c27: Entering the Wild Forest
"By the way, are you here to challenge the Shantou City Gym?"
After Altaria had recovered, Zhang Guoxiong expressed sincere gratitude to Chen Xiaoxiao for the assistance. Then, shifting the conversation casually, he posed the question.
"No, I'm not here for a Gym Badge. I'm a new trainer who just graduated from the Trainer Academy in Shencheng this year. I came to the Shanzhou area for my training journey and field experience."
Chen Xiaoxiao explained calmly, her expression composed.
"You already graduated from university?"
Zhang Guoxiong asked, blinking in surprise.
Chen Xiaoxiao's face visibly darkened.
"Excuse me?! Do I really look that old?!"
"I mean wait seriously? You're this strong and only just graduated from high school?"
Zhang Guoxiong's eyes widened in disbelief.
Given Chen Xiaoxiao's commanding control during the battle and her composure, he had instinctively assumed she was a university-level trainer perhaps a graduate with years of competitive experience. Hearing her say she had only just started her journey, he was completely stunned.
"Of course! I just turned sixteen this year, old enough to receive a Trainer's License. My Togekiss is one of the newest members of my team, too."
Chen Xiaoxiao replied proudly. In her mind, she smirked.
"Looks like I left a solid impression. If only he knew Togekiss is just the tip of the iceberg in my full team lineup."
"That's seriously impressive! Compared to you, I feel like I've been wasting my life all these years."
Zhang Guoxiong let out a helpless laugh, scratching the back of his head.
His tone was lighthearted, but there was a note of genuine self-reflection. Compared to Chen Xiaoxiao, who had such sharp instincts and battle awareness even as a rookie trainer, he couldn't help but question how far he'd really come.
Chen Xiaoxiao gave a polite smile but didn't know how to respond to such a comment. So she pivoted quickly to a new topic.
"Anyway, you said earlier you're an apprentice at the Shantou City Flying Gym, right? You must know this city inside and out?"
"Absolutely! I've lived here my whole life over ten years now. I know every alley and trail like the back of my hand. If there's anywhere you want to go, I can show you around!"
Zhang Guoxiong immediately perked up at her question. Inwardly, he thought, "This is it! My chance to spend more time with her!"
"No need for a tour guide. I'm mostly just traveling solo right now. Actually, I was thinking of heading into one of the nearby forests. I wanted to ask about what I should be aware of out there."
Chen Xiaoxiao declined politely. After all, traveling with strangers especially overly enthusiastic ones wasn't her style. Pretty girls had to be cautious, and besides, she preferred solitude when training.
"I see… that's a shame." Zhang Guoxiong tried to hide his disappointment but recovered quickly. "There are a few forest areas surrounding Shantou City, actually. I've trained in most of them. The wild Pokémon there aren't too strong perfect for field practice. If you're lucky, you might even come across some rare Flying-types or Bug-types."
He gave an honest summary, not exaggerating the danger or value of the areas.
"Are there any things I should watch out for? For example, will I lose signal in the forest? I'd hate to get lost out there without a working Pokédex."
Chen Xiaoxiao asked, pretending to be slightly concerned. In truth, she was already prepared, but she wanted to gather local insights.
"Good question. Yes, actually between Shantou City and the nearby Chaoshi City, there's a vast forest stretching over several hundred square kilometers. The terrain is mostly lowland and dense with tall canopy trees. Because of the thick vegetation, signal transmission gets completely cut off the deeper you go. If your Pokédex relies on network syncing, you'll lose communication access once you're too far inside."
Zhang Guoxiong nodded, giving a practical explanation.
"But you've got a Flying-type like Togekiss, right? That's a huge plus. Even if you get lost, just hop on and have her fly above the tree line. From the sky, you'll be able to get your bearings and find the forest edge easily."
"Got it. So that big forest lies right on the border between Shantou and Chaoshi City, huh? Thanks for the info!"
Chen Xiaoxiao gave a small wave and turned to leave.
"Alright, I'll get going now. Take care, and thanks again goodbye!"
After gathering the intel she needed, Chen Xiaoxiao gracefully leapt onto Togekiss's back. With a quick wave to Zhang Guoxiong, she gave the signal to take off, flying straight toward the expansive forest that straddled the border between Shantou City and Chaoshi City.
"…Wait! I forgot to ask her about that Piplup egg I saw in her bag! Argh!"
