Chapter 92: Chapter Ninety-Three: A Night Outing Behind the Mountain

Zhang Fan and Ba Ke Er had finished eating at the chief's house, then returned home, heated the bath water, and took turns bathing. After Zhang Fan came out of the bathroom, he wasn't in a hurry to sleep; Ba Ke Er had just entered the bathroom, so he could wait a bit longer for him.

Although it was already harvest season, the temperature hadn't dropped; even after coming out of the bathroom from a bath and entering the room, it was still a bit stuffy. Zhang Fan simply went out the gate to the courtyard to cool off. With nothing to do alone in the courtyard, he just looked up at the myriad stars in the sky. At that moment, Zhang Fan felt a sense of tranquility, thinking: How nice, tomorrow will be another clear day; I just hope the temperature will drop.

Gazing at the stars in the sky, Zhang Fan didn't know what came over him; he suddenly recalled some things from before he arrived on the Beastmen Planet. Thinking about it, he simply found a chair, sat down, and began to stare blankly at the night sky.

After Ba Ke Er came out of the bathroom and entered the room, not seeing Zhang Fan's figure, he knew Zhang Fan must have gone to the courtyard again to look at the stars. Ba Ke Er hurriedly fetched a coat for Zhang Fan from inside the house and went out the gate to find him.

As soon as Ba Ke Er stepped out the gate, he saw Zhang Fan sitting in the courtyard, staring blankly at the sky. Just then a breeze blew, tugging at Zhang Fan's somewhat thin sleepwear and also tugging at Ba Ke Er's heart. Ba Ke Er quickly walked over with the coat and draped it over Zhang Fan, who was still in a daze.

At that moment, Zhang Fan realized that Ba Ke Er had already come out without him noticing and had draped the coat over him. Although Zhang Fan didn't feel the weather was cold, he was still moved by Ba Ke Er's small gesture. He knew that the man behind him was the one who would cherish and dote on him like a treasure.

After Ba Ke Er had Zhang Fan put on the coat, he softly said to Zhang Fan: "Fan Fan, why did you come out again to look at the stars? Couldn't you just open the window indoors to see them? You just came out of the bath, which is when you're most likely to catch a chill. Why don't you put on another layer?"

Zhang Fan clearly understood that Ba Ke Er's words contained no blame at all, only full affection and concern.

"Haha, I just forgot! But it's fine that I forgot, because I still have you, Ba Ke Er. With you here, I wouldn't fear catching a chill. I only just finished my bath a moment ago, and you already brought me the coat."

Ba Ke Er knew telling Zhang Fan this was useless, because Zhang Fan always sought coolness and didn't pay much attention to such things.

"Fan Fan, are the stars in the sky nice to look at? I notice you always like to stare blankly at the sky, especially lately; I recall you didn't used to be like this. Fan Fan, are you missing your original planet? Are you missing your former home?"

"I think the stars are beautiful! On Earth it's really hard to see them; where we are, there's smog everywhere, and even the air we breathe every day contains many harmful substances. I remember that before I came here from Earth, I had only seen such a clear night sky as a child. But if you ask whether I'm thinking of home, I can only answer: where you are, that's my home. You are my everything! As for my home on Earth? I can only say I never had a home. I'm just an orphan abandoned by my parents, taken in and raised by the head of the orphanage."

"Fan Fan, don't be sad, you said it yourself: where I am, your home is there. I'm here now, so your home is here; you're not homeless! I think your parents didn't want you, but they have their own difficulties; I hope you don't resent them, after all they gave you life. And the orphanage matron, even though I've never met her, I can guess she must be a very kind and beautiful female."

At that moment, Ba Ke Er made Zhang Fan laugh instantly, and all his sorrow vanished in an instant.

"Pfft! Ba Ke Er, you've never even seen the chief's mother, how do you know she's female?"

"Huh? Isn't it? Then maybe it's a handsome and kind male?" Ba Ke Er saw Zhang Fan finally emerge from his sorrow, and he tried even harder to cheer him up.

"Hahaha... Ba Ke Er, the word 'handsome' can actually be used to describe a male? Hahaha... I suddenly realized my partner is a handsome male beastman! Hahaha..."

Seeing Zhang Fan laugh so happily, Ba Ke Er didn't argue but simply joined in the laughter.

After laughing, Ba Ke Er suddenly asked Zhang Fan: "Fan Fan, since you like looking at the stars so much, why don't we just go up the rear mountain tonight to stargaze? How about that? Then we can spend the night on the mountain and still catch tomorrow's sunrise. After seeing the sunrise, we can head back without delay."

Upon hearing Ba Ke Er's suggestion, Zhang Fan quickly nodded in agreement. Seeing Zhang Fan agree, Ba Ke Er immediately went inside to prepare the luggage, food, and water to take up the mountain. Although they had both already eaten dinner, Ba Ke Er worried Zhang Fan might get hungry, so he went to the kitchen to get some jerky and dried fruit, of course also bringing plenty of Zhang Fan's favorite fruits, as well as clothes and blankets and sheets for both himself and Zhang Fan.

