The group discussed for a while and finally decided to stay overnight in the forest, to experience camping in the wild.
They found a spot and started setting up tents. It had to be said that Xia Hu Nao was a seasoned traveler, as he had a large tent in his backpack. However, it was rather awkward that while he had a big tent, he didn't have a sleeping bag in his bag.
Xia Hu Nao sighed, "I meant to buy a sleeping bag when I was in Man Ying Lang, but even after returning to Ming Long Country, my sleeping bag is still on its way."
Never mind, if he didn't have one, he didn't. Although the temperature had dropped this month, it wasn't to the point where he needed to wrap himself in a sleeping bag for warmth.
After dinner, the group sat around chatting. People could be a bit more well-behaved when they were busy, but once they had nothing to do, they tended to stir up trouble. Take Zhang Hong, for example. While Yu Ting Yun wasn't paying attention to him, he quietly sidled up to Yu Long Du and said, "Brother-in-law, how about you cooperate with me?"
"What for?" Yu Long Du glanced at him calmly. Usually, at times like these, it meant trouble.
"Let's tell ghost stories and scare Ting Yun into my arms."
Yu Long Du looked at Zhang Hong. Although the Yu family had investigated Zhang Hong thoroughly and felt that he was at least a person they could entrust their sister to for now, Yu Long Du still felt a bit awkward about his sister being scared into another man's arms.
Seeing that Yu Long Du didn't agree, Zhang Hong decisively decided to pay a price. "How about this, if you help me achieve this, I'll build you a brand new battle simulator?"
Yu Long Du thought for a moment and quietly gave a thumbs-up next to his leg. "Deal."
Although Yu Ting Yun was distracted by Shen Yu, playing with a Whimsicott with Shen Yu, Xia Hu Nao was restless. He immediately spotted Zhang Hong and Yu Long Du plotting something. Xia Hu Nao smiled slightly. "Interesting, very interesting. How could I not get involved?"
Zhang Hong clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. "Say, we're all free, why don't we tell ghost stories?"
Xia Hu Nao quickly guessed Zhang Hong's intentions. His eyes rolled, and he said, "Sure, in Man Ying they have courage-testing events in the summer. It'd be nice for us to tell ghost stories in the autumn."
Shen Yu tugged at Xia Hu Nao's clothes. "Are we, are we really going to tell ghost stories?"
Xia Hu Nao dotingly stroked Shen Yu's head. "What's wrong? Don't be scared, I'm here."
Having decided to tell ghost stories, everyone lit a bonfire and sat in a circle. Zhang Hong's original plan was for Xia Hu Nao, then Shen Yu, Yu Long Du, himself, and finally Yu Ting Yun to sit in that order. That way, when the ghost story reached its climax, he could directly have Yu Ting Yun fall into his arms. If that didn't work, he could always reach out and pull Yu Ting Yun into his embrace.
However, with Xia Hu Nao's meddling, the seating arrangement changed. To Xia Hu Nao's left were Zhang Hong, Yu Long Du, Yu Ting Yun, and finally Shen Yu.
Zhang Hong, caught between two men, was in constant danger of being "forced into an embrace." He was quite displeased that Xia Hu Nao had foiled his plan. Xia Hu Nao glanced at Zhang Hong and said, "What's wrong? Are you unhappy sitting between me and your brother-in-law? You can say it, I won't listen anyway."
As he spoke, Xia Hu Nao walked over to Zhang Hong. "Are you that stupid, boy? Such an obvious seating arrangement, do you think Yu Ting Yun is stupid?"
Zhang Hong realized that yes, he had proposed telling stories and had placed Yu Ting Yun next to himself. Any fool would know what he was thinking. Although he and Yu Ting Yun were already in a relationship, doing this could easily anger Yu Ting Yun.
While Zhang Hong was caught off guard, Xia Hu Nao gave Yu Long Du a wink, and Yu Long Du nodded imperceptibly. Yu Long Du didn't want Yu Ting Yun to be immediately embraced by Zhang Hong, but he also didn't want to lose the bribe Yu Long Du had offered. However, with Xia Hu Nao's interference, everything was perfect. Yu Long Du not only protected Yu Ting Yun but could also continue to receive bribes from Zhang Hong. It was truly a happy and auspicious occasion.
The group sat in a circle and began telling ghost stories. Yu Ting Yun reached out and held Shen Yu's hand, seemingly not a fan of the ghost story session. Seeing everyone seated, Xia Hu Nao eagerly raised his hand. "Since that's the case, I'll tell the first story. It happened when I was in Man Ying."
Yu Long Du was surprised. He knew most of what had happened to Xia Hu Nao in Man Ying, with the exception of things even Lian Mu Zhi Shui didn't know, like what happened between Xia Hu Nao and Mei. And he was going to tell ghost stories?
Xia Hu Nao cleared his throat. "That day..."
Xia Hu Nao's story wasn't very long, only a few minutes. But Yu Long Du and the others looked at Xia Hu Nao, who didn't look scared at all. Yu Ting Yun quietly asked Shen Yu, "Sister Yu, is this a ghost story?"
