Elf: Rewriting the script, starting with Black Stocking Hanako

Jiang Chuan was in a great mood after solving the problem of Bulbasaur flower buds.

He put all the Pokémon away, leaving only Pikachu perched on his shoulder.

Xiaoxia and Hanako packed up their things at the campsite, and the three of them continued on their way.

Jiang Chuan led the two women as they walked and leveled up, sending their main Pokémon into battle whenever they encountered wild Pokémon.

The three of them leveled up and continued on their way.

The surrounding vegetation gradually thinned out.

The once dense forest has been transformed into low shrubs.

Then the bushes disappeared, replaced by scattered weeds.

The ground also began to change, turning from dark brown soil into yellowish-brown sand.

Jiang Chuan stopped and looked up into the distance.

The horizon was a vast expanse of golden yellow.

desert.

Xiaoxia also sensed that something was wrong.

"Why is it getting hotter and hotter?"

She fanned herself with her hand, and sweat was already beading on her forehead.

Hanako took out her water bottle from her backpack and took a sip.

"It seems... we're about to enter the desert region."

Sure enough, after walking for about half an hour, the greenery completely disappeared.

The sand underfoot was soft and fine, making it difficult to walk without sinking too deep or too shallow.

The blazing sun overhead distorted the very air.

As far as the eye can see, there are only sand dunes.

One after another.

There is no end in sight.

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

The next few days will be spent on desert roads.

Jiang Chuan didn't seem to feel anything.

He was physically strong, so this temperature was nothing to him.

Hanako is alright, after all, she often exercises in the wild with Jiang Yu, so she has some adaptability.

Xia's stamina is also quite good.

But as the daughter of a Water-type gym leader, her favorite temperature is humid and cool.

What she hates most is dryness and high temperatures.

For her, the desert was nothing short of hell.

After several days of traveling, Xiaoxia was completely exhausted.

She hung her head, looking as if she had been dehydrated by the sun.

Hair stuck to his face, and clothes soaked with sweat clung to his body.

Instead of walking with their heads held high and chests out, they hunch their backs and drag their feet.

One hand tugged at Jiang Chuan's clothes, following behind like a little tail.

"Ah... I can't take it anymore..."

Xiaoxia's voice was weak and listless.

"What kind of place is this... There's not a drop of water in sight... Not even a blade of grass..."

Hanako glanced back at her, feeling a pang of sympathy.

"Xiaoxia, do you want to rest for a while? I still have some water here."

"No need... Resting won't help..."

Xiaoxia shook her head.

"Even when we were resting, the sun was still blazing... the sand was still scorching hot... it was impossible to rest anywhere without water..."

"I haven't taken a shower in ages."

As he spoke, he raised his arm and smelled himself.

Then his face looked even more droopy.

"It smells sweaty... and feels sticky..."

She raised her eyes and looked at Jiang Chuan pitifully.

"Jiangchuan... how much longer until we reach the city..."

Jiang Chuan looked at the map.

"Based on the distance, we should be able to reach the edge of the desert in a few more hours."

"A few hours..."

Xiaoxia groaned.

"I feel like I'm about to ascend to heaven... no, I feel like I'm about to be dried into a fish jerky..."

Jiang Chuan felt a pang of sympathy seeing her like this.

He reached out and put his arm around Xiaoxia's waist, pulling her closer to him.

"Hang in there, we'll be there soon. Once we get to the city, I'll give you a good wash."

Xiaoxia, who was already almost as sunburnt as a salted fish, twitched her ears upon hearing this.

The words "wash it properly" sounded quite different coming from Jiang Chuan's mouth.

Xiaoxia raised her eyelids and glanced at Jiang Chuan.

Jiang Chuan's lips curled up slightly; she was all too familiar with that expression.

This guy is thinking about sluts again.

Normally, Xiaoxia would definitely blush and call him a pervert.

But right now, she is in so much pain.

I felt sticky and sweaty all over, like a fish that had been pulled ashore.

At this point, I'll do anything as long as she can stay in the water.

Xiaoxia leaned on Jiang Chuan's shoulder, her voice muffled.

"OK……"

Jiang Chuan was stunned for a moment.

He was just casually making a joke out of habit, but he didn't expect Xiaoxia to actually agree.

"Um?"

Xiaoxia buried her face in his arm and refused to look up.

"I said okay... just give me water to bathe... you can bathe me however you want..."

Her voice grew softer and softer.

"Anyway... it's not like you haven't washed me before..."

Jiang Chuan raised an eyebrow.

Wow.

This little girl has been in the desert for days, and even her lips have gone soft?

It seems that the desert was indeed a hellish torment for her.

Hanako walked beside them, listening to their conversation, and smiled with her lips pursed.

Xiaoxia, you really love water to the core.

To be able to take a bath, one can even temporarily set aside their morals.

However, Hanako is quite understanding of Kasumi.

She is a trainer from a Water-type gym, and like Water-type Pokémon, she feels uncomfortable if she is away from water for too long.

Xiaoxia has been quite patient these past few days wandering in the desert.

If it were any other delicate girl, she would have cried and begged for mercy long ago.

The three continued walking in the desert for several more hours.

As the sun slowly moved westward, fiery clouds began to appear on the horizon.

The outline of the city finally appeared.

The iconic landmark of Neon Town—a tall lighthouse—is flashing its lights.

Xiaoxia was almost lying on the ground.

Upon seeing the lighthouse's light, I felt as if I had been electrocuted and jumped up.

"A city! It's a city!"

She grabbed Jiang Chuan's clothes and shook him vigorously.

"Look! There's a city! There are lights! There's water!!"

Xia's eyes were shining.

It felt like someone who had been adrift at sea for days and nights suddenly seeing land.

"Great! We've finally arrived in the city!"

