Although Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui had decided to visit the festival in Sakura Capital, annoyingly, the train station they had just come from was in the countryside. After teleporting from the train, Xia Huanao and his companions had the misfortune of getting lost and now had no idea where they were.
Xia Huanao looked at his phone, which had lost signal: "No way, what's the mechanism of a phone, and why is there no signal? Don't tell me the signal coverage in Manying is worse than in Minglong Country. That's ridiculous."
Mu Zhishui followed behind Xia Huanao: "It can't be helped. Purely in terms of economic development, Manying is stronger. If you want to compare infrastructure, that's another matter. In terms of building signal towers, Minglong Country could cover all of Manying in a month."
Xia Huanao shook his phone again, but it still had no signal. Xia Huanao put his phone in his pocket: "Then it seems we'll have to find a way to figure out which way to go first. What do you say we cut down a tree and look at the rings?"
Mu Zhishui looked around and finally chose a tree: "Then this one. It's not particularly thick, but we should still be able to see the rings."
Xia Huanao came to the large tree and patted it gently, then instructed Guagua to cut it down: "Guagua, use Water Pulse to cut down this tree."
Guagua clasped his hands together. Before he could even unleash Water Pulse, a shuriken was thrown from the tree, whizzing past Guagua's eyes and embedding itself in the ground. Guagua, not to be outdone, directly hurled Water Pulse towards the sky.
The water ball struck the treetop, creating a sound, followed by a scream of "Aah!" As leaves rustled and fell, a figure tumbled down headfirst, landing directly in front of Xia Huanao. Xia Huanao immediately grabbed the figure's legs and bound him with a rope.
"See, we've caught a big one now."
Xia Huanao released Rotom: "Rotom, ask him what he's doing?"
Rotom translated Xia Huanao's words. The person who had been struck down heard Xia Huanao's question, struggled to his feet, and replied: "I am Ninja Matsu. Who are you, and why are you cutting down my tree?"
"Your tree? I didn't know it was your tree. I was going to Sakura Capital to see the festival. But I got lost. Just tell me the location and I'll be fine."
Ninja Matsu pointed in a direction: "That way. If you go that way, you can get out. Now you can let me go."
Xia Huanao shook his head: "No, I can't let you go until I'm out of the mountains. What if I get lost again by accident?"
Ninja Matsu had no choice but to lead Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui through the forest. They walked for seven or eight hours. By the time Xia Huanao saw a village not far ahead, it was already past seven o'clock in the evening Manying time.
Xia Huanao looked at the village not far away, then took out his phone and browsed it. There was still no signal in this place. But Xia Huanao looked at the surrounding terrain. He had already come out of the mountains, so why was his phone still not working?
Xia Huanao glanced at Guagua. Guagua tossed Ninja Matsu to the ground. Xia Huanao stepped on his stomach: "Honestly, what is this place?"
Before Ninja Matsu could answer, a shuriken flew from not far away. Xia Huanao was startled and jumped aside with a burst of strength. Ninja Matsu's abdomen was struck with great force, and his eyes widened as he nearly met his end.
Xia Huanao looked in the direction the shuriken had come from. Two people in their early twenties looked at Xia Huanao: "Who are you? Why are you hurting Matsu?"
Xia Huanao glanced at Matsu, whose eyes were rolling back: "Honestly, if you hadn't thrown that shuriken just now, he wouldn't be like this."
The two young men looked a bit embarrassed. Indeed, Xia Huanao had only lightly stepped on Matsu's body. If they hadn't thrown the shuriken to force Xia Huanao to dodge, Xia Huanao wouldn't have stepped on him like that...
"I just wanted to ask for directions to Sakura Capital, and he brought me here..."
After Xia Huanao explained what had happened, the two young men untied the rope binding Matsu: "Actually, we're already outside the mountains. But for some reason, we've never been able to use any technology products here, which is why you misunderstood. Let me introduce myself, I am Ninja Kaze."
"I am Ninja Ho. Would you like to come to our ninja dojo for a rest?"
Xia Huanao looked at Mu Zhishui. Mu Zhishui nodded: "That would be good. The festival in Sakura Capital is still a few days away, and it would be good to rest in the village for a night."
Ninja Kaze heard Mu Zhishui: "Miss, you want to go to the festival in Sakura Capital? Then I have some not-so-good news for you. There is no festival in Sakura Capital this year. The specific reason is unknown."
Mu Zhishui was stunned: "You can understand me?"
Ninja Kaze shook his head: "No, I don't understand the language of Minglong Country very well, but I can still make out the words 'Sakura Capital' and 'festival'."
Mu Zhishui asked again: "Is there really no festival in Sakura Capital this year? What a shame."
Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui followed the three ninjas into the small village. Xia Huanao looked at the village, which had a distinct Minglong Country style, and asked: "This village must have a long history. I see a lot of it is in the Minglong Country style."
Ninja Kaze nodded: "That's right. Our ancestors indeed learned this style from Minglong Country. After using it for many years, we got used to it and didn't change it."
Xia Huanao understood: "Is the road we're taking now the way to your ninja dojo?"
"Yes, look, that's our ninja dojo ahead."
Xia Huanao looked in the direction Ninja Kaze pointed: "This, this is the dojo? Isn't it a bit too dilapidated?"
Ninja Kaze shrugged: "It can't be helped, lack of funds. Many young people nowadays don't practice ninjutsu anymore."
Xia Huanao stepped onto the dojo's stairs and then missed his footing, tumbling forward. Ninja Kaze quickly came forward and helped Xia Huanao up: "Are you alright?"
Xia Huanao patted the dust off himself: "I'm fine, I just didn't expect your dojo's stairs to be like this."
Under the guidance of Ninja Kaze, Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui dodged various traps before finally arriving at the dojo's lounge.
Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui sat on the tatami mats in the dojo. Ninja Kaze asked: "How about it, would you like to try our dojo's specialty dishes?"
Xia Huanao nodded: "Of course, I haven't really eaten authentic Manying cuisine before. Do you need our help?"
Ninja Kaze shook his head: "No need, but you can watch if you'd like."
Xia Huanao and his companion followed Ninja Kaze into the kitchen behind them. Looking at a Farfetch'd sitting in the canteen, Xia Huanao drooled: "Eating Farfetch'd, I've never tried the taste of Farfetch'd before."
Xia Huanao's eyes shone with a shimmering light, which unsettled the entire Farfetch'd. It flapped its wings and flew around the kitchen in a frenzy.
Ninja Kaze looked at Xia Huanao: "Stop joking. Farfetch'd is my partner, and I won't stew it to eat."
After a moment of silence, Ninja Kaze added: "Although I know, Farfetch'd is indeed delicious."
When Farfetch'd heard that Ninja Kaze wouldn't eat him, it had taken a couple of steps towards Ninja Kaze. However, the subsequent remark from Ninja Kaze made Farfetch'd brake sharply, then turn and run.
Xia Huanao watched the panicked Farfetch'd, which nearly jumped into the pot on the stove. He tugged at Ninja Kaze: "Kaze, if you don't do something soon, Farfetch'd might just stew itself."
Kaze quickly took out a Poké Ball and recalled Farfetch'd: "Let him calm down for a while. Let's make something else."
Half an hour later, looking at the dishes on the table, Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui were eager to eat, devouring the food on the table with great gusto.
Xia Huanao sighed: "As expected of a ninja dojo, even the way of cooking is full of ninja spirit. Just now, he used Iaijutsu to cut cucumbers, which was incredibly cool."
Ninja Kaze looked at Xia Huanao, who had put down his chopsticks and let out a satisfied burp: "I heard from Little Matsu that you have a Froakie, right? How about it, would you like to stay at our ninja dojo for a few more days? Who knows, it might even evolve into Greninja."
Xia Huanao heard this: "Okay, then I'd be happy to accept. I'll stay at the dojo for a few more days."
...
A few hours later, Xia Huanao was lying in his own futon on the tatami.
"Ah, my own bed is still the most comfortable."
Xia Huanao turned over and lay on his stomach, rubbing his face against his pillow: "Pillow, we haven't seen each other for so many days."
As he was speaking, Xia Huanao heard someone gently knocking on the door. As Xia Huanao was pondering how to say "Who are you?" in Manying, the person outside the door actually spoke in the language of Minglong Country: "Excuse me, is this Mr. Hu's room in Minglong Country?"
Xia Huanao was stunned. Wow, a ninja who could speak the language of Minglong Country? That's amazing.
"Yes, this is Hu Xia's room. Is there something you need?"
The person outside the door was silent for a moment, then opened the door to Xia Huanao's room and walked in. Xia Huanao looked at the female ninja: "Um, who are you?"
The female ninja knelt beside Xia Huanao: "I am Ninja Mei from this dojo. Tonight, I will be serving you as you rest."
Xia Huanao was stunned, and then saw Mei's hands moving towards his clothes. Xia Huanao quickly whispered: "Stop!"
Mei looked at Xia Huanao in confusion. Xia Huanao climbed out of his futon, took a bundle of rope from his backpack by the wall, and said, "Since you say you're here to serve me as I rest, then I can do anything I want, right?"
Mei whispered: "Yes, no matter what you do, Mei will be willing."
Xia Huanao's lips curled into a wicked smile: "Then I'm going to start..."