Epoch 27: We hope for your blessings.
Tang Tang almost had a heart attack when the items he purchased suddenly popped out in thin air. In his panic, he even accidentally pushed Hou out of bed.
"Huh? What happened, Tang Tang?" Hou asked in confusion.
"Ah."
'Ude, please say something in advance next time.'
[Sorry (｡ŏ﹏ŏ)]
"S-sorry Hou, I just remember that we need to inform your mother in advance so he won't need to cook for tonight," he hurriedly made up an excuse.
Hou also realizes this. "Oh! Then I will go there now," he said, standing up and kissing him before rushing outside.
Tang Tang makes sure that Hou is already gone before he takes out all the things he purchases under the blanket.
- Shampoo
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Body soap
- 2 Underwear
- 2 Promise Bracelets
All of these things cost him 146 points.
[Points: 14]
The shampoo and toothpaste were in a wooden tube that is usually used to store medicine. The handle of the toothbrush is made of wood and has soft bristles.
The body soap is like a blue transparent crystal, it looks different, but the smell is like what he used before, it is wrapped in a leaf. The underwear has two layers: the inner layer is made of soft fabric used on Earth, while the outer part is made of animal skin.
And lastly, the Promise bracelet, made from black leather, looks sturdy, and the colorless bead in the middle that was tied with a knot looks simple yet beautiful.
[I thought you really wanted the knife and pouch, Tang Tang.]
'I do, but then I remember that Hou and Xue helped me a lot from the first day I came into this world. I think it's time for me to give them a little gift.'
[Do you already love them, Tang Tang?]
'Hmmm, I like them. Yes, but love? I think it's still too early for that, and even I don't know if I'm capable of loving someone.'
[You might already love them; you just didn't realize it. ╮(. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)╭]
'Maybe,' he smiled.
While waiting for Hou and Xue, Tang Tang started cooking since all of the ingredients were already prepared by Hou. He is planning to cook three meat dishes and two vegetable dishes.
"Tang Tang."
Tang Tang looked at the person who called him and smiled. "Welcome back."
"Hmm." It's been three days, and Xue is still not used to Tang Tang's warm greetings every time he returns from hunting.
The beautiful smile of the sub-beast makes him flustered, it makes his heart beat faster, and a warm feeling will start to envelope him. The feeling that someone is always waiting for him to return feels nice, he really likes it.
Tang Tang saw that the basket Xue was carrying was full of large chunks of meat. "You hunt a lot today too. Take a rest first while I'm cooking. There is still food left in the pot. You can eat it if you're hungry."
Xue put the basket in the corner, walked towards the sub-beast, and pulled him into a hug.
Tang Tang smiled and hugged the man. "Tired?"
Xue is getting bolder every day, like a beast that was tied up, and as the days pass, its restraint is getting loose.
"Hmm." Xue hummed and nuzzled at the crook of his neck, smelling his scent.
Tang Tang just let him until they smelled a burned smell. Xue didn't have a choice but to let go.
"Where is Hou?" Xue asked.
"He goes to the tribe leader," Tang Tang tells Xue his plan to inform Lia and Bei about their plan of getting married and the old tradition on Earth he told Hou earlier.
And as Tang Tang expected, Xue reacted like Hou. They both thought that he missed his family, so he explained it again.
Even though Tang Tang asked Xue to rest, he still insists on helping him. They had already cooked all the meat dishes when Hou returned.
"What took you so long?" Tang Tang asked.
Hou grunts and complains to Tang Tang like a child. "Mother asked me to fetch water in the river. He also asked me to chop some wood and clean my tent. Tss, I already want to tell him that I don't need to clean it any more since I am already living with you, but I hold back because I know you want us to tell it to them together. I am excited to know what his reaction will be later."
Tang Tang chuckled and praised Hou for holding back. "I think it is good that you cleaned your tent."
"Why?"
"We might stay there," he replied.
Xue frowned and asked Tang Tang. "You don't want to live here?"
Tang Tang smiles as he slightly shakes his head. "That's not it. Actually, I really like this location. I like that it is a little far from the center of the tribe, that's why it is much quieter. There is also a lot of free space around."
Hou, who is a little bit slow, still looks confused, while Xue easily understands what Tang Tang meant. "You want to build our house here?"
