Chapter 143: Return

Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Return

After hearing Qiao Suluo’s words, Qiao Dalin and the others all showed looks of shock.

She called it asking for their help, but it was blatantly obvious their sister was the one helping them. She was going to teach them a craft. A craft was incredibly important; with it, no one would starve even during a famine. Even if another flood came, they would have nothing to fear.

Qiao Dalin and the rest were deeply grateful to Qiao Suluo but didn’t know how to repay their sister. Qiao Suluo told them they were all family and didn’t need to worry about such things. Since she happened to have brought flour and ingredients, she stayed at the house and taught them how to make various pastries.

To her surprise, they picked it up very quickly. It wasn’t until they had mastered the recipes that Qiao Suluo and the others returned to town.

The Fourth Elder urged Que Hongjin that it was time to return to the Peacock family. No matter how reluctant he was, Que Hongjin still broke the news to Qiao Suluo.

When Qiao Suluo heard this, her heart sank heavily, and she looked at Que Hongjin with longing in her eyes.

Meeting her gaze, Que Hongjin’s heart softened completely. "If you don’t want me to go back, I won’t."

Qiao Suluo was indeed reluctant to part with him, but she knew Que Hongjin had to return to his family eventually. She didn’t know what kind of beastman had harmed him back then, and the enemy was still hiding in the shadows. Only by returning and borrowing the family’s power could he take his revenge and do what he wanted to do.

Qiao Suluo spoke up. "Hong Jin, no matter what you do, I will support you.

"I think returning home is the right choice. We still don’t know who broke your wings before. If you don’t go back, and your enemy inherits the Peacock family, it will be even more dangerous if they use the family’s resources to harm you."

Qiao Suluo understood she couldn’t let emotions dictate her actions; she had to calmly analyze the situation and their current circumstances.

"As long as it’s good for you, that’s all that matters."

Hearing Qiao Suluo’s words, Que Hongjin’s heart ached. He couldn’t bear to leave Qiao Suluo, but he knew that only by grasping greater power could he better protect the person he wanted to protect.

"Wait for me. I will return."

"Mhm, I will definitely wait for you. Who knows, I might even open a shop in the Capital City. Then I can go look for you too." Qiao Suluo said this to put Que Hongjin at ease.

Que Hongjin said hoarsely, "Okay, wife. I am your Beast Husband, and I will always be your Beast Husband.

"And don’t forget me."

This was what he worried about the most. His wife was so wonderful, someone would eventually notice her goodness and fight to become her Beast Husband. While he was away, he was truly worried she would forget him.

Qiao Suluo said earnestly, "How could I? How could I ever forget you?"

Que Hongjin gently stroked her brow. The thought of not being able to see her for the foreseeable future made his heart ache terribly. He reached out and gently caressed her face, then lowered his head to capture her lips.

His kisses first landed on her brow and eyes; he loved her, loved every inch of her essence.

Qiao Suluo took the initiative to respond to him. Little did she know that her active response caused Que Hongjin’s restrained emotions to pour out like a burst dam. His intense love instantly enveloped her, his aura completely wrapping around her.

Before she knew it, Que Hongjin had laid Qiao Suluo down on the bed. Her dark hair scattered across the pillow as moonlight streamed through the window lattice, casting a moving silver halo over her figure.

Que Hongjin’s gaze was fervent as he looked at her and whispered, "Wife, you are so beautiful."

Qiao Suluo couldn’t bear to let Que Hongjin leave, but she couldn’t ask him to stay, for that would only harm him. Therefore, she could only use her actions to express how much she cared for him. She reached out and gently hooked his sash, her fingertips accidentally brushing against his skin. It was hot, causing her palm to tremble slightly.

She saw Que Hongjin’s exquisitely flawless skin, boasting defined abdominal muscles and a sense of power; he was lean yet strong. Her fingers inadvertently brushed against him again.

Que Hongjin reached out and caught her hand, the spot where their palms touched radiating a scorching heat. He lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "Wife, it’s all yours."

At this moment, his voice lacked its usual calmness. He pulled her forcefully into his embrace.

It wasn’t until dawn approached the following morning that Que Hongjin finally released Qiao Suluo.

He plucked out many Peacock Feathers and placed them at the head of the bed. Lowering his head, he kissed her forehead and gazed deeply at her, his eyes filled with reluctance and cherishment. After an unknown amount of time passed, he checked the color of the sky and finally tore himself away.

Que Hongjin didn’t eat breakfast that morning; he had no appetite whatsoever.

Bai Qianluo and Chu Moyuan hadn’t expected Que Hongjin to be returning to the Capital City.

"Are you really going back?"

Que Hongjin nodded. "Yes. Only by acquiring greater power can I give our wife everything better and protect her.

"I don’t want to let her get hurt ever again.

"Although the Qin family has been dealt with, there could be a second or a third Qin family, so I must go back.

"Just... take good care of her for me."

Que Hongjin’s voice was a bit hoarse as he turned to look in the direction of the bedroom. What was he to do? He couldn’t bear to part with her. The thought of not seeing her, even for just a short period, was unbearable to him.

"Don’t worry, she is our wife. We will naturally protect her with our lives."

Que Hongjin knew that Bai Qianluo and Chu Moyuan’s love for Qiao Suluo was no less than his own.

Bai Qianluo looked at Que Hongjin’s red-rimmed eyes, the obvious result of a sleepless night. "Are you not going to wait for our wife to wake up and say goodbye before you leave?"

Que Hongjin shook his head. "No. I’m afraid that if I see her, I won’t want to go back anymore."

He now had a weakness. When facing her, he couldn’t remain calm. Leaving this way meant he wouldn’t have to face a scene he couldn’t handle.

"That’s for the best."

When Qiao Suluo woke up mid-morning, she knew Que Hongjin had returned to his family. She looked at the Peacock Feathers he had left by the bed, her eyes turning slightly red.

"Why did he pluck so many Peacock Feathers? How much must it have hurt!"

The system spoke up. "Host, while you were asleep, Que Hongjin was practically heartbroken. He didn’t know what he could leave you with. He probably thought you liked Peacock Feathers, so he plucked a lot of them for you.

"Sigh, seeing him like that, even I felt unbearable sympathy. If you had been awake, Host, and he looked at you, he probably wouldn’t have been able to leave."

Qiao Suluo pressed her hand against her chest, feeling a sense of emptiness and melancholy. "I can’t bear to let him go either, but I know returning is what’s best for him. He can do whatever he wants to do.

"He won’t have to stay cooped up here. He loves reading, and the Capital City has the best academies. The Peacock family also has a vast collection of books that he can read at his leisure.

"Furthermore, he can get his revenge. We still don’t know who severed his wings back then."

When Qiao Suluo got up to wash and eat breakfast, Bai Qianluo and Chu Moyuan stayed by her side without taking a single step away, likely worried she would be in a bad mood.

Qiao Suluo suppressed her emotions, refusing to let them show. She forced a smile and said, "Don’t worry, you two, I’m fine.

"We still need to keep running our food stall. Once we earn some more silver, we can buy a proper house to live in, and we can also buy a storefront to open a restaurant."

She also wanted to expand her business to the Capital City.

"However, just making savory crepes won’t be enough. We can start making wontons, braised meat sandwiches, and other foods."