Chapter 187: Let’s Run, Fox (III)

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Chapter 187: Let’s Run, Fox (III)

A single pheasant was naturally not enough to fill a lion’s empty stomach. As he licked the traces of oil off his claws, he silently watched Shang Ke.

Shang Ke brought him another serving of three-delicacy soup in a fruit shell two-thirds larger than the one he had given Mother Rat.

After tasting the roast pheasant, Mutu regarded the soup with a little suspicion. Still, his portion was noticeably larger than the fat rat’s, which pleased him enough to drink it without complaint. To his surprise, it tasted excellent. He gave Shang Ke a long look. How had he never known this little fox could cook so well?

Someone who could kill enemies in battle and run a household at home was exactly the kind of talent Mutu ought to keep close.

Once Mutu had eaten his fill, Shang Ke began cleaning his wounds and applying fresh medicine. Cuts from blades, axes, and arrows crisscrossed the lion’s body, several so deep that bone was visible beneath the torn flesh. Yet Mutu barely reacted, as though pain meant nothing to him. Only when the medicine first touched a wound would his brows draw together slightly.

Shang Ke covered much of Mutu’s chest and back with leaves soaked in medicinal juice, then secured them with strips of linen scalded clean in hot water. The cloth had been torn from Mutu’s own shirt; the garment was already shredded beyond use, so it might as well serve one last purpose.

Watching his practiced movements and clean, efficient bandaging, Mutu could not help asking, “Were you a shaman-healer’s apprentice?”

Medicine in this era was rudimentary, with nothing resembling a complete medical system. The “shaman-healers” Mutu referred to knew some basic herbal remedies, but their more important duty was to invoke the gods and pray for blessings. The role was usually held by a respected, experienced elder. That was why Mutu asked whether Yanu had been a shaman-healer’s apprentice rather than a shaman-healer himself.

Shang Ke shook his head, and the long hair falling over his forehead swayed gently with the movement.

Mutu was just about to reach over and brush those strands aside when Shang Ke rose and headed outside.

“Where are you going?”

Shang Ke turned back, picked up the remaining strip of cloth, and mimed wiping his face.

Mutu asked no more. He simply watched Shang Ke walk away. Light from outside the cave outlined the fox’s slender figure; long white hair fell straight down his back, while his fluffy tail swayed gently behind him like a soft fan, irresistibly tempting to the touch.

There was something about this fox utterly unlike the other beastfolk Mutu knew: quiet, gentle, unconcerned with competition or status, and touched by the faintest trace of… allure.

Even when Yanu merely stood quietly nearby, his presence was soothing. How had Mutu never noticed that before?

That evening, Shang Ke returned carrying an entire wild boar over one shoulder. The sight of such a heavy, thick-bodied animal resting on those slender shoulders struck Mutu as profoundly incongruous.

Shang Ke drew his knife and set to work butchering the boar. The sky suggested rain the next day, so he had deliberately hunted something large enough that he would not need to go out again in bad weather.

Mutu watched without blinking. In the dim cave, the knife flashed silver in Shang Ke’s hands, his movements flowing with an almost dance-like rhythm.

By the time Mutu came out of his daze, Shang Ke had already finished dressing the boar. He wrapped half of it in leaves for later and stewed the other half, which was just enough to leave Mutu pleasantly half-full.

Rain began pouring outside in the middle of the night, and the damp chill made Mutu sleep restlessly. Then warmth suddenly settled across his chest.

Mutu slowly opened his eyes. A huge snow-white tail lay across his chest, soft and warm enough to drive away the chill. Following it to its owner, he found Shang Ke curled into a quiet ball beside him. All Mutu had to do was reach out, and he could gather the fox straight into his arms.

The thought had barely formed before his arm was already around Shang Ke. The fox’s narrow waist contrasted sharply with Mutu’s powerful build. His loose hide slipped below one shoulder, exposing a broad stretch of smooth skin, while beneath the leather skirt his long legs were slightly bent, one knee resting against Mutu’s thigh.

Mutu’s lower abdomen tightened, and his throat suddenly felt dry. Unable to resist, he leaned closer and breathed in at the hollow of Shang Ke’s neck. A faint natural scent mingled with the warmth of his body and filled Mutu’s senses.

Unable to resist, Mutu bit lightly into Shang Ke’s neck. A lion’s desire came quickly. Mutu had only recently become Lion King and had not yet exercised the mating privileges that came with the position. By lion custom, all unmated females belonged first to the Lion King; without his permission, the other males could not mate with them. Only during the coming-of-age ceremony could the younger lions seek partners of their own.

The former Lion King had been domineering and tyrannical, treating every young, attractive female as his private property. Even after the other lions came of age, he refused to assign them mates. Unless they left the pride, they could only choose older, less attractive females as partners.

The former Lion King had been so powerful that the younger lions, though furious, had never dared oppose him. His tyranny finally ended when Mutu challenged and defeated him.

Mutu had been Lion King for only two months, and he himself was still two months away from coming of age. In other words, before even reaching adulthood, Mutu had defeated the powerful former Lion King through sheer courage and strength. That earned him enormous respect among the younger lions, though some of the older lions did not necessarily accept him wholeheartedly.

Mutu had never shown much interest in females before, yet now a fox was stirring desire in him. The question of species never even crossed his mind.

