Park Su, tired from the day's journey, was glad to hear they wouldn't need to travel further. Since Ge Qing had assessed the other team as having no ill intentions and they were from Base S, there was no need for extra effort. He agreed, instructing Ge Qing and Lu Shang to find several unoccupied houses close to each other for their rest.
As team leaders and the strongest fighters, Park Su and Xu Nuo took up residence in the house closest to the other convoy, fulfilling their protective duties.
Shi Lei and the others were touched by this choice. In their past experiences, even if the leaders were stronger, few were as considerate as Park Su and Xu Nuo. Most were at best peak second-tier ability users, often with an air of superiority, not willing to take on the dangers themselves but rather pushing those responsibilities onto their subordinates.
In a base, low-tier ability users like them were plentiful, so even if one team didn't want them, another would. When you're not indispensable, you can't afford to be assertive, leading to obedience out of necessity and trying to minimize personal risk.
The care shown by Park Su and Xu Nuo was something they hadn't experienced in a long time, and though they didn't say it aloud, they felt grateful, reinforcing their belief that following Lu Xia to join these leaders was a wise choice.
However, Park Su and Xu Nuo themselves didn't feel they had done anything particularly noteworthy. That evening, once back in their room, Xu Nuo eagerly cuddled up with Park Su. He had been holding back all day with people around, knowing Park Su was shy and would be mortified by any overt action. With this rare moment alone, Xu Nuo wanted to express his feelings in every possible way, emphasizing, "I want you, I really want you!"
Park Su was nearly persuaded by Xu Nuo's persistence but remembered the heavy hunting tasks ahead. If he indulged now, he might not be able to get out of bed, losing both dignity and efficiency. In a moment of clarity, he pushed Xu Nuo's head away from his shoulder, saying, "Not now, wait until we're back after this mission is over."
Xu Nuo's eyes lit up at these words. He knew Park Su was soft-hearted, which is why he employed this gentle persuasion. He hadn't expected Park Su to agree so soon, and his joy was beyond words.
He immediately turned Park Su to face him, "So, what you just said means you've agreed?"
After saying that, Park Su was already embarrassed, and Xu Nuo's further questioning only made it worse. Even as a man, discussing such matters openly was awkward, especially since he believed there was no chance of him being on top with Xu Nuo. His face flushed red as he pushed Xu Nuo away, heading towards the kitchen, "If you didn't hear it, then forget I said anything. I'm kind of regretting that impulsive moment anyway."
Xu Nuo wasn't about to let such a promise slip away. He quickly chased after him, grabbing him with a joyful expression, "That won't do. Words spoken can't be taken back like water spilled. I heard you, and I'll remember it."
He then let go, rolling up his sleeves, "Today, I'm happy, so I'll cook for you. You just rest!"
Park Su had to admit, Xu Nuo looked very masculine like this, which indeed attracted him. Usually, he'd accept with delight and sneak a peek at his lover. But right now, still embarrassed from the earlier conversation, he didn't want to be in such close quarters with Xu Nuo. So, he tossed the supplies onto the table, "Alright, I'll wait for your culinary display!" and turned to leave.
Watching Park Su leave without looking back, Xu Nuo laughed, "I've noticed you're not as afraid of me anymore. I'm technically your master; can't you show a bit more respect?"
Park Su turned back with a smile, "Okay, I'll respect you. But as my master, isn't it inappropriate to get involved with your student? Maybe we should wait until after I've graduated to talk about what I said earlier?"
Xu Nuo immediately turned serious, "I feel like every second I want to make you mine. Even waiting until the end of this mission is torture. I regret scheduling so many days for this task! Now you want me to wait until you graduate? At your pace, that might take decades, and I plan to teach you Daoism for a lifetime. Does that mean I'll become the first man in history to die of frustration from his wife? Wouldn't that be too shameful, too pitiful?"
Park Su couldn't help but laugh at his reaction. Since they officially became lovers, Xu Nuo seemed to have lost that aloof master-like quality, becoming more shameless in front of him. But this side of Xu Nuo, only shown to him, was a sign of their growing closeness.
Looking at Xu Nuo's playful, roguish demeanor, Park Su sighed in resignation, "If that's the case, stop complaining. You're acting like you've gained something but still want more."
Xu Nuo had only been teasing, enjoying the sight of Park Su blushing with embarrassment; it was adorable. But he knew when to stop, not wanting to push his luck and upset Park Su. He quietly went to cook.
Within thirty minutes, he brought two dishes and two bowls of congee to the table, looking very domestic as he gently said to Park Su, "Dinner's ready, my lady, come inspect the results."
Park Su had already been salivating from the aroma. Hearing that dinner was ready, he eagerly sat down. Xu Nuo's cooking was far superior to his own, and the feeling of eating such food in the apocalypse, with his beloved by his side without worrying about external threats, was overwhelming. However, there's always someone who doesn't know when to disturb their peace.
When they heard the knock, both Xu Nuo and Park Su frowned. Honestly, they didn't want to deal with anyone from outside. However, Xu Nuo used his mental power to scan and found that it wasn't someone from their convoy but from the other one, and judging by the demeanor, it was likely someone significant, possibly even a leader. Under these circumstances, they had to respond.
If they didn't, it might offend the other party, leading to unnecessary conflict, which wouldn't be good, especially since this was Xu Nuo's first time leading such a large group of lower-tier ability users. He had to take responsibility for them. If it were just the two of them, Xu Nuo wouldn't mind giving the visitor a cold shoulder, but his expression remained stern as he opened the door.
When Xu Nuo's face was serious, he exuded an aura of cold, imposing authority that had intimidated many before. After opening the door, he merely glanced at the two people standing there and asked coldly, "What business do you have visiting so late?"
Cheng Mingxu was taken aback by the other's attitude. As the second son of one of the rulers of Base S, he was used to people currying favor with him, not receiving such a reception. However, he sensed right away that this person was not to be underestimated since he couldn't gauge his ability level, indicating he might be stronger than him.
Cheng Mingxu's visit was initially just to show courtesy, considering they were sharing the village and were from the same base. More importantly, the two who had communicated with them earlier were clearly third-tier ability users, yet they claimed not to be the leaders, which piqued his curiosity about the real leaders of this convoy. If someone could command such respect from two third-tier ability users, what kind of person must he be? And if he was as powerful as he seemed, Cheng Mingxu wanted to recruit him to bolster his position against his elder brother.
However, he hadn't expected such unfriendliness. Still, this only increased his desire to win over this talent. He was patient with Xu Nuo's rudeness, stopping his subordinate from reacting and extending a hand with a friendly smile, "Hello, I'm the leader of the neighboring convoy and the second son of one of the rulers at Base S. My name is—" Before he could finish, he was interrupted as another man walked up from behind Xu Nuo. Due to Xu Nuo's position, Cheng Mingxu couldn't see this man's face, nor could Park Su see Cheng Mingxu.
But knowing that Xu Nuo would personally greet someone, it must be a high-ranking member of the other convoy. It would be impolite to leave them standing outside, so Park Su invited them in, saying, "Xu Nuo, who's outside? If it's a guest, let them come in to talk."