Chapter 29: The Little Golden Figurine

Upon hearing this, Pinecone couldn't help but beam with delight.
"Wonderful! Sister, I'm truly famished right now... Since you're treating me to a meal, I won't stand on ceremony!"

"Come now, there's no need for formality," Little Bunny grinned from ear to ear. "Pinecone, let's go!"
With that, she grabbed Pinecone by the hand and led him into the cave.

Swallow Hero and Snowy Moon both laughed, following behind them inside.

The four gathered at the dining table. Swallow Hero once again used his Paper Talisman Art, activating a chair for Pinecone to sit in.

Pinecone was taken aback in amazement.
"Wow! What kind of magic is this, brother? That's incredible! How can you just grab a piece of paper, give it a shake, and—out of nowhere—a chair appears?"

Before Swallow Hero could reply, Little Bunny blurted out,
"That's Swallow Brother’s Paper Talisman Art! Sister Snowy Moon knows it too... Pinecone, all these dishes on the table were activated by Swallow Brother’s Paper Talisman Art. They’re absolutely delicious—try them and see for yourself!"

She hadn't finished speaking when Swallow Hero activated a plate of pine nut pastries, placing them before Pinecone.
"Pinecone, these are specially for you. Eat up."

Pinecone was overjoyed.
"Thank you, Brother Swallow! I love pine nuts the most!"

"Wonderful!" Snowy Moon laughed. "Pinecone, have as much as you like."

And so, Pinecone, Little Bunny, Snowy Moon, and Swallow Hero ate together, chatting and laughing all the while.

The dining table was rectangular, made of rosewood, as were the chairs. Swallow Hero and Snowy Moon sat on one side, Little Bunny and Pinecone on the other. Little Bunny ate enthusiastically, all the while studying Pinecone. Suddenly, she piped up,

"Pinecone, I've noticed something. Swallow Brother and Sister Snowy Moon both have pale faces, but yours is golden—why is that?"

"Is it?" Pinecone paused, puzzled. "I’m not sure why my face is golden. Maybe because I used to be a squirrel with golden fur? Little Bunny, do you not like how I look?"

Little Bunny giggled.
"Not at all! Pinecone, your golden complexion is so precious, like pure gold—how could I not like it?"

Pinecone’s cheeks flushed red and he chuckled bashfully.
"Little Bunny, are you teasing me?"

"No, not at all! Pinecone, you have thick eyebrows, bright eyes, honest features, and your golden face is full of sincerity—one could never tire of looking at you!" Little Bunny declared solemnly. To prove her fondness, she picked up a salt-baked prawn with her chopsticks and placed it in Pinecone's rice bowl. "Pinecone, try this. The prawn is delicious!"

Pinecone was deeply moved.
"Little Bunny, you’re so kind!"

"Pinecone, after all the hardships you’ve been through, now that you’ve become human, what are your plans for the future?" Snowy Moon suddenly asked.

Pinecone was momentarily taken aback. After a bit of thought, he replied,
"Sister Snowy Moon, originally, I thought I’d live a peaceful, ordinary life after becoming human. But now I’ve changed my mind. I want to study the Dao, to become someone like Brother Swallow!"

"Excellent! Such ambition!" Snowy Moon praised him warmly.

Little Bunny couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
"Pinecone, you want to study the Dao? That’s wonderful! I want to learn as well. Since we’re both like-minded, why not stay here? We could study together under Sister Snowy Moon—what do you think?"

"That would be great!" Pinecone exclaimed, delighted. "But... I wonder if Sister Snowy Moon would be willing to keep me here?"

Snowy Moon smiled brightly.
"Pinecone, I like you very much. If you wish to stay, I’d be more than happy!"

"Really? Sister Snowy Moon, I’d love to stay!" Pinecone agreed without hesitation.

Little Bunny was so overjoyed she cried, "That's wonderful!" and gave Pinecone a friendly slap on the back. To her surprise, he let out a sudden cry of pain, his face contorting with distress.

Startled, Little Bunny immediately asked,
"Pinecone, what’s wrong?"

"I…" Pinecone hesitated, then forced a smile. "Heh… it’s nothing, really, I just…"

"No!" Snowy Moon interrupted him. "Pinecone, you’re injured on your back—it must have been from the heavenly lightning during your tribulation today!"

"Ah? But… Sister Snowy Moon, how did you know?" Pinecone asked in amazement.

Snowy Moon’s eyes, bright as autumn water, were full of tenderness and glistened with tears as she looked at Pinecone.
"Because I’ve been through the same. Pinecone, like Little Bunny, I too am a rabbit spirit who attained human form through cultivation… Back when my six sisters and I finished our training with our mother, we faced our tribulation together. A bolt of heavenly lightning struck straight down. My mother shielded my head with her forepaws… I escaped a fatal blow to the head, but my back was gravely wounded…"

As she spoke, Snowy Moon rose and moved behind Pinecone. Lifting his shirt, she saw plainly the vivid mark left by lightning—a swollen, bleeding wound that was almost too painful to witness.

Swallow Hero and Little Bunny hurried over, their hearts aching as they saw Pinecone’s terrible injury. Little Bunny burst into tears.

"Pinecone, I’m so sorry, I didn’t know your back was hurt…"

Before she could finish, Pinecone chuckled in his simple way.
"I’m fine, Little Bunny, don’t cry!"

Swallow Hero frowned in concern.
"Pinecone, you foolish boy, why didn’t you say anything about such a serious injury?"

"Indeed!" Snowy Moon’s tears spilled over. "Pinecone, you kept silent despite such pain… doesn’t it hurt?"

"It does!" Pinecone replied. "Sister Snowy Moon, but would saying it aloud make it hurt any less? Besides, I can bear it…"

"You don’t have to endure it," Snowy Moon said gently. "I have a Golden Healing Elixir here—personally refined by your Brother Swallow. One will cure your wound completely."

She quickly took out the small gourd Swallow Hero had given her, opened it, and poured a golden pill into her palm, which she offered to Pinecone. He swallowed it down.

Then Swallow Hero instructed,
"Pinecone, take off your shirt and sit on the bed. I’ll channel my energy and heal you."

Pinecone agreed, walked to the stone bed, removed his shirt, and sat down, his upper body bare.

Little Bunny was utterly amazed to see that Pinecone’s whole body glowed the same golden hue as his face. He sat there quietly, looking for all the world like a little golden statue—vivid and endearing. She stood nearby, watching him with admiration in her eyes…