After leaving Yuanzhu City, Uncle Ranch headed east all the way.
Unlike previous walking simulations, Uncle Ranch could carry more gear in his car, making camping more extravagant.
Baimu had rarely seen a tent so large that it could simultaneously house cows, horses, sheep, monkeys, and apes... oh no, make that middle-aged strong men, and still look quite spacious.
Not only that, Uncle Ranch also brought along a stove, pots and other professional kitchen utensils, tables and chairs, and even a small generator, making the campsite bright as daylight, and even had a laptop to connect with his family.
With just a little fire, a small pot, a small dish, and a sip of wine, life couldn't be better.
With nothing to do, he fished for Magikarp and Goldeen by the creek, occasionally feeding the Wild Pokémon passing by. When the mood struck, he'd ride the Rapidash galloping across the vast plains, announcing to the passing Trainers that there's not only a White Horse Prince in the world but also a White Horse Strongman.
He used Pokémon battles to teach those young Trainers who looked down on middle-aged uncles a lesson.
Such a leisurely camping trip.
Couldn't be any more comfortable.
Baimu couldn't help but doubt Uncle Ranch's purpose for traveling.
Is it to help his daughter hold her head high and achieve her dreams, or is it that he's in middle-age craving some personal hobby to slack off under the guise of travel?
Hard to say, really hard to say.
And during this time.
That Pokémon Egg, which was fortunately obtained, successfully hatched and surprised Baimu with what emerged.
[Your Pokémon Egg hatched]
[You got a Swinub, adding a partner for the Gym challenges]
A Pokémon Egg leftover from a group of Psyduck hatched into a Swinub? Are they even in the same egg group? Did the duck mom cheat or did the duck dad grow a third leg?
It's just as miraculous as how Ash Ketchum suddenly got a Togepi Egg after battling Aerodactyl.
In any case, the arrival of Swinub filled Uncle Ranch with immense joy, and his Maternal Aura soared, often showing Swinub to the Ranch Girl through remote connection, and his usual fishing time mostly shifted to it.
As an excellent Breeder, Swinub grew rapidly under Uncle Ranch's care.
Meanwhile, Kaji Town, where the fifth Gym was located, was reached.
Although obtaining just the Fifth Badge, Uncle Ranch, who had challenged Kaji Gym in his youth, knew Elder Liu's strength well and gave his all.
Fortunately, his ace Rapidash and Ampharos countered a lot of Elder Liu's Pokémon. Attribute advantage was a big help in Gym challenges, coupled with the Blue Talent [Three-word Truth] finally showing its effect.
Thus, though difficult, Uncle Ranch still won.
[You defeated Kaji Gym Leader Elder Liu and received the Frozen Badge]
The obstacle for Uncle Ranch was over, and Baimu felt inexplicably relieved, reminiscing that camping boy who went astray after failing to beat Elder Liu in the past.
Moreover, Kaji Gym's victory not only granted Uncle Ranch a Badge but also taught Aipom the move Double Strike.
[Your Aipom evolved into Ambipom]
The Ambipom, admiring Uncle Ranch's mighty arms, gained a huge boost, its two large tails were comparable to [Tail Love], increasing its strike force while doubling its attack numbers.
A cause for celebration indeed.
After the Gym Battle, Uncle Ranch didn't leave but instead engaged in conversation with Elder Liu.
[You are very curious about Elder Liu's personality change. The Kaji Gym Leader remembered in your memory was cold-hearted, owning the formidable "Winter Elder Liu" title. After many years, Elder Liu's strength had increased significantly, yet his personality changed drastically]
Ah! This is!
Baimu recalled the reason for Elder Liu's personality change from the animations.
The latter had a Piloswine that, when Elder Liu was burned by fire, went to look for herbs to heal him but encountered danger and never returned.
Injured Elder Liu mistakenly thought Piloswine abandoned him, and heartbroken, he never forged true bonds with Pokémon again until Ash Ketchum and others arrived to clear the misunderstanding.
Even without connecting with Pokémon, Elder Liu could become a famed and powerful Gym Leader in Johto, garnering the "Winter Elder Liu" honor, which showed his formidable talent as a Trainer.
However, with the misunderstanding resolved, Elder Liu regained his passion for Ice-type Pokémon and wasn't as stern as before. The "Winter Elder Liu" title no longer suited him.
Meanwhile, during their discussion, Elder Liu learned why an aged Uncle Ranch still challenged Gyms, and that he owned a newly hatched Swinub, then passionately offered to guide him in nurturing such Pokémon.
[You hear Elder Liu's suggestion, feeling mixed joy, and quickly agreed]
"This... Winter Elder Liu has turned into Summer Elder Liu."
Baimu felt inexplicably sour.
——
Uncle Ranch stayed in Kaji Town for quite some time.
With the guidance from Elder Liu's Mamoswine, Swinub successfully evolved into Piloswine.
Their overall strength soared rapidly.
Baimu couldn't help being curious about Uncle Ranch's sixth Pokémon.
Cattle, horses, monkeys, pigs, sheep—all but the monkey belong to the standard ranch series. Will the next be a Grass Attribute Pokémon? Or perhaps a Miltank from the ranch?
Soon enough.
Uncle Ranch in the footage gave him the answer.
He went to a small town not seen in the game, and in a Breeder's House, he picked up a Pokémon—an Arcanine.
Dog!
Of course! How could a ranch series lack canine Pokémon?
[You retrieved the Pokémon entrusted at the Breeder's House in Eggseter Town]
[Your Arcanine won the Most Handsome Arcanine award and you shared the good news with your wife and daughter]
It seemed not long ago, Eggseter Town held the "Most Handsome Arcanine" competition, and Uncle Ranch's Arcanine was a three-time champion, entering for the fourth time.
Seeing this, Baimu fully realized Uncle Ranch's family's incredible breeding skills.
Regardless of the competition standard, standing out amongst similar Pokémon in a region undeniably proved the excellent nurture of this Pokémon.
Uncle Ranch's switch from martial pursuits to intellectual endeavors might be a correct path in his life journey.
Returning with the Arcanine.
His team was now roughly complete.
Even if Uncle Ranch contemplated adding a seventh Pokémon, after Arcanine returned, he sped up his Gym challenges.
Yanmo City.
Once a mysterious city surrounded by mountains in a valley, now connected to the outer world, even high-speed trains reach there.
[You arrived at Yanmo City, deciding to challenge the Gym for an early return home]
Yanmo Gym Leader Xiaochun, who uses Dragon-type Pokémon, coincidentally "professionally matched" with Uncle Ranch, who had just learned a lot of Ice-type Pokémon techniques from Elder Liu.
In the Gym Battle, Piloswine indeed showcased its training results from Kaji Gym, securing victory this time alongside Arcanine, Tauros, and Rapidash as the Yanmo Gym MVP.
The Blue Talent activated twice in this battle, specifically [Stand Up] and [Hold On].
Allowing Piloswine to counter Xiaochun's Dragonair.
[You defeated Yanmo Gym Leader Xiaochun, earning the Rising Dragon Badge]