Free Web NovelChapter 545: Chapter 401: Cloyingly Sweet Gray Fruits
Early the next morning, the Angry Beast set off with his accompanying tribesmen, only calling out a greeting to the patrols as he left.
The Scorpion Captain heard the report from the patrolling Beastman and sighed deeply. ’It seems the tribesmen are disappointed with this selection too.’
But what he didn’t know was that the departing Angry Beast and his tribesmen hadn’t returned to the tribe at all. Instead, they had turned and headed toward the Polar Forest.
On the Snow Tiger Tribe’s territory, a dozen or so prey animals of various sizes lay scattered in a clearing before a tall forest. Every last one of them was dead.
Only two Beastman Warriors stood guard nearby, while the sound of conversation drifted from the forest behind them.
Yuan Lang looked at the split-open fruits on the tree, his dark brows knitting slightly. "Looks like these Gray Fruits aren’t edible anymore."
Through the cracks, the flesh inside was a solidified, pale yellow.
He picked a Gray Fruit, peeled it open, and popped a piece of the flesh into his mouth.
The next moment, his handsome features twisted.
The cloying sweetness in his mouth was so intense it made his scalp tingle, and his whole body recoiled in discomfort.
Seeing their captain’s expression, the surrounding Beastmen could only "demurely" turn away one by one, only to start shaking with laughter the next moment.
Yuan Lang’s hand trembled, and he was about to throw the Gray Fruit away.
But after frowning at it for a long moment, he reluctantly tossed it into the basket on his back and even picked a few more.
"Captain, these Gray Fruits are terrible. Even the females won’t eat them. The young female you’re bringing them to won’t like them either."
It was no secret that Yuan Lang had feelings for Lord Wuyue. Everyone in the Snow Tiger Tribe knew.
Although females enjoyed sweet things more than the Beastmen did, even they couldn’t stomach a fruit so sickeningly sweet.
Yuan Lang glanced at the Beastman. "Yue has never seen them before. I’m taking them back for her to look at."
After returning to the tribe, Yuan Lang took the Gray Fruits from his basket and went to find Wu Yue.
Standing at her courtyard gate, he watched the busy figure of the young female inside, a warmth spreading through his heart.
"Lord Wu Yue."
The Beastman’s low, smiling voice rang out in the courtyard. Wu Yue’s hands stilled, and she looked up to see him pushing the gate open and walking in.
"Back from the hunt?"
After a quick glance, she lowered her head and returned to her work.
’Yuan Lang and the others are leaving in a few days. I need to hurry and make more medicinal pills for them to take along.’
"I brought back some Gray Fruits today, but unfortunately, the flesh inside has completely solidified. That taste..."
The Beastman’s dark brows furrowed. "It’s really not very good."
Wu Yue raised an eyebrow. "Judging by your expression, I’m actually a little curious."
Yuan Lang smiled, took out the Gray Fruit he had opened earlier, and broke off a small piece of the flesh, offering it to her. "Want to try some?"
Wu Yue glanced at the pale-yellow flesh between his fingertips. "It’s not bitter, is it?"
"Not bitter. Extremely sweet."
’Extremely sweet?’
Wu Yue took the piece of flesh and put it in her mouth. It had a soft, jelly-like texture—perhaps due to a high water content, it wasn’t dry or tough at all.
But as she chewed, the intense, cloying sweetness instantly made her scalp tingle, and her small face scrunched up.
"Yuan Lang, how could you?"
’Damn it, this feels even worse than having a mouthful of saccharin.’
She ran to the side, spat out the piece of fruit, and rinsed her mouth several times before she finally recovered.
When she returned, her gaze upon the Gray Fruit was pained. "This thing used to be a delicacy, but now it’s an absolute nightmare."
Seeing the look of utter disgust on her small face as she stared at the Gray Fruit, Yuan Lang burst out laughing. "I have a few more. I brought them all back for you."
Wu Yue’s face scrunched up. "I really can’t eat it. It’s far too cloying."
Her preferences in fruit had never changed. She wasn’t a fan of anything overly sweet, much preferring fruits that were tart, sweet, and refreshing.
Yuan Lang, who had brought her countless fruits, naturally knew her preferences. It was just that the cloying sweetness of the Gray Fruit reminded him of the candied fruit his grandfather used to stuff in his mouth after he took his medicine as a child.
As someone who disliked sweets, he hadn’t liked the taste of the candied fruit back then, either.
"I was just thinking that since these Gray Fruits are so sweet, maybe they could be used to make candied fruit."
"Candied fruit?"
Wu Yue turned to look at him.
Yuan Lang nodded. "They’re sweet. Maybe some of the females and cubs would like them."
What he didn’t know was that upon hearing the words "candied fruit," Wu Yue was already thinking of something else entirely.
