The impressions Xiao Zhi had of Ye Feng were limited to these few points.
First, he was handsome.
He was genuinely handsome.
Even Xiao Zhi, a guy, thought Ye Feng was good-looking.
Every time, he saw girls from Pallet Town hitting on Ye Feng.
But Xiao Zhi wasn't jealous,
because he was a man who would become a Pokémon Master.
What were women compared to that?
Second, Ye Feng lived next door to him, was a good person, and his mother, Hanako, worked hard running a restaurant.
Brother Ye Feng often helped his mother out, and besides, Ye Feng also knew a lot about Pokémon knowledge, so Xiao Zhi had a good impression of him.
However.
"Brother Ye Feng, what are you doing here?"
Xiao Zhi's mind was filled with a hundred question marks?!
Why was Ye Feng here?
Especially since Ye Feng was also accompanied by a Pikachu.
Just like him.
And Ye Feng's Pikachu.
"Red markings?"
Seeing that Pikachu, Xiao Zhi exclaimed.
"Xiao Zhi, you know him?"
Brock squinted and looked at Ye Feng.
Xiao Zhi nodded, "He's my neighbor, we're good friends."
Kasumi stared at Ye Feng, then at Xiao Zhi.
"Xiao Zhi, why didn't you say earlier that you knew such a handsome guy?"
After all, Kasumi was a girl, and upon seeing Ye Feng, who was ethereally handsome, her good impression immediately soared.
Xiao Zhi ignored Kasumi and continued to look at Ye Feng.
Ye Feng crossed his arms.
Answering Xiao Zhi's question.
"Naturally, I'm here to challenge Blaine, the Cinnabar Island Gym Leader, to obtain the Volcano Badge, and participate in the Indigo League."
"Huh? Challenging a Gym? Brother Ye Feng, are you also aiming to become a Pokémon Master?"
Xiao Zhi said in surprise.
Ye Feng nodded.
"Indeed."
Upon receiving an affirmative answer, Xiao Zhi nodded and then opened his sleeve, proudly displaying the badges he had obtained.
The Boulder Badge from Pewter City.
The Cascade Badge from Cerulean City.
The Thunder Badge from Vermilion City.
The Saffron Badge from Saffron City.
The Rainbow Badge from Celadon City.
The Soul Badge from Fuchsia City.
And the Volcano Badge from Cinnabar Island, which he had just acquired.
Exactly seven, no more, no less.
"Brother Ye Feng, how many have you collected?"
Xiao Zhi boasted.
Seeing Xiao Zhi's smug look.
Brock and Kasumi couldn't help but inwardly criticize Xiao Zhi.
Don't you have any self-awareness?
How many of those badges did you get for free...
Setting aside other things, Brock and Kasumi's Boulder Badge and Cascade Badge were given to you through favors...
Ye Feng saw Xiao Zhi like this.
And smiled, "I have seven too."
Then he opened his wallet.
Seven badges were attached to the wallet.
Similar to Xiao Zhi.
However, Xiao Zhi had the Cinnabar Island Volcano Badge which Ye Feng didn't have.
And Ye Feng had the Viridian City Forest Badge which Xiao Zhi didn't have.
Xiao Zhi was dumbfounded when he saw that Ye Feng also had so many badges.
Then, he kept staring at the green badge that he didn't have.
Seeing that Ye Feng had so many badges, everyone dared not underestimate him anymore.
After all, that was a symbol of strength!
"I didn't expect Brother Ye Feng to be so strong too!"
Xiao Zhi's fighting spirit instantly ignited!
"Great! Brother Ye Feng! Have a Pokémon battle with me!!!"
Xiao Zhi shouted loudly.
"No, not yet. Our battle will be at the Indigo League."
"Right now, my purpose here is to challenge you."
Ye Feng turned and smiled, pointing towards Blaine, the Gym Leader over there.
Although Blaine was old, he could still feel the oppressive aura emanating from Ye Feng.
This was not something an ordinary Pokémon Trainer possessed.
This person before him was strong.
Especially.
Blaine shifted his gaze to the Pikachu at Ye Feng's feet.
He noticed the Pikachu's eyes: three parts contempt, three parts malice, three parts disdain, and one part amusement.
"Alright then, our battle will be at the Indigo League."
"Now, let me see your strength! I worked hard to defeat Gym Leader Blaine's Magmar!"
Xiao Zhi said proudly.
Ye Feng remained silent and leaped alone to Xiao Zhi's side.
Xiao Zhi and the others' eyes widened instantly.
Was that human? That jump was at least ten meters high!
But remembering that this guy had just fallen from a height of two hundred meters and was unharmed, they were relieved.
Ye Feng arrived here and turned to face Blaine.
His Pikachu remained on the large rock above the lava, indicating Ye Feng intended to use it for the battle.
"Hey, Gym Leader Blaine's Magmar just lost its battling ability, it can't fight anymore. What will he use to battle Pikachu now?"
Xiao Zhi asked, confused.
Blaine looked at Ye Feng, his sense of crisis greatly increasing.
He didn't use any of his other Pokémon.
Instead, he took a black and yellow Poké Ball from his waist.
It was a Master Ball.
Upon seeing this ball, Xiao Zhi, Brock, and Kasumi's eyes flickered.
"Come out! My ace! Magmortar!!!"
A fire-red Pokémon appeared on a lava rock.
This Pokémon bore some resemblance to Magmar.
But its form and aura were significantly stronger than Magmar's.
"What is that?"
Xiao Zhi, who had extremely limited Pokémon knowledge, immediately took out his Pokédex upon seeing this unfamiliar Pokémon.
[Magmortar, the Blast Pokémon. It is the evolved form of Magmar. It fires fireballs exceeding 2000 degrees Celsius from its claws and lives in volcanoes.]
"Oh, it's the evolution of the Magmar I just battled!"
Xiao Zhi said nervously for Ye Feng.
"It seems Gym Leader Blaine has brought out his ace!"
Brock also commented.
Kasumi, holding her Togepi, looked forward to the battle.
Blaine stared at Ye Feng, his opponent.
Ye Feng was also appraising Blaine.
Blaine was a very strong individual.
He was the former Elite Four member for the Kanto region, specializing in Fire-type Pokémon.
And besides this title.
He was also a Pokémon researcher.
He was once one of Team Rocket's doctors.
He had jointly created Mewtwo with Dr. Fuji.
Later, he left Team Rocket.
Now he was the Gym Leader of Cinnabar Island. Any one of these identities was earth-shattering.
However, in Ye Feng's eyes, these identities were just that.
And just as the battle was about to commence, with both sides drawing their weapons.
Blaine suddenly seemed to recall something, and smiled at Ye Feng, saying,
"I almost forgot something very important. To challenge me, you must first complete one task."
"A task? What task?"
Ye Feng was bewildered.
"Oh, it's very simple. I love riddles the most. You must solve one of my riddles before you can challenge me!"
Upon hearing this.
Ye Feng: "..."
Xiao Zhi: "..."
Brock: "..."
Kasumi: "..."