'If she could, she'd love to see the Central Continent of the Beast World, maybe even settle down there and open a restaurant in a nice spot!'
After a short afternoon nap, Si Shuo dragged a wooden stool and carried a shallow basket to the cave entrance, joining Yimei to do some needlework in the sun.
Yimei nudged Si Shuo with her knee. When Si Shuo looked up, Yimei leaned in and asked curiously in a low voice, "Si Shuo, I know that Tao Yun is a little scary, but I don't think he meant any harm."
"Won't you reconsider? His strength is truly impressive. If you pass him up, who knows when you'll meet another Beast Husband with Level 6 Combat Power."
Si Shuo made a pained face and lied, "When I was little... I was bitten by a snake. I don't like... that cool, slithery feeling... of some Beastmen. Zhi Le is better. He's warm to hug!"
Yimei smiled and nodded. "That's true. There are good and bad Rogue Beasts, but they are born with shallow emotions. Many of them never even meet their parents."
"Sometimes their methods are too extreme, and they don't care about the feelings of other Beastmen."
"Some females, against the advice of their friends and family, take a Rogue Beast as a Beast Husband. After a while, once the novelty wears off, they can't accept their cruelty, selfishness, and coldness, and end up forcibly dissolving the Beast Mark."
Si Shuo was stunned. "You can forcibly... dissolve a Beast Mark?"
The original owner's father had passed away early, so there was no one to teach her these things. And since she couldn't hear, there was a lot the original Si Shuo didn't know.
Yimei explained patiently, "Of course. The Beast God used the power of heaven and earth to create the Beast Mark specifically to protect females."
"When a female receives a Beast Mark, she gains the male's absolute protection, as well as the nourishing sacrifice of one-tenth of his life force."
"If a female is in danger, the male will sense it immediately and rush to her side, no matter where he is. And if a male is unfaithful, he will suffer heart-devouring pain..."
"If the male dies, the Beast Mark on the female will slowly fade away."
"But if the female dies or forcibly dissolves the Beast Mark, the male will be stripped of half his lifespan and Combat Power..."
It was because of the Beast God's favor toward females that the Beast Mark was so binding for males.
'Every male who offers his Beast Mark is a true Warrior!' Si Shuo was deeply moved.
She felt a cool gaze upon her, like a cold wind brushing against the fine hairs on her face.
Si Shuo instinctively turned her head and met a pair of golden, vertical-slitted pupils.
The owner of those pupils was walking just below them with the leader. He squinted up at them, and his voice, neither high nor low, carried with perfect clarity to her ears:
"...My apologies for the trouble, Chief Wu Chuan. Please send a Flying Beastman to inform the surrounding tribes that for the time being, our Dark Crow Trading Team will be resting here in the Luoni Tribe."
"Anyone who wants to trade for goods can come over..."
With the Dark Crow Trading Team present, why would the tribe need to spend all day on edge, wary of the active Rogue Beasts in the area?
Chief Wu Chuan happily agreed. Fearing Ji Liang might change his mind, he immediately turned and ordered someone to make the arrangements.
Ji Liang leaped up to the cave entrance and sat down about an arm's length from Si Shuo.
He stretched one leg out and bent the other, resting his hand lazily on his knee.
The male's tall frame, with his long arms and legs, gave Si Shuo the illusion of being loosely held in his embrace. It also felt like a cool draft from an air conditioner brushing past her ear.
She gripped the Beast Skin in her hands, her blood nearly freezing in her veins. She was clearly terrified, but she didn't dare lower her head to avoid his gaze, afraid he might grab her by the chin!
"Zhi Le is your Beast Husband?" Ji Liang asked with a smile.
Si Shuo nodded.
"My name is Ji Liang. Back when your Beast Husband had his superpower stripped from him in the Dongye Forest, I was the one who happened to pass by and pick him up. Otherwise, he would have been eaten by Wild Beasts long ago, becoming food for some plant or another."
Si Shuo's heart tightened. She then stood up with a serious expression and bowed deeply to him. "Thank you, Lord Ji Liang. By saving Zhi Le, you saved me too. You're my savior!"
Ji Liang chuckled. "Your savior? Is a verbal 'thank you' all I get?"
Si Shuo pressed her lips together. She slowly walked around him, ran into the cave, and quickly came back out, carrying a whole ten Level 6 Crystal Stones. She offered them to Ji Liang with exceptional reverence.
"Lord Ji Liang... I know Crystal Stones are a common gift... and they can't compare... to Zhi Le's life. But this is the only way... we can think of to thank you right now.
If there's ever anything... you need us for... anything at all... we would climb mountains and cross seas for you, without a moment's hesitation!"
Hearing such bold, adventurous words from such a delicate and beautiful little female was truly a rare thing. It made him want to snatch her up as his own female and have her travel the world with him.
Ji Liang felt a stir of excitement. His forked tongue flicked out with a HISS.
Si Shuo went completely rigid, her legs turning to jelly. 'This is going to give me a heart attack!'
It took every ounce of her courage not to show her fear, terrified of angering this Snake Beastman.
Ji Liang took one Level 6 Crystal Stone from her hands, his cool fingertips brushing across the back of her soft, warm hand.
He toyed with it. "You're right, they can't compare. I'm the leader of the Dark Crow Trading Team. I may lack many things, but Crystal Stones aren't one of them."
He clearly wasn't interested in this form of payment.
"But, Zhi Le treats you well. Letting you just give away Level 6 Crystal Stones like this... HISS... With no male in your home, aren't you afraid of attracting unwanted attention?"
He glanced down at the Beastmen walking back and forth. The allure of a Level 6 Crystal Stone was not insignificant.
Si Shuo pressed her lips together. 'He's doing this on purpose!'
'I was already trying to be discreet. Even if he doesn't want them, he doesn't have to put them on display for everyone to see, does he?'
The little female's azure eyes, filled with his reflection, shimmered with a hint of aggrieved accusation.
Ji Liang couldn't help but rub his nose. His vertical pupils trembled slightly before he tossed the Crystal Stone back to her, seemingly having lost all interest.
"Alright, I'll stop teasing you. I just wanted to tell you that I'll be in the Luoni Tribe for the next few days."
"You can come find me if you need anything. Like you, I want what's best for Zhi Le. He's a good Beastman, talented, loyal, and righteous."
"He shouldn't be brought down by some filthy trash!"