14: Chapter 14 I'll Be With You

Bai Wanwan had just arrived home and noticed the fish and shrimp in the water vat were almost gone again. She picked up the bamboo basket Xin Feng had helped weave, intending to go catch some more.

She had just reached the cave entrance when she saw Xin Feng walking slowly towards her, his steps clearly unsteady.

She quickly set down the basket in her hand and hurried over to support him.

'You're injured and should be resting in bed. What were you doing running out?' She shot him a glance.

Hearing her slightly reproachful tone, Xin Feng didn't get angry; instead, he smiled.

He pulled two stones from his chest and handed them to her. 'The flint you wanted.'

Bai Wanwan's eyes lit up instantly, happiness nearly overflowing from them. 'You really got them for me?'

Seeing how delighted she was, Xin Feng suddenly felt that a single Golden Lion beast skin wasn't such a big deal.

As long as his Little Female was happy, that was all that mattered.

But Bai Wanwan's smile didn't last long. She remembered the two Males had been at odds earlier.

Would those Traveling Merchants have given Xin Feng the flint so easily?

She slowly reined in her smile and looked into his eyes. 'What did you trade for it?'

Xin Feng was taken aback for a moment, then said with a smile, 'A beast skin.'

'You're lying.' Bai Wanwan didn't believe that with the kind of relationship those two had, a simple beast skin could have exchanged for the flint.

'Tell me the truth, or I won't accept this flint.'

She made as if to return the flint to his hand.

The smile slowly faded from Xin Feng's face, replaced by a hint of panic.

'Wan Wan, it really was a beast skin. A Golden Lion's beast skin.'

Only then did Bai Wanwan pause her returning hand. She looked up at him, her eyes questioning. 'Is that beast skin very precious?'

Afraid she would be angry, Xin Feng dared not hide the truth and nodded. 'Yes. I got it by luck before my Talent was destroyed. Golden Lions are hard to find, and hunting one is even harder. The one I encountered back then was injured.'

After listening, Bai Wanwan thought for a moment, then still placed the flint back into his hand.

A flicker of confusion crossed Xin Feng's expression. 'Wan Wan?'

Bai Wanwan smiled at him. 'That Golden Lion beast skin must be very important to you, right? I can't let you trade something so important for me. When I have time, I'll ask him if we can exchange it for something else.'

Xin Feng immediately shook his head. 'Material things are just objects. Because it was the first one I hunted, I wanted to keep it as a memento before. But now it's not important...'

Bai Wanwan met his gaze and seemed to understand his unspoken words.

She suddenly broke into a radiant smile. 'Alright then, I'll keep the flint. After your Talent recovers, I'll wait for you to hunt more Golden Lion beast skins.'

Seeing her accept it, Xin Feng felt even happier than when he had first obtained the Golden Lion beast skin.

Now he had his Little Female. Everything he did was to make her life better.

A mere beast skin—if she wanted everything he had, he would be willing to give it.

Bai Wanwan went into the cave to gather some dry grass, then walked back outside.

She tried striking the two pieces of flint together. After just a dozen strikes, sparks ignited the dry grass.

Xin Feng stood behind her, watching the dry grass catch fire, his expression unconsciously tense.

Whether beasts or their beastmen kind, they all harbored a natural fear of fire.

If not for his Little Female wanting the flint, he wouldn't have wanted to touch the stuff.

Bai Wanwan turned excitedly to call Xin Feng. 'Xin Feng, Xin Feng! Did you see that? It really lit up!'

Her smile made the corners of her eyes curve, a sight that made anyone who saw it feel happy too.

The tension in Xin Feng's expression gradually eased, replaced by a smile.

'As long as you're happy.'

'Mm, I'm very happy. Tonight, I'll make cooked food for you.'

She was already rubbing her hands together in anticipation. There weren't many things she could work with now, but she could grill meat on a stone slab.

Slice the meat thin, sear it on a hot stone, sprinkle some salt on it...

