Chapter 162: The Distraction And The Escape!
Three days passed within the blink of an eye.
Neve had been treating Maren’s mother during that entire period. He had been performing acupuncture sessions every day. He had been monitoring her condition carefully. He had been deliberately slowing down her recovery as planned.
He had just a few days left before she would respond fully to the treatment and maybe open her eyes. Before she would show obvious signs of healing. Before Maren’s favorability toward him might increase due to his successful treatment.
But Neve had to do something before then. He had to find Maren. He had to talk to him. He had to confirm his suspicions about the system.
But how could he do it when Jereth was following him everywhere?
He did not need to ask. He did not need anyone to tell him that it was Zyreth who gave the order to have Neve stalked constantly. It was obvious. It was clear from the way Jereth never left his side.
Neve hated it. He had tried to convince Zyreth that he was not running or attempting escape. He had promised that he would cooperate with the treatment. But Zyreth only responded coldly:
"Don’t worry. I’m only doing this for my sake."
What sake? What was Zyreth up to? What was his reasoning?
Neve did not understand, but he could not argue with the snake king.
Even Popi, who was standing by Neve’s side, was already getting pissed off with Jereth’s constant presence. She was finding it hard to keep up with the messenger’s attention. Every time she turned around, Jereth was there watching. Every time she tried to speak privately with Neve, Jereth was listening.
"I’m done," Neve said, cleaning his hands as he returned the needles to his medical box. He carefully stored them away, making sure each one was properly placed.
"Finally," Popi said as she rolled her eyes and glared at Jereth with obvious irritation.
The poor beastman was only doing his job and Popi already hated his presence with a burning passion. She wanted him gone. She wanted privacy.
Neve leaned forward, his lips close to Popi’s ear so only she could hear him whisper.
"I need to find Maren," he whispered urgently. "Can you find a way to distract that snake?"
Popi raised her eyebrow skeptically.
"How can I distract him when his eyes are on you all day?" she whispered back. "At this rate, he might fall in love with you. He’s always watching you. Always focused on you."
Neve smirked at the absurdity of the suggestion.
"Don’t worry, it’s not possible," he said, peeking over his shoulder to where Jereth stood by the entrance. Jereth was watching them intently but from a distance. He wasn’t Neve’s mate after all, so it was impossible for beastmen that weren’t his mate to fall for him. Even if they do develop feelings, it’s just because of his appearance. Just because he was beautiful.
He felt a surge of pride when he thought about it and shook his head, turning back to Popi.
"Do you think you can handle it? Can you get him away from here?"
Popi grinned mischievously.
"I’ll try my best," she said. "I don’t have anything to do after this treatment is over anyway. I’m bored sitting around."
She placed the wooden bowl down on the ground and picked up some stones, clutching them in her hands like they were props for her plan.
"You have just ten minutes," Popi said firmly. "That’s all the time I can buy you."
"What? What about fifteen?" Neve whispered, hoping for more time.
"Ugh! I’ll try to hold on for you," Popi said reluctantly and walked toward Jereth.
Jereth left the entrance to allow Popi to pass but she did not move forward. Instead, she stood directly in front of him, blocking his view of Neve.
"Can you fetch more water for Neve?" Popi asked, her voice carrying urgency. "The treatment requires fresh water. We need it immediately."
"No," Jereth answered flatly, his eyes still trying to look past Popi toward Neve.
Popi’s grip on the wooden bowl tightened. She could feel her patience wearing thin.
"I need to help him watch Maren’s mother," she said, her voice becoming more insistent. "Her life is in a critical condition. The treatment cannot be interrupted. What if something goes wrong while you’re still here without the water?"
Jereth frowned, clearly torn between his duty to watch Neve and his concern for Maren’s mother’s wellbeing. He looked at Neve who was making exaggerated motions like he was panicking about his patient’s condition.
He looked back at Popi.
"Why don’t I help him and you get the water?" Jereth suggested, trying to find a solution that would let him stay and watch Neve.
"I wonder if you’ll survive if Maren’s mother dies," Popi said coldly, her voice taking on a threatening edge. "Do you know how to handle the needle with your long and filthy nails? One wrong move and you could puncture an organ. You could kill her. Zyreth would not be happy about that."
"How dare you?!" Jereth yelled, his pride wounded by the insult to his nails and his abilities.
But Popi shoved the wooden bowl into his hands with force.
"Make sure it’s clean and filled up," she said sharply. "And hurry. We don’t have much time."
She turned to Neve.
"Let’s hurry and get her treated," she said, fumbling with various medical items to make it look like there was urgent work to be done.
Jereth did not want to go. He wanted to stay and watch Neve. But the threat to Maren’s mother’s life made him hesitate.
What if something happened because he did not fetch the water? What if the treatment failed because of him?
He frowned deeply, clearly frustrated by the situation.
"Fine," he said finally and rushed out of the hut, heading toward the water source.
.
As soon as Jereth was gone, the two of them exchanged quick glances with each other.
"Fifteen minutes! Hurry!" Popi called urgently.
"Yes!" Neve replied, immediately shifted to his red panda beast form and rushed out of the hut.