Chapter 440: Chapter 386: Your Mating Data

"Let’s go get those supplies," Gu Ning said to Alex and the others, rubbing her full stomach. "It’s gotten dark."

The days grew dark quickly in winter, especially in a cold region like this one. It had been dusk when they entered the restaurant, but by the time they came out, lights were twinkling on all over.

"No rush." Alex straightened her hat. "We’ll stay here tonight and go back tomorrow."

Gu Ning looked up at him. "We’re not going back?"

Barto chimed in, "It’d be the middle of the night by the time we got back anyway. This is perfect; you can spend a day having fun here. There’s no rush."

Her spirits lifted instantly.

She had been wanting to explore the 12th District and experience the local way of life. A whole day to have fun was the best news ever!

"Then let’s go... shopping!"

Gu Ning grabbed Alex’s arm.

The corners of Alex’s lips quirked up, and he allowed her to pull him forward.

Barto called out from behind them, "What about Cook? Forgetting about him already?"

"Awoo... Ning."

The little fox had barely spoken when Cook ran to her side, tongue lolling out. Gu Ning smoothly took hold of Cook’s fluffy paw.

Holding one in each hand, she led them toward the bustling market.

Barto: "..."

Lanuo walked over and patted his shoulder. Looking at the backs of the three in front of them, he said, "If you want to get more of Ningning’s attention, I have a way to help you."

Barto shot the Jin Mu a sideways glance. "Oh? I’m listening."

Lanuo: "It’s very simple, but I’ll need some data."

Barto: "What kind of data?"

Lanuo: "Data on your mating. The more detailed, the better. I can create a kind of..."

Barto swatted his hand away. "Get lost. If I hear you call her Ningning again, I’ll break your damn tail."

Lanuo strode to catch up. "There must be a reason neither you nor Alex has successfully mated with her. I’m guessing, is it an issue with her small size?"

Barto stared at Gu Ning’s back, silent.

Lanuo continued, "You can’t mate, so you’re suffering. But it’s even worse for Ningning when she’s in heat. For her sake, I suggest you seek a doctor’s help and get your problems checked out first..."

Barto clenched his fist and threw a punch.

Lanuo dodged the fist, pushed up his glasses, and let out a soft scoff. "You’ll all come asking for my help eventually."

Barto shot him a dismissive gesture, then pushed through the somewhat crowded street and walked over to Gu Ning’s side. "What are you looking to buy?"

"Look." Gu Ning picked up a small Alaska doll keychain from a craft stall to show Barto. "Doesn’t it look like Cook?"

Barto said, "The quality’s not great. They all look the same; I can’t tell."

The beastman stall owner wasn’t happy to hear that. "If you’re not buying, then don’t stand here getting in the way of my business," he said.

Barto shot back, "So I can’t even point out your shoddy work...?"

"We’ll buy it." Gu Ning quickly restrained the little fox and then reached for his pocket.

Barto covered his pocket. "Let’s go buy a better one."

"Hey!" The beastman stall owner stood up, rolling up his sleeves. "Listen here, pal. It’s none of your business if the young lady likes it. You can’t control her, even if you are her mate. Besides, what kind of mate refuses to spend a measly ten Beast Coins?"

Hearing it was only ten coins, Barto picked the doll up and examined it again. "I suppose it’s only worth ten coins at that."

After he finished speaking, he held out a slightly crumpled ten-Beast-Coin note to the stall owner.

The beastman stall owner took the coin and said to Gu Ning, "Young miss, your older one is more sensible. When looking for a mate, don’t pick a youngster. They’re fine to play with, but don’t bring them home."

Gu Ning desperately held back the little fox’s hand, stopping him from flipping over the stall, and grabbed a fox doll from the pile. "Barto, look, a fox. I’ll buy it for you."

Barto looked at the fox, took a deep breath, and said through gritted teeth, "It’s white."

Gu Ning immediately asked the stall owner, "Do you have a red fox?"

The stall owner wanted to say no, but out of consideration for the young miss, he rummaged around and produced a red fox doll. "Five coins."

As soon as he spoke, Alex took a five-Beast-Coin note from his coin pouch and handed it over.

"Barto, a red fox." Gu Ning stuffed the doll into Barto’s hand.

Barto: "Why is this one only five coins?"

