Chapter 69

Xu Mo took out a pottery bowl, and the five monkeys each grabbed one, starting to quarrel. Xu Mo waited for them to line up before distributing the hot meat broth to them. However, he soon noticed that Longyan, after taking a sip of the broth, suddenly rolled his eyes, as if he had an idea, and grinned, picking up the pottery bowl and walking away. He circled around a few wild fruit trees, and his figure disappeared behind the trees.

Not long after, he returned with an empty bowl. Xu Mo, seeing this, was surprised. The broth was a bit hot, and the other four monkeys were all drinking while blowing into the bowl, their tongues constantly poking out from the heat. How did Longyan drink so quickly this time?

But Xu Mo was just surprised and didn't think much of it. He scooped up the wooden spoon and served Longyan another bowl. This time, Longyan didn't even taste it before picking up the pottery bowl and walking away again.

After a short while, Longyan returned with an empty bowl, asking Xu Mo for more broth. Xu Mo finally became suspicious. The other monkeys also noticed this situation. Mango called out to Longyan a few times, seemingly questioning him.

Yangtao and Juzi, not wanting to be left behind, picked up their bowls and took big gulps, immediately getting burned and sticking out their tongues, making "ji ji" sounds.

Xu Mo picked up the wooden spoon and served Longyan another bowl. Longyan picked up the bowl and walked behind the trees again. Xu Mo, curious, couldn't resist wanting to see what was happening. He moved to the side, avoiding the fruit trees, and immediately saw Longyan sneakily walk behind a fruit tree, bend down, and lift a clay jar from the roots, open the lid, and pour all the broth into the jar.

He then closed the lid and put the jar back. The full bowl of broth, he didn't drink a single drop.

Seeing this, Xu Mo was even more puzzled. Before this, Longyan had never acted so strangely. Seeing Longyan walking back, he was worried he would be discovered, so he quickly retreated to the side of the earthen stove.

After a short while, Longyan returned from behind the tree, holding the pottery bowl, and asked Xu Mo for more broth. Xu Mo didn't expose him, picked up the wooden spoon, and served him another bowl, adding a lot of rabbit meat. Longyan "ji ji" called out to him, looking very pleased.

Longyan then took the bowl with the added rabbit meat and walked away again, circled around the fruit trees, took out the clay jar, and poured the broth into it. This continued twice more until Grapes started to scold him, and he finally stopped, picked up the broth Xu Mo had served him, and drank it.

After the broth was shared, Mango and the other four monkeys, with their bellies full and round, lay on the ground, unwilling to move. Longyan, however, quietly left and walked to the back of the tree where the clay jar was placed.

Xu Mo had been watching him and now wanted to see what was happening, so he followed him from a distance.

Longyan took the clay jar and the pottery bowl he had used, and immediately walked away. Xu Mo noticed he was heading to the other side of the mountain, the direction where he had previously hung from the top of the fruit tree and looked around.

Xu Mo followed from a distance to avoid being discovered.

Longyan, although carrying the clay jar, walked the mountain path as if it were flat ground, still running quickly, occasionally jumping onto the trees, grabbing branches, and swinging.

Fortunately, Xu Mo had keen senses. No matter how fast Longyan walked, he couldn't escape Xu Mo's sight. With his harmony with nature, he could detect subtle changes in the natural world in a short time, making him very skilled at tracking and stealth, so he wasn't afraid of losing him.

The other side of the mountain was the valley where the monkey family originally lived. Longyan entered the valley but didn't stop, walking through it to the other side of the mountain.

The other side of this mountain was the territory of another monkey family, with whom Mango's family had a dispute over the tree hole wine. Longyan stopped at the top of the mountain, standing still, seemingly hesitant, scratching his ears and rubbing his cheeks in agitation.

Xu Mo quietly approached and hid nearby. His breath and presence were almost one with nature, so Longyan couldn't detect him.

Longyan stood on the mountain top, looking at the other side of the valley, wanting to go but not daring, looking very anxious.

Xu Mo, seeing this, was even more puzzled.

Longyan "ji ji" called out a few times, finally made up his mind, and walked towards the other side of the valley.

After descending from the mountain, it was all the territory of the other monkey family. Longyan didn't dare to enter directly but walked along the edge of the valley.

Xu Mo still followed from a distance.

After walking about a few hundred meters, a group of monkeys' calls suddenly came from the forest. A monkey jumped down from a mulberry tree, baring its teeth and making fierce calls, clearly trying to drive Longyan away.

Longyan, holding the clay jar, retreated a distance, not wanting to conflict. The monkey, seeing him retreat, became even more aggressive, waving its arms and making loud calls, seemingly summoning its companions.

