Beauty and the Beasts

1

A pot of noodle soup was only enough to distribute to fifty plus people, so she had to cook six to seven pots at least.

 Standing next to the fire, Bai Qingqing was covered in sweat. Heart aching for her, Parker chased her away and took over the cooking. None of the remaining females were annoyed by the waiting. Though they were anxious, they waited patiently.

 Parker, who was even more skilled in the culinary arts than Bai Qingqing, cooked two pots at one go. Not only did he not appear flustered at all, but the soup he concocted was also even more alluring and was ready in a shorter time.

 1After the females finished eating, none of them left. Instead, they would rather steam in this sauna-like place on such a hot day, just so that they could greedily sniff the aroma in the air.

 Winston acted according to Bai Qingqing’s instructions and retrieved three bags of flour out. He announced, “These are dried wild grain powder. We call it ‘flour’. All of you may wash your stone mortar and collect some to bring back. When it comes time for planting next year, you may also come here to collect wild grain seeds from me.”

 The two remaining bags of flour were enough for Bai Qingqing to consume for a year.

 “Great!”

 “With the seeds, we can eat much more next year!”

 The females cheered enthusiastically in the main hall.

 Under Curtis’s accompaniment, Bai Qingqing took a shower in the river and played with her little snakes for a good while. After the beastmen left, only then did they return to the main hall.

 1Parker was cooking a new batch of noodle soup—this time for the females of the royal families. Not only was there more meat tossed in, but there was also the addition of fungus, mushrooms, green vegetables, and bird’s egg. The soup looked colorful and alluring.

 Once Bai Qingqing came in, she was given a big bowl.

 “You must be hungry. I saw you swallowing your saliva just now. Take this upstairs and eat, it’s hot down here,” Parker said as he handed the bowl to her.

 Bai Qingqing took the bowl from him and, after sniffing it, said with a smile, “The ape king’s mate belongs to the ape tribe too, doesn’t she? She must like vegetables more than the other females. Give her more vegetables.”

 She was clearly saying something nice, yet the ape beastman who came to collect the food sensed malicious intent from her for some reason.

 As she blew at the noodle soup, Bai Qingqing thought: The fruits should be ripe now, eh? Next, I should try to make fruit wine.

 She was just an ordinary high school student with no skills. If she had to claim something as an accomplishment, it would be fermenting grape wine—even without yeast, she would succeed in doing so.

 …

 In the ape castle, the ape king walked towards the bedroom with a contorted face, a bowl of noodle soup with plenty of ingredients in his hands. Once he entered the house, his expression immediately turned gentle.

 “Jean, this is the food given by the tiger king. Looks not bad, here have a try,” the ape king said with an eager-to-please look on his face.

 A young woman with a head of seaweed-like glamorous blue hair that reached her hips sat by the window.

 2At hearing his voice, she turned her head to reveal a delicate face. Her skin was as fair as Bai Qingqing’s, and while her appearance wasn’t as perfect as the males in this world, she could be considered a beauty even by modern standards, much less here.

 However, a scheming gaze could be seen in her azure blue eyes, and the naivety and innocence of a young woman were nowhere to be seen.

 Of course, she wasn’t as young as her appearance might suggest.

 “You dare to give me food given by someone on Bai Qingqing’s side?” Jean’s voice rose a pitch, revealing a hint of fury.

 The ape king hurriedly said, “I’ve asked. The females all said this is very delicious. Try it.”

 Jean looked over critically.

 The ape king said, “I’ve been blowing upon it on the way back, it shouldn’t be scalding now.”

 Jean threw the ape king a look of approval, before reaching out a hand elegantly and bringing a mouthful into her mouth.

 Then, another mouthful, followed by another one.

 It was only until she finished every last drop of the soup did Jean suddenly act up and slam the stone bowl on the floor.

 With a bang, the tough stone bowl rolled far away on the ground.

 “What happened to dominating over the City of Beastmen? I want a green crystal. I’ll give you another year’s time. If you still fail to get the green crystal, don’t dream of becoming my spouse!”

 The ape king lowered his head and swore solemnly. “I will definitely succeed!”