Chapter 36: Three Stooges, Yet United
“No way, I’m going with you.” Maya refused to leave no matter what Lolo said.
Not even anger or scolding worked.
“I promised the Queen I would protect you properly.”
“I’ve got them,” Lolo said, referring to her three beast husbands.
“Hmph!” Maya snorted coldly through her nose, showing no attempt to hide her disdain for the three.
Lolo, however, felt a little worried. If Maya followed, how could she ever run off with them later?
“I’m not dead; I can walk myself.”
Midnight insisted on going on her own, refusing Lolo’s help.
Lolo had no choice but to let Chiyao watch over him.
The group set off toward the Mouse Tribe settlement, the arena gradually fading behind them.
As they reached the border of the wild island, Xiaozhan stopped. “Ahead… we probably can’t get out.”
At this moment, he deeply regretted insisting that Lolo come here.
Not only had he endangered the female master, but he had also put himself at risk.
Maya sneered. “You’re incompetent. You can’t get out. I’m not like you.”
She drew a circle in the air with her jade-like knife.
It was as if the wild island tore open, and the group simply walked through.
Once they were out, the opening quietly sealed itself.
The other beasts, who had come to watch or hoped to escape, were all trapped inside.
Lolo sighed. Truly, a place that’s easy to enter but hard to leave—what kind of place could it be but bad?
After walking some distance, the group stopped by a small stream.
Lolo took out a stone pot and said to Maya, “Sit. I’ll show you a trick.”
“No, you sit.”
Maya pulled out a large piece of raw meat from her bag. “Here, all for you.”
She looked around and scolded the others: “What are you staring at?”
Even if they looked, they wouldn’t get any—useless things don’t deserve to eat.
Lolo had originally planned to make some noodles. Holding the large piece of meat, she smiled. “I’ll make you something new.”
“You say it, I’ll do it.”
Maya felt it would be inappropriate to let the princess handle anything, blocking her from doing any work.
She snatched Chiyao’s vine whip and said to the three men, “All of you get to work.”
She couldn’t stand lazy and foolish creatures.
Midnight widened his eyes. “Big sister, do you really not see me as human?”
He was nearly dead, yet she still wanted him to work.
So heartless—worse than Lolo.
But no, that other guy wasn’t much better either.
Chiyao and Xiaozhan were happy to help, flanking Lolo.
“Female master, your orders.”
“Even if you wanted the stars from the sky, we’d fetch them for you.”
Chiyao glanced at Midnight. “Big brother is injured; I’ll do his work.”
Xiaozhan added, “Big brother can’t really do anything in his condition.”
Maya snorted. These three brothers were actually helpful to each other.
Three stooges, yet united.
“Follow me.” Lolo beckoned, and Chiyao and Xiaozhan eagerly followed.
Seeing that Maya also wanted to go, Lolo quickly said, “You stay here and watch over Midnight.”
“Who wants to watch him? He won’t die.”
Maya thought to herself: she wasn’t here to watch Midnight; she was here to watch over the princess.
“Then… you have to keep an eye on him for me.”
Lolo rephrased, and Maya immediately agreed. “Princess, rest assured. I’ll keep a close eye on him.”
Acang wanted to follow Lolo to look for food. He thought Lolo was amazing, always able to find something delicious.
Even wild plants he never considered edible, she could make tasty.
Ajin feared Maya might cause trouble and insisted on staying to accompany Midnight.
“Come on, get on.”
Xiaozhan transformed into a large tiger; the yellowish diseased fur on his body was gradually turning white.
Lolo held Acang’s small hand, carrying him in her arms.
Both of them rode on Xiaozhan’s back together. “Hold tight.”
Acang pursed his lips and nodded seriously.
He was so close to the fierce female; he could even smell a faint floral scent on her.
After they moved on, Maya suddenly spoke. “You little rat, stop pretending.”
Midnight’s pale face flushed slightly with anger. “You…”
Your brain’s definitely a little messed up.
“Get up.” Maya tapped him with no patience.
Seeing him frown in pain, she said reluctantly, “You’re not dead yet.”
Ajin jumped in front of Midnight. “Evil female, move away.”
He found the person in front of him even more annoying than Lolo, kicking someone when they’re down.
Midnight’s pupils widened. If he weren’t in pain all over, he would have sat up to argue with her.
“You… didn’t you just say I should see the Mouse Tribe shaman doctor?”
Was she lying to him?
“Yeah, so what?”
Maya hadn’t lied. She judged his injuries wouldn’t prevent him from moving his shoulders or carrying things, let alone standing up.
She didn’t know that Midnight’s injuries were a mix of old and new wounds, plus sleepless nights from overthinking.
“Stop.”
Lolo jumped off Xiaozhan’s back, holding Acang’s hand, pointing to the serrated wild plants ahead. “Pick some of these.”
“What’s that?” Acang asked curiously.
“This is called thistle vegetable.”
“Oh, you can eat it?” Acang picked one but pricked his hand before it even reached his mouth.
“Ah, be careful.”
Lolo tore off the sleeve on the other side of her dress and wrapped it around Acang’s hand.
“Your dress…” Chiyao lamented. Such a beautiful dress, ruined just like that.
“No matter, it’s easier with my arms free.” Lolo didn’t mind; it even looked more symmetrical.
Acang looked at his uninjured hand awkwardly. “I’m fine.”
He wasn’t used to this kind of care, having been accustomed to Lolo’s long-term distance and disdain.
“You still have to be careful; this plant can prick. Don’t pick it—let Uncle Chiyao do it.”
Chiyao pouted, feeling his luck was a bit bad.
“Pick more, so we can make something delicious later.”
At the mention of food, Chiyao’s movements visibly quickened.
He was tough, unbothered by small thorns.
Lolo selected the tenderest thistle leaves, crushed them with a stone, and mixed them with some yellow soil.
With a pop, she pressed it onto Xiaozhan’s face.
“Don’t move. This will stop bleeding and help the wound heal.”
She didn’t want scars on his face, and without a bandage, Lolo sacrificed her dress sleeve.
She had cut a piece of her original dress and tied it around Xiaozhan’s head.
The red cloth, covering the green-and-yellow paste, stuck to his forehead.
Xiaozhan felt cool and said softly, “Isn’t this just vegetables? My wound doesn’t hurt.”
He lifted Lolo’s arm. “You need some too.”
Lolo remembered her own injury, smiling. “This is both food and medicine. My wound doesn’t hurt.”
They smiled at each other. Xiaozhan sniffed. “Female master, you’re really kind.”
“Boo-hoo, it’s all my fault for getting you hurt.”
“I’m not human, wahhh.”
He cried and acted spoiled; Lolo was exasperated, patting his handsome face.
“It’s all over now. I’m fine.”
Such a big cry that wouldn’t stop, Chiyao even came over to comfort him. “Alright, alright, stop crying.”
Crying would delay mealtime.
Lolo patted Xiaozhan’s head. “Good boy, behave.”
A jolt ran through him; Xiaozhan’s ears perked up, feeling unprecedented comfort.
The system notified good news: [Ding dong, congratulations host, Xiaozhan’s favorability has changed.]
“Hmm, how much has it changed?”
Lolo remembered it had been -980 before. If it reached -800 this time, she’d be very satisfied.
But the system’s reply almost made her jaw drop.
