Urban Pokémon

"Miss Tang, we're just buying a car. Do we really have to rush like this?" Guo Yi sighed helplessly from the passenger seat.

He'd barely returned to the villa and hadn't even had a chance to sit down before Tang Rong dragged him off to a car dealership. Since when did buying a car as a gift become such an urgent matter?

Tang Rong laughed lightly, unfazed. "Well, what else can I do? After you gave me your breeding methods last night, Teacher Guo, I've been itching to put them into practice. The sooner we settle the car issue, the sooner I can get started!"

In truth, after discussing with Guo Yi all through the night, Tang Rong had been too excited to sleep. His suggestions had completely opened her eyes, flooding her mind with new tactics she couldn't wait to test.

Though Tang Rong was a young miss of the prestigious Tang family, in prominent clans like hers, one's fate was rarely their own. And if she wanted control over her future—

Strength was the simplest, most direct way.

If Tang Rong could train her Pokémon according to Guo Yi's methods, she would finally have a chance to become a true decision-maker within her family. For her, this opportunity was priceless. If she hadn't felt so deeply grateful to Guo Yi, she would've immediately gone home last night to begin closed-door training.

Looking at Tang Rong's eager expression, Guo Yi could only shake his head and stare out the window in resignation.

At this moment, Tang Rong remembered something else. A little hesitantly, she asked, "Teacher Guo, could you perhaps make some Perfect-Grade Pokéblocks for my Pokémon?"

Perfect-Grade Pokéblocks!

That was the final blow that Guo Yi had dealt last night, leaving both Tang Rong and Ye Qing completely stunned by his ability.

Yesterday, when Ye Qing wanted her Nidoqueen to learn [Ice Beam], Guo Yi had casually handed over special training Pokéblocks to aid her training. Both Tang Rong and Ye Qing weren't ordinary trainers; at first glance, they recognized these Pokéblocks were extraordinary.

Upon further inquiry, the two women learned that these Pokéblocks were Perfect-Grade. Instantly, they couldn't help but envy Su Qingxue's incredible luck. Not only did Guo Yi excel at Pokémon cultivation, but even his Pokéblock-making skills were simply heaven-defying.

Perfect-Grade Pokéblocks!

Anyone who could produce Pokéblocks of this quality was renowned throughout the Dragon Nation!

"Sure," Guo Yi replied without hesitation. "But only one portion per month—and you'll need to pay for it."

He didn't mind earning extra income by providing Pokéblocks. Of course, he wouldn't be as generous as he was with Su Qingxue, who regularly received Perfect-Grade Pokéblocks as part of her daily meals. After all, creating Perfect-Grade Pokéblocks required valuable [Mentor Points], and Guo Yi wasn't about to spend those recklessly on outsiders. Those points were precious and needed for his own disciples.

Tang Rong readily agreed to Guo Yi's terms. She had already mentally prepared herself for rejection beforehand. Although one portion of Perfect-Grade Pokéblocks seemed small, if mixed carefully with top-grade ones, it would be just enough for a month's worth of training.

And as for money? Even if Guo Yi hadn't mentioned payment, Tang Rong planned to offer the highest market price anyway. Pokéblocks of this caliber were always in high demand but rarely available. No matter how much she spent, getting her hands on them was undoubtedly worth it.

...

About half an hour later, their car stopped in front of a 4S dealership.

As soon as they arrived, a staff member rushed out to greet them enthusiastically.

"Miss Tang! What brings you here?" the employee greeted her with a polite smile. Tang Rong was well-known here as the dealership's boss was her cousin, so naturally everyone recognized her car at a glance.

Without wasting time, Tang Rong asked straightforwardly, "Is Xiao Jie here today?"

The employee nodded quickly. "He is, Miss Tang, but… I'm afraid he's busy at the moment."

"Hmph! Busy?" Tang Rong scoffed. "His cousin comes personally, and he dares claim he's busy? What's he doing?"

To think her cousin had the nerve to ignore her when she visited personally—she'd surely deal with him later!

"Well, Miss Leng from the Leng family is also here buying a car," the employee explained hurriedly. "Brother Jie is currently assisting her."

Tang Rong raised an eyebrow thoughtfully.

"The Leng family? Leng Yue?"

