Chapter 72

Chapter 72

The Pallas's cat’s soft paw pad stepped onto her palm…

As Lin Qianyu and the wolf pack left, the long-waiting vultures immediately swarmed in, surrounding the remaining bones in an instant.

They even fought over a few scraps of meat, their hoarse cries like wails—barely better than crows.

Lin Qianyu led the wolves back first.

But Gale seemed very interested in the vultures, his gaze fixed in that direction. However, walking while not watching the road had its consequences—he stumbled and nearly toppled onto a steppe wolf.

The wolves half-surrounding Lin Qianyu were staring up at her eagerly. Suddenly, a shadow appeared before them, startling one into shrinking its neck. “Woo!”

Gale’s steps froze at the sound. Clearly, the trauma from being chased by the wolves hadn’t worn off. He slowly turned his neck like it was rusted, then lowered his head and raised his right front hoof, hovering it above the steppe wolf like it was about to step down.

The zebra squinted with a smiling expression and nuzzled him.

The steppe wolf, expressionless, swatted him with a paw.

Lin Qianyu noticed the commotion and glanced over. The zebra wore his usual cheeky grin. After being swatted, he sneakily stepped on the wolf's tail. But with poor footing, he nearly knocked his front teeth out slipping off the edge.

Lin Qianyu raised a brow, “Gale?”

The zebra straightened up, rolled to his feet with a thud, shook his head, and strode to the front like nothing happened—aside from the dirt smeared on half his face.

On the way back, with the wolves accompanying her, Lin Qianyu wasn’t nearly as alert as when she came.

It had taken almost two hours to arrive; the return trip took less than one.

Back home, the fluffballs were all asleep—even the cubs were snuggled together, snoring.

After washing up, Lin Qianyu quietly carried the little wolf back inside. Afraid of waking the sleeping cubs in the yard, she tiptoed in holding the pup.

The pup was very cooperative in her arms.

But just as she opened the door and placed it on the bed—

The steppe wolf jumped down with meat in its mouth and started waking the cubs to feed them, even rousing the cheetah cub next door.

But the fluffballs had already eaten and were sleeping soundly now. They didn’t want to get up to eat. One little wolf pup—whether awake or not was unclear—dazedly bit the meat but didn’t bite through. Its head wobbled. When Lin Qianyu looked over, it had fallen asleep with the meat in its mouth.

Lin Qianyu pressed her lips together to hold back her laughter, gently pinching the scruff of the pup's neck to pull it away from the meat. She softly said to the steppe wolf, “They’ve already eaten. Save that piece of meat and feed it to them when they wake up tomorrow.”

“Woo…”

Lin Qianyu turned and scratched the cheetah cub’s chin. The kitten-like cub squinted and purred softly from its throat. Adjusting the central wooden board, she stepped inside and closed the wooden door behind her.

---The next day, just before dawn.

The cheetah went out to hunt. The steppe wolf, who had returned late at night, was still sound asleep.

Lin Qianyu got up early and splashed a handful of cold lake water on her face.

The sun had just risen, and dew still clung to the grass. There was a slight chill in the air.

The cold jolt instantly woke Lin Qianyu.

At this time in the past, her livestream would either be black or show natural scenery. Now that she was on the grassland, she could show fans the fluffballs outside. But regardless of the scene, one thing was always true—the streamer never appeared in the stream.Some early-rising viewers, still bleary-eyed, instinctively checked the livestream first—and were met with a shot of Lin Qianyu greeting them.

Water still clung to Lin Qianyu’s face, and her damp strands of hair hung loosely. Because she had just washed up, her beautiful eyes looked moist and bright. Her dark pupils sparkled with liveliness. “Good morning, everyone.”

【Aaaaah beauty overload!】

【Morning, Linlin! Another day of loving you the most.】

【Why are you up so early today? I got up for a drink and thought I was hallucinating when I saw someone in the stream.】

Lin Qianyu fanned the fire with a palm leaf. The flames in the pit gradually grew stronger. “Didn’t I say we’d go build a house for the white lion today? There’s other stuff tonight too, so I figured I’d head out during the day.”

