Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

Liu Xingmo watched with satisfaction as the black bird soared through the white storm.

Fuhei flapped its wings dozens of times, then did a headfirst tumble, plunging straight into the ground.

Liu Xingmo was so shocked that his scalp tingled. He jumped up and leaped off the wooden balcony of the chestnut tree, falling into the deep white snow.

He struggled to his feet, determined to find his newly tamed contracted beast.

At this moment, Liu San Niang grabbed the crow's claw and dragged the dazed and confused Fu Hei over.

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting? Trying to release it back into the wild? Don't you know that if a mythical beast runs far enough, its soul imprint will gradually fade away over time?"

"Of course I understand. I just want to give it a little freedom. I think that's how you nurture a crow with care." Liu Xingmo patted the snow off his clothes and calmly helped the large crow up from the ground.

He couldn't help but wonder: No way? This guy isn't really trying to run away, is he?

He pulled out the spinal chain from his waist and tied it tightly around the two bird claws.

Seeing this scene, Liu San Niang's willow-leaf-shaped eyebrows almost twisted into a pretzel.

Liu Xingmo carried Fu Hei on his back and headed towards Bao Hei inside the snow cave.

Liu San Niang quickly caught up: "Liu Xingmo! Let me tell you, this isn't over yet! You owe me a lot, you know that?"

"Yes, yes, yes! Manager Liu."

The old turtle, covered in a fur coat, spread out its snowy nest. It stretched its head out, staring at the large black bird on its master's back, its pointed turtle head displaying a vivid expression of surprise and doubt.

"Baohei, this guy is Fuhei! We're going to be comrades from now on, so remember to help him out."

Baohei nodded blankly, then lowered its body to let its master climb onto its broad carapace.

Liu Xingmo sat on the deer fur, reached out and picked up the cotton quilt to cover the shivering Fu Hei.

Liu Sanniang climbed up after her, still cursing, "I'll settle the score with you later! Call your wife, and we'll have a good talk."

"Yes, yes, yes! My good neighbor."

Upon receiving the order, Baohei strode forward on its four strong legs, running wildly across the snow and leaving a trail of snow in its wake.

They ran for a long time, until dusk.

The heavy snow showed no signs of stopping; on the contrary, it fell even more densely, like a white veil hanging between heaven and earth.

As the sun began to set, the mountains and forests gradually darkened. The distant snow-capped peaks melted into the gray clouds further away, while the nearby trees blurred into the closer snowstorm.

The whole world was blended into a chaotic white, with only the night silently spreading through this snow-white expanse.

Liu Xingmo rushed back to his home late at night. A stone house in the mine pit.

Sumari noticed the commotion and opened the door to greet her husband.

Sitting on the tortoise shell, Liu Sanniang reached out and embraced the young man beside her, snuggling affectionately into his arms.

Liu Xingmo felt his hair stand on end, like a rabbit caught in a venomous snake's coils. He tried to push Liu Sanniang away, but couldn't budge her at all, and could only suffocate towards his end.

Baohei stood at the door of his house and lay down in the place he knew best.

The two people on the tortoise shell remained stuck together and did not come down.

Su Mali approached, carrying an oil lamp, her calm voice tinged with coldness: "Liu San Niang, could you please release my dear husband?"

"Of course, Mary!" Liu San Niang smiled sweetly and really let go of my hand. "I have something to trouble you with, which is to help me prepare a few medicinal herbs."

"Oh?" Sumali looked up at the woman lounging lazily on the tortoise shell. "Is this how you ask for favors?"

"Oh dear, my good sister, what you're saying makes me blush." ​​Liu San Niang nudged Liu Xingmo with her elbow. "Xingmo, you should say something for me too~"

"Hiss—" Liu Xingmo took a deep breath and said, "It's like this, Mary. I took one of Liu San Niang's innate rare beasts, and I owe her a great favor..."

Liu San Niang chuckled: "What are you saying? It makes us seem distant."

Liu Xingmo didn't want to continue the stalemate, so he picked up Fu Hei and jumped off the tortoise shell.

He dashed into his house in a flash. Su Mali frowned, but followed him, closing her own door tightly.

"What a loving couple."

Liu San Niang chuckled self-deprecatingly, jumped off the tortoise shell, walked to her front door, took out her key, unlocked the door, and entered the dark room.

the other side.

Liu Xingmo breathed a sigh of relief after confirming through the window that Liu San Niang was not causing any trouble.

"Today is really something else. I never realized that this silly woman could be so deadly."

"So what?" Sumari tapped her toes on the ground. "You're planning to sell yourself for this black magic raven?"

"Look at what you're saying, it's not that serious."

Liu Xingmo unlocked the chains on the black bird's claws.

The crow hopped and skipped around the stone room, curiously observing the human dwelling.

Liu Xingmo hurried to the woodshed, grabbed two large walnuts, and smashed their hard shells.

"Caw caw!" Fuhei nodded repeatedly, its sharp beak accurately picking up the broken walnuts, then tilting its head back to swallow them.

The crow happily ate the food its owner had prepared for it, excitedly spreading its wings and creating a strong gust of wind in the living room.

"Xingmo, tell your new pet to be quiet. Our room is a mess," Sumali said quietly.

"It's alright, I'll take care of it!" Liu Xingmo looked at Fu Hei with a cheerful smile, his joy rising like the spring tide, wave after wave. "A rare innate beast! Another innate beast! And an extremely rare auspicious beast at that!"

"So, what is its dark magic?" Sumali asked coldly.

"Well, it seems to amplify a person's luck," Liu Xingmo speculated, rubbing his chin. "However, it amplifies both good and bad luck. If you don't have some skills, you'll be in big trouble. But if you can weather the storm, the benefits will be plentiful."

"To have good fortune and misfortune come at the same time? I'd rather have neither." Sumali shook her head and sighed, then went to the woodshed to cut a few strips of cured meat and brought them back to feed Fuhei.

"Caw caw!" The big crow ate even more happily.

Tonight, I'll spend it amidst the incessant chirping of birds.

The next day, as soon as Liu Xingmo got up, he rushed to the woodshed.

Fuhei lay in his grass nest, fast asleep.

The three rhinoceros beetles and the scorpion all scurried into the corner of the room in fear.

Insects are afraid of birds; it's their nature. That's how the food chain works.

There's a real knack to training contracted beasts to work together seamlessly.

Liu Xingmo was very excited and planned to make a big splash.

Fu Hei, in particular, suffered from malnutrition and stunted growth, causing his strength to be stuck at the tenth level of the first tier, making it difficult for him to break through to the next major stage.

It must be carefully nurtured to make up for this damage.

Liu Xingmo fed the four insects, the bird, and the turtle until they were all full. Then he took them and ran through the streets on the highest level of the mine.

The place is very spacious, with only two households, so there's no fear of exposing any secrets.

"Gah gah gah!" Fukuro flew and ran, playing happily in the darkness.

Baohei stared at it intently, seemingly lost in thought.