Chapter 431: Is the Problem Not with Me?

Chapter 431: Is the Problem Not with Me?



January 25th, early morning.

The sun rose, its rays piercing through the gaps between the mountains and falling upon the vast, boundless land, bringing a hint of warmth to the winter day.

Jing He stood on a hill covered in green grass, gazing at the distant town bathed in sunlight, his expression somewhat complex.

This town was located on a platform that seemed to have been flattened, with layers of mountains standing tall like a series of classical towns.

The most eye-catching sight was the two towering towers standing in the center of the town, shimmering in the sunlight, adorned with exquisite spiral patterns, each tower standing alone yet connected to the other.

The sunlight reflecting off the top of the towers caused Jing He to unconsciously purse his lips.

"Is this... the Time-Space Tower?"

"What's the Time-Space Tower?" Da Ye placed his hand over his eyes, striking a pose as if gazing into the distance, his eyes filled with curiosity.

"Heng ga~~"

Gramps floated in mid-air, also curious about the distant towers.

"Yo-ji!" Tyrogue licked his lips and smacked his lips twice.

They look like two giant ice cream cones! Sharon smiled slightly and said, "It's indeed the Time-Space Tower, a famous clock tower in the entire Sinnoh region, and the landmark of Baiyang Town, designed and built by the renowned architect, Mr. Gao Di."

Baiyang Town, Time-Space Tower!

Jing He touched his forehead.

Hearing these two names, Jing He's eyes began to twitch uncontrollably.

If these two names were still unfamiliar, then the name "Battle for the Time-Space Tower! Timia Luka vs. Palu Qia vs. Darkrai" would definitely be very familiar.

This was the place where Timia Luka and Palu Qia appeared and fought for the first time in the movie! It was also the place where Pokemon like Darkrai became famous in a single battle.

Timia Luka and Palu Qia were the dragons of time and space, capable of effortlessly erasing a town from existence.

If a disturbance were to occur here...

"Is the showcase battle going to be held here?" Jing He muttered.

He only knew that a noble had invited them to participate in a showcase battle, but he didn't know that the venue for the showcase battle was the famous Baiyang Town!

"Da Ye, this guy definitely has a problem."

Jing He couldn't help but glance sideways at Da Ye, who was standing beside him with his neck stretched out, looking into the distance.

Every time this guy was around, things would start to feel off.

It was like this with Regigigas, Darkrai, and Cresselia.

So, you're Xiao Zhi's Sinnoh counterpart, right?

You have the protagonist's encounters but not the protagonist's halo.

"Huh?" Da Ye heard Jing He's words, but he didn't understand what he meant.

He thought Jing He was talking about the plane not being able to fly into Baiyang Town.

So he scratched his head and laughed, saying, "Teacher Jing He, is it possible that the problem is not with me?"

Jing He: "."

The speaker had no intention, but the listener did.

Could the problem really be with himself?

Jing He looked up at the azure sky and the rising sun.

The entire sky appeared peaceful, with calm winds and gentle waves, and the distant forests were quiet, except for the occasional glimpse of wild Pokemon.

There was no sign of anything amiss.

Jing He couldn't help but think:

That's not right, why am I nervous? If we're talking about timing, the battle between Timia Luka and Palu Qia won't happen until Xiao Zhi travels to Sinnoh, and right now, Xiao Zhi might still be wetting his bed.

Even the two Johto idiots haven't appeared yet, so the three Sinnoh idiots are even less likely.

Not even the standard Team Rocket trio is in Baiyang Town.

It's settled!

The time and characters are all wrong, only the location is the same. Why am I so nervous?

Thinking of this, Jing He's mood instantly improved.

Moreover,

Even if we take a step back.

Even if.

Even if Timia Luka and Palu Qia do appear, isn't there still the invincible Darkrai? Plus, with the Kexi Claws, Aimu Eldo Wings, and Yakunom Tooth on his body, he can forge the "Red Chain" and even play "bondage" with them.

Furthermore.

He's not alone.

There's Sharon, Da Ye, and at least one invited Four Champion from an unknown region, making him feel instantly secure.

Of course.

These are all thoughts after taking a step back.

He doesn't believe that luck would be so unreasonable.

