Beast Taming: Starting From Zero Chapter 1010: Patience Ghost and Fortune-Bringing Ghost

After roughly five minutes, the team reached a store where scarcely any patrons were stepping inside.

The establishment went by the name , boasting an opulently lavish yet strangely spooky interior. Soft emerald glows lit up the area, while dark vapors drifted visibly from assorted containers and vials, infusing the air with an otherworldly vibe.

"Ren gui." The Patience Ghost gestured toward the interior, signaling that their target lay within.

Qiao Sang felt a surge of inner wonder.

Mikayla took the lead entering, followed closely by Qiao Sang. Trailing behind, the Patience Ghost shifted its demeanor to appear shy and huddled before drifting inside.

A gaunt figure resembling a mere skeleton occupied the spot behind the reception desk. He glanced up initially with a composed face, but as his gaze settled on the Patience Ghost at the back, prominent veins bulged across his brow. In a frosty voice, he declared: "We don't carry what you want. Leave now."

"Ren gui..."

Qiao Sang’s forehead creased in concern. Prior to her voicing anything, the Patience Ghost drifted forward and emitted a soft, hesitant whimper. The man appeared to snap his final thread of patience; he grabbed a writing tool from the counter and flung it toward the beast.

The Patience Ghost squeezed its eyes shut, readying for the strike. Yet the anticipated hurt failed to arrive. The tool halted suddenly mere millimeters from its features.

The Patience Ghost peeked open its eyes and, sensing the truth, swiveled toward the pink-haired form close by. The azure gleam in Little Treasure’s gaze dimmed, and the tool dropped with a clink onto the ground.

"Xun xun..."

Little Treasure fixed an emotionless stare on the man. An intense aura emanated from the pet, draining the color from the man’s cheeks. His mouth quivered, his eyes dilated wildly, and overwhelming dread seized hold of him.

"Ren gui..."

Even though the aura spared the Patience Ghost, it detected the peril and faded quietly into concealment.

Mikayla surveyed the goods scattered throughout the space and grasped the circumstances at once.

"Do you have the Underworld Bamboo Flower here?" Qiao Sang inquired in an even voice.

Fear had rendered the man speechless. Little Treasure eased back the aura.

"Whew..." The man released a deep sigh of relief, his body slick with icy perspiration. He shot a bitter look in their direction.

"I offer a range of vapors for Ghost-type pets to inhale. I don't deal in any Underworld Bamboo Flowers."

Qiao Sang stood frozen in surprise. She pivoted around, then blinked in realization.

"Xun xun?"

Little Treasure noticed the guide’s absence too and scanned both sides.

Mikayla stated evenly: "No need to search, it's vanished. If I'm right, that Patience Ghost deliberately steered us to the incorrect place."

Qiao Sang failed to comprehend right away.

Mikayla went on:

"Patience Ghosts thrive on mistreatment and boost their vitality by drawing in the  of the tormented. Directing us astray like this, had we been irritable visitors, we might have lashed out at it. That's precisely what it craved."

Upon hearing this, the man sensed a shared plight. With sorrow and fury, he exclaimed: "Spot on! That Patience Ghost acts as a guide, but it's truly there to siphon off irritated vibes. It targets visitors from afar and drags them to spots they had no interest in."

"That ghost has dragged outsiders here multiple times already. At first, I welcomed them kindly, since business is business, and they could end up purchasing after browsing. Yet that ghost would deliberately stir chaos, toppling my vapor containers just as the shoppers were eyeing the wares."

"How was I supposed to stomach that? I berated it and demanded its Tamer show up to compensate. Certain shoppers couldn't tolerate my outburst and clashed with me, while others simply departed to dodge the hassle."

"You wouldn't believe it, but the harsher you rebuke that ghost, the more vigorous it becomes. It persisted in hauling in crowds. One time, I lost my cool and snapped, 'Why are you back here?' The folks it fetched got offended, bickered with me, and even shared my story across the web. Now netizens bombard me with single-star ratings daily. My business has dried up completely."

