Chapter 342- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (08)

Mu Jin felt a bit heavy-hearted. Wu Po noticed his downcast expression and frowned in confusion. “What’s wrong? Is the fruit not sweet?” he asked.

Hearing this, Mu Jin shook his head, cupped Wu Po’s face in his hands, and leaned in to kiss him. After a long, lingering kiss, Mu Jin pulled back with an innocent look and asked, “What do you think? Was it sweet?”

Wu Po, dazed by Mu Jin’s actions and the lingering taste of sweetness, gulped and nodded. “Sweet,” he mumbled.

But just as he wanted to lean in for another taste, Mu Jin pulled away. He pouted, his brows furrowed, and looked at Wu Po unhappily. “My mouth tastes sweet, but my heart doesn’t. You hurt yourself, and that makes me sad.”

“I promise I won’t get hurt next time,” Wu Po quickly assured him.

Mu Jin’s pitiful expression tugged at Wu Po’s heartstrings, filling him with warmth. His little companion truly cared about him and didn’t want him to get injured. That made Wu Po even more determined—next time, he would find a way to gather fruits without getting hurt.

Thinking of Mu Jin’s lips again, Wu Po licked his own and concluded that the effort had been more than worthwhile. The sweetness was unparalleled.

Seeing that Wu Po had made a firm promise, Mu Jin finally felt a bit more at ease. He then turned his attention to helping his partner prepare the already-cleaned deer, setting it up on a makeshift spit over the fire to roast.

Earlier, while walking around the outskirts of the tribe with Wu He, Mu Jin had noticed a few plants that seemed suitable as spices. Though they hadn’t ventured deep into the forest to gather much, he had picked a few samples to test out back at the cave.

That evening, the roasted venison was seasoned with salt and the newly discovered spices Mu Jin had found. He even stuffed the deer’s belly with a handful of greens, which turned soft and tender after roasting, providing a refreshing balance to the richness of the meat. Mu Jin found the combination delightful.

As for the precious little fruits that Wu Po had painstakingly picked, Mu Jin couldn’t bear to use them as a seasoning for the venison. Instead, he and Wu Po shared them, eating them one by one, savoring every bite.

By the time they finished the fruits, the venison was perfectly cooked. The spices Mu Jin had added imparted a unique aroma to the meat. One of the seasonings even had a flavor remarkably similar to cumin, adding a distinct and rich taste to the roasted meat. The result was a barbecue that was even more flavorful than usual.

At the very least, Wu Po was completely satisfied after eating, and the way he looked at Mu Jin became even more intense and affectionate.

Wu Po had already thought Mu Jin’s cooking was delicious the day before, but after today’s meal, he was even more convinced that his little companion was a genius when it came to preparing food.

Many of the herbs Mu Jin used were familiar to Wu Po; they grew around the outskirts of the tribe. They had always seemed strange to him, and some even had unpleasant smells. When Wu Po saw Mu Jin placing these odd herbs on the venison, he initially thought it was just Mu Jin being playful. He didn’t stop him—at worst, he’d eat the parts that didn’t taste good himself.

Who would have guessed that these herbs, when roasted with the meat, would produce such an incredible aroma?

A gentle and adorable companion, thoughtful and knowledgeable, who could also cook such delicious meals—Mu Jin was nothing short of perfect. Wu Po felt like the luckiest man alive.

After a long day, both of them were exhausted. Once dinner was over, they lay down early to rest. Naturally, they slept together, wrapped in each other’s arms. However, while Wu Po quickly drifted off to sleep, Mu Jin remained awake, unable to truly relax.

He was still deeply worried about Wu Po’s injuries, especially when he saw the raw edges of the wounds, with the skin torn and flesh exposed. Although Wu Po had applied some herbs to the wounds, Mu Jin knew they weren’t very effective. Resolving to take matters into his own hands, Mu Jin made up his mind to act.

He didn’t have to think long to figure out the best way to heal the injuries as quickly as possible. After all, who could surpass him—the miraculous healing herb incarnate?

Resigned to his decision, Mu Jin extended his spiritual sense, soothing Wu Po’s nerves to ensure he slept more soundly. Once assured that Wu Po was deeply asleep, Mu Jin carefully removed the herbal poultice from the wounds, setting it aside, before lowering his head with a determined expression.

The next morning, Wu Po woke up feeling refreshed and energized. He had slept exceptionally well the night before, perhaps because the presence of his companion’s scent gave him an incredible sense of peace. Being held warmly in each other’s arms throughout the night only added to the comfort.

It was a level of satisfaction he had never experienced before, one that he only discovered after being with Mu Jin. Wu Po finally understood the happiness of having both family and a loved one.

What surprised him even more, however, was when he walked to the edge of the cave to handle the leftover game from the previous night to prepare breakfast for Mu Jin. That’s when he noticed that the wounds on his chest and arm seemed to have healed significantly.

The herbal poultice was still in place, but when Wu Po removed it, he found that the once-serious injuries had completely closed up, leaving behind only faint scars.

This discovery left him astonished. While he knew his body was strong and had excellent healing abilities, such severe wounds would normally take at least a week to recover. Yet, here they were, fully healed after just one night.

Unable to make sense of this miracle, Wu Po could only attribute it to Mu Jin. He decided it must be his companion who brought him good fortune, and his mood became even brighter as he cheerfully prepared the leftover meat.

The enticing aroma of roasted meat wafted through the air, and only then did Mu Jin groggily emerge from the cave. He had stayed up late the previous night—not only healing Wu Po’s injuries but also soothing his man’s nerves with his spiritual energy for most of the night to ensure he had a restful sleep.

Sticking out his slightly bitter tongue, Mu Jin grabbed a piece of roasted meat to cleanse his palate. Internally, he sighed—having to lick and treat wounds coated with herbal juices truly left an unpleasant taste in his mouth.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t a source of fresh water near the cave. Mu Jin thought to himself that when they had the chance, they should either move to a more convenient location or dig a well nearby to make fetching water easier.

After finishing breakfast, Mu Jin received another portion of food from Wu Po, who had prepared it for lunch. Although people in this world typically only ate twice a day, Wu Po wanted Mu Jin to eat more. His partner was so slender that he needed to be well-nourished.

Before leaving, Wu Po repeatedly reminded Mu Jin to stay close to the cave and wait patiently for his return if he felt bored. Only after giving a long string of instructions did he reluctantly head into the forest to hunt for more game.

Although they still had plenty of food left, Wu Po needed to provide a portion of his catch to the tribe as a contribution for both himself and Mu Jin. Since it wasn’t every day that he was lucky enough to catch such a large animal, he needed to keep hunting.

As for Wu He, Wu Po didn’t feel comfortable asking him to care for Mu Jin again. Wu He had his own responsibilities, like looking after his grandmother, and he also needed to participate in gathering or hunting trips to earn food for himself.

Wu Po truly hated leaving Mu Jin behind and would have preferred to keep him attached to his side, perhaps even tied to his fur skirt. But he knew the forest was full of dangers, and taking Mu Jin along would put him at risk of getting hurt.

Mu Jin, of course, noticed his partner’s reluctance and couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Wu Po looking like he wanted to take him along but couldn’t. With a sweet and obedient demeanor, he reassured Wu Po until the man finally left.

As soon as Wu Po was out of sight, however, Mu Jin immediately ventured into the forest on his own.

His spiritual senses were exceptionally attuned in this non-magical, non-cultivator world. It seemed that after his agreement with Qian Chen, he had gained several benefits.

Qian Chen had been quite sincere, lifting several restrictions that had previously kept Mu Jin’s soul separated from his lover. As a result, his partner had regained his “love at first sight” instinct, and Mu Jin’s spiritual senses were far less suppressed than they had been in the smaller worlds he had previously visited.

Mu Jin had already tested his abilities and found that his spiritual awareness could easily cover the entire Pingshan Tribe and the surrounding hunting grounds frequented by its people.

Thus, Mu Jin had a fairly comprehensive understanding of the forest’s layout thanks to his spiritual sense. He used this knowledge to venture into the forest and search for useful plants.

As he expected, the forest was abundant with edible plants. Perhaps the pristine, unpolluted environment of this primitive world contributed to the excellent growth of its flora.

Most of the plants, however, were unfamiliar to him. Thankfully, Mu Jin’s innate ability as the Flower Deity allowed him to discern whether a plant was toxic, edible, or medicinal with remarkable accuracy.

He also took the opportunity to collect some herbs that Wu Po might find useful in the future. While Mu Jin knew his own saliva had healing properties, he preferred not to draw attention to his unique abilities.

Moreover, wounds needed immediate care. Mu Jin carefully picked herbs with far better medicinal properties than those Wu Po had previously stored in the cave. Among his finds was a sizeable ginseng plant.

To the tribe members, the ginseng likely resembled nothing more than an odd-looking root with an unpleasant taste.

Though the ginseng was aged and potent, Mu Jin didn’t think the robust Wu Po needed it to boost his health. Instead, he thought of Wu He’s grandmother, who might benefit from it. He decided to save some for her while keeping the rest as a life-saving remedy for emergencies.

While wandering, Mu Jin also came across the same sour and astringent berries Wu He had previously given him.

Taking one, he extracted its seeds and used his power to cultivate a new plant bearing ripe berries. The ones grown with his energy were naturally sweet, and Mu Jin was delighted by the thought of bringing some back for Wu Po to enjoy.

He reveled in the serene and untouched beauty of the forest, losing track of time in the process. Only when he noticed the sun beginning to set did he hurriedly collect the plants he had gathered. Binding them tightly with a vine, he secured the bundle on his back and made his way home.

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Chapter 341- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (07)

Honestly, Mu Jin didn’t mind doing some occasional work like gathering. On the contrary, he was quite curious about the plants in the wild and wanted to explore. Who knows, he might even find some delicious ingredients to bring back.

However, when Wu Po heard this, he locked eyes with Mu Jin and firmly declared, “You don’t need to do anything—not hunting, not gathering. I can take care of you all by myself.”

Listening to his partner’s overbearing yet protective words, Mu Jin couldn’t help but chuckle. Yet, more than anything, his heart felt warm.

The thought of Wu Po being willing to take on extra work just to spare him from any hardship made Mu Jin feel a sweet warmth blooming in his chest.

He immediately clung to Wu Po’s arm, his eyes sparkling as he gazed up at the man and gushed, “Wu Po, how are you so amazing? I must have incredible luck to find such a perfect partner!”

After saying this, Mu Jin wrapped his arms around Wu Po’s neck, stood on tiptoe, and planted a big kiss on his cheek.

Wu Po froze for a moment, stunned by the sudden affection. But soon, excitement replaced his surprise, and he became even more convinced that his earlier decision was absolutely right.

Indeed, his little partner was so delicate and lovable—he deserved to be pampered and cherished. Look at how happy Mu Jin was just because he didn’t have to join the gathering team!

Seeing Mu Jin’s happiness made Wu Po feel just as joyful.

As he thought about the kiss, a wave of heat rose in Wu Po’s chest. Overwhelmed by his emotions, he pulled Mu Jin into his arms and showered him with kisses all over his face, leaving the smaller man giggling and breathless.

By chance, Wu Po’s lips brushed against Mu Jin’s soft ones, and a shiver ran through him. Instinctively, he leaned in and kissed Mu Jin’s lips repeatedly, as if he’d known how to do it all along. Wu Po thought to himself that his little partner’s lips were simply delicious, better than anything he’d ever tasted.

Feeling the unreserved affection from his lover, Mu Jin’s heart swelled with joy. He enjoyed such intimate moments with the person he loved and felt no embarrassment. Wrapping his arms tighter around Wu Po’s neck, he eagerly reciprocated the kisses.

The two became so lost in their closeness that they didn’t notice Wu He, who had come over out of concern to check on them. Standing behind a nearby tree, Wu He found himself in an awkward position—he couldn’t decide whether to approach or quietly retreat.

Fortunately, after a while, Wu Po and Mu Jin finally pulled away from each other. Wu Po hugged Mu Jin closer to his chest before turning toward the direction where Wu He was hiding. He called out, “Wu He, what are you doing here?”

Wu Po had noticed Wu He’s presence early on. With his keen hearing, he’d been aware of someone nearby from the start. However, once he recognized it was Wu He, he let his guard down.

