After a day of travel, the three finally arrived at Cerulean City. However, they had to separate for a while.
"Xiao Xia, why do you seem off as soon as we arrived in Cerulean City? Are you not used to the environment?" Xiao Zhi asked, stroking Pikachu, a bit puzzled.
Xiao Xia wanted to say something, but she quickly left, saying before she departed, "We will meet again if it's fated."
Xiao Gang walked towards the department store, giving Xiao Zhi a thumbs up: "I need to buy some things. You go challenge the Gym first."
'Xiao Zhi, let's not challenge the Gym first. How about we go to the north side of Cerulean City?' Li Qingfeng's words carried a hint of urgency, and Xiao Zhi nodded in response. Since it was Li Qingfeng's suggestion, he could certainly listen.
After walking for about thirty minutes, Xiao Zhi finally reached the north side of Cerulean City, where there was a wooden bridge called Goldenrod Bridge.
"What is this place?" Xiao Zhi exclaimed upon seeing the large bridge, feeling a bit emotional. It was his first time seeing such a bridge, and many Trainers stood on both sides of it, presumably waiting for others to challenge them.
A voice that was both familiar and quite annoying to Xiao Zhi rang out: "Yo, isn't this Xiao Zhi? Why are you staying here? Don't tell me you want to challenge Goldenrod Bridge?"
Xiao Zhi turned his head and saw the spiky-haired young man standing nearby—it was Xiao Zhi's childhood friend (crossed out) pal—Xiao Mao!
"Oh? You only have three Pokémon and you want to challenge Goldenrod Bridge? You're a bit too confident in your own strength, aren't you?" Xiao Mao stared at the three poké balls on Xiao Zhi's waist with a grin.
Xiao Zhi was about to retort when he saw that Xiao Mao had six poké balls on his waist, and he exclaimed in surprise: "Xiao Mao, you already have six Pokémon?"
"Mhm, as you can see, my Pokémon team is growing stronger every day. It's not impossible if you want to join my team," Xiao Mao lifted his head proudly, looking down at Xiao Zhi, seemingly trying to provoke his Move - Rage.
'Six full, without deliberately training Pokémon, he probably can't beat you.' Li Qingfeng pondered for a moment, then told Xiao Zhi his analysis.
Xiao Zhi's eyes lit up after hearing this. He had been thinking about winning against Xiao Mao for a long time, and this situation was a good time for a battle.
"Xiao Mao, I want to battle you!" Xiao Zhi took out Pidgeotto's poké ball and issued a battle challenge to Xiao Mao.
Xiao Mao looked at Xiao Zhi with interest, but after sighing, he shook his head repeatedly: "Oh dear, but I don't want to battle someone who can't even get type advantages right."
Xiao Zhi clicked his tongue and showed off his recently acquired knowledge in front of Xiao Mao: "Hehe, since you're so knowledgeable, then tell me what type counters Fairy-type?"
"Wh...what? Fairy-type?"
Xiao Mao clearly stumbled for a bit. If it were Evil-type and Steel-type, the types discovered in the neighboring Johto region, he would still know them, but what kind of type was this Fairy-type again?
He seemed to have some impression, but couldn't recall it.
No, he absolutely couldn't let Xiao Zhi know that he had forgotten what the Fairy-type was. He said as if waking from a dream: "Oh, oh, oh, Fairy-type, I know. Fairy-type... uh, Fairy-type..."
Xiao Zhi casually pointed to a phone booth not far from Xiao Mao and said, "Poison and Steel types counter Fairy-type."
Xiao Mao asked with some doubt, "You're not just making this counter up, are you?"
"How could I be making it up! The phone booth is right there, do you want us to call Da Mu now?" Xiao Zhi put his hands on his hips. This was something he had just learned from Li Qingfeng, how could it be wrong!
Xiao Mao walked to the phone booth in a huff and dialed Da Mu's number.
"Xiao Mao? Didn't you just call me? What happened?" Da Mu's worried voice came through, making Xiao Mao feel a bit better. Then he told him about what happened between him and Xiao Zhi.
Da Mu made a sound of sudden realization after listening:
"Oh~ that~ Fairy-type, huh? Clefairy's family, Wigglytuff's family, and Mr. Mime here all have the Fairy-type. Xiao Zhi's statement is correct. It seems Xiao Zhi has done enough preparation."
Xiao Zhi also leaned in and greeted Da Mu: "Hello, Da Mu."
Da Mu also responded when he heard Xiao Zhi's voice: "Xiao Zhi, hello. How many Pokémon have you caught now? My Xiao Mao has caught quite a few."
Hearing this, Xiao Zhi replied: "Including Pikachu, three in total, but I'm going for the elite route. The ones I train will be very strong!"
Da Mu was about to say something, but then he thought that Xiao Zhi was someone with the rainbow wing, so the elite route was indeed fine.
After saying a few words to encourage the two, Da Mu hung up the phone. Xiao Mao no longer had his previous arrogant demeanor; there was a hint of curiosity in his eyes as he looked at Xiao Zhi.
"Are you really the Xiao Zhi I know?" Xiao Mao's voice was low, and he seemed to have become calm and composed. He had lived with Xiao Zhi for so long, and he also knew Xiao Zhi's true nature.
Naïve—that was his assessment of Xiao Zhi.
Xiao Zhi couldn't even memorize the type effectiveness chart before his journey, so how could he suddenly become so smart? He shouldn't have been possessed by a character from a light novel, right?
"What are you talking about? I am me! I am Xiao Zhi, Xiao Zhi from Masara Town, Xiao Zhi who dreams of becoming a Pokémon Master!" The more Xiao Zhi spoke, the more excited he became, which immediately made Xiao Mao dismiss the idea that he was possessed.
This passionate fervor truly couldn't be faked.
Thinking of this, Xiao Mao also secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't want his childhood friend to be possessed by someone.
Not this kind of thing!
Xiao Mao seemed to remember something and said, "It's a pity. If you had forgotten about type effectiveness, I would have wanted to tell you some news."
Xiao Zhi stared at Xiao Mao with a face full of questions, and finally asked, "What news? Is it good news or bad news?"
"Hehe, for someone like you who doesn't even know type effectiveness, it's certainly good news. Lean your ear closer and I'll tell you..." A glint of cunning flashed in Xiao Mao's eyes. Xiao Zhi felt it wasn't good news, but he still leaned his ear closer.
When Xiao Zhi brought his ear to Xiao Mao's mouth, Xiao Mao finally spoke: "It seems there's a plan to build a school at Indigo Plateau. If you don't even know type effectiveness, then when that school is built, I'll have my grandpa send you there to study hard!"
Xiao Zhi: !!!
Li Qingfeng: !!!
"Xiao Mao... I'm not done with you!" In an instant, the two began chasing each other, having a great time.
----
I actually wanted Xiao Mao to grow up a bit earlier. The feeling should be pretty good, I guess.