Beauty and the Beasts

The rumbling of thunder was accompanied by a bolt of lightning, and rain started pouring down. The splashing of the rain echoed throughout the entire forest.     

Strong wind entered the cave with mild rain, blowing at the fire and causing the light in the cave to flicker.     

Braving the wind and rain, Bai Qingqing lowered the vine curtain and also took the chance to wash the food with the rainwater. When she came back, she was drenched from head to toe.     

Curtis stroked Bai Qingqing's hair and said in shock, "Your hair is wet."     

Bai Qingqing paused in surprise at Curtis's words. "Of course it will be wet after it was exposed to the rain."     

"Is that the case…" Curtis turned his head sideways to look at his own hair, which never turned wet after rainwater got onto it—the water would simply flow down his hair and it'd be dry in an instant. Taking another look at the female, whose hair was now sticking together, her entire head wet and dripping with water, worry clouded his eyes as Curtis gazed at the female.     

Seeing Curtis stare at her hair, she couldn't help but retreat two steps. She covered her head and asked, "You can't possibly be thinking of chopping off my hair, can you?"     

Curtis replied earnestly, "Or else you will catch a cold."     

That was indeed the case.     

Bai Qingqing was caught between laughter and tears as she went to squat beside the fire. "Don't worry, it'll be dry in a while. I've never caught a cold from washing my hair."     

Only upon hearing this was Curtis's heart put to ease.     

Bai Qingqing cooked bamboo rice again today. This time she cut a slice of tiger meat and marinated it with ginger, garlic, and salt for a bit, before stuffing it into the bamboo filled with rice, then roasted it on the fire.     

Seeing the nearly complete tiger, Curtis asked Bai Qingqing, "That's all you're eating?"     

"That's all. You can eat the remaining," Bai Qingqing replied. Then, a question struck her: How does Curtis eat? Seeing how afraid of heat he was, he probably didn't eat food that was cooked.     

Indeed, Curtis transformed back into beast form, opening his mouth unbelievably big. His sharp fangs dripped with clear saliva as he bit the tiger in one swoop, before slowly swallowing it into his mouth.     

Just then, the rumbling of thunder was heard. It sounded just nearby, and there wasn't even an echo. The bright lightning lit up the cave in an instant, and it suddenly felt like it was broad daylight inside the cave. The snake's horrifying big mouth was clearly visible.     

Bai Qingqing was so startled by the thunder that she nearly screamed out loud. She swallowed her saliva and stared at the giant snake with her eyes wide open.     

The cave became quiet again, with the flames swaying in the wind.     

Curtis had swallowed half the tiger. Sensing Bai Qingqing looking at him, he looked towards her. Bai Qingqing's body trembled in response and she lowered her head down.     

When she looked up again, the tiger had already entered the giant snake's esophagus, creating a big bulge on the snake's body. As he continued to swallow it, Bai Qingqing noticed that bulge was becoming smaller and smaller.     

What terrifying digestive prowess.     

Perhaps the food was compressed in his stomach, just like Parker's endless pit of a tummy. This was what Bai Qingqing speculated.     

Curtis ate for several minutes before entirely swallowing the tiger, after which his eyelids lowered in a relaxed manner. His body was laid out straight in the long cave as he flicked out his tongue at Bai Qingqing. Ssss~     

Bai Qingqing flashed him a stiff smile, before lowering her head and randomly adding firewood to the fire.     

If she had seen that scene when she just arrived, she would certainly have fainted in shock.     

The fragrance of rice wafted from the bamboo. The famished Bai Qingqing couldn't wait to retrieve her bamboo rice.     

This time, she had carved out a square cover on the bamboo before roasting it, and she only had to rap against it with a rock before the cover cracked open.     

The wonderful smell wafted through the air. Bai Qingqing's mouth watered, and she instantly picked up the crudely made chopsticks and started eating it.     

With the addition of meat, the tastiness of the bamboo rice went up a level. She believed that even by modern standards, the taste of this bamboo rice was superior to that of many restaurants serving the same dish.     

This was the most satisfying meal Bai Qingqing had over this more than one week since she came to this world.     

After Bai Qingqing ate her fill, Curtis rolled her over to him with his tail.     

His stomach was completely flat now, and his upper body had transformed into a human form. With his upper body forming the center of the circle, he curled his tail around Bai Qingqing and laid down.     

Seeing Curtis fall asleep, Bai Qingqing was relieved. She found a comfortable spot in his embrace and closed her eyes.