Guo Xiaoxiao counted the fish left in the puddle. The two of them ate three, leaving four. Hmm, she'd cook some fish for Mikeson tonight so he could try them.
It was still early, so Guo Xiaoxiao wanted to go look for more leaves in the surrounding area. Mikel followed behind her, helping her reach the leaves she couldn't reach.
"Female, why are you looking for it yourself? I remember my brother was helping you collect leaves."
Mikel looked at the lush, leafy trees and asked, "..."
"I want to pick more so as not to cause Mickson any trouble."
Guo Xiaoxiao crouched down and searched diligently, while Mikel stayed by her side, occasionally pointing out different leaves and poisonous plants to avoid touching.
"Huh, what's this?"
Guo Xiaoxiao found a bright yellow wild chrysanthemum at the base of a large tree. It was in full bloom, and although she had never seen one before, she could tell it must be a very precious plant.
"Don't touch it; the more beautiful a plant is in the wild, the more dangerous it is."
Guo Xiaoxiao was about to reach for it when she heard what Mick said, and she withdrew her hand, not daring to touch it. Medical care in the Beast World wasn't that advanced; if she were truly poisoned, they wouldn't be able to cure her.
Count them, there are more than 20 different kinds of plant leaves collected. The task can be completed in less than three days.
As darkness fell, Mikel led Guo Xiaoxiao back to the cave.
After Mikel returned, he left without notice. Guo Xiaoxiao lay on the leather mat counting the leaves she had collected that day. When Mikel saw the leaves in Guo Xiaoxiao's hand, he remembered that he had also collected a lot for her. He found a leather pouch among a pile of furs and handed it to Guo Xiaoxiao.
"Xiaoxiao, these are what I collected. You can take them if you need them."
Mikel never dared to look Guo Xiaoxiao in the eye when he spoke to her.
"Thank you, Mickelson."
She didn't really want to accept it, but seeing Mickson's abandoned look, she couldn't refuse. Guo Xiaoxiao took the leather bag.
"kindness"
"Mickelson, have you been very busy lately?"
"The main concern is protecting against the Sishui tribe."
Mickelson sat by the fire, warming himself. His hair was smooth, and his features were sharp yet not harsh—a handsome man, but at this moment he looked extremely lonely.
Guo Xiaoxiao put all the leaves in her bag, and planned to sort them out again tomorrow. Mickelson had collected more than her and probably already had everything.
After carefully putting the bag away, Guo Xiaoxiao rallied her spirits; she was ready.
She needs to have a serious talk with Mickson; she has to be honest with him eventually.
She walked over and sat down by the fire, looking at Mickson's downcast eyes.
"The moonlight outside is beautiful, let's go take a look."
"You want to see the moon?"
Let's go together.
"good"
Miksen took Guo Xiaoxiao's hand and led her out of the cave to the highest point of the tribe.
Looking up at the sky, a silvery crescent moon hung in the night, its bright light spilling across the earth and illuminating the valleys. A gentle breeze caressed my face, cool and pleasant; the temperature was just right today, a rare mild day before winter.
Mickelson stood beside Guo Xiaoxiao, still looking somewhat sullen. Guo Xiaoxiao understood that he was troubled by what happened yesterday, and unusually, she took the initiative to move closer to Mickelson and take his arm.
“Mickson, I didn’t mean it yesterday. What I said wasn’t what I truly meant. You’re a good person, really. It’s just that your sudden desire to become my partner really startled me.”
"I'm not angry, Xiaoxiao, don't you like me anymore?"
Miksen harbored a deep-seated resentment, believing it to be his own fault. Even if he didn't want to accept other males, he was willing to compromise to stay with Guo Xiaoxiao.
It's not that I don't like you, it's just that we're not at the point where we could be partners.
Guo Xiaoxiao shook her head in denial. Mickson was really good to her. Apart from the tyranny she saw in his eyes yesterday, she couldn't find any fault with him. Besides, he was really good-looking, and she wasn't blind!
"Doesn't that still mean you don't like it?"
Since it wasn't time to form a mate, the beastmen refused, leaving Miken feeling disheartened.
"I...I didn't say I didn't like it. You should at least give me some time to prepare. There's one thing you can absolutely rest assured about: if I were to find a mate, I wouldn't choose any male other than you."
"I've already said all that, so please stop being so half-dead, okay?" Guo Xiaoxiao thought.
"You really won't find another male?"
Mickelson was somewhat hopeful, asking very carefully, because he was genuinely afraid that Guo Xiaoxiao would be unhappy and leave him.
Guo Xiaoxiao nodded firmly.
"I promise, although I don't want to be your partner right now, if I were to find an orc to be my partner, you would definitely be the first one."
She wasn't the Virgin Mary; she wouldn't compromise herself for the sake of some so-called favor. She still needed to assess him; after all, Miksen was an orc… in some ways, they were simply too incompatible.
Miksen still couldn't understand that, in their beliefs from childhood, the most important ritual for a male to unite with a female he liked was forming a mate.
They all had these views instilled in them from a young age, and it's not something they can change overnight.
Guo Xiaoxiao continued
"So don't be upset. Let's continue our relationship as before. If we both feel we're a good match, then we can consider getting married."
Miksen was somewhat disappointed. He still hoped to mate with Guo Xiaoxiao, because only by mates could they ensure a strong bond. Moreover, he enjoyed spending time with Guo Xiaoxiao, and even if he ultimately had to share with other males, he hoped to be with Xiaoxiao.
But since Guo Xiaoxiao had said that, although Mickelson's thinking hadn't changed, his mindset had. At least Guo Xiaoxiao hadn't considered leaving him.
Yesterday, Guo Xiaoxiao said she had never liked him and that she only got into a relationship to keep him in check. This really scared him to death; he was so afraid he didn't dare say another word to her, lest she really leave if he pushed her too far.
Mickelson said
"I promise you, I won't force you, and I'll accept whatever comes my way if you don't leave."
"I won't leave, don't overthink it."
Mickelson smiled; he knew Xiaoxiao wouldn't want to leave him. He hugged Guo Xiaoxiao tightly and whispered...
"knew"
Alright, all done!
Guo Xiaoxiao lay on Mickson's chest, listening to his steady and strong heartbeat, and suddenly sighed, "This man is so easy to please."
"Mickelson's getting a bit cold, let's go downstairs."
He tightened his grip on Guo Xiaoxiao's waist, pushed off with his feet, and quickly returned to the cave, gently placing Guo Xiaoxiao back on the ground.
"Let me tell you, I caught some fish today, it's so delicious... ahhh!"
Before he could finish speaking...
Guo Xiaoxiao leaped into the air at incredible speed, so fast that even when Mikeson tried to catch her, he couldn't.
Guo Xiaoxiao was being lifted into the air by a giant eagle, its talons gripping her body. Mickson on the ground instantly appeared tiny.
Mickelson wanted to save them, but the distance was too far, and he couldn't get there in time.
Then, a moment later, gasps of surprise echoed throughout the entire tribe.
"They're orcs from the Sishui tribe!!"
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