Pokémon: I just became a Gym Leader, and Cynthia proposed to me.

Chapter 697 Two beauties, shall we go for a drink with my brother?

The sunlight stung my eyes, but the fresh air filled my lungs.

The four knew they had returned.

Cynthia stepped forward with concern, "Are you alright?"

Li Shuwen smiled and shook his head, "Nothing's wrong at all. It's all thanks to the life force given by Xerneas. It's perfect for dealing with the evil spirits in the castle."

"And my father's Qi magic, I just did a simple simulation and successfully destroyed the Death God Board."

When the topic of eliminating the Death God Board came up, Zhimi and Yan Kai looked at each other in dismay.

They were clearly the four kings of the Carlos region, but in the operation just now, they were reduced to third-rate characters who were just there for show.

Aside from clearing out the grunts, their role is practically zero when facing the mastermind behind the scenes, Death Plate.

How embarrassing...

Da Long breathed a long sigh of relief, "Not at all! Mr. Shuwen's move was simply divine!"

"That's amazing!"

Behind them, the ancient castle was collapsing—no, melting away!

The black mist that shrouded the castle dissipated rapidly in the sunlight, the eerie green lights went out one by one, and the writhing things came to a complete stop.

As the last wisp of black mist dissipated, the castle regained its original appearance—

It turned back into a dilapidated old building.

The old man looked at the castle, now restored to its original state, and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Finally..." he said, "Finally, it's peaceful."

He looked at Li Shuwen, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Surprise, admiration, and a touch of awe.

"That move you just made," he said, "was even better than the qi magic my father has been learning for decades."

"Even if my father is on the other side, I can still feel the surging righteous energy."

Li Shuwen shook his head.

"It's just a small application of waveguide power," he said. "I also have to thank my dad for the inspiration."

Dad waved his hand.

"Inspiration is inspiration, and being able to do it is being able to do it," he said. "These are two different things."

He paused, then sighed.

"What a pity," he murmured, "such talent, yet unwilling to learn magic..."

Li Shuwen smiled.

"Being a Pokémon Trainer," he said, "is pretty good too."

The sun was shining brightly, bathing everyone in its light.

The old man looked at the dumbfounded Da Long, then raised his hand and gave him a roasted chestnut.

"Aww!"

Da Long jumped up, clutching his head.

The old man said impatiently, "What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and prepare the materials for your old man!"

The old man used his qi magic to seal the ancient castle, which had lost its two sources: the Coffin of Death and the Plate of Death.

Accompanied by beams of green light, they spread around the ancient castle, forming a seal.

The once dilapidated castle now exudes a faint sense of vitality.

Dad clapped his hands. "Phew, this troublesome task is finally finished!"

The crisis at the castle has finally been completely resolved.

The old man looked at Zhimi and Yan Kai, "This seal needs daily monitoring and annual maintenance."

"Even if you don't ask your father, remember to invite a local magician to reinforce the seal, understand?"

Yan Kai frowned and said, "Can't we just use machines to level this place, then bring in materials, compact it with a road roller, and then lay cement on it?"

The old man stomped his feet in anger, shouting, "We must use magic to fight magic!"

Zhimi advised, "Since the old man has said so, we don't need to save money for the Carlos Alliance."

"Let's invite an expert like the old gentleman to come again, which would be the best of both worlds."

Although Li Shuwen said he wouldn't learn it, his father still gave him a complete book of Qi magic after they returned to the Biyi Dojo.

"You can take a look at the spells above when you have time. They can not only be used to subdue demons and monsters, but many of them can also be used to assist Pokémon in their training."

Li Shuwen carefully accepted the complete guide to Qi magic.

"I will definitely study the knowledge above carefully!"

Although Li Shuwen does not intend to become a Qi mage, it does not mean he will not learn the Qi spells mentioned above.

Having become a Qi Master, I must now vanquish demons and monsters just like my father.

After finishing their business in Biyi City, Li Shuwen and Xilona embarked on their journey to Xiangxun City.

The sun is just right, the breeze is not dry.

Cynthia was driving, while Li Shuwen sat in the passenger seat, holding a yellowish magic manual.

Li Shuwen turned to the first page, and what he saw was a line of neat handwriting.

Ki magic is the application of life energy. By drawing upon the pure energy of heaven and earth to nourish one's own vital energy, one can strengthen the body and also aid in the training of Pokémon.

He continued flipping through the pages with great interest.

The spells recorded in the book are varied, but the core ideas are all the same.

Using materials derived from Pokémon's positive energy, a certain effect is achieved by stimulating life energy through specific rituals and incantations.

For example, the "Art of Vitality".

Take three naturally shed hairs from a vibrant Pikachu, combine them with dew from the first rays of morning sunlight, and cast a spell while the Pokémon is resting.

That warm energy will seep into the Pokémon's body, accelerating its stamina recovery.

The fatigue that would normally require a full night's sleep to recover from can be relieved in just three hours after the procedure.

