Chapter 28 – Thank You for the Trouble
At midnight, Ziye suddenly felt a bit lonely.
She had bathed with Xiaozhan and made pants for Chiyou.
But for him… she hadn’t shown him anything at all.
Shaking his head, he thought, What nonsense am I thinking, expecting a vicious female to show anything for me?
Truly wishful thinking!
No, he didn’t want her things, nor did he need her to be nice to him.
Ziye weaved through the trees and soon returned to the two little ones.
Looking at Akang and Ajin sleeping peacefully, his mood settled slightly, at least he still had them.
“Ziye! Ziye! I finally found you!”
Luo Luo stood under a tree, waving frantically at him.
Her red Bohemian dress was still wet and clung to her body, unusually outlining her figure.
Her hair fell in big waves, her skin pale, and only a few pimples remained on her face.
Her previously large face had slimmed down considerably.
Round and cute.
Ziye narrowed his eyes and asked irritably, “Why are you calling at this hour? You woke me up.”
Luo Luo was startled and quickly covered her mouth.
She tried speaking in a barely audible whisper while gesturing with her hands, doing everything she could.
After a long while, Ziye could neither hear nor understand her.
Annoyed, he waved his hand, “Go, go, go. Hurry up and leave.”
Go find Chiyou and Xiaozhan!
Luo Luo didn’t leave. She lifted her dress and began climbing the tree with effort.
Ziye’s favorite resting place was high up, making it very hard to climb.
She was exhausted halfway up.
Her dress, unlike a beast skirt, now seriously slowed her down.
After a long struggle, she finally reached Ziye’s feet.
Panting, she said, “Ziye, give me a hand.”
Ziye turned away, not looking at her, only showing the back of his handsome head.
Luo Luo didn’t get angry. Faced with a handsome man, she immediately lost all temper.
She dragged herself up the tree trunk and looked around. “The view here isn’t bad at all.”
The person opposite her still stood like a log, silent as ever.
Luo Luo gave an awkward smile and took out two pairs of pants from her bundle.
“This one is for you, and this is for Ajin.”
“Try them on, they’re very comfortable.”
Despite her efforts, Ziye remained unmoved.
He said coldly, “Thank you for the trouble. But I don’t need them.”
Although his beast skin was old and worn, he liked his own things and had no interest in anything Luo Luo had.
Luo Luo shoved the pants into his hands. “Just take them. Free. No charge.”
Ziye tilted his head thoughtfully. Money? What is money?
After giving the items, Luo Luo turned to leave.
The guy was handsome, yes, but since he ignored her, there was nothing she could do.
Seeing her really about to leave, Ziye couldn’t help but ask, “Why are you being so nice to me? You know I hate you.”
Her brows curved in a smile. The handsome guy finally spoke to her.
This was progress—big progress.
“We’re family. If others have it, you should have it too.”
Ziye snorted coldly. She only thought of him after giving to others.
“We’re a family, we should all be in order.”
Luo Luo shook her dripping hair. How lovely it was for a family to wear matching clothes.
Ziye lowered his head. The ground beside him was already wet, and drops of water still fell from her hair.
She really was a princess—washing her hair and running around without drying it, not afraid of catching a cold.
No, why did he care?
It would be better if she caught a cold, better if she… died.
“Ziye, I’m leaving. Good night!”
Luo Luo said goodbye carelessly, then jumped to a nearby tree.
She almost missed the branch, and turned awkwardly with an embarrassed smile.
She wanted to show off in front of the handsome guy but nearly fell—it was truly embarrassing.
At that moment, Ziye suddenly spoke, “Tomorrow we’ll reach the arena.”
“I know.”
“Aren’t you afraid of dying?”
“Not necessarily. I might not die,” Luo Luo said, hoping for luck.
Ziye frowned. She clearly didn’t know the danger of that place, thinking it was just a fun outing.
“Leave now with Chiyou. He will protect you. As for Xiaozhan, I’ll deal with him.”
Even Ziye didn’t know why he suddenly said this—his mouth seemed to move on its own.
After speaking, he regretted it immediately. Luo Luo’s eyes sparkled with surprise. “Brother Ziye… are you… caring about me?”
Ziye cleared his throat. “Don’t call me brother. I’m not your brother.”
Who knew that behind the scenes, she called so many males “brother.”
“You’re older than me. Calling you brother is natural.”
Luo Luo wanted to call him husband but feared Ziye would kill her with his gaze.
She broke a branch, skillfully tied up her hair, revealing her pale neck.
“Don’t worry, with you around, I won’t die.”
Luo Luo laughed carefree, no wonder she lived so happily.
Chiyou waited a long time but Luo Luo didn’t come to him.
Anxious, he spun around, repeatedly banging his head against a tree.
From afar, Luo Luo saw the comical scene. She ran over and grabbed his hand. “Stop hitting your head. If you hit your new horn again, it’ll break.”
Seeing Luo Luo finally come for him, though a little late, Chiyou was overjoyed like a fool.
“Come, Mistress, sleep with me.”
“Wait a moment, I’ll be right there.”
Luo Luo took out her sewing kit and began working again.
Meanwhile, Xiaozhan couldn’t suppress the fire within him.
After bathing, he plunged into the river, the icy water instantly dousing his anger.
He couldn’t help but think: Brother’s method is still the best. Brother is really smart.
Ziye sneezed and rubbed his nose.
He secretly took out the pants, glanced at them, and a faint, barely noticeable smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
The next morning, after a simple meal, they walked a few kilometers and arrived at the arena.
The arena was more like a district than a single venue.
Sharpened wooden stakes were still stained with blood, and fences blocked the way forward.
Crossing this point meant entering the arena’s territory—where life and death were fated, and fortune was in heaven’s hands.
Xiaozhan had calculated the timing perfectly. Today was the first day of duels, also the registration day.
“Registration” was more like forced participation.
Weak beastmen thrown in were considered automatically registered.
The bloody wood was enchanted by the great wizard; ordinary beastmen couldn’t escape.
Only the strong could imprint their mark with dignity.
At the entrance, a makeshift registration station was set up.
A large stone was covered with red handprints.
An elderly man oversaw registration. He would speak a few words, then peck at the nearby wood.
The wood was nearly broken from his pecking.
Luo Luo guessed his beast form was a woodpecker.
The woodpecker beastman looked at Luo Luo and the others. “Name, gender, rank.”
Luo Luo stepped forward respectfully. “Luo Luo, adult female, rank 0.”
She scratched the back of her head, feeling embarrassed.
The other registered beastmen were at least rank four or five.
Everyone turned to look at her, then burst into laughter.
The woodpecker beastman waved impatiently. “What little cub is this? Go play somewhere else.”
He pointed to a notice. “Rank 0 does not meet registration requirements. Minimum is rank 3.”
Luo Luo shrugged at Xiaozhan. See? It’s not that I don’t want to enter, they just won’t let me.
She turned to leave, but Xiaozhan grabbed her hand. “Wait, I have a way.”
