“Here we are, deep, deep in the forest. For some unknown reason or fate, these four people have come together to travel.”
Yu Feng mumbled his daily opening lines in the heavy fog. Xiao Xia and the others were already used to Yu Feng speaking in such narrative-like tones.
It seemed like Yu Feng hadn't said such an opening line for a long time since bidding farewell to Xiao Ming.
“Until you pay me back for the bicycle you broke, I’ll follow you wherever you go!”
Xiao Xia, who was immune to Yu Feng’s narrations, continued to bicker with Ash about her bicycle.
“Bicycle, bicycle, can’t you talk about anything else besides that?”
Ash was also very annoyed with Xiao Xia constantly bringing up her bicycle. Couldn't she talk about anything else besides that one thing?
“No, I can’t. I can’t see anything in this white expanse, whether it’s fog or clouds. At a time like this, I can’t think of anything else to say.”
Xiao Xia also grew tired of the foggy environment. This kind of thing, where you couldn't tell left from right, was truly uncomfortable.
“Simply put, all four of us are lost. Where exactly is our next destination, Vermilion City? Please continue watching in the next chapter.”
Brock succinctly explained their current situation and concluded the chapter.
Although it was unclear how they managed to lead even Yu Feng, who possessed Psychic abilities, astray, they were indeed lost at the moment.
“Don’t arbitrarily end the chapter.”
Xiao Xia pulled out a mallet from who-knows-where and struck Brock on the head, knocking him to the ground.
Ash and Yu Feng, watching Xiao Xia’s actions, broke out in a cold sweat, not daring to say anything… “Th-th-three o’clock, time for snacks!”
“I love drinking Blue Mountain coffee brewed in a siphon coffee maker the most!”
Brock quickly pulled out a table from his backpack and arranged various decorations.
He took out a coffee maker, then looked sharply at Ash.
“It’s too early for children to drink coffee. Coarse tea will do!”
Brock casually placed a cup of coarse tea in front of Ash, shocking him for ten thousand years!
“You’re giving me this? Why does Yu Feng get black tea?”
Ash was extremely surprised by the coarse tea in front of him. He didn’t understand why he had to drink this, but after seeing Yu Feng sipping black tea nearby, he instantly felt unbalanced.
“He has Indeedee brewing his. Do you? I prefer apple tea.”
Xiao Xia wouldn’t miss any opportunity to retort to Ash. Yu Feng had Indeedee brew his black tea; if you don’t have one, don’t compare yourself to him. It’s simply asking for trouble.
“There’s no such thing.”
Ash also didn’t want to miss any opportunity to retort to Xiao Xia, but Xiao Xia’s request was too outrageous. Coffee could be instant, and tea could be brought as tea cakes.
But fruit tea? How could you carry the raw ingredients for that?
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, of course there is.”
Brock wagged his finger in front, as if to say Ash was short-sighted. He then held a set of tea utensils in his hands, seemingly without anyone noticing.
“Of course there is! This is a large tea set, an imported item!”
“But more important than tea or coffee is water.”
Saying this, Brock squatted down again, putting his hand into his backpack, as if pulling something out.
“The spring water that gushed out when we passed Mt. Moon last time is famously delicious.”
“So I bottled the water!”
Brock exerted all his strength and finally pulled a barrel of water from his backpack.
At this moment, Yu Feng, Ash, and Xiao Xia’s expressions gradually turned to shock. They couldn’t understand why someone would go to such lengths.
Yu Feng also felt that if Indeedee were here, she would definitely share a common language with Brock. Speaking of which, Indeedee just said she was going to replenish some ingredients, and he didn’t know when she would be back.
“The best snack for tea is scones, but sometimes a trendy grape juice is also nice.”
Brock continued to chatter about his afternoon tea preparations.
“Wonderful, delicious, it sounds like we’ve arrived at the Champs-Élysées!”
Xiao Xia, who had initially looked horrified, now seemed to have triggered a strange switch. With her hands cupping her slightly flushed cheeks, brilliant starlight sparkled in her eyes.
A scene of herself on the Champs-Élysées had already appeared in her mind, but unfortunately, Ash’s eating sounds interrupted her fantasy.
“Crunch, crunch.”
The sound of Ash chewing food constantly echoed nearby, making even Yu Feng look at Ash with some exasperation.
“You’re going too far! Don’t ruin my romantic fantasy.”
Xiao Xia pulled out a thick log from who-knows-where and smashed it onto Ash’s head, sending him peacefully to sleep.
“But, whether we’re brewing tea or making grape juice, we don’t have the most important thing: fire.”
Brock interrupted their squabble and brought up the most pressing issue.
“Speaking of fire, I remember your starter Pokémon, Yu Feng, was Charmander, right?”
Regarding the issue of fire, if Ash remembered correctly, Yu Feng’s starter Pokémon was indeed Charmander.
“Oh, that’s right, I haven’t seen Charmander out much lately.”
Brock also remembered Yu Feng’s starter Pokémon, Charmander, hadn’t been seen much recently. Seeing Yu Feng only release Psychic-type Pokémon, he subconsciously assumed Yu Feng specialized in Psychic.
“Since the fire problem is solved, I’m so sorry, but would you two mind going to collect some firewood?”
Brock realized the fire problem was solved, so the next issue was firewood. Yu Feng would provide the fire source, so collecting firewood would fall to Ash and the other one.
“Regarding the division of labor, Grandpa always goes up the mountain to chop wood, and Grandma washes clothes by the river. Women do water-related work, and men are responsible for finding firewood.”
With one sentence, Xiao Xia completely absolved herself, directly assigning the task of finding firewood to the three males present.
“I specialize in cooking!”
“I’m responsible for providing the fire source.”
Brock showed his tools, indicating that he was the cook and would not participate in finding firewood.
Yu Feng also held up a finger, from which a dazzling flame burned, indicating he was responsible for the most important fire source.
“Ah? Only I’m left!”
Ash looked desperate. Everyone else had tasks, and he had nothing to do, so he had to go collect firewood.
But there was no helping it; that’s how it was to be a freeloader. Even if Yu Feng didn’t eat what Brock made, he had Indeedee to help him cook, so he wasn’t worried at all. As for Brock… he just wanted to eat well; it wasn’t that he couldn’t cook without fire.