Washui area.
February 24th.
There are still traces of the heavy rain the day before yesterday, and the air is filled with the fresh smell after the rain. There is still some water in the gaps between the bluestone floor tiles, and there is a soft crunching sound when you step on it.
In addition, there is still some drizzle falling from the sky. Whether it is Binhai City or Qunqing Town, it is always rainy due to their geographical location.
In the early morning, Xu Qiansu opened the door and stepped onto the street. She pondered for a moment before holding an oil-paper umbrella and walking in a direction.
Although he had decided to leave Qunqing Town last night, it was impossible to just leave... Although there were many things in his backpack, it was obviously impossible to bring the equipment for outdoor life when he and Miss Ma Li went out that day, so Xu Qiansu still Some need to be purchased...and at the same time, maps are also needed.
Naturally, there is no GPS in the Xicui area. It would be fine if you are a local. However, Xu Qiansu is an outsider. Although he has the memory of the original game and knows the general direction... but there is no map. If he walks down the road, he will be blind. Where to go? Do not know at all.
But before that, he stepped into a bluestone alley.
In the ordinary bluestone alley, the yellowed wine flags fluttered in the wind, still the same as when Xu Qiansu came here for the first time... It must have looked like this many years ago.
An ordinary wine shop has witnessed the coming and going of many people.
Da da da----
Fine raindrops fell on the umbrella, making a rhythmic sound.
Xu Qiansu came to the wine flag, closed the oil-paper umbrella, and some water drops slowly dripped down the tip of the umbrella.
He placed the oil-paper umbrella under the eaves of the wine shop, then opened the curtain and stepped into the wine shop.
"Shopkeeper, get more wine."
Because it was still early in the morning, there was only one customer in the wine shop who was wearing a black robe and a bamboo hat. The shopkeeper was hunched over and slowly wiping the table with a rag.
Hearing Xu Qiansu's voice, he paused. Looking back, something indescribable appeared on his wrinkled old face, which then turned into a smile.
"Still the same?"
"Yes." Xu Qiansu handed over the empty wine pot. Vine Snake liked to drink this thing as a drink. Vulpix was back. Xu Qiansu was happy and drank more... By now, Xu Qiansu herself felt a little like it. Greedy for this taste.
The shopkeeper took the jug, walked to the wine vat, gently stirred the wine for a while, and asked, "Mr. Xu, are you ready to leave?"
An old man like him who has been running a liquor store his whole life and has seen countless people coming and going is always very observant.
"Yes." Xu Qiansu smelled the aroma of wine filling the wine shop, pursed her lips and thought for a moment, thinking that after leaving Qunqing Town, the wine in other towns may not have this kind of taste, and couldn't help but ask: "After drinking for so long, how can I still... I wonder what the name of the wine sold by the shopkeeper is?"
"The name..." The shopkeeper shook his head and chuckled, and then said slowly: "In the past, when I was young, I gave it an elegant name of 'Spring and Autumn Solstice', which means 'spring goes and autumn comes, sit back and watch the past and present' It means..."
Xu Qiansu remained silent and waited quietly for the next sentence.
"...but after the death of that Zoroa, I changed the name," the shopkeeper smiled helplessly, slowly poured wine into the jug, and suddenly cursed: "What bullshit? Spring goes to autumn." Come, sit down and watch the past and the present. This kind of meaning is too great, and this wine cannot bear it... Therefore, this wine still has no name, so it is called 'wine'."
"Huh?" Soraya, who was lying in Xu Qiansu's clothes, tilted her head slightly and was a little curious. Apart from her mother, she had never seen her own kind, let alone heard about it from humans.
Xu Qiansu went out shopping, so she obviously didn't need to bring Pokémon with her. However, Vulpix finally found Xu Qiansu, and she didn't want to separate for a moment. She wanted to follow, but Vine Snake was not happy. Although Vulpix's tail was fluffy and soft , but the corresponding 'covering area' is also large. Once Vulpix lies in Xu Qiansu's arms, where is the place for her Vine Snake?
