Chu Xin still had no idea how to train Xiao Wu. After all, most of what he knew about Pokémon came from game stats. When it came to training real Pokémon, he was not even as good as Ash.
But Chu Xin had one advantage over Ash: he knew exactly who could help him train his Pokémon better.
Unlike Tomoya, who left Professor Oak's talents unused and treated his home as nothing more than a Pokémon storage facility, Chu Xin brought Xiao Wu and Aier to the Jindu Gym the very next day.
Although Chen Huan, the Jindu Gym's Gym Leader, seemed thoroughly unreliable, he was still a Gym Leader. Even the weakest Gym Leader had to be among the nation's top trainers. Without real strength, who would dare stand in the way of the Elite Four?
Chen Huan had to have some skills. Since he had agreed to help train Chu Xin's Pokémon, Chu Xin could not let an expert like him go to waste.
Inside the Jindu Gym, Vespiquen had just received a Pokéblock from Chen Huan and was holding it to her mouth, savoring it slowly.
"Bzz!" (It smells so good! I haven't eaten anything this delicious in ages. My life is complete!)
With Vespiquen's strength as a Gym Leader's main Pokémon, she would never have struggled to get by even as a wild Pokémon. But ever since she had joined Chen Huan, she had never known where her next meal was coming from. Apart from selling Gym Badges, the entire Jindu Gym relied on her honey for its main source of income.
Vespiquen merely licked the Pokéblock in her mouth before spitting it back out. The Combee surrounding her smelled its aroma, and every one of them drooled.
Vespiquen straightened up, assuming the imposing air of a leader.
"Bzz, bzz-bzz, bzz-bzz."
(Come on, one sniff each. No extra sniffing! We're having a feast today. We'll have Chen Huan dissolve the Pokéblock in water later, and everyone gets one lick. We're living the good life!)
Watching from nearby, Chu Xin suddenly realized that understanding Pokémon was not necessarily a good thing. Why was his confidence in the Jindu Gym wavering again? Was this really a Gym Leader's establishment?
Vespiquen finally noticed Chu Xin standing nearby. When did he get here? He didn't see that, did he?
Chu Xin sighed helplessly and gave Vespiquen a pitying look.
That is not the look of someone who saw nothing! He definitely saw it!
Vespiquen felt she could no longer bear to show her face in this world!
Chu Xin could only leave the mortified Vespiquen alone. Ignoring her was the greatest kindness he could offer right now.
As he passed closer to Vespiquen, Chu Xin crouched down and set out three Pokéblocks.
"Have a few more. Come find me if you want any. These things don't cost much."
With that, he left with Aier and Xiao Wu.
Holding the three Pokéblocks, Vespiquen looked after Chu Xin with tears welling in her eyes.
"Bzz-bzz!" (He's a good person!)
Once Vespiquen was completely out of sight, Xiao Wu poked its head out and looked at Chu Xin.
"Muu~?" (Don't they have anything to eat?)
Faced with Xiao Wu's innocent question, Chu Xin did not know how to answer. He could only reach out to stroke its head and say earnestly, "The world is complicated. There are some things you'll understand when you grow up."
At last, Chu Xin found Chen Huan with Xiao Wu in tow. As usual, Chen Huan was sitting in that familiar rocking chair, waving a fan and looking utterly relaxed.
"Well, if it isn't young Master Chu! Here to start your lessons today?"
Spotting Chu Xin from a distance, Chen Huan immediately rose from his rocking chair and gave him a fawning look.
Chu Xin did not waste words with Chen Huan. He simply pulled Xiao Wu out from behind him.
"Help me take a look. How should Xiao Wu train now?"
"A Dratini! You don't see those often. Let me have a look."
As he spoke, Chen Huan ran his hands all over Dratini's body. If Chu Xin had not explained that Chen Huan was helping with its training, Xiao Wu would have sent this lousy old man flying with a single Dragon Tail long ago.
At last, Chen Huan took his hands away. Xiao Wu immediately scrambled into Chu Xin's arms and glared at the lousy old man.
"Your Dratini's pretty shy around strangers."
"Are there any Dratini that aren't? How's my Xiao Wu doing?"
Chu Xin skipped the small talk and asked directly for the results.
Chen Huan cupped his chin.
"How should I put this? You've raised this Dratini well. It's excellent in every respect, but at this stage, training alone can't improve its strength anymore."
"Why is that?"
Chu Xin looked at Chen Huan in confusion, wanting to know the reason.
"The reason is simple. Your Dratini was only born a few months ago, right?"
Chu Xin nodded. Xiao Wu was indeed only a few months old.
Chen Huan nodded.
"That explains it. Dratini has been trained very well, but this is as far as its current potential can take it. Dragon-type monsters are certainly powerful, but they also take a long time to grow. Your Dratini is only a few months old, and its body hasn't fully developed yet. Its age limits its potential. If you want its strength to keep increasing, the best approach is to wait for it to grow."
But I can't wait!
Chu Xin shook his head helplessly. Aier had already told him all of this, but that Growlithe would be taking the Monster Tamer exam in two months. If he missed this opportunity, who knew how much longer he would have to wait!
He had promised to make Xiao Wu the strongest Pokémon. How could he let it lose to Growlithe?
"I know all that. But I came here to learn something I don't know. If you don't have a solution, there's no reason for me to keep studying at this gym."
That won't do! If he really leaves, where am I supposed to get my Pokéblocks from now on?
Chen Huan gritted his teeth. To keep his supply of Pokéblocks, he decided to show what he could really do.
"There is a way, but it's much harder."
"What way?"
Chen Huan looked at Chu Xin seriously, then gave his answer.
"Moves! As long as a monster masters a powerful move, its strength can surpass its body's limitations."
Chu Xin stared at Chen Huan. Is he going to give me a TM?
Then Chen Huan took a scale out of his pocket.
"Moves are ultimately ways of using energy. By circulating energy in specific patterns, a Pokémon can perform other moves. That means your Dratini has the potential to learn new moves."
Chen Huan then placed the scale in Chu Xin's hand.
"This is the reverse scale of an Elite Four-level Dragonite. It still contains traces of that Dragonite's Dragon-type energy. Carrying it will improve Dratini's control over Dragon-type energy, making it the ideal item for your Dratini. I've really brought out my most treasured possession this time!"
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