Chapter 41

Xue Youchen didn’t understand why Ye Baizhi was asking this question, so he shook his head. “Beast cubs in the Beast Continent don’t have dual elemental abilities.”

“Even possessing a single elemental power is rare among beastmen.”

“I wield ice and snow abilities, but that is not the same as water-based powers. Ice and snow may melt into water, but true water abilities allow full control over all forms of water.”

Ye Baizhi’s heartbeat quickened upon hearing his words. The thought of their child possessing dual elemental abilities excited her. It seemed like their little one might be exceptionally gifted.

As Xue Youchen finished speaking, he noticed Ye Baizhi’s fingers resting on her abdomen, sensing the worry in her heart.

With a gentle voice, he reassured her. “Ah Zhi, regardless of whether our child has abilities or not, he is the next chief of the Snow Wolf clan. I will protect and cherish him.”

He would teach their child with care.

“Abilities or not, it makes no difference.”

This was his and Ye Baizhi’s child—whether or not it possessed abilities, it was still his treasure. Besides, simply having a child was enough to bring him contentment.

“But what if it’s a rabbit?”

“Or a rabbit-wolf beast?”

Typically, female beasts gave birth to offspring resembling either their own beast form or that of their mate. However, there were also hybrid beasts—born as a blend of both parents. Hybrids tended to have lower status in the Beast Continent, often facing discrimination from the nobility.

Ye Baizhi was well aware of this. It was closely tied to a female beast’s fertility—the stronger the fertility, the better the physique, and the more powerful and gifted the offspring. The stronger the child’s innate talent, the less likely it was to be a hybrid. Though she was fairly certain their child would be a snow wolf, she couldn’t help but ask.

With a soft chuckle, Xue Youchen reached out to ruffle her hair and said gently, “Our child is a treasure, no matter what.”

As long as he was there, he would protect their child. There had been a time when the tribe’s healer had examined him, and he had given up hope entirely. But now, with the existence of a child, he felt truly fulfilled.

Ye Baizhi lifted her gaze to meet his, and from the look in Xue Youchen’s eyes, she knew he meant every word.

A warmth spread through her heart. The more she interacted with Xue Youchen, the more she discovered his kindness. So she thought, maybe crossing into the Beast Continent wasn’t so bad after all.

Ye Baizhi smiled with curved brows and eyes, unable to resist rising onto her toes and pressing a kiss to the corner of Xue Youchen’s lips.

Her unexpected boldness left Xue Youchen both surprised and delighted.

Xue Youchen’s gaze darkened as he swiftly turned the tables, pressing down with decisive intent.

This time, Ye Baizhi responded with fervent enthusiasm.

Xue Youchen’s heart melted into a soft mess, and the gentle light in his eyes shimmered like waves threatening to drown everything in its warmth.

Only after a long while did he finally loosen his hold on her—though his gaze still carried the weight of restraint. Had they not been in the wilderness, he might have claimed her right then and there.

At that moment, the corners of Ye Baizhi’s lips glistened with a faint trace of moisture.

Xue Youchen reached out with his long, jade-like fingers, gently caressing her lips, his touch lingering with a teasing allure. A deep smile flickered through his gaze. His voice was impossibly soft. “Mischievous!”

Ye Baizhi’s lips tingled, a wave of heat rushing from the corner of her mouth to the top of her head before coursing down her spine, leaving her body weak. Her face felt warm, and her heartbeat quickened uncontrollably.

Ye Baizhi felt she had acted a little impulsively just now. She could feel the scorching warmth radiating from him, and when she recalled his intense possessiveness and the slightly uncontrolled look in his eyes last night, a shiver ran through her. Unable to endure the sensation, she quickly pushed him away and said, “Let’s gather more pine resin first. The more we collect, the more candles we can make.”

“If we had Chinese tallow trees in the north, we could harvest tallow seeds to make tallow candles.”

“But the Chinese tallow tree isn’t suited for the cold climate in our northern region, so it’s likely found in the southern areas.”

