4

    Acquiring a Little Pet

    Upon their arrival in the Weha City, the Bai family easily entered the city as they were well known by the city gatekeepers. Bai San took the herbs to sell at a shop that regularly purchased from him, before taking Jiu Ying to sell the demon beast’s core.

    Afterward, it was time for the two children and the youth in a child's body to tour the city's market.

    Bai Xue looked at the city’s market excitedly. She had seen markets in the world she came from, which mostly sold food and clothing. Here was similar, but what made it different were the exotic and magical items sold all around.

    Bai Xue explored with a sense of novelty, asking her elder brother about anything unfamiliar.

    Bai San served as an excellent guide, explaining everything until Bai Xue understood.

    Clang…

    Suddenly, while walking, Bai Xue's gaze met with that of a small rabbit in a cage. Her initial reaction was surprise, reminding her of being caged like an animal.

    This rabbit was just a normal wild animal, caught to be food. Although she had eaten rabbit meat before, this particular rabbit made her feel differently. Bai Xue felt uneasy seeing it caged. Why did she feel this way only for this animal, when there were many other caged wild animals around, including other rabbits?

    "Is something the matter, Xue Er?" Bai San asked, noticing his sister standing still, concerned that Bai Xue, who had just recovered from illness, might be having a relapse.

    "Brother, I want that rabbit," Bai Xue pointed at the rabbit in front of her, after pondering for a while on how to deal with her feelings.

    "A rabbit? We can catch one in the forest," Bai San replied, looking at the rabbit Bai Xue was pointing at, puzzled.

    Wild rabbits like this, though fast, were not difficult to catch. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of rabbits in the Hundred Demons Forest. Bai San himself could catch them daily, never seeing his sister express a desire for one.

    "No, I want this one. Can you buy it for me?" Bai Xue shook her head, asking her brother while still focusing on the little rabbit.

    There was something special about it. She could feel it. Something that kept her from taking her eyes off it... something told her so.

    Bai San looked at his sister and, seeing her genuine desire, did not refuse any longer. The price of the rabbit was not expensive, just one copper coin, which was not much if it meant purchasing it for Bai Xue.

    "Alright, I'll buy it for you," Bai San agreed and then went to purchase the rabbit.

    "The shopkeeper said it's very ferocious, not allowing anyone to touch it. Are you sure you want to keep it, Xue Er?" Bai San conveyed the shopkeeper's warning and asked Bai Xue seriously, fearing it might harm her.

    "I am sure. I can take care of it, don't worry," Bai Xue smiled and took the cage from Bai San.

    She stared quietly at the rabbit in the cage before softly asking.

    "Do you want to go with me, or would you prefer to return to the forest?"

    The little rabbit looked back and hopped forward slightly, and Bai Xue understood immediately that it agreed to go with her.

    "From now on, your name will be 'Bai Tu', my little white rabbit," Bai Xue smiled broadly, opened the cage, and scooped up Bai Tu into her arms.

    She hugged Bai Tu tightly and then followed Bai San and the others to the carriage. The sight of the small, pale child holding a cute little rabbit in her arms was endearing to anyone who saw it.

    Bai Xue looked adorable, but she paid no attention to anyone else except for the little rabbit she held at that moment.

    Later, Bai San brought everyone back home. The elder himself had returned from the herbal garden and was storing the sun-dried herbs in a specially made wooden box for keeping herbs.

    "Great-grandfather! I'm back!"

    "Great-grandfather, Lan Er is back,"

    The round figures of the twin children ran to Grandfather Bai Ling before jumping to hug his legs like plump monkeys. Despite being nearly a hundred years old, Bai Ling was still strong, thanks to his cultivation reaching at least the initial stages of high-level prowess.

    Bai San, too, was a high-level martial artist, but he was on the verge of advancing to the spirit-level.

    At just twenty-five years old and not a noble from a high-ranking family, but possessing such a skill, Bai San was considered a genius as well.

    Because Bai San was an Earth Element user, his body was exceptionally strong. Having to venture into the Hundred Demons Forest daily for herbs and demon beast’s cores was part of his training, making him stronger than Bai Ling, even though he was younger.

    Bai San, who didn't have the Wood Element like Bai Ling and Bai Xue, never felt inferior and preferred his Earth Element, dedicating himself to becoming strong to protect everyone.

    He was a truly admirable person.

    "Xue Er, did you also go out today?" Bai Ling turned to ask Bai Xue, who stood behind holding a rabbit.

    "Yes, Grandfather. I learned many things today," Bai Xue responded with a slight smile.

    "And that rabbit..."

    "I asked my brother to buy it for me."

    "You bought it? Aren't the forests full of them?" Bai Ling asked, puzzled why they would spend money on something abundantly available in the forest. If she wanted one, Bai San could simply catch it, eliminating the need to waste coins.

    "Because I like it."

    "Your brother could have caught one for you, even dozens."

    "I like this one," Bai Xue insisted seriously, and eventually, Bai Ling gave in without further comments on the rabbit.

    Bai Ling thought that although Bai Xue was twenty, she had been asleep for ten years. Her mindset was still that of a child, and if she wanted to be stubborn about something, it wasn't unusual. Conceding gracefully because of this, Bai Ling accepted her decision.

    "Alright, alright. If you like it, then keep it. But if you want more, just tell your brother to catch them for you."

    "I understand. Thank you, Grandfather." Bai Xue smiled before walking back to her house.

    Days before, Bai Xue noticed an unused herbal plot next to her bedroom. It was her garden when she was younger, before she was poisoned by the Winter Serpent, leading to a long slumber. Bai Xue thought she would have to revive this herb garden during her free time.

    Thud.

    When Bai Xue entered the bedroom, she gently placed Bai Tu down. The little rabbit stood still, gazing at her without attempting to flee anywhere.

    "Are you hungry?" Bai Xue asked.

    "..." Bai Tu moved its head back and forth before leaping towards a Fire Lily, a medicinal herb located at the corner of Bai Xue's bedroom, used to dispel the lingering cold of the poison in her body.

    "Is something the matter, little rabbit?"

    Crunch!

    Bai Tu answered Bai Xue's question by biting and eating the herb. Seeing this, Bai Xue thought the rabbit must be very hungry, so she went to fetch some vegetables from the garden she had planted for the little rabbit to eat. However, it turned out that it refused to eat them and instead turned back to continue eating the Fire Lily, ignoring Bai Xue altogether.

    What does this mean? Does Bai Tu eat herbs but not ordinary vegetables?

    Bai Xue contemplated Bai Tu's actions and didn't let herself ponder for long, as she quickly went to fetch the herbs that Bai Ling had prepared for her to practice medicine, before offering them to Bai Tu to try.

    And it turned out, it ate them!

    Does this mean Bai Tu was a rabbit that ate medicinal herbs?

    Bai Xue, realizing this, felt it was quite wasteful. If her grandfather knew, she might get an earful.

    "I guess I'll have to take you to forage in the forest, Bai Tu. Other things, grandfather is understanding, but when it comes to herbs... Let's not even speak of it," Bai Xue murmured softly while gently stroking the innocent-looking rabbit in front of her.

    She had already thought about entering the forest. No matter what, the outer forest was not dangerous. The animals were just ordinary wild animals. Bai Lan, Bai Tian, and other children in the village could all enter the outer forest. So, Bai Xue, who had yet to cultivate martial power, should be able to enter the outer forest as well.

    But as for the inner part of the Hundred Demons Forest, it remained a forbidden area for her and many others. Even adults who had high levels of power did not dare to venture close to that forest at all!