139: Chapter 139 I won't do a deal that's not worth it.

Tang Ruan covered Hu Che's mouth and looked up.

Fine crystal fragments were falling from the cave ceiling.

Hu Che gently removed Tang Ruan's hand. "What is that?"

Tang Ruan scrambled up from the ground. "I'll go take a look."

"No!" Hu Che grabbed her. "There are monsters on this mountain; it's too dangerous."

Tang Ruan paused; so he had already seen it.

She had originally intended to go out and lure that thing away.

With Hu Che's current strength, it was a stretch to even call him a Mid-level Beastman, and his body was very weak; he couldn't afford to take any more damage.

Tang Ruan had no choice but to stay with Hu Che, pricking up her ears to listen.

Suddenly, a heavy sound landed at the cave entrance.

Hu Che pulled Tang Ruan behind him.

A monster with one leg and ten fingers landed at the entrance.

Hu Che grabbed Tang Ruan again and retreated to the wall.

The two stood pressed against the wall.

Just then, the monster happened to lower its head and peek into the cave.

Tang Ruan couldn't clearly see what the monster looked like; she only felt it resembled a bird, yet also seemed like a scorpion.

After a long while, the monster flapped its wings and flew away.

The dark shadow hadn't lied to her.

This cave was indeed safe.

But why didn't the monster dare to come in?

Tang Ruan stayed for a while longer, watching the sky outside the cave darken.

"I have to go back," she said to Hu Che. "I'll come see you again tomorrow."

"Back to his side?"

Hu Che looked dejected.

"Yes, only he can save Yan Qing and Lang Lie."

Hu Che didn't speak again, just gripped her hand tightly, refusing to let go.

If only he could be as powerful as Fen Tian; then Tang Ruan wouldn't have to go looking for anyone else.

"Be good..." Tang Ruan pulled her hand out of his palm.

If she didn't return soon, it would be bad if she were discovered.

"Do you love him?" Hu Che asked suddenly.

"No." Tang Ruan answered very decisively.

Although she didn't particularly dislike Fen Tian, it certainly didn't reach the level of love.

A smile appeared on Hu Che's face.

"But—" Tang Ruan changed the subject, "I must fall in love with him. Only then will Yan Qing and Lang Lie be saved."

The smile on his face sank again.

Just when Tang Ruan thought Hu Che was angry,

he suddenly patted his backside and stood up from the ground.

"Let's go..."

Tang Ruan watched him walk to the cave entrance, her eyes widening. "What are you trying to do?"

Hu Che put his hand on his hip. "Escort you, of course!

What if that monster hasn't gone far?

If it eats me, at least you'll have time to run."

Tang Ruan: ...

Seeing Tang Ruan standing still, Hu Che came over to pull her.

"What did you think I was going to do otherwise?

Go find that world-destroying monster and fight it one-on-one?

I'm not stupid.

Throwing my life away?

I don't do unprofitable deals."

Hu Che peered around at the cave entrance for a while before taking Tang Ruan's hand and walking out.

Tang Ruan didn't want him to escort her.

She felt it was too dangerous.

What if Hu Che got eaten by the monster on his way back?

What if Fen Tian saw him?

"Just a short distance. I really want to spend a little more time with you." Hu Che looked at her imploringly.

He was truly terrified of losing her.

This was already the second time he had almost lost her.

Tang Ruan couldn't refuse him.

She had to let him walk her for a distance.

She hadn't noticed when she arrived, but both sides of the mountain pass were covered in large red flowers shaped like lilies.

Under the gray sky, they looked vibrant and noble.

"Alright, I'll go back on my own now." Tang Ruan really couldn't let him walk her any further.

"Okay."

Hu Che obediently stopped and let go of Tang Ruan's hand.

Watching her turn around.

"Tang Ruan!" Hu Che suddenly called out to her.

Tang Ruan turned back.

Hu Che's hands clenched at his sides.

After a long while, he finally choked out a sentence.

"You know, right?

