All Ning Shu could make out was a furry, gray creature about the size of a man's fist darting toward the sack. It looked like a ball of fur with no visible eyes or nose.
The tiny creature rummaged through the sack but seemed to struggle to find its way out. After a few sharp rips, it shredded the sack into pieces.
Seeing this, Ning Shu's hair stood on end again. Those claws were terrifyingly sharp! How had she even dared to bait it earlier with a dessert in her palm? She silently thanked the heavens that it had shown restraint when using its claws on her before.
The creature devoured the rations and sweets quickly. Though it was tiny, it managed to eat an alarming amount.
This thing was clearly no ordinary animal. Ning Shu immediately decided it was time to make her exit. This little guy was not something she wanted to mess with.
Just as she was preparing to run, the furry creature glanced in her direction. It stood up, still resembling a fluffy ball, but Ning Shu wasn't fooled.
She had to admit—she had a soft spot for cute, fluffy things. But this wasn't some harmless stuffed toy.
"Don't follow me anymore. I gave you everything I had," Ning Shu said, jumping down from the tree. She patted her clothes as if to show she wasn't hiding anything.
The little gray ball squeaked a few times, then, in the blink of an eye, it appeared right in front of her. Standing on its hind legs, it revealed its sharp claws—small but deadly. The claws were dark and gleamed like black iron.
Sweat dripped down Ning Shu's back. With a twitching smile, she said, "I really don't have anything left."
The furry creature stared at her with its black, beady eyes, which glowed faintly. Ning Shu was speechless. What was happening here? Was she really in a standoff with some unknown little creature?
"Someone, please save me," Ning Shu thought desperately. She and the tiny creature locked eyes for a long moment before it squeaked again.
Ning Shu: …
"I seriously can't understand what you want, hon."
After thinking it over, Ning Shu guessed the little thing might have a sweet tooth. "How about this? You let me go, and I'll bring back more pastries for you?"
Ning Shu felt like she was losing her mind. Was she actually negotiating with an animal?
The gray furball gazed at her, then slowly clung to her clothes and climbed up her body. Once it reached her shoulder, it sat down as if exhausted.
Ning Shu narrowed her eyes and turned to look at the creature. Did it want to go with her?
Fine, she thought. I'll just treat it as a pet. Without wasting time, Ning Shu dashed back to Manor Garden, her heart still racing.
When she returned, she immediately asked Yuan Dong to bring out all kinds of desserts for the little furball.
Yuan Dong stared at the creature in shock as it devoured plate after plate of pastries in a matter of moments. Her jaw practically hit the floor.
"Princess, what is that thing?" Yuan Dong asked, bewildered.
Ning Shu didn't know either. She sighed. Instead of finding wild sweet potatoes, she'd ended up with this bottomless pit of a creature. She didn't even know what species it was.
Oh, heavens above, why was it so hard to win favor with Li Wen, the emperor?
Ning Shu glanced at the gray ball now lying motionless on the table, probably stuffed to the brim.
Still feeling a bit unsatisfied with the day, Ning Shu decided she'd give the forest another shot tomorrow. If she couldn't find the potatoes then, she'd give up. Maybe the soil here just wasn't right for them.
But what should she do with this little thing? Should she throw it out now while it was too full to move?
Suddenly, the gray ball squeaked again from its stiff position on the table.
Ning Shu was taken aback. This little guy had sharp senses when it came to people. Smiling to herself, she thought, Maybe I'll give this thing to Li Wen as a present.