"Let's rest for a while, they won't follow us."
Xia Huanao, out of breath from running for so long, looked at the surrounding buildings. "Where are we now?"
Xia Huanao also looked around and shook his head. "I don't know. I was just focused on running. But it's okay, I can guarantee we're safe for the time being."
After pulling Mu Zhishui out of the encirclement and breaking through to the south, Xia Huanao had made a detour and headed north, returning all the way to Chunbei.
"They should be searching to the south, so we're quite safe now. But we need to plan our next destination immediately. They'll realize we went the wrong way sooner or later."
Mu Zhishui peeked from the corner and glanced south. "How do you know they'll definitely go south?"
Xia Huanao smiled. "Because the inn I was staying at is in the south, though I had already moved my luggage out beforehand."
Mu Zhishui praised Xia Huanao. "Impressive. But why did you move out early? Was there something wrong with that place?"
"Yes, the owner wanted to scam me, so I took precautions. Never mind that, where should we hide next? We can't just stay in Chunbei forever. I guess you can't hide at your place either, right?"
"That's right. Since they've decided to drop all pretense, my residence is probably being monitored. Even teleportation wouldn't help me escape, and it would only put you in danger."
Xia Huanao looked around and pointed to a building. "Would there be a problem if I teleported to the top of that building?"
Mu Zhishui glanced at the height of the building. It was over thirty stories tall, and the distance to the top from their current location was nearly 150 meters. "No problem."
"Alright, let's go up there and hide for a bit. Let them search underground."
With the help of Gardevoir, they teleported to the rooftop. Xia Huanao overlooked Chunbei from the edge of the building, seeing dots of people not far away. "They haven't found us yet. As for the sky, let's just hope they don't have flying Pokémon."
Saying that, Xia Huanao opened his backpack and took out a sleeping bag to spread on the ground. "I'll stand guard for you, you sleep first. It must be tough for a girl to lack sleep."
Mu Zhishui was truly surprised that Xia Huanao carried a sleeping bag with him. Even if this backpack was new technology from the League, you couldn't just put anything in it.
Xia Huanao patted his backpack. "I won't hide it from you. Besides the sleeping bag, I actually have a set of bedding for my own use in here, but it's not suitable for you. Just make do with this."
Mu Zhishui crawled into the sleeping bag. "So, what you said about your luggage?"
"Yeah, it's this set of bedding. I seem to have developed a habit. I can't sleep well without this bedding."
"I don't understand you..."
"Hurry up and rest. We'll probably have to run again before long."
Mu Zhishui fell into a deep sleep, her heart pounding with anxiety. Xia Huanao, leaning against the rooftop's safety door, gazed at the sky, constantly contemplating escape plans.
"System, what's Gardevoir's Teleport PP again?"
"Don't bother asking. No matter how much it has, it's not enough. Besides teleporting directly to places you've already been within a certain range, Gardevoir can only teleport to places within sight. With your and Gardevoir's eyesight, even if you used all its PP, it would only cover a few kilometers. What's the use? Are you thinking of jumping into the sea to escape? You'd exhaust yourself."
Xia Huanao thought for a moment. "A few kilometers? That should be enough."
The system was perplexed. "You're not actually thinking of escaping with just a few kilometers, are you?"
Xia Huanao shook his head. "Of course not. How can two legs run faster than wheels?"
Seeing Xia Huanao's wicked grin, the system understood that he had come up with another mischievous plan.
A few hours later, Mu Zhishui slowly woke up. Seeing Xia Huanao slumped against the rooftop's iron door, drowsily typing on his laptop, Mu Zhishui climbed out of the sleeping bag. "I'm sorry, I slept for too long. You should rest too."
Xia Huanao stood up. "No need. Hurry and get ready, change your clothes, and then we'll take a train."
Upon hearing Xia Huanao's words, Mu Zhishui asked in confusion, "Take a train? The main line? The White Blossom Gang and the Black Wood Sect members should be waiting there to catch us."
Xia Huanao handed Mu Zhishui a bag of clothes. "Hurry up and change."
Mu Zhishui looked around. "Here?"
Xia Huanao surveyed the area. "Here is fine. There are no taller buildings around this one. I won't peek, so hurry up."
Mu Zhishui, blushing, took off her clothes and changed into the white set Xia Huanao had given her. Then she whispered, "Done. What are you planning to do?"
"I'll explain when we're safe. Let's go downstairs, and bring Gardevoir along with us."
