Chapter Fifty-One: Little Green

When Qin Yu awoke, dawn was just breaking, and she carefully observed the outside world from within her space, finding everything calm and peaceful. After watching for a while, she finally decided to step out and take a look for herself.

Upon leaving her space, Qin Yu noticed nothing unusual, yet an inexplicable sense of incongruity lingered. She walked in the direction she had gone the previous night. This time, however, there was no sound, not even a branch to impede her path.

Qin Yu frowned; something about this situation was off. She shook her head, surveying her surroundings—the trees stood quietly, their leaves rustling gently in the wind. A thick layer of dead leaves carpeted the ground, crackling beneath her steps. Yet, despite the ordinary scene, a vague sense of unreality persisted, as though what she saw was but an illusion. But was that possible? With her mental strength, honed through recent experiences, few in this post-apocalyptic world could rival her. So what was really happening here?

Lost in thought, time slipped by unnoticed. When Qin Yu finally returned to herself, it was already noon. She sighed, preparing to leave, when suddenly she spotted a fresh, tender twig lying atop the dead leaves not far away.

Raising her eyebrows, she wondered what this could mean. Though she had been deep in thought, she was certain no one else had come near. Something must have happened here, then.

Qin Yu walked over, picked up the twig, and examined it in her hand. It was smooth, yet compared to the one she’d seen last night, this branch seemed to lack a certain vitality.

She sat down where she was, absentmindedly stroking the twig as she waited for sunset. She was now certain the strangeness of this place changed with day and night. She was curious—what kind of presence could create such an environment?

She ate a little, keeping her right hand firmly on her dagger, the twig in her left, considering all possibilities. Tonight, she suspected, a fierce battle might await.

Time crept by. At the very moment of sunset, Qin Yu distinctly felt the twig in her hand shudder.

Her interest piqued, she loosened her grip slightly. Perhaps feeling freed, the little twig wriggled, then bounced in her palm. Sensing the warmth of her hand, it nuzzled joyfully against her palm.

Qin Yu could only sigh—why did everything she encountered have a penchant for cuddling? The little toxic mist had been like this, and now this little twig as well. If the little toxic mist was called Little Black, then this twig could be called Little Green.

She stroked Little Green, smiling. “Little Green, hello!”

“Huh? Are you talking to me, Little Green?” a childish voice replied.

Qin Yu was taken aback; she hadn’t expected the twig to respond. She’d only given it a name to pass the time.

Hearing the reply, she patted it again. “Mm… do you have a name?”

The twig swayed. “I don’t have a name! But Little Green sounds great—I like green! Green, green, haha!”

“All right, then you’ll be Little Green from now on,” Qin Yu said with a smile.

“Okay, okay!” Little Green wiggled excitedly.

“By the way, miss, what brings you here?” Little Green asked, swaying gently.

“Hmm… just to enjoy the scenery,” Qin Yu answered, her voice growing lighter in response to Little Green’s lively tone. It was as if the twig radiated endless energy.

“Eh? The scenery? There’s nothing to see here except that pervert—nothing else at all!” Little Green said in confusion.

“Pervert?” Qin Yu asked.

“Yes, a pervert! Boo hoo… miss, you don’t know—he took my Heart of Wood! My Heart of Wood was just a little too shiny, is that any reason to steal it all? I’m so miserable…” Little Green drooped weakly in Qin Yu’s hand.

“That pervert likes shiny things?” Qin Yu inquired curiously.

“Exactly! Recently, that pervert found a stone somewhere that glows at night. Every night, he hugs it and kisses it nonstop. Poor me—my Heart of Wood is stuck under his butt…” Little Green lamented.

Qin Yu felt increasingly powerless. Ever since her rebirth, she’d encountered so many oddities. Creatures obsessed with shiny things—could it be a dragon, as in the legends?

Intrigued, she asked, “What does that pervert look like? Does it have two horns on its head and a very long body?”

Little Green nuzzled her again. “Nope—no horns, and not long at all… Actually, about as long as me. But that pervert is covered in fur… and it’s pretty comfy to snuggle with. Oh—and it has a tail, too! Wags it, and it’s actually kind of cute.”

Qin Yu felt her worldview shift yet again. So, there were creatures besides dragons that liked shiny things…

Massaging her temples, she sighed. “So what are you doing here?”

“Me? Protecting my Heart of Wood, of course!” Little Green replied as if it were obvious.

“Protecting it?”

“Yep! To keep other bad guys from stealing it. I can’t beat that pervert, and if anyone else comes, who knows when I’ll get my Heart of Wood back!” Little Green fluttered from her palm to her shoulder.

“Why don’t you ask someone for help?” Qin Yu asked, puzzled.

“Hmm? Never thought of that… Well, miss, will you help me? If you help me get it back, I’ll give you half!” Little Green offered, a bit reluctantly.

“Little Green, I don’t need your Heart of Wood. I just want that stone the pervert kisses every night,” Qin Yu replied. Based on Little Green’s description and her dream from Little Flower, she suspected that stone was the moon ore she sought.

“Oh? You don’t want the Heart of Wood? Great! Then let’s go defeat that pervert together!” Little Green nuzzled her cheek.

“All right,” Qin Yu agreed.

Hearing her response, Little Green floated up into the air.

Ahead of them, the forest abruptly parted, a beam of light shining through. Qin Yu blinked, adjusting to the brightness, and saw, inside, a fluffy creature hugging a sparkling stone, smothering it with kisses, utterly oblivious to their presence.

Seeing the animal clearly, Qin Yu’s lips twitched. This creature was…