LSLFBW: Chapter 127

The wrestling circle was quickly drawn.

As the tribe members cheered, the first horned beastman to challenge Ma Ling entered the arena.

This wrestling competition was different from the life-or-death challengers between horned beastmen. The fact that it was conducted in human form indicated that the competition wasn’t very lethal.

In particular, on an occasion like today, entertainment was the main focus. This explained why everyone was watching so enthusiastically.

However, all of this was based on the premise that neither of the competitors was injured. Qi Bai said with some concern, “Shouldn’t we stop Ma Ling? If his leg is injured again, it might not heal so easily.”

Lang Ze shook his head. “He can win.”

The two of them were talking when the match in the arena had already begun.

Ma Ling was fighting a horned beastman from the Horse Tribe.

He slammed his fists together heavily, roared and charged towards Ma Ling.

The horned beastman was very fast and the two bodies collided violently. Cheers erupted from the spectators when they saw the collision.

Qi Bai also clapped and cheered along with everyone else.

Ma Ling crouched slightly, catching the horned beastman’s attack without moving an inch.

Due to his leg injury, Ma Ling couldn’t change his position frequently. He seized this opportunity, firmly fixing the horned beastman in place, not giving him another chance to escape.

The beastman from the Horse Tribe realized he was no match for his opponent and attempted to trip Ma Ling by hooking his right leg.

Ma Ling had been waiting for this moment. The moment the other beastman’s foot left the ground, Ma Ling twisted his upper body, slamming the beastman heavily to the ground.

“Roar!”

The crowd outside the circle waved their hands excitedly, even more so than the two contestants themselves.

Seeing the beastman’s face flushed red, Xi Zhou stepped forward and helped Ma Ling up.

“Ma Ling wins!” Tun Quan shouted immediately.

“Victory!”

Qi Bai’s eyes shone as he turned excitedly to Lang Ze. “He won! He really won! Lang Ze, you were right!”

Lang Ze’s lips curled up into a smile as he spoke.

The surrounding noise was too loud for Qi Bai to hear clearly. He brought his ear close to Lang Ze’s. “What did you say?”

“Ma Ling wants to protect his sub-beastman so he must win.”

Qi Bai nodded vigorously., “That’s right!”

Wasn’t this the power of love? He understood, he understood.

After that, Ma Ling accepted challenges from two more horned beastmen.

It was clear that due to his injury, Ma Ling hadn’t exerted his full strength and everyone was paying close attention to his tactics. Facing the last horned beastman from the Xiaoniu Tribe, Ma Ling won with great difficulty.

“Ma Ling wins!”

Once Tun Quan shouted about Ma Ling’s victory, an even stronger cheer erupted from the crowd.

This time, it wasn’t Xi Zhou and Tun Quan, who were acting as temporary referees, who stepped forward to separate the two. It was She Li, who had been standing outside the circle.

As everyone cheered, She Li walked to the center of the arena, and pulled the panting Ma Ling up. In front of everyone, she took the flower wreath from her head and placed it on Ma Ling’s head.

“Ma Ling!”

”She Li!”

Everyone was excited by this scene except for a few horned beastmen who hadn’t won over their desired sub-beastman and were somewhat disappointed.

She Li had shown everyone that she had found a partner this year and that person was still Ma Ling.

Ma Ling excitedly hugged She Li and walked out of the wrestling ring with everyone’s blessings.

There was such a happy start and the matches in the arena never stopped.

Of course, the subsequent matches weren’t like the previous ones where the horned beastmen had a clear target.

There were many young horned beastmen who stepped on the field simply to let the surrounding sub-beastmen see their strong physiques. This laid the groundwork for courtship in the next two days.

Due to this, the matches became much more entertaining beyond the fight itself.

Qi Bai also discovered the advantage of watching the wrestling matches with Lang Ze. Lang Ze would explain the strength of the two wrestlers in detail. If Qi Bai asked, he could know the result of the fight in advance.

Thanks to having Lang Ze as a cheat, Qi Bai won quite a few meat strips from Shu Lin and Yang Ling that afternoon.

These meat strips were originally placed on the wooden table for everyone to eat as they pleased, but that didn’t matter. As long as there were wins and losses, a few people could be wildly happy for a long time.

It wasn’t until sunset that the crowd around the wrestling arena dispersed.

Everyone cleaned up the large wooden table in the square. Actually, there wasn’t much to clean up as all the food brought out that day had been eaten. They just needed to extinguish the open flames.

Qi Bai covered the earthenware pot with a large wooden board. The braised meat stall next to the large wooden table didn’t need to be taken down. In any case, the braising liquid in the pot wouldn’t spoil. Tomorrow, he just needed to bring some freshly blanched beef offal.

Qi Bai and Lang Ze went home together. After parting at the stone steps, Qi Bai first became busy feeding and changing the water for the ducks and Chuan Chuan. Then he happily returned to the cave, opened several sealed earthenware jars sealed with animal hides and gently fanned them with his hand.

