Chapter 385
Before the wave of bodies could crash into her, Yanai’s arm lashed out, wrapping securely around Nina’s waist and whisking her backward in a blur of motion.
In the same breath, her other mates surged forward, shoulders locking to form an impenetrable wall of muscle between Nina and the sea of approaching females.
“Who are you?” Nina asked, peering over the protective barrier, her eyes wide with bewilderment. “Why have you all come here so early p>
A pretty young female eagerly squeezed through the front of the crowd, her face flushed and her eyes shining with pure, unadulterated adoration.
“Lady Nina, my name is Lulu!” She clasped her hands tightly against her chest, practically vibrating with excitement. “I’ve heard everything you’ve achieved for the tribes. I admire you so much—I just had to come here hoping to meet you p>
Another female scrambled up right beside her, desperate not to be left out. “Me too! I… I really look up to you p>
Like a dam bursting, the rest of the crowd immediately chimed in, a chorus of high-pitched voices overlapping in a desperate bid for her attention.
“So do I p>
“Lady Nina, you’re incredible p>
“You’re the female I admire most in the whole world p>
Everyone tried to speak at once, pouring out a year’s worth of bottled-up praise. From that chaotic moment onward, Nina found herself utterly swallowed by a tidal wave of enthusiastic females, spent the entire day surrounded by the laughter and chatter of her new fan club.
Meanwhile, not far away, the city elders watched their own mates fawn over Nina with expressions of profound, quiet despair. In all their years of mating, none of their wives had ever shown them this much unbridled enthusiasm.
The previous night, Rin had unceremoniously dragged them all out of bed, informing them that they would be kneeling on some terrifying, spiky fruit called a durian as a collective apology.
The moment their mates learned the apology was meant for Nina, the dynamic had shifted instantly. Every single wife had agreed without a second thought.
Not only that, they had kicked their husbands out of their comfortable beds without hesitation, and early that morning, personally marched them to the City Lord’s Manor to begin their penance.
While the males suffered, the females had carefully dressed in their finest clothes, excitedly preparing for their audience with Nina.
Looking down at the brutal, jagged husks digging into their skin, the elders could only let out an endless sequence of heavy sighs.
Fortunately… misery truly loved company. When they caught sight of Setan and Yian grimacing right alongside them, the elders felt a tiny, comforting balm on their wounded pride. At least they weren’t the only ones losing their dignity today.
For Setan and Yian, seeing the high-and-mighty elders join the row brought an enormous wave of relief. The sheer volume of knees finally broke the back of the challenge; with so many extra bodies contributing to the cause, the daunting mountain of durians began to visibly shrink.
Three grueling days later, the final, spiky fortress was completely conquered.
The moment the punishment officially ended, Nina knelt down to inspect Setan’s raw, bruised knees, her hands glowing with gentle healing energy as she mended the broken skin herself.
Nearby, Yanai took charge of treating Yian’s injuries, his movements practiced and efficient.
As for the proud elders of Blazing Flame City, they were practically carried away by their chuckling families, limping heavily as they were carted off to seek treatment from the tribal shamans.
With the courtyard finally cleared, Nina returned to her lingering work. Yian was just about to stretch his stiff limbs and take his leave when Setan’s voice cut through the quiet.
“Father p>
Yian paused, turning around. “What is it p>
“Can you help me apply some medicine later p>
“What medicine p>
“The ointment for the frost-lightning wounds,” Setan replied, his tone perfectly flat and calm. “There are places across my back that I simply can’t reach p>
The deep, jagged injuries inflicted by the frost lightning were uniquely troublesome, healing at a frustratingly slower pace than ordinary flesh wounds.
Although most of Setan’s injuries had significantly improved, the deep tracks across his shoulder blades remained particularly stubborn.
The truth was, Nina had given him an extremely precious, rare healing salve. Not wanting to waste a single drop of it, Setan had strictly applied it to the areas he could easily see or the ones that throbbed the worst. The wounds hidden on his back had largely been neglected.
But after kneeling out in the damp courtyard for three consecutive days, those old injuries had begun to ache with a dull, persistent heat.
He fully expected his father to grab the jar. Instead—
Smack!
Yian brought the palm of his hand down hard against the back of his son’s head.
“What are you asking me for?” He stared at him, his face twisted into an expression of utter, deep-seated disappointment. “Go ask Nina p>
Setan blinked, rubbing his head, genuinely confused. Why would I trouble her over something this minor?” his expression remained perfectly righteous.
Yian smacked him a second time, looking ready to weep from sheer frustration at his son’s dense nature.
“Are you completely stupid?” he hissed, leaning in close. “Of course you should ask Nina! How else do you expect to close the distance between you two p>
At that exact moment, Yian finally understood why his hopeless son had made such pitiful progress over the months. It wasn’t because Setan lacked sincerity or devotion. It was because the boy had been raised to be far too upright, far too proper.
Yian folded his arms, puffing out his chest like a seasoned veteran preparing to pass down sacred knowledge.
“Applying medicine is the absolute perfect excuse to cultivate intimacy,” he whispered, his eyebrows dancing suggestively. “Especially when the injuries are on your body. Think about it p>
He gestured vaguely toward his own torso. “Your chest… your abdomen… the more private and vulnerable the area, the better.” He clicked his tongue with deep, theatrical regret. “What a pity you don’t have a few striking scars on your face. That would have worked beautifully, too p>
Setan stared at his father, his eyes narrowing with deep skepticism. Really p>
“Of course!” Yian sounded supremely, dangerously confident.
“Winning a female’s heart isn’t just about throwing expensive gifts at her or quietly helping her with daily chores.” He smirked, a smug, knowing grin spreading across his weathered face.
“Sometimes, you need to employ unconventional tactics. Otherwise, how do you think I defeated a dozen stronger rivals and married your mother back in the day p>
Back then, he had relied on a healthy dose of shameless, calculated vulnerability.
Setan lowered his gaze, his dark eyes clouding with deep thought. Unconventional tactics p>
Suddenly, a very specific face flashed into his mind. Yanai. That shameless, calculating wolf p>
Hadn’t he managed to worm his way into Nina’s inner circle precisely because he had been grievously injured? And while she was tenderly nursing him back to health, hadn’t he managed to leverage that pity into something much deeper?
Setan’s expression gradually shifted, the rigid lines of his jaw softening into a thoughtful, quiet calculation.
Maybe… he really should try the same strategy. And the longer he let the thought simmer in his mind, the more incredibly tempting the idea became.