Chapter 109: Chapter 109: If You Seek Death, There’s Nothing You Can Do!
Pokémon House
After an exhausting day of teaching and guiding the emperor's men, Lin Yu finally bid farewell to Emperor Han Ling, Liu Hong, and returned to Pokémon House.
However, the moment he stepped into the store, he was greeted by an unexpected sight—a sea of people.
Gathered inside were Minister of Works, Yang Biao, Grand Coachman, Yuan Ji, Yuan Shu, Grand Minister of Agriculture, Cao Song, Cao Cao, Grand Herald, Zhou Zhong, Little Zhou Yu, and Court Justice, Cui Lie. Even his Chief Clerk, Yao Xu, had been brought along.
...What's going on here?
Lin Yu scanned the room, raising an eyebrow, but remained silent.
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Unexpected Guests
"Master, you just returned from the forest, correct?"
"Has His Majesty returned to the palace?"
Sikong Yang Biao was the first to break the silence, bowing respectfully before Lin Yu.
Hah…
How could he not know that the emperor had already returned?
If Liu Hong was still outside, would they have dared to come here?
It was obvious—they had deliberately timed their arrival to avoid running into the emperor.
Lin Yu shot Yang Biao a knowing look but chose not to call him out. Instead, he gave a slight nod.
To be honest, he was utterly exhausted today.
Even summoning Kyogre to make it rain wouldn't have been as tiring as managing the Yulin Army and Huben Army all day.
Fortunately, the results were good.
Although five hundred Yulin soldiers and five hundred Huben soldiers had endured countless challenges and hardships, not a single life was lost under Lin Yu's watch.
Instead, they had grown stronger, adapting quickly to unexpected dangers. They were no longer the inexperienced recruits they had been at the start.
To top it off, several of them had even successfully captured their own Pokémon.
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The Purpose of Their Visit
"What brings you all here today?" Lin Yu asked, settling onto the sofa.
"I doubt you came just to draw Pokémon."
As he spoke, he gestured for them to sit as well.
Cao Cao, always the playful one, smirked.
"No, Ziji," he said with a mischievous grin. "We're not here for that today!"
Before Lin Yu could respond, the ever-impulsive Yuan Shu—or rather, Yuan Gonglu—jumped in, glaring at Cao Cao before turning to Lin Yu with a bright smile.
"Yes, Ziji! We also want to go outside the city and see wild Pokémon for ourselves!"
"We were hoping to get your advice on what we should be cautious about."
It had to be said—Yuan Shu and Cao Cao were truly fearless idiots.
Even now, despite Lin Yu's status as Imperial Master, they still spoke to him without reservation, just as they had before.
It was rare to find such genuine friendships in the Eastern Han Dynasty.
"Don't be disrespectful to the Imperial Master!"
Their fathers—Cao Song and Yuan Ji—immediately scolded them, their faces pale with panic.
They knew that Lin Yu was no longer just the man they had first met.
Now, he had become a god-like figure in the empire. How could they still address him so casually?
But Lin Yu merely smiled.
"It's fine," he reassured them. "In my heart, Mengde and Gonglu will always be my good friends."
If he couldn't have even one or two real friends in this era, life would be unbearably dull.
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Preparing for Pokémon Encounters
Now, Lin Yu understood their true purpose for coming.
Just like his father-in-law, they wanted to venture outside the city and capture wild Pokémon.
But they were nervous, so they had come to seek his guidance first.
Lin Yu thought for a moment, then repeated the same warnings he had given the Yulin Army and Huben Army earlier that day at the martial arts arena.
Then, he walked to the back of the store and retrieved a box filled with bottles and cans.
"These are healing sprays—highly effective in treating injuries caused by Pokémon," Lin Yu explained.
He already knew that capturing Pokémon would eventually become a widespread trend.
Sooner or later, everyone—from the imperial court to noble families, wealthy merchants, and even commoners—would begin integrating Pokémon into their lives.
This had been destined from the moment Pokémon first appeared in this world.
So Lin Yu didn't mind advising those who sought his help.
However, he had no interest in becoming a teacher again.
A few words of warning were enough.
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The Importance of Strategy
Afterward, Lin Yu recounted the events of the day—the trials faced by the Yulin Army and Huben Army, their encounters with wild Pokémon, and the key lessons learned.
"With the strength of your families, I have no doubt that you all have skilled warriors at your disposal," he said.
"But remember—if you can win, fight. If you can't, run."
"Don't be reckless."
Hearing that the emperor's personal troops had successfully captured wild Pokémon, everyone's eyes lit up with excitement.
Although the number of Pokémon caught had been small, it was still a major breakthrough.
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The Families Begin Their Plans
Everyone present—except for poor Jia Xu—belonged to influential aristocratic families.
Each of them could easily form a team for Pokémon hunting.
Even Cao Song, whose family was not originally a noble house, had powerful allies. His in-laws, the Xiahou family, boasted some of the most exceptional military commanders.
There was no shortage of manpower.
As for Jia Xu, he hadn't come voluntarily.
His former boss, Chief Justice Cui Lie, had dragged him along.
Jia Xu was now one of Lin Yu's subordinates—how could he not speak on behalf of his master at a time like this?
Compared to the noble families, his relationship with Lin Yu wasn't as close.
But what choice did he have?
If he didn't say something, he might just get kicked out.
Jia Xu was cunning—he knew how to avoid trouble.
And if he wanted to refuse, he had at least a hundred different ways to do so.
But in the end, as the chief historian of the Xiangguo Mansion, he had little opportunity to spend time with Lin Yu.
So, he played along, hoping to make his presence known.
For everyone else, their goal was clear—Pokémon.
If the emperor's men could capture Pokémon, then so could they.
The times were changing.
And those in high positions knew they had to adapt or be left behind.
Each of these old foxes had already done the calculations in their minds.
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Lin Yu's Final Warning
"There is one thing you must remember—do not venture too deep into the forests," Lin Yu warned, his expression serious.
"I mean it."
Right now, no one knows what kinds of Pokémon lurk in those dense, uncharted areas.
If they rashly enter, the risk will be immense—they could even lose their lives.
Lin Yu had done his part by giving them a warning.
Of course, if they ignored it and went in anyway…
Well, if they sought death, there was nothing he could do.
Seeing his stern expression, everyone nodded solemnly.
They weren't foolish. They understood what was at stake.
Finally, before leaving, they purchased Poké Balls and healing sprays from Lin Yu, preparing for their own expeditions.
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The Next Day – Wen County, Near Luoyang
Some of the Pokémon that descended upon Luoyang had wandered into this territory…
And soon, a new chapter of history would unfold.
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End of Chapter 109