The moment Lin Feng slipped the red scarf around Vulpix's neck, the little Ice-type instantly calmed down.
He used a touch of psychic power to levitate Sprigatito's egg for a moment, freeing his hands so he could tie the scarf properly. Once the knot was snug beneath her chin, Vulpix lifted her head proudly, brushing her paw over the fabric as though admiring herself in a mirror.
It worked like magic.
Just seconds ago she'd been sulking, but now she trotted along at his side, tail swishing in delight. Every few steps she'd glance down to admire the tiny embroidered Vulpix hero on the scarf, her mind already spinning with stories she couldn't wait to tell back home:
"This scarf is the mark of the future Hero of Wutong Town the one and only Vulpix Knight!"
The thought filled her with such pride that she nearly bounced with every step.
Lin Feng chuckled softly but didn't interfere. Though they were outdoors, a Pokémon as small as Vulpix could safely walk beside him without issue. In Changsha City, this was completely normal.
All around, the streets were alive with life.
A stylish teenage girl strolled by with a Leafeon prancing beside her. A boy in a team jacket jogged past with his Charmeleon, both brimming with energy. A lady in a wool sweater carried a Skitty in her arms, the cat purring contentedly.
It was a scene that would make any trainer's heart warm.
Changsha had a reputation for its safety organized, lively, and without the shadow of Pokémon poachers that plagued some regions. Trainers trusted their partners here, letting them walk freely without fear.
Lin Feng glanced down again at his Vulpix, the red scarf gleaming in the sunlight. She hadn't evolved yet, but her power was already impressive.
He pulled up her current stats:
[Pokémon: Vulpix (Ice Form)]
[Gender: Female]
[Ability: Snow Warning]
[Potential: Red-tier]
[Level: 36–38]
[Moves: Hypnosis, Moonblast, Tail Whip, Powder Snow, Ice Shard, Icy Wind, Disable...]
[Friendship: 100 (She sees you as her greatest comfort.)]
[Joy: 70 ("I'm going to be the Vulpix Hero of the town someday!")]
Lin Feng smiled faintly. For all her childish personality and dramatic imagination, Vulpix's strength had already reached Gym Leader level.
And if she wanted to, she could evolve right now.
When their friendship had hit a perfect one hundred, the system had quietly rewarded him with a mysterious Ice Stone one perfectly suited for her evolution.
What puzzled him was that he hadn't even noticed when it appeared.
He remembered checking his system storage one morning and finding a brilliant crystal resting there its surface clear as glass, glowing with icy blue energy that shimmered like the northern lights.
[Item: SSS-grade Ice Stone]
[Origin: A shard that naturally fell from Regice's body. After absorbing immense Ice-type energy over centuries, it transformed into a pure evolutionary stone.]
When he first saw the description, Lin Feng had frozen.
He thought he was hallucinating. Usually, the system gave a clear notification when awarding something this rare, but this time silence.
After some digging, he discovered the timestamp.
It had been granted at 3 a.m., while he was sound asleep.
Which meant… the system had rewarded him because of a dream.
Or rather, because Vulpix had dreamed of something while asleep beside him.
That revelation had nearly made Lin Feng choke on his breakfast.
"Wait, so even dreams can trigger rewards now?" he had muttered, wide-eyed.
That same day, when he'd asked Arcanine (affectionately called Ajiu) what kind of evolution it preferred, he'd also asked Vulpix whether she wanted to evolve yet.
Her answer had been a thoughtful shake of the head. She hadn't decided.
Lin Feng didn't push her. He loved her just the way she was small, curious, and full of wonder.
Still, he couldn't help picturing what she'd look like in battle one day: that cute little face puffed up with determination, unleashing a blizzard so powerful it stunned her opponents into silence.
The image made him grin.
At that very moment, a small tug on his pant leg snapped him from his thoughts.
Vulpix was looking up at him, her eyes shining with resolve.
"Vul! Vul-vul!" she barked. (Battle! I want to become the Vulpix Hero!)
Lin Feng blinked. "...You sure do have timing."
Just when he'd been imagining her fighting, she was already volunteering for one.
"Alright," he said with a helpless smile. "Guess we're entering the Youth Cup after all."
He had been considering skipping it at first, but with Vulpix this fired up, how could he refuse?
After weaving through the crowds, Lin Feng reached the arena.
He paid the entry fee and stepped inside.
The place was enormous larger than his old plantation back in Wutong Town, and with the stands included, it could rival a full-sized stadium.
The Youth Cup was officially underway, and the atmosphere was electric. Trainers and spectators packed the stands, their cheers echoing through the domed space. The main floor was divided into dozens of smaller battlefields, each occupied by trainers dueling with intensity.
Those who had earned the right to participate had to complete at least three matches today though the more ambitious could challenge as many opponents as they wanted.
Winning three battles didn't automatically guarantee a spot in the finals, though.
The judges scored competitors not only on victory but also on skill, creativity, and sportsmanship.
If you defeated three beginner trainers, your results would naturally weigh less than if you held your ground against stronger opponents.
To keep things fair, referees rotated between fields throughout the day, ensuring balanced assessments.
In short if you wanted to stand out, you needed to fight well, and you needed to fight hard.
Lin Feng and Mewtwo wandered among the fields, taking in the action.
The variety of battles was fascinating from beginners nervously commanding their first Pokémon to seasoned youths directing sharp tactical exchanges.
He scanned the crowd for Qin Shu but saw no sign of her.
Maybe she's running late, he thought, pulling out his phone to call her.
Before he could dial, a voice suddenly rang out beside him.
"Hey! Are you looking for a battle?"
Lin Feng turned and nearly laughed out loud.
A boy about his age had popped out of nowhere, wearing shorts, a red headband, and an expression so confident it could light a campfire. Beside him stood a stout Tepig, snorting little clouds of steam through its nose.
The boy pointed at Lin Feng, grinning. "You look like you've got experience. What do you say want to battle me?"
Lin Feng blinked. "A wild Shorts Kid…?" he muttered under his breath.
He looked down at the Tepig red nose flaring, ears twitching, eyes sparkling with fierce determination. For some reason, Lin Feng couldn't help thinking it looked adorable. Its face had that round, clumsy charm that made it impossible to take too seriously.
He quickly brought up its stats.
[Pokémon: Tepig]
[Gender: Male]
[Ability: Blaze]
[Potential: Blue-tier]
[Level: 6–8]
[Moves: Tackle, Ember, Tail Whip]
Only three moves and still in the early stage of training.
No wonder it felt so innocent.
Lin Feng was about to politely decline, not wanting to crush the boy's confidence but before he could speak, Vulpix leapt forward, tail flicking proudly.
"Vul! Vul-vul-vul!" (Bring it on!)
There it was the first opponent for the soon-to-be Vulpix Hero.
Lin Feng sighed in amusement. "Alright then," he said, shaking his head. "Let's give it a go."
The boy's grin widened. Together, they found an open battlefield nearby.
The crowd thinned slightly around them as trainers turned to watch, sensing the energy building between the two Pokémon the fiery spark of youth, the chilly gleam of determination, and the shared excitement of a new adventure about to unfold.