The faint aroma of wine drifted towards him, stronger than the smell he experienced when he opened the wine jars a few days ago.

These jars in Qi Bai’s cabinet were fruit wines he specially brewed for the mating day. After all, enjoying a bit of wine together on days when there was no work sounded quite pleasant.

The ingredients for the wine were several common berries from the Black Mountain.

The berries were washed clean, mashed together with the peel and pulp into a paste and fermented in the earthenware jars.

He just had to ensure that the temperature and ventilation were maintained at the very beginning of the brewing process, allowing the yeast on the berry skins to fully ferment. Then the initially slightly sour juice would gradually transform into a fragrant and mellow wine.

This was prepared for the mating season, so the wine had only been brewing for around twenty days. Qi Bai was already very satisfied with the aroma.

Qi Bai pulled out a bamboo cup, randomly selected a jar of wine and poured a small cup.

The jar he brought out was likely made from a type of blue berry. The liquid in the bamboo cup was a somewhat thin, bluish-purple liquid.

Qi Bai took a small sip and the aroma of berries immediately filled his mouth.

This fruit wine carried the natural fragrance of berries. What surprised Qi Bai even more was that despite the simple processing, the original tartness of the berries was significantly reduced.

Qi Bai’s eyes lit up. Delicious!

He rarely drank alcohol in his previous life and had never known that fruit wine could taste so good.

What he tasted was less like wine and more like a fruity drink with a hint of alcohol.

Qi Bai drank another small cup. Then he smacked his lips together as he realized he couldn’t drink alone.

Qi Bai picked up the wine jar, intending to go next door to find Lang Ze. Then as soon as he stepped outside, he saw the person he was looking for lingering at the entrance of his cave.

Qi Bai said, “Let’s have a drink.”

Lang Ze told him at the same time, “I want to take you somewhere.”

Qi Bai blinked as he shook the wine jar in his hand. “Where do you want to go? Can we drink there?”

To Qi Bai’s surprise, Lang Ze went straight back to his cave and took out his saddle.

Qi Bai stared as Lang Ze transformed into his beast form and put the saddle on. He couldn’t help wondering where Lang Ze was taking him. Judging from his posture, the place probably wasn’t very close to the tribe.

Qi Bai thought for a moment before saying, “This wine jar isn’t convenient to take out. Wait a moment.”

Qi Bai returned to the cave, poured the wine from the jar into two bamboo tubes and tightly sealed it with animal hide.

He placed the filled bamboo tubes into the bamboo basket beside the white wolf’s neck. Then he transformed into his beast form and jumped in.

“Meow~”

After the command from the little snow leopard, the giant wolf leaped high from the stone platform and jumped directly into the forest beside the cave.

The little snow leopard peeked out from the bamboo basket. The familiar scenery receded little by little as the giant wolf led him into the bamboo forest.

This was Qi Bai’s first time crossing the bamboo forest on the edge of the tribe. It was only at this time that he realized how vast this bamboo forest was.

Scattered moonlight fell through the forest as the white wolf streaked across the ground like a streak of light, leaving only a trail of fine snowflakes.

Lang Ze ran for hours. Just as Qi Bai was beginning to feel drowsy, Lang Ze suddenly slowed down.

The little snow leopard pushed open the lid of the bamboo basket, his previously half-closed eyes widening instantly.

Before him was a sea of flowers.

Tiny yellow flowers grew like scattered stars on the vast white snowfield, gazing at the bright moon in the sky.

Qi Bai jumped out of the basket, the cold outside making him shiver involuntarily.

The little snow leopard stretched his limbs, his short legs moving swiftly across the snow.

He reached the edge of the flower field and suddenly leaped up, landing with a small, bell-like yellow flower in his mouth.

A breeze blew and the flowers swayed gently in the wind. Qi Bai seemed to hear a clear, melodious sound like wind chimes.

It was the wind spirit flower.

A tall figure crouched down beside the little snow leopard.

Lang Ze plucked a few wind spirit flowers. He recalled the appearance from his memories and a bouquet started to slowly take shape in his hand.

Unlike the other members of the tribe who prepared flowers in advance, Lang Ze planned to pick the freshest bouquet for Qi Bai during the mating season.

However, plans didn’t always go as expected.

The words of the female horned beastman during the day immediately alerted Lang Ze.

He had no doubt that someone would secretly go to find Qi Bai at night. After all, it was mating season and even the most serious person could act rashly at this time.

Lang Ze thought that he was included among these impulsive people.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have waited in front of Qi Bai’s cave and brought him out of the tribe together.

No matter what, he would not leave Qi Bai’s side for the three days of mating season.

Once Lang Ze finished the bouquet, he turned around and found that Qi Bai hadn’t transformed back into a human. The white snow leopard was rolling in the snow, already blending into the snow.

