The atmosphere inside the log cabin had reached peak awkwardness.
The chorus of fake snores and transparent sleep-talking made Bai Nian wish the floorboards would just open up and swallow her whole.
Logan looked down at the class president, who was practically vibrating with a mix of shame and panic. Her gorgeous, almond-shaped eyes were glossy, carrying a silent plea.
He leaned in closer until his lips nearly brushed the shell of her ear.
"Give me an answer."
His warm breath sent a shiver straight down Bai Nian’s neck, turning half her body weak.
"I..."
Bai Nian bit her lower lip, fighting an inner war.
Admit it? Or keep playing dumb?
Doing this with an entire cabin of classmates acting as sleeping witnesses was too embarrassing to contemplate!
Yet Logan’s presence was absolute. In the dim light, his gaze felt sharp enough to burn right through her defenses.
In the end, her long-suppressed feelings won out over her pride.
"Logan... Yes... I’ve liked you for a really long time..."
Her voice came out as a whisper, but every single word landed clearly in Logan’s ears.
With the answer secured, Logan smiled in satisfaction.
He didn’t say another word.
Instead, he dipped his head and sealed her lips before she could utter another sound.
"Mmph!"
Bai Nian’s eyes flew wide open.
Soft, warm pressure met hers, carrying a dominant yet intoxicating warmth.
Her brain short-circuited, turning completely blank.
Every girl pretending to sleep across the room held her breath, ears straining in the dark.
They kissed!
They actually kissed!
In the shadows, Ye Xin’er shoved her face deeper into her blanket, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood.
In her patch of straw, Chu Yufei trembled slightly as a hot tear slipped free.
Logan’s hands grew bolder.
From initial stiffness, Bai Nian’s body gradually softened, melting completely into his arms as she yielded to the moment.
The night stretched on.
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Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the forest, the camp atmosphere was entirely different.
A massive bonfire blazed at the center of the clearing, surrounded by a dozen bare-chested men flexing thick muscles and jagged tattoos.
The air reeked of roasting meat and sweat.
Seated on a makeshift stone stool near the fire was a heavily built man with a vicious scar across his face.
His name was Lei Kun, chief of the "Brotherhood" tribe.
Clutched in his lap was a half-naked woman, his rough hands wandering freely over her skin while she let out muffled whimpers.
The surrounding men paid it no mind, barking coarse laughter instead.
At that moment, a scrawny underling scurried over nervously.
"B-Boss Lei..."
Without looking up, Lei Kun snapped impatiently, "Spit it out!"
"Two of our scouts... went out yesterday and haven’t come back yet. I’m afraid..." The scrawny man swallowed hard. "Afraid they bought it."
"Dead is dead!" Lei Kun spat a glob of saliva onto the dirt, completely indifferent.
" People die every day in this shithole! Two useless losers couldn’t even hunt up some grub, good riddance. Saves me food!"
The scrawny man paled, forcing himself to press on. "But... Boss Lei, Hao was among them... he was your younger brother!"
Lei Kun’s hands froze.
He shoved the woman off his lap and slowly raised his head.
His eyes flashed with terrifying murderous intent.
"Why the hell didn’t you say that sooner?!"
He surged to his feet, his massive frame casting an intimidating shadow that dropped the local temperature.
"Damn it!"
Lei Kun kicked the fire pit, sending a shower of red sparks flying in all directions.
"First thing tomorrow morning, I want every single man out looking!"
His roar echoed far into the night air.
"I want bodies! If I find out who did this..."
A cruel, twisted grin spread across Lei Kun’s face.
"I’m chopping their whole tribe up to feed the wolves, and the women... heh, dragging them back as our shared property!"
...
Farther out, deep within the untamed jungle interior.
Here, human civilization didn’t exist. Only twisted nests built from mud and giant beast bones marred the landscape.
Suspended over the flames were human bodies being slow-roasted!
A pack of gray-skinned, long-eared humanoids with protruding fangs circled the fire, chanting guttural war cries and performing a bloody, primitive dance.
An old, bone-adorned shaman shuffled forward and dropped to his knees before a towering brute seated on a massive throne of skulls.
"Great Chieftain, the Gate of Worlds has opened. More ’two-legged sheep’ have dropped into our hunting grounds."
The Great Chieftain ripped a charred human leg straight off the fire pit, sinking his teeth into the meat with juices spilling down his chin.
He let out a satisfied grunt before speaking in an ancient, raspy tongue.
"So what? Just more food."
"Besides, the Great Winter is coming. This year’s sacrifices will need to be plentiful."
The Great Chieftain stood up, sweeping his arm wide.
"Hear my order! All Black-Fang warriors, mobilize!"
"Round up every single lost ’two-legged sheep’!"
"Leave none alive!"
...
The next morning.
The first rays of dawn filtered through the log cabin’s tight seams, catching dust motes drifting in the air.
Logan slowly opened his eyes.
A soft, warm weight rested against his arm.
Looking down, he found Bai Nian curled up fast asleep in the crook of his elbow.
She was dead to the world, long eyelashes fluttering gently against her pale cheeks, a faint, contented smile playing on her lips as if she were caught in a sweet dream.
Last night’s wild abandon had allowed the usually proper class president to let go completely.
Admiring her peaceful sleeping face, Logan felt a deep surge of contentment and possessiveness.
From today onward, this woman belonged entirely to him.
Carefully sliding his arm free so as not to wake her, he sat up.
The rest of the girls were still scattered across the floor in deep slumber, wrapped in the quiet morning air.
Stepping softly, Logan headed for the door to check on the morning guard rotation.
The moment his feet hit the floorboards, a chime rang out in his mind.
A translucent blue panel flickered into view right before his eyes.
[Congratulations on successfully taking your first wife and consummating the marriage. Reward unlocked: Daily Draw Machine (Golden Legend Tier)!]