Elf: Rewriting the script, starting with Black Stocking Hanako

When it comes to dealing with Sabrina, Jiang Chuan's top choice has always been that Gastly that has lived for over a thousand years.

That guy is definitely a gem.

It's a pity we couldn't subdue it.

Therefore, Jiang Chuan began to use the same method as the original script.

I'm heading to Lavender Town to deal with those three Gastly brothers; it's not much further away anyway.

..........................................

The road to Ziyuan Town is a rolling hilly area.

The grass is thick, and there are many wild Pokémon.

Jiang Chuan glanced at his team; they were mostly traveling by sea, and their levels were almost stagnant.

Especially Squirtle and Pikachu, those two little guys are like two good-for-nothings, all they do is eat and sleep all day.

Pidgey has basically never had any serious training.

I need to do this.

Jiang Chuan stopped and turned to look at Hanako and Xiaoxia who were following behind him.

"Walk slowly today."

He paused.

"I need to level up."

Hanako blinked and nodded obediently.

Xiaoxia clenched her fist excitedly: "I want to join too! I've been so eager to go!"

Xiaoxia and Jiang Yu raised their hands together, and red light flashed repeatedly.

Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Pidgeotto, Squirtle, Charmeleon, Horsea, Staryu, and Starmie all landed at the same time.

Jiang Chuan pointed to the bushes in front of him.

"Go ahead, do as you please."

The Pokémon exchanged glances.

Then, it rushed out in an instant.

…………

The next half day.

This hilly area has completely become a leveling paradise.

Pidgey soared in the sky, its sharp eyes scanning the ground. Once it spotted its prey, it swooped down, its wings flashing white as it flapped fiercely.

Bulbasaur proceeded steadily, cracking its vine whips, and using Sleep Powder to clear the way for any fast-moving creatures.

Charmeleon was incredibly excited, its tail flames burning brightly as it chased Rattata and Sandshrew everywhere, grabbing them one by one.

Squirtle followed behind Charmeleon, wanting to help but unable to, only able to pick up the remaining health.

The black seahorse is of a lower grade; it can only linger near the water's edge.

And so, the leveling process continued in full swing.

......................................................

Since everyone has enhancement items, leveling up is very efficient.

The Charmeleon was undergoing a legendary trial, and those little insects and mice that came out were taken down with a single claw. Jiang Chuan raised an eyebrow at the sight of its attack power.

Pidgey is even more outrageous; when it flies, you can't see its shadow at all, you can only hear the wind and Rattata's screams.

Squirtle finally managed to collect a few kills.

It stood panting in front of a knocked-out Rattata cub, its little paws clenched into fists, and for the first time, a confident glint appeared in its eyes.

Then, its body began to glow.

Enveloped in white light.

Squirtle's body begins to lengthen, its limbs become thicker, its tail grows longer, and the patterns on its shell become clearer and deeper.

A few seconds later, the light faded.

The turtle was standing there.

It looked down at its paws, then turned to look at its tail behind it, and then...

He suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with excitement.

"Kami! Kami!"

It spun around twice, its tail swishing loudly.

Jiang Chuan looked at it, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

The bald, creepy little turtle from before has definitely become much more handsome now.

He's become more muscular, his eyes are more focused, and even his walk exudes confidence.

After admiring itself, Wartortle turned to look in Xia's direction.

Xiaoxia was squatting by the stream, washing her face with water in her hands.

Beside her, starfish floated on the water, twinkling and shimmering.

The turtle's eyes lit up.

It straightened its chest and strode towards the starfish with an air of indifference.

It stopped in front of the starfish.

Then, it raised its paw and waved very gentlemanly at the starfish.

"Kami~"

The starfish blinked.

Then, it silently turned around.

Turn your rear end towards Wartortle.

Wartortle was stunned.

Jiang Chuan, who was watching from the side, could see everything clearly and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Pikachu perched on his shoulder, its little paws covering its mouth, its shoulder trembling.

"Pikachu Pikachu~"

(This is hilarious!)

Wartortle turned around and gave Jiang Chuan a resentful look.

Jiang Chuan waved his hand.

"Don't look at me, just keep going."

The turtle sighed, silently squatted down to one side, and began to contemplate its life.

…………

It was evening.

Leveling up is complete.

Jiang Chuan opened the system panel, and a row of prompts appeared.

[Pokémon: Pikachu, Level: LV40→LV41]

[Pokémon: Bulbasaur, Level: LV32→LV33]

[Pokémon: Pidgeotto, Level: LV34→LV35]

[Pokémon: Wartortle, Level: LV15→LV18]

[Pokémon: Charmeleon, Level: LV16→LV18]

[Sprite: Horsea Seahorse, Level: LV13→LV15]

perfect.

Everyone was treated equally, and no one was left out.

Jiang Chuan put away the panel and glanced at the sky.

The sun had already set behind the mountains, leaving only a dark red glow on the horizon.

