Chapter 237: The Fighter Jet of Roosters

By the lake, Ning Fei was gathering firewood in the forest.

It happened to be autumn, so there were plenty of fallen branches and logs scattered among the trees for him to collect.

Little Dog and Little Fei were playing in the water by the lake.

Neither of them seemed afraid of the cold.

Under the live broadcast of the drone's lens, Ning Fei returned carrying a bundle of firewood.

He first checked on the little ones.

Everyone was their usual self. Who knew what kind of charm that silly bird Xiao Feng possessed; right now, it was perched right on Xiaoxiong's head, looking every bit like a mob boss who had just taken in a new underling.

Of course, Xiaoxiong was the only one it could bully.

Back at Qingfeng Temple, Little falcon and Little Fox held much higher status than it did, while Little Dog and Little Fei rarely paid it any attention.

Ning Fei glanced around but didn't see Little Fei anywhere.

"Little Fei!"

Ning Fei set the firewood down beside the wooden cabin and called out.

He felt a bit worried.

This was the wilderness, after all. A piece of poultry out here was nothing more than a walking snack, and there was no telling how many predators in the forest would love to eat it.

However, Little falcon was nearby, so it was unlikely that any fierce beasts would dare approach.

After all, Little falcon was the number one guard of Qingfeng Temple, excelling in every aspect. Aside from behemoths like the South China tiger, there was truly nothing in this forest that could beat it in a fight.

"Where did Little Fei go?"

The netizens had also noticed that the rooster was nowhere to be seen by the lake and began asking.

"Could he have been snatched away?"

"It couldn't be that tragic, right? Qingfeng Temple goes on its first group vacation and Little Fei gets murdered?"

"Stop talking nonsense."

Just as everyone was discussing it, a scene unfolded that no one expected.

Roughly seven or eight meters out from the shore, a brightly feathered rooster suddenly popped out of the lake water.

Then, floating on the surface, it paddled its way back toward the shore.

"Holy shit!"

Swears erupted from the netizens as they watched the scene unfold.

"This chicken can fucking swim?"

"Amazing. It's not just a 'flying chicken,' it's a 'diving chicken' too."

"It really is swimming! Look at it!"

"Just what kind of animals does Qingfeng Temple keep?"

"This is the first time I've ever seen a swimming chicken."

"Hahaha, Little Fei is too funny."

"Now that's what I call a fighter jet among roosters."

Little Fei's sudden appearance completely shattered the calm atmosphere in the live stream.

The netizens found the sight incredibly entertaining.

Ning Fei also noticed Little Fei, and his expression held more than a little surprise.

After all, even he had just found out that Little Fei could swim.

He certainly didn't remember ever teaching the rooster how to do it.

Still, a hint of worry quickly crept into Ning Fei's eyes.

"Those who have raised chickens probably know this," he said to the viewers. "Chickens get sick and die very easily. Generally speaking, if a farmer can keep seventy percent of their flock alive after three months, that's already considered a massive success."

Ning Fei grabbed the towel specifically used for the little ones. As soon as Little Fei came ashore, he used it to thoroughly dry the rooster's body.

"You really are something else, going for a swim in this freezing weather."

Ning Fei chided gently, worried that Little Fei might catch a cold.

But Little Fei seemed incredibly excited, clucking twice at Little Dog as if to show off.

Hearing this, Little Dog got indignant and looked ready to jump into the water too, only to be stopped by Ning Fei's foot.

"Get back."

Ning Fei ordered.

Little Dog had already been splashing around by the lake chasing fish earlier and was soaked.

After drying off Little Fei, he wiped down Little Dog as well.

Then, Ning Fei returned to the cabin, added some firewood to the fireplace, and lit it.

Before long, flames began dancing in the hearth.

This was just the start. Ning Fei added a few thick logs to press down on the fire, ensuring it would burn much longer.

The thicker the wood, the longer it lasted.

Night fell soon after. With winter approaching, it got dark incredibly fast.

For dinner, Ning Fei brought over a bucket and had Little falcon catch three small fish.

Small fish were much tastier when grilled whole. Large fish had to be sliced open to roast properly, otherwise the flavor wouldn't seep in.

Naturally, the other little ones ate their carefully prepared pet food, and every single one of them ate their fill.

