After transmigrating, she became the most beloved beast in the world.

Chapter 12 Ink

Beside the clear stream, Chu Xinyao, dressed in light clothing, held a homemade harpoon, observing the fish swimming happily in the water.

Frowning, she whispered, "Can I really get it?"

"Listen to me, no problem," Long Tingting said confidently.

"It's now."

Chu Xinyao thrust the harpoon downwards with all her might, splashing water, but she was still too slow, and the fish escaped.

She felt somewhat discouraged. The wretched fish flicked its tail at her, splashing water droplets onto her legs, as if mocking her incompetence. A surge of defiant spirit rose within Chu Xinyao. She took a deep breath, adjusted her posture, and prepared to try again.

"Don't rush, Xinyao, make sure you're sure before you act." Long Tingting's voice was encouraging, seemingly full of confidence in Chu Xinyao.

Chu Xinyao nodded, her gaze fixed intently on a fish. This time, she was determined to catch it. Her body began to move slightly with the fish's movements, searching for the perfect opportunity.

Just as the fish paused for a moment, Chu Xinyao exerted force, and the harpoon slammed down swiftly and accurately. Like a bolt of lightning, the harpoon pierced the water and aimed directly at its target.

"I got it!" Chu Xinyao exclaimed excitedly, a bright smile spreading across her face. She carefully lifted the harpoon out of the water, and a lively fish was firmly stuck on it.

"Sister Ting, look, I caught it."

Long Tingting did not answer, and Chu Xinyao was still puzzled.

A pleasant, unfamiliar male voice sounded from behind: "These fish are very fishy. Without those rare spices, they are inedible."

Chu Xinyao was startled by the sudden male voice, and almost dropped the harpoon in her hand. She turned around and saw a young man dressed in hemp clothing standing not far away, looking at her curiously.

Chu Xinyao asked warily, "Who are you?"

She had just asked the question when she suddenly remembered that she was dressed in revealing clothing, so she hid behind a nearby rock. "Just stand there, don't come any closer."

Chu Xinyao hid behind the rock and did not notice the man's amazed expression when he saw her face.

Chu Xinyao's voice trembled, her face flushed, as she took down the animal skin skirt drying on the rock and quickly wrapped it around herself. She was utterly mortified; she had only been wearing her underwear, and this strange man had seen her entire figure.

“I meant no harm, little female, don’t be afraid.” The young man quickly explained, his voice gentle and reassuring. “I was just passing by and was attracted by the scenery. I didn’t mean to bother you.”

Chu Xinyao cautiously peeked out from behind the rock, her eyes fixed on the man, trying to find any unusual signs in his expression.

[Sister Ting, you said you didn't hear him coming. Is he very strong? How does he compare to Hu Xiao?]

[I don't know. This world has a different power system than ours. I can't tell what kind of person this is, but he shouldn't be weaker than Hu Xiao.]

"You just said that these fish have a strong fishy smell and require rare spices to be eaten. Do you know where you can find such spices around here?"

Chu Xinyao moved closer to another spot on the shore. She had only exchanged for one shea fruit today, and the amount of exercise she had done made her desperately need some meat to replenish her energy.

The man smiled slightly, took out a small cloth bag from his pocket, placed it in front of him, then stepped back a little before saying, "I have some commonly used spices here. They're not exactly rare, but they're more than enough to remove fishy smells and enhance the aroma. You can take them and use them!"

Chu Xinyao hesitated for a moment, then slowly approached, picked up the cloth bag, and opened it. Inside were some dried spices, emitting a faint, pleasant fragrance. Although she wasn't familiar with these spices, their aroma was invigorating.

"Why are you giving me these?" Chu Xinyao asked, puzzled.

The man shrugged. "Just consider it as me interrupting your fishing fun. My name is Mo, and I'm a traveling merchant who loves to travel around in search of delicious food from different places."

Chu Xinyao gradually lowered her guard and smiled. "Thank you then. My name is Chu Xinyao. How are these spices used? I'd like to grill some fish." She went to the pile of dry leaves she had prepared earlier, took out her dagger, and gently struck the flint she had exchanged to start a fire.