And with his little partner actively seeking his affection, there was no way Wu Po would pass up the chance to enjoy the moment. He decided to embrace Mu Jin and indulge in the sweetness before addressing anything else.

Hearing Wu Po call out, Wu He chuckled sheepishly and stepped forward, holding a large stone bowl in his hands. Inside the bowl was a mixture of the python meat Wu Po had given him the previous day, combined with some edible plants. Together, they formed a rough version of snake stew—something Wu He considered his specialty.

This plant wasn’t particularly filling, but it had a unique aroma that made it quite appealing when cooked with python meat. Wu Po took the stone bowl from Wu He’s hands naturally and handed it to Mu Jin, encouraging him to give it a try.

He remembered that Wu He’s cooking, while simple, always tasted better than his own.

Wu Po figured that Wu He’s early visit wasn’t just to deliver snake stew. He likely came because he’d heard the chieftain was stopping by and was worried about him. Wu Po’s gaze toward Wu He was warm and appreciative.

As for Wu He, seeing that Wu Po was fine, he felt relieved. However, he hadn’t expected to walk in on such an intimate moment between Wu Po and his partner, Mu Jin. Feeling a bit awkward, he avoided commenting on it.

Wu He watched as Mu Jin, nestled in Wu Po’s embrace, held the stone bowl and took small bites of the food. Mu Jin’s petite face, glowing with liveliness and charm, looked incredibly endearing, stirring a pang of envy in Wu He.

He couldn’t help but think how nice it would be to have such a lovely partner of his own. Unfortunately, Wu He knew his own strength wasn’t great, and if he found a delicate partner like Mu Jin, he probably wouldn’t be able to support them properly.

Mu Jin tasted the food that Wu He had brought, finding that the plant added a pleasant flavor to the python meat. It was something worth seeking out if he had the chance to explore the wilds.

Since salt was still a precious resource, only a small amount of coarse salt had been used in the stew. Mu Jin didn’t mind, though. He thought a lighter meal in the morning was fine, especially since he’d already had roasted meat earlier and wasn’t particularly hungry. After sampling the stew, he handed the bowl back to Wu Po.

When Wu Po confirmed that Mu Jin truly didn’t want any more, he tipped the bowl’s contents into his mouth, finishing all the meat. Satisfied and content, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment.

Wu Po found the snake stew unusually delicious, far better than similar dishes he’d had before. Perhaps it was because Mu Jin had eaten some first that it seemed to taste so much better to him.

After finishing the meal, Wu Po remembered Mu Jin mentioning the snake gallbladder yesterday. The gallbladder was drying near the entrance of the cave. Although it wasn’t completely dried yet, Wu Po decided to hand it over to Wu He for him to handle.

He gave the semi-dried gallbladder to Wu He and explained how to use it. Wu He, full of gratitude, accepted it eagerly.

When Wu He learned that the medicinal properties of the gallbladder were something Mu Jin had pointed out, his admiration for Mu Jin grew. His gaze toward Mu Jin became fervent, filled with respect and awe.

Wu He now thought Mu Jin wasn’t just good-looking but also incredibly skilled and knowledgeable. After all, this kind of knowledge was usually reserved for the tribe’s priests. Even though Mu Jin seemed physically weak and Wu Po had clarified that Mu Jin wasn’t a priest, his expertise made him stand out.

Wu He couldn’t help but feel happy for Wu Po. He had always worried that Wu Po, labeled as an ominous figure by the tribe, might never find a partner. But now, not only had he found one, but that partner was exceptional in every way.

The thought of Wu Yan learning about Mu Jin’s talents and becoming jealous of Wu Po amused Wu He greatly. Since Wu Yan often picked on Wu He, the idea of him being upset brought Wu He a sense of satisfaction.

Wu Po was equally pleased that his friend Wu He and his partner Mu Jin got along well. After all, in the entire tribe, the only people Wu Po could count as close were Wu He and the elder.

With his next task in mind, Wu Po entrusted Mu Jin to Wu He, asking him to show Mu Jin around the tribe. Then, he left to go hunting.

Mu Jin and Wu He naturally had no objections to Wu Po’s arrangements. However, after Wu Po left, Wu He didn’t take Mu Jin into the heart of the tribe but instead led him on a walk around its outskirts.

Wu He was cautious because Mu Jin hadn’t been fully “claimed” by Wu Po yet. He worried that someone else might take an interest in Mu Jin, who was undeniably attractive. If Mu Jin ended up liking someone else, it would be disastrous for Wu Po. Thus, along the way, Wu He enthusiastically extolled Wu Po’s virtues.

Mu Jin listened attentively, nodding occasionally and even asking a few questions here and there. In this primitive society, people lacked much in the way of scheming or deceit, so it wasn’t long before Wu He inadvertently spilled everything he knew.

Through their conversation, Mu Jin gained a clear picture of Wu Po’s life in the tribe. While Wu Po’s skills ensured he didn’t live poorly, his isolation was undeniable. Humans are naturally social creatures, and being ostracized like that was undoubtedly difficult.

Most of what Wu He shared aligned with what Mu Jin had expected, but one piece of information surprised him. He had assumed that the female protagonist hadn’t yet arrived in the Pingshan Tribe.

However, according to Wu He, Wu Peng had recently rescued a woman from another tribe. Based on Wu He’s description, Mu Jin could confidently deduce that this woman was none other than Mu Xuan, the female protagonist.

Mu Xuan had only just arrived at the Pingshan Tribe and hadn’t yet had the opportunity to fully showcase her abilities. However, her striking appearance had already attracted considerable attention, with many in the tribe vying for her affection.

Among them, the most formidable competitor was Wu Peng, the tribe’s celebrated top warrior. Although Mu Xuan hadn’t yet accepted Wu Peng’s advances, many people already considered her his future partner.

After gleaning all the information he wanted from Wu He, Mu Jin politely claimed he was feeling a bit tired. He also suggested that Wu He should return quickly to process the snake gallbladder and use it to help the elder recover as soon as possible.

Hearing this, Wu He realized Wu Po would likely return from hunting soon. After escorting Mu Jin back to Wu Po’s dwelling, Wu He bid farewell and left.

Not long after, Wu Po returned, carrying a large deer on his shoulders. It was astonishing to see the sheer physical strength of people in this primitive world—Wu Po not only carried such a heavy deer but even had the energy to run with it.

However, Mu Jin’s attention wasn’t on the size of the deer but rather on the injuries Wu Po had sustained. Clearly, he had gotten hurt during the hunt.

Wu Po had wounds on his arms and chest, and one cut on his arm appeared particularly deep. The bleeding hadn’t entirely stopped, and the gash, with its exposed flesh, looked quite alarming.

Yet, Wu Po seemed entirely unconcerned, treating such injuries as routine.

When Wu Po saw Mu Jin standing at the cave entrance waiting for him, his heart warmed. The feeling of having someone waiting for him at home after a hunt was incredible.

With a big smile, Wu Po tossed the deer onto the ground, proudly showing Mu Jin his catch for the day. He then reached for a branch tucked into his animal-skin skirt and handed it to Mu Jin as though presenting a treasure.

The branch held several small, bright red fruits. These fruits grew on cliffs and were notoriously difficult to harvest. Sweet and delicious, they were a rare treat. Wu Po’s injuries were a result of his efforts to gather these fruits.

Yesterday, Wu Po had given Mu Jin a few fruits that Wu He had handed to him, but he noticed that Mu Jin didn’t enjoy eating them. It wasn’t surprising—Wu Po knew those fruits well, with their sour and astringent taste, they weren’t very pleasant.

In the tribe, people often ate those fruits to stave off hunger, and Wu Po was used to eating them himself.

But Mu Jin was his little companion—delicate, adorable, and someone Wu Po cherished deeply. Wu Po wanted to give Mu Jin the best, so he had gone out of his way to find these sweet, delicious little fruits for him.

Mu Jin, having inherited the original host’s memories, recognized the fruit immediately and knew how rare it was. Seeing his lover completely disregarding his own injuries, focusing only on bringing him something good, Mu Jin accepted the branch from Wu Po’s hand, his heart filling with bittersweet emotion.

Looking at the wounds on Wu Po’s body, Mu Jin felt an overwhelming ache in his heart.

Wu Po noticed Mu Jin’s expression and felt even happier. He didn’t care about his injuries at all. Walking into the cave, he grabbed a few medicinal herbs he had previously gathered, tossed them into his mouth, chewed them into a paste, and applied it directly to his wounds.

The herbs stung fiercely when applied, but Wu Po’s face betrayed no hint of discomfort. The cool sensation of the herbs made him feel like everything was fine.

However, Mu Jin knew that these herbs contained only limited healing properties. Those wounds would take quite some time to heal.

Mu Jin sighed inwardly but didn’t say anything. Instead, he picked one of the fruits from the branch and popped it into his mouth. The fruit’s sweet flavor, with just a hint of tartness, was delightful, but thinking about the price Wu Po had paid to gather them, Mu Jin found no joy in eating it.

He thought his lover was a fool, but it was precisely because of Wu Po’s foolishness that Mu Jin couldn’t help but love him even more.

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Chapter 340- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (06)

Mu Jin gave Wu Po a gentle smile as he held the leaf-wrapped roasted meat in his hands, eating it in small bites.

However, his thoughts wandered. ‘As expected, food in this primitive society is rather monotonous’ he mused. ‘Improving our quality of life feels urgent. At the very least, I’d love to have some soup for breakfast.’

While he couldn’t care for everyone else’s preferences, he did enjoy the idea of living well with his lover. He wondered whether Wu Po would go hunting today. Mu Jin was still deeply curious about this world, particularly the lush vegetation. He suspected the wilderness might hold plenty of delicious plants waiting to be discovered.

Just as they finished breakfast, the chief of the Pingshan Tribe arrived. Accompanying him was Wu Yan, a member of the hunting team who had been on patrol near the entrance the day before.

Wu Yan had reported to the chief the previous evening, claiming that Wu Po seemed to have brought a woman back to the tribe. The chief initially intended to visit right away but encountered Wu He, who had just returned from the priest with medicinal herbs. Wu He immediately refuted Wu Yan’s statement, clarifying that Wu Po had brought back a man, not a woman.

Since it was a man, the situation was deemed less urgent. Moreover, it was late, and people generally avoided interacting with Wu Po due to the ominous rumors surrounding him. The chief decided it could wait until the next day and postponed the visit until morning.

It was Mu Jin’s first time meeting the Pingshan Tribe’s chief—a muscular, middle-aged man with a stern expression and an air of authority befitting his position.

Mu Jin didn’t feel any animosity toward the chief. On the contrary, he found the man to be relatively fair. When many tribe members had previously labeled Wu Po as cursed and called for his execution or abandonment, it was the chief who refused. Instead, he had Wu Po placed in the communal cave and left under the care of others.

Though such an arrangement was akin to leaving a child to fend for himself, it was still better than outright killing him or casting him out of the tribe. Had it not been for the chief’s decision, Wu Po wouldn’t have survived to this day.

However, the tall, thin young man standing beside the chief—his chin marked with a scar—clearly didn’t share the same goodwill. The way he looked at Wu Po was anything but friendly.

Wu Yan followed the chief into the cave, and upon seeing Mu Jin, he confirmed what Wu He had said the previous day. The person before him, although small in stature, with fair, delicate skin and strikingly good looks, was clearly a man, not a woman.

Men with such fair and refined features were rare, and even the chief couldn’t help but glance at Mu Jin a couple more times before turning to Wu Po and asking, “Wu Po, who is this person?”

“He’s my mate. I saved him in the forest yesterday. He’s alone, so now he belongs to me,” Wu Po replied firmly.

The chief, though acknowledging Wu Po’s statement, still turned to Mu Jin and asked, “You don’t have a tribe?”

Mu Jin nodded smoothly, going along with the situation. Although his man’s words came across as rather assertive, Mu Jin judged Wu Po by a completely different standard from others.

In his eyes, anything his lover did was seen through a lens as thick as eight hundred meters of rose-colored glass.

Right now, he could only think: ‘My man is absolutely right—of course, I belong to him! Please declare your claim like this more often!’