“For now, we’ll use pine resin to make candles—it works just as well for illumination.”

Xue Youchen only let go of her reluctantly once he was sure she had regained her strength. Then, he resumed collecting pine resin, each of his movements carrying an effortless elegance and noble grace.

Meanwhile, Ye Baizhi wandered nearby.

Xue Youchen, uneasy, cautioned, “Be good, don’t stray too far.”

He didn’t like the thought of Ye Baizhi leaving his sight. As long as she remained within his view, he could rest assured of her safety.

Ye Baizhi was well aware of this, and she, too, was careful about her own security.

“Don’t worry, I’ll stay within your line of sight. Just moving around a bit to see if I can find anything useful.”

The surrounding vegetation was tall. This was the untouched wilderness of the Beast World—vast forests, rivers, and towering greenery stretching in every direction. The various beast tribes had carved out spaces in the dense woodland to establish their settlements, making their homes amid nature’s embrace. The environment was entirely untouched, every breath of air crisp and refreshing. There were no pesticides, fertilizers, or technological pollutants—nothing but pure nature.

Ye Baizhi brushed aside the foliage, scanning the ground for anything edible.

“Hmm? Chives!”

Spotting a cluster of chives hidden among the grass, she froze for a moment in surprise. That brief shock quickly turned into delight. At first glance, they looked like ordinary grass, but upon closer inspection, they were unmistakably chives. Some were mature, while others were still fresh and tender.

Ye Baizhi took out her knife and carefully harvested the young chives, knowing that cutting them now would allow more to grow back. The older chives had already begun to seed, so she collected the seeds as well. With those seeds, she could plant chives in the courtyard—ensuring a steady supply whenever she wanted. Energized by her discovery, she worked tirelessly, gathering every bit she could.

After harvesting the chives, Ye Baizhi discovered green onions and ginger nearby. She gathered them all together.

Even while collecting pine resin, Xue Youchen remained aware of his surroundings, sensing the subtle movements around him. Knowing Ye Baizhi was still close by, he felt reassured. After a while, he glanced up at her—only to pause in surprise when he saw the bundle of “grass” she had tied together.

Ye Baizhi had used vines to bind the chives into neat bundles, much like stacking firewood. She figured this would make it easier to carry everything home. The green onions and ginger would be useful for cooking. If only there were wheat—it would be perfect for making flour. Unfortunately, she hadn’t found any wheat yet. She believed it was more likely to grow in the northern regions. She had described wheat to her mother and uncle, telling them what to look for. If they happened to see any during their hunts, they would let her know. Since her mother and uncle traveled far while hunting, they had more chances to discover useful resources.

Once everything was bundled up, Ye Baizhi suddenly felt a gaze on her. Lifting her head, she met Xue Youchen’s eyes. His gaze lingered on the chives; his expression conflicted—filled with both silent hesitation and deep concern.

Ye Baizhi chuckled, quickly explaining, “These aren’t just grass. They may look like it, but they’re actually edible.”

“This is called chives, this is green onion, and this is ginger. Ginger isn’t meant to be eaten directly, but it’s great for seasoning dishes.”

“We have meat at home, so tonight, we can make stir-fried chives with meat.”

“Once you taste it, you’ll see how delicious chives are in cooking.”

“Chives go well with meat; chives go well with eggs—even chive pockets are tasty! But to make chive pockets, we’ll need to find eggplants.”

“Eggplants are a type of vegetable too.”

Xue Youchen nodded and reached out, instantly storing the ingredients in his spatial ring. This way, they wouldn’t have to carry them back the hard way. The spatial ring was his personal artifact, bound to him since childhood through a blood recognition ritual. Otherwise, he would have gladly given it to Ye Baizhi. But even if he offered it to her, she wouldn’t take it—because she had a true space of her own.

“Well, that makes things easier,” she said with a smile. “Come on, let’s go dig up some clay. With clay, we can start making pottery jars.”