Chapter 208: A Xi, Are You Full?
Nan Xun still trusted what she saw with her own eyes. The cannibal tribe’s people looked kind—nothing like the ferocious sort who would eat people.
Before long, a woman quietly lifted the beast-hide curtain at the cave entrance and peeked inside.
Only after she saw that Nan Xun was awake did she come in, smiling as she explained, “The chieftain and most of the men in the tribe have gone out hunting.”
As she spoke, her gaze casually swept over the kiss marks Nan Xun couldn’t quite hide. Understanding dawned in her eyes, and her smile took on a hint of teasing intimacy.
Nan Xun smiled back and nodded. “Got it.”
The woman was called A-Hua. She, too, had been bought from another tribe a few years ago—traded for just one honchi beast right before the bitter cold set in. She currently lived with two men and had borne each of them a child.
Nan Xun borrowed a bone needle and some tough grass cord from A Hua, then re-sewed the little camisole and apron A-Mang had torn.
When A Hua asked if she wanted to go pick fruit together, Nan Xun agreed without hesitation.
She very much needed to show the few women in the tribe that she could work.
Aside from the women caring for children, all the others set out.
Nan Xun nimbly climbed trees, picked fruit, gathered wild vegetables, and harvested coconuts, stunning the women.
In a daze, they seemed to understand something: one A Xi could match a man—and still bear children. Their chieftain had truly sharp eyes!
Near noon, the men returned with their prey.
Nan Xun discovered that the men here were genuinely impressive. They had no fancy weapons—just uniform long spears tipped with stone—but they were superb hunters. In a single morning, they’d successfully caught two honchi beasts.
At midday, the entire tribe ate their fill. The women brought out the wild fruits they’d gathered.
Because there were far more fruits than usual this time, the men were surprised. When they heard that many had been picked by A Xi, their looks toward the new chieftain, A-Mang, turned knowingly amused.
A-Mang pulled A Xi—who was roasting meat—into his arms and shamelessly boasted, “Hahaha, my A Xi is amazing. Worthy of the woman I, A-Mang, chose.”
With that, he cupped Nan Xun’s face and kissed her.
Nan Xun slapped his head away and shot him a warning glare.
A-Mang laughed loudly. “A Xi’s mad. Fine, fine—we’ll talk when we’re back in the cave tonight.”
The men who had women of their own exchanged tacit smiles.
Nan Xun really wanted to punch the grin off A-Mang’s face.
Damn it—could he be a little more subtle? Just a little?!
After the hearty noon meal, the men went out hunting again; this time they wouldn’t be back until dark.
The women had gathered enough fruit in the morning, so they stayed in the afternoon, sitting together to sew and mend.
The bitter cold winter would arrive soon. The women began making winter clothes from beast hides. Each household had been given one hide. Though some people hadn’t received theirs yet, no one was anxious—they trusted the men’s abilities. Surely, before winter came, they would hunt enough prey and obtain enough fur.
The women only made simple garments. Tools were limited—no scissors, and the bone needles were thick. Mostly, they followed the grain of the hide, shaping basic sleeves and ties. Even so, Nan Xun thought they were already remarkable.
After some thought, Nan Xun took out the large, untreated saber-toothed tiger pelt A-Mang had left in the cave.
The moment she did, the women’s eyes lit up, their gazes glued to the pelt.
One said enviously, “A Xi, you’re truly blessed. The chieftain is the bravest man in our cannibal tribe. Every woman wants to bear his children, yet he wants no one but you.”
Nan Xun had thought only A-Mang spoke so bluntly. She now realized she was wrong. Men and women throughout the tribe spoke plainly—if they liked someone, they said it boldly; if not, they showed it just as directly.
Like another woman who looked at Nan Xun with open jealousy and said sarcastically, “I, A Xiang, am no worse than this woman. Why won’t A-Mang look at me? Other women have slept with many men, but I’ve only slept with his good brother, A Bao.”
A woman beside her snorted. “A Xiang, why are you still hung up on A-Mang? He said he doesn’t like you. Give it up.”
A Xiang’s words made Nan Xun uncomfortable.
Seriously—she’d already slept with other men and still dared to covet her A-Mang? How thick was her skin?
Nan Xun ignored A Xiang’s sour remarks. She straightened the tiger pelt and began measuring. She wanted to make A-Mang a warm, comfortable tiger-fur coat.
Men didn’t like long sleeves, even in winter, so Nan Xun planned three-quarter sleeves. The front would be an ancient-style open jacket, tied by hand.
The extra pelt would be made into tie-waist trousers.
After finishing the coat and pants, the remaining scraps would become tiger-fur boots.
She planned it beautifully. But once she actually started, she nearly cried. The bone needle was awful to use, and the dense tiger hide was windproof—pushing the needle through took ages just to make a single hole.
By the time A-Mang and the other men returned, Nan Xun hadn’t even finished one sleeve. Her hands, however, were pricked with many tiny holes.
Seeing this, A-Mang said nothing. He immediately grabbed some herbs, chewed them, and applied the paste to her hands.
The men’s haul was again abundant. After everyone ate their fill, the surplus food was carried into the stone cave at the far edge—one without occupants.
Though the cannibal tribe didn’t know what a cellar was, Nan Xun noticed that cave sat lower, making it cooler—perfect for storing winter provisions.
“A Xi, are you full?” A-Mang asked, his gaze burning as he looked at her.
Nan Xun swallowed. “I’m full—too full. So I want to go for a walk.”
A flash lit A-Mang’s eyes. He answered at once, “Alright. I’ll go with you.”
Hand in hand, they went out for a stroll.
A-Mang casually grabbed a handful of some grass, split it in two, and handed half to Nan Xun. “A Xi, put this in your mouth, chew it, then spit it out.”
Now Nan Xun finally understood why his teeth were so white and his breath always carried a pleasant grassy scent. He chewed this grass from time to time—it seemed to remove odors and plaque, basically a natural toothpaste.
Little Eight suddenly chimed in slyly, “Darling, why do you think he’s cleaning his teeth for no reason? Don’t you think what’s next is—heehee…”
Nan Xun: …
Thanks to Little Eight’s hint, everything suddenly felt suspicious. For example, they were passing a patch of tall ferns—step into it and, with a slight duck of the head, no one would see a thing. Perfect for some wild, outdoorsy mischief.
Or that thick tree nearby. They could hide behind it—A-Mang pinning her there, lifting her leg…
Good grief—Nan Xun felt completely undone.
She was sure she’d been corrupted by some beast with a brain full of dirty thoughts.
