The two of them worked together to move their unconscious comrades one by one away.
Only after they were a certain distance from the Jade Mine did Baimu learn from Cheng Hong what had happened in his absence.
"I see."
"Those guys deserved it, it would be great if they could just die in there!"
While binding his wounds and applying powder, Cheng Hong said viciously. He looked at the three companions who Aron had painstakingly saved, his eyes red as if they were bleeding.
"Let's leave them for now, the important thing is that we pass the examination, we can't suffer in vain."
Baimu shook his head, revenge was needed but passing the examination was equally important.
Counting him, there were eight people who participated on the first day, and besides the five present, there were three still missing. If they all passed, not just Chaitian, even his Squad Leader uncle wouldn't be a problem.
After all, there were few official members in the young generation of the Quicksand Team.
"Goo."
Aron's call echoed.
Baimu turned his head and immediately saw it open its mouth to spit out several finger-sized pieces of jade.
"Thank you, you've worked hard."
He softly thanked it, squatting down to push an Iron Ingot over, "It might not be much, but I hope you don't dislike it. If there's a chance, I'm willing to give you a few more."
Aron glanced at him, then lowered its head and with a couple of crunches, easily swallowed it down, the hard iron block in its mouth being as crisp as a biscuit.
Cheng Hong was curious, "Baimu, it seems to really listen to you?"
"It's not about listening, it's called mutual assistance."
Baimu waved his hand, after much thought he still took out a Pokeball, "May I ask if you have a Trainer——"
Before he could finish, Aron had already retreated several steps warily.
It eyed the Pokeball nervously, as if it had seen something unpleasant, and even let out a short, urgent sound.
"Gudu!"
This made Baimu a bit awkward.
"Sorry, sorry."
He quickly put it away, and just as he was about to say something to make amends, Aron suddenly turned and ran off.
It quickly disappeared from sight.
"Ah, alas..."
Baimu sighed, completely unexpected was its strong reaction. Thinking about it, it must indeed be an abandoned individual.
This kind of Pokémon often had different trigger points with Trainers that could never be touched.
Too impatient.
He rubbed his face, realizing that his three severely injured comrades needed to be taken away quickly, causing him to forget a gradual approach.
"Looks like Aron's not fond of you, Baimu," Cheng Hong chuckled with schadenfreude, immediately receiving a knock on the head from Baimu.
"Shut up."
He picked up the jade stones from the ground, stuffing one into the arms of each of the three unconscious people, saying, "Let's move them out first."
Waiting for rescue on the spot equaled forfeiting the examination, otherwise he would never move the injured so recklessly.
"Okay." Cheng Hong nodded, though he was also injured and bleeding, his condition was much better after bandaging, barely able to carry one person.
Baimu took responsibility for two, using a rope he had prepared in advance to tie one to his back, carrying the other, given his physical ability this combo wasn't overly burdensome.
"Let's go."
He exhaled heavily, marching toward the exit according to his memory of the route, "It would be best if we could encounter those three others on the way."
"...Yeah."
Cheng Hong responded with difficulty, quickening his pace to catch up.
Not long after they left, the Lairon that should have slipped away quietly emerged again, chasing after them.
Once it was distant, a Galar Yamask appeared.
As an Inspector, it meticulously transmitted the scene, intending to continue filming.
Suddenly.
A piercing screech erupted from the passageway of the Jade Mine behind, filled with anger, causing the Galar Yamask to pause its flight.
It hesitated for a moment, just about to turn and fly toward the passage, when a sudden loud explosion was heard from that direction!
Crash!
The screams were swallowed by the explosion, though they could faintly be heard.
The mine rumbled, debris continuously fell from the ceiling, as if it was going to collapse.
Many panicked Pokémon rushed out from within, as if they had encountered something terrifying. Two of them, running slower, were grabbed and dragged back by a massive black arm.
Roars and explosions echoed once more!
The Galar Yamask was slightly startled, immediately finding a place to hide, its lens sweeping over the fleeing Pokémon.
Among them was a Rhyhorn carrying a young man with a terrified face, the young man bloodied, with one arm bent awkwardly.
——
In the dark mine.
Baimu turned to look at Cheng Hong who was panting, sweating heavily, "Can you still hold on?"
"No problem! You just keep going!"
Cheng Hong roared back, not because he had any dissatisfaction with Baimu, but because he simply had no strength left, feeling he couldn't speak without shouting.
If he weren't injured, he wouldn't be in such a state! A mere two hundred pounds wouldn't be something he couldn't handle!
Seeing Cheng Hong swaying as he walked, Baimu could only pick up the pace.
Thankfully his memory was decent, as looking for the route again would mean carefully observing the environment to avoid triggers, wasting unknown amounts of time.
Boom!
The mine suddenly trembled.
Baimu didn't stop his steps, thinking it must be a fight breaking out by the Jade Mine.
The congregating Pokémon resembled wildlife from his previous life, using sounds or actions to intimidate each other, waiting for an opportunity, able to stand off for a long time.
Now it had finally turned to battle.
"Ah! It hurts!"
Suddenly a cry of pain came from behind, Baimu slightly looked up, seeing countless debris and dust falling from the room, crackling and breaking noises constantly echoed.
Damn it!
It's going to collapse!
"Run! Don't look back, run!"
Baimu shouted, eyes trembling, and sped up further with two people in tow.
Cheng Hong's face turned pale, the thundering sound behind and close enough to frighten him, running for his life.
Thick smoke swallowed them like a dragon, their dim headlights vanished into the cave entirely, leaving only constant tremors and the frenzied falling rocks.
But soon, they dashed through the smoke, emerging, not daring to stop as they ran for their lives.
Until the rumbling gradually subsided, did they slow down.
Looking back, the path they came from had completely collapsed, stones and dust blocking it tightly, not allowing even a mosquito to fly through.
"I..."
Cheng Hong's legs began to tremble uncontrollably, running from closer to the collapse, the breath of death hovered around him throughout, the feeling of narrowly escaping death was simply too terrifying.
Several times he wanted to throw off the burden on his back, but the urging shouts continuously from the front made him dismiss the idea.
A moment later.
"Relax, we've made it out safely… at least the worst is behind us."
Baimu breathed deeply.
Initially, he thought about transporting the people out one by one, instead of having his hands completely tied up as they were now, but considering the Pokémon fight might cause the mine to collapse.
He dared not do that.
He had to take the three away together.
Now he only hoped the Pokémon attacking the mining entrance earlier wasn't present, and that the entrance wasn't buried.
"Almost there, just a little more."
Baimu softly encouraged Cheng Hong, "Once we're out of here, we're official members! Pokémon! Money awaits us! Think of your mom and dad, they're still waiting for you!"
"...Okay!"
Cheng Hong gritted his teeth and nodded.