Aspiring to become a Pokémon trainer

"Your name is Nan Yin, right? Well, I hope you don't make that bedroom dirty."

Perhaps because they weren't familiar with each other, the black-haired girl could only try to find topics and things to talk about by using an unfriendly tone.

Her years at Blueberry Academy broadened her horizons, provided her with a wealth of knowledge, and gave her a clearer understanding of the true significance of a regional championship.

When the girl, who was about the same age as her, fought to a draw with Zhu Lan, surprise and longing appeared on her face. She had truly witnessed an unforgettable scene.

"Of course, your family put up with the pressure and let us stay temporarily, which is already a great blessing. Not to mention, those rooms were only made available after temporary cleaning."

She paused for a moment, then raised her eyelashes and looked directly at Danyu, showing no restraint in her gratitude.

She's not a coy person; she speaks her mind directly and concisely, which has always been her style.

"Maintaining hygiene is the most basic courtesy, but I want to thank Danyu for your efforts in this regard. That bright full-length mirror and that machine for repairing fruit trees, were they specially prepared by you out of our interest?"

Even though she was momentarily stunned, when she realized that the girl was praising her, a few blushes uncontrollably crept onto Danyu's ears.

"Cough, how could that be? The fruit picker is something Grandpa uses occasionally when he's working. I just happened to miss tidying it up. Don't overthink it!"

Under the focused gaze of those eyes, and seeing that delicate face approaching, the black-haired girl immediately coughed several times, and even her fingertips unconsciously tugged at the strands of hair at her temples.

Avoiding eye contact and appearing unsettled are signs of deliberate concealment.

"Okay, then I'll take that as my opinion."

Instead of puncturing the former's forced facade, the gratitude was conveyed through words, and Nan Yin's purpose was also achieved.

"Eh?"

However, this casual attempt to distance herself made Danyu feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Actually, receiving praise from peers is quite pleasing. Even if she denies it verbally, the girl still secretly hopes to receive a few more compliments.

Unfortunately, when I looked at Nanyin again, she was holding a small pink and white animal and speaking softly in a gentle whisper.

"It's alright, Ibrahimovic. One defeat doesn't mean forever, just like I said before—"

"There is still a long time to go, so we must wait and see."

"Buy~"

Sylveon dispels its slight frustration; as long as the girl is by its side, it has inexhaustible motivation and unwavering determination.

Lowering its little face, the little one hid in the peaks of Nanyin's breasts, indulging its momentary temper and completely monopolizing that abundant embrace.

"Cuckoo~"

As the midday sun shone down, a bird with a bright red body and a thick neck folded its wings and came into view from afar.

Setting down the sack it was carrying, it spread its wings out to the bamboo orchid, as if to tell a story.

Upon hearing the calls of birds and beasts, the blonde beauty relaxed her brows and spoke softly.

"Thank you for your hard work, messenger bird."

Taking the tightly wrapped package, Zhu Lan took out paper and pen, wrote down a few words, rolled up the thin paper, put it under the messenger's arm, and then released it into the bright sky.

“These are the crystals of Padia. Look at them and see how they differ from the inlays on the Egui Pong mask.”

Holding the crystals in their palms, the Sinnoh female champions presented them to the audience.

"I didn't expect that the day you mentioned, Zhulan, is today."

They were slightly surprised, after all, their friend said they would receive a definite answer within half a month, but in fact they received the goods in just three days.

"After all, I want it to be as soon as possible. We can wait, but it wouldn't be good to discourage the child."

They gathered together and first examined the exterior to distinguish the features, then used their mental power to delve deeper inside and understand the structure.

Running her fingertips over the crystals, Nan Yin once again witnessed their orderly and dense structure, confirming that they were identical to the inlays inside the mask.

As expected, the mask of the Egui Pon is essentially the Phadoia crystal bead, and the various forms reflected in the mask are similar to different types of crystalline forms.

However, although they are all the same type of crystal, does the emotion symbolized by the mask affect the changeable characteristics of the Evil Vine?

