"Charizard, use Dragon Rush!"
At the command, Charizard turned into a blazing dragon and dove down, crushing Ursaring in one hit.
After the battle ended, Gu Yuan first fed Charizard a few Pokéblocks, then treated its minor wounds.
Compared to the unconscious Ursaring, Charizard's injuries were negligible.
This was also part of a Trainer's duty.
If they had been battling inside a town, Gu Yuan would have let Charizard go all out, closing in on the opponent to fight directly when it had the upper hand. That would have meant more serious injuries.
But out here in the wild, Gu Yuan made sure his Pokémon used their advantages wisely and minimized the risk of getting hurt.
Even with medicines and potions, without a Pokémon Center nearby, recovery still took time.
After bandaging Charizard, Gu Yuan began treating Ursaring.
He wouldn't normally do this, but May Kuroda was right next to him.
Although Gu Yuan didn't want to travel with her, Shadow had ordered it, so he had no choice but to accept.
To maintain a good impression, he naturally had to act more civilized, such as healing the wild Pokémon he had just defeated.
He also made some adjustments to the story he told May Kuroda.
Back then, it had been impossible to take her away safely, so he had no choice but to make her fake her death to draw attention away from himself.
Otherwise, with enemies capable of using Taunt, he could never have escaped with her alive.
After leaving her hidden safely, he had gone back to the battlefield to help Bell and the others, but they had already resolved to die fighting.
To stop their pursuers from chasing her, they had risked their lives to hold the enemies back, buying Gu Yuan a chance to strike.
Only through Kadabra's Teleport and Ally Switch, together with Charizard's strength, had they barely managed to wipe out the pursuers alongside Bell's group.
Now, knowing there might still be more enemies, Gu Yuan took a detour and slowed their pace, hoping to avoid further pursuit.
In truth, he was only following Shadow's orders to stall for time so Shadow could set up his next move.
May Kuroda seemed to believe his explanation on the surface, but Gu Yuan had no idea what she truly thought.
Either way, he trusted Shadow's skill. And besides, by the time May had the power to use her family's influence against him, he would be far too strong for it to matter.
The only thing he regretted was leaving Ditto behind in its Poké Ball. To keep his trump cards hidden, he had to let Ditto stay inside for now.
He planned to release it later, when May was asleep, to stretch and rest.
"Alright, let's keep moving. Once we get through this forest, we'll be close to Saffron City," Gu Yuan said.
"Even if someone still tries to chase us, Kadabra can quickly teleport us near Saffron City. By then, they probably won't dare to make a move."
After finishing Ursaring's treatment, Gu Yuan turned to May Kuroda.
"Okay, I'll follow your lead," she said.
Looking at her soft expression, Gu Yuan felt nothing.
Too young.
Walking beside him, May occasionally glanced at Sylveon.
After traveling together these past few days, she had learned that the unfamiliar Pokémon was called Sylveon. No matter how friendly she tried to be, Sylveon remained distant and cold.
The elegant, mysterious Pokémon fascinated her even more because of that attitude. She couldn't help but turn into a bit of a fangirl.
"Alright, let's stop here for lunch. Do you want meat soup or fish soup today?"
Finding a flat patch of grass, Gu Yuan began preparing to cook.
At his question, May looked hesitant.
Anyone would get tired of eating the same soup or grilled meat every day.
"Actually, I can cook too. Can I make lunch this time? Think of it as a small way to thank you for saving my life," she said softly.
Gu Yuan looked surprised but handed her his supply pack without hesitation. "Sure. See if these ingredients will work."
Though he was used to eating rations, he didn't mind trying something new once in a while.
"Alright."
After glancing through the pack, May quickly decided what to make and got to work.
Her movements were quick and practiced. Gu Yuan didn't even have the chance to help.
Seeing how skillfully she worked, he relaxed and began looking forward to the meal.
Soon, a delicious aroma filled the air. For once, Gu Yuan understood how Sylveon and the others felt waiting for food.
"Alright, please try my cooking," May said with a smile. It was the first time Gu Yuan had seen her smile since they met.
"Thank you, Miss Kuroda," Gu Yuan replied.
"No need to be so formal. Just call me May. Using my last name sounds too distant."
"Alright then, May."
Seeing her serious look, Gu Yuan didn't argue.
As he sat down, he noticed Charizard and the others waiting patiently, though they clearly wanted to eat.
"Alright, everyone, dig in."
Only after his words did Charizard and the rest start eating.
At that moment, Gu Yuan could almost feel Ditto's silent resentment from its Poké Ball.
He reminded himself to treat Ditto to a good meal once they reached Saffron City, then focused on enjoying the food.
After this meal, Gu Yuan and May Kuroda's relationship improved noticeably.
At least now, they talked casually while traveling, instead of going hours without a word.
Through their small talks, Gu Yuan learned that before the Kuroda family found her, May's mother had run a small restaurant.
After her mother passed away, May had kept it running alone until her family took her in. That was how she had learned such excellent cooking skills.
Looking at her simple and gentle nature, Gu Yuan found it hard to imagine how she had been treated within the Kuroda family.
Maybe with Team Rocket's protection, her life could have been easier at first, at least with fewer dangers.
One thing was certain: after tasting her cooking, the job of preparing meals was now permanently hers.
Thanks to her delicious food, May even managed to pet Sylveon a little, though that was as far as it went.