Chapter 104: Journey to Find the Champion
The next day at noon, Bai Feng gave Hatterene its last injection of medicine, then took it to the Pokémon Center, accompanied by the Meowstic siblings.
After entering, Bai Feng didn't see Nurse Joy, only Chansey behind the counter.
Bai Feng waved and greeted Chansey: "Chansey, good afternoon! Where's Nurse Joy?"
"Lccky~lucky~" Good afternoon, please wait a moment, she should be out soon.
Chansey invited Bai Feng to sit in the Lobby and thoughtfully prepared a glass of milk and a fried egg for him. Delicious Chansey eggs, not something ordinary people usually get to eat.
This was probably because Bai Feng had spent quite a bit of money at the Pokémon Center recently; those few doses of medicine alone cost hundreds of thousands.
About ten minutes later, Nurse Joy emerged from the Treatment Room, looking slightly tired. Seeing Bai Feng, she smiled and walked over, saying:
"You're here! How is Hatterene doing? It should have stabilized, right?"
Bai Feng nodded and replied, "Just as you said, it woke up yesterday. Everything looks good so far. Have you decided on a treatment plan?"
Hearing this question, Nurse Joy looked troubled and said, "I have thought of one..."
Bai Feng said happily, "Then let's start the treatment."
Nurse Joy quickly said, "Oh... let me finish! Actually, the method to treat Hatterene is quite simple, but..."
Nurse Joy's hesitation made Bai Feng anxious. "Please just say it all at once, don't keep me in suspense."
Hearing this, Nurse Joy had no choice but to say, "Your Hatterene's energy imbalance is due to a sudden surge in Psychic Energy.
The simplest method is to suppress its Psychic Energy to a level comparable with its Fairy type, and then you focus on cultivating its Fairy type strength. Once the strength of its Fairy type grows to a level similar to that of its Psychic type, Hatterene will naturally recover."
Bai Feng asked doubtfully, "But didn't you say before that Hatterene's Psychic Energy surged because it was too suppressed? Now you want to suppress it again, won't that cause problems?"
Nurse Joy slapped her forehead and said, "How can you be so dense? The previous suppression (referring to the cause of the surge) and the current suppression (referring to the treatment) are two different things. Moreover, all we need to do is suppress Hatterene's Psychic Energy to a strength similar to its Fairy type, not make it disappear completely.
It's like a jar that's being filled with water. As long as there's another small hole for the water to flow out, it won't explode.
Although the analogy isn't perfect, that's the basic idea."
"I see." Bai Feng suddenly understood. "Then how do we suppress it?"
Nurse Joy frowned and said, "Ah, that's where the problem lies.
You now need two items: one that can accelerate Hatterene's accumulation of Fairy-type energy, and one that suppresses Hatterene's Psychic Energy. But these two items are difficult to obtain!"
"What should I do?" Bai Feng grew anxious upon hearing this.
Speaking of items that increase the speed of Fairy-type energy accumulation, Bai Feng immediately thought of the Diamond Pendant that Sister Zhi Huo gave Bai Ye.
But that belongs to Bai Ye, and Bai Feng couldn't just take it without permission. If possible, he didn't even want to mention it to Bai Ye.
Because if he mentioned it, Bai Ye would definitely offer it willingly, which would make Bai Feng feel like Bai Ye was losing out. So, he decided to think of another way.
Nurse Joy continued, "Actually, I've already inquired with my Grandmother for you. Someone happens to have an item that can suppress Psychic Energy."
"Who?" Bai Feng asked quickly.
"Do you know who the current Champion of the Pokémon League is?" Nurse Joy asked.
Bai Feng nodded doubtfully. "Yes, I know. It's Grandma Meipulu."
Bai Feng wasn't so ignorant as to not know something that everyone knew, but Grandma Meipulu hadn't appeared in public for a long time.
Nurse Joy continued, "Grandma Meipulu is currently living in seclusion on Mount Musidun near Shalour City.
She has an item called the Ancient Crown. That item can not only suppress the excessive Psychic Energy of Psychic-type Pokémon, but also calm a Pokémon's mind, which is very suitable for your Hatterene's current situation.
But Grandma Meipulu isn't easy to deal with. If you want to get that Ancient Crown, you'll probably have to put in some effort."
"I will definitely get the Ancient Crown from Grandma Meipulu!" Bai Feng said firmly.
Nurse Joy said with a smile, "Alright, I wish you success."
Suddenly, she thought of something else, so she whispered to Bai Feng:
"I'll tell you a secret. Grandma Meipulu is getting old and has been considering resigning from her position as the Pokémon League Champion, which is why she went into seclusion on Mount Musidun. Currently, she's considering taking on a disciple."
