Sunlight, filtered through the thin curtains, quietly crept onto the bed, but Chen Kai was still immersed in sweet dreams.
The hour hand already pointed to 10 o'clock; the whole world was bustling, yet only his room remained quiet.
Miraidon and Xiao Mei were both lying on the blanket, their even breaths particularly clear in the silent atmosphere.
Occasionally, Miraidon would mumble indiscernible words in his sleep.
Xiao Mei rolled over, taking the entire blanket that covered them both.
"Achoo."
Soon after, Miraidon was woken by the cold air from the air conditioner.
"How strange, I can actually sneeze?" Miraidon thought to himself, wiping his nose.
Last night, it was already late when they finished dinner, and after tidying up the house, it was already past midnight by the time they went to bed.
Miraidon checked the time and nudged Chen Kai: "Wake up, wake up, Chen Kai, you should get up. You have to go to your maternal grandfather's house this morning."
Chen Kai yawned, becoming a little more awake: "Oh, right, I also need to make a honey apple for Applin. Hey! Where's Applin?"
"It woke up early and is sunbathing on the balcony."
Chen Kai casually ate a piece of bread and set off for his maternal grandfather's house.
His maternal grandfather is named Bai Weimin. On Blue Star, he was originally a primary school teacher, but is now retired and lives in an area close to the center of Kyoto City, walking his bird and strolling every day, a true old Kyoto native.
Chen Kai found his maternal grandfather's house. Fortunately, this old residential area hadn't been renovated. As soon as he entered the community, he saw his maternal grandfather holding a birdcage and chatting with several old men.
Although they were all walking their birds, unlike on Earth, the bird in his birdcage was a Swablu.
And similar to Earth, the birds his maternal grandfather raised were all very fat. Chen Kai wondered if this Swablu was so fat it couldn't fly.
"Maternal Grandfather!"
Bai Weimin turned around and said with a smile: "Oh! Xiao Kai is here! I won't chat with you all anymore, I'll go accompany my maternal grandson first."
He looked at the Applin standing on Chen Kai's shoulder and said: "Oh! Xiao Kai, this must be your Applin! It's really well-trained! Look at the luster of its apple; you clearly put a lot of effort into it."
"Uh…" Chen Kai didn't know how to respond to his maternal grandfather. He had never actually taken care of Applin's outer shell.
"This Cyclizar too, it looks very strong and powerful. Your mother told me you saved it. You did well! But next time, remember your own safety!" Bai Weimin said as he walked:
"Find an opportunity to help it recover its body."
"Yes! I will." Chen Kai nodded in agreement.
Finally, at the doorstep, Bai Weimin thought for a moment: "This Flaaffy… emm… after evolving, it can barely be considered a Dragon, which is also quite good."
Xiao Mei was a bit speechless.
"Flaaffy…" (I always feel this old man is impolite.)
It seems Blue Star doesn't have Mega Evolution, no wonder I couldn't find it on my phone. Thinking this, Chen Kai tried to change the subject: "Where's Uncle?"
His maternal grandmother, Su Mei, heard the conversation and replied: "He drank last night and only came back in the middle of the night. He's still lying in bed."
"Xiao Kai, I am very pleased that you are willing to train Dragon-type Pokemon," Bai Weimin said, taking a sip of tea.
"I've asked my buddies about honey apples. Our old Bai family has one or two.
It just so happens that in a few days, our old Bai family has a competition with the Long family from the Southern Capital. We'll participate then, and if we win, we'll have a chance to get a honey apple."
Chen Kai asked in surprise: "Wait, Maternal Grandfather, do you mean our Bai family has honey apples? The Bai family, a family?"
"Yes, didn't you know?" Bai Weimin turned on the TV, which happened to be broadcasting an interview with a man.
The TV showed that this man was named Bai Zhuo, and his position was one of the Dragon Kingdom's Four Heavenly Kings.
Bai Weimin said somewhat proudly: "How about that? Our Bai family has always held a seat among the Dragon Kingdom's Four Heavenly Kings.
The Bai family is a Dragon Master family!"
Chen Kai was so surprised his mouth couldn't close. Doesn't this mean he's about to take off?
At this moment, his maternal grandmother, Su Mei, walked over and poured cold water on him: "'Our old Bai family,' do you even know that Bai Zhuo?"
At this point, Bai Weimin originally wanted to continue boasting, but he was cut off.
"Uh… Our old Bai family is a big family with a big business, it's normal that he doesn't know me. Maternal Grandfather, I can still let Xiao Kai participate in the competition."
Chen Kai pointed to himself and asked: "Okay, Maternal Grandfather, but… I'm not surnamed Bai, is that okay?"
"It's fine, it's fine. I've already signed you up. Just go participate on August 10th."
"Dad, can we add someone?" Bai Zhaoxing was woken up and walked into the living room, asking.
Bai Weimin asked: "Who is it that wants to participate in the Bai family's competition?"
Bai Zhaoxing explained: "It's the child of my section chief at work. I asked him for a favor yesterday, and it's a bit hard to refuse."
"It's possible… it's just…" Bai Weimin hesitated.
"He said he would pay for it. You just need to introduce him."
