What should I do if my pet loves watching anime?

Old Hong spoke casually, as if he were talking about going to the vegetable market downstairs.

Gu Beiri was stunned.

Mount Taibai?

Outside the pass?

That's a remote place spanning most of the League, known for its rugged terrain, extreme climate, and habitat of many powerful wild Pokémon. It's also one of the League's designated training areas for advanced trainers.

"Old Hong, isn't this... too far? And the environment around Mount Taibai..."

Gu Beiri subconsciously looked at the praying mantis on the balcony.

The little guy had just finished three hours of "stake-setting" and was now moving his somewhat stiff body. When he heard the words "Taibai Mountain," he turned his head curiously, his eyes filled with doubt.

"Far? Take a plane, it'll only take half a day." Old Hong took a sip of her cold tea, her tone matter-of-fact. "Environment? That's exactly the kind of environment I need. Your Demon Slash technique is all show and no substance, its foundation is unstable. I need to find a place to hone it properly."

The summit of Mount Taibai, with its year-round howling winds and turbulent air currents, is the perfect place to hone flying skills and develop a solid foundation for power generation.

He paused, then looked at Gu Beiri with a hint of testing in his eyes: "What, scared? Or do you think this old man is trying to trick you into going to some remote mountain forest?"

"I'm not so much afraid, just a little surprised." Gu Beiri chuckled and asked frankly, "What do you need to prepare for training at Mount Taibai? How long will the trip take?"

"No need to prepare too much, just bring enough warm clothes and spirit supplies. Conditions in the mountains are harsh, but with this old man here, no one will die."

Old Hong waved his hand and continued.

"As for the time, it depends on the little guy's comprehension."

Don't worry, it won't interfere with your freshman competition.

The last sentence clearly indicates that Chen Xing had already mentioned Gu Beiri's recent arrangements to Elder Hong.

"I understand." Gu Beiri nodded decisively without further hesitation. "When do we depart?"

"The flight is early tomorrow morning. I had Xiao Chen book the tickets, three tickets." Old Hong said, glancing at Rongrong Sheep, "Let's bring this little lamb too. There's plenty of lightning energy in the mountains, it'll be good for it too."

"Three?" Gu Beiri was slightly taken aback.

"Me, you, and my wife." Old Hong grinned, revealing his teeth, which were yellowed from the smell of tobacco.

"The old woman was worried about me going into the mountains alone and insisted on coming with me."

Perfect timing, she can cook, and she's especially good at preparing wild vegetables and game from the mountains.

Gu Beiri suddenly realized, recalling the strong female voice that had just come from inside the room.

"Then I'll have to trouble Mr. Hong and... Grandma Hong."

"Alright, stop being so polite."

I'll just make do here for the night and head straight to the airport tomorrow morning.

Old Master Hong's decision was final and left no room for doubt.

So Gu Beiri stayed in the old house that night, which was full of life.

Grandma Hong is a slightly plump old lady with a cheerful smile, and her surname is Zhao.

Hearing that Gu Beiri was a promising newcomer favored by Chen Xing and a "disciple" whom his wife wanted to properly teach, he was incredibly enthusiastic. He prepared a sumptuous home-style meal, kept serving Gu Beiri food, and kept recounting embarrassing stories from Hong Lao's youth.

For example, the first time he flew too high and got dizzy from the wind, or he accidentally dropped his Poké Ball into an ice hole during training... which made Old Hong cough frequently and his face turn slightly red.

Fluffy Sheep and Scyther also received a carefully prepared meal. Scyther's eyes lit up as he ate the nutritious meal cooked by humans for the first time, a mixture of tree fruits and specially made high-energy minced meat. Fluffy Sheep, on the other hand, was particularly fond of Grandma Hong's special biscuits, munching on them with his tail wagging.

…………

The next morning, before it was fully light, the group set off.

Old Hong was dressed in a neat gray mountaineering outfit and carried a slightly worn canvas bag.

Gu Beiri naturally traveled light, carrying only a tactical backpack containing necessities and Poké Balls.

On the way to the airport, Chen Xing drove to drop him off. He looked to be in good spirits, and his dark circles had faded a bit.

"Bei Ri, Old Hong was a famous eagle in the coastal area back in the day. He was unparalleled in training Flying-type Pokémon and aerial combat skills. It's a rare opportunity that he's willing to take you to Mount Taibai. Learn from him."

"I understand, Uncle Chen," Gu Beiri said solemnly.

"Once we get there, communication might be inconvenient. If anything happens, just follow Mr. Hong's arrangements."

I will continue to compile the information and opponent analysis for the freshman competition for you. I'll wait for your return.

Chen Xing gave a few more instructions, then drove the three of them to the airport entrance before leaving.

Linhai International Airport is bustling with people.

Everything was new and exciting for Fluffy Sheep and Scyther, who were flying for the first time.

