The Villainess Cannot Escape — Five Beast Husbands Chase Her Madly-Chapter 148: Competing for Favor: Whose Cuisine Is the Best?
"Get out of the way! Let me lie next to her!"
Ying Jiuyao pinned Night Abyss’s shoulder with a tiger claw, his tail lashing out to scatter the dragon mist surging toward him.
Night Abyss narrowed his eyes. The black dragon mist suddenly morphed into a Spiritual Snake and coiled around the Big Cat.
"Why should I? You stole my spot on watch last time. There’s no way it’s your turn again!"
"Don’t wake Anan!"
Lan Cangming’s brow furrowed. A ripple of water formed in his palm and surged outward, forcing the two brawling beasts apart.
Seizing the opportunity, Fei Zhao vaulted over the carved headboard, his fiery red tail instantly wrapping around Su An’an’s ankle.
"You sly fox! Let go!"
Ying Jiuyao pounced, grabbing Fei Zhao’s tail and yanking him off the bed. "Anan is mine!"
As the four of them were locked in a chaotic struggle, a tearful whimper drifted from the bed. "Don’t... don’t go!"
Su An’an subconsciously curled into a small ball, her eyelashes casting trembling shadows beneath her eyes.
The Four Great Beast Husbands froze in place, their hearts clenching as if seized by a sharp claw.
Ying Jiuyao gingerly approached, nuzzling his cheek against the back of her hand.
Night Abyss’s pale fingertips gently smoothed her furrowed brow.
Lan Cangming gently tucked her stray hairs aside.
Fei Zhao drooped his ears, his tail gently patting her calf as if he were soothing a frightened cub.
The grand drama of vying for affection instantly transformed into a scene of coaxing her back to sleep.
Ying Jiuyao settled protectively by Su An’an’s side, his tail wrapped tightly around her waist and his tiger eyes scanning their surroundings with vigilance.
Night Abyss’s black dragon mist solidified, draping over her like a blanket as he leaned against the headboard.
Lan Cangming sat quietly on the edge of the bed, the hem of his uniform draping down, ready to respond to any emergency.
Fei Zhao curled up resignedly at the foot of the bed, his tail remaining entwined with Su An’an’s ankle.
As the moonlight deepened, only the sound of steady, interwoven breaths filled the bedroom.
Their guard tonight was but a microcosm of the countless days and nights to come.
And no matter how much darkness and danger lay ahead, they would be like a steel fortress, protecting Su An’an in the softest, safest place.
Morning sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, spilling into the room.
Su An’an’s eyelashes fluttered. As she slowly opened her eyes, her blurry vision was met by four intense gazes.
"You’re awake?"
Ying Jiuyao reached out to smooth her messy hair, but Fei Zhao beat him to it, his fiery red tail gently sweeping across her ankle.
"Anan, you slept so soundly. Even your sleep-talking was incredibly sweet."
The Big Cat gritted his teeth in anger, slapping Fei Zhao’s tail away with his claws before striding into the bathroom, not forgetting to shoot the fox a glare on his way.
Night Abyss seized the moment to unfold a dress. It was a long, pink gown embroidered with crystals that shimmered beautifully.
Meanwhile, Lan Cangming held up a pair of high heels studded with pink pearls.
The two beasts held their spoils, looking at Su An’an with anticipation.
"Anan, I’ve already squeezed the toothpaste for you!"
The Big Cat emerged from the bathroom, looking smug and holding a fluffy pink face towel in his claws.
Surrounded by them, Su An’an was both amused and exasperated. She leaped nimbly out of bed.
"I don’t need you all waiting on me hand and foot. Go on, get busy! I can handle this myself."
She dashed into the washroom like a gust of wind, leaving the four of them staring at each other. The faint sound of bickering could still be heard from within.
By the time Su An’an emerged, looking sharp and heroic in a brand-new combat uniform, the breakfast on the table was a magical duel between a "Culinary Disaster Showcase" and "A Taste of Miracles."
Ying Jiuyao’s heart-shaped, tiger-striped egg was burnt to a glossy black. Its surface was a crosshatch of scorch marks, looking like a meteorite struck by lightning, and it stubbornly emitted wisps of acrid smoke.
On Fei Zhao’s cake, the smiley fox face drawn in frosting was so distorted it looked like it had just lost a battle of expressions. One ear was askew, its eyes were lopsided, and a strange curve hung at the corner of its mouth.
