Ziqian didn't bother hiding his purpose from Xue—there was nothing to hide anyway. He wanted to improve the tribe's food quality, but he also didn't intend to shoulder all the responsibility alone.
His plan was simple: complete the mission, get the reward—the food encyclopedia—and then teach everyone in the tribe how to identify edible plants.
"I want to find other food for the tribe," Ziqian explained, watching carefully for Xue's reaction.
The man only nodded.
No protest, no encouragement, just a silent acknowledgment.
For Xue, that was already considered approval. Many had tried seeking new food sources before—especially during winters, when hunger gnawed at the tribe—but their efforts often ended in failure.
Ziqian, however, was not discouraged. He was used to Xue's quietness and decided that so long as someone strong was protecting him, that was enough. Of course, he still relied on his monster radar.
Since he had woken up late that morning, the two agreed not to venture too deep into the forest, ensuring they could return before curfew.
The first plant they came across looked like a radish, its smooth white skin hanging from the branches of small trees, but its flavor was sharp and bitter.
When Ziqian reached for it, Xue immediately stopped him. "Many in the tribe tried that one before. It causes stomachaches. Some fell seriously ill. We believe it's poisonous."
Normally, Ziqian would have been cautious, but the interface had already scanned the plant, detecting no poison, only bitterness. Still, he couldn't reveal that he had a syst—guardians. So he claimed it as his ability.
Xue was unconvinced but didn't push further. If Ziqian truly was the Beast God's messenger, then such an ability wasn't impossible.
To Ziqian's surprise, the mission tracker counted the fruit as progress.
Sensing his confusion, Ero's voice echoed in his mind: "The quest said find, not discover. As long as you know it's edible, that's enough."
The second fruit resembled cherries: glossy, round, and a bright crimson that drew in curious hands. But those who had eaten them claimed they burned their mouth and throat, followed by violent vomiting.
Without hesitation, Ziqian plucked one and popped it into his mouth.
For a heartbeat, Xue froze, his composure shattering. He clutched Ziqian's chin, desperate to pull the fruit out, but too late—Ziqian had already swallowed it.
Panic overrode reason. Forgetting everything Ziqian had said about his ability, Xue swept him into his arms and rushed back to the tribe, demanding Lia to heal him.
Thus ended the first day of their food hunt—not productive, but unforgettable.
The next morning, Ziqian woke up early. When he stepped outside, Xue was already waiting with a half-full bag of dried meat and boiled red roots.
"Good morning, Xue," Ziqian greeted cheerfully, the memory of yesterday's frantic rescue still fresh in his mind. His lips twitched as he stifled a laugh.
"Good morning," Xue replied, his face as calm as ever—except for the faint flush on his exposed ear.
Cute, Ziqian thought. The man might look stoic, but if one paid attention, he was surprisingly easy to read.
Yesterday's harvest had been bitter melon and chili. Today, Ziqian wanted more variety. "Can we go further into the forest this time?"
"Do whatever you need," Xue said flatly. "I'll protect you."
The words could have been romantic—if only he didn't say them with that same stone cold face.
"Yeah, you really protected me well yesterday," Ziqian teased. The man stiffened, the red in his ears deepening.
As they walked deeper into the forest, Xue broke the silence. His voice was low but serious.
"Can you really tell if a plant is poisonous?"
"Of course," Ziqian answered confidently. "Didn't I prove it yesterday?"
Yesterday's incident still made his heart race whenever he recalled it. The instant Xue had lifted him, he hadn't even been able to resist—before he knew it, the man was leaping from tree to tree, swift as lightning, the scenery smearing into streaks of green and brown.
Fortunately, they entered at the back of the tribe; otherwise, with the man's frantic actions, they would have caused a commotion.
After learning what had happened, Lia rushed to make medicine but was stopped by Ziqian on time. He then explained to them what the fruit they believed to be poisonous was.
The cherry-like fruit was tangy and spicy, though not to a degree that would cause illness. The vomiting was likely a psychological reaction from someone experiencing such an intense flavor for the first time.
To prove it wasn't poisonous, Ziqian demonstrated its use by coating its juice over a piece of meat, sprinkling it with salt, and, with Xue's help, roasting it slowly over the fire.
The mother and son cooperated, though their doubts lingered—especially for Lia, who had been the one to treat the "poisoned" sub-beasts at the time. However, as the meat began to cook, a delicious aroma began to emanate, causing the two to feel hungry. They decided to set their doubts aside.
When it was done, Ziqian tried it first. Not perfect, but better—the chili and salt sharpened the meat's umami flavor. Lia and Xue tasted it next and promptly asked for seconds.
"Some plants were the main ingredients, and some were spices that added flavor to the dish," Ziqian repeated the phrase he said last night. "There are also many ways to cook food. What I did yesterday is just a simple method. Once we find more edible plants, I will cook you a proper dish," he added.