"No wonder," she murmured, easing up immediately. "In that case, don't bother him. Just lead us around yourself."

The Leng family wasn't just anyone. As the family of a former Champion, Tang Rong naturally knew to give them the appropriate respect. Besides, buying a car didn't necessarily need her cousin. As long as someone knowledgeable showed them around, that was sufficient.

"Understood! Right this way, Miss Tang," the employee quickly responded, leading them into the dealership.

"Miss Tang, what kind of car are you thinking this time? Another sports car, or something more business-like?" Lin asked casually as he led the way through the dealership.

Tang Rong waved her hand dismissively. "It's not for me this time. It's for him," she said, turning toward Guo Yi. "Teacher Guo, pick anything you like. Don't hold back."

Only after hearing this did Lin finally notice the handsome young man standing quietly beside Tang Rong.

Miss Tang's actually buying a car for a man? Could this be… her new boyfriend? Lin speculated secretly.

After all, this was the first time Lin had ever seen Tang Rong bring a man here—much less buy a car for one. A situation like this had been unimaginable before today.

In truth, Guo Yi didn't know much about cars. To him, as long as it could get him from point A to point B, it was good enough. Brands meant little to him.

"Hmm," Guo Yi said thoughtfully. "Honestly, I don't know much about cars. Why don't you pick something suitable?"

After thinking briefly, only a few common brands popped into his head, and he decided to leave the choice to Tang Rong. She was clearly more knowledgeable in this area.

Hearing this, Tang Rong frowned slightly.

If it's left to me, I need to pick carefully. Since it's to repay a favor, it can't be anything ordinary.

She immediately turned to Lin. "Do you have any premium cars in the tens-of-millions range right now?"

"T-tens of millions?!"

Lin couldn't help but gasp. His gaze toward Guo Yi instantly carried a hint of disdain.

A woman buying a man a car worth tens of millions… If this isn't a gigolo, what is? Who would've thought the proud Miss Tang would fall this way…

Lin shook his head regretfully before guiding them toward an elegant, sky-blue sports car parked nearby.

"Miss Tang, how about this one? An Aston Martin, priced at forty million yuan. Brother Jie reserved this one specifically for himself, but since you're here, of course, he'll step aside."

As a seasoned employee of the dealership, Lin knew exactly how influential Tang Rong was with their boss. Though they were technically cousins, their relationship was even closer than siblings.

Tang Rong didn't answer immediately but instead looked to Guo Yi for his opinion.

"Teacher Guo, how does this one feel to you? If you like it, we'll take it."

Seeing her deference, Lin became even more certain that the young man standing beside her had a higher status in Tang Rong's heart than his own boss. When Tang Rong went shopping with Brother Jie, she usually made decisions herself without hesitation.

"This one?" Guo Yi eyed the sleek Aston Martin, slightly hesitant.

Truthfully, he liked the car's aesthetic very much. However, driving something this flashy to work every day felt a bit too conspicuous.

"Tang Rong, wouldn't driving this to Shanghai Pokémon University every day be too flashy?"

It doesn't really match my style, he thought uneasily.

Flashy?

Tang Rong shot him a pointed look.

Is this car flashier than your Perfect-Grade [Moon Stone]? Teacher Guo, are you misunderstanding what flashy means?

Exasperated, she explained, "Relax. It's just a car. If you want truly flashy, you'd get a Pokémon riding license and commute on a Pokémon every day. People flying around on Salamence or Dragonite—now, that's flashy!"

At this, Guo Yi finally understood.

Ah, right! This is a Pokémon world. In my past life, a luxury sports car might've drawn stares, but here, even a million-dollar car is less eye-catching than riding around on a pseudo-Legendary Pokémon.

With his concerns resolved, Guo Yi nodded decisively. "All right, this one it is."

Fortunately, his predecessor had already obtained a driver's license before he crossed worlds. Otherwise, he'd have the added headache of attending driving school all over again.

Tang Rong, seeing his agreement, didn't bother looking at other cars. She could already tell Guo Yi's attitude toward material things was entirely indifferent.

No wonder he chose to live quietly in a small village at such a young age. Has he already transcended worldly desires? she thought with a wry smile.

