Chapter 7 Strike Where He Is Vulnerable

A chill ran down Draven's spine. He instinctively took two steps back, his voice trembling. “C-Calm down... That wicked woman is still with Xelrik in the grove. If we hurry, we can catch them in the act.” Just don't vent your anger on me. The explosive outburst Draven had braced for never came. Instead, Zareth crouched down, retrieving the meat from the river with practiced ease. He meticulously rinsed each piece, then carefully arranged them on leaves, his movements deliberate and unhurried. It was as if the earlier flash of rage had never happened. Draven gawked at him, dumbfounded. “Zareth... Are you seriously not mad anymore?” Just moments ago, Zareth had looked ready to murder someone. “She called me 'Zeth' today,” Zareth murmured, his focus never wavering from his task. Draven blinked in confusion. “Huh? And?” I would call him that sometimes, too. Zareth finally straightened. The entire deer had been expertly butchered, each piece wrapped in leaves. Stepping onto the shore, he cast Draven a sidelong glance and said in a low, indifferent voice, “She used to call me a good-for-nothing.” Draven caught the subtle twitch at the corner of Zareth's lips—it was brief, almost imperceptible, but it was there. What are you so happy for? “You must be mistaken,” Zareth said as he turned away, his voice calm yet resolute. “She wouldn't go looking for Xelrik. She's already had her fill.” Last night, Karina had been so drained she could barely lift a finger. He was the one who cleaned her up afterward. There was no way she'd have the energy—or the interest—to seek out Xelrik. Confused, Draven's gaze darted to the neatly wrapped bundles of meat. “Wait, hold on... If she's already had her fill, then why did you prepare so much food?” Meanwhile, in the forest, Xelrik folded his arms with a smug expression and spoke in a patronizing tone. “Have you made up your mind yet? I don't have all day, you know...” Karina let out a long, exasperated sigh. “To h*ll with mending my relationship with her!” Rolling her eyes, she decided she'd had enough. Without hesitation, she grabbed a sturdy wooden stick and swung it mercilessly toward Xelrik's groin. She was never one to tolerate nonsense. Now that the rose-colored glasses of affection had shattered, Xelrik was nothing more than a heap of worthless trash in her eyes. A sharp, pained howl echoed through the forest. Xelrik doubled over, clutching himself, his face contorted in agony. Veins throbbed visibly on his forehead as he struggled to lift his head. “Karina! How dare you hit me...” He gasped, his voice strangled with pain. And at my most vulnerable spot, no less! Karina tossed the wooden stick aside, her expression twisted in disgust as she wiped her hands clean with a leaf. Just as she turned to leave, her gaze fell on Xelrik's pitiful demeanor, remembering something. In her past life, Avani had once told Karina about her family's dire financial state and cramped living conditions. At the time, desperate to gain Xelrik's favor, she had offered Avani the house Corvus had built for her, choosing instead to live in a cave. Now, that very house—her home—was occupied by Avani and her family, as if it had always belonged to them. Karina halted mid-step, casting a frosty gaze down at Xelrik. Her voice was calm yet merciless. “Go back and tell Avani to vacate my house immediately. Clean up and get out. By noon tomorrow, if she's still there, I'll personally throw her out.” “You!” Xelrik seethed, his face twisting in frustration as he watched her retreating figure. “Stubborn as a mule!” Unbothered, Karina strode home. When she arrived, she found Zareth outside, threading thick chunks of meat onto wooden skewers. Each piece was cut generously, roughly the size of a clenched fist. “Wait, let me do it.” With a playful grin, she snatched a skewer from his hand, inspecting the oversized cuts. “This piece is too thick. If we grill it like this, the inside will be undercooked, and it won't taste good. Let me handle it—I'll make something delicious for you.” Zareth narrowed his eyes. “You can cook?” He had never seen her do it before. “Of course.” Karina smirked confidently. In her past life, during her imprisonment, she had once managed to escape. Alone and struggling to survive in the wild, she had been on the verge of collapse when fate led her to an unfamiliar tribe. A kind-hearted beastwoman had taken her in, offering shelter and, more importantly, food—delicious dishes unlike anything she had ever tasted before. Though they didn't speak the same language, Karina had learned by watching, picking up cooking techniques that had been completely foreign to her. Zareth remained skeptical, but he still handed over the ingredients. “Go find a big bowl and some smooth stones,” Karina instructed. Zareth didn't question her and went to gather the items. Meanwhile, she made her way to a nearby grassy patch. Before long, she returned with a handful of mushrooms, green onions, and a piece of