Regardless of his inner thoughts, Mu Jin’s expression remained calm and composed. His demeanor gave off an impression of obedience, and coupled with his petite frame, it naturally created the illusion of someone soft and easy to take advantage of.

Unsurprisingly, both the chief and Wu Yan interpreted him this way. The chief didn’t see any issue with Mu Jin’s choice.

From Mu Jin’s appearance, it was evident he lacked the ability to hunt independently, so it was only natural for someone like him to seek a strong mate. Judging by Wu Po’s physique and presence, he certainly fit the bill.

However, Wu Yan felt displeased upon getting a clear look at Mu Jin’s face. He sneered at Wu Po and said coldly, “What gives you the right to call him your mate? Just because you saved him doesn’t mean that’s how it works here.”

“If he’s to join the tribe, he’ll become a member of the Pingshan Tribe. We can settle his debt to you with hunting spoils.”

In the tribe, women were few and far between, so it wasn’t uncommon for men to pair up. A man as good-looking as Mu Jin would undoubtedly attract the attention of many skilled hunters who’d be willing to take him in for the sake of having someone pleasant to look at. Even if he wasn’t particularly capable, it wouldn’t matter much. Why should someone so attractive be monopolized by Wu Po?

Thinking along these lines, Wu Yan naturally refuted Wu Po’s claim without hesitation. Wu Yan had always harbored hostility toward Wu Po; otherwise, he wouldn’t have rushed to report to the chief the moment he suspected Wu Po had brought back a woman.

Wu Yan and Wu Po were both sons of Wu Chan.

After Wu Po’s father died, Wu Chan deemed Wu Po an ill omen and abandoned him. Due to the scarcity of women in the tribe and Wu Chan’s attractive appearance, she quickly found a new mate and later gave birth to Wu Yan.

Even though Wu Chan had abandoned Wu Po, she was still his mother. Wu Yan found it disgraceful that his half-brother, born of the same mother but a different father, was labeled as a harbinger of misfortune.

As a result, Wu Yan had despised Wu Po since childhood and frequently sought to trouble him. He often gathered groups of friends to bully Wu Po.

However, Wu Po was not the type to silently endure abuse. He would fiercely resist every time Wu Yan tried to bully him. Over the years, as Wu Po grew older, his combat prowess only increased.

Eventually, even with his gang of companions, Wu Yan could no longer take advantage of Wu Po. The scar on Wu Yan’s chin was a testament to their conflicts—it had been inflicted during a fierce altercation with Wu Po.

Once, Wu Yan pushed Wu Po too far, and Wu Po retaliated by pinning him to the ground and giving him a brutal beating. At that moment, Wu Yan thought he might actually die. He was bedridden for half a month and left with a permanent scar on his face.

This deepened Wu Yan’s hatred for Wu Po, but it also made him realize he wasn’t a match for his half-brother. Though he no longer dared to provoke Wu Po physically, his sarcastic jabs whenever they crossed paths never ceased.

The chief was well aware of the longstanding animosity between the two, but this wasn’t the time for quarrels. He turned to glare at Wu Yan, signaling him to behave.

Then the chief turned to Mu Jin and said, “You are welcome to join our tribe. If you have the ability to support yourself, you can live on your own for now and stay in the communal cave without taking a mate.”

When Wu Po heard the chief’s words, he immediately stepped forward, pulled Mu Jin into his arms, and held him tightly. Staring angrily at the chief, he declared, “He is mine!”

The chief looked like he wanted to say something, but Mu Jin gently patted Wu Po’s arm to calm him. Then he smiled at the chief and replied, “I chose to be with Wu Po willingly.”

Since Mu Jin had spoken so plainly, the chief didn’t argue further. However, even if Mu Jin wanted to stay with Wu Po, joining the Ping Shan tribe meant he was expected to contribute to the community.

For instance, even though Wu Po was ostracized as “unlucky” and not allowed to join the hunting party, he still had to regularly provide a portion of his prey to the tribe.

The chief’s gaze swept over Mu Jin’s small, slender frame. Deciding that putting him on the hunting team wouldn’t be practical, he instead suggested, “You can stay with Wu Po, but you’ll need to join the gathering team and work with everyone.”

“He doesn’t need to go,” Wu Po interjected abruptly.

The chief frowned, about to protest, but Wu Po continued, “I will increase my contributions. I’ll provide enough to cover his share too, so he doesn’t need to join the gathering team.”

Hearing this, the chief nodded in agreement. If Wu Po was willing to take responsibility for Mu Jin and pay the tribe’s dues on his behalf, there was no reason to object. Satisfied, the chief turned and left with Wu Yan.

However, before leaving, Wu Yan shot Wu Po a resentful glare, making his disdain abundantly clear.

Mu Jin sensed Wu Yan’s hostility and could imagine that life in the tribe hadn’t been easy for Wu Po. Yet, thanks to his sheer strength and resilience, Wu Po had managed to carve out a life for himself.

Recalling Wu Po’s earlier objection to him joining the gathering team, Mu Jin looked up at his partner curiously and asked, “Wu Po, why didn’t you want me to join the tribe’s gathering team?”

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Chapter 339- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (05)

Mu Jin even specifically instructed, “It’s best to dry the snake gallbladder, grind it into a powder, and consume it in portions. The effect should be better.”

In this primitive world, things were still very natural and unprocessed. Mu Jin had quickly assessed that the snake gallbladder here seemed to be even more potent than those in the modern human world. With the strong physiques of these primitive people, consuming it in portions to help Grandma recover would be quite beneficial.

Wu Po nodded in agreement, stood up with the gallbladder in hand, and took a few steps before suddenly stopping.

He hesitated, worried that if he left, Mu Jin might try to escape. After all, at the start, Mu Jin had rejected the idea of becoming his partner.

The man lowered his gaze, stepped back, and placed the gallbladder aside. Noticing Mu Jin’s curious expression, he explained, “There’s no rush to deliver this. I’ll give it to Wu He when I see him tomorrow. It’s getting late now, so I’ll prepare some food for you.”

Mu Jin, touched by his lover’s thoughtfulness, didn’t feel the slightest suspicion. Hearing Wu Po say he would prepare food, Mu Jin suddenly realized he was a bit hungry.

It made sense. Ever since the original host had left his tribe, he had been living rough, exposed to the elements. While hunting wasn’t difficult for him, his poor mood meant he hadn’t been eating well, leaving his stomach empty.

However, Mu Jin’s spirits were high. Not only had he reunited with his lover right away, but Wu Po had also immediately expressed his desire to be with him. There was nothing better than this.

Wu Po, speaking as he worked, quickly started a fire. He skewered the cleaned snake meat onto a sturdy branch and set it over the fire to roast. While doing this, he also handed the small fruits Wu He had given him earlier to Mu Jin, saying, “Eat these to tide you over for now.”

Mu Jin took a couple of bites of the wild fruits. Not only were they small, but they also tasted sour and astringent, not particularly pleasant. After two bites, he set them aside and sat patiently, his eyes fixed on Wu Po as he roasted the meat.

It had to be said that Wu Po’s grilling skills were quite rough. Additionally, people in primitive tribes weren’t particularly particular about their food preparation. Fortunately, most ordinary tribespeople at least knew to season roasted meat with salt.

However, the salt in Wu Po’s cave had just run out, and he hadn’t had a chance to trade for more. As a result, he had no choice but to roast the snake meat plain, planning to eat it as it was tonight and acquire some salt tomorrow.

After observing his lover’s grilling for a moment, Mu Jin concluded that Wu Po’s skills barely reached the “edible” range. He approached with a gentle smile and offered, “Would you like me to help you roast the meat? I’m actually pretty good at it.”

Wu Po was momentarily dazzled by Mu Jin’s smile and instinctively nodded. However, when he saw Mu Jin pick up a branch to roast the meat, he frowned slightly.

He had wanted to take good care of Mu Jin, but now it seemed like the roles were reversed, with Mu Jin taking care of him instead. Then again, thinking about it from another perspective, it wasn’t unusual for the partners of the hunting team members to prepare roasted meat for them upon their return.

With that thought, Wu Po felt a certain warmth in his heart. Mu Jin’s actions reminded him of a devoted partner at home, preparing food and waiting to eat together.

This pleasant notion made Wu Po feel content. He didn’t stop Mu Jin, and instead watched as the firelight illuminated Mu Jin’s soft features, filling his heart with a cozy warmth.

While Wu Po roasted the meat, Mu Jin reached into the animal-hide clothing he wore and retrieved a chunk of salt from memory.

The original host had carried a small stone knife and some salt while traveling. While the knife was much smaller than the one Wu Po had used to kill the giant snake, it was significantly sharper. As for the salt, it wasn’t a large amount and was rather coarse, but it was enough to season a few servings of roasted meat.

Mu Jin even managed to put those small, sour, and not-so-tasty fruits to good use. He crushed them with his hands and smeared the juice over the roasting meat.

Although the fruits themselves didn’t taste great, the tangy fruitiness combined with the roasted meat created a unique flavor. This was something he had done many times for his lover in previous small worlds, so he was quite adept at it.

As he roasted the meat, Mu Jin suddenly recalled his early days in the small worlds. Back then, his favorite foods were desserts like milk pudding and pastries. Yet somehow, his culinary expertise had evolved into mastering grilled meat. It was a testament to how life could take unexpected turns.

Still, learning such a practical survival skill had proven beneficial. Watching Wu Po take a bite of the roasted meat and light up with delight made Mu Jin feel incredibly satisfied.

Sure enough, he had once again won over his man with food.

It’s often said that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Feeling smug but not letting it show, Mu Jin maintained a modest and gentle demeanor as he asked Wu Po, “How is it? Does it taste okay?”

“More than okay,” Wu Po said, taking another hearty bite of the roasted meat. With genuine admiration, he added, “This is the best roasted meat I’ve ever eaten in my life.”

After speaking, Wu Po immediately handed the meat back to Mu Jin and began mimicking his technique to grill the rest of the snake meat.

Wu Po’s praise was a bit exaggerated, but seeing him so cheerful made Mu Jin happy too. The main reason Wu Po found it so delicious was that people in this time didn’t know much about cooking techniques, and the snake meat itself had a rich flavor.

Otherwise, without any proper seasoning, Mu Jin doubted the taste would have been anything extraordinary.

But Mu Jin chalked it all up to the influence of mood. Clearly, his lover adored him, and anything they shared together felt more enjoyable. With this in mind, Mu Jin smugly and self-indulgently concluded that Wu Po found the meal delightful simply because he was eating it with him.

Perhaps it was because he was extremely hungry, but Mu Jin found the dry roasted meat surprisingly tasty.

Even as he ate, he didn’t forget to praise his man. With a bright smile, he said to Wu Po, “Wu Po, you’re amazing. That python was as thick as a person’s torso, yet you killed it so effortlessly. Prey of this size usually takes at least three or four people to handle!”

This wasn’t an exaggeration. While the physical strength of people in this primitive society was far superior to modern humans, taking down such a massive python single-handedly was no small feat.

From this perspective, Wu Po could be described as having extraordinary strength. Reflecting on the fact that he himself now possessed impressive natural strength, Mu Jin couldn’t help but think that he and his lover were a match made in heaven—perfectly compatible even in their attributes.

As Mu Jin spoke, he found himself instinctively scooting closer to his man. However, in the process, he accidentally sat on a small stone, hissing in pain as it jabbed him.

Wu Po, whose attention was fully on Mu Jin, immediately put down his roasted meat when he heard the sound. He looked at Mu Jin with concern and quickly located the problem. Without a second thought, he wrapped an arm around Mu Jin’s waist, lifted him effortlessly, and cradled him in his arms.

It was only then that he noticed the red mark left on Mu Jin’s delicate skin by the stone. With a pained expression, Wu Po held Mu Jin closer and began gently rubbing the spot.

The situation quickly turned awkward, as the spot he was rubbing was in an… unconventional area. Mu Jin froze, his entire body stiff with embarrassment, not daring to move an inch.

Wu Po, however, didn’t overthink it. He was entirely focused on the fact that Mu Jin’s soft and tender skin had been hurt, and it made his heart ache.

In a worried tone, he said, “Does it hurt? I should’ve laid down some animal hides before letting you sit.”