"Do you need my help? I travel a lot, and my grilled fish skills are top-notch." Mo squatted down beside her and asked for her opinion.

"Is it okay?" Chu Xinyao's eyes sparkled. Her grilling skills were mediocre; she would be grateful if she could grill something well.

Mo just smiled, picked up the fish from the harpoon, and went to the river to clean it.

Chu Xinyao added firewood while keeping an eye on Xi Bianmo's movements.

[Sister Ting, what's wrong with this man? Does he have a crush on me?]

[......]

[However, I was dressed so scantily just now, and I didn't see him show any lewdness towards me. It must have been my imagination!]

[Anyway, you should be careful. There are more men than women on this mainland, and the women aren't very pretty. Someone like you... should be extra careful.] Long Tingting was very objective. Although she had a lot of opinions about Chu Xinyao, she couldn't deny that Chu Xinyao was really beautiful.

[Sister Ting, have you noticed that Mo is also very handsome?]

Mo's handsome features differed from the wildness of other orcs on this continent; his fair skin radiated a lustrous sheen. His long, dark green hair, like the finest silk, swayed gently in the breeze.

His movements were elegant; even as he was cleaning fish by the stream, there was no trace of rudeness in his demeanor, as if he were watering flowers in his own garden.

He wasn't as imposing as Hu Xiao, but his strength was not to be underestimated. Mo was currently facing away from Chu Xinyao, cleaning the fish. His back was smooth, and his hemp clothing couldn't hide his well-built physique.

His fingers are nimble and strong, and he handles fish with exceptional skill, every movement exuding a calm and composed demeanor.

Mo seemed to sense Chu Xinyao's gaze. He turned around and gave her a gentle smile. He gently shook the fish in his hand. "This fish is perfect for grilling. I'll let you taste my excellent cooking later."

As she got closer, Chu Xinyao noticed that his pupils were actually dark red. Not the kind of red that looked evil, but rather a clear, luxurious red, like a ruby.

You can't tell when he's not smiling, but once he smiles, you'll notice that Mo's front teeth are slightly protruding, making him look like a harmless little rabbit when he smiles.

Mo sat next to Chu Xinyao, his movements practiced and rhythmic, as if he were performing a ritual rather than simply grilling fish.

The flames danced in his hands, illuminating his handsome profile, sharp and defined, like a meticulously sculpted work of art.

His brows revealed a focused expression, as if grilling fish for Chu Xinyao was a major event.

He flipped the fish from time to time, making sure each side was grilled to a golden brown and crispy perfection, releasing an enticing aroma.

Sparks occasionally flew up, but his eyes remained calm, and this composed expression captivated Chu Xinyao, who was standing beside him.

[Hey, you fangirl, you're practically drooling.] Long Tingting couldn't stand it anymore and spoke up to remind him.

Chu Xinyao quickly touched the corner of her mouth, realizing she'd been tricked. She wasn't angry, just muttered under her breath, "Where's the infatuation? It's just human nature!"

Mo's ears twitched slightly, and his smile deepened as he said, "What? What did you say?"

"Oh, I mean it smells so good, Mo, you're amazing! This fish is grilled to perfection, it looks and smells amazing."

Just then, a gentle breeze blew by, carrying the fragrance of distant flowers that mingled with the aroma of grilled fish, making Chu Xinyao's mind and eyes completely focus on the grilled fish in his hand.

Mo smiled, picked up a bay leaf from the cloth bag, and with his slender fingers, lightly sprinkled the powder onto the grilled fish, making the aroma even more intense. Chu Xinyao swallowed hard a few times before the fish was finally grilled.

After grilling the fish, Mo carefully placed it on a clean leaf and handed it to Chu Xinyao. His movements were very natural, but Chu Xinyao took it somewhat eagerly. Her fingers gently touched his, and at that moment, she felt a warm, electric current spread from her fingertips throughout her body.

"The conditions in the wild are simple, Xinyao, just make do for now! I'll grill it for you again when my convoy arrives." Mo smiled, his eyes crinkling with genuine sincerity.