Beastmaster: I'm really just a forest ranger

Chapter 429 New Year's Gifts for the Little Ones

The sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner finally came to an end in a satisfied and pleasant atmosphere.

At the dining table,
Chen Yuan, Chen Wenhao, and Chen Weiyi leaned back lazily in their chairs, their faces flushed and relaxed after a hearty meal.

On the other side, the little ones were lounging around, their bellies round and full, completely satisfied.

Cola lay sprawled on the carpet, occasionally smacking its lips in satisfaction, savoring the delicious chunks of meat. Sprite nestled beside it, its little belly bulging.

The duck was sprawled on the sofa, its wings stroking its round belly;

Youmi curled up on the soft cushion in the corner, squinting her eyes with a satisfied look on her face.

Even the egg was perched on its special mat, its head slightly lowered, appearing very relaxed.

Just as this lazy, blissful atmosphere filled the air, Scarface Rat slowly got up and rushed toward his own member: "Whoosh."

The little wood mice immediately understood, stood up in unison, and began cleaning up after their meal.

They had a clear division of labor and moved quickly. The scarred rat jumped onto the table and passed the empty plates and bowls down one by one, while the little wood spirit rats received them on the ground. Then, they lined up and scurried the tableware to the kitchen.

Soon, the sound of running water and the soft clinking of dishes could be heard from the kitchen.

Chen Yuan glanced at Ya Ya, who pretended not to notice and kept her eyes closed.

It wasn't until Chen Yuan coughed softly that Ya Ya reluctantly stood up with her round body and slowly walked towards the kitchen.

With a single opening of its mouth, water gushed forth, and the oil stains vanished instantly.

Meanwhile, the television had already begun broadcasting the lively and festive Spring Festival Gala, with song and dance performances and skits taking turns on stage, creating a strong festive atmosphere.

Looking at the glamorous stage and star-studded lineup on TV, Chen Wenhao suddenly sighed:
"Brother, if the Donghuang Tournament had ended earlier, you, as the champion, would definitely have been invited to the gala, right? You might even have gotten to go on stage and show your face. That would have been so glamorous!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yuan picked up his teacup, took a sip, glanced at his relaxed grandfather and excited younger brother beside him, and at the pets filling the room, and shook his head:
"Going to those kinds of occasions is nothing more than going through the motions and saying some polite words."

"In comparison, I would rather stay at home peacefully like this, with you all, watching TV and staying up late on New Year's Eve with these little ones."

"Now this is what celebrating the New Year should be like."

Time slipped away quietly amidst laughter and the background noise of television programs.

As night deepened, Chen Weiyi's face showed signs of fatigue.

He stood up and said, "I'm going to sleep now. You two brothers can play a little longer."

After saying that, he did not turn around immediately, but instead took out two large red envelopes that he had prepared in advance from his pocket and handed them to Chen Yuan and Chen Wenhao.

"Grandpa, we're all grown up now, and we can earn our own money, this..." Chen Wenhao said somewhat embarrassedly.

Without saying a word, Chen Weiyi shoved the red envelopes into their hands: "Take them!"

"Giving red envelopes during Chinese New Year is an old tradition, meant to bring good luck. We shouldn't forget the customs, and we shouldn't forget the sentiments!"

Chen Yuan and Chen Wenhao did not refuse again.

Then, as if by magic, Chen Weiyi pulled out a stack of much smaller, more exquisite red cloth bags from his pocket, embroidered with various adorable animal patterns:
“You little guys get a share too.”

He began distributing them one by one.

When Cola and Sprite received the red envelopes, they wagged their tails excitedly, sniffed them carefully with their noses, and then carried them to their little den to hide them.
Morning and Evening Flower Fairy gracefully accepted it, first with a sweet smile, then bowing slightly to Chen Weiyi;
Duck accepted it without hesitation, and Electric Flying Cat quickly hid it in its little treehouse after accepting it.
Egg used the tip of its tail to curl over, a hint of surprise and barely perceptible satisfaction flashing in the dragon's eyes;
Ironhead also got a share, and his red envelope was the biggest and fullest, after all, he was recognized by everyone as the farm's best model employee.

Chen Weiyi even considered the two little foxes and the bear father and cubs, and handed out four red envelopes.

The four little guys were quite surprised. Although they didn't understand the meaning of the red envelopes, they still happily accepted them.

Of course, while red envelopes are novel to them, they certainly don't offer any real, practical resources.

Unless, of course, human currency becomes popular in the pet world.

