Chapter 26:The Warmth of the Patriarch

“Ugh, I can’t hold any more! No more, please!”

Half an hour later, following the first snake’s “bribe,” more spirit snakes mimicked it, eagerly offering Su Qi their spirit snake fruits. Her arms overflowed, fruits threatening to spill.

Though she knew the fruits were valuable, boosting ability EXP, Su Qi, as a dutiful Crisp Wife, couldn’t bear to waste what might be the snakes’ food. Shaking her fruit-laden chest to signal “no more,” she carefully descended the tree, avoiding the snakes, to rejoin the Cangyou Wildcat Team waiting below.

Seeing Su Qi leap down with a pile of fruits, An Xiao Ling rushed forward. “Su-jie, you’re amazing! So many fruits, and the snakes didn’t hurt you! Did you use your ability?”

Under the team’s curious gazes, Su Qi hesitated. Explaining Crisp Wife’s Sweetness felt too complicated—neither “charm” nor “affinity” quite fit.

Sensing her discomfort, Da Shan coughed, diverting attention. “Xiao Ling, it’s Boss Su’s first time in the Ruins. She might not fully understand her ability yet. We can verify it later.” He paused, then continued, “But based on her agile moves and that haul of fruits, I’d say Boss Su passed the interview!”

Lin Xue, An Xiao Ling, Wei Mian, and Haozi clapped in agreement, welcoming their new member.

Clap clap clap~

But the applause startled the snakes watching Su Qi from the trees, mistaking it for an attack. They hissed, some slithering down menacingly.

Seeing their reaction and her overflowing fruits, Su Qi had an idea. She stepped toward Lin Xue, who’d stopped clapping. In the snakes’ faint purple glow, she thought she caught a fleeting look of regret on Lin Xue’s face.

Before she could confirm, Lin Xue flashed a bright smile, tilting her head playfully. “Wow, Boss Su, so touched you want a hug? Come here!”

Su Qi sidestepped the exaggerated embrace with a slip of her black shoes. “Lin Xue-jie, can I give the packed bentos to these little guys? They gave me so many fruits; I should repay them. If you all like, I’ll make new bentos when we’re back.”

The team froze, stunned. In their adventuring experience, humans and Ruins creatures were typically adversaries. Feeding bentos to spirit beasts sounded absurd.

But seeing Su Qi’s earnest face and her soothing “housewife” aura, recalling her harmony with the snakes, they softened. Perhaps this was why the snakes adored her.

Lin Xue’s ring flashed, summoning the dozen packed bento boxes onto the ground. Su Qi, after Lin Xue stored the fruits, leapt back onto the tree with the bentos.

Opening them, a rich aroma wafted out. The snakes, used to fruits and plants, hesitated curiously. Considering their vegetarian diet, Su Qi offered a stir-fried lotus root slice to one snake.

Seasoned lightly with chili for color, the crisp, fresh slice tempted the snake. After a moment’s hesitation, it bit.

Its slit pupils widened, body quivering with delight, tail thrashing as it coiled tighter around the branch. Encouraged, other snakes tried the vegetarian dishes and rice, ignoring the meaty shrimp and ribs.

Pleased by their joy, Su Qi hopped down and left the purple forest with the team. She wasn’t worried about the snakes’ stomachs—her Crisp Wife ability ensured healthy food. Past experiments, like using questionable ingredients or feeding sick animals, showed her bentos purged impurities, leaving cats and dogs energized without issues.

Unbeknownst to Su Qi, as they left, a tiny figure emerged from a shadowy tree hollow. About the size of a three-year-old human, it had long gray ears and a dirt-smudged face from digging. Its large, wary eyes scanned for humans.

After an hour, certain they wouldn’t return, it crept toward an untouched bento box filled with meat dishes. Its muddy paw grabbed a glossy braised rib, sniffing it cautiously.

Sniff sniff~

Its eyes lit up with delight. Biting into the rib, it savored the flavor and a comforting warmth within the dish. Tears welled in its eyes as it mumbled incoherently in a non-human tongue: “!@￥%&()*()—(Wuwuwu, it tastes like the clan leader’s warmth.)”