Chapter 684: The Ever-Entertaining Jinghe

Chapter 684: The Ever-Entertaining Jinghe (Combined, Requesting Monthly Votes!)

"Left, left, oh, right, right~"

On a blazing midday, a lush, towering tree stood out on a small, otherwise barren island off the coast of Canalave City.

Beneath the tree, Jinghe lounged in a chair, half-closed eyes slanted as he leaned back. Behind him, Snivy, her face a mix of indignation and resignation, obediently used Vine Whip to gently scratch Jinghe's back, following his directions.

This so-called "precision training" was quite something.

Jinghe's eyes cracked open a bit more, glancing at the sulking little one behind him, a teasing smile playing on his lips. He then looked up at the cool shade provided by the tree, a satisfied expression crossing his face.

This tree, he had "packed" from the vast forests of Johto.

It was, after all, the height of summer. Even at sea, the stifling heat could still be uncomfortable. Having a tree to provide shade made a world of difference.

"Everyone, let's take a break."

Jinghe called out. On the table in front of him, a large, chilled watermelon was cut open, its green rind and red flesh glistening with a light mist, a perfect treat to beat the heat.

Hearing his words, the Pokémon quickly gathered under the tree's shade. Seeing the sliced watermelon, they wasted no time and dug in.

Not just Jinghe's Pokémon, but also the borrowed Diglett and Rhyperior joined in.

Diglett and Rhyperior had been the "heroes" of the island, diligently clearing and tilling the land for planting in just a few days.

Looking at the neatly divided, grid-like fields in front of him, Jinghe couldn't help but smile.

It did look a bit like a farm.

The thought of a real-life "Stardew Valley" was amusing, even a bit of a middle-school fantasy.

But it was a bit lonely.

Though his Pokémon were lively, the island, while not enormous, wasn't small either. With just a handful or a dozen Pokémon, it still felt a bit desolate.

It was only their constant activity that made it less so.

But if he had to leave for business, the island would be left with just two Diglett and two Rhyperior, and perhaps a few Water Pokémon from the sea causing trouble. It would still be quiet.

"Once the vegetables and fruits are planted and we can sustain ourselves, we should definitely raise more Pokémon."

Unlike the intensive training Gengue and the others received, which required a lot of resources and effort, he planned to raise these in a more relaxed, semi-free-range manner.

For example, the Salt King, who was already preparing to move to the island.

The Salt King had already found a corner to settle in, rarely appearing and quietly using salt to create a small ecosystem, as if determined to be self-sufficient.

Jinghe and Gengue had discussed the Salt King's state and concluded that it was feeling "lonely."

It needed a mate.

Then, perhaps, digging up some soil might yield a nest of little Salt Stones.

The thought was amusing.

Moreover, the Salt King's salt and Rhyperior's grass field could serve as temporary medical areas for the island, providing basic healthcare until a proper healing Pokémon arrived.

However, while finding a nest of Salt Stones was fun, it wasn't Jinghe's ultimate goal.

What he truly aspired to were adorable Eevees, playful Pichus, warm Vulpixes, cute Jigglypuffs, and fluffy Foonguses.

But that was still a long way off.

"A long and arduous journey", Jinghe couldn't help but sigh.

"Gengue."

He turned to the pudgy, mischievous Gengue.

"Gen?"

Gengue lifted its head from the watermelon, half its face covered in juice and seeds, looking quite the sight.

Jinghe couldn't help but chuckle.

"Who eats watermelon like that?"

"Gen~!"

Gengue pointed at Blastoise, who was sitting nearby, and patted its back.

"Blast?"

Blastoise, thinking it was being called, lifted its head from the watermelon and stood up. Its face was even messier than Gengue's, with seeds stuck to its dark green forehead, far from its usual "Desert Tyrant" demeanor.

Even funnier was the wet seat mark it left on the ground, which made Jinghe facepalm.

Oh, the agony!

"Blast?"

Me?

Blastoise looked confused and asked again.

