Pokémon, Ash's art style is off!

Xiao Zhi followed closely behind, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

Well, although it can't compare to the St. Anne, it's still quite luxurious.

All kinds of facilities and equipment are readily available.

Next to the soft, large bed is a floor-to-ceiling window, although at this moment all you can see is the dark sea and a few scattered fishing lights in the distance.

But just imagining the scene of drawing back the curtains tomorrow morning makes my heart race.

Silent all night.

The next morning, Ash was woken up by the sunlight.

He opened his eyes groggily, and what he saw was an endless expanse of blue.

The sea was as calm as a giant piece of silk, and the rising sun shone on it, shattering it into millions of pieces of gold leaf.

Several long-winged gulls skimmed across the sea in the distance, their wingtips creating tiny ripples.

Every now and then, a whale king's blue back would appear on the surface of the sea, spouting water.

I got up and exercised.

Back in the room, the food had already been prepared and placed there by someone.

After eating and drinking their fill, the three of them gathered together again and went up to the deck.

After a night of accelerated sailing.

The outline of Crimson Lotus Island has already emerged from the sea.

"Wow...that's Crimson Lotus Island." Xiaoxia raised her hand to shield her eyes from the glaring sunlight, squinting as she looked into the distance. "It looks...darker than I imagined?"

Black reefs, greyish-white sand beaches, and sparse vegetation that stretches from the foot of the mountain to the middle of the mountainside.

As the cruise ship drew closer, the details of Crimson Lotus Island became increasingly clear.

"It's normal for it to be black, because it's mostly volcanic rock there."

When it comes to stones, Xiao Gang explained.

"I've heard that Crimson Lotus Island was formed entirely by volcanic eruptions, and the rocks on the island have a high iron content, which is why they are dark in color. And—"

Xiao Gang pointed forward.

"It is said that this volcano is still active."

"An active volcano?!" Xiaoxia's expression instantly changed from curiosity to horror. "Does that mean we're going up to something that could erupt at any moment?"

"Pikachu?!"

Pikachu also looks terrified.

"Don't worry, people have lived on Red Lotus Island for so many years, there must be monitoring."

Xiao Gang said.

"Moreover, volcanoes don't just erupt on cue; there are always warning signs."

"Teacher Gang is right."

Xiao Zhi nodded, agreeing with Xiao Gang's statement.

He wasn't too worried; on the contrary, he became excited.

After all, it's rumored that Blaine, the Gym Leader of Crimson Lotus Gym, has a track record of facing challengers inside a volcano!

Fighting in an active volcano...

Xiao Zhi's eyes gleamed with longing.

That's what you call having fun!

……

At noon, the cruise ship docked on time.

With a long blast of the ship's horn, the ship trembled slightly, and the gangway slowly descended.

Although the port was not small, it was full of ships.

The dock was bustling with people.

There were trainers carrying bags and tourists dragging suitcases.

After all, Guren Island is arguably the second most famous resort in the Kanto region.

If it weren't for the fact that the gym leader himself isn't good-looking enough, and that Cerulean City, being the number one city, has three well-known gym leaders supporting it.

It's really hard to say who's more famous.

"Finally, we've set foot on land—"

Xiao Zhi jumped down the gangway and took a deep breath.

Before he could even utter a simple "This place is so lively!" to Pikachu, Brock urged him on.

"Ash, let's go quickly."

"Huh?" "Pikachu?"

"Let's hurry up and go to the dojo to challenge them."

Xiao Gang walked forward with a serious expression.

Scratching his head, Xiao Zhi, feeling that something was amiss, still followed.

The road from the port to the dojo is not short; it involves crossing the entire main road.

Xiao Gang walked at the front, his eyes fixed straight ahead, his steps steady, like a precise navigator.

Even when passing by a swimwear store, a large group of older women in swimsuits walked out.

Xiao Gang's pace didn't slow down at all.

He simply turned his head slightly, giving a restrained look, before quickly averting his gaze.

Seeing Xiao Gang's actions, Xiao Zhi and Xiao Xia looked at each other in bewilderment.

Not right.

Something is very wrong, more than ten out of ten.

How could Teacher Gang not even be interested in older girls!

Xiaoxia couldn't hold back any longer and whispered something in Xiaozhi's ear.

"Has he suffered some kind of trauma?"

"Teacher Gang!" Xiao Zhi quickened his pace and caught up with Xiao Gang. "Don't keep anything to yourself! If you have any difficulties, we'll all work together to find a solution!"

"Pickup!"

Pikachu nodded.

"Hmm? Difficult?"

"Me?"

Xiao Gang easily looked away from a passing older woman and calmly said...

"I'm very good."

Xiao Zhi: "..."

Xiaoxia: "..."

You call that "very good"?

Xiao Gang didn't explain further.

He kept his eyes forward and continued striding forward.

No one knows how long he stared at that mysterious picture book last night in order to achieve this state of "completely unaffected by older sisters' temptations."

It can be said that he went through repeated desensitization until his brain developed an immune response to keywords such as "bikini," "swimsuit," and "long legs," and only then did he stop.

Now, he is as clear-headed as ice and as calm as still water.

Only the spirit of judgment was already stirring within him.

Once Ash finishes defeating the gym, he can wholeheartedly soak in Cinnabar Island's most famous hot spring and enjoy a truly healing experience.

For the sake of a completely unadulterated mixed bathing experience...

It was all worth it!

Ignoring the two whispering behind him, Xiao Gang strode ahead.

We walked for about ten more minutes.

The Crimson Lotus Dojo then appeared before them.

Rather than a Taoist temple, it is more like a huge volcanic rock building.

The entire dojo was built against the mountain, or rather, it was simply carved out of the mountain.

The front is a black rock wall with a huge dojo emblem carved on it.

In the very center of the rock face is a stone door, and above the door is a stone plaque with four large characters engraved on it.

Red Lotus Dojo.

On either side of the stone gate stands a stone statue: the Yan Emperor on the left and the Flaming Bird on the right, both depicted breathing fire towards the sky, lifelike in their poses.

The stone statue is even inlaid with LED strips, which should light up with an orange-red glow at night, creating the effect of a "mythical beast breathing fire".

At first glance, it's clear that a lot of money was spent on it.

After all, it's a rebuilt gym, and Cinnabar Island isn't short of money, so naturally they'll spend as much as they can.

Xiaoxia nodded as she looked at the two stone statues.

It has class.

That's too much!

They're adding two of these to their Cerulean Dojo too!