Back at the shelter, Xiao Jinsheng skipped along behind the four men who had entered first. Naturally, she didn't notice the last man, his orange-red eyes watching her with a dark, unreadable expression.
Xiao Jinsheng stood at the doorway, looking back. Due to the thick fog, she could only discern Que Zelian's blurry silhouette from three meters away. She softly called out, "Get in quickly! Why are you still standing?"
Que Zelian's eyes sharply lifted, his gaze deep and clear through the mist, easily seeing Xiao Jinsheng's brightly smiling face. He took long strides, his orange-red eyes filled with a predatory glint. Yet, as he reached Xiao Jinsheng, he reverted to his usual distinguished and elegant demeanor. Even the blush on his face from Xiao Jinsheng's teasing just moments ago hadn't faded.
Xiao Jinsheng watched this scene with delight, actively reaching out and pulling him inside. It was only around two in the afternoon on their second day in the west of the Misty Continent. However, the sky today was growing dark much faster than yesterday. Xiao Jinsheng found this eerie weather strange, but the five men, experienced in missions in the west of the Misty Continent, were accustomed to it.
"It seems the west of the Misty Continent will be foggy these next few days," Huai Qing said. Noticing Xiao Jinsheng's puzzled look, Huai Qing explained, "The Misty Continent, both east and west, has a chance of fog, but in the west, a place already shrouded in toxic mist, the danger from fog is doubled."
"At the very least, your wristband's durability will struggle to hold up."
"Our wristbands have a minimum of five thousand durability left. How much longer can we stay in the west of the Misty Continent?" Xiao Jinsheng asked curiously.
"If we encounter fog and continue to provoke fog corpse groups, five thousand durability will last at most three more days," Huai Qing said.
"Ten thousand is far too little," Xiao Jinsheng sighed, leaning back against her chair.
"Then you should work hard on your physical training and improve your mental energy," Yu Yunxiao chimed in from the side.
Xiao Jinsheng blinked and snorted lightly at him, "I am trying to train hard! I've also absorbed star stones to improve my physique, and I'm thinking of other ways to improve my mental energy." Hearing this, Que Zelian, who had just sat down, subtly glanced at her. Not only did her bound beast-husbands expect her to improve her mental energy, but Xiao Jinsheng herself was also exceptionally eager to do so.
With the danger of fog today, the six of them decided not to go out. Additionally, having harvested over two hundred star stones this morning, the six of them divided into groups to absorb the star stones in turns. Yesterday, Su Ye, Huai Qing, and Yu Yunxiao each gained one star. Today, Mo Jiao and Que Zelian each gained one star, both now at 6-star strength. Even though Mo Jiao harbored killing intent towards her, due to their marital bond, Xiao Jinsheng wasn't panicking about Mo Jiao's increase in strength.
However, when Que Zelian's strength improved, she promptly took the orange juice Huai Qing had just squeezed for her and offered it to Que Zelian. "Thirsty? Have some orange juice first. This one's sweet."
"Such a brown-noser," a cold sneer drifted from beside her. Xiao Jinsheng turned to see Mo Jiao, carrying dishes, heading towards the dining table. Mo Jiao met her gaze, his eyes darkening, and he even gave Xiao Jinsheng a challenging cold smile.
Xiao Jinsheng lifted the orange juice directly to Que Zelian's lips, glaring fiercely back at Mo Jiao. "None of your business."
"You might not be in a hurry to eat dinner, but I am," Mo Jiao's tall figure loomed closer, forcing his way between Que Zelian and Xiao Jinsheng. "Don't block the way."
"He's doing it on purpose," Xiao Jinsheng fumed, pointing to the empty path to the right of the kitchen. She and Que Zelian were standing to the left of the kitchen, near the living room sofa. It was clearly closer to the dining room to go right out of the kitchen, yet Mo Jiao insisted on squeezing past her.
"Killer Bro, you're down another 5 points today!" Xiao Jinsheng shouted at Mo Jiao, who was already seated at the dining table.
"You're still so nostalgic, score-keeper sis," Mo Jiao turned back, a mocking smile on his face.
Xiao Jinsheng gritted her teeth, glaring at him, but then saw Mo Jiao resting his chin on his hand, observing her anger with interest. At this moment, Xiao Jinsheng understood that this scoundrel black snake was deliberately provoking her. The angrier she got, the happier Mo Jiao would be.
