Leisurely Life in the Beast World - Chapter 218

The chubby cub’s drowsy eyes instantly brightened. His pudgy little paws rested on Ji Nuan’s shoulder, and his round head peeked eagerly out the window.

Ji Nuan opened the window slightly, letting the damp, chilly air rush inside. The cub’s small black nose twitched, and his dark, shiny eyes lit up. “Ow ow!” It really was raining!

His adorable expression reminded Ji Nuan of the days when he had stayed in her home to recover. She reached out to stroke his smooth fur, her heart filling with warmth.

The morning sky remained overcast, but the tribe’s mood was unusually cheerful. The end of the harsh cold season brought hope for a new year, with rebirth and renewal.

However, the peaceful atmosphere didn’t last long. Loud beastly roars echoed from beyond the tribe’s walls, shattering the calm.

“Roar!”

“Ow!”

“Howl!”

Beastmen poured out of their homes, rushing toward the gate under Chief Ge Xing’s command.

Xiu Yan, wearing only a thin beast hide coat, hugged Ji Nuan briefly by the window before disappearing into the rain.

Waiting was agonizing. Beastmen tasked with guarding the females and cubs stood outside Ji Nuan’s house, occasionally glancing toward the tribe’s gates. The once serene morning was replaced with tension, a stifling anxiety that gripped the entire tribe.

Finally, by midday, the roars outside the tribe began to fade, eventually disappearing altogether.

Ji Nuan went to the kitchen and retrieved the last clucking beast from the food storage. She cleaned it, chopped it into pieces with a stone knife, and simmered it in a pot to make a fragrant chicken soup.

Time ticked by, and the rich aroma of the soup wafted out of the kitchen. The guards outside sniffed the air, their eyes drawn longingly toward the kitchen.

Ji Nuan’s cooking was unmatched in the tribe, and her meals always carried an irresistible allure. Xiu Yan was truly blessed to have her.

The object of their jealousy arrived, stepping into the yard just then. Xiu Yan, drenched from the rain, headed to the bathhouse first. After cleaning up and changing into dry hides, he followed the mouthwatering scent into the kitchen.

The golden aroma of the chicken soup teased Xiu Yan’s nose, making his stomach growl. He hadn’t eaten all morning and couldn’t help swallowing hard.

Ji Nuan ladled the steaming soup into a bowl so large it could barely fit in her arms. She handed it to him with a pair of chopsticks. “Have some soup to warm up.”

Xiu Yan’s lips twitched as he accepted the enormous bowl, which was at least twice the size of his face. Holding it with both hands, he took a sip. The warm, rich soup slid down his throat, filling his stomach and sending a cozy warmth through his entire body. He shivered slightly, basking in the comfort.

Taking a piece of tender chicken, he bit into it. The meat melted in his mouth, soft and flavorful. Xiu Yan stayed in the kitchen, noisily slurping soup and chewing meat while the guards outside swallowed audibly, clearly envious.

Ji Nuan, noticing their plight, filled a smaller porcelain bowl with soup and meat and handed it to one of the guards. “You’ve worked hard today. Come inside, have some soup and meat to warm yourself up.”

The guard, moved to tears, accepted the bowl with trembling hands. He was about to step inside when Xiu Yan shot him a sharp, possessive glare. The guard froze, his foot mid-air, and quickly veered away. “I’ll eat in the other house!” he stammered, fleeing with his bowl faster than a rabbit.

Ji Nuan knew Xiu Yan’s possessive streak all too well. She glared at him but could only shake her head in exasperation. Taking a small stool, she sat down in the kitchen and looked at him. “Was it a wild beast attacking the tribe this morning?”