43: Chapter 43 Forming a Contract

"What is going on here?"

Li Mingye looked around in confusion, but he could no longer find the forest he had just been in.

Feng Yange headed toward the cave the Snake Beast had mentioned. The sight of the Spirit Stones before her made her swallow hard. Was she about to strike it rich overnight again?

"Mistress, I will mine all these Spirit Stones for you." Long Ze watched the joy in his Mistress's eyes; nothing was more important than her happiness.

"Mistress, I will help too. You should rest for a while."

Ling Feng quickly followed, assisting Long Ze in mining the Spirit Stones. Stars sparkled in Feng Yange's eyes as she busied herself collecting the falling stones; this kind of luck was truly something she was enjoying.

After the Spirit Stones in the cave were emptied, the three of them found a clean and refreshing place to settle down. They had been busy all day, and all three were exhausted. As for Li Mingye, since he had left, so be it.

"A-Ze, I heard that after forming a bond, we can still sense each other's presence even when separated. Is that true?"

Feng Yange suddenly asked. Her question startled Long Ze, causing him to panic. He nodded quickly, his golden eyes filled with fluster. Was his Mistress planning to form a bond with him?

"That is true. Mistress, do you wish to form a bond with us?"

"Are you willing?" Feng Yange glanced at the sky; it was still early. If they washed up and formed the bond tonight, she wouldn't have to worry about being separated in the Earth Core Secret Realm.

"Of course we are!" Long Ze and Ling Feng said in unison. Feng Yange looked toward the distant pool. "Then I will go wash up. We will form the bond tonight. This Earth Core Secret Realm is dangerous; it is safer to be bonded."

Long Ze responded, but in his nervousness, he mistook the red fruit for mushrooms and tossed them into the chicken soup. What was he to do if he didn't know how?

But no matter what, he was the primary husband; he should surely be the first.

After Feng Yange walked away to bathe, Long Ze quickly grabbed Ling Feng and asked, "Do you know what to do?"

Ling Feng shook his head like a rattle-drum. He was also very nervous now. Looking at Long Ze, the unease in his eyes was overflowing. "Do I have to form a bond too?"

"That must be what Mistress means. Think carefully about what to do." As Long Ze spoke, he also tossed a few more red fruits into the pot. Neither he nor Ling Feng noticed—only their panicked expressions remained, their hearts threatening to jump out of their chests.

"Then let us discuss it."

Ling Feng glanced into the distance, his voice sounding somewhat unnatural. "I once heard an Elder in our tribe say that forming a bond causes significant physical depletion and consumes a lot of energy. Should we prepare more food tonight? If Mistress is hungry, she can eat."

"Yes!" A light shone in Long Ze's eyes, pinning all his hopes on Ling Feng. "What else do you remember? Hurry and prepare everything. We must not let Mistress feel any dissatisfaction with the bonding."

Ling Feng shook his head. "Big Brother, that is all. It is my first time too."

Long Ze comforted him. "It is fine. We are all first-timers. We will just learn as we go. Do not be nervous."

Ling Feng watched as Long Ze's hand trembled and he again mistook the red fruit for mushrooms. He wanted to stop him, but thought better of it. Perhaps if they ate the red fruit, their beastly instincts would kick in.

Feng Yange cleaned herself up and returned to the campfire. She took out the tent provided by the System, set it up properly, and said to Long Ze and Ling Feng, "You two go wash up in a while. Living with me means you must be like humans and value cleanliness."

"Understood!"

The two hurriedly walked toward the pool. Their panicked demeanor made Feng Yange laugh out loud. Watching their retreating backs, she thought, "Why does it feel like they are even shyer than I am? Still, am I going to bond with both of them tonight?"

Feng Yange shook her head and tasted the chicken soup with a ladle. It actually tasted quite good—much more delicious. But seeing the red fruit in the soup, Feng Yange frowned. Can red fruit be eaten like this?

Never mind, add them all in; it will be even more delicious!

Feng Yange poured in the mushrooms, the aroma filled the air, and she also roasted some meat.

"System, redeem seasoning packets."

Feng Yange called out. The System emitted intermittent telegraphic sounds, making it impossible to hear what it was saying. However, the spirit spring water and spirit liquid returned to her inventory were not missing at all, and the System interface was still functional. Feng Yange used it directly. So what if there was no signal? As long as she could use it, that was fine.

As the sky darkened, after eating the roasted meat and chicken soup, the atmosphere became ambiguous.

Feng Yange checked the surroundings; there was no scent of wild beasts, so it should be safe for the time being.

"Who is coming first?"

As soon as Feng Yange's voice fell, Ling Feng pushed Long Ze in front of Feng Yange. "He is the primary husband; he should go first."

Long Ze's ears turned red with nervousness. Under the campfire, he was at a loss. Feng Yange took his hand and led him into the tent. "I am not going to eat you. If you are unwilling, I will not force you."

Long Ze looked up at Feng Yange, his eyes firm. "Mistress, I am certainly willing. I am just afraid that I will not serve you well..."

"Then just nap with me for a while."

Feng Yange yawned. She was actually feeling a bit sleepy. In any case, keeping watch was bound to be done in turns; it would be the same after she woke up.

Long Ze wanted to say something, but Feng Yange's breathing became steady. He lowered his eyes, his eye sockets feeling a bit sore. Was his Mistress disappointed because he hadn't done a good job? Or...

Never mind, perhaps Mistress was tired today. Sleeping for a while was good too; at least he could accompany his Mistress to sleep.

Long Ze lay down beside Feng Yange. The air held a faint scent of medicinal herbs—the smell emanating from his Mistress—accompanied by an inexplicable attraction. That was...

Long Ze's body suddenly became feverish, and his mind was filled with many profane thoughts about his Mistress.

Could his estrus period have come early?

This was his Mistress's scent, a magnetic fragrance that was lethally attractive to him. He wanted to get closer, greedily wanting even more.

The masculine scent on Long Ze's body spread out. Looking at his Mistress beside him, Long Ze's golden eyes gradually clouded over with desire. He leaned over, moved close to his Mistress's lips, and lightly planted a kiss.

Being so careful, Mistress shouldn't notice, right?

Long Ze thought, but his body was beyond his control; he wanted more.

Feng Yange opened her eyes to see Long Ze's handsome face before her. His breathing was rapid, as if he were about to devour her.

"A-Ze, let me teach you."

Feng Yange rolled over, pinning Long Ze beneath her, and leaned down to kiss his lips.

Inside the tent, the firelight flickered, their figures entangled, radiating a mesmerizing aura that lingered on and on.

Ling Feng took a sip of water. At this moment, he truly hated having such good hearing. He sat there, but his eyes uncontrollably drifted toward the tent. It was just a bonding; they were all like this.

But why was his mouth dry and his tongue parched?

This weather was too hot!

Ling Feng drank some spirit spring water, but it provided no coolness at all. He kept watch in agony for half the night; only late at night did the aura gradually fade away.

Long Ze walked out of the tent, his clothes half-open, a red mark on his chest. He walked over and sat down in front of Ling Feng. "In half an hour, you go in and form the bond. Let Mistress rest for a while."

Ling Feng grabbed Long Ze's arm, his eyes fixed on the mark on Long Ze's chest.