Hei Mao (Black Fur) didn’t quite understand what “two sips” meant but did catch on to the fact that his little brother was concerned about him not cleaning himself properly. Soon after, his little brother started worrying that his fur wasn’t dry, urging him to dry off. Hei Mao did everything he was told.

Before long, Hei Mao, a creature several times larger than an orange tabby, lay sprawled out like a giant black rice cake. His head rested on a hard rock, and he exposed his soft, furry belly, inviting his little brother to play on it.

Hei Mao felt his brother’s light weight on his belly, and his heart felt so full of joy.

Meanwhile, Shi Qian stood on Hei Mao’s stomach, nearly sinking into the thick, soft fur. As expected, even the toughest-looking creatures have soft bellies.

At first, Shi Qian didn’t dare move too much, cautious as he gently petted his older brother. Hei Mao, seeing this, chirped enthusiastically, “Squeak squeak! Squeak squeak!”

“Little brother, go ahead and roll around! Don’t worry, I’m watching you. You won’t fall.”

Who could resist such an invitation? Shi Qian hesitated for a moment before running in circles and rolling around on Hei Mao’s large, fluffy belly, exploring like a curious cub in a new territory.

Once he’d tired himself out, Shi Qian mimicked his brother’s posture, lying flat on the fluffy surface.

As he lounged on his brother’s large, fuzzy body, Shi Qian lazily issued a command to his system.

“Alright, 1958, open up the locator map. Let’s see where Long Aotian is.”

Earlier, Shi Qian had realized that their mother was preparing them for a final test before they left home. According to the usual custom of magical beasts, their mother would soon kick them both out, forcing them to start a new, independent life.

Once they were out, they’d have the freedom to move around, and Shi Qian needed to consider the progress of his mission. Since he knew nothing about the cause or timing of the hidden danger, it was best for him to hurry and find the protagonist, before anything unexpected happened.

1958 brought up the map with the protagonist’s location.

One glance and Shi Qian was stunned—it was so far away.

“Mission? Let’s talk about it later.”

Shi Qian sighed. “With my little short legs, who knows how long it’ll take me to catch up to Long Aotian.”

1958 replied, “Brother Qian, if you use your Five Element Escape Technique and give it your all, you could make it there in half a month. I suggest you hurry, or you might not be able to catch up to Long Aotian. He won’t stay in one place for long.”

Long Aotian’s life philosophy was simple: show off, slap faces, and run when overpowered—only to come back stronger and defeat his enemies. Enemies everywhere, cannon fodder aplenty.

Given such a situation, Long Aotian’s survival depended on his agility and ability to run when needed. Shi Qian vaguely remembered those fantasy novels from years ago and recalled that later in the story, teleportation arrays were introduced, allowing Long Aotian to cross vast distances—chasing him would be like trying to catch a rocket.

Feeling a sense of urgency creep up on him, Shi Qian agreed. He decided that as soon as they left home, he would make his way to Long Aotian.

But for now, in the days leading up to their departure, he’d rest up and practice his skills.

Not long after Shi Qian stopped playing, Hei Mao, who had been hunting and fighting all day, began to feel sleepy. Within moments, he drifted off into a deep slumber, snoring peacefully. As Hei Mao’s belly rose and fell like a rocking cradle, Shi Qian, full from a hearty meal, also dozed off.

The two brothers slept for half the day, and when they woke, their mother was still nowhere to be seen.

Hei Mao looked outside and realized it was almost time to eat again. “Squeak squeak?”

“Little brother, should I take you out to get some meat?”

“Chirp,” Shi Qian replied, “Sure.”

Having woken up slightly earlier, Shi Qian had practiced walking in secret and now felt confident he wouldn’t trip. He was ready to go outside.

The two brothers set off, with Hei Mao’s strides far outpacing Shi Qian’s, each step covering several of Shi Qian’s. Hei Mao’s steps were powerful, almost like he was running.

Shi Qian watched his older brother dash off like the wind, and for a moment, a sense of helplessness washed over him.

But Hei Mao quickly realized that his little brother couldn’t keep up and came back. Using his paw, he gently picked up Shi Qian and placed him on his head.

“Squeak squeak!”