"Despite all that, it refuses to leave me alone. It keeps ferrying visitors my way. Post the online uproar, I no longer dare confront it before customers. It exploits that weakness to spill my vapors once more. All I can do is swallow my anger and courteously request its Tamer's presence, only for it to brazenly draw the 'frustrated air' straight from me in plain sight!"

The man’s grievances mounted with each word, culminating in sobs: "I’m at my breaking point. If this drags on, my store will fold. See for yourself—I've been hounded till I scarcely resemble a person."

Qiao Sang pitied the proprietor for a few moments.

"Yap yap..." Yabao displayed a look of compassion too.

"Xun xun..."

Little Treasure absorbed the tale in bewilderment, then recalled the aura he’d unleashed on the man and appeared remorseful.

"How about you check if there’s something appealing here?" Qiao Sang suggested.

"Xun xun!" Little Treasure agreed with a nod.

The man dabbed at his eyes, gratitude lighting his features as he launched into his sales talk: "I stock numerous vapors that Ghost-type pets adore. They aid in building vitality and accelerating growth. All except the 'Breath of Life,' which authorities ban from sale..."

Ten minutes passed, and Little Treasure was cramming pouches of varying sizes into his ring. The man hovered nearby, grinning broadly, a far cry from his earlier weeping.

"Incidentally, Boss, know of any spot nearby offering the Underworld Bamboo Flower?" Qiao Sang hesitated, then specified: "Minimum S-rank."

Witnessing these patrons’ generous spending, the man had no qualms about their capacity for S-rank goods. He pondered briefly before answering: "Head straight about two hundred meters, then veer right. You’ll find a place named 'Fortune from Ghosts.' They occasionally carry S-rank goods and supplies. They could well have your item."

He offered an extra insight: "I've only overheard that acquiring S-rank items there requires SVIP status. For newcomers, you need at least B-rank talent plus financial screening. I'm unclear on the precise sum involved."

Qiao Sang dipped her head. "Appreciate it, Boss."

As the pair exited, the man waved vigorously from behind.

"Xun xun!"

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure drifted onward, gripping the pet egg while grumbling about the Patience Ghost.

"Qing Qing."

A gentle wind swept by. Qingbao stayed hidden but voiced a few supportive chirps.

Mikayla remarked: "Ghost-type pets often have quirky tempers, and plenty pose grave risks. Despite the amiable appearance of the spirits around here, caution remains essential."

Thinking of the proprietor’s woes, Qiao Sang replied earnestly: "I get it."

They advanced two hundred meters and made the right turn. Heeding the "Beast Qi" owner’s guidance, they soon spotted the establishment dubbed "Fortune from Ghosts."

In contrast to typical outlets in You City, this one spanned a much grander scale. A duo of matching Ghost-type pets, each donning bowties, served as greeters at the entrance.

They stepped through the doors. An employee eyed them appraisingly, focusing on Mikayla and Little Treasure, before offering a welcoming grin and approaching: "How can I assist you today?"

"Do you carry an S-rank or superior Underworld Bamboo Flower?" Qiao Sang cut straight to her request.

The employee acted as if only then spotting the nearby individual. A brief astonishment flickered in their gaze, swiftly masked by a polished smile: "No, we do not."

Qiao Sang experienced a wave of letdown.

Right then, Mikayla produced a gold Tamer Badge and presented it. "Do you now?"

The employee stiffened, shock evident in their eyes. Their demeanor grew formal as they accepted the badge reverently with both hands, intoning: "Kindly hold on a moment!"

With those words, they spun and dashed off. Within a minute, a middle-aged fellow in a dark suit strode forth briskly, trailed by the employee.

"Please come with me." The man instructed with a respectful incline.

Pet-related outlets mainly interacted with Tamers. Previously, folks had faked advanced badges to deceive vendors.

Yet following the rollout of dedicated badge scanners and rigorous regulations—where posing as a Tamer or unauthorized rank carried penalties of three to ten years imprisonment plus permanent loss of civic privileges—such deceptions had nearly eradicated.

Still, the employee prudently employed the scanner on the badge. After all, requesting the visitor to form a hand seal for Star Array color verification wasn't feasible.

The verification confirmed authenticity.

Though braced for it, the employee jumped in alarm and promptly summoned the top supervisor on duty.

