Chapter 1010: Patience Ghost and Fortune-Bringing Ghost

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

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About five minutes later, the group arrived at a shop that very few people were entering.

The store was named Beast Qi, and its decor was exceptionally luxurious yet eerie. Emerald green lights illuminated the space, and visible black mist wafted from various jars and bottles, creating a pervasive sense of the supernatural.

"Ren gui." The Patience Ghost pointed inside, indicating that what they sought was here.

You can tell at a single glance this is a Ghost-type specialty shop... Qiao Sang marveled internally.

Mikayla led the way in, with Qiao Sang close behind. The Patience Ghost adjusted its expression in the back, putting on a timid, cowering look before floating in.

Behind the front counter sat a man so thin he looked like a skeleton. He looked up, his expression calm at first, but the moment his eyes landed on the Patience Ghost in the rear, veins popped on his forehead. He said coldly: "We don't have what you're looking for. Get out."

"Ren gui..."

Qiao Sang’s brow furrowed. Before she could speak, the Patience Ghost floated to the front and let out a small, cautious cry. The man seemed to lose his last shred of restraint, he snatched a pen off the desk and hurled it at the pet.

The Patience Ghost closed its eyes, bracing for the impact. But the expected pain never came. The pen stopped abruptly about a centimeter from its face.

The Patience Ghost opened its eyes and, realizing something, turned to look at the figure in the pink afro nearby. The blue light in Little Treasure’s eyes faded, and the pen clattered to the floor.

"Xun xun..."

Little Treasure stared at the man expressionlessly. A powerful pressure radiated from him, causing the man’s face to turn pale. His lips trembled, his pupils shook violently, and intense fear gripped him.

"Ren gui..."

Although the pressure wasn't directed at the Patience Ghost, it sensed the crisis and silently vanished into invisibility.

Mikayla scanned the merchandise around the room and instantly understood the situation.

"Do you have the Underworld Bamboo Flower here?" Qiao Sang asked in a flat tone.

The man was too paralyzed by fear to answer. Little Treasure withdrew the pressure.

"Whew..." The man exhaled a long breath of relief, drenched in cold sweat. He looked over with a resentful gaze. 

"I sell various gases for Ghost-type pets to absorb. I don't sell any Underworld Bamboo Flowers."

No Underworld Bamboo Flower? Qiao Sang was stunned. She turned around, then blinked.

Where was the Patience Ghost?

"Xun xun?"

Little Treasure also realized the guide was gone and looked left and right.

Mikayla said calmly: "Don't bother looking, it's gone. If I'm not mistaken, that Patience Ghost intentionally led us to the wrong shop."

What? Intentionally? Why? Qiao Sang didn't catch on immediately.

Mikayla continued:

"Patience Ghosts like taking abuse and increase their energy by absorbing the frustrated air of those who are bullied. By leading us to the wrong store, if we were guests with bad tempers, we probably would have screamed at it. It was looking for that sensation."

Hearing this, the man felt as if he had found a kindred spirit. He said with grief and indignation: "Exactly! That Patience Ghost pretends to be a guide, but it's really just to absorb frustrated air. It specifically picks out-of-town tourists and takes them to shops they never wanted to visit."

"That ghost has brought tourists here several times before. Initially, I treated them well, after all, a customer is a customer, and they might buy something after looking. But that ghost would intentionally cause trouble, knocking over my gas jars right when the customers were browsing."

"How could I endure that? I scolded it and told its Tamer to come and pay. Some customers couldn't stand me yelling and argued with me, others just left because they didn't want trouble."

"You have no idea, the more you scold that ghost, the more energized it gets. It kept bringing more people. Once, I couldn't take it anymore and asked irritably, 'Why are you here again?' The tourists it brought took offense, argued with me, and even posted about me online. Netizens give me one-star reviews every day now. My shop has no business at all."

"Even so, it won't let me go. It still brings tourists here. After the online backlash, I don't dare argue with it in front of guests anymore. It takes advantage of that to knock over my gases again. I can only endure it and politely ask its Tamer to come, and then it actually has the nerve to absorb the 'frustrated air' off my body right in front of me!"

