Chapter 232: Where Are You Putting Your Hands?

Chapter 232: Chapter 232: Where Are You Putting Your Hands?

As Bai Wanwan and Yan Lie talked in low voices, the warm glow of a fire gradually lit up the deep cave.

Xin Feng deftly lit the dry wood. The flames danced merrily, making crisp CRACKLE sounds.

Before entering the cave, he had swiftly carved the tenderest meat from a wild boar, intending to prepare dinner for Wanwan.

He sliced the meat thinly, skillfully skewered it on wooden sticks, and placed it by the fire to roast.

While doing all this, he turned to look at Zhu Xiu, who was resting beside him with his eyes closed. "How are you back so soon? Did you find the Ghost Orchid Grass?"

Zhu Xiu didn’t answer, simply reaching into his animal-hide clothing to pull out a pitch-black wooden box.

Xin Feng’s movements faltered as he roasted the meat, his eyes locked on the box in Zhu Xiu’s hand. "The Ghost Orchid Grass?"

"Mmm."

Zhu Xiu nodded slightly. "Have Wanwan take it after we get back. What happened last time won’t occur again."

Xin Feng let out an audible sigh of relief. "That’s good. It must have been hard on you."

He didn’t press for details about how the Ghost Orchid Grass was obtained, but he knew in his heart it must have involved unimaginable hardships, or perhaps it was exchanged for an equally precious treasure.

Hearing talk of the Ghost Orchid Grass, Bai Wanwan and Yan Lie also stopped their conversation, their attention drawn over.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Zhu Xiu carefully put the wooden box away again.

When he looked up again, a question occurred to him, and he frowned slightly. "The beast tide is raging. Why weren’t you in the Golden Lion Tribe?"

This question made Xin Feng and Jin Yi look over questioningly as well.

Jin Yi remembered it clearly. To ensure Bai Wanwan’s safety that day, he had specifically arranged for Yan Lie to escort her back to the tribe first, while he led the other males into the mountains to search for Shi Hua.

But when they returned to the tribe with the Shi Hua females, Bai Wanwan and her Beast Husbands were nowhere to be found.

"You’ll have to ask the Young Clan Leader about that."

Yan Lie turned to Jin Yi, his usually sunny face showing a rare shadow in the firelight.

"Ask me?" Jin Yi, who hadn’t intended to interject, couldn’t help but frown upon hearing this.

Yan Lie nodded.

He had seen everything Jin Yi had done for them recently and was grateful, so he naturally wouldn’t blame him for the evil deeds of a few Golden Lion Clan Members.

But this incident was caused by Golden Lions, and it almost got his little female killed.

So, no matter who it was, the Golden Lion who attacked them had to be found.

Otherwise... as long as they stayed in the Golden Lion Tribe, they could never be at ease, always having to be on guard against someone trying to harm Wanwan in secret.

"That day, after you went into the mountains to find the Shi Hua, I saw that it was unsafe outside and started heading back to the tribe with Wanwan. But... just as we were about to reach the tribe, some Golden Lions suddenly approached and attacked us directly."

Yan Lie carefully recalled the situation that day and continued in a low voice, "I was worried there was an ambush set up in the tribe, so I could only take Wanwan and hide in the forest. Later, the beast tide swept across the plains, and we were completely cut off from our way back..."

As Yan Lie spoke, they pictured the incredibly perilous situation... and how a female had been forced to face it.

The killing intent in Zhu Xiu’s and Xin Feng’s eyes grew stronger.

"Was it only Golden Lions who attacked you?" Jin Yi confirmed with a solemn expression.

"No, there were also Wolf Beasts and Ape Beasts..." Yan Lie recalled.

The Golden Lion Tribe was a large tribe, with tens of thousands of its own Beastmen alone. Including the other clans that were subordinate to them, there were several hundred Wolf Beasts and Ape Beasts each. Investigating this would be anything but easy.

As the Young Clan Leader, this matter was also a result of his negligence.

’For someone in the tribe to dare lay such a vicious hand on a precious female... this matter must be thoroughly investigated.’

"I understand. After we get back, I will investigate this matter strictly and give Bai Wanwan a satisfactory resolution."

The firewood crackled again, breaking the heavy atmosphere.

Bai Wanwan’s face broke into a smile. "Let’s fill our stomachs first."

She took out some jerky and passed it around, while she herself accepted the meat skewer that Xin Feng had so carefully roasted.

The meat was slightly charred, still sizzling TSSS TSSS as the fat rendered, and it looked delicious.

She didn’t eat it right away, instead taking out some cumin powder from her System Space and sprinkling it on top.

"Do you guys want some?"

’There’s so little meat, it might not even be enough for the little female. How could they, as males, fight over it with a female?’

"Wanwan, we’re fine with the jerky. You go ahead and eat."

Seeing that none of them reached out, Bai Wanwan didn’t stand on ceremony. She sat right down on the ground, picked up a skewer, and started chowing down.

After eating and drinking her fill, she leaned lazily against the stone wall, her gaze wandering between the four handsome men, each with their own distinct style.

Of course, her eyes lingered mainly on her Beast Husbands, politely shifting away whenever they landed on Jin Yi.

How could Jin Yi not notice such obvious preferential treatment?

Watching the tender affection in her eyes as her gaze met her Beast Husbands’, and then comparing it to her deliberate avoidance of him, an inexplicable frustration welled up inside him. He stood up abruptly. "I’m going to patrol the perimeter."

After Jin Yi left, Bai Wanwan suddenly realized she hadn’t properly washed up in days.

’A woman adorns herself for the one who loves her, and what’s more, there were three stunningly handsome Beast Husbands right in front of her.’

She couldn’t help but start looking around.

"What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Yan Lie keenly sensed something was off and leaned in to ask softly.

Even though he had lowered his voice, it still drew the gazes of both Xin Feng and Zhu Xiu.

Bai Wanwan quickly waved her hands. "I’m not unwell, I just want to go relieve myself and wash off the grime."

Before the other two males could speak, Yan Lie had already volunteered, "I’ll go with you."

Bai Wanwan glanced stealthily at Xin Feng and Zhu Xiu. Seeing no sign of displeasure on their faces, she then said to them, "You two rest here for a bit, then. I’m going to go wash up."

Zhu Xiu nodded lightly, while Xin Feng responded with a smile.

Bai Wanwan turned and let Yan Lie lead her by the hand deeper into the cave.

Once the two had walked some distance away, Xin Feng poked at the fire, sending sparks flying with a crackle.

"I thought you would stop them," he said to Zhu Xiu with a soft chuckle.

Zhu Xiu sat upright where he was, his back against the stone wall, and squinted at him. "You were right. Wanwan is no ordinary female. People who covet her or want to harm her are everywhere..."

The repeated dangers had made him understand that when he was unable to protect her himself, having reliable males guard her was far better than losing her forever.

Xin Feng said no more, just quietly watched Bai Wanwan walk away with Yan Lie.

"This spot is good. I’ll just wash up here."

Bai Wanwan grabbed Yan Lie’s hand, stopping him from walking any further.

Using the faint light from the distant campfire, Bai Wanwan felt her way to the edge of the underground river and tested the water’s depth.

Even though Jin Yi had said there were no dangerous creatures like Cannibal Fish here, Yan Lie was still worried and followed her closely, getting into the water with her.

"I’ll wash up too..."

Yan Lie grinned as he moved closer to her.

Bai Wanwan slapped away his misbehaving paws and shot him a playful glare. "Just where are you planning to wash?"