Everyone stared at this Little Jiangshi, who actually even ate glutinous rice, utterly stunned.

Either this Little Jiangshi was terrifyingly strong, unafraid even of glutinous rice, or this Little Jiangshi was too young and simply didn’t know that Jiangshi couldn’t even touch the stuff.

But since the Little Jiangshi had put the glutinous rice in his mouth, why was there no reaction at all?

006 was also startled and quickly said: [Little host, Jiangshi can’t eat glutinous rice! Spit it out quickly!]

Coincidentally, the glutinous rice Gu Rong had put in his mouth wasn’t tasty at all; his little baby teeth couldn’t even chew it properly. Just as 006 spoke, he had already spat it out.

Gu Rong’s little face showed disgust, his baby voice crisp and tender: “Not tasty!”

Everyone: “…”

Is this a matter of taste? This is a matter of it being fundamentally inedible!

Sure enough, whether it was a human cub or a Jiangshi cub, they had one characteristic: they’d grab anything and stuff it into their mouths, wanting to taste it.

Wait, something’s wrong. Did this Little Jiangshi just talk?

Everyone: “…………”

WTF! This Little Jiangshi is not only unafraid of glutinous rice, but he can actually talk?

Huang Daoren also stroked his small goatee, watching Gu Rong with amazement.

It seemed his prediction was correct. This Little Jiangshi was indeed different. In less than a day, he had evolved from a Hopping Jiangshi to a Green Jiangshi, and now he had actually evolved to the point of not fearing glutinous rice and being able to speak human words!

If he continued evolving in this direction… could he be evolving into a Little Jiangshi King?

Gu Rong was currently in his free activity time, not needing to adhere to the “Jiangshi Behavior Compendium,” so naturally, he wasn’t afraid of glutinous rice.

Since he didn’t need to run, he retracted the [Green Jiangshi] card.

Seeing this glowing green Little Jiangshi suddenly stop glowing, everyone widened their eyes further in amazement.

How could he control the glow so freely?!

Although they knew this cub was a Jiangshi, looking at Gu Rong’s excessively cute and soft appearance, everyone couldn’t help but be charmed, unable to look away.

He looked soft, round, and chubby, like a porcelain doll, his big eyes blinking rapidly.

There was even a yellow talisman stuck on his little forehead, and a small braid hanging down his back.

Who wouldn’t be bewildered by this sight?

Wu Sandeng was also looking at Gu Rong, as if examining a small figurine. He raised an eyebrow: “Not running anymore?”

Hearing this, Gu Rong turned his little head and looked at Wu Sandeng.

Seeing the other’s single eye, the other eye covered with a black eyepatch, his little face was innocently cute. He met the other’s gaze without flinching.

Gu Rong clutched his little tummy and said, “Tummy hungry, One-eyed Uncle. If I don’t run, can I eat food?”

Wu Sandeng: “?”

Everyone: “?!”

006: […]

Livestream Chat: […]

The child is young, the child is young! (Trying to excuse the bluntness.)

Zhuang Yu shrugged. Shen Hanxiao spread his hands.

Basic operation for this one.

Wu Sandeng was rendered speechless for a long moment by this “One-eyed Uncle.” His expression shifted several times, but he couldn’t utter a single word.

Too absurd.

The others watched Wu Sandeng’s face, then looked at Gu Rong’s sincere and dazed little expression, inwardly exclaiming “Good grief!”, not daring to breathe too loudly.

Truly, a newborn calf fears no tiger; the ignorant are fearless.

Fortunately, Wu Sandeng ultimately just let out a scoff, genuinely laughed out of frustration, and didn’t stoop low to arguing with this little Jiangshi cub who could barely walk straight.

He waved to a servant nearby: “Take this Little Jiangshi cub to eat.”

Gu Rong raised both hands and cheered, “Yay! Thank you, One-eyed Uncle!”

Wu Sandeng: “…” Heh heh.

Everyone looked at Gu Rong, vaguely feeling something was off.

Isn’t this Little Jiangshi cub a bit too flexible?

–

After instructing the servant to take Gu Rong to eat, Wu Sandeng left with Huang Daoren to discuss the matter of catching the Jiangshi next.

Anyway, as long as there was food, this Little Jiangshi cub wouldn’t want to leave on his own. No need to restrain him.

Huang Daoren hadn’t even gotten to say a few words to his Little Jiangshi. He reluctantly followed Wu Sandeng, frequently looking back at his cub.

Gu Rong sensed his gaze, blinked his eyes, and waved his little hand at him.

Given that he had few remaining chances to speak, he just waved without saying anything.

Huang Daoren saw his Little Jiangshi cub actually recognize him, his eyes immediately lit up, and he waved back vigorously at Gu Rong.

Just knew this Little Jiangshi was smart, hahaha.

