Chapter 9: Mi Yao’s Jealousy

Deciding not to sleep anymore, she sat up to cultivate her supernatural abilities. When she opened her eyes, the sky was just beginning to brighten. After a whole night of training, her powers had improved significantly; it wouldn’t be long before she advanced to the second level. Stretching lazily, Su Xiyue felt refreshed and invigorated.

She ate all the grilled fish she had left from the previous day, but only half-filled her stomach. Her gaze then fell on the piece of roasted meat Bai Qi had given her last night. Unable to resist, she tore off a small chunk to eat. The meat had hardened overnight and was tough to bite, but at least it was salted, offering some flavor. After two bites, she stopped, finding it too difficult to chew. She planned to search for some fruit in the forest later, as eating fruit wouldn’t cause weight gain but would actually help her lose weight and improve digestion.

She then roasted the three pieces of raw meat from yesterday, knowing that if she didn’t cook them soon, they would spoil. She thought about when she could find a stone pot to bring back; with one, eating would be much easier, no longer limited to just roasting. The three pieces of meat were soon cooked to a delicious aroma—crispy outside and tender inside—much softer than the meat left over from last night. Unfortunately, there was no salt in the cave, and no other seasonings either. The other beastmen had some, but their supplies were limited.

Unable to resist, Su Xiyue ate a small piece but stopped to control her weight. She wrapped the remaining meat in broad leaves and set it aside to serve as lunch. Just as she stood up, the system’s voice suddenly echoed in her mind:

“Ding! Congratulations, host, on successful weight loss. You have shed two jin. Health points +2, appearance +1, charm +1. There is also a new change in your favorability. Would you like to view it?”

Su Xiyue’s eyes lit up with delight. After going hungry all night, she hadn’t expected to lose two jin. Though insignificant compared to her overall excess weight, any progress was good. She quickly checked the system data:

Host: Su Xiyue
Age: 16
Charm: 11
Appearance: 21
Health: 62
Weight: Severely overweight, impeding mobility
Skill: Wood Elemental Ability (Level 1)

Targets and Favorability:
Ye Ling: -90 (Disgust)
Mo Lin: -80 (Disgust)
Qing Zhu: -85 (Disgust)
Bai Qi: -75 (Disgust)
Xuan Ming: -60 (Disgust)

She scanned the data swiftly and noticed that only Xuan Ming’s favorability had changed. She remembered it was -80 last night; now it had risen to -60—a full twenty-point increase. A faint smile curved her lips, her mood soaring. Xuan Ming must have come to the cave last night and seen the changes in her and the cave’s condition. No one would like a slovenly woman; cleanliness and freshness always left a better impression.

She dismissed the system panel and took the unwashed beast skins piled outside the cave entrance from last night down to the river to clean. It was still early, but many beastmen and females were already busy by the riverside: washing skins, washing faces and hands, fetching water, and some females even grooming themselves by the water. Occasional laughter and chatter filled the lively scene.

When they saw her, many cast strange looks and whispered among themselves.

“Isn’t that Su Xiyue? She’s up so early?”
“Look at all those beast skins she’s carrying. Is she really going to wash them?”
“A lazy female like her actually washing skins? Don’t tell me it’s just for show.”
“Haha, she’s the laziest female in our wolf tribe. Expecting her to wash skins is like waiting for the sun to rise from the west.”
“Exactly. I bet she’s just going to throw them away and ask Ye Ling and the others for new ones.”

Though their voices were low, every word floated unmistakably into Su Xiyue’s ears. She rolled her eyes in secret but paid them no mind. The original owner’s reckless behavior had already tainted her reputation beyond repair; it was impossible to change everyone’s opinion overnight.

Finding a quiet spot, she began scrubbing the beast skins. These skins were all top-quality pieces taken from the five beastmen and her father, yet the original owner never cleaned them, leaving them dirty and discarded. They were never dried either, some had even started to mold and sprout bugs—unsightly beyond belief. Su Xiyue felt it was a waste; these skins would become her clothes and bedding, even shoes. They simply couldn’t be wasted.

She washed what she could; those beyond saving were discarded. Fortunately, most were salvageable, and only a few were thrown away. The females and beastmen by the river watched her diligently cleaning the skins, eyes wide with surprise, and soon whispered among themselves.

“Oh my, Su Xiyue is really washing beast skins? And so many? Am I dreaming?”
“When did she become so diligent? Has the sun really risen from the west?”
“Have you noticed she looks different? She doesn’t seem as ugly.”
“She does look different—less messy, and the pimples on her face have subsided a bit. But overall, she’s still not pretty.”

These comments reached Su Xiyue’s ears, leaving her feeling helpless. The original owner’s image was deeply ingrained in everyone’s minds; changing their views was proving no easy task. She ignored the chatter and kept scrubbing. Without soap or detergent, the skins would never be truly clean. She had to rub them hard until her palms turned red. These thick, dirty, and foul-smelling skins were tough to clean.

By the time she finished, an hour had passed. Exhausted, her back ached, her hands throbbed, and sweat drenched her body. She washed her face, stretched her limbs, and felt somewhat better. As she prepared to carry the cleaned skins back, a young female approached with a mocking smile.

“Su Xiyue, have you changed? Actually doing something useful now?”

Su Xiyue looked at the girl, who was about seventeen or eighteen and bore a refined but disdainful expression, clearly looking down on her. Searching the original owner’s memories, she found the girl was Mi Yao, Mia’s younger sister, who, like her sister, deeply disliked the original owner. The reason was simple: Mi Yao had feelings for Ye Ling and had confessed to him but was rejected. Hurt and bitter, she blamed the original owner, who was Ye Ling’s female.

Even knowing Ye Ling disliked and even loathed the original owner, Mi Yao still couldn’t stand her. Her look now was filled with jealousy and hatred. Su Xiyue withdrew her gaze, her expression cold.

“That’s none of your business.”

With that, she carried the cleaned skins away. Mi Yao clenched her teeth in anger, muttering, “Pfft, who does she think she is?”

Her sister Mia was the most beautiful female in the tribe, with seven beastmen—each one among the tribe’s elite. Mi Yao had five beastmen but neither their strength nor appearance matched her sister’s, and she had fewer in number. She considered herself quite attractive and had always wanted to surpass her sister. Ye Ling was the tribe’s strongest and most handsome male, adored by all the females. Mi Yao thought that if she could win Ye Ling’s heart, her sister would be green with envy. She confessed to Ye Ling but was mercilessly rejected.