"You didn't actually think we were starving, did you? We need to be well-fed to hunt, as hunting is physically demanding and dangerous. Without sufficient strength and stamina, we wouldn't be able to handle it," Heiyao said, smiling at Si Lu.
The little female was so naive—but that's what made her so endearing! Being cared for like this warmed their hearts.
"Lu Lu, you're so silly!" Bai Di chuckled.
Of course, he wasn't making fun of her; he just found her adorable.
"You guys are laughing at me, calling me silly. I've been worrying for nothing! You really don't deserve my sympathy," Si Lu said, pouting and rolling her eyes at them.
These guys were so naughty!
"Well, it's just common sense, you know," Cheng Mo said lovingly, still feeding her fish soup.
Indeed, it was common knowledge. In the tribe, even the hunting squads would first eat the wild animals they caught to fill up before continuing their hunt and bringing the rest back. The males weren't picky about what they ate. As long as it filled their stomachs, they were content. But when it came to providing for the females and children, they would choose their prey more carefully—some meat was too tough or dry for the females and young ones to eat.
"If you ever have any questions, just ask us," Heiyao added. He noticed that Si Lu didn't seem to know much about these things. They didn't suspect anything, though. They just thought that she must have been well protected before, which is why she didn't know these common facts.
"And the reason we always eat with you when we return is because we enjoy being with you, not because we're hungry," Cheng Mo said with a gentle smile. "You're so adorably silly."
"Alright, alright, I get it. If you keep calling me silly, I'm going to get mad," Si Lu said, pouting with her cheeks puffed out.
These guys were too much!
How was she supposed to know all this? She wasn't born a beastwoman, after all. Not knowing some things was perfectly normal. Still, she wasn't genuinely upset—just a little embarrassed because these things seemed like basic knowledge to them. At least she was relieved that they hadn't been going hungry while taking care of her.
"Okay, okay. Now eat before everything gets cold," Cheng Mo said, continuing to feed her fish soup.
Heiyao placed a bowl of peeled shrimp in front of Si Lu so she could eat at her own pace, while he himself ate the shrimp with the shells still on, savoring every bite.
Si Lu glanced over at Heiyao and Song Zhan. Heiyao seemed to handle spicy food very well—he wasn't even sweating or turning red. Song Zhan, on the other hand, was clearly struggling. He loved the shrimp, but his face was flushed, his forehead covered in sweat, yet he kept eating. Just as he said earlier, it was spicy but addictive, and he couldn't stop.
Cheng Mo wasn't peeling his shrimp either. He ate with a calm demeanor, occasionally taking a sip of fish soup before continuing to chew. His face was a bit red, but he seemed fine.
As for Bai Di, he hadn't eaten much at all. He was too busy feeding Si Lu.
Before long, Si Lu was full, even letting out a satisfied little burp.
"I'm done. I'm full," she said with a smile, patting her slightly rounded belly. Her pregnancy was progressing, and her belly was starting to show, though just a little. It was a small curve, like a tiny baby bump.
Seeing that Si Lu was truly full, Cheng Mo finished off the rest of the fish soup, while Bai Di finally peeled some shrimp for himself and began eating.
The group quickly finished the rest of the food. They never let anything go to waste.
After Si Lu had eaten her fill, she began to feel drowsy. She asked Heiyao to carry her to the cave to rest.
The others stayed outside to keep watch, protecting her as she slept. They didn't mind at all—it was part of their routine to take turns standing guard.
When Heiyao noticed that the cave was a bit chilly, he used his fire attribute abilities to warm the space up. The temperature quickly became cozy and comfortable.
"You're amazing, Heiyao," Si Lu said, hugging him and planting a kiss on his cheek.
Too tired to stay awake, she nestled into a comfortable position in Heiyao's arms and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep.
Heiyao gazed at the soft, sweet-smelling female in his arms with tenderness in his eyes. He kissed her forehead, pulled a fur blanket over her, and then closed his eyes to rest as well.
Everyone was a little tired after a long day, and soon they all drifted into a light sleep. However, they remained vigilant. If you looked closely, you could see the white fox lying on the tree stump, its ears twitching occasionally. The same went for the sika deer and the tiger resting by the fire—while they appeared to be sleeping, they remained alert to any sign of danger.
It was part of their beastman instincts, always on guard.
Thankfully, the night passed peacefully.
…
When Si Lu woke up the next morning, the first thing she saw was Heiyao gazing at her intently.
Her face turned bright red.
This guy! Why was he being so charming so early in the morning?
"Lu Lu, you'll have to make it up to me later, you know?" Heiyao's deep, husky voice held a teasing note, his purple eyes glinting with mischief.
Si Lu instantly knew what he meant. She wasn't naive. After all, she had four beastmen husbands! She blushed even more.
This guy was really something else.
"Pervert!" Si Lu muttered, rolling her eyes at him. She was embarrassed but gave a half-hearted nod in agreement.
Heiyao was cunning but undeniably seductive—a dangerous combination.
"I'll take that as a yes," the mischievous snake grinned, quickly leaning in to steal a kiss.
His smug expression was infuriating.
"I'm hungry," Si Lu said, trying to change the subject.
"Let's go. I'll carry you out. They've already prepared food," Heiyao said as he helped her put on her shoes, then scooped her up and carried her outside.
As soon as they stepped out of the cave, the smell of delicious food hit them.
"Wow, it smells so good!" Si Lu's eyes lit up when she saw a large pot filled with shrimp. Unlike the day before, these had been prepared differently.
She noticed Bai Di busily working by the fire and was pleasantly surprised by how clever he was. He had figured out how to prepare the shrimp on his own!