CHAPTER 865: RAIN-SHELTERING BUTTERFLY

When it came to competitiveness, Yabao could be said to have the strongest drive in the team. Now that Lubao had evolved into a King-level ahead of him, it was only natural he wanted to spar with her… but in the days to come, it was likely Lubao would suppress him for quite a while.

Qiao Sang couldn’t help but wonder if this would affect Yabao’s mindset.

Shaking off the thought, she turned to the matter at hand.

“Should we buy an umbrella before heading out?”

Little Treasure did have an umbrella stored inside his ring, but only one, and it was rarely ever used. Digging it out would probably take quite a while.

“No need.” Mikayla said.

“Once we get there, just rent two Rain-Sheltering Butterflies.”

So extravagant… Qiao Sang thought to herself. Buying an umbrella was apparently too cheap, but renting Rain-Sheltering Butterflies was fine?

She had heard a little about them before. Supposedly, in Changyu City, they were a special local pet beast. Renting one meant that as long as it perched anywhere on your body, you’d be protected from the rain.

The cost of renting one was more expensive than simply buying an umbrella, but many people still chose it, for convenience, appearance, or just the novelty.

Most of the customers were tourists from out of town.

In fact, the locals joked that you could tell whether someone was from Changyu City just by whether or not they had a Rain-Sheltering Butterfly on them.

Qiao Sang thought for a moment, then said, “Let’s just rent one. I already have an umbrella.”

Mikayla looked at her.

“A Rain-Sheltering Butterfly with a C-grade Rain-Sheltering talent can cover a three-meter radius. Since your pet beasts like to stay outside, having one would keep them from getting soaked too.”

Qiao Sang was instantly convinced.

“Alright, let’s rent two then.”

---

An hour and a half later.

Changyu City.

Above the landing zone of the sky-path, the thick clouds overhead formed a roof-like cover that blocked the rain completely. But outside the path’s barrier, rain was pouring in endless sheets.

Qiao Sang stepped down the white cloud staircase and noticed rows of people seated nearby. Each had a board in front of them with rental prices for Rain-Sheltering Butterflies. Many tourists were walking up and negotiating.

Mikayla led Qiao Sang to one of the stalls.

“Can you give us a discount for two Rain-Sheltering Butterflies?”

Qiao Sang glanced at the signboard:

Name: Don’t Want Rain, D-grade Rain-Sheltering Trait, 1.2m radius, lively personality, 60 alliance coins/day.

Name: Hate Rain, D-grade Rain-Sheltering Trait, 1.3m radius, steady personality, 99 alliance coins/day.

Name: Want Sun, C-grade Rain-Sheltering Talent, 3.3m radius, reserved personality, 299 alliance coins/day.

299 coins per day… That’s steep. Qiao Sang calculated in her head. If she stayed here more than three days, she’d be spending over a thousand. Definitely not cost-effective.

“Which two do you want to rent?” The vendor asked.

Mikayla didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she asked, “Why are Don’t Want Rain and Hate Rain priced differently, even though they’re both D-grade?”

The vendor patiently explained: “Because Don’t Want Rain is too lively. If it sees something on the road, it might suddenly fly off to check it out.”

Qiao Sang understood. In other words, renting that one meant risking being drenched at any time.

“I’ll take Hate Rain and Want Sun.” Mikayla decided.

“Two for 360 coins a day. No lower” The vendor said firmly.

“Fine.” Mikayla pulled out her scanner.

“Wait.” Qiao Sang quickly stopped her.

“Teacher, let me.” She took out her phone.

“The school reimburses expenses.” Mikayla replied.

What a deal! Qiao Sang instantly tucked her phone away again.

Mikayla scanned for two days’ worth of rent without hesitation. The vendor beamed.

“If we stay longer, should I just transfer directly to this account?” Mikayla asked.

“Of course!”

The vendor called out, “Hate Rain, Want Sun, come out, you’ve got work.”

Two small blue butterflies, each only five centimeters long, fluttered out from behind him.

“The slightly bigger one is Want Sun.” The vendor reminded.

“Want Sun, come to me.” Qiao Sang said.

The larger butterfly obediently flapped to her shoulder and perched.

The smaller one, Hate Rain, landed by Mikayla.

Qiao Sang then summoned her beasts.

“Yap…” Yabao looked at the drizzle outside and froze for a second.

Then he clenched his teeth, ready to enlarge himself.

“No need.” Qiao Sang stopped him immediately.

“It rains year-round here. Just stay small.”

“Yap!” Yabao wagged his tail happily and leapt into her arms.

Nearby, many flying-type pet beasts waited to carry travelers. Each had a rainproof cabin fitted onto its back.

