Chapter 209: From Now On, Don’t Come Back
With a nervous heart, Nan Xun was led by A-Mang to a small river.
The familiar stream made her pause in surprise. She suspected this was the same river from the A Xi tribe, only this spot was upstream, since the water looked a little narrower.
Suddenly thinking of something, Nan Xun’s face flushed slightly.
A-Mang looked every bit the upright gentleman. Unhurried, he took off his beast-skin skirt and even reached out to her. “A Xi, come. Get down and wash up. The water isn’t cold yet. Once the leaves turn completely yellow, it’ll get chilly.”
Nan Xun felt that his serious expression was a bit put on, but she still generously took off her camisole and apron—along with her little underwear and panties. She was afraid that if A-Mang really did something later, he’d rip them apart again.
She’d spent quite a bit of effort mending them, and after experiencing how hard it was to sew beast hide with a bone needle today, she treasured these things even more.
A-Mang’s gaze seemed nailed to her bare body, not shifting at all.
When Nan Xun stepped one foot into the river, the chill made her yank it back at once. She exclaimed, “A-Mang, you liar! This water is obviously cold!”
Before she could retreat completely, A-Mang splashed over, grabbed her, and pulled her into the water.
Wrapped in icy water, Nan Xun couldn’t help shivering.
A-Mang froze for a moment, clearly doubtful. “A Xi, is the water really cold to you?”
Nan Xun was speechless. Did this jerk think she was pretending? Damn it—she was genuinely cold, okay?
“Your skin’s thick—of course you can’t feel it!” she snapped.
A-Mang hurriedly hugged her tightly. “A Xi, hold on to me and you won’t be cold. I’m really hot.”
She could feel it. With A-Mang holding her close, their skin pressed together, even through the cool water she could feel how scorching hot the man was from head to toe.
A-Mang’s big hands began to roam all over her body, not missing a single spot.
Nan Xun yelled, “Bastard, where are you touching?!”
“A Xi, don’t move. I’m washing you. You need a good wash all over. There are places you can’t reach—I’ll help you.” Holding her tight, his low, hoarse voice sounded right by her ear.
Nan Xun: …
Yeah right. Like hell I believe you!
Since when do you wash someone by grabbing and kneading everywhere?!
Just as things were about to spiral out of control, A-Mang suddenly said they were done washing, then carried Nan Xun back to shore.
Even after being set down, Nan Xun felt a bit dazed.
Oh? The meat-eaters going vegetarian now? Rare sight.
A-Mang used his own beast-skin apron to carefully dry her from head to toe, then helped her put her camisole and apron back on.
“I haven’t put on my underwear yet,” Nan Xun reminded him.
A-Mang gave an “mm” but ignored it and kept going.
After dressing Nan Xun, he put on his own half-damp apron. Holding Nan Xun’s hand with one, and carrying her unworn underwear in the other, he slowly walked back.
When they passed the patch of ferns, A-Mang suddenly stopped, his gaze burning as he stared at Nan Xun.
Nan Xun: !
With one hand he parted the vegetation, with the other he gripped Nan Xun tightly, pulling her into the dense, deep ferns.
After just a few steps, he scooped her up and laid her down in the grass, then pressed himself over her without a word.
“A-Mang!” Nan Xun cried nervously.
He bent down and sealed her lips, impatiently getting straight to the point.
The night breeze carried a hint of chill, but the temperature in the grass kept rising, hot enough to scorch.
Suddenly, Nan Xun understood why A-Mang had slammed the brakes back in the river—he must have been afraid she’d catch a cold if she stayed in the icy water too long.
In the primitive age, unlike modern times, a lingering cold could cost someone their life.
Nan Xun went out upright and came back horizontal, carried the whole way by A-Mang.
The bath earlier was basically wasted. She was drenched in sweat, sticky all over.
In her hazy state, it seemed someone wiped her down with a damp beast hide. When they told her to lift her arm, she lifted it; when they told her to raise her leg, she raised it—cooperating completely.
…
After staying in the cannibal tribe for a little over ten days, Nan Xun had mostly settled in. Then she brought up returning to her own tribe.
A-Mang agreed readily. A few warriors in the tribe weren’t too happy about it, but A-Mang’s stance was firm, so they didn’t press further. During the days he’d be away, the tribe would be temporarily led by A Bao.
Aside from his stone-tipped spear, A-Mang brought nothing—just like that, he accompanied Nan Xun back to her home tribe.
Nan Xun had wanted to remind him to bring a gift, but when she thought of those twenty beast hides, her heart suddenly ached for her man, so she kept quiet.
As they drew closer to the tribe, Nan Xun’s mood wasn’t as light as she’d imagined.
Sure enough, their arrival wasn’t welcomed by the clanspeople.
In her memory, women were high-value goods. She had already been traded away by another tribe, which meant she now belonged to that tribe, with no reason to maintain close ties with her former one.
The old chieftain didn’t even come out to see A Xi. Only A Shi, A Yu, and Chu Xue came to meet her.
“Sister, your brother has wronged you. But if I hadn’t agreed to the cannibal tribe back then, I might have…” A Shi looked full of guilt. When anger flickered across his face, he shot a fierce glare at A-Mang, who was waiting under a big tree in the distance.
Nan Xun hurriedly said, “Brother, A-Mang treats me very well. The cannibal tribe’s people aren’t as brutal as everyone thinks—they’ve all been good to me.”
A Shi sighed and patted her shoulder. “A Xi, just live well with the cannibal tribe.” After a pause, his voice lowered. “From now on, don’t come back.”
Nan Xun forced a small smile. “I understand. I really just came to see you and A Da. I didn’t expect A Da to refuse to see me.”
A Shi explained, “After all, A Da is the chieftain. His attitude represents the whole tribe’s stance, so it’s inconvenient for him to meet you. Actually, A Da misses you very much.”
Nan Xun nodded, no longer wanting to continue the topic.
She knew that family bonds in primitive times weren’t as deep as in modern society—but still, this felt unbearably cold, leaving her heart chilled to the bone.
