Thirty-Two Frames

But Qiao Ranran knew that, to Pei Ling, this increase would probably only earn his disdain.

Fortunately, Pei Ling was not there this time. She cautiously looked around and saw no sign of him. That made sense; he could not guard the place every moment. Without another word, Qiao Ranran scooped up Little Spirit Jade and ran for the Back Mountain.

Little Spirit Jade, who had only just bounced back from the Back Mountain: "..." All the fruit Little Spirit Jade had picked for Qiao Ranran had been jostled away!

The little wooden cabin had nothing she could cook with. Usually, she could only nibble on fruit and radishes; there was not even anything to start a fire or prepare a meal. So she had taken to slipping off to the Back Mountain to eat with the Spirit Jade Rabbits. She could not exactly eat rabbit in front of them, but being surrounded by so many adorable, fluffy creatures was lovely, as long as she did not have a fear of crowded clusters.

Green mountains, clear water, blue skies, and white clouds; cute companions; all kinds of fresh fruit and Spirit Plants still fragrant with earth. Beside the newly lit campfire lay heaps of food waiting to be prepared.

Life like this was wonderful, even if it left her caught between laughter and tears.

Without a leader, the Spirit Jade Rabbits were just a bunch of witless rabbits who would get bullied by other groups. So after Little Spirit Jade had followed Qiao Ranran away from the Back Mountain for the sake of a good meal, Little Spirit Jade still had to return now and then to check whether the others were alive, whether they had all been eaten, and so on. That would continue unless a new leader emerged.