After Ba Ke Er finished preparing, he directly took the luggage out. At this time, Zhang Fan had already gone into the room and gotten dressed. Having readied everything, they closed the gate and courtyard door, ready to set out.

Zhang Fan knew it was already very late; going to the rear mountain for camping would leave no time to climb up, so he could only have Ba Ke Er transform into beast form and carry him directly up by flight. Thus, without Ba Ke Er needing to say anything, Zhang Fan stepped forward and took the luggage from Ba Ke Er's hands.

After Ba Ke Er handed the luggage to Zhang Fan, he immediately transformed into beast form. Zhang Fan quickly grabbed the luggage and climbed on. Once Zhang Fan was seated securely, Ba Ke Er spread his wings and flew toward the rear mountain of the tribe.

Because Ba Ke Er knew the terrain of the rear mountain he had visited since childhood like the back of his hand, he didn't take a detour but flew straight there. Not long after, Zhang Fan and Ba Ke Er reached the highest point of the rear mountain. Ba Ke Er found a suitable landing spot and landed directly. After Zhang Fan got down from his back, Ba Ke Er then returned to human form.

After arriving at the rear mountain, Ba Ke Er directly had Zhang Fan put down the luggage. Then he himself began gathering dry branches and leaves around to prepare a bonfire. Since Ba Ke Er knew the tribe's rear mountain had no predatory animals, only some herbivorous small creatures, which posed no danger to him and Zhang Fan, he also hunted a few wild rabbits while gathering firewood.

When Ba Ke Er returned to where Zhang Fan was, he saw Zhang Fan had already opened the luggage by nightlight and taken out the prepared food and seasonings. Seeing Ba Ke Er return with the wild rabbits, Zhang Fan knew they could have an extra meal tonight!

"Haha, Ba Ke Er, you already brought food, didn't you? Why did you also catch wild rabbits back? But it's perfect—I just saw you packed a lot of seasonings in your luggage. I'll take them out; tonight are you planning to roast rabbit meat to eat, or shall I take over the cooking?"

"Fan Fan, you should rest first; I'll handle the roasting, you just get ready to eat."

After saying that, Ba Ke Er put down the firewood, squatted, and started a fire on the bare ground. Once the fire was lit, he began skewering the cleaned wild rabbits one by one with branches.

After the rabbits were skewered, Ba Ke Er began to roast them over the fire. Zhang Fan watched from the side, seeing he couldn't help, so he simply lifted his head again to look at the stars in the sky.

After an unknown amount of time, the rabbits were finally fully roasted, and the whole mountaintop was filled with a rich aroma of roasted rabbit. Although Zhang Fan hadn't been hungry, smelling that strong scent made him involuntarily salivate, and all his cravings were stirred up.

At this point, Zhang Fan no longer thought about stargazing; his mind was full of thoughts of roasted rabbit. He couldn't sit still, so he quickly stood up, ran to Ba Ke Er's side and sat down, eyes fixed on the rabbit in Ba Ke Er's hands.

Ba Ke Er had already guessed Zhang Fan would come over when he saw him stand up. So when Zhang Fan sat down, Ba Ke Er handed him a rabbit that had just finished roasting. Zhang Fan took the rabbit from Ba Ke Er's hand and, not caring that it was still fresh off the fire, wanted to stuff it straight into his mouth.

At that moment, Ba Ke Er was almost frightened to death by Zhang Fan's action! He anxiously snatched the roasted rabbit from Zhang Fan's hand and said:

"Good heavens, Fan Fan, this rabbit is still scalding hot—how could you just shove it straight into your mouth? What if you burn yourself? It's late at night; even if you ran to find Uncle Wei Er, there wouldn't be time! Just wait a bit before eating—don't rush. There are still several more here; plenty for you to eat."

At that moment, Zhang Fan realized he had been a bit hasty! He stuck out his tongue, scratched the back of his head, and said to Ba Ke Er:

"Haha, sorry, Ba Ke Er! Maybe it's been too long since I last ate your roasted rabbit, so I got a bit impatient! Hehe!"

Ba Ke Er instantly felt like he was laughing and crying at the same time! He said helplessly:

"All right, Fan Fan, from now on I'll often make roasted meat for you. I'll make sure you get your fill!"

"Hahaha... That couldn't be better—this way I can slack off and not have to cook! Hehe..."

At that moment, Ba Ke Er saw the roasted rabbit in his hand was no longer as scalding as before, so he quickly tore off a rabbit leg and handed it to Zhang Fan.

Upon receiving the rabbit leg he had been craving for a long time, Zhang Fan eagerly began to bite into it big mouthfuls. Seeing Zhang Fan eat so happily, Ba Ke Er also grabbed a rabbit and started gnawing on it directly.

After eating the rabbit meat, the two washed their hands and feet clean, then sat on the prepared ground mat and began chatting while stargazing.

After an unknown period of time, they finally fell asleep from fatigue.

……

The next morning, before dawn, Ba Ke Er had already woken up early; after preparing breakfast, he then woke Zhang Fan.

After the two had finished breakfast, the sun just began to rise slowly from the east……

After they had finished watching the sunrise, they began to pack up the luggage they had brought. Once everything was settled, Ba Ke Er then took Zhang Fan and flew back home.