Lang Ze chuckled and dragged him out, patting the snowflakes off him. “Why did you get yourself all messed up like this?”

The little snow leopard transformed back into a human, holding the bouquet Lang Ze offered him in one hand and his animal skin coat in the other. He muttered, “So many wind spirit flowers! Lang Ze, there are so many wind spirit flowers! Let’s quickly gather them up and take them all back to the tribe to dry them. Then we will have very fragrant animal skins.”

“Yes, okay.” Lang Ze agreed while sniffing the air. “You smell good too.” However, it wasn’t the scent of the wind spirit flowers.

Qi Bai clapped his hands. “That’s right, it is wine! Quick, we need to drink!” Then he turned around and ran back to the bamboo basket.

The bouquet Lang Ze placed in Qi Bai’s hand fell onto the snow. Before he could understand Qi Bai’s meaning, Qi Bai had already run back with two large bamboo tubes.

The sudden arrival of winter allowed the resilient wind spirit flower to see snow for the first time, creating the stunning scene of a sea of flowers amidst the snow.

It was no wonder why the ancient people loved to drink and compose poetry under the moon.

Facing the bright moonlight, sitting among the flowers, Qi Bai’s previously drowsy mind cleared up considerably.

Qi Bai shoved a bamboo tube into Lang Ze’s hand and boldly peeled off the animal hide covering it. “Cheers!”

Lang Ze passive clinked glasses with Qi Bai, suddenly understanding the meaning of ‘cheers.’ Then he followed Qi Bai’s lead and took a large gulp.

After the first sip, Lang Ze discovered that apart from a slight stinging sensation at first, the wine was surprisingly sweet. This subtle fragrance was exactly the same as the aroma on Qi Bai’s lips.

Qi Bai’s eyes shone as he leaned closer to Lang Ze. “Is it good?”

Lang Ze nodded. “It is good.”

Qi Bai immediately beamed. “In my hometown, people drink when they’re happy.”

He paused before laughing. “They also drink when they are sad. It seems that everyone always finds a reason to drink.”

Lang Ze looked at the bamboo tube in his hand and shook his head. “The wine is very good, but the other food you make is even better.”

Qi Bai gave him a mysterious smile. “That’s because my wine hasn’t fully taken effect yet. Once we plant barley next year, I’ll make some grain wine. That will be even more potent.”

As they talked, Qi Bai unknowingly drank a bit more than half the wine in the bamboo tube.

He touched his slightly flushed cheeks before turning to Lang Ze. “I’ll go pick the wind spirit flowers first. They might wither in a few days… Hey, Lang Ze, your ears?”

The two white wolf ears twitched slightly as if responding to Qi Bai’s words.

Seeing Lang Ze’s somewhat dazed expression, Qi Bai looked at the bamboo tube in Lang Ze’s hand and found it completely empty.

Lang Ze… could he be drunk?

Qi Bai rubbed his hands together, a mischievous thought creeping into his mind.

Last time on the trading day, Qi Bai had wondered if Lang Ze had a pair of human ears beneath his beast ears.

He had been too embarrassed to ask directly, but now he got his chance.

Qi Bai took advantage of Lang Ze’s inattention and bent down slightly, his hands covering the twitching wolf ears. Just as his hands were about to move downwards, Lang Ze suddenly grabbed his waist.

By the time Qi Bai reacted, Lang Ze had placed a large hand under his head and he was lying on his back in the snow.

Qi Bai swallowed nervously, a bit uneasy about the position.

Lang Ze said in a slightly aggrieved voice, “Don’t you like my flowers?”

Qi Bai had rarely heard Lang Ze speak in such a tone and his heart inexplicably pounded. “What… what flowers?”

Lang Ze buried his head deeply in Qi Bai’s neck. “The flowers I gave you. You threw them on the ground.”

Qi Bai caught a glimpse of the neatly tied bouquet beside him and suddenly realized something. He hadn’t thought about it that way since he had only received feathers and animal bones today.

“Um…” He opened his mouth, but a whimper suddenly escaped his throat.

Qi Bai’s whole body turned red. It was because just as he turned his head, Lang Ze gently bit his ear, his hot breath spraying against it. “Bai, when will you become an adult?”

“I…” Qi Bai opened his mouth only to realize that his throat was tight. “Adult… why do you want me to be an adult?”

Qi Bai held his breath. He felt that Lang Ze’s words had made the temperature suddenly rise around him, giving him the illusion of drowning.

Lang Ze propped himself up, his gaze focused. “After you grow up, be my partner.”

Qi Bai’s mind went blank as he looked at the lips Lang Ze had just used to bite his ear. However, his hands seemed to be bewitched as they subconsciously pressed Lang Ze’s neck down.

It was until their lips were pressed tightly together…

TL: Advance chapters are now available on Patreon.