Seven Cubs, Seven Fathers, Zero Days Off

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Great Emperor Master’s Female Master Is Truly No Ordinary Person

’Does this woman have any idea? This is a treasured bamboo rat, something so rare it’s practically priceless.’

’It’s the pet all the noble ladies dote on, cradling them in the palms of their hands.’

’Many males travel thousands of kilometers searching for a treasured bamboo rat just to win a female’s favor, and they still have a hard time finding even one.’

’Besides, who’s ever heard of eating a treasured bamboo rat?’

When Shen Yue saw Si Muye staring at her in shock, she immediately wondered, ’Did I say something wrong?’

’Aren’t bamboo rats for eating? Are they inedible?’

’But she had no memories from the body’s original owner about bamboo rats. Besides, in this Beast World, as long as it was wild game from the mountains, anything was edible. There weren’t any prohibitions.’

’But it was strange. Every time she tried hard to recall the original owner’s memories, they felt hazy. Except for a few crystal-clear mundane events, the original owner seemed to have no deep recollection of the finer details, almost like a blank slate.’

She asked, ”What’s wrong? Did I say something amiss? Or did you catch this bamboo rat for another reason?”

Si Muye immediately snapped out of it.

”No. Um, bamboo rats are rare. I caught it for you... to eat.”

Si Muye forced himself to say those last two words, his conscience stinging.

’He had actually caught it to please her. But if she wanted to eat it, that would please her all the same.’

’Right. Thinking about it that way, he no longer felt he was wronging the priceless treasured bamboo rat!’

With that, he cleared his throat.

”I was just wondering what it would taste like after you cook it.”

Hearing this, Shen Yue puffed out her chest and declared with confidence,

”Ha! If I’m the one saying it, you can bet it’ll be unforgettably delicious. You know my cooking. I might not be an expert at other things, but when it comes to food and medicine, I know what I’m doing.”

Si Muye gazed at her dazzling smile, a blush creeping up his face. He pursed his lips and, without complaint, put the treasured bamboo rat he had worked so hard to catch into a bamboo cage.

One after another, they were caged without a peep.

Meanwhile, from the shadows, Mu Silin and Huang Ziyue both looked on with contempt at his lack of resolve.

...

By the time the cubs woke up, Shen Yue had already finished preparing the roasted wild boar and stewed mutton.

Seeing the little cubs sitting obediently in a row around the stone table, the corner of Huang Ziyue’s mouth gave an almost imperceptible twitch.

His expression grew particularly inscrutable as he watched his own son clumsily feeding himself with the things she called ”chopsticks.”

’Table manners?’

’It was certainly novel. And it did look more convenient than eating with one’s hands or a dagger.’

Just then, the subordinate beside him, who had been observing for a while, spoke at the opportune moment.

”Great Emperor Master, your subordinate has an update. That bear is Si Muye, once the Royal City’s finest warrior and a Great Knight. He is the third young master of the Ancient Bear Family.”

The name seemed to ring a bell for Huang Ziyue. He asked doubtfully,

”How is he still alive? Weren’t the reports that he was captured by the Sand Sea Insect Clan?”

The subordinate replied, ”Well, he must have escaped on his own. As for why he didn’t return to the Royal City... your subordinate believes it’s very likely because of your Female Master, Great Emperor Master!”

’It’s obvious that Si Muye has taken a liking to the Great Emperor Master’s Female Master!’

’A female so beautiful, kind, and skilled at cooking... she’s truly one in a million. The Female Master of countless males’ dreams!’

’Her cooking skills alone were already incredible, almost heaven-defying. And just now, when he saw her command and control fire, his jaw nearly hit the floor!’

’So if he were Si Muye, he probably wouldn’t want to return to the Royal City either!’

Huang Ziyue shot him a glance, a roguish glint in his eyes as he arched an eyebrow. His tone was cold.

”Female Master? Have I ever said she is *my* Female Master?”

The subordinate flinched, knowing he had misspoken.

”No, Great Emperor Master, you haven’t.”

’He might not have said it, but his actions certainly suggested otherwise.’

’He not only punished Miss Lili for bullying her, getting revenge on her behalf.’

’He also had me investigate the bear who was always by A Yue’s side.’

’One had to understand, in the past, the Great Emperor Master, with his icy and aloof temperament, would never have done such things.’

’No person or matter could ever faze him in the slightest. But this time was clearly different!’

’They truly hoped that this iceberg of a Great Emperor Master could start to live like a person with some warmth.’

’Even turning from an iceberg into an ice sculpture would be an improvement! Just as long as he wasn’t so cold!’

’From the looks of it now...’

’...now that this female named A Yue has appeared, there might be a chance.’

With this thought, he continued his report.

”Um, Great Emperor Master, regarding the relationship between Si Muye and Miss A Yue that you had me investigate, I believe they aren’t actually mated. There is no Female Master’s mark in Si Muye’s bloodline. He’s still a single male!”

Of course, Huang Ziyue was already aware of this.

’He had sensed it just a moment ago. The bear was still a single male, unmarked by any female.’

’In other words, they hadn’t consummated their relationship; they were merely living together.’

His expression shifted, and he said no more.

...

With Si Muye providing the labor, the construction of the bamboo house went remarkably fast.

In a single day, the foundation piles and the base structure were complete.

Meanwhile, Shen Yue went into the cave and placed a bamboo rat into the Spiritual Spring. After a quarter of an hour, she took it out, and a new edible species was added to the spring’s catalogue.

Then, she came out of the cave and set to work, slitting the bamboo rat’s throat with a single slice, scalding it with boiling water, plucking its fur, skinning it, and draining the blood to get rid of the gamey taste...

The entire sequence of actions left Huang Ziyue and Mu Silin, who were watching from the shadows, completely stunned.

Her technique, her masterful skinning skills... even a fierce tiger would look like a rank amateur next to her.

Hearing the treasured bamboo rat’s tragic squeals, Si Muye pretended not to hear. He kept his head down, his hands moving faster and faster, not daring to look back.

But Shen Yue, of all things, started teaching the little cubs beside her.

”Babies, do you see? If you want to eat delicious wild game, you have to clean the fur properly. A swift stroke of the knife, one cut to the throat.”

Though the little cubs found it a bit cruel, especially after hearing the squeals of such a cute little bamboo rat, they couldn’t help but shudder.

But the thought of how delicious it would be made them clap their hands in excitement.

”Yes, we see! Female mother is amazing!!”

”We understand!”

Shen Yue said, while gutting the bamboo rat,

”Also, this bamboo rat’s organs have incredible medicinal value. For example, its gallbladder can improve eyesight and refresh the spirit. And its bones, when soaked in wine, can relieve the pain of rheumatism.”

As she spoke, she sliced off its testicles with her knife.

”See? The bamboo rat’s testicles are even more valuable. If you soak them in wine and drink it, it can cure a high fever!”

Seeing the two balls in her hand, the subordinate next to Mu Silin instinctively covered his own crotch.

”G-General... Miss Shen Yue is too vicious...”

’Skinning the poor thing and eating its meat is one thing, but she won’t even spare its testicles! She’s going to soak them in wine!’

Mu Silin’s lips also pressed into a tight line.

His face alternated between pale and ashen.

A fine sheen of sweat broke out on his back.

Even Si Muye, who was working while simultaneously straining to hear her, couldn’t help but clench his buttocks.

’A Yue really is... terrifyingly fierce!’