The two of them brazenly went downstairs. Xia Huanao looked around and then started moving in a certain direction. Not long after, a Black Wood Sect member brushed past them, recognized Xia Huanao, and immediately called his comrades to pursue. After making eye contact, Xia Huanao bolted, and seeing the black-clothed pursuers behind him, he said, "Grab my hand, we need to speed up."
A chase ensued on the streets of Chunbei. Chunbei was already a crowded area, and it became even more chaotic with this chase. Although Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui were not moving very fast, the Black Wood Sect members dared not cause a major disturbance on the streets of Chunbei openly. Therefore, Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui successfully reached the vicinity of the railway.
Just then, a train arrived. Xia Huanao reached out. "Mu Zhishui, put on this mask, and have Gardevoir take us onto that train!"
"Gardevoir, Teleport!"
Gardevoir brought Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui onto the train, startling the passengers. Wearing masks, Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui looked at the surrounding passengers. Xia Huanao spoke fluently in Manying language, "Everyone, stay still. We are from the White Blossom Gang. I don't intend to harm you. Just keep driving this train forward."
Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui, wearing white masks and white clothes, indeed looked quite imposing, like members of the White Blossom Gang. The passengers dared not act rashly, and thus allowed Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui to ride the train.
Seeing that the train was about to reach the next station, Xia Huanao pointed out the window. Gardevoir understood and, with a Teleport, brought Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui off the train again. While no one was paying attention to them, the two of them ran away again.
After they had run several hundred meters and Gardevoir had used Teleport a few times, Xia Huanao breathed a sigh of relief. "We've put a considerable distance between us and them now. We're truly safe."
Mu Zhishui panted heavily. "You... you're amazing. You actually came up with this plan. But why did you pretend to be from the White Blossom Gang?"
"Of course, to scare the passengers. Although there are countless small gangs with a dozen or so members in Manying, any gang that dares to gather dozens of people near Chunbei is definitely not a small fry. So, using the name of the White Blossom Gang was the most intimidating." Xia Huanao appeared to have everything under control, but in reality, he was panicking inside.
Mu Zhishui smiled at Xia Huanao. "I'm a part of this too, right? You could have used the Black Wood Sect's name, but by using the White Blossom Gang's name, you've caused trouble for them, increasing their pressure. This way, you'll lessen the trouble I'm facing, right?"
Xia Huanao scratched his head. "Who told us we're from the same hometown, and you're a girl?"
Mu Zhishui walked a dozen meters alongside Xia Huanao along a wild path and asked, "Where are you going now?"
Xia Huanao put his hands behind his head. "To Sakura Capital, of course. It would be a shame to come to Manying and not see Sakura Capital."
Upon hearing this, Mu Zhishui quickened her pace to walk beside Xia Huanao. "Great, let's go to Sakura Capital together. I heard there's a festival in Sakura Capital recently."
Xia Huanao looked at Mu Zhishui. "Don't you need to handle your family matters?"
Mu Zhishui shook her head. "No need. I've already called my dad, and he told me to protect myself and that he'll handle these matters. I also have permission to do as I please. I've already planned it. After I get back, I'll go to your Six Spirits University as a coach."
Xia Huanao was stunned. If you go to Six Spirits University, what about Lingering Spirits University?
Mu Zhishui looked at Xia Huanao's gaze. "I don't want Lingering Spirits University anymore. Let them fight over it. The more chaotic, the better. Let them give me trouble."
Xia Huanao looked at Mu Zhishui, who was like a mischievous little witch. "You're not exactly innocent either, but it doesn't really matter. Your family's wealth is enough for you to live without worrying about food and drink for several lifetimes."
"Exactly, so let's hurry up. I've been waiting for the festival in Sakura Capital for a long time."
While Xia Huanao set off lightly for Sakura Capital, on the other side, at the headquarters of the Black Wood Sect, the leader of the Black Wood Sect laughed heartily upon hearing that Xia Huanao had escaped through trickery. "Excellent! This way, the White Blossom Gang will simultaneously provoke the Pokémon Police and their mysterious employer. Once the White Blossom Gang is destroyed, we can quickly expand our territory."
"The boss is right..."
Unlike the Black Wood Sect, the White Blossom Gang's base was in a state of despondency. The leader of the White Blossom Gang had already smashed several bottles of red wine on his subordinates' heads.
"A bunch of useless people! You let them escape just like that, and not only that, they've also framed us!"
"Boss, this is mainly because..."
"Shut up, a bunch of trash, all of you get out!"