9 Gues (1/2)
”Sizzle!”
In the middle of a clearing within Spirit Valley, a fire was lit. A whole chicken was being roasted on a spit, its golden brown skin crackling with oil. The aroma of chicken meat filled the air.
”Keke!”
By the fire, a large white ferret moved about impatiently.
”Relax! It's still early!”
Fang Yuan rotated the spit gingerly, sprinkling salt and pepper on the meat at intervals.
Ever since the deal, Fang Yuan had gradually grown accustomed to the presence of the white ferret.
After drinking the Questioning Heart Tea brewed via the Meditative Tea Ceremony, and eating a few Questioning Heart Tea leaves, the white ferret immediately lost interest in the Questioning Heart Tea tree. But the ferret also required Fang Yuan to brew tea for it daily.
In return, the ferret would bring spiritual fertiliser to Fang Yuan. Even better, the ferret would sometimes offer pheasants and rabbits that it had hunted down to Fang Yuan as tributes.
Fang Yuan was not stingy with the ferret either. He had planned to share half of his meat with the ferret after it was done roasting on the spit.
The ferret was used to ripping into its prey raw and had never eaten cooked food before. The taste of the cooked meat was complemented by the seasoning and Fang Yuan's roasting technique. Before long, cooked food became the white ferret's obsession.
These days, Fang Yuan would open his door every morning to find that the ferret had lain wild game on his doorstep. He would never be in want for fresh meat again.
”Come on! The meat is ready!”
Fang Yuan tore the roasted chicken meat in half and threw it to the white ferret. The white ferret was ecstatic and in the blink of an eye, it had ripped into the meat and guzzled it down. It then licked its muzzle. It was apparent that it wanted more.
”Wow, that was fast…”
Fang Yuan was speechless. He bit into a chicken wing.
”Ahh, this tastes wonderful!”
The roasted chicken was not only aromatic, but the meat was tender and juicy. The chicken in question must have been living on pine nuts, hazelnuts and the like, for its meat had a herbal quality to it. It was no wonder that even Fang Yuan, a half-baked cook, was able to achieve such a great taste.
”You want some more?”
Fang Yuan took notice of the pleading gaze of the white ferret and threw him a piece of chicken thigh meat. The ferret received it excitedly and dug into it with great fervour.
”Don't just eat meat all the time. It's not very nutritious…”
Fang Yuan then took out the Crystal Rice and a few dishes. The white ferret could not withstand the sumptuous sight and beg for another bowl of rice. Fang Yuan was convinced that the white ferret's stomach was a bottomless pit.
Having eaten his fill, Fang Yuan crept up to the ferret, still preoccupied with its food, and traced his hand along its back.
The white ferret had the softest fur, smoother than silk of the highest quality, and Fang Yuan could not help but run his hands over its fine, velvety hair over and over again. Also, he was secretly glad that the ferret had begun to see him as a friend.
”Such a majestic and fearsome beast. If I manage to tame it, it would become a great protector of the Valley. No one would ever dare to trespass again!”
Fang Yuan had not forgotten that he had an unexpected enemy in the outside world.
”There is no other post-meal beverage better than tea…”
After finishing the last of the roast chicken, Fang Yuan smiled and went back into his hut to fetch a teapot.
The white ferret's eyes lit up immediately when it saw the teapot.
To the ferret, the roast chicken only satisfied its appetite, but the Questioning Heart Tea would heighten its senses and give it a new lease of life.
”Sizzle”
Tea, clear to the point of transparency, flowed into the teacup and gave off an amazing fragrance.
Fang Yuan cleared his sight and mind, settling into a familiar set of processes. The white ferret seemed to understand the importance of this procedure and sat cross-legged solemnly.
”Please help yourself!”
Fang Yuan offered the white ferret a cup.
Man and beast thus sat facing each other and had tea together. Both were enjoying it immensely.
”Hmm, I can sense the ferret's purity of heart. It seems as though it knows how to appreciate Master's Meditative Tea Ceremony…”
Fang Yuan was overjoyed.
This was reflective of Master Wenxin's joy at seeing Fang Yuan comprehend the teachings of the Tea Ceremony for the first time all those years ago.
”So this is what it means to pass on the torch. No wonder they say that civilisation is inherited.”
Fang Yuan exhaled and unexpectedly came into mental contact with a consciousness that was not his own. He sensed ignorance and curiosity, and he turned his head only to meet the questioning eyes of the ferret.
”Wow, I can actually feel the emotions of the white ferret?”
Fang Yuan suddenly snapped out of his trance and found that he was unable to re-enter this mysterious state of mind.
”If I could hold on longer to this mental state, perhaps I might be able to communicate with you directly one day!”
Fang Yuan ruffled the white ferret's crown and sighed.
It was a pity that Fang Yuan was a long way off from mastering this supernatural skill.
”Alright let's go! We need to add some fertiliser to the tea tree!”
Having sat down and contemplated for a while, Fang Yuan stood up and clapped his hands.
”Luckily you fetched me the Spiritual fertiliser, or we would not be able to enjoy this much tea with the natural yield of the tea tree…”
Fang Yuan walked to the tea tree and undid a pouch. He then reached into it and sprinkled bits of Spiritual fertiliser onto the base of the tea tree.
The ferret did its part by loosening the soil with its claws. Man and beast had achieved a comfortable rapport with each other.
To others, this was indeed a sight to behold.
”Ferret, shall I name you?”
”Keke?”
”Yeah. I remember from my dreamscapes a legendary ferret that was very powerful. It was a magical beast from the epic Investiture of the Gods. It was said to resemble a white rat, was the size of an elephant and had wings, sharp teeth and claws. It was a ruthless beast and was a scourge to mankind. They called it the Flower Fox Ferret. Shall we call you that?”
”Keke?!”
”I'll take this as a yes, Flower Fox Ferret! Haha!”
Fang Yuan was extremely happy and he laughed heartily.
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