49: I wanted be a salted fish
I don't know how long it will take to recover...
But these two-legged creatures couldn't understand what it was trying to express.
Swinging its vines forward, the Tussilago Vine would take three steps and then look back with pitiful eyes.
Song Yu: "..."
Song Yu silently turned her head, pretending not to see anything.
Although the other party was just a Tussilago Vine, she could still see something like the resentment of a woman facing a scumbag.
Song 'Scumbag' Yu sighed...
Sorry.
The responsibility and pressure of cultivating a contract beast were just too great.
She really didn't want to continue deceiving another plant version of Qiuqiu.
Acting every day is just too tiring.
She just wanted to be a lazy fish.
After finishing a simple dinner, Song Yu dragged her sleeping bag and lay down next to Qiuqiu, slipping into the sleeping bag and staring at the stars while watching TV dramas.
In autumn, the forest had a cool night breeze.
The forest sparkled with glowing lights, many fireflies dancing around, and the sounds of frogs and birds filled the air, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
While watching TV dramas on her phone, Song Yu yawned and her eyelids were about to close.
However, at this moment—
Rustle!
A sound suddenly came from the bushes nearby, instantly triggering the alarm systems in Song Yu and Qiuqiu's minds!
"Hmm? What's that sound?" Song Yu frowned vigilantly.
In theory, with Qiuqiu, a 3rd-tier beast, other low-level wild beasts in the Qingshan Wilderness Area almost dared not approach.
But this sound was obviously not the friction sound of ordinary leaves.
Squeak, squeak, squeak!
There were also low-pitched cries in just a moment, along with the rustling sound.
A rabbit about the size of an adult's lower leg, with fur all over its body in gray-green, ran out from the shade of the trees.
In front of it was a Tussilago Vine desperately fleeing with its eight tentacle-like vines.
"What is this... a 1st-tier Wood Element Moonlight Rabbit?"
Song Yu quickly gathered memories from her knowledge about beasts and tried to identify the beast before her.
The Moonlight Rabbit was a low-level rabbit-type beast that liked to forage at night and had moderate combat strength.
"Qiuqiu," Song Yu frowned, commanding Qiuqiu and moving forward to help.
"Meow~!" Qiuqiu squatted in place, roaring angrily.
The large cat pupils stared intently at the green-haired rabbit.
The Moonlight Rabbit was stunned by the sound, feeling the obvious pressure from the higher-level beast ahead.
Looking at the enormous figure in front of it, the green-haired rabbit twitched its ears, shivered, and dashed back in the direction it came from without looking back.
Qiuqiu was very familiar with the scent of the Tussilago Vine.
This low-level plant-type beast had just left the crude camp, but unexpectedly, after only a few hours, it returned in such a sorry state, running back in the dead of night.
Qiuqiu lowered its head, looking down at the Tussilago Vine from above, and emitted a cold snort from its nose.
It did have the intention of taking on a little brother, but...
This kind of little brother was just too weak. Qiuqiu flicked its tail, completely looking down on the Tussilago Vine.
The Tussilago Vine, with two vines chewed off by the Moonlight Rabbit, lay on the ground pretending to be dead, looking as dejected as a 50-gram bundle of seaweed.
Obviously, this expedition didn't go well, and the Tussilago Vine was quite discouraged by the setback.
Song Yu: "..."
Oh no, how could she, a human, know how to comfort a plant?!
"Sigh..." Song Yu sighed, staring straight at the Tussilago Vine lying on the ground pretending to be dead. After some thought, she took out a packet of instant noodles from her backpack.
The instant noodles sold at the supply base in the wilderness differed from regular instant noodles.
To quickly replenish the energy of wilderness area contractors, these foods all contained some herbal ingredients with energy, and the packets also had plenty of meat and vegetables.
When cooked, they filled a large bowl and emitted a fragrant aroma.
Song Yu covered the pot to prevent too much aroma from escaping.
After letting it cool slightly, she handed the instant noodles to the self-pitying Tussilago Vine.