The drone flew into the cabin.

The netizens were greeted by a beautiful scene.

On the live stream, Ning Fei placed a wooden chair beside the fireplace, sat down, and skewered the three small fish on sticks to grill over the fire.

The other little ones were all sprawled out by the hearth, warming themselves.

With the current weather, the nights carried a noticeable chill.

Little Dog and Little Fei had both been in the water earlier.

Now, resting by the fire, the little guys felt exceptionally warm, and their damp fur and feathers had dried out completely.

Little Dog and Little Fei even cuddled up against each other and fell fast asleep.

Little Fox had always been clingy with Ning Fei, so she jumped straight into his lap. Since grilling the fish didn't require all his attention, Ning Fei had a free hand to hold her.

Seeing such a cozy sight, the netizens were practically dying of envy.

"Look at him relaxing with so many little animals keeping him company. I'm so jealous."

"I have a cat, and I feel so happy every time I pet it. Temple Master Ning has so many pets, I can't even imagine what he's feeling right now."

"His happiness must be multiplied."

"That's only because Temple Master Ning treats them with genuine care, which is why they trust him so much."

"Look at the window. It looks like something is pressing against it."

"Haha, it's Xiaoxiong! He's watching from outside looking so pitiful."

"Can't be helped. House pets and free-range pets get different treatment."

"The security guard has to do a good job on his night shift outside, otherwise how will he earn his dried fish?"

Ning Fei finished the grilled fish and sprinkled on some seasoning. The small fish were roasted to a crispy golden brown; with a single bite, the tender meat rolled lightly across his tongue, the texture absolutely incredible.

After dinner, Ning Fei gathered the trash into a dedicated garbage bag, including some construction debris left over from building the cabin outside.

All of this waste had to be taken with them when they left, to be properly disposed of at the village's centralized waste treatment site.

By the time he finished all this, it was around 8:00 PM.

Ning Fei went out to fetch another armful of firewood. The night was cold, and he didn't want the little guys freezing.

It was already pitch black outside.

A chilly wind blew past, stirring ripples across the surface of the lake.

Ning Fei grabbed a book from his car about Huaxia's mythological history, which included tales of divine beasts and ferocious monsters from ancient times.

He was deeply interested in these subjects.

Then, he returned to the hearth, sat back in his chair, and planned to read for a while.

Before opening the book, he gave the viewers a heads-up and turned off the live stream.

After all, reading in the cabin didn't offer anything to commentate on. Keeping the broadcast running would only make things awkward.

With the broadcast off, Ning Fei sat by the fireplace, picked up his book, and began to read.

The little guys stayed quietly by his side, keeping him company.

After an unknown amount of time, Ning Fei started to feel a bit tired. He closed the book and set it aside.

One massive benefit to being in an environment like this was the complete lack of pressure. There was no need to worry about the time; whenever he felt sleepy or tired, he could just rest.

Before going to bed, Ning Fei fed a few more large logs into the hearth and banked the fire, ensuring it wouldn't die out in the middle of the night.

Little Fox was still in his lap. After a moment's thought, Ning Fei decided to carry her into the inner room to sleep.

At that moment, a sudden thought struck him. He remembered that he hadn't used his Treasure Seeking Technique in a long time. It was a miraculous skill capable of locating the single most precious animal, plant, or treasure within a one-kilometer radius, though it came with a massive seven-day cooldown.

Ning Fei activated the Treasure Seeking Technique, wanting to see if there was anything good hidden around South Lake.

The moment he triggered the skill, his mobile phone vibrated.

Objects found by the Treasure Seeking Technique would be displayed on his mobile phone's map. Ning Fei unlocked his screen and saw a new seashell icon hovering right over the center of South Lake.

'A shell? Freshwater rarely has shells like that, so it must mean a river clam.'

'I was only thinking about fishing in South Lake. It never crossed my mind that there might be river clams here.'

'A clam is the most precious thing around South Lake? Could it be a freshwater pearl mussel like the triangle sail mussel?'

'It's a pity that it's too late today. The lake is pitch black, so I won't be able to see the bottom.'

'I'll just have to go check it out tomorrow during the day.'

Having made up his mind, Ning Fei carried Little Fox into the room to rest.