Rustling Forest was an isolated patch of woods in Auspicious City, surrounded by rivers on all sides. Because no powerful Pokémon lived within it, no forest rangers were stationed there.
Shu Tong had only just entered Rustling Forest when he heard cursing coming from ahead.
The situation was currently unclear, so Shu Tong could only quietly approach to figure out the cause and effect first. In the distance, he spotted a ragged, bearded man with a hulking build, though he was covered entirely in mud. Standing opposite him were two people dressed in flashy clothes, one of whom was Wu Hongzhen.
"Brat, put down what's in your hand and I'll spare your lives," the bearded man said, pointing at Wu Hongzhen and his companion.
"Bearded freak, stop putting on a front here. Looking at that ragged state of yours, you must have just crawled out of a trash heap," Wu Hongzhen said.
"Brat, you're courting death. Come out, Sandslash!" As soon as the bearded man finished speaking, he threw out his Poké Balls. Three Sandslash appeared, immediately panting heavily. Visible scars could be seen on their bodies, showing that they had been through a grueling battle.
"Hongzhen, back up. These three Sandslash aren't low-level." With that, the youth next to Wu Hongzhen tossed out two Poké Balls.
A Marowak and a Hitmonlee appeared.
Wu Hongzhen's Persian stayed right by his side, and he was holding a gray bag that looked very unremarkable.
Could the Serious Mint be in that gray bag? Shu Tong guessed.
The three Sandslash clashed with Marowak and Hitmonlee, yet after just a single exchange, the three Sandslash took the upper hand.
They're completely out of our league. If these three Sandslash weren't heavily injured, they'd be entirely capable of instantly killing that Marowak and Hitmonlee.
"This