Chapter 79
"A-jin took the Qianjin Pills to heal his wounds, and they have a sedative effect, so it's not surprising he slept so deeply," Xi ger explained to Mu ger.
"Qianjin Pills?" Wang Jin thought back in confusion. "Aren’t those the legendary medicine recorded in medical texts? Xi ger, did you develop them?"
"..." Xi ger paused, giving Wang Jin a strange look. "Those Qianjin Pills were given to you by that Celestial Fox tribesman. You... didn’t know?"
Wang Jin froze. He didn’t remember taking any medicine from Cheng Bai. There was a time when the pain was unbearable, and he blacked out, only to wake up feeling much better.
He had assumed the medicinal paste he left for Cheng Bai had been applied to his wounds. But from what Xi ger said, was that not the case?
Seeing Wang Jin’s blank expression, Xi ger sat by the bed, astonished. "That man gave you twelve Qianjin Pills, A-jin. You really had no idea?"
"...Twelve?" Wang Jin was equally shocked. "Aren’t Qianjin Pills extremely rare? Xi ger, you’ve never even seen them, yet he had so many?"
"..." Xi ger’s eye twitched. "He’s a beastman of the Celestial Fox tribe, it’s not strange for him to have them. What’s strange is that despite his own severe injuries, he didn’t take a single one and gave them all to you... Beastmen... usually only show such unreserved devotion to their own ger..."
Xi ger trailed off hesitantly. Seeing this, Mu ger gritted his teeth and added, "A-jin, you didn’t see it, but Brother Heng’s face turned green when he heard about this."
"!" Wang Jin’s fingers trembled, nearly dropping the empty bowl in his hands.
He quickly steadied himself and placed the bowl on the small bedside table.
Xi ger and Mu ger stared at Wang Jin with expectant gazes, making him inexplicably nervous.
Even though the engagement was left behind by the original owner, he couldn’t help feeling as if he had personally betrayed his man...
Wang Jin’s face flushed and paled alternately as he stammered, trying to change the subject. "You—you keep mentioning this Celestial Fox tribe... What is that?"
"..." Xi ger’s expression turned complicated, as if Wang Jin had asked something bizarre. The two stared at each other in silence, the atmosphere growing awkward.
Mu ger quickly intervened, explaining to Xi ger, "After A-jin’s madness was cured, he forgot everything before coming to the Danmu tribe. Since the Celestial Fox tribe is rarely mentioned here, it’s not strange he doesn’t know."
Then, turning to Wang Jin, Mu ger elaborated, "A-jin, the Celestial Fox tribe is the most powerful after the ancient beast tribes. Their strength isn’t just in combat—in fact, they might not necessarily surpass our Tiger tribe in raw fighting ability—but their speed is unmatched among all beast tribes."
Pausing, Mu ger continued, "Moreover, they are highly intelligent. Long ago, they built towering walls to defend against beast hordes, so their territory is almost unaffected by them."
Xi ger chimed in, "That’s a bit like our tribe, except they rely on walls while our tribe is simply avoided by all beasts—unless provoked, they never attack."
A shadow crossed Xi ger’s face as he recalled Yue ger’s recent actions, and he fell silent, his mood visibly dampened.
Mu ger quickly steered the conversation back. "Because they’re free from beast tides, their walled world has become a stable, peaceful paradise—a place all beastmen and ger dream of. It’s said to be filled with rare treasures, and tales of the Celestial Fox tribe spread far and wide. Almost every beastman and ger knows of them, which is why Xi ger was surprised you didn’t."
Wang Jin nodded in understanding. Mu ger added, "The Celestial Fox tribe is universally acknowledged as the tribe with the most treasures. If someone is from that tribe, it’s no surprise they’d have rare items, including Qianjin Pills."
"..." Wang Jin’s brow twitched.
Wasn’t that too exaggerated?
Qianjin Pills were legendary medicines recorded in medical texts. Were they really so commonplace among the Celestial Fox tribe? Even they would need rare ingredients to make them. Were people overestimating the Celestial Fox tribe?
Xi ger continued, "The Celestial Fox tribe calls their walled world a 'city.' They’ve always governed it themselves, and their leader is called the City Lord."
"...Ning’an City?" Wang Jin recalled the name Cheng Bai had mentioned.
"Yes, Ning’an City." Xi ger studied Wang Jin curiously. "A-jin, didn’t you say you didn’t remember the Celestial Fox tribe? How do you know the city’s name?"
Wang Jin hurriedly replied, "Cheng Bai told me. He said he’s from Ning’an City."
"Cheng Bai?" Mu ger and Xi ger exchanged puzzled glances.