Feeling a bit frustrated with himself for not being more considerate, Wu Po decided to take preventative action. To ensure Mu Jin wouldn’t get hurt again, he simply had him sit directly on his lap. Then, as if nothing unusual had happened, he handed the roasted meat back to Mu Jin.

Wu Po couldn’t help but think to himself: ‘My little partner is so fragile. If I don’t take good care of him, he might end up getting hurt all the time.’

He sighed at how delicate Mu Jin seemed, but after the sigh, he couldn’t help feeling a bit pleased. Mu Jin is so delicate that he wouldn’t be able to manage without me.

‘If I take good care of him and spoil him even more, he’ll become completely dependent on me’ Wu Po thought with a faint smile.

Mu Jin noticed the expression on Wu Po’s face and could more or less guess his thoughts. Blinking, he figured that he was probably being treated like some precious little flower.

Still, seeing how happy Wu Po seemed while doting on him, Mu Jin decided he might as well play along. After all, making his partner happy was important too.

Truthfully, it was just a red mark, nothing Mu Jin even noticed much.

Though his skin might look fair and smooth, it wasn’t so delicate that a small mark like this would bother him. If he were that fragile, there was no way he’d be able to survive in this harsh world. Besides, the original owner of this body had been an accomplished hunter. ‘Wu Po really is overreacting’ he thought.

That said, being so thoroughly cared for was undeniably enjoyable.

After the two finished their simple dinner, Wu Po began working on processing the python’s skin. The snake had been exceptionally long, leaving behind a significant amount of snakeskin.

The skin was incredibly durable—light yet warm—and could have been repurposed for clothing. However, Wu Po had no intention of using it for that purpose.

The weather was about to get warmer, and the snakeskin felt soft and cool to the touch. Once it was properly treated, Wu Po decided he would turn it into a layer of bedding to place over the other animal hides. When the hot season arrived, his little partner would surely find it especially comfortable to sleep on.

Wu Po also began planning for the warm season. He resolved to hunt more game, gather additional animal bones, and expand their current cave, arranging it properly.

Once everything was ready, Wu Po planned to visit the tribe’s priest to officiate a bonding ceremony for him and Mu Jin. With the gods’ blessing, they would become official partners, and Mu Jin would never be able to leave him.

Wu Po kept these thoughts to himself, not sharing them with Mu Jin. While working, he paused midway, worrying Mu Jin might get tired. He rummaged through the cave and brought out all the animal hides he had saved, offering them to Mu Jin so he could choose one he liked to rest on.

After finishing with the snakeskin, Wu Po returned to the cave and saw Mu Jin already dozing off on one of the hides. His gaze softened as he approached and gently kissed Mu Jin’s face.’

‘I’m no longer alone’ Wu Po thought, his heart swelling with joy. ‘From now on, I’m someone with a partner.’

Feeling elated, Wu Po kissed Mu Jin a few more times, his movements light and careful not to wake him. Once he’d kissed him enough, he lay down, wrapped Mu Jin in his arms, and drifted off to sleep, completely content.

The next morning, Wu Po woke early, as usual, and began preparing breakfast for Mu Jin.

The enticing aroma of food wafted into the cave, waking Mu Jin. Groggy and still half-asleep, he stumbled out of the cave, only to be immediately scooped up by Wu Po, who placed a large leaf holding roasted meat into his hands.

---

Chapter 338- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (04)

Wu Po quickly brought Mu Jin to the outskirts of the Pingshan Tribe. However, just as they approached the area, Wu Po suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Sensing his lover pause, Mu Jin curiously opened his eyes. Standing before them was a young man, shorter than Wu Po, with a slender build, thick eyebrows, and large, expressive eyes.

The moment this young man spotted Wu Po, his face lit up with joy. Running toward them, he shouted, “Wu Po! You’re back!”

As he drew closer, he noticed Mu Jin in Wu Po’s arms. When he got a clear look at Mu Jin, his eyes sparkled with astonishment. Pointing at Mu Jin, he exclaimed in surprise, “Who is this? He’s so good-looking! And so fair-skinned!”

Recognizing his only friend in the Pingshan Tribe, Wu He, Wu Po’s expression softened. With a hint of pride, he replied, “This is my mate. I found him outside. His name is Mu Jin.”

Hearing this, Wu He felt a surge of envy. He glanced at Mu Jin a couple more times before turning back to Wu Po with admiration. “Wu Po, you’re amazing! You went out and came back with such a beautiful mate!”

Wu Po’s heart swelled with happiness at Wu He’s praise. Looking down at Mu Jin, who was now fully awake, he leaned in and planted two kisses on Mu Jin’s cheek, as if to show him off. Then, with great care, he gently placed Mu Jin on the ground.

Pulling out the stone knife from his waist, Wu Po skillfully chopped off the head and a segment near the tail of the hefty python he’d been carrying. Handing the pieces to Wu He, he said, “Take these back with you. Give some to Grandmother.”

Wu He’s face lit up with delight as he eagerly nodded, taking the snake meat from Wu Po. Although the head had been smashed beyond recognition, Wu He didn’t mind at all. After all, such a large prey was far beyond his own abilities to catch.

With his limited strength, Wu He could usually only manage to hunt small game or gather wild fruits. Even when joining the hunting party, he’d typically receive little more than scraps.

Thanks to Wu He’s kindness and their shared bond from their time in the communal cave, Wu Po had been looked after. Without Wu He’s support, Wu Po wouldn’t have had the ability to move out and live independently with Grandmother after coming of age.

Wu He never believed the rumors about Wu Po being “ominous.” To him, Wu Po was undeniably strong and had always been kind to him and Grandmother. When he was younger, he often relied on Wu Po to find enough food to eat.

And now, once again, Wu Po had shared so much meat with him.

Unfortunately, the people in the tribe continued to ostracize Wu Po. If not for Grandmother’s illness requiring frequent visits from the priest—and the priest’s disdain for Wu Po—Wu He wouldn’t have had to resort to meeting Wu Po outside the tribe these days.

Thinking about this, Wu He lowered his head in guilt.

However, seeing that Wu Po had found a mate, Wu He couldn’t help but feel genuine happiness for him. He quickly turned to Mu Jin with a warm smile and said, “Mu Jin, you’re so lucky to have found such a great mate like Wu Po. He’s incredibly strong and will definitely make sure you’re well-fed and healthy!”

In this era, where most people struggled to have enough to eat, having a mate who could provide so well that they grew plump was a true sign of strength and ability.

Hearing Wu He’s words, Mu Jin understood he was trying to make Wu Po seem even more impressive. Smiling, Mu Jin nodded in agreement, thinking Wu He had a point.

After exchanging a few more words with Wu Po, Wu He handed him a handful of wild fruits he had collected. Then, carrying the meat Wu Po had given him along with some edible wild vegetables he’d foraged earlier, Wu He ran off toward the Pingshan Tribe.

Wu Po watched Wu He run ahead without any sign of annoyance. He knew that Grandmother’s health had been poor lately, and Wu He was deeply worried about her. Otherwise, Wu He would have stayed a little longer to chat, as he usually did.

Having received such a good share of food, Wu He naturally wanted to return as quickly as possible to prepare something nourishing for Grandmother.

Wu Po, still maintaining his usual pace, continued on with Mu Jin and eventually arrived at the Pingshan Tribe.

When Wu Po returned to the Pingshan Tribe, the patrolling guards immediately noticed him. Although they generally avoided interacting with Wu Po, this time their attention was drawn to Mu Jin, who was quietly nestled in Wu Po’s arms.

Wu Po had brought an outsider back to the tribe.

Though Mu Jin clung to Wu Po’s neck, his face buried against Wu Po’s chest, making it difficult for the guards to see him clearly, they could still make out his fair-skinned arms and petite figure. This led a few of them to mistakenly assume Mu Jin was a woman.

The idea that Wu Po had found a woman outside and brought her back without notifying the tribal chief caused a stir. In this world, women were highly valued for their ability to bear children, making them incredibly important to any tribe. Wu Po’s apparent unilateral decision to bring someone back was unacceptable.

As a result, one of the patrolling guards quickly went to inform the Ping Shan Tribe’s chief about the situation, requesting that he personally address Wu Po’s actions.

Wu Po, however, paid no attention to the opinions of others. He simply carried Mu Jin straight to his home, which was located on the outskirts of the tribe, far from the bustling central area.

Mu Jin noticed this detail but didn’t mind. In fact, he quite liked the secluded location—it was quiet and peaceful.

Moreover, while the area was far from the other villagers, it was surrounded by plenty of trees, creating a serene and natural environment. Mu Jin found it to his liking, and even Wu Po himself thought it was a good place to live.

At this time, people still didn’t know how to construct houses properly, so most of them resided in caves.

The location Wu Po chose didn’t come with a natural cave, so he had carved one out himself. Since he had always lived alone, he hadn’t cared much about creating a proper home, so the cave was quite shallow.

In the past, he never thought this was an issue, but now that he had a partner, he felt the cave was too simple and inadequate.

Now that he had a family to care for, Wu Po decided he needed to provide a better living environment. He wanted his adorable partner to live comfortably by his side.

With this thought in mind, Wu Po gently placed Mu Jin on a pile of animal hides inside the cave. Though the hides were a bit coarse, they were laid over a thick layer of dried grass, effectively insulating against the cold ground.

After settling Mu Jin, Wu Po carried the remains of the giant snake to the entrance of the cave and began processing the meat.

Not wanting to sit idle inside the cave, Mu Jin quickly moved to join him, watching as Wu Po worked. When Wu Po started removing the snake’s organs and was about to toss them aside, Mu Jin stopped him and picked out the gallbladder, saying, “Don’t throw this away.”

Wu Po frowned slightly at the sight of the snake’s gallbladder in Mu Jin’s hand and patiently explained, “It’s not edible—it’s very bitter.”

Mu Jin nodded in acknowledgment. He knew it was bitter, but it seemed wasteful to discard such a large gallbladder. After all, snake gallbladders had high medicinal value and were excellent for health.

He explained to Wu Po, “This is a snake gallbladder. Consuming it is good for the body.”

“You’re saying it’s medicine?” Wu Po paused, surprised. He hadn’t expected Mu Jin to know such things.

In general, few people understood medicine or the benefits of certain substances. This knowledge was usually held by the priests of various tribes.

For Wu Po, even as an experienced hunter, his understanding of the natural world was limited to recognizing a few plants that could provide some relief for injuries. Beyond that, his knowledge was sparse.

Hearing Mu Jin’s explanation, Wu Po began to wonder about his partner’s background.

Mu Jin nodded confidently. He had always been skilled in pharmacology, with a deep understanding of both plants and animals. While he specialized in using plants for medicine, he also knew the benefits of snake gallbladders.

Briefly, he explained the medicinal properties of the snake gallbladder to Wu Po, offering simple yet clear insights.

Who would have thought that after hearing this, Wu Po didn’t seem particularly pleased? Instead, he pursed his lips and asked, “Are you a priest?”

Mu Jin shook his head but understood why Wu Po might think so. Smiling, he denied, “I’m not a priest. I’m just interested in these things. I used to help out around the priests, so I picked up some knowledge.”

Hearing this, Wu Po visibly relaxed.

Priests were highly revered, and given his own “inauspicious” reputation, if Mu Jin were truly a priest, the tribe would likely prevent their relationship.

However, since Mu Jin mentioned assisting the priests, it was clear he had been valued in his previous tribe. People like that were usually devout believers in the gods. If Mu Jin ever discovered Wu Po’s reputation for being unlucky…

This thought darkened Wu Po’s mood. But he quickly recalled that Mu Jin hadn’t shown any signs of dislike upon meeting him. Could it be that Mu Jin’s former tribe was too small to know that his eye color was considered inauspicious?

Wu Po began to wonder about this possibility, though he chose to say nothing. Carefully, he took the snake gallbladder from Mu Jin’s hand and said, “In that case, let’s give this gallbladder to Grandma. Her health hasn’t been good lately, and Wu He is very worried about her.”

During their journey back, Mu Jin had spoken with Wu Po enough to learn about Wu He’s background. Wu Po had explained that Grandma was Wu He’s grandmother. Wu He’s father and grandfather had both died during hunts, and his mother had succumbed to illness, leaving the pair of them to depend on each other.