“Little brother, hold on tight!”

Perched up high, Shi Qian’s view expanded. He looked down at Hei Mao’s broad head and held onto his brother’s ears for balance.

Hei Mao’s ear flicked slightly but then he resumed walking, steady and confident. His pace wasn’t as fast as before, but he held his head high, walking with the swagger of a king, every step filled with pride.

Shi Qian felt the tender care behind his brother’s tough exterior as they moved forward.

When they finally emerged from their cave, Shi Qian took in the territory their mother had claimed.

Mount Wuye was covered in dense vegetation, and in the distance, layer upon layer of small hills rose and fell. The five large peaks stood out, lined up like a majestic serpent.

As Shi Qian passed by the lake near their cave entrance, he felt as though he had stepped into a vast forest. The air was filled with the fresh scent of greenery, bringing a sense of relaxation and peace.

Hei Mao, an experienced hunter, knew exactly which parts of the mountain had the tastiest prey. As they traveled, they startled two old pheasants, causing Hei Mao to chirp excitedly: “Squeak squeak squeak squeak!”

“There are pigeons at the base of the mountain that are said to be delicious and tender!”

Hearing this, Shi Qian’s interest was piqued. He nodded in agreement.

The two brothers dashed down the mountain, giving Shi Qian a chance to take in the beauty of the main peak.

At higher altitudes, the towering trees were grand and imposing, with mist swirling around them, and the sound of birds added a mystical touch, like a scene from a fairyland. Lower down, vibrant flowers bloomed, and small animals frolicked playfully, exuding a sense of joy, as if the land below belonged to the mundane world.

As they descended further, Shi Qian noticed the spiritual energy gradually thinning. Perhaps this explained why their family lived higher up in the mountains.

Before long, they reached a vantage point where they could glimpse the roads below the mountain. Hei Mao stopped, carefully setting Shi Qian down.

It was his first time taking his little brother out hunting, and Hei Mao sternly reminded him, “Squeak.”

“I’ll be nearby hunting. Don’t make a sound.”

Shi Qian nodded obediently.

Hei Mao continued, “Squeak squeak!”

“If anything happens, call for me!”

Shi Qian nodded again, and with that, Hei Mao darted off.

In the blink of an eye, the large figure of Hei Mao disappeared. Shi Qian blinked in surprise, realizing that Hei Mao had used his escape technique.

So why didn’t he use it earlier when they were heading down the mountain?

Shi Qian puffed out his round cheeks in mock annoyance, realizing his older brother had probably slowed down on purpose. But after thinking about how adorable he looked, Shi Qian decided to forgive him. After all, how could anyone stay mad at someone this cute?

Shi Qian stretched his limbs, taking a moment to practice his own escape technique. These non-human skills were surprisingly addictive, and using them made him feel powerful.

Before long, Hei Mao returned, carrying several plump pigeons.

Watching Hei Mao preparing to eat them raw, Shi Qian stoped him and made begger chicken.

The aroma of cooked food wafted through the air, attracting the attention of nearby beasts, who curiously poked their heads out. Hei Mao quickly dashed around, scaring them off before returning.

“Squeak squeak!”

“”I have never eaten pigeon’s this delicious!””

“Squeak squeak!” Shi Qian also tried to squeak, though not very proficient yet.

“It’s pigeon! But you can cook chicken like this too.”

The two brothers ate the pigeon, and Hei Mao went off to catch something else. As he roamed around Wuye Mountain like a king, Shi Qian watched with wide eyes, having a great time.

By the time they were headed home, Shi Qian had learned about Hei Mao’s dream—to become King Hei Mao.

Shi Qian sang a few lines from a song, “The king asks me to patrol the mountains, I take a spin around the mortal world,” which made Hei Mao so happy he wished his mother wouldn’t come home tonight so he could enjoy the company of his little brother alone.

And to his delight, their mother returned late that night, bringing a nourishing beast cub for her two children. With Shi Qian joining in, they had another round of roasted meat.

During dinner, Hei Mao got scolded a couple of times, taking the brunt of their mother’s temper, but the family atmosphere remained harmonious.

After eating their fill, the three of them quickly drifted off to sleep.

