Autumn deepened, then winter settled in.
Flakes of snow as big as goose feathers drifted down from the Sky Curtain. Before long, the entire Hidden Valley would be blanketed in silver.
Fang Yuan pushed open the wooden window and breathed out a puff of White Qi.
As an Inner Family Master, he was impervious to heat and cold. Though he wore only a thin inner robe, he didn't feel the slightest chill.
"Chirp, chirp!"
High in the air, the Iron Plume Black Eagle cried out. Clutching a fawn, it landed steadily in the snow and gazed at Fang Yuan with eager eyes.
Clearly, not to mention the supply of Spiritual Objects in the Hidden Valley, even the cooked food and roasted meat it got every day had already spoiled its palate. Even if Fang Yuan chased it away now, the black eagle probably wouldn't want to return to its former life as a wild beast, eating raw meat and drinking blood.
"Chitter!"
At the sight of something tasty, the Flower Fox Ferret raced over, leaving a shallow trail of pawprints in the snow, like plum blossoms.
"Chirp..."
When Fang Yuan came outside, the Iron Plume Black Eagle cried out again. Its meaning was perfectly clear.
"Oh? Someone's approaching, and they're an acquaintance?"
After spending this much time together, Fang Yuan still hadn't learned the language of beasts, but he'd managed to understand the general meaning of a few simple sounds. In particular, he knew the signals he and the black eagle had agreed on, so there could be no mistake.
"Little Black, go hide in the back for now..."
As he prepared the fawn, Fang Yuan said without turning around, "Don't worry. You'll get your Spirit Rice and roasted meat today, too..."
"Chirp, chirp..."
Only after hearing that promise did