The four of them sat around a simple cloth mat, beginning to enjoy their breakfast.
Although Shao Yun, Lumine, and Paimon were treated as honored guests of the tribe and received warm hospitality, being in the desert—a place with scarce resources—meant that even the best items provided for them were relatively limited in variety.
Thus, the canned foods Shao Yun had brought became the most precious delicacies.
For this reason, Jeht often found opportunities to come over and share a meal.
Just as everyone was eating breakfast, Lumine suddenly stopped what she was doing and gently sniffed the scent emanating from her own body.
She furrowed her brows and muttered, "Sigh, I think I really need a proper bath…"
Jeht, who was chewing on a piece of peach nearby, turned her head to look at Lumine in confusion, her words somewhat muffled as she asked, "Didn't you just bathe with me four days ago? Why do you need another one already?"
Lumine's mouth fell open in surprise, and she asked incredulously, "What? It's already been four days since our last bath? Time flies so fast!"
She couldn't help but feel a bit helpless, then complained, "No wonder I feel like I might have a bit of an odor."
Jeht, however, didn't think so.
She quickly put down her food, leaned her face close to Lumine, and sniffed vigorously at Lumine's scent.
Then, with a serious expression, she said, "There's no odor at all, you still smell lovely!"
After saying this, she playfully winked at Lumine.
Lumine was startled by Jeht's sudden action, then her face turned bright red as she scolded, "Jeht, what are you doing! You scared me, acting so suddenly!"
Jeht stuck out her tongue playfully and said, "Hehe, sorry, I just wanted to confirm for you. Really, there's no smell on you at all, so you can set your heart at ease."
However, Lumine truly couldn't tell whether Jeht was telling the truth or just lying to comfort her…
"So when will our next bath be?"
Jeht tilted her head, thought seriously for a moment, and then replied, "Let me think carefully… Well, it should be tomorrow."
"We can bathe every five days; it's a privilege Mother has given us."
"If it were the other girls in the tribe, they usually only get to bathe once a week; as for the boys, it's once every ten days!"
At this point, Jeht seemed to suddenly remember something and muttered under her breath as if casually.
"Sigh, that's also why I don't really like playing with the boys in the tribe…"
Hearing this, Shao Yun thought to herself: Jeht, dare you swear it's only because of their smell that you don't want to play with them? Are you sure it's not because you have some special interest in my Lumine?
Lumine, hearing that it had already been four days since their last bath, couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "Four days! Time really flies by so fast."
Jeht, taking another big bite of the juicy peach meat from the can, responded between chews: "You said it! You've been with me here in the Tanit tribe for a full two months now!"
Just then, Paimon suddenly chimed in curiously: "Jeht, how have you been during this time? Are you used to it yet?"
Jeht quickly put down the peach can she was holding and nodded repeatedly: "I'm doing great! Mother Babel treats me very well, especially over this past month—I've been helping Mother with tasks almost every day."
"Mother treats me as lovingly as if I were her own daughter."
As she said this, a trace of longing involuntarily appeared on Jeht's face, and she continued with anticipation: "Who knows, maybe one day I'll be as lucky as Azariq and be adopted by Mother as her foster daughter!"
Hearing this, Paimon cheered with delight: "Wow, Jeht, that's really wonderful! I'm genuinely happy for you!"
Speak of the devil, Azariq happened to arrive in front of Jeht's tent and called out loudly toward the inside: "Little wildcat, are you hiding in your tent?"
Receiving no response, Azariq frowned, muttering to himself.
"Is she not here?"
With doubt in his mind, he carefully lifted the flap of Jeht's tent and peered inside.
Sure enough, as he had suspected, the tent was empty, not a soul in sight.
"Hmm... looks like she's really not here," Azariq said to himself. "Alright then, she must be in the next tent over."
Thinking this, he turned and headed toward the tent where Shao Yun, Lumine, and Paimon were resting.
Arriving in front of the tent, Azariq reached out and abruptly pulled open the entrance flap.
Just as expected, he saw Jeht sitting on the ground with Shao Yun and the others, happily enjoying food!
Azariq shook his head helplessly and said with a wry smile: "I knew you'd be here. You always run off to the neighbors' tent to find fun during your free time."
Then, realizing his rudeness, he quickly turned to face Shao Yun and the other two, offering a sincere apology.
"My apologies, honored guests. I didn't mean to disturb your meal. Please forgive the intrusion."
