Chapter 11

Cheng Youyou’s mouth twitched uncontrollably, still stunned by Mu Feng’s words. She saw Mu Feng reaching out his long, well-defined fingers toward the greasy animal-hide skirt.

“No need…” Cheng Youyou raised her hand in a dramatic gesture to stop him.

Mu Feng’s hand froze mid-air, not moving an inch further. A flash of disgust flickered in his lowered silver eyes. How could he possibly touch that filthy, smelly hide? Just looking at it made him nauseous.

He quickly masked the disdain in his eyes, even putting on a hint of grievance on his delicate face. “Is the female master disgusted because I can’t clean it properly?”

Cheng Youyou hurriedly waved her hand. “This hide just can’t be cleaned anymore.”

The original host had worn it for who knows how long. She had tried washing it with soap pods many times, but the grease wouldn’t come off. Throwing it away felt wasteful, but the grime was truly revolting. She had planned to dismantle it and make something else but hadn’t figured out what yet.

Mu Feng frowned slightly, seemingly troubled, but then his refined features relaxed. “Don’t worry, female master. I’ll hunt more hides for you in the future.”

“Huh? No need, I already have plenty.” Cheng Youyou quickly declined. No way was she getting involved with these beastmen—her life was too precious. And now he was giving her things? How long did Mu Feng plan to stay?

“Mufeng, I have something to do outside, so you…”

“Female master, you’re going out? I’ll go with you…”

She gave him a helpless look. Could he really not read facial expressions?

Fine, let him follow if he wants. She grabbed the bone knife wrapped in hide and, suppressing her dizziness, stepped out of the cave.

It was midday now. The once lively riverside was quiet, with only a few females washing hides. Most of the strong males had been taken away by Ji Xuan, leaving the vast riverbank unusually deserted.

The females who had been chatting while working glanced at Cheng Youyou and began whispering.

“Isn’t that Cheng Youyou? The sun must be rising from the west lately—she’s been out and about a lot.”

An older female teased a younger, delicate-looking one: “Zuo Wa, you better keep an eye on your brother. I’ve seen Cheng Youyou trailing behind him more than once.”

“Yeah, be careful she doesn’t use tricks again—like sweetgrass and force herself on him.”

Zuo Wa raised her pretty face and nodded gently. “Thanks for the warning. I’ll tell my brother to be cautious.”

“She’s lazy and smelly. Any male with her is suffering. Just look at her—fat and gluttonous—while her beastman looks pitiful.”

“I heard from my beastman that Mu Yu got injured during the last hunt because he hadn’t had salt in ages—no strength in his limbs…”

Zuo Wa didn’t respond, but her eyes flickered at the mention of Cheng Youyou’s beastman. She quickly returned to normal and continued pounding the hide with a wooden stick.

Though the gossip was whispered, Cheng Youyou heard every word—her hearing was as sharp as a leopard’s. She pursed her lips and walked past the group without looking at them.

The original host’s past behavior was truly disgraceful. Arguing with them would be pointless. This was all the original host’s doing—they weren’t wrong.

The once chatty group fell silent.

Zuo Wa’s wooden stick slipped from her hand and floated away in the clear river.

“Wait, am I seeing things? Who’s that behind Cheng Youyou?”

“Mu Feng!?”

“The sun really must be rising from the west—why else would he be following her?”

The older female chuckled mischievously. “You don’t understand—when it comes to males and females, it’s always the same…”

“Looks like something really did happen between them.”

“Cheng Youyou’s ugly face—would a male really touch her?”

“You’re still too young. Once sweetgrass hits, you close your eyes and it’s all the same…”

Zuo Wa clenched her teeth, her hands tightening until her sharp nails dug into her palms, drawing blood. Her cold gaze locked onto the distant figure. That ugly, lazy glutton couldn’t possibly deserve Mu Feng and Mu Yu. Gentle Mu Feng and handsome Mu Yu were clearly meant for her. She hadn’t bonded with any beastman yet—waiting for them.

Cheng Youyou only had a good father, and that was enough to steal everything from her.

Zuo Wa’s gaze shifted to Mu Feng’s tall, elegant figure, and a tinge of obsession flickered in her eyes. She would rescue Mu Feng from that ugly woman. Then she wouldn’t mind if he wasn’t clean. She would treat him as well as she treated Mu Yu!

Cheng Youyou leaned against a thick tree trunk, panting heavily, afraid she wouldn’t catch her next breath.

Mu Feng suppressed his disgust and stepped forward. “Female master, you’ve worked hard. Rest for a bit.”

Cheng Youyou turned her head slightly at his voice. She couldn’t understand why Mu Feng was sticking to her like glue today. His perfect smile was exhausting to look at. She ignored his concern. “I’m really fine. Why don’t you head back first?”

This version of Mu Feng was completely different from the one in the original host’s memory. She had no idea how to deal with him.

Mu Feng’s eyes darkened. That mysterious white light that enveloped him last night, and now she kept trying to send him away. Something was definitely off.

“I’ve got nothing to do back there. I’d rather stay with you.”

Seeing he was determined to follow, she didn’t argue further. Once her breathing calmed, she closed her eyes and activated her wood-based ability, sensing the power of nature. It would guide her to the herbs she needed.

Mu Feng watched her in shock. He had smelled her unbearable stench before, mixed with a faint woody fragrance. But now, a rich, pleasant aroma enveloped her completely. No beastman could change their scent so quickly. Yet the truth was right in front of him—Cheng Youyou’s scent had changed just by closing her eyes. It was intoxicating.

Cheng Youyou really had changed. She opened her eyes, ignoring Mu Feng’s stunned expression, and walked straight into the forest. After gathering herbs to treat a cold, she noticed Mu Feng had vanished.

Good. His presence always felt off, though she couldn’t quite explain why.