What Ruan Shu saw was a whole gathering of Edelweiss nests!
Her eyes instantly sparkled, and with quick, light steps, she padded through the snow toward them.
Even though these Edelweiss puffs were usually cautious around others, they didn’t show any signs of rejection when they saw her. Quite a few even drifted over to greet her, rubbing and nudging close in a friendly manner.
Surrounded by so many Edelweiss puffs, Ruan Shu felt like she might just faint from happiness.
Although these puffs weren’t quite as plush or soft as her own squishy belly, they were still wonderfully fluffy.
They felt almost feather-light—one gentle touch, and they’d deform slightly, like they were made of delicate fluff rather than having the satisfying plumpness of her own belly.
Looking at the Edelweiss leaves, Ruan Shu wondered how she might bring some back without angering the puffs around her.
She tentatively reached out a furry paw and lightly tugged at an Edelweiss. Then… with just a little pull, an entire stem came loose!
Ruan Shu: “!!!”
She swore she hadn’t used any strength!
Her wide, round eyes glanced around, half expecting one of the Edelweiss puffs to kick up a mini whirlwind and send her flying out for disturbing their nests.
But surprisingly, none of them reacted aggressively. In fact, one of the puffs even used a small breeze to nudge the plucked Edelweiss stem closer to her.
Ruan Shu: “Meow meow?”
Was… was this a gift for her?
She cautiously accepted the Edelweiss stem.
The Edelweiss puffs didn’t seem upset; instead, one of them simply settled into the snow hollow left behind.
For the Edelweiss, these nests were simply sleeping spots. If they stayed in one place long enough, the Edelweiss would regrow naturally. In fact, they often left these nests behind whenever they relocated.
Ruan Shu was overjoyed.
To show her gratitude, she offered the Edelweiss puff a bit of her innate energy.
That puff, clearly surprised to receive such a wonderful gift for giving away a nest, was utterly delighted.
Even a tiny drop of Ruan Shu’s energy was enough to make the Edelweiss puff feel so comfortable it seemed as though it could float without wind.
It was evident that her energy was beneficial to any mutated plant, and the Edelweiss puffs adored it.
Suddenly, all the nearby Edelweiss puffs began to gather around her, nudging and rubbing up to her in all directions.
Although they didn’t make any sound, Ruan Shu could practically hear their eager thoughts.
Want it, want it, want it…
Yes, this was the emotion she sensed from the Edelweiss puffs.
Not one to hold back, she gave each puff a tiny bit of energy.
Her energy was limited, so she carefully distributed it in droplet-sized amounts to each puff.
There were just so many of them here—at least a thousand puffs!
In the end, Ruan Shu was thoroughly exhausted, lying in the snow with her tongue hanging out.
But Ruan Shu had made quite the haul: knowing that she needed Edelweiss, the Edelweiss puffs had generously offered up their nests to her.
In no time, she was practically buried in Edelweiss.
Ruan Shu wasted no time collecting them and stashing them in her spatial bracelet.
“Thank you!” she said, feeling grateful.
These fluffy Edelweiss puffs were just as cute as her little Jingshen orbs!
She took out a recovery potion from her bracelet, followed by a nutrient supplement, and then leisurely nibbled on a small dried fish, planning to wait for her brothers to come and find her.
By now, the battle should be over, right? She just hoped they’d notice the marks she left behind.
Meanwhile, Almer and the three Ruan brothers had indeed finished their fight. But when they went to look for Ruan Shu, they found…
She was gone!
“Are you sure she was hiding here?” Ruan Fengsi asked, ruffling his hair in frustration.
“I wouldn’t forget,” one of the brothers assured him.
“There are no other beast tracks around here, so it’s unlikely to be a wild animal,” Almer observed.
“These are her footprints,” Ruan Fengsi pointed. “Looks like she left on her own.”
Almer opened his communicator. “Check if she messaged anyone.”
Sure enough, she had not only sent a message but broadcast it to everyone.
Ruan Shu: Almer, brothers, I found the Edelweiss! Lots of them, but they’re leaving, so I’m following them. I left some things as markers. When you’re done, make sure to come find me!
After reading her message, everyone fell silent.
Almer chuckled in exasperation. “This little rascal is getting bolder by the day, daring to wander off alone!”
No kidding.
Ruan Fengsi clenched his teeth. “When we find her, she’s definitely getting a spanking!”
The little rascal needed to learn her lesson—this snowfield was full of dangers, not just from wild beasts but also the threat of getting lost!
“I found something,” Almer said, his keen eye picking up on the markers Ruan Shu had left behind—small gems she’d dropped in the snow.
But the snowfield was a tricky place, and the tracks could easily be lost in a gust of wind that would erase her footprints with snow and ice.
Eventually, they couldn’t rely on footprints anymore, but thankfully, the items she had left behind were a big help.
At that moment, Ruan Shu was waiting patiently, hugging several Edelweiss puffs while awaiting her brothers’ arrival. She wasn’t planning on just taking the Edelweiss this time—she wanted to bring the puffs home too! She was determined to raise them.
With these Edelweiss puffs, she could ensure a steady supply of Edelweiss, and her family would never need to worry about anyone’s threats again.
Ruan Shu then started searching on her communicator to find out what Edelweiss eat.
Ruan Shu read intently, afraid to miss any details.
Edelweiss, much like dodder vines, were non-carnivorous mutated plants. What they consumed was rather extraordinary.
Snow.
But not just any snow—only the kind that falls at night, infused with the power of the stars.
Life-bearing planets in the universe have a special magnetic energy field. As freshly fallen snow descends from the sky, it carries traces of this energy. However, once it touches the ground, the energy quickly dissipates.
The Edelweiss puffs’ favorite activity was catching this snow mid-fall, absorbing the stardust energy it contained. This energy not only sustained them but also gave them the power to control the wind.
Ruan Shu felt as if she had discovered something miraculous—these plants felt less like mutated species and more like little spirits that thrived on cosmic energy!
Just as she marveled at this discovery, the Edelweiss puffs suddenly became agitated, fluffing up en masse!
It seemed like a danger warning. Ruan Shu watched in disbelief as the once soft, feathery puffs transformed, their downy fur standing on end like spiky needles, resembling sea urchins.
She blinked in confusion, unsure of what was happening. But her feline instincts kicked in, signaling that danger was near!
And she soon found out what that danger was.
A snow beast—specifically, a snow hare.
Unlike the snow hares she had known in her past life, this one was enormous, about the size of a full-grown husky!
In front of this beast, Ruan Shu looked as though she could barely serve as a morsel.
The snow hare’s eyes were a deep, blood-red, glowing like lanterns, reflecting the Edelweiss puffs with a look of hungry anticipation. Its teeth were shockingly large, and its claws rivaled those of any predator.
The moment it appeared, it opened its mouth, snapping up a few Edelweiss puffs and devouring them.
And its massive front teeth seemed utterly unbothered by the sharp spines the Edelweiss puffs had formed in self-defense.
This was clearly a natural enemy of the Edelweiss!