Found it?
Qiao Sang was stunned.
Based on that description alone, they actually found it?
And so quickly?!
Qiao Sang bolted upright and quickly opened her chat app, just as she was about to reply.
At that moment, two new messages arrived from the other party.
【Uncle Pei: [Image]】
【Uncle Pei: Let Articuno see if this is the place.】
Qiao Sang clicked the image to take a look.
It was a standalone house with a wooden structure; the leaves on the tree in front of the house were half-yellow and half-green. Aside from the absence of that green pet, everything else matched perfectly.
"Lu-bao." Qiao Sang turned and held the phone screen, with the photo enlarged, toward Lu-bao, who was resting with its eyes closed by the floor-to-ceiling window.
"Come take a look and see if this is the place you're looking for."
Lu-bao opened its eyes.
Despite the distance, it had no trouble seeing the photo clearly.
Lu-bao froze for a moment upon seeing the image, then its eyes suddenly lit up. It stood up and ran over in a few quick steps, leaning in close to the phone. After staring intently at the photo for three seconds, it nodded with a serious expression and a hint of excitement.
"Lu!"
This was the place!
Qiao Sang was shocked. It really was here?!
Found just like that?
How did he find it?
Qiao Sang quickly replied
【Lu-bao says this is the place. Uncle Pei, how did you find it?】
Pei Shipan didn't type; he sent a voice call immediately.
"Uncle Pei," Qiao Sang answered instantly.
"I have a friend whose pet can also perform memory reading. The difference is that her pet knows some characters and can write down address numbers," Pei Shipan explained bluntly, speaking very rapidly. "Actually, I asked for her help the day you went back, but since I didn't know the exact location at the time, I didn't tell you."
So that's how... Qiao Sang suddenly felt an impulse to make her own pets study.
She couldn't help but glance at Lu-bao, then Ya-bao, and finally, her gaze settled on Little Treasure.
Among her three pets, the one most suited for reading and studying had to be Little Treasure...
"Xun-xun~"
Little Treasure was happily using Space Move to play with ants, completely unaware of its tamer's currently manic thoughts.
"Where is this?" Qiao Sang pulled her thoughts back and asked.
"It's on an island in Fang City. Fang City is about a five-hour voyage from Hai City. You have competitions these few days, so you definitely won't have time to go. I'll take you once your competitions are over," Pei Shipan said.
"Okay." Qiao Sang had no objections; with such a long distance, she indeed lacked the energy to go over the next few days.
"Right." Pei Shipan's tone suddenly turned low. "If Articuno wants to go there to see that Emerald Python, I suggest you don't bring it along."
Qiao Sang paused. "You mean that green pet?"
Pei Shipan gave an "mm."
Qiao Sang asked in confusion, "Why?"
"It's not there," Pei Shipan said. "I checked; six months ago, someone reported it for helping wild pets sneak onto a plane. It's currently still in the Pet Rehabilitation Center."
Six months ago, helping wild pets smuggle themselves... Qiao Sang glanced at Lu-bao, then thought of something, and her expression became solemn. "What about its tamer?"
"Its tamer worked at the airport. They lost their job because of this incident," Pei Shipan said grimly.
Qiao Sang remained silent for a few seconds before asking, "Uncle Pei, is there any way to get the Emerald Python out of the Rehabilitation Center early?"
There was a momentary silence on the other end of the line. A few seconds later, Pei Shipan's sigh came through.
"If I'm not mistaken, the wild pet the Emerald Python helped smuggle was Articuno, wasn't it?"
It wasn't hard to figure out.
Why would an endangered pet from the Ancient Mist region appear in the Yuhua region?
Why did Articuno want to go to this place?
Why would Qiao Sang want the Emerald Python to be released from the Rehabilitation Center?
With a little bit of thought, the answer became obvious.
Articuno was the wild pet that had sneaked onto the plane; it wanted to go to this place because it wanted to see the Emerald Python that had helped it.
Qiao Sang fell silent again. After a few seconds, she spoke
"I didn't ask Lu-bao, but this does indeed align with the time it appeared in the Yuhua region."
"Lu..."
Hearing its name, Lu-bao leaned its ear toward the phone.
Qiao Sang silently leaned back against the headboard.
Lu-bao: "..."
Pei Shipan said solemnly, "If it were just an ordinary wild pet sneaking onto the plane, it would be one thing. But if some people found out that the pet the Emerald Python helped was an Articuno, it would be serious."
"You cannot interfere in this. I will handle it."
Some things are serious if you say they are, and not so serious if you don't. As long as you find the right person—someone in a high position—it's actually just a matter of a single sentence.
Qiao Sang said "Thank you." She knew she now owed this man a huge favor.
...
Dusk.
Fang City.
Pet Rehabilitation Center.
"Fei-fei!"
"Su-su!"
"Li-li!"
Three pets were gathered together playing a game of Fight the Landlord.
Suddenly, one of the pets—mostly green in color and possessing four limbs—excitedly played the remaining cards in its paw.
"Fei-fei!"
A consecutive pair! It won!
"Su-su..."
"Li-li..."
The other two pets immediately wilted, crestfallenly grabbing a handful of energy pellets from their plates and placing them in the green pet's plate.
"Fei-fei!"
The green pet wore a happy expression and began shuffling the cards.
Again, again!
"Su-su!"
"Li-li!"
The two losing pets cried out with serious expressions, preparing to avenge their defeat.
At that moment, a caretaker wearing a blue uniform walked over and said, "Emerald Python, you can leave now."
"Fei-fei." The Emerald Python flicked its tail and gave a perfunctory cry without stopping its shuffling.
Wait until this round is over.
Seeing this, the caretaker said helplessly, "Your tamer has come to pick you up."
"Fei-fei!"
Hearing this, the Emerald Python looked excited. The cards in its paws dropped as it rushed toward the door.
After a few steps, it suddenly stopped and turned around.
"Su-su!"
"Li-li!"
The two pets immediately looked at it with expressions of reluctance.
"Fei-fei!"
The Emerald Python gave them a happy cry as a farewell, then walked back, used its tail to sweep up the plate full of energy pellets, and left without looking back.
"Su-su..."
"Li-li..."
...
That night, Qiao Sang received news that the Emerald Python had been released.
This efficiency is insane... Qiao Sang was overjoyed, and a weight was finally lifted from her heart.
She looked at Lu-bao, who was sleeping with its eyes closed. She didn't know what it was dreaming about, but the corners of its mouth were currently curled up, lacking any of its usual cold and aloof demeanor.
"Lu..."
In its dream, Lu-bao stood clearly under a tree with a guarded expression.
At this time, it was still in the form of a Water-type Articuno.
"Fei-fei!" The Emerald Python pushed a plate of energy pellets forward.
"Lu..." Lu-bao looked conflicted; it didn't want to eat, but it was so hungry.
*Gurgle...*
Just then, Lu-bao's stomach growled.
Its face instantly turned bright red.
"Fei-fei!"
The Emerald Python pushed the plate of energy pellets forward again.
Lu-bao was simply too hungry. It reached out a paw to take a bite, and then it lowered its head and began to devour the food ravenously.
Once it finished eating, it saw the Emerald Python looking up, staring at the sky.
"Lu?"
Lu-bao looked puzzled.
"Fei-fei!"
The Emerald Python explained excitedly that its tamer worked up there in the sky.
"Lu."
Lu-bao returned to its guarded expression.
It had no goodwill toward humans.
"Fei-fei!"
The Emerald Python looked serious.
Not everyone is a bad person. One day, you will meet a human you are willing to form a contract with.
(End of Chapter)