When the red envelope was handed to Youmi, it was clearly stunned for a moment, its eyes wide open, as if it hadn't expected to receive one.

It hesitated for a moment before stretching out its little paws and quickly pulling the small red envelope into its arms. Then it quickly lowered its head and rubbed its head against the envelope, making a very soft "gurgle~~~" sound.

After receiving the red envelope, Duck immediately bit it open with its beak, peeked inside, and then curiously turned its head to look at Youmi's red envelope, which seemed to be a little bigger.

Youmi immediately arched her back warily, bared her little sharp teeth at Yaya, and made a shrill threatening sound. She held her red envelope tightly with both paws, looking like she was guarding her food, as if to say, "I'll fight anyone who dares to touch my New Year's money."

Seeing this heartwarming scene, Chen Yuan smiled and said, "Alright, I've finished collecting the red envelopes. I have some New Year's gifts here."

He got up and took out a bunch of gift boxes that he had carefully selected some time ago from the room.

He first handed a simple wooden box to Chen Wenhao: "Brother, this is a level three spiritual plant called the Mind-Clearing and Spirit-Awakening Orchid. Placing it in your bedroom can calm your mind and help you stay focused when studying or researching for a long time."

Then, he handed Chen Weiyi an even larger jade box, radiating a rich life force:

"Grandpa, this is a hundred-year-old spiritual ginseng. It has a mild medicinal property and is most suitable for nourishing the body. It can also effectively improve physical fitness."

Then, he turned to the little ones who were staring at him expectantly and began handing out gifts: “Don’t rush, don’t rush, everyone gets one.”

Spark's gift was an exquisite oil painting depicting the scene of Chen Yuan and Spark's first meeting.

The fields after the rain, the injured fire-breathing bird, and Chen Yuan tending to its wounds.

"Chirp~~~~~~"

Spark was clearly surprised by the gift. Her golden-red eyes stared at it for a long time, her gaze seemingly reflecting the scene from that moment.

"Do you like it?" Chen Yuan asked.

"Chirp~"

The spark tilted its head slightly, its sound barely audible.

Chen Yuan patted Huohua's head, then chuckled softly, "It's so good to have met you."

"Ouch!"

Cola bounced and hopped between the person and the pet, her face full of impatient longing.

What about mine?
What about mine?
"Don't worry, this is what you have."

Cola received a specially customized pendant, which was in the shape of a tiny wind-riding dog.

Though small, it is majestic.

"Ouch!"

Staring intently at the delicate little pendant, Cola jumped for joy and immediately asked Chen Yuan to put it on. Then it ran to the mirror, held its head high, and swaggered over to the other little guys, showing off with great arrogance.

The gifts from the Morning and Evening Fairy are also specially customized gorgeous outfits, which make you look even more beautiful when you wear them.

"Singing~"

The little guy stood on tiptoe in front of the mirror, looking closely, before flying to Chen Yuan's face and rubbing his little cheek against Chen Yuan's.

Egg's gift was a deep, ocean-blue pendant, which the seller said was made from the shed scales of a certain aquatic pet and could calm the mind and enhance affinity with the water element.

Egg took the dragon's claws, carefully hung it around its neck, and then nodded slightly to Chen Yuan: "Aww~"

I am very pleased. When I take charge of the Dragon Palace in the future, I will grant you the position of Grand Steward.

Chen Yuan chuckled and then took out Youmi's gift.

Youmi received a small bell, which she tied around her neck. It would make a very faint, pleasant sound when she moved. It could be used as an ornament, and it would also make it easy for Chen Yuan to find this mischievous little guy who liked to hide.

"Guchu~"

Yumi loved it so much that she kept poking at the bell with her paws.

Duck's gift is a waterproof and sturdy bright yellow waist bag with a little fish embroidered on it, perfect for carrying her snacks and trinkets.

Duck immediately stuffed the red envelope and the remaining dried fish into it, then proudly puffed out its chest and walked around, quacking loudly.

Electric Flying Cat's gift is a delicate little comb that can perfectly comb its frizzy fur, keeping it looking elegant at all times.

Chen Yuan smiled and said, "Only by maintaining a presentable image can one pursue happiness."

Upon hearing this, Electric Flying Cat's eyes suddenly lit up as if it had just thought of something: "Electric!"

The other little ones also received their own special New Year's gifts, and the farm was soon filled with excited shouts.

Outside the window, sporadic New Year's Eve fireworks were still blooming, illuminating the happy smiling faces inside the house.

The next morning.

The first rays of dawn in the new year had not yet pierced through the thick clouds, and the sky was still a hazy gray-blue.