The supervisor, that middle-aged man, felt a touch of unease. While SVIPs were uncommon, they did surface.

Mikayla trailed the supervisor into the VIP area.

Qiao Sang inwardly admired the scene, tagging along like an extra.

Within the VIP chamber, a meter-high Ghost-type pet clad in golden attire, adorned with a necklace of gold beads, wheeled in a trolley bearing refreshments and treats.

"Xun xun..."

Little Treasure’s eyes gleamed at the Fortune-Bringing Ghost’s golden outfit.

Qiao Sang remembered the pertinent facts. That said, a Ghost-type authority had noted that fortune gained by one spells loss for another. In a five-kilometer vicinity around whoever beholds the Fortune-Bringing Ghost, an equal fortune slips from someone else’s grasp.

Qiao Sang averted her eyes as the supervisor addressed Mikayla deferentially: "Our store will stock a shipment of Underworld Bamboo Flowers in one month's time. Among them, one reaches S-rank. You may provide an address, and we'll deliver it right to you upon arrival."

Qiao Sang reflected on her prior struggles, unable to snag S-rank wares despite boundless credit, and a touch of envy stirred.

Mikayla savored a mouthful of tea and responded deliberately: "One month drags too long. Any chance of earlier?"

The supervisor affirmed instantly: "I'll request approval from central."

He retrieved his communicator and stepped out to dial. Minutes later, he returned swiftly, expressing regret: "Central indicates the soonest is ten days. Does that work?"

"Your contact card." Mikayla requested.

The supervisor hastily offered his card, presenting it with both hands. Mikayla accepted it and rose.

"I'll reach out in ten days."

She then gave Qiao Sang a subtle cue to depart, pivoted, and exited. Qiao Sang stood and pursued. Little Treasure tore his longing stare from the Fortune-Bringing Ghost’s gold ensemble and tagged behind.

The supervisor and employee bowed them out courteously to the threshold, avoiding any talk of cost or advance payment for the S-rank Underworld Bamboo Flower.

Qiao Sang sensed a swirl of bewilderment.

Typically, Teacher Mikayla shunned leveraging her S-rank privileges for perks. This marked Qiao Sang’s initial glimpse of an S-rank Tamer’s true advantages. She pondered how much time lay ahead before she attained that level.

After several paces, Mikayla recalled a detail. "Do you possess the means to purchase the Underworld Bamboo Flower?"

Considering her account status, Qiao Sang affirmed assuredly: "I do."

Mikayla queried further: "Head to the Beast Center, or care to explore more?"

Qiao Sang glanced naturally at Little Treasure and observed him drifting inquisitively between booths. A smile tugged at her lips: "Let’s explore a little further."

Mikayla voiced no dissent and suggested: "You’ve got remaining points. I recommend grabbing additional Compacting Potions for Gangbao. Recall you mentioned last time that Gangbao fully settled with just one vial. Two more remain usable."

Qiao Sang agreed. "I’ll pick them up on return."

Unseen by any, beneath a close stall, dark eyes locked onto the meandering Little Treasure.

An hour slipped by.

Yabao released a wide yawn.

Qiao Sang glanced at her device’s clock and eyed Little Treasure. "Worn out from strolling?"

"Xun xun~"

Little Treasure wagged his head side to side.

Qiao Sang: ...

"Let’s head to the Beast Center to check in first. You can venture out solo for more strolls afterward, alright?" Qiao Sang proposed.

This was the Zidia Region, the nation’s prime haven for Ghosts. Nightfall brought revelry for Ghost-type pets. With Little Treasure now at General level, she held no fears for his solo outings.

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure’s gaze brightened, and he bobbed his head eagerly.

Qiao Sang started seeking a proximate Beast Center via her navigator.

"Xun xun!"

The instant she tapped to launch the route, Little Treasure unleashed a piercing wail.

Qiao Sang grasped his intent, and her pulse raced.

She lifted her head swiftly and spotted the pet egg secure in Little Treasure’s hold. Relief washed over her. Mikayla turned her attention to Little Treasure as well.

"What's missing?" Qiao Sang questioned.

"Xun xun!" Little Treasure extended a limb and patted his crown.

Qiao Sang: ...