"Let's go, let's continue our journey to Aster Town."

…………

Ziyuan Town.

This place is definitely something special.

It was only mid-afternoon, but the whole town was shrouded in a gray haze.

It's not the kind of gray you see on a cloudy day, it's the kind of gray that... rises up from the ground.

A light mist hung in the air, carrying an indescribable coolness.

The houses in the town are all old-fashioned buildings with black tiles, gray walls, and narrow windows.

There weren't many people on the street.

Occasionally, one or two would pass by, but they would keep their heads down and walk quickly, as if afraid of disturbing something.

Hanako clung tightly to Jiangchuan's arm, pressing half her body against him.

"Jiangchuan... why does this place feel so eerie..."

She kept her voice low and glanced around.

Xiaoxia, who was standing nearby, also subconsciously moved closer to Jiang Chuan.

"I've heard... there are many ghost stories in Purple Garden."

She paused, her voice trembling slightly.

"Strange things seem to happen frequently... Some people hear crying in the middle of the night, others see will-o'-the-wisps drifting around..."

Hanako's hand tightened.

"Xiaoxia, please stop talking..."

Xiaoxia herself was scared, but she kept talking.

"I should have bought some talismans for protection at Maiden Gorge last time."

She seemed to remember something.

"I've heard that the talismans from Maiden's Gorge are very effective, especially against these kinds of things..."

Jiang Chuan found it amusing.

He reached out and ruffled Xiaoxia's hair.

"Don't worry, it's just some ghost Pokémon playing pranks."

Xiaoxia looked up.

"Ghost Pokémon?"

"Hmm." Jiang Chuan nodded, "Ghosts, Haunter, Gengar, and the like. They like to scare people, but they don't mean any harm."

Hanako blinked.

"Really?"

"real."

Jiang Chuan glanced at the increasingly dark sky.

At the edge of the town, the outline of a tall tower can be vaguely seen.

That must be the tower where the Gastly brothers are located.

He thought for a moment and then stopped.

"You guys go back to the hotel first."

Hanako was taken aback.

"what?"

"It's pitch black inside that tower, and the path is difficult to navigate." Jiang Chuan looked at the two of them. "If you follow them, you might get scared, which would only cause more trouble."

Hanako wanted to say something, but then swallowed it back.

She was indeed afraid.

Xiaoxia was also afraid, but she still stubbornly refused to admit it.

"I...I'm not afraid at all!"

Jiang Chuan looked down at her.

Xiaoxia stared at him for three seconds before giving in.

"Okay... I am a little scared..."

Jiang Chuan smiled.

"Wait for me at the hotel, I'll be back after I've finished my business."

He paused, lowering his voice.

"I'll stay with you guys tonight. You won't be afraid if you all come to my bed."

Hanako blushed.

Xiaoxia blushed too, but she still pouted.

"Ah~ you big pervert Jiangchuan, we're not afraid at all, I'll protect Hanako-nee..."

Despite saying that, she tightened her grip on Jiang Chuan's arm.

..............................

After settling the two people in, Jiang Chuan turned and walked towards the tower.

I randomly asked a local for directions on the street.

The man's face changed when he heard that he was going to the tower.

"Young man, that place... is not clean."

Jiang Chuan raised an eyebrow.

"How so?"

The man lowered his voice.

"It's frequently haunted! I can hear laughter in the middle of the night, and sometimes I can see shadows floating around!"

"Someone went in before, and they went crazy after they came out! They keep saying there are monsters inside!"

He looked Jiang Chuan up and down.

"You're going? I advise you not to go; your life is more important."

Jiang Chuan smiled.

"Thanks, I'll just take a look."

The man shook his head, sighed, and turned to leave.

He muttered to himself as he walked.

"Young people these days are really bold..."

…………

Following the directions, Jiang Chuan arrived at the tower.

To be precise, it's a cemetery.

The tower is located deep within the cemetery.

It was already dark by then.

The last glimmer of light at dusk was swallowed up by the thick fog.

The fog is very heavy.

It spreads upwards from the ankle, like it's alive.

Jiang Chuan stepped in, the mist parted, and then closed up behind him.

It was very quiet all around.

It was unusually quiet.

There wasn't even a chirping of insects.

Only the sound of my own footsteps echoed on the stone path.

Jiang Chuan walked forward.

Passing through tombstones, passing through withered trees, passing through shadows whose shapes are indistinct.

The fog is getting thicker and thicker.

The line of sight was less than ten meters away.

Then, he heard a sound.

It's very light.

Very fine.

Like a child's laughter.

It came from all directions.

Jiang Chuan stopped in his tracks.

【Ding! 】

[Trigger Quest: Give the three Gastly brothers a fright!]

[Mission Objective: These three little devils like to scare people? Then let them experience what it's like to be scared! Find a way to frighten the Gastly brothers. Remember, it must be unexpected, and you must scare them!]

