XiShi, a woman of discerning taste and perhaps a touch of extravagance, had concluded her shopping expedition with a satisfied sigh. Her arms were blessedly empty, a testament to the sheer volume of goods she'd acquired. All those silks, spices, and suspiciously shiny trinkets―it was quite the haul. And, naturally, all of it was currently being toted by XueLing, her ever-reliable (and often grumbling) companion.

Once the shopping bags were safely deposited, XueLing, surprisingly, didn't immediately collapse in a dramatic heap. Instead, he posed a question, one laced with a peculiar blend of possessiveness and reluctant understanding. "So," he began, his voice a rumbling purr, "You were looking to add another male to our... our life, is that correct?" He paused, as if waiting for her to deny it, then plowed onward. "Well, I've mulled it over and let's be real, you're not gonna find anyone as strong or as, shall we say, beastly as me. But,"

He admitted, a slight wrinkle forming between his brows, "it's not entirely unpleasant to think about someone else taking some of the responsibility of looking after you. If I'm ever away from you, I know you wouldn't be entirely defenseless and that is... a comfort, I suppose". He went on, referencing their recent, rather minor, brush with those snake creatures that had attacked the rock mountain tribe a while back ( a canon event that had happened as mentioned in the previous chapters ) . "I mean, those slimy things were child's play, but if something serious were to happen, and I wasn't there? The mere thought is simply intolerable." He finished, his large hands encircling hers, his gaze softening to a level that bordered on unsettling vulnerability. It was like seeing a particularly grumpy mountain suddenly decide to bloom with wildflowers... oddly charming and unexpected.

And here it was, XueLing admitting his limitations after years of posturing! He wasn't perfect, and that was somehow... incredibly endearing. "Oh, my dear," she cooed, her voice dripping with mock sentimentality, "I'm so glad you finally understand. Honey," she added, cupping his cheeks. His face lit up as if she had just bestowed upon him a winning lottery ticket.

"Excellent! So, let's go to the slave auction!" he declared, his voice suddenly brimming with enthusiasm.

"Wait, what?" XiShi retorted, her earlier warmth replaced with a delightful blend of amusement and utter disbelief. A slave auction? He skipped from a rare show of vulnerability to a display of casual enslavement, like it was the next reasonable step.

Well, this was going to be interesting.

Very few things excite that man—really.

And if he's so worked up about it then , it has to be something big .