Transmigrating to the BeastWorld,I Picked Up an Adorable BeastHusband!-Chapter 43: I will rub the ache away

The serving continued until every one of Ningning’s 70 portions was gone.

40 pieces had been claimed by the Snake tribe males, while the remaining 30 were designated for their guests.

Ayres stepped up and received two full portions, one for himself and one for Runa before the rest were distributed among the Bear tribe males.

Nala took one last bowl to deliver to Numa, leaving the rest of the crowd to stare at the empty stone pots with lingering hunger.

As the latecomers realized Ningning’s hearth was cold, they were forced to shuffle over to Dana’s side of the fire.

The atmosphere there was grim.

The males poked at the uncleaned, boiled fish with their fingers, the sandy tubers crunching unpleasantly between their teeth.

"Why is this so bitter?" one male complained loudly, tossing a piece of bone back into the dirt. "Dana, your food smells like the river mud. Why couldn’t you make it like Weijie’s mate?"

Ningning wiped her brow, leaning against a large rock for support. This was the opening she needed.

"I think the winner is obvious." Ningning said, her voice cutting through the murmurs of the crowd.

She looked directly at Dana, who was still stirring her cloudy pot with a white-knuckled grip. "There’s no use debating it anymore. A deal is a deal, Dana. You lost. From now on, you fulfill your end and keep your distance. I don’t want to see your face near me again."

Dana’s face contorted, her features twisting into a mask of pure venom. She slammed her ladle against the side of the pot, the metallic clang echoing through the clearing.

"You think a few herbs make you a god?" Dana hissed, her eyes darting to the males as if looking for backup. "You’re still just a soft, useless human who found some lucky weeds! You don’t belong here, and you’ll never be one of—"

"That’s enough, Dana."

The interruption came from a voice no one expected. Una stepped out from the shadows near the entrance of the cooking area, her expression unreadable but her posture firm.

The clearing went silent.

Everyone knew Una had been the favorite for Weijie’s bond before Ningning arrived.

They expected her to relish in Ningning’s failure, not stand in her defense.

"I have watched both sides tonight," Una said, her voice steady and carrying across the night air. "Ningning is the better cook. More than that, she is a better person. She spent her day saving a life and her night feeding this tribe while you spent yours spitting insults."

Una turned a cold gaze toward Dana.

"Retain whatever dignity you have left and accept that you have lost. You look pathetic."

The crowd of males erupted again, but this time it was in praise of Una’s honesty and Ningning’s skill. They didn’t care about the politics; they just knew their stomachs were happy.

Una walked closer to Ningning, offering a short, respectful nod. "Your cooking is something the women of this tribe should learn from. You know things we do not. I was wrong about you."

Ningning was stunned.

She hadn’t expected Una to be the one to bridge the gap. She looked at the other woman, seeing a quiet maturity in her eyes.

Una wasn’t doing this for the men or for Weijie; she was doing it because she recognized genuine value.

Weijie’s hand settled on the small of Ningning’s back, his thumb rubbing a soothing circle against her skin. He didn’t say anything, but the pride radiating from him was palpable.

"I’m ready to go." Ningning whispered, her eyelids drooping.

"Let’s go home." Weijie murmured, his voice thick with a tenderness he only ever showed her.

The cool night air bit at Ningning’s skin as they stepped away from the dying embers of the cooking fire. "I need to bathe." she murmured, leaning into Weijie’s side. "But the stream... it’ll be freezing."

She shivered just thinking about the icy mountain water. "Actually, never mind. If I touch cold water now, I’ll never get warm again. Let’s just go back."

Weijie nodded, his arm wrapping around her waist to take most of her weight as they climbed toward their cave.

The stone walls of their home felt welcoming, holding the lingering warmth of the day.

Once inside, Ningning made a show of rummaging through a stack of baskets in the corner, her back to Weijie.

With a quick mental command to the system, the stashed food materialized in her hands, still steaming as if it had just come off the fire.

Weijie watched her with narrowed, blue eyes. He had seen that her hands were empty a moment ago.

He knew the food hadn’t been in that basket. But as he looked at her tired shoulders, he chose silence.

His female was a mystery wrapped in a soft, human shell, and if she had the power to pull hot food from the air, he would simply be the shield that protected that secret.

Ningning sat on the edge of the stone chair or the flat block of stone she had made a sitting area, mixing the golden potato mash with the pale yams. She shredded five of the fish, the herb-infused aroma filling the small space.

"Open." Weijie commanded, holding a piece of flaky fish to her lips.

Weijie had snatched the bowl from hand immediately she finished preparing the food.

"I have hands, Weijie," she protested weakly, though her arms felt like lead.

"And I have a mate who has worked until she can barely stand. Open."

After a small struggle, Ningning succumbed to his pampering. But after a few bites, she realized he hadn’t taken a single bite. "Why aren’t you eating? Don’t you like it?"

Weijie froze. The sight of her pouting was more effective than any spear. His heart did a painful flip in his chest. "I... I will eat. Do not cry, my love." He quickly began to eat, his eyes widening as the flavors hit his tongue. It was better than anything he had ever imagined.

It was delicious.

"I love it. Thank you.." he ate with gusto now still not forgetting to feed Ningning as well.

Once the bowls were empty, Weijie took them to the water basin to wash, leaving Ningning to collapse onto the soft hides.

But he wasn’t done. He sat at her feet, his large, warm hands wrapping around her ankles.

"I will rub the ache away." he murmured.