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Mid-September.
The Sakura Island trip was completely over.
Duan Tianxing brought everyone back to Qingcheng and stopped by the Dojo. Everyone checked if their weapons had arrived and if there was any damage, then dispersed on the spot.
Jiang Shangrong returned to Yuzhou that same day. A half-month vacation was indeed a bit long for someone about to compete, especially as the team captain, but if the supervising teacher insisted, there was no way around it.
Li Xiang silently wished her victory and glory.
Home.
The house was routinely empty.
Deserted.
Honedge was visiting a place far from Sakura Island for the first time, encountering an unfamiliar environment and climate, which inevitably made it uneasy.
Coupled with its inherently shy nature, the moment Li Xiang released it from its PokéBall, it clattered to the floor and played dead.
Playing dead with its eyes closed seemed to be its only defense against the outside world.
Incineroar and the others stepped over it, their eyes slightly strange, but none of them said anything, each going about their own business, because comforting this sword was the trainer's job and didn't really concern them.
"Hey, you really."
Li Xiang picked Honedge up from the floor. "This is my house and your home now. What are you afraid of? No one's going to dismantle you."
Honedge remained unmoved.
It wasn't the type to be easily won over with a few coaxing words and smiles.
"If you're like this, how am I supposed to take you out for battles in the future?"
Li Xiang sat on the sofa, grabbed its tassel, and gently scratched it. "There will be many places to go in the future. If you're afraid of all of them, how can you guarantee any combat effectiveness—don't get excited."
Seeing Honedge about to unsheathe itself, he gently pressed it back in.
This girl-sword was quick to draw its blade. Li Xiang was already used to it.
On the guard, a sapphire-blue eye slowly opened, filled with shame and annoyance.
Clearly, having its tassel lightly scratched was something it found hard to endure.
"Willing to open your eyes now? Let me show you around."
Li Xiang stood up, thinking this move was really effective—as expected from someone who had mastered the Divine Art of Cat-Scratching.
Holding Honedge, he walked around the house, not even sparing the bathroom, introducing every room and the facilities inside.
During this, he didn't forget to scold Greninja for always staying in the bathroom, tell Corviknight to get down from the pitiful tree in the backyard, and warn Incineroar that if it littered again, he'd stuff it into the trash can.
These guys were always so troublesome.
Finally, back in his own room, he stepped on Metang, who was playing on the computer.
Its body was too big and blocking the way.
"That's roughly the situation. Got it?"
"Metang!"
"Wasn't asking you. Go back to your game."
"Metang!"
Metang continued using its psychic waves to control the mouse and keyboard, playing its MOBA game.
Next to it was Rotom, playing together.
Honedge glanced at the two computers, then withdrew its gaze, uninterested. It wasn't keen on games.
Its favorite thing was standing on the windowsill and gazing at the distant scenery.
'Hmm… Good perspective.'
Jumping out of Li Xiang's arms onto the windowsill, Honedge gently swayed its body, leaning left and right like a roly-poly toy, feeling the cool breeze brushing against it.
Watching from the side, Li Xiang breathed a sigh of relief, then looked down at the focused Metang.
Using games to train patience was somewhat rare, but it was effective for a hothead like Metang.
After all, it couldn't reach through the internet to hit anyone. At most, it could only vent its fury by destroying the keyboard and mouse, or, more dramatically, crush the computer.
The one Metang was using now was its eighth set; the previous seven had all been shattered by its psychic power.
It was effective. Combined with the "No-Anger Meditation" Li Xiang taught it, Metang's temper had improved quite a bit.
At least it wouldn't suddenly lose its temper during battles, ignoring everything, disobeying commands, and charging recklessly to its doom.
That was the result Li Xiang wanted.
Next, just wait for this guy to evolve. It wouldn't be too long, at most half a month.
...
Evening.
The family had a meal together.
Li Xiang introduced Honedge to them. Surprisingly, Honedge didn't play dead. Instead, it bowed quite normally to greet the two.
'So, are you shy or not?'
He was somewhat speechless, unable to figure out what was up with this sword.
His parents, after greeting Honedge, started discussing matters.
—Moving.
Considering Li Xiang's growing number of Pokémon, the original two-and-a-half-story duplex was far from sufficient for their activities.
Like the backyard door… Ever since it was broken by Corviknight long ago, it had remained dilapidated and never fully repaired.
Plus, after Metang evolved, it would be another very large guy.
Going up the stairs would also be inconvenient.
Li Zhehan was thinking of buying another house. He had already picked one out, in the same community, slightly further back—a single-story villa over 400 square meters with a huge garden.
He mainly wanted Li Xiang's opinion.
Li Xiang had no objections, only asking who would clean such a large place since both parents worked.
Hire a cleaner?
The answer was Indeedee.
The eighth-generation Psychic-type Pokémon, possessing the Psychic Surge Ability, hence the nickname Alt. Tapu Lele.
As the Emotion Pokémon, they are most passionate about serving Pokémon or humans.
The positive emotions of those they serve become their sustenance, allowing them to live.
