Chapter 836: Another Encounter with a Treasure-Seeking Ghost

Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 

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11:00 p.m.

Open-air training ground.

"Faithful?"

Faithful Owl yawned as it walked over to Gangbao, who was staring up at the night sky. With a single call, it seemed to be asking: You're still not asleep?

"Gang slice."

Gangbao glanced at the starry sky, the look in her eyes saying: I can't sleep.

"Faithful."

Faithful Owl patted Gangbao on the head.

If you stay up too late at your age, you won't grow up properly. We bird-type beasts can only fly faster when we grow bigger.

After speaking, it too turned its gaze skyward, wearing a solemn expression.

"Faithful."

Only if you sleep early will you someday be able to fly as fast as me.

"Gang slice..."

Gangbao looked at the little fellow beside her, whose real body wasn't even half her own size, and then recalled how fast it had flown earlier today. 

After two seconds of silence, she let out a short cry meaning: I get it. I'll go sleep now.

With that, she flapped her wings and flew indoors.

"Faithful."

Faithful Owl watched the tiny silhouette disappear, an expression of satisfaction on its face.

At the same time.

Inside the house.

Half-lying on her bed, Qiao Sang stared at the list of addresses in her phone's notes, lost in thought.

Except for Little Treasure's next evolution location, predicted to be in the Eagle Nation, all the addresses for Yabao and her other beasts (including her own prediction) were in the Dragon Nation, clustered in the Central Hollow Region.

Could it be that she'd be operating in the Central Hollow Region for quite a while?

But she was clearly about to start at the Imperial Beast University.

The Beast Master Department was a five-year program. There was no way Yabao and the others wouldn't evolve for years on end...

Then a thought struck her.

She was in the Imperial Class. She remembered Teacher Pirite saying that Imperial Class students all got one-on-one tutoring, and most of the time was spent out training in the field instead of just studying on campus.

Maybe when she returned for the Regional Tournament, it wouldn't even be in Yuhua Region, it might be in the Central Hollow Region?

The more she thought about it, the more possible it seemed.

Shaking off the thought, she opened StarLink and logged into her account for the first time in ages, only to find she had lost tens of thousands of followers.

And they were all real fans too... she sighed inwardly.

Opening the camera, she aimed it at a peacefully sleeping Yabao, snapped a picture, and uploaded it with the caption: [Finally back.]

Her highest spike in popularity had been right after the National Campus Beast Master Tournament. After that, she'd gone to Chaosu Star, only posting a few updates, mostly sunglasses promotions.

In the Dragon Nation, dazzling beast masters appeared almost daily. After being away so long, it was only natural her heat had cooled.

Still, now that she was back, she'd need to keep the account alive. The unlimited-use card was gone, and this was still one way to earn some money...

Ten minutes passed.

Only a dozen or so scattered replies came in, a night-and-day difference from before.

[???]

[Back? What do you mean by "back"?]

[Is this Yabao?! Ahh! So cute without the sunglasses!]

[Ice Xilu! I want to see Ice Xilu! Please, just post one picture!]

She didn't even have Ice Xilu anymore, only Ice Aipalu now...

After replying to a few comments, she put her phone away, turned off the lights, and went to sleep.

The next morning.

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Qiao Sang was jolted awake by the sound of a door opening abruptly

She blinked and saw her mother standing at the door, face full of excitement.

"What's wrong?" Qiao Sang mumbled groggily.

"I took the Veil Serum you brought back, and I awakened my third Beast Master Page!" Ye Xiangting took a deep breath and delivered the bombshell.

"!!!"

"Really?" Qiao Sang shot upright in bed, wide awake and grinning in surprise.

Veil Serum could expand the brain domain without side effects, but it could only be taken once, and was most effective before the age of 18.

Her mother was well past 18. She had only hoped for a small improvement, never expecting a direct awakening of a new Beast Master Page.

There was only one explanation.

Her mother's brain domain must have already been right on the verge of a breakthrough!

"Yap..."

Her voice was loud enough to wake Yabao, who groggily lifted his head.

"Lu ai."

Lubao leapt straight out of her water tank.

"How could I lie to you?" Ye Xiangting said, forming a hand seal.

A green star array instantly lit up on the floor.

Once her daughter had gotten a good look, she released the seal and the star array faded away.

"Awesome, Mom!" Qiao Sang promptly delivered her flattery.

