https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-30-The-Chimney-Mountain-Incident/12830529/
Chapter 29: Autumn Excursion (Part 4)
Chapter 29: Autumn Excursion (Part 4)
Boiling Town.
As the night deepened, a gossamer-like mist wove through the starry sky, sometimes extending to the distant horizon, sometimes coalescing into mesmerizing illusions, much like the ever-changing Pokemon.
The garden's winding paths led to a secluded courtyard, isolating it from the outside world's noise and chaos. In the backyard, an open-air hot spring bubbled with the sound of flowing water, creating a gentle ripple in one's heart.
Jing He, wrapped in a white bath towel, slowly stepped into the warm water.
Da Wu was already lounging in the hot spring, his arms spread out as he leaned against the stone edge of the pool, a neatly folded towel on his head.
In the end, Da Wu and his companions' escape plan came to a halt after Jing He defeated Yasha.
Soaking in the hot spring was part of the plan, but it wasn't the mixed-gender bath Jing He had imagined.
A wooden partition separated the pool where Jing He and Da Wu were from the one where Dujuan and Yasha were soaking.
Splash!
As the hot spring water rose to Jing He's abdomen, he felt the "charm" of the hot spring, his fatigue slowly melting away.
Steam rose, mingling with the mist, creating a hazy, beautiful image of a young man bathing.
"Teacher Jing He."
Hearing the sound, Da Wu slowly opened his eyes, shaking off his drowsiness.
Jing He leaned back, his head resting on the smooth stone shore, feeling his body become lighter and lighter in the buoyant water, as if he were floating in a dream.
He waved his hand to interrupt Da Wu.
"Da Wu, we're not that far apart in age, right?"
Da Wu was taken aback, then nodded. "If I remember correctly, you're only two years older than me. You finished university in three years and the Advanced Academy in five, and the Elementary Academy..."
Checking my background?
How well you know me.
"So, when we're not in class, you don't need to be so formal. Just call me by my name," Jing He interrupted again.
"Jing He?" Da Wu hesitated, then tentatively called out.
"Mm-hm," Jing He mumbled, his eyes half-closed, sounding extremely relaxed.
A teacher needs to connect with students, reducing the barriers between them.
This is especially true for a psychologist and their "patients."
Of course, it's not because of Da Wu's identity or the complex background he probably hasn't even figured out himself—well, at least not the main reason.
"By the way," Jing He said, "Boiling Town's hot springs are quite famous, right? So why is this nice place empty except for us?"
As he spoke, Jing He seemed to have an idea. "You didn't buy it, did you?"
Da Wu smiled and shook his head. "No, I didn't."
But before Jing He could say more, he added, "But a few nearby establishments are part of my family's holdings."
Jing He: "..."
He raised his hand and gave a thumbs-up.
Well, that's convenient.
"Haunter!" Jing He called out.
Splash!
The previously calm water exploded as Haunter flew out of the hot spring, grinning mischievously.
"Ha!"
Haunter evolved into Gengar!
Jing He & Da Wu: "..."
But Jing He quickly sat up. "No, you can't stay in the water. Your gas is toxic."
"Ha, ha?"
Haunter: Σ()
After a chaotic moment,
Da Wu and Jing He sat on the shore, with Haunter hovering nearby, still chuckling.
Gas is insoluble in water, and as long as Haunter controlled the toxins, it should be fine.
"Since that's the case, everyone come out," Da Wu said, throwing out several Poke Balls.
Metang, Crobat, Skarmory, and Metagross were summoned.
However, the Steel-type and Rock-type Crobat, as well as the Ground-type and Psychic-type Metagross, had a natural aversion to water, and the bird-like Skarmory wasn't particularly fond of soaking in hot springs either.
In the end, only Metang and Haunter joined them in the water.
But Jing He and Da Wu were a bit "nervous" and warned their Pokemon to control the toxins (or electromagnetic waves).
Finally,
The hot spring pool grew quiet.
"Ku—" (It doesn't feel like much.)
"Ha?" (No, look.)
Haunter dove into the water, blowing bubbles. "Bloop bloop."
