Chapter 351 - Catching Cicadas Under the Moonligh (1/2)

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The night sky appeared very clear after being washed by the rain, and the dark blue sky was covered with stars. A bright moon was hanging high in the sky. Its faint light was like a thin gauze that lightly shrouded the mountain forest, leaving a silver glow on the top of the trees.

A cool breeze gently blew. The cicadas in the forest showed off their clear throats, while the crickets in the thickets sang a long melody. In the dark, the fireflies danced around the small lanterns… Suddenly, the cicadas went silent and the crickets stopped singing. The fireflies also hid within the thickets. The little fairies of the mountain secretly watched the group of people who broke the silence of the forest.

When they passed by the piggery, Yu Xiaocao called Liu Feiyan to come along with them. Little Black, who was responsible for guarding the entrance of the piggery, excitedly played with Little White as they ran in the front. At times, they stopped and turned around to look at their masters with their emerald green eyes.

At the beginning of spring, Big Gray had returned to the mountains. The two wolf pups with different colored fur, Little Black and Little White, were almost one year old. During the past half a year, they grew crazily like inflated balloons. With all four limbs on the ground, they were nearly up to Xiaocao’s chest. One was black, while the other white. They had the same emerald green eyes, same tall physique, and the same dense fur. They had very distinctive personalities; one was lively and the other was cool. The children all really liked them. The villagers all thought that Little Black and Little White were dogs that were mixed with wolves. They had also saved their young master before, so the villagers had good feelings towards them. The two little wolves had never harmed the domestic animals raised by the villagers. Everyone lived together in a harmonious and peaceful manner…

Royal Prince Yang and Yu Xiaocao walked in front of the group with glass lanterns in their hands. Little White followed Xiaocao step by step, like a loyal guard. Whenever there was any movement, he would stop in his tracks and quietly listen with his ears pricked up. The others followed behind them gleefully, and occasionally bent down to look for something in the grass.

Yu Xiaocao was very experienced in catching cicadas. She knew that the best time to catch them was between seven to eight in the evening. She took out a pocket watch and checked the time with the help of the lantern. It was about time, so she led the group of excited kids to the foot of the mountain forest.

With her chest proudly thrusted out, she began assigning the tasks, “Form groups of two or three and just stay around this small forest. Don’t run off too far and shout loudly if something happens. Little Black and Little White will swiftly go assist you guys! Catching cicadas is very simple. Just shine the light of the lantern on the tree trunk, and when you see it, just catch it! That’s all you have to do! Alright, that’s it for now, dismissed!”

Liu Fangping, whose hands were held by his older sister, asked with a grin, “Cousin Xiaocao, why do you speak with a northeastern accent? It sounds so close and dear ah!!”

Liu Yaner squeezed his little hands and said, “She must have heard it when you were teaching Little Shitou. She didn’t learn it properly, so it sounds nondescript and quite funny!”

Under the dim light of the lantern, Zhu Junyang saw Yu Xiaocao with her hands placed on her hip and speaking in a spirited manner. She looked like a little squirrel that just snatched a large pine nut. She was becoming more and more interesting. Holding the back of her collar, he brought her to his side and said, “Let’s form a team. This prince will protect you!”

This big-eyed ‘little squirrel’ rolled her eyes at him, and then pulled his hands away, saying, “This part of the forest is very safe. At most, there would be some wild hares and pheasants appearing. Would this maiden need your protection?” As she spoke, she walked towards a big tree with a lantern in her hands.

“There aren’t any beasts, but snakes would appear in the grass in the summer…”

Before Zhu Junyang had finished speaking, that proud ‘little squirrel’ screamed and jumped back next to him. She hid behind him and tightly grasped the corner of his clothes with a flustered expression, “Snakes? Where? Where is it??”

[Coward, that kid is tricking you!! With this Divine Stone around, what are you afraid of?] The little divine stone’s scornful voice sounded in her mind. A small, golden figure swiftly scrawled on top of Little White’s back. It found a place on the top of his head and lay down comfortably. Had it been someone else, with Little White’s proud temper, there was no way that he would let others ‘beard the lion in his den’. However, the little divine stone used its power to regulate his body in exchange, so he reluctantly stopped himself from shaking the little kitten off.

Zhu Junyang also saw the little golden cat, which was only about the size of his fist. It had been over a year, yet it still hadn’t grown at all and it always looked so miniature. He laughed and said, “One will always raise a pet similar to oneself. This little kitten is so tiny ah!”

Yu Xiaocao immediately forgot that he had scared her with snakes, and exploded in anger, “What do you mean? I have grown taller, okay!! Since the beginning of spring til now, I have grown at least 7 centimeters…”

“Oh, I can’t tell. You still look so short!” Zhu Junyang measured the top of her head which reached up to his own waist.

Yu Xiaocao stomped her feet like an enraged little rooster. She angrily hollered with her neck stretched out, “You can’t tell because you’re also growing!! Compared with the measurements that I marked on the wall last year, I have grown this much, this much!!” As she spoke, she made a gesture with her hands to show him that she had indeed grown in height!

Zhu Junyang walked up to a tree and pointed at a black bug that was crawling on the trunk. He asked with slight disdain, “Is this the edible bug that you mentioned? It looks so ugly!”