"It's nothing, nothing. I wasn't calling you", Jinghe waved his hand, gesturing for it to sit back down and continue eating. He then turned to Gengue.

"Take out the item and set it up. We'll be farming here from now on."

"Gen~"

Gengue's eyes widened, and he pulled out a wooden stake from his mouth.

Carved into the stake was a lifelike image of Coronet King, exuding a mix of authority, benevolence, and a hint of melancholy.

Now, Jinghe was certain.

This wooden stake had definitely established some kind of connection with the Coronet King in the distant Crown Tundra.

Otherwise, the initially crude carving wouldn't have transformed into the vivid image it was now.

However, that wasn’t the important part.

What mattered was the “Yield Boost” buff that came with the totem pole.

“I wonder if it can cover the entire island. Should I carve a few more?”

With this question in mind, Jing He had Gengue plant the totem pole in the center of the already cultivated farmland, ready to start working once the seeds were sown.

“By the way—”

As Jing He watched Gengue plant the totem pole, another idea popped into his head.

“Can the wooden carvings from the flower head affect the World Tree?”

He still had several branches from the World Tree. He had tried planting them, but they wouldn’t grow. But if he used the power of the flower head...

Tap, tap, tap, tap—

The little ones, having finished their watermelons, started their “Seed Machine Gun” imitation contest again.

They all aimed at each other, firing their “special moves” with great enthusiasm.

After a while of play, Jing He clapped his hands and gathered the little ones again.

“Today’s task is simple.”

Sitting in his chair, Jing He began to assign the tasks.

Of course, these weren’t training tasks, which he had already given out in the morning. These were the island development tasks.

“Gengue, Nine-Tails, you two are responsible for transforming the area I’ve marked out today. Try to get the ice radishes and black radishes planted today.”

With such a large area, they needed to plant plenty of ice radishes and black radishes.

Unlike other fruits or energy roots, which he could buy if he didn’t grow them, ice radishes and black radishes were unique in the entire Pokémon world.

Moreover, their taste was exquisite. Even a simple preparation could turn them into a top-notch delicacy.

Unfortunately, he had planted too few in the past. Gengue and the little foodies were always thinking about them, and Jing He had rarely seen fully matured plants.

This time, they had to plant more.

“Geng-ga!”

Gengue immediately stood at attention, raised his hands in a salute, and bounced with his round belly, looking more amusing than serious.

“Awooo~”

Nine-Tails’ tail waved, and she nodded, indicating no problem.

Initially, planting the ice radishes and black radishes required “Everfrost” and “Ghostly Veil.”

But with Gengue and Nine-Tails’ current strength, they no longer needed these items.

After assigning tasks to Gengue and Nine-Tails, Jing He looked at the other little ones.

“As for everyone else, today’s task is to dig a pond in the center of the island.”

A pond?

The little ones exchanged puzzled looks.

“Although we’re on the ocean and surrounded by water, seawater can’t be used for Pokémon to drink or for irrigation. A pond is essential.”

There was a significant difference between seawater and freshwater.

If the island’s Pokémon population increased, there needed to be a source of drinkable water.

Moreover, Jing He planned to raise some Water Pokémon and freshwater fish.

He didn’t believe that he could fill his pond with fish and not catch a single Magikarp.

As for raising a few Water Pokémon, like Swampert, Wooper, or Poliwag, they could water the fields with their Water Gun, saving him the trouble.

Heh heh!

Never underestimate the determination of a dedicated angler.

“Blastoise, uh, Dratini, you lead the way.”

He waved his hand.

Originally, digging a pond would be Blastoise’s main job, but considering his old buddy’s nature, it was better to let Dratini take charge.

“Woo~(ˊˋ)”

As soon as he finished speaking, Dratini shot out in a flash of white light.

The other Pokémon also followed happily.

Digging a pond (×)

Playing in the mud (√)

Jing He chuckled, shaking his head, and called over Snivy.

“Hiss?”

