Bug-type Pokémon have short growth cycles, and correspondingly, their lifespans are generally not long.
A Beedrill that fails to break through its limits typically only lives for about three years. However, as its level increases and energy accumulates within its body, a Pokémon's lifespan can also extend.
Some scholars have published papers on this topic, stating that if a Beedrill can reach the Champion level, its theoretical lifespan could extend to 150 years—roughly matching the average human lifespan in this world.
Perhaps due to differences in the composition of the world's matter, the average human lifespan here has long surpassed 100 years, reaching around 130.
But Su Wen knew this was nothing special. If he could somehow gain the favor of the "Life God" Xerneas, immortality might even be possible.
After Su Wen's mother's Beedrill passed away, she hadn't kept any Pokémon until Su Chuan gifted her a female Indeedee as a first-anniversary present.
Indeedee is an incredibly popular Pokémon—adorable, efficient, and capable of sensing human emotions. Since getting this Indeedee, Su Wen's mother had experienced significantly less stress.
Seeing Su Wen and Su Chuan return, Indeedee happily opened the door and immediately hugged Su Wen.
"Xiao Ai, is that Ah Chuan and Wen'er back?" Su Wen's mother's voice floated from the kitchen. Indeedee responded with a cheerful "Ee-sou!"
Su Chuan quickly changed his shoes and headed to the backyard—though "backyard" was an understatement. It was more like a sprawling 200-square-meter breeding ground.
Since the gym and Su Wen's home were located near the outskirts of Jinming City, where land prices were relatively low, Su Chuan had purchased over 3,300 square meters to build their home, with 3,000 square meters dedicated to housing Pokémon.
The backyard simulated a grassland and forest environment, ideal for raising Su Chuan's Normal-type Pokémon.
"Come on out." Su Chuan took eight Poké Balls from his belt and released the Pokémon inside. These eight Pokémon were all personally raised by Su Chuan and carried with him at all times—including his Slaking.
"Hmph." As soon as it emerged, Slaking lumbered over to its designated tree, stretched lazily, and lay on its side, propping its head up with one hand to rest.
When not battling, this Slaking was no different from any other—utterly unwilling to move a muscle.
If Su Wen had to guess how Slaking would eventually die, he'd bet it would be from sheer laziness.
The other Pokémon, meanwhile, crowded around Su Wen, staring at him expectantly. The Baby Kangaskhan even climbed out of its mother's pouch to cling to Su Wen's leg.
Su Wen expertly patted the Baby Kangaskhan's head before picking it up and placing it back in its mother's pouch. "Alright, alright, I'll get to it right away."
In the past, Pokémon meals had always been prepared by Su Chuan using formulas customized by Pokémon nutritionists. While the meals were nutritionally balanced, their taste was rather bland.
Perhaps due to his Aura Power, Su Wen had a natural talent for making Pokémon food and Pokéblocks, self-teaching to a remarkably high skill level.
After Su Wen experimented with Kangaskhan's meal once, the Pokémon began turning up their noses at Su Chuan's bland concoctions, flocking to Su Wen instead.
"Dad, go prep the ingredients," Su Wen ordered without hesitation.
"Oh, right, sure." Su Chuan was long accustomed to playing assistant.
"This is for Kangaskhan and Baby Kangaskhan."
"This is for Zigzagoon."
"This is for Slaking."
"This is for Pidgeot."
"..."
By the time Su Wen finished preparing meals for all the Pokémon, Su Wen's mother and Indeedee had already set the dining table with their own dishes.
"Indeedee, this is yours."
Su Wen didn't forget the little housekeeper, placing a plate of Pokémon food in front of Indeedee, who had already arranged its knife and fork neatly and sat properly in its chair.
Rumor had it that in the Western Europe Federation, male Indeedee could become professional butlers, while female Indeedee made excellent attendants. With their high intelligence, Indeedee had developed a habit of imitating humans after prolonged close contact.
"Xiao Wen, have you ever considered becoming a Pokémon Breeder? I was chatting with Aunt Wang next door today, and she said breeding is a very lucrative field now."
Su Wen's mother, Wang Xuan, had long noticed his talent for making Pokémon food. If Su Wen chose to become a Breeder, he could undoubtedly become a master in the field.
