Chapter 425: A Seed of Love Is Slowly Sprouting

Qingfeng thanked herself, and Youchao Xuan just smiled, "It's nothing, I only admired your skill and thought it would benefit us if you stayed. You're hungry, right? I simmered some soup, come with me and have a taste?"

"This…"

Qingfeng still felt somewhat insecure; she had no relatives or friends here, not even Axi paid her much attention, and she didn't expect Youchao Xuan to invite her to eat.

But she didn't understand what soup was. When she was outside the Tribe she only ate grilled things—Roasted Meat, roasted sweet potatoes, and the like. She never imagined there could be soup. Amazing.

Youchao Xuan saw that she didn't know what soup was, and he suddenly felt a pang of sorrow, his voice low as he asked, "Did you leave the Tribe when you were very young?"

He had heard from Ji Lei that Qingfeng left the Tribe at a very young age, saying she was to serve the Great Elder. In the Ying Tribe there is an unwritten rule: the Great Elder generally does not reside in the Tribe, returning only when a major incident occurs to take charge. He didn't expect that this time, because of the incident on this street, the Great Elder returned. However, he no longer knows that the Tribe's members have undergone earth‑shattering changes, and no one listens to his words anymore.

Naturally, no one paid him any attention.

But he felt some pity for Qingfeng; she was a petite female, why should she serve him for a lifetime? She should have her own life.

Qingfeng had never felt anyone's concern; after many years, at this moment she suddenly felt like crying.

"Yes, I left many years ago, I was sent to serve the Great Elder."

Youchao Xuan saw she seemed cold, hurriedly took off his Beast Skin and wrapped it around her, which made Qingfeng a bit uncomfortable; she had never accepted a favor from a male before.

Except for Ying.

"I don't want…"

"Don't misunderstand, I'm just afraid you'll catch a cold and it will affect your training. Come on, I'll take you home and let you try my cooking?"

She truly hadn't expected that Youchao Xuan would so proactively invite Qingfeng to his home for soup; when Qingfeng arrived at his house, she was stunned by Youchao Xuan's home.

Because Youchao Xuan's house had many Wooden Stools and tables, things she had never seen before.

She felt very curious, looked around left and right, and even personally tried those stools; sitting on them was extremely comfortable.

The house burned firewood, making it very warm; Qingfeng no longer felt cold, and she kept holding a stool, looking around again.

Very cute.

"Youchao Xuan, did you make all these?"

She found it incredible that Youchao Xuan could make these things; he was amazing.

Youchao Xuan saw her liking it, smiled, "Do you like them? If you do, later I'll give you a few. Come, sit over here, have some soup?"

Youchao Xuan lived alone, yet his home was neatly arranged; today he had specially simmered a pot of Wild Boar Soup, with stewed pork ribs inside.

It smelled extremely fragrant.

Qingfeng had never smelled such a delightful aroma; instantly her stomach growled with hunger.

She felt shy to step forward and sit; holding both hands, she watched the steam rising from the stone pot, inhaled deeply, "So fragrant! So the Tribe has become this good at cooking. I remember when we left, we were still eating raw meat, right?"

Those days seemed truly pitiful in hindsight; now things are much better, the Tribe can enjoy such good lives.

She indeed couldn't compare to Nan Qinghuan.

She had to admit that in her heart.

Youchao Xuan saw the expectation in her eyes, hurriedly lifted an Earthen Bowl and handed it to her, "Taste?"

Qingfeng lifted the bowl, unable to hold back, "Thank you."

She ate ravenously; Youchao Xuan worried she might get burned, "Be careful, don't get burned…"

"It's fine, I'm not afraid."

Qingfeng's manner of eating wasn't pretty, yet Youchao Xuan didn't disdain her; instead, he felt she was truly pitiful.

Yes, very pitiful.

If she had come earlier, she wouldn't have ended up like this.

This made him feel uneasy, "Qingfeng, eat slowly; there's more after you finish."

Qingfeng gulped down five bowls of soup in one go, then finally stopped.

She patted her round, bulging belly, wiped the oil from the corner of her mouth, "Youchao Xuan, what you made is truly delicious; I've never eaten anything this tasty in my life, thank you."

Youchao Xuan just smiled, "No need to thank me. If you like it, come often. After next Spring, we'll build houses for you; when Summer arrives, you'll have new homes to live in. Qingfeng, your choice to stay and live a good life is right, but …"

Youchao Xuan's words suddenly halted, leaving Qingfeng a bit confused.

"What is it? If you have something to say, speak up; we're friends now."

Qingfeng liked Youchao Xuan a lot, probably because last night he gave her a cold‑resistant Beast Skin; it was the first time since returning that she felt the warmth of someone's care.

Even her friend Ying had never looked after her; this silver‑haired man came to help her.

In fact, she truly was grateful to Youchao Xuan in her heart.

He was the first person who made her feel warmth.

And he was male.

Youchao Xuan saw her being so unabashed, so he stood up, and the smile on his face gradually faded.

"Qingfeng, tell me honestly, have you really given up on Ying?"

Sure enough, as soon as he said that, Qingfeng's complexion changed instantly; she stared at him in shock, "What did you say?"

Youchao Xuan knew her reaction was strong, yet he still needed to make it clear to her: no one may destroy the Goddess's happiness.

"No one may!"

"I hope you stop scheming against Ying. He belongs solely to the Goddess; you must understand that."

Only then did Qingfeng realize why Youchao Xuan had invited her to eat; it was for this matter.

Seeing Qingfeng not answer him, Youchao Xuan grew worried, "Can you still let go of the past? If you can't, you won't be able to stay here long. The Military Camp will eventually be completed; then, what will you do?"

Upon hearing Youchao Xuan's words, Qingfeng suddenly shook her head, "No, I thought it through clearly last night. Ying is the Clan Leader; I will no longer have any thoughts about him. Moreover, you're right—I must have my own days to live, right?"

These words delighted Youchao Xuan, "Are you speaking sincerely?"

She really gave up liking Ying? Qingfeng smiled and nodded, "That's right. I guess I never really liked Ying; I just can't forget the things from childhood. When we were kids we went hunting together, returned to the Tribe together, played in the river, climbed trees to take bird nests—we did it all. Being with him was joyful, truly joyful, but now I finally understand something: he has grown up and is not that…"