As Xia Huanao walked into the three-story building, he discovered it was far more spacious than it appeared. Despite being labeled three stories, the entire third floor held only one room, and the second floor was the same. The first floor was simply a large hall. Xia Huanao touched the door of the third-floor room, "So, is this house really for me to live in?"
"Of course, as long as you are still teaching at the Six Spirits Great Sect, this house is yours."
Zheng Xiaoxiao's guarantee was as good as gold. Xia Huanao, upon hearing this, immediately threw his backpack into the room and then, taking Xiaoyu's hand, said, "Let's go, let's go grocery shopping."
"What are we buying groceries for?" Shen Yu was still a little shy with Xia Huanao holding her hand in front of so many people.
"To warm the pot! This is a housewarming, no matter how you look at it. It would be too much to not have a warm pot meal for a housewarming."
Xia Huanao pulled Xiaoyu along and, turning back, asked, "How about we have hot pot tonight?"
...
The next morning, Xia Huanao got out of bed and went to the balcony. After a set of stretching exercises, he saw Zheng Xiaoxiao and Tong Ruo on the balcony next door, discussing matters of importance. Xia Huanao hadn't seen such a scene in a long time. He raised his hand and waved, "Sister Xiaoxiao, good morning."
Zheng Xiaoxiao smiled, "Good morning to you too. Do you have any plans for today?"
Xia Huanao pointed at the two of them, seemingly questioning why their arrangements for the day were different from usual. Logically, Tong Ruo and Zheng Xiaoxiao would be on the balcony next to him every morning to exchange pleasantries. Today, however, there was nothing. This was not scientific.
Tong Ruo poked her head over, "Who asked your family to have five people today? If it were just you and Xiaoyu, our plan would remain unchanged. But your family has five people."
Yes, it used to be just Xia Huanao. Even with Shen Yu added, it wouldn't matter. Their relationship was known to Xia Huanao and Shen Yu. But just last night, the situation had changed. Now, Xia Huanao and his wife occupied the third floor, Zhang Hong and his wife were on the second, and as for Yu Longdu, a single dog was destined to guard the gate. With such an arrangement, Tong Ruo naturally had to consider appearances.
After breakfast, Xia Huanao and his group decided to go out to reinforce their team. Their primary objective was to find a Fletchling for Shen Yu. Of course, if they encountered any other Pokémon along the way, Xia Huanao wouldn't hesitate to try and catch them.
"So where are the five of you planning to look?"
Tong Ruo, biting into a fried dough stick, inquired about Xia Huanao's group's destination. Xia Huanao pointed towards the east of Liuling City, "Let's check the east. Rabbits, if they aren't on the grassland, they should be in the forest. We'll find one if we search carefully."
"Why not go to a Mystery Dungeon? A Normal-type Mystery Dungeon should be more suitable." Although Liuling City didn't have a Normal-type Mystery Dungeon, there were some in the surrounding cities.
Xia Huanao pulled Yu Longdu over and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Do you think our current lineup is suitable for a Mystery Dungeon?"
Tong Ruo took a big bite of her fried dough stick, "It's too much trouble."
Xia Huanao and Yu Longdu were both Intermediate Trainers. The other three had barely scraped by the Junior Trainer assessment. According to the regulations of the Minglong National Pokémon Alliance, they couldn't enter the same Pokémon Mystery Dungeon. However, Xia Huanao was very concerned about them not entering the same dungeon, so he could only settle for the next best thing: catching rabbits in the forest.
The group turned to leave, and Xia Huanao took out a hunting rifle on the way. Yu Longdu was startled at first, "Where did you get that? This is a controlled item."
Only when Xia Huanao dry-fired the rifle did Yu Longdu realize it was a toy gun, incapable of firing bullets, and could only scare ignorant children.
Xia Huanao slung the hunting rifle over his shoulder, "We're going rabbit hunting, after all. It would be unprofessional not to have some rabbit-hunting gear."
The five of them arrived at the forest east of Liuling City. Zhang Hong asked, "How do we find it? This forest is so big, how will we find a Fletchling?"
Yu Longdu added, "Yes, and a cunning rabbit has three burrows. Even if we find it, how do we catch it?"
Xia Huanao took out a Poké Ball, "Come out, Rockruff!"
Rockruff emerged from the Poké Ball, sniffed the air in various directions, and then excitedly bounded towards one direction. Xia Huanao quickly scooped Rockruff up, "Alright, alright, Rockruff. No matter what's over there, it's not lunchtime. We just had breakfast. I called you out for a mission."
Rockruff, hearing there were no immediate food arrangements, looked dejected. Xia Huanao took out his tablet and pointed to a Fletchling on it, "Do you see this? Go find a rabbit like this, and then we'll have a feast."
