"Hey bro, come on, don't be shy..."
The Dawang Sheep squatted on the ground, holding a freshly rolled cigarette to Master Fu Li's mouth, then pulled out an extra thick match from his pouch and struck it against the ground, lighting the red phosphorus tip.
After completing the prior steps, the Dawang Sheep skillfully raised his hoof to block the wind, leaning toward Master Fu Li to offer a light.
"...No thanks, I don't have that habit." Master Fu Li removed the cigarette from his mouth, slightly speechless, and quipped, "Which path are you on? Your cigarette offering technique is far too smooth for a normal Spirit Beast!"
"Oh no, nothing like that, just a herbivore occasionally changing up fermented flavors of grass, that's all." The Dawang Sheep chuckled awkwardly, offering a reasonable excuse for his behavior.
Sheep eat grass.
And tobacco is a kind of grass, just that the grass from Maba has been fermented. As a sheep, it's normal to eat some grass at work to stave off hunger and then continue working diligently.
It's just a small mistake all bleating sheep tend to make, not slacking off at work.
"By the way, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Ironhead from Hohhot Institute Two, currently on a patrol mission in the Spring Mountain Grassland with my partner Tang Lian."
"Not long ago, a very ill-tempered Black-skinned Rabbit Spirit Beast appeared in this area. Our main task is to ensure it doesn't break into the city or to capture it..."
With a "fermented grass" in his mouth, the Dawang Sheep mistakenly took Master Fu Li for some higher-up from another region sent to Botou for martial support, reporting his itinerary and current mission in a formal manner.
After an earthquake in the Outer region revealed ancient ruins, several provinces near the Northern area sent woodcutters to assist with border work.
A few days ago, the Dawang Sheep witnessed a huge female scorpion scuttling across the border, terrifying the sheep, and now there's a White Fox speaking human words.
The White Fox started talking about Xia Dong being promoted to Chief Engineer in Chang'an City, with such accuracy it had to be a leader sent from a neighboring province for support.
"Your partner is... Tang Lian?"
Master Fu Li was taken aback upon hearing this and instinctively glanced at where Ah Qing and the others were.
There, Tang Lian was sheepishly grinning, his head tilted, enduring his sister Tang You's furious reprimand.
"...In a certain sense, Ah Qing's dormitory truly has talents in abundance."
Master Fu Li inwardly made a sarcastic remark, then turned back to the Dawang Sheep, and asked, "You just mentioned that there's a rabbit Spirit Beast near Spring Mountain Grassland?"
"Yes, it's because of its presence that we have been stationed at Spring Mountain Grassland," the Dawang Sheep nodded.
"That Black-skinned Rabbit seems to have a cleanliness obsession. It once broke into the outskirts of the city. An old shepherd was squatting in an outhouse, and it managed to lift him pants first and hurl him back onto the grassland."
"The old man's backside skidded for dozens of meters across the ground, and he had to stay in the hospital, lying face down to sleep."
Aside from being conveniently close to home, the Dawang Sheep is stationed at the Spring Mountain Grassland mainly because of the obsessive-compulsive Black-skinned Rabbit there.
It doesn't intentionally harm people but causes property damage.
Whenever it passes by residential homes, if it sees cluttered furniture inside, it will enter and throw out all the furniture, peeling paint along with the people inside.
Only after the entire house is reduced to a bare frame will the Black-skinned Rabbit leave, satisfied.
It even levels and fills outhouses in the homes it visits.
"A cleanliness obsession... What about the old furniture at home?" Master Fu Li's mouth twitched upon hearing this.
He's seen smokers, race car drivers, and people wielding Gatling guns.
But a cleanliness-obsessed Spirit Beast is a new variety he's never encountered.
"Discarded. Thrown to the next street block," the Dawang Sheep casually stated, "It's very strong. Currently, I can barely contain it, but to eradicate it, we probably need to wait until other woodcutters are available."
"Notify me when you see it; I should only be operating around Botou in the coming days."
Master Fu Li was silent for quite a while, before letting out a soft groan from his mouth.
"One more thing, could you prepare two slow-burning cigarettes for me tonight..."
"Slow-burning cigarettes?" The Dawang Sheep was puzzled, staring blankly at the leader's back, uncertain of the meaning.
Generally speaking, aren't they supposed to be expensive?
What on earth is a slow-burning cigarette?
The Dawang Sheep, utterly confused, began pondering over what kind of cigarette was slow-burning and strong.
......
"Xiaolan! No, don't come over!"
After determining the origin of the unknown Spirit Beast and the reason it projects hostility, Ansheng trotted over to where Ah Qing was located.
But just as he was nearing, Ah Qing jumped up immediately and warned the little fox to stop in his tracks.
"Yip?"
Ansheng looked at Ah Qing, utterly perplexed.
"The pearls all over the ground will get stuck between your toes!"
Ah Qing said seriously, gesturing a halt and pointing to the ground in front of her.
The land around the sheep pen had been hardened with a layer of cement.
However, due to the pen's collapse, it was now covered in dust and debris.
Yet this didn't stop the escaped sheep from diligently producing "pearls" found in bubble tea.
The round little sheep droppings were almost identical to the pearls in bubble tea.
If the little fox walked on such a surface, those sheep droppings might actually get stuck between his toes.
"......."
Ansheng was silent for a moment, retreating several steps before looking at Ah Qing and saying, "Your comments... are really gross!"
"I'm suddenly a tad relieved Grandpa Tang You didn't offer me bubble tea just now."
"Hey! I was kindly reminding you, and you criticize me for being unsanitary!"
Ah Qing glared, lifting the little fox off the ground, and patted his white fur and examined his little feet after, placing him on her shoulder.
"...Originally, the grassland scenery was quite nice, but now, after your comment, An feels all tingly. You guys have shoes, you're not worried, but An is barefoot!"
The little fox turned his head, using his snout to nuzzle Ah Qing's cheek.
If Ah Qing hadn't mentioned it, he wouldn't have noticed; now that she said it, Ansheng wasn't even sure if he should step onto the grassland.
"Alright, alright, I'll carry you, okay!" Ah Qing chuckled as the little fox assaulted her face, pinching his cheeks: "Let's go! We're heading to the Spring Mountain Grassland for lunch, and in the afternoon, we'll go ride big horses."
"Then, we'll find two little sheep for Xiaolan to chase!"
There wasn't much to see at the sheep pen; Tang You's sole intention of visiting was to throw a few punches at her brother.
Now, having finished embarrassing her brother, Tang You planned to lead Ah Qing and the others to the scenic area for fun.
Although...
She constantly criticized various aspects of the scenic area in her commentary, and relentlessly formed some stereotypes.
But these critiques were all from a local's perspective; when friends come to visit, to ensure both safety and enjoyment, the scenic area is the only option.
The rambunctious wild horses at home, Tang You wouldn't dare let Momo and Lingren ride them.
Falling off a horse poses a significant risk.
"Bleat?"
In front of the scenic area, an alpaca with a stern expression glared fixedly at the fox perched on Ah Qing's shoulder, its throat brewing defensive tactics.
"Ptooey—"
But before the alpaca could react, the little fox had already spat in its face.
"Bleat?" The alpaca looked utterly bewildered.