You Like Them? I'll Give Them to You

This time, Yuan Heng noticed the eager look in Duobao's little eyes.

She reached out and gently tapped his tiny head. “Little guy, you're about to drool~”

Huh?

Duobao instinctively raised a paw to wipe the corner of his mouth, only to discover there was no drool at all. His furry face flushed red with embarrassment.

Still, one couldn't really blame a rat. After all, such a sight was simply too overwhelming for a Treasure-Seeking Rat.

Seeing his reaction, Yuan Heng let out a soft chuckle and stroked his sleek, glossy fur. “Oh, you~”

“Speaking of which, you are my junior, so I can't meet you for the first time empty-handed.”

Yuan Heng browsed through her garden, picked a few items, and plucked a Huangzhong Plum, dropping them all before the little rat. “Here, since you like them, I'll give them all to you~”

Duobao clutched his tiny paws to his chest, his eyes wide with utter disbelief, as if saying, Really? All of these are for me~?

“Pfft—”

Seeing Duobao's expression, Yuan Heng couldn't help laughing out loud. “Mhm, they're all yours.”

“You're cute and well-mannered, and seeing you brings me joy, so take them as a gift.”

She tapped the center of Duobao's forehead. “Be good and put them away. But remember, don't eat certain things recklessly. Anything that affects your Dao path must be checked by your master first, understood?”

Duobao nodded his little head, extending his tiny paws to bow in a proper, dignified manner. Thank you for your generosity, Senior.

This, this, this... was simply impossible for a rat to refuse! A gift from an elder could not be declined, so no one could blame him for being greedy!

This senior was giving way, way, way too much!

Duobao stashed all the treasures into his innate storage pouch, keeping only the Huangzhong Plum to get up close and personal with it.

Today was truly a rat's lucky day~

Thank goodness Master brought his little rat out today!

Holding the Huangzhong Plum that was almost as big as himself, Duobao gave it a few dramatic kisses, rubbing his furry face against it over and over again.

Hehe~

His, his, his Huangzhong Plum~

Yuan Heng didn't disturb him, waiting until his excitement settled before speaking up. “Let's go. Time to see how your master's array repairs are coming along.”

Duobao nodded, and Yuan Heng took him along to find Tongtian.

When they arrived, Tongtian seemed to have just finished. “Oh? Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng, you're here.”

“I have finished repairing this Innate Liangyi Array and even added a great deal of power to it.”

“Come take a look, Fellow Daoist. Are you satisfied?”

Yuan Heng didn't actually know how to inspect arrays, so she simply reached out and touched the barrier. Feeling its solid, weighty presence... mhm, security achieved.

She nodded in satisfaction. “I naturally trust Fellow Daoist Tongtian's craftsmanship.”

“Thank you so much. Please, Fellow Daoist, join me inside for a chat.”

Tongtian nodded, thinking to himself that Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng was quite reserved. If she wanted to give him a reward, she could just give it—why call it 'joining her for a chat'?

Yuan Heng suddenly remembered and handed Duobao back to Tongtian. “Ah, right, here is your beloved disciple back as well.”

She gave the rat another reluctant stroke before returning him to Tongtian.

Sigh~ Who could resist such a gorgeous, soft, and spiritual little hamster?

Tongtian took back the rat, who still seemed reluctant to leave, and raised an eyebrow inwardly.

Lending Duobao to Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng to play with... ahem, stroll around with, actually allowed him to gain some opportunities.

It seemed the little fellow had reaped quite a harvest today.

Look at him, even in his master's hands, he was still lingering longingly.

Three massive black lines instantly appeared on Tongtian's forehead, and he flicked Duobao with a finger in annoyance.

Wuu...

Tears welling in his eyes, Duobao raised his tiny paws to cover his forehead. Wuu wuu, you really can't blame me! This senior is just too generous, and her aura is so comforting to a rat.

Duobao behaved himself and offered Tongtian a rat grin. Master~ Bao still loves you the most~

Tongtian: “...”

He pinched the bridge of his nose in helplessness and followed Yuan Heng with Duobao in tow.

Before long, they arrived at Yuan Heng's true home—her little palace.

The moment Tongtian laid eyes on the palace, his expression mirrored Duobao's earlier reaction.

This... this design, this color, this style... Okay, Tongtian, close those eyes~

We must respect Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng's aesthetic tastes~

Unable to look any longer, Tongtian averted his gaze, turned toward the sea of flowers directly ahead, and immediately changed the subject. “It seems Fellow Daoist grew another large field of flowers similar to the ones in Purple Heaven Palace after returning.”

Yuan Heng: “...”

Alright now, Fellow Daoist Tongtian, don't think I didn't notice that look of agony on your face!

Sob sob, she would definitely tear it down and replace it sooner or later!

How humiliating! How utterly embarrassing!

Someone devoid of any architectural talent or civil engineering skills just wants to run away crying~

Yuan Heng took a quiet breath before confirming, “Yes, these Flowers of Life represent the myriad living beings of Fangzhang Island.”

“The spirit butterflies will be nourished by the vital energy here, allowing them to continuously send life force into the Primordial World.”

Thinking of this, Yuan Heng looked out over the field of flowers, her lips curling into a gentle smile.

“The Primordial World is dangerous, and life is hard for its creatures... They will need this little touch of vitality.”

Tongtian looked at Yuan Heng before him. Her eyes were sparkling, brimming with love and compassion for all living things... A gentle, endless Dao charm emanated from her, radiating vibrant vitality.

It was almost impossible to look away.

He was witnessing yet another side of Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng...

This young fellow Daoist practicing the Dao of Life turned out to be surprisingly like-minded. Tongtian laughed heartily. “Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng's insights have given me much to ponder.”

“You are right. How can cultivators like us care only for ourselves? The weak and vulnerable in the Primordial World are countless. Since we are strong, we must naturally carve out a new path for those living beings.”

Yuan Heng: !!!

Oh my, oh my!

Is he already starting to 'intercept' a ray of hope for all living beings?

But...

Yuan Heng fell into deep thought. As she remembered the famous tragic fate of the Section Cult in her previous life, her brows furrowed slightly.

She decided she had to do something.

Yuan Heng raised her eyes to look directly at Tongtian. “Fellow Daoist, could you resolve a doubt for me?”

Meeting her sincere and firm gaze, Tongtian's pupils contracted slightly before he nodded. “Speak your mind, Fellow Daoist.”

“Suppose a ferocious tiger in the mountains is heavily injured and on the brink of death. If you encounter it, would you save it, or not?”

Tongtian pondered for a moment, then looked at Yuan Heng with conviction. “Naturally, I would save it.”

His tone possessed the spirited vigor of youth. “Encountering me is its karmic destiny. Since it has an affinity with me, why shouldn't I save it?”

Yuan Heng looked at him, a flicker of complexity flashing across her eyes. Indeed—how could Master Tongtian not seek a glimmer of hope even for a 'ferocious tiger'?

She pressed on, “If the tiger recovers and returns to the forest, hunting elks and preying on helpless rabbits—saving one life at the cost of a hundred—how do you resolve that?”

“This...”

Tongtian scratched his head, perplexed. “That is simply the tiger's nature.”

Yuan Heng remained silent, shaking her head. After a moment of silence, she took the initiative to change the subject. “You can take your time thinking about the answer, Fellow Daoist Tongtian.”

“For now, why don't you come with me to collect your reward for this trip?”

Hearing this, Tongtian temporarily suppressed his wandering thoughts and agreed, “Alright.”

The two of them, along with the rat, walked toward Yuan Heng's small garden... or perhaps her herb garden...