After a simple lunch, Xinhai sat on an old tree root, leaning against the trunk with his eyes closed as he listened to the sounds of the forest.
The rustle of the canopy in the wind, the murmur of a distant stream, and the occasional calls of unknown bird Pokémon wove together into a soft, dense net that wrapped the entire forest in a peaceful, relaxed atmosphere.
Eevee lay across Xinhai's lap, its little head resting on its front paws. Its large brown eyes were half-lidded, and its fluffy tail lay over Xinhai's wrist, occasionally giving it a light brush.
Gardevoir sat beside Xinhai, her red eyes quietly watching the branches and leaves swaying in the breeze, a faint smile on her lips.
Mightyena lay at the edge of the camp, its ears still pricked, though its posture was far more relaxed than when they had first entered the forest. Its tail occasionally gave the ground a soft tap.
That afternoon, Xinhai took a walk around the area.
Traces of all kinds of wild Pokémon could be seen throughout the forest—Poochyena and Zigzagoon paw prints were scattered across the damp soil, some tree trunks bore claw marks near their roots, and several fruit trees had gnawed Berry cores strewn beneath them.
At one point, he even spotted a Zangoose drinking by a stream behind a thicket.
The Zangoose was not particularly large. Its grayish-white fur gleamed silver beneath the sunlight. Hearing movement, it raised its head and gave Xinhai a wary glance before darting into the bushes and vanishing.
As evening fell, Blaziken used Fire-type energy to ignite the dry wood Xinhai had piled up. The flames crackled, casting a warm yellow glow through the forest.
Xinhai took ingredients from his Spatial Backpack and set a small pot over the