captured Grass-type Pokémon to improve their resistance to and ability to deal with Ice-type moves."

She paused, then explained, "Actually, Song from the Snow Peak City Dojo and I are good friends. We often spar in private, and we've had our share of wins and losses. This Ice Stone is the bet she lost to me last time."

A sly glint of anticipation flashed in Cai Zhong's eyes: "The date for the next challenge is fast approaching. I want my Pokémon to get used to Ice-type attacks and tactics beforehand, to give Xiao Song a surprise!"

After hearing this, Zhang Jianying's lips twitched involuntarily.

Good heavens!

He recalled the scheming Ice-type Gym Leader who once sent insincere remarks in the League Gym Leaders' group chat.

Then look at the Grass-type Gym Leader in front of me, who looks like he's about to run away—

You two are such fake besties, what a pair of besties!

He suddenly missed the honest man, Hyota, from the Black Gold Dojo. Compared to these two, Hyota was a breath of fresh air.

However, on second thought, this seems to be a good training opportunity for both myself and Ice Goose.

Goosebumps has just experienced intense battles and needs time to reflect and digest the experience. Targeted training with other unfamiliar Pokémon can also improve its understanding of different tactics.

Moreover, you can get things for free—(crossed out)—and make good use of the dojo's training facilities and the dojo master's guidance.

"This wasn't special training that I requested."

Zhang Jianying silently offered herself a reason: "It was Xiaosong's best friend who invited me, and I couldn't refuse her kind invitation. Hmm, Xiaosong probably won't challenge me to a real-life PK because of this, right?"

He glanced at the Ice Goose, who was sleeping soundly with the Ice Stone in its arms, then at the vegetable seed in front of him, which looked expectant, and finally nodded.

"Okay. We agree."

Cai Zhong immediately beamed with joy: "That's great! Don't worry, you can use the gym's facilities and Pokémon food freely during training! I'll also do my best to help you."

The sky over Baidai City was clear and cloudless.

Zhang Jianying carried the sleeping Ice Goose on the way to the Pokémon Center. The little penguin earned a badge in its first battle, and the subsequent training would make up for its biggest lack of practical experience.

He looked at the little penguin's head, which still looked melancholy even as it slept, and smiled slightly.

.