The man grew more aggrieved as he spoke, eventually breaking into tears: "I really can't take it anymore. If this keeps up, my shop will go bankrupt. Look at me, it's harassed me until I barely look human."

This... how miserable. No wonder he's so thin... Qiao Sang felt sorry for the owner for several seconds.

"Yap yap..." Yabao also wore a sympathetic expression.

"Xun xun..."

Little Treasure listened in a daze, then remembered the pressure he had just put on the man and looked guilty.

"How about you see if there’s anything you like here?" Qiao Sang asked.

"Xun xun!" Little Treasure nodded.

The man wiped his tears, his face showing gratitude as he began his pitch: "I have all kinds of gases that Ghost-type pets love. They can help them increase energy and develop faster. Except for the 'Breath of Life,' which the government forbids selling..."

Ten minutes later, Little Treasure was stuffing large and small bags into his ring. The man stood by with a beaming smile, completely different from his tearful state earlier.

"By the way, Boss, is there anywhere around here that sells the Underworld Bamboo Flower?" Qiao Sang paused, then added: "At least S-rank."

Having seen the spending power of these guests, the man didn't doubt they could afford S-rank items. He thought carefully and replied: "Walk forward about two hundred meters and turn right. There’s a shop called 'Fortune from Ghosts.' That shop stocks S-rank items and materials every so often. They might have what you need."

He thoughtfully added: "I’ve just heard that to buy S-rank items there, you have to be an SVIP. If you’re a first-time guest, you need to be at least B-rank talent and undergo a fund verification. I don't know the exact amount required."

What a coincidence, I’m not afraid of those last two things... Qiao Sang nodded. "Thanks, Boss."

As the two walked out, the man waved enthusiastically behind them.

"Xun xun!"

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure floated along, clutching the pet egg and complaining about the Patience Ghost.

"Qing Qing."

A breeze blew past. Qingbao didn't appear but let out a few calls in agreement.

Mikayla said: "Ghost-type pets have eccentric personalities, and many are extremely dangerous. Even though the ghosts here look friendly, you still have to be careful."

Recalling the shop owner's plight, Qiao Sang said seriously: "I understand."

They walked two hundred meters and turned right. Following the "Beast Qi" owner’s directions, they quickly found the shop called "Fortune from Ghosts."

Compared to other stores in You City, this one was significantly larger. Two identical Ghost-type pets wearing bowties stood at the door as doormen.

They walked inside. A staff member scrutinized them, specifically, Mikayla and Little Treasure, and then flashed a warm smile, coming forward to greet them: "How may I help you?"

"Do you have an S-rank or higher Underworld Bamboo Flower?" Qiao Sang stated her purpose directly.

The staff member seemed to only just notice the person standing nearby. A flash of surprise crossed their eyes, followed by a professional smile: "No, we don't."

Qiao Sang couldn't help but feel disappointed.

At that moment, Mikayla pulled out a golden Tamer Badge and handed it over. "Do you have one now?"

The staff member froze, a look of shock flashing through their eyes. Their expression turned solemn as they took the badge with both hands, speaking respectfully: "Please wait a moment!"

With that, they turned and hurried away. A minute later, a middle-aged man in a black formal suit walked over quickly, followed by the staff member.

"Please follow me." The man said with a bow.

Shops related to pets primarily dealt with Tamers. In the past, people would forge high-level badges to scam shops. 

However, after the introduction of specialized badge-detecting equipment and strict laws, where impersonating a Tamer or a rank that doesn't belong to you could result in three to ten years in prison and life-long deprivation of political rights, such incidents had almost vanished.

Even so, the staff member cautiously used the detection device to check the badge. After all, they couldn't ask the guest to directly perform a hand seal to check the color of their Star Array.

The result was genuine.

Even though the staff member was mentally prepared, they were still startled and quickly called the highest-ranking manager currently in the shop.

The manager, the middle-aged man, was a bit nervous. While SVIPs were rare, they existed. But an S-rank Tamer? This was the first time in his life he had ever met one!

Mikayla followed the manager to the VIP lounge.

So this is how an S-rank Tamer is treated, not even a fund verification is needed... Qiao Sang marveled, following along like a background character.

