Leanna snorted. “Did you think our little trick could have gone unnoticed by the Great Messenger?”


  “You mean……”


  Leanna continued. “With the Great Messenger’s high intelligence level, the moment Mandy asked her to leave with her, she must have known what we were up to. If the Great Messenger wanted to help that half-beast female, she could have refused to leave or asked her along. But the Great Messenger just left with Mandy without even a backward glance. She was obviously indicating that she wouldn’t side with Maya?”


  “Mmm…… you have a point.” Another female agreed.

  Leanna carried on. “Maya is not Sandy. Even if she really goes to complain to the Great Messenger, we can just deny everything, and she will not probe further. But…… ha, if Maya really dares to badmouth us in front of the Great Messenger, I will let her experience the wrath of the 16 valued females.”


  The females all laughed before each coming out with ideas on how to make Maya suffer.

  Elvis, who had been by Gu Mengmeng’s side the entire time, felt his skull go numb as he listened to them. Carrying Gu Mengmeng in his arms, he stood up and left.

  No no no, these females were too scary. He could not let Xiao Meng continue hanging out with them. She would be scared!

  But he seemed to have forgotten.

  The little angel in his arms was the very one who had instigated those females against Maya.

  After traveling some distance away, Gu Mengmeng patted Mandy on the shoulder. “You have helped me this time, and we are now bonded by this dirty little deed. Although Ian was never my guard, he has done a lot for me, as much as Collin had. So in future, you can treat me as your good friend, like how Sandy does. Come seek me at my cave whenever you need help. You can also come visit me whenever you miss me……”


  “Mmm!” Mandy beamed with pleasure and a touch of sweetness.

  Gu Mengmeng laughed before saying, “It’s nearly noon, do you want to eat with me?”


  Mandy instinctively glanced at Elvis, trying to discern his opinion on this.

  Winter was coming soon. By then, as much as Gu Mengmeng pined for company, she would have no choice but to be holed up in the cave. So before the snows sealed off the mountains, Elvis did not oppose as reluctant as he was to agree. He nodded in silent assent to Mandy accompanying Gu Mengmeng for lunch.

  Mandy nodded happily before turning around to her own partner. “Ralph, send me to the borders of Gu Mengmeng’s territory, then go get Ian to come and fetch me.”


  “Alright.” Ralph nodded before lifting Mandy up and following Elvis back to the cave.

  Because winter was fast approaching, Auretin treated every meal as if it was his last. The portion of hunted game he brought over increased by the day, until Lea—who was in charge of preparing the meals—could barely cope. He felt increasingly distressed and wanted to reject Auretin on several occasions, but bit back his tongue on account of Gu Mengmeng.

  When Gu Mengmeng returned, she saw Auretin hovering around the pot, while Barete sat by the cave entrance like a silent ranger. His sharp and probing eyes instantly detected Gu Mengmeng’s figure from afar. Meanwhile, Lea glared disdainfully at Auretin as he prepared the meal. But on seeing Gu Mengmeng return, Lea’s face broke out into a warm smile.

  Gu Mengmeng sat by the table. As she waited for the meal to be ready, she shared what happened at the stream earlier today. By the time she finished her narration, Lea had already laid out the food on the table.