ginger. Beastmen only ate meat and fruit, completely disregarding plants like these. But Karina had learned their uses from the beastwoman who once saved her. She stacked the stones Zareth had brought, creating a makeshift stove, and placed the bowl on top. Then, one by one, she added the cleaned ingredients into the water, letting them simmer. Zareth's brows furrowed slightly at the unfamiliar plants she was using. His instincts told him they were inedible, but he said nothing. It's just a deer. If she ruins it, so be it. As long as she's happy, that's all that matters. “I just ran into Xelrik,” Karina remarked casually, stirring the simmering broth with a wooden stick. Zareth's body tensed instantly, and the temperature around him seemed to drop a few degrees. “But don't worry. I'm not into him anymore. I was blind before, but now, you're the only one in my heart,” she said sincerely. Karina had noticed his dark mood ever since she returned. Now that they had become partners, there was no reason for secrets between them. If they were to move forward, they needed trust. She didn't want anyone—especially someone as insignificant as Xelrik—to create unnecessary rifts between them again. Zareth's fist tightened at his side, his golden pupils constricting. She said I'm the only one in her heart... In that instant, the cold darkness within Zareth's heart seemed to crack, allowing a sliver of warmth to seep through. “I couldn't care less about whatever is going on between you two.” His voice was gruff as he abruptly turned his head away, avoiding her gaze. Who knows if she's deceiving me or not? This beastwoman is known for her cunning schemes. Karina saw right through his act and let out a soft laugh, the corners of her lips curling playfully. “Yes, I know,” she said, amusement lacing her tone. “I just wanted to tell you myself. As for Xelrik... I'll need your help with something tomorrow.” She had only just awakened her talent and couldn't even produce a spark, after all. Before long, an enticing aroma filled the air. Karina leaned in, taking a deep breath. “Not bad. Seems like my cooking skills are just fine. If only we had some salt—it would taste even better.” Corvus, to support her, had taken on grueling labor in the Briarhide Tribe, sending back a fair amount of salt. Yet, in her foolishness, she had given it all to Avani and Xelrik. Zareth, on the other hand, never cared for such things. He ate raw meat and didn't seasoning. “Wait for me.” Zareth suddenly said as he stood up and turned to leave. As soon as Draven reached home and lay down, he heard someone knocking at the door. “Zareth? What are you doing here? Did that wicked woman chase you out?” he asked. “Do you have any salt? Can I borrow some?” Zareth extended his hand. Without asking anything, Draven brought out a small jar. “Yes, how much do you need? I've told you before, merely drinking beast blood won't suffice. Beastmen need to consume salt to maintain their strength...” Before he could finish, Zareth had already taken the entire jar. As Zareth turned and ran away, he said over his shoulder, “I'll give it back to you later.” Draven stood rooted to the spot. Once he snapped back to reality, he was so furious that he stomped his foot. “Hey! You jerk! That was all I had!” It wasn't long before Karina saw Zareth return, cradling a jar in his arms. “Here's some salt. You can use it first.” Zareth placed the jar in her hands, solemnly saying, “I didn't know you would... but don't worry. I will never let you go without salt in the future.” Apart from beast crystals, salt was the most crucial resource for beasthumans. The beastwomen were delicate. Only through consuming salt could they manage to survive. Karina's eyes crinkled with a smile. “I believe in you.” Once the venison soup was ready, Karina crafted a makeshift spoon from a wooden stick to taste if the seasoning was on point. To her surprise, Zareth took the spoon from her. “I'll eat first.” If it's poisonous, she won't be able to handle it. Karina didn't refuse. She watched as he took a sip of the broth, then ate some venison. Zareth paused after taking a bite, his expression unreadable. The unexpected burst of flavor swept over his taste buds, catching him off guard. It was surprisingly delicious. After waiting for a while and feeling no discomfort, Zareth confirmed it wasn't poisonous. Only then did they begin to eat. Karina wasn't just strong—she also had an impressive appetite. She devoured more than half the bowl, leaving Zareth no choice but to prepare another batch with the same ingredients. Only after finishing the second serving did they finally feel satisfied. In the afternoon, Zareth crafted another wooden bed, sturdy and well-built. Elsewhere, the creaking of another bed echoed through a dimly lit room as two figures tangled together. Suddenly, the beastman's movements faltered. His strength seemed to drain away, his body going rigid. Avani lifted her head, frowning. “Xelrik, what's wrong? Why did you stop all of a sudden?”