In the third section, she was raising various poultry like chickens, ducks, cows, sheep, and rabbits. Seeing the poultry standing motionless in a row, Shen Yue grabbed a fat duck and scooped up a few eggs.
’This should be enough for today, right?’
The last section had the most concentrated spiritual energy. Inside was a pool of Vitality Water—the purest form of Spiritual Spring Water. It could heal injuries and purge all poisons; it was a life-saving resource for critical moments, and also the Immortal Water that would help her treat incurable diseases.
She used a utensil placed by the pool to scoop out a small spoonful. This tiny cup of Vitality Water alone was enough to cure Si Muye’s leg injury. She also took out the silver needles that were soaking at the pool’s edge and waited for Si Muye to return.
The Spiritual Spring was bound to her will and soul power. The stronger her will and soul power became, the more abundant the spiritual energy within the Spring would be.
At the same time, using the Spiritual Spring too many times in one day would also affect her will and soul power. Given her body’s current weakness, using her will to retrieve so many items had already pushed her to her limit.
So, when she closed off the Spiritual Spring and opened her eyes, she was already covered in sweat, her face pale.
When Si Muye returned carrying a bundle of dry hay, he saw Shen Yue holding two fish. Beside her was a live duck, she was nibbling on a perfectly ripe red fruit, and several eggs lay at her feet.
He was so shocked that his voice trembled.
"Where did... all of this come from?"
Shen Yue handed him the two black carp in her hands.
"Here," she said. "I told you yesterday I would repay you for the food I borrowed. These two fish are for you."
’Bears love fish, don’t they?’
’This return gift should suit his tastes, right?’
Si Muye stared at the two fish in her hands. For a moment, the normally taciturn and composed man couldn’t maintain the calm expression on his handsome face.
The river was a great distance from here. It would take even him a full day to make the round trip.
Yet he had only been gone for a little while, and this ugly female was holding two fish.
’How is this possible?’
’Could her Beast Husband have returned and brought them to her?’
He immediately used his spiritual power to scan the area but detected no trace of another male having been there.
’How on earth did she do it?’
Looking at the two fish in her hands, he swallowed hard. It had been a long time since he had smelled such fresh, plump, and delicious fish.
Shen Yue asked, "Did you go gather hay? Where did you find it?"
She was thinking about returning to her own cave today to give it a good cleaning and lay down some hay to make it comfortable for her and the cubs.
Then, after the cubs hatched and had some mobility, she would slowly look for a new place to live.
Si Muye tore his eyes away from the fish in her hands and cleared his throat.
"Yes, on a slope not far from here."
He had woken up once during the night and seen this ’ugly female’ sleeping off the straw mat, using her own body to warm the seven eggs. On impulse, he’d decided to make her a new, larger sleeping mat so that both she and the cubs could sleep on soft straw.
That’s why he had gone out to gather hay first thing in the morning, without even having time to hunt.
"I was planning to make you a soft straw mat."
Shen Yue was taken aback. She hadn’t expected Si Muye to get up so early to gather hay just to make her a soft sleeping mat.
’This man is actually quite decent!’
But she couldn’t stay here forever. This was his cave, after all; she still needed a place of her own.
"Thank you, but I only planned on staying one night. If you finish the mat, may I take it with me?"
Upon hearing this, Si Muye’s dark brown eyes immediately darkened, and his expression soured.
Shen Yue thought he was worried she would run away and quickly added:
"Don’t worry, my cave isn’t far from here. I can come over every day to treat your leg."
As she spoke, she watched his expression and added another sentence:
"Also, I can trade you food for the sleeping mat. I won’t take it for free!"
That wasn’t what Si Muye meant at all. For a moment, he simply didn’t want her to go back.
He turned and placed the dry hay on the ground.
"No need for a trade. You can take it."
Shen Yue breathed a sigh of relief.
"By the way, do you want to eat this fish raw, or would you like me to roast it for you?"
"I’ll treat your leg after we eat."
Si Muye’s hands, busy with the hay, paused for a moment.
’She’ll treat my leg right after we eat?’
’Can my leg really be healed?’
His expression remained impassive, but inwardly he was growing tense. His voice came out a bit stiff.
"The Fire Stone is buried in the dirt at your feet."
He knew this ’ugly female’ didn’t like eating raw food.
’Looks like she wants to eat roasted fish!’
Shen Yue blinked, dug the Fire Stone out from the dirt, and sat down in front of the stone slab "pan" they had set up last night. She began striking the stone to start a fire and cook.
The black carp was naturally plump and fatty. It had barely been on the fire for a moment before the fragrant aroma of sizzling oil filled the air.
Although Si Muye was weaving the straw mat, his eyes kept darting toward Shen Yue. He couldn’t stop swallowing as he inhaled the aroma of the fish.
’I never thought cooked fish could smell so fragrant!’
’How is this ’ugly female’ so incredible? How did she know fish could be cooked to be eaten?’
On the Beast World Continent, no Beastman would ever think to cook a fish. They were usually eaten raw immediately after being caught. After all, fish died quickly out of water and their flesh would spoil, so eating them instantly was the best method of preservation.
He watched Shen Yue’s focused expression as she roasted the fish. ’This ’ugly female’... is there anything she *can’t* do?’ He found himself growing more and more curious about her.
Just then, outside the cave, the rich aroma began to attract small animals, which unconsciously gathered and lingered near the entrance.
Si Muye’s eyes suddenly narrowed.
’Damn it, the scent has attracted other Beastmen!’
Shen Yue sensed it too and immediately stood up.
"It’s people from the Grizzly Bear Tribe!"
She was all too familiar with their scent. Wasn’t it that grizzly bear female and her Beast Husband who had stolen her live fish just yesterday?
"It smells amazing! What’s that incredible smell?"
"Whose cave is this?!"
"Who’s in there? Get out here!"
Outside, several grizzly bear males shouted, craning their necks as they drooled.
When they saw Si Muye step out, their faces immediately filled with jealousy. ’How can this male be so handsome?’
They hunted here often but had never seen such a handsome male living on this desolate mountain!
The beastmen said menacingly:
"Is this your cave?"
"What kind of food is in there? Bring it out and show us!"
"Don’t you know that the biggest tribe on this mountain is our Grizzly Bear Tribe? Now that you’ve seen us, hurry up and bring out the food!"
They had been hunting all morning without catching so much as a rabbit. They would inevitably face a scolding from their Female Master when they returned. They were just starting to worry when they smelled such a fragrant aroma.
’There must be some good food hidden in this cave!’
Si Muye saw their intent and his eyes narrowed.
"Are you trying to rob me of my food?"
The grizzly bear men exchanged a look and cracked their knuckles.
"So what if we are? You think one person can beat the five of us?"
"That’s right. If you hand it over willingly, we won’t have to get rough!"