A whole day’s work should be enough to finish it.

Lin Qianyu stretched lazily. “Wooden house builder officially online today. But before that, I need to eat something.”

Once she got busy, she might not have time to eat, so it was best to fill up now.

The cleaned fish was already roasting over the fire.

She had also washed a baobab fruit. Better to eat more while it was still fresh—baobab trees weren’t exactly nearby, and when they ripen, monkeys would snatch them up. Who knew how many were left? This might be the only chance to eat one fresh.

Chewing on some berries she picked yesterday, she noticed how the plump fruits had shriveled a bit after just one night. They didn’t look as good, but still tasted sweet and sour.

Lin Qianyu looked at the slowly rising sun in the distance and smiled with her eyes, “Look, it’s a grassland sunrise.”

The environment was different, and even the sunrise seemed to have changed—though it still carried that same soft warmth.

The branches in the fire pit had dew on them too. Lin Qianyu broke them into smaller pieces and added them in—afraid that larger ones wouldn’t catch and might smother the fire.

At some point, the steppe wolf had walked over and now sat beside her.

The livestream camera auto-adjusted, shifting the frame. Sunlight outlined her figure, and the steppe wolf leaned closely against her side, its tail swaying behind it—clearly in a good mood.

Noticing the steppe wolf's approach, Lin Qianyu turned her head, reaching out to touch its paw. At the same time, the little wolf raised its head and looked in her direction.

The moment their eyes met, a smile formed in Lin Qianyu’s gaze. She reached out and pinched its cheek.

【Ahhh—such a warm, cozy moment.】

【Linlin’s watching the sunrise, and I’m watching Linlin watch the sunrise.】

Lin Qianyu squished the little wolf’s face in her hands. The deformed steppe wolf sat calmly and good-naturedly, letting her knead it.

“You only slept a little—aren’t you tired?”

“Wu... awooo...”

The steppe wolf responded, but its voice changed midway from being squished.

“Hmm?” Lin Qianyu seemed to discover something amusing and poked it again. “Awoo?”

The steppe wolf, seemingly resigned, opened its mouth and repeated the unexpectedly weird sound.

Lin Qianyu paused, then burst out laughing. “Haha... little wolf, you’re way too cute.”

She laughed so hard she fell backward, only managing to stay upright by leaning against the wolf.

The steppe wolf lowered its head and licked the side of her face.The scent of grilled fish spread through the air, rich and savory with the distinct aroma of charcoal.

When Lin Qianyu sat back up, she still had a smile on her face. Hugging the little wolf, she gave it a kiss. “Want some grilled fish? Come try it—fish here is especially fresh.”

She picked up the branch, and even off the fire, the fish was still steaming hot.

Lin Qianyu pulled off a large, tender, white chunk of fish meat from the belly, blew on it, and once she felt it was cool enough not to burn, she shook the dew off a palm leaf and placed the fish on it. “Here.”

The steppe wolf sniffed it. During dry seasons in the wild, when food is scarce, wolf packs migrate and will eat rodents, birds, and fish along the way. But cooked fish was rare—usually it was Lin Qianyu who roasted fish and shared it with it.

Seeing the little wolf take a bite, Lin Qianyu also bit into the back of the fish. The flesh there was thin, while the belly meat was thick. The outer skin was crispy, but the inside remained tender. The back meat was all crispy—though full of bones and light on meat, the texture made up for it.

“This one?” Lin Qianyu broke off a piece of baobab fruit for it. She made a point of letting the little wolf try everything. Not knowing whether it would like it or not, she only gave a small piece.

The steppe wolf casually chewed it twice and swallowed it whole.

That clearly meant it didn’t like it.

Lin Qianyu had already noticed—no matter what she gave, whether the little wolf liked it or not, whether it suited its taste or not, as long as it was from her, it never refused.

