Xia Huanao dashed back to his camp with the Pickpocket Cat, only to realize upon arrival that the Pickpocket Cat's target wasn't his camp at all; it had turned off mid-way to somewhere else.
Cursing the Pickpocket Cat under his breath, Xia Huanao thought, "Couldn't you just go straight home? Why detour in front of my camp? What am I supposed to think?"
As he was grumbling, Yu Longdu approached with a torch. "Oh, it's you. I thought it was someone else. You're back."
Xia Huanao nodded. "Yeah. Any problems?"
Yu Longdu waved a stick erratically. "Of course not. Who do you think I am? Do I look like someone who would cause problems?"
"Alright, I'm going to rest then. Go wake up Zhang Hong to take the night watch."
"No, it's this late. What's the point of waking him up? Let him sleep. We can find another excuse to torment him later."
Xia Huanao returned to sit beneath the large tree, with Guagua standing beside him, leaning against the trunk. Both closed their eyes to rest. Yu Longdu sighed. "It must be tough on you."
Once Xia Huanao closed his eyes, the world around him became quiet. Although the crackling of the fire could still be heard, it no longer bothered him. Xia Huanao could now only hear Guagua's breathing. Though he didn't quite understand why, Xia Huanao tried to synchronize his own breathing with Guagua's rhythm.
Even though Xia Huanao intentionally and unintentionally wanted to foster a better synchronization rate with Guagua, such a thing couldn't be achieved overnight. Having finally seized an opportunity, he was determined to make further progress based on his existing foundation.
In the blink of an eye, the sun rose. It was the sunlight piercing his eyes that finally pulled Xia Huanao out of his peculiar state. He shook his neck. "This is truly a marvelous state. I feel like my synchronization rate with Guagua has significantly improved."
Yu Longdu, who had been watching from the side, walked over. "How was it? That sudden special training should have been quite effective. You seemed to have entered some strange state, so I didn't disturb you."
Xia Huanao nodded. "Thank you very much."
Despite Xia Huanao's high hopes, as a system, it had to provide an accurate evaluation. "Ahem, host. While I don't wish to dampen your confidence, that so-called marvelous state of yours did not improve your synchronization rate."
Xia Huanao blinked and then asked, "System, explain yourself. What do you mean by that?"
The system chuckled. "Literally. That so-called marvelous state you felt was actually you dreaming. Yesterday, you did try to adjust your breathing and heart rate to match Guagua's at the beginning, but you only lasted less than half an hour before falling asleep. The rest of the practice never happened."
"So, it was all a dream?"
"You know it yourself, why dwell on it?"
...
During breakfast, Xia Huanao's mood was visibly sour. He ate enough for two and a half people, leaving the four at his table bewildered. This conversion of grief into appetite was detrimental to his health. Shen Yu quickly tried to console him. "Don't do that. It'll harm you."
So, what was a way to vent his emotions without harming himself? It was to direct his anger at someone else. Among the four present, Zhang Hong was the most suitable target.
Xia Huanao's lingering gaze made Zhang Hong's scalp tingle. "Hey, Big Boss Xia, why are you looking at me like that? You already have Xiao Yu, and I have Ting Yun. Let's not do this. It's not right."
Xia Huanao flung his milk carton at Zhang Hong's head. "What nonsense are you spouting? Rest for thirty minutes after eating, and I'll give you special training."
Half an hour later, Xia Huanao and Zhang Hong stood in an open space. "Zhang Hong, it's one against three. Your three Pokémon can all come out. I'll only use Guagua and guarantee not to use moves like 'Sharp Sword' or 'Flash.' Let's go."
Even though Xia Huanao promised not to use any ultimate weapons, a single Guagua was already difficult to deal with. None of Zhang Hong's three Pokémon were over level fifteen. Even with a coordinated attack, defeating one Greninja felt like a pipe dream.
"Wait, I didn't bring Niu Niu. I only brought Small Sweet Apple and Snivy. How am I supposed to fight two against one?"
Xia Huanao sat on the ground. "In that case, I'll go easy on you."
With that, Xia Huanao closed his eyes. "Come on, let's fight like this."
Seeing Xia Huanao even close his eyes, Zhang Hong's confidence surged. "Alright, Small Sweet Apple, Snivy, let's go!"
The battle was completely one-sided. Even with the type disadvantage and handicapped by fighting two against one, Guagua still won with ease.
Xia Huanao had intended to close his eyes and try to achieve a better synchronization rate or even awaken his "clear vision." However, before his special training could even begin, the battle was over.
