Time flew by, and in a blink, it was 2 PM.
At this moment, the sun hung high in the sky, emitting a scorching and dazzling light; despite the unbearable heat, rescue efforts continued intensely and orderly.
Zhang Heng’s hands were already cut and bleeding from the rocks, but he seemed tireless, digging laboriously through the ruins of the collapsed prison hospital.
Every time he moved a rock, he had to exert all his strength, sweat pouring down like rain, mixing with the dust, and the Shinny Marshtomp beside him also helped Zhang Heng Dig.
The painful groans of the injured and the shouts of rescue workers constantly echoed around him, but his eyes were only fixed on the ruins that might conceal Doctor Lin and Dr. Qiu.
Finally, under a huge slab of stone, he heard a faint tapping sound.
Zhang Heng was overjoyed, and he used all his strength to move the surrounding rubble, only to see Doctor Lin and Dr. Qiu curled up beneath a load-bearing wall.
That load-bearing wall was on the verge of collapse, with huge rocks and broken steel bars intertwined, trapping them tightly, making it impossible for them to escape on their own.
“Doctor Lin! Qiu! Hold on!” Zhang Heng shouted, while trying to find a leverage point to pry the rocks pressing down on them.
“Marshtomp, Dig.”
“Zhang Heng, do not destroy the geological structure, or a secondary collapse will occur.”
Just as Zhang Heng was in a panic, Xing Ken’s voice came, and Zhang Heng looked back to see Xing Ken arriving with the rescue team.
“Zhang Heng, don’t rush yet; using Psychic-type skills for rescue is faster, more efficient, and safer than physical removal.”
The rescue team members directed their Bronzor to use Confusion skills together, moving large pieces of building debris, carefully clearing the surrounding obstacles, fearing to cause a secondary collapse.
After much effort, Doctor Lin and Dr. Qiu were finally rescued safely, and observing their condition, they had no serious external injuries.
Zhang Heng breathed a sigh of relief, but his body swayed slightly from excessive fatigue.
Xing Ken supported him and said, “Zhang Heng, why are you here?”
“After Celestial King Cheng was injured, I rescued his Darmanitan on the way, then came to the prison Affiliated Hospital to assist the two doctors with rescue and participate in the charity clinic.”
“Where is your father? The Champion Challenge is coming soon, but there’s no news of him.” Xing Ken deliberately spoke with a trick, wanting to get Zhang Lei Yuan’s location information from Zhang Heng.
Although Zhang Heng had no hostility towards Xing Ken, and there was no animosity between them, Zhang Heng always maintained a hint of vigilance towards people.
Recalling the sound of ocean waves and the noise from flying that constantly came from the phone during his previous call with his father, he knew his father must have gone to do something.
Zhang Heng replied tiredly, “My father probably found a secluded training ground to fully prepare for the Champion Challenge.”
Xing Ken could also see that Zhang Heng was not so easily tricked into talking, so he changed the subject and said, “Alright, by the way, the former Huazhong Champion—Old Zhao wants to meet you.
Come with me.”
Zhang Heng’s heart skipped a beat; he knew what was coming would always come.
This situation was already equivalent to a summons, and violent refusal would only make things worse.
Zhang Heng followed Xing Ken, moving with difficulty through the chaotic rescue scene, avoiding precarious building structures, and finally arrived at the temporarily set up base camp in the rear.
Xing Ken said, “Old Zhao is in the temporarily set up open-air base camp ahead; you go by yourself, I have other matters to attend to.”
Zhang Heng nodded and walked in.
Inside the base camp, various rescue supplies were piled high like mountains, and the temporary medical stations emitted the smell of disinfectant and the low groans of the injured.
Zhang Heng’s gaze passed through the crowd and saw the white-haired elder with graying temples but wearing a sharp Chinese tunic suit—Old Zhao—and another familiar figure, Zhu Zi, who was standing beside Old Zhao; the two were conversing, but the atmosphere was somewhat solidified.
Zhang Heng felt a bit nervous, thinking, “Could it be that my situation has been exposed?”
Old Zhao stood there, his posture upright, but his eyes revealed a scrutinizing look, his gaze pressing down on Zhang Heng as if it were substantial.
Zhang Heng took a deep breath and walked steadily forward; although he was a bit nervous, after all, every first generation Champion of Huazhong had extraordinary strength, so Zhang Heng had to adjust his mindset, otherwise, he would easily reveal flaws; he had to respond calmly to all of this.
The surrounding noise seemed to gradually fade away at this moment, and the whole world seemed to be left with only him and Old Zhao gazing at each other, the atmosphere as heavy as the calm before a storm.
“Xiao Heng, first time meeting, no need to be nervous; your grandfather is also a good friend of mine,” Old Zhao slowly began, his old but powerful voice low and authoritative.
“This prison incident is a big deal, and I’ve heard some rumors that it’s all related to you, and some even say you awakened the Ideal Dragon.
Do you have anything to explain?” Old Zhao didn’t want to waste time and went straight to the point.
Zhang Heng subtly glanced at Zhu Zi, who gently shook his head, and Zhang Heng immediately understood.
Zhang Heng took a deep breath, raised his head, and looked directly into Old Zhao’s eyes, saying, “Old Zhao, I know you suspect me, but everything I did was to protect everyone.
As for the Ideal Dragon, that’s just baseless speculation.”
Their expressions and actions were always in Old Zhao’s sight; from their movements, Old Zhao already knew the answer he wanted.
Marshtomp also stood tightly beside Zhang Heng, feeling particularly uncomfortable from the oppressive aura emanating from the old man in front.
Old Zhao stared intently into Zhang Heng’s eyes; this young man might possess the power to change the world’s pattern, but whether this was good or bad for Huazhong, he did not know.
“Good, I hope you are telling the truth.
Regardless of whether the so-called Ideal Person is you, the disasters brought by the deities have already caused too many people to suffer; no matter the outcome, I hope you can use that power carefully.”
Just as Zhang Heng was about to say something, a dragon’s roar came from the sky, interrupting Zhang Heng.
Roar~
Just as the tension between Old Zhao and Zhang Heng was palpable, a sudden gust of wind whistled past, and Zhang Lei Yuan descended from the sky riding a Charizard.
At some unknown moment, a large, yellow figure suddenly flashed, blocking Old Zhao’s front like a guard.
Zhang Heng looked at the figure that suddenly appeared and was shocked, “Another General, and an early-generation Dragonite.
Indeed, seeing a Dragonite in reality, one can’t help but praise it; it truly is quite large…”
After Charizard landed, its claws left deep marks on the ground, and the flames it breathed burned fiercely with anger; its eyes were fixed on the Dragonite opposite, filled with Taunt and fury.
Dragonite, sensing Charizard’s hostility, was not to be outdone and let out a soul-shaking roar, responding to Charizard’s Taunt.
Its eyes also burned with angry flames, and the surrounding air seemed to grow hot from the fury of the two Pokémon…
