CHAPTER 25: CHAPTER 25: JOINING THE HUNTING TEAM (PART 1)

Hearing the sound, Nan casually lifted his eyelids. Recognizing the newcomer, he narrowed his eyes in contemplation.

He could clearly see the intentions of the male in front of him... Truly a fortunate yet annoying Beastman.

Opposite him, Wu Xuan was equally troubled. His smile froze, his entire form stiffened until he realized the female was unconscious, a coldness spreading in his gaze, "What did you do to the female?"

He strode forward, wanting to pull Nan away, but the other was wrapped so tightly around the female that there was no way to start.

Nan merely stared indifferently at Wu Xuan, recalling the scene of him and the female smiling at each other, a weight like a boulder pressed on his heart.

Even though the Empire practices a multiple-male system for females, the males’ possessiveness remains strong.

The weaker males have no choice but to accept new brothers, but if a male is strong enough, they will band together to prevent other males from enticing the female, and some extreme males will attempt to monopolize until they can no longer hold on.

Nant seemed to be the latter type now.

He was jealous that Wu Xuan had seen the female first and gained her trust, dark thoughts of scheming brewed in his heart.

"I didn’t do anything," Nan’s lips curled into a smile, happiness and gentleness filling his eyes, "You might not know, the female can only sleep soundly in my arms, so... keep it down, will you?"

Hearing his words, Wu Xuan paused his motion to grab, yes, Nan was a Beast Husband loved by the female, how could he harm her.

Watching their intimate posture, he stood awkwardly in place with a steaming bowl, yet his heart felt a chill from the gaping hole.

Seeing his reaction, Nan understood silently, it seemed the female hadn’t accepted him yet.

He let out a genuine smile, and despite the excruciating pain throughout his body, he gently picked up the female, laying her on the bed and covering her with a fluffy blanket, raising an eyebrow, "Besides, didn’t the female tell you? She doesn’t like roasted meat, the flavor is overpowering, she prefers something lighter."

The double-edged remark struck Wu Xuan right in the heart.

The Nan before him seemed calm and pleasant, and it’s said that Mious was also a cold-natured Beastman.

Could this be why the female hadn’t accepted him?

Wu Xuan looked at the pale, sleeping face of the female. After standing silently for a while, he turned and left.

Watching his dejected back, Nan sneered coldly to himself, backing off?

That couldn’t possibly be blamed on him, such a male had no place beside the female.

He sat at the edge of the bed, gently caressing the female’s cheek with his palm, tracing from the corner of the eye, finally resting on the sharp chin.

The skin under his palm was delicate yet somewhat cold, and her cheeks were slightly sunken.

Hungry, perhaps?

He lowered his eyes guiltily, speaking gently, "I will take good care of you, my female."

————

Wen Shu woke again, already the noon of the next day.

She felt groggy as soon as she opened her eyes, only to see a handsome face with deep resentment.

Wu Xuan sat at the head of the bed with his arms crossed, his back straight as could be. When he saw her awake, his eyes lit up, wanting to rush over, but held himself back at the last moment.

Restraining himself, he lowered his voice calmly, "You’re finally awake."

Wen Shu: Why does it feel so strange?

She rubbed her eyes, doubting whether she was still dreaming. Upon opening them again, she saw Wu Xuan bringing over a bowl of plain boiled meat from the stone table, its color astonishingly pale.

But Wen Shu hadn’t eaten for two days, and at the sight of food, her eyes sparkled with hunger, her stomach hurt from the hunger, rumbling without a pause.

Noting the female’s reaction, Wu Xuan placed the bowl beside her, his mood tinged with an inexplicable bitterness, "You must be starving, please eat."

Wen Shu didn’t bother with his oddity, she took the bowl and ate ravenously, hardly caring about the taste, it was quite good albeit a bit bland, too bland!

Seeing her enjoy the food so much, Wu Xuan’s smile became forced; it seemed the female truly disliked his original self, just like this bowl of boiled meat...

After drinking the last drop of the warm meat soup, Wen Shu finally had the energy to think, seeing Wu Xuan’s troubled face, she couldn’t help but ask, "Wu Xuan, what’s wrong with you today, did someone upset you?"

