Chapter 22: Cultivation

Compared to his previous attempt, she did a much better job today. At the very least, the dough held its shape, and with the addition of natural sugar water, it tasted significantly better than last time.

Watching his female look on with such anticipation, Mu Qing remained silent. At worst, he reasoned, it would just be another day of eating "tasteless food." But looking on the bright side, this was the first meal his female had ever made for him. Having convinced himself, Mu Qing followed Yun Li’s instructions, turning up the fire until he heard the water boiling, then lowering it to let the stove emit a faint, sweet aroma.

Before Yun Li could say a word, Mu Qing opened the wooden lid. The white, pink-tinged mass inside was the very source of that mouth-watering fragrance.

"The fire! It's about to go out, watch the fire! I’m going to get the chopsticks to see if it’s cooked through. If it is, we can finally taste it!"

Before she finished, Yun Li had already dashed into the house, returning with a pair of polished wooden chopsticks. But as she stepped out, she saw that Mu Qing had already moved the stone pot off the heat.

"Oh, why did you take it off? If it isn't cooked yet, you'll have to put it back!"

Since it was already off, she didn't make him move it back. Instead, she took the chopsticks and poked at the large steamed bun repeatedly. "It lets the chopsticks in, but I’m not sure if the inside is cooked."

If she were boiling dumplings, she would know by biting into one, but this bun was too large. She worried that while the edges might be done, the center could still be raw. Seeing her dilemma, Mu Qing retrieved his stone knife from the house, sliced off a large piece, and shoved it into his mouth.

"Is it cooked?"

Yun Li asked about the doneness, but Mu Qing’s focus was elsewhere. "It's delicious. Ah Li, how did you think of using Zhu tree powder like this?"

Seeing that he hadn't answered her question, Yun Li plucked a piece from his portion and popped it into her mouth. Only after she finished eating did she bother to reply. "I was just so hungry during the cold season, and the Zhu tree powder was too dry to swallow, so I poured some water into it and boiled it. That’s when I realized it actually tasted good."

Since the original host had lived alone in that cave and no one knew how she used to eat, Yun Li just made it up as she went along.

Mu Qing’s eyes filled with heartache. He pulled his female into his arms and whispered, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. I won't ever bring it up again."

In truth, there was nothing to ask. Ah Li was simply clever enough to turn a bland food into something delicious. Why did he have to ask that extra question and make her recall those hard times?

Yun Li hugged him back with a smile. "There's nothing wrong with asking. It’s not your fault how I lived before." Besides, it was the original host who had suffered, not her. But she hadn't expected the male to be so self-reproachful and tender over it. Yun Li buried her face in his chest, her heart, once empty from missing her family, finally feeling full again.

"No, I should have found you sooner." Mu Qing felt that his late arrival was the reason she had endured so much hardship.

Yun Li didn't want to hear that. If he had found her sooner, he would have found the original host. While she wasn't sure if the original host would have feared a snake-beastman, the girl had been gentle-natured; if Mu Qing treated her well, she likely would have been willing to mate with him. Thus, the timing of their meeting was perfect. If it had been earlier or later, who knew what their ending might have been?

"Don't overthink it. I used to go out with the gathering team every day; how could you have possibly run into me? And even if you had, would you have greeted me if you saw me?" Yun Li wanted to stop his spiraling thoughts. Why dwell on the past when they could cherish the present?

"I would have."

Seeing Mu Qing answer so seriously, Yun Li reached up to cover his mouth. "What do you mean 'you would have'? Don't make these pointless guesses. Isn't it good the way things are now?" They were mated, they had the present, and barring any accidents, they would be together for a lifetime.

Mu Qing looked at her. He wanted to say that things were good now, but he was greedy—he wished she had lived a good life in the past, too.

Yun Li let go of him and nudged him to use the stone knife to cut the bun into pieces. Mu Qing complied, placing the portions into bowls. As he swapped the water in the stone pot to heat it up, he noticed Yun Li taking a handful of pickled vegetables from a jar and slicing them on a stone slab.

"Let me do it, you sit down," he said, walking over.

Yun Li agreed and stepped aside. Their lunch today would be pickled vegetables and steamed buns. Thinking about it, she actually found the prospect quite pleasant. If her parents knew that the daughter they had raised like a precious jewel was now genuinely happy eating pickled vegetables and buns, they would surely say she had been cursed.

"Is it good?" Yun Li ate two pieces of the bun with the pickles before she was full, and Mu Qing finished the rest. Hearing her question, he nodded. "Yes."

"Then I'll make it again next time."

Seeing Mu Qing frown, Yun Li quickly added, "I'll only do it once or twice a month, not too often. I'm not very good at cooking anyway."

"No, you made it very well. I just don't want you to be so tired."

"But I have nothing to do at home; it's so boring." Yun Li heard his concern and felt touched, but she was truly bored. She had talked about planting wild vegetables, but in reality, she didn't even have seeds. The beastmen had no concept of farming, so naturally, Mu Qing didn't know where to get seeds. However, when he gathered wild vegetables, he would pull them up with their roots and plant them for her in stone troughs filled with soil. Yun Li just watered them occasionally, and whether they survived was left to fate.

Hearing this, Mu Qing frowned. "Then I'll accompany you for a walk this afternoon." He knew his female didn't have any close friends among the other females, and she wasn't keen on going to the other side of the river. If she felt bored, he could ask the males in the hunting team to have their mates come and spend time with her.

"Are you free this afternoon?"

"Yes, accompanying you is more important." Mu Qing hadn't forgotten the two males who were still eyeing his female. While what he had said the other day was sincere, it didn't mean he wanted his female to accept them and let them into their home immediately. Therefore, he still had to be on guard.

"Oh, I see!" Yun Li smiled brightly. "Then teach me how to cultivate! I want to practice, so that when you go out hunting in the future, I can go with you." She wouldn't be a burden when she was weak, but if she became strong, she could accompany him.

Cultivation? Did Ah Li actually want to cultivate? Mu Qing looked her up and down. "Cultivation can be quite painful. Are you sure you're willing to endure it?"

Yun Li nodded. "Can I not cultivate?" Even the smallest cubs in the tribe could practice. Since her body had recovered, why couldn't she? As for the hardship, if enduring it for a while meant she would have the ability to protect herself, then it was a small price to pay.

"Of course you can, but not this afternoon. Wait until I get some things from the witch doctor; I'll prepare what you need for cultivation tonight. Anyone who wants to cultivate must first soak in beast blood for several days. You absolutely cannot lose consciousness while soaking, or you won't be able to proceed."

As Mu Qing spoke, he began to ponder whether the prey they had hunted recently had suitable blood.

Soaking in beast blood? Did cultivation require that? Yun Li was confused, but since she knew nothing of this, she would faithfully listen to Mu Qing. After all, it was just soaking in blood; even if it smelled a bit, she could endure it for the sake of becoming stronger.

What Yun Li didn't expect, however, was that since Mu Qing emphasized she must not lose consciousness, the beast blood must have some extraordinary properties.