Snivy was about to help with the pond but was stopped by Jing He.

“Let’s... go fishing!”

Jing He smiled mysteriously.

Fishing?

Snivy immediately scrutinized him.

Snivy wasn’t new to this trainer. It knew his fishing skills well.

Besides Magikarp, what else could you catch?

Under Snivy’s scrutinizing gaze, Jing He’s expression darkened.

“What’s that look for? Today, we’re not just going to fish alone; you’re joining me.”

“Hiss?”

With a hint of doubt.

One human and one Pokémon made their way to the edge of the island, to a flat rock.

This was the “fishing platform” Jing He had specially prepared with Blastoise’s help.

Setting up his chair, he skillfully took out his fishing rod, hook, and bait, and with a perfect cast, the hook and bait flew through the air in a beautiful arc.

Snivy watched the perfect, graceful motion and pouted.

But it still used Vine Whip to hold up a large leaf as a parasol, shading Jing He.

Seeing this, Jing He smiled and patted her head.

“Good girl.”

Snivy bared its teeth, looking fierce.

Don't think I'll be happy just because you call me "good girl"!

Don’t think I’ll be happy just because you call me “good girl”!

Understanding Snivy’s nature, Jing He said:

“Alright, you fish too.”

“Hiss?”

Really fish?

It thought Jing He was joking, just to find a “laborer” to hold the umbrella for him.

Jing He took out a few ordinary energy bars and said:

“Diglett said that last night, some Pokémon came to steal food. Unfortunately, it was too dark, and he was underground, so he couldn’t see clearly.”

"Hmm?"

At the sound of the words, Snivy immediately straightened up.

Pokemon from the sea coming to snatch food from us?

Causing trouble?

It would be quite a challenge to have the Diglett, responsible for tilling the land, face Water-type Pokemon from the sea.

The Rhyperior are Grass-type, but the ones Grandpa Fu lent us are mainly for farming and aren’t skilled in battle.

That’s why Snivy was sent to fish.

This kind of fishing has two meanings.

Perhaps it also involves fighting.

So Snivy was immediately intrigued.

The Vine Whip coiled around an energy bar and slowly extended into the sea.

The ocean is far vaster than the land, and the number of Pokemon in it is countless. Among them are certainly many powerful and aggressive wild Pokemon.

The island where Jing He and his companions are now is far enough from Canalave City that it can no longer be considered near the coast. Naturally, there are many wild Pokemon around.

However.

Since the island was formed by the volcanic eruptions of Groudon, it still carried Groudon’s aura, which deterred many wild Pokemon from the sea for a long time.

But as the events gradually subsided and Groudon’s remaining aura slowly dissipated, some wild Pokemon from the sea began to return and approach the island.

After all.

Just like the island’s sudden abundance of mineral resources after being cultivated, the part of the island submerged in the sea is also rich in resources, with a large number of marine life and algae attached to it.

And the first wild Pokemon from the sea that appeared on the island to snatch food yesterday, as one of the first “testers,” must have been quite strong. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have had the nerve.

About half an hour later.

"Give up."

Jing He, with a bitter expression, threw the ninth Magikarp back into the sea, tilting his head back at a 45-degree angle, a sense of tragic resignation in his demeanor.

"Hisss!"

Suddenly.

The Snivy sitting on a small stool beside him jumped up, letting out a cry as the Vine Whip quickly retracted.

"Hmm?"

Jing He, who had been feeling a bit drowsy, suddenly perked up.

Did it bite?

The previously calm sea surface suddenly formed a small whirlpool, and Snivy’s Vine Whip quickly retracted, the commotion in the whirlpool growing larger.

Until the Vine Whip left the water, a dark red Pokemon with a star-shaped mark on its head and two large pincers emerged, chasing after it.

"Hisss!"

Snivy released the Vine Whip from the leaf it was holding and lashed out at the creature.

Bang!!

The creature, which had just emerged from the water, was immediately struck by the Vine Whip and sent flying onto the island with a loud thud.

