Gregory wanted to reply ‘you don’t need to worry about me’ but the blood was still churning in his throat. He couldn’t even open his mouth. He didn’t know what he was being so stubborn about, but he just didn’t want Gu Mengmeng to see him puke blood.
Lea didn’t insist but just continued. “To my knowledge, the rule is that the moment a bird tribe leaves the Motou mountain range, they can never return. Otherwise, all the other bird tribes would gather and attack them to wipe the slate clean. But now, Ian has no intention of returning to Motou. So you have no reason to attack him here. Am I right?”
Gregory knew very well that if he insisted on attacking Ian now, it would mean destroying all good relations with Gu Mengmeng.
Gu Mengmeng’s stance was very clear. She would protect the eagle-owl tribe and Ian.
Gregory’s heart felt extremely torn every time he recalled her earlier guarded expression. It was a very unexpected feeling. He nodded and acceded to Lea’s twisted word game.
This was his own selfish desire.
He…
Didn’t want to become Gu Mengmeng’s enemy.
At least for these remaining six days here, he wished to cherish her every frown and every smile.
Lea appreciated Gregory’s practical sensibilities and smiled. “However, the eagle-owl are indeed traitors to the Motou mountains. Ian deserved that beating. He’s a male after all… it’s very common for fights to occur among us. Don’t you agree? Leader Gregory.”
Gregory nodded reluctantly. His gaze kept drifting over to Gu Mengmeng’s face. She was calming down after her fit of anger, and Gregory’s constricted chest finally relaxed on seeing that.
Lea casually patted Gregory on the back, looking like he was trying to soothe him. In the end, the patting caused Gregory to spurt out the blood he had been storing in his mouth.
“Aiya, why are you vomiting blood?” Lea shouted in surprise. He hurriedly led Gregory to sit at the stone table diagonally opposite Gu Mengmeng, before handing him a piece of clean animal skin to wipe his mouth. Lea rebuked Gu Mengmeng, but in an exasperated and affectionate tone. “Mengmeng, you were too heavy-handed? It was just two males fighting. It’s fine for you to take sides, but for you to deal a killing blow?”
Gu Mengmeng was also a little taken back by Gregory puking blood. She had been overly anxious and didn’t hold back her strength in time. It appeared that she had really shoved him a bit too hard.
Clearing her throat, Gu Mengmeng stood up and walked to Gregory’s side. She took over the animal skin from him and helped him wipe his mouth. She said sheepishly, “Well… sorry. I was too heavy-handed. I… I didn’t mean to hurt you so badly.”
“You don’t need to apologize. I am the one who is too weak for you.”
This sentence didn’t sound gentle at all…
But it was the most indirect way that Gregory could think of to convey the meaning: “Don’t blame yourself. I am fine. Don’t worry”.
Gu Mengmeng did not have a particularly low EQ, but Gregory’s words were really too “indirect”. No matter how you heard it, it just sounded like he was accusing Gu Mengmeng of bullying those weaker than her.
Yes, too weak.
Apart from Elvis, everyone else in the entire Beast World was too weak for her.
But Lea was right. Outsiders should not interfere in fights between males. And Ian was indeed a traitor to the Motou mountain range. As the leader of the Motou mountains, Gregory had the right to execute punishment on him. She was in the wrong in this matter. But she was unable to just stand by and watch as Ian was being beaten to death by someone.
“Since I was the one who injured you, I will take responsibility. Stay at the stone castle while you recuperate. Lea will take charge of your meals and your medical treatments, until you fully recover.”
