Just as Zhang Heng and the Professor were deep in conversation, a low, continuous buzzing suddenly came from afar.
The sound grew closer and closer, as if a miniature fighter jet was approaching. Listening carefully, it turned out to be the sound of insects flapping their wings in flight.
It was the peak of the scorching season in Guangdong Province, with temperatures remaining high and the air exceptionally muggy. The already hot and restless environment, coupled with the annoying buzzing, made one's mood even more irritable, constantly challenging Zhang Heng's patience.
"Oi ~ oi ~ oi ~"
Three standard street hooligan greetings came.
Hearing this familiar voice, Zhang Heng felt the veins on his forehead about to pop. Although Zhang Heng had not met her since transmigrating to this world, the irritation from the original body's memories was impossible to hide.
"Hey! Professor! Xiao Heng Ge! I'm here to support you guys!"
From a distance, a girl wearing an exaggerated yellow top and two strange pink Magnemite head ornaments, stood on the back of a giant Vikavolt, flying rapidly towards them.
When she was ten meters from the camp, her exaggerated yellow top was too large, and she accidentally stepped on her sleeve, causing the girl to slip. With a startled cry, "Ah~" she fell backward, tumbling head over heels from the Vikavolt.
Zhang Heng jolted, not even caring about the Pokémon egg, thinking of running over to catch her.
The girl in mid-air, however, was not flustered at all. A small Joltik crawled out from her oversized top and commanded, "String Shot!"
The tiny Joltik actually shot out silk as thick as a water column, forming a white safe area constructed from silk below, successfully catching the falling girl. The girl bounced twice on the silk web.
Duang ~ duang ~ Then she landed steadily, raising both arms, like a gymnast completing a difficult routine, landing perfectly.
"Jang Jang! Smooth landing, perfectly done hee hee (*∩_∩*)"
"Huh?! Where's Xiao Heng Ge?! Professor, where's Xiao Heng Ge?!"
The Professor pointed behind her. She turned around and broke into a cold sweat from embarrassment. Zhang Heng was tightly wrapped in the silk web by the Joltik's String Shot, like a mummy-fied Pharaoh.
A moment later, Zhang Heng was rescued. He looked at the girl with eyes that seemed to spit fire. Her blue and pink hair, shark teeth, and eye-catching attire presented a lively and somewhat adorable image before him.
The girl stammered, "Heng Ge, there was a small accident, but it's not a big problem."
Zhang Heng directly hooked her head under his arm, and flicked her forehead: "Zhang Qishu! Next time, don't wear such loose clothes, lest you fall to your death!"
This girl, Zhang Qishu, was a genius. At 16 years old, she was originally a poor student consistently sponsored by the Zhang Corporation and an orphan. However, she had an innate understanding of Electric-type Pokémon that surpassed ordinary people. She was later taken in as a disciple by Zhang Heng's father, who intended to train her to become an electric-type Gym Leader.
The girl spoke, wincing in pain, "Ouch, you stingy person, wasn't it just being wrapped up like a mummy?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Heng feigned anger: "Hmm?! You're still talking about it, are you?!"
The Professor looked at the scene before him and asked blankly, "Are you two very familiar?"
Zhang Heng and Zhang Qishu both nodded and said, "Yes."
Zhang Heng said, "She's my dad's last and youngest disciple."
Zhang Qishu proudly chimed in, "She's the most talented disciple, the youngest Gym Leader in the history of the South China region!"
The Professor grew even more curious and asked with a smile, "Isn't Old Zhang the strongest electric-type Elite in the Central China and South China regions? How does he have a disciple who uses Bug-type and became a Gym Leader?"
Zhang Qishu blushed slightly, then said matter-of-factly, "electric-type is too popular. The electric-type Gym Leader competition has too many rounds. Becoming a Gym Leader would take forever. Besides, my Joltik and Vikavolt are both electric-type!"
The Professor's lips twitched. Young people really do see things clearly; whether it's electric-type or Bug-type, the point is she became a Gym Leader.
Each province in China has eight basic Gyms and eight Gym Leaders. Every two years, there are Gym challenge matches. For example, for the Bug-type Gym, you need to register three Bug-type Pokémon, defeat all other registered opponents, and finally defeat the current Gym Leader to become a Gym Leader. Only Pokémon below Elite Four level can be used, not including Elite Four level.
Therefore, becoming a Gym Leader is very difficult and the first step to standing at the top of the power pyramid.
Zhang Qishu suddenly dropped her smile, took out an order, and handed it to the Professor, then continued, "Professor, the Alliance sent me to assist Zou Tianwang in ascending the island. I'll be taking over now. We need to depart immediately."
The Professor took the order, then nodded slightly towards Zhang Heng, and returned to the camp.
Zhang Qishu turned to Zhang Heng and said, "Heng Ge, Master told me to cooperate with you to ascend the island and compete for resources. This information is very secret. To seal off the information, Master has already challenged the Champion of the Southwest region. Outside the Wilderness Area, the news of challenging the Champion has already taken over the headlines."
Zhang Heng said, "So the elders in the family mean for me to capture the Legendary Pokémon on Lake Heart Island?!"
Qi Shu asked in surprise, "You already know there's a Legendary Pokémon on Lake Heart Island?!"
From the moment Zhang Heng entered the Wilderness Area, he felt as if a large hand was pushing him forward. It turned out to be a path laid out by his family.
The family had tried more than once to give Zhang Heng high-quality Pokémon to train, but after receiving new Pokémon, the original owner would conduct a series of experiments on them, almost dissecting them. After obtaining the data, he would return them to his father.
Qi Shu, afraid that Zhang Heng would be dissatisfied with the family's arrangements, continued, "Xiao Heng Ge, this world is too dangerous. Without Pokémon partners, we will struggle every step of the way."
Zhang Heng shook the love ball in his hand and pointed to the egg he had placed in the camp.
He said, "But I've already caught a Pokémon."
Qi Shu's mouth dropped open in surprise: "Huh? Xiao Heng Ge, don't you not catch Pokémon? In the past, the Pokémon Master gave you, after you researched them, you almost dis...assembled them. This time you directly caught an egg, just don't shake its yolk loose."
Then she covered her mouth with her small hand, realizing she had said the wrong thing.
Zhang Heng didn't mind and said, "When do we depart for Lake Heart Island? There's something there that interests me."
Qi Shu: "We can leave now!"
Luo Hong, who was observing the camp not far away, also took out his satellite device and started a call.
Luo Hong: "You've asked your disciple to help?"
The other side: "Yes, Qi Shu's strength is below that of an Elite Four Trainer. The commotion she makes won't attract too much attention from various parties."
Luo Hong smiled and said, "To conceal the secret of the Legendary Pokémon in the Wilderness Area, you're even willing to personally enter the fray and challenge the Champion."
"Hahaha. It's just a convenient thing to do."