Hmm? Bai Feng was completely confused after hearing this. Was Nurse Joy implying that he should go become Grandma Meipulu's disciple? Although he was indeed a genius, he didn't plan on becoming the Pokémon League Champion!
Filled with doubts, Bai Feng left the Pokémon Center. He said to the Meowstic siblings, who were perched on his shoulder with worried expressions, "Don't worry, I'll get the Ancient Crown."
"Meow~ Meow~ Meow~"
Hearing this, the siblings quickly cheered Bai Feng on.
That night, after returning Home, Bai Feng injected Hatterene with the medicine again. When he left the Pokémon Center, Nurse Joy had told him to buy some more medicine.
Although the price of the medicine was outrageously expensive, for Hatterene's health, Bai Feng could only buy a whole box, spending several million.
He hadn't spent this much at once even when pursuing his goals, and it was fortunate that he had earned a lot in the past year.
This medicine couldn't be stopped until Hatterene fully recovered. Only after getting the Ancient Crown might Bai Feng's pressure ease a bit.
Once he got the Ancient Crown and suppressed Hatterene's Psychic Energy, Hatterene wouldn't need three injections a day like today, but only two a week.
However, Nurse Joy also told Bai Feng not to worry too much about the money. Although the medicine was expensive, it was actually a powerful medicine that could help Fairy-type Pokémon grow quickly.
The original intention behind researching this medicine was actually to quickly enhance a Pokémon's strength, but unfortunately, its price was simply prohibitive. Ordinary people couldn't afford it at all, so the Nurse Joy family could only use it for medicinal purposes.
After Hatterene learned from the Meowstic siblings how much money Bai Feng had spent on it, it was grateful to Bai Feng but also extremely troubled.
Several million! Even if it sold itself, it wouldn't be worth that much money. What should it do?! It looked like it would have to 'sell itself' to this family from now on.
Early the next morning, after entrusting the matters at Home to Bai Ye, Bai Feng took Hatterene and the others to Shalour City.
He had to hurry to Mount Musidun as quickly as possible to find Grandma Meipulu and get the Ancient Crown from her. Every day was burning money! One dose cost one hundred thousand, three doses a day was three hundred thousand... terrifying!
Because they took the express aircraft, Bai Feng and the others quickly arrived at Shalour City. They barely stopped in Shalour City and immediately rushed from Shalour City to Mount Musidun.
Mount Musidun is east of Shalour City and can be seen from afar outside the city. Bai Feng and the others rode the Talonflame Captain and arrived there in just one hour.
But looking at the Mount Musidun Mountain Range, full of mountains, Bai Feng felt overwhelmed. Where was he supposed to find Grandma Meipulu here?
Fortunately, Bai Feng could understand Pokémon Language. He successfully 'tricked' a Swirlix wandering in the Forest with a Berry.
"Um, hello there. Can I ask you a question?"
"Swirlix~ Swirlix~"
Swirlix quickly nodded with squinted eyes while munching on the Berry.
"Do you know where any Humans live nearby?" Bai Feng asked.
"Swirlix~ Swirlix~" Of course I do.
Swirlix nodded.
"Can you tell me?"
"Swirlix~ Swirlix~" Of course I can.
Hearing this answer, Bai Feng was very happy. But then Swirlix started speaking incoherently, saying turn here, turn there, and couldn't explain where 'here' and 'there' were, making Bai Feng's head spin.
Helpless, Bai Feng took out another Berry and said softly, "Then, could I ask you to lead the way for me?"
"Swirlix~ Swirlix~"
Swirlix quickly threw away the Fruit Pit in its hand, which had no Fruit Pulp left, and grabbed the new Berry, nodding repeatedly.
For a moment, Bai Feng almost thought it was deliberately speaking unclearly just to earn another Berry.
Never mind, it's faster to have someone lead the way than to search by himself.
Led by Swirlix, Bai Feng and the others traversed mountains and crossed layers of Forest, finally arriving at the entrance of a Cave.
Swirlix pointed at the Cave and chattered away. Bai Feng asked, "Are you saying that if I go through this Cave, I can meet the person I'm looking for?"
Swirlix nodded repeatedly and indicated that it wouldn't continue leading the way. It said there was a terrifying presence in the Cave and it didn't dare go in. After saying that, it slipped away.
Bai Feng looked at the deep, dark Cave and felt overwhelmed again. He thought, "You're a perfectly good Pokémon League Champion, and you're not young anymore, why do you have to run off to this kind of deep mountain forest? What are you after?!"
"Hatterene, go into your Poké Ball first. According to Swirlix, there should be dangerous Pokémon in this Cave. If they attack us, I might not be able to look after you, and you can't use your Psychic abilities." Bai Feng said to Hatterene.
"Hatterene~"
Hatterene nodded.
