Dawn once again bathed Peach Blossom Spring, but the atmosphere today was entirely different from yesterday. After swearing brotherhood, Chen Yu, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei seemed to have broken through the last barrier between them, growing closer than ever. A bond called "family" quietly took root in this secluded valley.
After a simple morning workout and washing up, Chen Yu gathered his three brothers. Sitting together on a smooth boulder beside the stream, they began their first official "Peach Blossom Spring meeting."
"Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother." As their de facto leader and planner, Chen Yu spoke first, his gaze sweeping over the three. "Peach Blossom Spring is a fine place, but it is certainly not somewhere for us to hide from the world and enjoy ourselves. This is the foundation of our rise, and we must develop it properly. There are several urgent matters we need to address immediately."
Liu Bei nodded solemnly. "You're absolutely right, Eldest Brother. Since we have set our sights high, we cannot afford to slack off. Whatever plans you have, please share them."
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei also listened intently.
Chen Yu held up three fingers. "First, shelter. Our three wooden huts are only a start. We need to reinforce and expand them, and build essential facilities such as a storehouse, a kitchen, and even grounds for future training. This concerns the very basis of our survival."
"Second, food. The valley is rich in resources, but living off what is here without replenishing it is no long-term solution. We need to gather, fish, hunt, and raise livestock according to a plan. We should also try clearing small plots of land to plant some easy-to-grow crops and become partly self-sufficient."
"Third, and most importantly, strength." Chen Yu's tone grew emphatic. "The four of us have gained divine powers, but we are still at the initial stage. We urgently need systematic training and practice working together, so we can master and improve this power as soon as possible. At the same time, the four of us alone are too few and too weak. If we want to accomplish anything, we must recruit more trustworthy companions who share our goals."
Liu Bei agreed wholeheartedly. "You've considered everything, Eldest Brother. Shelter and food are the foundations of our livelihood. Strength is the means by which we defend ourselves and advance. As for recruiting companions in particular, the Flower Country is corrupt, and its people lead difficult lives. There must be many displaced youths with a sense of justice, just like us. But..." He paused, looking slightly worried. "How do we judge their character and ensure their loyalty? And this matter of bestowing divine powers is no small thing. If word gets out, I fear it could bring a terrible disaster."
Chen Yu smiled faintly and pointed to his head. "Don't worry, Second Brother. My 'Source of Mythical Pokémon' ability has its own way of sensing other people's character and even their potential. Unless someone is as sincere, loyal, brave, and exceptionally promising as you three, I won't bestow power lightly. As for secrecy, until we have enough strength to protect ourselves, this will be our highest secret, known only to our core brothers. We can observe and train newly recruited companions at first. Once the time is right, we can consider granting them some relatively ordinary 'Mythical Pokémon' powers, making them the backbone of our lower ranks."
This explanation was reasonable, demonstrating Chen Yu's control while also accounting for the risks. After hearing it, Liu Bei and the other two had no more doubts.
"Then let's do it!" Zhang Fei rubbed his hands together eagerly. "Building houses, finding food, fighting, training-old Zhang here is good at all of it!"
Guan Yu nodded as well. "We'll follow your arrangements, Eldest Brother. Training cannot wait."
With their plans settled, the four immediately divided up the work.
Zhang Fei mainly handled physical labor, continuing to fell trees and smooth building materials. His brute strength was put to full use. Guan Yu, meticulous and skilled with his hands, took charge of assembling and reinforcing the houses' frames. His delicate control over airflow could even help him assess the timber's load-bearing capacity and the structures' stability. Liu Bei put his approachable nature to use, taking Chen Yu on a thorough exploration of the valley, marking edible plants and medicinal herbs, and planning areas for future fields.
While helping Liu Bei, Chen Yu also began experimenting with his newly awakened power of Arceus-[Life Creation]. He found a small patch of relatively fertile soil, focused his mind, and slowly channeled that faint power of creation into a few wild fruit seeds he had casually collected.
Something miraculous happened! Under Liu Bei's astonished gaze, the seeds broke through the soil and sprouted at a speed visible to the naked eye. Although their growth slowed afterward, it was already several times faster than natural growth!
"Eldest Brother, this... this is one of your abilities too?" Liu Bei asked in delighted surprise.
Chen Yu nodded, his face somewhat pale. Clearly, the ability took a considerable toll. "Yes. This is one application of my foundational power. It's still very weak, but given time, it will be a great help in making us self-sufficient." He realized that this ability could not only accelerate plant growth, but seemingly improve the plants to some extent as well. Its level was simply too low for the effect to be obvious yet.
Meanwhile, Chen Yu also kept an eye on the system interface. Unsurprisingly, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei's loyalty remained locked at 100% (unwavering loyalty). Beneath their templates, progress indicators resembling experience bars had appeared, displaying [Awakening: 1%]. Clearly, training and using their abilities could increase their Awakening.
