“Greetings, Great Messenger.” Joshua bowed respectfully.
Gu Mengmeng nodded in acknowledgment, but didn’t step closer. She still remembered how they encountered Frankston’s leader Hanston and witch doctor Joshua. The two of them had offered to be their escorts when they passed through Frankston on the way back from Zacharias. At that time, Hanston was savvy enough to keep his intentions to himself, but that first-level Joshua stubbornly refused to accede, provoking her males into a jealous fit.
Elvis and Lea were both currently not at home, and Gu Mengmeng did not wish to invite any unnecessary trouble.
After all, there had been Fei Rui, followed by Victor, and then some faceless male vulture. If this Joshua was dragged into the mix, she would have to spend the entire winter soothing her males’ jealousy.
So Gu Mengmeng maintained a safe distance from Joshua. Keeping her face impassive, she asked, “You have come to ask me about something?”
Joshua nodded. “The winter season is almost here. I… I wish to seek shelter at the Great Messenger’s cave.”
If this was before, Gu Mengmeng might have asked why did he want to stay in her cave.
But this situation had happened before with Barete, so Gu Mengmeng was well aware that Joshua wanted to stay at her cave for food supply for the winter.
Holding her forehead, Gu Mengmeng shook her head. “Elvis only prepared enough food to last our family through the winter. We didn’t prepare your share.”
The unspoken meaning in her words were clear. We do not lack food and we do not want you.
Joshua appeared completely unsurprised by this answer.
After all, his was a neighboring tribe and Saint Nazaire’s food preservation methods were no big secret.
Joshua nodded before tilting his head with a smile. “Then does the Great Messenger lack beast pets? Those that are closest to you in terms of behavior and mannerisms.”
Gu Mengmeng chuckled and shook her head. “Joshua, we have no intention of accepting new males into our family. So please don’t waste your time on us. Go find a new target.”
“I can wait.” Joshua was totally unfazed by Gu Mengmeng’s rejection. He just lowered his head and continued. “The males of the Beast World are all very single-minded. If they don’t love you, they never will. But if they do, it will be forever.”
Gu Mengmeng was well aware of this point.
But she no longer wished to bear responsibility for another person’s life. It was too heavy a burden.
Gu Mengmeng smiled as she gently rubbed the back of her own neck. “I have made clear my stand. I don’t like you. If there is nothing else, please leave.”
Joshua shook his head. “I want to join Saint Nazaire as a witch doctor.”
Males without partners had the right to decide which tribe they wanted to live in. And witch doctors were second only to females as a precious resource. All tribes hankered after them and there was no reason to reject.
But if she accepted him knowing that he had ulterior motives—wouldn’t she be tacitly condoning his wait for her?
Gu Mengmeng shook her head. “Sorry, Saint Nazaire cannot accept you. One, our tribe already has our own witch doctor. Two, all those who wish to join Saint Nazaire must pass an assessment to get a place on the wait list. If I just take you in like that, it will be unfair to all those who had fought so hard to secure a spot on the wait list. Of course, if you must join Saint Nazaire, partnering with the females in our tribe is also a good option. Witch doctor is a good profession and you will have the upper hand in selecting a mate.”