Of course, Shi Qian was only pretending to sleep.

The crossing had taken a lot out of him, and after getting through the first day, 1958 (his system) would enter a dormant mode. Shi Qian could only contact 1958 by actively applying for a connection, and every time he did so, it would cost points. Currently, if Shi Qian needed anything, he’d have to put it on credit.

Taking advantage of the fact that it was still free, Shi Qian had a long chat with 1958, analyzing his next steps.

As a Treasure-Hunting Mouse, it was ideal for Shi Qian to find a “pooper scooper”. But since spirit beasts don’t have a high status in the cultivation world and are at constant risk, it’s important to be careful when choosing a caretaker. The top priority is to find a kind, responsible female cultivator.

Additionally, the caretaker should be someone close to Long Aotian. Given that the protagonist has plenty of wives and sisters, there’s a wide selection to choose from.

After chatting late into the night with 1958, Shi Qian reluctantly bid farewell and finally fell into a real sleep.

To his surprise, when he woke up, his brother was gone.

After being fed another meal of stolen milk, the Giant Rat King picked up the little one, intending to send him away as well.

Shi Qian was a bit confused when he found himself at the side of a strange road, thinking back to the joy of yesterday’s family gathering. Now, today, they were all going their separate ways.

The Giant Rat King’s expression was serious: “Squeak squeak…”

Child, both you and your brother have royal bloodline of the rat lineage. You must go out into the world and gain experience. Don’t let down the great legacy of our clan.

Looking at the small and frail body of her son, the Giant Rat King added some reassurance: “Squeak squeak squeak.”

You are a Treasure-Hunting Mouse. Righteous human cultivators will like you, so don’t worry too much.

Shi Qian nodded, pretending not to notice the worry in his mother’s eyes.

He lifted his paw and patted his chest. “Squeak squeak!”

Mother, don’t worry, I’ll take care of myself out there!

The Giant Rat King was relieved and licked Shi Qian gently.

Shi Qian: …

He still couldn’t help but worry about how he, a lone rat, was supposed to survive.

Shi Qian asked, “Squeak squeak?”

Mother, where’s my brother?

“Squeak squeak squeak!”

He’s been sent far away. Don’t try to find him!

To ensure both children could properly train, the Giant Rat King had intentionally separated the elder brother and the younger one. Otherwise, the older brother would coddle the little one too much, even going so far as to wash his face for him.

After giving her final instructions, the Giant Rat King turned and left without looking back.

Shi Qian had mentally prepared for leaving, so he wasn’t upset. Watching his mother’s retreating figure, he thought she was just putting on a brave face.

She was running so fast—was she afraid of being seen?

It’s impossible for a mother not to feel heartache when sending her child out into the world to fend for themselves.

Once his mother was out of sight, Shi Qian sighed inwardly: Truly, a mother’s love knows no bounds. She’s probably watching from the shadows right now.

With this thought, Shi Qian activated the environmental detection skills he learned during his graduation exam and carefully left the area.

Yet, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t pick up a trace of his mother’s scent.

Did she really leave?

Was he, such a delicate chinchilla, really left all alone? Not even staying to watch him for a while longer?

As Shi Qian surveyed his surroundings, something didn’t feel right. Remembering how his mother had angrily dug into the rocks, a suspicion crept into his mind.

He decided to turn back.

Using his escape technique, Shi Qian returned to the entrance of his home, only to block the path of another strange giant rat.

Male.

Looking at his mother’s guilty smile, Shi Qian thought: Well, there’s some motherly love there, but maybe not too much.

In his memories, Shi Qian had never seen his father. A single mother raising two kids is tough, after all.

Shi Qian went up and hugged his mother’s front leg. “Squeak squeak!”

Mom, I’m back to wish you happiness in your new marriage! Don’t miss me too much!

The cultivation world is vast, with towering mountains and endless roads—it would be hard to meet again.

After saying this, Shi Qian let go of her leg and walked away without any burden.

Seeing her child waving goodbye, the Giant Rat King called out, tossing something toward him that landed in his paw.

Shi Qian caught a small handkerchief embroidered with green bamboo. With one last wave, he turned and walked off without looking back.