Feeding My Husband

As an overlord of the skies, Tao Qiu had extraordinarily sharp eyesight. Not long after taking flight, he spotted a human convoy not far away. It was probably on a mission outside the base.

I wonder if that man is with them?

The man's face flashed through Tao Qiu's mind, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

In this life, Tao Qiu was a mutated monster who had killed humans who offended him, but unlike other mutated monsters, he had no taste for human flesh and blood. As a result, he was on reasonably good terms with Yong'an Base.

Besides, even if a conflict broke out, they might not be able to hurt him.

With that in mind, Tao Qiu followed his heart and flew toward the convoy.

There were three heavily armored vehicles in all, stopped on the road. He couldn't tell whether they were resting or had run into trouble. Armed soldiers stood around all three vehicles.

They wore matching uniforms and masks that left only their eyes visible. Tao Qiu could judge them only by their builds, so he couldn't tell at a glance whether the man was among them.

But before he could find Lou Yu, Liu Qi'an, who was keeping watch outside, spotted him first.

"Holy shit, is Snow Bird flying this way?" Liu Qi'an heard someone beside him exclaim.

Soldiers and mercenaries who frequented the wilderness knew better than anyone how deadly high-level mutated monsters could be. Even knowing that Snow Bird had no record of eating humans, they couldn't help feeling afraid when faced with such a huge creature.

And after fear came self-defense and resistance.

Chapter 12: Feeding My Husband

Everyone around them instinctively raised their guns. Only Liu Qi'an stayed still, though he didn't stop the others. He knew they wouldn't open fire lightly.

It might sound discouraging to their own side, but the fact was that humans preferred not to confront high-level mutated monsters unless necessary. The casualty rate was simply too high.

Although Snow Bird was approaching, they had detected no intent to attack. They couldn't make the first move and risk angering him.

The mutated monsters weren't the only ones frightened by Snow Bird's rampage some time ago.

Just then, the door of the middle vehicle opened. Liu Qi'an turned to see Lou Yu step out in his military boots.

"Captain," Liu Qi'an called.

Lou Yu gave a slight nod without saying much and looked up at the sky.

That familiar snow-white figure was as powerful and beautiful as he remembered.

Lou Yu wasn't wearing a mask. The moment he appeared, Tao Qiu's gaze locked onto him. He looked healthy, so the scratch probably hadn't affected him too badly.

Tao Qiu felt much more relieved, but he didn't draw any closer. Just because the man was physically fine didn't mean he was mentally fine. Tao Qiu had forced him last time, and he didn't know what the man thought of him now.

Seeing Snow Bird circling in place, neither leaving nor coming any closer, everyone was unsure what he meant and grew even more wary.

While the others were anxious and uneasy, Lou Yu remained calm, though a glimmer appeared in his eyes.

He walked past the crowd toward Snow Bird.

"Captain Lou, don't go out there!" someone warned.

Lou Yu raised a hand to signal that it was all right and kept walking.

Tao Qiu was curious when he saw the man come out alone. The man seemed calm and didn't appear to be attacking him in angry embarrassment over that night, so Tao Qiu stayed where he was, wanting to see what he would do next.

After walking a few meters, Lou Yu looked up at Snow Bird again and waved to him.

Although Lou Yu's consciousness had been hazy that night, he vaguely remembered hearing Snow Bird's voice. Since Snow Bird could speak human language, Lou Yu thought he might also understand some basic human conventions, such as the fact that he was waving hello.

Lou Yu's gesture did surprise Tao Qiu. The man was quite forgiving. After Tao Qiu had forced him, it was one thing not to hate him, but he was even greeting him in a friendly way.

And after being rescued this time, the man still hadn't gone around telling everyone that Tao Qiu could take human form.

If he wasn't putting on an act, then he really was a good man as far as Tao Qiu was concerned.

It seemed the chicks' other dad had a pretty good character too.

At that thought, Tao Qiu's heart suddenly leaped with joy. He looked the man over again. He didn't know if it was just his imagination, but the man seemed a little thinner than the last time they had met.

He didn't know whether it was because of the injury or because another food crisis had struck the base.

Having lived here for twenty years, Tao Qiu knew a little about the humans' food problems.

Tao Qiu thought it over and finally made up his mind. Under Lou Yu's surprised gaze, he flew toward him.

"Don't shoot!" Sensing that Snow Bird intended to land, Lou Yu didn't run. Instead, he immediately turned and gave his companions the order, afraid they might hurt Snow Bird out of concern for him.

The soldiers obeyed and held their fire, but their guns remained trained on Snow Bird. If he dared hurt Lou Yu, they would shoot without hesitation.