Ye Xiangting, in a great mood, pulled out her phone. 

"I was thinking, today's a good day. You're back, I've awakened a new Beast Master Page... we should get everyone together for a meal."

Qiao Sang's smile vanished. 

"Wait!"

"What is it?" Ye Xiangting asked, puzzled.

Qiao Sang's mind raced. Then she blurted, "Have you decided what beast to contract for your third yet?"

"No, I just awakened it. I haven't had time to think about that." Ye Xiangting lifted her phone again.

"Then let's go to the Beast Base today! See if there's one you want to contract!" Qiao Sang spoke so quickly it was almost a blur, afraid her mother would press call the next second.

Ye Xiangting didn't lower her phone. 

"No rush on contracting a beast."

"But I'm leaving tomorrow." Qiao Sang said.

That made Ye Xiangting pause.

Sensing an opening, Qiao Sang continued, "I want to choose your new beast with you before I leave the Dragon Nation. Plus, after taking Veil Serum, it's best to meditate and rest to maximize the effect."

In other words, no dinner gathering.

After a moment's silence, Ye Xiangting finally put her phone down. 

"Alright. Get ready, we'll head to the Beast Base later."

Awakening the third page had been an unexpected bonus.

But after the breakthrough, she could tell the medicine's effect was already gone. Even with meditation, the improvement would be tiny. 

Besides, she was long past the prime years for brain domain development, there was almost no chance she'd ever awaken a fourth page in her lifetime.

Since her daughter wanted to help her pick a beast, she had no reason to refuse. A contracted beast would be family from then on, and her daughter's opinion mattered too.

Ye Xiangting turned to leave, then stopped. 

"Help me take a picture."

"A picture? Of what?"

Before Qiao Sang could react, her mother formed another hand seal.

The green star array flared to life again.

"Hurry up." Ye Xiangting held the pose.

Realizing what was going on, Qiao Sang's mouth twitched. Still, she pulled out her phone and snapped a photo.

"Send it to me." Ye Xiangting said.

After forwarding it, Qiao Sang watched her mother examine the shot with satisfaction before leaving.

One minute later.

Qiao Sang opened her Moments feed.

Sure enough, her mother had just posted it. The green star array in the photo had been brightened even more in editing.

The caption read: [A happy day. Heading to the Beast Base soon—any recommendations for a good beast?]

Qiao Sang: ...

As expected.

Two hours later.

Hanggang City Beast Base.

Qiao Sang carried Yabao in her arms.

Gangbao stood quietly on her shoulder.

The pet beast base, as a place for raising contracted beasts, was home to a vast variety of species.

Yet now, two entirely unfamiliar beasts had suddenly appeared, drawing nearly every staff member's gaze.

Before long, one staffer briskly approached.

"Hello, do you have an appointment?"

Even though there was an adult standing right there, the staffer's eyes instinctively went to the young girl holding one beast in her arms while another perched on her shoulder.

"No." Qiao Sang shook her head.

"Then... who's looking to purchase a pet beast?" The staffer asked.

"My mom." Qiao Sang replied.

The staffer immediately turned to the adult she had previously overlooked, feigning shock. 

"This is your mother? She looks far too young!"

At that, the smile on Ye Xiangting's face spread uncontrollably.

"Why don't you introduce me to the base's pet beasts." She said.

"Of course. Please, follow me." 

The staffer began leading the way, asking as they walked, "Do you have any preferences for the kind of beast you'd like to contract?"

"I want one with a good temperament, not too young, and more of a housekeeper type." Ye Xiangting said.

Instead of introducing any right away, the staffer asked, "Most of our base's beginner-level beasts are fairly young. Would you mind contracting a mid-level beast directly?"

"Not at all." Ye Xiangting answered without hesitation.

She had no ambition to become a professional Beast Master or Coordinator, so talent wasn't a priority. As long as the beast's level was within her control, that was enough.

For her, contracting a beast now was simply to make her life easier.

"Then I recommend you take a look at the Bao Bao Attendant." The staffer suggested. 

"They have a horn on their head that can read emotions. Like a true butler, they remain by their master's side at all times, managing everything and tending to daily needs. Positive emotions are their source of energy."

Pausing briefly, she added, "They're quite popular, but correspondingly... they can be on the expensive side."

"Let's take a look first." Ye Xiangting replied.

While the two spoke, Qiao Sang noticed a familiar part of the facility.