Just as Mutu was about to conduct a more thorough “study” of the fox beside him, a huge white tail swept across and covered his face. Shang Ke stretched, rolled over, and went right on sleeping.

When even that fluffy tail slipped away from him, Mutu felt inexplicably dissatisfied. He reached out with one large hand and hauled the fox back into his arms.

Mm. He really was comfortable to hold.

Mutu smiled in satisfaction and stuck close to the fox’s back. He slowly closed his eyes.

The next day, the rain still had not stopped. Fortunately, Shang Ke had prepared in advance, so food was not yet a concern.

He failed to notice that Mutu’s gaze had grown distinctly hotter—and harder to read…

Over the following days, Shang Ke continued hunting, gathering herbs, and erasing the traces they left behind. Under his careful care—and thanks to Mutu’s own powerful recovery—the lion’s wounds gradually scabbed over, though strenuous movement was still out of the question.

Despite being badly injured and stranded in the wilderness, Mutu had somehow put on weight under Shang Ke’s care. The spotted-rat family had grown noticeably rounder as well. Looking at their plump bodies, Shang Ke wondered whether they could still run at all; rolling might be faster.

More than ten days passed almost before they noticed. During that time, Shang Ke carefully surveyed the surrounding terrain and scouted the safest route back to the tribe.

There was still a little more than half a month before the Avani were supposed to massacre the lion tribe. Judging from Mutu’s recovery, they should still have enough time.

That day, Mutu passed the time in the cave by teasing the spotted rats while waiting for Shang Ke to return.

But afternoon came, and Shang Ke still had not returned.

Mutu began to worry. Shang Ke was always punctual and rarely came back late, yet today there was still no sign of him. Mutu forced down his growing agitation and waited another half hour. When Shang Ke still did not appear, he could no longer sit still and went out to look for him.

Following Shang Ke’s usual route, Mutu moved swiftly through the forest. Shang Ke was cautious and had left almost no trace of his scent, but after several dozen minutes Mutu caught a faint smell of blood. Soon he found several leaves spotted with blood that had not yet dried—and beneath it, a scent he loathed.

Avani!

Mutu’s expression turned icy. He immediately accelerated toward the source of the scent.

The smell of blood grew steadily stronger. Mixed among the Avani traces, Mutu caught the unmistakable scent of his fox.

He really had encountered the Avani!

From the direction of the scent, he had evidently tried to draw the Avani away so that Mutu wouldn’t be discovered.

Mutu growled and pushed himself even faster, streaking through the dense forest like a golden arrow.

Moments later, he heard the harsh cries of Avani and the clash of weapons.

Bursting from the thicket, Mutu immediately saw Shang Ke surrounded by several Avani. His movements were fluid and agile, his long hair flying around him. Blood had splashed across the white hair on his left side like a blooming poppy. As the strands shifted, they revealed half of an exquisitely beautiful face, with one drop of blood at the corner of his eye resembling a crimson beauty mark and lending him a striking, almost bewitching allure.

For one breathless instant, Mutu was stunned by his beauty.

But this was no time to admire him. Mutu charged into the Avani with murderous force.

With fresh hatred piled atop the old, Mutu showed no mercy. The Avani were quickly beaten back under his attacks.

“Retreat!” The Avani leader shouted.

“Trying to run?” A cold gleam flashed through Mutu’s eyes. He hurled the ax in his hand, striking one of the fleeing Avani squarely.

He then snatched up a broad blade from the ground and, together with Shang Ke, pursued the remaining Avani.

A dozen or so minutes later, the battle ended, though one Avani still managed to escape.

“Yanu, are you hurt?” Mutu steadied Shang Ke by the shoulder and looked him over anxiously.

Shang Ke shook his head to show he was fine.

Mutu swept his gaze around the area and said in a low voice, “Gather what we need. We’re returning to the tribe.”

Shang Ke naturally had no objection; that had been his plan as well. The appearance of these Avani also gave him a plausible excuse to reveal both the traitor’s identity and the Avani’s planned attack to Mutu.

They returned to the cave, gathered their food and weapons, and immediately set out.

Shang Ke had scouted the route beforehand, so there was no danger of getting lost.

Once again, Mutu found himself marveling at how meticulous the fox was. Yanu was practically an indispensable travel companion—and household accessory.

Along the way, Shang Ke used writing and gestures to tell Mutu about the traitor and the Avani’s plans, pretending he had overheard the information from the Avani they had just fought.

By now, Mutu trusted Shang Ke deeply. After days of attentive care—and after Shang Ke had even used himself as bait to draw the Avani away—Mutu had no reason left to doubt him.

What he could not accept was that his own brother had wanted him dead badly enough to collude with the Avani and bring disaster down on the entire tribe.

Mutu suppressed the pain in his chest and looked toward the tribe, a cold, resolute light flashing in his eyes.

Just then, a whistle sounded. A figure stood on a treetop pointing into the distance, then turned back and gave Mutu a bright smile. His huge white tail swayed in the wind, sunlight scattering brilliant flecks across his body. The sight was breathtaking.

The killing intent surrounding Mutu vanished at once. He sprang up, hooked an arm around the fox’s waist, and raced toward the tribe like a gust of wind.

Perhaps the only good thing to come from this ambush was that Mutu had finally come to know this fox for who he really was.

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