Chapter 204: The Ramen And The Awakening!

After Neve finished tending to Roan in the quiet room, he collapsed back against the furs, utterly spent.

Lifting a heavy arm, his fingers lightly brushed against the glowing mark on Roan’s skin. The thread connecting him to Roan was firmly established now. The lion hunter’s life was no longer draining away; the fatal wound from the severed bond had finally stitched shut.

However, the connection was still only one-way. Roan hadn’t marked Neve in return, leaving Neve without the lion’s reciprocal mark on his own body. That would have to wait until Roan was fully conscious and clear-headed enough to make the choice for himself.

Groaning softly, Neve braced his hands against the fur mattress and pushed himself up onto trembling legs. His lower back screamed in protest, every muscle aching from the exertion, compounded by the heavy weight of his swollen belly.

He paused, looking back down at Roan’s peaceful, sleeping face. An uncomfortable heat rushed into Neve’s cheeks, and he slapped both hands over his eyes in mortification.

"I didn’t even get his consent," Neve muttered under his breath, shaking his head as he dragged his feet toward the doorway. "I mean, the guy was literally bleeding out and unconscious, so it’s not like I had much of a choice... but why do I feel like a total creep? I definitely have to apologize the second he wakes up."

The guilt gnawed at him. He knew it was the only way to save Roan’s life, but using intimacy as emergency medicine still left an awkward pit in his stomach.

The second Neve pushed aside the heavy curtain and stepped out into the hallway, a pair of strong, familiar arms wrapped gently around his waist from behind.

"I’m so glad you’re okay," Cael murmured against his neck, resting his chin affectionately on Neve’s shoulder and breathing him in.

Neve let out a dry, breathy chuckle, leaning back slightly into the leopard’s warm embrace. "I just went into the next room to save a patient, Cael. It wasn’t a battlefield. Why wouldn’t I be okay?"

"You seem to be forgetting that you’re heavily pregnant, Neve," Popi chimed in sternly, marching over with her hands planted firmly on her hips. Her brows were knit with fierce maternal worry. "I know we might seem overprotective, but male pregnancies are unheard of. We have no idea how delicate your condition is, especially in these final weeks. You shouldn’t be overexerting yourself like that!"

"Oh..." Neve mumbled, sheepishly rubbing the side of his belly. "Right."

"Well, that’s not the only problem," Ryker growled, stepping up beside them. The tiger chief’s nose twitched repeatedly as he sniffed the air, his golden eyes narrowing in sheer irritation. "Let’s get you straight into a wash tub. You reek entirely of that stray lion, and it’s already driving my instincts crazy."

Ryker crossed his arms, his jaw tightening with unmasked jealousy. The sharp, unfamiliar musky scent clinging to his mate was clearly testing his patience.

"Ha... ha..." Neve laughed nervously, scratching the back of his neck as the room’s tension spiked.

’Aren’t lions, tigers, and leopards basically cousins in the cat family?’ Neve thought dryly to himself. ’I really hope they don’t end up tearing the cave apart.’

"How about I go wash up, and then I’ll cook us all something amazing?" Neve suggested brightly, desperate to redirect everyone’s attention before claws came out.

Popi’s frown instantly deepened. "Neve! You need to lie down and rest, not stand over a fire—"

"Hear me out, please!" Neve pleaded, holding up his hands before they could gang up on him. "I have this intense, unbearable craving right now. If I don’t eat it, I won’t be able to sleep a wink, and these cubs are going to kick my ribs into dust all night. It’s a special meal from my... memory. Just trust me."

Cael tilted his head, his leopard ears twitching as he relented with a soft sigh. "Alright. If it’ll settle the cubs, go ahead."

"Once the ramen is ready, I’ll make sure everyone gets a bowl," Neve grinned, his mouth already watering at the mere thought of rich, savory broth.

"Wash first," Ryker insisted firmly, gently nudging Neve toward the rear wash area where a large wooden tub of steaming water had already been prepared. The warm water was pure heaven on Neve’s stiff muscles, and he scrubbed vigorously until every trace of the heavy lion scent was washed away.

Feeling refreshed, Neve tied a clean linen tunic over his round stomach and headed straight for the kitchen hearth. Popi and Cael tried to trail behind him to assist, but Neve gently shooed them out, insisting he needed the space to himself.

