The night passed quietly.
The next day, when the first rays of dawn filtered through the dense gaps in the leaves and gently fell on Wen Qi's face, he slowly woke up in the camp. Being in the territory of the Flying Mantises made it inconvenient to enter the small world, so he had to rough it outside for the night.
Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he stretched widely, feeling the slight soreness in his body, and couldn't help muttering, "Sleeping out in the wild is really uncomfortable!"
The soft breeze from the night before had left crystal-clear dewdrops hanging on the surrounding grass, like tiny scattered pearls shimmering charmingly under the sunlight. Wen Qi took a deep breath of the fresh air, fragrant with grass and trees, and felt instantly refreshed, ready to face the challenges and unknowns of the new day.
As he left the camp, he spotted a spectacular scene in the distance. Dozens of young Flying Mantises were training on the wide grassland. The gentle morning sunlight evenly bathed the grass, coating each Flying Mantis with a faint golden edge, making them look even more majestic. Their movements were agile and perfectly synchronized, like a well-trained, disciplined elite army.
They swung their sharp, scythe-like forelimbs with force, each swing accompanied by a whooshing sound, as if they could truly tear the air apart. Their steps were quick and nimble, their forms flickering like shadows, leaving shallow marks on the grass. Some Flying Mantises paired up for intense sparring sessions. They attacked and defended against each other with fierce moves, their eyes full of focus and determination, refusing to yield an inch. During the training, sharp cries occasionally rang out from the Flying Mantises, as if cheering themselves and their companions on, their momentum soaring. Their wings trembled slightly from time to time, as if ready to lift off and soar into the sky at any moment. The grass blades, stirred by their swift movements, fluttered into the air, creating a dreamlike green "leaf rain."
Nearby, a few older Flying Mantises watched the young ones' training intently, occasionally issuing stern instructions and reprimands. Upon hearing them, the younger Flying Mantises trained even harder, not daring to slack off or be lazy. The entire training scene was brimming with vitality and energy, and Wen Qi couldn't help but be deeply moved by the Flying Mantises' diligence, hard work, and tenacious spirit.
At that moment, Wen Qi finally understood why Flying Mantises were so formidable in battle. It wasn't just because of their outstanding combat talent but also due to their relentless, day-after-day hard training. He stood quietly in the distance, not wanting to disturb them—he couldn't bear to ruin such a beautiful and moving sight.
Just then, Wen Qi felt that the Scizor wanted to come out, so he pretended to release it from its Poké Ball. After a night of recovery in the small world, aided by Wen Qi's medicinal nourishment, the Scizor was back in perfect health, with no lingering injuries in body or spirit. Once out, the Scizor, like Wen Qi, stared intently at the Flying Mantises training in the distance, as if reminiscing about the past.
Wen Qi knew that the Scizor was thinking about how it had once been part of this training ground, but now things had changed. The Scizor was well aware that they would be leaving soon, and a hint of reluctance stirred within it. However, when it looked at Wen Qi by its side, it quickly buried those feelings deep in its heart, understanding that as long as its master was there, that was its true home and purpose.
After watching for a while, Wen Qi called the Scizor to go back for breakfast. The thought of returning home and being able to laze around made him a little excited. "Home is the most comfortable place. I miss my recliner, my good food, and that new show I was watching should have new episodes—I need to hurry back and see them." Wen Qi thought happily, and his leisurely pace suddenly quickened.
The Scizor beside him was confused, wondering what had gotten into its master so early in the morning. He had been fine just a moment ago, and now he was acting strangely. It couldn't help but sigh, thinking to itself, "Ah, I'll just be an obedient Pokémon. I'd better not bother with my master's business." Then it mused further, "Still, Bellossom really can act as the big sister. She never gives the master a good face, always scolding and nagging. The master is a bit afraid of her nagging. Looks like the family hierarchy is clear. Should I try to curry favor with the big sister later?"
Wen Qi had no idea that in that short time, the Scizor's mind had wandered off to completely irrelevant places. After breakfast, as Wen Qi packed up, the leader approached with a group of Flying Mantises. Wen Qi had thought the father and son might exchange a few words, but they said nothing. Unable to stand it, Wen Qi nudged the Scizor, signaling it to greet them. For the first time, the Scizor resisted Wen Qi's command, but seeing his unyielding gaze, it reluctantly stepped forward and said to the leader, "We're planning to leave. From now on, if anything comes up, you can find me at the farm." With that, it turned and returned to Wen Qi's side.
Hearing this, Wen Qi was utterly speechless. Oh well, he couldn't control everything. The leader, understanding his own child, showed no particular reaction to the Scizor's behavior. Instead, he said to Wen Qi, "I wonder if your farm could accommodate a few more Flying Mantises? We discussed it last night and thought we could send more—how about twenty?"
Wen Qi was momentarily stunned by the leader's words. How had the number suddenly increased? Hadn't they agreed on eight last night? What changed in just one night to add so many? He quickly did the math in his head. Even if each Flying Mantis cost very little, twenty would still run him 200,000 a month. And with that many, his farm didn't need them. He had already captured seven or eight Caterpie this time, plus the three from before, and he was confident he could get them to around level thirty in three months, which would be enough for farm security. He had only agreed to eight before because Flying Mantises were cool and strong, and a small number wouldn't put much pressure on him. But now, twenty would be eating and drinking at his place for free, and he'd have to train them—his farm didn't need that many.
What Wen Qi didn't know was that the sudden increase was due to the five Flying Mantises from the night before. After he had persuaded them to leave, they still couldn't give up and decided to ask the leader if they could go. The Scizor's progress was just too great—so great that they felt they couldn't catch up within the group. Only by following Wen Qi, even if he wasn't their trainer, could they speed up their growth and maybe still have a chance to keep up. So they went to the leader and poured out their hearts. The Flying Mantis leader's first reaction was reluctance, for the same reasons Wen Qi had guessed earlier—they were the future of the group, and he couldn't easily let them leave with someone else.