Gu Ning took the fox doll back. "Then we won’t take it."

And she made to hand it back.

Barto pursed his lips, took the fox doll, hung it on her shoulder bag, and then tossed the white one back onto the stall.

Gu Ning kind of wanted to buy the white one, but seeing Alex’s coin pouch getting emptier, she gave up the idea.

Just as they were about to leave, Gu Ning thought of something, turned back, and asked the beastman stall owner in a hushed voice, "Do you have any little bird dolls?"

"Yes, yes, yes." The stall owner bent down, picked up a large box, and dumped the dolls inside out. He had just set up his stall and hadn’t put out all his styles yet. They were mainly based on clans from the 12th District or the cold regions, sold cheaply as souvenirs for female tourists.

Gu Ning rummaged through the pile of dolls, picked up a plump, round, white bird doll, and thought to herself, ’It would be perfect if the tail had a bit of blue.’

There were too many dolls, and it was a hassle to search, so Gu Ning asked the beastman stall owner.

The beastman stall owner didn’t find her strange accent odd. This was a tourist city, after all. All sorts of clans came here to travel, and some couldn’t even speak the common tongue.

"That’s easy enough." After hearing Gu Ning’s request, the stall owner chuckled and pulled out a box of materials. Eager to prove his craftsmanship wasn’t shoddy, he deftly took out a few feathers, cut them to shape, and sewed them onto the doll, making the tail fluffier. He then used blue paint to brush a little color onto the feather on the bird’s head and the tips of its wings.

Barto and Alex stood behind Gu Ning, watching her with their arms crossed.

"She wants a bird," Barto said.

Alex was calmer. "It’s just a bird."

Barto: "And you’re okay with this?"

He wasn’t opposed to her getting the bird; he just wanted to gauge Alex’s reaction.

Alex said, "She’s the one who wants it. You can try to object."

Barto scoffed. "Trying to use me to start something? Dream on."

Meanwhile, the beastman stall owner finished the bird doll in a jiffy and handed it to her, beaming.

Gu Ning took the doll. She felt this plump little bird doll was remarkably lifelike. It had no expression, looking blank and cold, but she knew the real one was so cute.

After paying, Gu Ning tucked the little bird doll and the dog doll into her pockets. In high spirits, she pulled Cook along to browse the next stall.

"What about mine?" a forlorn voice sounded from above Gu Ning.

Gu Ning turned her head to see Doctor Lanuo standing behind her, looking at her with a resentful gaze.

"You bought dolls for all of them. Why didn’t you buy one for me?"

"Ah." Gu Ning said, "You like them too?"

Lanuo didn’t give her a chance to brush him off. "I’ll like it if it’s a gift from you."

Gu Ning asked, "You’ll like it as long as it’s a gift?"

Lanuo nodded.

Gu Ning turned to Alex. "Alex, why don’t you get him one?"

Lanuo: "...Heh."

Gu Ning patted her pockets. "I’m out of money."

Saying this, she then looked at the little fox. "Barto, you want to get him one?"

Barto: "Like hell I will."

Gu Ning shrugged at Lanuo with a look that said, ’See? There’s nothing I can do.’ "Sorry, Doctor Lanuo. When I have money again, I’ll get you a gift."

After saying that, she turned and slipped away, pulling Cook with her.

Alex and Barto both shared a knowing smile.

"WOOF WOOF WOOF."

Just then, Cook suddenly got excited, pulling Gu Ning into a frantic dash through the crowd. She stumbled as he tugged her along. "Cook, where are you going?"

Cook picked up speed, so fast that Gu Ning could barely keep up. The snow was thick on the ground and the crowd was dense. They were pushed apart, and a shove sent her tumbling into the snow.

"WOOF! Ning!" Cook quickly turned his head to find her.

Gu Ning was on her hands and knees in the snow, surrounded by towering beastmen. Just as she was about to get up, she saw the little dog doll had fallen in the snow, and she reached for it.

Before she could grab it, a passerby accidentally kicked the little dog doll away. She had no choice but to duck and weave between the towering beastmen to retrieve it.

She was just about to reach it when someone bumped into her, sending her lunging forward. She plunged headfirst into a beastman’s chest.

Gu Ning flailed in a panic, trying to back away, when a large hand wrapped in black cloth strips landed on her shoulder, steadying her.

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