Pokémon: The Zen Trainer

"What's that thing you're holding?!"

"Nothing..." she thought to herself before the words were even out of her mouth.

His younger sister, Bian Meng, leaped up and pounced on Bian Xiang.

"You little rascal! What are you doing!"

With a crash, the Buddhist scriptures scattered all over the ground.

The atmosphere froze for a moment.

"What is this?!"

Bian's mother looked at the Buddhist scriptures on the ground as if she could hardly believe it.

"Xiao Xiang!! What are you doing?!"

Bian's father looked at him with a disappointed expression.

"Look! Dad, Mom! I told you so, didn't I? My brother is going to become a monk!!"

He couldn't catch his breath and coughed violently a few times.

"What are you saying, you stinky cutie?!"

"Now, you have to give us an explanation?"

Bian's father stood on the edge of the corridor, looking at the handwritten Buddhist scriptures on the ground with a serious expression.

"Last time I saw you secretly bringing those pornographic books, I thought you'd changed your mind. Turns out it was just a smokescreen. Xiao Xiang, you're not really thinking of becoming a nun, are you?! Let me tell you!! As long as I'm still around, you can forget about it!!"

"Dad, actually I'm only slightly interested in Buddhism, don't worry! I like women!!"

He held up three fingers and began to make a promise to his parents.

"You like it? You don't want the Pokémon the school gives you! You don't want the Pokémon we buy for you! You secretly recite Buddhist scriptures every night! And you're always going out to give alms to those wild Pokémon! Just like those monks at Bellsprout Tower. No, even those monks have a Bellsprout. Who doesn't like Pokémon! I think you want to become a monk!! Honey!! Waaaaah."

"Mom, Lian Yun said, and then she leaned on Dad's shoulder and cried."

Bian Xiang blinked, looked at the floor, then at her parents, and then at Bian Meng.

He then raised three fingers again.

"I love elves! I love women too! I promise I'll get an elf this week!"

Chapter Two said, "How many times have I told you to knock before you come in!"

Bian Xiang really couldn't bear to see his mother cry, even though he knew his parents were putting on an act.

"Really?"

Lian Yun looked up and pondered.

"You said it! You can't go back on your word!!"

Bian Bufu coughed and said, "Getting a Pokémon is enough. Women are a bit too early for you. Oh, and I've also confiscated those little yellow books with Buddhist scripture covers. They're a bit too early for your age. At this stage, you should focus on getting a Pokémon and studying hard! Studies come first. I've taken all the Buddhist scriptures. You can ask me for them when you get a Pokémon. If you want to take them, that's fine too. I know someone at the breeding center. They just got a batch of new Pokémon, and many of them have pretty good stats."

After saying that, the couple walked towards the living room.

Bian Meng turned her head, stuck out her tongue at Bian Xiang, and hopped into the living room.

Bian Xiang sighed.

.....

After finishing my meal, I headed upstairs.

I was planning to make a fortune through Buddhist practices today, but that fell through. I can only earn a little money by reciting Buddhist scriptures now.

Each time you read a new Buddhist scripture, you accumulate a certain number of Buddha-nature points. This number is distributed based on your understanding of the scripture.

Recite one Buddhist scripture every day to accumulate a little bit of Buddha-nature; this can only be done once a day.

The current value of my Buddhist nature is 193 points.

Besides strengthening your character, you can also use Buddhist scriptures to buy items and other things.

Because Bianxiang doesn't have his own spirit, the Buddhist system isn't fully activated.

Bian Xiang slapped his hand hard. If he hadn't been so impulsive as to pat that Buddha statue's butt, he might not have this system and would already be leading his elf to conquer all directions.

Never mind, I don't want to think about it anymore. I'll just memorize it once and go to sleep. I have school tomorrow.

Reciting Buddhist scriptures actually has some benefits. I've become more Buddhist-like, my sleep is better, and my memory has improved.

I go to sleep right after memorizing the Buddhist scriptures.

After he fell asleep, he was in his shadow.

A spherical gas bubble rose to the surface.

If Bian were awake right now, he would definitely recognize this elf.

Gastly.

However, this Gastly's color is somewhat different from that of a regular Gastly; its purplish-red body is enveloped in blue mist.

It's a shiny Gastly.

"just!"

After Gastly came out, it circled around the edge once.

"Cha! Cha! Cha! Cha~"

Gastly's voice is very rhythmic.

It actually imitated Bian Xiang's behavior and started reciting Buddhist scriptures, as if it had completely memorized the contents of the scriptures.

After reciting the Buddhist scriptures, Gastly closed its eyes and began meditating, looking quite serious.

After doing all that, Gastly circled the edge once and flew out the window.

A moment later, the five handwritten Buddhist scriptures that Bianxiang had just bought but whose father had hidden drifted in through the window and landed on the table.

"just!"

Having done all this, Gastly nodded in satisfaction and disappeared into Bianxiang's shadow.

.....

Early the next morning.

Bian stretched and immediately noticed the five Buddhist scriptures on the table.

He was stunned. What was this?

Is Dad finally deciding to send me to a temple to become a monk? Or is he testing my resolve?

Well... since it's been delivered right to my door, how can I not take a look?

Isn't Buddhist nature appealing? Damn it, there aren't even any elves, so what's so appealing about it?

After a brief moment of reflection, Bian Xiang turned and walked outside. If it was a trap set by his father, it would be too much of a loss.

Don't doubt it, Bian Bufeng is capable of doing it. Bian Xiang remembers it too. His father took him and his sister to the amusement park, but he got so engrossed in playing that he completely forgot about them. Luckily, Bian Xiang is a time traveler; he managed to bring his sister home on his own. And then there was the time they played hide-and-seek with Bian Bufeng—he was so serious! If Bian Xiang weren't a time traveler, he'd never find his father. And then there's the jungle adventure, etc. It's all thanks to Bian Xiang being a time traveler...

Just as I was about to take firm steps out, the books suddenly started moving without any wind, making a rustling sound.

Bian Xiang couldn't help but stop in his tracks. Hmm... the Buddhist-like quality is quite attractive.

Just take a look~

He turned around and walked towards the table.

Gastly emerged from the shadows behind Bian Xiang, covered its mouth and chuckled, then disappeared back into Bian Xiang's shadow.

.....

Just as Bian was engrossed in reading, the door was suddenly opened.

"Brother! Mom is calling you down for dinner. You'll be late if you don't go soon."

"You idiot! Don't you know how to knock before opening the door?"

Bian Meng covered her mouth and screamed as she looked at the Buddhist scriptures on Bian Xiang's table.

"Mom!! My brother wants to become a monk again!!"

He glanced at the doorway, then at the Buddhist scriptures.

Hmm... I turned my head and continued browsing. Since I've already been discovered, I have to make the most of this "Buddhist" value, or I'll lose a lot.

I'm thinking of starting to take a more relaxed, Buddhist-like approach.

"Cha~"

Gastly emerged from Bianxiang's shadow, looking at him with admiration as he intently studied the Buddhist scriptures.

Then, as if it had made up its mind, it quietly floated beside Bian Xiang, this time without hiding in Bian Xiang's shadow.

.....

Tap tap tap, the sound of hurried footsteps.

With a thud, Bian Xiang's door was opened again.