Inside the VIP lounge, a Ghost-type pet about a meter tall, wearing gold-colored clothes with a string of golden beads around its neck, pushed in a cart with tea and snacks.

"Xun xun..."

Little Treasure’s eyes sparkled as he looked at the Fortune-Bringing Ghost’s golden clothes.

Fortune-Bringing Ghost, a high-level Ghost-type pet. It’s said that anyone who sees one will come into money in the short term...

Qiao Sang recalled the relevant data. However, a Ghost-type expert once said that when one person gains wealth, another must lose it. Within a five-kilometer radius of the person who sees the Fortune-Bringing Ghost, someone else will lose an equivalent amount of wealth.

Qiao Sang withdrew her gaze as she heard the manager speak respectfully to Mikayla: "In one month, our shop will receive a batch of Underworld Bamboo Flowers. One of them will be S-rank. You can leave an address, and we can deliver it directly to your door when the time comes."

Not only held for us but delivered to the door? Such good treatment? Qiao Sang thought back to her past experiences where she couldn't buy S-rank items even with an unlimited card, and she felt a bit wistful.

Mikayla took a sip of tea and said slowly: "One month is too late. Can it be sooner?"

The manager said without hesitation: "I will apply to headquarters."

He picked up his phone and went outside to make a call. A few minutes later, he walked back in quickly, speaking apologetically: "Headquarters says the earliest is ten days. Would that be acceptable?"

"Your business card." Mikayla said.

The manager quickly produced his card and handed it over with both hands. Mikayla took it and stood up.

"I will contact you in ten days."

With that, she signaled to Qiao Sang with her eyes that they could leave, then turned and walked out. Qiao Sang rose and followed. Little Treasure reluctantly tore his gaze away from the Fortune-Bringing Ghost’s gold clothes and followed along.

The manager and staff respectfully escorted them to the door, never once mentioning the price or the deposit for the S-rank Underworld Bamboo Flower.

The matter of the S-rank Underworld Bamboo Flower was actually solved just like that... Qiao Sang felt a bit dazed.

Usually, Teacher Mikayla didn't use her S-rank status for special treatment. This was the first time Qiao Sang felt how truly useful being an S-rank Tamer was. She wondered how long it would take for her to reach that rank.

After a few steps, Mikayla suddenly thought of something. "Do you have the funds to buy the Underworld Bamboo Flower?"

Recalling her current bank balance, Qiao Sang nodded confidently: "I do."

Mikayla asked again: "To the Beast Center, or do you want to wander a bit longer?"

Qiao Sang instinctively looked toward Little Treasure and saw him floating curiously from one stall to another. She couldn't help but smile: "Let’s wander a bit more."

Mikayla had no objection and added: "You still have some points left. I suggest you buy more Compacting Potions for Gangbao. I remember you said last time that Gangbao only used one bottle when its form completely stabilized. It can still use two more."

Qiao Sang nodded. "I'll buy them when we get back."

No one noticed that underneath a nearby stall, a pair of black eyes was fixed on the wandering Little Treasure.

An hour later.

Yabao let out a yawn.

Qiao Sang checked the time on her phone and looked at Little Treasure. "Tired of wandering?"

"Xun xun~"

Little Treasure shook his head. Not tired.

Qiao Sang: ...

"Let’s go settle in at the Beast Center first. You can come back out and wander on your own later, okay?" Qiao Sang said.

This was the Zidia Region, the most Ghost-friendly region in the country. Nighttime was the hour of joy for Ghost-type pets. Since Little Treasure was now a General-level pet, she wasn't worried about him getting into trouble while out alone.

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure’s eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly. Yes, yes!

Qiao Sang began searching for a nearby Beast Center for navigation.

"Xun xun!"

Just as she clicked to start the navigation, Little Treasure suddenly let out a heart-wrenching scream.

It's gone!

Gone? What's gone? Qiao Sang understood his meaning, and her heart skipped a beat. Could the pet egg be gone?

She looked up quickly and saw the pet egg safe in Little Treasure’s arms. She breathed a sigh of relief. Mikayla also looked at Little Treasure.

"What's gone?" Qiao Sang asked.

"Xun xun!" Little Treasure reached out a paw and felt his head.

His wig was gone!

Qiao Sang: ...

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