Chapter 15: The Icy Male Fox
In the eyes of this male, who was normally so cold to her, Nan Zishi actually saw a trace of heartache for her.
But the look was fleeting, gone in an instant.
He quickly reverted to his icy demeanor.
’That fleeting feeling must have been my imagination.’
She lowered her head and finished the food in her bowl. There was still some soup and other dishes left, which could be saved for tomorrow.
Life in the Beast World was different from Earth. Back on Earth, Nan Zishi almost never ate leftovers.
But in the Beast World, she had long since learned to live simply. Meat could be kept for several days, and as long as it hadn’t gone bad, she would eat it—and enjoy it.
Hu Bai bent down and began to clean up. He clearly knew how to handle these things.
"You haven’t recovered yet. Let me do it," Nan Zishi said.
’I’m a guest. It’s completely unacceptable to have my sick host cook for me and then not even help with the dishes.’
"No." Hu Bai was insistent. He gathered the bowls and chopsticks and took the stone bowls to the nearby river to wash them.
Nan Zishi felt she was having it a bit too easy as a guest, so she stayed behind to extinguish the fire, then carried the two cubs into the cave to sleep.
When Hu Bai returned, he saw Nan Zishi pondering something by the large tree outside the cave.
"What are you thinking about?" Hu Bai asked curtly.
Nan Zishi said, "I’m thinking about where to sleep tonight. There are no snakes here, are there? Oh, wait, there is. There’s a Little Snake right in the cave."
Thinking of She Yang, Nan Zishi let out a stifled laugh.
Hu Bai watched her ask and answer her own question, then laugh at some private joke. His expression softened for a moment.
But it quickly returned to cold indifference.
"There’s no precedent in Stone Village for a female to sleep outside. You will sleep in the cave," Hu Bai said firmly. "You can rest assured. I am a male with a female master. I won’t do anything to you."
Nan Zishi asked, "Then what about you?"
"I’ll be outside the cave. I’m a Fox Beastman. I have thick fur, so I’m not afraid of the cold."
Nan Zishi laughed in exasperation. "You’re seriously ill, and you’re telling me you’re not afraid of the cold? How could I, a guest, take the host’s cave? Don’t even mention it. This isn’t up for discussion."
Hu Bai’s expression instantly turned colder. It was already cold, but now it was freezing.
"This isn’t up for discussion," Hu Bai repeated her words. "The female must sleep in the cave."
’She and the cubs would be inside the cave, while he guarded the entrance. Anything that might harm her would have to get through him first.’
’He would protect her. The cold wind wouldn’t reach her, and wild beasts wouldn’t be able to hurt her.’
’But if she were outside the cave and he were inside, he wouldn’t be able to watch over her at all times.’
’Now *that* would be unreasonable.’
"You’re so fierce," Nan Zishi accused.
Hu Bai paused, momentarily flustered.
Nan Zishi realized that the male before her seemed to have a very complex inner world, one she couldn’t comprehend.
’Males. Truly an incomprehensible species.’
Nan Zishi compromised. "Alright, I’ll stay in the cave."
Hu Bai let out a deep breath, as if finally relieved.
He went back into the cave and laid out the last intact Beast Skin—one that Fox Qi hadn’t used—for Nan Zishi. But he frowned slightly, unable to provide a complete Beast Skin blanket.
’He should have kept a few more Beast Skins at home over the years. Then she wouldn’t have arrived to find there were none for her to use.’
As a guest being treated so well by her host, Nan Zishi was already overwhelmed with gratitude.
She said, "This is already wonderful. Look, this Beast Skin is huge. If I just roll it up a little like this, it can cover my navel."
’For humans from Earth, as long as your navel is covered, you’ll be fine.’
Nan Zishi lay down on the Beast Skin. In truth, she had a sleeping bag and blankets in her spatial storage. But amidst her host’s warm hospitality, she couldn’t bring herself to tell him she had better things.
She fully accepted Hu Bai’s kindness and, just as she’d said, rolled up the Beast Skin to cover her navel and went to sleep.
Meanwhile, Hu Bai transformed into his Fox Beastman form.
A massive, beautiful, and enchanting white fox, he curled up at the cave entrance, blocking the cold night wind for her and warming the cave.
...
An area of light was shrouded in darkness, and everything around it seemed to be filled with resentment.
The entire space was filled with despair!
Nan Zishi was vaguely aware she was dreaming, but she ran for her life nonetheless.
"What is that? What is that?!"
Seven directions, seven totem marks.
One of them, a massive black fox totem, suddenly appeared before her.
The totem mark trembled, emitting a black, resentful aura. A small green leaf on it quivered, looking as if it might fall at any moment.
Terrified, Nan Zishi took a step back.
Seeing her retreat, the totem mark suddenly shrank, looking utterly pitiful.
"Female Master..."
"Don’t abandon us."
...
「The next morning」
Nan Zishi woke up and stretched languidly.
’I can’t believe it. I actually slept quite comfortably on a hard stone floor with just a single Beast Skin for a mattress.’
She seemed to have had a dream where she was running and running. She’d remembered what it was about right when she woke up, but for some reason, the memory vanished a moment later.
Nan Zishi sat up and saw Hu Bai walking in with a stone basin of clean water. She quickly got to her feet.
"Is this for me?"
"To wash up." Hu Bai’s reply was as concise as ever, as if he didn’t want to waste words on her.
Nan Zishi was a little surprised.
In the Beast World, most females weren’t so particular, let alone concerned with brushing their teeth and washing their faces in the morning.
But it was as if Hu Bai could see right through to her habits. Not only did he cook food over a fire, but he also knew to bring her a basin of water to wash up with first thing in the morning.
’His female master must be as particular as I am.’
"I’m sorry to have troubled you so much during my stay," Nan Zishi said.
Hu Bai’s expression darkened slightly again. He set down the water basin, turned, and left the cave.
’He’s angry again?’
Nan Zishi had no idea what she had said to make him angry this time.
’Why is he a Fox Beastman? Why not a Pufferfish Beastman?’
’It seems being a guest isn’t so easy either.’
Nan Zishi brushed her teeth and washed her face. After she was done, she picked up the basin and poured the water out.
Nan Zishi was enjoying herself too much as a guest, but as a Beast Doctor, she couldn’t afford to.
She had Fox Qi bring Hu Bai back. Hu Bai sat leaning against the head of the stone bed while Nan Zishi prepared her medicine and tools, just like the day before.
Learning her lesson from the first day, Nan Zishi was much more reserved.
She aimed the temperature gun at his forehead and gently took a reading. His temperature was a degree higher than normal; he still had a low-grade fever.
’He still has a fever, yet he insisted on sleeping outside the cave. Doesn’t he know he’s unwell?’
’Looks like he’ll need another dose of antipyretics.’
As Nan Zishi began to prepare the IV drip, Hu Bai spoke up. "Aren’t you going to put that thing on my chest today?"
"What thing?" After asking, Nan Zishi belatedly realized. "Oh, you mean the stethoscope."
Hu Bai didn’t reply, just looked up at her.
Nan Zishi felt a bit awkward. "Weren’t you unhappy when I used the stethoscope on you yesterday? That’s why I decided to skip that step."
’Based on my experience, it’s all more or less the same. He needs the medicine regardless.’
"So, you’re not going to use it?" Hu Bai asked.
Nan Zishi said, "Well, that’s not it exactly. It’s always better to listen if I can. It helps the doctor get a better handle on your condition."
Hu Bai looked up at her and asked, "Then why aren’t you?"