The joy of the Azure Mask and the rage of the Hearth Mask, due to their different depictions, are reflected in the hearts of the little demons, ultimately triggering completely opposite powers.

"Therefore, rather than saying that the Taijing crystal is special, it is more accurate to say that the Egui Pong affected the original form, making it more special."

...Is it never the mask that matters, but the little devil himself?

Assuming this is the case, then, no longer confined to the skill of the mask, if the child is willing to respond, could they possess more attributes and new qualities?

Such as fairies, such as metal.

P.S.: I feel it's necessary to set a fixed update schedule; it's really uncomfortable when my sleep schedule is disrupted.

Starting today, I will update every night from 9 to 10 pm.

I want to remind myself not to stay up late, and I also hope that everyone can finish reading this early and go to bed early.

Chapter 121 The Impossible

At midday, the autumn air is crisp and clear, and the lush grass stretches as far as the eye can see.

With each breath, the fields outside the window were undulating in the breeze, like waves crashing.

"The overall production process of the mask is not complicated. The only detail that needs attention is the connection between the crystal and the solid wood."

Sitting cross-legged on a corner of a kotatsu (heated table), an elderly man with gray hair and beard held a broken mask and explained the key points of its creation to a group of young people.

"If the special form of the Egui Pong is similar to that of Tai Crystallization, then when the carving knife is used, it must be refined down to every curve and straight line to ensure the flow of energy."

Picking up his old carving knife, the craftsman demonstrated the steps with great care.

With veins bulging and fingers focused intently, one could see the brushstrokes, both swift and meticulous, depicting the grain and seamlessly joining strips on the solid wood. This revealed the old man's skillful technique and steady hand-eye coordination.

Without wasting any time, after receiving the messenger bird's package, they temporarily set aside their other affairs, suppressed their interest in viewing, and focused on carving the little devil's mask.

"Then, sir, what should be the basis for judging the choice between right and wrong?"

There is no order of precedence in learning; those who are accomplished are teachers. Even though Nanyin music has become increasingly successful in its cultivation, I will still sincerely seek advice from experts in different fields.

"As long as the energy transfer paths do not overlap, it's fine."

The old man laid out the broken well mask and pointed to the connecting parts, explaining everything in detail.

"Ugh, this is so difficult."

Following his elders' movements, Wu Li tried to carve similar textures, but soon the soreness in his muscles distracted him, and a tremor in his hand broke the path.

Practice makes perfect. It not only refers to mastering the tricks after several attempts, but also to the patience to endure setbacks and discomfort. Just look at the craftsman's large calluses, and you'll know that he has put in a lot of hard work.

"Although it looks simple, it actually requires a lot of patience and focus."

With that assessment, after a brief attempt, Zhu Lan put the carving knife back on the kotatsu.

Everyone has their own expertise, and she is not exactly a prodigy in this field. In other words, the training of a craftsman is destined to be a process of hard work, and there are no shortcuts.

“...Bonnie, oh.”

Lying on Kirby's flat belly, seeing the troubled expressions on everyone's faces, the little devil also looked somewhat dejected.

The pieces of wood and the crystal in front of it were all familiar to it, and it understood that everyone was paying the price for its shattered mask.

Its bright eyes gradually dimmed, and Egui Peng remained silent, only watching Nan Yin quietly. Even though it was filled with disappointment, it was unwilling to confide in the person in front of it.

That was the reward for my long wait, the source of warmth and comfort that made it no longer lonely.

Just as the little devil was secretly glancing at Nan Yin, the girl herself also turned her head to the side at the opportune moment.

Seeing the little beast's worried expression, she softened her tone and gently murmured.

"It's okay, it's not difficult for me, and you don't need to feel burdened. It's all something I'm willing to do."

"Kirby~"

Echoing the girl's words of comfort, Kirby also retrieved a stored cube from his hair and handed it to Evil.

It has no complicated thoughts; being naturally lazy, it simply enjoys its only two kinds of happiness outside of sleep—eating.

No matter how many troubles one has, as long as one is full, one will definitely be happy. This simple thought made the little devil feel genuine concern.