Over the next few days, Peach Blossom Spring bustled with activity. The houses were reinforced, and they built a simple roofed kitchen and a storehouse for tools and food. Through sheer brute strength, Zhang Fei even hauled boulders from upstream and piled them into a simple dam, creating a deeper reservoir that would make drawing water easier and might support aquaculture in the future.
They did not neglect their training either. Every morning, the four practiced basic physical combat together, honing their bodies. Afterward, each explored and trained his own abilities.
Liu Bei sat cross-legged deep within the peach grove, guiding the breath of life and attempting to communicate with plants. He also gained an initial grasp of a faint healing light that could accelerate the healing of minor wounds.
Guan Yu practiced footwork and hand-to-hand combat in an open space. His movements grew increasingly elusive, and the wind pressure behind his punches and kicks gradually strengthened. He could even glide briefly over a short distance.
Zhang Fei became obsessed with developing his strength, pounding boulders with flaming hands and stamping on the earth, trying to unleash a more powerful Fissure and shatter rock with a single punch.
Chen Yu focused on controlling and restoring the power of Arceus, and began asking Guan Yu to teach him some basic combat techniques. He knew full well that his own strength was the foundation of everything.
During this time, Chen Yu also quietly left Peach Blossom Spring alone once or twice. Relying on his exceptional alertness and ability to sense danger, he slipped back to the outskirts of Bluestone Town to investigate. News of Wang Wu and the others being injured by a mysterious youth seemed to have been suppressed and had caused little stir. After all, gang fights were commonplace in the Flower Country. Yet this only made Chen Yu more wary. It suggested that the forces behind the matter might run deep, or that the other side was preparing greater retaliation.
One day, when Chen Yu returned to Peach Blossom Spring from outside town again, he brought back news-and a person.
"Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, I'm back." Chen Yu looked somewhat grave. Behind him followed a boy who appeared to be about thirteen or fourteen. His clothes were even more ragged than Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei's had been when they first met. He was covered in dust, and his face was bruised, but his eyes were exceptionally clear and bright, revealing an unyielding resilience. Most striking of all, even in this condition, he still stood straight and tall, like a green pine amid wind and snow.
"Eldest Brother, who is this?" Liu Bei approached and asked with concern.
Before Chen Yu could introduce him, the boy stepped forward and cupped his fist in greeting to Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. His voice was clear, though tinged with fatigue. "I am Zhao Yun of Shizhuang Town. Thank you, righteous gentlemen, for taking me in!"
Zhao Yun!
Chen Yu was shaken to his core! Almost simultaneously, the system notification sounded:
[Highly compatible potential recipient detected!] [Unit: Zhao Yun (compatibility: 98%; recommended template: Reshiram)]
It really was him! Zhao Yun of Changshan, one of the Five Tiger Generals! He had actually appeared in the Flower Country too, and in such dire straits!
Chen Yu suppressed his excitement and explained, "I found him outside town being pursued by a band of thugs. It seemed he had refused to submit to a gang and escaped after being injured. Seeing his exceptional fighting skills and unyielding character, I stepped in to help and brought him back."
As it turned out, Zhao Yun had originally come from a remote village in the Flower Country. When a gang extorted his hometown, he stood up to them, only to bring disaster upon it. The village was destroyed, and he wandered here alone, never expecting to be hunted down again in Bluestone Town for refusing to join a local gang.
After hearing Zhao Yun's account, Zhang Fei roared in fury, "Those damned scoundrels again! They've gone too far!"
A cold glint flashed through Guan Yu's long, narrow eyes. He was clearly truly enraged.
Liu Bei, his face full of sympathy, stepped forward to help Zhao Yun up. "Brother Zhao, there's no need for such ceremony. Please, rise. It is only right for those who suffer in this world to help one another. If you don't mind, Peach Blossom Spring can be your refuge."
Looking at the four youths before him, each with an extraordinary bearing and sincere eyes, and feeling the peace and tranquility of the valley, Zhao Yun felt warmth well up within him. His eyes reddened slightly, and he bowed deeply once more. "I have spent half my life adrift. Today, you righteous gentlemen have saved me. I am willing to serve you in any way I can!"
Chen Yu looked at Zhao Yun, then at Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, his heart surging with heroic ambition. Three of the Five Tiger Generals were already gathered here! And Zhao Yun's compatibility was as high as 98%, second only to Guan Yu's. His recommended template was none other than Reshiram, the embodiment of "truth"!
The gears of fate had already begun to turn faster.
He believed that with Zhao Yun's arrival, and with more "famous historical generals" gathering in the future, Peach Blossom Spring would no longer be merely a refuge. It would become a spark that set the entire Flower Country, and even the whole West Blue, ablaze!
However, Chen Yu also knew that Bluestone Town's gangs would never let the matter rest. Zhao Yun's arrival might become the fuse that drew their hidden enemies into the open.
The peaceful Peach Blossom Spring was about to face its first real test.
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