029 Let Qingze Follow You

Li Yue was completely stunned. With her bleeding fingertip still held aloft, she looked at Jin Ye as he recoiled, then recalled Lan Xi, who had just refused her offer of blood. Her heart was filled with confusion.

What was going on with them? Didn't they use to doubt that her blood could break their soul-bond? Why were they turning it down now that it was being offered on a silver platter?

Since they were refusing, she couldn't force them, so she let it go. She pulled her hand back and said, "Fine, then I'll offer it to you again once enough days have passed."

She turned to look for the styptic herbs she had seen earlier; after all, she couldn't openly use the spiritual spring from her storage space, and she couldn't just leave her fingertip bleeding. But just as she turned, her wrist was gently caught by Si Qi.

"Don't move. I'll heal you with my mental power."

His voice was soft, his amber eyes filled with sincerity. Pale golden light flickered at his fingertips, clearly indicating he intended to use his energy.

Li Yue quickly shook her head, pulling her wrist away with effort. "No, no! Don't waste your mental power. This is just a tiny scratch; it’s fine."

She knew well that every time Si Qi overextended his mental power, it took a long time for him to recover. It would be a disaster if he wasted it on her minor injury and they encountered real danger later. She could just secretly apply the spiritual spring water, and it would heal in no time.

Si Qi frowned slightly, seemingly wanting to argue, but You Lie had already walked over. Holding a few dark green styptic leaves, he took Li Yue’s hand directly from Si Qi.

His movements were gentle. He first wiped the blood from her fingertip with a clean piece of animal hide, carefully applied the chewed-up herbs to the wound, and finally wrapped it snugly with a strip of hide—the tension was just right, neither too loose nor too tight.

Si Qi’s gaze darkened. Li Yue had rejected him, but she hadn't rejected You Lie.

Watching You Lie’s focused expression, Li Yue felt a sense of bewilderment. You Lie had always been as cold and hard as ice; she hadn't expected him to be so meticulous and gentle while bandaging a wound. She hadn't wanted to trouble him, but refusing now would seem deliberate, so she let him continue.

Still, she felt she should encourage him. "You’re so good at bandaging! If you keep helping me dress my wounds to this standard, how about I give you my blood every two times instead of three?"

She had previously stipulated one drop for every three bandages, so she thought changing it to two would make You Lie happy. But the moment the words left her mouth, his expression darkened instantly.

His dark red eyes stared at her with deep resentment, looking like a man abandoned by a faithless lover. Even the hand holding her wrist tightened slightly.

Si Qi’s previously gloomy eyes seemed to regain their luster, and the corners of his lips curled up ever so slightly.

Li Yue was utterly baffled. What kind of reaction was this? Wasn't she encouraging him? Why was he unhappy? Did he think "two bandages for one drop of blood" was a bad deal? But Chi Yu had to cook five meals just to get one drop—she was already giving You Lie special treatment!

She blinked in confusion. "What’s wrong? Is it too little? How about..."

Before she could finish, You Lie interrupted, "It’s getting late. If we delay any longer, we won't reach the next stop before dark. If there’s nothing else, we should set off."

Li Yue suddenly remembered her main task and looked up. "Wait, I need to ask Chief Qingshan something before we leave."

Seeing that she had stopped talking about the blood, You Lie’s tense jaw relaxed. He nodded and said, "I’ll go invite him over."

Li Yue shook her head. "No, I’m the one asking for a favor; I should go to him. Do you know where he lives?"

The beasts had long since grown accustomed to Li Yue’s erratic behavior over the past few days. Without asking further, You Lie bent down and picked her up. "I’ll take you there. It’ll be faster."

Recalling what Si Qi had said last night, Li Yue didn't resist and leaned obediently against his chest.

Nearby, Jin Ye, who had just reached out to carry her, froze mid-air. Watching the back of You Lie carrying Li Yue, his face turned as black as the bottom of a pot, his icy blue eyes filled with reluctance. However, mindful that You Lie was currently in the mating season, he forcibly suppressed his frustration.

It didn't take long to reach Chief Qingshan’s wooden hut. Just as they stopped, the door opened, and Qingshan and Qingze walked out one after the other.

When Qingze saw Li Yue in You Lie’s arms, his eyes lit up. He stepped forward quickly, his tone full of anticipation. "Female Li Yue, are you here to see my father?"

Li Yue nodded and climbed down from You Lie’s arms. "Chief Qingshan, we’re about to leave. Thank you for the hospitality the tribe showed us yesterday. If there’s an opportunity in the future, I will certainly repay you."

"Don't be so formal. Last night’s gathering was to celebrate a bountiful hunt; it was fate that you were able to come." Qingshan waved his hand with a smile, though his gaze lingered on Li Yue for a few extra seconds. He was still lamenting that such a wonderful female couldn't be persuaded to stay.

After expressing her gratitude, Li Yue finally asked her main question: "Chief Qingshan, my father is the scorpion-beastman Lincuan. He went to the Eagle Tribe previously. Do you happen to have any news of him?"

"Lincuan?"

Qingshan’s expression changed instantly, filled with surprise. "You are his daughter?"

Li Yue paused, then nodded. "Yes, he is my father."

Lincuan, Li Yue's father, was a purple-rank beastman. In the entire continent, there were only two purple-rank beastmen: one was Li Yue’s father, and the other was the Beast King of the City of Ten Thousand Beasts. Thus, all beastmen had heard of Lincuan’s name.

Qingshan couldn't help but be astonished. So, Li Yue was Lincuan’s daughter. Scorpion-beastmen were typically wanderers. After he had a daughter, because his mate treated the child poorly, he had taken her and left the tribe to raise her on his own.

When Li Yue first entered the tribe, Qingshan had been curious about how a scorpion-female could be so well-behaved and sensible; now it made sense. Lincuan, though a wanderer, was a man of principle who never pillaged tribes. As a powerhouse, he even helped tribes defend against wild beasts.

At the mention of Lincuan, Qingshan’s tone became solemn. "Before he went to the Eagle Tribe, he did pass through our tribe. He said he was going there to find a reliable mate for his daughter, and he promised to return before the rainy season."

Upon hearing this, the faces of the several beast-husbands darkened. What did he mean by "finding a reliable mate"? Was Li Yue so desperate to find her father and break their bond because she wanted to find someone more reliable?

Li Yue, unaware of their thoughts, thanked Qingshan and said her goodbyes. However, Qingshan suggested, "Let Qingze go with you. He hasn't bonded yet and is a green-rank male; he can better protect you along the way."

Upon hearing his father’s words, Qingze’s eyes lit up, and he looked at Li Yue with eager expectation.

Li Yue had no desire to add another beast-husband at this stage. Having five villains by her side already made her anxious and exhausted every day; she had no heart for romance right now. Although relationships in the beast world were often straightforward, she was a traveler from another world; she didn't want to just pick any random husband.

"I already have enough husbands, and they can protect me well. I don't intend to look for another one for the time being. You are so excellent, you will surely meet a better female."

Li Yue politely declined Chief Qingshan’s proposal.