Chapter 19: Lamb Skewers! Here I come!!

Only an idiot would say no when fortune knocks on the door.

Su Nianzhi launched a psychic attack—the rabbit instantly collapsed where it stood.

She tied up its legs with a rope and carried it in her hand.

A few more steps forward…

She saw, not far ahead, a big patch of grassland where a group of goats was leisurely bleating.

Su Nianzhi’s eyes lit up.

One, two, three, four… seven goats!!!

That’s so much meat.

Su Nianzhi was already cracking her knuckles—this was impossible to resist. She had to take them.

Take them all.

These wild mountain goats wouldn’t survive at home anyway, and if people found out, they’d gossip endlessly.

Best plan: keep one or two to eat, and sell off the rest.

Just thinking about the taste of roasted lamb from before the apocalypse…

She felt a string of sparkling drool dripping from the corner of her mouth.

Lamb skewers! I’m coming!

Roast lamb ribs! I’m coming!

Wuu wuu wuu—

Too delicious!

Now all she could see were fluffy, meaty goats.

The wild goats nearby weren’t stupid—they noticed Su Nianzhi, but after a few seconds, just lowered their heads and continued grazing.

Wait a minute—did the animals in this mountain level up or something?

Are you guys disgusted by me?

Just because I look weak, you know you can ignore me?

She was fuming.

Still, their reaction brought her back to her senses.

Dragging goats back openly would be impossible to explain.

Taking down a goat with a single punch didn’t really fit her “sickly girl” persona.

Sigh.

Her image as a fragile person was deeply rooted. She needed to keep up the act a little longer—change had to come slowly.

She rested her chin on her hand, watching her future lamb skewers happily grazing.

Suddenly, a massive presence entered Su Nianzhi’s psychic awareness.

A giant tiger appeared—tawny fur, black stripes, powerful limbs.

Su Nianzhi’s eyes sparkled like diamonds.

I’ve got a plan.

The king of the mountain strolled lazily through the forest, searching for prey.

Then, a small figure suddenly appeared in its path. Its intimidating tiger eyes locked onto Su Nianzhi.

Tiger(thinking): What’s with this two-legged creature? Staring at me like that? What a runt—barely a mouthful.

Nianzhi (thinking): Waaa, what a perfect helper!

Su Nianzhi grinned, showing a mouthful of perfect white teeth.

Her dimples sank deep into her cheeks.

Tiger: …Something is wrong with this creature.

It readied to attack.

Then, just as it leapt at her—

Boom! The tiger crashed heavily to the ground.

Tiger: ⊙_⊙ What just happened?

Its head buzzed. Then it stood up and bolted toward the goats.

One thought filled its mind: Bite their necks.

But… Don’t make a mess of it.

Tiger: Ծ‸Ծ

The peacefully grazing goat herd suddenly found itself under attack.

The entire group panicked, scattering in all directions.

But they were no match for a tiger.

They bleated in chaos, and one by one fell under its claws.

Su Nianzhi saw the lead goat trying to escape.

She panicked.

Immediately took control of the tiger and gave chase.

“ROAR—”

With a mighty leap, the tiger pounced and pinned the lead goat to the ground.

Trying to run? Not today.

The lead goat shut its eyes, accepting its fate.

Su Nianzhi looked at the blood-soaked ground.

Sigh, kinda tragic.

But the bloody smell—what was she going to do about that?

The tiger, seeing Su Nianzhi staring at its kill, instinctively let out a roar.

“Roar my butt. That’s mine.”

The tiger didn’t understand a word she said.

But it knew one thing: this two-legged creature was trying to steal its food.

Wild instinct took over—it bared its teeth at her.

Su Nianzhi frowned in annoyance.

She glared at the tiger.

Immediately, the tiger’s head throbbed in pain.

It let out a pitiful wail.

Su Nianzhi smiled sweetly, satisfied.

Now… how to get the meat home?

Drag it?

Seven goats?

That’d be exhausting.

