The Villainess Winning Back Her Beast Husbands-Chapter 42: 7 Days

Evangeline glanced at Rhys Finch, grumbling to herself. ’My face is hideous right now, I’ll admit. But if I showed my real one... I’d be beautiful, sure, but I’m afraid he’d be even more turned off.’

Rhys Finch turned and headed deeper into the tribe, his feet dragging in a clear show of listlessness.

With his back to Evangeline, he gave a dismissive wave of his hand. His silky voice was laced with weary indifference. "Fine. You can stay in the tribe for now."

The moment he said this, the Beastmen of the Wyndsong Tribe grew animated, their eyes practically glowing.

A female, and a Witch with astounding abilities, no less! She was even willing to jump off Thorncliff to find a Beast Crystal for her Beast Husband. For such a fine female to be staying in their tribe, even temporarily... wasn’t this a golden opportunity that had just fallen into their laps?

Kat’s brow was tightly furrowed as he looked at Evangeline with concern.

"Wait!" Seeing Rhys Finch getting further away, Evangeline retracted her long whip and hurried after him.

"What is it now?" Rhys Finch’s tone was cold, tinged with impatience.

Evangeline shrugged, her expression unabashedly defiant. "I haven’t seen the Beast Crystal yet. How do I know you aren’t lying to me? Let me see it first. Once I confirm there’s no issue, I’ll stay in the Wyndsong Tribe. It will only take seven days. After seven days, you’ll be fully restored. How does that sound?"

As she spoke, she held her hand out toward Rhys Finch.

Rhys Finch licked the corner of his lips, the gesture possessing a morbid, unsettling quality.

Then, a string of soft yet blood-curdling chuckles escaped his throat. His fingers crept onto Evangeline’s palm, tracing it delicately. The gesture was intimate, but carried a bone-chilling coldness.

He leaned down slightly and murmured, "Did you know? I hate females more than anything. Looking at your face makes my hands itch something fierce... I’m desperate to just rip the skin from it."

"So why try to make a deal with me? Hmm?" Rhys Finch’s voice was gentle, yet every word was wrapped in malice.

Evangeline’s expression remained placid. She didn’t flinch from his proximity, her hand still outstretched. "The Beast Crystal."

Rhys Finch paused, then slowly pulled back, studying Evangeline’s expression intently. After a moment, his lips curved, and his hauntingly soft voice held an ineffable charm. "Come with me."

Evangeline nodded. Just as she started to follow, she seemed to remember something and turned to Kat at the entrance to the tribe. "Kat, you can go back now. I really appreciate your help this time. Thank you!"

Kat’s figure looked somewhat slight. He called out loudly, "The little maiden, will we see each other again?"

"Perhaps!" Evangeline called back before following Rhys Finch deeper into the tribe, their figures quickly swallowed by the encroaching twilight.

’Her words were noncommittal, but they would definitely meet again.’

’After she got the Beast Crystal, she would leave the base of Thorncliff. But as long as Rhys Finch was here, she would be back.’

*

Following behind Rhys Finch, Evangeline surveyed the depths of the tribe as they went.

She looked on with some surprise at the tribe constructed beneath the sand. The sand was loose and shifting, prone to collapse. She hadn’t expected Rhys Finch to possess the ability to build such a dark, deep settlement within it.

Rhys Finch’s dwelling was also framed with interwoven thorny vines. The exterior was covered with snow-white beast skin, making it extremely conspicuous.

On the perilous Beastman Continent, white was an extremely dangerous color. It stood out, far too conspicuous. Amongst the mountains and forests, it offered virtually no concealment, making its wearer an easy target.

And yet, Rhys Finch seemed to be quite fond of this color that defied nature.

From the beast skin he wore to his accessories, everything was pure white. Even his aura seemed to carry this "defiant" hue. Perhaps it stemmed from his beast form: The White Fox.

White was, in essence, his birthright.

Evangeline’s gaze unconsciously fell upon Rhys Finch ahead. His long, silver-white hair cascaded freely, like flowing moonlight. The strands were almost impossibly silky, swaying with his steps in a light, elegant rhythm.