Song Yu: "...Eat up. After you finish, take a rest. We'll find a big tree to climb tomorrow. Have this to satisfy your hunger for now."
Tussilago Vine: "..."
The little thing pulled itself out of the pile of weeds, its eyes eagerly looking at the small pot in Song Yu's hands, sensing a faint but abundant energy.
Ten minutes later...
Tussilago Vine: "...Burp!"
Song Yu's pupils shook.
She looked at the Tussilago Vine, which had just swollen like a ball after swallowing the whole pot of instant noodles but had instantly digested and returned to its slim shape, her face full of confusion.
"This... Teacher Zhang never mentioned how fast plant-type beasts can digest food, did he?"
"And... it seems like its injuries have also healed somewhat?"
Song Yu gingerly lifted the Tussilago Vine with two fingers, carefully observing its now slender form again, feeling reverence and envy. If she had such a skill of not gaining weight after eating, how much delicious food could she eat!
*****
Saved by the two-legged creature and the big cat, fed, and even eating delicious noodles filled with energy, the Tussilago Vine looked grateful with its bean-like eyes.
It looked at Song Yu, its expression shifting from hesitation to determination, and finally let out a long sigh, making a decision.
Sure enough!
How could there be two-legged creatures who went to such lengths to lure it, give it delicious food, and then return it to the wilderness forest?
Clearly, the other side was using a strategy of luring it in to trap it!
It had heard some two-legged creatures and their companions discussing how to contract beasts in the forest.
But, it never thought that such a trick would be played on itself one day.
Rustle, rustle, rustle...
The Tussilago Vine shook its leaves, trying to calm down the two-legged creature with its vines.
Two of the small vines covered its slightly hot cheeks.
The Tussilago Vine wriggled its vines: "Swish, swish, swish..."
Come on!
Make a contract with me! I agree~~
Song Yu held her breath: "...?"
Looking at the Tussilago Vine suddenly entwining around her fingers like a yellow thread ring, instantly stopping her envy and drowsiness, she became alert and looked at the Tussilago Vine, which covered its face with a face full of shyness.
Instantly, alarm bells rang in her mind!
No way!
Could it be that this little thing, after eating that bowl of noodles, wants to cling to her and become her contracted beast?
Song Yu was vigilant and immediately placed the Tussilago Vine on the ground.
"Ah~ I'm so tired. Let's go to sleep quickly..."
She quickly let out a big yawn, her upper eyelids drooping heavily, her beautiful big eyes immediately narrowing into thin lines, her whole face showing signs of exhaustion and weariness, collapsing into the nearby sleeping bag, her upper and lower eyelids closing as if she hadn't seen anything.
Tussilago Vine: "???"
What's, what's going on?...
Didn't the two-legged creature want to form a contract with it?
Why did it suddenly go to sleep?
Big question marks filled the little bean-like eyes of the Tussilago Vine.
However...
The two-legged creature curled up in the sleeping bag, without waiting for it to continue thinking, already emitted a steady snore.
Tussilago Vine: "..."
Song Yu: snoring
Tussilago Vine: _(:ะท」∠)_!
*****
Song Yu had originally just pretended to be asleep, but in the end... she really fell asleep.
The next day, golden sunlight streamed through the jungle treetops, sprinkling onto her cheeks.
The air was filled with the crisp chirping of birds...
Song Yu yawned, stretched lazily, and slowly crawled out of her sleeping bag.
Sure enough, the morning air was fresh; even before opening her eyes, Song Yu's nose caught the scent of pine mixed with the fragrance of grass, leaves, and various flowers, making her feel refreshed and rejuvenated.
Most of her fatigue seemed to dissipate under the intoxicating forest breeze.
However...
As soon as Song Yu lifted her eyelids, her eyes twitched.
Just as she crawled out of the sleeping bag, she saw the Tussilago Vine, which she thought had left the previous night, still nearby.
It had parasitized itself on a tree, and several nearby trees looked visibly wilted compared to yesterday.
This Tussilago Vine seemed to have been absorbing these trees' nutrients all night.