As for asking the Vine Snake to give up its position...why? She had been following Xu Qiansu since he came to Xicui, and that position was hers. Tengteng Snake was unwilling, and Vulpix didn't want to compromise, so the fox and snake started fighting again.
Xu Qiansu had no choice but to take Zoroa, who had been lying on the tatami licking his fur, otherwise the two Pokémon would probably tear down the house.
Xu Qiansu nodded lightly and said nothing. It was up to the shopkeeper to name his wine, so Xu Qiansu would not meddle in other people's business.
But it's a pity that he will probably not come to Ultramarine Town in the future, and obviously he won't be able to drink this wine... He quite liked the taste, so he said:
"The shopkeeper's brewing skills are very good, but do you have any children? If you can pass on the skills, I think it will become a thousand-year-old shop."
The shopkeeper shook his head and sighed: "My wife died of illness when I was twenty-four... I had a son, but when he was fifteen, he was killed by a Pokémon..."
As he said that, the shopkeeper smiled again, "At first, I hated Pokémon, but now that I'm older, I've opened my eyes to it... I can't blame Pokémon for that. That Pokémon was just born at that time. Giving birth is a sensitive time, and humans often attack Pokémon babies... In this era, there is no clear distinction between grudges and grudges, who is right and who is wrong."
Xu Qiansu nodded slightly, but did not comment on this and remained silent.
He took the wine bottle, paid for the wine, turned around and left the wine shop, took the oil-paper umbrella, and walked out of the bluestone alley.
The drizzle is colorful.
The shopkeeper looked at Xu Qiansu's back walking in the rain. He had mixed feelings in his heart, but he didn't know what to say.
Unexpectedly... I would meet someone raising Zoroa.
The shopkeeper is always very observant...
Suddenly, he seemed to see the original Zoroa in human form, dressed in white, who came here curiously to taste wine.
The difference was that the Zoroa had nothing but itself, so it lost its life as soon as it was exposed.
But the ending of this Zoroa must be a little different...
"Spring and Autumn Zhi... this name is quite good. Why change it just because of a Zoroa." Suddenly, the man in black robe who had been sitting at the table and drinking silently said.
The shopkeeper turned around, a little surprised, but still explained: "When I was young and frivolous, I wanted to use this wine to do something big in the wine world, but this wine killed an innocent Pokémon... so That’s when I gave up.”
The man in black robe did not react to the shopkeeper's explanation. He just drank the wine in his glass silently, stood up immediately, and said, "I heard that a Pokémon like Zoroa has two lives."
The shopkeeper was slightly startled.
"When Zoroa is not born out of resentment and has a pure and kind heart, his strength is weak and even the transformation is extremely reluctant. A mere liquid of wine can transform it into its prototype... This is the first life." The black-robed man pulled He pulled up his bamboo hat and threw the drink money on the table.
"When it was persecuted to death by someone, its resentment gathered and turned into a body, and it became a revengeful ghost filled with resentment. Only then did it master its true power and become the real Zoroa... Until the revenge is successful, Only when the resentment is gone will it truly die... This is its second life."
After saying that, the man in black robe stopped talking, tightened his robe, opened the curtain, stepped on the bluestone floor tiles, and walked away slowly against the rain.
The shopkeeper stared blankly at the back of the man in black robe, then slowly looked at the wine money he put on the table, and said to himself: "After all these years... why don't you come to seek revenge on me, little old man?"
In the empty wine shop, no one could answer him, only the wine flags in front of the door were fluttering in the wind.
Da da da----
Xu Qiansu walked slowly on the street holding an oil-paper umbrella. Now, no one would look at him strangely. Instead, most of them greeted him.
"Mr. Xu, are you here to buy ingredients today?"
"...So be it."
"Hey, that's great. My little daughter likes your steamed buns very much. We will go to your place again in the afternoon."
"...Thank you for the compliment, but I can't do it these days. I have some urgent matters to deal with."
