Beauty and the Beasts

Chapter 6: Dangerous Crops

Parker and Bai Qingqing quickly arrived at Parker’s home, as it was located at the edge of the village closest to the forest. He put her down, transformed into a human, and said, “You must be hungry, female. I’ll grill some meat for you to eat.”

Parker grabbed a skirt made of animal skin from inside the house and put it on. He then carried a pile of dried firewood to the entrance and made a fire.

Bai Qingqing looked inside Parker’s wooden house. The interior of the house was very simple. There was only one room, with a grass nest on the left side of the room and a pile of firewood, animal bones, animal skin, and other things on the right.

The fire crackled as it lit up. Parker placed the entire wolf on the fire, glancing at his female from time to time. She really looked prettier the more he stared at her. Although her face was covered with mud, he thought she was extremely pretty.

“What flavor do you like?” Parker suddenly asked.

Bai Qingqing’s foot hurt after she walked around the house. She then walked over to Parker and sat next to him on the ground. Her clothes were dirty, anyway.

“What flavors are there?”

Parker glanced at the firewood in the house and replied, “There’s willow bark and sandalwood bark. If you prefer other flavors, I’ll go and chop them for you later.”

“Huh?” Bai Qingqing looked at the firewood, then at Parker with a confused look on her face. Wasn’t he referring to the food? Did they use firewood to adjust the taste of their food?

“Anything’s fine. I’ll go with whatever you’re eating,” Bai Qingqing replied, seeing that Parker hadn’t prepared any seasonings for the food. Her stomach suddenly grumbled, but she didn’t have much of an appetite. “Do you have any rice?”

The smiling Parker’s expression suddenly changed. He glared at Bai Qingqing with an especially agitated look on his face. “Don’t even think about it!”

Taken aback by Parker’s sudden change in expression, Bai Qingqing instinctively shifted to the side and prepared to make a run for it at any moment.

There were so many people in the tribe. If Parker hit her, someone would probably come and save her, right?

“Do you know how many males died of hunger because they planted rice for wretched females like you?” Parker’s ferocious eyes flashed with bitter hatred. “I’ll help you get anything you want to eat, except for rice! I hate finicky females the most!”

Parker’s words were somewhat exaggerated, but they weren’t completely false. Males died because of this almost every year. Those beastmen went to extreme lengths just to chase after the females they liked. Growing rice required a lot of effort, and males had to remain in the fields at all times. Over time, their bodies would grow weak from a lack of food. Every year, there would be such males who entered the forest to hunt and never returned.

Bai Qingqing was shocked. Was growing rice very dangerous? How could it have killed such strong beastmen? She temporarily brushed aside the doubts in her mind and replied, “Fine, I won’t eat rice. You don’t have to be so fierce.”

Parker’s expression immediately lightened up, and he even reached out to touch Bai Qingqing’s head. “Good girl.”

“Hmph!” Bai Qingqing wordlessly shook off the large hand on her head.

Parker pulled his hand back in disappointment, then smiled upon recalling how her head felt underneath his palm. It really was different with a female around. The dull time spent grilling meat seemed to pass more quickly.

Bai Qingqing massaged her ankle, only realizing then that it had become swollen. She couldn’t help but wince. “Ah.”

“What’s wrong?” Parker immediately asked.

Bai Qingqing continued massaging her ankle and answered indifferently, “It’s fine.”

Parker was alarmed at her swollen ankle. He quickly put down the firewood and lifted up her leg to get a closer look.

“Oh my god, you’re injured!”

Bai Qingqing was stunned at Parker’s horrified reaction.

“I can’t believe I didn’t notice it earlier. I’m sorry.” Parker looked extremely guilty as he kissed and blew at her ankle.

Bai Qingqing’s face turned red. She kicked and prodded at Parker’s chest with her leg, but he didn’t move an inch. Instead, the counterforce caused her to feel immense pain in her ankle and cry out in pain.

Parker instantly freaked out. He carried Bai Qingqing on his back and ran to the village doctor’s place, not caring about the meat.