Chapter Fifteen: Lost in the Forest

Although Charmander looked rather reluctant, it obediently retreated into its Poké Ball, much to Zhao Fang’s relief. Zhao Fang then left the Pokémon Center and headed to a shop, where he spent a significant amount of money on Pokémon food and a product designed to mask his scent.

He had decided to purchase the scent-masking agent after some deliberation; he had angered those Charizard the day before, and there was no telling if they held a grudge. If they did, Zhao Fang would be in for a headache, so masking his scent and choosing a different route than the previous day became a necessary precaution.

After tidying up, Zhao Fang threw a small party on a flat patch of land near Verdanturf Town to celebrate Charmander joining his team. Gyarados didn’t look too pleased when facing Charmander, likely recalling how the little fire-type had attacked Zhao Fang the day before, but under Zhao Fang’s encouragement, the two quickly began to get along.

Zhao Fang then whipped out his signature culinary skills. He prepared three distinct meals for Charmander, Amaura, and Gyarados. Charmander’s portion was a vegetable and lean meat porridge capable of increasing its base stats by 14 points. After the first bite, Charmander’s eyes widened; it finished the bowl in one go and extended its claw for seconds without hesitation.

"Another bottomless pit," Zhao Fang muttered, feeling a slight sting in his heart. His team already consisted of three voracious eaters, and he hadn't expected Charmander to be one too. Zhao Fang felt as though his hard-earned money had sprouted wings and flown away.

Still, facing Charmander’s request, Zhao Fang couldn't bring himself to refuse and prepared another bowl. Only then did Charmander seem satisfied, which finally allowed Zhao Fang to exhale.

Zhao Fang began to contemplate how to solve his financial woes and secure a steady source of berries. He recalled that on the path toward Fortree City, after crossing the water, there should be an orchard capable of large-scale berry cultivation. He wasn't sure if it existed in reality, but he planned to check it out when he headed toward Fortree City.

After the party, Zhao Fang resumed his journey. He still intended to climb Mt. Chimney from Verdanturf Town and head toward Rustboro City, but mindful of the Charizard he had encountered, he took a wide detour this time. Combined with the scent-masking powder he had applied, the journey proceeded much more smoothly.

"Money, money... no matter how I look at it, selling stones to Steven is the most profitable, but there aren't any rare stones around here. It seems I'll have to take on some commissions," Zhao Fang sighed.

A single cent can indeed stump a hero, and it was no exaggeration. Zhao Fang decided that once he brought Dreepy back, he would scour Rustboro City for tasks to accumulate some capital.

He had considered using WeChat to make money, but the platform was essentially operating at a loss. It lacked significant revenue streams and had a small user base. Until WeChat was developed into a mobile version, turning a profit would be incredibly difficult.

Just as Zhao Fang was fretting over his finances, he spotted a black shadow darting through the forest ahead. Curious, he hurried over to take a look, only to see a Rattata clutching an Oran Berry, locked in a standoff with a Pidgeot.

Zhao Fang curled his lip; if it had been any other berry, he might have been interested, but he didn't care much for Oran Berries. He decided to pass by, intending to bypass the bickering Pokémon and continue along a different route.

However, after walking just a few steps, he silently doubled back. The direction he had originally intended to go was teeming with wild Beedrill, and Beedrill were notoriously territorial creatures. Tangling with them would be a massive headache, so he chose to avoid their domain.

After walking for another stretch, Zhao Fang realized he had a problem: he was lost.

"Have I been here before?" Zhao Fang frowned. It was difficult to distinguish directions in the woods, and he heard the sound of a swarm of wild Beedrill beating their wings once again.

"Come to think of it, do these Beedrill produce honey?" Zhao Fang suddenly wondered. In his past life, honey was quite delicious; if it were honey produced by Pokémon, it should be even better, right?

Just as he was about to turn back to find a new path, the sound of the Beedrill ahead turned strange—they sounded agitated. Zhao Fang quickened his pace to get away; provoking a swarm of Beedrill was the last thing he wanted.

He hadn't gone far when the ground began to tremble. Zhao Fang turned his head and saw a Snorlax, covered in stings, running for its life. Despite the many welts on its body, the Snorlax was still blissfully licking the honey in its paws, with a massive swarm of Beedrill in hot pursuit.

"Why are you kiting the mobs! Are you the reincarnation of a train-puller?" Zhao Fang was horrified. He stopped trying to find his way; an enraged swarm of Beedrill wouldn't care if you were just an accidental bystander.

Zhao Fang ran for his life for quite a while before he finally escaped the pursuit of the Beedrill. By the time he caught his breath, he had no idea where he was.

The area was dense with trees, and the thick cloud cover obscured the sun, causing Zhao Fang to lose his sense of direction entirely. He didn't carry a compass, so he simply picked a direction and started walking. As he moved, however, he felt the air growing increasingly hot. He even took off his jacket and fanned himself, though it did little good.

"Is there a volcano ahead?" Zhao Fang wondered, puzzled. The heat intensified with every step. If it weren't for the lush, verdant surroundings, he would have suspected he had wandered onto Mt. Chimney.

This anomalous heat piqued his curiosity. He proceeded cautiously; the temperature continued to rise until he was drenched in sweat, as if he had been thrown into a sauna. Yet, the surrounding vegetation didn't wither; instead, it seemed even more vibrant and alive.

He walked a bit further and saw a Pokémon perched atop a large tree ahead, its red eyes watching him with great interest.

Zhao Fang froze. The Pokémon radiated a scorching aura, one that made the nearby flora thrive. With its rainbow-like, brilliant plumage, its awe-inspiring presence, and its breathtaking beauty, Zhao Fang recognized it instantly, even if he didn't know why it would appear here.

Isn't this Ash's personal photographer, Ho-Oh?