The distance was drawn to within a hundred meters.
Baimu confirmed that the person was indeed Otsuka, this unlucky guy, rather than some bad guy doing a sting operation.
"Not many people should be running around in the middle of the day without taking a rest."
He recalled the radar he had seen earlier. This area, including where he was, didn't have a single red dot; most gathered in the extreme west, as if deliberately avoiding his side.
Really capable of hiding.
Not many would do what Jian does. How much did he have to earn to be so diligent?
Baimu truly didn't believe this guy came all this way just to fulfill his promise of breaking his leg. A person like that, who won't risk the eagle without seeing the rabbit, must have had some irresistible reward.
"Otsuka!"
He shouted directly, hoping for a response.
Unfortunately, there was none.
The young guy was most likely unconscious, and Baimu had no choice but to urge Lairon to quicken its pace and step around possible traps.
Nothing is ever absolute; it's better to be cautious.
A minute later.
Engaging in a battle of wits with the air, he arrived beside Otsuka and quickly checked his breathing and heartbeat. Then he took out a returned headscarf, soaked it in water, and wiped the bloodstains and dust off his face, focusing on his nose, mouth, and eyes.
Afterwards, he took out a small pill from his pocket, mixed it with water, and carefully administered it to him.
The pill was mainly for life-saving purposes, with no significant additional effects. It could stabilize some injuries for a while, buying time for rescue.
The price was a bit steep, but for the sake of saving a life, it was worth it.
Looking at it now, it really came in handy.
After completing what he needed to do, Baimu checked Otsuka's injuries again—it was horrific. Even with the Ore Region's medical standards, this guy would have to lie down for a month to recover.
"As long as he's not dead."
He sighed with slight relief.
Soon after.
A faint moaning, barely audible, issued from Otsuka's mouth, and his tightly closed eyes fluttered slightly.
"Uh..."
"Awake? Give a response."
"Am I... am I already dead, actually dreaming of you?" Otsuka's voice was unusually hoarse, and his eyes gradually opened, seeing Baimu sitting beside him.
He tugged at the corner of his mouth, revealing an incredibly ugly expression.
Baimu's expression remained unchanged, he waved his right hand and said, "If you delay a bit longer, you might really die, what number is this?"
"I... It looks like two..."
"Your brain's not damaged, congratulations."
This cold joke was something Otsuka couldn't comprehend at the moment.
He turned his gaze back to the blue sky, murmuring, "I'm really not dead... sobbing..."
Suffocating sobs squeezed out from his throat, and tears quickly overflowed from his eyes.
The joy of survival made Otsuka so agitated that he could hardly breathe; he even started to cough, followed by a fit of dry heaving, crying and laughing at the same time, an utter mess.
But he no longer cared about any of that.
As long as he was alive, he was very happy.
"By the way, the man is already dead. If you want to stab him, in your current state, it might not be realistic," Baimu said faintly. "Can you move your arm? If not, I'll assist you in calling for rescue."
The wristband was being monitored; it had to be willingly used by the person involved to take effect, which was very troublesome.
And compared to rescue, Otsuka was obviously more concerned about the previous statement.
"Did you... kill Jian?"
"To be precise, it was the Sun that roasted him to death. I only beat him into a severe injury," Baimu replied with a smile, trying to cheer him up, "Stabbing him once would have been too easy for him."
"Hahaha... you're so ruthless."
Otsuka indeed managed a hideous smile and attempted to lift his arm to tap the wristband.
Unfortunately, it resulted only in baring his teeth in pain without achieving anything. Baimu still had to assist in using it.
Beep.
Rescue call successful.
Both of them sighed with relief, and the atmosphere became much more pleasant, though it was still very hot.
Seizing the opportunity, Baimu asked, "Speaking of which, why didn't you expose my location, you could have made something up, I don't think you're that kind of fool."
From the very first day they met, it was clear that Otsuka was quick to give in and wasn't the kind of guy who wouldn't admit fault with his neck stiffened.
He perfectly embodied the saying about bullying the weak and fearing the strong.
So when he heard Jian say he wouldn't open his mouth, Baimu was very surprised.
"Why..."
Otsuka gazed blankly at the sky, "Actually, I don't know either..."
"Don't know?"
"Haha, maybe it was a brain spasm, or maybe I thought that whether I said it or not, I wouldn't be spared… haha." Otsuka laughed to himself, even though there was nothing funny about it.
But actually.
He knew the answer in his heart.
Why didn't he reveal Baimu's whereabouts even when being beaten nearly to death, not even making something up?
The reason was simple, because of that pitifully little remaining amount of self-respect.
When life was hanging by a thread, Otsuka found many memories surfacing before him, from birth to speaking his first words, to obtaining his first Pokémon, and even supporting his entire family.
He thought over and over and found his life so barren, giving up too much for certain things, having too many regrets, and too many things left unachieved.
Stripping away external things like Pokémon, he was entirely empty, having nothing at all.
Devoid of any personal pursuits, living merely for the sake of living, his life had always been oppressive.
"You and my world are both too small. May we one day break free from Pyrite Town and open our eyes to see the real world."
The real world, what is the real world?
Was he, having nothing, qualified to see it?
At that moment.
Clutching onto that last shred of pride as if it were a lifeline, Otsuka realized he couldn't see the real world that Baimu spoke of.
But he just really, really didn't want to die in such a humble way.
"Hey, Baimu, will you leave Pyrite Town?"
He tried hard to turn his head, looking towards the person who was so near yet so indistinct.
That person replied, "Someday I will."
"Then..."
[Can you take me with you?]
Otsuka found himself speechless as if he were struck dumb; he knew deep down he felt unworthy.
Residue in the gutter should remain in the gutter forever.
Just then.
Suddenly that indistinct person leaned over, and Otsuka only felt a blur before his eyes, seeing Baimu crystal clear as if a thin veil of illusion was torn open.
The other lifted his eyelids and forced him to spit out his tongue, doing things only a doctor would do.
"Why are you mute all of a sudden? Want water?"
"No..."
"What were you about to say just now, take you with me?"
"Uh."
"You want to travel together? Personally, I'm not a fan of teaming up, so forget it." Baimu dismissively waved his hand in rejection, "I also recommend you go out on your own."
The natural tone left Otsuka somewhat taken aback.
"On my own?"
"What else? Or you could call your sister, call your parents, everyone go traveling together."
Traveling together, family trip.
Strange words made Otsuka a bit dizzy.
In Baimu's tone, leaving Pyrite Town or even the Ore Region seemed like a very simple thing, or rather, a very common thing.
He muttered to himself, "Going on my own..."
"Yes, while you're still young, step out of Pyrite Town, see what other places are like. Don't keep your eyes fixed only on this little place."
Baimu said with some emotion, "This world is far more exciting than you think."
Otsuka: "..."
The two gradually fell into silence.
The next second.
He suddenly asked, "Should I go to school?"
"Stop talking nonsense."
Baimu casually scolded, "If you can't even read, you wouldn't be able to understand a map! Traveling with nothing but your head!"