For example, "flexible body techniques".

Take a drop of sweat from an Ironhide man when he is exhausted, add some moss growing on a hard rock, grind them into powder, dissolve them in water, and let the Pokémon drink it.

The water will burn slowly within the Pokémon's body like a gentle flame, gradually tempering its muscles and bones.

With long-term consumption, Pokémon's physique will visibly improve, and their ability to withstand attacks will be greatly enhanced.

Another example is "Spiritual Mind Technique".

You need a feather that falls off a natural finless ...

That cool energy helps Pokémon clear their mind and enter a deeper state of focus.

Training under these conditions can double the speed at which moves are mastered.

What interested Li Shuwen the most was a spell called "synesthesia".

To capture the spatial fluctuations left behind when an Alakazam uses Teleport, you need to use a special talisman.

Combined with the powder that moonstone scatters during a full moon.

After the procedure, a subtle spiritual connection will be established between the trainer and the Pokémon.

Without words or gestures, a Pokémon can sense its trainer's intentions with just a thought.

"Isn't this just a weakened version of waveguide power?" Li Shuwen mused.

The book repeatedly emphasizes that all materials must be taken from parts that Pokémon shed or secrete naturally, and must not harm the Pokémon in the slightest.

Be grateful when gathering, and it's best to leave some food in exchange.

This is the foundation of Qi magic – righteous Qi.

If materials obtained through coercion or harm are used, the spell will become tainted with resentment, greatly reducing its effectiveness and potentially backfiring on the caster.

"It's an interesting system." Li Shuwen closed the book and looked out the window.

"Let's find somewhere to get something to eat first." Cynthia parked the car on the side of the road. "I heard there's a roadside ice cream stand in Scent City that's really famous, their signature flavor is lavender honey."

Li Shuwen nodded.

The two got out of the car and walked toward the roadside stall that was supposedly very famous.

The stall wasn't big; it was a converted food cart with seven or eight people queuing in front of it.

The air is filled with a sweet, milky aroma, mixed with a faint scent of lavender, which instantly lifts your spirits.

"Boss, two signs." Cynthia handed over the money.

"Alright!" The boss quickly got to work.

Just then—

Rumble rumble rumble—!!!

The deafening roar of an engine came from the street corner, accompanied by the acrid smell of exhaust fumes and the burning stench of tires screeching against the ground.

People who were leisurely queuing suddenly frowned, covered their noses, and moved to the side of the road.

A dozen or so motorcycles roared in, each one illegally modified, spewing black smoke from their exhaust pipes and covered in messy graffiti.

The riders were all wearing leather jackets, had brightly colored hair, and cigarettes dangling from their mouths, with an arrogant "I'm the best in the world" look on their faces.

They all stopped in front of Li Shuwen and Shirona.

The motorcycle in the lead was the most outrageous—it had a skull on the front, an exhaust pipe as thick as a rocket launcher, and its engine was twice as loud as the others.

The rider was a young man with dyed blonde spiky hair and a grinning Boss Dora painted on his leather jacket.

He took off his sunglasses, his gaze fell on Cynthia, and his eyes immediately lit up.

"Yo-ho—" he whistled, grinning crookedly, "Hey ladies, wanna grab a drink with me?"

The group of thugs behind him immediately joined in the commotion.

"Yes, yes, yes! Let's have a drink together!"

"The boss is treating! Would you do me the honor?"

"Don't be so cold, let's be friends!"

Cynthia paused for a moment.

Then she couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"A beautiful woman?!" She laughed so hard her shoulders shook. "Hahahaha—!"

She laughed so hard she bent over, one hand covering her stomach, the other patting Li Shuwen's arm:

"Shuwen, did you hear me? Beauty! Hahahaha!"

Li Shuwen's face visibly darkened.

He naturally had a somewhat androgynous face—soft lines, delicate features, and skin that was even whiter than most girls'.

Wearing loose clothing can indeed make you easily mistaken for someone else from behind.

But being called "beautiful woman" to your face?

Or was she called "beautiful woman" by a group of thugs in front of Cynthia?

"Get out." His voice was as cold as the winter wind.

The hedgehog-headed man was taken aback, and then his expression changed.

"Oh ho? Pretty cocky, huh?" He spat, waving his hand. "Brothers, let's show this 'beauty' what real power is!"

A burst of white light!

A Boscooter landed with a thud.

That guy was a size bigger than a regular Aggron, his armor was covered with vicious spikes, and when he opened his mouth he spewed out a pungent, hot breath.

"How about that? Scared yet?" the spiky-haired man said smugly. "Beautiful lady, you have to drink today, whether you like it or not!"

The surrounding crowd retreated, and some secretly took out their phones to call the police.

Cynthia was still smiling.

She showed no intention of making a move, and even took a step back, giving Li Shuwen space.

Li Shuwen's face darkened further.

He waved his hand.