In their most difficult times, they had also lived in the communal cave. Remembering how Wu He’s grandmother had once cared for his own beloved during those days, Mu Jin was naturally willing to offer the snake gallbladder without hesitation.

---

Chapter 337- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (03)

Thus, Mu Jin knew he had to prevent the female protagonist from causing such chaos. Although Qian Sha wouldn’t directly attack them in this small world, stopping the turmoil and averting the risk of collapse would weaken Qian Sha’s power to some extent.

After exchanging names with his lover, Mu Jin realized that his man in this life was Wu Po—the very person who, in the original storyline, killed the female protagonist but was ultimately killed by her brainless followers.

Thinking about the hardships his lover had endured as a child, Mu Jin couldn’t help but feel a deep ache in his heart after reviewing the plot.

Simply because Wu Po’s eye color was different, he had been branded as “ominous” from birth. To make matters worse, his father died shortly after his birth during a hunting expedition, further solidifying the superstition surrounding his “ill-fated” nature. Following this, his mother, Wu Chan, abandoned him.

Fortunately, the chief of the Pingshan Tribe showed a sliver of humanity. Instead of ordering Wu Po’s death, he left him in the tribe’s communal cave for the elderly, weak, sick, and orphaned, essentially leaving him to fend for himself.

Perhaps it was the tenacious vitality of a villain that kept him alive. With the help of a few kind-hearted elders, the young boy managed to survive.

However, food in the tribe was scarce, and those in the communal cave received even less.

To survive, Wu Po ate insects and grass roots and even resorted to stealing food from others. He devised countless methods to ensure he wouldn’t go hungry.

As he grew older, he began catching small creatures like mice and fish on his own. Using every resource at his disposal, Wu Po avoided starvation and even grew tall and strong.

Wu Po was intelligent, learning early on how to use traps to catch prey. Despite his skills, the hunting team excluded him due to his “ominous” reputation, forbidding him from joining their ranks.

Undeterred, Wu Po hunted alone. When he managed to catch extra prey, he sometimes shared it with the few elders who had cared for him in the communal cave.

Over time, as Wu Po grew stronger, he became one of the tribe’s most formidable individuals. Self-sufficient and capable, he could hunt enough to sustain himself and live comfortably.

After the elders who had cared for him passed away, Wu Po left the communal cave. However, because of his “ominous” reputation, the tribe’s priest only allowed him to build a house on the outskirts of the village.

The people in the tribe feared Wu Po, and even though he never left the tribe, he lived a solitary life.

As for Mu Jin’s identity in this life, after reviewing the original character’s memories, Mu Jin suddenly felt a sense of shared hardship with his lover. However, this wasn’t because the original character had a tragic backstory, but rather because the original character was none other than the lesser chieftain whom the female protagonist, Mu Xuan, was supposed to marry.

The so-called arrogance and tyranny described in the original plot were entirely false. The original character’s personality was indeed a bit mischievous, but he cared deeply for his tribe.

Those individuals Mu Xuan saw him “bullying” were actually troublemakers within the tribe who were being reprimanded for their wrongdoings.

From a young age, the original character possessed immense strength. Even though he was short in stature, his abilities were exceptional, making him worthy of the title of the strongest warrior in the Ping Yuan Tribe. While his playful nature could be bothersome at times, he was well-liked and treated the elderly and weak in the tribe with great kindness.

As for the mask he always wore, it originated from an accident during his childhood. While playing, he accidentally scratched his face, and due to the lack of proper medicine, the wound became infected, leaving a noticeable scar.

At the time, because he was so young and prone to scratching the wound, the priest made him wear a mask. Unexpectedly, the original character grew fond of the mask, thinking it looked imposing, and thus it became his signature accessory.

However, everyone in the tribe knew what he looked like. While the scar on his face was prominent, it didn’t make him particularly unattractive. If anything, it was more a case of the original character’s rough personality and lack of attention to personal grooming.

In terms of height, compared to the average height of over 1.9 meters in this world, the original character was indeed considered short.

Despite his stature, his immense strength and the fact that his father was the chieftain made him a highly respected figure. He was well-known in the Pingyuan Tribe, and many women wanted to be with him.

Mu Xuan’s arranged marriage to the original character was a private decision made by the latter’s father, Mu Shan. Mu Shan believed his son was getting older and needed to settle down. He thought a woman would help his son mature and carry on the family line, so he selfishly chose the most beautiful woman in the tribe for his son.

However, no one ever forced Mu Xuan into anything. Before her transmigration, Mu Xuan willingly agreed to be with the original character. After all, being with the lesser chieftain guaranteed a comfortable life.

The original character was never short of people who wanted to be with him. So, whether it was Mu Xuan before her transmigration or the female protagonist after it, if she truly didn’t want to marry him, all she had to do was say so. There was no need for the elaborate charade of running away.

What was even more unforgivable was that after helping the Pingshan Tribe rise to power and forming alliances with other tribal leaders, the female protagonist grew worried that the original character might bear a grudge. Fearing that the Ping Yuan Tribe posed a threat, she incited the tribes to join forces and attack the Pingyuan Tribe. This resulted in the death of the original character and the massacre of his entire family.

Thus, the original character’s wish in this life was simple: to protect his family and ensure they wouldn’t suffer harm at anyone’s hands.

Mu Jin naturally intended to help fulfill this wish. However, he was puzzled as to why, upon opening his eyes, he found himself in the depths of a forest far from the Pingyuan Tribe.

As he was pondering this, the voice of 003 echoed in his mind:
“That’s because the original character didn’t like women at all. But the chieftain, Mu Shan, insisted he find a female partner and have children. Unwilling to comply, the original character ran away, choosing to leave home and grow stronger before eventually returning.”

“So, does that mean that regardless of whether the female protagonist ran away or not, the original character wouldn’t have married her?”

Hearing this, 003 squinted and nodded in affirmation. Mu Jin was left speechless by this revelation. Both the original character and his tribe were truly innocent victims caught in an unwarranted disaster.

Having gained a deeper understanding of this small world, Mu Jin also realized that while women were rare in this society, relationships between men were fairly common.

However, individuals of high status, such as chieftains or warriors, typically sought women for the purpose of reproduction. The original character, being the lesser chieftain, was expected to follow this norm, but his insistence on being with a man naturally angered his father.

However, Mu Jin felt the original character’s actions were commendable—far better than those who secretly preferred the same s*x but chose to deceive others through arranged marriages.

After glancing at the current timeline, Mu Jin realized that the female protagonist should have already escaped from the Pingyuan Tribe with Mu Xiong’s help.

His father in this world was still fuming with anger, so Mu Jin decided it might be a good idea to follow his lover back to the Pingshan Tribe and lie low for a while. After all, the female protagonist would be arriving there soon. Mu Jin was curious to see what kind of tricks she could pull once she entered the Pingshan Tribe.

“This is just an excuse for you to stick with your man!” 003 muttered, leaning lazily against Teng Gen while waving its tiny paws in exasperation.

Mu Jin shot a glance at Teng Gen, who was smiling warmly at 003, and rolled his eyes at the system. He had no interest in arguing with such an oblivious creature.

Still, recalling the prominent scar on the original character’s face, Mu Jin suddenly remembered the focused way his lover had looked at him earlier. Reaching up to touch his own face, he felt only smooth skin under his fingertips.

In his moment of surprise, 003’s smug voice chimed in his mind:
“Xiao Jin, when you first entered this small world, I used system energy to repair the scar on your face. Aren’t you thrilled?”

“…”

To be honest, not really. Mu Jin remained silent, staring at 003. He’d actually been looking forward to finally embracing a rugged, unrefined appearance for one lifetime. Now that hope was dashed.

On second thought, though, with the scar gone, if the female protagonist recognized him later, he could deny being the lesser chieftain of the Pingyuan Tribe. In that sense, losing the scar had its advantages.

The conversation between Mu Jin and 003 took place entirely in his mind. To Wu Po, it seemed as though Mu Jin had been quietly resting in his arms the whole time, exuding an air of gentle obedience.

Sure enough, Wu Po found that the person he liked was perfectly suited to being held tenderly in his arms, staying by his side. Pleased beyond measure, Wu Po picked up his pace, striding forward with renewed vigor.

---

Chapter 336- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (02)

As Wu Po thought this, his gaze toward Mu Jin grew even more resolute. Without hesitation, he grabbed Mu Jin’s arm and firmly declared, “From now on, you’re my mate.”

Since his birth, Wu Po had been ostracized by his tribe for having different-colored eyes, which were considered a bad omen. Even his own mother had abandoned him. Having struggled and survived alone for so many years, Wu Po had always been by himself.

At Wu Po’s age, most men already had several children, but he didn’t even have a mate. Not that it bothered him—those women looked down on him, and he had no interest in them either.

But now, after over twenty years, the moment he saw this person suddenly appear before him, Wu Po felt, for the first time, a strong desire to have a mate.

In this world, women were scarce, and it wasn’t uncommon for two men to pair up if they developed feelings for each other. However, forming a true bond as life partners required a ceremony conducted under the guidance of the gods by the tribe’s priest. Once bonded, mates could not separate easily.

Unaware of the world’s customs or the original storyline, Mu Jin only found it amusing that on their very first meeting, his lover had boldly announced that he was to become his mate.

The straightforwardness of Wu Po’s declaration made Mu Jin’s heart feel a little warm. Suddenly, he found this directness of the primitive world quite charming.

Though Wu Po appeared strong and assertive, Mu Jin noticed the nervousness in his lover’s eyes and couldn’t help but feel amused.

Wanting to tease him a little, Mu Jin hid his smile and feigned a troubled expression. “Can I refuse?” he asked with a pitiful look.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Wu Po’s face tensed with worry. The man immediately responded in a loud voice, “No! I saved you, so now you’re my mate!”

With that, Wu Po hoisted Mu Jin over his shoulder and walked off without hesitation.

In Wu Po’s worldview, it was common for large tribes to annex smaller ones. When this happened, the people from the smaller tribes often became slaves to those in the larger tribe.

This was a survival-of-the-fittest world, and to Wu Po, Mu Jin clearly appeared very weak. Someone as frail as Mu Jin obviously couldn’t survive on his own. Since Wu Po had saved him, that meant Mu Jin owed him his life.

But Wu Po didn’t want Mu Jin’s life, nor did he want him as a slave. What he wanted was for Mu Jin to be his mate.

Thus, in Wu Po’s stubborn mind, Mu Jin already belonged to him. Since Mu Jin was his, how could he possibly refuse him? Frustrated by what he perceived as rejection, Wu Po angrily hoisted Mu Jin over his shoulder.

Mu Jin was momentarily stunned by his lover’s bold move, letting out a startled cry. He realized he might have taken the teasing too far—his man was not only angry but perhaps even a little upset.

That wouldn’t do!

However, being carried in such a rough manner was uncomfortable. Feeling awkward, Mu Jin quickly patted Wu Po’s back and said in a muffled voice, “Put me down! Being carried like this is really uncomfortable.”

At first, Wu Po didn’t seem inclined to let go despite the patting. But the moment he heard that Mu Jin was uncomfortable, he immediately set him down.

When Wu Po saw Mu Jin’s slightly flushed face, his heart filled with regret. He had made his little mate feel bad. Even though Mu Jin was being a bit disobedient, Wu Po didn’t want him to feel uncomfortable.

Feeling a bit dejected for a moment, Wu Po quickly came up with another solution. Remembering how the people in his tribe carried children, the man tried lifting Mu Jin with one arm.

Mu Jin’s height wasn’t particularly short in this world, but to Wu Po, he seemed small and slender. So it was effortless for him to cradle Mu Jin in one arm.

Once Wu Po adjusted his hold, he instantly realized the advantages of carrying someone this way. From this angle, he could see Mu Jin’s face clearly. To steady himself, Mu Jin even reached out and wrapped his arms around Wu Po’s neck.

This voluntary gesture from Mu Jin lifted Wu Po’s spirits immensely. It reminded him of the fleeting moments he had witnessed as a child, seeing men and women interact in the tribe during the nights. Unable to resist, Wu Po gazed at Mu Jin intently, feeling his affection grow with each passing second. Suddenly, he leaned down and planted a kiss on Mu Jin’s cheek.

