Chapter 43: Fated Mate?
Su Muyao, of course, remained oblivious to the subtle shift in Wen Nanxi’s demeanor.
To her, these beastmen husbands didn’t actually care for her deep down. Even when Wen Nanxi claimed he wouldn’t leave, she didn’t dare take him at his word. She believed that due to her predecessor’s actions, they must loathe her to their very core.
The current peace was merely a product of the binding contract and her promise to release them; they were likely just biding their time and enduring her.
Su Muyao prepared to stand up to slice and marinate more meat.
Xie Guixue stood up, his voice cool and clear. “Miss Su, allow me to assist you.”
Su Muyao declined, “It’s fine. You wouldn’t know how to do it anyway. Just sit and eat.”
Wen Nanxi snapped out of his daze. He finally understood the source of that strange feeling earlier—he realized he had actually started to care.
He grilled a few skewers and set them aside for Xie Yi and Master Xie. Even if he felt uncomfortable inside, he would respect Su Muyao’s wishes.
Then, Wen Nanxi stood and approached Su Muyao. “Wife Master, let me do it.”
He picked up the knife and began slicing the meat, mimicking the size Su Muyao had used earlier. Using his ability, his speed was blindingly fast. In no time, the basin was filled with uniformly diced pork. Next, he moved on to the lamb, filling another basin.
Su Muyao watched his movements in surprise. She couldn’t help but exclaim, “Your knife skills are incredible!”
Wen Nanxi looked down at her, his picturesque brows softening with tenderness. “Mn. Whatever needs to be done in the future, leave it to me.”
Su Muyao nodded. “Alright, thank you for your hard work.”
“It’s not hard work,” Wen Nanxi replied softly. “I am willing to do it.”
Noticing a few stray strands of hair against her cheek, he reached out with his clean fingers. Su Muyao’s lashes fluttered, and she instinctively tried to pull away.
“Be good, don’t move,” Wen Nanxi whispered.
His voice carried such warmth, like a gentle spring breeze, that Su Muyao found herself unable to refuse. She stayed still.
Wen Nanxi gently tucked the loose strands behind her ear. When his fingers brushed against her ear, she trembled slightly; her ears were a particularly sensitive spot.
“There.”
Su Muyao finally sprang into action and began marinating the meat.
Xie Yi, naturally, didn’t notice the intimate moment. He was busy eating skewers while watching his Young Master. He realized his Young Master hadn’t moved or eaten anything.
Even though Xie Guixue was wearing the weimao (veiled hat), Xie Yi had a feeling he was watching Miss Su and her beastman husband. He didn’t understand what was so interesting about that.
Oh, he thought, Miss Su is making more skewers so we can eat more. Good thing, too, or I’d be too embarrassed to keep eating. It was just so delicious, he couldn’t help himself.
After a moment, however, Xie Yi paused. This female is really good to her beastman husband. Usually, females sat idle while the husbands did all the work.
Su Muyao was oblivious to his thoughts. Once the meat was marinated, Wen Nanxi used his ability to thread them onto the skewers. They had whittled plenty of wooden sticks earlier, so they could keep going.
When it was done, Su Muyao sat back down to grill. Wen Nanxi was reluctant to let her do even this.
But Su Muyao insisted. “It’s fine, a little work won’t kill me.”
“You’ve been busy for a while. You rest, I’ll grill for you all.”
Xie Yi was stunned again hearing this. He wanted to comment to his master but held back since they were guests.
“Um, Miss Su, how about I help grill? How can we let a female do the work?”
“It’s fine, I like cooking. So what if I’m a female? I’m not that delicate, there’s nothing I can’t do.” She wasn’t used to just sitting around doing nothing anyway.
Su Muyao grilled the skewers, handing the first batch to Wen Nanxi, then to Xie Yi and Xie Guixue.
“You should eat too,” Wen Nanxi said, his heart aching for her.
Su Muyao smiled and nodded. “Mm, I’ll grab a bite when I can.”
Everyone enjoyed the lunch immensely. Xie Yi and Master Xie offered to help clean up, but Su Muyao refused. Having eaten their fill, the two guests had no reason to linger, so they took their leave.
Walking out of the tribe, Xie Yi, having held his tongue for a long time, couldn’t help but exclaim to his master, “Young Master, that Miss Su is truly good to her beastman husband.”
“She has a good personality, cooks delicious food, and is considerate. I’ve never seen a female like that.”
“If only she were your Wife Master, Young Master.”
Xie Guixue spoke in his cool, refreshing voice, “Don’t speak nonsense.”
Xie Yi wasn’t afraid of his Young Master’s rebuke; Xie Guixue was too kind-hearted and treated his subordinates well. So, Xie Yi felt free to speak his mind.
“I’m not speaking nonsense. Young Master is usually so aloof, avoiding females and refusing to speak to them.”
“But you spoke to Miss Su, which means she’s special.” If Xie Guixue hadn’t wanted to, he wouldn’t have uttered a single word. Xie Yi knew he could have communicated on his master’s behalf.
“Besides, I feel Miss Su isn’t actually close with that beastman husband. I noticed the cinnabar mark on his arm. It means they are married in name only.”
When Wen Nanxi had pulled up his sleeves to cut the meat, he had revealed the cinnabar mark on his arm—a symbol of chastity. If he had consummated the relationship with a female, the mark would have vanished.
Hearing this, Xie Guixue’s footsteps faltered, and his aura seemed to shift slightly, though Xie Yi didn’t notice.
“Also, Young Master, Miss Su’s medical skills are even better than the Ancient Witch Doctor’s. She can cure your body.”
“Is she the Fated Mate the High Priest spoke of?”
Xie Guixue said sharply, “Xie Yi!”
Hearing his full name, Xie Yi knew his Young Master was serious. He mumbled something and fell silent.
Xie Yi observed his master carefully. Although he couldn’t see anything through the weimao, he felt his Young Master was acting strange today. He seemed preoccupied.
When Su Muyao returned to her room in the afternoon, she discovered the space bag sitting there.
“Huh? Didn’t I return this to Master Xie? Why is it on the table?”
The Space System explained, “Master Xie left it on purpose.”
“He used his ability to conceal it so you wouldn’t see it until after he left.”
“He is quite thoughtful.”
Su Muyao frowned. “I can’t accept these.”
Thinking of Master Xie’s frail state, as if his life hung by a thread, she felt uneasy taking his money.
She murmured, “He’s so weak; he probably needs the crystal coins more to buy medicine.”
The prescription she wrote contained many expensive herbs. He would need them. However, her prescription was only for temporary maintenance; it couldn’t fully cure him unless she upgraded her ability.
At that moment, Su Muyao suddenly recalled the sensation when she took Master Xie’s pulse. Her ability had automatically probed into his body, intermingling with his icy aura. In that instant, a numbing sensation had washed over her uncontrollably.
Su Muyao shook off the trance and snapped back to reality.
She extended her hand to release her wood-elemental ability and was stunned to discover she had reached the first rank.
Su Muyao was shocked. “My wood-elemental ability suddenly jumped to the first rank! How did that happen?”
When she was taking Master Xie’s pulse, she had only been at a half-rank.
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