A flash of white light, and Lucario landed beside him. A lithe figure, blue and black, with eyes like lightning, and blue light flowing between his palms.

The hedgehog-headed guy didn't take it seriously at all.

"Aggron - Rock Slide! Smash this little blue dog flat!"

Bosscodora roared to the sky and slammed its fists into the ground.

Countless enormous rocks rose from the ground, hovered in mid-air, and then crashed down on Lucario like meteorites.

Each of those rocks was the size of a millstone; if they were thrown into the ground, they would create a deep crater!

Li Shuwen said coldly:

"Broken rocks".

Lucario moved.

His figure was like a blue lightning bolt as he rushed towards the falling rocks, shattering the millstone-sized rocks in an instant!

Pebbles flew everywhere, and dust filled the air.

Before Boscodor could react, a punch landed squarely on his stomach!

boom! boom! boom!

Lucario's fists rained down on Aggron.

Bosscodora's massive body fell straight forward.

Boom! ! !

The ground shook three times.

The entire room fell silent.

The hedgehog-headed creature had its mouth agape, its eyes wide like copper bells, and its jaw almost dropped to the ground.

"This...this..."

He glanced at Aggron lying on the ground, then at Lucario who was calm and composed, not even out of breath, and then at the beautiful woman whose face was still dark.

"run!!!"

He twisted the throttle, the motorcycle roared to life, and it sped off!

The remaining thugs, as if waking from a dream, started their motorcycles and scattered like birds and beasts!

The roar of the engine quickly faded into the distance, leaving behind only a pungent smell of exhaust fumes and messy tire tracks.

Li Shuwen waved his hand, and a wave of air dispersed the exhaust fumes in front of him.

Behind him, the boss stood dumbfounded, holding two cups of ice cream.

His voice trembled slightly, "That's...that's amazing!"

Li Shuwen took the ice cream and handed a cup to Cynthia.

Cynthia took the ice cream, her eyes crinkling into crescents with a smile.

"Beautiful lady~" she deliberately dragged out the last syllable, nudging Li Shuwen with her shoulder, "That thug from earlier seemed to really like you~"

Li Shuwen's face darkened even more.

He took a big bite of the ice cream, and the sweet lavender and honey flavor melted in his mouth—it was indeed delicious, so delicious that he couldn't help but squint his eyes.

But this did not save his mood.

Cynthia was laughing so hard she was practically shaking, eating ice cream and laughing until tears were almost streaming down her face.

"I can't take it anymore," she clutched her stomach, "I'm going to tell Grandma when I get back that you were called a beauty in Aroma City..."

"You dare?" Li Shuwen glanced at her sideways.

"Oh, are you threatening me?" Cynthia raised an eyebrow. "I'll have to think about it. Should I tell Cattleya while I'm at it...?"

Li Shuwen spread his hands, "Eating ice cream can't shut you up."

Cynthia looked at Li Shuwen seriously, "This amount of ice cream isn't enough!"

"A box?"

"This is so interesting, we need to increase the quantity!"

Li Shuwen took a deep breath. "Okay!"

Li Shuwen felt that being called "beautiful woman" would be something Cynthia would talk about for the rest of her life.

The stall owner sighed, shaking his head as he tidied up the tables and chairs that had been knocked over in the earlier chaos:

"Sigh, ever since this gang of bikers arrived in Aroma City half a month ago, we haven't had a single day of peace."

Li Shuwen looked up at him.

"Half a month?"

"That's for sure," the stall owner said with a bitter face. "They race their cars on the street every day, disturbing the peace, and they even harass young girls and bully those who run stalls."

"We've called the police, but they run away too fast. They scatter as soon as the police arrive, and then they come back as soon as the police leave. They're like flies, so annoying."

Li Shuwen and Cynthia exchanged a glance.

"Let's go." Li Shuwen finished the last bite of his ice cream. "Let's go to the dojo first."

Cynthia nodded, her smile not yet completely gone.

Pushing open the door of the dojo, a surprised exclamation greeted us:

"Cynthia—!"

A woman dressed in a gorgeous kimono floated over like a butterfly and hugged Cynthia tightly.

Ma Xiu, the owner of the aromatherapy academy.

She was petite but had a powerful presence; her exquisite makeup and gorgeous kimono made her look like a fairy who had stepped out of a painting.

At this moment, she was holding Cynthia, her face beaming with the joy of seeing her best friend.

"I thought you only cared about dating and having no other romantic interests!" Ma Xiu playfully punched Xilona. "Looks like you haven't forgotten me after all!"

Cynthia smiled and hugged her back: "How could I forget you? Here I am."

The two hugged for a while before letting go.

Ma Xiu turned her gaze to Li Shuwen, looked him up and down, and a sly smile flashed in her eyes.

"Oh~ this is the legendary 'Midas Touch' Li Shuwen?" She covered her mouth and laughed. "Xerona has mentioned you so many times on the phone~"

"They really are a perfect match."

Cynthia proudly raised her head. "That's right!"