After the kiss, Wu Po felt something remarkable. So this was what it felt like to kiss someone you liked.

Mu Jin’s cheeks were soft and tender, a sensation Wu Po found indescribably pleasant. The warmth from the kiss spread through his body, filling him with joy and satisfaction.

Realizing how much he enjoyed kissing Mu Jin, Wu Po leaned down and kissed his cheek a few more times, each one more enthusiastic than the last. If it weren’t for the unsuitable location, he would’ve kept going.

However, Wu Po thought it best to take Mu Jin back quickly. His little mate had likely been wandering for a long time and must be exhausted. Satisfied with his kisses, Wu Po used his free hand to pick up the massive snake he had killed earlier and ran toward the Ping Shan Tribe, still cradling Mu Jin.

Meanwhile, nestled in Wu Po’s embrace, Mu Jin was momentarily stunned by his lover’s enthusiastic kisses. Eventually, he gave up resisting and curled up comfortably in Wu Po’s arms. The warmth of Wu Po’s strong embrace and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat gradually eased all the unease Mu Jin had felt upon arriving in this new world. Only a sense of security remained.

Being in his lover’s arms, Mu Jin felt completely safe. He believed nothing could harm him now. Since it would take some time to reach the tribe, he decided to use the opportunity to receive the storyline of this small world and the original owner’s memories.

Closing his eyes, he pretended to nap. Soon, 003 transmitted the storyline of this world into Mu Jin’s mind.

After processing the narrative, Mu Jin couldn’t help but feel surprised. As expected, this world was set in a primitive society. However, what he hadn’t anticipated was that the protagonist of this world would be a transmigrated woman.

This was the first time Mu Jin had encountered a world with such a unique twist. In all the previous small worlds he had visited, this type of scenario hadn’t occurred—aside from the one where Wu Po had been reborn through manipulated means.

Even in a small world, there are inherent operational rules. Concepts like transmigration or rebirth are anomalies within these worlds, inherently impossible unless external forces deliberately disrupt the balance.

The storyline of this world was, unsurprisingly, both clichéd and melodramatic. The protagonist, Mu Xuan, was originally an ordinary office worker. She had majored in agriculture¹ but ended up working in an unrelated field, living a life without love or success, full of discontent.

During a trip, Mu Xuan accidentally fell off a cliff. When she woke up, her soul had transmigrated into the body of the most beautiful woman in the prosperous Pingyuan Tribe, also named Mu Xuan.

Though this world resembled primitive society, it was clearly a completely fictional setting. While the people of these tribes seemed like early humans, they already had surnames. The origins of these surnames were unclear, but in the Pingyuan Tribe where Mu Xuan had arrived, most people bore the surname “Mu.”

Upon her arrival, Mu Xuan learned that she was about to be married to the young chief of the tribe. However, this young chief was an arrogant and domineering man—short, ugly, and scarred, with a prominent blade scar across his face. He always wore a wooden mask, and the tribespeople were deeply afraid of him.

When Mu Xuan stepped out of her dwelling and caught sight of the short, masked young chief oppressing the tribe with his power, she refused to marry such a violent and morally corrupt man.

Relying on her beauty, she sought help from Mu Xiong, a warrior from the tribe, and escaped the Pingyuan Tribe. However, Mu Xiong’s capabilities were limited, and the two were separated after the escape. Fortunately, she was rescued by Wu Peng, the first warrior of the Pingshan Tribe.

After explaining her plight, Wu Peng sympathized with Mu Xuan and brought her into the Pingshan Tribe, caring for her attentively. During this time, Wu Peng developed feelings for the charming, delicate, and gentle girl.

To Mu Xuan, Wu Peng was her savior, strong and capable, so it wasn’t long before a mutual attraction blossomed between them.

The Pingshan Tribe was much smaller in population compared to the Pingyuan Tribe. However, its geographical location was excellent. The tribe resided in a mountain valley—easy to defend and difficult to attack.

At that time, people did not yet understand farming. Most of them relied on foraging and hunting, often encountering various dangers in the forest.

The female lead, using her knowledge of modern agriculture, taught the people of the Ping Shan Tribe how to farm and domesticate animals. She even invented some convenient tools, gradually strengthening the tribe.

Her ingenuity naturally caught the attention of the tribe’s priest. When the priest approached her, the female lead claimed to be a divine envoy. As a result, she became the person of highest status in the tribe.

During inter-tribal gatherings, the female lead met other strong individuals from various tribes.

Although Wu Peng was excellent, the other tribal leaders were equally remarkable, leaving Mu Xuan (the female lead) torn between them.

Perhaps because of her “protagonist halo,” she won favor with everyone and gained a group of devoted followers. Remarkably, these strong leaders were even willing to coexist harmoniously and share the same woman.

This ludicrous plot—where powerful figures agree to such an arrangement—could only occur through manipulation, as otherwise, these followers must have been brainwashed. Of course, this was just Mu Jin’s internal criticism.

In the story’s narrative, this development is painted as these strong men being moved by the female lead’s wisdom and gentle kindness, leading them to compete for her affection. Her indecisiveness and acceptance of them all were portrayed as a sign of her kindness, as she didn’t wish to hurt anyone’s feelings.

Thus, the female lead effortlessly “conquered” all the strong leaders and enjoyed the benefits of having them all at her side.

If this were all, the world might not have suffered such damage. However, an unexpected development occurred: after gaining her suitors, Mu Xuan began to believe she was the favored child of the world and that all handsome men should belong to her.

She then remembered Wu Po, whom she initially encountered when joining the Pingshan Tribe. Wu Po, despite being ostracized by his tribe for his unique eye color, was tall, handsome, and exceptionally strong.

The modern female lead, having crossed over to this world, naturally knew that Wu Po’s eye color had nothing to do with being “ominous.” In fact, if Wu Po had gained the tribe’s recognition, the position of First Warrior rightfully should have been his—Wu Peng would not have been a match for him.

Mu Xuan, reveling in her success and many admirers, viewed Wu Po as just another prize to claim. She began actively trying to win him over, even resorting to subtle seduction. However, to her surprise, Wu Po was completely uninterested and even publicly insulted her.

Mu Xuan’s followers, unable to bear seeing their beloved hurt, decided to kill Wu Po. Feeling humiliated, Mu Xuan accused Wu Po of angering the gods and suggested sacrificing him to appease them.

But Wu Po refused to comply. He fought back, injuring his captors, and eventually escaped.

Despite fleeing, Wu Po did not let the matter rest. He secretly returned to the Ping Shan Tribe and killed Mu Xuan.

With Mu Xuan’s death, her devoted followers were devastated. Together, they eventually succeeded in killing Wu Po.

However, even with Wu Po gone, they could not bring Mu Xuan back to life. After her death, the supposed harmony among the powerful figures from various tribes fell apart.

These leaders had never truly respected one another; their cooperation was only held together by Mu Xuan’s presence. Once she was gone, conflict erupted. They fought each other to the death, and inter-tribal wars raged for many years, leaving the land devastated.

This prolonged chaos brought the small world to the brink of collapse, destabilizing it completely.

Seeing such a disastrous ending, Mu Jin couldn’t help but twitch his lips. He instantly understood that this must have been the work of Qian Sha.

By creating such a morally twisted protagonist and altering the world’s original course, Qian Sha had deliberately thrown the storyline into chaos. The resulting wars and destruction severely weakened the world’s integrity, allowing Qian Sha to siphon its energy and fortune.

Intervening in a small world to make such drastic changes would have consumed a significant amount of energy. However, the potential rewards from successfully exploiting the world were equally immense.

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Note :

1. Agriculture refers to the practice of cultivating the land and raising animals to produce food, fiber, medicinal plants, and other products that sustain and enhance human life. It is one of the oldest human activities and serves as the backbone of many economies. ↩︎

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Chapter 335- Fierce and Ominous VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (01)

After leaving the previous world, Mu Jin returned to the system space, deciding to take a short break. Although the previous small world was created by Qian Sha as a trap, after they left, Qian Chen didn’t let that world be destroyed.

After all, the beings within the small world, who went through cycles of life, were real in their own way. However, Qian Chen had used some illusionary tricks to create the illusion of an explosion in that world, hoping to confuse Qian Sha.

By making Qian Sha think that Qian Chen was seriously injured, he would continue trying to find a way to attack him.

Ying had been taken away and protected by Qian Chen, and Mu Jin hadn’t seen Ying. He had no objections to Qian Chen’s actions. In the previous world, Ying had never recovered his memories, but as their subordinate and friend, Shi Haoyu left a good impression on Mu Jin.

Recalling the past small worlds with Huangfu Jian and Mao Kun, Mu Jin understood that one’s soul would inevitably be influenced, so he later thought that maybe Ying wasn’t inherently bad and was loyal to his partner. Mu Jin also felt that he could understand why Qian Chen liked him.

However, none of this concerned him. His primary goal now was to help Qian Chen take down Qian Sha. After the destruction of a few more small worlds, the connection between Qiong Qi and Ying could be completely severed.

Once Qian Sha was taken down, Qian Chen had promised to use his power to heal Qiong Qi’s soul.

Of course, in reality, Qian Chen planned to give Mu Jin more benefits because he didn’t want to owe him any favors.

Although Mu Jin’s lover now had the strength to leave the small world, if his soul remained incomplete, Qiongqi would definitely continue to suffer when he returned to the real world.

If Qian Chen was willing to help, it would clearly be far more effective than Mu Jin trying to use fate energy to nurture Qiong Qi’s soul on his own. Mu Jin was more than determined to accept Qian Chen’s offer.

From then on, whether or not Ying entered these small worlds, Qian Chen said he would use Ying’s energy to create this illusion. He also left some of his own aura on Mu Jin to confuse Qian Sha and make Mu Jin the target.

This approach was clearly quite dangerous, but Mu Jin felt that if it could achieve the goal, taking this risk would be worthwhile.

Qian Chen reminded Mu Jin that the upcoming worlds might be tampered with by Qian Sha. After the disruption of the small world, the danger would be higher than before, and he would do his best to provide Mu Jin with as much help as possible.

Mu Jin was very satisfied with Qian Chen’s attitude. Once Qian Chen had made a decision, he wouldn’t regret it. Moreover, Mu Jin felt that making Qian Chen owe him such a big favor was undoubtedly a good thing.

In the system space, Mu Jin and Teng Gen discussed their plans again before entering the next small world with 003.

When Mu Jin opened his eyes again, he saw a dense forest. Tall trees surrounded him. For Mu Jin, whose true form was a plant, this environment was undoubtedly very comfortable.

The ground beneath his feet was soft and appeared rich in nutrients. The sunlight wasn’t too harsh, and the humidity in the forest was still present, which was ideal for plant growth.

Mu Jin even had the impulse to transform into his true form and take root in the ground to fully enjoy the surroundings. However, he reminded himself that he was here to accomplish a task and couldn’t afford to waste time just enjoying the moment.

Although there were no signs of people around, Mu Jin still sensed the presence of wild beasts lurking nearby. Clearly, this wasn’t a good opportunity to relax and immerse himself in the storyline of this small world.

So, Mu Jin pretended to relax, feeling the dangerous aura approaching him from behind. As it got closer, Mu Jin suddenly shifted to the right, and a giant snake lunged at him from the trees, clearly having been watching him and targeting him as its meal for the day.

Mu Jin raised an eyebrow as he saw the snake circling on the branches, opening its massive mouth, ready to strike.

However, Mu Jin felt no tension at all because he could sense the immense strength contained within his current body. It seemed that the original owner’s physical constitution was quite formidable.

With Mu Jin’s own combat skills, subduing the python should not have been difficult. However, before he could make a move, he sensed the approach of another living presence, and this aura was one he was quite familiar with.

Mu Jin’s hand, which had been about to strike, instantly dropped. As expected, when the python lunged at him again, a stone knife flew from behind his ear, embedding deeply into the python’s flesh.

Unfortunately, the knife didn’t strike the snake’s vital spot, so while the python fell to the ground in pain and thrashed around wildly, it wasn’t killed in one blow.

A tall figure suddenly leaped out from the bushes. His speed was extraordinary, far beyond that of an ordinary person. He wielded a simple stone hammer, made by tying a stone to a piece of wood, and slammed it toward the python’s head.

