Chapter 30: Bound Together

Her voice was low; although they had just made a fuss, it wasn't in vain—she had already probed Ying's limit, which was that he would not let her leave this place, so since he wouldn't release her she must find another way to escape.

Ying's gaze carried a hint of desire; he seemed to understand her words, and the light, floating thing was called clothing, and his Huaner looked especially beautiful in it.

He clicked his tongue, making a strange sound, and soon a Mammoth lumbered slowly from the side; its trunk respectfully handed a skirt to Ying, who took it, tossed the skirt onto a dry boulder, and said coldly, "Put it on."

"A skirt?"

What amazed her was that the beige skirt was still there, even though it should have been burned in her bag by Ying? Had he deliberately frightened her that day, and her bag remained? Ignoring all that, she hurriedly changed out of the wet clothes, and after dressing, when Ying saw her in a white dress, the icy expression in his eyes gradually turned scorching.

Nan Qinghuan felt a bit embarrassed; her dress highlighted her figure, especially her full chest—what would this dead man look at? He had been angry, and this female still begged him to release her; unless the sea dries up and stones crumble, he would not let her go.

A flash of astonishment crossed his eyes, "Huaner's clothes are beautiful."

Ying stepped beside her, gave her a once‑over with a hint of admiration; Nan Qinghuan ignored him and walked straight down the mountain, and Ying did not stop, merely trailing silently behind her.

Along the way, in the jungle they encountered many members of the tribe, all women gathering fruit under the trees; many of them bowed respectfully to Ying and greeted him, and the crowd's gaze toward Nan Qinghuan shifted from previous disgust to worship, with some even feeling jealous.

Unexpectedly, their leader was willing to follow a female and protect her so silently.

Ying seemed somewhat displeased with the tribe members, "Don't worship Oumu?"

The female savages then bowed again to Nan Qinghuan, saying, "Oumu is good."

Nan Qinghuan felt a bit embarrassed, "Don't do that."

She knew this was Ying's way of making the tribe respect her, but she didn't want it at all; she would eventually leave this place and didn't want any entanglements with these savages.

"Oumu, the fruit is delicious."

A Tu ran over and handed her a small fruit; she recognized A Tu—it was the child she had rescued yesterday.

"Thank you, A Tu, I won't eat it; you eat it."

A Tu's face was dark, but his eyes were the clearest, most innocent she had ever seen; feeling a pang of sympathy, she reached out to wipe the mud from his face, "From now on, wash your hands and face before eating, so you won't get sick, understand?"

A Tu was stunned; Oumu's hand was so soft.

Seeing A Tu remain silent, she again reached out and patted his little head; these children had endured wind and rain since childhood, surely pitiful.

Ying saw her crouch and gently pat A Tu's head; A Tu seemed a bit stunned by her touch. When Ying noticed A Tu staring at Nan Qinghuan, a flash of displeasure crossed his eyes, and he stepped forward, seized Nan Qinghuan's hand tightly, and said, "You like the kids; we could have more."

His words made Nan Qinghuan instantly refuse to engage with him; why did this man keep talking about kids? She tried hard to pull his hand away, but his grip was tight; resigned, she said nothing, and just as she was about to speak, a large group of tribe members came thundering toward them, beating Bronze Drums.

"Clan Leader"

Seeing the crowd arrive, Ying also halted; the leading female savage, Aning, rushed forward, "Ying, you're back; the Shamaness has found the Na Shan Clan's Jianxi."

Hearing this, the tribe members gathered around, even the women who had been picking fruit came forward; upon learning that Jianxi had been found, the tribe was concerned, "Who is Jianxi? Aning, speak quickly."