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

Approximately five minutes afterward, the team reached a store where hardly any patrons were going inside.

The establishment was called , featuring decorations that were sumptuously lavish but hauntingly strange. Emerald-green glows lit up the interior, and dark mists drifted visibly from numerous jars and bottles, infusing the area with a thick aura of the eerie unknown.

"Ren gui." The Patience Ghost gestured inward, signaling that their quarry resided here.

Qiao Sang felt wonder stirring within her.

Mikayla stepped ahead into the shop, Qiao Sang right on her heels. Trailing behind, the Patience Ghost shifted its face to appear meek and shrinking before drifting inside.

A skeletal-thin man occupied the spot behind the counter. He glanced up with a composed look initially, yet when his gaze fixed on the Patience Ghost at the back, bulging veins erupted on his brow. In an icy tone, he declared: "We don't have what you're looking for. Get out."

"Ren gui..."

Qiao Sang’s eyebrows knit together. Before words could escape her, the Patience Ghost drifted forward and emitted a soft, hesitant wail. The man’s final thread of patience snapped; he grabbed a pen from the counter and flung it toward the beast.

The Patience Ghost squeezed its eyes shut, steeling for the strike. Yet no pain arrived as anticipated. The pen halted sharply just one centimeter from its visage.

The Patience Ghost peeked open its eyes, sensed the truth, and swiveled toward the pink-afro figure close by. The azure gleam in Little Treasure’s eyes dimmed, sending the pen tumbling to the ground.

"Xun xun..."

Little Treasure fixed an emotionless stare on the man. A mighty aura emanated from the beast, draining color from the man’s cheeks. His mouth quivered, his eyes dilated wildly, and raw terror seized hold of him.

"Ren gui..."

Though the aura spared the Patience Ghost, it detected the peril and faded silently into nothingness.

Mikayla surveyed the goods scattered about the room and grasped the picture at once.

"Do you have the Underworld Bamboo Flower here?" Qiao Sang inquired tonelessly.

Fear locked the man’s tongue. Little Treasure eased off the pressure.

"Whew..." A heavy sigh escaped the man, his body slick with chill sweat. Resentment flickered in his glance as he eyed them.

"I offer assorted gases for Ghost-type pets to inhale. I don't sell any Underworld Bamboo Flowers."

Stunned, Qiao Sang whipped around, then blinked in surprise.

"Xun xun?"

Little Treasure noticed the absence of their guide too and scanned both sides.

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

Realization dawned slowly on Qiao Sang.

Mikayla went on:

"Patience Ghosts thrive on mistreatment and boost their energy by drawing in the  of the tormented. Guiding us wrong ensured that if we had short fuses, we'd lash out at it. That's the thrill it craved."

The man lit up like he'd met an ally. Bursting with outrage, he exclaimed: "Spot on! That Patience Ghost masquerades as a guide just to feed on frustrated air. It targets visitors from afar and drags them to spots they never meant to hit."

"That ghost has dragged tourists my way multiple times. At first, I welcomed them nicely—business is business, they might purchase after browsing. But the ghost would sabotage things on purpose, toppling my gas jars just as customers eyed the wares."

"How could anyone stomach that? I berated it and demanded its Tamer cough up compensation. Some buyers snapped back at my shouting, others bolted to dodge the hassle."

"You wouldn't believe it, but the harsher you yell at that ghost, the more vigorous it becomes. It kept hauling in crowds. One time, I lost it and snapped, 'Why here again?' The folks it fetched got riled, clashed with me, and even trashed me online. Now netizens bombard me with one-star ratings daily. My business is dead."

"Still, it hounds me relentlessly, ferrying more tourists over. Post-backlash, I hold my tongue around customers. It exploits that to smash my gases anew. I swallow it all, courteously summon its Tamer, and then it brazenly siphons the 'frustrated air' from me in plain sight!"

His voice thickened with injustice, tears streaming down as he wailed: "I'm at my limit. At this rate, bankruptcy looms. See my state? It's hounded me till I scarcely resemble a person."

Sympathy welled in Qiao Sang for the shopkeeper over a few lingering seconds.

"Yap yap..." Yabao mirrored the pity on its face.

"Xun xun..."

Little Treasure absorbed the tale blankly, then recalled his earlier intimidation and hung its head in remorse.

"Why not browse for anything that catches your eye here?" Qiao Sang suggested.

"Xun xun!" Little Treasure bobbed its head.

The man dabbed his eyes, gratitude blooming on his features as he launched into sales talk: "I stock every sort of gas Ghost-type pets adore. They aid in energy growth and swifter maturation. All except the 'Breath of Life,' banned by authorities from sale..."

Ten minutes on, Little Treasure crammed bags of all sizes into its ring. The man grinned ear-to-ear beside him, a far cry from his sobbing earlier.

"Oh, and Boss, know any spot nearby with Underworld Bamboo Flower?" Qiao Sang hesitated before specifying: "Minimum S-rank."

Aware of these customers' deep pockets, the man believed they could swing S-rank buys. He pondered, then answered: "Head straight two hundred meters, hang a right. You'll spot 'Fortune from Ghosts.' They carry S-rank goods and stuff sporadically. Might be your jackpot."

Helpfully, he appended: "Word is, S-rank purchases there demand SVIP status. Newcomers need B-rank talent minimum plus funds check. No clue on the threshold."

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

As the pair departed, the man waved vigorously after them.