In truth, he needed privacy to summon his floating blue interface and figure out how to stretch his modest balance of 225 Bond Points.

He already knew that buying an instantly prepared bowl from the system cost a steep 100 points. Buying four or five ready-made bowls was completely out of the question.

"Please let the raw ingredients be cheaper," Neve muttered under his breath, tapping open the market catalog.

He scrolled eagerly through the grocery listings. The variety was dizzying... chicken broth, roasted garlic pork, spicy seafood, miso vegetable, and hearty beef. Considering beastmen were natural carnivores who thrived on heavy, savory game meat, Neve immediately settled on a rich beef-flavored ramen.

He checked the price per package, and his jaw dropped.

"Forty points? Only forty for an uncooked brick?!"

That was less than half the price of the pre-made version. His points could actually stretch to feed everyone.

"Okay, let’s do the math..." Neve tapped his chin, calculating carefully.

Four packs of raw noodles at 40 points each came out to 160 Bond Points. That covered the base for everyone. Next, toppings. A simple pack of two dozen fresh farm eggs cost 20 points, bringing his total to 180. A concentrated packet of savory beef bone broth powder cost another 30 points, bringing the bill to 210.

225 minus 210 leaves me with exactly 15 points, Neve noted with satisfaction.

Luckily, Popi had already gathered a large basket of wild wild scallions and pungent mountain peppers that sat on the stone counter, meaning he didn’t need to spend his remaining points on aromatics.

Neve confirmed the purchase without a second thought.

Ding!

A sturdy brown cardboard box materialized atop the wooden prep counter with a soft chime. Neve tore it open and immediately went to work.

He hoisted a massive iron kettle filled with fresh mountain water over the blazing hearth fire. While the water heated toward a rolling boil, he cracked a dozen eggs into a hollowed wooden bowl, whisking them into a golden swirl before gently scrambling them in an oiled stone pan and setting them aside.

The kettle rumbled to a furious boil. Neve dropped the thick blocks of curly yellow noodles into the bubbling water, stirring them with a carved wooden paddle so the strands separated into springy, tender ribbons. The moment they turned translucent and perfectly chewy, he fished them out, dividing the portions evenly into the deep, polished stone bowls Cael had carved.

Next came the broth. He dumped the savory seasoning powder into the remaining boiling water, stirring rapidly as the concentrated beef essence bloomed. A rich, mouthwatering aroma of roasted marrow, soy, and garlic instantly engulfed the small kitchen, drifting out into the main cave.

Neve ladled the steaming, golden-brown broth generously over the noodles. Steam billowed upward in thick, fragrant clouds.

To finish, he artfully topped each bowl with fluffy scrambled eggs, a handful of thinly sliced wild scallions, and a pinch of dried red pepper flakes.

Unable to resist for another second, Neve brought a spoon of the hot broth to his lips and blew gently before tasting it.

A shiver of pure, unadulterated ecstasy shot down his spine. Neve nearly melted onto the dirt floor right then and there.

It was absolute perfection. The broth was deeply savory and warming, the noodles possessed the ideal springy bite, the eggs were pillowy and rich, and the fresh scallions cut through the fat with a crisp, spicy snap.

"I need to get this to the others before it cools down," Neve beamed, feeling lighter than air.

Balancing two steaming stone bowls carefully in his hands, he pushed past the kitchen curtain and stepped out into the lively cavern.

He walked over to where Cael and Ryker were lingering, thrusting a bowl toward each of them.

"Here," Neve said proudly. "Try this."

Both beastmen stared at the strange, swirling noodles with cautious curiosity, but the moment the rich beef aroma hit their noses, their pupils dilated in shock.

"What in the world is this?" Cael whispered, his tail swishing behind him in fascination.

"It smells incredible," Ryker murmured, lifting the heavy bowl to take an eager sip.

Neve smiled, turning back toward the kitchen to carry out the remaining servings for Popi and the others. But as his gaze swept across the cavern, he stopped dead in his tracks.

Sitting quietly in the warm corner by the furs was Roan.

The kids were giggling and rolling a carved wooden ball around his feet, and the lion hunter was looking down at them with an expression of gentle wonder, his sharp golden eyes bright, clear, and fully conscious.

Relief and warmth washed over Neve’s chest all at once.

"Oh! You’re finally awake!"