"Then that's fine." Bai Weimin, hearing that the other party would pay, guaranteed it.
So, you need to pay to participate, Chen Kai thought, feeling a bit helpless to complain.
He also didn't know how much the ticket was. He still had some money in his pocket, he'd transfer it to his maternal grandfather later.
Chen Kai still felt a bit guilty; it was all his fault, causing trouble for his uncle.
After lunch, Chen Kai followed the address his maternal grandfather gave him and headed to a Botanical Garden, where he was told his cousin could give him some pointers.
He had only met this cousin when he was little. She was the granddaughter of one of his maternal grandfather's chess friends, two years older than him, and also from the Bai family, so she was considered his distant cousin.
Before reaching his destination, Chen Kai saw a green wall from afar.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out that the Botanical Garden's wall was covered in climbing green Vines, like a green barrier, quietly hiding the beautiful scenery within the garden.
Above the main gate, the branches and leaves hanging from the climbing plants resembled green tassels, swaying gently in the wind.
Inside the main gate, a winding gravel path led deep into the garden. On both sides of the path were tall and upright trees, their canopies intertwining to form a green corridor.
On the branches, Chen Kai saw many Hoppip, Skiploom, Cherubi, Seedot, and other Pokemon, chirping and playing.
It formed a stark contrast with the concrete jungle of Kyoto outside the Botanical Garden, as if it were a hidden paradise in Kyoto.
The entire gate had no text, only a wooden hut next to the gate.
Chen Kai walked forward, wanting to ask someone for information.
There was only an old man in the wooden hut. Chen Kai was about to open his mouth to ask when he was interrupted by the old man.
"Admission is 10 yuan."
"Elder, I'm looking for someone. May I ask you…"
The old man interrupted Chen Kai again: "I know, 10 yuan admission, go in and find them yourself."
Chen Kai looked at the old man suspiciously, thought about the location his maternal grandfather sent him, which was here, and so he paid 10 yuan to go in and see.
After scanning the code with his phone and paying the admission fee, the old man handed him something like a sachet and instructed him.
"Don't lose it."
Chen Kai leaned in and sniffed. The sachet only contained a single petal, with a faint fragrance, and nothing else.
It's probably a souvenir from the Botanical Garden, Chen Kai thought.
Upon entering the Botanical Garden, Chen Kai found that there were many Pokemon inside, more than he had seen in Zining Mountain, but they all seemed to be Grass-type Pokemon.
As soon as Chen Kai entered, he felt the ground vibrate slightly. A gigantic Torterra passed in front of him. A normal Torterra is usually over 2 meters tall, but Chen Kai estimated this one was probably over 3 meters tall, and its body length was even more exaggerated.
It moved like a large truck loaded with goods, full of oppressive force.
As he walked further in, Chen Kai discovered that the Grass-type Pokemon inside were all surprisingly large. A Lilligant was almost as tall as he was.
And Pokemon like Sceptile and Victreebel were all taller than him, over 2 meters tall.
Fortunately, they did not attack Chen Kai. Victreebel stared at Chen Kai for a long time, but finally left.
Chen Kai even suspected it wanted to make him an extra meal.
After walking for almost 10 minutes, Chen Kai felt like he was getting lost.
This dilapidated Botanical Garden had no text whatsoever, only various trees and vegetation, and various Grass-type Pokemon, not a single person in sight. If it weren't for the despicable map on his phone still having a location, Chen Kai would have wanted to turn back.
Just then, Chen Kai heard human voices.
A miserable female voice said: "Ah! So tired. Please, can I stop digging?"
And another stern male voice sounded: "No, keep digging."
Chen Kai moved closer, hiding behind a tree to peek. He saw two slender girls digging a pit, while a burly man covered in tattoos stood behind them, supervising.
Could I have run into the mafia?
Chen Kai swallowed, preparing to put on Iron Leaves and send him a mask to save these two girls.
At this moment, another girl said: "Teacher. My arms are really too sore to lift."
The burly man said: "Continue, use every ounce of your strength, feel the power contained within the earth, be like a seed about to sprout!
Only then can you feel what the plants feel!"
Chen Kai silently put down the mask in his bag. So, it was just a Trainer with a bit of a problem. In that case, no worries.
He walked forward and asked: "Hello. May I ask, do you know Bai Yuchun?"
One of the girls looked up, her eyes sparkling!
"Ah! You must be Xiao Kai! That's great, Teacher, my cousin is here."
The burly man nodded: "He's the younger cousin you mentioned this morning, who's coming to train with me for a few days, right?"
The burly man walked closer to Chen Kai and examined the Applin on his shoulder for a while.
Suddenly, he said loudly: "Hmm! Lacking power! Both you and your Pokemon lack power!
What's your name?"
Chen Kai rubbed his ears and stated his name.
The big man nodded. Then he said loudly: "Hmm! My name is Ye Gai, and I am the Gym Leader of the Kyoto Grass-type Pokemon Gym. Are you and your Applin planning to study with me for a few days?"
Chen Kai felt his ears were almost deafened and replied loudly, defiantly, "Yes!"
"Very good! Very spirited! Then you and your Applin go replace Xiaochun and dig the pit!"