Pokémon: I just became a Gym Leader, and Cynthia proposed to me.

Chapter 828 Playing with Fate

Gengar emerged from Lapras's shadow, its eyes glowing with a strange, colorful light.

The light shone on the breeder wielding the whip, causing him to freeze, his eyes to glaze over, and the whip to slip from his hand and fall to the ground.

He stood there, stunned.

Another breeder screamed and released a Pokémon.

"Growlithe, crush!"

Arcanine burst out of its Poké Ball and lunged at Gengar with its mouth wide open.

Gengar raised its hand, and a Shadow Ball condensed in its palm. It blasted Arcanine away with the ball.

The Growlithe crashed against the wall, slid to the ground, and fell into a coma.

Gengar used another Spectral Beam, and the second breeder became a puppet.

Chaos broke out in the manor.

The bodyguards rushed out of each room, releasing their respective Pokémon.

Houndoom, Mightyena, and Electivire pounced on Gengar.

Gengar swung its arms repeatedly, unleashing a barrage of Shadow Balls.

Houndoom was blown away, Mightyena was blown away, and Electabuzz was blown away.

Wherever Shadow Ball passed, Pokémon fell to the ground.

Li Shuwen jumped off Millerton's back and walked into the main building of the manor.

A middle-aged man in a silk bathrobe ran down the stairs and turned pale when he saw Li Shuwen.

"Who...who are you? This is my private estate, you have no right to..."

"Gengar, Strange Light."

Li Shuwen didn't waste any words with him.

Gengar appeared before the middle-aged man, its eyes gleaming with colorful light.

The middle-aged man stood frozen in place, his mouth agape, his eyes unfocused.

Li Shuwen looked at him. "In the illusion world, you'll truly experience what it feels like to be treated like a slave. Experience it fully, savor it slowly!"

When Wusong arrived, the manor was already quiet.

Li Shuwen sat on the steps by the door, Gengar squatted beside him, and Milton lay dozing not far away.

Everyone in the manor—breeders, bodyguards, servants, and the manor owner—was controlled by Gengar's strange light, and they were all squatting neatly in the yard with empty eyes.

Wusong looked at the manor in complete disarray, and at the bodyguards and Pokémon squatting on the ground, and remained silent for a long time.

"Shuwen, you really know how to cause me trouble."

Li Shuwen stood up.

"Laplace is over by the pool, badly injured, and needs to be taken to Miss Joey for treatment."

Wusong sighed and picked up the walkie-talkie. "Come in, take control of everyone in the manor, and take Lapras to the Pokémon Center."

The next day, Wu Song found Li Shuwen with a somewhat unpleasant expression.

"The tycoon's spirit was severely damaged by the strange light."

"His equally shady partners are now all on edge and are secretly putting pressure on you to kick you out of the Four Heavenly Kings."

Li Shuwen remained silent.

Wu Song continued, "But don't worry, I can take down the people behind me."

Just as he finished speaking, Li Shuwen's phone rang. Chi Ri's voice came through the receiver.

"Shuwen, I've heard about what happened to you. Don't worry, I'll support you."

Li Shuwen said, "Thank you, Brother Sang."

Akari hung up the phone, his face grim as he looked out the window. "How can we possibly manage the Sinnoh League with this bunch of bugs?"

Another call came in.

Cattleya's voice was clear and strong. "Li Shuwen, I just became one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Unova when I heard about your amazing feat."

"Don't worry, I'll have my family support you too."

Li Shuwen was stunned for a moment.

"Congratulations on becoming one of the Four Heavenly Kings."

Cattleya snorted. "When are you coming back? I want to fight you."

Li Shuwen smiled. "Wait until I'm done with my work."

Professor Yamanashi called, his tone serious. "Shuwen, you did the right thing. Lapras are protected Pokémon, and no one should harm them. I will support you."

Museum owners from various regions called the alliance headquarters.

Xiao Song said, "Mr. Shuwen did this to protect Pokémon. If the League wants to punish him, I will be the first to object."

Piao Tai said, "Mr. Shuwen is my friend and the pride of our Sinnoh."

