After the Ugly Duckling Prince described the appearances of Witch Lily and Princess Anna, Kimhant helped by drawing portraits, and everyone set out to search for them in the city of Suvarn. They went around asking players and townsfolk who were mostly NPCs throughout the city with the portraits in hand.

"Why are you following me?"

Chang Long turned to ask the Ugly Duckling Prince, who was waddling closely behind her, with curiosity.

"I don't want to follow you, quack. But for some reason, I can't go anywhere other than the path you take, quack,"

the Ugly Duckling Prince replied irritably. Just moments ago, he had passed by a canal filled with duckweed, desperately wanting to dive in, but he could not, making him even more frustrated.

"How can that be?"

Chang Long muttered to herself in confusion before raising her wristwatch to check her various statuses.

In the pet status section, besides the image of Kitsune, there was now an image of the Ugly Duckling Prince with the label parasitic pet. When she clicked to view the status of the Ugly Duckling Prince, she could only see basic information. Furthermore, Chang Long could not issue commands to the Ugly Duckling Prince unless he was willing to do what she requested. Additionally, if the Ugly Duckling Prince wanted to do anything, he had to ask for her permission each time.

"You're my parasitic pet,"

Chang Long informed him.

"A parasitic pet, quack? Why, quack? Why must I become your pet, quack?"

The Ugly Duckling Prince exclaimed in frustration.

"Actually, I think you're more like a foster pet than a parasite,"

Chang Long chuckled at the sight of his disgruntled face.

"Hmph, do I have to follow your orders like that one, quack?"

The Ugly Duckling Prince pointed irritably at the three-tailed fox that was closely following Chang Long.

"I don't think so. Even though I can't order you around, you still need my permission to go anywhere or do anything,"

Chang Long replied nonchalantly.

"Then I want to go for a swim in that canal, quack!"

Without waiting for a response, the Ugly Duckling Prince tried to run to the nearby canal but found his legs would not move. He then recalled Chang Long's earlier statement that he needed her permission before doing anything.

"Ugh, give me permission, quack!"

The Ugly Duckling Prince shouted at Chang Long, exasperated.

"Hehehe, go ahead,"

Chang Long granted permission, and the Ugly Duckling Prince immediately dashed into the canal to swim.

Watching the Ugly Duckling Prince's duck-like behavior, Chang Long could not help but laugh. She sat by the canal, observing him. They had been searching for traces of Witch Lily and Princess Anna for hours, but as the sun began to set, there was still no sign of them. The city of Suvarn was vast and bustling with people, making it hard to find a quiet moment.

"The quest egg of player Chang Long is about to hatch in 10...9…"

"Whoa!"

Chang Long exclaimed as the system notification popped up. Simultaneously, the egg she had kept in her bag because of its prominence began to glow with a bright rainbow light, shining through her bag.

Chang Long quickly ran towards the exit of the city she had seen earlier while searching for Witch Lily and Princess Anna. The poor Ugly Duckling Prince, who was happily foraging in the duckweed, cried out in surprise as his body was pulled out of the water and followed Chang Long, as if an invisible rope tied them together.

To the east of Suvarn city was a dense forest with no players around, which was quite strange. But at this moment, Chang Long did not care about anything except running deeper into the forest so that the egg could hatch peacefully. Some players started following them due to the loud cries of the Ugly Duckling Prince, but as soon as they saw Chang Long heading into the dense forest, none dared to follow.

"3...2...1 Begin the hatching process,"

the system announced, making Chang Long stop. She set the egg down and then ran to hide behind a tree a fair distance away, remembering how she had to flee a fiery inferno during Kitsune's first evolution and then fell into an abyss.

The rainbow light around the egg grew even brighter, forcing Chang Long, Kitsune, and the Ugly Duckling Prince, who were hiding behind the tree, to shield their eyes. A beam of rainbow light shot straight up into the sky. Soon, something descended along the beam of light to the egg. It was the size of a small dog and looked incredibly majestic.

"Player Chang Long has received a Sacred Rainbow Kirin from the quest egg. Due to the pure god bloodline of the Rainbow Kirin, it may be more difficult to control than regular pets. The Sacred Rainbow Kirin has acquired the skill 'Armor of Virtue.'"

