After waking up, Xin Mu watched another movie called "Steel Tyranitar vs. Mutant Duraludon." There wasn't much to say about the plot. It was thoroughly clichéd.
An evil organization's serum caused Duraludon to mutate and grow enormous. Tyranitar fought it and was injured, then finally mechanized its own body and used Dynamax to become a steel giant.
Plot aside, the special effects were pretty good. They definitely hadn't been outsourced for five thousand yuan, and it was a decent way to pass the time.
A movie's budget should be spent on the movie itself. The general had spoken the truth.
When the train's announcement sounded at Tianfu East Station, the rather lengthy journey finally ended. A wave of heat hit them, making their throats feel tight.
"It's so hot..."
Unlike the dry heat back home, the heat here was humid, leaving them feeling sticky all over.
"Meow... (It really is...)"
Even the leaves on Meownei's body drooped a little. She didn't particularly like this temperature either, but just then, she suddenly remembered Zhang Lin using Weavile as an air conditioner at the food court outside school.
Meownei couldn't learn a move like Icy Wind, but she did know an Ice-type move.
"Meow~ (Wait, I have an idea.)"
Their business-class seats had come with food and drinks provided by the high-speed train service, so the few bottles of water they had brought were still untouched.
After finding those bottles, Meownei tossed them into the air one after another like a magician, then carefully controlled her strength and gently used Triple Axel.
Three bottles of water flew through the air in succession. By the time they fell back down, a layer of frost had formed on them. Meownei then picked up the bottles and gave them a tap, and the mineral water, affected by Ice-type energy, froze solid.
"Meow~ (Ice water~)"
While using this special method to make ice water to cool Xin Mu down, Meownei also temporarily shifted herself into an Ice-type state. The conversion of energy inside her brought a feeling of coolness right through to her core, greatly easing her discomfort from the heat.
"Where did you learn that trick?"
"Meow~ (I watched a science experiment on the phone while you were asleep~)"
"Great job. Let's go find Mr. Liu first, then meet up with the school team."
Xin Mu realized he seemed to have underestimated Meownei's ability to learn. With her usual strength, bursting a water bottle with a kick would have been easy. He hadn't expected her to apply what she had learned and turn a physical attack move into a refrigerator.
The train platform was packed with travelers, and quite a few had lit cigarettes between their fingers. It looked as though they had been desperate for a smoke on the high-speed train.
The drifting cigarette smoke made Xin Mu frown. He found a spot upwind and waited until most of the crowd had left before heading toward their meeting point.
When Xin Mu saw Old Liu again, he was stretching, occasionally thumping his lower back. It was clear that the journey hadn't been easy on him.
"Ah, I'm getting old. Back when I was young, I took an old green train straight to the Donghuang Plateau. Two whole days, and I was in a hard seat, too. Now I can't even last a single day."
Old Liu was reminiscing about his youth. Whether it had really been that effortless was another question, but Xin Mu was willing to call anyone who could endure forty-eight hours in a hard seat a true warrior.
At least the second-class seats on a high-speed train could recline. The seats on those old green trains sacrificed ergonomics for passenger capacity to such an extent that they achieved the remarkable feat of being uncomfortable no matter how you sat.
"Next year, you won't have to suffer like this, Mr. Liu. Unless something unexpected happens, the school team should be able to reimburse your expenses next year."
Xin Mu handed Old Liu a bottle of freshly chilled mineral water, offering him something of a promise.
"You certainly sound confident."
"Of course. Even if my opponent is just like me, they'll still have a hard time beating Meownei."
"That's true... When you catch a large Flying-type Pokémon, remember to tell me. I'll take you to get a license."
If the school team covered his expenses, he wouldn't have to save money by traveling second class anymore. Still, things would have been even easier if Xin Mu hadn't been so averse to flying.
"What license?"
"A flying license. Flying Pokémon can travel between regions, but private individuals have to file an application to do it. It's like those drones you youngsters play with. There are restrictions on routes and flight zones.
"Arcanine can run on the expressway, and Dragonite and the like have designated flight routes, too... We'll get into the details when the time comes."
There were a fair number of Pokémon capable of carrying a person in flight, but finding one that suited him and had enough carrying capacity and stamina wouldn't be easy.
"Let's head to the hotel and meet up with them first. Then you can go have dinner with them."
"Aren't you coming, sir?"
"No, I need some time to recover first."
All Old Liu wanted now was to find a hotel, lie down properly, and get some sleep. Nothing else mattered.
After confirming the address where they would be staying, Old Liu motioned for Xin Mu to book a car.
Well, if he booked it himself, he might not get reimbursed.
Before long, a black-and-white sedan with a few green accents pulled into the rideshare pickup area. It looked as though the driver had put the wrap on the car himself.
"Sir, are there a lot of pandas around here?"
It had already been dark when they got off the train. Through the car window, Xin Mu spotted quite a few figures that looked like Pancham.
Some followed behind people, while others were being carried in their arms, making it hard for him to tell whether they were panda plushies or actual Pokémon.
"Yep, the biggest breeding center is here. I have a Pancham at home, too, but they're actually not suited to being a starter Pokémon.
"Just like their name suggests, they're too mischievous. You need some experience."
"But I see quite a lot of them around."
"Well, they're cute. Same as huskies. Those things tear your house apart, but loads of people still keep them, don't they? Pancham aren't too bad, actually. The real trouble starts after they evolve."
At that point, the driver glanced at Meownei in the back seat. Seeing her sitting there so quietly seemed to leave him a little wistful.
"Pancham are just mischievous. A pat on the head will calm them down. Once they evolve, though, it's a different story.
"They might look soft and cuddly now, but after evolving, they can flip a car over. That's why Everstones sell just as well as Poké Balls around here."
Compared with Pancham, Pangoro also lived up to their name in temperament: hotheaded and impulsive, but with a bold, generous side as well. They were trustworthy companions, too.
But unless you had raised one from childhood, you would have to spar with a Pangoro using your fists if you wanted to catch it.
"So, around here, do you..."
"No. Who actually rides a panda to school? Pancham are too small. As for Pangoro, getting one to accept your whole family isn't easy. I have seen them help take kids to and from school, but it's very rare."
Apparently, the driver had heard this question plenty of times before. He had answered it before Xin Mu even finished asking.
"If you want to try it, go to the scenic area tomorrow. They have working Pangoro there that can take you straight from the foot of the mountain to the summit. Or you could visit the grasslands. I hear they really do ride horses to school there...
"Hon, I'll head home after these next two fares!"
The driver had been quite chatty, but after taking a call midway through the trip, he switched into his local accent and started chatting about domestic matters over Bluetooth...
Before you continue