Fortunately, although this little thing wasn't particularly smart, it understood the concept of sustainable development.
Unlike ordinary Tussilago Vines... which would drain the host plant dry and not let go until it withered and died.
"Hmm...?"
Song Yu blinked and carefully observed the Tussilago Vine again. "Why do I feel like the injuries on this little guy's body have improved a lot since last night? Is its recovery rate really this fast?"
Taking a few steps forward, Song Yu examined it again. The branch that had been broken last night had already grown a small section.
Sure enough...
Not only did this Tussilago Vine digest quickly, but its recovery rate also seemed quite fast...
Almost on par with when Qiuqiu entered the Beast Taming Space.
It's worth noting that the Beast Taming Space enhances the recovery ability of contract beasts, which is quite terrifying!
Even without the use of healing skills from healing-type beasts, for example, a severe fracture of the forelimbs, Qiuqiu could recover in about two to three days on its own.
However, under normal circumstances, such injuries would take at least three months to heal and six months to return to their original state.
Even with the strong physique of beasts, it would take about two months for severe fractures of the forelimbs to fully recover and regain combat effectiveness.
"Among low-level beasts, such fast recovery rates are indeed rare..."
"However, it's also possible that this Tussilago Vine's level is too low, and it recovered so quickly last night because it absorbed a large amount of nutrients from the trees."
"But even so... it's still amazing..."
Song Yu rubbed her chin, wondering why the Tussilago Vine's recovery ability was not mentioned in the beast encyclopedia.
"Maybe its level is too low to be worth recording?" After some thought, Song Yu thought this explanation was the most suitable.
Looking at the Tussilago Vine with some sympathy, Song Yu took out two pieces of bread from her oversized backpack.
As she ate her bread, yawning, she found a suitable spot near the water source and set up her fishing rod.
Fortunately, contract beasts could enter the Beast Taming Space to absorb energy and replenish their stamina.
Moreover, she had specially purchased compressed energy food suitable for mental-type beasts from the supply base.
Otherwise, she would most likely have to rely on Qiuqiu to find food for herself every day.
Fishing...
People who loved it really loved it. They could sit by the lake or river with a fishing rod and a folding chair all day long with a sense of accomplishment.
For beginners, it might feel novel and worth trying out.
But...
Song Yu's skills weren't that great, and she had already passed the beginner stage yesterday.
After another half hour of holding the fishing rod without catching a single fish, she started to lose focus...
With the fishing rod in her hand, Song Yu's eyes were vacant.
Her gaze slowly drifted to the rippling waves on the water's surface nearby, then sluggishly rose to the azure sky above, tinged with hints of orange from the leaves...
Unable to resist any longer, Song Yu clamped the fishing rod between her legs.
She reached into her pocket with her right hand and took out her phone, ready to play a game.
Would it be too much to play games on her phone while fishing?
"The TV show volume is too loud... it might disturb the fishing. Wearing headphones for too long affects my hearing..."
"As for novels... I don't feel like reading."
*****
Three minutes later.
Song Yu hesitated for a moment before ultimately choosing her favorite casual game of recent days—"Plant Beast against Aliens."
It was similar to the Earth version of "Plants vs. Zombies," but this game had more gameplay options and even multiplayer mode!
Unfortunately, Song Yu didn't dare to play with classmates or even Song Qi, so she could only play solo from start to finish, which was quite regrettable.
Lowering her head to play the game, a small yellow figure suddenly reached out from beside her phone.
"Rustle, rustle, rustle~~" What are you doing?
The Tussilago Vine climbed up Song Yu's pant leg, onto her arm, and extended its head to peek at Song Yu's phone screen with curiosity.
Song Yu: ...?
"Rustle, rustle, rustle~~"
Seeing the Q-version Tussilago Vine on the phone screen, the Tussilago Vine shook its body excitedly, extending its vines towards the phone with visible excitement, poking at the screen.
Song Yu: ????
In an instant, Song Yu's spirits lifted, and she immediately grabbed another phone from her backpack.
"Do you want to play this?! I'll teach you!"
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