“Mr. Li Xian… will Master accept me?”
Sara bit her lip and finally spoke the word she’d been dreading.
Even though her heart was still uneasy, she had no other choice before her now.
Besides, she was willing to believe that the big brother in front of her wasn’t the kind of bad person who would torment and humiliate her.
“If Mr. Li Xian doesn’t mind having Sara, then this can be considered Sara’s way of compensating you. From now on, I will serve Mr. Li Xian with all my heart. Whatever you ask me to do, I’ll do it…”
Li Xian stared blankly at the distant campfire, his mind empty for a moment.
If he chose to refuse, the Adventurers’ Guild would probably compensate him with ten thousand Gold Coins.
But if that happened, Sara’s fate was painfully obvious.
Ten thousand Gold Coins, or a cute and beautiful slave—how should he choose?
Any young man in his prime wouldn’t hesitate much, would he?
Money could be earned again in the future, but a slave this adorable might never come along again.
“All right!” After a brief moment of thought, Li Xian finally responded, meeting Sara’s gaze, which was filled with both hope and fear.
Back at the campfire, the Magic Beast roasting above it was already charred black, but it didn’t affect the taste—if anything, it probably made it even more delicious.
After hesitating, he picked up the roasted Magic Beast leg he’d torn off earlier and walked over to Sara, who was still lying under the tree, her face buried in her arms.
“Here.” His expression was a bit awkward.
Clearly, it was the girl before him who had become his slave, yet he was the one feeling nervous.
Hearing Li Xian’s voice, Sara timidly raised her head and looked at him with a trace of fear—after all, her backside was still sore.
“Grrr~”
But faced with the irresistible aroma, her stomach, which hadn’t had a proper meal in days, betrayed her and rumbled loudly.
Sara’s cheeks flushed, but the rich, oily scent of the roasted Magic Beast leg kept drifting into her nose.
Her shrunken belly cramped, and she could no longer control herself.
“Thank you, Li… Thank you, Master.” She stumbled over the change in address—it would take some getting used to.
Blushing furiously, she accepted the roasted Magic Beast leg from Li Xian’s hand.
Watching his departing figure, Sara felt both grateful and anxious.
She felt as if the things she owed Mr. Li Xian were only increasing…
She mechanically took a bite of the Magic Beast leg in her hand.
The growing hunger made her forget all her worries, and she began to eat heartily.
Li Xian tore off another leg for himself.
As he ate, he glanced at Sara’s completely unladylike eating manner, and couldn’t help but laugh.
Because of her sore backside, she was still lying on the ground, hugging the Magic Beast leg and gnawing away.
But the meat was hot from the fire, so she kept making “huff, huff” noises like a hamster.
Thinking about it, this girl really had it tough.
Her parents died tragically, she was chased by enemies, bumped around on the run, and who knew how many days it had been since she’d eaten.
Fortunately, she was a Mage—her body was stronger than most, and she could absorb some elements to keep herself alive.
Otherwise, she’d have collapsed long ago.
Now, thinking about her soon becoming his slave, Li Xian’s feelings were complicated.
Rather than the thrill of possession, what he felt more was a desire to protect.
Before long, Sara finished the leg.
She licked her fingers longingly, her gaze drifting to the half-eaten roasted Magic Beast, then back to Li Xian with hopeful eyes.
“Don’t look at me like that. You haven’t done anything and still want more to eat?” Li Xian was already full.
He snapped his fingers, and the roasted Magic Beast in front of them was instantly frozen into a block of ice.
Sara watched as the delicious food was ruined before her eyes and let out a pitiful whimper.
Li Xian shrugged.
After not eating for so long, suddenly eating something this greasy wasn’t good.
If he let the girl eat more, her stomach would definitely have problems.
After feeling sad for a while, her stomach at least had some food in it, and now drowsiness crept over her.
Sara’s eyelids drooped.
She hadn’t just gone hungry lately—she hadn’t slept well, either.
Most of the time, she didn’t dare sleep at all.
Even if she did, it was only a light nap, easily startled awake by the slightest sound, scaring herself with every little noise.
Now, finally a bit more at ease and with some food in her belly, she couldn’t hold back the fatigue that had built up.
Still, lying on the ground like this was hardly comfortable for sleep.
As night fell, the ground grew colder, and her arms could feel the chill.
The wind in the forest was icy, and with only her thin clothes, she’d probably freeze if she slept out here all night.
Sara couldn’t help but glance at the little tent Li Xian had set up nearby.
It was just a cover of leaves and vines, but it was still much better than nothing.
With the fire beside it, it was obviously much, much warmer than here.
Sara looked at it with envy, but didn’t have the nerve to ask.
She just pouted, buried her head in her arms, and forced herself to ignore the biting cold.
But how could she?
Drowsiness and the freezing wind took turns tormenting her.
Even as her consciousness began to fade, she still frowned and her eyelids fluttered.
The fire still burned, the branches crackling.
Li Xian added more wood, and through the flickering flames, he watched the small, shivering figure that had already drifted into sleep.
With a helpless sigh, he couldn’t suppress his pity any longer.
He stood up, walked over to the girl, and gently picked her up, placing her in the simple tent.
Then, Li Xian lay down himself.
Through the gaps in the tent roof, he gazed at the brilliant starry sky.
The grass beneath him was thick but prickly—nothing like a soft bed.
But back in his old world, there’d never have been such a cute girl sleeping beside him.
Watching her brow slowly relax and her body curl up, he guessed her nightmares were fading.
What replaced them might not be sweet dreams, but at least they were peaceful and warm.
“Sleep.” As Li Xian thought this, the girl mumbled in her sleep.
Who knew what she was dreaming of?
Her face was full of peace and comfort as she unconsciously snuggled closer to Li Xian, her still-cold body instinctively seeking warmth.
But the person who once made her feel safe was already gone, never to return…
Perhaps it was a whim, a moment of youthful impulse, a surge of protectiveness, or simply a gentle feeling of pity—Li Xian hesitated, then finally reached out and drew Sara’s small body into his arms.
His consciousness grew blurry, and he slowly drifted into darkness.