"CAW!"

The Little Crow's wings fluttered slowly. This time, Su Ping saw a hole the size of a fist on its other wing.

At the same time, on its breast, there was also a deep, bone-exposing wound.

The natural wariness of wild beasts towards humans and other Pet Beasts was, of course, a result of the law of the jungle: survival of the fittest.

So, Su Ping had nothing to blame it for.

Instead, he smiled, glanced at the little fellow, and then took something out of his Beast Taming Space: a Commander-Level resource, an Elf Leaf. It was the purest Life Resource.

Beyond the boost in Energy, it naturally possessed the most crucial healing and recovery effects.

As soon as this item appeared, the crow's gaze locked firmly onto it.

Even in his previous life, crows were among the smartest birds in the world.

Not to mention the mutated crows in this Pet Beast World; it sensed right away the benefits this item held for its injuries.

However, Guan Qianshan beside him was somewhat reluctant. "Xiao Ping," he said, "is a low-level bird-type Pet Beast really worth such a precious resource?"

Truthfully, it wasn't necessary.

The injuries looked severe, but in reality, an Advanced-Level healing-type Pet Beast would have sufficed. For instance, the Elf Wolf could have healed the little one in no time with a few Skills.

However, the effects wouldn't be as direct, and the arrival of an unfamiliar Pet Beast could easily trigger a stress response.

Su Ping took out this item because he wanted to conduct an experiment.

He wanted to see if this bird-type Pet Beast was like those ungrateful fish—the kind that, after being well-fed and watered, would simply run off the next day.

This way, Su Ping could determine the initial type of bird Pet Beasts he would try to breed.

This Flame-Eating Crow is actually quite suitable, Su Ping thought.

To others, crows were ominous creatures, but Su Ping didn't feel that way.

On the contrary, he quite liked birds such as crows.

All beings possess a spirit.

Crows were the smartest among birds and a species famous for their filial piety, often depicted feeding their parents. Stories of this, much like those of lambs kneeling to suckle, were known to most people.

Therefore, this Little Crow's arrival is quite timely. I want to see if birds are also the type that won't become attached.

If this type of crow can't be bred through free-ranging within the Heart of Woods, then I'll have no other choice. If I want to breed birds in the future, I'll have to try creating an indoor habitat for them.

So, in a way, this Elf Leaf was Su Ping's "thousand gold pieces" in the idiom of "buying a swift horse's bones for a thousand gold pieces"—an investment to test the waters.

Su Ping's intention was quite clear.

The Little Crow tilted its head, observing for a moment. Su Ping paid it no mind and directly sent a telepathic message to the Hundred Birds Wutong Tree.

The tree immediately understood. A branch slowly extended, holding the Elf Leaf that radiated boundless vitality, and placed it before the Little Crow.

"CAW!?"

At this moment, the Little Crow perfectly embodied utter bewilderment.

It truly hadn't expected this human to actually give it such a thing.

And to give it away so effortlessly.

The life aura emanating from the leaf, like the most abundant Life Force, enveloped it. The originally excruciating pain from its injuries significantly eased under this embrace.

This healing effect was a clear step above the somewhat inadequate healing abilities of the Hundred Birds Wutong Tree.

Thus, although the Little Crow was puzzled and even had reason to suspect some human trickery, it eventually couldn't resist the abundant life aura. It tentatively reached out to test the item's effects.

Upon discovering there were truly no tricks, it let out a clear "CAW!"

Seeing the Little Crow's excitement, Su Ping also smiled. Just then, his phone chimed with a message alert. After a glance, he felt somewhat helpless.

He then turned off his phone and looked back at the Little Crow and the Hundred Birds Wutong Tree. Using his spiritual power, he initiated Psychic Communication again, telling the crow, "Rest up for now. I'll come see you later!"

The Little Crow might not have heard, but Su Ping didn't mind. He continued to tour the mountain with Guan Qianshan, who still wore a regretful expression, before they headed down.

The remaining parts of the Forest Heart weren't completely finished yet. However, those sections were mostly landscapes designed to complement other Plant-Type Pet Beasts, so there was no particular rush.

On the way down the mountain, Guan Qianshan finally asked, "What do you want to eat tonight?"

Su Ping shook his head. "Old Liu is hosting a celebration banquet and asked me to join. I reckon the people meeting me have already arrived at the Heart of Woods; I just got the message. So, I won't be eating at home."

And indeed, he was right. When he returned to the entrance of the Heart of Woods, Sun Chaoju and Yang He were already standing by the door, waiting for him.

"Let's go, let's go! Old Liu gave a strict order today. As the biggest contributor, you absolutely have to be there. We made a solemn promise to Old Liu! If you don't go, we'll have to drag you there!"

The two approached with an imposing air. Their stance made it clear they were prepared to physically take Su Ping if he refused.

Su Ping promptly raised his hands in surrender. "I already told Old Liu I'd be there. Why wouldn't I go?"

He got into the car with the two of them and headed towards Linzhou City Center.

Before, Su Ping had always seen Old Liu drink tea.

This was his first time seeing the old man drink alcohol.

It was clear that Old Liu, back on his home turf, had completely let loose.

Or perhaps it was because he was elated by his triumph in the breeding competition, finally releasing years of pent-up frustration.

Therefore, at the celebration banquet, Old Liu downed glass after glass of 'Monkey Wine'—a rather decent Elite-Level resource—thoroughly enjoying himself, even without anyone needing to propose a toast.

Then, Su Ping realized Old Liu's alcohol tolerance was actually quite average.

Clinging to Su Ping's neck, he stubbornly insisted on becoming sworn brothers.

Fortunately, Su Ping was prepared. Whenever people tried to pressure him into drinking, he only took a small sip, using the excuse that he had important matters to discuss with Sang Sheng that evening.

Using Sang Sheng's name worked. Although the others were clearly disappointed they couldn't get Su Ping drunk, they couldn't press the issue.

It didn't help that Old Liu, already quite drunk, kept insisting on a blood oath and rambling on. He babbled about how Zuo Guang—the actual Chairman of Jianghai Province—had called him with all sorts of incredible news. It seemed that in a few days, Old Liu really was going to become the legitimate Chairman of the Jianghai Breeder Association. Then, he declared Su Ping should become the honorary vice-chairman of this Jianghai Breeder Association.

Su Ping found himself in a bind, unsure whether to agree or refuse.

By the end, even Su Ping felt a bit dizzy from the 'Monkey Wine,' which, despite having no strong alcohol scent, packed a considerable delayed punch.

Finally, after several hours of this commotion, they managed to send the blissfully drunk Old Liu home.

Su Ping finally returned to his own house. In a pleasant state of light drunkenness, he spent his first night back home—and it was the most comfortable night's sleep he'd had in a while.

Unfortunately, such comfort was completely gone by early the next morning.

"Su Ping! Su Ping, wake up!"

Lao Guan's voice roused Su Ping from his drowsy sleep.

"What's wrong?"

"That Flame-Eating Crow from yesterday... it seems to have recovered from its injuries and run off..."

Run off? Su Ping sat up abruptly from the bed, staring at Lao Guan with wide eyes.

Lao Guan hurriedly explained, "This morning, I went to check on the progress of the Forest Heart as usual, and I noticed the Little Crow was gone. I thought it had recovered and just gone for a stroll, but after waiting for over half an hour, there was still no sign of it. I asked the Hundred Birds Wutong Tree, and it said the crow flew away sometime during the night..."

Flew away...

At that moment, Su Ping felt that even the warmth of his blankets couldn't dispel the chill in his heart, a coldness caused by the ingratitude of these ungrateful creatures.

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