Marrying the Soft-hearted Villain

She Qin seemed like a child lacking confidence. After mustering the courage to speak about his observations, he pursed his lips and retreated back to the corner.

His long hair almost concealed his face and eyes, likely to hide the scales, and he peeked at Ruan Qiuqiu and Mr. Big Bad Wolf through the strands.

"Thank you." Ruan Qiuqiu noticed his sensitivity and offered her thanks without hesitation, smiling at the child. "Can you tell me your name?"

"…She Qin." After speaking, She Qin lowered his head uncomfortably. "I'm not sure if it is. Maybe it's not the kind of plant you're looking for."

"It's alright." Ruan Qiuqiu smiled, leaned down, and whispered something in Mr. Big Bad Wolf's ear.

The wolf nodded aloofly, indicating he understood.

Ruan Qiuqiu smiled with satisfaction, took the hide blanket from him, turned to Xiao Bo He and the other two cubs, and said, "Wait for me here." She planned to organize her backpack and grab some readily prepared beef jerky as snacks for the three cubs.

After speaking, she quickened her pace towards the cave, leaving Mr. Big Bad Wolf and the three slightly bewildered cubs behind.

The sky hadn't completely darkened, and the light snow had stopped. Xiong Gun Gun stood slightly behind Xiao Bo He, staring wide-eyed at Yuan Jue with a hint of fear in his expression.

It was fine when Sister Qiuqiu was present, but as soon as she left, Xiong Gun Gun felt a chill run down his spine for some reason.

Although he was a cub, he had already heard tales of Yuan Jue. He had become a terrifying legend of the forest among the surrounding tribes.

Stories like cubs being severely injured for getting too close to him, his intense dislike for the scent of cubs, and disobedient cubs being eaten…

Although Xiao Bo He firmly believed he was a good demon, and Yuan Jue indeed didn't exude any aura that frightened cubs while Sister Qiuqiu was there, now, sitting on a strange-looking chair, his crimson robe accentuated his pale skin, dark hair, and red lips, making him appear quite frightening.

Despite her brave words, Xiao Bo He trembled slightly when facing Yuan Jue, whose aura was entirely different from Ruan Qiuqiu's and seemed filled with bloodlust. However, unlike Xiong Gun Gun, she didn't show it, remaining quiet and still.

The previously harmonious and friendly atmosphere suddenly turned strange and eerily silent.

This silence lasted for two minutes. Xiong Gun Gun initially wanted to grab Xiao Bo He's hand and suggest they leave, but his fear overwhelmed him, causing him to stumble and fall.

Having promised his little wife he'd watch over the three cubs, Mr. Big Bad Wolf immediately extended a wisp of his demonic consciousness to scan the trio.

Lacking experience in interacting with cubs, Yuan Jue simply propped his chin on his hand, ran his long fingers across his lips, and asked in what he believed was a calm tone, "What's wrong?"

Unaware that his low, husky voice, coupled with the unintentional gesture of his fingers brushing his lips, perfectly resembled the forest legend of a cub-eating demon.

"…" Xiong Gun Gun couldn't get up. He bit his lip hard, preventing himself from crying like a baby bear.

Mr. Big Bad Wolf "…"

He tapped the edge of the chair, deepening his voice with a hint of mischievousness, and abruptly transformed his right hand into a sharp wolf claw. "Don't cry."

"!" Xiong Gun Gun's eyes widened, his face paled, and tears streamed down uncontrollably. Even Xiao Bo He was startled, murmuring "Brother-in-law" and covering her mouth with her hand.

She Qin, standing further away, only looked slightly pale but wasn't as frightened.

Yuan Jue rested his chin on his hand, his wolf claw reverting back to a slender hand, a faint smile flickering in his eyes.

However, upon hearing the sounds from the cave entrance, the wolf panicked.

He quickly pretended he hadn't done anything, pursing his lips and waiting quietly.

Although he stopped, Xiong Gun Gun and Xiao Bo He were thoroughly frightened, especially Xiong Gun Gun, who, despite being a demon, had embarrassingly turned into a fluffy panda ball, unable to get up from the ground.

When Ruan Qiuqiu emerged with the cooked beef jerky (purified with healing water droplets), her backpack, and other items, she saw a black and white furball repeatedly attempting sit-ups in the snow.

Xiao Bo He, her eyes red-rimmed, was trying to pull the furball up.

She Qin, in the corner, stared at Xiao Bo He and the furball with a slightly aggrieved expression.

Ruan Qiuqiu "…" What happened? Were they playing some new game?

It seemed Mr. Big Bad Wolf was getting along well with them?

Thinking this, Qiuqiu, completely unaware of the wolf's childish act of scaring the cubs, waved cheerfully at the three. "Stop playing, the ground is cold."

Xiong Gun Gun, too scared to get up, "…Wuu." The bear wasn't playing; he was terrified.

Seeing that Xiong Gun Gun couldn't get up on his own, Ruan Qiuqiu handed the small hide pouches containing beef jerky and the spear to the wolf, then stepped forward to help Xiong Gun Gun up.

"Eh." Touching Xiong Gun Gun's soft fur, Ruan Qiuqiu's eyes lit up, and she couldn't resist petting him a few more times. "So soft."

Forgive her, she hadn't encountered such satisfying fluff in a long time. Mr. Big Bad Wolf's fur was coarse, and he usually only curled his tail around her. The fur on his ears was sparse and not soft.