At the very least, he could ask Giratina for "negotiation," and they should be able to handle it together.

"However..." Jing He gently adjusted his glasses, "...that Darkrai, we might be able to negotiate with it in advance."

"Yeah, once we reach our accommodation, we'll let the Gigaforg figure out how to forge the 'Red Chain'."

As they walked on the bridge towards Baiyang Town, Jing He thought to himself.

Considering the possibility of unforeseen circumstances, preparing the "Red Chain" in advance would undoubtedly provide some peace of mind.

"Heng ga~~"

Gramps floated outside the bridge, below which was a lake surrounding the entire Baiyang Town, and beside him, a few Wingull and Pidgey flew by.

Seeing this, Gramps smiled, took out his sunglasses, put them on, and spread his arms, transforming into a Pidgeot.

Takeoff!

Gramps, the versatile Pokemon, was teaching online.

The bridge wasn't just occupied by Jing He and the other two; there were also many people walking towards Baiyang Town, some appearing to be a happy family of three, laughing and chatting, with their pet Houndour.

Others were dressed as Trainers, walking in groups of three or four, each with their Pokemon.

From Sharon, Jing He learned that in a couple of days, it would be Baiyang Town's annual "Classical Music Festival," which was why they were invited to participate in the showcase battle.

For those who loved classical music, Baiyang Town was a very "sacred" place.

The Time-Space Tower standing in the center of Baiyang Town was not just a tall tower, but also the largest musical instrument in the entire Pokemon world! The songs it played could be heard throughout Baiyang Town and even radiated to the surrounding areas, enchanting many people and wild Pokemon.

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However, it had been many years since anyone had heard it.

As they entered the town, colorful lanterns adorned the streets, hanging between houses in vibrant clusters. Pedestrians filled the roads, and street vendors were everywhere, adding to the lively atmosphere.

In Baiyang Town, melodious and light songs could be heard from all corners. Some emanated from phonographs in shops, while others were played by street musicians, and even a wandering minstrel sitting on a railing, strumming a leaf as their instrument.

Additionally, many trainers were engaging in Pokemon battles, drawing crowds of onlookers. Win or lose, sometimes the opponents and their Pokemon would end up dancing together, shoulder to shoulder, to the rhythm of the music.

The harmonious ambiance of Baiyang Town was palpable.

"This town is so cozy," Sharon smiled.

"Indeed," Jinghe agreed, nodding.

"Hngga~~"

Genggui floated past Jinghe, enjoying the beautiful music.

"I can't help but want to sing along!" Jinghe's smile faded as he grabbed Genggui's horn and pushed it into his own shadow, "No singing the song of doom."

"Hngga!゜(｀Д)゜"

"What a great atmosphere for battles!" Daye seemed excited, scanning the area for a suitable opponent.

"There!"

He suddenly spotted someone at a nearby stall, a towering figure with a bare, muscular upper body, standing shirtless in torn pants.

Without a second thought, he rushed over.

Hmm? Jinghe's expression grew peculiar as he looked at the figure.

If he wasn't mistaken, that person was...

"Xi Ba King?!"

Daye's voice carried across the street, attracting the attention of passersby.

Sure enough.

The barefooted man in tattered pants, standing at the Anger Bun stall, was none other than Xi Ba, the Kanto King, who had been traveling (or wandering) around for training. But before Daye could finish his sentence, Xi Ba clamped his hand over Daye's mouth.

"Red-haired punk, don't shout randomly!"

"Wuwuwu!!!" Daye's limbs flailed wildly.

Jinghe and Sharon exchanged glances and hurried over.

"Xi Ba King," Jinghe spoke up.

Xi Ba was momentarily startled to see Jinghe and Sharon, then broke into a hearty smile.

"So, it's you two, Jinghe and Sharon."

Neither Xi Ba nor Jinghe and Sharon had expected to meet here.

"Ahem," Jinghe coughed lightly, pointing to Daye, who was struggling under Xi Ba's grip, and said, "Xi Ba King, he's running out of breath."

Daye's mouth and nose were covered by Xi Ba's hand, and his other hand was tightly wrapped around his neck. Daye's eyes rolled back, and his legs kicked out, as if his soul was about to leave his body.

"Oh, oh!" Xi Ba realized and quickly released Daye.

