Elf: Is the bear apprentice the weakest? I'll shatter the sky with my fists.

Its elegant and majestic figure was fully displayed in the moonlight, and Man Qian's eyes suddenly lit up with little stars.

She ignored the biting cold, rushed forward, opened her arms and hugged the ancient sword leopard's neck tightly.

"Ahhh! So handsome!"

The girl's cheek was pressed against the ancient sword leopard's cold fur, and the white breath she exhaled swirled in the cold wind.

Her white fingers gently stroked the fur of the ancient sword leopard, and tears welled up in her eyes when she felt the pain.

"I see... No wonder they can cross the blizzards in the north..."

Manqian looked up, her eyes full of admiration. "With such a powerful partner to help us, crossing the Johto region is no problem!"

"Gugu." (Boss, what's wrong with this woman?)

The ancient sword leopard roared, and the cold air it exhaled made tiny ice crystals form on Man Qian's eyelashes.

The girl didn't seem to mind at all and instead started giggling.

After a while.

Man Qian reluctantly let go of her hand, turned around and made a "follow me" gesture to the two of them: "Let's go! I'll take you to where we're staying tonight~"

Li Chen and Yu Longdu looked at each other, then followed Man Qian's brisk pace.

......

......

After turning a few corners, a magnificent building suddenly appeared before our eyes.

The five-story villa stood tall in the moonlight, with exquisitely carved railings surrounding the balconies on each floor, and the stained-glass windows glowing brilliantly under the lights.

"This is my home!"

Man Qian turned around in front of the gilded gate and placed her hands one above the other in front of the gate: "Welcome to my humble home, my two distinguished guests~"

"Wait, this is...your house?"

Li Chen frowned unconsciously. He had thought it would be a high-end hotel, but he didn't expect to come directly to the girl's house.

"of course!"

Man Qian took out her key and explained as a matter of course, "All hotels are closed at this time, and it just so happens that there are two excellent rooms vacant in my west wing."

She pushed open the heavy oak door, and warm light immediately poured out. "You can all stay here with peace of mind. My father loves to entertain guests from afar."

They come, the security.

Li Chen and Yu Longdu looked at each other countless times today. After nodding, they walked in together.

"Father! I'm back!"

Man Qian briskly pushed open the carved wooden door of the reception room, and the crisp sound echoed in the spacious hall.

Li Chen and Yu Longdu followed closely behind, and what came into view was an elegantly decorated Japanese-style living room.

Under the soft light, a middle-aged man with short pink hair was kneeling on the brocade tatami and sipping tea.

Surprisingly, there was a blond young man with a purple headband sitting next to him, and the teacups in front of them were steaming.

"Uncle Songcao? Why are you here?"

Man Qian opened her eyes wide in surprise and paused unconsciously.

She turned to the two guests and explained, "This is Mr. Songcao, the ghost magician from Yuanzhu Town. He's a frequent visitor to our house."

The blond young man raised his head upon hearing this, his sharp eyes swept over the two strangers, but a kind smile played on the corner of his mouth: "Xixi brought friends back?"

The teaspoon in his hand gently stirred the tea, making a crisp sound.

The middle-aged man put down the teacup and looked at the shuttle ball on Li Chen's waist and the clan emblem on Yulongdu with an inquiring look.

"Travelers from the Xicui region, and members of the Yulong family?"

"Ah."

Li Chen and Yu Longdu nodded slightly.

Then tell me the purpose of coming here.

"Oh? We're staying here for a day before heading to Yuanzhu Town, right?"

----

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Chapter 436 This is my reality and also my ideal.

When he learned that Li Chen and the other two were going to set off for Yuanzhu Town the next day, Songcao paused slightly in the teacup in his hand.

He first casually glanced at the family emblem on Yulongdu's chest that symbolized his identity, and then his eyes were firmly fixed on Li Chen.

The blond young man looked at the stranger in front of him with interest, and was slightly interested in the shuttle ball on his waist.

Songcao leaned forward slightly, and the fragrance of tea spread between the two of them.

"Young friend Li Chen."

He suddenly spoke, his voice full of inquiry, tapping the rim of his cup with a teaspoon. "Excuse me, what brings you to Yuanzhu Town? Yuanzhu Town is currently refusing all outside visitors."

Li Chen met the other party's scrutinizing gaze and said bluntly: "I'm going to find the whereabouts of the black-clothed demon envoy."

The air in the living room seemed to freeze instantly.

A sharp light flashed in Songcao's eyes, and the teaspoon in his hand fell on the tea tray with a "ding" sound.

Man Qian's father suddenly looked up and couldn't help but glance sideways.

The moonlight filtered through the window lattice, casting mottled shadows on Li Chen's resolute face.

"As expected, you two are here for the matter of the Black-Cloaked Demon Envoy as well."

The pine straw gently blew the hot steam off the tea, and his knuckles tapped rhythmically on the sandalwood tabletop.

With a slight "bang" sound, a huge Gengar suddenly emerged from the shadows.

Its scarlet eyes stared straight at Li Chen, making a low "koujie" sound.

The fat Gengar slowly floated in front of Li Chen, its round body almost touching his face, and it carefully looked up and down at the stranger.

