"Buzz! Buzz!..."
With high-frequency wingbeats, a swarm of Beedrill, their eyes glowing crimson, frequently let out low hums while wildly swinging their twin spears, encircling their prey in their compound vision.
"Ow-woo——"
Having been attacked repeatedly, with their injuries worsening, Wangcai and Xiaohua let out long howls, their voices seemingly filled with sorrow and a readiness to die.
A Staravia circled low, its feathers matted with wet blood, and clear bullet-like holes in its wings.
Behind them, Lin Juemin limped backward, looking to be in extremely poor condition, his face etched with fear and unease: "Damn it, I haven't found my unfilial son, but it looks like I'm going to meet the King of Hell first.
Just hold on, just a little longer and everything will be fine." He gritted his teeth and cursed his bad luck. Not long after entering the mountain, he accidentally stepped into some bastard's trap, falling into a several-meter-deep pit and breaking his leg.
After painstakingly digging and climbing out step by step, the commotion attracted two or three Beedrill. Unable to run, he had no choice but to fight, which led to the current unfavorable situation.
The phone in his pocket had remained connected, but the next sound that came through completely shattered Lin Juemin's hopes:
"Bad news! Old Lin, there's a river ahead of us. You must hold on."
"Damn it, Huang Li Shi, if you want me to die, just say so." Lin Juemin, almost at his breaking point, complained but was helpless, silently hoping his old friends would hurry up.
Time waited for no one, and the situation grew more perilous. The Staravia, already past its prime and severely overdrawn on stamina, failed to dodge a Pin Missile, plummeting to the ground from the sky, its blood spreading everywhere.
The gap in their defenses widened, like the last straw that broke the camel's back.
Seeing that defeat was certain, Lin Juemin's expression instead became composed: "Wangcai, Xiaohua, kill that Beedrill for me. I'll join you soon."
He turned and took out his phone, practically roaring into it: "Old Huang, I'm done for, but you must find my son, Lin Zhi. Please!"
After speaking, he hung up the call, awaiting death's arrival.
The two Poochyena ultimately failed to harm that Beedrill and were overwhelmed in the swarm's assault.
"Fearow, use Quick Attack! Leave one alive, kill the rest!"
"Caw!..."
In an instant, a piercing bird cry broke the silence. The Fearow swooped down, shimmering with light, like a tiger entering a flock of sheep. Its sharp beak pierced the skull of a Beedrill, and its powerful wings flapped, knocking two Beedrill to the ground on either side.
Its eyes showed disdain for mere ants, and its movements were swift. It was naturally a Beedrill's predator; every attack resulted in a Beedrill being severely injured or even killed.
In a short while, the Beedrill swarm suffered heavy casualties, and signs of collapse began to appear.
They no longer had their previous ferocity, only overwhelming fear remained.
A ray of hope, as if a miracle had occurred, excited Lin Juemin. Someone had actually come to his rescue in his moment of crisis. Following the sound, he was about to give thanks, but when he saw the person's face, he was too shocked to speak.
Lin Zhi!??
Rubbing his eyes vigorously, Lin Juemin knew he hadn't mistaken it. This person was definitely his unfilial son, though he seemed somewhat different from before, so unfamiliar.
At this moment, Lin Zhi's expression was not good. He threw a healing potion at his father and admonished him: "You're an adult now, what can I even say to you?
Being so reckless is truly shameful. If not for yourself, at least think of your family."
He truly didn't know what madness had possessed his father to venture into the suburbs late at night. Was it to hunt pokémon or something else? It couldn't possibly be because of him; he had sent messages, and his phone wasn't off.
"You brat, your wings have grown strong. Tell me what happened. When I called you after entering the mountain, your phone showed it was off. Do you know how worried your mother and I were about you?"
Glancing at the Fearow wreaking havoc, Lin Juemin's feelings were indescribable. He had many questions he wanted to ask, but he knew now was not the time.
Lin Zhi took out his phone and suddenly realized it had broken during the intense battle earlier.
On the other side, the Fearow was completely dominating the Beedrill, toying with a lucky survivor it had spared.
"Let's go back first; I have something to deal with." Putting away the Fearow, the remaining Beedrill, like birds escaping a cage, fled in one direction.
Lin Zhi handed a Poké Ball to his father, his tone serious: "Don't tell anyone about my affairs."
Then, without looking back, he followed the fleeing Beedrill. He did have feelings for his family; Lin Zhi still remembered after he dropped out of school in his previous life.
His father, who had been most opposed, after failing to persuade him, prepared a Yellow-talented Geodude and twenty thousand yuan a few days later, helping him overcome the initial difficulties of becoming a Trainer.
He always used to say things like, "If you don't go to school, get out of the house," but at that time, he never actually said it.
The bond between father and son was complex. After entering society and experiencing people and events, he gradually came to understand his father.
He had been shamed and had disappointed others. By the time he achieved success and looked back, it was already too late.
Staring at the Beedrill's retreating figure, Lin Zhi's eyes flashed with ferocity. Of course, he wouldn't rest until he destroyed its nest, especially since honey was a rare resource.
Looking at the Poké Ball firmly grasped in his hand, Lin Juemin, having come back to his senses, suddenly smiled.
While healing his pokémon, his mind was filled with thoughts. Perhaps he couldn't understand how his son suddenly possessed this terrifyingly powerful Fearow, but suddenly, he no longer felt that his son dropping out of school was wrong.
"Shh—Shh—Thump! Thump!..."
Huang Li Shi and the others arrived late. They had originally prepared for the worst with heavy hearts, but unexpectedly found their old friend unharmed. Joy surged through them, and they quickly spoke up:
"Old Lin, Lin Juemin! You're still alive!"
"Nonsense, I'm perfectly fine."
"That shouldn't be, hmm! So many Beedrill corpses! Old Lin, what happened? Tell us." Huang Li Shi immediately went to support his old friend, glancing at the ground with a look of wonder.
Lin Juemin, however, pondered for a moment, then recounted a modified version of events, replacing his son, who had saved him, with a powerful Trainer who happened to pass by and lend a hand.
"Your injuries, especially the severe fracture in your right leg, need to be treated at the Pokémon Center in town as soon as possible. What should we do with these bodies on the ground?" Huang Li Shi asked, while the others exchanged glances.
Lin Juemin patted his shoulder: "We can't take these things. Let's go."
"Did you thank the person?" Huang Li Shi asked as he carried him on his back.
"I practically knelt down, is that enough?"
Chatting and laughing, the group quickly departed. This night was destined to be eventful, at least for Lin Juemin.
A new round of slaughter began again. The Beedrill that fled back to their nest thought they had a stronghold, unaware that all their kin would be buried because of it!
Lin Zhi held nothing back, locking onto the nest and erupting with aura. Arbok and Breloom joined the fray.
Under the immense pressure, Beedrill, Metapod, and Weedle died one after another in fear. To avoid missing any, Lin Zhi specifically circled within a few miles.
His harvest included the entire Beedrill colony, numerous pokémon eggs, honey, berries, and several Trainers' belongings.