"Okay, then Xin Shan and I will head over first. You two should come soon."
With that, the two brothers turned and left.
Once they were gone, Bai Wanwan shot him a reproachful glance. "You're already injured, so why did you agree? It's not like you'll freeze to death if you miss out on a little Unicorn flesh."
Even though she was chiding him, Xin Feng still had a smile on his face.
"But eating Unicorn flesh makes winter more bearable. We don't have enough beast skins at home. I was afraid you'd be cold."
Bai Wanwan was suddenly struck by how natural their conversation felt, leaving her in a bit of a daze.
'I've only known him for a short time, and we only became partners because of a transaction.'
'He's really treating me like his female and taking care of me, and I… I don't seem to mind…'
A smile touched her eyes as she deliberately leaned closer to him. "Are you really going to come with me?"
Xin Feng nodded without hesitation. "Yes."
"Aren't you afraid that if you keep this up, you'll lose your legs?" Her gaze swept over his legs as she teased him.
"They're not as fragile as you think. I often get injured when I'm hunting alone. A few days of rest and I'll be fine."
"So you're determined to go, no matter what?"
Xin Feng nodded.
"Fine, then. I'll help you up."
Xin Feng breathed a sigh of relief. He had been genuinely worried the little female would make him stay home.
He didn't want to make her angry, but he also couldn't rest easy with her going alone.
Bai Wanwan slowly helped him up from the stone bed. "Doesn't it hurt?"
It hurt, but he could endure it.
"Wait a moment. I'll go get the Golden Lion Beast Skin for Roger."
He turned slightly to get past her, trying to walk inside.
Bai Wanwan immediately grabbed him. "You just stand still. I'll get it."
With that, she let go and turned to walk into the stone cave.
The stone cave on the left was where Xin Feng lived. It was filled with his things—nothing but dried meat and a large stack of beast skins.
There were dozens of them. As a fake Beastman, she had no idea which skin belonged to which animal.
After searching carefully for a while, she saw one skin that was golden, its fur especially beautiful and glossy.
"Xin Feng, is it this golden one?"
"Yes, that's it," Xin Feng's voice came from outside the cave.
Once she had his confirmation, Bai Wanwan gave a sharp tug and pulled the golden beast skin out.
She rolled it up, and with some effort, Bai Wanwan managed to lift the beast skin into her arms.
'So heavy!'
But she was willing to bear the weight. After all, it would get her a Fire Stone, and she wouldn't have to be a savage who ate raw meat and drank blood anymore.
Seeing her emerge with the beast skin, her steps a little unsteady, he immediately reached out to take it.
"Is it heavy? Let me take it."
Bai Wanwan dodged to the side.
Xin Feng was confused, his gaze questioning.
She hitched the beast skin up a bit. "You need to focus on healing. When the time comes for you to take care of me, I won't hold back. For now, I'll carry this. You can lean on me, and we'll go slowly."
After a moment, she added, "If you get tired on the way, just tell me, and we'll stop to rest."
Xin Feng had grown up alone, had his Talent destroyed, and been ostracized by his clan.
This was the first time he had been so meticulously cared for by a weak female. A strange feeling swelled in his heart, as if something had gently poked him right in his core.
The gentle expression in his eyes was a stark contrast to his terrifyingly scarred face. It would have frightened most other people.
Bai Wanwan held the beast skin steadily, matching his pace so he wouldn't pull at his wounds.
The two of them shuffled slowly out of the cave entrance and moved forward.
They came face to face with Hu Ya, who was storming toward them.
"Bai Wanwan, you're the reason Xin Feng got hurt?"
Seeing her accusatory expression, Bai Wanwan couldn't help but roll her eyes.
But before she could retort, Xin Feng spoke first. "It has nothing to do with Wanwan."
"Xin Feng, you're still protecting her? If you were my Beast Husband, I would never let you get even a little hurt. I have other Beast Husbands who can hunt and provide for you."
Xin Feng frowned, but beside him, Bai Wanwan let out a snort of laughter.
"Let's see what your Beast Husbands have to say about that."
"Let them hear it! It would be their honor to hunt and provide for Xin Feng."
Hu Ya's brazen attitude was so ridiculous it made Bai Wanwan laugh. Typical of her—always coveting what belonged to others.
She spoke slowly, "But don't you forget… Xin Feng is my Beast Husband. You don't have a chance!"
Those words made Hu Ya's face turn green with rage.
"Bai Wanwan, don't get cocky! I don't believe you'll still want Xin Feng after you get other Beast Husbands. Xin Feng, I'm the only one who isn't disgusted by your face."
"Shut your filthy mouth!"
Bai Wanwan swung the heavy beast skin right at her hateful mouth.
Hu Ya was too slow to react and got hit, immediately bursting into tears.
But she didn't get more than two sobs out before her eyes landed on the beast skin in Bai Wanwan's hands.
Her crying seemed to get stuck in her throat. "Bai Wanwan, is that a Golden Lion Beast Skin? Are you going to trade it for something?"
"None of your damn business! Get out of the way!"
Not only did Hu Ya not move, she blocked their path, her face full of fury.
"Do you have any idea that this Golden Lion Beast Skin was the first one Xin Feng hunted after coming of age? Even when he was seriously injured and starving, he refused to trade it, no matter how much food other Beastmen offered. What gives you the right to take his most precious possession and trade it away?"
Bai Wanwan froze, turning to look at Xin Feng.
But Xin Feng said, "It's just a piece of skin. It's useless just sitting there. It's better to trade it for something you need."
Bai Wanwan had no intention of putting the skin back. 'I'm getting that Fire Stone today, no matter what!'
'Once he recovers, getting another Golden Lion Beast Skin will be easy. Ten, even a hundred of them, will be no problem.'
She didn't even glance at Hu Ya, smiling only at Xin Feng. "Alright. You're my Beast Husband, and you're willing to give up your most precious beast skin for me. I'll be very good to you in the future, too."
'Better to make a grand promise first.'
"Bai Wanwan, you don't deserve him at all!" Hu Ya was growing hysterical. She couldn't stand how well Xin Feng treated Bai Wanwan.
"Oh, so I don't deserve him just because you say so?" Bai Wanwan just looked at Xin Feng with a beaming smile. "Why don't you tell her if we're a good match or not?"
Xin Feng noticed the mischievous glint in the little female's eyes. He felt a bit helpless, but he played along.
"Yes. I do these things willingly. Please don't say such things in front of Wanwan again."
Hu Ya was overcome with grievance. "Xin Feng, I like you so much. Why are you doing this to me?"
Bai Wanwan swung the beast skin at her a few more times. "Don't you have your own Beast Husbands? Why are you always staring at mine? Get lost, get lost! We have things to do, so stop blocking the way!"
Bai Wanwan was fed up and had no desire to get tangled up with her any further.
'If Hu Ya dared to open her mouth again, I'd just keep hitting her until she shut up.'
Fortunately, after being hit twice, Hu Ya flinched back and didn't dare to block them again.
The two of them walked and stopped for nearly twenty minutes before they finally arrived at the plaza.
What Bai Wanwan didn't know was that the Clan Leader had spotted them the moment they drew near.
He turned to an older male beside him and said, "Is everything ready?"
The older male bowed slightly. "Rest assured."
The Clan Leader nodded in satisfaction, then looked away as if he had never been paying attention to Bai Wanwan at all.