But it landed steadily.

Its face was fierce, its large pincers clacking, and it was blowing bubbles from its mouth.

A Steelix!

Known for being aggressive in the sea, Steelix is not as mindless as Gyarados, but it is notoriously difficult to train.

Was this the one that came to snatch the energy bars at midnight?

Or was it just a coincidence today?

However, Jing He’s expression showed a hint of disappointment.

A Steelix...

He had expected it to be a Gyarados, Sharpedo, or Stunfisk.

After all.

Gyarados can produce scales, Sharpedo can produce sharp teeth, and Stunfisk can produce venomous spines.

These are all Pokemon that can produce "by-products", even if the yield is minimal and rare.

But what about Steelix?

It’s said that their pincers fall off periodically, during which time they become vulnerable and hide.

Some have tried to use the naturally shed pincers of Steelix to make delicacies, but the earthy and muddy taste made them unbearably unpleasant.

Clack!

The large pincers clacked, and the Steelix, lured onto the island, immediately attacked Jing He and Snivy without hesitation.

A black glow surged, enveloping the large pincers.

It was a direct attack on the vital points!

Snivy, of course, remained calm. The Vine Whip quickly extended, not to attack, but to brace against the ground. Then, her body sprang up, dodging the attack.

"Leaf Storm", Jing He said calmly.

"Hisss!"

Snivy, mid-air, still controlled her body with ease.

Her tail, like a fan, curled and whipped, creating a spiral wind. A large number of leaves, carried by the wind, surged toward the Steelix.

The Leaf Storm, enhanced by the tornado, hit the Steelix without fail.

Bang!!

Snivy, who had been in the air, landed lightly and steadily, carrying the Steelix, and her two Vine Whips quickly retracted.

"Hisss~(|▼_▼)"

Bang—

The Steelix, as the Vine Whip fully retracted, fell to the ground, its eyes circling.

It had lost its ability to fight!

One-hit KO!

It wasn’t surprising that a wild Pokemon was taken down by Snivy in one move.

However, Snivy’s ability to combine the tornado with Leaf Storm and display such impressive power was quite astonishing.

"Let’s continue."

Jing He, holding the fishing rod, sat down and said.

"Hisss~"

Snivy nodded and continued fishing.

Just a Steelix.

However, after the Steelix was caught, the number of wild Pokemon from the sea that Snivy caught gradually increased.

Gyarados, Sharpedo, Octillery, Remoraid...

There were many types.

But most of them couldn’t withstand Snivy’s single Leaf Storm.

Especially after Snivy used Leaf Storm a few times, and with the "Contrary" ability boosting her special attack to the max.

Even a Gyarados, a Water and Flying-type Pokémon, couldn't withstand Snivy's Leaf Storm, falling in one hit.

And Jing He noticed that Snivy was becoming more and more adept at combining Leaf Storm with Whirlwind, mastering the technique with increasing proficiency.

It's true that practice is the only way to test and refine one's skills. Battles can quickly resolve doubts from training and uncover shortcomings that training alone can't reveal.

"If this were a game, I'd probably have leveled up by now", Jing He mused, glancing at the bruised and battered Water Pokémon in the sea, who now looked thoroughly subdued. He couldn't help but chuckle.

To ensure the complete safety of the waters around the island and prevent any more wild Pokémon from causing trouble, the best solution was to form a "guard squad" from the island itself. The defeated and fierce wild Pokémon were an excellent choice for this role.

Of course, if these Pokémon wanted to leave, they could easily disappear into the vast ocean, where Jing He wouldn't be able to find them. However, some would undoubtedly stay, enticed by the allure of the energy bars.

Just like how the Plasma Team once guarded the "P2 Laboratory."

Raising a group of fierce Water Pokémon in the water would not only protect the island but also serve as labor for irrigating the farmland before the pond in the center of the island was dug and the Water Pokémon were settled in.

The first Pokémon to be "subdued" by Snivy, the Iron Crab, had already been appointed as the captain of the "guard squad." The other Pokémon were also behaving obediently.