"Bony".

These are words of thanks.

Opening its little mouth, it took a bite with its delicate tiger teeth. As the sweetness surged back, the little guy's eyes immediately lit up, and it uttered a surprised murmur.

Delicious!

A smile involuntarily crept onto Nanyin's lips. Just watching the children showing consideration for each other, Nanyin felt gratified and warmed.

Without pausing, and under the expectant gazes of the crowd, she lowered her fingertips and pressed them firmly against the middle of the carving knife.

An invisible force surged from her eyebrows, transforming into a fixed support and an extension of her senses. Just as she had said, the craftsmen's skills were not difficult for her.

Easily setting aside her chaotic thoughts and focusing solely on the task at hand, the true nature of the well mask is now appearing in the girl's mind from multiple angles.

Not only the details of the exterior, but also the linear distribution and inlaid holes inside flow through every corner of the mind in a three-dimensional form.

With a single cut and a single stroke, the old man's movements were broken down into different steps. By comparing them with a three-dimensional model, Nan Yin's hands and eyes achieved perfect coordination in just a moment.

At this moment, she seemed to be the master of exquisite craftsmanship. With the slashing of the carving knife and the horizontal cut of the tip, the bundle of wood, which was previously raw material, had shed its rough surface and become more and more exquisite and lifelike.

The processing of raw materials has come to an end, and the dissection of crystals is not too troublesome.

After sorting out the various turquoise crystals, Nan Yin carefully placed them into the previously reserved gaps. This time, she did not intend to depict the well mask as a sorrowful expression again.

No need for overly intense emotions; simply gaze quietly at its adorable little face, look into its focused eyes, and observe its expectant expression.

It may look a little blank, but that's exactly the color the girl wanted to leave on this mask.

—A serene and peaceful smile.

If possible, Nan Yin hopes that her children will never feel sadness and will always be filled with this sense of comfort and contentment.

After applying the appropriate base to the corresponding area and quickly drying it with her mental power, she handed it to the little devil with a light touch.

“Bonnie…”

Even now, E Guipeng still finds it hard to believe as he takes the lightly floating mask from Nan Yin's hand.

The mask it cherished, those old memories, has been recreated by its current family.

Yes, even though they hadn't spent much time together, the little devil sensed the girl's sincerity. It wasn't the villagers' ostracism and hostility, but genuine care and concern.

This affection alone is enough to melt the ice in the little beast's heart and respond to the faint hope left after being oppressed.

and so.

"Want to try it?"

Upon hearing that peaceful voice and seeing that gentle face, Egui Peng didn't hesitate at all and immediately put on the brand-new well mask.

In that instant, dazzling light once again flowed over the little devil's entire body. When it dissipated, the mask revealed a smile, as if telling everyone of its inner joy and fulfillment.

"Bonnie~"

Without any discomfort, and with the transmission of thoughts no longer hindered, Egui Peng jumped up and impulsively threw himself into Nan Yin's arms.

Unaware of Fairy Yi's angry snort, and oblivious to the various expressions on everyone's faces, the little devil's eyes were fixed solely on—

The white-haired girl was alone.

Similarly, unlike the simple and unpredictable Egui Peng, after watching the entire process of reshaping, the old craftsman was dumbfounded and speechless.

Putting aside the fact that the previous person executed the move in one go, the control of the knife skills and the depth of force applied were even more precise and skillful than the person himself.

It was only their first attempt, yet they produced a flawless finished product. Was it because they had neglected to hone their skills over the years, or was it due to the other party's exceptional talent?

Moreover, the continuity of the carving and the verticality of the texture are perfectly integrated without any pause, making it impossible for him to replicate. What kind of skill is this?

P.S.: Future updates will be scheduled for noon or between 9 and 10 p.m.

Thank you all for reading. I will resume daily updates of 4,000 words tomorrow. Love you all.

Chapter 122 Subduing the Evil Spirit

"That's an incredible level of skill."

With such praise, the old man was even more moved by the rise of the younger generation and by his own advancing age.