Chapter 70
"…!" The leader widened his eyes, staring at Wang Jin, his face dark with displeasure: "What exactly do you mean by this?"
"You should go back and ask Yue ger what he means." Wang Jin tossed the question back, his cunning expression making him look like a well-crafted fox.
"…" The leader's fingers trembled, his clenched fists shaking so hard they nearly came apart. "Don’t tell me you think A-Yue did this on purpose?"
He never said that.
Wang Jin’s eyes flickered. For the leader to respond like this, could it be that he himself had already harbored such thoughts?
Thinking this, Wang Jin replied, "Whether it was intentional or not, I believe the leader, having spent day and night with Yue ger, must understand him better than I do."
As he spoke, those clear, penetrating eyes stared straight at him, boring deep into his soul, as if dragging out the secrets hidden in his heart and laying them bare before everyone…
The leader panicked, then a surge of anger erupted from the depths of his heart, rushing up until his scalp tingled. He needed an outlet, somewhere to vent this raging fury.
Glaring at Wang Jin, he roared furiously, "Enough! I won’t allow anyone to speak ill of A-Yue! Before, he just wanted to eat those fruits and meats, it was my own idea to come ask Yuan Heng for help. And now, he’s simply sick and needs the Rui grass! Don’t you dare try to drive a wedge between me and A-Yue!"
"…" Drive a wedge?
Wang Jin’s eye twitched. "I’d sooner wish you a happy union for a hundred years. Why would I drive a wedge between you two? If you want to lie to yourself, then go ahead."
Wang Jin spoke carelessly, his demeanor clearly dismissive.
The leader gritted his teeth, ignored him, and turned to Yuan Heng: "This Rui Grass is no small matter. You must come with me."
"…" Yuan Heng, who had been staring fixedly at the little ger, finally shifted his gaze to the leader. He shook his head.
The leader clenched his fingers, his voice low and heavy. "I'm the leader of the Danmu tribe. I order you to go. If you refuse, you’re disobeying orders, and I can choose to banish you—"
His eyes slid to Wang Jin. "—both of you from the tribe!"
"!" Wang Jin bared his teeth in anger. "I’ve never seen someone so selfish!"
Yuan Heng’s expression darkened. He stared silently at the leader, his light-colored pupils suddenly deepening like unfathomable ink.
"Do you know what you’re saying?" After a long pause, he spoke slowly, each word heavy as a hammer striking the leader’s heart, making his heart race.
Even though he was the leader, in front of this man, it felt as though Yuan Heng was the one giving orders.
The leader’s face twisted. Gnashing his teeth, he said, "Is what I’m saying wrong? Defying the leader’s orders means being prepared to be exiled. Oh, and that lunatic seems quite close with that cripple, why don’t I have both your families leave together?"
"Try laying a finger on A-Mu!" Wang Jin snarled, stepping forward to kick the leader. Yuan Heng pulled him back, soothing him by gently stroking his hair, like calming a cat.
"Brother Heng, hit him!" Wang Jin gnashed his teeth, his fiery temper making him look like a little leopard baring its claws. But when he lifted his gaze to the man, his pouting expression resembled a bristling kitten, his soft voice like the rapid, indignant murmurs of a young cat.
Yuan Heng’s heart softened. The anger in his chest suddenly dissipated, as if a hole had been torn open, letting it all escape.
He continued stroking the ger's hair, then turned his gaze to the man across from them—who had already assumed a battle stance.
Yuan Heng gave him a disdainful glance, as if mocking the leader’s combat ability.
Humiliated, the leader’s expression turned ugly.
Only then did Yuan Heng slowly speak: "Are you sure?"
His tone was grave, as if asking about something of great importance. The leader hesitated, confusion flashing in his eyes.
"Sure about what?"
Yuan Heng lowered his lashes, casting shadows under his eyes that made his expression seem gloomy. But upon closer inspection, nothing could be discerned.
"I’m asking if you’re sure you want me to retrieve Rui grass." Yuan Heng spoke again, his lowered lashes completely concealing the darkness and calculations in his eyes.
The leader couldn’t grasp Yuan Heng’s meaning, so he answered according to his own thoughts: "Of course."
"Ha!" Yuan Heng let out a scornful laugh, as if the person before him was utterly beneath his regard.
The leader, the highest authority of the Danmu tribe, had never been treated with such contempt. Furious, he was about to assert his dominance—
But the man had already pushed open the door, coldly ushering him out: "Understood. Go back. This time, you and I will act separately."
His voice was devoid of the earlier mockery - flat and emotionless, yet inexplicably chilling. The leader wanted to rebuke him, but the moment he looked up—
The man’s sharp gaze was like an ice-carved blade, assaulting him from all directions. Despite being a leader who had commanded respect for years, he couldn’t withstand even a moment of eye contact with such a gaze.
He practically fled out the door. The moment he stepped outside, the door slammed shut behind him with a loud "bang!", as if he were entirely unwelcome.
The leader gnashed his teeth, only to hear a soft voice from inside:
"Keep an eye on your own ger, and stop letting him covet other people’s beastmen!"
The leader had never felt so humiliated in his life…
But his ger was sick and refused to see a healer, what else could he do?
"If you want to lie to yourself, then go ahead." The lunatic’s words echoed in his ears like a curse. The leader clenched his fists tightly.
It was true, no ger would demand their beastman fetch fruits or meats beyond their capability… Yet his ger was obsessed with…
Did he really want him to retrieve them? Or was it…
The leader shook his head, not daring to think further.
He strode home, likely unaware of how pale his face had become, his lips bloodless, blending into his ashen skin.
After the leader left, Wang Jin shot the man a reproachful look. Though his expression was accusatory, his eyes were damp, his soft lips slightly pouted in dissatisfaction, making Yuan Heng see nothing but grievance in them.
Yuan Heng’s heart softened. His fingers twitched, gently pinching the tender flesh on the back of the little ger’s hand.
Wang Jin’s hand went numb, the sensation spreading straight to his heart. He looked up at the man, only to find those warm eyes fixed on him, so full of affection it made his heart sweeten.
His expression eased slightly. Noticing this, Yuan Heng spoke softly: "I'm going to retrieve Rui grass."
"…" Wang Jin’s hand stiffened. He frowned at the man, disapproval clear in his eyes—and beneath that, Yuan Heng seemed to detect a sticky reluctance.
Indeed, fetching Rui grass would take at least four days.
Yuan Heng’s heart itched as if brushed by a feather. He lowered his head, pecking the little ger’s lips lightly. "I’m going for my little ger. My little ger’s body is weak, this Rui grass strengthens the body. I must get it to nourish him."
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