Xuanhe Town was still immersed in the tranquility before dawn, but this tranquility was abruptly broken by a series of popping sounds, like popping beans.

Chen Yuan was awakened from his sleep by the loud firecrackers. He burrowed his head deeper into the warm blankets with some impatience and mumbled, "Can't a person get any sleep this early in the morning?"

But the sound of firecrackers showed no signs of stopping; on the contrary, it seemed to be getting even louder.

He sighed helplessly and struggled to sit up from his warm bed.

Don't even think about sleeping in on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

He reached for his phone on the bedside table, and the screen lit up, instantly flooded with a series of New Year's greetings.

He leaned against the headboard, yawning as he replied to messages.

After replying to the message, he put down his phone and his gaze fell on the thick carpet at the foot of the bed.

Cola was lying there sprawled out, her belly rising and falling evenly with her breathing, sleeping soundly, with a glistening drool hanging from the corner of her mouth, clearly unaffected by the noise outside.

Hearing the firecrackers, Chen Yuan couldn't bear to see Cola sleeping so soundly. He tiptoed over, squatted down, patted its fluffy head, and deliberately raised his voice a little:

"Cola! Wake up!"

"It's the first day of the new year, the sun's already high in the sky, and you're still sleeping. Get up, you have to get up early on the new year!" Startled by the sudden interruption, Cola jolted awake, abruptly raising its head and letting out a bewildered howl, its eyes filled with confusion as if asking, "Who am I? Where am I?"

It shook its head, and only after recognizing Chen Yuan did it realize who he was. It let out a pitiful howl, stretched reluctantly, and slowly got up.

After washing up, Chen Yuan led a still somewhat drowsy Kele out of the bedroom.

The aroma of breakfast was already wafting through the restaurant, and Grandpa and Chen Wenhao were already sitting at the table eating.

"You're up? Come and eat." Chen Weiyi looked up at him and called out.

"Brother, Happy New Year! Did you sleep well last night?" Chen Wenhao asked, his mouth full of breakfast.

Happy New Year. I was woken up by firecrackers; I didn't get enough sleep.

Chen Yuan smiled and shook his head, then pulled out a chair and sat down.

The family gathered around the dining table for their first meal of the new year.

Their family doesn't have as many complicated New Year customs as some families. After the reunion dinner and the giving of red envelopes, the most important sentiments have been expressed, and the rest is about being at ease and visiting each other.

After breakfast and a short rest, Chen Yuan and his family went out to visit several close elders and relatives in town to offer New Year's greetings.

Wherever he went, this champion of Donghuang became the absolute protagonist.

His relatives held his hands, their faces beaming with pride, their words filled with warm congratulations, caring greetings, and expectations for his future development.

Chen Yuan maintained a smile and responded politely throughout.

After a series of visits, the constant congratulations and flattery were certainly delightful, but the continuous enthusiastic greetings also made people a little tired. By the time the visits were over, it was almost afternoon.

The afternoon sun was just right, bringing a touch of warmth.

Seeing that it was still early, Chen Yuan looked at Spark and Cola and said, "Let's go check on Qing Po."

"It's the Lunar New Year, I wonder if it's lively over there?"

"Chirp~"

A spark is perfectly acceptable; I nodded slightly.

"Ow!"

Cola's eyes lit up; he was extremely excited.

Go out and have some fun!
"Wait, I'll bring it some gifts." Chen Yuan went back into the house, bringing the gifts he hadn't yet given out, along with a pile of pet food.

"chirp"

Spark gazed intently at Chen Yuan, a thoughtful expression on her face.

How many gifts did he prepare?

A moment later, Chen Yuan flipped over and mounted Spark.

"Chirp~"

With a flap of its wings, Spark created a gust of hot wind and instantly took off, soaring into the depths of the Qinling Mountains.

A surge of air and a howling wind followed beneath the cola.

The wind high in the sky is sharp and refreshing, and looking down at the earth, Xuanhe Town appears noisy and bustling under the New Year.

Upon reaching the fourth tier, the speed of the spark's flight is further enhanced.

What used to take a full day or two to reach now takes only an hour.

To explore the mysterious forest, one had to trek through mountains and rivers, proceeding with extreme caution in the perilous wilderness.

Now, Chen Yuan glanced at the sparks beneath him, then looked back at the fleeing Cola, and smiled slightly.

He actually hopes that some wild pet will dare to launch an attack.

Unbeknownst to them, Spark arrived at the mysterious forest.

Outside, the wind and snow were fierce, but inside, it was still full of spring.

