I caught a Pokémon

“It’s not like this every day,” Xiaojuan said with a smile. “It’s quite a coincidence that these two days are the traditional festival in Yuanzhu City, and there’s a grand fireworks display late at night!”

Fireworks display?

Xia You's heart stirred, and she seemed to be deep in thought.

At this moment, Xiaoyu glanced at Xia You sideways, her tone somewhat ambiguous: "This is all thanks to someone, otherwise we wouldn't have had this opportunity to come out!"

Isn't this just saying that it was because of him that they got to rest for a few days?

Xia You secretly pinched her butt, and walked away with a smile, despite Xiao Yu's disapproving look.

Since I've already gotten a huge advantage, let her say whatever she wants.

When they passed a stall selling masks, Xia You bought a mask for each of the five sisters. After they put them on, they were even more sure of being recognized and no longer had to worry about being recognized.

The group walked forward along the street toward the bell tower.

The happiest people on this trip were undoubtedly Xiaomei and Yinghua. They were at the most carefree age and rarely went out for leisure. Now that they had such an opportunity, they wished they had two more pairs of eyes.

Before long, they had all sorts of trinkets and snacks in their hands, and they even played games like popping balloons and ring toss a few times.

It's clear that everyone is happy.

Just as they and Xiaoyao were squatting in front of a stall selling Magikarp, watching the Magikarp jump around in the basin, Xia You stood beside them and watched for a while. Then, his gaze swept to the left and right, and he unexpectedly saw a Ho-Oh!

However, to be precise, it was a kite with coils of light bulbs wrapped around it, which looked very similar to Ho-Oh!

A boy of about seven or eight years old, with a cute apple-shaped haircut, was holding a kite and walking alone through the crowded street toward the distant bell tower.

However, perhaps the kite was too long, or perhaps he was too small, so he couldn't keep up with everything. When he walked to Xia You's side, he accidentally broke off one of the kite's wings!

Xia You looked down and saw that the wing and the Phoenix King's body were still connected by tape!

Leaving aside whether it can fly, even if it could, it would probably disintegrate as soon as it took to the air.

Bending down, Xia You picked up the wings and handed them to the little boy.

"Ah, thank you..."

The little boy hurriedly took the wings, but looking at the Phoenix kite that had broken in two, he tried a few times but still couldn't put the wings back together.

Now, his face showed obvious anxiety.

Xiao Juan and the others, who were standing nearby, naturally saw this scene and gathered around.

Perhaps it was because what she was about to do was related to Ho-Oh, that when Xiaoju saw the Ho-Oh kite, she couldn't help but bend down and ask softly, "Little brother, why are you carrying a Ho-Oh kite? Where are you going?"

After all, at this late hour, I've seen people fly lanterns, but I've never seen anyone fly a kite.

Seeing these older sisters dressed up in their finest clothes, each wearing a different Pokémon mask, surrounding him, the little boy couldn't help but feel a little scared. But when he turned his head and saw the bright and cheerful Haruka, his face immediately turned red!

Just as Xia You had thought, Xiao Yao in her finest attire was incredibly alluring!

Especially for little boys like this!

“I…” He glanced at Haruka again before stammering, “I plan to take it to the Bell Tower so that Grandpa can see Ho-Oh again.”

"You saw Ho-Oh again?" Xiao Tao asked in surprise. "Did your grandfather see Ho-Oh before?"

“Of course!” the little boy nodded. “There are photos of him and the Rainbow Wing at home when he was young. But so many years have passed, and Grandpa has been searching for Ho-Oh, but he has never been able to find it again. This has made Grandpa slowly lose confidence and become pessimistic…”

His voice grew softer and softer, showing that he was also very saddened by the thought that his grandfather's dream could not be realized.

Xiao Tao suddenly realized: "I see. So you plan to use this phoenix kite with colorful lights to help your grandfather regain his confidence?"

“That’s right!” the little boy said earnestly. “As long as Grandpa sees Ho-Oh flying in the sky, he will definitely be able to become like he used to be!”

However, after saying that, he glanced at the Phoenix King kite that had broken in two and sighed in disappointment.

"But my kite is broken, it looks like it won't be able to fly today..."

"You think a kite with colorful lights can make an adult rediscover their dreams?" Xia You shook her head, then walked towards the Bell Tower without looking back, waving at him without lingering. "If you want to make it look real, you'd at least need a Pokémon like Toucan to dress it up. But it's okay, you can go home now. Tonight, your and your grandfather's dreams will come true, and Ho-Oh... will definitely appear!"

Chapter 886 Phoenix King, we meet again!

After walking through the bustling snack street, leaving the city, and passing through a forest path called 'Bell Sound Path' that is full of red and yellow maple leaves all year round, Xia You and her group finally arrived at the foot of the Bell Tower.