[Mission Reward: Courageous Fist Technique – A special fighting style. The greater the courage, the greater the power! Unstoppable, even ghosts and gods will be defeated!]

Jiang Chuan burst out laughing after reading the mission description.

What is that?

Did the three Ghost Brothers jump?

The task was bizarre enough, but the reward was even more bizarre.

Courageous Boxing Technique?

Does greater courage equate to greater power?

Isn't this the kind of thing where "when I go crazy, I'll even hit myself"?

But then again.

It's something that can improve one's own strength, after all.

Why not take advantage of a free lunch?

Jiang Chuan accepted the mission.

Jiang Chuan was originally going to use Thousand-Year Gastly to help Sabrina recover, so calling it in ahead of time to lend a hand is just a convenient thing to do.

Jiang Chuan took out the evil-repelling bell and shook it gently.

Ding!Ding!Ding!

Three crisp sounds.

It spread through the thick fog.

The surroundings fell silent instantly.

Even the laughter from before stopped.

then.

A thick cloud of purple mist suddenly exploded!

Right in front of Jiang Chuan, just three meters away!

The purple mist churned, condensed, and finally transformed into a gigantic figure.

Gastly, the Millennium.

It floated there, its round body appearing and disappearing in the mist, with its signature eerie smile on its face.

It looked around, took a deep breath, and looked blissfully content.

"Ah~ brat!"

"This place is nice!"

It turned towards Jiangchuan, its eyes narrowing into slits.

"What is this? A ghost-themed amusement park?"

Jiang Chuan casually explained, "This is the cemetery in Ziyuan Town."

Gastly blinked.

"A cemetery? I like that!"

It drifted around, sniffing everywhere.

"So many fresh souls... Ah, over there are a few who just died not long ago, their resentment is quite strong..."

Jiang Chuan interrupted it.

"Hey, stop laughing. I asked you to come here to help me out."

The Millennium Gastly instantly floated back.

It moved closer to Jiang Chuan, and the smile on its face became... more commercial.

"Oh? Need help?"

It paused.

"I could do it... but you know, for an old hand like me, time is very precious..."

Jiang Chuan remained expressionless.

"I know, you'll get your share of the money."

Gastly's smile instantly brightened.

"Hehehe, I love your straightforwardness!"

It rubbed its hands together, though it was unclear whether they even existed.

"What kind of help do you need? Tell me!"

Jiang Chuan glanced into the depths of the mist.

The outline of the ancient tower was faintly visible.

"This is a long project." He looked away. "Right now, there's an ancient tower ahead, and three little devils live inside."

The Millennium Gastly tilts its head.

"Kid?"

"Yeah, three Gastlys." Jiang Chuan nodded. "They like to scare people. They'll definitely try to scare me when I go in."

Gastly blinked.

"and then?"

Jiang Chuan looked at it.

"Then, you hide in the shadows."

"When they jump out and scare me."

He paused.

"You surprised them and gave them a fright."

Gastly was stunned.

"To scare them?"

"Yes." Jiang Chuan nodded: "You have to scare them, scare them so much they'll question their existence. Remember, you absolutely cannot let them find you; you must catch them off guard."

Gastly remained silent for three seconds.

Then, it laughed.

It wasn't that eerie laugh.

It's that kind of smile...like someone who's found their kind.

"Trying to scare me?"

It floated up and spun around in the mist.

"Simple!"

"Too easy!"

It moved closer to Jiang Chuan, its eyes shining.

"I'm a pro at scaring people!"

"Let me tell you, I've lived for over a thousand years. I can't speak for everything else, but when it comes to scaring people, if I say I'm second, nobody dares to say they're first!"

It became more and more excited as it talked.

"Do you know the most effective way to scare someone? It's not just suddenly popping up and yelling; that's a low-level tactic!"

"What's the advanced technique? It's the setup! It's the atmosphere! It's making the prey scare itself!"

"First, create an eerie atmosphere, then make a little noise to let the prey fill in the blanks in its own mind, and wait until it imagines the most terrifying moment."

It suddenly opened its mouth wide.

"Deliver the final, fatal blow!"

Jiang Chuan looked at it.

This old guy is definitely a professional.

"Then it's up to you," he said.

The thousand-year-old Gastly patted its chest.

"Leave it to me!"

It paused, then moved closer.

"Um... about the fees..."

Jiang Chuan chuckled: "You greedy devil, once you're done being scared and have finished your business, we'll see how you perform. The better you perform, the higher your bonus will be."

Gastly's eyes lit up.

"make a deal!"

The next second, its body exploded, turning into a cloud of purple mist.

The purple mist dispersed and merged into the surrounding thick fog.

They have completely disappeared.

He was no longer breathing.

Jiang Chuan raised an eyebrow. This old man is indeed something.

He took a deep breath, lifted his foot, and continued walking towards the ancient pagoda.