She had been teaching them cooking basics over the past few days, so this time she insisted they help.
"Everyone gathers ingredients!" she ordered. "Meat, herbs, vegetables—go!"
They scattered like excited children. When they returned, Xin Yi divided them into groups. "Okay! Each group will prepare one dish!"
She walked them through it. Seasoning the meat. Heating stones to the right temperature. Timing everything properly.
And of course, some disasters happened.
"WHY IS IT BLACK?!" one Tiger male wailed, staring at his charred meat.
"You left it on the stone too long!"
"But it smelled good!"
"BURNING ALWAYS SMELLS GOOD AT FIRST!"
Another group somehow managed to over-season their meat to the point it was inedible.
"How much salt did you use?!"
"...All of it?"
"WHY?!"
But slowly, gradually, some groups actually succeeded. The meat was cooked properly. Seasoned well. Delicious.
A young Panther female held up her perfectly cooked portion with shining eyes. "I did it! I can cook now!"
"Me too!" another joined in. "Look! Look!"
Pride swelled in Xin Yi's chest. They were learning. Actually learning.
[Quest Progress: 50% Complete!]
[Reward: 50 System Points!]
"System, show me my stats."
[Current Status:]
Health: 85/100
Energy: 60/100
System Points: 490
Dimensional Storage: 100 item capacity
[Available for Purchase]
Advanced Cooking Tools: 100 points
Basic Medicine Kit: 150 points
Textile Upgrade Package: 200 points
Seed Variety Pack: 75 points]
Xin Yi considered. "The seed pack would be useful..."
[Also! Friendly reminder: You have SIX MORE DAYS until—]
"SHUT UP!"
[Just saying! ☆]
~
The next morning, they finished the irrigation system, and it was beautiful.
Water flowed smoothly through the channels, distributing evenly across the designated areas. The beastmen watched in awe as their hard work came together.
"We did it!" Xin Yi clapped her hands. "Now we can plant crops and—"
Feng Huang moved to embrace her. "You're amazing, Xin Yi—"
"MINE!" Hei Yan appeared out of nowhere, yanking her away from the Tiger.
Feng Huang just smirked. "Possessive as always, Panther."
"She chose me!" Hei Yan declared.
"If you say so." Feng Huang's golden eyes sparkled. "But the mating festival is coming soon. I wonder who she'll REALLY choose when all three of us are..." He let the sentence hang.
Xin Yi swallowed hard. Three. He said three. Does he know about Qing Lin?!
"I... um..." Her voice came out squeaky. "I need to gather some herbs! For cooking! Bye!"
She practically ran into the forest despite their complaints.
~
She had been picking medicinal plants for about an hour when she heard it.
Snap.
A twig breaking.
Xin Yi looked up sharply.
Feng Huang leaned against a tree, arms crossed, that smirk on his face.
"I have been trying to get you alone since yesterday," he said smoothly.
Xin Yi rolled her eyes. "Of course you have been."
"Is that a problem, little Xin Yi?"
"No cheating, Feng Huang." She stood up, brushing dirt off her hands. "Win me fair and square."
His smile widened. "Oh, I intend to."
He reached into a pouch at his waist and pulled out something that made Xin Yi's eyes widen.
Fruits.
But not ordinary fruits. These were heart-shaped, deep red, and glistening with juice. They smelled sweet and intoxicating.
"What are those?" she breathed.
"Heart berries," Feng Huang said. "They only grow in the highest peaks. Took me all night to get them." He held one out. "For you."
Xin Yi hesitated, then took it. The moment her lips touched the fruit, flavor exploded on her tongue. Sweet. Tart. Absolutely divine.
"Oh my goodness," she moaned. "his is delicious!"
Feng Huang's eyes darkened at the sound. "I'm glad you like it."
He moved closer to her.
"So," he murmured, his voice dropping low. "Do you crave my touch, Xin Yi?"
Her heart was racing. Pounding. "I... I..."
He reached out, and his fingers traced along her arm. His touch ghosted near the side of her breast, not quite touching but close enough to make her gasp.
[OH MY! Host's heart rate just SPIKED! (≧▽≦)]
[What will Host do?! ☆]
Xin Yi coughed, trying to regain control of her already shattered dignity. "N-no cheating! We're still—you're still courting—"
"Am I cheating?" Feng Huang's smile was devious. "I'm just... talking to you. Is talking against the rules?"
"You're not JUST talking!"
"What else am I doing?" His fingers continued their maddeningly light trail up her arm, across her collarbone, down—
"Feng Huang," she warned, her voice breathless.
"Say my name again," he whispered, leaning in close. "I like how it sounds in your mouth."
"This isn't fair—"
"You're the one who made the rules, little Xin Yi." His breath was hot against her ear. "You said we have to court you properly. Show you we're worthy." His hand cupped her face, thumb brushing her lower lip. "So let me show you. Let me prove that I can make you feel things that Panther never could."
Her resistance was crumbling. The warmth of his body. The curve of his lips.
"Feng Huang..." she tried one more time.
"Yes?" He smiled.
And she broke.
She grabbed his face and kissed him.
His arms wrapped around her immediately, pulling her against him as he kissed her back with a hunger that made her knees weak. His tongue swept into her mouth, claiming, exploring, devouring.
Xin Yi's hands tangled in his red hair, and she made a sound that was half-moan, half-whimper.
Feng Huang pulled back just enough to smirk against her lips. "Told you," he whispered. "You crave my touch."
[OH MY GOD HOST DID IT! (⊙\_⊙)\]
[SCANDALOUS! ☆]
[Also... Hei Yan is going to be SO MAD! (◕‿◕)]
But Xin Yi didn't care about that right now.
Right now, she was too busy being kissed senseless by a very smug Tiger.