C21 Golden Fur Mongoose Who Was Still in Its Budding Stage

So Gold decided to try one.

Gold's favorite meal was snake, though it would also consume creatures like mice. It wasn't fond of plants, but upon tasting this whiskered plant, Gold discovered an inexplicable sensation. Despite not being particularly tasty, it felt strangely beneficial.

As a demon, Gold understood that this item would aid in its cultivation.

Chomping down, Gold devoured a ginseng root and quickly moved on to another.

"Hey! You can't eat that!" Even though Ma Tianming had already secured the finest ginseng, it was still a shame to waste the others!

Besides, ginseng is a powerful tonic, and too much of a good thing could become dangerous. Overindulging could turn it into a deadly poison.

Eating so much at once might even be fatal for this little creature.

Ma Tianming scooped up Gold, who mistakenly thought Ma Tianming was after its ginseng and hurriedly gulped down what was in its mouth.

"You can't overeat this stuff. It could be lethal."

What was there to fear about death? Gold wasn't human!

Ma Tianming tried to retrieve the ginseng from Gold's mouth, but it had already been crushed... Well, let it be. Given its vitality, a little extra tonic probably wouldn't be the end of it.

Ma Tianming cradled Gold in one arm and gathered the remaining ginseng with the other, determined to prevent any more sneaky snacking.

But while collecting the ginseng, Ma Tianming noticed Gold's tiny body growing hot at an alarming rate.

"Damn! The ginseng's taking effect... It's got a fever now... How do you treat a mongoose with a fever?"

Ma Tianming pocketed the ginseng, feeling as though he was holding a piece of burning coal because of Gold's intense heat.

Yet Gold, now on the ground, seemed as if it were in a drunken stupor, only with a more severe reaction.

With a guttural "gulp," Gold emitted a cry, and Ma Tianming saw its head transforming into a more distinctly human shape than before.

"It...?" Ma Tianming was speechless. Despite having recently fought alongside it, Gold was, undeniably, a demon.

"Do I really have to ally myself with a demon?"

He had just fought shoulder to shoulder with it, and it was intoxicated... Did he need to kill it?

Amidst Ma Tianming's hesitation, Gold let out a cry that echoed the way Marmin Xin did when she was startled.

In that instant, Gold transformed from a creature the size of a kitten into a person.

"This..." Ma Tianming was utterly astonished. Before him stood a young girl, slightly smaller than Marmin Xin, on the cusp of blossoming. Her dark golden hair complemented her previously fluffy, dark golden fur. She was truly beautiful.

But the most pressing matter was that the girl, who had just transformed from the Golden Fur Mongoose, was completely naked before Ma Tianming.

"This?" Ma Tianming, inexperienced as he was, despite facing a demon, now saw before him a figure with all the features of a woman—tail notwithstanding.

Ma Tianming's face turned as red as a monkey's rear, and he quickly averted his gaze!

Hmm... Even though he hadn't seen such a sight before... No, perhaps it was ten years ago, or five, or eight. Even if he had seen Xin like this, he wouldn't have felt this burning sensation all over!

What was happening now? He clearly wanted to look!

"Quickly put on some clothes," Ma Tianming managed to say, turning his face away.

But then he realized, there were no clothes for her to wear here!

Ma Tianming removed his own clothes and tossed them to Gold—though they were so tattered they were barely recognizable as clothing.

"What are you doing?" Gold felt her skin ablaze. Ma Tianming's clothes landing on her only intensified the heat, prompting her to fling them aside.

Ma Tianming glanced over and exclaimed, "Put on the clothes, quickly!"

"I'm too hot; I don't want to wear them."

"You really have no shame!"

"What does 'no shame' mean?"

Ma Tianming was left speechless.

Despite the heat enveloping Gold, she looked at her new human form with amazement. Her skin was pale and fair, a stark contrast to her original form, yet undeniably beautiful.

Certainly more appealing than the man before her, also bare-chested but covered in a web of bloodstains.

Humans stand on two feet, and Gold immediately rose to its feet, even spreading its arms to flaunt its delicate and alluring form.

"Are you dressed?" Ma Tianming inquired urgently.

"Why do humans have to wear clothes?"

This was a question that had long perplexed Gold. Its natural form, much like the snakes it favored as food, was unclothed. So why did humans cover themselves?

Perhaps it was for camouflage... In this kind of forest, one could easily be spotted and thus more susceptible to danger.

But Gold also realized something: humans seldom ventured here, so there was no need for camouflage.

"Is it because not wearing clothes leads to misdeeds?"

"What misdeeds?"

Ma Tianming glanced back at Gold. Despite the incongruous tail, Gold looked quite stunning.

"I'll tell you once you're dressed." Ma Tianming was curious, but there's an adage, 'do not gaze upon the indecent,' so he quickly averted his eyes.

Gold, however, was intrigued. This person seemed amusing.

"What misdeeds? If you don't tell me, I won't get dressed."

"Hmm—" Ma Tianming sighed deeply. This was just as mischievous as Xin!

If Marmin Xin behaved this way, Ma Tianming would never dare to look. But this wasn't his sister, so what was there not to see?

Ma Tianming had an epiphany. In such a place, did he need to act the gentleman?

So, Ma Tianming turned back abruptly and gazed at the petite, beautiful face with its slightly upturned nose, which radiated innocence despite its allure. He declared, "It's about misdeeds."

Gold blinked her unusual eyes, appearing utterly naive. Although previously a Golden Fur Mongoose, she should innately understand the matters of men and women. How could she be so clueless?

After wrestling with his conscience, Ma Tianming unabashedly surveyed Gold from head to toe. Eventually, he picked up his worn-out clothes and draped them over Gold.

The garment was just a top, but being a man's, it was quite large. It covered most of her, except for her smooth legs and the tail that didn't quite fit in.

"Remember, from now on, you must always wear clothes in the presence of others... except when you're with me."

Ma Tianming's mind reeled. Why on earth did I add that last part? Do I actually harbor any other feelings towards a demon?