Jinxi Forest

"I'll have Chimchar practice a bit today. Let's save the battle for the class assessment in a week."

Who was she kidding? Growlithe had already been training for days. There was no way Chimchar, who had only just started training, could beat it.

"Sounds good."

Huo Mengyao understood what Ye Qing was thinking. She smiled, greeted Chimchar, and continued jogging with Growlithe.

To salvage his pride as the class sports representative, the boy with glasses gave Ye Qing a few offhand pointers before slinking off after Huo Mengyao.

"Good fighting spirit. Keep using Ember."

Ye Qing ignored that ignoramus. The reason he hadn't had Chimchar use his egg moves yet was that he wanted to see just how absurdly fast a Pokémon with such high potential could learn a new move.

After many more unsuccessful attempts, Chimchar was panting with exhaustion. Just as Ye Qing was about to let him rest, he suddenly took a deep breath, puffed out his cheeks, and spat a rapid stream of flames from his mouth!

"Wah!"

As though venting his frustration, Chimchar threw back his head and cried out, flames streaming endlessly from his mouth.

The nearby students were stunned by the Gatling gun-like stream of flames. Their own Pokémon hadn't even learned Scratch yet, so how could a newborn Chimchar already use Ember?

Huo Mengyao and Growlithe couldn't help stopping in their tracks. Hadn't Growlithe only recently learned Ember himself...?

The teacher nearby was a little surprised too, but in his dozen-plus years of teaching, this wasn't all that unusual. He simply made a mental note of Ye Qing.

"Huff, huff..."

Chimchar bent over, panting heavily. That prolonged Ember had clearly taken a lot out of him.

"You did great."

Ye Qing stroked his head and fed him a Pokéblock.

"Woo!"

With the Pokéblock in his belly, Chimchar's fighting spirit soared. He clenched both fists and pounded his little chest, the flame on his rear suddenly flaring higher!

Ye Qing pointed at the tree trunk riddled with scratch marks and called, "All right, next we'll practice Fire Punch!"

Fighting spirit blazed in Chimchar's eyes as his right fist whistled through the air and slammed into the tree trunk.

But no flames appeared around his fist. Chimchar scratched his head in confusion.

Ye Qing wasn't surprised. Although Chimchar had known egg moves like Fire Punch since birth, that didn't mean he could use them right away.

Fire Punch demanded considerable muscular strength and control over Fire-type energy, and Chimchar clearly wasn't up to that standard yet.

A week passed quickly. Pokémon grew fast, and with constant training, Chimchar's body grew stronger and stronger.

That night, after he and Chimchar finished dinner, Ye Qing accompanied him to train in the garden downstairs.

Ye Qing commanded, "Use Fire Punch!"

"Wah!"

Chimchar's eyes widened as fierce flames rose around his right fist. Like a burning comet, it hurtled toward a rock in a powerful punch!

Bang!

The football-sized rock shattered under the punch. Fragments shot in all directions, striking the leaves with sharp rattles.

"That was amazing, Chimchar!"

Thrilled, Ye Qing handed Chimchar a Pokéblock as a reward.

"Woo!"

Chimchar was just as pleased with himself. He planted both hands on his hips, looking smug as could be.

Pokémon: Chimchar (Level 7)

Potential: B+

Status: healthy

Gender: male

Type: Fire

Ability: Blaze

Held item: none

Egg moves: Fire Punch, Encore, Fake Out, Quick Guard

Basic moves: Scratch, Ember

Tutored moves: none

TMs: none

Notes: Chimchar is mischievous and highly curious, but he also possesses a fierce fighting spirit and an indomitable will.

After over a week of training, Chimchar had reached level 7. He could now use all his egg moves proficiently, and even Ember, which he had only recently learned, was working properly.

Feeling his phone vibrate, Ye Qing took it out and saw that Wang Yao was calling.

"Hello? What do you want this late?"

Having finished his Pokéblock, Chimchar scrambled onto Ye Qing's shoulder, tilted his head, and pressed his ear against the back of the phone to eavesdrop.

"Something good! Why else would I call you this late?" Wang Yao's boisterous voice reached both Ye Qing and Chimchar.

"We're moving into the dorms on Monday, right? So my girlfriend and I are planning a camping trip to Jinxi Forest outside the city. We'll battle some wild Pokémon and have a little fun before we're stuck on campus."

Although Ye Qing couldn't see Wang Yao's face, he could easily hear how smug the guy was.

"Not going. You want me to be your third wheel?"

Wang Yao wasn't remotely bothered by his refusal. He drawled, "Buddy, do I look like that kind of guy? Another girl is coming too-my girlfriend's best friend. A real beauty!"

Ye Qing exchanged a glance with Chimchar on his shoulder. Seeing the fighting spirit in his eyes, he agreed with feigned reluctance. "Fine, then. Chimchar's been wanting to test himself in actual battles lately anyway."

Chimchar: "⊙(・◇・)???"

"Great!" Wang Yao said excitedly. "We'll pick you up downstairs at eight tomorrow morning. You don't need to bring anything except Chimchar!"

After hanging up, Ye Qing rubbed Chimchar's head and headed home with him.

I really didn't agree just because a pretty girl was coming.

With Pokémon living in this world, the natural environment outside the cities was well preserved, with lush vegetation and countless towering trees.

Jinxi Forest lay on the outskirts of Shanhai City and connected to a primeval forest on the far side of the mountain. Rangers regularly cleared the area, however, so there were almost no powerful Pokémon here. It was also a popular place for families to bring their children on weekends.

"Jinxi Forest? You'd better be careful, then. You're moving into the dorms any day now. Why not spend a little more time at home?"

Although Ye Qing's mother grumbled a little, she knew that getting some experience outside would benefit both her son and Chimchar. Besides, Jinxi Forest wasn't a dangerous place.

"I've packed everything you'll need for the dorms. If you're missing anything when you get there, give us a call."

"Okay. Oh, where's Dad?"

Faced with his mother's nagging, Ye Qing took a bite of his apple and quickly changed the subject.

His mother switched on the television and said casually, "His company sent him out of town to do some research."

Early the next morning.

The weather was clear, and the deep blue sky was utterly spotless.

Ye Qing brought Chimchar outside the residential complex early and waited there, warmly greeting everyone who passed.

An elderly man in a sleeveless undershirt approached, waving a palm-leaf fan. Looking at Chimchar sitting neatly on Ye Qing's shoulder, he praised him. "That's a fine Chimchar you've got there, Ye Qing. I never thought your parents would be willing to spend that much."

Ye Qing smiled and nodded, stroking Chimchar as he nibbled on a nut.

Screech-

With a piercing squeal of brakes, a Mercedes G-Class stopped at the entrance to the complex. Wang Yao rolled down the window and called warmly, "Ye Qing, hop in!"

Ye Qing took out a Great Ball. A red light flashed, and Chimchar was mercilessly recalled in an instant, leaving only a half-eaten nut hanging in midair.