Compared to the bustling city center, this place is unusually quiet tonight.

Apart from some bird-like Pokémon making occasional cooing sounds in the forest, the place was eerily quiet, without even a single light.

It seems that it has been quiet for many years, and even on holidays, locals rarely come to this kind of outdoor tower at night.

During the day it's fine, after all, it's a famous tourist spot, and there will always be tourists who come to Enju City for the first time. But at night, when you think about the fire that happened more than a hundred years ago, it is indeed a bit eerie and scary.

However, this is also good, as it makes things convenient for Xia You and the others.

Although she had been here once before, Xia You couldn't help but take a closer look at the bell tower.

Bell Tower is a typical Japanese tower built in the middle of a 'castle'. Although it is only nine stories high, it is located on a hilltop outside the city, which is a high place. When people climb to the top of the tower, they can take in the entire city of Enju.

In the distance, the hustle and bustle of Enju City could still be faintly heard.

Having arrived here, and with no outsiders around, Xiao Juan and her five companions all removed their masks. Then, they turned on their flashlights and, under the moonlight, arrived at the gate of this 'city'.

In fact, what is called a castle was the residence of daimyo who controlled a region in ancient times. They built layers of high walls outside the castle tower to protect themselves and their families, and such facilities were called castles.

Although Xiaojuan and her ancestors were not so famous, they built this place in a similar style to protect the safety of the two towers.

However, with the departure of the family members more than a decade ago, the city is now guarded and managed by a group of monks. Although it is still open to the public, the city gates are now closed because it is late.

Stopping Xiao Juan from knocking on the door, Xia You smiled at the girls and said, "We're here to summon the Phoenix King, after all. To avoid trouble, I think it's best not to attract too much attention."

“That makes sense.” After glancing at the tightly closed mountain gate a dozen steps away and the towering stone walls around it, Xiao Tao asked, “Then… how do we get in?”

"Of course, we'll use Pokémon!" Xia You laughed as she took out a Poké Ball. "You guys have been in the civilized world for too long and are too conventional. Unlike us trainers, we often take unconventional approaches!"

Hearing his words, the five sisters exchanged glances. Although they felt it was somewhat inappropriate to enter the city in the middle of the night without even saying hello, they also felt a little...excited.

That's understandable. They live in the spotlight all the time, and they always behave properly. When have they ever done anything so sneaky?

Now, under Xia You's guidance, they all felt an unprecedented... strange sensation.

With a flash of blue light, Xia You's Gardevoir appeared in front of the girls, and with its teleportation, the group entered the city silently.

The city was noticeably quieter; now, even the sounds of Pokémon could not be heard.

Compared to entering through the main gate, Xiao Juan and her companions clearly felt guilty as soon as they appeared, as if they were afraid of being discovered.

However, a hint of excitement also flashed in their eyes, clearly indicating that they found this matter quite novel.

Seeing their reaction, Xia You couldn't help but find it amusing, but she didn't say anything more and instead walked into the Bell Tower with them.

Compared to the moonlight that bathed the earth outside, the bell tower was undoubtedly much darker, and with the windows tightly closed, even moonlight could hardly penetrate.

From the inside, the Bell Tower looks no different from an ordinary tower; it is not only very spacious, but also has a slightly rotten wood smell.

Although it was well-maintained, the wooden floor still creaked when the group stepped on it, and the sound echoed in the empty bell tower, adding a touch of eeriness.

As someone who needs someone to accompany her even to the bathroom at night, Sakura felt a bit creeped out by the environment, but with so many people around, she didn't feel so scared.

On one of the walls, as the flashlight beam swept across, Xia You also saw a huge wooden carving of a phoenix king.

In this woodcut, the Phoenix King spreads its wings and flies, with a rainbow behind it and auspicious clouds around it, and it looks as if it is flying towards the sun, appearing noble and majestic.

I must say, it's actually quite lifelike...

Because of her discord with the Phoenix King, Xia You only glanced at him before looking away.

In just a few minutes, the group went up the stairs and arrived at the ninth floor of the Bell Tower.

Further up is the top of the tower.

As they walked up the stairs and out of the top floor exit onto the outdoor platform, a cool night breeze instantly caressed them.

At the top of the tower stands a huge bronze-yellow dome, but the dome has a rather peculiar shape, and its purpose is unknown. Perhaps it was the residence of the Phoenix King hundreds of years ago.

The group stood there, gazing at Enoki City in the distance for a while, before finally reuniting.

At this moment, Xiaoyu took out the transparent bell that she always carried with her again.

The peculiar transparent bell remains unchanged even here; now, no matter how hard it is shaken, it cannot produce any sound.

Seeing this, Xiao Juan nodded and said, "Just like before, there's no reaction. It seems we still need some kind of catalyst."

After saying that, she looked at Xia You again: "Shall we start now?"