But if you observed closely, you’d notice that when it liked something, it ate slowly; if not, it just chewed a few times and swallowed it down.

【Linlin is really dedicated to feeding all the fluffballs.】

【Suddenly reminded of life before I had a cat: Too salty? Can’t eat. Too greasy? Can’t eat. After getting a cat: Want a bite of my instant noodles? How about some spicy sticks?】

【The most satisfying moment for any fluffball lover is when you personally cook a meal and your furry one cleans the plate with gusto. But my cat? Just sticks its tongue out in disgust! Look at this little wolf!】

...

One fish for breakfast—Lin Qianyu and the little wolf shared it. She also had a baobab fruit. After eating, she was pretty full. The leftover meat she placed on the leaf in front of the little wolf.

The water she had been boiling all morning was now ready to drink.

Lin Qianyu held her ostrich egg cup, watching the sun slowly rise not far away. The time on her watch moved from four to almost five.

Just right to head out after finishing her water.

“Little wolf, you stay home and rest, okay?” Lin Qianyu got ready to leave. No matter the time or how harsh the sun, she always wore her straw hat.

Tidying the dry grass hanging from the brim, she said, “You didn’t really rest yesterday. Your mission today is to sleep well and recharge. We’ll go out together tonight.”

But the steppe wolf didn’t seem tired at all. It followed close behind, carrying a small straw hat in its mouth.

“Hmm...” Facing the steppe wolf, Lin Qianyu hesitated only a second before squatting down to take the hat from its mouth. “Then how about taking a nap at the white lion’s place later?”

“Awoo!”

Deal struck.

“All right, let’s go together.” Lin Qianyu put the hat on the little wolf, gently lifting the brim with her fingers. “Let’s move!”

She remembered the path they walked the night before perfectly.

Her backpack was packed with supplies, and she had specifically brought the ostrich egg cup too.

Last night, she’d heard the sound of running water at the white lion’s territory, so there must be a water source nearby. If they got thirsty, she could boil water there to drink.

Stepping out in the early morning, the temperature was pleasant, and the crisp chirping of birds filled the air.Around noon, the high temperatures would drive them to find places to hide from the heat.

At this time, everything brimmed with vitality—even the leaves looked especially lush under the morning dew.

Having set out early, Lin Qianyu could faintly see the grass on the prairie stirring without wind. She said, “There are small animals running over there.”

They were small in size, hidden in the grass, their actual forms not visible. As they ran, the grass around them swayed with their movement.

She wasn’t sure what they were, but they ran pretty fast.

Some small animals that appeared at dawn or dusk were now in their active hours. Even without predators like fierce beasts or birds of prey around, it wasn’t unusual to see them darting across the prairie.

“Woo!” The steppe wolf came over and rubbed against her.

Lin Qianyu was still guessing what animal it might be. Seeing the little wolf’s reaction, she laughed. “Looks like it must be a rabbit, then.”

She took off the little wolf’s hat. “Go on.”

The steppe wolf twisted its head, powered up its hind legs, and bolted out.

The little wolf shot straight toward its target. Though the grass helped conceal its figure, it also partially blocked the rabbit’s line of sight. By the time the rabbit realized a wolf was closing in and darted to escape, it was already too late. After a brief chase, it ended up in the wolf’s mouth.

“Rabbit killer” wasn’t just a nickname.

If a rabbit ever got away from the little wolf, it could only mean there were too many that day to catch them all.

Lin Qianyu had barely taken a few steps when the steppe wolf came running back with its prize.

“Good job.” Lin Qianyu took the rabbit from it and noticed the steppe wolf’s ears twitching as it kept glancing back—it seemed it had spotted another rabbit.

She rubbed the little wolf’s head. “Go catch it. I’ll head over to the white lion’s place. When you’re done, come find me, okay?”

She shook the little straw hat in her hand. “I’ll keep this for now.”

The steppe wolf ran so fast that with a single burst of speed the hat would be blown off. Then it would have to both chase the rabbit and protect its hat—too much trouble.