Honestly speaking, ever since she'd met Guo Yi, she couldn't recall ever seeing him look truly surprised or excited. Ironically, she herself had probably shown more astonishment these past few days than in all her previous years combined.

"All right, Lin, we'll take this one. Handle the paperwork, please. As for the payment, I'll settle it with Xiao Jie later," Tang Rong instructed briskly.

"Yes, Miss Tang. I'll take care of it right away." Lin nodded respectfully, quickly turning away to complete the paperwork.

Suddenly, Guo Yi felt his backpack shift slightly. Realizing something, he quickly placed it on the ground.

Seeing this strange behavior, Su Qingxue finally couldn't resist asking, "Teacher, I've been wondering—why are you always carrying that backpack? We're not going on an adventure. Isn't it inconvenient?"

In this day and age, technological advancements, driven by the emergence of Pokémon Secret Realms, were nothing short of revolutionary. Of all the inventions, perhaps none was as universally appreciated for convenience as the spatial backpack.

Adventuring used to mean lugging around countless supplies. Outsiders might even mistake adventurers for tourists. Heavy bags would slow exploration and make responding to Pokémon attacks cumbersome.

The spatial backpack alleviated all this. Though not as fantastical as storage rings from novels—which could store entire buildings—it still provided a modest four cubic meters of space, enough to carry basic necessities.

However, it was odd to carry one casually around town.

"Why do I carry it?" Guo Yi smiled slightly as he pulled out an incubator from the bag. Inside lay a crimson Pokémon Egg, emitting faint flashes of white light—clear signs it was about to hatch.

"Of course, it's for this little one."

This Pokémon Egg was none other than Ninetales's child. Ever since it recovered with the power of [Sacred Ash], Guo Yi had estimated its hatching time to be about a week. And now, the moment had finally arrived.

"A Pokémon Egg!" Su Qingxue exclaimed in delight. "Teacher, what Pokémon is inside? Is it powerful?"

This was Su Qingxue's first time witnessing an egg hatch, and her eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"It's a Vulpix Egg," Guo Yi answered gently. "As for its strength, it depends on future cultivation. But I'll tell you this—its potential is definitely not lower than your Metapod's."

In reality, Guo Yi had understated the egg's potential slightly. Its innate talent was at the Master level, surpassing even Su Qingxue's shiny Metapod.

Su Qingxue gasped in shock, fully understanding what that meant. Her Metapod already had Champion Potential. Guo Yi's words implied this Vulpix was no less impressive.

"Teacher," Su Qingxue asked cautiously, "are you planning to raise this Pokémon yourself, or… give it to someone else?"

If Guo Yi intended to raise it personally, she wouldn't say anything. But if it was up for adoption, she saw a chance to compete for it.

Her question actually caught Guo Yi slightly off guard. While the Vulpix's potential was extremely high, he already owned a Master-level Ninetales. Ideally, the Vulpix would be better off raised by one of his disciples, strengthening his template Pokémon indirectly. After a moment's consideration, he chose to let Vulpix decide for herself.

"Don't ask me that. Wait until this little one is born, and ask her directly."

Hearing this, Su Qingxue's face lit up instantly. "You promised, Teacher! We'll let Vulpix decide."

She immediately began pondering how to win over the soon-to-be-born Pokémon.

At that moment, the white glow intensified dramatically.

Suddenly, a phoenix-like cry echoed from the egg, and golden flames erupted, completely enveloping it. This unexpected event startled everyone nearby.

"Teacher, what's happening?!" Su Qingxue cried anxiously.

"Don't worry. It's normal." Guo Yi remained calm, unsurprised by the flames. He knew exactly what this was—the Sacred Flame of Ho-Oh.

Born from a thousand-year-old guardian and infused with [Sacred Ash], this Vulpix had naturally inherited Ho-Oh's flames. This phenomenon was merely a sign of her extraordinary birth.

Despite the flames' small size, the temperature swiftly rose several degrees within the dealership.

Even Leng Yue and Tang Jie, viewing cars from afar, noticed the sudden change.

"What's going on? Why is it suddenly so hot?" Tang Jie frowned. "Did the air-conditioning break?"

But Leng Yue's sharp gaze immediately found the distant flames.

"No… the source of this heat seems to be coming from over there…"