In an instant, blood splattered, and the scene became intensely gruesome.

Mu Jin watched, expressionless, as his lover heroically saved him. Normally, it should have been a handsome and dashing scene, but perhaps due to the other man’s bare upper body, the rugged animal skin wrapped around his waist, and the bold swing of the stone hammer, Mu Jin found himself somewhat speechless for a moment.

In his free time, Mu Jin couldn’t help but mutter: ‘My lover’s physique is still impeccable in this lifetime.’

The man must be over two meters tall. But with this appearance, no matter how you looked at it, he resembled a wild man.

Just as Mu Jin was about to continue his commentary, a laugh echoed in his sea of consciousness. It was 003, speaking to him: “Xiao Jin, you better lower your head and check your own attire before calling someone else a wild man.”

Mu Jin blinked, then lowered his head to look at the large animal skin wrapped around his body.

Well, it seems like he was a wild man too.

However, Mu Jin still felt that, compared to his man, he was somewhat better off. At least his animal skin was a whole piece, and it was strung together with vines, resembling a simple dress.

The only problem was that the inside of the animal skin skirt was entirely hollow, and whenever the wind blew, it made him feel a bit chilly, which was something Mu Jin wasn’t quite used to.

But since even he had ended up like this, Mu Jin’s gaze inevitably wandered to his lover’s lower body. As expected, with the man’s rugged movements, a certain well-endowed area was barely concealed.

If it had been another time, Mu Jin might have whistled and teased him. But now, facing the man who had just saved his life, Mu Jin felt that he should behave more obediently and try to leave a good impression on his lover.

Once the python’s head had been crushed and it was well and truly dead, the man on the other side finally stopped swinging the stone hammer. He turned his head to look at Mu Jin.

Only then did Mu Jin get a good look at his lover. He had bronzed skin, muscles that were firm and powerful, and looked incredibly strong. His facial features were sharply defined, like they had been carved with a knife, and combined with the familiar amber eyes, he was both wild and sexy.

This man’s height was even greater than in the previous small worlds. Mu Jin had just asked 003 and found that his own height in this lifetime could hardly be considered short.

Perhaps because the people in this small world were generally taller, Mu Jin had finally managed to surpass 1.8 meters. Of course, when compared to the man’s towering stature, his own height still seemed insignificant.

Looking at their clothing, Mu Jin guessed this might be a primitive society. But he was glad that his lover had somehow managed to cut his hair short. It was likely done with a sharp stone knife. The hairstyle wasn’t anything special, but at least it looked neat.

The man had many scars of varying sizes on his body, probably from hunting in the forest and facing wild beasts. It seemed that life in a primitive society was indeed very harsh. As Mu Jin thought this, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy when he looked at his lover.

What he didn’t know was that, despite his expressionless face, Upo was actually very nervous inside.

He had been chasing a wild deer earlier, but after coming this way, it had disappeared. Then he ended up here, hoping to catch some other prey.

But as soon as he arrived, he saw a short man standing there, almost getting attacked by the giant python. When Upo saw the man being attacked, he felt a sudden wave of panic. Without thinking, he immediately took action and quickly killed the snake.

However, when he turned to look at the man’s face, Upo froze.

This was the first time in his life that he had seen someone so good-looking—this person was even more beautiful than the most attractive women in his tribe.

The man had very fair skin, as white as snow on a cold day. Although his animal skin was a bit disheveled, his face was clean and pristine.

head of long black hair was casually tied behind his head, with a small nose and big cat pupils. At this moment, when he looked at himself, he tilted his head slightly, which was indescribably cute.

Then, the man saw the corners of the man’s mouth curl up as he spoke softly to him in gratitude, “Thank you for saving me.”

Wu Po felt his heart racing at that moment. He didn’t quite catch what Mu Jin had said, but instinctively, he thought the man’s voice was incredibly pleasant. It was clear and melodious, even more beautiful than the cooing of birds in the woods during the warm seasons.

“What’s your name?” Upo heard himself ask.

“I’m Mu Jin. What’s yours?” Mu Jin smiled, his eyebrows curving slightly as he noticed the man staring at him intently.

“I’m Wu Po. Where are you from?” Wu Po’s question came out with a hint of urgency.

As he spoke, he observed Mu Jin closely, noticing that his face was clean, but his appearance was a bit disheveled.

Mu Jin had just arrived in this world and hadn’t yet absorbed the memories of the original owner or the story of this small world. For a moment, he didn’t know how to answer his lover’s question.

Mu Jin’s hesitation immediately led Wu Po to misinterpret the situation. He thought something must have happened to the man’s tribe, and that he was now a lone wanderer, otherwise, how could he end up in the deep forest looking like this?

At this time, small tribes were still scarce, and it was common for homes to be destroyed by natural disasters or wild animal attacks. Seeing that Mu Jin didn’t respond, Upo didn’t press further but instead felt a bit pleased inside.

This man didn’t belong to a tribe; he was alone, and Wu Po had saved him.

While thinking this, Wu Po’s gaze shifted back to Mu Jin, his eyes roaming over him. This person was truly beautiful, he thought, feeling a genuine sense of admiration.

This person was so good-looking, Wu Po wanted him to be his partner!

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Chapter 334- Cultured Villain vs. Humanoid Weapon (END)

It was bad enough that the little guy slipped away, but he also chose to compete with Qiong Qi for Mu Jin, disregarding his true condition and trying to fully control the realms, which left him severely injured. Qian Chen didn’t know what to say to Ying; he just felt both angry and heartbroken.

Suddenly, unfamiliar emotions surged within him, leaving Qian Chen feeling at a loss. However, these emotions—seemingly like the seven emotions and six desires of a human—also seemed to intoxicate him. He found himself liking this new experience of feelings.

It was obvious that such emotions couldn’t be those one would have for a mere pet.

Qian Chen hadn’t fully understood his own feelings at the time, but he knew that while he didn’t care about Mu Jin’s or Qiong Qi’s life or death, he did care about Ying’s. He wanted to keep Ying close but didn’t want him entangled with anyone else.

Although it seemed that Ying and Qiong Qi had completely separated on the surface, cutting all ties wasn’t so simple. Traveling through the small worlds would reduce their connection over time.

However, he couldn’t make a move on Qiong Qi, and Qian Chen had considered whether he should kill Mu Jin.

But there were two issues: first, the Flower God lineage had a deep background, and Mu Jin’s master was famously protective; second, Ying was stubborn—if Qian Chen truly harmed Mu Jin, Ying might not take it well, and that could be the end of it for him.

So, one day, he suddenly proposed a bet to Ying. The bet was that Ying didn’t truly love Mu Jin, and his supposed affection for Mu Jin was just an illusion.

If Ying entered a realm and lost his memory, he would not, like Qiong Qi, still be influenced by his original divine soul and be so fixated on Mu Jin.

Ying didn’t believe him, but Qian Chen wasn’t angry. He sealed Ying’s memories and sent him into the small world. As expected, Ying didn’t have any special feelings for Mu Jin and got along just fine with them in that world.

But what no one expected was that the problem wasn’t with Ying, but with the fact that, on a whim, Qian Chen had sealed his own memories and followed Ying into that realm.

Qian Chen didn’t anticipate that after sealing his memories, he would fall in love at first sight with Ying in that world. In that world, Ying appeared to be just an ordinary human cultivator.

When he left that realm, he was shocked by what had happened. In that world, he had been an entity with the same status as the Demon Lord, Lin Yuan, yet he had spent his life pursuing a human cultivator—and the worst part was that he had failed.

However, he could feel Ying’s inner conflict and hesitation in that world, leading him to think that maybe Ying was just slow to warm up. But after leaving the realm, even though Ying was in his grasp, he still refused to yield, which created a sense of frustration in Qian Chen that he couldn’t shake off.

Qian Chen was unwilling to give up, so he followed Ying to the next realm. In this realm, Ying actively sealed himself and reincarnated as the male protagonist of the Heavenly Dao, just to prevent Qian Chen from finding him.

But none of that mattered. What truly mattered was that in this small world, he had finally gotten the person he loved. Qian Chen lived happily in that small world, and he even thought how wonderful it would be if that life could go on forever.

However, when both he and his beloved companion finally left that realm, Qian Chen’s beloved little one disappeared right in front of him, and he felt a force obstructing him.

Fortunately, when he had been close to Ying in the Vampire Realm, he had unconsciously left a trace of his own aura within Ying’s body. That’s why he was able to follow Ying into this world.

Qian Chen knew clearly that he had grown lax in recent times. There were too many instabilities within these small worlds, and he had overlooked the ever-waiting Qian Sha.

Ultimately, after living in peace for so long, he had become overconfident in himself.

In the past, Qian Sha had always been suppressed by him. Qian Chen had assumed that Qian Sha would be worn down and perish within these small worlds. But to his surprise, during this period when he had been focused on being with Ying, he had given Qian Sha the opportunity to strike back—and he had even targeted Qian Chen’s beloved.

Ying’s soul had never been stable to begin with. For a long time, it had been Qian Chen’s efforts that kept stabilizing and solidifying Ying’s soul. But the lingering scent of the Ghost Plague on Ying made it easier for Qian Sha to track him.

Qian Sha had carefully observed Qian Chen’s focus on Ying and seized the opportunity to intercept Ying as they exited the realm. Craftily, he dragged Ying into this small world, all to lure Qian Chen into a trap.

The so-called Pei Zijin was nothing but a decoy set by Qian Sha. If he could deceive Qian Chen, that would be ideal. But if not, it didn’t matter—Pei Zijin was meant to be a sacrificial pawn.

After countless years of battling, Qian Sha knew all too well the power of the main god. What he wanted was for Qian Chen to be so enraged that he would kill Pei Zijin. At that moment, the energy, laced with murderous aura that Qian Sha had infused into Pei Zijin, would explode, injuring the unsuspecting Qian Chen.

As for how Ying would be treated, Qian Sha couldn’t care less. In fact, the collapse of the realm would only be beneficial to him, as it would cause additional harm to Qian Chen.

However, what Qian Sha didn’t foresee was that Mu Jin and Teng Gen would step in. Teng Gen, always sensitive to the aura of the Ghost Plague and evil energy, noticed something was wrong with Pei Zijin and immediately warned Mu Jin, who took action to intervene.

Their timely intervention, by sheer accident, helped Qian Chen. When Qian Chen was jolted awake by the surge of energy, he quickly assisted them in stabilizing the realm, preventing any harm from befalling anyone.

Qian Chen had originally erased his own memories and entered this small world in order to prevent its collapse and to protect Ying. However, he had subtly suggested to himself that he should always be searching for Ying. As expected, without his memories, he was angered by Pei Zijin’s actions and nearly fell into Qian Sha’s trap.

Reflecting on all this, Qian Chen felt both emotional and thoughtful. He briefly explained to Mu Jin why they had ended up in this situation.

Qian Chen didn’t elaborate too much, but Mu Jin immediately understood his intentions. With a slight furrow of his brow, he looked at Qian Chen and said, “So, what you’re suggesting is that you want me to help you deal with Qian Sha?”

Mu Jin asked Qian Chen with some reluctance in his heart. After all, the main reason Qian Chen wanted to do this was to protect Ying, and Ying’s background made him an easy target for Qian Sha.

But Mu Jin still remembered how Ying had once tried to put Qiong Qi in harm’s way. Although Qiong Qi had managed to hold on until Mu Jin arrived because of Qian Chen’s care for Ying, it didn’t change the fact that Ying had wanted to hurt someone Mu Jin loved. For this reason, Mu Jin was hesitant to help someone who had tried to harm his loved one.

Qian Chen could naturally tell what Mu Jin was thinking. His expression didn’t change at all, and he simply said, “You must have noticed that in the recent worlds, even after seizing the fate energy, we still couldn’t help Qiong Qi restore his soul.”

Mu Jin’s expression immediately shifted. He had initially thought it was just his own misconception, or that the energy in these worlds wasn’t enough. But hearing Qian Chen’s words, he now realized that something was indeed wrong.

His face darkened as he asked, “You mean this is related to Qian Sha?”

