Chapter 46 - 45: You Can’t Eat Hot Tofu in a Hurry

Screams of agony echoed from within the shelter woven from vines and branches.

"What did I tell you?" Chu Liangyu sighed, feeling utterly helpless.

Xiong Jiaojiao’s face was deathly pale. The steaming medicinal water only made her forehead break out in more sweat.

The pain nearly made her faint. After taking a deep gasp of air, she replied, "Who knew it would hurt this much! If I’d known, I would’ve listened to you, Sister Liangyu."

As the old saying goes, good things come to those who wait.

Trying to go through Body Refining before your constitution is ready is bound to bring some suffering.

But things had already come to this; it would be a shame to give up halfway.

Having no other choice, Chu Liangyu rose from her own medicinal bath.

She placed her hands on Jiaojiao’s back, helping her channel the medicinal power within her body.

"Sister Liangyu, get back in your bath! Don’t worry about me!"

’Interrupting her medicinal bath has to have consequences, right?’ Xiong Jiaojiao worried. She turned her head and urged Chu Liangyu to go back.

"It’s fine. I’m already done."

"In such a short time? Sister Liangyu, don’t lie to me."

"I can handle this. You should go back."

In her agitation, Xiong Jiaojiao actually tried to stand up, making Chu Liangyu’s brow twitch.

She gave her a light slap on the head—not too hard, not too soft, but enough to quiet her down.

"This is the difference between practicing a mental method and not. Now, you stay put in there!"

"Oh..." Xiong Jiaojiao pouted but obediently sat back down.

With Chu Liangyu’s help, the searing pain from the medicinal power vanished, and the grimace left her face.

She calmed her mind and carefully sensed the changes brought by the Body Refining.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up with joyful surprise. All the old, hidden injuries in her body had completely healed.

The surface of her skin had also become smooth, like a peeled hard-boiled egg.

More importantly, she now felt brimming with energy, as if she could kill one of those men in black with a single punch.

That was a bit of an exaggeration, of course, but she had to admit the effects were truly incredible.

"It’s done."

Chu Liangyu’s voice was clearly weary. Leaning on the tub with both hands, she felt her heart begin to race.

Lost in her own delight, Xiong Jiaojiao didn’t notice.

She put on her dress made of leaves and turned around, her voice jubilant. "Sister Liangyu, I feel..."

"What’s wrong?"

Chu Liangyu was still naked. After the medicinal bath, her skin was smooth and fair, and her graceful figure was enough to make even Xiong Jiaojiao blush.

She picked up Chu Liangyu’s clothes and draped them over her.

The clothes had a texture unlike any material she had ever felt. Xiong Jiaojiao was briefly surprised, but Chu Liangyu’s condition quickly drove the thought from her mind.

Cold sweat beaded on Chu Liangyu’s forehead, and her expression grew dazed. Just before she lost consciousness, she even managed to say, "I’m fine. I just need to rest a bit."

"Sister Liangyu!"

Xiong Jiaojiao panicked. Only then did she remember that Sister Liangyu’s internal injuries hadn’t healed, and she had just strained herself guiding the medicinal power. ’Could her injuries have gotten worse?’

Her panicked and fearful voice startled Yu He, who was outside.

He subconsciously started walking toward the sound, but as he drew near, he stopped.

’Right, what am I so worried about?’

’Chu Liangyu just humiliated me a moment ago. It’d be perfect if she died. Then I could get my Life Scale back.’

"SOB... Sister Liangyu, don’t scare me..."

The sounds of clattering and bumping came from inside. Yu He’s pupils constricted.

By the time he realized what he was doing, he had already rushed in.

Seeing Chu Liangyu held in Xiong Jiaojiao’s arms, he felt a bit awkward.

"Shut up! Is crying going to wake her up?"

He snapped harshly, glaring at Jiaojiao before lifting Chu Liangyu and carrying her out.

’What the hell is wrong with me?’ he thought. ’She treated me so horribly, yet I still have it in me to worry about her.’