She came back to life.

"I'm going to take a good shower this time! I'll wash myself three times, inside and out!"

He started counting on his fingers as he spoke.

"First wash with shower gel, then with soap, and then soak in the bathtub for a slow wash!"

"Then you have to drink a huge basin of water! No! A whole vat of water!"

Hanako couldn't help but laugh out loud when she heard Xiaoxia's bold words.

"Are you trying to drink all the water in the entire city?"

Jiang Chuan smiled as he looked at Xiaoxia, who had regained her energy.

"Alright, let's hurry up and go, it's getting dark."

The three quickened their pace and headed towards Neon Town.

After walking for about twenty minutes, I finally stepped onto the city streets.

Neon Town, a very fitting name.

The buildings on both sides of the street were covered with neon lights, red, blue, green and purple, flashing incessantly.

Bars, discos, casinos, nightclubs—all sorts of entertainment venues lined up one after another.

There were quite a few people on the street, dressed in strange clothes and with their hair dyed in various colors.

It looks like a city with a vibrant nightlife.

When they first arrived in the city, the three of them were quite happy.

After walking in the desert for several days, we were finally able to sense a bit of human civilization.

But this good mood didn't last long.

After walking a few steps, a burly man came towards them.

The burly man had a mohawk, tattoos on his arms, and a cigarette dangling from his mouth.

He wasn't watching where he was going and bumped into Jiang Chuan.

Jiang Chuan didn't move, but the big man was bounced back a step.

The big man was stunned for a moment, then his face turned red.

Are you blind? Can't you see where you're going?

Jiang Chuan narrowed his eyes.

Before he could speak, the burly man had already left, cursing and swearing, and even glared at Jiang Chuan as he went.

Xiaoxia huddled next to Jiang Chuan and muttered to herself.

"Why is this person so fierce?"

Hanako frowned.

"Maybe he's drunk?"

After walking a few more steps, I saw a fruit vendor arguing with a customer.

The vendor's voice was shrill and loud, and could be heard throughout the entire street.

The two argued heatedly, their faces flushed and spittle flying.

Further on, a couple was eating noodles at a roadside stall.

While they were eating, the woman suddenly slammed her chopsticks down on the table.

"Do you fucking love me or not?! Tell me! Do you love me or not?!"

The man also became famous.

"I go shopping and eat out with you every day, tell me if I love you or not!"

"That's no love at all! Look at Xiao Li, he buys his girlfriend bags, shoes, and cosmetics! What have you bought me?!"

"I bought you noodles!"

"Noodles to you!"

The woman stood up abruptly and splashed the noodle soup from her bowl all over the man's face.

The man was splashed with soup in his face, stunned for two seconds, and then suddenly jumped up.

"You crazy woman!!"

The two started fighting on the spot.

Xiaoxia was stunned.

"Why are all the people in this city like this...?"

She was now snuggling tightly against Jiang Chuan, the two of them pressed close together.

Although she felt very uncomfortable, sweaty and sticky all over, she just wouldn't let go.

I only feel safe when I'm with Jiang Chuan.

The way the people on the street were looking at her made her feel uneasy.

It felt like someone might rush up and cause trouble at any moment.

Hanako also followed Jiang Chuan cautiously, holding onto the hem of his clothes with one hand.

"The atmosphere here is definitely a bit off."

The three of them walked for a while longer.

A burst of loud music came from ahead.

The sound was incredibly loud; it could be heard several streets away.

The subwoofer was thumping loudly, making everyone's heart tremble.

Looking up, I saw a huge speaker hanging on a utility pole at the intersection, playing an upbeat dance track whose name I didn't know.

And there's more than one.

There is a large loudspeaker at regular intervals along both sides of the street.

They're all playing music.

It wasn't the same song; they were playing their own versions.

Some were playing rock, some were playing electronic music, and some were playing heavy metal.

The jumbled sounds mixed together created a disturbing noise.

Xiaoxia covered her ears.

"This is so noisy! My ears are about to go deaf!"

Hanako also frowned.

"How can anyone sleep at night with music this loud?"

Jiang Chuan looked around.

The pedestrians on the street didn't look well; they had heavy eye bags and bloodshot eyes.

A woman walked by carrying a child who was only two or three years old and was crying loudly.

But instead of comforting the child, the woman started cursing at someone who had accidentally blocked her way.

"Are you blind?! Can't you see there are children?! Get out of my way!"

The person who was being scolded was not to be outdone.

"Are you blind! Control your little brat! Stop wailing here!"

Xiaoxia buried her face in Jiang Chuan's arm.

"These people are terrifying..."

Jiang Chuan looked up at the speakers hanging on the utility poles, and then at the citizens around him who looked terrible.

He touched his chin thoughtfully.

"The nightlife here is quite vibrant."

Hanako nodded.

"With so much noise at night, everyone's probably staying up very late."

"Sleeping late means poor sleep quality."

Jiang Chuan pointed to the woman holding a child who was arguing with passersby.

"If you don't sleep well for a long time, your mental health will decline."

Hanako continued speaking, following his train of thought.

"When you have neurasthenia, your emotions become unstable and you become easily irritable."

"I easily lose my temper over the slightest thing."

Xiaoxia saw a woman with an afro pointing her finger at a little girl and cursing her in the distance.

The woman with the afro was indeed frightening; her hair was so disheveled it looked like she'd been struck by lightning, her face was contorted, and spittle was flying everywhere.

The little girl who was being scolded was almost in tears.

Xiaoxia shuddered.

"Staying up late...not sleeping well...that's what happens..."

"Then...then I'll have to sleep well from now on..."

"I don't want to become that kind of shrew...it's too awful..."

Jiang Chuan chuckled, about to reply.

A mechanical sound suddenly rang in my mind, ding!