The Little Gold-Swallowing Beast

Crossing the forest, one would encounter a lake bordering the plains where cranes danced and deer frolicked—a paradise for all manner of fish and birds.

A small Five-Colored Enchanted Deer strolled leisurely to the water's edge. Its reflection shimmered in the clear lake as it lowered its neck, preparing to drink.

The next second, an invisible arrow pierced the deer's neck, pinning it firmly to the ground and killing it instantly.

The surrounding animals scattered in a panic.

Guang Ling landed, picked up the lifeless deer, and wore a proud smile.

"A three-hundred-year-old Five-Colored Enchanted Deer. It was worth flying around the lake for so long; I'm in for a treat."

As a delicacy of the Douluo Continent, the meat of the Five-Colored Enchanted Deer was exceptionally tender and delicious, usually reserved for the royal family. Wild ones were even more prized.

Guang Ling hoisted the deer and flew back in the direction he had come.

On the other side, by the campfire.

Sensing Guang Ling's aura approaching, Qingxi quickly stopped her cultivation. She looked up to see the silver-haired youth returning with the deer in hand.

"Big Brother," she called out obediently.

Her spiritual power hadn't even recovered to one-tenth of its capacity; otherwise, she would have slipped away while he was gone.

She had to admit, while the spiritual energy here was much thinner than near the Ice and Fire Spirit Pool, it was still denser than in her previous world. If she could set up a spirit-gathering array, perhaps...

It was clear this continent was highly suitable for immortal cultivation.

"Little one, you're in for a treat." Guang Ling shook the deer in his hand and walked toward the lake.

Qingxi blinked. Was he going to roast the meat?

If so, she could wait until after eating to find a chance to escape.

She picked up some wood from the ground, frowned slightly at her small, short fingers, and then dutifully set up a rack for the roasting.

Guang Ling casually condensed an ice blade to skin and gut the deer, discarding everything but the kidneys and choice cuts.

Seeing the fish in the lake were plump, he grabbed a few as well.

After cleaning the game, he turned back to see the little one had already set up the rack and was sitting quietly by the fire.

Guang Ling raised an eyebrow. Why does she seem so practiced?

He skewered the deer and placed it over the fire, then used smaller branches to skewer the fish and kidneys, roasting them at the edge of the flames.

Guang Ling sat down casually, crossing his legs, and flipped the meat from time to time.

The sun set, painting the horizon gold, much like the youth's eyes.

Qingxi tilted her head, watching. His eyes seemed to shift between brown and deep blue depending on his soul power...

On the dim plains, fireflies emerged in the night. A bonfire burned quietly by the lake, occasionally hissing as fat dripped into the embers.

The moisture in the venison slowly evaporated as it turned golden brown. He took out a small knife to score the meat, then pulled two packets of spices from his soul tool to sprinkle over it.

Guang Ling paused, looking at the quiet child beside him. "Can you handle spice?"

Qingxi sat on the grass with her knees hugged to her chest, watching the golden meat over the coals, and nodded.

"Easy to please," Guang Ling muttered. He didn't stop his movements, and the moment the spices hit the meat, a unique, savory aroma filled the air.

Qingxi couldn't help but swallow.

So fragrant! It's meat!

One second, she was immersed in the scent of the meat.

The next, she was hoisted up by Guang Ling and tossed into the lake.

"Help—" As soon as she surfaced, a large, cold hand pressed her back under the water.

"Don't squirm. I'm washing you off; you're filthy," Guang Ling said with a hint of disgust.

After cleaning her, Guang Ling used his soul power to dry the little girl's wet hair. Her previous clothes were beyond saving.

He had left in such a hurry that he hadn't brought any spare clothes, so he took off his own cloak and wrapped it around her.

"Here, wear this for now. I'll buy you something suitable when we reach town." Guang Ling looked at the child's dazed expression and pressed his thin lips together. "You aren't actually stupid, are you?"

He had to admit, once cleaned up, the little one was quite the beauty—black hair, black eyes, a soft, pink face, and a tiny lotus birthmark on her forehead.

Qingxi's expression stiffened. She had never experienced such intimate contact in her previous life.

This person was treating her like a child.

But in reality, her soul was over seven hundred years old.

"I'm not."

She answered in a small voice.

"Do you remember anything else? You're so small, how did you end up in the Star Dou Great Forest?" He asked while flipping the meat.

"Qingxi."

"Hmm?"

"My name." Qingxi pressed her thin lips together, lowered her eyes, and feigned sadness. "My... my mom and dad are dead. That giant golden bear..."

The point was made.

Guang Ling looked at the little one's pitiful appearance, automatically filling in the blanks about her tragic background, and decided not to ask anything further.

Seeing that the venison was ready, he used a knife to slice it into small pieces and handed one to Qingxi. "Here, little doll."

Qingxi had been worried it would be hot, but the temperature was just right when she took it. Her eyes lit up after a cautious bite, and she buried her head to dig in.

"Eat slowly, there's plenty." Guang Ling shook his head and began to eat at a leisurely pace.

"More."

He hadn't even taken two bites before he turned to see the little one had already finished, her dark eyes shining as she looked at him, a bit of grease staining the corners of her mouth.

Guang Ling's mouth twitched slightly as he tore off another piece and handed it to Qingxi.

She looked so small, yet she could polish off a large chunk of venison in just a few bites.

He couldn't help but worry; if such a bottomless pit were sent to the orphanage under Spirit Hall, wouldn't she eat the entire organization into bankruptcy?

Before long, an entire deer and several fish had ended up in their stomachs.

Three-quarters of it had gone into Qingxi's mouth.

Guang Ling was truly troubled!

Looking at the little doll who had consumed so much venison and two fish, his face was colored for the first time by an emotion called worry.

The latter, little Qingxi, lay on the grass, squinting comfortably. This was the first time she had eaten anything since arriving in this world.

And it was meat, too!

In her past life, Qingxi was someone who couldn't live without meat, especially loving to eat it right in front of Tang Sanzang.

He would go on about how monks should be compassionate and how heaven valued the virtue of life.

Why didn't he say that when he told the monkey to slaughter demons? Why didn't he think that way when he was getting an abortion in the Women's Kingdom?

Jin Chanzi, who had once refused to submit to the ways of Buddhism, had ultimately been domesticated into an obedient dog.

Feeling warm all over and perhaps growing sleepy, she drifted off, her eyes closing as the Chaos Art began to circulate within her body of its own accord.

"Sigh..." Guang Ling sighed again.

So troubled!

At the first light of dawn the next day, the two continued their journey. While passing through a small town, Guang Ling bought Qingxi a new set of clothes.

Dressed in a pink princess dress, she looked like a soft, powdery little dumpling, revealing a tiny canine tooth whenever she opened her mouth.

Guang Ling nodded in satisfaction. "Mm, as expected of someone picked up by this old man, she looks great."

"Pack up everything we just tried on." He settled the bill at the counter and took the opportunity to buy a stash of clothes for a little girl, tucking them into his storage soul tool.

Afterward, he took her for a stroll around town, stopped by a tavern to order a pile of delicious food, and bought plenty of good things along the way.

Guang Ling sat by the window, watching the little one standing on a stool and shoveling food into her mouth, and raised his cup to take a sip of the clear wine.

His brow was furrowed so tightly he could have crushed a fly between them.

With an appetite like that, he wondered who could afford to raise her.

He looked down at the wine in his cup, which reflected his own pale, youthful face.

Guang Ling knew clearly in his heart that the day of their parting was drawing near.