"Xun xun!"

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure drifted onward, hugging the pet egg while griping about the Patience Ghost.

"Qing Qing."

A gust swept by. Qingbao stayed hidden yet voiced a few assenting chirps.

Mikayla warned: "Ghost-type pets boast quirky tempers, and plenty pack real danger. Even if local ghosts seem amiable, stay vigilant."

Mindful of the owner's woes, Qiao Sang replied gravely: "Got it."

Two hundred meters along and a right turn later, per the "Beast Qi" boss's tip, they located "Fortune from Ghosts."

Vastly bigger than typical You City outlets, twin bowtie-clad Ghost-type pets manned the entrance as greeters.

Inside they went. A worker eyed them over, zeroing on Mikayla and Little Treasure, then beamed welcomingly and approached: "How may I assist?"

"Do you have an S-rank or higher Underworld Bamboo Flower?" Qiao Sang cut straight to it.

The worker appeared to register the nearby figure only then. Surprise flickered, swiftly masked by practiced courtesy: "No, we don't."

Disappointment tugged at Qiao Sang.

Right then, Mikayla produced a golden Tamer Badge and offered it. "Do you have one now?"

The worker stiffened, astonishment betraying their gaze. Solemnity settled as they accepted the badge reverently with both hands: "Kindly hold on!"

They pivoted and dashed off. Moments later, a black-suited middle-aged man hastened over, trailed by the worker.

"Please come with me." He bowed as he spoke.

Pet-related stores mainly served Tamers. Forged elite badges once duped vendors.

But post-badge scanners and harsh penalties—three to ten years jail for fake Tamer claims or rank lies, plus lifelong civic bans—such frauds evaporated.

Still wary, the worker scanned the badge. They couldn't demand a guest's hand seal to inspect Star Array hue.

Authentic, it read.

Braced or not, the worker jumped and summoned the top manager on duty.

The manager, that middle-aged fellow, felt jitters. SVIPs were scarce but real.

Mikayla trailed the manager to the VIP area.

... Like an extra, Qiao Sang marveled while tagging along.

In the VIP lounge, a meter-tall Ghost-type pet in golden garb, golden beads draped round its neck, wheeled over a trolley of tea and treats.

"Xun xun..."

Little Treasure’s gaze glittered eyeing the Fortune-Bringing Ghost’s shiny gold attire.

Qiao Sang remembered the lore. A Ghost expert noted fortunes shift: one's gain means another's loss. Spotting the Fortune-Bringing Ghost signals equivalent misfortune within five kilometers.

Qiao Sang averted her eyes as the manager addressed Mikayla deferentially: "Next month brings a shipment of Underworld Bamboo Flowers, including one S-rank. Provide an address for home delivery upon arrival."

Recalling her own failed S-rank buys despite endless funds, Qiao Sang sighed inwardly.

Mikayla sipped tea leisurely: "A month's too distant. Any chance of earlier?"

"I'll petition headquarters immediately," the manager affirmed.

He grabbed his phone, stepped out for the call. Minutes passed before he returned swiftly, apologetic: "Headquarters confirms ten days earliest. Does that work?"

"Your card," Mikayla requested.

Swiftly, he proffered his business card two-handed. Mikayla accepted, rising.

"I'll reach out in ten days."

She eyed Qiao Sang to depart, then strode out. Qiao Sang stood and pursued. Little Treasure pried away from ogling the gold reluctantly and tagged after.

Manager and staff bowed them to the exit, silent on S-rank flower cost or deposit.

 Qiao Sang sensed a whirl of awe.

Teacher Mikayla rarely flaunted S-rank perks. First time Qiao Sang grasped an S-rank Tamer's true clout. How long till she climbed there?

Steps later, Mikayla recalled something. "Funds ready for the Underworld Bamboo Flower?"

Her account balance in mind, Qiao Sang affirmed boldly: "I do."

Mikayla probed further: "Beast Center bound, or more strolling?"

Qiao Sang glanced instinctively at Little Treasure, spotting him darting curiously stall-to-stall. A grin formed: "More wandering first."

Mikayla agreed, suggesting: "Points remain. Grab extra Compacting Potions for Gangbao. You mentioned last time one bottle sufficed for full form stability. Two more feasible."

Qiao Sang agreed. "On the return trip."

Unseen, beneath a close stall, shadowy eyes locked onto the roving Little Treasure.

An hour passed.

Yabao yawned wide.

Qiao Sang eyed her phone's clock, then Little Treasure. "Worn out from browsing?"

"Xun xun~"

Little Treasure wagged its head.

Qiao Sang: ...

"Head to Beast Center to check in first. You can slip out solo for more fun later, deal?" Qiao Sang proposed.

This Zidia Region, nation's ghost haven, turned nights lively for Ghost-types. With Little Treasure at General rank, solo jaunts posed no peril.

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure brightened, nodding eagerly.

Qiao Sang fired up navigation for the nearest Beast Center.

"Xun xun!"

As navigation kicked in, Little Treasure unleashed a piercing wail.

Qiao Sang decoded it, heart jolting.

Her eyes snapped up, confirming the pet egg secure in Little Treasure’s grasp. Relief washed over. Mikayla eyed Little Treasure too.

"What's gone?" Qiao Sang pressed.

"Xun xun!" Little Treasure extended a paw, patting its crown.

Qiao Sang: ...