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They say three cobblers are equal to one Zhuge Liang. After the three little birds joined forces, Black Rabbit was no longer as careless as before, and actually took a more serious attitude.
The Eldest Cub, Second Cub, and Third Cub took turns in command. Once the captain issued an order, the other two, even if they had doubts about the instructions, would not object but would immediately carry them out.
Unlike ordinary mutated monsters, the three offspring have also received human cultural education, so their attack methods are not limited to their own abilities.
Besides their sharp beaks and claws, they will utilize anything within their sight, such as stones, mud, sand, branches, and water.
They would splash water and mud on Black Rabbit's face. Whether he dodged or not, it would create a gap in his field of vision, which would be a good opportunity to attack.
The stones and branches not only cause damage when thrown, but can also be used to harass the Black Rabbit, creating opportunities and time for teammates to attack.
These little tricks are like extra combat power for the cubs. Although they are easily countered by the experienced Black Rabbit has to admit that if these methods were used against opponents of similar strength, or if they were used by an adult bird like the Snow Bird, the effect would be even more outstanding.
When she had a moment to herself, Black Rabbit couldn't help but exclaim to Tao Qiu, "Roar!"
--Your three kids are so smart! They'll definitely be more outstanding than us when they grow up.
Tao Qiu said, "Chirp chirp."
--Peace and safety are the best things.
Black Rabbit muttered, "Roar."
Only with real strength can one ensure safety; it's better to be stronger.
Tao Qiu didn't argue with Black Rabbit anymore. He simply turned his gaze to the kids sitting together eating strawberries not far away. His lips curled up, and his expression was so gentle it seemed to glow.
Autumn has arrived again, and the annoying high temperatures have finally subsided. It's still a bit chilly in the mornings and at night, and the kids can finally snuggle into their dad's arms to sleep without worrying about getting too hot.
The only downside is that the kids don't sleep well at night. They often stay in Tao Qiu at night, and when they wake up in the morning, they're lying on his lap, at his feet, or above his head. Some even almost rolled off the mattress.
Kids are all like that. Tao Qiu also accidentally rolled off the bed when he was a child in his previous life. Luckily, the bed wasn't high and there was a blanket to cushion it, so he slept on the floor until his grandparents found him and picked him up.
The mattress is in the nest; if you roll off the mattress, it'll just be a pile of grass, so you won't fall anywhere.
But autumn is different from summer. What if people aren't resistant to the cold and get sick? That wouldn't be good.
So Tao Qiu made them transform back into bird form to sleep at night. With feathers for warmth, the autumn temperature wouldn't have any effect.
It was Black Rabbit's day off, and Green Python didn't come either. Tao Qiu was planting the last batch of crops for the year when a familiar scent drifted from the valley entrance.
Tao Qiu out to look, and this time it was the Red Fox again that brought pheasants and eggs.
The materials obtained from the old fox in one trip are enough to exchange for most of Tao Qiu's first crop. The Fox Clan comes to collect them in batches. Have they already taken all the crops they exchanged for materials in the summer?
This time, the Red Fox came in exchange for chickens and eggs, which Tao Qiu and her cubs love to eat. Of course, the amount of crops she could get in return would be less than what she could get by exchanging reagents and materials.
Tao Qiu asked, "Chirp chirp? Chirp chirp?"
--Master, what do you want to change? Or do you want to change a little bit of everything?
The Red Fox doesn't seem very interested. "Mmm..."
Ten strawberries, the rest replaced with radishes.
"Chirp." Tao Qiu responded, quickly went back and came back, handing the radish and strawberries wrapped in large leaves to Red Fox.
Red Fox took the items, but showed no intention of leaving. He looked at Tao Qiu, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.
Tao Qiu said, "Chirp chirp."
Say what you want to say.
Red Fox said, "Uh-huh..."
--I want to ask, after the old clan chief passes away, can we... exchange my blood and hair for crops and continue trading with you?
The Red Fox eagerly volunteered. "Mmm..."
--You know me, in terms of mutation level, I'm not much worse than the old chieftain. If you think I'm not as powerful as the old chieftain and want to reduce the amount of crops, that's fine too.
The Red Fox was always arrogant. He had bowed to other mutated monsters several times for the sake of the Fox Clan, but he felt no shame for it. He only regretted that he hadn't done enough.
Tao Qiu first said, "Chirp, chirp."
--I can't make that decision myself; I'll have to ask that human first.
Then he asked another question.
--Was it your own decision to have your materials taken, or was it a result of discussions with your clan chief?
We need to ask that clearly, otherwise it might slip up when we go to pick up the materials next time.
Red Fox said, "Uh-huh..."
--It was my suggestion. The old clan chief initially disagreed, saying he had already come up with a solution that would provide us with enough crops for a lifetime.
Tao Qiu instantly understood the meaning behind Red Fox's words.
