Carlos paused, realizing Guo Xiaoxiao wasn't entirely right. He truly loved her; he genuinely wanted to spend his life with her, regardless of beauty or ugliness.

"I never thought about beauty or ugliness. I just felt that as long as they didn't cause trouble and maintained the stability of the grottoes, what they did was none of my business."

"Then what kind of leader do you want to be?" Guo Xiaoxiao said.

"What's it to you to dictate that?"

Carlos stared at Guo Xiaoxiao's face.

"Controlling you"

Damn it… Guo Xiaoxiao was furious. She turned around, lay down on the bed, and ignored him.

Carlos sighed. Guo Xiaoxiao was like a blank sheet of paper; everything was written on her face, making it easy for anyone to guess what she was thinking. He reached out and stroked Guo Xiaoxiao's hair, gently caressing it.

"Be with me, abandon your other two partners, and I'll help you end your relationships with them after your heat cycle ends."

Guo Xiaoxiao was startled by these words: terminate her partnership with Miksen and Cang Jue? She turned around, glared at Carlos, and asked:

How do you want to undo this?

Carlos calmly said

"With a drop of your blood, a bone knife, and your heart, sever the mark of the beast, and they will no longer be your companions."

Guo Xiaoxiao didn't know it could be done like that? She asked.

What impact will the lifting of the ban have on them?

I once read a novel where the orc was abandoned because the tribe couldn't stay there anymore.

Carlos was surprised that Guo Xiaoxiao knew nothing about this, but he still patiently explained.

"Once the mark is removed, they will suffer a backlash from the beast mark. Low-star ring orcs will die instantly, while high-level five-star and four-star ring orcs will be severely injured and drop to one-star or two-star rings, likely never to break through again, and may even become weak and powerless orcs for the rest of their lives."

"That's serious?!" Guo Xiaoxiao stared at Carlos in disbelief. Why were they all rushing to form partnerships? Weren't they afraid she'd break them off? And if she did, wouldn't Miksen and Cang Jue be rendered useless? She wouldn't allow that to happen.

Carlos clearly saw Guo Xiaoxiao's extremely worried expression again, and Carlos's deep voice...

"What, you're reluctant to part with it?"

How could she bear to let Cang Jue and Miksen become cripples? Guo Xiaoxiao bit her lip.

"I...I don't want to end my partnership with Miksen and Cangjue."

Carlos curled his lips in a mocking smile. He was unwilling to share a mate with other orcs. Guo Xiaoxiao was unique, but if she refused, he would find a way to deal with it.

Carlos did not deliberately take a hard line, saying

Let's talk about it later.

While Carlos was away, Guo Xiaoxiao called Mickson to let her know she was safe and sound. She learned they were on their way and asked her to hold on for a few more days, as the Forgotten Continent was far from their home continent.

But they promised to find Guo Xiaoxiao as quickly as possible.

………

Two days passed like this. Carlos seemed quite busy, constantly dealing with matters at the cave. Each time he finished, Carlos would bring in food for Guo Xiaoxiao, and after she had eaten, Carlos would disappear again.

Guo Xiaoxiao stayed for four or five days, getting used to Carlos's elusive and unpredictable nature. However, what she didn't know was...

Shortly after Carlos left, orcs would sneak up to the door to spy on him, and if they saw Carlos appear, they would immediately run away.

On the sixth day, her period finally ended, but the difficult days began again. Guo Xiaoxiao wondered what to do; Mikeson and Cang Jue definitely wouldn't be able to get there in a short time.

By the time they arrived, it was too late for her seventh day memorial service.

Guo Xiaoxiao remembered the rocket launcher hidden in the crevice of the stone bed. Maybe she should just carry it and charge out.

She envisioned a scene of rocket launchers blasting people, like the battlefield warriors in the American blockbuster, where a single shot sends blood and flesh flying.

She quickly dismissed the idea.

Just one shot, unless absolutely necessary. Right now, her main concern is whether Carlos will forcefully pressure her to end her relationship.

This is a situation that Guo Xiaoxiao absolutely does not want to happen.

She began wandering aimlessly through the cave, hoping to find a way to break through when Carlos wasn't looking.

Guo Xiaoxiao walked around to the corner of the cave wall and looked at the light shining through the small ventilation holes.

If we enlarge this hole with a bone knife, could we use our abilities to kick it open?

Or you could try using your enhanced abilities to kick him a couple of times. He's only on the first level; once he gets out, he can escape.

Guo Xiaoxiao felt around with her fingers, thinking of a solution.

Suddenly pulled back by a strong force, I fell into someone's arms.

Guo Xiaoxiao looked up and cried out in alarm.

When did you come in?

Carlos pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly, his voice low and husky.

You were too focused to notice me.

Guo Xiaoxiao struggled for a moment, but Carlos held her even tighter.

"Let me go, I'm hungry!"

Without her period, she didn't want to get too close to him. The more she struggled, the tighter Carlos gripped her, as if he wanted to meld her into his body. Guo Xiaoxiao only stopped struggling when she felt suffocated.

What are you looking at?

Carlos pinned Guo Xiaoxiao against the wall, leaned down close to her, and looked through a small hole in the wall.

Guo Xiaoxiao didn't know how to answer, so she said

"Nothing, I was just bored and looking around."

Carlos released Guo Xiaoxiao, who stood up straight, touched her neck, and was a little out of breath.

Carlos picked up the stone bowl, poured water into it, and handed it to Guo Xiaoxiao, asking if she wanted some. Guo Xiaoxiao politely declined, saying she wasn't thirsty.

Carlos gulped down a bowl of water, put the empty stone bowl back in its place, and then said meaningfully...

"Xiaoxiao, the smell of blood on you is gone."

He twitched his nose slightly, sniffed carefully, and found no smell of blood. Guo Xiaoxiao was clean.

Oh no, Guo Xiaoxiao's heart clenched; Carlos was going to...

do what

"What, scared?"

Carlos pinched Guo Xiaoxiao's chin, forcing her to look at him, his tone gentle.

"Xiaoxiao, you're being naughty. Are you trying to run away?"

His deep, husky voice was like a hooked finger, tempting people to fall, while Guo Xiaoxiao couldn't see through or understand Carlos, and this feeling of not being able to grasp him was disgusting.

"I didn't, I... I never thought of running away, I..."

Guo Xiaoxiao stammered, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

"Ordinary females aren't as strong or fast as you, but this is my territory, and you have nowhere to escape."

Carlos casually pulled a red crystal bracelet from his pocket, stuffed it into Guo Xiaoxiao's arms, and said...

"Made from a red crystal core, this is for you."

Why should I give it to you?

Guo Xiaoxiao held it and asked, "The red crystal core can be absorbed. Cang Jue gave Guo Xiaoxiao a few before, so I know it's very rare."

"You're my partner, of course I should give it to you."

Carlos gave a matter-of-fact answer, and Guo Xiaoxiao didn't refuse to take it with her.

"Thanks"

Seeing Guo Xiaoxiao with the gift he gave her, Carlos was very satisfied. He had been quite overwhelmed these past few days; a very powerful beast had appeared on the Forgotten Continent and had wiped out all the small groups in the surrounding area.

However, that orc didn't command many orcs yet, and their numbers were fewer than his. If they fought to the death, he would still have the upper hand. He needed to first figure out who the other was, what his purpose was, and whether he posed any threat.