Rockruff looked closely, then hopped towards the forest. Xia Huanao reached out and grabbed Rockruff, who hadn't run more than two steps, "Wait, take this with you first. Otherwise, where will I find you later?"
Saying this, Xia Huanao was about to put a bell on Rockruff's head. Rockruff barked twice, seemingly unwilling to wear the item. Xia Huanao looked at the bell, "It's a bit ugly, but this will make it easier to find you."
Rockruff snarled and yipped, making Xia Huanao a bit embarrassed, "You're right. Go on then, go."
With that, Xia Huanao placed Rockruff on the ground, and the little guy disappeared with a flourish. Yu Longdu asked in confusion, "Are you sure? Aren't you afraid it will get lost without a tracking device?"
Xia Huanao nodded, "Yes. When it's time to eat, it always comes back on its own. Its ability to track me down for meals is unparalleled. Besides..."
As he spoke, Xia Huanao lightly tapped the Poké Ball on his waist. A blue figure darted out of the Poké Ball. Xia Huanao gestured towards the direction Rockruff had gone, and Froakie immediately chased after it.
"With Froakie's abilities, I'm very confident."
Seeing Froakie also chase after it, Yu Longdu asked, "Is there a specific reason you're sending Rockruff to find Fletchling?"
"I've only heard of dogs chasing ducks and making them quack. It means all dog-type Pokémon are particularly good at pursuing duck-type Pokémon like Psyduck."
Yu Tingyun's remark made everyone around laugh. Xia Huanao continued from Yu Tingyun's words, "Chasing ducks is one thing, but dogs catching rabbits is also quite something."
"Wouldn't Houndoom or Houndour be more suitable for that?"
Indeed, many people now use Houndoom and Houndour as hunting dogs. After all, Rockruff's evolved form is Lycanroc, and there's a significant difference between wolves and dogs.
Xia Huanao sighed, "It can't be helped. I don't use them because I don't have them. I only have Rockruff as my dog-type Pokémon."
Speaking of which, Shen Yu suddenly released Delphox and Zoroark, "You two little ones, you have to help me find Fletchling too, okay?"
Xia Huanao smiled, "How could I forget? Delphox is a fox, and it's also very good at catching rabbits, no less than a dog."
As he spoke, Xia Huanao scooped up a Delphox, "Little one, do your best! Otherwise, I'll raise you like a dog from now on."
The Delphox struggled cutely, but when Xia Huanao placed his hand on its ear, it immediately calmed down.
Yu Longdu looked at the two Delphox, "How do you tell if you're holding a Delphox and not a Zoroark?"
Xia Huanao scooped up Zoroark as well, "Look at their eyes. A mischievous boy and a silly girl have completely different gazes."
The Delphox gently bit Xia Huanao's finger, *You're the silly girl, and your whole family is!* Xia Huanao glanced at Shen Yu, "Yes, Delphox, you're right. Our Shen Yu is indeed a silly girl. Without me, who knows who would trick her."
The Delphox, feeling wronged by Xia Huanao's words, quickly chirped and explained that her trainer was not a silly girl. Shen Yu, though she didn't understand the words, could tell what was happening and hugged Delphox back, "Alright, alright, don't bully Delphox. Delphox, go help me find Fletchling, please. Zoroark, you mischievous boy, you go too."
The two Pokémon heard Shen Yu's command and, after putting on their tracking bells, scattered to find Fletchling's location. Xia Huanao and the others, lacking any canine Pokémon, randomly chose a direction to search for Fletchling.
The five of them walked and chatted. Yu Tingyun asked Shen Yu, "Sister Yu, if we find Fletchling first, how will you catch it? Do you have a third Pokémon for battle?"
Shen Yu was stunned. She had been so focused on finding Fletchling that she had sent out both her Pokémon. Xia Huanao handed Shen Yu a Poké Ball, "Use this. It's a sure win."
Shen Yu took the Poké Ball. Xia Huanao still had Shedinja and Diancie. Although both Pokémon were sure to win against a Fletchling of not particularly high level, Shedinja would likely be more comfortable for Shen Yu to use, as Fletchling's innate move pool would have a hard time against Shedinja.
The group steadily advanced into the forest. Along the way, they saw many Pokémon, but none of them particularly caught their interest, so they had no intention of approaching. After walking for about five or six minutes, Xia Huanao spotted a blue figure on a large tree, looking intently at a spot in the forest from afar. Xia Huanao and the others quickly walked over, "Froakie, what are you looking at?"
Froakie lowered its head upon hearing Xia Huanao's voice. Upon seeing Xia Huanao, Froakie pointed towards the forest. Xia Huanao and the others looked over and saw Rockruff fighting a Pokémon back and forth. Xia Huanao took a closer look at the Pokémon, "My Rockruff, why are you fighting it?"