Qiao Sang and Mikayla boarded one and headed for the Beast Tamer Center.

---

An hour later, they arrived.

Travel was slower in Changyu City due to the endless rainfall and reduced visibility.

Qiao Sang dismounted.

“Yap…” Yabao braced himself nervously at the sight of the heavy rain outside. But then he noticed the protective aura cast around them by Want Sun and brightened, looking gratefully at the butterfly on Qiao Sang’s shoulder.

“Rain.” Want Sun chirped, twitching his antennae in a friendly gesture.

They entered the Beast Tamer Center and split up.

Mikayla went to arrange lodging, while Qiao Sang walked to the information desk.

“Hello, I’d like to update my records.” She handed over her ID card.

“What would you like to modify?” The staffer asked.

“My Ice Aipalu has evolved into Ice Emperor Ram.”

“…Please wait a moment.”

The staff scanned her ID.

Though this was one of the most prosperous regions of Dragon Nation, even here, a General-level beast evolving into King-level was rare.

Seeing that the card listed Ice Aipalu as General-level, the staffer froze, then looked up at Qiao Sang, her voice more respectful than before.

“Please, come with me.”

Verification went smoothly. Lubao’s evolution line was well-documented in the database. Unlike Yabao and Gangbao, which always required contacting superiors for review.

Qiao Sang retrieved her updated ID and went to the third-floor exam office.

The door was open. She knocked and entered.

“Hello, I registered for the Regional Tournament. I’m here for my qualifying task.”

She handed over her ID and Beast Tamer badge.

The examiner, a stern-looking woman in her forties, glanced at her and then at Yabao before asking, “You’re not from our region, are you?”

Qiao Sang nodded.

The examiner said nothing more and scanned her records, only to freeze.

Minutes passed. Finally, Qiao Sang asked, “…Is there a problem?”

“…No.” The examiner’s eyes were odd, as if she were staring at an endangered creature.

Qiao Sang’s scalp tingled.

At last, the examiner pulled up a mission.

“Three days ago, a secret realm fissure appeared in West Trade Street. We sealed it quickly, but one Baby Moon went missing. If you find it, call the inspection department immediately with its location. That will count as your assessment pass.”

“Baby Moon…” Qiao Sang repeated.

“No need to help capture it?”

“No. Baby Moon is timid. If capturing it fails in one strike, it panics and emits a cry that causes widespread pain. Those nearby suffer splitting headaches. In severe cases, it can even damage the brain.”

Qiao Sang nodded seriously.

“I understand.”

---

Outside, she immediately searched Baby Moon online.

Results popped up: Baby Moon, Intermediate Normal-type beast. Loves digging to bury food. Its loud cry causes headaches in those who hear it.

The picture showed a round, yellow-furred creature with curled ears and a small crescent moon on its forehead.

Not too hard, not too easy

… Qiao Sang thought.

“Memorize this. We’ll split up to search.”

“Yap!”

“Xun Xun!”

“Gang Zhan.”

Yabao, Little Treasure, and Gangbao all leaned close to study the picture.

“Lu Di.” Lubao leapt from her backpack, landing on her head to look as well.

“Rain…” Want Sun, perched on her shoulder, nearly fell in awe as he gazed at Lubao.

Gangbao was the first to nod and fly into the rain.

“Xun Xun!” Little Treasure puffed out his chest confidently and vanished.

“Lu Di.” Lubao gave a call and soared into the rain.

“Rain…” Want Sun could only stare after her, dazed.

“Yap!” Yabao steeled himself to leap into the downpour.

“No, no.” Qiao Sang hugged him tightly.

“You stay with me.”

“Yap…” He relaxed with relief.

---

Meanwhile, Mikayla frowned slightly at the task.

“A waste of time.” She muttered.

“Teacher, I’ll get started.” Qiao Sang said.

Mikayla nodded.

“The sooner you finish, the sooner we move on.”

But just as Qiao Sang stepped out of the Beast Center…

A torrent drenched her from head to toe in one second.

“?!!”

Both she and Yabao froze in shock.

“What the?! Where’s Want Sun?!”

She rushed back inside and caught up with Mikayla.

“Teacher! Want Sun is gone!”

“Yap!” Yabao echoed urgently.

“Calm down.” Mikayla said coolly.

“Doesn’t Yabao have a perception ability? Let him check.”

Right! Qiao Sang looked at Yabao.

“Yap.” He placed a paw on her shoulder, closed his eyes, and shared his senses.

The vision rewound.

In the hallway earlier, Want Sun had been staring dreamily in the direction Lubao had flown… then suddenly took off after her.

Qiao Sang: ……

Yabao: ……