Li Zhehan had considered everything, so the move started the very next day.
The moving company they hired was similar to those in the games. A large team composed of Machop, Machoke, and Machamp, for whom carrying hundreds of kilograms was like lifting cotton. With a clatter and clang, they effortlessly carried everything to the new place.
There were also some other Pokémon and people helping with finer tasks.
In just half a day, the move was completed. Li Xiang also met the two Indeedee that Li Zhehan had commissioned someone to purchase, reportedly very skilled at housework.
One male, one female, only reaching his waist height.
Their bodies were black-purple and white, with slender upper bodies and slightly fuller lower bodies, as if wearing clothes.
The male's facial markings resembled glasses, with two croissant-like horns on its head, its expression somewhat serious, its demeanor and aura very much like a butler.
The female had more white parts than the male, the single horn on its head pointing downward, with a gentle smile on its face, like a maid.
"Indeedee!"
The two Indeedee saw Li Xiang and bowed slightly to him.
"Hello."
Li Xiang waved with a smile, then added, "Sorry, but can I touch you?"
For him, any Pokémon he hadn't touched was like flowers in a mirror or the moon in water.
Only by touching them could he truly feel their existence.
Behind him, Incineroar, carrying Li Xiang's luggage, rolled its eyes, while Riolu, holding a pillow, sighed silently.
Greninja passed by with a serious expression, carefully holding the DVD of Léon: The Professional as if cradling its own heart.
Hearing such a request on their first day, the two Indeedee were a bit stunned.
But after recovering, the male Indeedee looked conflicted, while the female Indeedee stepped forward with a smile.
"Thank you~"
Li Xiang's eyes lit up as he reached out to touch Indeedee's head.
The texture was as soft as expected, especially the skirt-like lower part, which was quite elastic.
Of course, the horns were hard, and as he touched them, they began to flash, like an Ultraman's energy indicator.
The female Indeedee's face also showed a pleased expression.
'Already feeding? This Pokémon is so easy to please!'
Li Xiang was quite surprised. Seeing this, the male Indeedee silently moved closer, wanting a share.
Thus, under his stroking, the horns of both Indeedee flashed together, like warning lights.
They were also thinking, 'He's already feeling happy? This human is so easy to please!'
'Just arrived, haven't done any work yet, just being touched provides positive emotions to enjoy.'
The Indeedee, who had been slightly uneasy about the new environment and worried about encountering demanding people, immediately felt relieved.
The key was Li Xiang's technique was also good.
'So satisfying!'
"Indeedee~~"
'Ah! Right there, right there, a bit harder!'
The female Indeedee's face flushed, feeling the constant influx of positive energy.
The male Indeedee was a bit more reserved, just silently moving Li Xiang's hand to its preferred spot—
"What are you all doing?"
Mrs. Yin's voice suddenly rang out, startling them. Their previously happy expressions twisted into panic.
Question: What to do when caught slacking on the first day of work by the boss's wife? Waiting online, quite urgent!
"Just getting familiar with our two new stewards."
Li Xiang rubbed their heads and smiled at Mrs. Yin.
"Don't trouble them too much. If I find out you're bullying them, see if I don't hit you."
Mrs. Yin glanced at the Indeedee and shook her fist at Li Xiang.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean? When have I ever bullied anyone?"
Li Xiang said discontentedly, while gently pushing the Indeedee aside.
The two Indeedee, as if granted amnesty, quickly turned and left to clean the house.
Mrs. Yin paid him no further mind. Li Xiang didn't mind either and headed to his room.
Unlike his original small room, seemingly considering his increasing number of Pokémon, the new room was arranged to be particularly large, with an additional small living room, small study, and small kitchen outside.
Greninja sat on the sofa in the living room, enjoying the large-screen TV. Metang and Rotom were setting up their gaming battlefield in the small study.
To buy computers for these two, Li Xiang had spent almost all his savings.
Corviknight was outside the floor-to-ceiling window in the small yard, fiddling with its little house, laying straw, etc.
It actually wanted to move the tree from the old backyard over too.
But Li Xiang vetoed it because the new backyard had an even bigger one.
Honedge swayed on its head; this sword had quite a fondness for this large, big-headed crow and didn't play dead when staying near it.
Inside the room, Riolu was helping organize clothes.
Incineroar...
"I asked you to organize the clothes, and you just lie on the bed? Letting Riolu do all the work?"
Li Xiang kicked Incineroar.
"Rooar?"
'Aren't you the same?'
Incineroar gave Li Xiang a disdainful look and didn't move.
"Hey! You! Getting more and more arrogant! Today, I'll teach you a lesson..."
Li Xiang raised an eyebrow, ran over, and started tickling Incineroar. The Divine Art of Cat-Scratching was no joke.
He knew all of Incineroar's sensitive spots.
In just two simple minutes, the big tiger, who wouldn't even frown if hit by a car, twisted on the bed like a caterpillar, continuously begging for mercy.
Only then did Li Xiang, satisfied, get off the bed. "Fighting me? You're still a bit too young, little kitten."