"What?!" The leader’s eyes widened in anger: "You want to host a banquet for him? Since when does a lunatic deserve such honor? He’s been so vicious to you, you can’t be this soft-hearted! Besides, you’re still sick, and I’m about to go find Rui grass for you. Let’s deal with this after I return, after we find the Rui grass... after you’ve recovered."
Find the Rui grass?
If they found the Rui grass, Brother Heng would return, and then it would be harder for him to act.
Upon hearing this, Yue ger lowered his eyes and said softly, "I heard Brother Heng has already set off to find the Rui grass, is that true?"
The leader nodded, and Yue ger revealed a faint smile. "Then, could the leader please not go?"
Whether this man left or not wouldn’t affect his plans, so Yue ger would rather have that man retrieve the Rui grass for him.
Previously, the fruits and meat had been gathered by this man, so it stood to reason that if he found the herbs this time, he wouldn’t fail to bring some back… By then, once the medicine was in his hands, it would be as if the man had picked it for him.
Thinking of this, Yue ger felt quite pleased.
"!" How could he not go when his own ger’s fatal illness required the Rui grass for treatment? The leader almost immediately shook his head. "As long as there’s a chance, we must search for it. We can’t give up."
Yue ger was slightly taken aback, then shook his head. "I’m not giving up. It’s just that Brother Heng has already left first. As an ancient beastman, he’s faster and will find it before you. If he returns to fetch you for harvesting, but you're already out there… wouldn’t that mean missing each other?"
The leader pondered for a moment and realized this was indeed the case. But if so, wouldn’t it mean Yuan Heng was running around for his ger, while he himself…
Seeing the leader’s dark expression, Yue ger knew the man was falling back into his old thoughts. He quickly spoke up, "Actually, I have some selfish reasons too. The jungle is dangerous, and I don’t want you to take risks. It’s better to let Brother Heng scout ahead…"
Does this mean that between Yuan Heng and myself, Yue ger has chosen me?
The leader’s heart trembled with joy, a delight sprouting from deep within, making his whole body feel invigorated. Though he remained seated, it was as if he were floating on clouds.
Overcome with emotion, he tightly embraced Yue ger.
Seizing the opportunity, Yue ger said, "Besides, you and I have spent so little time together. I’ve missed you terribly before, and now that I’m seriously ill, I can’t bear to see you leave. Will you stay with me?"
Though the ger’s face was pale, he was uncharacteristically affectionate toward him.
Hearing this, the leader had no mind to refuse. He nodded eagerly.
Seeing this, Yue ger’s eyes flickered, and he continued, "With the leader here, A-Jin won’t dare cause trouble. I want to clear up the misunderstanding with A-Jin as soon as possible. How about we hold a banquet? My health isn’t an issue—though the healers can’t cure this illness, it’s not immediately life-threatening. Let me do this, it’ll ease my heart. We can invite the other gers from the tribe too, as witnesses. What do you think?"
The leader’s heart melted completely. "Whatever A-Yue says," he replied.
Yue ger felt a surge of joy, but after a moment, he began to cry. "But A-Jin misunderstands me so deeply… I’m afraid he won’t come."
"Hmph." The leader snorted coldly, gritting his teeth. "I’ll go! I’ll make sure he comes."
"Mmm…" Yue ger leaned weakly against the leader’s shoulder.
____
Wang Jin was chatting with Mu ger, Yu ger, and Yao ger when the leader suddenly approached.
Mu ger and Yao ger grew visibly tense, standing up at once. Yu ger called out "Brother" to the leader, who glanced at him, his gaze shifting between him and Wang Jin. "Instead of taking care of the sick at home, you’re out here fooling around all day."
Yu ger frowned. "How am I fooling around? The only one sick at home is that Yue ger, and it’s all fake…"
He muttered under his breath, but the leader’s sharp hearing caught every word. His expression darkened as he glared at Wang Jin, who was baffled.
Seeing this, Yu ger quickly blocked the leader’s line of sight and changed the subject. "Brother, weren’t you planning to travel far? Why are you here?"
"I’m not going," the leader said.
Yu ger’s eyes lit up, and he tugged at Wang Jin beside him, whispering, "See? My brother isn’t leaving anymore. He must have seen through Yue ger’s act and won’t go fetch medicine for him. As it should be…"
Wang Jin narrowed his eyes, studying the leader’s hostile expression. His instincts told him it wasn’t that simple. He awkwardly hummed in response, signaling Yu ger to stay quiet.
Every word of Yu ger’s reached the leader’s ears, further souring his mood. His glare at Wang Jin intensified.
"I’m staying to accompany A-Yue and take care of him," the leader declared, his tone laced with concern—hardly the attitude one would have toward someone they’d utterly lost faith in.
Yu ger stared at the leader in confusion. "Wait, Brother, why are you still taking care of him? Staying with him? He’s clearly faking it. There’s no need!"
Muttering quietly earlier was one thing, but now he was outright saying it. The leader’s anger flared. "Who said he’s faking?! The healers have already examined him, he’s seriously ill!"
Yu ger gaped. "The healers checked?"
"Just now," the leader snapped.
"Really sick?" Yu ger pressed.
The leader’s face darkened. "Xiao Yu, you’re getting more and more out of line! How can you take the words of some scheming individual so seriously?"
Scheming? Is he referring to me?
Wang Jin’s lips twitched.
Yu ger frowned. "But… Brother, if he’s really sick, why aren’t you going to find the medicine?"
The leader paused, then answered matter-of-factly, "Yuan Heng is searching for the medicine, so of course I’ll take care of A-Yue."
Whatever Yue ger had said to the leader, the man who had once been deeply averse to another man fetching medicine for Yue ger now spoke with such conviction.
And it was this very tone of entitlement that finally ignited Wang Jin’s fury.
Did this man really think Yuan Heng existed to serve them?
He glared at the leader and retorted sarcastically, "So? What exactly is the leader here for? To flaunt his authority? To remind us that because you’re the leader, you can order Brother Heng around for your personal matters?"
"!" The leader’s expression darkened. "Wang Jin, don’t push your luck!"
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