Chapter 234: Makes You Shudder Just Thinking About It

Chapter 234: Chapter 234: Makes You Shudder Just Thinking About It

"It looks quiet outside. You all take care of Bai Wanwan. I’m going to go check on things."

With that, Jin Yi walked to the mouth of the cave and rolled aside the massive boulder blocking the entrance.

Blinding light spilled into the dark cavern.

His silhouette quickly vanished from the entrance.

Bai Wanwan looked away, and just as she was about to stretch, a piercing alarm from the system blared in her mind.

"BEEP... Warning! Host Life Value is in continuous decline. Consume Ghost Orchid Grass immediately, or one thousand Points will be deducted in exchange for twenty-four hours of Life Value."

Bai Wanwan’s hand froze mid-air, a frown creasing her beautiful features.

The males’ eyes were all fixed on her. Even the slightest change in her expression drew their attention.

"Wanwan, what’s wrong?" Xin Feng asked gently.

Bai Wanwan didn’t dare tell them about the countdown on her life.

’If they knew, there’s no telling how they’d freak out.’

"I think I have to take the Ghost Orchid Grass now." She stated her need directly, without offering much of an explanation.

’To avoid any further complications, it’s better to take it here before we leave.’

’Points are hard to come by. I shouldn’t spend them if I don’t have to.’

’Besides, Zhu Xiu has already brought back the Ghost Orchid Grass.’

She turned to look at Zhu Xiu, who was right beside her, but he shook his head in disapproval. "Wanwan, it isn’t safe here. It would be best to wait until we’re back at the tribe before you take it."

After consuming the Ghost Orchid Grass, a Beastman would fall unconscious for half a day, only reawakening once the toxins were purged from their body.

Bai Wanwan insisted, "But... I can’t wait."

’Who knows when we’ll get back to the tribe. Hua Sheng said that exchanging Points for Life Value doesn’t just cost a thousand Points per day; the price multiplies each time.’

’Whether it was for the sake of her Points, or to avoid any unforeseen problems...’

’...the Ghost Orchid Grass would only be truly safe once it was in her stomach.’

Shadows danced on the stone walls in the flickering light. Zhu Xiu regarded her in silence. "Then take it here. We’ll guard you."

With that, he pulled a jet-black wooden box from within the hides he wore close to his body.

The moment the box opened, a crisp, cold fragrance, like ice and snow, filled the air. Lying peacefully inside was a six-petaled plant that glowed with a faint, ethereal blue light.

The Ghost Orchid Grass in the box was dazzling and beautiful, but Bai Wanwan had no idea how to begin. "How... am I supposed to eat this?"

Zhu Xiu took the Ghost Orchid Grass and held it to her lips. "Chew the entire plant. The taste isn’t pleasant, so just bear with it. Your body will only recover after you swallow it. In the future, I’ll get you anything you want to eat."

It was rare for Zhu Xiu to coax her so gently. He was worried she would refuse to swallow the bitter Ghost Orchid Grass.

But he couldn’t have known how determined Bai Wanwan was to stay by their side.

It wasn’t just some bitter herb—even if she had to swallow knives, she would try it if it meant she could live.

"Okay. I’m not afraid of a little bitterness."

With a smile for her Beast Husbands, she bit directly into the Ghost Orchid Grass in Zhu Xiu’s hand.

An astringent, bitter, and numbing flavor exploded on her tongue, nearly making her gag.

Sensing Bai Wanwan’s distress, Xin Feng immediately began rubbing her back in silent comfort.

Bai Wanwan gagged a few times but still forced herself to swallow the Ghost Orchid Grass in her mouth.

Then she went back to chewing and swallowing.

The taste of the Ghost Orchid Grass was just too bizarre. Bai Wanwan kept swallowing, gagging all the while.

All the males could see how much she was suffering, but she bravely ate the entire plant, not wasting a single bit.

The males all breathed a collective sigh of relief.

"Wanwan, are you okay?" Yan Lie leaned in, asking anxiously.

"I..." The moment she opened her mouth, the strange taste made her gag again.

Xin Feng gently rubbed her back. "Just take it easy..." he said softly.

Bai Wanwan grunted in agreement, but soon, the strange taste in her mouth transformed into a warm current, suffusing her entire body with a pleasant heat.

Just as she was starting to feel a comfortable warmth spread through her, her body suddenly went limp and she collapsed to the side.

Fortunately, Zhu Xiu’s reflexes were sharp, and he caught her securely in his arms.

"What’s wrong with her?" Yan Lie demanded, leaning in anxiously.

Zhu Xiu’s expression remained calm. He simply shifted his position to let Wanwan lie more comfortably in his arms.

"The Ghost Orchid Grass is purging the toxins from her body. She’ll be asleep for a while."

The anxiety on Yan Lie’s face eased slightly.

Quiet returned to the cave. The males all stood watch over Bai Wanwan, their eyes fixed on her, waiting for any reaction.

Yan Lie, unable to sit still, got up and began to pace back and forth.

When Jin Yi returned with his kill, he found Bai Wanwan still lying on the animal hides, her Beast Husbands staring at her without so much as a blink.

Jin Yi didn’t say a word to disturb them. He walked in quietly and found a corner to sit down.

He began to clean his catch, but as he skinned the animal, he slowly began to feel that something wasn’t right.

’It’s so late, why is Bai Wanwan still lying down?’

’Did the little female get a fever again?’

At that thought, he couldn’t help but glance over at the slender, graceful figure on the furs.

The female’s eyes were gently closed, her exquisitely beautiful face a picture of tranquility.

"What’s... wrong with her?"

In the end, he couldn’t resist asking.

"Wanwan took the Ghost Orchid Grass. She’ll be fine after sleeping for a bit. It’s nothing to worry about."

Hearing Xin Feng’s words, Jin Yi breathed a secret sigh of relief.

Hearing the exchange between Xin Feng and Jin Yi, Zhu Xiu, who sat at Bai Wanwan’s side, turned his head. His gaze swept over Jin Yi.

’This heir to the Golden Lion Clan’s attention toward Wanwan has long since gone beyond normal.’

No matter how well he tried to hide it, Zhu Xiu’s keen perception had picked up on his intentions.

His brow furrowed. His gaze returned to Bai Wanwan, and he raised a hand to stroke her brow.

A dark thought crossed his mind. ’Wanwan, just how many males are you going to attract?’

Xin Feng watched as Jin Yi swiftly butchered the prey, splitting it in two with a single knife stroke. "What’s the situation outside?" he asked. "Has the beast tide dispersed?"

"That’s what I came back to tell you. The beast tide has retreated. There are still some scattered beasts on the plains outside the tribe’s territory, so now is the best time for us to head back."

Jin Yi paused. "When will she wake up?"

"If she wakes up by this afternoon, we’ll head back to the tribe."

For the males in the cave, every second that followed felt like an eternity.

Their eyes were glued to Bai Wanwan.

Yan Lie had already leaned in close to Bai Wanwan more than ten times.

"Wanwan, when are you going to wake up?"

Seeing Bai Wanwan like this, Yan Lie couldn’t relax. He kept worrying that she might just sleep on like this and never wake up again.

’No, that won’t happen!’

Yan Lie shook his head. ’They had survived the beast tide; Wanwan would definitely wake up and get better. They still had to have a litter of beautiful, adorable cubs together.’

Yan Lie called her name softly one more time. Getting no response, he began to stand up in disappointment.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed his.

The moment he felt it, Yan Lie immediately gripped her slender, soft hand back, his eyes lighting up with joyful surprise. "Wanwan, you’re awake?"