030 Another Bath Again

Upon hearing Li Yue’s refusal, the hearts of her beast-husbands, which had been hanging in suspense, instantly settled. Just moments ago, when Qingshan made his suggestion, Jin Ye’s hands had tightened in secret, and Si Qi’s mental energy had been coiled tight, terrified that Li Yue might nod in agreement. Now, hearing her clear rejection and her insistence that she “already had enough beast-husbands,” they all breathed a collective sigh of relief; even the air seemed to lose its suffocating tension.

Qingze’s eyes dimmed instantly, his fingertips curling slightly. He should have known; she truly seemed to have no intention of adding more beast-husbands. How could she have agreed to his father’s suggestion? He cast a reluctant, lingering look at Li Yue, then fell silent. Turning away, he walked briskly toward the wooden cabin; he did not want to watch her departing figure, as it only added to his sense of loss.

Li Yue, oblivious to Qingze’s emotions, thanked Qingshan once more and prepared to set off. You Lie naturally leaned down to lift her, and she rested against his chest with equal naturalness. Having witnessed the madness of a male in the throes of a frenzy the night before, she feared You Lie might lose control again; holding him helped soothe him and saved her the trouble. To her, it made no difference whose back she sat upon, so if holding You Lie could calm him, she would oblige.

They had not been traveling long when the midday sun grew increasingly fierce, so intense that Li Yue could not keep her eyes open, and she instinctively raised her hand to shield her forehead. You Lie noticed immediately and commanded the others to halt. He then carried her into the dense forest along the path, returning moments later with a massive, oval-shaped leaf. It was thicker than a lotus leaf, with slightly serrated edges and a smooth surface, perfect for blocking the sunlight.

“Take this to shade yourself,” You Lie said, handing the leaf to Li Yue, a smile dancing in his dark red eyes. His lips curled upward, the corners of his eyes crinkling, and even the gloom in his gaze vanished, revealing a rare gentleness like ice melting to expose the warmth beneath. Li Yue was momentarily dazed.

“Thank you! I was just wishing for this!” Li Yue took the leaf, her eyes curving into bright, sincere, and radiant crescents. She couldn't help but feel a pang of regret; You Lie was so handsome, and his smile made him even more striking. If the original owner of her body hadn't committed so many sins, he would have been a perfectly qualified beast-husband. What a pity.

Watching her smile, You Lie’s voice softened further. “If you want something in the future, just say it. If you wait for me to guess, wouldn't it be too late?”

Li Yue paused. The words sounded like those of a true beast-husband speaking to his mate. She smiled without responding; after all, he was not her true beast-husband. Seeing Li Yue emerge from the forest holding the green leaf, and witnessing the smiles shared between her and You Lie, the other beast-husbands felt a prickle of discomfort. If they had known she was bothered by the sun, they should have thought of it first. It was just a leaf—who knew she would be so pleased? Why was she so easily satisfied?

As You Lie carried her over, Li Yue handed an extra leaf she was holding to Lan Xi. She thought that since Lan Xi was a Sea Clan beastman, he must also fear the heat, or else he wouldn't spend all his time submerged in water. That was why she had asked You Lie to pick an extra one.

“You take this, too,” she said, offering the extra leaf to Lan Xi. “Use this to shield yourself from the sun.”

Lan Xi froze, taking the leaf in a daze. He had not expected Li Yue to deliberately pick an extra one for him. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, he only pressed his lips together, clutching the leaf in his hand. His tail fin flickered gently behind him, but he remained silent. Li Yue did not expect a response; after all, even his scales had been torn away—a single leaf was far from enough to dissolve his hatred. Yet, she failed to notice the tips of Lan Xi’s ears turning slightly red.

