Lin Feng sold the equipment of those bandits and adventurers, then took the head of that “One-eyed Hadi” to collect the reward, and earned almost three gold coins in total from this round trip.
“The harvest this time is quite abundant.” Yuna stroked the shiny coins and smiled from ear to ear. “Although the Magic Crystal Ore hasn't been mined yet.”
Because of selling the equipment, mining was delayed for a few days.
Yuna twitched her ears and drew out her greatsword to appreciate it carefully: “But this sword can still be used for now, no hurry to change it.”
However, the harsh winter was about to come.
The heavy snow would block the valley's passage, then they could only wait until next spring when the snow melts to cross over.
"I'm afraid we'll run out of time. Forging the giant sword requires a lot of Magic Crystals, at least several baskets full. Plus the round trip to Ulu Valley takes about ten days, and then adding the forging time..."
"It takes that long? Winter is almost here." Emily ruffled her rabbit ears.
"Well, I originally planned that just before the heavy snow seals off the mountain, I could get back with the forged weapon. But now with the delay of a few days, I'm not sure if I can make it back before the mountain pass closes. I can only go again next spring." Lin Feng sighed and spread his hands. "There's no choice."
"No big deal. Anyway, once winter comes, we won't be going into the labyrinth either. No need for weapons." Emily waved her hand casually.
The harsh winters in this world could be deadly.
The climate was similar to Russia's, estimated to be minus forty or fifty degrees Celsius.
At this temperature, carelessly wandering outside could get one frozen into a popsicle.
Although Lin Feng had been here for many years, he would still often be frozen silly during winter.
"Do you want to go out? I just want to huddle by the fireplace in winter, too cold to bear."
Yuna and Emily shook their heads.
Beastmen rarely went out in winter, surviving on their stockpiled food.
"Unless there's no water left in the house during winter, and we have to go chip some ice from the lake, otherwise we won't go out," Emily blew on her hands. Just thinking about the piercing winds made her shiver.
Speaking of home, Emily couldn't help but worry about her mother and younger brother. It would probably be harder than previous years to get through this harsh winter without her.
As for Yuna, she was worried about Yuri.
Seeing both beast ear girls had things on their minds, Lin Feng reached out to pat their heads.
Overnight, the temperature plummeted.
Although Emily was curled up in Lin Feng's arms, she still shivered violently from the cold.
"So c-cold..."
Her hands and feet were icy, and it took Lin Feng a long time hugging her before they warmed up a little.
"Wear more clothes, even when sleeping in winter you can't just wear a black lace dress!" Lin Feng knocked her head.
Emily looked up at Lin Feng and said seriously, "Wearing less makes it more convenient for that."
"Quite energetic even in the dead of winter, huh." Lin Feng couldn't help retorting.
"Hmph, friction can also generate warmth. This way it feels good and we won't freeze." Emily nuzzled against Lin Feng.
Although Emily was very afraid of the cold, she still decided to get up and make breakfast.
"I'll go with you, seeing how you're shivering all over, I bet you can't even hold the knife steady." Lin Feng held Emily's hand, trying to warm them up more.
As soon as the two opened the door, they saw Yuna passing by from the front.
Huh?
Coincidence?
No, looking at her sneaky appearance, impossible.
"What's up? Were you eavesdropping again?" Lin Feng smiled knowingly.
"No, I was just going upstairs to get clothes, and happened to pass by you guys." Yuna hurried downstairs.
Lin Feng helplessly retorted, "Your face is all red, and you still say you weren't peeking?"
Just as Yuna went down the stairs, Lin Feng caught a glimpse of her profile. He was somewhat surprised for a moment, and subconsciously blurted out "f*ck".
So much that it took him several seconds to come back to his senses.
"Yuna's face is very red." Emily also saw it, her eyesight was quite good.
"Right, why's it as red as a monkey's butt?"
"Is she sick? Did she catch a cold from not covering up properly last night?"
"Don't know." Lin Feng shook his head.
Getting sick in such cold weather was no trivial matter.
"Go take a look." Emily patted Lin Feng's shoulder, then went into the kitchen.
Lin Feng walked straight to Yuna.
"Are you sick?"
Yuna shook her head. She didn't dare look straight into Lin Feng's eyes, as if intentionally avoiding something.
"Then why is your face so red?"
She didn't speak, just sat quietly in front of the fireplace warming herself.
Lin Feng looked her up and down, feeling that apart from her slightly redder face and more nervous demeanor, she didn't seem much different from usual.
Feeling a bit uncomfortable from his gaze, Yuna got up and walked to her room: "Master, I'm going back to sleep first."
"Not having breakfast?"
"No, don't have much appetite. I want to sleep first." Yuna said softly.
Watching her back, Lin Feng finally noticed something unusual.
Yuna's tail usually hung right down the middle of her butt.
But today, her tail was curled up to one side.
Even that alluring crevice could be seen.
Could she be...
Lin Feng appraised her status.
Under Yuna's status bar appeared three conspicuous words.
[Mating Season]
These three words were something Lin Feng had been longing for.
It wasn't that he was fickle. He just wanted to give the beast ear girls a home.
Lin Feng trotted briskly to Yuna's door and knocked lightly.
"Wait a minute!"
The sound of tidying up things came from the room.
It was quite a while before Yuna let Lin Feng in.
"What's the matter, Master? Anything?"
Lin Feng smiled slightly. "Can I touch your ears?"
"Ears...okay." Yuna lowered her head a little, then quickly twitched her ears twice.
But unlike usual, the moment his hand touched her ear, Lin Feng keenly noticed her shudder intensely.
Teehee...
Her senses all over were probably enhanced over twenty times now. Even a light touch was hard to endure.
Since that was the case, Lin Feng shamelessly rubbed them.
It made Yuna's mind run wild.
"I also want to play the tail-pulling game."
"No." Yuna buried straight into the quilt.
She knew very clearly what would happen if her tail was pulled now.
"Why not? You've always let me pull your tail before."
"Because!" Yuna couldn't think of a reason to refuse for a moment, but she didn't want to tell the truth either, "Because my tail is injured!"
"Injured? How did you get injured? Got caught in the door?" Lin Feng gently caressed Yuna's cheeks. Seeing her burning up made his heart ache.
He didn't know how long she could endure this.
If she was just a bit bolder, she wouldn't have to suffer so much.
"Yes, I accidentally got my tail caught when closing the door yesterday. Now it's swollen and hurts a lot." Yuna nodded heavily.
"In that case, I definitely need to take a look at your tail. Protecting beast ear girls is my responsibility."
Yuna panicked a little, cold sweat breaking out on her forehead: "No need, it's not that serious actually."
"Be obedient. Let me take a look."
Seeing she couldn't prevail against Lin Feng, Yuna could only give in and stuck her tail out from the quilt.
"Just looking..."
Before she even finished speaking, her tail was pulled hard.
In an instant, Yuna's mind blanked.
The strange sensations made her head spin.
She then rushed into the bathroom and heavily shut the door.
Seeing Lin Feng's wicked smile, Emily couldn't help asking: "What did you do to Yuna?"
"Come here, I'll whisper it to you."