Lan Cangming’s seafood rice porridge was even more spectacular. Bubbles gurgled to the surface, emitting a faint blue glow, resembling a witch’s cauldron bubbling with a potion about to be cast.
Only Night Abyss’s grilled steak stood out from the rest. Sizzling with fat, the surface of the meat had a perfect, caramelized sheen.
Its rich aroma was tantalizing, making it seem like a culinary savior in the midst of a disaster zone.
Four pairs of beastly eyes locked onto Su An’an in unison.
Ying Jiuyao’s tail nervously curled into a fur ball.
Fei Zhao’s ears perked straight up.
Beneath Lan Cangming’s elegant posture, his muscles were tense.
Night Abyss, however, calmly polished his steak knife.
’Help me! Don’t Big Cat, Big Fish, and the fox have any self-awareness?’
Little Pink couldn’t resist complaining in Su An’an’s sea of consciousness.
’Your Highness, if you don’t want to end up in a medical pod, just pick Night Abyss’s steak!’
Su An’an decisively picked up her knife and fork. The moment the blade sliced into the steak, tender juices slowly oozed out.
A victorious smile touched Night Abyss’s lips.
Ying Jiuyao dejectedly prodded his charred tiger-striped egg.
Fei Zhao miserably poked at his misshapen cake.
Lan Cangming silently pulled his strangely bubbling seafood porridge back toward himself.
"Stop looking so glum." Su An’an took a large bite of steak and asked, "So, how are the battle plans coming along?"
"Foolproof!"
Ying Jiuyao shoved a large mouthful of the charred tiger-striped egg into his mouth, the bitter taste making his brow furrow.
"The Black Bull Clan has assembled. They’re ready to move out at any time."
Fei Zhao ate his cake, which was so sweet it made his tail tremble.
After drinking his seafood porridge, Lan Cangming was left speechless.
Seeing their pathetic states, Night Abyss couldn’t help but smirk before saying to Su An’an,
"The fox and I will take a separate route. We’ll rendezvous with you at the underground Alchemy Room."
"Okay. Let’s move out!"
Su An’an finished her steak in a few quick bites and stood up, heading for the main square of the Wasted Female quarters.
Lan Cangming and Ying Jiuyao followed close behind.
Night Abyss and Fei Zhao cast a reluctant look at her retreating back before turning toward a side exit.
「In the main square of the Wasted Female quarters.」
Warriors of the Black Bull Clan stood in neat formations like a forest of steel, clad in beast-hide armor and holding bone spears that glinted coldly. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
The moment Su An’an appeared, a thousand spears struck shields in unison, the resulting roar booming like rolling thunder.
"Your Highness, the Black Bull Clan has fully assembled."
Hosen approached, dressed in beast-hide armor. The fourteen-year-old Beastman radiated a solemn, martial aura.
"Where is your clan chief? And Xueli?"
Su An’an scanned the ranks of Black Bull Clan Warriors.
A dense sea of horns glinted coldly under the sun, but she saw no female figures among them.
"Does Your Highness have business with them?"
An unnatural flicker crossed Hosen’s eyes, and he tightened his grip on the Bone Knife at his waist.
"The High Priest said the females should stay behind to prepare medicine for the wounded. The clan chief has already taken Xueli and the other females of the clan to make bandages."
"Have them come here."
Su An’an’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an authority that could not be questioned.
Hosen opened his mouth to speak but ultimately just lowered his head.
A few moments later, the High Priest of the Cow Clan approached, her back hunched. Her horns, wrapped in ancient gems, were etched with the marks of time.
Niu Biqi followed behind her with a look of resignation.
Although she desperately wanted to join the battle, she couldn’t overcome the High Priest’s stubbornness.
Niu Xueli looked at Su An’an guiltily. More than twenty female Beastmen hid timidly behind the High Priest.
"Your Highness, the females of the Black Bull Clan have always been responsible only for bearing children and handling logistics."
The High Priest’s murky eyes shifted as she spoke in a hoarse voice, "Sending them onto the battlefield goes against the traditions of our ancestors."
"So you only want to hide behind the males and wait to be protected?"
Su An’an stepped forward, her black combat boots grinding against the gravel.
"The Black Star Dark Force is preying on you natives. When all the male beasts have fallen, how will you females, hiding in the rear, survive?"