The morning journey went smoothly, without any encounters with wild beasts or the need for detours. Approaching noon, the group arrived at a small river and decided to stop for a rest. The water was crystal clear, reflecting the sun in shimmering specks of gold, and the aquatic grasses along the bank swayed gently. Li Yue sat beneath a tree, her gaze drifting toward the water from time to time. Having traveled all morning, her skin was coated with dust and the scent of sweat, and she longed to jump into the river for a refreshing wash. However, she had been attacked by beasts the last two times she bathed, and now, the mere sight of the water made her heart race with fear, terrified that a predator would pounce the moment she stepped in.

She kept quiet, sitting still, but her glances toward the river had not escaped her beast-husbands. Jin Ye, watching her eyes wander, was about to offer to keep watch when You Lie took a step forward, clearly intending to offer his protection. But before You Lie could speak, Lan Xi moved first.

He walked to Li Yue’s side and slowly leaned down. His pale blue hair slid from his shoulder like flowing moonlight, brushing against her collarbone with a trace of cool moisture. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, falling upon his exquisite features; his long lashes cast soft shadows, his thin lips were slightly pressed, and his purple eyes held fragments of light. The combination of his close-range beauty and the refreshing, unique scent of the Sea Clan created a powerful visual impact that made Li Yue’s heart skip a beat.

“Do you want to bathe? I will guard you; there will be no danger.” Lan Xi’s voice was like water flowing over river stones, carrying a touch of bewitching power. His voice was so infectious that Li Yue’s heart wavered, and she almost nodded. Lan Xi was a Sea Clan beastman and possessed the greatest strength in the water; having him guard her was certainly more reliable than the others. She had not forgotten that the last time she bathed, it was because Lan Xi had failed to react in time that she had been bitten by a beast.

Yet, Lan Xi was of the Green Tier, and in the water, his abilities should have been at their peak; it was impossible that he could not have reacted. Later, she had considered that perhaps his resentment toward her was so deep that he hadn't intervened because he secretly hoped she would be mauled by a beast. Was letting Lan Xi watch over her not just inviting her own death?

Li Yue averted her eyes and shook her head in refusal. “No, thank you. I’ll wash tonight; it’s not urgent right now.”

The light vanished from Lan Xi’s eyes, dimming like a moon obscured by storm clouds. He looked at the unconcealed wariness in Li Yue’s expression, his Adam’s apple bobbing. He wanted to offer an explanation, but in the end, he only pursed his lips, straightened up, and walked silently back to the river. He waded into the water and did not look at Li Yue again.

Watching his lonely back, Li Yue frowned slightly. Had she misunderstood him? Perhaps he simply hadn't been able to react in time that day? But after the last incident, she truly couldn't help but be suspicious.

Suddenly, Si Qi’s voice came from her side. “If you want to wash, I can use my mental energy to weave a protective barrier around you. It will mask your scent so that no beasts will be drawn to you.”

Li Yue turned back sharply, her eyes lighting up instantly. But she quickly remembered that Si Qi had previously overdrawn his mental energy, and she hesitated. “Will… will the barrier consume too much of your mental energy?”

Si Qi smiled, and a pale golden light began to glow at his fingertips. “Don't worry. It’s only a small-scale, short-term barrier; it won't take much. Just be quick.”

Li Yue felt completely reassured and nodded vigorously. “Okay, I’ll be finished in a flash!”

Si Qi raised a hand and waved it gently toward the clearing by the river. The pale golden light dispersed instantly, forming a transparent membrane that settled steadily around her like a clear eggshell. Seeing this, Li Yue hurried to the bank. Just as she was about to remove her beast-hide dress, she realized all the beast-husbands were still standing nearby and quickly said, “Could you… could you please turn around?”

Once they had turned, Li Yue quickly stripped off her dress and slipped into the river. The water was cool, and as it washed away the heat, she let out a sigh of relief. Halfway through her bath, she remembered that the honey-berry seeds in her spatial dimension needed water. She used her consciousness to draw some river water into the space, and only after seeing the black soil become damp did she feel at ease enough to continue.

She finished quickly. Just as she was about to step onto the bank, her foot slipped on something, and she lost her balance. As she was about to fall back into the water, a voice rang out beside her: “Careful!”

The next second, she landed in a cool embrace.