When she spotted a certain figure she recognized, she stopped in her tracks. 

"Mom, you go ahead. I'll find you in a bit."

"Alright." Thinking her daughter just needed the restroom, Ye Xiangting didn't ask further and followed the staffer toward the Bao Bao Attendant's enclosure.

Qiao Sang walked into the pet beast activity hall.

She remembered, this was where she had first encountered Little Treasure... well, more accurately, Little Treasure's egg.

Just as she was lost in the memory, a flustered, defensive voice rang out: "Don't you try to scam me! I didn't even touch that egg just now!"

Qiao Sang turned toward the sound.

"Xun Xun!"

"Xun Xun!"

A Treasure-Seeking ghost was clutching a gray egg with a yellow ring, sobbing and sniffling as it cried out accusations.

Beside it stood a young man, staring at the crying ghost in disbelief.

"Xun~"

At that moment, the egg cracked open slightly and a tiny Treasure-Seeking ghost poked its head out. 

It glanced at the man, then up at the weeping ghost holding it. The little one was instantly overcome by the emotion, and began wailing, too.

"Xun Xun!"

"Xun Xun!"

Big and small, the two ghosts bawled together.

People nearby, seeing the scene, cast condemning looks at the man.

The man flushed bright red under the accusing stares. 

"I really didn't do anything!"

"Gang slice..."

A Gangbao nearby wore a confused expression.

Why was it that when a beast cried, humans scolded humans? Shouldn't they be telling the beast to stop?

This scene felt strangely familiar...

Qiao Sang stepped forward and cleared her throat.

"Treasure-Seeking Ghost, long time no see."

The ghost glanced her way, then went right back to crying.

Qiao Sang sighed. 

"Little Treasure."

"Xun Xun~"

The little one emerged fully.

"Xun Xun..."

The ghost froze mid-performance, sniffles still hanging, and stared at her blankly.

"Xun Xun..."

The little one saw the big ghost stop crying and promptly stopped itself.

The man, seeing his chance, quickly slipped away.

"Remember me?" Qiao Sang smiled. 

"We met here before, you're the reason I found Little Treasure."

"Xun Xun?"

Little Treasure tilted his head, looking utterly unsure.

He had no memory of that.

He studied the dazed ghost before him, then seemed to imagine something. Tears welled instantly.

"Xun Xun?!"

Could it be, you're my...

"Xun Xun!"

The ghost raised a paw sharply. Stop right there, I'm not.

"Xun Xun..."

The tears dried up at once. Oh... guess not.

"Xun Xun..."

The ghost now looked at the human before it.

It remembered.

It never expected this human would raise that little one so well...

To the point he was stronger than the ghost itself.

If it recalled correctly, this form was the evolution... of his evolution... of his evolution.

Had that much time passed already?

The ghost's expression turned distant.

"Xun~"

Half-hidden in its eggshell, the tiny Treasure-Seeking ghost reached out his arms for a hug.

Qiao Sang's heart softened instantly, memories of the old days flashing back. She was just about to set Yabao down...

"Xun Xun~"

But Little Treasure swooped in, scooping the tiny one up and expertly soothing him, even making faces to make him laugh.

"Xun~"

The little one giggled wildly.

The ghost's eyes darted, lips trembling as it prepared to cry again.

But Qiao Sang, well aware of its tricks, said evenly, "I don't have any free contract slots right now."

"Xun Xun..."

The act fell apart instantly, replaced with a look of annoyance.

"Don't pull this act anymore." Qiao Sang said gently. 

"A lot of people have watched Little Treasure's matches and fallen in love with this species. I believe before long, even without stunts like this, many will come to contract with you."

"Xun Xun~"

Little Treasure nodded vigorously.

Indeed, many did like him.

The ghost just stared at her, silent.

"I'll get going. If there's a chance, I'll come see you again."

She glanced at Little Treasure.

"Xun Xun~"

Understanding her intent, he reluctantly handed the tiny one back.

The ghost took the little one without a word.

Qiao Sang turned and walked away, Little Treasure trailing behind.

"Xun Xun..."

The ghost watched them leave, then looked around at the humans who were focused on other beasts, never once on them. After a moment of silence, it too departed, cradling the tiny one.

From now on, it would seek a Beast Master who truly liked them.

After all, look how well that evolved, evolved, evolved kin of its was doing, just from being loved. Stronger, more beautiful... even his hair had grown so fine.

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