Chapter 116: Eevee's Trick

Returning to the mountains, they split into two groups just as before. Fang Tianze and Butterfree explained that since Tang Yi and Ralts required completely different training focuses, separating was the most efficient approach.

Fang Tianze’s side remained a free-range training style; he would assign Tang Yi a task, briefly outline the general direction, and then leave Tang Yi to figure it out on his own.

Tang Yi first sought out several Skiploom who had just completed their evolution. With Eevee there to translate, there was no need to worry about language barriers. Although the young girls were not familiar with Tang Yi, they interacted with Eevee frequently and were very close to her, which naturally made them very enthusiastic toward Tang Yi as well.

Before coming, Tang Yi had looked up plenty of information online and consulted with Coach Li Yaowen.

The primary prerequisite for a Pokémon girl’s evolution is meeting basic physical standards; it is much like playing an upgrade game where one must raise their agility, strength, and intelligence stats to a certain level before evolution can occur. However, wild Pokémon girls do not have the systematic, targeted training found in human society; they rely more on gradual growth to complete their evolution.

So, what exactly did Fang Tianze mean by "guidance"? This was the task Fang Tianze had set for Tang Yi—a puzzle he had to solve for himself.

"How did I evolve? I can’t really explain it. I used to feel very uncomfortable in my body. Uncle Fang said he gave me a massage, and then I felt much better, pop-pop."

Tang Yi glanced at Eevee, who was translating, and asked in confusion, "What does 'pop-pop' mean?"

Eevee, the translator, gave a dry, awkward cough. "Oh, that’s the sound a Skiploom makes. I’m providing an authentic, simultaneous translation, including the modal particles! That’s what you call professional!"

Tang Yi was unimpressed and shook his head. "I know you're a professional, but please don't translate the modal particles. It affects my judgment."

"Hmph!"

Tang Yi continued his questioning. The few evolved Skiploom didn't have much difference in their accounts: they had recently felt physically unwell, but it wasn't like being sick, as Fang Tianze never had any intention of giving them medicine. This discomfort manifested as a feeling that something was blocked inside their bodies—the whole body felt uncomfortable, though they couldn't pinpoint exactly where.

Fang Tianze would massage or rub some of the Pokémon, while for others, he would simply chat with them. Usually, after these sessions, the girls' discomfort would diminish rapidly, and they would complete their evolution within a day or two.

Of course, there were failed cases, but overall, this method of human-guided intervention in evolution left Tang Yi in awe.

After asking everyone, Tang Yi still had no clue, so he turned to Eevee. "Eevee, what do you think is going on?"

"Don't even think about trying to get information out of me. Besides, I don't understand it either. I just know this belongs to your human abilities; asking me is useless."

Tang Yi changed his tactics. "Alright, then does Uncle Fang often give you massages?"

"Well, that he does."

Tang Yi imagined a certain scene in his mind and couldn't help but blurt out, "Pervert!"

"I agree with both hands and feet," Eevee nodded in firm agreement.

After a brief pause, the girl’s small eyes darted around. She leaned in, her eyes burning with the fire of gossip, and whispered, "Hey, what stage have you and Ralts reached?"

Tang Yi kept a straight face and looked around, as if searching for something.

Eevee was dissatisfied with Tang Yi’s silence. "I'm talking to you! What are you looking for?"

"Found it!" Tang Yi’s eyes lit up. He picked up a fallen branch and swung it directly at Eevee’s head.

*Whack!*

Eevee was furious. "Why did you hit me!"

Tang Yi said righteously, "I am punishing you on behalf of Vulpix and Butterfree for your loose tongue!"

Tang Yi finally understood why Vulpix always liked to use her tail to smack Eevee’s small head—because it was truly impossible to resist.

Eevee huffed, "Want to fight, huh? Hmph, don't look at my size; believe it or not, one punch from me and you won't be standing up for the rest of the day!"

"I believe you," Tang Yi admitted immediately. Naturally, this was the Champion’s Eevee; the training intensity must be extremely high.

But he changed the subject: "However, if I really do go down, you’ll be responsible for carrying me down the mountain, and maybe even carrying me all the way home. It doesn't matter to me, but do you think it's really worth it just for the thrill of one punch?"

Based on Tang Yi’s understanding of Fang Tianze, if he really did collapse, Uncle Fang would definitely be too lazy to deal with it, and the heavy responsibility would fall on Eevee nine times out of ten.

Eevee thought about it and realized this was a high probability. She didn't want to carry someone around, so she immediately lost her spirit. "Fine, fine, I was just joking. But seriously, hasn't anything happened between you and Ralts?"

Although she had abandoned the threat, Eevee’s small eyes still revealed an intense unwillingness to let the gossip go unheard.

