Qin Jian gathered some firewood, found a few abandoned bird nests, and used the dry leaves inside as tinder. He pulled out the lighter from his trouser pocket.
A treasure! Qin Jian couldn't help but sigh.
Under these conditions, asking Qin Jian to drill wood for fire was pure nonsense.
Luckily, his pocket still held a lighter with half a tank of gas when he was summoned.
The tantalizing aroma slowly wafted out as Qin Jian worked. The Gorilla sniffed with its large nose, inching closer step by step, drool almost dripping onto the ground.
Qin Jian pushed it away firmly.
Mo Ni Ka was also awakened by the crackling fire. Seeing the black fur covering her, warmth flooded her heart.
"Awake?" Qin Jian had a cigarette dangling from his mouth as he looked back at the little beauty. "Wait a bit, it'll be ready soon."
Wandering alone often meant sleeping rough. He'd even stolen farmers' hens to roast, so these things were second nature to Qin Jian.
"Thank you!" Mo Ni Ka had thanked Qin Jian more than once. She carefully gathered the black fur, tied it with a sinew cord from her pocket, then handed Qin Jian his shirt.
Throughout, the little beauty didn't dare glance at Qin Jian's exposed skin.
"What's this?" Mo Ni Ka crouched beside Qin Jian. Though she swallowed saliva occasionally, she looked curiously at the cigarette in his mouth.
"Cigarettes!" Qin Jian spoke, blowing out a puff of thick smoke that made the little beauty wrinkle her nose slightly.
"Oh! So this is the luxury noble lords enjoy!" Mo Ni Ka suddenly understood.
"Haha... I'm no noble lord," Qin Jian laughed, pulling out a red, apple-like fruit he'd found on his way back and handing it to Mo Ni Ka. Birds had been pecking at it, so it should be safe.
"Moisten your throat first!"
"Okay." Mo Ni Ka accepted it but didn't eat it. She cradled it like a treasure, her large eyes instantly misting over.
"What's wrong, my lady?" Qin Jian was startled, thinking, I didn't molest you.
"Nothing..." Mo Ni Ka slowly shook her head, then brought the wild fruit to her lips, taking tiny bites, nibbling only a small edge after a long while.
The Gorilla sniffed again, craning its neck curiously. Qin Jian pinched the cigarette butt he was holding and flicked it forcefully, hitting the gorilla squarely on the forehead.
The gorilla jumped back in panic, its large paws comically covering its head, crashing into a large tree. Leaves rustled down.
Seeing this, Mo Ni Ka couldn't help but giggle.
"The miracle of magic..." The little girl sighed. "The Gorilla seems quite afraid of you."
Qin Jian didn't respond. Seeing the girl's admiring eyes made him feel light-headed.
"Gorilla doesn't sound nice," Qin Jian finally said, shaking his head with an air of profundity.
"Every master has the right to rename their magical beast. What do you want to call it?"
"King Kong!" Qin Jian had already decided.
"A very majestic name," Mo Ni Ka nodded.
The fragrance in the forest grew stronger. Oil dripped from the half-roasted deer, falling onto the leaping flames, causing a series of crackling pops.
Mo Ni Ka's stomach rumbled again. Qin Jian's appetite was also whetted.
He couldn't care less about the heat. Young Master Qin tore off a meaty hind leg, wrapped it in large leaves from a nearby tree, and handed it to the little girl.
This time, the little girl wasn't reserved; she was probably starving. Wrapped in leaves, the freshly roasted leg wasn't too hot. But once it reached her mouth, she felt the heat.
Mo Ni Ka gracefully tore off a piece of meat with her teeth. Her small mouth instantly became stuffed. She couldn't swallow or spit it out, making Qin Jian laugh heartily.
Qin Jian didn't feel the heat much, perhaps due to the Moon God's power. While the little girl had only taken a few bites, Young Master Qin had already devoured an entire hind leg, making Mo Ni Ka look on enviously.
The Gorilla, initially intimidated by Qin Jian's authority, sat under the tree, not daring to approach. But the increasingly rich aroma drove its instincts. Tentatively, it took a few steps forward.
Qin Jian twisted his large butt, blocking King Kong's view. He gnawed away, greasy-faced, while tearing off another piece of meat for the little girl.
"You should be nicer to your magical beast!" Mo Ni Ka chided Qin Jian with a glare, handing over the mostly uneaten hind leg.
"Ooh... Ooh..." King Kong immediately jumped to Mo Ni Ka's side, took the leg, roared excitedly, stuffed it into its mouth, and swallowed it without chewing.
Afterward, it looked pitifully at the other piece of meat in the little beauty's hand...
Seeing this, Qin Jian pursed his lips tightly. This guy's stomach is huge. How much would be enough?
Mo Ni Ka licked the grease from her lips, looked at King Kong, then at the meat in her hand, and finally handed it over.
"Didn't it almost kill you earlier?" Qin Jian teased Mo Ni Ka, tearing off another piece of meat and placing it on the leaves she held.
"Every magical beast's taming involves a thrilling battle; it's inevitable," Mo Ni Ka smiled faintly. "A great Mage should possess a broad mind and admirable courage."
The latter part was clearly criticizing Qin Jian for animal abuse, but he didn't mind. This little girl was adorably naive.
I didn't say I wouldn't give it food; I just need to fill my own stomach first.
"In future battles, the magical beast will be your most trustworthy and indispensable partner..."
The little girl went on and on. Qin Jian rolled his eyes, staring directly at the animal hide wrapped around Mo Ni Ka's waist. "Your clothes are torn!" he mumbled indistinctly.
Mo Ni Ka followed Qin Jian's gaze downward. The hide was already hanging in tatters around her waist. Though it covered most of her, it still revealed glimpses of fair skin and thigh. Qin Jian had even seen the root of her thigh...
Mo Ni Ka quickly bent her legs and turned sideways, her face turning crimson as a monkey's rear.
Only the sound of the leaping campfire and Qin's unrestrained, lewd laughter remained in the forest.