Su Qinglan sighed. She patted Xuan Long’s arm gently. "Hey, calm down. He’s just asking a question. You didn’t kidnap me, so why are you glaring at him like you’re about to eat him?"
Xuan Long didn’t say anything, just tightened his arm slightly around her.
"Alright," she said, prying his hand off and stepping forward again. "No more hissing, no more glaring. Let me talk."
He looked down at her but didn’t argue.
Turning back to the bull elders, Su Qinglan smiled politely. "We came to exchange goods, not to fight. He’s my... uh..." She paused, searching for the right word. They’re not family. Not lovers either... so what is he?
She cleared her throat. "He’s my relative," she finally said with a straight face. "And he won’t harm anyone. He’s actually very gentle once you know him."
The bulls looked at her, then at the tall man behind her who looked like he could crush boulders with one hand.
"Gentle," one of them whispered doubtfully.
But when Su Qinglan smiled again, they decided not to argue.
She nodded quickly. "Good. Now, can we talk about the rice?"
The bulls all nodded at once, too fast, like their necks were on springs.
Su Qinglan followed the old bull beastman toward the biggest hut, and Xuan Long quietly trailed behind her like a shadow. The moment the tribe calmed down and the shouting stopped, the air finally felt lighter.
The old beast, still a little shaky but polite, gestured with a big, rough hand. "Please, please, come inside, female, my lord. Our hut is simple but strong."
Su Qinglan smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Grandpa." She didn’t decline. She was curious anyway...she wanted to see how these bull beastmen really lived.
When she stepped inside, though, her eyes widened a little. It wasn’t what she expected at all.
The so-called "big hut" looked more like a huge cowshed. Four thick wooden poles held up a roof made of woven leaves. There were no walls...just open sides where the wind could pass through freely. You could see everything outside...the people walking by, the fields stretching out, even a few calves playing in the mud nearby.
There was no proper floor either, only packed dirt with a few straw mats laid around. From one side, she could even see into the neighboring huts. They were all the same...simple, airy, and wide open. It must have been comfortable in the heat but freezing at night.
Still, Su Qinglan thought it was clever. At least it’s practical, she mused. If they had proper wood, they could make it more sturdy, but it’s still good for their land.
Xuan Long stayed right behind her, completely silent. Ever since she had glared at him earlier, he hadn’t spoken a word. He just followed her obediently like a big, green-eyed tail.
Su Qinglan laughed lightly. "One hide for two sacks? That’s too little. Let’s make it five hides. It’s fair."
The old bull tried to protest again, but she smiled kindly and said, "Please, Grandpa, let us pay. I don’t want to owe you."
He finally sighed, smiling a little, and nodded. "Alright, female. Two hides then. You are kind."
Behind her, Xuan Long still said nothing...but the faintest smile touched his lips as he watched her say she did not want to owe anyone.
Yes, his female doesn’t need to owe anyone, he thought with pride rising in his chest. She was strong, smart, and unafraid to face anyone, even him. That’s what he liked about her, and let’s not forget about her maddening scent that drives him crazy.
But deep inside, his smile turned sharper. She doesn’t owe anyone... except me.
Everything she has, everything she becomes... will belong to me.
Su Qinglan, unaware, crouched beside the sacks and touched the white grains with her fingers. "Perfect," she said softly. "We can finally make something new."
The old bull beamed. "Female, you can come here anytime. We will keep the best seeds for you."

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