"Ha. Wait until you have your Eight-Star Pattern. Then we can talk." Rask picked at his ear, a derisive sneer on his handsome face.

"Enough!" Evangeline swept aside the vines hanging from the rock face and peered into the pitch-black cave entrance. She suddenly spun around to face the two men squaring off, her brow furrowed. "Both of you, quiet down," she said, her face etched with impatience. "You’re too damn loud."

Rask shot Julian a sidelong glance, then his face suddenly broke into a smile as warm as a spring creek.

He leaned in closer and asked in a low voice, "Female, I heard you mention you were looking for some kind of herb? I’ve been to all eighteen rivers of this valley. Why don’t you describe it to me? Perhaps I can help."

As he spoke, his eyes darted about, but his handsome face was a mask of gentle smiles.

’If I can’t take her by force, I’ll play weak. I’ve survived by using this trick before, back when I was powerless.’

Evangeline narrowed her eyes, studying Rask.

His gaze was lowered, but when his eyes met hers, they held a rare focus, as if she were the only person in the world. ’If he didn’t turn into a toad, this face of his could certainly be bewitching.’

"What do you think?" Rask, sensing her gaze, gave a slight smile and inched half a step closer.

Julian stared daggers at Rask. If looks could kill, Rask would have died a thousand times over.

Evangeline retracted her gaze and said crisply, "The herbs I’m looking for grow in dark, damp places. One has a single leaf but no flower, and the other has a single flower but no leaf. The two usually grow side-by-side, complementing each other."

’These last two herbs I need are very special. They’re called the Flower and Leaf Twins. One is extremely poisonous, while the other holds the essence of life. When combined, they create a massive surge of energy—exactly what Drake needs to regrow his wing bones.’

Julian shifted slightly, subtly placing himself between Rask and Evangeline. He mused, "Do herbs like that really exist?"

Evangeline raised a delicate eyebrow. Before she could speak, Rask peeked out from behind Julian’s shoulder.

An obscure, dark light flickered in his eyes, but his voice was calm. "What a coincidence. I’ve seen the herbs you described. But if I may ask, female, what are they used for?"

Julian spun around, his golden hair whipping through the air in a sharp arc.

He glared at the wary Rask, his voice dropping. "You really know where to find these herbs?"

Rask didn’t even deign to glance at Julian, his gaze fixed solely on Evangeline.

Julian’s golden pupils contracted, his gaze turning razor-sharp. "Nonsense," he sneered, his voice laced with aggression. "You couldn’t possibly know. You’re just saying that to trick the female!"

"Trick her?" Rask finally spared him a glance as if granting an alms, and sneered, "You’re just jealous that I can help the female while you’re utterly useless. You’re a waste of space. No wonder the female doesn’t think much of you and won’t form a Contract with you."

A dark cloud fell over Julian’s handsome face. Radiating killing intent, he clenched his fists at his sides, his knuckles cracking ominously.

Evangeline shot Rask a sideways glance, her brow furrowing slightly. Her tone was icy. "You tried to use force first, so it’s only natural for Julian to be wary of you. And whether or not I form a Contract with him has nothing to do with you. If you know where the herbs are, just say so. I’ll be in your debt. If you don’t, and you’re just here to boast... heh, then I’ll personally send you to meet the Beast God."

Though she smiled as she spoke the last sentence, her eyes were devoid of warmth, holding a faint, murderous glint instead.

’I’m not exactly a patient person. I put up with my Beast Husbands because I have my reasons, but I have no such patience for outsiders. If this toad can’t say something useful and just keeps wasting my time, I’ll kill him.’

’I only let him go in the first place because High-level Beastmen are so rare on the Beastman Continent. But he just had to push his luck.’

The smile on Rask’s face froze. He was about to say something flirtatious, but the moment he met Evangeline’s cold gaze, his body went rigid. A chill shot through him. He knew she meant it. This female was genuinely considering killing him.

Rask’s jaw twitched, and he fought the urge to punch himself. ’I really was blinded by lust. I had already gotten away clean, but I couldn’t stop thinking about this female. And now I’ve stupidly walked right back into the trap!’

’As a vagrant Beastman, I’ve spent years living on a knife’s edge. I’m good at sniffing out opportunity and avoiding danger, and I never provoke anything I sense is a threat. I sensed the danger this time, too. But seeing her protecting that half-dead male lit a fire in my chest. It burned away all my reason, and I couldn’t calm down.’

’When I saw her about to enter the cave in the rock face, I just acted on impulse and jumped out.’

Now, hearing the female’s threat, Rask was struck by the full force of his own stupidity.

Julian turned his head toward Evangeline, his gaze sweeping over her face, as cold and sharp as frost. He pressed his thin lips together, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes.

Evangeline’s eyes were half-lidded as she stared at the rigid Rask. "Nothing left to say? In that case..."

She traced a line in the air with her fingertip. Chilling energy swirled around it, and in an instant, a sharp Ice Arrow began to form, its fletching trembling slightly. The damp air itself seemed to freeze in its presence as fine ice crystals drifted down silently.

Although Rask was a Poison Attribute Beastman, he was still amphibious and highly sensitive to the moisture in the air. The bone-chilling cold was so intense it almost made him drowsy. "Stop! Stop it!" he yelled. "Female! My lady! I really do know about the herbs you’re talking about!"

A small smile played on Evangeline’s red lips as she lightly flicked the Ice Arrow with a slender finger.

Rask’s Adam’s apple bobbed violently. He regretted this even more.

He secretly reined in his stray thoughts and sighed. Looking up at the natural cave entrance before Evangeline, his expression grew complicated.

After a moment, he lowered his voice. "The herbs you’re talking about are in there. But let me give you some advice: if you’re only going for the herbs, you’re better off not going in at all. It’s incredibly dangerous. I’ve been inside twice..."

As he spoke, Rask’s body suddenly tensed, as if recalling something terrifying.

His tone was grave, almost solemn. "The poison mist inside is vicious. I don’t know how it forms, but every time I’ve tried to go deeper, the fumes have forced me back. If I weren’t a Poison Attribute, my bones would’ve dissolved in there."

A gust of wind swirled out of the rock cave, gently lifting Evangeline’s long hair.

Rask stole a glance at her, only to find that she hadn’t even blinked. He couldn’t help but be impressed.

As Julian listened, the color drained from his face, and his knuckles whitened as he clenched his fists.

He glanced at Evangeline, his throat working as if he wanted to speak, but in the end, no words came out.

’Going in might be a one-way trip. But if we don’t... what will happen to Drake?’

He closed his eyes. ’Thinking of the other males back at Blackwater Swamp, he knew one thing for certain: if Evangeline fell here, it wouldn’t just be Drake, the Beastman with the shattered Star Pattern, who would die. Of those of them who remained, could any of them be certain they would survive without her?’