Chapter 28: Healing Ability

Su Xiyue cradled the bones and animal innards, smiling as she said, "Tell me, Bai Qi, do you have any salt? Would you mind sharing a little with me? I can trade you for it. Also, if you have time, could you help me build a stove?"

Bai Qi’s gaze fell upon the bones, entrails, and pig intestines in her arms, his brow furrowing slightly. He could not fathom why she would want these things, which no other beastman would ever touch. Without asking further, he simply remarked, "I can give you some salt; there is no need to trade. But this 'stove' you speak of—what is that?"

Recalling that the concept of a stove did not exist in this world, Su Xiyue explained with a smile, "A stove is a place for building a fire to cook. It concentrates the heat and makes cooking much easier. I’ll explain how to build it in detail when the time comes."

Bai Qi understood at least that much. Looking into her clear, limpid eyes, he gave a slight nod. "Very well."

Su Xiyue was delighted by his agreement. Bai Qi was indeed easier to talk to than her other four beast-husbands. Thinking of how the cave lacked even a wooden bucket or basin for water—making fetching and using water incredibly inconvenient—she lowered her head, feeling a bit bashful. "Also, could you help me hollow out two wooden buckets and a basin from some logs? I mean to hollow out the top and the center, leaving the bottom and sides intact. They should be round; the buckets should be taller with handles on top for carrying, and the basin should be shorter, also round, but without a handle. Instead, it should have ear-like protrusions on both sides for a better grip."

Bai Qi’s true form was a nine-tailed white fox. With his claws, carving out a couple of wooden containers should be no trouble at all. Hearing her description, Bai Qi glanced at her with a strange expression, wondering how she had suddenly learned so much and where she had picked up such ideas. Yet, he did not press her, simply nodding in agreement. "I can do that, though it may take some time."

Su Xiyue waved her hands quickly, smiling. "It’s fine, there’s no rush. Take your time." She was in high spirits, imagining how much easier her life would be once the stove and the wooden containers were finished.

The two soon left the plaza. She followed Bai Qi to his cave to retrieve some salt, which he provided in a stone bowl—about half a bowl’s worth. Though it was coarse, yellowish, and of poor quality, salt was incredibly precious in the beast world; five hundred pounds of game would only fetch half a bowl. For Bai Qi to give her this much was an act of great generosity. Her eyes curved into crescents as she thanked him happily. After arranging to meet tomorrow to build the stove, she headed back, feeling content.

Returning to the cave, the interior was pitch black, save for a sliver of moonlight filtering in from the entrance. It was dim, but visible. Su Xiyue wondered where to store the salt. Aside from a stone bed, everything in the cave was either piled on the floor or stuffed into a wicker basket. There wasn't a single proper surface for storage.

She sighed helplessly and decided to place it in a relatively dry corner, elevating it on a flat stone to keep it from dampness. If the salt were to get damp and dissolve, she wouldn't even have a place to cry. She thought about building a table and chairs, but that would require tools and nails. Where would she find nails in this beast world? She immediately dismissed the impractical thought. Perhaps she could cut some bamboo and weave a set of bamboo furniture. Unfortunately, she didn't know how to weave, and she sighed again. Forget it; she would just gather some wooden stumps later to use as stools.

She looked at the bones, pig intestines, and innards in her hands. Since the stove wasn't built yet, she couldn't make bone soup tonight. She set them aside in an empty basket. She then began processing the intestines and innards, burning some wood ash to carry to the river for cleaning. Squatting on a large rock by the river, Su Xiyue tore away the fat and impurities from the inside of the intestines. She rubbed them with the cooled wood ash, using its absorbent properties to remove the slime. She didn't stop until there was no trace of any foul odor, ensuring they were thoroughly cleaned. She handled the other innards the same way before heading back.

Once back in the cave, she placed the pig intestines into a cleaned stone pot, soaking them in salt water to remove the gamey smell and help them absorb flavor. She planned to rinse them with fresh water tomorrow morning before stir-frying them. As for the innards, she used a bone knife to slice off a piece, marinated it with salt, and stored it in a stone bowl, keeping the rest in the basket. The stone slab she had intended to use for teppanyaki was temporarily repurposed as a cutting board.

While she was busy, the four others—Yeling, Molin, Qingzhu, and Xuanming—returned to their own caves with varying expressions. On the way back, Qingzhu, who had been watching Yeling walk ahead, recalled his defense of Su Xiyue earlier. He quickened his pace to catch up and frowned, asking, "Why did you speak up for that ugly creature tonight?"

Molin and Xuanming, walking not far behind, pricked up their ears, clearly just as curious.

Yeling paused, his silver eyes turning toward Qingzhu. His expression was indifferent. "What? Am I forbidden from speaking for her?"

Qingzhu glanced at him and scoffed, "I thought you hated her the most?" Not only did he hate her, but he was also more disgusted by her than any of the other four. Every time he saw her, it was as if he’d stumbled upon filth; he couldn't wait to get as far away as possible.

Yeling raised an eyelid, his gaze flicking toward him with nonchalance. "Must I like someone to speak for them?"

Qingzhu frowned slightly, his emerald eyes showing a hint of displeasure. "That’s not what I meant. I just think your behavior today was quite unusual."

"Indeed, it was strange. This doesn't seem like you," Xuanming added as he stepped closer. The moonlight fell upon him, casting a long shadow and highlighting his tall, sturdy frame. He was handsome, with smooth, natural features, deep eyes, sharp, slanted brows, and perfectly shaped lips. He radiated an untamed, wild energy that was both attractive and aggressive.

Molin also approached. His features were sharp and deep, cold and distant, and he carried an aura of aloofness. He didn't speak, but his gaze rested on Yeling’s stunning face, filled with silent questioning. Yeling’s change in attitude was too drastic for them not to be curious.

Yeling glanced at them, his silver eyes shifting slightly, and finally offered an explanation: "She is our female, after all. If we let Mia’s beast-husbands bully her, it reflects poorly on us."

In truth, he didn't even know why he had helped her today; it was as if his brain had short-circuited. Even he found it incredible.

Molin, Qingzhu, and Xuanming considered this. No matter how much they loathed Su Xiyue, she was their mate—an unchangeable fact. If they allowed her to be bullied by other beastmen, it would damage their reputation. Furthermore, the tribe leader would surely have something to say about it.

Molin, who was of a colder temperament, simply grunted in acknowledgment and said nothing more.

Qingzhu remembered how Su Xiyue had once used her abilities to treat her face in the Tagar Forest and remarked, "Come to think of it, Su Xiyue awakened a wood-type ability, and the witch doctor is also a wood-type. Do you think her ability is a healing-type?"

Healing abilities were precious, especially in the beast world, where one was constantly prone to injury and bloodshed.