Daye collapsed on the ground, foaming at the mouth.

This was probably the true choking technique of a top-notch fighter.

After a while, Daye regained consciousness, his eyes widening in shock, his chest heaving with relief.

"Um, sorry, red-haired bro. Sorry, sorry!"

Xi Ba, feeling embarrassed, scratched his head and kept apologizing.

"As an apology, I'll treat you to an Anger Bun!"

He was about to stuff an Anger Bun into Daye's mouth.

Daye's eyes seemed to widen even further, and he didn't have time to say anything.

Fortunately, Jinghe intervened, sensing that Daye might really faint, and said,

"Xi Ba King, why are you in Baiyang Town?"

Daye immediately shot a grateful look at Jinghe.

"Oh, it's like this. I heard Baiyang Town is holding a celebration, and you know, Anger Buns are the cheapest at festivals."

Xi Ba didn't hide his poverty, openly displaying his "poverty."

There was no choice.

While others might raise six Pokemon with six portions of food, Xi Ba needed at least seven portions for his six Pokemon.

The cost was higher than others.

Moreover, Fighting-type Pokemon required more food for training than the average Pokemon.

Jinghe understood this well.

The Bear Master's current appetite scared him.

"Then someone invited me to participate in a showcase battle and offered an appearance fee, so I came," Xi Ba explained with a smile.

So, the Four King who had nothing to do and still participated in showcase battles was Xi Ba?

It was both unexpected and understandable.

"What about you?" Xi Ba asked in return.

"We were also invited to participate in the showcase battle," Jinghe replied.

"I see."

Thus, the group of one rich lady and two "poor" people became one rich lady and three "poor" people.

And these three "poor" people were each poorer than the last.

"I'm alive..." Daye finally caught his breath.

Towards Xi Ba, he carefully sent a heartfelt look of "fear."

He had felt like he had seen his grandmother's spirit earlier.

Was this the strength of a top-tier fighter?

And this was just Xi Ba King; Daye dared not imagine how terrifying Jinghe, known as the "Fighting Master," would be.

"Oh, right, were you looking for me for a battle, red-haired bro?" Xi Ba snapped out of his thoughts, remembering Daye's request.

"Ah, that..."

Before Daye could respond, Jinghe spoke for him, "Yes, Xi Ba King."

"Hahaha!" Xi Ba laughed heartily, "Good! No problem!"

"Let's go meet our employer first," Sharon suggested with a smile.

"Yes, yes, yes! Meet the employer, meet the employer!" Daye clung to this lifeline.

"It's not your employer."

Jinghe shot him a sidelong glance, his raised eyebrow giving off a devilish vibe that matched Genggui's.

In the end, they decided to meet the employer first, then thoroughly explore Baiyang Town, and finally consider the matter of battling.

However, on their way, they couldn't help but be drawn to the street snacks.

"Hngga~~"

Genggui floated happily behind Jinghe, holding a giant cotton candy and licking it with delight.

Jinghe could only "handle" the purple-skinned Chubby for three minutes at most, as it would get impatient if the time dragged on.

"Hngga?"

Genggui seemed to sense something and suddenly stopped, looking towards a deep, pitch-black alley beside him with a puzzled expression.

However, after staring for a while, he didn't find anything unusual and didn't pay much attention to it.

Bang!!

Behind Genggui, a young Tyrogue with a large string of cotton candy walked with a "Biji Biji" gait, swaying unsteadily. He bumped into Genggui.

"Yoji? (ω`)?"

"Hngga~ Hngga~"

Genggui patted the young one's head, signaling for him to be careful while walking.

"Yoji!"

The young Tyrogue nodded seriously.

However, the cotton candy was several times bigger than the little guy, completely blocking his view.

So, every few steps, the young Tyrogue had to peek out from behind the cotton candy to check Jinghe and Genggui's positions, then hurriedly catch up with a "Biji Biji" gait.

He could only take a bite of the cotton candy when he had a chance.

It was a busy affair.

Jinghe and Sharon also held a string of cotton candy, and Ice Nine-Tails walked obediently beside Jinghe, with a fluffy cotton candy wrapped around its tail.

Daye had a mournful expression, munching on a dry and spicy Anger Bun that Xi Ba had handed him.

