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.