Wang Jin blinked in surprise. "The white fox beastman. Didn’t he tell you his name when he woke up? The Cheng Bai I mentioned is him."
Mu ger shook his head. "I’ve been staying in the room Xi ger prepared for me or here with you. I’ve only seen him from afar, never spoken to him."
Xi ger said, "I did talk to him briefly, just about his injuries. He acknowledged it, thanked me, and then left to wander around. He didn’t say anything else."
Wang Jin’s eyes brightened slightly.
So the man hadn’t revealed anything? That meant no one—including Brother Heng knew about the original owner’s engagement.
Wang Jin relaxed.
Xi ger added thoughtfully, "Though, I did see him talking to Brother Heng."
"!" The man had spoken to the white fox?
Did Cheng Bai outright tell Brother Heng about the original owner’s past engagement?
Wang Jin’s heart, which had just settled, lurched back into his throat. He looked up at Xi ger anxiously. "What did they talk about?"
Just as Xi ger was about to answer, a voice, laced with amusement, came from the doorway.
"Rather than asking him, why not ask me, the person involved?" Cheng Bai stepped inside.
The man had washed away all traces of dust and blood, his snow-white robes making him look like an immortal descending to the mortal world. His handsome features, carved with delicate precision, left a lasting impression. Now, with a gentle smile and warm eyes, he exuded a unique aura that instantly drew the attention of all three in the room.
This man... is indeed good-looking. Though not as striking as Brother Heng, he's more attractive than any of the scholars I had kept in my previous life.
Noticing Wang Jin’s gaze, Cheng Bai’s smile deepened as he approached the bedside.
Standing against the light, his silhouette was haloed by the glow behind him, as if he himself were radiating a soft luminescence. The effect made him appear even more ethereal.
Wang Jin had always appreciated handsome men, and now he couldn’t help but stare a little longer.
The delicate creature before him gazed with wide, watery eyes, his clear irises reflecting Cheng Bai’s image as if he occupied his every thought. Cheng Bai’s heart skipped a beat, his expression softening involuntarily.
The warmth in his eyes melted away his usual aloofness, carrying a hint of spring’s tenderness as it enveloped Wang Jin, weaving an unspoken intimacy between them.
Mu ger glanced between Wang Jin and the man, his face paling. Without thinking, he blurted out, "A-jin, what’s your relationship with him?"
"!" Wang Jin snapped back to reality, quickly averting his gaze and curling his fingers.
In his past life, it wouldn’t have mattered—he could’ve simply invited any attractive man to be his guest. But now he was married, and his beastman was a jealous man. Even looking at other ger for too long would sour his mood. If he found out Wang Jin had been admiring Cheng Bai’s looks...
No, I can't look.
Wang Jin lowered his head, obediently fixing his eyes on the bed, refusing to glance at Cheng Bai again.
Cheng Bai arched a brow, studying Wang Jin’s reaction with faint amusement before shifting his gaze to Mu ger. "Actually, our relationship is—"
Wang Jin’s fingers trembled. Was this man really about to announce their connection?!
Their relationship—former brother-in-law and younger brother-in-law—was not something to be disclosed so casually. If Yuan Heng found out, what would he think?
Wang Jin hastily cut in, "We’re in a rescuer-and-rescued relationship."
Cheng Bai paused, turning to Wang Jin, who shot him a meaningful look and pointed at him. "Cheng Bai... saved me."
The delicate creature’s exaggerated expression made it clear he wanted Cheng Bai to cover for him, to hide the fact that he’d mentioned the prior engagement with his elder brother...
Hide it? Did this delicate creature really think he could hide it?
Twelve Qianjin Pills—all given to him without hesitation. Rushing into a beast horde, risking his life to save him. Only telling this delicate creature his name...
Did he really think anyone would believe this flimsy excuse?
Cheng Bai didn’t understand why he felt so irked, but he played along reluctantly. "Yes, rescuer and rescued. So, delicate creature, how do you plan to repay me for saving your life?"
Wang Jin looked up earnestly. "What do you want?"
His serious tone made it seem as if he genuinely intended to repay the favor... Cheng Bai was taken aback.
This ger was technically his betrothed. Protecting one’s ger was a given, Cheng Bai hadn’t actually expected anything in return. His earlier words had just been a spur-of-the-moment jab.
Unable to think of a demand, Cheng Bai opted for an enigmatic reply. "What I seek... you already know, don’t you?"
Know? Know what?
Wang Jin’s eye twitched. The man had only mentioned the original owner’s engagement to his elder brother, that the original owner had a brother who was the City Lord, and that he’d come to find him...
What else could he be seeking?
Then it hit him. Wang Jin’s eyes lit up with realization. "Ah! I understand. Give me some time, I’ll definitely resolve your problem."
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