“I will really take good care of you!” Tiye said with absolute conviction.
“…” Si Bai looked at him with clear suspicion.
Tiye also seemed to realize that he might have overestimated himself.
He had barely interacted with any sub-beastman since birth and his experience in taking care of sub-beastman was essentially zero.
So he quickly changed his words, though this time his voice was much softer.
“I may not know how right now… but I will work hard to learn…”
“…No need,” Si Bai replied.
The refusal was very obvious.
Tiye lowered his head in disappointment.
For the first time trying to recommend himself to a sub-beastman he liked, he had been met with such cold rejection.
He scratched his head in frustration.
He should have used a more subtle way of speaking.
His bright orange hair was ruffled into a messy, dispirited state from his scratching.
The youthful energy between his brows dimmed slightly as he let out a deep sigh.
Tiye stood there at a loss, fidgeting with his fingers.
His thick tail behind him swept the ground twice, stirring up a cloud of lonely dust.
After saying a soft apology, he disappeared from the spot in an instant.
Was that… giving up?
Si Bai inexplicably felt a sense of relief.
Now that the person was gone, he immediately dropped his cold and aloof expression that he had been forcing himself to maintain.
He looked around hurriedly from side to side.
He was really gone.
He raised his head to look at the sky.
The sun was already half swallowed by the deep mountains.
Its light faded quickly and a gray mist descended with alarming speed.
Night was approaching, and it belonged to the wild beasts.
Si Bai struggled to get up, intending to find a safe place to spend the night.
However, just as he moved, a sharp, piercing pain shot through his leg, making him gasp involuntarily.
Damn it.
He had forgotten that he was injured.
That man was gone.
What was he supposed to do now???
In his mind, the system’s voice sounded extremely gleeful.
[ Hehe, foolish host.
That’s what you get for running your mouth.
You scared him away.
Let’s see what you do now?
]
[ When night falls and the wild beasts come, you’re going to get eaten~ ]
[ You think… if the mission host dies midway, and I fail to protect my master, the Main God won’t just erase me completely?
]
The system immediately stopped being sarcastic.
It curled up in its own space, imagining 108 different ways it could die, trembling in fear.
For the sake of its own survival, the system finally showed rare generosity and provided a nearby map.
After careful selection, Si Bai chose a cave.
The cave was not far away.
It was hidden behind dense trees, long abandoned, and had not been occupied by beasts or beastmen for many years.
It looked relatively safe.
Si Bai cleaned the wound and roughly bandaged it.
It was enough for him to barely walk.
Just as he was about to set off, another familiar sound came from behind him, startling him into turning around instantly.
“Why are you back again?”
He could hardly believe it.
Tiye had somehow reappeared.
The difference was that this time, he was carrying a large bundle of herbs in his hands, along with a freshly carved stone mortar and wooden pestle.
On this return, all the frustration and disappointment on Tiye’s face had already vanished.
The sense of loss from being rejected was gone without a trace.
Originally, Tiye had intended to leave just like that.
However, after a few seconds of careful thought, he felt that he still could not give up.
The little sub-beastman was probably just shy and unfamiliar with him, not that she truly disliked him.
Yes, that must be it.
As for whether that was actually the truth, it did not matter.
Whatever he believed, that was what it was.
When it came to major life events like pursuing a mate, sometimes a beastmen just had to be a little thicker skinned.
Besides, the little sub-beastman was alone and injured.
If he left, what would he do?
Tiye raised his eyes and met Si Bai’s surprised gaze.
For some reason, the last bit of lingering frustration in his heart vanished instantly as if a fog had been completely swept away.
He unconsciously curled his lips into a smile, as bright and carefree as when they first met.
Then he quickly walked forward, came up to Si Bai, and crouched down, intending to examine his wound.
“Your leg is injured.
It’s too late today, we probably won’t make it back to the tribe.
If your wound is not treated in time, it might fester!”
“…So you went to find herbs?” Si Bai could not help but look at the bundle in his arms.
Flowers, leaves, and strange plants were all mixed together.
These were herbs?
Did this men actually understand medicine?
Was he that capable?
“Hmph!
When I used to hunt, I often ended up in near death situations, nine deaths out of ten, getting injured…”
Tiye suddenly paused.
He felt that the little sub-beastman’s gaze seemed a little strange.
Only then did he realize that constantly getting injured did not sound like something worth bragging about.
It almost made him look like someone incompetent who got beaten up all the time.
His ears immediately turned slightly red.
He coughed lightly to hide his embarrassment.
“These kinds of external injuries, I’ve seen our tribe’s shaman treat them many times.
So I often gather these herbs to use as emergency treatment when I get injured during hunts.
Although it may not be as good as what the shaman prepares, it still works!”
This time, Si Bai did not reject his kindness.
This beastman had genuinely treated him well.
If he refused again, that would really be too pretentious.
Si Bai did not feel any emotional burden.
Since the other party helped him, he would definitely repay this favor in the future.