Xue's only response had been a low, thoughtful "Hmm."
Ziqian smiled and embraced the man's arm.
Xue immediately stiffened from the sub-beast's intimate action. Excluding yesterday's event, he had never been this close to anyone.
"Where do you think we should start?" Ziqian asked, ignoring the man's reaction.
Xue remained silent, his gaze drawn to their intertwined arms and the warmth of the body pressed against him. The unfamiliar closeness left him unsure of how to respond.
Ziqian grinned as he playfully pinched the beast's firm, well-shaped bicep. Xue flinched at the touch, uncertain whether to pull away, worried that even the slightest exertion of force might harm the sub-beast.
"Are you enjoying yourself, Ah-Zi?" Ero asked.
Phi giggled.
Yeah! It's fun to tease him, Ziqian playfully chuckled.
From afar, the two looked like a couple on a stroll.
Xue, long since resigned, let the sub-beast cling to his arm without protest. They walked that way until Ziqian's eyes caught on a patch of flowers with vibrant petals. What drew him most, however, were the clusters of seeds at their centers—flower heads as wide as satellite dishes, their short stems forcing them to nearly sprawl across the ground.
Ziqian touched the flower and checked the blue interface.
[No poison found!]
[No harmful elements found!]
[Found vitamins E & B6.]
[Edible.]
Seeing the confirmation, he immediately plucked an exposed seed. The seed was as large as his thumb, its hull a glossy black. His eyes lit up as he tasted it—sweet, nutty, familiar. It is a sunflower seed, just like the ones he remembered.
The interface flickered twice before a new line appeared:
[Second Main Quest Progress: Find 7 more fruits and 10 more vegetables.]
"Xue!"
Xue, who had been staring absentmindedly at his empty arm, snapped back to attention.
The sub-beast happily bounded toward him, "Say ahh~."
Almost instinctively, Xue opened his mouth, letting Ziqian feed him the seed.
"How is it?" Ziqian asked, clinging to him once again, eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Tasty," Xue replied flatly—but his gaze unconsciously softened as he looked at the exuberant sub-beast. "What is it?"
"It's the seed from that flower," Ziqian explained, pointing to the sea of vibrant blossoms. "You can eat it raw, but it's much better roasted. It'll make a nice snack for the children."
Following Ziqian's instructions, Xue went to the flowers, cut several withered blooms with a bone knife, and scraped the seeds from their centers. He carefully placed the collected seeds into his monster-skin bag, filling it to the brim.
The bag made from monster hide was durable, but carrying too much at once wasn't practical. Ziqian decided to look for a rattan-like plant to weave a basket for easier transport.
"Let's go," he said, leaping onto Xue's arm and intertwining their fingers this time.
Xue didn't mind. Instead, he let out a long sigh, feeling the warmth he had been missing earlier flow back into him. For the first time, he felt unmoored, completely lost in the presence of the sub-beast clinging to him.
_______________.
Ziqian was brimming with energy all morning. Even after walking for hours, he didn't feel exhausted. Today felt like his lucky day: after discovering the sunflower seeds, they found three more edible plants—ginger, string beans, and onions.
When Ziqian saw Xue picking up something that looked like grass, he couldn't help but ask what it was. Xue showed him the herb and explained its use. It was called Adraka, one of the herbs Lia used in making cold remedies. Its leaves were long, narrow, and ribbed, topped with a small purplish bud.
When Ziqian caught the spicy scent, his eyes widened in surprise. He immediately urged Xue to return to where he got the herb. Ziqian asked Xue to help him dig, and after a few minutes, they unearthed arm-length rhizomes.
Ziqian didn't forget to point out to Xue that, while the leaves could also be used in remedies, they were far less effective than the roots.
That's how they find Ginger.
As they continued, Ziqian felt guilty for letting Xue carry all the things they had found. He kept an eye out for a vine or stem with durability and flexibility that was perfect for weaving a basket.
That's when Ziqian discovered the string beans. At first, he thought that they were vines dangling silently from the trees. But when he tugged on one, it snapped, and a soft bean popped toward him.
The onion was discovered by chance near a swamp. Without the bulb poking through, it would have looked just like water lilies drifting on the shallow water.
According to Xue, it's called Cepa. Its strong odor keeps insects and monsters away. They assume it might be poisonous; that's why they never attempt to eat it.
Ziqian then explained that, despite its pungent smell, the plant could enhance the flavor of food. It could also be used as a remedy for colds and wounds.
[Second Main Quest Progress: Find 6 more fruits and 8 more vegetables.]
Ziqian decided to return to the tribe. Even though it was still early and curfew was far off, Xue was carrying so much that Ziqian could no longer ignore it.
Xue claimed it was light and that he could handle more, yet Ziqian refused. With no time limit on the quest, there was no reason to overexert themselves.