Chapter Fourteen: The Essence of the Grass Element

Before going to see Old Man Wenye, Am had also inquired about him.

“What did you just find out?” Xia, who was accompanying him, asked with some concern.

“I heard that Old Man Wenye has a rather eccentric temperament. He seems to be a grass-type trainer himself, and is very knowledgeable about grass-types. He often finds Leaf Stones and other items useful for grass-types. No one knows why he hasn’t opened a gym; now and then he visits Maple Town and invites some young grass-type trainers over, then asks them strange questions. If their answers satisfy him, he generously gives them gifts—including precious Leaf Stones.” Am shared what he knew.

“So he really is a weirdo...” Xia seemed somewhat resistant to the idea of meeting Old Man Wenye.

Am, on the other hand, hoped that the Leaf Stone would be in the hands of someone looking to cash it in. In that case, he might as well “work” locally for half a month to earn it.

But now, no matter how much money he earned, it wouldn’t help. The other party was clearly a difficult old man.

As soon as Am and Xia left the town from the east, they saw a peculiar tree—not only enormous, but with many small Pokémon on its branches. Perched among the boughs was a treehouse, and below was a winding wooden ladder.

Just then, they saw a young man—his foot entangled in vines—being tossed from the treehouse, landing hard on the ground.

But a fall from only five or six meters was hardly dangerous for people in the Pokémon world; he simply stood up and rubbed his back.

“Get out! Rotten wood can’t be carved... What are you doing training grass-types? You’re disgracing the grass-type!” came a faint voice of scolding from within the treehouse.

“What the... this old guy... If you’re so skilled, why haven’t you opened an official gym?” The young man got up, grumbling quietly.

Of course, Am now understood that this young man was just venting after being thrown out—after all, the Quartz League limits official gym leader qualifications to those under fifty years old. Even Giovanni was nearing “retirement,” let alone Old Man Wenye, who from his voice sounded quite elderly.

“You just met Old Man Wenye? Is he really so irascible?” Am came over to help him up, then asked curiously.

“I’m not a local, but I just experienced it... Tsk, he began by asking my understanding of grass-types. I was halfway through my answer when he suddenly lost his temper! I suspect he might have psychic-type abilities, he’s a bit neurotic!” the young man said angrily.

Yes, people always say psychic-types are a bit neurotic—as long as they’re not within earshot of a psychic trainer.

“Who’s coming now? If you’re just ignorant kids, don’t bother coming up!” Another voice sounded from the treehouse.

Naturally, Am wanted to try his luck, so he hurried up the steps around the trunk, not daring to have the young man give him any hints.

Xia followed behind.

Upon entering the treehouse, Am saw an elderly man with a highly distinctive appearance, sitting cross-legged on a wooden chair, puffing on a pipe. Beside him was a thriving Tangrowth.

The old man’s hair and beard were both white, with some oddly trimmed short whiskers on his chin, but his long white hair reached his waist. At that moment, he wore a green leaf-shaped mask over his eyes and a garment pieced together from large leaves, giving him a mysterious air.

Am glanced several times at the Tangrowth—much larger than usual, with more vines, clearly boasting excellent individual and growth values... it looked even more like a tentacled monster!

Old Man Wenye stared at Am and Xia with a stern face. “Hmm? Young lady at the back, you’re not a grass-type trainer, are you?” He seemed to discern it from her aura.

“I’m a water-type trainer!” Xia declared proudly.

Am had expected the odd old man to be angry, but unexpectedly, his stern face softened into a smile. “Good. One must be confident in their type.”

At his words, Xia’s previously tense mood relaxed a little, but Old Man Wenye immediately added, “That way, even if you don’t amount to much, at least you won’t disgrace yourself.”

“You...” Xia bristled, but Am held her back.

“Sir, I am a grass-type trainer. I heard you obtained a Leaf Stone. If you don’t need it, I can offer five hundred thousand yen...”

Old Man Wenye cut him off, “Hmph! If you want to buy it, save your breath. The Leaf Stone will only be given to someone worthy of it.”

“Then, what do you mean, sir?” Am probed.

“You just started your journey this year?” Old Man Wenye asked.

“Yes, not even a month yet... I currently have two Pokémon: Exeggcute and Bulbasaur.” As Am spoke, he released Exeggcute and Bulbasaur.

Since the old man seemed intent on testing him, Am figured he might as well show his progress.

After scrutinizing the two Pokémon, Old Man Wenye nodded slightly. Am couldn’t tell if it was just his imagination, but the old man's attitude seemed to soften a bit.

“What do you think is the essence of grass-type power?” Old Man Wenye asked bluntly.

“Ah?” Am was startled.

“Haven’t you considered it?” Old Man Wenye looked at him, bristling.

Am’s surprise wasn’t because the question was basic, but because... it was so fundamental!

The nature of each type’s power is something trainers and researchers have always pursued, but no definitive answer exists.

Usually, each school has its own explanations; there’s no unified answer—Am hadn’t expected such a question.

If Old Man Wenye wanted to promote his own school of thought, he should open a gym and recruit disciples. The Quartz League may have age restrictions on official gyms, but he could always establish a private one.

No one knows which school he follows... Is he randomly searching for “fated ones” among the youth?

Seeing Old Man Wenye’s interest, Am could only offer his own understanding.

“Grass-type is usually considered the power of plants...”

As Am said this, Old Man Wenye grew visibly impatient, as if he might have Tangrowth throw him out any moment.

“But... to a deeper degree, I think the power of grass-type originates from the earth, while also channeling the power of the sun. In that sense, it shares similarities with the fairy-type.” Am went a bit deeper.

A spark finally appeared in Old Man Wenye’s eyes, though his mouth remained critical: “Originates from the earth? Are you saying grass-type is an evolution of ground-type?”

“No, there’s a difference between earth and ground-type... Ground-type leans more towards the law of the earth’s force, whereas I mean grass-type draws from the vitality within the earth.” Am struggled to explain; after all, such questions were a bit advanced for a novice.

But Old Man Wenye was now intrigued, stretching out his legs and no longer sitting cross-legged.

“And what about channeling the power of the sun? Why bring up fairy-type?” Old Man Wenye pressed, half-guiding.

“That’s quite obvious. Grass-types have many moves that harness sunlight. Fairy-type’s power tends toward the moon and stars, and much of it uses sunlight reflected by them. Neither fully relies on the sun, but both overlap in their ‘use of external power.’”

In fact, when it came to fairy-type, Am felt more at ease, since his chosen sequences—nine and eight—were both “moon paths!”

“You just said... ‘to a general degree’ that’s your understanding. Why not go deeper? Speak boldly; what’s a young person to fear about being wrong?” Old Man Wenye’s attitude had clearly relaxed.

After a brief hesitation, Am said, “Actually, I have another sense... The essence of grass-type is the earth’s plunder of the sun’s authority.”

Old Man Wenye: !!!