68: Chapter 68 Wet, a little salty

A lot bigger?

From half a meter to nearly eighty-something centimeters, it could indeed be said to be a lot bigger...

"It's obvious, it's much bigger than before."

The conversation between Qin Ding and Bai Muxue was all heard by the Spirit Fox lying on the ground. Even when it looked at the big black dog walking toward it, it couldn't help but stand up.

It even puffed out its chest at the big black dog, looking proud and showing off, arrogantly looking up at the big black dog's head.

Huh? Didn't they all say I've gotten bigger? Why do I still have to look up at this big black dog?

The joyful arrogance froze in the Spirit Fox's eyes. Realizing belatedly, it gradually understood that things were not as good as it had imagined.

It seemed... in front of this big black dog, it was still just a little one?

The Spirit Fox, losing confidence and starting to wilt, was completely shattered by the big black dog's next words. It lay on the ground with tears in its eyes.

"Woof?"

[Why did you stand up? Are you trying to compare height and length with me? You're not taller or longer than me, are you?]

The big black dog circled the Spirit Fox, its mouth full of questions. Its dark wolf eyes reflected the Spirit Fox's small figure, with a hint of cunning in its pupils.

Huh? Why did this little fox lie down?

Seeing the Spirit Fox, which had been so proud just a moment ago, suddenly lie down and curl up, the big black dog, not understanding its behavior, reached out a paw to nudge it.

"Awoo?"

[Are you sleepy and want to sleep?]

The Spirit Fox, whose eyes had just reddened and were about to fill with tears, was completely unable to resist being pulled by the big black dog. The tears that had been hanging in its eyes rolled down like beads.

Instantly, the big black dog was stunned by the sight.

Why is it crying?

Qin Ding and Bai Muxue didn't pay attention to the actions of the big black dog and the Spirit Fox. Or rather, their attention wasn't on them.

"This bracelet is for you, and this necklace is for Aunt Zhao."

Taking the bracelet and necklace from Qin Ding, Bai Muxue was immediately stunned.

She was a Breeder, a Junior Breeder. She knew what an inner core was and what jewelry was.

Recognizing the inner core at first glance, she rubbed and examined it in front of Qin Ding. Her eyes, originally curious and soft, gradually turned shocked, complicated, moved, and also a little...

Angry.

"A level 20 high-grade wood-element spirit beast's inner core. Level 20... Big Black is only level 11. The necklace for Mom also has a high-grade inner core. He went out today and came back in the evening..."

"And brought back all these things..."

Bai Muxue was thinking to herself, but to Qin Ding, it looked like she was just standing there in a daze. He subconsciously thought:

Could it be that Bai Muxue is embarrassed? So he took out the bracelet made from the Sun-Facing Flower inner core and waved it in front of her.

"I have one too. These are my New Year gifts for you and Aunt Zhao. If I get the chance, I'll give you more in the future."

Bai Muxue gradually came back to her senses. To Qin Ding, it seemed she had happily accepted, but that wasn't the case.

"Another bracelet made from a high-grade wood-element spirit beast's inner core?"

"In less than a day, three high-grade spirit beasts... Wait, did he also sell a few high-grade spirit beast inner cores?"

Her emotions went from confusion, to being moved, to heartache, to anger, and then to shock and astonishment. It was like riding an emotional roller coaster.

After composing herself for a while, Bai Muxue ultimately held back her questions and didn't voice them.

"The gifts are great. I really like them."

"Thank you, A Ding."

Hearing her say she liked them and thank him, Qin Ding breathed a huge sigh of relief. He didn't even catch what Bai Muxue said afterward.

He just averted his gaze a little awkwardly and scratched his cheek.

"Alright, as long as you like them."

But, Mu Xue knew I went to the wild, and she didn't ask me?

Mu Xue's Xiao Bai also evolved. In that case, next time... maybe I could consider taking Mu Xue along?

The moment this idea popped into his head, Qin Ding couldn't stop thinking about it. He was even a little looking forward to it?

Taking a well-behaved girl like Mu Xue to play the 'lone wolf' style...

"Woof."

[What are you crying for? Let me lick you clean.]

What was that? What was that Earth Dog saying?

Qin Ding, who had just snapped out of the gift-giving mode, was startled when he heard the big black dog's noise. He subconsciously turned his head to look. Seeing this, Bai Muxue immediately followed suit.

Slurp, slurp.

After licking twice, the big black dog suddenly stopped. Even when it turned its head, its wolf eyes were full of confusion.

Woof? Why are Big Brother and Big Sister both looking over? Weren't they chatting happily?

Under their gaze, the big black dog had no choice but to stop wiping the Spirit Fox's tears. The Spirit Fox also dazedly raised its head, looking at the big black dog, which was looking up at Qin Ding and the others.

Bai Muxue blinked. Her eyes held a liveliness somewhat similar to the Spirit Fox's.

Faced with the situation, she didn't say much. Instead, she looked at Qin Ding. "I'll take Xiao Bai back first."

"Mom will be working overtime for the next few days until New Year's Eve. When she comes back tonight, I'll give her the gift. Oh, and remember to come over for dinner later."

"Xiao Bai, let's go."

The Spirit Fox paused for a moment, then stood up from the ground. Before leaving, it turned back to look at the big black dog.

Smack.

The door closed. The big black dog smacked its lips.

"Woof..."

[Salty... Last time I ate tears was from you, Boss...]

Qin Ding was speechless. After a pause, he took out the rotten wood spirit fruit, which looked like a jade artwork, from his Storage Ring.

"Eat this. I won't bring you to dinner. After you eat and wake up, I'll give you the Scaly Python's meat."

Time didn't exist in the Storage Ring, so there was no fear of the meat rotting or smelling bad.

The big black dog sniffed it.

"Awoo?"

[Boss, didn't you say before that I'm a gold element and can't eat spirit items of other elements? Why can I eat this one?]

Qin Ding: ...?

He opened his mouth, then closed it. How could he, a poor student, answer that question? But whether it was the Life Records or the big men fighting over it, it was certain that the rotten wood spirit fruit was a good thing.

"I said you can eat it, so you can. Stop dawdling. Open your mouth and eat."

Trusting Qin Ding unconditionally, the big black dog didn't hesitate. It opened its big mouth and waited for Qin Ding to feed it.

"Same as last time with the blood spirit fruit. Don't let any drop out. Eat slowly."

Carefully placing the fruit into the big black dog's mouth and watching it chew and swallow, Qin Ding slowly nodded. "Alright, I'm going to eat. Tomorrow I'll give you something delicious."