Zhang Guoxiong stomped in frustration as he watched Chen Xiaoxiao vanish into the horizon on her Togekiss, now just a speck in the orange-tinted sky.
The flight was smooth and efficient. In less than ten minutes, Chen Xiaoxiao was soaring above the Linhai Wild Forest a seemingly endless sea of green, teeming with life, even from several hundred meters above ground. Scattered throughout the sky were flocks of Flying-type Pokémon—Swellow, Pidgeot, and a few dotted Rufflet gliding between the treetops.
"Togekiss, we've gone deep enough. Let's find a clearing and land."
She gave the command gently, and Togekiss chirped in acknowledgment, wings shimmering in the sunset light as it glided in slow circles.
Due to the dense canopy, it took several passes before they found a clearing wide enough to safely descend. Togekiss maneuvered expertly between towering tree trunks and landed in a moss-covered glade surrounded by ferns and flowering underbrush.
"Togekiss, great work. Take a well-deserved rest."
Chen Xiaoxiao gave Togekiss a soft pat between the wings before returning it to its Poké Ball. After flying nonstop from Shencheng to Shanzhou, battling Altaria in Shantou, and then crossing nearly seventy kilometers into wilderness, even her reliable Togekiss needed recovery.
"Gardevoir, come out."
"Shanai."
With a flash of red light, the elegant Embrace Pokémon materialized beside her, eyes already scanning the surroundings.
Chen Xiaoxiao knew the dangers of the wild forest. In these remote areas, Pokémon like Ariados, Dugtrio, or even territorial Pinsir could be lurking anywhere within bushes, beneath leaves, or burrowed underground. Though she was a powerful psychic in her own right, it would be foolish to explore without her Pokémon partner.
She pulled out her Pokédex, only to find the screen displaying a blinking error no signal. It was confirmation that they'd gone far enough into the wilderness.
"Gardevoir, scan for nearby Psychic-type activity or unusual aura signatures."
"Shanai."
Gardevoir closed its eyes, its body softly glowing with a shimmering blue aura as it activated its sixth sense. Psychic energy rippled through the clearing like invisible radar. After several moments, the glow faded. Gardevoir opened its eyes and gave a slight shake of the head.
"Shanai. (Nothing detected.)"
Chen Xiaoxiao didn't seem surprised.
"I didn't expect results on day one. Let's keep moving."
For the rest of the afternoon, they trekked deeper through the forest. Along the way, they encountered various wild Pokémon Spinarak weaving webs between trees, Aipom playing in the branches, and even a curious Hoothoot watching from the shadows. However, none appeared to be rare or of significant interest.
Chen Xiaoxiao didn't bother to check their abilities or stats. She wasn't here to capture random Pokémon her goal lay elsewhere.
As for the few hostile ones.like a swarm of Beedrill, a screeching Fearow, and even a wild Ursaring that charged unexpectedly Gardevoir effortlessly countered them with quick Psychic or Moonblast attacks. At her current strength, Gardevoir had reached the pinnacle of the Elite tier. Most wild Pokémon in this forest couldn't last more than a few seconds against her power.
Chen Xiaoxiao didn't need to issue any commands. Gardevoir responded with flawless timing, her movements graceful yet precise. In this untamed environment, the bond between them was their greatest asset.
They passed a few other trainers as well young explorers, bug catchers, and some local hikers. But Chen Xiaoxiao kept her distance. Whenever she sensed a human presence through her psychic link, she took the initiative to move around them silently. Better to avoid unnecessary interaction or conflict.
By late afternoon, she still hadn't found what she was looking for. The mysterious presence that online forums had rumored about the supposed "illusion" seen deep within the forest remained elusive.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, streaking the sky in warm orange hues, Chen Xiaoxiao sat quietly outside the tent Gardevoir had prepared with Telekinesis. Her mind was calm, but thoughtful.
"Did I get it wrong? Was it really just a trainer's illusion, like those replies online said?"
"Shanai. (Xiaoxiao, dinner's ready.)"
Gardevoir approached, holding a meal capsule from the supply bag, having already set up a small campfire and heated some rations.
"Thanks, Gardevoir."
Chen Xiaoxiao smiled, taking the capsule and nodding with appreciation. Inwardly, she made a quiet decision tomorrow, she would search again, this time with an even sharper focus.
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