Chapter 109: Spring Outing

Ralts felt she was ready to evolve.

Li Yaowen told her that she was likely still some distance away from that stage. However, since the first stage of evolution for a Ralts typically occurs shortly after reaching maturity, there was no need to be overly anxious. Evolution is not something to be rushed; it requires many opportunities, a solid foundation, and the right mindset—all of which influence the timing.

At this opportune moment, the first installment of the subsidies promised by the school to Tang Yi finally arrived. The variety of nutritional supplements made Tang Yi feel as if he had suddenly struck it rich. From then on, Ralts added a new routine to her training: she had to drink a bottle of supplement each morning, noon, and night. Following Tang Yi’s procurement requirements, most of the supplements focused on psychic power, with a smaller portion dedicated to speed and stamina.

Of course, nutritional supplements are not a panacea. Generally speaking, the lower the base potential of a Pokémon, the more significant the effect of the supplements. Once a certain threshold is reached, the effectiveness diminishes drastically until it eventually becomes useless. But for a young Ralts like her, who had barely undergone any formal training, the impact of these supplements was still quite substantial. In short, while spending money won't turn you into a top-tier trainer overnight, it can at least help you stay a few steps ahead of the competition.

However, in the current social climate, Tang Yi could imagine that those capable of reaching the provincial finals were likely draining their savings to provide their Pokémon with large quantities of supplements. Therefore, Tang Yi didn't expect Ralts to have a massive advantage, but he hoped she wouldn't fall too far behind the others.

Come the weekend, Tang Yi helped Ralts get ready, and they headed to the address Fang Tianze had provided. Although it was in a rural area, the environment was lovely. There were no high-rise buildings, no heavy traffic, and no traffic lights—only babbling brooks and lush, green mountains.

Fang Tianze lived in a small villa not far from the foot of the mountain. The house was exquisite. When Tang Yi arrived, Butterfree was directing Eevee and Vulpix to tidy up, even though the place was already spotless. Fang Tianze grumbled with a hint of dissatisfaction, "They aren't guests; there's no need to go to all this trouble." Butterfree was simply too polite.

Ralts, feeling a bit embarrassed, wanted to help, but Eevee playfully refused, "Alright, alright, dear guests, just sit back and relax. If I let you help, Sister Butterfree will surely scold me later."

*Pia!*

"Ow!"

"I'm terribly sorry," Tang Yi said gratefully. Fang Tianze glanced at Tang Yi, who had settled in comfortably, and remarked, "Hmph, you certainly look like you don't feel sorry at all."

Once the cleaning was finished, the group sat down to drink some water and exchange pleasantries. Butterfree asked about their recent training, and Tang Yi recounted the plan Li Yaowen had devised. While Li Yaowen’s overall vision couldn't compare to Fang Tianze’s, he was a professional in the training industry, and his attention to detail was superior. Thus, the daily routine Li Yaowen had set for Tang Yi was well-regarded by Fang Tianze and his team.

Fang Tianze sipped his tea leisurely. "You still can't slack off on your daily training. After all, it's not yet certain whether you'll be able to learn Primal Reversion."

Butterfree shot him a look. "Don't talk nonsense."

Tang Yi was eager to start. "So, when do we begin?" He had gotten up early specifically for this; both he and Ralts were full of anticipation for this new and mysterious power.

Fang Tianze began to arrange the plan. "Right, we'll split into two groups. You, me, and Eevee will be one group; Butterfree, Vulpix, and Ralts will be the other."

Tang Yi was stunned. "And then? Sparring?"

Eevee giggled, "Then we go on a spring hike up the mountain."

"Huh?"

Ten minutes later, after preparations were complete, the two groups set off to climb the mountain. The nearby mountain, called Cheng Mountain, had gentle slopes and wasn't very high. Locals often visited for spring outings during their weekends, making it a perfect spot for such a trip. However, this was quite different from the training Tang Yi had imagined.

According to Fang Tianze’s plan, the two groups were to climb from completely different directions. Even if it was only temporary, Tang Yi felt reluctant to be separated from Ralts. He believed that Ralts surely didn't want to leave him either. Just as Tang Yi was considering suggesting a change to the groups, he looked up and saw Ralts chatting happily with Butterfree. They moved further and further away, and soon, their figures disappeared into the lush woods.

"Is there something you want to say?" Fang Tianze noticed Tang Yi’s hesitation.

"Uh, no, let's get going." Tang Yi swallowed his words.

The weather was perfect; the spring sun was warm but not stifling. It had rained a couple of days prior, so the mountain air was exceptionally fresh, though the path was a bit rugged. Tang Yi wasn't used to it, but Fang Tianze and Eevee walked as if on flat ground, clearly accustomed to frequent hiking.

As they reached the middle of the mountain, Tang Yi suddenly heard the crisp, playful laughter of young girls nearby. Just as he was wondering about it, Fang Tianze said, "We're almost there. Be careful."

Passing through a dense thicket, they saw a group of pink, girl-like figures frolicking happily. They had long, green, tender leaves on their heads, and their bodies were pink, petite, and light—as if a gust of wind could blow them away. Consequently, they often moved about hand-in-hand.

"Are those Hoppip?" Tang Yi recognized them.

"That's right."

"Are they all wild?" Tang Yi asked, surprised.

"They aren't bred by the Pokémon Center, but you can't exactly call them purely wild either. Tourists pass through here often and toss them food, so they are quite friendly toward humans." As Fang Tianze spoke, he opened his backpack, took out various fruits and vegetables, and beckoned to the Hoppip. The figures cheered immediately and trotted toward them, hand-in-hand.

"Slow down, everyone! Be careful not to be blown away by the wind!" Fang Tianze reminded them with a smile. Hoppip are naturally light; when strong winds blow, they are often swept away, which is why they usually live in groups in the wild.

"Don't just stand there, come and help," Fang Tianze glanced at the dazed Tang Yi.

"Oh, right." Tang Yi took some food from his bag. When he came, he had assumed these were supplies for their own hike, but it turned out they were meant for the Hoppip.

Fang Tianze glanced at what Tang Yi was holding and reminded him, "Don't use crackers. Hoppip have weak digestion and can't eat those. Take more white radishes; they need a large intake of Vitamin C."

So, this was the "spring hike." It was certainly not what Tang Yi had expected.