“Awoo!”

Lin Qianyu put the little hat in her backpack. It was stuffed full, so to keep it from getting crushed, she took out the remaining half of the baobab fruit. That freed up quite a bit of space.

She placed the rabbit next to where she kept the water.

After securing her backpack, Lin Qianyu took a bite of the baobab fruit. If she weren’t worried it would spoil after being cut and left out too long, she wouldn’t have brought it along.

So she simply took a bite now and then on the road—by the time she reached the white lion’s place, it’d probably be gone.

Crossing a stretch of prairie, Lin Qianyu was estimating how many more bites were left of the baobab fruit when she suddenly heard the cry of a vulture.

She froze for a moment, then turned to see a vulture spreading its claws, diving straight toward her.

Lin Qianyu instantly stepped back, snapped off a branch, and swung it. The vulture’s attack was interrupted, and it flapped its wings, circling once in the air before diving again.

But this time, its claws aimed at Lin Qianyu’s other hand.

Its curled talons latched tightly onto the baobab fruit. It seemed the fruit had been its target all along. In the next instant, it beat its wings hard.

The fruit had already been peeled, and the leaf wrapping it was slick with juice. The talons hooked deep inside, and by the time Lin Qianyu reflexively tried to hold on, all she managed to grab was the outer leaf.

Watching the vulture circle above with her stolen fruit, practically taunting her, Lin Qianyu narrowed her eyes.【The vulture’s done for. I’m certain.】

【Sister Lin’s showing that look. She’s not really going to climb the tree and chase it, is she?】

【Too much! That stinking thing is too much! Ugly and still has the nerve to steal! The rabbit’s just hanging there and it doesn’t take it, but it goes for the fruit? It’s picking a fight on purpose!】

【Exactly! Catching a rabbit could at least be excused as hunting instinct—but snatching wild fruit? You’re a carrion eater, when did you go vegetarian?!】

The live stream chat was filled with righteous outrage. Stealing right in front of her—was that even allowed!?

【If Little Diao were here, that vulture would already be torn into ten pieces mid-air.】

【Hey! Somebody call Little Diao now!】

...

Lin Qianyu stared at the vulture expressionlessly. She didn’t rush to give chase; instead, she calmly crossed her arms and leaned against a nearby tree.

When fighting flying creatures, a person who can’t fly is at a natural disadvantage.

No matter how strong you are, you can’t fly up and knock it down. And if the vulture senses something’s off, it can flap its wings and escape easily.

So Lin Qianyu wasn’t in a hurry.

But the vulture in the sky, successful in its robbery, was the opposite of calm.

It was clearly provoking her on purpose, flaunting its success as it circled at just the right distance—not too close, not too far.

Vultures often snatched prey from small animals, appearing just as they managed to catch something and were heading home, ruthlessly stealing it while the little creatures could only stomp in frustration, unable to do anything to the airborne thief.

In the end, not wanting to go hungry, they’d just have to swallow the frustration and go catch another.

Now, seeing that Lin Qianyu had no reaction, the vulture, not actually interested in the stolen overripe fruit, was preparing to dive down and throw it in her face.

Whoosh—! A sharp sound tore through the air. The circling vulture jolted, its claws releasing suddenly, and the baobab fruit dropped straight down.

The vulture wobbled mid-air but immediately dove again, clearly intending to snatch it once more.

Lin Qianyu was already pinching a second stone between her fingers. But before she could throw it, something round, fluffy, and fast came barreling out—slamming right into the vulture.

The vulture couldn’t dodge in time and was knocked over, tumbling across the ground by the impact of the manul.

【Aaaahh?!】

【It looked like a little cannonball! So cute!】

The manul hissed at it.

Vultures usually bullied small animals and had even tried to steal food from manuls before. But unlike most animals, manuls would fight back.

Still… being beaten didn’t change the fact that it had robbed the manul before.

