NOVPUBYuan went into the forest with Valeria to gather firewood for the campfire. The forest wasn't far from their campsite, but they chose to fly there to save some time.
It only took a few minutes to collect the firewood, mostly dry branches lying beneath the trees. While doing so, Yuan noticed some mushrooms growing nearby. They looked quite delicious.
However, not everything that looks appetizing is safe to eat—these mushrooms could be poisonous. Unfortunately, Yuan didn't know much about mushrooms, so he couldn't tell if they were edible or not.
Valeria, on the other hand, noticed the mushrooms as well, and a bright smile immediately appeared on her face. She looked at Yuan with excitement, which left him confused.
"Are these mushrooms edible?" he asked, pointing at the cluster growing near the trees.
"Indeed, they are," Valeria nodded with a grin. "They're not just edible—they're delicious. And we're lucky to find them. Magical beasts, especially Thunder Rabbits, love these mushrooms too." 𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙥𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝙤𝒎
Without wasting time, she eagerly began picking them. Yuan joined her in gathering the mushrooms. There were plenty growing around, and since mushrooms wouldn't spoil when stored in a spatial ring, they decided to collect as many as possible.
"Are these mushrooms rare? They're quite large," Yuan asked curiously while using his Qi Manifestation to pluck several at once.
"Yes, very rare. Only nobles can usually afford them. Though sometimes, lucky commoners might stumble upon them in the forest," Valeria replied quickly, focused on gathering.
"I see... Seems like we got lucky today," Yuan chuckled, continuing to collect the mushrooms.
Some were hidden beneath dry leaves, but with the help of his Divine Sense, Yuan easily located them and used his Qi Manifestation to pull them out.
"Now that we've gathered all the mushrooms we could find, let's head back to the camp. I can already imagine the angry look on my mom's face," Yuan said with an awkward smile, knowing they had spent nearly an hour collecting mushrooms.
He gathered them into one place so Valeria could store them inside her spatial ring, still grinning sheepishly as they prepared to leave the forest.
Shortly after, Valeria stored all the mushrooms inside her spatial ring, and the two of them returned to the camp carrying the firewood. It took only a few seconds for them to reach the campsite.
As soon as they arrived, Yuan and Valeria were met with a wave of disapproving stares. The angry looks on everyone's faces made it clear they had been waiting for quite a while.
"Sorry for being late. We kind of lost track of time in the forest… hehe~" Yuan chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head as he nervously met his beloved mother's intense gaze.
Even though he was far stronger than her, he couldn't help but feel uneasy. His mother's anger had a unique weight, and to make things worse, the rest of his wives were clearly upset too.
"And it's not like we were having fun or anything," Yuan quickly added, trying to explain. "We just stumbled across a huge patch of rare mushrooms and got caught up collecting every single one we could find."
Despite his explanation, Anna Grace and the others didn't look convinced. In fact, they began inspecting Yuan and Valeria closely, as if searching for any physical signs that the two had gotten too close in the forest.
However, they found no trace of intimacy—no disheveled clothes, no suspicious marks, nothing to confirm their suspicions.
'There's no evidence they did anything inappropriate... Were they really just gathering mushrooms the whole time?' Anna Grace wondered silently, still not entirely satisfied. Then an idea came to her.
"Show me the mushrooms you two found," she said in a firm tone, her eyes narrowing. "I want to see what kind of mushrooms made you completely forget the time."
Yuan glanced at Valeria and gave her a small nod. Without delay, Valeria retrieved the mushrooms from her spatial ring and presented them to everyone.
The moment the mushrooms appeared, Anna Grace and the others stared in stunned silence at the large pile. Recognition quickly dawned on their faces.
"Aren't these the famous Azure Gills mushrooms?" Vanessa exclaimed, astonished. "They only grow in dry, shaded environments without sunlight. Just ten of these would easily sell for a hundred gold coins!"
"Indeed," Leah added, her eyes lighting up with excitement as she picked one up from the pile. "And I've heard they taste absolutely amazing."
Soon after, Anna instructed Valeria to set aside some for dinner while storing the rest inside her spatial ring. The mushrooms would remain perfectly fresh in the spatial ring for tens of thousands of years.
Unless the ring was damaged, the contents inside would remain untouched for an incredibly long period of time. Time had no effect within a spatial ring, which made it both remarkable and immensely practical.
Once Valeria stored the mushrooms back inside her spatial ring, Emma went to the river to fetch water for washing the vegetables and other ingredients needed for cooking.