After flying for a while, Spark lowered its altitude, skimmed over the treetops, and finally landed gracefully in a forest clearing.

Chen Yuan leaped off Spark's back, his feet landing on the soft earth covered with a thick layer of pine needles and fallen leaves, the air filled with the fresh scent of trees and soil.

He looked around; ancient trees reached for the sky, the light was dim, and it was unusually quiet.

"Qingpo?" Chen Yuan tried calling softly, his voice echoing in the empty forest, but only startled a few birds.

Qingpo possesses great supernatural powers. Whenever Chen Yuan enters this area, Qingpo will sense it and rush over.

Chen Yuan called out for a moment, but Qing Po was nowhere to be seen.

He frowned and went to several places Qingpo frequented, but he couldn't find any trace of him.

"Where did this little guy go?" Chen Yuan frowned, looking puzzled.

"Ow~"

Suddenly, as if it had smelled a familiar scent, Cola barked loudly towards the lawn not far away.

Chen Yuan glanced to the side and, after a moment, saw a group of familiar figures—a herd of Star Moon Deer.

These guys had long since established themselves in this forest, showing none of the disheveled and pathetic state they had been in when they were chased by the Snow Cloud Wolf Pack.

They are now strolling leisurely in the forest clearing with light steps.

The soft fur shimmered with a dreamlike glow under the dappled light filtering through the leaves, and the star patterns on its body reflected a dazzling starry sky.

Chen Yuan strode over. The deer were initially wary, but when they realized it was Chen Yuan, they exclaimed with delight and surrounded him.

Chen Yuan tossed out a bag of pet food as usual, then turned to the Bold Deer leader and asked, "Do you know where Qing Po is?"

"Yo~"

Upon seeing Chen Yuan, the bold deer was overjoyed and instinctively rubbed against him with its large, forked antlers.

Chen Yuan quickly took two steps back, then spread his hands: "No, no, no, I can't take your damage right now."

"Yo"

Bold Deer was taken aback at first, but then began to answer Chen Yuan's questions.

“Yo~~”

It gently stomped its front hooves, let out a soft deer call, then turned around and took a few steps toward a direction deeper in the forest, before looking back at Chen Yuan.

"Okay, lead the way." Chen Yuan followed closely behind with the little ones.

The deer moved silently through the dense forest, their steps light and precise.

Chen Yuan followed closely behind, passing through the tangled ancient tree area and crossing a cold, icy dark stream. The surrounding trees grew taller and denser, the light became increasingly dim, and a desolate atmosphere permeated the air.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, the bold deer finally stopped in front of a rock wall covered with thick moss and hanging vines.

Below the rock face, there is a natural cave entrance partially hidden by dense vegetation. The cave is deep and dark, and a breeze carrying the scent of earth and minerals blows out from it.

"Yo~"

The bold deer gestured with its trunk toward the cave entrance, let out a low call, and then led the herd to quietly retreat to the side, where they stood still.

Chen Yuan glanced at Dan Dalu in surprise: "Aren't you going in?"

The bold deer shook its head, then let out a low, wary growl: "Yo!"

There are monsters here!

A very, very fierce monster!

"A monster?" Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow, instantly realizing something was amiss.

What could be inside this cave that a pet could call a monster?
Could it be that Qingpo entered the cave just for this monster?

Despite his inner doubts, Chen Yuan remained expressionless and simply reminded the little ones, "Be careful."

Although with his current strength and lineup, he can easily face any challenge as long as he doesn't encounter a deity or a powerful pet like the Radiant Sky Dragon, it's always wise to be cautious.

"Ow!"

Cola nodded and swaggered into the cave first.

At the same time, Cola's eyes emitted a faint blue light, a gentle breeze swirled around him, and invisible spiritual fluctuations spread into the cave.

After passing through a long, dark rock passage, the view suddenly opened up to reveal a vast and flat ground.

Some moss with a faint fluorescent glow grows here, providing a little light.

Qingpo's figure then came into view.

Its fur, as green as newly sprouted leaves, still radiated a soft glow in the dim light, and the golden patterns on its four hooves were faintly visible.

However, Chen Yuan's gaze was drawn to the wild beasts gathered around Qing Po. These beasts lay on the ground, their bodies bearing wounds of varying degrees, and their painful groans echoed from one another.

Amber sits in the very center, its crystalline antlers radiating a dazzling green light, its healing energy spreading to continuously heal their wounds.

"Yo?"

Suddenly, Qingpo sensed Chen Yuan's arrival.

(End of this chapter)