She stared into the tiger’s eyes, seriously weighing the odds of making it carry the goats for her.

The tiger, already in pain, suddenly felt a chill run down its spine.

“ROAR ROAR—”

Got it!

Su Nianzhi’s eyes lit up.

She used her psychic powers to fully control the tiger.

Then turned and dashed down the mountain.

Breath ragged, wind howling past her ears.

The “whoosh whoosh” of the wind made her feel wild and free.

“Brother Xiaoyun, isn’t that Su Nianzhi from the Su family…”

Qin Xiaoyun looked up and saw a small figure running as if her life depended on it.

“What’s going on? Did she run into something?”

Thinking of the big beast in the mountains, Qin Xiaoyun took one long stride—and instantly closed a meter gap.

“Wait for me!” his companion shouted behind.

“Su Nianzhi! Su Nianzhi!”

Qin Xiaoyun shouted loudly.

Su Nianzhi was in the zone, but when she heard her name being called, she stopped.

With red-rimmed eyes, she looked at Qin Xiaoyun running toward her.

Her voice trembled (from breathlessness):

“…There’s a tiger.”

Her soft, sticky voice came with gasping breaths. Her cheeks were flushed, eyes glistening red, hair a mess—

She looked so pitiful and fragile.

Qin Xiaoyun’s heart twisted painfully.

He fought the urge to scoop her up into a protective hug.

He clenched his jaw.

“Don’t be scared. You’re safe now.”

Only then did Su Nianzhi say, “There are goats.”
(Inner monologue: help me cover up!)

Seeing the hopeful sparkle in her eyes—

He instantly understood.

And smiled.

“Where?”

Su Nianzhi pointed in the direction, voice soft and sweet, “Over there.”

“I’ll go with you.”

Qin Xiaoyun followed behind. Seeing her slightly unsteady steps, he asked, “Want to sit down and rest a bit?”

“No. The goats are important.”

So determined.

Chen Wei finally caught up, panting.

“Wait—Su Nianzhi, you really saw a tiger? How’d you get away?”

Su Nianzhi lowered her head.

Qin Xiaoyun’s expression: ▼_▼

Chen Wei: ??

“I didn’t get spotted.”

Chen Wei gave her a look. Yeah, she’s so tiny. The tiger probably didn’t even notice.

Just as they were getting close, Su Nianzhi reasserted control over the tiger, making it leave.

The tiger, confused and dazed, ran off into the forest.

“Holy crap. That was a tiger.”

Qin Xiaoyun also caught a glimpse of its silhouette.

His instincts kicked in—he stepped protectively in front of Su Nianzhi.

Chen Wei, all alone at the side: Bro… so love really does fade away, huh?

“Qin Xiaoyun, the goats!”

Qin Xiaoyun looked at the corpses not far away.

A puzzled look crossed his face—why had the tiger killed them but not eaten any?

And all the goats had died the same way.

Did the tiger have a mental issue?

Meanwhile, far away, the tiger shivered: Wait, why did I run away just now?

Those two-legged creatures weren’t stronger than me…

Qin Xiaoyun looked at the goats, then turned to Chen Wei.

Chen Wei: !!!

Resigned, he stepped forward and started dragging and carrying the goats.

“Wait!”

They both turned to see Su Nianzhi holding a small white rabbit.

Qin Xiaoyun looked at her—bright eyes staring at the goats, rabbit dangling from her hand.

His helpless but doting smile surfaced, “The goats are all yours.”

“You carry them.”

Qin Xiaoyun’s voice was low and warm, “You found them. They’re yours.”

Chen Wei: ??? Bro, seven goats?? Aren’t you being too generous? What am I, just your porter?

Su Nianzhi smiled. “Then I’ll treat you to grilled lamb skewers.”

Qin Xiaoyun nodded silently.

He carried two goats on his back, held two more in his hands, and strode forward.

“Don’t walk too close—it’s bloody and smells bad.”

Chen Wei: 눈_눈