Each time Lou Yu takes only a small amount of materials, the Fox Clan manages to exchange them for a large quantity of crops. To put it bluntly, if the old fox were to contribute enough materials before he dies, it's entirely possible he could exchange them for a lifetime's worth of crops.
The Red Fox continued, "Mmm..."
The old chieftain said that before he went mad, the human could take more of his blood and hair, or after he died, we could hand over his body to the human, but we refused his offer.
The ancestor dedicated most of his life to the Fox Clan, so that they could have crops to eat. Even on his deathbed, he had to bow down to the humans he had hated all his life, offering his blood and fur.
But in the eyes of the Red Fox and his group, there is a big difference between taking a little and taking a lot, or even exchanging one's entire body. They couldn't bear to let the old patriarch do that.
Before the old patriarch mutated, he was just an ordinary fox kept by humans for skinning and eating. The Red Fox didn't want the old patriarch, after finally gaining his freedom, to return to his former fate and be dismantled and studied by humans.
As for the old chieftain's suggestion to collect more materials, Red Fox was certain that the old chieftain would have that human drain his blood and shave his fur, and even then, they still couldn't accept it.
Back then, the Green Python was young, and had no choice but to watch helplessly as its mother's corpse was devoured by the mutated monster.
With him, the white fox, and many mutated foxes now in charge of their Fox Clan, they already felt immense guilt for not being able to cure their old patriarch's illness. How could they possibly let him end up dying a gruesome death?
Tao Qiu knew that given the Fox Clan's strong sense of unity and camaraderie, it was impossible for them to agree to the old clan chief's suggestion.
Tao Qiu said, "Chirp, chirp."
I'll give you the answer next time I go to pick up the materials.
The Red Fox thanked them and left with the crops.
The next day, the Black Rabbit arrived, bringing with it a small, live prey.
Previously, Black Rabbit always brought live prey when he came, because he ate lunch and dinner here, essentially bringing his own ingredients to a friend's house.
But the prey we'd seen before were all adults, plump and strong. Unlike this one, which was still a chick, only slightly larger than the Xiao Xue snowbirds.
However, it was much stronger than the prey the Little Snake had hunted alone before.
The Eldest Cub thought the Black Rabbit hadn't caught any big prey, and even comforted him with "Chirp, chirp, chirp."
--Uncle Black Rabbit, actually, you don't need to bring prey every time you come. We have enough food at home to eat for many, many meals.
Did Black Rabbit understand his unspoken meaning? He laughed and roared.
--This isn't for eating; it's for you to practice hunting. You've practiced for so long, it's time for some real-world experience.
At that moment, Tao Qiu also flew down from the cave entrance, carrying a plate of sliced fruit.
He said, "Right now, we can't take you hunting outside the valley. We can only bring in prey for you to practice with, starting with smaller animals. Once you're more skilled, we can gradually increase the difficulty."
Black Rabbit roared.
--These wild boars are bold and fierce, making them perfect for training.
Tao Qiu looked at the wild boar on the ground, which was glaring at them and panting heavily, and said to the boys, "You can hunt together this time, and then practice individually later."
The boys looked at the wild boar, their spirits high, and nodded.
Black Rabbit chuckled and asked, "Roar?"
Are you scared?
The children shook their heads. "Chirp chirp!"
--Don't be afraid!
Previously, Tao Qiu would not hide from the cubs when slaughtering and dissecting his prey. The cubs grew up eating raw meat, so naturally they were not afraid of blood.
On the contrary, their fighting spirit was boiling, desperately needing to be released through hunting.
Tao Qiu smiled and said, "Then go ahead. Dad will be waiting for your triumphant return."
After speaking, Tao Qiu flew to a high place to overlook the entire situation, while Black Rabbit went to block the entrance of the valley to prevent the little wild boar from escaping.
The little wild boar was impatient and fearful. When Tao Qiu and Black Rabbit were around, it was intimidated by their imposing presence and dared not make any rash moves. But as soon as they left, it immediately turned and ran towards the mouth of the valley.
The three chicks then took flight and gave chase.
This time, the Eldest Cub is in charge.
He took the lead and sped over to block the little wild boar. The little wild boar tried to rush over, but each time it was scared back by the sharp claws that the Eldest Cub showed.
While the baby boar and the Eldest Cub were locked in a stalemate, the Second Cub and Third Cub pounced, scratching several bloody marks on the baby boar's back and rump with their claws.
If it weren't for the wild boar's thick skin and the shell that had formed after rolling in the mud until it dried, those two claws could probably have torn off a chunk of flesh.
The little wild boar howled in pain, ignoring its Eldest Cub. It turned to look at the Second Cub and Third Cub, its eyes turning bloodshot, its sharp fangs poised for action. After letting out a cry, it suddenly charged at the Third Cub, which was flying the lowest.
This is the most common attack method used by ground animals. When Black Rabbit practiced with them, the speed of its claw swings and jumps was much faster than this, which is why the Third Cub easily increased their height and dodged it.