The rainbow kirin gracefully stepped down to the ground but immediately slipped on its own eggshell, landing face-first, causing those watching to be stunned. The Kirin stood up, ears flattened, listening attentively, with its golden eyes, no one knew if it was scanning for its owner or checking if anyone saw its embarrassing fall.

The rainbow kirin's face resembled a deer, its body was also like a deer's covered in silver scales with faint rainbow patterns on each scale. Its fangs and hooves, which resembled a horse's, were as white as milk. Its tail, resembling that of a cow, swayed gently to shoo away insects. The whiskers and fluffy mane along its back, including its tail, were as white as clouds.

"Please name your pet,"

the system prompted when Chang Long and the Kirin locked eyes. Observing its flattened ears and curious gaze, Chang Long instantly knew what to name it.

"Flatear."

"Player Chang Long, do you want to name your pet Flatear? Confirm?"

"Confirm."

After naming the rainbow kirin, Chang Long slowly approached it. Flatear watched her with interest, wondering what she was going to do. She reached out to its head, which had no horns yet because it was still young. Flatear backed away a few steps warily, but Chang Long did not give up, determined to touch its body.

"Flatear, come here,"

Chang Long called softly. Flatear tilted its head and flicked its ears but did not approach.

"Are you hungry, Flatear? Want something to eat?"

Chang Long asked, pulling out some snacks from her backpack and holding them out. Flatear sniffed them but turned away uninterested.

"Oh darn. It's a sacred beast like Kitsune, but it doesn't talk to me at all,"

Chang Long turned to Kitsune, sounding worried.

"It's a sacred beast, quack. It's natural for it to be proud, quack,"

Ugly Duckling Prince commented as he emerged from behind a tree where he had hidden from the light earlier. But he soon regretted coming out because as soon as Flatear saw him, it pounced on him immediately.

"Quackkk! Help me, quack!"

Ugly Duckling Prince screamed as Flatear jumped on him, its mouth wide open, nearing his throat.

"Flatear, stop!"

Chang Long was startled and rushed to lift Flatear off Ugly Duckling Prince's body, whose scarf had come loose, revealing a necklace with a ring with a bright blue gem as pendant.

"What's that?"

Chang Long asked, pointing to the pendant Ugly Duckling Prince was wearing, holding Flatear tightly with her other hand as it struggled.

"Huh... This ring, quack? It's a ring Princess Anna gave me, quack,"

Ugly Duckling Prince replied while re-tying his scarf.

"What's it made of?"

Chang Long asked again, noticing Flatear's keen interest in the gem.

"Just an ordinary water element gem, quack,"

Ugly Duckling Prince answered, making Chang Long realize why Flatear had pounced on him.

"Ah, I see. You eat elemental gems as food, don't you, Flatear?"

Chang Long looked down at the rainbow kirin, now exhausted on her lap.

"Hey, let's go in, guys! There must be something good in there!"

A player's voice echoed from outside the forest, startling Chang Long.

"Let's get out of here!"

Chang Long told Kitsune and Ugly Duckling Prince, then carried Flatear and walked deeper into the forest to avoid the players rushing in, drawn by the rainbow beam that had shot up into the sky earlier. They had no idea what awaited them in the forest.

Beep beep.

"What's up, Siegfried?"

Chang Long answered her phone, but her eyes never left the trees around her, which seemed to move strangely as if swayed by strong winds.

"We've gathered at the rendezvous point. Where are you, Chang Long?"

Siegfried asked, sounding worried. Everyone had been waiting for a long time, but Chang Long had not shown up, so he decided to call her.

"We're in the forest to the east of Suvarn Town. We're trying to find a way out, but no matter how far we walk, we can't seem to find the exit,"

Chang Long said. She had noticed since entering that the trees seemed to move every time she passed by, as if caught in a strong breeze.

"Master, the eastern forest of Suvarnn Town is a cursed forest. How could you get in there!"

Kimhant shouted, startling everyone, including Ugly Duckling Prince.

"Indeed, quack. I completely forgot this forest is cursed, quack. That's why we didn't see anyone when we entered, quack!" Ugly Duckling Prince exclaimed loudly as he remembered. The eastern forest of Suvarn Town was a cursed place where neither players nor NPCs dared to enter. If anyone did, they would never return alive.

