She had no idea how to describe the scene before her. Aside from pictures on a phone, she had never seen such a breathtaking landscape with her own eyes. Just for this view alone, Bai Ning felt like settling down here forever!
It was absolutely beautiful.
A boundless expanse of green fields and mountains stretched out, with gurgling streams winding through like the living veins of the earth. Distant mountains flickered in and out of the mist, draped in mystery. Sunlight spilled down, covering the forests and grasslands in a golden veil. Every inch of the scenery spoke of nature’s poetry and tranquility, intoxicating the soul until one forgot the way home.
A poem came to Bai Ning’s mind:
Green carpets drape the endless plain, Streams flow like silver silk in rain. Hidden peace within the woods resides, Where distant peaks and heaven collide.
How could it be this beautiful?
Bai Ning felt as if her soul were being washed clean. In this moment, she completely forgot her days in the post-apocalyptic world; her every breath was filled with the fragrance of green grass and damp earth.
“So pretty…”
Tongtong’s low murmur snapped Bai Ning out of her trance. She nodded in agreement. “It really is stunning!” So stunning she almost couldn’t believe it was real.
Bai Ning focused her mind, temporarily pushing aside the urge to admire the view to carefully observe her surroundings. However, she was met with disappointment. Aside from grass, water, and trees, there wasn’t a single living creature in sight.
“Strange. Isn’t this the Wolf Tribe? Why isn’t there a single beastman around?”
Tongtong thought for a moment and replied, “Could it be because they’re all out hunting?”
Bai Ning frowned. “Hunting? Even then, they wouldn’t leave the place completely empty…”
“Uh… well, maybe—”
Before Tongtong could finish, Bai Ning’s expression shifted. She narrowed her eyes and looked straight into the distance, cutting the system off. “Tongtong, look! Is that something running this way?”
“Sister, quick! Get back to bed! It’s Beichuan!”
“…”
After a frantic scramble, Bai Ning dragged her injured leg and hopped back to the bedside. Before climbing in, she didn’t forget to wipe the dust off her feet. She took several deep breaths to calm her racing heart.
Not long after she lay down, the animal-skin curtain was lifted, and a tall figure walked in. Just like last time, he carried a large stone bowl.
Seeing Bai Ning lying obediently on the bed, looking at him with her big, blinking eyes, Beichuan’s heart melted. How could there be such a well-behaved little female? I really want to…
No, no… wait a bit longer, he told himself. The little female hasn’t accepted me yet!
Beichuan walked quickly to Bai Ning, set the stone bowl down, and spoke with a hint of subtle pride. “Little female, I went and picked more fruit. Eat some more! Don’t worry about finishing them—I can provide for you!”
So, he thought I was holding back from eating, which is why he ran out to pick more?
A flicker of confusion crossed Bai Ning’s eyes. Are all beastmen in this world this enthusiastic?
If the other members of the Wolf Tribe heard her thoughts, they would probably die laughing. Enthusiastic? You could call anyone enthusiastic except Beichuan. True to his name (North River), he was usually so cold that he might not respond even if you said ten sentences to him.
Regardless of what she was thinking, Bai Ning politely thanked him. Beichuan’s ears quietly turned red again.
Silence fell over the cave once more. Bai Ning lowered her head, wondering: He’s delivered the fruit, why hasn’t he left yet?
Beichuan looked at Bai Ning, the words catching in his throat. After hesitating for a long time, he asked, “Um… little female… may I know your name?”
“Ah?” Bai Ning blinked, only then realizing what he had said. Right—she had forgotten to tell them her name. She gave an awkward smile, cleared her throat, and looked up at him. “My name is Bai Ning.”
“Bai Ning…” Beichuan repeated softly. His voice held a unique tenderness, as if lightly brushing against the strings of her heart. He looked at her, his eyes filled with undisguisable joy. “Bai Ning. That’s a truly beautiful name.”
Bai Ning fell silent. It’s just a name; how beautiful can it be?
“Thanks. Your name is nice too,” she offered politely.
Beichuan’s eyes lit up instantly. The little female—no, Bai Ning, Ningning—had praised him! She said his name was nice! Did that mean she liked him back? Would they be able to mate soon?
If they were going to mate, he still had many things to prepare. He had to hurry; he absolutely couldn’t let Ningning feel wronged. Yes! I’ll start tonight! Beichuan made a silent vow, his gaze becoming even more fervent.
If Bai Ning knew that a single polite remark had triggered such a train of thought, she would probably wake up in the middle of the night and slap herself. Stop being so talkative! Stop being so polite!
Beichuan didn’t stay much longer. After urging her to rest well, he left the cave. He needed to find someone to help him carry some trees back. Previously, he had no plans to take a mate and just drifted through his days, leaving his cave empty. Now it was different. He had Ningning; he had to fix up the cave quickly so she would be comfortable.
Once Beichuan left, Bai Ning finally breathed a sigh of relief. The way that man looked at her was terrifying—it felt like he was going to eat her at any moment. She shivered. No, I still have to find a way to move out. Handsome guys are nice to look at, but looking is enough…
Looking at the fruit in the bowl, she hesitated for a moment, kept a few for herself, and converted the rest into points. Seeing her balance reach 860, a smile naturally appeared on her face.
She glanced toward the cave entrance. Since Beichuan was out, should she sneak out and collect some plants? There were so many weeds out there; they should be worth a lot of points!
“Tongtong, where did he go?” She asked the system to track him, but the answer was disappointing: Beichuan was still nearby.
“Fine, I guess I can’t go out for now.” Bai Ning sighed helplessly.
The next time she saw him, she decided she would ask him to make her a crutch. With a crutch, it would be much easier to get out of bed, and she wouldn’t have to worry about the secret of her healing speed being exposed.
Since she couldn’t go out, Bai Ning could only lie in bed and browse the Point Mall. But after a few moments, she shut it down.
Can’t look, can’t look… If she kept looking, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to control her urge to shop!