Pokémon, Ash's art style is off!

"I guess he's scared."

Xiao Gang smiled and shook his head, just about to add another spoonful of soup to Xiao Zhi's bowl.

"Snapped!"

A bright red, plump, and round fruit flew from an unknown direction and landed squarely on Xiao Gang's forehead.

Then it fell into the bowl in front of him.

All three of them were taken aback.

Ash was the first to react, looking towards the grove where Mankey had disappeared, and stroking his chin.

"Is this... a gift to apologize?"

Xiao Gang rubbed his forehead and scooped the fruit out of the bowl.

The fruit has a hard outer skin.

But the colors are excessively bright.

Instead of getting angry, he grinned.

"This method isn't bad..."

He wiped the fruit with his hand, took a bite without hesitation, and chewed it vigorously.

I haven't even chewed it twice yet.

Xiao Gang then stopped what he was doing.

He looked at the fruit with a serious expression.

"This! This is! This is the taste of a real man!"

"Really? Give me some, I want to try it!"

Ash's curiosity was immediately ignited.

Xiao Gang broke the fruit open.

He handed the unbitten half to Ash.

Ash took it and, imitating Ash, took a bold bite—

"Well?!"

"How about it?"

"I can't believe it," Xiao Gang asked, his face expressionless.

Xiao Zhi glanced at Xiao Gang, his expression unchanged.

"Indeed...it tastes amazing!"

"What does it taste like? Let me try it too!"

Xiaoxia was intrigued by their reactions.

Xiao Zhi handed the remaining half to Xiao Xia.

Xiaoxia took a bite, savored it in her mouth, frowned slightly, and then carefully tasted it again.

"Hmm... so this is what it tastes like."

"Pikachu?"

Pikachu, sitting next to Ash, had already stretched its neck out.

Its ears twitched curiously.

"seed!"

Bulbasaur also came over.

"You guys want to try it too? Come on, come on."

Xiao Gang then gave half of it to Bulbasaur.

Ash also broke off a piece and handed it to Pikachu.

Both Pokémon simultaneously put the fruit into their mouths—

next second.

"Pikachu—!!!"

Pikachu scrunched up its entire face and frantically fanned its mouth with its two little paws.

The electrical sacs on his cheeks uncontrollably emitted tiny sparks of electricity.

Spicy! Numbing!

It also has a strong astringent taste!

It’s just that!

"Seed—!!"

Bulbasaur wasn't much better off; it suddenly opened its mouth wide, sticking out its long tongue.

The garlic on its back trembled three times in fright, and the rattan whip lashed wildly.

"puff……!"

Xiao Gang finally couldn't hold it in any longer and spat out the remaining fruit pulp in his mouth.

Seeing the accusing looks from Pikachu and Bulbasaur, he covered his mouth and barely managed to stop laughing.

But a muffled laugh still escaped through his fingers.

"Sorry, my hand... *sigh*, has a mind of its own."

Xiaoxia remained confused, staring at the mouth-rinsing Pikachu and Bulbasaur.

Looking at the two laughing together, he was completely confused.

"what happened?"

"Your reactions are way too exaggerated!"

It's just a fruit with a slightly...unusual flavor, isn't it?

......

After eating and drinking their fill, Ash and his two companions packed their belongings, extinguished the fire, and hurried towards Celadon City.

We passed through the last patch of woodland.

When the view suddenly becomes clear.

A vast and bustling metropolis revealed itself to them in full as dusk settled.

Yuhong City.

The city, one of the two largest in the Kanto region, is just beginning to light up at this moment.

From a distance, skyscrapers stand side by side.

On the city skyline, the most eye-catching building is the towering Yuhong Building.

Multiple wide main roads intersect.

Even at dusk, the city's pulse remains strong and vibrant, with a faint whirlwind of noise and energy.

The three of them were walking on the road.

They were quite calm, especially Xiao Zhi, who had been to several cities and was already immune to these skyscrapers.

He even had time to offer a comment.

"It doesn't feel as good as Golden City."

This drew angry stares from a group of Yuhong City residents.

"That's not entirely true."

Xiao Gang stared wide-eyed.

Like the strictest father in Yuhong City, he scrutinizes the city's unique characteristics.

I smelled the various perfumes in the air and looked at the diverse older women on the street.

Teacher Gang gave a standard, unremarkable evaluation.

"I can only say that they each have their own merits!"

......

The three, weary from their journey, walked through the wide, clean street.

They headed straight for the lighthouse-like Pokémon Center.

Pushing open the glass door, a cool breeze mixed with a faint smell of disinfectant wafted out.

The center is spacious and bright. Even though it was night, many trainers were still resting there or using the various facilities in the corners.

"Finally arrived..." Xiaoxia breathed a sigh of relief and rubbed her shoulders. "I feel like I'm covered in dust, I definitely need to take a shower first!"

After saying that, he left and walked quickly toward the accommodation area.

Xiao Gang looked around and his gaze quickly settled on Joey at the front desk.

But the incident with the Fiery Monkey today greatly shocked him.

He stood there, stunned, for a moment.

His brows were furrowed and his lips moved slightly.

It seems as if he is fighting against the demons in his heart.

However, less than three minutes had passed.

This strange behavior caught Joey's attention.

"Excuse me, sir, is there anything I can help you with?"

This whispered sentence, carrying the power to pierce armor, allowed the demon within Xiao Gang to devour him completely.