Walking two steps, Wu Sandeng paused slightly, turned back, and happened to catch the interaction between Huang Daoren and Gu Rong. He raised an eyebrow: “Daoist Huang seems very familiar with this Little Jiangshi?”

“…” Huang Daoren started, quickly waving his hands: “No, no.”

Wu Sandeng: “Oh? I was actually thinking of asking Daoist Huang to help raise him for a few days.”

Huang Daoren: “Really?”

Wu Sandeng: “Fake.”

Huang Daoren: “…”

You old geezer!

–

Gu Rong successfully stayed in the Wu Mansion.

Seeing Wu Sandeng leave, everyone relaxed considerably.

However, Wu Sandeng had previously shown such eagerness towards the Little Jiangshi, seemingly determined to capture him. Why did he suddenly leave him unattended now?

Could he really be keeping him as a pet?

006: [Ding! Congratulations, little host, for completing the task. Gained 100,000 points.]

This task was practically a freebie, completed without difficulty.

But it predicted the following tasks wouldn’t be easy.

Gu Rong, however, didn’t dwell on it, solely focused on eating.

But before going to eat, he looked towards Zhuang Yu and Shen Hanxiao.

Finally reunited with Big Brother and Little Brother, Gu Rong said happily: “Big Brother, Little Brother!”

Zhuang Yu and Shen Hanxiao looked at the excessively cute Little Jiangshi cub before them, and their eyes couldn’t help but light up.

Last time they saw Gu Rong, he was glowing green all over, blindingly so, impossible to see clearly. Seeing him again this time, he was so cute that it could melt hearts.

Wu Sandeng wasn’t around, so the two dropped their pretense. They took turns holding the chubby, soft little cub. They hadn’t seen him for days and greatly missed this little milk dumpling.

They pinched his little cheeks, touched the yellow talisman on his little forehead, and even pinched his little braid.

Shen Hanxiao held Gu Rong and introduced his senior brother: “Little ghost, come, let me introduce. This is your Little Brother’s senior brother, Zhao Jiuquan, the strongest Daoist priest of our Maoshan Sect.”

“Specializes in catching Jiangshi. Little Jiangshi cubs like you, eats one per bite, doesn’t even spit out the bones.”

Gu Rong’s little face turned pale. He immediately reached out his little arms, asking Zhuang Yu to hold him. He hugged Zhuang Yu tightly with his short little arms, his small voice urgent: “Daoist Priest Big Brother, don’t eat Zaizai! Don’t eat Zaizai!”

Zhuang Yu: “…”

Zhao Jiuquan: “…”

Shen Hanxiao couldn’t contain his amusement. Others weren’t laughing, but he himself was laughing heartily at his own wicked joke.

Zhuang Yu rolled his eyes at him.

Truly a childish ghost.

Zhao Jiuquan didn’t like talking. Seeing this two-year-old baby scared by his junior brother, he also worried about leaving a bad first impression on the child.

So he made hand gestures, pointing at himself, then at Gu Rong, then waved his hand ‘no’, and patted Gu Rong’s little chest.

Meaning: Little baby, don’t be afraid, he doesn’t eat children.

Gu Rong couldn’t understand the hand gestures, but he sensed no malice from the other party. “Huh?” he tilted his little head.

He spread his five fingers, looking at his own fair little hand, then at Zhao Jiuquan’s large hand.

Others were secretly observing this interaction, their attention mostly on Gu Rong.

Over the past two days, Zhao Jiuquan’s reputation for “using fists, never blabbering” had become well-known. Now, seeing him use hand gestures with a two-year-old cub was also comical.

The key was, this was a Jiangshi cub.

Just ask if you’re impressed!

Zhao Jiuquan used hand gestures without any regard for whether others were dead or alive, not caring at all if people understood him.

Whether the two-year-old cub understood was unknown, but anyway, they didn’t understand.

Gu Rong was about to say something, but when he opened his mouth, only babbling sounds yiyiyaya came out.

His speaking chances were used up; he couldn’t talk anymore.

006 said: [Little host, the speaking chances are used up. Why don’t we also learn hand gestures?]

Gu Rong looked at his own little meaty hands, then looked up at Zhao Jiuquan opposite him.

The cub had a good memory and was good at imitating. Thinking about the gestures Zhao Jiuquan had just made, he copied them exactly, even patting Zhao Jiuquan’s chest with his small hand afterwards.

Zhao Jiuquan: “…”

Zhao Jiuquan made a few more gestures and shook his head.

Gu Rong followed along, making those same gestures, and also shook his head like a little rattle drum.

Zhao Jiuquan: “…………”

Zhuang Yu and Shen Hanxiao were dying laughing.