At this point, Jeht looked up, her gaze falling on the slightly awkward Azariq standing at the tent entrance, and asked curiously: "What is it, Brother Azariq? Do you need something?"
Azariq pointed behind himself and explained: "Mother needs to see you. I noticed Mother looked very serious earlier, so it must be something important."
Hearing this, Jeht immediately put down her utensils, swallowed the remaining peach meat in the can in two or three big mouthfuls, then stood up and said:
"Alright, I'll go see her right now. I'm off." As she spoke, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and hurried off to find Babel.
After Jeht left, Azariq did not follow her out as one might have expected.
Instead, his attention was firmly captured by the food laid out on the cloth mat inside the tent.
He was so accustomed to things like stewed crocodile meat that it held no interest for him whatsoever.
What truly captivated him was the faint scent of fruit lingering in the air.
"Your breakfast looks quite good. The aroma of the crocodile meat has me craving some!"
Although Azariq verbally praised the crocodile meat, his eyes remained fixated on the tender peach meat in those few cans.
Shao Yun observed Azariq's every move, feeling little fondness for this paramour of Mother Babel.
However, after more than two months of interaction, Azariq had indeed left a fairly good impression on Lumine and Paimon.
Maybe the Fatui have withdrawn, and these guys have 'improved'?
Besides, how another tribe lives is ultimately their own business, unrelated to her.
Shao Yun randomly pulled a vegetable can from her Legend of the East satchel and tossed it to Azariq, saying: "Here, the peach cans are gone. All I have left is this can of peas."
Azariq stared at the vegetable can in his hand, overjoyed.
Yet, he still spoke very politely: "Ahaha, this… well, this is really too kind!"
Shao Yun's expression remained calm as she replied flatly: "It's nothing, take it. You've been looking after Jeht, Lumine, and Paimon all this time."
Hearing this, Azariq secretly rejoiced inwardly, but on the surface, he played the part of someone who feigns reluctance after gaining an advantage, laughing heartily:
"Haha, in that case, I'll gratefully accept! Thank you, thank you!"
With that, he carefully tucked the vegetable can into his clothing, as if afraid someone might snatch it away.
However, after receiving such a boon, Azariq felt he ought to offer something in return.
So, an idea came to him, and he quickly said: "Oh, right! Lately, Adifi has gotten some particularly novel and interesting little gadgets."
"If you have time, you should go take a look. If you see something you like, just take it; I'll cover the cost."
As soon as he finished speaking, a prompt suddenly appeared in Shao Yun's system.
[You have obtained one free item selection opportunity.]
Shao Yun merely acknowledged it casually.
"Mm, alright, I'll check it out when I have time."
After that, Azariq hurriedly left Shao Yun's quarters, clutching the can of peas as if it were hidden treasure.
Shortly after Azariq departed, Jeht came bustling back into the tent in a flurry.
The moment she saw Lumine, she couldn't wait to exclaim loudly: "Lumine, I have fantastic news to tell you!"
Seeing how excited Jeht was, Lumine raised a hand to signal her to calm down, then asked: "What is it? Jeht."
Jeht steadied her excited heart and said: "Here's the situation: Mother Babel has given me permission to bury my… father and mother's relics in the 'Eternal Oasis'."
Paimon, hearing there was finally progress, exclaimed: "Huh? The 'Eternal Oasis'… So that place really exists? I thought it was just a location from legends."
Jeht nodded and briefly explained the background.
"Well, two months ago, I told Mother Babel about the Eternal Oasis… Long story short, Mother Babel told me today that it's located right in the middle of this desert…"
"The Tanit believe that beneath the perpetual sandstorm in the center of the desert lies the Eternal Oasis."
"It's just that the area has been sealed off by the Tanit tribe as a forbidden place. Except for patrolling scouts, outsiders aren't allowed to approach casually."
Paimon, hearing the word "forbidden," couldn't help but frown and ask nervously: "Forbidden… is it very dangerous there?"
Jeht nodded gravely and replied in a serious tone: "Yes, it is indeed very dangerous. Legend says the area is long haunted by ancient and evil spirits that roam about, specifically seeking to steal human souls and flesh to strengthen themselves…"
"Sounds so mystical! Anyway, I don't believe it. In my opinion, the so-called danger is probably just strong sandstorms and some common monsters."
===BREAK===
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