I'll Come Find You Again! (Please Keep Reading!)

Mankey felt that its status as the little tyrant of Misty Mountain had been gravely challenged. It could overlook an Eevee daring to challenge it.

After all, it had discovered after fighting that this Eevee was quite formidable. Mankey had always respected the strong.

But how did a Feebas that was nothing special dare spray Water Gun at it?

Did it think Mankey could not beat it up just because it was in the water?

Mankey let out a strange cry, its hands forming blade-like shapes as silvery-white energy gathered in its palms in an instant. A Karate Chop slashed toward the Feebas in the water.

At the critical moment, a flash of white light appeared, and an orange-red turtle-like Pokémon radiating intense heat blocked Mankey's path.

It was Torkoal, the Pokémon Xia Chen had borrowed from the young mother.

"Torkoal, those are the Mankey that kidnapped Xiao Han! Beat them up!"

Though Torkoal was slow, its reactions were anything but. It had remembered these three brazen Mankey ever since its Trainer's son had been abducted.

It had only been unable to do anything because it was too slow to catch the Mankey, who ran as soon as they snatched something.

But now, the chance for revenge was right before it. When enemies met, their eyes burned with fury.

Torkoal roared angrily, spewing a thick stream of orange-red flames from its mouth straight at the nearby Mankey.

The instantly erupting heat caused wave after wave of fiery distortion in the surrounding air.

Xia Chen was startled by the sheer force of the Pokémon move, and the blazing brightness made him shut his eyes reflexively.

But when he opened them again, the sight before him left him dumbfounded.

In front of Torkoal, the three Mankey that had been swaggering around just moments ago were now lying on the ground, charred black all over and completely unconscious.

One Eruption from Torkoal had instantly defeated all three Mankey?

Hiss—

Terrifying!

The battle ended quickly. After defeating the three Mankey in one move, Torkoal slowly crawled over to the little boy, seemingly wanting to make him feel safe.

The rescued boy did not cry or make a fuss. Instead, he solemnly bowed to Xia Chen and Eevee in thanks.

"Thank you for saving me. My, my mom will definitely repay you."

Perhaps because he had cried and shouted all the way here, the little boy's voice was somewhat hoarse.

Xia Chen smiled and added, "There's another Pokémon you need to thank."

Seeing Xia Chen blink and glance toward the stream, the boy suddenly understood. He immediately ran to the streambank to look for Feebas.

But whether it had hidden itself or left long ago, the boy found no trace of Feebas. He could only turn to Xia Chen for help.

Xia Chen gave him an encouraging look. "It's okay. Just say what you want to say to it. It'll hear you."

The little boy nodded seriously, then shouted toward the stream, "Thank you, Feebas! You're the bravest and most beautiful Pokémon I've ever seen. You're even cooler than Milotic!"

Out of sight of Xia Chen and the little boy, a Feebas's body trembled ever so slightly.

The boy's exaggerated yet innocent words touched its cold, numb soul.

Cooler than Milotic? Really?

The image of the only Milotic in these waters suddenly surfaced in its mind—that dazzling beauty which drove countless Pokémon and humans mad with obsession. It hurriedly shook its head, denying its own thought.

Really?

Of course not. Who would sincerely think a Feebas was beautiful?

Feebas laughed at itself and gazed up through the clear stream at the wider blue sky beyond.

But who would not want to be as radiant as that Milotic, leaping from the water and sparkling beneath the sunlight?

Xia Chen looked at the still-unresponsive stream, unable to hide his disappointment. Had it truly left already?

He shook his head with a sigh. Perhaps they simply were not meant to be.

At that moment, Eevee bit the hem of his pants, shook its head gently, and twitched an ear toward a spot in the stream.

It hasn't left?

Xia Chen communicated with Eevee through his eyes.

Eevee nodded.

Hope rekindled in Xia Chen's heart, and his thoughts began to stir again. Then why was it hiding instead of coming out?

Shyness? Or... inferiority?

