“Who is this person? Yu Feng, do you know him?”
Ash looked at Yu Feng with a puzzled expression, seemingly asking if he knew the person.
“How would I know? But judging by his skin, isn't he a rock?”
Yu Feng knew who it was at a glance, but the problem was he couldn't just say it out loud; it would be too troublesome to explain.
“Yu Feng, don’t be so rude. He just has dark skin, he’s not a rock.”
Xiao Xia poked Yu Feng’s back, signaling him not to be so impolite.
“My name is Wu Neng, and this place you’re sitting on is my merchandise.”
Wu Neng didn't care about Yu Feng's words; his implication was for Ash to quickly get off his merchandise.
Ash quickly stood up and apologized to Wu Neng. If he sat on someone's merchandise and it couldn't be sold, it would be bad.
After some understanding, Ash learned that Wu Neng was a merchant who sold stones for a living.
“Then it seems impossible for you to buy a stone for making kimchi.”
Wu Neng had already figured it out; it would be impossible for him to sell a stone to the three people in front of him.
“I'm sorry, I'm out on a journey to train as a Pokémon Trainer.”
Ash pointed to himself with one hand, saying proudly.
Pikachu, seeing his Trainer like this, couldn't help but sigh, and Wu Neng, observing Pikachu's actions, spoke to Ash.
“Your Pokémon looks very tired. Come on, I’ll take you to the Pokémon Center.”
Wu Neng finally deigned to stand up from his 'earth' and prepared to lead Ash and the others to the Pewter City Pokémon Center.
“I didn't realize he was a pretty good person.”
Ash quietly spoke good words about Wu Neng to Yu Feng and Xiao Xia.
“Really?”
Xiao Xia, on the other hand, expressed doubt. While she didn't have a bad opinion of Wu Neng, she had a feeling this matter wouldn't end so easily.
Sure enough, Wu Neng, who was walking ahead, seemed to remember something, turned back, and said to Ash with a smile, “Sorry, big brother, I’ll charge you 50 for the resting fee first.”
Wu Neng's act of calling someone 'big brother' for money immediately stunned Ash and the others to the ground. Yu Feng covered his face and handed over a 100-yuan bill.
Wu Neng searched his body but had no change, so he handed a stone to Yu Feng, meaning to use it to offset the remaining 50 yuan.
Yu Feng covered his face and waved his hand. He didn't care about that money; getting them to the Pokémon Center quickly was the main priority.
Having received the money, Wu Neng caused no further trouble and steadily led Ash and the others to the Pokémon Center.
“Thank you for your trouble.”
Ash and Yu Feng placed their Poké Balls on the tray and handed them to Joy.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be fine.”
Joy looked at Ash and Yu Feng with a gentle smile.
“You’re Joy?”
Ash pointed at Joy in front of him with a bit of disbelief. He seemed to remember that Joy wasn't in Viridian City.
“Yes, I am Joy.”
Joy still looked at Ash with her usual smile, not getting angry at his impoliteness.
“This place isn't Viridian City, it’s Pewter City, right?”
Ash was now a bit confused and, ignoring Yu Feng's gesture of covering his face as if not knowing him, carefully observed the surroundings. He suspected he hadn't reached Pewter City at all and was still in Viridian City.
“The Joy in Viridian City is my younger sister. I am her older sister, Joy.”
Joy's expression didn't change. She had seen many such cases of mistaken identity, but she still explained it to Ash to prevent him from making the same mistake elsewhere.
“I heard about your situation, Yu Feng. Don’t worry, we’ll help you find that irresponsible father.”
“Please wait a moment, okay?”
Joy looked at Yu Feng, expressing her kindness, as she also disliked such people. Finally, she took Yu Feng and Ash's trays and left first.
Ash didn't know what to do for a moment, then suddenly saw the Indigo Plateau Conference promotional poster behind him.
“It’s the Pokémon Regional Conference! I must participate!”
Looking at the poster, Ash was filled with endless fighting spirit. He wished he could start challenging the Indigo Plateau Conference right now.
“Is that so? To participate in the competition, you must defeat the Gym Leaders of several towns.”
“You need to get badges as proof, you know. I’m not worried about Yu Feng, but can you even manage to get them? (??? )”
Xiao Xia came over and poured cold water on Ash, trying to extinguish his burning fighting spirit. She wasn't worried about Yu Feng; that impossibly large Shiny Gardevoir could already defeat many Gyms. It was just Ash…
“Of course I can!”
Ash was not pleased with Xiao Xia's statement. How could she look down on him like that?
Just as the two were arguing, Wu Neng walked over with a laugh.
“Are you planning to challenge Brock, the recognized Pokémon Gym Leader of Pewter City?”
Wu Neng appeared from somewhere, arms crossed, looking at the three in front of him.
“Of course! Once Pikachu and the others recover their strength, will you take me to challenge Brock at the Pokémon Gym?”
Ash put his hands on his chest, affirmed Wu Neng's question, and asked him to take him to challenge Brock after Pikachu and the others recovered their strength.
“Hahahaha, with you? I'd believe the young man next to you. Hahahaha.”
Wu Neng's laughter was full of mockery. After all, it wasn't that he looked down on the boy, but bringing an Electric-type Pokémon to challenge a Rock-type Gym.
Wu Neng walked out of the Pokémon Center, leaving only his back to Ash… “Darn it, Yu Feng, that old man is so disrespectful!”
Ash complained to Yu Feng while eating. What kind of old man was that, to talk to him like that?
“Do you really think you can win? Gym Leaders are not like Trainers by the roadside; they are very strong.”
Xiao Xia said to Ash, who was shoveling rice. After all, she herself was a Gym Leader and knew much more about Gym Leaders than Ash.
“If you come and beg me, I might make an exception and help you.”
Xiao Xia said these words to Ash, but what kind of person was Ash? The ultimate dense guy.
“I don’t need it.”
Ash focused on eating his rice and didn't pay attention to Xiao Xia's suggestion.
“Is that so? Then do as you please. Anyway, you will absolutely not win against Brock of Pewter City.”
Xiao Xia, angered by Ash, walked out with her backpack, not wanting to talk to Ash for a while.
Ash didn't care about Xiao Xia's departure, but he started to regret it when he saw the 1500 bill on the table.
“Hey, hey! Xiao Xia, you haven’t paid yet!”
“I’ll pay. It’s not much.”
Yu Feng stopped Ash, who wanted to argue with Xiao Xia, stating that he would pay for the meal. After all, Xiao Xia had good intentions; it was just that Ash, that idiot, had angered her.