It was uncertain how many would remain by tomorrow, but it didn't matter. Jing He, who had caught over twenty Magikarp, was already losing interest. He decided to check on the progress of the pond digging and see how Gengue and Nine-Tails were doing with planting the radishes.

But what he saw left him speechless. Snivy, standing beside him, covered her face and turned away, unable to bear the sight.

There, in the newly dug pond, stood Dratini, Forger, Blastoise, Thicklipuku, Rotom, and others, all covered in mud, posing in ridiculous positions that were both funny and strange.

Crimson Blade Phantom, now transformed into a Red Lotus Knight, was using fire to dry the mud on their bodies, claiming it was to make molds.

They seemed to be planning to create individual statues on the island, supposedly to serve as scarecrows.

Jing He's face twitched.

"Never mind, never mind."

He seemed somewhat dispirited.

Thinking Jing He was angry, the little ones were taken aback. Then, their eyes started to dart around mischievously, their expressions revealing a sinister grin.

The next moment,

"Stop! Stop! My clothes are expensive! Pfft, pfft—Who? Who put mud in my mouth?!"

Splash!

The sea roared as Jing He and the Pokémon washed the mud off their bodies. His expression was one of deep resentment as he muttered, "Fortunately, I was farming today and didn't wear the clothes hiruna gave me, otherwise..."

Snivy, standing on Thicklipuku's shoulder, let out a fierce hiss, vigorously rubbing the mud off her body with Vine Whip.

Snivy, standing on Thicklipuku's shoulder, vigorously rubbed the mud off her body with Vine Whip, looking quite fierce.

Why did they have to get her dirty too just because they were messing with Jing He?

But, strangely enough, the nutrient-rich mud seemed to make Snivy's skin look even more radiant after washing.

As Giovanni's "Secrets of the Earth" stated, Grass Pokémon had a deep connection to the ground and water.

The little ones couldn't stop laughing.

Jing He's ability to join in their fun and never dampen their spirits was one of the reasons they loved him so much. If only they could keep playing like this forever.

"Where's Blastoise?"

Jing He suddenly noticed one of the little ones was missing.

Gurgle—

A bubble suddenly rose to the surface of the sea.

Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle—

Then, a large cluster of bubbles emerged.

Jing He quickly dove into the water and saw Blastoise sinking to the bottom, choking and turning red.

Jing He: "."

"Quick! Blastoise, below!"

Thicklipuku and Dratini immediately dived down, gurgle, gurgle—

On the island's beach, Jing He and the little ones lay in a star shape on the sand, and the hot sun quickly dried the water on their bodies.

"Bark."

Blastoise, seemingly hungry, sat on the beach and started eating a Diamond as if he hadn't almost drowned, carefree and without a care in the world.

"This weather is a bit too hot."

Jing He walked towards the farmland to check on the progress of the radish planting by Gengue and Nine-Tails.

Fortunately, there were no "incidents" here.

Nine-Tails and Gengue had completed the task Jing He had given them, planting large patches of Ice Radish and Black Radish.

It won't be long before we can harvest a large batch of radishes again.

Nine-Tails was still making the final adjustments, tidying up the entire "ice field" to make it neat and orderly. From above, it looked like a beautiful painting.

In stark contrast, Gengue's messy "black field" next to it looked like a chaotic mess.

No wonder, considering Gengue's love for ice sculptures.

As for Gengue,

he was lying on the grass, one leg crossed over the other, holding a clump of unknown black fur in his hand. At the end of the fur, a black radish was tied, hanging down to Gengue's mouth. He was playing with it and munching on it, amusing himself.

"Geng ga!"

Upon noticing Jinghe, Gengue quickly sat up, hiding the black radish behind his back and flashing a sheepish grin.

This was his "food stash."

Jinghe said with a hint of exasperation:

"Don't hide it."

How could he not know his mischievous friend's habits?

