Little Gold-Swallowing Beast

Beyond the forest lay a lake bordering the Lima Plain. White cranes danced there, and deer frolicked along its shores, making it a paradise for all kinds of fish and birds.

A small, five-colored deer ambled to the water's edge. Its reflection shimmered in the clear lake as it slowly lowered its neck, poised to drink.

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

The other little animals nearby scattered in fright.

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

"A three-hundred-year-old Five-Colored Enchanted Deer. That was quite a flight around the lake, but now I'll have a fine meal to show for it."

Five-colored deer were one of the delicacies of Douluo Continent. Their meat was excellent, and usually only the royal court could enjoy it. Wild five-colored deer were even more tender and delicious.

Guang Ling picked up the deer and flew back the way he had come.

Elsewhere, beside the campfire.

Feeling Guang Ling's approach, Qingxi quickly stopped cultivating and looked up. A silver-haired youth was returning with a little deer in hand.

"Big brother," she called obediently.

Her spiritual power had yet to recover even a tenth of its strength. Otherwise, she would have slipped away while no one was watching.

She had to admit, the spiritual energy outside was much thinner than it was around the Ice and Fire Spirit Pool, but still richer than in the world where she had lived in her previous life. If she set up a spirit-gathering formation, perhaps...

That proved this continent was extremely suitable for cultivating immortality.

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

Qingxi blinked. Was he going to roast meat?

If so, she could wait until they finished eating and then look for a chance to slip away.

She picked up some firewood from the ground. Looking at her own short, tiny fingers, she furrowed her brows slightly, then obediently put together a roasting spit.

With a casual wave, Guang Ling conjured an ice blade. He skinned the deer, gutted it, and tossed aside everything but the kidneys and other innards.

He spotted some plump fish in the lake and caught a few while he was at it.

After washing the game, he turned around and saw that the little one had already set up the spit and was sitting obediently beside it, tending the fire.

Guang Ling raised an eyebrow. How was she so good at this?

He skewered the whole deer and set it over the fire. Then he found a few smaller branches, threaded the fish and the deer's kidneys onto them, and laid them beside the flames.

Guang Ling sat down casually, crossed one leg over the other, and turned the venison now and then.

The sun sank in the west, dyeing the horizon gold, just like the youth's eyes.

Qingxi tilted her head as she watched. His eyes seemed to shift between brown and deep blue with his Soul Power...

The grassland darkened. Fireflies appeared in the night, and a campfire burned quietly by the lake. Now and then, fat hissed and crackled.

The venison slowly dried, roasting to a golden brown. Guang Ling drew a small knife and cut long slashes into it, then took two packets of seasoning from his Storage Soul Tool, ready to sprinkle them over the meat.

Guang Ling's hand paused. He glanced at the quiet little girl beside him. "Can you eat spicy food?"

Qingxi sat on the grass with her knees hugged to her chest. Watching the venison turn golden over the coals, she nodded.

"Easy to feed, aren't you?" Guang Ling muttered. His hands kept moving, and the moment he sprinkled on the seasoning, a rich, distinctive aroma of roasted meat filled the air.

Qingxi couldn't help swallowing.

It smelled so good! It was meat!

The previous moment, she was still lost in the savory aroma.

The next, Guang Ling had picked her up and tossed her into the lake.

"Hel—" She had barely surfaced before a cold hand pressed her back under the water.

"Stop squirming. I'm washing you off. You're filthy," Guang Ling said with some distaste.

Once he had washed her, Guang Ling used his Soul Power to dry the little girl's wet hair. There was no way she could wear her old clothes again.

He had left in such a hurry that he hadn't brought any clothes. So he took off his own cloak and wrapped it around the little girl.

"Here, wear this for now. Once we get to town, I'll buy you something that fits." Seeing the little girl's blank expression, Guang Ling pressed his thin lips together. "Don't tell me you've really gone stupid?"

There was no denying it: cleaned up, the little one really was a beauty in the making. She had black hair, dark eyes, and a soft, rosy face, with a tiny lotus-shaped birthmark between her brows.

Qingxi's expression stiffened. No one had ever been so close to her in her previous life.

Did he think she was a little kid?

But her soul was actually over seven hundred years old.

"No."

She answered softly.

"Do you remember anything? You're so little. How did you end up in the Star Dou Great Forest?" He turned the venison as he asked.

"Qingxi."

"Hmm?"

"My name." Qingxi pressed her lips together and lowered her eyes, pretending to be sad. "My fa... my parents are both dead. They were killed by that golden giant bear..."

She left it at that.

Seeing how pitiful the little one looked, Guang Ling automatically imagined her tragic past and didn't ask anything more.

When the venison was nearly done, he cut it into small pieces with his knife and handed one to Qingxi. "Here, little one."

Qingxi had worried it might be too hot, but it was just the right temperature. She took a cautious bite, her eyes lit up, and she buried herself in the meal.

"Slow down. There's plenty." Guang Ling shook his head and ate at a leisurely pace.

"More."

He had barely taken two bites. When he turned his head, he saw that the little one had already finished her piece. Her bright black eyes were fixed on him, and a little grease clung to the corners of her mouth.

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

She was such a tiny thing, yet she could polish off a big piece of venison in just two or three bites.

He couldn't help worrying. If he sent a little gold-swallowing beast like her to the orphanage run by Spirit Hall, would she eat Spirit Hall into poverty?

Before long, the whole deer and several fish had disappeared into the two of them.

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

Guang Ling was beside himself with worry!

Looking at the little girl who had eaten so much venison along with two fish, for the first time, an emotion called worry crept onto his face.

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

And it was meat!

In her previous life, Qingxi had loved meat above all else, especially eating it right in front of Tang Sanzang.

He was always saying that monks should be compassionate and that Heaven cherished all living things.

But when he had the Monkey King beat demons to death, where had those words been? And when he had an abortion in the Women's Kingdom, had he thought about them then?

Jin Chanzi, who had once scorned Buddhism's ways, had ultimately been broken in and turned into an obedient dog.

Warmth spread through her body. Perhaps she was sleepy; her eyes drifted shut, and the Chaos Art began circulating on its own.

"Ah..." Guang Ling sighed again.

What a worry!

At dawn the next day, the two of them continued on their way. When they passed through a small town, Guang Ling bought Qingxi a new outfit.

She wore a pink princess dress and looked like a soft little ball of pink sweetness, a tiny canine peeking out whenever she opened her mouth.

Guang Ling nodded in satisfaction. "Mm, no wonder I picked you up. You really are a pretty one."

"Wrap up all the ones she tried on just now." He paid at the counter, then bought some more girls' clothes and packed them into his Storage Soul Tool.

Then he took her around town, stopped at a tavern and ordered a pile of tasty dishes, and bought plenty of other things along the way.

Guang Ling sat by the window, watching the little one standing on a chair and digging into her food. He raised his cup and took a sip of clear liquor.

His deeply furrowed brows could have crushed a fly.

She ate so much. He couldn't imagine who could afford to raise her.

He lowered his eyes to the liquor in his cup. It reflected his pale, youthful face.

Guang Ling knew their parting day was drawing near.