Cai Zhong said, "Don't those rich people have any idea what despicable things they've done?"

Melissa said, "Mr. Shuwen is a true artist and cannot be tainted by these vulgar people."

When the top players on the road to victory heard about this, they all came out to offer their support.

Missy said on the phone, "Li Shuwen? He taught me. If the alliance wants to touch him, I'll come down the mountain immediately."

Buck said, "Awen is my friend, who dares to touch him?"

Feibiao said, "Li Shuwen is a true strongman, incomparable to those wealthy people who only know how to talk big."

Staff members within the alliance were discussing it privately.

"Li Shuwen has friends all over Sinnoh, from south to north."

Another person exclaimed, "After all, he's got the Midas touch; who wouldn't like him?"

The matter was eventually dropped.

Those voices that were exerting pressure in the shadows disappeared for some reason. Perhaps they were genuinely wary of Li Shuwen's connections, or perhaps someone within the alliance intervened to quell the storm.

Wu Song found Li Shuwen, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"Shuwen, I'm the one who put you in this mess. I'll give you all a break, and I'll handle your work."

Cynthia walked over and said happily, "Thank you, Gossong."

Wusong left with a wry smile.

Cynthia turned to look at Li Shuwen, her eyes full of anticipation. "Where are we going this time? Unova? Parthia?"

Li Shuwen thought for a moment. "How about the Chengdu area? There are many ancient buildings there, it's a good place to go take a look."

Cynthia nodded. "Okay, I've always wanted to see that tower in Edo Tenjuro City."

The two returned to Veil City to pack their luggage, preparing to depart the next day.

Halfway there, Li Shuwen's phone rang.

It was Ash calling, his voice full of excitement, "Shuwen-ge! I'm setting off on a trip to the Johto region!"

Li Shuwen stopped in his tracks.

"Ash, wait for me. I'm coming to Pallet Town right away."

Cynthia looked at his face, which had suddenly become serious, and asked softly:

"Shuwen, are you going to do something important?"

Li Shuwen remained silent for a moment.

"I saw a glimpse of the future. I don't know if it can change my destiny, or whether it will make the present better or worse, but I want to try."

Cynthia grabbed his hand.

"No matter what happens, I will support you."

Pallet Town, Oak Laboratory.

Ash stood at the door, his hat askew, with Pikachu perched on his shoulder.

He saw Li Shuwen and Shirona and waved excitedly.

"Brother Shuwen! Sister Xilona!"

Li Shuwen walked up to Xiao Zhi and took out a precious jade that shimmered with seven colors from his backpack.

There was a light flowing inside the jade, as if something was sleeping inside.

He handed the jade to Xiaozhi and solemnly instructed him, "Xiaozhi, if you encounter a young man named Xuecheng during your travels, give this jade to him."

"Tell him to go to Momiji Village in Veil City, Sinnoh region, ten years later and give this gem to a girl named Momiji."

Xiao Zhi paused for a moment, then took the precious jade and examined it carefully. "Snow... Red Leaf... Ten years later... Red Leaf Village, Veil City."

He carefully repeated the steps, then gently placed the jade into the innermost layer of his backpack.

"Brother Shuwen, don't worry, I will definitely deliver this jade to Xuecheng!"

Pikachu nodded seriously. "Pikachu!"

Li Shuwen patted Xiaozhi on the shoulder. "Go on, be careful on the road."

Ash waved and turned to continue his journey. Pikachu perched on his shoulder, its tail swaying gently.

Sunlight shone on the boy's departing figure and on his tilted hat.

Cynthia watched Ash's departing figure and softly asked Li Shuwen, "Should we go to the research institute and ask that person?"

Li Shuwen shook his head. "No, it hasn't happened yet."

He looked down at his palms.

The alienated life gem has been given away, and the gears of fate have begun to turn.

He didn't know what the final outcome would be, what the jade would change, or whether the girl named Hongye would ever get that jade.

But he wanted to give it a try.

The butterfly has already flapped its wings; who knows how fate will respond to this game?