"Oh...if you need any help, just ask."
"I accept it with kindness, but this is a private matter."
Little Green Snake's Cooking House has been widely praised since its launch, but unfortunately, Xu Qiansu will probably not return to this town in the future.
Soraya lay in Xu Qiansu's collar, very curious in his heart, and wanted to look up at the human villages and towns. Unfortunately, Su Su had told him not to show his face outside... It would be great if it could master the transformation skillfully, so that it could be with Su Su. Walking side by side on the streets.
As he fantasized, Soraya's timid big golden eyes shone a little.
It must be proficient in transmogrification!
Xu Qiansu came to Qishiwu and took a few glances at the store, which was basically unchanged from a thousand years later, before walking in.
It was still early, and Feng's parents were steaming steamed buns in the back room, so only Feng was in the front room looking after the shop.
When she saw Xu Qiansu, her eyes lit up, and she happily picked up Vulpix from under the counter and ran over.
For a 'companion' like Xu Qiansu who raises Pokémon together, she is quite rare.
Moreover, Xu Qiansu's cooking was delicious, and she even... let her talk to Vulpix 1,000 years later.
Xu Qiansu let go of the waveguide, sensed the surroundings, and then lifted Soraya out of his arms.
"Huh?" Soraya was held by Xu Qiansu, a little at a loss.
"Pokémon! Huh? Eh? New Pokémon? Where's the little snake?" Feng was surprised at first, then covered his face and said with emotion: "It's amazing, I can actually raise two Pokémon!"
Xu Qiansu put Zoroa down, and Vulpix came forward. The two fox Pokémon looked at each other for a while, and then came forward to lick each other's fur.
It's a pity that Vulpix's Poké Ball was damaged, otherwise she could have been brought here.
Xu Qiansu knelt down and patted Feng's little head, then took out an emerald green ribbon from her arms and said, "This is for you."
Xu Qiansu bought this ribbon a long time ago. He gave one as a gift to the marsupial's mother, and that one is still tied to the little marsupial's bone rod... Now he still has three ordinary ribbons, one with 'apricot' engraved on it. The special ribbon with the characters was originally pulled from the tail of the Touer Fox in Muguang Forest and has been kept in the backpack. After much thought, it was the most appropriate gift for a little girl like Feng.
"Eh? For Feng? So beautiful~ But why?" Although Feng is young, he is very articulate and chatty.
"Because of gratitude, thank you for keeping your promise and passing on that bottle of perfume." Xu Qiansu stretched out the emerald green ribbon with her fingers, and then tied it to Feng's hair.
Feng did not speak, but stared at Xu Qiansu. Then she blinked, tilted her head, and asked, "Do you want to leave?"
A child's intuition is too accurate.
Xu Qiansu took back her hand and looked at the ribbon. After making sure that it was not ugly, she smiled softly and said, "I still have two Pokémon in the wild. I have to find them."
Facing a child like Feng, Xu Qiansu would naturally not tell any lame lies.
"Oh..." Feng pinched the corner of her clothes. When the corners of her clothes became wrinkled, she looked up at Xu Qiansu and asked in a low voice, "Then after you find it, will you come back?"
return? If Chirulian and the small marsupial are found, Xu Qiansu should start thinking of a way to return to modern times... Therefore, he will naturally not come back if it is not necessary.
But after hearing this, Xu Qiansu nodded, "I will come back to visit you."
"Oh..." Although Dan Feng is just a child, her thoughts are very delicate. She understands that the visit is just a visit, Xu Qiansu will not stay longer, and when the time comes, they will still have to say goodbye...
She asked again: "Then, where do you live? When I grow up, I can also visit you."
"I live 1,000 years in the future." Xu Qiansu patted Feng's little head with a dumb smile.
"Ah? After 1,000 years? Can I live 1,000 years?" Feng started counting on his fingers, then tilted his head, looked at Vulpix next to his calf, and asked, "Can Vulpix also live 1,000 years?"
