Chapter 35: This Ghost-Type Pokémon Is a Little Afraid of Ghosts

Xia Chi’s phone did not have night-vision capabilities, so once darkness fell, he turned off his livestream to focus on resolving the supernatural events at Mount Mingchong.

The Oddish seemed to be suffering from PTSD, likely caused by that mysterious Ghost-type Pokémon. As soon as night arrived, they immediately buried themselves in the soil like ostriches, leaving only a few leaves swaying in the breeze. The Bellsprout were no better; once they took root and drooped their leaves, they blended perfectly into the surrounding environment.

Only Xia Chi, Sprigatito, and Pachirisu—who had mustered the courage to remain—sat by the campfire.

The night mountain breeze felt exceptionally sharp in the silent woods. In the desolate, pitch-black darkness, which felt like a giant beast waiting to devour them, eerie red lights flickered from time to time. If one listened carefully, they could even hear faint sounds reminiscent of Pokémon wailing.

"Pachi..."

Pachirisu trembled, wanting to lean against Xia Chi for courage, but was forcibly pushed aside by Sprigatito.

Xia Chi comforted them, "Don't worry, it’s probably just some other Pokémon passing by."

Despite saying this, he couldn't help but mutter to himself. *Honestly, this is genuinely unsettling...*

It felt like watching a horror movie; you know it’s just a film, a work of fiction. But when Kayako from *The Grudge* crawls toward you on screen, or little Toshio pops out from under the covers, you still can’t help but feel an uncontrollable sense of terror. It was the same right now—even knowing a Ghost-type Pokémon was behind it, he still felt afraid.

Whether it was an illusion or not, Xia Chi felt that tonight’s moonlight made his skin crawl.

*Whoosh—*

A mountain breeze blew, and the flickering flames cast a shadow that looked like a ghastly face, lunging toward Xia Chi and Sprigatito. Pachirisu had curled into a tight ball by now, whimpering softly.

"Pachi..." *Waaah, I think I just saw my great-grandmother...*

Sprigatito was doing slightly better, but Xia Chi, sitting right next to it, could still feel its body trembling. Only the urge to protect its trainer was keeping its courage and will intact.

At this moment, however, Xia Chi stopped being afraid.

Since Sprigatito was in such a state, if he were to succumb to fear as well, they would truly be finished. He realized that this was the Ghost-type Pokémon creating a terrifying atmosphere, attempting to slowly dismantle his resolve. Rather than letting fear spread at the creature’s pace, it was better to take the initiative.

"Since it’s boring just sitting here, how about I tell you a story?" Xia Chi suddenly said. "Once you hear this story, you definitely won't be scared anymore."

Pachirisu nodded frantically. "Pachi!"

At a time like this, who cared about anything else? Having someone talk to distract them was better than being slowly eroded by fear.

"Ahem..."

Xia Chi cleared his throat and began slowly, "In the dead of night in the city, a taxi-driving Pachirisu was preparing to pick up one last passenger before heading home. Just then, an Oddish appeared by the roadside. Its complexion looked deathly pale, and its eyes stared blankly ahead. Though Pachirisu was a bit frightened, it mustered the courage to ask if it needed a ride."

*Oh my! It’s a ghost story!*

Pachirisu, already shivering, became even more terrified. In the dense forest not far away, the eerie red light seemed to flicker at an even faster frequency.

Noticing this detail, Xia Chi continued, "[Sir, do you need a ride?] the Pachirisu driver asked. The Oddish didn't speak; it simply nodded and opened the back door with a wilted leaf."

"After hearing the door shut, the Pachirisu driver started the car. The journey was eerily quiet. Pachirisu tried to talk to the Oddish to ease its nerves, but there was no sound from the backseat—only a constant tapping sound coming from outside the window..."

"[Sir, where are you headed?] The question went unanswered. Pachirisu cautiously looked into the rearview mirror, only to discover... the Oddish that should have been in the backseat was gone! Only its signature leaves were left, swaying incessantly!"

"Pachi!"

"Meow!"

Hearing this, Pachirisu and Sprigatito huddled together in terror. Xia Chi could even faintly hear a soft "Misdreavus!" from the nearby bushes. Meanwhile, the red light in the darkness flickered with increasing intensity.

Xia Chi pursed his lips and chuckled to himself. *I thought you were some kind of expert, but it turns out you’re just a little amateur.*

He continued, "The terrified Pachirisu slammed on the gas, but the tapping sound outside the car grew louder and more frequent..."

"Finally, it couldn't take it anymore and slammed on the brakes, preparing to fight this strange passenger. But when it got out to check, it realized..."

"The drunk Oddish passenger had accidentally shut its body outside the car when it got in, while its leaves had been caught inside. The tapping sound was actually its body hitting the high-speed car."

"Pachi!"

"Meow!"

The sudden twist turned the tone of the story from horror to comedy, and the two Pokémon’s emotions went on a rollercoaster ride, shifting from fear to relief. In the dense forest that Xia Chi was secretly observing, a crisp, giggling sound could be heard. The once-frantic red light began to fade.

*So you're afraid of ghosts too, huh?*

Having figured out the weakness of the unknown Ghost-type Pokémon, Xia Chi’s eyes darted around as an idea formed.

"How about that? Not scared anymore, right?" Xia Chi said to the now-calm Sprigatito and Pachirisu. "Should I tell you another one?"

Pachirisu, having never heard stories like this before, nodded happily, "Pachi!"

Xia Chi cleared his throat and began to narrate.

"At the southern foot of Mount Mingchong, there is an ordinary cave. Even in midsummer, it is filled with a damp, rotting scent. Nearby Pachirisu passing by will suddenly have their fur stand on end, as if something has gripped their throats."

"No one knows that a dozen years ago, a Nidoking living there cruelly used its claws to rip open the stomach of its wife, a Nidoqueen. When the first witness, an Oddish, discovered them, the Nidoqueen’s limbs were bent at angles impossible for a Pokémon’s body, as if twisted into a knot by an invisible hand. Their six-month-old child, a Nidoran, was nowhere to be found."

"From that day on, every Pokémon that moved into the vicinity died without exception on some dark night, their deaths utterly horrifying..."

Indeed, Xia Chi was telling the legendary story of *The Grudge*—a Pokémon-themed adaptation involving Kayako. As the story deepened, the breathing of Sprigatito, Pachirisu, and even the Pokémon in the forest grew tense and heavy.

Finally, after nearly half an hour of storytelling, the tale reached its climax.

"...Pachirisu hid in the bushes, terrified, trying to escape the pursuit behind it. But just then, it heard heavy breathing coming from inside the bushes. Pachirisu slowly pushed aside the branches, and a Banette’s hollow, pitch-black eyes were pressed right against its nose."

"[Found you...] The Banette’s purplish-black gums revealed a ghastly grin, and a gurgling sound mixed with blood bubbled from its throat..."

As soon as the words left his lips, a dark shadow suddenly leaped out of the bushes, accompanied by a shriek of terror:

"Misdreavus!"