A water-type trainer who specializes in dragon-type water.

Chapter 761 The Past of Garchomp

"Actually... this Garchomp is also a poor child."

Zhang Heng was taken aback.

He squatted down beside the old man, looked up at his grandfather, and a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.

"Grandpa, do you know the story of this Garchomp?"

Garchomp comes from South Korea and is the main fighter of South Korean champion Park Chang.

Its growth trajectory should have had no connection with China or its grandfather.

Why would Grandpa say that?

The old man slowly put down his teacup without saying a word.

A morning breeze blew by, and he seemed to be choked by it, leaning forward slightly and coughing softly a few times.

Zhang Heng quickly reached out and gently stroked the old man's back, his touch light and steady.

Oliva, standing nearby, released a faint, sweet fragrance at just the right moment—it was a Normal-type move, a sweet scent.

This aroma can soothe nerves and relieve discomfort; it's a habit Oliva developed after spending many years with the old man.

The old man waved his hand, indicating that he was fine.

He straightened up again, his gaze falling on the Garchomp that was still cowering in the distance, his eyes becoming distant and profound.

"Sigh..." he sighed softly.

"I know a little about it. Because it was in my possession... stolen by the enemy."

"It's also my fault for putting it on the opposite side of China..."

Zhang Heng's gaze sharpened slightly.

"Is that so?" His voice was filled with surprise.

"Grandpa, I've never heard you say that before."

The old man did not answer immediately.

He simply sat quietly, letting the morning light fall on his wrinkled face.

The sunlight was warm, but the old man's gaze seemed to pierce through the warmth, looking towards a time long, long ago.

Zhang Heng didn't ask any more questions.

He just squatted down beside the old man, waiting quietly.

This is a heartwarming moment that exists in every family—grandchildren squatting in front of their grandparents, listening to the elders tell stories that have been buried by the years.

Especially during the Spring Festival, a time for family reunions, such moments are all the more precious.

After a long silence, the old man finally spoke.

His voice was kind and gentle, but every word carried a heavy, weighty quality, the weight of time.

"We all know that Garchomp, Dragonite, and Tyranitar—these three pseudo-legendary Pokémon are unique to China."

He paused.

"But this does not mean that the quantity is scarce abroad."

Zhang Heng nodded silently. He understood what his grandfather meant.

Pseudo-legendary Pokémon are called "pseudo-legendary" because they possess potential and power approaching that of legendary Pokémon.

Such beings are the target of contention among various forces, no matter where they are.

"Back then..." The old man's gaze became even more distant.

"The situation in China has always been unstable. There have even been frequent incidents of domestic spies colluding with foreign forces to steal pseudo-legendary Pokémon from our protected area."

He closed his eyes slightly, as if unwilling to recall that past:

"Back then, I hadn't met Momota yet. As a Champion Trainer in the South China region, I was... somewhat skilled."

"The other Elite Four trainer who partnered with me at the time was actually a spy from within the country. He colluded with South Korean forces abroad and plundered a batch of newly hatched Gible Pokémon eggs."

The old man's voice was calm, but Zhang Heng could hear the suppressed emotions within it.

"Although I later realized something was wrong and tried my best to recover a large part of the losses, some of the Pokémon eggs... still ended up abroad and were taken to South Korea."

He sighed softly, a sigh filled with regret, self-blame, and helplessness at his own lack of ability at the time.

"If I had been stronger or more vigilant back then, perhaps..."

He didn't finish speaking.

But Zhang Heng understood.

The Garchomp that is cowering and trembling to the side is very likely one of the Pokémon eggs that were stolen back then.

It grew up in a foreign land, was captured by the champion of South Korea, and was trained as a battle tool. In the end, it met its native trainer on the battlefield.

The root of all this was a betrayal during that turbulent era.

Zhang Heng didn't say anything, but gently patted his grandfather's back.

He could sense his grandfather's emotions at that moment—it wasn't just an old man's simple recollection, but a former guardian's deep regret for failing to protect those young lives.

The old man suddenly lowered his head and looked at his grandson who was squatting in front of him.

Those cloudy yet still clear eyes were now filled with love and expectation.

"Xiao Heng, this Garchomp has come full circle and returned to China, back to the land where it was meant to grow."

He paused:

"Perhaps... it did something wrong in the past. But that's because it didn't receive the right guidance and didn't meet someone who was truly willing to accept it."

In the distance, Garchomp remained huddled in a corner, too afraid to move or leave.

Its scarlet eyes were lowered, and its massive body was curled up as much as possible, as if this would make it less conspicuous.

But when the old man's voice reached its ears—

It suddenly raised its head.

Something was shimmering slightly in those eyes.

Those were tears.

This pseudo-legendary Pokémon is famous throughout the world, a killing machine that has reaped the lives of countless enemies on the battlefield.

At that moment, those scarlet eyes were filled with glistening tears.

Zhang Heng fell silent.

He naturally understood what his grandfather meant.

Garchomp's past, its former stance, the blood on its hands—these are indelible facts.

But he also understood that after experiencing the brutality of the South China Sea and East China battlefields, the hatred and resentment he harbored towards those "enemies" had accumulated far too deeply.

Garchomp was just an outlet for him to vent these emotions.

The old man looked at his grandson, his gaze gentle and profound:

"Now that you have accepted this unfortunate child, I hope you can guide him correctly and use his power."

He gently patted Zhang Heng's hand.

"Let those petty scoundrels who have harmed us and this land receive the punishment they deserve."

He paused, his tone becoming more serious:

"Instead of... letting him continue to live in fear and shadow."

Zhang Heng looked at the old man with moved eyes.

These words were said to him.

This was also said to Garchomp.

The old man hoped that these words would resolve the rift between him and Garchomp.

I hope they can truly become partners, rather than simply a subordinate relationship controlled by intimidation.

Controlling Pokémon is what a trainer should do.

Zhang Heng took a deep breath and then nodded solemnly.

Zhang Heng understood that if he continued to hate Garchomp, he would be putting his grandfather's past mistakes, which led to Garchomp becoming an accomplice in the plot against China, on the table. This would only make the old man feel more distressed.

"Don't worry, Grandpa."

His voice was deep and firm.

"I believe that Garchomp and I will make those people pay the price they deserve."

The old man looked at him, his eyes full of approval.

This grandson has grown up.

In the distance, Garchomp's body stopped trembling.

It remained huddled in the corner, but the tears in its eyes had faded, replaced by a complex light—a light of gratitude, awe, and a hint of cautious, unrealistic expectation.

Zhang Heng glanced into the room through the glass.

His mother, Fu Yinghui, was busy in the kitchen with Fat Ke Ding. The cutting board was full of various ingredients, and it looked like they were going to be busy for a while.

He turned around, looked at the old man, and a hint of curiosity flashed in his eyes.

"Oh, right, Grandpa—"

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of anticipation:

"I've never heard you tell the story of you and Tao Dailang. Could you tell me about it?"

Sunlight filtered through the treetops, bathing the grandfather and grandson in warmth and tranquility.

In the distance, Garchomp lay quietly in a corner, its crimson eyes fixed on the young figure, lost in thought.