At this moment, in the small world, the Scizor saw the light stone sent by Wen Qi and listened as Wen Qi explained its effects. The Scizor eagerly equipped it, and as soon as the light stone was worn, it clearly felt a change in its body. Though its weight hadn’t actually changed, it felt much lighter. It decided to test its speed and headed into the woods. Wen Qi observed through his thoughts. With the light stone equipped, the Scizor darted through the dense forest like a green flash of lightning. Its steps were light and swift, as if dancing with the wind. With each leap, it barely touched the ground before surging forward again. Leaves fluttered down in its wake but could hardly graze its rapid form. Its speed was astonishing—like an arrow in a gale, both quick and sharp. Whether chasing prey or evading predators, the Scizor displayed unparalleled speed, becoming a striking sight in the woods. Wen Qi estimated that the Scizor’s speed had increased by about thirty percent. It might still be a bit unaccustomed to the change, but once it got used to it, its speed would likely improve further. Wen Qi was still pondering plans for the Scizor when he suddenly heard someone calling his name. He followed the voice and saw a familiar figure. As the person approached, he realized it was an old classmate—Li Xiang, whom he had fought alongside at the battle hall before. Seeing Li Xiang arrive with a Charmeleon by his side, Wen Qi knew it had evolved from the previous Charmander. He hadn’t expected to run into Li Xiang here; it was quite a coincidence. Li Xiang, when he first spotted Wen Qi, had only recognized the familiar silhouette but wasn’t sure. The Skiddo beside Wen Qi caught his attention—it was clearly strong, even by the standards of his family’s mid-tier forces, as few in his family owned elite Pokémon. At first, Li Xiang thought he might be mistaken, but the familiar back made him try calling out. When Wen Qi turned around, he confirmed it was him. “Wen Qi, I didn’t expect to run into you at the flea market. What are you here to buy? I come here often and know the place well,” Li Xiang said first. “Li Xiang, I’m just browsing to see if there’s anything good. I’ve been looking around for a while but haven’t found much,” Wen Qi replied, eyeing Li Xiang’s Charmeleon. He hadn’t expected Li Xiang’s Charmander to evolve so quickly; it must have taken a lot of resources. Though it had just evolved, achieving that in such a short time was no small feat. Li Xiang thought for a moment after hearing Wen Qi’s words, then said, “There really isn’t much good stuff here. The sharp-eyed ones have already picked out the best items for the market below.” He gestured downward with his finger. Wen Qi understood the implication. The good stuff usually ended up in the black market, which had a broad reach, a large population, and plenty of wealthy buyers. Selling there also kept things discreet, avoiding unwanted attention. If you kept selling high-quality items at the flea market, you’d risk being targeted by shady characters, which would be bad. The black market was different—aside from regulars or the market’s managers, sellers’ identities were mostly unknown, making it much safer. The black market relied on foot traffic and trust, so it had to follow the rules on the surface. Once those rules were broken, people would stop coming. That’s how this small city’s black market had grown in the surrounding area. “So, Li Xiang, what are you doing here today? There’s basically nothing good anyway.” Li Xiang didn’t hide anything, since Wen Qi’s demeanor made it clear he was heading to the black market below. “I had nothing to do this afternoon, so I came to look around. There’s an auction tonight in the black market below with some decent items, so I plan to check it out. I came early to get a feel for things and bring Charmeleon for some fun—it’s been training hard every day and needed a break. You look like you’re heading to the black market too. Want to go together tonight? I have an invitation to the auction. Care to join me?” Wen Qi listened to Li Xiang’s long spiel. He figured it’d be good to have company—he was a first-timer and didn’t know the black market’s rules. Having someone guide him would keep him from being completely lost. Plus, he could attend the auction with Li Xiang. Maybe he’d even snag a bargain there. Wen Qi agreed on the spot. Li Xiang, for his part, wanted to build a good relationship with Wen Qi. Wen Qi’s Turtwig had left a strong impression on him before, showing great potential. But now, seeing Wen Qi’s Skiddo, he realized Wen Qi wasn’t just promising—he already had real strength. Getting along with Wen Qi would benefit Li Xiang too. Though his family was one of the biggest in Chunhua City, even holding shares in the black market, there were many family members. Even as the clan leader’s son, Li Xiang couldn’t get too many resources. Living in a big family had its pros and cons. Having a strong friend like Wen Qi could help Li Xiang gain more influence within the family. Suddenly, Li Xiang asked Wen Qi, “How’s that Turtwig of yours doing?” The Charmeleon, which had been lounging around, perked up its ears at the mention of the Turtwig that had once beaten it. Wen Qi replied casually, “The Turtwig? It’s at the farm. I didn’t bring it this time, but it’s already evolved into a Grotle. If you wanted to see it, you’re out of luck this time.” Li Xiang wasn’t surprised to hear the Turtwig had evolved—it was strong, so it made sense. Still, it was a shame it wasn’t here. He’d been hoping to have Charmeleon battle Wen Qi’s Grotle again to settle the score. The Charmeleon, hearing that the Grotle wasn’t around, lost the fighting spirit it had just mustered. Seeing their reaction, Wen Qi knew Li Xiang and Charmeleon were itching for a rematch. “Li Xiang, you look like you want to battle my Grotle again. If you have time later, you can come to my farm. I’ll give you the address then.” Li Xiang wasn’t particularly interested in Wen Qi’s farm, but he was keen on Wen Qi himself. Visiting the farm would let them chat and strengthen their bond. Whether Li Xiang would have time to go later depended on his schedule—if he was free, he’d make the trip.