Jinghe even suspected that if his wallet ever ran dry, he could raid Gengue's stash and instantly refill it, becoming wealthy again.

After all, the "three steps of finance" were—squeezing the common folk, raiding the merchants, and plundering the corrupt officials.

And Gengue was the biggest "corrupt official" of them all.

"Geng ga?"

Gengue immediately shrank back, his eyes darting nervously at Jinghe.

Was there a sly civilian planning to harm his king?

Taking the black fur and the half-eaten black radish from Gengue's hand, Jinghe said:

"This thing..."

Jinghe looked at the black fur, recalling that it seemed to be from the last time they dealt with the ghost pirate Pokémon hunter gang.

At the time, they suspected it was "black fur", but they had forgotten about it. Now, it seemed likely that it was indeed "black fur."

As a Ghost-type Pokémon, Gengue must have been using it for its Ghost properties, so it was probably correct.

"Wasn't it supposed to be combined with the 'black radish' to make the 'Bond Rope'?"

Jinghe wasn't always clear on everything, and this point was a bit fuzzy.

"Seems like it was combined with... 'Radiant Petals'?"

Right!

Radiant Petals!

Only the Coronet King could produce those.

Jinghe looked at the "black fur" in his hand and then at the "innocent" Gengue.

A vivid image suddenly appeared in his mind.

His Gengue, holding a rope, riding a powerful Spectral Horse, combining their dual Ghost properties to face Mythical Beasts and throwing "Star Break" spears.

No need for Mega Evolution or Terastallization to enhance their power.

Damn, that actually sounds pretty cool and exciting.

"Geng ga."

Gengue, not knowing what Jinghe was thinking, just stared longingly at the remaining half of the black radish.

His stash was running low. Before the new batch of black radishes grew, each one he ate would be one less, and he didn't have many left.

"Interesting."

Jinghe muttered to himself, then put the radish in his mouth.

Crunch—

His eyes lit up.

Surprisingly, it tasted quite good.

Crisp, cool, and with a unique sweetness.

No wonder the Spectral Horses and Gengue loved it so much.

Gengue: (Tat)

My radish!

As night fell.

After dinner.

The little ones gathered around the TV, and Jinghe lounged on the sofa, holding a book.

This book, "Fuhua's Farm Comprehensive Guide", was a compilation of Fuhua's experiences in farming and Pokémon raising.

He read about Pokémon training during the day and about farming and ranching at night, keeping himself busy from morning till night.

The scorching heat of summer didn't affect Jinghe and the others much.

With Nine-Tails releasing a bit of cold air and Crimson Blade Phantom, Male reducing his charcoal heat, the room stayed cool and energy-efficient.

Actually, ever since Regieleki arrived, from the invisible flying vehicle's power supply to small appliances like a razor, they hadn't used a single cent of city electricity!

Jinghe glanced at Regieleki, who was flashing signal lights nearby.

Speaking of which.

He had promised to send Regieleki back home.

To the Crown Tundra!

He had to keep his promise, and Jinghe fell into deep thought.

Originally, he planned to visit Alola before challenging the "Champion's Path", to get the "Fairy Tablet" and ensure that Nine-Tails and Forger's strength would be further enhanced.

Now, it seemed that a trip to the Crown Tundra could be added to his itinerary.

After all, with the scorching heat in Canalave City, going to the icy wilderness to "beat the heat" wouldn't be a bad choice.

But then again,

the sun, sand, and bikinis in Alola—cough—were quite tempting.

"Let's finish up the 'few things' here first."

Jinghe decided to put aside these "complicated" thoughts, put down the book, and stood up.

"Who wants some shaved ice?" he asked suddenly.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh—

A flurry of hands of various sizes shot up.

Jinghe smiled.

Since it was relaxation time, he wouldn't ruin the moment by announcing any big plans while they were all watching TV.

With the little ones engrossed in their show, he could bring everyone a cup of shaved ice to make their viewing more enjoyable.

Jinghe—Never a Buzzkill—He!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end