The others were also secretly suppressing their laughter. Zhao Jiuquan, using hand gestures, was hilarious, but they didn’t dare laugh openly, let alone imitate him openly.

Only this little cub dared, relying on his cuteness to act boldly.

The livestream chat was also full of “hahaha.”

[You’re really something, using hand gestures with a two-year-old! Dying laughing [Gift points]]

[Suddenly thought, since Zaizai can’t talk, he can learn hand gestures from Senior Brother Zhao.]

[Hahaha, not a bad idea! Zaizai seems quite talented with hand gestures, and mimics them quite well! [Gift points]]

–

Zhao Jiuquan was handsome, but his aura was cold. Seeing Gu Rong constantly imitating his gestures, yet clearly not understanding them, he fell silent.

Seriously, besides Shen Hanxiao, no one present knew what he was gesturing.

Everyone looked on. Surely he has to say something now? Still not talking? Even they could see that this little cub didn’t understand sign language at all!

What’s wrong with saying a word? Will it kill him? Why have a mouth if you don’t talk?

Who knew, after a moment of silence, Zhao Jiuquan crossed his hands in front of his chest, making a “Dame” (No/Don’t) gesture, meaning: Don’t copy.

Everyone: “…”

You’re still the awesome/stubborn one.

Gu Rong put out both small hands, extended his index fingers, and crossed the two short fingers into an ‘X’.

Shen Hanxiao: ?

Why does this X look so different?

Zhao Jiuquan had used his palms to form the X. Gu Rong used his index fingers. His fingers were already short, and crossing them made it even cuter.

Shen Hanxiao suppressed his laughter and corrected him, changing his crossed fingers into crossed little hands.

Zhao Jiuquan remained expressionless, probably having reached his limit but still unwilling to speak. He turned and walked away.

–

Zhuang Yu and Shen Hanxiao took Gu Rong to eat.

Except for greeting them as Big Brother and Little Brother initially, Gu Rong didn’t say another word afterwards.

Shen Hanxiao: “Little ghost, can you not speak in this instance?”

Gu Rong nodded his little head vigorously.

Yes! Zaizai can’t talk now!

After nodding, he demonstrated what he had just learned, crossing his small hands into an ‘X’, meaning: Zaizai cannot speak.

“…”

Zhuang Yu and Shen Hanxiao exchanged a glance.

No wonder he was learning hand gestures earlier. It turned out he couldn’t speak. They had thought Gu Rong was just imitating Zhao Jiuquan for fun.

Shen Hanxiao patted Gu Rong’s little head and said: “Don’t worry, little ghost. After eating, I’ll take you to my senior brother. Let him systematically teach you how to make hand gestures.”

“My senior brother is actually a good person.”

Hearing this, Gu Rong’s eyes lit up immediately, and he nodded repeatedly.

After eating, Shen Hanxiao carried the Little Jiangshi cub and went to knock on Zhao Jiuquan’s door.

Zhuang Yu didn’t go. With an outsider present, he worried Zhao Jiuquan might refuse to teach.

Shen Hanxiao coached: “Little ghost, in a moment, act a bit pitiful and innocent. My senior brother is tough on the outside but soft on the inside, responds to soft tactics, not hard ones. Once you act pitiful, he’ll agree to teach you.”

Gu Rong obediently acted as a mute Little Jiangshi. Hearing the instructions, he pouted his lips, his big eyes looking pitiful, instantly welling up with tears.

Shen Hanxiao: “Yes, yes, good, just like that!”

Hearing the praise, Gu Rong immediately shook his little head happily.

Arriving outside Zhao Jiuquan’s door, Shen Hanxiao winked at Gu Rong and knocked.

Zhao Jiuquan opened the door. Seeing his junior brother carrying the Little Jiangshi looking for him, he didn’t suspect anything and let them in.

Shen Hanxiao patted the cub in his arms, signaling him with his eyes to start acting.

Gu Rong immediately put on an aggrieved expression, looking incredibly pitiful and heart-wrenching.

Zhao Jiuquan glanced at him, remaining silent: “…”

Shen Hanxiao said: “Senior brother, look! This Little Jiangshi can’t talk anymore, isn’t that pitiful? Why don’t you teach him hand gestures? This cub is clever and bright, guaranteed to learn quickly, I promise his gesturing will be better than his talking!”

Shen Hanxiao spoke quickly and smoothly, saying a lot. The central idea was: if you don’t teach this little cub hand gestures, he won’t be able to speak, which is too pitiful.

Gu Rong played along beside him, looking pitifully at Zhao Jiuquan.

Zhao Jiuquan listened quietly. After Shen Hanxiao finished, he remained silent, then raised his hand and pointed towards the door outside.

Shen Hanxiao misinterpreted: “Learn outside?”

Zhao Jiuquan finally spoke: “Roll.”

Shen Hanxiao: “…”