“Useless!”
Before Tang Hongluan could get close, Xiao Shuo strode past, casting a disdainful glance at Yun Li lying on the ground.
Tang Hongluan swallowed hard, watching Xiao Shuo’s vigorous movements. It seemed the kick she gave him yesterday hadn’t caused any lasting harm.
Qing Yuan also hurried by, his emerald-green eyes flashing briefly as he kicked a pebble on the ground with a wicked smirk, coincidentally landing it right on Yun Li’s abdomen.
Yun Li let out a muffled groan but still didn’t move.
Next, a nearly two-meter-long tiger approached.
Tang Hongluan froze. This tiger was different from ordinary ones, its rare reddish-brown stripes and blazing crimson eyes sent chills down her spine.
The tiger turned its head to look at her and let out a furious roar, deafening her ears.
Could this be her fifth beast husband, Yan Chen? A tiger-type beast husband who had also awakened divine beast bloodline?
It seemed he had just returned from a rampage and hadn’t shifted back to human form yet.
Tang Hongluan stared at the massive tiger in confusion, feeling like it could swallow her whole in one bite.
Another tiger’s roar echoed from the direction of the square.
Yan Chen opened his jaws and dashed toward the sound.
The tribal chief must have summoned all the beastmen of the tribe.
Every so often, the tribe organized a collective hunt. Of course, the hunting grounds were deep in the ancient forest, partly for prey, partly to scout for new resources.
Given the dangers involved, they always moved as a group.
No wonder all her beast husbands had shown up early in the morning, they must have had plans all along.
But Tang Hongluan glanced at Yun Li, still sprawled on the ground. Yun Li had always refused to join hunts. This time, with his injuries…
Could it be that he had provoked it himself? Angered Bi Ze into hurting him, just to have an excuse to skip out…
Either way, he was lying at her doorstep, and he was still her beast husband. Ignoring him would be too heartless.
She cautiously approached, reaching out to check the wound on his chest, only to be violently flung several meters away.
“Don’t come near me!” Yun Li narrowed his eyes slightly, his face even paler than before.
Thrown away for the third time…
Tang Hongluan suppressed her anger. If not for the system’s mission, she’d have gladly told this bastard to go die somewhere far away!
Just not at her doorstep.
It took her only a minute to calm herself down. She had to admire her own patience. Not allowed to get close?
Fine, she wouldn’t.
He could just lie there!
So, she sliced some more venison, roasted it until crispy and fragrant, and ate with relish.
Yun Li, still on the ground, was tempted.
He frowned, occasionally sniffing hard, but his injuries were too severe, he couldn’t even get up, forced to lie there helplessly.
After finishing her meal, Tang Hongluan gathered a few broad leaves nearby, wrapped the leftover venison, and stored it in her cave.
But summer heat made meat spoil easily. Still… she glanced at her own frail body, so thin a gust of wind could knock her over, her bony frame devoid of any appeal.
She needed to gain weight!
And what better way than eating more meat?
Decision made.
She spared one last glance at Yun Li on the ground and ignored him. If he wanted to lie there, let him. If he wanted to bleed, let him! He could bleed dry for all she cared.
Yun Li closed his eyes to rest but remained alert to his surroundings.
Tang Hongluan had taken advantage of his weakened state before, groping him indiscriminately. But this time, who would’ve thought Bi Ze would resort to underhanded tactics, secretly attacking his lungs…
Lying so defenselessly at Tang Hongluan’s doorstep, he truly wasn’t at ease, fearing this madwoman might suddenly be overcome with lust and defile him… That would be utterly humiliating!
“Damn bird!” he cursed again.
But seeing that Tang Hongluan hadn’t made any move to approach him for a while, he relaxed his guard slightly, though he still felt uneasy.
Tang Hongluan had no idea about the myriad of thoughts swirling in Yun Li’s mind. She simply felt that after eating so much meat, her stomach was a bit greasy and thought of fetching some stream water to drink, perhaps picking some wild fruits along the way.
Now that she had regained some strength, it was the perfect time to explore the back mountain.
The stream still rushed swiftly. Tang Hongluan crouched by its edge, cupping the sweet water in her left hand and drinking for a while, finally feeling much more comfortable.
Reflected in the water, she saw her own face for the first time.
Her features were fairly regular, with a pair of rare dragon eyes that, upon closer inspection, were quite beautiful. Her thin, arched eyebrows added a touch of softness. Her nose was small and straight, but her lips were cracked from years of neglect, and her face, just as she remembered, was flecked with debris that occasionally fell into the water.
She grinned, revealing teeth that were fairly straight but slightly yellowed, another consequence of years without brushing.
Her hair was a tangled mess, as if it hadn’t been washed in ages.
She grabbed a strand and brought it to her nose.
The pungent odor was unforgettable, nearly making her vomit the roasted meat she had just eaten.
But the stream was too shallow for bathing. She could go to the nearby river in the evening, everyone bathed there.
With that plan in mind, Tang Hongluan continued her search for fruit.
Who knew the back mountain would be so abundant!
The beastmen disdained these fruits and never ate them, so many had fallen to the ground and rotted.
“Wild grapes!” Tang Hongluan’s eyes lit up. She had always loved grapes, great for beauty and health!
The wild grapes were much smaller, but their sweet-and-sour flavor was delicious.
She popped one into her mouth and nearly jumped for joy!
But she had nothing to carry them in…
That didn’t stop her.
She could weave a basket! Who couldn’t? During her survival training, she had woven baskets, ropes, even clothes, there was nothing she couldn’t craft.
The only hitch was her injured right hand, which slowed her down considerably.
By the time the sun was directly overhead, around noon, she had finished weaving a basket.
She lined the bottom with two large leaves, carefully placing the wild grapes inside and wrapping them up.
She pressed onward.
Skipping along, her little basket was soon filled: wild grapes, apricots, plums, and even peaches.
By chance, she also stumbled upon a small watermelon!
Her eyes sparkled, watermelon too!
She examined the vine closely, noting several fist-sized watermelons still growing. She made a mental note of the spot to return for the ripe ones later.
But the temptation was too strong, so she picked the largest one, about the size of her head.
With the basket on her back and the watermelon in her arms, she headed home.
At the doorstep, Yun Li still lay where she had left him.
Tang Hongluan’s heart tightened, he must be seriously injured. Even if Yun Li was useless, he wouldn’t be unable to get up after half a day.
She couldn’t leave him like this any longer. The sun was blazing, and Yun Li couldn’t just lie there exposed.
No one knew what Yun Li’s true form was, it seemed no one had ever seen him transform.
She wanted to drag the person into the cave dwelling, but on one hand, it was quite strenuous, and on the other, she was genuinely afraid Yun Li might hit her… Who knows what accusations he’d throw her way, claiming she was trying to take advantage of him…
Ah! Being a good person is truly difficult!
In the end, she decided to drag him to a shady spot to avoid direct sunlight.
The wound on his chest was horrifying, almost exposing his internal organs.
She gasped, Bi Ze had struck with brutal force.