All in all, Vulpix had absolutely crushed it that night! The performance even caught the attention of the people in the high-level matches on the other side.
The middle-aged Trainer with the Salamence watched Hu Bin and Vulpix with a faint smile. "Quite impressive. Interesting, very interesting."
Then Hu Bin returned to Wu Jin and Liu Yi amid everyone's admiring gazes, while Vulpix gnawed on an Ice Gem awarded by the system. Vulpix absolutely loved eating these things. Ice Gems could strengthen an Ice-type Pokémon's Ice-type moves and improve its absorption of Ice-type energy. Vulpix had long since finished the Ice Gem from the previous reward, and now that the system had given them another two, the little Pokémon's snack stash had grown again.
Wu Jin and Liu Yi stared at Hu Bin as though they were looking at a god. They couldn't help thinking, We're all Trainers, and we got our Pokémon at pretty much the same time. Why is the gap between us so huge?
Hu Bin understood what Wu Jin and Liu Yi were thinking. But I've got cheats, guys. What can I do? I'm just that infuriating.
The next day, Hu Bin dragged Liu Yi and Wu Jin out to climb the mountain and enjoy the scenery. Wu Jin was fine with it, since he liked exercise anyway, but Liu Yi was another story. He flatly refused to go. Only after Hu Bin and Wu Jin resorted to force did he reluctantly tag along.
As for Munchlax, the little Pokémon was every bit as outrageously lazy as his Trainer, Liu Yi. In the end, Vulpix had to use a charming move on him, sending little hearts into his eyes and getting him to trot eagerly after them.
West Mountain was home to a great many Pokémon. As Hu Bin and the others climbed, they saw plenty of Pokémon frolicking on the mountain, including Aipom eating Berries in the trees and Zigzagoon darting through the mountain woods.
After a great deal of effort, Hu Bin and the others finally reached the summit of West Mountain, with all of Spring City spread out beneath them. Liu Yi and Snorlax, however, had reached their limits. Both collapsed on the ground as soon as they arrived, earning thoroughly disdainful looks from Hu Bin and Wu Jin.
Hu Bin said irritably, "Your stamina is terrible. You need to get some exercise. If you keep this up, how is any girl going to fall for you?"
Wu Jin chimed in, "Exactly! You're an embarrassment!"
Panting, Liu Yi rolled his eyes. "What do you two know? I'm adorably chubby. Plenty of girls like men like me."
Hu Bin and Wu Jin rolled their eyes at that, refusing to engage with the shameless guy any further.
Vulpix and Machop looked just as disgusted.
Once Liu Yi and Munchlax had recovered their strength, Hu Bin and the others enjoyed West Mountain's beautiful scenery together.
Hu Bin and the Pokémon all clicked their tongues in admiration!
Finally, Liu Yi and Munchlax faced their greatest challenge: going back down the mountain!
This was nothing short of a disaster for Liu Yi and Munchlax. In the end, Munchlax spinelessly hid inside his Poké Ball.
He thought, All I need to do is look cute. I'll leave going down the mountain to my Trainer!
Looking utterly defeated, Liu Yi silently cursed Munchlax for abandoning him, then followed Hu Bin and the others down the mountain in despair.
By the time they reached the foot of the mountain, Liu Yi was completely done in. He couldn't muster an ounce of strength. In the end, with help from Wu Jin, Vulpix, and Machop, Hu Bin loaded all the camping gear into the car and tossed Liu Yi inside to rest while they were at it.
This time, Wu Jin drove. Liu Yi was in no state to do it, already lying in the car like an exhausted dead dog.
The drive passed in silence. Once they reached Liu Yi's house, the three of them prepared to head to their own homes. Just then, Liu Yi remembered something and spoke to Hu Bin and Wu Jin.
"Have you done your summer homework?"
At Liu Yi's words, Hu Bin and Wu Jin froze as though they had been struck by lightning.
Vulpix couldn't help wondering, What kind of terrifying thing is summer homework? Look how badly it scared my Trainer! It definitely can't taste good!
Hu Bin and Wu Jin were completely shaken. What is homework? Do I know it? Stay away from me!
Hu Bin, Wu Jin, and Liu Yi stared at one another, sinking into a long silence.
All three had sympathy in their eyes, both for their friends and for themselves. Finally, they waved, said goodbye, and left without another word. Yet their retreating figures looked bleak and helpless.
After arriving home, Hu Bin sat at his desk, took a deep breath, and picked up the homework he had forgotten about for so long. One close look nearly made him jump out of his seat.
What even is all this?! Three Thousand Questions on Pokémon History, Pokémon Language Workbook, Pokémon Physical Moves Workbook... What the hell are these?! Why don't I recognize any of it? Why does it all look so unfamiliar?!
After finishing his complaints, Hu Bin could only resign himself to his fate, pick up a workbook, and get started. His face twisted into a grimace, sweat began to bead on his forehead, and the pen in his hand failed to produce so much as a single word for ages.
Seeing her Trainer like this, Vulpix tilted her head, clearly curious about what he was doing.
Vulpix quickly jumped onto the desk and called to Hu Bin, "Vul! Vul!"
Watching Vulpix act cute on his desk, Hu Bin reached out and stroked her silky fur.
"Vulpix, this is my homework. If I don't finish it, I might be done for when school starts. Boo-hoo!"
Vulpix softly comforted her Trainer, indicating that she would stay with him until he finished.
But once Vulpix saw the densely packed words in his homework, she jumped in fright, then promptly said goodbye to Hu Bin!
"Vul! Vul!" Keep it up, Trainer! You're working so hard that little Vulpix doesn't want to disturb you. I need to study too. I'm going to watch instructional videos.
With that, Vulpix fled Hu Bin's room without a backward glance, jumped onto the living room sofa, pressed the remote, and turned on the television to start watching her shows.
Trainer, it's not that I don't want to stay with you. This baby just can't do it! Boo-hoo!
Watching Vulpix leave, Hu Bin looked even more exasperated. He could only sigh and continue facing his terrifying summer homework.
I know all these words, so why do they look so unfamiliar when they're put together?!
Just as Hu Bin was at a complete loss, the system's voice rang out. To his ears, it sounded like heavenly music. In the end, the system was still the more reliable one.
"Host, given that your idiotic learning ability is seriously interfering with your training, I have graciously prepared a Complete Compendium of High School Knowledge for you. Guaranteed to help you pass every exam and study without stress. Now available for just 5,000 points."
After hearing the system's words, which practically begged for a beating, Hu Bin took several deep breaths and suppressed his irritation. What choice did he have when he was feeling so lonely and helpless?
In the end, Hu Bin paid the system 5,000 points and redeemed the compendium. The knowledge was quickly transferred straight into his mind.
Now Hu Bin was back in business—and getting cocky. He glanced at the questions he hadn't understood before, smiled disdainfully, picked up his pen, and began answering at lightning speed. His hand moved so fast that his pen practically started smoking!
Finally, as night fell, Hu Bin tossed his pen aside and let out a wild laugh. "Summer homework? Is that all you've got?!"
Before you continue