"Kou Jie~"

After a moment, Gengar suddenly let out a cry of joy, and his round body spun happily in the air, nodding in approval.

It floated back to Song Cao and whispered a few words into his ear, causing the blond owner to raise his eyebrows slightly.

Songcao put down the teacup, and the scrutiny in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a bit of appreciation.

"To be recognized so highly by my old partner..." He stroked his chin and looked at Li Chen thoughtfully, "It seems that you are indeed extraordinary."

You know, this Gengar who has followed him for many years has always had a sharp eye, and there are only a handful of trainers who can get its recognition.

Song Cao's eyes swept over the shuttle ball on Li Chen's waist, and then glanced at Yu Longdu who was standing quietly beside him. Suddenly, he chuckled: "If that's the case, the matter of Yuan Zhu Town... I believe it won't be difficult for the two of you."

"It's getting late."

At this time, Manxi's father put down the teacup and swept a gentle look over the crowd, "Xixi, take the guests to the guest rooms to rest."

"I know~"

Man Qian bowed playfully and led the three of them up the red-carpeted spiral staircase to the third floor.

......

......

Arriving at the westernmost room on the third floor, Man Qian pushed open the carved cypress door and said, "Mr. Li Chen, this is your room."

Moonlight streamed in through the Japanese paper sliding doors, casting a soft silver glow over the entire space.

A typical Edo period style decoration is displayed before your eyes.

The tatami was covered with indigo blue satin bedding, a black lacquered and gold-painted clothes hanger was placed in the corner, and a landscape painting in ink and wash hung quietly between the beds.

Upon closer inspection, even the metal parts on the door frame are carved with delicate vine patterns.

"This is our superior room!"

Man Qian proudly introduced it, her fingers stroking the wood grain on the door frame that had been polished by time. "In the past, only the mayor from outside or the president of the Chamber of Commerce were qualified to live here~"

creak~

After saying that, Man Qian gently closed the cypress door.

The bright moonlight shone down, giving her graceful figure a silver edge.

"The Envoy..."

Man Qian slowly knelt on the tatami, her voice suddenly became soft, and her pink eyelashes trembled slightly in the moonlight.

She raised her eyes and looked directly into Li Chen's eyes: "Do you really have to go to Yuanzhu Town?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chen looked at Man Qian.

At this moment, Man Qian was completely different from her lively self just now, with an unspeakable worry between her brows.

"What happened?"

Li Chen noticed the change in the girl's mood and unconsciously lowered his voice a few degrees.

Man Qian suddenly stood up, quietly put her ear to the door and listened carefully.

After confirming that there was no movement in the corridor, she knelt back in front of Li Chen, her hands unconsciously clenching the hem of her clothes.

"Emissary..."

Her voice was extremely low, trembling slightly. "Yuanzhu Town is in great danger right now! Those black-clad demons... are far more terrifying than you can imagine!"

As she spoke, the girl's pupils contracted uneasily, and her previously bright face was now filled with gloom.

She bit her lower lip, her voice so soft that it almost disappeared in the night wind:

"You and Mr. Yulongdu are indeed exceptionally powerful... but those black-clad demon envoys are not only numerous but also powerful. Furthermore, they are planning to forcibly summon back the two gods who occasionally inhabit Yuanzhu Town!"

"Two gods?"

Li Chen frowned deeply.

Manqian looked past the window lattice toward Vermillion Town, her voice soft as a whisper, "It's Lord Ho-oh, the Gold God, and Lord Lugia, the Silver God... They occasionally descend upon the Bell Tower and the Bell Tower built for them in Vermillion Town."

"But the only way for the two gods to appear is if the entire town faces catastrophic destruction..."

As she spoke, Man Qian suddenly turned to Li Chen, her slender fingers tightly grasping her sleeves: "The black-clothed demon envoy is now secretive and has laid a tight net in the dark. If we go there rashly, I'm afraid we will..."

The second half of the sentence could not be said after all.

Huhu~

The night wind blew through the courtyard, and the "thump thump" sound of the bamboo tube hitting the stone mortar was particularly clear in the silence, as if beating the rhythm for this unfinished warning.

"I've made up my mind to leave." Li Chen shook his head slightly, but his eyes softened a little.

He took Manqian's concerns to heart and said gently, "Thank you for your reminder, I will be more careful."

"Why......"

Man Qian's pupils trembled slightly and her cherry lips opened slightly.

She originally thought that her words could make the other party change his mind, but she didn't expect that Li Chen in front of her was so determined!

Man Qian unconsciously clenched the corner of her clothes: "Why... knowing the danger, still..."

Li Chen reached for his waist and slowly stood up.

As Man Qian's pupils widened, Li Chen untied his belt...

After picking it up, he gently stroked each Poké Ball with his fingertips.

In response to Man Qian's question, he gave the following answer:

"Perhaps, it's because of the sunny heart in my heart."

His voice was soft, but every word was powerful: "Someone in this world has to stand up and face the darkness."

When his fingertips rested on the dark sphere, the surface reflected his determined gaze. "And this time, let me be that person. This is my reality, and also my ideal."