Ash, with his invincible physical body, wants to become a Pokémon Master.

Chapter 73 The Hot Spring Inn on Crimson Lotus Island

After a long journey, Ash and Misty finally boarded the ship bound for Cinnabar Island.

"It's almost here, my last badge."

Once Ash defeats Blaine at the Cinnabar Gym, he will have collected all eight badges and will be eligible to participate in the Indigo League.

This is Ash's first time attending a formal League tournament, and he's already starting to look forward to it.

Xiaoxia was also looking at the information guide for Crimson Lotus Island.

"The information says that Cinnabar Island is a holy land for Pokémon battles, and the research institute on the island is constantly conducting research on how to make Pokémon moves more powerful."

"The Cinnabar Gym is a renowned and powerful gym in the Kanto region, a holy land for Fire-type Pokémon trainers."

"This is great! I'm getting more and more excited for the upcoming gym challenge."

"I was wondering whose voice has such poor taste, oh, it's you, Satoshi."

Just as Xiaozhi was still filled with anticipation and emotion, a voice that was all too familiar appeared in his ears.

"Oh, it's you, our little lickspittle, Mr. Mao."

"Hey, you idiot Ash, don't mention this again!"

As expected, Xiao Mao was immediately enraged.

"Judging from your expectant look, you haven't gotten your eighth badge yet, have you?"

"Let me tell you, I've already got 10 badges. You better not miss out on me at the League Conference."

"Don't speak too soon. I really hope you'll meet me at the League Tournament."

Xiao Zhi gave him a sharp retort.

It seems that Gary from the original Indigo League went home earlier than Ash.

Ash didn't bother arguing with Gary any longer; he was eagerly waiting for the ship to dock so he could immediately challenge the gym.

"Speaking of which, you're not really planning to challenge the Crimson Gym, are you?"

"Although I had a feeling about it, I still have to tell you, you muscle idiot, that the Cinnabar Gym was a holy place for Fire-type Pokémon trainers many years ago."

"Oh, really?" Xia was shocked and quickly picked up her Kanto region guidebook to take a look.

"The date is from 10 years ago! Sakura-neechan, really, giving me a book from ten years ago."

"Now that hot springs have been discovered, Crimson Island exists as a resort. I see that no one on this ship except you guys is going to challenge the gyms, everyone is just on vacation."

"Besides, based on what I know about you, Ash, you probably didn't book a hotel, right?"

Xiao Mao was right; he really hadn't booked a hotel in advance.

"Here's a piece of advice: it's impossible to stay at a Pokémon Center because it's so popular."

After saying that, he turned and left with his girlfriends without looking back.

After sailing for a while, the ship docked at the port of Honglian Island.

Honglian Island is quite large, more than twice the size of a typical large city. The island is dotted with buildings and is bustling with tourists.

"Alright, let's challenge the Crimson Lotus Gym first!"

"Wait a minute, Ash might not be able to challenge the gym." Misty pulled Ash back as he was about to run to the Cinnabar Gym.

"The Crimson Lotus Dojo has moved, and nobody knows where it moved to."

We arrived at the abandoned site of the Crimson Lotus Dojo, where only a dilapidated house remained.

In my memory, Xia Bo was still on Red Lotus Island and had not left.

But Xiao Zhi really couldn't remember where to look for him or where he was now.

I do remember that Ash stayed at the Cinnabar City Gym Leader's inn in the original story, but where can I find that inn?

Does he have to search one by one? There are over a thousand hotels on the whole island. Just thinking about it gives Xiaozhi a headache.

"Where is the place that Fire-type Pokémon trainers once dreamed of?" Misty, holding the map, didn't know either.

"Let me ask you a question: what's that feeling of having a cold head and a hot body?"

A blond old man wearing sunglasses suddenly appeared next to Ash, who was scratching his head.

"Your head is cold, but your body is hot. You're the enemy I beat half to death, right?"

"Oh dear." Upon hearing Xiao Zhi's reply, the old man was speechless. What's wrong with young people these days?

Fortunately, Xiaoxia thought for a while and gave an answer.

"I know the answer to this mystery is an open-air hot spring."

"This little girl is clever; the answer is definitely the open-air hot spring."

"Cinnabar Island used to be a dream destination for Fire-type Pokémon trainers, until one day hot springs were discovered underground, and everything changed!"

"The citizens thought that the task of protecting the city could be left to Blaine, and the tiring and dangerous profession of trainer was quickly abandoned."

The old man seemed very saddened by the changes to Rocket Island, becoming more and more agitated as he spoke.

"After the tourism industry developed, a large number of challengers flocked to the gym to join in the fun, so the gym leader Blaine closed the gym and moved away in a fit of anger."

"Ah, how pathetic!"

Xiao Zhi patted the kneeling old man on the shoulder.

"Old man, we're not here just for fun. I've already earned 7 badges and I'm here to formally challenge the gym."

"Then you should talk to Uncle Xia. In any case, if you have any questions, please come here to find me."

He then handed Ash and Misty a pack of tissues with "GG" printed on them.

"What's with this 'Mimi Minjia Inn' thing? It's amazing that the person lamenting the changes on Crimson Lotus Island is also running an inn."

Upon opening the tissue box, Xiaozhi discovered that the hotel didn't have its location printed on it; instead, it presented another riddle.

"The place where the brothers are swinging on the swings below and chasing each other above is the Mimi Family Inn..."

"You really like riddles."

"Xiaoxia, go!"

Well, having confirmed once again that he was indeed not cut out for riddles, Ash decisively chose to let Misty go first.

"The swing is below, and the older brother is chasing the younger brother on top—isn't that just a clock with a pendulum?"

"That means the place on the island with a clock is Mimi's Inn."

This hotel might be located near the Cinnabar Gym. Anyway, Ash forgot to book a hotel in advance, so he might as well just go there.

They actually found a hotel with a clock tower nestled on the mountainside right in the center of Red Lotus Island.

"To be able to open such a large hotel in such a prime location, it must really be the location of a dojo."

Upon arriving at the hotel and opening the door, I was indeed greeted by the same blond old man from before.

"You guys guessed the answer so quickly, that's impressive."

"Not only that, I also guessed that you're Blaine, the Gym Leader of Crimson Lotus Dojo, aren't you!"

"Ah!" ×2

"What an amazing young man! I've never revealed the secret about my identity before. How did you guess?"

"Yeah, Ash, how did you know he was Gym Leader Blaine?"

Ash pointed a finger at Blaine and smiled smugly.

"Hmph, of course it's because I sensed the aura of a powerful being emanating from you."

Of course it's fake. Blaine is just a healthy, ordinary old man; Ash only knows the story.

"What? I've hidden it so well, and you still managed to guess that I'm an amazing young man."

Alarmed, Xia Bo quickly led Xiao Zhi and the others into the hotel.

[Ding! New main quest triggered: Crimson Badge!: Defeat Crimson City Gym Leader Blaine]

[Rewards: Alliance Coins +500; Special Attack +2; Free Attribute Points +3]

"Interesting young man, alright then, as a reward for discovering me, you can stay here for free tonight."

"Yay!"

Because of his tragic past, Xiaozhi has a mindset of always trying to take advantage of others whenever possible.

Even though they are already very wealthy, they always want to save more just in case.

Xiao Zhi was overjoyed to be able to save on accommodation fees.

In other words, Xiaozhi is a very easy man to understand. As long as you let him take advantage of you, his affection for you will increase.