It did not look at the sympathetic or puzzled gazes. Instead, it turned its eyes back to the neglected basin of red soil.
Its little nose twitched hard a few times, as though confirming something.
Then, under everyone's watchful eyes, it started walking. It did not head toward anyone, but steadily and resolutely made its way toward the basin of red soil.
Reaching the basin, it lowered its head and tentatively licked it once. Then, as if it had confirmed a delicacy, it began gulping it down in huge mouthfuls, almost frantically!
"Wuhng! Wuhng! Gulp..." It ate with utter focus and devotion, its little head practically buried in the red soil as it made cheerful, satisfied chewing and swallowing sounds.
It looked as though it wanted to make up for every bit of delicious food it had missed earlier, or perhaps as though it were conducting some solemn eating ritual.
Its belly gradually swelled at a visible rate, yet it still did not stop until it had devoured the mountain-like pile of red soil completely, leaving the bottom of the basin gleaming clean!
"Burp~~~" It raised its head and let out an incredibly loud burp, its little body swaying slightly from having eaten too much.
It patted its round belly with its paw, then turned around and looked at Yan Huan again.
This time, there was none of its previous grievance or eagerness to please in its eyes. Instead, it looked calm, as though it had completed some mission, with a faint hint of pride.
It walked to Yan Huan's feet, lightly nudged his boot with its red-soil-covered nose, and let out a deeply meaningful cry:
"Wuhng~ Wuhng! (Mama, I want it all!)"
The entire place fell silent again.
"Uh..." A soldier let out a meaningless syllable. The spear in