Realizing this, Xiao Jinsheng snorted coldly, raising an eyebrow slightly, "Playing hard to get?"
"I've seen too many of your beast-humans' tricks to seduce females."
"Alright, I admit, your little tricks, though crude, have successfully caught my attention."
"Tonight, I'll allow you to sleep outside my door."
"I'm only spoiling you this once, Mo-baby~"
The smile on Mo Jiao's face cracked inch by inch. His hands clenched into fists, veins bulging, and he gritted his teeth in anger. "Xiao Jinsheng, aren't you disgusting?"
"You tormenting little siren, if you want to enrage me, then you've succeeded."
"Man, don't forget your place. You're just my beast-husband."
With a loud screech, Mo Jiao scraped his chair back, barely containing his fury. He met Xiao Jinsheng's provocatively smiling face with a dark gaze, then angrily turned and went upstairs. "Too lazy to bother with you."
Xiao Jinsheng wouldn't let him off the hook. She took half a step and shouted towards the staircase, "Do you think you can escape?"
"With the title of my beast-husband, you still think you can run? Man, who gave you the guts?"
"I command you to come down and wash the dishes right now, do you hear me!"
Xiao Jinsheng's only reply was the loud slam of Mo Jiao's bedroom door upstairs.
"Hahahaha." Seeing Mo Jiao flee in anger, Xiao Jinsheng put her hands on her hips and burst out laughing.
"Alright, time to eat," Que Zelian tightly pursed his lips to suppress a smile, pulling her back to the dining table.
Yu Yunxiao happened to be sitting opposite Xiao Jinsheng. When their eyes met, he quickly waved his hand, refusing, "Don't say those things to me! Who are you trying to gross out?"
"Yu Yunxiao," Xiao Jinsheng's face darkened as she put down her chopsticks and slightly lifted her chin. "You want to play hard to— *mmph*."
Before she could finish her overlord-like declaration, Xiao Jinsheng was directly silenced by Que Zelian, who shoved a small piece of meat into her mouth.
"Eat, aren't you hungry?" Que Zelian tilted his head, gently asking her.
Today, Huai Qing had made sweet and sour pork with canned pineapple. Xiao Jinsheng tasted the refreshing sweet and sour flavor, and her attention was drawn to the food. She temporarily put aside her desire to be an overlord.
After the meal, Que Zelian tilted his head and looked down at her, then asked, "Who are you sleeping with tonight?"
"You, of course," Xiao Jinsheng replied without hesitation. Huai Qing and Yu Yunxiao didn't react much, but Su Ye frowned and glanced at Que Zelian.
"Alright, then I'll go set up your tent first," Que Zelian replied without surprise to Xiao Jinsheng's answer.
Su Ye looked at Xiao Jinsheng, who was sitting at the dining table, sipping orange juice and occasionally humming a tune, clearly in a good mood. His golden eyes slightly darkened. His gaze then fell on Yu Yunxiao. "You're with me for the first half of the night watch." With that, he didn't look at anyone else and turned to walk towards the main door.
"Huh? Okay," Yu Yunxiao was startled but still nodded and followed him.
Xiao Jinsheng pursed her lips, watching Su Ye's retreating figure. Remembering Su Ye's changed attitude towards her, she was about to go after him to chat and maintain their relationship, but Que Zelian had already returned. "The tent's set up. Want to go check it out now?"
"Sure," Xiao Jinsheng's steps, which had been heading towards Su Ye, shifted, and she followed Que Zelian into the room. It was the same room they had rested in last night. The tent was set up next to the sofa, and Que Zelian still spread his clean blanket on the sofa. Xiao Jinsheng glanced at the tent, nervously pinching her fingers, but then she rushed over and sat on the sofa beside Que Zelian.
"Your sleeping place is there," Que Zelian's eyes flickered with a hint of darkness, but he still smiled gently, pointing to the tent.
"But..." Xiao Jinsheng looked up, her voice trembling with a hint of grievance, and tugged at Que Zelian's sleeve.
"That fog corpse today was too terrifying. I'm scared to sleep alone; I'm afraid I'll have nightmares."