Seeing how happily Mu Bai ate, the rabbit grew excited. It hopped onto Azure Ox's head and gave him a pat. Azure Ox turned his head and opened his mouth, and the rabbit stuffed the remaining half of the carrot inside. Azure Ox let out a moo, turned back, and slowly began to chew.
Mu Bai offered the carrot in his hand to the rabbit, but it refused, clicking its teeth to urge him to hurry up and eat.
A little while later, the rabbit's eyes lit up. It turned and hopped off Azure Ox's back again, soon returning with an armful of green grass for Mu Bai to eat.
To find such lush, glistening grass in the depths of winter-it must have been another treasure the rabbit had hidden in some burrow, now generously brought out to share with Mu Bai.
Mu Bai did not know whether to laugh or cry. He put a blade of grass into his mouth and gently chewed. Its juices actually contained a tremendous vitality, which was what allowed it to remain so full of life in this bitter winter.
The grass juices slowly seeped into Mu Bai's body, threads of vitality spreading within him. They were no weaker than the life force emanating from the Five Elements Inner Core. Even his soul felt as though it had drunk sweet dew, drifting in comfort.
The rabbit nodded repeatedly, urging Mu Bai to eat. Mu Bai promptly stuffed the handful of grass into his mouth. Its emerald juices nourished his heart, his whole body, and his weary spirit, bringing him vitality and warmth.
Azure Ox slowly walked toward a valley where greenery still lingered. A river flowed silently through it, with a splash or two occasionally blooming as fish darted out of the water.
Clearly,