Chapter 45: Enemies Meet on a Narrow Road

Two days later.

Xia Yu requested a six-month extended leave from school. At the same time, Jiang Qinglan called from the Flame Secret Realm to inform them that the Pokémon eggs of the Darmanitan and Charmander were expected to hatch within twenty-four hours. If they wanted to witness the hatching process firsthand, Xia Luo and Xia Yu needed to rush to the Flame Secret Realm immediately.

The two brothers set off immediately. Remembering the previous accident, this time Xia Luo, Xia Yu, and Mother Lin did not take flying Pokémon to the Flame Secret Realm. Instead, they opted for the bullet train, which had a much higher safety rating.

About an hour later, the trio arrived in Tiandu City, where they transferred to a car that took them directly to the Flame Secret Realm. When they arrived, Jiang Qinglan was already waiting for them at the entrance, looking radiant. Today, she wore exquisite makeup and her hair was styled in soft, bouncy waves—clearly having dressed up with great care. Spotting the three of them from afar, she waved and hurried over.

"Auntie, let us help you with your luggage," Jiang Qinglan said as she approached them with bags in hand. She greeted Mother Lin first, addressing her as "older sister," which immediately brought a beaming smile to Mother Lin's face. Then, she called over a staff member on duty to help carry their luggage. "Rooms have already been reserved for you—three in total. The staff will take your luggage up to the rooms, so you don't need to worry. Let me take you to see the Pokémon eggs first."

"My, what a sweet-mouthed young lady. I'm much older than you; just call me Aunt Lin. What's your name?" Lin Xuemei asked, looking at Jiang Qinglan with a face full of smiles.

"Aunt Lin, are you really their mother? I thought you were their older sister—you look so youthful. I think I'll still call you Sister Lin instead. Sister Lin, I am Jiang Qinglan. You can just call me Xiao Jiang," Jiang Qinglan said with a sweet smile. On the way to the incubation room, she chatted warmly with Lin Xuemei. "Sister Lin, what skincare products do you use? You look exceptionally young."

Xia Luo and Xia Yu walked silently a few steps ahead, both sporting dark expressions and black lines on their foreheads. They began to murmur to each other in low voices: "Bro, you still have one spot left. Do you want me to help you pick another one?"

"Sure. It's been half a month since we last came; I wonder if there are any new Pokémon eggs in the Flame Secret Realm."

…………

Arriving at the incubation room, Xia Yu noticed that most of the Pokémon eggs from their previous visit had been replaced. Among them were quite a few eggs with quasi-Elite tier potential, though none possessed true Elite tier potential. It seemed they had simply been extremely lucky to find the Darmanitan egg last time.

"These two Pokémon eggs right here are yours," Jiang Qinglan introduced, pointing them out. "They are expected to hatch at any moment today. Both eggs have great potential and have absorbed much more energy fluid than ordinary Pokémon. Even our supervisor said that hatching these two eggs is a losing business for us."

"For this Darmanitan egg, we added exclusively Fire-type energy fluid according to your specifications, and it absorbed it exceptionally well."

"As for the other Charmander egg, following your instructions, we added a mixed energy fluid of Fire-type, Flying-type, and Dragon-type in a 2:1:1 ratio, and adjusted it dynamically based on its condition. Eventually, the ratio of the three-element energy fluid settled permanently at 3:2:5."

Just as they were listening to Jiang Qinglan's introduction, someone approached from behind. The voice sounded slightly familiar. Xia Yu and Xia Luo turned around simultaneously, their brows furrowing at the exact same moment. Small worlds after all—they never expected to run into Zhao Shan and Zhao Zheng.yi here of all places.

Evidently, they had also entrusted their Growlithe egg to the Flame Secret Realm. Since both parties had selected their eggs at the same time and hatched them concurrently, it was only natural that they would hatch around the same period.

Compared to their last encounter, Zhao Shan and Zhao Zheng.yi were keeping a much lower profile. Upon seeing Xia Luo and Xia Yu, their expressions stiffened, and a flash of deep resentment appeared in Zhao Shan's eyes.

