Zhuqing, What Are You Nervous About?

They would definitely be dealing with humans more often in the future.

Over the past few days, while Luo Yan was away looking for Zhu Zhuqing, he had taken the opportunity to have Da Ming teach Er Ming not to be so hostile toward humans.

Otherwise, when they got to the human world, Er Ming might want to kill every human he saw and easily throw Luo Yan's plans into disarray.

Besides, Luo Yan had noticed that after Er Ming said that, Zhu Zhuqing had instinctively edged backward.

Her gaze kept shifting among the four of them.

"Enough, Er Ming. If you don't listen to me when the time comes, you can stay here!"

Before Er Ming could answer, Luo Yan waved a hand and continued.

If Er Ming couldn't stop himself from unleashing his aura whenever he encountered humans, Luo Yan had no problem leaving him behind in the Star Dou Great Forest.

After all, taking Er Ming along or not just meant having one fewer lackey.

Hearing that, Er Ming dropped to his knees and hurriedly said, "Big Brother, I was wrong. I definitely won't say a word when the time comes. I'll just stay quiet and wait for your orders, like Da Ming!"

"Since Zhuqing has woken up, let's rest for one more day. We'll set out tomorrow at noon and leave the Star Dou Great Forest!"

Seeing that, Luo Yan let the matter go and announced their plans for the next day.

"Big Brother, in that case, I'll take Er Ming to get ready!"

Hearing Luo Yan's arrangements, Da Ming glanced at Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, then pulled Er Ming away with him.

"Hmph!"

When Da Ming and Er Ming had temporarily left, Xiao Wu gave a cold snort, got up, and went back into the little house, slamming the door shut.

That left Luo Yan and Zhu Zhuqing sitting by the bonfire.

Luo Yan wasn't worried that Xiao Wu would do anything, so he didn't follow her into the house.

After glancing at Zhu Zhuqing, Luo Yan took a piece of fresh Soul Beast meat from his Soul Tool and slowly roasted it over the fire.

Zhu Zhuqing sat to one side, watching the flames dance, without saying a word.

When the meat in his hand was cooked, he offered one piece to Zhu Zhuqing and asked with a smile, "Zhuqing, isn't there anything you want to ask?"

"You can ask me anything. I'll tell you everything I know!"

Luo Yan knew Zhu Zhuqing wasn't much of a talker, and he wasn't in a hurry for an answer.

After speaking, he picked up his own piece of meat with his other hand and began eating heartily.

But he noticed that Zhu Zhuqing hadn't taken the piece he offered her.

He frowned, clamped his own meat between his teeth, took Zhu Zhuqing's slender hand, and placed the stick of roasted meat in it.

Only then did Zhu Zhuqing accept it.

But after taking the meat, she didn't eat. She just stared at Luo Yan, lost in thought.

"If you don't eat soon, I'll have to feed you mouth to mouth!"

Luo Yan gave Zhu Zhuqing a teasing smile.

At that, Zhu Zhuqing blushed, but obediently did as he said and began eating the meat in small bites.

She still didn't speak, though. She just quietly ate.

The warmth from the food gradually brought color back to Zhu Zhuqing's face.

After a while, Zhu Zhuqing seemed unable to hold back any longer. She swallowed the meat in her mouth, then looked at Luo Yan and asked in a quiet voice,

"What that Er... Er Ming said just now—does that mean you're not..."

Her voice grew softer and softer as she spoke.

Fortunately, Luo Yan had already reached the peak of the Fifth-Rank Demon King realm, so he could still hear her clearly.

Seeing Zhu Zhuqing stumble over her words made Luo Yan want to laugh.

Before she could finish, Luo Yan answered her directly. "Mm, we really aren't human!"

Clatter!

The remaining third of the meat fell from Zhu Zhuqing's hand to the ground.

She looked at Luo Yan differently now, with a trace of fear deep in her eyes.

With a smile, Luo Yan offered her the piece of meat he hadn't finished.

Zhu Zhuqing's reaction was exactly what he had expected.

In her confusion, Zhu Zhuqing accepted the meat without thinking and, pretending it was nothing, took a bite from the spot Luo Yan had already eaten.

"Zhuqing, what are you nervous about? I never said we were Soul Beasts!"

Luo Yan took two more pieces of Soul Beast meat from his Soul Tool and began roasting them.

At his words, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly calmed down and looked at him curiously.

Only then did she realize that Luo Yan had already eaten the meat she was holding. Her face turned as red as an apple.

But she didn't put it down. Pretending she hadn't noticed, she continued eating.

Luo Yan didn't rush to explain himself under Zhu Zhuqing's curious gaze. He just carried on roasting the meat.

An hour later, after Luo Yan had eaten his fill, he finally spoke again. "Zhuqing, do you really want to know?"

Zhu Zhuqing had finished eating long ago. She was sitting cross-legged and cultivating, recovering the Soul Power that had run dry inside her.

At Luo Yan's words, Zhu Zhuqing stopped cultivating and gave him a slight nod.

"In that case, come with me. I'll tell you everything you want to know." Seeing her nod, Luo Yan put out the bonfire and stood up.

Before he could leave, he suddenly remembered something and came back to Zhu Zhuqing's side.

He picked her up and leaped a few times, carrying her to the roof of the little house.

Zhu Zhuqing was just about to struggle when Luo Yan set her down.

Feeling the warmth of his body, Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks still held a faint blush.

When Luo Yan sat down beside her, she turned to him and said softly, "Luo Yan, since you already have Xiao Wu, why are you treating me this way..."

As she spoke, she buried her face against her chest, not daring to look at Luo Yan.

Ever since Luo Yan had rescued her that day, Zhu Zhuqing had felt a hint of affection for him.

Now that Luo Yan had said they weren't Soul Beasts, she cared even more about why he was treating her this way despite already having Xiao Wu.

"Isn't the answer obvious?"

"When I saw you facing all those people in that condition and still refusing to give in, I was immediately drawn to your determination!"

"After I picked you up, I never expected you to be not only strong-willed but also a peerless beauty!"

The corners of Luo Yan's mouth curved slightly upward.

He had thought Zhu Zhuqing would be more concerned about his identity.

At Luo Yan's words, Zhu Zhuqing's pretty face, buried against her chest, grew even redder.

"In the Yao Clan, we don't have the human notion of monogamy. As long as both sides are in love, not only can a man have multiple wives, but a woman can have multiple husbands too."

"Didn't you just ask what kind of beings Da Ming and the others and I are? The truth is, we're..."

Seeing Zhu Zhuqing turn into a silent girl again, Luo Yan continued, spinning her a tale about the Yao Clan.

He felt not the slightest guilt about lying to Zhu Zhuqing regarding men having multiple wives and women having multiple husbands.

After all, he'd seen plenty of novels where such things were common among the Yao Clan.

Some Yao Clan empresses even had a fondness for collecting male lovers; some went further and liked having every opening in their bodies filled by their lovers each day.