Fei Xiao led the way at the very front, and the rest of the team followed closely behind.
After walking for a few minutes, a sound came from the bushes nearby.
"There's movement, be careful!"
The captain was the first to react, and the other team members also grew alert upon hearing his warning.
"Wait, relax, it's nothing serious."
Noticing that the group seemed about to draw their guns, Fei Xiao hurriedly stopped them.
Hearing the movement around her, Fei Xiao could roughly guess it was Pokémon; after all, with the existence of the System Map, she knew very well whether there were other people around.
One by one, Pokémon began to appear before everyone's eyes.
There were Oddish, Bellossom, Caterpie, Diglett, and even the Teddiursa they had just seen.
They were likely attracted by the noise from earlier.
"Damn it, everyone get ready to give it your all!"
Looking at the situation before him, he felt a wave of fear; no one had expected there to be so many Magical Beasts, and now they were surrounded, so they probably wouldn't be as lucky this time.
Xiao Yan and Lao Hei couldn't help but feel a sense of despair as they witnessed the situation; after all, there was no way they could break through this encirclement on their own.
Seeing their expressions, Fei Xiao knew exactly what they were thinking and felt quite helpless.
"Alright, alright, everyone relax. Don't raise your guns," she said, giving Yang Lingfeng a sharp glare.
The latter hesitated for a moment before finally lowering his hands, but he did not let down his guard.
Fei Xiao didn't push the matter further and turned to look at the Pokémon.
"Sorry, did the noise just now scare you?"
"These are my friends, and they are injured. I have to take them back to the house first, and I'll explain it to you later."
The Pokémon all turned their heads to look at the strangers, their faces filled with curiosity.
Feeling their gazes, the group instantly stiffened, but with Fei Xiao's example, they didn't do anything out of line.
Fei Xiao explained at the right moment, "They're probably just curious. After all, besides me, you are the first outsiders to come here."
"Ji!"
"Hua!"
The three, including Xiao Yan, heard the sounds and looked down at their feet to see a Bellossom with two red flowers on its head and a grass skirt, as well as a Diglett that seemed to only show its brown head.
The group was so frightened they immediately took two steps back.
"Everyone, watch out."
The captain almost pulled his gun again.
"Um, Sister Fei Xiao, what are they doing? They're not going to eat us, are they?" Xiao Yan asked Fei Xiao for help with a face full of fear, her hands trembling slightly as she supported the injured man.
Fei Xiao's face was instantly covered in black lines, and she tapped her forehead helplessly. "It won't be too late to ask me after you've looked clearly."
Only then did the group notice the never-before-seen blue berries placed in front of them.
The Diglett was using its small head to nudge a few of them toward Zhou Long's feet.
An incredible thought occurred to Zhou Long. He looked at Fei Xiao and finally at the Magical Beasts, asking tentatively, "Are these... for... us?"
Bellossom held out a few berries in its small hands while nodding, and the Diglett on the other side also nodded together.
Witnessing this incredible scene, the group was shocked once again.
Were these still the Magical Beasts they knew? And they actually understood what they meant!
But Yang Lingfeng and the others were in no hurry to take them, as they still seemed to have concerns.
Fei Xiao noticed the group was stunned and quickly understood what their concerns were, so she explained, "These blue, orange-like fruits are a type of Berry called Oran berries. Eating them can restore your stamina. This is their kindness, so feel free to accept them."
After hearing the explanation, they also understood that Fei Xiao had no need to lie to them, but it was precisely because of this that they felt a mix of complex emotions.
For the first time, they looked clearly into their eyes and finally realized how pure those gazes were.
The three of them finally reached out and accepted the berries.
"Thank you!" x3
At this moment, they actually felt that these Magical Beasts were... quite cute.
Fei Xiao watched this scene with a smile; witnessing people accept the Pokémon's gifts, she also felt a sense of yearning in her heart.
As they ate the berries, they could clearly feel the effects; strength surged through their bodies instantly. Yang Lingfeng and Zhou Long's minds were now completely numb, and their thoughts were in a mess.
Jiao Xiaoyan seemed to have already accepted the facts, so she suddenly had a bold idea and decided to try it.
She looked at Fei Xiao and asked shyly, "Sister Fei Xiao, um, I... can I pet them?"
Zhou Long and Yang Lingfeng looked at Jiao Xiaoyan with utter disbelief upon hearing this.
Fei Xiao was also a bit surprised as she looked at Jiao Xiaoyan. Young people adapt quite quickly; she had thought it would take them a long time to accept it.
She glanced at Bellossom's cute and endearing appearance, then turned to look Jiao Xiaoyan in the eye again, a meaningful smile appearing on her face.
Jiao Xiaoyan felt a bit embarrassed by the stare.
Hmph, what "accepting" or "not accepting"? You just think it's cute and want to pet it. As expected, girls have no resistance to cute things!
While thinking this, her sinful hands had somehow already begun to rub Bellossom's small head incessantly.
"Hua!"
Only when she felt the movement under her hand did she snap out of it and pull her hand away. Feeling the resentful gaze, she was momentarily too embarrassed to face it.
She scratched her head to ease the awkwardness. "Haha, sorry about that. I just couldn't help myself."
"Hua!"
Bellossom crossed its arms over its chest and stared quietly at Fei Xiao, its expression like that of a neglected young wife.
There was nothing for it; since she was the one who started it, she had to coax it herself. At the same time, she wondered when her self-control had become so poor.
Meanwhile, Jiao Xiaoyan, who seemed to have been ignored, looked disgruntled but also a bit envious.
"Is that okay?" she asked again, gathering her courage.
This time, while rubbing Bellossom's head, Fei Xiao replied, "You're asking the wrong person."
"Sorry, Sister Fei Xiao, I was being presumptuous."
Hearing this, Jiao Xiaoyan understood that the other party could refuse, but she still felt a bit of regret.
Fei Xiao saw Jiao Xiaoyan's disappointed look and said with a smile, "Did you misunderstand something?"
"Huh?"
Didn't that mean a refusal just now? Or was there some other meaning?
Jiao Xiaoyan felt that Fei Xiao's gaze seemed to imply something, and she looked down at the Magical Beast by her feet, which was currently looking at her.
Decisively letting go of Liu Guang once more, she slowly squatted down.
Zhou Long, who was supporting Liu Guang, almost had it happen a second time. He thought to himself, Good grief, she lets go without a hint of hesitation every single time.
After squatting down, Jiao Xiaoyan met Bellossom's eyes.
"Um, can I pet you?"
Bellossom seemed to sense her kindness and slowly nodded its head.
After mentally preparing herself, Jiao Xiaoyan gently placed her hand on Bellossom's head.
Feeling the warm sensation in her hand, the corners of her mouth curled up into a bright smile.
Yang Lingfeng and Zhou Long's mouths were hanging open so wide they could probably fit an egg inside.
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