Chapter Fifty-Four: Inside and Outside the Cave

Yang Yi's face was ashen, his lips pressed tightly together, and veins bulged across his forehead. Suddenly, he slapped Jun Zhi hard across the face.

Jun Zhi winced in pain, covering his face and bowing his head.

“Useless! Chen Ou said that, and you really let him jump down alone? If something happens, will you bear the wrath of the Damu Research Institute?” Yang Yi shouted in rage.

Jun Zhi dared not speak. At this point, he was merely the leader of a small construction team. Facing Yang Yi’s fury, he couldn’t even muster the courage to resist.

Humiliation, like a seed buried deep in the heart, would grow and eventually blossom into a black poppy flower. Revenge becomes an addiction.

Fortunately, Yang Yi and he were naturally opposed, so he felt no guilt about it.

He was about to lift his head and admit his mistake to Yang Yi, when a wave of irresistible drowsiness suddenly swept over him. Instinctively, Jun Zhi sensed something was wrong. Thanks to his strong willpower, he struggled to turn around and, through the haze, glimpsed a white figure, covering her mouth as she laughed softly.

“Snow... enchantress…”

And then he collapsed to the ground.

Yang Yi frowned at the sight, glanced at the fallen Jun Zhi and the floating snow enchantress, then turned to Rui Xin with dissatisfaction. "He saw the snow enchantress."

Rui Xin replied carelessly, “It doesn’t matter. Kill him or keep his mouth shut.”

She smiled at Yang Yi, “A friendly warning: you’d best eliminate this Jun Zhi fellow. He didn’t faint immediately—his willpower is strong, and people like that rarely settle for mediocrity.”

Yang Yi’s frown deepened; he pondered for a moment, then made no choice. He simply said, “Aren’t you going after Chen Ou? Go ahead. Leave this to me. For the next twelve hours, no one will disturb you.”

Rui Xin smiled seductively. “Then I must thank you, Mr. Yang Yi, for your assistance.”

At some unknown moment, the snow enchantress silently drifted behind her, covering her mouth with a soft, eerie laugh.

Then, from nowhere, the snow enchantress produced a slightly larger mask identical to her own. Rui Xin took it and put it on.

She was already alluring; the mask didn’t conceal her charm, but instead added a layer of mystery, stirring the desire to explore.

Yang Yi was briefly stunned, but quickly recovered.

Rui Xin laughed lightly, clearly catching Yang Yi’s moment of distraction. But she had no intention of further conversation.

Chen Ou was waiting for her at the bottom of the pit, wasn’t he?
(Chen Ou: Who says so? I’m not. Don’t spread rumors!)

She floated over, then jumped down with a grace reminiscent of classical beauty.

Yang Yi watched Rui Xin leap down, took a deep breath, rubbed his temples, and through clenched teeth squeezed out two words.

“Enchantress!”

Then he turned and left, pulling a Poké Ball from his belt and releasing a Machamp. As Machamp landed, it wanted to roar, but for some reason, a surge of anxiety swept over it. If only its long arms could become legs, it would have fled at once.

Yet Yang Yi’s warning gaze and concern for his master’s safety helped Machamp suppress its unease.

Seeing Machamp stay despite its apprehension, Yang Yi nodded in satisfaction.

“Carry this fellow. We’re leaving.”

No sooner had he spoken than Machamp hoisted Jun Zhi at lightning speed, looking at Yang Yi with desperate eagerness to depart.

Yang Yi felt a pang of frustration, then silently walked out, Machamp following closely behind, nearly urging him to hurry.

Suddenly, Yang Yi felt that Chen Ou might truly be doomed this time.

His Machamp was no weakling, yet here it only wanted to escape. But just moments ago, Yang Yi had seen not a trace of panic in the snow enchantress’s eyes.

What level of strength did such a snow enchantress possess?

Yang Yi did not know, but he was certain that she was not someone a researcher could contend with.

With regret for Chen Ou, Yang Yi hurried away.

He subconsciously overlooked one question.

Why did Chen Ou dare to jump down? Was it a fearless spirit of exploration?

Nonsense! A researcher is not an adventurer; he wouldn’t risk his life so recklessly.

“To hear the Way in the morning, to die in the evening”—that was never Chen Ou’s character.

Rui Xin had considered the question, but her fervor to destroy Chen Ou and her confidence in her own strength led her to dismiss his abilities.

It was a habitual oversight.

Human abilities have limits. For someone like Chen Ou, with extraordinary research talent and remarkable achievements, how could he also possess great strength? That’s the normal logic.

But what they did not know was that Chen Ou was no ordinary person.

He was a genius (cheater).

And now, our genius (cheater) youth had slid down the gently sloping tunnel wall to the bottom.

It was dark at the bottom, but the air was fairly fresh. Chen Ou stretched out his hand, which transformed into a swirling flame.

With no Pokémon capable of lighting the way, he could only rely on his own fire for illumination...

Please write “tragic” on the public screen.

Chen Ou watched the flickering flame, raising an eyebrow.

There was airflow at the bottom, so most likely this was a poison-type Pokémon’s bedroom.

Wait, am I intruding into someone’s bedroom just like that?

Well, for the sake of scientific research, it’s all worth it. After all, with these twisted beings who have murdered countless Pokémon, there’s no need to talk about honor among rogues.

Everyone just charges in.

But Chen Ou wasn’t a monster; unless necessary, he wouldn’t call Duxi over to help.

Yes—unless necessary.

As for judging whether the situation was necessary… well, wasn’t that Chen Ou’s specialty?

He looked around. The stone walls were generally smooth, and the cave seemed partly natural, partly excavated.

With the hand not used for illumination, Chen Ou felt the wall, noticing subtle pits and grooves.

It seemed “excavated” wasn’t quite accurate.

More like “corroded”...

“This thing really isn’t weak,” Chen Ou observed, noticing wisps of blue smoke rising from his flame—a sign of poison energy burning.

Inside his protective suit, Chen Ou had nothing to fear. But if ordinary people came down, they would likely be wiped out completely by now.

Chen Ou glanced toward the deeper part of the pit, took a breath, focused his mind, and walked forward.