Longyan, frightened, turned and ran away, but the monkey didn't chase him. The monkey, looking triumphant, didn't chase but continued to make noise.

Xu Mo, following Longyan, thought: Scared like that, he should go back now, right?

But Longyan, after retreating a distance, circled back and walked deeper along the edge of the valley.

Not long after, the forest again echoed with the screams of monkeys, getting closer. A monkey was coming in this direction.

Xu Mo looked at Longyan and thought: They're coming to drive you away again, why don't you run?

But when Longyan heard the calls, his expression showed a hint of excitement. He tiptoed and looked in the direction of the sound, "ji ji" calling out, as if responding.

Xu Mo was even more puzzled.

The sound gradually came closer, and a monkey jumped down from the tree. It was the white-eyed young monkey that had fought with Longyan during the conflict with Mango's family.

The white-eyed young monkey, jumping down from the tree, immediately recognized Longyan. Seeing his enemy, he turned red with anger, letting out a series of screams, clearly summoning other monkeys. He had been at a disadvantage that day and was wary of Longyan, not daring to fight alone.

Longyan, not angry, "ji ji" called out to him, bowing and scraping, trying to please him, waving his arm as if to stop the white-eyed young monkey from calling for help.

The white-eyed young monkey ignored him, calling even louder.

Longyan, in a hurry, lifted the lid of the clay jar. The broth was still hot, and the aroma immediately spread. The white-eyed young monkey, attracted by the rich aroma, stopped calling, his eyes fixed on the clay jar in Longyan's hand.

Longyan bared his teeth at him, seemingly smiling, then pointed to the clay jar with one paw and beckoned to the white-eyed young monkey, his intention to please even more obvious.

The white-eyed young monkey, attracted by the aroma of the broth, drooled, and involuntarily took a few steps forward.

Longyan turned and walked in another direction, then turned back after a few steps, "ji ji" calling out to the white-eyed young monkey, clearly inviting him to follow.

The white-eyed young monkey didn't hesitate and followed, and the two monkeys quickly crossed the hill and walked away.

Xu Mo, seeing this, finally understood. The white-eyed young monkey was a female, and Longyan had brought the broth to court her.

Thinking about it, he found it amusing. Not long ago, Longyan and the white-eyed young monkey were enemies, fighting on the ground. But during the mating season, all grudges were forgotten, and he brought the broth he had cooked, risking danger, to court her on her territory.

Understanding Longyan's purpose, Xu Mo stopped following and returned to the valley where he lived. Mango and the other four monkeys, having eaten a lot, were still lying on the ground, rubbing their bellies and basking in the sun.

Longyan and the white-eyed young monkey were nowhere to be seen and didn't return all afternoon.

Xu Mo, witnessing this strange event, was in a good mood. As evening approached, he went to the mountain to catch two mountain chickens and cooked chicken soup for the monkeys.

Just as the soup was ready, Longyan somehow knew and sneaked back. Behind him was the white-eyed young monkey.

Xu Mo couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Mango and the other four monkeys, seeing the white-eyed young monkey, suddenly became wary, baring their teeth and making fierce calls.

The white-eyed young monkey, frightened, hid behind Longyan, looking at Xu Mo and the other monkeys, not daring to come out. Smelling the aroma of the chicken soup, she drooled but didn't want to leave.

Yangtao and Juzi seemed to want to attack, but Longyan stopped them, "ji ji" calling out, not knowing what he was saying.

Mango and Grapes continued to stare fiercely at the white-eyed young monkey. Xu Mo picked up the wooden spoon and gently tapped the clay jar, smiling and saying, "A guest has come, and you don't welcome them but try to drive them away? Whoever causes trouble won't get any chicken soup tonight."

He then took six pottery bowls, filled them with chicken soup, and included the white-eyed young monkey. The four monkeys, attracted by the soup, stopped paying attention to the white-eyed young monkey and picked up their bowls to drink.

Xu Mo beckoned to the white-eyed young monkey, but she was still afraid and didn't come over. Longyan, holding his bowl of chicken soup, eagerly brought it to the white-eyed young monkey, "ji ji" calling out to her, and she carefully took it.

Longyan gave the chicken soup to the white-eyed young monkey and didn't get any for himself. He looked at the remaining bowl of soup, his eyes on Xu Mo, but didn't dare to take it.

Xu Mo understood his meaning, smiled, and pointed to the chicken soup. Longyan then went to pick it up.

——

PS: Thanks to Changsheng Xing and Mingyun Tiancan for their support.

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