Zhao Shan clenched his fists so tightly that his fingernails dug into his flesh, driven by the hatred burning inside him. Ever since Wei Yeqin's late-night visit to the Zhao family, Zhao Shan had been severely reprimanded by the head of the Zhao family, Zhao Xuesong. His allowance had been cut off for half a year, leaving him with only the most basic living expenses. He had been ordered to stay locked away in self-reflection and forbidden from stirring up trouble anywhere, with strict instructions never to provoke the Xia family again or bring down the wrath of a Champion-tier powerhouse upon the Zhao household.

Wei Yeqin's terrifying strength had terrified Zhao Xuesong; even when facing the Four Heavenly Kings of the Southwest Region, he had not felt the kind of pressure Wei Yeqin exuded.

At first, Zhao Shan had been obedient, staying quietly at home and avoiding trouble aside from handling trivial chores. However, as his allowance remained frozen, he grew increasingly restless and felt suffocated by poverty at every turn. This fueled a deep resentment toward Xia Luo in his heart. If not for Xia Luo, his allowance wouldn't have been cut off for half a month—it was all Xia Luo's fault!

Although he didn't dare to start a fight within the volcanic secret realm, he certainly dared to throw a few barbed remarks at Xia Luo.

"Well, if it isn't the two young masters of the Xia family. Are those two eggs you picked last time finally hatching? Let me see what kind of Pokémon you chose and just how good their potential is," Zhao Shan said with sarcastic, honeyed venom.

Mother Lin's brows knitted tightly upon hearing Zhao Shan's words, while Jiang Qinglan whispered an explanation of the two men's identities and their previous conflict to her.

After learning about their backgrounds and what had happened, Mother Lin was utterly furious. However, Xia Luo had already stepped forward. Looking at Zhao Shan like a clown dancing on a stage, Xia Luo sneered, "It seems you're living quite comfortably these days. I heard that not long ago, my older brother Wei Yeqin paid a visit to the Zhao family. Unfortunately, I was busy at the time and couldn't go along. When I have some free time, I'll make sure to visit the Zhao family again alongside my big brother."

Hearing Xia Luo bring up Wei Yeqin, Zhao Shan's hatred flared even hotter, but he dared not provoke Xia Luo any further. Instead, he turned away, pretending to converse with Zhao Zheng.yi as they walked, trying to salvage his pride by boasting about his own egg: "That Growlithe we picked last time is about to hatch. I had experts appraise that Growlithe egg, and its potential is at least at the quasi-Elite tier or above. Good thing we acted fast and snatched it first; otherwise, someone else would have swiped it away."

"Some Pokémon eggs are all gold on the outside and rotten on the inside. They might look impressive on the surface, but their actual potential probably can't even compare to what we picked," Xia Yu retorted coolly, unfazed by Zhao Shan's smugness. "Things we turn our noses up at are treated like precious treasures by others."

Zhao Shan was infuriated by Xia Yu's words, yet he still lacked the courage to resort to violence. Instead, he turned his attention to the Growlithe egg his family had chosen.

At that moment, the Zhao family's Growlithe egg began to rock slightly. Cracks slowly started to web across the shell—a clear sign that it was about to hatch.

As the fractures deepened, the two members of the Zhao family held their breath, watching the web-like fissures spread. The rocking motion of the egg gradually intensified until, with the shattering of the top shell, a dazzling brilliance burst forth from the opening.

The Growlithe hatched from the shell. Though tiny at birth, it was surrounded by a brilliant, blazing aura of fire, marking it instantly as a creature of extraordinary potential.

Both Zhao Shan and Zhao Zheng.yi broke into wide smiles, thoroughly satisfied with the newborn Growlithe. With this Growlithe by his side, Zhao Zheng.yi's future path would be much smoother.

"This Growlithe has incredible potential—at the very least, it's at the quasi-Elite tier. Zheng.yi, raise it well!" Zhao Shan said in an elder's tone, casting a provocative glance at the two Xia brothers afterward.

"Yeah," Zhao Zheng.yi replied, his face flushed with excitement as he reached out to gently stroke the fluffy head of the newborn Growlithe.

Just at that moment, the Charmander's egg also began to sway gently.