"Are you guys going to follow me in?"

Chang Long asked, her mind racing with thoughts.

"I'm coming with you. Please wait there and don't go too far!"

Siegfried responded immediately without thinking.

"I'd like to follow and write a report on it too if you allow me, master,"

Kimhant quickly added.

"I'll come find you too, Master Chang!"

Peach Blossom said with determination.

"We're coming too!"

Oliang said, and Wet Trash Can nodded in agreement.

"I'll come with Firetail!"

Draco also stood up and nodded.

"Everyone's so enthusiastic. Hurry up, I'll be waiting,"

Chang Long smiled as she hung up the phone, feeling touched by her friends' willingness to help and their lack of fear of the dangers they might face in this forest.

"Are you really going to wait here, quack? I think it's pretty creepy, quack,"

Ugly Duckling Prince walked up to Chang Long, who had sat down on the grass to wait for her friends. She looked as relaxed as if she were on a picnic.

"Spirit Summoning, Davy-chan,"

Chang Long said, and the spirit of Davy-chan shot out from the spirit tablet, having rested there for a whole day.

"Quaccck! A ghost, quack!"

Ugly Duckling Prince screamed, looking at the semi-transparent form of Davy-chan, who always appeared like this when summoned before becoming invisible again.

"Stop yelling. Why did you summon me? I was having a sweet dream!"

Davy-chan, in a bad mood from being woken up, immediately complained.

"Can you scout the forest around us, Davy-chan? I don't want Kitsune to go because I'm afraid he'll get lost,"

Chang Long asked, ignoring the ex-pirate king's grumpy demeanor.

"This forest is no ordinary place,"

Davy-chan said, looking around.

"Yeah... it's a cursed forest. I've been trying to find the way out for a while, but I haven't been able to,"

Chang Long explained, making Davy-chan frown.

"I've never heard of a cursed forest on this island,"

Davy-chan looked around again, puzzled. At least during his lifetime, there had never been any mention of a cursed forest on this island.

"Really? Then it must have appeared recently. Ugly Duckling Prince, do you know how long this cursed forest has been here?"

Chang Long turned to ask Ugly Duckling Prince, who was sitting beside her, looking small.

"Ugly Duckling Prince! What kind of name is that? It's hilarious. Hahahaha,"

Davy-chan laughed loudly without any regard, making Ugly Duckling Prince want to kick him, but since Davy-chan was a ghost, he would not be able to hit him anyway. So, he could only quiver with anger.

"Your name is just as funny, quack. A ghost named Davy-Chan, I could roll on the floor laughing, quack, quack, quack!"

Ugly Duckling Prince retorted, causing Davy-Chan's laughter to halt abruptly. His previously amused face turned stern as he glared at his rival duck.

"What did you say, you foul-mouthed duck? I'll roast you for dinner!"

Davy-Chan growled, making Ugly Duckling Prince scurry behind Chang Long in fear. He could not even fight ordinary people, having to fight a ghost was much worse.

"Quiet, Davy-Chan. So, what do you know, Ugly Duckling Prince?"

Chang Long scolded Davy-Chan before turning back to ask the duck prince again.

"The cursed forest appeared shortly after I arrived here, quack!"

Ugly Duckling Prince replied, still hiding behind Chang Long, afraid of being roasted by Davy-Chan.

"That makes sense,"

Chang Long mused, stroking her chin, causing Ugly Duckling Prince to look at her curiously.

"Makes sense how, quack?"

Ugly Duckling Prince asked, unable to follow Chang Long's train of thought as he was too busy keeping an eye on Davy-Chan.

"It makes sense that Witch Lily and Princess Anna might be somewhere in this cursed forest,"

Chang Long said, poking Ugly Duckling Prince's forehead, causing his head to bobble back and forth by force. The duck prince tried to follow her logic, and finally, his eyes lit up. It turned out that both Lily and Princess Anna had been close by all along, but he had not realized it at all. He felt incredibly foolish and lacking in insight.

"Incredibly foolish and lacking in insight!"

Davy-Chan said, as if reading Ugly Duckling Prince's mind.

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