Metang turned to look at Crobat and Skarmory by the hot spring.
Anyone want to play with it?
Crobat and Skarmory both looked at Metagross.
Metagross: (−−)
Seeing the Pokemon chatting happily, Jing He relaxed, leaning against the shore. He picked up his phone and soon found that the employer "EeveeEatsCabbage" had replied.
【Eevee Eats Cabbage】: I’ve made the energy cubes, and Ugly Fish really likes them. Its condition seems to be improving, but it’s still hesitant to interact with other Pokemon.
【Eevee Eats Cabbage】: Though it might be a bit presumptuous, could you help with some psychological therapy?
Psychological therapy?
It’s not impossible if it’s someone like Mewtwo, but Ugly Fish?
Would Ugly Fish even be able to type?
Even a video call might not work; hypnosis would be necessary to conduct any meaningful psychological intervention.
【Jing He in the Fields】: I’m sorry, but I have work to do, so...
In person?
That’s quite dangerous.
Who knows what kind of creepy guy might be hiding behind such a cute username?
Jing He, with his past life memories, had a lot to say about this.
“Eevee Eats Cabbage” was offline, so Jing He’s message didn’t get an immediate response.
However, he received a message from someone else.
【Number Magician】: Poke Balls are a form of oppression, preventing Pokemon from being fully realized beings. They are not happy. I believe that Pokemon and humans should live separately, with Pokemon in their own world and humans in their steel-walled cities!
For some reason, reading this, Jing He had a sense of deja vu.
But then he refocused on the core issue.
Are Pokemon captured in Poke Balls really unhappy?
Jing He looked at the hot spring.
A Gastly was floating on the surface, using the steam to do a backstroke. It had a wooden tray beside it, holding a bottle of warmed MooMoo Milk, with straws connected from the bottom of the bottle to its mouth. Was Gastly unhappy?
Near the hot spring, a Groudon was giving a Metagross a back scrub with a bath towel. The white foam on Groudon’s face contrasted with the nearly identical smiles on both their faces.
Behind them, a Steelix and a Skarmory were waiting in line.
Were they unhappy?
Not exactly.
Certainly, there were Pokemon in this world who were unhappy, but they were a minority. It wasn’t fair to generalize.
This is a classic case of someone living in their own world, thinking their experience is everyone’s experience, and wanting to create an ‘ideal’ world.
He didn’t reject this person outright because their intentions were for the Pokemon. It was just that their experiences had made them a bit obsessive.
Obsessive.
Jing He sighed inwardly.
Such preconceived notions were the hardest to change.
Even if he found the true “answer,” if it wasn’t the one they were looking for, they would still ignore it.
So, in such a situation, he couldn’t immediately oppose them. Otherwise, no matter what he said, they wouldn’t listen.
He needed to see things from their perspective, understand their position, and gain their trust before offering the most “real” insight. Only then might they recognize the flaws in their “ideal world.”
After much thought, Jing He finally replied.
【Jing He in the Fields】: If you encounter a Pokemon that is being abused, please save them. To them, you might be the only light in their dark world, their hero.
After sending the message, Jing He put down his phone and sighed again.
“Gastly?”
Noticing his change in mood, Gastly lifted its head, spitting out the straw and floating over.
What’s wrong?
Jing He shook his head.
It was hard to imagine what someone must have gone through to develop such extreme ideas. He felt a bit heavy-hearted.
“Gastly!”
The steam around Gastly began to move, forming a pair of shells. Then, sharp spikes extended out.
Gastly Shellder!
“Puff—”
Seeing Gastly’s almost perfect imitation of a Shellder, Jing He couldn’t help but laugh.
“Gastly, Gastly, Gastly~~”
Gastly laughed along with him.
But its laughter was a bit eerie.
Groudon, drawn by their laughter, couldn’t help but comment.
“Teacher Jing He and Gastly have such a great bond.”
BOOM!!
A sudden explosion, accompanied by the screams of Dove and Asha, interrupted the moment.
—
PS: Depending on how busy I am tonight, I might try to add another chapter. But it will probably be late, so don’t wait up. Please vote and follow!
(End of Chapter)
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