Snow Bird was so large that his landing stirred up a gust of wind, bending branches and wild grass and lifting Lou Yu's clothes and the loose strands of hair over his forehead, making his eyes stand out all the more brightly.

As Lou Yu's ability grew stronger, the purple of his irises had deepened a few shades.

The last trace of Tao Qiu's wariness toward Lou Yu vanished when he met those eyes, gentle as water.

He could tell that the man not only bore him no ill will but was even fond of him.

Could it be that he doesn't mind that night and even sees me as his savior?

Tolerant, magnanimous, and grateful.

Tao Qiu admired the man even more and felt that his decision just now had indeed been right.

After landing, Tao Qiu took two more steps toward Lou Yu. Under his gaze, he opened his beak and set the prey on the ground, then gave a cry.

Lou Yu didn't understand at first, and a few traces of confusion flashed through his eyes.

Tao Qiu nudged the prey toward Lou Yu again, making his meaning perfectly clear.

Realization dawned on Lou Yu. Both shocked and delighted, he asked in disbelief, "Is this for me?"

Tao Qiu thought, Look at you, you've gotten thin from hunger. The two of us share a deep bond, and we have three chicks together. Consider this meal my treat.

But with other humans present, Tao Qiu couldn't say what was on his mind, so he gave another cry in reply.

The group behind them was stunned by the exchange. Their mouths hung open beneath their masks, wide enough to fit two eggs.

Even Liu Qi'an, who had experienced being escorted back to the base by Snow Bird, couldn't help widening his eyes.

Good lord, he thought, the captain isn't just popular with people. He's unbelievably popular with birds too! Snow Bird is even willing to give him prey he caught himself. Isn't that a bit much?

Most of the meat humans ate nowadays came from low-level mutated livestock raised in the bases. Mutated monsters in the wild weren't entirely inedible, but few kinds could be eaten. Most were either poisonous, tasted terrible, or couldn't be digested.

Even the tiny fraction of mutated monsters humans could eat, including the purely herbivorous ones, were highly aggressive. Not only were they difficult to hunt, but hunting them could also easily attract other mutated monsters that liked to eat humans.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it trading human lives for food.

That was why mutated monsters were hunted for food only during a real famine, when humans were on the verge of being unable to survive.

Such a situation had occurred only a handful of times in the century since the great disaster.

By coincidence, the prey Snow Bird had brought happened to be one of the kinds humans could eat.

The animal resembled a deer from before the great disaster and looked to weigh three or four hundred jin. Food was starting to run short at the base again, so whether Lou Yu ate this free meat himself or sold it, he stood to gain.

Why am I a little envious? everyone wondered silently.

Snow Bird's pale green eyes shone warmly in the sunlight, like priceless gems. He gazed quietly at Lou Yu, his expression sincere and innocent.

Lou Yu's heart bloomed with joy, and the corners of his lips rose of their own accord.

Snow Bird's unexpected gesture rapidly magnified the private feelings Lou Yu couldn't reveal to others. His reason was pushed aside for the moment, and he could clearly hear his heart beating fast.

Lou Yu walked forward again, went around the prey, and came to stand before Snow Bird.

The one he had longed for day and night was finally before him. Lou Yu couldn't hold back and reached out a hand.

He didn't touch Snow Bird directly. His hand stopped in midair, as though asking for his permission.

Tao Qiu was briefly bewildered. Does he want to shake hands with me?

Thinking of the size of his bird form, then looking at the man before him, who was tall among humans but seemed unusually "petite" beside him, Tao Qiu decided it was probably best not to raise a huge claw capable of killing prey with a single slap.

But the man had taken the initiative to be friendly, and given their relationship, it really wouldn't do for Tao Qiu to act aloof.

So Tao Qiu bent down and brought his head close to Lou Yu's hand.

Lou Yu's eyes grew brighter still. He placed his hand on Snow Bird's head and rubbed it a few times, very gently, as though handling a fragile treasure.

The gesture wiped away the remaining unease in Tao Qiu's heart. He was certain the man really didn't mind that absurd night.

Lou Yu didn't get carried away. Even though he wanted to continue, he knew better and soon withdrew his hand.

Tao Qiu also felt he had been out long enough. He needed to hunt again and hurry back to care for the three eggs.

Tao Qiu stepped back a few paces and called out to Lou Yu in farewell.

Lou Yu understood. Reluctance showed in his eyes, but he made no move to stop him. He also knew he couldn't keep the free Snow Bird there.

Under everyone's gaze, Snow Bird spread his wings and flew away. Only when he had vanished from sight did Liu Qi'an run over.

"Damn, Captain, you... he..." Even Liu Qi'an, normally such a chatterbox, was reduced to stammering. He had so much he wanted to say, but when he opened his mouth, he didn't know where to begin.