Chapter 194 – Brutal Beastman Marshal vs. White Lotus, Black Lotus, Pitiful Plant Prince (21)
The first time Mu Jin saw his lover acting so childish in this world, he couldn’t help but find it amusing. However, he also knew that Cromwell had followed him and was feeling a bit guilty, wanting to cover it up.
But Mu Jin didn’t expose him. After all, just now he had been in danger, so his lover must have been extremely worried. Sure enough, the man in front of him sighed eventually and turned his head to stare intently at the small wounds on Mu Jin’s body, his eyes filled with concern.
Cromwell gently held Mu Jin in his arms as if he wanted to leave this place. Fortunately, Mu Jin quickly reacted, tugging at Cromwell’s sleeve and saying to him, “Don’t forget about Bai Qian!”
The man nodded in response, not objecting. After all, this person was the lifesaver of his partner, and he would never do anything to repay kindness with enmity.
So, he gently supported Mu Jin with one hand, allowing him to cling to his neck, while spreading the black wings on his back. With his other hand, he directly grabbed Bai Qian’s clothes and flew towards the edge of the forest without any tenderness.
As for Bai Qian’s injuries, neither Cromwell nor Mu Jin were overly worried. Although the protagonist appeared to be covered in blood, it was obvious that no internal organs had been harmed. The self-healing ability of the Beastmen was very powerful, and injuries like Bai Qian’s would probably heal in about a week.
Although this time Bai Qian did not fully activate his dragon bloodline due to Cromwell’s appearance, most of his bloodline had already awakened. Overall, the benefits outweighed the drawbacks.
Moreover, it was still unknown whether Mu Jin would have to take action if Cromwell hadn’t appeared. So in Mu Jin’s eyes, his own man deserved more credit, and he was happy to accept the favor of his lover saving him, which would further deepen their relationship.
After reaching the edge of the forest, they quickly intercepted a small starship, as starships were much faster than wings.
Cromwell took Mu Jin and Bai Qian to the hospital. Although Mu Jin felt that he only had external injuries, at most some minor scrapes, Cromwell insisted on having a full-body examination for him.
In his opinion, the Plant people’s bodies were very fragile. For the Beastmen, it might be just some minor injuries that could be ignored, but for the Plant people, especially his beloved partner, Cromwell couldn’t dispel his worries until Mu Jin had been examined.
It wasn’t until the doctor checked Mu Jin’s whole body and told Cromwell that he had only suffered some scratches, all superficial wounds, that the man finally relaxed.
On the other hand, although Bai Qian was still unconscious, it seemed to be just some side effects caused by the awakening of his bloodline. However, his injuries were not serious. So Cromwell called two subordinates to take good care of Bai Qian, then he took Mu Jin and left.
When they returned to their room, Cromwell’s expression immediately turned cold. Seeing his lover still looking angry, Mu Jin hurriedly smiled to please him. However, the smile that had always worked wonders with his lover seemed ineffective today.
This time, it was evident that the man was truly angry, but Mu Jin could understand. After all, in any world, a lover couldn’t bear to see even the slightest harm come to their partner.
So Mu Jin gently pulled at Cromwell’s sleeve and whispered, “Cromwell, I know I was wrong. I promise I won’t go to such dangerous places in the future. If I have to go, I’ll make sure to tell you beforehand. Can you forgive me?”
But Cromwell’s expression remained grim when he heard Mu Jin’s words. He just took out the ointment he had obtained from the doctor and sternly instructed Mu Jin to take off his coat, then gently applied the ointment to Mu Jin’s body with a cold face.
Although the medicines of the Beastman Empire weren’t very effective, the man had brought back the top-grade ones from the doctor. Apparently, they were imported from the Plant Empire, so naturally, they were much better than the local ones, but the price was probably several times higher.
Seeing his lover applying a thick layer of ointment to himself as if it were nothing, Mu Jin’s mouth twitched. Fortunately, the ointment felt cool on his skin and was quickly absorbed, and soon the small wounds on his body had healed.
As he watched the wounds heal, Cromwell’s expression softened slightly. However, he didn’t speak to Mu Jin as tenderly as usual. He was naturally a somewhat dry and tough person, and he placed all his tenderness on Mu Jin.