Pokémon Breeders enjoyed a career that was both profitable and relaxed—trainers were more than willing to splurge on their Pokémon.
Of course, this wasn't the first time Wang Xuan had tried to dissuade Su Wen from becoming a professional Pokémon Trainer.
Before Su Wen could respond, Su Chuan muttered, "What's so fun about being a Breeder? Son, don't listen to your mom. Be a Trainer."
Whack!
Wang Xuan, irritated, smacked Su Chuan on the back of the head. "Who asked you to speak? You talk too much."
Su Chuan immediately fell silent, sitting down obediently to eat.
"Let's not talk about this now. Wen'er, blow out your candles first."
With that, Wang Xuan lifted the cover from the largest plate in the center of the table, revealing a birthday cake.
Carefully inserting candles shaped like the number "16" and lighting them, she smiled at Su Wen. "Make a wish before blowing them out."
Su Wen obediently closed his eyes, clasped his hands together, and silently wished: "I hope I can find a Pokémon that's perfect for me."
Though it wasn't exactly a wish, Su Wen still opened his eyes, took a deep breath, and blew out all the candles in one go.
"Son, what did you wish for?" Su Chuan asked curiously.
Su Wen replied with a serious expression, "If you say it out loud, it won't come true. By the way, Dad, when are we leaving for Charicific Valley tomorrow?"
"Huh?" Wang Xuan's brows furrowed as she turned to Su Chuan. "Why are you going to Charicific Valley? You didn't tell me about this."
Su Chuan chuckled awkwardly. "We just decided today. Our son wants a Charmander as his starter Pokémon, so I'm taking him to Charicific Valley to check it out."
Wang Xuan frowned deeply. Just as Su Wen expected her to object, she sighed. "Fine, go ahead. Just make sure you pick a good one for our son."
After all, Su Wen had his heart set on becoming a Trainer, and his high school application had already been submitted. Her objections were more for show than anything else.
After dinner, Su Wen habitually browsed Pokémon-related topics online.
"Mysterious Pokémon sighted deep in Yaji Mine! Experts speculate it could be a Metagross (Beldum's final evolution) inhabiting the depths. Gym Leader Zhou Shou has already led an exploration team to investigate."
"Large school of Wishiwashi spotted in Ximin Lake! Professor Wang Ai is currently analyzing their origin."
Nothing particularly interesting caught his eye. Even the news about Metagross seemed dubious—over the years, there had been no shortage of such rumors, numbering in the hundreds if not thousands.
Closing his laptop, Su Wen flopped onto his bed. "If I do get a Charmander, should I build a team around it? Hmm... Maybe a Torkoal, and then a Cherrim..."
Lost in thought, Su Wen drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, before their departure, Wang Xuan carefully packed Su Wen's luggage and repeatedly reminded Su Chuan to keep their son safe.
"Don't worry. Even if the plane explodes, I'll bring our son back in one piece," Su Chuan declared, earning himself another smack.
On the way to the airport, Su Wen asked curiously, "Dad, if the plane really did explode, could you actually get me down safely?"
Su Chuan glanced at him. "Of course... not. I could ride Pidgeot down, but with your physical condition? Tsk tsk, you probably wouldn't survive."
Su Chuan's physique was exceptionally strong—he could even go toe-to-toe with Zigzagoon in a fight.
Not just Su Chuan, but everyone in this world had physical abilities far surpassing those of humans in Su Wen's previous life.
However, Su Wen was still a minor. Though he often trained with Su Chuan, his physique wasn't nearly as robust.
As for the plane exploding... Not only was the probability astronomically low, but even in the rare case of a malfunction, airlines had rescue teams composed of professional Flying-type and Psychic-type Trainers, capable of responding with remarkable speed.
Su Wen had once seen a news segment where over a dozen Gym-level Psychic-type Pokémon worked together to gently lower a malfunctioning plane to the ground. The effortless display had deeply impressed upon him that the only true science in this world was Pokémon.
If not for Su Wen, Su Chuan could have simply flown to Charicific Valley on Pidgeot.
At the airport, everything proceeded smoothly—checking in, storing luggage, waiting, and boarding.
As the plane took off, Su Wen gazed out the window, watching Yun City shrink into the distance until the plane pierced through the clouds. Only then did he withdraw his gaze.
Charicific Valley, here I come!