Chapter 17: Protect Her

Su Muyao’s eyes curved into crescents as she said with a beaming smile, "It's fine, let's dig them up together!"

"These are Chinese cabbages. With wheat and cabbage, we can make cabbage and pork dumplings, cabbage and pork buns, and the cabbage can also be used for stir-frying."

Looking at the large cabbages, Su Muyao's mind was filled with various delicacies.

"Moreover, we can use the cabbage to pickle sauerkraut, which can be stored for a long time."

"When the snow season arrives and heavy snow blocks the mountains, making it impossible to go out hunting for food, we can directly stir-fry sauerkraut with cured meat."

"The cured meat also needs to be smoked in advance so that it can be stored for a long time."

Since she wouldn't be able to go hunting in the winter anyway, she had ways to produce various foods and wouldn't go hungry.

Furthermore, sweet potatoes were planted in the space's fields, and some green onions and ginger had been transplanted there as well.

They were all foods she had seen in the mountains and forests yesterday.

She was also transplanting some cabbages into the space.

Hua Linye's expression shifted; so they really were food.

People instinctively perceived such things as mere weeds.

Hua Linye quickly began helping her dig up the cabbages.

With Hua Linye's help, the entire patch of cabbage was soon unearthed.

Su Muyao collected them all into her space.

"Thank you. I'll make something delicious for you all tonight."

Hua Linye's eyes flickered with a charming, seductive light as he replied, "There is no need for thanks, Mistress."

"It is my honor to eat food prepared by you."

Previously, she had never been this polite. She had always been bossy, commanding them to do things.

Su Muyao didn't take Hua Linye's words literally; this fellow was exceptionally good at being charming and saying sweet things.

Su Muyao spoke up, "Next, let's go to the place where the medicinal herbs are!"

"Alright!"

Hua Linye naturally transformed into his original form, continuing to carry Su Muyao on his back as they headed deeper into the forest.

After about another hour, they arrived at a valley.

While riding on Hua Linye's fox body, Su Muyao smelled a thick, rich fragrance of medicinal herbs.

Su Muyao said happily, "It's herbs! The scent of many different herbs!"

Once Hua Linye leaped over to the area, the view opened up, and Su Muyao could see the valley floor covered in all kinds of medicinal plants.

Sensing Su Muyao's excitement, Hua Linye felt compelled to warn her, "Some of the herbs here are poisonous; you cannot touch them at will."

"Previously, a wild beast accidentally wandered in here and died of poisoning on the spot."

Su Muyao nodded. "I know. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

She recognized most of the herbs, but there were indeed some she had never seen before, which were not even recorded in the ancient medical texts of the apocalypse.

However, she had the Space System; for any herbs she didn't recognize, the system could help her identify whether they were toxic.

Once Su Muyao climbed down from the fox and Hua Linye transformed back into human form, she took her bone knife and carefully went forward to dig up the herbs.

She specifically spotted several key medicinal plants that could help her detoxify her body, which would eventually restore her original appearance.

There were also herbs that could be used to make hemostatic medicine, anti-parasitic medicine, cold-treating medicine, and so on.

Looking at these, a bright, radiant smile appeared in Su Muyao's eyes.

Su Muyao stepped forward to dig up some herbs, carefully placing them into her space.

Hua Linye watched her closely, fearing she might suddenly be poisoned.

When Su Muyao turned her head, she happened to meet Hua Linye's worried, furrowed gaze.

She checked the sky; the sun was directly overhead, indicating it was noon.

Wanting to show her gratitude, she said, "Hua Linye, let's eat lunch!"

"I brought sweet potatoes in my space; we can roast some to eat."

Hua Linye looked down into Su Muyao's bright, moving eyes, his expression shifting. "Wait here and don't move around. I'll hunt some wild game nearby."

Su Muyao nodded. "Okay."

Unsettled, Hua Linye transformed back into his fox form and scattered some of his fox fur around the area.

"I have spread my scent around. If there is any danger, I will arrive in time."

Su Muyao was momentarily stunned.

Even though they had loathed her, they were indeed doing their best to protect her.

Not long after Hua Linye left, a cold, mocking laugh suddenly echoed through the air.

Hearing this voice, Su Muyao's entire body instinctively went on guard.

She looked around but discovered nothing.

"Space System, did you detect anything?"

"Host, I haven't detected anything. However, the herb at your feet is poisonous; do not touch it."

Su Muyao said with focus, "I heard a cold voice filled with killing intent. It made me instinctively feel danger."

The Space System said in surprise, "Ah, Host, it is because my current abilities are limited; I cannot help you detect the source of the danger."

Su Muyao said, "It's fine. We will get stronger eventually."

"I suspect it's those five beast husbands from the Beast Emperor City that my predecessor had; they want to kill me."

The Space System asked, "Are they sending someone to kill you?"

"Don't worry, Host. I am the Space System. I have energy, and I can protect you."

It liked the Host very much; if the Host was in danger, it would protect her even if it had to sacrifice itself.

Because it had traveled to this world, it was currently very weak and had not yet leveled up. Once it leveled up, it would be able to protect the Host even better.

Su Muyao said, "It's fine. At worst, I'll use that method to rapidly increase my strength."

The Space System knew what the Host was planning. "If the Host forcibly devours the plant essence within a hundred-mile radius to increase her abilities, her body won't be able to handle it and she might explode. Even if she can endure it, there will be aftereffects; her body will become very weak and will take a long time to recover."

Su Muyao said, "So, unless it's absolutely necessary, I won't use it."

The Space System comforted her, "Host, don't be afraid. I just sensed that the fox fur your Nine-Tailed Red Fox husband laid around contains his soul power. If you are in danger, he will rush back."

Su Muyao said indifferently, "They probably hope I'm dead."

"I certainly don't expect them to come back to protect me."

"They hate me to death."

Just then, a sharp whistle suddenly pierced the air, and a large black bird with a sharp beak attacked toward Su Muyao.

The first attack was suddenly deflected by a red light surrounding Su Muyao.

Su Muyao looked surprised; this fox fur really did carry power, acting like a barrier to help her ward off danger.

So, Hua Linye really didn't want anything to happen to her?

After being deflected, the sharp-beaked giant bird spiraled and dove toward her again.

Su Muyao activated her abilities; holding her bone knife in one hand to protect herself, she began rapidly absorbing the surrounding plant essence with the other.

At this moment, the blood in her body was surging violently.

But just then, an arrow trailing flames pierced straight through the giant bird attacking her.

Simultaneously, Hua Linye landed in front of her.

He shielded her behind him.

At the same time, his nine tails emerged, enveloping her in the center in a protective stance.

He blocked all attacks for her.

Looking at Hua Linye's figure, Su Muyao was stunned.

He really came back!

Hua Linye said nothing more and went straight to battle!

Two more sharp-beaked black birds suddenly appeared in the sky, attacking frantically.

While protecting Su Muyao, Hua Linye drew his bow and fired arrows.

One of the giant birds transformed into human form and said sharply, "Hua Linye, your body is infected with fire poison. If you force yourself to use artifacts to fight us, your mental sea will go berserk and violent. You will either die or be left crippled!"

"It's not worth it just to protect such a wicked female beast!"

"Our master possesses a secret method to counteract the beast husband contract. If she dies, you won't die either. So, as long as you cooperate with us, my master will naturally teach you the secret method."