"Huh?" The Vulpix tilted its head in confusion. It was picked up by Feng when it was still an egg... It has never seen its parents, and it doesn't know that it can evolve into the Nine-Tails... How does it know? Can I live 1,000 years?
The rain outside seemed to be a bit heavier, hitting the eaves and corners of the roof, making a slight "tick-tick-tock" sound.
Xu Qiansu smiled softly. In any case, Feng was from the Xicui era, and he was different from Xu Qiansu after all...after all, they were just passers-by, and they would definitely be separated.
He stood up and waved gently, and Zoroa jumped into his arms and got into his clothes.
"Are you leaving now? Can't you stay a little longer?" Feng asked in a low voice with an almost pleading tone.
She has never seen a Pokémon other than Vulpix in her whole life, and she always lives cautiously with Vulpix... Therefore, she really likes Xu Qiansu, who cooks delicious food, speaks softly, and is just like her. A person who raises Pokémon.
Xu Qiansu shook his head slowly. He patted Feng's little head and thanked him again: "Thank you for keeping your promise."
"Well..." Feng understood the fact that Xu Qiansu would leave no matter what, and could only nod slowly.
"An old man once said that life is like a train bound for the grave. There will be many stops on the way. It is difficult for someone to accompany you from beginning to end. When the person accompanying you wants to get off, you should leave even if you are reluctant to do so. Be grateful and wave goodbye... now it's time to say goodbye."
"What is the train...?" Feng didn't answer, and was silent for a while before asking in confusion.
"It's just transportation."
Xu Qiansu chuckled, pinched her little cheek one last time, turned around, opened the curtain, and left Qishi House.
Kaede opened her arms and hugged Vulpix without saying a word.
"Ah... I left so quickly... Mom hasn't thanked me in person yet." A gentle voice came from behind, and Feng's mother walked out of the back room carrying a plate of steaming buns that had just been prepared. , sighed lightly.
She had long heard Feng talk about Xu Qiansu, and was happy that her daughter could find a friend who raised Pokémon together, so she thought of thanking Xu Qiansu.
"Huh? Have you left already?" Feng's father also came from the back room and saw his daughter standing there alone holding Vulpix, scratching her head.
"When he comes next time, give him some steamed buns." Feng's mother said as she put down the plate and placed the steamed buns on the shelf.
"Wait until next time? I don't know when..." Feng's father didn't think so. He looked at Feng, who was silent, and then took out the bag from behind the counter, containing the steamed buns.
"maple."
"Huh?" Feng looked back.
"Send it to him quickly before he goes far." Feng's father handed over the bag.
"Ah?" Feng didn't respond.
"Go quickly, if you have anything to say, say it in person. When your father chased your mother, he ran three streets carrying a steamed bun to propose in public."
"How can this be the same?" Feng's mother rolled her eyes, then smiled and patted Feng's father's arm.
Feng looked at the bag handed over by his father and couldn't help but blinked.
…
"Wait, wait Feng!" Xu Qiansu held an umbrella and walked in the rain, intending to buy outdoor supplies. However, she suddenly heard a shout from behind and couldn't help but stop and look.
"Feng? What are you doing here?" Xu Qiansu raised her eyebrows slightly, stepped forward quickly, and held an umbrella for Feng.
"Huh -" Feng hugged the bag, her whole body was wet. She took a few breaths and then said: "Dad said, if you have anything to say, you should say it to your face."
"Huh?" Xu Qiansu reached out and brushed her hair from her forehead, making a confused nasal sound.
"So I will definitely visit you in the future." She waved her fist to cheer herself up.
Xu Qiansu laughed dumbly, wondering why this kid had such a big obsession with him.
He felt it was sincere.
Xu Qiansu is always gentle and sincere when dealing with children like Pokémon and Feng.
So he said, "Okay, then I'll be waiting for you in the future."
"Um!"
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Thanks to 'Yi Zhi Yuan Gu Ci' for the 10,000 reward, I will update it tomorrow.
