28: Uncontrollable desires

"A vegetarian beastmen's market?"

Bai Yao heard about this market district for the first time, and her heart immediately became active. A crowded place meant an opportunity to find help or escape.

No matter how she thought about it, it seemed better than being trapped in this cold, damp cave, facing this unpredictable snake beast alone.

She barely hesitated, nodding immediately.

Night fell, and the dampness in the cave grew heavier.

Xuan Mo naturally moved closer to Bai Yao, pulling her into his embrace to sleep. Bai Yao's hairs instantly stood on end.

"You... can you sleep further away from me?"

As Xuan Mo approached, Bai Yao's voice began to tremble, and her body stiffened.

"Why?"

Xuan Mo's vertical pupils gleamed faintly in the dim light. He said, puzzled, "You are my Female. I've seen that mates outside sleep like this."

His logic was simple and direct, as if this was only natural.

Bai Yao was speechless for a moment. She found that reasoning with this snake often led to this dilemma of "talking past each other"; he always had his own logic.

Seeing that struggling was futile, Bai Yao could only give up, but she repeatedly emphasized, "You promised me not to turn back into your true form."

She didn't want to experience waking up to see a giant snake again.

Xuan Mo grunted in affirmation, acknowledging her request.

Lying in his cold and hard embrace, Bai Yao felt completely uncomfortable. But the thrilling escape and emotional fluctuations of the day had exhausted her strength, and she eventually succumbed to fatigue, drifting into a dazed sleep.

After an unknown amount of time, a strange sensation pulled her out of her sleep.

She felt her face was wet and sticky, as if something soft and cold was repeatedly licking it, and at her lower back, there was a... object pressing tightly against her.

Bai Yao suddenly woke up, opening her eyes to Xuan Mo's face, inches away.

His eyes were filled with terrifying scarlet, the reddish flush at the corners of his eyes seemed ready to drip, his handsome face was unnaturally flushed, and his breathing was heavy and hot.

His entire face was buried in the crook of her neck, his cold lips and nose repeatedly rubbing against the skin of her neck, his snake tongue occasionally darting out quickly, as if confirming and covering her with his scent again and again.

And... that unmistakable touch... "Ah—"

Bai Yao was scared out of her wits, pushing him away with all her might, shrinking back with her hands and feet, "You... what are you doing?"

This rogue snake actually took advantage of her while she was asleep... Xuan Mo ignored her words and continued to lick her collarbone, his voice hoarse: "Give me... give me everything of yours... Mark you, so that you are filled with my scent, inside and out, and you will never want to run away again..."

Xuan Mo seemed immersed in the agitation of his instincts, unable to hear anything.

Bai Yao thought, "No, even if I want to show goodwill, I can't sacrifice myself. What if he gets together with Dora later, won't I be liquidated?"

"Xuan Mo!"

Bai Yao screamed uncontrollably, even with a sob, "You said you wouldn't force me! If you continue like this, I'd rather die than be your mate!"

Her scream was like a bucket of cold water, poured over his head.

The scarlet in Xuan Mo's eyes quickly receded, and his breathing gradually calmed.

Looking at the trembling Female huddled in the corner, he finally seemed to realize that his previous actions had scared her.

He didn't explain, but suddenly got up, his voice hoarse: "I'll be right back."

With that, he rushed out of the cave without looking back.

Bai Yao, still shaken, hugged her knees, her heart pounding. He looked like he had lost his mind just now... Could it be the snake's mating season?

This realization made her even more uneasy.

Before long, Xuan Mo returned.

He carried the chill of the night dew, and the tips of his silver hair still had undried water droplets, as if he had just showered under a cold waterfall.

Bai Yao had thought that after the previous awkwardness, he would at least keep his distance, but she underestimated this shameless snake.

He casually lay down again, reaching out to pull her back into his arms.

Bai Yao's body instantly stiffened; pretending to be asleep was impossible. Just as she was about to struggle, she again felt that not entirely subsided... pressing against her.

She gently shifted her position...

"Don't move."

Xuan Mo's arm tightened, his voice low and hoarse.

Bai Yao was both angry and ashamed, protesting in a low voice: "You... you're poking me!"

"Mm-hmm,"

He pressed her deeper into his embrace, whispering in her ear: "I won't mate with you now. But if you dare to escape... I will lock you in my snakeskin, entangle you with my tail until your eyes only see me."

This blunt, almost savage conversation left Bai Yao completely speechless. She wanted to retort, but his even, soft breathing already reached her ears, as if everything just now had been her illusion.

Bai Yao stiffened in his arms, finally letting out a helpless sigh. The absolute disparity in strength made all her resistance seem futile.

Amidst her chaotic thoughts, Bai Yao slowly drifted into a deep sleep... When she woke up the next day, the space beside her was empty. Bai Yao knew Xuan Mo had probably gone hunting.

Bai Yao moved her ankle; the wound was still faintly aching.

Thinking that today was a good opportunity to escape since they were going to the market, she had to make her foot injury heal quickly. Confirming there was no movement at the cave entrance, she had a thought and entered her space.

The spirit spring space was still vibrant. The number of small fish in the pond had increased, and the blood-stopping grass she had transplanted earlier was lush.

She regretfully thought of the tomatoes and chili pepper seeds she hadn't planted last time, wondering how her seeds were doing.

Finally, she carefully planted the sweet potato in the prepared soil.

As soon as she finished, she felt a shake.

"Yao Yao, wake up!"

She snapped back to reality, realizing Xuan Mo was standing before her at some point, vigorously shaking her shoulder, a rare hint of tension in his vertical pupils.

"I... what's wrong with me?" Bai Yao immediately feigned ignorance.

"You just now, couldn't be woken up."

Xuan Mo scrutinized her. When he came in, he saw her motionless, unresponsive to any calls, and some sweet potato in the corner seemed to be missing. This was very unusual.

After all, in his territory, not even a bug dared to enter or exit freely.

Bai Yao blinked, immediately changed the subject, and tried to look innocent: "I might have just been sleeping too deeply, you're back?"

Xuan Mo stared at her for a few seconds, clearly disbelieving, but ultimately didn't press further, just nodding faintly.

"Today, still eating that?" He was referring to the roasted sweet potato.

The crisis was temporarily averted, and Bai Yao breathed a sigh of relief.

"No, let's eat the prey you hunted."

She paused, reminding him, "Didn't you say you'd take me to the market today?"

"Mm-hmm."

Xuan Mo turned to process the ingredients, "We'll leave after eating."

He knew Females were fragile and probably wouldn't be able to endure traveling on an empty stomach.

While he went out to process the prey, Bai Yao immediately lifted her pant leg and quickly wiped her wound with spirit spring water.

After a cool sensation, the pain vanished, and the wound healed at a visible rate. She quickly re-wrapped the bandage from yesterday, faking an unhealed injury.

When Xuan Mo returned with the processed meat chunks, Bai Yao was already prepared with fire-starting tools.

"Like yesterday?"

Bai Yao nodded.

This time, Xuan Mo's fire-starting movements were much more skilled. Although still wary, his reaction wasn't as drastic as the first time.

As Bai Yao began to roast the meat, and the enticing aroma gradually filled the air, the warm firelight danced in his cold vertical pupils, also reflecting her focused profile.

"It smells good."

He said in a low voice, unsure if he was referring to the meat or the fleeting yet unfamiliar feeling of "home."