The First Beast Husband cannot harm the Mistress's other Beast Husbands."

Tang Ruan's eyes widened.

Is that so?

She really didn't know.

In that case, as long as she coaxed Fen Tian into becoming her First Beast Husband,

they would all be safe!

Then she could think of a way to have him save Yan Qing and Lang Lie.

Seeing that Tang Ruan understood what he meant,

Hu Che added, "But you must make him your First Beast Husband before he inherits all the Beast God Energy.

Because the Mistress contract is bound by the Beast God's Energy.

If he becomes the Beast God, no one will be able to control him anymore."

Tang Ruan processed this.

It meant she still had to love him, but not too much.

She couldn't love him to the extent that he recovered all his Energy and could easily manipulate the Beast God's power.

She needed his power to be stuck at just the right level—enough to utilize part of the Beast God's Energy to help Yan Qing and Hu Che break the Curse, but not enough to break free from the First Beast Husband contract.

This... was too difficult.

Besides, what if breaking the Curse required more Energy than violating the First Beast Husband contract?

Hu Che had clearly already thought of this.

Before Tang Ruan could ask her question, he said, "The First Beast Husband contract concerns life and death; it belongs to the high-level contracts.

And since Yan Qing has been able to resist the Beast God Mountain Curse for so long, it's clear it isn't as powerful as the First Beast Husband contract.

You can find an opportunity to test him."

Tang Ruan nodded at Hu Che.

She understood.

Hu Che gave a bitter smile.

"I'll wait for you."

After saying this, he turned and walked into the deepening night.

---

Tang Ruan returned to the cave where she was staying.

She discovered that Fen Tian had not yet returned.

This Male Beastman had quite a temper.

Just as she was thinking this, a clattering sound suddenly came from outside the cave.

Were they fighting?

He couldn't have discovered Hu Che, could he?

Tang Ruan hurriedly ran out.

As soon as she ran out, she dismissed that thought.

If Fen Tian were fighting Hu Che, he wouldn't need to make any sound; Hu Che would just be gone...

Woo woo woo...

Outside the cave, Fen Tian tied a dozen animal skin bundles onto a rope and dragged them into her cave.

He glanced at Tang Ruan.

He didn't speak.

He sat on the ground silently and began untying the bundles.

There was food, clothing, toys, and even jewelry...

Especially the jewelry; they all looked very valuable.

"Did you... go rob someone?" Tang Ruan's lips trembled.

Fen Tian looked at her. "Everything the eye can see belongs to the Beast God."

Tang Ruan rubbed her forehead; so he had gone to rob someone.

"Where did these come from?"

"From the sea," he thought for a moment, "a ship of the Red Fox Tribe."

Tang Ruan: ...

It was actually Hu Che's merchant ship!

"What about the people on the ship?" she asked worriedly.

Everyone on the ship was Hu Che's tribesman; he didn't kill them all, did he!

"I didn't touch them."

As he said this, he stared at Tang Ruan again.

Seeing her clearly breathe a sigh of relief.

Fen Tian said somewhat proudly, "I thought A-Wu wouldn't want me to kill them.

So, I didn't touch them."

Today, when she heard he was going to kill the Male Beastman who liked her, she cried so much.

She kept saying how good the current Beast World was.

He just wanted to see what exactly about the current Beast World made her care so much.

As it happened, someone on that ship was eating the red Guo Guo she had tattooed on her hand.

Fen Tian opened a small bundle, which was full of horn fruits.

The horn fruit was shaped somewhat like a chili pepper, but in reality, it tasted like strawberries.

They grew in many places in the Beast World.

Tang Ruan picked one up and gave him face by taking a bite.

"Delicious!"

Seeing her happy, Fen Tian's eyes also curved into a smile.

He reached out and touched her head.

His warm palm slid down her long hair and rested on the ghost crystal at her neck.

"I saw someone on that ship wearing this—"

His movements suddenly paused.

His dark red eyes suddenly lit up.

He yanked the ghost crystal off her neck.

"Where did you get this thing?"