A cub like Xiong Gun Gun, with his soft, warm fur all over, felt incredibly good to the touch, especially in this season. She instantly felt the fatigue from moving house melt away.

Ruan Qiuqiu initially only intended to help Xiong Gun Gun up, but once she started petting him, she couldn't stop.

Xiong Gun Gun was quite cooperative. Many bears in the tribe enjoyed having their fur stroked, and Ruan Qiuqiu's touch was much gentler than theirs. She only petted his head and paws, making him so comfortable that he rolled over, exposing his slightly chubby, fluffy belly.

Ruan Qiuqiu's lips curved into a smile, and she couldn't resist the urge to reach out.

"Wife."

A deep, aggrieved voice suddenly came from behind, laced with a hint of gritted teeth.

Ruan Qiuqiu's fingertips, about to touch the fluffy belly, paused. She sighed softly, helped Xiong Gun Gun stand, and stood up herself.

She turned to look at Mr. Big Bad Wolf, who had silently wheeled himself behind them. Noticing his displeased expression and the low pressure surrounding him, she awkwardly patted her hide skirt, trying to brush off the black and white fur.

However, Xiong Gun Gun's fur was fine, and despite several attempts, some remained.

Yuan Jue's dark eyes were gloomy, and he remained silent for a long while before extending his hand and gently blowing a gust of wind.

Ruan Qiuqiu's hair scattered, and she instinctively closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, she realized all of Xiong Gun Gun's fur was gone from her clothes.

Ruan Qiuqiu "…"

She looked at Mr. Big Bad Wolf's slightly pale knuckles and then at the fur strips covering his eyes, which were now damp for some reason. A strange thought suddenly crossed her mind—

Could it be,

Was Mr. Tianluo Big Bad Wolf, jealous of a cub?

Ruan Qiuqiu's eyes flickered, her feelings a mix of emotions.

Although Yuan Jue was currently in human form, looking at his tightly pursed, unusually red lips, Ruan Qiuqiu imagined a little wolf with drooping ears, looking utterly wronged.

As if saying to her—

Why pet another demon? Is the wolf's fur not good enough?

Ruan Qiuqiu's heart softened. Choosing her words carefully, she bent down slightly and coaxed her wolf, "Husband's fur is the best to touch."

Mr. Big Bad Wolf clenched his hand, remaining silent for several seconds before letting out a cold chuckle, sounding incredibly aggrieved. "The wolf doesn't care."

Ruan Qiuqiu "…" Did he not care? He clearly sounded like he was about to cry from feeling wronged.

Slightly exasperated, Ruan Qiuqiu, without regard for the cubs present, blushed and took Yuan Jue's large hand, placing a small kiss on the back of it.

A blush quickly spread across Yuan Jue's handsome face, and the water droplets on his long lashes increased.

He pursed his lips, suppressing the urge to stand up and kiss Ruan Qiuqiu passionately in the snow. Excited yet restrained, his fingertips trembled slightly.

She Qin, standing in the corner, was somewhat stunned, seemingly unable to believe that the terrifying demon from moments ago would completely retract his intimidating aura and pressure.

Yes, pressure.

He had experienced more misfortune and encountered more demons than Xiong Gun Gun and Xiao Bo He.

The more powerful the demon, the stronger the unintentional pressure they exuded. Very few demons would deliberately suppress their instincts.

Or rather, very few could.

But Yuan Jue, who had become a legend of the forest, had done it.

Admiration flickered in She Qin's eyes, and the fear he felt towards Yuan Jue strangely dissipated.

Xiao Bo He was also less afraid after seeing Ruan Qiuqiu. Xiong Gun Gun initially wanted to remain in his panda form and be petted by Sister Qiuqiu, but his survival instincts kicked in, and he transformed back into his human form.

"What's wrong with you two?" Ruan Qiuqiu asked, puzzled, as she distributed the beef jerky, noticing the cubs' pale faces.

"N-nothing!" Xiong Gun Gun replied with conviction.

Xiao Bo He nodded in agreement, indicating nothing had happened.

Unsuspecting, Ruan Qiuqiu handed another small pouch of jerky to She Qin and then pushed Mr. Big Bad Wolf's wheelchair, leading the three cubs towards the foot of the mountain.

Of course, she had also prepared beef jerky for the wolf, a larger portion than the cubs'.

Yuan Jue's demonic consciousness swept over the hide pouches in the cubs' hands and then over his own. Finally, a slight smile curved his lips. His heart, previously steeped in jealousy, finally calmed down a bit, not as sour as before.

…

Although young, the three cubs were quick. Since Mr. Big Bad Wolf's current residence wasn't too far from the foot of the mountain, they reached their destination in about fifteen minutes.

She Qin wasn't mistaken. Many cotton-like plants grew near the foot of the mountain.

These plants had dark black stems, much larger than modern cotton plants, and were covered in thorns. The green cotton bolls at the top were encased in thorny fruits. Some only revealed their tips, dusted with snow, making them appear difficult to harvest.

Ruan Qiuqiu extended a wisp of spiritual energy to observe them and discovered that these plants contained a significant amount of spiritual energy, some even approaching the second tier.

Ruan Qiuqiu noticed that several fruits at the top of the nearest plant had ripened, clustered together, revealing the same green cotton that had stuck to Xiong Gun Gun earlier.

She held her spear, intending to harvest the fruits.

"Wife." Yuan Jue tugged at her clothes, his voice slightly cold. "These plants are dangerous. The wolf will pick them."

ʕ•́ᴥ•̀ʔっ

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