Chapter 72: Let’s Call You… Tangyuan!
When Lin Ye appeared—or more accurately, when the roasted rabbit in his hands came into view—the white Gold-Eating Rat suddenly perked up, sniffing the air. It let out an eager "squeak squeak!" and cautiously shuffled closer.
"You actually dare approach me? Are you not afraid of me?"
Lin Ye raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised to see the little white Gold-Eating Rat creeping closer. After all, he had just killed the Mandala Snake that was pursuing it. Yet, this unusual creature showed no fear.
"Squeak squeak!"
It seemed the Gold-Eating Rat wasn't afraid of Lin Ye at all. Though its small, snowy-white body trembled a bit, it kept staring intently at the roasted rabbit in Lin Ye's hands, squeaking eagerly as it continued to inch closer.
"Interesting…"
A trace of curiosity sparked in Lin Ye's heart as he watched the Gold-Eating Rat approach. Ordinarily, he wouldn't pay much attention to a creature like this. But after spending so much time in the Endless Night Forest, constantly facing ferocious soul beasts like the Thunder Demon Bear, Swift Gale Wolf King, Ghost Panther, and Scarlet Fire Tiger, every day had been a routine of training and battle.
Seven days had passed this way. While Lin Ye did enjoy the challenge, the endless fighting could sometimes feel tiresome—especially on the day he planned to leave.
This little white creature was different from the brutal beasts he usually encountered, and Lin Ye found himself oddly intrigued by it. Besides, it looked… surprisingly cute.
"Come here, little guy."
Seeing the Gold-Eating Rat inch closer, Lin Ye tore off a small piece of the roasted rabbit, waving it slightly as he smiled.
"Squeak squeak!"
Whether it was Lin Ye's gentle demeanor or the lure of food, the little Gold-Eating Rat seemed to feel safe. It suddenly stood upright, abandoning all caution as it dashed forward and eagerly snatched the rabbit meat from Lin Ye's fingers, beginning to nibble at it with gusto.
Lin Ye chuckled softly, watching the creature's enthusiasm. He reached out a finger to gently stroke the soft, plush fur of the little Gold-Eating Rat.
Strangely enough, despite its tiny size—barely the size of his fist—it was wonderfully fluffy, like a small white puffball. The sensation was incredibly pleasant, soft and smooth to the touch.
As Lin Ye petted it, the little Gold-Eating Rat continued munching on the meat, its throat emitting a quiet hum of contentment.
After finishing the piece of rabbit meat, the creature looked up at Lin Ye with a pleading expression, squeaking again.
"Here you go."
Lin Ye couldn't help but smile and tore off another piece, offering it to the little creature, which happily took the food and continued eating.
However, with its small size, the Gold-Eating Rat quickly reached its limit, barely able to finish the meat equivalent to a rabbit's leg. Stuffed full, the little puffball lay on its back, belly exposed, looking as round as a snowball as it squeaked in pure satisfaction.
"What a greedy little fellow!"
Watching the round, sated Gold-Eating Rat, Lin Ye chuckled and gently lifted it in his hands.
"As a soul beast, you're brave enough to beg me for food. Aren't you afraid I'll eat you instead?"
Holding the little creature in his left hand, Lin Ye stroked its soft fur with his right, enjoying the velvety sensation under his fingers.
"Squeak squeak!"
Seemingly understanding his words—or maybe just being affectionate—the Gold-Eating Rat jumped onto Lin Ye's shoulder, rubbing its round face against his cheek with a series of endearing squeaks.
"Oh? So you're not worried I'd harm you, huh?"
Lin Ye's lips curled into a slight smile as he gently picked up the little Gold-Eating Rat once more.
"Well, since you trust me so much, why don't you stay with me? I'll give you a name."
Lin Ye looked thoughtfully at the fluffy white creature in his hand. Its pure white fur, rounded form, and the tiny tuft of golden fur on its forehead made it resemble something delightful.
"With your snow-white coat and chubby body, you look like a little rice dumpling… I'll call you Tangyuan!"
"Squeak squeak!"
As though it understood, the Gold-Eating Rat—now Tangyuan—stood upright, squeaking joyfully in response.
…
The night passed swiftly.
The next morning, as dawn broke, golden sunlight pierced through the clouds, filtering through the dense leaves and casting a warm glow on Lin Ye's face.
"Mm…"
Feeling the warmth on his face, Lin Ye gradually opened his eyes.
Surveying the lush branches around him, he slowly sat up, stretching his back, which was sore from leaning against the tree all night.
"It's morning…"
Glancing at the sun rising above, Lin Ye stood up on the branch, then leaped into the air, flipping smoothly as he landed on the ground.
He brushed his teeth with a cottonwood twig and salt, splashed water on his face, and freshened up. Feeling fully awake, he started to pack up, ready to leave.
But as he prepared to go, he couldn't shake a feeling that something was missing.
"Hm… What am I forgetting?"
Lin Ye frowned, mumbling to himself.
"Oh, Tangyuan!"
A flash of realization struck him. Last night, he'd taken in a new little companion—but hadn't brought it with him!
Just before falling asleep, he had dug a small hole in the tree to nestle Tangyuan inside.
Remembering this, Lin Ye quickly hurried over to the tree he'd used as a makeshift nest.
But when he peered into the hollow, he didn't see the familiar, round white figure.
"Gone?!"
His heart skipped a beat.
"Did it run off?"
Logically, Lin Ye knew the little creature had probably taken advantage of the night to escape after being fed. But emotionally, he couldn't quite accept it.
"Tangyuan!"
"Tangyuan!"
"Tangyuan!"
Feeling a bit unwilling to give up, Lin Ye began searching the nearby trees and bushes, calling out the name he'd given the little creature.
With the intelligence Tangyuan had displayed, Lin Ye was sure it understood what "Tangyuan" meant.
Unfortunately…
Even after combing through the area, he found no sign of the familiar little white creature, searching for nearly an hour without luck.
"So, it really did leave…"
Gazing into the dense forest, Lin Ye felt a hint of regret.
Though he'd grown accustomed to being alone, having such a lively little companion had given him a sense of warmth, and he missed it.
"Well, I guess it's time to move on."
Accepting his loss, Lin Ye steeled himself and prepared to leave.
But just as he turned to go, a familiar "squeak squeak!" echoed from nearby.
Lin Ye turned to see a flash of white rushing toward him at high speed.
"Tangyuan?!"
A look of delight lit up his face.
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