Chapter 117: The Blank Page

Chapter 7: Blank Sheet

“This…”

Lu Yun opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but the words caught in his throat.

He shook his head gently and sat back down.

Through his keen senses, he could feel that the Mawile before him bore no hostility.

Moreover…

Lu Yun glanced up again at the Mawile curled in the corner. His gaze swept over its body.

“The life force is very weak.”

A normal Pokémon, even one of the Ghost type, would typically possess vitality far surpassing that of an ordinary human.

But this Mawile before him seemed gravely ill, its breath barely sustaining life.

Coupled with its naturally tiny frame, it was understandable that Lu Yun hadn’t noticed it the moment he entered the cell.

Staring at the Mawile’s white skin mottled with dense black patches and the broken red antenna on its head,

Lu Yun couldn’t help but recall the scene from his time on the operating table.

A faint suspicion blossomed in his mind.

Perhaps this Mawile was also a product of the laboratory’s surgical experiments?

“Sigh.”

He exhaled softly, lowering his head.

What was the point of overthinking now? Even he didn’t know how to break free of this predicament.

Why bother concerning himself with another Pokémon?

…

In the dark, cold cell,

Lu Yun leaned against the corner wall, knees bent, his pale gray arms resting on his knees, wrists hanging loosely.

With his eyes gently shut, he immersed his mind inward.

He intended to use this time to study his own body carefully, to deepen his understanding of his own strength.

Of course, at this moment, that was all he could do.

Patience.

Lu Yun was in a situation still shrouded in uncertainty, likely perilous.

With his current weak strength, all he could do was wait.

Wait for the tide to turn.

Dim light filtered through the iron bars, casting long strips of light onto the cold floor.

In the corner, the Mawile remained curled up, occasionally lifting its small head to glance at Lu Yun.

Its crimson pupils, glimmering faintly beneath yellow-green hair, revealed a look of curiosity.

As if fearful of being caught by Lu Yun’s gaze, the Mawile resembled a wary white rabbit,

Each time stealing just a brief glance before quickly withdrawing its eyes.

Time passed slowly.

The Mawile, watching Lu Yun sitting still, seemed to realize he meant no harm.

It ceased its shyness and avoidance, instead fixing Lu Yun with a gaze both shy and curious.

Finally, unable to suppress its strong curiosity,

A faint red glow flickered in its eyes; the lone antenna atop its head trembled softly.

A subtle, invisible wave of psychic energy appeared before it.

Like a newborn kitten curious about the world,

The Mawile cautiously controlled its psychic power, lightly touching Lu Yun’s sturdy arm before quickly retracting as if shocked by electricity.

Frowning,

Lu Yun opened his eyes, his reddish-brown pupils turning toward the corner of the room.

In truth, he was fully aware of every little movement the Mawile made.

Knowing it harbored no ill intent and posed no threat, he had paid it little mind.

But now, the Mawile’s actions felt like they crossed a line.

His gaze hardened; Lu Yun rose, intending to warn it.

But before he could take a step, he saw the Mawile in the corner shrink back trembling like a fragile quail.

His eyes faltered, and he sighed softly.

“Forget it, let it be.”

He sat back down against the cold stone wall.

The air in the gloomy cell grew silent.

The Mawile raised its head, stealing a quiet glance at Lu Yun.

Seeing he made no aggressive move, it relaxed, patting its small chest.

A mischievous gleam sparkled in its crimson eyes as it summoned a faint psychic pulse again,

Probing toward Lu Yun’s direction.

Lu Yun frowned slightly but paid it no mind this time.

He sensed the Mawile’s lack of malice, yet had no time to entertain it.

So long as it didn’t go too far, he would let it be.

Of course, perhaps there was also a trace of pity in his heart.

Such a tiny, adorable Pokémon naturally left a favorable impression on most humans and Pokémon alike, and Lu Yun was no exception.

The Mawile’s nimble psychic energy swirled like a lively goldfish swimming freely in water,

Dancing carefree in the air around Lu Yun.

With its innate Psychic-type perception, the Mawile seemed to sense a sliver of goodwill deep within Lu Yun’s heart.

Startled slightly, warmth blossomed in its pupils.

Pressing its lips gently, the Mawile’s eyes suddenly grew resolute.

Focusing its thoughts on the psychic energy in the air, it moved suddenly.

A subtle change shimmered in the space around them.

The Mawile’s psychic energy brushed against Lu Yun’s consciousness.

This extraordinary energy, transcending physical matter, seemed to build a mystical bridge in the void,

A faint bond linking Lu Yun and the Mawile together.

Startled, Lu Yun reacted swiftly, about to lash out.

But then, a gentle voice echoed softly within his mind.

“Y-you… hello.”

Filled with both anticipation and a hint of panic,

Shy and nervous.

Lu Yun raised a brow.

For Psychic-type Pokémon, casually invading another’s mental space was highly impolite.

If they encountered a hot-tempered fierce opponent, an intense battle would surely ensue.

A person’s or Pokémon’s inner consciousness often reflected their truest thoughts.

Some powerful Psychic Pokémon could easily read others’ innermost feelings, manipulate their bodies, or even alter their minds if they invaded their mental space.

Thus, only trainers and Pokémon with the deepest bonds dared open their minds so freely.

Lu Yun himself was strongly opposed to any unfamiliar Psychic Pokémon entering his mind.

Yet now, strangely, he felt no great anger.

Because he realized the Mawile opposite him seemed a novice.

It hadn’t even shielded its presence as it entered Lu Yun’s mind,

Allowing Lu Yun to sense its mental fluctuations and thoughts.

Like a fragile blank sheet, pure and untouched by any stain.

Like a newborn fetus, unscarred by the world’s hardships,

Its only possession was a simple curiosity about everything around it.

Like a beam of pure white light—warm and kind—

It revealed all its goodwill to Lu Yun without reservation.