’Don’t tell me I’m just into this sort of thing?’

At that thought, Yu He’s expression darkened.

’Impossible,’ he thought. ’I’m not that pathetic.’

Chu Liangyu looked somewhat fragile now, stripped of the domineering coldness she had when she was awake.

But he had to admit she was beautiful, especially like this.

As Yu He gazed at her, his heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, he felt that Chu Liangyu wasn’t so detestable after all. In fact, she was becoming rather pleasing to his eye.

"What are you looking at?"

At some point, Chu Liangyu had opened her eyes.

Yu He’s face, magnified and close, appeared before her. For a moment, Chu Liangyu was dazed.

She thought she saw a fish head for a second, but it was just a fleeting illusion. His usual stone-cold expression was back.

’Did I just see a hint of concern on his face?’

"Just checking if you were still alive," Yu He said awkwardly, suddenly standing up and moving away from her.

Chu Liangyu was left speechless.

’Of course,’ she thought. ’My eyes must have been playing tricks on me.’

’It’s a miracle he didn’t try to take advantage of the situation.’

Rubbing her temples, Chu Liangyu felt utterly drained and subconsciously lay back down.

The fresh scent of grass filled her senses, helping her relax.

"Sister Liangyu, how are you feeling now?"

"I’m fine. Just let me rest for a bit."

Xiong Jiaojiao wanted to say more, but seeing how exhausted she was, she obediently fell silent.

Noticing Chu Liangyu’s clothes were even more disheveled, Xiong Jiaojiao’s face turned red again.

’This... this is just too alluring,’ she thought.

’If I were a male Beastman, I’d be so captivated by Sister Liangyu I wouldn’t know which way was up!’

’I don’t know what Sister Liangyu’s Beast Husband is thinking. She’s such a wonderful person...’

’...and he doesn’t even cherish her. All he does is look after his own cub all day. He’s blessed and doesn’t even know it!’

An unknown amount of time passed. A sudden gust of wind made Chu Liangyu shiver.

Frowning, Chu Liangyu slowly sat up.

"Chi Yizhong?"

"Yes."

Facing him, Chu Liangyu’s demeanor unconsciously softened. A faint smile touched her lips as she said, "How was your first time hunting on land?"

"Not bad."

Chi Yizhong stared at her without blinking, making Chu Liangyu feel self-conscious.

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

"You... are beautiful!"

Chu Liangyu froze for a moment. Noticing the tips of Chi Yizhong’s ears turning red, she couldn’t help but be amused.

’But haven’t I always looked this way?’

’This isn’t the first time we’ve met. Why would he suddenly say something like that?’

Puzzled, Chu Liangyu looked down at herself.

’Ah, no wonder he’d say that.’

Her clothes were in disarray, her fair skin was on display, and one of her shoulders was even exposed.

’Who wouldn’t be captivated by a sight like this?’

Still, Chu Liangyu felt a bit cold.

Her expression unchanging, she straightened her clothes and stood up.

The sudden movement made her chest feel tight. Her vision blurred, and she swayed involuntarily, looking as if she might collapse at any moment.

"What’s wrong?"

With lightning-fast reflexes, Chi Yizhong caught her in his arms. He looked down at her, his face filled with obvious worry.

After a moment, Chu Liangyu started to feel better.

The two of them were very close, and Chu Liangyu suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.

Chi Yizhong smelled faintly of the sea, mixed with the fresh scent of coconut. It wasn’t unpleasant; in fact, it was rather reassuring.

It wasn’t that she’d never been held before, but the emotion in Chi Yizhong’s eyes was so pure that it felt almost unreal.

"I’m fine. I probably just need something to eat."

Suppressing the flutter in her heart, Chu Liangyu’s reason returned.

’In this world, I can’t trust anyone but myself,’ she thought. ’No one can be my protector.’

’I don’t need a protector. I just need to be strong.’

’Once I’m strong enough, no one will be able to take my life whenever they please.’