Rhys Finch pushed the door open and entered first. The dwelling constructed of thorny vines was spacious, its sharp edges and corners all smoothed down. Embedded in the walls were gleaming Beast Crystals—yes, Beastman Crystals, not Beast Cores.

In a corner, a Bone Bed constructed from snow-white beast bones radiated a chilling aura. It was impossible to tell if the bones belonged to Beastmen or Wild Beasts, but given Rhys Finch’s current temperament, the former was more likely.

Upon entering, Rhys Finch didn’t go for the Beast Crystal. Instead, he walked straight to the window.

His body tilted as he bent down slightly, his gaze fixed on a wooden basin beneath the window.

The basin was filled with clear water, its surface shimmering. He stared silently at the reflection, as if meeting an old friend’s gaze. After a moment, his lips parted with a soft laugh. "Still just as ugly," he murmured.

Evangeline faltered for a second. ’For Rhys Finch,’ she thought, ’this pain must truly be bone-deep.’

He straightened up, walked to the Bone Bed, and pulled out a handful of Beast Crystals, scattering them carelessly across it. "See for yourself."

Evangeline gazed at the scattered, multicolored Beast Crystals, her lips pursing slightly.

Soon, she caught a flash of lightning. It was a Beast Crystal with fine thunder patterns crackling across its surface.

Five thunder patterns, meaning this had once belonged to a Five-star Thunder Attribute Beastman.

Evangeline breathed a sigh of relief. ’So it hasn’t been absorbed after all.’

Rhys Finch hooked the Beast Crystal with his fingertip, sending it spinning. He drew out his words, his voice soft and silky, "You should count yourself lucky. This Beast Crystal only just fell into my hands. Otherwise..."

The rest of Rhys Finch’s words died on his lips, unspoken.

Evangeline, however, understood the unspoken threat. To a Fallen Beastman, the immense energy contained within a Beast Crystal was like a drug, exuding a fatal allure. Even knowing that absorbing its power could make their bodies explode, they were driven by primal impulse to consume them anyway, like moths to a flame.

Evangeline looked up at Rhys Finch. "For these seven days, I’ll need to live with you."

Fearing Rhys Finch would think she had ulterior motives, she quickly added, "While healing your face only takes seven days, it requires constant observation. You’ll see results on the very first day, so you don’t have to worry about me tricking you."

Rhys Finch toyed with the Beast Crystal, and a soft laugh curled into her ear, sending a shiver through her heart.

Rhys Finch was a picture of languor, half-leaning, half-reclining against the Bone Bed. One leg was slightly bent, the other stretched out carelessly. He looked utterly at ease, yet his eyes were dismissive. "You’re afraid I’ll absorb this Beast Crystal, aren’t you?"

Evangeline: "..."

’It was so difficult talking to these male leads with their persecution complexes.’

’The slightest misstep was enough to set off their sensitive, suspicious minds.’

"No, it’s just for treating your face." Evangeline’s expression was calm. With a flick of her wrist, a simple, unadorned box of ointment appeared in her hand. This was the Jade Skin Shaping Cream.

The moment she produced the ointment, a pungent stench filled the room.

Rhys Finch’s expression shifted. He frowned at the ointment in Evangeline’s hand, his tone one of utter disgust. "Get it away!"

"What’s the rush?" Evangeline shot him a look and opened the box of ointment. The stench immediately intensified and spread, so thick it seemed almost tangible. It bored into one’s nostrils, making the eyes water and the stomach churn.

Rhys Finch’s expression instantly grew as dark as a thundercloud, and a black mist began to swirl around his body.

Evangeline knew he was a clean freak, but the ointment was essential.

She hesitated no longer. With a flick of her hand, a long needle materialized out of thin air in her palm.

The long needle was perfectly straight, its point glinting with a sinister, cold light.

Rhys Finch’s vacant, listless eyes slowly narrowed. He was just about to make a sarcastic comment when, in the next instant, his pupils contracted violently, as if they had been squeezed by a great, unseen hand. A tremor shot through his entire body.

His previously languid, reclining form straightened up slightly of its own accord. His face was a mask of utter disbelief as he stared fixedly at Evangeline, his eyes a mixture of shock and suspicion.