Mo Dao Zu Shi: Astray

The Pursuit of Knowledge, Part Four

Lan Wangji had never had a favorite animal before. But now he had no doubt that it was the rabbit.

Little Carrot and Snowball loved him just as much, leaning into his touch as he petted their heads.

Lan Wangji was grateful to Lan Xichen that he didn't force him to release the rabbits. Last night after the corpses broke out, Lan Xichen had gone to talk with him about it. Both rabbits took a liking to his brother quickly.

Sometimes, Lan Wangji spotted a gray rabbit dashing around the forest. He couldn't tell whether it was male or female. Little Carrot perked up at the sight of the gray rabbit. But the gray rabbit would immediately flee, leaving poor Little Carrot dejected. Meanwhile, Snowball would just fixate on the gray rabbit but not pursue it.

There must be rabbits within the Cloud Recesses other than Little Carrot and Snowball. An entire nest from where Little Carrot, Snowball, and the gray rabbit originated from.

As Lan Wangji thought about how to find the nest of rabbits, Little Carrot's head suddenly jerked up. The rabbit sniffed the air and then shot off up the path.

Lan Wangji heard a laugh.

"Hey there, Little Carrot. Been a while. Did you miss me?"

There was a pause.

"Oh? You want me to follow you? What is it that you want to show me?"

Pan Wukun appeared in front of Lan Wangji with Little Carrot.

Noticing Lan Wangji, Pan Wukun froze. "My apologies, Lan-er-gongzi. I will leave."

As Pan Wukun started to walk away, Little Carrot tugged at her pants leg with his mouth, stopping her.

"You want me to stay, Little Carrot?" Pan Wukun looked at Lan Wangji and then back down to Little Carrot. "Sorry, little guy. I have to go."

No matter how much Pan Wukun tried to pull her pants leg away, Little Carrot would not back down.

Lan Wangji observed them.

Little Carrot was fond of Pan Wukun. So the rogue cultivator couldn't have been a wicked person.

But Pan Wukun had used Wei Wuxian to smuggle the Library Pavilion's books.

For someone the same age as his brother, Lan Wangji expected better from Pan Wukun.

But then Pan Wukun saved Lan Wangji from getting ambushed by that walking corpse in the forest.

Pan Wukun had done both noble and questionable deeds.

Just what kind of person was Pan Wukun?

While Lan Wangji pondered about Pan Wukun's character, Pan Wukun nervously wondered if she was seriously annoying Lan Wangi for interrupting his alone time with the rabbits. She wanted to leave so badly but Little Carrot was latched on to her pants like they were lettuce.

Pan Wukun, realizing that she couldn't get away from Little Carrot without ripping her pants or seriously hurting him, accepted defeat and sat down on the ground.

Little Carrot happily hopped onto Pan Wukun's lap while Snowball moved to lay on Lan Wangji's.

Little Carrot sniffed at the small bag attached to Pan Wukun's sash belt. He pawed at it enthusiastically.

Pan Wukun smiled. "Aw. Little Carrot could smell carrots like a bloodhound! He's really living up to his name!" She took a carrot out for Little Carrot to happily munch on.

Pan Wukun cast a hesitant glance at Lan Wangji. She held out some carrots to him. "Uh...here. For Snowball too."

After Little Carrot and Snowball finished their meal, they blinked up at Lan Wangji and Pan Wukun cutely.