The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 285: Strange Benefactor

Chapter 285: Strange Benefactor

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Xu Hu Zhe watched as Xu Feng’s intense gaze remained fixed on the lifeless serpent sprawled on the forest floor. He couldn’t help but marvel at the complete lack of self awareness his benefactor displayed in this nearly perilous situation.

He wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.

In their strange partnership, it was Xu Feng who often acted impulsively, diving headlong into unfamiliar terrain without the caution one might expect.

On the other hand, Xu Hu Zhe had learned to be even more vigilant and cautious during their time together. He had honed his skills under the guidance of Xuan Jian, Jie, Bo, and even the other servants who had come to Nanshan Estate under Xuan Yang had recognized his dedication and determination.

The training had been a gift, a rare opportunity to learn from seasoned martial artists and masters in their own right. He had gained not only knowledge but also the reflexes and instincts that had just saved Xu Feng from a potentially fatal encounter with the massive serpent.

There were some snakes that were poisonous, and others that were not, but how was Xu Hu Zhe to know if this one was poisonous or not? Even if it wasn’t, the beast was still big enough to have the tall ger as a nice sized meal.

Xu Hu Zhe couldn’t deny that he owed much of his growth to his benefactor, Xu Feng. His martial prowess had grown considerably in the last months of rigorous training, and the brothers (Jie, Bo, and the other martial artists) had played a significant role in his development.

Now, faced with the bizarre situation of a giant snake’s carcass, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude mixed with disbelief.

Because of this training, his reflexes had grown to the level they were now...that and whatever Xu Feng was feeding him, Xuan Jian, and Xuan Yang.

Xu Feng, still crouched by the snake’s remains, seemed to regard the giant corpse with a peculiar hunger in his eyes. It was as if he saw the creature as a giant chicken or duck rather than a threat that had nearly devoured him moments ago.

As the sun filtered through the dense canopy above, casting dappled shadows on his face, Xu Hu Zhe’s thoughts swirled with a mix of emotions.

Who was the married one between the two of them? Still, this was his benefactor, their marital status didn’t matter...

In the heart of the untamed forest, it was a place where the very air seemed infused with ancient secrets, where the rustling leaves whispered tales of forgotten worlds.

"You heard everything we said in the carriage?" Xu Feng asked out of nowhere. The disturbance was completely out of place, with no hint the question was coming.

Xu Feng’s voice, tinged with curiosity, had the power to pull him from his introspection. Caught off guard, Xu Hu Zhe’s gaze flickered towards his benefactor, the ger whose presence was as unpredictable as the wind that stirred the forest leaves.

"Immortal bloodline?" he echoed, his voice revealing a glimpse of his youth. The question had broken through the smokescreen of the grown man he often portrayed, revealing the teenager beneath. His tall frame, once appearing so mature, now seemed to align more closely with his true age.

Xu Feng’s grin remained unchanged; his attention still stuck on the slain serpent before him. The sight of the creature seemed to awaken a primal hunger within him. His tongue darted out to moisten his lips, and a thin trail of drool threatened to escape his lips.

"Yes," he confirmed, his voice a low, almost a murmur.

In the silence that hung between them, Xu Hu Zhe grasped the gravity of the moment. With quiet determination, he quickly summarized of the conversation he had overheard between Xuan Jian, Xuan Yang, and Xu Feng that day.

He knew more about the immortal bloodlines than most of the Donghua population was privy to, their connection to the immortal beasts, and the complexities of their ranks within their lineages.

He was listening, and listening very closely.

It was a truth known to the privileged—the continent’s people’s perception of those descended from the immortal beasts was grossly distorted.

To the masses, such individuals were seen as privileged and blessed, but in truth, those with any potential were rations for the ’old monsters’ or elders of the noble immortal beast clans who lived in the shadows.

This revelation sent a shiver down Xu Hu Zhe’s spine, a visceral reaction that betrayed his emotions. He couldn’t help but tremble, for he, too, was a descendent of the immortal beasts.

Him, an abandoned child, a street rat, a vagrant, a despised child, a servant, a slave, he was descended from the immortal beasts...and now he was a powerful descendant of the immortal beasts. Xu Feng and his abilities had both his and Bai Mo’s potential much higher and awakened their potential. This was his benefactor.

Xu Feng had not only been his benefactor but also the catalyst that had transformed his life, granting him newfound strength and purpose.

And as they stood together in the heart of the ancient forest, surrounded by the mysteries of their lineage, Xu Hu Zhe couldn’t help but feel confusion as Xu Feng inched toward the snake.

This was his benefactor...the man who had forever altered his destiny.

"The world isn’t what it seems," Xu Feng said calmly, "I’m sorry I’ve involved you in something I can’t protect you from."

While Xu Feng stayed focused on the snake in front of them, Xu Hu Zhe felt the pain in his voice. It was helpless and self loathing.

Xu Hu Zhe didn’t know which problem to address first, the ger that seemed like he was seconds away from pouncing on the raw snake hide and taking a bite out of it? Or should he tell that same ger that he was thankful to be able to travel the same path together?

He was scared. He was, but Xu Hu Zhe was no longer alone.

If he didn’t have to face the unknown alone, what was there to fear?