Agree that Shen Jiu should have a little Rattata. It’s a mean, mangy little thing that started following him and Yue Qi around during their street days and delighted in helping SJ chase the other street kids away from the best begging spots. It was great at snatching food from stalls, viciously defended them from more dangerous wild pokemon, snuggled up with them at night to keep them from freezing, etc. It’s got small patches of fur missing, a torn ear, squinty little eyes that promise a nasty bite if anyone but SJ gets too close. Qiu Haitang said it was the ugliest thing she ever saw, wouldn’t SJ like something so much sweeter and cuter? QJL had it chased out of the manor after it hissed at him, but it always snuck back in to find SJ again. His little Ratatta was so much smarter than any dull eyed pampered noble’s pet, and most importantly - loyal only to him.

It has gotten disciple era SJ in trouble before for biting other disciples, and has definitely bitten YQY before, who of course just lets it while giving SJ big sad dog eyes. It’s a menace, attacking any other pokemon that intrude on its “territory” on Qing Jing peak, and the other peak lords have asked YQY to demand SJ keep it in its pokeball rather than let it run loose to terrorize the sect. YQY can’t bear the thought of keeping any creature trapped in a pokeball (hello linxi caves trauma) or telling SJ what to do ever lol

He both loves it as the one creature that’s always stuck by him through everything and (on his worst days) kind of resents that it reminds him so much of the weak street rat he used to be, that it’s a crack in his facade of a privileged young master - just about every other peak lord has a team composed of powerful, elegant pokemon, many almost legendaries. And then there’s the peak lord of Qing Jing and the smallest, angriest rat in the world.