"No... wait a minute." Xia You shook her head, turned to look at the sky over Yuanzhu City, and casually asked, "When do the fireworks you mentioned start?"

"It should be around this time," Xiaojuan said, checking the time. "Once the fireworks start, it means the night market is coming to an end, so most people will choose to go home after watching the fireworks show."

Just as Xiaojuan finished speaking, colorful lights suddenly streaked across the sky above Yuanzhu City, followed by dazzling fireworks. In no time, the fireworks had merged into one, illuminating the entire city of Yuanzhu in a kaleidoscope of colors.

bang bang bang...

Even from a distance, the sound of the fireworks explosions clearly reached Xia You and the others' ears.

Looking at Xiaojuan and the others, Xia You nodded: "We can begin now."

It was at this moment that Xiaojuan and the others realized that Xia You wanted to use the explosion of fireworks to cover up the appearance of the Phoenix King, so that it would not be noticed by the general public!

Knowing that the fireworks would end soon, Xiaojuan and the others no longer hesitated, and instead took out an item from their clothes.

These are the hairs of the Thunder God, the Water God, and the Flame Emperor.

Summoning Ho-Oh requires a catalyst, but it doesn't necessarily require the presence of the three legendary beasts. You only need to possess one of their items and infuse their power into a bell, just like Ho-Oh's own rainbow feather.

Holding the hair in their hands, the five sisters stood together in the center of the platform and began to dance!

Their movements were perfectly synchronized, and coupled with their gorgeous clothes, graceful figures, and beautiful faces, they were a delight to behold.

This is their ritual to summon Ho-Oh. They perform a special dance, and while dancing, they rhythmically shake transparent bells to summon him.

The bell rang clearly as Xiaoyu gently shook it.

The fur of the three sacred beasts seemed to be responding to something, emitting a faint light in response.

Despite the continuous explosions of fireworks from Yuanzhu City that resounded through the sky, and the sound of the transparent bell only echoing nearby, Xia You felt, perhaps it was just her imagination, that the bell seemed to pierce through the sky and the earth, spreading far and wide.

Xia You had always had a question: what if the Phoenix King was too far away and couldn't hear the bell?

After all, Ho-Oh won't stay in one place for too long. What if it happens to go to another region or another city?

He had asked Xiaojuan this question before, and the answer he received was quite affirmative.

"Don't worry, this transparent bell possesses magical power. It was a token given to our clan by Ho-Oh when he lived in the Bell Tower. The sound it makes can resonate directly in Ho-Oh's mind, and as soon as he hears the sound, he will definitely come!"

When Xiaojuan said those words, she exuded confidence. Presumably, hundreds of years before the fire burned down the Bell Tower, her ancestors had made such a promise with Ho-Oh, and it had been passed down ever since.

Even if this method fails, as long as the three legendary beasts appear at the same time and unleash their power together, they can eventually lure Ho-Oh over.

That's why he dared to make such a boast to that little boy in the food street!

The five sisters continued dancing, and there was no sign that they would stop.

They were graceful, slow and deliberate, with serious expressions and a subtle air of composure. Their movements occasionally revealed their fair wrists.

Xia You couldn't resist taking out her camera to capture the moment.

The five sisters stood on a tall tower in the night sky, with dazzling fireworks behind them—it was incredibly beautiful!

Just as the camera clicked, the sky suddenly changed.

Suddenly, a golden shadow burst through the clouds and appeared in the sky!

Even though it was night, its dazzling body, which glowed like the sun, made it instantly recognizable!

Ho-Oh, it really has arrived!

Like a beam of light dispelling the darkness, Phoenix King, its entire body radiating colorful light, flapped its wings and flew towards the Bell Tower.

Xia You's gaze sharpened, and with a flick of his wrist, three super balls appeared in his palm.

At the same time, seeing Ho-Oh slowly descend towards the bell tower, Cuckoo and the others stopped dancing. Except for Tama, who was still gently shaking the transparent bell, everyone looked up at the beautiful bird with expressions of awe.

However, in Xia You's eyes, the Phoenix King was just a big-beaked sparrow with more beautiful feathers.

Of course, it wasn't that Xia You looked down on it so much; it was just that there was a great conflict between the person and the Pokémon, so Xia You naturally viewed it with prejudice.

Ho-Oh slowly descended, eventually hovering in mid-air a dozen meters above the top of Bell Tower.

Its gaze swept across the room, first glancing at the transparent bell, then at the five sisters, then at the fur of the three sacred beasts in their hands, and finally settling on Xia You.

Just as Xia You was full of prejudice against Phoenix King, Phoenix King was equally impressed by Xia You.

This is something that few humans have been able to do in thousands of years, and Xia You successfully made it recognize that this was the same human male who had stopped her from subduing the Three Sacred Beasts!