Although he felt jealous and angry when he saw Mu Jin getting close to Bai Qian, for him, Mu Jin’s safety was the most important. Through his previous observations, he had already determined that Mu Jin and Bai Qian must have gone into the forest to search for some plants.
However, why didn’t they tell him what kind of plants they were looking for? Did they not realize the danger of going alone into the forest?
The Plant people’s bodies were so fragile. How could this little rascal believe that Bai Qian could protect him and trust others more than himself? Just thinking about this made Cromwell furious.
Mu Jin also realized that he had really angered his lover this time and quickly begged for forgiveness. Seeing that the man’s face was still as calm as water, he resolutely pinched his thigh, making his eyes turn red with pain, and explained to his lover, “I really know I was wrong. I heard Bai Qian say he found some useful plants there and thought of making a potion to surprise you. I promise I won’t let this happen again.”
When Cromwell heard Mu Jin say that he went into the forest to collect materials for himself, his gaze couldn’t help but flicker. Seeing Mu Jin’s red eyes, he couldn’t help but feel distressed.
Although he couldn’t completely believe what the other said, the man couldn’t help but feel hopeful. He pursed his lips and asked the little guy opposite him, “Did you go into the forest for me?”
Mu Jin hurriedly nodded and took out several kinds of plants he had found in the forest from his pocket. Especially the last one, the flower he found outside the cave of the snake, he presented it to Cromwell, saying, “I found that this plant contains ingredients that can change mental strength. I think if we can really research and make it into a potion for the soldiers around you to take, your chances of winning battles will increase. This way, you’ll be safer on the battlefield too.”
Upon hearing Mu Jin’s words, the man’s heart couldn’t help but feel a warmth. Beastmen have never been sensitive to potions, so he could only discern that the flowers in front of him were exceptionally vibrant.
Regardless of whether the potion had such an effect, if Xiao Jin’s words were true, if the other person truly cared for him, Cromwell felt that all his emotions invested over such a long time would be worthwhile.
With a soft sigh, he glanced at the small figure across from him with a pleading smile on his face, and the man, feeling helpless, pulled Mu Jin into his arms. Indeed, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything harsh to the person opposite him, especially when faced with their distressed appearance, rendering him completely defenseless.
Seeing his lover’s posture, Mu Jin naturally knew that he had passed this hurdle, so he quickly climbed up with the help of the pole.
Having stayed obediently in the man’s arms for a while, Mu Jin lifted his head and looked at Cromwell with admiration, his eyes sparkling as he exclaimed, “Marshal, thank you for saving me today. I didn’t expect your beast form to be so mighty!”
Cromwell heard Mu Jin’s words but didn’t respond. However, his now visibly reddened ears indicated his inner unrest. Beastmen don’t casually reveal their beast forms except in combat situations; it symbolizes their strength. When transformed, a beastman’s body becomes several times stronger than in human form, and their combat ability increases exponentially.
On the other hand, revealing their beast form to their partner is also a way for male beastmen to court. If their partner likes their beast form, it’s a compliment to the male beastman. So when one praises the other’s beast form, it’s essentially a subtle form of flirtation.
Listening to Mu Jin praising his heroic rescue, Cromwell couldn’t help but feel pleased. He cleared his throat lightly and tried to maintain a steady tone as he said, “Xiao Jin, would you like to see my beast form again? If you want to see it, I can transform anytime.”
“Really?” As soon as the words fell, the person across from him immediately showed a look of surprise.
Seeing that his beloved really liked his beast form, the man couldn’t help but curl his lips, so he immediately transformed into a winged tiger in front of Mu Jin.
It’s worth noting that although there are many types of beastmen in the Beastman Empire, flying beastmen are rare. Especially winged tigers like him, there’s only one in the entire Beastman Empire. His wings are a mutation; after all, his entire family are white tigers, without any winged tigers.
Seeing the winged tiger strutting elegantly towards him, like a peacock displaying its feathers, Mu Jin naturally knew that his beloved was showing him his best side.
With a slight smile in his eyes, Mu Jin walked up to the massive winged tiger and reached out to touch its furry ears, then tentatively stroked its snow-white fur.