October 16th.
The road from Wutong City to Wutong Town was finally completed.
Under the cheers of the town's residents, the road crew packed up and left with their Pokémon.
Compared to the previous narrow path that barely allowed a single car to pass, the new road was at least three times wider, paved with smooth, dark asphalt.
That evening, Lin Feng uploaded two new videos to his "Lin Xiao Ge" account.
The first video was simple, just an announcement that the road had been finished, with a gentle reminder welcoming everyone to visit his nursery and purchase the energy cubes they liked.
The response was immediate and enthusiastic. Most of the comments read like this:
"Wow, the road is finally done! Every time I came to Lin Xiao Ge's nursery, I had to squeeze into the bus. I can't tell you how annoying that was. Now I can just take a taxi here!"
"Lin Xiao Ge really is improving the town bit by bit. A road this long, and he got it done just like that!"
"Wait, when was this road fixed? I didn't notice! I was here just a couple of weeks ago."
"It started only a couple of weeks ago."
"No way, they finished it in just a few weeks? That's fast!"
The second video naturally focused on the Sky Challenge. Compared to the road announcement, this video drew even more attention.
People were particularly excited to hear that completing just the first level of the challenge rewarded a single Sandfruit Energy Cube.
"The first level alone gives an energy cube worth nearly twenty thousand! No way, this reward is insane!"
"Lin Xiao Ge said the challenge targets the Pidgey that deliver parcels daily. They're just some Pidgey! Even if we lose, how could we fail? Guys, it's just a thousand bucks!"
"Whoa, there's a time limit too. The challenge is only open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and only three slots per day. You have to grab them fast!"
"What? This week's slots are already gone?"
The demand for these energy cubes was clear fast hands got them, slow hands got nothing. By the time people realized, the next week's slots were already taken.
Helplessly, the viewers agreed in the comments to gather and visit the nursery the next day to investigate.
"Whatever, we'll just go tomorrow. Anyone want to go together?"
"I'm in! The road's done, too."
October 17th.
At the crack of dawn, Lin Feng rose early, fully aware that after yesterday's two videos, a large crowd would arrive today.
He wasn't alone. The Incineroar siblings and Gardevoir were up with him.
Gardevoir and the younger Incineroar sibling headed to the plantation. They wanted to prepare everything in the nursery before the Pokémon woke up, then join Lin Feng in preparing breakfast for everyone. It was a busy start to the day.
Lin Feng, meanwhile, accompanied the older Incineroar sibling to the nursery.
The moment the door opened, he spotted a few young trainers waiting outside.
"Wow, you guys are up early?" Lin Feng was genuinely surprised. Most people knew the nursery's hours and daily availability. Unless a new type of energy cube was released, few would arrive this early.
"Good morning, Xiao Ge~"
At the front of the group was a familiar face: the reviewer Lin Ming. He greeted Lin Feng warmly.
Although it was early, he held up a selfie stick, clearly already live-streaming.
Lin Feng smiled. "Morning… you're…"
He realized the nursery hadn't released any new energy cubes recently. Why would Lin Ming start a live stream now?
Ming glanced at his live feed. It was only six-something in the morning, with just over a hundred viewers, but as soon as they saw Lin Feng, the chat exploded:
"We want Lin Xiao Ge!"
"Switch the host! Who's this guy in his thirties? I want to see Lin Xiao Ge's Pokémon! Where's Vulpix?"
"Forget Vulpix, I want Gardevoir… but Gardevoir isn't in Lin Xiao Ge's videos!"
"Then I want…"
"Wait, you guys are voting now?"
Lin Ming ignored the usual chaos of viewers and turned to Lin Feng.
"Hey, you posted the video yesterday, right? People in your comment section tagged me, asking for a review of the Sky Challenge to see if it's legit. Coincidentally, one of my fans also grabbed a slot."
He gestured to a girl around eighteen or nineteen. She wasn't new to the nursery and waved at Lin Feng. "Lin Xiao Ge~"
"Oh, energy cube reviewer here for the challenge, right?" Lin Feng blinked in surprise, then exclaimed. "Even so, you guys came way too early. The Pidgey are still asleep!"
The challenge had fixed times and limited participants: 8 to 10 a.m., 2 to 4 p.m., and 4 to 6 p.m. three sessions per day.
The girl giggled. "It's fine. Think of it as enjoying the newly paved road." She winked at him, eyes sparkling. "And the reward… the energy cube is that real?"
The question drew expectant glances from everyone else present.
Lin Feng nodded. "Of course. But that depends on whether you can complete the challenge."
The girl's face lit up with pride. "Naturally. I already have three city gym badges and have bought plenty of energy cubes from the nursery."
Lin Feng froze for a moment. Trainers who had completed gym challenges were usually post-high school travelers. This girl, with three badges, might genuinely be able to conquer the Sky Challenge.
She smiled again. "I'll wait for the right time. First, I need to prepare breakfast for my Pokémon. By the time I'm back outside, the session should start."
She nodded repeatedly, strolling through the nursery with her companions. Inevitably, the energy cubes caught their attention, and they began purchasing some.
Lin Ming did the same. Recently, his Snorlax had evolved, which was giving him trouble. The money he'd saved from visiting neighboring nurseries would now be spent feeding Snorlax.
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