It had been almost ten days since she crossed over, and she hadn't eaten her fill even once.

Just thinking about it made her mouth water.

Xin Feng didn't refuse. Seeing her so happy, he too grew curious about what meat cooked with flint would taste like.

The dry grass slowly burned out. She stood up and stamped it out with her foot.

Noticing Xin Feng was still standing behind her, she quickly reached out to support him. 'Why are you still standing? Go rest. If you don't properly recover from this injury, winter will be even more miserable.'

Chattering away, she helped Xin Feng over to the Stone Bed to rest.

'Listen, from now on, you are not to leave this bed. You must recover properly.'

Xin Feng's eyes were filled with tenderness as he took in her words.

'Alright, I'll listen to you.'

He had never imagined that one day he would meet a Female like this, one who made him yearn for greater strength so she could live better than any other Female.

He thought of that Golden Lion beast skin. He would have another beastman deliver it to Roger a bit later.

After all, the Caravan wouldn't be leaving for a few days.

Only after seeing Xin Feng lie down did Bai Wanwan begin preparing the evening's meal.

She had originally intended to catch fish and shrimp, but now with the flint, she decided to change things up.

She walked into another stone chamber, rummaged through, and picked out a piece of meat with a good balance of fat and lean. Bringing it out, she began slicing it with a stone knife.

As she sliced, she turned her head to say to Xin Feng, 'Once you get used to eating delicious food like this, you'll never want to eat raw meat again.'

As soon as she finished speaking, a commotion came from the entrance.

Bai Wanwan withdrew her gaze and looked toward the cave mouth.

Unexpectedly, it was the two brothers, Xin Shan and Xin Yu.

When they saw Bai Wanwan turn around, their expressions simultaneously became somewhat awkward.

'Wan Wan, to welcome the arrival of the Traveling Merchants tonight, my Father Beast has called everyone to the Plaza. We'll be sharing Unicorn Deer meat.'

The Unicorn Deer is a large beast. Although its attack power isn't strong, it is extremely agile. Unless a beastman possesses a powerful Talent, catching one is nearly impossible.

Its meat is tender and juicy, a favorite food of many Females.

Typically, when a Unicorn Deer is caught, it is prioritized for distribution to Females with superior fertility.

Two that were recently caught were originally going to be made into jerky for the Females, but with the Traveling Merchants' arrival,

the clan leader decided to use both Unicorn Deer to host them tonight.

From the original host's memories, she knew Unicorn Deer was a mouth-watering delicacy.

But she would much rather eat barbecue at home.

So she refused directly, 'No need. I don't want any Unicorn Deer.'

Xin Shan pressed his lips together. After a long moment, he spoke, 'Wan Wan, it was our fault. It's normal for you to dislike us. But Unicorn Deer is rare. Eating it warms the body, making you less likely to fall ill this winter.'

Bai Wanwan was about to refuse again, but Xin Feng felt the two brothers had a point.

Wan Wan only had him as her Beast Husband, and he was injured. This winter would be difficult.

If she could drink the Unicorn Deer's blood, his Little Female's chances of surviving the winter would be greater.

'Wan Wan, the blood and meat of the Unicorn Deer are beneficial for you. I'll accompany you there in a bit.'

'You're injured. What are you going for?' Bai Wanwan shook her head. Xin Feng shouldn't go, and she didn't want to join the crowd either.

Her intuition told her that Roger was no good; it was better to keep her distance.

Xin Shan and Xin Yu had also heard about what happened to Xin Feng and Wan Wan in the mountains.

'Xin Feng, Wan Wan can come with us. Don't worry.'

It was precisely because they would be with them that Xin Feng couldn't rest easy. He understood very well what the clan leader was scheming.

He spoke directly, 'No need. I am her Beast Husband; I can take care of her. You go back first. Wan Wan and I will come over shortly.'

Xin Yu wanted to say something more, but Xin Shan pulled him back.