By the lake.
Liu Feng started a fire and set several fish, chickens, and Soft Bone Rabbits over it to roast.
By now, he'd gotten the hang of it. He also had seasonings he'd gathered along the way, which he sprinkled over the sizzling, glistening meat.
"Sizzle...!"
A rich, fatty aroma mingled with the seasonings' distinctive fragrance.
It burst through the air in an instant, wafting straight into their nostrils.
Liu Feng closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His appetite stirred at once.
"Xiao Feng, you're getting better and better at this."
Bi Ji praised him.
The Emerald Swan Clan ate fish too, and Liu Feng's grilled fish made her mouth water.
"Gurgle...!"
Liu Feng glanced at the Scorpion Tiger beside him and said, "Don't rush, okay!"
"Roar, roar...!"
The Scorpion Tiger gave two aggrieved growls and raised its right paw, pointing at the little golden puff sitting in the distance with her back to Liu Feng.
That huge rumbling sound had come from the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's stomach!
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion didn't make a sound or leave. She stood rooted to the spot like a statue.
Her big tail swished back and forth over the ground, even pulling up the grass.
Scarlet King, standing guard nearby, waited until the Three-Eyed Golden Lion wasn't looking, then pointed to the head on his left.
That head had its mouth wide open, drool trickling from the corner.
It had given the Three-Eyed Golden Lion away completely!
Liu Feng and Bi Ji couldn't help laughing. No wonder the Three-Eyed Golden Lion hadn't left—she was craving grilled fish!
Bi Ji chuckled, took Liu Feng's little hand, and called to the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, who still had her back to them.
"Little Auspicious Beast, come here..."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion shot over like a bolt of lightning, grinning as she stared intently at the grilled fish.
She clearly thought Bi Ji had called her over to eat!
Bi Ji took one of her little paws and said with a smile:
"Little Auspicious Beast, Xiao Feng made this grilled fish. It's especially delicious!"
"Xiao Feng is a little gentleman, and he's very generous. If you apologize to him and become friends, he'll definitely be happy to share his grilled fish with you."
"Right, Xiao Feng?"
Bi Ji looked at Liu Feng, her eyes full of hope.
Liu Feng thought it over, then nodded. "Since Sister Bi Ji says so, I'm fine with it."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion blinked. "Friends... What are those?"
"They're companions who are close enough to share their feelings and gifts. They don't lie or act selfishly. They're sincere and kind, look out for each other, and stand together."
Bi Ji explained.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion asked curiously, "Friends... can eat his grilled fish?"
As soon as she opened her mouth, drool spilled out.
She must have built up quite a lot, keeping it all tucked away in her mouth!
Liu Feng felt a little disgusted. Even the Emperor Auspicious Beast smelled a bit!
"Yes, they can. But friends can't bully each other. Not only that, they have to protect each other and make sure no one else bullies their friends."
Bi Ji continued.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion furrowed her little brows and thought for a long while, then nodded firmly.
"Fine, let's be friends!"
"If anyone bullies you from now on, they'll have me to answer to! I'll beat them to death!"
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion said seriously.
Liu Feng drew in a quiet breath, sensing the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's emotions.
Her aura was pure. She seemed to mean what she said, rather than be lying.
He lifted the corners of his mouth slightly. "All right, then we're friends!"
Bi Ji smiled softly and placed the human boy's hand and the beast's paw together.
They looked at each other. Now, when they saw one another, something felt different between them.
"Friends..."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion looked at Liu Feng, a new glimmer of affection in her big eyes.
Liu Feng accepted her too. "That's right. Friends!"
"Now, little Auspicious Beast, you need to apologize to Liu Feng..."
Bi Ji had barely finished speaking.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion had already turned into a streak of golden light and charged at the fire. She made off with all the fish roasting over it, then stopped by the lake and swallowed every last bite in a few mouthfuls.
The seasoning and heat made her cough, but she didn't spit anything out. She even ate the wooden skewers.
"..." Liu Feng's temple twitched.
Bi Ji sighed and said helplessly, "Little Auspicious Beast, you haven't apologized yet."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion took a couple of gulps of lake water, then looked at Bi Ji in confusion.
"Apologize for what?"
"You just took over Liu Feng's treehouse," Bi Ji reminded her.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion tilted her head and said as if it were obvious, "But we're friends!"
"Friends can share!"
"..."
Bi Ji opened her mouth, then found herself at a loss for words.
Liu Feng looked at the grinning Three-Eyed Golden Lion. The word "cunning" seemed to float above her head.
She looked so adorably innocent, but she was actually quite cunning!
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion added, "I'll bring Liu Feng some tasty food! Blue-Tailed Monkey brains! I'll share them with my friend! I'll also take you outside to play!"
"..."
Monkey brains? Liu Feng shook his head at the thought. How could anyone bring themselves to eat that?
He sighed helplessly. "Sister Bi Ji, I'll roast some more. Friend, how could you eat every last bit?"
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion suddenly looked ashamed. She lowered her head and drew circles in the dirt with her paw.
"I... I couldn't help myself."
"I won't eat anymore! I definitely won't eat any more from now on!"
Half an hour later, Liu Feng and the others had finished their roasted meat.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion had broken her promise and eaten the biggest share again. She'd even tried to steal the Scorpion Tiger's portion.
She'd argued that Liu Feng was her friend, but the Scorpion Tiger wasn't.
If Liu Feng hadn't stood up for it, the Scorpion Tiger would have been too scared to eat.
"Liu Feng... roast some more, will you?"
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion stood beside Liu Feng, who was lying flat on his back, and gently nudged his shoulder.
Liu Feng closed his eyes, unmoved, breathing in the air of the core region as he let his mind go blank.
In that moment, his soul seemed to leave his body, free and unrestrained as it wandered through heaven and earth.
His world had become different, seeming to be made up of countless glowing spheres, large and small.
The Scorpion Tiger was a black-and-red sphere. Scarlet King beside it was several times larger, glowing fiery red!
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion's sphere was tiny, but dazzlingly bright, like a little golden sun!
Bi Ji was a gentle green radiance that blended perfectly with the surroundings.
The faint spheres on the ground were scattered like stars in the night sky. There were some in the air, too, and in the trees and the lake. They swayed gently.
It was a whole new world, pure and free!
Liu Feng merged into it, as if he himself had transcended the ordinary.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion was poking at Liu Feng's head when she noticed his presence growing fainter and fainter, as though he were about to vanish from the world.
"Bi Ji! Liu Feng's going to die!"
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion cried out in alarm.
Bi Ji jumped in fright and hurried over. The instant she saw Liu Feng, she froze. Then delight spread across her face.
"Xiao Feng has such incredible comprehension! He's merging with heaven and earth. This is a good thing!"
Bi Ji picked up the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, smiling from ear to ear. "Don't disturb Xiao Feng. This is an opportunity most people never get in their entire lives!"
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion didn't understand. She blinked her big eyes.
Scarlet King came over too, marveling, "Comprehending heaven and earth—even I haven't experienced that yet. I'm so envious..."
Just then, one figure after another appeared around them.
Di Tian and the other Ferocious Beasts had all come out, their gazes fixed on Liu Feng.
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