Xi Ba, on the other hand, seemed quite relaxed.

For him, there was no food more delicious than Anger Buns.

They walked for quite a distance.

The group finally reached the center of Baiyang Town, in front of a luxurious mansion.

At the entrance, a young man dressed in red noble attire, with golden silk draped over his shoulders and sporting a lazy hairstyle, waited for them.

By his side stood a chubby pink Pokemon, Tongue Licker!

"Tongue Licker, a Normal-type Pokemon, is said to have the longest tongue among its kind, reaching up to 25 meters in length, Rotom!"

The Rotom Pokedex, which had been taking pictures along the way, recalled this information.

"Hngga?"

Genggui looked at Tongue Licker and stuck out his scarlet tongue.

"Beling?"

Tongue Licker also stuck out its tongue, tilting its head, and its small eyes looked at Genggui with a dopey expression.

Genggui's expression tightened.

Oh no, he had met his match!

Tongue Licker maintained a dopey appearance, but a Slowpoke-like question mark appeared above its head.

"Beling?"

"Haha, welcome, everyone. I am Baron Albert, and I'm very grateful that you could all come at my invitation." The noble laughed with some self-satisfaction.

Albert, the Baron!

In the movie "Battle for the Time-Space Tower," there was a baron who wanted to eradicate Darkrai and was later transformed into a Tongue Licker by Darkrai.

His nickname: Baron Tongue Licker.

This somewhat "annoying" baron was the one who had paid a hefty sum to invite them for a showcase battle!

Jinghe, as the representative of the group, stepped forward and said, "It's our honor, Baron Albert." Jinghe's face bore a professional smile.

However, Baron Albert didn't seem to notice anything wrong with his smile; instead, he was delighted by Jinghe's words.

"Teacher Jinghe, you're too kind! I've prepared some small gifts for you."

As he spoke, he clapped his hands.

Immediately, several servants brought in wooden trays.

On each tray were a radiant Dragon Scale, a shiny Dark Stone, and a large bowl of Anger Buns.

It was clear.

The Dragon Scale was for Sharon's Hydreigon, the Dark Stone for Genggui, and the Anger Buns for Xi Ba.

Daye looked on with longing.

Upon seeing these items, Jinghe's smile became more "sincere."

"It's you, Baron, who is too kind."

To be honest, Jinghe had always thought that Baron Albert was quite dashing.

Look, how grand and generous!

Genggui happily stuffed the Dark Stone into his mouth and gave Baron Albert a thumbs-up.

This guy was worth befriending!

Their showcase battle fee was five million, and the price of just this Dark Stone was no less than two million League coins.

This showed that Baron Albert was truly wealthy.

"Everyone, I've prepared rooms for you."

Before Baron Albert could finish speaking, a girl with golden hair, wearing a red jacket and a light blue scarf, rushed out of the house behind him.

She looked flustered.

"Alice!"

Upon seeing the girl, Baron Albert's expression changed slightly, and he hurried after her.

Alice?

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"My apologies, esteemed guests. Baron Albert has prepared rooms for you all. Please follow me."

Baron Albert's sudden departure was somewhat impolite, so an elderly man in butler attire approached with an apologetic expression and said, "Hngga."

Genggui looked in the direction where Alice and Baron Albert had left and murmured.

"Should we go and see?" Sharon asked in a low voice.

From the girl's expression, it seemed like something urgent had come up.

Moreover, they had planned to explore Baiyang Town after meeting their employer anyway.

Jinghe took a deep breath.

Baron Albert, Alice, Darkrai... Something felt off.

That's right.

Jinghe remembered.

When the time-space chaos occurred in Baiyang Town, someone had been aware of it beforehand.

That person was Tonyu, a scientist and the great-grandson of Gaudi, who was involved in building the Time-Space Tower. He was also the object of Alice's secret admiration.

If they could find Tonyu, they might be able to find out if there would be any trouble.

And the best way to find the bookworm Tonyu was undoubtedly through Alice.

Although Baiyang Town seemed fine at the moment, it was better to be cautious.

With this thought, Jinghe nodded and said, "Okay!"

So, after apologizing to the butler, they hurried after them.

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(End of Chapter)

Chapter end