"Thank you for the badge."
Ye Feng looked at the Ascension Badge in his hand, a customary smile on his face.
The badge had a distinctly draconic look.
Ye Feng put the Ascension Badge away.
Now, all eight badges from the Johto region were collected.
He only needed to wait quietly for the opening of the Indigo League in half a year.
"It's okay, it's just one loss, what's the big deal?"
Ye Feng comforted Xiao Chun, who was kneeling on the ground opposite him.
Xiao Chun glanced at him.
Her lips were tightly pressed.
Is this how you comfort someone?
This wasn't just a simple loss.
If it were a loss in a close match, it would be fine. Being completely outmatched was also acceptable, as it showed room for improvement.
But this time, she had used three Pokémon to gang up on him.
She had even used several moves.
And he defeated her with a single blow.
This was a complete annihilation, leaving her, Xiao Chun, utterly defeated.
"Mr. Ye Feng, would you do us the honor of joining us for a drink tonight at my home?"
Xiao Chun's grandfather and father immediately stepped forward.
Ye Feng looked at the sky outside the window.
"Alright."
He would stay in Ecruteak City for the night, and tomorrow he would return to Pallet Town to find Hana and have a good sparring session.
That evening.
The banquet was luxurious.
Various delicacies and homemade dishes.
They filled the table.
Yet, the only one eating was Ye Feng.
Xiao Chun's grandfather and father, and Xiao Chun herself.
Xiao Chun's grandfather and father were enthusiastically entertaining Ye Feng.
Only Xiao Chun sat to the side, dejected.
Presumably, the crushing defeat earlier still weighed on her.
Seeing Xiao Chun's mood, her father suggested she go to the next room, as they had something to discuss with Ye Feng.
Xiao Chun left.
Only Ye Feng, Xiao Chun's grandfather, and father remained in the room.
Xiao Chun's father: "Mr. Ye Feng, you are truly amazing! I never expected that besides your Rayquaza, even that Pikachu of yours is so formidable."
Ye Feng chuckled upon hearing this: "It's passable. But you've sent Xiao Chun away, so get to the point."
Ye Feng picked up a piece of food.
Xiao Chun's father maintained his smile:
"Alright."
"First, allow me to reintroduce ourselves."
"Besides being Xiao Chun's father, I am also an elder of the Dragon Clan. And my father, Xiao Chun's grandfather, is the Vice Leader of the Dragon Clan."
"In the near future, we plan to make a bid for the leadership of the clan. If all goes as planned, my father will become the new leader. However, should unforeseen circumstances arise, I hope you can bring your Rayquaza to assist us then."
Hearing this, Ye Feng paused with his chopsticks.
He had never expected these two to be such ambitious individuals, coveting the position of clan leader.
"And who is the current leader?"
"It's Lance's grandfather. If everything proceeds as expected, Lance's father will be the next, and Lance himself will be the one after that."
"Oh, I see. So that's how it is."
Ye Feng looked at the two of them with a knowing smile.
"It's not impossible to help, after all, it's just a quick errand."
"But why should I help you?"
Xiao Chun's father and grandfather exchanged glances.
They seemed to have come to an understanding.
Xiao Chun's father then said, "Mr. Ye Feng, what do you think of our Xiao Chun?"
With a glint in his eye, Ye Feng instantly understood their intentions.
But he calmly replied, "She's quite good. Her figure and appearance are very pleasing."
Hearing such praise, Xiao Chun's father beamed: "How about we give her to you?"
"Give her to you?"
Ye Feng looked at them and said directly, "You are quite ruthless, aren't you? To vie for the position of clan leader, you're willing to give away your own daughter and granddaughter?"
"Although it's a bit despicable and shameless, I like it!"
"But, doesn't Xiao Chun seem rather fond of her cousin?"
Xiao Chun's father snorted: "That's easily resolved. Parents' wishes and arranged marriages are not something she can refuse."
"However, Mr. Ye Feng, do you agree to our transaction?"
Ye Feng: "I agree. Why wouldn't I?"
Ye Feng had already been contemplating how to win Xiao Chun over.
But with such divine assistance from her father and grandfather,
It would be hard not to succeed.
"Alright. Tonight, I will have her attend to you."
With that, Xiao Chun's father left the room.
He then called Xiao Chun over.
Xiao Chun still wore the same dejected expression as before.
However, she had clearly changed into different clothes.
A form-fitting kimono.
It seemed she had taken a bath during the interval, and her hair was still damp.
As soon as Xiao Chun's father arrived, he pulled Xiao Chun to sit down.
Xiao Chun frowned: "Father, I haven't finished drying my hair yet!"
Xiao Chun's father: "Xiao Chun, you're old enough now. It's time for me to find you a husband."
Xiao Chun: "???"
Xiao Chun's father: "What do you think of Ye Feng?"
He pointed at Ye Feng.
"Ye Feng?"
Xiao Chun's brow furrowed.
She hadn't expected this at all.
"But, but I don't like him! No, I just met him today, and I like my cousin Lance! Father!"
Xiao Chun's father: "Stop dreaming. You know yourself that your cousin doesn't feel that way about you, and Lance already has a fiancée, you're not unaware of that."
"You are my daughter, and I have the right to arrange your marriage!"
"Moreover, Ye Feng is superior to your cousin in both looks and strength!"
"I'm not marrying you off to some scoundrel for my own benefit. You should be grateful to have Ye Feng!"
Upon hearing her father's words, Xiao Chun grew anxious.
Because she knew her father was a man of his word.
Therefore, she looked pleadingly at her grandfather, who had always doted on her.
Who would have thought.
Xiao Chun's grandfather sighed: "Child, we won't hide it from you. We are indeed selling you for certain benefits. But we are only reclaiming what originally belonged to us!"
Xiao Chun: "You don't mean to say you want to seize the clan leader position back?"
Xiao Chun had always known that her father and grandfather wished to reclaim the clan leader position.
After all, when the Dragon Clan was first established.
The clan leader was from Xiao Chun's lineage. Later, the clan leader of Xiao Chun's lineage, the ancestor, mysteriously died,
And the power was usurped by Lance's lineage.
"Father! You!!"
Xiao Chun stood up in anger.
Without anyone saying anything, she already knew the condition for her exchange.
They absolutely wanted Ye Feng's Rayquaza to intervene if their bid for leadership failed!
"Father! Grandfather! You! You've disappointed me so much!!!"
Xiao Chun truly hadn't expected that her own value would be less than the intervention of a single Rayquaza!
Although, she admitted, she didn't have that much value to begin with.
But!
Xiao Chun, enraged, tried to push open the door.
However, she suddenly heard a 'thump'.
Turning back,
Xiao Chun saw her father and grandfather kneeling before her.
They kowtowed to her three times with great force.
These three kowtows were incredibly heavy.
They directly caused blood to seep from their foreheads.
"Father! Grandfather!!"
Xiao Chun's eyes welled up with tears.
Xiao Chun's father: "If you don't agree! We will commit seppuku right here!!!"
"We've been suppressed by Lance's lineage anyway! There's no point in living!!!"
Xiao Chun's father and grandfather produced short daggers from somewhere.
Seeing this, Xiao Chun quickly stopped them.
Finally, after much argument, she had no choice but to agree.