Jindu Gym

After the Everstone suppressed the life energy inside Xiao Wu, training went much more smoothly. Success on the first try was still impossible, but at least Xiao Wu could finally control the energy within.

This time, Chu Xin finally recognized his shortcomings. Although he knew about Pokémon, he still fell short in many details of raising them compared with a trainer like his maid Aier, who had successfully raised a mature Pokémon. He still had to ask Aier for help from time to time during training.

I really made raising Pokémon out to be too easy.

With Aier's help, however, Xiao Wu's training progressed much faster. From being unable to control Extreme Speed at first, Xiao Wu could now finally meet Chu Xin's training requirements.

"150 seconds! Not bad, Xiao Wu. You've really gotten the hang of it!"

Xiao Wu lifted that little head with a proud expression.

"Wu!" (Of course! Just who do you think I am?)

With the Everstone keeping the life energy from causing trouble, Xiao Wu could finally complete Chu Xin's training task after a week of hard work.

Over these past few days of training, Xiao Wu's bodily control had improved greatly. Extreme Speed was no longer as stiff as it had been at first, allowing flexible changes of direction at full speed. This would make Xiao Wu much harder to hit with an opponent's moves in battle.

If Xiao Wu battled that Growlithe again now, its Flamethrower definitely would not stop Xiao Wu so easily!

Thinking of how Chu Xin had stayed close throughout these past few days, Xiao Wu happily sidled up to him and rubbed a head against him.

Chu Xin stroked Xiao Wu's head, feeling a little moved. Pokémon truly were incredible creatures. They were so pure-hearted that once they formed a bond with a trainer, they devoted themselves wholeheartedly to that person.

As long as their trainers did not abandon them, Pokémon would never leave their side!

Looking at the fresh injuries Xiao Wu had received during training, Chu Xin could not help feeling a pang of heartache.

"You did very well, Xiao Wu. Let's give you a day off next. Constant training isn't good for you either. Balancing work and rest is the best way to train."

At Chu Xin's words, Xiao Wu jumped up happily.

A day off! I'm going to have loads of fun these next few days and make up for everything I missed because of training!

Watching Xiao Wu's excitement, Chu Xin scratched his head helplessly. He had not expected a day off to hold such an enormous appeal for Xiao Wu. Just like a little kid.

But while Xiao Wu had a day off, he could not simply take one himself as a trainer. Chu Xin planned to go out, buy a few things, and learn something new. After all, he still had a long way to go compared with Aier.

His father had a branch office in nearby Jindu. Although Jindu was not a particularly prosperous city by national standards, it was enough for Chu Xin. He could buy what he needed there, and it was close enough to spare him much trouble.

Since there would be no training tomorrow, he could wander around Jindu and see whether there was anything suitable to buy. After all, his Pokémon training still had plenty of shortcomings.

The next day, Chu Xin took the high-speed train to Jindu with his maid Aier. Feeling the train's speed, he could not help marveling. Thankfully, Donghuang in this world was just as obsessed with infrastructure. Getting around would have been a real hassle without high-speed rail.

High-speed trains really are the most convenient way to travel!

Chu Xin had not brought Xiao Wu on this trip. Although he knew Xiao Wu would not hurt anyone, this world did not yet have a Pokémon League. Pokémon were collectively called monsters, and people were still very wary of these pure-hearted creatures.

Of course, this world did have Monster Handlers. Government agencies in cities across the country conducted assessments, and only those who passed could obtain a Monster Handler license and bring Pokémon with them.

He had to admit that this system had its advantages. At the very least, Donghuang would not produce a powerful villainous organization like Team Rocket from the Pokémon anime. There was no need to worry about Pokémon hunters snatching away his Pokémon, since all Monster Handlers were under state supervision.

Xiao Wu had been very sad about being left behind this time and had eaten far more Pokéblocks at dinner that evening, turning sorrow and frustration into an appetite.

Fortunately, Aier had a Monster Handler license, so she could bring Garchomp along to accompany Chu Xin and keep him safe.

Jindu certainly was a major city. Even if it was not a top-tier city like Magic City or Capital City, it still had everything it should. Chu Xin soon bought the exercise equipment he needed at the city's monster training center. With this equipment, Xiao Wu's training would become more efficient.

Aier arranged to have the equipment shipped back to the villa. Chu Xin had one more objective next: finding Jindu's Gym.

Jindu naturally had a Gym, being one of the country's major cities. Gyms were places every trainer had to pass through, as well as obstacles along Chu Xin's Victory Road. However, he was not going there to challenge it this time. After all, he did not have a single Pokémon with him.

Chu Xin's purpose in visiting the Gym this time was to learn how to raise Xiao Wu. A Gym was a Gym, after all, especially Jindu's, which had nearly a century of history-a rarity even in the Ancient Donghuang Kingdom. Jindu was renowned for its cultural relics, so presumably its century-old Gym had also preserved methods of raising Pokémon. Chu Xin hoped to learn some Pokémon training knowledge on this visit.

At last, Chu Xin arrived at the Jindu Gym. It was not much different from the country's other Gyms, though its traditional-style buildings suited the character of the Ancient Donghuang Kingdom quite well.

Chu Xin reached out and touched a pillar by the Gym entrance. Huh, I didn't expect it to actually be solid wood!

"Don't go touching things, kid. These are all cultural relics. No leaving any 'I was here' marks."

An elderly man knocked Chu Xin's hand away with a fan. Wearing a straw hat and lazily fanning himself, he spoke to Chu Xin in an unhurried tone.

"This is a cultural relic?"

The old man glared at Chu Xin, then nodded.

"That's right. This pillar is older than your parents' ages put together. If you've got nothing to do here, go play somewhere else."

A little stunned, Chu Xin looked at Aier. She knew exactly what he was wondering and nodded helplessly.

"Yes, this Gym has over a hundred years of history. Experts have also authenticated it as a cultural relic. The gentleman is right."

The old man looked at Aier and nodded.

"You know your stuff, young lady. There isn't an older Gym anywhere in the country. All those others are shoddy concrete jobs built later. How could they compare with a genuine cultural relic like this?"