Now, seeing the manul approach again, the vulture, having missed the best moment to attack, could only flee. It flew upward and hovered, looking for an opportunity from above—this time, not targeting prey, but the manul.

However, Lin Qianyu didn’t give it the chance. The second stone flew straight and struck the vulture squarely on the head.

Instantly, the vulture dropped like a kite with its string cut.

Thump! The crashing bird carved a shallow pit into the grassland, flattening a good patch of innocent wild grass.The fans in the livestream, blood boiling with anger: 【???】

What… what just happened?

Just now, the vulture dropping the baobab fruit could be understood as it not gripping it tightly enough, or maybe it intentionally dropped it to show off to Lin Qianyu.

But now what’s going on? Why did the vulture suddenly fall?

Everyone was dumbfounded, completely unable to make sense of the situation.

The manul stayed by the baobab fruit, still wary of the vulture above. After all, that thing had a notorious track record—vultures sometimes grabbed small animals and dropped them from midair.

On this great grassland, things like that happened all the time. The manul must have witnessed such cruel acts before.

So it had been on guard the entire time.

But now… the manul poked its head out, looking at the vulture lying not far off. It didn’t seem to be moving at all.

Lin Qianyu clapped the dust from her hands, then stepped forward and crouched in front of the manul. “Did you come to help me?”

Manuls were nocturnal creatures. In broad daylight like this, it likely wasn’t out hunting and happened upon the scene.

More likely, it lived nearby and, seeing the vulture stealing food, came out to lend a paw.

The manul turned its head away, seemingly unwilling to admit it was there to help. Lord Manul was just passing by, or so its attitude said—but its paw sneakily nudged the baobab fruit forward.

“Thank you.” Lin Qianyu smiled with her eyes, then wrapped the fruit in leaves. She planned to bury it under a tree. The fruit was dirty, and the fall had cracked it in several places, making it inedible—might as well let it nourish a little tree on the grassland.

The manul kept glancing at her hand as she reached for the fruit.

Lin Qianyu noticed this and didn’t rush. She even deliberately slowed her movements.

The manul hesitated, then, seeing Lin Qianyu wasn’t looking directly at it, took two steps closer—right up near her hand.

They were quite close now. The manul cautiously lifted its eyes. Lin Qianyu remained perfectly still, as if the baobab fruit on the ground had her full attention, not even glancing sideways.

The manul flicked its tail, finally leaned forward, and began studying her hand closely.

Lin Qianyu seemed to sense something. She very subtly curved her eyes, then casually opened her fingers and slowly turned her wrist until her palm faced upward, stopping there.

Seeing her hand move, the manul opened its mouth as if to bare its teeth, but when she didn’t follow up, it snuck another glance at her, attention drawn irresistibly to the open palm.

The livestream viewers might not know what the manul was looking for.

But Lin Qianyu knew exactly.

Anyone watching the replay in slow motion could see it too—those two stones that flew at the vulture.

The manul had probably seen it and was curious about what she had thrown, thus the focused staring.

After a long period of caution and seeing that Lin Qianyu continued to do nothing, the manul gradually relaxed.

Until—

A soft, fluffy paw stepped into her palm. The manul stood up, both front paws resting on her hand, lightly patting at it, as if trying to find where those two stones had come from.

It didn’t extend its claws, seemingly still wanting to avoid being found out. All its movements were feather-light.

With Lin Qianyu making no response, it all passed as unnoticed little gestures.The manul searched more and more intently, but still couldn’t find any trace of the stones.

Lin Qianyu slowly lowered her gaze and, with the lightest movement, glanced sideways—only to see the manul looking completely bewildered, both little paws pressed together in her palm, head lowered, the back of its fluffed-up head fully exposed.

Author’s note: There’s more coming during the day—I'll post as soon as I finish writing. I’ll fix typos tomorrow after I wake up. Pulled an all-nighter to finalize the outline—help me up, I can still write more! Please feed me nutrient fluid! Muah~ Good night, sleep early, love you all.