Xia Chen did not jump to conclusions. After thinking for a moment, he walked over to the little boy, who was feeling a little sad from receiving no response. Xia Chen crouched down and rubbed his hair.

"Don't be sad. It definitely heard you. It's just too embarrassed to come out after being praised so much. And what you said was absolutely right. Beauty of the heart is far more important than beauty on the outside."

The little boy's eyes instantly lit up again. "Mm-hm! Uncle, that was so well said. I'm definitely going to catch a Pokémon with a beautiful heart someday."

Xia Chen replied with a smile, "Great minds think alike. Big brother feels the same way, which is why I really want to catch that Feebas."

The little boy drew out an "Oh," then turned toward the stream and shouted, "Feebas, did you hear that? Uncle said he wants to catch you! I think you two, a beautiful-hearted person and Pokémon, are a perfect match! Come out quickly!"

Xia Chen's face darkened. The kid was doing a decent job wingmanning for him, but—

How could he make this brat call him big brother instead?

Feebas heard the conversation between Xia Chen and the boy perfectly clearly, including Xia Chen's wish to catch it.

But the inferiority carved into its bones still made it hesitate.

Catch me?

Is he joking?

Even if he had a Prism Scale, he surely would not lack Feebas.

It was slow-witted and untalented. Among all the Feebas in these waters, it was utterly unremarkable, having long since withdrawn from the competition for the next Prism Scale.

He could easily find a more talented Feebas.

But their words sounded so sincere.

Perhaps this truly was a chance to change its life?

Feebas struggled internally without end. Finally, after a fierce battle of thoughts, it decided to speak with Xia Chen face-to-face.

But just as it was about to surface, approaching footsteps startled the sensitive Feebas into shrinking back beneath the water. It then fled downstream in panic.

In the end, it heard only a woman crying, along with the little boy saying, "Mom, you scared away all my lifesavers!"

And then there was that voice it would never forget.

"Feebas, I'll come back here tomorrow at this time to find you!"

Come find me tomorrow?

Hmph, who would believe that?

Men's mouths are lying ghosts!

Accompanied by the forest ranger, the group returned to the Pokémon Center in the scenic area.

Although Eevee's injuries were not serious, its physical strength had been heavily depleted, and it was resting in the ward.

The little boy lay in the bed beside it. After such a thrilling ordeal, he soon fell into a deep sleep.

Xia Chen, whose stamina had been nearly exhausted, took the last bed in the Pokémon ward and received an IV drip of some nutrient solution that was probably similar to glucose.

The young mother had forced this on him. In truth, what he wanted more was to take Eevee home and enjoy a meal he had cooked himself.

Beside the hospital beds, the young mother sat on a chair between Xia Chen and the little boy. Sometimes she gently stroked her son, and sometimes she turned to chat with Xia Chen.

It made Xia Chen and the boy look like her two sons.

Xia Chen had already been lying in bed with the IV for an hour. He felt that staying here while he was perfectly fine was simply a waste of life.

"Um... ma'am, I'm a little hungry. How about I head back first?"

Although he had learned during their conversation that the woman was named Jiang Qian, calling her by name directly would obviously be impolite. Calling her big sister or auntie did not seem suitable either.

So Xia Chen chose a foolproof form of address and tactfully tried to say goodbye.

"Our car will be here to pick us up soon. It'll definitely be faster than you going back on your own, so please Endure a little longer, young man. Besides, the scenic area still hasn't given us an explanation."

Jiang Qian smiled faintly, brushing back her hair as she gave an impeccable response.

Xia Chen could only give up.

A soft knock sounded outside the ward. After the young mother coolly said, "Come in," the door was pushed open.

The visitor was a middle-aged man with an oily face and a flattering smile plastered across it.

"Hello, esteemed guests. My name is Wang Fang, and I am the person in charge of the Misty Mountain Scenic Area. I've come to discuss compensation with you both."

(Please, everyone, could you tap through one more page~)

Let me recommend a friend's book~ It has a similar premise, so feel free to check it out.