"Yes. Unlike building tents, building a house is much more complicated. It may take weeks to build one," Tang Tang explained as he started to check the brick recipe he learned. "In addition, we still need to gather materials that we will be using."
"Tell me what materials we will be needing. I will look for them when we go hunting tomorrow," Xue, who already has an idea about the house Tang Tang mentioned, offered.
Tang Tang was already telling Xue the materials and tools they would need to make bricks when Hou exclaimed. "Oh! So we will demolish this tent, then we will be staying in my tent for a while? Isn't cleaning my tent today fate?"
Tang Tang laughs out loud because of Hou's antics and replies, "Yes."
They continued their discussion until the last vegetable dish was cooked. Hou and Xue helped him arrange the foods, cover them, and carry them to the tribe leader's tent.
Lia, who was so excited after Hou informed him that Tang Tang would cook for them tonight, was waiting outside. When he saw the three people walking, he rushed and took the big bowl Tang Tang was carrying.
"You cook a lot," Lia commented as he looked at the other four large plates Hou and Xue were carrying. "It's been a while since I ate your food. It tastes really delicious compared to the food I cook, even though I followed everything you teach step by step. Do you have a secret ingredient?"
Tang Tang chuckled. "There is no such thing," he taught Lia how he usually cooks, but because the seasonings and condiments were lacking, he made some adjustments and experimented with some alternatives to make it taste a little better.
The tent was brightly lit, and in the center, a dignified man was sitting quietly.
"They're here," Lia happily announced.
Bei just nodded and looked uninterested, but his eyes lingered on the food.
Lia already prepared the tableware before they arrived; that's why they immediately ate after thanking the Beast God.
The beasts are big eaters. Tang Tang knew this and cooked a lot, but it looks like it is not enough for the three. In just a few minutes, the food was fully consumed by them.
After eating, Lia served warm water to help with their digestion. Tang Tang and Lia chat about some happenings in the tribe, while Hou will chime in from time to time.
Lia knows that there is a reason why Tang Tang cooks for them, and he is waiting for him to open up.
Tang Tang is still the same, Xue is quite as usual and will only talk if asked, but Hou is acting restless and has been fidgeting since earlier.
Lia cannot ignore it anymore and asks, "Hou, do you want to say something?"
"Ah?" Hou was surprised when all of the attention focused on him. "Tang Tang," he called nervously to the sub-beast beside him.
Like a mischievous child caught in the act, Hou looks cute and adorable. Tang Tang chuckled and held Hou's hand.
Lia was surprised to see the two intimate gestures. He worriedly looked at Xue, who was also currently looking at Tang Tang.
Lia already has an idea of what is going on. He solemnly looked at Bei before he closed his eyes and heaved a sigh.
In the past few days, he has heard that Hou and Tang Tang are always seen together. There is also someone who saw Hou staying at Tang Tang's tent for the night.
Lia doesn't mind if Tang Tang wants to marry Hou, but he prefers if Tang Tang will marry Xue first.
"Tribe Leader and Clan Witch, we want to inform you that we plan to marry this incoming Eulogia," Tang Tang directly said. "We already talked about this for a long time, but because of the farm, we got delayed in informing you," he added.
"It's not a problem. We know that you have been doing a lot for the tribe," Bei said. His voice is heavy and full of authority, but his next sentence makes Hou smile wider. "I hope the Beast God will bless your union."
Tang Tang smiled and said, "Thank you."
Hou looked at his mother and called. His eyes are full of expectations. "Mother?"
Lia gently smiled and said, "I hope the two of you will be blessed by the Beast God, but—" He still wanted to ask Tang Tang to reconsider when he suddenly heard Xue's angry voice.
"Mother! Why are you only blessing the two of them?"
"Huh?" Lia was startled. Ever since Xue was a child he has always been calm and composed. This is the first time Xue raised his voice at him.
Based on Lia's reaction earlier, Tang Tang realizes that there may be a misunderstanding.
"Xue, I think it is just a misunderstanding," he softly said to coax the man, then he looked at Lia and Bei as he spoke. "Tribe Leader and Clan Witch, the three of us want to get married in this incoming Eulogia. We hope for your blessings."