144: Chapter 144 "But, what I'm thinking about is you."

Tang Ruan was eaten by a cat.

Tang Ruan never expected that her fate in the Beast World would be to be eaten by the black shadow's vengeful spirit.

But why was this world of the dead warm and smelled of crab?

The temperature of her upper and lower body was also different.

About half a minute later.

The black shadow opened its big mouth and spat Tang Ruan out.

Tang Ruan stood rigidly in place.

She looked down.

She found that her upper and lower body were not separated.

Her legs went soft, and she collapsed to the ground.

The black shadow, now twice its original size, looked at her triumphantly, making gurgling sounds in its throat.

Had it turned into a fierce ghost?

But... how could a ghost have a physical body? And eat things?

Suddenly, Tang Ruan noticed that an eye had appeared on the black shadow's face.

It was a very small one, right in the middle of its four eyes, like a yellow gem embedded in its brow.

If you didn't look carefully, you wouldn't notice it at all.

Tang Ruan thought for a moment.

Although it felt incredible, still—

"Black Shadow, have you revived?"

"Meow!"

The black shadow proudly raised its head.

"You... you're immortal?"

"Meow!"

Its gaze told Tang Ruan the answer.

It was too incredible.

She boldly guessed, "The three extra eyes represent the number of times you've revived."

"Meow meow!" The black shadow nodded.

Tang Ruan: !!!

She wanted this skill too!

Since the black shadow wasn't dead, Tang Ruan's guilt disappeared.

What followed was an even greater fear.

"You... you won't hold a grudge, will you?"

The black shadow took a step towards Tang Ruan.

Tang Ruan: "You already scared me! We're even!"

"Meow?"

"I'll share all my delicious food with you."

"Meow!" Deal.

"But..." Tang Ruan asked worriedly, "You won't tell Fen Tian about me keeping pets, will you?"

"Meow—" Depends on your performance.

Tang Ruan didn't understand what it said, and nervously continued, "I can give you double portions of delicious food, but I have one condition."

"Meow meow!" Speak.

"Unless I ask you to, you're not allowed to follow me! My pet is afraid of you."

Tang Ruan wasn't sure if the black shadow had been following her earlier.

Had it discovered that Hu Che wasn't a fox, but a Beastman?

However, she felt that if the black shadow had already discovered it.

It probably wouldn't be talking to her so calmly.

The black shadow was still gurgling in thought.

Tang Ruan suddenly pulled out a Bone King Fish, roasted years ago, from her spatial ring.

The black shadow opened its mouth and caught it.

Instantly, a delicious aroma filled its mouth...

"Meow!" Deal.

---

To test the black shadow's trustworthiness.

The next day, Tang Ruan deliberately went out a few times.

She found that when she went in Hu Che's direction, the black shadow didn't follow.

However, if she went elsewhere, the black shadow would actively follow.

Tang Ruan was suddenly very moved.

The black shadow was so good...

Useful and easy to appease.

After confirming that the black shadow indeed wouldn't follow her to Hu Che's side.

Tang Ruan arrived at Hu Che's cave.

As soon as she entered the cave, she saw a small path paved with Red Flowers from Beast God Mountain beneath her feet.

Between every few Red Flowers, there was a candelabra-like object, illuminating the flower shadows, making them indistinct.

At the end of the path was a lavishly crafted table.

Five boxes were on the table.

Hu Che stood by the table, smiling brightly.

"These are your birthday gifts from the past five years."

He opened the first box, and inside lay a small pouch made of pure white fur.

"This was the first year I left, and I didn't know you had your own spatial ring.

I snatched this during a battle.

Don't let its small size fool you; it can connect to a space about... as big as this cave.

However, now that my Mistress is so powerful.

It's temporarily not needed."

Hu Che opened the second box, and inside was something like a lantern.

"This is the heart of a deep-sea animal; even after decades of death, it remains brightly lit.

I remembered you were afraid of the dark, so I traded something to get this for you."

He then opened the third one.

"This year, the Red Fox Tribe finally settled down.

I found a cave with a beautiful view in Red Fox City and decorated our home."

He took out a sheepskin scroll from inside and unrolled it for Tang Ruan to see.

It depicted the interior of the cave.

He was actually able to decorate the cave so warmly with simple things from the Beast World.

"When we go back, I'll take you to live there for a while."

Then, he opened the fourth and fifth boxes...

For the past five years, Tang Ruan had always thought that Hu Che had forgotten her.

Or, for some reason, had given up on her.

She never imagined that he remembered her every birthday, remembered what she needed, what she feared, and even planned their future.

"As for the sixth year's birthday gift..."

Hu Che propped his chin, feigning thought.

He said mysteriously, "How about I give myself to you!"

"Good."

Hu Che: ...

Hu Che was stunned.

Tang Ruan walked towards him and hugged his waist.

Her head pressed tightly against his chest.

And just as he was about to say something, a wave of heat surged through his body.

He wanted to push Tang Ruan away and ask her what was wrong.

But his hand uncontrollably rubbed her back, pulling her even more forcefully against himself.

They both heard each other's heartbeats at the same time.

Tang Ruan was burning all over, never before had she wanted to be close to a Male Beastman like this.

She wanted to with him...

She looked up at Hu Che.

Even if she liked him very much, it shouldn't be this feeling of wanting to strip him bare and "devour him whole" immediately.

Hu Che was clearly also a bit strange.

He hadn't planned to mate with Tang Ruan today.

He knew doing so would be very dangerous for both of them.

But that primal desire almost broke his rationality.

Tang Ruan was the same.

She clenched her fists, barely restraining the urge to pull down his pants.

Suddenly, Hu Che twitched his nose.

"What's that smell?"

Not far away, a red flower was burning, lit by a "candelabra."

He quickly walked over and stomped it out.

The sudden emptiness in her embrace allowed Tang Ruan to regain some sanity.

It was as if both of them had been drugged with an aphrodisiac.

She looked around, her gaze falling on the Red Flowers covering the ground.

She squatted down and picked one up.

A line of small text appeared in her mind.

She had only read the first three words before she immediately dropped the flower in her hand.

"love-chaos herb..."

"What?" Hu Che asked in shock.

Although he didn't know what love-chaos herb was, from the name, he knew—it was related to something.

Tang Ruan picked up the flower again.

[love-chaos herb, blooms once every three years. The flower, leaves, stem, and roots all have aphrodisiac effects when burned. There is no antidote, only...]

Tang Ruan looked up at Hu Che.

Although he was already her Beast Husband.

He was "legal."

But it was too dangerous here.

Hu Che evidently thought the same.

"Mistress, hurry and leave."

"Mm, then you..."

"Go find him, don't worry about me." He turned his back.

The thought of Tang Ruan doing something with that guy soon.

Hu Che's heart was breaking.

Not only was his body uncomfortable, but his heart was too.

"Mm."

Tang Ruan nodded.

Hu Che heard her take a step.

Suddenly, her footsteps approached him.

As he turned around.

Tang Ruan also threw herself into his arms.

"But, in my mind, I'm thinking of you."