Tang Yi shook his head, thinking it was a pity Eevee wasn't an entertainment reporter. "No, what could possibly happen?"

"Really?"

"Look into my eyes."

"What's wrong with your eyes?"

"Only a kind and simple person can have such sincere and bright eyes."

"Pah, you and Old Fang are both perverts. I don't believe you." Eevee wore an expression that said she had seen right through him.

Tang Yi was silent for a moment, then suddenly became curious. "Why do you always put me in the same category as Uncle Fang?"

It seemed Eevee had called him a pervert last time, too. Of course, in Eevee's mind, Fang Tianze was likely an even bigger "old pervert."

Eevee looked up at the blue sky, which was refreshing to the soul. All around them, the Skiploom and Hoppip girls were playing, though no one could understand their Mandarin conversation. Eevee took a breath, appearing both mischievous and sentimental. "Because, you and Old Fang are both people who harbor crooked thoughts about your own Pokémon. Although you both have the heart to do it but lack the guts, how can there be people like you? It’s too ridiculous, too perverted. Tell me, am I right?"

"It seems you don't actually hate Old Fang."

Eevee raised her head. "Why would I hate him? I just like perverts like him!"

So, this was a case of a pervert seeing another pervert and hitting it off?

Tang Yi didn't pry further into the emotional privacy between Eevee and Fang Tianze, knowing he was in no position to criticize Uncle Fang—Tang Yi himself felt guilty, too.

"Hey, how about this: you tell me what stage you and Ralts are at, and I’ll teach you a little trick." Eevee lowered her voice mysteriously. Once the fire of gossip was ignited in a girl, it wasn't easily extinguished.

Tang Yi asked curiously, "Didn't you say just a moment ago that you were unable to help?"

"That was because it wasn't convenient to say it then."

"Is it effective? Uncle Fang said this 'Primal Release' is extremely difficult to learn, and I’ve certainly felt that—it’s really hard." Tang Yi felt frustrated; forget mastering it, he hadn't even grasped the basics yet.

"It works, it definitely works. Trust me," Eevee continued to tempt him in a low voice.

"Why should I trust you?" Tang Yi was cautious.

"Look into my eyes."

"Uh..."

"Only a kind and simple Pokémon can have such sincere and bright eyes."

Tang Yi blinked, observed her for a moment, and nodded in agreement. "Indeed, I think so too. Your eyes are just like mine—only possessed by sincere people. I think we can understand each other."

Eevee nodded impatiently, like a chick pecking at rice; her gossip fire was becoming uncontrollable.

Tang Yi shook his head. "You tell me the technique first."

"What if you go back on your word?"

"I wouldn't. We are both sincere people."

"Then you say it first."

"No."

...

The two stared at each other. Tang Yi wasn't in a hurry, but Eevee was.

After a ten-minute stalemate, Eevee lost her patience. She waved her fist and said with a straight face, "Fine, you win. I'll say it first, but if you don't say anything later, hmph, even if I have to carry you down the mountain, I’ll beat you to the ground first!"

After a brief pause, Eevee cautiously looked around, checking if Fang Tianze was nearby. However, Old Fang was likely chatting with the Skiploom, as he needed to help them evolve into Jumpluff and had no time to spare.

Only Eevee and Tang Yi were nearby, and these wild girls, aside from the matriarch and a few others in power, didn't understand a word of Mandarin.

Eevee still beckoned Tang Yi to lean in closer, looking uneasy. "I’ll say this first: once I tell you, you must never betray me. If Sister Butterfree finds out, she’ll definitely break my head."

*Then why are you still telling me?*

*You’d risk your head just for some gossip?*

Tang Yi wanted to retort but held back. He was becoming more curious; since there was a trick to it, why did everyone hide it?

"The key to Primal Release is, first and foremost, sensing energy. It’s not hard for us Pokémon to do, but for you humans, it’s as difficult as ascending to heaven. However, there is a trick. It’s hard if you say it’s hard, but it’s not hard if you say it’s not."

"Can you stop keeping me in suspense?"

"It’s like this... then like that... and finally like this..."

Eevee whispered the details. Although this was used as a bargaining chip, her face was filled with eager excitement as she spoke. It seemed she had wanted to tell him all along but had been restrained until now.

The more Tang Yi listened, the weirder his expression became, and the more uneasy he felt.

After a long while, Eevee finished and lifted her head, satisfied. "Well, do you understand now?"

Tang Yi corrected her, "I think you might have said one thing wrong."

Eevee was indignant. "Wrong? Impossible. I know more than you! You haven't even tried it yet, how can you say my trick is wrong!"

"Uh, I don't mean the trick," Tang Yi shook his head. "I mean what you said just now. If Butterfree finds out you told me this, she won't just break your head."

"She will definitely want to beat you to death..."