Being asked this, Wu Xuan froze, was the female concerned about him?

He pursed his lips, attempting to speak more gently, like the female’s Beast Husband.

But the thought of the female caring about him made him incapable of holding back, he blurted out, "Female, what kind of male do you like!"

Wen Shu was a bit confused, unable to link the two issues together, but she thoughtfully considered the question.

But... do preferences even get categorized?

She thought this and asked as well.

This left Wu Xuan bewildered.

But after a moment, he quickly understood the female’s meaning, the female’s Beast Husband truly was deceitful!

His expression relaxed, quickly returning to his usual carefree self, "I get it!"

Wen Shu looked puzzled.

How did he suddenly understand, understand what?

She felt dizzy from Wu Xuan’s antics, suddenly remembering the severely injured Nan.

Glancing at the empty stone table, she asked in confusion, "Did Nan sleep next door?"

Wu Xuan then remembered he hadn’t told the female something, this morning he seemed to have seen the female’s Beast Husband when he passed by the Hunting Team.

But thinking that the guy was not fully recovered, he couldn’t be out hunting, so he came to the cave directly, unexpectedly Nan was indeed gone.

After last night, in Wu Xuan’s eyes, Nan had transformed from a pitiful male into a detestable schemer.

Yet even with the grudge in his heart, he wouldn’t lie to the female.

"I saw him at the Hunting Team this morning," Wu Xuan answered honestly.

What!

Wen Shu frowned slightly, "He went hunting?"

She had treated Nan’s wounds but only superficially.

His bones weren’t fully healed, if he encountered danger he wouldn’t escape swiftly, how could he go hunting?

Wen Shu pulled off the blanket and got out of bed. Her feet had just touched the ground when Wu Xuan, quick as lightning, caught her, "Female, what are you planning to do?"

The male’s worried voice reminded her.

She only remembered that her leg could move now but forgot it wasn’t fully healed...

Wen Shu calmed down, "When did the Hunting Team leave?"

Wu Xuan placed her back on the bed, barring her side, afraid she’d impulsively try to find someone again, "They set out in the morning; you’ve been unconscious for a long time, it’s already evening."

Only upon hearing this did Wen Shu realize she had slept for an entire day and night.

The dense forest was especially dangerous at night. The two of them going would be no different from courting death, and besides, her leg hadn’t recovered yet.

Better to replenish her energy first, join another Hunting Team tomorrow to find Nan. After all, as night fell, several teams would cluster together.

Having made up her mind, Wen Shu didn’t waste time, curling her legs to begin healing herself, "Wu Xuan, tomorrow I want to go with the Hunting Team to find Nan, will you accompany me?"

And seeing her actions, Wu Xuan was already speechless with shock; the female’s leg could move!

He was so excited he almost stammered, "Female, your, your leg..."

"I belong to the Healing System, but my rank is quite low and I rarely use it, it was just a try, but it turned out to be effective!" Wen Shu’s voice was equally filled with surprise, though she didn’t lift her gaze to Wu Xuan, her dangling hair veiled her twinkling eyes.

Wu Xuan was someone who sincerely cared for her, Wen Shu couldn’t comfortably deceive him.

After finishing mending the remaining injuries on her right leg, she gritted her teeth and repaired most of the left leg, thinking she could fully recover by morning, before she lazily stopped.

Wen Shu collapsed back onto the bed, "Wu Xuan, I need to sleep some more."

Indeed, exceeding her spiritual power’s limit to use superpowers, while it could accelerate her rank’s elevation, also had certain side effects.

She drowsily closed her eyes, while beside her, Wu Xuan stared at her in astonishment, still not having recovered his senses.

The female had no idea what this meant!

Such powerful healing abilities, only the legendary Beast God was said to wield them!

The next day, before dawn, Wen Shu awoke early to strengthen her injuries and set off with Wu Xuan to the assembly point for the Hunting Teams.

Wu Xuan led with a torch, with Wen Shu following closely behind. As they descended the mountain, a familiar figure appeared in the darkness.

Seeing them all geared up, Mious spoke coolly, "You... where are you going?"