"Ahem, host. Don't even think about 'clear vision.' You can't open your clear vision in a normal state. If you were to achieve a bond evolution with Guagua, it might be possible for Guagua to let you experience it through clear vision. As for synchronization rate, do you think you'll increase your synchronization rate by bullying children?"
Xia Huanao found this very reasonable, so he recalled Guagua. "Forget it, let's use Rockruff. The difference with Rockruff isn't that big."
Although he said that, the difference with Rockruff wasn't just "not that big," it was being utterly dominated. The fully recovered Snivy and Small Sweet Apple attacked from both sides. Although Rockruff was also a Pokémon in its teens, the numbers and type advantage were against it.
Xia Huanao gave Rockruff complete operational freedom. However, halfway through the battle, Xia Huanao couldn't help but ask, "System, what effort values will I get after winning?"
"Focus on Snivy. One point in Speed. As for Small Sweet Apple, do you think HP is useful for Lycanroc? You've already leaned towards Defense. Will leaning towards HP be useful?" 138 Reading Network
Xia Huanao thought about it. Rockruff had three evolutionary forms. Although each Lycanroc form had different strengths, increasing Speed would never be wrong. As for the remaining form, it would depend on what it evolved into.
"Rockruff, ignore Small Sweet Apple. As long as you can defeat Snivy, I'll give you extra meat for lunch today!"
Upon hearing Xia Huanao's promise of extra meat, Rockruff's eyes lit up, and it attacked Snivy as if it had been injected with stimulants. Just as Rockruff was intensifying its assault, Snivy's body suddenly burst into a white light. It was about to evolve!
Zhang Hong looked at the evolving Snivy. "Great! This way, its combat power will increase!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Xia Huanao suddenly raise his hand. A stone flew through the air and hit the just-starting-to-evolve Snivy on the head. Startled, Snivy directly stopped its evolution and retained its cute Snivy appearance.
Seeing this, Zhang Hong rushed to Xia Huanao's side. "Big Boss Xia, what are you doing? It was about to evolve. Why did you do that?"
Xia Huanao glanced at Zhang Hong. "Zhang Hong, didn't I tell you? Your Snivy relies entirely on the move 'Leaf Storm' to strengthen itself, and under normal circumstances, Snivy learns 'Leaf Storm' faster."
Zhang Hong was confused. "Is that so? Snivy can learn 'Leaf Storm' faster?"
Xia Huanao took out a notebook and scribbled. "Yes. If learning 'Leaf Storm' requires 43 years of effort for Snivy, then for Servine to learn 'Leaf Storm' would take approximately 63 years."
If Mu Zhishui were here, he would definitely understand that Xia Huanao was talking about the levels required for two different Pokémon to learn 'Leaf Storm.' But Zhang Hong's entire world turned gray. Forty years? What was the point of waiting?
Xia Huanao extended his hand. "I apologize. The previous example wasn't quite right. Servine requires three times the effort of Snivy."
Although using experience points as an example was not entirely appropriate, the impact of the blow was greater. But if Zhang Hong knew that Snivy had accumulated only one percent of the experience required for level sixty-three, he might have wanted to die.
Xia Huanao patted Zhang Hong's shoulder. "Look at your Big Boss Xia. I can evolve Guagua into Greninja in a year, which is equivalent to completing most of the effort. If you put in a year of effort at the Six Spirits Grand Tournament at this pace, you'll be almost there."
Zhang Hong thought about it. It made sense. Following Big Boss Xia, he would surely gain some benefits. Even if it took another year, he would be able to play around freely. Although he was pursuing research, he still needed a certain level of ability.
Yu Longdu, however, was more interested in how Xia Huanao had interrupted Snivy's evolution. "How did you do that just now?"
Xia Huanao stood up and picked up the stone he had thrown earlier. "This is an Everstone. It possesses the power to inhibit evolution. Using this item's ability combined with a sudden shock can pause a Pokémon's evolution and revert its state. However, it's safer to have the Pokémon that needs to inhibit evolution wear an Everstone."
Yu Longdu took the stone. "Is that so? An Everstone like this? The world is truly full of wonders."
Zhang Hong hugged Snivy. "Alright, brother-in-law, stop looking. Give this stone to Snivy. It's just an Everstone, right? Your Yu family must have plenty."
Xia Huanao shook his head. "The most important thing in that Everstone is the Miracle Seed. Once Snivy can't use it anymore, just smash it and take out the Miracle Seed."
"Big Boss Xia knows even this?"
"Well, it's okay. I do have some research in that area."