Elf: Rewriting the script, starting with Black Stocking Hanako

Jiang Chuan and his two companions arrived at Xiao Chun's house amidst playful bickering.

This is a typical Japanese-style house, a two-story building with several potted plants at the entrance, kept very clean.

Xiao Chun was already waiting at the door. When she saw them, she waved happily.

"Brother Jiangchuan! Sister Xiaoxia! Sister Huazi! Over here, over here!"

He greeted them warmly, but when the three approached, Xiao Chun was completely stunned.

His eyes were wide open.

Jiang Chuan's face was streaked with black and white, making him look like he had just crawled out of a coal mine.

Xiaoxia is in an even worse situation. She has a long black mark on her face, and although she has tried to wipe it off, it has only gotten worse. Now her whole face is covered in marks.

Hanako was cleaner; she was directing her Pokémon while the fire was being put out and didn't go inside.

The Pikachu and Eevee next to them also had black claws and several black marks on their faces and bodies.

Xiao Chun: "..."

"Jiang Chuan, you guys...didn't you go to a perfume shop?" Xiao Chun looked completely bewildered. "How did things turn out like this?"

Jiang Chuan casually said, "Oh, I also played with fire."

Xiao Chun: "???"

Playing with fire?

He looked confused, but didn't ask any more questions and quickly led the three inside.

"Quick, quick, come in and wash your face. My mom has prepared a lot of dishes and is just waiting for you."

The three followed Xiao Chun into the house.

A gentle woman came out to greet us at the entrance.

She looked to be in her early thirties, wearing a casual kimono, her hair pulled back, revealing her fair neck.

Her face was gentle, her eyes were tender, and her smile was like a spring breeze.

It was Atsushi's mother, Huimei.

"Welcome, welcome! You must be Xiao Chun's friends. Please come in."

Hui Mei greeted them gently, her gaze falling on Jiang Chuan and the other two. She paused for a moment when she saw the soot on their faces, but quickly smiled again.

"What happened on the way? Go wash up quickly, the restroom is over there."

She pointed in a direction, her tone showing no disdain, only concern.

Jiang Chuan politely replied, "Thank you, Auntie."

"You're welcome, you're welcome, go ahead and go ahead."

Jiang Chuan and the other two went to the restroom to wash up.

Huimei turned and went back to the kitchen to continue her work.

The dining table was already laden with all sorts of dishes.

Golden-fried tempura, fragrant miso soup, exquisitely plated sashimi, and several home-style dishes whose names I didn't know.

A table full of food, it looks so delicious it makes your mouth water.

After Jiang Chuan and the other two finished washing up and came out, Xiao Chun's father also appeared.

Nomura Ken, in his early forties, of medium build, was dressed in casual loungewear, his hair neatly combed, giving him a somewhat sophisticated look.

He stood in the living room and looked Jiang Chuan and the other two over.

My gaze lingered on Pikachu and Eevee for a moment.

Then, he spoke.

"You must be the spiritual practitioners that Xiaochun mentioned?"

His tone carried a hint of condescending scrutiny.

Jiang Chuan nodded: "Yes, hello Uncle."

Ye Jian nodded, then looked at Pikachu and Eevee, pretending to know a lot.

"Hmm, they do seem to have some skill. Catching two abnormal Pokémon is no small feat."

He pointed to Pikachu: "This Pikachu has black spots on its body; it's a relatively rare variant."

He then pointed to Eevee: "This Eevee also has black spots on its body. These kinds of mutated Pokémon aren't something you can just come across easily."

His tone was full of confidence, as if he knew everything.

Xiaoxia listened from the side, her expression froze, and her lips twitched.

What black spots...

That's clearly ash from when we were putting out the fire, and it wasn't washed off properly!

What is this guy pretending to be?

She almost burst out laughing, and was about to expose him when Jiang Chuan's eyes swept over her.

Don't speak.

Xiaoxia paused for a moment, looked at Jiang Chuan, and then at Xiao Chun beside her.

Xiaochun was looking at him with pleading eyes, her eyes filled with "please, please".

She immediately understood.

Xiao Chun once said that the last bit of support his family had for his decision to go into the wilderness for spiritual practice probably came from his father, who pretended to be a master.

Xiaoxia pursed her lips and swallowed back the words that were about to come out.

Okay, I'll give you face.

Jiang Chuan withdrew his gaze, looked at Ye Jian, and said with a smile, "Uncle has a good eye; you recognized it at a glance."

Noken smiled smugly: "Of course. Although I haven't been a trainer for many years, I still have some understanding of Pokémon."

As he spoke, he walked into the courtyard.

"By the way, don't let your Pokémon sit idle either, let them eat in the yard. Emi has prepared a lot of food for them."

In the courtyard, Huimei had already set out several small plates.

The plate was filled with various foods that Pokémon love to eat—berries, Pokémon Cubes, and a few snacks whose names I didn't know.

"Come, come, little ones, eat over here." Huimei squatted in the yard, gently calling out.

Pikachu and Eevee glanced at Jiangchuan and Hanako, and after receiving permission, happily ran over.

Huimei smiled and gently patted their heads, her movements so gentle that it was clear she was someone who often took care of Pokémon.

Ye Jian watched this scene, a subtle smile playing on his lips.

He walked to the side and quietly released his Pokémon.

A level 20 big-billed finch, with glossy feathers and sharp eyes, looks like it's been well-trained.

Ye Jian squatted down and whispered to the big-billed sparrow:

"When we eat later, I'll sneakily test that Pikachu. The one with the black spots."

The big-mouthed sparrow glanced at Pikachu, who was engrossed in eating in the yard, and let out a disdainful squeak.

That little yellow mouse?

Relax and easy.

Noken continued, "Just defeat it easily, don't hurt it too badly. After all, it's Jun's friend's Pokémon."

The big-beaked sparrow nodded, its eyes full of confidence.

No problem, I'll go easy on you.

A few quick moves are enough to deal with those little things.

Ye Jian arranged everything and felt secretly pleased with himself.

He had already figured it out; that Pikachu was cute but had no fighting power whatsoever.

How strong can a novice trainer's Pokémon be?

Once Pidgey defeats Pikachu, he can take the opportunity to teach Jun a lesson—look at your fellow practitioners, they're nothing special.

Even my big-beaked sparrow can't beat me; the wilderness training method is both dangerous and slow.

You should just go back to your prestigious academy.

Thinking of this, Ye Jian's face showed a confident and assured expression.

He turned and went back into the house, where he sat down.

"Come, come, don't be shy, sit down and eat," Ye Jian said, adopting the posture of a host.

Jiang Chuan and the other two took their seats.

Huimei finished her chores in the yard, returned to the house, and sat down next to Xiaochun.

The family, along with three guests, sat around the dining table, creating a lively atmosphere.

Xiao Chun sat next to Jiang Chuan, quietly leaned closer, and whispered:

"Brother Jiangchuan, if my dad brings up cultivation later, could you please help me? Please?"

His eyes were pleading.

Jiang Chuan glanced at him and nodded slightly.

Xiao Chun immediately breathed a sigh of relief, a grateful smile appearing on her face.

Then, he sat down with Jiang Chuan.

Everyone was present. Ye Jian took a deep breath, seemingly about to begin his fatherly admonition at the dinner table…