But to his surprise, the little white fox merely sniffed hard a few times, looked up at Su Wei, and then did something he hadn't expected.
It turned and trotted over to Su Wei's feet, rubbing its fluffy head against his pant leg again and again.
A new emotion came through Beast Language.
[This... warmer... safer...]
The scent of chaga was the mark of home, but now Su Wei, a living, breathing person who had given it food and warmth, had taken the place of that mark.
He had become its new home.
For no apparent reason, Su Wei felt a gentle knock against his heart.
In two lifetimes, he had never experienced anything like this.
A little life of another species was relying on and trusting him so purely.
The figure of eight thousand dollars popped into his head again, but this time, it seemed rather pale.
He reached out and tentatively stroked the little white fox's head.
Its fur felt smooth and soft beneath his hand.
The little white fox narrowed its eyes in pleasure and purred in its throat. It even stretched out its neck for him to pet.
"Fuck..."
Su Wei cursed under his breath, unsure whether he was cursing the little thing for having no backbone or himself for going soft.
A practical problem stood before him.
If he kept it, he would have to share his already meager food with it.
Out in this wilderness, one more mouth to feed meant one more risk.
But if he didn't keep it... He looked at the little thing in his arms. Could he really send it away in exchange for those eight thousand dollars?
As he wrestled with the decision, he suddenly remembered something and hurriedly asked the system module.
[Can a tamed beast pet be traded or sold?]
The module's response was cold and direct.
[Beast pets are bound assets and cannot be traded or sold. Upon the host's death, beast pets will regain their freedom.]
A bound asset...
Su Wei froze for a moment, then let out a long breath.
Well, that settled it. There was no need to agonize over it anymore.
He breathed a sigh of relief. As it happened, the rules didn't allow it, saving him the trouble of agonizing over the choice.
He could tell himself with a perfectly clear conscience that he was keeping it because it was already his private property, a long-term investment.
Yes, that was it.
Su Wei had found the perfect excuse for his practicality, and the little bit of guilt in his heart vanished at once.
Besides, there was a whole month until the repayment date.
He was completely confident he could scrape together thirty thousand dollars.
His confidence, of course, came from his module system.
Su Wei bent down and picked up the little white bundle at his feet.
The little thing was light, only about five or six jin, a warm bundle in his arms.
It didn't resist, instead taking the opportunity to curl up in a comfortable spot in his arms, its ice-blue eyes gazing at him without blinking.
"From now on, you're sticking with me."
Su Wei hefted it in his arms as he spoke.
"I ought to give you a name."
He looked at the little thing, snow-white all over and round as a ball when curled up, and blurted out a name.
"Let's call you Cotton Candy."
The name clashed completely with his current image as a down-and-out hunter, and was even a little ridiculous.
But when he said the name Cotton Candy, the little thing in his arms wagged its tail excitedly and stuck out its pink tongue to give his wrist a gentle lick.
Su Wei's lips twitched, and he said nothing more.
He put Cotton Candy on the wooden bed covered with dry grass, then lay down on the outside, using his body to block the gap at the edge of the bed and keep it from falling.
With a warm little furnace in his arms, his physical exhaustion came flooding back.
Outside, the wind and snow still howled, pounding fiercely against the cabin.
But inside, the fire crackled, and a warm little life breathed steadily beside him.
It was the most peaceful sleep he'd had since coming to this damn place in Alaska.
The next day.
Su Wei woke to silence.
He opened his eyes, and the first things he felt were the fluffy softness and warmth in his arms.
Cotton Candy was still asleep, its little body rising and falling with each breath.
He sat up carefully, without disturbing it.
The cabin was cold, and the fire had long since gone out.
But unlike the day before, the astonishing howling through the gaps around the door and windows had ceased.
Su Wei walked over to the cabin's only small window and pulled aside the rag used to block the wind.
Outside, it was broad daylight.
The wind and snow that had raged through the night had stopped.
As far as the eye could see, the entire world was covered in a thick layer of snow.
The coniferous forest in the distance was laden with snow and frost, reflecting a dazzling light in the rays of the newly risen sun.
The blizzard had passed.
The way down the mountain was open.
Chapter 8: Down the Mountain, the First Deal After Getting Home Safely
Su Wei didn't linger at the window.
No matter how beautiful the snowy scenery was, it couldn't be exchanged for money or fill his stomach.
He quickly swept his equipment into his backpack.
The magnesium fire starter, the Swiss army knife, and the most precious item of all, the chaga.
Su Wei moved quickly and efficiently.
The clothes he had left to dry by the stove yesterday were thoroughly dry now.
Su Wei got dressed and gave the inside of the cabin a rough cleaning.
After making sure he hadn't missed anything, he prepared to set out.
On Kodiak Island, the calm after a blizzard usually meant greater danger was coming.
So he had to hurry down the mountain.
Fortunately, there wasn't much of the journey down left.
"Let's go."
Su Wei scooped up the white furball that was still playing dead in the pile of dry grass.
Cotton Candy's ears twitched. It was just about to resist when that big hand caught it by the scruff of the neck.
Su Wei tucked it into the pocket of his outdoor jacket and zipped it halfway up, leaving only a fluffy head and those ice-blue eyes exposed.
Cotton Candy was his beast pet now, so of course he had to take it with him.
Su Wei walked to the door, gripped the icy latch, and pulled hard inward.
It didn't budge.
Outside the crack in the doorway, a wall of snow blocked it solid. Fine ice chips slipped through the gap and landed on his boots.
It was sealed shut.
Su Wei stepped back half a pace, tensed his shoulder, and slammed into the door.
Bang!
With a grating scrape, the accumulated snow collapsed, and cold wind flooded half the cabin.
The air he drew into his lungs was icy and piercing, carrying an intense chill.
Su Wei wasn't wearing gloves.