Very soon, Heiyao finished drying all the shrimp. In a flash, he appeared next to Si Lu, wrapped his arms around her waist, and playfully brushed his nose against hers.
"You're so naughty, you know," Heiyao said gently.
Si Lu giggled. "It's fine, it was just a few steps. Let's finish storing these shrimp and fish."
"Alright," Heiyao agreed, picking her up once again so she could collect the shrimp and fish into her space.
There were many rocks by the river, and Heiyao was worried. The stones near the water were slippery, and it would be dangerous if she accidentally fell into the river. Female bodies were fragile, and if she got sick, he couldn't even bear to think about it.
He remembered the last time Si Lu fell ill; it had terrified him. That was why he vowed to protect her carefully and never let her get hurt or sick again. Even though he was a stray beast, he knew that when a female became ill, it could be life-threatening. He had to be extra cautious.
Si Lu quickly collected all the shrimp and fish into her space, letting Heiyao carry her back toward the tree cave.
As soon as they arrived, they saw that Bai Di had already prepared the meat soup, shrimp, and grilled meat. Si Lu couldn't help but marvel at how thoughtful and diligent Bai Di was.
Just then, Cheng Mo and Song Zhan returned. They had brought back prey from their hunt and were dragging it to the riverbank to clean.
Si Lu, knowing how squeamish she was, stayed by the fire, letting Bai Di accompany her. She didn't want to see the animals being cleaned, afraid it would give her nightmares. Her mates knew she was easily frightened and never let her see anything that might upset her.
Meanwhile, Heiyao went to help them with the butchering, and with another set of hands, the work went even faster. Soon enough, they were done, and Heiyao came to carry Si Lu back over to store the meat in her space.
Without a word, Heiyao simply picked her up, and Si Lu couldn't help but feel slightly exasperated. This was just how things were now—he'd carry her without even asking, and she'd gotten used to it. It had become part of their unspoken routine.
After Si Lu stored the meat, they returned to the fire.
"Lu Lu, how are you feeling? After we eat, we'll pack up and continue our journey," Cheng Mo asked, concerned.
It wasn't just him—everyone was worried about Si Lu's condition, especially since she was pregnant.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. I'll tell you if I'm feeling unwell," Si Lu reassured them with a smile.
She truly felt great, and traveling wasn't too hard for her. As long as she wasn't overexerting herself, she was confident she could manage the journey.
Beastmen were early risers, so after they finished their meal, the group quickly packed up and began moving.
Si Lu estimated that, based on modern time, it was around nine in the morning.
Instead of riding on Bai Di's back as she often did, today, Si Lu was sitting atop the large tiger, Song Zhan, who was clearly overjoyed by this.
Song Zhan walked briskly, his large strides making swift progress. Cheng Mo, leading the way, wasn't slow either. The group was making good time.
Bai Di walked next to Si Lu, while Heiyao trailed behind, his eyes always on her, full of gentle affection.
At first, Si Lu was excited to be riding on Song Zhan's back, but after a while, she grew a bit bored.
"Lu Lu, if you're bored, you can play with my fur. It's long enough that you can braid it however you like. I'd love that," Song Zhan suggested.
"Really? Okay!" Si Lu smiled and began braiding his fur.
Next to her, Bai Di's fur was still styled in the braids she had made earlier, and it looked absolutely adorable. His unique look had everyone admiring him. Song Zhan, who had been envious for a while, was now thrilled that it was his turn.
He was so happy and excited that even his walking pace sped up. He proudly held his head high, strutting a little.
(⊙o⊙)… Uh…
Heiyao, watching the tiger's smug display, had the urge to teach him a lesson. However, since Si Lu was sitting on Song Zhan's back, Heiyao had to restrain himself. Plus, he couldn't deny that he was a little envious.
Unlike Song Zhan, Heiyao didn't have fur for Si Lu to braid, so she couldn't do the same with him. Fortunately, Cheng Mo's fur wasn't long enough for braids either, which balanced Heiyao's feelings somewhat.
Still, he couldn't help but feel jealous.
Especially since Song Zhan seemed to be showing off intentionally, which only made Heiyao more annoyed. He quietly resolved to get back at him later when the opportunity arose.
As they traveled, Si Lu continued braiding Song Zhan's fur. The tiger's fur was much longer and fluffier than Bai Di's, and Si Lu became fully absorbed in braiding it. It was a fun way to pass the time.
Soon, she had braided a full ring of fur around Song Zhan's neck, and it looked absolutely beautiful. The tiger's mane gleamed under the sunlight, giving him a majestic yet playful appearance.
However, she couldn't braid his tail, as the fur there was shorter and less fluffy. But the braids around his neck were eye-catching enough, giving him a charming, almost comical look.
Eventually, Si Lu began to feel tired and lay down on Song Zhan's back to rest. When one position became uncomfortable, she switched to lying on her back, enjoying the tiger's broad, stable back.
Sensing Si Lu's movements, Song Zhan slowed down to make the ride smoother for her, taking careful steps to avoid jolting her.
Lying comfortably on the tiger's back, Si Lu took out some dried shrimp from her pouch and began to snack on them, squinting her eyes in contentment.
As she opened her eyes, she saw Heiyao and Bai Di gazing at her with warmth. Feeling a little shy, she sat up and took a piece of dried shrimp, offering it to Bai Di.
Bai Di, momentarily surprised, smiled and opened his mouth, taking the shrimp from her hand. His eyes were filled with tenderness as he looked at her.
Si Lu then grabbed another large shrimp and tried to offer it to Heiyao, but her arm was too short to reach his mouth. She gestured for him to come closer.
Heiyao's lips curled into a smirk as he leaned in, gently taking not only the shrimp but also lightly nibbling on her fingers, all while looking at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes.