abcnovels
Chapter 665: Speaking of Family
Chapter 665: Speaking of Family
Chapter 665: Speaking of Family
Things calmed down after the spider was defeated. The men scaled the cliffs to double check for more beasts but there were none. This place only had one apex predator which had just met its demise. They even checked the hidden lair but nothing of value.
The convoy relaxed and rested for the long journey that was still ahead. Some ate lunch while others slept. The afternoon sun was blazing hot but under the shade, the temperature was much cooler.
The Bei Clan started a fire to cook the spider. As residents of the desert, the aunts knew how to properly cook this beast. Small stone spiders were often sold in the markets. The giant variety was not bad either, a rare delicacy.
There wasn’t much edible meat in the spider’s body but its legs were good. Eight giant legs that were each as thick as a small tree trunk and longer than four or five meters, each one contained a lot of meat and was enough to feed the group.
“Elder Mo, please try it.”
Chen Wentian received a chunk of spider leg that was still in its shell. It had been split in half for easier cooking and eating. The flesh was white and still bubbling with hot oil. There was some kind of spice on top.
He tried it. It was fragrant, spicy, and sweet. It was surprisingly good and tasted like shrimp. The meat was tender, fatty, and very satisfying.
With his meal in hand, he sat down next to Bei Yingluo who was lying down on a soft bed under the shade. He checked her condition. She wasn’t in any danger. It would take her a good sleep to get back on her feet and a day at most to be able to fight again.
“You want a bite?” He asked.
Bei Yingluo looked up at him, “Mas… my lord… I’m not hungry.”
Since they were within earshot of the others, she reverted to a more ambiguous way of calling him. She often used it in the bedroom and it was funny hearing it in this situation.
“Oh? When did this Elder Mo become your lord?” He said in a low voice. “Are you trying to mess around behind your master’s back?”
She opened her mouth in protest. But before she could say anything, he stuffed her mouth with a piece of spider leg meat.
“Mmm…”
Her annoyed expression was quite cute. She dutifully chewed and swallowed. Afterward, he fed her some more.
“Don’t stress out too much about the fight. It was a tough opponent.” He said, “Were you able to feel anything? Any inkling of that crimson energy?”
She shook her head, “There was nothing. I really thought I finally had it. Do you think I have to face an even stronger opponent?”
“Maybe, maybe not. There should be plenty more opportunities in this wild desert. Eat up so you can recover quicker. This spider meat is quite good.”
Around them, the Bei Clan were enjoying their meal. Like Bei Yingluo who was being fed by Chen Wentian, the four aunts were receiving similar treatment from their partners who fed them juicy morsels or poured them tea. Sometimes, they argued about inane things. Other times, they even dared to share intimate moments without regard for those around them.
“You have an interesting family.” Chen Wentian said idly, “I never thought polyandry could be a thing. But looking at them, they all seem happy.”
Bei Yingluo nodded along, “It has worked for our clan for many generations. We are used to it.”
“The women are used to it but what about the men? You mentioned that during bad times, some clan members might not be able to find proper husbands. Now that things are good, will they be able to deal with suddenly having multiple? It seems like some of them aren’t content with two or even three. Your first aunt, especially.”
She laughed, “First aunt does have peculiar tastes. It is up to each woman to manage their household. But in general, conflicts are kept to a minimum through our vigorous rules on pregnancies. The mother has to treat all children equally and the fathers have to all help raise them. Also, the women must try their best to give each husband a child so that nobody will feel left out.”
“A child for each husband? Your first aunt will have to work hard!”
The two of them shared a laugh.
Chen Wentian took another bite of spider meat. Such a situation was really interesting to see as a bystander. It was something that he would have never been satisfied with. However, not everyone was lucky enough to have stumbled upon a heaven-defying soul art. All things considered, the Bei Clan was an attractive prospect for men that would otherwise have no hope for advancing their cultivation or having a family.
“Speaking of family,” Bei Yingluo said, “I’ve never heard you mention your family before. Where is your hometown? Are your parents still well?”
He shot her a look and frowned. He swept a wave of spiritual energy around them for privacy and then pinched her cheek.
“Ow…” She protested, “It was an honest question!”
“…” Chen Wentian sighed but didn’t say anything.
He thought about it for a while. He had always kept some things tightly guarded, even with his disciples. His past was one of them. It wasn’t that he was embarrassed about anything. He just felt that it was no longer relevant to his current life. He was a Spirit King already, walking the immortal path.
“There isn’t much to tell. My family was ordinary people with hardly any cultivation. My background was unremarkable. But those are events of the past. I have already left it all behind.”
She reached over and patted his arm, “I won’t pry if you don’t want to say. Each person has different experiences. For me and the Bei Clan, family is everything. Parents, ancestors, siblings, and children, we hold everyone dear to our hearts. Our family is our legacy and we will all fight for it.”
He smiled at her. Her words were always so comforting. She knew what to say and when, it was a special trait that none of his other disciples had.
“Then maybe I am also the same,” He said earnestly, “The past is the past but I have a new family now, my disciples and my sect. And just like the Bei Clan, I will fight for this legacy I have established.”
“That’s good.” She replied simply.
“Yes, that’s good.”
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