Shen Yu shook her head. "I don't think it's a ghost story."
Compared to Yu Ting Yun and Shen Yu who were speaking softly, Zhang Hong was more direct. "Boss Xia, are you sure this is a ghost story?"
Xia Hu Nao looked as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Of course, it's a story about my Shedinja and Gengar. Why wouldn't it be a ghost story?"
As soon as Xia Hu Nao finished speaking, the four people around them shivered. It turned out that in the pitch-black wilderness, telling a bad joke and telling a ghost story could sometimes have similar effects.
Seeing that no one was scared, Xia Hu Nao said, "Alright, alright, I'll be serious and tell you all some proper ghost stories. It was decades ago..."
Although Xia Hu Nao wasn't very good at telling ghost stories, with the system's help, it was no problem for him to make up a ghost story, let alone put on a full play.
Xia Hu Nao was only halfway through this story when the horror atmosphere began to build. Xia Hu Nao looked left and right, and when he glanced behind Zhang Hong, he froze. "Zhang, Zhang, Zhang Hong, you, you behind you..."
Xia Hu Nao stammered as he dragged his feet backward. Yu Long Du, standing nearby, also stared wide-eyed at what was behind Zhang Hong. Even the two girls sitting opposite the three boys were trembling. Zhang Hong looked at their reaction and seemed to have a premonition. But he still tried to appear calm. "It's, it's nothing. I've seen it before, someone used a Mimikyu to encounter a ghost."
Xia Hu Nao shakily picked up a burning stick. "Zhang Hong, is that Mimikyu yellow or green?"
Zhang Hong smiled. "Of course it's yellow. Where would there be..."
As he spoke, Zhang Hong suddenly stopped. "Boss Xia, this thing behind me..."
Yu Long Du pointed behind Zhang Hong. "It's green, a sickly green, and it's floating in mid-air."
Zhang Hong stiffly turned his head and indeed saw a sickly green face behind him, with waves of chilling wind blowing towards him.
Zhang Hong slowly swallowed and then turned to run, a burst of speed carrying him over the bonfire they had lit, right into Yu Ting Yun's arms. "Ting Yun, save me! There's a ghost!"
Seeing Zhang Hong jump into Yu Ting Yun's arms, everyone had strange expressions. Yu Long Du's face was particularly grim. He had intended to stop Zhang Hong from embracing his sister, but this turn of events completely reversed it, with Zhang Hong ending up in his sister's arms. What kind of karma was this?
Xia Hu Nao walked over and patted Zhang Hong's shoulder. "Alright, alright. You're a big lump of weight crashing into a girl's arms, shouldn't you consider her feelings?"
Yu Ting Yun also pushed Zhang Hong. "Get down quickly, everyone is watching."
Seeing that no one else was scared, Zhang Hong realized what had happened. He quickly got up from Yu Ting Yun's arms. The sickly green face was still floating there. "Boss Xia, what is that thing?"
Xia Hu Nao clapped his hands. "Alright, Shedinja, turn off the light and come over. You did a great job."
Shedinja turned off the halo on its head and floated over lazily. Xia Hu Nao took out a Poké Ball and recalled Shedinja. "Seriously, Zhang Hong, you instigated everyone to tell ghost stories, but you yourself were scared out of your wits. That's unreasonable."
Although Zhang Hong's actions were a bit, well, quite embarrassing, being held by Yu Ting Yun was worth it. Zhang Hong, who had been somewhat annoyed, took a deep breath. "I'm willing to. I'm looking forward to watching horror movies with Ting Yun when we get back."
Xia Hu Nao and Shen Yu said in unison, "Talk about it after you move out."
Zhang Hong pulled Yu Ting Yun up. "Boss Xia, what if I'm scared of ghosts? Aren't you?"
Hearing Zhang Hong turn the blame on him, Xia Hu Nao spread his hands and smiled. "Scared, of course I'm scared. Not only am I scared, but my reaction is even more extreme than yours."
As he spoke, Xia Hu Nao felt a cold wind suddenly blow from behind him, right on the back of his head. Goosebumps erupted all over Xia Hu Nao, and he directly threw a Poké Ball onto the ground, rolling forward himself. "Quaxly, Dark Pulse!"
A Dark Pulse flew out precisely, missing Yu Long Du's head, who had been feeling the cold wind just moments ago. Fortunately, Yu Long Du was agile enough and rolled to the side, avoiding any fatal injuries.
Xia Hu Nao patted his chest. "Damn it, you scared me too. If that was a Water Shuriken just now, your head would have been split open."
Yu Long Du got up and brushed the dirt off himself. "You just said your reaction was extreme, who knew it would be this extreme?"
Everyone tidied up and sat back around the bonfire. Xia Hu Nao looked at everyone. "So, are we still telling ghost stories?"
Everyone unanimously shook their heads. "No more, no more. It's getting late, we should get some rest."