Meanwhile, Leah and Miss Zara prepared some tea for everyone. Miss Zara also brought along some cookies she had baked earlier, using Valeria's kitchen at the mansion.
Soon, Rose, Vanessa, and Sylvia began preparing the vegetables and meat for lunch, while Miss Zara focused on making a delicious soup. The soup was light, rich in nutrients, and meant to keep everyone energized and healthy throughout the day.
They used rare cuts of meat, fresh vegetables, and expensive spices to enhance the flavor. The result was a meal so flavorful and aromatic that everyone couldn't help but love it.
Julie made fresh bread for everyone, soft and warm, perfect to pair with the soup. At the same time, Yuan roasted some meat along with the mushrooms they had gathered, using a unique blend of spices he carefully selected.
Everyone was curious about what he was preparing. Judging by the irresistible aroma that spread through the camp, they could already tell it was going to be something extraordinary.
After dinner, as everyone finished their meal and began to relax, they heard the distant shouts of soldiers echoing from the border. The area was heavily guarded by troops from both empires, and tension still lingered in the air.
Yuan silently activated his Divine Sense, keeping watch over the border. He checked for any signs of suspicious activity, particularly assassins who might try to use the cover of darkness to their advantage.
Fortunately, everything remained calm. Powerful magic knights were stationed nearby as a precaution, so Yuan didn't feel too concerned about the border's safety.
Once everyone was full and content, they retreated to the massive carriage to rest for the night. Just as Yuan was about to climb inside, Anna Grace suddenly stopped him.
Before he could even speak, she gently grabbed his hand and pulled him aside, lifting them both into the air as she flew toward the river.
In the middle of the river stood a large, moss-covered boulder, battered constantly by the river's strong current. Anna brought him there and sat down beside him atop the rock.
She didn't say a word at first. Instead, she gently held his hand and gave him a warm, affectionate smile, her gaze locked on his face as if she wanted to savor every second of being this close to him.
The moon above them illuminated the surroundings with a silvery glow, making the night almost as bright as day. Everything looked breathtaking under the moonlight, and in the distance, they could see the majestic snow-covered mountain range stretching across the horizon.
The soft sound of the river flowing and gently hitting the massive boulders created a peaceful, soothing ambiance—a moment that felt like a beautiful dream.
Anna Grace pulled her beloved darling closer, her gaze overflowing with love and passion. Yuan could see it clearly in her eyes—genuine, tender, and full of warmth.
"This moment is so beautiful and peaceful, isn't it?" Yuan asked with a smile, gently wrapping his arms around her and pulling her body close to his.
"Indeed. And very romantic too, don't you think, darling?" Anna Grace replied with a soft chuckle, nodding as her gaze remained locked on his face.
"Absolutely. Moments like this are rare. And since I have the company of such a beautiful woman, I'll cherish this memory forever," Yuan said with a smile, meeting her loving gaze.
"Sweet-talking me now, are we?" Anna Grace teased, her voice soft and playful. "But you know what? I like it when you talk like that."
She leaned in and gently pressed her lips to his, wrapping her arms around him to feel the warmth of his body.
Yuan embraced her tightly, deepening the kiss as it grew more passionate with each passing second.
For a moment, time seemed to slow down. Beneath the moonlit sky, the two of them sat on the boulder, locked in a romantic kiss that made everything else fade away.
When their lips finally parted, Yuan looked into Anna Grace's eyes with a smile and whispered, "I want you to become separate again. I want to hold both of you in my arms and kiss you at the same time."
"Oh? Is that so?" Anna Grace smiled softly. "Well, if that's what my darling wants… how could we refuse?"
With those words, her body began to glow with a gentle light, and in the blink of an eye, two identical women stood before him—Anna and Grace.
"This is perfect… just like I imagined," Yuan murmured in a dazed voice, his eyes fixed on the two beautiful women now standing completely naked before him.
"What? Shocked by our beauty? Enchanted, maybe?" Anna teased with a playful smirk. She pulled out a pair of clothes from her spatial ring and began getting dressed.
Grace, however, remained standing without a hint of embarrassment. She was used to being naked in front of Yuan and loved the way he stared at her—his gaze filled with awe and desire.
With a seductive smile, she gracefully sat on his lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him on the cheek, making Yuan chuckle with affection.
"Grace, have some decency and put on some clothes, will you?" Anna scolded lightly, shaking her head with a sigh. "What if the soldiers come here and see you like this?"
Grace narrowed her eyes and responded with a cold, sharp tone, "Then I'll kill them without hesitation. Only my darling is allowed to look at my body… and do whatever he pleases with it. No one else has that right."