After recalling the Talonflame Captain, Hatterene, and the Meowstic siblings, Bai Feng sent out Heliolisk and Brionne and said, "Alright, let's go in. I hope everything goes smoothly."
The Cave was completely dark, so as soon as Heliolisk entered, it used the Flash Move. The most convenient use for this Move was as a lighting tool.
"Screech screech screech..."
The strong light produced by the Flash Move startled a group of Zubat in the Cave. However, these Zubat were very timid and fluttered away together.
Bai Feng continued walking forward with his two Pokémon. After walking for an unknown amount of time, he suddenly heard the sound of flapping wings again.
Zubat again?
Just as this thought arose in Bai Feng's mind, about ten Noibat appeared in his line of sight.
Hmm? Noibat? So many?
Noibat, being Dragon-type Pokémon, are relatively rare. Bai Feng didn't expect to encounter so many here.
Before Bai Feng could communicate with the Noibat, they collectively attacked Bai Feng, Brionne, and Heliolisk.
"Noi~ bat~"
A dozen or so Noibat simultaneously used Supersonic, causing Bai Feng and his Pokémon's heads to ache violently.
"Brionne, deal with them." Bai Feng said with difficulty.
A contest of Sound-based Moves? Brionne couldn't lose this one.
Brionne opened its mouth, and a beautiful Singing voice came from its throat. The Noibat's Supersonic was instantly disrupted in frequency by Brionne's Disarming Voice. The chaotic sounds mixed together, no longer forming a complete Move.
As soon as the Noibat were thrown into disarray, Brionne used the Sing Move. Amidst the beautiful Singing, the Noibat fell to the ground one after another and fell fast asleep.
"Phew~ That was a close call." Bai Feng said.
However, just as he finished speaking, a pair of golden eyes suddenly opened in the darkness.
"Roar!!!"
A dragon's roar echoed in the Cave.
Heliolisk projected Flash towards it. A sturdy Noivern appeared before them.
This is the parent coming after the children were beaten!
"Roar!!!"
Noivern roared angrily at Bai Feng and his Pokémon. Bai Feng could hear its rage.
"How dare you! Not only do you trespass here, but you also hurt the Noibat. Unforgivable!"
A pillar of sound suddenly shot out from Noivern's ears. Heliolisk quickly dodged forward and unleashed a bolt of electricity, clashing with Noivern's Boomburst.
Boom!
The pillar of sound formed by Boomburst and the bolt of electricity collided, causing an Explosion in the Cave and making rocks constantly fall from above Bai Feng and his Pokémon.
Noivern seemed surprised that Heliolisk's Strength was so high. Unusually, it reined in its facial anger, merely roaring:
"Leave here! Leave here! As long as you leave here, I won't pursue this any further!"
"I need to go through here to see Grandma Meipulu!" Of course, Bai Feng couldn't leave.
"Noivern!!!" If you want to see Meipulu, you'll have to get past me first!
Seeing that the other side wouldn't listen to reason, Noivern had no choice but to continue attacking. A pillar of sound shot towards Bai Feng and his Pokémon again.
Judging from what Noivern conveyed, it was highly likely that it was very familiar with Grandma Meipulu, and might even have been arranged to be here by Grandma Meipulu.
"Brionne~"
"Heliolisk~"
Brionne and Heliolisk simultaneously used Water Gun and Thunder Shock, shattering Noivern's Boomburst.
The next second, Heliolisk's figure disappeared. Noivern turned its head, trying to find where Heliolisk had gone, but Brionne seized the opportunity to use Water Gun.
Bang!
The Water Gun hit Noivern on the head, knocking its head sideways.
"Noivern!" Noivern shook its head violently in pain.
At this moment, Heliolisk had already appeared behind Noivern. A golden ball of light condensed before Heliolisk and was quickly launched at Noivern.
"Noivern!!!"
Noivern wanted to use Boomburst to counterattack again, but countless Electric Currents suddenly flashed across its body, forcibly interrupting its Move.
Noivern fell into a state of Paralysis.
"Brionne, Sing!"
Seizing this opportunity, Brionne used the Sing Move again.
Amidst the beautiful Singing, Noivern's movements became slower and slower, its eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and it soon lay down on the ground and fell asleep.
Bai Feng felt that this Noivern must know Grandma Meipulu, so he didn't intend to hurt it. He just needed it to fall asleep.
It was also fortunate that the space in the Cave was limited, making it inconvenient for Noivern, a Flying-type Pokémon, to move around. Otherwise, Bai Feng and his Pokémon might not have been able to defeat the highly mobile Noivern.
After defeating Noivern, Bai Feng and his Pokémon continued forward. After that, they didn't encounter any other Pokémon blocking their way. About ten minutes later, they successfully exited the Cave.
(End of Chapter)