A glimmer of understanding appeared in Ho-Oh's eyes, hidden within the flames. It opened its mouth and spat out a ball of golden fire that drifted toward Infernape!
Everyone on the ground watched in confusion, unsure what this ball of fire meant.
The Dragon Tamer's expression changed. "A blessing? Ye Qing, hurry and have your Infernape stand ready to receive the blessing!"
"A blessing? Oh, right!"
Ye Qing immediately perked up at those words and hurriedly pulled Infernape into position beneath the flames.
"Wow, I'm so jealous."
Su Yiqin excitedly clasped her hands in front of her chest. This was her first time seeing a Legendary Pokémon bestow a blessing.
In the firelight, Su Yiqin's fair, pretty face took on a faint blush, making it hard for many people to look away.
"So beautiful."
Standing a short distance away, Zhang Tuzhen stared at Su Yiqin in the firelight with a lovestruck expression, drool trickling from the corner of his mouth without him noticing.
A few people struggled with the temptation to intercept the blessing, but after looking at Ho-Oh in the night sky, they ultimately gave up.
The fist-sized ball of fire drifted slowly down from the sky and gradually sank into Infernape's head.
No one dared interrupt the process. It was not that they did not want to, but that they did not dare. If they angered Ho-Oh, they would surely die without even a place to be buried!
"Cha?"
Infernape opened his eyes, two golden flames flashing through them. He jumped up and down on the spot, trying to see what had changed about his body.
Once Ho-Oh had finished, it flapped its wings. The surrounding flames suddenly swelled, then abruptly vanished without a sound into the night sky.
"Phew."
The Dragon Tamer let out a soft breath.