Qian Chen smiled and nodded. Ying could steal the world’s energy, so naturally, Qian Sha could as well. This was the main reason why he could confidently stand in front of Mu Jin and ask for his help.

Qian Sha had to be eliminated—there could be no risk left for Ying.

Qian Chen smiled at Mu Jin and continued, “So, this is mutually beneficial. I know that Qiong Qi and Teng Gen are very sensitive to these evil energy and ghost plague. Qian Sha is elusive, born in the small worlds, and I can’t detect him because his aura comes from the same source as mine. It wasn’t easy to capture him back then. But with your help, things will be different.”

Mu Jin nodded in acknowledgment, fully understanding his role now. Since Qian Chen had put it that way, there was no choice but to cooperate.

Most importantly, Mu Jin knew that with his own strength, he couldn’t deal with Qian Chen. Qiong Qi’s soul was almost restored, and he couldn’t allow it all to fall apart now.

But even so, thinking about how Ying had once targeted Qiong Qi, Mu Jin still felt uneasy.

Just as Mu Jin was about to speak, Qian Chen seemed to sense his concerns and helplessly said to him, “Do you think that with me around, he still needs anyone else’s energy? Besides, I believe that I am the best choice for Ying.”

Mu Jin paused when he heard Qian Chen’s words, but a smile appeared on his face. Thinking of their interactions in the previous world, Mu Jin knew that Ying’s heart was probably truly with Qian Chen now.

He was no longer worried that Qian Chen would harm him. After all, even if his own strength was insufficient, he wasn’t without support.

Thus, the two quickly reached an agreement. Mu Jin was decisive in his actions, and Qian Chen felt comfortable negotiating with him.

Once the plan was settled, Qian Chen returned to his original position. His appearance returned to that of the Zombie King, and time in the small world began flowing again.

Everything around him resumed its motion, and Pei Zijin didn’t die. He let out a wail and collapsed to the ground. His special abilities were completely disabled, and now he could no longer move, turning into a helpless cripple.

As the Zombie King, Qian Chen opened his eyes again, but with no memory of the past. However, when he subconsciously saw Pei Zijin, he didn’t strike him down. Instead, he returned to his side of Shi Haoyu and tightly embraced his lover.

The zombie nature had completely receded, and the Pingcheng Base was finally safe.

Mu Jin looked at Qian Chen, who was snuggling up to Shi Haoyu, with a complex expression. In the end, he said nothing.

He simply lifted the collapsed Pei Zijin from the ground and handed him over to Lou Bin, telling him to keep an eye on this person and make sure he didn’t die.

The reason this world existed was because of a trap set by Qian Sha, so naturally it was far from perfect. In fact, it was filled with a pervasive and irritating deathly aura.

Mu Jin knew that, no matter how hard he tried to gather the fortune in this world, it wouldn’t be enough to repair his lover’s soul. Yet, he still cherished the time spent with his man.

So, while living a loving life with his partner, he watched the male lead unite the Pingcheng Base, build his own power, and later rescue the doctor who could develop a cure for the zombie virus.

Five years later, humans no longer feared the zombie virus. A large number of zombies were eradicated, and humans began to reclaim the land they had once abandoned.

Ten years later, all zombies had been wiped out by humans, except for Qian Chen. Cities slowly began to rebuild. The number of superhumans continued to grow, and mutated plants and animals, along with the ability users, became the mainstream of this world.

Fifty years later, Mu Jin and Jian Minghui left this world together on a quiet night, embraced in each other’s arms.

And Qian Chen, whose appearance still retained the youthful, handsome look from his past, seemed to sense something. He looked down at his lover, who had already passed away in his arms but wore a peaceful expression. He placed a kiss on his lips and left this world alongside him.

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Chapter 333- Cultured Villain vs. Humanoid Weapon (38)

Mu Jin was shocked by Qian Chen’s words but understood that they were not exaggerations. The small worlds were fraught with dangers, and traversing between dimensions could easily damage the divine soul.

When Mu Jin arrived in this world, Qiong Qi’s soul was already damaged.

He had always thought himself fortunate to have reached his lover just before his soul dissipated, allowing him to protect the one he cherished. But after hearing Qian Chen’s explanation, Mu Jin realized that if it weren’t for Ying, his lover would have long since perished in these worlds.

This revelation left Mu Jin with complicated feelings toward Ying. While he still felt wary, the hostility he once held was no longer as strong.

Moreover, another realization struck him: the reason Qian Chen was willing to explain all this must be because he needed Mu Jin’s help. Whatever it was, it was likely something even Qian Chen couldn’t accomplish on his own.

This was likely why such a powerful being was speaking so amicably to him and even revealing his and Ying’s identities as a gesture of sincerity.

Mu Jin’s suspicion was accurate. Qian Chen indeed needed his help. However, it wasn’t so much Mu Jin himself that he valued, but rather the system, 003, residing in Mu Jin’s sea of consciousness, as well as Tenggen and Qiongqi, who were particularly adept at dealing with malicious intent and phenomena like ghostly plagues.

Now, Qian Chen’s beloved had been taken advantage of due to his own momentary carelessness. That scoundrel Qian Sha had found an opening.

Qian Sha was born from the energies of these small worlds. Many who entered the worlds for tribulation failed and perished, leaving behind deep resentment. While resentment dissipates easily, malice and killing intent linger far longer.

Qian Sha was a manifestation of this concentrated malice. He had been suppressed by Qian Chen for millennia, quietly biding his time. Qian Chen had grown complacent, and this lapse allowed Qian Sha to ensnare Ying.

Unfortunately, no matter how powerful he was, Qian Chen found himself constrained when dealing with Qian Sha, who was born from and shared the same source of energy as these small worlds.

If he truly went all out, risking mutual destruction, it wouldn’t be impossible to kill Qian Sha. However, Ying, who had already been influenced by Qian Sha, would inevitably be harmed in the process. That was something Qian Chen could never accept—he wouldn’t allow his beloved to suffer even the slightest injury.

As long as Ying could remain safe and sound, Qian Chen had no reservations about working with others. After all, he was confident that Ying’s heart now belonged solely to him.

Reflecting on the previous dimension, where he and Ying had come to know and love each other, and in this world, where Ying had so easily accepted his closeness, allowing Qian Chen to take full advantage, his annoyance with Mu Jin had diminished considerably.

The emotions buried within their original divine souls, stripped of memory upon entering these worlds, had become harder to conceal. Seeing Ying’s reactions toward him in these two worlds brought Qian Chen immense joy.

However, Ying himself hadn’t realized this yet. In the past, while residing within Qiong Qi’s body, Ying had been influenced by Qiong Qi’s overwhelming love and longing for Mu Jin. This left Ying with a lingering attachment toward Mu Jin, albeit one rooted more in confusion than clarity.

Qian Chen understood this dynamic well. Ying’s so-called obsession with Mu Jin was less about Mu Jin as an individual and more about the idea of having a true, mutually devoted companion.

Ying had always envied the bond between Mu Jin and Qiong Qi. When his consciousness first began to awaken, Qiong Qi’s suppressed yet intense emotions for Mu Jin had subtly affected Ying. This influence misled Ying into believing that he, too, harbored feelings for Mu Jin.

Later, after entering the myriad small worlds, Ying finally absorbed enough energy to separate himself from Qiong Qi’s body. It was then that his fixation on making Mu Jin his partner took root, leading him to commit countless foolish acts in pursuit of that goal.

The things Ying did seemed somewhat foolish to Qian Chen, but he liked Ying precisely because of his naive nature. Although Qian Chen found it somewhat troublesome that Ying couldn’t fully understand his own feelings, he still liked him—more and more, in fact.

Moreover, by now, Qian Chen was convinced that the one Ying truly cared for was undoubtedly him.

He had been alone for far too long, and life in the present world had become boring to him. That was why he had taken the initiative to manage these small worlds.

The stories in these dimensions were endless, and at first, Qian Chen found them somewhat interesting. But after a while, the repetitive nature of them left him feeling indifferent.

It was only when immortals, demons, or monks entered these worlds as part of their trials, creating deviations in the stories, that his interest would briefly be piqued. However, most of the time, he simply observed the beginning of these events and lost interest soon after.

Most people who entered these worlds would lose themselves and be unable to break through their own inner demons. As a result, their divine souls slowly faded and dissipated within these worlds.

But none of this concerned him. Everyone had their own choices to make, and they had to face the consequences of those choices.

In Qian Chen’s eyes, while many people admired the immortals who had transcended the mortal world, he found such transcendent immortals to be rather uninteresting.

Qian Chen’s thoughts were often quite simple. He had been born in the primordial immortal realm, in this world, and countless millennia ago, he had already existed.

However, when others are wielding swords and making bold moves, he prefers to be an onlooker. He enjoys going with the flow and living a carefree life. Although he is powerful, he values freedom even more.

Later on, people started calling him a god, an immortal. He didn’t mind. He never felt the need to conform to any expectations. Some might even think that Qian Chen was like a practitioner of demonic cultivation, following his heart too much.

But Qian Chen didn’t care. To him, it didn’t matter what one practiced. In the end, it all came down to strength. As long as you were powerful enough, no one would care what path you followed, and no one could interfere. He saw through many things.

Yet, even someone like him still felt lonely. So, when Qiong Qi entered these small worlds to undergo his trials, Qian Chen, out of boredom, began to pay more attention to him.

Qiong Qi was a friend of Chong Hua, and he and Chong Hua had some past interactions. However, when Yao Chonghua asked him to look after Qiong Qi, he had declined.

To Qian Chen, the idea of undergoing trials and perishing was nothing unusual. If Qiong Qi could overcome the dangers and survive these countless small worlds, he would undoubtedly grow stronger.

The greater the opportunity, the greater the risk. To gain something, one must make a sacrifice.

The most likely outcome in these small worlds, one after another, was for one’s divine soul to be completely extinguished in this world.

This was inherently a life-and-death matter. Since Qiong Qi had decided to go down this path on his own, Qian Chen didn’t feel that he had any responsibility to look after him more than necessary.

But who would have known that one day, a pure energy would split from Qiong Qi’s body, and its color was a brilliant red.

Qian Chen also had his own external space, which was likely related to his power. Year after year, it remained a vast white expanse.

Though he could see the scenery of these small worlds, as the main god, he would not immerse himself in them. So, when the red energy from Ying (Shadow) attempted to break free from Qiong Qi’s body and appeared before him, Qian Chen was stunned. From his perspective, the energy was both dazzling and beautiful.

Moreover, this sudden turn of events piqued his interest. Unconsciously, he began to pay more attention to Qiong Qi and Ying.

He quickly understood that this energy wanted to separate from Qiong Qi’s body.

Although it was born from malicious thoughts that gained its own intelligence, this Ying didn’t seem to cause harm in these small worlds. It appeared that all it wanted was to absorb the energy from Qiong Qi’s body and seize the world’s fortune for itself, to become completely independent.

Perhaps having been bored for too long, Qian Chen even consciously sent out a sliver of divine sense to quietly assist Ying. And this little creature, just as he had imagined, proved to be quite a handful.

65After Ying felt that he had finally separated and taken a portion of Qiong Qi’s energy, he entered the next small world and began tentatively trying to seize control of the Heavenly Dao’s dominion over the small world.

If someone else had done this, Qian Chen might have thought them insatiable. However, when he saw Ying take control and realize that his actions were driven only by the desire for a companion, for a relationship, Qian Chen found it unexpectedly endearing. He couldn’t help but think, ‘What a little fellow with no ambition,’ but at the same time, he found himself paying more and more attention to him.

Initially, he had merely been bored and took an interest in this little thing, but the more he focused on it, the harder it became to let go.

Until one day, when Ying was about to leave the small world, Qian Chen grabbed him in his hand. He suddenly realized that keeping this beautiful little creature as a pet to accompany him didn’t sound so bad. He didn’t want to be alone anymore.

Managing these small worlds alone had been incredibly lonely, and he was tired of it. He wanted someone to keep him company, and this little fellow in front of him seemed like the perfect fit.

He even promised Ying that he would give him immense power and eternal life, as long as he agreed to stay and accompany him. He would also let Ying travel between these worlds and play, since he was his pet and Qian Chen would surely take care of him.

But who would have thought that this little guy, without a word, slipped away when Qian Chen wasn’t paying attention.

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