The fluffy sheep followed closely at Gu Beiri's feet, curiously looking up at the towering dome, the flashing flight information screen, and the crowds of people hurrying by with their suitcases.

"Rose?

Occasionally, it will quietly touch the smooth ground or metal railing, feeling the different textures, and then make a soft sound.

Gu Bei Ri temporarily put the Scyther into a Poké Ball to avoid attracting unnecessary attention—after all, its appearance was still somewhat conspicuous in a crowd.

Some Pokémon are not allowed to be left outside on the plane, but fortunately, both Yogg-Saron and Scyther are within the appropriate size range.

When checking in, the ground staff were exceptionally respectful when they saw Mr. and Mrs. Hong's identification documents.

"Mr. Hong, Ms. Zhao, your special passage has been arranged. Please come this way."

It turns out that Mr. Hong and Mrs. Hong hold senior trainer and partner privilege passes issued by the league, which grant them certain privileges.

When going through security, Gu Beiri placed the Poké Ball on a special tray.

The security scanner scanned the sphere, and the screen displayed the outline of the sprite inside and its basic energy reading.

"Scyther, Bug/Flying type, high energy response... Hmm, no problem." The security officer glanced at it and signaled for passage.

The fluffy sheep needed to go through the live sprite security checkpoint. It stood on a specially designed platform, its neck shrank back nervously. A soft beam of light swept across its body, and a 3D image and energy fluctuation diagram of it were displayed on the screen next to it.

"Fluffy Sheep, Electric type, Trait... Electric Creator?" The young security inspector looked up in surprise at the label on the screen, glancing at Gu Beiri again. "It's been bred really well."

"Thank you for the compliment."

After successfully passing through security, I arrived at the departure hall.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling window, airplanes took off and landed. The fluffy sheep lay on the glass, its eyes wide, watching the giant steel birds accelerate, lift their heads, and soar into the clouds on the distant runway. Its tail swayed unconsciously, filled with wonder.

"Mushroom? (That's... a big bird? Made of iron?)"

"That's an airplane. We're going to fly up into the sky in a little while," Gu Beiri explained softly.

"Mong?!" Rongrong Sheep turned his head, his eyes filled with disbelief and a hint of excitement.

Grandpa Hong and Grandma Hong sat on the rest chairs next to them. Grandma Hong took out some still warm vegetable biscuits from the insulated lunch box and gave them to Grandpa Hong and Gu Beiri.

"Have something to eat first; the food on the plane isn't as good as what I cook."

Old Hong took a bite and muttered, "You talk too much."

But the smile on his lips couldn't be hidden.

An announcement came over the loudspeaker to announce boarding.

Boarding has begun for their flight.

I entered the cabin and found my seat.

Gu Beiri and Old Hong sat in the row by the window, while Grandma Hong sat on the other side of the aisle.

Gu Beiri took out the Poké Ball for the fluffy sheep, indicating that it could come out, but reminded it to be quiet and not to run around or use skills randomly.

The fluffy sheep emerged from the ball and curiously looked around the cabin—the soft seats, the small windows, the overhead luggage racks, and the faint scent of air freshener in the air.

It carefully jumped onto the seat next to Gu Beiri, clung to the window, and looked outside.

Scyther was also released and sat in the empty seat next to Gu Beiri on the other side of the aisle.

As soon as it came out, it straightened its body, placed its two sickles on its knees, and sat upright, but its eyes couldn't help but glance out the window, watching the ground crew working and the huge wings.

The plane began to taxi, and the roar of the engines could be heard through the fuselage.

The fluffy sheep became visibly tense, its ears perked up and its body slightly stiffened.

The Flying Mantis also stopped looking around and focused on feeling the vibration of the fuselage and the push-back sensation brought by acceleration.

Gu Beiri gently stroked the fluffy sheep's back: "Don't be afraid, this is normal."

Old Master Hong glanced at it and said calmly, "Getting so worked up over this little commotion, how will you deal with sudden accelerations and changes in airflow during battle?"

Even so, his gaze fell on the Scyther, observing its reaction to the unfamiliar environment and the feeling of acceleration.

The plane tilted up, lifted off the ground, and soared into the blue sky.

The brief feeling of weightlessness made the fluffy sheep bleat softly and instinctively grab Gu Beiri's sleeve.

The flying mantis twitched its wings slightly, seemingly trying to adjust its posture instinctively, but quickly restrained itself, focusing its attention more intently on the gradually shrinking scenery outside the window.

When the aircraft enters the stratosphere, the flight becomes stable.

The view outside the window transformed into an endless sea of ​​clouds, rolling golden waves under the sunlight, a truly magnificent sight.

Both the fluffy sheep and the flying mantis were stunned.

"Mushroom..." (So pretty...)

"Cheers..." (Is this... what flying feels like?)

Old Hong leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes and pretended to sleep, but a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Grandma Hong took out some yarn and began knitting what looked like a sweater for a child. Her fingers flew across the paper, her movements skillful and practiced.